BACKGROUND: Spicy food consumption has been reported to be inversely associated with mortality from multiple diseases. However, the effect of spicy food intake on the incidence of vascular diseases in the Chinese population remains unclear. This study was conducted to explore this association. METHODS: This study was performed using the large-scale China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) prospective cohort of 486,335 participants. The primary outcomes were vascular disease, ischemic heart disease (IHD), major coronary events (MCEs), cerebrovascular disease, stroke, and non-stroke cerebrovascular disease. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the association between spicy food consumption and incident vascular diseases. Subgroup analysis was also performed to evaluate the heterogeneity of the association between spicy food consumption and the risk of vascular disease stratified by several basic characteristics. In addition, the joint effects of spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of vascular disease were also evaluated, and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the reliability of the association results. RESULTS: During a median follow-up time of 12.1 years, a total of 136,125 patients with vascular disease, 46,689 patients with IHD, 10,097 patients with MCEs, 80,114 patients with cerebrovascular disease, 56,726 patients with stroke, and 40,098 patients with non-stroke cerebrovascular disease were identified. Participants who consumed spicy food 1-2 days/week (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = [0.93, 0.97], P <0.001), 3-5 days/week (HR = 0.96, 95% CI = [0.94, 0.99], P = 0.003), and 6-7 days/week (HR = 0.97, 95% CI = [0.95, 0.99], P = 0.002) had a significantly lower risk of vascular disease than those who consumed spicy food less than once a week ( Ptrend <0.001), especially in those who were younger and living in rural areas. Notably, the disease-based subgroup analysis indicated that the inverse associations remained in IHD ( Ptrend = 0.011) and MCEs ( Ptrend = 0.002) risk. Intriguingly, there was an interaction effect between spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of IHD ( Pinteraction = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS Our findings support an inverse association between spicy food consumption and vascular disease in the Chinese population, which may provide additional dietary guidance for the prevention of vascular diseases.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Prospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Vascular Diseases/etiology* ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology* ; Adult ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Cerebrovascular Disorders/epidemiology* ; East Asian People

This study aimed to explore the effects and mechanisms of total extracts from Anthriscus sylvestris on pulmonary hypertension in rats. Sixty male SD rats were divided into normal(NC) group, model(M) group, positive drug sildenafil(Y) group, low-dose A. sylvestris(ES-L) group, medium-dose A. sylvestris(ES-M) group, and high-dose A. sylvestris(ES-H) group. On day 1, rats were intraperitoneally injected with monocrotaline(60 mg·kg~(-1)) to induce pulmonary hypertension, and the rat model was established on day 28. From days 15 to 28, intragastric administration of the respective treatments was performed. After modeling and treatment, small animal echocardiography was used to detect the right heart function of the rats. Arterial blood gas was measured using a blood gas analyzer. Hematoxylin and eosin(HE) staining and Masson staining were performed to observe cardiopulmonary pathological damage. Flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis in the lung and myocardial tissues and reactive oxygen species(ROS) levels. Western blot was applied to detect the expression levels of transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1), phosphorylated mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3(p-Smad3), Smad3, tissue plasminogen activator(t-PA), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1(PAI-1) in lung tissue. A blood routine analyzer was used to measure inflammatory immune cell levels in the blood. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the expression levels of P-selectin and thromboxane A2(TXA2) in plasma. The results showed that, compared with the NC group, right heart hypertrophy index, right ventricular free wall thickness, right heart internal diameter, partial carbon dioxide pressure(PaCO_2), apoptosis in cardiopulmonary tissue, and ROS levels were significantly increased in the M group. In contrast, the ratio of pulmonary blood flow acceleration time(PAT)/ejection time(PET), right cardiac output, change rate of right ventricular systolic area, systolic displacement of the tricuspid ring, oxygen partial pressure(PaO_2), and blood oxygen saturation(SaO_2) were significantly decreased in the M group. After administration of the total extract of A. sylvestris, right heart function and blood gas levels were significantly improved, while apoptosis in cardiopulmonary tissue and ROS levels significantly decreased. Further testing revealed that the total extract of A. sylvestris significantly decreased the levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6(IL-6), and PAI-1 proteins in lung tissue, while increasing the expression of t-PA. Additionally, the extract reduced the levels of inflammatory cells such as leukocytes, lymphocytes, granulocytes, and monocytes in the blood, as well as the levels of P-selectin and TXA2 in plasma. Metabolomics results showed that the total extract of A. sylvestris significantly affected metabolic pathways, including arginine biosynthesis, tyrosine metabolism, and taurine and hypotaurine metabolism. In conclusion, the total extract of A. sylvestris may exert an anti-pulmonary hypertension effect by inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway, thereby alleviating immune-inflammatory responses and thrombosis.
Animals ; Male ; Smad3 Protein/metabolism* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Hypertension, Pulmonary/genetics* ; Thrombosis/immunology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Humans ; Apoptosis/drug effects*

Syringa pinnatifolia, belonging to the family Oleaceae, is a species endemic to China. It is predominantly distributed in the Helan Mountains region of Inner Mongolia and Ningxia of China. The peeled roots, stems, and thick branches have been used as a distinctive Mongolian medicinal material known as "Shan-chen-xiang", which has effects such as suppressing "khii", clearing heat, and relieving pain and is employed for the treatment of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases and joint pain. Over the past five years, significant increase was achieved in research on chemical constituents and pharmacological effects. There were a total of 130 new constituents reported, covering sesquiterpenoids, lignans, and alkaloids. Its effects of anti-myocardial ischemia, anti-cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, sedation, and analgesia were revealed, and the mechanisms of agarwood formation were also investigated. To better understand its medical value and potential of clinical application, this review updates the research progress in recent five years focusing on the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of S. pinnatifolia, providing reference for subsequent research on active ingredient and support for its innovative application in modern medicine system.
Medicine, Mongolian Traditional ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Animals ; Syringa/chemistry*

The aim of this study was to investigate the trend in testicular volume changes after orchiopexy in children with cryptorchidism. The clinical data of 854 children with cryptorchidism who underwent orchiopexy between January 2013 and December 2016 in Shenzhen Children's Hospital (Shenzhen, China) were retrospectively analyzed. The mean (standard deviation) age of the patients was 2.8 (2.5) years, and the duration of follow-up ranged from 1 year to 5 years. Ultrasonography was conducted preoperatively and postoperatively. The variables analyzed included age at the time of surgery, type of surgical procedure, laterality, preoperative testicular position, preoperative and postoperative testicular volumes, and the testicular volume ratio of them. The average testicular volumes preoperatively and at 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, and 5 years postoperatively were 0.27 ml, 0.38 ml, 0.53 ml, 0.87 ml, and 1.00 ml, respectively ( P < 0.001). The corresponding testicular volume ratios were 0.67, 0.76, 0.80, 0.83, and 0.84 ( P < 0.001). The mean volume of the undescended testes was significantly smaller than the mean normative value ( P < 0.001, lower than the 10 th percentile). The postoperative testicular volumes in children with cryptorchidism were generally lower than those in healthy boys but were still greater than the 10 th percentile and exhibited an increasing trend. The older the child is at the time of surgery, the larger the gap in volume between the affected and normal testes. Although testicular volume tends to gradually increase after orchiopexy for cryptorchidism, it could not normalizes. Earlier surgery results in affected testicular volumes closer to those of healthy boys.
Humans ; Male ; Cryptorchidism/diagnostic imaging* ; Orchiopexy ; Child, Preschool ; Testis/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Organ Size ; Ultrasonography ; Infant ; Child ; Postoperative Period ; Follow-Up Studies

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Danmu Extract Syrup (DMS) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice and explore the mechanism. METHODS: Seventy-two male Balb/C mice were randomly divided into 6 groups according to a random number table (n=12), including control (normal saline), LPS (5 mg/kg), LPS+DMS 2.5 mL/kg, LPS+DMS 5 mL/kg, LPS+DMS 10 mL/kg, and LPS+Dexamethasone (DXM, 5 mg/kg) groups. After pretreatment with DMS and DXM, the ALI mice model was induced by LPS, and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected to determine protein concentration, cell counts and inflammatory cytokines. The lung tissues of mice were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, and the wet/dry weight ratio (W/D) of lung tissue was calculated. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1 β in BALF of mice were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The expression levels of Claudin-5, vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), phospho-protein kinase B (p-Akt) and Akt were detected by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: DMS pre-treatment significantly ameliorated lung histopathological changes. Compared with the LPS group, the W/D ratio and protein contents in BALF were obviously reduced after DMS pretreatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The number of cells in BALF and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity decreased significantly after DMS pretreatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01). DMS pre-treatment decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1 β (P<0.01). Meanwhile, DMS activated the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) pathway and reversed the expressions of Claudin-5, VE-cadherin and VEGF (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS DMS attenuated LPS-induced ALI in mice through repairing endothelial barrier. It might be a potential therapeutic drug for LPS-induced lung injury.
Mice ; Male ; Animals ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Claudin-5/metabolism* ; Acute Lung Injury/chemically induced* ; Lung/pathology* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal

Objective:To analyze the correlation between serum antibody titers of anti-contactin associated protein-like 2 (CASPR2) antibody and clinical features and prognosis in encephalitis.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 31 patients diagnosed with anti-CASPR2 antibody encephalitis at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2018 to April 2024. Patients were divided into low titer group (≤1∶32) and high titer group (>1∶32) based on serum anti-CASPR2 antibody titers, and their clinical characteristics, auxiliary examination results, and prognosis were compared between the two groups.Results:Among the 31 patients with anti CASPR2 antibody encephalitis (male∶female=1∶1.4), there were 16 cases in the low titer group and 15 cases in the high titer group; The age of patients in the high titer group was (33.9±17.9)years, which was lower than that of patients in the low titer group [(52.9±17.9)years], and the difference was statistically significant ( P=0.006). The proportion of patients with prodromal infection in the high titer group (6/15) was higher than that in the low titer group (1/16, P=0.037). There was no statistically significant difference in the cerebrospinal fluid related test results, imaging examination of intracranial abnormal lesions, abnormal electroencephalogram, serum abnormal tumor markers, and serum abnormal rheumatic immune indicators between the two groups of patients (all P>0.05). During hospitalization, one patient in the high titer group died; During the follow-up period, one patient died and three patients relapsed, all of whom were in the high titer group. During follow-up, the mRS scores of 6 patients ranged from 3 to 5 points (indicating functional impairment), with 4 cases in the high titer group and 2 cases in the low titer group. The proportion of patients with poor prognosis in the high titer group (9/15) was higher than that in the low titer group (2/16), and the difference was statistically significant ( P=0.021). Conclusions:Patients with high serum anti-CASPR2 antibody titers and encephalitis have a lower age of onset and are prone to pre infection triggers. High antibody titers may be associated with a higher risk of disease recurrence and poor prognosis for patients.

Patients with metabolic syndrome(MS)are at potential risk for cardiovascular disease and have received increasing public and medical attention.Studies have shown that regular physical exercise can effectively regulate meta-bolic indicators such as blood pressure,blood sugar and blood lipids,and play a positive role in reducing the risk of cardio-vascular disease and improving the prognosis of patients.Exercise intensity has been identified as the most important as-pect in reducing the risk of cardiovascular death and all-cause mortality in exercise intervention.Therefore,the design of exercise prescription which is both scientific and satisfying individual differences has become the focus of research.Most of the current clinical studies are based on the percentage of exercise intensity as the basis for the formulation of standard-ized exercise prescription for MS patients,while the studies on the individualized threshold of exercise intensity based on cardiopulmonary exercise test(CPET)are still few.CPET has shown that individualized exercise prescription can effec-tively reduce body composition index,blood pressure and blood glucose,improve cardiorespiratory function,exercise en-durance and quality of life in MS patients.This paper reviewed the development of individualized exercise programs with different intensification according to threshold indexes in CPET,analyzed the intervention effects and possible mechanisms for MS patients and subgroups,and provided certain reference for the formulation and implementation of personalized exer-cise prescriptions for MS patients,and also provided references for in-depth research on individualized exercise intervention for MS.

Objective To investigate the effects and the mechanisms of sulforaphane(SFN)on endothelin-1(ET-1)-induced proliferation in rat vascular smooth muscle cell(VSMC).Methods Rat VSMC were cultured by using the modified tissue explant technique in vitro and were randomly divided into control group(normal culture),model group(treated with 0.1 μmol·L-1 ET-1)and experimental-L,-M,-H groups(treated with 5,10,20 SFN+0.1 μmol·L-1 ET-1).The survival rate of VSMC were measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium.The proliferation and apoptosis related genes in mRNA level in VSMC were respectively examined with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction;the relative fluorescence intensity of reactive oxygen species(ROS)in VSMC were measured by fluorescent probe 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate;the protein expression of B-cell lymphoma-2(Bel-2),cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-3(caspase-3),p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases(p38MAPK),phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases(p-p38MAPK),and p53 in VSMC were investigated by Western blot.Results The proliferation activities of the control group,model group,experimental-L,-M,-H groups were 0.27±0.02,0.50±0.04,0.40±0.03,0.38±0.03 and 0.34±0.03;the expression levels of Bcl-2 mRNA were 1.57±0.28,1.00±0.00,0.87±0.05,0.75±0.08 and 0.41±0.18;the expression levels of caspase-3 mRNA were 0.84±0.10,1.00±0.00,1.33±0.10,1.61±0.15 and 1.83±0.16;the relative fluorescence intensities of ROS in VSMC were 6.05±1.50,31.45±3.12,30.03±1.85,18.39±5.62 and 17.18±1.97;the relative expression levels of Bel-2 protein were 0.65±0.02,0.60±0.02,0.49±0.02,0.48±0.03 and 0.49±0.01;the relative expression levels of caspase-3 protein were 0.03±0.00,0.25±0.01,0.42±0.01,0.46±0.02 and 0.64±0.03;the protein expression ratios of p-p38MAPK/p38MAPK were 0.97±0.05,1.44±0.04,1.62±0.10,2.18±0.05 and 2.70±0.05;the relative expression levels of p53 protein were 0.20±0.01,0.30±0.01,0.34±0.02,0.37±0.01 and 0.42±0.01 respectively.There were statistically significant differences in the above indicators between model group and control group,between model group and experimental-M,-H groups(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Conclusion These demonstrate that SFN may inhibit proliferation and prompt apoptosis in ET-1-stimulated VSMC by anti-oxidant and activating p38MAPK and p53-depended apoptosis signal pathway.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of roxallistat combined with polysaccharide iron complex and Shengxuening in the treatment of maintenance hemodialysis renal anemia with poor recombinant human erythropoiesis.Methods Maintenance hemodialysis renal anemia patients with poor recombinant human erythropoietin effect were divided into control group and treatment group according to random number table method.The control group took roxallistat orally with a body weight of＞60 kg,120 mg each time,3 times a week,and 45-60 kg with 100 mg each time,3 times a week;oral polysaccharide iron complex,300 mg each time,once a day.The treatment group was given Shengxuening orally based on the control group,0.25-0.50 g each time,3 times a day.Both groups were treated for 3 months.The clinical efficacy,inflammatory factors,iron metabolism,renal function,anemia index,traditional Chinese medicine symptom score and adverse drug reaction were compared between the two groups.Results In the control group,34 cases were enrolled,1 case fell off,and finally 33 cases were included in the analysis.In the treatment group,35 cases were enrolled,1 case was shed,and 34 cases were finally included in the analysis.After treatment,the total effective rate of treatment group and control group was 97.06％(33 cases/34 cases)and 81.82％(27 cases/33 cases),respectively,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).After treatment,the nuclear transcription factor kappa B(NK-κB)in treatment group and control group were(24.09±3.06)and(35.23±4.11)ng·L-1;interferon gamma(IFN-γ)were(41.39±4.13)and(50.10±5.27)ng·L-1;transferrin saturation(TAST)were(38.62±5.91)％and(31.16±4.73)％;serum ferritin(SF)were(28.13±5.77)and(22.47±4.65)μmol·L-1;serum iron(SI)were(15.66±3.76)and(13.19±2.94)μmol·L-1;urinary protein excretion rate(24 h UPE)were(1.85±0.41)and(2.91±0.62)g·24 h-1;blood urea nitrogen(BUN)were(5.16±0.67)and(6.89±0.97)mmol·L-1;hemoglobin(Hb)were(91.38±11.23)and(83.19±8.54)g·L-1;hematocrit(Hct)were(29.01±7.40)％and(24.56±5.69)％;main disease score were(5.29±1.05)and(7.15±1.53)scores;the secondary scores were(3.11±0.46)and(4.98±0.77)scores;the total scores were(8.40±1.49)and(12.13±2.30)scores,with statistical significance(all P＜0.05).The total incidence of adverse drug reactions in treatment group and control group were 14.71％and 9.09％,with no statistical significance(P＞0.05).Conclusion Roxallistat combined with polysaccharide and iron complex and Shengxuening have good therapeutic effect in the treatment of maintenance hemodialysis renal anemia with poor recombinant human erythropoietin effect;it can reduce inflammation,regulate iron metabolism,improve renal function,and reduce adverse drug reactions.

Objective:To construct a diabetes foot prediction model for adult patients with type 2 diabetes based on retrospective cohort study using data from a regional health data platform.Methods:Using Yinzhou Health Information Platform of Ningbo, adult patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2022 were included in this study and divided randomly the train and test sets according to the ratio of 7∶3. LASSO regression model and bidirectional stepwise regression model were used to identify risk factors, and model comparisons were conducted with net reclassification index, integrated discrimination improvement and concordance index. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models were constructed, and a nomogram plot was drawn. Area under the curve (AUC) was calculated as a discriminant evaluation indicator for model validation test its calibration ability, and calibration curves were drawn to test its calibration ability.Results:No significant difference existed between LASSO regression model and bidirectional stepwise regression model, but the better bidirectional stepwise regression model was selected as the final model. The risk factors included age of onset, gender, hemoglobin A1c, estimated glomerular filtration rate, taking angiotensin receptor blocker and smoking history. AUC values (95% CI) of risk outcome prediction at year 5 and 7 were 0.700 (0.650-0.749) and 0.715(0.668-0.762) for the train set and 0.738 (0.667-0.801) and 0.723 (0.663-0.783) for the test set, respectively. The calibration curves were close to the ideal curve, and the model discrimination and calibration powers were both good. Conclusions:This study established a convenient prediction model for diabetic foot and classified the risk levels. The model has strong interpretability, good discrimination power, and satisfactory calibration and can be used to predict the incidence of diabetes foot in adult patients with type 2 diabetes to provide a basis for self-assessment and clinical prediction of diabetic foot disease risk.