AIM: To investigate the changes in serum levels of platelet-derived growth factor A(PDGFA), heme oxygenase 1(HMOX1)and suppressor of cytokine signaling 6(SOCS6)in patients with diabetic retinopathy(DR)at different stages, and their predictive value for prognosis. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with DR in Zibo No.148 Hospital from April 2023 to April 2024 were included as the study group, and patients with simple type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)during the same period were included as the control group. DR patients were separated into non proliferative DR group(NPDR group)and proliferative DR group(PDR group)based on DR staging, and into good prognosis group and poor prognosis group based on prognosis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)method was used to detect serum levels of PDGFA, HMOX1, and SOCS6, and Pearson method was performed to analyze their correlation with laboratory indicators. Multivariate logistic regression was used to explore the risk factors affecting poor prognosis in DR patients. Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were plotted to explore the prognostic value of serum PDGFA, HMOX1, and SOCS6 levels for DR patients. RESULTS: Totally 128 DR patients(67 males and 61 females)with the mean age 50.65±8.57 y were included. The control group consisted of 120 T2DM patients(63 males, 57 females)with the mean age of 50.32±8.65 y. The NPDR group comprised 74 patients(39 males, 35 females)with mean age of 50.42±8.71 y; the PDR group included 54 patients(28 males, 26 females)with the mean age of 50.96±8.40 y; The good prognosis group comprised 81 patients(43 males, 38 females)with the mean age of 50.51±8.62 y; the poor prognosis group included 47 patients(24 males, 23 females)with the mean age of 50.89±8.48 y. Compared with the control group, the study group had significantly higher serum levels of PDGFA, HMOX1, and SOCS6(all P<0.05). The PDR group had significantly higher serum levels of PDGFA, HMOX1, and SOCS6 than the NPDR group(all P<0.05). The poor prognosis group had significantly higher serum levels of FBG, HbA1c, SOD, MDA, IL-6, TNF-α, PDGFA, HMOX1, and SOCS6 than the good prognosis group(all P<0.05). The serum PDGFA of DR patients was positively related to FBG, HbA1c, IL-6, and TNF-α levels(all P<0.05), HMOX1 was positively related to FBG, HbA1c, SOD, MDA, IL-6, and TNF-α levels(all P<0.05), and SOCS6 was positively related to FBG, IL-6, and TNF-α levels(all P<0.05). Elevated levels of serum PDGFA, HMOX1, SOCS6, and HbA1c were risk factors for the prognosis of DR patients(all P<0.05). The AUC values of serum PDGFA, HMOX1, and SOCS6 alone in predicting the prognosis of DR patients were 0.806, 0.822, and 0.826, respectively. The AUC of their joint prediction was 0.912, and the joint prediction was superior to individual prediction(Z joint-PDGFA=2.183, P=0.029; Z joint-HMOX1=2.308, P=0.021; Z joint-SOCS6=2.620, P=0.009). CONCLUSION: Serum PDGFA, HMOX1, SOCS6 are significantly correlated with DR staging and prognosis, all showing high predictive efficiency for the prognosis of DR patients, with certain clinical value.

In the era of evidence-based medicine， the progress of medical science and technology has enriched medical diagnostic tools and treatment methods， but it has also led to the loss of medical warmth and the alienation of the doctor-patient relationships. William Osler emphasized that while medical technology advances， attention should also be paid to the practice of narrative medicine and the development of physician’s narrative literacy. The view of the physician he advocated reminds us that the core of medicine still lies in the narrative connection between doctors and patients， as well as a deep understanding of human nature. By exploring the relationship between Osler’s view of the physician and narrative medicine as well as physician’s narrative literacy， this paper analyzed the methods of cultivating physician’s narrative literacy， providing references for modern medical education and practice， and assisting in the harmony and unity of science and technology and humanity.

AIM:To investigating the predictive value of serum delta-like ligand 4(DLL4), complement C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein 5(CTRP5)levels for the severity of diabetic retinopathy(DR)and visual disability.METHODS:Patients with DR admitted to Tangshan Central Hospital between January 2022 and January 2024 were enrolled. Based on disease severity, patients were divided into a proliferative DR group and a non-proliferative DR group. After one year of follow-up, patients were further categorized into a vision disability group and a non-visual disability group based on visual impairment status. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect serum levels of DLL4 and CTRP5. The data and serum levels of DLL4 and CTRP5 were compared among patients with different medical conditions and visual disabilities. Pearson method was used to explore the correlation between serum levels of DLL4, CTRP5 and glucose and lipid metabolism indicators. Multivariate Logistic regression was performed to explore the influencing factors of visual disability in DR Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was performed to explore the value of serum levels of DLL4 and CTRP5 in predicting visual disability in DR.RESULTS: This study included 245 DR patients.Ninety-five patients were in the proliferative DR group(mean age 51.61±3.44 y, 51 men and 44 women), and 150 patients were in the non-proliferative DR group(mean age 51.22±3.11 y, 86 men and 64 women). The visually disability group consisted of 39 participants(mean age 51.64±3.87 y; 21 men and 18 women), while the non-visually disability group consisted of 206 participants(mean age 51.32±3.12 y; 116 men and 90 women). Patients in the proliferative DR group exhibited longer DR duration, higher levels of FPG, TG, TC, LDL-C, and serum DLL4 and CTRP5, and lower HDL-C levels compared to the non-proliferative DR group(all P<0.05). The serum levels of DLL4 were positively correlated with FPG(P<0.001), while the serum levels of CTRP5 were prominently positively correlated with FPG, TG, TC, LDL-C, and prominently negatively correlated with HDL-C(all P<0.001). The visual disability group had longer duration of DR and higher serum levels of DLL4 and CTRP5 than the non-visual disability group(all P<0.001). The duration of DR and serum levels of DLL4 and CTRP5 were influencing factors for visual disability in DR patients(all P<0.001). The joint detection of serum levels of DLL4 and CTRP5 had a higher value in predicting visual disability in DR patients than the single indicator prediction(ZDLL4-joint=3.018, PDLL4-joint=0.003; ZCTRP5-joint=2.784, PCTRP5-joint=0.005). CONCLUSION: Serum levels of DLL4 and CTRP5 are elevated in DR patients, and are closely related to the disease condition. The joint detection of serum levels of DLL4 and CTRP5 has high value in predicting visual disability in DR patients.

Objective To explore the risk factors for mineral and bone disorder in maintenance hemodialysis patients, and to construct and validate a nomogram prediction model. Methods A total of 306 patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis at Shanghai Eighth People’s Hospital from January 2021 to May 2025 were selected as study subjects and randomly divided into a training set (n＝214) and a validation set (n＝92) in a 7∶3 ratio. In the training set, patients were divided into a normal bone mineral metabolism group and an abnormal bone mineral metabolism group, and related factors were compared between the two groups. The multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the influencing factors of mineral and bone disorder in maintenance hemodialysis patients in the training set, and a nomogram prediction model was constructed. ROC curves were drawn to evaluate the ability of the nomogram model for predicting mineral and bone disorder in these patients. Calibration curves and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test were used to analyze the consistency of the predictive probability of nomogram model and actual probability of mineral and bone disorder in these patients. The decision curve was used to assess the clinical benefit using nomogram prediction model. Results Among the 306 hemodialysis patients, 254 patients had mineral and bone disorder, accounting for 83.01%. Among the 214 patients in the training set, 177 had mineral and bone disorder, accounting for 82.71%. In the training set, age, gender, body mass index (BMI), hypertension rate, dialysis age, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), hemoglobin (Hb), albumin (ALB), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum creatinine (SCr), uric acid (UA), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and rate of taking phosphate binders were statistically significant different between the two groups (P＜0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed higher age, female, hypertension, longer dialysis duration, decreased eGFR, and not taking phosphate binders were identified as risk factors for mineral and bone disorder in maintenance hemodialysis patients (P＜0.01). The nomogram prediction model was constructed. The area under the ROC curve of the model for mineral and bone disorder in the training set and validation set was 0.895 (95%CI 0.850-0.941) and 0.881 (95%CI 0.830-0.932), respectively, with maximum Youden indice of 0.650 and 0.600, sensitivity of 0.856 and 0.849, and specificity of 0.794 and 0.751. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed the nomogram prediction model had good consistency in predictive probabilities with actual probabilities in training set and validation set. The decision curve showed the nomogram model could bring clinical net benefits when the threshold probabilities in the training set and validation set were less than 0.96 and 0.91. Conclusions The nomogram prediction model constructed based on six independent risk factors including age, gender, hypertension, dialysis duration, eGFR, and using phosphate binders or not, shows good discrimination and calibration, with good clinical predictive ability, which could provide guidance for the management of maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Objective: To summarize the circumstances of rescue events in hospitalized patients after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer in order to provide a reference for clinical decision-making. Methods: This study was approved by the hospital's medical ethics committee. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 86 hospitalized patients admitted between 2015 and 2023 for oral and maxillofacial diseases following radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Based on the occurrence of rescue events, patients were divided into a rescue group (n=20) and a non-rescue group (n=66). In addition, 20 healthy subjects matched for age and gender with the rescue group were included as a control group. First, baseline characteristics were compared between the rescue and non-rescue groups. Second, a descriptive analysis of the clinical characteristics and rescue events of the rescue group patients was performed. Third, differences in laboratory inflammatory and nutritional indicators, as well as tracheostomy status, were compared between the rescue and non-rescue groups. Fourth, Dolphin Imaging software was used to measure cone beam computed tomography images of the rescue group, non-rescue group, and control group. Upper airway parameters were measured, including the sagittal and coronal diameters of the nasopharyngeal, palatopharyngeal, glossopharyngeal, and laryngopharyngeal segments Results: ① A comparison of baseline characteristics between the rescue and non-rescue groups showed no statistically significant differences in age, gender, or body mass index, but the proportion of patients with comorbid pulmonary diseases was higher in the rescue group (P<0.05). ② In the rescue group, the primary reasons for radiotherapy were nasopharyngeal carcinoma (65%) and tongue cancer (25%). The mean age was (54.75 ± 11.59) years, with a male-to-female ratio of 3:1. The main reasons for this admission included radio-osteomyelitis in the mandible (55%) and recurrence of oral and maxillofacial tumors or new primary tumors in the oral and maxillofacial region (40%). The primary reason for rescue during hospitalization was dyspnea (55%), followed by acute massive hemorrhage (15%) and cardiac arrest (15%). Rescue events occurred mostly postoperatively (65%), with a median time of occurrence at 5 days post-operatively; 30% occurred preoperatively, and 5% occurred intraoperatively. ③ Laboratory indicators and tracheostomy status: preoperative and postoperative neutrophil counts, as well as the proportion of patients undergoing tracheostomy, were higher in the rescue group compared to the non-rescue group, while postoperative albumin levels were lower (P<0.05). ④ Upper airway measurements: the coronal and sagittal diameters of the nasopharyngeal segment and the coronal diameter of the glossopharyngeal segment were smaller in both the rescue and non-rescue groups compared to the control group (P<0.001). Conclusion The data from this study indicate that hospitalized patients experiencing rescue events after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer often have comorbid pulmonary diseases or tumor recurrence/new primary tumors, and frequently present with dyspnea. They exhibit a higher inflammatory state, poorer nutritional status, a greater need for emergency airway intervention, and share a common anatomical basis for dyspnea--upper airway narrowing. Clinical attention should be fully given to high-risk patients with these characteristics.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the mechanism of Xihuang pill （XHP） against diffuse large B-cell lymphoma （DLBCL）. METHODS The active ingredients of XHP and potential therapeutic targets for DLBCL were identified using TCMSP， GeneCards and DisGeNET databases. Protein-protein interaction networks were constructed using the String database and Cytoscape software to screen core components and core targets. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses were then performed. The clinical relevance of core targets was analyzed using the GEPIA and PanCanSurvPlot databases. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics （MD） simulation were conducted to verify the interactions between core components and core targets， and the binding free energy was calculated using the molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area （MM-PBSA） method. The effects of XHP on DLBCL and the related molecular mechanisms were validated using CCK-8 assay， flow cytometry and Western blot. RESULTS Network pharmacology analysis identified 108 active ingredients of XHP and 410 potential therapeutic targets for DLBCL. Six core components （e.g.， 17 beta-estradiol， quercetin） and ten core targets [e.g.， tumor protein 53 （TP53）， proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src （SRC）] were obtained. Enrichment analysis indicated that the anti-DLBCL effects of XHP were primarily associated with the apoptotic signaling pathway， the phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） signaling pathway and so on. Clinical correlation analysis revealed that TP53 and SRC expression were significantly up-regulated in DLBCL tissues and associated with poor patient prognosis （P＜0.05）. Molecular docking， MD simulations and MM-PBSA calculations confirmed that the SRC-quercetin complex had a mail：stronger and more stable binding affinity. In vitro experiments demonstrated that XHP concentration-dependently inhibited the proliferation of DLBCL cells； compared with control group， XHP medium- and high-dose groups could significantly induce the apoptosis of SU-DHL2 and SU-DHL4 cells， and significantly down- regulated the expressions of SRC protein， phosphorylated （p）-PI3K/PI3K and p-Akt/Akt in SU-DHL4 cells （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS XHP may inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of DLBCL cells by regulating the SRC/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Objective To quantitatively assess the exposure-response association between exposure to heatwave and sudden death, estimate the attributable excess deaths, and identify potential vulnerable subgroups. Methods A time-stratified case-crossover study was conducted among residents who died from sudden death in Jiangsu Province, China between 2015 and 2021. Heatwave events in Jiangsu Province, defined using varying relative temperature thresholds and durations, were identified using temperature data from the China Meteorological Administration Land Data Assimilation System (CLDAS V2.0). Individual heatwave exposure was assessed based on each subject's residential address. The exposure-response association between heatwave and sudden death was evaluated using conditional logistic regression model combined with a Distributed Lag Nonlinear Model(DLNM). Heatwave-attributable excess deaths were estimated. Stratified analyses by sex and age were performed to assess potential effect modifications. Results Under all definitions, exposure to heatwave was significantly associated with an increased risk of sudden death, and the risk increased with the intensity of heatwave. Using the P95_3d definition (temperature exceeding the 95th percentile for ≥3 consecutive days), heatwave was significantlyassociated with a 56% increased risk of sudden death (95% CI: 31%, 86%). The population-attributable fraction of sudden death due to heatwave exposure was 1.45% (95% CI: 0.97%, 1.90%). Stratified analyses indicated no statistically significant differences in the association between heatwave exposure and sudden death across age or sex subgroups. Conclusion Heatwave exposure was associated with an increased risk of sudden death. Reducing heatwave exposure during summer may help lower the occurrence of sudden death.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of jatrorrhizine on endogenous metabolites and metabolic pathways in the mouse model of ulcerative colitis. MethodsThirty male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into the normal group， the model group， the low-dose and high-dose jatrorrhizine groups （0.04， 0.16 g·kg^-1）， and the mesalazine group （0.52 g·kg^-1）The mouse model of ulcerative colitis was established with 3% dextran sulfate sodium （DSS） and treated with different doses of jatrorrhizine by gavage. The changes in body weight， colon length， disease activity index （DAI）， and colonic histopathology were analyzed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of jatrorrhizine. UPLC-Q-TOF/MS was employed to determine the serum and fecal levels of metabolites in mice. Metabolomics methods were used to screen the differential metabolites， on the basis of which the potential therapeutic mechanism of jatrorrhizine on DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice was investigated. ResultsAfter intervention with jatrorrhizine， the model mice showed significantly decreased DAI（P<0.05，P<0.01）， recovered colon length，（P<0.05，P<0.01） and alleviated histopathology of the colon. The metabolomics study screened out 13 differential metabolites in the serum and 8 differential metabolites in the feces. The pathway enrichment analysis predicted three potential metabolic pathways： Biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids， phenylalanine， tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis， and phenylalanine metabolism. ConclusionJatrorrhizine may treat ulcerative colitis by regulating the biosynthesis and metabolism of amino acids and the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids.

BACKGROUND:Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a secondary causative factor for osteoporosis.As highly heterogeneous innate immune cells,macrophages may be polarized in a hyperglycemic environment,which affects osteogenesis-angiogenesis coupling.This may be a research target for improving bone quality in patients with type 2 diabetic osteoporosis.OBJECTIVE:To explore the role of modulating macrophage M1/M2 polarization to influence osteogenesis-angiogenesis coupling in type 2 diabetic osteoporosis and to summarize the effects of commonly used anti-glucose and anti-osteoporosis drugs and bone biorepair materials on bone osteogenesis-angiogenesis coupling by regulating macrophage M1/M2 polarization.METHODS:The keywords of"macrophage polarization,type 2 diabetes,osteoporosis,osteogenesis-angiogenesis coupling"in Chinese and"macrophages,macrophage polarization,osteogenesis-angiogenesis coupling"in English were used to search for relevant literature in CNKI and PubMed,respectively.Seventy-nine pieces of literature were screened and analyzed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Type 2 diabetes mellitus causes the body to be in a hyperglycemic environment and increases the secretion of inflammatory-related factors in the body,which promotes macrophage polarization towards M1 and decreases the number of M2 macrophages.(2)In type 2 diabetes,promoting M2 macrophage polarization is beneficial for osteogenesis-angiogenesis coupling.(3)Some anti-glycemic drugs,active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine and bone biorepair materials can improve type 2 diabetic osteoporosis by regulating macrophage M1/M2 polarization,reducing M1/M2 ratio,and promoting osteogenesis-angiogenesis coupling.

BACKGROUND:Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a secondary causative factor for osteoporosis.As highly heterogeneous innate immune cells,macrophages may be polarized in a hyperglycemic environment,which affects osteogenesis-angiogenesis coupling.This may be a research target for improving bone quality in patients with type 2 diabetic osteoporosis.OBJECTIVE:To explore the role of modulating macrophage M1/M2 polarization to influence osteogenesis-angiogenesis coupling in type 2 diabetic osteoporosis and to summarize the effects of commonly used anti-glucose and anti-osteoporosis drugs and bone biorepair materials on bone osteogenesis-angiogenesis coupling by regulating macrophage M1/M2 polarization.METHODS:The keywords of"macrophage polarization,type 2 diabetes,osteoporosis,osteogenesis-angiogenesis coupling"in Chinese and"macrophages,macrophage polarization,osteogenesis-angiogenesis coupling"in English were used to search for relevant literature in CNKI and PubMed,respectively.Seventy-nine pieces of literature were screened and analyzed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Type 2 diabetes mellitus causes the body to be in a hyperglycemic environment and increases the secretion of inflammatory-related factors in the body,which promotes macrophage polarization towards M1 and decreases the number of M2 macrophages.(2)In type 2 diabetes,promoting M2 macrophage polarization is beneficial for osteogenesis-angiogenesis coupling.(3)Some anti-glycemic drugs,active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine and bone biorepair materials can improve type 2 diabetic osteoporosis by regulating macrophage M1/M2 polarization,reducing M1/M2 ratio,and promoting osteogenesis-angiogenesis coupling.