Objective To classify the foot types of young Chinese males,extract characteristic indicators of foot types,and construct a standard foot type database.Methods Foot type data from 1 483 healthy young male individuals were collected.Spectral clustering algorithm was utilized to categorize foot types,and a deep neural network(DNN)was employed for training the classification model.Layer-wise relevance propagation(LRP)and the correlation coefficient method were combined to extract foot type features,and the differences in various foot type characteristics were compared.Results Spectral clustering yielded 4 distinct foot type categories.Foot type 1 was characterized by a high-arched foot with a prominent big toe,inwardly rotated 5th toe,and a high heel with a wide foot;foot type 2 was characterized by a narrow foot with hallux valgus;foot type 3 was characterized by a low-arched foot with hallux valgus;foot type 4 was characterized by a high-arched foot with a prominent big toe.By integrating interpretable neural networks and the correlation coefficient method,nine indicators were extracted from 27 foot type indicators,including the heel to the sole length,hallux height,navicular bone height,lateral malleolus height,hallux valgus angle,5th toe angle,dorsal foot circumference,heel angle,and longitudinal arch angle.The classification model constructed with these extracted indicators achieved an overall discrimination accuracy rate of 93.67％.Conclusions Chinese young males can be classified into four typical foot types.By examining the rearfoot,midfoot,and forefoot regions,nine key foot morphology parameters,including length,height,circumference,and angle,can be extracted.These parameters provide both theoretical and empirical support for establishing normative data on foot morphology for Chinese young males and for advancing biomechanical researches on the foot and ankle.

Objective To classify the foot types of young Chinese males,extract characteristic indicators of foot types,and construct a standard foot type database.Methods Foot type data from 1 483 healthy young male individuals were collected.Spectral clustering algorithm was utilized to categorize foot types,and a deep neural network(DNN)was employed for training the classification model.Layer-wise relevance propagation(LRP)and the correlation coefficient method were combined to extract foot type features,and the differences in various foot type characteristics were compared.Results Spectral clustering yielded 4 distinct foot type categories.Foot type 1 was characterized by a high-arched foot with a prominent big toe,inwardly rotated 5th toe,and a high heel with a wide foot;foot type 2 was characterized by a narrow foot with hallux valgus;foot type 3 was characterized by a low-arched foot with hallux valgus;foot type 4 was characterized by a high-arched foot with a prominent big toe.By integrating interpretable neural networks and the correlation coefficient method,nine indicators were extracted from 27 foot type indicators,including the heel to the sole length,hallux height,navicular bone height,lateral malleolus height,hallux valgus angle,5th toe angle,dorsal foot circumference,heel angle,and longitudinal arch angle.The classification model constructed with these extracted indicators achieved an overall discrimination accuracy rate of 93.67％.Conclusions Chinese young males can be classified into four typical foot types.By examining the rearfoot,midfoot,and forefoot regions,nine key foot morphology parameters,including length,height,circumference,and angle,can be extracted.These parameters provide both theoretical and empirical support for establishing normative data on foot morphology for Chinese young males and for advancing biomechanical researches on the foot and ankle.

Objective To investigate the effect of neferine(Nef)on the apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells under abnormal mechanical stretch stress and its related mechanism.Methods Rat nucleus pulposus cells were subjected to cyclic mechanical stretch stress using Flexcell-5000T tension system,and different concentrations of Nef(6.25,12.5,25 μmol/L)and acetylcysteine(NAC,2 mmol/L)were used to intervention cells.CCK-8 was used to detect cell proliferation activity;Hoechst 33258 fluorescence staining was used to observe the morphological changes of the nucleus;Flow cytometry was used to detect the cell apoptosis level;Biochemical kits were used to detect the levels of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)in the supernatant,malondialdehyde(MDA)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)in the cells;Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins,including Bax,Bcl-2,apoptotic protease activating factor-1(Apaf-1),Cleaved-caspase 9,Cleaved-caspase 3,as well as extracellular matrix-associated proteins aggrecan cartilage proteoglycan(Aggrecan),collagen type Ⅱ alpha 1 chain(COL2A1),matrix metalloproteinase-3(MMP-3),and antioxidant signaling pathway proteins nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)and heme oxygenase 1(HO-1).DCFH-DA fluorescent probe was used to detect the level of reactive oxygen species(ROS)in cells.JC-1 staining was used to detect the level of mitochondrial membrane potential in cells.Results The apoptosis rates of nucleus pulposus cells in the control group and the 5%,10%,15%,and 20%tensile strain groups were(6.69±0.37)%,(8.24±0.33)%,(14.45±0.65)%,(30.48±0.78)%,and(43.06±1.32)%,respectively.Compared with the control group,exposure to 5%,10%,15%,and 20%mechanical stretch stress significantly increased the apoptosis rate of nucleus pulposus cells,the level of LDH in the supernatant,and the levels of ROS and MDA within the cells(P<0.05).Additionally,the levels of SOD and mitochondrial membrane potential were significantly reduced(P<0.05).Simultaneously,the protein expression levels of Bax,Apaf-1,Cleaved-caspase 9,and Cleaved-caspase 3 were markedly upregulated(P<0.05),while the expression level of Bcl-2 protein was downregulated(P<0.05).The apoptosis rates of nucleus pulposus cells in the 15%stretch group,15%stretch+6.25 μmol/L Nef,15%stretch+12.5 μmol/L Nef,and 15%stretch+25 μmol/L Nef groups were(29.74±1.03)%,(25.09±0.67)%,(20.57±0.45)%,and(16.06±0.52)%,respectively.Compared with the 15%stretch group,treatment with 6.25,12.5,and 25 μmol/L Nef significantly reduced the apoptosis rate of nucleus pulposus cells,as well as the levels of LDH in the supernatant and intracellular ROS and MDA(P<0.05);Conversely,the SOD activity and mitochondrial membrane potential were significantly enhanced(P<0.05);Additionally,the protein expression levels of Bax,Apaf-1,Cleaved-caspase 9,Cleaved-caspase 3 and MMP-3 were markedly decreased(P<0.05),while the expression level of Bcl-2,Aggrecan,COL2A1,Nrf2 and HO-1 were increased(P<0.05);Notably,the combination of 25 μmol/L Nef and NAC intervention exhibited a more pronounced effect on inhibiting apoptosis in nucleus pulposus cells induced by abnormal mechanical stretch stress(P<0.05).Conclusion Neferine can inhibit the apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells induced by abnormal mechanical stretch stress,potentially through scavenging ROS and inhibiting mitochondrial apoptosis pathways.

Objective To investigate the effect of neferine(Nef)on the apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells under abnormal mechanical stretch stress and its related mechanism.Methods Rat nucleus pulposus cells were subjected to cyclic mechanical stretch stress using Flexcell-5000T tension system,and different concentrations of Nef(6.25,12.5,25 μmol/L)and acetylcysteine(NAC,2 mmol/L)were used to intervention cells.CCK-8 was used to detect cell proliferation activity;Hoechst 33258 fluorescence staining was used to observe the morphological changes of the nucleus;Flow cytometry was used to detect the cell apoptosis level;Biochemical kits were used to detect the levels of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)in the supernatant,malondialdehyde(MDA)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)in the cells;Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins,including Bax,Bcl-2,apoptotic protease activating factor-1(Apaf-1),Cleaved-caspase 9,Cleaved-caspase 3,as well as extracellular matrix-associated proteins aggrecan cartilage proteoglycan(Aggrecan),collagen type Ⅱ alpha 1 chain(COL2A1),matrix metalloproteinase-3(MMP-3),and antioxidant signaling pathway proteins nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)and heme oxygenase 1(HO-1).DCFH-DA fluorescent probe was used to detect the level of reactive oxygen species(ROS)in cells.JC-1 staining was used to detect the level of mitochondrial membrane potential in cells.Results The apoptosis rates of nucleus pulposus cells in the control group and the 5%,10%,15%,and 20%tensile strain groups were(6.69±0.37)%,(8.24±0.33)%,(14.45±0.65)%,(30.48±0.78)%,and(43.06±1.32)%,respectively.Compared with the control group,exposure to 5%,10%,15%,and 20%mechanical stretch stress significantly increased the apoptosis rate of nucleus pulposus cells,the level of LDH in the supernatant,and the levels of ROS and MDA within the cells(P<0.05).Additionally,the levels of SOD and mitochondrial membrane potential were significantly reduced(P<0.05).Simultaneously,the protein expression levels of Bax,Apaf-1,Cleaved-caspase 9,and Cleaved-caspase 3 were markedly upregulated(P<0.05),while the expression level of Bcl-2 protein was downregulated(P<0.05).The apoptosis rates of nucleus pulposus cells in the 15%stretch group,15%stretch+6.25 μmol/L Nef,15%stretch+12.5 μmol/L Nef,and 15%stretch+25 μmol/L Nef groups were(29.74±1.03)%,(25.09±0.67)%,(20.57±0.45)%,and(16.06±0.52)%,respectively.Compared with the 15%stretch group,treatment with 6.25,12.5,and 25 μmol/L Nef significantly reduced the apoptosis rate of nucleus pulposus cells,as well as the levels of LDH in the supernatant and intracellular ROS and MDA(P<0.05);Conversely,the SOD activity and mitochondrial membrane potential were significantly enhanced(P<0.05);Additionally,the protein expression levels of Bax,Apaf-1,Cleaved-caspase 9,Cleaved-caspase 3 and MMP-3 were markedly decreased(P<0.05),while the expression level of Bcl-2,Aggrecan,COL2A1,Nrf2 and HO-1 were increased(P<0.05);Notably,the combination of 25 μmol/L Nef and NAC intervention exhibited a more pronounced effect on inhibiting apoptosis in nucleus pulposus cells induced by abnormal mechanical stretch stress(P<0.05).Conclusion Neferine can inhibit the apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells induced by abnormal mechanical stretch stress,potentially through scavenging ROS and inhibiting mitochondrial apoptosis pathways.

Objective:To evaluate the prevalence, potential risk factors, and correlation between coronary and peripheral microvascular dysfunction in heart failure with non-reduced ejection fraction (nHFrEF) patients.Methods:This was a prospective registry study. nHFrEF patients admitted to Zhongshan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University from December 2021 to December 2023 were enrolled. According to coronary flow reserve (CFR) or reactive congestion index (RHI), enrolled patients were divided into coronary microvascular endothelial dysfunction (CMD) group (CFR<2.5) and no CMD group (CFR≥2.5) or peripheral microvascular endothelial dysfunction (MED) group (RHI<1.67) and no MED group (RHI≥1.67). Patients′ general information, laboratory and auxiliary examination data were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the influencing factors of CMD and MED in nHFrEF patients, and Spearman correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between MED and CMD.Results:A total of 142 nHFrEF patients were enrolled, aged 69.0 (59.0, 74.0) years, with a male proportion of 66.9% (95/142). The grouping results were as follows: (1) According to CFR, there were 73 cases in the CMD group and 69 cases in the no CMD group; (2) According to RHI, there were 57 cases in the MED group and 85 cases in the no MED group. The prevalence of CMD and MED in this study was 51.4% (73/142) and 40.1% (57/142), respectively. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that increased heart rate, chronic kidney disease, atrial fibrillation, elevated N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide levels, and increased urinary albumin/creatinine ratio were risk factors for CMD, while increased RHI was a protective factor for CMD; Atrial fibrillation is a risk factor for MED, while increased CFR is a protective factor for MED. Incorporating clinically significant variables from univariate analysis into multivariate analysis, the results showed that increased heart rate and elevated RHI remained risk and protective factors for CMD, respectively; increased CFR remains a protective factor for MED. Spearman correlation analysis showed that CFR was negatively correlated with lg urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, lg cardiac troponin T, lg N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide, and heart rate; RHI is positively correlated with CFR.Conclusions:The prevalence of CMD and MED in nHFrEF patients is high, and the two have a certain positive correlation. Increased heart rate and RHI are risk and protective factors for CMD, respectively, while increased CFR is a protective factor for MED. MED may be a potential therapeutic target for nHFrEF patients.

Objective: To investigate the chemical compositions of Maxing Shigan Decoction (麻杏石甘汤, MXSGD) and elucidate its anti-influenza A virus (IAV) mechanism from prediction to validation. Methods: Ultra high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was employed to analyze the chemical compositions of MXSGD. Network pharmacology theories were used to screen and identify shared targets of both the potential targets of active ingredients of MXSGD and IAV. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was then constructed, followed by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. The binding stability between core bioactive compounds and key targets was validated by molecular docking and dynamic simulations. A total of 24 BALB/c mice were infected with IAV to build IAV mouse models. After successful modelling, the mouse models were randomly divided into model, MXSGD high-dose (2.8 g/kg), MXSGD low-dose (1.4 g/kg), and oseltamivir (20.14 mg/kg) groups, with an additional normal mice as control group (n = 6 per group). The treatments were administered by gavage daily between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. for five consecutive days. Upon completion of the administration, the body weight ratio, lung index, protein content in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and the levels of inflammatory factors including interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in mice were measured to preliminarily analyze the therapeutic efficacy of MXSGD against IAV infection. Furthermore, the expression levels of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) proteins in the HIF-1 signaling pathway, which was enriched by network pharmacology, were detected by Western blot. Results: A total of 212 chemical components in MXSGD were identified by the UPLC-MS/MS method. These chemical components can be classified into 9 primary categories and 31 secondary categories. After intersecting the chemical component targets with IAV-related targets, a total of 567 potential MXSGD components targeting IAV were identified. The construction of PPI network and the results of both GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that the anti-IAV effects of MXSGD were associated with multiple pathways, including apoptosis, TNF, HIF-1, and IL-17 signaling pathways. The results of molecular docking demonstrated that the binding energies between the core compound 1-methoxyphaseollin and key targets including HIF-1α, mTOR, and VEGF were all lower than – 5.0 kcal/mol. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the structural stability of the resulting complexes. Animal experiments showed that compared with the normal controls, IAV-infected mice showed significantly reduced body weight ratio, markedly increased lung index, protein content in BALF, and the levels of inflammatory factors such as IL-6 and TNF-α (P < 0.01), thereby causing damage to the lung tissue; consequently, the expression levels of mTOR, HIF-1α, and VEGF proteins in the lung tissues of these mice were significantly elevated (P < 0.01). However, after MXSGD treatment, the mouse models presented a significant increase in body weight ratio, as well as marked decreases in lung index, protein content in BALF, and the levels of inflammatory factors including IL-6 and TNF-α (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the therapy alleviated IAV-induced injuries and significantly downregulated the expression levels of mTOR, HIF-1α, and VEGF proteins in lung tissues (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Conclusion MXSGD exerts anti-IAV effects through multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway synergism. Among them, 1-methoxyphaseollin is identified as a potential key component, which alleviates virus-induced lung injury and inflammatory response via the regulation of HIF-1 signaling pathway, providing experimental evidence for the clinical application of MXSGD.

Abstract In recent years, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents has risen rapidly, posing a serious threat to their physical and mental health. To provide scientific, systematic, and standardized weight management guidance for overweight and obese children and adolescents, the study focuses on the core concept of healthy lifestyle intervention, integrates multidisciplinary expert opinions and research findings,and proposes a comprehensive multidisciplinary intervention framework covering scientific exercise intervention, precise nutrition and diet, optimized sleep management, and standardized psychological support. It calls for the establishment of a multi agent collaborative management mechanism led by the government, implemented by families, fostered by schools, initiated by individuals, optimized by communities, reinforced by healthcare, and coordinated by multiple stakeholders. Emphasizing a child and adolescent centered approach, the consensus advocates for comprehensive, multi level, and personalized guidance strategies to promote the internalization and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle. It serves as a reference and provides recommendations for the effective prevention and control of overweight and obesity, and enhancing the health level of children and adolescents.

Objective:To explore the natural course of ulcerative proctitis (UP) and the risk factors associated with disease extent progression.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including UP patients who had undergoing prospective regisration in the Department of Gastroenterology, Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Air Force Medical University between January 2000 and May 2023. All patients were ≥ 18 years old at the time of diagnosis and followed up for more than one year. The disease extent in patients at diagnosis and during follow-up was assessed according to the Montreal classification. The clinical data were compared between the progression group and the non-progression group. The cumulative proportions of disease extent progression were analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method, and the risk factors associated with disease extent progression were analyzed with the Cox proportional hazards regression model.Results:A total of 184 UP patients were included, with a median follow-up time of 4.8 (2.8, 8.5) years. Among them, 96 were male (52.2%) and 88 were female (47.8%), with a median age at diagnosis of 39.1 (28.8, 49.7) years. At the time of diagnosis, 95 (51.6%) patients had moderate endoscopic manifestations and 64 (34.8%) had severe endoscopic manifestations, while only 25 (13.6%) patients had mild lesions. 116 patients (63.0%) experienced disease extent progression in a median time of 4.2 (1.8, 9.0) years. The cumulative proportions of disease extent progression in 1, 3, 5, and 10 years were 13.0%, 39.0%、56.7% and 78.3%, respectively. Cox regression analysis identified the use of 5-aminosalicylic acid as a protective factor against disease extent progression ( HR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.31 ~ 0.96, P = 0.035). During follow-up, only one patient (0.5%) underwent surgery. Five patients (2.7%) were diagnosed with dysplasia, and all of these patients had experienced disease extent progression before the development of dysplasia. Conclusions:Patients with UP had a high proportion of moderate-to-severe active endoscopic findings at diagnosis, and nearly two-thirds of patients experienced disease progression during follow-up, but the rates of colectomy and neoplasia were relatively low. 5-ASA was a protective factor against disease extent progression.

Objective:To understand the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of residents in areas endemic for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) and the factors influencing these aspects, to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of SFTS among residents in endemic areas.Methods:A multi-stage sampling method was used to select subjects for a questionnaire survey, and the collected data were analyzed and compared.Results:The awareness rate of SFTS-related knowledge among residents in the endemic areas of Qingdao was 14.38%, while the awareness rate of tick-related knowledge was 69.78%. The mean score for protective attitudes among residents in the endemic areas was 24.50±4.09, and the mean score for protective behaviors was 11.20±2.76. Among residents of different ages, occupations, and educational levels, comparisons of SFTS-related knowledge awareness rates ( χ2=293.553, P<0.001; χ2=495.216, P<0.001; χ2=677.272, P<0.001), tick-related knowledge awareness rates ( χ2=29.986, P<0.001; χ2=23.239, P=0.002; χ2=41.003, P<0.001), protective attitude scores ( H=52.094, P<0.001; H=33.446, P<0.001; H=81.715, P<0.001), and protective behavior scores ( H=52.344, P<0.001; H=28.465, P<0.001; H=67.061, P<0.001) showed statistically significant differences. Comparisons of these same factors among residents of different genders showed no statistically significant differences ( χ2=1.159, P=0.282; χ2=0.298, P=0.585; t=-0.808, P=0.419; t=-1.229, P=0.219). Comparisons of tick-related knowledge awareness rates among residents with different frequencies of outdoor work showed no statistically significant differences ( χ2=5.367, P=0.147); however, comparisons of SFTS-related knowledge awareness rates, protective attitude scores, and protective behavior scores among residents with different frequencies of outdoor work showed statistically significant differences ( χ2=117.010, P<0.001; F=4.127, P=0.006; H=56.280, P<0.001). Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that older age, lower educational level, and less frequent outdoor work were associated with lower protective behavior scores ( t=-3.479, P<0.001; t=4.861, P<0.001; t=-7.753, P<0.001). Conclusions:Residents in the epidemic areas of SFTS have a low level of knowledge, attitude and practice. Factors influencing protective behaviors include age, occupation, educational level, and frequency of outdoor work. Farmers are a group that requires particular attention.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of the suture anchor technique without knots for reconstruction of the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) combined with the reinforcement of the inferior extensor retinaculum in treating chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI). METHODS: The clinical data of 31 patients with CLAI who were admitted between August 2017 and December 2023 and met the selection criteria were retrospectively analyzed. There were 18 males and 13 females, with an age range from 20 to 48 years (mean, 34.6 years). All patients had a history of repeated ankle sprain, with a disease duration of 6-18 months (mean, 9.65 months). The anterior drawer test and inversion stress test were positive, and tenderness was present in the ligament area. Stress X-ray films of the ankle joint showed a talar tilt angle of (10.00±2.78)° and an anterior talar displacement of (9.48±1.96) mm on the affected side. MRI revealed discontinuity, tortuosity, or disappearance of the ATFL structure. Preoperatively, the visual analogue scale (VAS) score was 5.2±2.1, and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score was 62.9±7.1. All patients underwent arthroscopic debridement of the ankle joint followed by reconstruction of the ATFL using the suture anchor technique without knots combined with reinforcement of the inferior extensor retinaculum. Postoperatively, pain and function were assessed using the VAS and AOFAS scores. Stress X-ray films were taken to measure the talar tilt angle and anterior talar displacement to evaluate changes in ankle joint stability. Patient satisfaction was assessed according to the Insall criteria. RESULTS: All 31 surgeries were successfully completed. One case had wound exudation, while the remaining surgical incisions healed by first intention. Two cases experienced numbness on the lateral aspect of the foot, which disappeared within 1 month after operation. All patients were followed up 15-84 months (mean, 47.2 months). No complication such as anchor loosening, recurrent lateral ankle instability, superficial peroneal nerve injury, rejection reaction, or wound infection occurred postoperatively. The anterior drawer test and inversion stress test were negative at 3 months after operation. Stress X-ray films taken at 3 months after operation showed the talar tilt angle of (2.86±1.72)° and the anterior talar displacement of (2.97±1.32) mm, both of which were significantly different from the preoperative values ( t=12.218, P<0.001; t=15.367, P<0.001). At last follow-up, 2 patients had ankle swelling after exercise, which resolved spontaneously with rest; all 31 patients returned to their pre-injury level of sports or had no significant discomfort in daily activities. At last follow-up, 25 patients were pain-free, 4 had mild pain after exercise, and 2 had mild pain after walking more than 2 000 meters. The VAS score was 0.8±0.9 and the AOFAS score was 91.6±4.1, both of which were significantly different from the preoperative scores ( t=10.851, P<0.001; t=-19.514, P<0.001). According to the Insall criteria, 24 patients were rated as excellent, 4 as good, and 3 as fair, with a satisfaction rate of 90.3%. CONCLUSION The suture anchor technique without knots for reconstruction of the ATFL combined with reinforcement of the inferior extensor retinaculum provides satisfactory short- and mid-term effectiveness in treating CLAI.
Humans ; Male ; Adult ; Female ; Joint Instability/surgery* ; Lateral Ligament, Ankle/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Ankle Joint/diagnostic imaging* ; Young Adult ; Suture Anchors ; Treatment Outcome ; Suture Techniques ; Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods* ; Chronic Disease ; Ankle Injuries/surgery*