ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate the effects and mechanism of Mimenghua prescription in modulating the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase （MEK）/rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog （Ras）/rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma kinase （Raf）/extracellular signal-regulated kinase （ERK） signaling pathway to inhibit inflammatory responses in a dry eye animal model. MethodsA total of 60 C57BL/6J mice （eight weeks old， half male and half female） were used in the experiment. Ten mice were randomly selected as the blank control group， while the remaining 50 were exposed to a controlled dry system and received instillation of 0.2% benzalkonium chloride （BAC） into the eyes for four weeks to establish a dry eye mouse model. After successful modeling， the mice were randomly divided into five groups： Model group， sodium hyaluronate group， and Mimenghua prescription groups with low dose （4.83 g·kg^-1）， medium dose （9.67 g·kg^-1）， and high dose （19.34 g·kg^-1）. The mice in the model group received an equal volume of normal saline via gavage for four weeks. The mice in the sodium hyaluronate group received instillation of sodium hyaluronate eye drops twice daily for 14 consecutive days. The tear secretion volume， tear film break-up time （TBUT）， and corneal fluorescein staining were evaluated once every two weeks. After four weeks of administration， mice were euthanized， and their lacrimal gland tissues and corneas were harvested. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to assess histopathological morphology. Western blot was performed to detect the protein expression levels of MEK， Ras， Raf， and ERK. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to measure the contents and expressions of MEK， Ras， Raf， ERK， and interleukin （IL）-1β in lacrimal gland and corneal tissues of the mice in each group. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was employed to determine mRNA expression levels of MEK， Ras， Raf， and ERK. ResultsThe Mimenghua prescription groups and the sodium hyaluronate group exhibited significantly increased tear secretion volume （P<0.05） and prolonged TBUT （P<0.05） after treatment. Ocular surface damage of mice was visibly recovered. Western blot results indicated that protein expression levels of MEK， Ras， Raf， and ERK in the lacrimal gland and corneal tissues were significantly downregulated in the sodium hyaluronate group and Mimenghua prescription group with high dose （P<0.05）. ELISA results showed that IL-1β levels were highest in the model group but significantly reduced in the sodium hyaluronate group and Mimenghua prescription groups （P<0.05）. Both ELISA and Real-time PCR results demonstrated that the expression levels of MEK， Ras， Raf， and ERK in the lacrimal glands and corneal tissues were significantly elevated in the model group （P<0.05）， but markedly downregulated in the sodium hyaluronate group and Mimenghua prescription groups （P<0.05）， suggesting that Mimenghua prescription can decrease the expressions of MEK， Ras， Raf， and ERK in the lacrimal glands and corneal tissues. ConclusionMimenghua prescription can reduce inflammatory responses， increase tear secretion， prolong TBUT， and promote corneal recovery by inhibiting the MEK， Ras， Raf， and ERK signaling pathways in lacrimal gland and corneal tissues.

Objective To longitudinally investigate the characteristics of postoperative weight changes in patients with esophageal cancer and analyze its influencing factors, which can provide certain guidance for nutritional intervention in patients with esophageal cancer. Methods Patients with esophageal cancer who underwent surgical treatment at the Sichuan Cancer Hospital from December 2020 to February 2022 were prospectively included. The general information questionnaire and body composition analyzer were used to longitudinally investigate the patients’ weight and body composition before surgery (T0), 1 month after surgery (T1), 3 months after surgery (T2) and 6 months after surgery (T3), and the change characteristics were analyzed. The generalized estimating equation was used to analyze the influencing factors for postoperative weight changes in patients with esophageal cancer. Results A total of 130 patients were enrolled, including 110 males and 20 females, aged 42-79 (63.33±8.16) years. The weight and body composition of patients with esophageal cancer showed a continuous slow downward trend within 6 months after surgery. The weight loss rate of patients at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery was 5.10%, 7.76%, and 9.86%, respectively. The analysis results of the influencing factors for postoperative weight showed that patients with the following characteristics had more weight loss: female (β=−7.703, P=0.001), ≥60 years (β=−3.657, P=0.010), smoking (β=4.622, P=0.010), low tumor differentiation degree (β=4.314, P=0.039), and high frequency of eating (β=−3.400, P=0.008). Conclusion Weight loss is an important health problem for patients with esophageal cancer after surgery, and patients have a continuous downward trend in weight within 6 months after surgery. Medical staff should pay special attention to the patients who are female, ≥60 years, having smoking history and low tumor differentiation degree.

ObjectiveTo investigate the changing trends of the incidence rate， prevalence rate， mortality rate， and disability-adjusted life years （DALYs） of benign hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases among people aged 15 — 39 years in China in 1990 — 2021. MethodsThe data of 2021 Global Burden of Disease Study were downloaded to obtain the epidemiological data of liver fibrosis/chronic liver disease， benign gallbladder/biliary tract diseases， and pancreatitis among people aged 15 — 39 years in China， and estimated annual percentage change （EAPC） was calculated to assess the changing trends of incidence， prevalence， mortality， and DALY rates. The Bayesian age-period-cohort model was used to predict the incidence and mortality rates from 2022 to 2030. ResultsIn 2021， there were 10 448 778 new cases of benign hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases among the individuals aged 15 — 39 years in China， which was increased by 3.8% compared with the data in 1990， while the numbers of prevalent cases， deaths， and DALYs were reduced by 20.4%， 59.6%， and 50.2%， respectively. In 2021， the age-standardized incidence rates of liver fibrosis/chronic liver disease， benign gallbladder/biliary tract diseases， and pancreatitis were 1 104.40/100 000， 1 045.05/100 000， and 16.64/100 000， respectively； the age-standardized prevalence rates were 20 592.37/100 000， 2 364.85/100 000， and 9.43/100 000， respectively； the age-standardized mortality rates were 1.61/100 000， 0.04/100 000， and 0.18/100 000， respectively. From 1990 to 2021， there was a tendency of increase in the age-standardized incidence rate of liver fibrosis/chronic liver disease （EAPC=0.43， 95% confidence interval ［CI］： 0.23 — 0.63）， and there was also a tendency of increase in the age-standardized incidence and prevalence rates of benign gallbladder/biliary tract diseases （incidence rate： EAPC=1.07， 95%CI： 0.91 — 1.24； prevalence rate： EAPC=0.75， 95%CI： 0.59 — 0.89）， while there was a tendency of reduction in the age-standardized mortality rate of all three disease categories. Predictions for 2022 — 2030 indicated a potential reduction in the incidence rate of benign gallbladder/biliary tract diseases and an increase in the incidence rate of pancreatitis. ConclusionThere has been an overall upward trend in the incidence rate of liver fibrosis/chronic liver disease and gallbladder/biliary tract diseases over the past three decades， and it is needed to pay attention to the disease burden of benign hepatobiliary diseases among the people aged 15 — 39 years in China.

Background Sunshine duration is closely associated with population mental health and emotional states, although its relationship with mental and behavioral disorders (MBD) remains insufficiently studied. Objective To analyze the effect of sunshine duration on hospital admissions for MBD in Zigong City, Sichuan Province. Methods Hospital admission records for MBD from 10 medical institutions, meteorological data, and ambient air pollutant concentrations were collected in Zigong City from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2024. A distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was employed to calculate single-day and cumulative lag effects of different sunshine duration exposures—0 h (P₀, P₅, P₂₅), 6 h (P₇₅), and 10.4 h (P₉₅)—on hospitalization risks for MBD, stratified by diagnostic category, sex, and age groups. Results This study analyzed 36597 hospital admissions for MBD in Zigong City. The exposure-response curve for sunshine duration at lag 0 d exhibited an inverted N-shaped pattern, with minimum relative risk (RR) of hospitalizations observed at 14 h sunshine duration. The immediate effects of different levels of sunshine duration on the hospitalization risk for MBD, schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders (SSDD), and neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders (NSSD) were significant, with the cumulative effect peaking at lags 12–13 days. For extremely short sunshine duration 0 h, the maximum relative risk (RR) values (with 95% confidence intervals, 95%CI) of hospitalization risk were 1.209 (1.001, 1.459) at lag 1 d for SSDD patients and 1.398 (1.133, 1.724) at lag 0 d for NSSD patients, respectively. The cumulative effect on hospitalization risk induced by short sunshine duration 6 h was higher than that induced by extremely short sunshine duration 0 h and long sunshine duration 10.4 h. Among populations stratified by gender and age, male patients and those aged over 70 years had higher hospitalization risks. For short sunshine duration 6 h, the cumulative RR (CRR) value (95%CI) of hospitalization risk for male MBD patients was 3.373 (1.362, 8.358) at cumulative lag 0–12 d, which was higher than that for female patients [2.943 (1.471, 5.889) at cumulative lag 0–13 d]. The population aged over 70 years was more sensitive to single-day and cumulative lag effects on hospitalization risk than other age groups. For short sunshine duration 6 h, the RR and CRR values (95%CI) of single-day and cumulative lag effects on hospitalization risk were 1.336 (1.002, 1.783) at lag 0 day and 5.085 (1.680, 15.392) at cumulative lag 0–12 d, respectively. At lag 13 d, long sunshine duration 10.4 h exposure was associated with depression hospitalizations in patients <20 years with RR=1.127 (95%CI: 1.002, 1.270). Conclusion When the daily sunshine duration is less than 14 h, it will increase the hospitalization risk of MBD in the population to varying degrees, with both single-day and cumulative lag effects. It is recommended that the public, especially vulnerable groups such as people with MBD aged 70 years and above and those with depression under 20 years, strengthen health protection to reduce the health risks caused by changes in sunshine.

ObjectiveThis paper aims to observe the syndrome improvement and negative antigen conversion rate of Qingxuan Daozhi formula in the treatment of influenza in children （heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome）. MethodsThrough a multi-center randomized controlled methodology design，confirmed influenza cases were collected from October 2022 to April 2023 in the pediatrics department of eight hospitals，such as Dongfang Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. A total of 180 children with influenza and heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome conforming to the standard were recruited through the clinic. The sick children meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into groups by a block-randomized method. The children in the experimental group were treated with Qingxuan Daozhi formula for five days，and those in the control group were treated with Oseltamivir Phosphate Granules for five days. The primary efficacy indicator was the negative conversion rate of influenza antigen detection. Secondary efficacy indicators were the Canadian acute respiratory illness and flu scale （CARIFS） and the incidence of complications，severe cases， and critical cases. Follow-up observation was conducted on the day of enrollment，48 hours after medication，72 hours after medication， and （6+1） d after medication. ResultsOne hundred and eighty participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group （90 cases） or the control group （90 cases）. All participants were followed up during the study. Comparison of influenza antigen detection results in the primary efficacy indicators showed that the average time of negative influenza antigen conversion in the experimental group was （5.29±1.25） d，and that in the control group was （5.40±1.68） d，without a statistically significant difference. After five days of intervention，52 cases in the experimental group and 51 cases in the control group converted to negative，without a statistically significant difference. CARIFS score results in the secondary efficacy indicators showed that during 72 hours after intervention，there were statistically significant differences between the experimental group and the control group in three dimensions， including headache，muscle soreness， and the need for extra care （P<0.05）. On the （6+1） days after the intervention，the differences in both the experimental group and the control group were statistically significant in 10 dimensions， including sore throat，bad sleep，uncomfortable feeling，poor spirit and fatigue，crying more than usual，the need for extra care，symptom，function，influence on parents，and total score （P<0.05）. The comparison results within the group in the dimensional scores of symptom， function， and influence on parents，as well as the CARIFS total score showed that with the delay of follow-up time，scores of both groups decreased significantly，with a statistically significant difference （P<0.01）. Inter-group comparison results showed that the mean score of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group at the time of enrollment. With the progress of intervention，the score of the experimental group was significantly decreased compared with that of the control group. At the end of follow-up，the mean score of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group，with no statistically significant difference. In terms of the incidence of complications，severe cases， and critical cases， there were no complications，severe cases， and critical cases in the two groups，without a statistically significant difference. ConclusionThe symptom improvement effect and negative antigen conversion rate of Qingxuan Daozhi formula in the treatment of influenza in children （heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome） are not inferior to Oseltamivir Phosphate granules， and children's acceptance is better. It can be more widely used in clinical treatment of influenza in children （heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome）.

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism through which Banxia Baizhu Tianmatang ameliorates cognitive impairment in epileptic rats induced by lithium chloride-pilocarpine by regulating the neuroinflammatory reaction mediated by NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） inflammasomes. MethodsSixty male SD rats were randomly allocated into blank， model， carbamazepine （0.125 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， Banxia Baizhu Tianmatang （1.04 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， and carbamazepine （0.125 g·kg^-1·d^-1） + Banxia Baizhu Tianmatang （1.04 g·kg^-1·d^-1） groups （n=12）. After the modeling of epilepsy， rats were administrated with corresponding agents by gavage for 12 weeks. At the 6th and 12th week of the intervention， the rats’ hyper-excited behavior was evaluated by the stylus experiment， and at the 12^th week of intervention， the cognitive function was evaluated by Barnes maze. At the same time， the seizure frequency and severity grade （Racine score） were recorded. The serum and hippocampus tissue samples were collected after anesthesia for the following tests. Nissl staining was used to evaluate the degree of neuronal damage in the hippocampal CA1 area. The content of malondialdehyde （MDA） in the hippocampus was determined by the thiobarbituric acid （TBA） method. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， and interleukin-18 （IL-18） were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Immunohistochemical method was adopted to detect the expression of apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a card （ASC） in the hippocampus. Western blot was employed to quantitatively analyze the protein levels of NLRP3， cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-1 （Caspase-1）， and brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） in the hippocampus. ResultsThe model group showed increased stylus scores at the 6th and 12^th week after modeling， a decreased Barnes maze strategy score at the 12^th week， a prolonged incubation period （P<0.05）， elevated serum levels of inflammatory factors （P<0.05）， decreased neurons with scattered arrangement and large gaps in the hippocampus， increased content of MDA in the hippocampus （P<0.05）， an increased positive expression of ASC， and up-regulated protein levels of Caspase-1， NLRP3， and BDNF （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the intervention with Banxia Baizhu Tianmatang for 12 weeks was accompanied by a decreased stylus score， epileptic seizures with a decreased score， a decreased number， and shortened duration， an increased Barnes maze strategy score， shortened escape latency （P<0.01）， declined serum levels of inflammatory factors （P<0.05）， regular morphology of hippocampal neurons， reduced MDA content in the hippocampus （P<0.05）， a decreased positive expression of ASC， and down-regulated protein levels of Caspase-1， NLRP3， and BDNF （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In addition， compared with the carbamazepine group， Banxia Baizhu Tianmatang + carbamazepine showed improved performance in controlling the seizure， improved the cognitive behavior score and morphology of hippocampal neurons， alleviated the oxidative stress products， lowered the levels of inflammatory factors， reduced the positive expression of ASC in the hippocampus， and down-regulated the expression of Caspase-1， NLRP3 and BDNF， with no significant differences. ConclusionBanxia Baizhu Tianmatang may reduce neuroinflammation， control epileptic seizures， and ameliorate cognitive impairment by inhibiting the expression of NLRP3 inflammasomes.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of preoperative systemic inflammatory response index(SIRI)combined with clinicopathological parameters for postoperative recurrence in cervical cancer and to construct a prognostic model in order to optimize recurrence risk assessment.Methods Patients with cervical cancer who underwent standard surgical treatment at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University(training cohort,n=996)and Chongqing Maternal and Child Health Hospital(validation cohort,n=496)between January 2017 and January 2022 were retrospectively enrolled based on our strict inclusion and exclusion criteria.Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify independent prognostic factors for recurrence-free survival(RFS),and then a nomogram was constructed.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was plotted to assess the predictive performance of the model,and the area under the curve(AUC)and calibration curve were employed to evaluate the model.Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to determine the clinical application.Results Cox regression analysis demonstrated that International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics(FIGO)stage(P<0.001),tumor size(P<0.001),pathological type(P<0.001),tumor grade(P=0.007),parametrial invasion(P<0.001),depth of myometrial invasion(P=0.019),lymphovascular space invasion(P=0.019),vaginal margin involvement(P=0.010),adjuvant therapy(P=0.012),and SIRI(P<0.001)were independent prognostic factors for RFS.Our nomogram model based on above prognostic factors exhibited superior predictive performance for 1-,3-,and 5-year RFS,with a significantly higher AUC value(0.886)than those of single-parameter models.Conclusion Our nomogram model demonstrated good accuracy in predicting RFS in cervical cancer patients,providing a potential tool for personalized clinical decision-making in recurrence risk management.

Objective:To study the effects of TCM ointment rubbing technique on pain, swelling, and knee joint function in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).Methods:A randomized controlled trial was conducted. In this study, 80 patients with KOA who underwent TKA treatment in the Department of Sports Medicine I, Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine from October 2022 to March 2024 were taken as the study subjects. They were divided into two groups with random number table method, with 40 cases in each group. Both groups were treated with conventional Western medicine + rehabilitation training after surgery, and the observation group was combined with TCM paste mo technique on this basis. VAS score was used to assess the degree of pain at different time points, and skin fold was used to measure the circumference of the upper knee circumference and the circumference of the lower knee circumference, and knee Injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS) was used to assess the degree of knee joint function recovery.Results:After treatment, the observation group after surgerythe at 7 d (2.57 ± 0.84 vs. 4.00 ± 0.85, t=7.54) and 14 d (0.80 ± 0.93 vs. 2.70 ± 1.04, t=8.56) VAS scores were lower than those in the control group ( P<0.001). After treatment, the observation group after surgerythe at 7 d the superior circumference [(48.32 ± 4.57) cm vs. (50.53 ± 3.97) cm, t=2.32], and inferior circumference [(36.71 ± 2.95) cm vs. (39.21 ± 6.86) cm, t=2.12], at 14 d the superior circumference [(45.68 ± 4.69) cm vs. (47.96 ± 3.89) cm, t=2.37], and inferior circumference [(34.96 ± 2.96) cm vs. (36.70 ± 4.35) cm, t=2.10] were lower than those in the control group ( P<0.05). The observation group after surgerythe at 14 d the the knee joint mobility [(115.32 ± 2.12) ° vs. (113.34 ± 2.16) °, t=4.14] and KOOS scores (85.52 ± 0.82 vs. 80.32 ± 1.13, t=23.56) were higher than those in the control group ( P<0.01). Conclusion:TCM ointment rubbing technique has significant advantages in improving pain, swelling and knee joint mobility after artificial knee arthroplasty, which can effectively restore knee joint function.

Objective:TTo evaluate the therapeutic effect of meridian acupuncture combined with electromyographic biofeedback therapy on spastic cerebral palsy.Methods:A randomized controlled trial study was conducted. Totally 128 children with spastic cerebral palsy in our hospital from September 2022 to September 2024 were divided into two groups using a random number table method, with 64 cases in each group. The control group received routine rehabilitation training and electromyographic biofeedback therapy, while the observation group received combined meridian acupoint therapy on the basis of the control group. Both groups received 3 weeks of treatment, making a total of 3 treatment courses. The Gross Motor Function Test (GMFM) was used to evaluate the motor function of children; the Developmental Behavior Assessment (DBA) was used to assess the psychological and behavioral development status of children aged 0-6, the Fine Motor Function Assessment (FMFM) was used to assess the fine motor skills of children; the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was used to assess the cognitive level of children; the Modified Ashworth Rating Scale (MAS) was used to assess the muscle strength level of children; the clinical efficacy was evaluated.Results:The total effective rate of the observation group was 92.19% (59/64), while that of the control group was 76.56% (49/64), with statistical significance ( χ2=5.93, P=0.015). The observation group had higher scores for lying down and turning over, sitting, crawling and kneeling, standing, walking, running, and jumping after treatment compared to the control group ( t-values of 2.82, 5.83, 4.97, 4.23, 4.41, respectively, P<0.01); the scores for gross motor skills, fine motor skills, adaptability, language, and social behavior were higher than thoes in the control group ( t values of 3.34, 3.73, 5.33, 3.75, 5.47, respectively, P<0.01); the FMFM and MoCA scores were higher than those in the control group ( t values of 5.23 and 4.41, respectively, P<0.01); the MAS grading level was lower than that of the control group ( t=8.46, P<0.01). Conclusion:The combination of meridian acupuncture and electromyographic biofeedback can improve the motor function, psychological and behavioral development, fine motor skills, cognitive development, and clinical efficacy of children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Objective To explore the five-circuit and six-qi features of birth time and onset time of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL).Methods A total of 877 cases of children with ALL from Children's Hospital of Soochow University from June 2021 to February 2023 were collected,and their five-circuit and six-qi features of birth time and onset time were analyzed.And then the correlation of five-circuit and six-qi features of birth time and onset time with ALL was explored preliminarily,and the pathogenic characteristics of congenital factors and acquired pathogenic factors were revealed.Results(1)The children who were born in the year with the heavenly stems being bing(the 3rd of the ten heavenly stems)and ding(the 4th of the ten heavenly stems)and with the earthly branches being shen(the 8th of the twelve earthly branches)and you(the 9th of the twelve earthly branches)are prone to suffer from ALL,and the birth year of children with ALL had the five-circuit and six-qi features of the joining of guest circuit with dominant circuit being rebellious.ALL is commonly seen in the year with the heavenly stems being geng(the 7th of the ten heavenly stems)and xin(the 8th of the ten heavenly stems)and with the earthly branches being zi(the 1st of the twelve earthly branches)and chou(the 2nd of the twelve earthly branches),and the onset year of ALL in children had the five-circuit and six-qi features of the yearly circuit being gold-circuit and water-circuit,sitian-zaiquan yearly circuit qi being shaoyin monarch-fire with yangming dryness-gold,taiyin damp-earth with taiyang cold-water,and the qi-circuit assimilation relationship being celestial correspondence,same celestial correspondence,celestial correspondence in convergent year,disharmony,mildly-rebellious,and celestial restriction.Conclusion Gold-dryness and water-cold are the congenital factors and acquired pathogenic factors of ALL.The onset of ALL in children is closely related to qi insufficiency and qi stagnation of wood and fire in five-circuit and six-qi theory.