BACKGROUND: Spicy food consumption has been reported to be inversely associated with mortality from multiple diseases. However, the effect of spicy food intake on the incidence of vascular diseases in the Chinese population remains unclear. This study was conducted to explore this association. METHODS: This study was performed using the large-scale China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) prospective cohort of 486,335 participants. The primary outcomes were vascular disease, ischemic heart disease (IHD), major coronary events (MCEs), cerebrovascular disease, stroke, and non-stroke cerebrovascular disease. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the association between spicy food consumption and incident vascular diseases. Subgroup analysis was also performed to evaluate the heterogeneity of the association between spicy food consumption and the risk of vascular disease stratified by several basic characteristics. In addition, the joint effects of spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of vascular disease were also evaluated, and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the reliability of the association results. RESULTS: During a median follow-up time of 12.1 years, a total of 136,125 patients with vascular disease, 46,689 patients with IHD, 10,097 patients with MCEs, 80,114 patients with cerebrovascular disease, 56,726 patients with stroke, and 40,098 patients with non-stroke cerebrovascular disease were identified. Participants who consumed spicy food 1-2 days/week (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = [0.93, 0.97], P <0.001), 3-5 days/week (HR = 0.96, 95% CI = [0.94, 0.99], P = 0.003), and 6-7 days/week (HR = 0.97, 95% CI = [0.95, 0.99], P = 0.002) had a significantly lower risk of vascular disease than those who consumed spicy food less than once a week ( Ptrend <0.001), especially in those who were younger and living in rural areas. Notably, the disease-based subgroup analysis indicated that the inverse associations remained in IHD ( Ptrend = 0.011) and MCEs ( Ptrend = 0.002) risk. Intriguingly, there was an interaction effect between spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of IHD ( Pinteraction = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS Our findings support an inverse association between spicy food consumption and vascular disease in the Chinese population, which may provide additional dietary guidance for the prevention of vascular diseases.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Prospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Vascular Diseases/etiology* ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology* ; Adult ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Cerebrovascular Disorders/epidemiology* ; East Asian People

This paper aims to explore the effect of electrical stimulation of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) on the osteogenic and other biological behaviors of mouse embryonic osteoblast precursor cells (MC3T3-E1 cells) on titanium surfaces. First, an origami-type TENG was fabricated, and its electrical output performance was tested. The optimal current of the generator and the feasibility of the experiment were verified by the CCK-8 assay and scratch assay. At the optimal current, the osteogenic conditions of the cells in each group were determined by quantitative analysis of the total protein content, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and alizarin red staining (ARS) on the titanium surface. Finally, the adhesion and spreading of cells on the titanium surface after electrical stimulation were observed. The results showed that the TENG had good electrical output performance, with an open-circuit voltage of 65 V and a short-circuit current of 42 μA. Compared with the rest of the current, a current strength of 30 μA significantly improved cell proliferation and migration, osteogenesis, and adhesion and spreading capabilities. The above results confirm the safety and operability of TENG in biomedical applications, laying the foundation for future TENG applications in reducing the time of bone integration around titanium implants after surgery.
Titanium/chemistry* ; Osteogenesis ; Animals ; Mice ; Osteoblasts/cytology* ; Electric Stimulation/instrumentation* ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Proliferation ; Surface Properties ; Cell Differentiation ; Nanotechnology

OBJECTIVES: To explore the molecular mechanism of Jiangzhi Huaban Decoction (JZHBD) for improving atherosclerosis through the "qi meridian-blood channels" pathway. METHODS: ApoE^-/- mouse models of atherosclerosis were established by high-fat diet feeding for 8 weeks, with C57BL/6 mice on a normal diet as the controls. Forty ApoE^-/- mouse models were randomized into model group, low-, medium-, and high-dose JZHBD treatment groups, and atorvastatin treatment group (n=8) for their respective treatments for 8 weeks. The changes in body weight and overall condition of the mice were monitored weekly. After the treatments, serum levels of TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, TBA, ALT, and AST of the mice were measured, pathological changes in the liver and aortic root plaques were examined with HE staining, and lipid accumulation in the liver and aortic wall was assessed using Oil Red O staining. The core molecular mechanism was studied through transcriptomics, and the expressions of the key pathway proteins were confirmed using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Treatment with JZHBD significantly reduced blood lipid and total bile acid levels, improved liver function and hepatic steatosis, and decreased aortic lipid deposition and plaque area in the mouse models of atherosclerosis. Transcriptomic analysis suggested that the therapeutic mechanism of JZHBD involved reverse cholesterol transport, PPAR signaling, and the inflammatory pathways. In atherosclerotic mice, JZHBD treatment obviously up-regulated hepatic expressions of PPARγ, LXRα, ABCA1, ABCG1, and CYP7A1, down-regulated hepatic expressions of p-p65/p65, IL-6, IL1β in the liver, increased ABCG5 and ABCG8 expressions in the intestines, and decreased ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expressions in the aortic plaques. CONCLUSIONS JZHBD improves atherosclerotic vascular damage and plaque formation possibly by regulating hepatic reverse cholesterol transport and inflammation via modulating the hepatic PPARγ/LXRα/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic/metabolism* ; Liver/metabolism* ; Mice ; Atherosclerosis/metabolism* ; Cholesterol/metabolism* ; PPAR gamma/metabolism* ; Male ; Diet, High-Fat ; Biological Transport

Background: Optimizing cultivation techniques for traditional Chinese medicine has become a crucial means to improve the quality of medicinal materials. Microbial agents, as environmentally friendly and efficient plant growth promoters and soil conditioners, have increasingly attracted attention in eco-agriculture research. Objective: Our understanding remains limited regarding how the application of microbial agents, alone or in combination, affects changes in the rhizosphere microbiome and its association with the bioactive components of medicinal materials. Methods: In this study, Epimedium pubescens Maxim. was employed as a model plant to examine the effects of 2 microbial agents(Paenibacillus mucilaginosus and Bacillus subtilis) applied individually and in combination on plant growth and the accumulation of bioactive components. Additionally, this study explored the relationship between the rhizosphere microbiome and plant development. Results: The application of microbial agents increased the yield of E. pubescens leaves by 20.30% to 33.66% and enhanced the total flavonol glycosides content by 11.40% to 29.94%. Meanwhile, microbial treatments reshaped the rhizosphere microbiome, promoted the enrichment of beneficial microorganisms (e.g., Frankia and Paenibacillus), suppressed phytopathogenic fungi such as Didymella and Scytalidium, and enhanced the stability of the soil microbial co-occurrence network. The partial least squares path model suggested that microbial agents not only directly impact the quality of medicinal herbs but also indirectly alter the accumulation of bioactive components by modulating the soil microbiome. Conclusion: These findings deepen our understanding of the relationship between medicinal plant quality and rhizosphere microbiomes as mediated by microbial agents. They also provide a basis for designing and manipulating synthetic microbial communities to promote sustainable development in eco-agriculture.

Objective:To explore the effect of fibroblast growth factor 2(FGF2)on ferroptosis of renal fibrotic cells and its po-tential molecular mechanisms.Methods:Rat NRK-52E cells were randomly divided into control group,renal fibrosis model group,FGF2 cytokine stimulation group,knockdown empty plasmid group,si-FGF2 group,overexpression empty plasmid group,overexpres-sion FGF2 group,Fer-1 treatment group.The model group was treated with TGF-β1 to obtain a renal fibrosis cell model.Cellular im-munofluorescence method was used to measure the level of cell fibrosis.Western blot was used to detect ferroptosis-related proteins(Nrf2,GPX4 and SLC7A11)and pathway proteins(STAT3,p-STAT3)expression level in the cells.Results:Knockdown of FGF2 could alleviate the increase in α-SMA and Collagen Ⅲ proteins caused by TGF-β1 stimulation of renal tubular cells(P<0.05).FGF2 could promote the activation of STAT3 protein into p-STAT3.The expression level of SLC7A11 protein was significantly increased after FGF2 cytokine stimulation(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the expressions of Nrf2 and GPX4 in renal fibrotic cells in the si-FGF2 group and Fer-1 treated group were significantly reduced(P<0.05).In addition,knockdown of FGF2 significantly reduced in-terstitial fibrosis of renal tubular epithelial cells(P<0.05).Conclusion:FGF2 may mediate TGF-β1-induced renal ferroptosis through the STAT3/SLC7A11 signaling pathway,and knock down of FGF2 can improve fibrosis of renal tubular epithelial cells.

Background:Optimizing cultivation techniques for traditional Chinese medicine has become a crucial means to improve the quality of medicinal materials.Microbial agents,as environmentally friendly and efficient plant growth promoters and soil conditioners,have increasingly attracted attention in eco-agriculture research.Objective:Our understanding remains limited regarding how the application of microbial agents,alone or in combination,affects changes in the rhizosphere microbiome and its association with the bioactive components of medicinal materials.Methods:In this study,Epimedium pubescens Maxim.was employed as a model plant to examine the effects of 2 microbial agents(Paenibacillus mucilaginosus and Bacillus subtilis)applied individually and in combination on plant growth and the accumulation of bioactive components.Additionally,this study explored the relationship between the rhizosphere microbiome and plant development.Results:The application of microbial agents increased the yield of E.pubescens leaves by 20.30％to 33.66％and enhanced the total flavonol glycosides content by 11.40％to 29.94％.Meanwhile,microbial treatments reshaped the rhizosphere microbiome,promoted the enrichment of beneficial microorganisms(e.g.,Frankia and Paenibacillus),suppressed phytopathogenic fungi such as Didymella and Scytalidium,and enhanced the stability of the soil microbial co-occurrence network.The partial least squares path model suggested that microbial agents not only directly impact the quality of medicinal herbs but also indirectly alter the accumula-tion of bioactive components by modulating the soil microbiome.Conclusion:These findings deepen our understanding of the relationship between medicinal plant quality and rhizosphere micro-biomes as mediated by microbial agents.They also provide a basis for designing and manipulating synthetic microbial communities to promote sustainable development in eco-agriculture.

We report a 30-year-old woman who presented with intermittent gross hematuria and left flank pain，and CT revealed a left staghorn stones. The initial percutaneous nephrolithotomy（PCNL）left a 6 mm fragment，and both stone and urine cultures yielded extended-spectrum β-lactamase（ESBL）-producing Escherichia coli. Seven months later，the stone increased to 6 cm and urine culture revealed Proteus mirabilis. Endoscopic combined intrarenal surgery（ECIRS）achieved complete clearance. At 6-month follow-up，the patient remained asymptomatic，culture-negative，and stone-free. This case highlights that small residual fragments after PCNL may rapidly enlarge with secondary urease-producing infection，underscoring the need for early re-intervention and standard follow-up.

Objective:To investigate the prevalence of infectious diarrhea among older adult patients with schizophrenia, identify the influential factors, and construct a nomogram prediction model for infectious diarrhea.Methods:This study is a prospective cohort study that used convenience sampling to select 160 older patients with schizophrenia from three psychiatric hospitals in Wenzhou (85 cases from Wenzhou Seventh People's Hospital, 40 cases from Lucheng Third People's Hospital, and 35 cases from The Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University) who were admitted between January 2022 and December 2023. The prevalence of infectious diarrhea and its influential factors were statistically analyzed. Regression analysis was conducted to develop a risk prediction model for infectious diarrhea, which was presented using a nomogram.Results:A total of 160 older adult patients with schizophrenia were aged between 61 and 79 years, with an average age of (67.82 ± 7.56) years. Among these patients, 53 were female (33.13%), and 107 were male (66.87%). Thirty-four patients experienced infectious diarrhea, with an incidence rate of 21.25%. Univariate analysis revealed significant differences in body mass index ( χ2 = 9.36, P = 0.009), history of diarrhea ( χ2 = 4.52, P = 0.033), disinfection of tableware ( χ2 = 4.16, P = 0.04), handwashing before and after meals ( χ2 = 6.11, P = 0.013), intestinal flora disorder ( χ2 = 19.43, P < 0.001), CD 4+/CD 8+ ratio ( t = 12.37, P < 0.001), interleukin-17 ( t = 15.86, P < 0.001), and fecal secretory IgA ( t = 20.18, P < 0.001) in older adult patients with schizophrenia. Multifactorial analysis indicated that body mass index ( OR = 0.733), disinfection of tableware ( OR = 0.733), handwashing before and after meals ( OR = 0.452), CD 4+/CD 8+ ratio ( OR = 0.359), interleukin-17 ( OR = 0.563), and fecal secretory IgA ( OR = 0.455) were protective factors against infectious diarrhea in older adult patients with schizophrenia (all P < 0.05). Conversely, a history of diarrhea ( OR = 1.774) and intestinal flora disorder ( OR = 1.528) were identified as risk factors for infectious diarrhea in this population (both P < 0.05). Conclusions:The influential factors for the occurrence of infectious diarrhea in older adult patients with schizophrenia include body mass index, history of diarrhea, disinfection of tableware, handwashing before and after meals, intestinal flora disorder, CD 4+/CD 8+ ratio, interleukin-17, and fecal secretory IgA levels. Future studies should conduct longitudinal research to optimize the prediction model and establish a dynamic nomogram model. This will provide nurses with a reliable tool for dynamically predicting the occurrence of infectious diarrhea in older adult patients with schizophrenia, with the aim of reducing the incidence of infectious diarrhea and improving the patients' quality of life.

Objective:To explore the effect of fibroblast growth factor 2(FGF2)on ferroptosis of renal fibrotic cells and its po-tential molecular mechanisms.Methods:Rat NRK-52E cells were randomly divided into control group,renal fibrosis model group,FGF2 cytokine stimulation group,knockdown empty plasmid group,si-FGF2 group,overexpression empty plasmid group,overexpres-sion FGF2 group,Fer-1 treatment group.The model group was treated with TGF-β1 to obtain a renal fibrosis cell model.Cellular im-munofluorescence method was used to measure the level of cell fibrosis.Western blot was used to detect ferroptosis-related proteins(Nrf2,GPX4 and SLC7A11)and pathway proteins(STAT3,p-STAT3)expression level in the cells.Results:Knockdown of FGF2 could alleviate the increase in α-SMA and Collagen Ⅲ proteins caused by TGF-β1 stimulation of renal tubular cells(P<0.05).FGF2 could promote the activation of STAT3 protein into p-STAT3.The expression level of SLC7A11 protein was significantly increased after FGF2 cytokine stimulation(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the expressions of Nrf2 and GPX4 in renal fibrotic cells in the si-FGF2 group and Fer-1 treated group were significantly reduced(P<0.05).In addition,knockdown of FGF2 significantly reduced in-terstitial fibrosis of renal tubular epithelial cells(P<0.05).Conclusion:FGF2 may mediate TGF-β1-induced renal ferroptosis through the STAT3/SLC7A11 signaling pathway,and knock down of FGF2 can improve fibrosis of renal tubular epithelial cells.

Objective To explore the value of quantitative analysis of perirenal fat combined with Mayo adhesive probability(MAP)score in predicting the WHO/International Society of Urological Pathology(ISUP)nuclear grade of renal cell carcinoma(RCC).Methods The imaging data of 139 pathologically confirmed RCC patients were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into low-grade group(grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ,n=112)and high-grade group(grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ,n=27)according to the WHO/ISUP nuclear grade.Spearman correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between fat features and WHO/ISUP nuclear grade.The multivariate logistic regression model was used to detemine the related factors of high-grade RCC,and the area under the curve(AUC)of the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of each parameter.Results The AUC of perirenal adipose tissue(PAT)％alone for evaluating high-grade RCC was the highest,at 0.77[95％confidence interval(CI)0.69-0.83].The stepwise multivariate logistic regression model showed that perinephric fat stranding(PFS)[odds ratio(OR)=34.54,95％CI 7.60-156.87,P＜0.001],PAT％(OR=0.46,95％CI 0.32-0.66,P＜0.001),and tumor location(OR=0.26,95％CI 0.07-0.92,P=0.037)were related factors of high-grade RCC,with an AUC of 0.90(95％CI 0.84-0.94).Conclusion Quantitative analysis of perire-nal fat combined with MAP score can effectively predict the WHO/ISUP nuclear grade of RCC,providing a novel approach for per-sonalized treatment strategies to improve prognosis.