ObjectiveTo explore the potential mechanism of Changji'an Formula （肠激安方） on intestinal permeability for rats with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome （IBS-D） of liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome by the microRNA-29b-3p （miR-29b-3p）/tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 3 （TRAF3）/nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）/myosin light chain kinase （MLCK） axis. MethodsTwenty-four 1-day-old male Sprague-Dawley （SD） suckling rats were selected， and the IBS-D rat model of liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome was established via a three-factor method，i.e. maternal separation plus acetic acid stimulation and restraint stress， for 6 consecutive weeks. After successful modeling， the rats were randomly divided into a model group， pinaverium bromide group， low-dose and high-dose Changji'an Formula groups， with 6 rats in each group. Another 6 age-matched non-modeled SD rats were included as the control group. The low-dose and high-dose Changji'an Formula groups were given intragastric administration of Changji'an Formula solution at doses of 16.74 g/（kg·d） and 33.48 g/（kg·d）， respectively； the pinaverium bromide group received intragastric administration of pinaverium bromide tablets at 0.018 g/（kg·d）； and the control group was given distilled water at 10 ml/（kg·d） via intragastric gavage. The intervention was conducted once daily for 14 consecutive days. After the gavage treatment， the fecal water content of rats in each group was measured. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the serum levels of intestinal permeability indicators， including D-lactic acid （D-LA）， diamine oxidase （DAO）， and lipopolysaccharide （LPS）. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction （qRT-PCR） was conducted to determine the mRNA expression levels of miR-29b-3p， TRAF3， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， p65， p50， and MLCK in colonic tissues. Western Blot analysis was employed to detect the protein expression levels of TRAF3， TNF-α， p65， phosphorylated p65 （p-p65）， MLCK， myosin light chain （MLC）， phosphorylated MLC （p-MLC）， and tight junction proteins including junctional adhesion molecule-A （JAM-A）， Occludin， and Claudin-1 in colonic tissues. ResultsCompared with the control group， the model group exhibited significantly increased fecal water content and serum levels of D-LA， DAO， and LPS， along with decreased protein expression levels of JAM-A， Occludin， and Claudin-1 in colonic tissues （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Additionally， in the model group， the mRNA expression levels of miR-29b-3p， TNF-α， p65， p50， and MLCK in colonic tissues were up-regulated， while the mRNA and protein expression levels of TRAF3 were down-regulated； the protein levels of TNF-α and MLCK， as well as the ratios of p-p65/p65 and p-MLC/MLC， significantly elevated （P＜0.01）. Compared with the model group， all treatment groups showed reduced fecal water content and serum levels of D-LA， DAO， and LPS， along with down-regulated mRNA expression levels of miR-29b-3p， TNF-α， p65， p50， and MLCK， and up-regulated TRAF3 mRNA expression in colonic tissues. Moreover， the pinaverium bromide group and high-dose Changji'an Formula group presented increased protein levels of Occludin， Claudin-1， and TRAF3， as well as decreased protein levels of TNF-α and MLCK， and reduced ratios of p-p65/p65 and p-MLC/MLC in colonic tissues （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared with the low-dose Changji'an Formula group， the high-dose group had lower fecal water content and serum levels of DAO and LPS （P＜0.01）. In comparison with the pinaverium bromide group， the high-dose Changji'an Formula group showed a significant decrease in serum DAO level （P＜0.01）. ConclusionsChangji'an Formula can reduce intestinal permeability and restore intestinal barrier function in IBS-D rats of liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome by regulating the miR-29b-3p/TRAF3/NF-κB/MLCK axis.

ObjectiveTo analyze the epidemiological characteristics of patients with hepatitis C in Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province from 2005 to 2023, so as to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of hepatitis C. MethodsThe data on patients with hepatitis C, as well as whose current address is in Jinhua City, from 2005 to 2023 were collected from the infectious disease surveillance system of the China Disease Control and Prevention Information Management System. Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze the temporal, spatial and demographic distribution characteristics of hepatitis C. ResultsA total of 2 326 cases of hepatitis C were reported in Jinhua from 2005 to 2023, including 2 death cases, with an average annual incidence rate of 2.19/100 000, showing a trend which rose first and then declined and then rose again. Hepatitis C was reported all the year round without significant seasonal pattern. In terms of the number of reported cases and the average annual incidence rate, Yiwu City ranked the first place. From 2005 to 2023, a total of 1 438 (61.82%) male cases and 888 (38.18%) female cases were reported, and the reported incidence rate was higher for males (2.62/100 000) than that for females (1.74/100 000), showing a statistically significant difference (χ²=92.937, P<0.001). Most cases aged between 30 to <50 years old (1 175, 50.52%), and the incidence rate of hepatitis C among the age group of 40‒<50, 50‒<60, 60‒<70 years old was showing an upward trend, with farmers (1 024, 44.02%) as the main occupation . ConclusionThe prevalence of hepatitis C in Jinhua City is generally at a low level, with an incidence rate of increasing and then decreasing, but rise up again after 2019. Therefore, epidemic surveillance and health education among the male, middle-aged and elderly people and farmers, as well as the key regions where the migrant workers flows in should be enhanced.

Abstract Childhood hypertension is becoming a substantial public health challenge with profound implications for children s quality of life and long term health. The study analyzes the global prevalence of childhood hypertension and the relationship between macroecological factors, meso environmental factors, and micro individual factors based on the perspective of life course and childhood hypertension. And it further summarizes existing prevention and control strategies: systematic prevention and control based on policy and social support, health promotion based on behavioral science theory, and dynamic monitoring and management based on individualized prevention and control, to provide a reference for promoting the advancement of childhood hypertension prevention and control strategies.

Objective: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and spatial-temporal clustering characteristics of scarlet fever in Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province from 2005 to 2023, so as to provide a reference for improving the prevention and control strategy of scarlet fever. Methods: The data of scarlet fever cases in Jinhua City from 2005 to 2023 were collected from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention, and descriptive epidemiological method was used to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of scarlet fever. The average annual percent change (AAPC) was calculated to analyze the trend of scarlet fever incidence from 2005 to 2023. The spatial-temporal clustering of scarlet fever was identified using spatial autocorrelation analysis and space-time scanning analysis. Results: A total of 1 494 scarlet fever cases were reported in Jinhua City from 2005 to 2023, and the average annual reported incidence rate was 1.41/100 000, with no significant change trend (AAPC=1.706%, P>0.05). There were two incidence peaks, from April to June and from November to January of the next year. There were 937 males and 557 females, with a male to female ratio of 1.68∶1. The age was mainly <10 years (1 391 cases, 93.11%), of which 3-<7 years was the high incidence age group (936 cases, 62.65%). There were 1 466 cases of preschool children, students, and scattered children, accounting for 98.13%. The average annual reported incidence of scarlet fever in Dongyang City, Pujiang County, and Yongkang City was 4.58/100 000, 3.04/100 000, and 1.99/100 000, respectively. The spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that there was a positive spatial correlation between the incidence of scarlet fever in Jinhua City from 2005 to 2023 (Moran's I=0.579, P<0.05), and the high-high clustering areas were mainly distributed in Dongyang City and Pujiang County. The spatial-temporal scanning analysis showed that there were 8 spatial-temporal clustering areas of scarlet fever in Jinhua City from 2005 to 2023. The class Ⅰ clustering area was 9 towns in Dongyang City, and the clustering period was from August 2013 to December 2022. There were 7 class Ⅱ clusters, covering some streets in Pujiang County, Dongyang City, Yongkang City, Yiwu City, and Pan'an County. Conclusions From 2005 to 2023, the incidence of scarlet fever in Jinhua City was relatively low, and children aged 3-<7 years had a high incidence, and there was a spatiotemporal clustering. The peak incidence was from April to June and from November to January of the next year. Dongyang City, Pujiang County, and Yongkang City had high incidence areas.

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of leptospirosis in Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province, from 2007 to 2024, so as to provide a basis for improving the prevention and control strategies of leptospirosis. Methods: Data pertaining to leptospirosis cases in Jinhua City from 2007 to 2024 were collected through the Monitoring and Reporting Management System of the Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System. Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze the distribution characteristics of leptospirosis in terms of time, region, population, interval from the onset of the disease to diagnosis and the outbreak of the epidemic. Results: A total of 81 cases of leptospirosis were reported in Jinhua City from 2007 to 2024, with an average annual reported incidence of 0.08/100 000. The peak incidence occurred from August to September, with 57 cases accounting for 70.37%. Leptospirosis cases were reported in 9 counties (cities, districts) in Jinhua City. Pan'an County reported the most cases, with 52 cases accounting for 64.20%. There were 54 male cases and 27 female cases, with a male-to-female ratio of 2∶1. The majority of cases were aged over 40 years, with 73 cases accounting for 90.12%. The average reported incidence of leptospirosis showed an upward trend with the increase of age (P<0.05), and the highest incidence of leptospirosis was at the 60-<80 age group (0.21/100 000). The majority of patients were farmers, with 77 cases accounting for 95.06%. The median interval from onset to diagnosis was 4.00 (interquartile range, 6.00) days. There were significant differences in the interval from onset to diagnosis among cases in Dongyang City compared with Pan'an County, Wuyi County, and Wucheng District, between Pan'an County and Jindong District, Wucheng District, and between Wuyi County and Wucheng District (all P<0.05). In 2007, one outbreak of leptospirosis was reported, which occurred in Jiuhe Township, Pan'an County, with 36 reported cases. Conclusions The reported incidence of leptospirosis in Jinhua City from 2007 to 2024 is generally low. The high-incidence period is from August to September, and Pan'an County is the high-incidence area. Males over 40 years and farmers are the key populations for prevention and control. It is recommended to strengthen epidemic surveillance and health education for high-risk populations.

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) solid waste is characterized by widespread availability, renewability, and substantial production volume. In the context of the "dual carbon" goals, the pyrolysis of TCM solid waste for producing fuel gas for recycling in pharmaceutical production has emerged as a crucial strategy for optimizing the energy structure in the TCM industry and developing renewable energy. This paper comprehensively reviews both internal and external factors that influence the pyrolysis of TCM solid waste. Internal factors encompass moisture content, particle size, ash content, and the morphology of the raw materials, while external factors include pyrolysis conditions, equivalence ratios, types of gasifiers, and gasifying agents. Furthermore, this paper details the challenges associated with the pyrolysis of TCM solid waste, such as the dispersion of feedstocks, the diversity of resources, the complexity of the pyrolysis process, and the variations in gasifier performance. Finally, this paper proposes measures to address these challenges. This paper aims to provide insights into the development of a circular economy for TCM resources and the advancement of low-carbon energy utilization in the TCM industry.
Pyrolysis ; Carbon/chemistry* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Solid Waste/analysis* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Gases/chemistry*

Proanthocyanidin B_2(PAC-B_2), a polyphenolic dimeric compound comprising two epicatechin molecules linked by a C-C bond, is extensively found in traditional Chinese medicines, with anti-tumor and anti-oxidant activities. Given the limited bioavailability, a thorough investigation and comprehensive understanding of PAC-B_2 metabolism in vivo are essential for elucidating therapeutic forms and mechanisms. In the present study, ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) in the negative ion mode was employed to acquire the MS/MS information of PAC-B_2 and metabolites in urine and feces samples of the rats administrated with PAC-B_2. Online energy-resolved MS(ER-MS) was applied as supplementary to obtain the full collision energy ramp-MS~2 spectra(FCER-MS~2) of isomers-of-interest, which implied comprehensive MS~2 information of targeted compounds. Finally, the possible metabolic pathways of PAC-B_2 in rats were proposed. The primary fragmentation behaviors of PAC-B_2 in the negative ion mode included quinone methide fission between C_4-C_8 bond, retro Diels-Alder cracking of F-ring, heterocyclic ring fission of C-ring, and neutral loss of small molecules such as H_2O. A total of 25 metabolites were tentatively elucidated in urine and feces samples of rats administrated with PAC-B_2 by fragmentation pattern and reported literature. Two groups of isomers, M3/M4/M5 and M9/M11, were confirmatively differentiated based on the relationships between optimal collision energy provided by FCER-MS~2 and bond properties, including bond length and bond dissociation energy. In addition to the ring-opening and methylation, PAC-B_2 could also be metabolized into epicatechin and low molecular weight phenolic acids, which were subsequently subjected to dehydroxylation, ring-opening, methylation, sulfation, and glucuronidation. The structural information provided by online ER-MS and FCER-MS~2 enabled the differentiation of isomers and improved the identification confidence. More importantly, the present study deeply analyzes the in vivo metabolic pathways of PAC-B_2, providing a basis for the research on the pharmacological mechanism of this compound.
Animals ; Proanthocyanidins/urine* ; Rats ; Male ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Feces/chemistry* ; Molecular Structure

PURPOSE: Bone cement-reinforced fenestrated pedicle screws (FPSs) have been widely used in the internal fixation and repair of the spine with osteoporosis in recent years and show significant improvement in fixation strength and stability. However, compared with conventional reinforcement methods, the advantages of bone cement-reinforced FPSs remain undetermined. This article compares the effects of fenestrated and conventional pedicle screws (CPSs) combined with bone cement in the treatment of osteoporosis. METHODS: A clinical control study of FPSs and CPSs combined with bone cement reinforcement in osteoporotic vertebral internal fixation was performed using the database PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, the Wanfang, and the China Biomedical Literature Service System. Two evaluators screened the relevant literature in strict accordance with the inclusion criteria (diagnosis of participants, type of clinical study, treatment with FPS and CPS, and outcome indicators) and exclusion criteria (duplicate literature and missing or incorrect data) and independently conducted data extraction and quality evaluation. Clinical control studies of direct comparison between FPS and CPS combined with bone cement reinforcement in patients who were definitively diagnosed with thoracolumbar fractures or spinal degenerative diseases were included. Quality evaluation was conducted using the Cochrane risk bias evaluation tool for randomized controlled studies and using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for retrospective case-control studies. RevMan software (version 5.3) was used for the meta-analysis to compare the clinical efficacy, radiological results, and related complications of the 2 methods. RESULTS: A total of 13 articles were included, including 7 randomized controlled studies and 6 retrospective case-control studies. There were 909 patients in these studies, 451 in the FPS and polymethyl methacrylate (FPS & PMMA) group and 458 in the CPS and polymethyl methacrylate (CPS & PMMA) group. The results of the meta-analysis showed that there was no significant difference between the 2 groups in operation time, hospital stay, visual analogue score, Japanese orthopaedic association score, Oswestry disability index score, Cobb angle, vertebral body deformation index and fusion rate (p > 0.05). The mean difference of intraoperative bleeding volume was -10.45, (95% confidence intervals (CI) (-16.92, -3.98), p = 0.002), the mean difference of loss height of the anterior edge of the vertebral body after surgery was -0.69 (95% CI (-0.93, -0.44), p < 0.001), and the relative risk (RR) of overall complication rate was 0.43 (95% CI (0.27, 0.68), p < 0.001), including the RR of bone cement leakage rate was 0.57 (95% CI (0.39, 0.85), p = 0.005). The screw loosening rate (RR = 0.26, 95% CI (0.13, 0.54), p < 0.001) of the FPS group was significantly lower than that of the CPS group. CONCLUSION The existing clinical evidence shows that compared with the CPS combined with bone cement, the use of FPS repair in the internal fixation of an osteoporotic vertebral body can reduce the amount of intraoperative bleeding, be more conducive to maintaining the height of the vertebral body, and significantly reduce the incidence of postoperative complications such as bone cement leakage and screw loosening.
Humans ; Pedicle Screws ; Bone Cements ; Spinal Fractures/surgery* ; Osteoporotic Fractures/surgery* ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation*

Spermatogenesis is a fundamental process that requires a tightly controlled epigenetic event in spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). The mechanisms underlying the transition from SSCs to sperm are largely unknown. Most studies utilize gene knockout mice to explain the mechanisms. However, the production of genetically engineered mice is costly and time-consuming. In this study, we presented a convenient research strategy using an RNA interference (RNAi) and testicular transplantation approach. Histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methylation was dynamically regulated during spermatogenesis. As Jumonji domain-containing protein 1A (JMJD1A) and Jumonji domain-containing protein 2C (JMJD2C) demethylases catalyze histone H3 lysine 9 dimethylation (H3K9me2), we firstly analyzed the expression profile of the two demethylases and then investigated their function. Using the convenient research strategy, we showed that normal spermatogenesis is disrupted due to the downregulated expression of both demethylases. These results suggest that this strategy might be a simple and alternative approach for analyzing spermatogenesis relative to the gene knockout mice strategy.
Spermatogenesis/physiology* ; Animals ; Male ; Mice ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases/metabolism* ; Histones/metabolism* ; RNA Interference ; Testis/metabolism* ; Methylation ; Mice, Knockout ; Histone Demethylases