ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of Qingre Sanzhuo decoction in treating gouty arthritis （GA） combined with hyperuricaemia （HUA）. MethodsSixty male SD rats were randomized into normal， model， colchicine （0.5 mg·kg^-1）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose （17， 34， 68 g·kg^-1， respectively） Qingre Sanzhuo decoction groups （n=10）. The rats in other groups except the normal group were treated with the modified method for the modeling of GA combined with HUA. The drug intervention groups were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage in the afternoon every day and the normal group and the model group were administrated with an equal volume of sterile normal saline by gavage. The level of uric acid （SUA） in the serum was measured 2 h after the last administration. The degree of ankle joint swelling was calculated 0.5， 12， 24， 48 h after modeling， and joint inflammation was scored. The pathological changes of ankle joints were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining， and the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， C reactive protein （CRP）， and interleukin-18 （IL-18） were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Real-time PCR was performed to determine the mRNA levels of NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）， apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD （ASC）， cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease-1 （Caspase-1）， gasdermin D （GSDMD）， and nuclear factor-kappa B （NF-κB） in the synovial tissue of ankle joints. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of NLRP3， ASC， and Caspase-1 in ankle joints. The immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of GSDMD and NF-κB in the synovial tissue of ankle joints. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showed increased SUA in the serum （P<0.05）， ankle joint swelling and joint inflammation （P<0.05）， increased number of blood vessels in the synovium， inflammatory cell foci in the synovial bursa， elevated serum levels of TNF-α， IL-1β， CRP， and IL-18 （P<0.05）， and up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of NLRP3， ASC， Caspase-1， GSDMD， and NF-κB in the synovial tissue of ankle joints （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the medium- and high-dose Qingre Sanzhuo decoction groups showed reduced SUA in the serum （P<0.05）， alleviated ankle joint swelling and joint inflammation （P<0.05）， lowered serum levels of TNF-α， IL-1β， CRP， and IL-18 （P<0.05）， and down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of NLRP3， ASC， Caspase-1， GSDMD， and NF-κB in the synovial tissue of ankle joints （P<0.05）. However， in terms of ameliorating the pathological changes of ankle joints， only the high-dose Qingre Sanzhuo decoction group showed normal morphology of the synovial membrane of ankle joints and no obvious lesion in the articular cartilage. ConclusionQingre Sanzhuo decoction may play a role in preventing and controlling GA combined with HUA by down-regulating the activity of NLRP3/ASC/Caspase-1 pathway and inhibiting the expression of inflammatory cytokines， such as TNF-α， IL-1β， CRP， and IL-18.

Objective: To explore the relative importance of different food attributes and levels in food decision making of school aged children, and to understand their meal preferences, so as to provide the evidence for formulating precise intervention strategies for dietary behaviours of school aged children. Methods: From May to June 2024, a total of 854 children aged 11 to 15 years old were selected from 2 middle schools (each school in urban and rural areas) in both Hubei Province and Anhui Province by stratified cluster random sampling method to conduct a D-optimal discrete choice experiment. The mixed Logit model was used to analyze children s preference for meal attributes and different levels, and to calculate the relative importance (RI) of attributes and willingness to pay (WTP) in meal choices. Results: The included five food attributes had statistical significance on meal choice of school aged children ( P <0.05). The relative importance of food attributes affecting the meal choices of school aged children in descending order were dining mode ( RI =31.26%), food varieties ( RI =30.56%), cooking method( RI =23.84%), taste( RI =8.06%) and price ( RI =6.27%). Among them, school aged children preferred home cooked meals ( β =0.74) (WTP=86.3 yuan),varied foods(grain/tubers+vegetables+fish, meat, eggs and beans) ( β =0.61) (WTP=71.9 yuan), fried/roasted cooking ( β =0.51) and spicy taste ( β =0.33).Price was negatively correlated with meal choices( β =-0.01) ( P <0.05). Based on residential area and body mass index (BMI), the stratified analysis showed that dining mode was highest in the relative importance for rural children with overweight and obese children ( RI =31.28%,34.17%), both of whom preferred home cooked meals ( β =0.76, 0.91), and meals containing fish, meat, eggs and beans with grain/tubers or grain/tubers and vegetables in terms of food choice (area: β =0.53, 0.53 ; BMI: β =0.55, 0.56) ( P <0.05). Conclusions School aged children have different preferences for different attributes of meals. The quality of school meals should be improved,the cost of buying healthy meals should be reduced,targeted family health education should be carried out,and healthy cooking methods should be advocated.

Background The decline of physical activity in the elderly due to aging may increase the risk of sarcopenia. Currently, there is a lack of evidence from large natural populations on the relationship between PA and sarcopenia. Objective To explore the relationship between PA and sarcopenia in the elderly aged 60 years and above in 10 provinces (autonomous regions) of China. Methods Data were retrieved from the 2022—2023 round of the China Development and Nutrition Health Impact Cohort. Personal basic information and PA data were collected by questionnaire survey. Skeletal muscle mass was measured by bio-electrical impedance analysis, muscle strength was measured using a grip dynamometer, and physical performance was reflected by 6-meter walk speed. The Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 criteria were used to diagnose sarcopenia. Light physical activity (LPA) duration, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) duration, and total physical activity volume were calculated. A total of 3326 residents aged ≥60 years with complete data were selected as the survey participants. Multiple logistic regression models and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were used to assess the association between PA duration/volume and sarcopenia. Results In 10 provinces (autonomous regions) of China, the prevalence of sarcopenia in the elderly aged 60 years and above was 5.5% (95%CI: 4.7%, 6.2%). The logistic regression analysis showed that compared with the elderly reporting 0-7.0 h·week⁻¹ in LPA duration, the risk of sarcopenia in the elderly with LPA duration of >14.0-21.0 h·week⁻¹ was reduced by 51% (OR=0.49, 95%CI: 0.26, 0.96). Compared with the elderly with total physical activity ≥15.0 metabolic equivalent of task (MET)-h·week⁻¹, those with <7.5 MET-h·week⁻¹ had a 2.24-fold increased risk of sarcopenia (OR=2.24, 95%CI: 1.17, 4.29). The RCS results found that LPA duration and total physical activity volume each showed a nonlinear dose-response relationship with the risk of sarcopenia (P_overall<0.05, P_non-linear<0.05). Compared with the elderly with an LPA duration of 0 h· week⁻¹, the risk of sarcopenia in the elderly with an LPA duration of 12.6 h· week⁻¹ was the lowest (OR=0.42, 95%CI: 0.21, 0.83). Compared with the elderly with a total physical activity volume of 15.0 MET-h· week⁻¹, the elderly with a total physical activity volume of 46.0 MET-h· week⁻¹ had the lowest risk of sarcopenia (OR=0.57, 95%CI: 0.38, 0.84). There was no statistically significant association between weekly MVPA duration and the risk of sarcopenia (P>0.05). Conclusion Increasing weekly LPA duration and total physical activity volume would help to reduce the risk of sarcopenia.

In recent years, China has been facing the dual challenges of declining fertility rates and births, with male reproductive health issues, especially the decline in semen quality, identified as a pivotal contributor to this phenomenon. Meanwhile, accumulating evidence indicates that air pollutants, an increasingly severe environmental problem, can damage semen quality not only directly through their biological toxicity but also indirectly by disrupting the composition of microbial communities in the gut and semen, thereby dysregulating immune function, endocrine homeostasis, and oxidative stress responses. The gut microbiota and semen microbiota, as important components of the human microecosystem, play crucial roles in maintaining reproductive health. This article comprehensively reviewed the research progress on the potential effects of air pollutants (particulate matter and gaseous pollutants), gut microbiota, and semen microbiota on semen quality. Specifically, it elucidated the mechanisms of interaction between these factors and explored how they affect male fertility.

INTRODUCTION: Lecanemab has shown promise in treating early Alzheimer's disease (AD), but its safety and efficacy in Chinese populations remain unexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and 6-month clinical outcomes of lecanemab in Chinese patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild AD. METHODS: In this single-arm, real-world study, participants with MCI due to AD or mild AD received biweekly intravenous lecanemab (10 mg/kg). The study was conducted at Hainan Branch, Ruijin Hospital Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Patient enrollment and baseline assessments commenced in November 2023. Safety assessments included monitoring for amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) and other adverse events. Clinical and biomarker changes from baseline to 6 months were evaluated using cognitive scales (mini-mental state examination [MMSE], montreal cognitive assessment [MoCA], clinical dementia rating-sum of boxes [CDR-SB]), plasma biomarker analysis, and advanced neuroimaging. RESULTS: A total of 64 patients were enrolled in this ongoing real-world study. Safety analysis revealed predominantly mild adverse events, with infusion-related reactions (20.3%, 13/64) being the most common. Of these, 69.2% (9/13) occurred during the initial infusion and 84.6% (11/13) did not recur. ARIA-H (microhemorrhages/superficial siderosis) and ARIA-E (edema/effusion) were observed in 9.4% (6/64) and 3.1% (2/64) of participants, respectively, with only two symptomatic cases (one ARIA-E presenting with headache and one ARIA-H with visual disturbances). After 6 months of treatment, cognitive scores remained stable compared to baseline (MMSE: 22.33 ± 5.58 vs . 21.27 ± 4.30, P = 0.733; MoCA: 16.38 ± 6.67 vs . 15.90 ± 4.78, P = 0.785; CDR-SB: 2.30 ± 1.65 vs . 3.16 ± 1.72, P = 0.357), while significantly increasing plasma amyloid-β 42 (Aβ42) (+21.42%) and Aβ40 (+23.53%) levels compared to baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Lecanemab demonstrated a favorable safety profile in Chinese patients with early AD. Cognitive stability and biomarker changes over 6 months suggest potential efficacy, though high dropout rates and absence of a control group warrant cautious interpretation. These findings provide preliminary real-world evidence for lecanemab's use in China, supporting further investigation in larger controlled studies. REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT07034222.
Humans ; Alzheimer Disease/drug therapy* ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Cognitive Dysfunction/drug therapy* ; Aged, 80 and over ; Amyloid beta-Peptides/metabolism* ; Biomarkers ; East Asian People

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness of mini external fixators combined with bone cement spacers in the treatment of gouty hallux rigidus with bone defects. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 21 male patients diagnosed with gouty hallux rigidus and bone defects, treated with mini external fixators combined with bone cement spacers between January 2017 and December 2024. The age ranged from 35 to 72 years, with an average age of 61.1 years. The disease duration was 12-35 years, with an average of 18.2 years. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) gout score ranged from 16 to 23, with an average of 18.6. All 21 cases of hallux rigidus were classified as grade 3 according to the Coughlin classification. Clinical efficacy was evaluated preoperatively and at 6 months postoperatively using the visual analogue scale (VAS) score for pain, the dorsiflexion angle of first metatarsophalangeal joint in a weight-bearing state, and the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score. Radiological evaluation was performed by measuring the hallux valgus angle (HVA) using weight-bearing X-ray films and the tophi volume using dual-energy CT. RESULTS: The operation time ranged from 30 to 56 minutes, with an average of 42.05 minutes. The intraoperative blood loss varied between 10 and 30 mL, averaging 20 mL. All 21 patients were followed up 6-15 months, averaging 9.3 months. One patient experienced delayed wound healing due to the liquefaction of residual tophus; no other patients exhibited complications such as wound or pin tract infections, skin necrosis, fractures, or metastatic metatarsalgia. Six patients experienced acute gout attacks 4-7 days postoperatively, which were effectively alleviated through symptomatic treatment. At 6 months after operation, patients showed significant improvements in HVA, tophus volume, VAS scores, AOFAS scores, and the dorsiflexion angle of first metatarsophalangeal joint compared to preoperative values, with significant differences ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION Mini external fixator combined with a cement spacer is an effective treatment for gouty hallux rigidus with bone defects.
Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; External Fixators ; Adult ; Retrospective Studies ; Hallux Rigidus/diagnostic imaging* ; Bone Cements/therapeutic use* ; Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Metatarsophalangeal Joint/surgery*

Objective To evaluate the clinical outcome of kidney transplantation from donation after brain death(DBD)donors complicated with acute kidney injury(AKI).Methods Clinical data of 216 DBD donors were retrospectively analyzed,and they were divided into the AKI group(n=69)and control group(n=147)according to the Kidney Disease:Improving Global Outcomes(KDIGO)guidelines.Donors in the AKI group were further divided into the KDIGO stage 1 and stage 2-3 subgroups.One hundred and thirty-five recipients were assigned into the AKI group and 288 recipients in the control group.Postoperative recovery of renal function and clinical outcomes of the recipients were recorded.The risk factors of delayed graft function(DGF)were identified.Results The highest serum creatinine(Scr)level,Scr level before procurement,the highest blood sodium level and blood sodium level before procurement in the AKI group were higher than those in the control group.The application duration of vasopressors in the AKI group was longer than that in the control group.In the AKI group,the amount of fluid resuscitation within 48 h was higher,the HCO3-level at admission was lower,and the incidence of diabetes insipidus and hypotension was higher than those in the control group.The highest Scr level and the Scr level before procurement in KDIGO stage 2-3 donors were significantly higher than those in KDIGO stage 1 counterparts(all P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,the incidence of DGF and acute rejection was higher,the proportion of continuous renal replacement therapy was higher,the Scr level within postoperative 90 d was higher,and the urine amount within postoperative 3 d was less than those of recipients in the AKI group.Compared with KDIGO stage 1 recipients,KDIGO stage 2-3 recipients had higher Scr levels at postoperative 3,4,5 and 15 d,and less urine amount at postoperative 2 d(all P＜0.05).Univariate analysis showed that donor age,the highest Scr level,the highest blood sodium level and the amount of fluid resuscitation within 48 h were the risk factors for DGF in recipients after kidney transplantation.Multivariate analysis showed that donor age was the independent risk factor for DGF in recipients after kidney transplantation(all P＜0.05).Conclusions For the application of DBD donors complicated with AKI,active organ maintenance should be performed to alleviate AKI.It exerts no effect upon graft function and survival rate at postoperative 6 months,which may achieve equivalent efficacy as non-AKI donors and may be used as a source of extended criteria donor kidneys.

Rhamnogalacturonan Ⅱ(RG-Ⅱ)is one of the structural domains of pectin whose structure is highly conserved among species.The main chain of RG-Ⅱ consists of approximately nine galacturonic acids linked by α-1,4 glycosidic bonds,with six well-defined side chains replacing them(A-F).The structures of the disaccharide side chains C and D and the monosaccharide side chains E and F in RG-Ⅱ from different sources remain essentially the same.In contrast,the oligosaccharide side chains A and B showed slight variability.Structural characterization of RG-Ⅱ can be achieved by molecular weight,monosaccharide composition,and mass spectrometry.The polysaccharides containing RG-Ⅱ structural domains in traditional Chinese medicines(TCMs)have high medicinal value.Isolation of RG-Ⅱ can be achieved using endo-polygalacturonase(Endo-PG)and Penicillium oxalicum.A substantial number of RG-Ⅱ standards can be rapidly prepared from red wine for the development of new quantitative methods to realize the quality control of active polysaccharides from traditional Chinese medicines and to promote the research process of polysaccharides from traditional Chinese medicines.

Objective:To analyze the dietary patterns of Chinese adults and explore the relationship with serum uric acid (SUA) and hyperuricemia (HUA).Methods:A total of 9 358 adults were selected in the 2018 China Health and Nutrition Survey. Dietary intake data were collected by three consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls and weighing method. The social demographic information of the survey subjects was obtained through questionnaire surveys. The dietary patterns were extracted using factor analysis, and the relationship between dietary patterns and SUA was analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis. The correlation between HUA and dietary patterns was analyzed using logistic regression analysis models.Results:Four dietary patterns were identified: northern (high intakes of wheat, other cereals,and tubers); modern (high intakes of fruit, dairy, eggs, and nuts); southern (high intakes of rice and vegetables);animal food-wine (high intake of organ meats, seafood, and wine). The multiple linear regression analysis results showed that the northern pattern was negatively correlated with SUA ( β=-0.438, 95% CI: -0.500--0.376); the modern pattern was negatively correlated with SUA ( β=-0.134, 95% CI: -0.219--0.049); the southern model was significantly correlated with higher SUA ( β=0.146, 95% CI: 0.079-0.214); the animal food-wine pattern was positively correlated with SUA ( β=0.188, 95% CI: 0.123-0.252). Logistic regression analysis showed that compared with the northern model score Q1 group, the risk of developing HUA was reduced in Q3 and Q4 groups, with ORs values of 0.777 (95% CI: 0.650-0.929) and 0.509 (95% CI: 0.423-0.613), respectively; and compared with the modern model score Q1 group, the higher the scores in Q3 and Q4 groups, the HUA was lower, with ORs of 0.793 (95% CI: 0.660-0.953) and 0.768 (95% CI: 0.631-0.934), respectively. Compared with the animal food-wine pattern score Q1 group, the risk of developing HUA was increased in both Q3 and Q4 groups ( Q3 group: OR=1.224, 95% CI: 1.012-1.480; Q4 group: OR=1.312, 95% CI: 1.086-1.584). Conclusions:Dietary patterns are associated with HUA. The northern and modern patterns are related to lower SUA levels and reduced risk of HUA, while the animal food-wine pattern increases the risk of HUA.

Objective:Analyze the mediating and moderating effects of the relationship between food intake and blood glucose levels.Methods:This study uses data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey project in the survey 2018, involving 11 043 adults aged 18 years or older, who have complete dietary data, waist circumference (WC), glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) indicators, and other key variables. Food consumption data was gathered via three consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls and weighing accounting method, which included two weekdays and one weekend day. The average daily intake of various foods and total energy intake were calculated. The mediation effect and moderation effect analysis were conducted using simple mediation models, direct moderation effect models, and moderated mediation analysis theoretical models. The confidence interval method (bootstrap method) was performed for testing and analysis.Results:A total of 4 951 males and 6 092 females were included in the stratified analysis by gender. The mediating effects on the rice, wheat, and red meat→WC→HbA1c were all statistically significant in males. The standardized coefficients were -0.009 ( P<0.001), 0.013 ( P<0.001), and -0.005 ( P=0.008), respectively. In females, the mediating effect on the wheat→WC→HbA1c was statistically significant, and the standardized coefficient was 0.017 ( P<0.001); the impact of red meat intake on HbA1c is negatively regulated by the intake of dark vegetables, with a direct moderating effect; the standardized coefficient of the interaction term between red meat and dark vegetables was -0.024 ( P=0.008). Dark vegetables have a moderated mediator on the pathway from rice to WC and HbA1c ( a3b1=-0.003, P=0.041) in males. The mediating effect of WC is negatively regulated by the intake of dark vegetables (mediation effect difference U1/-1=-0.006, P=0.048). Dark vegetables showed a moderated mediator on the pathway from wheat to WC and HbA1c ( a3b1=-0.004, P=0.045) in females. The mediating effect of WC is negatively regulated by the intake of dark vegetables (mediation effect difference U1/-1=-0.009, P=0.049). Conclusions:Changes in WC indicators caused by rice, wheat, and red meat intake. WC could mediate between rice, wheat, red meat, and HbA1c. Dark vegetables directly or indirectly regulate HbA1c levels by interacting with rice, wheat, and red meat.