Objective: To explore whether digital facial and tongue diagnostic technologies can support the assessment of coronary heart disease (CHD) patients for coronary artery stenosis severity, and examine potential associations between digital tongue diagnosis features and myocardial biomarkers. Methods: The TFDA-1 face and tongue diagnosis instrument and the TDAS analysis system were used to perform intelligent visual examination and analysis of the facial and tongue in CHD patients who attended the Department of Cardiology at Shanghai Baoshan Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine between October 2, 2023 and July 31, 2024. Variables were screened using principal component analysis (PCA) and multicollinearity analysis to construct four machine learning models, including random forest, LightGBM, decision tree, and naive Bayes, for the early prediction of coronary artery stenosis severity. Model performance metrics, including sensitivity, specificity, precision, F1 score, accuracy, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC), were evaluated. Visual analyses were performed using the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) interpreter and decision curve analysis. For patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), a conceptual model linking cardiac biomarkers and tongue diagnosis was constructed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), and its validity was assessed. Results: A total of 459 CHD patients were enrolled and assigned to a PCI group and a non-PCI group (which comprised two subgroups: mild stenosis or less group, moderate stenosis or greater group). For sublingual vein (SV) features, the PCI group had lower SV-a and SV-b than the other groups (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). For tongue surface features, the PCI group had significantly higher tongue body (TB)-L, TB-a, and TB-b (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, and P < 0.001, respectively), as well as higher tongue coating (TC)-a and TC-b (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). Age, SV-a, SV-b, creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB), CK, TC-a, lip-L, and lip-b were incorporated in the machine learning models. The random forest model performed best, with an AUC of 0.924, an F1 score of 0.839, precision of 0.807, accuracy of 0.864, sensitivity of 0.873, and specificity of 0.839. Decision curve analysis indicated that both LightGBM and random forest had clinical utility. PLS-SEM confirmed the pathway relationships: myocardial biomarkers → TB and myocardial biomarkers → TC (coefficient = – 0.238, t = 2.239, P = 0.025, and coefficient = – 0.270, t = 2.522, P = 0.012, respectively). Conclusion This study developed a noninvasive early warning model for coronary artery stenosis in patients with CHD. It applied PLS-SEM to investigate the association between post-PCI cardiac biomarkers and tongue diagnosis, and validated the proposed association chain. These findings suggest that intelligent traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) visual diagnosis integrated with modern digital technology may support CHD risk assessment and comprehensive health management.

ObjectiveTo explore the latent profiles of sleep patterns and their association with gastrointestinal heat accumulation syndrome in preschool children in Beijing. MethodsA cross-sectional study design was adopted， and preschool children were recruited from 57 kindergartens in Beijing using convenience sampling. Sleep characteristics and gastrointestinal heat accumulation syndrome was assessed using the Chinese version of the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children （SDSC） and Self-rating Diagnostic Scale for Gastrointestinal Heat Retention Syndrome in children （GHRS）. Latent profile analysis （LPA） was applied to identify distinct sleep-related subgroups， and multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the association between different sleep profiles and gastrointestinal heat accumulation syndrome. ResultsA total of 6878 preschool children were included in the study. Among them， 3.46% of the children （238/6878） had sleep disorders， while 54.42% （3743/6878） had gastrointestinal heat accumulation. Compared to children without gastrointestinal heat accumulation syndrome， those with this syndrome exhibited a higher prevalence of sleep disorders， higher SDSC scores， higher T-transformed total scores， and higher scores across all dimensions， including disorders of initiating sleep， disorders of maintaining sleep， sleep hyperhidrosis， sleep breathing disorders， parasomnias， nonrestorative sleep and excessive somnolence （P＜0.01）. Latent profile analysis identified four distinct sleep characteristic profiles， which were the mixed high-symptom group （32.39%， 2228/6878）， sleep initiation and maintenance difficulty symptom group （49.07%， 3375/6878）， low-symptom group （14.19%， 976/6878）， and the group with no significant symptoms （4.35%， 299/6878）. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the mixed high-symptom group， sleep initiation and maintenance difficulty symptom group， and low-symptom group were significantly associated with gastrointestinal heat accumulation syndrome. Among them， the mixed high-symptom group had the most significant association with gastrointestinal heat accumulation （OR=12.657， P＜0.001）， followed by the sleep initiation and maintenance difficulty symptom group （OR=4.964， P＜0.001）. ConclusionSleep characteristics in preschool children mainly present as composite patterns with different symptom combinations. Moreover， the sleep latent profiles of the mixed high-symptom group， the sleep initiation and maintenance difficulty symptom group， and the low-symptom group were significantly associated with gastrointestinal heat accumulation syndrome.

FH-deficient renal cell carcinoma(FH-dRCC) is a rare and highly aggressive subtype of renal cell carcinoma. This tumor is often associated with hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma(HLRCC) syndrome. Its pathogenesis involves biallelic inactivation of the FH gene, leading to the accumulation of fumarate, which disrupts cellular metabolic balance and DNA repair processes, thereby driving tumorigenesis. This paper reports a patient with FH-dRCC. The patient underwent radical nephrectomy but experienced early postoperative recurrence and liver metastasis. Despite multiple lines of systemic therapy, including targeted and combination immunotherapy, which initially achieved radiographic response, the patient eventually died as the disease progressed with extensive metastases. This case highlights the highly aggressive nature of FH-dRCC, its propensity for early recurrence and metastasis, and the limited duration of response to current systemic therapies. There is a clinical need for enhanced early detection and active exploration of more effective combination treatment strategies.

Objective To elucidate the anti-aging effect of β-sitosterol(BS),an important component in the fruits of Alpinia oxyphylla Miq.,in C.elegans and its regulatory effect on ETS-5 gene to modulate ferroptosis.Methods C.elegans treated with 10 μg/mL BS were monitored for survival time and changes in body length,motility,and reproductive function.The effect of ETS-5 gene knockdown on survival time of C.elegans was observed,and the changes in fat accumulation and lipid redox homeostasis in the transfected C.elegans were assessed using Oil Red O staining and by detecting MDA levels and the GSH/GSSG ratio.The mRNA expression levels of ferroptosis-related genes(FTN-1,GPX-1 and AAT-9)were detected using qPCR.The effects of BS treatment and ETS-5 knockdown on AAT-9 enzyme activity in C.elegans were examined.The effect of BS on nuclear localization of FEV(the human homolog of ETS-5)was validated in cultured human umbilical venous endothelial cells(HUVECs).Results Both BS treatment and ETS-5 knockdown significantly prolonged the lifespan,promoted lipid accumulation and reduced lipid peroxidation in C.elegans.ETS-5 knockdown resulted in upregulated expressions of the ferroptosis repressors GPX-1,AAT-9 and FTN-1 and increased the GSH/GSSG ratio in C.elegans.Conclusion BS inhibits ferroptosis in C.elegans by suppressing the expression of ETS-5 transcription factor and hence the activity of AAT-9 enzyme,a key gene for ferroptosis,which in turn prolongs the lifespan of C.elegans.

Objective To explore the molecular mechanism of cerebroprotein hydrolysate-1(CH-1)in improving cognitive impairment of VD at animal level,and to determine the regulatory effect of CH-1 on Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway.Methods Thirty-six SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,VD group,low-and high-dose groups,with 9 rats in each group.VD model was established by bilateral common carotid artery ligation,and CH-1 was injected intraperitone-ally for 3 weeks.Morris water maze test and new object recognition test were performed to evalu-ate cognitive function.Hippocampal tissues was collected for immunohistochemistry/Western blot analysis.Results Compared with the sham operation group,the VD group exhibited significantly prolonged escape latency at 2-4 d of Morris water maze test,and up-regulated expression of ubiquitinated protein,LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ ratio,P65 and Beclin1 protein in the hippocampus,while down-regulated P62 expression(P＜0.05).Obviously shortened escape latency was observed in the high-dose group at 3-4 d and the low-dose group at 4 d than the VD group(P＜0.05).The resi-dence time in target quadrant,number of platform crossings,total exploration time of novel object recognition in the high-dose group and the total exploration time of novel object recognition in the low-dose group were significantly longer than those in VD group(P＜0.05).The expression levels of ubiquitinated,LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ ratio,P65 and Beclin1 were significantly lower in the low-dose group and high-dose group than the VD group(P＜0.05).The expression level of P62 protein in the VD group,low-and high-dose group were significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner(2.78±0.44,1.80±0.24 vs 3.67±0.34;2.37±0.26,1.53±0.09 vs 2.92±0.19;2.74±0.14,1.81±0.19 vs 3.93±0.50;2.28±0.17,1.72±0.17 vs 3.17±0.31,P＜0.05).Conclusion CH-1 can effectively improve the cognitive ability of VD rats and reduce the autophagy of hippocampal neurons.This therapeutic effect may be closely related to its enhancing activity of Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety and prognostic factors influencing the treatment of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) combined with bladder cancer (BCa) by laparoscopic simultaneous radical cystectomy and nephroureterectomy (RCNU). METHODS: The clinical data of patients admitted to Peking University Third Hospital for laparoscopic RCNU surgery from January 2009 to September 2023 were analyzed retrospectively. Based on the same gender, age (±5 years), history of uroepithelial tumors, underlying diseases, T-stage, N-stage, M-stage, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, Charlson comorbidity index, and body mass index (BMI) (±5), 34 patients with RCNU were matched 1 ∶1 with patients with bladder cancer who underwent laparoscopic radical cystectomy (RC) alone. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to calculate patient survival, and Cox proportional regression risk model was used to analyze clinical factors affecting prognosis. RESULTS: Of the 68 patients enrolled, the follow-up rate was 100% with a median follow-up time of 27.0 (11.7, 60.2) months. Comparison of intraoperative conditions (including operation time, estimated intraoperative bleeding, intra-operative blood transfusion, etc.) between the two groups of patients showed no significant difference (P>0.05). Comparison of preoperative creatinine and postoperative creatinine between the two groups of patients showed significant differences (P < 0.05). The perioperative Clavien grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ complication rates were 2.9% (1/34) in the RC group and 5.9% (2/34) in the RCNU group. There was no significant difference in terms of perioperative complications between the two groups. Overall survival was significantly lower in the patients receiving RCNU compared with the matched group receiving RC alone (P < 0.05). Cox regression analysis suggested that two factors, high N stage and high postoperative creatinine, were independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients in the 2 groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The overall survival prognosis of patients undergoing RCNU surgery was worse compared with laparoscopic RC surgery alone during the same period. There was no clinically significant difference between the two groups in terms of operation time, intraoperative bleeding, and perioperative complications, and there were clinically significant differences in preoperative renal function and post-operative renal function.
Humans ; Laparoscopy/methods* ; Nephroureterectomy/methods* ; Cystectomy/methods* ; Prognosis ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Female ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/mortality* ; Middle Aged ; Aged

OBJECTIVES: To elucidate the anti-aging effect of β-sitosterol (BS), an important component in the fruits of Alpinia oxyphylla Miq., in C. elegans and its regulatory effect on ETS-5 gene to modulate ferroptosis. METHODS: C. elegans treated with 10 µg/mL BS were monitored for survival time and changes in body length, motility, and reproductive function. The effect of ETS-5 gene knockdown on survival time of C. elegans was observed, and the changes in fat accumulation and lipid redox homeostasis in the transfected C. elegans were assessed using Oil Red O staining and by detecting MDA levels and the GSH/GSSG ratio. The mRNA expression levels of ferroptosis-related genes (FTN-1, GPX-1 and AAT-9) were detected using qPCR. The effects of BS treatment and ETS-5 knockdown on AAT-9 enzyme activity in C. elegans were examined. The effect of BS on nuclear localization of FEV (the human homolog of ETS-5) was validated in cultured human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVECs). RESULTS: Both BS treatment and ETS-5 knockdown significantly prolonged the lifespan, promoted lipid accumulation and reduced lipid peroxidation in C. elegans. ETS-5 knockdown resulted in upregulated expressions of the ferroptosis repressors GPX-1, AAT-9 and FTN-1 and increased the GSH/GSSG ratio in C. elegans. CONCLUSIONS BS inhibits ferroptosis in C. elegans by suppressing the expression of ETS-5 transcription factor and hence the activity of AAT-9 enzyme, a key gene for ferroptosis, which in turn prolongs the lifespan of C. elegans.
Animals ; Caenorhabditis elegans/physiology* ; Ferroptosis/drug effects* ; Alpinia/chemistry* ; Sitosterols/pharmacology* ; Longevity/drug effects* ; Fruit/chemistry* ; Humans

ObjectiveTo establish a quality evaluation method for Zhuye Shigao granules（Zhuye Shigaotang） based on fingerprint and determination of index components， and to investigate the therapeutic effect of Zhuye Shigao granules on mice with cold-dampness pestilence attacking lung syndrome. MethodsThe fingerprint of Zhuye Shigao granules was established by high performance liquid chromatography（HPLC）， and the methods for determination of total calcium， orientin， isoorientin， ginsenosides Rg₁， Re and Rb₁ and other 2 index components were established. Fifty ICR mice were randomly divided into the blank group， model group， Zhuye Shigao granules low， medium and high dose groups（9.3， 18.6， 37.2 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， with 10 mice in each group. In addition to the blank group， the model mice with cold-dampness pestilence attacking lung syndrome was prepared by nasal drip of lipopolysaccharide combined with cold-dampness environment. Each administration group was given the corresponding liquid by gavage according to the dose， while the blank group and model group were given the same volume of normal saline by gavage. Then， the body temperature and organ index of mice in each group were measured， hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining was used to investigate the lung tissue injury of mice in each group， and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） was used to detect the changes of tumor necrosis factor-α（TNF-α）， interleukin（IL）-lβ， IL-6， IL-10 levels in serum and lung tissue， as well as immunoglobulin（Ig）A and IgM levels in serum. ResultsThe fingerprint similarity of 10 batches of Zhuye Shigao granules was>0.950， and 20 common peaks were calibrated. Seven of them were identified， including peak 11（isoorientin）， peak 12（orientin）， peak 14（apioside liquiritin）， peak 15（liquiritin）， peak 17（apioside isoliquiritin）， peak 19（isoliquiritin） and peak 20（liquiritigenin）. The results of quantitative analysis showed that the content range of each index component in 10 batches of Zhuye Shigao granules was as follows：Total calcium of 9.978-11.294 mg·g^-1， isoorientin of 0.033-0.041 mg·g^-1， orientin of 0.046-0.055 mg·g^-1， ginsenoside Rg₁+ginsenoside Re of 0.748-0.762 mg·g^-1， ginsenoside Rb₁ of 0.151-0.197 mg·g^-1， liquiritin of 1.106-1.366 mg·g^-1， glycyrrhizic acid of 0.904-1.182 mg·g^-1_. Compared with the blank group， the body temperature of mice in the model group was significantly increased， the organ indexes of liver， lung and spleen were significantly decreased， the organ index of thymus was significantly increased， HE staining of lung tissue showed infiltration of inflammatory cells， a small amount of serous exudation was observed in the alveoli， and lung tissue was damaged. After the intervention of Zhuye Shigao granules， the pathological changes were improved compared with the model group. The expression levels of IL-1β， IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly increased， the expression level of IL-10 was significantly decreased in serum and lung tissue. The levels of IgA and IgM in serum were significantly decreased（P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the body temperature， the organ indexes and immune factor levels in serum and lung tissue of mice in the Zhuye Shigao granules medium and high dose groups were significantly reduced（P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionIn this study， the quality evaluation of Zhuye Shigao granules was carried out based on fingerprint combined with determination of index components， and the fingerprint of four herbs（Lophatheri Herba， Ophiopogonis Radix， Pinelliae Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma） in this formula and the determination of 8 index components were established. The therapeutic effect of Zhuye Shigao granules on mice with cold-dampness pestilence attacking lung syndrome may be related to inhibiting inflammatory response and mediating immune regulation.

Objective:To evaluate the applicability of a new anti-G capability assessment trainer (AG-CAT) in high-performance (HP) anti-G maneuver training and positive pressure breathing for high-G (PHP) training for pilots.Methods:A total of 142 fighter pilots who were subjected to anti-G maneuver training at Dujiangyan Special Crew Sanatorium of PLA Air Force between January and November 2023 were enrolled. According to the Guidelines for Aviation Physiological Training, 123 pilots underwent both HP anti-G maneuver training and PHP positive pressure breathing training, 15 received only HP training, and 4 received only PHP training. Based on the training devices used, these pilots were divided into AG-CAT group and an anti-G and anti-hypoxia capability detection instrument (GHyCDI) group. The 2 groups were compared regarding the pedal force of lower limbs, blood pressure, and improvement of +G z tolerance during training. Results:Of the 138 pilots undergoing HP training, 88 used AG-CAT and 50 used GHyCDI. One hundred and twenty-seven pilots participated in PHP training, with 73 in the AG-CAT group and 54 in the GHyCDI group. During HP training, the pedal force of left lower limbs in the AG-CAT group was greater than that of the right limbs and of the GHyCDI group ( t=4.38, 2.64, P<0.001, =0.009). In PHP training, the AG-CAT group exhibited greater pedal force in left limbs than in right ones, while the GHyCDI group showed an opposite trend ( t=2.25, 3.37, P=0.029, 0.002). Systolic and diastolic blood pressures during HP training (with or without anti-G suits) were higher in the AG-CAT group than in the GHyCDI group ( t=3.50, 3.72, 2.55, 4.21, P=0.001,<0.001,=0.012,<0.001). Similarly, during PHP training, both systolic and diastolic pressures were higher in the AG-CAT group ( t=2.03, 3.81, P=0.045,<0.001). The AG-CAT group demonstrated superior improvements in +G z tolerance during HP training (without/with anti-G suits: Z=2.14, 3.21, P=0.049, 0.001) and PHP training ( Z=2.56, P=0.010) compared with the GHyCDI group. Conclusions:AG-CAT shows excellent applicability in aviation physiological training of pilots. Its ergonomic design, practical functionalities and enhanced compatibility with personnel protective equipment can better meet training requirements compared to conventional devices.

Objective To investigate the expression of ferritinophagy-related gene ELAV-like RNA binding protein 1(ELAVL1)in multiple myeloma(MM)and elucidate its diagnostic and prognostic value for MM.Methods First,we analyzed ELAVL1 expression level in healthy controls and MM patients using data from the GEO and TCGA databases.Subsequently,bone marrow specimens were collected from 28 newly diagnosed MM patients and 20 healthy controls,and qRT-PCR was employed to validate ELAVL1 expression.The diagnostic and prognostic potential of ELAVL1 was assessed using ROC curve analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival curves.Additionally,univariate and multivariate COX regression analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors for MM prognosis.Finally,KEGG and GO enrichment analyses were performed using the DAVID online platform.Results The level of ELAVL1 expression was significantly higher in newly diagnosed MM patients and refractory/relapsed MM patients than in the healthy controls(P＜0.001).Moreover,ELAVL1 expression was positively correlated with the International Staging System(ISS)stage of MM(P＜0.01).Furthermore,qRT-PCR validation confirmed that ELAVL1 expression was elevated in the 28 newly diagnosed MM patients compared to the 20 healthy controls(P＜0.001).ROC curve analysis demonstrated that ELAVL1 could effectively differentiate between newly diagnosed MM patients,healthy controls,and MGUS patients(P＜0.001 and P=0.000 2,respectively).Survival analysis revealed that high ELAVL1 expression was associated with shorter progression-free survival(P=0.0141)and overall survival(P=0.008 0).Univariate and multivariate COX regression analyses identified high ELAVL1 expression as an independent risk factor for poor MM prognosis(P=0.005 0).KEGG analysis suggested that ELAVL1 might be involved in the Hippo and MAPK signaling pathways.Conclusion High ELAVL1 expression in MM may serve as a biomarker for diagnosis and poor prognosis.ELAVL1 may promote MM initiation and progression via the Hippo and MAPK signaling pathways.