ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Jingmaiyan granules （composed of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos， Sedi Herba， Paeoniae Radix Rubra， Moutan Cortex， Rhei Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata， and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma） combined with external application of Jinhuang Ointment in treating acute-stage blood heat stasis type superficial thrombophlebitis （ST） of lower extremities， and to explore their effects on hemorheology and serum inflammatory factors. MethodsA randomized， double-blind， placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted. A total of 124 patients with lower extremity ST were randomized into two groups（62 cases in each group）. The control group received external application of Jinhuang ointment and oral placebo treatment， while the observation group received external application of Jinhuang ointment and oral Jingmaiyan granules. Both groups were treated for 2 weeks. The clinical symptom scores， therapeutic efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome， pain visual analog scale （VAS） scores， hemorheological indices ［including whole blood high-shear， medium-shear， and low-shear viscosity， as well as plasma viscosity （PV）］， and inflammatory factors ［C-reactive protein （CRP）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）］ were compared before and after treatment. ResultsAfter 2 weeks of treatment， the total effective rate in the observation group （98.3%， 60/62） was significantly higher than that in the control group （83.8%， 52/62）， with a statistically significant difference （Z=3.512 1， P<0.05）. Compared with pre-treatment scores， the scores for skin color， skin temperature， swelling， pain， and cord or nodules were significantly reduced in both groups （P<0.05）， with more pronounced improvement in the observation group （P<0.05）. Additionally， compared with pre-treatment levels， the whole blood viscosity （low-， medium-， and high-shear） significantly improved in both groups after treatment （P<0.05）， with more marked improvement in the observation group （P<0.05）. Furthermore， the plasma viscosity， CRP， IL-6， and TNF-α levels were significantly reduced in both groups after treatment （P<0.05）， with more pronounced improvement observed in the observation group （P<0.05）. ConclusionThe combination of external application of Jinhuang ointment and oral Jingmaiyan granules effectively improves clinical symptoms， hemorheological abnormalities， and inflammatory responses in patients with acute stage blood heat stasis type ST of lower extremities. The treatment is safe and holds clinical promotion value.

Zoledronic acid (ZA), a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate with established clinical utility in osteoporosis management, exhibits emerging antitumor potential in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its nonapoptotic anticancer effects remain poorly characterized. This study revealed that ZA induced ferroptosis in ER+ breast cancer cells through dual suppression of cystine-glutamate antiporter SLC7A11 and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), key repressors of ferroptosis. Pharmacological inhibition of ferroptosis using Ferrostatin-1 significantly attenuated ZA-induced cytotoxicity, while combinatorial treatment with the GPX4 inhibitor RSL3 synergistically enhanced lipid peroxidation and cell death. Mechanistically, ZA activated the Hippo-YAP signaling pathway, promoting YAP phosphorylation, proteasomal degradation, and cytoplasmic retention, thereby silencing SLC7A11 and GPX4. We established a novel metabolic vulnerability in hormone-responsive malignancies.These findings position ZA as a bifunctional ferroptosis inducer in ER+ breast cancer, offering a promising strategy to overcome endocrine resistance.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 450nm semiconductor blue laser vaporization prostatectomy in high-risk benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients without discontinuing anticoagulant drugs, so as to provide a safe and effectiveminimally invasive treatment option for such patients. Methods A total of 40 high-risk BPH patients who underwent 450nm semiconductor blue laser vaporization prostatectomy in our hospital during Sep. 2023 and Dec. 2024 were selected as the research subjects. The patients were divided into two groups: the oral medication group took oral anticoagulants during the perioperative period, while the discontinuation group discontinued anticoagulants, with 20 cases in either group. The perioperative indicators and changes including international prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality of life score (QoL), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) and post-void residual (PVR) were compared between the two groups.Results There were no statistically significant differences between the oral medication group and discontinuation group in operation time [(28.83±15.52)min vs. (26.43±14.02)min], postoperative catheter indwelling time [(3.04±0.89) d vs. (3.23±1.01) d], bladder irrigation time [(27.36±7.54) h vs. (25.46±7.10) h], and decrease in hemoglobin [(8.08±1.82)g/L vs. (7.56±1.68)g/L] (all P＞0.05). Three month after surgery, Qmax in both groups was higher, while IPSS, QoL and PVR were significantly lower (P＜0.05), but there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups (P＞0.05). No serious complications such as urinary incontinence or massive hemorrhage occurred.Conclusion 450nm semiconductor blue laser vaporization prostatectomy for high-risk BPH patients is characterized by high vaporization efficiency and good hemostatic effects. It can significantly improve the clinical symptoms with high safety, especially for high-risk patients who cannot discontinue anticoagulants.

Objective To develop a symptom and function assessment scale for patients after Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum and to test its reliability and validity. Methods Following the principles and procedures of patient-reported outcome (PRO) scale development stipulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, an initial draft was formed through literature analysis, qualitative interviews, and Delphi expert consultation. The preliminary draft was used to conduct a pre-survey on patients who underwent Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum at Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, and the reliability and validity of the scale were tested. Results A preliminary PRO-based symptom and function scale was constructed, covering two domains: symptoms and impact on daily functions. The symptom dimension included six items: chest tightness, palpitations, pain, shortness of breath, foreign body sensation of the steel plate, and distress; while the impact on daily functions included four items: difficulty in getting out of bed or lying down, raising arms, bending over, and standing or sitting for a long time. A total of 73 patients who underwent Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum were included in the questionnaire survey, with 70 valid questionnaires collected, including 64 males and 6 females, with 56 patients aged 12-17 years and 14 patients ≥18 years. Through exploratory factor analysis, two common factors were extracted, with a cumulative variance contribution rate of 70%. The Cronbach’s α coefficient of the scale was 0.917. Conclusion The scale developed in this study has good reliability and validity, high reliability and stability, and can be used as an evaluation tool for the recovery status of patients after Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum.

ObjectiveTo investigate the role of 4-week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in modulating the metabolic homeostasis of the pyruvate-lactate axis in the hippocampus of rats with chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) to improve their depressive-like behavior. MethodsForty-eight SPF-grade 8-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: the normal quiet group (C), the CUMS quiet group (M), the normal exercise group (HC), and the CUMS exercise group (HM). The M and HM groups received 8 weeks of CUMS modeling, while the HC and HM groups were exposed to 4 weeks of HIIT starting from the 5th week (3 min (85%-90%) S_max+1 min (50%-55%) S_max, 3-5 cycles, S_max is the maximum movement speed). A lactate analyzer was used to detect the blood lactate concentration in the quiet state of rats in the HC and HM groups at week 4 and in the 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h after exercise, as well as in the quiet state of rats in each group at week 8. Behavioral indexes such as sucrose preference rate, number of times of uprightness and number of traversing frames in the absenteeism experiment, and other behavioral indexes were used to assess the depressive-like behavior of the rats at week 4 and week 8. The rats were anesthetized on the next day after the behavioral test in week 8, and hippocampal tissues were taken for assay. LC-MS non-targeted metabolomics, target quantification, ELISA and Western blot were used to detect the changes in metabolite content, lactate and pyruvate concentration, the content of key metabolic enzymes in the pyruvate-lactate axis, and the protein expression levels of monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs). Results4-week HIIT intervention significantly increased the sucrose preference rate, the number of uprights and the number of traversed frames in the absent field experiment in CUMS rats; non-targeted metabolomics assay found that 21 metabolites were significantly changed in group M compared to group C, and 14 and 11 differential metabolites were significantly dialed back in the HC and HM groups, respectively, after the 4-week HIIT intervention; the quantitative results of the targeting showed that, compared to group C, lactate concentration in the hippocampal tissues of M group, compared with group C, lactate concentration in hippocampal tissue was significantly reduced and pyruvate concentration was significantly increased, and 4-week HIIT intervention significantly increased the concentration of lactate and pyruvate in hippocampal tissue of HM group; the trend of changes in blood lactate concentration was consistent with the change in lactate concentration in hippocampal tissue; compared with group C, the LDHB content of group M was significantly increased, the content of PKM2 and PDH, as well as the protein expression level of MCT2 and MCT4 were significantly reduced. The 4-week HIIT intervention upregulated the PKM2 and PDH content as well as the protein expression levels of MCT2 and MCT4 in the HM group. ConclusionThe 4-week HIIT intervention upregulated blood lactate concentration and PKM2 and PDH metabolizing enzymes in hippocampal tissues of CUMS rats, and upregulated the expression of MCT2 and MCT4 transport carrier proteins to promote central lactate uptake and utilization, which regulated metabolic homeostasis of the pyruvate-lactate axis and improved depressive-like behaviors.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of Xuanshen Yishen Decoction (XYD) in the treatment of hypertension. METHODS: Hospital electronic medical records from 2019-2023 were utilized to emulate a randomized pragmatic clinical trial. Hypertensive participants were eligible if they were aged ⩾40 years with baseline systolic blood pressure (BP) ⩾140 mm Hg. Patients treated with XYD plus antihypertensive regimen were assigned to the treatment group, whereas those who followed only antihypertensive regimen were assigned to the control group. The primary outcome assessed was the attainment rate of intensive BP control at discharge, with the secondary outcome focusing on the 6-month all-cause readmission rate. RESULTS: The study included 3,302 patients, comprising 2,943 individuals in the control group and 359 in the treatment group. Compared with the control group, a higher proportion in the treatment group achieved the target BP for intensive BP control [8.09% vs. 17.5%; odds ratio (OR)=2.29, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.68 to 3.13; P<0.001], particularly in individuals with high homocysteine levels (OR=3.13; 95% CI=1.72 to 5.71; P<0.001; P for interaction=0.041). Furthermore, the 6-month all-cause readmission rate in the treatment group was lower than in the control group (hazard ratio=0.58; 95% CI=0.36 to 0.91; P=0.019), and the robustness of the results was confirmed by sensitivity analyse. CONCLUSIONS XYD could be a complementary therapy for intensive BP control. Our study offers real-world evidence and guides the choice of complementary and alternative therapies. (Registration No. ChiCTR2400086589).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Antihypertensive Agents/pharmacology* ; Blood Pressure/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Hypertension/physiopathology* ; Patient Readmission ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To observe the value of pituitary radiomics and MRI features combined model for predicting growth hormone(GH)status in pediatric short stature.Methods Totally 300 children with short stature were enrolled as training set,while other 73 cases were taken as external validation set.Based on growth hormone stimulation test,the children were divided into GH deficiency(GHD)group(n=228)and non-GHD group(n=145).The training set included 196 cases in GHD subgroup and 104 cases in non-GHD subgroup,while the validation set included 32 cases in GHD subgroup and 41 cases in non-GHD subgroup.Radiomics features of pituitary were extracted from T1WI.The key features were selected using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)regression,and machine learning models were subsequently constructed using support vector machine(SVM),logistic regression(LR),naive Bayes(NB)and K-nearest neighbor(KNN),respectively.Then combined models were constructed combining with MRI features,and the efficacy of each model was evaluated.Results The area under the curve(AUC)of SVM,LR,NB,and KNN radiomics model for predicting GH status in pediatric short stature was 0.860,0.831,0.838 and 0.901 in training set,0.788,0.829,0.823 and 0.770 in validation set,while of the relative combined SVM,LR,NB and KNN model was 0.924,0.903,0.859 and 0.920 in training set,and 0.827,0.881,0.836 and 0.718 in validation set.LRcombined model had the best overall performance,with sensitivity of 84.94％,specificity of 80.56％and accuracy of 83.61％in training set,and 80.95％,72.22％and 80.00％in validation set,respectively.Conclusion Pituitary radiomics and MRI features combined model could effectively predict GH status in pediatric short stature.

Objective To investigate the clinical application of ceftazidime/avibactam(CAZ/AVI)in lung trans-plant recipients with pulmonary infection caused by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacilli(CRGNB),and ana-lyze the factors affecting the prognosis.Methods Lung transplant recipients who had CRGNB pulmonary infection and were treated with CAZ/AVI were included in the analysis.Based on 14-day clinical response,14-day microbial response,and 30-day survival status,the recipients were divided into a clinical response group and a clinical failure group,a microbial response group and a microbial failure group,as well as a survival group and a death group,re-spectively.Univariate analysis was conducted on various data from the two groups.Factors affecting therapeutic ef-ficacy and survival were included in a binary logistic regression model.Independent risk factors for CAZ/AVI anti-infective efficacy and all-cause mortality outcomes were analyzed.Results A total of 43 recipients were included.After 14-day anti-infective treatment,32 recipients(74.42％)achieved clinical response,and 30 recipients(69.77％)achieved microbial response.34 recipients(79.07％)survived 30 days after CAZ/AVI treatment.The Charlson comorbidity index(CCI),proportion of renal dysfunction,and incidence of shock in recipients in the clini-cal response group were all lower than those in the clinical failure group(P＜0.05),while the serum albumin(ALB)level was higher(P＜0.05).The incidence of shock in recipients in the microbial response group was lower than that in the microbial failure group(P＜0.05).CCI,proportion of renal dysfunction,and incidence of shock in recipients in the survival group were all lower than those in the death group(all P＜0.05),while ALB level was higher during treatment period(P＜0.05).Multivariate analysis of 14-day clinical response and 30-day survival showed that higher CCI was an independent risk factor affecting 14-day clinical response of recipients(OR=2.22,95％CI:1.07-4.63),while lower ALB levels(OR=0.72,95％CI:0.54-0.98)and higher CCI(OR=5.27,95％CI:1.18-23.58)were independent risk factors for 30-day all-cause mortality in recipients with pulmonary in-fection after lung transplant.Conclusion CAZ/AVI may be an effective drug for treating pulmonary infection caused by CRGNB in lung transplant recipients.Higher CCI is an independent risk factor for 14-day clinical failure in recipients after CAZ/AVI treatment.Lower ALB level and higher CCI are independent risk factors for increased 30-day mortality in recipients.

Objective To evaluate the performance of the artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled snail identification system for recognition of Oncomelania hupensis robertsoni and Tricula in schistosomiasis-endemic areas of Yunnan Province. Methods Fifty O. hupensis robertsoni and 50 Tricula samples were collected from Yongbei Township, Yongsheng County, Lijiang City, a schistosomiasis-endemic area in Yunnan Province in May 2024. A total of 100 snail sample images were captured with smartphones, including front-view images of 25 O. hupensis robertsoni and 25 Tricula samples (upward shell opening) and back-view images of 25 O. hupensis robertsoni and 25 Tricula samples (downward shell opening). Snail samples were identified as O. hupensis robertsoni or Tricula by schistosomiasis control experts with a deputy senior professional title and above according to image quality and morphological characteristics. A standard dataset for snail image classification was created, and served as a gold standard for recognition of snail samples. A total of 100 snail sample images were recognized with the AI-enabled intelligent snail identification system based on a WeChat mini program in smartphones. Schistosomiasis control professionals were randomly sampled from stations of schistosomisis prevention and control and centers for disease control and prevention in 18 schistosomiasis-endemic counties (districts, cities) of Yunnan Province, for artificial identification of 100 snail sample images. All professionals are assigned to two groups according the median years of snail survey experiences, and the effect of years of snail survey experiences on O. hupensis robertsoni sample image recognition was evaluated. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted, and the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, Youden’s index and the area under the curve (AUC) of the AI-enabled intelligent snail identification system and artificial identification were calculated for recognition of snail sample images. The snail sample image recognition results of AI-enabled intelligent snail identification system and artificial identification were compared with the gold standard, and the internal consistency of artificial identification results was evaluated with the Cronbach’s coefficient alpha. Results A total of 54 schistosomiasis control professionals were sampled for artificial identification of snail sample image recognition, with a response rate of 100% (54/54), and the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, Youden’s index, and AUC of artificial identification were 90%, 86%, 94%, 0.80 and 0.90 for recognition of snail sample images, respectively. The overall Cronbach’s coefficient alpha of artificial identification was 0.768 for recognition of snail sample images, and the Cronbach’s coefficient alpha was 0.916 for recognition of O. hupensis robertsoni snail sample images and 0.925 for recognition of Tricula snail sample images. The overall accuracy of artificial identification was 90% for recognition of snail sample images, and there was no significant difference in the accuracy of artificial identification for recognition of O. hupensis robertsoni (86%) and Tricula snail sample images (94%) (χ² = 1.778, P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the accuracy of artificial identification for recognition of snail sample images with upward (88%) and downward shell openings (92%) (χ² = 0.444, P > 0.05), and there was a significant difference in the accuracy of artificial identification for recognition of snail sample images between schistosomiasis control professionals with snail survey experiences of 6 years and less (75%) and more than 6 years (90%) (χ² = 7.792, P < 0.05). The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and AUC of the AI-enabled intelligent snail identification system were 88%, 100%, 76% and 0.88 for recognition of O. hupensis robertsoni snail sample images, and there was no significant difference in the accuracy of recognition of O. hupensis robertsoni snail sample images between the AI-enabled intelligent snail identification system and artificial identification (χ² = 0.204, P > 0.05). In addition, there was no significant difference in the accuracy of artificial identification for recognition of snail sample images with upward (90%) and downward shell openings (86%) (χ² = 0.379, P > 0.05), and there was a significant difference in the accuracy of artificial identification for recognition of snail sample images between schistosomiasis control professionals with snail survey experiences of 6 years and less and more than 6 years (χ² = 5.604, P_adjusted < 0.025). Conclusions The accuracy of recognition of snail sample images is comparable between the AI-enabled intelligent snail identification system and artificial identification by schistosomiasis control professionals, and the AI-enabled intelligent snail identification system is feasible for recognition of O. hupensis robertsoni and Tricula in Yunnan Province.

Objective To investigate the association between triglyceride-glucose(TyG)index and the prevalence of gallstones in women,and to assess whether it can be used as a convenient indicator for the epidemiological survey of gallstones in women.Methods A total of 22 979 adult women who underwent physical examination in Subei People's Hospital of Jiangsu from January 2021 to June 2023 were enrolled,and according to the results of abdominal color Doppler ultrasound,they were divided into gallstone group with 1 763 women and non-gallstone group with 21 216 women.The independent samples t-test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups,and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between groups;the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups.The multivariate logistic regression analysis,the restricted cubic spline analysis,the subgroup analysis,and mediating effect were used to investigate the association between TyG index and the risk of gallstones in women.Results The overall prevalence rate of gallstones was 7.7％in women.Compared with the non-gallstone group,the gallstone group had significantly higher age,BMI,FPG,TG,TyG index,TC,Hb,BUN,UA,SCr,TC,and LDL-C(all P<0.05),and the women with diabetes,fatty liver,hypertension,and hyperuricemia were more likely to have gallstones(all P<0.05).The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that based on the quartiles of TyG index,the risk of gallstones in the Q3(8.97-9.38)group was 1.38(95％confidence interval[CI]:1.15-1.62,P<0.001)times that in the Q1(<8.63)group,and the risk of gallstones in the Q4(≥9.38)group was 1.39(95％CI:1.16-1.68,P<0.001)times that in the Q1 group.After adjustment for all covariates,TyG index,as a continuous variable,showed an independent positive correlation with the risk of gallstones(odds ratio[OR]=1.24,95％CI:1.11-1.39,P=0.004).The restricted cubic spline curve revealed a significant nonlinear association between TyG index and the risk of gallstones(P for non linear=0.008),and the threshold analysis showed statistical significance in the effect of TyG index below the inflection point of 8.95(OR=1.34,95％CI:1.15-1.97,P=0.042).The subgroup analysis showed that TyG index was significantly positively correlated with gallstones in women with a BMI of<25 kg/m2,an age of<50 years,an age of≥50 years,the absence of diabetes or fatty liver,total cholesterol<5.72 mmol/L,total bilirubin<21 μmol/L,a hemoglobin level of 110-150 g/L,and blood urea nitrogen<7.5 μmol/L(all P<0.05).A mediating analysis was performed for the subgroups with a statistically significant P value for interaction,and the results showed that BMI accounted for 23.0％of the mediating effect in the influence of TyG index on gallstones,and fatty liver and diabetes accounted for 15.7％and 21.0％,respectively.Conclusion In women,a higher TyG index indicates a higher risk of gallstones.Lowering TyG index may reduce the risk of gallstones by improving insulin sensitivity.