AIM: To investigate the distribution characteristics of pathogens in patients with post-traumatic infectious endophthalmitis(PTIE)and their relationship with serum levels of macrophage inflammatory protein 1α(MIP-1α), heat shock protein 70(HSP70), and soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1(sTREM-1).METHODS:A total of 157 patients with PTIE from the Handan City Eye Hospital(The Third Hospital of Handan)from May 2023 to May 2025 were selected as the study group. They were divided into a good prognosis group and a poor prognosis group based on their uncorrected visual acuity at discharge. Meanwhile, 157 patients with ocular trauma but without endophthalmitis during the same period were selected as control group 1, and 157 healthy volunteers who underwent physical examinations during the same period were selected as control group 2. Aqueous humor and vitreous fluid samples were collected from the study group to detect the distribution of pathogens. The levels of serum MIP-1α, HSP70, and sTREM-1 were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for poor prognosis. The predictive value of serum MIP-1α, HSP70, and sTREM-1 levels for poor prognosis was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)and decision curve analysis(DCA).RESULTS: The general data of the participants in the three groups was comparable. A total of 173 pathogens were detected in the 157 patients with PTIE, with Gram-positive bacteria being the predominant type. The levels of serum MIP-1α and sTREM-1 in the study group were higher than those in control groups 1 and 2, while the level of HSP70 was lower than those in control groups 1 and 2(all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the levels of serum MIP-1α, HSP70, and sTREM-1 between control groups 1 and 2(all P>0.05). In the poor prognosis group, the time of wound suture was ≥24 h, the wound location was in zones II/III, the type of trauma was rupture, the proportion of rupture injuries, and the levels of serum C-reactive protein, MIP-1α, and sTREM-1 were higher than those in the good prognosis group, while the level of HSP70 was decreased(all P<0.001). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the time of wound suture, wound location, type of trauma, C-reactive protein, MIP-1α, HSP70, and sTREM-1 were risk factors for poor visual prognosis in patients with PTIE(all P<0.05). The ROC curve results showed that the combined prediction of serum MIP-1α, HSP70, and sTREM-1 for poor visual prognosis in PTIE patients had an AUC value of 0.965, which was significantly higher than that of individual predictions(ZMIP-1α, ZHSP70, ZsTREM-1=3.628, 4.705, 3.930, all P<0.05). Additionally, the DCA curve showed that the combined prediction had a higher net benefit rate than individual predictions in the high-risk threshold range of 0.03-0.97.CONCLUSION:Gram-positive bacteria are the predominant type of pathogenic bacteria in patients with PTIE, with elevated levels of serum MIP-1α and sTREM-1 and decreased levels of HSP70. The combined detection of these three factors has a high predictive efficacy for visual prognosis in patients.

Tumor treating fields (TTF) therapy is an innovative tumor treatment modality. Currently, the TTF devices predominantly employ insulated ceramic electrodes as the electric field transmission medium, resulting in low energy transfer efficiency of the electric field and poor portability of the devices. This study proposed an innovative TTF transmission mode and independently designed a conducted-electrode TTF cell culture dish utilizing inert titanium materials. The electric field conduction characteristics were verified through finite element simulations and experimental tests. Finally, based on the self-manufactured conducted-electrode TTF cell culture dish, experiments on the proliferation inhibition of U87 tumor cells by TTF were conducted. The results demonstrated that under an applied TTF voltage of 10 V and frequency of 200 kHz, the electric field intensities within the medium for conducted and insulated electrodes are approximately 2.5 V/cm and 0.7 V/cm, respectively. Compared to conventional insulated TTF systems, the conducted-electrode TTF configuration exhibited a lower electrode voltage drop and a higher electric field intensity in the culture medium, indicating superior electric field transmission efficiency. Following 36 hours of treatment with conducted-electrode TTF on U87 cells, the proliferation inhibition rate reached approximately 50%, demonstrating effective suppression of tumor cell growth. This approach presents a potential direction for optimizing TTF treatment modality and device design.
Humans ; Electrodes ; Neoplasms/pathology* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation/radiation effects* ; Electric Stimulation Therapy/methods* ; Electromagnetic Fields

Objective This study aims to investigate the effect of berberine (Ber) on foam cell formation induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) in macrophages and to explore the mechanism's association with the ACE2-Ang(1-7)-Mas axis. Methods They were randomly divided into blank group, model group (RAW264.7 cells induced with 60 μg/mL ox-LDL), and berberine group (the model treated with berberine interventions at 2.5, 5, and 10 μmol/L concentrations). Lipid accumulation within the cells was assessed by Oil Red O staining, and the content of lipid droplets in each group was quantitatively analyzed by enzymatic method. The content of total cholesterol (TC) and free cholesterol (FC) in foam cells were detected by enzymatic method. The levels of oxidative stress factors (malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH)), inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α), and nitric oxide (NO) were measured using corresponding relevant reagent kits. The mRNA and protein expressions of ACE2 and Mas were evaluated through quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. The levels of AngII and Ang(1-7) were detected by ELISA. Results Compared with the model group, the berberine groups exhibited reduced lipid droplet accumulation and a dose-dependent decrease in intracellular lipid content. Berberine significantly lowered TC and FC levels in foam cells and reduced the CE/TC ratio. The levels of the oxidative factor MDA were significantly reduced, while the levels of the antioxidant factors SOD and GSH were markedly increased. Inflammatory factors TNF-α and NO were significantly decreased. The expression of the ACE2-Ang(1-7)-Mas signaling pathway was significantly activated, and the effect was more pronounced in the Ber group with high-concentration compared to the group with low-concentration, demonstrating a dose-dependent response. Conclusion Berberine can inhibit macrophage foam cell formation, potentially through upregulation of the ACE2-Ang(1-7)-Mas signaling pathway, thereby contributing to the alleviation of atherosclerosis.
Berberine/pharmacology* ; Foam Cells/cytology* ; Animals ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Mice ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 ; Angiotensin I/genetics* ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/genetics* ; Peptide Fragments/genetics* ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/genetics* ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins/genetics* ; Proto-Oncogene Mas ; Lipoproteins, LDL/pharmacology* ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.07.004.].

Objective To explore the medication rules and therapeutic principles of Zhang Jingyue's miscarriage prevention therapies based on data mining technique and literature analysis.Methods The prescription data recorded in the chapter about pregnancy and fetal development from the volume of Women's Diseases in Jing Yue Quan Shu(Jingyue's Complete Works)were collected to establish a database.Frequency analysis,association analysis,and cluster analysis of the herbal medicines from the prescriptions for preventing miscarriage were performed using SPSS Modeler 18.0 and SPSS Statistics 26.0 to investigate Zhang's medication rules.Additionally,discussions on miscarriage prevention in the chapter about pregnancy and fetal development were systematically reviewed to summarize his therapeutic principles.Results A total of 76 miscarriage-prevention prescriptions involving 102 herbal medicinals were analyzed.Among them,26 high-frequency herbal medicinals(used≥5 times)were identified,and primarily belonged to the tonifying deficiency category(11 medicinals).Association analysis revealed 10 association rules with high support,such as"Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma→Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma"and"Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle→Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma,Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma".The network graph of drug association presented high-correlation herbs including Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle,Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma,Poria,Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma,and Angelicae Sinensis Radix.Cluster analysis yielded four core prescription groups:(1)Ziziphi Spinosae Semen,Polygalae Radix,Dioscoreae Rhizoma,and Corni Fructus;(2)Paeoniae Radix Alba,Chuanxiong Rhizoma,Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata,Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma,Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma,Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle,Angelicae Sinensis Radix,Poria,and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium;(3)Rehmanniae Radix,Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma,and Scutellariae Radix;(4)Pinelliae Rhizoma,Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex,Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens,and Jujubae Fructus.Zhang's therapeutic principles for preventing miscarriage were as follows:(1)treating primary diseases together by preventing miscarriage;(2)monthly-specific cultivation of the fetus to preemptively address deficiencies;(3)emphasis on maternal health to consolidate fetal vitality;(4)strict adherence to medication and dietary contraindications and lifestyle management during pregnancy.Conclusion Zhang Jingyue's miscarriage-prevention principles emphasize etiological diagnosis with dual focus on treating primary diseases and preventing miscarriage.His therapies prioritize replenishing qi and blood,skillfully regulating spleen-stomach function and qi movement by employing special and mild herbs and prescribing simplified and flexible formulas.These medication rules and therapeutic principles may provide valuable references for modern miscarriage-prevention strategies.

Objective To investigate the impact of smoking cessation on high-resolution compu-ted tomography(HRCT)phenotypes in smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)and its relationship with the frequency of acute exacerbations.Methods A retrospective study was conducted in 237 smokers with COPD who could cooperate with a 1-year follow-up.Among them,160 patients underwent a comprehensive 1-year smoking cessation intervention,and were divided into smoking cessation failure group(87 patients)and smoking cessation success group(73 patients)based on whether they successfully quited smoking.The remaining 77 smokers with COPD who did not receive smoking cessation intervention were designated as smoking group.HRCT phenotypes,total lung volume(TLV),total emphysema volume(TEV),emphysema index(EI)and the number of acute exacerbation at different time points were compared among the three groups.Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation between smoking cessation and the number of acute exac-erbations.Results There was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of A phenotype patients among the three groups before intervention and at 3 and 6 months of intervention(P＞0.05).At the 9th and 12th months of intervention,the proportion of patients with A phenotype in the smoking group was lower than that in the smoking cessation failure group and smoking cessation success group(P＜0.05).Before the intervention and at the 3rd,6th and 9th months of interven-tion,there were no statistically significant differences in the proportion of patients with E phenotype among the three groups(P＞0.05).Before intervention and at the 3rd and 6th months of interven-tion,there were no statistically significant differences in the proportion of patients with M phenotype among the three groups(P＞0.05).At the 9th and 12th months of intervention,the proportion of patients with M phenotype in the smoking group was higher than that in the smoking cessation failure group and smoking cessation success group(P＜0.05).Before intervention,there were no statisti-cally significant differences in TLV,TEV and EI among the three groups(P＞0.05).One year af-ter the intervention,TLV,TEV and El in the smoking cessation failure group and smoking cessation success group were lower than those in the smoking group(P＜0.05).At the 3rd,6th,9th and 12th months of intervention,the number of acute exacerbations in the the smoking cessation failure group and smoking cessation success group was less than that in the smoking group(P＜0.05).At the 9th and 12th months of intervention,the number of acute exacerbation in the smoking cessation success group was less than that in the smoking cessation failure group(P＜0.05).The results of Pearson correlation analysis showed that smoking cessation was negatively correlated with the number of acute exacerbation in smokers with COPD(P＜0.05),and this negative correlation gradually in-creased with the extension of smoking cessation duration.Conclusion Smoking cessation can im-prove HRCT phenotypes and effectively reduce the number of acute exacerbation in smokers with COPD.

Objective To analyze the difference of diseases between the coal mine workers and the general population inpatients by the disease spectrum in Datong City. Methods A total of 282 639 hospitalized patients in Datong City in 2023 were included as the study subjects. Participants were divided into a general population group and a coal mine workers group based on health insurance types, with 247 897 and 34 742 cases, respectively. The disease spectrum of participants in both groups was coded and analyzed according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision (ICD-10). The standardized constituent ratios of disease categories were calculated and compared between the two groups. Results Patients aged 60-<70 years had the largest standardized proportion in both cohorts (29.02% in the general population group and 33.08% in coal mine workers group). Circulatory system diseases had the highest standardized proportion in both groups. Within the top six disease categories ranked by standardized composition ratio in the coal mine workers, three demonstrated a higher burden, including neoplasms (C00-D48), symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical/laboratory findings not elsewhere classified (R00-R99), and factors influencing health status/contact with health services (Z00-Z99), compared with the general population (11.82% vs 10.44%, 12.99% vs 8.03%, and 6.17% vs 2.04%, respectively). In both groups, male workers had higher standardized constituent ratios of circulatory, respiratory, and digestive system diseases than females (coal mine workers group, 19.53% vs 14.31%, 13.56% vs 9.10%, 10.61% vs 8.43%; general population group, 26.15% vs 22.42%, 15.45% vs 11.87%, 11.52% vs 10.41%). Conversely, the ratios for conditions classified under symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical/laboratory findings not elsewhere classified (R00-R99). and factors influencing health status/contact with health services (Z00-Z99) were higher in females than males (coal mine workers group, 13.31% vs 12.68%, 7.26% vs 5.13%; general population group, 8.91% vs 7.18%, 2.35% vs 1.74%). Mental and behavioral disorders (F00-F99) were most prevalent in the 22-<50-year age group in the general population (9.92%) and in the 50-<60-year age group in coal mine workers (8.58%). The standardized proportion of respiratory system diseases ranked first in≥80-year age workers in general population group and coal mine workers group (29.54% and 26.46%, respectively). Regarding specific malignancies, unspecified malignant neoplasm of the bronchus or lung was the most common cancer among males in both groups (3.44% and 3.62%). Among females, the standardized proportion of unspecified malignant neoplasm of breast was higher in coal mine workers group than in the general population group (2.60% vs 2.09%). Conclusion Neoplasms, abnormal symptoms, and mental health disorders should be prioritized in disease prevention strategies for coal mine workers. Greater attention should be paid to mental health screening in younger populations, and medical resource allocation should be optimized according to sex-specific high-incidence cancers.

Objective To analyze the influencing factors of unplanned extubation(UE)occurrence of peripherally inserted central catheter(PICC)in the patients with hematological diseases.Methods A retro-spective cohort study method was adopted.The data of 7 298 patients with hematological diseases implanted with PICC catheter and followed up to its removal from January 1,2016 to December 31,2020 in the Hematol-ogy Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were collected,including the demographic information,catheterization records,maintenance and extubation records.According to whether UE occurring,they were divided into the UE group(n=262)and normal extubation group(n=7 036).The general data were com-pared between the two groups.The COX regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of UE in pa-tients with hematological diseases.The dose-effect relationship between age and PICC UE occurrence risk was studied by the restrictive cubic spline method.Results The incidence rate of UE was 3.6％(262/7 298).The COX regression analysis results showed that the gender,disease diagnosis,fibrinogen,prothrombin time,PLT,catheter material,number of punctures during catheterization,positioning method of catheter tip,num-ber of catheter-related complications occurrence were related to PICC UE occurrence in the patients with he-matological diseases(P＜0.05).The results of restricted cubic spline showed that there was a"U"-type non-linear relationship between age and UE risk(X2=17.710,P＜0.05),and the risk of UE was the lowest when the age was 30 years old.Conclusion In PICC,the emphasis should be paid to the male patients with hemato-logical malignancies who have repeated punctures during catheterization,no intracardiac electrocardiographic positioning during catheterization,bleeding tendency,indwelling polyurethane catheters and repeated catheter-related complications in order to decrease the UC occurrence probability.

Objective:To investigate the current status and influencing factors of care preparedness in primary caregivers of children with acute leukemia, so as to provide theoretical basis for targeted nursing intervention plans in the future.Methods:A total of 160 primary caregivers of children with acute leukemia in Hematology Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences recruited by convenient sampling were investigated by the general data questionnaire, the Preparedness for Caregiving Scale, the Herth Hope Index, the Family Caregiver Task Inventory and the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale-Family Member Form. Descriptive analysis, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, Spearman rank correlation and multiple stepwise liner regression were used for statistical analysis. Results:One hundred and fifty-nine questionnaires were effectively collected, including 13 males and 146 females, aged (34.61 ± 8.60) years old. The total score of care preparedness, hope, uncertainty in illness, care ability for caregivers were (26.47 ± 7.53), (37.72 ± 4.11), (61.96 ± 17.02), (15.06 ± 12.94) points. The total score of care preparedness for caregivers was negatively correlated with the score of uncertainty in illness( r=-0.300, P<0.05), and positively correlated with the hope and care ability of main caregivers ( r=0.166, 0.254, both P<0.05). Caregivers′ uncertainty in illness, caregiver gender, availability of other caregivers, caregivers′ hope entered the multiple stepwise regression equation, which could explain 20.4% of the total variation of resilience. Conclusions:The preparation of the primary caregivers for children with acute leukemia is at a medium level. The primary caregivers who are male, who have insufficient knowledge of the disease, who have no co-caregivers, and who have low hope level should be focused on in clinical practice. Pertinent measures should be taken to improve care preparedness and care quality.