Objective: Patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are classified as very-high-risk individuals in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk stratification. The distribution pattern of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes in this patient population, as well as its association with blood lipid profiles and clinical prognosis, remains unclear. The present prospective cohort study aims to investigate these correlations, thereby providing insights to enrich the research fields. Methods: We enrolled consecutive patients with ASCVD who underwent PCI at the Integrated Cardiology Unit of China-Japan Friendship Hospital between September 1, 2020 and December 31, 2022. Demographics and clinical characteristics, signs and symptoms defining each TCM syndrome, and fasting venous blood samples were collected at baseline and follow up or upon major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). We analyzed the correlation between TCM syndromes, blood lipid profiles, and MACEs, and developed a new joint prognostic model incorporating both TCM syndromes and blood lipids using logistic regression. The analyses were based on detailed baseline and one-year follow-up data. Results: A per-protocol analysis was performed on 586 patients with complete data ultimately. During the one-year follow-up, 174 patients (29.69%) experienced a MACE. We performed statistical analyses on comorbidities, medication, and biochemical indicators across groups defined by TCM syndrome differentiation. When comparing different TCM syndromes, no significant differences were found in age, body mass index (BMI), history of revascularization, comorbidities, family history of CVD, smoking or drinking, or statin intensity (P > 0.05). Patients with intertwined phlegm and blood stasis syndrome exhibited significantly higher levels of total cholesterol (TC, 5.27 ± 1.18 mmol/L, P < 0.001), triglyceride (TG, 1.96 ± 1.33 mmol/L, P = 0.008), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, 3.35 ± 0.79 mmol/L, P < 0.001), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, 1.24 ± 0.81 mmol/L, P < 0.001) compared with those with other TCM syndromes combined. A multivariable logistic regression model was constructed to predict MACEs. The model included TCM syndrome type [with intertwined phlegm and blood stasis as a predictor, adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.413, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.517 – 3.864, P = 0.501], age (adjusted OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.955 – 1.001, P = 0.057), male gender (adjusted OR = 0.698, 95% CI: 0.416 – 1.170, P = 0.173), TC (adjusted OR = 1.004, 95% CI: 0.513 – 1.965, P = 0.990), and LDL-C (adjusted OR = 5.825, 95% CI: 2.214 – 15.326, P < 0.001). This model demonstrated good discriminatory ability for MACEs in post-PCI ASCVD patients [the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) = 0.865, 95% CI: 0.816 – 0.914]. Conclusion The intertwined phlegm and blood stasis TCM syndrome is associated with a distinct atherogenic lipid profile characterized by elevated levels of TC and LDL-C. The prognostic model that incorporates this TCM syndrome type along with conventional lipid parameters (TC and LDL-C) shows good discriminatory ability for predicting MACEs in ASCVD patients after PCI, underscoring the potential clinical utility of integrating TCM syndrome differentiation into CVD risk assessment.

This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu decoction (HGWD) against cerebral ischemic injury and the underlying mechanisms. A middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was established in C57BL/6 mice to evaluate the effects of HGWD on neurobehavioral scores, cerebral infarction rate, brain water content, and oxidative stress and inflammatory markers. The mRNA and protein expression levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) in brain tissue were assessed. In addition, Nrf2 knockout mice were used to verify the role of Nrf2 in the protective effects of HGWD against MCAO-induced injury. Additionally, an oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) model in primary neuronal cells was employed to further confirm the pharmacological effects of HGWD in vitro. The results showed that HGWD significantly ameliorated cerebral ischemic injury in MCAO mice, alleviated oxidative stress, suppressed the release of inflammatory factors, and markedly upregulated the expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and Bcl-2 while downregulating Bax expression, with consistent trends being observed at both mRNA and protein levels. The protective effects of HGWD were significantly attenuated in Nrf2 knockout mice, indicating the pivotal role of Nrf2 in HGWD-mediated protection against cerebral ischemic injury. In vitro experiments revealed that HGWD significantly increased neuronal cell viability, reduced lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) leakage, and decreased apoptosis in OGD/R-treated cells, accompanied by upregulation of Nrf2, HO-1, and Bcl-2 and downregulation of Bax. In conclusion, HGWD protects against cerebral ischemic injury by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway to enhance antioxidant capacity and modulating the Bcl-2/Bax signaling pathway to inhibit apoptosis, thereby protecting brain cells from ischemic damage.

Objective To determine the effect of baicalein on high glucose-induced cardiac fibro-blast pyroptosis based on the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)/cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-1(Caspase-1)/gasdermin D(GSDMD)pathway.Methods Rat cardiac fibroblasts were grouped into control,high glucose group,low-,medium-and high-dose baicalein(H-,M-and L-baicalein)groups,and H-baicalein+NLRP3 agonist(BMS-986299)group.Except for the control group,all other groups were cultured in DMEM medium containing 40 mmol/L glucose,then 12.5,25 and 50 μmol/L baicalein was added into the medium correspondingly,and 1 μmol/L BMS-986299 was used to treat the H-baicalein+NLRP3 agonist group.Lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)cytotoxicity assay were employed to detect cell cytotoxicity.qRT-PCR and Western blotting were performed to determine the expression of NLRP3,Caspase-1,and GSDMD at mRNA and protein levels.Results High glucose treatment induced more EdU positive cells,higher pyroptotic rate,stronger cytotoxicity,higher Col-Ⅰ and Col-Ⅲ contents,and enhanced mRNA and protein levels of NLRP3,Caspase-1 and GSDMD in comparison to the control group(P＜0.05).The H-baicalein+NLRP3 agonist group had more EdU positive cells(26.85±2.95 cells vs 15.43±1.82 cells,P＜0.05),higher pyroptotic rate[(33.45±4.02)％vs(17.34±2.15)％,P＜0.05],stronger cytotoxicity[(27.94±2.93)％vs(14.13±1.87)％,P＜0.05],and increased contents of Col-Ⅰ(107.58±13.39 ng/ml vs 58.73±8.36 ng/ml,P＜0.05)and Col-Ⅲ(118.43±13.95 ng/ml vs 68.74±8.57 ng/ml,P＜0.05),and enhanced expression of NLRP3,Caspase-1 and GSDMD at both mRNA and protein levels(P＜0.05)when compared with the H-baicalein group.Conclusion Baicalein inhibits high glucose-induced cardiac fibroblast pyroptosis by suppressing NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway.

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and trends of other infectious diarrhea among children under 18 years old in Guangzhou City from 2014 to 2020, and to explore the correlation between climatic factors and the incidence of the disease, so as to provide reference for the early prevention of infectious diseases. Methods: The data of cases of other infectious diarrhea and meteorological data of children under 18 years old in Guangzhou City from 2014 to 2020 were collected through the Chinese Infectious Disease Reporting System and the Guangzhou Meteorological Bureau. The correlation between meteorological factors and the incidence of other infectious diarrhea was analyzed using negative binomial regression. Results: A total of 104 566 cases of other infectious diarrhea among children under 18 years old were reported in Guangzhou City from 2014 to 2020, with a male to female ratio of 1.48∶1. The incidence rate was the highest in 2017 (980.83 per 100 000) and the lowest in 2020 (388.22 per 100 000). The peak of incidence occurred from October to March of the following year. Children under 5 years old accounted for 87.95% of all cases. The number of cases of other infectious diarrhea was negatively correlated with the temperature of the previous 6 days ( IRR = -0.07 ), and positively correlated with the temperature difference on the day of onset ( IRR =0.02) (both P <0.05). It was also positively correlated with the wind speed of the previous 7 days ( IRR=0.07, P <0.05), but there was no statistically significant correlation with the relative humidity on the day of onset ( IRR=-0.00, P >0.05). Conclusions Low temperature, large temperature difference, and high wind speed can increase the risk of other infectious diarrhea. It is necessary to strengthen the prediction and early warning in conjunction with meteorological changes, and warn kindergartens and schools to enhance preventive measures against the clustering of other infectious diarrhea cases.

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the most common primary liver cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.Despite continuous advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies in recent years,the overall treatment outcomes for HCC remain to be improved.With the advancement of artificial intelligence,radiomics has emerged as an innovative approach by extracting quantitative features from medical images imperceptible to the naked eye,enabling predictive modeling for the diagnosis,treatment decision-making,therapeutic evaluation,and prognostic prediction of HCC.This article systematically reviews the application of radiomics in the intelligent management of HCC,based on the latest research progress,aiming to enhance comprehensive treatment strategies.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)and high-sensitive C-reactive protein(hs-CRP)in combination with carotid ultrasound parameters for assessing the risk of coronary heart disease(CHD)in patients with suspected cases.Methods A total of 260 patients who underwent coronary angiography(CAG)in the Department of Cardiology at Wujin Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from August 2022 to August 2024 due to suspected CHD were enrolled in this study.Based on CAG results,patients were categorized into a non-CHD group(n=110)and a CHD group(n=150).General clinical characteristics,serum LDL-C,hs-CRP levels,and carotid ultrasound arameters-including carotid intima-media thickness(CIMT)and Crouse score of carotid artery plaque-were compared between the two groups.Spearman correlation analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted to evaluate the associations among these parameters.The predictive value of individual and combined markers for suspected CHD was assessed by using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis.Results(1)The coronary heart disease(CHD)group had higher age,smoking,fasting plasma glucose(FPG),and blood pressure compared to the non-CHD group(P>0.05).No significant difference was observed in the gender ratio,alcohol consumption rates,and body mass index(BMI),between the two groups(P>0.05).(2)Total cholesterol(TC),LDL-C,hs-CRP levels,and carotid ultrasound parameters were significantly higher in the CHD group than those in the non-CHD group(P<0.05).(3)Spearman correlation analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that serum LDL-C,hs-CRP,and carotid ultrasound parameters were significantly correlated with coronary heart disease(P<0.05).(4)ROC curve analysis demonstrated that the combined assessment of serum LDL-C,hs-CRP,and carotid ultrasound parameters achieved the highest area under the curve(AUC),sensitivity,and specificity,with statistically significant differences compared to individual markers(P<0.05).Conclusions Serum LDL-C,hs-CRP,and carotid ultrasound parameters individually have predictive value for coronary heart disease,while their combined assessment offers superior predictive accuracy.The enhanced diagnostic performance of the combined valuation provides valuable guidance for the diagnosis and management of patients with suspected coro-nary heart disease.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)and high-sensitive C-reactive protein(hs-CRP)in combination with carotid ultrasound parameters for assessing the risk of coronary heart disease(CHD)in patients with suspected cases.Methods A total of 260 patients who underwent coronary angiography(CAG)in the Department of Cardiology at Wujin Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from August 2022 to August 2024 due to suspected CHD were enrolled in this study.Based on CAG results,patients were categorized into a non-CHD group(n=110)and a CHD group(n=150).General clinical characteristics,serum LDL-C,hs-CRP levels,and carotid ultrasound arameters-including carotid intima-media thickness(CIMT)and Crouse score of carotid artery plaque-were compared between the two groups.Spearman correlation analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted to evaluate the associations among these parameters.The predictive value of individual and combined markers for suspected CHD was assessed by using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis.Results(1)The coronary heart disease(CHD)group had higher age,smoking,fasting plasma glucose(FPG),and blood pressure compared to the non-CHD group(P>0.05).No significant difference was observed in the gender ratio,alcohol consumption rates,and body mass index(BMI),between the two groups(P>0.05).(2)Total cholesterol(TC),LDL-C,hs-CRP levels,and carotid ultrasound parameters were significantly higher in the CHD group than those in the non-CHD group(P<0.05).(3)Spearman correlation analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that serum LDL-C,hs-CRP,and carotid ultrasound parameters were significantly correlated with coronary heart disease(P<0.05).(4)ROC curve analysis demonstrated that the combined assessment of serum LDL-C,hs-CRP,and carotid ultrasound parameters achieved the highest area under the curve(AUC),sensitivity,and specificity,with statistically significant differences compared to individual markers(P<0.05).Conclusions Serum LDL-C,hs-CRP,and carotid ultrasound parameters individually have predictive value for coronary heart disease,while their combined assessment offers superior predictive accuracy.The enhanced diagnostic performance of the combined valuation provides valuable guidance for the diagnosis and management of patients with suspected coro-nary heart disease.

Objective To determine the effect of baicalein on high glucose-induced cardiac fibro-blast pyroptosis based on the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)/cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-1(Caspase-1)/gasdermin D(GSDMD)pathway.Methods Rat cardiac fibroblasts were grouped into control,high glucose group,low-,medium-and high-dose baicalein(H-,M-and L-baicalein)groups,and H-baicalein+NLRP3 agonist(BMS-986299)group.Except for the control group,all other groups were cultured in DMEM medium containing 40 mmol/L glucose,then 12.5,25 and 50 μmol/L baicalein was added into the medium correspondingly,and 1 μmol/L BMS-986299 was used to treat the H-baicalein+NLRP3 agonist group.Lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)cytotoxicity assay were employed to detect cell cytotoxicity.qRT-PCR and Western blotting were performed to determine the expression of NLRP3,Caspase-1,and GSDMD at mRNA and protein levels.Results High glucose treatment induced more EdU positive cells,higher pyroptotic rate,stronger cytotoxicity,higher Col-Ⅰ and Col-Ⅲ contents,and enhanced mRNA and protein levels of NLRP3,Caspase-1 and GSDMD in comparison to the control group(P＜0.05).The H-baicalein+NLRP3 agonist group had more EdU positive cells(26.85±2.95 cells vs 15.43±1.82 cells,P＜0.05),higher pyroptotic rate[(33.45±4.02)％vs(17.34±2.15)％,P＜0.05],stronger cytotoxicity[(27.94±2.93)％vs(14.13±1.87)％,P＜0.05],and increased contents of Col-Ⅰ(107.58±13.39 ng/ml vs 58.73±8.36 ng/ml,P＜0.05)and Col-Ⅲ(118.43±13.95 ng/ml vs 68.74±8.57 ng/ml,P＜0.05),and enhanced expression of NLRP3,Caspase-1 and GSDMD at both mRNA and protein levels(P＜0.05)when compared with the H-baicalein group.Conclusion Baicalein inhibits high glucose-induced cardiac fibroblast pyroptosis by suppressing NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway.

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the most common primary liver cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.Despite continuous advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies in recent years,the overall treatment outcomes for HCC remain to be improved.With the advancement of artificial intelligence,radiomics has emerged as an innovative approach by extracting quantitative features from medical images imperceptible to the naked eye,enabling predictive modeling for the diagnosis,treatment decision-making,therapeutic evaluation,and prognostic prediction of HCC.This article systematically reviews the application of radiomics in the intelligent management of HCC,based on the latest research progress,aiming to enhance comprehensive treatment strategies.