ObjectiveTo analyze the trend of lung cancer incidence in Fenghua District, Ningbo City of Zhejiang Province from 2009 to 2023, and to estimate the age-period- cohort effects of incidence rate, so as to provide scientific basis for the formulation of lung cancer prevention and control measures in Fenghua District. MethodsJoinpoint software was utilized to analyze the trends and calculate the average annual percentage change (AAPC) of lung cancer incidence based on the tumor incidence surveillance data from Fenghua District, 2009‒2023. The age-period-cohort (APC) model for lung cancer incidence was analyzed using STATA 17.0 software, and net drift and local drift of lung cancer incidence rates were analyzed using online analytical tools. ResultsThe incidence of lung cancer in Fenghua District showed an overall upward trend from 2009 to 2023, with the standardized incidence rate increasing from 45.05/100 000 in 2009 to 108.20/100 000 in 2023(AAPC=7.05%, P<0.05). The increase in the standardized incidence rate for females (AAPC=12.72%, P<0.05) was higher than that for males (AAPC=2.97%, P<0.05). The overall net drift in lung cancer incidence for residents of Fenghua District was 11.71%, with the net drift for females (16.54%) being higher than that for males (6.64%). The local drift in lung cancer incidence among different age groups ranged from -3.37% to 35.18%. The results of APC model showed that the risk of lung cancer incidence increased and then decreased with age, with the highest age effect coefficient observed in the 65‒69 years age group at 1.08. The period effect showed a gradually increasing trend in lung cancer incidence risk with the progression of time, and the period effect coefficient in 2019‒2023 (0.46) was higher than that in 2009‒2013 (-0.39), increasing by 217.95%. The cohort effect coefficient showed a trend of first decreasing and then increasing with the expansion of the birth cohort, in which the lowest cohort effect coefficient was -1.07 observed in the birth cohort of 1964‒1968 and the highest cohort effect coefficient was 1.77 in the birth cohort of 1924‒1928. ConclusionThe incidence of lung cancer in Fenghua District shows an upward trend from 2009 to 2023, with a higher increase in incidence rates among females than that in males. The risk of lung cancer incidence exists a trend of increasing and then decreasing with age growth. With the progression of time, the risk of lung cancer incidence shows a gradually increasing trend. However, with the expansion the birth cohort, the risk of lung cancer incidence demonstrates a trend of first decreasing and then increasing.

ObjectiveTraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitutes a valuable cultural heritage and an important source of antitumor compounds. Poria (Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf), the dried sclerotium of a polyporaceae fungus, was first documented in Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica and has been used therapeutically and dietarily in China for millennia. Traditionally recognized for its diuretic, spleen-tonifying, and sedative properties, modern pharmacological studies confirm that Poria exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antitumor activities. Pachymic acid (PA; a triterpenoid with the chemical structure 3β-acetyloxy-16α-hydroxy-lanosta-8,24(31)-dien-21-oic acid), isolated from Poria, is a principal bioactive constituent. Emerging evidence indicates PA exerts antitumor effects through multiple mechanisms, though these remain incompletely characterized. Neuroblastoma (NB), a highly malignant pediatric extracranial solid tumor accounting for 15% of childhood cancer deaths, urgently requires safer therapeutics due to the limitations of current treatments. Although PA shows multi-mechanistic antitumor potential, its efficacy against NB remains uncharacterized. This study systematically investigated the potential molecular targets and mechanisms underlying the anti-NB effects of PA by integrating network pharmacology-based target prediction with experimental validation of multi-target interactions through molecular docking, dynamic simulations, and in vitro assays, aimed to establish a novel perspective on PA’s antitumor activity and explore its potential clinical implications for NB treatment by integrating computational predictions with biological assays. MethodsThis study employed network pharmacology to identify potential targets of PA in NB, followed by validation using molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, MM/PBSA free energy analysis, RT-qPCR and Western blot experiments. Network pharmacology analysis included target screening via TCMSP, GeneCards, DisGeNET, SwissTargetPrediction, SuperPred, and PharmMapper. Subsequently, potential targets were predicted by intersecting the results from these databases via Venn analysis. Following target prediction, topological analysis was performed to identify key targets using Cytoscape software. Molecular docking was conducted using AutoDock Vina, with the binding pocket defined based on crystal structures. MD simulations were performed for 100 ns using GROMACS, and RMSD, RMSF, SASA, and hydrogen bonding dynamics were analyzed. MM/PBSA calculations were carried out to estimate the binding free energy of each protein-ligand complex. In vitro validation included RT-qPCR and Western blot, with GAPDH used as an internal control. ResultsThe CCK-8 assay demonstrated a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect of PA on NB cell viability. GO analysis suggested that the anti-NB activity of PA might involve cellular response to chemical stress, vesicle lumen, and protein tyrosine kinase activity. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis suggested that the anti-NB activity of PA might involve the PI3K/AKT, MAPK, and Ras signaling pathways. Molecular docking and MD simulations revealed stable binding interactions between PA and the core target proteins AKT1, EGFR, SRC, and HSP90AA1. RT-qPCR and Western blot analyses further confirmed that PA treatment significantly decreased the mRNA and protein expression of AKT1, EGFR, and SRC while increasing the HSP90AA1 mRNA and protein levels. ConclusionIt was suggested that PA may exert its anti-NB effects by inhibiting AKT1, EGFR, and SRC expression, potentially modulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. These findings provide crucial evidence supporting PA’s development as a therapeutic candidate for NB.

It has become an industry consensus that self-assembled nanoparticles (SAN) are formed by molecular recognition of chemical components in traditional Chinese medicine during the decoction process. The insoluble components in the decoction are mostly in the form of nanoparticles, which can improve the problem of poor water solubility. However, the transfer rate of these insoluble components in the decoction is still very low, which limits the efficacy of the drug. This study aimed to refine the traditional decoction self-assembly phenomenon. The self-assembled nanoparticles were constructed by micro-precipitation method (MP-SAN), and characterized by particle size, zeta potential, stability index and morphology. The formation of MP-SAN and alterations in related physicochemical properties were evaluated using modern spectroscopic and thermal analysis techniques. The quality value transmitting pattern of lignan components within the MP-SAN was assessed via high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The MP-SAN showed sphere-like structure with uniform morphology, particle size of (245.3 ± 3.2) nm, polydispersity index (PDI) of (0.13 ± 0.03), zeta potential of (-48.9 ± 5.9) mV and stability index (SI) of (86.05% ± 2.27%). Comprehensive analyses using ultraviolet visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and other techniques confirmed molecular recognition between the decoction and ethanol extraction, leading to electron rearrangement under the influence of non-covalent bonding. This resulted in the formation of nanoparticles possessing superior thermal stability. As determined by HPLC, the encapsulation rates of the index components in the MP-SAN were all greater than 75% (dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol: 77.00%; herpetolide A: 78.57%; herpetrione: 94.53%), and the transfer rates were all higher than 65% (dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol: 96.01%; herpetolide A: 67.86%; herpetrione: 65.55%), which were 1.34, 1.38 and 4.81 times compared with those of the traditional decoction. In summary, this study successfully constructed the MP-SAN based on micro-precipitation method to achieve high transfer rate and high encapsulation rate of insoluble components in docoction, which provides a pharmaceutics idea for the efficient utilization of pharmacodynamic substance basis of traditional Chinese medicine.

Objective To discuss the methods,efficacy,and safety of endovascular treatment for ruptured pseudoaneurysm hemorrhage of internal carotid artery(ICA)after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC).Methods The clinical data of 21 patients with ruptured pseudoaneurysm hemorrhage of ICA after radiotherapy for NPC,who were admitted to the Affiliated Union Hospital,Fujian Medical University of China,were retrospectively analyzed.The patient's surgical strategies were analyzed,the therapeutic results and the clinical and imaging follow-up results were summarized.Of the 21 patients,covered stent implantation was carried out in 8,stent-assisted coil embolization was employed in 6,and direct occlusion of parent artery was adopted in 7.Results Successful endovascular treatment was accomplished in all the 21 patients.Excellent hemostatic effect was obtained immediately after surgery.Aneurysm neck residue was observed in 2 patients,and aneurysm body residue was seen in one patients.Postoperative bleeding recurred in 5 patients,in 4 of them the bleeding stopped after once more occlusion of the parent artery,and one patient developed internal leakage after covered stent implantation and the bleeding stopped after balloon dilation,and this patient died of unknown cause one month later.One patient developed coma after covered stent implantation,CT scan demonstrated subarachnoid hemorrhage and brain swelling,and this patient showed no improvement after treatment and was self-discharged from hospital.ICA occlusion was seen in 3 patients during follow-up period,and 2 patients did not receive a postoperative follow-up visit.In the 19 patients who were followed up,the mRS score was 0 point(n=9),1 point(n=6),2 points(n=2),5 points(n=1),and 6 points(n=1).Conclusion For the ruptured pseudoaneurysm hemorrhage of ICA after radiotherapy for NPC,endovascular treatment is highly safe with reliable efficacy.The covered stent implantation carries good short-term efficacy,but there are also problems such as aneurysm recurrence,internal endoleak,etc.The direct occlusion of parent artery may have more reliable long-term efficacy.(J Intervent Radiol,2024,33:304-308)