ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the effects of Linggui Zhugantang （LGZGT） on ventricular remodeling （VR） in mice with myocardial infarction （MI） and its impact on the Ras homologgene A （RhoA）/Rho-associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase （ROCK） signaling pathway. MethodsThe MI model of mice was established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery （LAD）. They were divided into the sham-operated group， the model group， the low-dose， medium-dose， and high-dose groups of LGZGT （2.34， 4.68， 9.36 g·kg^-1）， and the captopril group （3.25 mg·kg^-1）， with 10 mice in each group. After four weeks of continuous drug administration by gavage， the level of cardiac function in each group of mice was examined using small animal Doppler ultrasound. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining and Masson staining was used to assess the morphological changes of myocardial tissue and calculate the rate of collagen fiber deposition in mouse myocardial tissue. Wheat germ agglutinin （WGA） staining was employed to compare the cross-sectional area of cardiomyocytes in each group of mice. The expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA）， matrix metalloproteinase-2 （MMP-2）， type Ⅰcollagen （Col Ⅰ）， Col Ⅲ， tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1（TIMP1）， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）-associated X protein （Bax）， Bcl-2， Caspase-3， and cleaved Caspase-3 were detected by Western blot. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to evaluate the mRNA levels of the pathway-related genes RhoA， ROCK1， and ROCK2. The protein expression levels of RhoA， ROCK1， and ROCK2 were tested by Western blot. ResultsThe level of cardiac function was markedly declined in the model group compared to the sham-operated group（P<0.01）. Myocardial tissue morphology changed significantly. The cross-sectional area of cardiomyocytes was significantly enlarged. The expression of α-SMA， MMP-2， Col Ⅰ， and Col Ⅲ was significantly upregulated（P<0.01）， and TIMP1 protein expression was significantly reduced（P<0.01）. The expressions of apoptosis-related proteins Bax were significantly up-regulated（P<0.01）， while the expression of Bcl-2 protein was significantly decreased（P<0.01）. The mRNA expression of RhoA， ROCK1， and ROCK2 were significantly upregulated （P<0.01）. Compared to the model group， the low-dose， medium-dose， and high-dose groups of LGZGT and the captopril group significantly reversed the experimental results of the model group in a dose-dependent manner （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionLGZGT significantly attenuated myocardial fibrosis， myocardial hypertrophy， and cardiomyocyte apoptosis after MI in mice and effectively reversed VR， the mechanism of which may be related to the modulation of the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway.

ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the effects of Linggui Zhugantang （LGZGT） on ventricular remodeling （VR） in mice with myocardial infarction （MI） and its impact on the Ras homologgene A （RhoA）/Rho-associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase （ROCK） signaling pathway. MethodsThe MI model of mice was established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery （LAD）. They were divided into the sham-operated group， the model group， the low-dose， medium-dose， and high-dose groups of LGZGT （2.34， 4.68， 9.36 g·kg^-1）， and the captopril group （3.25 mg·kg^-1）， with 10 mice in each group. After four weeks of continuous drug administration by gavage， the level of cardiac function in each group of mice was examined using small animal Doppler ultrasound. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining and Masson staining was used to assess the morphological changes of myocardial tissue and calculate the rate of collagen fiber deposition in mouse myocardial tissue. Wheat germ agglutinin （WGA） staining was employed to compare the cross-sectional area of cardiomyocytes in each group of mice. The expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA）， matrix metalloproteinase-2 （MMP-2）， type Ⅰcollagen （Col Ⅰ）， Col Ⅲ， tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1（TIMP1）， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）-associated X protein （Bax）， Bcl-2， Caspase-3， and cleaved Caspase-3 were detected by Western blot. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to evaluate the mRNA levels of the pathway-related genes RhoA， ROCK1， and ROCK2. The protein expression levels of RhoA， ROCK1， and ROCK2 were tested by Western blot. ResultsThe level of cardiac function was markedly declined in the model group compared to the sham-operated group（P<0.01）. Myocardial tissue morphology changed significantly. The cross-sectional area of cardiomyocytes was significantly enlarged. The expression of α-SMA， MMP-2， Col Ⅰ， and Col Ⅲ was significantly upregulated（P<0.01）， and TIMP1 protein expression was significantly reduced（P<0.01）. The expressions of apoptosis-related proteins Bax were significantly up-regulated（P<0.01）， while the expression of Bcl-2 protein was significantly decreased（P<0.01）. The mRNA expression of RhoA， ROCK1， and ROCK2 were significantly upregulated （P<0.01）. Compared to the model group， the low-dose， medium-dose， and high-dose groups of LGZGT and the captopril group significantly reversed the experimental results of the model group in a dose-dependent manner （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionLGZGT significantly attenuated myocardial fibrosis， myocardial hypertrophy， and cardiomyocyte apoptosis after MI in mice and effectively reversed VR， the mechanism of which may be related to the modulation of the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway.

Background The high work intensity and possible subsequently increased susceptibility to occupational hazards of calcium carbide plants may lead to hypertension in workers, but there are few studies on the relationship between occupational hazard exposure and hypertension in workers involving the production process of calcium carbide. Objective To explore the influence of occupational hazards on the incidence of hypertension in calcium carbide plants. Methods Using historical cohort design, the employees of a calcium carbide factory in the western part of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were selected as research subjects. According to the pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria, the study population comprised an exposure group of 377 employees (including furnace workers, inspection workers, and maintenance workers) exposed to dust, noise & carbon monoxide, and a control group of 388 employees (including central control workers, electricians, and administrative personnel) without above-mentioned exposure. The total sample size was 765 participants. The follow-up period was from April 2011 to October 2022, and the study endpoint was defined as the conclusion of the follow-up period or diagnosed hypertension in annual occupational health examination. Information on general demographic characteristics, living habits, and work status was collected from all study subjects. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the association between occupational hazard exposure and the risk of hypertension among the calcium carbide plant employees. Results The average age, mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure, proportion of males, smoking rate, and alcohol consumption rate in the exposure group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Compared to baseline, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels increased in the exposure group and the control group at the end of the follow-up (P<0.05). At the end of the follow-up, the average differences between systolic/ diastolic blood pressure and baseline values in the exposure group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). During the follow-up period, a total of 223 cases of hypertension occurred, with a total follow-up of 2785 person-years, resulting in an incidence density of 8007.18 per 100000 person-years, an average age of onset of (35.90±8.22) years, and an average working age of onset of (2.69±1.97) years. The incidence density in the exposure group was 128.71% higher than that in the control group, and the risk of hypertension in the exposure group was 2.115 times that of the control group. The risk of hypertension was 2.199 times higher for men than for women, 1.344 times higher for those aged 30 and above than for those under 30, 1.546 times higher for smokers than for non-smokers, and 1.750 times higher for drinking workers than for non-drinking ones. The results of Cox proportional hazards regression modeling indicated that the hazard ratio (95%CI) of hypertension among the employees exposed to dust, noise, and carbon monoxide was 2.254 (1.703, 2.982), 1.594 (1.107, 2.295), and 1.567 (1.079, 2.274), respectively, when different covariates (gender, age, smoking, and alcohol consumption) were included. The results of Log-rank test showed that there were statistically significant differences in the distribution of disease-free survival between the exposure group and the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Occupational exposures to dust, noise, and carbon monoxide may increase the risk of hypertension among calcium carbide plant workers.

Background::Studies that comprehensively address the characteristics of centenarian deaths are rare. The present study aimed to depict the characteristics of centenarian deaths in China and their changing trends.Methods::Data on centenarian deaths between 2013 and 2020 were obtained from the national mortality surveillance system of China, including date, place of death (PoD), and underlying cause of death (CoD). Descriptive analyses were performed to understand the epidemiological characteristics, and a joinpoint regression model was adopted to examine the changing trends in the proportions of different PoDs, CoDs among centenarians, and centenarian deaths accounting for all deaths and deaths among people aged 65 years and older.Results::There were 46,938 registered centenarian deaths between 2013 and 2020 that included 34,311 females (73.10%) and 12,627 males (26.90%). January (12.05%), February (9.99%), and December (9.74%) were the top three months with the highest number of deaths. The proportions of deaths that occurred in homes, hospitals, and nursing homes were 81.71%, 13.63%, and 2.68%, respectively. The proportion of deaths in nursing homes increased by 9.60% (95% confidence intervals [CIs], 6.4-12.9%) from 2014 to 2020. Heart disease (35.72%) was the leading cause of death, followed by respiratory diseases (17.63%), cerebrovascular disease (15.60%), and old age (11.22%). The proportion of respiratory diseases decreased by 4.8% (95% CI, -8.8 to -0.7%), and the proportion of deaths from old age decreased by 2.3 % (95% CI, -4.4 to -0.1%) per year. Shanghai had the highest proportions of deaths in hospitals (39.38%) and nursing homes (14.68%). Sichuan had the highest proportion of deaths attributed to respiratory diseases (32.30%), while Jiangsu (26.58%) and Zhejiang (23.61%) had the highest proportions of deaths from old age.Conclusion::Unlike other countries, centenarian deaths in China are characterized by a higher proportion of home and heart disease deaths, and this death pattern differs across provinces.

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), as the third most abundant solid nutrient in breast milk, are critical for early infants growth. HMOs are not only involved in the development of the immune system, maintaining inflammation balance, regulating gut microbiota, and participating in the maturation of the digestive system, but also in the improvement of the brain's nervous system and the development of advanced cognitive functions such as learning and memory. However, the role of HMOs in regulating neural development remains unclear. Related studies have focused on the mechanism of the microbiota-gut-brain axis, indicating that there is a practical interaction between the gut and brain. The function of HMOs in children's neurocognition and the biological process of disorders via this mechanism has also been preliminary reported. This review aims to review the structural characteristics and species-specific characteristics of HMOs, and analyze the potential pathways of HMOs in infant nervous system development from the perspective of the microbiota-gut-brain axis.

Objective:To establish the prediction model for postoperative delirium in elderly patients with mild stroke undergoing non-cardiac and non-intracranial surgery.Methods:This was a nested case-control study. Seven hundred and fifty elderly patients of either sex with mild stroke, aged ≥65 yr, undergoing elective surgical procedures under general anesthesia in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Orthopedics and Urology at the Tangshan Workers Hospital from May to December 2023, were selected. The perioperative clinical data were collected. The incidence of postoperative delirium was assessed using the Confusion Assessment Scale 1-7 days after surgery or 1 day before discharge. The patients were assigned to the training set and the validation set in a ratio of 7∶3 using a simple random sampling method. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the risk factors for postoperative delirium, a postoperative delirium risk prediction model was established based on the risk factors, the nomogram was developed, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve and decision curve were plotted to assess the accuracy of the prediction model. The prediction model was verified using the validation set, and the calibration curve and ROC curve were plotted to assess the predictive performance of the model.Results:A total of 721 patients were finally included, and 108 patients developed postoperative delirium. Older age, high American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification, history of preoperative hypertension, short years of education, high preoperative Pittsburgh sleep quality index score, high preoperative National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, high intraoperative hypothermia, intraoperative hypotension and high postoperative numerical rating scale score were independent risk factors for postoperative delirium ( P<0.05). The area under the ROC curve of the training set prediction model was 0.996, with a sensitivity of 1.000, and specificity of 0.945. The slope of the calibration curve was close to 1, and the predicted risk of postoperative delirium was in good agreement with the actual risk. When the threshold probability of the decision curve was 0-0.9, the net return rate was higher than the null line. Validation set: In the calibration curve of the prediction model, the cohort and calibration curves were close to the ideal line, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.997, sensitivity of 1.000, and specificity of 0.962. Conclusions:Based on age, American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification, history of preoperative hypertension, years of education, preoperative Pittsburgh sleep quality index score, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, intraoperative hypothermia and hypotension and postoperative numerical rating scale score, the prediction model for postoperative delirium is developed and has a good predictive performance in elderly patients with mild stroke undergoing non-cardiac and non-intracranial surgery.

Objective To observe the changes in the subfoveal choroidal thickness(SFCT)of children and adoles-cents with different refractive states using optical coherence tomography angiography.Methods A total of 171 children and adolescents were followed.They were divided into the lower primary school group(6-8 years old),upper primary school group(9-11 years old),and junior high school group(12-14 years old)according to their age at the time of en-rollment.Dioptric examinations(including best corrected visual acuity,diopter,intraocular pressure,corneal curvature,axial length and SFCT)were performed,data collection was conducted twice in half a year(initial examination and review after half a year),and the eyeball parameters and changes in eyeball parameters after half a year among all groups were compared.Results The axial length and SFCT of subjects had significant differences among all groups(both P＜0.05).In children and adolescents,the axial length gradually lengthened and SFCT gradually thickened with age,while intraocular pressure and corneal curvature were not associated with age(both P＞0.05).In the initial examination and review after half a year,there was no significant difference in intraocular pressure,corneal curvature and SFCT of subjects with differ-ent refractive states in all groups(all P＞0.05),while the axial length of myopic subjects was greater than that of non-my-opic subjects in all groups(all P＜0.05).In the review after half a year,the SFCT of non-myopic subjects in the lower pri-mary school group and upper primary school group was significantly thickened(P＜0.001,P=0.003),while there was no significant difference in SFCT of myopic subjects in all groups compared with the value half a year ago(all P＞0.05).The axial length of all subjects showed a positive correlation with the SFCT in the initial examination and review after half a year(r=0.354,0.228,P＜0.05).Conclusion Myopia affects the increase in SFCT in children and adolescents.

Objective To investigate the effect of PCSK9 inhibitors on the level of inflammation and ven-tricular remodeling after PCI in ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction.Methods A total of 220 patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction who received percutaneous coronary artery intervention in the Emergency Center of Qingdao Central Hospital from April 2021 to July 2023 were randomly divided into two groups,110 patients in the control group were treated with conventional treatment,and 110 patients in the PCSK9i group were treated with PCSK9 inhibitors on the basis of conventional treatment.Compared before and after treatment left ventricular endsystolic diameter(LVESD)and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)and triglycerides(TG),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),total cholesterol(TC).C-reactive protein(CRP),interleukin 6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α).The incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)(including myocardial infarction,recurrence of heart failure,malignant arrhythmia,and cardiovascular death)was compared.Results After 6 months of treatment and follow-up,LVEDD(mm),LVESD(mm),TG(mmol/L),TC(mmol/L),LDL-C(mmol/L),CRP(mg/L),TNF-α(pg/mL)and JL-6(ng/mL)after PCSK9i treatment were significantly lower than those in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant[(51.32±5.84)vs.(54.43±2.91);(34.88±2.69)vs.(36.96±3.19);(1.41±0.61)vs.(2.13±1.26);(3.53±1.06)vs.(3.98±0.93);(0.95±0.36)vs.(1.79±0.27);(5.18±1.92)vs.(7.69±2.61);(36.43±9.41)vs.(57.79±14.43);(17.4±0.68)vs.(28.55±8.92),All P<0.01],and the LVEF(%)and HDL-C(mmol/L)in the PCSK9i group were higher than patients in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant[(46.69±3.63)vs.(41.34±3.42),P<0.05,(1.35±0.29)vs.(1.29±0.27),P<0.01].The incidence of MACE events in the PCSK9i group was obviously lower than patients in the control group(5.2%vs.13.6%,P<0.05).Conclusion The application of PCSK9 inhibitors after PCI in patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction can better reduce blood lipids,stabilize coronary plaque,reduce local and circula-tory inflammatory responses after myocardial infarction,improve ventricular adverse remodeling after myocardial infarction,inhibit ventricular remodeling,and reduce the total incidence of MACE,worthing promoting use.

Objective:To explore the impact of transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) devices on mitral valve regurgitant flow convergence post-procedure using computational fluid dynamics(CFD), and to seek solutions for accurately measuring effective regurgitant orifice area(EROA) after TEER.Methods:Multimodal fusion was conducted based on preoperative cardiac CT images and intraoperative three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography(3DTEE) of 33 patients with mitral valve regurgitation undergoing TEER at Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from January 2020 to August 2023. Using this data, CFD models of mitral valve regurgitation post-TEER, including with and without the TEER device, were constructed. The distance (D) from the midpoint of the mitral regurgitation orifice to the TEER device was measured. The proximal isovelocity surfice area(PISA) radius with and without the TEER device was measured, and the corresponding EROA1 and EROA2 based on this was calculated. The EROA correction factor CC=EROA2/EROA1 was calculated.Results:A total of 42 sets of CFD models with mild or greater residual mitral regurgitation, both with and without the TEER device, and 50 sets of PISA were obtained. Based on the relative position of PISA to the TEER device, four types of PISA were observed: Type 1: PISA away from the TEER device (D>R, 14 cases), with a CC of 0.93±0.07; Type 2: PISA adjacent to the TEER device (D