Objective:To explore the correlation between quantitative parameters based on SUV acquired by dynamic SPECT/CT imaging of parotid glands and pathological grading of labial gland in patients with primary Sj?gren syndrome (pSS).Methods:Seventy-two patients (6 males, 66 females, age (51.5±13.8) years) with confirmed pSS diagnosed at Hebei General Hospital between August 2022 and March 2024 were prospectively included. The clinical data and pathological grading information from labial gland biopsies were analyzed. Dynamic SPECT/CT imaging of the parotid glands was performed, and quantitative parameters based on SUV were obtained using Q-metrix software: SUV max, SUV mean, uptake volume of parotid glands (UVP) and total parotid uptake (TPU) pre/post-acid stimulation, as well as the differences in quantitative parameters before and after acid stimulation (ΔSUV max, ΔSUV mean, ΔUVP, and ΔTPU). The independent-sample t test or Mann-Whitney U test was performed to evaluate the differences in parameters between patients with pathological grade 1-2 and those with pathological grade 3-4. Spearman rank correlation was used to analyze the correlation between quantitative parameters and pathological grading. The performance of quantitative parameters in distinguishing pathological grade 1-2 from grade 3-4 was assessed using ROC curve analysis with Delong test. Results:The SUV max pre/post-acid stimulation in patients with pathological grade 1-2 ( n=30) were higher than those in patients with grade 3-4 ( n=42) (36.38(27.81, 44.17) vs 15.45(10.77, 24.51), Z=-5.51, P<0.001(pre-acid stimulation); 21.53(16.93, 26.21) vs 11.33(7.32, 15.89), Z=-5.27, P<0.001 (post-acid stimulation)). SUV mean, UVP and TPU pre/post-acid stimulation in patients with pathological grade 1-2, as well as ΔSUV max, ΔSUV mean and ΔTPU, were all significantly higher ( Z values: from -4.73 to -3.04, t values: 6.39, 4.50, all P<0.01). Moreover, these parameters were negatively correlated with the pathological grading ( rs values: from -0.66 to -0.36, all P<0.05). No significant difference in ΔUVP was observed between patients with pathological grade 1-2 and those with grade 3-4 ( Z=-1.05, P=0.293), and ΔUVP showed no correlation with pathological grading ( rs=-0.13, P=0.297). Among all parameters, SUV max pre/post-acid stimulation and TPU pre-acid stimulation exhibited better diagnostic performance in differentiating pathological grade 1-2 from grade 3-4, with AUC values of 0.883, 0.866, and 0.888, respectively. Delong test showed that those 3 AUC values were all higher than AUC values of SUV mean, UVP post-acid stimulation and ΔUVP (all AUC<0.800; Z values: 2.09-4.65, all P<0.05). Conclusion:The quantitative parameters of parotid glands based on SUV acquired by dynamic SPECT/CT can reflect the damage degree of parotid glands in patients with pSS, providing novel quantitative analytical tools for the functional diagnosis and assessment of pSS.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)is a common malignant tumor with insidious early symptoms and a poor prognosis.In traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),ESCC is classified as"ye ge."Drawing on clinical experience,we believe that kidney deficiency leads to the deficiency of vital qi and immune dysfunction,providing the foundation for cancerous growth by depleting qi and damaging essence,toxic stasis and stagnation,forming a local hypoxic and acidic microenvironment that promotes tumor invasion,metastasis,and recurrence.Considering the effect of modern comprehensive treatments,the occurrence and development of ESCC are summarized as kidney deficiency being the root cause and toxic stasis being the driving force.The pathogenesis and treatment of ESCC in the preoperative,postoperative,and non-surgical treatment stages are discussed.The pathogenesis of the disease is summarized as follows:preoperatively,toxicity and stasis intertwine,depleting the kidney;postoperatively,the kidney loses its vitality,allowing various pathogenic factors to persist;during non-operative treatment,vital qi and pathogens contend,resulting in entrenched toxicity.During the preoperative neoadjuvant phase,therapy should resolve stasis,eliminate toxins,enhance kidney function,tonify essence,and support the body.During the postoperative adjuvant phase,therapy should strengthen the root and consolidate the foundation while detoxifying and expelling stasis.The non-surgical treatment stage uses"balanced interruption,"targeting tumor progression and metastasis by harmonizing yin and yang,thus preventing recurrence.This article will provide insights into the integrative Chinese-Western management of ESCC.

BACKGROUND: High temperatures are known to be associated with an increased risk of self-harm, but the influence of demographic changes and country-level indicators on the burden of heat-related self-harm remains unclear. This study examined the key factors driving changes in self-harm mortality linked to high temperatures and explored their impact at the country level. METHODS: This is an ecological study that analyzes data from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, the World Bank, and the Climate Research Unit (CRU) were analyzed. Decomposition analyses were used to identify key factors driving changes in high temperature-related self-harm mortality between 1990 and 2021. A panel data model assessed the impact of national indicators on heat-related self-harm mortality. RESULTS: In 2021, 14,885 deaths globally were attributed to heat-related self-harm, a 41.94% increase from 1990, with low-middle SDI regions accounting for 47.84% of these deaths. While the global death rate from heat-related self-harm declined slightly over this period, South Asia and low-middle SDI regions contributed most to the decline. However, population aging exacerbated mortality rates. Demographic and meteorological factors were also linked to heat-related self-harm. CONCLUSION The global decline in heat-related self-harm mortality is largely driven by reductions in females, low-middle SDI regions, and South Asia. However, population aging and growth in these regions have added to the mortality burden, slowing the overall decline. Factors such as population density are also associated with heat-related self-harm. Targeted measures are needed to mitigate heat-induced self-harm more effectively in future.
Humans ; Self-Injurious Behavior/etiology* ; Hot Temperature/adverse effects* ; Global Health/statistics & numerical data* ; Female ; Male ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Young Adult ; Adolescent

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)is a common malignant tumor with insidious early symptoms and a poor prognosis.In traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),ESCC is classified as"ye ge."Drawing on clinical experience,we believe that kidney deficiency leads to the deficiency of vital qi and immune dysfunction,providing the foundation for cancerous growth by depleting qi and damaging essence,toxic stasis and stagnation,forming a local hypoxic and acidic microenvironment that promotes tumor invasion,metastasis,and recurrence.Considering the effect of modern comprehensive treatments,the occurrence and development of ESCC are summarized as kidney deficiency being the root cause and toxic stasis being the driving force.The pathogenesis and treatment of ESCC in the preoperative,postoperative,and non-surgical treatment stages are discussed.The pathogenesis of the disease is summarized as follows:preoperatively,toxicity and stasis intertwine,depleting the kidney;postoperatively,the kidney loses its vitality,allowing various pathogenic factors to persist;during non-operative treatment,vital qi and pathogens contend,resulting in entrenched toxicity.During the preoperative neoadjuvant phase,therapy should resolve stasis,eliminate toxins,enhance kidney function,tonify essence,and support the body.During the postoperative adjuvant phase,therapy should strengthen the root and consolidate the foundation while detoxifying and expelling stasis.The non-surgical treatment stage uses"balanced interruption,"targeting tumor progression and metastasis by harmonizing yin and yang,thus preventing recurrence.This article will provide insights into the integrative Chinese-Western management of ESCC.

Objective:To explore the correlation between quantitative parameters based on SUV acquired by dynamic SPECT/CT imaging of parotid glands and pathological grading of labial gland in patients with primary Sj?gren syndrome (pSS).Methods:Seventy-two patients (6 males, 66 females, age (51.5±13.8) years) with confirmed pSS diagnosed at Hebei General Hospital between August 2022 and March 2024 were prospectively included. The clinical data and pathological grading information from labial gland biopsies were analyzed. Dynamic SPECT/CT imaging of the parotid glands was performed, and quantitative parameters based on SUV were obtained using Q-metrix software: SUV max, SUV mean, uptake volume of parotid glands (UVP) and total parotid uptake (TPU) pre/post-acid stimulation, as well as the differences in quantitative parameters before and after acid stimulation (ΔSUV max, ΔSUV mean, ΔUVP, and ΔTPU). The independent-sample t test or Mann-Whitney U test was performed to evaluate the differences in parameters between patients with pathological grade 1-2 and those with pathological grade 3-4. Spearman rank correlation was used to analyze the correlation between quantitative parameters and pathological grading. The performance of quantitative parameters in distinguishing pathological grade 1-2 from grade 3-4 was assessed using ROC curve analysis with Delong test. Results:The SUV max pre/post-acid stimulation in patients with pathological grade 1-2 ( n=30) were higher than those in patients with grade 3-4 ( n=42) (36.38(27.81, 44.17) vs 15.45(10.77, 24.51), Z=-5.51, P<0.001(pre-acid stimulation); 21.53(16.93, 26.21) vs 11.33(7.32, 15.89), Z=-5.27, P<0.001 (post-acid stimulation)). SUV mean, UVP and TPU pre/post-acid stimulation in patients with pathological grade 1-2, as well as ΔSUV max, ΔSUV mean and ΔTPU, were all significantly higher ( Z values: from -4.73 to -3.04, t values: 6.39, 4.50, all P<0.01). Moreover, these parameters were negatively correlated with the pathological grading ( rs values: from -0.66 to -0.36, all P<0.05). No significant difference in ΔUVP was observed between patients with pathological grade 1-2 and those with grade 3-4 ( Z=-1.05, P=0.293), and ΔUVP showed no correlation with pathological grading ( rs=-0.13, P=0.297). Among all parameters, SUV max pre/post-acid stimulation and TPU pre-acid stimulation exhibited better diagnostic performance in differentiating pathological grade 1-2 from grade 3-4, with AUC values of 0.883, 0.866, and 0.888, respectively. Delong test showed that those 3 AUC values were all higher than AUC values of SUV mean, UVP post-acid stimulation and ΔUVP (all AUC<0.800; Z values: 2.09-4.65, all P<0.05). Conclusion:The quantitative parameters of parotid glands based on SUV acquired by dynamic SPECT/CT can reflect the damage degree of parotid glands in patients with pSS, providing novel quantitative analytical tools for the functional diagnosis and assessment of pSS.

Objective To evaluate the effects of puerarin on bone density in rats and mice through a meta-analysis. Methods The databases, including CNKI, SinoMed, Wanfang data, VIP, PubMed, EMBase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and Scopus from their inception to November 6, 2023, were searched for literature on the effects of puerarin treatment on bone density in rats and mice. Inclusion criteria for the literature were randomized controlled trials with a placebo or blank control group; the subject animals were rats or mice; the intervention was puerarin; and the results included bone density measurements. Exclusion criteria included combination therapy with puerarin; lack of original research data; unpublished studies; and using mandible as the measurement site for bone density. Risks of bias were assessed using SYRCLE's RoB tool. Data analysis was conducted with Stata 16.0 and Rev Man 5.3 software. Results After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 429 records were identified and 42 articles covering 41 studies were ultimately included. 925 animals were involved and the data analysis results indicated that puerarin improved bone density in rats and mice compared to the control group: femur [37 studies, n=824, standardized mean difference （SMD)=2.12, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.69-2.54, P < 0.000 1], lumbar spine (13 studies, n=271, SMD=2.25, 95% CI=1.49-3.01, P < 0.000 1), tibia (4 studies, n=95, SMD=0.94, 95% CI=0.05-1.83, P=0.04), and the whole body (4 studies, n=94, SMD=1.89, 95% CI=0.50-3.29, P=0.008), with all inter-group differences in bone density being statistically significant. Conclusion Puerarin can improve bone density in rats and mice. This study provides a valuable reference for clinical studies on the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis with puerarin.

Objective To investigate the effect of acacetin on oxidative stress injury in diabetic cataract(DC)rats and its regulation of sirtuin 1(Sirt1)/adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase(AMPK)/nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)signaling pathway.Methods Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into the control group,model group,low-dose acacetin group,high-dose acacetin group,and acacetin+Sirt1 inhibitor(EX527)group.DC rat models were constructed except for the control group.Rats in the low-dose and high-dose acacetin groups were injected with 10 mg·kg-1 and 20 mg·kg-1 acacetin subcutaneously through the neck,twice a day,respectively.Rats in the acacetin+EX527 group were injected with 20 mg·kg-1 acacetin subcutaneously through the neck,twice a day;additionally,3.5 mg·kg-1 EX527 was administered subcutaneously through the osmotic micro-pump for 4 weeks.The same amount of nor-mal saline was pumped into rats in the rest groups for 4 weeks.After administration,blood pressure and fasting blood glu-cose(FBG)were measured.The lens opacity was observed under the slit lamp irradiation,and the histopathological chan-ges in the lens were observed after hematoxylin-eosin staining.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to de-termine the serum levels of malondialdehyde(MDA),superoxide dismutase(SOD),glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px),in-terleukin(IL)-6,and IL-1 β.Western blot was applied to detect the expression levels of Sirt1,phosphorylated AMPK(p-AMPK),AMPK,and Nrf2 proteins.Results Compared with the control group,the lens epithelial cells(LECs)of rats in the model group showed patchy and striped shapes,and migration and aggregation occurred;the systolic blood pres-sure(SBP),FBG,lens opacity score,and the levels of MDA,IL-6 and IL-1 β increased,while the expression levels of SOD,GSH-Px,Sirt1,p-AMPK/AMPK,and Nrf2 proteins decreased(all P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the migration and aggregation of LECs improved in the low-dose and high-dose acacetin groups,the SBP,FBG,lens opacity score,and the levels of MDA,IL-6 and IL-1 β decreased,while the expression levels of SOD,GSH-Px,Sirt1,p-AMPK/AMPK,and Nrf2 proteins increased(all P＜0.05).Compared with the high-dose acacetin group,the morphological chan-ges and aggregation of LECs in the acacetin+EX527 group were more significant,the SBP,FBG,lens opacity score,and the levels of MDA,IL-6 and IL-1 β increased,while the expression levels of SOD,GSH-Px,Sirt1,p-AMPK/AMPK,and Nrf2 proteins decreased(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Acacetin may protect DC rats from oxidative stress injury by activating the Sirt1/AMPK/Nrf2 pathway.

Objective To investigate the effect of total flavone of Cydonia oblonga on oxidative damage of human lens epithelial cells induced by high glucose and its mechanism.Methods A cell injury model was established by inducing human lens epithelial cells with high glucose.Human lens epithelial cells were cultured in the medium containing 30 mmol·L-1 glucose for 24 h,which was recorded as the high glucose group.Cells in the control group were cultured in a medium con-tainning 5.5 mmol·L-1 glucose for 24 h.Human lens epithelial cells were inoculated into 96-well plates with 5 × 103 cells per well,and treated with mediums containing 10 mmol·L-1,20 mmol·L-1,and 40 mmol·L-1 total flavone of Cydonia ob-longa combined with 30 mmol·L-1 glucose for 24 h.They were recorded as high glucose+low total flavone of Cydonia oblonga group,high glucose+medium total flavone of Cydonia oblonga group,and high glucose+high total flavone of Cydonia oblonga group.Human lens epithelial cells were transfected with anti-miR-NC and anti-miR-370 with Lipo-fectamine2000 transfection reagent,and treated with 30 mmol·L-1 glucose for 24 h,which were recorded as high glucose+anti-miR-NC group and high glucose+anti-miR-370 group.Human lens epithelial cells were transfected with miR-NC and miR-370 mimics,and treated with medium containing 30 mmol·L-1 glucose and 40 mmol·L-1 total flavone of Cydonia oblonga for 24 h,which were labeled as high glucose+total flavone of Cydonia oblonga+miR-NC group and high glucose+total flavone of Cydonia oblonga+miR-370 group.The activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD)and cata-lase(CAT),and the content of malondialdehyde(MDA)were measured by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay;flow cy-tometry was applied to detect apoptosis rate;quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was applied to detect the expression level of miR-370;Western blot was applied to detect the expression of apoptosis-related proteins.Results Compared with the control group,the activities of SOD and CAT decreased and the content of MDA increased in the human lens epithelial cells of the high glucose group,and the differences were statistically significant(all P＜0.05);compared with the high glucose group,the activities of SOD and CAT significantly increased and the content of MDA signifi-cantly decreased in the high glucose+low total flavone of Cydonia oblonga group,the high glucose+medium total fla-vone of Cydonia oblonga group and the high glucose+high total flavone of Cydonia oblonga group(all P＜0.05).Com-pared with the control group,apoptosis rate,and protein expressions of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 of human lens epithelial cells in the high glucose group significantly increased(all P＜0.05);compared with the high glucose group,the apoptosis rate,Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 protein expressions of human lens epithelial cells in the high glucose+low total flavone of Cydonia oblonga group,high glucose+medium total flavone of Cydonia oblonga group,and high glucose+high total fla-vone of Cydonia oblonga group significantly decreased(all P＜0.05).The expression levels of miR-370 in human lens epi-thelial cells were 1.00±0.00,4.04±0.36,3.22±0.24,2.42±0.23 and 1.62±0.14 in the control group,high glucose group,high glucose+low total flavone of Cydonia oblonga group,high glucose+medium total flavone of Cydonia oblon-ga group,and high glucose+high total flavone of Cydonia oblonga group,respectively.There was a statistically different significance among the five groups(F=256.138,P＜0.05).Compared with the high glucose+anti-miR-NC group,the ex-pression of miR-370 significantly decreased,the activities of SOD and CAT significantly increased,and the content of MDA significantly decreased in human lens epithelial cells of the high glucose+anti-miR-370 group(all P＜0.001).Compared with the high glucose+anti-miR-NC group,apoptosis rate,and protein expressions of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 of the hu-man lens epithelial cells in the high glucose+anti-miR-370 group significantly decreased(all P＜0.001).Compared with the high glucose+total flavone of Cydonia oblonga+miR-NC group,the activities of SOD and CAT significantly de-creased,and the content of MDA,apoptosis rate,and protein expressions of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 significantly in-creased in the human lens epithelial cells of high glucose+total flavone of Cydonia oblonga+miR-370 group(all P＜0.001).Conclusion The expression of miR-370 increases in high glucose-induced human lens epithelial cells.Total fla-vone of Cydonia oblonga can inhibit the oxidative stress and apoptosis of high glucose-induced human lens epithelial cells,and the mechanism may be related to the decreased expression of miR-370.

Aim To investigate the effect of theaflavin on oxidized low density lipoprotein(ox-LDL)-induced foam cell formation and oxidative stress in THP-1 macrophages and its mechanism.Methods THP-1 derived macro-phages were pretreated with 50 μmol/L theaflavin and(or)10 μmol/L nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(NRF2)inhibitor ML385,then 100 mg/L ox-LDL was added to the cells for 24 h to establish the foam cell model.The effect of theaflavin on THP-1 macrophages viability was evaluated by CCK-8 assay and LDH release.The expression of inflamma-tory cytokines interleukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-1 β(IL-1β),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)were analyzed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)and Western blot.The release of inflammatory cytokines were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Intracellular lipid accumulation was detected by Oil red O staining,and lipid absorption was observed by DiL-labeled oxidized low density lipoprotein(DiL-ox-LDL)staining.Re-active oxygen species(ROS)level was detected by DCFH-DA probe.The expression of lipid uptake,cholesterol efflux and oxidative stress-related proteins were detected by Western blot and RT-qPCR.Results Treatment with 100 mg/L ox-LDL significantly decreased cell viability and cholesterol efflux-related protein expressions,increased lipid uptake,ac-cumulation and lipid uptake-related protein expressions,and significantly promoted inflammation and ROS level,as well as the expressions of myeloperoxidase(MPO),NADPH oxidase 2(NOX2)in THP-1 macrophages(all P＜0.05).After pretreatment with theaflavin,cell viability was increased,intracellular lipid uptake,accumulation and lipid uptake-related protein expressions were significantly reduced,cholesterol efflux-related protein expressions were significantly increased,the expression and release of IL-6,IL-1β and TNF-α were significantly decreased,ROS level was significantly decreased,and the expression of MPO and NOX2 were decreased(all P＜0.05).Pretreatment with theaflavin effectively alleviated intracellular oxidative stress by altering the expression of NRF2,heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)and Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1(KEAP1)in NRF2 signaling pathway,and enhanced the translocation of NRF2 into the nucleus.After pretreat-ment with ML385,the expression levels of NRF2,HO-1,KEAP1 and CD36 were significantly decreased.Conclusion Theaflavin can significantly inhibit ox-LDL-induced foam cell formation,inflammation,and oxidative stress through NRF2/HO-1 signaling pathway in THP-1 macrophages.

Presynaptic dopaminergic PET imaging is a useful method for the diagnosis of parkinsonism. Based on the expert consensus on operation and clinical application of dopamine transporter brain PET imaging technology published in 2020, this paper further recommends the relevant elements of result interpretation of presynaptic dopaminergic PET imaging.