Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease（COPD） is a common chronic respiratory disorder frequently accompanied by diaphragmatic dysfunction during its course， which significantly increases respiratory burden and impairs quality of life. As the primary inspiratory muscle， the diaphragm is prone to fatigue， atrophy， inflammation， and fibrosis during the long-term progression of COPD. Its pathological mechanisms involve multiple pathways such as inflammatory responses， oxidative stress， mitochondrial dysfunction， apoptosis， ion channel abnormalities， epigenetic regulation， autophagy disorder， and protein metabolism imbalance. In recent years， traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） has demonstrated multi-targeted and systemic regulatory advantages in improving diaphragmatic function in COPD. However， related studies remain fragmented， and integrated mechanistic understanding is lacking. This paper focuses on the mechanism-target-TCM intervention framework， systematically summarizing the molecular mechanisms of diaphragmatic dysfunction， while incorporating the TCM theory of Zongqi（ancestral Qi）. It highlights the therapeutic effects of Chinese herbal formulas， single herbs， and active components in modulating inflammation， oxidative stress， mitochondrial function， ion channels， epigenetic processes， autophagy， and protein homeostasis. Additionally， the review outlines existing challenges， including insufficient study volume， unbalanced selection of herbal prescriptions， limited mechanistic depth， inconsistent disease models and experimental designs， lack of standardized diaphragmatic function assessment， and weak clinical validation. Future research should strengthen the integration of TCM and modern medicine， identify additional therapeutic targets， deepen mechanistic research， and establish unified and standardized experimental systems to advance the theoretical foundation and clinical application of TCM in the prevention and treatment of COPD-related diaphragmatic dysfunction.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease（COPD） is a common chronic respiratory disorder frequently accompanied by diaphragmatic dysfunction during its course， which significantly increases respiratory burden and impairs quality of life. As the primary inspiratory muscle， the diaphragm is prone to fatigue， atrophy， inflammation， and fibrosis during the long-term progression of COPD. Its pathological mechanisms involve multiple pathways such as inflammatory responses， oxidative stress， mitochondrial dysfunction， apoptosis， ion channel abnormalities， epigenetic regulation， autophagy disorder， and protein metabolism imbalance. In recent years， traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） has demonstrated multi-targeted and systemic regulatory advantages in improving diaphragmatic function in COPD. However， related studies remain fragmented， and integrated mechanistic understanding is lacking. This paper focuses on the mechanism-target-TCM intervention framework， systematically summarizing the molecular mechanisms of diaphragmatic dysfunction， while incorporating the TCM theory of Zongqi（ancestral Qi）. It highlights the therapeutic effects of Chinese herbal formulas， single herbs， and active components in modulating inflammation， oxidative stress， mitochondrial function， ion channels， epigenetic processes， autophagy， and protein homeostasis. Additionally， the review outlines existing challenges， including insufficient study volume， unbalanced selection of herbal prescriptions， limited mechanistic depth， inconsistent disease models and experimental designs， lack of standardized diaphragmatic function assessment， and weak clinical validation. Future research should strengthen the integration of TCM and modern medicine， identify additional therapeutic targets， deepen mechanistic research， and establish unified and standardized experimental systems to advance the theoretical foundation and clinical application of TCM in the prevention and treatment of COPD-related diaphragmatic dysfunction.

Objective To explore the risk factors for postoperative pneumonia (POP) following esophagectomy for esophageal cancer, and to identify potential clinical indicators for predicting POP. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients with esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomy at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University from 2017 to 2021. Perioperative clinical indicators were collected to analyze the risk factors for the occurrence of POP. Patients were divided into a POP group and a non-POP group according to whether POP occurred. Results A total of 613 patients with esophageal cancer were included, comprising 472 males and 141 females, with a median age of 62.0 (53.0, 67.0) years. Among them, 51 patients were in the POP group, and 562 patients were in the non-POP group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the forced expiratory volume in 1 second percentage of predicted (FEV1%) [OR=0.958, 95%CI (0.943, 0.973), P<0.001], systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) [OR=1.001, 95%CI (1.000, 1.002), P=0.007], and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) [OR=0.869, 95% CI (0.813, 0.928), P<0.001] were independent risk factors for POP. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis combining FEV1%, SII, and PNI demonstrated that the area under the curve (AUC) for predicting POP was 0.826 [95%CI (0.793, 0.855), cut-off value: 0.08, sensitivity: 80.3%, specificity: 72.4%, Youden index: 0.528, P<0.001]. Cross-validation confirmed that the combined indicators had the highest predictive efficacy, which was significantly superior to that of any single indicator alone. Conclusion Preoperative levels of FEV1%, SII, and PNI are closely associated with the occurrence of POP following surgery for esophageal cancer. The combined application of FEV1%, SII, and PNI demonstrates good predictive efficacy for the occurrence of POP.

ObjectiveTo develop and validate a nomogram for predicting the risk of concurrent cognitive impairment in older adults with heart disease. MethodsSelf-reported data from 2 673 respondents in the 2020 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were analyzed. The participants were randomly divided into a training set (n = 1 871) and a validation set (n = 802). Heart disease status was determined using a self-report questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors, and a nomogram for predicting the risk of concurrent cognitive impairment in older adults with heart disease was developed using R software. Bootstrap resampling was used for internal validation, and model performance was further evaluated in the randomly split validation set. The predictive performance of the model was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and calibration curves.. ResultsA total of 2 673 older adults with heart disease were included, out of whom 315 participants in the training set had cognitive impairment. Lasso regression analysis identified age, education level, place of residence, instrumental activities of daily living and depression as predictors of concurrent cognitive impairment. A prediction model incorporating these five variables was constructed. The AUC were 0.827 (95%CI 0.804 to 0.850) in the training set and 0.847 (95%CI 0.812 to 0.882) in the validation set. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test yielded P = 0.154 and P = 0.716 in the training and validation sets, respectively. Calibration curves showed good agreement between predicted and observed probabilities. Decision curve analysis indicated that the model provided favorable net benefit and predictive performance. ConclusionThe nomogram may provide a useful reference for risk screening and early intervention for cognitive impairment in older adults with heart disease.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of growth hormone （GH） pretreatment on the clinical outcomes of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer （IVF/ICSI-ET） in patients with diminished ovarian reserve （DOR）. MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 359 DOR patients undergoing IVF/ICSI-ET. Based on the use of GH pretreatment before ovarian stimulation and/or its addition during the stimulation cycle， patients were divided into three groups： the Control group （n=119）， receiving no GH pretreatment or addition； the Non-GH pretreatment group （n=115）， receiving GH （4 IU/d） only during ovarian stimulation without pretreatment； and the GH pretreatment group （n=125）， pretreated with GH （2 IU/d） for 4-6 weeks before stimulation and also receiving GH （4 IU/d） during stimulation. The basic characteristics， ovarian stimulation parameters， embryological data， and cumulative live birth rate （CLBR） were compared among the groups. Results① No significant differences were found among the three groups regarding female age， male age， duration of infertility， body mass index （BMI）， basal hormone levels， distribution of ovarian stimulation protocols， endometrial thickness， serum estradiol （E2） and luteinizing hormone （LH） levels on the day of HCG trigger， or the number of blastocysts transferred per cycle. ② The GH pretreatment group required significantly lower total gonadotropin （Gn） dosage and fewer days of stimulation than the Control and Non-GH pretreatment group（P<0.05）. Compared to the Control group， the GH pretreatment group showed significantly higher numbers of retrieved oocytes， the number of mature oocytes， 2-pronuclei （2PN） zygotes， 2PN cleaved embryos， transferable embryos， high-quality embryos， as well as higher cumulative clinical pregnancy rates and CLBR （P<0.05）. Compared to the Non-GH pretreatment group， the GH pretreatment group had significantly more transferable embryos， high-quality embryos， and a higher CLBR （P<0.05）. ③ Compared to the Control group， the Non-GH pretreatment group only had a significantly higher number of retrieved oocytes （P<0.05）， with no significant differences in the number of mature oocytes， 2PN fertilized oocytes， 2PN cleaved embryos， transferable blastocysts， high-quality blastocysts， cumulative clinical pregnancy rate， and CLBR. ConclusionFor DOR patients， GH pretreatment for 4-6 weeks prior to ovarian stimulation can improve oocyte yield， embryo quality， cumulative clinical pregnancy rate， and CLBR， thereby enhancing the clinical outcomes of IVF/ICSI-ET.

ObjectiveTo investigate the regulatory mechanism of peptidylarginine deiminase 4 （PADI4） on matrix metalloproteinase （MMPs） expression and its potential role in the development of systemic lupus erythematosus （SLE）. MethodsThe mRNA expression levels of MMP-14/17/25 in SLE patients and healthy controls （HC） were measured by real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （RT-qPCR）， and their serum protein levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Spearman's rank correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlations between MMPs levels and clinical parameters in SLE patients. Primary neutrophils were treated with the PADI4 inhibitor GSK484， or MMPs expression levels were examined in PADI4-knockdown neutrophil-like HL-60 （dHL-60） cells， and cell migration ability was assessed by wound healing assay. ResultsThe mRNA expression levels of MMP-14/17/25 in neutrophils from SLE patients were lower than those in the HC （all P<0.01）. Serum levels of these three MMPs were also lower than those in the HC （all P<0.01）. MMP-14 levels were negatively correlated with immunoglobulin G （IgG） （r=-0.266）， immunoglobulin A （IgA） （r=-0.286）， and globulin （GLB）（r=-0.269） （all P<0.05）， while both MMP-17 （r=-0.269） and MMP-25（r=-0.244） levels were negatively correlated with urinary protein （UTP） （all P<0.05）. After treatment with GSK484 （10 μmol/L） to inhibit PADI4 activity， the protein expression levels of MMP-14/17/25 in neutrophils were higher than those in the Vehicle group （all P<0.05）， and the cell migration rate in wound healing assay was also greater than that in the Vehicle group （P<0.01）. Furthermore， after knockdown of PADI4 expression， the mRNA expression levels of MMP-14/17/25 were higher than those in the Vehicle group （all P<0.05）. ConclusionMMP-14/17/25 are downregulated in SLE and negatively regulated by PADI4. PADI4 may contribute to SLE progression by suppressing MMPs expression and neutrophil migration. These findings suggest that MMPs may serve as novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for SLE.

Objective:To analyze the current status of red blood cell transfusion in very preterm infants (VPI) (gestational age at birth <32 weeks) from Chinese Neonatal Network (CHNN) in 2022.Methods:This cross-sectional study was based on the CHNN VPI cohort. It included 6 985 VPI admitted to CHNN 89 participating centers within 24 hours after birth in 2022. VPI with major congenital anomalies or those transferred to non-CHNN centers for treatment or discharged against medical advice were excluded. VPI were categorized based on whether they received red blood cell transfusions, their gestational age at birth, the type of respiratory support received during transfusion, and whether the pre-transfusion hemoglobin levels exceeded the thresholds. General characteristics, red blood cell transfusion rates, number of transfusions, timing of the first transfusion, and pre-transfusion hemoglobin levels were compared among different groups. The incidence of adverse outcomes between the group of VPI who received transfusions above the threshold and those who received transfusions below the threshold were compared. Comparison among different groups was conducted using χ2 tests, Kruskal-Wallis H tests, Mann-Whitney U test, and so on. Trends by gestational age at birth were evaluated by Cochran-Armitage tests and Jonckheere-Terpstra tests for trend. Results:Among the 6 985 VPI, 3 865 cases(55.3%) were male, with a gestational age at birth of 30.0 (28.6, 31.0) weeks and a birth weight of (1 302±321) g. Overall, 3 617 cases (51.8%) received red blood cell transfusion, while 3 368 cases (48.2%) did not. The red blood cell transfusion rate was 51.8% (3 617/6 985), with rates of 77.7% (893/1 150) for those born before 28 weeks gestational age and 46.7% (2 724/5 835) for those born between 28 and 31 weeks gestational age. A total of 9 616 times red blood cell transfusions were administered to 3 617 VPI, with 632 times missing pre-transfusion hemoglobin data, and 8 984 times included in the analysis. Of the red blood cell transfusions, 25.6% (2 459/9 616) were administered when invasive respiratory support was required, 51.3% (4 934/9 616) were receiving non-invasive respiratory support, while 23.1% (2 223/9, 616) were given when no respiratory support was needed. Compared to the non-transfusion group, the red blood cell transfusion group had a higher rate of pregnancy-induced hypertension in mothers, lower rates of born via cesarean section and mother′s antenatal steroid administration, smaller gestational age, lower birth weight, a higher proportion of small-for-gestational-age, multiple births, and proportions of Apgar score at the 5 th minute after birth ≤3 (all P<0.05). They were also less likely to be female, born in hospital or undergo delayed cord clamping (all P<0.01). Additionally, higher transport risk index of physiologic stability score at admission were observed in the red blood cell transfusion group ( P<0.001). The number of red blood cell transfusion was 2 (1, 3) times, with the first transfusion occurring at an age of 18 (8, 29) days, and a pre-transfusion hemoglobin level of 97 (86, 109) g/L. For VPI ≤7 days of age, the pre-transfusion hemoglobin levels for invasive respiratory support, non-invasive respiratory support, or no respiratory support, respectively, with no statistically significant differences between groups ( H=5.59, P=0.061). For VPI aged 8 to 21 days and≥22 days, the levels with statistically differences between groups (both P<0.01). Red blood cell transfusions above recommended thresholds were observed in all respiratory support categories at different stages of life, with the highest prevalence in infants aged 8 to 21 days and≥22 days who did not require respiratory support, at 90.1% (264/273) and 91.1%(1 578/1 732), respectively. The rate of necrotizing enterocolitis was higher in the above-threshold group ( χ2=10.59, P=0.001), and the duration of hospital stay was longer in the above-threshold group ( Z=4.67, P<0.001) compared to the below-threshold group. Conclusions:In 2022, the red blood cell transfusion rate was relatively high among VPI from CHNN. Pre-transfusion hemoglobin levels frequently exceeded recommended transfusion thresholds.

[Objective]Based on the holistic view of"correspondence between nature and humans"in Huangdi Neijing,which is central to traditional Chinese time medicine theory,to explore a new diagnostic and therapeutic approach to insomnia from the perspective of"time".[Methods]By grounding in ancient and modern literature,this study elucidates the connotations of traditional Chinese time medicine and systematically reviews the temporal rhythms and derived theories related to insomnia in Huangdi Neijing,summarizing the approach to treating insomnia through time medicine.[Results]The disruption of the wake-sleep rhythm is a primary pathological mechanism of insomnia.The circadian rhythm,the four seasons rhythm,the exceeding the age rhythm and the meridians rhythm discussed in Huangdi Neijing are closely related to insomnia.They could be encapsulated into four major theories:the waxing and waning of Yin and Yang,the viscera and bowels managing time,the five movements and six climates,and the midnight-midday ebb flow theory.This study advocates a four-level strategy for insomnia,closely aligned with time medicine theory and the pathogenesis of insomnia,namely"regulating Yin and Yang""adapting to the four seasons""responding to annual Qi"and"reinforcement and elimination of Nazhi".[Conclusion]The time medicine concept in Huangdi Neijing has objectively effects in the prevention and treatment of insomnia,providing a new breakthrough and integration point for clinical diagnosis and treatment of insomnia.In clinical diagnosis and treatment of insomnia,the consideration of time rhythms should be fully integrated to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes.

Perimenopausal depression seriously affects women's physical and mental health.It is caused primarily by gonadal function decline,which is typically characterized by low mood,anxiety,slow thinking,and loss of interest,and is accompanied by autonomic dysfunction and endocrine dysfunction.The pathogenesis of perimenopausal depression remains unclear and controversial.Many scholars have conducted scientific research that is based on animal models of perimenopausal depression.Indeed,a good animal model of perimenopausal depression is the basic premise for studying its pathophysiological mechanisms and for facilitating reliability of the scientific result.Therefore,this paper combines the modern research mechanisms of perimenopausal depression and the current status of animal models in China,and provides an overview,evaluation,and generalization of the modeling method,principles and result,to provide a scientific basis and reference for the selection of suitable animal models for scientific research experiments.

[Objective]Based on the holistic view of"correspondence between nature and humans"in Huangdi Neijing,which is central to traditional Chinese time medicine theory,to explore a new diagnostic and therapeutic approach to insomnia from the perspective of"time".[Methods]By grounding in ancient and modern literature,this study elucidates the connotations of traditional Chinese time medicine and systematically reviews the temporal rhythms and derived theories related to insomnia in Huangdi Neijing,summarizing the approach to treating insomnia through time medicine.[Results]The disruption of the wake-sleep rhythm is a primary pathological mechanism of insomnia.The circadian rhythm,the four seasons rhythm,the exceeding the age rhythm and the meridians rhythm discussed in Huangdi Neijing are closely related to insomnia.They could be encapsulated into four major theories:the waxing and waning of Yin and Yang,the viscera and bowels managing time,the five movements and six climates,and the midnight-midday ebb flow theory.This study advocates a four-level strategy for insomnia,closely aligned with time medicine theory and the pathogenesis of insomnia,namely"regulating Yin and Yang""adapting to the four seasons""responding to annual Qi"and"reinforcement and elimination of Nazhi".[Conclusion]The time medicine concept in Huangdi Neijing has objectively effects in the prevention and treatment of insomnia,providing a new breakthrough and integration point for clinical diagnosis and treatment of insomnia.In clinical diagnosis and treatment of insomnia,the consideration of time rhythms should be fully integrated to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes.