To reduce the dependency on high-carbon-load chromatographic columns,a new method has been established for the determination of the content of docusate sodium using ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography (IP-HPLC). Tetrapropylammonium chloride was used as the ion-pair reagent with a mobile phase, composition of acetonitrile:10 mmol/L tetrapropylammonium chloride solution = 66∶34, adjusting pH to 6.5 with 0.1% phosphoric acid solution,flow rate of 1.5 mL/min, detection wavelength of 214 nm,column temperature of 35 °C, and an injection volume of 25 μL,and quantified by an external standard method. The main peak of docusate sodium exhibited a tailing factor of 1.34. The method showed good linearity within the range of 0.02 mg/mL to 0.40 mg/mL, with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.999 9. It also demonstrated good repeatability, with recovery ranging from 97.0% to 98.2% (n=6). The quantification limit was 3.31 μg/mL, and the detection limit was 2.76 μg/mL.In summary,the new method shows good durability, a wide linear range, and high sensitivity, it is suitable for the determination of docusate sodium.

Objective: To assess the dynamic changes of microcirculation at acupoints in patients with primary dysmenorrhea and cold congelation and blood stasis syndrome using laser speckle blood flow imaging. Methods: Patients with primary dysmenorrhea and cold coagulation and blood stasis syndrome (primary dysmenorrhea group, n=53) and healthy female college students(control group, n=57) who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria from October 2020 to July 2022 were enrolled at Hebei University of Chinese Medicine. On the premenstrual and first day of menstruation, a laser speckle blood flow imaging system was used to measure the microcirculation blood flow perfusion on the surface of acupoints related to the conception, thoroughfare, and governor vessels, and stomach, spleen, and bladder meridians in the abdomen and lumbosacral regions. The dynamic changes in microcirculation were calculated based on the difference in average blood flow perfusion at each acupoint before and after menstruation. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis was used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of dynamic changes in microcirculation on the surface of each acupoint. The microcirculation sensitization rate of acupoints was calculated. Results: Compared with the control group, the dynamic changes in microcirculation at the following acupoints in the primary dysmenorrhea group were increased (P<0.05): conception vessel (Yinjiao[CV7], Qihai[CV6], Shimen[CV5], Guanyuan[CV4]); left thoroughfare vessel (left Huangshu[KI16], left Zhongzhu[KI15], left Siman[KI14], left Qixue[KI13], left Dahe[KI12], left Henggu[KI11]); left stomach meridian (left Tianshu[ST25], left Wailing[ST26], left Qichong[ST30]); left spleen meridian (left Daheng[SP15], left Fujie[SP14]); right thoroughfare vessel (right Huangshu[KI16], right Zhongzhu[KI15], right Siman[KI14], right Qixue[KI13], right Dahe[KI12], right Henggu[KI11]); right stomach meridian (right Wailing[ST26], right Daju[ST27], right Shuidao[ST28], right Guilai[ST29], right Qichong[ST30]); and right spleen meridian (right Fujie[SP14]). The area under the ROC curve of conception vessel (Yinjiao[CV7], Qihai[CV6], Shimen[CV5], Guanyuan[CV4]), thoroughfare vessel (right Siman[KI14], left Huangshu[KI16], right Qixue[KI13], right Zhongzhu[KI15], right Dahe[KI12], left Zhongzhu[KI15], left Siman[KI14], right Huangshu[KI16], left Qixue[KI13], right Henggu[KI11], left Henggu[KI11], left Dahe[KI12]); stomach meridian (left Tianshu[ST25], right Guilai[ST29], left Wailing[ST26], right Shuidao[ST28], right Daju[ST27], right Wailing[ST26], right Qichong[ST30], left Qichong[ST30]), and spleen meridian (left Daheng[SP15], left Fujie[SP14], right Fujie[SP14]) was 0.610-0.682 (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the sensitization rate of some acupoints in the primary dysmenorrhea group increased (P<0.05). Conclusion With the onset of menstruation, the blood flow perfusion of some acupoints in the abdomen (thoroughfare, and conception vessels, and stomach and spleen meridians) of patients with primary dysmenorrhea and cold blood coagulation and blood stasis syndrome increased, and the status of acupoints changed from a resting state to an active state. These acupoints are sensitive in patients with primary dysmenorrhea and cold blood coagulation and blood stasis syndrome and have a certain diagnostic efficacy, providing a basis for further analyzing the efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion to treat primary dysmenorrhea with cold blood coagulation and blood stasis syndrome.

AIM:To investigate the influencing factors of dry eye in elderly people aged over 60 years, and to construct a risk nomogram prediction model, so as to provide a reference for the identification of high-risk individuals and the development of preventive strategies.METHODS:A convenience sampling method was used to select 301 people aged over 60 years who attended the ophthalmology outpatient clinic or were hospitalized at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University between July 2023 and December 2023. They were divided into a dry eye group(n=173)and a non-dry eye group(n=128)based on the presence or absence of dry eye. Data from the two groups were compared and a risk prediction model was constructed.RESULTS:Gender, hypertension, meibomian gland dysfunction, frequent use of eye drops, frequent use of electronic products, and frequent exposure to dry environments were significant influencing factors for the occurrence of dry eye in people aged over 60 years(all P<0.05). The nomogram prediction model demonstrated excellent discrimination(AUC=0.86, 95% CI: 0.81-0.90). The calibration curve showed good fit with the ideal curve, indicating high predictive accuracy. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test yielded a P-value of 0.424. The sensitivity was 73% and the specificity was 86%.CONCLUSION:The nomogram predictive model for the risk of dry eye in elderly people aged over 60 years constructed in this study showed good discrimination and calibration. It can serve as an intuitive and effective clinical risk assessment tool, providing a basis for the early identification of high-risk populations and the development of individualized intervention strategies.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Huayu Tongluo (transforming stasis and unblocking collaterals) moxibustion on learning-memory ability and hippocampal mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 (Mst1)/nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) p65 pathway related to inflammatory response in rats with vascular dementia (VD). METHODS: A total of 60 male Wistar rats of SPF grade were randomly divided into a sham operation group (12 rats) and a modeling group (48 rats). VD model was established by the method of modified bilateral common carotid artery permanent ligation in the modeling group. Thirty-six rats with successful modeling were randomly divided into a model group, a moxibustion group and a western medication group, with 12 rats in each group. Huayu Tongluo moxibustion was applied at "Dazhui" (GV14), "Baihui" (GV20) and "Shenting" (GV24) in the moxibustion group, 20 min each time, once a day, 7 day-intervention was as one course, and 1 day-interval was taken between two courses, for a total of 3 courses. In the western medication group, piracetam was given 0.72 mg/kg by intragastric administration, twice a day, the course of intervention was same as that of the moxibustion group. The learning-memory ability was detected by Morris water maze test; the morphology of hippocampal CA1 region was observed by HE staining; the mRNA expression of Mst1, M1 microglia markers CD86, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was detected by real-time PCR; the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in hippocampus were detected by ELISA; and the protein expression of Mst1 and NF-κB p65 in hippocampus was detected by Western blot in rats of each group. RESULTS: Compared with the sham operation group, the escape latency was prolonged in the model group (P<0.05); compared with the model group, the escape latency was shortened in the moxibustion group and the western medication group (P<0.05). The cells in the CA1 region of hippocampus were disordered, cell collapse and irregular nuclei could be observed in the model group; compared with the model group, the cell arrangement in the CA1 region of hippocampus was more regular, and the damage was improved in the moxibustion group and the western medication group. Compared with the sham operation group, the mRNA expression of Mst1, CD86, IL-6 and TNF-α, as well as the protein expression of Mst1, NF-κB p65 in hippocampus were increased in the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the mRNA expression of Mst1, CD86, IL-6 and TNF-α, as well as the protein expression of Mst1, NF-κB p65 in hippocampus were decreased in the moxibustion group and the western medication group (P<0.05). Compared with the sham operation group, the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in hippocampus were increased in the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in hippocampus were decreased in the moxibustion group and the western medication group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Huayu Tongluo moxibustion can improve the learning-memory ability of VD rats, the mechanism may be related to regulating the activation of microglia through Mst1/NF-κB p65 pathway, reducing the release of pro-inflammatory factors i.e. IL-6 and TNF-α, so as to alleviating the damage of inflammatory factors in the hippocampus of VD rats.
Animals ; Male ; Rats ; Moxibustion ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Rats, Wistar ; Dementia, Vascular/genetics* ; Memory/drug effects* ; Humans ; Transcription Factor RelA/genetics* ; Learning ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics* ; Acupuncture Points ; Interleukin-6/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal

In order to characterize the characteristics of pathological tremor of human upper limb, a simulation system of pathological tremor of human arm was provided and its dynamic response was analyzed. Firstly, in this study, a two-degree-of-freedom human arm dynamic model was established and linearized according to the arbitrary initial angle of joints. After solving the analytical solutions of steady-state responses of the joints, the numerical solution was used to verify it. The results of theoretical analysis show that the two natural frequencies of the developed dynamic model are 2.9 Hz and 5.4 Hz, respectively, which meet the characteristic frequency range of pathological tremors. Then, combined with the measured parameters of human arm, a tremor simulation system was built, and the measured results of joint responses are in good agreement with the theoretical and simulation analysis results, which verifies the effectiveness of the theoretical model. The results show that the human arm pathological tremor simulation system designed in this paper can characterize the frequency and response amplitude of the human upper limb pathological tremor. Moreover, the relevant research lays a theoretical foundation and experimental conditions for the subsequent development of wearable tremor suppression devices.
Humans ; Tremor/physiopathology* ; Computer Simulation ; Arm/physiopathology* ; Joints/physiopathology* ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Upper Extremity/physiopathology* ; Models, Biological

Objective Based on 25 indicators including immune factors, cell count classification, and smear results of the knee joint fluid, machine learning models were established to distinguish between osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods 100 OA and 40 RA patients scheduled for total knee arthroplasty were enrolled respectively. Each patient's knee joint fluid was collected preoperatively. Nucleated cells were counted and classified. The expression levels of immune factors, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-8, IL-15, matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3), MMP9, MMP13, rheumatoid factor (RF), serum amyloid A (SAA), C-reactive protein (CRP), and others were measured. Smears and microscopic classification of all the immune factors were performed. Independent influencing factors for OA or RA were identified using univariate binary logistic regression, Lasso regression, and multivariate binary logistic regression. Based on the independent influencing factors, three machine learning models were constructed which are logistic regression, random forest, and support vector machine. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), calibration curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate and compare the models. Results A total of 5 indicators in the knee joint fluid were screened out to distinguish OA and RA, which were IL-1β(odds ratio(OR)=10.512, 95× confidence interval (95×CI) was 1.048-105.42, P=0.045), IL-6 (OR=1.007, 95×CI was 1.001-1.014, P=0.022), MMP9 (OR=3.202, 95×CI was 1.235-8.305, P=0.017), MMP13 (OR=1.002, 95× CI was 1-1.004, P=0.049), and RF (OR=1.091, 95×CI was 1.01-1.179, P=0.026). According to the results of ROC, calibration curve and DCA, the accuracy (0.979), sensitivity (0.98) and area under the curve (AUC, 0.996, 95×CI was 0.991-1) of the random forest model were the highest. It has good validity and feasibility, and its distinguishing ability is better than the other two models. Conclusion The machine learning model based on immune factors in the knee joint fluid holds significant value in distinguishing OA and RA. It provides an important reference for the clinical early differential diagnosis, prevention and treatment of OA and RA.
Humans ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/metabolism* ; Machine Learning ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Synovial Fluid/immunology* ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/metabolism* ; Knee Joint/metabolism* ; ROC Curve ; Diagnosis, Differential

BACKGROUND: The incidence and mortality rates of lung cancer remain on the rise, creating an urgent need for screening among high-risk populations and early prevention. This study aims to explore the association and interaction between multidimensional lifestyle, socioeconomic status, and the incidence of lung cancer, and to provide scientific evidence for screening high-risk populations and preventing lung cancer. METHODS: Healthy lifestyle score was constructed using information on smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise, diet and sleep obtained through a questionnaire survey. Socioeconomic status was evaluated based on information on education, employment, and family income, and genetic testing data were used to assess the risk of genetic variation. A proportional hazards assumption test was conducted, and the Cox proportional hazards model was applied to analyze the associations between healthy lifestyle scores, socioeconomic status, and lung cancer, as well as the interactions among various factors, after adjusting for the risk of genetic variation, age, gender, diabetes, hypertension and the living environment score. RESULTS: A total of 245,538 samples that entered the cohort from March, 2006 to October, 2010 were included and followed up until December 31, 2022. The participants were divided into the case group (n=1472) and the control group (n=244,066). The analysis results showed that after adjusting for covariates, there was still an association between the healthy lifestyle score, socioeconomic status, and the incidence of lung cancer: compared with participants with a high healthy lifestyle score, the risk of lung cancer in participants with medium and low healthy lifestyle scores was significantly increased, with hazard ratios (HR) of 2.12 (95%CI: 1.86-2.41) and 3.36 (95%CI: 2.82-3.99) respectively; compared with participants with high socioeconomic status, the risk of lung cancer in participants with medium and low socioeconomic status was significantly increased, with HR of 1.29 (95%CI: 1.13-1.48) and 1.67 (95%CI: 1.46-1.90) respectively. Moreover, there were interactions between smoking status and socioeconomic status (Pfor interaction=0.05), as well as the other four lifestyle factors (Pfor interaction=0.02). CONCLUSIONS This study identified the association between multidimensional lifestyle factors and socioeconomic status with the incidence of lung cancer, as well as interactions between smoking and socioeconomic status and four other lifestyle factors, providing a scientific basis for screening and prevention in high-risk populations for lung cancer.
Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Incidence ; Life Style ; Social Class ; Aged ; Adult ; Risk Factors

To address the problem of large reconstruction errors in 3D pulse signals caused by excessively small out-of-plane displacement of the contact membrane in the existing traditional Chinese medicine fingertip tactile binocular vision detection technology, this study proposes a 3D pulse image detection method based on subtle motion magnification technology and explores its application in pulse pattern recognition. Firstly, a 3D pulse image detection system based on binocular vision to obtain pulse image signals is developed as experimental data. Then, the phase motion video magnification algorithm is used to amplify the original signals, and the amplified signals are reconstructed in three dimensions to obtain 3D pulse signals. On this basis, nine features are extracted from the 3D pulse signals and features selection is performed using a two-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Finally, machine learning algorithms such as decision trees and random forests are used to identify the five types of pulse conditions: deep pulse, intermittent pulse, flooding pulse, slippery pulse, and rapid pulse. The experimental results show that compared to the methods without subtle motion magnification technology, the proposed method significantly improves waveform clarity, amplitude stability, and periodic regularity. Meanwhile, the average accuracy in pulse pattern recognition reaches 96.29%±0.26%.
Algorithms ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional/methods* ; Pattern Recognition, Automated ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Motion ; Humans ; Pulse ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Machine Learning

ObjectiveTo identify the chemical constituents of Ruyi Zhenbaowan in vitro and in vivo. MethodThe chemical constituents of Ruyi Zhenbaowan were identified based on UHPLC-Q Exactive Orbitrap HRMS. A total of 12 male SD rats were randomized into two groups： control （pure water） and Ruyi Zhenbaowan （1.8 g·kg^-1）. The rats were administrated with the suspension of Ruyi Zhenbaowan or pure water by gavage. After 1.5 h， the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid were collected. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C₁₈ column （2.1 mm × 150 mm， 1.7 μm） with a mixture of 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution （A） and acetonitrile （B） as the mobile phase. Gradient elution was carried out according to the procedure of 0~15 min，97%~80%A；15~30 min ，80%~60%A；30~40 min，60%~30%A；40~45 min，30%~5%A. The ion source was electrospray ionization， and scan range was m/z 100-1 500. The prototype components and the components in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid were analyzed qualitatively by scanning in positive and negative ion modes and identified by comparison with the data in published literature and the information of standard substances. ResultA total of 126 chemical constituents were identified from the 80% methanol solution of Ruyi Zhenbaowan， and 14 and 7 prototype constituents were detected in the plasma and the cerebrospinal fluid， respectively. In addition， the fragmentation rules of apigenin， apigenin-7-O-glucuronide， galangin， liquiritin， piperine， glycyrrhizic acid， eugenol， gallic acid， and cholic acid were deduced. ConclusionThis study achieved rapid multicomponent characterization and identification of Ruyi Zhenbaowan in vitro and in vivo， providing theoretical support for exploring active substances and performing quality control.l.

Objective:To analyze the association between waist circumference (WC) and ischemic stroke (IS).Methods:The data for the present study were from the prospective cohort study of China Kadoorie Biobank in Qingdao. Using baseline information and IS events of the participants, the Cox proportional hazard regression model and restricted cubic spline (RCS) were used to analyze the association between WC and IS.Results:A total of 33 355 participants were included in the study, with 302 008.88 person-years of follow-up. A total of 1 093 new cases of IS were observed. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression model analysis showed that compared to the respondents with normal WC (male <85.0 cm, female <80.0 cm), respondents with excessive WC (male ≥85.0 cm, female ≥80.0 cm) had a 78% higher risk of IS incidence [hazard ratio( HR)=1.78, 95% CI: 1.51-2.10], and the risk increased by 72% ( HR=1.72, 95% CI: 1.40-2.12) and 83% ( HR=1.83, 95% CI: 1.40-2.39) in men and women. According to the RCS, the increase in WC and the risk of IS showed an "S" trend of nonlinear dose-response relationship. Conclusions:The risk of IS would increase with the WC. Keeping a normal WC is important for preventing IS.