With the completion of the "Human Genome Project" and the smooth progress of the "Herbal Genome Project", the research wave of RNAomics is gradually advancing, opening the research gateway for the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and initiating the post-genome era of medicinal plant RNA research. Therefore, this article proposes for the first time the concept of HerbRNomes, which involves constructing databases of medicinal plant, medicinal fungus, and medicinal animal RNA at different stages, from different origins, and in different organs. This research aims to explore the role of HerbRNA in self-genetic information transmission, functional regulation, as well as cross-species regulation functional mechanisms and key technologies. It also investigates application scenarios, providing a theoretical basis and research ideas for the resistance of TCM or medicinal plants to adversity and stress, molecular assistant breeding, and the development of small nucleic acid drugs. This article reviews recent research progress in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of the transmission and expression of genetic information, self-regulation and cross-species regulation of herbs at the RNA level, along with key technologies. It proposes a development strategy for small nucleic acid drugs based on HerbRNomes, providing theoretical support and guidance for the modernization of TCM based on HerbRNomes research.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pill (STDP) in treating stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome by exercise duration and metabolic equivalents. METHODS: This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial enrolled stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome from 22 hospitals. They were randomized 1:1 to STDP (35 mg/pill, 6 pills per day) or placebo for 56 days. The primary outcome was the exercise duration and metabolic equivalents (METs) assessed by the standard Bruce exercise treadmill test after 56 days of treatment. The secondary outcomes included the total angina symptom score, Chinese medicine (CM) symptom scores, Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) scores, changes in ST-T on electrocardiogram and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: This trial enrolled 309 patients, including 155 and 154 in the STDP and placebo groups, respectively. STDP significantly prolonged exercise duration with an increase of 51.0 s, compared to a decrease of 12.0 s with placebo (change rate: -11.1% vs. 3.2%, P<0.01). The increase in METs was significantly greater in the STDP group than in the placebo group (change: -0.4 vs. 0.0, change rate: -5.0% vs. 0.0%, P<0.01). The improvement of total angina symptom scores (25.0% vs. 0.0%), CM symptom scores (38.7% vs. 11.8%), reduction of nitroglycerin consumption (100.0% vs. 11.3%), and all domains of SAQ, were significantly greater with STDP than placebo (all P<0.01). The changes in Q-T intervals at 28 and 56 days from baseline were similar between the two groups (both P>0.05). Twenty-five participants (16.3%) with STDP and 16 (10.5%) with placebo experienced AEs (P=0.131), with no serious AEs observed. CONCLUSION STDP could improve exercise tolerance in patients with stable angina and phlegm-heat and blood stasis syndrome, with a favorable safety profile. (Registration No. ChiCTR-IPR-15006020).
Humans ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Angina, Stable/physiopathology* ; Aged ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome ; Placebos ; Tablets

Objective To analyze the characteristics of drug resistance in patients with disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis,and provide references for the clinical development of individualized treatment plans.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 71 hospitalized patients with disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis treated at the Beijing Chest Hospital,Capital Medical University from January 2015 to January 2024.The susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from these patients to 16 anti-tuberculosis drugs was detected using the microplate method for mycobacterial drug susceptibility testing.The study analyzed the culture results of Mycobacterium tuberculosis,drug susceptibility test results,initial treatment or re-treatment status,drug resistance,and differences in drug resistance types between initial and re-treated patients.Results Among the 71 patients with disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis,there were 51 males(71.8%),and 58 cases(81.7%)of acute disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis,with an overall drug resistance rate to 16 anti-tuberculosis drugs of 38.0%.There was no statistically significant difference in the total drug resistance rate between re-treated patients and those undergoing initial treatment[52.2%(12/23)vs.31.3%(15/48),P=0.089].The top 7 drugs to which patients were resistant were streptomycin(Sm)and isoniazid(INH)with 13 cases each(18.3%),rifapentine(Rft)and isoniazid aminosalicylate(Pa)with 10 cases each(14.1%),rifampicin(RFP),rifabutin(Rfb),and capreomycin(Cm)with 9 cases each(12.7%).The top 6 drugs to which initially treated patients were resistant were Cm with 6 cases(12.5%),Sm with 5 cases(10.4%),Pa with 4 cases(8.3%),INH,clarithromycin(Clr),and p-aminosalicylic acid(PAS)with 3 cases each(6.3%).The top 7 drugs to which re-treated patients were resistant were INH with 10 cases(43.5%),Sm,RFP,and Rft with 8 cases each(34.8%),Rfb with 7 cases(30.4%),Pa and levofloxacin(Lfx)with 6 cases each(26.1%).The overall mono-resistance rate,poly-drug resistance rate,and multidrug-resistant rate to 16 anti-tuberculosis drugs were 9.9%,7.0%,and 11.3%,respectively;all mono-resistance patients were initially treated;there was no statistically significant difference in the poly-drug resistance rate between re-treated and initially treated patients(13.0%vs.4.2%,P=0.591),but the multidrug-resistant rate was significantly higher in re-treated patients(30.4%vs.2.1%,P=0.002).Conclusion Drug resistance in disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis is severe.Clinical physicians can develop personalized anti-tuberculosis treatment plans based on drug susceptibility test results.

AIM:To observe the effect of implantable collamer lens V4c(ICL V4c)implantation on high myopia, and the changes in anterior segment morphology.METHODS:A prospective study was conducted on 100 patients(200 eyes)with high myopia who were treated with ICL V4c implantation in the hospital from February 2018 to March 2021. The best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA), intraocular pressure, higher-order aberration, anterior segment morphology [iridocorneal angle(ICA), central anterior chamber depth(ACD), anterior chamber volume(ACV), central corneal thickness(CCT)and K-value(K)], photopic and scotopic contrast sensitivity before operation and 6 and 12mo after operation were comparatively analyzed.RESULTS:All patients were followed-up. UCVA and BCVA were significantly improved at 6 and 12mo after operation(P<0.05). Total higher-order aberration, horizontal coma and vertical coma showed no significant difference before and after operation(P>0.05). Spherical aberration, ICA, ACD and ACV at 6 and 12mo after operation were significantly smaller than those before operation(P<0.05). Under photopic state, the contrast sensitivity of 3.0 and 6.0 c/d was significantly higher at 6 and 12mo after operation when compared with that before operation(P<0.05). Under scotopic state, the contrast sensitivity of 6.0 c/d was significantly higher at 6 and 12mo after operation when compared with that before operation(P<0.05); there was no significant difference in CCT, K, or intraocular pressure before and after operation(P>0.05).CONCLUSION:Although ICA, ACD and ACV in patients with high myopia are reduced after ICL V4c implantation, the operation can effectively improve visual acuity and visual quality.

SARS-CoV-2 infection causes complicated clinical manifestations with variable multi-organ injuries, however, the underlying mechanism, in particular immune responses in different organs, remains elusive. In this study, comprehensive transcriptomic alterations of 14 tissues from rhesus macaque infected with SARS-CoV-2 were analyzed. Compared to normal controls, SARS-CoV-2 infection resulted in dysregulation of genes involving diverse functions in various examined tissues/organs, with drastic transcriptomic changes in cerebral cortex and right ventricle. Intriguingly, cerebral cortex exhibited a hyperinflammatory state evidenced by significant upregulation of inflammation response-related genes. Meanwhile, expressions of coagulation, angiogenesis and fibrosis factors were also up-regulated in cerebral cortex. Based on our findings, neuropilin 1 (NRP1), a receptor of SARS-CoV-2, was significantly elevated in cerebral cortex post infection, accompanied by active immune response releasing inflammatory factors and signal transmission among tissues, which enhanced infection of the central nervous system (CNS) in a positive feedback way, leading to viral encephalitis. Overall, our study depicts a multi-tissue/organ transcriptomic landscapes of rhesus macaque with early infection of SARS-CoV-2, and provides important insights into the mechanistic basis for COVID-19-associated clinical complications.
Animals ; COVID-19/genetics* ; Macaca mulatta ; SARS-CoV-2/genetics* ; Transcriptome

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of small airway dysfunction in patients with occupational asthma, and explore the significance of small airway function indicators in the evaluation of occupational asthma. Methods: A total of 53 patients with occupational asthma diagnosed in our hospital from December 2008 to December 2018 were retrospectively collected in May 2020. 55 healthy people were included as the control group (NC group) and 58 bronchial asthma patients as BA group. The general information and baseline pulmonary function (FVC、FEV(1)、PEF) of the subjects were collected, the pulmonary function were reexamined and small airway function (FEF(25%)pred、FEF(50%)pred、FEF(75%)pred、MMEF(25-75%)pred) were tested at the time of diagnosis and remission. Results: There was no significant difference in pulmonary function and asthma control score (ACT) between OA group and BA group (P=0.356, 0.610, 0.364, 0.430, 0.533, 0.759, 0.426, 0.632) . The incidence of small airway dysfunction in OA group was 77.4%. The indexes of small airway function (FEF(25%)pred, FEF(50%)pred, FEF(75%)pred, MMEF(25-75%)pred) were lower than those in the NC group (P<0.001) . The small airway function indexes of mild and moderate OA patients in remission stage were improved (P=0.029, 0.182) , but the abnormal rate of small airway function was still 62.3%, and there was no significant difference compared with those at the time of diagnosis (P=0.091) . Small airway function (MMEF(25-75%)pred, FEF(50%)pred) was correlated with large airway function (FEV(1)% pred, PEF% pred) (P=0.001) . Conclusion: Small airway dysfunction often occurs and persists in patients with occupational asthma, and has a certain correlation with large airway function indexes.
Asthma, Occupational ; Humans ; Lung ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Retrospective Studies

Diabetic cardiomyopathy， one of the cardiovascular complications of diabetes， is characterized by cardiac systolic and diastolic dysfunction at the early stage， which can later develop into heart failure. Due to the high incidence and mortality， it has been a hot topic in recent years. The pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy is complicated. It has been proved related to abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism， cardiac insulin resistance， mitochondrial dysfunction， abnormal calcium homeostasis， activation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system， increased oxidative stress， endoplasmic reticulum stress， inflammation， autophagy， and so on. The specific pathogenesis remains unclear. Currently， the diabetic cardiomyopathy is mainly tackled with both western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. Traditional western medicine has no specific remedy for diabetic cardiomyopathy， and the resulting side effect cannot be neglected. In order to improve the efficacy and reduce the side effects， researchers have tried some potential medical treatments， such as vaspin， melatonin， Coenzyme Q10， and non-coding RNA， which still need further clinical trials. Diabetic cardiomyopathy is not recorded in ancient TCM books. According to the symptoms and signs， modern physicians often consider it as a "consumptive disease"， whose main therapeutic principles lie in benefiting Qi， tonifying Yin， activating blood， and removing stasis. The individual Chinese herbs such as Astragali Radix and Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Chinese herbal compounds like Huotan Jiedu Tongluoyin are effective in protecting the heart. But there are few studies exploring the pharmacodynamic mechanisms of TCM. With the continuous emergence of new drugs， the integration of TCM with western medicine may be a more promising treatment in the future. In conclusion， the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy is unclear， and there is a lack of effective prevention and treatment. This paper reviewed the latest findings in pathogenesis and treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy， in order to provide reference for further research.

The advancement of the next generation sequencing (NGS) technology has promoted the development of ancient DNA research. Ancient DNA has made outstanding contributions in various fields such as human origin, animal evolution, etc. How to effectively extract and mine the genetic information from fossil and sub-fossil remains excavated from specific locations is a prerequisite for optimizing their important roles in many fields. In this study, we correlated the two main indicators of DNA damage (terminal base replacement rate, average fragment length) with the possible factors such as the burial time, geological epochs, tissue types, and sequencing library construction methods. The results show that the end base replacement rate of ancient DNA from Northeastern China is positively correlated with the water content of the environment and the ages of the samples. Among samples of different geological epochs, ancient DNA end base replacement rates have significant differences. On the contrary, different tissue types of the remains have no significant effects on the end base replacement rate of ancient DNA. The average fragment size of the molecules has no obvious correlation with the factors mentioned above. The results provide both solid data for investigating the characteristics of ancient DNA from specimens collected in Northeastern China, and valuable information for collecting appropriate samples from different geographical locations and the downstream storage before wet lab procedures after excavation.

Objective Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and tuberculosis (TB) are major public health and social issues worldwide. The long-term follow-up of COVID-19 with pulmonary TB (PTB) survivors after discharge is unclear. This study aimed to comprehensively describe clinical outcomes, including sequela and recurrence at 3, 12, and 24 months after discharge, among COVID-19 with PTB survivors. Methods From January 22, 2020 to May 6, 2022, with a follow-up by August 26, 2022, a prospective, multicenter follow-up study was conducted on COVID-19 with PTB survivors after discharge in 13hospitals from four provinces in China. Clinical outcomes, including sequela, recurrence of COVID-19, and PTB survivors, were collected via telephone and face-to-face interviews at 3, 12, and 24 months after discharge. Results Thirty-two COVID-19 with PTB survivors were included. The median age was 52 (45, 59) years, and 23 (71.9％) were men. Among them, nearly two-thirds (62.5％) of the survivors were moderate, three (9.4％) were severe, and more than half (59.4％) had at least one comorbidity (PTB excluded). The proportion of COVID-19 survivors with at least one sequela symptom decreased from 40.6％ at 3 months to 15.8％ at 24 months, with anxiety having a higher proportion over a follow-up. Cough and amnesia recovered at the 12-month follow-up, while anxiety, fatigue, and trouble sleeping remained after 24 months. Additionally, one (3.1％) case presented two recurrences of PTB and no re-positive COVID-19 during the follow-up period. Conclusion The proportion of long symptoms in COVID-19 with PTB survivors decreased over time, while nearly one in six still experience persistent symptoms with a higher proportion of anxiety. The recurrence of PTB and the psychological support of COVID-19 with PTB after discharge require more attention.

Objective: Total mesorectal excision (TME) is the gold standard for surgical treatment of mid-low rectal cancer, but the postoperative incidence of urination and sexual dysfunction is relatively high. Preserving the Denonvilliers fascia (DF) during TME can reduce the postoperative incidence of urination and sexual dysfunction. In this study, high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to observe the imaging performance and display of DF, so as to determine the value of this technique in preoperative evaluation of the preservation of DF. Methods: A descriptive cohort study was carried out. Clinical data of patients with rectal cancer who underwent TME and received preoperative high-resolution MRI at department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from August 2015 to June 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The characteristics of DF were examined, and the shortest distance (d) between the anterior edge of tumor and DF was measured on high-resolution MRI. The distance d was compared between patients with stage T1-T2 and those with stage T3. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine the predictive value of d for stage T1-T2 disease. Results: Thirty-two patients were enrolled in the study, including 27 males and 5 females with mean age of (62.9±8.9) years. DF was visualized in 96.9% (31/32) of cases on the T2WI sequence. The mean distance d in patients with stage T1-T2 disease (n=23) was (6.73±2.65) mm, and in those with stage T3 disease (n=9) was (1.30±1.15) mm (t=5.893, P<0.001). A cutoff of d >3 mm yielded specificity and positive predictive value for diagnosing stage T1-T2 disease of both 100%, sensitivity of 95.7% and negative predictive value of 90%. The optimum threshold of d was >3.05 mm, and Youden index was 0.957. Conclusions: High-resolution MRI can show the DF and accurately evaluate the relationship of DF with tumor in rectal cancer patients. Analysis on d value can provide an objective basis for the safe preservation of DF.
Aged ; Cohort Studies ; Fascia/pathology* ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Rectal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies