Under the background of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, together with 15 national ministries and commissions, has formulated the Implementation Plan on Establishing a Carbon Footprint Management System, and it is urgent for traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) pharmaceutical enterprises to carry out research on carbon footprint accounting methods of related products. Based on the life cycle assessment(LCA) theory, taking mulberry leaf extract produced by a certain enterprise as an example, this study analyzed the carbon footprint of TCM extracts during the life cycle. The results show that for every 1 kg of product produced, the carbon emissions from the stages of raw material acquisition, transportation, and extract production are-20.569, 1.205, and 173.577 kgCO_2eq(CO_2 equivalent), respectively. The carbon footprint of the product is 154.213 kgCO_2eq·kg~(-1). In addition, the carbon emission is the highest in the production stage, in which the consumption of ethanol solvents makes the greatest contribution to the carbon footprint, accounting for 25.71%, more than one-fourth of the total carbon footprint. The second contribution was from the treatment process of TCM residues, accounting for 19.67%, closely followed by wastewater treatment(17.71%), the consumption of hot steam(17.43%), and drinking water(16.90%). The consumption of electric power and packaging materials has a smaller carbon emission of 2.58%. In particular, the carbon emission caused by the consumption of packaging materials is only 0.04%, which is negligible. The results of the study are expected to provide a reference for TCM enterprises to carry out research on the carbon footprint of products, offer ideas for collaborative innovation in reducing pollution and carbon emissions throughout the entire industry chain of TCM, and develop new quality productivity of modern TCM industry based on green and low-carbon manufacturing.
Morus/chemistry* ; Plant Leaves/chemistry* ; Carbon Footprint ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Plant Extracts/analysis* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Aromatic immunity in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) is the medical knowledge accumulated in the process of people's struggling with diseases. It plays an important role in plague prevention, disease treatment, health preservation, and rehabilitation, and has profound TCM basic theoretical support and abundant modern scientific evidence. With the in-depth promotion of the Healthy China initiative and the succession of health needs in the post-COVID-19 era, how to practice the health concept of aromatic immunity in TCM and develop its health service resources with high quality has become an important proposition to be discussed urgently. This paper summarizes the cognitive process, puts forward the basic concept, discusses the scientific connotation and clinical application value, and looks forward to the future development trend of aromatic immunity in TCM, aiming to provide guidance for the development of great health products and promote the application of aromatic immunity in TCM in serving people's health.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Humans ; COVID-19/immunology* ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; SARS-CoV-2

To explore the variation laws of volatile oil during the extraction process of Artemisiae Argyi Folium and its impact on the quality of the medicinal solution, as well as to achieve precise control of the extraction process, this study employed headspace solid phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(HS-SPME-GC-MS) in combination with multiple light scattering techniques to conduct a comprehensive analysis, identification, and characterization of the changes in volatile components and the physical properties of the medicinal solution during the extraction process. A total of 82 volatile compounds were identified using the HS-SPME-GC-MS technique, including 21 alcohols, 15 alkenes, 14 ketones, 9 acids, 6 aldehydes, 5 phenols, 3 esters, and 9 other types of compounds. At different extraction time points(15, 30, 45, and 60 min), 71, 72, 64, and 44 compounds were identified in the medicinal solution, respectively. It was observed that the content of volatile components gradually decreased with the extension of extraction time. Through multivariate statistical analysis, four compounds with significant differences during different extraction time intervals were identified, namely 1,8-cineole, terpinen-4-ol, 3-octanone, and camphor. RESULTS:: from multiple light scattering techniques indicated that at 15 minutes of extraction, the transmittance of the medicinal solution was the lowest(25%), the particle size was the largest(0.325-0.350 nm), and the stability index(turbiscan stability index, TSI) was the highest(0-2.5). With the extension of extraction time, the light transmittance of the medicinal solution improved, stability was enhanced, and the particle size decreased. These laws of physicochemical property changes provide important basis for the control of Artemisiae Argyi Folium extraction process. In addition, the changes in the bioactivity of Artemisiae Argyi Folium extracts during the extraction process were investigated through mouse writhing tests and antimicrobial assays. The results indicated that the analgesic and antimicrobial effects of the medicinal solution were strongest at the 15-minute extracting point. In summary, the findings of this study demonstrate that the content of volatile oil in Artemisiae Argyi Folium extracts gradually decreases with the extension of extraction time, and the variation in volatile oil content directly influences the physicochemical properties and pharmacological efficacy of the medicinal solution. This discovery provides important scientific reference for the optimization of Artemisiae Argyi Folium extraction processes and the development and application of process analytical technologies.
Oils, Volatile/pharmacology* ; Artemisia/chemistry* ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Chlorogenic Acid/pharmacology* ; Solid Phase Microextraction ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of Yiqi tongmai formula on atherosclerosis （AS） in ApoE－/－ mice and its mechanism. METHODS Forty ApoE－/－ mice were randomly divided into model group， positive control group [atorvastatin calcium， 2.6 mg/（kg·d）]， and low-dose， medium-dose and high-dose groups of Yiqi tongmai formula [0.46， 0.91， 1.82 g/（kg·d）， by raw material]， with 8 mice in each group. Eight C57BL/6J mice were selected as the normal group. Except for the normal group， the other groups were given a high-lipid diet and relevant drug or normal saline intragastrically， once a day， for 12 consecutive weeks. After the last medication， the serum levels of total cholesterol （TC）， triglyceride （TG）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C） and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C） as well as the contents of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 （MCP-1） were measured in mice. The proportion of aortic plaque area in each group of mice was detected and calculated， and the pathological morphological changes of the aortic sinus were observed； the protein phosphorylation levels of aortic phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K）， protein kinase B （aka Akt） and mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR） were examined. RESULTS Compared with the model group， the serum levels of TC， TG and LDL-C and the contents of TNF-α， IL-1β and MCP-1 （including low-dose group） were decreased significantly in medium-dose and high-dose groups of Yiqi tongmai formula， while the content of HDL-C in high-dose group was increased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； aortic plaques of the mice were reduced in Yiqi tongmai formula groups to different extents， and pathological changes such as lipid deposition and inflammatory cell infiltration were relieved to different extents； the proportion of aortic plaque area， the protein phosphorylation levels of PI3K， Akt and mTOR in aortic tissue were significantly reduced in medium-dose and high-dose groups of Yiqi tongmai formula （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS Yiqi tongmai formula can improve lipid metabolism， reduce inflammatory response， and delay plaque development in AS mice. Its effect may be related to the inhibition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway activation.

S100 calc-binding protein A8/A9(S100A8/A9)can induce the migration of primary tumor cells to distant target organs by binding multiple channel proteins,promote the formation of tumor metastasis microenvironment,and play an important role in the immune and inflammatory response of the body.It provides a new target and idea for the prevention and treatment of tumor metastasis and invasion.This paper mainly reviewed the expression and mechanism of S100A8/A9 on related channel proteins in a variety of high incidence tumors,in order to provide a new strategy for tumor prevention,diagnosis and treatment.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Yiqi Tongxin formula （YQTM） on liver inflammation in apolipoprotein E^-∕- （ApoE^-∕-） mice by regulating the nuclear transcription factor-κB （NF-κB）/NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） signaling pathway. MethodForty ApoE^-∕- mice were randomly divided into a model group， an atorvastatin group （positive drug group）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose YQTM groups （0.39， 0.78， 1.56 g·kg^-1）. Each drug administration group was given the corresponding concentration of the drug by gavage on the basis of high-fat feeding for 12 consecutive weeks. Eight C57BL/6J mice were used as a blank group and fed with normal chow. After 12 weeks， oil red O staining and Masson staining were used to observe the aortic lesions in mice and to determine whether the modeling was successful. Oil red O staining was used to observe the lipidosis in the livers of mice. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe the tissue lesions in the livers of mice. Masson staining was used to observe the distribution of collagen fibers in the livers of mice. Enzyme markers were used to detect the total cholesterol （TC）， triglyceride （TG）， low-density lipoprotein （LDL-C）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， and alanine aminotransferase （ALT） in mouse serum， as well as total cholesterol （TC） and triglyceride （TG） in the liver. Interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and IL-18 were detected in mouse liver by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Immunohistochemistry （IHC） was utilized to observe the expression regions of NF-κB and NLRP3 in the livers of mice. Western blot was employed to detect the protein expression levels of NF-κB， NF-κB inhibitory protein （IκB）， IκB kinase β （IKKβ）， phosphorylated NF-κB （p-NF-κB）， phosphorylated IκB （p-IκB）， phosphorylated IKK β （p-IKKβ）， NLRP3， and Caspase-1 in the livers of mice. ResultCompared with the blank group， the model group showed severe aortic lipidosis， and the intracellular fat droplets in the livers aggregated in large quantities. The cytoplasm was filled with fat vacuoles（P<0.01）. The serum levels of TG， TC， LDL-C， AST， and ALT were significantly elevated in the mice（P<0.01）. TG and TC levels were elevated in the liver（P<0.01）. The levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in liver tissue， as well as the protein expression levels of NF-κB， IκB， IKKβ， p-NF-κB， p-IκB， p-IKKβ， NLRP3， and Caspase-1 in the liver were significantly elevated（P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the aortic arch plaques of mice in each YQTM group were attenuated， and the fat aggregation in the liver was reduced. The inflammatory cell infiltration was alleviated（P<0.05，P<0.01）. The serum levels of TG， TC， LDL-C， AST， and ALT were significantly reduced（P<0.05，P<0.01）. TG and TC levels in the liver were reduced. The IL-1β and IL-18 levels in liver tissue， as well as protein expression levels of NF-κB， IκB， IKKβ， p-NF-κB， p-IκB， p-IKKβ， NLRP3， and Caspase-1 in the liver were significantly reduced（P<0.05，P<0.01）. ConclusionThe intervention mechanism of YQTM on liver inflammation in ApoE^-∕- mice may be related to the down-regulation of the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway.

In the past few decades, microbubbles were widely used as ultrasound contrast agents in the field of tumor imaging. With the development of research, ultrasound targeted microbubble destruction technology combined with drug-loaded microbubbles can achieve precise drug release and play a therapeutic role. As a micron-scale carrier, microbubbles are difficult to penetrate the endothelial cell space of tumors, and nano-scale drug delivery system—nanobubbles came into being. The structure of the two is similar, but the difference in size highlights the unique advantages of nanobubbles in drug delivery. Based on the classification principle of shell materials, this review summarized micro/nanobubbles used for ultrasound diagnosis or treatment and discussed the possible development directions, providing references for the subsequent development.

Based on the strategy of metabolomics combined with bioinformatics, this study analyzed the potential allergens and mechanism of pseudo-allergic reactions (PARs) induced by the combined use of Reduning injection and penicillin G injection. All animal experiments and welfare are in accordance with the requirements of the First Affiliated Experimental Animal Ethics and Animal Welfare Committee of Henan University of Chinese Medicine (approval number: YFYDW2020002). Based on UPLC-Q-TOF/MS technology combined with UNIFI software, a total of 21 compounds were identified in Reduning and penicillin G mixed injection. Based on molecular docking technology, 10 potential allergens with strong binding activity to MrgprX2 agonist sites were further screened. Metabolomics analysis using UPLC-Q-TOF/MS technology revealed that 34 differential metabolites such as arachidonic acid, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, prostaglandins, and leukotrienes were endogenous differential metabolites of PARs caused by combined use of Reduning injection and penicillin G injection. Through the analysis of the "potential allergen-target-endogenous differential metabolite" interaction network, the chlorogenic acids (such as chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, and isochlorogenic acid A) and β-lactam allergens in the combination of the two may be mainly regulated by PLD1, PLA2G12A and CYP1A1. The three upstream signal target proteins mainly activate the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway, promote the degranulation of mast cells, release downstream endogenous inflammatory mediators, and induce PARs.

Objective To analyze the factors affecting pathological complete response(pCR)of triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC)patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy,and construct a nomogram to forecast the pCR rate.Methods The clinical and pathological data of 348 TNBC patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the Air Force Medical University-Affiliated Xijing Hospital from May 2018 to May 2021 were collected and set as modeling set.The clinical and pathological data of 69 TNBC patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the Xi'an No.3 Hospital from May 2018 to May 2021 were collected and set as validation set.The clinical and pathological characteristics were compared between the modeling set and the validation set.In the modeling set,the independent risk factors of pCR in TNBC patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy were screened by LASSO regression model analysis,and the nomogram model was constructed.Internal validation of the model was conducted using Bootstrap method,and the discrimination of the model was assessed by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.The accuracy of the model was evaluated by the calibration curve and the clinical benefits and application value of the model were evaluated by clinical decision curve analysis(DCA).Results There were significant differences in surgical method and T stage between the patients in modeling set and validation set(P<0.05).The results of analysis of LASSO regression model showed that T stage,N stage,the use of platinum drugs and clinical efficacy evaluation were independent risk factors of pCR in TNBC patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy(P<0.05).Based on the above variables,the nomogram models were constructed.In modeling set,area under curve(AUC)was 0.811(95%CI 0.763-0.859);in validation set,AUC was 0.801(95%CI 0.727-0.928).The Bootstrap method showed the C-index for internal validation was 0.79,indicating the model has good discrimination in both the modeling and validation sets.The calibration curve analysis showed that model predicted pCR rates had a good consistency with the actual observed values,and the DCA showed that model can bring clinical benefit.Conclusion The nomogram can accurately predict the pCR rates of TNBC patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and provide scientific basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Further evidence is needed to explore the impact of high-altitude environments on the neurologic function of neonates.Non-invasive techniques such as cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy and amplitude-integrated electroencephalography can provide data on cerebral oxygenation and brain electrical activity.This study will conduct multiple cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy and amplitude-integrated electroencephalography monitoring sessions at various time points within the first 3 days postpartum for healthy full-term neonates at different altitudes.The obtained data on cerebral oxygenation and brain electrical activity will be compared between different altitudes,and corresponding reference ranges will be established.The study involves 6 participating centers in the Chinese High Altitude Neonatal Medicine Alliance,with altitude gradients divided into 4 categories:800 m,1 900 m,2 400 m,and 3 500 m,with an anticipated sample size of 170 neonates per altitude gradient.This multicenter prospective cohort study aims to provide evidence supporting the impact of high-altitude environments on early brain function and metabolism in neonates.[Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics,2024,26(4):403-409]