ObjectiveTo construct and validate a clinical prediction model for inflammatory remission outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis （RA） patients with liver and kidney deficiency syndrome treated with Bushen Zhiwang Decoction （补肾治尪汤， BZD） based on metabolomics. MethodsA prospective cohort study was conducted， enrol-ling 60 RA patients with liver and kidney deficiency syndrome. All patients were treated with BZD and conventional-dose oral conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs （csDMARDs） for 12 months. Clinical data were collected， and the change in disease activity score in 28 joints （DAS28） after treatment compared with baseline （△DAS28） was used as the primary outcome and grouping criterion. Peripheral blood samples were collected before treatment to analyze plasma metabolites. Differential analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator （LASSO） regression were used to preliminarily screen differential metabolites， followed by machine learning algorithms to further identify a core metabolite combination. Based on the expression levels of the core metabolite combination， a novel metabolite index， namely the metabolomics-based inflammatory remission score （Met-IRS）， was calculated using standar-dized metabolite values， and its clinical applicability was evaluated. A clinical prediction model was constructed by integrating clinical characteristics and Met-IRS， and the model performance was assessed. ResultsAmong the 60 patients， those with △DAS28 ≥ 0.27 were assigned to the high inflammatory remission group， while those with △DAS28 ＜ 0.27 were assigned to the low inflammatory remission group， with 30 cases in each group. Compared to the low inflammatory remission group， the high inflammatory remission group showed a higher frequency of methotrexate use and a lower positive rate of rheumatoid factor （RF） （P＜0.05）. Seven core metabolites were identified as the optimal combination， including mangiferic acid， fatty acid-hydroxy fatty acid ester 40∶6， fatty acid-hydroxy fatty acid ester 18∶0， fatty acid-hydroxy fatty acid ester 36∶1， glucosylceramide， lysophosphatidylcholine 22∶5， and pregnanetriol ketone. The calculated Met-IRS comprehensively reflected the characteristics of differential metabolites and demonstrated clinical applicability. Met-IRS was significantly higher in the high inflammatory remission group than in the low inflammatory remission group， and was positively correlated with high inflammatory remission outcomes （P＜0.05）. Based on the variables Met-IRS， methotrexate use， leflunomide use， and RF positivity， a clinical prediction model for inflammatory remission in RA treatment （Cj-RTRM） was constructed. Model performance evaluation demonstrated that the model had good clinical predictive ability， with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve （AUC） of 0.880， sensitivity 0.967， specificity 0.700 and Youden's index 0.667. ConclusionThe clinical prediction model Cj-RTRM constructed based on the metabolomics-based inflammatory remission score Met-IRS can effectively predict clinical inflammatory remission outcomes in RA patients treated with BZD and accurately identify the advantageous population for this treatment. This model provides guiding evidence for dynamic inflammation monitoring， targeted management， and identification of populations with advantages in traditional Chinese medicine.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism by which Xiebai San regulates respiratory tract and intestinal mucosal immunity in rats with allergic asthma. MethodsForty male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups based on body weight: control group, model group, positive control group, and Xiebai San group. The model group, positive control group, and Xiebai San group were sensitized with ovalbumin to establish a rat model of allergic asthma. From day 21 (the aerosol challenge phase), each group received daily gavage interventions simultaneously: the positive control group was administered dexamethasone (0.068 mg/kg), the Xiebai San group received Xiebai San solution (2 g/mL, 11.3 mL/kg), while the control and model groups were given an equal volume of normal saline, once daily for 14 consecutive days. After euthanasia, lung and intestinal tissues were collected. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe histopathological changes. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to examine tissue ultrastructure. Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect the positive reaction areas of phosphatidyl-inositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (Akt) proteins. Total protein and total RNA were extracted from lung and intestinal tissues, then the protein and mRNA expression levels of PI3K and Akt genes were detected by Western blotting and real-time quantitative PCR, respectively. ResultsHistopathological results showed alveolar emphysema accompanied by inflammatory cell infiltration, and intestinal mucosal injury with inflammatory cell infiltration in the model group as compared with the control group; the cellular structure of lung tissues was disrupted in the model group, with reduced organelles, while the ultrastructural lesions in the intestine were relatively mild. Compared with the model group, Xiebai San group exhibited milder pathological changes in lung tissues, with occasional alveolar wall damage and a small amount of inflammatory cell infiltration; the intestinal mucosal structure was improved, glands were arranged regularly, and pathological changes such as tissue loosening and inflammatory infiltration were alleviated; the cellular structure of lung tissues was relatively intact with reduced severity of lesions, and no ultrastructural pathological changes were observed in intestinal tissues. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting results showed that compared with the control group, the specific positive reaction areas of PI3K and Akt in lung and intestinal tissues were significantly increased in the model group (all P<0.001); meanwhile, the protein expression levels of PI3K and Akt were significantly upregulated (all P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the positive area of Akt protein in lung tissue was significantly reduced in the Xiebai San group (P<0.001), and the positive area of PI3K in intestinal tissue was also significantly decreased (P<0.000 1). Additionally, the protein expression levels of PI3K and Akt in lung and intestinal tissues were significantly downregulated (all P<0.01). Real-time quantitative PCR results showed that compared with the control group, the mRNA expression levels of PI3K and Akt genes in lung and intestinal tissues were significantly elevated in the model group (all P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the mRNA expression levels of PI3K and Akt genes in lung and intestinal tissues were significantly reduced in the Xiebai San group (all P<0.05). ConclusionXiebai San exerts protective effects on rats with allergic asthma by inhibiting the expression of key nucleic acids and proteins in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway in lung and intestinal tissues, improving the morphological structure of lung tissue, and maintaining intestinal mucosal integrity, and regulating intestinal mucosal immune function.

Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncture(EA)on TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)related proteins in rats with neurogenic bladder(NB)after spinal cord injury;To explore the possible mechanism of EA in improving NB fibrosis.Methods Totally 36 female SD rats were randomly selected,with 10 rats in the sham-operation group and the remaining 26 rats undergoing complete transection of the spinal cord beneath the T8 vertebrae to establish a NB rat model.The modeling rats were randomly divided into model group and EA group,with 10 rats in each group.EA group was applied to"Ciliao","Zhongji"and"Sanyinjiao",20 min per time,once a day for 7 days.The general condition of the rats in each group was observed,the ultrasound index of the bladder was detected by ultrasound technique,the bladder function of the rats was detected by urodynamics,the body mass of the rats and the wet weight of the bladder were recorded,and the bladder index was calculated.HE staining was used to observe bladder tissue morphology,the degree of bladder tissue fibrosis and bladder wall thickness were detected by Masson staining.The positive expressions of E-cadherin,N-cadherin and Vimentin in bladder tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry.The protein expressions of TGF-β1,p-Smad2/3,E-cadherin,N-cadherin and Vimentin were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the sham-operation group,the upper and lower diameter,anteroposterior diameter,transverse diameter,bladder volume of the model group significantly increased(P<0.001),the maximum bladder pressure,leak point pressure difference,perfusion time and maximum bladder capacity significantly increased(P<0.001),the bladder index increased significantly(P<0.001),the bladder epithelial cells were thickened and arranged irregularly,the bladder collagen volume fraction and bladder wall thickness significantly increased(P<0.001),the expressions of TGF-β1,p-Smad2/3,N-cadherin and Vimentin in bladder tissue increased(P<0.01),and the expression of E-cadherin decreased(P<0.001).Compared with the model group,the upper and lower diameter,anteroposterior diameter,transverse diameter,bladder volume of the EA group decreased significantly(P<0.05),the maximum bladder pressure,leak point pressure difference,perfusion time and maximum bladder capacity significantly decreased(P<0.05),the bladder index significantly decreased(P<0.05),the thickness of the bladder epithelial cell layer became thinner and arranged more neatly,and the bladder collagen volume fraction and bladder wall thickness of the bladder were significantly reduced(P<0.05),the expressions of TGF-β1,p-Smad2/3,N-cadherin and Vimentin in bladder tissue significantly decreased(P<0.05),and the expression of E-cadherin significantly increased(P<0.05).Conclusion EA may reduce the EMT of bladder epithelial cells and decrease the degree of bladder tissue fibrosis by inhibiting the activation of the TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway,thereby improving bladder function in NB rats after spinal cord injury.

Objective:To investigate Beijing residents′ preferences, marginal willingness to pay (mWTP), and utilization probabilities regarding the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) health management services provided by community health service institutions, and to provide references for promoting the application and dissemination of TCM health management at the grassroots level.Methods:A questionnaire was designed based on a discrete choice experiment involving six attributes influencing residents′ utilization of TCM health management services: medical insurance coverage, technical effectiveness, service provider, physician seniority, treatment modality, and individual average out-of-pocket cost. A multi-stage stratified random sampling method was used to select 800 residents from three community health service institutions across three administrative districts of Beijing. The survey was conducted from November to December 2024. A mixed logit model was employed to analyze the factors influencing service utilization preferences, mWTP, and utilization probabilities.Results:A total of 733 valid questionnaires were included in the analysis. All six attributes significantly influenced residents′ service utilization preferences ( P<0.05). Residents showed stronger preferences for services with lower individual average out-of-pocket costs ( β=-0.214), combination therapies involving both internal medication and external treatments ( β=0.314), provision by senior-level professionals ( β= 0.522), fixed service providers ( β=0.851), longer treatment courses with better efficacy ( β=1.323), and services covered by medical insurance ( β=1.843). When services were covered by insurance, featured longer courses with better efficacy, and involved fixed service providers, the probability of service utilization increased to 76.52%. Heterogeneity in service utilization preferences was observed across different ages, genders and chronic health conditions ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Medical insurance coverage, technical efficacy and doctor service continuity are the most influential factors affecting residents′ service utilization. Optimizing the combination of TCM health management service attributes can enhance residents′ willingness to utilize these services. It is recommended to develop multi-tiered medical security strategies, selectively include high-value TCM health management services into insurance coverage, strengthen physician-patient trust, and design differentiated " disease prevention" service packages for residents with different characteristics to improve overall population health.

Objective To investigate the expression of regional cerebral oxygen saturation(rSO2)in preterm infants with brain injury(BIPI)and its relationship with amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram(aEEG)parameters and neurodevelopment.Methods Retrospectively,116 cases of BIPI(Bilateral Intra-ventricular Perforation)born in the hospital between February 2022 and February 2023 were selected as the study subjects.According to the Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Prevention of Premature Infant Brain Injury,these cases were categorized into mild,moderate,and severe groups,with 59,35,and 22 cases,respectively.The study compared the general characteristics of premature infants with different brain injury levels.Regression analysis was conducted to identify the factors affecting brain injury in premature infants,and correlation analyses were performed on aEEG scores,rSO2,and GMS scores.ROC curve analysis was used to evaluate the value of combining brain oxygen saturation monitoring with aEEG in predicting abnormal whole-body motor quality assessment.Results On the 3rd and 7th days after birth,severe brain-injured premature infants had significantly lower rSO2 and aEEG scores compared to those with mild and moderate brain injuries(P<0.05).At 7 days,these infants also had lower scores for graph continuity,sleep-wake cycles,lower boundary amplitude,bandwidth,total score,rSO2,gestational age,and birth weight,and a higher proportion of abnormal developmental outcomes(PR+CS)(P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the 3-day aEEG total score(OR=0.448,95％CI:0.094～0.890),7-day aEEG total score(OR=0.384,95％CI:0.058～0.726),3-day rSO2(OR=0.574,95％CI:0.398～0.750),and 7-day rSO2(OR=0.431,95％CI:0.115～0.777)were all protective factors for brain injury in premature infants,P<0.05.Correlation analysis showed that brain oxygen saturation was negatively correlated with aEEG scores and overall motor quality.The prediction value for abnormal overall motor quality using 7-day rSO2,aEEG,and the combination of 7-day rSO2 and 7-day aEEG scores was as follows:the positive predictive value for rSO2 was 86.46％,the negative predictive value was 96.85％,the sensitivity was 92.31％,the specificity was 92.21％,and the cut-off value was 0.845;The positive predictive value(PPV)of aEEG was 78.26％,the negative predictive value(NPV)was 96.86％,the sensitivity was 89.74％,and the specificity was 92.21％,with a cut-off value of 0.820.The positive predictive value(PPV)of 7-day rSO2 combined with 7-day aEEG score was 89.04％,the NPV was 96.88％,the sensitivity was 94.90％,and the specificity was 93.51％,with a cut-off value of 0.884,P<0.05.ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC of 7-day rSO2+7-day aEEG score was 0.895,De-long test P<0.005,indicating high predictive value for overall exercise quality.Conclusion Combined with rSO2 and EEG,the prediction of overall motor quality is better,which may have clinical value for excluding high-risk children.

Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncture(EA)on TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)related proteins in rats with neurogenic bladder(NB)after spinal cord injury;To explore the possible mechanism of EA in improving NB fibrosis.Methods Totally 36 female SD rats were randomly selected,with 10 rats in the sham-operation group and the remaining 26 rats undergoing complete transection of the spinal cord beneath the T8 vertebrae to establish a NB rat model.The modeling rats were randomly divided into model group and EA group,with 10 rats in each group.EA group was applied to"Ciliao","Zhongji"and"Sanyinjiao",20 min per time,once a day for 7 days.The general condition of the rats in each group was observed,the ultrasound index of the bladder was detected by ultrasound technique,the bladder function of the rats was detected by urodynamics,the body mass of the rats and the wet weight of the bladder were recorded,and the bladder index was calculated.HE staining was used to observe bladder tissue morphology,the degree of bladder tissue fibrosis and bladder wall thickness were detected by Masson staining.The positive expressions of E-cadherin,N-cadherin and Vimentin in bladder tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry.The protein expressions of TGF-β1,p-Smad2/3,E-cadherin,N-cadherin and Vimentin were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the sham-operation group,the upper and lower diameter,anteroposterior diameter,transverse diameter,bladder volume of the model group significantly increased(P<0.001),the maximum bladder pressure,leak point pressure difference,perfusion time and maximum bladder capacity significantly increased(P<0.001),the bladder index increased significantly(P<0.001),the bladder epithelial cells were thickened and arranged irregularly,the bladder collagen volume fraction and bladder wall thickness significantly increased(P<0.001),the expressions of TGF-β1,p-Smad2/3,N-cadherin and Vimentin in bladder tissue increased(P<0.01),and the expression of E-cadherin decreased(P<0.001).Compared with the model group,the upper and lower diameter,anteroposterior diameter,transverse diameter,bladder volume of the EA group decreased significantly(P<0.05),the maximum bladder pressure,leak point pressure difference,perfusion time and maximum bladder capacity significantly decreased(P<0.05),the bladder index significantly decreased(P<0.05),the thickness of the bladder epithelial cell layer became thinner and arranged more neatly,and the bladder collagen volume fraction and bladder wall thickness of the bladder were significantly reduced(P<0.05),the expressions of TGF-β1,p-Smad2/3,N-cadherin and Vimentin in bladder tissue significantly decreased(P<0.05),and the expression of E-cadherin significantly increased(P<0.05).Conclusion EA may reduce the EMT of bladder epithelial cells and decrease the degree of bladder tissue fibrosis by inhibiting the activation of the TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway,thereby improving bladder function in NB rats after spinal cord injury.

Diabetic retinopathy(DR),as one of the most common microvascular complications in patients with diabe-tes mellitus(DM),has a complex and multifaceted etiology that involves multiple factors.The unique characterization of DR in genomics,epigenomics,transcriptomics,proteomics,and metabolomics has opened new avenues for the exploration and development of novel therapeutic strategies for this disease.However,the inherent limitation of single-omics approa-ches is that they can only analyze the biological and molecular mechanisms underlying the disease from a single dimension,which makes it difficult to comprehensively capture the complex nature of DR.With the rapid advancement of high-throughput sequencing technology,multi-omics joint analysis combines the advantages of different histological techniques and can explore the pathogenesis of DR from multiple dimensions and levels.This paper aims to comprehensively review the latest progress of multi-omics technologies in revealing the pathogenesis of DR and its complex molecular mechanisms and thoroughly explore the new opportunities,current challenges,and future development prospects of multi-omics tech-nologies for DR research.

Objective:To investigate Beijing residents′ preferences, marginal willingness to pay (mWTP), and utilization probabilities regarding the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) health management services provided by community health service institutions, and to provide references for promoting the application and dissemination of TCM health management at the grassroots level.Methods:A questionnaire was designed based on a discrete choice experiment involving six attributes influencing residents′ utilization of TCM health management services: medical insurance coverage, technical effectiveness, service provider, physician seniority, treatment modality, and individual average out-of-pocket cost. A multi-stage stratified random sampling method was used to select 800 residents from three community health service institutions across three administrative districts of Beijing. The survey was conducted from November to December 2024. A mixed logit model was employed to analyze the factors influencing service utilization preferences, mWTP, and utilization probabilities.Results:A total of 733 valid questionnaires were included in the analysis. All six attributes significantly influenced residents′ service utilization preferences ( P<0.05). Residents showed stronger preferences for services with lower individual average out-of-pocket costs ( β=-0.214), combination therapies involving both internal medication and external treatments ( β=0.314), provision by senior-level professionals ( β= 0.522), fixed service providers ( β=0.851), longer treatment courses with better efficacy ( β=1.323), and services covered by medical insurance ( β=1.843). When services were covered by insurance, featured longer courses with better efficacy, and involved fixed service providers, the probability of service utilization increased to 76.52%. Heterogeneity in service utilization preferences was observed across different ages, genders and chronic health conditions ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Medical insurance coverage, technical efficacy and doctor service continuity are the most influential factors affecting residents′ service utilization. Optimizing the combination of TCM health management service attributes can enhance residents′ willingness to utilize these services. It is recommended to develop multi-tiered medical security strategies, selectively include high-value TCM health management services into insurance coverage, strengthen physician-patient trust, and design differentiated " disease prevention" service packages for residents with different characteristics to improve overall population health.

Objective:To summarize the genotype and clinical phenotype characteristics of children with epilepsy associated with the SCN1B gene encoding the sodium channel β1 subunit. Methods:The genotypes and clinical phenotypes of patients with SCN1B variants among suspected genetic epilepsy cases treated at the Children′s Medical Center of Peking University First Hospital between May 2016 and July 2024 were analyzed. These variants were identified using next-generation sequencing and subsequently validated by Sanger sequencing or quantitative polymerase chain reaction methods. Results:A total of 17 patients were analyzed, including 8 males and 9 females. Ten cases of missense variations (including 2 with the same variations), 4 cases of deletion variations, and 1 case each of nonsense variations, splice site variations, and exons 4-5 deletions were identified. Among them, 6 cases had novel SCN1B variations. The variants in 11 cases were inherited from 1 parent. Eleven types of gene variants have not been reported yet. Onset of epilepsy ranged from 3 months to 5 years and 3 months old (median age: 14 months). Types of seizures included generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) in 14 cases, focal seizures in 9 cases, myoclonic seizures in 3 cases, atypical absence seizures in 2 cases and epilepsy spasms, tonic seizures and atonic seizures in 1 case each. Eleven cases had diverse seizure types. Fourteen cases (14/17) demonstrated fever sensitivity. Electroencephalography revealed focal discharges in 3 cases, coinciding with focal and generalized discharges in 3 additional cases, and multifocal discharges in 6 cases. Seizures were identified in 4 cases: 1 case of myoclonic seizures, 1 case of GTCS, 1 case of atypical absence seizures, and 1 case exhibiting both myoclonic and tonic seizures. Nine cases (9/17) were diagnosed with genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus, 1 case diagnosed with myoclonic epilepsy in infancy and 1 diagnosed with infant epileptic spasms syndrome. There were 2 cases of nonspecific developmental epileptic encephalopathy, while the remaining 4 cases could not be diagnosed with a specific epileptic syndrome. Effective antiseizure medications (ASMs) included valproate in 8 cases, levetiracetam in 5 cases, topiramate in 3 cases, clobazam in 2 cases, clonazepam and vigabatrin in 1 case each. Sodium channel blockers exacerbated seizures in 3 cases, specifically oxcarbazepine in 2 cases and lamotrigine in 1 case. At the last follow-up, seizures were controlled for at least 6 months in 14 patients (14/17), while seizures remained uncontrolled in 3 patients despite trialing 2 or more ASMs. Thirteen patients exhibited normal development, while 4 experienced developmental delays. Conclusions:The heterozygous variants in children with SCN1B gene-related epilepsy include missense, deletion, nonsense, splice site variants, and exon deletions. The correlation between different genetic variants and clinical phenotypes remains unclear. These variants are associated with epilepsy onset from infancy to early childhood, presenting with various seizure types, with GTCS being the most common. Phenotypic manifestations can vary significantly in severity, ranging from benign febrile seizures or febrile seizures plus to developmental epileptic encephalopathy. Valproic acid demonstrates the highest effectiveness rate, while the use of sodium channel blockers may worsen seizures in certain patients, necessitating cautious administration.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of encephalocraniocutaneous lipomatosis (ECCL) in pediatric patients.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 2 ECCL cases admitted to Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University between January 2024 and December 2024. Additionally, a review of relevant literature was performed to summarize the clinical features of this condition.Results:Case 1 is a male patient aged 2 years and 10 months, while case 2 is a female patient aged 8 months. Both patients presented with seizures and exhibited nevus psiloliparus on the scalp, non-scarring alopecia, nodular skin tags around the eyes, and ocular choristomas. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed leptomeningeal angiomatosis in both cases, with case 1 also demonstrating an intracranial lipoma and case 2 showing localized cerebral atrophy and an arachnoid cyst. Whole-exome sequencing of peripheral blood and copy number variation analysis in both cases did not identify any pathogenic variants. Additionally, no relevant pathogenic variants were detected in the scalp lesion tissue of case 2. A review of the literature revealed that, to date, there have been 5 reported domestic cases, 132 reported foreign cases in pediatric populations, totally 139 cases including 2 cases described in this article. Among these patients, 86 are male, 49 are female, and the gender of 4 cases remains unspecified. Clinical manifestations observed included seizures in 79.0% (64/81) of cases and developmental delay in 64.7% (57/88). Cutaneous lesions were characterized by non-scarring alopecia in 100% (97/97) of cases,non-hair-bearing fatty tissue nevi in 98.3% (58/59), nodular skin tags in 96.5% (56/58), and subcutaneous lipomas in 94.8% (73/77). Ocular lesions predominantly involved choristomas, occurring in 91.8% (90/98) of cases. Central nervous system abnormalities were identified as ventricular dilatation or hydrocephalus in 85.0% (68/80) of cases, intracranial lipomas in 82.1% (69/84), localized cerebral atrophy in 80.9% (34/42), intracranial vascular anomalies in 74.1% (23/31), and spinal lipomas in 66.6% (30/45).Conclusions:ECCL is an uncommon neurocutaneous disorder with the potential to impact various organ systems, notably the integumentary, ocular, and central nervous systems. Pediatric patients may exhibit symptoms such as seizures, developmental delays, and additional clinical manifestations, necessitating vigilant monitoring and management.