ObjectiveTo analyze the processing mechanism underlying the enhanced effect of invigorating spleen and stopping diarrhea of soil-fried Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma（AMR） by analyzing the changes of microstructure， chemical composition and anti-ulcerative colitis（UC） activity before and after soil stir-frying. MethodsThe microstructure and elemental composition of AMR before and after soil stir-frying were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy（SEM-EDS）， to investigate the differences in microstructure and the underlying causes. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-TOF-MS） coupled with UNIFI 1.9.2 natural product analysis platform were used to analyze and identify the chemical constituents in raw and soil-fried products， and multivariate statistical methods including principal component analysis（PCA） and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis（OPLS-DA） were used to explore the differences and sources of chemical constituents between them. A dextran sulfate sodium（DSS）-induced UC mouse model was established. The method of disease activity index（DAI） was used to evaluate the severity of intestinal inflammation. Hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining was used to observe the pathological changes of colon tissue， enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） was used to detect the levels of inflammatory factors， Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR） and Western blot were used to analyze the expressions of key genes and proteins involved in the intestinal mucosal barrier. The 16S rRNA sequencing was used to evaluate the diversity of intestinal flora， headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry（HS-GC-MS） was used to explore the levels of short-chain fatty acids（SCFAs） in feces. Base on the above findings， this paper investigated the effects of raw and soil-fried AMR on the biological， chemical， mechanical and immune barriers of model animals， and the differences in pharmacological effects and underlying mechanisms from the perspective of regulating the intestinal mucosal barrier in UC mice. ResultsSEM observation revealed numerous hearth soil particles on the surface of soil-fried AMR， accompanied by bubble-like bulges. At the same time， there were many cracks and folds on the surface of the hearth soil. EDS analysis revealed that the contents of Si， Al， Mg and Ca in soil-fried AMR were significantly higher than those of raw products， and these elements constituted the primary components of hearth soil. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS combined with database comparison was used to identify the chemical constituents of raw and soil-fried AMR. In positive ion mode， a total of 132 components were identified， primarily comprising three categories of terpenoids， polyphenols and amino acids. In negative ion mode， a total of 40 components were identified， primarily polyphenolic and glycoside compounds. Among them， the contents of sesquiterpenes and polyphenolic acids were changed significantly before and after processing. Soil-fried AMR could reduce the DAI score of UC mice， alleviate the shortening of colon length， reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory factors such as interleukin（IL）-17， IL-18， γ-interferon（IFN-γ） and tumor necrosis factor（TNF）-α in serum， increase the levels of anti-inflammatory factors such as secretory immunoglobulin A（sIgA）， IL-10， IL-4 and transforming growth factor-β（TGF-β） in serum， increase the expressions of key genes and proteins of intestinal mucosal barrier such as tight junction protein-1（ZO-1）， Occludin， Claudin-1 and mucin 2（MUC2） in colonic mucosa， and improve the disorders of intestinal flora diversity and the levels of SCFAs（P<0.05， P<0.01）. The raw and stir-fried products of AMR also exhibited the aforementioned effects， but they were weaker than the soil-fried products. Additionally， the auxiliary material hearth soil also had a certain pharmacodynamic effect. ConclusionSoil-fried AMR can enhance the protective effect on intestinal mucosal barrier in UC mice. These changes or heating-induced alterations in the microscopic structure and chemical composition of AMR may be attributed to the dual effects of adsorption of hearth soil.

Background With China's socioeconomic development, significant lifestyle changes have occurred among occupational groups, leading to alterations in cardiovascular metabolic risk factors. However, few studies have examined the secular trends of these risk factors in China's working population. Objective To analyze the trends in cardiovascular metabolic risk factors among the occupational population in nine provinces of China from 2009 to 2018, and to explore the associations between different occupational types and these risk factors, along with their clustering patterns, thereby providing evidence for targeted interventions. Methods This study utilized data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) in 2009, 2015, and 2018. The dataset covered 13274 employed individuals aged 18-59 years. Only participants with complete blood test results and physical measurement data were included in the final analysis. The average annual percentage change (AAPC) in the positive rates of risk factors was calculated using Joinpoint regression to analyze temporal trends. Multinomial logistic regression and binary logistic regression models were employed to examine the cross-sectional associations between occupational types (categorized as white-collar workers, agricultural workers, blue-collar workers, service workers, and others) and nine cardiovascular metabolic risk factors and their clustering (defined as having ≥2 risk factors) in 2018. Results A total of 8451 participants were included. From 2009 to 2018, significant increasing trends (AAPC>0, P<0.05) were observed for overweight, obesity, central obesity, borderline elevated triglycerides (TG), borderline elevated to elevated total cholesterol (TC), borderline elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), elevated blood pressure and hypertension, diabetes. The most rapid increases were found for obesity (AAPC=6.07%, 95%CI: 3.42%, 8.88%), hypertension (AAPC=4.10%, 95%CI: 0.62%, 7.77%), and central obesity (AAPC=3.27%, 95%CI: 1.24%, 5.36%). The clustering rate of risk factors increased from 62.3% in 2009 to 73.2% in 2018 (AAPC=1.87%, 95%CI: 1.02%, 2.73%). The cross-sectional analysis in 2018, after adjusting for confounders, showed that compared with white-collar workers, blue-collar workers had a significantly lower risk of overweight (OR=0.67, 95%CI: 0.48, 0.95), central obesity (OR=0.65, 95%CI: 0.45, 0.92), and borderline high TG (OR=0.54, 95%CI: 0.35, 0.82). In contrast, agricultural workers had a higher risk of hypertension (OR=1.76, 95%CI: 1.14, 2.72). Conclusion Between 2009 and 2015, the burden of most cardiometabolic risk factors increases significantly among the Chinese occupational population, with the rate of increase slowing by 2018. Risks vary across occupational types, among which blue- collar workers report lower target outcomes. Targeted interventions focusing on the rapidly increasing risk factors and high-risk occupational groups are recommended.

Background The global prevalence of obesity is on the rise and is closely associated with various chronic non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. There is a relative lack of long-term dynamic studies on compound obesity among occupational populations. Objective To explore the changing trends of compound obesity among different occupational groups aged 18–59 years in nine provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) of China from 1993 to 2018, and to provide a scientific basis for formulating targeted weight management strategies for occupational populations. Methods A total of 34519 employed adults aged 18–59 years from nine waves of the China Health and Nutrition Survey in1993, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015, and 2018 were included. Obesity types were determined according to the Chinese Adult Weight Management Guidelines. The Joinpoint regression model was used to calculate the average annual percentage change (AAPC) and annual percentage change (APC) of compound obesity rates. Results From 1993 to 2018, the age-standardized compound obesity rate among the occupational population aged 18–59 years showed an upward trend (AAPC=6.24%, 95%CI: 5.09%, 7.41%, P<0.05). The AAPCs (95%CI) for age-standardized compound obesity rates among agricultural workers, blue-collar workers, other occupational groups, service workers, and white-collar workers were 9.55% (7.51%, 11.64%), 6.18% (4.70%, 7.69%), 5.53% (2.27%, 8.90%), 4.07% (2.40%, 5.77%), and 3.89% (2.16%, 5.65%), respectively, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). Among males, the AAPCs (95%CI) for age-standardized compound obesity rates among agricultural workers, blue-collar workers, other occupational groups, service workers, and white-collar workers were 11.52% (7.71%, 15.47%), 7.28% (6.18%, 8.40%), 5.92% (2.28%, 9.69%), 5.56% (2.11%, 9.12%), and 4.22% (2.33%, 6.15%), respectively, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). Among females, the AAPCs (95%CI) for age-standardized compound obesity rates among agricultural workers, blue-collar workers, and white-collar workers were 7.45% (6.22%, 8.69%), 3.72% (0.84%, 6.67%), and 2.41% (0.17%, 4.70%), respectively, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). A turning point was observed in the compound obesity rate among female white-collar workers in 2006, with an APC (95%CI) of 9.69% (5.24%, 14.33%) from 2006 to 2008, showing a statistically significant difference (P<0.05), while no significant trend was found from 1993 to 2006 (P>0.05). No significant trends were observed in the age-standardized compound obesity rates among females in other occupational groups and service workers (P>0.05). Conclusion The compound obesity rate among China's occupational population is increasing rapidly, with the growth rate among agricultural workers being particularly prominent. In 2018, male white-collar workers and female agricultural workers exhibit relatively high compound obesity rates, warranting focused attention. Although the overall growth rate among service workers is slower, the expanding workforce in this sector indicates that obesity remains a serious issue. Targeted occupational health and weight management interventions are needed in the future.

Background With rising obesity rates and earlier hypertension onset among occupational populations, there is an urgent need to elucidate the long-term cardiovascular impacts of dynamic body weight patterns. Current evidence lacks trajectory modeling studies examining occupation-specific prevention strategies. Objective To investigate the association between long-term body mass index (BMI) trajectories and incident hypertension risk in Chinese working adults, and to examine occupation-specific heterogeneity in this relationship. Methods A dynamic sub-cohort of 4 413 occupational participants was constructed from ten survey waves (1991–2018) of the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS). Eligible individuals had valid key BMI records at three or more independent follow-ups before the outcome event; the individual baseline was set as the year of their first participation in the survey. Group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) was used to identify BMI change patterns. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for hypertension incidence across trajectory groups, with stratified analysis by occupational categories. Results Among 4413 occupational participants, 1441 incident hypertension cases were reported during the follow-up window. Three long-term BMI trajectories were identified: low-stable, moderate-slowly rising, and high-rising. In Model 3 with all selected confounders adjusted, compared with the low-stable group, the moderate-slowly rising group showed a significantly higher risk of incident hypertension (HR=1.28, 95%CI: 1.12, 1.45; P < 0.001), as did the high-increasing group (HR=1.80, 95%CI: 1.45, 2.23; P < 0.001). The stratified analyses revealed occupational differences in the association. Among agricultural workers, the moderate-slowly rising group (HR=1.35, 95%CI: 1.15, 1.57) and the high-rising group (HR=2.00, 95%CI: 1.50, 2.66) both exhibited significantly increased risks of hypertension (P<0.001). Conversely, among white-collar workers, an increased risk of hypertension was observed only in the high-rising group (HR=1.97, 95%CI: 1.23, 3.17; P<0.05). Conclusion Rapid BMI escalation constitutes a significant risk factor for incident hypertension in occupational populations. Targeted long-term weight monitoring and tailored interventions are recommended for high-risk occupations.

ObjectiveTo analyze the processing mechanism underlying the enhanced effect of invigorating spleen and stopping diarrhea of soil-fried Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma（AMR） by analyzing the changes of microstructure， chemical composition and anti-ulcerative colitis（UC） activity before and after soil stir-frying. MethodsThe microstructure and elemental composition of AMR before and after soil stir-frying were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy（SEM-EDS）， to investigate the differences in microstructure and the underlying causes. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-TOF-MS） coupled with UNIFI 1.9.2 natural product analysis platform were used to analyze and identify the chemical constituents in raw and soil-fried products， and multivariate statistical methods including principal component analysis（PCA） and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis（OPLS-DA） were used to explore the differences and sources of chemical constituents between them. A dextran sulfate sodium（DSS）-induced UC mouse model was established. The method of disease activity index（DAI） was used to evaluate the severity of intestinal inflammation. Hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining was used to observe the pathological changes of colon tissue， enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） was used to detect the levels of inflammatory factors， Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR） and Western blot were used to analyze the expressions of key genes and proteins involved in the intestinal mucosal barrier. The 16S rRNA sequencing was used to evaluate the diversity of intestinal flora， headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry（HS-GC-MS） was used to explore the levels of short-chain fatty acids（SCFAs） in feces. Base on the above findings， this paper investigated the effects of raw and soil-fried AMR on the biological， chemical， mechanical and immune barriers of model animals， and the differences in pharmacological effects and underlying mechanisms from the perspective of regulating the intestinal mucosal barrier in UC mice. ResultsSEM observation revealed numerous hearth soil particles on the surface of soil-fried AMR， accompanied by bubble-like bulges. At the same time， there were many cracks and folds on the surface of the hearth soil. EDS analysis revealed that the contents of Si， Al， Mg and Ca in soil-fried AMR were significantly higher than those of raw products， and these elements constituted the primary components of hearth soil. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS combined with database comparison was used to identify the chemical constituents of raw and soil-fried AMR. In positive ion mode， a total of 132 components were identified， primarily comprising three categories of terpenoids， polyphenols and amino acids. In negative ion mode， a total of 40 components were identified， primarily polyphenolic and glycoside compounds. Among them， the contents of sesquiterpenes and polyphenolic acids were changed significantly before and after processing. Soil-fried AMR could reduce the DAI score of UC mice， alleviate the shortening of colon length， reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory factors such as interleukin（IL）-17， IL-18， γ-interferon（IFN-γ） and tumor necrosis factor（TNF）-α in serum， increase the levels of anti-inflammatory factors such as secretory immunoglobulin A（sIgA）， IL-10， IL-4 and transforming growth factor-β（TGF-β） in serum， increase the expressions of key genes and proteins of intestinal mucosal barrier such as tight junction protein-1（ZO-1）， Occludin， Claudin-1 and mucin 2（MUC2） in colonic mucosa， and improve the disorders of intestinal flora diversity and the levels of SCFAs（P<0.05， P<0.01）. The raw and stir-fried products of AMR also exhibited the aforementioned effects， but they were weaker than the soil-fried products. Additionally， the auxiliary material hearth soil also had a certain pharmacodynamic effect. ConclusionSoil-fried AMR can enhance the protective effect on intestinal mucosal barrier in UC mice. These changes or heating-induced alterations in the microscopic structure and chemical composition of AMR may be attributed to the dual effects of adsorption of hearth soil.

Compared with traditional therapies for chronic liver disease （CLD）， Bifidobacterium has the characteristics of multi-target intervention， high biosafety， and good host compatibility and provides new strategies for intervention of CLD progression in terms of microecological regulation. Various studies have shown that Bifidobacterium regulates liver homeostasis and exerts a therapeutic effect on CLD by regulating intestinal flora， maintaining antioxidation， promoting energy consumption， alleviating inflammation， improving glycolipid metabolism， and exerting an antitumor effect. This article systematically reviews the studies on Bifidobacterium in the treatment of CLD in China and globally， explores their different mechanisms， and elaborates on the interaction between related signaling pathways （such as the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 signaling pathway and the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase signaling pathway） and the liver， in order to provide a basis for probiotic intervention in liver pathology， as well as new ideas for the comprehensive treatment of CLD.

ObjectiveTo analyze the research status and development trends of non-pharmacological therapies for post-stroke spasticity (PSS) over the past two decades. MethodsRelevant literatures on non-pharmacological rehabilitation of PSS published from January, 2004 to June, 2024 were retrieved from Web of Science Core Collection. CiteSpace 6.3.R6 and VOSviewer 1.6.18 were used for visualization analysis. ResultsA total of 780 publications were included. The annual number of publications showed an overall upward trend. China, the USA, and Italy contributed the highest number of publications. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and researcher Noureddin Nakhostin Ansari were identified as the most influential institution and author, respectively. High-frequency keywords and cluster labels included electric stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, robot and acupuncture. ConclusionOver the past 20 years, researches on non-pharmacological therapies for PSS have remained active, with hotspots focusing on diverse interventions such as electrical stimulation, magnetic stimulation and robot-assisted therapy.

AIM To investigate the effects of Yiqi Juanbi Formula on chondrocyte pyroptosis in rat models of collagen-induced arthritis(CIA).METHODS Fifty rats were subcutaneously injected at the tail base with an emulsion containing equal volumes of bovine type Ⅱ collagen and incomplete Freund's adjuvant(IFA)to establish the CIA models.These rats were then randomly assigned to the model group,the methotrexate group(0.35 mg/kg),and the low-dose,medium-dose,and high-dose Yiqi Juanbi Formula groups(9.4,18.7,37.4 g/kg),in contrast to the ten intact rats serving in the normal control group.Following four weeks of intragastric administration,the rats had their general conditions observed;their joint swelling and arthritis indices measured;their ankle joint pathology assessed by HE staining;their serum levels of IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ detected by ELISA;their mRNA expressions of NLRP3,Caspase-1,GSDMD,IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ in ankle cartilage quantified by RT-qPCR;their protein expressions of NF-κB,NLRP3 and Caspase-1 in ankle cartilage analyzed by Western blot;and their NLRP3 and GSDMD positive expressions in ankle cartilage examined by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS Compared to the control group,the model group showed significantly increased joint swelling and arthritis indices(P＜0.01);elevated serum levels of IL-1 β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ(P＜0.01);pathological changes including cartilage surface defects,reduced cell count,altered cellular morphology,irregular cell arrangement,and significant inflammatory cell infiltration in synovial tissue;upregulated mRNA expressions of NF-κB,NLRP3,Caspase-1,GSDMD,IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ(P＜0.01)and increased protein expressions of NF-κB,NLRP3 and Caspase-1(P＜0.01)in ankle cartilage;enhanced positive expressions of NLRP3 and GSDMD in ankle cartilage(P＜0.01).Compared to the model group,the groups intervened with methotrexate or medium-or high-dose Yiqi Juanbi Formula exhibited reduced joint swelling and arthritis indices(P＜0.01);alleviated pathological damage in ankle joints;decreased serum levels of IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ(P＜0.01);downregulated mRNA expressions of NF-κB,NLRP3,Caspase-1,GSDMD,IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),and reduced protein expressions of NF-κB,NLRP3 and Caspase-1(P＜0.05,P＜0.01)in ankle cartilage;and diminished positive expressions of NLRP3 and GSDMD in ankle cartilage(P＜0.01).CONCLUSION Yiqi Juanbi Formula alleviates inflammation in CIA rats,potentially by inhibiting the activation of the NF-κB/NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway,thereby suppressing chondrocyte pyroptosis.

AIM To study the chemical constituents from Inula japonica Thunb.and their anti-asthmatic activity.METHODS Separation and purification were performed using silica gel and Sephadex LH-20,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.The effect of compounds on the release rate of β-Hex was evaluated by substrate coloration method.RESULTS Twenty-three compounds were isolated and identified as dehydrodontic acid(1),vitexin(2),alternariol(3),globuxanthone(4),1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone(5),hydroxyhydrolapachol(6),isoscopoletin(7),elephanmollen(8),benzoylcholine(9),hoconobiflavone(10),clovandiol(11),hydroxydihydrobovolide(12),5,7-dihydroxycoumarin(13),scopoletin(14),orlichenol glucoside(15),urolignoside(16),9-angeloyloxythymol(17),6,3′,4′-trihydroxyaurone(18),flufuran(19),sweroside(20),guajadial(21),5,7,4′-trimethoxy-4-phenylcoumarin(22),dibutylphthalate(23).After intervention with compounds 9 and 16,the release rates of β-Hex were(56.64±2.37)％and(58.07±2.29)％,respectively.CONCLUSION Compounds 1-23 are isolated from Ⅰ.japonica for the first time.Compounds 9 and 16 have anti-asthmatic activity.

BACKGROUND: Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP), a rare and recurrent autoinflammatory disease, imposes a substantial burden on patients and society. Awareness of GPP in China remains limited. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey, conducted between September 2021 and May 2023 across 14 hospitals in China, included GPP patients of all ages and disease phases. Data collected encompassed demographics, clinical characteristics, economic impact, disease severity, quality of life, and treatment-related complications. Risk factors for GPP recurrence were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 127 patients (female/male ratio = 1.35:1), the mean age of disease onset was 25 years (1st quartile [Q1]-3rd quartile [Q3]: 11-44 years); 29.2% had experienced GPP for more than 10 years. Recurrence occurred in 75.6% of patients, and nearly half reported no identifiable triggers. Younger age at disease onset ( P  = 0.021) and transitioning to plaque psoriasis ( P  = 0.022) were associated with higher recurrence rates. The median diagnostic delay was 8 months (Q1-Q3: 2-41 months), and 32.3% of patients reported misdiagnoses. Comorbidities were present in 53.5% of patients, whereas 51.1% experienced systemic complications during treatment. Depression and anxiety affected 84.5% and 95.6% of patients, respectively. During GPP flares, the median Dermatology Life Quality Index score was 19.0 (Q1-Q3: 13.0-23.5). This score showed significant differences between patients with and without systemic symptoms; it demonstrated correlations with both depression and anxiety scores. Treatment costs caused financial hardship in 55.9% of patients, underscoring the burden associated with GPP. CONCLUSIONS The substantial disease and economic burdens among Chinese GPP patients warrant increased attention. Patients with early onset disease and those transitioning to plaque psoriasis require targeted interventions to mitigate the high recurrence risk.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Psoriasis/pathology* ; Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Adolescent ; Child ; Young Adult ; Quality of Life ; Middle Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; East Asian People