Yuhong Huang

Aging is often associated with intestinal microbiota imbalance and immune system degeneration. The dysregulation and crosstalk of these two factors markedly elevate the elderly's susceptibility to infections and age‐related diseases. Polygonatum odoratum , a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, is widely used in geriatric care for its lung‐moistening and nourishing effects. However, its potential regulatory roles on the microbiota and immunity in the aging context remain unreported. A total of 140 independently living elderly individuals aged 60 and above were recruited for this study. The randomized, double‐blinded study including YZG ( P. odoratum ) and placebo groups was performed for 90 days' intervention. Peripheral blood immune cell subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry, and microbial diversity in fecal samples was assessed by 16S rRNA sequencing. Baseline correlation analysis revealed that alterations in gut microbiota were predominantly associated with T cell subsets. Specifically, Akkermansia showed a significant negative correlation with age‐related memory T cells, including CD4 ⁺ and CD8 ⁺ TEMRA. Additionally, Klebsiella exhibited a significant positive correlation with partial subsets of CD4 ⁺ TEMRA. After 90‐day YZG intervention, the percentage of TEMRA and CD28 ⁻ CD57 ⁺ TEMRA cells were reduced in elderly subjects. The relative abundance of Prevotella 9 and Akkermansia were increased, and the abundance of Klebsiella in the gut microbiota were significantly decreased. Correlation analysis linked YZG‐induced gut microbiota changes to improved immunity and fewer respiratory infections. This study demonstrates significant correlations that exist between immunosenescence in T‐cell compartments and gut microbial composition, suggesting a potential interplay between microbial health and immune aging. Trial Registration: UMIN Clinical Trials Registry identifier: UMIN000052572

Tangzhiqing (TZQ), a herbal formula, has postprandial hypoglycemic effects on sucrose in humans. Sucrase, an α-glucosidase, breaks down sucrose into glucose and fructose. This study investigated the inhibitory activity of TZQ against sucrase and the associated conformational changes. Inhibitory activity was assessed using sucrose as substrate. After confirming the suitable reaction concentrations and time, an assay of the inhibitory activity of TZQ against sucrase was performed with a series of TZQ concentrations. The inhibition kinetics were analyzed in the presence and absence of TZQ or acarbose (positive control). Secondary structure changes of sucrase were determined by circular dichroism spectroscopy. Components of TZQ were identified by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS, and molecular docking explored binding interactions. TZQ showed notable inhibitory activity against sucrase in a reversible and uncompetitive manner. The half-maximal inhibitory concentrations of TZQ and acarbose were 1.49 ± 0.07 and 3.94 ± 0.07 µg/mL (P < 0.01), respectively. Circular dichroism revealed that TZQ binding induced secondary structural rearrangement of sucrase, increasing α-helix and decreasing β-sheet content, thereby inhibiting enzyme activity. A total of 64 chemical ingredients were identified from TZQ. Among these, the potential active ingredients-including paeoniflorin, vitexin, chlorogenic acid, and salvianolic acid A-exhibited binding energies below - 5 kcal/mol. These compounds strongly affected the structure of sucrase via π accumulation or salt bridge formation, leading to enzyme inhibition and reduced glucose. These findings provide new insights into the inhibitory mechanism of TZQ on sucrase, supporting its potential as a novel α-glucosidase inhibitor for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Anti-inflammatory effects of gallic acid on chronic bacterial prostatitis: involving target tissue distribution.

Objective: To develop a core outcome set (COS) for clinical trials on post COVID‐19 condition (PCC), that is, what, when, and how to measure PCC. Method: A comprehensive collection of outcomes (including their measurement methods and phases) was launched via literature review and clinician and patient surveys. Two rounds of Delphi surveys were conducted under the predefined criteria for rating, followed by a consensus meeting to finalize the COS for PCC (COS‐PCC). Results: Fifty‐two outcomes within 7 categories and 206 measurement methods were identified. Sixty participants from five stakeholder groups completed the first round of the Delphi survey and 41 the second. Consensus was reached among 36 representatives on four domains of respiratory, physical, neuropsychological, and health conditions, including nine core outcomes and their respective measurement methods of priority: dyspnea (modified Medical Research Council scale), cough (Leicester Cough Questionnaire), exercise capacity (6‐min walk test), fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale), pain (Numerical Rating Scale), sleeping disturbance (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale‐7), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire‐9), and health status (36‐item Short Form Health Survey); 16 optional measurement methods achieved consensus for supplement. Measuring phases of each core outcome were prioritized by importance through short and long terms of PCC. Conclusions: The COS‐PCC highlights the key PCC concerns and provides an essential outcome set for PCC assessment in clinical trials and evidence synthesis. With improving the understanding of PCC and accumulating research evidence, the COS‐PCC needs to be continuously updated and improved in practice.

The integration of nanotechnology into oncology has profoundly reshaped cancer treatment, enabling drug delivery systems with remarkable precision, enhancing antitumor efficacy, and simultaneously addressing major challenges such as cardiotoxicity, one of the most prevalent and serious adverse effects of conventional chemotherapy. This review systematically examines the dual role of nanotechnology, highlighting its capacity to enhance the therapeutic effectiveness of anticancer treatments while concurrently mitigating cardiotoxic side effects. The discussion centers on a broad spectrum of nanocarrier platforms, such as liposome-based, polymeric nanocarriers, and inorganic nanocarriers organized according to their structural features and therapeutic benefits, thereby enabling a systematic comparison with conventional drug delivery strategies. By improving drug bioavailability, enabling controlled release, and achieving precise tumor-specific targeting, these nanocarrier systems enhance antitumor efficacy while concurrently reducing collateral damage to healthy tissues. Moreover, recent preclinical and clinical studies were summarized to demonstrate substantial advances in this interdisciplinary field, while also identifying persistent challenges that remain to be addressed. Finally, the review explores future directions, with particular emphasis on the integration of artificial intelligence to optimize nanocarrier design and the promise of personalized nanomedicine in transforming cancer care. Overall, this work provides a critical foundation for advancing next-generation, patient-tailored cancer therapies.

Background and Purpose: Chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) is an inflammatory disease caused by persistent bacterial infection and reflux into the urethra resulting in overactivation of the prostate immune system. Traditional chinese medicine (TCM) combined with antibiotics is commonly used in clinical treatment of CBP, and polygonum capitatum (Pc) combined with ciprofloxacin (CIP) is effective in clinical treatment of CBP. However, the limited clinical promotion of drug combinations persists due to a rudimentary understanding of their underlying mechanisms. This study aims to reveal the potential synergistic mechanism of Pc and CIP to ameliorate CBP. Experimental Approach: CBP was induced by bilateral prostate injections of E. coli and treated with Pc and CIP. The therapeutic effect was evaluated, and transcriptome data analyzed via Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) to uncover molecular mechanisms. Tissue-thermal proteome profiling (Tissue-TPP) identified potential targets, and molecular docking predicted interactions between active compounds and key proteins. Key Results: Our findings demonstrated that Pc combined with CIP significantly improved CBP rats. RNA-Seq combined with IPA analysis showed that Pc combined with CIP significantly inhibited cytokine storm signaling pathway in CBP rats, especially the NF-κB/IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 pathway.Tissue-TPP identified Pik3cb as a direct target, with molecular docking showing gallic acid (GA) from Pc binding to Pik3cb. Additionally, GA combined with CIP also significantly improved CBP. Conclusion and Implications: The results indicate that Pc combined with CIP can mitigate CBP by targeting Pik3cb to inhibit NF-κB/IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, and GA is the key active component in Pc.