Objective To explore the effect of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) in Taiyuan City on short-term pulmonary function in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods Among the 1 015 elderly COPD patients admitted to the respiratory departments of five general hospitals in Taiyuan City from December 2021 to December 2023 were retrospectively selected for research; medical records, air pollutant data and meteorological data were analyzed; the relationship between PM_2.5 and lung function indicators and air pollutants was analyzed; the impact of PM_2.5 on lung function and its lag effect were analyzed; the cumulative effect of PM_2.5 concentration on the risk of pulmonary ventilation dysfunction was analyzed; The influence of gender and age on the relationship between PM_2.5 and patients ' short-term pulmonary function was analyzed. Results PM_2.5, respirable particulate matter (PM₁₀), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), carbon monoxide (CO) were negatively correlated with average temperature and average humidity (P<0.05) ; Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), ozone (O₃) were negatively correlated with average temperature (P<0.05) ; There was a positive correlation among PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂, CO, NO₂, and O₃ (P<0.05) ; Elevated PM_2.5 is an independent risk factor for decreased lung function and increased air pollutants (P<0.05) ; At lag0 and lag1, PM_2.5 concentration was negatively correlated with lung function in a dose-response manner (P<0.05); daily average PM_2.5 concentration at lag0 was a dangerous effect (P<0.05). Conclusion The impact of PM_2.5 concentration on lung function has a certain time lag. An increase in PM_2.5 concentrations can lead to a decline in lung function.

Objective To analyze the computed tomography(CT)imaging features of urachal carcinoma and evaluate its diagnostic value.Methods The clinical data of 20 patients with urachal carcinoma confirmed by surgery and pathology,who were admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University from Dec.2012 to Dec.2022,were collected.Seventeen of the 20 patients underwent enhanced CT urography and 3 underwent pelvic CT plain scan+enhanced scan.After scanning,multiplanar reconstruction was performed on the post-processing workstation.The general data,clinical symptoms,CT imaging findings,pathological data,and prognosis of the patients were analyzed and summarized.Results The patients included 16 males and 4 females,aged 27 to 75 years old,with a median age of 61.50(41.50,71.25)years old.The tumors were all located in the anterior wall of the bladder,along the urachus,with a maximum diameter of 1.72-5.55 cm and a median maximum diameter of 3.34(2.48,3.71)cm.Fourteen cases had cystic-solid lesions and 6 had solid lesions.In the cystic-solid lesions,9 cases showed the"upper cystic and lower solid"sign on the sagittal plane.Calcification was noted in 17 cases.After enhanced scanning,18 cases showed progressive enhancement,and 2 cases showed"fast in and fast out"enhancement.Tumor invasion extended beyond the urachus and/or bladder muscle layer in 19 cases.At the end of follow-up,3 cases had recurrence,2 had metastasis,5 had no recurrence after surgery,3 died,and 7 were lost to follow-up.Conclusion Urachal carcinoma has certain characteristic manifestations on CT imaging.Reconstructing the sagittal plane with enhanced CT scanning and multiplanner reformation can help preoperative diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of urachal carcinoma.

Objective To explore the correlation between stroke etiology and clinical and imaging features in patients with acute ischemic stroke(AIS)due to large vessel occlusion treated by intravascular thrombectomy.Methods A total of 213 patients with AIS and endovascular embolectomy in our hospital from Oct.2016 to Jun.2018 were enrolled retrospectively.According to the etiological classification criteria of Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment(TOAST),there were 116 cases of cardioembolism and 97 cases of non-cardioembolism.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to screen the clinical and imaging characteristics for identifying cardioembolism and non-cardioembolism.Results Compared with non-cardioembolism AIS,cardioembolism AIS was associated with higher NIHSS scores(adjusted odds ratio[OR]=1.09,95%confidence interval[95%CI]1.01-1.18,P=0.02),atrial fibrillation(adjusted OR=76.46,95%CI 26.75-218.51,P＜0.01),absence of hypertension(adjusted OR=0.32,95%CI 0.12-0.84,P=0.02),antiplatelet drug use(adjusted OR=5.03,95%CI 1.22-20.63,P=0.03),shorter onset-to-puncture time(adjusted OR=0.998,95%CI 0.996-1.000,P=0.04),and presence of hyperdense artery sign(HAS)(adjusted OR=4.45,95%CI 1.47-13.49,P=0.01).Conclusion There are some differences in clinical and imaging characteristics between patients with cardioembolism and non-cardioembolism AIS.The occurrence of HAS suggests a higher probability of cardioembolism in AIS patients.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the research on NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3(NLRP3) inflammasome inhibitors in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. The NLRP3 inflammasome is integral to the innate immune response, and its abnormal activation can lead to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokine, consequently facilitating the progression of various pathological conditions. Therefore, investigating the pharmacological inhibition pathway of the NLRP3 inflammasome represents a promising strategy for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) has not approved drugs targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome for clinical use due to concerns regarding liver toxicity and gastrointestinal side effects associated with chemical small molecule inhibitors in clinical trials. Natural small molecule compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and alkaloids are ubiquitously found in animals, plants, and other natural substances exhibiting pharmacological activities. Their abundant sources, intricate and diverse structures, high biocompatibility, minimal adverse reactions, and superior biochemical potency in comparison to synthetic compounds have attracted the attention of extensive scholars. Currently, certain natural small molecule compounds have been demonstrated to impede the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome via various action mechanisms, so they are viewed as the innovative, feasible, and minimally toxic therapeutic agents for inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the treatment of both acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. Hence, this study systematically examined the effects and potential mechanisms of natural small molecule compounds derived from traditional Chinese medicine on the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes at their initiation, assembly, and activation stages. The objection is to furnish theoretical support and practical guidance for the effective clinical application of these natural small molecule inhibitors.
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism* ; Inflammasomes/metabolism* ; Inflammation/drug therapy* ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Biological Products/therapeutic use* ; Drug Discovery ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods*

Descurainiae Semen Lepidii Semen, also known as Tinglizi, originates from Brassicaceae plants Descurainia sophia or Lepidium apetalum. The former is commonly referred to as "Southern Tinglizi(Descurainiae Semen)", while the latter is known as "Northern Tinglizi(Lepidii Semen)". To scientifically and accurately identify the origin of Tinglizi medicinal materials and traditional Chinese medicine products, this study developed a specific DNA mini-barcode based on chloroplast genome sequences. By combining the DNA mini-barcode with DNA metabarcoding technology, a method for the qualitative and quantitative identification of Tinglizi medicinal materials and Chinese patent medicines was established. In this study, chloroplast genomes of Southern Tinglizi and Northern Tinglizi and seven commonly encountered counterfeit products were downloaded from the GenBank database. Suitable polymorphic regions were identified to differentiate these species, enabling the development of the DNA mini-barcode. Using DNA metabarcoding technology, medicinal material mixtures of Southern and Northern Tinglizi, as well as the most common counterfeit product, Capsella bursa-pastoris seeds, were analyzed to validate the qualitative and quantitative capabilities of the mini-barcode and determine its minimum detection limit. Additionally, the mini-barcode was applied to Chinese patent medicines containing Tinglizi to authenticate their botanical origin. The results showed that the developed mini-barcode(psbB) exhibited high accuracy and specificity, effectively distinguishing between the two authentic origins of Tinglizi and commonly encountered counterfeit products. The analysis of mixtures demonstrated that the mini-barcode had excellent qualitative and quantitative capabilities, accurately identifying the composition of Chinese medicinal materials in mixed samples with varying proportions. Furthermore, the analysis of Chinese patent medicines revealed the presence of the adulterant species(Capsella bursa-pastoris) in addition to the authentic species(Southern and Northern Tinglizi), indicating the occurrence of adulteration in commercially available Tinglizi-containing products. This study developed a method for the qualitative and quantitative identification of multi-origin Chinese medicinal materials and related products, providing a model for research on other multi-origin Chinese medicinal materials.
DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Drug Contamination ; Genome, Chloroplast ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of Huotan Jiedu Tongluo Decoction on atherosclerosis(AS) injury in ApoE~(-/-) mice by regulating the ferroptosis pathway. Seventy-five ApoE~(-/-) mice were randomly divided into model group, low-, medium-, and high-dose of Huotan Jiedu Tongluo Decoction groups, and evolocumab group(n=15), and 15 C57BL/6J mice were selected as the blank group. Mice in the blank group were fed with a normal diet, and those in the other groups were fed with a high-fat diet to induce AS. From the 9th week, mice in Huotan Jiedu Tongluo Decoction groups were administrated with Huotan Jiedu Tongluo Decoction at corresponding doses by gavage, and those in the blank group and the model group were given an equal volume of distilled water. Mice in the evolocumab group were treated with evolocumab 18.2 mg·kg~(-1 )by subcutaneous injection every 2 weeks. After 8 weeks of continuous intervention, oil red O staining and hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining were employed to observe the lipid deposition and plaque formation in the aortic root. Masson staining was used to evaluate the collagen content in the aortic root. The serum levels of total cholesterol(TC), triglycerides(TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) were determined by biochemical kits. The levels of Fe~(2+), superoxide dismutase(SOD), malondialdehyde(MDA), and glutathione(GSH) in the aorta were measured by colorimetry. The protein and mRNA levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2), glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4), solute carrier family 7 member 11(SLC7A11), and acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 4(ACSL4) in the aorta were detected by Western blot and RT-qPCR, respectively. The expression of Nrf2, GPX4, and SLC7A11 was localized by immunofluorescence. The results showed that low-, medium-, and high-dose Huotan Jiedu Tongluo Decoction reduced the plaque formation of aortic root and increased the collagen content in AS mice. At the same time, Huotan Jiedu Tongluo Decoction improved the lipid metabolism by lowering the levels of TC, LDL-C, and TG and elevating the level of HDL-C in the serum. Huotan Jiedu Tongluo Decoction enhanced the antioxidant capacity by elevating the levels of GSH and SOD and lowering the level of MDA in the aorta and inhibiting the accumulation of Fe~(2+) in the aorta. In addition, Huotan Jiedu Tongluo Decoction up-regulated the protein and mRNA levels of Nrf2, GPX4, and SLC7A11, while down-regulating the protein and mRNA levels of ACSL4. In summary, Huotan Jiedu Tongluo Decoction can effectively alleviate AS lesions in ApoE~(-/-) mice by activating the Nrf2/GPX4 pathway, reducing lipid peroxidation, and inhibiting ferroptosis.
Animals ; Ferroptosis/drug effects* ; Atherosclerosis/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/genetics* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Apolipoproteins E/metabolism* ; Male ; Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Humans ; Mice, Knockout

This study explored the mechanism of Xiangsha Liujunzi Decoction(XSLJZD) in the treatment of functional dyspepsia(FD) based on inositol-requiring enzyme 1(IRE1)/apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1(ASK1)/c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK) pathway-mediated autophagy in interstitial cells of Cajal(ICC). Forty-eight SPF-grade male SD suckling rats were randomly divided into a blank group and a modeling group, and the integrated modeling method(iodoacetamide gavage + disturbance of hunger and satiety + swimming exhaustion) was used to replicate the FD rat model. After the model replications were successfully completed, the rats were divided into a model group, high-dose, medium-dose, and low-dose groups of XSLJZD(12, 6, and 3 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and a positive drug group(mosapride of 1.35 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and the intervention lasted for 14 days. The gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsion rate of rats in each group were measured. The histopathological changes in the gastric sinus tissue of rats in each group were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The ultrastructure of ICC was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The immunofluorescence double staining technique was used to detect the protein expression of phospho-IRE1(p-IRE1), TNF receptor associated factors 2(TRAF2), phospho-ASK1(p-ASK1), phospho-JNK(p-JNK), p62, and Beclin1 in ICC of gastric sinus tissue of rats in each group. Western blot was used to detect the related protein expression of gastric sinus tissue of rats in each group. Compared with those in the blank group, the rats in the model group showed decreased body weight, gastric emptying rate, and intestinal propulsion rate, and transmission electron microscopy revealed damage to the endoplasmic reticulum structure and increased autophagosomes in ICC. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that the ICC of gastric sinus tissue showed a significant elevation of p-IRE1, TRAF2, p-ASK1, p-JNK, and Beclin1 proteins and a significant reduction of p62 protein. Western blot revealed that the expression levels of relevant proteins in gastric sinus tissue were consistent with those of proteins in ICC. Compared with the model group, the body weight of rats in the high-dose and medium-dose groups of XSLJZD was increased, and the gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsion rate were increased. Transmission electron microscopy observed amelioration of structural damage to the endoplasmic reticulum of ICC and reduction of autophagosomes, and the p-IRE1, TRAF2, p-ASK1, p-JNK, and Beclin1 proteins in the ICC of gastric sinus tissue were significantly decreased. The p62 protein was significantly increased. Western blot revealed that the expression levels of relevant proteins in gastric sinus tissue were consistent with those of proteins in ICC. XSLJZD can effectively treat FD, and its specific mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the expression of molecules related to the endoplasmic reticulum stress IRE1/ASK1/JNK pathway in ICC and the improvement of autophagy to promote gastric motility in ICC.
Animals ; Male ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Autophagy/drug effects* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Interstitial Cells of Cajal/metabolism* ; Dyspepsia/physiopathology* ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics* ; MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 5/genetics* ; MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects* ; Humans ; Endoribonucleases/genetics* ; Multienzyme Complexes

Myelin formation is considered the last true "invention" in the evolution of vertebrate nervous system cell structure. The rapid jumping pulse propagation achieved by myelin enables the high conduction speed that is the basis of human movement, sensation, and cognitive function. As a key structure in the brain, white matter is the gathering place of myelin. However, with age, white matter-associated functions become abnormal and a large number of myelin sheaths undergo degenerative changes, causing serious neurological and cognitive disorders. Despite the extensive time and effort invested in exploring myelination and its functions, numerous unresolved issues and challenges persist. In-depth exploration of the functional role of myelin may bring new inspiration for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases and even mental illnesses. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive examination of the structure and key molecules of the myelin in the CNS, delving into its formation process. Specifically, we propose a new hypothesis regarding the source of power for myelin expansion in which membrane compaction may serve as a driving force for myelin extension. The implications of this hypothesis could provide valuable insights into the pathophysiology of diseases involving myelin malfunction and open new avenues for therapeutic intervention in myelin-related disorders.
Myelin Sheath/metabolism* ; Humans ; Central Nervous System/metabolism* ; Animals

To address communication interference in complex noise environments inside and outside helmets,this study aims to improve the acoustic communication quality of in-helmet systems.A four-element microphone array communication hardware system was designed and implemented for use within the confined space of a helmet.Based on simulations of the internal acoustic field,the system incorporates a set of signal processing techniques,including array beamforming,echo cancellation,stationary noise speech enhancement,non-stationary noise suppression,and automatic gain control,forming a complete voice signal processing framework.Experimental results show that the proposed in-helmet microphone array noise reduction system achieves favorable downlink voice clarity under a total noise level of 85 dB(A),preliminarily validating the effectiveness and applicability of the implemented algorithms.This research provides essential technical and theoretical support for the future design and development of open-form in-helmet communication systems.

ObjectiveTo explore the potential mechanisms of a baicalin-geniposide combination against cerebral ischemia using a network pharmacology strategy.MethodWe used network pharmacology integrating drug-target-disease interactions to identify key pathways which were validated in a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model treated with baicalin (55 mg/kg), geniposide (5 mg/kg), or their 11:1 combination. Therapeutic efficacy and mechanistic insights were evaluated using triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining, Evans blue assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blot.ResultsThe results revealed that the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway is inhibited in combination treatment of cerebral ischemia. Ten targets were identified as key nodes in the protein–protein interaction network: interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β, interleukin 18, C–C motif ligand 2, C–C motif ligand 4, interleukin 10, interferon-γ-inducible protein 10, C–C motif ligand 3, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1α. The baicalin-geniposide combination significantly reduced infarct volume, improved neurological deficits, and alleviated brain edema/blood–brain barrier leakage compared with monotherapy. Additionally, it significantly inhibited toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/NF-κB signaling and downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 levels.ConclusionThe baicalin-geniposide combination alleviated cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by synergistically suppressing the TLR4/NF-κB pathway and its downstream inflammatory factors.