Aromatherapy refers to the method of using the aromatic components of plants in appropriate forms to act on the entire body or a specific area to prevent and treat diseases. Essential oils used in aromatherapy are hydrophobic liquids containing volatile aromatic molecules， such as limonene， linalool， linalool acetate， geraniol， and citronellol. These chemicals have been extensively studied and shown to have a variety of functions， including reducing anxiety， relieving depression， promoting sleep， and providing pain relief. Terpenoids are a class of organic molecules with relatively low lipid solubility. After being inhaled， they can pass through the nasal mucosa for transfer or penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream upon local application. Some of these substances also have the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier， thereby exerting effects on the central nervous system. Currently， the academic community generally agrees that products such as essential oils and aromatherapy from aromatic plants have certain health benefits. However， the process of extracting a single component from it and successfully developing it into a drug still faces many challenges. Its safety and efficacy still need to be further verified through more rigorous and systematic experiments. This article systematically elaborated on the efficacy of aromatic substances， including plant extracts and natural small molecule compounds， in antibacterial and antiviral fields and the regulation of nervous system activity. As a result， a deeper understanding of aromatherapy was achieved. At the same time， the potential of these aromatic substances for drug development was thoroughly explored， providing important references and insights for possible future drug research and application.

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

Objective:To explore McGregor′s patch surface anatomy parameters and correlation with demographic characteristics.Methods:A retrospective analysis of 134 volunteers [33 males and 101 females, aged (32.9±13.4) years], screened from the hospital information system of Zhejiang Provincial People′s Hospital via a random formula in excel. All subjects were divided into young group (18-40 years) and elderly group (>40 years) according to age; thin group [body mass index (BMI) <18.5 kg/m 2], moderate group (BMI 18.5-24.0 kg/m 2), and obese group (BMI >24.0 kg/m 2) according to BMI. Subjects were photographed under the same standard circumstances, and the rate of McGregor′s patch and its correlation with demographic characteristics were analyzed. The surface anatomy parameters of the McGregor′s patch were also measured. The relationship between associated ligamentous structures and the McGregor′s patch was investigated by fine dissection. Results:The rate of McGregor′s patch was 46.3% (62/134). The rate of McGregor′s patch was 39.4% (13/33) in males and 48.5% (49/101) in females, with no statistically significant difference ( P=0.362). The prevalence of McGregor′s patch was 48.9% (45/92) in the young group and 40.5% (17/42) in the elderly group, with no statistically significant difference ( P=0.364). The prevalence of McGregor′s patch was 51.4% (19/37) in the thin group, 45.9% (34/74) in the moderate group, and 39.1% (9/23) in the obese group, with no statistically significant difference ( P=0.651). The center of the McGregor′s patch was at a distance of (5.7±0.3) cm from the point of the lateral canthal point and (5.1±0.3) cm from the tragion. A detailed autopsy revealed that the zygomatic arch ligament and the occlusal cutaneous ligament appeared at a constant level above and on the deep side of this depression, and the two ligaments had their termination points in the dermis in the area of the depression. Conclusions:The center of the McGregor's patch is（5.7±0.3）cm from lateral canthal point and（5.1±0.3）cm from the tragion. There is no correlation between the rate of McGregor's patch and age or BMI.

Objective:To investigate the clinical phenotypes and genetic variant characteristics in children with epilepsy.Methods:A total of 91 children with epilepsy admitted to the Women′s and Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Ningbo University from July 2021 to October 2022 were selected as the study subjects. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the children for whole exome sequencing. Candidate genetic variants were validated by Sanger sequencing and copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq). The clinical phenotypes and treatment outcomes of the children with epilepsy were followed up, and an analysis of the relationship between genotype and phenotype was conducted. This study was approved by the Women′s and Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Ningbo University (Ethics No.: EC2020-048).Results:Among the 91 children with epilepsy, 21 cases (23.08%, 21/91) were found to carry pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants. Of these, 18 cases had involved single base variant or insertional deletion, while 3 cases involved copy number variations. The gene with the highest detection rate was PRRT2 (38.10%, 8/21). Among the children with genetic variants, 47.62% (10/21) had onset during infancy, with 8 diagnosed with Benign familial infantile epilepsy (BFIE), 8 with Developmental epileptic encephalopathy (DEE), and 3 with Epileptic encephalopathy (EE). One case of Dravet syndrome (DS) and one case of Infantile spasms (IS) were also noted. The clinical manifestations of children were diverse and primarily included generalized tonic-clonic seizures and focal seizures. Among them, 52.38% (11/21) had exhibited cluster seizures, 23.81% (5/21) showed fever sensitivity, and 14.29% (3/21) experienced status epilepticus. After pharmacological treatment, 42.86% (9/21) of children had achieved complete seizure control, while 61.90% (13/21) had intellectual disability and 19.05% (4/21) had co-morbid autism spectrum disorder. Conclusion:Pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants were identified in 23.08% of the pediatric epilepsy cases, with the PRRT2 gene being the most frequently involved. Among children carrying genetic variants, 47.62% had seizure onset during infancy. Genetic factors are an important cause of epilepsy, and early genetic testing may facilitate precise diagnosis, treatment, and prognostic evaluation.

Objective:To provide preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) for a patient with Incontinentia pigmenti (IP) due to IKBKG gene variant but without family samples through construction of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based haplotype by Long-read sequencing (LRS) technology. Methods:A female IP patient with a heterozygous IKBKG c. 1167dup variant but without family genetic data who sought genetic counseling at Women and Children′s Hospital of Ningbo University in November 2021 was selected as the study subject. The IKBKG gene has a highly homologous pseudogene IKBKGP1. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples from the couple, and LRS was used to obtain informative SNP loci flanking the variant locus, enabling the construction of SNP haplotype with a long segment spanning from the non-homologous region of IKBKG to the variant site. Trophoblast cells were biopsied from blastocysts fertilized through intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to determine the SNP information of the embryos. Linkage analysis with the parental SNP haplotypes was conducted to detect the carrier status of the embryos and exclude chromosomal aneuploidies. Sanger sequencing was carried out to validate the result. A euploid embryo without the pathogenic variant was selected for transfer. Prenatal diagnosis was carried out by amniocentesis at mid-trimester to verify the result of PGT, and follow-up was conducted after the baby was born. This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Women and Children′s Hospital of Ningbo University (Ethics No. EC2023-094). Results:In total seven blastocysts were tested, and PGT results indicated that two embryos were euploid and did not carry the pathogenic variant. One euploid embryo was transferred, which resulted in a singleton pregnancy. Amniocentesis at 24 weeks of gestation confirmed that the status of fetal IKBKG gene, and its chromosomal status was consistent with the PGT results. A healthy male infant was born at 38 + 6 weeks of gestation. Conclusion:For IP patients with de novo mutation or without family samples, PGT with LRS can directly construct the SNP-based haplotype while avoiding interference from pseudogenes, providing an effective strategy for PGT.

This consensus was developed by the Orthodontic Society of the Chinese Stomatological Association to provide a systematic, scientific, and practical guideline for informed consent in orthodontic care. Orthodontic treatment is typically lengthy, highly individualized, and involves multiple factors such as growth and development, occlusal function, and facial esthetics. Rapid technological advances and diverse risk profiles make the traditional reliance on orthodontist experience or institutional templates insufficient to ensure patients′ full understanding and autonomous decision-making. To address this, the expert panel conducted extensive reviews of domestic and international guidelines, analyzed representative dispute cases, and performed multicenter patient-clinician surveys. Using a multi-round Delphi method, the group established a standardized informed consent framework covering the initial consultation, treatment, and retention phases. The consensus emphasizes that informed consent is not only a fundamental legal and ethical requirement but also a key step in building trust, improving patient compliance, and enhancing treatment satisfaction. Orthodontists should clearly and comprehensively explain treatment plans, potential risks, uncertainties, and associated costs, while respecting the autonomy of patients or guardians, and maintain continuous communication and dynamic evaluation throughout the treatment process. The release of this consensus provides unified and authoritative guidance for clinical orthodontics, helping to standardize informed consent, enhance its transparency, safeguard patient rights, reduce medical risks, and promote high-quality, sustainable development of orthodontic practice.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of Wenjing Decoction in treating endometriosis(EMT)using bioinformatics methods and in vitro experiments.Methods The active components and corresponding targets of Wenjing Decoction were obtained from the TCMSP database,while EMT-related targets were identified using the GEO database.Functional enrichment analysis was conducted on the targets to predict core targets for treating EMT with Wenjing Decoction.Molecular docking was performed on core targets-drug ligands,and in vitro experiments validated the findings.Results Through screening the TCMSP database,117 active components of Wenjing Decoction were identified,corresponding to 248 targets;5 312 EMT-related differential genes were gathered from GEO database,identifying 97 potential targets of Wenjing Decoction for treating EMT,with core targets being IL6,TNF and EGFR.Functional enrichment analysis of EMT differential genes showed enrichment in pathways such as neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction,MAPK signaling pathway,endocytosis,calcium signaling pathway,autophagy and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.Molecular docking showed that IL6,TNF,EGFR bind stably to their corresponding drug ligands.In vitro experiments indicated that Wenjing Decoction could inhibit the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway,promote LC3 Ⅰ to LC3 Ⅱ conversion,enhance the expression of Beclin-1,and reduce P62 expression.Moreover,Wenjing Decoction could hinder the expression of the endometriosis-specific biomarker CA125,decrease EGFR,IL-6 and TNF-α expressions in ectopic endothelial cells,inhibiting proliferation.Conclusion Wenjing Decoction can treat EMT through multiple pathways and targets,with the key mechanism being the reversal of autophagy inhibition via down-regulating of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.

Objective·To explore the potential role of SUMO-specific protease 1(SENP1)in ferroptosis.Methods·The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)database was used to analyze the correlation between the expression levels of SENP1 and the ferroptosis-related genes,acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 4(ACSL4)and glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4).Ferroptosis in human fibrosarcoma HT1080 cells,murine fibrosarcoma MCA-205 cells,and human embryonic kidney 293T cells was induced by RAS-selective lethal 3(RSL3).Quantitative real-time PCR(RT-qPCR)and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of SENP1.In 293T cells,immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry was used to investigate the interacting proteins of SENP1 in the process of ferroptosis.The Flag-SENP1 plasmid was transiently transfected into 293T cells,and the overexpression efficiency of SENP1,along with the expression levels of ferroptosis-related genes ACSL4 and GPX4,was assessed by RT-qPCR and Western blotting.Results·TCGA database analysis showed that the expression of SENP1 was positively correlated with ACSL4 and negatively correlated with GPX4 in most tumor tissues.RT-qPCR and Western blotting showed that the expression level of SENP1 was significantly down-regulated in RSL3-treated HT1080,MCA-205,and 293T cells.Immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry showed that SENP1 enriched SUMO molecules in the process of ferroptosis.Western blotting showed that the level of ACSL4 protein increased after SENP1 overexpression,and there was no significant change in the level of GPX4 protein.RT-qPCR showed that after SENP1 overexpression,there was no significant change in the mRNA levels of ACSL4 and GPX4.Conclusion·SENP1 gene expression is downregulated during ferroptosis,and may regulate the stability of ferroptosis-related protein ACSL4.

Objective:To identify candidate strains of Nontoxigenic Clostridioides difficile (NTCD) with potential for intervention in Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and analyze their phenotypic characteristics. Methods:A total of 713 Clostridioides difficile strains from various sources were systematically collected nationwide between 2015 and 2023. This included 649 strains isolated from human fecal samples and 64 strains isolated from the fecal samples of farmed animals. NTCD strains were preliminarily screened through toxin gene detection and antibiotic sensitivity test, and then NTCD candidate strains with potential for intervention in CDI were screened by a series of in vitro experiments, including MLST, sporulation, germination, adhesion, motility, and biofilm formation ability. Ultimately, the virulence genes and antimicrobial resistance genes of the candidate strains were comprehensively analyzed to rigorously assess their safety profiles. Results:Among 713 strains of C. difficile from different sources, 10 strains were initially screened out, which were non-toxin-producing and sensitive to antibiotics. MLST showed that seven strains were from the Clade1 branch and three strains were of a novel type. The results of sporulation and germination showed that SD59, SD178, SJZ17, and WZ142 had stronger sporulation and germination abilities. The adhesion of 10 strains was high, and the adhesion rate was between 72.93% and 99.32%. The motility of all strains was different, and the motility of SD178, SD59 and SJZ17 was stronger. The biofilm-forming ability of all strains was weak. SD59, SD178 and SJZ17 carried a limited number of virulence and resistance genes, thereby posing a relatively low safety risk. Conclusion:Three NTCD strains are successfully selected as potential effective NTCD strains to interfere with CDI.

Objective To investigate the renal function recovery and perioperative risk factors for chronic kidney disease in patients after acute Stanford type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) repair. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on patients who underwent ATAAD repair at the Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital, Xiamen University from 2020 to 2021, and their clinical data were analyzed. Results A total of 255 patients were included, with 200 males and 55 females, and an average age of (52.80±12.46) years. The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) after ATAAD repair was 43.9%. Dissection involving the renal artery [OR=2.144, 95%CI (1.234, 3.765), P=0.007], intraoperative urine output [OR=0.761, 95%CI (0.625, 0.911), P=0.004], and intraoperative red blood cell transfusion [OR=1.288, 95%CI (1.088, 1.543), P=0.004] were significantly associated with early AKI after ATAAD repair. Long-term renal function follow-up data were available for 232 patients, among whom 40 (17.2%) patients developed chronic kidney disease (CKD). Independent predictors for CKD included lower body mass index [OR=0.827, 95%CI (0.723, 0.931), P=0.003], preoperative cardiac tamponade [OR=5.344, 95%CI (1.65, 17.958), P=0.005], preoperative renal hypoperfusion syndrome [OR=12.629, 95%CI (5.003, 35.373), P<0.001], postoperative peak serum creatinine time>3 d [OR=7.566, 95%CI (2.799, 22.731), P<0.001], and AKI grade [grade 1: OR=4.418, 95%CI (1.339, 15.361), P=0.016; grade 2: OR=8.345, 95%CI (1.762, 40.499), P=0.007; grade 3: OR=9.463, 95%CI (2.602, 37.693), P<0.001]. Conclusion AKI related to ATAAD repair can recover in the early postoperative period, but both the duration and severity of AKI will affect long-term renal function. In addition, patients' nutritional status, preoperative cardiac tamponade, and renal hypoperfusion syndrome are also independent risk factors for long-term renal dysfunction.