Bronchiectasis(BE) is the third major chronic airway disease, and its incidence rate shows a continuously increasing trend. Bronchiectasis is a highly heterogeneous chronic airway disease. Due to structural alterations, airflow limitation, and mucus hypersecretion, clinical treatment faces many challenges. Particularly, problems including Pseudomonas aeruginosa-dominant drug-resistant bacterial colonization, recurrent infections, airway mucus hypersecretion, and impaired lung function are the most urgent, requiring long-term and personalized treatment and management integrating traditional Chinese and western medicine to prevent the recurrence and continuous progression of the disease. In recent years, both traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine have made certain progress in pathogenesis theories, clinical studies, and basic research regarding the therapeutic challenges of bronchiectasis. Therefore, this paper summarized relevant research from the past 10 years and explored future directions and potential advantages of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine treatment, providing references for optimizing the clinical management strategies for bronchiectasis.
Bronchiectasis/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Animals

Objective To investigate the protective effect of spermidine against lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced myocardial injury in mice and the underlying mechanism.Methods C57BL/6 mice subjected to intraperitoneal LPS injection with or without pretreatment with daily gavage of spermidine for 2 weeks were examined for myocardial pathologies using HE staining and transmission electron microscopy.In the cell experiment,cultured rat cardiomyocytes(H9c2 cells)were pretreated with 10 or 20 μmol/L spermidine before LPS exposure for 2 h,and the changes in cell viability and levels of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)and cardiac troponin Ⅰ(cTNI)were assessed using CCK-8 kit,LDH detection kit and ELISA,respectively.Western blotting was performed to detect the changes in the expressions of Bax,Bcl-2,cleaved caspase-3,SLC7A11 and GPX4;the changes in reactive oxygen species(ROS)and Fe2+ levels were detected using fluorescent probes,and mitochondrial membrane potential of the cells was measured using JC-1 staining.Results Treatment of the mice with LPS induced obvious myocardial and mitochondrial damages,which were significantly alleviated by pretreatment with spermidine.In H9c2 cells,LPS exposure significantly lowered the cell viability,increased LDH and cTNI levels and expressions of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 levels,decreased expressions of Bcl-2,SLC7A11 and GPX4,increased ROS production and Fe2+ level(P<0.05),and lowered mitochondrial membrane potential(all P<0.05).These effects were significantly alleviated by SPD pretreatment of the cells prior to LPS exposure.Conclusion Spermidine alleviates LPS-induced myocardial injury by suppressing cell apoptosis and inhibiting cellular ROS production and ferroptosis.

Chronic prostatitis is a process of kidney deficiency and blood stasis mixed with various pathological factors involving the essence chamber,which is manifested as kidney deficiency and blood stasis.Based on the concept of the"brain-heart-kidney-es-sence chamber"axis of medication,Xiongji Formula is applied to the treatment of chronic prostatitis,due to its"simultaneous holistic and local action"and effects of tonifying the kidney yang and assisting the systemic yang,acting on the brain,heart and kidney as a whole,and meanwhile activating blood circulation,eliminating blood stasis and restoring the function of the essence chamber.This pa-per discusses the etiology and pathogenesis of chronic prostatitis with kidney deficiency and blood stasis in Chinese medicine,expounds the significance of"brain-heart-kidney-essence chamber"axis of medication,and explores the specific value and clinical application of Xiongji Formula.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of spermidine against lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced myocardial injury in mice and the underlying mechanism.Methods C57BL/6 mice subjected to intraperitoneal LPS injection with or without pretreatment with daily gavage of spermidine for 2 weeks were examined for myocardial pathologies using HE staining and transmission electron microscopy.In the cell experiment,cultured rat cardiomyocytes(H9c2 cells)were pretreated with 10 or 20 μmol/L spermidine before LPS exposure for 2 h,and the changes in cell viability and levels of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)and cardiac troponin Ⅰ(cTNI)were assessed using CCK-8 kit,LDH detection kit and ELISA,respectively.Western blotting was performed to detect the changes in the expressions of Bax,Bcl-2,cleaved caspase-3,SLC7A11 and GPX4;the changes in reactive oxygen species(ROS)and Fe2+ levels were detected using fluorescent probes,and mitochondrial membrane potential of the cells was measured using JC-1 staining.Results Treatment of the mice with LPS induced obvious myocardial and mitochondrial damages,which were significantly alleviated by pretreatment with spermidine.In H9c2 cells,LPS exposure significantly lowered the cell viability,increased LDH and cTNI levels and expressions of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 levels,decreased expressions of Bcl-2,SLC7A11 and GPX4,increased ROS production and Fe2+ level(P<0.05),and lowered mitochondrial membrane potential(all P<0.05).These effects were significantly alleviated by SPD pretreatment of the cells prior to LPS exposure.Conclusion Spermidine alleviates LPS-induced myocardial injury by suppressing cell apoptosis and inhibiting cellular ROS production and ferroptosis.

In this study, the chemical components of Panacis Japonici Rhizoma extract and absorbed components in rats were identified by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole exactive orbitrap mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS). The separation was performed by gradient elution on Waters UPLC BEH C_(18) column(2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.7 μm) with the mobile phase of water and acetonitrile containing 0.1% formic acid. High resolution multistage mass spectrometry data were collected by electrospray ionization in positive and negative ion modes. The chemical components of Panacis Japonici Rhizoma extract were identified by comparing with the retention time, high resolution precise molecular weight, and secondary fragment ions of reference substances and related literature. After intragastric administration of Panacis Japonici Rhizoma extract, blood was collected from the abdominal aorta of rats for separation of the serum, and the absorbed components were scanned and identified. The results showed that 43 chemical components were detected in the Panacis Japonici Rhizoma extract, including 22 saponins, 9 amino acids, 5 polysaccharides, 2 volatile oils, and 5 nucleosides. In the serum, 18 components were detected, including 10 prototype components, 6 metabolites, and 2 unknown components. This study analyzed the chemical components and absorbed components of Panacis Japonici Rhizoma extract, providing clues for clarifying the pharmacological basis of Panacis Japonici Rhizoma.
Animals ; Rats ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhizome/chemistry* ; Mass Spectrometry/methods*

Objective: To compare the surgical outcome of robotic thyroidectomy through transoral approach and the bilateral breast-axillary approach. Methods: Retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of patients who performed transoral robotic thyroidectomy (TORT group) or bilateral breast-axillary approach (BABA group) in the Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, the 960th Hospital of People's Liberation Army from July 2020 to May 2022. Both groups received lobectomy with lymph node dissection of the central region. A total of 100 cases were included in the study, including 48 cases in the TORT group and 52 cases in the BABA group. The propensity score matching method was used for 1∶1 matching of patients between the 2 groups, with a match tolerance of 0.03. There were 31 patients in each group successfully matched. In the TORT group, there were 5 males and 26 females, aged (33.2±7.9) years (range: 21 to 53 years). While there were 4 males and 27 females in the BABA group, aged (34.6±9.2) years (range: 19 to 58 years). The t test, Mann-Whitney U test, χ² test or Fisher exact test were used to compare the clinical efficacy between the two groups. Results: All the patients successfully completed robotic thyroid surgery without conversion to open surgery. Compared with BABA group, the TORT group had longer operation time ((211.3±57.2) minutes vs. (126.2±37.8) minutes, t=6.915, P<0.01), shorter drainage tube retention time ((5.4±1.0) days vs. (6.4±1.2) days, t=-3.544, P=0.001), shorter total hospital stay ((6.6±1.2) days vs. (7.4±1.3) days, t=-2.353, P=0.022), and higher cosmetic score (9.46±0.25 vs. 9.27±0.26, t=2.925, P=0.005). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the number of lymph nodes dissection, metastasis in the central compartment, and the incidence of postoperative complications (all P>0.05). Conclusions: Compared with the bilateral breast-axillary approach, the transoral vestibular approach of robotic thyroidectomy is also safe and effective. It shows similar surgical results to the bilateral breast-axillary approach in strictly selected patients, but the postoperative recovery speed is much faster, and the hospital stay is shorter. Transoral robotic thyroidectomy is a more recommended surgical method for patients with high aesthetic demand.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Robotic Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Thyroid Neoplasms/surgery* ; Thyroidectomy/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Neck Dissection/methods* ; Axilla/pathology* ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at investigating the carrier rate of, and molecular variation in, α- and β-globin gene mutations in Hunan Province. METHODS: We recruited 25,946 individuals attending premarital screening from 42 districts and counties in all 14 cities of Hunan Province. Hematological screening was performed, and molecular parameters were assessed. RESULTS: The overall carrier rate of thalassemia was 7.1%, including 4.83% for α-thalassemia, 2.15% for β-thalassemia, and 0.12% for both α- and β-thalassemia. The highest carrier rate of thalassemia was in Yongzhou (14.57%). The most abundant genotype of α-thalassemia and β-thalassemia was -α ^3.7/αα (50.23%) and β ^IVS-II-654/β ^N (28.23%), respectively. Four α-globin mutations [CD108 (ACC>AAC), CAP +29 (G>C), Hb Agrinio and Hb Cervantes] and six β-globin mutations [CAP +8 (C>T), IVS-II-848 (C>T), -56 (G>C), beta nt-77 (G>C), codon 20/21 (-TGGA) and Hb Knossos] had not previously been identified in China. Furthermore, this study provides the first report of the carrier rates of abnormal hemoglobin variants and α-globin triplication in Hunan Province, which were 0.49% and 1.99%, respectively. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates the high complexity and diversity of thalassemia gene mutations in the Hunan population. The results should facilitate genetic counselling and the prevention of severe thalassemia in this region.
Humans ; beta-Thalassemia/genetics* ; alpha-Thalassemia/genetics* ; Hemoglobinopathies/genetics* ; China/epidemiology* ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing

By investigating the contamination status and predicting the exposure risk of mycotoxin in Coicis Semen, we aim to provide guidance for the safety supervision of Chinese medicinal materials and the formulation(revision) of mycotoxin limit standards. The content of 14 mycotoxins in the 100 Coicis Semen samples collected from five major markets of Chinese medicinal materials in China was determined by UPLC-MS/MS. The probability evaluation model based on Monte Carlo simulation method was established after Chi-square test and One-way ANOVA of the sample contamination data. Health risk assessment was performed on the basis of margin of exposure(MOE) and margin of safety(MOS). The results showed that zearalenone(ZEN), aflatoxin B_1(AFB_1), deoxynivalenol(DON), sterigmatocystin(ST), and aflatoxin B_2(AFB_2) in the Coicis Semen samples had the detection rates of 84%, 75%, 36%, 19%, and 18%, and the mean contamination levels of 117.42, 4.78, 61.16, 6.61, and 2.13 μg·kg~(-1), respectively. According to the limit standards in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition), AFB_1, AFs and ZEN exceeded the standards to certain extents, with the over-standard rates of 12.0%, 9.0%, and 6.0%, respectively. The exposure risks of Coicis Semen to AFB_1, AFB2, ST, DON, and ZEN were low, while 86% of the samples were contaminated with two or more toxins, which needs more attention. It is suggested that the research on the combined toxicity of different mycotoxins should be strengthened to accelerate the cumulative exposure assessment of mixed contaminations and the formulation(revision) of toxin limit standards.
Humans ; Mycotoxins/analysis* ; Coix ; Aflatoxin B1/analysis* ; Chromatography, Liquid/methods* ; Food Contamination/analysis* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods*

OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and efficacy of Neuroform Atlas stent used in treatment of unruptured wide-neck intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: Clinical data of 62 patients with unruptured wide-neck intracranial aneurysms undergoing Neuroform Atlas stent-assisted coiling from August 2020 to September 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 64 aneurysms in those 62 patients. Among them, 25 aneurysms were located at the bifurcation of M1 segment on middle cerebral artery, 16 at the anterior communicating artery, 10 at the C7 segment of internal carotid artery, 5 at the C6 segment of internal carotid artery, 4 at the apex of basilar artery, 3 at the A3 segment of anterior cerebral artery, and 1 at the M2 segment of middle cerebral artery. All the patients underwent Neuroform Atlas stent-assisted coiling, including 49 patients with single stent assisted coiling and 15 patients with dual stents assisted coiling (14"Y"style and 1"X"style). After the procedure, the immediate DSA was performed to evaluate the status of aneurysm occlusion and the parent artery patency. The clinical follow-up was performed 3 months after the operation and evaluated based on the modified Rankin Scale(mRS).DSA image was reviewed at 6 months after operation and Raymond grading scale was used to assess the status of aneurysm occlusion and the parent artery patency. RESULTS: A total of 62 patients with 64 aneurysms were all achieved technical success(100%).The immediate post-procedural Raymond scale was assessed, including Raymond Ⅰ in 57 aneurysms(89.1%, 57/64), Raymond Ⅱ in 6 aneurysms(9.3%, 6/64) and Raymond Ⅲ in 1 aneurysm(1.6%, 1/64). The peri-procedural complications rate was 4.8%(3/62), 2 patients developed intraoperative thrombosis and 1 patient suffered from local subarachnoid hemorrhage. Among them, 55 patients obtained 3 months clinical follow-up after operation and all the patients had good outcomes (mRS≤2), 50 patients with 52 aneurysms were followed up with DSA 6 months after operation, including Raymond Ⅰ in 45 aneurysms(86.5%, 45/52), Raymond Ⅱ in 4 aneurysms(7.7%, 4/52) and Raymond Ⅲ in 3 aneurysms(5.8%, 3/52). CONCLUSION Neuroform Atlas stent for the treatment of unruptured wide-neck intracranial aneurysms has high safety and good efficacy, and has its advantages over other traditional stents.
Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm/etiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Embolization, Therapeutic/methods* ; Stents/adverse effects* ; Cerebral Angiography

Aim To study the effects of high-fat diet on testicular germ cell apoptosis in mice through endoplasmic reticulum stress. Methods C57BL/6J male mice were assigned into normal group and high-fat diet group randomly, with six mice in each group. The mice in normal group or high-fat diet group were fed with regular or high-fat diet continuously for five months. The mice were weighed, anesthetized, and euthanized to collect testicular and epididymal tissue for analysis. The testicular tissue was weighed and their indices were calculated. Epididymal tissue was collected for semen analysis. The morphological alterations of testicular tissue were observed using hematoxylin-eosin ( HE ) staining. The apoptosis of germ cells was detected by TUNEL staining and the apoptotic indices were calculated. The expression levels of apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress-related proteins in testicular tissue were detected by Western blot. The protein expression and localization of GRP78 in testicular tissue were further detected by immunofluorescence. Results The results showed that compared to the normal group, the high-fat diet group had a significant increase in body weight, a significant decrease in testicular index, sperm concentration, and sperm vability, loose arrangement of germ cells, significant thinning of the seminiferous epithelium, no significant change in the diameter of seminiferous tubules, a significant increase in germ cell apoptosis , with an increased apoptosis index, and significant increase in expression of Bax and cleaved-caspase-12,and a significant decrease in Bcl-2 protein expression. The expression levels of GRP78 , p-IREl, XBP1, and ATF6a proteins were significantly up-regulated, while p-PERK, p-eIF2a, ATF4 protein expression showed no significant changes. Immunofluorescence results further showed a significant increase in the expression of GRP78 protein in the testicular tissue,with no significant changes in the expression location. Conclusions High-fat diet can induce the apoptosis of mouse testicular germ cells, and the mechanism may be related to the activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress IRE1 and ATF6 signaling pathway.