ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of Janus kinase （JAK） inhibitors combined with Chinese herbal medicine （CHM） in treating rheumatoid arthritis （RA）. MethodsClinical data from 169 RA patients were retrospectively collected. Among them， 71 cases received JAK inhibitors as the control group， while 98 cases received JAK inhibitors plus CHM as the observation group， both treated for 24 weeks. The rheumatoid factor （RF）， cyclic citic peptide antibody （anti-CCP）， erythrocyte sedimentation rate （ESR）， C-reactive protein （CRP）， and white blood cell count （WBC） were recorded before and after treatment. Databases including CNKI， Wanfang， VIP， PubMed and Web of Science were searched from inception till August 31st， 2025 for randomized controlled trials （RCTs） on the combined use of JAK inhibitors and CHM for RA. The methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated using the risk of bias assessment tool. Meta-analyses were performed for RF， anti-CCP， ESR， CRP， 28-joint disease activity score （DAS28）， overall clinical effective rate， and incidence of adverse events. Sensitivity analysis were also performed. ResultsThe retrospective study demonstrated that after treatment， ESR， CRP， and anti-CCP levels decreased in the observation group， while ESR and CRP levels decreased in the control group （P＜0.05）. Moreover， ESR and RF levels in the observation group were lower than those in the control group （P＜0.05）. A total of 9 RCTs involving 770 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The results indicated that the JAK inhibitors plus CHM group was superior to the JAK inhibitors group in reducing RF （MD=-8.97， 95%CI -15.01 to -2.94， P=0.004）， CRP （MD=-3.34， 95%CI -3.82 to -2.86， P＜0.001）， ESR （MD=-5.33， 95%CI -7.98 to -2.69， P＜0.001）， and DAS28 score （MD=-0.54， 95%CI -0.74 to -0.34， P＜0.001）， as well as in improving the overall clinical effective rate （OR=4.53， 95%CI 2.55 to 8.03， P＜0.001）. No statistically significant differences were observed between groups in anti-CCP levels （SMD=-2.08， 95%CI -4.41 to 0.24， P=0.080） or incidence of adverse events （OR=0.93， 95%CI 0.55 to 1.57， P=0.790）. ConclusionThe combination of JAK inhibitors and CHM demonstrates remarkable efficacy in treating RA， contributing to improved disease activity and reduced inflammatory markers with a favorable safety profile.

Objective To provide a scientific basis for vector prevention and control in port areas, vector monitoring has been conducted continuously to characterize the composition, density, and seasonal fluctuations of vectors across 21 port-areas of Shandong province from 2017 to 2023. Methods In accordance with the Regional Vector Monitoring Plan for Frontier Ports, vector surveillance of mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches, rodents, and other disease vectors was performed. Data were analyzed to describe vector community composition and identify seasonal fluctuations. Results A total of 601 rodents belonging to 1 family, 4 genera, and 4 species were captured. Three dominant rodent species inhabit port areas. In addition, 88 104 mosquitoes were captured and classified into 3 subfamilies, 4 genera, and 12 species; 38 959 flies were trapped and classified into 8 families,31 genera, and 51 species, including 9 dominant fly species in port-areas; and 54 672 captured cockroaches were classified into 2 families,4 genera, and 4 species, with Blattella germanica as the dominant species. Conclusions Significant vector community changes(P＜0.005)have been identified after the epidemic. To improve the pertinence and efficacy of port health quarantine work, continuous and strong attention should be paid to vector compositions and population densities at Shandong ports.

Based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS) technology and network pharmacology, this study explored the pharmacodynamic substances and potential mechanisms of Huazhuo Sanjie Chubi Decoction in the treatment of gouty arthritis(GA). UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS technology was used to identify the components in Huazhuo Sanjie Chubi Decoction, and the qualitative analysis of its active ingredients was carried out, with a total of 184 active ingredients identified. A total of 897 active ingredient targets were screened through the PharmMapper database, and 491 GA-related disease targets were obtained from the OMIM, GeneCards, CTD databases. After Venn analysis, 60 intersecting targets were obtained. The component target-GA target network was constructed through the Cytoscape platform, and the STRING database was used to construct a protein-protein interaction network, with 16 core targets screened. The core targets were subjected to Gene Ontology(GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses, and the component-target-pathway network was constructed. It was found that the main active ingredients of the formula for the treatment of GA were phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenoids, and the key targets were SRC, MMP3, MMP9, REN, ALB, IGF1R, PPARG, MAPK1, HPRT1, and CASP1. Through GO analysis, it was found that the treatment of GA mainly involved biological processes such as lipid response, bacterial response, and biostimulus response. KEGG analysis showed that the pathways related to the treatment of GA included lipids and atherosclerosis, neutrophil extracellular traps(NETs), IL-17, and so on. In summary, phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenoids may be the core pharmacodynamic substances of Huazhuo Sanjie Chubi Decoction in the treatment of GA, and the pharmacodynamic mechanism may be related to SRC, MMP3, MMP9, and other targets, as well as lipids and atherosclerosis, NETs, IL-17, and other pathways.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Network Pharmacology ; Arthritis, Gouty/metabolism* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Humans ; Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Protein Interaction Maps/drug effects*

Anxiety disorder is a highly prevalent psychological illness, and research has shown that obesity is a significant risk factor for its development. This study explored the ameliorative effects and mechanisms of saponins from Panax japonicus(SPJ) on anxiety disorder in mice fed a high-fat diet(HFD). Fifty C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into normal control diet(NCD) group, HFD group, and low-and high-dose SPJ groups. At week 12, six mice from the HFD group were further divided into a control group(treated with DMSO) and an exogenous fibroblast growth factor 21(FGF21) group(administered rFGF21). The anxiety-like behavior of the mice was assessed using the open field test and elevated plus maze test. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and oil red O staining were performed to observe pathological changes in the liver and adipose tissue. Glucose metabolism was evaluated through the glucose tolerance test(GTT) and insulin tolerance test(ITT). Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expression of FGF21 and its downstream-related proteins in the liver and cortex, along with the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF), disks large homolog 4(DLG4), and synaptophysin(SYP) in the cortex. Real-time quantitative fluorescent PCR(qPCR) was used to detect the expression of FGF21 and its receptor genes in the liver and cortex. Immunofluorescence staining was employed to examine the expression of neuronal activator c-Fos, FGF21, and the FGF21 co-receptor β-klotho in the cerebral cortex. The results showed that SPJ significantly improved the frequency of activity in the open arms of the elevated plus maze and the central area of the open field in HFD mice, up-regulated the expression of BDNF, DLG4, and SYP, and effectively alleviated anxiety-like behaviors in HFD mice. Compared with the NCD group, HFD mice exhibited up-regulated expression of FGF21 in the liver and cerebral cortex, while the expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1(FGFR1) and β-klotho was significantly down-regulated, suggesting that HFD mice exhibited FGF21 resistance. SPJ markedly up-regulated the β-klotho levels in HFD mice, reversing FGF21 resistance. Further comparison with exogenously administered FGF21 revealed that SPJ activates brain cortical regions in a consistent manner, and additionally, SPJ promotes the number and colocalization of c-Fos and β-klotho positive cells in the brain cortex. In summary, SPJ effectively alleviates anxiety-like behaviors in HFD mice. Its mechanism is associated with up-regulation of β-klotho expression in the brain, reversal of FGF21 resistance, and subsequent activation of neurons in the cerebral cortex and amygdala.
Animals ; Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects* ; Fibroblast Growth Factors/genetics* ; Mice ; Male ; Panax/chemistry* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Anxiety/etiology* ; Saponins/administration & dosage* ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/genetics* ; Humans ; Liver/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*

In current clinical practice, various dermal templates and skin substitutes are used to enhance wound healing. However, the role of wound commensal microbiome in regulating scaffold performance and the healing process remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the influence of both natural and synthetic scaffolds on the wound commensal microbiome and wound repair in three distinct models including diabetic wounds, burn injuries, and germ-free (GF) wounds. Remarkably, synthetic electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds were observed to positively promote microbiome diversity, leading to enhanced diabetic wound healing compared to the natural scaffolds Integra® (INT) and MatriDerm® (MAD). In contrast, both natural and synthetic scaffolds exhibited comparable effects on the diversity of the microbiome and the healing of burn injuries. In GF wounds with no detectable microorganisms, a reversed healing rate was noted showing natural scaffold (MAD) accelerated wound repair compared to the open or the synthetic scaffold (PCL) treatment. Furthermore, the response of the wound commensal microbiome to PCL scaffolds appears pivotal in promoting anti-inflammatory factors during diabetic wound healing. Our results emphasize that the wound commensal microbiome, mediated by different scaffolds plays an important role in the wound healing process.

Objective The aim of this study is to detect the expression of purinergic 2X7 receptor(P2X7R)and the NLRP3 inflammasome in benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)tissues and to analyze the clinical correlations.Methods Twelve patients undergoing surgery for BPH were enrolled.Based on the presence or absence of inflammatory cell infiltration in HE-stained tissue sections,the patients were divided into inflammation group and non-inflammation group.Preoperative routine ex-aminations excluded surgical contraindications,and International Prostate Symptom Score(IPSS)questionnaires,urinary flow rate measurements,expressed prostatic secretions(EPS)analysis,and prostate-specific antigen(PSA)tests were conducted.Prostate tissues obtained during surgery were subjected to HE staining,immunofluorescence/Western blot to detect the expression of NLRP3,P2X7R,Caspase-1,Cleaved-Caspase-1,IL-1 β,and TNF-α,and immunofluorescence to assess lymphocyte infiltra-tion.SPSS 26.0 software was used to analyze correlations between the expression levels of NLRP3 and P2X7R in prostate tissues and indicators including Caspase-1,Cleaved-Caspase-1,IL-1 β,TNF-α,lymphocyte count,IPSS score,urinary flow rate,EPS,and PSA.Results In BPH tissues,the expression levels of NLRP3 and P2X7R were positively correlated(P＜0.05).The ex-pression levels of NLRP3 and P2X7R were positively correlated with Caspase-1,Cleaved-Caspase-1,IL-1 β,TNF-α,and lym-phocyte count(P＜0.05).NLRP3 and P2X7R expression levels were positively correlated with white blood cell count in EPS,but showed no correlation with IPSS score,lecithin body count in EPS,maximum urinary flow rate and PSA(P＜0.05).Conclusion P2X7R and NLRP3 in prostate tissues exacerbate local inflammatory responses,which may be an important mecha-nism in BPH development.However,they are not correlated with IPSS score,lecithin body count in EPS,maximum urinary flow rate and PSA.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of laminoplasty via the intermuscular approach or posterior midline approach for treating spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA).Methods:A multi-center retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 135 patients with SCIWORA admitted to Honghui Hospital Affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an No.5 Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou Orthopedic Hospital, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University from February 2021 to June 2023, including 75 males and 60 females, aged 35-78 years [(55.3±8.1)years]. The injury segments involved C 3-C 6. All the patients underwent posterior cervical open-door laminoplasty, among whom 70 patients were treated via the intermuscular approach (intermuscular group) and 65 via the posterior midline approach (posterior midline group). The operation duration, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, and length of hospital stay were recorded. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, neck disability index (NDI), Barthel index, cervical Cobb angle, and cervical range of motion (ROM) were measured preoperatively, at 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up. The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale was evaluated preoperatively, at 3, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up. The postoperative complication rate was recorded as well. Results:All the patients were followed up for 15-19 months [(16.3±1.6)months]. The operation duration, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage and length of hospital stay were (125.0±23.0)minutes, (210.4±34.8)ml, and (165.3±23.7)ml, and (5.3±0.1)days in the intermuscular group, which were significantly shorter or less than (168.0±27.6)minutes, (260.2±45.3)ml, (196.4±31.6)ml, and (6.4±0.2)days in the posterior midline group ( P<0.01). The preoperative VAS score, JOA score, NDI and Barthel index showed no significant differences between the two groups ( P>0.05). The VAS score and JOA score also showed no significant differences between the two groups at 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively or at the final follow-up ( P>0.05). The NDI and Barthel index also showed no significant differences between the two groups at 3 months postoperatively ( P>0.05). At 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up, the NDI were (15.4±2.5)points, (11.8±2.1)points and (8.6±1.5)points in the intermuscular group, significantly lower than (19.1±3.4)points, (14.3±2.4)points and (11.9±1.4)points in the posterior midline group ( P<0.01). At 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up, the Barthel index were (71.4±6.2)points, (83.4±5.8)points and (89.2±7.1)points in the intermuscular group, significantly higher than (59.6±4.7)points, (74.2±3.9)points and (78.8±6.2)points in the posterior midline group ( P<0.01). Both groups showed significant improvements in VAS score, JOA score, NDI and Barthel index at 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up when compared to those preoperatively ( P<0.05). Among them, the VAS score, NDI and Barthel index were further improved over time ( P<0.05). Simultaneously, the JOA score was significantly improved at 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the last follow-up when compared to that at 3 months postoperatively ( P<0.05), with no significant difference at later time points between the two groups ( P>0.05). The preoperative cervical Cobb angle and ROM showed no significant differences between the two groups ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the Cobb angle between the two groups at 3, 6 or 12 months postoperatively ( P>0.05), while it was (13.6±2.4)° in the intermuscular group at the final follow-up, significantly larger than (10.4±2.8)° in the posterior midline group ( P<0.01). At 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up, the cervical ROM were (34.1±6.4)°, (32.6±7.3)°, (31.8±9.1)° and (29.6±8.7)° in the intermuscular group, significantly larger than (23.7±8.3)°, (22.3±7.8)°, (22.5±8.1)° and (20.6±9.3)° in the posterior midline group ( P<0.01). In the intermuscular group, the cervical Cobb angle showed no significant changes at 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up when compared to those preoperatively ( P>0.05). In the posterior midline group, the Cobb angles were significantly reduced at 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up when compared to those preoperatively ( P<0.05), showing significant decrease at 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up from those at 3, 6 months postoperatively ( P<0.05), no significant difference at 6 months postoperatively from that at 3 months postoperatively ( P>0.05), and significant decrease at the final follow-up from that at 12 months postoperatively ( P>0.05). In the intermuscular group, the cervical ROM were significantly improved at 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up when compared to those preoperatively and showed further improvement over time ( P<0.05). In the posterior midline group, the cervical ROM were significantly improved at 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up when compared to those preoperatively ( P<0.05), showing significant decreases at 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up from that at 3 months postoperatively ( P<0.05), significant decreases at the final follow-up from those at 6, 12 months postoperatively ( P<0.05), and no significant difference at 12 months postoperatively from that at 6 months postoperatively ( P>0.05). The ASIA grades showed no significant difference between the two groups preoperatively, at 3, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up ( P>0.05) , but were gradually improved over time in both groups ( P<0.05). The postoperative complication rate was 9%(6/70) in the intermuscular group, significantly lower than 48%(31/65) in the posterior midline group ( P<0.01). Conclusion:Compared to the posterior midline approach, the intermuscular approach for laminoplasty in patients with SCIWORA possesses advantages, including shorter operative time and length of hospital stay, reduced intraoperative blood loss and postoperative drainage, less postoperative neck disability, higher daily life quality, better long-term preservation of cervical lordosis and motion, and a lower complication rate.

Objective:To investigate the current status of the implementation of home-based phototherapy (HBPT) in patients with vitiligo, and to analyze management needs among patients receiving HBPT.Methods:A questionnaire survey was conducted on the application of HBPT among patients with vitiligo who visited the outpatient clinic of the Hospital for Skin Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from December 2021 to November 2022. Additionally, the popularization and usage of HBPT as well as needs of patient management were investigated and analyzed in these vitiligo patients.Results:A total of 496 valid questionnaires were collected from 496 patients with vitiligo (241 males [48.5%] and 255 females [51.5%]) . Their ages at visit ranged from 2 to 67 (30.87 ± 12.36) years. The most commonly affected sites were the head and face (52.2%) , followed by hair (32.1%) , hands and feet (31.4%) , trunk (30.2%) , limbs (24.3%) , neck (19.5%) , and perineum (9.9%) . Among the participants, 320 (64.5%) were currently using or had used HBPT, and 352 (70.8%) expressed a willingness to learn more about HBPT usage guidelines and health education. Regarding the repigmentation outcomes after HBPT: among 312 patients, 54 (17.3%) reported complete recovery, 64 (20.5%) were markedly improved, 142 (45.5%) experienced improvement, and 52 (16.7%) showed no response. Adverse reactions occurred in 223 patients (71.5%) , of whom 28 (9.0%) experienced severe adverse reactions. The most desired guiding information was the adjustment method for phototherapy dosage and treatment duration (184/352, 52.3%) ; the most effective way to receive health education information was through verbal education by medical staff (177/352, 50.3%) .Conclusion:For vitiligo patients who were willing to accept and use HBPT, the most desired guiding information was the adjustment method for phototherapy dosage and treatment duration, and verbal health education by medical staff appeared to be the main way to obtain health education information.

OBJECTIVE To discuss the impact of Wenyang lishui formula on ventricular remodeling in rats with pulmonary hypertension-induced right heart failure （RHF） based on the Hippo/Yes-associated protein （YAP） signaling pathway. METHODS Ten rats were randomly selected as the control group. The remaining 63 rats were given a single intraperitoneal injection of monocrotaline to establish the pulmonary hypertension-induced RHF model. The 50 rats that successfully underwent the model establishment were randomly divided into the RHF group， low-dose group of Wenyang lishui formula （4.25 g/kg）， high-dose group of the Wenyang lishui formula （17.00 g/kg）， furosemide group （20 mg/kg）， and high-dose group of Wenyang lishui formula+ Hippo/YAP signaling pathway activator group （17.00 g/kg of Δ Wenyang lishui formula+16 mg/kg of PY-60）， with 10 rats in each group. The rats in each group were given the corresponding drug solution or normal saline by gavage or/andtail vein injection， once a day， for 4 consecutive weeks. During the experiment， the general conditions of the rats in each group were observed； after the last administration， the right ventricular diameter， right atrial diameter， end-diastolic volume， pulmonary artery blood flow acceleration time （PAAT） and its ratio to ejection time （ET） （PAAT/ET）， pulmonary artery pressure and its ratio to pulmonary arterial flow velocity （pulmonary artery pressure/velocity） were measured. The plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide and angiotensin Ⅱ （Ang Ⅱ） were detected. The pathological changes of the right ventricular tissue were observed， and the collagen volume fraction， the phosphorylation levels of the large tumor suppressor 1/2 （LATS1/2） and YAP， and the protein expression of the transcriptional coactivator of PDZ-binding motif （TAZ） were also detected. RESULTS Compared with the RHF group， the rats in Wenyang lishui formula low-dose and high-dose groups showed improved hair color， movement， diet， and mental state. The atrophy of right ventricular myocardial cells， the increase of inflammatory cells， collagen deposition， and hypertrophy of myocardial fibers were significantly alleviated. The right ventricular internal diameter， right atrial internal diameter， end-diastolic volume， pulmonary artery pressure， pulmonary artery pressure/velocity， the plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide and AngⅡ ， collagen volume fraction， the phosphorylation level of YAP and protein expression of TAZ were significantly decreased， while the PAAT， PAAT/ET and the phosphorylation level of LATS1/2 were significantly increased （P＜0.05）. PY-60 could significantly reverse the improvement effects of high-dose Wenyang lishui formula on the above quantitative indicators （P＜ 0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Wenyang lishui formula can restore the right heart function of pulmonary hypertension-induced RHF rats， reduce their pulmonary artery pressure， alleviate the pathological changes in their cardiac tissues， and the above effects may be related to the activation of Hippo expression and the inhibition of YAP phosphorylation.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality based on the 10-year population-based multicenter prospective study. METHODS: A general population-based multicenter prospective study was conducted at four sites in rural China between 2013 and 2023. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic spline analyses were used to assess the association between BMI and mortality. Stratified analyses were performed based on the individual characteristics of the participants. RESULTS: Overall, 19,107 participants with a sum of 163,095 person-years were included and 1,910 participants died. The underweight (< 18.5 kg/m ²) presented an increase in all-cause mortality (adjusted hazards ratio [ aHR] = 2.00, 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.66-2.41), while overweight (≥ 24.0 to < 28.0 kg/m ²) and obesity (≥ 28.0 kg/m ²) presented a decrease with an aHR of 0.61 (95% CI: 0.52-0.73) and 0.51 (95% CI: 0.37-0.70), respectively. Overweight ( aHR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.67-0.86) and mild obesity ( aHR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.59-0.87) had a positive impact on mortality in people older than 60 years. All-cause mortality decreased rapidly until reaching a BMI of 25.7 kg/m ² ( aHR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92-0.98) and increased slightly above that value, indicating a U-shaped association. The beneficial impact of being overweight on mortality was robust in most subgroups and sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION This study provides additional evidence that overweight and mild obesity may be inversely related to the risk of death in individuals older than 60 years. Therefore, it is essential to consider age differences when formulating health and weight management strategies.
Humans ; Body Mass Index ; China/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Rural Population/statistics & numerical data* ; Aged ; Follow-Up Studies ; Adult ; Mortality ; Cause of Death ; Obesity/mortality* ; Overweight/mortality*