Irritable bowel syndrome （IBS） is a functional bowel disorder characterized primarily by abdominal pain and altered defecation habits. In recent years， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has made progress in multiple aspects of IBS research and treatment， including syndrome distribution， development of TCM formulas， clinical efficacy evaluation， external therapies， and psychosocial regulation. However， it still faces challenges such as over-reliance on symptomatic manifestations rather than biomarkers for diagnostic criteria， and the lack of high-quality evidence-based data supporting the efficacy of TCM formulas in treating IBS. This paper proposed that TCM diagnosis and treatment of IBS should adhere to the strategy of integrating the holistic concept with syndrome differentiation and treatment， combining TCM external therapies such as acupuncture， moxibustion and acupoint application）， and emphasizing individualized diagnosis and treatment for psychosomatic abnormalities. Future research should integrate multi-omics technologies， artificial intelligence and other methods to deepen the understanding of the pathogenesis of IBS and the mechanisms of TCM formulas， so as to promote the standardization and internationalization of TCM in the diagnosis and treatment of IBS.

Objective Epigenetics,which changes the expression of DNA or protein by chemical modification,affects the regulation of genes and plays an important role in the interaction between genetic and environmental factors in diseases.This review focuses on the development trend and research hotspots of epigenetic modification in ulcerative colitis from 2003 to 2023.Methods Literature related to epigenetic modification in UC was obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection database,and bibliometric analyses and visualization were performed using VOSviewer,CiteSpace and R software.Results 1359 papers published from 2003-2023 were retrieved for inclusion in the analysis.The United States dominated the field of epigenetic modification,with the University of Chicago being the most published and cited institution,and Wu Feng of the Meyerhoff Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease being the most cited author.The journals Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and Gastroenterology have high influence,screening for high-frequency keywords related to UC epigenetic modifications,including microRNA,inflammation,biomarker,azathioprine,DNA methylation,long noncoding RNA,circular RNA,received wide attention.Conclusion Epigenetics continues to evolve in the field of UC,providing important avenues in elucidating the pathogenesis of UC,in elucidating the interactions between genetics and the environment,and in giving new ideas for simplifying diagnosis,improving inflammation,and developing new drugs.

Objective To analyze the characteristics of clinical manifestations of Lyme borreliosis cases.Methods Clinical data of 25 hospitalized patients with Lyme disease admitted to Beijing Friendship Hospital from January 2013 to April 2024 were collected,and clinical characteristics of patients were analyzed.Results The average age of 25 patients with confirmed Lyme disease was(48.60±17.89)years,20 patients(80.0％)presented fever.8 pa-tients(32.0％)had joint pain,mainly in large joints such as knee joint,elbow joint,lumbar spine,and hip joint.10 patients(40.0％)had skin lesions,including 2 cases of erythema migrans and 8 cases predominantly with macu-lopapular rash.Neurological manifestations were mainly numbness in the limbs,muscle twitching,and abnormal skin sensations(n=8,32.0％),cardiovascular damage was mainly arrhythmias(n=3)and pericardial effusion(n=1).Disease course of 23 patients(92.0％)was＜6 months,but were accompanied by multiple comorbidities.All patients tested positive for Lyme disease antibodies(IgM or IgG).Before the onset of the disease,8 patients(32.0％)lived in Beijing,7(28.0％)lived abroad,and 10(40.0％)lived in provinces other than Beijing.All pa-tients had a history of mosquito bites,with 5 patients confirmed to have been bitten by ticks.Conclusion Lyme di-sease involves multiple organs,and patients have diverse clinical symptoms.Epidemiological history of tick bites and laboratory testing of related antibodies can improve the diagnosis rate of this disease.

Objective Epigenetics,which changes the expression of DNA or protein by chemical modification,affects the regulation of genes and plays an important role in the interaction between genetic and environmental factors in diseases.This review focuses on the development trend and research hotspots of epigenetic modification in ulcerative colitis from 2003 to 2023.Methods Literature related to epigenetic modification in UC was obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection database,and bibliometric analyses and visualization were performed using VOSviewer,CiteSpace and R software.Results 1359 papers published from 2003-2023 were retrieved for inclusion in the analysis.The United States dominated the field of epigenetic modification,with the University of Chicago being the most published and cited institution,and Wu Feng of the Meyerhoff Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease being the most cited author.The journals Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and Gastroenterology have high influence,screening for high-frequency keywords related to UC epigenetic modifications,including microRNA,inflammation,biomarker,azathioprine,DNA methylation,long noncoding RNA,circular RNA,received wide attention.Conclusion Epigenetics continues to evolve in the field of UC,providing important avenues in elucidating the pathogenesis of UC,in elucidating the interactions between genetics and the environment,and in giving new ideas for simplifying diagnosis,improving inflammation,and developing new drugs.

Objective To analyze the characteristics of clinical manifestations of Lyme borreliosis cases.Methods Clinical data of 25 hospitalized patients with Lyme disease admitted to Beijing Friendship Hospital from January 2013 to April 2024 were collected,and clinical characteristics of patients were analyzed.Results The average age of 25 patients with confirmed Lyme disease was(48.60±17.89)years,20 patients(80.0％)presented fever.8 pa-tients(32.0％)had joint pain,mainly in large joints such as knee joint,elbow joint,lumbar spine,and hip joint.10 patients(40.0％)had skin lesions,including 2 cases of erythema migrans and 8 cases predominantly with macu-lopapular rash.Neurological manifestations were mainly numbness in the limbs,muscle twitching,and abnormal skin sensations(n=8,32.0％),cardiovascular damage was mainly arrhythmias(n=3)and pericardial effusion(n=1).Disease course of 23 patients(92.0％)was＜6 months,but were accompanied by multiple comorbidities.All patients tested positive for Lyme disease antibodies(IgM or IgG).Before the onset of the disease,8 patients(32.0％)lived in Beijing,7(28.0％)lived abroad,and 10(40.0％)lived in provinces other than Beijing.All pa-tients had a history of mosquito bites,with 5 patients confirmed to have been bitten by ticks.Conclusion Lyme di-sease involves multiple organs,and patients have diverse clinical symptoms.Epidemiological history of tick bites and laboratory testing of related antibodies can improve the diagnosis rate of this disease.

Objective We aimed to establish and evaluate a rat model of post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome(PI-IBS)with the pattern of liver depression and spleen deficiency coupled with dampness.Methods First,200 rats were randomly divided into the normal group,the infection group,the infection+stress group,the infection+stress+external dampness group,and the acetic acid+stress group(n=40 rats per group)for eight weeks.The rats were treated with Trichinella spiralis infection,chronic restraint stress,an artificial high-humidity climate,and/or acetic acid enema.Weight growth rate,24-hour food intake and water intake,and the fecal moisture percentage were recorded.The open field test and the sucrose consumption test were used to determine the behavioral characteristics of rats in each group.The abdominal withdrawal reflex(AWR)test was used to determine visceral sensitivity.The contents of 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)and aquaporin 4(AQP4)in colon tissue were detected by ELISA.Results Compared with the normal group,the weight growth rate of rats in the infection+stress+external dampness group and the acetic acid+stress group was lower from Week 1 to Week 8 of modeling.The 24-hour food intake of rats in the infection+stress+external dampness group and the infection+stress group was lower than that in the normal group from Week 2 to Week 8 of modeling.At the end of week 2 of modeling,the 24-hour water intake of rats in the infection+stress+external dampness group,the acetic acid+stress group,and the infection+stress group was lower than that in the normal group.The fecal moisture percentage of rats in the infection+stress+external dampness group was higher than that in the normal group at the end of Week 1,6,and 8(P＜0.05).At the end of Week 4 of modeling,the total distance in the open field test in the infection+stress+external dampness group and the acetic acid+stress group was shorter than that in the normal group.The sugar preference rate in the infection+stress+external dampness group was lower than that in the normal group at the end of 1,4,and 8 weeks and lower than that in the acetic acid+stress group at the end of Week 4 and 8(P＜0.05).The AWR scores of rats in the infection+stress+external dampness group were higher than those in the normal group after week 1 at 60 and 80 mmHg(1 mmHg≈0.133 kPa),after Week 4 at 40,60,and 80 mmHg,and after Week 6 and 8 at 20,40,and 80 mmHg(P＜0.05).At the end of Week 2 and 4,a large number of inflammatory cells were infiltrated in the colonic mucosa of the intervention groups,and the inflammation score was higher than that of the normal group(P＜0.05).At the end of weeks 6 and 8,the inflammatory cell infiltration in the intestinal mucosa of the intervention groups was not obvious,and the colonic mucosa returned to normal.At the end of weeks 6 and 8,the 5-HT content was higher in the infection+stress group,the infection+stress+external dampness group,and the acetic acid+stress group than in the normal group(P＜0.05).After Week 4,the AQP4 content was lower in the infection+stress+external dampness group and the acetic acid+stress group than that in the normal group(P＜0.05).After week 6,compared to the normal group,the AQP4 content was lower in all groups except for the acetic acid+stress group,and the AQP4 content in the infection+stress+external dampness group was lower than that in the acetic acid+stress group.After week 8,only in the infection+stress+external dampness group the AQP4 content was lower than in the normal group(P＜0.05).Conclusion The combination of Trichinella spiralis infection,chronic restraint stress,and an artificial high-humidity climate can be used to prepare a relatively stable and reliable rat model of PI-IBS with the pattern of liver depression and spleen deficiency with dampness.

Purpose: Cavernous nerve injury induced erectile dysfunction (ED) is a refractory complication with high incidence in person under radical prostatectomy. Studies have shown that relaxin-2 (RLX-2) plays a vital role of endothelial protection, vasodilation, anti-fibrosis and neuroprotection in a variety of diseases. However, whether penile cavernous erection can benefit from RLX-2 remains unknown. The purpose of the experiment was to explore the effects of RLX-2 on ED in the rat suffering with bilateral cavernous nerve injury (BCNI). Materials and Methods: The rats were divided into three groups: Sham group was underwent sham operation, BCNI+RLX group or BCNI group was underwent bilateral cavernous nerve crush and then randomly treated with RLX-2 (0.4 mg/kg/d) or saline by continuous administration using a subcutaneously implanted micro pump for 4 weeks respectively. Then, erectile function was evaluated by electrical stimulation of cavernous nerves. Cavernous nerves and penile tissues and were collected for histological evaluation. Results: Erectile function of rats with BCNI was partially improved after RLX-2 treatment. The BCNI group had lower expression of relaxin family peptide receptor (RXFP) 1, p-AKT/AKT, p-eNOS/eNOS ratios than sham operation rats, but RLX-2 could partially reversed these changes. Histologically, the BCNI+RLX group had a significant effect on preservation of neurofilament, neuronal glial antigen 2 of penile tissue and nNOS of cavernous nerves when compared with BCNI group. RLX-2 could inhibited the lever of BCNI induced corporal fibrosis and apoptosis via regulating TGFβ1-Smad2/3-CTGF pathway and the expression of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, caspase3. Conclusions RLX-2 could improve erectile function of BCNI rats by protecting cavernous nerve and endothelial function and suppressing corporal fibrosis and apoptosis via RXFP1 and AKT/eNOS pathway. Our findings may provide a promising treatment for refractory BCNI induced ED.

Objective:Efficacy and safety of robot-assisted laparoscopic adrenalectomy as a treatment for large adrenal tumors.Three-dimensional(3D) reconstruction can effectively assist in preoperative planning of robotic adrenalectomy and reduce potential complications.Methods:We retrospectively reviewed the relevant information of patients who had a preoperative 3D reconstruction and underwent RA for adrenal masses larger than 10 cm. Thirteen male patients and sixteen female patients were included. The median(range) age was 43(25, 57) years old and the median tumor diameter was 12.1(10.3, 16.2) cm. The patients underwent preoperative CT enhancement scanning, and three-dimensional images were reconstructed based on the examination data. Robot-assisted laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed under general anesthesia in 29 cases in this cohort.Results:All surgeries were completed successfully without major complications such as massive bleeding, secondary surgery, or even patient death. The median operative time was 131 (80, 245) min, and the median intraoperative bleeding was 330 (50, 2 200 ml) ml. 9 patients received blood transfusions. There were 11 cases of pheochromocytoma (37.9%), 10 cases of adenocarcinoma (34.5%) as well as 2 cases of teratoma (6.9%) and 6 cases of cortical carcinoma (20.7%). The patients were followed up for a median of 30 months after surgery. Except for 3 cases lost to follow-up and 2 patients with cortical cancer who developed recurrence or metastasis after surgery and died at 16 and 23 months after surgery, respectively, the remaining 24 cases have survived to date.Conclusions:RA is a safe and effective treatment for huge adrenal tumors. The 3D reconstruction could help the preoperative planning of RA and reduce potential complications.

Objective:To identify preoperative clinical predictors of positive lymph nodes in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC)and provide a preoperative predictive model.Methods:The data of 173 RCC patients who underwent either retroperitoneal lymph node dissection or biopsy at a single institution from January 2016 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 109 males and 64 females, with an average age of (53.29±13.58) years, median tumor diameter of 70 (23-150) mm, 68 patients with local symptoms, 24 patients with systemic symptoms, and 56 patients with ECOG score ≥1. There were 96 patients with tumor pseudocapsule, 23 patients with renal vein or inferior vena cava tumor thrombus, 114 patients in stage T 1-2, 59 patients in stage T 3-4, 22 patients with distant metastasis and 88 patients with lymph node metastasis by preoperative imaging examination. Univariate analysis was performed by Mann-Whitney U test or Chi-square test, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine preoperative predictors of pathologic lymph node positivity. The significant variables were then included in a novel Nomogram to predict the probability of lymph node invasion.C-index and Bootstrap self-sampling methods were used to evaluate the discrimination and consistency of the model. Results:Of the 173 patients, 49(28.32%)and 124(71.68%)had pN 1 and pN 0 disease, respectively. Among 88 patients with suspected lymph node involvement (cN 1) assessed by preoperative imaging, only 47.73%(42/88) were confirmed to be pathologically positive. However, 8.24% (7/85) of the 85 patients with negative lymph nodes (cN 0) assessed by preoperative imaging were pathologically positive. Age, ECOG score, symptoms at presentation, tumor pseudocapsule, metastasis at diagnosis, clinical tumor stage, clinical nodal status, clinical nodal size, D-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase, microscopic hematuria were significant in the univariate analysis ( P<0.05). On multivariable analyses, the most informative independent predictors were age, clinical tumor stage, clinical nodal status, clinical nodal size and microscopic hematuria ( P<0.05). A Nomogram with good performance was developed to predict the probability of lymph node metastasis. The C-index of the model was 0.954, the calibration curve of forecasting curve with the ideal curve fit was good, indicating that the model has a good consistency. Conclusions:Younger age, microscopic hematuria, suspected lymph node involvement in imaging, larger lymph node diameter and higher T stage were independent risk factors for renal cell carcinoma with lymph node metastasis. The Nomogram based on the above factors has good identification and calibration ability, which can help predict the probability of lymph node metastasis of renal cell carcinoma before surgery.

Objective:To compare the laboratory diagnostic methods of Mycoplasma pneumonia(MP) and evaluate its clinical value.Methods:A prospective study.Throat swabs and double sera of children with MP infection were collected from December 2016 to January 2017 in Shengjing Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University; throat swab samples of healthy children aged 3 to 5 in Chaoyang District, Beijing were collected from March to May 2017.Passive agglutination (PA) was used to detect the double serum.Taking the 4-fold increase or decrease of the specific antibody titer of the double serum as the gold standard, the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn, and the laboratory methods for detecting MP infection were compared and evaluated.Results:(1)A total of 93 children with MP infection were clinically diagnosed, including 42 males (45.2%) and 51 females (54.8%), with an average age of 5.5 years.Sixty cases (64.5%) of MP infection were diagnosed.There were 349 healthy children, 198 males and 151 females, with an average age of 4.3 years.The positive rate of throat swab culture was 0.6% (2 cases), and the positive rate of fluorescent quantitative PCR(qPCR) was 18.9% (66 cases). (2) The culture specificity was the highest (100.0%) and the sensitivity was the lowest (65.0%). PA and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to detect a single serum in the acute phase, the sensitivity was 71.7% and 86.5% respectively.ROC curve suggested that the current clinical diagnostic threshold MP specific antibody IgM ≥ 1∶160 was not the best diagnostic threshold.Molecular biological diagnostic methods were the most sensitive, RNA simultaneous and testing (SAT) was 85.0% and qPCR was 93.0%; while the specificity was low, 75.7% (SAT) and 63.6% (qPCR), respectively.(3) At the same time, MP nucleic acid (SAT, PCR) of throat swabs and a single serum (ELISA, PA) of children in acute phase were detected, the sensitivity was increased to 95.0%-100.0%, and the specificity was 63.6%-75.7%.Conclusions:Molecular biology is highly sensitive in diagnosing MP infection.It has asymptomatic infection or is carried after infection.Whether it needs treatment needs to be combined with clinical practice, when MP detection is positive.The detection of a single serum in the acute phase with a course of about 1 week has high sensitivity and is of reference value for the diagnosis of MP infection, but the diagnosis needs to be combined with clinical practice.The sensitivity and accuracy of detecting MP infection by single serological test combined with SAT in acute phase are higher than that by single application.