Depression is a common psychiatric disorder characterized by persistent low mood or mental disorders. Current treatments primarily focus on regulating neurotransmitter levels， but their effectiveness is limited. The mechanisms underlying its onset are complex， and there is no unified consensus. Abnormal signaling pathway transmission plays a crucial role in the development of depression， involving multiple pathways， including Toll-like receptor 4/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 （TLR4/NLRP3）， nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）， Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription （JAK/STAT）， mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase （MAPK/ERK）， brain-derived neurotrophic factor/tyrosine kinase receptor B （BDNF/TrkB）， cyclic AMP/protein kinase A/cAMP response element-binding protein （cAMP/PKA/CREB）， and others. Traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） is based on a holistic approach and the principle of treatment based on the differentiation of syndromes， regulating the balance of multiple systems and organ functions from a macroscopic perspective. This approach has shown unique advantages in the treatment of depression. TCM attributes the onset of depression to dysfunction of the organ systems， involving liver Qi stagnation， heart spirit deficiency， kidney essence depletion， and spleen dysfunction. TCM compound treatments focus on soothing the liver， strengthening the spleen， calming the heart， and replenishing essence， with formulas such as Xiaoyaosan， Zishui Qinggan Yin， and Chahu Jia Guizhi Longgu Muli Tang. The active components of Chinese herbs mainly aim to tonify and regulate Qi， such as salidroside， ginsenoside Rb₁， astragaloside， and muscone. External TCM treatments， primarily acupuncture， aim to open the orifices and invigorate the spirit. Acupoints such as Baihui， Shenting， and Yintang are commonly used. Additionally， massage and moxibustion therapy can intervene in depression by regulating signaling pathways. This article reviews the core role of signaling pathways in the development of depression and the mechanism of TCM regulation of signaling pathways to intervene in depression， aiming to discover new therapeutic approaches that can improve the symptoms of depressed patients.

Objective To investigate the trends in the global burden due to cystic echinococcosis from 1990 to 2021, and to predict the global burden of cystic echinococcosis from 2022 to 2035, so as to provide insights into formulation of the cystic echinococcosis control strategy. Methods The global age-standardized prevalence, mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rates and their 95% uncertainty intervals (UI) of cystic echinococcosis from 1990 to 2021 were captured from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (GBD 2021) database, and the trends in the global burden of cystic echinococcosis from 1990 to 2021 were analyzed using the Joinpoint regression model. The associations between the global burden of cystic echinococcosis and socio-demographic index (SDI) were examined using a smoothing spline model and frontier analysis, and the global burden of cystic echinococcosis was projected from 2022 to 2035 using the Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model. Results The global agestandardized prevalence, mortality and DALYs rates of cystic echinococcosis were 7.69/10⁵ [95% UI: (6.27/10⁵, 9.51/10⁵)], 0.02/10⁵ [95% UI: (0.01/10⁵, 0.02/10⁵)], and 1.32/10⁵ [95% UI: (0.99/10⁵, 1.69/10⁵)] in 2021. The global age-standardized prevalence of cystic echinococcosis appeared a tendency towards a rise by 0.14% per year from 1990 to 2021, and the global age-standardized mortality and DALYs rates of cystic echinococcosis appeared a tendency towards a decline by 4.68% and 4.01% per year from 1990 to 2021, respectively. Joinpoint regression analysis showed that global age-standardized prevalence of cystic echinococcosis appeared a tendency towards a decline from 1990 to 2000 [annual percent change (APC) = −0.66%, 95% confidence interval (CI): (−0.70%, −0.61%)] and from 2005 to 2015 [APC = −0.88%, 95% CI: (−0.93%, −0.82%)], and towards a rise from 2000 to 2005 [APC = 3.68%, 95% CI: (3.49%, 3.87%)] and from 2015 to 2021 [APC=0.30%, 95%CI: (0.19%, 0.40%)].Theagestandardized prevalence (r = −0.17, P < 0.05), mortality (r = −0.67, P < 0.05) and DALYs rates of cystic echinococcosis (r = −0.60, P < 0.05) all correlated negatively with SDI across 21 geographical regions from 1990 to 2021, and the age-standardized mortality (r = −0.61, P < 0.05) and DALYs rates (r = −0.44, P < 0.05) both correlated negatively with SDI across 204 countries and territories in 2021. Frontier analysis revealed that the age-standardized DALYs rate of cystic echinococcosis was still not in line with the frontier in some high-SDI countries or territories. In addition, the global age-standardized prevalence was projected with the BAPC model to appear a tendency towards a rise among both men [estimated annual percent change (EAPC) = 0.18%, 95% CI: (0.13%, 0.23%)] and women [EAPC = 0.29%, 95% CI: (0.24%, 0.34%)] from 2022 to 2035, and the global age-standardized mortality [men: EAPC = −4.71%, 95% CI: (−4.71%, −4.37%); women: EAPC = −4.74%, 95% CI: (−4.74%, −4.74%)] and DALYs rates [men: EAPC = −3.35%, 95% CI: (−3.36%, −3.34%); women: EAPC = −3.17%, 95% CI: (−3.18%, −3.16%)] were projected to appear a tendency towards a decline among both men and women. Conclusions The global burden of cystic echinococcosis appeared an overall tendency towards a decline from 1990 to 2021; however, the global prevalence of cystic echinococcosis is projected to appear a tendency towards a rise from 2022 to 2035. Intensified cystic echinococcosis control programmes are recommended.

Objective: To analyze the influencing factors for hospitalization costs among stroke patients with different subtypes, so as to provide the reference for reducing the economic burden of patients. Methods: Data of patients with hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke who were discharged from hospitals in Nanshan District, Shenzhen City from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2021 were collected through Hospital Information System. Hospitalization costs were analyzed between hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke patients, and factors affecting hospitalization costs among stroke patients with different subtypes were identified using a structural equation model. Results: A total of 10 298 patients with stroke were recruited, including 2 820 patients with hemorrhagic stroke (27.38%) and 7 478 patients with ischemic stroke (72.62%). The patients with hemorrhagic stroke had a median duration of hospital stay of 19.00 (interquartile range, 18.00) d, and a median hospitalization cost of 26 759.48 (interquartile range, 51 000.87) Yuan. The patients with ischemic stroke had a median duration of hospital stay of 12.00 (interquartile range, 10.00) d, and a median hospitalization cost of 12 199.87 (interquartile range, 13 290.20) Yuan. Structural equation model analysis showed that department of hospitalization, discharge status, ways of leaving hospital, surgery and hypertension had direct effects on hospitalization costs and indirect effects on hospitalization costs through duration of hospital stay among hemorrhagic stroke patients, and duration of hospital stay had the highest total effect (0.684), followed by surgery (0.632). Employment status, admission route, department of hospitalization, ways of leaving hospital, payment mode, surgery and dyslipidemia had direct effects on hospitalization costs and indirect effects on hospitalization costs through duration of hospital stay among ischemic stroke patients, and duration of hospital stay (0.746), surgery (0.424) and department of hospitalization (0.151) ranked the top three in total effects. Conclusion The hospitalization cost is relatively high among stroke patients in Nanshan District, and duration of hospital stay and surgery have great influence on hospitalization costs among stroke patients with different subtypes.

Objective To compare the biomechanical stability of three cross-bridge headless compression screws and lock-ing plates in the fixation of Mason type Ⅲ radial head fractures by finite element method.Methods Using reverse modeling technology,the radial CT data and internal fixation data of a healthy 25-year-old male were imported into the relevant software.Three-dimensional finite element model of 3 cross-bridge headless compression screws and locking plates for Mason Ⅲ radial head fractures were established,and the radial head was loaded with 100 N axial loading.The maximum displacement,maxi-mum Von Mises stress and stress distribution of the two groups were compared.Results The maximum displacements of the three cross-bridge screws group and locking plate group were 0.069 mm and 0.087 mm respectively,and the Von Mises stress peaks were 18.59 MPa and 31.85 MPa respectively.The stress distribution of the three screws group was more uniform.Con-clusion Both internal fixation methods can provide good fixation effect.CoMPared with the locking plate fixation method,the 3 cross-bridge headless compression screws fixation is more stable and the stress distribution is more uniform.

Objective To investigate the interventional effects of Icariin(IC A)combined with prednisone acetate tablets(PAT)in rats with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome(SRNS)model.Methods Male SD rats were used to construct the SRNS model with 2 injections of adriamycin(ADR),and were randomly divided into the model group,PAT group,ICA group,and the combined group,with 10 rats in each group after successful modeling;another 10 rats were taken as the blank group.The blank and model groups were given 0.9％NaCl;the PAT group was given 6.3 mg·kg-1·d-1 PAT;the ICA group was given 50 mg·kg-1·d-1 ICA;and the combined group was given 6.3 mg·kg-1·d-1 PAT+50 mg·kg-1·d-1 ICA.The volume of gavage of the five groups of rats was 1 mL·100 g-1,and the drug was administered once a day for 6 weeks.The renal function and blood lipid level of rats in each group were compared;the expression of calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase Ⅱ α(CaMK Ⅱα),cofilin-1 and F-actin were detected by Western blotting.Results Urinary protein quantification values at 8 weeks in blank,model,PAT,ICA and combined groups were(6.66±1.48),(178.38±8.96),(161.56±5.49),(157.13±8.32)and(96.90±5.05)mg·24 hi-1;serum creatinine levels were(30.90±1.79),(41.10±2.77),(34.90±2.03),(35.10±2.18)and(31.90±2.47)μmol·L-1;triglycerides levels were(0.87±0.14),(2.30±0.41),(1.94±0.44),(1.17±0.59)and(0.89±0.30)mmol·L-1;total cholesterol levels were(1.54±0.08),(2.53±0.22),(2.14±0.59),(2.27±0.31)and(1.93±0.32)mmol·L-1;the relative expression levels of CaMK Ⅱ α proteins were 0.88±0.09,0.65±0.06,0.71±0.08,0.76±0.07 and 0.88±0.08;the p-Cofilin-1/Cofilin-1 ratios were 0.56±0.27,2.52±0.04,0.75±0.02,0.91±0.20 and 0.53±0.05;the relative expression levels of F-actin protein were 0.93±0.01,0.64±0.01,0.75±0.02,0.80±0.01 and 0.85±0.00,respectively.The differences of the above indexes in the model group were statistically significant compared with those in the blank group and the combined group(all P＜0.05).Conclusion ICA combined with PAT can improve renal function,lipid levels,improve renal histopathological structure,and promote skeletal protein remodeling in SRNS rats by regulating CaMK Ⅱ α/Cofilin-1/F-actin pathway.

Most patients with differentiated thyroid cancer have a good prognosis after radioiodine-131 therapy,but a small number of patients are insensitive to radioiodine-131 therapy and even continue to develop disease.At present,some targeted drugs can improve progression-free survival in patients with radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer(RAIR-DTC),such as sorafenib and levatinib,have been approved for the treatment of RAIR-DTC.However,due to the presence of primary and acquired drug resistance,drug efficacy in these patients is unsatisfactory.This review introduces the acquired drug resistance mechanism of sorafenib in the regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase(PI3K)pathways and proposes related treatment strategies,in order to provide a reference for similar drug resistance mechanism of sorafenib and effective treatment of RAIR-DTC.

Renal fibrosis is a common pathological manifestation of all chronic kidney diseases.Ferroptosis is closely related to the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis and can influence the onset of renal fibrosis,and it is the most critical step in the development of renal fibrosis.The paper describes the relationship between ferroptosis and renal fibrosis,discusses the research progress of ferroptosis on renal fibrosis,and further summarizes,analyzes,and describes the effective and highly targeted natural active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicines against ferroptosis,and concludes that the reversal of renal fibrosis is achieved through the regulation of the key targets of ferroptosis,with a view to providing a broad new direction for its prospects in the field of renal fibrotic disease prevention and treatment;and to provide a scientific guide for clinical treatment and basis for clinical treatment.

Objective To study the common basis and association between sickness behaviour and occurrence of classical symptoms of kidney yang deficiency of rats with adriamycin nephropathy.Methods The SD rats were given adriamycin by tail-vein injection for 2 times(4.0 and 3.5 mg·kg-1,one week apart)to construct the model of nephrotic syndrome with Chinese medicine symptom of kidney yang deficiency.After successful modeling,the model rats were randomly divided into adriamycin group(ADR group),corticosterone group(CORT group)and hydrocortisone group(HYD group),with 12 rats per group;another 12 normal rats were taken as normal group.In the HYD group,25 mg·kg-1·d-1 HYD was administered for 14 d to establish kidney yang deficiency model with simple hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal cortex(HPA)axis inhibition.CORT group was adding 25 μg·mL-1 corticosterone to the water for 6 weeks,and the others drinking water supplied.The levels of urinary 17-hydroxy steroid were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.Glucocorticoid receptor(GR)and nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB)protein expression levels in kidney and hypothalamus were detected by Western blotting.Results In the normal,ADR,CORT and HYD groups,the urinary 17-hydroxysteroid levels were(19.14±1.94),(10.07±1.62),(20.30±1.55)and(14.23±2.37)μg·L-1;the relative expression levels of GR protein in hypothalamic were 0.63±0.05,0.11±0.05,0.85±0.08 and 0.35±0.06;the relative expression levels of NF-κB protein in hypothalamic were 0.06±0.03,0.96±0.03,0.59±0.01 and 0.23±0.04;the relative expression levels of GR protein in kidney tissue were 0.94±0.06,0.06±0.02,0.40±0.02 and 0.09±0.08;the relative expression levels of NF-κB protein in kidney tissue were 0.07±0.05,0.81±0.12,0.72±0.07 and 0.49±0.08,respectively.Compared with the ADR and HYD groups,the above indexes in the normal group were statistically significant(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).And compared with the ADR group,the relative expression levels of NF-κB protein in renal tissue with CORT group were not statistically significant(P＞0.05),but the other indexes in CORT group were statistically significant(all P＜0.01).Conclusion HPA axis dysfunction with GR damaged and activated inflammatory levels are the common basis for the combination of typical symptoms of kidney yang deficiency and sickness behaviour which characterised by"deficiency and cold syndrome".

Objective To study the distribution of intestinal flora in osteoporosis patients with spleen deficiency syndrome.Methods According to the diagnostic criteria of osteoporosis of the World Health Organization(WHO)and the syndrome differentiation criteria of spleen deficiency syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),26 healthy attenders with normal bone mass while without spleen deficiency were selected from the population visited Shunde Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine from January 2022 to September 2023 as the normal bone mass group,23 patients with bone mass reduction and spleen deficiency syndrome served as decreased bone mass with spleen deficiency group(shorten as DBM-SD group),and 69 patients with osteoporosis and spleen deficiency syndrome diagnosis were osteoporosis with spleen deficiency group(shorten as OS-SD group).A total of 118 attenders were enrolled in the analysis.The gender,age,body height,body weight,and body mass index(BMI)of the subjects were collected.The bone mineral density(BMD)and serum levels of calcium and alkaline phosphatase(ALP)of the subjects were measured.Stools were collected for the detection of the sequence of the 16SrRNA V3-V4 region,and the sequencing results were given species annotation,and then the correlation of community difference between groups and BMD with the intestinal flora was explored.Results(1)There were significant differences in the relative abundance of intestinal flora between the normal bone mass group and the OS-SD group:differences were shown in Firmicutes(t=2.490,P=0.016),Verrucomicrobia(t=2.180,P=0.003)and Fusobacteria(t=2.270,P=0.026),in Acidobacteria(t=3.003,P=0.003),Lactobacillus(t=3.150,P=0.002)and Bifidobacterium(t=7.248,P=0.001),and in Fecalibacterium(t=2.810,P=0.006)and Rothia(t=2.810,P=0.006).(2)There were significant differences in the relative abundance of intestinal flora between the normal bone mass group and the DBM-SD group:differences were shown in Lactobacillus(t=3.841,P=0.001)and Bifidobacterium(t=2.712,P=0.01),and in Faecalibacterium(t=2.466,P=0.017).(3)There were significant differences in the relative abundance of intestinal flora between the OS-SD group and DBM-SD group:differences were shown in Firmicutes(t=2.321,P=0.025),Bacteroidetes(t=0.393,P=0.020)and Verrucomicrobia(t=3.109,P=0.031).(4)The results of logistic regression analysis showed that in the OS-SD group,lumbar BMD was negatively correlated with Lactobacillus(R=0.355,P=0.003)and Bifidobacterium(R=0.366,P=0.002),positively correlated with Bacteroides(R=0.245,P=0.042),and was negatively correlated Rothia(R=0.330,P=0.006).Conclusion Some bacteria in the intestinal flora are related to the BMD of osteoporosis patients with spleen deficiency syndrome,and significant difference exists in the distribution of intestinal flora between the normal bone mass group and the OS-SD group.The results will provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis patients with spleen deficiency syndrome from the perspective of the changes of intestinal flora.

Background::Adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma (ACP) is the commonest pediatric sellar tumor. No effective drug is available and interpatient heterogeneity is prominent. This study aimed to identify distinct molecular subgroups of ACP based on the multi-omics profiles, imaging findings, and histological features, in order to predict the response to anti-inflammatory treatment and immunotherapies.Methods::Totally 142 Chinese cases diagnosed with craniopharyngiomas were profiled, including 119 ACPs and 23 papillary craniopharyngiomas. Whole-exome sequencing (151 tumors, including recurrent ones), RNA sequencing (84 tumors), and DNA methylome profiling (95 tumors) were performed. Consensus clustering and non-negative matrix factorization were used for subgrouping, and Cox regression were utilized for prognostic evaluation, respectively.Results::Three distinct molecular subgroups were identified: WNT, ImA, and ImB. The WNT subgroup showed higher Wnt/β-catenin pathway activity, with a greater number of epithelial cells and more predominantly solid tumors. The ImA and ImB subgroups had activated inflammatory and interferon response pathways, with enhanced immune cell infiltration and more predominantly cystic tumors. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MEK/MAPK) signaling was activated only in ImA samples, while IL-6 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition biomarkers were highly expressed in the ImB group, mostly consisting of children. The degree of astrogliosis was significantly elevated in the ImA group, with severe finger-like protrusions at the invasive front of the tumor. The molecular subgrouping was an independent prognostic factor, with the WNT group having longer event-free survival than ImB (Cox, P = 0.04). ImA/ImB cases were more likely to respond to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy than the WNT group ( P <0.01). In the preliminary screening of subtyping markers, CD38 was significantly downregulated in WNT compared with ImA and ImB ( P = 0.01). Conclusions::ACP comprises three molecular subtypes with distinct imaging and histological features. The prognosis of the WNT type is better than that of the ImB group, which is more likely to benefit from the ICB treatment.