OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and safety of evolocumab and probucol in patients with ultra-high-risk atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease （ASCVD） following percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI）. METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on 156 ultra-high-risk ASCVD patients who underwent PCI in our institution between January 1， 2023 and December 31， 2024. According to the lipid-lowering regimen， the patients were categorized into evolocumab group （ n ＝86） and probucol group （ n ＝70）. Changes in lipid parameters [total cholesterol （TC）， low-density lipoprot ein cholesterol （LDL-C）， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）， triglycerides， lipoprotein （a）， and lipid goal achievement rate ] ， inflammatory markers [interleukin-6 （IL-6） and C-reactive protein （CRP） ] ， and cardiac function indices （left ventricular ejection fraction， left ventricular end-systolic diameter， left ventricular end-diastolic diameter， and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide） were compared between two groups at baseline and after 6 months of treatment. The incidence of adverse clinical events during treatment， including acute myocardial infarction， in-stent restenosis， acute heart failure， cerebral hemorrhage， and stroke， was also evaluated. RESULTS No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups at baseline （ P ＞0.05）. After 6 months of treatment， both groups demonstrated significant improvements in lipid profiles （except HDL-C） and inflammatory markers compared to those at baseline （ P ＜0.05）. The evolocumab group exhibited greater reductions in TC， LDL-C， IL-6， and CRP， along with a higher lipid target achievement rate， compared with the probucol group （ P ＜0.05）. There were no statistically significant differences in the cardiac function-related indicators before and after treatment between the two groups， nor in the incidence of adverse events during the treatment （ P ＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS For ultra-high-risk ASCVD patients after PCI， both of the above treatment options are associated with improvements in blood lipid and inflammatory response， with good safety during short-term follow-up. Evolocumab shows superior efficacy in TC， LDL-C and inflammatory markers reduction and lipid target achievement， compared to probucol.

ObjectiveSpinal cord injury (SCI) directly impairs the regulatory function of the autonomic nervous system, induces intestinal dysfunction, and significantly reduces patients’ quality of life. Preclinical studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) therapy can regulate the brain-gut axis and is used to treat central nervous system diseases such as major depressive disorder, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Recent research has established that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from EA-treated SCI rats restored intestinal motility and colonic morphology. However, it remains unclear whether the regulation of gut microbiota by EA therapy directly contributes to neural repair after SCI. This study aims to explore whether gut microbiota mediates the neuroprotective effect of EA in the treatment of SCI and its possible mechanism. MethodsThe study employed RNA transcriptome analysis of spinal cord tissue to characterize gene expression profiles and to identify key signaling pathways following EA treatment for SCI. Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining and Nissl staining were used to observe the morphological changes in spinal cord tissue. Western blot (WB) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were applied to detect the effects of EA on the expression of proteins related to nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing receptor 3 (NLRP3) -dependent pyroptosis. Using 16S rDNA sequencing, the study observed alterations in gut microbiota diversity and community composition in SCI rats. Prior to establishing SCI models, rats were pretreated with an antibiotic cocktail to induce gut dysbiosis, and the effects on intestinal function and spinal cord neural repair were evaluated. FMT was performed to investigate the regulatory effects of post-EA FMT on motor function, general status, liver and spleen indices, and NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis in SCI rats. ResultsEA improved motor function and reduced regulated neuronal cell death in SCI rats. Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated the activation of immune- and inflammation-related pathways post-SCI, including NOD-like receptors, nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB), and Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways. EA primarily influenced intestinal inflammation and autoimmune functions. 16S rDNA sequencing illustrated that EA did not alter the diversity of gut microbiota. However, EA altered the gut microbiota composition in SCI rats, increasing Lactobacillus and Akkermansia genera while rebalancing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Furthermore, depletion of gut microbiota by antibiotics disrupted the intestinal barrier, reduced the expression of intestinal barrier proteins Zonula Occludens-1 (ZO-1) and Occludin, elevated serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) levels, exacerbated spinal cord tissue damage, and hindered motor function recovery in SCI rats. FMT from donors treated with EA reduced LBP levels in the intestine, blood, and spinal cord of rats, inhibited the TLR4 myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 (MyD88)-NF‑κB pathway and NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis, and improved motor function. On the other hand, FMT treatment resulted in decreased body weight and food intake, whereas FMT using EA-treated donors effectively alleviated these alterations. ConclusionEA effectively alleviated neuroinflammatory responses in rats with SCI, primarily through regulating the gut microbiota and suppressing the NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis signaling pathway.

ObjectiveSpinal cord injury (SCI) directly impairs the regulatory function of the autonomic nervous system, induces intestinal dysfunction, and significantly reduces patients’ quality of life. Preclinical studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) therapy can regulate the brain-gut axis and is used to treat central nervous system diseases such as major depressive disorder, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Recent research has established that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from EA-treated SCI rats restored intestinal motility and colonic morphology. However, it remains unclear whether the regulation of gut microbiota by EA therapy directly contributes to neural repair after SCI. This study aims to explore whether gut microbiota mediates the neuroprotective effect of EA in the treatment of SCI and its possible mechanism. MethodsThe study employed RNA transcriptome analysis of spinal cord tissue to characterize gene expression profiles and to identify key signaling pathways following EA treatment for SCI. Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining and Nissl staining were used to observe the morphological changes in spinal cord tissue. Western blot (WB) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were applied to detect the effects of EA on the expression of proteins related to nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing receptor 3 (NLRP3) -dependent pyroptosis. Using 16S rDNA sequencing, the study observed alterations in gut microbiota diversity and community composition in SCI rats. Prior to establishing SCI models, rats were pretreated with an antibiotic cocktail to induce gut dysbiosis, and the effects on intestinal function and spinal cord neural repair were evaluated. FMT was performed to investigate the regulatory effects of post-EA FMT on motor function, general status, liver and spleen indices, and NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis in SCI rats. ResultsEA improved motor function and reduced regulated neuronal cell death in SCI rats. Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated the activation of immune- and inflammation-related pathways post-SCI, including NOD-like receptors, nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB), and Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways. EA primarily influenced intestinal inflammation and autoimmune functions. 16S rDNA sequencing illustrated that EA did not alter the diversity of gut microbiota. However, EA altered the gut microbiota composition in SCI rats, increasing Lactobacillus and Akkermansia genera while rebalancing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Furthermore, depletion of gut microbiota by antibiotics disrupted the intestinal barrier, reduced the expression of intestinal barrier proteins Zonula Occludens-1 (ZO-1) and Occludin, elevated serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) levels, exacerbated spinal cord tissue damage, and hindered motor function recovery in SCI rats. FMT from donors treated with EA reduced LBP levels in the intestine, blood, and spinal cord of rats, inhibited the TLR4 myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 (MyD88)-NF‑κB pathway and NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis, and improved motor function. On the other hand, FMT treatment resulted in decreased body weight and food intake, whereas FMT using EA-treated donors effectively alleviated these alterations. ConclusionEA effectively alleviated neuroinflammatory responses in rats with SCI, primarily through regulating the gut microbiota and suppressing the NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis signaling pathway.

Fibrosis, the pathological scarring of vital organs, is a severe and often irreversible condition that leads to progressive organ dysfunction. It is particularly pronounced in organs like the liver, kidneys, lungs, and heart. Despite its clinical significance, the full understanding of its etiology and complex pathogenesis remains incomplete, posing substantial challenges to diagnosing, treating, and preventing the progression of fibrosis. Among the various molecular players involved, platelet-derived growth factor-C (PDGF-C) has emerged as a crucial factor in fibrotic diseases, contributing to the pathological transformation of tissues in several key organs. PDGF-C is a member of the PDGFs family of growth factors and is synthesized and secreted by various cell types, including fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells. It acts through both autocrine and paracrine mechanisms, exerting its biological effects by binding to and activating the PDGF receptors (PDGFRs), specifically PDGFRα and PDGFRβ. This binding triggers multiple intracellular signaling pathways, such as JAK/STAT, PI3K/AKT and Ras-MAPK pathways. which are integral to the regulation of cell proliferation, survival, migration, and fibrosis. Notably, PDGF-C has been shown to promote the proliferation and migration of fibroblasts, key effector cells in the fibrotic process, thus accelerating the accumulation of extracellular matrix components and the formation of fibrotic tissue. Numerous studies have documented an upregulation of PDGF-C expression in various fibrotic diseases, suggesting its significant role in the initiation and progression of fibrosis. For instance, in liver fibrosis, PDGF-C stimulates hepatic stellate cell activation, contributing to the excessive deposition of collagen and other extracellular matrix proteins. Similarly, in pulmonary fibrosis, PDGF-C enhances the migration of fibroblasts into the damaged areas of lungs, thereby worsening the pathological process. Such findings highlight the pivotal role of PDGF-C in fibrotic diseases and underscore its potential as a therapeutic target for these conditions. Given its central role in the pathogenesis of fibrosis, PDGF-C has become an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. Several studies have focused on developing inhibitors that block the PDGF-C/PDGFR signaling pathway. These inhibitors aim to reduce fibroblast activation, prevent the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix components, and halt the progression of fibrosis. Preclinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of such inhibitors in animal models of liver, kidney, and lung fibrosis, with promising results in reducing fibrotic lesions and improving organ function. Furthermore, several clinical inhibitors, such as Olaratumab and Seralutinib, are ongoing to assess the safety and efficacy of these inhibitors in human patients, offering hope for novel therapeutic options in the treatment of fibrotic diseases. In conclusion, PDGF-C plays a critical role in the development and progression of fibrosis in vital organs. Its ability to regulate fibroblast activity and influence key signaling pathways makes it a promising target for therapeutic strategies aiming at combating fibrosis. Ongoing research into the regulation of PDGF-C expression and the development of PDGF-C/PDGFR inhibitors holds the potential to offer new insights and approaches for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of fibrotic diseases. Ultimately, these efforts may lead to the development of more effective and targeted therapies that can mitigate the impact of fibrosis and improve patient outcomes.

Objective To investigate the internalized weight bias and weight control beliefs regarding the current status,influencing factors,and impacts on eating behaviors of women losing weight. Methods A convenient sampling method was used to select the females who underwent physical examination in the Peking Union Medical College Hospital from August to December 2023.The general information questionnaire,Weight Bias Internalization Scale,Weight Control Belief Questionnaire,and Chinese version of Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire were utilized for investigation.Latent class analysis was conducted to explore the potential categories based on the characteristics of internalized weight bias and weight control beliefs.Univariate analysis and multiple-factor linear regression analysis were performed to explore influencing factors of potential categories and their effects on eating behaviors. Results A total of 518 subjects were included in this study.The internalized weight bias and weight control beliefs could be classified into three potential categories: low weight bias tolerance type(53.7%),medium weight bias persistence type(29.5%),and high weight bias overcritical type(16.8%).Logistic regression analysis showed that body mass index,unmarriage,and divorce were the influencing factors of the high weight bias overcritical type.The scores of non-control eating and emotional eating in medium weight bias persistence type and high weight bias overcritical type were higher than those in low weight bias tolerance type(all P<0.001). Conclusions The attitudes of Chinese women towards body weight can be categorized into low weight bias tolerance type,medium weight bias persistence type,and high weight bias overcritical type.The high weight bias overcritical type is characterized by high weight bias and high personal responsibility attribution,and it is closely associated with negative eating behaviors.A high body mass index,unmarriage,and divorce are high-risk factors for developing the high weight bias overcritical type.
Humans ; Female ; Feeding Behavior/psychology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Weight Loss ; Body Weight ; Body Image ; Middle Aged ; Weight Prejudice

Objective To explore the relationship between serum chitosinase 3-like protein 1(CHI3L1)and Syndecan-1(SDC1)levels and bone metabolism in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and their predictive efficacy on osteoporosis.Methods A total of 412 elderly patients with type 2 diabetes admitted to this hospital from May 2019 to May 2023 were included in this study,and were divided into normal bone mass group(n=151),reduced bone mass group(n=138)and osteoporosis group(n=123)according to the iffer-ences in bone mineral density.Serum CHI3L1 and SDC1 levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosor-bent assay,and serum levels of type 1 collagen cross-linked carboxyl terminal peptide(CTX),25-hydroxyvita-min D[25-(OH)D],osteocalcin(OC),and type 1 procollagen N-terminal propeptide(P1NP)were deter-mined by automatic chemiluminescence immunoassay.Pearson correlation analysis was used to investigate the relationship between serum CHI3L1,SDC1 and bone metabolism in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.Re-ceiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn to evaluate the predictive value of serum CHI3L1 and SDC1 on osteoporosis in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the influencing factors of osteoporosis in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.Results There were significant differences in diabetes course,fasting blood glucose,HbA1c and HDL-C a-mong normal bone mass group,decreased bone mass group and osteoporosis group(P＜0.05).The levels of serum CHI3L1,25-(OH)D,P1NP and osteocalcin in osteoporosis group were lower than those in osteopenia group,and those in osteopenia group were lower than those in normal bone mass group,the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Serum SDC1 and CTX levels in osteoporosis group were higher than those in osteopenia group,and those in osteopenia group were higher than those in normal bone mass group,the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Serum CHI3L1 was positively correlated with 25-(OH)D,P1NP and OC(P＜0.05),and negatively correlated with CTX(P＜0.05).Serum SDC1 was negatively correlated with 25-(OH)D,P1NP,OC(P＜0.05),and positively correlated with CTX(P＜0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)of serum CHI3L1,SDC1 and their combination predicted osteoporosis in elderly pa-tients with type 2 diabetes were 0.851,0.772 and 0.904,respectively.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that long duration of diabetes,increased HbA1c,high expression of OC,CHI3L1＞4.16 ng/mL,SDC1≥50.94 ng/mL were all influential factors for osteoporosis in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes(P＜0.05).Conclusion Low expression of CHI3L1 and high expression of SDC1 in serum are associated with ab-normal bone metabolism in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.These two indexes are expected to be used as biological markers to predict osteoporosis in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.

With the continuous improvement of the national management requirements for medical quality and safety,it is particularly important to improve the level of refinement,scientificity,and standardization of medical quality and safety manage-ment.Based on the evaluation criteria of tertiary hospitals,a hospital in Tianjin has constructed a medical quality indicator moni-toring system,which has improved the management efficiency of medical data and assisted the hospital in successfully meeting the evaluation and achieved good results.This paper discusses the system's requirements analysis,construction process,application results,and shares experiences and shortcomings to provide reference for other medical institutions to improve the effectiveness of medical quality and safety management.

Objective:To compare the medical costs of using standard fortified donor human milk (DHM) or preterm formula (PF) to supply very low birth weight [VLBW, defined as birth weight (BW) ≥1 000 g but <1 500 g] and extremely low birth weight (ELBW, defined as BW <1 000 g) premature infants with insufficient maternal breast milk.Methods:VLBW and ELBW preterm infants hospitalized in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from September 2017 to October 2020 were retrospectively enrolled and assigned into DHM group and PF group based on complementary feeding methods. The cost of parenteral nutrition (PN), cost of antibiotics, and total medical expenses during hospitalization were compared between the two groups.Results:A total of 89 infants were enrolled in this study, out of whom 50 was in the DHM group and 39 the PF group. The gestational age in DHM group and PF group were both (29±2) weeks. The BW of DHM group was 1 170 (919, 1 380)?g and that of PF group was 1 170 (1 010, 1 360) g. There were no significant differences in gestational age, BW, maternal age at delivery, delivery mode, gender ratio, proportion of small-for-gestational-age infants and length of hospital stay between the two groups (all P>0.05). The cost of parenteral nutrition in DHM group was significantly lower than that in PF group [3 500 (1 922, 5 704) Chinese yuan vs 7 995 (5 579, 10 788) Chinese Yuan, P<0.01]. The cost of antibiotics in DHM group was significantly lower than that in PF group [6 529 (2 265, 10 860) Chinese Yuan vs 13 676 (10 480, 18 506) Chinese Yuan, P<0.01]. The difference in total medical expense during hospitalization showed no statistical significance between two groups ( P>0.05). Amorg VLBW preterm infants, the cost of PN, cost of antibiotics, total cost of hospitalization, and daily cost of hospitalization in HDM group was significantly lower than that in PF group (all P<0.05). In ELBW preterm infants, the cost of PN and the cost of antibiotics in HDM group were significantly lower than that in PF group (both P<0.05), but the total cost of hospitalization and the daily cost of hospitalization between two groups showed no significant difference (all P>0.05). Conclusions:When mother's own milk is insufficient, using donor human milk reduces the costs of PN and antibiotics in VLBW and ELBW preterm infants compared with using PF. In VLBW preterm infants, using DHM can also reduce the total and daily cost of hospitalization.

The scientific research and innovation capabilities of medical students are intrinsically linked to the sustained and high-quality development of national healthcare initiatives.Cultivating outstanding medi-cal students with independent scientific capabilities and innovative consciousness is a critical component in the education and training of high-level medical professionals.Our investigation revealed that within the imperfections of the cultivating model,some faculty and students at medical schools have an insufficient understanding of scientific research and innovation and lack motivation for engaging in such activities,which hinder the progression of scientific research activities.Consequently,we initiated a teaching practice and exploratory study on the"tutorial system"aimed at fostering medical students'scientific research and innovation abilities.Based on the principle of"research informing teaching,teaching and research advan-cing together,"this study implements a"tutorial system"coordinated by tutors,supplemented by graduate and undergraduate student mentors,to cultivate innovative thinking,stimulate interest in scientific re-search,and enhance practical and research skills among medical students.Through collaborative efforts within"scientific research innovation teams,"various educational methods—including preliminary re-search,in-class and extracurricular activities,intra-group and inter-group interactions,and theoretical and practical applications—are employed to improve and strengthen the cultivation of medical students'scientif-ic research and innovation abilities.This study aims to provide valuable references for optimizing medical education management systems and enhancing the quality of medical student training.

A 36-year-old male developed unconsciousness and no response to voice stimuli after taking approximately 2 050 mg felodipine (the specific time was unknown). Two hours later, he was sent to the department of emergency by his family and admitted to the hospital. His vital signs showed body temperature 35.1 ℃, pulse 148 times/min, respiration 32 times/min, and blood pressure 65/34 mmHg. Acute drug poisoning, acute toxic cardiomyopathy, acute toxic shock, acute type Ⅱ respiratory failure, acute toxic encephalopathy, and acute renal failure were diagnosed based on the patient′s clinical manifestations combined with laboratory tests results, cardiac ultrasound, chest and abdominal CT scans. Endotracheal intubation connected to a ventilator for invasive assisted ventilation, pressure boosting, and fluid resuscitation were given. At the same time, repeated gastric lavage and enema were performed to remove toxins. Blood perfusion was intermittently and repeatedly administered, and continuous renal replacement therapy was used. The blood concentration of felodipine was 1 298 μg/L at 2 hours after admission, and cardiac arrest occurred at 4 hours. Venous-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO) treatment was administered immediately. After 48 hours of ECMO operation, sedatives were discontinued and the patient′s consciousness was improved after 4 hours. On the 5th day of ECMO treatment, his heart rate was 72 beats per minute, and blood pressure was 127/65 mmHg. The blood concentration of felodipine decreased to 2 μg/L. The patient′s vital signs were significantly improved and ECMO supportive treatment was withdrawn. After 26 days of hospitalization, the patient recovered and was discharged.