In recent years, the incidence of dry eye disease(DED)is increasing, positioning it as one of the most prevalent diseases affecting the ocular surface. Inflammatory response is the pathological basis of DED, involving various inflammatory mediators and inflammatory signaling pathways. Consequently, anti-inflammatory treatment emerges as a fundamental strategy for preventing and managing DED. This review summarizes the classic inflammatory factors involved in the development and progression of DED, including interleukins, tumor necrosis factor, matrix metalloproteinases, chemokines, and cell adhesion molecules. It also discusses the relevant inflammatory signaling pathways: the MAPKs pathway, NF-κB pathway, Wnt pathway and TLR pathway. Additionally, this review addresses the mechanisms of action and alterations in relevant biomarkers associated with current first-line recommended anti-inflammatory therapies, including corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and traditional Chinese medicine approaches to inflammation management. This comprehensive overview aims to enhance understanding of the inflammatory mechanisms underlying DED while exploring future therapeutic prospects.

In recent years, the incidence of dry eye disease(DED)is increasing, positioning it as one of the most prevalent diseases affecting the ocular surface. Inflammatory response is the pathological basis of DED, involving various inflammatory mediators and inflammatory signaling pathways. Consequently, anti-inflammatory treatment emerges as a fundamental strategy for preventing and managing DED. This review summarizes the classic inflammatory factors involved in the development and progression of DED, including interleukins, tumor necrosis factor, matrix metalloproteinases, chemokines, and cell adhesion molecules. It also discusses the relevant inflammatory signaling pathways: the MAPKs pathway, NF-κB pathway, Wnt pathway and TLR pathway. Additionally, this review addresses the mechanisms of action and alterations in relevant biomarkers associated with current first-line recommended anti-inflammatory therapies, including corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and traditional Chinese medicine approaches to inflammation management. This comprehensive overview aims to enhance understanding of the inflammatory mechanisms underlying DED while exploring future therapeutic prospects.

Background: Epimedii Folium, first recorded in the Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing), is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) known for its effects of “benefiting Qi and strengthening the heart.” Icariside II (ICS II) is one of the main active components of Epimedii Folium, possessing cardiovascular protective and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the potential mechanisms of ICS II on myocardial ischemia (MI) remain unclear. Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the effects and preliminary molecular mechanisms of ICS II in treating isoproterenolinduced MI in rats. Methods: A rat model of MI was established by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol. Electrocardiography, echocardiography, myocardial enzymes analysis, heart weight index, triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining, histopathology, TUNEL staining, RT-qPCR, and Western blot were employed to evaluate the effects and preliminary molecular mechanisms of ICS II on MI rats. Results: Pharmacodynamic studies suggested that ICS II inhibited ST-segment elevation in electrocardiograms, improved cardiac function, reduced heart weight index and myocardial enzyme levels, decreased myocardial infarct size, alleviated cardiac histological damage, and inhibited apoptosis, thereby exerting cardioprotective effects in MI rats. Further studies revealed that ICS II may partially inhibit the expression of NLRP3/Caspase-1 axis-related targets at both protein and mRNA levels. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that ICS II exerts anti-MI effects, and its preliminary molecular mechanisms may be related to inhibiting the activation of the NLRP3/Caspase-1 axis to alleviate inflammatory responses.

Background: Epimedii Folium, first recorded in the Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing), is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) known for its effects of “benefiting Qi and strengthening the heart.” Icariside II (ICS II) is one of the main active components of Epimedii Folium, possessing cardiovascular protective and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the potential mechanisms of ICS II on myocardial ischemia (MI) remain unclear. Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the effects and preliminary molecular mechanisms of ICS II in treating isoproterenolinduced MI in rats. Methods: A rat model of MI was established by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol. Electrocardiography, echocardiography, myocardial enzymes analysis, heart weight index, triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining, histopathology, TUNEL staining, RT-qPCR, and Western blot were employed to evaluate the effects and preliminary molecular mechanisms of ICS II on MI rats. Results: Pharmacodynamic studies suggested that ICS II inhibited ST-segment elevation in electrocardiograms, improved cardiac function, reduced heart weight index and myocardial enzyme levels, decreased myocardial infarct size, alleviated cardiac histological damage, and inhibited apoptosis, thereby exerting cardioprotective effects in MI rats. Further studies revealed that ICS II may partially inhibit the expression of NLRP3/Caspase-1 axis-related targets at both protein and mRNA levels. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that ICS II exerts anti-MI effects, and its preliminary molecular mechanisms may be related to inhibiting the activation of the NLRP3/Caspase-1 axis to alleviate inflammatory responses.

Background: Epimedii Folium, first recorded in the Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing), is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) known for its effects of “benefiting Qi and strengthening the heart.” Icariside II (ICS II) is one of the main active components of Epimedii Folium, possessing cardiovascular protective and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the potential mechanisms of ICS II on myocardial ischemia (MI) remain unclear. Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the effects and preliminary molecular mechanisms of ICS II in treating isoproterenolinduced MI in rats. Methods: A rat model of MI was established by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol. Electrocardiography, echocardiography, myocardial enzymes analysis, heart weight index, triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining, histopathology, TUNEL staining, RT-qPCR, and Western blot were employed to evaluate the effects and preliminary molecular mechanisms of ICS II on MI rats. Results: Pharmacodynamic studies suggested that ICS II inhibited ST-segment elevation in electrocardiograms, improved cardiac function, reduced heart weight index and myocardial enzyme levels, decreased myocardial infarct size, alleviated cardiac histological damage, and inhibited apoptosis, thereby exerting cardioprotective effects in MI rats. Further studies revealed that ICS II may partially inhibit the expression of NLRP3/Caspase-1 axis-related targets at both protein and mRNA levels. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that ICS II exerts anti-MI effects, and its preliminary molecular mechanisms may be related to inhibiting the activation of the NLRP3/Caspase-1 axis to alleviate inflammatory responses.

Objective:To analyze the characteristics of patients with pneumoconiosis complicated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to explore the comorbidity of pneumoconiosis and COPD and its influencing factors.Methods:From October to December 2022, 255 pneumoconiosis patients admitted to an occupational disease prevention and control hospital from January 2018 to December 2021 were selected as the study subjects. According to whether the pneumoconiosis patients were complicated with COPD or not, they were divided into pneumoconiosis and COPD comorbidity group and pneumoconiosis group. The general condition and dust exposure of the two groups of patients were analyzed, and the relationship between different types and different periods of pneumoconiosis and COPD comorbidity was analyzed by multivariate logistic regression.Results:A total of 255 subjects were collected, including 64 patients with comorbidity of pneumoconiosis and COPD, and the comorbidity rate was 25.1%. There were 186 males (72.9%) and 69 females (27.1%), ranging in age from 35 to 90 (63.79±11.79) years, and working age from 1 to 45 (20.31±10.57) years. The comorbidity of pneumoconiosis and COPD increased with the increase of working age (χ 2trend=8.19, P=0.004), and the comorbidity rate for COPD with working age of more than 30 years was 37.7% (23/61). The comorbidity rate of pneumoconiosis and COPD also increased with the increase of the stage of pneumoconiosis (χ 2trend=13.14, P<0.001), and the comorbidity rate of pneumoconiosis and COPD in the stage Ⅲ was as high as 44.0% (11/25). The cumulative dust exposure was negatively correlated with forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity (FEV 1/FVC), and the linear regression equation y=-0.04 x+78.4. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the length of services ≥30 years ( OR=3.30, 95% CI: 1.15-9.52) and stageⅡ ( OR=3.05, 95% CI: 1.03-9.04) were the risk factors for comorbidity between pneumoconiosis and COPD ( P<0.05) . Conclusion:The comorbidity rate of pneumoconiosis and COPD is high. Working age, pneumoconiosis stage and cumulative dust exposure are the main influencing factors of pneumoconiosis and COPD comorbidity, so more attention should be paid to the comorbidity of pneumoconiosis and COPD.

Objective:To develop a Protection Motivation Questionnaire(PMQ)for frailty management in the elderly based on the Protection Motivation Theory(PMT), and test its reliability and validity.Methods:Guided by PMT, the initial questionnaire items were formulated through literature review, semi-structured interviews, and Delphi expert consultation.A total of 551 elderly patients with frailty from a tertiary hospital in Changsha were investigated.Item screening was conducted via critical ratio method, Cronbach's α coefficient, correlation analysis, and factor analysis.The reliability was assessed through internal consistency and test-retest reliability, while validity was evaluated via content validity and structural validity.Results:The final PMQ comprised 25 items across five dimensions: severity, susceptibility, response efficacy, response cost, and self-efficacy.The overall Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.818, with subscale coefficients ranging from 0.701 to 0.821.The split-half reliability was 0.811, test-retest reliability was 0.929, and content validity indexwas 0.86.Exploratory factor analysis extracted five factors, accounting for 52.0% of the cumulative variance.Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated good model fit( χ2/df=1.626, RMSEA=0.05, CFI =0.914). Conclusions:The developed questionnaire exhibits strong reliability and validity, serving as an effective tool to assess protection motivation for frailty management in the elderly.

Objective To investigate the expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis associated factor 1(XAF1)and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1(PCK1)in Luminal type B breast cancer and their relationship with the prognosis of patients.Methods From January 2016 to January 2018,95 patients with Luminal B breast cancer underwent surgical treatment.Cancer tissues and adjacent tissues＞5 cm from the cancer tissues were collected during the operation.The positive expressions of XAF1 and PCK1 proteins were detected by immunohistochemistry.The relationship between XAF1 and PCK1 protein expression and clinicopathological features of breast cancer was analyzed,and the survival curves of breast cancer patients with different XAF1 and PCK1 protein expression were plotted by Kaplan-Meier method,the survival rate was compared by Log-rank test.Multi-factor Cox-regression analysis was used to analyze the prognostic factors of breast cancer.Results GEPIA database analysis showed that the expression levels of XAF1 and PCK1 mRNA in breast cancer tissues were lower than those in normal tissues(P＜0.05).The positive expression rates of XAF1 and PCK1 proteins in cancer tissue were lower than adjacent tissues(P＜0.05).The positive expression of XAF1 in breast cancer tissue was related to clinical stage,lymph node metastasis and histological grade,Ki-67 expression status,while the positive expression of PCK1 was related to clinical stage,lymph node metastasis and Ki-67 expression status(P＜0.05).The 5-year overall survival rate of XAF1 positive expression patients was higher than that of negative expression patients(Log-rank x2=5.101,P=0.024),and the 5-year overall survival rate of PCK1 positive expression patients was higher than that of negative expression patients(Log-rank x2=6.515,P=0.011).Clinical stage Ⅲ,negative expression of XAF1,and negative expression of PCK1 were risk factors for poor prognosis(P＜0.05).Conclusion The positive expression rates of XAF1 and PCK1 in Luminal B type breast cancer tissue are reduced,which is related to some clinicopathological characteristics and 5-year survival rate after surgery.The 5-year survival rate was lower in patients with negative XAFI and PCKI expression.

Objective To investigate the molecular typing,virulence,and drug resistance characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus(SA)in bone and joint infections,providing basis for anti-infection treatment.Methods The SA strains isolated from inpatients with bone and joint infections in Beijing Jishuitan Hospital,Capital Medical University from January 2014 to December 2021 were collected.Multi-locus sequence typing(MLST)and Staphylococcal A protein(Spa)typing for all the strains and Staphylococcal cassette chromo-some mec(SCCmec)typing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA)were performed based on whole genome sequencing.The virulence genes and drug resistance genes of the strains were identified by online database.The antimicrobial susceptibility tests were carried by automatic microbiological assay system.Results MRSA accounted for 30.0％of the 100 isolated strains of SA.A total of 22 ST types and 39 Spa types were identified in the 100 strains of S.aureus,among which ST59(16.0％)and ST239(14.0％)were the dominant ST types,and t437(13.0％)and t030(10.0％)were the dominant Spa types.ST239-SCCmecⅢ-t030/t037 clone(46.7％)was the main epidemic clone in MRSA isolates.The biofilm gene(icaA,icaB,icaC,icaD,icaR),hemolysin gene(hlb,hld,hlgA,hlgB,hlgC),adhesion gene(clfA,clfB,fnbA,fnbB,ebp),and immune escape gene(adsA,sbi,scn)were widespread in all SA strains,with detection rates ranging from 89.0％to 100.0％.The detection rates of enterotoxin genes seb(43.3％),selk(93.8％)and selq(83.3％)in MRSA were significantly higher than those in methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus(MSSA)(all P＜0.05).In terms of drug-resistance characteristics,the detection rate of the resistance gene blaZ(87.0％)was the highest among all the S.aureus strains.In the isolated MRSA strains,the detection rate of resistance genes for erm(A),tet(M),aph(3')-Ⅲ,ant(6)-Ⅰa,ant(9)-Ⅰa,and aac(6')-aph(2")ranged from 43.3％to 50.0％,which were significantly higher than those in MSSA(all P＜0.05).The results of the drug-sensitivity test showed that the resistant rates of S.aureus strains to penicillin,erythromycin,and clindamycin were relatively high(89.0％,67.0％,and 51.0％,respectively).The resistant rates of MRSA to the antimicrobial agents commonly used in clinical practice were significantly higher than those of MSSA(all P＜0.05).Conclusion The molecular epidemiological char-acteristics of SA strains isolated from bone and joint infections were diversified in our hospital.ST239-SCCmecⅢ-t030/t037 was the most common epidemic clone among the strains.There were significant differences in the resistance genes and drug resistance rates be-tween MRSA and MSSA strains,for which clinical attention should be paid.

Objective:To develop and validate a perioperative oral care protocol for patients undergoing oral vestibular approach endoscopic thyroid cancer radical surgery, providing practical guidance for clinical nursing.Methods:The protocol was constructed through literature analysis and Delphi expert consultation. A prospective non-randomized controlled study was conducted using convenience sampling, enrolling 60 patients who underwent oral vestibular approach endoscopic thyroid cancer radical surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University Thyroid Center between August 2023 and May 2024. Participants were divided into control group (from August to December, 2023) and experimental group (from January to May, 2024) based on admission dates with 30 cases in each group. The control group received routine care, while the experimental group received the developed oral care protocolin on the basis of the control group. Postoperative pain scores, mouth-opening difficulties, and oral cleanliness were compared on days 1, 3, and 7 after surgery.Results:The final protocol comprised 7 first-level indicators (team collaboration, health education, preoperative oral assessment, preoperative management, intraoperative management, postoperative management, and discharge follow-up), 17 second-level indicators, and 49 third-level indicators. The control group had 4 males and 26 females, with an age of (29.57 ± 5.34) years; the experimental group had 6 males and 24 females, with an age of (29.87 ± 6.25) years. On postoperative days 1, 3, and 7, the pain scores were 3.87 ± 1.01, 3.30 ± 0.92, and 2.53 ± 0.68 in the control group and 3.20 ± 0.87, 2.10 ± 0.76, and 1.50 ± 0.51 in the experimental group, respectively. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant ( t = 2.89, 5.12, 6.34, all P<0.05). For mouth-opening difficulties, the control group had 6, 13, and 15 patients with grade I on postoperativedays 1, 3, and 7, respectively, while the experimental group had 10, 20, and 25 patients with gradeⅠ. The control group had 20, 14, and 14 patients with gradeⅡonpostoperative days 1, 3, and 7, respectively, while the experimental group had 17, 10, and 5 patients with gradeⅡ. The control group had 4, 3, and 1 patients with grade Ⅲ on postoperative days 1, 3, and 7, respectively, while the experimental group had 3, 0, and 0 patients with grade Ⅲ. There were 0 cases in both groups with grade Ⅳ. The differences between the two groups on postoperative days 3, and 7 were statistically significant ( χ2 = 10.45, 18.67, both P<0.05). For oral cleanliness, the control group had 3, 4, and 5 patients with excellent cleanliness on postoperative days 1, 3, and 7, respectively, while the experimental group had 11, 16, and 19 patients with excellent cleanliness. The control group had 20, 22, and 23 patients with good cleanliness on postoperative days 1, 3, and 7, respectively, while the experimental group had 18, 13, and 10 patients with good cleanliness. The control group had 7 (23.33%), 4 (13.33%), and 2 (6.67%) patients with poor cleanliness on postoperative days 1, 3, and 7, respectively, while the experimental group had 1 (3.33%), 1 (3.33%), and 1 (3.33%) patients with poor cleanliness. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant ( χ2 = 9.19, 11.32, 16.68, all P<0.05). Conclusions:The developed perioperative oral care protocol is scientifically sound, feasible, and practical. Following the intervention, significant decreases in pain scores, alleviation of trismus symptoms, and marked improvements in oral cleanliness were observed in patients compared to pre-intervention assessments, and worth further clinical application.