ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Xiezhuo Jiedu prescription in the treatment of ulcerative colitis （UC） by inhibiting ferroptosis and alleviating intestinal mucosal injury based on the nuclear factor E₂ related factor 2/solute carrier family 7 member/glutathione peroxidase 4 （Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4） signaling pathway. MethodsA total of 60 male SD rats were divided into a normal group， a model group， high- and low-dose Xiezhuo Jiedu prescription groups （26.64 and 13.32 g·kg^-1， respectively）， a ferroptosis inhibitor group （Ferrostatin-1， 0.005 g·kg^-1）， and a mesalazine group （0.27 g·kg^-1）， with 10 rats in each group. A UC rat model was established by intrarectal administration of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid （TNBS）-ethanol. The normal group and the model group were intragastrically administered normal saline. The other groups were given intragastric administration according to the corresponding dosage for 7 d. The general condition， disease activity index （DAI） score， colon length， and mucosal injury index （CDMI） score were observed in each group. The pathological changes of colon tissue in each group were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. The intestinal mucosa and mitochondrial morphology in each group were observed by transmission electron microscopy. The expression levels of Occludin， Claudin-1， mucin 2 （MUC2）， and E-cadherin in intestinal tissue were detected by immunofluorescence （IF）. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the expression levels of serum tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and interleukin-10 （IL-10） in each group， and a lactic acid assay kit or ELISA was employed to detect the expression levels of reactive oxygen species （ROS）， ferrous ions （Fe²⁺）， glutathione （GSH）， malondialdehyde （MDA）， 4-hydroxynonenal （4-HNE）， diamine oxidase （DAO）， and D-lactate （D-LA）. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was applied to detect the mRNA expression levels of Nrf2， SLC7A11， GPX4， Occludin， Claudin-1， MUC2， and E-cadherin in each group， and Western blot was adopted to detect the protein expression levels of Nrf2， p-Nrf2， SLC7A11， and GPX4 in each group. ResultsCompared with the normal group， rats in the model group exhibited listlessness， sluggish response， and mucopurulent and bloody stools. The model group also showed significantly increased DAI score， colon length， CDMI score， and expression levels of TNF-α， IL-6， ROS， Fe²⁺， MDA， 4-HNE， DAO， and D-LA （P<0.01）. In addition， it presented significantly decreased IF values of Occludin， Claudin-1， MUC2， and E-cadherin and mRNA and protein expression levels of IL-10， GSH， Nrf2， p-Nrf2， SLC7A11， and GPX4 （P<0.01）. There were different degrees of improvement in each administration group after treatment， and the improvement was the most significant in the high-dose Xiezhuo Jiedu prescription group （P<0.01）. ConclusionXiezhuo Jiedu prescription may alleviate intestinal mucosal injury by inhibiting ferroptosis of intestinal epithelial cells via regulating the Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 signaling pathway， thereby exhibiting efficacy in the treatment of UC.

Objective To explore the clinical value of preoperative assessment and intraoperative frozen section pathology in screening patients suitable for testicular preservation surgery, so as to provide reference for reducing unnecessary radical orchiectomy in patients with benign testicular tumors. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 121 patients who underwent surgical treatment for testicular tumors in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University during Jan. 2021 and Sep. 2025. Data were collected, including demographic information, preoperative imaging, serum tumor markers, surgical procedures, intraoperative frozen section, postoperative pathology, and postoperative testicular volume changes. Results Among the 121 patients, 105 underwent radical orchiectomy, with 91 malignant and 14 benign cases confirmed by postoperative pathology; 16 received testicular tumor enucleation, all confirmed as benign. Benign lesions accounted for 24.79% (30/121) of all cases. In patients undergoing tumor enucleation, intraoperative frozen section results were fully consistent with final pathological findings. Conclusion Preoperative differentiation between benign and malignant testicular tumors is crucial for selecting the appropriate surgical approach. For patients with preoperative findings suggesting benign lesions, testicular tumor enucleation combined with intraoperative frozen section can achieve precise treatment while maximizing testicular preservation.

BACKGROUND: Death burden of stroke is severe with over one-third rural residents in China, but there is still a lack of specific national and high-quality reports on the urban-rural differences in stroke burden, especially for subtypes. We aimed to update the understanding of urban-rural differences in stroke deaths. METHODS: This is a descriptive observational study. Data from the national mortality surveillance system, which covers 323.8 million with 605 disease surveillance points (DSPs) across all 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China. All deaths from stroke as the underlying cause from 2015 to 2020 according to DSPs. Crude mortality rate and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) were estimated through DSPs. Average annual percentage change was used to explain the change in mortality rate. RESULTS: From 2015 to 2020, the majority of deaths from all stroke subtypes occurred in rural areas. There were significant differences between the changes of urban and rural ASMRs. On the whole, the changes in urban areas were evidently better, and the ASMR differences were basically expanding. Stroke ASMR in urban China decreased by 15.5%. The rural ASMR of ischemic stroke increased by 12.9%. The rural and urban ASMRs of intracerebral hemorrhage decreased by 24.9% and 27.4%, and those of subarachnoid hemorrhage decreased by 29.5% and 40.4%, respectively. The highest ASMRs of all stroke subtypes and the increasing trend of ischemic stroke ASMR make rural males the focus of stroke management. CONCLUSIONS The death burden of stroke varies greatly between urban and rural China. Rural residents face unique challenges.
Humans ; China/epidemiology* ; Stroke/mortality* ; Rural Population/statistics & numerical data* ; Male ; Female ; Urban Population/statistics & numerical data* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Adult

This study employed the "disease-medicine-dose" pattern to mine the medication rules of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) prescriptions containing Astragali Radix in ancient Chinese medical books, aiming to provide a scientific basis for the clinical application of Astragali Radix and the development of new medicines. The TCM prescriptions containing Astragali Radix were retrieved from databases such as Chinese Medical Dictionary and imported into Excel 2020 to construct the prescription library. Statical analysis were performed for the prescriptions regarding the indications, syndromes, medicine use frequency, herb effects, nature and taste, meridian tropism, dosage forms, and dose. SPSS statistics 26.0 and IBM SPSS Modeler 18.0 were used for association rules analysis and cluster analysis. A total of 2 297 prescriptions containing Astragali Radix were collected, involving 233 indications, among which sore and ulcer, consumptive disease, sweating disorder, and apoplexy had high frequency(>25), and their syndromes were mainly Qi and blood deficiency, Qi and blood deficiency, Yin and Yang deficiency, and Qi deficiency and collateral obstruction, respectively. In the prescriptions, 98 medicines were used with the frequency >25 and they mainly included Qi-tonifying medicines and blood-tonifying medicines. Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium were frequently used. The medicines with high frequency mainly have warm or cold nature, and sweet, pungent, or bitter taste, with tropism to spleen, lung, heart, liver, and kidney meridians. In the treatment of sore and ulcer, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 3.73 g and combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma to promote granulation and heal up sores. In the treatment of consumptive disease, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 37.30 g and combined with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma to tonify deficiency and replenish Qi. In the treatment of sweating disorder, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 3.73 g and combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma to consolidate exterior and stop sweating. In the treatment of apoplexy, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 7.46 g and combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma to dispell wind and stop convulsions. Astragali Radix can be used in the treatment of multiple system diseases, with the effects of tonifying Qi and ascending Yang, consolidating exterior and stopping sweating, and expressing toxin and promoting granulation. According to the manifestations of different diseases, when combined with other medicines, Astragali Radix was endowed with the effects of promoting granulation and healing up sores, tonifying deficiency and Qi, consolidating exterior and stopping sweating, and dispelling wind and replenishing Qi. The findings provide a theoretical reference and a scientific basis for the clinical application of Astragali Radix and the development of new medicines.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/history* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/history* ; History, Ancient ; Astragalus Plant/chemistry* ; China ; Astragalus propinquus

Objective:To explore the incidence, clinical features, genetic variant characteristics and prognosis of Glutaric acidemia type I (GA1) among neonates from Henan Province.Methods:A total of 814 625 neonates undergoing screening for inherited metabolic diseases by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2016 to December 2022 were selected as the study subjects. A retrospective method was adopted to collect the clinical data of the patients. Whole exome sequencing was carried out to detect GCDH gene variants in individuals with positive results by GA1 newborn screening, and Sanger sequencing was used to verify the candidate variants. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the pathogenicity of candidate variants was rated. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Hospital (Approval Number: 2019 Medical Ethics Review No. 67). Results:Eight cases of GA1 were diagnosed among the 814 625 neonates. Blood glutaryl carnitine (C5DC) and urine glutaric acid (GA) levels of the 8 children were higher than the normal reference values. In total 12 variants were detected, all of which were missense variants. c. 1064G>A (p.Arg355His) was the most common one, accounting for 21.4% (3/14). Three GCDH gene variants, including 1297G>C (p.Ala433Pro), c. 467G>A (p.Gly156Asp) and c. 1125T>G (p.Cys375Trp), were previously unreported. REVEL software analysis predicted that all of the three variants were harmful. 3D protein structure modeling indicated that the three variants may cause amino acid residue alterations, and c. 1297G>C (p.Ala433Pro) and c. 1125T>G (p.Cys375Trp) may result in increase in hydrogen bonds and may affect the function of GCDH protein. By December 2023, one of the eight children had deceased, and another child had severe clinical symptoms with poor prognosis. Six children had a good prognosis, of which two had mild motor development delay and four had normal development without clinical symptoms. Conclusion:The incidence of GA1 in newborns screened by MS/MS in Henan Province is 1/101 828, and the carrier rate of pathogenic GCDH variants is 1/160. The c. 1064G>A (p.Arg355His) may be the hotspot variant of the GCDH gene among children with GA1 in Henan. Discovery of the three novel variants has enriched the mutational spectrum of the GCDH gene and provide a basis for the early diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and genetic counseling of this disease.

Objective:To investigate the incidence of hypomineralized second primary molars (HSPM) and deciduous teeth caries in school-aged children of Kaifeng City, and to discuss the association between HSPM and deciduous teeth caries, providing scientific guidance for clinical prevention and treatment.Methods:A cross-sectional study was carried out on first-grade children aged 6-7 years in five primary schools chosen from the eastern, western, southern, northern, and central areas of Kaifeng City by cluster random sampling method. The European Academy of Pediatric Dentistry criteria was used for scoring HSPM. The International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS-Ⅱ) was used to evaluate caries status.Results:This cross-sectional study was with a sample of 913 children. The prevalence of HSPM was 8.76% (80/913), with 39 boys and 41 girls, the most common type of which was atypical caries [35.00% (28/80)]. Regarding the distribution of HSPM, the incidence in maxilla [6.13% (56/913)] showed no statistically significant difference with that in the mandible [5.70% (52/913)] (χ2=0.16, P=0.692). In terms of severity, 56 cases were severe and 24 cases were mild. The association between HSPM and deciduous teeth caries was analyzed. The results showed that 56 had caries on their second primary molars among the 80 HSPM children. Children with HSPM had an increased risk of second deciduous molar decay compared to non-HSPM children ( OR=1.94, 95 %CI: 1.18-3.19, P<0.05); meanwhile, the deciduous teeth of HSPM children were more prone to suffer caries than those of non-HSPM children ( OR=2.33, 95 %CI: 1.26-4.29, P<0.05). Conclusions:The HSPM prevalence in school-aged children of Kaifeng City was 8.76%. Child with HSPM was more likely to have deciduous teeth caries than non-HSPM child. Special attention should be paid to children with HSPM after the eruption of affected molars.

Objective To investigate the thyroid diseases in soldiers(aged 30 years and above)stationed on a certain island,and to clarify the value of ultrasonic diagnosis.Methods Thyroid ultrasonography was performed in 270 soldiers(aged≥30 years)stationed on an island by the high-frequency probe of the Mindray Z6 portable B-mode ultrasound diagnostic instrument.According to the C-TIRADS classification,the proportion of soldiers with thyroid nodules was calculated.Results Thyroid nodules were found in 50 soldiers(18.52%),including 29 cases(10.74%,cystic nodules)of C-TIRADS type 2,15 cases(5.56%,solid or cystic nodules)of C-TIRADS type 3,5 cases(1.85%,solid or cystic nodules)of C-TIRADS type 4a,and 1 case(0.37%,solid nodule)of C-TIRADS type 4b.Conclusion Thyroid ultrasound helps to analyze the causes of thyroid diseases,make grading assessment,and provide suggestions for soldiers stationed on islands.Not only does it clarify the necessity of thyroid ultrasonography in the physical examination,but also provides suggestions to improve the medical environment on islands.

BACKGROUND:Currently,spinal cord injury imposes a huge psychological and economic burden on patients and the National Health Service.The prevention,treatment,and rehabilitation of spinal cord injury have become an important topic in the field of medicine.Therefore,it is important to explore new effective therapeutic strategies based on an in-depth understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of spinal cord injury.OBJECTIVE:To review the research progress on the mechanism of action of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes loaded with various miRNAs in improving the function of spinal cord injury,and based on the current status of clinical translation,to put forward a few thoughts and outlooks on their clinical use.METHODS:The first author searched CNKI and PubMed databases using"mesenchymal stem cells,exosomes,spinal cord injury,miRNA,pathophysiology,clinical translation,clinical trials,good manufacturing practice"as Chinese and English search terms.The types of literature included treatises and reviews,and the language types were English and Chinese.Finally,72 papers were screened and analyzed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)This article outlines the biological properties of exosomes and the advantages that they can serve as good vectors for loading miRNAs.A variety of miRNAs mediated by mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes mainly promote the recovery of neuronal function by regulating the expression of nerve regeneration-associated proteins,repressing RAS homologous gene family member A,activating cyclophosphoadenosine effector-binding proteins,and signaling and transcriptional activation proteins 3,and regulating phosphoinositide and tensin homologue/programmed cell death factor 4 pathways.Inflammatory responses were improved by regulating endoplasmic reticulum-to-nucleus signaling 1,expression of interferon regulatory factor 5,Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-kappa B pathway,and down-regulating related pro-inflammatory factors.Angiogenesis was promoted by inhibition of germination-associated domain 1-containing EVH1 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase regulatory subunit 2.(2)Further comparative analyses revealed that miR-216-5p,miR-145-5p,and miR-146b improved inflammatory responses by regulating related pathways.Combining these miRNAs may produce more significant effects;hypoxic preconditioning may be a preconditioning method to increase the efficacy of exosomal therapy.(3)There are currently no clinical trials applying mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes to spinal cord injury,which is related to the need to meet good manufacturing practices before they can be put into clinical use.Challenges such as the need for large-scale,high-volume cell production,the lack of an efficient and uniform method for isolating exosomes,and the need to pass a strict regulatory approval mechanism prior to clinical use have impeded the clinical entry.(4)miRNAs have great potential as exosomal contents of mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of spinal cord injury,and their mechanism of action should be explored in depth as well as accelerated to the clinical trial stage in order to provide a new and effective method for the treatment of spinal cord injury.

Objective To explore the mechanism of Huanglian Ganjiang Decoction in regulating the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway through the NF-κB/CXCL1/CXCR2 pathway in ulcerative colitis(UC).Methods Sixty C57BL/6J mice were divided into normal group,model group,Huanglian Ganzhang Decoction groups(low,medium and high doses)and mesalazine group.Except for the normal group,UC models were established in the other groups.The general conditions of the mice of all groups were recorded.HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of the colon and rectum;electron microscopy was used to observe the mitochondrial condition;ELISA was used to determine the contents of IL-6,IL-10,D-lactic acid and DAO;Real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of NF-κB p65,CXCL1,CXCR2,Bcl-2 and Bax;Western blot was used to determine the protein expression levels of NF-κB p65,CXCL1,CXCR2,p-JAK2,p-STAT3,Bcl-2 and Bax.Results Compared with the normal group,the model group of mice showed a decline in condition,shortened length of the colon and rectum,and mitochondrial structural damage,furthermore,the levels of IL-6,DAO and D-lactic acid were increased,IL-10 level was decreased,the mRNA expression of NF-κB p65,CXCL1,CXCR2 and Bax were enhanced,Bcl-2 mRNA expression was weakened,the protein expression of NF-κB p65,CXCL1,CXCR2,p-JAK2,p-STAT3 and Bax were enhanced,Bcl-2 protein expression was weakened.Compared with the model group,the indexes mentioned above were reversed in the drug groups,especially in the high-dose group.Conclusion Huanglian Ganjiang Decoction may exert its therapeutic effect on UC in mice by regulating the NF-κB/CXCL1/CXCR2 pathway and mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.