Background/Aims: To evaluate the causal correlation between complement components and non-viral liver diseases and their potential use as druggable targets. Methods: We conducted Mendelian randomization (MR) to assess the causal role of circulating complements in the risk of non-viral liver diseases. A complement-centric protein interaction network was constructed to explore biological functions and identify potential therapeutic options. Results: In the MR analysis, genetically predicted levels of complement C1q C chain (C1QC) were positively associated with the risk of autoimmune hepatitis (odds ratio 1.125, 95% confidence interval 1.018–1.244), while complement factor H-related protein 5 (CFHR5) was positively associated with the risk of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC;1.193, 1.048– 1.357). On the other hand, CFHR1 (0.621, 0.497–0.776) and CFHR2 (0.824, 0.703–0.965) were inversely associated with the risk of alcohol-related cirrhosis. There were also significant inverse associations between C8 gamma chain (C8G) and PSC (0.832, 0.707–0.979), as well as the risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (1.167, 1.036–1.314). Additionally, C1S (0.111, 0.018–0.672), C7 (1.631, 1.190–2.236), and CFHR2 (1.279, 1.059–1.546) were significantly associated with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. Proteins from the complement regulatory networks and various liver diseaserelated proteins share common biological processes. Furthermore, potential therapeutic drugs for various liver diseases were identified through drug repurposing based on the complement regulatory network. Conclusions Our study suggests that certain complement components, including C1S, C1QC, CFHR1, CFHR2, CFHR5, C7, and C8G, might play a role in non-viral liver diseases and could be potential targets for drug development.

Objective? To explore the status quo of creative self-efficacy and research performance in nursing undergraduates and to analyze the correlation between the two. Methods? Totally 190 senior nursing undergraduates who practiced in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University were selected by convenient sampling and investigated with the Creative Self-Efficacy Scale and the Research Performance Self-Rating Scale for nursing staff. Results? The 190 nursing undergraduates' creative self-efficacy score totaled (65.31±9.51), and their total research performance score was (72.85±13.97). Univariate analysis revealed that there was statistically significant difference in creative self-efficacy scores between nursing undergraduates who were student leaders or not (P＜0.05); and there were statistically significant differences in research performance scores between nursing undergraduates with different English levels, computer skills and home address (P＜0.05). The scores of various dimensions creative self-efficacy were positively correlated with the scores of various dimensions of research performance (P＜ 0.01). Conclusions? Nursing undergraduates＇ creative self-efficacy and research performance need to be improved. Universities and colleges should actively launch activities which are beneficial to their research literacy and creative awareness and take scientific research activities as one of the most pathways to develop nursing students＇ research literacy and creativeness and entrepreneurship.

Objective To investigate the effect of Shenqi Dihuang decoction combined with recombinant erythropoietin and L-carnitine on renal function in patients with end-stage renal disease and the regulation of Janus activated kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcriptions(JAK/STAT)pathway.Methods A total of 144 patients with end-stage renal disease who were treated in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xingtai Medical College from October 2019 to October 2021 were selected as the study objects.Patients were divided into Shenqi Dihuang decoction treatment group and conventional treatment group according to random number table method,72 cases in each group.Maintenance hemodialysis was performed in both groups.The conventional treatment group received recombinant erythropoietin and L-carnitine,while the Shenqi Dihuang decoction treatment group had Shenqi Dihuang decoction(prescription composition:30 g each of raw Astragalus,Parasitic loranthus,Eclipta,Polyporus,Poria bark,Raw coix seed,Salvia miltiorrhiza,and Pyrrosia,15 g each of Codonopsis pilosula,Dogwood,Herba lycopi,and Common yam rhizome,10 g each of raw Rehmannia glutinosa,Litchi core,Silkworm sand and Curcuma zedoary,6 g Cassia seed),once a day for 3 months.The clinical efficacy,renal function,microinflammatory status and serum JAK/STAT pathway related protein levels were observed after treatment in two groups of patients with different treatment modalities,and the occurrence of adverse reactions was recorded.Results The total effective rate of Shenqi Dihuang decoction was higher than that of conventional treatment group[90.28%(64/72)vs.77.78%(55/72),P<0.05].After treatment,the residual renal function(RRF),24-hour urine protein,blood urea nitrogen(BUN),blood creatinine(SCr)and inflammatory factors[hypersensitive C-reactive protein(hs-CRP),interleukin-6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)]were lower than before treatment,the post-treatment RRF of the Shenqi Dihuang decoction treatment group was higher than that of the conventional treatment group(mL/min:4.82±1.18 vs.3.96±1.05),while 24 hours urine protein(mg:62.26±12.16 vs.97.71±16.28),BUN(mmol/L:16.25±3.64 vs.20.65±4.13),SCr(μmol/L:242.25±25.62 vs.280.62±26.63),hs-CRP(mg/L:5.86±1.15 vs.7.78±1.32),IL-6(ng/L:3.26±0.64 vs.4.62±1.13)and TNF-α(μg/L:29.23±5.64 vs.32.66±6.13)were significantly lower than those in the conventional treatment group(all P<0.05).After treatment,JAK and STAT in Shenqi Dihuang decoction group were increased compared with before treatment,phosphorylated JAK(p-JAK)and phosphorylated STAT(p-STAT)were decreased compared with before treatment(both P<0.05),while the serum JAK/STAT pathway related protein levels in conventional treatment group were not significantly changed(all P>0.05).Therefore,JAK and STAT in the Shenqi Dihuang decoction treatment group after treatment were significantly higher than those in the conventional treatment group[JAK(μg/L):1.46±0.28 vs.1.26±0.26,STAT(μg/L):1.37±0.25 vs.0.99±0.24,both P<0.05],p-JAK and p-STAT were significantly lower than those in the conventional treatment group[p-JAK(μg/L):0.45±0.08 vs.0.65±0.13,p-STAT(μg/L):0.66±0.13 vs.0.82±0.28,both P<0.05].There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups[13.88%(10/72)vs.9.72%(7/72),P>0.05].Conclusion Taking Shenqi Dihuang decoction based on recombinant erythropoietin and L-carnitine treatment can effectively inhibit the JAK/STAT signaling pathway,and improve renal function and micro-inflammatory status in patients with end-stage renal disease,thereby improving the therapeutic effect.

Objective To investigate the current situation and correlation of cognitive dysfunction, activities of daily living (ADL) and quality of life in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods A total of 148 patients hospitalized in the Rehabilitation Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University from January to December 2016 were included in this study. The Montreal cognitive assessment scale (MoCA),modified Barthel Index scale (MBI) and WHO quality of life scale (WHO-QOL) were used to investigate the status of patients with traumatic brain injury. Results There were 78 of 148 patients with cognitive dysfunction and the incidence rate was 52.98%. Cognitive dysfunction after TBI was significantly positively related to the ADL ability (r=0.968,P<0.01);the visual space and executive function,attention,abstraction,delayed recall and orientation had the prediction effect on the ADL ability. Cognitive dysfunction after TBI was significantly positively related to the quality of life (r=0.973,P<0.01);cognitive items except the name could predict the quality of life. Conclusions There is a high incidence of cognitive dysfunction in patients with traumatic brain injury,which can affect their ADL ability and quality of life. It is necessary to take effective measures to improve the rehabilitation training of the cognitive function in early stage.

The rare endocrine and metabolic diseases, due to their varieties, face many challenges in the study of clinical diagnosis, pathogenesis, and treatment. In the past a couple of years, the research on rare endocrine and metabolic diseases has been gradually improved. The diagnosis has made great progress. The research into molecular mechanism of rare endocrine and metabolic diseases has significantly advanced. The effort in exploring the breakthroughs and progress in therapeutic methods based on the pathogenesis of the diseases has also made. This article provides a brief overview of the current status of research into diagnosis, mechanism, and treatment of rare endocrine and metabolic diseases. In addition, the article points out the problems and challenges and proposes future possibilities.