Patients with Takayasu arteritis combined with aortic valve disease often have a poor prognosis following surgical valve replacement, frequently encountering complications such as perivalvular leakage, valve detachment, and anastomotic aneurysm. This article presents a high-risk case wherein severe aortic valve insufficiency associated with Takayasu arteritis was successfully managed through transcatheter aortic valve implantation via the transapical approach. The patient had satisfactory valve function with no complications observed during the six-month postoperative follow-up. This case provides a minimally invasive and feasible alternative for the clinical management of such high-risk patients.

Objective:To analyze the effects of Mulligan technique combined with isokinetic exercise training (IET) on isokinetic muscle strength and neuromuscular control ability in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).Methods:A retrospective case-control study was conducted. A total of 49 patients with KOA who underwent IET at Honghui Hospital Affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University from January 2021 to January 2022 were included in the control group. An additional 49 patients with KOA who received Mulligan technique and IET at the same hospital from June 2022 to June 2023 were included in the observation group. Both groups were treated for 8 successive weeks. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score, Lysholm score, proprioception metrics [including average track error (ATE) and test time execution (TTE)], isokinetic muscle strength [peak torque (PT) and average power (AP) for flexors and extensors at 60°/s, 90°/s, and 120°/s)]were compared between the two groups before and after 4 and 8 weeks of intervention. Additionally, Visual Analog Scale score was compared between the two groups at baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention.Results:There was no statistically significant difference in WOMAC score, Lysholm score, or PT and AP levels for flexor and extensor muscles at 60°/s, 120°/s, and 180°/s between the two groups before intervention (all P > 0.05). After 4 and 8 weeks of intervention, the levels of PT and AP for both flexors and extensors at 60°/s, 120°/s, and 180°/s, as well as the Lysholm scores, were significantly higher in the observation group compared with the control group [PT level: t = -0.10, -3.03, -3.85, -0.35, -3.62, -3.95, -0.27, -5.51, -6.52, -1.13, -2.74, -3.68, -0.09, -2.91, -5.79, -0.13, -4.66, -6.05; AP level: t = -0.23, -4.77, -6.15, 0.01, -3.10, -3.75, -0.13, -3.73, -3.44, 0.16, -2.09, -4.05, -0.17, -3.71, -3.51, -0.27, -3.26, -3.69; Lysholm score: t = -7.17, -6.44; all P < 0.05]. After 4 and 8 weeks of intervention, the WOMAC score, ATE, and TTE in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group [WOMAC score: t = 3.68, 0.64; ATE level: t = 3.88, 4.13; TTE level: t = 4.86, 4.60; all P < 0.05]. After 8 weeks of intervention, both groups had lower Visual Analog Scale scores compared with their scores before the intervention (U control group = -8.75, U observation group = -8.63), with the observation group showing significantly lower scores than the control group ( U = -5.95, P < 0.001). Conclusions:The Mulligan technique combined with IET can effectively alleviate knee joint pain in patients with KOA, promote the recovery of knee joint function, enhance proprioceptive recovery, and improve neuromuscular control abilities.

To summarize experience in the diagnosis and treatment of adolescent non-freezing cold injury (NFCI).Methods:Retrospective case summary.The clinical data of 7 children with NFCI treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from December 2023 to January 2024 were reviewed.Results:Among the 7 children, including 2 boys and 5 girls, the main clinical manifestations were persistent pain with stiffness in feet, involving metatarsophalangeal joint, interphalangeal joint, and plantar surface, with toe pain the severest, and the pain worsened at night.All 7 children had magnetic resonance imaging of the foot, and among them, 4 cases showed multiple patchy fat-suppressed high signals on talus, medial tarsal bone, metatarsal bone, and phalangeal bone, suggesting ischemia, and 3 cases showed long T1 long T2 fluid signals on ankle joint cavity, some tarsal joint space, and metatarsophalangeal joint space, suggesting bone marrow edema with joint effusion.Four children received intravenous infusion of 10 mg Hydroprednisone injection once a day for 5 consecutive days, with loss of pain and complete resolution of stiffness.Conclusions:NFCI is a rare cold injury but not frostbite disease.Pathogenic conditions and clinical manifestations are the main basis for its diagnosis, and low-dose hydroprednisone is effective for the treatment of this disease.

BACKGROUND: The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) has been shown to be positively correlated with cardiovascular disease in previous studies. However, it is unclear whether elderly people with long-term high AIP levels are more likely to develop coronary heart disease (CHD). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between AIP trajectory and CHD incidence in elderly people. METHODS: 19,194 participants aged ≥ 60 years who had three AIP measurements between 2018 and 2020 were included in this study. AIP was defined as log₁₀ (triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol). The group-based trajectory model was used to identify different trajectory patterns of AIP from 2018 to 2020. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) with 95% CI of CHD events between different trajectory groups from 2020 to 2023. RESULTS: Three different trajectory patterns were identified through group-based trajectory model: the low-level group (n = 7410, mean AIP: -0.25 to -0.17), the medium-level group (n = 9981, mean AIP: 0.02-0.08), and the high-level group (n = 1803, mean AIP: 0.38-0.42). During a mean follow-up of 2.65 years, a total of 1391 participants developed CHD. After adjusting for potential confounders, compared with the participants in the low-level group, the HR with 95% CI of the medium-level group and the high-level group were estimated to be 1.24 (1.10-1.40) and 1.43 (1.19-1.73), respectively. These findings remained consistent in subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS There was a significant correlation between persistent high AIP level and increased CHD risk in the elderly. This suggests that monitoring the long-term changes in AIP is helpful to identify individuals at high CHD risk in elderly people.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of zedoarondiol on neovascularization of atherosclerotic (AS) plaque by exosomes experiment. METHODS: ApoE^-/- mice were fed with high-fat diet to establish AS model and treated with high- and low-dose (10, 5 mg/kg daily) of zedoarondiol, respectively. After 14 weeks, the expressions of anti-angiogenic protein thrombospondin 1 (THBS-1) and its receptor CD36 in plaques, as well as platelet activation rate and exosome-derived miR-let-7a were detected. Then, zedoarondiol was used to intervene in platelets in vitro, and miR-let-7a was detected in platelet-derived exosomes (Pexo). Finally, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were transfected with miR-let-7a mimics and treated with Pexo to observe the effect of miR-let-7a in Pexo on tube formation. RESULTS: Animal experiments showed that after treating with zedoarondiol, the neovascularization density in plaques of AS mice was significantly reduced, THBS-1 and CD36 increased, the platelet activation rate was markedly reduced, and the miR-let-7a level in Pexo was reduced (P<0.01). In vitro experiments, the platelet activation rate and miR-let-7a levels in Pexo were significantly reduced after zedoarondiol's intervention. Cell experiments showed that after Pexo's intervention, the tube length increased, and the transfection of miR-let-7a minics further increased the tube length of cells, while reducing the expressions of THBS-1 and CD36. CONCLUSION Zedoarondiol has the effect of inhibiting neovascularization within plaque in AS mice, and its mechanism may be potentially related to inhibiting platelet activation and reducing the Pexo-derived miRNA-let-7a level.
Animals ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Exosomes/drug effects* ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic/genetics* ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/genetics* ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Humans ; Blood Platelets/drug effects* ; Apolipoproteins E/deficiency* ; Thrombospondin 1/metabolism* ; CD36 Antigens/metabolism* ; Platelet Activation/drug effects* ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

Wastewater-based epidemiology has emerged as a transformative surveillance tool for estimating substance consumption and monitoring disease prevalence, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. It enables the population-level monitoring of illicit drug use, pathogen prevalence, and environmental pollutant exposure. In this perspective, we summarize the key challenges specific to the Chinese context: (1) Sampling inconsistencies, necessitating standardized 24-hour composite protocols with high-frequency autosamplers (≤ 15 min/event) to improve the representativeness of samples; (2) Biomarker validation, requiring rigorous assessment of excretion profiles and in-sewer stability; (3) Analytical method disparities, demanding inter-laboratory proficiency testing and the development of automated pretreatment instruments; (4) Catchment population dynamics, reducing estimation uncertainties through mobile phone data, flow-based models, or hydrochemical parameters; and (5) Ethical and data management concerns, including privacy risks for small communities, mitigated through data de-identification and tiered reporting platforms. To address these challenges, we propose an integrated framework that features adaptive sampling networks, multi-scale wastewater sample banks, biomarker databases with multidimensional metadata, and intelligent data dashboards. In summary, wastewater-based epidemiology offers unparalleled scalability for equitable health surveillance and can improve the health of the entire population by providing timely and objective information to guide the development of targeted policies.
China/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Wastewater/analysis* ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Public Health ; Wastewater-Based Epidemiological Monitoring ; SARS-CoV-2

Objective To compare ferroptosis characteristics and motor dysfunction across different mouse models of Parkinson's disease(PD).Methods Animal models of PD were divided into five groups:the control group,sham-operated group,6-hydroxydopamine(6-OHDA)group,1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyri-dine(MPTP)group,and lipopolysaccharide(LPS)group.Differences in ferroptosis-related features and motor dysfunction across these groups were evaluated through behavioral observation,histopathological examination,protein analysis,and assessment of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress levels.Results In all three model groups,the number of TH-positive neurons in the substantia nigra on the lesioned side was significantly reduced,accompanied by evident neuronal degeneration and a marked decrease in Nissl bodies.Behavioral assessments revealed that the 6-OHDA group displayed the most severe motor deficits.In the substantia nigra,FTH1 protein expression was significantly downregulated in the 6-OHDA,LPS,and MPTP groups(P<0.01,P<0.05,P<0.01),respectively,while GPX4 expression was also reduced(P<0.001,P<0.001,P<0.01).Malondialdehyde(MDA)levels were significantly elevated in both the 6-OHDA and MPTP groups(P<0.05,P<0.05).Glutathione(GSH)assays demonstrated markedly reduced levels in the 6-OHDA,MPTP,and LPS groups(P<0.01,P<0.001,P<0.001).Reactive oxygen species(ROS)detection revealed a significant increase in the MPTP and LPS groups(P<0.05,P<0.05).Conclusion The 6-OHDA model is well suited for studying PD-related behaviors and the underlying mechanisms of motor symptoms,the MPTP model is particularly effective for investigating the ferroptosis pathway,and the LPS model serves as a valuable complement for research on neuroinflammation mechanisms.

Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),as a non-invasive neuroimaging technique,has been widely employed to investi-gate changes in functional brain regions.In recent years,the application of MRI in the study of lifelong premature ejaculation(LPE)has progressively uncovered the pathological mechanisms underlying abnormalities in LPE-associated brain regions.These mechanisms involve brain areas associated with higher-order cognitive and decision-making regulation,sensory and perceptual processing,as well as emotional regulation and reward systems.The application and findings of MRI in the study of LPE mechanisms will be introduced in this review,with the goal of deepening our understanding of the neuroimaging-based mechanisms of LPE.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the improvement effect of electroacupuncture (EA) based on Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture (acupuncture for regaining consciousness and opening orifices) on cognitive impairment in mice with Parkinson's disease (PD), and to explore its regulatory mechanisms on the kinesin family member 5A (KIF5A)/mitochondrial Rho GTPase 1 (Miro1) pathway and mitophagy in prefrontal cortical neurons. METHODS: A total of 70 male C57BL/6J mice of clean grade were randomly divided into a normal group (12 mice), a sham operation group (12 mice), and a model pre-screening group (46 mice). Unilateral stereotaxic injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the medial forebrain bundle was adopted to establish the PD model in the model pre-screening group. Twenty-four mice after successful modeling were randomly selected and divided into a model group and an EA group, 12 mice in each one. In the EA group, acupuncture was applied at "Shuigou" (GV26) and bilateral "Sanyinjiao" (SP6) and "Neiguan" (PC6), ipsilateral "Sanyinjiao" (SP6) and "Neiguan" (PC6) were connected to EA respectively, with disperse-dense wave, 5 Hz/20 Hz in frequency, 0.5 mA in current intensity, 20 min a time, 6 times a week for 30 days. Cognitive function was assessed by Y-maze and Morris water maze tests; morphology of prefrontal cortex was observed by H.E. staining; reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in prefrontal cortex was detected by fluorescence probe method; mitochondrial morphology and autophagosome ultrastructure were observed by transmission electron microscopy; the mRNA expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) was detected by quantitative real-time PCR; the protein expression of TH, KIF5A, Miro1, p62, Parkin and PTEN induced kinase 1 (PINK1) was detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the sham operation group, both the model group and the EA group exhibited increased rotation number of per minute (P<0.001). Compared with the sham operation group, in the model group, the novel arm exploration time of Y-maze test was shortened (P<0.001), the escape latency of Morris water maze test was prolonged (P<0.05) and the platform crossing number of Morris water maze test was reduced (P<0.01); in the prefrontal cortex, the number of cellular vacuole and neurons with karyopyknosis was increased (P<0.001), and mitochondrial autophagosomes could be observed; in the prefrontal cortex, the relative expression of ROS was increased (P<0.001), the protein and mRNA expression of TH was decreased (P<0.001), the protein expression of Miro1, PINK1, Parkin was increased (P<0.001, P<0.01), the protein expression of KIF5A and p62 was decreased (P<0.001). Compared with the model group, in the EA group, the novel arm exploration time of Y-maze test was prolonged (P<0.01), the escape latency of Morris water maze test was shortened (P<0.05) and the platform crossing number of Morris water maze test was increased (P<0.05); in the prefrontal cortex, the number of cellular vacuole and neurons with karyopyknosis was decreased (P<0.001), and the number of mitochondrial autophagosomes reduced and the mitochondrial morphology was improved; in the prefrontal cortex, the relative expression of ROS was decreased (P<0.01), the protein and mRNA expression of TH was increased (P<0.001, P<0.01), the protein expression of Miro1, PINK1, Parkin was decreased (P<0.001, P<0.01, P<0.05), the protein expression of KIF5A and p62 was increased (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION Xingnao Kaiqiao electroacupuncture effectively alleviates cognitive impairment and damage of neuronal function in PD mice, its mechanism may be related to the regulation of KIF5A/Miro1 pathway, hence reducing the mitophagy in prefrontal cortical neurons.
Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Male ; Mice ; Parkinson Disease/physiopathology* ; Cognitive Dysfunction/psychology* ; Kinesins/genetics* ; Humans ; Mitophagy ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; rho GTP-Binding Proteins/genetics* ; Mitochondria/genetics* ; Prefrontal Cortex/metabolism*

Colorectal cancer(CRC) is a common malignant tumor worldwide. Due to the treatment intolerance and side effects, CRC rank the top among various cancers regarding the incidence and mortality rates. Therefore, exploring new therapies is of great significance for the treatment of CRC. Aerobic glycolysis(AEG) plays an important role in the microenvironment formation, proliferation, metastasis, and recurrence of CRC and other tumor cells. It has been confirmed that intervening in the AEG pathway can effectively curb CRC. The active ingredients and compound prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) can effectively inhibit the proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance and regulate the apoptosis of tumor cells by modulating AEG-associated transport proteins [eg, glucose transporters(GLUT)], key enzymes [hexokinase(HK) and phosphofructokinase(PFK)], key genes [hypoxia-inducible factor 1(HIF-1) and oncogene(c-Myc)], and signaling pathways(MET/PI3K/Akt/mTOR). Accordingly, they can treat CRC, reduce the recurrence, and improve the prognosis of CRC. Although AEG plays a key role in the development and progression of CRC, the specific mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Therefore, this article delves into the intrinsic connection of the targets and mechanisms of the AEG pathway with CRC from the perspective of tumor cell glycolysis and explores how active ingredients(oxymatrine, kaempferol, and dioscin) and compound prescriptions(Quxie Capsules, Jiedu Sangen Decoction, and Xianlian Jiedu Prescription) of TCM treat CRC by intervening in the AEG pathway. Additionally, this article explores the shortcomings in the current research, aiming to provide reliable targets and a theoretical basis for treating CRC with TCM.
Humans ; Colorectal Neoplasms/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Glycolysis/drug effects* ; Animals ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Signal Transduction/drug effects*