ObjectiveTo observe the clinical effectiveness of horticultural therapy involving the planting of Chinese medicinal herbs （mint and lily potted plants） combined with intradermal needling therapy for generalized anxiety disorder （GAD） of liver depression transforming into fire syndrome under transcranial magnetic stimulation and basic psychological therapy， and to explore the possible mechanisms of action. MethodsA total of 180 patients with GAD of liver depression transforming into fire syndrome were randomly divided into three groups， horticultural therapy group， intradermal needling group， and horticultural therapy+intradermal needling group， with 60 patients in each. All groups received basic treatment including basic psychological therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation. The horticultural therapy group received horticultural therapy in addition to the basic treatment； the intradermal needling group received intradermal needling therapy once a week for 8 weeks in addition to the basic treatment； the horticultural therapy+intradermal needling group received both horticultural therapy and intradermal needling therapy， following the same procedures and duration. Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale （HAMA）， Self-Rating Anxiety Scale （SAS）， and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index （PSQI） scores were assessed at baseline and after 2， 4， 6， and 8 weeks of treatment. Serum levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone （ACTH） and corticosterone （CORT） were measured before treatment and after 8 weeks of treatment. Motor-evoked potential （MEP） baseline levels were recorded before treatment， and MEP amplitude ratios were compared after 1 week and 8 weeks of treatment. Clinical effectiveness and safety were evaluated after 8 weeks of treatment. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the relationships between serum ACTH and CORT levels， MEP amplitude， and anxiety. ResultsIn the horticultural therapy group and intradermal needling group， HAMA， SAS and PSQI scores after 4， 6， and 8 weeks treatment were lower than baseline scores （P＜0.05）. In the horticultural therapy+intradermal needling group， these scores showed a significant decline starting after 2 weeks treatment and continuing through 8 weeks after treatment （P＜0.05）. The HAMA， SAS， and PSQI scores in the horticultural therapy+intradermal needling group were significantly lower than those in the other two groups after 2， 4， 6， and 8 weeks treatment （P＜0.05）. After 8 weeks of treatment， serum CORT and ACTH levels in the horticultural therapy+intradermal needling group were significantly lower than baseline levels （P＜0.05） and were also lower than those in the horticultural therapy group and intradermal needling group at the same time point （P＜0.01）. When comparing the level after 8 weeks treatment to that after 1 week treatment， under PAS10 stimulation， the MEP amplitude ratio in the intradermal needling group decreased at 30 minutes， while in the horticultural therapy+intradermal needling group， the MEP amplitude ratio decreased at all time points （P＜0.05 or P＜0.001）； under PAS25 stimulation， the MEP amplitude ratio in the horticultural therapy group increased at 20 minutes， and in the intradermal needle group at 10 minutes （P＜0.05）. In the horticultural therapy+intradermal needling group， the MEP amplitude ratio increased significantly at all time points after treatment （P＜0.001）. The cure rate in the horticultural therapy+intradermal needling group （74.14%， 43/58） was significantly higher than that in the horticultural therapy group （30.00%， 18/60） and the intradermal needling group （48.28%， 28/58， P＜0.05）. Correlation analysis revealed that serum ACTH and CORT levels were positively correlated with HAMA scores （r = 0.488， P＜0.01； r = 0.428， P＜0.01）. Following PAS10 intervention， the MEP amplitude ratio was positively correlated with HAMA scores （r = 0.458， P＜0.01）， whereas after PAS25 intervention， the MEP amplitude ratio was negatively correlated with HAMA scores （r = -0.562， P＜0.01）. ConclusionHorticultural therapy combined with intradermal needling treatment， under transcranial magnetic stimulation and basic psychological therapy， demonstrates significant clinical effectiveness in patients with GAD of liver depression transforming into fire syndrome. Its mechanism of action may be related to the regulation of hyperactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal （HPA） axis and the reduction of cortical excitability.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute infectious respiratory disease that has been prevalent since December 2019. Chinese medicine (CM) has demonstrated its unique advantages in the fight against COVID-19 in the areas of disease prevention, improvement of clinical symptoms, and control of disease progression. This review summarized the relevant material components of CM in the treatment of COVID-19 by searching the relevant literature and reports on CM in the treatment of COVID-19 and combining with the physiological and pathological characteristics of the novel coronavirus. On the basis of sorting out experimental methods in vivo and in vitro, the mechanism of herb action was further clarified in terms of inhibiting virus invasion and replication and improving related complications. The aim of the article is to explore the strengths and characteristics of CM in the treatment of COVID-19, and to provide a basis for the research and scientific, standardized treatment of COVID-19 with CM.
Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; COVID-19 Drug Treatment ; SARS-CoV-2/drug effects* ; COVID-19/therapy* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Antiviral Agents/pharmacology* ; Animals

The interaction between m⁶A-methylated RNA and chromatin modification remains largely unknown. We found that targeted inhibition of bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) by siRNA or its inhibitor (JQ1) significantly decreases mRNA m⁶A levels and suppresses the malignancy of breast cancer (BC) cells via increased expression of demethylase AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5). Mechanistically, inhibition of BRD4 increases the mRNA stability of ALKBH5 via enhanced binding between its 3' untranslated regions (3'UTRs) with RNA-binding protein RALY. Further, BRD4 serves as a scaffold for ubiquitin enzymes tripartite motif containing-21 (TRIM21) and ALKBH5, resulting in the ubiquitination and degradation of ALKBH5 protein. JQ1-increased ALKBH5 then demethylates mRNA of extra spindle pole bodies like 1 (ESPL1) and reduces binding between ESPL1 mRNA and m⁶A reader insulin like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3), leading to decay of ESPL1 mRNA. Animal and clinical studies confirm a critical role of BRD4/ALKBH5/ESPL1 pathway in BC progression. Further, our study sheds light on the crosstalks between histone modification and RNA methylation.

Chirality is not only a natural phenomenon but also a bridge between chemistry and life sciences. An effective way to obtain a single enantiomer is through racemates resolution. Recent literature shows that chiral metal-organic frameworks (CMOFs) have many applications in various fields because of their diverse topologies and functionalities. This review outlines the design idea and summarizes the latest synthesis strategies and applications of CMOFs. It highlights key advances and issues in the separation domain. In conclusion, the review provides perspectives on the challenges and prospective advancements of CMOFs materials and CMOFs-based separation technologies.

OBJECTIVE: To construct a longitudinal trajectory model of arterial oxygen tension (PaO₂) within 24 hours after cardiac arrest (CA). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. CA patients admitted to the ICU from 2014 to 2015 were selected from the eICU Collaborative Research Database (eICU-CRD). Data about patients' demographic characteristics, history of comorbidities, laboratory test indicators within 24 hours of intensive care unit (ICU) admission [including all PaO₂ data and arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO₂)], vasopressor use, and clinical outcomes were extracted from the database. The primary outcome variable was all-cause in-hospital mortality. Group-based trajectory model (GBTM) were built based on the changes in PaO₂ within 24 hours of ICU admission, and patients were grouped according to their initial static PaO₂ values upon ICU admission. Multivariable adjusted Poisson regression analysis was used to compare the in-hospital mortality risk among patients in different PaO₂ dynamic trajectory groups. Sensitivity analyses were performed using multivariable logistic regression and multivariable adjusted Poisson regression without imputation of missing values. RESULTS: A total of 3 866 CA patients were included. Three GBTM trajectory groups were identified based on PaO₂ changes within 24 hours of ICU admission: Group-1 (low level first increased then decreased, 148 cases), Group-2 (sustained low level, 3 040 cases), and Group-3 (first high level then decreased, 678 cases). Significant differences were found among the three groups in age, body weight, maximum serum potassium, maximum PaCO₂, minimum hemoglobin (Hb), vasopressor use, total hospitalization time, ICU stay, and hospital mortality. After incorporating variables with significant differences into the multivariable adjusted Poisson regression model, results showed that compared to Group-2 patients, patients in Group-1 and Group-3 had an increased risk of all-cause in-hospital mortality [Group-1 adjusted relative risk (aRR) = 1.20, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 1.02-1.41; Group-3 aRR = 1.11, 95%CI was 1.01-1.24]. Based on initial static PaO₂ values at ICU admission, patients were divided into four groups: PaO₂ < 100 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa; 1 217 cases), PaO₂ 100-200 mmHg (569 cases), PaO₂ 201-300 mmHg (547 cases), and PaO₂ > 300 mmHg (1 082 cases). Multivariable adjusted Poisson regression analysis indicated a significant upward trend in aRR for the latter three groups compared to the PaO₂ < 100 mmHg group. Sensitivity analyses revealed that compared to Group-2, patients in Group-1 and Group-3 had a significantly increased risk of all-cause in-hospital mortality (both P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Within 24 hours after return of spontaneous circulation in CA patients, PaO₂ exhibits different dynamic trajectories, and patients with hyperoxia have an increased risk of in-hospital mortality.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Hospital Mortality ; Heart Arrest/blood* ; Prognosis ; Oxygen/blood* ; Intensive Care Units ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between physical activity and genetic risk and their combined effects on the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 318,085 biobank participants from the UK. Physical activity was assessed using the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The participants were stratified into low-, intermediate-, and high-genetic-risk groups based on their polygenic risk scores. Multivariate Cox regression models and multiplicative interaction analyses were used. RESULTS: During a median follow-up period of 13 years, 9,209 participants were diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. For low genetic risk, compared to low physical activity, the hazard ratios ( HRs) for moderate and high physical activity were 0.853 (95% confidence interval [ CI]: 0.748-0.972) and 0.831 (95% CI: 0.727-0.950), respectively. For intermediate genetic risk, the HRs were 0.829 (95% CI: 0.758-0.905) and 0.835 (95% CI: 0.764-0.914), respectively. For participants with high genetic risk, the HRs were 0.809 (95% CI: 0.746-0.877) and 0.818 (95% CI: 0.754-0.888), respectively. A significant interaction was observed between genetic risk and physical activity. CONCLUSION Moderate or high levels of physical activity were associated with a lower risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease across all genetic risk groups, highlighting the need to tailor activity interventions for genetically susceptible individuals.
Humans ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/epidemiology* ; Exercise ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Aged ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Risk Factors ; United Kingdom/epidemiology* ; Incidence ; Adult

BackgroundCognitive function is closely related to an individual's quality of life and social functioning， with approximately 20%~35% of patients with depressive disorder experiencing some degree of cognitive impairment even after clinical symptom remission. Existing evidence suggests that tACS can improve specific cognitive domains， such as memory function， while its effects on other cognitive dimensions， such as executive functioning， attention， and information processing speed， remain unclear. ObjectiveTo explore the effects of tACS on the multidimensional cognitive functions and emotional problems of patients with depressive disorder， thus to provide references for the treatment of depressive disorder. MethodsForty-nine patients with depressive disorder who were hospitalized in the Fourth People's Hospital of Wuhu from November 2022 to October 2024 and met the diagnostic criteria for depressive disorder outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders， fifth edition （DSM-5）， were selected as study participants. Subjects were randomly divided into study group （n=23） and control group （n=26） based on Microsoft Excel. Both groups received sertraline treatment. The initial dose was 50 mg/day， which gradually titrated upward based on individual variability， drug tolerance， and therapeutic response， with a maintenance dose ranging from 100 to 200 mg/day. In addition， the study group underwent tACS therapy for 4 weeks， with 5 sessions per week， each lasting 20 minutes. The control group received sham stimulation， in which the stimulus was interrupted after the first 30 seconds. At baseline， the 4^th week， and the 12^th week of treatment， patients were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Scale-17 item （HAMD-17）， Hamilton Anxiety Scale （HAMA）， and MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery （MCCB）. ResultsRepeated measures analysis of variance indicated that both the time effect and the time×group interaction effect for HAMD-17 scores were statistically significant between the two groups （F=260.437， 25.309， P<0.01）. At week 12 of treatment， the HAMD-17 score in the study group was lower than that in the control group （t=4.236， P<0.01）. For HAMA scores， the time effect， group effect， and time×group interaction effect were all statistically significant between the two groups （F=248.082， 4.506， 9.500， P<0.05 or 0.01）. At weeks 4 and 12， study group reported lower HAMA scores compared with control group （t=4.580， 2.608， P<0.05 or 0.01）. Regarding the MCCB scores for attention/vigilance， verbal learning， and overall composite， the time effect， group effect， and time×group interaction effect were all statistically significant between the two groups （F=70.331， 27.882， 51.679， 5.560， 10.948， 7.860， 8.490， 3.874， 5.025， P<0.05 or 0.01）. After intervention， the study group showed significantly higher MCCB scores for attention/vigilance， verbal learning， and overall composite at both week 4 （t=-2.149， -3.530， -2.740， P<0.05） and week 12 （t=-3.534， -3.576， -3.838， P<0.01） when compared to the control group. ConclusionThe combined tACS and sertraline therapy may demonstrate superior efficacy to pharmacotherapy alone in the short term for improving attention/vigilance， verbal learning， overall cognitive function， and anxiety symptoms in patients with depressive disorders. Based on the 12-week outcomes， the combined tACS and sertraline therapy not only sustaine its previously observed advantages in improving cognitive domains and anxiety symptoms， but also demonstrate potentially superior efficacy over monotherapy in alleviating depressive symptoms. ［Fund by Clinical Medical Research Transformation Special Project of Anhui Province （number， 202204295107020065）］

Objective:To explore the expression of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) in different pathological types of prostate cancer, and to analyze the impact of GDF-15 on biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the case data of 138 patients with prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy at the 363rd Hospital from January 2019 to January 2022. The patients were divided into the recurrence group ( n=46) and the non-recurrence group ( n=92) based on postoperative biochemical recurrence. Measurement data were expressed as mean±standard deviation ( ± s), and analysis of variance was used for comparisons among multiple groups, while t-test was used for comparisons between two groups. Count data were expressed as the number of cases and percentages, and the Chi-test was used for comparisons between groups. Stratified regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between GDF-15 and different clinical pathological characteristics. By combining spline functions and Logistic regression analysis, the restricted cubic spline model was used to analyze the effect of GDF-15 on biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer in different pathological types. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were drawn to visually display the recurrence differences of prostate cancer patients at different GDF-15 levels. Results:The expression level of GDF-15 was the lowest in Gleason grade group (GGG)1 type at (548.71±78.25) pg/mL, and the highest in GGG5 type at (916.75±94.33) pg/mL, and the difference was statistically significant ( F=87.39, P<0.001). The level of GDF-15 was positively correlated with prostate-specific antigen (PSA), GGG5 type, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) ( P=0.029, 0.022, 0.015). The levels of PSA, GDF-15, Gleason score, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), C-reactive protein (CRP)/albumin (ALB), VEGF, and the proportion of TNM stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ, lymph node invasion, seminal vesicle invasion, nerve invasion, capsule rupture, and GGG5 type in the recurrence group were significantly higher than those in the non-recurrence group, the differences were all statistically significant ( P<0.05); the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) was significantly lower than that in the non-recurrence group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001). GDF-15 had a non-linear dose-response relationship with the biochemical recurrence risk value. The risk value is significantly positively correlated with the level of GDF-15, and this relationship was not affected by the type of prostate cancer pathology. In patients with GGG1 to GGG5 types of prostate cancer, when the GDF-15 levels were >720, 700, 690, 650, and 610 pg/mL, respectively, the risk values increased as the GDF-15 levels rose. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that as the level of GDF-15 increased, the recurrence rate of patients significantly rose. Conclusions:The expression level of GDF-15 expression is the lowest in GGG1 type and the highest in GGG5 type. Both GDF-15 and GGG5 type are the independent risk factors for biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy, and GDF-15 exhibits a significant positive nonlinear dose-response relationship with the risk of biochemical recurrence.

Objective To investigate the role of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR)in predicting the in-hospital mortality risk of patients with acute aortic dissection(AAD)in multicenter hospitals.Methods A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted.Clinical data were collected from 2642 AAD patients who were hospitalized in five teaching hospitals:Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology,Henan Provincial People's Hospital,Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital,the Third Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University,and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between August 2010 and December 2021.According to the quartiles of serum NLRlevels,the patients were divided into four groups:first quartile(Q1,n=660),second quartile(Q2,n=661),third quartile(Q3,n=661),and fourth quartile(Q4,n=660).The clinical characteristics and biochemical indicators of each group were compared.Partial correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between NLR and cardiovascular parameters.Restricted cubic splines,Kaplan-Meier survival analysis,and Cox regression models were employed to evaluate the association between NLR levels and in-hospital mortality risk in AAD patients.Results The median age of all patients was 54[interquartile range(IQR):46-63]years,including 2096 males and 546 females.Compared with Q1-Q3 groups,patients inQ4group had a lower incidence of smoking history and diabetes history,and were more likely to have DeBakey type Ⅰ AAD(P＜0.05).Additionally,the levels of aspartate aminotransferase,high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,creatinine,and D-dimer in Q4 group were higher,while the levels of triglycerides and C-reactive protein(CRP)were lower(P＜0.01).The results of partial correlation analysis showed that the plasma NLR level was positively correlated with D-dimer(r=0.43,P＜0.01)and creatinine(r=0.16,P＜0.01).The restricted cubic spline function in the Cox model revealed a significant non-linear relationship between the plasma NLR level and clinical outcomes in AAD patients(P＜0.01).Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that patients in Q4 group had the highest in-hospital mortality rate compared with Q1-Q3 groups(P＜0.0001).Furthermore,multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that compared with Q1 group,the hazard ratio(HR)of NLR in Q4 group was 1.77(95％CI 1.33-2.37,P＜0.001),which was an independent risk factor for the primary endpoint events.Conclusion A higher plasma NLR level is significantly associated with the occurrence of cardiovascular events in AAD patients,and this association remains significant even after adjusting for potential confounding factors such as the multicenter visiting hospitals.