Curculigo orchioides refers to the dried rhizome of a plant from Amaryllidaceae family and exhibits a variety of pharmacological activities such as anti-osteoporosis， anti-inflammatory， anti-oxidation and immune regulation. However， the current quality control of C. orchioides mainly relies on the determination of a single indicator component （curculigoside）， which makes it difficult to reflect its quality fully. At the same time， factors such as processing methods， harvesting times， and place of origins can also lead to variations in the types and contents of chemical constituents in C. orchioides. Based on the theory of quality markers （Q-markers） for traditional Chinese medicine， a predictive analysis of the Q-markers of C. orchioides was conducted from seven perspectives： plant phylogeny and specificity of chemical constituents， traditional medicinal properties， efficacy， place of origin and harvesting period， processing methods， measurability of chemical constituents， and blood-entry constituents. It is preliminarily speculated that curculigoside， sakakin， orcinol gentiobioside， curculigoside B， curlignan， β-sitosterol， actinidioionoside， 2，6-dimethoxybenzoic acid， curculigoside C， glucosyringic acid， orcinol and stigmasterol are Q-markers of C. orchioides， providing a scientific basis for establishing a comprehensive and systematic quality evaluation system for C. orchioides.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of the Japanese nutritional risk index(NRI)for one-year all-cause mortality risk among elderly maintenance hemodialysis (MHD)patients.Additionally, it seeks to compare the predictive abilities of NRI with those of the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI)and the mini nutritional assessment short-form(MNA-SF).Methods:This research was conducted as a prospective cohort study.Elderly patients(aged ≥60 years)who underwent hemodialysis treatment at Beijing Friendship Hospital of Capital Medical University for more than three months between July and October 2019 were selected for inclusion.The NRI score was utilized to evaluate the nutritional status of the participants, with the maximum point of the Jordan index designated as the cut-off value, thereby categorizing patients into high-risk and low-risk groups.The follow-up period concluded in August 2020, with all-cause mortality serving as the primary outcome measure.Kaplan-Meier methods were employed to construct survival curves, and the Cox proportional hazards model was applied to analyze the association between NRI and all-cause mortality.Furthermore, area under the curve(AUC) of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were utilized to compare the predictive values of the three nutritional assessment methods(NRI, GNRI, and MNA-SF)regarding mortality risk.Results:A total of 150 patients were included in the study, with a median age of 69(64.75) years.The cohort comprised 73 males(48.7%)and 77 females(51.3%). Based on the NRI, patients were categorized into a low-risk group(NRI<5; n=81, 54.0%)and a high-risk group(NRI ≥ 5; n=69, 46.0%). Of the 150 patients, 147 completed the follow-up.During the follow-up period, 15 patients died, with 13 from the high-risk group and 2 from the low-risk group.The Kaplan-Meier survival curve indicated that the 1-year cumulative survival rate for patients in the high-risk group was significantly lower than the low-risk group (log-rank χ2=11.71, P<0.001). Furthermore, multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed a significant association between NRI and 1-year all-cause mortality in elderly patients undergoing MHD ( HR=3.779, 95% CI: 1.036-13.783, P=0.044). Additionally, NRI demonstrated a high predictive value for 1-year all-cause mortality risk in elderly MHD patients, with an AUC of 0.755(95% CI: 0.654-0.855), a sensitivity of 86.7%, and a specificity of 59.1%.Its predictive capability was slightly superior to that of the GNRI(AUC=0.691, 95% CI: 0.548-0.835)and the MNA-SF(AUC=0.634, 95% CI: 0.475-0.793), although no statistically significant differences were observed( Z=0.880, 1.177, P=0.379, 0.239). Conclusions:The NRI score demonstrates effective predictive capability for one-year all-cause mortality risk in elderly MHD patients and may serve as a more suitable nutritional assessment method for this population.

Recent studies have indicated that the expression of ubiquitin-specific protease 51 (USP51), a novel deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) that mediates protein degradation as part of the ubiquitin‒proteasome system (UPS), is associated with tumor progression and therapeutic resistance in multiple malignancies. However, the underlying mechanisms and signaling networks involved in USP51-mediated regulation of malignant phenotypes remain largely unknown. The present study provides evidence of USP51's functions as the prominent DUB in chemoresistant triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. At the molecular level, ectopic expression of USP51 stabilized the 78 kDa Glucose-Regulated Protein (GRP78) protein through deubiquitination, thereby increasing its expression and localization on the cell surface. Furthermore, the upregulation of cell surface GRP78 increased the activity of ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1), the main efflux pump of doxorubicin (DOX), ultimately decreasing its accumulation in TNBC cells and promoting the development of drug resistance both in vitro and in vivo. Clinically, we found significant correlations among USP51, GRP78, and ABCB1 expression in TNBC patients with chemoresistance. Elevated USP51, GRP78, and ABCB1 levels were also strongly associated with a poor patient prognosis. Importantly, we revealed an alternative intervention for specific pharmacological targeting of USP51 for TNBC cell chemosensitization. In conclusion, these findings collectively indicate that the USP51/GRP78/ABCB1 network is a key contributor to the malignant progression and chemotherapeutic resistance of TNBC cells, underscoring the pivotal role of USP51 as a novel therapeutic target for cancer management.

Objective:To investigate the trajectory of frailty in elderly patients on maintenance hemodialysis(MHD)following SARS-CoV-2 infection and its associated risk factors.Methods:This prospective cohort study focused on elderly patients who underwent baseline frailty assessment(T0)during hemodialysis treatment at Beijing Friendship Hospital for over 3 months between December 1st, 2022, and December 31th, 2022, and were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection.The Fried Frailty Phenotype was evaluated at 1 month(T1), 3 months(T2), and 6 months(T3)post-infection.Frailty trajectory after infection was analyzed using repeated measurement ANOVA.Patients were divided into stable/improvement or exacerbation groups based on their frailty status at T0 and T3, with logistic regression analysis employed to identify risk factors for different frailty trajectories.Results:A total of 130 elderly maintenance hemodialysis patients, with a median age of 66 years(range: 63-71 years)and 62 males(47.7%), were included in the study.Six months after the infection, a majority of surviving patients saw their frailty scores return to baseline levels.Specifically, 72 patients(55.4%)either maintained or improved to robust or pre-frail states, while 9 patients(6.9%)progressed to a pre-frail state, 18 patients(13.8%)progressed to a frail state, and 31 patients(23.8%)remained in a frail state.Results from multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that low grip strength( OR: 6.30, 95% CI: 1.48-26.73)and all-cause hospitalization( OR: 5.01, 95% CI: 1.19-21.03)were identified as risk factors for non-frail patients transitioning to frailty( P<0.05). Conclusions:The majority of elderly maintenance hemodialysis patients who survived SARS-CoV-2 infection returned to their baseline level of frailty or showed improvement within 6 months.Non-frail patients with low grip strength or those who were hospitalized were more likely to deteriorate towards frailty.

Objective:To investigate the trajectory of frailty in elderly patients on maintenance hemodialysis(MHD)following SARS-CoV-2 infection and its associated risk factors.Methods:This prospective cohort study focused on elderly patients who underwent baseline frailty assessment(T0)during hemodialysis treatment at Beijing Friendship Hospital for over 3 months between December 1st, 2022, and December 31th, 2022, and were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection.The Fried Frailty Phenotype was evaluated at 1 month(T1), 3 months(T2), and 6 months(T3)post-infection.Frailty trajectory after infection was analyzed using repeated measurement ANOVA.Patients were divided into stable/improvement or exacerbation groups based on their frailty status at T0 and T3, with logistic regression analysis employed to identify risk factors for different frailty trajectories.Results:A total of 130 elderly maintenance hemodialysis patients, with a median age of 66 years(range: 63-71 years)and 62 males(47.7%), were included in the study.Six months after the infection, a majority of surviving patients saw their frailty scores return to baseline levels.Specifically, 72 patients(55.4%)either maintained or improved to robust or pre-frail states, while 9 patients(6.9%)progressed to a pre-frail state, 18 patients(13.8%)progressed to a frail state, and 31 patients(23.8%)remained in a frail state.Results from multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that low grip strength( OR: 6.30, 95% CI: 1.48-26.73)and all-cause hospitalization( OR: 5.01, 95% CI: 1.19-21.03)were identified as risk factors for non-frail patients transitioning to frailty( P<0.05). Conclusions:The majority of elderly maintenance hemodialysis patients who survived SARS-CoV-2 infection returned to their baseline level of frailty or showed improvement within 6 months.Non-frail patients with low grip strength or those who were hospitalized were more likely to deteriorate towards frailty.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of the Japanese nutritional risk index(NRI)for one-year all-cause mortality risk among elderly maintenance hemodialysis (MHD)patients.Additionally, it seeks to compare the predictive abilities of NRI with those of the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI)and the mini nutritional assessment short-form(MNA-SF).Methods:This research was conducted as a prospective cohort study.Elderly patients(aged ≥60 years)who underwent hemodialysis treatment at Beijing Friendship Hospital of Capital Medical University for more than three months between July and October 2019 were selected for inclusion.The NRI score was utilized to evaluate the nutritional status of the participants, with the maximum point of the Jordan index designated as the cut-off value, thereby categorizing patients into high-risk and low-risk groups.The follow-up period concluded in August 2020, with all-cause mortality serving as the primary outcome measure.Kaplan-Meier methods were employed to construct survival curves, and the Cox proportional hazards model was applied to analyze the association between NRI and all-cause mortality.Furthermore, area under the curve(AUC) of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were utilized to compare the predictive values of the three nutritional assessment methods(NRI, GNRI, and MNA-SF)regarding mortality risk.Results:A total of 150 patients were included in the study, with a median age of 69(64.75) years.The cohort comprised 73 males(48.7%)and 77 females(51.3%). Based on the NRI, patients were categorized into a low-risk group(NRI<5; n=81, 54.0%)and a high-risk group(NRI ≥ 5; n=69, 46.0%). Of the 150 patients, 147 completed the follow-up.During the follow-up period, 15 patients died, with 13 from the high-risk group and 2 from the low-risk group.The Kaplan-Meier survival curve indicated that the 1-year cumulative survival rate for patients in the high-risk group was significantly lower than the low-risk group (log-rank χ2=11.71, P<0.001). Furthermore, multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed a significant association between NRI and 1-year all-cause mortality in elderly patients undergoing MHD ( HR=3.779, 95% CI: 1.036-13.783, P=0.044). Additionally, NRI demonstrated a high predictive value for 1-year all-cause mortality risk in elderly MHD patients, with an AUC of 0.755(95% CI: 0.654-0.855), a sensitivity of 86.7%, and a specificity of 59.1%.Its predictive capability was slightly superior to that of the GNRI(AUC=0.691, 95% CI: 0.548-0.835)and the MNA-SF(AUC=0.634, 95% CI: 0.475-0.793), although no statistically significant differences were observed( Z=0.880, 1.177, P=0.379, 0.239). Conclusions:The NRI score demonstrates effective predictive capability for one-year all-cause mortality risk in elderly MHD patients and may serve as a more suitable nutritional assessment method for this population.

Objective:To explore the relationship between serum uric acid trajectory and the progression of renal function in individuals aged 60 and above.Methods:This study was a retrospective cohort study. Individuals aged 60 years and above who received health checkups in Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, from March 2015 to December 2023 and met the criteria of baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)≥60 ml·min -1·(1.73 m 2) -1, were selected as the research subjects. The serum uric acid data of multiple measurements were collected and identified as different serum uric acid trajectories by group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM). According to the serum uric acid trajectories, the subjects were divided into a low trajectory group (101 cases), a middle trajectory group (176 cases), and a high trajectory group (86 cases). Cox regression analysis was used to examine the effect of serum uric acid trajectory on the progression of renal function in the elderly. Results:A total of 363 elderly were included. The mean follow-up time was 8.1 years. At the end of the follow-up, a total of 50 elderly individuals had experienced varying degrees of renal function decline. After adjusting for multiple confounding factors by Cox regression analysis, the risks of eGFR<60 ml·min -1·(1.73 m 2) -1, eGFR reduction rate ≥25% and composite endpoints [eGFR <60 ml·min -1·(1.73 m 2) -1, eGFR reduction rate ≥25% or >3 ml·min -1·(1.73 m 2) -1·year -1] in the high trajectory group were significantly higher than those in the low trajectory group, with an HR of 4.54 (95% CI:1.47-20.76), 3.75 (95% CI:1.06-21.21), and 3.74 (95% CI:1.44-115.59), respectively. In addition, there was no significant difference between baseline serum uric acid and renal function progression (all P>0.05). Conclusion:The high serum uric acid trajectory increases the risk for the progression of renal function in individuals aged 60 and above.

Carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) is closely associated with the decline of cognitive function in the elderly, which can lead to persistent or progressive cognitive function and neurological dysfunction. Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is considered to be an intervenable disease. Studies have shown that CAS is one of the main causes of VCI. Further study on the relationship between CAS and VCI will help to better prevention and treatment of VCI.

Objective:To explore the application of digital acoustic analysis in assessing the risk of aspiration among persons with dysphagia using the Praat speech analysis software.Methods:The swallowing of 46 stroke survivors with dysphagia was studied using video fluoroscopy. Each patient was required to pronounce " yi/i/" 3 times before and after taking each mouthful of food, and their voice samples were collected. The subjects were divided into a non-aspiration group of 16 and an aspiration group of 30 based on their penetration-aspiration scale scores. Fundamental frequency, relative average perturbation (RAP), jitter, shimmer, amplitude perturbation quotient and harmonic-to-noise ratio were compared between the two groups before and after taking food.Results:For the non-aspiration group, there was no significant difference in the acoustic data before and after eating. For the aspiration group there were significant differences in fundamental frequency, relative average perturbation and jitter before and after taking food. The average RAP and jitter of the non-aspiration group were significantly better than the aspiration group′s averages before eating. After eating, however, significant differences were observed only in average jitter.Conclusions:Analyzing perturbation and jitter can help to identify persons at risk of aspiration.