ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism by which Banxia Xiexin Tang （BXT） regulates the advanced glycation end products （AGE）/receptor for advanced glycation end products （RAGE） signaling pathway to reduce neuroinflammatory responses and ameliorate cognitive dysfunction in the rat model of vascular dementia （VD）. MethodsThe components of BXT were detected by ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole -orbitrap-tandem mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS）， and the core components and key action pathways were screened out by network pharmacology and molecular docking. Sixty SPF-grade male SD rats were randomly allocated into the sham and modeling groups by the random number table method. The VD model was replicated by the modified bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries （2-VO） method. The successfully modeled rats were randomly allocated into the model， low-， medium-， and high-dose （3.748 5， 7.497， 14.994 g·kg^-1） BXT （BXT-L， BXT-M， and BXT-H）， and nimodipine （NMP， 0.002 7 g·kg^-1） groups according to the random number table method. The rats in the drug intervention groups were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage， and the sham and model groups received the same amount of normal saline for 14 consecutive days. The Morris water maze， Y-maze， and new object recognition experiments were conducted to evaluate the cognitive dysfunction of rats. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to evaluate the histopathological changes of the hippocampal tissue in rats. The mRNA levels of AGE， RAGE， and phosphorylated nuclear factor-kappa B p65 （p-NF-κB p65） in the hippocampal tissue of rats were determined by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. The expression of related proteins in the AGE/RAGE pathway in the hippocampal tissue of rats was determined by Western blot and immunohistochemistry （IHC）. The levels of neurotransmitters and inflammatory mediators in the rat serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. ResultsThe chemical components of BXT were detected by UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS. Network pharmacology and molecular docking identified the AGE/RAGE pathway as the key pathway. The results of the water maze， Y maze， and novel object recognition tests showed that compared with the sham group， the model group demonstrated prolonged successful latency and decreases in number of platform crossings， alternation rate， number of entries into the new arm， preference index， and discrimination index （P0.01）. Compared with the model group， the BXT-H and BXT-M groups showed shortened successful latency （P0.01） and increases in number of platform crossings （P0.05）， alternation rate （P0.01）， number of entries into the new arm （P0.05）， preference index （P0.01）， and discrimination index （P0.01）. HE results showed that compared with the sham group， the cells of model rats were loosely and disorderly arranged， and the nuclei were condensed. Compared with the model group， the pathological changes of the hippocampus in the BXT group were mitigated. Real-time PCR results showed that compared with the sham group， the model group presented up-regulated mRNA levels of AGE， RAGE， and p-NF-κB p65 in the hippocampus （P0.01）， and compared with the model group， the BXT-H and BXT-M groups showcased down-regulated mRNA levels of AGE， RAGE， and p-NF-κB p65 （P0.01）. Western blot results showed that compared with the sham group， the model group presented up-regulated expression of AGE， RAGE， p-NF-κB p65， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） （P0.05）， and compared with the model group， the BXT-H group presented down-regulated expression of AGE， RAGE， p-NF-κB p65， and TNF-α （P0.05）. IHC results showed that compared with the sham group， the model group had increased expression of RAGE （P0.01）， and compared with the model group， the BXT-H and BXT-M groups had reduced expression of RAGE （P0.01）. ELISA results showed that compared with the sham group， the model group exhibited elevated levels of TNF-α and Interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and declined levels of acetylcholine （ACh） and dopamine （DA） in the serum （P0.01）. Compared with the model group， the BXT-L， BXT-M， and BXT-H groups showed lowered levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in the serum （P0.05） and elevated levels of ACh and DA （P0.05）. ConclusionBXT may ameliorate cognitive dysfunction in the rat model of VD by down-regulating the AGE/RAGE signaling pathway， reducing neuroinflammatory responses， and regulating neurotransmitter levels.

Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by difficulty in falling asleep， sleep maintenance disorder and impaired daytime function. Its pathological mechanism involves multiple factors such as nerve excitability， circadian rhythm， cell apoptosis， oxidative stress injury. As a classical tyrosine kinase signaling pathway， phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B（PI3K/Akt） triggers Akt phosphorylation cascade， inducing inflammatory response， apoptosis， autophagy， oxidative damage， nerve excitability， and circadian rhythm imbalance. Traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） can improve sleep by targeting the PI3K/Akt pathway. Based on this， this paper systematically reviews the research progress on the regulation of PI3K/Akt pathway by traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） for insomnia at home and abroad. These drugs can regulate neuronal excitability by regulating the PI3K/Akt pathway， affect the circadian rhythm， alleviate inflammation， apoptosis， autophagy and oxidative stress， and thus regulate sleep-wake. Furthermore， literature review indicates that the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway may represent a specific pathway underlying phlegm-turbidity disturbing the upper Jiao-type insomnia.

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism by which Banxia Xiexin Tang （BXT） regulates the advanced glycation end products （AGE）/receptor for advanced glycation end products （RAGE） signaling pathway to reduce neuroinflammatory responses and ameliorate cognitive dysfunction in the rat model of vascular dementia （VD）. MethodsThe components of BXT were detected by ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole -orbitrap-tandem mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS）， and the core components and key action pathways were screened out by network pharmacology and molecular docking. Sixty SPF-grade male SD rats were randomly allocated into the sham and modeling groups by the random number table method. The VD model was replicated by the modified bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries （2-VO） method. The successfully modeled rats were randomly allocated into the model， low-， medium-， and high-dose （3.748 5， 7.497， 14.994 g·kg^-1） BXT （BXT-L， BXT-M， and BXT-H）， and nimodipine （NMP， 0.002 7 g·kg^-1） groups according to the random number table method. The rats in the drug intervention groups were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage， and the sham and model groups received the same amount of normal saline for 14 consecutive days. The Morris water maze， Y-maze， and new object recognition experiments were conducted to evaluate the cognitive dysfunction of rats. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to evaluate the histopathological changes of the hippocampal tissue in rats. The mRNA levels of AGE， RAGE， and phosphorylated nuclear factor-kappa B p65 （p-NF-κB p65） in the hippocampal tissue of rats were determined by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. The expression of related proteins in the AGE/RAGE pathway in the hippocampal tissue of rats was determined by Western blot and immunohistochemistry （IHC）. The levels of neurotransmitters and inflammatory mediators in the rat serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. ResultsThe chemical components of BXT were detected by UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS. Network pharmacology and molecular docking identified the AGE/RAGE pathway as the key pathway. The results of the water maze， Y maze， and novel object recognition tests showed that compared with the sham group， the model group demonstrated prolonged successful latency and decreases in number of platform crossings， alternation rate， number of entries into the new arm， preference index， and discrimination index （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the BXT-H and BXT-M groups showed shortened successful latency （P<0.01） and increases in number of platform crossings （P<0.05）， alternation rate （P<0.01）， number of entries into the new arm （P<0.05）， preference index （P<0.01）， and discrimination index （P<0.01）. HE results showed that compared with the sham group， the cells of model rats were loosely and disorderly arranged， and the nuclei were condensed. Compared with the model group， the pathological changes of the hippocampus in the BXT group were mitigated. Real-time PCR results showed that compared with the sham group， the model group presented up-regulated mRNA levels of AGE， RAGE， and p-NF-κB p65 in the hippocampus （P<0.01）， and compared with the model group， the BXT-H and BXT-M groups showcased down-regulated mRNA levels of AGE， RAGE， and p-NF-κB p65 （P<0.01）. Western blot results showed that compared with the sham group， the model group presented up-regulated expression of AGE， RAGE， p-NF-κB p65， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） （P<0.05）， and compared with the model group， the BXT-H group presented down-regulated expression of AGE， RAGE， p-NF-κB p65， and TNF-α （P<0.05）. IHC results showed that compared with the sham group， the model group had increased expression of RAGE （P<0.01）， and compared with the model group， the BXT-H and BXT-M groups had reduced expression of RAGE （P<0.01）. ELISA results showed that compared with the sham group， the model group exhibited elevated levels of TNF-α and Interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and declined levels of acetylcholine （ACh） and dopamine （DA） in the serum （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the BXT-L， BXT-M， and BXT-H groups showed lowered levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in the serum （P<0.05） and elevated levels of ACh and DA （P<0.05）. ConclusionBXT may ameliorate cognitive dysfunction in the rat model of VD by down-regulating the AGE/RAGE signaling pathway， reducing neuroinflammatory responses， and regulating neurotransmitter levels.

Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by difficulty in falling asleep， sleep maintenance disorder and impaired daytime function. Its pathological mechanism involves multiple factors such as nerve excitability， circadian rhythm， cell apoptosis， oxidative stress injury. As a classical tyrosine kinase signaling pathway， phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B（PI3K/Akt） triggers Akt phosphorylation cascade， inducing inflammatory response， apoptosis， autophagy， oxidative damage， nerve excitability， and circadian rhythm imbalance. Traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） can improve sleep by targeting the PI3K/Akt pathway. Based on this， this paper systematically reviews the research progress on the regulation of PI3K/Akt pathway by traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） for insomnia at home and abroad. These drugs can regulate neuronal excitability by regulating the PI3K/Akt pathway， affect the circadian rhythm， alleviate inflammation， apoptosis， autophagy and oxidative stress， and thus regulate sleep-wake. Furthermore， literature review indicates that the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway may represent a specific pathway underlying phlegm-turbidity disturbing the upper Jiao-type insomnia.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between peri-coronary fat attenuation index (FAI) and plaque formation in patients with myocardial bridge (MB) of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and to develop an optimal predictive model to explore the potential application of FAI in the primary prevention of MB related atherosclerosis.Methods:In this retrospective study, prediction models associated with perivascular fat inflammation were developed and validated using both logistic regression and machine learning (ML) algorithm. A training dataset was collected from 253 patients who underwent ≥2 coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) with ≥3 months intervals from one tertiary hospital from January 2007 to April 2021 and had baseline CCTA showing no plaques in LAD MB. The median follow-up time was 3.2 years. According to the same criteria, a total of 75 LAD MB patients from four other hospitals were included to form an independent external validation dataset, with a median follow-up time of 1.8 years. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis with integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) and category net reclassification index (NRI) were used to compare the performance of the predictive models.Results:62 patients (24.5%) in the training dataset had proximal plaque formation in LAD MB, while 22 patients (29.3%) in the external validation dataset had plaque formation during the follow-up period. Baseline FAI within the longitudinal distance equal to 30 mm proximal to the MB entrance was an independent predictor ( OR=1.068, P=0.046). According to the model results, ROC curves were plotted. The AUC of Model 1 was 0.822, and the AUCs of Model 2 and 1 were 0.821 and 0.591 in the training dataset. After the DeLong test, the AUC of Model 1 was superior to that of Model 2 ( Z=2.839, P=0.005) and Model 1 ( Z=6.124, P<0.001). These findings were further validated in the external validation dataset, where ML-model 3 yielded the best predictive performance, outperforming the logistic regression-based Model 2 (categorical NRI=0.359, P=0.048; IDI=0.108, P=0.046). Conclusion:FAI measured within the 30 mm proximal to the entrance of MBs due to its prone to plaque development is an independent predictor for atherosclerotic plaque formation. The ML-prediction model based on a decision tree algorithm combines FAI, MB anatomical features, and patient risk factors, which is beneficial for patients undergoing routine CCTA examination to identify inflamed coronary arteries in advance and guide the clinical adoption of more targeted preventive treatment, including anti-inflammatory treatment.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of an obstetric artificial intelligence (AI) assistant combined with a family-centered health education model on maternal self-care ability, comfort status, and spousal caregiving ability.Methods:This prospective, single-center, parallel randomized controlled trial used 1∶1 randomization and was conducted as a superiority trial. Postpartum mothers and their spouses admitted to family-style single rooms at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University between October 2024 and April 2025 were enrolled and randomly assigned to control or intervention groups using a random number table. The control group received conventional health education, while the intervention group received conventional health education plus the AI-assisted family-centered model. Interventions were administered at 2 hours, 6 hours, and 24 hours postpartum, and before discharge. Outcomes included maternal self-care ability, comfort status, and spousal caregiving ability, which were assessed at 2 hours postpartum and before discharge. Data were analyzed using independent and paired t-tests and Chi square tests. Results:Of the 88 mother-spouse dyads initially recruited, four were excluded due to mother-infant separation (e.g., neonatal jaundice), leaving 84 dyads (42 per group). After the intervention, the intervention group showed significantly higher maternal self-care ability scores [(192.81±13.80) vs. (181.00±21.41) scores, t=3.00], higher maternal comfort scores [(104.43±7.52) vs. (96.00±14.29) scores, t=3.38], and better spousal caregiving ability [(6.07±3.13) vs. (9.50±5.02) scores, t=－3.76] compared to the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion:The obstetric AI assistant combined with a family-centered health education model significantly improved maternal self-care ability and comfort status, as well as spousal caregiving ability.

Objective:To investigate the plasma level of interleukin(IL)-37 and assess its regulatory effects on monocyte activity in type 1 diabetes mellitus(T1DM) patients.Methods:This prospective study included 57 T1DM patients and 21 healthy controls who were continuously enrolled from December 2022 to January 2024 at Xinxiang Central Hospital. Plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated. IL-37 and soluble interleukin 1 receptor 8(IL-1R8) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Levels of IL-37 receptor subunits in monocytes were analyzed via flow cytometry. Purified monocytes were stimulated with recombinant IL-37 and co-cultured with a human pancreatic β-cell line to assess cytotoxicity, measured by target cell death and cytokine levels. Additionally, monocytes were co-cultured with autologous CD4 + T cells to evaluate antigen presentation by measuring interferon-γ(IFN-γ) and IL-17A secretion. Results:Plasma IL-37 level and IL-37 receptor subunit expression in monocytes were significantly lower in T1DM patients compared to controls(both P<0.001). However, there was no significant difference in soluble IL-1R8 levels between the groups( P=0.457). Monocytes from T1DM patients exhibited increased cytotoxicity, as indicated by higher target cell death and elevated levels of granzyme A, granzyme B, granzyme H, IL-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α( P<0.05). Additionally, monocyte-induced secretion of IFN-γ and IL-17A by CD4 + T cells was elevated in T1DM patients(all P<0.05). Stimulation of T1DM monocytes with recombinant IL-37 reduced target cell death and decreased granzyme B secretion compared to unstimulated monocytes(both P<0.05). However, IL-37 stimulation had no significant effect on other cytokine levels or monocyte-induced IFN-γ and IL-17A secretion( P>0.05). Conclusions:Monocytes exhibit enhanced cytotoxicity and antigen-presenting capacity in T1DM patients. IL-37 reduces monocyte cytotoxicity by inhibiting granzyme B secretion, but does not affect antigen presenting function in T1DM.

Objective:To explore the mediating role of dietary health beliefs in the relationship between family functioning and the frequency of sugar-containing food intake among adolescents with dental caries, in order to clarify the underlying mechanism through which dietary health beliefs influence caries-related dietary behaviors via family factors.Methods:Using convenience sampling method, we selected adolescents patients diagnosed with dental caries and their parents who visited the Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from July to September 2023 as the research subjects. Conducted a cross-sectional survey using a general information questionnaire, Family Functioning Scale, Adolescent Dietary Health Belief Scale, and Sugar-Sweetened Diet Intake Frequency Scale. Mediation analysis was conducted.Results:A total of 475 questionnaires were distributed, and 460 valid responses were obtained, yielding a valid response rate of 96.84%. Among the 460 adolescent patients, 306 were female and 154 were male, with a mean age of (13.42 ± 1.17) years old. The mother's age was (40.28 ± 4.24) years old, and the father's age was (42.12 ± 4.48) years old. The score for the frequency of sugar-containing food intake was 15.95 ± 5.34, the dietary health belief score was 75.57 ± 18.62, and the family functioning score was 174.24 ± 25.39. Family functioning was positively correlated with dietary health beliefs ( r = 0.428, P<0.05), and negatively correlated with the frequency of sugar-containing food intake ( r = -0.225, P<0.05). Dietary health beliefs were negatively correlated with the frequency of sugar-containing food intake ( r = -0.332, P<0.05). The mediating effect of dietary health beliefs on the relationship between family functioning and sugar-containing food intake frequency was -0.332, accounting for 43.92% of the total effect. Conclusions:Dietary health beliefs play a partial mediating role between family function and the frequency of sugary diet intake. It is suggested that family function construction should be strengthened to improve adolescents' health beliefs and reduce the incidence of dental caries.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between peri-coronary fat attenuation index (FAI) and plaque formation in patients with myocardial bridge (MB) of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and to develop an optimal predictive model to explore the potential application of FAI in the primary prevention of MB related atherosclerosis.Methods:In this retrospective study, prediction models associated with perivascular fat inflammation were developed and validated using both logistic regression and machine learning (ML) algorithm. A training dataset was collected from 253 patients who underwent ≥2 coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) with ≥3 months intervals from one tertiary hospital from January 2007 to April 2021 and had baseline CCTA showing no plaques in LAD MB. The median follow-up time was 3.2 years. According to the same criteria, a total of 75 LAD MB patients from four other hospitals were included to form an independent external validation dataset, with a median follow-up time of 1.8 years. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis with integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) and category net reclassification index (NRI) were used to compare the performance of the predictive models.Results:62 patients (24.5%) in the training dataset had proximal plaque formation in LAD MB, while 22 patients (29.3%) in the external validation dataset had plaque formation during the follow-up period. Baseline FAI within the longitudinal distance equal to 30 mm proximal to the MB entrance was an independent predictor ( OR=1.068, P=0.046). According to the model results, ROC curves were plotted. The AUC of Model 1 was 0.822, and the AUCs of Model 2 and 1 were 0.821 and 0.591 in the training dataset. After the DeLong test, the AUC of Model 1 was superior to that of Model 2 ( Z=2.839, P=0.005) and Model 1 ( Z=6.124, P<0.001). These findings were further validated in the external validation dataset, where ML-model 3 yielded the best predictive performance, outperforming the logistic regression-based Model 2 (categorical NRI=0.359, P=0.048; IDI=0.108, P=0.046). Conclusion:FAI measured within the 30 mm proximal to the entrance of MBs due to its prone to plaque development is an independent predictor for atherosclerotic plaque formation. The ML-prediction model based on a decision tree algorithm combines FAI, MB anatomical features, and patient risk factors, which is beneficial for patients undergoing routine CCTA examination to identify inflamed coronary arteries in advance and guide the clinical adoption of more targeted preventive treatment, including anti-inflammatory treatment.

Objective:To explore the mediating role of dietary health beliefs in the relationship between family functioning and the frequency of sugar-containing food intake among adolescents with dental caries, in order to clarify the underlying mechanism through which dietary health beliefs influence caries-related dietary behaviors via family factors.Methods:Using convenience sampling method, we selected adolescents patients diagnosed with dental caries and their parents who visited the Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from July to September 2023 as the research subjects. Conducted a cross-sectional survey using a general information questionnaire, Family Functioning Scale, Adolescent Dietary Health Belief Scale, and Sugar-Sweetened Diet Intake Frequency Scale. Mediation analysis was conducted.Results:A total of 475 questionnaires were distributed, and 460 valid responses were obtained, yielding a valid response rate of 96.84%. Among the 460 adolescent patients, 306 were female and 154 were male, with a mean age of (13.42 ± 1.17) years old. The mother's age was (40.28 ± 4.24) years old, and the father's age was (42.12 ± 4.48) years old. The score for the frequency of sugar-containing food intake was 15.95 ± 5.34, the dietary health belief score was 75.57 ± 18.62, and the family functioning score was 174.24 ± 25.39. Family functioning was positively correlated with dietary health beliefs ( r = 0.428, P<0.05), and negatively correlated with the frequency of sugar-containing food intake ( r = -0.225, P<0.05). Dietary health beliefs were negatively correlated with the frequency of sugar-containing food intake ( r = -0.332, P<0.05). The mediating effect of dietary health beliefs on the relationship between family functioning and sugar-containing food intake frequency was -0.332, accounting for 43.92% of the total effect. Conclusions:Dietary health beliefs play a partial mediating role between family function and the frequency of sugary diet intake. It is suggested that family function construction should be strengthened to improve adolescents' health beliefs and reduce the incidence of dental caries.