Rheumatoid arthritis （RA） is a common autoimmune disease characterised clinically by symmetrical joint pain， swelling， and stiffness. Long-term chronic synovial inflammation can lead to severe joint damage and even disability， thereby affecting quality of life for patients. Current clinical treatment of RA emphasises an integrated approach combining traditional Chinese and Western medicine， with traditional Chinese medicine offering certain advantages in reducing disease activity of RA， preventing relapses， and other aspects. Modern clinical evidence confirms that Guizhi Shaoyao Zhimutang （GSZT） is effective in improving symptoms such as immune metabolism， joint stiffness， and joint pain in RA patients. Pharmacological studies have revealed that GSZT primarily contains components such as cinnamaldehyde， total glucosides of paeony， total alkaloids of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata， glycyrrhetinic acid， zingiberone， isoimperatorin， ephedra polysaccharides， and cedrol. It improves RA symptoms via multiple mechanisms and targets， including enhancing immune responses， exerting anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects， regulating relevant signalling pathways， inhibiting cell apoptosis， and suppressing bone destruction. This paper reviewed the syndrome patterns and pharmacological basis of GSZT in the treatment of RA， as well as its clinical applications and related mechanisms， thereby providing a theoretical basis and reference for the further development and utilisation of GSZT in the treatment of RA.

Rheumatoid arthritis （RA） is a common autoimmune disease characterised clinically by symmetrical joint pain， swelling， and stiffness. Long-term chronic synovial inflammation can lead to severe joint damage and even disability， thereby affecting quality of life for patients. Current clinical treatment of RA emphasises an integrated approach combining traditional Chinese and Western medicine， with traditional Chinese medicine offering certain advantages in reducing disease activity of RA， preventing relapses， and other aspects. Modern clinical evidence confirms that Guizhi Shaoyao Zhimutang （GSZT） is effective in improving symptoms such as immune metabolism， joint stiffness， and joint pain in RA patients. Pharmacological studies have revealed that GSZT primarily contains components such as cinnamaldehyde， total glucosides of paeony， total alkaloids of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata， glycyrrhetinic acid， zingiberone， isoimperatorin， ephedra polysaccharides， and cedrol. It improves RA symptoms via multiple mechanisms and targets， including enhancing immune responses， exerting anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects， regulating relevant signalling pathways， inhibiting cell apoptosis， and suppressing bone destruction. This paper reviewed the syndrome patterns and pharmacological basis of GSZT in the treatment of RA， as well as its clinical applications and related mechanisms， thereby providing a theoretical basis and reference for the further development and utilisation of GSZT in the treatment of RA.

To evaluate the immunogenicity and immunoprotective effects of a tRNA thiouridylase TgMnmA deletion strain of Toxoplasma gondii(T.gondii)on ICR mice,we constructed a mouse model immunized with RH△MnmA.Mice were immunized with 10 RH△MnmA tachyzoites by in-traperitoneal injection.After 30 d,indirect ELISA was used to detect the specific IgG antibody and its subtypes of immunized mice.Spleen lymphocyte suspension was prepared,and the splenic lym-phocyte subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry.Moreover,the relative expression level of cyto-kine mRNA was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.After 30 d of immunization,mice were intraperitoneally inoculated with RH△ku80 tachyzoites.At 5 d post infection,the para-site load in the ascites,heart,liver and brain of mice was measured,and the survival of mice within 30 d after infection was observed and recorded.The results showed that compared with the control PBS group,RH△MnmA immunized group produced higher level of IgG and IgG2a antibodies,higher mRNA relative expression level of cytokines IL-2,IL-4,IL-6,IL-10,IL-12 and IFN-γ,and the number of CD4+and CD8a+in spleen lymphocytes also increased significantly.Mean-while,for the attack of RH△ku80 strain,the immune group can effectively reduce the parasite load in the ascites and some tissues,inhibit the reproduction of parasites In vivo,and significantly improve the survival rate of mice.The results of this study showed that the TgMnmA deletion strain of T.gondii can induce strong humoral and cellular immune responses in mice,and provide good immune protection against the infection of RHΔku80 strain,which has the potential to be-come a potentially promising live attenuated vaccine candidate against T.gondii.

Objective To analyze the clinical efficacy of valve surgeries for infective endocarditis and the affecting factors, and compare the early- and long-term postoperative outcomes of different surgery approaches. Methods The patients with infective endocarditis who underwent valve replacement/valvuloplasty in our hospital from 2010 to 2022 were retrospectively collected. The clinical data of the patients were analyzed. Results A total of 343 patients were enrolled, including 197 patients with mechanical valve replacement, 62 patients with bioprosthetic valve replacement, and 84 patients with valvuloplasty. There were 238 males and 105 females with an average age of (44.2±14.8) years. Single-valve endocarditis was present in 200 (58.3%) patients, and multivalve involvement was present in 143 (41.7%) patients. Sixty (17.5%) patients had suffered thrombosis before surgery, including cerebral embolisms in 32 patients. The mean follow-up time was (60.6±43.8) months. Early mortality within one month after the surgery occurred in 17 (5.0%) patients, while later mortality occurred in 19 (5.5%) patients. Eight (2.3%) patients underwent postoperative dialysis, 13 (3.8%) patients suffered postoperative stroke, 6 patients underwent reoperation, and 3 patients suffered recurrence of infective endocarditis. Smoking (P=0.002), preoperative embolisms (P=0.001), duration of surgery (P=0.001), and postoperative dialysis (P=0.001) were risk factors for early mortality, and left ventricular ejection fraction ≥60% (P=0.022) was protective factor for early mortality. New York Heart Association classification Ⅲ-Ⅳ (P=0.010) and ≥3 valve procedures (P=0.028) were risk factors for late mortality. The rate of composite endpoint events was significantly lower in the valvuloplasty group than that in the valve replacement group. Conclusion For patients with infective endocarditis, smoking and preoperative embolisms are associated with high postoperative mortality, multiple-valve surgery is associated with a poorer prognosis, and valvuloplasty has advantages over valve replacement and should be attempted in the surgical management of patients with infective endocarditis.

To evaluate the immunogenicity and immunoprotective effects of a tRNA thiouridylase TgMnmA deletion strain of Toxoplasma gondii(T.gondii)on ICR mice,we constructed a mouse model immunized with RH△MnmA.Mice were immunized with 10 RH△MnmA tachyzoites by in-traperitoneal injection.After 30 d,indirect ELISA was used to detect the specific IgG antibody and its subtypes of immunized mice.Spleen lymphocyte suspension was prepared,and the splenic lym-phocyte subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry.Moreover,the relative expression level of cyto-kine mRNA was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.After 30 d of immunization,mice were intraperitoneally inoculated with RH△ku80 tachyzoites.At 5 d post infection,the para-site load in the ascites,heart,liver and brain of mice was measured,and the survival of mice within 30 d after infection was observed and recorded.The results showed that compared with the control PBS group,RH△MnmA immunized group produced higher level of IgG and IgG2a antibodies,higher mRNA relative expression level of cytokines IL-2,IL-4,IL-6,IL-10,IL-12 and IFN-γ,and the number of CD4+and CD8a+in spleen lymphocytes also increased significantly.Mean-while,for the attack of RH△ku80 strain,the immune group can effectively reduce the parasite load in the ascites and some tissues,inhibit the reproduction of parasites In vivo,and significantly improve the survival rate of mice.The results of this study showed that the TgMnmA deletion strain of T.gondii can induce strong humoral and cellular immune responses in mice,and provide good immune protection against the infection of RHΔku80 strain,which has the potential to be-come a potentially promising live attenuated vaccine candidate against T.gondii.

To explore the prevalence and related risk factors of osteoporosis (OP) in the elderly ≥60 years old in Jiuting Town, Songjiang District, Shanghai City. A total of 2 175 local residents aged ≥60 years old who participated in the questionnaire survey at the physical examination center of Jiuting Community Health Service Center, Songjiang District, Shanghai City from July 2021 to December 2022 were selected by a cross-sectional study with multi-stage sampling method. Questionnaire survey, blood test and bone mineral density (BMD) test were conducted.The differences in all the parameters among the elderly with different bone mass level were analyzed using t-test, chi-square test, binary logistic regression was used to screen the potential risk factors of OP.The results showed that the prevalence of OP in the elderly aged≥60 years old in Jiuting Town was 45.89%.The prevalence of OP increased gradually with the advanced age. The prevalence rate of male was significantly lower than that of female( χ2=211.94, P<0.01).Single factor analysis showed that Dairy products( χ2=9.01, P<0.05), taking calcium( χ2=42.88, P<0.05), physical exercise( χ2=24.73, P<0.05), exercise time( χ2=76.40, P<0.05) and sun exposure( χ2=55.71, P<0.05) were the protective factors for osteoporosis. Multifactor analysis showed that female( wald χ 2=71.46, P<0.001) were the risk factors for osteoporosis. The age of the osteoporosis group was older than that of the non-osteoporosis group [osteoporosis group (72.47±6.89) years old, non-osteoporosis group (68.73±6.34) years old, and the difference was statistically significant, t=-11.67, P<0.05]. The waist circumference, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine (CR), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and uric acid (UA) in the non-osteoporosis group were higher than those in the osteoporosis group, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). The levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)[osteoporosis group (1.34±0.35) mol/L, non-osteoporosis group (1.41±0.35) mol/L, t=-4.51, P<0.05] and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)[osteoporosis group (88.46±25.65) mol/L, osteoporosis group (94.56±32.32) mol/L, t=-4.79, P<0.05] in the osteoporosis group were lower than those in the non-osteoporosis group.Low awareness of the knowledge of osteoporosis risk factors(smoking, drinking coffee, high salt and drinking alcohol are 47.28%, 24.15%, 47.79% and 44.90%, respectively), diagnosis and treatment(The symptoms, prognosis, screening methods, medication time and follow-up screening time of osteoporosis were 26.87%, 17.88%, 21.77%, 6.65% and 15.99%, respectivel) and prevention(exercise mode, high calcium food, optimal age of calcium supplementation, the effect of vitamin D on OP, and the appropriate amount of milk to prevent osteoporosis were 33.16%, 42.01%, 13.27%, 12.07%, 9.01%, respectively) were in Jiuting Town. In conclusion, the prevalent rate of OP in the elderly ≥60 years old in Jiuting Town is 45.89%.The main risk factors are female and advanced age. Drinking tea, dairy products, combination of meat and vegetable, taking calcium, physical exercise and sun exposure were the protective factors for osteoporosis. The awareness rate of osteoporosis related knowledge is low, and health education should be strengthened in order to control and prevent the occurrence and development of osteoporosis.

To explore the prevalence and related risk factors of osteoporosis (OP) in the elderly ≥60 years old in Jiuting Town, Songjiang District, Shanghai City. A total of 2 175 local residents aged ≥60 years old who participated in the questionnaire survey at the physical examination center of Jiuting Community Health Service Center, Songjiang District, Shanghai City from July 2021 to December 2022 were selected by a cross-sectional study with multi-stage sampling method. Questionnaire survey, blood test and bone mineral density (BMD) test were conducted.The differences in all the parameters among the elderly with different bone mass level were analyzed using t-test, chi-square test, binary logistic regression was used to screen the potential risk factors of OP.The results showed that the prevalence of OP in the elderly aged≥60 years old in Jiuting Town was 45.89%.The prevalence of OP increased gradually with the advanced age. The prevalence rate of male was significantly lower than that of female( χ2=211.94, P<0.01).Single factor analysis showed that Dairy products( χ2=9.01, P<0.05), taking calcium( χ2=42.88, P<0.05), physical exercise( χ2=24.73, P<0.05), exercise time( χ2=76.40, P<0.05) and sun exposure( χ2=55.71, P<0.05) were the protective factors for osteoporosis. Multifactor analysis showed that female( wald χ 2=71.46, P<0.001) were the risk factors for osteoporosis. The age of the osteoporosis group was older than that of the non-osteoporosis group [osteoporosis group (72.47±6.89) years old, non-osteoporosis group (68.73±6.34) years old, and the difference was statistically significant, t=-11.67, P<0.05]. The waist circumference, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine (CR), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and uric acid (UA) in the non-osteoporosis group were higher than those in the osteoporosis group, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). The levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)[osteoporosis group (1.34±0.35) mol/L, non-osteoporosis group (1.41±0.35) mol/L, t=-4.51, P<0.05] and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)[osteoporosis group (88.46±25.65) mol/L, osteoporosis group (94.56±32.32) mol/L, t=-4.79, P<0.05] in the osteoporosis group were lower than those in the non-osteoporosis group.Low awareness of the knowledge of osteoporosis risk factors(smoking, drinking coffee, high salt and drinking alcohol are 47.28%, 24.15%, 47.79% and 44.90%, respectively), diagnosis and treatment(The symptoms, prognosis, screening methods, medication time and follow-up screening time of osteoporosis were 26.87%, 17.88%, 21.77%, 6.65% and 15.99%, respectivel) and prevention(exercise mode, high calcium food, optimal age of calcium supplementation, the effect of vitamin D on OP, and the appropriate amount of milk to prevent osteoporosis were 33.16%, 42.01%, 13.27%, 12.07%, 9.01%, respectively) were in Jiuting Town. In conclusion, the prevalent rate of OP in the elderly ≥60 years old in Jiuting Town is 45.89%.The main risk factors are female and advanced age. Drinking tea, dairy products, combination of meat and vegetable, taking calcium, physical exercise and sun exposure were the protective factors for osteoporosis. The awareness rate of osteoporosis related knowledge is low, and health education should be strengthened in order to control and prevent the occurrence and development of osteoporosis.

Objective To compare the perioperative renal function changes in patients undergoing heart transplantation (HT) and left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. Methods Patients with end-stage heart failure who underwent surgical treatment at Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2019 to April 2024 were included. According to the surgical method, patients were divided into a HT group and a LVAD group, and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of patients before surgery and postoperative 1, 7, 30, 60 days was compared between the two groups. The patients with preoperative renal dysfunction were subdivided into subgroups for comparison of eGFR changes before surgery and 30 days after surgery between the two groups. Results A total of 112 patients were enrolled. There were 78 patients in the HT group, including 61 males and 17 females, aged (44.42±18.51) years. There were 34 patients in the LVAD group, including 30 males and 4 females, aged (54.94±11.37) years. Compared with the HT group, the average age of patients in the LVAD group was greater (P<0.001), body mass index was higher (P=0.008), preoperative eGFR was lower (P=0.009), and the proportions of smokers (P=0.017), alcohol drinkers (P=0.041), and diabetes mellitus (P=0.028) patients were higher. Among patients with preoperative renal dysfunction [eGFR<90 mL/(min·1.73 m2)], compared with the HT group, the postoperative eGFR of the LVAD group was significantly higher than that of the HT group, and it was significantly increased compared with that before surgery; the postoperative eGFR of the HT group was comparable to that before surgery, and more than half of the patients had a lower eGFR than before surgery. Among patients with preoperative renal dysfunction, 11 patients in the HT group received continuous renal replacement therapy, and 8 died early; 2 patients in the LVAD group received continuous renal replacement therapy, and 1 died early. Conclusion For end-stage heart failure patients with combined renal dysfunction, compared with HT, LVAD implantation enables patients to obtain better renal function benefits.

In China, more than half of heart failure patients are ischemic heart failure patients. And a large proportion of left ventricular assist device implantation patients are also ischemic heart failure patients. However, left ventricular assist device implantation in ischemic heart failure patients is facing with problems such as patient screening, coronary artery disease, small left ventricle, mitral insufficiency, and ventricular aneurysm. There are only a few retrospective studies with small sample sizes abroad trying to provide solutions to these problems. While there is a lack of systematic understanding of this issue in China. Therefore, we provide an overview of the application and progress of left ventricular assist devices in ischemic heart failure patients, aiming to help clinicians have a comprehensive understanding of this issue and provide some guidance.

Objective:To evaluate the perioperative and follow-up data of carotid artery stenting (CAS)+ coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and CABG alone, and to assess the safety and efficacy of CAS in the treatment of severe stenosis of the carotid artery in combination with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis.Methods:A retrospective analysis of 700 CABG patients combined asymptomatic carotid artery severe stenosis at Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, and Beijing Tiantan Hospital from January 2018 to December 2022 was performed. According to whether or not underwent CAS treatment, they were divided into the CAS-CABG group(116 cases)and the CABG-only group(584 cases). The mean age of the CAS-CABG group was (64.8±7.3) years, and all of them underwent unilateral CAS surgery only; the mean age of the CABG only group was (65.5±7.6) years. The main results of the patients in the two groups were compared at 30 days after the operation and follow-up period.Results:The early postoperative stroke rate was significantly lower in the CAS-CABG group(2.6% vs. 9.1%, P=0.02), while the combined procedure did not increase the rates of mortality and adverse events during follow-up. Subgroup analysis revealed that there was no significant difference in stroke rates between the two procedures for asymptomatic unilateral carotid artery stenosis, advanced age, history of atrial fibrillation, and history of stroke were independent risk factors for early stroke in CABG for asymptomatic unilateral carotid artery stenosis. Conclusion:CAS-CABG is safe and effective in the treatment of coronary artery disease combined with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis, and can reduce the incidence of early postoperative stroke in patients. CABG patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis should be rationally screened for prophylactic CAS to reduce the risk of postoperative stroke in these patients.