ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism of Jishe Qushi Capsule （脊蛇祛湿胶囊， JQC） in treating rheumatoid arthritis （RA） from the perspective of macrophage polarization mediated by neutrophil extracellular traps （NETs）. MethodsTwenty-four female SD rats were randomly divided into four groups， blank control group， model group， JQC group， and peptidylarginine deiminase 4 （PAD4） inhibitor group with 6 rats in each group. All groups but the blank control group were subjected to the induction of collagen-induced arthritis （CIA）. After successful model establishment， rats in the JQC group received intragastric administration of JQC 1.47 g/kg daily； rats in the PAD4 inhibitor group received intraperitoneal injections of the PAD4 inhibitor 4 mg/kg weekly. Rats in the blank， model， and PAD4 inhibitor groups received 2 ml of pure water daily by gavage. All treatments lasted 4 weeks. Joint lesions of each group were assessed on day 7， 14， 21， 28， and 35 after model establishment， and arthritis index （AI） scores were recorded. At 24 h after the final administration， histopathology of knee joints， including HE staining， safranin O-fast green staining， and TRAP staining， was performed. Flow cytometry was used to detect the counts of M1 and M2 macrophages in peripheral blood. ELISA was used to determine serum levels of TRACP， NETs， TNF-α， IL-1β， and iNOS. Western Blotting and qRT-PCR were used to measure MPO， NE， RANKL， OPG， and p65 protein and mRNA expression in knee cartilage tissue. ResultsCompared with the blank control group， the model group showed increased AI scores （P＜0.05）， marked synovial inflammatory infiltration， angiogenesis， and bone-cartilage destruction， increased TRAP-positive osteoclasts， increased M1 macrophages and decreased M2 macrophages， elevated serum TRACP， NETs， TNF-α， IL-1β， and iNOS （P＜0.05）， elevated MPO， NE， RANKL， and p65 protein/mRNA expression and decreased OPG protein/mRNA expression in knee cartilage tissue （P＜0.05）. Compared with the model group， the JQC group exhibited improved synovial inflammation， angiogenesis， and bone-cartilage damage， reduced AI scores on day 21， 28， and 35， decreased osteoclast counts， decreased M1 macrophages and increased M2 macrophages， reduced serum TRACP， NETs， TNF-α， IL-1β， and iNOS （P＜0.05）， decreased MPO， NE， RANKL， and p65 protein/mRNA expression and increased OPG expression （P＜0.05）. Compared with the PAD4 inhibitor group， the JQC group showed significantly lower AI scores， reduced M1 macrophages， increased M2 macrophages （P＜0.05）， reduced serum TRACP， TNF-α， IL-1β， and iNOS， decreased MPO， RANKL， and p65 expression， and increased OPG levels （P＜0.05）. ConclusionThe therapeutic mechanism of JQC for RA may involve inhibition of NETs formation， downregulation of the RANKL/NF-κB signaling pathway， and regulation of macrophage M1/M2 polarization imbalance， thereby suppressing osteoclastogenesis and inflammatory bone destruction.

[Objective] To study on the genotyping of a sample with inconsistent forward and reverse serological tests, and to conduct a pedigree investigation and molecular biological mechanism study. [Methods] The ABO blood group of the proband and his family members were identified using blood group serological method. The ABO gene exon 1-7 of samples of the proband and his family were sequenced by Sanger and single molecule real-time sequencing (SMRT). DeepTMHMM was used to predict and analyze the transmembrane region of proteins before and after mutation. [Results] The proband and his mother have the Bw phenotype, while his maternal grandfather has ABw phenotype. The blood group results of forward and reverse typing of other family members were consistent. ABO gene sequencing results showed that there was B new mutation of c.3 G>C in exon 1 of ABO gene in the proband, his mother and grandfather, leading to a shift in translation start site. DeepTMHMM analysis indicated that the shift in the translation start site altered the protein topology. [Conclusion] The c.3G>C mutation in the first exon of the ABO gene leads to a shift in the translation start site, altering the protein topology from an α-transmembrane region to a spherical signaling peptide, reducing enzyme activity and resulting in the Bw serological phenotype.

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world， and its incidence rate is also rising in China and tends to happen in younger age groups. The classical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is an important target in the treatment of breast cancer， playing a key role in the whole process of breast cancer development by regulating the expression of related signal proteins and genes. Traditional Chinese medicine has a profound history and practical experience in the treatment of malignant tumors， and the development of modern technology further highlights the therapeutic advantages of traditional Chinese medicine， which has multiple targets and components. Research shows that Chinese medicine can effectively slow down the proliferation of breast cancer cells by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway， and has a significant inhibitory effect on the development of breast cancer. Based on this， this paper summarized domestic and foreign relevant studies on the regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway with traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of breast cancer， analyzed the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine treating breast cancer by intervening in this signaling pathway， and summarized 44 different types of traditional Chinese medicine monomers， including terpenes （triptolide， andrographolide， etc.）， flavonoids （scutellarin， sinensetin， etc.）， polysaccharides （Angelica sinensis polysaccharides， etc.）， phenols （curcumin， polydatin， etc.）， and alkaloids （lycorine， etc.）. In addition， there are 3 traditional Chinese medicines （Ganoderma lucidum， Radix actinidia chinensis， and Antrodia camphorata）， 1 group of medicine pairs （Trionycis Carapax-Zedoary Turmeric）， and 8 traditional Chinese medicine formulas （Compound Tubeimu， Huangqi Jiedu Tang， Xihuang Wan， Liuwei Dihuang Wan， Jiazhu Tang， Aiduqing Fang， Sini San， and compound Kushen injection）. By regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and its key molecules， these single herbs， monomers， and compound herbs can reverse the epithelial mesenchymal transformation process， reduce the activity of stem cells， and inhibit the growth and metastasis of cancer cells. Besides， it can also enhance the sensitivity of drugs and radiotherapy and combat breast cancer， providing a new perspective for drug development and treatment strategies for breast cancer.

Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor that primarily arises from the epithelial tissue of the prostate in men. With the aggravation of population aging in China， the incidence rate of this disease has been continuously rising. Although the exact cause of prostate cancer remains unclear， it has been proven to be closely related to various factors， including individual genetic susceptibility， genetic mutations， dietary habits， and lifestyle. Research has shown that abnormal activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway also plays an important role in the occurrence and development of prostate cancer. Multiple experimental results have revealed that traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， with its multi-target and multi-stage mechanisms of action， exerts significant regulatory effects on key biological processes such as proliferation， migration， invasion， angiogenesis， and epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） of prostate cancer cells. TCM has shown excellent potential in preventing prostate cancer progression and improving patient prognosis and has become a research focus in prostate cancer treatment in recent years. Based on this， this study reviewed the research on the regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by TCM in the treatment of prostate cancer at home and abroad. It analyzed the mechanisms by which TCM intervention exerts anti-prostate cancer effects via this signaling pathway， identifying 29 different types of active ingredients in TCM， including alkaloids （e.g.， capsaicin， berberine）， flavonoids （e.g.， icariin and hyperoside）， polyphenols （e.g.， gastrodin and honokiol）， terpenes （e.g.， oridonin）， quinones （e.g.， aloe-emodin）， coumarins （e.g.， agrimonolide）， and saponins （e.g.， saikosaponin-d）. Additionally， one TCM medicinal substance （arsenic）， one drug pair （Danggui - Qieyi combination）， and two TCM formulae （Yishen Tonglong Tang and Guben Qingyuan Formula） were included. The study aims to deepen the understanding of the pathological mechanism of prostate cancer and to explore possible therapeutic targets， thereby providing new perspectives and approaches for clinical research and new drug development， and ultimately promoting the advancement and innovation of prostate cancer treatment strategies.

Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor that primarily arises from the epithelial tissue of the prostate in men. With the aggravation of population aging in China， the incidence rate of this disease has been continuously rising. Although the exact cause of prostate cancer remains unclear， it has been proven to be closely related to various factors， including individual genetic susceptibility， genetic mutations， dietary habits， and lifestyle. Research has shown that abnormal activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway also plays an important role in the occurrence and development of prostate cancer. Multiple experimental results have revealed that traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， with its multi-target and multi-stage mechanisms of action， exerts significant regulatory effects on key biological processes such as proliferation， migration， invasion， angiogenesis， and epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） of prostate cancer cells. TCM has shown excellent potential in preventing prostate cancer progression and improving patient prognosis and has become a research focus in prostate cancer treatment in recent years. Based on this， this study reviewed the research on the regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by TCM in the treatment of prostate cancer at home and abroad. It analyzed the mechanisms by which TCM intervention exerts anti-prostate cancer effects via this signaling pathway， identifying 29 different types of active ingredients in TCM， including alkaloids （e.g.， capsaicin， berberine）， flavonoids （e.g.， icariin and hyperoside）， polyphenols （e.g.， gastrodin and honokiol）， terpenes （e.g.， oridonin）， quinones （e.g.， aloe-emodin）， coumarins （e.g.， agrimonolide）， and saponins （e.g.， saikosaponin-d）. Additionally， one TCM medicinal substance （arsenic）， one drug pair （Danggui - Qieyi combination）， and two TCM formulae （Yishen Tonglong Tang and Guben Qingyuan Formula） were included. The study aims to deepen the understanding of the pathological mechanism of prostate cancer and to explore possible therapeutic targets， thereby providing new perspectives and approaches for clinical research and new drug development， and ultimately promoting the advancement and innovation of prostate cancer treatment strategies.

BACKGROUND: Spicy food consumption has been reported to be inversely associated with mortality from multiple diseases. However, the effect of spicy food intake on the incidence of vascular diseases in the Chinese population remains unclear. This study was conducted to explore this association. METHODS: This study was performed using the large-scale China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) prospective cohort of 486,335 participants. The primary outcomes were vascular disease, ischemic heart disease (IHD), major coronary events (MCEs), cerebrovascular disease, stroke, and non-stroke cerebrovascular disease. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the association between spicy food consumption and incident vascular diseases. Subgroup analysis was also performed to evaluate the heterogeneity of the association between spicy food consumption and the risk of vascular disease stratified by several basic characteristics. In addition, the joint effects of spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of vascular disease were also evaluated, and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the reliability of the association results. RESULTS: During a median follow-up time of 12.1 years, a total of 136,125 patients with vascular disease, 46,689 patients with IHD, 10,097 patients with MCEs, 80,114 patients with cerebrovascular disease, 56,726 patients with stroke, and 40,098 patients with non-stroke cerebrovascular disease were identified. Participants who consumed spicy food 1-2 days/week (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = [0.93, 0.97], P <0.001), 3-5 days/week (HR = 0.96, 95% CI = [0.94, 0.99], P = 0.003), and 6-7 days/week (HR = 0.97, 95% CI = [0.95, 0.99], P = 0.002) had a significantly lower risk of vascular disease than those who consumed spicy food less than once a week ( Ptrend <0.001), especially in those who were younger and living in rural areas. Notably, the disease-based subgroup analysis indicated that the inverse associations remained in IHD ( Ptrend = 0.011) and MCEs ( Ptrend = 0.002) risk. Intriguingly, there was an interaction effect between spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of IHD ( Pinteraction = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS Our findings support an inverse association between spicy food consumption and vascular disease in the Chinese population, which may provide additional dietary guidance for the prevention of vascular diseases.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Prospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Vascular Diseases/etiology* ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology* ; Adult ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Cerebrovascular Disorders/epidemiology* ; East Asian People

Background: and Purpose Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) following endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is a severe complication associated with adverse functional outcomes and increased mortality rates. Currently, a reliable predictive model for sICH risk after EVT is lacking. Methods: This study used data from patients aged ≥20 years who underwent EVT for anterior circulation stroke from the nationwide Taiwan Registry of Endovascular Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke (TREAT-AIS). A predictive model including factors associated with an increased risk of sICH after EVT was developed to differentiate between patients with and without sICH. This model was compared existing predictive models using nationwide registry data to evaluate its relative performance. Results: Of the 2,507 identified patients, 158 developed sICH after EVT. Factors such as diastolic blood pressure, Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score, platelet count, glucose level, collateral score, and successful reperfusion were associated with the risk of sICH after EVT. The TREAT-AIS score demonstrated acceptable predictive accuracy (area under the curve [AUC]=0.694), with higher scores being associated with an increased risk of sICH (odds ratio=2.01 per score increase, 95% confidence interval=1.64–2.45, P<0.001). The discriminatory capacity of the score was similar in patients with symptom onset beyond 6 hours (AUC=0.705). Compared to existing models, the TREAT-AIS score consistently exhibited superior predictive accuracy, although this difference was marginal. Conclusions The TREAT-AIS score outperformed existing models, and demonstrated an acceptable discriminatory capacity for distinguishing patients according to sICH risk levels. However, the differences between models were only marginal. Further research incorporating periprocedural and postprocedural factors is required to improve the predictive accuracy.

Methods: Thirty patients with PDVO of the lumbar or thoracic spine treated with transforaminal interbody debridement and fusion (TIDF) with AIBG between March 2014 and May 2022 were reviewed (AIBG group). For comparative analysis, 28 PDVO patients who underwent TIDF without AIBG between January 2009 and June 2011 were enrolled (non-AIBG group). The minimum follow-up duration was 2 years. Clinical characteristics and surgical indications were comparable in the two groups. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and the postoperative antibiotics course were compared between the two groups. Results: Surgical treatment for PDVO resulted in clinical improvement and adequate infection control. Despite the shorter postoperative intravenous antibiotic duration (mean: 19.0 days vs. 39.8 days), the AIBG group had significantly lower CRP levels at postoperative 4 and 6 weeks. The mean Visual Analog Scale pain scores improved from 7.3 preoperatively to 2.2 at 6 weeks postoperatively. The average angle correction at the last follow-up was 7.9°. Conclusions TIDF with AIBG for PDVO can achieve local infection control with a faster reduction in CRP levels, leading to a shorter antibiotic duration.

Methods: Thirty patients with PDVO of the lumbar or thoracic spine treated with transforaminal interbody debridement and fusion (TIDF) with AIBG between March 2014 and May 2022 were reviewed (AIBG group). For comparative analysis, 28 PDVO patients who underwent TIDF without AIBG between January 2009 and June 2011 were enrolled (non-AIBG group). The minimum follow-up duration was 2 years. Clinical characteristics and surgical indications were comparable in the two groups. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and the postoperative antibiotics course were compared between the two groups. Results: Surgical treatment for PDVO resulted in clinical improvement and adequate infection control. Despite the shorter postoperative intravenous antibiotic duration (mean: 19.0 days vs. 39.8 days), the AIBG group had significantly lower CRP levels at postoperative 4 and 6 weeks. The mean Visual Analog Scale pain scores improved from 7.3 preoperatively to 2.2 at 6 weeks postoperatively. The average angle correction at the last follow-up was 7.9°. Conclusions TIDF with AIBG for PDVO can achieve local infection control with a faster reduction in CRP levels, leading to a shorter antibiotic duration.

Background: and Purpose Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) following endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is a severe complication associated with adverse functional outcomes and increased mortality rates. Currently, a reliable predictive model for sICH risk after EVT is lacking. Methods: This study used data from patients aged ≥20 years who underwent EVT for anterior circulation stroke from the nationwide Taiwan Registry of Endovascular Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke (TREAT-AIS). A predictive model including factors associated with an increased risk of sICH after EVT was developed to differentiate between patients with and without sICH. This model was compared existing predictive models using nationwide registry data to evaluate its relative performance. Results: Of the 2,507 identified patients, 158 developed sICH after EVT. Factors such as diastolic blood pressure, Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score, platelet count, glucose level, collateral score, and successful reperfusion were associated with the risk of sICH after EVT. The TREAT-AIS score demonstrated acceptable predictive accuracy (area under the curve [AUC]=0.694), with higher scores being associated with an increased risk of sICH (odds ratio=2.01 per score increase, 95% confidence interval=1.64–2.45, P<0.001). The discriminatory capacity of the score was similar in patients with symptom onset beyond 6 hours (AUC=0.705). Compared to existing models, the TREAT-AIS score consistently exhibited superior predictive accuracy, although this difference was marginal. Conclusions The TREAT-AIS score outperformed existing models, and demonstrated an acceptable discriminatory capacity for distinguishing patients according to sICH risk levels. However, the differences between models were only marginal. Further research incorporating periprocedural and postprocedural factors is required to improve the predictive accuracy.