Objective To investigate the 30-day mortality risk factors in elderly patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and to construct a nomogram for predicting mortality risk. Methods A retrospective analysis of elderly (≥70 years) HFrEF patients undergoing isolated CABG at Tianjin Chest Hospital from 2010 to 2024 was performed. Simple random sampling in R software was used to divide the dataset into training and validation sets in a 7 : 3 ratio. The training set was further divided into survivors and non-survivors. Univariate logistic regression was performed to identify differences between groups, followed by multivariate logistic regression to select independent risk factors for death and to establish a death-risk nomogram, which underwent internal validation. The predictive value of the nomogram was assessed by plotting receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision-curve analyses for both the training and validation sets. Results A total of 656 patients were included. The training set consisted of 458 patients (survivors 418, deaths 40); the validation set consisted of 198 patients (survivors 180, deaths 18). In the training set, univariate analysis showed significant differences between survivors and deaths for creatinine (Cr) level, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), maximum Cr, intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) use, assisted ventilation, reintubation, hyperlactatemia, low cardiac output syndrome, and renal failure (P<0.05). After multivariable logistic regression, five independent risk factors were identified: IABP use (OR=3.391, 95%CI 1.065-11.044, P=0.038), reintubation (OR=15.991, 95%CI 4.269-67.394, P<0.001), hyperlactatemia (OR=8.171, 95%CI 2.057-46.089, P=0.007), Cr (OR=4.330, 95%CI 0.997-6.022, P=0.024), and BNP (OR=1.603, 95%CI 1.000-2.000, P=0.010). Accordingly, a nomogram predicting mortality risk was constructed. The ROC and calibration analyses indicated good predictive value: area under the curve (AUC) in the training set was 0.898 (95%CI 0.831-0.966) and in the validation set was 0.912 (95%CI 0.805-1.000). Calibration and decision-curve analyses showed good agreement and clinical utility. Conclusion The nomogram incorporating IABP use, reintubation, hyperlactatemia, creatinine, and BNP provides good predictive value for 30-day mortality after CABG in elderly patients with HFrEF and demonstrates potential clinical utility.

AIM: To investigate the impact of corneal fluorescein sodium(NaF)staining on the examination results of iTrace visual function analyzer(iTrace).METHODS: Prospective cohort study. Totally 100 patients(100 eyes)with ametropia who visited the outpatient department of Anhui Eye Hospital from April to November 2024 were recruited. They were divided into an experimental group and a control group, with 50 patients(50 eyes, and only the right eyes were selected for inclusion)in each group. In the experimental group, corneal staining was performed using fluorescein sodium staining test strips, while in the control group, 1 drop of 0.9% normal saline was instilled into the eyes. The iTrace examination was conducted before the intervention and at 5, 10, and 20 min after the intervention. The total corneal higher-order aberrations, spherical aberration, coma aberration, trefoil aberration, best sphere value(RO value), asphericity factor(Q value), and corneal vertical refractive power difference(IS value)at each time of examination were recorded and compared.RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in the baseline levels between the two groups(all P>0.05). Intra-group comparison revealed that the total higher-order aberrations, spherical aberration, coma aberration, and trefoil aberration measured 5 min after NaF staining in the experimental group were significantly increased compared with those before staining(all P<0.05). Inter-group comparison showed that the changes(differences from the baseline)in the total corneal higher-order aberrations, spherical aberration, coma aberration, and trefoil aberration measured by iTrace 5 min after the intervention in the experimental group were significantly greater than those in the control group(all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the changes(differences from the baseline)of various iTrace parameters measured at 10 and 20 min after the intervention between the two groups(all P>0.05). There was no statistical significance in the RO value, Q value, and IS value in the two groups(all P>0.05).CONCLUSION: Corneal NaF staining can cause a short-term increase in the wavefront aberration values(total corneal higher-order aberrations, spherical aberration, coma aberration, trefoil aberration)measured by iTrace, and it gradually disappears with the passage of time. However, it has no impact on the measurement of corneal topography parameters(RO value, Q value, IS value).

ObjectiveTo study the pharmacological substances and mechanisms through which sesquiterpene ZH-13 from Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum improves neuroinflammation. MethodsBV-2 microglial cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide （LPS） to induce neuroinflammation. The cells were divided into the normal group， the model group， and the ZH-13 low- and high-dose treatment groups （10， 20 μmol·L^-1）. The model group was treated with 1 μmol·L^-1 LPS. Cell viability was assessed using the cell proliferation and activity assay （CCK-8 kit）. Nitric oxide （NO） release in the cell supernatant was measured using a nitric oxide kit （Griess method）. The mRNA expression levels of interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS）， and interleukin-6 （IL-6） were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. The phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK） pathway proteins was assessed by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the model group， ZH-13 dose-dependently reduced NO release from BV-2 cells under LPS stimulation （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In the 20 μmol·L^-1 ZH-13 treatment group， the mRNA expression levels of IL-1β， TNF-α， iNOS， and IL-6 were significantly reduced compared to the model group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In both the low- and high-dose ZH-13 groups， the expression of the inflammatory factor TNF-α and the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase （JNK） in the upstream MAPK pathway were significantly reduced （P<0.05）. After stimulation with the JNK agonist anisomycin （Ani）， both low- and high-dose ZH-13 treatment groups showed reduced phosphorylation of JNK proteins compared to the Ani-treated group （P<0.01）. ConclusionThe sesquiterpene compound ZH-13 from Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum significantly ameliorates LPS-induced neuroinflammatory responses in BV-2 cells by inhibiting excessive JNK phosphorylation and reducing TNF-α expression. These findings elucidate the pharmacological substances and mechanisms underlying the sedative and calming effects of Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum.

Objective To explore whether renal denervation (RDN) could improve the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of patients with heart failure (HF) on the basis of guideline-directed management and therapy (GDMT). Methods From January 1, 2023 to August 31, 2024, HF patients diagnosed as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) who underwent RDN in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were retrospectively enrolled, all patients had received GDMT for at least three months but the LVEF remained below 55%. Parameters of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) at baseline, during GDMT, and after RDN were compared to analyze whether RDN can further improve the LVEF of patients on the basis of GDMT. Results A total of 7 HF patients diagnosed with DCM were enrolled, the mean age was (52.86±9.86) years old, and 5(71.4%) were male. After an average of (9.29±8.06) months of GDMT, LVEF significantly increased from baseline (34.86%±10.22%) to (44.57%±5.59%, P=0.024).Three months after RDN, LVEF was further significantly improved (54.43%±9.05%, P=0.026). The average follow-up after RDN was (11.00±4.12) months. The LVEF remained stable (54.86%±7.10%, P=0.805), and no adverse events occurred in the patients. Conclusions RDN can further enhance the LVEF of HF patients on the basis of GDMT.

Objective To investigate the stent location and effectiveness in different types of iliac vein compression.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with left iliac vein compression who underwent stent implantation at our department from June 2021 to December 2023. Based on the location of compression, patients were categorized into high, classical, and low types. The patients’ general information, lesion characteristics, stent details, stent patency, and clinical outcomes were analyzed and followed up.Results A total of 242 patients were included in this study. And 90. 9% (220 cases) were the classical type, 5.4% (13 cases) were the high type, and 3.7% (9 cases) were the low type. There was no significant difference in age distribution, gender ratio and comorbidities among the three groups. The length of inferior vena cava protruding from the high type was significantly longer than that of the classical type[(3.1±0.8) cm vs. (1.6±1.0) cm, P<0.001), but significantly shorter in the low type[(-0.7±2.4) cm vs. (1.6±1.0) cm, P<0.001). The mean follow-up time was (18.0±7.0) months. The stent patency rate was 97.0% at 1 year and 92.8% at 2 years postoperation. The clinical symptoms of the three groups were significantly relieved. No thrombosis was found in right limbs.Conclusions There is a significant difference in the location of the stent tip between classical and non-classical compression types. Complete coverage of lesion by the stent should be the prerequisite for stent placement in treatment of all three types. Small sample, short-term follow-up data suggested that stents can also relieve clinical symptoms and have good patency rate in the high compression type and the low compression type.

Objective To screen long non-coding RNA(lncRNA)associated with lymph node metasta-sis in papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC)and verify its function in vitro,so as to provide a theoretical basis for elucidating the molecular mechanism of lymph node metastasis in PTC.Methods lncRNA+mRNA microar-ray was used to detect the differential expression of lncRNA and mRNA in PTC cancer tissues with and with-out lymph node metastasis.Real time fluorescence quantitative PCR(qPCR)verified target differential lncR-NAs.Lentivirus was used as vector to construct high and low lncRNA expression PTC cell lines.Cell counting kit-8(CCK-8),cell scratches assay,Transwell assay,cell clone formation assay were used to detect the effects of target lncRNA on proliferation,migration,invasion,clonal formation of PTC cells.Results Compared with 5 cases of PTC tissues without lymph node metastasis,gene chips detected 119 lncRNA and 53 mRNA expres-sion levels upregulated,while 263 lncRNA and 198 mRNA expression levels down regulated in 5 cases of PTC tissues with lymph node metastasis.Furthermore,21 lncRNAs were selected for validation in the original 10 PTC samples,and the results showed that,compared with PTC tissues without lymph node metastasis,lncR-NAs FLJ20444,DPP10-AS1 and ENST00000567197 were highly expressed in PTC tissues with lymph node metastasis,while uc021thd.1,LNC00944,ENST00000429730 and BLNK were lowly expressed(P＜0.05).In addition,qPCR results of another 30 fresh PTC tissues showed that compared with PTC tissues without lymph node metastasis,DPP10-AS1 was highly expressed and LNC00944 was lowly expressed in PTC tissues with lymph node metastasis(P＜0.05).Cell function experiments showed that the proliferation,migration,invasion,and colony formation abilities of PTC cells in the DPP10-AS1 high expression group were higher than those in the DPP10-AS1 low expression group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion lncRNA DPP10-AS1 may play a role in PTC metastasis through certain signaling pathways.

Objective To analyze the expression,biological functions,and potential molecular regulatory mechanisms of synaptojanin-2 binding protein(SYNJ2BP)in epithelial ovarian cancer.Methods Clinical specimens from 73 patients treated at Rugao People's Hospital and Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University between September 2018 and September 2022 were collected,including 53 epithelial ovarian cancer tissues and 20 normal ovarian tissues.A retrospective analysis was performed to examine SYNJ2BP gene and protein ex-pression and its correlation with clinicopathological features.The effects of SYNJ2BP overexpression on pro-liferation,apoptosis,migration,and invasion abilities of epithelial ovarian cancer A2780 cells were assessed via CCK-8 assays,colony formation assays,cell cycle analysis,apoptosis assays,Transwell migration assays,and wound healing assays.Western blot was used to detect the impact of SYNJ2BP overexpression on ERK1/2 protein phosphorylation and c-Myc protein expression in A2780 cells.Results The expression of SYNJ2BP was significantly downregulated in epithelial ovarian cancer tissues,and its expression level was significantly correlated with FIGO stage,tumor grade,and histological type(P<0.05),but not with other clinicopatholog-ical features.CCK-8 and colony formation assays demonstrated that the proliferation level of A2780 cells in the pcDNA3.1-SYNJ2BP group was significantly lower than that in the pcDNA3.1-NC group(P<0.01).Flow cytometry with PI single staining revealed altered cell cycle distribution in A2780 cells of the pcDNA3.1-SYNJ2BP group,with cells arrested in the S phase and a significantly increased apoptosis ratio compared to the pcDNA3.1-NC group(P<0.05).Transwell assays showed that the number of A2780 cells invading through the artificial matrix membrane in the pcDNA3.1-SYNJ2BP group was approximately half that in the pcD-NA3.1-NC group(P<0.01).Western blot results indicated downregulated expression of ERK1/2 and c-Myc in A2780 cells of the pcDNA3.1-SYNJ2BP group compared to the pcDNA3.1-NC group.In nude mouse tumors of the pcDNA3.1-SYNJ2BP group,compared to the pcDNA3.1-NC group,SYNJ2BP expression was upregulated while ERK1/2 and c-Myc expression was downregulated,consistent with the cellular-level expres-sion results.Conclusion Low expression of SYNJ2BP is observed in epithelial ovarian cancer tissues,and overexpression of SYNJ2BP inhibits the proliferation and invasion abilities of epithelial ovarian cancer cells.This suggests that SYNJ2BP may serve as a potential tumor suppressor in epithelial ovarian cancer and could be considered as a prognostic typing marker or potential therapeutic target for ovarian cancer.

Objective:To explore the perioperative safety and postoperative efficacy of prophylactic jejunal nutrition tube placement during early gastric body cancer pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (PPG).Methods:The clinical data of 29 gastric cancer patients treated by Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2018 to December 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 17 males (58.6%) and 12 females (41.4%), aged from 43 to 74 years, with an average age of (58.9 ± 8.3) years, and an average body mass index (BMI) of (24.3 ± 3.0) kg/m 2. According to the type of catheterization, all cases were divided into jejunal nutrition tube group ( n=12) and gastric tube group( n=17). The main outcome was the incidence of delayed gastric emptying within one month after surgery in both groups. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS26.0 software. Results:Patients in the jejunal feeding tube group resumed oral liquid intake, soft diet and regular diet significantly earlier postoperatively compared to those in the gastric tube group, with statistically significant differences ( P<0.05). Conversely, the time to removal of the tube was significantly earlier in the gastric tube group than in the jejunal feeding tube group ( P<0.05). However, the proportion of patients requiring reinsertion of a gastric or jejunal feeding tube postoperatively was significantly higher in the gastric tube group (7 cases) compared to the jejunal feeding tube group (0 case) ( P<0.05). In the jejunal feeding tube group, there were 4 cases occurred DGE, in the gastric tube group, there were 8 cases occurred DGE. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in either the overall incidence of DGE or the distribution of DGE severity grades. On postoperative 7th day , the Gastric Outlet Obstruction Scoring System (GOOSS) grade was significantly better in the jejunal feeding tube group than in the gastric tube group ( P<0.05), and all patients in the jejunal feeding tube group had resumed liquid intake, compared to only 58.8% in the gastric tube group. Conclusions:Compared with gastric tube placement, intraoperative prophylactic jejunal feeding tube placement for PPG has significant advantages in perioperative safety and postoperative recovery, but large-sample prospective studies are still needed for further verification.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of Shenling Weixiao Capsules combined with Omeprazole Enteric-Coated Capsules in treating patients with reflux laryngitis of spleen deficiency and qi stagnation type,and to observe their effects on clinical presentation of reflux and gastric hormones.Methods A total of 160 patients with reflux laryngitis of spleen deficiency and qi stagnation type treated at Cangzhou Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine from September 2021 to June 2024 were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group using a random number table,with 80 cases in each group.The control group received oral use of Omeprazole Enteric-Coated Capsules alone,while the observation group was given additional Shenling Weixiao Capsules orally.Both groups were treated for 8 weeks.Changes in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome scores,reflux parameters of reflux symptom index(RSI)and reflux finding score(RFS),gastric hormone levels of gastrin(GAS),motilin(MTL)and pepsin,and lower esophageal sphincter pressure(LESP)in the two groups were observed before and after treatment.After treatment,the clinical efficacy and adverse reaction rates were compared between groups.Results(1)After 8 weeks of treatment,the total effective rate was 90.00%(72/80)in the observation group versus 76.25%(61/80)in the control group.The intergroup comparison(tested by chi-square test)showed that the efficacy of the observation group was significantly superior to that of the control group(P＜0.05).(2)Both groups showed significant reductions in the scores of TCM symptoms of sore throat,belching,poor appetite or anorexia,and retrosternal or epigastric burning sensation compared to the baseline scores(P＜0.05).And the observation group exhibited markedly greater reductions than the control group(P＜0.01).(3)Both groups demonstrated decreased RSI and RFS after treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease of RSI and RFS in the observation group was more obvious than the control group(P＜0.01).(4)After treatment,gastrin(GAS)and motilin(MTL)levels were increased(P＜0.05)while pepsin level was decreased(P＜0.05)in both groups compared to those before treatment,and the observation group had higher GAS and MTL levels and lower pepsin level than the control group(P＜0.01).(5)For lower esophageal sphincter pressure(LESP),both groups exhibited progressive increases at 4 and 8 weeks of treatment compared to the baseline level(P＜0.05),and LESP was elevated at 8 weeks of treatment versus at 4 weeks of treatment(P＜0.05).Intergroup comparisons revealed consistently high LESP in the observation group at both timepoints compared to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(6)The incidence was 7.50%(6/80)in the observation group versus 13.75%(11/80)in the control group,showing no statistically significant difference(P＞0.05).Conclusion Shenling Weixiao Capsules combined with Omeprazole Enteric-Coated Capsules are effective on improving TCM syndromes,enhancing gastrointestinal function,and alleviating reflux symptoms,demonstrating significant efficacy and good safety profile in the treatment of patients with reflux laryngitis of spleen deficiency and qi stagnation type.

ObjectiveThe study explores the influence of voluntary wheel running on the behavioral abnormalities and the activation state of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) rats through gut microbiota. MethodsSD female rats were selected and administered either400 mg/kg of valproic acid (VPA) solution or an equivalent volume of saline via intraperitoneal injection on day 12.5 of pregnancy. The resulting offspring were divided into 2 groups: the ASD model group (PASD, n=35) and the normal control group (PCON, n=16). Behavioral assessments, including the three-chamber social test, open field test, and Morris water maze, were conducted on postnatal day 23. After behavioral testing, 8 rats from each group (PCON, PASD) were randomly selected for serum analysis using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and corticosterone (CORT) concentration, to evaluate the functional state of the HPA axis in rats. On postnatal day 28, the remaining 8 rats in the PCON group were designated as the control group (CON, n=8), and the remaining 27 rats in the PASD group were randomly divided into 4 groups: ASD non-intervention group (ASD, n=6), ASD exercise group (ASDE, n=8), ASD fecal microbiota transplantation group (FMT, n=8), and ASD sham fecal microbiota transplantation group (sFMT, n=5). The rats in the ASD group and the CON group were kept under standard conditions, while the rats in the ASDE group performed 6 weeks of voluntary wheel running intervention starting on postnatal day 28. The rats in the FMT group were gavaged daily from postnatal day 42 with 1 ml/100 g fresh fecal suspension from ASDE rats which had undergone exercise for 2 weeks, 5 d per week, continuing for 4 weeks. The sFMT group received an equivalent volume of saline. After the interventions were completed, behavioral assessments and HPA axis markers were measured for all groups. ResultsBefore the intervention, the ASD model group exhibited significantly reduced social ability, social novelty preference, spontaneous activity, and exploratory interest, as well as impaired spatial learning, memory, and navigation abilities compared to the normal control group (P<0.05). Serum concentration of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and corticosterone (CORT) in the PASD group were significantly higher than those in the PCON group (P<0.05). Following 6 weeks of voluntary wheel running, the ASDE group showed significant improvements in social ability, social novelty preference, spontaneous activity, exploratory interest, spatial learning, memory, and navigation skills compared to the ASD group (P<0.05), with a significant decrease in serum CORT concentration (P<0.05), and a downward trend in CRH and ACTH concentration. After 4 weeks of fecal microbiota transplantation in the exercise group, the FMT group showed marked improvements in social ability, social novelty preference, spontaneous activity, exploratory interest, as well as spatial learning, memory, and navigation abilities compared to both the ASD and sFMT groups (P<0.05). In addition, serum ACTH and CORT concentration were significantly reduced (P<0.05), and CRH concentration also showed a decreasing trend. ConclusionExercise may improve ASD-related behaviors by suppressing the activation of the HPA axis, with the gut microbiota likely playing a crucial role in this process.