ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism by which Yinchenhao Tang intervenes in α-naphthylisothiocyanate （ANIT）-induced cholestatic liver injury by regulating the Takeda G-protein-coupled receptor 5（TGR5）/NOD-like receptor protein 3（NLRP3）/cysteine aspartate-specific protease-1 （Caspase-1） pyroptosis signaling pathway. MethodsForty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into blank， model， ursodeoxycholic acid， and Yinchenhao Tang groups. Except the blank group， other groups were treated with ANIT dissolved in olive oil for the modeling of cholestatic liver injury. Ursodeoxycholic acid （0.1 g·kg^-1） and Yinchenhao Tang （9.23 g·kg^-1） were administered by gavage. The blank group and the model group were administrated with the same amount of pure water， once a day for 3 days. The blood and liver tissue samples were collected， and the serum levels of liver function indicators were measured by an automatic biochemical analyzer. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was employed to observe the pathological changes of the liver. The levels of interleukin （IL）-1β and IL-18 in the liver tissue were determined by ELISA. The mRNA levels of IL-1β， IL-18， TGR5， NLRP3， apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD （ASC）， Caspase-1， and GSDMD in the liver tissue were assessed by Real-time PCR. The protein levels of TGR5， NLRP3， ASC， Caspase-1， and GSDMD in the liver tissue were determined by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the blank group， the model group showed elevated levels of alanine amino-transferase （ALT）， aspartate transferase （AST）， alkaline phosphatase （ALP）， total bile acid （TBA）， and total bilirubin （TBil） in the serum （P<0.01）， inflammatory cell infiltration， hepatocyte swelling， and bile duct epithelial cell proliferation in the liver， raised levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in the liver tissue （P<0.01）， down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of TGR5 （P<0.01）， up-regulated mRNA levels of IL-18 （P<0.01）， ASC （P<0.01）， Caspase-1 （P<0.01）， GSDMD （P<0.01）， IL-1β （P<0.05）， and NLRP3 （P<0.05）， and up-regulated protein levels of NLRP3 （P<0.01）， ASC （P<0.01）， Caspase-1 （P<0.01）， and GSDMD （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the ursodeoxycholic acid group showed declined levels of AST （P<0.01）， TBA （P<0.01）， TBil （P<0.01）， and ALT （P<0.05） in the serum， lowered levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in the liver tissue （P<0.01）， down-regulated mRNA levels of NLRP3 （P<0.01）， Caspase-1 （P<0.01）， GSDMD （P<0.01）， IL-1β （P<0.05）， IL-18 （P<0.05）， and ASC （P<0.05）， up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of TGR5 （P<0.05）， and down-regulated protein levels of NLRP3， ASC， Caspase-1， and GSDMD （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the Yinchenhao Tang group showed lowered levels of ALT， AST， ALP， TBA， and TBil in the serum （P<0.01）， declined levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in the liver tissue （P<0.01）， down-regulated mRNA levels of IL-1β （P<0.01）， NLRP3 （P<0.01）， ASC （P<0.01）， Caspase-1 （P<0.01）， GSDMD （P<0.01）， and IL-18 （P<0.05）， up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of TGR5 （P<0.01）， and down-regulated protein levels of Caspase-1 and GSDMD （P<0.05）. The liver tissue of the administration groups showed reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells， reduced swelling of hepatocytes， and alleviated proliferation of bile duct epithelial cells. ConclusionYinchenhao Tang can ameliorate ANIT-induced cholestatic liver injury by regulating the hepatocyte pyroptosis mediated by the TGR5/NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway.

Cholestatic liver injury refers to the bile production， secretion， and excretion disorder caused by various reasons. It induces liver injury， metabolic disorders， and dysfunction of the hepatobiliary system， which can further develop into liver fibrosis， cirrhosis， liver failure， and even death. At present， the preferred drug for clinical treatment is ursodeoxycholic acid， which， however， induces adverse reactions and is intolerant in some patients. Yinchenhao Tang is a representative prescription of traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of jaundice due to Yang jaundice. It has the effects of clearing heat， eliminating dampness， and removing jaundice and has shown good therapeutic effect in long-term clinical application. Modern pharmacological studies have found that this prescription has anti-inflammatory， anti-oxidation， bile acid balance-regulating， hepatocyte apoptosis-inhibiting and other liver-protecting effects. This paper reviews the relevant clinical and animal experimental studies on Yinchenhao Tang in the treatment of cholestatic liver injury in recent years. Yinchenhao Tang can intervene in the progression of cholestatic liver injury by regulating bile acid metabolism and excretion， reducing inflammatory response， inhibiting oxidative stress， alleviating endoplasmic reticulum stress， inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis， and protecting intestinal mucosal barrier. This paper systematically expounds the molecular mechanisms by which Yinchenhao Tang regulates cholestatic liver injury that are confirmed by current research， aiming to provide reference for the clinical application and in-depth study of Yinchenhao Tang.

Objective To preliminarily investigate the safety and efficacy of donor pancreas needle biopsy in simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 7 cases undergoing donor pancreas biopsy were collected retrospectively. All cases underwent donor pancreas biopsy before or during simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation. Frozen section or paraffin sectioning techniques were used for tissue preparation, and hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining were performed to histologically evaluate the donor pancreas. The quality of donor pancreas was comprehensively assessed by combining histological findings with the donor's clinical data. Postoperative follow-up data of 5 simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant recipients were collected to summarize the safety of donor pancreas biopsy and the prognosis of transplant recipients. Results The 7 pancreas donors were aged 28 to 62 years, with a body mass index ranging from 20.76 to 27.68 kg/m². Liver ultrasound indicated fatty liver in 3 cases, while pancreatic ultrasound did not reveal any significant abnormalities. Among them, biopsy was performed on 2 donors after completion of pancreatic procurement and processing, and the frozen section histology showed moderate acute pancreatitis changes (edema of acinar cells, necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration). Combined with a serum amylase level elevated more than 3 times the upper limit of normal value, these two donor pancreases were finally discarded. The remaining 5 cases underwent biopsy immediately after pancreatic vascular anastomosis during simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation, and histological evaluation was performed on paraffin-embedded sections. No biopsy-related complications (such as bleeding, pancreatic fistula, etc.) occurred after transplantation. One recipient died of severe infection 2 months after transplantation, while the other 4 recipients were followed up for more than 5 years, with well-functioning transplant kidneys and pancreases. Conclusions Donor pancreas biopsy is relatively safe, and the risk of biopsy-related complications after transplantation is controllable. Comprehensive assessment of donor pancreas quality by combining histological evaluation with the donor's clinical indicators is conducive to improving the accuracy of donor pancreas selection and organ utilization.

Background Lead is a typical persistent environmental pollutant that can accumulate in bones for decades. During pregnancy, alterations in calcium metabolism promote the mobilization of bone lead, resulting in secondary exposure; however, the mechanisms by which pregnancy-associated bone lead mobilization affects maternal renal function remain unclear. Objective To investigate the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in pregnancy-related bone lead mobilization-induced renal injury. Methods Newly weaned female Wistar rats were randomly assigned to a control or a lead-exposed group administered either 0.05% sodium acetate or 0.05% lead acetate in drinking water. Following a 4-week lead exposure and a 4-week washout period, the females were co-housed with healthy age-matched males for mating. Rats were sacrificed at early (gestational day 3) and late (gestational day 17) pregnancystages, respectively. Renal histopathology was assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining staining. Mitochondria-related indicators, including oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and energy metabolism, were measured. Differential metabolites were identified using serum metabolomics. Results Renal injury in the lead-exposed pregnant rats progressed in a time-dependent manner, characterized by degeneration of proximal tubular epithelial cells, glomerular hyaline changes, and interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration. Repeated measures ANOVA indicated a significant interaction between the treatment factor (lead exposure) and the temporal factor (gestational stage) on renal injury (P<0.001). Further analysis of mitochondrial function-related indicators in late-pregnancy renal tissue revealed that the lead exposure group exhibited significantly increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) (P<0.05), accompanied by a reduction in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH) activities (P<0.05); regarding inflammatory markers, levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were elevated (P<0.01), whereas interleukin-33 (IL-33) was decreased in the lead-exposed group (P<0.05); energy metabolism-related indicators, including adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level, Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase and Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-ATPase activities, and mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I, III, and V activities, were significantly reduced (P<0.05) in the lead-exposed gorup. The typical differential metabolite N-methylisoleucine, identified through serum metabolomics analysis, was negatively correlated with blood lead levels, kidney injury scores, and IL-1β, while positively correlated with catalase (CAT) activity and Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-ATPase. Conclusions Mitochondrial dysfunction may play a critical role in renal injury induced by bone lead mobilization during late gestation.

Unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery (UAPA) is a rare congenital malformation resulting from the failed development or premature involution of the sixth aortic arch during embryogenesis, leading to a failure to establish a connection with the main pulmonary artery. Currently, there is a notable lack of consensus regarding the surgical management of UAPA in China. Drawing upon the latest clinical research, this consensus aims to summarize surgical approaches and techniques to improve the clinical management of UAPA patients and serve as a scientific reference for physicians specializing in pediatric cardiology and structural heart disease. This consensus aims to promote the standardization of UAPA diagnosis and treatment, thereby facilitating improved patient outcomes and long-term management, and stimulating the continuous development and innovation of surgical treatment for this condition in China.

ObjectiveTobacco-related diseases remain one of the leading preventable public health challenges worldwide and are among the primary causes of premature death. In recent years, accumulating evidence has supported the classification of nicotine addiction as a chronic brain disease, profoundly affecting both brain structure and function. Despite the urgency, effective diagnostic methods for smoking addiction remain lacking, posing significant challenges for early intervention and treatment. To address this issue and gain deeper insights into the neural mechanisms underlying nicotine dependence, this study proposes a novel graph neural network framework, termed TI-GNN. This model leverages functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data to identify complex and subtle abnormalities in brain connectivity patterns associated with smoking addiction. MethodsThe study utilizes fMRI data to construct functional connectivity matrices that represent interaction patterns among brain regions. These matrices are interpreted as graphs, where brain regions are nodes and the strength of functional connectivity between them serves as edges. The proposed TI-GNN model integrates a Transformer module to effectively capture global interactions across the entire brain network, enabling a comprehensive understanding of high-level connectivity patterns. Additionally, a spatial attention mechanism is employed to selectively focus on informative inter-regional connections while filtering out irrelevant or noisy features. This design enhances the model’s ability to learn meaningful neural representations crucial for classification tasks. A key innovation of TI-GNN lies in its built-in causal interpretation module, which aims to infer directional and potentially causal relationships among brain regions. This not only improves predictive performance but also enhances model interpretability—an essential attribute for clinical applications. The identification of causal links provides valuable insights into the neuropathological basis of addiction and contributes to the development of biologically plausible and trustworthy diagnostic tools. ResultsExperimental results demonstrate that the TI-GNN model achieves superior classification performance on the smoking addiction dataset, outperforming several state-of-the-art baseline models. Specifically, TI-GNN attains an accuracy of 0.91, an F1-score of 0.91, and a Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) of 0.83, indicating strong robustness and reliability. Beyond performance metrics, TI-GNN identifies critical abnormal connectivity patterns in several brain regions implicated in addiction. Notably, it highlights dysregulations in the amygdala and the anterior cingulate cortex, consistent with prior clinical and neuroimaging findings. These regions are well known for their roles in emotional regulation, reward processing, and impulse control—functions that are frequently disrupted in nicotine dependence. ConclusionThe TI-GNN framework offers a powerful and interpretable tool for the objective diagnosis of smoking addiction. By integrating advanced graph learning techniques with causal inference capabilities, the model not only achieves high diagnostic accuracy but also elucidates the neurobiological underpinnings of addiction. The identification of specific abnormal brain networks and their causal interactions deepens our understanding of addiction pathophysiology and lays the groundwork for developing targeted intervention strategies and personalized treatment approaches in the future.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of acupuncture with yin-yang regulation method versus local acupuncture in treating chronic low back pain (CLBP) in elderly patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH), and to evaluate the changes in the multifidus muscle before and after treatment using musculoskeletal ultrasound. METHODS: A total of 128 elderly patients with CLBP due to LDH were randomly assigned to an observation group (64 cases, 2 cases dropped out) and a control group (64 cases, 2 cases dropped out). The control group received local acupuncture at bilateral L₃-L₅ Jiaji points (EX-B2), Shenshu (BL23), Dachangshu (BL25), Weizhong (BL40), Yaoyangguan (GV3), and ashi points. The observation group received acupuncture with yin-yang regulation method, which included an abdominal protocol with Baihui (GV20), Zhongwan (CV12), Qihai (CV6), Guanyuan (CV4), bilateral Tianshu (ST25), and Dahe (KI12), etc., and a lumbar protocol with Baihui (GV20), Dazhui (GV14), Jizhong (GV6), Yaoyangguan (GV3), and ashi points, etc., alternated bilaterally. Both groups were treated once every other day, three times per week, for a total of 12 sessions. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI) score, and the indexs of musculoskeletal ultrasound multifidus muscle (resting and functional thickness and Young's modulus values) were observed before and after treatment, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated in the two groups. RESULTS: After 1 and 4 weeks of treatment, both groups showed lower VAS scores compared to baseline (P<0.05), the VAS scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.001). ODI scores in both groups were decreased after 1 and 4 weeks of treatment compared to baseline (P<0.05), with a further reduction at 4 weeks of treatment compared to 1 week of treatment (P<0.05); the observation group showed lower ODI score than the control group after 1 week of treatment (P<0.001). After treatment, both groups demonstrated increased resting and functional multifidus muscle thickness bilaterally compared to baseline (P<0.01), with an increased right-side thickness change rate (P<0.01), though no significant difference was observed between groups (P>0.05). Compared to baseline, after treatment, the observation group exhibited decreased Young's modulus values for bilateral resting and functional multifidus muscle (P<0.01), while the control group showed reductions only in bilateral resting and right-side functional Young's modulus values (P<0.01). After treatment, the bilateral functional Young's modulus values in the observation group were lower than that in the control group (P<0.05), and the bilateral resting and functional changes in Young's modulus values were greater in the observation group than those in the control group (P<0.01). The overall effective rate was 93.5% (58/62) in the observation group, which was higher than 79.0% (49/62) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Acupuncture with yin-yang regulation method effectively alleviates pain, improves functional disability, increases multifidus muscle thickness, and reduces Young's modulus values in elderly patients with CLBP due to LDH, which has superior therapeutic effect compared to local acupuncture.
Humans ; Low Back Pain/physiopathology* ; Male ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Female ; Aged ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/physiopathology* ; Middle Aged ; Yin-Yang ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Acupuncture Points ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) presents a significant health burden in Asia and remains a critical challenge. This study aims to delineate the PAH burden in Asia from 1990 to 2021. METHODS: Using the latest data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021, we evaluated and analyzed the distributions and patterns of PAH disease burden among various age groups, sexes, regions, and countries in Asia. Additionally, we examined the associations between PAH disease burden and key health system indicators, including the socio-demographic index (SDI) and the universal health coverage (UHC) index. RESULTS: In 2021, there were 25,989 new PAH cases, 103,382 existing cases, 13,909 PAH-associated deaths, and 385,755 DALYs attributed to PAH in Asia, which accounted for approximately 60% of global PAH cases. The age-standardized rates (ASRs) for prevalence and deaths were 2.05 (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 1.66-2.52) per 100,000 population and 0.31 (95% UI: 0.23-0.38) per 100,000 population, respectively. From 1990 to 2021, Asia reported the lowest ASRs for PAH prevalence but the highest ASRs for deaths compared to other continents. While the ASRs for prevalence increased slightly, ASRs for mortality and DALYs decreased over time. This increasing burden of PAH was primarily driven by population growth and aging. The burden was especially pronounced among individuals aged ≥60 years and <9 years, who collectively accounted for the majority of deaths and DALYs. Moreover, higher SDI and UHC levels were linked to reduced incidence, but higher prevalence rates. CONCLUSIONS Although progress has been made in reducing PAH-related mortality and DALYs, the disease continues to impose a substantial burden in Asia, particularly among older adults and young children. Region-specific health policies should focus on improving early diagnosis, expanding access to treatment, and effectively addressing the growing PAH burden in the region.
Humans ; Global Burden of Disease ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Asia/epidemiology* ; Prevalence ; Aged ; Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension/mortality* ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Infant ; Hypertension, Pulmonary/epidemiology*