Objective To study the correlation between Periostin, interleukin-33 (IL-33), and chronic cough after thoracoscopic lobectomy in patients with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) combined with lung cancer. Methods A total of 102 lung cancer and coronary heart disease patients at Tianjin Chest Hospital from January 2022 to January 2024 were prospectively enrolled, and they were divided into a chronic cough group (n=42) and a non-chronic cough group (n=60) based on whether chronic cough occurred after surgery. Serum levels of Periostin and IL-33 were measured on the 1st, 7th, and 14th days post-lobectomy. The Pearson method was employed to analyze the correlation between Periostin and IL-33 levels and the severity of cough. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors influencing the occurrence of chronic cough. Additionally, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was utilized to assess the potential value of serum Periostin and IL-33 levels in predicting postoperative chronic cough. Results In patients with chronic cough, the peripheral blood Periostin and IL-33 levels measured on days 7 and 14 were significantly higher than those in patients with non-chronic cough, and the interactions between the two groups and at different time points were significant (P<0.001). The degree of cough was positively correlated with the levels of Periostin and IL-33 on days 7 and 14 (P<0.05), but had no significant correlation with the levels on day 1 (P>0.05). In patients with lung cancer, after thoracoscopic lobectomy, Periostin [OR=1.619, 95%CI (1.295, 2.025)] and IL-33 [OR=1.831, 95%CI (1.216, 2.758)] on day 7 and Periostin [OR=1.952, 95%CI (1.306, 2.918)] and IL-33 [OR=1.742, 95%CI (1.166, 2.603)] on day 14 were identified as risk factors for chronic cough. ROC curve analysis showed that the sensitivity of Periostin on day 7 was 69.05%, the specificity was 71.67%, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.756 [95%CI (0.616, 0.893)]. The sensitivity of Periostin on day 14 increased to 71.43% and the specificity was 76.67%, AUC was 0.762 [95%CI (0.633, 0.898)]. At the same time, the critical value of IL-33 on day 7 was 45.03 pg/mL, the sensitivity and specificity were both 83.33%, the AUC was 0.884 [95%CI (0.789, 0.980)], and the critical value of IL-33 on day 14 was 56.01 pg/mL, the sensitivity was 85.71%, the specificity was 80.00%, and the AUC was 0.899 [95%CI (0.799, 0.999)]. Joint logistic regression analysis of Periostin and IL-33 levels on days 7 and 14 showed showed that the sensitivity was 95.24%, the specificity was 95.00%, and the AUC reached 0.993 [95%CI (0.979, 1.000)]. Conclusion Periostin and IL-33 levels, measured at various time points, are abnormally elevated following thoracoscopic lobectomy in patients with combined CABG and lung cancer. These levels significantly correlate with cough severity. Given their predictive potential for chronic cough, these markers are deemed valuable biomarkers.

Atherosclerosis （AS） is a chronic and inflammatory vascular disease. Macrophages are common immune cells and play an important role in the development of AS. In recent years， research has found that the formation of AS plaques is closely related to pathological and physiological processes such as macrophage polarization， energy metabolism， and lipid phagocytosis. This review aims to summarize the mechanism of macrophages in the development of AS， and to explore potential therapeutic methods for delaying AS by regulating macrophages， providing new ideas for the treatment and research of AS.

Objective To evaluate the protective effect of radiation protection safety education (RPSE) on patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) undergoing iodine-131 (¹³¹I) treatment. Methods The DTC patients who undergo ¹³¹I treatment were divided into the control group and the RPSE group using the convenience sampling method, with 142 patients in each group. Patients in the control group received routine health education, while the RPSE group received routine health education combined with RPSE. Dose equivalent rate (DER) on pillows, bed sheets, quilt covers, and household waste of patients were compared between the two groups upon discharge. Results The median (M) DERs of patients' pillows, bed sheets, quilt covers and household waste were 3.86, 3.63, 3.91 and 56.59 times higher in the control group compared with the environmental background level, respectively. The M DERs of patients' pillows, bed sheets, quilt covers were 2.23, 2.18, and 2.55 times higher in the RPSE group compared with the environmental background level, while the M DER of household waste was equivalent to the environmental background level. The DERs of patients' pillows, bed sheets, quilt covers, and household waste in the RPSE group were significantly lower than those in the control group (all P<0.001). The DERs of the above four items were lower in both male and female patients in RPSE group compared with same-gender patients in the control group (all P<0.001). The patients' DERs of the above indicators had no significant difference among different gender in both control group and RPSE group (all P>0.05), except for higher DER of household waste in female patients than that of male patients in the control group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the DERs of pillows, bed sheets, quilt covers, and household waste across subgroups, where patients received different treatment doses, of both the control group and the RPSE group (all P>0.05). Conclusion RPSE for DTC patients treated with ¹³¹I, reduces the DERs of pillows, bed sheets, quilt covers, and particularly household waste.

This study explored the mechanism of Xiangsha Liujunzi Decoction(XSLJZD) in the treatment of functional dyspepsia(FD) based on inositol-requiring enzyme 1(IRE1)/apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1(ASK1)/c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK) pathway-mediated autophagy in interstitial cells of Cajal(ICC). Forty-eight SPF-grade male SD suckling rats were randomly divided into a blank group and a modeling group, and the integrated modeling method(iodoacetamide gavage + disturbance of hunger and satiety + swimming exhaustion) was used to replicate the FD rat model. After the model replications were successfully completed, the rats were divided into a model group, high-dose, medium-dose, and low-dose groups of XSLJZD(12, 6, and 3 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and a positive drug group(mosapride of 1.35 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and the intervention lasted for 14 days. The gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsion rate of rats in each group were measured. The histopathological changes in the gastric sinus tissue of rats in each group were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The ultrastructure of ICC was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The immunofluorescence double staining technique was used to detect the protein expression of phospho-IRE1(p-IRE1), TNF receptor associated factors 2(TRAF2), phospho-ASK1(p-ASK1), phospho-JNK(p-JNK), p62, and Beclin1 in ICC of gastric sinus tissue of rats in each group. Western blot was used to detect the related protein expression of gastric sinus tissue of rats in each group. Compared with those in the blank group, the rats in the model group showed decreased body weight, gastric emptying rate, and intestinal propulsion rate, and transmission electron microscopy revealed damage to the endoplasmic reticulum structure and increased autophagosomes in ICC. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that the ICC of gastric sinus tissue showed a significant elevation of p-IRE1, TRAF2, p-ASK1, p-JNK, and Beclin1 proteins and a significant reduction of p62 protein. Western blot revealed that the expression levels of relevant proteins in gastric sinus tissue were consistent with those of proteins in ICC. Compared with the model group, the body weight of rats in the high-dose and medium-dose groups of XSLJZD was increased, and the gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsion rate were increased. Transmission electron microscopy observed amelioration of structural damage to the endoplasmic reticulum of ICC and reduction of autophagosomes, and the p-IRE1, TRAF2, p-ASK1, p-JNK, and Beclin1 proteins in the ICC of gastric sinus tissue were significantly decreased. The p62 protein was significantly increased. Western blot revealed that the expression levels of relevant proteins in gastric sinus tissue were consistent with those of proteins in ICC. XSLJZD can effectively treat FD, and its specific mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the expression of molecules related to the endoplasmic reticulum stress IRE1/ASK1/JNK pathway in ICC and the improvement of autophagy to promote gastric motility in ICC.
Animals ; Male ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Autophagy/drug effects* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Interstitial Cells of Cajal/metabolism* ; Dyspepsia/physiopathology* ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics* ; MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 5/genetics* ; MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects* ; Humans ; Endoribonucleases/genetics* ; Multienzyme Complexes

Amber and subfossil resins are subjects of interdisciplinary research across multiple fields. However, due to their diverse origins and complex compositions, different disciplines vary in their definitions and functional interpretations. In traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), amber has been utilized as a medicinal material since ancient time, with extensive historical documentation. However, its classification, provenance, and nomenclature remain ambiguous, and authentic medicinal amber artifacts are exceedingly rare. This study employed Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR) to characterize amber and subfossil resins from various geological sources and commercially "medicinal amber". Additionally, historical literature and market surveys were analyzed to explore their provenance, composition, and functional attributes. The results indicate that amber and subfossil resins from different sources and with different compositions exhibit distinct fingerprint characteristics in the FTIR spectral range of 1 800-700 cm~(-1). "Medicinal amber" available in the market primarily consists of subfossil or modern resins, significantly differing in composition and structure from geological amber. This study highlights the importance of interdisciplinary research on amber identification and resource management. It is essential to establish a systematic database of amber and subfossil resin characteristics and integrate modern analytical techniques to enhance research on their composition, pharmacological mechanisms, and potential therapeutic effects, thereby promoting the standardized utilization of amber resources and advancing the modernization of TCM.
Amber/history* ; Archaeology ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Cinnabar(HgS) was widely used in ancient times for medicinal purposes, religious rituals, and pigments. A group of bright red powdery clumps was excavated from Mawangdui Tomb No.3 of the Han Dynasty. Early studies considered the clumps as evidence of cinnabar's medicinal use during the Qin-Han period. This study employed a range of archaeometric techniques, including extended-depth-of-field stereo imaging, micro-CT, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry FTIR, to systematically analyze the material composition and structural characteristics of these remains. The results revealed that the cinnabar particles were granular, finely ground, and tightly bound to silk matrix, with no detectable excipients typically associated with medicinal formulations. Micro-CT imaging indicated a well-preserved textile structure, with clear signs of sedimentary accumulation and mechanical damage. Based on historical and archaeological studies, this study suggested that these remains were more likely degraded accumulations of cinnabar-colored silk textiles rather than medicinal cinnabar. By clarifying the diversity of ancient cinnabar applications and preservation states, this study provides new insights for the archaeological identification of mineral medicinal materials and contributes to the standardized study of Chinese medicinal materials and understanding of the historical use of cinnabar.
History, Ancient ; China ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/history* ; Archaeology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/history* ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Spectrum Analysis, Raman ; Mercury Compounds

OBJECTIVE: Xuebijing injection has been recommended as a therapeutic approach for individuals with severe and critical COVID-19. This study aims to explore the correlation of neutrophil to lymphocyte platelet ratio (NLPR) with the severity and prognosis of COVID-19, and the effect of XBJ on the prognosis of patients with COVID-19 in different inflammatory states. METHODS: This was a retrospective study conducted at Wuhan Union Hospital in China. COVID-19 patients admitted between November 1, 2022 and February 1, 2023 were included. In predicting prognosis for individuals with COVID-19, new inflammatory indicators were used, and their prognostic value was assessed by using Cox regression models and receiver operating characteristic curves. Furthermore, a calculation was made to determine the cutoff value for NLPR. Relative risk and Cox regression models were used to examine the effects of Xuebijing injection on prognosis in patient cohorts that had been stratified by the NLPR cutoff. RESULTS: This research included 455 participants with COVID-19, with a mean age of 72 years. Several inflammatory indicators were found to be strongly correlated with prognosis, and NLPR shows the greatest predictive power. Patients with NLPR > 3.29 exhibited a mortality rate of 17.3%, which was 6.2 times higher than in patients with NLPR ≤ 3.29. Importantly, providing Xuebijing injection to patients with NLPR > 3.29 was associated with a lower risk of 60-day all-cause mortality. However, there was no discernible improvement in survival among patients with NLPR ≤ 3.29 who received Xuebijing injection. CONCLUSION NLPR is the most reliable inflammatory marker for predicting prognosis among individuals with COVID-19, and can accurately identify individuals who may benefit from Xuebijing injection. Please cite this article as: Liao M, Zhang LT, Bai LJ, Wang RY, Liu Y, Han J, Liu LH, Qi BL. Xuebijing injection reduces COVID-19 patients mortality as influenced by the neutrophil to lymphocyte platelet ratio. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(3): 282-288.
Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Male ; Female ; Retrospective Studies ; Aged ; Neutrophils ; COVID-19 Drug Treatment ; COVID-19/blood* ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Lymphocytes ; Blood Platelets ; Platelet Count ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Aged, 80 and over ; Adult

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*

The pathogenesis and progression of myocardial fibrosis(MF)are modulated by diverse cytokines and signaling pathways.Studies in recent years have revealed an extremely close association between MF evolution and programmed cell death(PCD)modali-ties,including apoptosis,autophagy,pyroptosis,necrosis,ferroptosis,and cuproptosis.This article reviews the characteristics of MF and distinct PCD modalities,with particular emphasis on cutting-edge discoveries elucidating PCD in the field of MF,hoping to pro-vide a theoretical-level reference basis for the in-depth exploration and clinical intervention of MF.

A previous study showed that the length of the foreskin plays a role in the risk of sexually transmitted infections and chronic prostatitis, which can lead to poor quality of sexual life. Here, the association between foreskin length and sexual dysfunction was evaluated. A total of 5700 participants were recruited from the andrology clinic at The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (Hefei, China). Clinical characteristics, including foreskin length, were collected, and sexual function was assessed by the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) and Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT) questionnaires. Men with sexual dysfunction were more likely to have redundant foreskin than men without sexual dysfunction. Among the 2721 erectile dysfunction (ED) patients and 1064 premature ejaculation (PE) patients, 301 (11.1%) ED patients and 135 (12.7%) PE patients had redundant foreskin, respectively. Men in the PE group were more likely to have redundant foreskin than men in the non-PE group ( P = 0.004). Logistic regression analyses revealed that the presence of redundant foreskin was associated with increased odds of moderate/severe ED (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.31, adjusted P = 0.04), moderate PE (aOR = 1.38, adjusted P = 0.02), and probable PE (aOR = 1.37, adjusted P = 0.03) after adjusting for confounding variables. Our study revealed a positive correlation between the presence of redundant foreskin and the risk of sexual dysfunction, especially in PE patients. Assessment of the length of the foreskin during routine clinical diagnosis may provide information for patients with sexual dysfunction.
Humans ; Male ; Foreskin ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Adult ; Erectile Dysfunction/epidemiology* ; Premature Ejaculation/epidemiology* ; Middle Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological/epidemiology* ; Young Adult