BACKGROUND:Age-related macular degeneration and deep vein thrombosis may share common pathophysiological mechanisms,but there is a lack of direct evidence regarding their relationship.Traditional studies are confounded by confounding factors and reverse causation.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the causal relationship between age-related macular degeneration and deep vein thrombosis based on Mendelian randomization design.METHODS:Through a two-way Mendelian randomization analysis,single nucleotide polymorphisms of exposure and outcomes were obtained from publicly available genome-wide association studies,with deep vein thrombosis data from the FinnGen database in a European population with a sample size of 363 612 and 1 048 575 single nucleotide polymorphisms.In addition,we obtained data on age-related macular degeneration from the IEUOpenGWAS project,also from a European population sample of 105 248 cases covering 11 304 110 single nucleotide polymorphisms.In R4.4.1,we used the TwoSampleMR package(version 0.6.8)to explore the causal effects of exposure factors on outcomes.At the same time,we also conducted a sensitivity analysis via MR-Egger regression,weighted median,weighted model and simple model methods to ensure that the assessment results were robust and reliable.In addition,we used the"heterogeneity"function to test for heterogeneity,and the"horizontal pleiotropy"function and the MR-PRESSO test to further assess horizontal pleotropy.The Cochran's Q test was used to determine whether there was statistical heterogeneity between single nucleotide polymorphisms,and the leave-one-out method was used to assess whether single nucleotide polymorphisms would significantly interfere with Mendelian randomization analysis.Funnel plots were drawn to assess the potential bias of single nucleotide polymorphisms.Forest plots were plotted to show the effect estimates of single nucleotide polymorphisms on exposure and outcomes,and their confidence intervals were plotted.Scatter plots were plotted to evaluate the relationship between the potency of single nucleotide polymorphisms and their causal effect size on outcome estimates.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Both forward and reverse studies showed that there was no causal association between age-related macular degeneration and the occurrence of deep vein thrombosis(P＞0.05).Sensitivity analysis showed that the main analysis results were reliable and robust,with no outliers,heterogeneity,and horizontal pleiotropy,and no single nucleotide polymorphism significantly affected the overall effect estimate.Although it is based on European population data,it has methodological reference value for Chinese biomedical research on complex disease associations.In this field,China can carry out multi-center large-sample studies,accurately analyze the internal links between Chinese population-related diseases,and provide a basis for prevention and treatment strategies and clinical practice.

Olfactory receptors (ORs) form the largest superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Traditionally recognized for their role in the nasal olfactory epithelium, where they mediate the sense of smell, accumulating evidence has firmly established their ectopic expression in non-olfactory tissues, including the intestine, lungs, and kidneys. The intestine, as the primary site for nutrient digestion and absorption, harbors a highly complex chemical environment. To adapt to this environment, the gut employs a sophisticated network of “chemosensors” to monitor luminal contents and maintain homeostasis. Among these sensors, intestinal ORs have emerged as crucial functional components, serving as a molecular bridge that connects environmental chemical signals—such as food-derived odorants—to specific physiological responses. This discovery has significantly deepened our understanding of how dietary flavors and compounds influence intestinal physiology at the molecular level. This review systematically summarizes the expression profiles, ligand classification, and biological functions of ORs within the gastrointestinal tract. Studies indicate that intestinal ORs exhibit distinct spatial distribution patterns across different gut segments and display cell-type specificity, particularly within enterocytes and enteroendocrine cells. These receptors function as versatile sensors capable of recognizing a wide variety of ligands, including exogenous dietary components, gut microbiota metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, and endogenous small molecules like azelaic acid. Upon activation by specific ligands, intestinal ORs trigger intracellular signaling cascades, primarily involving the AC-cAMP-PKA pathway or calcium influx channels. A major focus of this review is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which these receptors regulate the secretion of gut hormones. Activation of specific ORs in enteroendocrine cells has been shown to stimulate the release of hormones such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY), and serotonin (5-HT), thereby modulating systemic energy metabolism, glucose homeostasis, and gastrointestinal motility. Furthermore, the review addresses the critical roles of ORs in immune regulation and pathology. Evidence suggests that specific ORs contribute to the maintenance of intestinal immune homeostasis and may offer protection against inflammation. Beyond their involvement in inflammatory responses, ORs such as Olfr78 have been shown to regulate the differentiation and function of intestinal endocrine cells. Similarly, Olfr544 has been demonstrated to alleviate intestinal inflammation by remodeling the gut microbiome and metabolome. These findings collectively suggest that specific ORs hold promise as therapeutic targets for mitigating intestinal inflammation and maintaining gut homeostasis. Additionally, the review explores the emerging role of ORs in cancer. Although OR expression is often downregulated in tumor tissues compared to normal mucosa, activation of specific ORs by certain ligands can inhibit tumor cell proliferation and migration and induce apoptosis via pathways such as MEK/ERK and p38 MAPK. Conversely, other receptors, such as OR7C1, may serve as biomarkers for cancer-initiating cells. In conclusion, intestinal ORs represent a vital component of the gut’s sensory network. The review also discusses the translational potential of these findings. By elucidating the precise pairing relationships between dietary components and specific ORs, novel therapeutic strategies could be developed. Intestinal ORs may thus emerge as promising targets for nutritional and pharmacological interventions in metabolic diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, and malignancies.

BACKGROUND:Age-related macular degeneration and deep vein thrombosis may share common pathophysiological mechanisms,but there is a lack of direct evidence regarding their relationship.Traditional studies are confounded by confounding factors and reverse causation.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the causal relationship between age-related macular degeneration and deep vein thrombosis based on Mendelian randomization design.METHODS:Through a two-way Mendelian randomization analysis,single nucleotide polymorphisms of exposure and outcomes were obtained from publicly available genome-wide association studies,with deep vein thrombosis data from the FinnGen database in a European population with a sample size of 363 612 and 1 048 575 single nucleotide polymorphisms.In addition,we obtained data on age-related macular degeneration from the IEUOpenGWAS project,also from a European population sample of 105 248 cases covering 11 304 110 single nucleotide polymorphisms.In R4.4.1,we used the TwoSampleMR package(version 0.6.8)to explore the causal effects of exposure factors on outcomes.At the same time,we also conducted a sensitivity analysis via MR-Egger regression,weighted median,weighted model and simple model methods to ensure that the assessment results were robust and reliable.In addition,we used the"heterogeneity"function to test for heterogeneity,and the"horizontal pleiotropy"function and the MR-PRESSO test to further assess horizontal pleotropy.The Cochran's Q test was used to determine whether there was statistical heterogeneity between single nucleotide polymorphisms,and the leave-one-out method was used to assess whether single nucleotide polymorphisms would significantly interfere with Mendelian randomization analysis.Funnel plots were drawn to assess the potential bias of single nucleotide polymorphisms.Forest plots were plotted to show the effect estimates of single nucleotide polymorphisms on exposure and outcomes,and their confidence intervals were plotted.Scatter plots were plotted to evaluate the relationship between the potency of single nucleotide polymorphisms and their causal effect size on outcome estimates.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Both forward and reverse studies showed that there was no causal association between age-related macular degeneration and the occurrence of deep vein thrombosis(P＞0.05).Sensitivity analysis showed that the main analysis results were reliable and robust,with no outliers,heterogeneity,and horizontal pleiotropy,and no single nucleotide polymorphism significantly affected the overall effect estimate.Although it is based on European population data,it has methodological reference value for Chinese biomedical research on complex disease associations.In this field,China can carry out multi-center large-sample studies,accurately analyze the internal links between Chinese population-related diseases,and provide a basis for prevention and treatment strategies and clinical practice.

Hemorrhoids are common anorectal diseases with complex pathogenesis, and there is still a lack of ideal experimental animal models for research on their prevention and treatment. In this paper, Chinese and English databases are searched with the keywords "hemorrhoids" and "animal model", and 36 relevant studies are finally included. The shortcomings of existing hemorrhoid animal models in integrating the clinical disease and syndrome characteristics of traditional Chinese and Western medicine are systematically analyzed, and the consistency of various models with clinical practice is evaluated. The studies are divided into four categories according to modeling methods: chemical modeling, physical modeling, biological modeling, and combined modeling. The clinical consistency of modeling is evaluated in combination with the diagnostic points of hemorrhoids in traditional Chinese and Western medicine. The results show that there are significant differences in the reproduction of clinical indicators by different modeling methods. According to clinical consistency, the models can be divided into three grades: high-consistency models are mainly based on combined modeling methods (such as induction by carrageenan combined with norepinephrine hydrochloride), which can more comprehensively simulate core pathological changes such as venous congestion and local inflammation; moderate-consistency models adopt single chemical or physical intervention (such as local inflammation induced by croton oil or vein ligation), which can only reproduce part of the pathological process; low-consistency models mostly adopt direct stimulation, with limited research value for pathological characteristics. Existing animal models have obvious advantages in replicating Western medical structural lesions of hemorrhoids, but they still have obvious defects in simulating the chronic disease course and stably reproducing the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes, and a unified standard has not yet been formed for the traditional Chinese medicine evaluation system of models. In conclusion, it is still necessary to further explore the construction of high-quality integrated disease and syndrome animal models for hemorrhoids in traditional Chinese and Western medicine. Future research should integrate the theories of traditional Chinese and Western medicine, adopt multi-factor chronic modeling strategies, and establish a standardized comprehensive evaluation system covering macroscopic signs and microscopic indicators. This paper provides a reference for constructing standardized integrated disease and syndrome animal models of hemorrhoids that conform to the pathological changes of Western medicine and take into account the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes, with the aim of providing more effective experimental tools for research on the pathogenesis of hemorrhoids and their integrated prevention and treatment with traditional Chinese and Western medicine.

Objective: To investigate the association between brain and muscle Arnt like protein 1( BMAL 1) gene and ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) parameters in college students, and to explore the influence of the interaction between the gene and weight status on the ABP levels, so as to provide reference for early prevention of chronic cardiovascular diseases related to hypertension. Methods: During September 2022 to June 2024, a total of 510 college students were recruited from a university in Changsha, China for on site questionnaire investigation, physical examination, ABP monitoring and genotyping testing. Multiple linear regression method was used to explore the association between the BMAL 1 gene and ABP indicators. An interaction term was included in the general linear model of multiple linear regression to analyze the interactive effects of BMAL 1 gene polymorphisms and weight status on ABP levels. Results: The prevalence of abnormal 24 hour blood pressure, abnormal daytime blood pressure, and abnormal nighttime blood pressure were 3.3%, 3.1%, and 3.9%, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the BMAL 1/rs7950226 polymorphism was positively correlated with the 24 hour diastolic blood pressure(DBP) and the daytime DBP level after adjusting for gender, age, and body mass index( β =0.87,0.99, both P <0.05). Also, interaction between BMAL 1/ rs 11022775 and weight status on the nighttime DBP level ( P interaction =0.03) was found. The CC genotype carriers had significantly higher nighttime DBP level ( β =3.52, P <0.05) among overweight/obesity college students, but no differences in nocturnal DBP levels were observed between CC genotype carriers and TT+CT genotype carriers among college students with normal body weight( P > 0.05). Conclusions The rs 7950226 polymorphism is associated with 24 hours DBP and daytime DBP levels. Significant interaction between rs 11022775 with weight status on the nighttime DBP level is found among college students.

Background/Aims: Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a chronic liver disease characterized by hepatic steatosis. Ubiquitin-specific protease 29 (USP29) plays pivotal roles in hepatic ischemiareperfusion injury and hepatocellular carcinoma, but its role in MASLD remains unexplored. Therefore, the aim of this study was to reveal the effects and underlying mechanisms of USP29 in MASLD progression. Methods: USP29 expression was assessed in liver samples from MASLD patients and mice. The role and molecular mechanism of USP29 in MASLD were assessed in high-fat diet-fed and high-fat/high-cholesterol diet-fed mice and palmitic acid and oleic acid treated hepatocytes. Results: USP29 protein levels were significantly reduced in mice and humans with MASLD. Hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis were significantly exacerbated by USP29 deletion and relieved by USP29 overexpression. Mechanistically, USP29 significantly activated the expression of genes related to fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) under metabolic stimulation, directly interacted with long-chain acyl-CoA synthase 5 (ACSL5) and repressed ACSL5 degradation by increasing ACSL5 K48-linked deubiquitination. Moreover, the effect of USP29 on hepatocyte lipid accumulation and MASLD was dependent on ACSL5. Conclusions USP29 functions as a novel negative regulator of MASLD by stabilizing ACSL5 to promote FAO. The activation of the USP29-ACSL5 axis may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for MASLD.

Objective To quantitatively assess the correlation between the skeletal muscle index(SMI)of patients and the occur-rence of anastomotic leakage(AL)in rectal cancer patients after surgery,and to analyze the risk factors for AL in rectal cancer patients and the influencing factors of sarcopenia.Methods The clinical,pathological,and related imaging data of 362 patients who under-went radical surgery for rectal cancer were retrospectively analyzed.All patients underwent pelvic MRI and abdominal CT scans(plain/enhanced)within one month before surgery,and the third lumbar vertebra skeletal muscle area(L3-SMA)was measured from the images.All patients were divided into AL group(56 cases)and control group(306 cases)based on the presence or absence of postoperative complications.The differences in clinical characteristics and imaging parameters between the two groups were analyzed.A logistic risk prediction model was established.Results Significant differences were observed between the two groups in sarcopenia,type of surgery,surgical approach,serum albumin level,operation duration,stoma type,and extramural vascular invasion(EMVI)(P＜0.05).These factors were incorporated in a multivariate logistic regression analysis model,the area under the curve(AUC)of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve of the model was 0.810[95％confidence interval(CI)0.743-0.876,P＜0.001],with a sensitivity of 0.865 and specificity of 0.669.Conclusion Sar-copenia is a significant risk factor for AL after rectal cancer surgery.It enhances the predictive efficacy for postoperative AL and serves as a basis for identifying high-risk populations for AL in clinical practice.

Objective To obtain tree shrew Vasorin(VASN)recombinant protein through prokaryotic expression and purification,prepare monoclonal antibody against tree shrew VASN by immunizing mice with this protein,and preliminarily evaluate its application value.Methods Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)was used to amplify the full-length sequence of tree shrew VASN gene in vitro.The tree shrew VASN gene fragment was inserted into pET-30a vector to construct pET-30a-VASN recombinant plasmid.The recombinant plasmid was subjected to double digestion with BamH Ⅰ and Sal Ⅰfor identification,and its correctness was further verified by sequencing.The recombinant plasmid with correct sequencing was transformed into BL21(DE3)competent cells,and isopropyl β-D-thiogalactoside(IPTG)was used to induce expression of VASN recombinant protein.Proteins were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE),and the VASN recombinant protein was purified by KCI.Purified recombinant protein was used to immunize BALB/c mice for four times,and serum antibody titer was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Splenocytes from mice with serum antibody titer above 1:10 000 were used for cell fusion with myeloma cells.Hypoxanthine-aminopterin-thymidine(HAT)culture medium was first used to screen hybridoma cells.ELISA was used to screen positive hybridoma cell lines that could secrete specific antibodies,and monoclonal hybridoma cell lines were obtained by limiting dilution method.VASN monoclonal antibodies were prepared in large quantities by ascites induction method,purified using rProtein G,and the affinity and in vitro reaction specificity of the monoclonal antibodies were detected by ELISA and Western blotting.Results The full-length sequence of the tree shrew VASN gene was successfully amplified and the recombinant plasmid vector of tree shrew pET-30a-VASN was constructed.The sequence obtained by sequencing of the recombinant plasmid vector was identical to the tree shrew VASN target gene sequence.Recombinant protein VASN mainly existed in the form of inclusion bodies,and the purity after purification reached 90％,meeting the requirements of subsequent immunization experiments.After four immunizations with recombinant protein VASN,mouse serum antibody titer reached 1:729 000.Monoclonal positive hybridoma cell lines were obtained through ascites induction and purification,and the constant affinity value of monoclonal antibodies measured by ELISA reached 2.59x107 L/mol.Western blotting results showed that the tree shrew VASN monoclonal antibody could bind to tree shrew VASN recombinant protein,but it showed no binding reaction with porcine retinol-binding protein 4 recombinant protein,human VASN-leucine rich repeat recombinant protein,or bovine serum albumin.Anti-tree shrew VASN monoclonal antibody could specifically recognize VASN protein in tree shrew heart,liver,spleen,lung,kidney and muscle,with clear bands and clean background.Immunohistochemical detection results showed that this monoclonal antibody could recognize VASN protein in tree shrew spleen,lung,and tree shrew immortalized fibroblasts with high VASN mRNA expression levels,and the detection results were positive.Conclusion Monoclonal antibody against tree shrew VASN is successfully prepared.This antibody can be used for immunohistochemical detection of tree shrew immortalized fibroblasts,spleen tissue,and lung tissue,providing an important tool for further research on the function of VASN in tree shrew models.

Objective To explore the value of analysis on the incidence of healthcare-associated infection(HAI)based on disease diagnosis-related grouping(DRG),case mix index(CMI),and relative weight(RW).Methods All discharged cases,DRG and HAI status in a tertiary first-class general hospital from January 1 to December 31,2023 were analyzed retrospectively.Incidences of HAI in different departments were adjusted and compared by CMI.Incidences of HAI in different DRG groups were adjusted by RW.Results Among the 47 695 cases included in the analysis,757 were HAI cases,including 225 DRG groups.The department of critical care medicine had the highest incidence of HAI(11.98％).After CMI adjustment,departments with higher incidence of HAI were main-ly the department of respiratory and critical care medicine(3.96％),department of critical care medicine(3.04％),and department of neurology(2.85％),et al.DRG groups with the top five high incidence of HAI were AH11(tracheotomy and with ventilator support ≥96 hours or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation[ECMO],accompa-nied by major complications and comorbidity[MCC],50.00％),BC29(ventricular shunt and revision surgery,31.43％),BB21(craniotomy other than trauma,accompanied by MCC,27.56％),BB11(craniotomy of brain trauma,accompanied by MCC,26.32％),and GB1A(major surgery of esophagus,stomach,and duodenum,accompanied by major or moderate complications and comorbidity,16.00％).After RW adjustment,the DRG groups with the top five high incidence of HAI were ES21(respiratory system infection/inflammation,accompanied by MCC,5.89％),BR21(cerebral ischemic disease,accompanied by MCC,5.17％),FR11(heart failure,shock,accompanied by MCC,4.80％),BC29(4.57％)and AH11(3.57％).Conclusion Analyzing the incidence of HAI based on CMI and RW can help to identify key departments and disease groups for infection prevention and control,and provide reference for precise prevention and control of HAI in the new era.

Objective:Through the comparative analysis of the payment program for the therapeutic value of Traditional Chinese Medicine dominant diseases in 8 provinces,we found the shortcomings of the existing program and put forward the perfect policy suggestions.Methods:Comparative analysis of the core content of the programs in various places,the selection of disease types,efficacy evaluation indexes,the application of the payment link and the protection mechanism.Results:The fragmentation of existing programs is an obvious problem,the specific content settings of each item are quite different,reflecting differences in the understanding of the core content of the program,the existence of inconsistent understanding of Chinese medicine's therapeutic value,the failure to link the payment standard to the results of the therapeutic value evaluation,and the lack of recognition of the value of Chinese medicine's technical labor,among other problems.Conclusions:We can select disease types based on the prominent advantages of Traditional Chinese medicine,learn from the evaluation framework of western medicine value-based medical care,construct the evaluation system of Chinese medicine therapeutic value,and carry out"equal price"payment based on the"same effect"of health results,set performance indicators and payment standards in stages,realize the whole process management of disease,and enhance the Traditional Chinese Medicine's therapeutic value,and promote the development of Traditional Chinese Medicine inheritance and innovation.