Allergic rhinitis （AR） is one of the most common chronic non-infectious inflammatory diseases in children. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） employs a comprehensive therapeutic system integrating treatment by stages and syndrome differentiation and treatment， demonstrating significant advantages in the management of pediatric AR. This article systematically reviews the clinical treatment methods and underlying mechanisms of TCM for pediatric AR in recent years. It is found that internal therapies （such as herbal formulas or Chinese patent medicines like Xiaoqinglong decoction， Yiqi tuomin decoction）， external therapies （including intradermal needles， acupoint application， tuina， and herbal nasal therapy）， as well as combined internal and external approaches （oral herbs combined with acupoint application）， have demonstrated significant effects in alleviating clinical symptoms， improving immune indicators， and reducing recurrence rates in children with AR. The underlying mechanisms are primarily associated with the regulation of signaling pathways such as Toll-like receptor/nuclear factor-kappa B and mitogen-activated protein kinase， thereby modulating immune balance， suppressing inflammatory responses， inhibiting pyroptosis， reducing mucus secretion， and promoting nasal mucosal repair.

OBJECTIVES: To elucidate the anti-aging effect of β-sitosterol (BS), an important component in the fruits of Alpinia oxyphylla Miq., in C. elegans and its regulatory effect on ETS-5 gene to modulate ferroptosis. METHODS: C. elegans treated with 10 µg/mL BS were monitored for survival time and changes in body length, motility, and reproductive function. The effect of ETS-5 gene knockdown on survival time of C. elegans was observed, and the changes in fat accumulation and lipid redox homeostasis in the transfected C. elegans were assessed using Oil Red O staining and by detecting MDA levels and the GSH/GSSG ratio. The mRNA expression levels of ferroptosis-related genes (FTN-1, GPX-1 and AAT-9) were detected using qPCR. The effects of BS treatment and ETS-5 knockdown on AAT-9 enzyme activity in C. elegans were examined. The effect of BS on nuclear localization of FEV (the human homolog of ETS-5) was validated in cultured human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVECs). RESULTS: Both BS treatment and ETS-5 knockdown significantly prolonged the lifespan, promoted lipid accumulation and reduced lipid peroxidation in C. elegans. ETS-5 knockdown resulted in upregulated expressions of the ferroptosis repressors GPX-1, AAT-9 and FTN-1 and increased the GSH/GSSG ratio in C. elegans. CONCLUSIONS BS inhibits ferroptosis in C. elegans by suppressing the expression of ETS-5 transcription factor and hence the activity of AAT-9 enzyme, a key gene for ferroptosis, which in turn prolongs the lifespan of C. elegans.
Animals ; Caenorhabditis elegans/physiology* ; Ferroptosis/drug effects* ; Alpinia/chemistry* ; Sitosterols/pharmacology* ; Longevity/drug effects* ; Fruit/chemistry* ; Humans

Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics of respiratory pathogens among the population in the region,and provide reference for epidemic prevention and control.Methods A total of 11 065 patients who visited the hospital from March 2023 to February 2024 due to respiratory infections and underwent nucleic acid testing for 13 respiratory pathogens were selected.The infection status and epidemio-logical characteristics of pathogens in people with different genders,and ages,and in different seasons were an-alyzed.Results The total positive rate of nucleic acid detection of 13 respiratory pathogens in 11 065 patients was 57.05%,and the infections were mainly caused by single pathogen and two pathogens.The positive rate of males was 56.53%,the positive rate of females was 57.73%,and there was no statistically significant difference in positive rates between males and females(P>0.05).The positive rates of infant group(79.20%),preschool group(79.57%),and adolescent group(70.18%)were significantly higher than those of middle-aged and young group(35.61%)and elderly group(32.26%,P<0.05).The positive rates in spring,summer,autumn,and winter were 43.34%,49.91%,64.69%,and 59.80%,respectively,with statisti-cally significant differences(P<0.05),and the positive rates were higher in autumn and winter.The top five positive rates of 13 respiratory pathogens were mycoplasma pneumoniae(MP),human rhinovirus(HRV),in-fluenza A virus(Flu A),respiratory syncytial virus(RSV),human metapneumovirus nucleic acid(HMPV).Conclusion Respiratory pathogen infections in the region are mainly caused by single pathogen and two pathogens.The high-risk population for infection is infants,preschool children,and adolescents.The high inci-dence seasons for infection are autumn and winter.The pathogens with high incidence of infection are MP,HRV,Flu A,RSV,HMPV,etc.

Objective To assess the impact of freeze-drying and dry heat virus inactivation processes on the activity ofα2-macroglobulin(A2M)derived from human plasma Cohn fraction Ⅳ.Methods A2M derived from human plasma Cohn fraction Ⅳ was prepared and subjected to programmed freeze-drying with dry heat virus inactivation.The lyophilized products were evaluated for their appearance,water content,and validation of the viral inactivation process.The bioactivity of the products before and after lyophilization as well as before and after dry heat inactivation was determined via trypsin inhibition,and the comparisons were studied.Results The appearance of the lyophilized product was fluffy,and the water content was(5.83±0.45)％.The specific activities of the samples before and after lyophilization were(10.199±0.137)and(10.033±0.201)μg/mg,respectively,with no statistically significantdifference between the two groups(P＞0.05).The viral inactivation of the samples was carried out by using dry heat inactivation conditions at 100 ℃ for 30 min.After inactivation,the reduction was ≥5.125 LgTCID50/0.1 mL in Pseudorabies virus(PRV)titers,≥4.500 LgTCID50/0.1 mL in Sindbis virus(SinV)titers,≥6.375 LgTCID50/0.1 mL in encephalomyocarditis virus(EMCV)titers,and≥4.500 LgTCID50/0.1 mL in porcine parvovirus(PPV)titers.The specific activities of the samples before and after dry heat were(9.921±0.292)and(10.091±0.278)μ g/mg,respectively,with no statistically significant difference between the two groups.Conclusion A2M derived from human plasma Cohn fraction Ⅳ,when subjected to freeze-drying followed by dry heat inactivation at 100 ℃ for 30 minutes,can effectively inactivate viruses without altering the biological activity of the product.

Clinical pathway has great similarity with DRG,and plays an important role in standardizing diagnosis and treatment behavior and controlling medical expenses.Based on the analysis of the relationship between DRG payment method reform and clinical pathway,taking a public hospital in Wuhan City,Hubei Province as an example,the clinical pathway implementation strategy of large public hospitals under the DRG payment method reform was explored from five aspects:management system,suitable disease types,doctor's order setting,information system,training and assessment.

Objective:To explore the impact of uncertain resection on postoperative survival in non-small cell lung cancer.Methods:This is a retrospective cohort study. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 477 patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent lobectomy in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from December 2012 to December 2013. There were 302 males and 175 females, aged (59±8) years (range: 27 to 79 years). According to the surgical resection criteria issued by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, the patients were divided into the intact resection group (R0 group, 286 cases) and the uncertain resection group (R (un) group, 191 cases). Clinical data between the two groups were compared using χ2 test, and propensity score matching (PSM) was performed on patients using the R language, with matching variables including gender, age, smoking history, adjuvant therapy, TNM stage, pathological type, and tumor site. The nearest-neighbor method was used for 1∶3 matching and the caliper value was 0.02. The survival curve was plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the Log-rank test. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify risk factors in overall survival (OS). Subgroup analysis was based on TNM staging and mediastinal lymph node metastasis status. Results:In the R (un) group, 68 patients had positive lymph in the highest group and 129 patients did not undergo complete dissection of the mediastinal lymph nodes. The baseline data for the R0 group and the R (un) group were corrected using PSM, and a total of 369 patients were successfully matched, including 227 cases in the R0 group and 142 cases in the R (un) group. After PSM, the 5-year survival rates of the R0 group and the R (un) group were 64.3% and 52.1%, respectively ( P=0.021). The 5-year survival rates of stage Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and Ⅲ patients were 85.2%, 65.9%, and 34.8%, respectively ( P<0.01). TNM stage ( χ2=46.913, P<0.01), pathological classification of adenosquamous cell carcinoma ( HR=5.970, 95% CI: 3.117 to 11.431, P<0.01) and R (un) resection ( HR=1.512, 95% CI: 1.065 to 2.147, P=0.021) were prognostic factors for postoperative survival. Subgroup analysis showed that in stage Ⅲ patients, 5-year survival rates of the R0 group and the R (un) group after resection were 45.8% and 9.5%, respectively ( P=0.002). Among patients with mediastinal lymph node metastasis, 5-year survival rates of the R0 group and the R (un) group were 50.6% and 7.1%, respectively ( P<0.01). Conclusions:TNM staging, pathological type, and R (un) resection are prognostic factors for overall postoperative survival in non-small cell lung cancer. In stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ patients, R (un) is not a prognostic factor for postoperative survival of non-small cell lung cancer. In patients with stage Ⅲ and mediastinal lymph node metastasis, R (un) is a prognostic factor for non-small cell lung cancer after surgery.

Objective:To explore the impact of uncertain resection on postoperative survival in non-small cell lung cancer.Methods:This is a retrospective cohort study. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 477 patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent lobectomy in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from December 2012 to December 2013. There were 302 males and 175 females, aged (59±8) years (range: 27 to 79 years). According to the surgical resection criteria issued by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, the patients were divided into the intact resection group (R0 group, 286 cases) and the uncertain resection group (R (un) group, 191 cases). Clinical data between the two groups were compared using χ2 test, and propensity score matching (PSM) was performed on patients using the R language, with matching variables including gender, age, smoking history, adjuvant therapy, TNM stage, pathological type, and tumor site. The nearest-neighbor method was used for 1∶3 matching and the caliper value was 0.02. The survival curve was plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the Log-rank test. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify risk factors in overall survival (OS). Subgroup analysis was based on TNM staging and mediastinal lymph node metastasis status. Results:In the R (un) group, 68 patients had positive lymph in the highest group and 129 patients did not undergo complete dissection of the mediastinal lymph nodes. The baseline data for the R0 group and the R (un) group were corrected using PSM, and a total of 369 patients were successfully matched, including 227 cases in the R0 group and 142 cases in the R (un) group. After PSM, the 5-year survival rates of the R0 group and the R (un) group were 64.3% and 52.1%, respectively ( P=0.021). The 5-year survival rates of stage Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and Ⅲ patients were 85.2%, 65.9%, and 34.8%, respectively ( P<0.01). TNM stage ( χ2=46.913, P<0.01), pathological classification of adenosquamous cell carcinoma ( HR=5.970, 95% CI: 3.117 to 11.431, P<0.01) and R (un) resection ( HR=1.512, 95% CI: 1.065 to 2.147, P=0.021) were prognostic factors for postoperative survival. Subgroup analysis showed that in stage Ⅲ patients, 5-year survival rates of the R0 group and the R (un) group after resection were 45.8% and 9.5%, respectively ( P=0.002). Among patients with mediastinal lymph node metastasis, 5-year survival rates of the R0 group and the R (un) group were 50.6% and 7.1%, respectively ( P<0.01). Conclusions:TNM staging, pathological type, and R (un) resection are prognostic factors for overall postoperative survival in non-small cell lung cancer. In stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ patients, R (un) is not a prognostic factor for postoperative survival of non-small cell lung cancer. In patients with stage Ⅲ and mediastinal lymph node metastasis, R (un) is a prognostic factor for non-small cell lung cancer after surgery.

Inhibiting the death receptor 3(DR3)signaling pathway in group 3 innate lymphoid cells(ILC3s)pre-sents a promising approach for promoting mucosal repair in individuals with ulcerative colitis(UC).Paeoniflorin,a prominent component of Paeonia lactiflora Pall.,has demonstrated the ability to restore barrier function in UC mice,but the precise mechanism remains unclear.In this study,we aimed to delve into whether paeoniflorin may promote intestinal mucosal repair in chronic colitis by inhibiting DR3 signaling in ILC3s.C57BL/6 mice were subjected to random allocation into 7 distinct groups,namely the control group,the 2％dextran sodium sulfate(DSS)group,the paeoniflorin groups(25,50,and 100 mg/kg),the anti-tumor necrosis factor-like ligand 1A(anti-TL1A)antibody group,and the IgG group.We detected the expression of DR3 signaling pathway proteins and the proportion of ILC3s in the mouse colon using Western blot and flow cytometry,respectively.Meanwhile,DR3-overexpressing MNK-3 cells and 2％ DSS-induced Rag1-/-mice were used for verification.The results showed that paeoniflorin alleviated DSS-induced chronic colitis and repaired the intestinal mucosal barrier.Simultaneously,paeoniflorin inhibited the DR3 signaling pathway in ILC3s and regulated the content of cytokines(interleukin-17A,granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor,and interleukin-22).Alternatively,paeoniflorin directly inhibited the DR3 signaling pathway in ILC3s to repair mucosal damage indepen-dently of the adaptive immune system.We additionally confirmed that paeoniflorin-conditioned me-dium(CM)restored the expression of tight junctions in Caco-2 cells via coculture.In conclusion,paeoniflorin ameliorates chronic colitis by enhancing the intestinal barrier in an ILC3-dependent manner,and its mechanism is associated with the inhibition of the DR3 signaling pathway.

Objective To conduct a multidisciplinary holistic intervention considering physical,behavioral,and psychological aspects to explain the internal mechanism of non-specific low back pain(NSLBP).Methods Surface electromyography(sEMG)signals,three-dimensional(3D)gait analysis system signals,and psychological scale conclusion related to the'crouching tiger'treatment of NSLBP by Yijinjing were collected.The collected data were analyzed and modeled using the structural equation method.A multifidus muscle-motor function-quality of life(QOL)model was developed to elucidate the mechanism of action of NSLBP treatment using Yijinjing'crouching tiger'training.Results The sEMG signals from the L5-S1 multifidus muscles of patients with NSLBP were significantly increased after treatment(P＜0.05).After treatment,the patients'step length,step frequency,step speed,maximum hip flexion angle,and maximum knee flexion angle significantly increased(P＜0.05).The support,swing,and maximum ankle dorsiflexion angles significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The SF-36 physiological,psychological,spiritual,and emotional scores of the patients before and after the'crouching tiger'training were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Structural equation model(SEM)showed that average electromyography(AEMG)and step size significantly impacted the Roland Morris and SF-36 scores ata level of 0.001.AEMG and step size had a positive impact on Roland-Morris and SF-36 scores.The standardized load coefficients were greater than 0.6,and the model fit was good.Conclusions The SEM model has good fitting effects and reliable results and can effectively describe the mechanism of NSLBP treatment by Yijinjing'crouching tiger'training at multiple levels.