ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Modified Guomin Decoction （加味过敏煎， MGD） in patients with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis （AD） of the traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） pattern of heart fire and spleen deficiency， and to explore its possible mechanisms. MethodsIn this randomized， double-blind， placebo-controlled study， 72 patients with mild to moderate AD and the TCM pattern of heart fire and spleen deficiency were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group， with 36 cases in each group. The treatment group received oral MGD granules combined with topical vitamin E emulsion， while the control group received oral placebo granules combined with topical vitamin E treatment. Both groups were treated twice daily for 4 weeks. Clinical efficacy， TCM syndrome scores， Visual Analogue Scale （VAS） for pruritus， Dermatology Life Quality Index （DLQI） scores， Scoring Atopic Dermatitis （SCORAD） and serum biomarkers， including interleukin-33 （IL-33）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， immunoglobulin E （IgE）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） were compared before and after treatment. Safety indexes was also assessed. ResultsThe total clinical effective rates were 77.78% （28/36） in the treatment group and 38.89% （14/36） in the control group， with cure rates of 19.44% （7/36） and 2.78% （1/36）， respectively. The treatment group showed significantly better clinical outcomes compared to the control group （P＜0.05）. The treatment group exhibited significant reductions in total TCM syndrome scores， including erythema， edema， papules， scaling， lichenification， pruritus， irritability， insomnia， abdominal distension， and fatigue scores， as well as reductions in VAS， DLQI， SCORAD， and serum IgE and IL-33 levels （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared to the control group， the treatment group had significantly better improvements in all indicators except for insomnia （P＜0.05）. No adverse events occurred in either group. ConclusionMGD is effective and safe in treating mild to moderate AD patients with heart fire and spleen deficiency pattern. It significantly alleviates pruritus， improves TCM syndromes and quality of life， and enhances clinical efficacy， possibly through modulation of immune responses.

ObjectiveThe controllability changes of structural brain network were explored based on the control and brain network theory in young smokers, this may reveal that the controllability indicators can serve as a powerful factor to predict the sleep status in young smokers. MethodsFifty young smokers and 51 healthy controls from Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology were enrolled. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to construct structural brain network based on fractional anisotropy (FA) weight matrix. According to the control and brain network theory, the average controllability and the modal controllability were calculated. Two-sample t-test was used to compare the differences between the groups and Pearson correlation analysis to examine the correlation between significant average controllability and modal controllability with Fagerström Test of Nicotine Dependence (FTND) in young smokers. The nodes with the controllability score in the top 10% were selected as the super-controllers. Finally, we used BP neural network to predict the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) in young smokers. ResultsThe average controllability of dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus, supplementary motor area, lenticular nucleus putamen, and lenticular nucleus pallidum, and the modal controllability of orbital inferior frontal gyrus, supplementary motor area, gyrus rectus, and posterior cingulate gyrus in the young smokers’ group, were all significantly different from those of the healthy controls group (P<0.05). The average controllability of the right supplementary motor area (SMA.R) in the young smokers group was positively correlated with FTND (r=0.393 0, P=0.004 8), while modal controllability was negatively correlated with FTND (r=-0.330 1, P=0.019 2). ConclusionThe controllability of structural brain network in young smokers is abnormal. which may serve as an indicator to predict sleep condition. It may provide the imaging evidence for evaluating the cognitive function impairment in young smokers.

The auxin/indole-3-acetic acid (Aux/IAA) gene family is an important regulator for plant growth hormone signaling, involved in plant growth, development, as well as response to environmental stresses. In the present study, we identified SmIAA7 which is potentially associated with Salvia miltiorrhiza leaf development through comparatively analyzed the transcriptome data from different pinnate leaves. SmIAA7 was successfully isolated from S. miltiorrhiza using the specific primers. Then subsequent bioinformatic analysis, prokaryotic expression and purification, subcellular localization, and induction expression analysis under auxin and abiotic stress were performed. The full-length of SmIAA7 contained an ORF of 684 bp encoding a protein of 227 amino acid with a molecular weight of 25.3 kD. Conserved domain analysis showed that SmIAA7 contains the conserved Aux_IAA domain (pfam02309). Sequence analysis and phylogenetic tree analysis results indicated SmIAA7 was phylogenetically close to IAA7 and IAA14 from other plants, suggesting SmIAA7 involved in plant growth and development as well as response to environmental stresses. The prokaryotic expression vector pET28a-SmIAA7 was constructed and SmIAA7 recombinant protein was successfully expressed in E. coli Rosetta (DE3) strain. Subcellular localization experiment demonstrated that SmIAA7 localized in the nucleus of plant cells. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR results showed that the expression level of SmIAA7 was upregulated in response to auxin. Drought, low temperature, and salt stress significantly increased the transcript level of SmIAA7 gene. This study lays a foundation for further elucidating the role of SmIAA7 in leaf development, signal transduction, and stress defense in S. miltiorrhiza.

Background::Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) ranks among the foremost factors responsible for mortality on a global scale. The mortality patterns of CVDs and temporal trends in China need to be well-illustrated and updated.Methods::We collected mortality data on patients with CVD from Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Disease Surveillance Points (CDC-DSP) system. The mortality of CVD in 2020 was described by age, sex, residence, and region. The temporal trend from 2013 to 2019 was evaluated using joinpoint regression, and estimated rates of decline were extrapolated until 2030 using time series models.Results::In 2019, the age-standardized mortality in China (ASMRC) per 100,000 individuals was 113.2. The ASMRC for males (137.7/10 5) and rural areas (123.0/10 5) were both higher when stratified by gender and urban/rural residence. The central region had the highest mortality (126.5/10 5), the western region had a slightly lower mortality (123.5/10 5), and the eastern region had the lowest mortality (97.3/10 5). The age-specific mortality showed an accelerated upward trend from aged 55-59 years, with maximum mortality observed in individuals over 85 years of age. The age-standardized mortality of CVD decreased by 2.43% (95% confidence interval, 1.02-3.81%) annually from 2013 to 2019. Notably, the age-specific mortality of CVD increased from 2013 to 2019 for the age group of over 85 years. In 2020, both the absolute number of CVD cases and the crude mortality of CVD have increased compared to their values in 2019. The estimated total deaths due to CVD were estimated to reach 2.3 million in 2025 and 2.4 million in 2030. Conclusion::The heightened focus on the burden of CVD among males, rural areas, the central and western of China, and individuals aged 75 years and above has emerged as a pivotal determinant in further decreasing mortalities, consequently presenting novel challenges to strategies for disease prevention and control.

Background::Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants are the key populations in neonatology, wherein morbidity and mortality remain major challenges. The study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of VLBW infants.Methods::A retrospective cohort study was conducted in West China Second Hospital between January 2016 and December 2021. Neonates with a birth weight of <1500 g were included. Mortality, care practices, and major morbidities were analyzed, and compared with those of previous 7 years (2009-2015).Results::Of the total 1750 VLBW, 1386 were infants born with birth weight between 1000-1499 g and 364 infants were born with weight below 1000 g; 42.9% (751/1750) required delivery room resuscitation; 53.9% (943/1750) received non-invasive ventilation only; 38.2% (669/1750) received invasive ventilation; 1517 VLBW infants received complete treatment. Among them, 60.1% (912/1517) of neonates had neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS), 28.7% (436/1517) had bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), 22.0% (334/1517) had apnea, 11.1% (169/1517) had culture-confirmed sepsis, 8.4% (128/1517) had pulmonary hemorrhage, 7.6% (116/1517) had severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH)/periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), 5.7% (87/1517) had necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and 2.0% (31/1517) had severe retinopathy of prematurity. The total and in-hospital mortality rates were 9.7% (169/1750) and 3.0% (45/1517), respectively. The top three diagnoses of death among those who had received complete treatment were sepsis, NRDS, and NEC. In 2009-2015, 1146 VLBW were enrolled and 895 infants received complete treatment. The proportions of apnea, IVH, and IVH stage ≥3/PVL, were higher in 2009-2015 compared with those in 2016-2021, while the proportions of NRDS and BPD were characterized by significant increases in 2016-2021. The total and in-hospital mortality rates were 16.7% (191/1146) and 5.6% (50/895) respectively in 2009-2015.Conclusion::Among VLBW infants born in 2016-2021, the total and in-hospital mortality rates were lower than those of neonates born in 2009-2015. Incidences of NRDS and BPD increased in 2016-2021, which affected the survival rates and long-term prognosis of VLBW.

Objective To study the application effect of Glisson hepatic pedicle priority approach marked by APR triangle in laparoscopic anatomic right hemihepatectomy(LARH).Methods The clinical data of 66 patients underwent LARH in the Affiliated Hospital of Tangshan Vocational and Technical College were retrospectively analyzed.According to the surgical approaches,the patients were divided into the extrathecal group and the APR group.The 35 patients of the extrathecal group underwent LARH via Glisson hepatic pedicle extrathecal approach.The 31 patients of the APR group were treated with LARH through the Glisson hepatic pedicle priority approach marked by APR triangle.The clinical data including perioperative indexes,postoperative complications,oxidative stress and liver function indexes of patients in the two groups were statistically analyzed,and the differences between the two groups were compared.Results The operative time and intraoperative blood loss of patients in the APR group were significantly shorter/less than those in the extrathecal group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).There was no significant differences in the intraoperative blood transfusion ratio,drainage tube indwelling time,first exhaust time,postoperative hospitalization time or postoperative complications of patients between the two groups(P>0.05).The levels of malondialdehyde(MDA),cortisol(Cor)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)at each time point after surgery of patients in the two groups were significantly different from those before surgery(P<0.05),and the levels of MDA,Cor and SOD at each time point after surgery of patients in the APR group were significantly better than those in the extrathecal group(P<0.05).The levels of albumin(ALB),total bilirubin(TBil),aspartate aminotransferase(AST)and alanine aminotransferase(ALT)at each time point after surgery of patients in the two groups were significantly different from those before surgery(P<0.05).Moreover,the levels of ALB,TBil,AST and ALT at each time point after surgery of patients in the APR group were significantly better than those in the extrathecal group(P<0.05).Conclusion Compared with the Glisson hepatic pedicle extrathecal approach,the Glisson hepatic pedicle priority approach marked by APR triangle in LARH has shorter operation time,less bleeding and less oxidative stress reaction,which is beneficial to the recovery of liver function after surgery.

Coronary chronic total occlusion(CTO)presents one of the most formidable challenges in percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).Left ventricular systolic dysfunction(LVSD)is frequently observed in patients undergoing CTO-PCI,who often present with more complex coronary artery lesions and a higher burden of comorbidities,leading to an elevated risk of PCI-related complications.The clinical benefits of revascularization for these patients remain controversial.How to optimize the CTO-PCI strategy and postoperative management to improve patient outcomes represents an urgent issue.This review comprehensively summarizes the clinical characteristics,interventional benefits,interventional strategies,postoperative management,as well as the short-and long-term outcomes for patients with LVSD and CTO,aiming to provide a reference for optimizing the outcome of PCI in this unique and challenging patient subgroup.

Objective To monitor the antifungal resistance of clinical isolates of Candida spp.in the East China region.Methods MALDI-TOF MS or molecular methods were used to re-identify the strains collected from January 2018 to December 2022.Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed using the broth microdilution method.The susceptibility test results were interpreted according to the breakpoints of 2022 Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)documents M27 M44s-Ed3 and M57s-Ed4.Results A total of 3 026 strains of Candida were collected,65.33％of which were isolated from sterile body sites,mainly from blood(38.86％)and pleural effusion/ascites(10.21％).The predominant species of Candida were Candida albicans(44.51％),followed by Candida parapsilosis complex(19.46％),Candida tropicalis(13.98％),Candida glabrata(10.34％),and other Candida species(0.79％).Candida albicans showed overall high susceptibility rates to the 10 antifungal drugs tested(the lowest rate being 93.62％).Only 2.97％of the strains showed dose-dependent susceptibility(SDD)to fluconazole.Candida parapsilosis complex had a SDD rate of 2.61％and a resistance rate of 9.42％to fluconazole,and susceptibility rates above 90％to other drugs.Candida glabrata had a SDD rate of 92.01％and a resistance rate of 7.99％to fluconazole,resistance rates of 32.27％and 48.24％to posaconazole and voriconazole non-wild-type strains(NWT),respectively,and susceptibility rates above 90％to other drugs.Candida tropicalis had resistance rates of 29.55％and 26.24％to fluconazole and voriconazole,respectively,resistance rates of 76.60％and 21.99％to posaconazole and echinocandins non-wild-type strains(NWT),and a resistance rate of 2.36％to echinocandins.Conclusions The prevalence and species distribution of Candida spp.in the East China region are consistent with previous domestic and international reports.Candida glabrata exhibits certain degree of resistance to fluconazole,while Candida tropicalis demonstrates higher resistance to triazole drugs.Additionally,echinocandins resistance has emerged in Candida albicans,Candida glabrata,Candida tropicalis,and Candida parapsilosis.

Objective:To explore the relationship between the perceived stress and the independent learning ability of nursing undergraduates, to establish a chain mediation model to investigate the role of psychological capital and self-control in the relationship between the two, aiming to provide a new direction for nursing educators to improve the independent learning ability of nursing undergraduates.Methods:Using the convenient sampling method, a total of 913 nursing undergraduates from 10 universities in Shaanxi Province were selected as research objects from February to March 2023. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Positive Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PPQ), Self-control Scale (SCS) and Self-directed Learning Ability Scale (SLAS) were used to investigate the nursing undergraduates.Results:A total of 913 questionnaires were sent out in this study, and 900 were effectively collected, with an effective recovery rate of 98.58% (900/913). The total SLAS score of 900 nursing undergraduates was (87.12±9.20). The perception of stress among undergraduate nursing students could directly predict their self-directed learning ability negatively ( P<0.01), or indirectly affected their self-learning ability through psychological capital and self-control ( P<0.05). Psychological capital (indirect effect value=-0.160) and self-control (indirect effect value=-0.106) played a mediating role between stress perception and self-directed learning ability, and the mediating effect accounted for 38.55% and 25.54%, respectively. Moreover, psychological capital and self-control also played a chain mediating role (indirect effect value=-0.053), and the proportion of chain mediated effect was 12.77%. Conclusions:Perceived stress, psychological capital and self-control are important influencing factors on the self-directed learning ability of nursing undergraduate students. Perceived stress not only directly affects the self-directed learning ability of nursing undergraduate students, but also indirectly affects their self-directed learning ability through the chain mediation effect of psychological capital and self-control.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of different stents placement under endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)in patients with malignant biliary obstruction(MBO)and the effect on patient survival time.Methods Clinical data of MBO patients treated with ERCP stent placement between January 2020 and March 2024 were collected,divided into recyclable stent group(33 cases),metal stent group(42 cases),and ordinary stent group(34 cases).Comparation of the three groups of preoperative and postoperative changes in liver function,complications of long-term cholangitis and pancreatitis,stent patency time,success rate of stent removal with a single clamping,survival time,monitoring follow-up situation.Results There was no statistically significant difference in the liver function of the three groups of patients before stent placement(P>0.05);One week after stent placement,the difference compared with preoperative between direct bilirubin(DBiL)and total bilirubin(TBiL)in the recyclable stent group and the metal stent group was significantly higher than that in the ordinary stent group,and the difference between the ordinary stent group and other two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05).The incidence of cholangitis in the recyclable stent group was the lowest,followed by the ordinary plastic biliary stent,and the metal biliary stent had the highest incidence of cholangitis,the incidence of cholangitis in the long term after stent placement was compared among the three groups of patients with a statistically significant difference(P<0.05).The incidence of postoperative pancreatitis in the three groups was not statistically significant(P>0.05).The success rate of stent removal with a single clamping was higher in the recyclable stent group than the ordinary stent group.Comparison of median stent patency time among the three groups,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The metal stent group had the longest median patency time of 194.0 d,recyclable plastic stent had the second longest median patency time of 126.0 d,and ordinary plastic biliary stent had the shortest median patency time of 92.0 d.Median survival time among the three groups was statistically significant(P<0.05).The recyclable plastic biliary stent had the longest median survival time of 590.0 d,metal biliary stent had the second longest median survival time of 476.0 d,and ordinary plastic biliary stent had the shortest median survival time of 453.0 d.Conclusion Recyclable plastic biliary stent has a faster decrease in bilirubin index compared with the ordinary stent group after operation.And the recyclable plastic stent group has lower incidence of long-term cholangitis,higher success rate of one-time clamping of the stent,and more advantages in time to stent patency and survival time compared with ordinary plastic biliary stent,which is an effective choice of stenting modality for ERCP stent placement in patients with MBO.