Guided by Academician Zhang Boli's theory of "dampness， turbidity， phlegm， and fluid-related diseases"，this paper elaborated on the pathogenesis and syndrome differentiation treatment of heart failure from the perspective of the "spleen-mitochondria". It analyzed the essential similarities between "spleen-mitochondria" and "dampness， turbidity， phlegm， and fluid-related diseases"， as well as their close association with the onset of heart failure. Furthermore，it explored the connection between spleen function and mitochondrial function in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM），positing that the spleen's role in transportation and transformation is analogous to mitochondrial material metabolism and energy conversion，with spleen deficiency closely related to mitochondrial dysfunction. It thus concluded that mitochondrial material metabolism and energy conversion represent the microscopic essence of the spleen's role in transportation and transformation，and mitochondrial dysfunction is a contributing factor to pathological products like dampness and turbid phlegm，which are closely associated with the occurrence of heart failure. The four elements of dampness，turbidity，phlegm，and fluid are a series of related symptoms resulting from abnormal fluid transportation and transformation，serving as both factors in the onset of heart failure and the core pathological basis for its deterioration. Therefore，during the treatment of heart failure，it is essential to regulate mitochondrial function. Early intervention should focus on eliminating dampness and turbidity to improve mitochondrial function and restore normal energy metabolism. In the middle and late stages，emphasis should be placed on resolving phlegm，promoting blood circulation，warming Yang，and reducing water retention to alleviate mitochondrial damage and improve cardiac function. Supporting Qi and strengthening the spleen should be a continuous approach，and treatment should be adjusted to enhance mitochondrial function and stabilize the condition，thereby improving prognosis. This paper discussed the role of the spleen and mitochondria in the pathogenesis of heart failure，examined the evolution of heart failure mechanisms from the perspective of dampness， turbidity， phlegm， and fluid-related diseases，and proposed a phased treatment strategy. It enriched the theory of dampness， turbidity， phlegm， and fluid-related diseases and offered new strategies for heart failure treatment. However，in practical application，TCM strategies for treating heart failure need to be integrated with modern medical approaches to provide a more solid scientific foundation for treatment.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of action of modified Shaofu Zhuyutang in antagonizing cellular pyroptosis and fibrosis in ectopic endometrial tissues of endometriosis through the Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB/NOD-like receptor protein 3 （TRL4/NF-κB/NLPR3） signaling pathway. MethodsSeventy-two SPF-grade female SD rats were randomly divided into a sham-operated group （n = 12） and a modeling group （n = 60）. The rats in the sham-operated group underwent a caesarean section， while the rats in the modeling group were used to establish an endometriosis model through the auto-transplantation method. After successful modeling， the animals were randomly divided into the model group， progesterone group （0.25 mg·kg^-1）， and modified Shaofu Zhuyutang low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （7.5， 15， 30 g·kg^-1）， with 12 animals in each group. After 4 weeks of drug administration， voluntary activity and heat pain latency were observed. The rats were sacrificed for tissue collection， and Masson staining were used to observe histopathological changes in the endometrial tissues. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to measure serum levels of interleukin-18 （IL-18）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， and transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β）. Immunohistochemistry （IHC） was used to detect the protein expression area of tumor necrosis factor-related factor 6 （TRAF6） and NLPR3 in the endometrial tissues. Immunofluorescence （IF） was used to detect the relative fluorescence intensity of Caspase-1 and gasdermin D （GSDMD） in the endometrial tissues. Western blot was employed to measure the relative expression of TRL4， myeloid differentiation factor 88 （MyD88）， TRAF6， NF-κB p65， phosphorylated NF-κB p65 （p-NF-κB p65）， and NLPR3 proteins in endometrial tissues. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect the mRNA expression of TRL4， MyD88， TRAF6， NF-κB， and NLPR3 in the endometrial tissues. ResultsCompared with the sham-operated group， rats in the model group showed reduced voluntary activity and shorter heat pain latency. Serum levels of IL-18， IL-1β， TNF-α， and TGF-β were elevated. The relative expression areas of TRAF6 and NLPR3 proteins were increased， and the relative fluorescence intensity of Caspase-1 and GSDMD was enhanced. The relative expression of TRL4， MyD88， TRAF6， NF-κB p65， p-NF-κB p65， and NLPR3 proteins， along with the expression of TRL4， MyD88， TRAF6， NF-κB， and NLPR3 mRNA， were significantly increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， rats in the progesterone group and the modified Shaofu Zhuyutang medium- and high-dose groups exhibited improved voluntary activity， longer heat pain latency， the fibrosis of endometrial tissue is alleviated. Serum levels of IL-18， IL-1β， TNF-α， and TGF-β were decreased. The relative expression areas of TRAF6 and NLPR3 proteins decreased， and the relative fluorescence intensity of Caspase-1 and GSDMD weakened. The relative expression of TRL4， MyD88， TRAF6， p-NF-κB p65， NLPR3 proteins， and TRL4， MyD88， TRAF6， NF-κB， and NLPR3 mRNA expression were reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionModified Shaofu Zhuyutang may play a therapeutic role in endometriosis by interfering with key proteins in the TRL4/NF-κB/NLPR3 signaling pathway， reducing NLRP3 inflammasome-induced cellular pyroptosis， antagonizing the fibrosis process in ectopic endometrial tissues， improving the inflammatory microenvironment in the pelvic cavity， and alleviating pain.

BACKGROUND: Despite some studies identifying a potential association between obesity and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) risk, previous research had overlooked the dynamic nature of body weight over time, leading to inconsistent findings. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the relationship between adult weight change and COPD risk by adjusting for potential confounding factors. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis using data from ten NHANES cycles (1999-2018), including adults aged 40-74 years. Weight change patterns were assessed using BMI at three time points and classified into five categories per period. Absolute weight change was also grouped into five levels. Multivariate logistic regression models, incorporating sampling weights, were used to examine associations between weight change and COPD, adjusting for demographic and lifestyle covariates. RESULTS: Compared with participants who maintained normal weight, stable obesity participants had increased risk of COPD from age 25 years to 10 years before the survey (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.15 to 1.83), in the 10 years period before the survey (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.47 to 2.08), and from age 25 years to survey (OR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.46 to 2.31). Three periods indicate that weight gain in adulthood was associated with risk of COPD. In addition, substantial weight gain of more than 20 kg was associated with a higher risk of COPD. In stratified analyses, we also observed a more significant association between weight change and the risk of COPD in never smokers compared to former smokers. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggested that stable obesity and weight gain in adulthood were associated with an increased risk of COPD compared to those who maintain a normal weight, and that the association between weight gain and the incidence of COPD appears closer in patients who have never smoked.
Humans ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/etiology* ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Weight Gain ; Obesity/complications* ; Risk Factors ; United States/epidemiology* ; Nutrition Surveys ; Body Mass Index

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are proposed to account for the progression, metastasis, and recurrence of diverse malignancies. However, the disorganized vasculars in tumors hinder the accumulation and penetration of nanomedicines, posing a challenge in eliminating CSCs located distantly from blood vessels. Herein, a pair of twin-like small-sized nanoparticles, sunitinib (St)-loaded ROS responsive micelles (RM@St) and salinomycin (SAL)-loaded GSH responsive micelles (GM@SAL), are developed to normalize disordered tumor vessels and eradicate CSCs. RM@St releases sunitinib in response to the abundant ROS in the tumor extracellular microenvironment for tumor vessel normalization, which improved intratumor accumulation and homogeneous distribution of small-sized GM@SAL. Sequentially, GM@SAL effectively accesses CSCs and achieves reduction-responsive drug release at high GSH concentrations within CSCs. More importantly, RM@St significantly extends the window of vessel normalization and enhances vessel integrity compared to free sunitinib, thus further amplifying the anti-tumor effect of GM@SAL. The combination therapy of RM@St plus GM@SAL produces considerable depression of tumor growth, drastically reducing CSCs fractions to 5.6% and resulting in 78.4% inhibition of lung metastasis. This study offers novel insights into rational nanomedicines designed for superior therapeutic effects by vascular normalization and anti-CSCs therapy.

Recent studies have shown that stress can substantially facilitate breast cancer metastasis,which can be reduced by nonselective β1/β2-adrenergic receptor(β1/β2-AR)blocker.However,several side effects were identified.Thus,it is extremely warranted to explore more effective and better-tolerated β2-AR blocker.Currently,we demonstrated that baicalin(BA),a major bioactive component of Scutellaria bai-calensis Georgi,could significantly attenuate stress hormones especially epinephrine(Epi)-induced breast cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro.Mechanistically,we identified that β2-AR was a direct target of BA via the drug affinity responsive target stability(DARTS)combined with mass spectrum assay,and BA photoaffinity probe with pull-down assay,which was further confirmed by a couple of bio-physical and biochemical assays.Furthermore,we demonstrated that BA could directly bind to the Phe-193 and Phe-289 of β2-AR,subsequently inhibit cyclic adenosine monophosphate-protein kinase A-focal adhesion kinase(cAMP-PKA-FAK)pathway,and thus impede epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT),thereby hindering the metastatic progression of the chronic stress coupled with syngeneic and xenograft in vivo orthotopic and tail vein mouse model.These findings firstly identify BA as a potential β2-AR inhibitor in the treatment of stress-induced breast cancer metastasis.

With the proposal and development of new technologies, new methods, and new education theories, the research on medical education and teaching has been conducted extensively. The theories, methods, and management mode of the research on medical education and teaching are keeping pace with the times and thus promote the rapid improvement in teaching ability, medical talents, and the training level of medical humanities. However, current studies on medical education and teaching focus too much on the innovation of education theories, methods, and management and neglect the aspects such as educational ethics, student awareness, and assessment of potential benefits and risks. In addition, the lack of unified implementation and supervision standards in the whole process management of education research is also a problem that needs to be solved urgently, especially in empirical studies, which brings great challenges to the standardized implementation of education research. By performing an analogy with the clinical trial research system and summarizing education research and educational ethics, this study, for the first time, proposes a set of standardized and systematic medical education and research standards, including the paradigms of classification, staging and different stages. These standards provide a theoretical basis for implementing medical education research, improving the education compliance of target students, fully guaranteeing the benefits of target students, and avoiding the risks in education research, which provides a reference for standardized education research in other disciplines.

Objective To investigate the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS)in the left posterior sylvia temporal-parietal association area on language function in patients with post-stroke conductive aphasia.Methods The post-stroke aphasia patients admitted to the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine,Xuanwu Hospital,Capital Medical University were prospectively included from June 2021 to April 2024.A self-cross randomized controlled trial was performed in this study.The patients enrolled were assessed as conductive aphasia by Western aphasia test kit diagnostic criteria.Twelve patients with post-stroke conductive aphasia were completely randomly divided into group A(treatment sequence:stage A—washout period—stage B)and group B(treatment sequence:stage B—washout period—stage A),with 6 cases in each group.Stage A performed true tDCS therapy combined with speech and language training,and stage B performed sham tDCS therapy combined with speech and language training.During washout period,only speech and language training was performed,and each stage was trained for 5 days.The tDCS anode is the stimulation electrode and is placed at the stimulation target.The cathode is the reference electrode and is placed on the right shoulder.The intensity of tDCS was 1.4 mA,the true stimulation was 20 min/time,and the sham stimulation stopped automatically after only 30 s/time,both twice/d,and a total of 10 times treatment were performed.Speech and language training was performed 30 min/time,2 times/d,a total of 10 times treatment.The function of rehearsal and picture naming(training item and non-training item)were examined before and after treatment of stage A and B immediately,and the difference of function scores of rehearsal and picture naming(training item and non-training item)before and after treatment of stage A and B were compared.Results(1)There were no significant differences in gender,age,course of disease and educational level between group A and group B(all P＞0.05).(2)Before and after washout period,there were no statistical significance in functional scores of rehearsal and picture naming(training items and non-training items)in both group A and group B(all P＞0.05).(3)There were no significant differences in functional scores of rehearsal and picture naming(training items and non-training items)between group A and group B before and after washout treatment(all P＞0.05).(4)Compared with the difference before and after treatment of stage B,the function scores difference before and after treatment of stage A in rehearsal function,picture naming(training item)and picture naming(non-training item)were higher([6.9±1.4]scores vs.[2.2±1.0]scores,t=9.604;[6.2±1.2]scores vs.[1.8±1.1]scores,t=9.277;[6.5±1.0]scores vs.[1.5±1.0]scores,t=12.247;all P＜0.01).Conclusions Preliminary analysis suggested that tDCS intervention in the brain tissue of the temporoparietal association area of the left posterior lateral cleft may help improve the rehearsal and picture naming(training and non-training items)ability in conductive aphasia patients after stroke.The sample size of this study is small,and the results need to be further explored.

Objective To explore the value of fractional order calculus(FROC)model diffusion weighted imaging(DWI)for evaluating pathological classification and differentiation degree of cervical cancer(CCA).Methods Totally 74 CCA patients were enrolled and divided into squamous cell carcinoma(SCC)group(n=54)and adenocarcinoma(ACA)group(n=20)based on pathological classification,also low differentiation group(n=33)and medium-high differentiation group(n=41)based on differentiation degree.Conventional MR examination and DWI with 12 b-values were performed,FROC model parameters(D,β,and p value)and the apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)of mono-exponential model were obtained via software analysis.The parameters were compared between groups,and receiver operating characteristic curve of those being significantly different between groups were drawn,the area under the curves(AUC)were calculated to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy.Results Significant differences of ADC,D,and β values were found between SCC group and ACA group(all P＜0.05),and D value had the highest AUC(0.726)for distinguishing pathological classification CCA.Meanwhile,significant differences of D,β,p values and ADC were observed between low differentiation group and medium-high differentiation group(all P＜0.05),D value also had the highest AUC(0.865).AUC of the combined model constructed based on significant variables β and p values in logistic regression was 0.926,higher than that of each parameter alone(all P＜0.05).Conclusion FROC model DWI could be used to evaluate pathological classification and differentiation degree of CCA.

Objective To investigate the effect of prostaglandin family(PGs)on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).Methods HepG2 cells,a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line,were used as the research subject.The experiment was set up as a control group(Ctrl),fatty change group(FFA),prostaglandin B2(PGB2,10 μg/mL)treatment group,15-keto-prostaglandin E2(15-keto-PGE2,10 μg/mL)treatment group,and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2a(8-iso-PGF2α,10 μg/mL)treatment group.Cell activity was determined by the thiazolyl blue(MTT)assay and lipid deposition was detected by the oil red O staining.The expression levels of inflammatory factors and phosphorylated insulin receptor substrates(p-IRS)were determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(qRT-PCR)and Western blot,respectively.In addition,15 SPF-grade male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a basic group(CD group,n=5,fed with 10％low-fat forage for 16 weeks),high-fat group(HFD group,n=5,fed with 60％high-fat forage for 16 weeks to model NAFLD),and PGB2 group(n=5,given 20 μg/kg PGB2 daily by tail vein injection for 2 weeks after 16 weeks of 60％high-fat diet feeding).The glucose tolerance level of the mice was detected by the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test(IPGTT)and the degree of hepatic steatosis was determined by HE staining.Results Oil red O staining showed that PGs had no sig-nificant effect on the lipid deposition of NAFLD,but PGs were able to alleviate the inflammation associated with NAFLD.qRT-PCR re-sults showed that compared with the Ctrl group,the levels of IL-1β in the FFA group increased by 2.274±0.550 times(P=0.002 8),while under the action of 50 μg/mL PGB2,10 μg/mL 15-keto-PGE2 and 10 μg/mL 8-iso-PGF2α,the levels of IL-1β decreased to 0.720±0.036 times(P=0.003 1),0.857±0.225 times(P=0.006 4),and 1.767±0.725 times(P=0.029 7),respectively.Western blot results showed that after PGs treatment,the expression level of p-IRS protein was increased.The body weights of mice in the CD group,HFD group and PGB2 group were(28.560±2.028)g,(49.300±0.667)g,and(40.840±4.043)g,respectively,with statisti-cally significant differences between the groups(P=0.001 7).Moreover,the glucose tolerance results in the PGB2 group were better than those in the HFD group.HE staining results showed compared with the HFD group,the degree of hepatic steatosis in the PGB2 group was reduced.Conclusion PGB2,15-keto-PGE2,and 8-iso-PGF2α in the prostaglandin family can alleviate the occurrence and development of NAFLD by alleviating IL-1β-mediated inflammation,upregulating the expression of p-IRS,promoting the transmission of insulin signaling,and attenuating insulin resistance.