Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by synovial inflammation, joint destruction, and functional impairment. Angiogenesis plays a key role in the pathological progression of RA with dysfunction of endothelial cells to promote synovial inflammation, sustain pannus formation, subsequently leading to joint damage. Colquhounia Root Tablets (CRT), a Chinese patent drug, has shown a satisfying clinical efficacy in treating RA, while the underlying mechanism by which CRT inhibits RA-associated angiogenesis remains unclear. In this study, we applied a research approach combining transcriptomic data analysis, bio-network mapping, and in vivo and in vitro experiments to explore the molecular mechanisms of CRT in suppressing angiogenesis in RA. Animal welfare and experimental procedures follow the regulations of the Animal Ethics Committee of Institute of Basic Theory for Chinese Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (ratification number: IBTCMCACMS21-2307-06). Network analysis identified that key genes such as nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 (NOD2), SMAD family member 3 (SMAD3), and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) significantly enriched in pathways related to NOD-like receptor signaling and VEGF signaling, indicating that CRT may inhibit angiogenesis by regulating vascular endothelial cell function with modulating angiogenesis-related pathways. In vivo data showed that CRT significantly reduced the positive expression of CD31 and VEGF in the ankle joint of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rats. In vitro data further confirmed that CRT effectively inhibited VEGF-induced migration, invasion, and tube formation in HUVECs, while significantly reduced the expression of angiogenesis-related factors VEGF/CD31/Ang-1, as well as the positive expression of VEGF and CD31 in HUVECs. Furthermore, CRT markedly decreased the protein expression of NOD2, VEGFA, and SMAD3. In conclusion, these findings indicate that CRT may inhibit the RA-related angiogenesis by targeting the NOD2/SMAD3/VEGF signaling axis to improve endothelial cell function, enriching the scientific connotation of CRT in inhibiting pathological angiogenesis in RA and also offer new insights for clinical prevention and treatment of RA.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2.1 (PI-RADS v2.1) score combined with PSA density (PSAD) in the diagnosis of clinically significant prostate cancer (CSPCa) in the PSA grey zone by MRI-TRUS cognitive fusion-guided transperineal targeted prostate biopsy. METHODS: This retrospective study included 327 male patients with total PSA (tPSA) levels of 4-10 μg/L undergoing MRI-TRUS cognitive fusion-guided transperineal targeted prostate biopsy in our hospital between January 2021 and December 2023. According to the pathological results, we divided the patients into a CSPCa (n = 44) and a non-CSPCa group (n = 283), collected their clinical and imaging data, and subjected them to statistical analysis. RESULTS: The age, tPSA level, PSAD and PI-RADS score were significantly higher, while the free PSA (fPSA) level, f/tPSA ratio and prostate volume remarkably lower in the CSPCa than in the non-CSPCa group (P<0.05). The areas under the curve (AUCs) of PSAD, PI-RADS score and their combination were 0.772, 0.730 and 0.801, with sensitivities of 63.63%, 70.45% and 72.73%, and specificities of 84.10%, 75.62% and 83.75%, respectively (P<0.01). With PSAD 0.2 μg/(ml·cm3) as the best cut-off value and based on the PI-RADS scores, the patients were divided into two groups for analysis. In the patients with PI-RADS scores 2 and 5, the AUCs were 0.534 and 0.643, with sensitivities of 16.67% and 63.64%, and specificities of 85.14% and 64.29%, with no statistically significant differences (P= 0.784, P= 0.228), and in those with PI-RADS scores 3 and 4, the AUCs were 0.794 and 0.843, with sensitivities of 57.14% and 80.00%, and specificities of 87.14% and 81.82%, with statistically significant differences (P= 0.009, P<0.001). CONCLUSION PI-RADS v2.1 score combined with PSAD can effectively improve the diagnostic efficiency of CSPCa in the PSA grey zone by MRI-TRUS cognitive fusion-guided transperineal targeted prostate biopsy and serve as a guide for selection of prostate biopsy.
Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging* ; Retrospective Studies ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Image-Guided Biopsy ; Prostate/pathology* ; Aged ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Chinese medicine (CM) Zihua Wenfei Zhisou Granule (ZWZG) in postinfectious cough (PIC) patients with CM syndrome of wind-cold invading Fei (Lung, WCIF). METHODS: This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled phase II clinical trial. PIC patients with WCIF syndrome were recruited from the Respiratory Departments in 6 hospitals across China between March 2019 and December 2020. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to group A (ZWZG-matched placebo 15 g), group B (active ZWZG 15 g), and group C (active ZWZG 10 g plus ZWZG-matched placebo 5 g) in a 1:1:1 ratio. All medications were taken orally 3 times daily for 14 consecutive days. The primary outcomes were cough relief rate and cough disappearance rate. The secondary outcomes included time to cough relief, time to cough disappearance, and changes in cough symptom score (CSS), cough Visual Analog Scale (VAS) value, Cough-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (CQLQ) score, and CM syndrome score from baseline (day 0) to post-treatment (day 14). Adverse events (AEs) in each group were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 198 patients were included in the full analysis set (FAS) and safety analysis set (SS), while 183 were enrolled in the per-protocol analysis set (PPS). In the FAS population, the cough relief rate was 47.76%, 90.77% and 84.85% in groups A, B, and C, respectively; while the cough disappearance rate was 31.34%, 72.31% and 68.18%, respectively. The cough relief rates and cough disappearance rates in groups B and C were significantly higher than group A (P<0.0001). Both the median time to cough relief and cough disappearance in groups B and C were shorter than group A (P<0.0001). Compared with group A, groups B and C showed significantly greater improvements from baseline to post-treatment in CSS during daytime and nighttime as well as VAS (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in changes from baseline to post-treatment in CQLQ and CM syndrome scores among 3 groups (P>0.05). Results in the PPS population were consistent with those in the FAS population. Groups B and C showed lower incidence in AEs than group A (P<0.05), while there was no significant difference between groups B and C (P>0.05). No drug-related severe AEs were reported. CONCLUSIONS ZWZG can increase cough disappearance rate and cough relief rate; and it is beneficial in shortening cough duration and reducing cough severity and frequency in patients suffering from PIC. It is safe and generally well tolerated. (Registration No. ChiCTR1900022078).
Humans ; Cough/drug therapy* ; Double-Blind Method ; Male ; Female ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Adult ; Aged ; Quality of Life

The angiogenic response is essential for the repair of ischemic brain tissue. Integrin α6 (Itga6) expression has been shown to increase under hypoxic conditions and is expressed exclusively in vascular structures; however, its role in post-ischemic angiogenesis remains poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that mice with endothelial cell-specific knockout of Itga6 exhibit reduced neovascularization, reduced pericyte coverage on microvessels, and accelerated breakdown of microvascular integrity in the peri-infarct area. In vitro, endothelial cells with ITGA6 knockdown display reduced proliferation, migration, and tube-formation. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that ITGA6 regulates post-stroke angiogenesis through the PI3K/Akt-eNOS-VEGFA axis. Importantly, the specific overexpression of Itga6 in endothelial cells significantly enhanced neovascularization and enhanced the integrity of microvessels, leading to improved functional recovery. Our results suggest that endothelial cell Itga6 plays a crucial role in key steps of post-stroke angiogenesis, and may represent a promising therapeutic target for promoting recovery after stroke.
Animals ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/metabolism* ; Mice ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Integrin alpha6/genetics* ; Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Stroke/pathology* ; Vascular Remodeling/physiology* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism* ; Mice, Knockout ; Signal Transduction/physiology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Male ; Neovascularization, Physiologic/physiology*

Protrusive facial deformities, characterized by the forward displacement of the teeth and/or jaws beyond the normal range, affect a considerable portion of the population. The manifestations and morphological mechanisms of protrusive facial deformities are complex and diverse, requiring orthodontists to possess a high level of theoretical knowledge and practical experience in the relevant orthodontic field. To further optimize the correction of protrusive facial deformities, this consensus proposes that the morphological mechanisms and diagnosis of protrusive facial deformities should be analyzed and judged from multiple dimensions and factors to accurately formulate treatment plans. It emphasizes the use of orthodontic strategies, including jaw growth modification, tooth extraction or non-extraction for anterior teeth retraction, and maxillofacial vertical control. These strategies aim to reduce anterior teeth and lip protrusion, increase chin prominence, harmonize nasolabial and chin-lip relationships, and improve the facial profile of patients with protrusive facial deformities. For severe skeletal protrusive facial deformities, orthodontic-orthognathic combined treatment may be suggested. This consensus summarizes the theoretical knowledge and clinical experience of numerous renowned oral experts nationwide, offering reference strategies for the correction of protrusive facial deformities.
Humans ; Orthodontics, Corrective/methods* ; Consensus ; Malocclusion/therapy* ; Patient Care Planning ; Cephalometry

Quality control is a key link in the modernization process of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). Studies have shown that the effects of active components in TCM depend on not only their chemical composition but also their suitable physical forms and states. The physical phase structures, such as micelles, vesicles, gels, and nanoparticles, can improve the solubility, delivery efficiency, and targeting precision of active components. These structures significantly enhance the pharmacological activity while reducing the toxicity and side effects, demonstrating functional activity surpassing that of active components and highlighting the key effects of "structures" on "functions" of active components. Taking the physical phase structure as a breakthrough point, this paper outlines the common types of TCM physical phase structures. Furthermore, this paper explores how to realize the quality upgrading of TCM through the precise regulation of physical phase structures based on the current applications and potential of TCM physical phase structures in processing to increase the efficacy and reduce the toxicity, compounding and decocting processes, drug delivery systems, and quality control, aiming to provide novel insights for the future quality control of TCM.
Quality Control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/standards* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/standards* ; Humans ; Drug Delivery Systems

OBJECTIVE To explore the risk factors for central line-associated bloodstream infection(CLABSI)in the maintenance hemodialysis(MHD)patients based on the informatization surveillance system and establish and verify the risk prediction model so as to provide bases for early identification and prevention of CLABSI.METHODS A total of 300 MHD patients who were treated in hemodialysis center of the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from Jan.2020 to Dec.2023 were recruited as the research subjects and were randomly divided into the training set group with 210 cases and the validation set group with 90 cases in a 7∶3 ratio.The risk factors for the CLABSI were analyzed,the prediction model was established and verified.The performance of the model was evaluated by the area under the curve(AUC)of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test.RESULTS Among the 300 MHD patients who were treated with central venous catheters,32 were diagnosed with CLABSI,and the incidence was 0.65 per 1,000 catheter days.Multivari-ate analysis showed that catheter indwelling time,repeated catheterization,previous history of catheter-related in-fection and diabetes mellitus were the risk factors for the CLABSI in the MHD patients(P＜0.05).The model based on the logistic regression equation was established as follows:logit(P)=-5.661+0.024 × catheter in-dwelling duration(week)+2.037 × repeated catheterization+1.546 × previous history of catheter-related infec-tion+3.391× diabetes mellitus.ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC of the training set was 0.916(95％CI:0.837 to 0.994),with the sensitivity 87.00％,the specificity 86.63％,Youden index 0.736;the AUC of the vali-dation set was 0.797(95％CI:0.632 to 0.962),with the sensitivity 77.78％,the specificity 82.72％,the Youden index 0.605.The model showed excellent discrimination and calibration degree.CONCLUSION The logistic regres-sion equation that is established based on the 4 risk factors,catheter indwelling duration,repeated catheterization,previous history of catheter-related infection and diabetes mellitus,shows remarkable predictive efficiency,and it can provide evidence for clinical screening and prevention of CLABSI.

Objective: To compare the transcriptomic profiles between three distinct metabolic dysfunction⁃associat⁃mal murine model that more closely resembles human MASH progression . Methods: Forty 8 ⁃week⁃old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to either a control group fed normal chow diet ( NCD) or one of three MASH model groups receiving high⁃fat high⁃cholesterol diet (HFHCD) , choline⁃deficient high⁃fat diet (CDHFD) ,from three randomly selected mice per group were collected for mRNA sequencing ( mRNA⁃seq) analysis . Mean⁃bases . Overlap of functional profiles was analyzed by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) profiles to compare the mouse transcriptome with that of human patients at different stages of the disease . Additionally , Pearson ′s correla⁃tion analysis was used to explore the correlation between gene expression of murine models and human MASH . Results: Seven commonly up⁃regulated genes (Col1a1 , Smoc2 , Col6a1 , Gpx3 , Col16a1 , Spp1 and Crtap) were de⁃ways involving steatosis , hepatocellular injury and fibrosis were detected in the three MASH models at the pathway level . HFHCD and MCD might share more common traits . In comparing gene expression and pathway profiles be⁃tween different murine models and patients with different stages of MASH , all three murine MASH models showed a closer resemblance to the human progressive stages of MASH . Notably , the transcriptomic features of the CDHFD model were more consistent with those of human MASH . Conclusion There are certain similarities and differences among the transcriptional profiles of the three MASH models . The MASH models are more similar to the advanced stage of MASH in human patients . Compared to the other two models , the CDHFD model ′ s transcriptome profile more closely resembles human MASH .

Objective To construct a knowledge graph of healthcare-associated infection(HAI)prevention and control course,and evaluate its usability.Methods Based on the constructivist learning theory and the analyze-de-sign-develop-implement-evaluate(ADDIE)model,knowledge from various sources such as books,guidelines,and literature related to HAI prevention and control were integrated.The knowledge graph of HAI prevention and con-trol course were designed and constructed with the support of knowledge graph technology in Chaoxing Fanya plat-form.Thirty medical students were selected by convenience sampling method to try out the course knowledge graph.System usability scale and usage effect questionnaire were filled out to evaluate the usability of the knowledge graph.Results The knowledge graph of HAI prevention and control course contained 379 knowledge points asso-ciated with 520 test questions and 56 learning resources.After testing,the total score([70.50±12.20]points)was obtained for the usability of the knowledge graph.Among the four dimensions of the usage effect agreement ques-tionnaire,satisfaction,learning attitude,learning ability,and learning resource support accounted for 93.33％-96.67％,90.00％,93.33％-96.67％,and 83.33％-90.00％,respectively,with a high overall satisfaction rate.Conclusion The knowledge graph of HAI prevention and control course has good usability,which can realize students'personalized independent learning and improve their learning efficiency.