This article systematically analyzes the historical evolution of the name， origin， quality evaluation， harvesting， processing and other aspects of Picrorhizae Rhizoma by referring to the medical books， prescription books， and other documents of the past dynasties， combined with relevant modern research materials， in order to provide a basis for the development and utilization of famous classical formulas containing this medicinal herb. The research results indicate that Picrorhizae Rhizoma was first recorded in New Revised Materia Medica from the Tang dynasty. Throughout history， Huhuanglian has been used as its official name， and there are also aliases such as Gehu Luze， Jiahuanglian and Hulian. The main source of past dynasties is the the rhizomes of Picrorhiza kurrooa and P. scrophulariiflora. In ancient times， Picrorhizae Rhizoma was mainly imported by foreign traders via Guangzhou and other regions， and also produced in China， mainly in Xizang. In ancient times， it was harvested and dried in early August of the lunar calendar， while in modern times， it is mostly harvested from July to September， with the best quality being those with thick and crispy rhizomes without impurities， and bitter taste. Throughout history， Picrorhizae Rhizoma was collected， washed， sliced， and dried before being used as a raw material for medicine， it has a bitter and cold taste， mainly used to treat bone steaming， hot flashes， infantile chancre fever， and dysentery. There is no significant difference in taste and efficacy between ancient and modern times. Based on the research results， it is recommended that the rhizomes of P. scrophulariiflora in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia， or the rhizomes of P. kurrooa， can be used in famous classical formulas containing this medicinal herb， which can be processed according to the processing requirements marked by the original formula. For those without clear processing requirements， the dried raw products are used as medicine.

ObjectiveTo analyze the detected results of CD4⁺T lymphocytes and viral load in newly identified human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients in Huangpu District of Shanghai in 2023, to explore the correlation between them, so as to provide a scientific basis for the development of targeted prevention and control measures and antiviral treatment programs. MethodsThe data of CD4 cell count, viral load and demographic characteristics of the newly infected patients living with HIV in Huangpu District, Shanghai in 2023 were collected and analyzed by using descriptive epidemiological method. ResultsThe mean CD4 cell count of the 67 newly identified HIV infected patients in Huangpu District was (301.22±235.19) cells·µL^-1, with a mean viral load of (5.15±1.28) ×10⁵ copies·mL^-1.There were statistically significant differences in CD4 cell count and viral load among different age groups (P<0.05), but there were no statistically significant differences by gender and marital status (both P>0.05). The CD4 cell count and CD4/CD8 ratio both were negatively correlated with the lg value of viral load (r=-0.290, -0.378; P=0.027, 0.002). ConclusionThe CD4 cell counts of the newly identified HIV infected patients in Huangpu District in 2023 were generally low, the proportion of patients with high viral load was high, but the risk for elderly infected with HIV was high. The elderly have gradually become the key population for AIDS prevention and control in Huangpu District. It is recommended to expand HIV screening in the elderly to reduce the risk of HIV transmission and increase the rate of early detection and treatment.

Objective To identify the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of young patients with sporadic rectal cancer liver metastasis(RCLM).Methods The clinical data of young RCLM patients at 45 years or under(n=40,as younger patient group)in Peking University First Hospital from January 2016 to January 2021 were reviewed,meanwhile,elder RCLM patient group were comprised of 82 patients older than 45-year-old in a 1:2 ratio.Proportions of categorical variables were compared between young patients and old patients.The clinicopathologic parameters were analyzed with univariate and multivariate Cox regression models and Kaplan-Meier method for demonstrating survival differences between the maximum diameter of liver metastasis and local therapy.Results One hundred and twenty-two RCLM patients were identified,the 1-,3-and 5-year survival rates of young patient group were 97.5%,47.5%,15.0%,those of elder patient group were 84.1%,26.8%,9.8%,respectively.The differences in BMI(P=0.008),primary tumor with obstruction and bleeding(P=0.006),synchronous rectal cancer liver metastases(P=0.005),the maximum diameter of liver metastasis>3 cm(P=0.019)were statistically significant between the two groups.And univariate and multivariate analyses showed that age(P=0.003),N stage(P=0.007),local therapy for liver metastases(P=0.047)and the maximum diameter of liver metastasis(P=0.030)were independent risk factors for influencing the prognosis of RCLM patients;curative resection or not of primary tumor(P=0.035)and the maximum diameter of liver metastasis(P=0.041)were independent risk factors for influencing the prognosis of young RCLM patients.Kaplan-Maier curve demonstrated survival differences between the maximum diameter of liver metastasis and local therapy for liver metastasis in RCLM patients(log-rank P=0.000).Conclusions Although with later staging of initial tumor station,young RCLM patients may obtain better survival benefit compared with old patients.Higher degree of lymph node metastasis,local therapy for liver metastases and the maximum diameter of liver metastasis>3 cm indicates poor prognosis in RCLM patients,and without curative resection of primary tumor and maximum diameter of liver metastasis are also considered as the independent poor prognostic factors of young RCLM patients.Local therapy for liver metastases appears to play an important role in the treatment strategy of RCLM patients.

Objective To observe the effects of Yiqi Huoxue Tuodu Prescription on Keap1Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway in rats with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis(CNP);To explore its mechanism for the treatment of CNP.Methods CNP rat model was prepared using castration combined with estrogen induction method.Totally 48 SD rats were divided into blank group,model group,celecoxib group and Yiqi Huoxue Tuodu Prescription group according to the random number table method,with 12 rats in each group.In the celecoxib group,celecoxib suspension was instilled 0.035 g/kg,and in the Yiqi Huoxue Tuodu Prescription group,Yiqi Huoxue Tuodu Prescription water decoction was instilled 8.64 g/kg,and the blank group and the model group were instilled with equal volume of normal saline for 28 days.Mechanical pain threshold in rats was measured using Von Frey fiber optic pain gauge,HE staining was used to observe pathological changes in prostate tissue and pathological scoring,the content of reactive oxygen species(ROS)in prostate tissue were detected by chemical fluorescence method and the glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)activity and malondialdehyde(MDA)content in prostate tissue were detected by colorimetric method,Western blot was used to detect the expressions of Kelch like ECH related protein 1(Keap1),nuclear factor E2 related factor 2(Nrf2),and heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)protein in prostate tissue.Results Compared with the blank group,rats in the model group had significantly lower mechanical pain threshold and significantly decreased prostate index(P<0.01);the size of the glandular cavity in prostate tissue varied,with the disappearance of secretions in the cavity,interstitial looseness and edema,a large amount of fibrous tissue hyperplasia and inflammatory cell infiltration,and a significant increase in pathological scores(P<0.01);the contents of ROS and MDA in prostate tissue significantly increased,the activity of GSH-Px significantly decreased(P<0.01),the expression of Keap1 and Nrf2 proteins significantly decreased,and the expression of HO-1 protein significantly increased(P<0.01,P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the mechanical pain threshold of the rats in the Yiqi Huoxue Tuodu Prescription group was significantly higher(P<0.01);there was mild damage to prostate tissue,with a small amount of fibrous hyperplasia and inflammatory cell infiltration,and a significant decrease in pathological scores(P<0.01,P<0.05);the contents of ROS and MDA in prostate tissue significantly decreased,and the GSH-Px activity significantly increased(P<0.01),the Keap1 and Nrf2 protein expressions significantly increased and HO-1 protein expression significantly decreased in prostate tissue(P<0.01,P<0.05).Conclusion Yiqi Huoxue Tuodu Prescription can effectively improve the histopathological morphology and increase the pain threshold of the prostate gland in CNP rats,and its mechanism of action may be related to the regulation of Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway and reduction of oxidative stress damage in prostate tissue of rats.

The prefrontal cortex and hippocampus may support sequential working memory beyond episodic memory and spatial navigation. This stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) study investigated how the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) interacts with the hippocampus in the online processing of sequential information. Twenty patients with epilepsy (eight women, age 27.6 ± 8.2 years) completed a line ordering task with SEEG recordings over the DLPFC and the hippocampus. Participants showed longer thinking times and more recall errors when asked to arrange random lines clockwise (random trials) than to maintain ordered lines (ordered trials) before recalling the orientation of a particular line. First, the ordering-related increase in thinking time and recall error was associated with a transient theta power increase in the hippocampus and a sustained theta power increase in the DLPFC (3-10 Hz). In particular, the hippocampal theta power increase correlated with the memory precision of line orientation. Second, theta phase coherences between the DLPFC and hippocampus were enhanced for ordering, especially for more precisely memorized lines. Third, the theta band DLPFC → hippocampus influence was selectively enhanced for ordering, especially for more precisely memorized lines. This study suggests that theta oscillations may support DLPFC-hippocampal interactions in the online processing of sequential information.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Young Adult ; Epilepsy ; Hippocampus ; Memory, Short-Term ; Mental Recall ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Theta Rhythm ; Male

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells （BMSCs） co-cultured with bone marrow-derived M2 macrophages （M2-BMDMs）， named as BMSC^M2， on a rat model of liver cirrhosis induced by carbon tetrachloride （CCl₄）/2-acetaminofluorene （2-AAF）. MethodsRat BMDMs were isolated and polarized into M2 phenotype， and rat BMSCs were isolated and co-cultured with M2-BMDMs at the third generation to obtain BMSC^M2. The rats were given subcutaneous injection of CCl₄ for 6 weeks to establish a model of liver cirrhosis， and then they were randomly divided into model group （M group）， BMSC group， and BMSC^M2 group， with 6 rats in each group. A normal group （N group） with 6 rats was also established. Since week 7， the model rats were given 2-AAF by gavage in addition to the subcutaneous injection of CCl₄. Samples were collected at the end of week 10 to observe liver function， liver histopathology， and hydroxyproline （Hyp） content in liver tissue， as well as changes in the markers for hepatic stellate cells， hepatic progenitor cells， cholangiocytes， and hepatocytes. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups， and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsCompared with the N group， the M group had significant increases in the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST） （P<0.01）； compared with the M group， the BMSC and BMSC^M2 groups had significant reductions in ALT and AST （P<0.01）， and the BMSC^M2 group had significantly better activities than the BMSC group （P<0.05）. Compared with the N group， the M group had significant increases in Hyp content and the mRNA and protein expression levels of alpha-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA） in the liver （P<0.01）； compared with the M group， the BMSC and BMSC^M2 groups had significant reductions in Hyp content and the expression of α-SMA （P<0.05）， and the BMSC^M2 group had a significantly lower level of α-SMA than the BMSC group （P<0.01）. Compared with the N group， the M group had significant increases in the mRNA expression levels of the hepatic progenitor cell markers EpCam and Sox9 and the cholangiocyte markers CK7 and CK19 （P<0.01） and significant reductions in the expression levels of the hepatocyte markers HNF-4α and Alb （P<0.01）； compared with the M group， the BMSC and BMSC^M2 groups had significant reductions in the mRNA expression levels of EpCam， Sox9， CK7， and CK19 （P<0.05） and significant increases in the mRNA expression levels of HNF-4α and Alb （P<0.05）， and compared with the BMSC group， the BMSC^M2 group had significant reductions in the mRNA expression levels of EpCam and CK19 （P<0.05） and significant increase in the expression level of HNF-4α （P<0.05）. ConclusionM2-BMDMs can enhance the therapeutic effect of BMSCs on CCl₄/2-AAF-induced liver cirrhosis in rats， which provides new ideas for further improving the therapeutic effect of BMSCs on liver cirrhosis.

Objective:To analyze the clinical efficacy of the distal radius dome osteotomy combined with Vickers ligament release (DRO+ VR) in the treatment of Madelung′s deformity.Methods:A retrospective case series analysis.The clinical data of 15 children with Madelung′s deformity treated in the Children′s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2012 to August 2023 were collected, and the children were divided into the DRO+ VR group and the other operation group according to the surgical method.The follow-up time was recorded, and the ulnar tilt (UT), lunate subsidence (LS), palmar carpal displacement (PCD), lunate fossa angle (LFA), wrist flexion (WF), wrist extension (WE), and visual analogue scale (VAS) were measured before surgery and at the last follow-up.The independent samples t-test was used for measurement data comparison, and the Fisher′s exact test was used for categorical variable comparison. Results:The follow-up time was 10-96 months, with the time of (27.17±15.51) months in the DRO+ VR group and (48.00±24.06) months in the other operation group.There was no significant difference in preoperative general data, imaging indexes and functional evaluation between the 2 groups (all P>0.05).The comparison of imaging indexes and functional evaluation of children in the DRO+ VR group before surgery and at the last follow-up showed that the differences in UT [(49.00±3.10) ° vs.(31.83±2.40) °], LFA [(34.50±3.78) ° vs.(49.83±4.02) °], LS [(7.29±3.61) mm vs.(2.29±1.48) mm], PCD [(12.06±3.39) mm vs.(4.35±2.37) mm], WF [(61.17±1.47) ° vs.(67.50±3.33) °], WE [(48.67±1.86) ° vs.(60.50±4.42) °], and VAS [(7.33±1.03) points vs.(2.67±0.52) points] were statistically significant (all P<0.05).At the last follow-up, the results of imaging indexes and functional evaluation of the 2 groups showed that the improvement of UT was (17.17±2.32) ° in the DRO+ VR group and (51.78±7.66) ° in the other operation group, which had statistically difference ( t=-2.241, P=0.043). Conclusions:DRO+ VR is an effective approach for treating Madelung′s deformity in children.It can significantly improve children′s imaging indexes and wrist joint function and alleviate pain symptoms.Surgical intervention should be actively considered for patients with severe deformity and pain symptoms related to Madelung′s deformity.

Objective:To investigate and analyze the correlation between the expression levels of CD38, HLA-DR and programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) on peripheral blood CD8 +T cells and HIV-1 RNA viral load, immune activation and exhaustion in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Methods:A total of 81 HIV/AIDS patients (64 without antiretroviral therapy and 17 with therapy) and 40 healthy donors in the same period were enrolled as the control group. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the CD4 +T lymphocyte count and the expression levels of activation markers CD38 and HLA-DR and apoptosis marker PD-1 on CD8 +T cells. HIV-1 RNA in the plasma of HIV-1 infected patients was quantitatively detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Variance analysis was used to compare the expression levels of CD38, HLA-DR and PD-1 on CD8 +T cells between HIV/AIDS patients and healthy controls. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between different T lymphocyte counts and HIV RNA viral load, and the correlation between HIV RNA viral load and peripheral blood CD8 +T cell CD38, HLA-DR and PD-1. Results:Among the 81 HIV/AIDS patients, 69 (85.19%) were males and 12 (14.81%) were females, with an age M ( Q1, Q3) of 58 (36.5, 65.0) years. There were 60 HIV/AIDS patients over 55 years old (74.07%) and 21 HIV/AIDS patients between 18 and 55 years old (25.93%). The results of variance analysis showed that compared with the healthy control group, the expression levels of CD38, HLA-DR and PD-1 on CD8 +T cells in HIV/AIDS patients increased, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). In addition, the expression of CD38, HLA-DR and PD-1 increased significantly in patients with CD4 +T cell count less than 350 cells/μl, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that CD4 +and CD4 +/CD8 +were negatively correlated with viral load in HIV/AIDS patients ( r=-0.407 and -0.378, respectively, both P<0.05), and CD8 +was positively correlated with viral load ( r=0.356, P<0.05). When the HIV RNA level was≤10 5 CPs/ml, there was no correlation between the HIV RNA level and the expression levels of CD38, HLA-DR and PD-1 on CD8 +T cells (all P>0.05). However, when the level of HIV RNA was>10 5 CPs/ml, the level of HIV RNA was positively correlated with the expression levels of CD38, HLA-DR and PD-1 on CD8 +T cells ( r=0.412, 0.387, 0.395, respectively, all P<0.05). Conclusions:The activation levels of CD38 and HLA-DR and the expression of PD-1 on CD8 +T cells in the peripheral blood of HIV/AIDS patients are increased. When the viral load is high, the HIV RNA viral load is positively correlated with the activation and exhaustion levels of CD8 +T cells.

Objective:To investigate and analyze the correlation between the expression levels of CD38, HLA-DR and programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) on peripheral blood CD8 +T cells and HIV-1 RNA viral load, immune activation and exhaustion in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Methods:A total of 81 HIV/AIDS patients (64 without antiretroviral therapy and 17 with therapy) and 40 healthy donors in the same period were enrolled as the control group. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the CD4 +T lymphocyte count and the expression levels of activation markers CD38 and HLA-DR and apoptosis marker PD-1 on CD8 +T cells. HIV-1 RNA in the plasma of HIV-1 infected patients was quantitatively detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Variance analysis was used to compare the expression levels of CD38, HLA-DR and PD-1 on CD8 +T cells between HIV/AIDS patients and healthy controls. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between different T lymphocyte counts and HIV RNA viral load, and the correlation between HIV RNA viral load and peripheral blood CD8 +T cell CD38, HLA-DR and PD-1. Results:Among the 81 HIV/AIDS patients, 69 (85.19%) were males and 12 (14.81%) were females, with an age M ( Q1, Q3) of 58 (36.5, 65.0) years. There were 60 HIV/AIDS patients over 55 years old (74.07%) and 21 HIV/AIDS patients between 18 and 55 years old (25.93%). The results of variance analysis showed that compared with the healthy control group, the expression levels of CD38, HLA-DR and PD-1 on CD8 +T cells in HIV/AIDS patients increased, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). In addition, the expression of CD38, HLA-DR and PD-1 increased significantly in patients with CD4 +T cell count less than 350 cells/μl, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that CD4 +and CD4 +/CD8 +were negatively correlated with viral load in HIV/AIDS patients ( r=-0.407 and -0.378, respectively, both P<0.05), and CD8 +was positively correlated with viral load ( r=0.356, P<0.05). When the HIV RNA level was≤10 5 CPs/ml, there was no correlation between the HIV RNA level and the expression levels of CD38, HLA-DR and PD-1 on CD8 +T cells (all P>0.05). However, when the level of HIV RNA was>10 5 CPs/ml, the level of HIV RNA was positively correlated with the expression levels of CD38, HLA-DR and PD-1 on CD8 +T cells ( r=0.412, 0.387, 0.395, respectively, all P<0.05). Conclusions:The activation levels of CD38 and HLA-DR and the expression of PD-1 on CD8 +T cells in the peripheral blood of HIV/AIDS patients are increased. When the viral load is high, the HIV RNA viral load is positively correlated with the activation and exhaustion levels of CD8 +T cells.

Pancreatic cancer often has an insidious onset and difficulties in treatment,with various limitations in early diagnosis and treatment.This article reviews the application of Mendelian randomization(MR)in exploring the risk factors for pancreatic cancer,with a special focus on the causal relationships of factors such as gut microbiota,lifestyle,and metabolic diseases.Leveraging data from large-scale genome-wide association studies(GWAS),MR analysis has revealed several biomarkers associated with the risk of pancreatic cancer.The two-sample MR approach is commonly used in current research,including the methods such as Inverse Variance Weighted,Weighted Median,and MR-Egger,which helps to explain the causal network of the disease from a genetic perspective.While MR strategy provides a new perspective for understanding the etiology of pancreatic cancer,caution is still needed in data synthesis,selection of instrumental variables,and pleiotropy assessment.The use of emerging analytical models such as BWMR,CAUSE,and MVMR offers new possibilities for the comprehensive evaluation of multiple risk factors and their interaction.In the future,with the combination of these methods and the ever-increasing genetic epidemiological data,MR analysis is expected to provide more solid evidence for identifying potential therapeutic targets for pancreatic cancer and formulating prevention strategies.