Background and Objective: The blood-brain barrier (BBB) serves as a dynamic, selective shield, safeguarding the central nervous system (CNS) by separating the brain from circulating blood, preserving its microenvironment, and ensuring stability. However, in the presence of brain pathology, drug delivery across the BBB and blood-tumor barrier (BTB) becomes challenging, hindering effective treatments. Borneol exhibits promise in bidirectionally modulating the BBB under pathological conditions, suggesting at potential clinical applications for related diseases. Our primary goal in this review is to investigate borneol’s potential clinical utility in bidirectionally regulating the BBB under pathological conditions. Methods: The PubMed database, CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure), Wanfang Data were searched to retrieve articles on animal experiments and cell-based research published from January 1, 2003, to May 1, 2023, using the following medical subject headings (MeSH) terms: borneol, blood-brain barrier, ischemic stroke, cerebral gliomas, anti-inflammatory. The search was limited to articles published in English and Chinese. In total, 86 articles were deemed eligible for inclusion in this study. Key Content and Findings: The breakdown of the BBB is a key pathological process in ischemic stroke and cerebral glioma. When used alone, the lipophilic properties of borneol can reduce the permeability of the BBB and restore its normal function, thereby repairing brain damage and protecting brain tissue. Its specific protective effects may be related to inflammatory regulation mechanisms. The anti-inflammatory and protective effects of borneol can be used to improve and treat lesions caused by ischemic stroke and cerebral glioma. Furthermore, when combined with other drugs, borneol can accelerate the opening of the BBB, improve permeability through physiological processes, and enhance drug penetration and distribution in the brain without causing pathological damage to the brain. Conclusions: This review summarizes the mechanisms by which borneol regulates the BBB and BTB in ischemic stroke and cerebral glioma, and discusses the potential clinical applications of borneol in the treatment of these diseases. It is believed that in the future, as research methods are refined, more effective and targeted therapies for cerebral glioma and ischemic stroke will be explored related to the protective mechanism of the BBB under pathological conditions with borneol alone or in combination with other drugs.

The development of tumors and their metastasis relies heavily on the process of angiogenesis. When the volume of a tumor expands, the resulting internal hypoxic conditions trigger the body to enhance the production of various angiogenic factors. These include vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α), all of which work together to stimulate the activation of endothelial cells and catalyze angiogenesis. Antiangiogenic therapy (AAT) aims to normalize tumor blood vessels by inhibiting these angiogenic signals. In this review, we will explore the molecular mechanisms of angiogenesis within the tumor microenvironment, discuss traditional antiangiogenic drugs along with their limitations, examine new antiangiogenic drugs and the advantages of combination therapy, and consider future research directions in the field of antiangiogenic drugs. This comprehensive overview aims to provide insights that may aid in the development of more effective anti-tumor treatments.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a significant health burden in youths and young adults, and the trend toward younger onset of NAFLD is alarming. Utilizing data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study, this study assessed the burden and trends of NAFLD in youths and young adults aged 15–39 from 1990 to 2021 and extracted data from this study on the incidence, prevalence, death, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) rates of NAFLD. We evaluated the global temporal trend of NAFLD from 1990 to 2021 with estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) and age-standardized rate (ASR). The Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model was used to predict future trends of the NAFLD burden to 2035. We found that the global burden of NAFLD in youths and young adults has risen steadily from 1990 to 2021, and projects to increase to 2035, which places enormous pressure on society. To alleviate this burden, implementing measures targeting risk factors such as glycemic control and smoking cessation is necessary.

Aim: Cutaneous adverse events (CAEs) after treatment with BRAF and MEK inhibitors in patients with melanoma remain incompletely characterized. To determine the association of BRAF and MEK inhibitor treatment with CAEs in patients with melanoma compared with BRAF inhibitor alone.Method: PubMed, Cochrane, Embase and Web of Science were systematically searched for BRAF and MEK inhibitors from database inception through 10 May 2024. Randomized clinical trials reporting on CAEs in patients with melanoma being treated with BRAF and MEK inhibitors compared with patients with melanoma being treated with BRAF inhibitor monotherapy were selected. Pooled Risk ratios (RRs) and 95% CIs were determined using random-effects analyses. The selected end points were alopecia, cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma, hyperkeratosis, keratoacanthoma, palmoplantar erythrodysaesthesia syndrome, palmoplantar keratoderma, rash, photosensitivity reaction, and skin papilloma. All-grade and high-grade (≥3) CAEs were recorded.Results: Comparing with BRAF and MEK inhibitors, treatment with BRAF inhibitors alone was associated with an increased risk of rash (RR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.54–0.99; p = 0.039; I² = 88%), alopecia (RR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.20–0.41; P < 0.001; I² = 76%), hyperkeratosis (RR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.22–0.41; P < 0.001; I² = 56%), palmoplantar erythrodysaesthesia syndrome (RR, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.10–0.47; P < 0.001; I² = 81%), palmoplantar keratoderma (RR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.26–0.57; P < 0.001; I² = 29%), Skin papilloma (RR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.12–0.52; P < 0.001; I² = 77%), cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma (RR, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.11–0.42; P < 0.001; I² = 50%), and keratoacanthoma (RR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.12–0.40; P < 0.001; I² = 0%).Conclusion: Therapy with BRAF and MEK inhibitors was associated with a lower risk of CAEs, especially rash, alopecia, hyperkeratosis, palmoplantar erythrodysaesthesia syndrome, palmoplantar keratoderma, skin papilloma, cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma, and keratoacanthoma, compared with BRAF inhibitor alone. The risks of photosensitivity reaction was similar between the assessed groups. The findings may help to balance between beneficial melanoma treatment and cutaneous morbidity and mortality.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease. The global burden of NAFLD is increasing. This study used the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study data to assess the burden and development trends of NAFLD from 1990 to 2021. Methods: The incidence, prevalence, death and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rates of NAFLD in geographic populations worldwide from 1990 to 2021 were extracted from the GBD 2021 study data. The global temporal trend of NAFLD from 1990 to 2021 was evaluated using estimated annual percentage change and age-standardized rate. The Bayesian age-period-cohort model was used to predict NAFLD burden future trends to 2035. Results: The global age standardized incidence rate (ASIR) of NAFLD among the all-age population increased by 25% and the age standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) increased by 24%. The age standardized mortality rate (ASMR) and age standardized DALYs rate (ASDR) were relatively stable. Countries with middle socio-demographic index (SDI) had the highest ASIR and ASPR from 1990 to 2021, high-middle SDI and high SDI had the lowest ASMR and ASDR. North Africa and Middle East had the highest ASIR and ASPR in 2021, ASIR increased at the greatest rate in East Asia and Western Europe, ASPR increased at the greatest rate in Western Europe. In 2021, the highest number of incidence cases and incidence rates were in 20–24 years group, reflecting a tendency towards a younger onset of NAFLD. Conclusions: The global burden of NAFLD has risen steadily from 1990 to 2021, and projections to 2035, placing enormous pressure on society. It is necessary to implement measures targeting risk factors such as high fasting plasma glucose and tobacco, including improving lifestyle, adjusting diet, and applying drug intervention.

Brucea javanica oil emulsion (BJOE) is a compound Chinese medicine used for treating various cancers, such as lung cancer. However, the exact mechanism of its antilung cancer active ingredient remains unclear. This study aims to explore and validate the effective active ingredients and mechanism of action of BJOE in the treatment of lung cancer through network pharmacology, molecular docking technology, and cell experiments. The results showed that there were 13 active ingredients, 136 target genes, and 42 disease target-coexpressed genes in BJOE. The molecular docking results indicated that the main active components of the oil emulsion, YD1 (β-sitosterol), YD2 (luteolin), and YD3 (bruceitol), could stably bind to TP53 and MAPK1. Furthermore, the commercially available β-sitosterol luteolin was used as a representative compound to conduct cell experiments to verify its anticancer activity and mechanism. It was found that luteolin can inhibit the proliferation better than β-sitosterol and the activity of lung cancer cells by regulating the expression of related proteins through the P53/MAPK1 signaling pathway. This study combines network pharmacology prediction with experiments to demonstrate the "multicomponent, multitarget, multipathway" approach of B. javanica oil emulsion in treating lung cancer.