BACKGROUND:Spondylolisthesis is a common disease,and there is a lack of effective drugs to treat it.There is still a need to further define the pathogenesis and screen out more suitable therapeutic targets for spondylolisthesis.Mendelian randomization analysis can be used to explore the drugable genes associated with spondylolisthesis and provide valuable guidance for the development of more effective and targeted therapeutic drugs.OBJECTIVE:To explore potential therapeutic targets and effective drugs for spondylolisthesis by means of pharmaceutically available genome-wide Mendelian randomization analysis.METHODS:Using the Finnish database,eQTLGen consortium,drug signature database,drug-gene interaction database,protein-protein interaction database,organic small molecule biological activity database and protein structure database,which contains genome and health information of half a million Finns,data on druggable genes were subjected to two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis and co-localization analysis with data from genome-wide association studies of spondylolisthesis to identify genes highly associated with spondylolisthesis.In addition,GO and KEGG enrichment analysis,protein network construction,drug prediction and molecular docking were performed to provide valuable guidance for the development of more effective and targeted therapeutic agents.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In this study,we identified 34 potential drug target genes that were significantly associated with spondylolisthesis,particularly the gene APOBEC3G.This gene showed a significant association with spondylolisthesis outcomes through Mendelian analysis and co-localization analysis,suggesting that APOBEC3G may be a priority therapeutic target.As for other potential mechanisms and drugs,we still need to conduct more in-depth research to determine their roles.This study used a database from a European population,which can be used as a reference for the study of population genetics in China.

BACKGROUND:Spondylolisthesis is a common disease,and there is a lack of effective drugs to treat it.There is still a need to further define the pathogenesis and screen out more suitable therapeutic targets for spondylolisthesis.Mendelian randomization analysis can be used to explore the drugable genes associated with spondylolisthesis and provide valuable guidance for the development of more effective and targeted therapeutic drugs.OBJECTIVE:To explore potential therapeutic targets and effective drugs for spondylolisthesis by means of pharmaceutically available genome-wide Mendelian randomization analysis.METHODS:Using the Finnish database,eQTLGen consortium,drug signature database,drug-gene interaction database,protein-protein interaction database,organic small molecule biological activity database and protein structure database,which contains genome and health information of half a million Finns,data on druggable genes were subjected to two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis and co-localization analysis with data from genome-wide association studies of spondylolisthesis to identify genes highly associated with spondylolisthesis.In addition,GO and KEGG enrichment analysis,protein network construction,drug prediction and molecular docking were performed to provide valuable guidance for the development of more effective and targeted therapeutic agents.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In this study,we identified 34 potential drug target genes that were significantly associated with spondylolisthesis,particularly the gene APOBEC3G.This gene showed a significant association with spondylolisthesis outcomes through Mendelian analysis and co-localization analysis,suggesting that APOBEC3G may be a priority therapeutic target.As for other potential mechanisms and drugs,we still need to conduct more in-depth research to determine their roles.This study used a database from a European population,which can be used as a reference for the study of population genetics in China.

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)tongue diagnosis has obvious advantages,but its strong subjectivity,susceptibility to environmental influences,and lack of a unified standard greatly affect the objectivity and accuracy of diagnostic results,and it is difficult to integrate into the modern scientific system.Therefore,developing tongue diagnosis equipment to objectively and normatively extract tongue image information,and simulating human brain thinking to construct an objective diagnostic model of TCM tongue image-disease syndrome,and promoting the quantitative and intelligent research of TCM tongue diagnosis have become the trend of future development.This article reviews the research status and application prospects of TCM tongue diagnosis equipment,in order to provide methodological references and research ideas for the research and application of this field.

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)tongue diagnosis has obvious advantages,but its strong subjectivity,susceptibility to environmental influences,and lack of a unified standard greatly affect the objectivity and accuracy of diagnostic results,and it is difficult to integrate into the modern scientific system.Therefore,developing tongue diagnosis equipment to objectively and normatively extract tongue image information,and simulating human brain thinking to construct an objective diagnostic model of TCM tongue image-disease syndrome,and promoting the quantitative and intelligent research of TCM tongue diagnosis have become the trend of future development.This article reviews the research status and application prospects of TCM tongue diagnosis equipment,in order to provide methodological references and research ideas for the research and application of this field.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has a clinical manifestation of hypoxic respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome. However, COVID-19 still lacks of effective clinical treatments so far. As a promising potential treatment against COVID-19, stem cell therapy raised recently and had attracted much attention. Here we review the mechanisms of mesenchymal stem cell-based treatments against COVID-19, and provide potential cues for the effective control of COVID-19 in the future. METHODS: Literature is obtained from databases PubMed and Web of Science. Key words were chosen for COVID- 19, acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, mesenchymal stem cells, stem cell therapy, and therapeutic mechanism. Then we summarize and critically analyze the relevant articles retrieved. RESULTS: Mesenchymal stem cell therapy is a potential effective treatment against COVID-19. Its therapeutic efficacy is mainly reflected in reducing severe pulmonary inflammation, reducing lung injury, improving pulmonary function, protecting and repairing lung tissue of the patients. Possible therapeutic mechanisms might include immunoregulation, antiinflammatory effect, tissue regeneration, anti-apoptosis effect, antiviral, and antibacterial effect, MSC - EVs, and so on. CONCLUSION Mesenchymal stem cells can effectively treat COVID-19 through immunoregulation, anti-inflammatory, tissue regeneration, anti-apoptosis, anti-virus and antibacterial, MSC - EVs, and other ways. Systematically elucidating the mechanisms of mesenchymal stem cell-based treatments for COVID-19 will provide novel insights into the follow-up research and development of new therapeutic strategies in next step.

Background At present, the practice of pulmonary rehabilitation for pneumoconiosis in China is in a primary stage. The basis for formulating an individualized comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation plan is still insufficient, which is one of the factors limiting the development of community-level rehabilitation work. Objective To formulate an exercise prescription based on maximum heart rate measured by cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), conduct an individualized comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program with the exercise prescription for patients with stable pneumoconiosis, and evaluate its role in improving exercise endurance and quality of life, thus provide a basis for the application and promotion of pulmonary rehabilitation. Methods A total of 68 patients were recruited from the Occupational Disease Prevention Hospital of Jinneng Holding Coal Industry Group Co., Ltd. from April to August 2022 , and were divided into an intervention group and a control group by random number table method, with 34 cases in each group. All the pneumoconiosis patients participated in a baseline test. The control group was given routine drug treatment, while the intervention group received multidisciplinary comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation treatment on the basis of routine drug treatment, including health education, breathing training, exercise training, nutrition guidance, psychological intervention, and sleep management, whose exercise intensity was determined according to the maximum heart rate provided by CPET. The rehabilitation training lasted for 24 weeks. Patients were evaluated at registration and the end of study respectively. CPET was used to measure peak oxygen uptake per kilogram (pVO₂/kg), anaerobic threshold (AT), carbon dioxide equivalent of ventilation (EqCO₂), maximum metabolic equivalent (METs), and maximum work (W_max). The modified British Medical Research Council Dyspnea Questionnaire (mMRC), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test (CAT), and Short Form of Health Survey (SF-36) were used to evaluate the potential effect of the comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program. Results Among the included 68 patients, 63 patients were having complete data, then 31 cases were assigned in the control group and 32 cases in the interventional group. Before the intervention, there was no significant difference in pVO₂/kg, AT, EqCO₂, METs, or W_max between the two groups (P>0.05). At the end of the trail, the indicators like pVO₂/kg [(19.81±2.38) mL·(min·kg)⁻¹], AT [(14.48±2.33) mL·(min·kg)⁻¹], METs (5.64±0.69), and W_max [(85.25±14) W] of patients in the intervention group were all higher than those [(13.90±2.37) mL·(min·kg)⁻¹, (11.70±1.94) mL·(min kg)⁻¹, (3.97±0.70), and (61.77±14.72) W, respectively] in the control group (P<0.001); there was no significant difference in EqCO₂ between the two groups (P=0.083). Before the trial, there was no significant difference in mMRC, SAS, SDS, PSQI, or CAT scores between the two groups (P>0.05). At the end of the trail, the mMRC score (1.16±0.57), SAS score (27.93±2.12), SDS score (26.48±1.44), PSQI score (1.08±0.88), and CAT score (4.34±3.28) of patients in the intervention group were lower than those [(2.03±0.83), (35.87±6.91), (34.23±6.65), (5.37±3.03), and (13.87±7.53), respectively] in the control group (P<0.001). The SF-36 scores of bodily pain (94.13±10.72), general health (87.50±5.68), vitality (95.31±5.53), mental health (99.88±0.71), and health changes (74.22±4.42) in the intervention group were higher than those [(71.87±32.72), (65.81±15.55), (74.52±16.45), (86.97±16.56), and (29.84±13.50), respectively] in the control group (P<0.001), and no significant difference was found in social functioning and role emotional scores (P>0.05). Conclusion Comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation can increase the oxygen intake and exercise endurance of pneumoconiosis patients, ameliorate dyspnea symptoms, elevate psychological state and sleep quality, and improve the quality of life.

Objective:To develop and validate a postoperative infection nomogram of hepatitis B-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after hepatectomy.Methods:Clinical data of 229 patients with HCC undergoing hepatectomy at the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Tianjin Third Central Hospital from January 2014 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, including 174 males and 55 females, aged (58.2±11.4) years. LASSO regression analysis screened the factors associated with hepatitis B-associated HCC infection after hepatectomy, which were further incorporated into multivariate logistic regression analysis. A nomographic prediction model was established based on the results of multivariate logistic regression analysis. Concordance index (C-index), calibration curve and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to evaluate the model, and decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to analyze the clinical applicability of the model. Internal validation of the model was performed using bootstrap method.Results:A total of nine variables were screened as factors associated with the postoperative infections using LASSO regression, including gender, smoking history, body mass index (BMI), serum level of alpha fetoprotein, resection fashion (anatomical or non-anatomical), intraoperative blood loss, surgical method (laparoscopy or open), serum level of creatinine, and postoperative biliary fistula. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that BMI, resection fashion, intraoperative blood loss >500 ml, and postoperative biliary fistula were risk factors for postoperative infection (all P<0.05). Based on the above risk factors, a postoperative infection nomogram of hepatitis B-associated HCC after hepatectomy was established. The C-index was 0.839 (95% CI: 0.768-0.910), and the area under ROC curve was 0.853 (95% CI: 0.795-0.912), indicating that the model had a good predictive ability. The calibration curve was basically consistent with the ideal curve. The DCA showed that the model had a good clinical applicability. Internal validation C-index was 0.829 (95% CI: 0.766-0.892). Conclusion:The nomogram based on BMI, surgical resection fashion, intraoperative blood loss >500 ml, and postoperative biliary fistula has a high predictive accuracy and can be used to predict postoperative infections after hepatectomy for HCC.

Compared with the global average, the incidence rate of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in China is higher, particularly in the southern regions where the mortality rate has remained persistently high. Nimotuzumab, a targeted therapy that acts on the epidermal growth factor receptor, has prompted continuous progress in NPC treatment. The combination of nimotuzumab with traditional radiotherapy and chemotherapy can enhance treatment efficacy, reduce adverse reactions, and improve patients’ quality of life. This article summarizes current research findings from this perspective to provide diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for NPC treatment.

OBJECTIVES: In light of the rise in the global aging population, this study investigated the potential of the oxidative balance score (OBS) as an indicator of phenotypic age acceleration (PhenoAgeAccel) to better understand and potentially slow down aging. METHODS: Utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey collected between 2001 and 2010, including 13,142 United States adults (48.7% female and 51.2% male) aged 20 and above, OBS and PhenoAgeAccel were calculated. Weighted generalized linear regression models were employed to explore the associations between OBS and PhenoAgeAccel, including a sex-specific analysis. RESULTS: The OBS demonstrated significant variability across various demographic and health-related factors. There was a clear negative correlation observed between the higher OBS quartiles and PhenoAgeAccel, which presented sex-specific results: the negative association between OBS and PhenoAgeAccel was more pronounced in male than in female. An analysis using restricted cubic splines revealed no significant non-linear relationships. Interaction effects were noted solely in the context of sex and hyperlipidemia. CONCLUSIONS A higher OBS was significantly associated with a slower aging process, as measured by lower PhenoAgeAccel. These findings underscore the importance of OBS as a biomarker in the study of aging and point to sex and hyperlipidemia as variables that may affect this association. Additional research is required to confirm these results and to investigate the biological underpinnings of this relationship.

【Objective】 To investigate the effect of total flavone of oldenlandia diffusa(FOD) on the stemness, proliferation and apoptosis of breast cancer(BC) stem cells sorted from MDA-MB-231. 【Methods】 Human BC cell lines MDA-MB-231 was cultured in vitro; MDA-MB-231 was stimulated by different concentrations(0 μg/mL, 100 μg/mL, 200 μg/mL and 400 μg/mL) of FOD for different time (24 h, 48 h and 72 h). CCK8 and plate cell cloning assay were used to detect the effect of FOD on MDA-MB-231 proliferation; CD44⁺/CD24^-MDA-MB-231 cell line were tested by flow cytometry and stem cell markers such as Nanog, Oct4 and Sox2 were tested by Western blotting; Annexin V-PE/7-AAD was used to detect the effect of FOD on MDA-MB-231 apoptosis and Bcl2, cleaved-caspase3 and Bax were tested by Western blotting. 【Results】 Cell proliferation of MDA-MB-231 was significantly inhibited by FOD, with the significant suppression at concentrations of 400 μg/mL for 72 h compared with negative control group(P<0.05). The apoptosis rate was significantly upregulated than the negative control group (P<0.05). The protein expression of Bcl2 decreased while Bax and cleaved-caspae3 increased, and stemness markers such as Nanog, Sox2 and Oct4 decreased in FOD-treated cells. Moverover, Akt-GSK3β-β-catenin axis was inhibited in FOD-treated cells. 【Conclusion】 FOD could significantly inhibit the stemness and proliferation and promote the apoptosis of MDA-MB-231.