ObjectiveTo explore the possible mechanisms of Shujin Jiannao Formula （舒筋健脑方） for cerebral palsy. MethodsThirty 7-day-old SD rats were randomly divided into normal group， model group， and Shujin Jiannao Formula group， with 10 rats in each group. The model group and Shujin Jiannao Formula group established a cerebral palsy model by the classic Rice-Vannucci method. After successful modeling， rats in Shujin Jiannao Formula group were given Shujin Jiannao Formula 16 g/（kg·d） by gavage， while the normal group and model group were given normal saline 10 ml/（kg·d） by gavage once a day. After one week of intervention， the rats' body weight was measured， and Zea-Longa scores， the righting reflex test， and the hindlimb suspension test were conducted for assessment； hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining and Nissl staining were used to observe pathological changes in brain tissue， and the number of Nissl-positive neurons was counted； enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was employed to measure levels of inflammatory cytokines in the brain tissue， specifically interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）； immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression levels of neurofilament protein 200 （NF200） and myelin basic protein （MBP） in brain tissue； Western Blot analysis was conducted to determine the protein levels of phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K）， protein kinase B （Akt/PKB/Rac）， and mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR） in brain tissue. ResultsCompared with the normal group， rats in the model group showed significantly higher Zea-Longa scores and lower scores in the hindlimb suspension test （P＜0.01）； pathological findings revealed loose structure in the cerebral cortex， hippocampal atrophy， and neuronal damage in brain tissue. Levels of IL-1β and TNF-α elevated， and the number of Nissl-stained positive neurons in the cortex and hippocampal CA1 region reduced， and immunofluorescence intensity of NF200 and MBP， as well as protein expression levels of PI3K and mTOR， significantly decreased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared with the model group， rats in Shujin Jiannao Formula group showed decreased Zea-Longa scores and increased hindlimb suspension test scores （P＜0.05）； pathological damage in brain tissue alleviated， levels of IL-1β and TNF-α reduced， the number of Nissl-stained positive neurons in the cortex and hippocampal CA1 region increased， and the immunofluorescence intensity of NF200 and MBP， as well as the protein levels of PI3K and mTOR， significantly elevated （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. There were no statistically significant differences among the groups in body weight， body-turning time， or AKT protein levels in brain tissue （P＞0.05）. ConclusionShujin Jiannao Formula can improve the neurological function of rats with cerebral palsy， exert neurorestorative effects， and its mechanism of action may be related to the reduction of inflammatory response in brain tissue and the activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

ObjectiveObesity has been identified as one of the most important risk factors for cognitive dysfunction. Physical exercise can ameliorate learning and memory deficits by reversing synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus and cortex in diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. In this study, we aimed to determine whether 8 weeks of treadmill exercise could alleviate hippocampus-dependent memory impairment in high-fat diet-induced obese mice and investigate the potential mechanisms involved. MethodsA total of sixty 6-week-old male C57BL/6 mice, weighing between 20-30 g, were randomly assigned to 3 distinct groups, each consisting of 20 mice. The groups were designated as follows: control (CON), high-fat diet (HFD), and high-fat diet with exercise (HFD-Ex). Prior to the initiation of the treadmill exercise protocol, the HFD and HFD-Ex groups were fed a high-fat diet (60% fat by kcal) for 20 weeks. The mice in the HFD-Ex group underwent treadmill exercise at a speed of 8 m/min for the first 10 min, followed by 12 m/min for the subsequent 50 min, totally 60 min of exercise at a 0° slope, 5 d per week, for 8 weeks. We employed Y-maze and novel object recognition tests to assess hippocampus-dependent memory and utilized immunofluorescence, Western blot, Golgi staining, and ELISA to analyze axon length, dendritic complexity, number of spines, the expression of c-fos, doublecortin (DCX), postsynaptic density-95 (PSD95), synaptophysin (Syn), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and the number of major histocompatibility complex II (MHC-II) positive cells. ResultsMice with HFD-induced obesity exhibit hippocampus-dependent memory impairment, and treadmill exercise can prevent memory decline in these mice. The expression of DCX was significantly decreased in the HFD-induced obese mice compared to the control group (P<0.001). Treadmill exercise increased the expression of c-fos (P<0.001) and DCX (P=0.001) in the hippocampus of the HFD-induced obese mice. The axon length (P<0.001), dendritic complexity (P<0.001), the number of spines (P<0.001) and the expression of PSD95 (P<0.001) in the hippocampus were significantly decreased in the HFD-induced obese mice compared to the control group. Treadmill exercise increased the axon length (P=0.002), dendritic complexity(P<0.001), the number of spines (P<0.001) and the expression of PSD95 (P=0.001) of the hippocampus in the HFD-induced obese mice. Our study found a significant increase in MHC-II positive cells (P<0.001) and the concentration of IL-1β (P<0.001) in the hippocampus of HFD-induced obese mice compared to the control group. Treadmill exercise was found to reduce the number of MHC-II positive cells (P<0.001) and the concentration of IL-1β (P<0.001) in the hippocampus of obese mice induced by a HFD. ConclusionTreadmill exercise led to enhanced neurogenesis and neuroplasticity by increasing the axon length, dendritic complexity, dendritic spine numbers, and the expression of PSD95 and DCX, decreasing the number of MHC-II positive cells and neuroinflammation in HFD-induced obese mice. Therefore, we speculate that exercise may serve as a non-pharmacologic method that protects against HFD-induced hippocampus-dependent memory dysfunction by enhancing neuroplasticity and neurogenesis in the hippocampus of obese mice.

Objective: To create a prediction model for stroke risk among middle-aged and elderly populations, so as to provide a basis for early identification of high-risk population for stroke. Methods: From October to December 2023, residents aged ≥45 years in Chongchuan District, Nantong City, Jiangsu Province were selected using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method. The demographic information, life behavior, and chronic disease data were collected through a questionnaire survey. The standardized prevalence of stroke was calculated using data from the seventh National Population Census. The subjects were randomly divided into the training set and the internal validation set according to the ratio of 8∶2. The basic demographic information, life behavior, and chronic diseases of residents aged ≥45 years in Rugao City were collected from July to August 2023 as the external validation set. Predictive factors were selected using multivariable logistic regression model, and a nomogram for stroke among residents aged ≥45 years was established. The prediction effect was evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC), calibration curve, and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test. Results: A total of 6 290 residents aged ≥45 years were included, including 2 975 males (47.30%) and 3 315 females (52.70%). The average age was (61.90±10.20) years. The prevalence of stroke was 3.80%, and the standardized prevalence was 3.36%. The multivariable logistic regression showed that age, smoking, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia were predictors of stroke risk among residents aged ≥45 years, and the prediction model was ln[p/(1-p)]=-4.619+0.046×age+0.383×smoking+0.887×hypertension+0.678×hyperlipidemia. The AUC values of the training set, internal validation set, and external validation set were 0.748, 0.755, and 0.738, respectively. The consistency indexes were 0.748, 0.755, and 0.738, respectively. The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test showed a good fitting effect (P>0.05). Conclusion The prediction model based on age, smoking, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia has good discrimination and calibration, and can be used to predict the risk of stroke among middle-aged and elderly populations aged ≥45 years.

This study aims to explore the medication rules and mechanisms of treating chronic renal failure(CRF) by Jinling medical school based on data mining, network pharmacology, and experimental validation systematically and deeply. Firstly, the study selected the papers published by the inherited clinicians in Jinling medical school in Chinese journals using the subject headings named "traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) + chronic renal failure", "TCM + chronic renal inefficiency", or "TCM + consumptive disease" in China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database and screened TCM formulas for treating CRF according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study analyzed the frequency of use of single TCM and the four properties, five tastes, channel tropism, and efficacy of TCM used with high frequency and performed association rule and clustering analysis, respectively. As a result, a total of 215 TCM formulas and 235 different single TCM were screened, respectively. The TCM used with high frequency included Astragali Radix, Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Poria, and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma(top 5). The single TCM characterized by "cold properties, sweet flavor, and restoring spleen channel" and the TCM with the efficacy of tonifying deficiency had the highest frequency of use, respectively. Then, the TCM with the rules of "blood-activating and stasis-removing" and "diuretic and dampness-penetrating" appeared. In addition, the core combination of TCM [(Hexin Formula, HXF)] included "Astragali Radix, Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, Poria, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix, and Angelicae Sinensis Radix". The network pharmacology analysis showed that HXF had 91 active compounds and 250 corresponding protein targets including prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2(PTGS2), PTGS1, sodium voltage-gated channel alpha subunit 5(SCN5A), cholinergic receptor muscarinic 1(CHRM1), and heat shock protein 90 alpha family class A member 1(HSP90AA1)(top 5). Gene Ontology(GO) function analysis revealed that the core targets of HXF predominantly affected biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions such as positive regulation of transcription by ribonucleic acid polymerase Ⅱ and DNA template transcription, formation of cytosol, nucleus, and plasma membrane, and identical protein binding and enzyme binding. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) analysis revealed that CRF-related genes were involved in a variety of signaling pathways and cellular metabolic pathways, primarily involving "phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)-protein kinase B(Akt) pathway" and "advanced glycation end products-receptor for advanced glycation end products". Molecular docking results showed that the active components in HXF such as isomucronulatol 7-O-glucoside, betulinic acid, sitosterol, and przewaquinone B might be crucial in the treatment of CRF. Finally, a modified rat model with renal failure induced by adenine was used, and the in vivo experimental confirmation was performed based on the above-mentioned predictions. The results verify that HXF can regulate mitochondrial autophagy in the kidneys and the PI3K-Akt-mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) signaling pathway activation at upstream, so as to alleviate renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis and then delay the progression of CRF.
Data Mining ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Network Pharmacology ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/metabolism* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; China

BACKGROUND: Based on the China-VHD database, this study sought to develop and validate a Valvular Heart Disease- specific Age-adjusted Comorbidity Index (VHD-ACI) for predicting mortality risk in patients with VHD. METHODS & RESULTS: The China-VHD study was a nationwide, multi-centre multi-centre cohort study enrolling 13,917 patients with moderate or severe VHD across 46 medical centres in China between April-June 2018. After excluding cases with missing key variables, 11,459 patients were retained for final analysis. The primary endpoint was 2-year all-cause mortality, with 941 deaths (10.0%) observed during follow-up. The VHD-ACI was derived after identifying 13 independent mortality predictors: cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary artery hypertension, low body weight, anaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, renal insufficiency, moderate/severe hepatic dysfunction, heart failure, cancer, NYHA functional class and age. The index exhibited good discrimination (AUC, 0.79) and calibration (Brier score, 0.062) in the total cohort, outperforming both EuroSCORE II and ACCI (P < 0.001 for comparison). Internal validation through 100 bootstrap iterations yielded a C statistic of 0.694 (95% CI: 0.665-0.723) for 2-year mortality prediction. VHD-ACI scores, as a continuous variable (VHD-ACI score: adjusted HR (95% CI): 1.263 (1.245-1.282), P < 0.001) or categorized using thresholds determined by the Yoden index (VHD-ACI ≥ 9 vs. < 9, adjusted HR (95% CI): 6.216 (5.378-7.184), P < 0.001), were independently associated with mortality. The prognostic performance remained consistent across all VHD subtypes (aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, mitral stenosis, mitral regurgitation, tricuspid valve disease, mixed aortic/mitral valve disease and multiple VHD), and clinical subgroups stratified by therapeutic strategy, LVEF status (preserved vs. reduced), disease severity and etiology. CONCLUSION The VHD-ACI is a simple 13-comorbidity algorithm for the prediction of mortality in VHD patients and providing a simple and rapid tool for risk stratification.

Humans ; Vascular Stiffness ; Coal Mining ; Occupational Diseases/epidemiology* ; Risk Factors ; Coal ; Miners

Objective:To investigate the relationship between preoperative plasma fibrin degradation products (FDP) level and clinicopathological features of patients with completely resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods:A retrospective case series study was performed. The clinical data of 521 patients who were pathologically diagnosed with NSCLC in Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 2016 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Among 521 cases, 406 cases were postoperatively pathologically confirmed as non-lymph node and non-distant metastasis (non-metastasis group) and 115 cases were postoperatively pathologically confirmed as lymph node or distant metastasis (metastasis group). The preoperative FDP level and clinicopathological characteristics as well as the clinicopathological characteristics of NSCLC patients with different FDP levels were compared between the two groups. The correlation between preoperative FDP level and TNM staging was analyzed by using Spearman correlation analysis.Results:Among 521 NSCLC patients, 266 cases were female, 255 cases were male; the age [ M( Q1, Q3)] was 59 years (54 years, 65 years); 441 cases were adenocarcinoma and 70 cases were squamous cell carcinoma. The preoperative median FDP level was 2.78 mg/L (2.35 mg/L, 3.13 mg/L) and 2.99 mg/L (2.56 mg/L, 4.16 mg/L), respectively of NSCLC patients in non-metastasis group and metastasis group, and the difference was statistically significant ( Z = 6.13, P < 0.001). The preoperative FDP level was 2.56 mg/L (2.35 mg/L, 3.20 mg/L) and 2.99 mg/L (2.56 mg/L, 3.20 mg/L), respectively in the early-stage NSCLC (stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ) and advanced NSCLC (stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ) patients, and the difference was statistically significant ( Z = 8.42, P < 0.001). Spearman correlation analysis showed that preoperative FDP level was positively correlated with tumor diameter ( r = 0.287, P < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between preoperative FDP level and the number of metastatic lymph nodes in 115 patients with lymph node metastasis ( r = 0.679, P < 0.001). According to the preoperative median FDP (2.78 mg/L), all patients were divided into FDP ≤2.78 mg/L group and FDP >2.78 mg/L, and there were statistically significant differences in age, metastasis, tumor staging, tumor diameter, the metastatic number of lymph node and histological types of NSCLC patients in both groups (all P < 0.05). Conclusions:The increase of preoperative plasma FDP level may be related to the tumor metastasis and clinical stage of NSCLC patients

Objective:To summarize the clinical characteristics and pathogenic mutation of gene NUDT2 in the child with intellectual disability with or without peripheral neuropathy (IDDPN). Methods:The clinical characteristics and development of one child attending the Department of Rehabilitation of Tianjin Children's Hospital were evaluated retrospectively,and the relationship between the clinical phenotype and gene mutation profile of NUDT2 was analyzed. Results:The child had global developmental delay, special appearance, low muscle tone of the limbs, accompanied by peripheral nerve damage in the limbs, and whole exome sequencing found that the child carried a homozygous mutation of NUDT2 gene, c.34C>T (p.R12X), which was a nonsense mutation. Sanger verified that both parents were carriers of c.34C>T heterozygous mutations. In the inclusion of 10 registered IDDPN patients, it was found that all of them were homozygous mutations, and the clinical phenotypes all had different degrees of cognitive impairment and movement disorders, among which only 3 cases were complicated by peripheral nerve damage. Conclusions:The child in this case had low birth weight/length, weak sucking ability in infancy, cognitive impairment, peripheral nerve damage, and genetic testing showed homozygous nonsense mutation of NUDT2 gene, which provided evidence support for the clinical understanding of the disease.