OBJECTIVE To investigate the mechanism of the inhibitory effect of total flavonoids from Taraxacum mongolicum on high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice through modulation of intestinal flora. METHODS Twenty-four C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into blank group， model group and T. mongolicum total flavonoid group， with 8 mice in each group. Except for the blank group， the other 2 groups were given a high-fat diet， while T. mongolicum total flavonoid group was given T. mongolicum total flavonoid [400 mg/（kg·d）] intragastrically， once a day， for 8 consecutive weeks. During the experiment， the food intake of each group of mice was recorded. After the last medication， the body mass， fat weight， blood lipid level and pathological changes of liver and epididymal fat in mice were evaluated to observe the effect of T. mongolicum total flavonoid on the treatment of obesity in mice. The changes in abundance and structure of intestinal flora in mice were detected by amplicon sequencing； the effects of T. mongolicum total flavonoids on fat metabolism related genes were analyzed by qPCR. RESULTS Compared with model group， the body weight of mice in T. mongolicum total flavonoids group was decreased significantly （P＜0.05）； the levels of total lipid cholesterol， triglycerides， and LDL cholesterol were all decreased significantly （P＜0.01）， and the level of HDL cholesterol was increased significantly （P＜0.01）； the fat indexes of inguinal white adipose tissue and epididymal white wind_lz@hactcm.edu.cn adipose tissue were significantly reduced （P＜0.05）； significant improvement in hepatocellular steatosis and adipose cytopathy were significantly improved； mRNA expressions of COX7A1 and COX8B were significantly upregulated （P＜0.05）. The results of bacterial colony detection showed that compared with the model group， there was a rising trend in the diversity of the bacterial colony in T. mongolicum total flavonoids group， and the Sobs index characterization and β diversity were increased significantly （P＜0.05）. Relative abundances of Blautia， norank_f_Ruminococcaceae， Bilophila， Alistipes， classified_f_Ruminococcaceae， Parabacteroides， norank_f_Desulfovibrionaceae， Anaerotruncus were significantly up-regulated（P＜0.05）， while those of Faecalibaculum， Erysipelatoclostridium， GCA-900066575， Tuzzerella， Lactobacillus， norank_f_norank_o_RF39， achnospiraceae_FCS020_group were significantly down-regulated （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS T. mongolicum total flavonoids can reduce body mass， fat weight and blood lipid levels， and repair the pathological damage to liver and epididymal fat in obese mice， which is related to improving intestinal flora disorders caused by high-fat diet.

Temporal interference (TI) is a form of stimulation that epitomizes an innovative and non-invasive approach for profound neuromodulation of the brain, a technique that has been validated in mice. Yet, the thin cranial bone structure of mice has a marginal influence on the effect of the TI technique and may not effectively showcase its effectiveness in larger animals. Based on this, we carried out TI stimulation experiments on rats. Following the TI intervention, analysis of electrophysiological data and immunofluorescence staining indicated the generation of a stimulation focus within the nucleus accumbens (depth, 8.5 mm) in rats. Our findings affirm the viability of the TI methodology in the presence of thick cranial bones, furnishing efficacious parameters for profound stimulation with TI administered under such conditions. This experiment not only sheds light on the intervention effects of TI deep in the brain but also furnishes robust evidence in support of its prospective clinical utility.
Animals ; Deep Brain Stimulation/methods* ; Nucleus Accumbens/physiology* ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Time Factors

Primary pulmonary nuclear protein of the testis (NUT) midline carcinoma (NMC) is a rare and highly aggressive thoracic malignancy that poses significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in clinical practice. This tumor is characterized by its heterogeneous clinical presentations and poor prognosis, often evading accurate initial diagnosis. In this study, we present two cases of primary pulmonary NMC treated with an integrated therapeutic approach combining anti-angiogenic agents, platinum-based chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. This multimodal strategy achieved survival durations of 32 and 13 months, respectively, surpassing the currently reported median survival of advanced NMC. Through a systematic literature review of reported cases, we have summarized the currently used diagnostic methods and treatment modalities for NMC. Our findings suggest that multimodal therapy incorporating anti-angiogenic treatment may offer superior clinical outcomes compared to conventional monotherapy regimens, particularly for patients who are not eligible for surgery. This comprehensive investigation enhances our understanding of NMC management by elucidating diagnostic pitfalls through histopathological correlation and proposing an effective therapeutic combination that demonstrates improved survival outcomes. By providing valuable insights into the diagnosis and treatment of primary pulmonary NMC, we hope to contribute to the development of more effective strategies for managing this rare and aggressive malignancy.
Humans ; Angiogenesis Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Carcinoma/therapy* ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Nuclear Proteins ; Oncogene Proteins ; Neoplasm Proteins

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of therapeutic whole blood exchange combined with lymphoplasmapheresis in the treatment of refractory autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of AIHA patients who underwent therapeutic whole blood exchange combined with lymphoplasmapheresis at our hospital from March 2022 to May 2025. Efficacy was assessed by comparing changes in hemoglobin, platelet count, and bilirubin levels before and after treatment. Safety was evaluated by analyzing vital signs before and after the procedure, parameters during the exchange, and adverse reactions. Results: A total of 12 AIHA patients were enrolled, completing 19 exchange procedures. The number of procedures per patient ranged from 1 to 3. The median treatment duration was 67 (65-73) minutes, with a median exchange volume of 2 025 (1 851-2 121) mL, comprising 4.5 (4-6) units of red blood cells and 1 350 (1 200-1 400) mL of plasma. Ten patients achieved partial remission, one achieved complete remission, and one showed no response, yielding an response rate of 91% (11/12). After a single session, hemoglobin increased significantly by 17.58±9.85 g/L (P<0.01), while platelets counts decreased by 45 (17.5, 79)×10 /L (P<0.05), and both systolic and diastolic blood pressure showed a significant elevation (P<0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed in total bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, white blood cell count, or heart rate. During the procedures, 4 adverse reactions occurred in 3 patients: one child experienced severe heart rate fluctuation twice consecutively, and two adults developed plasma allergies. All reactions resolved spontaneously without pharmacological intervention. Conclusion: The combination of therapeutic whole blood exchange and lymphoplasmapheresis appears to be a safe and effective treatment for refractory AIHA patients.

Aim To investigate the levels of a disintegrin and metalloprotease 10(ADAM-10)and soluble uro-kinase plasminogen activator receptor(suPAR)in the serum of hypertension patients with atherosclerosis and their relation-ship with the severity of disease.Methods From February 2021 to February 2023,125 hypertension patients with atherosclerosis who visited our hospital were collected as the study group,and 76 healthy people were collected as control group.The patients in the study group were grouped into mild group(n=40),moderate group(n=42)and severe group(n=43)according to the degree of atherosclerosis,after 60 days of treatment,the patients were grouped into a good prog-nosis group(n=74)and a poor prognosis group(n=51)based on their prognosis.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was applied to measure serum ADAM-10 and suPAR levels;Clinical data of patients with different prognosis were compared;Pearson method was applied to analyze the relationship between serum ADAM-10,suPAR levels and carotid in-tima-media thickness(IMT)in patients with hypertension and atherosclerosis;Multivariate Logistic regression was applied to analyze the influencing factors of poor prognosis in patients with hypertension and atherosclerosis;Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was applied to evaluate the predictive value of ADAM-10 and suPAR alone and jointly for poor prognosis of hypertension with atherosclerosis.Results The levels of serum ADAM-10 and suPAR were significantly higher in the study group than those in control group(P＜0.05);The serum ADAM-10 and suPAR levels in moderate group and severe group were obviously higher than those in mild group(P＜0.05),while the serum ADAM-10 and suPAR levels were obviously higher in severe group than those in moderate group(P＜0.05);The serum ADAM-10 and suPAR levels,left and right IMT,systolic blood pressure,and diastolic blood pressure of patients with poor prognosis were signifi-cantly higher than those of patients with good prognosis(P＜0.05);Pearson correlation analysis showed that serum ADAM-10 and suPAR levels in patients with hypertension and atherosclerosis were positively correlated with systolic blood pres-sure,diastolic blood pressure and IMT(P＜0.001);Logistic regression analysis showed that the increased levels of systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure,ADAM-10,suPAR and IMT were risk factors for poor prognosis of hypertension patients with atherosclerosis(P＜0.05);ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of serum AD-AM-10 and suPAR levels alone and jointly predicting poor prognosis of hypertension with atherosclerosis was 0.819,0.830 and 0.900,respectively,the combination of the two was superior to their individual predictions(Zcombination-AD AM-10=2.766,P=0.006;Zcombination-suPAR=2.602,P=0.009).Conclusion The levels of serum ADAM-10 and suPAR in patients with hypertension and atherosclerosis are significantly increased,and are positively correlated with the severity of atherosclero-sis.Both of them have a high predictive value for evaluating the prognosis of patients with hypertension and atherosclerosis.

Objective To investigate the impact and related mechanisms of L-carnitine on lipid metabolism,microinflammation,and oxidative stress status in hemodialysis patients with chronic kidney disease,and explore the potential mechanisms.Methods The data of patients with chronic kidney disease receiving dialysis admitted to Xingtai People's Hospital from January 2022 to January 2023 were collected,and they were divided into levocanidin group(levocanidin+conventional treatment)and conventional treatment group.The two groups were compared in terms of treatment safety and renal function indexes[blood creatinine(Scr)and urea nitrogen(BUN)],lipid metabolism status[total cholesterol(TC),triglycerides(TG),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),apolipoprotein A1(ApoA1),apolipoprotein B(ApoB),and serum free carnitine(FC)],microinflammatory markers[interleukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-8(IL-8),tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α),and C-reactive protein(CRP)]and oxidative stress markers[malondialdehyde(MDA),superoxide dismutase(SOD),and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)].Results A total of 120 patients were included in the study,with 60 in each group.After 6 months of treatment,there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(P＞0.05),but the Scr and BUN of the patients in the levocanidin group were lower than those in the conventional treatment group(P＜0.05),and the therapeutic efficacy rate was higher than that in the conventional treatment group(P＜0.05).Regarding lipid metabolic status,serum TC,TG,LDL-C and ApoB levels of patients in the levocanitine group decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),while serum ApoA1 and FC were elevated(P＜0.05);and serum ApoB levels of patients in the conventional treatment group decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05).The levels of TC,TG,LDL-C and ApoB were significantly lower and the levels of ApoA1 and FC were significantly higher in the leucovorin group than in the conventional treatment group(P＜0.05),whereas there was no significant difference in the levels of serum HDL-C(P＞0.05).In terms of microinflammatory status,IL-6,IL-8,TNF-α,and CRP levels decreased in both groups compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),but IL-6,IL-8,TNF-α,and CRP levels of patients in the leucovorin group were significantly lower than those in the conventional treatment group(P＜0.05).As for the oxidative stress indexes,the SOD and MDA levels of patients in both groups decreased(P＜0.05),while the GSH-Px levels increased(P＜0.05)compared with the pretreatment;and compared with the conventional treatment group,patients in the levocanitine group had higher levels of GSH-Px,and lower levels of SOD and MDA(P＜0.05).Conclusion The use of L-carnitine may further ameliorate microinflammation and oxidative stress by improving lipid metabolism in dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.Conventional glaucoma surgeries have disadvantages like injuring the tissue of conjunctiva and sclera.Recently, there have been many new treatments called minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) sprung up, which aims to lower intraocular pressure and reduce the use of glaucoma medications with less ocular injury.The resistance of aqueous outflow comes from both proximal and distal anatomically.The proximal resistance comes from trabecular meshwork and the inner wall of Schlemm canal (SC), while the distal resistance is decided by the outer wall of SC, aqueous vein, collector canals, episcleral veins and intrascleral venous plexus.Therefore, we could classify the MIGS by anatomical site and the mechanism to control intraocular pressure into different types.First, the MIGS acts on trabecular meshwork, which could be separated into removing proximal resistance including increasing trabecular meshwork bypass, expanding SC, cutting through trabecular meshwork and removing both proximal and distal resistance including Xen Gel Stent and PRESERFLO Microshunt.Second, MIGS procedures reduce intraocular pressure by increasing suprachoroidal drainage or by disrupting the ciliary body to reduce aqueous humor production.The MIGS expanding suprachoroidal drainage is independent of intraocular pressure level, like Cypass Micro-Stent, iStent Supra and iSTAR MINIject.The MIGS destroying ciliary body to reduce humor production include ultrasound cycloplasty, micropulse cyclophotocoagulation, and endocyclophotocoagulation.Despite MIGS can control intraocular pressure effectively in a less invasive way, close follow-ups are still necessary to see its long-term effectiveness and safety.However, the emerging implants are quite confusing to many ophthalmologists.It is especially true for Chinese surgeons as most MIGS are still under clinical trial and have not entered Chinese market.Therefore, this article summarizes the current mainstream MIGS and discussed the design and surgical outcomes of these surgeries.

Covalently closed circular DNA(cccDNA)in hepatocytes is the replication intermediate of hepa-titis B virus(HBV),which is closely related to HBV replication.Meanwhile,it is the transcriptional template of pregenomic RNA(pgRNA),and most of the HBV RNA in serum is derived from unreversed transcribed pgRNA.In recent years,many studies have demonstrated that HBV RNA has an important role in monitoring disease progression and predicting the prognosis of chronic HBV-infected patients,and is a potential biomarker of chronic viral hepatitis B.This article provides an overview of the molecular characterisation of HBV RNA,detection methods and research progress in clinical applications.

Objective To investigate the role of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1(TREM-1)in ath-erosclerosis induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia(CIH).Methods ApoE-/-mice were randomly divided into blank group,model group and experimental group.The mice in the model group and the experimental group were kept in a hypoxic environment and fed with a high-fat diet.After 4 weeks of high-fat feeding,mice in the experi-mental group were intraperitoneally injected with TREM-1 inhibitor LR12(5 mg/kg)for 8 weeks.After 12 weeks of feeding,the level of serum total cholesterol(TC),low density lipoprotein(LDL),triglyceride(TG),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and interleukin-10(IL-10)were detected.Histological analysis of aortic TREM-1 expression,plaque area and macrophage level were examined.Results Compared with blank group,the expression of TREM-1 in the aorta of the model group significantly increased(P＜0.05).Com-pared with model group,the aortic plaque,the level of lipids in serum(TC,LDL,TG)and inflammatory factors(TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-10),aortic plaque,the expression of TREM-1 and infiltrating macrophages in aortic plaque of the experimental group were all significantly reduced(P＜0.05).Conclusions TREM-1 is involved in the develop-ment of CIH-induced AS.Inhibition of TREM-1 can alleviate CIH-induced AS and its mechanism is related to the inhibition of macrophage activation.