Through network pharmacology and molecular docking technology, combined with in vitro experiment verification, we explored the mechanism of action of Porana racemosa Roxb. (PRA) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and provided a modern pharmacological basis for the treatment of RA by PRA. The potential target of chemical components in the analyzed moth rattan was predicted by Swiss Target Prediction database; OMIM, GeneCards, TTD and Disgenet databases were used to search the disease targets of RA; the protein interaction (PPI) network and medicine-composition-target network were constructed using STRING database and Cytoscape software; GO (gene ontology) functional enrichment and KEGG (kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes) pathway analysis were carried out using DAVID database, and molecular docking software was used to dock the potentially active ingredients of PRA and core targets; finally, MH7A cells were selected for cell viability, scratch healing and mRNA expression level analysis of key genes to explore the effects of PRA and their potentially active ingredients on the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of MH7A cells. In this study, a total of 628 potentially active ingredient targets, 1 890 RA targets and 235 intersection targets were identified. It was screened that the potentially active ingredients of RA treatment by PRA were ethylcaffeate, N-p-coumaroyltyramine, 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid, methyl ester and so on, and the core targets involved tumor necrosis factor (TNF), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) and so on. 1 200 GO entries and 166 KEGG pathway entries were obtained from the enrichment analysis; molecular docking results showed that N-p-coumaroyltyramine and ethylcaffeate had good binding activity with TNF, MMP9, cysteine-aspartate protease 3 (CASP3), PTGS2, B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) proteins. In vitro experiments showed that PRA, ethylcaffeate and N-p-coumaroyltyramine could inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of MH7A cells, up-regulate the expression of apoptosis-related gene CASP3 mRNA, and down-regulate the expression of MMP9, PTGS2 and BCL2 mRNA, and it can also down-regulate the expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (AKT) mRNA and PI3K and p-AKT proteins. This study preliminarily revealed that the treatment of RA by PRA may be related to proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis and regulation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Objective To explore the value of droplet digital polymerase chain reaction(ddPCR)in the etiological diagnosis of severe acute pancreatitis(SAP)patients with suspected bloodstream infection(BSI).Methods SAP patients admitted to the department of critical care medicine in a hospital July to September 2022 were enrolled.When BSI was suspected,venous blood was collected for both ddPCR detection and blood culture(BC)with antimi-crobial susceptibility testing(AST)simultaneously.The time required for two detection methods was recorded,and the detection results of ddPCR and BC were compared.The etiological diagnostic efficacy of ddPCR was calculated,and the correlation between the value of pathogen load detected by ddPCR and the level of infection parameters was explored.Results A total of 22 patients were included in the analysis,and 52 venous blood specimens were collec-ted for detection.BC revealed 17 positive specimens(32.7％)and 29 pathogenic strains,while ddPCR showed 41 positive specimens(78.8％)and 73 pathogenic strains.Detection time required for ddPCR was significantly lower than that of BC([0.16±0.03]days vs[5.92±1.20]days,P＜0.001).Within the detection range of ddPCR and taking BC results as the gold standard,the sensitivity and specificity of ddPCR were 80.0％and 28.6％,respective-ly.With the combined assessment of BSI based on non-blood specimen microbial evidence within a week,the sensi-tivity and specificity of ddPCR detection increased to 91.9％and 76.9％,respectively.ddPCR detected resistance genes of blaKPC,blaNDM/IMP,VanA/VanM,and mecA from 19,9,6,and 5 specimens,respectively.Correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between pathogen load and levels of C-reactive protein as well as procalcitonin(r=0.347,0.414,P＜0.05).Conclusion As a supplementary detection method for BC in BSI diagnosis,ddPCR has the advantages of higher sensitivity and shorter detection time,and is worthy of further exploration in clinical application.

AIM To establish an HPLC method for the simultaneous content determination of gallic acid,protocatechuic acid,morroniside,loganin,sweroside,paeoniflorin,hypericin,astragalin,salvianolic acid B,salvianolic acid A,epimedin C and icariin in Bushen Huoxue Sanjie Capsules.METHODS The analysis was performed on a 30℃thermostatic Agilent 5 TC-C18 column(250 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of acetonitrile-0.1%phosphoric acid flowing at 1.0 mL/min in a gradient elution manner,and the detection wavelength was set at 240 nm.RESULTS Twelve constituents showed good linear relationships within their own ranges(r≥0.999 8),whose average recoveries were 97.11%-101.14%with the RSDs of 0.60%-2.65%.CONCLUSION This simple,accurate and reproducible method can be used for the quality control of Bushen Huoxue Sanjie Capsules.

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS)method was developed for determination of three kinds of β-agonists(Clenbuterol(CL),Ractopamine(RAC)and Salbutamol(SAL))residues in animal liver samples.The liver sample homogenates were extracted with organic solvent,followed by clean-up using the automatic magnetic solid-phase extraction(MSPE),and then analyzed using LC-MS/MS.The results showed that the magnetic mixed-mode cation exchange adsorbent(M-MCX)exhibited 34%higher adsorption capacity than the conventional mixed-mode cation exchange(MCX)column.Furthermore,the clean-up was conducted by using an automatic MSPE device,and 8 samples could be simultaneously treated within 30 min.The limits of detection(LOD)were 0.01-0.1 μg/kg,the average recoveries ranged from 88.2%to 110.5%,and the relative standard deviations(RSDs)were in range of 2.9%-10.3%at three spiked levels for the three kinds of β-agonists.Compared with the traditional SPE technique,the present method had many advantages such as simple operation,rapidity and high efficiency,which was suitable for high-throughput and automatic detection of residues in routine analysis.

Objective In this study,inbred BALB/c mice infected with the pneumonia virus of mice(PVM)were used to establish an animal model of viral pneumonia,and the changes in the pro-inflammatory alarmin molecule,high mobility group box 1 protein(HMGB1),during PVM infection were observed,as well as the in vivo intervention effects of the HMGB1 inhibitor,glycyrrhizic acid(GA),on PVM-induced lung injury.Methods Three-week-old female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into three groups,each consisting of 6 mice.One group,uninfected by PVM,served as the control group(Control).The other two groups were inoculated intranasally with PVM at a dose of 1×104 50％tissue culture infective dose(TCID50)/25 μL,and subsequently treated with GA saline solution(GA group)or plain saline solution(normal saline,NS group)via gavage for 15 consecutive days.During this period,changes in body weight and appearance were monitored in each group.At the end of the experiment,lung tissue samples were collected from all groups.The distribution of PVM and HMGB1 proteins in the lung tissues was analyzed using hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemistry.The expression levels of HMGB1 and its Toll-like receptor 4(TLR-4),advanced glycosylation end-product-specific receptor(AGER),and inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-2,and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in lung tissues of mice were measured using real time fluorescence quantitative PCR.Results Compared with the Control group,the NS group showed a significant weight loss after 6 days(P＜0.05).Histopathological tests revealed pronounced inflammatory lesions in their lungs.Immunohistochemistry results showed that HMGB1 was released from the nucleus to the cytoplasm,and real time fluorescence quantitative PCR results indicated that the expression levels of HMGB1,IL-1β,and IL-2 were significantly upregulated(P＜0.05).In the GA group,there was no significant change in the clinical symptoms or body weight.However,compared with the NS group,the pathological damages of lung tissues in the GA group were significantly reduced,and the expression levels of HMGB1,IL-1 β,IL-2,and interferon-γ(IFN-γ)in lung tissues were also significantly decreased(P＜0.05),although the expression level of AGER was significantly increased(P＜0.05).Conclusion PVM infection can cause significant inflammatory pathological lung damages in mice,and GA can effectively alleviate the damages.Its therapeutic effect may be related to the activation of HMGB1 signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTemporal heterogeneity in lung cancer presents as fluctuations in the biological characteristics, genomic mutations, proliferation rates, and chemotherapeutic responses of tumor cells over time, posing a significant barrier to effective treatment. The complexity of this temporal variance, coupled with the spatial diversity of lung cancer, presents formidable challenges for research. This article will pave the way for new avenues in lung cancer research, aiding in a deeper understanding of the temporal heterogeneity of lung cancer, thereby enhancing the cure rate for lung cancer. MethodsRaman spectroscopy emerges as a powerful tool for real-time surveillance of biomolecular composition changes in lung cancer at the cellular scale, thus shedding light on the disease’s temporal heterogeneity. In our investigation, we harnessed Raman spectroscopic microscopy alongside multivariate statistical analysis to scrutinize the biomolecular alterations in human lung epithelial cells across various timeframes after benzo(a)pyrene exposure. ResultsOur findings indicated a temporal reduction in nucleic acids, lipids, proteins, and carotenoids, coinciding with a rise in glucose concentration. These patterns suggest that benzo(a)pyrene induces structural damage to the genetic material, accelerates lipid peroxidation, disrupts protein metabolism, curtails carotenoid production, and alters glucose metabolic pathways. Employing Raman spectroscopy enabled us to monitor the biomolecular dynamics within lung cancer cells in a real-time, non-invasive, and non-destructive manner, facilitating the elucidation of pivotal molecular features. ConclusionThis research enhances the comprehension of lung cancer progression and supports the development of personalized therapeutic approaches, which may improve the clinical outcomes for patients.

Pharmacokinetics of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)is a discipline that adopts pharmacokinetic research methods and techniques under the guidance of TCM theories to elucidate the dynamic changes in the absorption,distribution,metabolism and excretion of active ingredients,active sites,single-flavour Chinese medicinal and compounded formulas of TCM in vivo.However,the sources and components of TCM are complex,and the pharmacodynamic substances and mechanisms of action of the majority of TCM are not yet clear,so the pharmacokinetic study of TCM is later than that of chemical medicines,and is far more complex than that of chemical medicines,and its development also confronts with challenges.The pharmacokinetic study of TCM originated in the 1950s and has experienced more than 70 years of development from the initial in vivo study of a single active ingredient,to the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study of active ingredients,to the pharmacokinetic study of compound and multi-component of Chinese medicine.In recent years,with the help of advanced extraction,separation and analysis technologies,gene-editing animals and cell models,multi-omics technologies,protein purification and structure analysis technologies,and artificial intelligence,etc.,the pharmacokinetics of TCM has been substantially applied in revealing and elucidating the pharmacodynamic substances and mechanisms of action of Chinese medicines,research and development of new drugs of TCM,scientific and technological upgrading of large varieties of Chinese patent medicines,as well as guiding the rational use of medicines in clinics.Pharmacokinetic studies of TCM have made remarkable breakthroughs and significant development in theory,methodology,technology and application.In this paper,the history of the development of pharmacokinetics of TCM and the progress of cutting-edge research was reviewed,with the aim of providing ideas and references for the pharmacokinetics of TCM and related research.

Objective To survey and analysis of cephalometric indicators of Wa adults in China.Methods Cephalometric parameters were measured in 1996 cases(858 males and 1138 females)of Wa adults in China,including 927 cases(381 males and 546 females)of the Baraoke ethnic group,564 cases(241 males and 323 females)of the A Wa ethnic group,and 505 cases(236 males and 269 females)of the Wa ethnic group by using sliding caliper and spreading caliper.Seventeen direct cephalofacial parameters and one indirect parameter for each of the three dialect ethnic groups were derived separately and analyzed for age correlations,inter-sex u-tests,and multiple comparisons.Finally,the three dialect ethnic groups were subjected to cluster analysis and principal component analysis with 15 ethnic groups in China.Results Nose breadth,mouth breadth and physiognomic ear length were significantly and positively correlated with age for both sexes in the three Wa dialect ethnic groups,while head breadth and lip height were significantly and negatively correlated with age.Except for the interocular breadth,there were gender differences between males and females in the cephalometric parameters of the three Wa dialect ethnic groups.The cephalofacial features of the Baraoke,A Wa and Wa ethnic groups were different,as evidenced by the fact that males and females of the Baraoke and Wa dialect ethnic group had higher lip height,wider nasal breadth and wider mouth breadth,while males and females of the A Wa ethnic group had lower nasal height.Conclusion The cephalofacial features of the three Wa dialect ethnic groups are close to those of the Khmus and Mang,who have their origins in the ancient Baipu people and are also members of the Mon-Khmer language group of the Austroasiatic linguistic.

Objective To establish a normal three-dimensional model of the hip bone in adolescents aged 10-19 years old,analyze the morphology and positional parameters of the posterior superior iliac spine of the hip bone among different genders,sides,and ages,which can supplement the study of the anatomical morphology of the hip bone and to provide a reference for the diagnosis of the clinically relevant diseases and for the therapeutic manipulation and localization of the hip bone.Methods Forty adolescent patients aged 10-19 years without previous spinal pelvic diseases were selected,and the pelvic CT image data were collected and imported into Mimics 21.0 software to establish the model.The relative position parameters of the posterior superior iliac spine and the surrounding anatomical landmarks included the length from the posterior superior iliac spine to the anterior superior iliac spine(ab),the length from the tip of the posterior superior iliac spine to the sciatica(ac),the length from the tip of the posterior superior iliac spine to the pubic tubercle(ae),the length from the tip of the posterior superior iliac spine to the midpoint of the posterior margin of the auricular joint surfaces(af),the length from the tip of the posterior superior iliac spine to the iliac spine turn(ag),and the length from the sciatica tubercle to the highest point of the iliac spine(cd).The local parameters of the posterior superior iliac spine included the width(W0)and the thickness(H0)at point A.The maximum width of the posterior iliac spine(WMAX),its distance from point a(D0),and the width of the iliac spine were measured at 0.5,1,and 1.5 cm from point a,and were recorded sequentially as W1,W2,and W3.The width of the iliac spine at the turn of the iliac spine(point g)was measured(W4).The relative positions and parameters of the posterior superior iliac spine to the surrounding anatomical landmarks and the localized parameters of the posterior superior iliac spine were compared sequentially for different genders,sides,and age groups.Results In the measurement result of the parameters of the posterior superior iliac spine and the surrounding anatomical landmarks,the differences in the comparisons between different genders of the ac,ae,and af indexes were statistically significant(P＜0.05),and the differences in the comparisons between different genders of the ab,ag,and cd indexes were not statistically significant(P＞0.05).The differences in the comparisons between the right and left sides of the ab,ac,ae,af,ag,and cd indexes were not statistically significant(P＞0.05).The difference in comparison between different age groups of ab,ac,ae,af,ag,and cd indicators was statistically significant(P＜0.05).In the measurement result of the local parameters of the posterior superior iliac spine,the difference in the comparison between the sexes of the W0,W1,W2,WMAX,and H0 indexes was statistically significant(P＜0.05),and the difference in the comparison between the sexes of the W3,W4,and D0 indexes was not statistically significant(P＞0.05);And the difference in the comparison between the left and right sides of the W0,W1,W2,and the right and left sides of the W3,W4,WMAX,D0,and H0 indexes was not statistically significant(P＞0.05);The difference between W0,W1,W2,W3,W4,WMAX,D0,H0 indicators compared between different age groups was not statistically significant(P＞0.05).Conclusion Adolescent females have overall greater pelvic parameters than males,with wider and thicker tips of the posterior superior iliac spine in females and narrower and thinner tips of the posterior superior iliac spine in males;Pelvic parameters show a tendency to increase with age,while the width and thickness of the posterior superior iliac spine,as well as the width of the cephalic end to the iliac spine remain essentially unchanged.

Objective To assess the screening efficacy of a novel esophageal cell collector and esophageal exfoliated cell cytology examination for esophageal cancer and investigate risk factors associated with cytological examination results in the Han and Mongolian ethnic groups.Methods ①A total of 1196 high-risk individuals with esophageal cancer were selected for treatment at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College.Esophageal cells were collected,and endoscopic examination and mucosal biopsy of the esophagus were performed.The pathological examination of the digestive tract endoscopic biopsy tissue was used as the gold standard to verify the diagnostic efficacy of cytological examination.① In this study,9256 Han and 572 Mongolian individuals who participated in esophageal cancer screening in the Baotou area were selected as the research subjects.General information,dietary habits,lifestyle habits,and other information of the subjects were collected through a questionnaire survey.Esophageal cells were collected using a new type of esophageal cell collector,and logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for positive cytology in Han and Mongolian populations.Results ① The novel esophageal cell collector and esophageal exfoliated cell cytology examination demonstrated excellent screening capabilities for esophageal cancer,with sensitivity(92.86％),specificity(99.58％),positive predictive value(PPV)of 72.22％,negative predictive value(NPV)of 99.92％,positive likelihood ratio(PLR)of 221.10,negative likelihood ratio(NLR)of 0.07,Youden index of 0.92,and an area under the ROC curve of 0.961(0.923-1.0).The optimal cutoff value was 2.50,yielding a sensitivity of 92.90％and specificity of 88.20％.②The cytological positivity rate among the Mongolian population(2.27％)was higher than that among the Han population(1.12％).The proportion of alcohol drinkers,those with a preference for hot and spicy foods,and those consuming pickled foods was higher in the Mongolian population than in the Han population.Logistic regression analysis revealed risk factors for the Han population:gender(OR=0.381,95％CI:0.256-0.568),age(OR=1.091,95％CI:1.067-1.116),alcohol consumption(OR=1.693,95％CI:1.150-2.492),and smoking(OR=2.127,95％CI:1.439-3.143).Risk factors for the Mongolian population were gender(OR=0.174,95％CI:0.047-0.638),age(OR=1.124,95％CI:1.052-1.200),and alcohol consumption(OR=3.945,95％CI:1.074-14.489).Conclusion ①The novel type of esophageal cell collector-esophageal exfoliative cytology examination has good screening efficacy for esophageal cancer.② Gender,age,alcohol consumption,and hot eating habits are the main risk factors for positive cytological diagnosis in the Mongolian population,while gender,age,alcohol consumption,and smoking are the main risk factors for positive cytological diagnosis in the Han population.