This study aims to explore the synergistic effects of the main components in salvianolic acids for Injection(SAFI) on key pathological events in cerebral ischemia, elucidating the pharmacological characteristics of SAFI in neuroprotection. Two major pathological gene modules related to endothelial injury and neuroinflammation in cerebral ischemia were mined from single-cell data. According to the topological distance calculated in network medicine, potential synergistic component combinations of SAFI were screened out. The results showed that the combination of caffeic acid and salvianolic acid B scored the highest in addressing both endothelial injury and neuroinflammation, demonstrating potential synergistic effects. The cell experiments confirmed that the combination of these two components at a ratio of 1∶1 significantly protected brain microvascular endothelial cells(bEnd.3) from oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation(OGD/R)-induced reperfusion injury and effectively suppressed lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced neuroinflammatory responses in microglial cells(BV-2). This study provides a new method for uncovering synergistic effects among active components in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and offers novel insights into the multi-component, multi-target acting mechanisms of TCM.
Brain Ischemia/metabolism* ; Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology* ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Benzofurans/pharmacology* ; Mice ; Drug Synergism ; Caffeic Acids/pharmacology* ; Polyphenols/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Alkenes/pharmacology* ; Endothelial Cells/drug effects* ; Depsides

To investigate the impact of preoperative serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels on the probability of testicular sperm retrieval, we conducted a study of nonobstructive azoospermic (NOA) men with different testicular volumes (TVs) who underwent microdissection testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE). A total of 177 NOA patients undergoing micro-TESE for the first time from April 2019 to November 2022 in Shenzhen Zhongshan Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital (formerly Shenzhen Zhongshan Urology Hospital, Shenzhen, China) were retrospectively reviewed. The subjects were divided into four groups based on average TV quartiles. Serum hormone levels in each TV group were compared between positive and negative sperm retrieval subgroups. Overall sperm retrieval rate was 57.6%. FSH levels (median [interquartile range]) were higher in the positive sperm retrieval subgroup compared with the negative outcome subgroup when average TV was <5 ml (first quartile [Q1: TV <3 ml]: 43.32 [17.92] IU l -1 vs 32.95 [18.56] IU l -1 , P = 0.048; second quartile [Q2: 3 ml ≤ TV <5 ml]: 31.31 [15.37] IU l -1 vs 25.59 [18.40] IU l -1 , P = 0.042). Elevated serum FSH levels were associated with successful micro-TESE sperm retrieval in NOA men whose average TVs were <5 ml (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.06 per unit increase; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.11; P = 0.011). In men with TVs ≥5 ml, larger TVs were associated with lower odds of sperm retrieval (adjusted OR: 0.84 per 1 ml increase; 95% CI: 0.71-0.98; P = 0.029). In conclusion, elevated serum FSH levels were associated with positive sperm retrieval in micro-TESE in NOA men with TVs <5 ml. In men with TV ≥5 ml, increases in average TVs were associated with lower odds of sperm retrieval.
Humans ; Male ; Azoospermia/surgery* ; Sperm Retrieval/statistics & numerical data* ; Adult ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone/blood* ; Retrospective Studies ; Testis/pathology* ; Microdissection ; Organ Size

OBJECTIVES: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major chronic respiratory condition with high morbidity and mortality, imposing a serious economic and public health burden. The World Health Organization ranks COPD among the top 4 chronic diseases worldwide. Zangsiwei Qingfei Mixture (ZSWQF), a novel Tibetan herbal formulation independently developed by our research team, has shown therapeutic potential for chronic respiratory diseases. This study aims to evaluate the effects of aerosolized ZSWQF on cigarette smoke-induced COPD in mice and explore its underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Thirty C57 mice were randomly divided into a Control group, a COPD group, and a ZSWQF group. The Control group received saline aerosol inhalation without cigarette smoke exposure; both the COPD group and the ZSWQF group were exposed to cigarette smoke, with the former receiving saline inhalation and the latter treated with ZSWQF aerosol. White blood cell (WBC) count was performed using a fully automatic blood cell analyzer. Serum, alanine transaminase (ALT), and serum creatinine (SCr), as well as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). BALF cell classification was determined using a hematology analyzer. Lung function was assessed with a small animal pulmonary function system, including airway resistance (RI) and cyclic dynamic compliance (CyDN). Lung tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE), and mean linear intercept (MLI) and destruction index (DI) were calculated to evaluate morphological changes. Network pharmacology was applied to identify disease-related and ZSWQF-related targets, followed by intersection and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, and enrichment analysis of biological functions and pathways. Primary type II alveolar epithelial cell (AEC II) from SD rats were isolated and divided into a Control group, a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group, a normal serum group, a water extract of ZSWQF (W-ZSWQF) group, a ZSWQF containing serum group, and a MLN-4760 [angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 2 inhibitor]. Western blotting was performed to assess protein expression of ACE, p38 [a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)], phospho (p)-p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), p-ERK1/2, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p-JNK, inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappa B alpha (IκBα), p-IκBα, and p-p65 subunit of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κBp65). RESULTS: WBC counts were significantly higher in the COPD group than in controls (P<0.01) and decreased following ZSWQF treatment (P<0.05). No significant intergroup differences were found in organ weights, ALT, or SCr (all P>0.05). Serum and BALF levels of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α, as well as total BALF cells, neutrophils, and macrophages, were elevated in the COPD group compared with controls and reduced by ZSWQF treatment (P<0.05). COPD mice exhibited increased RI, decreased CyDN, marked alveolar congestion, inflammatory infiltration, thickened septa, and higher MLI and DI values versus controls (P<0.05); ZSWQF treatment significantly reduced MLI and DI (P<0.05). Network pharmacology identified 151 potential therapeutic targets for ZSWQF against COPD, with key nodes including TNF, IL-6, protein kinase B (Akt) 1, albumin (ALB), tumor protein p53 (TP53), non-receptor tyrosine kinase (SRC), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT) 3, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, and beta-catenin (CTNNB1). Enrichment analysis indicates involvement of cancer-related, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1, calcium, and MAPK signaling pathways. Western blotting results showed that compared with the LPS group, AEC II treated with ZSWQF-containing serum exhibited decreased expression of ACE, p-p38/p38, p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2, p-JNK/JNK, p-IκBα/IκBα, and p-NF-κBp65, while ACE2 expression was upregulated, consistent with the MAPK/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway regulation predicted by network pharmacology. CONCLUSIONS Aerosolized ZSWQF provides protective effects in COPD mice by reducing airway inflammation and remodeling.
Animals ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/etiology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Male ; Network Pharmacology ; Smoke/adverse effects* ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Administration, Inhalation ; Inflammation/drug therapy* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Lung/drug effects* ; Interleukin-6/blood*

Objective To compare TyG index between the patients with CHF and ADHF to eluci-date the metabolic difference between these two stages.Methods A total of 1156 HF patients ad-mitted in Taizhou People's Hospital between January 2020 and December 2022 were enrolled,and according to 2021 ESC Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute and Chronic Heart Fail-ure,they were divided into CHF group(365 cases)and ADHF group(791 cases).The clinical da-ta,results of laboratory tests,and cardiovascular history were collected,and TyG index was calcu-lated.All-cause death outcome was observed in ADHF patients during a follow-up of 1 year.Results The TyG index was significantly lower in the ADHF group than the CHF group[8.27(7.99,8.62)vs 8.35(8.04,8.75),P=0.001].In the ADHF group,the TyG index was positively correlated with SBP,DBP,TC,TG,LDL-C,FPG,HbA1c,BMI,and LVEF,and negatively with age(P＜0.01).In the CHF group,the index was positively correlated with DBP,TC,TG,LDL-C,FPG,BMI,and HbA1c,and negatively with age(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Both univariate and multiva-riate logistic regression analyses indicated that the TyG index was a protective factor for ADHF(OR=0.647,95％CI:0.503～0.832,P=0.001;OR=0.694,95％CI:0.536～0.898,P=0.005).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the index in ADHF patients was a protective factor for one-year all-cause mortality(OR=0.483,95％CI:0.254-0.916;P=0.026).Conclusion TyG index might be regarded as an important marker for assessing the metabolic status in HF patients and predicting the prognosis in ADHF patients.

Nonunion of osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF), predominantly affecting the elderly, can lead to intractable pain, vertebral collapse, progressive kyphotic deformity, and neurological impairment, significantly compromising patients′ quality of life. There exists considerable debate on diagnosis and management of OVF, encompassing key issues such as clinical diagnosis and staging criteria for nonunion, surgical indications and procedure selection, and postoperative rehabilitation planning. Currently, there lacks standardized clinical guideline and expert consensus on the diagnosis and management of OVF nonunion in China. To address this gap, Minimally Invasive Surgery Group of Chinese Orthopedic Association, Osteoporosis Committee of Chinese Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, Prevention and Rehabilitation Committee for Osteoporosis of Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine and Minimally Invasive Orthopedic Surgery Branch of China Association for Geriatric Care jointly organized domestic experts in spinal surgery, endocrinology, and rehabilitation to formulate the Clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment for nonunion of osteoporotic vertebral fractures ( version 2025), based on existing literature and clinical experience and adhering to principles of scientific rigor and practicality. The guideline provided 13 evidence-based recommendations encompassing diagnosis and treatment of OVF nonunion, aiming to standardize its clinical management.

Objective:To evaluate the impact of implementing a regional hierarchical medical management model based on the medical internet of things (medical IoT) on the frequency of emergency department visits and hospitalizations, as well as related medical expenses, in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods:This retrospective study included COPD patients enrolled in the regional hierarchical medical management system based on Medical IoT across 21 community health service centers in Songjiang District, Shanghai, between July 2017 and May 2018. Utilizing patient data from the year prior to enrollment as the baseline, changes in the number of emergency visits, hospitalizations, and associated medical costs during the first and second years of management were compared. Changes for patients receiving drug treatment were also analyzed.Results:A total of 973 COPD patients were enrolled. The mean age was 75.2±17.0 years, and 64.34% (626/973) were male. Compared to baseline, all COPD patients in the first year of management showed significant reductions: emergency visits decreased by 33.67%, total emergency costs by 45.60%, hospitalizations by 27.15%, and total hospitalization costs by 25.42%. In the second year, reductions were: emergency visits by 28.08%, total emergency costs by 36.10%, hospitalizations by 35.26%, and total hospitalization costs by 18.13% (all P<0.05). Among patients receiving drug therapy, reductions in the first year were: emergency visits by 39.66%, total emergency costs by 47.54%, hospitalizations by 25.19%, and total hospitalization costs by 28.40%. In the second year, reductions were: emergency visits by 46.98%, total emergency costs by 45.99%, hospitalizations by 41.98%, and total hospitalization costs by 24.94% (all P<0.05). No significant differences were observed before and after management for patients without drug treatment. Conclusion:The implementation of the regional hierarchical medical management model based on Medical IoT significantly reduced the frequency of emergency visits and hospitalizations, as well as related costs, for COPD patients.

Objective To compare TyG index between the patients with CHF and ADHF to eluci-date the metabolic difference between these two stages.Methods A total of 1156 HF patients ad-mitted in Taizhou People's Hospital between January 2020 and December 2022 were enrolled,and according to 2021 ESC Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute and Chronic Heart Fail-ure,they were divided into CHF group(365 cases)and ADHF group(791 cases).The clinical da-ta,results of laboratory tests,and cardiovascular history were collected,and TyG index was calcu-lated.All-cause death outcome was observed in ADHF patients during a follow-up of 1 year.Results The TyG index was significantly lower in the ADHF group than the CHF group[8.27(7.99,8.62)vs 8.35(8.04,8.75),P=0.001].In the ADHF group,the TyG index was positively correlated with SBP,DBP,TC,TG,LDL-C,FPG,HbA1c,BMI,and LVEF,and negatively with age(P＜0.01).In the CHF group,the index was positively correlated with DBP,TC,TG,LDL-C,FPG,BMI,and HbA1c,and negatively with age(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Both univariate and multiva-riate logistic regression analyses indicated that the TyG index was a protective factor for ADHF(OR=0.647,95％CI:0.503～0.832,P=0.001;OR=0.694,95％CI:0.536～0.898,P=0.005).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the index in ADHF patients was a protective factor for one-year all-cause mortality(OR=0.483,95％CI:0.254-0.916;P=0.026).Conclusion TyG index might be regarded as an important marker for assessing the metabolic status in HF patients and predicting the prognosis in ADHF patients.

Nonunion of osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF), predominantly affecting the elderly, can lead to intractable pain, vertebral collapse, progressive kyphotic deformity, and neurological impairment, significantly compromising patients′ quality of life. There exists considerable debate on diagnosis and management of OVF, encompassing key issues such as clinical diagnosis and staging criteria for nonunion, surgical indications and procedure selection, and postoperative rehabilitation planning. Currently, there lacks standardized clinical guideline and expert consensus on the diagnosis and management of OVF nonunion in China. To address this gap, Minimally Invasive Surgery Group of Chinese Orthopedic Association, Osteoporosis Committee of Chinese Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, Prevention and Rehabilitation Committee for Osteoporosis of Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine and Minimally Invasive Orthopedic Surgery Branch of China Association for Geriatric Care jointly organized domestic experts in spinal surgery, endocrinology, and rehabilitation to formulate the Clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment for nonunion of osteoporotic vertebral fractures ( version 2025), based on existing literature and clinical experience and adhering to principles of scientific rigor and practicality. The guideline provided 13 evidence-based recommendations encompassing diagnosis and treatment of OVF nonunion, aiming to standardize its clinical management.

Objective:To evaluate the impact of implementing a regional hierarchical medical management model based on the medical internet of things (medical IoT) on the frequency of emergency department visits and hospitalizations, as well as related medical expenses, in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods:This retrospective study included COPD patients enrolled in the regional hierarchical medical management system based on Medical IoT across 21 community health service centers in Songjiang District, Shanghai, between July 2017 and May 2018. Utilizing patient data from the year prior to enrollment as the baseline, changes in the number of emergency visits, hospitalizations, and associated medical costs during the first and second years of management were compared. Changes for patients receiving drug treatment were also analyzed.Results:A total of 973 COPD patients were enrolled. The mean age was 75.2±17.0 years, and 64.34% (626/973) were male. Compared to baseline, all COPD patients in the first year of management showed significant reductions: emergency visits decreased by 33.67%, total emergency costs by 45.60%, hospitalizations by 27.15%, and total hospitalization costs by 25.42%. In the second year, reductions were: emergency visits by 28.08%, total emergency costs by 36.10%, hospitalizations by 35.26%, and total hospitalization costs by 18.13% (all P<0.05). Among patients receiving drug therapy, reductions in the first year were: emergency visits by 39.66%, total emergency costs by 47.54%, hospitalizations by 25.19%, and total hospitalization costs by 28.40%. In the second year, reductions were: emergency visits by 46.98%, total emergency costs by 45.99%, hospitalizations by 41.98%, and total hospitalization costs by 24.94% (all P<0.05). No significant differences were observed before and after management for patients without drug treatment. Conclusion:The implementation of the regional hierarchical medical management model based on Medical IoT significantly reduced the frequency of emergency visits and hospitalizations, as well as related costs, for COPD patients.

Post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis(PEP)is one of the most common complications after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP).Numerous PEP prediction models have been established based on different statistical methods at home and abroad.The PEP prediction model,as a tool for evaluating and screening high-risk populations,can provide a basis for medical staff to find high-risk PEP patients early and take effective preventive measures.In recent years,new PEP prediction models have appeared one after another,but there is still a lack of recognized reliable prediction models in clinic.This article reviews the research status of PEP risk prediction models,aim to provide a direction for establishing a more reliable,accurate,and practical PEP risk prediction model in the later period.