Endometriosis （EMT） is a common disease with frequent occurrence and difficult to be cured in modern clinical practice of obstetrics and gynaecology. It is characterized by progressively worsening dysmenorrhoea， pelvic mass， and infertility. The incidence of EMT is growing and increasingly younger patients are diagnosed with this disease， which poses a serious threat to the reproductive and psychological health of women of childbearing age and adolescent females. However， the pathogenesis of EMT is still not completely clear， and the disease has a long course. Therefore， developing new therapies is an urgent clinical problem to be solved. Great progress has been achieved in the treatment of EMT with traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， while the underlying mechanism remains in exploration. Programmed cell death （PCD） is a cell death mode mediated by a variety of bio-molecules with specific signaling cascades. The known PCD processes include apoptosis， pyroptosis， autophagy， ferroptosis， and cuproptosis， which all play a pivotal role in the development of EMT. Researchers have made achievements in the treatment of EMT with TCM， which regulates PCD via multiple pathways， routes， targets， and mechanisms. However， the progress in the regulation of PCD in the treatment of EMT with TCM remains to be reviewed. This paper reviews the research progress in the treatment of EMT with TCM from five PCD processes （apoptosis， pyroptosis， autophagy， ferroptosis， and cuproptosis）， with the aim of providing a theoretical basis for the clinical prevention and treatment of EMT.

BACKGROUND: Preclinical studies have indicated that Angong Niuhuang Pills (ANP) reduce cerebral infarct and edema volumes. This study aimed to investigate whether ANP safely reduces cerebral infarct and edema volumes in patients with moderate to severe acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial included patients with acute ischemic stroke with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores ranging from 10 to 20 in 17 centers in China between April 2021 and July 2022. Patients were allocated within 36 h after onset via block randomization to receive ANP or placebo (3 g/day for 5 days). The primary outcomes were changes in cerebral infarct and edema volumes after 14 days of treatment. The primary safety outcome was severe adverse events (SAEs) for 90 days. RESULTS: There were 57 and 60 patients finally included in the ANP and placebo groups, respectively for modified intention-to-treat analysis. The median age was 66.0 years, and the median NIHSS score at baseline was 12.0. The changes in cerebral infarct volume at day 14 were 0.3 mL and 0.4 mL in the ANP and placebo groups, respectively (median difference: -7.1 mL; interquartile range [IQR]: -18.3 to 2.3 mL, P = 0.30). The changes in cerebral edema volume of the ANP and placebo groups on day 14 were 11.4 mL and 4.0 mL, respectively ( median difference: 3.0 mL, IQR: -1.3 to 9.9 mL, P = 0.15). The rates of SAE within 90 days were similar in the ANP (3/57, 5%) and placebo (7/60, 12%) groups ( P = 0.36). Changes in serum mercury and arsenic concentrations were comparable. In patients with large artery atherosclerosis, ANP reduced the cerebral infarct volume at 14 days (median difference: -12.3 mL; IQR: -27.7 to -0.3 mL, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: ANP showed a similar safety profile to placebo and non-significant tendency to reduce cerebral infarct volume in patients with moderate-to-severe stroke. Further studies are warranted to assess the efficacy of ANP in reducing cerebral infarcts and improving clinical prognosis. TRAIL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov , No. NCT04475328.
Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Ischemic Stroke/drug therapy* ; Pilot Projects ; Stroke/drug therapy* ; Treatment Outcome

Schizophrenia (SZ) stands as a severe psychiatric disorder. This study applied diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data in conjunction with graph neural networks to distinguish SZ patients from normal controls (NCs) and showcases the superior performance of a graph neural network integrating combined fractional anisotropy and fiber number brain network features, achieving an accuracy of 73.79% in distinguishing SZ patients from NCs. Beyond mere discrimination, our study delved deeper into the advantages of utilizing white matter brain network features for identifying SZ patients through interpretable model analysis and gene expression analysis. These analyses uncovered intricate interrelationships between brain imaging markers and genetic biomarkers, providing novel insights into the neuropathological basis of SZ. In summary, our findings underscore the potential of graph neural networks applied to multimodal DTI data for enhancing SZ detection through an integrated analysis of neuroimaging and genetic features.
Humans ; Schizophrenia/pathology* ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Brain/metabolism* ; Young Adult ; Middle Aged ; White Matter/pathology* ; Gene Expression ; Nerve Net/diagnostic imaging* ; Graph Neural Networks

Objective To analyze the serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D[25(OH)D]levels and vitamin D nutri-tional status of 0-14 years old children in Hangzhou,and to provide scientific basis for the prevention of vita-min D deficiency.Methods A total of 26 225 healthy children aged 0 to 14 who were tested in Hangzhou Dian Medical Diagnosis Center from January 1,2021 to December 31,2023 were selected as the study objects.The 25(OH)D levels were detected by direct chemiluminescence method,and the 25(OH)D levels and vitamin D nutritional status of children with different genders,ages and seasons were analyzed and compared.Results The level of 25(OH)D in girls was slightly higher than that in boys,and the difference was statisti-cally significant(P＜0.05).With the increase of age,the level of 25(OH)D continued to decline,and the pro-portion of vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D insufficiency gradually increased.The level of 25(OH)D was the highest in children＜3 years old and the lowest in children 10-14 years old.There was statistical significance in the proportion of vitamin D nutritional status between boys and girls aged 10 to 14(P＜0.05).In the four seasons,children's 25(OH)D level is the highest in spring and the lowest in summer.The difference of 25(OH)D level and vitamin D nutritional status in different seasons was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The proportion of vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D insufficiency in winter was higher than that in other seasons,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion The nutritional status of vitamin D in 0-14 year old children in Hangzhou is good,but the importance of vitamin D supplementation for children should not be ignored,and active publicity and education should be carried out to prevent vitamin D deficiency.

Objective:To establish a risk prediction model based on least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression for procalcitonin (PCT), milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG-E8) and CXC chemokine ligand 9 (CXCL9) in elderly patients with liver cancer after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) .Methods:A total of 150 elderly patients with liver cancer who underwent TACE treatment in Shishi City Hospital, Fujian Province and 910th Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Joint Logistic Support Force from August 2020 to August 2023 were selected as the study subjects. Patients with infection after TACE were included in the infected group and those without infection were included in the non-infected group according to whether the patients had infection during the postoperative hospitalization. The baseline data of patients were collected and compared. LASSO regression was used to screen the factors that may affect the infection after TACE in elderly patients with liver cancer and binary logistic regression analysis was performed. According to the results of regression analysis, a nomogram model was constructed based on the regression analysis results and the nomogram was internally validated using Bootstrap and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves.Results:There were 18 cases of infection in 150 elderly patients with liver cancer after TACE, with an incidence of 12.00%. There were statistically significant differences in focal rupture and bleeding ( χ2=5.92, P=0.015), ascites ( χ2=6.70, P=0.010), skin or mucosal damage ( χ2=6.67, P=0.010) between the infected group ( n=18) and the non-infected group ( n=132). The levels of serum PCT [ (1.17±0.32 ) μg/L vs. (0.91±0.14) μg/L], MFG-E8 [ (194.29±45.85) pg/ml vs. (158.76±28.63) pg/ml] and CXCL9 [ (948.49±52.38) pg/ml vs. (886.05±50.07) pg/ml] were higher than those in the non-infected group, with statistically significant differences ( t=4.13, P<0.001; t=4.55, P<0.001; t=4.94, P<0.001). Four factors related to infection after TACE intervention in patients with liver cancer were finally selected by LASSO regression model, skin or mucosal damage, PCT, MFG-E8, CXCL9 levels. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that skin or mucosal damage ( OR=13.48, 95% CI: 1.29-140.47, P=0.030), high levels of serum PCT ( OR=1.13, 95% CI: 1.05-1.22, P=0.001), MFG-E8 ( OR=1.04, 95% CI: 1.01-1.07, P=0.003), CXCL9 ( OR=1.05, 95% CI: 1.02-1.08, P=0.001) were risk factors for infection after TACE in elderly patients with liver cancer. Based on skin or mucosa damage, PCT, MFG-E8 and CXCL9, a nomogram prediction model for postoperative infection in elderly patients with liver cancer after TACE intervention was established. Calibration curve showed that the C-index of postoperative infection predicted by the nomogram model in elderly patients with liver cancer after TACE intervention was 0.939, indicating the model had good discrimination. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) predicted by the nomogram model for infection after TACE intervention in elderly patients with liver cancer was 0.960 (95% CI: 0.926-0.995, P<0.001), which had certain predictive value. The specificity, sensitivity and Youden index were 0.864, 0.944 and 0.808, respectively. Conclusions:Skin or mucosal damage, high levels of serum PCT, CXCL9 and MFG-E8 are closely related to postoperative infection in elderly patients with liver cancer after TACE, and the prediction model constructed based on this has better predictive performance for postoperative infection.

Objective To explore the efficacy of Yishen Yangyin Gujing Prescription[derived from Zuogui Wan(Bolus for Replenishing Kidney-Yin)]for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)with qi and yin deficiency syndrome,and to observe its effects on inflammatory responses,pancreatic β-cell function and renal function.Methods A total of 162 T2DM patients with diabetic nephropathy of qi and yin deficiency syndrome who admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine from May 2020 to July 2023 were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group according to the random number table method,with 81 cases in each group.The control group was given conventional western medicine treatment for lowering blood pressure and renal protection,while the observation group was treated with Yishen Yangyin Gujing Prescription on the basis of treatment for the control group.The course of treatment for the two groups covered 12 weeks.Before and after the treatment,the changes in the outcomes of the two groups were observed,and the outcomes included the total scores of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome,insulin sensitivity index,insulin secretion index,24-h urine total protein quantification(24hUTP),and serum levels of glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c),fasting insulin(FINS),fasting blood glucose(FBG),serum creatinine(SCr),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),transforming growth factor β1(TGF-β1),NLRP3 inflammasome,interleukin 6(IL-6),superoxide dismutase(SOD)and sphingosine-1-phosphate(S1P).After treatment,the clinical efficacy of the two groups of patients was compared.Results(1)After 12-week treatment,the total effective rate of the observation group was 93.83%(76/81),and that of the control group was 83.95%(68/81).The intergroup comparison showed that the efficacy of the observation group was significantly superior to that of the control group(χ2=9.163,P<0.05).(2)After treatment,the insulin sensitivity index and insulin secretion index in the two groups of patients were increased(P<0.05)and the total scores of TCM syndromes were decreased(P<0.05)when compared with those before treatment,and the increase of insulin sensitivity index and insulin secretion index as well as the decrease of the total scores of TCM syndrome in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P<0.05).(3)After treatment,the serum levels of HbA1c,FINS,FBG,SCr,BUN and 24hUTP in the two groups of patients were decreased when compared with those before treatment(P<0.05),and the decrease of the above indicators in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P<0.05).(4)After treatment,the serum TGF-β1,IL-6,and NLRP3 inflammasome levels in the two groups of patients were decreased(P<0.05)and the serum S1P and SOD levels were increased(P<0.05)when compared with those before treatment,and the decrease of serum TGF-β1,IL-6,and NLRP3 inflammasome levels as well as the increase of serum S1P and SOD levels in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion For T2DM patients with diabetic nephropathy of qi and yin deficiency syndrome,the combined use of western medicine and Yishen Yangyin Gujing Prescription treatment is helpful to alleviate inflammatory response,improve the function of pancreatic β-cells,regulate the blood glucose level,improve renal function,and enhance the clinical efficacy.

Objective To explore the relationships of vitamin D and oxidized low-density lipoprotein(ox-LDL)with infertility in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)based on restricted cubic spline models.Methods A total of 150 PCOS patients were selected as the study subjects and followed up for at least 1 year.They were divided into infertile group and non-infertile group according to whether they were infertile.A Logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of infertility in PCOS patients.Furthermore,the relationships of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3[1,25-(OH)2D3]and ox-LDL with infertility in PCOS patients,as well as their interactive effects on infertility in PCOS patients were analyzed.A restricted cubic spline model was used to analyze the non-linear relationships between 1,25-(OH)2D3,ox-LDL,and infertility in PCOS patients.Results Among 150 PCOS patients,78 were not pregnant,resulting in an infertility rate of 52.00％(78/150).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the severity of PCOS,body mass index,age,1,25-(OH)2D3,and ox-LDL were all independent influencing factors for infertility in PCOS patients(P＜0.05).After adjusting for confounding factors,1,25-(OH)2D3 and ox-LDL were still associated with the risk of in-fertility in PCOS patients(P＜0.05).Restricted cubic spline model analysis revealed non-linear rela-tionships between 1,25-(OH)2D3,ox-LDL,and the risk of infertility in PCOS patients(P＜0.05).When the serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 level was＜35.70 nmol/L,it was negatively correlated with the risk of infertility in PCOS patients(P＜0.05).When the serum ox-LDL level was ≥381.00 μg/L,it was positively correlated with the risk of infertility in PCOS patients(P＜0.05).Interactive effect analysis showed that 1,25-(OH)2D3 and ox-LDL had antagonistic effects on infertility in PCOS pa-tients(P＜0.05).Conclusion Decreased serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels and increased ox-LDL levels in PCOS patients can significantly increase the risk of infertility.Moreover,there is a non-lin-ear dose-response relationship and an antagonistic interactive effect between them,suggesting that regulating vitamin D and oxidative stress levels may be an important strategy for improving the fertili-ty outcomes of PCOS patients.

BACKGROUND:Our previous studies found that adding barium sulfate could improve the mechanical and radiopaque properties of calcium phosphate cement.However,with the degradation of calcium phosphate,the remaining radiopaque agent is difficult to degrade,and the space-occupying and osteoclast effects at the implantation site affect the bone repair process.Therefore,it is necessary to develop a new biodegradable radiopaque material. OBJECTIVE:To discuss the radiopaque ability of bioactive degradable material strontium polyphosphate(SrPP)and its impact on the physicochemical properties and osteogenic effect of calcium phosphate cement. METHODS:(1)Calcium phosphate cement(CPC),starch modified calcium phosphate cement(CPS)and starch modified calcium phosphate cement(20%SrPP-CPN)containing SrPP(20%mass fraction of bone cement powder)were prepared respectively,and the physicochemical properties of the three groups of bone cements were characterized.(2)The three groups of bone cement extracts were co-cultured with rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells,respectively,to detect cell proliferation,energy metabolism,and osteogenic differentiation.(3)Bone defects with a diameter of 5 mm were made on each side of the top of the skull of 24 SD rats,and they were randomly divided into control group(without any intervention),CPC group,CPS group,and 20%SrPP-CPN group for intervention,with 6 rats in each group.Relevant tests were performed after 4 and 12 weeks of intervention. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the other two groups of bone cement,20%SrPP-CPN had enhanced radiopaque ability,increased compressive strength and degradation rate,and prolonged curing time,and 20%SrPP-CPN could release Sr2+ stably during degradation.(2)CCK-8 assay showed that 20%SrPP-CPN did not affect the proliferation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.Cell starvation test(serum-free culture)showed that 20%SrPP-CPN could promote the proliferation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells compared with the other two groups of bone cement.Compared with the other two groups of bone cements,20%SrPP-CPN increased adenosine triphosphate concentration in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.Alkaline phosphatase and alizarin red staining showed that 20%SrPP-CPN could promote osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells compared with the other two groups of bone cement.(3)In the rat skull defect experiment,Micro-CT scanning and histological observation(hematoxylin-eosin and Masson stainings)showed that bone cement in 20%SrPP-CPN group was significantly degraded compared with that in CPC and CPS groups,and a large number of new bone tissues were dispersed in degraded bone cement.Immunohistochemical staining showed that Runx2 protein expression was increased in 20%SrPP-CPN group compared with CPC group and CPS group(P＜0.01).(4)These results show that 20%SrPP-CPN has good radiopaque ability and osteogenic properties.

Objective:To explore the diagnostic value of serum cystatin C (CysC) and C1q tumor necrosis factor-related protein 9 (CTRP9) levels for diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME) in patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted.A total of 135 patients with type 2 diabetes, aged 45-75 years, who were treated in Gansu Provincial Hospital from April 2021 to April 2022 were included.According to DR grading standard, patients were divided into non-DR (NDR) group, non-proliferative DR (NPDR) group and proliferative DR (PDR) group, with 45 patients in each group.The DR patients were subdivided into DME group (51 cases) and non-DME group (39 cases).A total of 45 healthy subjects were selected as the normal control group.Fasting peripheral venous blood was collected to detect serum glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting blood glucose, triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, CysC and CTRP9 levels.The expression of CysC and CTRP9 levels among different groups were compared.The independent influencing factors of DR and DME were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analysis model.The diagnostic value of serum CysC and CTRP9 in DR and DME were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki and the study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Gansu Provincial Hospital (No.2021-301).All patients were informed about the purpose and methods of the study and signed an informed consent form.Results:Serum CysC levels in normal control group, NDR group, NPDR group and PDR group were 0.74(0.67, 0.83), 1.03(0.85, 1.22), 1.40(0.98, 1.63) and 1.66(1.31, 1.85)mg/L, respectively, showing a gradually increasing trend, and the serum CTRP9 levels were (136.90±14.95), (120.23±16.31), (109.50±14.71) and (90.99±13.88)pg/ml, respectively, showing a gradually decreasing trend, with statistically significant overall comparison differences among groups ( Z=89.430, P<0.001; F=74.242, P<0.001), the comparison within groups was statistically significant (all at P<0.05).Compared with non-DME group, the serum CysC level was significantly increased and serum CTRP9 level was significantly decreased in DME group (both P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that serum CysC (odds ratio [ OR]=19.742, 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 4.515-86.316, P<0.001) was the independent risk influencing factors for the occurrence of DR, and CTRP9 ( OR=0.937, 95% CI: 0.908-0.966, P<0.001) was a protective factor for the occurrence of DR.Serum CTRP9 level ( OR=0.838, 95% CI: 0.778-0.903, P<0.001) was a protective factor for DME.The ROC curve showed that the area under ROC curve (AUC) for serum CysC and CTRP9 levels alone and in combination for the diagnosis of DR in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated by DR were 0.798, 0.802 and 0.870, respectively.The cutoff values of serum CysC and CTRP9 levels to obtain the best diagnostic efficacy were 1.34 mg/L and 110.12 pg/ml, respectively.The AUC for serum CysC and CTRP9 level alone and in combination for the diagnosis of DME in DR patients were 0.682, 0.923 and 0.923, respectively.The cutoff value of serum CTRP9 level to obtain optimal diagnostic efficacy was 104.68 pg/ml. Conclusions:The enhanced expression of serum CysC level and reduced expression of serum CTRP9 level are the risk factors for the development of DR in type 2 diabetes patients.The decrease of serum CTRP9 level is one of the risk factors for the development of DME in DR patients.

Objective:To investigate the current status of endoscopic treatment for gastroesophageal varices in portal hypertension in China, and to provide supporting data and reference for the development of endoscopic treatment.Methods:In this study, initiated by the Liver Health Consortium in China (CHESS), a questionnaire was designed and distributed online to investigate the basic condition of endoscopic treatment for gastroesophageal varices in portal hypertension in 2022 in China. Questions included annual number and indication of endoscopic procedures, adherence to guideline for preventing esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EGVB), management and timing of emergent EGVB, management of gastric and isolated varices, and improvement of endoscopic treatment. Proportions of hospitals concerning therapeutic choices to all participant hospitals were calculated. Guideline adherence between secondary and tertiary hospitals were compared by using Chi-square test.Results:A total of 836 hospitals from 31 provinces (anotomous regions and municipalities) participated in the survey. According to the survey, the control of acute EGVB (49.3%, 412/836) and the prevention of recurrent bleeding (38.3%, 320/836) were major indications of endoscopic treatment. For primary [non-selective β-blocker (NSBB) or endoscopic therapies] and secondary prophylaxis (NSBB and endoscopic therapies) of EGVB, adherence to domestic guideline was 72.5% (606/836) and 39.2% (328/836), respectively. There were significant differences in the adherence between secondary and tertiary hospitals in primary prophylaxis of EGVB [71.0% (495/697) VS 79.9% (111/139), χ2=4.11, P=0.033] and secondary prophylaxis of EGVB [41.6% (290/697) VS 27.3% (38/139), χ2=9.31, P=0.002]. A total of 78.2% (654/836) hospitals preferred endoscopic therapies treating acute EGVB, and endoscopic therapy was more likely to be the first choice for treating acute EGVB in tertiary hospitals (82.6%, 576/697) than secondary hospitals [56.1% (78/139), χ2=46.33, P<0.001]. The optimal timing was usually within 12 hours (48.5%, 317/654) and 12-24 hours (36.9%, 241/654) after the bleeding. Regarding the management of gastroesophageal varices type 2 and isolated gastric varices type 1, most hospitals used cyanoacrylate injection in combination with sclerotherapy [48.2% (403/836) and 29.9% (250/836), respectively], but substantial proportions of hospitals preferred clip-assisted therapies [12.4% (104/836) and 26.4% (221/836), respectively]. Improving the skills of endoscopic doctors (84.2%, 704/836), and enhancing the precision of pre-procedure evaluation and quality of multidisciplinary team (78.9%, 660/836) were considered urgent needs in the development of endoscopic treatment. Conclusion:A variety of endoscopic treatments for gastroesophageal varices in portal hypertension are implemented nationwide. Participant hospitals are active to perform emergent endoscopy for acute EGVB, but are inadequate in following recommendations regarding primary and secondary prophylaxis of EGVB. Moreover, the selection of endoscopic procedures for gastric varices differs greatly among hospitals.