BACKGROUND: Quantitative flow ratio (QFR) holds significant value in guiding drug-coated balloon (DCB) treatment and enhancing outcomes. However, the predictive capability of post-angioplasty QFR for long-term clinical events in patients with de novo lesions who receive DCB treatment remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to explore the potential significance of post-angioplasty QFR measurements in predicting clinical outcomes in patients underwent DCB treatment for de novo lesions. METHODS: Patients who underwent DCB-only intervention for de novo lesions were enrolled. QFR was conducted after DCB treatment. The patients were then categorized based on post-angioplasty QFR. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), encompassing all-cause death, cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, and target vessel revascularization. RESULTS: A total of 553 patients with 561 lesions were included. The median follow-up period was 505 days, during which 66 (11.8%) MACEs occurred. Based on post-procedural QFR grouping, there were 259 cases in the high QFR group (QFR > 0.93) and 302 cases in the low QFR group (QFR ≤ 0.93). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significantly higher cumulative incidence of MACE in the low QFR group (log-rank P = 0.004). The multivariate Cox proportional hazards model demonstrated a significant inverse correlation between QFR and the occurrence of MACEs (HR = 0.522, 95%CI: 0.289-0.942, P = 0.031). Landmark analysis indicated that high QFR had a significant reducing effect on the cumulative incidence of MACEs within 1 year (log-rank P = 0.016) and 1-5 years (log-rank P = 0.026). CONCLUSIONS In patients who underwent DCB-only treatment for de novo lesions, higher post-procedural QFR values (> 0.93) were identified as an independent protective factor against adverse prognosis.

Ovarian tumor (OT) is the most lethal form of gynecologic malignancy, with minimal improvements in patient outcomes over the past several decades. Metastasis is the leading cause of ovarian cancer-related deaths, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Psychological stress is known to activate the glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1), a factor associated with poor prognosis in OT patients. However, the precise mechanisms linking NR3C1 signaling and metastasis have yet to be fully elucidated. In this study, we demonstrate that chronic restraint stress accelerates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis in OT through an NR3C1-dependent mechanism involving nuclear protein 1 (NUPR1). Mechanistically, NR3C1 directly regulates the transcription of NUPR1, which in turn increases the expression of snail family transcriptional repressor 2 (SNAI2), a key driver of EMT. Clinically, elevated NR3C1 positively correlates with NUPR1 expression in OT patients, and both are positively associated with poorer prognosis. Overall, our study identified the NR3C1/NUPR1 axis as a critical regulatory pathway in psychological stress-induced OT metastasis, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for intervention in OT metastasis.

Periodontitis is a common oral disease characterized by progressive alveolar bone resorption and inflammation of the periodontal tissues. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) has been used in the treatment of various immune-inflammatory diseases due to its excellent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions. Here, we investigated for the first time the therapeutic effect of DMF on periodontitis. In vivo studies showed that DMF significantly inhibited periodontal destruction, enhanced mitophagy, and decreased the M1/M2 macrophage ratio. In vitro studies showed that DMF inhibited macrophage polarization toward M1 macrophages and promoted polarization toward M2 macrophages, with improved mitochondrial function, inhibited oxidative stress, and increased mitophagy in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, DMF increased intracellular mitochondrial Tu translation elongation factor (TUFM) levels to maintain mitochondrial homeostasis, promoted mitophagy, and modulated macrophage polarization, whereas TUFM knockdown decreased the protective effect of DMF. Finally, mechanistic studies showed that DMF increased intracellular TUFM levels by protecting TUFM from degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasomal degradation pathway. Our results demonstrate for the first time that DMF protects mitochondrial function and inhibits oxidative stress through TUFM-mediated mitophagy in macrophages, resulting in a shift in the balance of macrophage polarization, thereby attenuating periodontitis. Importantly, this study provides new insights into the prevention of periodontitis.
Dimethyl Fumarate/pharmacology* ; Mitophagy/drug effects* ; Animals ; Mice ; Macrophages/metabolism* ; Periodontitis/prevention & control* ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Peptide Elongation Factor Tu/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Male ; Mitochondria/drug effects*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the short-term clinical effect of closed reduction single arm external fixator combined with percutaneous needle fixation in the treatment of C1 distal radius fracture in elderly patients. METHODS: Between December 2022 and December 2023, a total of 60 elderly patients diagnosed with type C1 distal radius fractures were treated, comprising 9 males and 51 females. The age ranged from 65 to 84 years old, with an average of (72.69±8.14) years old. Among them, there were 18 cases on the left side and 42 cases on the right side. There were 55 cases of falling injury and 5 cases of traffic accident injury. According to the different surgical methods, the patients were divided into observation group and control group, with 30 cases in each group. The control group underwent manual reduction and unilateral external fixator fixation, consisting of 4 males and 26 females. The mean age was (72.54±8.67) years old. The body mass index (BMI) was (20.61±2.17) kg·m^-2. There were 10 cases on the left side and 20 cases on the right side. Among them, there were 27 cases of falling injury and 3 cases of traffic accident injury. The observation group was treated with manual reduction and unilateral external fixator combined with percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation, including 5 males and 25 females. The mean age was (72.76±7.23) years old. BMI (20.82±2.03) kg·m^-2. The left side was involved in 8 cases and the right side in 22 cases. There were 28 cases of falling injury and 2 cases of traffic accident injury. The changes in radial height, ulnar declination, palmar inclination angle parameters and patient-rated wrist evaluation (PRWE) were assessed on X-ray films before surgery, 2 days after surgery, and 12 weeks after surgery between the two groups. RESULTS: All surgical procedures were successfully completed in both groups without any significant complications. All patients were followed up for a duration from 12 to 20 weeks with an average of(14.50±2.78) weeks. The two groups exhibited significant differences in radial height, palmar inclination angle, and ulnar deviation angle at 2 days and 12 weeks post-operation (P<0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference observed in radial height, palmar inclination, and ulnar deviation between the two groups at 2 days after the operation (P>0.05). There were significant differences in radial height, palmar inclination angle, and ulnar deviation between the two groups at 12 weeks after operation (P<0.05). At 2 days and 12 weeks after the operation, there were significant differences in PRWE scores of the two groups compared with preoperative scores(P<0.05). At 2 days after the operation, there was no significant difference in PRWE score between the two groups (P>0.05). The PRWE score showed a significant difference between the two groups at 12 weeks post-operation(P<0.05). CONCLUSION The combination of closed reduction and unilateral external fixator, along with percutaneous pin fixation provides move stable fixation for type C1 distal radius fractures. Gradual removal of external fixator further facilitatse the recovery of wrist joint function.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Radius Fractures/surgery* ; External Fixators ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Wires ; Fracture Fixation/instrumentation* ; Wrist Fractures

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biomechanical characteristics of retrograde tibial nailing (RTN) and distal tibial L-shaped plating in the internal fixation of distal tibial fractures. METHODS: Fourteen fresh adult tibia specimens were selected, comprising 7 males and 7 females aged from 34 to 55 years old. The specimens were randomly divided into experimental group and control group by numerical table method with 7 specimens in each group. RTN was used for internal fixation of distal tibial fractures in the experimental group, and L-shaped plate was used for internal fixation of distal tibial fractures in the control group. The axial compression properties of the two groups of specimens were tested under the pressure of 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 N after operation, and torsional resistance at torque levels of 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 N·m. The anti-fatigue performance of the specimens was tested at 500 N pressure for 3 000 and 10 000 cycles. X-ray fluoroscopy was performed to observe whether the the internal fixator was deformed and whether the screw was loosened or broken. RESULTS: When the pressure was 400 N and 500 N, the axial compression displacement of the experimental group was (1.11±0.06) mm and (1.24±0.05) mm, which were smaller than those of the control group (1.21±0.08) mm and (1.37±0.11) mm, and the differences were statistically signific (P<0.05). Under the pressure of 500 N, the axial compression stiffness of the experimental group was (389.24±17.79) N·mm^-1, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (362.37±14.44) N·mm^-1(P<0.05). When the torque was 4 and 5 N·m, the torsion angles of the experimental group were (2.97±0.23) ° and (3.41±0.17) °, which were smaller than those of the control group (3.31±0.28) ° and (3.76±0.20) °, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). When the torque was 5 N·m, the torsional stiffness of the experimental group was (1.48±0.07) N·m per degree, which was higher than that of the control group (1.36±0.06) N·m per degree, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). For the intragroup comparison of fatigue resistance, the differences in axial compression displacement between the two groups were not statistically significant at 3 000 and 10 000 cycles (all P>0.05). When 3 000 times and 10 000 times of compression, the axial compression displacement of the experimental group was (1.38±0.08), (1.43±0.07) mm, which was smaller than that of the control group (1.51±0.10), (1.54±0.08) mm, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). In the experimental group, no screw loosening, fracture or internal fixation deformation was found, while in the control group, locking screw loosening occurred in 2 models after 10 000 pressures. CONCLUSION The biomechanical performance of RTN is obviously better than that of the distal tibial L-shaped plate, which provides biomechanical data support for the clinical application of RTN.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Adult ; Tibial Fractures/physiopathology* ; Middle Aged ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Plates ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation* ; Bone Nails ; Tibia/surgery*

Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) is a critical endocrine mediator implicated in male reproductive physiology. To investigate the correlation between IGF2 protein levels and various aspects of male infertility, specifically focusing on sperm quality, inflammation, and DNA damage, a cohort of 320 male participants was recruited from the Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine (Hangzhou, China) between 1 st January 2024 and 1 st March 2024. The relationship between IGF2 protein concentrations and sperm parameters was assessed, and Spearman correlation and linear regression analysis were employed to evaluate the independent associations between IGF2 protein levels and risk factors for infertility. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure IGF2 protein levels in seminal plasma, alongside markers of inflammation (tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α] and interleukin-1β [IL-1β]). The relationship between seminal plasma IGF2 protein levels and DNA damage marker phosphorylated histone H2AX (γ-H2AX) was also explored. Our findings reveal that IGF2 protein expression decreased notably in patients with asthenospermia and teratospermia. Correlation analysis revealed nuanced associations between IGF2 protein levels and specific sperm parameters, and low IGF2 protein concentrations correlated with increased inflammation and DNA damage in sperm. The observed correlations between IGF2 protein levels and specific sperm parameters, along with its connection to inflammation and DNA damage, underscore the importance of IGF2 in the broader context of male reproductive health. These findings lay the groundwork for future research and potential therapeutic interventions targeting IGF2-related pathways to enhance male fertility.
Humans ; Male ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II/metabolism* ; Infertility, Male/genetics* ; DNA Damage ; Adult ; Inflammation/metabolism* ; Spermatozoa/metabolism* ; Semen Analysis ; Semen/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Histones/metabolism* ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism*

Functional dyspepsia (FD), characterized by persistent or recurrent dyspeptic symptoms without identifiable organic, systemic or metabolic causes, is an increasingly recognized global health issue. The objective of this guideline is to equip clinicians and nursing professionals with evidence-based strategies for the management and treatment of adult patients with FD using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The Guideline Development Group consulted existing TCM consensus documents on FD and convened a panel of 35 clinicians to generate initial clinical queries. To address these queries, a systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Database, China Biology Medicine (SinoMed) Database, Wanfang Database, Traditional Medicine Research Data Expanded (TMRDE), and the Traditional Chinese Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (TCMLARS). The evidence from the literature was critically appraised using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. The strength of the recommendations was ascertained through a consensus-building process involving TCM and allopathic medicine experts, methodologists, pharmacologists, nursing specialists, and health economists, leveraging their collective expertise and empirical knowledge. The guideline comprises a total of 43 evidence-informed recommendations that span a range of clinical aspects, including the pathogenesis according to TCM, diagnostic approaches, therapeutic interventions, efficacy assessments, and prognostic considerations. Please cite this article as: Zhang SS, Zhao LQ, Hou XH, Bian ZX, Zheng JH, Tian HH, Yang GH, Hong WS, He YY, Liu L, Shen H, Li YP, Xie S, Shu J, Zeng BF, Li JX, Liu Z, Xiao ZH, Xiao JD, Zheng PY, Huang SG, Chen SL, Fei GJ. International clinical practice guideline on the use of traditional Chinese medicine for functional dyspepsia (2025). J Integr Med. 2025; 23(5):502-518.
Dyspepsia/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*

This study aimed to characterize and identify the non-volatile components in aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the stems and leaves of Rhododendron tomentosum by using sensitive and efficient ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS) combined with a self-built information database. By comparing with reference compounds, analyzing fragment ion information, searching relevant literature, and using a self-built information database, 118 compounds were identified from the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of R. tomentosum, including 35 flavonoid glycosides, 15 phenolic glycosides, 12 flavonoids, 7 phenolic acids, 7 phenylethanol glycosides, 6 tannins, 6 phospholipids, 5 coumarins, 5 monoterpene glycosides, 6 triterpenes, 3 fatty acids, and 11 other types of compounds. Among them, 102 compounds were reported in R. tomentosum for the first time, and 36 compounds were identified by comparing them with reference compounds. The chemical components in the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of R. tomentosum leaves and stems showed slight differences, with 84 common chemical components accounting for 71.2% of the total 118 compounds. This study systematically characterized and identified the non-volatile chemical components in the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of R. tomentosum for the first time. The findings provide a reference for active ingredient research, quality control, and product development of R. tomentosum.
Rhododendron/chemistry* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Plant Leaves/chemistry*