Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic disorder posing significant risks to maternal and infant health, with a lack of effective early screening markers. Therefore, identifying early screening biomarkers for GDM with higher sensitivity and specificity is urgently needed. Methods: High-throughput sequencing was employed to screen for key circular RNAs (circRNAs), which were then evaluated using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between clinical characteristics, circRNA expression, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The diagnostic accuracy of circRNAs for early and mid-pregnancy GDM was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves. Pearson correlation analysis was utilized to explore the relationship between circRNA levels and oral glucose tolerance test results. A predictive model for early GDM was established using logistic regression. Results: Significant alterations in circRNA expression profiles were detected in GDM patients, with hsa_circ_0031560 and hsa_ circ_0000793 notably upregulated during the first and second trimesters. These circRNAs were associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and effectively differentiated GDM patients, with second trimester cohorts achieving an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.836. In first trimester cohorts, these circRNAs identified potential GDM patients with AUCs of 0.832 and 0.765, respectively. The early GDM prediction model achieved an AUC of 0.904, validated in two independent cohorts. Conclusion Hsa_circ_0031560, hsa_circ_0000793, and the developed model serve as biomarkers for early prediction or midterm diagnosis of GDM, offering clinical tools for early GDM screening.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic disorder posing significant risks to maternal and infant health, with a lack of effective early screening markers. Therefore, identifying early screening biomarkers for GDM with higher sensitivity and specificity is urgently needed. Methods: High-throughput sequencing was employed to screen for key circular RNAs (circRNAs), which were then evaluated using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between clinical characteristics, circRNA expression, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The diagnostic accuracy of circRNAs for early and mid-pregnancy GDM was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves. Pearson correlation analysis was utilized to explore the relationship between circRNA levels and oral glucose tolerance test results. A predictive model for early GDM was established using logistic regression. Results: Significant alterations in circRNA expression profiles were detected in GDM patients, with hsa_circ_0031560 and hsa_ circ_0000793 notably upregulated during the first and second trimesters. These circRNAs were associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and effectively differentiated GDM patients, with second trimester cohorts achieving an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.836. In first trimester cohorts, these circRNAs identified potential GDM patients with AUCs of 0.832 and 0.765, respectively. The early GDM prediction model achieved an AUC of 0.904, validated in two independent cohorts. Conclusion Hsa_circ_0031560, hsa_circ_0000793, and the developed model serve as biomarkers for early prediction or midterm diagnosis of GDM, offering clinical tools for early GDM screening.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic disorder posing significant risks to maternal and infant health, with a lack of effective early screening markers. Therefore, identifying early screening biomarkers for GDM with higher sensitivity and specificity is urgently needed. Methods: High-throughput sequencing was employed to screen for key circular RNAs (circRNAs), which were then evaluated using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between clinical characteristics, circRNA expression, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The diagnostic accuracy of circRNAs for early and mid-pregnancy GDM was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves. Pearson correlation analysis was utilized to explore the relationship between circRNA levels and oral glucose tolerance test results. A predictive model for early GDM was established using logistic regression. Results: Significant alterations in circRNA expression profiles were detected in GDM patients, with hsa_circ_0031560 and hsa_ circ_0000793 notably upregulated during the first and second trimesters. These circRNAs were associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and effectively differentiated GDM patients, with second trimester cohorts achieving an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.836. In first trimester cohorts, these circRNAs identified potential GDM patients with AUCs of 0.832 and 0.765, respectively. The early GDM prediction model achieved an AUC of 0.904, validated in two independent cohorts. Conclusion Hsa_circ_0031560, hsa_circ_0000793, and the developed model serve as biomarkers for early prediction or midterm diagnosis of GDM, offering clinical tools for early GDM screening.

Psychological factors have become significant contributors to the onset and progression of insomnia. This article explored the treatment of insomnia from the perspective of “liver governs wei qi （defensive qi）”. The concept of “liver governs wei qi （defensive qi）” is summarized in three aspects， firstly， the liver assists the spleen and stomach in transformation and transportation， governing the generation of wei qi； secondly， the liver aids lung qi diffusion and dispersion， governing the distribution of wei qi； thirdly， the liver regulates circadian rhythms， governing the circulation of wei qi. It is proposed that the clinical treatment of insomnia should focus on the following methods： for regulating the liver to harmonize the five viscera， and facilitate the circulation of wei qi， medicinals entering the liver channel include Chaihu （Bupleuri radix）， Baishao （Paeoniae Radix Alba）， Zhizi （Gardeniae Fructus）， and Suanzaoren （Ziziphi Spinosae Semen） could be commonly used； for nourishing the liver， the treatment should align with the day-night rhythm， and herbs such as Baihe （Lilium）， Hehuan （Albizia julibrissin）， and Yejiaoteng （Polygoni multiflori caulis） are commonly used； for soothing the liver and address both mental and physical health to calm wei qi， treatment should advocate verbal counseling， psychological regulation， and health education. Ultimately， this treatment approach can free liver qi to flow， soothe qi movement， restore the motion of wei qi， regulate during day and night， balance yin and yang， and resolve insomnia effectively.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic disorder posing significant risks to maternal and infant health, with a lack of effective early screening markers. Therefore, identifying early screening biomarkers for GDM with higher sensitivity and specificity is urgently needed. Methods: High-throughput sequencing was employed to screen for key circular RNAs (circRNAs), which were then evaluated using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between clinical characteristics, circRNA expression, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The diagnostic accuracy of circRNAs for early and mid-pregnancy GDM was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves. Pearson correlation analysis was utilized to explore the relationship between circRNA levels and oral glucose tolerance test results. A predictive model for early GDM was established using logistic regression. Results: Significant alterations in circRNA expression profiles were detected in GDM patients, with hsa_circ_0031560 and hsa_ circ_0000793 notably upregulated during the first and second trimesters. These circRNAs were associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and effectively differentiated GDM patients, with second trimester cohorts achieving an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.836. In first trimester cohorts, these circRNAs identified potential GDM patients with AUCs of 0.832 and 0.765, respectively. The early GDM prediction model achieved an AUC of 0.904, validated in two independent cohorts. Conclusion Hsa_circ_0031560, hsa_circ_0000793, and the developed model serve as biomarkers for early prediction or midterm diagnosis of GDM, offering clinical tools for early GDM screening.

Objective To investigate the effect of Dex on neurological function in PD rats through the receptor interacting protein kinase 1(RIPK1)/RIPK3/mixed lineage kinase domain-like pro-tein(MLKL)pathway.Methods After rat PD model was constructed,the PD rats were assigned into PD group,L-,M-and H-Dex groups(intraperitoneal injection of 25,50,and 100 μg/kg Dex,respectively),and Dex+recombinant RIPK1 protein(rRIPK1)group(intraperitoneal injection of 100 μg/kg Dex+8 μg/kg rRIPK1),with 6 animals in each group.Another 6 rats served as sham-operation(Sham)group.The rats from the Sham group and PD group were intragastrically ad-ministered and injected with an equal amount of normal saline solution once a day.After 21 con-secutive days,the rotational behavior was observed of in each group rats.HE staining was per-formed to detect the pathological changes in dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra.TUNEL staining was conducted to measure the apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons.ELISA was used to determine the levels of neurotransmitters[DA,HVA,3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid(DOPAC),5-hydroxytrptamine(5-HT)]and inflammatory factors(TNF-α,IL-1β)in the sub-stantia nigra.Western blotting was applied to detect the expression of RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL pathway related proteins in the substantia nigra tissues.Results Intact and well-arranged mor-phology and structure were observed in the neurons of the Sham group.The PD group presented prominently less neurons,in scattered arrangement,with obviously reduced volume,irregular nu-clear deformation,indicating notably neuronal damage.The severity of neuronal damage was at-tenuated sequentially in the L-Dex,M-Dex,and H-Dex groups,but the damage in the Dex+rRIPK1 group was further worsened.The PD group had significantly larger number of rotations,longer escape latency,higher apoptotic rate,increased TNF-α and IL-1β contents,and elevated lev-els of p-RIPK1/RIPK1(1.07±0.18 vs 0.36±0.11),p-RIPK3/RIPK3(1.32±0.21 vs 0.47±0.14),and p-MLKL/MLKL(0.79±0.11 vs 0.18±0.05),but lower DA,DOPAC,5-HT,and HVA con-tents than the Sham group(P＜0.05).Dex treatment of low,medium and high doses reserved all above changes induced by PD modeling(P＜0.05).The Dex+rRIPK1 group obtained larger num-ber of rotations,longer escape latency,higher apoptotic rate,increased TNF-α and IL-1β contents,and elevated levels of p-RIPK1/RIPK1(0.95±0.17 vs 0.41±0.12),p-RIPK3/RIPK3(1.14±0.20 vs 0.51±0.15),and p-MLKL/MLKL(0.72±0.09 vs 0.24±0.06),but decreased DA,DOPAC,5-HT,and HVA contents when compared with the H-Dex group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Dex protects the neurological function of PD rats by inhibiting the RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL pathway.

This study summarized Professor Su Peiji's clinical experience in differenting and treating lumbago and leg pain.He contends that the disease involves the liver and kidney,manifesting as a syndrome of deficiency in origin and excess in superficiality,with liver-kidney deficiency and insufficiency of essence and blood as the root cause,and exogenous wind,cold,and dampness invading the meridians and then causing obstruction as the superficial manifestation.The principal pathological factors include wind,cold,dampness,blood stasis,and deficiency.In clinical practice,he follows the therapeutic principle of expelling pathogens and supporting healthy qi in accordance with the abundance or deficiency of pathogens and healthy qi,takes the therapy of tonifying the liver and kidney as the primary approach,and applies the adjuvant therapies of dispelling wind,cold,and dampness as well as relaxing tendons and activating collaterals.By incorporating the theory of collateral diseases,Professor Su Peiji proposes that the deficiency-excess of collateral diseases is closely related to the onset of lumbago and leg pain.His therapeutic approach centers around Shuji Formula,a self-formulated formula which is composed of Taxilli Herba,Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix,Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix,Angelicae Pubescentis Radix,Clematidis Radix et Rhizoma,Aconiti Radix Cocta,Flemingiae Radix et Caulis,Millettiae Speciosae Radix,Poria,Angelicae Sinensis Radix,Paeoniae Radix Alba,Chuanxiong Rhizoma,Spatholobi Caulis,Tinosporae sinensis Caulis,and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle.Modified use of herbs was performed according to the predominance of wind,cold,dampness,blood stasis,or deficiency,so as to achieve the effects of tonifying the liver and kidney,strengthening bones and tendons,dispelling wind,cold and dampness,and relaxing tendons and activating collaterals.

Metastasis remains the primary cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) represent critical targets for metastasis prevention and treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine may prevent lung cancer metastasis through long-term intervention in CTC activity. Tiao-Shen-Zhi-Ai Formular (TSZAF) represents a Chinese medicine compound prescription utilized clinically for lung cancer treatment. This study combined three principal active ingredients from TSZAF into a novel TSZAF monomer combination (TSZAF mc) to investigate its anti-metastatic effects and mechanisms. TSZAF mc demonstrated significant inhibition of proliferation, migration, and invasion in CTC-TJH-01 and LLC cells, while inducing cellular apoptosis in vitro. Moreover, TSZAF mc substantially inhibited LLC cell growth and metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, TAZSF mc significantly suppressed the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and CXCL5 expression in lung cancer cells and tissues. Additionally, TAZSF mc notably reduced neutrophil infiltration in metastatic lesions. These findings indicate that TSZAF mc inhibits lung cancer growth and metastasis by suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and reducing CXCL5 secretion, thereby decreasing neutrophil recruitment and infiltration. TSZAF mc demonstrates potential as an effective therapeutic agent for lung cancer metastasis.
Lung Neoplasms/genetics* ; Wnt Signaling Pathway/drug effects* ; Animals ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Mice ; Neoplasm Metastasis/prevention & control* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Neutrophil Infiltration/drug effects* ; Down-Regulation/drug effects* ; Cell Movement/drug effects* ; beta Catenin/genetics* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Male ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating/drug effects*

Osteoarthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by damage to the articular cartilage, synovitis, and subchondral bone remodeling. Its pathological mechanisms involve extracellular matrix degradation, cell apoptosis, autophagy, and inflammatory responses. Among these, dysregulated apoptosis is a central driver of disease progression, making chondrocyte apoptosis a critical therapeutic target. This review summarizes current understanding of OA pathogenesis. Pro-inflammatory cytokines [e.g., interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and IL-6] exacerbate cartilage catabolism by activating signaling pathways like NF-κ B and MAPK. Chemokines, including the C-C motif chemokine ligand (CCL) family and the C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (CXC) family, amplify the inflammatory cascade by recruiting inflammatory cells, thereby contributing to the pathological process of osteoarthritis. In the study of programmed cell death, apoptosis is divided into extrinsic (death receptor pathway) and intrinsic (mitochondrial pathway) types. Both pathways induce chondrocyte apoptosis by activating the caspase cascade. Reactive oxygen species and inflammatory factors can promote excessive chondrocyte apoptosis through these pathways. Therapeutic strategies targeting apoptosis are diverse and include non-coding RNAs (miRNA, lncRNA, circRNA) that inhibit apoptosis by regulating related signaling pathways; phytochemicals that exert anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects; exosomes that suppress apoptosis by modulating immune responses and metabolism; and proteins/cytokines as well as melatonin, which protect chondrocytes by regulating specific signaling pathways. Clinical studies suggest these approaches hold promise for precision and personalized therapy, though challenges such as high cost, off-target effects, and drug resistance remain. In addition, drug delivery systems based on biomaterials (hydrogels) and nanotechnology can improve drug bioavailability and targeting. For example, drug-loaded hydrogels enable sustained release, and nanoparticles enhance drug stability and delivery efficiency, offering new perspectives for the treatment of osteoarthritis.

Objective:To explore the surgical strategies and clinical efficacy of open partial nephrectomy in the treatment of renal angiomyolipoma (AML) with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 5 patients with renal AML and inferior vena cava tumor thrombus who underwent partial nephrectomy at Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from October 2014 to December 2022. There were 2 male and 3 female patients, with a median age of 37 years, ranged from 33 to 45 years. All patients were identified during routine physical examinations. Four patients presented with right-sided lesions, while one had a left-sided lesion. The diameter of the primary tumor within the kidney ranged from 3.0 to 7.0 cm, with a median diameter of 5.5 cm.The length of the tumor thrombus within the inferior vena cava ranged from 1.0 to 6.0 cm, with a median length of 1.5 cm. Among them, 2 patients underwent laparoscopic nephrectomy combined with extracorporeal workbench tumor resection and autologous kidney transplantation (the workbench surgery group), while 3 patients underwent open in-situ partial nephrectomy combined with removal of inferior vena cava tumor thrombus (the in-situ nephron-sparing surgery group). The surgical method of the workbench surgery group: The patients first underwent laparoscopic nephrectomy on the affected side combined with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus removal, then the incision was extended to remove the affected kidney, and table partial nephrectomy was performed. After completely removing the tumor and tumor thrombus within the affected kidney and renal vein, autologous kidney transplantation was performed in the iliac fossa. The surgical method of the in-situ kidney preservation surgery group: The affected kidney, renal artery and vein on the affected side, inferior vena cava, and contralateral renal vein were dissected and exposed. The distal end of the inferior vena cava, the contralateral renal vein, the proximal end of the inferior vena cava, and the renal artery on the affected side were blocked respectively. The venous wall was opened in the middle of the renal vein, and the tumor thrombus was gradually pulled out. According to the pre-marked tumor boundary, the tumor within the kidney was gradually removed by alternate blunt and sharp dissection combined with suction, and the wound surface was sutured layer by layer. The perioperative conditions, complications, and follow-up results of the patients were analyzed.Results:All 5 surgeries were successfully completed, with a median operation time of 100 to 450 minutes and a median operation time of 200 minutes. The intraoperative bleeding volume was 100 to 600 ml, with the median of 150 ml. In the in-situ nephron-sparing surgery group, the renal artery occlusion time was 28 to 41 minutes, and the median occlusion time was 34 minutes. All patients were discharged safely after surgery, and there were no serious perioperative complications. The postoperative pathology of all 5 patients was renal angiomyolipoma, without any epithelioid components. The patients were followed up for 12 to 90 months, with a median follow-up duration of 24 months. None of the 5 patients had tumor recurrence or metastasis, and no patient developed chronic kidney dysfunction during follow-ups.Conclusions:Renal AML with venous tumor thrombus is a challenging clinical problem. In situ open partial nephrectomy or the combined approach through the workbench and autologous kidney transplantation can effectively remove the tumor thrombus and maximize the protection of renal function. For cases of ① multiple or complex renal AML; ② complex vascular system structure within the renal sinus requiring precise anatomy; ③ renal AML with a previous history of hemorrhage, complex adhesions around, and difficult dissociation, table partial nephrectomy combined with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus removal and autologous kidney transplantation can be selected. For cases where the expected surgical operation is simple, in situ open partial nephrectomy can significantly shorten the operation time and reduce surgical trauma.