Alzheimer's disease(AD) has a high incidence rate and insidious onset, and it is the main type of senile dementia, severely affecting the survival and death of patients. The main clinical manifestations include memory loss, aphasia, apraxias, agnosia, and changes in executive dysfunction, personality, and behaviors, and its pathogenesis is not yet clear. In recent years, there has been an increasing number of traditional Chinese medicine treatments for AD, including Chinese herbal compounds, external treatments of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), and a combination of TCM and Western medicine, with significant efficacy and no obvious toxic side effects. Starting from the understanding of the pathogenesis of AD in TCM, this article comprehensively summarized the theoretical basis of TCM in treating the disease, providing a theoretical basis for clinical research.
Alzheimer Disease/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Animals

BACKGROUND: Blood glucose and serum albumin have been associated with cardiovascular disease prognosis, but the impact of admission-blood-glucose-to-albumin ratio (AAR) on adverse outcomes in critical ill coronary artery disease (CAD) patients was not investigated. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with CAD were non-consecutively selected from the MIMIC-IV database and categorized into quartiles based on their AAR. The primary outcome was 1-year mortality, and secondary endpoints were in-hospital mortality, acute kidney injury (AKI), and renal replacement therapy (RRT). A restricted cubic splines model and Cox proportional hazard models assessed the association between AAR and adverse outcomes in CAD patients. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis determined differences in endpoints across subgroups. RESULTS: A total of 8360 patients were included. There were 726 patients (8.7%) died in the hospital and 1944 patients (23%) died at 1 year. The incidence of AKI and RRT was 63% and 4.3%, respectively. High AAR was markedly associated with in-hospital mortality (HR = 1.587, P = 0.003), 1-year mortality (HR = 1.502, P < 0.001), AKI incidence (HR = 1.579, P < 0.001), and RRT (HR = 1.640, P < 0.016) in CAD patients in the completely adjusted Cox proportional hazard model. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis noted substantial differences in all endpoints based on AAR quartiles. Stratified analysis and interaction test demonstrated stable correlations between AAR and outcomes. CONCLUSIONS The results highlight that AAR may be a potential indicator for assessing in-hospital mortality, 1-year mortality, and adverse renal prognosis in critical CAD patients.

OBJECTIVE: Psoriasis, a common chronic inflammatory skin condition with genetic underpinnings, is traditionally managed with cupping therapy. Although used historically, the precise mechanical effects and therapeutic mechanisms of cupping in psoriasis remain largely unexamined. This study aimed to evaluate cupping therapy's efficacy for psoriasis and investigate its role in modulating inflammatory responses and cellular metabolism. METHODS: Psoriasis was induced in mice using topical imiquimod (IMQ). The effects of cupping on psoriatic lesions were assessed using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score, histology, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence staining. polymerase chain reaction sequencing (RNA-seq) and Western blotting were conducted to examine changes in mRNA expression and the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway. RESULTS: Cupping therapy significantly reduced inflammation, epidermal thickness, and inflammatory cell infiltration in mice with IMQ-induced psoriasis. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence showed lower expression of inflammatory markers and a shift in T-cell populations. RNA-seq and Western blotting indicated that cupping upregulated Piezo1 and activated the AMPK pathway, improving energy metabolism in psoriatic skin. CONCLUSION Cupping therapy reduces epidermal hyperproliferation and inflammation in psoriasis, rebalancing the local immune microenvironment. Mechanistically, cupping promotes calcium influx via Piezo1, activates AMPK signaling, and supports metabolic homeostasis, suggesting therapeutic potential for psoriasis. Please cite this article as: Xi RF, Liu X, Wang Y, Lu HZ, Yuan SJ, Guo DJ, Zhu JY, Li FL, Duan YJ. Mechanosensory activation of Piezo1 via cupping therapy: Harnessing neural networks to modulate AMPK pathway for metabolic restoration in a mouse model of psoriasis. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(6):721-732.
Animals ; Psoriasis/chemically induced* ; Mice ; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Cupping Therapy/methods* ; Signal Transduction ; Imiquimod ; Ion Channels/genetics* ; Male ; Mechanotransduction, Cellular

Objective To investigate the expressions of 12 cytokines(IL-1β,IL-2,IL-4,IL-5,IL-6,IL-8,IL-10,IL-12p70,IL-17,IFN-α,IFN-γ,TNF-α)and procalcitonin in patients with infective endocarditis(IE).Methods Ten IE patients admitted to our hospital from December 2021 to December 2022 were included into the IE group,10 patients with non-infectious and non-rheumatic valvular diseases who were admitted to our hospital at the same period were randomly selected as the control group,and blood sampling of all patients were conducted at admission.The expressions of 12 cytokines and blood routine indexes were detected by flow cytometry,and the level of procalcitonin was detected by ELISA.The correlations among the expression levels of cytokines in IE patients were analyzed by Pearson method and the correlations of IL-8 level and white blood cell count with procalcitonin in IE patients were analyzed by Spearman method.Results Compared with the control group,the levels of cytokines of IL-1β,IL-2,IL-6,IL-10,TNF-α,IFN-α,IFN-γ and IL-12p70 in the IE group were significantly increased(P<0.05),the white blood cell count,neutrophil percentage and procalcitonin were significantly increased(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the percentage of monocytes between the two groups(P>0.05).IFN-α of IE patients was positively correlated with IL-2,TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-12p70,IL-2 was positively correlated with TNF-α and IL-1β,IL-12p70 was positively correlated with IFN-γ,and procalcitonin was significantly positively correlated with IL-8 and white blood cell count,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Conclusion The levels of IL-1β,IL-2,IL-6,IL-10,TNF-α,IFN-α,IFN-γ,IL-12p70 and procalcitonin in IE patients are significantly higher than those in the normal population,and the detections of these indicators are of guiding significance for the early diagnosis of IE and the evaluation of the severity of the disease.

Objective To investigate the role of inhibition of Runt-associated transcription factor 1(Runx1)expression in arterial interventional chemotherapy for lung cancer in rats.Methods A549 cells were randomly divided into control group(normal cultured cells),si-NC group(transfected with si-NC plasmid),si-Runx1 group(transfected with si-Runx1 plasmid).Cell proliferation was detected by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)assay,and the relative expression level of protein was detected by Western blotting.Rats were randomly divided into model group(constructed lung cancer transplanted tumor rats),sh-Runx1 group(knockdown Runx1 expression),OXA arterial group(single arterial interventional chemotherapy),sh-Runx1+OXA group(knockdown Runx1+intravenous chemotherapy),sh-Runx1+OXA arterial group(knockdown Runx1+arterial interventional chemotherapy).After continuous treatment for 3 weeks,tumor volume and weight were measured,TdT mediated dUDP nick end labeling(Tunel)assay was used to detect tumor apoptosis,and Western blot assay was used to detect the expression of migration and invasion-related proteins.Results The survival rates of A549 cells in the control group,si-NC group and si-Runx1 group were(100.00±5.13)％,(99.56±3.44)％and(60.96±7.00)％,respectively;the expression levels of Runx1 protein were 0.84±0.06,0.85±0.06 and 0.20±0.03,respectively.Compared with the control group and si-NC group,the cell survival rate and Runx1 protein expression level in the si-Runx1 group were significantly decreased(all P＜0.05).The tumor volume of the model group,sh-Runx1 group,OXA arterial group,sh-Runx1+OXA group and sh-Runx1+OXA arterial group after the last treatment were(1 069.58±121.79),(819.30±6.98),(639.34±66.64),(486.91±29.88),(416.57±21.58)mm3,respectively;the apoptosis rates were(4.32±0.36)％,(13.95±1.22)％,(15.46±1.14)％,(23.71±2.01)％,(31.16±3.04)％,respectively;the expression levels of E-cadherin protein were 0.31±0.05,0.61±0.07,0.67±0.09,0.92±0.07,1.23±0.13,respectively.The above indexes of sh-Runx1 group,OXA arterial group,sh-Runx1+OXA group and sh-Runx1+OXA arterial group were compared with those of the model group,and the difference was statistically significant(all P＜0.05).The above indexes of sh-Runx1+OXA arterial group were compared with those of sh-Runx1,OXA arterial group and sh-Runx1+OXA group,and the difference was statistically significant(all P＜0.05).Conclusion inhibition of Runx1 can enhance the apoptosis induction and cell metastasis inhibition of arterial interventional chemotherapy in lung cancer rats.

AIM: To compare the changes of corneal refractive power before and after wearing defocus rigid gas permeable contact lens(RGPCL)in children with high myopia, and to analyze its influence on corneal refractive power and astigmatism after wearing glasses.METHODS: Self-controlled before-after study. A total of 30 cases(60 eyes)of children aged 8-12, with high myopia who were treated and fitted with defocus RGPCL in the Optometry Center of Xi'an First Hospital from June 2019 to June 2020 were collected. Using TMS-4N corneal topography instrument to measure the corneal tangential refractive power at baseline and wearing lens for 0.5 and 1a, and analyze the nasal side(N), temporal side(T), superior(S)and inferior(I)of the maximum corneal refractive power values at the 4 axial directions and the changes of the corneal refractive power at the center were collected at the same time at 1 mm intervals. The changes of corneal refractive power at each point before and after wearing glasses were analyzed. The axial length, diopter and corneal topography were required to be measured after 0.5 and 1a, and the changes in axial length, spherical equivalent, astigmatism and corneal refraction compared with baseline were analyzed.RESULTS: The maximum corneal refractive power of nasal(N), temporal(T), superior(S)and inferior(I)side was significantly increased at 0.5 and 1a when wearing defocus RGPCL compared with that before wearing glasses, which all showed positive relative refractive power compared with the corneal refractive power at center and was significantly different from the negative relative refractive power before wearing lenses. The relative peripheral refractive power of the cornea changed in the direction of positive refractive power when the lenses were worn for 0.5 and 1a. Except for the increase in the peripheral negative refractive power at the T1 point, the peripheral refractive power at all points in the other axes increased significantly. After wearing for 0.5a, the corneal steep K value became flat by 0.11±0.10D, the simK value decreased by 0.20±0.18D, the corneal steep K value became flat by 0.10±0.12D after 1a, the average K value became flat by 0.02±0.05D, and the simK value decreased by 0.16±0.13D. There was no significant difference in corneal level K from the baseline after wearing glasses for 0.5 and 1a.CONCLUSIONS: The maximum refractive power of the cornea in the state of wearing defocus RGPCL is positive relative refractive power compared with the vertex of cornea, and the relative peripheral negative refractive power of the cornea at each point on the 4 axes changes from negative value to positive value. Within 1a of wearing glasses, the axial length and spherical equivalent increased compared with the baseline, while the amount of astigmatism decreased, and the corneal refractive power showed a trend of steep K and flattening.

AIM: To investigate the effect of modified Chufeng Yisun Decoction on ocular surface inflammation after pterygium surgery.METHODS: A total of 60 patients(60 eyes)with primary pterygium who underwent pterygium surgery were randomly divided into control group and study group, with 30 cases(30 eyes)in each group. In the control group, patients were treated with pranoprofen eye drops, tobramycin dexamethasone eye drops, and deproteinized calf blood extract eye gel after the surgery. In the study group, patients were treated by oral modified Chufeng Yisun Decoction in addition to the treatments in the control group. The changes of ocular irritation symptoms, ocular inflammatory signs, tear interleukin 6(IL-6)levels, and tear ferning test(TFT)of patients in the two groups were assessed.RESULTS: The visual analogue scale(VAS)in patients of both groups was significantly lower at 2d and 1wk after the surgery than that at 1d after the surgery(all P<0.01), and the VAS of the study group was significantly better than that of the control group at 2d and 1wk after surgery(P<0.01). The ocular signs integrals(OSI)and TFT results of both groups at 1wk were significantly lower than those at 1d after the surgery(all P<0.01), and the OSI and TFT were also lower in the study group than in the control group at 1wk after the surgery(all P<0.01). In addition, the concentration of tear IL-6 in both groups was significantly lower at 1wk after the surgery than 1d after the surgery(all P<0.01), and it was also significantly lower in the study group than in the control group at 1wk after the surgery(P<0.05).CONCLUSION: The combination of Chufeng Yisun Decoction and conventional treatment of western has a better effect on controlling ocular surface inflammation after pterygium surgery.

In the outbreak of COVID-19,triage procedures based on epidemiology were implemented in a local hospital in Changsha to control the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and avoid healthcare-associated infection.This re-trospective study analyzed the data collected during the triage period and found that COVID-19 patients were en-riched 7 folds into the Section A designated for patients with obvious epidemiological history.On the other side,nearly triple amounts of visits were received at the Section B for patients without obvious epidemiological history.8 COVID-19 cases were spotted out of 247 suspected patients.More than 50％of the suspected patients were submi-tted to multiple rounds of nucleic acid analysis for SARS-CoV-2 infection.Of the 239 patients who were diagnosed as negative of the virus infection,188 were successfully revisited and none was reported as COVID-19 case.Of the 8 COVID-19 patients,3 were confirmed only after multiple rounds of nucleic acid analysis.Besides comorbidities,delayed sharing of epidemiological history added complexity to the diagnosis in practice.The triaging experience and strategy will be helpful for the control of infectious diseases in the future.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of various Chinese patent medicines in the treatment of inflammatory response in diabetic nephropathy(DN) based on network Meta-analysis. Randomized controlled trial(RCT) of oral Chinese patent medicines for improving inflammatory response in patients with DN was retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMbase, Web of Science, and other databases from database inception to October 2022. All investigators independently screened the literature, extracted data, and evaluated the quality. Stata 16.0 software and RevMan 5.4.1 were used to analyze the data of the literature that met the quality standards. Finally, 53 RCTs were included, involving 6 Chinese patent medicines. The total sample size was 4 891 cases, including 2 449 cases in the test group and 2 442 cases in the control group. The network Meta-analysis showed that(1) in terms of reducing TNF-α, the top 3 optimal interventions according to the surface under the cumulative ranking curve(SUCRA) were Shenshuaining Capsules/Granules/Tablets + conventional western medicine, Jinshuibao Capsules + conventional western medicine, and Niaoduqing Granules + conventional western medicine.(2) In terms of reducing hs-CRP, the top 3 optimal interventions according to SUCRA were Bailing Capsules + conventional western medicine, Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets + conventional western medicine, and Shenshuaining Capsules/Granules/Tablets + conventional western medicine.(3) In terms of reducing IL-6, the top 3 optimal interventions according to SUCRA were Bailing Capsules + conventional western medicine, Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets + conventional western medicine, and Jinshuibao Capsules + conventional western medicine.(4) In terms of reducing UAER, the top 3 optimal interventions according to SUCRA were Shenshuaining Capsules/Granules/Tablets + conventional western medicine, Huangkui Capsules + conventional western medicine, and Jinshuibao Capsules + conventional western medicine.(5) In terms of reducing Scr, the top 3 optimal interventions according to SUCRA were Jinshuibao Capsules + conventional western medicine, Niaoduqing Granules + conventional wes-tern medicine, and Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets + conventional western medicine.(6) In terms of reducing BUN, the first 3 optimal interventions according to SUCRA were Niaoduqing Granules + conventional western medicine, Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets + conventional western medicine, and Huangkui Capsules + conventional western medicine.(7) In terms of improving the clinical total effective rate, the first 3 optimal interventions according to SUCRA were Jinshuibao Capsules + conventional western medicine, Niaoduqing Granu-les + conventional western medicine, and Huangkui Capsules + conventional western medicine. The results showed that the combination of western medicine and Chinese patent medicine could reduce the expression of serum inflammatory factors TNF-α, hs-CRP, and IL-6 and inhibit the inflammatory response. The combination of western medicine and Chinese patent medicine was superior to western medicine alone in reducing Scr, BUN, and UAER, and improving the total effective rate of treatment. Due to the limitation of the quantity and quality of literature included, the above conclusions need to be validated by more high-quality studies.
Humans ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Network Meta-Analysis ; Nonprescription Drugs ; Diabetic Nephropathies/drug therapy* ; C-Reactive Protein ; Capsules ; Interleukin-6 ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Glycosides ; Tablets ; Diabetes Mellitus/drug therapy*

OBJECTIVES: To explore the sleep status and risk factors for sleep problems in infants and young children in Jilin Province. METHODS: A total of 1 080 healthy infants and young children aged 0-3 years from eight prefecture-level cities and one autonomous prefecture in Jilin Province were selected as subjects. A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect the general information of the subjects, and the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire was used to understand the sleep status of the subjects. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors for sleep problems. RESULTS: The total detection rate of sleep problems in the infants and young children was 38.24% (413/1 080). The total sleep time in the 4-11 month, 12-24 month, and 25-36 month age groups was higher than the recommended total sleep time (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that full-term birth, higher educational level of the main caregiver, and higher daytime activity intensity were protective factors for sleep problems in the infants and young children (P<0.05), while lower frequency of vitamin D supplementation, frequent night feeding, and maternal snoring were risk factors for sleep problems (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The total sleep time of infants and young children over 4 months old in Jilin Province is higher than the recommended total sleep time, but the prevalence rate of sleep problems is higher. The occurrence of sleep problems is related to various factors. Strengthening follow-up on preterm infants, providing education on infant sleep knowledge to primary caregivers, and regularly supplementing with vitamin D can be beneficial in reducing sleep problems in infants and young children.
Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Infant, Premature ; Risk Factors ; Sleep ; Sleep Wake Disorders/epidemiology*