Objectives: . This study aimed to explore the role of the Pcdh15 gene in hearing maintenance and to examine the effects of its deficiency on cochlear structure, cochlear function, and hearing loss in mice. Methods: . CRISPR/Cas9 technology was used to generate Pcdh15 knockout (KO) mice. Auditory function was evaluated using hearing tests, while histological approaches were employed to assess morphological changes in cochlear hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs). RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed on cochlear tissue from postnatal day 18 (P18) wild-type (WT) and Pcdh15 KO mice to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). These DEGs were subjected to functional annotation and pathway analysis, with particular emphasis on oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were quantified using flow cytometry and DCFH-DA assays. Results: . Pcdh15 KO mice exhibited progressive sensorineural hearing loss, which worsened to profound deafness by P18. Notably, cochlear hair cells and SGNs showed substantial loss and pronounced morphological abnormalities, particularly within the basal high-frequency region. RNA-seq analysis identified 1,359 DEGs, including 1,024 downregulated and 335 upregulated genes. Pathway analysis indicated that Pcdh15 deficiency was associated with inhibition of the OXPHOS pathway, potentially disrupting mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I, III, IV, and V and thereby impairing energy production and ATP metabolism. In addition, early-stage cochleae from KO mice demonstrated elevated ROS levels and increased oxidative stress, suggesting that redox imbalance may contribute to hearing damage. Conclusion . Pcdh15 plays a critical role in hearing maintenance. Its deficiency is associated with severe hearing loss and marked cochlear abnormalities, which are linked to inhibition of OXPHOS, disruption of energy metabolism, and exacerbation of oxidative stress. Together, these findings provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying hearing loss and suggest potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

Objective To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compound in treating pulmonary nodules, providing evidence-based medical evidence for TCM intervention in pulmonary nodules. Methods Computer search of PubMed, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and SinoMed was conducted to select randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of TCM compound intervention in pulmonary nodules, with the retrieval time from the inception to November 29, 2023. The Cochrane bias risk assessment tool was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies, and Review Manager 5.4 was used for Meta-analysis. Results A total of 18 RCTs were included, covering 8 provinces across the country, with a total sample size of 1301 patients. The TCM compounds used in the included studies all incorporated the method of dissolving phlegm and dissipating nodules. There was a high risk of bias uncertainty in the included studies. Meta-analysis results suggested that TCM compound could significantly reduce the diameter of pulmonary nodules [MD=−1.41, 95%CI (−1.70, −1.13), P<0.001], decrease the number of nodules [MD=−0.37, 95%CI (−0.73, −0.01), P=0.05], alleviate clinical symptoms [MD=−4.84, 95%CI (−6.04, −3.64), P<0.001], and improve lung function [forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), MD=0.55, 95%CI (0.09, 1.01), P=0.02; FEV1/forced vital capacity, MD=6.12, 95%CI (4.47, 7.78), P<0.001]. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the probability of malignancy between the experimental group and the control group [MD=−0.01, 95%CI (−0.01, 0.00), P=0.09]. Conclusion TCM compound can significantly reduce the diameter of pulmonary nodules, decrease the number of nodules, alleviate clinical symptoms, and improve lung function, but future multicenter, large-sample, high-quality RCTs are still needed to further explore and verify this conclusion.

Objective:To analyze the effects of parenting care map of premature infants on parenting competence and parenting stress of primipara, with a view to providing a theoretical basis for the development, implementation and modification of clinical interventions.Methods:Convenient sampling method was used to select primigravid women who gave birth in Lishui Maternal and Child Health Hospital from January 2023 to January 2024 for randomized controlled study, which was divided into the observation group and the control group according to the random number table. The control group received routine nursing, and the observation group guided the parents of premature infants to draw the child care map together on the basis of the control group. The scores of Chinese version of parenting sense of competence scale ( C-PSOC ) and Chinese version of Simplified Parenting Stress Index ( PSI-SF ) before and after intervention were compared.Results:A total of 120 cases of primiparous women who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled, 60 cases in the control group and 60 cases in the observation group. The age of the control group was (26.25 ± 3.93) years, and the age of the observation group was (25.86 ± 4.22) years. Before the intervention, the difference between the C-PSOC dimension scores and total scores, PSI-SF dimension scores and total scores of the 2 groups was not statistically significant (all P>0.05). After the intervention, the maternal C-PSOC efficacy, satisfaction dimension scores and total scores of primiparous women in the observation group were (32.05 ± 6.27), (40.29 ± 8.19), and (72.23 ± 9.39) points, respectively, which were higher than those of the control group, which were (28.46 ± 6.47), (37.08 ± 8.06), and (65.53 ± 10.24) points, and the differences between the 2 groups were all statistically significant ( t = 3.09, 2.16, 3.74, all P<0.05). After the intervention, the PSI-SF scores and total scores of primiparous women in the observation group on the dimensions of parental distress, personal interaction disorder, and difficult child were (24.43 ± 5.44), (27.51 ± 6.53), (29.47 ± 5.82), and (81.54 ± 10.38) points, respectively, which were lower than those of the control group (28.57 ± 5.52), (30.19 ± 7.02), (32.78 ± 5.37), and (90.97 ± 10.12) points, and the differences between the 2 groups were all statistically significant ( t = 4.41, 2.17, 3.23, 5.04, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Premature child care map can effectively improve the parenting sense of competence of primiparas and reduce their parenting pressure. It is a convenient and effective nursing intervention tool.

Various researches have reported on the relationship between homocysteine levels and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Researchers are increasingly focusing on the impact of homocysteine on female reproductive health and figuring out the potential positive effects of lowering homocysteine levels on women fertility. Our review aims to systematically summarize the possible roles of homocysteine in female reproductive disorders based on relevant studies from the past 15 years and therapeutic prospects targeting homocysteine to improve the reproductive health of women.

Purpose To investigate the expression of thioredoxin-interacting protein(TXNIP)in placental tissues of gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM)and its role in lipid deposition in the placental trophoblast.Methods The pla-centa tissues of 16 GDM pregnant women and 25 women with normal glucose tolerance(NGT)were collected.Mean-while,in vitro models of high-glucose induced human chorionic trophoblast cells(HTR-8/SVneo)were established,which were divided into normal glucose control group(NG),high glucose group(HG),high glucose+si nonsense in-terference group(HG+siNC)and high glucose+TXNIP siRNA group(HG+siTXNIP).The pathological structure and morphological changes of placenta were observed by HE staining.Lipid droplet formation was detected by oil red O staining.The expression and localization of TXNIP in cells were detected by immunocytochemical EnVision method.The mRNA and protein expression levels of TXNIP and lipogenic protein SREBP1 were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blot.The relationships between TXNIP expression and lipid droplet accumulation in-duced by high glucose was analyzed.Results High glucose results in abnormal placental structure of GDM.The area of human chorionic intervillous tissue in placenta of GDM group was decreased,the size of fetal capillaries was different and the lumen was dilated.Compared with those NGT group,the accumulation of lipid droplets and the expression of TXNIP mRNA and protein in placental tissue of GDM were increased(P＜0.05).The TXNIP and SREBP1 were up-regulated and the formation of droplets increased in high glucose induced HTR-8/SVneo cells(P＜0.05).On the con-trary,TXNIP siRNA transfection reversed the gene expression level and lipid deposition in high glucose induced cells(P＜0.05).Conclusion TXNIP is involved in abnormal lipid deposition in the placental trophoblast of GDM.

Objective:To explore the effect of Shenxianling granules on the pharmacokinetics of ondansetron. Methods:A method for detecting the plasma concentration of ondansetron using highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was established. The reliability of the method was validated through specificity, linear relationship, precision, stability, repeated experiments, and sample recovery rate testing. Thirty six healthy male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 2 groups, with 18 rabbits in each group. Rabbits in the single ondansetron group (single drug group) received intravenous injection of ondansetron 0.92 mg/kg through the ear vein. Rabbits in the Shenxianling granules combined with ondansetron group (combination drug group) were firstly given 575 mg/kg of Shenxianling granules by gavage continuously for 10 days, and on the morning of the 11th day, ondansetron 0.92 mg/kg was intravenously injected. Blood samples were collected before administration and at 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours, 6 hours, 7 hours, 8 hours, 10 hours and 24 hours after administration of ondansetron. The blood concentration of ondansetron was detected using HPLC method and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculate. Results:Two New Zealand rabbits in the combination drug group developed agitation and cough, and then died on the second and fifth day of gavage, respectively. Therefore a total of 18 and 16 rabbits in the single drug group and the combination drug group completed the experiment, respectively. After ondansetron administration, the plasma concentration of ondansetron increased rapidly in the single drug group and remained at low levels in the combination drug group. From 5 minutes to 10 hours after administration, the plasma concentration of ondansetron at the 13 blood sampling time points in the combination drug group was significantly lower than that in the single drug group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.001). Compared with the single drug group, the plasma clearance half-life of ondansetron in the combination drug group was significantly prolonged, the peak time, peak concentration, concentration at the last time and area under the curve (AUC) were all significantly reduced, and the percen- tage of residual or extrapolated area to the overall AUC, apparent volume of distribution, and clearance/bioavailability ratio were significantly increased; the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.001). Conclusions:There is a significant interaction between Shenxianling granules and ondansetron, leading to a decreased plasma concentration of ondansetron. The mechanism may be related to Shenxianling granules altering the tissue distribution of ondansetron within the body.

Objective:To explore the effects of 4C management mode on rehabilitation and quality of life in patients with acute heart failure(AHF)in cardiovascular intensive care unit(CCU).Methods:This randomized controlled study enrolled 110 patients with AHF admitted in CCU of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between February 2021 and February 2023.Patients were randomly divided into intervention group(n=55)and control group(n=55).Patients in the control group received routine intervention,while those in the inter-vention group received additional 4C management mode,both groups were intervened for 3 months.The indexes of cardiac function,self-efficacy,exercise tolerance,blood oxygen saturation(SpO2),mental state and quality of life were compared between the two groups.Results:Compared to those in the control group after intervention,patients in the intervention group had significantly lower interventricular septal thickness(IVST)[(9.20±0.10)mm vs.(10.30±0.17)mm,P＜0.001],left ventricular end-systolic volume index(LVESVI)[(35.21±0.74)ml/m2 vs.(39.70±1.09)ml/m2,P＜0.001],left ventricular end-diastolic volume index(LVED VI)[(45.35±0.71)ml/m2 vs.(56.76±1.48)ml/m2,P＜0.001],scores of self-rating anxiety scale(SAS)[(32.10±1.57)points vs.(45.36±1.94)points,P＜0.001],self-rating depression scale(SDS)[(35.03±1.52)points vs.(47.70±2.12)points,P＜0.001]and Minnesota living with heart failure questionnaire(MLHFQ)[(51.27±2.85)points vs.(56.46±3.53)points,P＜0.001],and significantly higher score of general self-efficacy scale(GSES)[(28.71±3.84)points vs.(20.34±1.56)points,P＜0.001],6 min walking distance(6MWD)[(428.53±5.50)m vs.(362.14±6.18)m,P＜0.001]and SpO2[(99.11±0.87)％vs.(94.23±0.73)％,P＜0.001].Conclusion:4C management mode may improve the cardiac function,self-efficacy,mental state and quality of life in patients with acute heart failure in CCU.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies