OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Huayu Tongluo (transforming stasis and unblocking collaterals) moxibustion on cognitive function and insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cognitive decline. METHODS: Ninety patients with T2DM and cognitive decline were randomly divided into a moxibustion group (n=45, 3 cases dropped out, 2 cases were eliminated) and a waiting moxibustion group (n=45, 2 cases dropped out). Both groups received routine hypoglycemic treatment for 12 weeks. The moxibustion group additionally received Huayu Tongluo moxibustion at Baihui (GV20), Shenting (GV24), and Dazhui (GV14). Pressing moxibustion was applied to Baihui (GV20) for 20 min, while suspended moxibustion was applied to Shenting (GV24) and Dazhui (GV14) for 20 min each. Treatments of moxibustion were administered every other day (three times per week) for 12 weeks. All patients were followed up for 12 weeks, during which their original hypoglycemic medication regimen was maintained. Before treatment, after 12 weeks of treatment, and at the 12-week follow-up, the scores of Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Addenbrooke's cognitive examination Ⅲ (ACE-Ⅲ), symbol digit modalities test (SDMT), and Athens insomnia scale (AIS) and the insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were observed in the two groups. RESULTS: Compared with before treatment, the MoCA scores, MMSE scores, ACE-Ⅲ subscale scores (attention, memory, language fluency, language, visuospatial ability) and total scores, and SDMT scores were increased (P<0.01), while the AIS scores were decreased (P<0.05) in the moxibustion group after treatment and at follow-up. Compared with before treatment, the MMSE score, ACE-Ⅲ subscale scores (memory, attention) and total score after treatment, as well as the ACE-Ⅲ subscale scores (language, memory, attention) and total score, and SDMT score at follow-up were increased (P<0.05, P<0.01) in the waiting moxibustion group. Compared with before treatment, HOMA-IR was decreased in both groups after treatment and at follow-up (P<0.01). At follow-up, ACE-Ⅲ subscale scores (attention, memory), and the total score in the moxibustion group were lower than those after treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the ACE-Ⅲ language subscale score, total ACE-Ⅲ score, and SDMT score in the waiting moxibustion group were higher than those after treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05). After treatment and at follow-up, compared with the waiting moxibustion group, the moxibustion group had higher MoCA scores, MMSE scores, SDMT scores, ACE-Ⅲ subscale scores (attention, memory, language fluency) and total scores (P<0.05, P<0.01), and lower HOMA-IR (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Huayu Tongluo moxibustion can effectively improve cognitive function in patients with T2DM and cognitive decline. This improvement may be associated with the reduction in insulin resistance.
Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications* ; Male ; Female ; Moxibustion ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Cognition ; Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Cognitive Dysfunction/therapy*

The efficacy mechanism of the alcoholic extract of Gnaphalium affine was investigated by observing its influence on oxidative stress and intestinal flora in rats modeled for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD). UPLC-MS was used to evaluate the quality of the alcoholic extract of G. affine, and 72 rats were randomly divided into six groups, with COPD models established in five groups by cigarette smoke combined with airway drip lipopolysaccharide, and the rats were given the positive drug of Danlong Oral Solution, as well as low-, medium-, and high-doses alcoholic extract of G. affine, respectively. After two weeks of continuous gastric gavage, the body weights and general morphology observations were performed; HE staining and Masson staining were used to verify the effects of the alcoholic extract of G. affine on alveolar inflammation and collagen deposition area in COPD rats; the oxidative stress indexes CAT and GSH in serum and SOD and MDA in lung tissue of the rats were measured, and the mRNA expression of HO-1, Nrf2, and NQO1 were determined by qRT-PCR. The protein expressions of HO-1, Nrf2, and NQO1 were determined by the Western blot method, and the mechanism by which the alcoholic extract of G. affine affected oxidative stress in COPD rats was explored. Finally, the influence of G. affine on the changes in intestinal flora caused by COPD was studied by 16S rRNA sequencing. The results showed that a total of 121 chemical components were identified by UPLC-MS, including 70 positive and 51 negative ion modes. In animal experiments, it was found that the alcoholic extracts of G. affine were able to reduce the percentage of collagen deposition, affect the oxidative stress indexes such as CAT, GSH, SOD, MDA, as well as the mRNA and protein expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1. The 16S rRNA sequencing results showed an increase in the level of Lactobacillales and a decrease in the level of Desulfovibrio and Desulfovibrionales, suggesting that the alcoholic extracts of G. affine could reverse the changes in intestinal flora caused by COPD. In conclusion, the alcoholic extracts of G. affine may exert anti-COPD effects by affecting the oxidative stress pathway and modulating the changes in intestinal flora.
Animals ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/genetics* ; Rats ; Male ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism* ; Humans ; Lung/metabolism*

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are significant drug targets, but their potential in cancer therapy remains underexplored. Conventional GPCR agonists or antagonists have shown limited effectiveness in cancer treatment, necessitating new GPCR-targeting strategies for more effective therapies. This study discovers that Yersinia pestis LcrV, a crucial linker protein for plague infection, acts as a biased agonist of a GPCR, the formyl peptide receptor 1 (FPR1). The LcrV protein induces unique conformational changes in FPR1, resulting in G proteins being activated in a distinctive state without subunit dissociation. This leads to a biased signaling profile characterized by cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) responses and β-arrestin2 recruitment, but not calcium mobilization. In FPR1-expressing triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells, LcrV bi-directionally modulates intracellular signaling pathways, downregulating extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2) and Akt pathways while upregulating Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 pathways. This dual modulation results in cell cycle arrest and the inhibition of TNBC cell proliferation. In TNBC xenograft mouse models, long-term LcrV treatment inhibits tumor growth more effectively than a conventional FPR1 antagonist. Additionally, LcrV treatment reprograms tumor cells by reducing stemness-associated proteins OCT4 and c-MYC. Our findings highlight the potential of biased GPCR agonists as a novel GPCR-targeting strategy for cancer treatment.

Cemental tear is a rare and indetectable condition unless obvious clinical signs present with the involvement of surrounding periodontal and periapical tissues. Due to its clinical manifestations similar to common dental issues, such as vertical root fracture, primary endodontic diseases, and periodontal diseases, as well as the low awareness of cemental tear for clinicians, misdiagnosis often occurs. The critical principle for cemental tear treatment is to remove torn fragments, and overlooking fragments leads to futile therapy, which could deteriorate the conditions of the affected teeth. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and subsequent appropriate interventions are vital for managing cemental tear. Novel diagnostic tools, including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), microscopes, and enamel matrix derivatives, have improved early detection and management, enhancing tooth retention. The implementation of standardized diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols, combined with improved clinical awareness among dental professionals, serves to mitigate risks of diagnostic errors and suboptimal therapeutic interventions. This expert consensus reviewed the epidemiology, pathogenesis, potential predisposing factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cemental tear, aiming to provide a clinical guideline and facilitate clinicians to have a better understanding of cemental tear.
Humans ; Dental Cementum/injuries* ; Consensus ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Tooth Fractures/therapy*

OBJECTIVE: Circadian rhythm disruption (CRD) is a risk factor that correlates with poor prognosis across multiple tumor types, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to define HCC subtypes based on CRD and explore their individual heterogeneity. METHODS: To quantify CRD, the HCC CRD score (HCCcrds) was developed. Using machine learning algorithms, we identified CRD module genes and defined CRD-related HCC subtypes in The Cancer Genome Atlas liver HCC cohort (n = 369), and the robustness of this method was validated. Furthermore, we used bioinformatics tools to investigate the cellular heterogeneity across these CRD subtypes. RESULTS: We defined three distinct HCC subtypes that exhibit significant heterogeneity in prognosis. The CRD-related subtype with high HCCcrds was significantly correlated with worse prognosis, higher pathological grade, and advanced clinical stages, while the CRD-related subtype with low HCCcrds had better clinical outcomes. We also identified novel biomarkers for each subtype, such as nicotinamide n-methyltransferase and myristoylated alanine-rich protein kinase C substrate-like 1. CONCLUSION We classify the HCC patients into three distinct groups based on circadian rhythm and identify their specific biomarkers. Within these groups greater HCCcrds was associated with worse prognosis. This approach has the potential to improve prediction of an individual's prognosis, guide precision treatments, and assist clinical decision making for HCC patients. Please cite this article as: Li XJ, Chang L, Mi Y, Zhang G, Zhu SS, Zhang YX, et al. Integrated-omics analysis defines subtypes of hepatocellular carcinoma based on circadian rhythm. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(4): 445-456.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology* ; Liver Neoplasms/pathology* ; Circadian Rhythm/genetics* ; Prognosis ; Male ; Female ; Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics* ; Middle Aged ; Machine Learning ; Computational Biology

Objective:To evaluate the accuracy of L-shaped reduction malarplasty under the guidance of virtual surgical planning (VSP).Methods:The data of adult female patients who were diagnosed with zygomatic protrusion or hypertrophy at Department of Orthognathic and Temporo-mandibular Joint Surgery, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, from January 2018 to December 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. L-shaped reduction malarplasty with or without bone resection and with the mortice and tenon joint structure on the zygomatic arch was conducted either by digital procedures comprising VSP and three-dimensional printing titanium templates (digtal surgery group) or by conventional method (control group). The incidence of postoperative complications and the patient postoperative satisfaction [using a Likert scale with a score ranging from 1 to 5, representing very dissatisfied, dissatisfied, average, satisfied and very satisfied, satisfaction rate = (very satisfied + satisfied)/ total number of patients × 100%] were statistically analyzed in the two groups. The differences in the postoperative symmetry of the zygomatic complex between the digital group and the control group were analyzed by three-dimensional cephalometry. The accuracy of VSP in L-shaped reduction malarplasty was evaluated by comparing the preoperative design model with the actual postoperative model in the digital group. The statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 24.0 software. The chi-square test was used in the comparison of surgical complications and patient satisfaction rates. The symmetry of bilateral landmarks in the three-dimensional direction between the two groups was evaluated using the independent t-test, and the pre- and post-operative measurements in the digital group were compared using paired t-test. Results:A total of 78 patients were included, with 36 in the digital group, aged (25.2±3.6) years, and 42 in the control group, aged (24.3±2.8) years. Satisfactory reduction of zygomatic protrusion or hypertrophy was recognized among all patients. Compared with the control group, the digital group had lower percentage of complications [25% (9/36) vs. 55% (23/42)] and higher postoperative satisfaction [78% (28/36) vs. 48% (20/42)], both of which were statistically significant (all P<0.01). Regarding the symmetry of bilateral zygomatic complexes, the average deviations of ΔZb (bottom point of zygoma) in the digital group in the horizontal, vertical, and sagittal directions [(1.05±0.24), (1.05±0.24), (1.00±0.88) mm] were significantly smaller than those in the control group [(2.03±0.58), (1.32±0.68), (1.47±0.47) mm], with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). The bone segment movements of virtual plans and actual result in the digital surgery group were measured and showed no obvious difference for the inward movement [(5.42±0.98) mm vs. (5.33±0.93) mm] and the sagittal overlap [(4.87±1.21) mm vs. (4.77±1.32) mm] at the zygoma roots, along with the step length at the long-arm of the L-shaped osteotomy line [(2.43±1.11) mm vs. (2.39±0.89) mm] (all P>0.05). The mean differences of facial width and protrusion measurements between virtual simulations and actual result in the digital group ranged from (1.13±0.47) mm to (2.07±0.88) mm, with no significant differences( P>0.05). Meanwhile, the high resemblance between virtual plans and actual result was depicted via superimposition models, with a deviation controlled within ±0.5 mm. Conclusion:The application of VSP in reduction malarplasty significantly improved surgical accuracy and reduced difficulties in the operation, which would improve patients’ postoperative satisfaction.

To summarize the nursing experience of a patient with coronary heart disease who was left in the radial artery during the removal of the radial artery sheath after coronary angiography via the radial artery pathway.Nursing points:to start the emergency transfer process,to shorten the treatment transfer time;to assist to locate the position of the sheath to provide a basis for the selection of surgical incision;to conduct dynamic assessment of hemostatic effect,prevention of radial artery occlusion;to closely monitor pain and signs to prevent vasovagal reflex;to implement the whole psychological intervention,and to reduce the psychological burden of patients and their families.The ruptured sheath tube was successfully removed by emergency surgery of vascular surgery.A total of 6 days after the operation,the patient was transferred to cardiac surgery for coronary artery bypass grafting,and was discharged 23 days later.After 3 months of follow-up,the blood supply of the limbs was good,and the incision healed well.

Objective Based on the assumption of spatial heterogeneity,the distribution pattern and risk characteristics of health poverty in middle-aged and elderly people with chronic diseases are described from the perspective of spatial differentiation.In order to providing a theoretical basis for the optimization of subsequent poverty reduction policies and a model policy for other countries.Methods It used factor detector and interaction detector to capture the role of single-factor and multi-factor interactions on the spatial differentiation of health poverty,and risk detectors were utilized to explore the high-risk factors in risky areas Results The single factor explanation of medical assistance and health education activities is prominent,and the factors such as PM2.5,old-age dependency ratio and urban unemployment rate have strong interaction.Furthermore,it identified high-risk factor characteristics in areas at high risk of health poverty.Conclusion The spatial differentiation pattern of health poverty among the middle-aged and elderly chronic disease population in China is the result of the synergistic driving effect of multidimensional factors,and there is variability in the risk characteristics among regions.The government should establish a contextual optimization strategy and pay attention to the joint effect of multiple factors to establish a synergistic management system.

This report evaluates the preliminary outcomes of a "six-in-one" integrated cough and asthma center developed under a dual-contract physician model at the Changfeng Community Health Service Center in Putuo District, Shanghai. By combining the efforts of family doctors and medical specialists, the center integrated six core functions-clinical treatment, prevention, nursing, rehabilitation, pharmacy, and nutrition-into a seamless management system covering screening, diagnosis, therapy, and follow-up. Supported by specialist guidance and teaching clinics, the model significantly enhanced comprehensive respiratory disease management capabilities within the community setting. The initiative not only improved patient health outcomes but also strengthened multidisciplinary collaboration and resource efficiency, offering a replicable example for improving chronic disease management in primary care through integrated and coordinated service delivery.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) metabolites with diverse subtypes of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. METHODS: A novel predicting risk of cardiovascular disease EVENTs PREVENT equation was used to estimate the 10-year diverse subtypes of CVD risk, and their associations with PAH metabolites were analyzed using multiple logistic regression models, the weighted quantile sum (WQS) model, the quantile g-computation (qgcomp) model, and a stratified analysis of subgroups. RESULTS: For this study, six thousand seven hundred and forty-five participants were selected, and significant positive associations were observed between PAHs, naphthalene (NAP), and fluorene (FLU), and the risks of total CVD, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), and heart failure (HF). NAP and FLU were the primary contributors to the effects of PAH mixtures, and their associations with total CVD, ASCVD, and HF risk were significant in younger participants (30 ≤ age < 50 years); however, the associations of phenanthrene (PHEN) with ASCVD, HF, coronary heart disease (CHD), and stroke were dominant in aging participants (age ≥ 50 years). Notably, pyrene (PYR) was negatively associated with the risk of ASCVD, HF, CHD, and stroke. Similarly, negative associations of PYR with the four CVD subtypes were noticeable in aging participants. CONCLUSION Different PAHs metabolites had different impacts on each CVD subtype among different age groups. Notably, the protective effects of PYR on ASCVD, HF, CHD, and stroke were noticeable in aging individuals.
Humans ; Cardiovascular Diseases/chemically induced* ; Middle Aged ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/metabolism* ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Aged ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology*