Objective: To investigate the mechanism of Yishen Tongluo Formula in ameliorating renal pyroptosis in diabetic nephropathy mice by regulating the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Methods: Sixty C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into control (10 mice) and intervention groups (50 mice) using random number table method. The diabetes nephropathy model was established by intraperitoneally injecting streptozotocin(50 mg/kg). After modeling, the intervention group was further divided into model, semaglutide (40 μg/kg), and high-, medium-, and low-dose Yishen Tongluo Formula groups (15.6, 7.8, and 3.9 g/kg, respectively) using random number table method. The high-, medium-, and low-dose Yishen Tongluo Formula groups were administered corresponding doses of medication by gavage, the semaglutide group received a subcutaneous injection of semaglutide injection, and the control group and model groups were administered distilled water by gavage for 12 consecutive weeks. Random blood glucose levels of mice in each group were monitored, and the 24-h urinary protein content was measured using biochemical method every 4 weeks; after treatment, the serum creatinine and urea nitrogen levels were measured using biochemical method. The weight of the kidneys was measured, and the renal index was calculated. Hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff, periodic Schiff-methenamine, and Masson staining were used to observe the pathological changes in renal tissue. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect urinary β2-microglobulin (β2-MG), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) levels. Western blotting and real-time fluorescence PCR were used to detect the relative protein and mRNA expression levels of nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing receptor 3 (NLRP3), Caspase-1, gasdermin D (GSDMD), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-18 (IL-18) in renal tissue. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the proportion of protein staining area of the TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB in renal tissue. Results: Compared with the control group, the random blood glucose, 24-h urinary protein, serum creatinine, urea nitrogen, and renal index of the model group increased, and the urine β2-MG, NGAL, and KIM-1 levels increased. The relative protein and mRNA expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD, IL-1β, and IL-18 in renal tissue increased, and the proportion of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB protein positive staining areas increased (P<0.05). Pathological changes such as glomerular hypertrophy were observed in the renal tissue of the model group. Compared with the model group, the Yishen Tongluo Formula high-dose group showed a decrease in random blood glucose after 12 weeks of treatment (P<0.05). The Yishen Tongluo Formula high- and medium-dose groups showed a decrease in 24-h urinary protein, creatinine, urea nitrogen, and renal index, as well as decreased β2-MG, NGAL, and KIM-1 levels. NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD, IL-1 β, and IL-18 relative protein and mRNA expression levels were also reduced, and the proportion of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB protein positive staining areas was reduced (P<0.05). Pathological damage to renal tissue was ameliorated. Conclusion Yishen Tongluo Formula may exert protective renal effects by inhibiting renal pyroptosis and alleviating tubular interstitial injury in diabetic nephropathy mice by regulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Harmine(HM)is a type of β-Carboline alkaloid abundant in nature and has many biological effects.In recent years.Studies have found that HM had a significant positive effect on Alzheimer's disease(AD)both in vivo and in vitro.Its mechanism may be related to the reduction of abnormal deposition of β-amyloid protein(Aβ),excessive phosphorylation of Tau protein,regulation of the cholinergic system,antioxidant stress,and antineuritis.This article reviews the research progress on the improvement effect and mechanism of HM in AD in order to provide an experimental basis for the clinical application of HM and the development of drugs in the area of AD the prevention and treatment.

Trials within cohorts （TwiCs） are design methods derived from randomized controlled trials （RCTS）. They have been widely used in chronic disease areas such as tumors and cardiovascular diseases. The basis of the TwiCs design is a prospective cohort of specific diseases. When RCTS need to be implemented， some patients meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria are randomly sampled from the cohort to receive "trial interventions"， while the remaining patients in the cohort who meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria continue to receive conventional treatment as control groups. By comparing the efficacy differences between the intervention measures of the trial group and the control group， the efficacy of intervention measures was evaluated. Within the cohort， the same process could be repeated to carry out multiple RCTS， so as to evaluate different intervention measures or compare the efficacy of different doses or timing of interventions. Compared with classical RCTS， TwiCs make it easier to recruit patients from the cohort and have higher external validity， providing a new research paradigm for improving the efficiency and applicability of RCTS in clinical practice. However， TwiCs may also face the challenge of poor compliance of patients in the cohort. Researchers need to take effective measures to control these patients in the design and operation of TwiCs. This article focused on the methodological key points during the implementation of TwiCs， including multi-stage informed consent （patients are informed of consent at three stages： entering the cohort， entering the trial group， and after the trial）， randomization procedures （only random sampling of patients from the cohort to receive "trial interventions"）， sample size calculation， and statistical analysis methods. The article also compared the differences between TwiCs and traditional RCTS and illustrated TwiCs research design and analysis with examples， so as to provide new research ideas and methods for clinical researchers.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate changes in ultrafast pulse wave velocity (ufPWV) in individuals with arterial stiffness and subclinical atherosclerosis (subAS), and to provide cutoff values. Methods: This retrospective study recruited 231 participants, including 67 patients with subAS. The pulse wave velocity was measured at the beginning and end of systole (PWV-BS and PWVES, respectively) using ultrafast ultrasonography to assess arterial stiffness. The right and left common carotid arteries were measured separately, and laboratory metabolic parameters were also collected. Participants were balanced between groups using propensity score matching (PSM) at a 1:1 ratio, adjusting for age, sex, and waist-to-hip ratio as potential confounders. Cutoff values of ufPWV for monitoring subAS were determined via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: PWV-ES, unlike PWV-BS, was higher in the subAS subgroup than in the subAS-free group after PSM (all P<0.05). For each 1 m/s increase in left, right, and bilateral mean PWV-ES, the risk of subAS increased by 23% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04 to 1.46), 26% (95% CI, 1.07 to 1.52), and 38% (95% CI, 1.12 to 1.72), respectively. According to ROC analyses, predictive potential was found for left PWV-ES (cutoff value=7.910 m/s, P=0.002), right PWV-ES (cutoff value=6.615 m/s, P=0.003), and bilateral mean PWV-ES (cutoff value=7.415 m/s, P<0.001), but not for PWV-BS (all P>0.05). Conclusion PWV-ES measured using ultrafast ultrasonography was significantly higher in individuals with subAS than in those without. Specific PWV-ES cutoff values showed potential for predicting an increased risk of subAS.

Objective To explore the efficacy of semaglutide in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)com-bined with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)and its effect on oxidative stress and inflammatory factors.Methods Totally 80 patients with T2DM accompanied by NAFLD admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from July 2021 to December 2022 were selected and randomly assigned to the observation group and the control group,with 40 patients in each group.Patients in the control group were treated with pioglitazone metformin and dapagliflozin,while patients in the observation group were treated with pioglitazone metformin,dapagliflozin,and semaglutide.The levels of glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c),fasting blood glucose(FBG),2-hour postprandial blood glucose(2hPG),body mass,body mass index(BMI),waist circumference,alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),gamma-glutamyl transferase(GGT),controlled attenuation parameter(CAP),liver stiffness measurement(LSM),malondialdehyde(MDA),glutathione peroxidase(GSH-PX),lipid peroxide(LPO),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6),and interleukin-10(IL-10)before and after the treatment were compared.Results After 24 weeks of treatment,the overall response rate(ORR)in the observation group and control group was 92.5％(37/40)and 72.5％(29/40),respectively;and the ORR in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group(x2=5.541,P＜0.05).Before treatment,there was no statistically significant difference in the body mass,BMI,waist circumference,HbA1c,FBG,2hPG,ALT,AST,GGT,CAP,LSM,MDA,GSH-PX,LPO,TNF-α,IL-6,and IL-10 of patients between the 2 groups(P＞0.05);after 24 weeks of treatment,the body mass,BMI,waist circumference,HbA1c,FBG,2hPG,ALT,AST,GGT,CAP,LSM,MDA,LPO,TNF-α,IL-6,and IL-10 were significantly lower than before treatment,while GSH-PX was significantly higher than before treatment(P＜0.05);after 24 weeks of treatment,the body mass,BMI,waist circumference,HbA1c,FBG,2hPG,ALT,AST,GGT,CAP,LSM,MDA,LPO,TNF-α,IL-6,and IL-10 of patients in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group,and GSH-PX was significantly higher than that in the control group(P＜0.05).The incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group and the control group during the treatment period was 17.5％(7/40)and 12.5％(5/40),respectively;and the difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups was not statistically significant(P＞0.05).Conclusion Semaglutide significantly downregulates the levels of FBG,2hPG and HbA1c in patients with T2DM combined with NAFLD and reduces the body mass,waist circumference,liver enzyme level,hepatic fat content,hepatic fibrosis,oxidative stress,and inflammatory indicators.

Objective To explore the therapeutic effects of different doses of radioactive iodine-131 on patients with hyperthyroidism.Methods A total of 574 patients with hyperthyroidism treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from April 2020 to April 2023 were sampled for this study and were divided evenly into the observation group and the control group by a random number table,with 287 patients in each group.The control group was treated with high-dose radioactive iodine-131(＞10-15 mCi),while the observation group was provided with low-dose radioactive iodine-131(5-10 mCi).The therapeutic effects were estimated six months after treatment.Data of the two groups of patients before treatment and 3 and 6 months after treatment were compared,including the levels of thyroid hormone(FT4),free triiodothyronine(FT3),and thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH),which were measured through the fluorescence immunochromatography of serum(obtained by centrifugation of 3 mL fasting venous blood),and the tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1),interleukin-6(IL-6),and IL-1,which were measured through the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of serum.The salivary gland uptake index and salivary gland secretion index of the patients before treatment and 3 and 6 months after treatment were measured through radionuclide imaging.The incidence of adverse reactions during treatment was documen-ted.The incidence of hypothyroidism in both groups was evaluated 6 months after treatment.Results The total effective rate of the observation group and the control group was 83.27％(234/281)and 92.88％(261/281),respectively,and that of the observation group was significantly higher(x2=12.353,P＜0.05).The FT4,FT3,and TSH levels of the two groups before treatment showed no statistical discrepancy(P＞0.05).According to data collected 3 and 6 months after treatment,FT4 and FT3 levels of both groups significantly decreased,while TSH increased(P＜0.05)compared to corresponding pre-treatment levels;FT4 and FT3 levels of both groups observed 6 months after treatment were significantly lower than those observed 3 months before,in contrast to the growing TSH trend(P＜0.05).At 3 and 6 months after treatment,FT4 and FT3 levels of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group,while TSH levels were significantly higher(P＜0.05).The salivary gland uptake index and salivary gland secretion index between the two groups before treatment showed no statistical discrepancy(P＞0.05).At 3 and 6 months after treatment,such indexes of both groups obviously decreased(P＜0.05).However,those observed 6 months after treatment were higher than three months before(P＜0.05).At 3 months after treatment,the salivary gland uptake index and salivary gland secretion index of the observation group were notably higher than the control group(P＜0.05);at 6 months after treatment,no statistical discrepancy was observed between the two groups in terms of the two indexes(P＞0.05).Before treatment,there was no statistical difference in TNF-α,TGF-β1,IL-6,and IL-1 levels between the two groups(P＞0.05).At 3 and 6 months after treatment,the TNF-α,TGF-β1,IL-6,and IL-1 levels of both groups decreased significantly from pre-treatment levels(P＜0.05),and the data observed 6 months after treatment were still lower than those observed 3 months after treatment(P＜0.05).At 3 months after treatment,the TNF-α,TGF-β1,IL-6,and IL-1 levels of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group(P＜0.05);at 6 months after treatment,no statistical difference was observed between the two groups(P＞0.05).The incidence of adverse reactions during treatment in the control group and the observation group was 16.38％(47/287)and 8.01％(23/287),respectively,and that of the observation group was significantly lower than the other group(x2=8.457,P＜0.05).At 6 months after treatment,the incidence of hypothyroidism in the control group and the observation group was 12.46％(35/281)and 3.56％(10/281),respectively,and that of the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group(x2=15.098,P＜0.05).Conclusion Low doses of radioactive iodine-131 work better in the treatment of hyperthyroidism and can effectively alleviate inflammation and salivary gland dysfunction,with less risk of inducing hypothyroidism and adverse reactions.

Objective To develope a clinical decision support system(CDSS)on insulin titration and validate its effectiveness and safety.Methods Eighty patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated at the Department of Endocrinology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from January 2021 to July 2023,who had difficulty in achieving glycemic control on the basis of lifestyle interventions and oral hypoglycemic drug treatments,were selected for the study.The patients were divided into the observation group and the control group using a random number table,with 40 cases in each group.Patients in both groups received oral metformin extended-release tablets,subcutaneous insulin degludec before bedtime,and subcutaneous aspartate insulin injection before three meals for glycemic control.Patients in the observation group were given insulin titration using the CDSS,and patients in the control group were given insulin titration using the conventional method.The retrospective continuous glucose monitoring system was used to monitor time in range(TIR)for glucose,mean amplitude of glycemic excursion(MAGE),mean blood glucose(MBG),standard deviation of blood glucose(SDBG),and the coefficient of variation(CV)of blood glucose.Fasting blood glucose(FBG),2-hour postprandial glucose(2hPG),length of hospitalization,time to achieve standard blood glucose control,and incidence of hypoglycemia of patients were recorded before and after treatment in the two groups.Results There was no significant difference in FBG and 2hPG of patients between the two groups before treat-ment(P＞0.05).The FBG and 2hPG levels of patients in the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment(P＜0.05).The FBG and 2hPG levels of patients in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group after treatment(P＜0.05).TIR of patients in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group,while MAGE,MBG,SDBG,and CV were significantly lower than those in the control group after treatment(P＜0.05).The length of hospitalization was 9.0(7.3,10.0)days and 11.0(8.3,12.0)days of patients in the observation group and control group,respectively;and the length of hospitalization of patients in the control group was significantly longer than that in the observation group(Z=-2.408,P＜0.05).The time required to achieve glycemic control was 6.5(5.0,8.8)days and 7.5(6.0,10.0)days of patients in the observation group and control group,respectively;and the time required to achieve glycemic control of patients in the control group was significantly longer than that in the observation group(Z=-2.019,P＜0.05).The incidence of hypoglycemia of patients in the observation group and control group was 20.0％(8/40),12.5％(5/40),respectively;there was no significant difference in the incidence of hypoglycemia between the observation group and the control group(x2=0.827,P＞0.05).Conclusion Compared with the conventional titration of insulin,the application of CDSS can provide decision support during the implementation of a basal-meal insulin regimen,which can lead to more effective glycemic control,improved glucose TIR,reduced glycemic fluctuations,shorter time required for patients to achieve glycemic control,and shorter hospital stays without increasing the risk of hypoglycemia.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of linalool against acute liver injury induced by aflatoxin B₁（AFB₁） in rats and explore its protective mechanism. MethodTwenty male SPF SD rats were randomly divided into three groups： Control （n=6）， AFB₁ （n=7）， and linalool （n=7） groups. Linalool solution （200 mg·kg^-1） was administered preventatively for 14 days， while the control and AFB₁ groups intragastrically received an equivalent volume of double distilled water. After preventative administration of linalool， AFB₁ solution （1 mg·kg^-1， dissolved in saline） was intraperitoneally injected for two consecutive days to induce acute liver injury in rats. Samples were collected and processed 14 days after model establishment. Pathological changes in liver tissue of rats were observed using Hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining and Masson staining. Biochemical detection was performed to measure the levels of alanine transaminase（ALT）， aspartate transaminase（AST）， γ-glutamyl transferase（GGT）， lactate dehydrogenase（LDH）， alkaline phosphatase（ALP）， total bilirubin（TBil）， direct bilirubin（DBil）， indirect bilirubin（IBil）， malondialdehyde（MDA）， superoxidedismutase（SOD）， catalase（CAT） ， glutathione（GSH）， Fe³⁺， and Fe²⁺ in the liver tissue. Western blot was adopted to assess protein expression levels of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2（Nrf2） and heme oxygenase-1（HO-1）. Molecular docking was performed to verify the binding between linalool and key proteins of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. Molecular dynamics techniques were used to confirm the stability and affinity of linalool binding with key proteins of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. ResultPathological results showed that compared to that in the AFB₁ group， the liver structure in the linalool group tended to be normal， with a significant decrease in blue collagen fibers. The linalool group exhibited significantly reduced levels of ALT， AST， GGT， LDH， ALP， TBil， DBil， and IBil （P<0.01）， Fe³⁺ and Fe²⁺ content， and oxidative stress marker MDA （P<0.01）. The levels of antioxidants SOD， CAT， and GSH significantly increased （P<0.01）. Molecular docking showed a molecular docking energy between linalool and Nrf2 and HO-1 targets of -5.495 6 and -5.199 4 kcal·mol^-1（1 cal≈4.186 J）， respectively. Molecular dynamics results indicated strong affinity in the binding of linalool with Nrf2 and HO-1. Western blot revealed a significant increase in Nrf2 protein expression （P<0.05） and a decrease in HO-1 protein expression （P<0.01） in the linalool group. ConclusionLinalool may protect against AFB₁-induced acute liver injury by modulating the Nrf2/HO-1 ferroptosis signaling pathway to inhibit liver cell ferroptosis and regulate hepatic oxidative stress levels.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the ratio of soluble hemoglobin scavenger receptor 163 protein(sCD163)/soluble tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis(sTWEAK)in plasma and prognosis in patients with spontaneous acute cerebral hemorrhage(ACH).Methods From August 2020 to August 2022,90 patients with ACH admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery,Harison International Peace Hospital,Hengshui City were regarded as the research group.According to the Glasgow outcome scale,patients with ACH were separated into the poor prognosis group(n=38)and the good prognosis group(n=52).Another 45 healthy examinee who underwent physical examination were used as the control group.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was applied to detect plasma sCD163 and sTWEAK levels,and the sCD163/sTWEAK ratio was calculated.Pearson method was applied to analyze the correlation between plasma sCD163,sTWEAK levels,sCD163/sTWEAK ratio and clinical data.Logistic regression was applied to analyze influencing factors of poor prognosis in patients with ACH.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)was applied to analyze the predictive value of sCD163/sTWEAK ratio for poor prognosis of patients with ACH.Results The plasma levels of sCD163,sTWEAK and sCD163/sTWEAK ratio were obviously higher in the research group than those in the control group(P＜0.05).The plasma levels of sCD163,sTWEAK and sCD163/sTWEAK ratio were obviously lower in the good prognosis group than those in the poor prognosis group(P＜0.05).Hematoma volume,National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)scores,hypertension and subtentorial hemorrhage were lower in the good prognosis group than those in the poor prognosis group,and low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)was higher in the good prognosis group than that in the poor prognosis group(P＜0.05).Correlation analysis showed that plasma sCD163,and sTWEAK levels and the sCD163/sTWEAK ratio were positively correlated with bleeding site,hematoma volume,NIHSS score,white blood cell count,platelet count and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio(NLR)(P＜0.05).Results of Logistic regression analysis showed that sCD163,sTWEAK,sCD163/sTWEAK ratio,hematoma volume,bleeding site and NIHSS score were influencing factors for poor prognosis in patients with ACH(P＜0.05).Results of receiver operating characteristic showed that the AUC of sCD163/sTWEAK ratio in evaluating poor prognosis of patients with ACH was 0.850,and the sensitivity and specificity were 86.84%and 69.23%.Conclusion The sCD163/sTWEAK ratio has a high level in the plasma of patients with ACH,which is associated with poor prognosis and has important value in predicting the prognosis of patients with ACH.

Objective　To timely understand the current status and distribution of nail snails (Oncomelania hupensis) in Tongjiang River channels in Zhenjiang City, providing a scientific basis for achieving the goal of eliminating schistosomiasis. Methods　From 2019 to 2023, nine Tongjiang River channels on the south bank of the Yangtze River under the jurisdiction of Zhenjiang City were selected as the monitoring area. Snail monitoring was carried out onshore and beach nail snails floats in the Tongjiang River channels, nail snails on attachments in hardened areas, snails induced by straw curtains, and snails carried by boats and domestic animals. Results　The monitoring results of shoreline snail from 2019 to 2023 showed that the snail situation in the Tongjiang River channel and its outer river bank remained relatively stable from 2019 to 2020; however, in 2021, under the influence of the Yangtze River flooding disaster in 2020, the area of snails increased significantly. In 2021, the area with snails in the Tongjiang River channel and the outer river bank increased by 45.70% (11.95/26.15) and 100.00% (20.00/20.00) compared to 2020; the average density of nails snails in the Tongjiang River channel and the outer river bank and the emergence rate of snail frames both showed a significant increase, rising by 94.73% (0.18/0.19) and 68.08% (8.68/12.75) compared to 2020, and by 122.73% (0.81/0.66) and 102.78% (43.26/42.09), respectively. The differences in the increase in the occurrence rate of spiked frames in the Tongjiang River channel Chili River and Renmin River were not statistically significant (χ2=0.329, P>0.05; χ2=0.646, P>0.05). From 2022 to 2023, the density of nail snails and the occurrence rate of framed snails in the Tongjiang River channel showed a decreasing trend (F=4.72, P=0.04 and χ2=372.58, P<0.01). The area of nail snails, density of live snails, and occurrence rate of framed snails in the outer river bank showed a decreasing trend (F=13.96, P=0.02; F=23.43, P<0.01; χ2=1 029.69, P<0.01). During the five years, no nail snails were detected in the ancient canal and 11 tributaries. From 2019 to 2023, 180 times of 3 003 kg of floating objects were salvaged, with a total of 148 live snails detected. A total of 17 live snails were captured on attachments in the hardened berm area; a total of 11 live snails were captured by straw curtain snail baiting;112 boats were inspected, and no snails were found; there were 112 boats surveyed, and no snails were found; 97 cattle were observed, and 2 cattle were found to carry 1 live snail on their hooves; 321 sheep were observed, and no snails were found on their hooves; and no infectious snails were found in the monitoring area in 5 years. Conclusions　Nail snails continue to exist in the Tongjiang River channel, and the risk factors for schistosomiasis transmission have not been completely eliminated. It is still necessary to carry out accurate monitoring of the snail situation in the Tongjiang River and the river bank, so as to grasp the risk of transmission in time and take emergency measures.