Objective To investigate the mechanism by which Guijianyu ameliorates podocyte injury in a mouse model of diabetic kidney disease(DKD)induced by advanced glycation endproducts(AGEs).Methods Sixty db/db mouse models of DKD were randomized equally into 5 groups for treatment with saline,Guijianyu extract at 3 doses or irbesartan for 12 weeks,and the changes in renal pathology and structure were observed using transmission electron microscopy,and the expressions of related genes and key proteins were detected using RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry.In cultured MPC-5 cells incubated with 50 mg/L AGEs-BSA for 24 h,the effect of different concentrations of Guijianyu extract on cell viability was examined with CCK-8 assay;Western blotting was performed to detect the protein expressions of RAGE,VEGFA,TNF-α,NF-κB(p65),IL-6 and caspase-3,and the mRNA expressions of RAGE,NF-κB(p65),VEGFA and IL-6 were detected with RT-qPCR.Results In mouse models of DKD,treatment with high-dose Guijianyu extract significantly reduced renal expressions of RAGE,VEGFA,NF-κB(p65),and IL-6 proteins and the mRNA expressions of RAGE,NF-κB,and IL-6.In MPC-5 cells,exposure to AGEs significantly reduced cell viability and increased the protein expressions of RAGE,NF-κB(p65),VEGFA,TNF-α,IL-6 and caspase-3(P<0.05)and mRNA expressions of RAGE,NF-κB(p65),VEGFA,and IL-6.Treatment with Guijianyu extract obviously improved cell viability and reduced the expressions of RAGE,NF-κB(p65),VEGFA,TNF-α,IL-6,and caspase-3.Furthermore,Guijianyu extract effectively reversed RAGE agonist-induced elevation of protein expressions of RAGE,VEGFA,TNF-α,IL-6,and caspase-3 and mRNA expressions of RAGE,NF-κB(p65),IL-6,and VEGFA in MPC-5 cells.Conclusion Guijianyu extract ameliorates AGEs-induced mouse renal podocyte injury in DKD by inhibiting the activation of AGEs-RAGE signaling pathway and reducing the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and vascular endothelial growth factors.

Melatonin is widely used as an over-the-counter medication to treat insomnia in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and neurogenetic disorders (NGD). However, there is still a lack of research on its efficacy and safety, and clinical practice standards are to be established. In response, the International Pediatric Sleep Association (IPSA) convened an expert panel and developed a consensus statement:"Melatonin Use in Managing Insomnia in Children with Autism and Other Neurogenetic Disorders-an Assessment by the International Pediatric Sleep Association (IPSA)", which was published in Sleep Medicine, April 2024. The consensus focused on the efficacy and adverse effects of melatonin treatment for insomnia in children with ASD and NGD-including Smith-Magenis syndrome, Rett syndrome, Angelman syndrome, and tuberous sclerosis complex. It systematically reviews randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted between 2012 and 2022, and integrates current best clinical practices to formulate 10 consensus recommendations. Despite these contributions, the consensus has limitations: a small number of included RCTs, a lack of grading for evidence quality, and recommendation strength. Furthermore, the study population is primarily composed of children from Western countries. This article seeks to interpret the consensus to improve standardized use of melatonin for insomnia in Chinese children with ASD and NGD, and to provide a reference for the future development of localized evidence-based guidelines.

Objective To identify the key influencing factors and role mechanisms of large-scale medical equip-ment allocation decision-making in public hospitals,and to provide a reference basis for optimizing resource alloca-tion strategies.Methods Through searching the literature related to large-scale medical equipment decision-making in public hospitals and combing the policies,the system of decision-making influencing factors was initially screened.The Delphi method and decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory method were used to obtain the key influencing factors of equipment allocation decision-making and to determine the interaction effects among the factors.Results A total of seven cause factors and nine effect factors were screened.Among them,cost-benefit analysis,equipment technical performance,and evaluation of similar equipment were the top three key drivers;leadership emphasis,equipment market price,and equipment supporting facilities were the top three key con-straints.Conclusion Priority be given to strengthening the management of driving factors,mainly by conducting a full-cycle assessment of cost-effectiveness,paying attention to the clinical value output of equipment technical performance,and monitoring regionally similar equipment.A dynamic response mechanism for constraints should be established,mainly to strengthen leadership decision-making,implement a centralized procurement price nego-tiation model and improve the pre-assessment system for ancillary facilities.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the mechanism by which Guijianyu ameliorates podocyte injury in a mouse model of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) induced by advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs). METHODS: Sixty db/db mouse models of DKD were randomized equally into 5 groups for treatment with saline, Guijianyu extract at 3 doses or irbesartan for 12 weeks, and the changes in renal pathology and structure were observed using transmission electron microscopy, and the expressions of related genes and key proteins were detected using RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry. In cultured MPC-5 cells incubated with 50 mg/L AGEs-BSA for 24 h, the effect of different concentrations of Guijianyu extract on cell viability was examined with CCK-8 assay; Western blotting was performed to detect the protein expressions of RAGE, VEGFA, TNF-α, NF-κB(p65), IL-6 and caspase-3, and the mRNA expressions of RAGE, NF-κB (p65), VEGFA and IL-6 were detected with RT-qPCR. RESULTS: In mouse models of DKD, treatment with high-dose Guijianyu extract significantly reduced renal expressions of RAGE, VEGFA, NF-κB(p65), and IL-6 proteins and the mRNA expressions of RAGE, NF-κB, and IL-6. In MPC-5 cells, exposure to AGEs significantly reduced cell viability and increased the protein expressions of RAGE, NF‑κB (p65), VEGFA, TNF-α, IL-6 and caspase-3 (P<0.05) and mRNA expressions of RAGE, NF-κB (p65), VEGFA, and IL-6. Treatment with Guijianyu extract obviously improved cell viability and reduced the expressions of RAGE, NF-κB(p65), VEGFA, TNF-α, IL-6, and caspase-3. Furthermore, Guijianyu extract effectively reversed RAGE agonist-induced elevation of protein expressions of RAGE, VEGFA, TNF-α, IL-6, and caspase-3 and mRNA expressions of RAGE, NF-κB (p65), IL-6, and VEGFA in MPC-5 cells. CONCLUSIONS Guijianyu extract ameliorates AGEs-induced mouse renal podocyte injury in DKD by inhibiting the activation of AGEs-RAGE signaling pathway and reducing the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and vascular endothelial growth factors.
Animals ; Glycation End Products, Advanced ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Mice ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Podocytes/pathology* ; Diabetic Nephropathies/drug therapy* ; Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Male

Objective To identify the key influencing factors and role mechanisms of large-scale medical equip-ment allocation decision-making in public hospitals,and to provide a reference basis for optimizing resource alloca-tion strategies.Methods Through searching the literature related to large-scale medical equipment decision-making in public hospitals and combing the policies,the system of decision-making influencing factors was initially screened.The Delphi method and decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory method were used to obtain the key influencing factors of equipment allocation decision-making and to determine the interaction effects among the factors.Results A total of seven cause factors and nine effect factors were screened.Among them,cost-benefit analysis,equipment technical performance,and evaluation of similar equipment were the top three key drivers;leadership emphasis,equipment market price,and equipment supporting facilities were the top three key con-straints.Conclusion Priority be given to strengthening the management of driving factors,mainly by conducting a full-cycle assessment of cost-effectiveness,paying attention to the clinical value output of equipment technical performance,and monitoring regionally similar equipment.A dynamic response mechanism for constraints should be established,mainly to strengthen leadership decision-making,implement a centralized procurement price nego-tiation model and improve the pre-assessment system for ancillary facilities.

Melatonin is widely used as an over-the-counter medication to treat insomnia in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and neurogenetic disorders (NGD). However, there is still a lack of research on its efficacy and safety, and clinical practice standards are to be established. In response, the International Pediatric Sleep Association (IPSA) convened an expert panel and developed a consensus statement:"Melatonin Use in Managing Insomnia in Children with Autism and Other Neurogenetic Disorders-an Assessment by the International Pediatric Sleep Association (IPSA)", which was published in Sleep Medicine, April 2024. The consensus focused on the efficacy and adverse effects of melatonin treatment for insomnia in children with ASD and NGD-including Smith-Magenis syndrome, Rett syndrome, Angelman syndrome, and tuberous sclerosis complex. It systematically reviews randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted between 2012 and 2022, and integrates current best clinical practices to formulate 10 consensus recommendations. Despite these contributions, the consensus has limitations: a small number of included RCTs, a lack of grading for evidence quality, and recommendation strength. Furthermore, the study population is primarily composed of children from Western countries. This article seeks to interpret the consensus to improve standardized use of melatonin for insomnia in Chinese children with ASD and NGD, and to provide a reference for the future development of localized evidence-based guidelines.

AIM: To observe the changes of corneal densitometry(CD)in patients with keratoconus after corneal cross-linking(CXL).METHODS: Retrospective study. A total of 32 patients(43 eyes)with keratoconus in Ningxia Eye Hospital from April 2020 to April 2022 were selected. Pentacam analysis system divided the cornea into three layers: anterior 120 μm, middle layer and posterior 60 μm, and divides it into five regions with diameters of 0-2, 2-6, 6-10, 10-12 mm and full diameter according to the diameter, and measures the CD in different ranges. The changes of CD were compared before operation and at 1, 3 and 6 mo after operation.RESULTS: There were differences in uncorrected visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity and intraocular pressure before and 6 mo after operation(all P<0.05), and there was no difference in corneal endothelial cells(P=0.477). CD reached its peak at 1 mo after operation, and decreased at 3 mo and 6 mo after operation, but it was still higher than that before operation. There is a significant positive correlation between CD and Kmax in the anterior layer and the whole layer(r=0.164, P=0.016; r=0.152, P=0.023).CONCLUSION: The values of CD peaked at 1 mo after CXL, then it gradually decreased, tending to become stable at 6 mo postoperatively.

Objective To study the effects of Guizhi Shaoyao Zhimu Decoction on factors related to bone destruction and bone protection in rats with collagen-induced arthritis(CIA)based on osteopro-tegerin(OPG)/receptor activator of NF-κB ligand(RANKL)/receptor activator of NF-κB(RANK)signaling pathway.Methods According to the body weight,60 female Wistar rats were randomly di-vided into the following six groups:the normal group,the model group,the Triperygium wilfordii mul-tiglucoside group(0.01 g/kg),the Guizhi Shaoyao Zhimu Decoction low-dose group(8.6 g/kg),the Guizhi Shaoyao Zhimu Decoction medium-dose group(17.2 g/kg),and the Guizhi Shaoyao Zhimu Decoction high-dose group(34.4 g/kg)(n=10 rats per group).The rats in all groups except for the normal group were given 100 μg bovine type Ⅱ collagen on the 1st and 8th days to establish the CIA model,and was injected into the left foot sole and tail root of the rats.After the successful modeling,the rats were treated by gavage for 4 weeks.The general state,body weight,and arthritis index(AI)score of rats were recorded,and the contents of RANKL and OPG in rat serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The mRNA and protein expressions of RANKL,RANK,and OPG in the ankle joint were determined through real-time PCR and Western blotting,respectively.Results Com-pared with the normal group,the general state of the model group was poor,the toe swelling was obvious,the AI score was increased,the serum RANKL content was increased,the serum OPG content was de-creased,and the mRNA and protein expressions of RANKL and RANK in the ankle joint were increased(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the degree of toe swelling and the AI score of rats in the Guizhi Shaoyao Zhimu Decoction low-,medium-,and high-dose groups were decreased,the serum RANKL content was decreased,the serum OPG content was increased,the mRNA and protein expres-sions of RANKL and RANK in the ankle joint were decreased,the mRNA and protein expressions of OPG were increased,and the RANKL/OPG ratio of the ankle joint was decreased(P＜0.05).Conclusion Guizhi Shaoyao Zhimu Decoction can improve the destruction of joint bone in CIA rats,and its mecha-nism of action may be related to reducing RANKL level,reducing RANKL/OPG ratio,and regulating bone balance.

Objective To test the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Caregiver Contri-bution to Self-Care of Chronic Illness Inventory in the caregivers of elderly patients with COPD.Methods The general information questionnaire and the Chinese version of the Caregiver Contribution to Self-Care of Chronic Illness Inventory were used to conduct questionnaire survey on 220 caregivers of elderly patients with COPD treated or hospitalized in the respiratory medicine department of a tertiary hospital in Hebei Province from October 2022 to February 2023,and the reliability and validity of the scale were tested.Results The i-tem-level content validity index was 0.833-1.000,the content validity index at the level of unanimity scale was 0.842 and the content validity index of the average scale level was 0.973.The confirmatory factor analysis showed that all the fitting indicators of the total scale and the caregiver's contribution to self-care mainte-nance,monitoring contribution and management contribution subscale were within the acceptable range.The Cronbach's α coefficients of the total scale and the three subscales were 0.918,0.865,0.830 and 0.897,re-spectively.The split-half reliabilities of the total scale and the three subscales were 0.843,0.855,0.842 and 0.906,respectively.The test-retest reliabilities of the total scale and the three subscales were 0.849,0.734,0.751 and 0.773,respectively.Conclusion The Chinese version of the Caregiver Contribution to Self-Care of Chro-nic Illness Inventory has good reliability and validity,and can be used as a reliable tool to measure the caregivers con-tribution to elderly COPD patients self-care.

Objective:To investigate the ultrasonographic features and genetic etiology of complex talipes equinovarus (TE) in fetuses.Methods:This retrospective study enrolled 95 cases of complex TE (TE complicated by other abnormalities) who were diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from March 2018 to December 2022. Chromosome karyotype analysis and/or chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) [or copy number variation-sequencing (CNV-seq)] were performed on all cases for prenatal genetic diagnosis and those with normal results were further tested by whole exome sequencing (WES). Prenatal ultrasonographic and genetic features of complex TE in fetuses were summarized. Complicated abnormalities in the fetuses were classified into nine categories according to the involved system or site and based on each category these subjects were divided into with or without the corresponding complicated abnormalities groups. Besides, these cases were also divided into single-system and multi-system abnormality groups based on the number of involved systems or sites of complicated abnormalities. The detection rates of WES abnormality (pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants) and the overall detection rate of genetic abnormality [karyotype abnormality detected by chromosome karyotype analysis, pathogenic or likely pathogenic copy number variations (CNVs) detected by CMA (or CNV-seq), and pathogenic or likely pathogenic variation detected by WES] were compared between different groups using Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Results:Abnormal chromosome karyotypes were identified in 10 (24.4%) of 41 cases receiving chromosome karyotype analysis, pathogenic and likely pathogenic CNVs were found in seven (7.6%) of 92 cases by CMA (or CNV-seq). WES was performed on 37 cases with negative results of chromosomal karyotype analysis and CMA (or CNV-seq) and the detection rate of pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants was 43.2% (16/37). The detection rate of WES abnormality was higher in the fetuses with musculoskeletal abnormalities than in those without the abnormalities [71.4% (15/21) vs. 1/16, Fisher's exact test, P<0.001], while in those with other postural abnormalities was higher than that in the group without other postural abnormalities [12/16 vs. 19.0% (4/21), Fisher's exact test, P=0.001]. The genetic causes of complex TE were identified in 34.7% (33/95) of the fetuses by the sequential genetic diagnosis using chromosome karyotype analysis, CMA (or CNV-seq), and WES. The overall detection rate of genetic abnormality was higher in the group with multi-system abnormality than in the group with single-system abnormality [48.9% (22/45) vs. 22.0% (11/50), χ2=7.55, P=0.006], in the group with musculoskeletal system abnormalities and without [46.8% (22/47) vs. 22.9% (11/48), χ2=5.98, P=0.014], and in the group with other postural abnormality and without [47.2% (17/36) vs. 27.1% (16/59), χ2=3.99, P=0.046]. Nine cases that were considered isolated TE on initial ultrasound were corrected to a complex diagnosis on subsequent ultrasound examinations. Of all the involved system or site, the neurologic abnormalities were the most diverse (13 kinds) and had a diversity of ultrasound presentations. Conclusions:Genetic diagnosis should be performed when prenatal ultrasound suggests fetal complex TE. WES is conducive to improving the prenatal detection rate of monogenic diseases, especially in fetuses complicated by musculoskeletal abnormalities. Isolated TE fetuses require serial ultrasound examinations to correct the diagnosis in time and genetic testing should be performed if necessary. Additional attention should be paid to the TE fetus for comorbid neurologic abnormalities at the time of ultrasonography to rule out TE as an intrauterine harbinger of neuromuscular disease.