Armeniacae Semen Amarum， the dried mature seeds of plants such as Prunus armeniaca var. ansu （Rosaceae）， have a long history for medicinal use. Modern research indicates that the core active compounds of Armeniacae Semen Amarum， such as amygdalin， fatty acids， and volatile oils， exhibit multiple pharmacological effects including antitussive， bronchodilatory， anti-inflammatory， antioxidant， antitumor， antifibrotic， and immunomodulatory effects. Consequently， their potential applications in treating respiratory diseases， tumors， tissue injury， and metabolic disorders have garnered significant attention. However， a systematic integrated analysis of the relationship between the traditional efficacy， modern pharmacology， key material basis， and multi-pathway mechanisms of Armeniacae Semen Amarum remains lacking. Using bibliometric methods combined with CiteSpace visualization technology， this study systematically summarizes the research hotspots on Armeniacae Semen Amarum and its representative component amygdalin， including the key roles in inflammation regulation， apoptosis induction， cell cycle arrest， oxidative stress balance， and fibrosis modulation. This article reviews the research progress in Armeniacae Semen Amarum across from four major dimensions—traditional applications， visualization analysis， material basis， and modern pharmacological studies， providing a reference for the further basic and clinical studies of Armeniacae Semen Amarum in respiratory diseases， oncology， and immune-related disorders.

Macrophages are innate immune cells connected with the development of inflammation. Retinoic acid has previously been proved to have anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties. However, the exact mechanism through which retinoic acid modulates arthritis remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether retinoic acid ameliorates rheumatoid arthritis by modulating macrophage polarization. This study used retinoic acid to treat mice with adjuvant arthritis and evaluated anti-inflammatory effects by arthritis score, thermal nociceptive sensitization test, histopathologic examination and immunofluorescence assays. In addition, its specific anti-arthritic mechanism was investigated by flow cytometry, cell transfection and inflammatory signaling pathway assays in RAW264.7 macrophages in vitro. Retinoic acid significantly relieved joint pain and attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration in mice. Furthermore, this treatment modulated peritoneal macrophage polarization, increased levels of arginase 1, as well as decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. In vitro, we verified that retinoic acid promotes macrophage transition from the M1 to M2 type by upregulating mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase 1 (MKP-1) expression and inhibiting P38, JNK and ERK phosphorylation in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Notably, the therapeutic effects of retinoic acid were inhibited by MKP-1 knockdown. Retinoic acid exerts a significant therapeutic effect on adjuvant arthritis in mice by regulating macrophage polarization through the MKP-1/MAPK pathway, and play an important role in the treatment of rheumatic diseases.

Macrophages are innate immune cells connected with the development of inflammation. Retinoic acid has previously been proved to have anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties. However, the exact mechanism through which retinoic acid modulates arthritis remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether retinoic acid ameliorates rheumatoid arthritis by modulating macrophage polarization. This study used retinoic acid to treat mice with adjuvant arthritis and evaluated anti-inflammatory effects by arthritis score, thermal nociceptive sensitization test, histopathologic examination and immunofluorescence assays. In addition, its specific anti-arthritic mechanism was investigated by flow cytometry, cell transfection and inflammatory signaling pathway assays in RAW264.7 macrophages in vitro. Retinoic acid significantly relieved joint pain and attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration in mice. Furthermore, this treatment modulated peritoneal macrophage polarization, increased levels of arginase 1, as well as decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. In vitro, we verified that retinoic acid promotes macrophage transition from the M1 to M2 type by upregulating mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase 1 (MKP-1) expression and inhibiting P38, JNK and ERK phosphorylation in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Notably, the therapeutic effects of retinoic acid were inhibited by MKP-1 knockdown. Retinoic acid exerts a significant therapeutic effect on adjuvant arthritis in mice by regulating macrophage polarization through the MKP-1/MAPK pathway, and play an important role in the treatment of rheumatic diseases.

Macrophages are innate immune cells connected with the development of inflammation. Retinoic acid has previously been proved to have anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties. However, the exact mechanism through which retinoic acid modulates arthritis remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether retinoic acid ameliorates rheumatoid arthritis by modulating macrophage polarization. This study used retinoic acid to treat mice with adjuvant arthritis and evaluated anti-inflammatory effects by arthritis score, thermal nociceptive sensitization test, histopathologic examination and immunofluorescence assays. In addition, its specific anti-arthritic mechanism was investigated by flow cytometry, cell transfection and inflammatory signaling pathway assays in RAW264.7 macrophages in vitro. Retinoic acid significantly relieved joint pain and attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration in mice. Furthermore, this treatment modulated peritoneal macrophage polarization, increased levels of arginase 1, as well as decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. In vitro, we verified that retinoic acid promotes macrophage transition from the M1 to M2 type by upregulating mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase 1 (MKP-1) expression and inhibiting P38, JNK and ERK phosphorylation in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Notably, the therapeutic effects of retinoic acid were inhibited by MKP-1 knockdown. Retinoic acid exerts a significant therapeutic effect on adjuvant arthritis in mice by regulating macrophage polarization through the MKP-1/MAPK pathway, and play an important role in the treatment of rheumatic diseases.

Macrophages are innate immune cells connected with the development of inflammation. Retinoic acid has previously been proved to have anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties. However, the exact mechanism through which retinoic acid modulates arthritis remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether retinoic acid ameliorates rheumatoid arthritis by modulating macrophage polarization. This study used retinoic acid to treat mice with adjuvant arthritis and evaluated anti-inflammatory effects by arthritis score, thermal nociceptive sensitization test, histopathologic examination and immunofluorescence assays. In addition, its specific anti-arthritic mechanism was investigated by flow cytometry, cell transfection and inflammatory signaling pathway assays in RAW264.7 macrophages in vitro. Retinoic acid significantly relieved joint pain and attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration in mice. Furthermore, this treatment modulated peritoneal macrophage polarization, increased levels of arginase 1, as well as decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. In vitro, we verified that retinoic acid promotes macrophage transition from the M1 to M2 type by upregulating mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase 1 (MKP-1) expression and inhibiting P38, JNK and ERK phosphorylation in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Notably, the therapeutic effects of retinoic acid were inhibited by MKP-1 knockdown. Retinoic acid exerts a significant therapeutic effect on adjuvant arthritis in mice by regulating macrophage polarization through the MKP-1/MAPK pathway, and play an important role in the treatment of rheumatic diseases.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic factors of pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of children with newly diagnosed HL from January 2011 to December 2023 at four hospitals: Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University Zhangzhou Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, and Fujian Children's Hospital. Patients were categorized into low-risk (R1), intermediate-risk (R2), and high-risk (R3) groups based on HL staging and pre-treatment risk factors. The patients received ABVD regimen or Chinese Pediatric HL-2013 regimen chemotherapy. Early treatment response and long-term efficacy were assessed, and prognostic factors were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS: The overall complete response (CR) rates after 2 and 4 cycles of chemotherapy were 42% and 68%, respectively. Compared with the ABVD regimen group, patients treated with the HL-2013 regimen in the R1 group showed significantly higher CR rates after both 2 and 4 cycles (P<0.05). However, no statistically significant differences in CR rates were observed between the two regimens in the R2 and R3 groups (P>0.05). The 5-year event-free survival (EFS) rate, overall survival rate, and freedom from treatment failure rate were 83%±4%, 97%±2%, and 88%±4%, respectively. Cox analysis indicated that the presence of a large tumor mass at diagnosis and failure to achieve CR after 4 cycles of chemotherapy were independent risk factors for lower EFS rates (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Pediatric HL generally has a favorable prognosis. The presence of a large tumor mass at diagnosis and failure to achieve CR after 4 cycles of chemotherapy indicate poor prognosis.
Humans ; Hodgkin Disease/pathology* ; Male ; Child ; Female ; Adolescent ; Retrospective Studies ; Child, Preschool ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Survival Analysis ; Infant

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the molecular epidemiology of children with phenylketonuria (PKU) in Gansu, China, providing foundational data for intervention strategies. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1 159 PKU families who attended Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child Care Hospital from January 2012 to December 2024. Sanger sequencing, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, whole exome sequencing, and deep intronic variant analysis were used to analyze the PAH gene. RESULTS: For the 1 159 children with PKU, 2 295 variants were identified in 2 318 alleles, resulting in a detection rate of 99.01%. The detection rates were 100% (914/914) in 457 classic PKU families, 99.45% (907/912) in 456 mild PKU families, and 96.34% (474/492) in 246 mild hyperphenylalaninemia families. The 2 295 variants detected comprised 208 distinct mutation types, among which c.728G>A (14.95%, 343/2 295) had the highest frequency, followed by c.611A>G (4.88%, 112/2 295) and c.721C>T (4.79%, 110/2 295). The cumulative frequency of the top 23 hotspot variants reached 70.28% (1 613/2 295), and most variant alleles were detected in exon 7 (29.19%, 670/2 295). CONCLUSIONS Deep intronic variant analysis of the PAH gene can improve the genetic diagnostic rate of PKU. The development of targeted detection kits for PAH hotspot variants may enable precision screening programs and enhance preventive strategies for PKU.
Humans ; Phenylketonurias/epidemiology* ; Female ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Phenylalanine Hydroxylase/genetics* ; Mutation ; Child, Preschool ; China/epidemiology* ; Child ; Infant

OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the effect and safety of the combination of Compound Xuanju Capsules (CXC) and Western medicine (WM) in the treatment of type Ш prostatitis complicated by ED. METHODS: We searched for randomized controlled trials (RCT) on the treatment of type Ш prostatitis complicated by ED with CXC+WM or WM in the Chinese and English databases CNKI, VIP, Wanfang Digital, Duxiu Academic Search and Chaoxing Electronic Book Information Retrieval, Fangzheng Apabi Electronic Book, Google Scholar Search, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and others from their establishment to April 2024. According to the Cochrane Handbook requirement, we subjected the identified RCTs to meta-analysis using the RevMan 5.3 software. RESULTS: A total of 16 eligible studies were identified, involving 742 cases treated by combination therapy of CXC+WM and another 742 with WM alone. The results of meta-analysis showed that the rate of clinical effectiveness was dramatically higher in the CXC+WM than in the WM group (P<0.01, MD = 6.19, 95% CI: 4.63－8.28), and so were the IIEF-5 scores (P < 0.004, MD = 2.90, 95% CI: 0.90－4.89), while the quality of life (QOL) scores were significantly lower in the former group than in the latter (P<0.01, MD = －1.94, 95% CI: －2.47－－1.40), and so were the NIH-CPSI scores (P<0.01, MD = －3.92, 95% CI: －4.94－－2.91). No statistically significant difference was reported in the adverse reactions between the two groups (P = 0.12, MD = 0.03, 95% CI: －0.01－0.08). Publication bias analysis on the effectiveness rate of the results revealed an incomplete symmetry between the two sides of the funnel plot, indicating the possibility of publication biases. CONCLUSION The combination therapy of CXC+WM is superior to WM alone in the treatment of type Ш prostatitis complicated by ED for its high safety and effect of improving the patients' erectile function, but inferior to the latter in improving the QOL and NIH-CPSI scores of the patients.
Male ; Humans ; Prostatitis/complications* ; Erectile Dysfunction/complications* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Capsules ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Treatment Outcome ; Quality of Life ; Phytotherapy

Objective To comparatively analyze the clinical characteristics of primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia(PBMAH)and adrenal cortisol-producing Adenoma(CPA),and enhance the understanding of two diseases.Methods The clinical data of 85 PBMAH patients(PBMAH group)and 195 CPA patients(CPA group)diagnosed at Department of Endocrinology,the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital,from September 2014 to August 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.The demographic characteristics,comorbidities,biochemical indicators,adrenocorticotropic hormone-cortisol(ACTH-F)levels,and adrenal imaging features and treatment conditions were compared between the two groups.Results(1)General characteristics:Compared with CPA group,PBMAH group had older age at diagnosis and a higher proportion of male patients.(2)Clinical characteristics:Compared with CPA group,PBMAH group had a longer disease duration,a higher proportion of subclinical Cushing's syndrome(CS),and a higher proportion of hypertension,impaired glucose tolerance/diabetes,bone mass reduction or osteoporosis,with higher serum potassium levels,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.01).(3)Hormone levels:Both PBMAH and CPA groups showed ACTH-F rhythm disorder,significantly increased cortisol levels and suppressed ACTH.Compared with PBMAH group,CPA group had stronger autonomous cortisol secretion ability,manifested by increased midnight serum cortisol(F0:00),16:00 serum cortisol(F16:00),24-hour urinary free cortisol(24 h UFC)levels and lower 8:00 serum ACTH(ACTH8:00)and 16:00 serum ACTH(ACTH16:00)(P<0.01).After low-dose dexamethasone suppression test(LDDST),CPA group showed lower suppression rates of ACTH and cortisol,and higher proportions of paradoxical elevation in serum cortisol and 24 h UFC compared with PBMAH(P<0.01).Conclusions PBMAH has a longer disease course and higher proportions of comorbid metabolic disorders than CPA,mostly manifested as subclinical Cushing's syndrome.CPA has stronger autonomous cortisol secretion ability,with cortisol less likely to be suppressed after LDDST and more obvious paradoxical elevation of cortisol and 24 h UFC.

Objective To understand the implementation status of"Diagnosis of Ascariasis"(WS/T 565-2017)and provide a scientific basis for promoting,revising,and improving the Standard.Methods Using the convenient sampling method,the investigation targeted professional and technical personnel at the provincial,city,county,and township levels engaged in parasitic disease prevention,control,or diagnosis and treatment in Anhui and Sichuan provinces.No less than 150 individuals were included in each province.The implementation survey of Diagnosis of Ascariasis(WS/T 565-2017)was conducted by the subjects completing a questionnaire by themselves.Results The response rate to the questionnaire was 91.90%(386/420).The awareness and utilization rates of the Standard were 81.87%and 49.22%,respectively and both increased with age(χ2 trend=7.977 and 19.016,respectively,P＜0.01).Respondents with college degrees(90.72%)had a higher awareness rate(χ2=8.619,P＜0.05).In terms of utilization rate,males(58.38%),those with college degrees(67.01%),staff members of provincial-level units(77.78%),and personnel in medical institutions(71.43%)had higher utilization rates(χ2=13.486,17.166,8.426,and 5.956,respectively,all P＜0.05).The survey indicated that 57.77%of the work units of respondents have conducted promotional activities,and 53.89%of the work units of respondents have sent personnel to participate in training.Moreover,this proportion tended to increase as the unit level decreased(χ2 trend=9.403 and 14.729,P＜0.01).The level of participation in publicity and training by medical institutions(89.29%)was significantly higher than that of disease control institutions(55.31%and 51.12%,respectively,χ2=12.290 and 15.225,P＜0.01).Furthermore,training participation is a crucial factor in enhancing awareness rates.A total of 368 respondents(95.34%)reported that their work units have conducted testing for ascariasis.Additionally,378 individuals(97.92%)believe that the Standard is"applicable"or"basically applicable,"while 369(95.60%)felt that no revisions were needed.Conclusions The results indicated that"Diagnosis of Ascariasis"(WS/T 565-2017)remains applicable to the diagnostic needs of ascariasis and it is recommended to strengthen its promotion and implementation.