Objective To investigate the characteristics of gut flora related to dampness syndrome in the population at risk of cerebrovascular disease and to explore their influencing factors.Methods Based on the results of epidemiological investigation of damp syndrome in at-risk population of cerebrovascular disease in Guangdong from October 2021 to February 2023,60 subjects(including 41 at-risk cases of cerebrovascular disease and 19 healthy controls)were included in the study.The identification of dampness syndrome and the risk rating of stroke were carried out for the subjects,and fecal samples were collected.High-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing technology and bioinformatics methods were used to analyze the characteristics of gut flora.Results(1)A total of 53 cases(88.33％)were identified as dampness syndrome.There was significant difference in the quantitative score of dampness syndrome between the risk group and the healthy group,and between the low-,medium-and high-risk groups(P=0.016;P=0.041).(2)There was no statistical difference in the species and abundance of gut flora between the dampness syndrome group and the non-dampness syndrome group.(3)In the population identified as dampness syndrome,there was no significant difference in Alpha diversity between the healthy group and the risk group,but there was significant difference in Beta diversity analysis;LEfSe analysis found that Fusobacterium and Lactobacillus were enriched in the risk group;correlation analysis showed that the differential bacteria were related to the three risk factors of diabetes,dyslipidemia and obesity and carotid intima-media thickness(IMT).(4)In the population identified as dampness syndrome and having the risk of cerebrovascular disease,there was no significant difference in Alpha diversity among three groups with different levels of risks,while significant difference in Beta diversity was observed;LEfSe analysis showed that Acidaminococcaceae,Phascolarctobacterium and Butyricimonas were enriched in the low-risk group,Veillonellaceae was enriched in the medium-risk group,and Ruminococcus 2 and Alloprevotella were enriched in the high-risk group;correlation analysis showed that the differential bacteria were associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),white blood cell count(WBC),and neutrophil count(NEUT).Conclusion In the Guangdong population predominated by dampness syndrome,the severity of dampness syndrome is related to the risk of stroke,and the specific flora associated with sub-clinical atherosclerosis,inflammatory response and lipid metabolism are presented.

Objective To make an epidemiological investigation on traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)dampness syndrome manifestations in the population at risk of cerebrovascular diseases in Guangdong area.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze the clinical data related to the risk of cerebrovascular diseases in 330 Guangdong permanent residents.The diagnosis of dampness syndrome,quantitative scoring of dampness syndrome and rating of the risk of stroke were performed for the investigation of the distribution pattern of dampness syndrome and its influencing factors.Results(1)A total of 306(92.73%)study subjects were diagnosed as dampness syndrome.The percentage of dampness syndrome in the risk group was 93.82%(258/275),which was slightly higher than that of the healthy group(48/55,87.27%),but the difference was not statistically significant(χ2 = 2.91,P = 0.112).The quantitative score of dampness syndrome in the risk group was higher than that of the healthy group,and the difference was statistically significance(Z =-2.24,P = 0.025).(2)Among the study subjects at risk of cerebrovascular disease,evaluation time(χ2 = 26.11,P = 0.001),stroke risk grading(χ2= 8.85,P = 0.031),and history of stroke or transient ischemic attack(TIA)(χ2 = 9.28,P = 0.015)were the factors influencing the grading of dampness syndrome in the population at risk of cerebrovascular disease.Conclusion Dampness syndrome is the common TCM syndrome in the population of Guangdong area.The manifestations of dampness syndrome are more obvious in the population with risk factors of cerebrovascular disease,especially in the population at high risk of stroke,and in the population with a history of stroke or TIA.The assessment and intervention of dampness syndrome should be taken into account for future project of stroke prevention in Guangdong.