ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate the material basis of the anti-inflammatory efficacy and mechanism of action of Bushen Tongdu prescription （BSTDP）. MethodsThe chemical components of BSTDP and its blood-absorbed components in vivo were systematically identified by using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-linear ion trap-electrostatic field orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry （UPLC-LIT-Orbitrap-MS）. Network pharmacology was employed to screen blood-absorbed bioactive components and potential targets of this formula. A protein-protein interaction （PPI） network of core targets was constructed to conduct enrichment analysis. Molecular docking was further utilized to verify the binding affinity between key components and targets. The inflammatory model was established and verified in vivo by using a transgenic zebrafish Tg （mpx： GFP）. At three days post-fertilization （3 dpf）， larvae of zebrafish were randomly assigned to blank group， model group， positive drug dexamethasone acetate group （75 μmol·L^-1）， and BSTDP groups with low， medium， and high doses （500， 1 000， and 2 000 mg·L^-1）. The distribution and quantity of neutrophils in the yolk sac region were observed under a fluorescence microscope. The mRNA expression levels of key genes in the toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）/myeloid differentiation factor 88 （MyD88）/nuclear factor kappa-B （NF-κB） signaling pathway and inflammatory factors including interleukin （IL）-1β， IL-6， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） were detected by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. ResultsA total of 120 chemical components were identified in BSTDP， among which 26 original components were confirmed by using serum pharmacochemical methods. A total of 227 common targets linking rheumatoid arthritis （RA） and the blood-absorbed components were screened by network pharmacology. It is suggested that pseudobrucine， vomicine， sinapine， rehmannioside， cinnamyl alcohol glycoside， and methylephedrine exert anti-inflammatory effects by acting on core targets including protein kinase B1 （Akt1）， signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （STAT3）， tumor necrosis factor （TNF）， TLR4， mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 （MAPK14）， and phosphatidylinositol-4，5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit α （PIK3CA）， thereby modulating multiple signaling pathways such as TLR4 and NF-κB. In vivo verification in zebrafish demonstrates that the maximum tolerable concentration of Bushen Tongdu Formula is 2 000 mg·L^-1. Compared to those in the blank group， zebrafish in the model group showed a significantly higher number of neutrophils in the yolk sac region （P<0.01） and rising mRNA levels of TLR4， MyD88， NF-κB， TNF-α， IL-6， and IL-1β （P<0.01）. Compared to that in the model group， the number of neutrophils was significantly reduced in BSTDP groups with medium and high doses， as well as the dexamethasone acetate group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. There was no statistically significant difference in the low dose group. The mRNA expression levels of TLR4， MyD88， NF-κB， TNF-α， IL-6， and IL-1β were significantly down-regulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionThis paper identifies the material basis of the efficacy of BSTDP， demonstrating that the formula can exert an anti-inflammatory effect through the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. The results provide scientific experimental evidence for its further clinical application.

ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate the material basis of the anti-inflammatory efficacy and mechanism of action of Bushen Tongdu prescription （BSTDP）. MethodsThe chemical components of BSTDP and its blood-absorbed components in vivo were systematically identified by using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-linear ion trap-electrostatic field orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry （UPLC-LIT-Orbitrap-MS）. Network pharmacology was employed to screen blood-absorbed bioactive components and potential targets of this formula. A protein-protein interaction （PPI） network of core targets was constructed to conduct enrichment analysis. Molecular docking was further utilized to verify the binding affinity between key components and targets. The inflammatory model was established and verified in vivo by using a transgenic zebrafish Tg （mpx： GFP）. At three days post-fertilization （3 dpf）， larvae of zebrafish were randomly assigned to blank group， model group， positive drug dexamethasone acetate group （75 μmol·L^-1）， and BSTDP groups with low， medium， and high doses （500， 1 000， and 2 000 mg·L^-1）. The distribution and quantity of neutrophils in the yolk sac region were observed under a fluorescence microscope. The mRNA expression levels of key genes in the toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）/myeloid differentiation factor 88 （MyD88）/nuclear factor kappa-B （NF-κB） signaling pathway and inflammatory factors including interleukin （IL）-1β， IL-6， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） were detected by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. ResultsA total of 120 chemical components were identified in BSTDP， among which 26 original components were confirmed by using serum pharmacochemical methods. A total of 227 common targets linking rheumatoid arthritis （RA） and the blood-absorbed components were screened by network pharmacology. It is suggested that pseudobrucine， vomicine， sinapine， rehmannioside， cinnamyl alcohol glycoside， and methylephedrine exert anti-inflammatory effects by acting on core targets including protein kinase B1 （Akt1）， signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （STAT3）， tumor necrosis factor （TNF）， TLR4， mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 （MAPK14）， and phosphatidylinositol-4，5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit α （PIK3CA）， thereby modulating multiple signaling pathways such as TLR4 and NF-κB. In vivo verification in zebrafish demonstrates that the maximum tolerable concentration of Bushen Tongdu Formula is 2 000 mg·L^-1. Compared to those in the blank group， zebrafish in the model group showed a significantly higher number of neutrophils in the yolk sac region （P<0.01） and rising mRNA levels of TLR4， MyD88， NF-κB， TNF-α， IL-6， and IL-1β （P<0.01）. Compared to that in the model group， the number of neutrophils was significantly reduced in BSTDP groups with medium and high doses， as well as the dexamethasone acetate group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. There was no statistically significant difference in the low dose group. The mRNA expression levels of TLR4， MyD88， NF-κB， TNF-α， IL-6， and IL-1β were significantly down-regulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionThis paper identifies the material basis of the efficacy of BSTDP， demonstrating that the formula can exert an anti-inflammatory effect through the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. The results provide scientific experimental evidence for its further clinical application.

Despite of the widespread use of hydrogen and methane breath test, the variability in testing protocols, gas measurement techniques, and interpretation criteria continues to challenge the reproducibility and comparability across centers, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. The Asian Neurogastroenterology and Motility Association hence presents the first Asian monograph guiding application and interpretation of breath test. The monograph was formulated according to the framework of indications, preparatory process, performance, and interpretation of results, as well as future direction for research.

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder. Cellular drug screening represents a key approach in the preclinical discovery of AD therapeutics. Moreover, selecting an appropriate cellular model is essential for exploring the mechanisms underlying AD pathogenesis. Objective: This study aimed to establish a progressive strategy integrating cell model construction, monomer evaluation, and effective component group-based drug discovery for the development of novel therapeutics targeting AD. Methods: A novel AD12 cell line stably expressing the double-transgenic genes amyloid precursor protein (APP)695/presenilin 1(PS1)-ΔE9 was first constructed and subjected to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. The resulting LPS-induced neuroinflammatory response was characterized using metabolomic analysis. Subsequently, 16 alkaloids derived from traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) were screened with the LPS-AD12 cell model. Molecular docking was then performed to assess the binding affinity of benzoylaconitine (BAC) with APP and PS1 proteins. A targeted metabolomics approach focusing on amino acids and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle was applied to BAC-treated LPS-AD12 cells. Finally, aconite extract was administered to five-familial-AD-mutations(5xFAD) transgenic mice, and therapeutic efficacy was evaluated through phenotypic and metabolomic analyses. Results: LPS stimulation induced neuroinflammation in AD12 cells, characterized by elevated levels of interleukin-6, amyloid-β (Aβ ), and PS1. The primary metabolic pathways affected in AD12 cells included alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, as well as arginine biosynthesis. Notably, BAC significantly reduced the levels of Aβ and interleukin-6 in LPS-AD12 cells. Furthermore, molecular docking analyses revealed a strong binding affinity of BAC with APP and PS1 proteins. Targeted metabolomics analysis indicated that the pharmacological activity of BAC was primarily associated with its anti-inflammatory effects, modulation of the cholinergic signaling pathway, and regulation of energy metabolism. Behavioral experiments in 5xFAD mice, together with immunofluorescence assessments of brain tissues (amyloid-β, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1), demonstrated that aconite extract treatment significantly alleviated AD-related symptoms. In addition, metabolomics-based mechanistic analyses revealed that serine, acetylcholine, ornithine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid exhibited consistent trends in both brain tissue and serum samples from treated mice. Conclusion: This study established a novel AD12 cell model and an effective, reliable LPS-induced cell-based screening system. Additionally, we proposed a new drug discovery strategy integrating cell model construction, monomer evaluation, and effective component group-based drug discovery. This screening system has the potential to accelerate the identification of anti-AD agents and provides a feasible framework for subsequent in-depth investigations into new drug development from TCM, thereby contributing to the modernization of TCM-derived therapeutics.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between serum NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) levels and serum lipids in metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) before and after a single high-fat meal.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Sixty-three MAFLD patients (MAFLD group) and fifty-four healthy subjects (CON group) recruited from February 2019 to December 2019 at Hebei Provincial People's Hospital were included. The baseline data were compared between the two groups, and a single high-fat meal trial was conducted. The levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and NLRP3 were measured at 2 h, 4 h, and 6 h after fasting and a high-fat meal. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the influencing factors of area under the operating curve (AUC NLRP3) of serum NLRP3 subjects. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between serum AUC NLRP3 and the risk of MAFLD. Results:The levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, and NLRP3 were significantly higher in the fasting group than the CON group at 2 h, 4 h, and 6 h after a meal [TC (mmol/L), fasting: (5.29±1.01) vs. (4.28±0.62), 2 h: (5.24±0.98) vs. (4.25±0.62), 4 h: (5.38±1.04) vs. (4.26±0.63), 6 h: (5.54±1.07) vs. (4.41±0.65); TG (mmol/L), fasting: (2.67±0.96) vs. (0.92±0.33), 2 h: (3.91±1.35) vs. (1.69±0.59), 4 h: (5.09±1.7) vs. (1.91±0.93), 6 h: (5.36±2.27) vs. (1.75±1.03); LDL-C (mmol/L), fasting: (3.47±0.74) vs. (2.65±0.49), 2 h: (3.36±0.71) vs. (2.58±0.49), 4 h: (3.30±0.71) vs. (2.55±0.47), 6 h: (3.36±0.74) vs. (2.63±0.48); NLRP3 (ng/L), fasting: (84.63±12.96) vs. (56.71±11.37), 2 h: (106.06±17.76) vs. (69.12±14.92), 4 h: (89.78±15.98) vs. (57.74±12.34), 6 h: (80.03±13.61) vs. (54.06±10.35); P<0.001], while the HDL-C level was significantly lower than the CON group [HDL-C (mmol/L), fasting: (1.14±0.24) vs. (1.33±0.29), 2 h: (1.14±0.24) vs. (1.33±0.29), 4 h: (1.09±0.24) vs. (1.27±0.28), and 6 h: (1.05±0.26) vs. (1.29±0.30); P<0.001]. Serum AUC NLRP3 was significantly correlated with AUC TG and AUC LDL-C (AUC TG: B=7.391, 95% CI:5.662-9.12; AUC LDL-C: B=6.559, 95% CI:3.052-10.065; P<0.001) after adjusting for confounding factors, and it was identified as an independent influencing factor for MAFLD ( OR=1.039, 95% CI:1.007-1.071; P=0.015). Conclusion:The serum NLRP3 levels before and after a single high-fat meal are significantly associated with elevated TG and LDL-C levels, and may influence the progression of MAFLD.

Objective:To construct multimorbidity patterns among elderly individuals with chronic diseases and to explore the relationship between these patterns and frailty.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 4, 706 elderly participants aged 60 years and older from selected prefecture-level cities in Shaanxi Province.Data were collected on general information, chronic diseases, and frailty status.The average age of the participants was 69.9±6.7 years, with males comprising 47.3%(2, 255 cases)and females comprising 52.7%(2, 481 cases)of the sample.Latent class analysis(LCA)was employed to identify multimorbidity patterns, while multivariate logistic regression analysis was utilized to examine the associations between these patterns and frailty.Results:The prevalence of multimorbidity within the study population was found to be 43.6%(2, 052 cases out of 4, 706 cases).The highest rates of multimorbidity were observed in anxiety and depression(100%, 23 cases out of 23 cases), dementia(100%, 6 cases out of 6 cases), and Parkinson's disease(100%, 11 cases out of 11 cases).Stroke followed closely with a rate of 96.8%(597 cases out of 617 cases), while rheumatoid arthritis exhibited the lowest rate of multimorbidity with other chronic diseases at 50%(4 cases out of 8 cases).Five distinct multimorbidity patterns were identified through LCA: the complex multimorbidity class(123 cases), the stroke-respiratory class(546 cases), the sleep disorders-osteoarticular class(488 cases), the cardiovascular-metabolic class(987 cases), and the relatively healthy class(2, 562 cases).When compared to the relatively healthy class, the complex multimorbidity class( OR=2.317, 95% CI: 1.573-3.412), stroke-respiratory class( OR=2.279, 95% CI: 1.862-2.788), sleep disorders-osteoarticular class( OR=1.370, 95% CI: 1.111-1.691), and cardiovascular-metabolic class( OR=1.185, 95% CI: 1.003-1.400)were all found to be significantly associated with frailty. Conclusions:The cardiovascular-metabolic class is the most prevalent among elderly individuals.Various patterns exhibit distinct associations with frailty, with the complex multimorbidity class and the stroke-respiratory class being the most significant, as they markedly elevate the risk of frailty.

Objective:To develop a treatment-related quality of life scale for Chinese patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and to test its reliability and validity.Methods:The initial scale was constructed through a literature search, Delphi expert correspondence, and cognitive testing. This study conducted a preliminary survey of 379 patients with MM and a formal survey of 865 patients from the hematology departments of 155 hospitals nationwide from February 2024 to March 2024. The final scale was obtained after conducting item analysis and reliability and validity tests on the initial scale.Results:The constructed scale contains 36 items covering six domains: physiological, psychological, social, treatment side effects, general health, and others. In the preliminary survey, the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of each item ranged from 0.597 to 0.939, and the test-retest reliability was 0.747 ( P<0.001). Exploratory factor analysis extracted eight common factors with a cumulative variance contribution of 60.058%. In the formal survey, the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of each item ranged from 0.484 to 0.930, and the test-retest reliability was 0.835 ( P<0.001). Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a comparative fit index of 0.750, a root-mean-square error of approximation of 0.090, and a root-mean-square residual of 0.067. Conclusion:The treatment-related quality of life scale for Chinese patients with MM designed in this study exhibited good reliability and validity, reflecting the impact of treatment on the quality of life of patients. This scale can provide a reference to clinicians for assessing the disease status of patients.

Objective:To identify the risk factors for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in lower limbs after total hip arthroplasty (THA) in elderly patients.Methods:Medical records of elderly patients, aged ≥ 65 yr, of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅰ-Ⅳ, who underwent unilateral THA from June 2013 to May 2019, were retrospectively collected. Postoperative screening for DVT was performed using Doppler ultrasound, and the patients were divided into non-DVT group and DVT group based on the results. Logistic regression analysis was then employed to identify the risk factors associated with DVT.Results:The results of logistic regression analysis revealed that female, preoperative C-reaction protein concentration>8 mg/L, intraoperative hypotension, and postoperative transfer to intensive care unit were independent risk factors for DVT after THA in elderly patients ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Female, preoperative C-reaction protein concentration>8 mg/L, intraoperative hypotension, and postoperative transfer to intensive care unit are independent risk factors for DVT in lower limbs following THA in elderly patients.

Objective:To understand the latent categories of apathy in young and middle-aged patients with hemorrhagic stroke and analyze the relationship between these categories and disability acceptance, providing a theoretical basis for targeted interventions.Methods:A convenience sampling method was used to select young and middle-aged patients with hemorrhagic stroke hospitalized at Huai′an First Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University between September 2020 and September 2023. A general information questionnaire, the Apathy Evaluation Scale-Clinician Administered, and the Acceptance of Disability Scale Revised were used for a cross-sectional survey. Latent profile analysis was conducted using Mplus 8.7 software to categorize apathy in these patients, and differences in disability acceptance among the categories were compared.Results:A total of 210 questionnaires were distributed and 203 valid questionnaires were collected. Among 203 patients were included, with 112 males and 91 females, aged 30-59 (47.60 ± 8.51) years old. The apathy score was (46.66 ± 8.78) points, and three latent categories were identified: "high active ability-low apathy" (26.1%, 53/203), "high social ability-moderate apathy" (28.6%, 58/203), and "generally high apathy" (45.3%, 92/203). The total disability acceptance scores for the three categories were (78.19 ± 13.30), (69.50 ± 11.01), and (60.86 ± 14.00) points, respectively, with statistically significant differences ( F=30.39, P<0.01). Conclusions:Apathy in young and middle-aged patients with hemorrhagic stroke can be categorized into three latent profiles, with differences in disability acceptance among the categories. Targeted management and interventions should be developed based on these homogeneous groups to improve disability acceptance.

BACKGROUND: Biomarkers-based prediction of long-term risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is scarce. We aim to develop a risk score integrating clinical routine information (C) and plasma biomarkers (B) for predicting long-term risk of ACS patients. METHODS: We included 2729 ACS patients from the OCEA (Observation of cardiovascular events in ACS patients). The earlier admitted 1910 patients were enrolled as development cohort; and the subsequently admitted 819 subjects were treated as validation cohort. We investigated 10-year risk of cardiovascular (CV) death, myocardial infarction (MI) and all cause death in these patients. Potential variables contributing to risk of clinical events were assessed using Cox regression models and a score was derived using main part of these variables. RESULTS: During 16,110 person-years of follow-up, there were 238 CV death/MI in the development cohort. The 7 most important predictors including in the final model were NT-proBNP, D-dimer, GDF-15, peripheral artery disease (PAD), Fibrinogen, ST-segment elevated MI (STEMI), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), termed as CB-ACS score. C-index of the score for predication of cardiovascular events was 0.79 (95% CI: 0.76-0.82) in development cohort and 0.77 (95% CI: 0.76-0.78) in the validation cohort (5832 person-years of follow-up), which outperformed GRACE 2.0 and ABC-ACS risk score. The CB-ACS score was also well calibrated in development and validation cohort (Greenwood-Nam-D'Agostino: P = 0.70 and P = 0.07, respectively). CONCLUSIONS CB-ACS risk score provides a useful tool for long-term prediction of CV events in patients with ACS. This model outperforms GRACE 2.0 and ABC-ACS ischemic risk score.