OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of Chinese patent medicine Huatuo Zaizao Pill (HTZZ) on neurological function and limb motor in ischemic stroke (IS) patients during convalescence. METHODS: This is a prospective, open-labelled, randomized controlled trial. Patients with IS were recruited from the Neurology Department of Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences from May 2021 to June 2023. Eligible participants were randomly assigned to the HTZZ (40 cases) or control group (40 cases) at a ratio of 1:1. The HTZZ group was treated with oral HTZZ (8 g, thrice daily) combined with conventional treatment, while the control group received only conventional treatment. The treatment duration was 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) score from baseline to week 6 and 12. Secondary outcomes included changes in scores of National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FM), and Barthel Index (BI) from baseline to week 6 and 12, as well as lipid indices after 12 weeks. All adverse events (AEs) were recorded and liver and kidney indices were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 72 patients completed the study (38 in the HTZZ group and 34 in the control group). Compared with the control group, the HTZZ group demonstrated significant improvements in MAS, NIHSS, FM, and BI scores following 6 and 12 weeks of treatment in both intent-to-treat and per-protocol analyses (all P<0.05). No significant differences were noted between groups in lipid indices, AEs, and liver and kidney dysfunction after 12 weeks (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS HTZZ alleviated spasticity and enhanced neurological function and prognosis of IS patients during convalescence. However, further evaluation of HTZZ's effect on IS outcomes is warranted in clinical trials with larger sample sizes and extended observation periods. (Trial registration No. NCT04910256).
Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Male ; Female ; Ischemic Stroke/physiopathology* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Recovery of Function/drug effects* ; Convalescence ; Extremities/physiopathology* ; Treatment Outcome ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between physical activity and genetic risk and their combined effects on the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 318,085 biobank participants from the UK. Physical activity was assessed using the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The participants were stratified into low-, intermediate-, and high-genetic-risk groups based on their polygenic risk scores. Multivariate Cox regression models and multiplicative interaction analyses were used. RESULTS: During a median follow-up period of 13 years, 9,209 participants were diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. For low genetic risk, compared to low physical activity, the hazard ratios ( HRs) for moderate and high physical activity were 0.853 (95% confidence interval [ CI]: 0.748-0.972) and 0.831 (95% CI: 0.727-0.950), respectively. For intermediate genetic risk, the HRs were 0.829 (95% CI: 0.758-0.905) and 0.835 (95% CI: 0.764-0.914), respectively. For participants with high genetic risk, the HRs were 0.809 (95% CI: 0.746-0.877) and 0.818 (95% CI: 0.754-0.888), respectively. A significant interaction was observed between genetic risk and physical activity. CONCLUSION Moderate or high levels of physical activity were associated with a lower risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease across all genetic risk groups, highlighting the need to tailor activity interventions for genetically susceptible individuals.
Humans ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/epidemiology* ; Exercise ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Aged ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Risk Factors ; United Kingdom/epidemiology* ; Incidence ; Adult

Objective To analyze the influencing factors of peritoneal dialysis associated peritonitis(PDAP)and the distribution characteristics of pathogenic bacteria.Methods The clinical data of 257 patients who underwent peritoneal dialysis(PD)and regular follow-up in Meizhou People's Hospital from January 2012 to October 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the occurrence of PDAP,the patients were divided into the PDAP group(n=102)and the non-PDAP group(n=155).The exhaled liquid(5-10 mL)was extracted with a sterile syringe,and the pathogen was identified by blood culture method.General data such as gender,age,primary disease,education level,whether complicated with hypertension/diabetes/cardiovascular diseases,whether keeping pets or poultry,body mass index(BMI)and dialysis duration were collected.Fasting elbow venous blood was drawn in the morning of the next day after diagnosis,the levels of hemoglobin(Hb),albumin(ALB),serum potassium,serum phosphorus,and serum calcium were detected.The estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR)and urea clearance index(UCI)were recorded.Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of PDAP in PD patients.Results There were 217 cases of PDAP in 102 patients with PDAP,and 124 cases(57.14％)were positive for pathogen culture.A total of 127 pathogenic bacteria were isolated,including 84 Gram-positive strains(66.14％),39 Gram-negative strains(30.71％)and 4 Fungi strains(3.15％).Among the 84 strains of Gram-positive bacteria,there were 25 strains of staphylococcus epidermidis(29.76％),17 strains of staphylococcus aureus(20.24％),12 strains of staphylo-coccus haemolyticus(14.29％),8 strains of staphylococcus warneri(9.52％),10 strains of streptococcus salivarius(11.90％),5 strains of streptococcus sanguis(5.95％),and 7 other strains(8.33％).Among the 39 strains of Gram-nega-tive bacteria,there were 20 strains of escherichia coli(51.28％),6 strains of pseudomonas aeruginosa(15.38％),6 strains of acinetobacter baumannii(15.38％),5 strains of klebsiella pneumoniae(12.82％),and 2 strains of enterobacter cloacae(5.13％).Among the 4 strains of Fungi,there were 3 strains of near-smooth candida(75.00％)and 1 strain of candida glabrata(25.00％).There was no significant difference in gender,age,primary disease,education level,BMI,and the propor-tion of comorbidities with hypertension,diabetes and cardiovascular diseases between the PDAP and non-PDAP groups(P＞0.05).The proportion of patients keeping pets or poultry in the PDAP group was higher than that in the non-PDAP group,and the dialysis duration was longer than that in the non-PDAP group(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in serum phosphorus,serum calcium,eGFR and UCI between the PDAP and non-PDAP groups(P＞0.05).The levels of Hb,ALB and serum potassium in the PDAP group were significantly lower than those in the non-PDAP group(P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that keeping pets or poultry and long dialysis duration were risk factors for PDAP in PD patients(P＜0.05).High Hb and ALB levels were protective factors for PDAP in PD patients(P＜0.05).There was no correlation between serum potassium and PDAP in PD patients(P＞0.05).Conclusion Gram-positive bacteria are the main pathogenic bacteria of PDAP,among which staphylococcus epidermidis is the predominant one.Keeping pets or poultry and long dialysis duration are risk factors for PDAP,while high Hb and ALB levels are protective factors for PDAP in PD patients.

Objective:To explore the expression pattern of pyroptosis-related genes(PRGs)in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),and analyze the relationship between its expression and tumor prog-nosis and immune microenvironment.Methods:TCGA database was used to analyze the genetic changes and expression patterns of PRGs in primary HCC cells,and cluster analysis was used to i-dentify the pyrogenic subtypes of HCC.To compare the difference of prognosis and immune mi-croenvironment among HCC pyrodeath subtypes.Scorch death score quantified the comprehensive expression of PRGs in each sample,and analyzed the correlation between scorch death score and each immune score.Results:Two pyroptosis-associated subtypes of primary HCC were identi-fied,and the expression pattern of PRGs is closely related to the prognosis of cancer patients and the tumor microenvironment.The subtype with high expression of PRGs had a poor prognosis,and functional enrichment analysis found that some tumor-promoting pathways and PD-1 checkpoint pathways were significantly enriched in this subtype.And various cells and immune checkpoints re-lated to immunosuppression were also enriched in this subtype.By constructing PYROPTO-SIS_score to quantify the comprehensive expression of pyroptosis-related genes in each sample,it was found that PYROPTOSIS_score was significantly positively correlated with tumor-infiltrating macrophages,myeloid-derived suppressor cells,and Treg cells.Conclusion:These results sug-gest that pyroptosis may play a tumor-promoting as well as immunosuppressive role in HCC,pro-viding new insights into the assessment of tumor patient prognosis and the immune microenviron-ment.

Objective:To report the results of national surveillance on the distribution and antimicrobial resistance profile of clinical Gram-negative bacteria isolates from bloodstream infections in China in 2022.Methods:The clinical isolates of Gram-negative bacteria from blood cultures in member hospitals of national bloodstream infection Bacterial Resistant Investigation Collaborative System（BRICS）were collected during January 2022 to December 2022. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were conducted by agar dilution or broth dilution methods recommended by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute（CLSI）. WHONET 5.6 and SPSS 25.0 software were used to analyze the data.Results:During the study period，9 035 strains of Gram-negative bacteria were collected from 51 hospitals，of which 7 895（87.4%）were Enterobacteriaceae and 1 140（12.6%）were non-fermenting bacteria. The top 5 bacterial species were Escherichia coli（ n=4 510，49.9%）， Klebsiella pneumoniae（ n=2 340，25.9%）， Pseudomonas aeruginosa（ n=534，5.9%）， Acinetobacter baumannii complex（ n=405，4.5%）and Enterobacter cloacae（ n=327，3.6%）. The ESBLs-producing rates in Escherichia coli， Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus spp. were 47.1%（2 095/4 452），21.0%（427/2 033）and 41.1%（58/141），respectively. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli（CREC）and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae（CRKP）were 1.3%（58/4 510）and 13.1%（307/2 340）；62.1%（36/58）and 9.8%（30/307）of CREC and CRKP were resistant to ceftazidime/avibactam combination，respectively. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii（CRAB）complex was 59.5%（241/405），while less than 5% of Acinetobacter baumannii complex was resistant to tigecycline and polymyxin B. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa（CRPA）was 18.4%（98/534）. There were differences in the composition ratio of Gram-negative bacteria in bloodstream infections and the prevalence of main Gram-negative bacteria resistance among different regions，with statistically significant differences in the prevalence of CRKP and CRPA（ χ2=20.489 and 20.252， P<0.001）. The prevalence of CREC，CRKP，CRPA，CRAB，ESBLs-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were higher in provinicial hospitals than those in municipal hospitals（ χ2=11.953，81.183，10.404，5.915，12.415 and 6.459， P<0.01 or <0.05），while the prevalence of CRPA was higher in economically developed regions（per capita GDP ≥ 92 059 Yuan）than that in economically less-developed regions（per capita GDP <92 059 Yuan）（ χ2=6.240， P=0.012）. Conclusions:The proportion of Gram-negative bacteria in bloodstream infections shows an increasing trend，and Escherichia coli is ranked in the top，while the trend of CRKP decreases continuously with time. Decreasing trends are noted in ESBLs-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Low prevalence of carbapenem resistance in Escherichia coli and high prevalence in CRAB complex have been observed. The composition ratio and antibacterial spectrum of bloodstream infections in different regions of China are slightly different，and the proportion of main drug resistant bacteria in provincial hospitals is higher than those in municipal hospitals.

Objective:To investigate the effects of overexpression of Nkx2.5 gene on the anti apoptotic ability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and cardiac function after myocardial infarction.Methods:A cell ischemia model was established by culturing cells under oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenat (OGD/R) conditions. The experiment was divided into four groups: bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells cultured under normal conditions (BMSC group), BMSC group cultured under glucose and oxygen deprivation (BMSC+OGD/R group), overexpressed empty vector BMSC group cultured under glucose and oxygen deprivation(BMSC NC+OGD/R group), and overexpressed Nkx2.5 BMSC group cultured under glucose and oxygen deprivation (BMSC Nkx2.5+OGD/R group). The apoptosis rate of BMSCs in each group was detected via flow cytometry, and BMSC protein was extracted. The expression of caspase-3 and pro-caspase-3, caspase-8 and pro-caspase-8, caspase-9, and cytochrome C protein and expression of Nkx2.5 in the BMSCs of each group were detected by Western blot to determine the anti-apoptotic pathway in vitro. The model of myocardial infarction in mice was established by ligating the left anterior descending branch of coronary artery. The experiment was divided into five groups: sham surgery group, myocardial infarction untreated group, myocardial infarction tail vein injection of BMSC group, myocardial infarction tail vein injection of BMSC empty body group, myocardial infarction tail vein injection of BMSC overexpression Nkx2.5 group. The changes of cardiac function in mice were evaluated by echocardiography. Normal distribution econometric data were compared between groups using convenient analysis, and pairwise comparisons were conducted using LSD-t test. Results:The apoptosis rate of the BMSC+OGD/R group (12.98±1.24)% was higher than that of the BMSC group (7.82±0.42)%, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001). The apoptosis rate of the BMSC NKx2.5+OGD/R group (11.26±0.22)% was lower than that of the BMSC+OGD/R group (12.98±1.24)% and the BMSC NC+OGD/R group (13.14±0.70)%, with statistically significant differences ( P<0.05). Compared to BMSC group ((0.36±0.08), (1.13±0.04), (0.36±0.06), (1.12±0.13), (1.23±0.08), (0.60±0.05), (0.67±0.14)), BMSC+OGD/R group ((1.05±0.10), (0.62±0.04), (1.07±0.09), (0.57±0.07), (0.55±0.08), (1.25±0.09), (0.71±0.04)) and BMSC NC+OGD/R group ((1.16±0.16), (0.64±0.06), (1.19±0.16), (0.56±0.06), (0.50±0.06), (1.28±0.06), (0.73±0.04)), the expression of Caspase-3 (0.72±0.08) and pro-caspase-3(0.89±0.09), Caspase-8 (0.63±0.08) and pro-caspase-8(0.85±0.12), Caspase-9 (0.87±0.09), cytochrome C (0.91±0.10), and Nkx2.5 (1.54±0.16) in BMSC Nkx2.5+OGD/R group was statistically significant (all P<0.05). In vivo experiments showed that the heart ejection fraction (29.05±7.07)% of mice treated with BMSC Nkx2.5 after myocardial infarction was significantly improved compared to the BMSC group (16.57±2.09)% and BMSC NC group (18.08±3.27)% (all P<0.05). Conclusion:BMSC Nkx2.5 may enhance the anti-apoptosis ability of BMSCs and improve cardiac function after myocardial infarction by inhibiting the death receptor pathway and the mitochondrial signal pathway .

Objective:To report the results of national surveillance on the distribution and antimicrobial resistance profile of clinical Gram-positive bacteria isolates from bloodstream infections in China in 2022.Methods:The clinical isolates of Gram-positive bacteria from blood cultures in member hospitals of National Bloodstream Infection Bacterial Resistant Investigation Collaborative System（BRICS）were collected during January 2022 to December 2022. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were conducted by agar dilution or broth dilution methods recommended by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute（CLSI）. WHONET 5.6 and SPSS 25.0 software were used to analyze the data.Results:A total of 3 163 strains of Gram-positive pathogens were collected from 51 member units，and the top five bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus（ n=1 147，36.3%），coagulase-negative Staphylococci（ n=928，29.3%）， Enterococcus faecalis（ n=369，11.7%）， Enterococcus faecium（ n=296，9.4%）and alpha-hemolyticus Streptococci（ n=192，6.1%）. The detection rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus（MRSA）and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci（MRCNS）were 26.4%（303/1 147）and 66.7%（619/928），respectively. No glycopeptide and daptomycin-resistant Staphylococci were detected. The sensitivity rates of Staphylococcus aureus to cefpirome，rifampin，compound sulfamethoxazole，linezolid，minocycline and tigecycline were all >95.0%. Enterococcus faecium was more prevalent than Enterococcus faecalis. The resistance rates of Enterococcus faecium to vancomycin and teicoplanin were both 0.5%（2/369），and no vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium was detected. The detection rate of MRSA in southern China was significantly lower than that in other regions（ χ2=14.578， P=0.002），while the detection rate of MRCNS in northern China was significantly higher than that in other regions（ χ2=15.195， P=0.002）. The detection rates of MRSA and MRCNS in provincial hospitals were higher than those in municipal hospitals（ χ2=13.519 and 12.136， P<0.001）. The detection rates of MRSA and MRCNS in economically more advanced regions（per capita GDP≥92 059 Yuan in 2022）were higher than those in economically less advanced regions（per capita GDP<92 059 Yuan）（ χ2=9.969 and 7.606， P=0.002和0.006）. Conclusions:Among the Gram-positive pathogens causing bloodstream infections in China， Staphylococci is the most common while the MRSA incidence decreases continuously with time；the detection rate of Enterococcus faecium exceeds that of Enterococcus faecalis. The overall prevalence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococci is still at a low level. The composition ratio of Gram-positive pathogens and resistant profiles varies slightly across regions of China，with the prevalence of MRSA and MRCNS being more pronounced in provincial hospitals and areas with a per capita GDP≥92 059 yuan.

China prospective multicenter birth cohort (Prospective Omics Health Atlas birth cohort, POHA birth cohort) study was officially launched in 2022. This study, in collaboration with 12 participating units, aims to establish a high-quality, multidimensional cohort comprising 20 000 naturally conceived families and assisted reproductive families. The study involves long-term follow-up of parents and offspring, with corresponding biological samples collected at key time points. Through multi-omics testing and analysis, the study aims to conduct multi-omics big data research across the entire maternal and infant life cycle. The goal is to identify new biomarkers for maternal and infant diseases and provide scientific evidence for risk prediction related to maternal diseases and neonatal health.

Health insurance fund regulation (HIFR) is a vital issue in the modernization of healthcare security governance, with its importance as a primary task of the healthcare security department continually reinforced in policy practice. This study focused on the 22 specialized policies issued by the National Healthcare Security Administration from its establishment in 2018 to March 2024, deeply analyzed their issue characteristics, and summarized the evolutionary trends of policy changes, as well as the knowledge production patterns that existed in the series of policy formulation, implementation, and feedback processes. Our analysis revealed that the diverse issue characteristics had led to heterogeneous directions in HIFR policies. The policy development process presented distinct composite evolutionary trends, mainly manifested in four aspects: the integration of regulatory system and content, the convergence of professional and societal forces, the parallelism of special governance and regular supervision, and the complementarity of conventional and emerging methods. Additionally, the study demonstrated that the knowledge production embedded in policy evolution encompassed four different dimensions: problem rectification, norm setting, pilot experience, and technical absorption. Together with issue characteristics and policy evolution, they formed an integrated, dynamic, and open system of knowledge production, continuously promoting the renewal and iteration of regulation policies.

Wumeiwan are recorded in the Jueyin chapter of Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases （《伤寒杂病论》）， and many doctors in the past dynasties believed that they had the effects of calming intestinal ascarid by warming Zang organs. The clinical application was limited. Since KE Qin， a doctor in the Qing dynasty， proposed that Wumeiwan were the primary prescription against Jueyin diseases， Wumeiwan have been valued by doctors， and their clinical application has also been expanded. The syndrome indicated for Wumeiwan is attributed， not only to the ascarid internal harassment， but to the abnormal Qi movement of wind and wood in Jueyin and the dysfunction of Yin and Yang. According to the functions of six meridians based on the theory of "open-close axis" in Huangdi's Internal Classic （《黄帝内经》） and the original texts of Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases， Yinshu refers to Jueyin. Wumeiwan， the primary prescription against Jueyin diseases， have the function of connecting Yin and Yang， and they can treat diseases caused by Qi disturbance of Jueyin and cold and heat in complexity. Sharing the same resource， the Secrets for Auxiliary Cultivation Life： The Essential Method of Using Herbal Medicine for the Differential Treatment of the Five Zang Organs （《辅行诀五脏用药法要》） and Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases both consult Models of the Classic of Decoction （《汤液经方》）. The formulation rules of tonic/purgative and collapse-saving prescriptions in Secrets for Auxiliary Cultivation Life follow the recorded "Tang Ye Jing Fa Tu" （an image revealing the compatibility principles of Chinese herbal drugs） and are closely related to the five elements theory. By exploring the formulation rules in "Tang Ye Jing Fa Tu" and the five elements of drugs， this study analyzed Wumeiwan and proved that Wumeiwan mainly acted on the liver， spleen， and heart. According to the Five Zang-organs Storing Spirit theory from Huangdi's Internal Classic， the above three organs are closely related to emotional adjustment. Therefore， the treatment of emotional disorders caused by qi disturbance of Jueyin and cold and heat in complexity with Wumeiwan is supported by evidence. At the end of this article， the reports on the treatment of emotional disorders with Wumeiwan in recent years were listed and reviewed. This article provides new ideas for the clinical application of Wumeiwan in the treatment of emotional disorders and expands the application range.