Objective To investigate the potential mechanism of nicotinamide combined with amphotericin B against Candida albicans based on metabolomics. Methods The intracellular metabolites of C. albicans intervened by different drugs including NAM, AmB, and their combination with a proper concentration were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The differential metabolites were screened by multivariate statistical analysis and identified by searching the NIST database. Results Compared with the control group, the NAM intervention group was hardly separated from it, while the AmB group and NAM+AmB group showed a clear trend of separation. Under the intervention of AmB, 23 metabolites significantly changed compared with the control group, and 28 metabolites remarkably changed after NAM+AmB intervention, including amino acids, organic acids, sugars and other components. Conclusion NAM, as an endogenous metabolite of C. albicans, combined with AmB could enhance the effects of AmB in the original metabolic pathway and changed it to a certain extent. It was speculated that AmB combined with NAM may pose more antifungal effect on Candida albicans by regulating the tricarboxylic acid cycle，interfering with amino acid metabolism and influencing polyamine synthesis.

AIM: To investigate the current incidence of retinopathy of prematurity(ROP)in Sichuan Province and analyze its risk factors, providing a scientific basis for establishing and improving the regional ROP screening and prevention system.METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on premature infants who underwent fundus screening at the Departments of Ophthalmology and Neonatology of Sichuan Provincial Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital from January 20, 2017 to February 10, 2025. The incidence of ROP was calculated. The patients were divided into ROP group and non-ROP group according to whether ROP occurred, and the clinical characteristics of the two groups were compared. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze risk factors for ROP.RESULTS:This study included a total of 861 premature infants, with 445 males(51.7%)and 416 females(48.3%).ROP occurred in 166 cases, with an incidence rate of 19.3%, and the non-ROP group consisted of 695 cases. The mean gestational age of the ROP and non-ROP groups was 30.24±2.20 and 33.06±1.90 wk(P<0.01), while the mean birth weight was 1438.94±389.66 and 1977.32±438.68 g(P<0.01). By comparing the clinical data of the two groups of preterm infants, the following factors were found to be associated with the occurrence of ROP: younger gestational age, low birth weight, history of oxygen therapy, respiratory distress syndrome, intracranial hemorrhage, neonatal anemia, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, patent ductus arteriosus, and sepsis(all P<0.01). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that gestational age(OR=0.685,95%CI:0.592-0.792,P<0.01), birth weight(OR=0.999,95%CI:0.998-0.999,P<0.01), and respiratory distress syndrome(OR=2.312,95%CI:1.313-4.070,P<0.01)were risk factors for ROP. Gestational age had the greatest impact.The younger the gestational age at birth, the higher the risk of ROP.CONCLUSION:The incidence of ROP in Sichuan Province is relatively high compared to multicenter results from China. Significant risk factors include younger gestational age, low birth weight, and respiratory distress syndrome. Screening criteria should be formulated based on the local incidence of ROP, and a screening, prevention, and treatment system for ROP should be established and improved.

Based on his extensive clinical experience and the team's mechanistic research, Professor XU Nenggui has proposed the academic concept that "the governor vessel governs the brain and treats cerebral viscus diseases", and established a novel acupuncture approach for encephalopathy treatment centered on the integrated theory of "governor vessel-brain-mind", and developed a staged acupuncture protocol of "governor vessel regulating spirit" for ischemic stroke. This article introduces the academic features of this method in treating post-stroke dysphagia from four aspects: theoretical framework, treatment principles and point selection, mechanistic research, and clinical case studies. In clinical application, the method emphasizes syndrome differentiation based on meridians, harmonization between the conception and governor vessels; precise acupoint selection to treat both form and spirit; stage-specific differentiation with targeted needling. Furthermore, Professor XU integrates basic research with clinical practice, focusing on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the efficacy of acupuncture in treating post-stroke dysphagia.
Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Humans ; Deglutition Disorders/psychology* ; Stroke/complications* ; Meridians ; Acupuncture Points

The preferred treatment for adrenal functional tumors is laparoscopic surgical resection. However, in recent years, various ablation techniques have gradually been applied in the treatment of adrenal tumors. This report presents the successful diagnosis and treatment experience of 4 aldosterone-producing adenomas and 1 cortisol-secreting adenoma treated with a combined cold and hot ablation system at Xi’an Daxing Hospital from Dec. 2023 to Dec. 2024, providing a new treatment approach for clinical exploration.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical utility of machine learning model based radiomics in predicting high-risk molecular subtypes of lower-grade gliomas(LrGGs).Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 287 patients diagnosed with LrGGs in the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Provincial People′s Hospital, and the Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2011 to September 2023 were retrospectively collected, including 166 males and 121 females; 114 cases of high-risk molecular subtypes and 173 cases of non-high-risk molecular subtypes. All patients were divided into 201 cases in the training set and 86 cases in the test set according to 7∶3 in simple randomized grouping method. All patients underwent contrast-enhanced T 1WI (CE-T 1WI) and T 2-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence imaging (T 2-FLAIR), and the imaging features of high-risk and non-high-risk molecular subtypes were analyzed. Analysis of variance, recursive feature elimination, and Kruskal-Wallis were used for radiomics feature screening, and a support vector machine (SVM) classifier was used to construct a radiomics-based classifier model. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze clinical variables independently influencing high-risk molecular subtypes of LrGGs to construct a clinical model; a combined model was developed by integrating radiomics labels and clinical variables. Receiver operating characteristic curve and area under the curve (AUC), calibration curve, and decision curve were used to compare the predictive performance of different models. Results:The patient′s age ( OR=1.042, 95% CI 1.018-1.068, P=0.001), pathological grade ( OR=2.270, 95% CI 1.212-4.311, P=0.011), MGMT methylation status ( OR=0.456, 95% CI 0.238-0.866, P=0.017), and ependymal involvement ( OR=7.335, 95% CI 2.929-18.370, P<0.001) were independent influencing factors for the high-risk molecular subtype of LrGGs, and a clinical model was developed based on these factors. An SVM model was constructed based on 12 radiomics features (3 radiomics features based on CE-T 1WI and 9 radiomics features based on T 2-FLAIR). The radiomics score of the probability output by the SVM model was combined with age, pathological grade, MGMT methylation status, and ependymal involvement to develop a combined model. The AUC values of the SVM model for predicting the high-risk molecular subtype of LrGGs were 0.824 and 0.859 in the training set and test set, respectively; the AUC values of the clinical model in the training set and test set were 0.759 and 0.721, respectively; and the AUC values of the combined model in the training set and test set were 0.823 and 0.815, respectively. The combined model had a high clinical net benefit. Conclusion:The machine learning MRI radiomics model can preoperatively predict high risk molecular subtypes of LGGrs, assist in individualized treatment decisions.

Objective:To investigate whether herb cake-insulated moxibustion affects the expression of cholesterol metabolism-related protein 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase(HMGR)and inhibits the development of atherosclerosis by regulating the exosomal miR-223 expression.Methods:Thirty-six male New Zealand rabbits were randomly assigned to a normal group,a model group,and an herb cake-insulated moxibustion group,with 12 rabbits in each group.The model and the herb cake-insulated moxibustion groups were fed a high-fat diet for 8 weeks to induce an atherosclerosis model.Following successful modeling,the herb cake-insulated moxibustion group was subjected to bundling and herb cake-insulated moxibustion intervention,while the other two groups were subjected only to bundling without moxibustion.After 8 weeks of intervention,hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was used to observe aortic morphology;the serum levels of total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)were detected using an automatic biochemical analyzer in each group.Exosome morphology was observed using the transmission electron microscope;Western blotting(WB)was used to detect the protein levels of serum exosomal CD63 and CD9 markers,as well as liver HMGR;additionally,real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify serum exosomal miR-223.Results:HE staining showed thickened aortic intima,lipid infiltration,foam cell aggregation,and structural damage to the arterial wall in the model group.Meanwhile,after modeling,the serum levels of LDL-C,TC,and TG increased significantly in the model and herb cake-insulated moxibustion groups compared to the normal group(P<0.05),suggesting successful atherosclerosis rabbit model preparation.The serum exosomes of rabbits in the model group exhibited a saucer-like or semi-concave spherical shape with diameters of 120-150 nm.WB detection results showed positive expression of the exosomal markers CD63 and CD9.After 8 weeks of intervention,the miR-223 level in the model group was significantly lower than that in the normal group(P<0.01).In contrast,the herb cake-insulated moxibustion group demonstrated significantly reduced serum levels of TC,TG,and LDL-C(P<0.05),increased miR-223 expression(P<0.01),and decreased relative liver HMGR protein expression(P<0.05)compared to the model group.Conclusion:Herb cake-insulated moxibustion may alleviate the progression of atherosclerosis by up-regulating exosomal miR-223 expression and down-regulating HMGR protein expression,thereby inhibiting cholesterol anabolic metabolism.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between serum myosin-like BCL2 interacting protein (Beclin-1), tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) and arrhythmia in patients with hypertension and chronic heart failure (CHF).Methods:A total of 121 patients with hypertension and CHF who experienced arrhythmia and 121 patients with hypertension and CHF who did not experience arrhythmia and were admitted to Xi'an Traditional Chinese Medicine Brain Disease Hospital from April 2022 to April 2024 were included as the study subjects, and were assigned into the occurrence group and the non occurrence group, respectively. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was applied to detect the expression levels of Beclin-1 and TNAP in the serum of patients with hypertension and CHF. Pearson method was applied to analyze the correlation between Beclin-1, TNAP levels and mean heart rate, New York Heart Association functional class (NYHA), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), dynamic stiffness index (AASI), and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients with hypertension complicated with CHF arrhythmia. Multivariate logistic regression was applied to analyze the influencing factors of arrhythmia in patients with hypertension and CHF. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum Beclin-1 and TNAP levels for arrhythmia in patients with hypertension and CHF.Results:The expression level of Beclin-1 in the serum of the occurrence group was lower than that of the non-occurrence group: (4.18 ± 1.12) μg/L vs. (5.26 ± 0.69) μg/L, while the TNAP level was higher than that of the non-occurrence group: (6.31 ± 1.32) μg/L vs. (5.27 ± 1.24) μg/L, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). In patients with hypertension combined with CHF and arrhythmia, Beclin-1 was negatively correlated with average heart rate, NYHA classification, AASI and NT-proBNP, and positively correlated with LVEF ( P<0.05), while TNAP was positively correlated with average heart rate, NYHA classification, AASI and NT-proBNP, and negatively correlated with LVEF ( P<0.05). Mean heart rate, NYHA classification, AASI, NT-proBNP and TNAP were risk factors for arrhythmia in patients with hypertension and CHF, while LVEF and Beclin-1 were protective factors for arrhythmia in patients with hypertension and CHF ( P<0.05). The AUC of Beclin-1 and TNAP in diagnosing arrhythmia in patients with hypertension and CHF was 0.813 and 0.818, respectively. When the AUC of their combined diagnosis increased to 0.904, the AUC of their combined diagnosis for arrhythmia in patients with hypertension and CHF was better than that of Beclin-1 ( Z = 2.583, P<0.05) and TNAP ( Z = 2.559, P<0.05). Conclusions:Beclin-1 is downregulated and TNAP is upregulated in the serum of patients with hypertension complicated with CHF and arrhythmia. The combination of the two has a high value in diagnosing arrhythmia in patients with hypertension and CHF.

Objective:To investigate the clinical-epidemiological characteristics of connective tissue diseases (CTD) complicated with pulmonary hypertension in Shanxi province from 2018 to 2021.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. Data of CTD patients with pulmonary hypertension from 2018 to 2021 were collected from the Shanxi Provincial Health Statistics Direct Reporting System based on inpatient medical records. The demographic and clinical data of patients with different CTD types were analyzed.Results:A total of 1 697 CTD patients with pulmonary hypertension were included, among whom there were 451 cases (26.58%) of Sj?gren′s syndrome, 392 cases (23.10%) of systemic lupus erythematosus, 289 cases(17.03%) of systemic sclerosis, 109 cases (6.42%) of mixed CTD, 69 cases (4.07%) of Takayasu arteritis, and 387 cases (22.80%) of other CTD. The majority of patients were female (1 410 (83.09%)), and 783 cases (46.14%) were aged between 41 and 65 years, and 6 cases (0.35%) were performed right heart catheterization. The prevalence of CTD with pulmonary hypertension increased from 0.06/10 4 in 2018 to 0.20/10 4 in 2021. There were significant differences in the severity of pulmonary hypertension, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, length of hospital stay, medical costs, and clinical outcomes among patients with different CTD subtypes (all P<0.001). Patients with systemic sclerosis had the highest proportion of NYHA functional class Ⅲ/Ⅳ(65.1%(188/289)), the longest length of hospital stays (13 (9, 18) days), the highest average medical costs (13 622.67 (8 636.38, 20 597.75) ￥(RMB)), and the lowest rate of improvement and discharge (51.90%(150/289)). Conclusions:Between 2018 and 2021, Shanxi province, where CTD is more common in Sj?gren′s syndrome, has a high proportion of women, a high proportion of people aged 41-65 years, and a low prevalence of right ventricular catheterization in patients with CTD complicated with pulmonary hypertension. The prevalence of CTD complicated with pulmonary hypertension shows a rising trend in Shanxi province from 2018 to 2021, while patients with systemic sclerosis exhibit the most severe cardiac impairment and poorer clinical outcomes compared to other subtypes.

The preferred treatment for adrenal functional tumors is laparoscopic surgical resection. However, in recent years, various ablation techniques have gradually been applied in the treatment of adrenal tumors. This report presents the successful diagnosis and treatment experience of 4 aldosterone-producing adenomas and 1 cortisol-secreting adenoma treated with a combined cold and hot ablation system at Xi’an Daxing Hospital from Dec. 2023 to Dec. 2024, providing a new treatment approach for clinical exploration.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between serum myosin-like BCL2 interacting protein (Beclin-1), tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) and arrhythmia in patients with hypertension and chronic heart failure (CHF).Methods:A total of 121 patients with hypertension and CHF who experienced arrhythmia and 121 patients with hypertension and CHF who did not experience arrhythmia and were admitted to Xi'an Traditional Chinese Medicine Brain Disease Hospital from April 2022 to April 2024 were included as the study subjects, and were assigned into the occurrence group and the non occurrence group, respectively. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was applied to detect the expression levels of Beclin-1 and TNAP in the serum of patients with hypertension and CHF. Pearson method was applied to analyze the correlation between Beclin-1, TNAP levels and mean heart rate, New York Heart Association functional class (NYHA), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), dynamic stiffness index (AASI), and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients with hypertension complicated with CHF arrhythmia. Multivariate logistic regression was applied to analyze the influencing factors of arrhythmia in patients with hypertension and CHF. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum Beclin-1 and TNAP levels for arrhythmia in patients with hypertension and CHF.Results:The expression level of Beclin-1 in the serum of the occurrence group was lower than that of the non-occurrence group: (4.18 ± 1.12) μg/L vs. (5.26 ± 0.69) μg/L, while the TNAP level was higher than that of the non-occurrence group: (6.31 ± 1.32) μg/L vs. (5.27 ± 1.24) μg/L, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). In patients with hypertension combined with CHF and arrhythmia, Beclin-1 was negatively correlated with average heart rate, NYHA classification, AASI and NT-proBNP, and positively correlated with LVEF ( P<0.05), while TNAP was positively correlated with average heart rate, NYHA classification, AASI and NT-proBNP, and negatively correlated with LVEF ( P<0.05). Mean heart rate, NYHA classification, AASI, NT-proBNP and TNAP were risk factors for arrhythmia in patients with hypertension and CHF, while LVEF and Beclin-1 were protective factors for arrhythmia in patients with hypertension and CHF ( P<0.05). The AUC of Beclin-1 and TNAP in diagnosing arrhythmia in patients with hypertension and CHF was 0.813 and 0.818, respectively. When the AUC of their combined diagnosis increased to 0.904, the AUC of their combined diagnosis for arrhythmia in patients with hypertension and CHF was better than that of Beclin-1 ( Z = 2.583, P<0.05) and TNAP ( Z = 2.559, P<0.05). Conclusions:Beclin-1 is downregulated and TNAP is upregulated in the serum of patients with hypertension complicated with CHF and arrhythmia. The combination of the two has a high value in diagnosing arrhythmia in patients with hypertension and CHF.