Artemisia argyi H. Lév. & Vaniot essential oil (AAEO) holds significant pharmacological potential, but its application is constrained by hepatotoxicity. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of reducing AAEO’s toxicity through storage and to evaluate changes in chemical composition, toxicity, and bioactivity.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to analyze compositional changes during storage. Zebrafish acute toxicity tests and the liver-specific transgenic zebrafish model Tg(fabp10:EGFP) were used to assess toxicity. Antimicrobial, analgesic, and antioxidant assays evaluated variations in bioactivity.

Over the 150-day storage period, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis identified 39 components. Zebrafish acute toxicity tests showed that the LD50 of AAEO stored for 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 days were 0.10 µL·mL−1, 0.10 µL·mL−1, 0.10 µL·mL−1, 0.11 µL·mL−1, 0.13 µL·mL−1, and 0.14 µL·mL−1, respectively, demonstrating a 40% reduction in acute toxicity after 150 days of storage. Using the liver-specific green fluorescent transgenic Tg(fabp10:EGFP) zebrafish model, the inhibition rates of AAEO on hepatic fluorescence intensity were measured at 68.5%, 43.5%, 42.6%, 37.8%, 34.6%, and 31.9% at different time points, confirming reduced hepatotoxicity after storage. Additionally, the antioxidant and analgesic activities of AAEO were significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) after storage, while the antibacterial activity decreased (p < 0.05).

After storage, AAEO significantly reduces hepatotoxicity, with a 40% decrease in acute toxicity after 150 days. Meanwhile, the antioxidant and analgesic activities of AAEO increase, while its antibacterial activity decreases after storage.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection plays a pivotal role in gastric carcinogenesis and poses a significant burden on global public health. Eradicating H. pylori infection is an important strategy for the primary prevention of gastric cancer but remains a challenge. This consensus, an update of The First Beijing Consensus on Holistic Integrated Medicine (HIM) Combining Traditional Chinese with Western Medicine for the Management of Helicobacter pylori-associated “Disease-Syndrome” released in 2018, aims to further incorporate the HIM perspective and the latest research advances into the management of H. pylori-associated “disease-syndrome”. Forty-three experts from 29 medical institutions were selected to vote and reach a consensus. The consensus consists of five sections addressing 19 key questions with corresponding statements. These cover the current status and challenges of managing H. pylori infection in China, refractory H. pylori infection, the role of HIM in H. pylori management, holistic and individualized assessment/treatment for refractory infections, and the integration of traditional Chinese medicine in treating H. pylori-associated “disease-syndrome”. Finally, three therapeutic schemes for traditional Chinese medicine in treating H. pylori-associated “disease-syndrome” were proposed. Taken together, this consensus incorporates the principles of HIM along with advanced medical knowledge and clinical practice into individualized treatment strategies. It is recommended as a guideline for the management of H. pylori-associated “disease-syndrome” in China.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with marked phenotypic differences observed among its major histological subtypes, adenocarcinoma (ADC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), in both clinical presentation and therapeutic response. In recent years, metabolomics has emerged as a powerful tool for studying cancer metabolic reprogramming, providing new insights into the metabolic distinctions among lung cancer subtypes. This review summarizes recent research advances in the metabolomics of ADC, SCC, and SCLC. Studies have revealed that ADC and SCC display distinct metabolic profiles in lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and cell membrane synthesis, while SCLC demonstrates a unique metabolic pattern. Through metabolomic technologies, particularly mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography, it is possible to effectively differentiate lung cancer subtypes and identify potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and personalized treatment. This review also explores the clinical potential of metabolomics in lung cancer, emphasizing its critical role in early diagnosis and subtype stratification. These methodological advances establish a robust foundation for precision oncology paradigms in thoracic malignancies.

Coronary heart disease is an ischemic condition characterized by vascular stenosis or obstruction caused by coronary atherosclerosis, resulting in myocardial ischemia, hypoxia, or necrosis. It is one of the leading causes of death in both urban and rural populations in China. Safflower yellow pigments, the main active components of the traditional Chinese herbal medicine safflower, are primarily composed of quinochalcone compounds, including hydroxysafflor yellow A and anhydrosafflor yellow B—of which hydroxysafflor yellow A is the principal component. Studies have demonstrated that these pigments can improve myocardial ischemia, reduce ischemia-reperfusion injury, alleviate atherosclerotic damage, and address risk factors associated with coronary heart disease. This review aimed to systematically and comprehensively summarize the mechanisms of action of safflower yellow pigments and their active components in the context of coronary heart disease and its related risk factors.

Histologic remission is recommended as an adjunctive treatment target in ulcerative colitis, and scoring systems have been proposed to enhance reproducibility. The Nancy Histologic Index (NHI) is increasingly used in clinical trials; however, its performance in real-world settings is not fully established. This study aimed to assess the interrater reliability (IRR) of the NHI among gastrointestinal pathologists in the United States.

Thirty-seven whole-slide images of colorectal biopsies from 34 treated ulcerative colitis patients enrolled in a multicenter adult cohort were independently reviewed by 12 gastrointestinal pathologists. Each biopsy was reviewed twice, five months apart, and graded using the NHI. Prior to the second review, pathologists completed an online tutorial on the NHI.

The NHI showed substantial IRR in both reviews [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.79; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.70–0.87 at Review 1; ICC = 0.78; 95% CI, 0.69–0.86 at Review 2]. However, considerable variability was observed in individual grade assignments, with the lowest IRR for Grade 2 (ICC = 0.24; 95% CI, 0.15–0.37; P < 0.001, and ICC = 0.23; 95% CI, 0.14–0.36; P < 0.001 for Reviews 1 and 2, respectively), followed by Grade 4 (ICC = 0.41; 95% CI, 0.29–0.55; P < 0.001, and ICC = 0.47; 95% CI, 0.35–0.61; P < 0.001). Grade 1 showed the highest IRR (ICC = 0.79; 95% CI, 0.70–0.87; P < 0.001, and ICC = 0.78; 95% CI, 0.69–0.86; P < 0.001). When Grades 2, 3, and 4 (i.e., active disease) were grouped together, the IRR remained substantial across both reviews (ICC = 0.76; 95% CI, 0.66–0.85; P < 0.001).

While the substantial IRR for active disease (Grades ≥ 2) in this study underscores the clinical utility of the NHI, refinement of criteria for Grades 2, 3, and 4 will be crucial in reducing variability among observers and enabling more accurate monitoring of treatment endpoints.

Macromolecular-based gene delivery systems have emerged as viable alternatives to non-viral vectors for gene therapy due to their versatility, biocompatibility, and capacity to efficiently deliver therapeutic cargo. These systems, primarily based on synthetic and natural polymers, offer significant advantages in terms of safety, controlled gene release, and targeted delivery. This review explores the design and synthesis of macromolecular carriers, focusing on their chemical and physical architectures, which play a key role in improving gene delivery. Catanionic polymers and their derivatives (comb, brush, and star polymers) have been extensively researched for their capacity to condense and protect genetic material. Furthermore, natural polymers like chitosan and hyaluronic acid have been modified to enhance gene delivery capabilities. These macromolecular carriers are engineered to boost circulation time, increase cellular uptake, and facilitate the controlled release of genetic material at the target site. Strategies such as incorporating targeting ligands, stimuli-responsive elements, and reducing cytotoxicity are being pursued to improve the overall efficiency and specificity of these systems. This review highlights the current state of macromolecular gene delivery systems, their applications, and the ongoing research aimed at overcoming existing challenges, paving the way for more effective non-viral gene therapies.

Soft tissue cytopathology plays a vital role in the diagnosis and management of soft tissue neoplasms, necessitating a standardized classification system to improve diagnostic accuracy and guide clinical decision-making. This article provides a concise review of the World Health Organization (WHO) Reporting System for Soft Tissue Cytopathology and presents a practical diagnostic approach to soft tissue cytopathology.

The WHO Reporting System is reviewed in conjunction with relevant literature. The reporting system employs a six-category framework: non-diagnostic, benign, atypical, soft tissue neoplasm of uncertain malignant potential, suspicious for malignancy, and malignant. Each category is associated with a corresponding risk of malignancy and recommended clinical management guidelines. This classification aligns with the WHO Classification of Soft Tissue and Bone Tumours (5th edition) and incorporates cytomorphologic features, ancillary studies, and clinical correlation to enhance diagnostic reproducibility and communication among pathologists and clinicians.

The system supports a probabilistic approach to risk stratification, enabling more consistent diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

As molecular diagnostics and immunocytochemistry continue to advance, this framework provides a robust foundation for the interpretation of soft tissue fine-needle aspiration biopsies and optimized patient care.

Liver failure syndromes are characterised by a dysregulated immune response leading to immune paralysis. Adrenomedullin (ADM) is a potent vasodilator and immunoregulator. This study aimed to explore the role of ADM in liver failure, hypothesising that there is a detrimental imbalance between ADM and adrenomedullin binding protein (AMBP)1 that promotes a switch of monocytes/macrophages towards a pro-restorative phenotype and function.

Consecutive patients with acute liver failure (ALF), acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), and decompensated cirrhosis, as well as healthy controls (HC) were included between April 2020 and June 2024. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells/monocytes were isolated and used for RNA sequencing and cell culture. ADM and AMBP1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Fifty-four patients with ALF, 25 with ACLF, 9 with decompensated cirrhosis, and 16 with HC were included. ADM expression in isolated monocytes was increased in ALF (log fold change = 5.88, p = 0.000216413) and ACLF (log fold change = 4.62, p = 0.00057122) compared to HC. Plasma ADM concentration was higher in ALF (1,684 ± 1,156 pg/mL) vs ACLF (836.1 ± 765.2 pg/mL) and HC (164.8 ± 62.73 pg/mL). AMBP1 was significantly reduced in ALF (59.27 ± 44 µg/mL) vs ACLF (126.3 ± 72.23 µg/mL) and HC (252.8 ± 159.7 µg/mL) (p < 0.0001, ALF vs HC). Treatment with LPS increased ADM concentration in peripheral blood mononuclear cell supernatant (ALF n = 6; 561.4 ± 1,038 pg/mL vs 259.2 ± 213.7 pg/mL, ACLF n = 4; 3,202 ± 491.2 vs 1,757 ± 1,689 pg/mL). The percentage of CD14+ cells expressing Mer tyrosine kinase was reduced after culture with LPS (2.077 ± 0.87%); however, co-culture with ADM 100 nM restored the phenotype (3.852 ± 1.063%).

ADM is increased in liver failure, whereas AMBP1 is reduced. ADM affects monocyte function, increasing Mer Tyrosine Kinase and promoting a pro-restorative, anti-inflammatory phenotype.