Ephedra can improve chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Pseudoephedrine (PSE) is a main active ingredients of ephedra. It has anti-inflammatory pharmacological properties. Its effect on COPD and its possible mechanism have not been elucidated. The COPD rat model was constructed by systemic cigarette smoke exposure combined with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) tracheal instillation. BEAS-2B cells were treated using cigarette smoke extract; PSE was administered for treatment. The senescence level of rat lung tissue and bronchial epithelial cells was evaluated through staining, immunofluorescence and western blot.The mitochondrial damage of rats and BEAS-2B cells was detected by transmission electron microscopy, JC-1 probe, MitoSOX Red probe and kits. In addition, the lung function indexes of rats were detected by animal lung function analysis system. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining analyzed the pathological damage. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), kit and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate inflammation and oxidative stress. Western blot detected phosphoinositide 3-kinase/ protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) axis protein. PSE significantly reduced senescent cells, apoptosis rate and P21 level in rat lung tissue and BEAS-2B cells, significantly increased the levels of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), restored mitochondrial structure, and visible mitochondrial cristae. It also inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and mitochondrial excessive fission. PSE also significantly improved lung function in rats, increased mean alveolar number (MAN), reduced pro-inflammatory factors, and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. PSE markedly suppressed p-p85, p-AKT and p-mTOR protein expressions. In addition, the PI3K/AKT agonist 740Y-P weakened the effect of PSE on improving COPD. PSE inhibited PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis, improved lung tissue senescence, mitochondrial dysfunction and pathological damage, and reduced airway inflammation and oxidative stress damage, thereby alleviating COPD.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections have emerged as a serious challenge of global public health crisis. The overuse and misuse of conventional antibiotics have dramatically accelerated the emergence, evolution and worldwide spread of drug-resistant bacterial strains, necessitating urgent exploration of novel antibacterial strategies. Bacteriophages serve as natural bacterial predators offering distinct advantages including high host specificity, autonomous self-replication capabilities and cost-effective large-scale production. However, wild-type phages present significant clinical limitations due to their narrow host ranges, susceptibility to rapid immune clearance and poor penetration of bacterial biofilms, which severely restrict their therapeutic applications. The convergence of synthetic biology, nanotechnology and advanced gene editing technologies has accelerated the development of engineered bacteriophage platforms, providing programmable, scalable and clinically translatable pathways to overcome these inherent biological constraints. Here, we systematically delineate four fundamental strategies for engineered bacteriophage development. Chemical modification utilizes reactive functional groups such as amino, carboxyl and thiol moieties on capsid proteins through esterification, amidation or click chemistry reactions to achieve precise drug conjugation and surface functionalization. In vivo editing encompasses ultraviolet or chemical mutagenesis for random mutation induction, homologous recombination for targeted genetic alterations, recombineering methodologies including electroporation-mediated bacteriophage recombination engineering, and CRISPR-Cas systems for precise genome editing to enable exact genetic reconstruction and host range reprogramming. In vitro synthesis leverages genome engineering platforms where intact phage genomes are transferred into yeast or host bacteria to facilitate highly efficient homologous recombination, enabling large DNA fragment assembly and cross-gene host range expansion without bacterial toxicity constraints. Directed evolution combines artificial selection through mutation library screening with rational design approaches involving chimeric receptor binding protein construction or site-specific mutagenesis, effectively balancing the discovery of unknown adaptive pathways with targeted host specificity modification. Moreover, we comprehensively discuss therapeutic applications across diverse clinical scenarios. Engineered bacteriophage effectively disrupt bacterial biofilms through sophisticated functionalized delivery platforms including nanozyme-conjugated phages, phage-liposome nanoconjugates and bio-responsive hydrogels, demonstrating significantly enhanced bactericidal efficiency compared to unmodified free phages. These bioengineered vectors attenuate bacterial virulence and resensitize pathogens to antibiotics by delivering CRISPR-Cas systems or base editors to disrupt critical virulence factors such as pili, capsule synthesis machineries and quorum sensing systems, or by inactivating antibiotic resistance determinants including beta-lactamase genes. As an intelligent nanomedicine delivery platform, engineered bacteriophage enable precise pathogen elimination an through photocatalytic reactive oxygen species generation, immunomodulatory interventions, or controlled release of antibacterial drugs. Furthermore, oral administration of engineered bacteriophage facilitates microbiota modulation, which selectively eliminate intestinal pathogens while preserve beneficial commensal microbiota, thereby restoring microbial community balance and preventing complications associated with dysbiosis. Finally, we critically analyze persistent challenges including host strain matching complexity, evolution of bacterial resistance mechanisms, pharmacokinetic optimization requirements, optimal administration route selection, large-scale production quality control standards and clinical dosing determination protocols. Through multidisciplinary integration of synthetic biology, infectious disease medicine and immunology, future translational medicine studies of bacteriophage should establish comprehensive technical platforms encompassing rapid phage screening, intelligent rational design, rigorous in vivo evaluation and standardized clinical validation processes, ultimately advancing engineered bacteriophage from laboratory innovations to clinically approved therapeutics for effectively combating MDR bacterial infections.

Objective In order to understand the current resistance status of Aedes albopictus(Ae. albopictus) adult population to commonly used insecticides and the resistance dynamics development in Zhejiang Province and provide a theoretical basis for the scientific and rational use of hygienic insecticides. Methods Resistance determination was carried out using the diagnostic dose method(GB/T 26347-2010)recommended by WHO in the adult mosquito contact cylinder method to monitor the resistance of Ae. albopictus field populations in 11 cities and districts in Zhejiang Province in 2024. Results The monitoring result showed that adult Ae. albopictus in 11 areas were resistant or suspected resistant populations to both cis-cypermethrin and permethrin; suspected and resistant populations to the organophosphate insecticide malathion were as high as 81.82%; while suspected resistance to the carbamate insecticide residual carbofuran accounted for 45.45%, and the rest of the monitoring sites were sensitive to it. Conclusions The result suggest that the generalized resistance of Ae. albopictus populations to pyrethroids and organophosphorus insecticides in the field in Zhejiang Province needs to be highly emphasized. In future mosquito vector and mosquito-borne disease control, insecticides should be selected based on the resistance monitoring information, while following scientific guidelines for insecticide use.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the leading malignancy in China in terms of both incidence and mortality. With increased health awareness and the widespread use of low-dose computed tomography (CT), early diagnosis rates have been steadily improving. Surgical intervention remains the primary treatment option for early-stage lung cancer, and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has become a common approach due to its minimal invasiveness and rapid recovery. However, post-discharge recovery remains incomplete, underscoring the importance of postoperative care. Traditional follow-up methods, lack standardization, consume significant medical resources, and increase the burden of the patients. Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven disease management platforms offer a novel solution to optimize postoperative follow-up. This study followed 463 lung cancer surgery patients using an AI-based platform, aiming to identify common postoperative issues, propose solutions, improve quality of life, reduce recurrence-related costs, and promote AI integration in healthcare. METHODS: Using the AI disease management platform, this study integrated educational videos, collaboration between healthcare teams and AI assistants, daily health logs, health assessment forms, and personalized interventions to monitor postoperative recovery. The postoperative rehabilitation status of the patients was assessed by the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ-MC). Two independent t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze the causes of postoperative cough in lung cancer. RESULTS: Most issues occurred within 7 d post-discharge, significantly declined on 14 d post-discharge. Factors such as gender, smoking history, and surgical approaches were found to influence cough recovery. The incidence of cough on 7 d post-discharge in females was higher than that in males (P<0.01), while the incidence of cough on 14 d post-discharge in elderly patients was lower than that in young patients (P=0.03). The AI-based platform effectively addressed cough, pain, and sleep disturbances through phased interventions. CONCLUSIONS The AI-based platform significantly enhanced postoperative management efficiency and the self-care capabilities of the patients, particularly in phased cough management. Future integration with wearable devices could enable more precise and personalized postoperative care, further advancing the application of AI technology across multidisciplinary healthcare domains.
Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/rehabilitation* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Patient Discharge ; Artificial Intelligence ; Adult ; Postoperative Care ; Postoperative Period ; Disease Management ; Quality of Life

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Yangxue Qingnao Pills (YXQNP) combined with amlodipine in treating patients with grade 1 hypertension. METHODS: This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study. Adult patients with grade 1 hypertension of blood deficiency and Gan (Liver)-yang hyperactivity syndrome were randomly divided into the treatment or the control groups at a 1:1 ratio. The treatment group received YXQNP and amlodipine besylate, while the control group received YXQNP's placebo and amlodipine besylate. The treatment duration lasted for 180 days. Outcomes assessed included changes in blood pressure, Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome scores, symptoms and target organ functions before and after treatment in both groups. Additionally, adverse events, such as nausea, vomiting, rash, itching, and diarrhea, were recorded in both groups. RESULTS: A total of 662 subjects were enrolled, of whom 608 (91.8%) completed the trial (306 in the treatment and 302 in the control groups). After 180 days of treatment, the standard deviations and coefficients of variation of systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels were lower in the treatment group compared with the control group. The improvement rates of dizziness, headache, insomnia, and waist soreness were significantly higher in the treatment group compared with the control group (P<0.05). After 30 days of treatment, the overall therapeutic effects on CM clinical syndromes were significantly increased in the treatment group as compared with the control group (P<0.05). After 180 days of treatment, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, ankle brachial index and albumin-to-creatinine ratio were improved in both groups, with no statistically significant differences (P>0.05). No serious treatment-related adverse events occurred during the study period. CONCLUSIONS Combination therapy of YXQNP with amlodipine significantly improved symptoms such as dizziness and headache, reduced blood pressure variability, and showed a trend toward lowering urinary microalbumin in hypertensive patients. These findings suggest that this regimen has good clinical efficacy and safety. (Registration No. ChiCTR1900022470).
Humans ; Amlodipine/adverse effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Hypertension/complications* ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Adult ; Blood Pressure/drug effects* ; Double-Blind Method ; Aged ; Antihypertensive Agents/adverse effects*

Hearing loss is the most prevalent disabling disease. Cochlear implantation（CI） serves as the primary intervention for severe to profound hearing loss. This consensus systematically explores the value of genetic diagnosis in the pre-operative assessment and efficacy prognosis for CI. Drawing upon domestic and international research and clinical experience, it proposes an evidence-based medicine three-tiered prognostic classification system（Favorable, Marginal, Poor）. The consensus focuses on common hereditary non-syndromic hearing loss（such as that caused by mutations in genes like GJB2, SLC26A4, OTOF, LOXHD1） and syndromic hereditary hearing loss（such as Jervell & Lange-Nielsen syndrome and Waardenburg syndrome）, which are closely associated with congenital hearing loss, analyzing the impact of their pathological mechanisms on CI outcomes. The consensus provides recommendations based on multiple round of expert discussion and voting. It emphasizes that genetic diagnosis can optimize patient selection, predict prognosis, guide post-operative rehabilitation, offer stratified management strategies for patients with different genotypes, and advance the application of precision medicine in the field of CI.
Humans ; Cochlear Implantation ; Prognosis ; Hearing Loss/surgery* ; Consensus ; Connexin 26 ; Mutation ; Sulfate Transporters ; Connexins/genetics*

Objective To propose a low-dose CT image denoising method based on an improved Corediff model to recover the detailed features of the image and enhance the image quality.Methods An RS-Corediff model was established by modifying the key component U-Net network of the Corediff model.Firstly,the residual module was introduced in the network input stage for feature extraction;secondly,a new downsampling module was designed in the U-Net network encoder,which learned the semantic information of the feature map by convolution and maintained the learning state during the downsampling process so as to fully extract the image features;thirdly,the feature splicing processing was used to further enhance the learning effect during the upsampling process of the U-Net network decoder;finally,the convolutional kernel size was modified to adjust the sensory field during the convolutional process of the whole U-Net network structure so as to obtain rich features.The RS-Corediff model was compared with the residual encoder-decoder convolutional neural network(RED-CNN)model and the Corediff model on the public dataset AAPM 2016 in order to verify its effectiveness for low-dose CT image denoising.Results The RS-Corediff model gained advantages over the RED-CNN and Corediff models with a peak signal-to-noise ratio(PSNR)of 41.269 8,structural similarity(SSIM)of 0.953 4 and root mean square error(RMSE)of 17.568 7.Conclusion The proposed method effectively preserves the texture and details of low-dose CT images during the denoising process to improve the overall quality of the images.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(5):9-13]

Aim To explore the effect of age on myocardial remodeling after percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)in patients with acute anterior myocardial infarction.Methods This study was a cross-sectional study analyzing clinical data of regular follow-up at 1,3,6 and 12 months after PCI for acute anterior myocardial infarction.According to the age of the patients,they were divided into a low age group(＜65 years old)and a high age group(≥65 years old).The differences in baseline data,biochemical indexes,coronary angiography,inflammatory factor levels,and cardiac ultrasound indexes between the two groups were analyzed,and the correlation analysis between age and inflammatory factors and the multivariate linear regression analysis of diastolic function were performed.Results A to-tal of 87 patients with acute anterior myocardial infarction were selected,aged(62±13)years,including 67 males(77.0％),43 in the low age group and 44 in the high age group.Compared with the low age group,the levels of inflam-matory factors such as C-reactive protein,interleukin-1β(IL-1β),interleukin-6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)increased in the high age group,while ultrasound indicators such as mitral valve annulus septal e',mitral valve flow velocity E/A,and mitral valve annulus sidewall e'decreased(P＜0.05).Older age was an independent risk factor for a decrease in mitral valve flow velocity E/A,mitral valve annulus sidewall e'and mitral valve annulus septal e'in patients with acute anterior myocardial infarction 6 months after PCI(P＜0.05).Conclusion Age is an independent risk factor for reduced diastolic function after PCI in acute anterior myocardial infarction,inflammatory factor such as IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α may play a role in the impaired diastolic function after PCI in age-related acute anterior myocardial infarction.

Aim To apply coronary angiography derived index of microcirculatory resistance(caIMR)to evaluate the effect of coronary microcirculation perfusion on myocardial remodeling after interventional therapy in patients with acute anterior ST segment elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI).Methods This was a cross-sectional study.The analysis was performed among the patients who were hospitalized for acute anterior STEMI in the First Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from January 2021 to July 2022 and received percutaneous coro-nary intervention(PCI)with regtelar follow-up visits.The patients were divided into low caIMR(L-caIMR)group,me-dium caIMR(M-caIMR)group and high caIMR(H-caIMR)group according to the results of caIMR.The results of ech-ocardiography at perioperative period,1 month,3 months,6 months and 1 year were analyzed and compared,including left atrial diameter(LAD),left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDD),interventricular septum thickness(IVST),mitral orifice flow velocity E/A,mitral annular septum e'and mitral annular wall e',etc.The difference of interleukin-1β(IL-1β),interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and other inflammatory factors in peripheral blood of the three groups were also compared.Results A total of 75 patients diagnosed with acute anterior STEMI were recrui-ted,including 55 males.The L-caIMR group,M-caIMR group,and H-caIMR group had 26,26 and 23 cases,respec-tively.Compared with the L-caIMR group,the LAD and IVST in the M-caIMR group and the H-caIMR group exhibited an increasing tendency one month after PCI,and the increase in the H-caIMR group was more significant than that in the M-caIMR group(P＜0.05).The ejection fraction in the H-caIMR group was notably lower than that in the L-caIMR group and the M-caIMR group at 1 and 3 months after PCI(P＜0.05).Compared with the L-caIMR group,the mitral flow velocity E/A at 6 months after PCI,and the e'at the septal side and the lateral wall of the mitral annulus at 1,3,and 6 months after PCI were significantly reduced in the M-caIMR and H-caIMR groups(P＜0.05).Compared with the L-caIMR group,the levels of IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α showed an increasing trend in the M-caIMR group and the H-caIMR group,and the increase was greater in the H-caIMR group than that in the M-caIMR group(P＜0.05).Multivariate anal-ysis revealed that caIMR was a factor influencing the levels of IL-1 β and IL-6(P＜0.05).Conclusion CMD may be involved in the process of myocardial remodeling in patients with acute anterior STEMI after PCI,in which inflammation plays a role.

Objective To explore the risk factors for 28-day mortality of sepsis-associated acute kidney injury(SA-AKI)patients and to develop a nomogram risk prediction model.Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted,involving 184 patients with SA-AKI admitted to the intensive care unit(ICU)of the 940th Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force of PLA between January 2017 and December 2022.Patients were categorized into survival(n=135)and non-survival(n=49)groups based on 28-day mortality.Clinical data were collected,and statistically significant risk factors were preliminarily screened.Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors for 28-day mortality of SA-AKI patients.A nomogram predictive model was constructed using these factors,and internally validated with the Bootstrap method.The receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC curve)was drawn,and the area under the ROC curve(AUC)was calculated to verify the predictive value and accuracy of the model.Results The 28-day mortality rate among 184 SA-AKI patients was 26.6％(49/184).Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis identified multiple organ dysfunction syndrome(MODS)(OR=16.393,95％CI 4.317-62.254,P＜0.001),high acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ(APACHE Ⅱ)score(OR=1.097,95％CI 1.036-1.161,P=0.002),low oxygenation index(OR=0.992,95％CI 0.986-0.998,P=0.015),low neutrophil count(OR=0.912,95％CI 0.860-0.968,P=0.002)and low fibrinogen concentration(OR=0.733,95％CI 0.549-0.978,P=0.034)as independent risk factors.The prediction model equation was P=1/1+e-logit(P),logit(P)=-1.626+2.797×MODS+0.092×AP ACHE Ⅱ+(-0.311)×fibrinogen+(-0.092)×neutrophil count+(-0.008)×oxygenation index.Internal validation with 1000 Bootstrap resamples showed high consistency between predicted and actual values.ROC analysis showed an AUC of 0.911(95％CI 0.868-0.955,P＜0.05)for the model,with 93.9％sensitivity and 78.5％specificity at a cut-off of 0.194.The Hosmer-Lemeshow test confirmed good calibration(P=0.62),and decision-making curve analysis demonstrated clinical utility within the high-risk threshold range(0.1-0.9).Conclusions MODS,high APACHE Ⅱ score,low oxygenation index,low neutrophil count,and low fibrinogen concentration are independent risk factors for 28-day mortality in SA-AKI patients.The developed nomogram risk prediction model may provide important guidance for predicting 28-day mortality in SA-AKI patients.