Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common clinically critical syndrome in hospitalized patients with high morbidity and mortality. At present, the mechanism of AKI has not been fully elucidated, and no therapeutic drugs exist. As known, glycolytic product lactate is a key metabolite in physiological and pathological processes. The kidney is an important gluconeogenic organ, where lactate is the primary substrate of renal gluconeogenesis in physiological conditions. During AKI, altered glycolysis and gluconeogenesis in kidneys significantly disturb the lactate metabolic balance, which exert impacts on the severity and prognosis of AKI. Additionally, lactate-derived posttranslational modification, namely lactylation, is novel to AKI as it could regulate gene transcription of metabolic enzymes involved in glycolysis or Warburg effect. Protein lactylation widely exists in human tissues and may severely affect non-histone functions. Moreover, the strategies of intervening lactate metabolic pathways are expected to bring a new dawn for the treatment of AKI. This review focused on renal lactate metabolism, especially in proximal renal tubules after AKI, and updated recent advances of lactylation modification, which may help to explore potential therapeutic targets against AKI.
Humans ; Acute Kidney Injury/metabolism* ; Lactic Acid/metabolism* ; Animals ; Glycolysis/physiology* ; Gluconeogenesis/physiology* ; Kidney/metabolism*

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease accompanied by various complications, and the exact etiology remains unclear. Treatments for SLE encompass hormone therapy, plasma exchange and immunoadsorption, and targeted biological therapies. Berbamine (BBM), a cellular immunopotentiator with diverse biological functions, has not been reported to have immunomodulatory and therapeutic effects on SLE. The mice were divided into control group, model group, positive control group, low, medium and high BBM groups. In control group, C57BL/6J wild mice received intraperitoneal injection of saline. In model group, MRL/lpr lupus mice were treated with intraperitoneal injection of saline. In positive control group, MRL/lpr lupus mice received intragastric administration of hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets [Plaquenil, 150 mg/(kg·d)]. In BBM groups, MRL/lpr lupus mice received intragastric administration of different concentration of BBM respectively [20 mg/(kg·d), 50 mg/(kg·d), 100 mg/(kg·d)]. After 8 weeks of treatment, blood was collected from the retro-orbital venous plexus, and ELISA was used to detect the levels of anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibodies, antinuclear antibodies (ANA), and anti-small nuclear ribonucleoprotein/Sm (snRNP/Sm) antibodies. Spleen tissues were collected for analysis of Th1/Th2 ratio by flow cytometry. The RNA and protein of spleen were extracted, and the levels of T-box transcription factor T-bet and GATA3 (GATA binding protein 3) mRNA and protein were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot. The proliferation of white blood cells in the blood was tested by blood routine test. The histopathological changes of kidneys of each group were detected by HE staining. Compared with the model group, the levels of ANA, anti-dsDNA, and anti-snRNP/Sm antibodies were significantly reduced in the BBM-treated groups. The Th1/Th2 ratio was significantly decreased in the model group, but reversed by BBM. Compared with the control group, T-bet expression was significantly downregulated, while GATA3 expression was significantly upregulated in the model group. After BBM intervention, T-bet expression significantly increased, while GATA3 expression decreased compared with the model group. The number of white blood cells significantly decreased in the model group, and increased in the BBM-treated groups. In the model group, the glomerular mesangial and endothelial cells showed significant hyperplasia, clear thrombus was observed in the dilated capillaries, and inflammatory cells infiltrated in the renal interstitium. In medium and high BBM groups, the infiltration of inflammatory cells and capillary thrombosis were significantly decreased. In conclusion, BBM exhibits certain immunomodulatory effects on SLE and promotes the proliferation of white blood cells.
Animals ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/immunology* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Inbred MRL lpr ; Female ; Benzylisoquinolines/pharmacology*

BACKGROUND: Prior studies have shown that drivers with type 2 diabetes are more likely to be involved in motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) compared to the general population. Certain meteorological factors have been increasingly recognized as contributors to MVC risk. This study aims to examine the association of MVCs with temperature, rainfall, wind speed, and sunshine duration among drivers with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Using Taiwan's National Health Insurance data (2019-2021), we identified individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and linked their records to the Police-Reported Traffic Accident Registry to obtain daily MVC counts. Meteorological data were sourced from the Central Weather Administration. Associations between daily weather conditions and MVCs were assessed using a Distributed Lag Non-Linear Model. RESULTS: Over the 1,096-day study period, 170,468 MVC events involving drivers with type 2 diabetes were recorded. A U-shaped association was observed between same-day temperature and MVC rates. Compared with the reference temperature of 17.5 °C, both lower temperatures (≤15 °C; rate ratio [RR] = 1.014-1.053) and higher temperatures (≥30 °C; RR = 1.062) were associated with increased MVC risk. Rainfall showed an inverse relationship with MVCs. Compared with 70 mm of rainfall, the lowest MVC rate occurred at 129 mm (RR = 0.873), while the highest was on rain-free days (0 mm; RR = 1.068). Stronger effects were observed when lag periods up to 14 days were considered. Wind speed and sunshine duration were not significantly associated with MVC risk. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that drivers with type 2 diabetes should exercise greater caution on days with extreme temperatures or in days with lesser rainfall, as these conditions may elevate MVC risk.
Humans ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/epidemiology* ; Taiwan/epidemiology* ; Accidents, Traffic/statistics & numerical data* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Weather ; Aged ; Adult ; Temperature ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of Liuwei Anshen Capsules combined with Amlodipine+Benazepril Tablets in the treatment of senile essential hypertension(EH)patients complicated with anxiety and depressive disorders and its intervention effect on the expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2B subunit(NR2B)protein.Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 138 senile EH patients complicated with anxiety and depressive disorders of accumulation of excess phlegm-heat syndrome treated in the Geriatric Department of Sinopharm Gezhouba Central Hospital from December 2020 to December 2022.The patients were divided into an observation group and a control group according to the treatment schemes,with 69 cases in each group.The control group was treated with Amlodipine+Benazepril Tablets and routine psychotherapy,and the observation group was treated with Liuwei Anshen Capsules orally on the basis of treatment for the control group.The course of treatment lasted for one month.The changes of blood pressure indicators of systolic blood pressure(SBP)and diastolic blood pressure(DBP),Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA)score,17-Item Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD-17)score,NR2B protein expression,and the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters of dopamine(DA),epinephrine(NE),and 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)in the two groups were observed before and after treatment.After treatment,the clinical efficacy and total incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.Results(1)After one month of treatment,the total effective rate of the observation group was 95.65%(66/69),and that of the control group was 75.36%(52/69).The intergroup comparison(tested by chi-square test)showed that the curative effect of the observation group was significantly superior to that of the control group(P＜0.01).(2)After treatment,the SBP and DBP of the two groups were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease of SBP and DBP in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(3)After treatment,the HAMA score and HAMD-17 score of the two groups were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease of HAMA score and HAMD-17 score in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(4)After treatment,the expression level of NR2B protein in the two groups was significantly decreased compared with that before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease in the observation group was superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(5)After treatment,the levels of serum DA,NE and 5-HT in the two groups were significantly decreased in comparison with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease of serum DA,NE and 5-HT levels in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(6)The total incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group was 2.90%(2/69)and that in the control group was 5.80%(4/69).There was no significant difference between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion Liuwei Anshen Capsules combined with Amlodipine+Benazepril Tablets can effectively alleviate the bad mood,decrease blood pressure,inhibit the overexpression of NR2B protein,and correct the disorder of monoamine neurotransmitters in senile EH patients complicated with anxiety and depressive disorders of accumulation of excess phlegm-heat syndrome.The combined treatment does not cause serious adverse reactions,which is safe and effective.

Objective:To summarize the clinical characteristics,therapeutic effect and prognostic factors of patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma(HL).Methods:A total of 129 patients with HL diagnosed in Peking University Third Hospital from January 2010 to March 2021 who were given at least one efficacy assessment after treatment were enrolled,and their clinical data,including sex,age,pathological type,Ann Arbor stage,ECOG score,blood test,β2-microglobulin,lactate dehydrogenase level,albumin level were collected.The clinical characteristics,therapeutic effect and long-term prognosis of the patients were summarized and analyzed.Results:In classical HL,nodular sclerosis HL accounted for the highest proportion of 51.6％,followed by mixed cellularity HL(36.5％),lymphocyte-rich classical HL(3.2％),and lymphocyte depletion HL(0.7％),while nodular lymphocyte predominant HL accounted for 4.8％.The 3-year overall survival(OS)rate of HL patients was 89.8％,and 5-year OS was 85.0％.The 3-year progression-free survival(PFS)rate was 73.4％,and 5-year PFS was 63.1％.Multivariate regression analysis indicated that IPI score was an independent negative factor,while hemoglobin(Hb)level was an independent positive factor for OS in HL patients.When the mediastinal mass size was 9.2 cm,it was most significant to judge the survival status of HL patients.5-year OS and 5-year PFS were 97.4％and 76.0％in early-stage HL patients without large mass,respectively,while in patients with advanced-stage HL was 83.4％and 55.9％(both P＜0.05).After 2-4 courses of treatment,the overall response rate(ORR)of patients who received chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy was 95.0％,while that was 89.6％in those with chemotherapy alone.Conclusions:The overall prognosis of patients with HL is satisfactory,especially those in early-stage without large mass.IPI score and Hb level are independent risk factors for the prognosis of HL patients.A 9.2 cm mediastinal mass can be used as the cut-off value for the prognosis of Chinese HL patients.

Objective:To investigate the psychological status of the outpatients in the andrology clinic and the effect of risk warning combined with multidisciplinary team(MDT)intervention on their satisfaction.Methods:Using convenience sampling,we enrolled 600 outpatients seeking medical attention in the Department of Andrology of our hospital from July to October 2022.We ran-domized the patients into a control(n=300)and an observation group(n=300),obtained their basic information,evaluated their psychological status with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS),and assessed their satisfaction with the Xijing Hospital Outpatients'Satisfaction Questionnaire(HOSQ).The controls followed the routine procedure of treatment,while the patients in the ob-servation group received early warning before intervention based on their HADS scores.We provided normal medical care for those with HADS scores≤7,employed empathetic communication for those with HADS scores of 8-10,and conducted MDT intervention for those with HADS scores≥1l,followed by comparison of the patients'satisfaction with the outpatient service between the two groups.Results:There were no statistically significant differences in general conditions between the groups of patients(P＞0.05).The mean prevalence rate of anxiety and depression was 47.83％among the male subjects,lower in the control than in the observation group(47.00％vs 48.67％,P＞0.05),but higher in the patients with the education of junior high school or below(60.99％)than in those with that of senior high school(22.34％)and university or above(16.67％),and also higher in those aged 18-40 years(67.38％)than in those aged 41-60 years(51.82％)and over 60 years old(38.33％).A significantly higher rate of satisfaction with the outpatient service was found in the observation group than in the controls(97.18％vs 90.39％,P＜0.05).Conclusion:Anxie-ty and depression are prevalent among the outpatients in the andrology clinic,with a higher prevalence rate in those with lower educa-tion and at a younger age.Early risk warning combined with MDT intervention can improve the satisfaction of the patients.

AIM To study the lignans and terpenoids from Alangium chinense(Lour.)Harms subsp.pauciflorum Fang.METHODS The 70%ethanol extract was isolated and purified by various column chromatography,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.RESULTS Twenty-four compounds were isolated and identified and identified as(+)-pinoresinol)(1),medioresinol(2),syringaresinol(3),dehydrodiconifery alcohol-9′-β-D-glucopyranoside(4),7,9,9′-trihydroxy-3,3′-dimethoxy-8-O-4′-neolignan-4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(5),citrusin B(6),dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol-4-O-β-D-glucopyranosides(7),5-methoxy-(+)-isolariciresinol(8),rel-(7R,8S)-3,3′,5-trimethoxy-4′,7-epoxy-8,5′-neolignan-4,9,9′-triol-9-β-D-glucopyranoside(9),(+)-lyoniresinol-3α-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(10),longifloroside B(11),(7S,8R)-1-[4-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)-3-methoxyphenyl]-2-[4-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2,6-dimethoxyphenoxy]-1,3-propanediol(12),(7R,8S)-4,9,9′-trihydroxyl-3-methoxyl-7,8-dihydrobenzofuran-1′-propylneolignan-3′-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(13),(7S,8R)-4,9,9′-trihydroxy-3,3′,5-trimethoxy-8,4′-oxy-neolignan-4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(14),cedrusin-4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(15),2,6,2′,6′-tetramethoxy-4,4′-bis(2,3-epoxy-1-hydroxypropyl)biphenyl(16),3-oxo-11α,12α-epoxy-olean-28,13β-olide(17),mansonone E(18),mansonone G(19),mansonone H(20),roseoside(21),bullatantriol(22),3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl pomolic acid(23),Hederagenin(24).CONCLUSION Compounds 1-16 are lignans,and 17-24 are terpenoids.Compounds 3-9,11-17,22-24 are isolated from Alangium genus for the first time;compounds 1,2,10,18-21 are first isolated from this plant.