Background: and Purpose Vertebrobasilar fusiform aneurysms (VBFAs) carry substantial morbidity and mortality, but optimal management for unruptured VBFAs remains unclear. We compared the safety and efficacy of conservative management (CM), stent-assisted coiling (SAC), and flow diverters (FDs) in patients with unruptured VBFAs, focusing on long-term prognosis. Methods: This study included data from a nationwide Chinese cohort of patients with vertebrobasilar dissecting aneurysms. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) balanced confounders across groups. The primary outcome was poor prognosis (modified Rankin Scale score >2). Secondary outcomes included aneurysm rupture, ischemic stroke, compression symptoms, and VBFA-related deaths. Logistic regression estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: Among 1,115 patients with unruptured VBFAs, 838 (median age, 54 years; 655 men) were included. After IPTW, baseline characteristics were balanced. Median follow-up was 54 months. FD was associated with a lower risk of poor prognosis than CM (OR, 0.48 [95% CI, 0.30 to 0.77]; p=0.002), with no difference between CM and SAC. FD also reduced aneurysm rupture (OR, 0.20 [95% CI, 0.07 to 0.60]; p=0.004) and compression symptoms (OR, 0.30 [95% CI, 0.13 to 0.68]; p=0.004) versus CM. Time-to-event analyses further revealed significant differences in vertebral artery lesions and Type I–II VBFAs, whereas no significant differences were observed in basilar or vertebrobasilar junction lesions or in Type III–IV VBFAs. Conclusions Compared with CM, FD was associated with improved long-term outcomes in unruptured VBFAs, particularly in vertebral artery lesions and Type I–II VBFAs, although residual confounding cannot be excluded.

Objective:To study the effects of epidermal growth factor(EGF)on the coordinated motor behaviors and changes of nigrostriatal dopaminergic system under the impact of EGF in middle-aged rats.Methods:Healthy aged Sprague Dawley(SD)rats were subcutaneously administered EGF(0.1 mg/ml)in the dorsal region for 7 days.Adhe-sive removal test,tapered beam walking test and descending a wire mesh pole test were performed to detect the changes in the coordinated motor behaviors of rats as well as changes in the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)and dopa-mine transporter(DAT)of nigrostriatal dopaminergic system in rats.Results:Middle-aged rats showed reduced behav-ioral parameters of adhesive removal test,tapered beam walking test and descending a wire mesh pole test compared with those of adult rats(P<0.05),which were improved after treatment with EGF(P<0.05).The expression of TH and DAT in nigrostriatal dopaminergic system was down-regulated in middle-aged rats compared with that in adult rats(P<0.01),however,which were up-regulated after treatment with EGF(P<0.01).Conclusion:EGF can amelio-rate the decline in coordinated motor behaviors and increases the activity of nigrostriatal dopaminergic system in middle-aged rats.

Objective:To study the effects of epidermal growth factor(EGF)on the coordinated motor behaviors and changes of nigrostriatal dopaminergic system under the impact of EGF in middle-aged rats.Methods:Healthy aged Sprague Dawley(SD)rats were subcutaneously administered EGF(0.1 mg/ml)in the dorsal region for 7 days.Adhe-sive removal test,tapered beam walking test and descending a wire mesh pole test were performed to detect the changes in the coordinated motor behaviors of rats as well as changes in the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)and dopa-mine transporter(DAT)of nigrostriatal dopaminergic system in rats.Results:Middle-aged rats showed reduced behav-ioral parameters of adhesive removal test,tapered beam walking test and descending a wire mesh pole test compared with those of adult rats(P<0.05),which were improved after treatment with EGF(P<0.05).The expression of TH and DAT in nigrostriatal dopaminergic system was down-regulated in middle-aged rats compared with that in adult rats(P<0.01),however,which were up-regulated after treatment with EGF(P<0.01).Conclusion:EGF can amelio-rate the decline in coordinated motor behaviors and increases the activity of nigrostriatal dopaminergic system in middle-aged rats.

This study aims to determine the therapeutic effect and then elucidate the molecular mechanism of Dietary Yangrong Decoction(DYRT)on blood deficiency syndrome based on net-work pharmacology and study its active compounds.The molecular mechanism of DYRT in the treatment of blood deficiency syndrome was predicted by network pharmacology.The blood defi-ciency of rats was established using cyclophosphamide and acetophenohydrazine jointly,which was divided into a blank control group,a model group,a Men's Yangrong Decoction group(MYRT)(positive control group),a medicinal group and food-based Yangrong Decoction group.The active components were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(HPLC-MS),the periph-eral hemogram was detected by an automatic biochemical analyzer,the levels of hematopoietic regulatory factors in serum were determined by ELISA,and the relative expression of EPO in kid-ney and PI3K,AKT,GM-CSF in bone marrow were measured by RT-PCR.The results showed that DYRT had 57 active ingredients and 128 potential targets for the treatment of spleen deficien-cy syndrome.1 835 items were obtained by GO enrichment analysis,and 20 pathways were ob-tained by KEGG enrichment analysis;DYRT and MYRT were identified by HPLC-MS to contain 12 same blood active compounds.Animal experiments showed that,compared with the model group,the number of red blood cells,the number of platelets and the content of hemoglobin in the DYRT group were significantly increased,and the number of white blood cells was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The contents of EPO,IL-3,IL-6 and GM-CSF in serum were significantly in-creased,and the content of TNF-α was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The relative expression levels of EPO in kidney and PI3K,AKT and GM-CSF mRNA in bone marrow were significantly increased(P＜0.05).Compared with the MYRT group,the number of white blood cells in the DYRT group was significantly reduced,the content of GM-CSF in serum was significantly in-creased,and the content of EPO and GM-CSF mRNA was significantly increased(P＜0.05).In conclusion,DYRT contains the same active compounds as MYRT,which can regulate hematopoi-etic factors,thereby activating the PI3K/AKT pathway to restore hematopoietic function and im-prove the blood deficiency state of the body.

Depression is a highly heterogeneous psychiatric disorder with complex pathogenesis influenced by the interplay of biological,psychological,and social-environmental factors.Based on the 2021 edition of the Chinese Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Depressive Disorders,which explicitly identify gender as a significant risk factor for depression onset,this paper systematically reviews the gender-differentiated pathogenesis and therapeutic advances in depression from both traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)and Western medical perspectives.In Western medicine,a large number of studies have demonstrated the sex-specific mechanism of estrogen/testosterone fluctuations and monoamine transmitter system regulation.While in TCM,although the constitution theory proposes that there are significant gender differences in congenital constitution and that qi depression and qi deficiency are associated with susceptibility to depression,current evidence primarily relies on cross-sectional surveys and lacks validation through high-quality RCTs.Compared with Western medicine,the direct research on gender-differentiated antidepressant effects in TCM remains relatively underdeveloped.In future study,it may be possible to deepen and improve the research on anti-depression in TCM from the biological markers of particular constitutions in the gender dimension.This paper advocates establishing a bio-psycho-social integrated intervention model,advancing mechanistic exploration through prospective cohort studies and multi-omics technologies,and promoting precision diagnosis and treatment systems based on gender differences,and to form a three-dimensional diagnosis and treatment and research system that covers biomarkers,social role assessment,and TCM constitution identification,in order to provide a new theoretical framework and a practical pathway for the precise medical treatment of depression.

AIM To investigate the tumor-suppressive mechanism of Guiqi Yiyuan Extract combined with cisplatin in Lewis lung cancer mice.METHODS Ten intact C57BL/6J mice were assigned to the blank group.Sixty additional mice were developed into Lewis lung cancer models bearing transplanted tumor and subsequently allocated into the model group,the cisplatin group(5 mg/kg),the high-dose Guiqi Yiyuan Extract group(6.6 g/kg),and the low-dose,medium-dose and high-dose Guiqi Yiyuan Extract combined with cisplatin group(1.6,3.3,6.6 g/kg+5 mg/kg),with 10 mice in each group.Mice in the blank and model groups received saline via daily gavage,while treatment groups were administered Guiqi Yiyuan Extract orally(once daily),and cisplatin injection intraperitoneally(once every other day).After 14 days of drug administration,mice were euthanized for endpoint analysis.The following assessments were conducted:general health status and body weight changes monitored throughout the study period;tumor excision and weighing for inhibition rate calculation;histopathological examination of tumors via hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining;serum quantification of IL-1 β,IL-18 and HMGB1 by ELISA;ultrastructural analysis of tumor cell death using transmission electron microscopy(TEM);spatial localization of TXNIP and GSDMD-N in tumor sections via immunofluorescence(IF);and Western blot detection of TXNIP,NLRP3,Caspase-1,cleaved Caspase-1,GSDMD,GSDMD-N protein expressions in tumor tissues.RESULTS Compared to the model group,the cisplatin group and all combination therapy groups exhibited significant reduction in tumor weight(P＜0.05)and increased tumor suppression rate;enhanced tumor tissue necrosis with characteristic pyroptotic morphology;elevated serum levels of IL-1β,IL-18 and HMGB1(P＜0.05);and upregulated expressions of pyroptosis-associated proteins TXNIP,NLRP3,Caspase-1,cleaved Caspase-1,GSDMD and GSDMD-N(P＜0.05).The high dose combination group demonstrated optimal therapeutic efficacy(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION Guiqi Yiyuan Extract enhances cisplatin sensitivity,demonstrating synergistic anti-tumor effects in Lewis lung carcinoma-bearing mice.This combinatorial therapeutic effect likely involves modulation of the TXNIP/NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway.

This study aims to determine the therapeutic effect and then elucidate the molecular mechanism of Dietary Yangrong Decoction(DYRT)on blood deficiency syndrome based on net-work pharmacology and study its active compounds.The molecular mechanism of DYRT in the treatment of blood deficiency syndrome was predicted by network pharmacology.The blood defi-ciency of rats was established using cyclophosphamide and acetophenohydrazine jointly,which was divided into a blank control group,a model group,a Men's Yangrong Decoction group(MYRT)(positive control group),a medicinal group and food-based Yangrong Decoction group.The active components were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(HPLC-MS),the periph-eral hemogram was detected by an automatic biochemical analyzer,the levels of hematopoietic regulatory factors in serum were determined by ELISA,and the relative expression of EPO in kid-ney and PI3K,AKT,GM-CSF in bone marrow were measured by RT-PCR.The results showed that DYRT had 57 active ingredients and 128 potential targets for the treatment of spleen deficien-cy syndrome.1 835 items were obtained by GO enrichment analysis,and 20 pathways were ob-tained by KEGG enrichment analysis;DYRT and MYRT were identified by HPLC-MS to contain 12 same blood active compounds.Animal experiments showed that,compared with the model group,the number of red blood cells,the number of platelets and the content of hemoglobin in the DYRT group were significantly increased,and the number of white blood cells was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The contents of EPO,IL-3,IL-6 and GM-CSF in serum were significantly in-creased,and the content of TNF-α was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The relative expression levels of EPO in kidney and PI3K,AKT and GM-CSF mRNA in bone marrow were significantly increased(P＜0.05).Compared with the MYRT group,the number of white blood cells in the DYRT group was significantly reduced,the content of GM-CSF in serum was significantly in-creased,and the content of EPO and GM-CSF mRNA was significantly increased(P＜0.05).In conclusion,DYRT contains the same active compounds as MYRT,which can regulate hematopoi-etic factors,thereby activating the PI3K/AKT pathway to restore hematopoietic function and im-prove the blood deficiency state of the body.

Depression is a highly heterogeneous psychiatric disorder with complex pathogenesis influenced by the interplay of biological,psychological,and social-environmental factors.Based on the 2021 edition of the Chinese Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Depressive Disorders,which explicitly identify gender as a significant risk factor for depression onset,this paper systematically reviews the gender-differentiated pathogenesis and therapeutic advances in depression from both traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)and Western medical perspectives.In Western medicine,a large number of studies have demonstrated the sex-specific mechanism of estrogen/testosterone fluctuations and monoamine transmitter system regulation.While in TCM,although the constitution theory proposes that there are significant gender differences in congenital constitution and that qi depression and qi deficiency are associated with susceptibility to depression,current evidence primarily relies on cross-sectional surveys and lacks validation through high-quality RCTs.Compared with Western medicine,the direct research on gender-differentiated antidepressant effects in TCM remains relatively underdeveloped.In future study,it may be possible to deepen and improve the research on anti-depression in TCM from the biological markers of particular constitutions in the gender dimension.This paper advocates establishing a bio-psycho-social integrated intervention model,advancing mechanistic exploration through prospective cohort studies and multi-omics technologies,and promoting precision diagnosis and treatment systems based on gender differences,and to form a three-dimensional diagnosis and treatment and research system that covers biomarkers,social role assessment,and TCM constitution identification,in order to provide a new theoretical framework and a practical pathway for the precise medical treatment of depression.

Objective:To investigate the assoication of amino acid metabolism levels with severity of diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 118 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were admitted to Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January to April 2021. Patients were divided into groups according to the Toronto Clinical Scoring System(TCSS), and amino acid profiling was performed. General demographics and biochemical indicators of each group were collected to analyze the relationship between DPN severity and amino acid metabolism.Results:As TCSS scores increased, patients were older and had a longer duration of diabetes. Statistically significant differences in leucine, isoleucine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine levels were observed among the four groups. After adjusting for confounding variables using covariance analysis, when the TCSS score was≥13, the serum phenylalanine level was significantly elevated, and the difference was statistically significant( P<0.05). Multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that TCSS score was an influencing factor for phenylalanine levels( P=0.010). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that higher serum phenylalanine levels correlated with higher TCSS scores( OR=1.047, 95% CI 1.011-1.083, P=0.010). Receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve analysis revealed that serum phenylalanine and the difference between phenylalanine and tryptophan had diagnostic value for severe DPN patients, with areas under the ROC curve of 0.673(95% CI 0.553-0.793, P=0.006) and 0.746(95% CI 0.641-0.852, P<0.001) respectively. Conclusions:The levels of phenylalanine and tryptophan in the serum of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are correlated with the severity of DPN. These findings suggest that serum phenylalanine, tryptophan, or their metabolic products may be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of DPN.

OBJECTIVE: To reveal the molecular basis of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) with Yang deficiency and blood stasis syndrome by analyzing the gene expression profiles in synovial fluid and blood of KOA patients with this syndrome. METHODS: A total of 80 KOA patients were recruited from October 2022 to June 2024, including 40 cases in the non-Yang deficiency and blood stasis group (27 males and 13 females), with an average age of (61.75±3.45) years old;and 40 cases in the Yang deficiency and blood stasis group (22 males and 18 females), with an average age of (62.00±2.76) years old. The levels of body mass index (BMI), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), fibrinogen, total cholesterol, and D-dimer were recorded and summarized. Blood and synovial fluid samples from patients were collected for gene expression profile microarray sequencing, and then PCR and immunohistochemistry were used for clinical verification on the patients' synovial fluid and cartilage samples. RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis showed that compared with KOA patients with non-Yang deficiency and blood stasis syndrome, those with Yang deficiency and blood stasis syndrome had increased BMI, LDL, fibrinogen, total cholesterol, and D-dimer, and decreased HDL, with a clear correlation between the two groups. There were 562 differential genes in the blood, among which 322 were up-regulated and 240 were down-regulated;755 differential genes were found in the synovial fluid, with 350 up-regulated and 405 down-regulated. KEGG signaling pathway analysis of synovial fluid revealed changes in lipid metabolism-related pathways, including cholesterol metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and PPARG signaling pathway. Analysis of the involved differential genes identified 6 genes in synovial fluid that were closely related to lipid metabolism, namely LRP1, LPL, ACOT6, TM6SF2, DGKK, and PPARG. Subsequently, PCR and immunohistochemical verification were performed using synovial fluid and cartilage samples, and the results were consistent with those of microarray sequencing. CONCLUSION This study explores the clinical and genomic correlation between traditional Chinese medicine syndromes and knee osteoarthritis from the perspective of lipid metabolism, and proves that abnormal lipid metabolism is closely related to KOA with Yang deficiency and blood stasis syndrome from both clinical and basic aspects.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Synovial Fluid/metabolism* ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/metabolism* ; Yang Deficiency/complications* ; Aged