Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with worldwide prevalence,primarily characterized by epidermal hyperplasia,abnormal keratinization,and immune cell infiltration,with a significant negative impact on patients' quality of life and mental well-being.The onset of psoriasis is closely associated with genetic susceptibility,immune dysregulation,and environmental factors.Despite research progress into the pathogenesis of psoriasis,existing treatment method still face problems including limited efficacy and obvious side effects.There is thus an urgent need for an in-depth analysis of its pathological network and the development of novel interventional strategies.The imiquimod-induced psoriasis animal model has accordingly become a crucial tool for studying psoriasis owing to its high reproducibility and excellent pathological simulation.This review systematically summarizes the core mechanism of action of the imiquimod-induced psoriasis model,expounds on the molecular basis of its action via pathways such as the cascade reaction of the core immune-inflammatory axis,the multi-regulatory network of downstream synergistic mechanisms,and the interaction between host and environmental factors.Research based on this model has successfully verified the therapeutic effects of various targeted therapies and natural products on psoriasis,demonstrating its important application value in therapeutic interventional research.We also discuss the limitations of the imiquimod-induced psoriasis model,and indicate future research directions,with the aim of providing references for further in-depth research and the treatment of psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with worldwide prevalence,primarily characterized by epidermal hyperplasia,abnormal keratinization,and immune cell infiltration,with a significant negative impact on patients' quality of life and mental well-being.The onset of psoriasis is closely associated with genetic susceptibility,immune dysregulation,and environmental factors.Despite research progress into the pathogenesis of psoriasis,existing treatment method still face problems including limited efficacy and obvious side effects.There is thus an urgent need for an in-depth analysis of its pathological network and the development of novel interventional strategies.The imiquimod-induced psoriasis animal model has accordingly become a crucial tool for studying psoriasis owing to its high reproducibility and excellent pathological simulation.This review systematically summarizes the core mechanism of action of the imiquimod-induced psoriasis model,expounds on the molecular basis of its action via pathways such as the cascade reaction of the core immune-inflammatory axis,the multi-regulatory network of downstream synergistic mechanisms,and the interaction between host and environmental factors.Research based on this model has successfully verified the therapeutic effects of various targeted therapies and natural products on psoriasis,demonstrating its important application value in therapeutic interventional research.We also discuss the limitations of the imiquimod-induced psoriasis model,and indicate future research directions,with the aim of providing references for further in-depth research and the treatment of psoriasis.

Objective:To investigate blood glucose management in elderly diabetic patients and the factors that affected achieving high rates of achieving it.Methods:The quality of blood glucose control by elderly diabetic patients who visited five community health service centers in Beijing in June 2022 was surveyed retrospectively using a questionnaire.Participants were divided into the high-quality group and not high-quality groups by the criteria of glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA 1C)<7% without hypoglycemia and weight gain.Single factor analysis and multiple-stepwise Logistic regression analysis were used to identify the relative risk of factors affecting the achievement of good glucose management. Results:A total of 287 valid questionnaires were collected, including 80 cases(27.9%)in the high-quality group and 207 cases(72.1%)in the not high-quality group.There were significant differences in sex, course of disease, occurrence of hypoglycemia, number of chronic complications, medication, alcohol consumption, dietary changes, missed medication doses, prolonged outpatient visit intervals, and depressive mood between the two groups( P<0.05).Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that insulin use, missed medication ≥ 1 time/week, and prolonged outpatient visit intervals were independent risk factors for good control( P<0.05). Conclusions:The percentage of elderly diabetes patients with good blood glucose control was low.Factors affecting the rate included insulin use, medication compliance, and prolonged outpatient visit intervals.

Objective To investigate the effect of renal denervation on cardiac function and sympa-thetic nerve remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR).Methods Sixteen SPF male SHRs were randomly and equally divided into renal denervation(RDN)group and sham operation group,and 8 SPF Wistar-Kyoto(WKY)rats served as the normotensive control group.Blood pressure and heart rate of each group were non-invasively recorded every two weeks.In 8 weeks after the RDN procedure,mean arterial pressure was recorded after carotid artery catheterization,and heart rate variability,including low-frequency power(LF),high-frequency power(HF),and LF/HF ratio,was detected with electrocardiography.Cardiac function was assessed using echocar-diography(ECG),with indicators such as left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),left ventricu-lar fractional shortening(LVFS),left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDD),and left ven-tricular end-systolic diameter(LVESD).HE staining was used to assess myocardial injury,while immunohistochemical staining was employed to detect myocardial tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)density.RT-PCR was performed to measure the mRNA expression of IL-1β and TNF-α.Results The SBP before surgery,as well as at 2,4,6,and 8 weeks post-surgery,and the mean arterial pressure(MAP)were significantly higher in the sham operation and RDN groups than the control group,while,the MAP in the RDN group at 2,4,6,and 8 weeks post-surgery was significantly lower than that in the sham operation group(P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,the sham operation group showed significant increases in LVEDD,LVESD,heart weight-to-body weight ratio,myocardial TH,LF and LF/HF ratio,and myocardial IL-1β and TNF-α expression,while HF,LVEF,and LVFS were significantly reduced(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Compared with the sham operation group,the RDN group showed significant increases in LVEF[(83.32±2.34)％vs(75.33±2.46)％,P＜0.05],LVFS[(45.57±2.42)％vs(38.42±1.64)％,P＜0.05],and HF(66.73±2.33 vs 60.23±1.54,P＜0.01).Meanwhile,LVESD[(3.56±0.34)mm vs(4.33±0.36)mm,P＜0.05],LVEDD[(6.43±0.38)mm vs(7.23±0.42)mm,P＜0.05],heart weight-to-body weight ratio(3.52±0.16 vs 3.82±0.22,P＜0.05),myocardial TH(0.15±0.01 vs 0.19±0.02,P＜0.05),LF[(15.55±1.08)％vs(19.91±1.79)％,P＜0.01]and LF/HF ratio(0.23±0.01 vs 0.33±0.03,P＜0.01),and the mRNA levels of myocardial IL-1β(2.47±0.15 vs 3.12±0.18,P＜0.05)and TNF-a(3.15±0.21 vs 3.79±0.17,P＜0.05)were significantly reduced.Conclusion RDN can reduce blood pressure in SHR,improve cardiac structure and function,and inhibit cardi-ac sympathetic nerve remodeling,which may be through alleviating neuroinflammation.

Objective To investigate the effect of renal denervation on cardiac function and sympa-thetic nerve remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR).Methods Sixteen SPF male SHRs were randomly and equally divided into renal denervation(RDN)group and sham operation group,and 8 SPF Wistar-Kyoto(WKY)rats served as the normotensive control group.Blood pressure and heart rate of each group were non-invasively recorded every two weeks.In 8 weeks after the RDN procedure,mean arterial pressure was recorded after carotid artery catheterization,and heart rate variability,including low-frequency power(LF),high-frequency power(HF),and LF/HF ratio,was detected with electrocardiography.Cardiac function was assessed using echocar-diography(ECG),with indicators such as left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),left ventricu-lar fractional shortening(LVFS),left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDD),and left ven-tricular end-systolic diameter(LVESD).HE staining was used to assess myocardial injury,while immunohistochemical staining was employed to detect myocardial tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)density.RT-PCR was performed to measure the mRNA expression of IL-1β and TNF-α.Results The SBP before surgery,as well as at 2,4,6,and 8 weeks post-surgery,and the mean arterial pressure(MAP)were significantly higher in the sham operation and RDN groups than the control group,while,the MAP in the RDN group at 2,4,6,and 8 weeks post-surgery was significantly lower than that in the sham operation group(P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,the sham operation group showed significant increases in LVEDD,LVESD,heart weight-to-body weight ratio,myocardial TH,LF and LF/HF ratio,and myocardial IL-1β and TNF-α expression,while HF,LVEF,and LVFS were significantly reduced(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Compared with the sham operation group,the RDN group showed significant increases in LVEF[(83.32±2.34)％vs(75.33±2.46)％,P＜0.05],LVFS[(45.57±2.42)％vs(38.42±1.64)％,P＜0.05],and HF(66.73±2.33 vs 60.23±1.54,P＜0.01).Meanwhile,LVESD[(3.56±0.34)mm vs(4.33±0.36)mm,P＜0.05],LVEDD[(6.43±0.38)mm vs(7.23±0.42)mm,P＜0.05],heart weight-to-body weight ratio(3.52±0.16 vs 3.82±0.22,P＜0.05),myocardial TH(0.15±0.01 vs 0.19±0.02,P＜0.05),LF[(15.55±1.08)％vs(19.91±1.79)％,P＜0.01]and LF/HF ratio(0.23±0.01 vs 0.33±0.03,P＜0.01),and the mRNA levels of myocardial IL-1β(2.47±0.15 vs 3.12±0.18,P＜0.05)and TNF-a(3.15±0.21 vs 3.79±0.17,P＜0.05)were significantly reduced.Conclusion RDN can reduce blood pressure in SHR,improve cardiac structure and function,and inhibit cardi-ac sympathetic nerve remodeling,which may be through alleviating neuroinflammation.

The outbreak of COVID-19 as an acute communicable disease has also changed the epidemiological status of diabetes mellitus and other noncommunicable chronic diseases. During the COVID-19 epidemic period, it was observed that there were increased morbidity of diabetes, difficulties in blood sugar control and increased acute complications for diabetic patients. This may be attributed to lifestyle changes during the epidemics, such as the reduced exercise time and increased sedentary time, more snacks and sugary food intake, as well as anxiety and depression. However, it is not known the long-term impact of COVID-19 epidemic on the management of diabetic patients, so it is necessary to closely monitor the exposed diabetic patients in the future.

Objective:To investigate changes in the self-management ability of chronic diseases in elderly diabetic patients during the novel coronavirus pneumonia pandemic.Methods:A multi-stage cluster sampling method was used to retrospectively collect diabetes management information from elderly diabetic patients treated in five community health service centers in Beijing in June 2022, including 295 elderly diabetic patients, and changes in management of their self-care practices such as diet, exercise, medical treatment and medication, blood glucose monitoring, complication management, and psychological states before and after the outbreak(2019-2022)were analyzed.Results:In 295 elderly diabetic patients, increased glycated hemoglobin( P<0.05)and body mass index(BMI)( P<0.05)were observed during the pandemic.Among 115 patients with underlying diabetic complications, 75.7%(87)of patients had worsening symptoms of chronic complications of diabetes and a shortened weekly exercise time[124(60, 300)min vs.140(60, 300)min, Z=6.00, P<0.05].The number of weekly blood glucose tests was reduced(5.6±4.2 vs.5.8±4.3, t=3.17, P<0.05).The weekly time spent interacting with family members increased( P<0.05).There were no significant differences in body weight, sleep time, and number of times of forgetting to take medication per week before and after the outbreak( P>0.05).21.0% of patients had a decrease in the number of hospital visits, and 72.2% of patients experienced low mood and increased adverse psychological emotions during the pandemic. Conclusions:The pandemic has had a negative impact on the management of chronic diseases in elderly diabetic patients, mainly reflected in the reduction of exercise time and blood glucose monitoring.It also affected regular hospital visits of patients, resulting in negative psychological emotions, poor blood glucose control, increased BMI, and aggravated symptoms of chronic complications, compared with their pre-pandemic conditions.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease, in which the abnormality of glucose and lipid metabolism may cause multisystem damage. Sodium-glucose synergistic transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a novel type of hypoglycemic drug that can lower blood sugar level by inhibiting the absorption of glucose through renal tubules. Studies have shown that SGLT2 inhibitors also have a lowering effect on blood pressure, but the mechanism is not fully elucidated. In this article the hypotensive effects of SGLT2 inhibitors and possible mechanisms are reviewed.

Physical fitness is the basic ability necessary to meet daily living activities,including walking, running, jumping, throwing, climbing, and so on. Adequate physical fitness is essential for the prevention and management of metabolic diseases. Impaired physical fitness is common in patients with diabetes mellitus and its chronic complications. This article reviews the impact of diabetes and its complications on physical fitness, current methods for assessment and management to provide a reference for comprehensive prevention and treatment of diabetic patients.

Background/Aims: Risk of venous thrombosis is increased in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); data on Asian IBD patients is limited and status quo of thrombosis screening and prophylaxis are unknown. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the incidence, screening, prophylaxis, and risk factors for venous thrombosis among Asian IBD patients. Methods: Medical files of patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) from 17 hospitals across China between 2011 and 2016 were reviewed for venous thrombosis, use of screening and prophylaxis. A case-control study was performed among hospitalized patients with venous thrombosis and their age-, sex-matched IBD controls hospitalized around the same period; disease characteristics and known provoking factors of venous thrombosis were recorded. Risk factors were analyzed in both univariate and logistic regression analyses. Results: A total of 8,459 IBD patients were followed for 12,373 person-year. Forty-six patients (0.54%) had venous thrombosis, yielding an incidence of 37.18 per 10,000 person-year. Incidence increased with age, especially among CD. Less than 20% of patients received screening tests and 35 patients (0.41%) received prophylaxis. Severe disease flare was an independent risk factor for venous thrombosis (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: CD, 9.342 [1.813– 48.137]; UC, 5.198 [1.268–21.305]); past use of steroids and extensive involvement were 2 additional risk factors in CD and UC, respectively. Conclusions Incidence of venous thrombosis in China was 37.18 per 10,000 person-year (0.54%). Use of screening and prophylaxis were rare. Severe disease flare was an independent risk factor for thrombosis among hospitalized patients.