ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of jatrorrhizine on endogenous metabolites and metabolic pathways in the mouse model of ulcerative colitis. MethodsThirty male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into the normal group， the model group， the low-dose and high-dose jatrorrhizine groups （0.04， 0.16 g·kg^-1）， and the mesalazine group （0.52 g·kg^-1）The mouse model of ulcerative colitis was established with 3% dextran sulfate sodium （DSS） and treated with different doses of jatrorrhizine by gavage. The changes in body weight， colon length， disease activity index （DAI）， and colonic histopathology were analyzed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of jatrorrhizine. UPLC-Q-TOF/MS was employed to determine the serum and fecal levels of metabolites in mice. Metabolomics methods were used to screen the differential metabolites， on the basis of which the potential therapeutic mechanism of jatrorrhizine on DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice was investigated. ResultsAfter intervention with jatrorrhizine， the model mice showed significantly decreased DAI（P<0.05，P<0.01）， recovered colon length，（P<0.05，P<0.01） and alleviated histopathology of the colon. The metabolomics study screened out 13 differential metabolites in the serum and 8 differential metabolites in the feces. The pathway enrichment analysis predicted three potential metabolic pathways： Biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids， phenylalanine， tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis， and phenylalanine metabolism. ConclusionJatrorrhizine may treat ulcerative colitis by regulating the biosynthesis and metabolism of amino acids and the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids.

Purpose: In this study, the neural communication patterns between hypothalamic structures and cortical areas in girls diagnosed with central precocious puberty (CPP) were explored. Endocrine profiles were incorporated to clarify the pathophysiological interactions between cerebral networks and hormonal regulation. The hypothalamus was designated as the key focus area for connectivity analysis. Methods: Fifty-seven girls (37 CPP, 20 non-CPP) were recruited from the Pediatric Development Clinic at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. The collected data included demographic information, gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulation tests, and magnetic resonance imaging scans. Hypothalamic functional connectivity (FC) was analyzed using predefined region of interest coordinates, and correlations between hormone levels and FC values were assessed. Results: Compared to the non-CPP group, the CPP group exhibited elevated baseline follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), baseline luteinizing hormone (LH), peak FSH, peak LH, and peak LH/FSH ratios. Patients with CPP exhibited enhanced neural synchronization linking the right lateral hypothalamic effector zone to the right superior frontal gyrus (displaying a borderline significant correlation with peak LH concentrations), concurrent with diminished functional coupling of the right lateral hypothalamic efferent to the right fusiform/supramarginal gyri. The left lateral hypothalamic projections demonstrated amplified connectivity with the right cuneus. No FC differences were observed in the medial hypothalamus. Conclusion Abnormal lateral hypothalamus FC patterns were identified in CPP girls and were particularly linked to peak LH levels. The findings offer novel insights into the neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying CPP.

Purpose: Our previous study showed that circulating tumor cell (CTC) count combined with gene mutation detection might help differentiate benign and malignant pulmonary nodules (PNs). Herein, we aimed to expand the study cohort and conduct further sequencing analysis. Materials and Methods: Patients with PNs were included, and CTCs were identified before operation. Low-coverage whole-genome sequencing (LC-WGS) and lung cancer-related targeted gene sequencing were performed on CTCs. The diagnostic efficacy was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The differences in CTC counts among subgroups classified by demographic–clinical characteristics were analyzed. LC-WGS–based copy number variation (CNV) analysis and targeted gene mutation analysis were conducted. Results: A total of 172 patients were included. CTC count of 2.5 was identified by the ROC curves as the optimal diagnostic cutoff. The sensitivity and specificity of CTC count for differentiating benign and malignant PNs were 54.2% and 78.6%, respectively. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of combined CTC count, radiological nodule type, and any malignant imaging features were 84.7% and 71.4%, respectively. The CTC counts were significantly greater in patients with aggressive tumors, later stage, and spread through air spaces. CTCs from malignant cases had more CNVs than those from benign cases. Conclusion CTC count can be used in identifying malignant PNs. The diagnostic efficacy can be improved if combined with computed tomography imaging characteristics. Further CNV analysis might help differential diagnosis. Greater CTC count might suggest more aggressive tumors. CTC detection can provide important information and guidance for subsequent management of PNs.

Modern cataract surgery has completely moved beyond the traditional vision-restoring model and has fully entered a new era of refractive cataract surgery(RCS)centered on precise refractive correction. Its core objective is to provide patients with personalized visual experiences characterized by full-range, clear, and comfortable vision. Currently, although diagnostic and therapeutic technologies for RCS are rapidly evolving, there remain many bottlenecks in the precise management of the entire perioperative process that urgently need to be addressed. Preoperatively, the measurement consistency among ocular biometry devices based on different detection principles remains poor, and systematic measurement errors cannot be completely eliminated. Moreover, the individualized selection of intraocular lenses(IOLs)relies heavily on surgeons' clinical experience, lacking a standardized quantitative decision-making framework, which makes it difficult to achieve precise personalized matching. Intraoperatively, the quality of continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis is affected by multiple factors such as ocular anatomical characteristics and surgical proficiency, and its stability cannot be reliably ensured. Various intelligent surgical navigation systems are compromised by intraoperative ocular conditions, and their clinical performance fails to meet theoretical expectations. At the postoperative stage, existing IOL optical designs and materials have inherent limitations. The longterm prevention and control of posterior capsule opacification(PCO)remains a core factor restricting patients' long-term high-quality visual outcomes. This article systematically reviews the precise diagnostic and therapeutic challenges and core bottlenecks across the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative stages of RCS. It further explores frontier technological directions—including cross-device error compensation models, artificial intelligence-assisted decision-making, preoperative VR-based visual simulation, and the construction of intelligent surgical ecosystem platforms—to delineate targeted solutions and optimization pathways. This review aims to provide references and insights for the standardized clinical implementation, technological innovation, and future research endeavors in precision diagnosis and treatment of RCS.

Phacoemulsification represents the mainstream, efficient, and safe surgical modality for cataract treatment, and continuous technological advances have further improved the safety profile of this procedure in ordinary patients. However, patients with high myopia feature inherent anatomical abnormalities of the eyeball, leading to a fundamental incompatibility with conventional phacoemulsification protocols. Such patients face a markedly elevated risk of both anterior and posterior segment perioperative complications, posing a persistent clinical challenge in cataract surgery. Focusing on the unique ocular anatomical characteristics associated with high myopia, this review systematically summarizes the distinct traumatic effects and pathological impacts of phacoemulsification on the anterior and posterior ocular segments of affected patients. Moving beyond generalized discussions of routine cataract management, it consolidates clinical evidence specific to this special-population patients, aiming to provide refined references for perioperative risk prevention and control in cataract patients complicated with high myopia.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on postoperative pain in patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer. METHODS: A total of 140 female patients scheduled for unilateral modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer undergoing general anesthesia were randomized into a TEAS group (70 cases) and a sham TEAS group (70 cases, 2 cases dropped out). Patients in both groups received TEAS or sham TEAS at bilateral Neiguan (PC6), Zusanli (ST36), and Danzhong (CV17), respectively, from 30 min before anesthesia induction until the end of surgery, and on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd days after surgery for 30 min a time, once a day. On 1st, 2nd, and 3rd days after surgery, the pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score was observed; on 3, 6, 12 months after surgery, the incidence rate of chronic pain was observed; before surgery, and on 1st, 3rd, and 7th days after surgery, the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 were detected; the number of analgesia pump press, rescue analgesia, and the occurrence of adverse reaction after surgery were recorded in the two groups. RESULTS: In the TEAS group, the VAS scores on 1st and 2nd days after surgery, and the incidence rates of chronic pain on 3 and 6 months after surgery were lower than those in the sham TEAS group (P<0.05). On 1st, 3rd, and 7th days after surgery, the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 were increased compared with those before surgery in both groups (P<0.05, P<0.01); the above indexes in the TEAS group were lower than those in the sham TEAS group (P<0.05). The number of analgesia pump press and the incidence rate of rescue analgesia after surgery in the TEAS group were lower than those in the sham TEAS group (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions after surgery between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION TEAS can effectively improve both the postoperative acute pain and chronic pain in patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer, the mechanism may relate to inhibiting the inflammatory reaction.
Humans ; Female ; Acupuncture Points ; Pain, Postoperative/blood* ; Middle Aged ; Breast Neoplasms/surgery* ; Adult ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation ; Mastectomy, Modified Radical/adverse effects* ; Interleukin-6/blood* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/blood* ; Interleukin-10/blood* ; Aged

ObjectiveThis study aims to identify cuproptosis-related gene biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease（AD） using bioinformatics and machine learning methods， validate them at the clinical specimen level， and predict potential traditional Chinese medicine（TCM）. MethodsDifferentially expressed genes in the AD group and normal group were obtained using the Gene Expression Omnibus （GEO） database， and intersections were taken with reported cuproptosis-related genes to obtain differentially expressed cuproptosis-related genes. Machine learning methods were applied to identify core differential genes of cuproptosis in AD. Peripheral blood's single nucleated cells from clinical AD patients were collected， and the relative gene expression was clinically verified by real-time polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR）. Potential TCM regulating cuproptosis for AD were predicted by COREMINE database. ResultsA total of 12 cuproptosis-related genes were obtained， mainly involved in pathways of tricarboxylic acid cycle， 2-oxocarboxylic acid metabolism， and carbon metabolism. Five core cuproptosis-related genes， dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase （DLD）， glutaminase （GLS）， pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 subunit beta （PDHB）， full name nuclear factor （erythroid-derived 2）-related factor 2 （NFE2L2）， and dihydrolipoamide branched-chain transacylase E2 （DBT） were finally screened using four machine methods. Thirty cases each of normal and AD patients were collected clinically. Compared with those in the normal group， minimum mental state examination （MMSE） and Montreal cognitive assessment （MoCA） were significantly decreased in the AD group （P<0.01）， Homocysteine（Hcy）， interleukin（IL）-6， C-reactive protein（CRP） ， and β amyloid protein（Aβ） indexes were significantly increased （P<0.01）， and malondialdehyde（MDA） indexes were decreased （P<0.05）. Superoxide dismutase（SOD） levels were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. The mRNA relative expressions of NFE2L2 and DBT were up-regulated （P<0.05）， and those of DLD， GLS， and PDHB were significantly down-regulated （P<0.01）. The TCM regulating cuproptosis-related genes for the treatment of AD were mainly based on the four Qi such as warmth， calmness， and cold， and the five flavors including bitterness， sweetness， and pungency， and it was attributed to the meridians of the liver， spleen， stomach， and kidney， with the efficacy of tonifying Qi， activating blood， eliminating phlegm， and resoling dampness. ConclusionDLD， GLS， NFE2L2， PDHB， and DBT can be used as novel diagnostic molecular markers for AD cuproptosis-related genes， and the corresponding potential therapeutic TCM can provide new ideas for the treatment of AD by TCM.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the major form of dementia in the elderly and is closely related to the toxic effects of microglia sustained activation. In AD, sustained microglial activation triggers impaired synaptic pruning, neuroinflammation, neurotoxicity, and cognitive deficits. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that aberrant expression of deubiquitinating enzymes is associated with regulating microglia function. Here, we use RNA sequencing to identify a deubiquitinase YOD1 as a regulator of microglial function and AD pathology. Further study showed that YOD1 knockout significantly improved the migration, phagocytosis, and inflammatory response of microglia, thereby improving the cognitive impairment of AD model mice. Through LC-MS/MS analysis combined with Co-IP, we found that Myosin heavy chain 9 (MYH9), a key regulator maintaining microglia homeostasis, is an interacting protein of YOD1. Mechanistically, YOD1 binds to MYH9 and maintains its stability by removing the K48 ubiquitin chain from MYH9, thereby mediating the microglia polarization signaling pathway to mediate microglia homeostasis. Taken together, our study reveals a specific role of microglial YOD1 in mediating microglia homeostasis and AD pathology, which provides a potential strategy for targeting microglia to treat AD.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the mechanism of Gandou Fumu Decoction (GDFMD) for improving Wilson's disease (WD) in tx-J mice. METHODS: With 6 syngeneic wild-type mice as the control group, 30 tx-J mice were randomized into WD model group, low-, medium- and high-dose GDFMD treatment groups, and Fer-1 treatment group. Saline (in control and model groups) and GDFMD (3.48, 6.96 or 13.92 g/kg) were administered by gavage, and Fer-1 was injected intraperitoneally once daily for 14 days. Oil red and HE staining were used to observe lipid deposition and pathological conditions in the liver tissue; ALT, AST, albumin, AKP levels were determined to assess liver function of the mice. Western blotting and RT-qPCR were used to detect hepatic protein and mRNA expressions of GPX4, ACSL4, ALOX15, FTH1, FLT, TFR1, FAS, SCD1, and ACOX1, and Fe²⁺, MDA, ROS, SOD, GSH and 4-HNE levels were analyzed to assess oxidative stress. RESULTS: The mouse models of WD showed obvious fatty degeneration in the liver tissue significantly increased serum levels of ALT, AST and AKP, decreased albumin level, increased Fe²⁺, MDA, ROS, 4-HNE levels, decreased SOD and GSH levels (P<0.05), lowered protein expressions of ACOX1, GPX4, FTH1, FLT, FAS, and SCD1, and increased protein contents of TFR1, ACSL4 and ALOX15 in the liver. Treatment with GDFMD and Fer-1 improved liver histopathology and liver function of the mouse models, decreased the levels of Fe²⁺, MDA and ROS, increased SOD and GSH levels, and reversed the changes in hepatic protein expressions. CONCLUSIONS GDFMD improves liver steatosis in mouse models of WD possibly by inhibiting hepatocyte ferroptosis through the GPX4/ACSL4/ALOX15 signaling pathway.
Animals ; Ferroptosis/drug effects* ; Mice ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Hepatolenticular Degeneration/drug therapy* ; Hepatocytes/metabolism* ; Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase ; Fatty Liver/metabolism* ; Arachidonate 15-Lipoxygenase/metabolism* ; Coenzyme A Ligases/metabolism* ; Liver/metabolism* ; Male

With the growing emphasis on maternal and child oral health, the significance of managing oral health across preconception, pregnancy, and infancy stages has become increasingly apparent. Oral health challenges extend beyond affecting maternal well-being, exerting profound influences on fetal and neonatal oral development as well as immune system maturation. This expert consensus paper, developed using a modified Delphi method, reviews current research and provides recommendations on maternal and child oral health management. It underscores the critical role of comprehensive oral assessments prior to conception, diligent oral health management throughout pregnancy, and meticulous oral hygiene practices during infancy. Effective strategies should be seamlessly integrated across the life course, encompassing preconception oral assessments, systematic dental care during pregnancy, and routine infant oral hygiene. Collaborative efforts among pediatric dentists, maternal and child health workers, and obstetricians are crucial to improving outcomes and fostering clinical research, contributing to evidence-based health management strategies.
Humans ; Pregnancy ; Female ; Infant ; Consensus ; Mouth Diseases/therapy* ; Pregnancy Complications/therapy* ; Oral Health ; Infant, Newborn ; Delphi Technique ; Oral Hygiene