ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy of Shenqi Yangxin decoction in the treatment of ischemic cardiomyopathy （ICM） with Qi and Yin deficiency and blood stasis syndrome and its effect on serum hydrogen sulfide （H₂S） and calcium ion （Ca²⁺）. MethodsA total of 64 ICM patients with Qi and Yin deficiency and blood stasis syndrome who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into a control group （n=32） and a treatment group （n=32）. All patients received conventional Western medicine treatment. The treatment group was additionally given Shenqi Yangxin decoction. The TCM syndrome score， Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire （MLHFQ） score， left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF）， N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide （NT-proBNP）， 6-minute walk test （6MWT）， New York Heart Association （NYHA） cardiac function classification， and serum H₂S and Ca²⁺ levels were compared between the two groups pre- and post-treatment. ResultsTwo cases dropped out from each group during the study. Finally， 30 patients in each group were included in the analysis. There were no significant differences in age， gender， course of coronary heart disease， underlying diseases， and laboratory tests between the two groups. Compared with baseline， the TCM syndrome score， MLHFQ score， and NT-proBNP in both treatment group and control group decreased significantly （P<0.01）， LVEF， 6MWT， and H₂S increased significantly （P<0.01）， and serum Ca²⁺ increased （P<0.05）. Compared with the control group after treatment， the MLHFQ score and NT-proBNP in the treatment group decreased （P<0.05）， the TCM syndrome score decreased significantly （P<0.01）， LVEF， 6MWT， and serum Ca²⁺ increased （P<0.05）， and H₂S increased significantly （P<0.01）. The improvement degree of the NYHA cardiac function classification in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group， but there was no significant difference. ConclusionShenqi Yangxin decoction is effective in treating ICM patients with Qi and Yin deficiency and blood stasis， which could significantly improve cardiac function and quality of life， and its therapeutic effect may be related to the regulation of serum H₂S and Ca²⁺ levels.

Objective: To understand the current status, international cooperation, research hotspots, and development trends of nutritional studies on patients with head and neck cancer from 2014 to 2024, and to predict future research trends. Methods: The Web of Science Core Collection database was searched to retrieve nutritional studies on patients with head and neck cancer from January 2014 to March 2024. The type of studies were “articles,” the language was English, CiteSpace 6.1 R6 software was used to conduct the bibliometric analysis, and the results were visualized to form a scientific knowledge map. Results: A total of 1 528 documents were retrieved, with a linear increase in the number of annual publications. The country with the highest number of publications was the United States, and the institution with the highest number of publications was the University of Queensland, with closer collaboration between authors and institutions. The most frequently cited publication was a set of nutrition guidelines, and the highest-impact articles were mainly concerned with performing percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. Keyword analysis showed that quality of life, radiotherapy, and weight loss were the keywords of highest interest. The keyword cluster analysis resulted in 17 clusters, which were divided into five main categories: head and neck cancer, treatment, outcome results, intervention modalities, and rehabilitation. Body composition, enteral nutrition, and accelerated postoperative rehabilitation were persistent research hotspots. Keyword highlighting revealed that “enhanced recovery after surgery” has been the focus of research in the last two years, with “index” and “model” emerging as theme words. Conclusion The number of publications in the literature related to nutrition for patients with head and neck cancer has increased annually over the past 10 years. The research hotspots mainly focus on the quality of life and weight loss during radiotherapy, the content and application prospect of body composition assessment, different modes of nutritional support interventions and enteral nutritional tube feeding routes, and perioperative nutritional management in enhanced recovery after surgery. The potential clinical value of preoperative nutritional intervention under the concept of enhanced recovery and the construction of new types of nutritional index are the trends of future research.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the potential causal relationship between intervertebral disc degeneration and certain autoimmune diseases. METHODS: Genome-wide association study (GWAS) data of 5 autoimmune diseases were obtained from large-scale GWAS databases. Data on internal vertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) were derived from the FinnGen consortium, which included 294, 770 controls and 41, 669 cases. A two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed to investigate the potential causal relationship between the 5 autoimmune diseases and IVDD. Multiple analytical methods were adopted, including MR methods such as inverse variance weighting(IVW), MR-Egger, weighted median, weighted mode, and simple mode. Cochran's Q test, leave-one-out analysis, and MR-Egger intercept test were conducted to assess heterogeneity, robustness, and pleiotropy. For the robustness of the results, MR-PRESSO was used to detect outliers, and MR analysis was re-conducted after removing the outliers. RESULTS: The MR analysis results showed that there might be a bidirectional causal relationship between ankylosing spondylitis(AS) and IVDD:AS on IVDD, OR=1.038, 95%CI (1.024, 1.053), P=0.000;and IVDD on AS, OR=2.117, 95%CI(1.065, 4.207), P=0.032. There might be a positive correlation between IVDD and rheumatoid arthritis(RA) as well as systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE):IVDD on RA, OR=1.184, 95%CI(1.071, 1.309), P=0.001;and IVDD on SLE, OR=1.678, 95%CI(1.187, 2.372), P=0.003. There was no significant correlation between ulcerative colitis(UC), autoimmune thyroiditis(ATD) and IVDD. After removing outliers by MR-PRESSO and re-conducting MR analysis, the results did not change qualitatively. Sensitivity analysis indicated that the results were robust to potential sources of bias. CONCLUSION AS and IVDD may be risk factors for each other, and IVDD may be a potential risk factor for RA and SLE. These findings provide a basis for guiding the prevention and combined diagnosis and treatment of IVDD, AS, RA, and SLE, while the specific underlying mechanisms still require further experimental basic research.
Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/etiology* ; Mendelian Randomization Analysis ; Autoimmune Diseases/complications* ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing/genetics* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/genetics*

OBJECTIVES: To study the epidemiological characteristics of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in hospitalized children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Hebei Province. METHODS: Hospitalized children with CAP who tested positive for RSV and were admitted to Hebei Children's Hospital from various cities and counties across Hebei Province between January 2019 and December 2023 were included in the study. Clinical data were collected and analyzed to assess epidemiological characteristics. RESULTS: The clinical data of 43 978 children with CAP were collected, with an overall RSV detection rate of 25.98%. The detection rate was higher during the implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) (30.60%) than in the non-NPIs period. Winter and spring were the primary epidemic seasons for RSV each year except in 2022. The detection rate in males (26.62%) was higher than in females (25.06%) (P<0.001). The highest detection rate (59.18%) was found in infants aged 29 days to <1 year. Single RSV infection was more common, with rhinovirus being the most frequent co-infection. CONCLUSIONS The overall RSV detection rate in Hebei Province is influenced by NPIs, being higher during their implementation. RSV predominantly circulates in winter and spring. The detection rate of RSV is higher in males and infants. RSV infection is primarily single, most often co-occurring with rhinovirus.
Humans ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/epidemiology* ; Female ; Male ; Infant ; Child, Preschool ; Seasons ; China/epidemiology* ; Infant, Newborn ; Community-Acquired Infections/epidemiology* ; Child

Neuropathic pain, often featuring allodynia, imposes significant physical and psychological burdens on patients, with limited treatments due to unclear central mechanisms. Addressing this challenge remains a crucial unsolved issue in pain medicine. Our previous study, using protein kinase C gamma (PKCγ)-tdTomato mice, highlights the spinal feedforward inhibitory circuit involving PKCγ neurons in gating neuropathic allodynia. However, the regulatory mechanisms governing this circuit necessitate further elucidation. We used diverse transgenic mice and advanced techniques to uncover the regulatory role of the descending serotonin (5-HT) facilitation system on spinal PKCγ neurons. Our findings revealed that 5-HT neurons from the rostral ventromedial medulla hyperpolarize spinal inhibitory interneurons via 5-HT_2C receptors, disinhibiting the feedforward inhibitory circuit involving PKCγ neurons and exacerbating allodynia. Inhibiting spinal 5-HT_2C receptors restored the feedforward inhibitory circuit, effectively preventing neuropathic allodynia. These insights offer promising therapeutic targets for neuropathic allodynia management, emphasizing the potential of spinal 5-HT_2C receptors as a novel avenue for intervention.
Animals ; Neuralgia/physiopathology* ; Protein Kinase C/metabolism* ; Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C/metabolism* ; Hyperalgesia/physiopathology* ; Mice, Transgenic ; Mice ; Spinal Cord/metabolism* ; Serotonin/metabolism* ; Male ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

Microglial functions are linked to Ca²⁺ signaling, with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium stores playing a crucial role. Microglial abnormality is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but how ER Ca²⁺ receptors regulate microglial functions under physiological and AD conditions remains unclear. We found reduced ryanodine receptor 2 (Ryr2) expression in microglia from an AD mouse model. Modulation of RyR2 using S107, a RyR-Calstabin stabilizer, blunted spontaneous Ca²⁺ transients in controls and normalized Ca²⁺ transients in AD mice. S107 enhanced ATP-induced migration and phagocytosis while reducing ramification in control microglia; however, these effects were absent in AD microglia. Our findings indicate that RyR2 stabilization promotes an activation state shift in control microglia, a mechanism impaired in AD. These results highlight the role of ER Ca²⁺ receptors in both homeostatic and AD microglia, providing insights into microglial Ca²⁺ malfunctions in AD.
Animals ; Microglia/pathology* ; Alzheimer Disease/pathology* ; Phagocytosis/drug effects* ; Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice ; Cell Movement/drug effects* ; Mice, Transgenic ; Calcium Signaling/physiology* ; Calcium/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Male ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism*

Microglia are the resident immune cells in the central nervous system(CNS),and play a dual role in maintaining brain homeostasis and mediating neuroprotection.Under normal conditions,microglia maintain brain homeostasis by monitoring environmental changes.When nerve damage or certain pathological stimuli occur,microglia are rapidly activated and initiate a series of complex immune responses to induce neuroinflammation.This proper activation of microglia can protect the brain by inhibiting or clearing various pathogens,but excessive neuroinflammation can lead to neuronal damage and even death.This imbalance of inflammatory response is one of the core features of pathological development of many CNS inflammatory diseases,such as Alzheimer's disease,Parkinson's disease,sepsis-associated encephalopathy,and ischemic strokes.In recent years,with the rapid development of frontier biotechnology such as single-cell sequencing,proteinomics and gene editing,important progress has been made in understanding the molecular mechanism by which microglia participate in CNS inflammatory diseases,especially in the activation of inflammatory corpuscles,epigenetic modifications,and metabolic reprogramming.However,due to the heterogeneity and duality of microglia under different pathological conditions,therapeutic methods targeting microglia have not yet been widely used in clinical practice.In summary,this article takes microglia as the starting point and introduces the molecular mechanisms of their involvement in the occurrence and development of CNS inflammatory diseases and its targeted regulatory treatment strategy,aiming to provide theoretical reference for the subsequent precise regulation of microglia function and the development of more targeted therapeutic drugs.

An implantable cardiac monitor(ICM)is a subcutaneous electronic device for recording and remotely transmitting electrocardiographic events.New-generation ICM,like the Reveal LINQ,have extended arrhythmia monitoring duration and improved diagnostic yield through miniaturization,large storage capacity,and easy implantation.They provide comprehensive monitoring data for cardiovascular disease diagnosis and treatment,optimize individualized treatment plans,and enhance patient prognosis.In recent years,research on ICM in cardiovascular fields has deepened,and their clinical application scope has expanded.They show significant advantages and unique value and are widely used in early cardiovascular disease diagnosis and prognostic management.In the future,ICM are expected to play a bigger role in boosting diagnostic and prognostic capabilities for cardiovascular disease patients,offering stronger support for early disease detection,accurate diagnosis,and effective management.

Aim To identify the underlying target of bullatine A(BA)against rheumatoid arthritis(RA)u-sing limited proteolysis-small molecule mapping(LiP-SMap)drug target proteomics and to provide a scientif-ic basis for clinical application of Aconiti brachypodi Radix in the treatment of RA.Methods LiP-SMap drug target proteomics was employed to perform bioin-formatics analysis for comparing and validating the dif-ferential protein expression after BA intervention.A collagen-induced arthritis(CIA)model was estab-lished in DBA/1 mice using bovine type Ⅱ collagen.The mice were then divided into the CIA model group,methotrexate-positive control group(MTX group),and BA groups(10 mg·kg-1 and 20 mg·kg-1)based on their clinical scores.After drug intervention,the thera-peutic efficacy against RA was assessed by joint index scores and foot thickness measurements.Histopatholog-ical changes in the arthritic joints of CIA mice were e-valuated using hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was employed to detect inflammatory cytokines interleukin-17(IL-17)and total IgG and IgG3 anti-collagen-spe-cific antibodies levels from the serum of CIA mice.Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression levels of intracellular Th17 cells(IL-17+CD4+T cells)and Th1 cells(IFN-γ+CD4+T cells).Fluorescent quanti-tative PCR was performed to detect the expression of genes related to differential proteins.Results The proteomic analysis identified Serpinb1a as a protein with strong binding affinity to BA,and KEGG enrich-ment analysis indicated IL-17 signaling pathway was a crucial pathway of BA in against RA.BA treatment significantly reduced clinical scores and foot thickness,improved local arthritis symptoms in CIA mice,and al-leviated inflammatory cell infiltration into arthritic joints(P＜0.05).Differential protein validation re-sults showed that BA had strong affinity with Serpinb1a(-5.92 kJ·mol-1)and downregulated the expres-sion of Serpinb1a mRNA.Furthermore,the administra-tion of BA markedly reduced serum IL-17 A levels from CIA mice,inhibited the expression of intracellular IL-17 A and IFN-γ cytokines in splenic CD4+T cells(P＜0.05),and significantly downregulated the transcrip-tional expression of IL-17F(P＜0.05).Conclusion BA exhibits therapeutic effects on collagen-induced arthritis,and its mechanism of action may involve the regulation of Serpinb1a and the IL-17 signaling path-way.

Objective:To explore the relationship between the prognostic nutritional index(PNI)and the prevalence of coronary heart disease(CHD)in adults.Methods:A cross-sectional analysis was conducted based on the 2017-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES)database.A total of 12,141 adult participants were initially included and divided into CHD group and control group according to the disease status questionnaire.PNI was calculated using serum albumin level and lymphocyte count.Multivariable logistic regression was applied to explore the association between PNI and the prevalence of CHD in adults.Subgroup analysis was conducted to assess whether this association remained consistent across different populations.A restricted cubic spline model was con-structed to clarify the dose-response relationship between PNI and CHD prevalence in adults.Results:Among the 3,894 adult participants,200(5.14％)had CHD.The PNI level in CHD patients was significantly lower than that of the control group[(49.20±8.59)vs.(51.57±4.80),P＜0.001].Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that,after adjustment for sex,age,race,marital status,body mass index(BMI),hypertension,diabetes and family history of cardiovascular disease,an increase in PNI was still independently associated with a lower prev-alence of CHD(odds ratio[OR]=0.92,95％CI 0.89～0.94,P＜0.001).The dose-response relationship indica-ted a negative linear correlation between PNI and CHD prevalence(P＜0.001).Subgroup analysis showed that the association between PNI and CHD differed significantly across BMI,hypertension and diabetes subgroups(P for in-teraction＜0.05 or＜0.01).Conclusion:Increasing PNI was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of CHD in adults,and this association was more pronounced in specific high-risk populations,such as those with obe-sity,hypertension,and diabetes.Our findings suggest that maintaining good nutritional status is of great significance in reducing the risk of CHD.