Xiaoai Jiedu recipe reduces cell survival and induces apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma by stimulating autophagy via the AKT/mTOR pathway.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The Xiaoai Jiedu recipe (XJR) is a traditional Chinese medicine formulation used in clinical settings to treat liver cancer. It has shown promising effectiveness by combining herbal and animal-derived ingredients, offering a new approach to cancer treatment. However, its mechanism of action is poorly understood.

Efficacy and safety of YOXINTINE for depression: A double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 2 clinical trial.

Background: YOXINTINE contains >98 % of 20(S)-protopanaxadial (PPD), a metabolic product of ginsenosides with pre-clinical neuroprotective activity. Animal experiments and previous studies have shown that PPD has good antidepressant effect and safety.

Purpose: To evaluate YOXINTINE in treating depression compared with a placebo in Chinese patients.

Characterisation of ginsenosides composition in processed American ginseng products using UPLC-MS coupled with chemometric analysis.

American ginseng( L.), a traditional herbal extensively utilised in China, exhibits both medicinal and food properties. Diverse processing American ginseng gain extensive utilisation in China.

EGCG targeting STAT3 transcriptionally represses PLXNC1 to inhibit M2 polarization mediated by gastric cancer cell-derived exosomal miR-92b-5p.

Background: M2-polarized tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) predominate in tumor microenvironment (TME) and serve primary functions in tumor progression, including growth, angiogenesis, metastasis, immunosuppression, chemoresistance, and poor prognosis. The reversal of M2 polarization provides a new treatment strategy for cancer. Presently, the molecular mechanisms of M2 polarization have yet to be fully characterized, and there is a lack of effective therapeutic targets and drugs.

DAPNet: multi-view graph contrastive network incorporating disease clinical and molecular associations for disease progression prediction.

Background: Timely and accurate prediction of disease progress is crucial for facilitating early intervention and treatment for various chronic diseases. However, due to the complicated and longitudinal nature of disease progression, the capacity and completeness of clinical data required for training deep learning models remains a significant challenge. This study aims to explore a new method that reduces data dependency and achieves predictive performance comparable to existing research.

Radiomics in precision medicine for colorectal cancer: a bibliometric analysis (2013-2023).

Background: The incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer (CRC) have been rising steadily. Early diagnosis and precise treatment are essential for improving patient survival outcomes. Over the past decade, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and medical imaging technologies has positioned radiomics as a critical area of research in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of CRC.

[Progress of experimental research on the underlying mechanisms of acupuncture in improving chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common disease that seriously jeopardizes human health and affects patients' quality of life. The clinical efficacy of acupuncture in treating COPD is definite, and it can exert positive effects such as improving skeletal muscle degradation, airway mucus hypersecretion and pulmonary vascular remodeling in COPD rats. In recent years, the research on the underlying mechanisms of acupuncture in improving COPD has become more and more in-depth.

[Electroacupuncture reduces neuronal apoptosis in rats with spinal cord injury by regulating GSK-3β expression and its phosphorylation].

Objectives: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of "Dazhui"(GV14) and "Mingmen" (GV4) of the Governor Vessel (GV) on the apoptosis of neurons in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI) by regulating the expression of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) protein and its phosphorylation level, so as to reveal partial mechanism for the treatment of SCI with EA of GV.

Methods: A total of 45 male SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operation, model and EA groups, 15 rats in each group. The SCI model was established by using the modified Allen's percussion device.

Huang-Lian-Jie-Du decoction alleviates cognitive impairment in high-fat diet-induced obese mice via Trem2/Dap12/Syk pathway.

Background: Cognitive impairment induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) is common, but its mechanism is largely unknown. Huang-Lian-Jie-Du (HLJD) decoction is a classical and powerful prescription in China. It consists of four medicinal plants and is widely used in traditional Chinese medicines (TCM).

Identification, quantification, and antidepressant-like evaluation of anthocyanin-rich extracts from different dietary berries.

Berries are highly valued for their rich phenolic content, particularly anthocyanins, which are known for their antioxidative properties and potential effectiveness against depression. This study identified and quantified anthocyanin profiles in blueberry, blackberry, black mulberry, and cranberry using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS), followed by in vivo evaluation of their antidepressant-like activities. Blueberry and black mulberry showed significant levels of cyanidin-3-galactoside and cyanidin.

An "off-on" fluorescent probe for imaging pyruvic acid in living systems.

Pyruvic acid (PA) is an α-keto acid which exert important biological and pathological functions. The current PA profiling assays are mainly based on the ultraviolet spectroscopy and electrochemical biosensor, requiring killing cells and destroying tissues which limit their application in living cells. Optical imaging provides nondestructive powerful and detective tools to better understand the physiological and pathological role of PA in living systems.

A delphi-based model for prognosis of femoral head collapse in osteonecrosis: a multi-factorial approach.

Background: Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a progressive and debilitating condition characterized by the death of bone tissue due to inadequate blood supply. Despite advances in diagnostic imaging and treatment strategies, predicting the risk of femoral head collapse remains a significant clinical challenge. This study seeks to address this gap by developing a robust prognostic model that integrates clinical, imaging, and laboratory data to improve early diagnosis and guide therapeutic decision-making.

Natural compounds modulate the mechanism of action of tumour-associated macrophages against colorectal cancer: a review.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) exhibits a substantial morbidity and mortality rate, with its aetiology and pathogenesis remain elusive. It holds significant importance within the tumour microenvironment (TME) and exerts a crucial regulatory influence on tumorigenesis, progression, and metastasis. TAMs possess the capability to foster CRC pathogenesis, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, as well as angiogenesis, immune evasion, and tumour resistance.

Action observation therapy impact on mirror neurons combined with acupuncture for upper limb motor impairment rehabilitation in stroke patients.

Objective: Upper limb (UL) dysfunction rehabilitation in stroke patients is complicated in the clinic. Action observation therapy's (AOT) impact on mirror neurons (MNs) has been observed and made applications in related brain disease treatment. Acupuncture mentioned in the present study mainly stimulates peripheral nerves for neuronal plasticity.

Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Duodenum: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Introduction: Duodenal squamous cell carcinoma is an exceedingly rare occurrence among gastrointestinal malignancies, and its diagnosis and treatment are not well understood.

Case Presentation: In this report, we present a case of duodenal squamous cell carcinoma with liver and adrenal metastasis. The patient was treated with gemcitabine and S-1, achieving a progression-free survival of 7 months and an overall survival of 9 months.

Didang Tang alleviates neuronal ferroptosis after intracerebral hemorrhage by modulating the PERK/eIF2α/ATF4/CHOP/GPX4 signaling pathway.

Introduction: Ferroptosis is a crucial process contributing to neuronal damage following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Didang Tang (DDT), a traditional therapeutic, has been used clinically to manage ICH for many years, yet the molecular mechanisms by which by DDT protects neurons from ferroptosis after ICH remain elusive.

Methods: This study utilized high-performance liquid chromatography-based fingerprint analysis to characterize DDT's chemical composition.

Kaixinsan regulates neuronal mitochondrial homeostasis to improve the cognitive function of Alzheimer's disease by activating CaMKKβ-AMPK-PGC-1α signaling axis.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease primarily characterized by cognitive impairments. With the intensification of population aging, AD has become a major health concern affecting the elderly. Kaixinsan, a classical traditional Chinese formula, consists of Ginseng Panax et Rhizoma, Polygalae Radix, Poria and Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma, and is commonly used in clinical for treating memory decline.

Protective effect of ginseng extract and total ginsenosides on hematopoietic stem cell damage by inhibiting cell apoptosis and regulating the intestinal microflora.

Ginseng may improve the myelosuppression and intestinal microbiota disorder induced by cyclophosphamide (CY); however, the effect of ginseng components on hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) damage remains largely unexplored. The present study aimed to assess the protective effect of ginseng extract (GE), total ginsenosides (TG) and total polysaccharides (TP) from ginseng on the intestinal microflora and HSCs of model mice. In the present study, a mouse model of HSC damage induced by CY was constructed, intestinal microflora of fecal samples were sequenced using the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing techniques, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of HSCs were analyzed using high‑throughput RNA‑sequencing, cell apoptosis and erythroid differentiation were detected using flow cytometry and the blood cell parameters were analyzed using a hematology analyzer.

Rapid Identification of Chemical Constituents of Sanhua Decoction in Vivo and in Vitro and the Metabolites of Rhubarb Anthraquinone Aglycone by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

Sanhua Decoction (SHD) is a classic prescription for the treatment of stroke in the clinic. Based on the combination strategy in vitro and in vivo, the chemical constituents of SHD were characterized by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry, and the metabolites of five effective anthraquinone aglycones (emodin, chrysophanol, rhein, aloe-emodin, and physcion) of rhubarb in SHD were studied. A total of 222 compounds were isolated and identified in vitro, including 50 flavonoids and their glycosides, 41 coumarins, 22 anthraquinones, 22 tannins, 14 phenylpropanoids, 16 alkaloids, 18 organic acids and their esters, 14 lignans, six anthrones, and 19 other compounds.

Comparison and chemometrics analysis of phenolic compounds and mineral elements in Artemisia Argyi Folium from different geographical origins.

The quality of Artemisia Argyi Folium (AAF), a traditional Chinese food ingredient, is intrinsically linked to its geographical origin, which this study explores through phenolic compounds and mineral elements. The contents of 17 phenols and 18 minerals differed significantly between geographically distinct samples according to UHPLC and ICP-MS, respectively. Chemometrics indicated that a supervised model, orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), outperformed unsupervised methods at classifying AAF samples by their origins.

α-Hederin induces human colorectal cancer cells apoptosis through disturbing protein homeostasis.

Protein homeostasis and quality control are crucial for normal cellular activities, and a severe imbalance in protein homeostasis can lead to cell death. α-Hederin, a pentacyclic triterpenoid saponin isolated from Fructus Akebia, has a clear role in promoting colorectal cancer (CRC) cell apoptosis and has been recently used for CRC therapy. However, whether the pro-apoptotic activity of α-hederin in CRC cells involves disturbing protein homeostasis remains unknown.

One-step construction of silver nanoparticles immersed hydrogels by triple-helix β-glucans and the application in infectious wound healing.

Hydrogels composed of polysaccharides and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely recognized for their applications in wound dressings, particularly for healing wounds prone to infection. Traditional methods for preparing AgNPs immersed hydrogels are often complex, costly, and may lead to sustained cytotoxicity. To address these challenges, we developed a biocompatible, one-step green reduction strategy to generate AgNPs within hydrogels using a triple-helix β-glucan (PCPA) derived from Poria cocos, a renowned Chinese traditional herb.

Synergistic potentiation of the anti-metastatic effect of a Ginseng-Salvia miltiorrhiza herbal pair and its biological ingredients via the suppression of CD62E-dependent neutrophil infiltration and NETformation.

Introduction: The combination of the roots of ginseng and Salvia miltiorrhiza is an effective approach for treating metastatic cancer in patients with Qi stagnation and blood stasis patterns. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the combined use of ginseng and Salvia miltiorrhiza is unknown.

Objectives: This study unveils the pharmacological foundation of ginseng and Salvia miltiorrhiza by examining the involvement of neutrophils in the critical process of tumor hematogenous metastasis.