AIM: To investigate the features of retinal peripheral defocus and its associated variables in unilateral myopia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included consecutive anisometropic myopic patients who visited Center for Optometry and Visual Science from August 2023 to March 2025 in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Eyes were classified based on spherical equivalent(SE)and uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA): myopic eyes(SE ≤-0.50 D, UCVA <0.2 LogMAR)and contralateral normal eyes(SE ≥-0.25, UCVA ≥0 LogMAR). Total relative defocus value(TRDV)across the visual field, RDV at 15°, 30°, and 45°(RDV-15, RDV-30, RDV-45), and quadrant-specific RDV(superior/RDV-S, inferior/RDV-I, temporal/RDV-T, nasal/RDV-N)were compared between groups.RESULTS: This study enrolled 81 anisometropic patients(81 myopic eyes, 81 contralateral normal eyes). The cohort comprised 42 males and 39 females, 47 patients aged 8-12 y and 34 patients aged 13-17 y(mean age: 11.8±2.4 y). Myopic eyes demonstrated significantly higher values in TRDV, RDV-30, RDV-45, RDV-I, RDV-S, RDV-N, and RDV-T versus contralateral normal eyes(all P<0.001). RDV-15 showed no significant difference between groups in either 8-12-year-olds or 13-17-year-olds(both P>0.05). Among 13-17-year-olds, RDV-S also exhibited no intergroup difference(P>0.05). All other parameters differed significantly across both age strata(all P<0.05). In myopic eyes, age positively correlated with TRDV(r=0.31, P=0.005), RDV-30(r=0.33, P=0.002), RDV-45(r=0.32, P=0.004), and RDV-N(r=0.37, P<0.001). In contralateral eyes, scotopic pupil diameter negatively correlated with TRDV(r=-0.25, P=0.03), RDV-45(r=-0.25, P=0.02), RDV-S(r=-0.29, P=0.008), and RDV-N(r=-0.27, P=0.014). And age positively correlated with RDV-N(r=0.30, P= 0.006), axial length positively correlated with RDV-T(r=0.30, P=0.006). CONCLUSION: The peripheral defocus of unilateral myopic eyes varies from that of their contralateral normal counterparts. The former presents hyperopic defocus, which augments with age, while the latter displays myopic defocus, which accentuates with the increase of the scotopic pupil size.

Objective To systematically analyze the characteristics of the disease burden of hypertensive heart disease (HHD) in the elderly (≥60 years) globally and in China from 1990 to 2021, and to predict its future trends from 2022 to 2040, with the aim of providing data support for optimizing comprehensive prevention and control strategies for HHD. Methods Based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database, the number of prevalent cases and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of HHD in the elderly were extracted for the world, China, and five regions categorized by sociodemographic index (SDI). Joinpoint regression was used to analyze the temporal trends of age-standardized prevalence rate and age-standardized DALYs rate of HHD in the elderly. A three-factor decomposition method was applied to evaluate the relative contributions of aging, population growth, and epidemiological changes to the variations in the elderly HHD burden. Additionally, a Bayesian age-period-cohort model was used to predict the elderly HHD burden from 2022 to 2040. Results In 2021, the number of prevalent elderly HHD cases reached 10 283 000 globally and 3 412 400 in China, representing increases of 179.20% and 159.20% respectively, compared with 1990. The DALYs of elderly HHD were 18 812 700 person-years globally and 4 731 400 person-years in China, rising by 76.08% and 29.45% respectively from 1990. Meanwhile, the growth rates of the number of prevalent cases and DALYs of elderly HHD varied across different SDI regions. From 1990 to 2021, the age-standardized prevalence rate of elderly HHD in China, as well as the age-standardized DALYs rate of elderly HHD both globally and in China, showed significant downward trends (all average annual percentage changes<0, all P<0.001). In 2021, the 70-74 years age group accounted for the highest proportion of prevalent cases and DALYs of elderly HHD, both globally and in China. Decomposition analysis revealed that population growth was the dominant factor driving the increase in the elderly HHD burden across all regions. The prediction model results indicated that the number of prevalent cases and DALYs of elderly HHD would continue to rise globally and in China from 2022 to 2040, with the growth rate of the elderly HHD burden in China between 2021 and 2040 expected to exceed the global average. Conclusion Over the past 32 years, although the age-standardized disease rates of elderly HHD have mainly shown a downward trend globally and in China, the absolute number of the disease burden has increased substantially. The projection model indicates a continued upward trajectory, with the growth rate in China higher than the global average. Therefore, there is an urgent need to implement precise prevention and control strategies to effectively mitigate the disease burden of elderly HHD.

Objective: To explore the latent profile characteristics of regulatory emotional self-efficacy and its relationship with non-suicidal self-injurious (NSSI) behavior among junior and senior high school students, so as to provide a basis for effectively reducing NSSI behaviors. Methods: From April to October 2023, a total of 1 217 junior and senior high school students were selected from Tongren City, Zunyi City and Qiannan Prefecture of Guizhou Province by stratified cluster random sampling method. The Scale of Regulatory Emotional Self-efficacy and the Adolescent Self-injury Scale were administered. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was employed to explore distinct profiles of regulatory emotional self-efficacy, and the Lanza, Tan, and Bray s method (LTB) was used to analyze the relationship between these profiles and NSSI behavior. Results: The prevalence rate of NSSI behavior among junior and senior high school students was 28.6%. Among males, regulatory emotional self-efficacy was categorized into two types: moderate positive expression-low negative management group (59.1%, n =353) and high efficacy group (40.9%, n =244); among females, regulatory emotional self-efficacy was classified into three categories: low efficacy group (18.4%, n =114), high positive expression-low negative management group (56.3%, n =349), and high efficacy group (25.3%, n =157). There were statistically significant differences in total NSSI scores across different potential categories of regulatory emotional self-efficacy within both males and females ( Z/H = -5.75 , 57.58, both P <0.01). The differences in NSSI prevalence rates across the potential categories of regulatory emotional self-efficacy were statistically significant for both males and females ( χ 2=38.00, 69.14, both P <0.01), and among females, the differences in NSSI prevalence rates between the high efficacy group and the low efficacy group ( χ 2=60.01) and between the high efficacy group and the high positive expression-low negative management group ( χ 2=31.34) were also statistically significant (both P < 0.016 7 ). Binary Logistic regression analysis revealed that, compared with the high efficacy group within each gender, the moderate positive expression-low negative management group among males ( OR =2.36), and both the low efficacy group and the high positive expression-low negative management group among females ( OR =6.19, 2.97), were at an increased risk of engaging in NSSI (all P <0.01). Conclusion Different latent profiles of regulatory emotional self efficacy among junior and senior high school students are associated with NSSI behavior.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease （MAFLD）， as one of the most common chronic liver diseases in the world， poses a severe challenge to precision diagnosis and treatment due to its complex pathogenesis and highly heterogeneous disease progression. Existing clinical classification systems cannot meet the needs for comprehensively analyzing the complexity of the disease and the heterogeneity of its adverse outcomes. In recent years， data-driven prognostic risk classification methods have gradually emerged， optimizing the ability for predicting adverse outcomes and enhancing the accuracy of identifying different endpoint outcomes. However， such paradigm of “classify first， associate outcomes later” suffers from a “black-box” nature， and there are various indicators for classification， leading to limited stability and generalizability in clinical application. Future research needs to integrate or establish large-scale population cohorts， develop outcome-oriented prognostic risk classification models， incorporate dynamic data， refine classification algorithms， and validate their generalizability across multiple populations， thereby providing reliable support for the precision diagnosis and treatment of MAFLD.

ObjectiveThis study focused on the marketed Chinese patent medicines for the treatment of Functional Diarrhea （FDr） in China and their prescription characteristics， in order to provide support for the clinical application and research and development of anti-FDr Chinese patent medicines. MethodsCollect the information of Chinese patent medicines that have been marketed to treat FDr， use Microsoft Excel 2021 software to conduct preliminary data collation and statistical analysis， and use the ancient and modern medical record cloud platform （V2.3.9） to analyze the standardized Chinese patent medicine prescriptions from the aspects of drug nature and taste， medication characteristics and prescription rules. Results147 kinds of FDr Chinese patent medicines were included in this study. There are a total of 40 varieties of FDr Chinese patent medicines suitable for children； The distribution of dosage forms is mainly pills， tablets， and capsules. 110 prescriptions were screened， among which the proportion of Chinese patent medicines for the treatment of spleen deficiency syndrome was the highest； The top three drug use frequency were licorice， Atractylodes macrocephala， and Poria cocos； The medicinal properties are mainly warm and flat， and the medicinal taste is mostly pungent， sweet and bitter， and most of them belong to the two meridians of the spleen and stomach； The association rules analysis obtains 20 strong association pairing sets； Three drug combinations were obtained by cluster analysis. ConclusionFDr Chinese patent medicine shows unique value in clinical application， especially in the field of children. However， there are still problems such as strong professionalism in the indication expression of drug instructions， limited coverage of the medical insurance catalog， and lack of high-level evidence-based medicine and pharmacoeconomic evidence. To this end， in the future， efforts should be made to build a multi-level evidence-based evidence system， improve medication compliance， and deepen research on syndrome-based medication laws， so as to enhance the clinical application value and scientific connotation of FDr Chinese patent medicines.

Asthma, a chronic inflammatory airway disease with a high global prevalence, has a complex pathogenesis, in which airway remodeling plays a key role in the chronicity of the disease. Airway remodeling involves a series of pathophysiological changes, including airway epithelial damage, proliferation of mucous glands and goblet cells, subepithelial fibrosis, proliferation and migration of airway smooth muscle cells, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. These complex pathological changes significantly increase airway resistance and responsiveness, forming an important pathological basis for refractory asthma. Currently, the regulatory mechanisms of airway remodeling focus on signaling pathways and regulatory targets. The signaling pathways include phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt), nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB), transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)/Smads, and mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK). The regulatory targets include microRNAs(miRNAs), competing endogenous RNAs(ceRNAs), long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs), and circular RNAs(circRNAs). Key proteins involved in these processes include TGF-β1, silencing information regulator 2-related enzyme 1(SIRT1), chitinase 3-like protein 1(YKL-40), and adenosine deaminase-metalloproteinase 33(ADAM33). In recent years, the potential of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of asthma has become increasingly evident. Its active ingredients, extracts, and complexes can inhibit airway remodeling in asthma through multiple pathways, demonstrating a variety of effects, including anti-inflammatory actions, inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration, regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, attenuation of fibrosis and basement membrane thickening, reduction of mucus secretion, inhibition of vascular remodeling, modulation of immune imbalance, and antioxidative stress. This paper aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the pathogenesis and therapeutic targets of asthma, offering theoretical support and innovative strategies for clinical research and drug development in the treatment of asthma.
Asthma/pathology* ; Humans ; Airway Remodeling/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Animals ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism*

Emodin is a hydroxyanthraquinone compound that is widely distributed and has multiple pharmacological activities, including anti-diarrheal, anti-inflammatory, and liver-protective effects. Research indicates that emodin may be one of the main components responsible for inducing hepatotoxicity. However, studies on the mechanisms of liver injury are relatively limited, particularly those related to bile acids(BAs) metabolism. This study aims to systematically investigate the effects of different dosages of emodin on BAs metabolism, providing a basis for the safe clinical use of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)containing emodin. First, this study evaluated the safety of repeated administration of different dosages of emodin over a 5-week period, with a particular focus on its impact on the liver. Next, the composition and content of BAs in serum and liver were analyzed. Subsequently, qRT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of nuclear receptors and transporters related to BAs metabolism. The results showed that 1 g·kg~(-1) emodin induced hepatic damage, with bile duct hyperplasia as the primary pathological manifestation. It significantly increased the levels of various BAs in the serum and primary BAs(including taurine-conjugated and free BAs) in the liver. Additionally, it downregulated the mRNA expression of farnesoid X receptor(FXR), retinoid X receptor(RXR), and sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide(NTCP), and upregulated the mRNA expression of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase(CYP7A1) in the liver. Although 0.01 g·kg~(-1) and 0.03 g·kg~(-1) emodin did not induce obvious liver injury, they significantly increased the level of taurine-conjugated BAs in the liver, suggesting a potential interference with BAs homeostasis. In conclusion, 1 g·kg~(-1) emodin may promote the production of primary BAs in the liver by affecting the FXR-RXR-CYP7A1 pathway, inhibit NTCP expression, and reduce BA reabsorption in the liver, resulting in BA accumulation in the peripheral blood. This disruption of BA homeostasis leads to liver injury. Even doses of emodin close to the clinical dose can also have a certain effect on the homeostasis of BAs. Therefore, when using traditional Chinese medicine or formulas containing emodin in clinical practice, it is necessary to regularly monitor liver function indicators and closely monitor the risk of drug-induced liver injury.
Emodin/administration & dosage* ; Bile Acids and Salts/metabolism* ; Animals ; Male ; Liver/injuries* ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Humans ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Mice ; Rats

This study aims to explore the specific mechanism by which puerarin inhibits ferroptosis and improves the myocardial contractile function in myocardial hypertrophy through the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/antioxidant response element(ARE)/heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) signaling pathway. The hypertrophic cardiomyocyte model was established using phenylephrine, and H9c2 cells were divided into control group, model group, puerarin group, and puerarin+ML385 group. Cell viability and surface area were detected by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) and immunofluorescence experiments. The mitochondrial membrane potential and Ca~(2+) concentration were measured. The ferroptosis-related indicators were detected by biochemical and fluorescence staining methods. The expression of proteins related to ferroptosis and the Nrf2/ARE/HO-1 signaling pathway was detected by Western blot. A myocardial hypertrophy model was established, and 40 rats were randomly divided into sham group, model group, puerarin group, and puerarin+Nrf2 inhibitor(ML385) group, with 10 rats in each group. Echocardiogram, hemodynamic parameters, and myocardial hypertrophy parameters were measured. Histopathological changes of myocardial tissues were observed by hematoxylin and eosin(HE) staining and Masson staining. Biochemical methods, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), and fluorescence staining were used to detect inflammatory factors and ferroptosis-related indicators. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of proteins related to ferroptosis and the Nrf2/ARE/HO-1 signaling pathway. Cell experiments showed that puerarin intervention significantly enhanced the viability of hypertrophic cardiomyocytes, reduced their surface area, and restored mitochondrial membrane potential and Ca~(2+) homeostasis. Mechanism studies revealed that puerarin promoted Nrf2 nuclear translocation, upregulated the expression of HO-1, solute carrier family 7 member 11(SLC7A11), and glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4), and decreased malondialdehyde(MDA), reactive oxygen species(ROS), and iron levels. These protective effects were reversed by ML385. In animal experiments, puerarin improved cardiac function in rats with myocardial hypertrophy, alleviated myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis, inhibited inflammatory responses and ferroptosis, and promoted nuclear Nrf2 translocation and HO-1 expression. However, combined intervention with ML385 led to deterioration of hemodynamics and a rebound in ferroptosis marker levels. In conclusion, puerarin may inhibit cardiomyocyte ferroptosis through the Nrf2/ARE/HO-1 signaling pathway, thereby improving myocardial contractile function in myocardial hypertrophy.
Animals ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/genetics* ; Rats ; Ferroptosis/drug effects* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Isoflavones/pharmacology* ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Cardiomegaly/genetics* ; Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism* ; Antioxidant Response Elements/drug effects* ; Myocardial Contraction/drug effects* ; Heme Oxygenase-1/genetics* ; Cell Line

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the early efficacy of computer-assisted production of patient specific instrumentation(PSI) osteotomy plate in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 22 patients with knee osteoarthritis who underwent unicompartmental knee arthroplasty using computer-assisted production of PSI osteotomy plate between January 2022 and November 2022. The study included 1 male and 21 females, ranged from 59.8 to 76.5 years old with an average of (68.1±6.3) years old. Surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, incision length, spacer thickness, postoperative complications, postoperative femoral component varus and valgus angle (FVVA), femoral component flexion and extension angle (FFEA), tibial component varus and valgus angle (TVVA), tibial component posterior slope angle (TPSA), hip-knee-ankle mechanical angle (HKAA), and preoperative and postoperative 1-month, 3-month Hospital for Special Surgery knee-rating (HSS) and American Knee Society Score (KSS) were measured. RESULTS: The surgical time was (65.18±6.05) minutes, blood loss was (9.32±5.44) g·L^-1, incision length was (10.34±0.84) cm, and spacer thickness was (3.55±0.86) mm. The FVVA was (1.20±3.69)°, FFEA was (8.17±2.13)°, TVVA was (2.86±1.86)°, TPSA was (2.89±1.18)°, and HKAA was (183.15±1.46)°. The preoperative HSS score was (64.00±2.78) points, and KSS score was (Knee:59.09±6.16;Function:47.13±5.01). The postoperative 1-month HSS score was (74.91±3.57) points, and KSS score was (Knee:73.91±4.72;Function:65.46±6.38). The postoperative 3-month HSS score was (85.00±3.25) points, and KSS score was (Knee:83.00±2.88;Function:76.73±5.10). The comparison of preoperative and postoperative 1-month and 3-month HSS and KSS scores showed a statistically significant difference(P<0.05). CONCLUSION The early clinical efficacy of computer-assisted production of PSI osteotomy plate in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis is satisfactory. This technique can simplify surgical procedures, improve the accuracy of osteotomy and implant placement, and help shorten the learning curve.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Osteotomy/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Bone Plates ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/surgery* ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted/methods* ; Knee Joint/surgery*

OBJECTIVE: To explore clinical characteristics, lesion sites and correlation differences of different types of diabetic foot gangrene, and to provide evidence-based basis for clinical classification of diabetic foot gangrene. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 266 patients with newly diagnosed diabetic foot gangrene who were admitted from January 2018 to December 2018, including 183 males and 83 females, aged from 35 to 92 years old with an average of (69.55±10.84) years old, and they were divided into wet gangrene group and dry gangrene group according to the different natures of gangrene. There were 139 patients in wet gangrene group, including 98 males and 41 females, aged from 35 to 90 years old with an average of (68.95±10.93) years old. There were 127 patients in dry gangrene group, including 85 males and 42 females, aged from 38 to 92 years old with an average of (70.21±10.75) years old. Body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body temperature, skin temperature difference between the affected and healthy sides of the lower extremities, and Wagner grade between two groups were recorded to evaluate symptoms and signs. The white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil percentage (NEUT%), and C-reactive protein (C-reactive protein), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), procalcitonin (PCT), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in peripheral blood between two groups were detected and compared to evaluate the infection status;the severity of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) was evaluated by using Toronto Clinical Scoring System (TCSS);the degree of pain in patients with diabetic foot gangrene was evaluated by numerical rating scale (NRS); ankle-brachial index (ABI) and popliteal artery blood flow velocity were used to evaluate the degree of arterial lesions. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlations between gangrene TCSS, ABI and age, BMI, WHR, body temperature, calf skin temperature difference, WBC, NEUT%, CRP, ESR, PCT, IL-6, NRS, and Wagner classification indicators. RESULTS: The body temperature, skin temperature difference between the affected and healthy sides of the lower extremities, Wagner grade, WBC, NEUT%, CRP, ESR, PCT, IL-6, TCSS score, ABI, and popliteal artery blood flow velocity in wet gangrene group were higher than those in dry gangrene group (P<0.01), and BMI, WHR, and NRS score in dry gangrene group were higher than those in wet gangrene group;the differences were all statistically significant (P<0.01). The results of Spearman correlation analysis showed TCSS score of gangrene patients was correlated with body temperature (r=0.214), calf skin temperature difference (r=0.364), WBC (r=0.240), NEUT% (r=0.291), CRP (r=0.347), ESR (r=0.167), PCT (r=0.241), IL-6 (r=0.316), and popliteal fossa arterial blood flow velocity (r=0.261) and Wagner grade (r=0.273) were positively correlated, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01). ABI was negatively correlated with age (r=-0.183), BMI (r=-0.252), WHR (r=-0.288), and NRS score (r=-0.354), and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01). CONCLUSION Diabetic foot gangrene is an extremely difficult and critical disease. Wet gangrene has a significant synergic effect with infection and neuropathy, while dry gangrene is closely related to vascular occlusion. The main contradiction of gangrene could be revealed through blood vessels, nerves and infection, providing evidence-based basis for the selection of debridement timing, anti-infection strategies and revascularization, with the aim of reducing the risk of amputation.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Diabetic Foot/diagnosis* ; Aged, 80 and over ; Adult ; Retrospective Studies ; Gangrene/physiopathology* ; C-Reactive Protein