ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Shenge Bushen Capsules （SBC） on sexual development in normal 3-week-old mice. MethodsThe experiment consisted of two parts. In the first part， mice were divided into four groups： The control group and the low， medium， and high-dose SBC groups （234.7， 469.4， 938.7 mg·kg^-1， respectively）. In the second part， mice were divided into four groups： Control group， Pseudostellariae Radix polysaccharide （PRP） group， total flavonoids group， and SBC group， all receiving a dose of 469.4 mg·kg^-1. After 7 days of administration， the vaginal opening of female mice and the descent of testes and scrotum in male mice， as well as the ovarian and testicular organ indices， were observed. After 4 weeks of administration， female and male mice were housed together for 2 days， and the pregnancy rate of females was monitored. After delivery， the pregnant female mice continued receiving the treatment for 4 weeks， and the sexual development of their offspring， including vaginal opening， testicular descent， and organ indices of ovaries and testes， was observed. Serum sex hormones were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， and the expression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone （GnRH） and growth hormone （GH） proteins in the hypothalamus was assessed by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the control group， there was no significant effect on the vaginal opening of female mice or the descent of testes in male mice after 7 days of SBC administration. After 4 weeks of administration， the pregnancy rate in the low-dose group was significantly reduced （P<0.05）， but no significant effects were observed in the other groups. The three doses of SBC did not significantly affect the ovarian or testicular organ indices， and there was no significant upregulation in the expression of GnRH or GH in the hypothalamus. The primary component of SBC， Pseudostellariae Radix polysaccharide， significantly reduced the vaginal opening in female mice after 7 days of administration （P<0.05）. After 4 weeks， the serum estradiol levels of non-pregnant female mice were decreased （P<0.05）， but there was no significant effect on the expression of GnRH or GH proteins in the hypothalamus of either male or female mice. Additionally， there were no significant effects on precocious puberty indicators， such as vaginal opening and testicular descent， in the offspring mice. ConclusionSBC does not significantly promote precocious puberty in young mice， and it does not have any noticeable effects on the pregnancy rate of adult mice or the sexual development of their offspring.

The Expert Consensus on Clinical Application of Qinbaohong Zhike Oral Liquid in Treatment of Acute Bronchitis and Acute Attack of Chronic Bronchitis （GS/CACM 337-2023） was released by the China Association of Chinese Medicine on December 13^th， 2023. This expert consensus was developed by experts in methodology， pharmacy， and Chinese medicine in strict accordance with the development requirements of the China Association of Chinese Medicine （CACM） and based on the latest medical evidence and the clinical medication experience of well-known experts in the fields of respiratory medicine （pulmonary diseases） and pediatrics. This expert consensus defines the application of Qinbaohong Zhike oral liquid in the treatment of cough and excessive sputum caused by phlegm-heat obstructing lung， acute bronchitis， and acute attack of chronic bronchitis from the aspects of applicable populations， efficacy evaluation， usage， dosage， drug combination， and safety. It is expected to guide the rational drug use in medical and health institutions， give full play to the unique value of Qinbaohong Zhike oral liquid， and vigorously promote the inheritance and innovation of Chinese patent medicines.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD） is a chronic liver disease closely related to metabolism， which is mainly characterized by abnormal lipid deposition in hepatocytes. In recent years， with the increasing prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome， NAFLD has become one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. The pathogenesis of NAFLD is complex and varied， involving the cross-regulation of multiple signaling pathways such as glucose-lipid metabolism， oxidative stress， and inflammation. The TLR4 signaling pathway plays a key role in the development and progression of NAFLD， and abnormal activation of this pathway accelerates the deterioration of NAFLD by promoting the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines， inducing oxidative stress， and exacerbating insulin resistance. Studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） can regulate the TLR4 signaling pathway to alleviate the symptoms and pathological features of NAFLD. The present review summarizes the experimental research progress in the TCM regulation of the TLR4 signaling pathway in treating NAFLD in the past 5 years， covering a wide range of TCM active ingredients （such as polysaccharides， terpenoids， alkaloids， flavonoids） and compound prescriptions. The active ingredients and compound prescriptions of TCM can effectively ameliorate lipid metabolism disorders， reduce insulin resistance， regulate intestinal flora， and inhibit inflammation and oxidative stress by regulating the TLR4 signaling pathway via multiple targets and pathways， thus slowing down the progression of NAFLD. Through in-depth analysis of the pathological mechanisms of NAFLD and exploration of the potential of TLR4 signaling pathway as a therapeutic target， we can provide theoretical support for the application of TCM in the treatment of NAFLD， as well as new perspectives and directions for future clinical research and new drug development， thereby promoting the innovation and development of therapeutic strategies for NAFLD.

ObjectiveTo explore effect of Xianlian Jiedu prescription on the recurrence of colorectal cancer （CRC） and investigate the related mechanisms. MethodsA postoperative recurrence model was established in 25 Balb/c mice by injecting CT26 cells subcutaneously into the armpit， followed by surgical removal of 99% of the subcutaneous tumor. The mice were randomly divided into model group， low-dose Xianlian Jiedu prescription （XLJDP-L） group （6.45 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， medium-dose Xianlian Jiedu prescription （XLJDP-M） group （12.9 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， high-dose Xianlian Jiedu prescription （XLJDP-H） group （25.8 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， and 5-fluorouracil （5-FU） group （1×10^-3 g·kg^-1·d^-1）. The mice were euthanized after 14 days of continuous intervention， and recurrent tumor tissue was harvested. Hematoxylin and eosin （HE） staining was used to observe pathological and morphological changes in the recurrent tumor tissue. Immunohistochemistry （IHC） was employed to assess the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen （Ki67）， vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF）， and platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule （CD31） in recurrent tumor tissue. The Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of angiopoietin-2 （ANG-2）， VEGF， phosphorylated-protein kinase B （p-Akt）， protein kinase B （Akt）， phosphorylated-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （p-PI3K）， and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K） in recurrent tumor tissue. ResultsBefore treatment， there were no statistical differences in tumor volume， tumor weight， and body mass among the XLJDP-L， XLJDP-M， and XLJDP-H groups and the 5-FU group compared to the model group， indicating model stability. After treatment， compared with those in the model group， the tumor volume and tumor weight in the XLJDP-L， XLJDP-M， and XLJDP-H groups and the 5-FU group were significantly reduced （P<0.01）， showing dose dependency. Meanwhile， there were no significant differences in body weight among the XLJDP-L， XLJDP-M， and XLJDP-H groups and the 5-FU group compared to the model group. HE staining showed that compared with that in the model group， tumor tissue in the XLJDP-L， XLJDP-M， and XLJDP-H groups and the 5-FU group had loosely arranged cells， increased intercellular spaces， small and shriveled nuclei， light staining， fewer mitotic figures and atypical nuclei， and increased necrotic areas. IHC showed that compared with those of the model group， the positive rates of Ki67， VEGF， and CD31 in the recurrent tumor tissue of the XLJDP-L， XLJDP-M， and XLJDP-H groups and the 5-FU group were significantly reduced （P<0.01） in a dose-dependent manner. Western blot results showed that compared with those of the model group， the protein expression levels of ANG-2 and VEGF in the recurrent tumor tissue of the XLJDP-L， XLJDP-M， and XLJDP-H groups and the 5-FU group were significantly downregulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the p-Akt/Akt and p-PI3K/PI3K ratios were significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionXianlian Jiedu prescription significantly inhibits the recurrence of CRC in mice after subcutaneous tumor surgery. The mechanism may involve regulating the PI3K/Akt pathway and downregulating key angiogenic proteins such as ANG-2， VEGF， and CD31.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects and potential mechanism of paeoniflorin on oxidative stress of ulcerative colitis （UC） mice based on adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK）/nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 （Nrf2） pathway. METHODS Male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control group， model group， inhibitor group （AMPK inhibitor Compound C 20 mg/kg）， paeoniflorin low-， medium- and high-dose groups （paeoniflorin 12.5， 25， 50 mg/kg）， high- dose of paeoniflorin+inhibitor group （paeoniflorin 50 mg/kg+Compound C 20 mg/kg）， with 8 mice in each group. Except for the control group， mice in all other groups were given 4% dextran sulfate sodium solution for 5 days to establish the UC model. Subsequently， mice in each drug group were given the corresponding drug solution intragastrically or intraperitoneally， once a day， for 7 consecutive days. The changes in body weight of mice were recorded during the experiment. Twenty-four hours after the last administration， colon length， malondialdehyde （MDA） content， and activities of superoxide dismutase （SOD） and glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px） in colon tissues were measured； histopathological morphology of colon tissues， tight junctions between intestinal epithelial cells， and histopathological scoring were all observed and evaluated； the mRNA expressions of AMPK and Nrf2， as well as the protein expressions of heme oxygenase-1（HO-1）， occludin and claudin-1， were all determined in colon tissue. RESULTS Compared with model group， paeoniflorin groups exhibited recovery from pathological changes such as inflammatory cell infiltration and crypt damage in the colon tissue， as well as improved tight junction damage between intestinal epithelial cells. Additionally， significant increases or upregulations were observed in body weight， colon length， activities of SOD and GSH-Px， phosphorylation level of AMPK， and protein expression of Nrf2， HO-1， occludin， claudin-1， and mRNA expressions of AMPK and Nrf2； concurrently， MDA content and histopathological scores were significantly reduced （P＜ 0.05 or P＜0.01）. In contrast， the inhibitor group showed comparable （P＞0.05） or worse （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01） indicators compared to the model group. Conversely， the addition of AMPK inhibitor could significantly reverse the improvement of high- dose paconiflorin （P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS Paeoniflorin can repair intestinal epithelial cell damage in mice， improve tight junctions between epithelial cells， upregulate the expression of related proteins， and promote the expression and secretion of antioxidant-promoting molecules， thereby ameliorating UC； its mechanism may be associated with activating AMPK/Nrf2 antioxidant pathway.

It is believed that diabetes complicated with coronary heart disease is closely related to the functional interplay of the heart， spleen， and kidneys. This paper proposed the concept of the heart-spleen-kidney as a unified system for understanding and treating the disease. At the early stage， spleen and kidney deficiency leads to the internal accumulation of phlegm， dampness， and turbid lipids， causing impaired blood circulation and vascular obstruction， so treatment should focus on tonify the kidneys and strengthening the spleen， activating blood circulation and resolving stasis， using the self-prescribed Tangxin Maiwen Formula （糖心脉温方）. As the disease progresses， further decline of spleen and kidney function results in inadequate nourishment of the heart， leading to blood stasis and the accumulation of phlegm， dampness， and turbid lipids， which may transform into pathogenic heat and toxins， causing heart damage， then treatment should emphasize on boosting qi and nourishing yin， clearing heat， activating blood and resolving toxins， using the self-prescribed Tangxin Maiqing Formula （糖心脉清方）. In advanced stages， three zang organs， the heart， spleen， and kidneys， become severely impaired， leading to mental activity fail to be nourished and abnormal cognitive functions， so treatment should focus on harmonizing the three zang organs simultaneously， using the self-prescribed Yunpi Tiaoxin Decoction （运脾调心汤）. This approach aims to provide a clinical framework for the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes with coronary heart disease.

This article summarized clinical experience in differentiating and treating non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy （HCM） based on the concept of nourishing the heart and softening the hardness. It is considered that HCM belongs to the category of "heart accumulation"， with the fundamental cause being depletion of the spleen and kidney， and phlegm-stasis accumulation， as well as qi-yin exhaustion， serving as the manifestations. Spleen and kidney depletion leads to the transformation of phlegm and stasis， which accumulate in the heart； over time， this phlegm-stasis accumulation consumes heart qi and yin， resulting in the heart being deprived of nourishment， which eventually leads to the damage to both the function and structure of heart. Therefore， the method of nourishing the heart and softening the hardness is proposed for the treatment of non-obstructive HCM. Emphasis is placed on softening hardness and dissipating masses throughout the entire treatment process， often using Modified Siwei Ruanjian Formula （四味软坚方加减）. During periods with prominent symptoms， the main treatment is boosting qi and nourishing yin to soften hardness and dissipate masses with self-made Yuxin Ruanjian Formula （自拟育心软坚方） in modifications； in stable periods， the main treatment is boosting kidney and fortifying spleen to soften hardness and dissipate masses with self-made Pishen Tongzhi Formula （脾肾同治方） in modifications.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Xijiao Dihuangtang （XJDHT） on mice with sepsis and cellular models of sepsis and explore its molecular mechanism in alleviating sepsis-induced inflammatory responses via regulating pyruvate kinase M2 （PKM2）-mediated one-carbon metabolism pathway. MethodsForty C57BL/6N mice were randomly divided into four groups： normal group， model group， low-dose XJDHT group （7.7 g·kg^-1）， and high-dose XJDHT group （15.4 g·kg^-1）. After one week of continuous gavage， sepsis was induced using cecal ligation and puncture （CLP） in groups except the normal group. 24 h after the surgery， mortality rates in all groups were recorded， and serum cytokines were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Lung histopathology was examined by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. During the in vitro experiment， the human monocytic leukemia cell line （THP-1） was exposed to various concentrations of XJDHT and treated with lipopolysaccharide （LPS） at a final concentration of 2 mg·L^-1 for 24 h. Cell apoptosis was detected using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling （TUNEL） assay. Protein levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， B-cell lymphoma 2 （Bcl-2）， and Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax） were measured by Western blot. Transcriptome sequencing was performed to analyze differentially expressed genes in all groups and conduct gene ontology （GO） enrichment. Key genes in the one-carbon metabolism pathway， including pyruvate kinase M2 （PKM2）， 5-methyltetrahydrofolate-homocysteine methyltransferase （MTR）， and phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase （PHGDH）， were verified by Western blot. A PKM2 inhibition model was established using shikonin for further protein expression analysis. ResultsAnimal experiments showed that compared with the normal group， the model group exhibited significantly elevated body temperature and lung pathology （P<0.01） and increased serum TNF-α and IL-1β levels （P<0.01）. High-dose XJDHT reduced body temperature and lung tissue damage （P<0.01） and significantly decreased serum TNF-α and IL-1β levels （P<0.01）. Low-dose XJDHT treatment showed no significant temperature change （P<0.01） but reduced serum TNF-α and IL-1β levels （P<0.01）. Transcriptome sequencing and Western blot revealed significant differences in the expression of TNF-α， IL-1β， and one-carbon metabolism genes （PKM2， MTR， and PHGDH） （P<0.01）. Cell experiments demonstrated that compared to the normal group， the model group showed elevated protein expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β in THP-1 cells （P<0.01）， decreased Bcl-2/Bax ratio， and increased apoptosis （P<0.01）. Transcriptome sequencing and Western blot revealed significant differences in the expression of TNF-α， IL-1β， and one-carbon metabolism genes （PKM2， MTR， and PHGDH） （P<0.01）. Compared to the model group， high-dose XJDHT significantly increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and PHGDH protein expression （P<0.01） and effectively reduced cell apoptosis （P<0.01） while down-regulating protein expressions of TNF-α， IL-1β， PKM2， and MTR （P<0.01）. Low-dose XJDHT moderately increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and PHGDH protein expression （P<0.05）， reduced apoptosis （P<0.05）， and decreased IL-1β and MTR protein levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）， but there were no significant changes in TNF-α and PKM2 expression. After PKM2 inhibition by shikonin in THP-1 cells， the expression of protein related to one-carbon metabolism was detected. Compared with the blank group， the LPS-induced model group showed significantly upregulated PKM2 and MTR protein expression （P<0.01） and downregulated PHGDH expression （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， shikonin treatment significantly reduced PKM2 expression （P<0.05）， increased PHGDH expression （P<0.01）， and decreased MTR expression （P<0.05）. ConclusionXJDHT can inhibit the release of inflammatory factors in sepsis， and its mechanism is related to the intervention of the PKM2-regulated one-carbon metabolism pathway in macrophages.

BACKGROUND:Synthetic polymers,such as polypropylene and polyester,used for the treatment of abdominal wall defects not only lack biodegradability and bioactivity but also fail to meet the demands of complex and irregular wounds.Therefore,finding bioactive materials with low immunogenicity and good histocompatibility has become a hot spot in the repair of abdominal wall defects. OBJECTIVE:To prepare methacryloyl modified dermal extracellular matrix hydrogel and explore its potential application in abdominal wall defect. METHODS:(1)The porcine dermis was acellular with 0.25%trypsin and 1%Triton X-100 in turn to obtain the dermal extracellular matrix.After pepsin digestion and methacrylic anhydride modification,the methacrylated dermal extracellular matrix hydrogel was formed by photocrosslinking.The microscopic morphology of the hydrogel was observed by scanning electron microscope,and its rheological properties,swelling properties and other physical and chemical properties were tested.(2)Mice fibroblasts(L929)were inoculated into methacrylated dermal extracellular matrix hydrogel to detect the cell compatibility.(3)Totally 12 SD rats were randomly divided into two groups(n=6)to create abdominal wall defect model with peritoneum preserved.The defect site of the polypropylene group was filled with polypropylene material,and the hydrogel group was filled with methacrylated dermal extracellular matrix hydrogel.The wound skin of both groups was covered with polypropylene material.The wound healing was observed and histological analysis was carried out. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Enzymatic hydrolysis had a good decellularization effect on porcine dermis after decellularization,and the original glycosaminoglycans and collagen were well retained.Scanning electron microscope observation revealed that the dermal extracellular matrix hydrogel presented loose and porous structure.The aperture was between 70 and 120 μm.The swelling ratio was(16.88±3.24)%and the water absorption was(94.24±1.11)%.The rheological property test showed that the methacrylated dermal extracellular matrix hydrogel was stable and had shear thinning characteristics,with injectability.(2)CCK-8 assay and live/dead staining showed that methacrylated dermal extracellular matrix hydrogel had good cell compatibility.(3)The results of animal experiments showed that the skin wound healing rate of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group at 7,10,and 14 days after operation(P<0.05).Hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining of skin and muscle tissue exhibited that compared with the polypropylene group,the skin wound epithelialization,hair follicle formation,collagen fiber arrangement,and neovascularization were better in the hydrogel group 14 days after surgery.The skin wound new tissue structure was similar to the normal tissue at 28 days after surgery,and scar hyperplasia was less.A small amount of muscle regeneration was observed on day 28 after operation.(4)The results show that the methacrylated dermal extracellular matrix hydrogel can promote wound skin healing and muscle tissue regeneration in rats with abdominal wall defect.

BACKGROUND:Currently,exercise therapy is an effective non-pharmacological treatment for low back pain,and exercise therapy can maintain lumbar spine stabilization through mechanical-chemical coupling between bones and muscles,but there is no clear description of the research progress and optimal treatment protocols for exercise therapy to relieve chronic non-specific lower back pain through mechanical-chemical coupling. OBJECTIVE:To review the research progress related to the influence of paravertebral muscles on lumbar spine stabilization during exercise therapy through mechanical-chemical coupling,which in turn relieves chronic non-specific lower back pain,as well as the current optimal treatment protocols of exercise therapy for chronic non-specific lower back pain. METHODS:Literature searches were performed in WanFang database,CNKI,VIP,Web of Science,and PubMed database,with search terms of"chronic non-specific low back pain,lumbar spine stabilization,paravertebral muscles,exercise therapy"in Chinese and English.Relevant literature published from database inception to January 2024 was searched and 93 articles were included for final summarization. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Exercise therapy can act on the paravertebral muscles and bones through appropriate mechanical stimulation and produce corresponding changes.Exercise therapy is an important intervention for chronic non-specific lower back pain as it improves the quality of the paravertebral muscles,primarily through mechanical-chemical coupling,and thus maintains lumbar spine stabilization for better relief of chronic non-specific lower back pain.However,there are no clear reports on the exact effective protocols for exercise therapy to treat chronic non-specific lower back pain through lumbar spine stabilization.The development of an individualized exercise program is particularly important for the treatment and prognosis of chronic non-specific low back pain.Muscle mass and bone mass of the same individual are closely related,and imaging assessment of paravertebral muscle mass and quantity is important for disease detection and intervention.