Based on spleen deficiency-phlegm dampness as the core pathogenesis of obesity， and integrating recent advances in modern medicine regarding the key role of immune inflammation in obesity， this paper proposes a multidimensional pathogenic network of "obesity-spleen deficiency-phlegm dampness-immune imbalance". Various traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） herbs that strengthen the spleen， regulate qi， and resolve phlegm and dampness can treat obesity by improving spleen-stomach transport and transformation， promoting water-damp metabolism， and regulating immune homeostasis. This highlights immune inflammation as an important entry point to elucidate the TCM concepts of "spleen deficiency-phlegm dampness" and the therapeutic principle of "strengthening the spleen and eliminating dampness to treat obesity". By systematically analyzing the intrinsic connection between "spleen deficiency generating dampness， internal accumulation of phlegm dampness" and immune dysregulation in obesity， this paper aims to provide theoretical support for TCM treatment of obesity based on dampness.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the methodological quality and reporting quality of published guidelines/consensuses on traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）/integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine diagnosis and treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD）， and to provide a basis for formulating guidelines/consensuses on TCM/integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine diagnosis and treatment of NAFLD in the future. MethodsDatabases including PubMed， Embase， Web of Science， CNKI， Wanfang Data， and CBM and the websites of China Association of Chinese Medicine and China Association of Integrative Medicine were searched for related articles published up to September 1， 2024. Two clinical researchers independently assessed the methodological quality and reporting quality of the guidelines/consensuses on TCM/integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine diagnosis and treatment of NAFLD by using Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation Ⅱ （AGREE Ⅱ） and Reporting Items for Practice Guidelines in Healthcare （RIGHT）. ResultsA total of nine guidelines/consensuses were included after literature screening， with four guidelines and five expert consensuses. The scores of different domains assessed by AGREE Ⅱ for the nine guidelines/consensuses were as follows： scope and purpose （47.1%）， stakeholder involvement （41.0%）， rigor of development （21.6%）， clarity of presentation （40.2%）， applicability （19.0%）， and editorial independence （19.6%）. The recommendation level of the articles was B level （recommended after revision） for four articles and C level （not recommended） for five articles. The RIGHT assessment showed high reporting rates for “Basic Information” and “Background”， while other areas needed to be improved. Currently， there was no international standard for the guidelines/consensuses on TCM/integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine diagnosis and treatment of NAFLD， and the quality of these guidelines/consensuses needed to be enhanced to ensure comprehensiveness and credibility. ConclusionThere is still potential for improving the quality of guidelines/consensuses on TCM/integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine diagnosis and treatment of NAFLD， and AGREE Ⅱ and RIGHT checklists should be strictly followed to ensure the fairness， scientific rigor， and transparency of these guidelines/consensuses.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine （TCM）external treatment methods in alleviating skin pruritus caused by eczema through a Meta-analysis. Methods Randomized clinical trials investigating the use of TCM external treatment methods for skin pruritus caused by eczema were searched in databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure （CNKI）, VIP, Wanfang, Sinomed, PubMed, Embase, LILACS, and Cochrane, up to December 2024. Two reviewers independently screened and entered the statistical data, conducted bias risk assessment by the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions, version 5.1.0, and performed Meta-analysis using RevMan 5.4.1. Results Ultimately, 14 studies involving 1 788 patients were included. Compared to the control group, TCM external treatment methods （treatment group）showed better improvement in pruritus scores （Z=11.88, P<0.000 01）, better improvement in Eczema Area and Severity Index （EASI） scores （Z=23.15, P<0.000 01）, higher overall clinical efficacy rate （Z=6.21, P<0.000 01）, better improvement in TCM symptoms （Z=5.49, P<0.000 01）, and lower clinical recurrence rate （Z=2.88, P=0.004）. Three of the included studies mentioned adverse reactions, with the treatment group showing lower adverse reactions than the control group. Conclusion The external treatment of TCM was more effective in treating skin pruritus caused by eczema compared to the control group. Given the biases and heterogeneity in the included literature, this conclusion needs to be further substantiated by more large-scale, multi-center, randomized, controlled, and double-blind studies.

Successful cloning through somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) faces significant challenges due to epigenetic obstacles. Recent studies have highlighted the roles of H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 as potential contributors to these obstacles. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. In this study, we generated genome-wide maps of H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 in mouse pre-implantation NT embryos. Our analysis revealed that aberrantly over-represented broad H3K4me3 domain and H3K27me3 signal lead to increased bivalent marks at gene promoters in NT embryos compared with naturally fertilized (NF) embryos at the 2-cell stage, which may link to relatively low levels of H3K36me3 in NT 2-cell embryos. Notably, the overexpression of Setd2, a H3K36me3 methyltransferase, successfully restored multiple epigenetic marks, including H3K36me3, H3K4me3, and H3K27me3. In addition, it reinstated the expression levels of ZGA-related genes by reestablishing H3K36me3 at gene body regions, which excluded H3K27me3 from bivalent promoters, ultimately improving cloning efficiency. These findings highlight the excessive bivalent state at gene promoters as a potent barrier and emphasize the removal of these barriers as a promising approach for achieving higher cloning efficiency.
Animals ; Mice ; Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase/biosynthesis* ; Histones/genetics* ; Nuclear Transfer Techniques ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Embryo, Mammalian/metabolism*

ObjectiveTo assess the quality of randomized controlled trials （RCTs） of compound traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） prescriptions in the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis （NASH）， and to provide recommendations for standardizing the design and reporting of RCTs in this field. MethodsDatabases such as PubMed， Web of Science， Embase， the Cochrane Library， CNKI， VIP， and Wanfang Data were searched for RCTs of compound TCM prescriptions in the treatment of NASH published from January 1， 2018 to December 31， 2023， and the articles were screened and assessed based on the Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool （RoB 2）， the unified standard for clinical trial reporting （CONSORT 2010）， and CONSORT-CHM Formulas 2017 for compound TCM prescriptions. ResultsA total of 45 articles were finally included， and most of these studies were rated as high-risk bias by RoB 2.0. The analysis based on the CONSORT control checklist showed a relatively low reporting rate for most of the key items regarding the quality of RCT studies. ConclusionA relatively large risk of bias is observed in the clinical studies on compound TCM prescriptions in the treatment of NASH published in the past six years， which may lead to the poor quality of reporting and evidence. It is suggested that the top-level design of clinical studies should be taken seriously in addition to investigating the advantages of TCM， so as to improve the quality of clinical studies.

Objective:Exploring the effect of radiofrequency ablation treatment to restore sinus rhythm on the improvement of functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) and cardiac structure in patients with atrial fibrillation combined with moderate or severe FMR, compared with drug therapy alone.Methods:This retrospective cohort study consecutively enrolled patients diagnosed with persistent atrial fibrillation and moderate or severe FMR who were admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2019 to December 2021. Forty-eight patients who were treated with radiofrequency ablation and maintained sinus rhythm were enrolled in the ablation group, and 63 patients who were treated with medication alone during the same period were in the medicine group. Patients in the ablation group and medicine group were matched in a 1∶1 ratio using a propensity score, and 41 patients were finally included in each of the 2 groups. All patients reexamined echocardiography after 3-month of treatment. The proportion of patients with FMR improvement and the differences in changes of cardiac structural and functional parameters were compared between groups.Results:After propensity score matching, the ablation group was aged (69.3±7.1) years with 21 males (51.2%) and the medicine group was aged (71.3±9.4) years with 21 males (51.2%). The echocardiography after 3-month of treatment showed the rate of FMR improvement was significantly higher in the ablation group than in the medicine group (19 (46.3%) vs. 33 (80.5%), P<0.001), and patients in the ablation group showed a significant decrease in FMR extent (Δmitral regurgitation area: (-1.30±2.64) cm 2 vs. (-3.55±2.50) cm 2, P<0.001), left atrial size (Δleft atrial diameter: (-0.17±3.78) mm vs. (-2.46±4.01) mm, P=0.009) and E/e′ (ΔE/e′:-2.54±7.34 vs.-6.34±7.08, P=0.021) compared with the medicine group. There was also a significant decrease in left ventricular size (Δleft ventricular end diastolic diameter: (-3.12±6.62) mm vs. (-0.73±3.62) mm, P=0.046) and significant increase in left ventricular ejection fraction (Δleft ventricular ejection fraction: (2.73±9.69) % vs. (-0.93±5.41) %, P=0.038) in ablation group. Conclusion:Performing radiofrequency ablation to restore sinus rhythm can effectively reduce the severity of mitral regurgitation and improve left atrial and left ventricular remodeling and cardiac function in patients with atrial fibrillation and FMR.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the short-term efficacy of single-session microwave ablation for benign thyroid nodule.METHODS Patients with benign thyroid nodules treated by microwave ablation between June 2019 and December 2022 at the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery,the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University,were included for analysis.Thyroid function was tested 1 month after treatment,and ultrasound and thyroid function were performed 3 months,6 months and 1 year after treatment.Volume reduction rates(VRR)of nodules were calculated.Data of the last follow-up within 1 year were included for analysis.Variables including gender,age,whether Hashimoto's thyroiditis was present,longitudinal diameter of nodules,solid volume of nodules were included for univariate and multivariate analysis.RESULTS A total of 151 patients with 163 nodules were included.The perioperative complication rate was 1.99%(3/151).The VRR at half year after treatment was(79.58±17.70)%,and the success rate at half year after treatment was 93.43%(128/137).The VRR of at 1year after treatment was(81.24±24.29)%.The 1-year treatment success rate was 92.77%(77/83).Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that nodular solid volume and age were independent factors affecting VRR after ablation.Regression coefficient of age and solid volume was 0.34(P<0.05)and-0.47(P<0.05),respectively.For every 1 cm3 increase in solid volume,1-year VRR(%)decreased by 0.47.Regression equation:1-year VRR=68.92+0.34×age-0.47×solid volume.Serum FT4 gradually decreased and the thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH)gradually increased within 6 months after ablation,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).After 6 months,serum FT4 gradually recovered to the normal level and TSH gradually recovered.However,TSH still did not reach the preoperative level one year after ablation.FT3 decreased gradually after treatment,but there was no significant difference between the values at each time point(P=0.40).After the ablation of thyroid nodule,the mean value of thyroid function index fluctuated,but all of them were within the normal reference range.CONCLUSION Microwave ablation is a safe and effective treatment method for benign thyroid nodules,with an overall success rate of over 90%.Solid nodule volume and age are independent factors affecting the microwave ablation effect of benign thyroid nodules.

Objective To study the relationship between marital status and prognosis of prostate cancer patients.Methods A total of 16 815 prostate cancer patients'data were extracted from the US SEER database,and the relationship between marital status and the prognosis of prostate cancer patients was assessed by using Log-rank unifactorial and multifactorial Cox risk-proportional models.Results ①At different stages of cancer,marital status can serve as an independent factor for tumor prognosis;②When the prostate-specific antigen(PSA)＜10ng/ml,the strongest correlation between marital status and prostate cancer survival rate was observed.There was a significant difference in tumor survival rate between different marital statuses with PSA＜10ng/ml and PSA levels between 10-20ng/ml;③ The survival curve and 5-year survival rate of patients with Gleason=7 points and Gleason ≥ 8 points in married group were significantly higher than those in unmarried group and divorced/widowed group;④ Patients who undergo surgical treatment have a longer survival time,and regardless of whether surgery is performed or not,the survival rate of married patients is significantly higher than that of patients with other marital statuses;⑤ In this study,the mortality risk of married prostate cancer patients was lower than that of patients with other marital statuses under different grouping conditions.Conclusion Marital status can be used as an independent prognostic factor for prostate cancer patients to a certain extent,and the mortality risk coefficient of married prostate cancer patients is lower than that of patients with other marital status.

Objective:To assess the correlation and consistency of electrochemiluminescence and direct chemiluminescence in detecting 12 tumor markers.Methods:A total of 2426 serum specimens were selected from the physical examination in Beijing Tiantan Hospital,Capital Medical University from March to August 2023.These specimens included 446 cases for alpha fetoprotein(AFP),284 cases for carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),289 cases for carbohydrate antigen 72-4(CA72-4),87 cases for carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA19-9),205 cases for carbohydrate antigen 125(CA-125),216 cases for carbohydrate antigen 15-3(CA 15-3),292 cases for total prostate specific antigen(TPSA),292 cases for free prostate specific antigen(FPSA),84 cases for serum cytokeratin 19 fragment(Cyfra21-1),84 cases for neuron specific enolase(NSE),84 cases for squamous cell carcinoma associated antigen(SCC)and 63 cases for pro-gastrin-releasing peptide(PROGrp).The electrochemiluminescence and direct chemiluminescence methods were respectively used to detect the above 12 indexes,and then,the correlation and consistency between the two detection methods were analyzed.Results:The results of Pearson and Spearman correlation analysis showed that there were significantly positive correlations between electrochemiluminescence and direct chemiluminescence methods in detecting 12 tumor indexes(AFP,CEA,CA72-4,CA19-9,CA125,CA15-3,TPSA,FPSA,Cyfra21-1,NSE,SCC and PROGrp)(r=0.971,0.934,0.945,0.975,0.900,0.948,0.994,0.984,0.982,0.828,0.879,0.922,P<0.05),respectively.The total coincidence rates between the two methods were respectively 98.21%,98.24%,98.27%,98.85%,97.07%,99.54%,99.66%,99.32%,92.86%,92.86%,95.24%and 96.83%.There were consistencies between electrochemiluminescence and direct chemiluminescence methods for 10 indexes excepted CA15-3 and NSE that could not calculate Kappa values due to data reasons(Kappa=0.848,0.728,0.930,0.794,0.485,0.887,0.664,0.540,0.477,0.652,P<0.05),respectively.Conclusion:In the detections of electrochemiluminescence and direct chemiluminescence methods for tumor indexes,there are favorable correlations and consistencies between them in detecting AFP,CA72-4,CA19-9 and TPSA,and there are favorable correlations between them in detecting CEA,CA125,FPSA,Cyfra21-1,SCC and PROGrp but the consistencies between them are average in detecting these indexes,and there are favorable correlations between them in detecting CA15-3 and NSE.Clinical detection should pay attention to there may be differences in the results between different detection methods when the detection is conducted in reference laboratory.

Objective:To construct a prediction model for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in mechanically ventilated preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and to test its clinical effect.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 740 preterm infants admitted to the NICU for mechanical ventilation from July 2018 to June 2023 were retrospectively selected as the study subjects, and were divided into the modeling set (518 cases) and the validation set (222 cases) according to the ratio of 7∶3 using the computer-generated random number method. The modeling set was divided into the VAP group (181 cases) and the non-VAP group (337 cases) according to whether VAP occured, and 21 clinical characteristics were analyzed, using single factor difference analysis to screen predictive factors, the independent risk factors of VAP in mechanically ventilated preterm infants were determined by multivariate Logistic regression analysis, and the nomogram model was made by R software. Then, the nomogram model was tested by validating the data of the validation set. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test, calibration curve and clinical decision curve were used to evaluate the efficacy and practical value of the model.Results:There were 88 males and 93 females in the VAP group, with 156 cases of gestational age<34 weeks and 25 cases of gestational age≥34 weeks. There were 155 males and 182 females in the non-VAP group, with 196 cases of gestational age<34 weeks and 141 cases of gestational age≥34 weeks. Birth weight ( OR=0.114, 95% CI 0.044-0.268, P<0.05) and oral care of breast milk ( OR=0.124, 95% CI 0.0.057-0.249, P<0.05) were protective factors for VAP in mechanically ventilated preterm infants, and Apgar score at 5 min after birth ( OR=2.895, 95% CI 1.318-6.419, P<0.05), serum prealbumin at 72 h of mechanical ventilation ( OR=4.837, 95% CI 2.643-9.063, P<0.05), gastric contents reflux ( OR=6.754, 95% CI 3.156-15.240, P<0.05), and time of mechanical ventilation ( OR=7.784, 95% CI 3.491-18.160, P<0.05) were independent risk factors for VAP in mechanically ventilated preterm infants. The area under the curve (AUC) of the ROC curve of the modeling set was 0.929 (95% CI 0.907-0.950, P<0.01), and the validation set (AUC) was 0.917 (95% CI 0.882-0.952, P<0.01), the model has good discrimination. The C indices of the modeling set and the validation set were 0.93 and 0.92 respectively by sampling 500 times by the Bootstrap method, indicating that the model had good consistency, and the decision curve suggested that the prediction model was far from the extreme curve and the net return value was high, indicating that the nomogram prediction model constructed this time had high prediction value. Conclusions:Birth weight, Apgar score at 5 min after birth, time of mechanical ventilation, oral care of breast milk, serum prealbumin at 72 h of mechanical ventilation, and gastric contents reflux are independent influencing factors for VAP in mechanically ventilated preterm infants. The nomogram prediction model constructed can provide a visual and simple evaluation tool for early identification of high-risk children and reducing the occurrence of VAP.