ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of action of Paeoniae Radix Rubra and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata （CSFZ） in the treatment of acute-on-chronic liver failure （ACLF） through network pharmacology， molecular docking， and animal experiments. MethodsNetwork pharmacology was used to identify potential targets and related signaling pathways for the treatment of ACLF with CSFZ. Molecular docking was used to examine the binding activity of the core components with corresponding key targets. An ACLF rat model was established by subcutaneous and tail vein injections of bovine serum albumin combined with lipopolysaccharide （LPS） + D-galactosamine （D-GalN） intraperitoneal injection. A normal control group （NC）， a model group， a CSFZ group （CSFZ， 5.85 g·kg^-1）， and a hepatocyte growth-promoting granule group （HGFG， 4.05 g·kg^-1） were set up in this study. Pathological changes in rat liver tissue were observed using hematoxylin and eosin （HE） and Masson staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the expression levels of interleukin-6 （IL-6）， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， Caspase-3， and albumin （ALB）. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot were used to measure the mRNA and protein expression levels of phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K）， protein kinase B （Akt）， phosphorylated PI3K （p-PI3K）， and phosphorylated Akt （p-Akt）. ResultsNetwork pharmacology screening identified 49 active ingredients of CSFZ， 103 action targets， and 3 317 targets related to ACLF. Among these， 74 targets overlapped with CSFZ drug targets. Key nodes in the protein-protein interaction （PPI） network included Akt1， tumor necrosis factor （TNF）， IL-6， Bcl-2， and Caspase-3. Gene Ontology （GO） functional analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） enrichment analysis identified multiple signaling pathways， with the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway being the most frequent. Molecular docking showed that the core components of the drug exhibited good binding activity with the corresponding key targets. Animal experiments confirmed that CSFZ significantly improved liver tissue pathological damage in ACLF rats， reduced the release of inflammatory factors and liver cell apoptosis， and upregulated the expression levels of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. ConclusionThrough network pharmacology， molecular docking， and in vivo experiments， this study confirms the effect of CSFZ in reducing liver cell inflammatory damage and inhibiting liver cell apoptosis. The specific mechanism may be related to its involvement in regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a central neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive decline and memory impairment in clinical. Currently, there are no effective treatments for AD. In recent years, a variety of therapeutic approaches from different perspectives have been explored to treat AD. Although the drug therapies targeted at the clearance of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) had made a breakthrough in clinical trials, there were associated with adverse events. Neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the onset and progression of AD. Continuous neuroinflammatory was considered to be the third major pathological feature of AD, which could promote the formation of extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. At the same time, these toxic substances could accelerate the development of neuroinflammation, form a vicious cycle, and exacerbate disease progression. Reducing neuroinflammation could break the feedback loop pattern between neuroinflammation, Aβ plaque deposition and Tau tangles, which might be an effective therapeutic strategy for treating AD. Traditional Chinese herbs such as Polygonum multiflorum and Curcuma were utilized in the treatment of AD due to their ability to mitigate neuroinflammation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and indomethacin had been shown to reduce the level of inflammasomes in the body, and taking these drugs was associated with a low incidence of AD. Biosynthetic nanomaterials loaded with oxytocin were demonstrated to have the capability to anti-inflammatory and penetrate the blood-brain barrier effectively, and they played an anti-inflammatory role via sustained-releasing oxytocin in the brain. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells could reduce neuroinflammation and inhibit the activation of microglia. The secretion of mesenchymal stem cells could not only improve neuroinflammation, but also exert a multi-target comprehensive therapeutic effect, making it potentially more suitable for the treatment of AD. Enhancing the level of TREM2 in microglial cells using gene editing technologies, or application of TREM2 antibodies such as Ab-T1, hT2AB could improve microglial cell function and reduce the level of neuroinflammation, which might be a potential treatment for AD. Probiotic therapy, fecal flora transplantation, antibiotic therapy, and dietary intervention could reshape the composition of the gut microbiota and alleviate neuroinflammation through the gut-brain axis. However, the drugs of sodium oligomannose remain controversial. Both exercise intervention and electromagnetic intervention had the potential to attenuate neuroinflammation, thereby delaying AD process. This article focuses on the role of drug therapy, gene therapy, stem cell therapy, gut microbiota therapy, exercise intervention, and brain stimulation in improving neuroinflammation in recent years, aiming to provide a novel insight for the treatment of AD by intervening neuroinflammation in the future.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative condition characterized by progressive cognitive decline and memory loss. As the incidence of AD continues to rise annually, researchers have shown keen interest in the active components found in natural plants and their neuroprotective effects against AD. Quercetin, a flavonol widely present in fruits and vegetables, has multiple biological effects including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant. Oxidative stress plays a central role in the pathogenesis of AD, and the antioxidant properties of quercetin are essential for its neuroprotective function. Quercetin can modulate multiple signaling pathways related to AD, such as Nrf2-ARE, JNK, p38 MAPK, PON2, PI3K/Akt, and PKC, all of which are closely related to oxidative stress. Furthermore, quercetin is capable of inhibiting the aggregation of β‑amyloid protein (Aβ) and the phosphorylation of tau protein, as well as the activity of β‑secretase 1 and acetylcholinesterase, thus slowing down the progression of the disease.The review also provides insights into the pharmacokinetic properties of quercetin, including its absorption, metabolism, and excretion, as well as its bioavailability challenges and clinical applications. To improve the bioavailability and enhance the targeting of quercetin, the potential of quercetin nanomedicine delivery systems in the treatment of AD is also discussed. In summary, the multifaceted mechanisms of quercetin against AD provide a new perspective for drug development. However, translating these findings into clinical practice requires overcoming current limitations and ongoing research. In this way, its therapeutic potential in the treatment of AD can be fully utilized.

OBJECTIVE To provide a reference for the selection of anti-infection schemes and pharmaceutical monitoring of pulmonary infection due to Alternaria alternata after renal transplantation. METHODS The clinical pharmacist was involved in the anti-infective treatment of a patient with pulmonary infection caused by A. alternata after renal transplantation. After considering the patient’s clinical symptoms， laboratory test results， and pertinent literature， clinical pharmacists determined that the patient may have developed pulmonary infection as a result of respiratory allergy due to A. alternata. The potential for infections from both Legionella and adenovirus remained a possibility. Oral administration of Voriconazole tablets was recommended for fungal therapy， while Moxifloxacin tablets were suggested for treating Legionella. Additionally， it was advised to lower the dosage of tacrolimus and stop using ganciclovir. The pharmacists meticulously tracked the patient’s voriconazole trough levels and any adverse effects that might arise during the therapy. RESULTS The physician endorsed the clinical pharmacist’s recommendations， and the patient’s status was steady， permitting discharge. CONCLUSIONS A. alternata is a potential pathogen for immunosuppressed patients， particularly when they also experience respiratory allergic reactions. Voriconazole can serve as the first-line treatment for anti-infection therapy. Clinical pharmacists ensure the patient medication safety by adjusting the dosage of voriconazole， extending the treatment course， monitoring liver and visual functions， and being vigilant about the interaction between voriconazole and immunosuppressants.

Brain’s neural activities encompass both periodic rhythmic oscillations and aperiodic neural fluctuations. Rhythmic oscillations manifest as spectral peaks of neural signals, directly reflecting the synchronized activities of neural populations and closely tied to cognitive and behavioral states. In contrast, aperiodic fluctuations exhibit a power-law decaying spectral trend, revealing the multiscale dynamics of brain neural activity. In recent years, researchers have made notable progress in studying brain aperiodic dynamics. These studies demonstrate that aperiodic activity holds significant physiological relevance, correlating with various physiological states such as external stimuli, drug induction, sleep states, and aging. Aperiodic activity serves as a reflection of the brain’s sensory capacity, consciousness level, and cognitive ability. In clinical research, the aperiodic exponent has emerged as a significant potential biomarker, capable of reflecting the progression and trends of brain diseases while being intricately intertwined with the excitation-inhibition balance of neural system. The physiological mechanisms underlying aperiodic dynamics span multiple neural scales, with activities at the levels of individual neurons, neuronal ensembles, and neural networks collectively influencing the frequency, oscillatory patterns, and spatiotemporal characteristics of aperiodic signals. Aperiodic dynamics currently boasts broad application prospects. It not only provides a novel perspective for investigating brain neural dynamics but also holds immense potential as a neural marker in neuromodulation or brain-computer interface technologies. This paper summarizes methods for extracting characteristic parameters of aperiodic activity, analyzes its physiological relevance and potential as a biomarker in brain diseases, summarizes its physiological mechanisms, and based on these findings, elaborates on the research prospects of aperiodic dynamics.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of clopidogrel on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ciprofol in rats. METHODS Eighteen male SD rats were randomly divided into control group， clopidogrel normal-dose group and clopidogrel high-dose group， with 6 rats in each group. Among them， rats in the normal-dose group and high-dose group were given 7.5 mg/kg and 15 mg/kg clopidogrel by gavage， respectively， and rats in the control group were given the same volume of 0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution， once a day， for 14 consecutive days. Afterward， 2.4 mg/kg ciprofol was injected by tailvein and blood samples were collected from the inner canthus of the eye at 2， 4， 8， 12， 16， 20， 30， 45 and 60 min after the end of the administration. During this period， the duration of the loss of righting reflex （LORR） in rats was counted. After the proteins were precipitated by acetonitrile， the rat plasma sample was analyzed by LC-MS/MS using deuterated ciprofol as the internal standard， Symmetry C18 as the chromatographic column， and acetonitrile-0.01% ammonia solution containing 5 mmol/L ammonium acetate （gradient elution） as the mobile phase to detect the concentration of ciprofol in the plasma. The pharmacokinetic parameters in rats were calculated by using DAS 2.0 software. RESULTS Compared with control group， area under the drug concentration-time curve and mean residence time of ciprofol increased or prolonged significantly， while plasma clearance decreased significantly in clopidogrel normal-dose and high-dose groups； the duration of LORR in rats was prolonged by 19.5% and 23.9%， with statistical difference （P＜0.05）. However， there was no statistically significant difference in the pharmacokinetic parameters or LORR duration of ciprofol between the different dose groups of clopidogrel （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Clopidogrel could inhibit the metabolism of ciprofol in rats and prolong the duration of LORR.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of clopidogrel on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ciprofol in rats. METHODS Eighteen male SD rats were randomly divided into control group， clopidogrel normal-dose group and clopidogrel high-dose group， with 6 rats in each group. Among them， rats in the normal-dose group and high-dose group were given 7.5 mg/kg and 15 mg/kg clopidogrel by gavage， respectively， and rats in the control group were given the same volume of 0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution， once a day， for 14 consecutive days. Afterward， 2.4 mg/kg ciprofol was injected by tailvein and blood samples were collected from the inner canthus of the eye at 2， 4， 8， 12， 16， 20， 30， 45 and 60 min after the end of the administration. During this period， the duration of the loss of righting reflex （LORR） in rats was counted. After the proteins were precipitated by acetonitrile， the rat plasma sample was analyzed by LC-MS/MS using deuterated ciprofol as the internal standard， Symmetry C18 as the chromatographic column， and acetonitrile-0.01% ammonia solution containing 5 mmol/L ammonium acetate （gradient elution） as the mobile phase to detect the concentration of ciprofol in the plasma. The pharmacokinetic parameters in rats were calculated by using DAS 2.0 software. RESULTS Compared with control group， area under the drug concentration-time curve and mean residence time of ciprofol increased or prolonged significantly， while plasma clearance decreased significantly in clopidogrel normal-dose and high-dose groups； the duration of LORR in rats was prolonged by 19.5% and 23.9%， with statistical difference （P＜0.05）. However， there was no statistically significant difference in the pharmacokinetic parameters or LORR duration of ciprofol between the different dose groups of clopidogrel （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Clopidogrel could inhibit the metabolism of ciprofol in rats and prolong the duration of LORR.

BACKGROUND:Deep muscle stimulation has the effects of releasing muscle adhesion,relieving muscle spasm,improving and restoring muscle compliance and elasticity.Electromyographic biofeedback therapy can promote nerve recovery and improve lower limb motor function and gait. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of the effect of deep muscle stimulation combined with electromyographic biofeedback therapy on the spasm of the triceps surae and gait changes after stroke by using a digital muscle detector and three-dimensional gait analysis system. METHODS:A total of 72 patients who met the inclusion criteria were selected from the Rehabilitation Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University from October 2020 to October 2023.And they were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups(n=36 per group):a control group and a combined group.The control group received routine rehabilitation therapies,electromyographic biofeedback and pseudo deep muscle stimulation,while the combined group received true deep muscle stimulation treatment on the basis of the control group,five times per week,for 4 consecutive weeks.The oscillation frequency and dynamic stiffness of the affected gastrocnemius muscle,active range of motion of the ankle dorsiflexion muscle,electromyographic signal of the tibialis anterior muscle,Fugl-Meyer assessment of the lower limbs,and three-dimensional gait analysis parameters were statistically analyzed before and after treatment in two groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After treatment,oscillation frequency and dynamic stiffness values of the inner and outer sides of the affected gastrocnemius muscle in both groups of patients were significantly reduced compared with before treatment(P<0.05),and the combined group showed a more significant decrease compared with the control group(P<0.05).The active range of motion of the ankle dorsiflexion muscle,electromyographic signal of the tibialis anterior muscle,and Fugl-Meyer scores after treatment were significantly increased or improved compared with before treatment(P<0.05),while the combined group showed a more significant increase or improvement compared with the control group(P<0.05).In terms of gait parameters,the walking speed,frequency,and stride in both groups of patients were significantly increased compared with before treatment(P<0.05),while the combined group showed a more significant increase compared with the control group(P<0.05).The percentage time of support phase on the healthy side was shortened compared with before treatment(P<0.05),while the combined group showed a more significant decrease compared with the control group(P<0.05).In addition,there was no significant difference between the two groups except for the percentage of healthy side support(P>0.05).To conclude,the combination of deep muscle stimulation and electromyographic biofeedback can effectively alleviate triceps spasm in the short term after stroke,improve ankle dorsiflexion function,enhance lower limb motor function,and improve gait.The treatment effect is significant and worthy of clinical promotion and application.

BACKGROUND:There have been many studies on biofeedback therapy and three-dimensional gait function analysis for chronic non-specific low back pain at home and abroad,but few studies on the combination of the two have been reported. OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of biofeedback assisted electrical stimulation on the change of walking ability in chronic non-specific low back pain by collecting gait parameter data through three-dimensional gait analysis. METHODS:Sixty patients with chronic non-specific low back pain,34 males and 26 females,aged 32-58 years,were selected and admitted to First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University from June 2021 to September 2022.They were divided into control group(n=30)and trial group(n=30)according to the principle of random allocation.Both groups of patients received conventional treatment of dynamic interference with the waist,20 minutes/time,once/day,5 times a week,for 20 times.The control group received supine bypass and prone bypass suspension core muscle training on the basis of conventional treatment,5 times a week,for 20 times.The trial group received biofeedback assisted electrical stimulation therapy on the basis of the control group,20 minutes/time,once/day,5 times a week,for 20 times.The low back pain score,the mean value of electromyography and the gait parameters were compared and analyzed before and after treatment between the two groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)After treatment,the numerical rating scale score,Japanese Orthopaedic Association score,and Oswestry disability index of the two groups were significantly improved compared with those before treatment(P<0.05).Numerical rating scale score,Japanese Orthopaedic Association score,and Oswestry disability index of the trial group were better than those of the control group(P<0.05).(2)After treatment,the mean values of surface electromyography of rectus abdominis,gluteus maximus,and erector spinae muscle in the two groups were higher than those before treatment(P<0.05),and the mean values of surface electromyography of rectus abdominis,gluteus maximus,and erector spinae muscle in the trial group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).(3)After treatment,the step width,step speed,step frequency,step length ratio between healthy and diseased sides,the relative value of support between healthy and diseased sides,the relative value of swing between diseased and healthy sides,the sagittal motion range of hip joint and knee joint between healthy and diseased sides and the foot angle between healthy and diseased sides were all better than those before treatment in both groups(P<0.05).The above indexes of the trial group were better than those of the control group after treatment(P<0.05).(4)These results suggest that biofeedback assisted electrical stimulation can significantly alleviate chronic non-specific low back pain,and improve the lower limb walking function.

OBJECTIVE To explore the effect and potential mechanism of Chaihu longgu muli decoction on hippocampal neuronal damage in refractory epilepsy rats. METHODS The refractory epilepsy rat model was established by intracerebroventricular injection of kainic acid. The refractory epilepsy rats were randomly assigned into model group， celecoxib group （positive control）， Chaihu longgu muli decoction group， Chaihu longgu muli decoction+empty loading group， Chaihu longgu muli decoction+cyclooxygenase-2 （COX-2） overexpression group， with 12 rats in each group. Another 12 rats were selected as sham operation group （injected with normal saline into the lateral ventricle）. After 8 weeks of corresponding drug/normal saline intervention， Racine grading criteria were applied to evaluate the seizure behavior of rats； pathological changes and cell apoptosis in CA3 region of hippocampal tissue were observed； ELISA method was adopted to detect the levels of COX-2， prostaglandin E2 （PGE2）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in hippocampal tissue. The colorimetric method was applied to detect the content of malondialdehyde （MDA） and the activity of superoxide dismutase （SOD） in hippocampal tissue. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot were applied to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of COX-2 and P-glycoprotein （P-gp） in hippocampal tissue. RESULTS The rats in the sham operation group had no epileptic seizures. Compared with sham operation group， Racine grade of epilepsy， apoptotic rate of hippocampal tissue cells， COX-2， PGE2 and TNF-α levels， MDA contents， mRNA and protein levels of COX-2 and P-gp in the model group increased significantly， while SOD activity decreased significantly （P＜0.05）； prominent damage was observed in the hippocampal CA3 region. Compared with model group， Racine grade of epilepsy， apoptotic rate of hippocampal tissue cells， COX-2， PGE2 and TNF-α levels， MDA contents， mRNA and protein levels of COX-2 and P-gp in celecoxib group and Chaihu longgu muli decoction group decreased significantly， while SOD activity increased significantly（P＜0.05）； the neuronal damage in hippocampal CA3 region was alleviated. Compared with Chaihu longgu muli decoction group and Chaihu longgu muli decoction+ empty loading group， the improvement in the aforementioned indicators in rats from Chaihu longgu muli decoction+COX-2 overexpression group was significantly reversed （P＜0.05）， with exacerbated neuronal damage in the CA3 region of the hippocampal tissue. CONCLUSIONS Chaihu longgu muli decoction may alleviate hippocampal neuronal damage in refractory epilepsy rats by inhibiting the activation of COX-2/PGE2 signaling pathway， inhibiting inflammation and oxidative stress， thereby alleviating hippocampal neuronal damage in refractory epilepsy rats.