Based on advancements in modern medical research regarding the intricate connection between the endocrine and exocrine functions of the pancreas， as well as the relationship between pancreatic functions and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） spleen system， this paper discussed the categorization of the pancreas. It is proposed that the pancreas is neither a true zang organ nor a fu organ， but possessed the attributes of an extraordinary fu-organ and can be classified under the spleen. The spleen governs transportation and transformation， ascent of the clear and dispersion of essence， which encompasses the endocrine and exocrine functions， and pancreatic enzymes and glucose-regulating hormones form the material basis for the spleen's function of dispersing essence. Diseases of the pancreas exhibit characteristics of both zang-organ deficiency and fu-organ excess， so treatment should simultaneously supplement zang-organ disease and regulate fu-organ disease when pancreas showing endocrine and exocrine co-morbidities， with focus on restoring the pancreas （spleen）'s dispersing essence function. Therapeutic strategies include supplementing spleen qi， nourishing spleen yin to strengthen spleen earth， unblocking spleen collaterals， raising spleen yang， and removing spleen turbidity to support the spleen's dispersing essence function， so as to replenish the essential qi of zang-fu organs， ensure their distribution throughout the body， and improve the endocrine and exocrine functions of the pancreas.

In recent years， hyperuricemia （HUA） has shown a rapidly increasing incidence and tends to occur in increasingly young people， with a wide range of cardiac， renal， joint， and cancerous hazards and all-cause mortality associations. Western medicine treatment has limitations such as large liver and kidney damage， medication restriction， and easy recurrence. The intestine is the major extra-renal excretion pathway for uric acid （UA）， and the intestinal microecology can be regulated to promote UA degradation. It offers great potential to develop UA-lowering strategies that target the intestinal microecology， which are promising to provide safer and more effective therapeutic approaches. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） can treat HUA via multiple targets and multiple pathways from a holistic view， with low toxicity and side effects. Studies have shown that intestinal microecology is a crucial target for TCM in the treatment of HUA. However， its specific mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated. Focusing on the key role of intestinal microecology in HUA， this review explores the relationship between intestinal microecology and HUA in terms of intestinal flora， intestinal metabolites， intestinal UA transporters， and intestinal barriers. Furthermore， we summarize the research progress in TCM treatment of HUA by targeting the intestinal microecology， with the aim of providing references for the development of TCM intervention strategies for HUA and the direction of future research.

BACKGROUND:Recent research indicates that disc degeneration is closely related to abnormal stress load,and mechanotransduction proteins play a key role in it. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the role and mechanism of mechanotransduction proteins in the mechanotransduction process induced by abnormal mechanical stimulation in disc degeneration,and to summarize the current treatment strategies targeting mechanotransduction to delay intervertebral disc degeneration. METHODS:Using"intervertebral disc,nucleus pulposus,annulus fibrosus,cartilaginous endplate,cell,mechanics,signal transduction,protein,biomechanics"as Chinese search terms,and"intervertebral disc,nucleus pulposus,annulus fibrosus,cartilaginous endplate,cell,mechanical stimulation,signal transduction,protein,biomechanics"as English search terms,relevant literature in the PubMed and CNKI databases was searched.A total of 88 articles were ultimately included for review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Disc cells can sense external mechanical stimulation through various mechanotransduction proteins and convert it into biological responses within the cells.These transduction proteins mainly include collagen proteins in the extracellular matrix,cell membrane surface receptors(such as integrins and ion channels),and cytoskeleton structural proteins.Their regulation of mechanotransduction processes primarily involves the activation of multiple pathways,such as the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway,nuclear factor-kB signaling pathway,and Ca2+/Calpain2/Caspase3 pathway.Mechanotransduction proteins play a key role in the mechanotransduction of disc cells.Abnormal expression of these proteins or resulting changes in the extracellular matrix environment can disrupt the mechanical balance of disc cells,leading to disc degeneration.In-depth study of the expression and regulatory mechanisms of mechanotransduction proteins in disc cells,and identification of key pathological links and therapeutic targets,is of significant importance for developing treatment strategies for disc degeneration.Current strategies to delay intervertebral disc degeneration by targeting mechanotransduction mainly include regulation of transduction proteins and improvement of the extracellular matrix.However,research in this area is still in its early stages.As research continues,new breakthroughs are expected in the regulation of disc degeneration by mechanotransduction proteins.

As new evidence emerges, treatment strategies toward the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B are evolving. In 2019, a panel of national hepatologists published a Consensus Statement on the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B. Currently, an international group of hepatologists has been assembled to evaluate research since the publication of the original consensus, and to collaboratively develop the updated statements. The 2.0 Consensus was aimed to update the original consensus with the latest available studies, and provide a comprehensive overview of the current relevant scientific literatures regarding functional cure of hepatitis B, with a particular focus on issues that are not yet fully clarified. These cover the definition of functional cure of hepatitis B, its mechanisms and barriers, the effective strategies and treatment roadmap to achieve this endpoint, in particular new surrogate biomarkers used to measure efficacy or to predict response, and the appropriate approach to pursuing a functional cure in special populations, the development of emerging antivirals and immunomodulators with potential for curing hepatitis B. The statements are primarily intended to offer international guidance for clinicians in their practice to enhance the functional cure rate of chronic hepatitis B.

As new evidence emerges, treatment strategies toward the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B are evolving. In 2019, a panel of national hepatologists published a Consensus Statement on the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B. Currently, an international group of hepatologists has been assembled to evaluate research since the publication of the original consensus, and to collaboratively develop the updated statements. The 2.0 Consensus was aimed to update the original consensus with the latest available studies, and provide a comprehensive overview of the current relevant scientific literatures regarding functional cure of hepatitis B, with a particular focus on issues that are not yet fully clarified. These cover the definition of functional cure of hepatitis B, its mechanisms and barriers, the effective strategies and treatment roadmap to achieve this endpoint, in particular new surrogate biomarkers used to measure efficacy or to predict response, and the appropriate approach to pursuing a functional cure in special populations, the development of emerging antivirals and immunomodulators with potential for curing hepatitis B. The statements are primarily intended to offer international guidance for clinicians in their practice to enhance the functional cure rate of chronic hepatitis B.

As new evidence emerges, treatment strategies toward the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B are evolving. In 2019, a panel of national hepatologists published a Consensus Statement on the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B. Currently, an international group of hepatologists has been assembled to evaluate research since the publication of the original consensus, and to collaboratively develop the updated statements. The 2.0 Consensus was aimed to update the original consensus with the latest available studies, and provide a comprehensive overview of the current relevant scientific literatures regarding functional cure of hepatitis B, with a particular focus on issues that are not yet fully clarified. These cover the definition of functional cure of hepatitis B, its mechanisms and barriers, the effective strategies and treatment roadmap to achieve this endpoint, in particular new surrogate biomarkers used to measure efficacy or to predict response, and the appropriate approach to pursuing a functional cure in special populations, the development of emerging antivirals and immunomodulators with potential for curing hepatitis B. The statements are primarily intended to offer international guidance for clinicians in their practice to enhance the functional cure rate of chronic hepatitis B.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) presents with a diverse range of symptoms that can affect the skin, bones, eyes, central nervous system, and other organs. This article reports the diagnosis and treatment process of a patient with NF1 complicated by bilateral severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss. Genetic testing revealed a heterozygous variant of NF1 NM_ 000267.3: c.4054_ 4058del(p.Ser1352LeufsTer20, supporting the diagnosis of NF1. After thorough evaluation, a right cochlear implantation was performed, yielding satisfactory postoperative results. This case suggests that NF1 patients may exhibit phenotypic heterogeneity and atypicality, providing a reference for clinicians in the diagnosis and treatment of such patients.

This study aims to investigate the effect of salvianolic acid B (Sal B), the active ingredient of Salvia miltiorrhiza, on H9C2 cardiomyocytes injured by oxygen and glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) through regulating mitochondrial fission and fusion. The process of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury was simulated by establishing OGD/R model. The cell proliferation and cytotoxicity detection kit (cell counting kit-8, CCK-8) was used to detect cell viability; the kit method was used to detect intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), total glutathione (t-GSH), nitric oxide (NO) content, protein expression levels of mitochondrial fission and fusion, apoptosis-related detection by Western blot. Mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) detection kit and Hoechst 33342 fluorescence was used to observe the opening level of MPTP, and molecular docking technology was used to determine the molecular target of Sal B. The results showed that relative to control group, OGD/R injury reduced cell viability, increased the content of ROS, decreased the content of t-GSH and NO. Furthermore, OGD/R injury increased the protein expression levels of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), mitofusions 2 (Mfn2), Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 3 (caspase 3), and decreased the protein expression levels of Mfn1, increased MPTP opening level. Compared with the OGD/R group, it was observed that Sal B had a protective effect at concentrations ranging from 6.25 to 100 μmol·L^-1. Sal B decreased the content of ROS, increased the content of t-GSH and NO, and Western blot showed that Sal B decreased the protein expression levels of Drp1, Mfn2, Bax and caspase 3, increased the protein expression level of Mfn1, and decreased the opening level of MPTP. In summary, Sal B may inhibit the opening of MPTP, reduce cell apoptosis and reduce OGD/R damage in H9C2 cells by regulating the balance of oxidation and anti-oxidation, mitochondrial fission and fusion, thereby providing a scientific basis for the use of Sal B in the treatment of myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury.

Objective To investigate the value of peripheral blood soluble interleukin-2 receptor(sIL-2R),CD4+lymphocyte percentage/CD8+lymphocyte percentage ratio(hereinafter referred to as CD4+/CD8+)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in evaluating the efficacy of chemotherapy in elderly patients with newly treated active pulmonary tuberculosis.Methods A total of 102 elderly patients with newly treated active tu-berculosis admitted to the hospital from December 2019 to December 2022 were enrolled in the study as the observation group,and 102 healthy people aged 60 and older who underwent physical examination in the hos-pital during the same period were enrolled as the control group.The levels of sIL-2R,TNF-α and CD4+/CD8+in peripheral blood were compared between the two groups,and the correlations between sIL-2R,TNF-α and CD4+/CD8+were analyzed.The observation group was treated with 2HRZE/4HR anti-tuberculosis treatment regimen.The levels of sIL-2R,TNF-α and CD4+/CD8+in peripheral blood of patients with different efficacy before treatment,1 month and 6 months after treatment in the observation group were compared.The correla-tion between sIL-2R,CD4+/CD8+,TNF-α levels and therapeutic effect was analyzed.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the efficacy of indicators in evaluating the efficacy of chemo-therapy in elderly patients.Results The levels of sIL-2R and TNF-α in the observation group were higher than those in the control group,while CD4+/CD8+was lower than that in the control group,and the differ-ences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).In the observation group,sIL-2R and TNF-α were negatively correlated with CD4+/CD8+(P＜0.05),sIL-2R was positively correlated with TNF-α(P＜0.05).After 1 month and 6 months of treatment,the levels of sIL-2R and TNF-α in patients with apparent efficacy were low-er than those in patients with efficacy,and the latter were lower than those in patients with no effect,while the CD4+/CD8+in patients with apparent efficacy was higher than that in patients with efficacy,and the latter was higher than that in patients with no efficacy,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).The levels of sIL-2R and TNF-α were negatively correlated with the efficacy(P＜0.05),and CD4+/CD8+was positively correlated with the efficacy(P＜0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of sIL-2R,CD4+/CD8+,and TNF-α used in combination to assess efficacy was significantly greater than the AUCs of the single indicators used in the assessment at each time point of treatment(P＜0.05),and the AUC of the combination of the indicators was greater after 6 months of treatment than after 1 month of treatment(P＜0.05).Conclusion The levels of sIL-2R,CD4+/CD8+and TNF-α are closely related to the ef-ficacy of chemotherapy in elderly patients with newly treated active pulmonary tuberculosis,and the combina-tion of the above indicators has certain reference value in evaluating the efficacy of chemotherapy in patients.

Objective To explore the characteristics of myocardial injury in patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI)complicated by pleural effusion and its effect on long-term prognosis.Methods It was a prospective single-center study.Patients with AMI who were admitted to hospital within 15 days from symptom onset and performed echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging(CMR)during hospitalization were consecutively enrolled and assigned to the with-pleural effusion group and the without-pleural effusion group according to the echocardiography result.Baseline data,cardiac magnetic resonance myocardial injury index and echocardiography characteristics were compared between the two groups.The occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events(MACCE)was recorded through outpatient follow-up and telephone follow-up,including all-cause death,re-infarction,revascularization,rehospitalization for congestive heart failure and stroke.Cox regression analysis was performed to analyze influencing factors of all-cause death.Results Among 211 patients,31(14.7%)patients had pleural effusion and 180(85.3%)had no pleural effusion.Compared with the group without pleural effusion,the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was larger,and left ventricular ejection fraction assessed by echocardiography was lower in the group with pleural effusion(P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in infarct size,left ventricular end-diastolic volume,left ventricular end-systolic volume,left ventricular ejection fraction and the presence of microvascular obstruction and intramyocardial hemorrhage between the two groups in CMR(all P＞0.05).At a median follow-up of 31 months,MACCE occurred in 43(20.4%)patients,and there was no significant difference between the two groups(χ2=3.160,P=0.075).Six cases(2.8%)had all-cause death.The incidence of all-cause death was higher in the group with pleural effusion than that in the group without pleural effusion(9.7%vs.1.7%,P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of other adverse events between the two groups(P＞0.05).Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that advanced age and presence of pleural effusion were independent risk factors of all-cause death during follow-up.Conclusion Patients with AMI combined with pleural effusion have more severe myocardial injury and higher all-cause mortality.