Diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hyperuricemia have emerged as global chronic metabolic disorders posing significant public health challenges. Edible medicinal plants demonstrate multitarget regulatory effects and favorable safety profiles in the management of chronic metabolic diseases, owing to their bioactive compounds and nutritional synergy. Radix Astragali (RA), a traditional Chinese medicine with medicine–food homology, has a long history of application in China. Based on a review of relevant literature, this article discusses the historical background, modern research, therapeutic functions, and mechanisms of RA in the treatment of chronic metabolic diseases. Modern studies have shown that RA contains a variety of bioactive components and demonstrates efficacy in managing diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hyperuricemia. Its mechanisms of action involve modulation of the insulin signaling pathway, regulation of lipid metabolism-related enzyme activity, promotion of uric acid excretion, and other processes. Notably, RA exhibits certain common therapeutic effects across hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and hyperuricemia. Through modulation of the gut microbiota and inhibition of inflammatory pathways, RA exerts synergistic, multitarget effects that improve metabolic disorders associated with chronic metabolic diseases.

Objective To investigate the expression of forkhead box P3(Foxp3)in peripheral blood of children with bronchial asthma and its relationship with airway hyper-responsiveness and body allergy.Methods A total of 80 children with bronchial asthma treated in the Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University from July 2024 to June 2025 were selected as experimental group,and 47 health-y children with physical examinations in the same period were selected as control group.Airway hy-per-responsiveness indicators(respiratory resistance,bronchial stimulant reaction threshold,and re-sistance increase slope),body allergy indicators[serum immunoglobulin E(IgE),eosinophil cationic protein(ECP),and eosinophil count(EOS)],pulmonary function indicators[peak expiratory flow(PEF),forced expiratory volume in the first second(FEV,),forced vital capacity(FVC),and the ratio of forced expiratory volume in the first second to forced vital capacity(FEV1/FVC)],and the expression level of Foxp3 in peripheral blood were compared between the two groups.Pearson corre-lation analysis was used to explore the correlations of Foxp3 with airway hyper-responsiveness and body allergy.Results The respiratory resistance and resistance increase slope in the control group were significantly lower than those in the experimental group,while the reaction threshold was signif-icantly higher than that in the experimental group(P＜0.05).The levels of IgE,ECP and EOS in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P＜0.05).The FEV1,FVC,PEF,and FEV1/FVC in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P＜0.05).The expression level of Foxp3 in the experimental group was(3.04±0.22),which was significantly lower than(4.22±0.41)in the control group(P＜0.05).Foxp3 was significantly correlated with respiratory resistance(r=-0.700,P＜0.001),reaction thresh-old(r=0.704,P＜0.001),resistance increase slope(r=-0.842,P＜0.001),IgE(r=0.864,P＜0.001),ECP(r=-0.684,P＜0.001),and EOS(r=-0.854,P＜0.001).Con-clusion The decreased Foxp3 in peripheral blood in children with bronchial asthma is associated with aggravated airway hyper-responsiveness and body allergy,suggesting that Foxp3 may be in-volved in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma.

A scientific and efficient comprehensive operation system for the transformation of clinical research achievements is an important guarantee to fully release the capability of public hospitals of the achievement transformation. A public hospital, focusing on the bottleneck problems faced in the process of transforming scientific and technological achievements, began to explore the construction of a comprehensive operation system for the transformation of clinical research achievements and implemented it throughout the hospital from October 2023. By improving the organizational structure and setting up full-time management positions; formulating supporting policies and perfecting the incentive mechanism; drawing a systematic portrait and creating a standard pathway; expanding the transformation platform and promoting coordinated development; innovating management services and strengthening digital empowerment; and highlighting publicity and education to enhance the capability of transformation, the hospital has effectively promoted the transformation of clinical research achievements. This practice can provide a reference for other hospitals to improve the management of clinical research achievements transformation and promote high-quality hospital development.

AIM:Study on the bioequivalence of rivaroxaban tablets from two different manufactur-ers in healthy subjects under fasting and postpran-dial conditions.METHODS:Adopting a single cen-ter,randomized,open,fasting and postprandial,four cycle,fully repeated crossover trial design.28 healthy male and female subjects were given oral administration of either the test or reference for-mulation(10 mg)on an empty stomach or in a post-prandial state,with a cleaning period of 7 days be-tween cycles.The concentration of rivaroxaban in the plasma(heparin sodium)of the subjects was measured using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS),and pharmacoki-netic(PK)parameters were calculated using Phoe-nix WinNonlin 7.0 software to evaluate the bio-equivalence of the test and reference formulations.RESULTS:Fasting group:After oral administration of the investigational drug,the Cmax of the test formula-tion and reference formulation were(200.96±68.99)ng/mL and(196.96±50.97)ng/mL,respec-tively,and the AUC0-t were(1 439.93±493.94)h·ng·mL-1 and(1 395.90±411.49)h·ng·mL-1,respectively,the AUC0-∞ were(1 506.56±511.47)h·ng·mL-1 and(1 451.94±417.89)h·ng·mL-1,respectively,the 90％confidence intervals for the geometric mean ratios of Cmax,AUC0-t,and AUC0-∞ were 91.87％-103.37％,95.00％-105.07％,95.33％-105.57％,respectively,the 90％CI of the intra-individual standard devia-tion ratio(SWT/SWR)for Cmax,AUC0-t,AUC0-∞were 0.88-1.73,0.74-1.45 and 0.72-1.41,respectively.Post-prandial group:After oral administration of the ex-perimental drug,the Cmax of the test and reference formulations were(241.23±54.44)ng/mL and(226.54±48.04)ng/mL,respectively,and the AUC0-t were(1 383.26±437.05)h·ng·mL-1 and(1 333.54±372.53)h·ng·mL-1,respectively,the AUC0-∞ were(1 404.01±439.89)h·ng·mL-1 and(1 352.31±374.45)h·ng·mL-1,respectively,the 90％confi-dence intervals for the geometric mean ratios of Cmax,AUC0-t,and AUC0-∞ were 100.92％-110.50％,98.30％-108.31％,and 98.46％-108.39％,respective-ly,the 90％CI of the intra-individual standard devia-tion ratio(SWT/SWR)for Cmax,AUC0-t and AUC0-∞ were 0.63-1.29,0.78-1.61 and 0.79-1.61,respectively.CONCLUSION:Bioequivalence of the two prepara-tions in fasting and postprandial state in healthy subjects.

BACKGROUND:Research has shown that vanillic acid has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress effects,but it is unclear whether it has a protective effect on endplate chondrocytes.OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect and mechanism of vanillic acid on endplate chondrocytes under inflammatory microenvironment.METHODS:(1)Primary endplate chondrocytes were isolated from the intervertebral disc of SD rats and identified by toluidine blue staining and collagenⅡ immunofluorescence.(2)The CCK-8 assay was employed to detect the effects of interleukin-1β and vanillic acid on the proliferation activity of endplate chondrocytes,in order to determine the concentration of vanillic acid for subsequent cell treatment.(3)An inflammatory microenvironment was simulated by adding 10 ng/mL interleukin-1β to the culture medium,and the endplate chondrocytes were treated with low,medium,and high mass concentrations of vanillic acid.The expression levels of inflammatory markers and extracellular matrix proteins were detected by western blot assay and immunofluorescence.(4)The expression of nuclear factor κB signaling pathway-related proteins was detected by western blot assay.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The morphology of endplate chondrocytes in adherent culture was pike or triangular in shape,positive for toluidine blue staining and immunofluorescence for collagen Ⅱ,indicating that the experimentally extracted cells were endplate chondrocytes.(2)The CCK-8 assay results showed that treatment with 2.5,5,10,and 20 μg/mL vanillic acid for 24 hours did not significantly inhibit the proliferation of endplate chondrocytes.Compared with the interleukin-1β group,the viability of endplate chondrocytes treated with 5,10,and 20 μg/mL vanillic acid for 24 hours was significantly increased(P＜0.05).Therefore,5,10,and 20 μg/mL vanillic acid was selected as the low,medium,and high dose groups for subsequent treatment of endplate chondrocytes.(3)Compared with the model group(complete medium containing 10 ng/mL interleukin-1β),the expression of NOD-like receptor thermal domain associated protein 3(NLRP3),matrix metalloproteinase 13,matrix metalloproteinase 3,and tumor necrosis factor alpha protein in the endplate chondrocytes of the low,medium,and high doses of vanillic acid groups were significantly reduced(P＜0.05).(4)Compared with the model group,the protein expression of aggrecan and collagen Ⅱ in the endplate chondrocytes of the low,medium,and high dose groups of vanillic acid significantly increased(P＜0.05).(5)Compared with the model group,the protein expression of phospho-nuclear factor κB and phospho-inhibitor of nuclear factor κB in the endplate chondrocytes of the low,medium,and high dose groups of vanillic acid was significantly reduced(P＜0.05).(6)The above results indicate that vanillic acid may alleviate the inflammatory response and extracellular matrix degradation induced by interleukin-1β in rat endplate chondrocytes by inhibiting the activation of the nuclear factor κB signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND:Research has shown that vanillic acid has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress effects,but it is unclear whether it has a protective effect on endplate chondrocytes.OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect and mechanism of vanillic acid on endplate chondrocytes under inflammatory microenvironment.METHODS:(1)Primary endplate chondrocytes were isolated from the intervertebral disc of SD rats and identified by toluidine blue staining and collagenⅡ immunofluorescence.(2)The CCK-8 assay was employed to detect the effects of interleukin-1β and vanillic acid on the proliferation activity of endplate chondrocytes,in order to determine the concentration of vanillic acid for subsequent cell treatment.(3)An inflammatory microenvironment was simulated by adding 10 ng/mL interleukin-1β to the culture medium,and the endplate chondrocytes were treated with low,medium,and high mass concentrations of vanillic acid.The expression levels of inflammatory markers and extracellular matrix proteins were detected by western blot assay and immunofluorescence.(4)The expression of nuclear factor κB signaling pathway-related proteins was detected by western blot assay.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The morphology of endplate chondrocytes in adherent culture was pike or triangular in shape,positive for toluidine blue staining and immunofluorescence for collagen Ⅱ,indicating that the experimentally extracted cells were endplate chondrocytes.(2)The CCK-8 assay results showed that treatment with 2.5,5,10,and 20 μg/mL vanillic acid for 24 hours did not significantly inhibit the proliferation of endplate chondrocytes.Compared with the interleukin-1β group,the viability of endplate chondrocytes treated with 5,10,and 20 μg/mL vanillic acid for 24 hours was significantly increased(P＜0.05).Therefore,5,10,and 20 μg/mL vanillic acid was selected as the low,medium,and high dose groups for subsequent treatment of endplate chondrocytes.(3)Compared with the model group(complete medium containing 10 ng/mL interleukin-1β),the expression of NOD-like receptor thermal domain associated protein 3(NLRP3),matrix metalloproteinase 13,matrix metalloproteinase 3,and tumor necrosis factor alpha protein in the endplate chondrocytes of the low,medium,and high doses of vanillic acid groups were significantly reduced(P＜0.05).(4)Compared with the model group,the protein expression of aggrecan and collagen Ⅱ in the endplate chondrocytes of the low,medium,and high dose groups of vanillic acid significantly increased(P＜0.05).(5)Compared with the model group,the protein expression of phospho-nuclear factor κB and phospho-inhibitor of nuclear factor κB in the endplate chondrocytes of the low,medium,and high dose groups of vanillic acid was significantly reduced(P＜0.05).(6)The above results indicate that vanillic acid may alleviate the inflammatory response and extracellular matrix degradation induced by interleukin-1β in rat endplate chondrocytes by inhibiting the activation of the nuclear factor κB signaling pathway.

AIM:Study on the bioequivalence of rivaroxaban tablets from two different manufactur-ers in healthy subjects under fasting and postpran-dial conditions.METHODS:Adopting a single cen-ter,randomized,open,fasting and postprandial,four cycle,fully repeated crossover trial design.28 healthy male and female subjects were given oral administration of either the test or reference for-mulation(10 mg)on an empty stomach or in a post-prandial state,with a cleaning period of 7 days be-tween cycles.The concentration of rivaroxaban in the plasma(heparin sodium)of the subjects was measured using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS),and pharmacoki-netic(PK)parameters were calculated using Phoe-nix WinNonlin 7.0 software to evaluate the bio-equivalence of the test and reference formulations.RESULTS:Fasting group:After oral administration of the investigational drug,the Cmax of the test formula-tion and reference formulation were(200.96±68.99)ng/mL and(196.96±50.97)ng/mL,respec-tively,and the AUC0-t were(1 439.93±493.94)h·ng·mL-1 and(1 395.90±411.49)h·ng·mL-1,respectively,the AUC0-∞ were(1 506.56±511.47)h·ng·mL-1 and(1 451.94±417.89)h·ng·mL-1,respectively,the 90％confidence intervals for the geometric mean ratios of Cmax,AUC0-t,and AUC0-∞ were 91.87％-103.37％,95.00％-105.07％,95.33％-105.57％,respectively,the 90％CI of the intra-individual standard devia-tion ratio(SWT/SWR)for Cmax,AUC0-t,AUC0-∞were 0.88-1.73,0.74-1.45 and 0.72-1.41,respectively.Post-prandial group:After oral administration of the ex-perimental drug,the Cmax of the test and reference formulations were(241.23±54.44)ng/mL and(226.54±48.04)ng/mL,respectively,and the AUC0-t were(1 383.26±437.05)h·ng·mL-1 and(1 333.54±372.53)h·ng·mL-1,respectively,the AUC0-∞ were(1 404.01±439.89)h·ng·mL-1 and(1 352.31±374.45)h·ng·mL-1,respectively,the 90％confi-dence intervals for the geometric mean ratios of Cmax,AUC0-t,and AUC0-∞ were 100.92％-110.50％,98.30％-108.31％,and 98.46％-108.39％,respective-ly,the 90％CI of the intra-individual standard devia-tion ratio(SWT/SWR)for Cmax,AUC0-t and AUC0-∞ were 0.63-1.29,0.78-1.61 and 0.79-1.61,respectively.CONCLUSION:Bioequivalence of the two prepara-tions in fasting and postprandial state in healthy subjects.

A scientific and efficient comprehensive operation system for the transformation of clinical research achievements is an important guarantee to fully release the capability of public hospitals of the achievement transformation. A public hospital, focusing on the bottleneck problems faced in the process of transforming scientific and technological achievements, began to explore the construction of a comprehensive operation system for the transformation of clinical research achievements and implemented it throughout the hospital from October 2023. By improving the organizational structure and setting up full-time management positions; formulating supporting policies and perfecting the incentive mechanism; drawing a systematic portrait and creating a standard pathway; expanding the transformation platform and promoting coordinated development; innovating management services and strengthening digital empowerment; and highlighting publicity and education to enhance the capability of transformation, the hospital has effectively promoted the transformation of clinical research achievements. This practice can provide a reference for other hospitals to improve the management of clinical research achievements transformation and promote high-quality hospital development.

BACKGROUND:Total knee arthroplasty is an effective treatment for late-stage osteoarthritis,but postoperative pain and joint function recovery are the main challenges.Nerve block and mixed drug injection are two common pain relief methods,but the effect of their combined use is still unclear. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of ultrasound-guided continuous adductor canal block+single sciatic nerve block+"cocktail"mixed drug analgesia on postoperative pain relief and joint function recovery in total knee arthroplasty. METHODS:120 patients with osteoarthritis admitted to Hebei Province Cangzhou Hospital of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine from January to May 2022 were randomly divided into two groups(n=60).The observation group received ultrasound-guided continuous adductor canal block+single sciatic nerve block+"cocktail"mixed drug analgesia.The control group received ultrasound-guided continuous adductor canal block+single sciatic nerve block.The differences in visual analog scale score,hospital for special surgery score,pain mediators,expression levels of inflammatory factors,the occurrence of adverse reactions,and postoperative barehanded muscle strength test were compared between the two groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The visual analog scale scores at rest and exercise were lower in the observation group than those in the control group at 6,8,12,24,48,and 72 hours postoperatively(P<0.05).(2)Hospital for special surgery scores at 1 and 3 months postoperatively were significantly higher in the observation group than those in the control group(P<0.05).(3)In terms of pain mediators and inflammatory factors,the expression levels were significantly lower in the observation group than those in the control group(P<0.05).(4)There was no statistically significant difference in terms of adverse effects and postoperative barehanded muscle strength examination between the two groups(P>0.05).(5)In total knee arthroplasty,ultrasound-guided continuous adductor canal block and single sciatic nerve block,together with a"cocktail"mixed drug analgesia injected into the joint cavity,can provide excellent analgesia,facilitate the recovery of joint function,and relieve postoperative pain and inflammation with a high degree of safety.

AIM: To investigate the relationship between objective ocular torsion and near stereopsis in patients with primary superior oblique overaction(PSOOA).METHODS: Retrospective study. A total of 59 strabismus patients with PSOOA who underwent strabismus surgery at Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University between January 2019 and November 2023 were collected. Based on the collected fundus photographs and the position of the fovea relative to the horizontal line through the optic disc, the eyes were categorized as incyclotorsion, excyclotorsion, or no cyclotorsion. Additionally, the fovea-disc angle(FDA)and the relationship between objective ocular torsion status, FDA, and near stereopsis function in the patients were further measured and analyzed.RESULTS: Totally 59 patients(92 eyes)showed superior oblique overaction. There were no cases of excyclotorsion, 32 cases with no cyclotorsion, and 27 cases with incyclotorsion. The total binocular FDA was significantly smaller in the no-cyclotorsion group compared with the incyclotorsion group(2.83°±2.89° vs 16.12°±5.74°, P<0.001). The preservation rates of near stereopsis were 66% and 15% in the no-cyclotorsion and incyclotorsion groups, respectively, with a significant statistical difference(P<0.001), and the preservation rates of fine near stereopsis were 38% and 11% in the no-cyclotorsion and incyclotorsion groups, respectively, with a significant statistical difference(P=0.02). Among all patients, near stereopsis was correlated with total binocular FDA(r=-0.526, P<0.001), with the strongest correlation observed with the FDA of the incyclotorsion(r=-0.546, P<0.001). In the incyclotorsion group, there was no correlation between near stereopsis and total binocular FDA(r=-0.366, P=0.060), with a negative correlation between near stereopsis and the FDA of both the incyclotorsion and the overaction(r=-0.424, P=0.028; r=-0.485, P=0.010). In the no-cyclotorsion group, near stereopsis was not correlated with total binocular FDA, incyclotorsion FDA, or overaction FDA.CONCLUSION:PSOOA patients with incyclotorsion have a lower preservation rate of near stereopsis than those without cyclotorsion. Near stereopsis function of patients with PSOOA is negatively correlated with total binocular FDA, especially the greater the FDA of the incyclotorsion and overaction, the worse the near-stereoscopic function.