Patients with Takayasu arteritis combined with aortic valve disease often have a poor prognosis following surgical valve replacement, frequently encountering complications such as perivalvular leakage, valve detachment, and anastomotic aneurysm. This article presents a high-risk case wherein severe aortic valve insufficiency associated with Takayasu arteritis was successfully managed through transcatheter aortic valve implantation via the transapical approach. The patient had satisfactory valve function with no complications observed during the six-month postoperative follow-up. This case provides a minimally invasive and feasible alternative for the clinical management of such high-risk patients.

ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic mechanism of Danhe granules in treating mixed hyperlipidemia based on network pharmacology， as well as animal and cell experiments. MethodsThe active compounds and targets of Danhe granules were screened using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform （TCMSP） and the Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine （ETCM）. Related targets for mixed hyperlipidemia were obtained from the GeneCards database. The intersecting targets were subjected to Gene Ontology （GO） functional annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway enrichment analyses. A high-fat model was established in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells （HepG2） induced by palmitic acid （PA）， followed by intervention with Danhe granules to assess intracellular lipid accumulation and oxidative stress levels. A mixed hyperlipidemia rat model was also established and divided into low-， medium-， and high-dose Danhe granules groups （1.134， 2.268， and 4.536 g·kg^-1， respectively）， as well as a positive control group treated with pravastatin sodium （4.020 mg·kg^-1）. After eight weeks of intervention， serum lipid levels， inflammatory factors， oxidative stress indices， and the expression of key hepatic lipid metabolism-related proteins were determined. ResultsNetwork pharmacology identified 93 intersecting targets between Danhe granules and mixed hyperlipidemia， with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma （PPARG）， peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha （PPARA）， tumor necrosis factor （TNF）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and IL-1B among the key nodes. The PPAR signaling pathway， AGE/RAGE signaling pathway， lipid metabolism， atherosclerosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD） were among the most significantly enriched pathways. Cellular experiments demonstrated that Danhe granules significantly reduced reactive oxygen species （ROS） and malondialdehyde （MDA） levels while increasing catalase （CAT） activity （P<0.05）， thereby alleviating intracellular lipid accumulation and triglyceride （TG） content in HepG2. In animal experiments， Danhe granules markedly decreased serum total cholesterol （TC）， TG， and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C） levels （P<0.05）， reduced hepatic MDA levels， and elevated superoxide dismutase （SOD） and CAT levels. Histological analysis showed alleviation of hepatic steatosis， upregulation of hepatic PPARA and lipoprotein lipase （LPL） expressions， and downregulation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 （SREBP1） expression （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionDanhe granules improve lipid metabolism disorders in mixed hyperlipidemia by reducing MDA levels， enhancing SOD and CAT activities， scavenging excessive ROS， inhibiting oxidative stress， and mitigating liver injury. The underlying mechanism may involve the upregulation of PPARA and LPL and the suppression of SREBP1 expression.

ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic mechanism of Danhe granules in treating mixed hyperlipidemia based on network pharmacology， as well as animal and cell experiments. MethodsThe active compounds and targets of Danhe granules were screened using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform （TCMSP） and the Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine （ETCM）. Related targets for mixed hyperlipidemia were obtained from the GeneCards database. The intersecting targets were subjected to Gene Ontology （GO） functional annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway enrichment analyses. A high-fat model was established in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells （HepG2） induced by palmitic acid （PA）， followed by intervention with Danhe granules to assess intracellular lipid accumulation and oxidative stress levels. A mixed hyperlipidemia rat model was also established and divided into low-， medium-， and high-dose Danhe granules groups （1.134， 2.268， and 4.536 g·kg^-1， respectively）， as well as a positive control group treated with pravastatin sodium （4.020 mg·kg^-1）. After eight weeks of intervention， serum lipid levels， inflammatory factors， oxidative stress indices， and the expression of key hepatic lipid metabolism-related proteins were determined. ResultsNetwork pharmacology identified 93 intersecting targets between Danhe granules and mixed hyperlipidemia， with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma （PPARG）， peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha （PPARA）， tumor necrosis factor （TNF）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and IL-1B among the key nodes. The PPAR signaling pathway， AGE/RAGE signaling pathway， lipid metabolism， atherosclerosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD） were among the most significantly enriched pathways. Cellular experiments demonstrated that Danhe granules significantly reduced reactive oxygen species （ROS） and malondialdehyde （MDA） levels while increasing catalase （CAT） activity （P<0.05）， thereby alleviating intracellular lipid accumulation and triglyceride （TG） content in HepG2. In animal experiments， Danhe granules markedly decreased serum total cholesterol （TC）， TG， and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C） levels （P<0.05）， reduced hepatic MDA levels， and elevated superoxide dismutase （SOD） and CAT levels. Histological analysis showed alleviation of hepatic steatosis， upregulation of hepatic PPARA and lipoprotein lipase （LPL） expressions， and downregulation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 （SREBP1） expression （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionDanhe granules improve lipid metabolism disorders in mixed hyperlipidemia by reducing MDA levels， enhancing SOD and CAT activities， scavenging excessive ROS， inhibiting oxidative stress， and mitigating liver injury. The underlying mechanism may involve the upregulation of PPARA and LPL and the suppression of SREBP1 expression.

AIM:To investigate the effect of peripheral defocus design rigid gas permeable contact lenses(defocus RGPCL)in controlling myopia progression in children aged 6-12 y with high myopia, and to compare the outcomes with traditional single-vision RGPCL and single-vision spectacles.METHODS:This prospective cohort study enrolled children aged 6-12 y with high myopia who visited the Ophthalmology and Optometry Center of Xi'an No.1 Hospital between January 2022 and January 2023. Based on parental preference, participants were divided into three groups: defocused RGPCL group, single-vision RGPCL group, and single-vision spectacles group. The axial length(AL)and cycloplegic spherical equivalent(SE)refraction were compared at baseline, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 y after lens wear. Additionally, AL and SE delay rates were calculated for each group.RESULTS: This study enrolled a total of 90 children with high myopia(180 eyes), with no participants lost to follow-up. Participants were allocated into three groups based on parental preference. Thirty children(60 eyes)were assigned to the peripheral defocus RGPCL group, consisting of 12 boys and 18 girls with a mean age of 9.96±1.56 y; 30 children(60 eyes)to the single-vision RGPCL group, including 15 boys and 15 girls with a mean age of 9.40±1.52 y; and 30 children(60 eyes)to the single-vision spectacles group, with 14 boys and 16 girls and a mean age of 9.80±1.37 y. At 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 y lens fitting, AL and SE increased significantly in all three groups(all P<0.05), with the growth rates in the defocused RGPCL group being significantly lower than those in the single-vision RGPCL and single-vision spectacles groups(all P<0.05). At 2 y lens fitting, the AL elongation was 0.22±0.24 mm and the mean SE progression was 0.70±0.70 D in the peripheral defocus RGPCL group; 0.49±0.38 mm and 1.34±0.60 D in the single-vision RGPCL group; and 0.50±0.21 mm and 1.72±0.47 D in the single-vision spectacles group. Using the single-vision spectacles group as the control, the AL delay rate and SE delay rate at 2 y lens fitting were 56.0% and 59.3%, respectively, in the defocused RGPCL group.CONCLUSION:For children with high myopia aged 6-12 y, defocus RGPCLs can effectively and significantly delay AL elongation and SE progression, demonstrating markedly superior control efficacy compared to single-vision RGPCL or single-vision spectacles. Defocused RGPCL can serve as an effective optical intervention for high myopia children.

Objective To analyze the changes in the respiratory characteristics of the upper respiratory tract under nasal obstruction conditions,to identify the disparities in the flow-heat transfer processes within the respiratory tract,and to provide auxiliary support for the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases.Methods We established in this study a three-dimensional(3-D)model of the human upper respiratory tract based on computed tomography(CT)data.Computational fluid dynamics methods were used to compare and analyze the flow and heat transfer characteristics of the human upper respiratory tract under normal breathing and nasal obstructive conditions.Results During normal breathing,the complex geometric shapes and large areas of heat transfer inside the nasal cavity of humans allowed the respiratory airflow in the posterior part of the nasal cavity to be warmed close to the body temperature.Under unilateral nasal obstruction,relatively high-speed gas and low-speed gas quickly mixed up and homogenized in the posterior part of the nasal cavity,and the airflow underwent sufficient heat transfer in the nasal cavity.Under bilateral nasal obstruction,air was inhaled through the mouth,and the flow velocity was significantly higher at the nasopharynx and the airway entrance compared to that of normal nasal air intake.Moreover,the heat transfer intensity of the airflow in the oral cavity was relatively weak,and the temperature rise of the airflow in the oral cavity was relatively small.Conclusion A stable nasal breathing pattern plays an important role in maintaining human respiratory comfort and preventing respiratory diseases.

Objective To investigate the effects of scoparone(Sco)on proliferation and invasion of colon cancer cell line HCT116,and its effect on the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR).Methods 1)HCT116 cells were divided into control group,50Sco group,100Sco group and 200Sco group.The cells in con-trol group were incubated with culture medium for 48 hrs.The 50Sco group,100Sco group and 200Sco group were incubated with 50,100 and 200 μmol/L scoparone for 48 hrs respectively.2)HCT116 cells were divided into con-trol group,NC-200Sco group,NC-LV+200Sco group and EGFR-LV+200Sco group.The control group was incuba-ted with normal culture medium for 48 hrs.NC-200Sco group was incubated with 200 μmol/L scoparone for 48 hrs.NC-LV and EGFR-LV were infected into HCT116 cells in NC-LV+200Sco group and EGFR-LV+200Sco group,then incubated with 200 μmol/L scoparone for 48 hrs.Cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay and EdU stai-ning,cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry and cell invasion was detected by Transwell assay.EGFR mRNA was detected by RT-qPCR,the level of EGFR,Bcl-2,Bax,matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-2 and MMP-9 protein was detected by Western blot.Results Compared to the control group,the cell viability,proportion of EdU positive cells and counting number of invasive cells in 50Sco group,100Sco group and 200Sco group all decreased(P＜0.05).Cell apoptosis rate and Bax protein expression increased(P＜0.05),the protein expression of Bcl-2,MMP-2 and MMP-9 decreased(P＜0.05).mRNA and protein expression of EGFR were de-creased(P＜0.05).Compared with NC-200 Sco group and NC-LV+200Sco group,the expression level of mRNA and protein of EGFR in EGFR-LV+200Sco group was increased(P＜0.05).Cell viability,proportion of EdU posi-tive cells and counting number of invasive cells all increased(P＜0.05).The cell apoptosis rate and Bax protein expression level were decreased(P＜0.05).The protein expression of Bcl-2,MMP-2 and MMP-9 was increased(P＜0.05).Conclusions Scoparone has anti-colon cancer cell activity and inhibits proliferation as well as invasion of colon cancer cells through inhibition of EGFR.

Objective To screen the independent influencing factors for gastrointestinal bleeding(GIB)in hospitalized patients with coronary heart disease(CHD)and to construct and validate a no-mogram prediction model.Methods A total of 440 CHD patients who developed GIB during hospi-talization were selected as GIB group,and another 320 CHD patients hospitalized in the department of cardiovascular medicine were randomly selected as non-GIB group.The clinical data of the two groups were analyzed and compared.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to screen the indepen-dentinfluencing factors for GIB.Based on these factors,a nomogram prediction model for the risk of GIB in hospitalized CHD patients was constructed.The entire dataset was randomly divided into train-ing set(n=532)and validation set(n=228)in a 7∶3 ratio.The performance of the nomogram model was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve,calibration curve,and decision curve analysis(DCA).Results Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that body mass index(BMI),history of digestive system diseases,CHD classification,albumin,white blood cell count,monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio(MLR),and low-density lipoprotein were all independent influencing factors for GIB in CHD patients(P＜0.05).ROC curve analysis indicated that the nomo-gram model(excluding low-density lipoprotein)constructed based on independent influencing factors exhibited good discrimination in both the training set(area under the curve:0.839,95％CI,0.805 to 0.873)and the validation set(area under the curve:0.810,95％CI,0.751 to 0.868).Calibration curve analysis demonstrated good consistency between the predicted probabilities and the observed incidence of GIB in hospitalized CHD patients in both the training and validation sets.DCA results revealed that the nomogram model had a good clinical net benefit.Conclusion The nomogram model constructed based on independent influencing factors has good predictive performance for the risk of GIB in hospitalized CHD patients and can provide a basis for clinicians to promptly identify GIB and adjust medication regimens.

Objective To investigate the clinical manifestations of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)and their associations with TCM constitutions in individuals who have migrated to plateau areas,and to provide a scientific basis for plateau health management.Methods Migrants living in areas above 3000 m were selected as research subjects.Data were collected by using TCM symptom assessment scales and constitution assessment scales.Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted to determine the incidence and severity of symptoms among individuals with different migration durations,and core symptoms were identified.Factor analysis was performed by using SPSS software to extract symptom clusters and explore the correlation between core symptoms and TCM constitutions.Results Among individuals who migrated to plateau areas,the incidence of discomfort symptoms was 83.44％.The five most common symptoms were dry skin(67.94％),forgetfulness(56.03％),dry mouth(52.06％),yellow urine(48.73％),and insomnia(47.14％).In the top 10 symptoms with the highest increase in incidence,yellow urine(33.51％)and forgetfulness(26.33％)were both present in the top 10 symptoms across different migration durations.Factor analysis extracted 5,2,4,and 6 symptom clusters from the overall population,individuals who migrated within 1 year,those who migrated for 1-2 years,and those who migrated over 2 years,respectively.Qi-deficiency constitution(QDC),blood stasis constitution(BSC),qi stagnation constitution(QSC),phlegm-dampness constitution(PDC),and dampness-heat constitution(DHC)were significantly positively correlated with forgetfulness.Conclusion Migrating to plateau areas can induce discomfort symptoms,and both the number and incidence of symptoms increase with longer migration durations.The number and incidence of high-frequency symptoms(incidence≥30％)increase with prolonged migration time.There are differences in the composition and severity of symptom clusters across different migration durations.QDC,BSC,QSC,PDC,and DHC are closely related to forgetfulness and can be considered risk constitutions for forgetfulness.Timely attention to changes in symptom clusters and constitutions can help prevent and mitigate the occurrence and development of symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: Poxviruses are zoonotic pathogens that infect humans, mammals, vertebrates, and arthropods. However, the specific role of ticks in transmission and evolution of these viruses remains unclear. METHODS: Transcriptomic and metatranscriptomic raw data from 329 sampling pools of seven tick species across five continents were mined to assess the diversity and abundance of poxviruses. Chordopoxviral sequences were assembled and subjected to phylogenetic analysis to trace the origins of the unblasted fragments within these sequences. RESULTS: Fifty-eight poxvirus species, representing two subfamilies and 20 genera, were identified, with 212 poxviral sequences assembled. A substantial proportion of AT-rich fragments were detected in the assembled poxviral genomes. These genomic sequences contained fragments originating from rodents, archaea, and arthropods. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that ticks play a significant role in the transmission and evolution of poxviruses. These viruses demonstrate the capacity to modulate virulence and adaptability through horizontal gene transfer, gene recombination, and gene mutations, thereby promoting co-existence and co-evolution with their hosts. This study advances understanding of the ecological dynamics of poxvirus transmission and evolution and highlights the potential role of ticks as vectors and vessels in these processes.
Animals ; Poxviridae/physiology* ; Ticks/virology* ; Phylogeny ; Transcriptome ; Evolution, Molecular ; Poxviridae Infections/virology* ; Genome, Viral

OBJECTIVE: The study aim was to investigate the effects of exposure to multiple environmental organic pollutants on cardiopulmonary health with a focus on the potential mediating role of oxidative stress. METHODS: A repeated-measures randomized crossover study involving healthy college students in Beijing was conducted. Biological samples, including morning urine and venous blood, were collected to measure concentrations of 29 typical organic pollutants, including hydroxy polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OH-PAHs), bisphenol A and its substitutes, phthalates and their metabolites, parabens, and five biomarkers of oxidative stress. Health assessments included blood pressure measurements and lung function indicators. RESULTS: Urinary concentrations of 2-hydroxyphenanthrene (2-OH-PHE) ( β = 4.35% [95% confidence interval ( CI): 0.85%, 7.97%]), 3-hydroxyphenanthrene ( β = 3.44% [95% CI: 0.19%, 6.79%]), and 4-hydroxyphenanthrene (4-OH-PHE) ( β = 5.78% [95% CI: 1.27%, 10.5%]) were significantly and positively associated with systolic blood pressure. Exposures to 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OH-PYR) ( β = 3.05% [95% CI: -4.66%, -1.41%]), 2-OH-PHE ( β = 2.68% [95% CI: -4%, -1.34%]), and 4-OH-PHE ( β = 3% [95% CI: -4.68%, -1.29%]) were negatively associated with the ratio of forced expiratory volume in the first second to forced vital capacity. These findings highlight the adverse effects of exposure to multiple pollutants on cardiopulmonary health. Biomarkers of oxidative stress, including 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine and extracellular superoxide dismutase, mediated the effects of multiple OH-PAHs on blood pressure and lung function. CONCLUSION Exposure to multiple organic pollutants can adversely affect cardiopulmonary health. Oxidative stress is a key mediator of the effects of OH-PAHs on blood pressure and lung function.
Humans ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Male ; Cross-Over Studies ; Female ; Young Adult ; Environmental Pollutants/toxicity* ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects* ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Adult ; Blood Pressure/drug effects* ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/urine* ; Beijing