ObjectiveTo establish an animal model of atrial fibrillation（AF） that accurately reflects the phlegm-heat and blood stasis（TRYZ） pathogenesis in traditional Chinese medicine. MethodsForty SPF-grade SD rats were randomly assigned using a random number table to the following groups：the control group， the TRYZ+AF group，the AF group and the TRYZ group， with ten rats in each group. The TRYZ+AF and TRYZ groups underwent a high-fat diet combined with intraperitoneal lipopolysaccharide（LPS） injection to simulate the pathological alterations of TRYZ syndrome. Groups TRYZ+AF and AF were induced with acetylcholine-calcium chloride（Ach-CaCl₂） via caudal vein injection to induce AF. The control group received no intervention and was maintained under normal conditions. The modeling period lasted 3 weeks. Electrocardiography was used to assess AF episodes and duration， echocardiography evaluated left atrial dimensions and cardiac function， fully automated biochemical analyzer measured the levels of total cholesterol（TC）， triglycerides（TG）， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol（HDL-C） and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol（LDL-C）， hemoreometer analyzed the whole blood viscosity， plasma viscosity， and whole blood reduced viscosity， a coagulation analyzer assessed prothrombin time（PT）， activated partial thromboplastin time（APTT）， thrombin time（TT）， and fibrinogen（FIB）， enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） was used to determine the levels of C-reactive protein（CRP）， interleukin（IL）-1β， IL-6， IL-17， tumour necrosis factor（TNF）-α， matrix metalloproteinase-9（MMP-9）， galectin-3（Gal-3）， Collagen Ⅰ， and α-smooth muscle actin（α-SMA）. Hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining and Masson's trichrome staining were used to analyze pathological changes in atrial myocardium， Western blot was employed to detect MMP-9， Collagen Ⅰ and α-SMA protein expression in myocardial tissue， real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR） evaluated fibrous factor gene expression levels. Changes in the TRYZ syndrome were assessed via body weight， tongue color［red（R）， green（G）， and blue（B）］， and rectal temperature. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-TOF-MS） was employed to detect differential metabolites between the control group and the TRYZ+AF group. ResultsFollowing three weeks of sustained modeling， compared with the control group， rats in the TRYZ+AF and the TRYZ groups exhibited reduced body weight， dry faeces， elevated rectal temperature， dark red tongue， decreased RGB values on the tongue surface， and markedly elevated TC and LDL-C levels（P<0.05， P<0.01）. The TRYZ+AF， TRYZ， and AF groups exhibited significantly decreased TT， APTT and PT， along with markedly elevated whole blood viscosity and FIB（P<0.05， P<0.01）. Rats in the TRYZ+AF and AF groups exhibited AF rhythm， markedly decreased heart rate， prolonged RR intervals， enlarged left atrium， and significantly reduced ejection fraction and shortening fraction（P<0.05， P<0.01）. Serum levels of CRP， IL-1β， IL-6， IL-17， TNF-α， MMP-9， Gal-3， Collagen Ⅰ， and α-SMA were elevated in rats from the TRYZ+AF， TRYZ， and AF groups compared to the control group， with the most pronounced increase observed in the TRYZ+AF group（P<0.05， P<0.01）. Histopathology revealed that the collagen fiber deposition in the atrial of rats in the TRYZ+AF， TRYZ and AF groups was higher than that in the control group（P<0.05， P<0.01）. Western blot and Real-time PCR results further demonstrated that the protein and mRNA expression levels of MMP-9， Collagen Ⅰ and α-SMA in the myocardial tissue of the TRYZ+AF group were higher than those in the other three groups（P<0.05， P<0.01）. Metabolomic analysis revealed 173 differentially expressed metabolites in the TRYZ+AF group and the control group， primarily enriched in pathways such as glycerophospholipid metabolism and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis. ConclusionThis study successfully establishes a rat model of AF integrated with the TRYZ syndrome， demonstrating the pathological process where the interactions of phlegm， heat and stasis jointly trigger tremor， this provides a reliable experimental tool for in-depth research into the biological basis of this disease syndrome.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of a novel sleep-aid decoction in treating elderly insomnia patients with different traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitutional types, and its effects on neurotransmitter and inflammatory factor levels. Methods A total of 200 patients with four different TCM constitutions-peaceful, Qi-deficient, Yin-deficient, and Yang-deficient-were recruited. Peripheral blood neurotransmitter and inflammatory factor levels were measured for variations among insomnia patients across different constitutions. These patients were treated using the novel sleep-aid decoction, the effects of which were evaluated based on changes in neurotransmitters and inflammatory factors. Results Compared to the peaceful constitution group, insomnia patients with Qi-deficient, Yin-deficient, and Yang-deficient constitutions exhibited significantly elevated baseline levels of neurotransmitters (5-HT, GABA) and inflammatory factors (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, CRP). Following the treatment, the Qi-deficient and Yin-deficient groups showed a marked increase in 5-HT levels, restored balance of Glu, GABA, and melatonin, and significant reductions in IL-6 and TNF-α levels. The overall effective rate was 83.5%, with optimal efficacy observed in the Qi-deficient (97.72%) and Yin-deficient (95.34%) groups. Conclusion The novel sleep-aid decoction is effective in treating insomnia in elderly patients, with the best results observed in the Qi-deficient and Yin-deficient constitution groups.
Humans ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/blood* ; Aged ; Male ; Female ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/blood* ; Sleep Aids, Pharmaceutical/therapeutic use* ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use* ; Interleukin-6/blood* ; Interleukin-1beta/blood* ; Neurotransmitter Agents/blood* ; Aged, 80 and over ; C-Reactive Protein/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Huachansu (Cinobufacini) is active extract isolated from the dry skin of Bufo Bufo gargarizans. It has now been widely used in clinical treatment of cancer, this study is to clarify the material basis of down-regulation of thymidylate synthase (TYMS) induced by Huachansu. METHODS: Our study utilized UPLC-MS/MS to identify major bioactive components from Huachansu. Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK-8) assay and clone formation assay were used to examine the cell viability of tumor cells. TYMS and γ-H2AX level were detected by using quantitative real-time RT-PCR and/or western blotting. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection was used to explore whether inhibition of TYMS could enhance the suppressive effect of Huachansu on cell growth of HCC cells. RESULTS: In our study, firstly, we identify 21 major bioactive components from Huachansu. CCK-8 assay results showed that Huachansu and its bioactive bufadienolides (Bufalin, Bufotalin, Cinobufotalin, Desacetylcinobufagin, Arenobufagin, Telocinobufagin, and Resibufogenin) significantly inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Further molecular mechanistic investigation demonstrates that Huachansu significantly suppresses thymidylate synthase (TYMS), the enzyme which provides the sole de novo source of thymidylate for DNA synthesis. The inhibition of TYMS could lead to cell-cycle block and DNA damage of HCC cells. Furthermore, we identified that Huachansu markedly increased γ-H2AX expression, which indicated the presence of DNA damage. Moreover, we confirmed that transfection of cells with small interfering RNA specific to TYMS could increase the suppressive effects of Huachansu on the HCC cells proliferation. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that Huachansu treatment had no effect on the transcription level of TYMS. Furthermore, proteasomal inhibitor MG132 could block TYMS inhibition induced by Huachansu, and concomitant administration of protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (CHX) with Huachansu could further suppress the protein level of TYMS, indicating that Huachansu promotes proteasome-dependent degradation of TYMS in liver cancer cells. More importantly, the bioactive bufadienolides of Huachansu such as Bufalin, Bufotalin, Cinobufotalin, Desacetylcinobufagin, Arenobufagin, Telocinobufagin, and Resibufogenin could also significantly restrain the protein level of TYMS, revealing the material basis of inhibition of TYMS exposed to Huachansu. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a TYMS inhibitor, we also evaluate the effects of the combined treatment of Huachansu with 5-FU, the results show that interactions between Huachansu and 5-FU are synergistic or antagonistic. Thus, in clinical, attention should be paid to the dosage of Huachansu in combination with 5-FU. CONCLUSION Huachansu inhibits the growth and induces DNA damage of human HCC cells through proteasome-dependent degradation of TYMS, bioactive bufadienolides are the material basis of down-regulation of TYMS induced by Huachansu.

Objective Uranium compounds are critical materials in the nuclear industry, and their mining, processing, and use pose occupational exposure risks. Epidemiological studies have shown that uranium exposure can impair health, with acute uranium poisoning primarily causing structural and functional damage to the kidneys. Currently, the molecular mechanisms underlying uranium-induced kidney injury remain unclear, and traditional biological models used in toxicological research are inadequate for simulating the human microenvironment. This study employed a human kidney organoid model system to elucidate the nephrotoxic mechanisms of uranyl ions, providing a scientific basis for the prevention and control of uranium poisoning. Methods Kidney organoids were constructed using the human embryonic stem cell line H1 and exposed to solutions with different uranyl ion concentrations. Morphological observation, ATP detection, reactive oxygen species detection, apoptosis assay, and untargeted metabolomics analysis were performed. Mechanisms of toxicity were further explored through KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Results Uranium exposure led to structural damage in the organoids, accompanied by a dose-dependent decrease in ATP levels, accumulation of reactive oxygen species, and increased apoptosis rate. After 24-hour exposure to 300 μmol/L uranium, significantly disturbed differential metabolites and five core metabolic pathways were identified. Conclusion Uranium induces oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction (ATP reduction), and metabolic disorder (disruption of phospholipid/amino acid metabolism), which synergistically cause DNA damage, apoptosis, and/or necrosis. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms of uranium-induced kidney injury and support the development of prevention and control strategies.

Objective To explore the predictive value of heel blood thyrotropin stimulating hormone(TSH)and insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1)for congenital hypothyroidism(CH).Methods A total of 83 children with CH admitted to the Seventh Medical Center of the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital from January 2021 to January 2024 were selected as the study group,and 53 healthy newborns born and examined in the center during the same period were selected as the control group.Heel blood TSH,IGF-1 and thyroid function were measured in both groups.Heel blood TSH,IGF-1 and thyroid function indexes were compared between the two groups,and the correlation between heel blood TSH,IGF-1 and thyroid function indexes was analyzed,the influencing factors of CH occurrence were analyzed,and the predictive value of heel blood TSH,IGF-1 and thyroid indexes for CH was analyzed.Results Pearson correlation analysis showed that heel blood TSH was negatively correlated with FT4,TT3,FT3 and TT4(r=-0.522,-0.468,-0.539,-0.667,all P＜0.05).IGF-1 was positively correlated with FT4,TT3,FT3,TT4(r=0.394,0.427,0.511,0.562,all P＜0.05).The results of receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of TSH,IGF-1 and their combination were 0.800,0.794 and 0.822,respectively.Univariate and multiple Logistic regression analysis showed that birth weight,family history,TSH,IGF-1,FT4,FT3 were the influencing factors for the occurrence of CH(P＜0.05).Conclusion The combined detection of TSH and IGF-1 levels in heel blood has a certain predictive value for the occurrence of CH,and can provide a basis for the disease assessment of children.

Objective To evaluate the postoperative survival quality in the patients with heart valve re-placement (HVR) in Three Gorges Reservoir area,and to analyze its main influencing factors.Methods A to-tal of 343 valvular heart disease patients from Three Gorges Reservoir area who received HVR treatment for the first time in this hospital from January 2019 to December 2021 were selected by the convenience sampling method.The general data questionnaire and the MOS 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) were adopted to conduct the survey.The main influencing factors affecting the survival quality were analyzed.Results Af-ter HVR,the physical components summary (PCS) score of SF-36 was 238.0±73.6,and the mental compo-nents summary (MCS) score was 254.8±83.6,and the scores in each dimension were significantly lower than those of the Chinese norm (P<0.05).The multiple stepwise linear regression analysis results showed that the age,gender,place of residence,education level,postoperative time,complications and readmission were the influencing factors of PCS and MCS scores (P<0.05).Conclusion The survival quality of the patients af-ter HVR is different from that of healthy population.The targeted intervention could be carried out according to the influencing factors of the survival quality of the patients,so as to improve their survival quality.

This report describes a case of maturity-onset diabetes of the young(MODY)type 3(MODY3)complicated with type 5(MODY5),including the patient's clinical features,diagnosis,and treatment,and reviews relevant literature.Using next-generation sequencing of MODY(types 1-14)gene exons and Sanger sequencing for verification,the patient and her mother were assessed.Based on the clinical phenotype and genetic test results,the patient was diagnosed as MODY3 combined with MODY5.Treatment included insulin and linagliptin,with monitoring of blood glucose changes.Clinicians should enhance their understanding of MODY clinical phenotypes.In adolescents with diabetes who have congenital pancreatic and renal developmental defects,elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,no spontaneous ketosis,insulin secretion defects,negative pancreatic autoantibodies,no significant insulin resistance,and who are not obese,gene testing should be conducted to screen for MODY.Accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment can aid in achieving glycemic control,improving quality of life,and optimizing reproductive planning.

Objective:To evaluate the performance of the automated digital cell morphology instrument in detecting platelet (PLT) clumps.Methods:A total of 4271 blood samples whose PLT reached the reviewing rules of thrombocytopenia were selected from inpatients having blood analysis in Xijing Hospital from January 1 st to June 30 th, 2019, including 2 200 males and 2 071 females,with a median age of (35±7.03) years old. The smears for these cases were made, stained by Wright-Giemsa, and examined to capture PLT clumps by digital cell morphology system and manual microscope separately. The digital cell analysis system (hereinafter referred to as the instrument method) as an evaluation method and the microscope method as a reference method were used to calculate the positive rate of platelet clump detection and evaluate the comparison of two methods and bias assessments. The chi-square test was used to compare counting data rates. Results:Among 4, 271 samples reaching the reviewing rule of thrombocytopenia, 128 cases with platelet clumps were detected by manual microscope(initial) with a positive detection rate of 96.24%, and a total 133 of cases with PLT clumps were detected by microscope (initial+reconfirmation) with a positive detection rate of 100 %. Meanwhile, 129 cases with platelet clumps were detected by instrument method with a positive detection rate of 96.9%. There was no significant difference in terms of positive rate of PLT clumps detection between the instrumental method and the microscope method (initial) ( χ2 =0.115, P=0.73); the positive rate of clumps detection by the instrumental method was lower than microscope method (initial+reconfirmation), and the difference was statistically significant (χ 2 =4.061, P=0.04). For instrument method, the positive rate of PLT clumps detection by simultaneous observation of RBC analysis interface+PLT aggregation interface+WBC analysis interface was higher than only observation of PLT aggregation interface, and the difference was statistically significant (χ 2 =5.090, P=0.02). The average error of the deviation of PLT counting results before and after correction of the cases with PLT plumps missed by instrument method was significantly higher than microscope method (initial), and the difference was statistically significant (χ 2 =56.26, P<0.001). Conclusion:The automated digital cell morphology system has a good consistency with manual microscope(initial) in terms of the sensitivity of platelet clumps detection and can be used as a supplementary method for detecting platelet aggregation.

Objective    To investigate the short-term quality of life in patients after single-direction video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for lung cancer, and explore the related influencing factors. Methods    Patients who underwent single-direction VATS for lung cancer in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University from July 2020 to August 2021 were continuously selected. The QLQ-C30 and QLQ-LC13 were used to evaluate the quality of life of the patients after the surgery, and the influencing factors were analyzed. Results    A total of 193 patients were collected. There were 73 males aged 59.44±11.40 years, and 120 females aged 53.73±11.15 years. The QLQ-C30 score of the patients after single-direction VATS for lung cancer was 69.09±20.21 points. Univariate analysis and Pearson correlation analysis showed that age, occupation, anesthesia time, postoperative complications, postoperative antibiotic use time, postoperative hospital stay, insomnia, economic stress, hemoptysis, chest pain, dysphagia, arm or shoulder pain were associated with the quality of life (P≤0.05). The results of multiple regression analysis showed that anesthesia time, economic pressure, insomnia and chest pain had a significant impact on the overall quality of life 30 days after the surgery (P≤0.05). Conclusion    The anesthesia time, economic pressure, insomnia and chest pain are independent influencing factors for the quality of life after the VATS lung cancer surgery.

Objective     To analyze the clinical characteristics of the Guang’an Omicron epidemic and summarize the management experiences and practices in pandemic prevention and control of major infectious diseases. Methods     Retrospective analysis was performed on patients infected with coronavirus disease (COVID-19), afterwards treated and observed in the isolation ward of Guang’an People’s Hospital and the shelter of Guang’an City from May 9 to June 26, 2022. The characteristics of patients at different age stages and the related factors affecting the severity, re-positive and negative conversion was analyzed. Results     Finally 1 278 patients were collected, including 508 males and 770 females, with an average age of 41.3±22.6 years. Among them, 1 054 patients were asymptomatic carriers. The overall severe rate was 0.86%, the severe rate of the high-risk group was 3.06%. The median negative conversion time was 10.0 days and re-positive rate was 7.36%. Patients aged>60 years were 2.589 times more likely to have a longer negative conversion time than those aged≤60 years (95%CI 1.921-3.489, P<0.001). Conclusion     The clinical characteristics of Guang’an COVID-19 epidemic are mainly that the elderly with high risk factors are more likely to develop severe cases, have longer clearance time, and re-positve is more likely to occur.