OBJECTIVE To establish HPLC fingerprint for Jianpi hewei formula （JPHWF）， conduct chemical pattern recognition analysis， and determine the contents of seven components in the formula， aiming to provide a scientific basis for quality control and further research of JPHWF. METHODS Taking 15 batches of standard decoctions of JPHWF as samples， the HPLC fingerprint was established using the Similarity Evaluation System of TCM Chromatographic Fingerprint （2012 edition）. Subsequently， similarity evaluation， as well as identification and attribution analysis of chromatographic peaks， were conducted. Using the common peak areas from the 15 batches of samples as variables， chemical pattern recognition analyses were performed on the samples through hierarchical cluster analysis， principal component analysis， and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis. The contents of adenine， 5-hydroxymethylfurfural， tetrahydropalmatine， naringin， dehydrocorydaline， neohesperidin and glycyrrhizic acid in 15 batches of samples were determined by HPLC. RESULTS There were 19 common peaks in the characteristic chromatograms for 15 batches of samples with the similarities of more than 0.95. Results of chemical pattern recognition analysis showed that 15 batches of samples could be clustered into 3 categories， and 3 differential compounds were found [peak 7 （5- hydroxymethylfurfural）， peak 17 （neohesperidin）， and peak 15 （naringin）]. The 7 components were linearly good in the respective concentration ranges （R2≥0.999 4）； RSDs of precision， stability and repeatability tests were less than 2% （n＝6）； the average recovery rate of 98.95%-103.81%， RSD of 0.61%-2.75% （n＝6）； the contents of them were 0.031-0.106， 0.267-0.824， 0.089- 0.144， 1.344-2.091， 0.089-0.178， 1.328-2.028， 0.040-0.150 mg/g， respectively. CONCLUSIONS Established HPLC fingerprinting method coupled with multi-index content determination is validated to be accurate and reliable， and its combination with chemical pattern recognition analysis can be applied to the quality control of JPHWF.

OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism by which Cuscuta chinensis flavonoids （CCF） promote decidualization and improve recurrent spontaneous abortion （RSA）. METHODS HTR-8/SVneo cells in logarithmic growth phase were randomly divided into blank group， lipopolysaccharide （LPS） group， CCF group， SGK2 inhibitor （GSK650394， abbreviated as “GSK”） group and CCF+GSK group. Each group was treated with the corresponding agents accordingly. HTR-8/SVneo cells with SGK2 knockdown were randomly divided into small interfering RNA of SGK2 （siSGK2） group and siSGK2+CCF group； additionally， blank group and LPS group were established； each group was treated with the corresponding agents accordingly. The cell survival rate， expression levels of WNK signaling pathway- and decidualization-related proteins and mRNAs， as well as mitochondrial membrane potential levels， were assessed in each group before and after SGK2 knockdown. RSA mice model was constructed and randomly divided into model group， CCF low-dose group， CCF high-dose group， GSK group， and combined dosing group， with 4 mice in each group. Other 4 normal pregnant female mice were selected as the control group. The number of implanted embryos， viable fetuses， and lost embryos in mice was recorded. The morphological changes of endometrium and decidualization were observed， and WNK signaling pathway- and decidualization-related proteins and mRNAs expressing levels as well as mitochondrial membrane potential levels were all detected. RESULTS Compared with the blank group， the cell survival rate， as well as the protein and mRNA expression levels of SGK2， WNK1， WNK4， prolactin， insulin-like growth factor- binding protein-1， oxidative stress responsive kinase 1， and Ste20-like proline-/alanine-rich kinase were significantly reduced in the LPS group （P＜0.05）； compared with the LPS group， the cell survival rate and the expression levels of the above- mentioned proteins and mRNAs were significantly increased in the CCF group， while the cell survival rate and the expression levels of the above-mentioned proteins and mRNAs were significantly decreased in the GSK group （P＜0.05）； compared with the CCF group， the cell survival rate and the expression levels of the above-mentioned proteins and mRNAs were significantly reduced in the CCF+GSK group （P＜0.05）. After knocking down SGK2， compared with the LPS group， the cell survival rate， red/green fluorescence intensity ratio， and the expression levels of the above-mentioned proteins and mRNAs were significantly reduced in the siSGK2 group （P＜0.05）； compared with the siSGK2 group， the cell survival rate， red/green fluorescence intensity ratio， and the expression levels of the above-mentioned proteins and mRNAs were significantly increased in the siSGK2+CCF group （P＜0.05）. The in vivo experimental results showed that CCF treatment can significantly improve the number of implanted embryos and viable fetuses in RSA model mice and reduce lost embryos， the expression levels of the above-mentioned proteins and mRNAs in endometrial tissue were significantly increased， and the red/green fluorescence intensity ratio was significantly increased （P＜ 0.05）； the combined dosing group could reverse the effect of CCF （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS CCF can activate SGK2， up- regulate the WNK signaling pathway， promote endometrial decidualization， and improve RSA.

Huangqintang， with its accurate efficacy， is a classic formula specialized in treating dysentery recommended and promoted by medical experts from successive generations， and it was included in the Catalogue of Ancient Classic Prescriptions （the Second Batch， Han Chinese medicine prescriptions） published by the National Administration of Traditional Chinses Medicine （TCM） in 2023. The method of bibliometrics was applied in this study to conduct textual research on the classic formula Huangqintang and provide a literature reference for the development of modern preparations of Huangqintang. A total of 2 026 pieces of ancient literature were searched with "Huangqintang" as the key word， and 23 pieces of effective data were selected， involving 15 ancient TCM books. The historic evolution， composition， dosage， origin， processing methods， preparation and decocting methods， efficiency， and application of Huangqintang were carefully reviewed. The results showed that Huangqintang was first recorded in the Treatise on Febrile Diseases written by ZHANG Zhongjing. It has the effect of clearing heat， stopping dysentery， regulating the middle， and downbearing counterflow and has become one of the classic formulas widely used in clinical practice. Because of its accurate efficacy， medical experts from later generations have modified it from its original composition. Though many prescriptions have different names， it is the manifestation of physicians' inheritance and development of the thought of ZHANG Zhongjing. Ancient literature showed this prescription had wide indications yet centered on digestive system diseases such as dysentery and abdominal pain. Modern applications of Huangqintang involve digestive， respiratory， ophthalmology and otolaryngology， gynecological， skin， musculoskeletal system， and connective tissue， and this prescription has great potential in treating ulcerative colitis， diarrhea， acute enteritis， and damp-heat dysentery. Through a systematic textual excavation and review of the ancient literature about Huangqintang， the paper has confirmed its key information， so as to provide a scientific basis for the clinical application and new drug development of classic formulas.

BACKGROUND:Nerve growth factor is a protein that induces nerve growth and regulates biological behaviors such as proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the promoting effect of nerve growth factor on chondrogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. METHODS:Rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isolated and cultured,and nerve growth factor was transfected into bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells by lentiviral transfection.The effects of nerve growth factor on the proliferation,migration,hypertrophic differentiation,and chondrogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were detected by CCK-8 assay,cell scratch assay,alizarin red staining,and western blot assay,using the transfected null-loaded virus as control.To further investigate the promoting effect of nerve growth factor on the chondrogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells,interleukin 1β was added in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells transfected with empty virus and nerve growth factor for 14 days.The expression of proteins related to chondrogenic differentiation and hypertrophic differentiation was detected by western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)CCK-8 assay results showed that nerve growth factor had no significant effect on the proliferation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.(2)Compared with the control group,overexpression of nerve growth factor enhanced the migration ability of the cells,and the expression of cartilage-associated proteins type II collagen and SOX9 was up-regulated(P<0.05),while the expression of hypertrophic-associated proteins type X collagen and Runx2 was down-regulated(P<0.05).(3)Compared with the empty virus+interleukin 1β group,the expression of cartilage-associated proteins type II collagen and Sox9 was up-regulated(P<0.05),and the expression of hypertrophy-associated proteins type X collagen and Runx2 was down-regulated after overexpression of nerve growth factor(P<0.05).(4)The results indicated that nerve growth factor could promote the chondrogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

This case report explores the therapeutic potential of theta burst stimulation (TBS) for cognitive enhancement in individuals with brain injuries. The study presents a 38-year-old male suffering from an organic mental disorder attributed to a traumatic brain injury (TBI), who demonstrated notable cognitive improvements following an intensive TBS protocol targeting the left dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex. The treatment led to significant enhancements in impulse control, irritability, and verbal comprehension without adverse effects. Neuropsychological assessments and brain imaging post-intervention revealed improvements in short-term memory, abstract reasoning, list-generating fluency, and increased cerebral blood flow in the prefrontal cortex. These findings suggest that TBS, by promoting neural plasticity and reconfiguring neural networks, offers a promising avenue for cognitive rehabilitation in TBI patients. Further research is warranted to optimize TBS protocols and understand the mechanisms underlying its cognitive benefits.

Background: In acute and chronic renal inflammatory diseases, the activation of inflammatory cells is involved in the defect of erythropoietin (EPO) production. Ras guanine nucleotide-releasing protein-4 (RasGRP4) promotes renal inflammatory injury in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of RasGRP4 in the production of renal EPO in diabetes. Methods: The degree of tissue injury was observed by pathological staining. Inflammatory cell infiltration was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. Serum EPO levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and EPO production and renal interstitial fibrosis were analyzed by immunofluorescence. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of key inflammatory factors and the activation of signaling pathways. In vitro, the interaction between peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and C3H10T1/2 cells was investigated via cell coculture experiments. Results: RasGRP4 decreased the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 2-alpha (HIF2A) via the ubiquitination–proteasome degradation pathway and promoted myofibroblastic transformation by activating critical inflammatory pathways, consequently reducing the production of EPO in T2DM mice. Conclusion RasGRP4 participates in the production of renal EPO in diabetic mice by affecting the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in PBMCs, degrading HIF2A, and promoting the myofibroblastic transformation of C3H10T1/2 cells.

This case report explores the therapeutic potential of theta burst stimulation (TBS) for cognitive enhancement in individuals with brain injuries. The study presents a 38-year-old male suffering from an organic mental disorder attributed to a traumatic brain injury (TBI), who demonstrated notable cognitive improvements following an intensive TBS protocol targeting the left dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex. The treatment led to significant enhancements in impulse control, irritability, and verbal comprehension without adverse effects. Neuropsychological assessments and brain imaging post-intervention revealed improvements in short-term memory, abstract reasoning, list-generating fluency, and increased cerebral blood flow in the prefrontal cortex. These findings suggest that TBS, by promoting neural plasticity and reconfiguring neural networks, offers a promising avenue for cognitive rehabilitation in TBI patients. Further research is warranted to optimize TBS protocols and understand the mechanisms underlying its cognitive benefits.

Background: In acute and chronic renal inflammatory diseases, the activation of inflammatory cells is involved in the defect of erythropoietin (EPO) production. Ras guanine nucleotide-releasing protein-4 (RasGRP4) promotes renal inflammatory injury in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of RasGRP4 in the production of renal EPO in diabetes. Methods: The degree of tissue injury was observed by pathological staining. Inflammatory cell infiltration was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. Serum EPO levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and EPO production and renal interstitial fibrosis were analyzed by immunofluorescence. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of key inflammatory factors and the activation of signaling pathways. In vitro, the interaction between peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and C3H10T1/2 cells was investigated via cell coculture experiments. Results: RasGRP4 decreased the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 2-alpha (HIF2A) via the ubiquitination–proteasome degradation pathway and promoted myofibroblastic transformation by activating critical inflammatory pathways, consequently reducing the production of EPO in T2DM mice. Conclusion RasGRP4 participates in the production of renal EPO in diabetic mice by affecting the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in PBMCs, degrading HIF2A, and promoting the myofibroblastic transformation of C3H10T1/2 cells.