ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects and safety of the optimized new Shengmai Powder （优化新生脉散方） on exercise tolerance in patients with chronic heart failure （CHF） of qi deficiency， blood stasis， and fluid retention syndrome. MethodsA randomized， double-blind， placebo-controlled trial was conducted. A total of 78 CHF patients with qi deficiency， blood stasis， and fluid retention syndrome were recruited and randomly assigned to a treatment group （39 cases） and a control group （39 cases）. On the basis of conventional western medical therapy， patients in the treatment group additionally received the optimized new Shengmai Powder granules， while the control group was given an oral placebo of optimized new Shengmai Powder granules. Patients in both groups took 30.6 g each time， twice a day， mixed with water for administration， with a total treatment course of 4 weeks. The primary outcomes were 6-minute walk distance （6MWD） and peak oxygen uptake （Peak VO₂） measured by cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Secondary outcomes included New York Heart Association （NYHA） functional classification， B-type natriuretic peptide （BNP） levels， cardiac function indexes including left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF）， left ventri-cular end-systolic diameter （LVESD） and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter （LVEDD）， Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire （MLHFQ） scores， and scores of four diagnostic information of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. All indicators were assessed once before and after treatment respectively. Safety indicators were evaluated， and adverse events during the trial were recorded. ResultsAll patients in both groups were included in the full ana-lysis set （FAS） and safety set （SS）. Compared with baseline， the 6MWD and Peak VO₂ of cardiopulmonary exercise test in the treatment group significantly increased after treatment， while the MLHFQ scores， serum BNP levels and scores of TCM four diagnostic information significantly decreased， and the NYHA cardiac function grade significantly improved （P＜0.01）. After treatment， the 6MWD and Peak VO₂ of cardiopulmonary exercise test， as well as their changes from baseline in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group； the MLHFQ scores， serum BNP levels and scores of TCM four diagnostic information in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group； and the improvement of NYHA cardiac function grade in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group （P＜0.01）. There was no statistically significant differences in all indicators after treatment in the control group （P＞0.05）. The incidence of adverse events was 5.1% （2/39） in the treatment group and 2.6% （1/39） in the control group， with no statistically significant difference between groups （P＞0.05）. ConclusionOn the basis of conventional western medicine treatment， the addition of the optimized new Shengmai Powder can further improve exercise tolerance， cardiac function and quality of life in patients with CHF of qi deficiency， blood stasis and fluid retention syndrome， and show good safety.

Objective:To explore the therapeutic effect of compound Kuijie Ankang Decoction on ulcerative colitis (UC) model mice by non targeted metabonomics; To explore its mechanism.Compound Kuijie Ankang.Methods:The mice were randomly divided into blank control group, model group, Kuijie Ankang Decoction group and sulfasalazine group, with 12 mice in each group. Except the blank control group, the other groups were given 1.5% DSS solution for free drinking to prepare UC model. After successful modeling, Kuijie Ankang Decoction group was intragastrically administered with compound Kuijie Ankang Decoction of 9.68 g/kg, sulfasalazine group was intragastrically administered with sulfasalazine capsule suspension of 320 mg/kg, model group and blank control group were intragastrically administered with equal volume of purified water, once a day, for 7 consecutive days. The body mass and disease activity index (DAI) score of mice were measured. ELISA was used to measure the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the colon tissue of mice; the protein expressions of Claudin-1 and Zo-1 in colon tissue were detected by immunofluorescence method. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes in the colon, and UHPLC-OE-MS technology was used to analyze the endogenous metabolite structure of mouse colon tissue, differential metabolites and related metabolic pathways were screened.Results:Compared with the model group, the colon length in Kuijie Ankang Decoction group and sulfasalazine group increased ( P<0.01), the DAI score decreased ( P<0.01), the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in colon tissue decreased ( P<0.01), the level of IL-10 increased ( P<0.01), and the average optical density of Claudin-1 and Zo-1 protein increased ( P<0.01 or P<0.05). Metabolomics analysis identified 26 potential differential metabolites, including nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, guanine, gamma aminobutyric acid, and thiamine, affecting 26 key metabolic pathways, including lysine biosynthesis, thiamine metabolism, cysteine and methionine metabolism. Conclusion:Kuaijie Ankang Decoction may improve metabolites such as Gamma aminobutyric acid and thiamine through metabolic pathways such as lysine biosynthesis to alleviate inflammatory reactions, thereby exerting therapeutic effects on ulcerative colitis in mice.

Objective: To explore the active components, key targets, and mechanism of action of turnip in alleviating pulmonary fibrosis(PF) based on network pharmacology and animal experiments. Methods: The active components and targets of Brassica rapa L. were screened using the traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and analysis platform database, and PF-related targets were obtained from disease databases such as online mendelian inheritance of man(OMIM) and DrugBank. The intersection targets were used to construct a protein-protein interaction(PPI) network to identify core targets, followed by gene oncology(GO)/Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. In the animal experiments, a bleomycin-induced PF mouse model was established. Pathological changes in lung tissue were evaluated using HE and Masson staining. qRT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K), and akstrain transforming 1(AKT1), and immunofluorescence staining was used to measure the protein expression of TNF-α, PI3K, and AKT1. Results: The 68 active components identified in Brassica rapa L. may regulate PI3K-Akt signaling pathway by acting on 89 potential targets such as TNF-α and AKT1. The results of animal experiments showed that polysaccharide of Brassica rapa L.(BRPs) could significantly reduce the degree of bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice; HE and Masson staining of lung tissue showed that compared with the model group, the damage of alveolar structure, the infiltration of inflammatory cells and the deposition of collagen fibers in the BRPs treatment group were significantly reduced. Further mechanism studies showed that BRPs could significantly down-regulate the mRNA and protein expression levels of TNF-α, PI3K and AKT1 in lung tissue of pulmonary fibrosis mice. Conclusion Brassica rapa L. can synergistically alleviate pulmonary fibrosis through “multi-component, multi-target and multi-channel” approach; BRPs is one of the main active components, and plays an anti-fibrosis role by inhibiting TNF-α/PI3K Akt signaling pathway.

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors affecting women worldwide, with its incidence rate continuously increasing. As a result, treatment strategies for this disease have received considerable attention. Research has highlighted the crucial role of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway in the initiation and progression of BC, particularly in promoting tumor growth and metastasis. Therefore, molecular targets within this pathway represent promising opportunities for the development of novel BC therapies. This study aims to elucidate the therapeutic mechanisms by which natural compounds modulate the Hh signaling pathway in BC. By conducting a comprehensive review of various natural compounds, including polyphenols, terpenes, and alkaloids, we reveal both common and unique regulatory mechanisms that influence this pathway. This investigation represents the first comprehensive analysis of five distinct mechanisms through which natural compounds modulate key molecules within the Hh pathway and their impact on the aggressive behaviors of BC. Furthermore, by exploring the structure-activity relationships between these compounds and their molecular targets, we shed light on the specific structural features that enable natural compounds to interact with various components of the Hh pathway. These novel insights contribute to advancing the development and clinical application of natural compound-based therapeutics. Our thorough review not only lays the groundwork for exploring innovative BC treatments but also opens new avenues for leveraging natural compounds in cancer therapy.

Objective To explore the effects of combined exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and high-fat diet on liver lipid metabolism and hepatocyte senescence in mice, and to elucidate the potential mechanisms of the onset and development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods Specific pathogen free C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into six groups, with 10 mice with equal numbers of each sex in each group. The mice in the control group and the simple BPA group were fed with regular diet, while others four groups of mice were fed with high-fat diet. At the same time, the mice in the simple BPA group were intragastric administered with BPA at a dose of 50 μg/kg body weight, while the mice in the low-, medium- and high-dose BPA+high-fat groups were intragastric administered with BPA at doses of 5, 50 and 500 μg/kg body weight respectively. The mice in the control group and the high-fat group were intragastric administered with the same volume of corn oil once per day for 90 consecutive days. Liver tissues were subjected to hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Oil Red O staining. Liver coefficients and lipid-stained area ratios were calculated. Serum level of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were determined using an automatic biochemical analyzer. The hepatic tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-10 levels were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The relative expression of cholesterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1), CCAAT enhancer binding protein α, P16, and phosphorylated histone H2AX (γ-H2AX) in liver tissues was detected using Western blotting. The interaction effect of the combined exposure to BPA and high-fat diet was observed based on the result of mice in the control group, the simple high-fat group, the simple BPA group, and the medium-dose BPA group+high-fat group (the combined exposure group) using a 2×2 factorial design. The results of mice in the simple high-fat group and the low-, medium-, and high-dose BPA+high-fat groups were used to observe the effect of BPA exposure dose under high-fat diet conditions. Results i) The interactive effect of combined exposure to BPA and high fat. The HE and Oil Red O staining results indicated that the combined exposure to BPA and high-fat diet successfully established NAFLD in mice. The interactive effect of combined exposure to BPA and high-fat diet on serum ALT activity and the relative expression of P16 in the liver tissue of female mice, as well as the serum ALT and AST activities and the relative expression of SREBP1 in the liver tissue of male mice was significant (all P<0.05). Specifically, the serum ALT activity of male mice in the combined exposure group was higher than that in the simple high-fat group (P<0.05), while the ALT activity in the serum of female mice in the combined exposure group was lower than that in the simple BPA group (P<0.05). The relative expression of SREBP1 protein in the liver tissue of male mice in the combined exposure group was higher than that in the control group, the simple high-fat group, and the simple BPA group (all P<0.05). For the other indicators, there were no significant differences in the interactive effect of combined exposure to BPA and high-fat diet (all P>0.05). ii) Dose effects of BPA exposure. The HE and Oil Red O staining result showed that the degree of vacuolar steatosis in the liver of female and male mice of medium- and high-dose BPA + high-fat groups was aggravated, and the range of inflammatory cell infiltration was expanded when compared with same-sex mice in the simple high-fat group. The serum ALT activity and the fat stained area ratio, as well as the relative expression of P16 in liver tissue of female mice in high-dose BPA + high-fat group increased (all P<0.05), while the level of IL-10 in liver tissue decreased (P<0.05), compared with the female mice in simple high-fat group. The serum ALT activity, the TNF-α level in liver tissue, and the relative expression of SREBP1, P16 and γ-H2AX proteins in liver tissue of male mice in high-dose BPA + high-fat group increased (all P<0.05), while the IL-6 level in liver tissue decreased (P<0.05), compared with the male mice in simple high-fat group. For the female or male mice in the low- and medium-dose BPA + high-fat groups, only some of the above indicators showed significant changes (all P<0.05). Conclusion The combined exposure to BPA and high-fat diet has a synergistic effect on the onset and development of NAFLD. The mechanism may be related to inducing cellular senescence and modulation of lipid synthesis pathways, thereby affecting liver steatosis. The exposure dose of BPA may affect the synergistic effect.

The wear debris generated during artificial joint prosthesis service can react with bone tissues to form osteolysis,seriously affecting the life-time of artificial joint prostheses.This paper reviews,summarizes,and analyzes domestic and international research literature on the extraction,characterization,and identification of wear debris from different artificial joint materials,aiming to provide references and feasible ideas for the future construction of a systematic and hierarchical research system for artificial joint wear debris.The main findings are as follows:strong alkali protein degradation test,strong acid protein degradation test,and protease protein degradation test are the commonly used method for extracting artificial joint wear debris,and researchers have clarified the protein degradation mechanisms of these three debris extraction methods.The characterization of wear debris in-vitro and in-vivo is mostly for hip and knee joints,with a small amount involving cervical spine and ankle joints.Studies have shown that the size,quantity,shape,and volume of wear particles are influenced by factors such as joint type,contact area,material selection,and implantation time.Both domestic and international studies have conducted characterization research on wear debris after in-vitro simulation testing,but there is still a lack of wear debris characterization analysis of clinical retrievals in China.Currently,most research is on the recognition of wear debris in the traditional mechanical field,but research on the intelligent recognition of artificial joint wear debris is relatively few,indicating that there is a certain lag in the application of computer technology in the field of artificial joint wear debris recognition.

Objective:To explore the psychological experience of ICU nurses caring for young patients with suicide attempts in a general hospital, and to lay a foundation for the study of psychological adjustment and intervention for ICU nurses.Methods:Twelve ICU nurses who had experience of caring for suicide attempted- young patients from Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Zhejiang University were selected by using descriptive qualitative research method and the maximum difference method of the purposive sampling during October to December in 2023, and semi-structured in-depth personal interviews were conducted. Traditional content analysis method was used to sort out and analyze the data and extract the themes.Results:A total of 12 nurses completed the interview, 5 males, 7 females, aged 23-38(29.33 ± 4.14) years, three themes and seven sub-themes were extracted: psychological characteristics of care (avoidance of active communication, fear of care, empathy); the support required for nursing care (support from colleagues; support from nursing managers); self-growth after caregiving (self-growth in terms of life and death, and self-growth in terms of children′s education).Conclusions:ICU nurses have a certain degree of psychological pressure when taking care of young patients with suicide attempts, which will produce empathy for patients and affect their self-values. At the same time, they need support from colleagues and nursing managers. Therefore, general hospitals should pay attention to the psychological state of ICU nurses, carry out the targeted communication training and mental health support for ICU nurses, and help them gain positive nursing career growth and values.

Objective:To determine the prevalence of self-reported food allergies among children in the grasslands of North China and to analyze its associated risk factors.Methods:In this study, a cross-sectional epidemiological survey method was used to select children under 14 years old by multi-stage, stratified and random cluster sampling in the grassland ecological area of Zhangbei County, Hebei Province, China from May to July 2018. Face-to-face questionnaires were administered to gather food allergy-related information from the participants. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors associated with self-reported food allergy.Results:A total of 2 086 children completed the survey. The prevalence of self-reported food allergies was 22.0%(459/2 086). The prevalence of multiple food allergies (≥3 types) was 3.1%(64/2 086) versus 16.3% (341/2 086) for a single food allergy among all children. Mango allergy (6.1%, 127/2 086) was the most common, followed by peach allergy (4.1%, 85/2 086). Children who reported food allergies had a significantly higher prevalence of all 4 atopic disorders (eczema, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and allergic conjunctivitis than those without food allergies(35.73% vs. 20.65%, 5.88% vs. 2.77%, 17.86% vs. 7.38%, 16.78% vs. 10.45%, χ2 =44.663 1, 10.434 3, 45.038 3, 13.728 4, all P<0.001).Significantly associated risk factors of food allergy were found to be pollen allergy ( OR: 2.29; 95% CI: 1.80-2.92) and drug allergy ( OR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.12-2.09). Conclusions:The prevalence of self-reported food allergies among children in the Zhangbei County area of the North China Grassland was relatively high. Pollen allergy and drug allergy are major risk factors.

Colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF1R)-related leukoencephalopathy (CSF1R-L) is a rare autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in the CSF1R gene. It is typically characterized by rapidly progressive cognitive decline, motor dysfunction, and psychiatric or behavioral abnormalities, leading to significant disability and early mortality. More than 100 mutations of CSF1R have been identified in CSF1R-L, but the clinical-genotype relationship is unclear. This report describes a case of CSF1R-L that initially presented with atypical symptoms of left lower limb pain, numbness, and weakness. Despite the non-specific presentation, comprehensive imaging data were available throughout the disease course. Genetic testing identified a heterozygous missense mutation in exon 18 of the CSF1R gene (c.2508CA, p.Ser836Arg), a novel variant not previously reported in the literature. This case offers valuable insights into the dynamic progression of cranial MRI changes in CSF1R-L, broadens the genetic spectrum of this disease, enhances awareness among clinicians, and provides crucial information for the early diagnosis of this condition.

Breast cancer(BC)is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors affecting women worldwide,with its incidence rate continuously increasing.As a result,treatment strategies for this disease have received considerable attention.Research has highlighted the crucial role of the Hedgehog(Hh)signaling pathway in the initiation and progression of BC,particularly in promoting tumor growth and metastasis.There-fore,molecular targets within this pathway represent promising opportunities for the development of novel BC therapies.This study aims to elucidate the therapeutic mechanisms by which natural com-pounds modulate the Hh signaling pathway in BC.By conducting a comprehensive review of various natural compounds,including polyphenols,terpenes,and alkaloids,we reveal both common and unique regulatory mechanisms that influence this pathway.This investigation represents the first comprehen-sive analysis of five distinct mechanisms through which natural compounds modulate key molecules within the Hh pathway and their impact on the aggressive behaviors of BC.Furthermore,by exploring the structure-activity relationships between these compounds and their molecular targets,we shed light on the specific structural features that enable natural compounds to interact with various components of the Hh pathway.These novel insights contribute to advancing the development and clinical application of natural compound-based therapeutics.Our thorough review not only lays the groundwork for exploring innovative BC treatments but also opens new avenues for leveraging natural compounds in cancer therapy.