OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of needle cauterization on vitiligo with deficiency cold and blood stasis. METHODS: A total of 62 patients of vitiligo with deficiency cold and blood stasis were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 31 cases each group.On the basis of 308 nm excimer light irradiation combined with ironing with Chinese medicine, the control group was treated with tacrolimus ointment for external use, twice a day; the observation group was treated with needle cauterization at vitiligo spots, once a week.Both groups were treated for 10 weeks. Before and after treatment, the area of vitiligo spot, TCM syndrome score, serum levels of inflammatory indexes (interleukin[IL]-6 and IL-17) were observed in the two groups, and the clinical effect was evaluated. RESULTS: After treatment, the areas of vitiligo spot, TCM syndrome scores and serum levels of IL-6, IL-17 were decreased compared with those before treatment in both groups (P<0.05), and the above indexes in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate in the observation group was 93.5% (29/31), which was higher than 77.4% (24/31) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Needle cauterization could reduce the areas of vitiligo spot in patients of vitiligo with deficiency cold and blood stasis, improve the clinical symptoms, its mechanism may be related to the reduction of serum levels of inflammatory indexes.
Humans ; Vitiligo/physiopathology* ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Middle Aged ; Adolescent ; Interleukin-6/blood* ; Interleukin-17/blood* ; Cautery ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Needles ; Cold Temperature ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To identify potential subtypes of demoralization syndrome among stroke patients undergoing neuroendovascular procedures using latent profile analysis,and to examine differences in death anxiety among these subtypes.Method This cross-sectional study used convenience sampling to recruit 202 stroke patients undergoing neuroendovascular procedures at a hospital from November 2024 to March 2025.Participants completed the General Information Questionnaire,Despair Scale(DS),and the Chinese version of the Templer's Death Anxiety Scale(CT-DAS).Using R software,we estimated a series of latent profile models(ranging from 2 to 6 profiles)based on four manifestations of demoralization syndrome:loss of meaning and purpose,dysphoria,helplessness and hopelessness,and sense of failure.Starting from the 2-profile model,we incrementally increased the number of profiles and compared model fit indices to identify the optimal solution.Subsequently,logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the factors influencing DS scores according to the latent profile classifications.We compared DS scores across subgroups and performed bivariate correlation analysis between DS and CT-DAS subdimensions(Affective,Stress&Pain,Time Awareness,and Cognitive).Results The DS scores classified stroke patients into two distinct subtypes of demoralization syndrome:A Meaninglessness-Dysphoria Group(51.00%,103/202)and a Helplessness-Hopelessness Group(49.00%,99/202).The HHG demonstrated significantly higher proportions(P<0.05)of female patients,those hospitalized for 6～10 days,recipients of arterial stenosis/occlusion surgery,individuals with junior high school or higher education,employed subjects,and rural residents compared to the MDG.Binary logistic regression analysis revealed:Lower probability of HHG membership for urban(OR=0.159,P<0.001)and city(OR=0.224,P=0.007)residents versus rural counterparts;Higher HHG probability in patients hospitalized 6-10 days versus 1～5 days(OR=2.311,P=0.017);Elevated HHG risk among junior high school(OR=4.956,P<0.001)and high school or above graduates(OR=5.102,P=0.001)relative to those with primary education or less;Increased HHG probability in aneurysm embolization(OR=2.419,P=0.040)and arterial stenosis/occlusion surgery(OR=2.733,P=0.014)recipients compared to cerebrovascular angiography patients.The HHG scored significantly lower on the cognitive dimension of death anxiety than the MDG(t=2.421,P=0.016),while showing no differences in affective,stress&pain,or time awareness dimensions(P>0.05).Bivariate Pearson correlations indicated dysphoria(DS)positively correlated with Affective(r=0.192,P=0.006),Time Awareness(r=0.172,P=0.015),and Cognitive(r=0.139,P=0.049)of death anxiety.Conclusions Stroke patients undergoing neuroendovascular procedures exhibit elevated levels of death anxiety,with significant varia-tions observed across different subtypes of demoralization syndrome.Residential location,hospitalization duration,anxiety severity,and surgical type constitute significant determinants of demoralization syndrome.Targeted clinical interventions should be implemented to alleviate demoralization severity and mitigate death anxiety.

Objective To identify potential subtypes of demoralization syndrome among stroke patients undergoing neuroendovascular procedures using latent profile analysis,and to examine differences in death anxiety among these subtypes.Method This cross-sectional study used convenience sampling to recruit 202 stroke patients undergoing neuroendovascular procedures at a hospital from November 2024 to March 2025.Participants completed the General Information Questionnaire,Despair Scale(DS),and the Chinese version of the Templer's Death Anxiety Scale(CT-DAS).Using R software,we estimated a series of latent profile models(ranging from 2 to 6 profiles)based on four manifestations of demoralization syndrome:loss of meaning and purpose,dysphoria,helplessness and hopelessness,and sense of failure.Starting from the 2-profile model,we incrementally increased the number of profiles and compared model fit indices to identify the optimal solution.Subsequently,logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the factors influencing DS scores according to the latent profile classifications.We compared DS scores across subgroups and performed bivariate correlation analysis between DS and CT-DAS subdimensions(Affective,Stress&Pain,Time Awareness,and Cognitive).Results The DS scores classified stroke patients into two distinct subtypes of demoralization syndrome:A Meaninglessness-Dysphoria Group(51.00%,103/202)and a Helplessness-Hopelessness Group(49.00%,99/202).The HHG demonstrated significantly higher proportions(P<0.05)of female patients,those hospitalized for 6～10 days,recipients of arterial stenosis/occlusion surgery,individuals with junior high school or higher education,employed subjects,and rural residents compared to the MDG.Binary logistic regression analysis revealed:Lower probability of HHG membership for urban(OR=0.159,P<0.001)and city(OR=0.224,P=0.007)residents versus rural counterparts;Higher HHG probability in patients hospitalized 6-10 days versus 1～5 days(OR=2.311,P=0.017);Elevated HHG risk among junior high school(OR=4.956,P<0.001)and high school or above graduates(OR=5.102,P=0.001)relative to those with primary education or less;Increased HHG probability in aneurysm embolization(OR=2.419,P=0.040)and arterial stenosis/occlusion surgery(OR=2.733,P=0.014)recipients compared to cerebrovascular angiography patients.The HHG scored significantly lower on the cognitive dimension of death anxiety than the MDG(t=2.421,P=0.016),while showing no differences in affective,stress&pain,or time awareness dimensions(P>0.05).Bivariate Pearson correlations indicated dysphoria(DS)positively correlated with Affective(r=0.192,P=0.006),Time Awareness(r=0.172,P=0.015),and Cognitive(r=0.139,P=0.049)of death anxiety.Conclusions Stroke patients undergoing neuroendovascular procedures exhibit elevated levels of death anxiety,with significant varia-tions observed across different subtypes of demoralization syndrome.Residential location,hospitalization duration,anxiety severity,and surgical type constitute significant determinants of demoralization syndrome.Targeted clinical interventions should be implemented to alleviate demoralization severity and mitigate death anxiety.

Objective:To investigate the molecular mechanism by which exosomes secreted from human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) regulate pancreatic cancer (PC) cells.Methods:The exosomes secreted by BMSCs were extracted and identified. Human PC cell lines (PANC-1 and AsPC-1) were then divided into 3 groups: simple cell group, exosome group and inhibitor group. For inhibitor group, PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway inhibitor LY294002 was added, followed by exosomes. Subsequently, the protein expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) protein kinase B(AKT) and their phosphorylated types was detected by Western-blot, and the contents of PC cell markers B7-H4 and CA199 were detected by ELISA kit. The CCK-8 experiment was mainly conducted to detect the proliferation ability of cells, the flow cytometry to detect apoptosis, and the Transwell experiment to detect the migration and invasion ability of cells.Results:The exosomes secreted by BMSCs were extracted successfully. The expression of PC cell markers B7-H4 and CA199, the proliferation rate, and the invasion and migration ability of cancer cells were all decreased for both PANC-1 and AsPC-1, while the apoptosis rate increased, all of which had statistical significance ( P<0.001). There were no significant differences for the above parameter in inhibitor group compared with the simple cell group ( P>0.05). The p-PI3K and p-Akt of PANC-1 cells in simple cell group were (5.81±1.87), (5.30±1.21), while up-regulated to (12.74±3.28), (11.22±2.35) with statistically significant differences ( P<0.001) after exosomes were added. Meanwhile, the above 2 kinds of protein expression of AsPC-1 cells in simple cell group were (4.75±0.87), (4.15±1.32), while increased to (10.83±3.19), (9.28±2.33) in exosome group with statistically significant differences ( P<0.001). On the other hand, there was no significant differences for the protein expression of P-PI3K and P-AKT in inhibitor group ( P>0.05) compared with the simple cell group. Conclusion:Exosomes secreted by BMSCS can inhibit the proliferation of PC cells and its migration and invasion ability by activating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, thus playing a role in antitumor effect.

Objective:To analyze the current prevalence of pre-diabetes (PDM) and its relationship with overweight and obesity in an adult health check-up population.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional and retrospective cohort study and was applied using whole-cluster random sampling method. A total of 491 379 adults who underwent health check-ups at the Health Management Centre of Sichuan Provincial People′s Hospital from January 2017 to July 2023 were selected to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of PDM and overweight-obesity, as well as the trend of change over time. A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 19 001 of the subjects who underwent≥3 health check-ups and did not have diabetes and PDM at baseline, and the relationships between body mass index, waist circumference and the risk for developing PDM were analyzed using Cox proportional risk regression models. And the dose-response relationship between body mass index, waist circumference and the risk for developing PDM was analyzed using restricted cubic spline regression (RCS).Results:Of the 491 379 cases included in the cross-sectional study, 275 084 were male and 216 295 were female, 163 158 cases were under 40 years old, and 328 221 cases were 40 years old and above; the total prevalence of PDM was 19.41% in 2017-2023, with an overall increasing trend. Of the 19 001 people included in the cohort study, a total of 2 487 (13.09%) new cases of PDM were identified at the end of follow-up. After adjusting for confounding factors, overweight ( HR=1.150, 95% CI: 1.047-1.263), obesity ( HR=1.335, 95% CI: 1.149-1.552) and abdominal obesity ( HR=1.218, 95% CI: 1.105-1.342) were risk factors for PDM. The risk of PDM rised with the increase of body mass index (>22.9 kg/m 2, Pnon-linear=0.973) and waist circumference (>80 cm, Pnon-linear=0.830), with a linear dose-response mode. In different gender and age groups, it was found the greater the body mass index (>24.1 kg/m 2 for men,>21.5 kg/m 2 for women;>23.3 kg/m 2 for age≥40 years,>24.1 kg/m 2 for age<40 years) and waist circumference (>85 cm for men, >73 cm for women; >82 cm for age ≥40 years, >85 cm for age <40 years), the higher the risk of PDM. Conclusions:The prevalence of PDM is on the rise in the adult health check-up population. To prevent PDM, it is necessary to control the body mass index and waist circumference to a lower level than the overweight and obesity standards.

ObjectiveTo construct a quantitative differentiation model of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndromes by taking primary osteoporosis （POP） with kidney yang deficiency syndrome as an example， and to provide methodological reference for the standardization of syndrome differentiation. MethodsHigh-frequency clinical features of POP were screened by descriptive statistical analysis， and strong association features of POP were obtained by association rule algorithm. On this basis， a latent structure （latent tree） model was established through latent structure analysis， and the implicit and explicit variables （features） related to POP with kidney yang deficiency syndrome were comprehensively clustered， and the clustering results were interpreted by the indexes of mutual information and cumulative information coverage， to explore the primary and secondary symptoms， and to deduce the categories of POP with kidney yang deficiency syndrome based on the probability of the features appearing in the various latent categories. Based on the categories， the clinical feature scores and identification thresholds were calculated， and the syndrome differentiation model of POP with kidney yang deficiency was initially constructed by combining the comprehensive judgment rules. Finally， the results of TCM professionals' judgment were used as the gold standard to further evaluate the effectiveness of the model in assisting the syndrome differentiation. ResultsThe 32 features strongly associated with POP were obtained， and the Bayes information critedon score of the further constructed latent tree model was -15291.93. Based on the mutual information and the cumulative information coverage， the main symptoms of POP with kidney yang deficiency syndrome were bone weakness， fatigue， pale tongue， clear urine， frequent nocturnal urination， cold limbs， thin pulse， white coating， and secondary symptoms were weakness， loss of libido， loose stool， frequent urination， lumbar and knee weakness， and fear of cold. From the probability of the occurrence of each clinical feature in different latent categories of POP with kidney yang deficiency syndrome， the state was introduced as S0 category （none/mild kidney yang syndrome）/ S1 category （moderate kidney yang syndrome）/ S2 category （severe kidney yang syndrome）. Optimizing the preliminary rules of state identification and refining the state of S1 category， the results showed that among 970 patients with POP， there were 520 patients having no/mild kidney yang deficiency syndrome， 224 patients with moderate to mild kidney yang deficiency syndrome， 81 patients with moderate to severe kidney yang deficiency syndrome， and 145 patients with severe kidney yang deficiency syndrome. During the evaluation and validation process， the correct rate of the model assessment index was 0.8835， while the sensitivity was 0.7181， and the specificity was 0.9437. ConclusionCombined with the latent structure analysis of the association rule， the syndrome differentiation model for POP with kidney yang deficiency could be constructed， and the model shows a good quantitative identification effect， which can provide methodological supports for clinicians to improve the efficiency and accuracy of TCM diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE： To establish a method for content determination of total polyphenols from Gastrodia elata， and to optimize the purification technology of macroporous resin. METHODS： The content of total polyphenols from G. elata was determined by Folin-ciocaileu colorimetry. Using the absorption and desorption performance as index， 4 kinds of macroporous adsorption resins were selected by static adsorption and desorption tests. The flow rate and mass concentration of the sampling solution， volume fraction of eluent， eluent flow rate and eluent volume were investigated by dynamic adsorption and desorption tests. The purification technology of macroporous resin was optimized. RESULTS： The linear range of gallic acid was 4-32 μg/mL （r＝0.999 9）. RSDs of precision， stability and repeatability tests were all less than 2％. The recovery rate of the sample was 95.51％-102.94％（RSD＝2.54％，n＝6）. D301 macroporous resin had strong static adsorption and desorption ability from G. elata polyphenols. The optimal purification technology included that the sample solution flow rate 2 BV/h； the sample solution mass concentration 4 mg/mL； the elution solvent 70％ ethanol； the elution flow rate was 3 BV/h， and the eluent volume 5 BV. The content of total polyphenols from G. elata optimized by the optimal purification technology was 0.381 mg/g. CONCLUSIONS： Established method is sensitive and stable. The optimized purification technology is stable and feasible.

Objective: To explore the relationship between NLRP3 inflammasome and atrial fibrillation (AF) by examining peripheral blood level of NLRP3 inlfammasome and other inlfammatory factors in relevant patients.
Method: A total of 60 AF patients were enrolled and divided into 2 groups: Paroxysmal AF (PAF) group and Non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (nPAF) group, n=30 in each group;in addition, there was a Control group including 26 healthy subjects from physical examination. NLRP3 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was measured by lfow cytometry;blood levels of IL-1β, IL-6, CRP and NT-proBNP were detected by ELISA. The correlations among different factors were studied by liner regression analysis and the differences were compared among groups.
Result:①Compared with Control group, PAF and nPAF groups had increased PBMCs level of NLRP3 and blood levels of IL-1β, IL-6, CRP, NT-proBNP, P<0.05, while NLRP3 level was similar between PAF group and nPAF group, P>0.05.②PAF and nPAF groups showed elevated blood level of NT-proBNP than Control group, P<0.05. ③PBMCs level of NLRP3 was positively related to left atrial diameter (r=0.579, P<0.05) and negatively related to left ventricular ejection fraction (r=-0.490, P<0.05) in both AF groups.
Conclusion: ① NLRP3 inflammasome was closely related to AF, which may provide a therapeutic target for AF treatment. ② AF was closely related to inflammatory response. ③ Downstream product of NLRP3 may cause the inlfammatory response which could induce the occurrence, development and maintenance of AF in relevant patients.

Objective To comprehensively study the oxidative stress of bone tissue in rats with chronic fluorosis treated with anti-oxidant,the oxidative damage of lipid,protein and DNA.Methods Forty Wistar rats weaned 2 weeks were randomized by weight and divided into 4 groups according to body weight,control group (treated with tap water) and 3 NaF (sodium fluoride) exposure groups (treated with NaF at 50,150 and 250 mg/L),5 female rats and 5 male rats in each group.NaF was given through drinking water.After 6 months of treatment,a 12-hour urine samples were collected,then rats were killed,serum was collected,right rear tibiofibula was separated.Bone and urinary fluoride content and incidence rate of dental fluorine were studied and the levels of bone tissue suppression function of hydroxy free radical,superoxide dismutase (SOD),catalase (CAT),glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px),8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG),protein carbonyls (PCO),and malonaldehyde (MDA) were assayed.Results ① Results of suppression function of hydroxy free radical:The difference of bone tissue suppression function of hydroxy free radical among control [(22.99 ± 4.31)U/mg prot],low-excess dose [(22.76 ± 8.11)U/mg prot],medium-excess dose [(13.47 ± 4.56)U/mg prot] and high-excess dose [(19.40 ± 5.92)U/mg prot] groups was statistically significant (F =5.01,P ＜0.05).②Results of SOD:The difference of bone tissue SOD among control [(5.06 ± 1.16)U/mg prot],low-excess dose [(5.32 ± 1.18)U/mg prot],medium-excess dose [(3.71 ± 0.72)U/mg prot] and high-excess dose [(4.80 ± 1.10)U/mg prot] groups was statistically significant (F =4.44,P ＜0.05).③ Results of CAT:The difference of bone tissue CAT among control [(25.20 ± 5.91)U/mg prot],low-excess dose [(22.53 ± 7.10) U/mg prot],medium-excess dose [(17.96 ± 4.71)U/mg prot] and high-excess dose [(19.52 ± 5.52)U/ mg prot] groups was statistically significant (F =2.85,P ＜0.05).④Results of GSH-Px:The differences of bone tissue GSH-Px among control [(52.86 ± 12.88)U/mg prot],low-excess dose [(70.05 ± 15.72)U/mg prot],medium-excess dose [(51.55 ± 6.97)U/mg prot] and high-excess dose [(57.47 ± 10.99) U/mg prot] groups was statistically significant (F =4.89,P ＜0.05).⑤Results of PCO:The differences of bone tissue PCO among control [(58.73 ± 20.86)ng/L],low-excess dose [(89.41 ± 26.20)ng/L],medium-excess dose [(97.07 ± 22.24)ng/L] and highexcess dose [(83.96 ± 29.55)ng/L] groups was statistically significant (F =4.43,P ＜0.05).⑥Results of 8-OHdG:The differences of bone tissue 8-OHdG among control [(87.66 ± 6.32)ng/L],low-excess dose [(86.31± 6.30)ng/L],medium-excess dose [(92.17 ± 4.28)ng/L] and high-excess dose [(88.02 ± 6.14)ng/L] groups was not statistically significant (F =1.88,P ＞ 0.05).⑦Results of MDA:The differences of bone tissue MDA among control [(3.70 ± 1.73) nmol/mg prot],low-excess dose [(2.10 ± 0.95)nmol/mg prot],medium-excess dose [(3.32± 2.20)nmol/mg prot] and high-excess dose [(2.71 ± 2.18)nmol/mg prot] groups was not statistically significant (F =1.37,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions The activity of SOD and CAT of bone tissue are inhibited and suppression function of hydroxy free radical is decreasing under fluorosis influence,which results in protein damage.Oxidative stress is considered to be one of the mechanisms of skeletal fluorosis.

Objective To analyze the correlations of vascular structure, hemodynamic changes and surgical recanalization of carotid endarterectomy ( CEA) for the treatment of subtotal or complete occlusion of carotid artery. Methods A total of 107 patients with carotid artery occlusive disease diagnosed at Beijing Xuanwu Hospital,Capital Medical University received CEA therapy from January 2005 to January 2014 and were enrolled retrospectively. According to the findings of introperative ultrasound,they were divided into either a recanalization group (n=86) or a non-recanalization group (n=21). Preoperative and intraoperative carotid artery diameter and blood flow velocity were compared and analyzed with carotid ultrasonography. Intraoperative detected vascular abnormalities, residual vascular stenosis rate, blood flow velocity and pulsatility index of the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery ( MCA) were documented. Results (1) The peak systolic velocity (PSV) (82 ± 32 cm/s and 60 ± 17 cm/s),mean velocity (MV) (50 ± 19 cm/s and 42 ±13cm/s),and pulsatility index (PI) (0. 97 ± 0. 25 and 0. 67 ± 0. 14) on the ipsilateral MCA in patients of carotid artery recanalization before and after procedure were significantly higher than those during the procedure. There were significant differences (all P=0. 000). In patients failed to recanalize,the intraoperative and preoperative PSV,EDV,and MV of MCA were 46 ± 20 cm/s and. 63 ± 21 cm/s,24 ± 13 cm/s and 34 ± 12 cm/s, and 32 ± 16 cm/s and 44 ± 15 cm/s,respectively. They were reduced more significantly during the procedure than those after procedure. There were significant differences ( all P=0. 000 ) . But there was no significant difference in PI (0. 70 ± 0. 18 and 0. 67 ± 0. 15) compared with that before procedure (P=0. 317). (2) The diseased vascular diameter of the recanalization group was significantly widened (0. 6 ± 0. 4 mm vs. 3. 4 ± 0. 9 mm,P=0. 000) compared with before procedure. The overall recanalization rate was 80. 4% (86/107). Intraoperative ultrasound revealed that 13 patients had mild abnormal vascular structures among the recanalized patients. The non-recanalized patients had significantly abnormal vascular structure. Conclusion Intraoperative carotid ultrasound in combination with transcranial Doppler (TCD) for monitoring cerebral blood flow may effectively identify the carotid structure and the degree of cerebral hemodynamic improvement,and timely guide the secondary repair.