This study investigated the effects of Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata on striatal neuronal apoptosis in rats with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) based on the B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2)/Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax)/caspase-3 signaling pathway. Twenty-four 3-week-old male spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR) were randomly divided into a model group, a methylphenidate group(2 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and a Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata group(2.4 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)). Age-matched male Wistar Kyoto(WKY) rats were used as the normal control group, with 8 rats in each group. The rats were administered by gavage for 28 days. Body weight and food intake were recorded for each group. The open field test and elevated plus maze test were used to assess hyperactivity and impulsive behaviors. Nissl staining was used to detect changes in striatal neurons and Nissl bodies. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL) fluorescence staining was used to detect striatal cell apoptosis. Western blot was employed to detect the expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 proteins in the striatum. The results showed that compared with the model group, Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata significantly reduced the total movement distance, average movement speed, and central area residence time in the open field test, and significantly reduced the ratio of open arm entries, open arm stay time, and head dipping in the elevated plus maze test. Furthermore, it increased the number of Nissl bodies in striatal neurons, significantly downregulated the apoptosis index, significantly increased Bcl-2 protein expression and the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, and reduced Bax and caspase-3 protein expression. In conclusion, Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata can reduce hyperactivity and impulsive behaviors in ADHD rats. Its mechanism may be related to the regulation of the Bcl-2/Bax/caspase-3 signaling pathway in the striatum, enhancing the anti-apoptotic capacity of striatal neurons.
Animals ; Male ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Rats ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Caspase 3/genetics* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics* ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein/genetics* ; Rehmannia/chemistry* ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/physiopathology* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Neurons/cytology* ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Humans ; Corpus Striatum/cytology* ; Plant Extracts

The phase changes and quantity-quality transfer of 17 batches of Ostreae Concha(Ostrea rivularis) during the raw material-calcined decoction pieces-standard decoction process were analyzed. The content of calcium carbonate(CaCO_3), the main component, was determined by chemical titration, and the extract yield and transfer rate were calculated. The CaCO_3 content in the raw material, calcined decoction pieces, and standard decoction was 94.39%-98.80%, 95.03%-99.22%, and 84.58%-90.47%, respectively. The process of raw material to calcined decoction pieces showed the yield range of 96.85% to 98.55% and the CaCO_3 transfer rate range of 96.92% to 99.27%. The process of calcined decoction pieces to standard decoction showed the extract yield range of 2.86% to 5.48% and the CaCO_3 transfer rate range of 2.59% to 5.13%. The results of X-ray fluorescence(XRF) assay showed that the raw material, calcined decoction pieces, and standard decoction mainly contained Ca, Na, Mg, Si, Br, Cl, Al, Fe, Cr, Mn, and K. The chemometric results showed an increase in the relative content of Cr, Fe, and Si from raw material to calcined decoction pieces and an increase in the relative content of Mg, Al, Br, K, Cl, and Na from calcined decoction pieces to standard decoction. X-ray diffraction(XRD) was employed to establish XRD characteristic patterns of the raw material, calcined decoction pieces, and standard decoction. The XRD results showed that the main phase of all three was calcite, and no transformation of crystalline form or generation of new phase was observed. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR) was employed to establish the FTIR characteristic spectra of the raw material, calcined decoction pieces, and standard decoction. The FTIR results showed that the raw material had internal vibrations of O-H, C-H, C=O, C-O, and CO■ groups. Due to the loss of organic matter components after calcination, no information about the vibrations of C-H, C=O, and C-O groups was observed in the spectra of calcined decoction pieces and standard decoction. In summary, this study elucidated the quantity-quality transfer and phase changes in the raw material-calcined decoction pieces-standard decoction process by determining the CaCO_3 content, calculating the extract yield and transfer rate, and comparing the element changes, FTIR characteristic spectra, and XRD characteristic pattern. The results were reasonable and reliable, laying a foundation for the subsequent process research and quality control of the formula granules of calcined Ostreae Concha(O. rivularis Gould), and providing ideas and methods for the quality control of the whole process of raw material-decoction pieces-standard decoction-formula granules of Ostreae Concha and other testacean traditional Chinese medicine.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification* ; Calcium Carbonate/analysis* ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the risk factors for the occurrence of cardiopulmonary dysfunction following ligation of hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA) in preterm infants. METHODS: A retrospective collection of clinical data was conducted on preterm infants with a gestational age of <34 weeks who were admitted to the Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 2018 to August 2024. These infants underwent hsPDA ligation after 1-2 courses of failed ibuprofen treatment. Based on the occurrence of blood pressure changes and oxygenation or ventilation failure postoperatively, the infants were divided into a cardiopulmonary dysfunction group (19 cases) and a non-cardiopulmonary dysfunction group (40 cases). Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to explore risk factors for postoperative cardiopulmonary dysfunction. RESULTS: Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that a faster average weight gain rate preoperatively and low levels of free triiodothyronine (FT₃) within one week before surgery were risk factors for cardiopulmonary dysfunction following hsPDA ligation (P<0.05). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that an average weight gain rate >11.45 g/(kg·d) and FT₃ levels <2.785 pmol/L within one week before surgery had predictive value for postoperative cardiopulmonary dysfunction (P<0.05). The combination of these two indicators provided the highest predictive value (P<0.05), with an area under the curve of 0.825, a sensitivity of 79%, and a specificity of 75%. CONCLUSIONS An average weight gain rate exceeding 11.45 g/(kg·d) and FT₃ levels below 2.785 pmol/L within one week before surgery are risk factors affecting cardiopulmonary function after hsPDA ligation. Preoperative assessment and intervention should be strengthened to reduce the risk of postoperative complications.
Humans ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent/physiopathology* ; Risk Factors ; Female ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Infant, Premature ; Ligation/adverse effects* ; Hemodynamics ; Postoperative Complications/etiology* ; Logistic Models ; Lung Diseases/etiology*

Objective To characterize the features of patent foramen ovale(PFO)-related cryptogenic stroke using diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI)and to investigate the correlation between infarct size and cardiac CT characteristics of PFO.Methods A retrospective,consecutive cohort study was conducted on acute ischemic stroke patients admitted to Neurology Department of Xuanwu Hospital,Capital Medical University from January 2022 to September 2024.Patients were categorized into PFO group,arterio-arterial embolism(AAE)group,and atrial fibrillation(AF)group based on etiological diagnosis.Baseline clinical data,including age,height,body mass index,admission National Institutes of Health stroke scale(NIHSS)score,history of old cerebral infarction,hypertension,diabetes mellitus,coronary heart disease,dyslipidemia,and smoking history were collected and compared.All patients underwent head MR within 24 h of admission.DWI was used to analyze and compare infarct characteristics across the three groups,including lesion number(single or multiple),location(cortical+subcortical,deep white matter,cortical+subcortical+deep white matter,cerebellum+thalamus+brainstem),size(≥15 mm or＜15 mm,based on maximum transverse diameter;for multiple lesions,if any lesion had a maximum diameter≥15 mm,it was categorized as≥15 mm),infarcted vascular territory(anterior,posterior,or both circulations),and specific arterial supply(anterior cerebral artery,middle cerebral artery,posterior cerebral artery,basilar artery,posterior inferior cerebellar artery,superior cerebellar artery,anterior choroidal artery,or multiple arteries).Patients in the PFO group additionally underwent cardiac CT to measure PFO-related parameters:tunnel length,width,height,septum secundum thickness,and fossa ovalis length.Spearman correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between infarct size and PFO cardiac CT features.Results A total of 232 acute ischemic stroke patients were included(mean age[57±17]years,ranged 19-86 years;141 males,91 females),comprising 116 in the PFO group,36 in the AAE group,and 80 in the AF group.(1)The proportion of males in the PFO group was higher than that in the AF group,it was lower than that in the AAE group.The age,body mass index and proportions of patients with hypertension,diabetes,hyperlipidemia,coronary heart disease were all lower than those in the other two groups(both P＜0.016 7),while other baseline characteristics showed no significant differences(all P＞0.05).(2)The PFO group exhibited a higher proportion of multiple infarcts compared to the AAE group(83.62％[97/116]vs.61.11％[22/36],P＜0.016 7),but a lower proportion than the AF group(83.62％[97/116]vs.98.75％[79/80],P＜0.016 7).The PFO group also showed a significantly higher proportion of cortical+subcortical infarcts(47.41％[55/116]vs.11.11％[4/36]and 6.25％[5/80],respectively,both P＜0.016 7)and infarcts with a maximum diameter＜15 mm compared to both AAE and AF groups(66.38％[77/116]vs.36.11％[13/36]and 11.25％[9/80],respectively,both P＜0.016 7).Furthermore,the PFO group had a lower proportion of anterior circulation infarcts(27.59％[32/116]vs.69.44％[25/36]in AAE group and 67.50％[54/80]in AF group,both P＜0.016 7),but a higher proportion of posterior circulation infarcts(62.07％[72/116]vs.16.67％[6/36]in AAE group and 8.75％[7/80]in AF group,both P＜0.016 7).Specifically,middle cerebral artery infarcts were less common in the PFO group(18.97％[22/116]vs.66.67％[24/36]in AAE group and 52.50％[42/80]in AF group,both P＜0.016 7),while posterior cerebral artery infarcts were more common(48.28％[56/116]vs.8.33％[3/36]in AAE group and 8.75％[7/80]in AF group,both P＜0.016 7).(3)Spearman correlation analysis revealed that infarct size was negatively correlated with PFO tunnel length(rs=-0.429,P=0.029),fossa ovalis length(rs=-0.408,P=0.038),and septum secundum thickness(rs=-0.525,P=0.006),but not correlated with PFO width or height(both P＞0.05).Conclusions PFO-related cryptogenic stroke is predominantly characterized by multiple small infarcts,primarily located in the cortical+subcortical regions and posterior circulation.Infarct size was found to be negatively correlated with PFO tunnel length,fossa ovalis length,and septum secundum thickness.Comprehensive assessment integrating DWI and cardiac CT features may facilitate the identification of PFO-related stroke.These findings warrant further validation through larger,prospective studies.

Objective:To study the risk factors of thyroid nodules in patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods:Data of patients with type 2 diabetes with normal thyroid function admitted to the Department of Endocrinology of Heze Municipal Hospital from January to June 2024 were collected. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of thyroid nodules in patients with type 2 diabetes, and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of each influencing factor.Results:Among 162 patients with type 2 diabetes, 96 had thyroid nodules, accounting for 59.3%. The incidence of thyroid nodules in women was significantly higher than that in men (χ 2 = 4.56, P = 0.034). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age (≥50 years old), overweight and obesity [body mass index (BMI)≥24.0 kg/m 2], high glycated hemoglobin (≥10%), and high total cholesterol ( > 6.5 mmol/L) were independent risk factors for thyroid nodules in patients with type 2 diabetes ( OR = 1.83, 1.67, 1.08, 3.65, P < 0.05), and men was an independent protective factor ( OR = 0.63, P = 0.039). The ROC curve results showed that total cholesterol and total cholesterol combined with glycated hemoglobin could distinguish patients with thyroid nodules from those without thyroid nodules, with AUC = 0.64 and 0.68, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant ( P < 0.05). Conclusions:The incidence of thyroid nodules in patients with type 2 diabetes is relatively high. Age, overweight and obesity, high glycated hemoglobin, and high total cholesterol are independent risk factors for thyroid nodules in patients with type 2 diabetes, and total cholesterol has the ability to distinguish patients with thyroid nodules.

Objective To characterize the features of patent foramen ovale(PFO)-related cryptogenic stroke using diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI)and to investigate the correlation between infarct size and cardiac CT characteristics of PFO.Methods A retrospective,consecutive cohort study was conducted on acute ischemic stroke patients admitted to Neurology Department of Xuanwu Hospital,Capital Medical University from January 2022 to September 2024.Patients were categorized into PFO group,arterio-arterial embolism(AAE)group,and atrial fibrillation(AF)group based on etiological diagnosis.Baseline clinical data,including age,height,body mass index,admission National Institutes of Health stroke scale(NIHSS)score,history of old cerebral infarction,hypertension,diabetes mellitus,coronary heart disease,dyslipidemia,and smoking history were collected and compared.All patients underwent head MR within 24 h of admission.DWI was used to analyze and compare infarct characteristics across the three groups,including lesion number(single or multiple),location(cortical+subcortical,deep white matter,cortical+subcortical+deep white matter,cerebellum+thalamus+brainstem),size(≥15 mm or＜15 mm,based on maximum transverse diameter;for multiple lesions,if any lesion had a maximum diameter≥15 mm,it was categorized as≥15 mm),infarcted vascular territory(anterior,posterior,or both circulations),and specific arterial supply(anterior cerebral artery,middle cerebral artery,posterior cerebral artery,basilar artery,posterior inferior cerebellar artery,superior cerebellar artery,anterior choroidal artery,or multiple arteries).Patients in the PFO group additionally underwent cardiac CT to measure PFO-related parameters:tunnel length,width,height,septum secundum thickness,and fossa ovalis length.Spearman correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between infarct size and PFO cardiac CT features.Results A total of 232 acute ischemic stroke patients were included(mean age[57±17]years,ranged 19-86 years;141 males,91 females),comprising 116 in the PFO group,36 in the AAE group,and 80 in the AF group.(1)The proportion of males in the PFO group was higher than that in the AF group,it was lower than that in the AAE group.The age,body mass index and proportions of patients with hypertension,diabetes,hyperlipidemia,coronary heart disease were all lower than those in the other two groups(both P＜0.016 7),while other baseline characteristics showed no significant differences(all P＞0.05).(2)The PFO group exhibited a higher proportion of multiple infarcts compared to the AAE group(83.62％[97/116]vs.61.11％[22/36],P＜0.016 7),but a lower proportion than the AF group(83.62％[97/116]vs.98.75％[79/80],P＜0.016 7).The PFO group also showed a significantly higher proportion of cortical+subcortical infarcts(47.41％[55/116]vs.11.11％[4/36]and 6.25％[5/80],respectively,both P＜0.016 7)and infarcts with a maximum diameter＜15 mm compared to both AAE and AF groups(66.38％[77/116]vs.36.11％[13/36]and 11.25％[9/80],respectively,both P＜0.016 7).Furthermore,the PFO group had a lower proportion of anterior circulation infarcts(27.59％[32/116]vs.69.44％[25/36]in AAE group and 67.50％[54/80]in AF group,both P＜0.016 7),but a higher proportion of posterior circulation infarcts(62.07％[72/116]vs.16.67％[6/36]in AAE group and 8.75％[7/80]in AF group,both P＜0.016 7).Specifically,middle cerebral artery infarcts were less common in the PFO group(18.97％[22/116]vs.66.67％[24/36]in AAE group and 52.50％[42/80]in AF group,both P＜0.016 7),while posterior cerebral artery infarcts were more common(48.28％[56/116]vs.8.33％[3/36]in AAE group and 8.75％[7/80]in AF group,both P＜0.016 7).(3)Spearman correlation analysis revealed that infarct size was negatively correlated with PFO tunnel length(rs=-0.429,P=0.029),fossa ovalis length(rs=-0.408,P=0.038),and septum secundum thickness(rs=-0.525,P=0.006),but not correlated with PFO width or height(both P＞0.05).Conclusions PFO-related cryptogenic stroke is predominantly characterized by multiple small infarcts,primarily located in the cortical+subcortical regions and posterior circulation.Infarct size was found to be negatively correlated with PFO tunnel length,fossa ovalis length,and septum secundum thickness.Comprehensive assessment integrating DWI and cardiac CT features may facilitate the identification of PFO-related stroke.These findings warrant further validation through larger,prospective studies.

Objective:To study the risk factors of thyroid nodules in patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods:Data of patients with type 2 diabetes with normal thyroid function admitted to the Department of Endocrinology of Heze Municipal Hospital from January to June 2024 were collected. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of thyroid nodules in patients with type 2 diabetes, and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of each influencing factor.Results:Among 162 patients with type 2 diabetes, 96 had thyroid nodules, accounting for 59.3%. The incidence of thyroid nodules in women was significantly higher than that in men (χ 2 = 4.56, P = 0.034). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age (≥50 years old), overweight and obesity [body mass index (BMI)≥24.0 kg/m 2], high glycated hemoglobin (≥10%), and high total cholesterol ( > 6.5 mmol/L) were independent risk factors for thyroid nodules in patients with type 2 diabetes ( OR = 1.83, 1.67, 1.08, 3.65, P < 0.05), and men was an independent protective factor ( OR = 0.63, P = 0.039). The ROC curve results showed that total cholesterol and total cholesterol combined with glycated hemoglobin could distinguish patients with thyroid nodules from those without thyroid nodules, with AUC = 0.64 and 0.68, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant ( P < 0.05). Conclusions:The incidence of thyroid nodules in patients with type 2 diabetes is relatively high. Age, overweight and obesity, high glycated hemoglobin, and high total cholesterol are independent risk factors for thyroid nodules in patients with type 2 diabetes, and total cholesterol has the ability to distinguish patients with thyroid nodules.

With the development of molecular pharmacognosy, the advantages of DNA molecular markers in the identification of original plants of Chinese medicinal materials are becoming increasingly significant. To compensate for the limitations of existing markers in the quality supervision of Chinese medicinal materials, our team has independently designed a new molecular marker named DNA signature sequence(DSS). This marker is a nucleotide sequence that only appears in a specific taxonomic unit, with a length of 40 bp and high identification accuracy. This article aims to screen and verify the DSS markers that can accurately identify the original plants of the medicinal materials included in the volume one of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, establish the operating procedure for developing standard nucleotide sequences, and lay a foundation for the widespread application of polymerase chain reaction in the quality supervision of traditional Chinese medicine. Firstly, the Chloroplast Genome Information Resource(CGIR) was searched for the chloroplast genome sequences of the test samples, species of the same genus, and common background species. IdenDSS was used to obtain the DSS tags and specific identification primers of the tested species. After DNA extraction, PCR amplification, sequencing, and sequence alignments, a total of 203 DSS markers of Chinese medicinal materials were obtained for validation. The above sequences were uploaded to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Molecular Identification Platform(www.herbsdna.com), and a standard DSS library was established for identifying the original plants of medicinal materials, serving as an important tool for quality supervision of Chinese materia medica. On this basis, an operating procedure for DSS development is formed, laying a foundation for further DSS screening and application based on more diverse genome sequences.
Plants, Medicinal/classification* ; DNA, Plant/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Pharmacopoeias as Topic ; Genetic Markers ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

To analyze the correlation of ADH4 exon rs1126671 and ADH7 exon rs971074 polymorphisms with risky drinking behaviors and alcoholic liver disease. The patients with alcoholic liver disease diagnosed in the Gastroenterology Department of the People′s Hospital of Hechi from November 2021 to June 2022, including 52 cases of alcoholic liver disease with positive risky drinking behaviors, 103 cases of non-alcoholic liver disease with positive risky drinking behaviors of the same gender and age, and 105 healthy subjects with no risky drinking behaviors as control groups were retrospectively analyzed. The serum total protein and albumin are detected by immunoturbidimetry and globulin is calculated by the difference method; the serum total bilirubin and direct bilirubin are detected by the nitrite oxidation method and indirect bilirubin is calculated by the difference method; alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and γ-glutamyl transferase are detected by the substrate method. The results revealed that all 52 patients with alcoholic liver disease were male. The non-parametric independent sample Kruskal-Wallis test was adopted to analyze the baseline of twelve liver functions among the alcoholic liver disease group, the risky drinking behavior group and the healthy control group, and it was found there was statistical significance in ten major liver function indicators in the difference comparison among the three groups like serum total protein (g/L) 65.0 (60.1, 71.4), 73.4 (70.3, 76.3), 72.4 (69.2, 76.2) ( H=37.130, P<0.001); albumin (g/L) 36.1 (28.6, 42.9), 47.2 (45.0, 49.2), 47.5 (45.9, 49.5) ( H=14.503, P=0.001); direct bilirubin (μmol/L) 10.1 (35.6, 34.0.1), 3.8 (3.1, 5.45), 4.2 (2.9, 6.0) ( H=26.608, P<0.001); alkaline phosphatase (U/L) 106.0 (71.0, 164.0), 68.0 (57.5, 82.0), 70.0 (59.0, 87.0) ( H=27.904, P<0.001); albumin to globulin 1.34 (0.91, 1.88), 1.82 (1.65, 2.00), 1.89 (1.68, 2.07) ( H=11.047, P=0.004); direct bilirubin to indirect bilirubin 0.91 (0.69, 1.91), 0.41 (0.35, 0.54), 0.42 (0.34, 0.54) ( H=19.478, P<0.001); serum total bilirubin (μmol/L) 23.9 (13.7, 51.0), 13.8 (10.2, 17.9), 13.0 (10.1, 17.4) ( H=18.375, P<0.001); aspartate aminotransferase (U/L) 74.0 (39.0, 122.0), 22.0 (19.0, 28.0), 23.0 (19.0, 30.0) ( H=76.365, P<0.001); alanine aminotransferase (U/L) 37.0 (25.0, 55.0), 23.0 (17.0, 30.0), 24.0 (17.0, 33.8) ( H=57.041, P<0.001); γ-glutamyl transferase (U/L) 135.0 (45.0, 364.0), 33.0 (23.5, 49.5), 32.0 (19.0, 49.0) ( H=82.558, P<0.001); however, there were no statistical significance in the pairwise comparisons between risky drinking and healthy groups. The two loci of ADH4 and ADH7 were in genetic linkage equilibrium. In the three groups of samples, the ADH4 gene rs1126671 locus was comprised primarily of the CC homozygous genotype, and there was no TT genotype. The ADH7 gene rs971074 genotype had statistical difference in the comparison of the three groups ( χ2=9.370, P<0.05). Compared with the CC genotype, the CT genotype had no statistical difference in the pairwise comparison between the risky drinking behavior group and alcoholic liver disease group, and the healthy group and alcoholic liver disease group. There was a statistical difference in that between the healthy group and the risky drinking behavior group ( χ2=6.372, P=0.012). The analysis display of mode of inheritance between RD group and HA group was statistically significant in the difference of the superdominance inheritance mode ( OR=2.92, 95% CI:1.22-6.98; P=0.012), the dominant inheritance mode ( OR=2.90, 95% CI:1.26-6.64; P=0.008), the co-dominant inheritance mode ( OR=2.96, 95% CI:1.24-7.08; P=0.032) and the additive mode ( OR=2.46, 95% CI:1.16-5.22; P=0.013). In general, the CT genotype of ADH7 gene rs971074 is a risk factor for positive risky drinking behavior, and the ADH family may still increase the susceptibility of people with a potential alcoholic liver disease protection background through the correlation between ADH7 and risky drinking behavior.