ObjectiveTo explore the dose-effect relationship and safety of high， medium， and low doses of raw Astragali Radix in the modified Huangqi Chifengtang （MHCD） for treating proteinuria in immunoglobulin A （IgA） nephropathy， and to provide scientific evidence for the clinical use of high-dose Astragali Radix in the treatment of proteinuria in IgA nephropathy. MethodsA total of 120 patients with IgA nephropathy， diagnosed with Qi deficiency and blood stasis combined with wind pathogen and heat toxicity， were randomly divided into a control group and three treatment groups. The control group received telmisartan combined with a Chinese medicine placebo， while the treatment groups were given telmisartan combined with MHCD containing different doses of raw Astragali Radix （60， 30， 15 g）. Each group contained 30 patients， and the treatment period was 12 weeks. Changes in 24-hour urinary protein （24 hUTP）， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores， effective rate， and renal function were observed before and after treatment. Safety was assessed by monitoring liver function and blood routine. ResultsAfter 12 weeks of treatment， 24 hUTP significantly decreased in the high， medium， and low-dose groups， as well as the control group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The TCM syndrome scores in the high， medium， and low-dose groups also significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Comparisons between groups showed that the 24 hUTP in the high-dose group was significantly lower than in the medium， low-dose， and control groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the 24 hUTP in the medium-dose group was significantly lower than in the control group （P<0.05）. The TCM syndrome scores in the high and medium-dose groups were significantly lower than in the low-dose and control groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The total effective rates for proteinuria in the high， medium， low-dose， and control groups were 92.59% （25/27）， 85.19% （23/27）， 60.71% （17/28）， and 57.14% （16/28）， respectively. The effective rates in the high and medium-dose groups were significantly higher than in the low-dose and control groups （χ²=13.185， P<0.05， P<0.01）. The effective rates for TCM syndrome scores in the high， medium， low-dose， and control groups were 88.89% （24/27）， 81.48% （22/27）， 71.43% （20/28）， and 46.43% （13/28）， respectively. The efficacy of TCM syndrome scores in the high and medium-dose groups was significantly higher than in the control group （χ²=14.053， P<0.01）. Compared with pre-treatment values， there was no statistically significant difference in eGFR and serum creatinine in the high and medium-dose groups. However， eGFR significantly decreased in the low-dose and control groups after treatment （P<0.05）， and serum creatinine levels increased significantly in the control group （P<0.05）. No statistically significant differences were observed in urea nitrogen， uric acid， albumin， total cholesterol， triglycerides， liver function， and blood routine before and after treatment in any group. ConclusionThere is a dose-effect relationship in the treatment of IgA nephropathy with high， medium， and low doses of raw Astragali Radix in MHCD. The high-dose group exhibited the best therapeutic effect and good safety profile.

Objective: To explore the association between time to first cigarette (TTFC) and expiratory airflow limitation, so as to provide a reference for the prevention and control of pulmonary function decline. Methods: Based on the baseline survey of the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC), the demographic, lifestyle behavior, smoking behavior, and TTFC data of permanent residents aged 30 to 79 years in Chengdu City were collected from 2018 to 2019. The TTFC was divided into ≤5, 6-30, 31-60, and >60 minutes. Expiratory airflow limitation was determined when the proportion of the measured peak expiratory flow to the predicted value was less than 80%. The association between TTFC and expiratory airflow limitation was analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model, and subgroup analyses were conducted according to smoking cessation, age of starting smoking, smoking duration, average daily smoking volume, and the habit of deep inhalation into the lungs. Results: A total of 6 766 residents were investigated, among whom 6 402 were males, accounting for 94.62%. The median age was 52 (interquartile range, 19) years. A total of 2 468 residents were detected with expiratory airflow limitation, with a detection rate of 36.48%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for demographics, lifestyle behavior, smoking cessation, age of starting smoking, smoking duration, average daily smoking volume, and the habit of deep inhalation into the lungs, TTFC ≤5 minutes (OR=1.203, 95%CI: 1.035-1.397) and 6-30 minutes (OR=1.174, 95%CI: 1.002-1.374) were associated with an increased risk of expiratory airflow limitation. Subgroup analyses showed that there was no interaction between smoking behavior and TTFC on the risk of expiratory airflow limitation (all P>0.05). Conclusion A shorter TTFC is associated with an increased risk of expiratory airflow limitation among residents aged 30 to 79 years, and the association is not affected by snoking behaviors such as smoking cessation, age of starting smoking, smoking duration and average daily smoking volume.

OBJECTIVE To observe the clinical efficacy of donafenib combined with programmed death-1 （PD-1） inhibitors and vascular intervention therapy in the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）. METHODS This retrospective study included 165 patients with unresectable HCC who were treated at the Fourth and First Affiliated Hospitals of Soochow University between June 2022 and March 2023. Among them， 89 patients received PD-1 inhibitors （tislelizumab or sintilimab， similarly hereinafter） plus vascular intervention （control group） and 76 patients received donafenib in combination with PD-1 inhibitors and vascular intervention （observation group）. Short-term efficacy （3 months after treatment）， long-term efficacy （2 years after treatment）， the levels of liver function indexes [serum alanine amino-transferase （ALT）， aspartate transferase （AST）， and total bilirubin （TBil）] and tumor biomarkers [alpha fetoprotein （AFP）， carcinoembryonic antigen （CEA）， carbohydrate antigen 19-9 （CA19-9）， and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin （DCP）] before treatment and after 3 months of treatment， as well as the occurrence of adverse drug reaction （ADR） during treatment， were compared between the two groups. In addition， overall response rate （ORR） stratified by PD-1 inhibitor type was analyzed. RESULTS After treatment， the ORR was significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group （P＜0.05）； although the disease control rate was higher in the observation group compared to the control group， the difference was not statistically significant （P＞0.05）. The median overall survival of patients in the observation group was 16.9 months [95% confidence interval （CI）： 14.2 to 19.1 months]， which was significantly longer than that in the control group （12.4 months， 95%CI： 10.1 to 15.3 months） （P＜0.05）. Subgroup analysis result indicated that therapeutic advantage was consistent across both sintilimab and tislelizumab subgroups， with no significant heterogeneity （P＞0.1， I 2＜0.001%）. Before treatment， there were no significant differences in liver function indexes or tumor marker levels between 2 groups （P＞0.05）. After treatment， both groups showed significant declines in these indicators compared with baseline （P＜0.05）， with greater reductions observed in the observation group （P＜0.05）. There were no statistically significant differences in overall incidence of ADR and grade ≥3 ADRs between the two groups （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS For patients with unresectable HCC， the combination of donafenib， PD-1 inhibitors and vascular intervention therapy may achieve superior clinical outcomes without increasing the risk of treatment-related ADR.

Objective To explore the influences of long-chain noncoding RNA DHRS4-AS1 (lncRNA DHRS4-AS1) on the proliferation, invasion, migration, and apoptosis of thyroid cancer (TC) cells by regulating the microRNA-221-3p (miR-221-3p)/suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) signaling axis. Methods Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was applied to detect the expression of lncRNA DHRS4-AS1, miR-221-3p, and SOCS3 mRNA in TC cell lines, and the optimal cell line was selected for subsequent experiments. FTC-133 cells were divided into five groups: control group, pcDNA-NC group, DHRS4-AS1 group, DHRS4-AS1 combined with agomir NC group, and DHRS4-AS1 combined with miR-221-3p-agomir group. Transfection efficiency was assessed using qRT-PCR. Dual luciferase reporter assays were applied to verify the targeting interaction between lncRNA DHRS4-AS1, SOCS3, and miR-221-3p. Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression of SOCS3 in FTC-133 cells. EdU method was used to measure cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was applied to measure the apoptosis of FTC-133 cells. Scratch experiment was applied to measure the migration of FTC-133 cells. Transwell chamber was applied to detect the invasion of FTC-133 cells. Nude mouse transplantation tumor experiment was used to observe the effect of lncRNA DHRS4-AS1 on the growth of TC transplantation tumors. Results Dual luciferase reporter assays showed a targeting relationship between lncRNA DHRS4-AS1, miR-221-3p, and SOCS3. LncRNA DHRS4-AS1 and SOCS3 were downregulated and miR-221-3p was upregulated in FTC-133 cells. Overexpression of lncRNA DHRS4-AS1 inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion of FTC-133 cells, while inducing apoptosis. Conversely, miR-221-3p overexpression reversed these inhibitory effects, and suppressed the apoptosis. Nude mouse transplantation experiment observed that overexpression of lncRNA DHRS4-AS1 resulted in a decrease in tumor tissue quality and volume, and a decrease in miR-221-3p expression and an increase in SOCS3 expression. Conclusion LncRNA DHRS4-AS1 is downregulated in FTC-133 cells. Overexpression of lncRNA DHRS4-AS1 can inhibit the proliferation, invasion, and migration of TC cells and induce apoptosis by regulating the miR-221-3p/SOCS3 signaling axis.
MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein/metabolism* ; Humans ; RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism* ; Apoptosis/genetics* ; Cell Proliferation/genetics* ; Cell Movement/genetics* ; Thyroid Neoplasms/physiopathology* ; Animals ; Signal Transduction/genetics* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of dyslipidemia among residents in Chengdu City, so as to provide insights into improving the prevention and control of dyslipidemia. Methods: Based on the baseline survey of the Natural Population Cohort Study in Southwest China, residents aged 30 to 79 years was selected from 34 towns (communities) in 5 counties (districts) of Chengdu City using the multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling method in 2018. Demographic information and lifestyle behaviors were collected through questionnaires. Blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, serum uric acid, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were collected through physical examination and laboratory tests. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify the factors affecting dyslipidamia. Results: A total of 21 113 participants were surveyed, including 9 331 males (44.20%) and 11 782 females (55.80%), and had a mean age of (50.80±12.32) years. The prevalence rate of dyslipidemia was 35.64%, and the prevalence rates of high TG, low-HDL-C, high TC and high LDL-C were 17.25%, 11.88%, 10.11% and 7.35%, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified gender (male, OR=1.584, 95%CI: 1.463-1.716), age (50 to 79 years old, OR：1.221-1.444, 95%CI: 1.079-1.632), residence (urban, OR=1.123, 95%CI: 1.052-1.198), marital status (not married, OR=1.246, 95%CI: 1.128-1.376), educational level (high school and above, OR=0.914, 95%CI: 0.849-0.983), current smoking (OR=1.220, 95%CI: 1.121-1.327), drinking (1 to 2 d/week, OR=1.525, 95%CI: 1.368-1.700; 3 to 5 d/week, OR=1.857, 95%CI: 1.575-2.191; almost every day, OR=1.512, 95%CI: 1.269-1.801), sedentary time in leisure time (>2 h/d, OR=1.123, 95%CI: 1.046-1.206), central obesity (OR=2.212, 95%CI: 1.986-2.265), hypertension (OR=1.489, 95%CI: 1.388-1.598), diabetes (OR=1.998, 95%CI: 1.833-2.157) and hyperuricemia (OR=2.012, 95%CI: 1.848-2.192) as factors affecting dyslipidemia. Conclusion The prevalence of dyslipidemia among residents in Chengdu City was mainly associated with smoking, drinking, sedentary time, central obesity, hypertension, diabetes and hyperuricemia.

Objective:To explore the effect of family empowerment model on the improvement of swallowing care ability and care preparedness of primary caregivers of first-episode stroke dysphagia patients, further to explore its impact on patients′s wallowing function and life quality.Methods:This study was a randomized controlled study. From January 2021 to December 2022, 80 main caregivers of patients with dysphagia caused by manual stroke admitted to the Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shenzhen Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were selected as the research objects, and 40 cases in the control group and 40 cases in the observation group were selected by random number table method. The control group were treated with conventional nursing care of first-episode stroke dysphagia patients in the acupuncture and moxibustion Department. On the basis of the conventional care in the control group, the observation group were treated with family empowerment model intervention for 14 days and was followed up for 28 days. Primary caregivers′ swallowing care ability, Caregiver Preparedness Scale (CPS), patients′ swallowing function rate, Swallowing Related Quality of Life (SWALQOL) were used to evaluate the effects before intervention and at the end of intervention.Results:There were 18 males and 19 females primary caregivers in the control group, aged (55.61 ± 7.43) years old. There were 18 males and 21 females primary caregivers in the observation group, aged (58.23 ± 8.22) years old. The swallowing care ability score showed a statistically significant difference between the observation group (143.47 ± 3.96) and the control group (107.74 ± 1.43) ( t=-26.76, P<0.05). After intervention, the caregiver preparedness scale was (26.11 ± 3.81) in the observation group, and (18.35 ± 4.54) in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-4.11, P<0.05).The patients′ swallowing function rate and SWALQOL score were respectively 97.44% (38/39) and (91.41 ± 8.08) points in the observation group, and 72.97% (27/37) and (80.33 ± 4.21) points in the control group, and the difference was both statistically significant ( χ2=10.76, t=-2.54, both P<0.05). Conclusions:The implementation of family empowerment model could enhance the swallowing care ability and care preparedness of primary caregivers of the first-episode stroke dysphagia patients, which could further improve patients′ swallowing function and life quality.

BACKGROUND:Olfactory dysfunction is an early biological marker of various diseases.However,the neuroimaging mechanism by which olfactory dysfunction occurs following cerebral small vessel disease is unclear. OBJECTIVE:To explore the different neuroimaging mechanisms of olfactory function regulation in patients with cerebral small vessel disease and Parkinson's disease,and explore the potential application value of olfactory function assessment in patients with cerebral small vessel disease. METHODS:Neuropsychological and olfactory tests,high-resolution structural magnetic resonance and resting-state functional magnetic resonance data were collected in 80 patients with cerebral small vessel disease,44 healthy controls and 29 patients with Parkinson's disease.DPABI,SPM12 and SPSS were used to analyze and compare the amplitude of low frequency fluctuation,regional homogeneity and functional connectivity values between the cerebral small vessel disease,control and Parkinson's disease groups.Correlations between the significantly altered resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging measures and olfactory and cognitive scores were evaluated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group,low-frequency fluctuation amplitude of the right dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus and the regional homogeneity of the left wedge leaf were significantly reduced in the cerebral small vessel disease and Parkinson's disease groups.The right dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus and the left cuneiform lobe are the seed points.Compared with the Parkinson's disease group,the functional connectivity values of the right anterior cunei,inferior temporal gyrus,anterior central gyrus and dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus,left posterior central gyrus and inferior temporal gyrus were significantly enhanced in the control and cerebral small vessel disease groups.The left cuneiform lobe was the seed point.Compared with the control group,the functional connectivity of the left lingual gyrus was significantly weakened in the cerebral small vessel disease and Parkinson's disease groups.The functional connectivity values of the left middle temporal gyrus and the right posterior central gyrus were enhanced in the control group compared with the cerebral small vessel disease and Parkinson's disease group,and that was enhanced in the cerebral small vessel disease group compared with the Parkinson's disease group.Correlation analysis showed that the olfactory score and cognitive score were positively correlated in the cerebral small vessel disease group,and the regional homogeneity of the left wedge lobe was negatively correlated with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale score,while the functional connectivity of left wedge lobe-left middle temporal gyrus in the Parkinson's disease group was positively correlated with the olfactory recognition score,and the functional connectivity values of the left wedge lobe-left posterior central gyrus and left wedge lobe-left lingual gyrus were positively correlated with the olfactory identification score and the total olfactory score,respectively.The regulation of olfactory function in patients with cerebral small vessel disease has a different neuroimaging mechanism from that of olfactory dysfunction in patients with Parkinson's disease.The olfactory function of patients with cerebral small vessel disease is related to cognitive function.It is speculated that the olfactory function following cerebral small vessel disease is a secondary change of brain dysfunction,while olfactory dysfunction following Parkinson's disease is directly caused by abnormal function of olfactory-related brain areas.Olfactory function assessment in patients with cerebral small vessel disease has potential application in predicting cognitive function.

Objective:To investigate the effect of different temperature and time treatment of Xiaoying Fang on wound healing after mixed hemorrhoid surgery.Methods:A total of 160 patients with mixed hemorrhoids who underwent surgical treatment in Fuyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from September 2020 to October 2023 were prospectively selected as the study objects, according to the random number table method and the patients who withdrew were excluded, and 157 cases were finally enrolled, and the patients were divided into observation group 1 (39 cases), observation group 2 (40 cases), observation group 3 (38 cases) and observation group 4 (40 cases). The four groups were all treated with Xiaoying Fang hip bath after surgery. The temperature and time of hip bath in group 1 were observed at 38 - 41 ℃ for 10 min, group 2 at 38 - 41 ℃ for 15 min, group 3 at 42 - 45 ℃ for 10 min, and group 4 at 42 - 45 ℃ for 15 min. Wound pain, edema, wound granulation growth and wound healing were compared between the four groups after treatment.Results:At the 3rd and 5th day of treatment, the visual analogue scale (VAS) scores in the observation group 1 and observation group 2 were lower than those in the observation group 3 and observation group 4: (4.33 ± 1.19), (4.43 ± 1.13) scores vs. (5.15 ± 1.05), (5.40 ± 1.26) scores; (2.46 ± 1.25), (2.63 ± 0.54) scores vs. (3.61 ± 1.22), (3.85 ± 1.05) scores, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). The wound edema scores in the observation group 2 were lower than that in the observation group 1, observation group 3 and observation group 4: (1.43 ± 0.50) scores vs. (2.21 ± 0.83), (2.05 ± 0.84), (1.98 ± 0.86) scores; (0.88 ± 0.22) scores vs. (1.38 ± 0.54), (1.00 ± 0.23), (0.93 ± 0.25) scores, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). On the 3rd, 5th and 7th day of treatment, the wound granulation growth scores in the observation group 2 was lower than that in the observation group 1, observation group 3 and observation group 4: (0.80 ± 0.08) scores vs. (1.36 ± 0.13), (1.42 ± 0.13), (1.53 ± 0.15) scores; (0.65 ± 0.18) scores vs. (1.08 ± 0.17), (1.07 ± 0.21), (1.03 ± 0.10) scores; (0.35 ± 0.08) scores vs. (0.74 ± 0.17), (0.97 ± 0.15), (0.78 ± 0.09) scores, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). There was significant difference in wound healing among the four groups after operation 7 d ( H = 9.84, P<0.05). The total effective rate of wound healing in the observation group 2 was the highest, which was 92.50% (37/40). Conclusions:The optimal temperature and treatment time of Xiaoying Fang hip bath are 38 - 41 ℃ and 15 min.

Objective To investigate the effect of chaizhu liwei decoction on gastrointestinal motility and p-NF-κBp65 pathway in functional dyspepsia(FD)rats with liver depression and spleen deficiency.Methods Sixty SD rats were random number table method divided into normal group(n=10)and model reserve group(n=50).The FD model of liver depression and spleen deficiency was repli-cated by compound factor stimulation in the model reserve group.After successful replication of the model,50 rats were random number table method divided into model group,traditional Chinese medicine high-dose,medium-dose and low-dose groups and domperidone group,with 10 rats in each group.Each group was given corresponding drugs by gavage,and the general state of rats was observed.The food intake,body mass,gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsion rate were calculated.The levels of interleukin-6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in gastric antrum tissue of rats were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Western blot and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)were used to detect the expression of p-NF-κBp65 protein and p-NF-κBp65 mRNA in gastric antrum tissue of rats.HE staining was used to observe the morphology of gastric antrum.Results Compared with the normal group,the food intake,body mass,gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsion rate of rats in the model group were decreased,and the levels of IL-6,TNF-α,p-NF-κBp65 protein expression and p-NF-κBp65 mRNA expres-sion in gastric antrum tissue were increased(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the food intake,body mass,gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsion rate of rats in the traditional Chinese medicine groups and domperidone group were increased,and the levels of IL-6,TNF-α,p-NF-κBp65 protein expression and p-NF-κBp65 mRNA expression in gastric antrum tissue were decreased(P＜0.05).The levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in the traditional Chinese medicine high-dose group were lower than those in the domperi-done group(P＜0.05).The protein expression of p-NF-κBp65 in the traditional Chinese medicine high-dose and medium-dose groups was lower than that in the domperidone group(P＜0.05).Conclusion The mechanism of chaizhu liwei decoction in the treat-ment of FD with liver depression and spleen deficiency may be related to the reduction of IL-6,TNF-α levels,p-NF-κBp65 protein expression and p-NF-κBp65 mRNA expression in gastric antrum tissue of rats,and the improvement of gastrointestinal motility function.

OBJECTIVE To study the effects of Phellodendron amurense polysaccharides （PAP） on improving gouty nephropathy （GN） in rats， and to investigate its mechanism primarily by interfering the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （p38 MAPK）/nuclear factor-κB（NF-κB）/tumor necrosis factor-α（TNF-α）. METHODS Sixty rats were randomly divided into normal group （water）， model group （water）， allopurinol group （positive control， 20 mg/kg）， PAP high-dose， medium-dose and low-dose groups （100， 50， 25 mg/kg， by raw material） after being stratified by body weight， with 10 rats in each group. Except for the normal group， the other groups were induced to construct GN model by giving 1 500 mg/kg potassium oxazinate and 100 mg/kg adenine intragastrically for 14 days. After modeling， the rats in each group were given relevant medicine/water intragastrically， once a day， for consecutive 28 days. After the last medication， the levels of biochemical parameters related to renal function [uric acid， creatinine （Cr）， blood urea nitrogen （BUN）， xanthine oxidase （XOD）] were detected in rats， and the histopathological changes in the rat kidney were observed. The protein expressions of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1（MCP-1），TNF-α and interleukin-6（IL-6） as well as the phosphorylation levels of p38 MAPK and NF-κB p65 protein were determined in renal tissue of rats. RESULTS Compared with the normal group， the model group suffered from the dilatation of renal tubules， structural damage to glomeruli， accompanied by inflammatory infiltration and fibrosis； the contents of uric acid， Cr， BUN and XOD， the protein expressions of MCP-1，TNF-α and IL-6 and the phosphorylation levels of p38 MAPK and NF-κB p65 protein were all increased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared with the model group， the pathological symptoms of renal tissue in rats had been improved to varying degrees in different dose groups of PAP； the contents of uric acid， Cr， BUN and XOD， protein expressions of MCP-1， TNF-α and IL-6， the phosphorylation levels of p38 MAPK and NF-κB p65 protein in PAP high-dose and PAP medium-dose groups were all decreased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS PAP exhibits an anti-GN effect， the mechanism of which may be associated with inhibiting the p38 MAPK/NF-κB/TNF-α signaling pathway.