OBJECTIVE:Disorders in iron metabolism increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.Hepcidin play an important role in maintaining iron homeostasis in the body,but its level increases with increased inflammation.Changes in hepcidin and iron homeostasis and the extent of their association with inflammation in people with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus are unknown.Meta-analysis was used to evaluate the effect of inflammation on serum hepcidin and iron metabolism related parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.METHODS:CNKI,PubMed,Web of Science and EBSCOhost databases were searched by computer to collect observational studies related to inflammatory index and hepcidin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.The search time was from September 1,2000 to September 30,2024.Three researchers independently screened the literature,extracted data and evaluated the quality of the included literature.Meta-analysis was performed by Review Manager 5.3,Stata 17.0 and GraphPad Prism 8.0.2 software.RESULTS:A total of 15 articles(17 studies)involving 3 159 participants,including 1 357 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus,were included.Meta-analysis results showed that compared with the control group,patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus had higher levels of serum hepcidin[standardized mean difference(SMD)=0.35,95％confidence interval(CI)(0.05,0.65),P＜0.05],serum ferritin(SMD=0.49,95％CI(0.21,0.78),P＜0.01)and serum transferrin(SMD=0.19,95％CI(0.00,0.37),P＜0.05).Subgroup analysis results indicated that inflammation had a significant effect on serum hepcidin(SMD=0.76,95％CI(0.17,1.34),P＜0.05)and serum ferritin(SMD=0.77,95％CI(0.06,1.47),P＜0.05)in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.CONCLUSION:Hepcidin concentration is positively correlated with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Inflammation is one of the risk factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus.Early prevention of inflammation has certain significance in preventing iron metabolism disorder in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Symptom and syndrome efficacy evaluation scales are indispensable tools for clinical efficacy assessment in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， and hold significant value at all stages of new drug research development for spleen and stomach diseases. These scales can provide scientific basis for clinical positioning， efficacy evaluation， and expansion of indications of new drugs. By analyzing the current hotspots and difficulties in research， this study aims to explore the important significance of these scales in the development of new drugs for spleen and stomach diseases， summarize the domestic research progress， and conduct comparative analyses with international studies. Future development trends are also discussed in order to promote the application of symptom and syndrome efficacy evaluation scales in the development of new drugs for spleen and stomach diseases and to advance the moder-nization process of TCM.

BackgroundAnxiety symptoms have become a public health issue affecting the physical and mental health of the elderly population. Mental health literacy is a predictor of anxiety symptoms in the elderly. Currently， there are limited studies on the pathogenic mechanism between the two. Exploring the relationship and mechanism between mental health literacy and anxiety symptoms among the elderly is of great significance for improving the mental health level of the elderly. ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of mental health literacy on anxiety symptoms in the elderly， and to analyze the role of insomnia in this process， in order to provide references for the formulation of prevention and intervention strategies for anxiety symptoms in the elderly. MethodsFrom August 2021 to December 2022， a total of 10 650 older adults aged 60 years old and above were selected from a city in Sichuan Province using a multistage stratified sampling method. Participants completed the self-compiled demographic questionnaire， the Insomnia Severity Index （ISI）， the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 item （GAD-7）， and the National Mental Health Literacy Questionnaire （NMHLQ）. Spearman correlation analysis was adopted to examine the correlation between the scores of the scales. Model 4 in SPSS 27.0 plugin Process 4.1 was employed to test the pathway of insomnia between mental health literacy （and its various dimensions） and anxiety symptoms. ResultsAmong the participants， 9 609 cases （90.23%） completed the valid questionnaire survey， and 1 680 cases （17.48%） were found to have anxiety symptoms. The total score of the NMHLQ for the elderly， as well as the scores of the knowledge， awareness， and skills dimensions， were negatively correlated with the GAD-7 score and the ISI score （r_s=-0.506–-0.054， P<0.01）， and the ISI score was positively correlated with the GAD-7 score （r_s=0.666， P<0.01）. Insomnia served as the mediating pathway between the mental health literacy and anxiety symptoms， with an indirect effect value of -0.210 （95% CI： -0.227–-0.193）， accounting for 54.97% of the total effect. Insomnia was the mediating pathway between the mental health literacy knowledge and anxiety symptoms of the elderly， with an indirect effect value of -0.161 （95% CI： -0.178–-0.144）， accounting for 52.61% of the total effect. Insomnia played a mediating role in the relationship between the awareness of mental health literacy and anxiety symptoms， with an indirect effect value of -0.323 （95% CI： -0.342–-0.302）， accounting for 76.36% of the total effect. Insomnia was the mediating pathway between the mental health literacy skills and anxiety symptoms of the elderly， with an indirect effect value of -0.172 （95% CI： -0.187–-0.159）， accounting for 53.75% of the total effect. ConclusionThe dimensions of mental health literacy， knowledge， awareness and skills of the elderly not only directly affect anxiety symptoms， but also indirectly influence anxiety symptoms through the pathway of insomnia.［Funded by Medical Research Project Plan of Sichuan Province （number， S23049）］

Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is a clinically acute abdominal disease with high risk of death. In recent years, substantial evidence has demonstrated that intestinal flora imbalance plays a key role in its occurrence and development. SAP can destroy the intestinal microenvironment, mediate dysbiosis of microbiota, and lead to impaired intestinal barrier function, causing bacterial/endotoxin translocation, thereby exacerbating systemic immune inflammatory response, forming a vicious circle, and ultimately inducing multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), which seriously threatens the life of patients. With the deepening of research, some clinical intestinal flora-related intervention measures have become one of the important strategies for SAP treatment. This paper aims to explore the interaction mechanism between intestinal flora imbalance and SAP, with an emphasis on summarizing the effectiveness of current intervention strategies, including the application of probiotics, prebiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and other microecological regulation methods, so as to provide ideas and guidance for clinical improvement of SAP prognosis.

ObjectiveTo clarify whether METTL14 mediates the core role of acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) in promoting myelination and improving behavior in young autistic rats through gene intervention technology. MethodsThe ASD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of valproic acid (VPA) in pregnant rats. Male offspring were intracerebroventricularly injected with adenovirus-packaged METTL14 shRNA (sh-METTL14) or its control (sh-NC) on postnatal day 1, with a model group set as well. Subsequently, the juvenile rats were divided into model group, acupuncture group, acupuncture+sh-NC group, and acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group. The acupuncture group received acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) from postnatal day 7, once daily for 21 consecutive days. Neurobehavioral changes were evaluated by behavioral tests; METTL14 knockdown efficiency and the expression of METTL14, METTL3, and PTEN were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot (WB); PTEN m⁶A levels were measured by RNA immunoprecipitation-qPCR (RIP-qPCR); myelin ultrastructure, expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) and neurofascin 155 (NF155), and dendritic spine density were observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and primary neuron culture. ResultsBehaviorally, knockdown of METTL14 significantly counteracted the beneficial effects of acupuncture in improving self-grooming, open field exploration, three-chamber social interaction, and Morris water maze learning and memory (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the acupuncture+sh-NC group, the acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group showed significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression of hippocampal METTL14 (P<0.01), and the upregulating effects of acupuncture on METTL3 and PTEN expression were reversed (P<0.01). Meanwhile, knockdown of METTL14 significantly inhibited the acupuncture-induced increase in PTEN m⁶A levels (P<0.01). Morphologically, knockdown of METTL14 attenuated the improvement of myelin structure by acupuncture, reversed the downregulation of MBP and upregulation of NF155 induced by acupuncture, and blocked the increase in dendritic spine density (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionMETTL14 is a key molecule mediating the therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Neiguan. Acupuncture at Neiguan upregulates METTL14, thereby enhancing m⁶A methylation modification of PTEN mRNA to stabilize its expression, ultimately promoting myelin development and improving behavioral symptoms in ASD juvenile rats. This preliminarily reveals the modern biological connotation of “opening Xuanfu and dredging myelin”.

Objective To explore the prevalence of depressive symptoms in postoperative patients with ovarian cancer and to analyze its influencing factors from multiple dimensions, including clinical characteristics, psychological factors, and laboratory indicators. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted, which enrolled 235 postoperative patients with ovarian cancer. Depressive status was assessed using the patient health questionnaire, and the demographic, pathological, and medical record data of the patients were collected using the generalized anxiety disorder scale, Pittsburgh sleep quality index, European organization for research and treatment of cancer quality of life questionnaire core 30, and ECOG performance status score. Peripheral blood tumor marker (CA125), routine blood test, lymphocyte subsets, and serum cytokine levels were measured. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results The prevalence of depression in postoperative patients with ovarian cancer was 39.15% (92/235). Univariate analysis showed that ECOG score ≥ 2 points, pain, anxiety, poor sleep quality, low quality of life, low life satisfaction, tumor recurrence, six or more cycles of chemotherapy, as well as higher levels of CA125, NLR, and NAR, and lower hemoglobin levels were significantly associated with depression (all P<0.05). Multivariate binary Logistic regression analysis showed that anxiety (OR=1.975, 95%CI: 1.231-3.170), sleep efficiency (OR=4.181, 95%CI: 1.211-14.43), sleep latency (OR=34.806, 95%CI: 4.258-284.542), ECOG performance status score, cognitive function (OR=0.918, 95%CI: 0.868-0.97), and life satisfaction were independent risk factors for depression (all P<0.05). Laboratory indicators were not independent influencing factors in the multivariate Logistic regression model. Conclusion Depression in postoperative patients with ovarian cancer is influenced by physiological, psychological, and social factors. Clinical management should focus on patients with anxiety, sleep disorders, poor physical condition, and low life satisfaction, and a comprehensive prevention and treatment strategy centered on psychological intervention and taking into account symptom management and social support should be implemented.

ObjectiveTo clarify whether METTL14 mediates the core role of acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) in promoting myelination and improving behavior in young autistic rats through gene intervention technology. MethodsThe ASD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of valproic acid (VPA) in pregnant rats. Male offspring were intracerebroventricularly injected with adenovirus-packaged METTL14 shRNA (sh-METTL14) or its control (sh-NC) on postnatal day 1, with a model group set as well. Subsequently, the juvenile rats were divided into model group, acupuncture group, acupuncture+sh-NC group, and acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group. The acupuncture group received acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) from postnatal day 7, once daily for 21 consecutive days. Neurobehavioral changes were evaluated by behavioral tests; METTL14 knockdown efficiency and the expression of METTL14, METTL3, and PTEN were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot (WB); PTEN m⁶A levels were measured by RNA immunoprecipitation-qPCR (RIP-qPCR); myelin ultrastructure, expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) and neurofascin 155 (NF155), and dendritic spine density were observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and primary neuron culture. ResultsBehaviorally, knockdown of METTL14 significantly counteracted the beneficial effects of acupuncture in improving self-grooming, open field exploration, three-chamber social interaction, and Morris water maze learning and memory (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the acupuncture+sh-NC group, the acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group showed significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression of hippocampal METTL14 (P<0.01), and the upregulating effects of acupuncture on METTL3 and PTEN expression were reversed (P<0.01). Meanwhile, knockdown of METTL14 significantly inhibited the acupuncture-induced increase in PTEN m⁶A levels (P<0.01). Morphologically, knockdown of METTL14 attenuated the improvement of myelin structure by acupuncture, reversed the downregulation of MBP and upregulation of NF155 induced by acupuncture, and blocked the increase in dendritic spine density (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionMETTL14 is a key molecule mediating the therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Neiguan. Acupuncture at Neiguan upregulates METTL14, thereby enhancing m⁶A methylation modification of PTEN mRNA to stabilize its expression, ultimately promoting myelin development and improving behavioral symptoms in ASD juvenile rats. This preliminarily reveals the modern biological connotation of “opening Xuanfu and dredging myelin”.

OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and safety of vedolizumab （VDZ） versus infliximab （IFX） in biologic-naive（Bio-naive） patients with moderate-to-severe active ulcerative colitis （UC）， and to analyze the factors influencing efficacy. METHODS Clinical data were retrospectively collected from Bio-naive patients with moderate-to-severe active UC who received treatment in the Department of Gastroenterology at Shanxi Provincial People’s Hospital from June 2023 to June 2024. Based on the type of biologic agent administered， the patients were divided into the IFX group （41 cases） and the VDZ group （30 cases）. Patients in the two groups received IFX （5 mg/kg） or VDZ （300 mg） for induction and maintenance of remission therapy. The two groups were compared regarding modified Mayo score， serological indicators （hemoglobin， albumin， platelet count， erythrocyte sedimentation rate， C-reactive protein）， combined medication， efficacy-related indexes （clinical response rate/remission rate， and endoscopic response rate/remission rate）， and the occurrence of adverse drug reactions （ADR）. Based on Logistic regression model， univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify potential factors influencing clinical remission at week 14 and endoscopic remission at week 38. RESULTS There were no statistically significant differences in clinical response rate/remission rate， or endoscopic response rate/remission rate between the two groups at weeks 14 and 38 （ P ＞0.05）. However， at week 14 of treatment， the proportion of patients using concomitant corticosteroids in VDZ group was 26.67%， significantly higher than the 7.50% in IFX group （ P ＜0.05）. There was no statistical significance in the overall incidence of ADR between the two groups （ P ＞0.05）； all ADRs in the IFX group were grade 3 and led to treatment discontinuation （6 cases）， whereas ADR in the VDZ group was grade 2 and did not interrupt therapy （1 case）. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses revealed that disease type （relapsing） was significantly associated with clinical remission at week 14 of treatment， and a history of smoking was significantly associated with endoscopic remission at week 38 of treatment （the odds ratios were 0.08 for both， with 95% confidence intervals of 0.01-0.77 and 0.01-0.91 respectively， P ＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS For Bio-naive patients with moderate-to-severe active UC， VDZ and IFX demonstrate comparable efficacy in inducing and maintaining clinical remission and promoting mucosal healing， as well as overall safety. Although IFX can achieve faster control of inflammation in the early stage of the disease， it causes more severe ADR. Disease type （relapsing） and smoking history are identified as independent negative predictors for short-term clinical remission and long-term endoscopic remission， respectively.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of forkhead box protein O4 （FOXO4） expression on gastric precancerous lesions （GPL）， and to clarify its mechanism in mediating the therapeutic effect of Celastrus orbiculatus extract （COE） on GPL by regulating aerobic glycolysis. MethodsReferring to the previously established combined modeling protocol in our research group， a rat model of gastric precancerous lesions （GPL） was constructed through the following procedures： rats were given free access to 170 μg/mL N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine （MNNG） solution for ad libitum drinking， fed with a diet supplemented with 0.03% ranitidine hydrochloride， and treated with a cycling regimen of “2-day feeding followed by 1-day fasting”. Specifically， on the afternoon of each fasting day， the rats received intragastric administration of 2% sodium salicylate at a dose of 10 mL/kg body weight. FOXO4-silenced and overexpression model rats were constructed by tail vein injection of plasmids. The rats were randomly divided into control， model， COE， overexpression negative control （OE-NC）， FOXO4 overexpression （OE-FOXO4）， OE-FOXO4+COE， silencing negative control （shNC）， FOXO4 silencing （shFOXO4） and shFOXO4+COE groups. Gastric mucosal histopathological changes were observed in each group. Lactic acid content in gastric mucosal tissues was detected by colorimetry. The expression levels of FOXO4， HK2， PKM2， LDHA and GLUT1 were evaluated by immunohistochemistry （IHC）， and their mRNA levels were determined by RT-PCR.Results Compared with the control group， the COE， OE-FOXO4 and OE-FOXO4+COE groups exhibited significantly improved gastric mucosal lesions， reduced lactic acid levels， weakened expression of aerobic glycolysis-related proteins （PKM2， HK2， LDHA， GLUT1）， and enhanced FOXO4 expression. The OE-FOXO4+COE group showed the lowest lactic acid level and more pronounced changes in related protein expression compared with the COE and OE-FOXO4 groups. In contrast， the shFOXO4 and shFOXO4+COE groups displayed increased lactic acid levels， enhanced expression of aerobic glycolysis-related proteins， and reduced FOXO4 expression compared with the model group.ConclusionFOXO4 expression is involved in the inhibitory effect of COE on GPL， possibly by regulating the aerobic glycolysis process.

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of transmembrane protein 16B （TMEM16B） on brain edema and blood-brain barrier after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. MethodsTMEM16B overexpression and knockdown was performed by adeno-associated virus （AAV）， and then adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion （MCAO）. Rats were randomly divided into Sham group， MCAO group， AAV no-load group， TMEM16B overexpression group and TMEM16B knockdown group. Modified neurological severity scores， adhesive removal test and cylinder test were used to evaluate neurologic function. The ultrastructure of ischemic brain tissue was observed by transmission electron microscope. Brain water content was reflected by dry wet weight ratio of brain tissue. The expressions of TMEM16B， aquaporin4 （AQP4）， Claudin5 and zonula occludens-1 （ZO-1） were investigated by immunofluorescence and Western blot. ResultsCompared with the AAV no-load group， the sensory and motor functions of rats in TMEM16B overexpression group were significantly impaired. Mitochondria were swollen； mitochondrial cristae and tight junctions disappeared. The brain water content was higher in overexpression group. The expression of TMEM16B and AQP4 increased while the expression of Claudin5 and ZO-1 decreased （all P<0.05）. Compared with the AAV no-load group， the rats in TMEM16B knockdown group showed some recovery in motor function. The mitochondrial cristae and structure were clear， and the basement membrane was partially blurred. The brain water content was lower in knockdown group. The protein levels of TMEM16B and AQP4 were lower while the levels of Claudin5 and ZO-1 were higher in TMEM16B knockdown group than in AAV no-load group （all P<0.05）. ConclusionAn increase in TMEM16B expression aggravates brain edema and blood-brain barrier damage in rats after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury， while a decrease in TMEM16B expression alleviates brain edema and protects the blood-brain barrier.