ObjectiveThis paper aims to use the digital muscle function assessment system Myoton PRO to assess the correlation between muscle tension，clinical characteristics， and traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） syndromes in patients with hepatolenticular degeneration ［also known as Wilson disease（WD）］. MethodsA total of 104 patients with WD accompanied by abnormal muscle tension（increased or decreased，hereinafter the same） who were hospitalized in the Brain Disease Centre of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from April 2021 to November 2023 were selected，all of whom were subjected to TCM syndrome diagnosis and Myoton PRO for the measurement of F value of muscle tension，Goldstein， and UWDRS-N scales. The age of onset of the disease and disease duration were analyzed，and the differences and correlations of the above indexes in different TCM syndromes of WD were analyzed ResultsAmong the 104 patients with WD ，the phlegm and stasis syndrome was the most common（60 patients），followed by the damp-heat syndrome（33 patients），and the least common was the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome（11 patients）. The F value of the phlegm and stasis syndrome group was higher than that of the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome group and the damp-heat syndrome group（P<0.01）. The F value of the damp-heat syndrome group was higher than that of the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome group（P<0.05），and the F value of the lower limbs of each group was higher than that of the upper limbs（P<0.01）. Goldstein and UWDRS-N scores of the patients in the phlegm and stasis syndrome group were higher than those in the damp-heat syndrome group and the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome group（P<0.05）. There was no significant difference between the Goldstein and UWDRS-N scores of patients in the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome group and the damp-heat syndrome group. Correlation analysis revealed that the age of onset and duration of the disease were positively correlated with the F values of the lower limbs（r=0.20，P<0.05，r=0.38，P<0.01）and had no significant correlation with those of the upper limbs. The F value levels of muscle tension of all limbs in the three groups of patients were positively correlated with the Goldstein and UWDRS-N scores（muscle tension of the upper limbs in the phlegm and stasis syndrome group，r=0.36，P<0.01，r=0.42，P<0.01. muscle tension of the lower limbs in the phlegm and stasis syndrome group，r=0.70，P<0.01，r=0.60，P<0.01. muscle tension of the upper limbs in the damp-heat syndrome group，r=0.64，P<0.01，r=0.53，P<0.01. muscle tension of the lower limbs in the damp-heat syndrome group，r=0.59，P<0.01，r=0.70，P<0.01. muscle tension of the upper limbs in the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome group，r=0.70，P<0.01，r=0.74，P<0.01. muscle tension of the lower limbs in the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome group，r=0.85，P<0.01，r=0.62，P<0.01）. Conlusion： The digital muscle function assessment system Myoton PRO can objectively evaluate the muscle tension level of patients with WD accompanied by abnormal muscle tension. This level has significant differences among different TCM syndromes and can evaluate the patient's condition to some extent.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a medical condition characterized by cardiac remodeling and dysfunction in individuals with diabetes mellitus. Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and mitochondrial Ca²⁺ overload in cardiomyocytes have been recognized as biological hallmarks in DCM; however, the specific factors underlying these abnormalities remain largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of a cardiac-specific long noncoding RNA, D830005E20Rik (Trdn-as), in DCM. Our results revealed the remarkably upregulation of Trdn-as in the hearts of the DCM mice and cardiomyocytes treated with high glucose (HG). Knocking down Trdn-as in cardiac tissues significantly improved cardiac dysfunction and remodeling in the DCM mice. Conversely, Trdn-as overexpression resulted in cardiac damage resembling that observed in the DCM mice. At the cellular level, Trdn-as induced Ca²⁺ overload in the SR and mitochondria, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction. RNA-seq and bioinformatics analyses identified calsequestrin 2 (Casq2), a primary calcium-binding protein in the junctional SR, as a potential target of Trdn-as. Further investigations revealed that Trdn-as facilitated the recruitment of METTL14 to the Casq2 mRNA, thereby enhancing the m⁶A modification of Casq2. This modification increased the stability of Casq2 mRNA and subsequently led to increased protein expression. When Casq2 was knocked down, the promoting effects of Trdn-as on Ca²⁺ overload and mitochondrial damage were mitigated. These findings provide valuable insights into the pathogenesis of DCM and suggest Trdn-as as a potential therapeutic target for this condition.
Animals ; Diabetic Cardiomyopathies/pathology* ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics* ; Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism* ; Mice ; Calsequestrin/genetics* ; Calcium/metabolism* ; Male ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism* ; Methyltransferases/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mitochondria, Heart/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mitochondria/metabolism*

ObjectiveTo investigate the incidence rate of sarcopenia in patients with Wilson’s disease （WD）-related liver cirrhosis， as well as the risk factors for sarcopenia and their impact on clinical outcomes. MethodsA total of 140 patients with WD-related liver cirrhosis who were treated in The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from January 2019 to June 2020， and according to the third lumbar skeletal muscle mass index （L3 SMI）， the patients were divided into sarcopenia group and non-sarcopenia group. Nutritional risk screening， anthropometric measurements， and blood biochemical tests were performed for the patients to identify the influencing factors for sarcopenia. The patients were followed up for 36 — 48 months， and survival status and complications were compared between the two groups. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups， and the chi-square test and the Mann-Whitney U rank sum test were used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. A binary Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the influencing factors for sarcopenia， and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to investigate the risk factors for the prognosis of patients with WD-related liver cirrhosis. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve was plotted， and the Log-rank test was used for comparison between groups. ResultsAmong the 140 patients with WD-related liver cirrhosis， 53 （37.9%） developed sarcopenia， with significantly lower body mass index （BMI） and L3 SMI than the patients without sarcopenia （t=10.550 and 3.982， both P<0.001）. The multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age （odds ratio ［OR］=2.243， 95% confidence interval ［CI］： 1.196 — 4.208， P=0.012）， sex （OR=0.450， 95%CI： 0.232 — 0.872， P=0.018）， BMI （OR=0.126， 95%CI： 0.089 — 0.294， P<0.001）， and hepatic encephalopathy （OR=8.367， 95%CI： 2.423 — 28.897， P<0.001） were the main influencing factors for sarcopenia in patients with WD-related liver cirrhosis. Compared with the non-sarcopenia group， the sarcopenia group had significantly higher mortality rate （χ²=6.158， P=0.019） and significantly higher incidence rates of infection （χ²=8.008， P=0.040）， recurrent abdominal/pleural efflux （χ²=17.742， P<0.001）， and hepatic encephalopathy （χ²=4.338， P=0.039）. The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that sarcopenia （hazard ratio ［HR］=4.685， P=0.002） and hepatic encephalopathy （HR=19.156， P<0.001） were independent risk factors for death in patients with WD-related liver cirrhosis. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed a significant reduction in survival rate in the patients with sarcopenia （P=0.003）. ConclusionSarcopenia is one of the manifestations of malnutrition in patients with WD-related liver cirrhosis， which increases the risk of mortality and other complications and has an adverse effect on prognosis. There is an increased risk of sarcopenia in male patients or patients with hepatic encephalopathy， a lower level of BMI or an older age.

Wilson's disease （WD） is a copper metabolism disorder caused by mutations in the ATP7B gene， with diverse phenotypes and complex pathogenesis. It is one of the few rare diseases that can achieve good clinical efficacy through standardized treatment. Since there are few systematic reviews of this disease， we summarize the pathogenesis and treatment methods of WD from traditional Chinese and western medicine by reviewing the literature related to WD. In western medicine， ATP7B gene mutation is considered as the root cause of WD， which affects copper transport and causes copper metabolism disorders. The excessive copper deposited in the body will result in oxidative stress， defects in mitochondrial function， and cell death. Western medicine treatment of WD relies mainly on drugs， and copper antagonists are the first choice in clinical practice， which are often combined with hepatoprotective and antioxidant therapy. Surgery is a common therapy for the patients with end-stage WD， and gene therapy provides an option for WD patients. According to the traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） theory， WD is rooted in constitutional deficiency and copper accumulation and triggered by dampness-heat accumulation or phlegm combined with stasis. The patient syndrome varies in different stages of the disease， and thus the treatment should be based on syndrome differentiation. The TCM treatment method of nourishing the liver and kidneys and warming the spleen and kidneys can address the root cause. The methods of clearing heat and drying dampness， resolving phlegm and dispelling stasis， and soothing liver and regulating qi movement can be adopted to treat symptoms. On the basis of syndrome differentiation， special prescriptions for the treatment of WD have been formulated， such as Gandou decoction， Gandouling， and Gandou Fumu decoction， which have been widely used in clinical practice. TCM and western medicine have their own advantages and shortcomings. The integrated Chinese and western medicine complementing with each other demonstrates great therapeutic potential. This paper summarizes the pathogenesis and treatment of WD with integrated Chinese and western medicine， aiming to provide a reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism and pathway of Gandou Fumu decoction （GDFMD） in the development of liver fibrosis in Wilson's disease （WD）. MethodFirst， 30 TX-j mice were randomly divided into the model group， high-dose， medium-dose， and low-dose GDFMD groups， and penicillamine group， with six mice in each group， and another six wild-type mice were used as the normal group. The high-dose， medium-dose， and low-dose GDFMD groups were intragastrically administered drugs of 13.92， 6.96， 3.48 g·kg^-1. In the penicillamine group， 0.1 g·kg^-1 of penicillamine was given by intragastric administration. The model group and the normal group were given equal volume of normal saline， once a day， for four consecutive weeks. Samples were collected four weeks after gavage， and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect type Ⅲ procollagen peptide （PCⅢ）， collagen type Ⅳ （Col Ⅳ）， hyaluronic acid （HA）， and laminin （LN）. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE）， Masson， and picric acid-Sirus red collagen （Sirus Red） staining were used to observe the histopathological changes of liver fibrosis. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）， immunohistochemistry， and Western blot were used to observe the expressions of α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA） and collagen type Ⅰ （Col Ⅰ）， which were related to the activation of hepatic stellate cells （HSCs）. The expression of miR-29b-3p was observed by Real-time PCR. The expression of Unc-51-like kinase 1 （ULK1） and its downstream-related factors were observed by Western blot. The downstream genes of miR-29b-3p were verified by the dual luciferase reporter gene detection method. ResultCompared with the normal group， the four items of liver fibrosis （PCⅢ， Col Ⅳ， HA， and LN） in the model group were significantly abnormal （P<0.01）， and the pathology was significantly abnormal. The expression of HSC activation-related indicators including α-SMA and Col Ⅰ， as well as α-SMA mRNA and Col Ⅰ mRNA was up-regulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and miR-29b-3p expression was down-regulated （P<0.01）. ULK1， p-ULK1， autophagy-related gene 13 （Atg13）， p-Atg13， Beclin-1， FAK family kinase-interacting protein of 200 kDa （FIP200）， activating molecule in BECN1-regulated autophagy protein 1 （AMBKA1）， and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3Ⅱ/Ⅰ（LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ） were up-regulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. p62 protein expression was down-regulated （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the four items of liver fibrosis in the high-dose， medium-dose， and low-dose GDFMD groups and the penicillamine group were significantly improve （P<0.01）， and the pathological conditions were improved. The expression of HSC activation-related indicators including α-SMA and Col Ⅰ， as well as α-SMA mRNA and Col Ⅰ mRNA was down-regulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the expression of miR-29b-3p was up-regulated （P<0.01）. ULK1， p-ULK1， Atg13， p-Atg13， Beclin-1， FIP200， AMBKA1， and LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ were down-regulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and p62 protein expression was up-regulated （P<0.01）. The prediction software predicted that there was a binding site between miR-29b-3p and ULK1. The dual-luciferase reporter gene detection method indicated that the luciferase activity of the ULK1-WT plasmid-transfected cell group was reduced when miR-29b-3p mimics were co-cultured （P<0.01）. ConclusionGDFMD can regulate ULK1-mediated autophagy by up-regulating miR-29b-3p and further exert its anti-hepatic fibrosis effect in Wilson's disease.

The syndrome differentiation of Yin and Yang has the function of controlling the other six principles in the eight principles syndrome differentiation，which is a higher level or general induction of the disease. In the clinical process of traditional Chinese medicine，syndrome differentiation of Yin and Yang runs through the whole process of disease diagnosis and treatment. For Parkinson's disease，syndrome differentiation of Yin and Yang is particularly important. Different symptoms，the transformation of pathogenesis during the development of the disease and the treatment of traditional Chinese and western medicine all reflect the characteristics of Yin and Yang opposition restriction，mutual root and mutual use，and the transformation of ebb and flow. This article discusses the background，application and value of Yin-Yang syndrome differentiation from three aspects：the origin and application of yin-yang syndrome differentiation，the basis of Parkinson's disease syndrome differentiation，and the status and role of Yin-Yang syndrome differentiation in Parkinson's disease. It is of great significance to guide the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's disease with "Yin-Yang as the key point".

Objective:To explore the influencing factors of left ventricular thrombus (LVT) in patients with non-ischemic heart failure (NIHF) and to construct a nomogram prediction model for NIHF patients with LVT.Methods:This study was a case-control study. A total of 2 592 patients with NIHF hospitalized in Beijing Anzhen Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 2018 to July 2022 were selected. Fifty-one patients with LVT identified by echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance were classified into LVT group. One hundred and sixty patients were selected as the non-LVT group using a 1∶3 propensity score matching based on age and gender. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of LVT in patients with NIHF. A nomogram prediction model was constructed, and the area under (AUC) the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was calculated to evaluate the predictive effect of the model.Results:A total of 211 patients were enrolled, with a median age of 40 years old and 160 males (76%). Compared with non-LVT group, LVT group had lower systolic blood pressure ((112±20) mmHg vs. (120±19) mmHg; 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF; (27±12)% vs. (39±14)% ), lower proportion of patients with history of hypertension (28% (14/51) vs. 44% (70/160)) and atrial fibrillation (8% (4/51)vs.39% (62/160)), higher proportion of patients with New York Heart Association functional class Ⅲ to Ⅳ (class Ⅲ: 59% (30/51) vs. 41% (66/160); class Ⅳ: 28% (14/51) vs. 19% (31/160)), and larger left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD; (56±14) mm vs. (50±15) mm). The levels of hemoglobin ((152±23) g/L vs. (142±30) g/L), D-dimer (508 (300, 1 105) μg/L vs. 158 (68, 379) μg/L), and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (3 429 (2 462, 4 734) ng/L vs. 1 288 (422, 2 544) ng/L) were higher in LVT group than in non-LVT group ( P all<0.05). LVT group had a higher proportion of patients using beta-blockers (92% (47/51) vs. 78% (124/160)), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers or angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitors (88% (45/51) vs. 72% (115/160)), and anticoagulant drugs (98% (50/51) vs. 32% (51/160)) than non-LVT group (all P <0.05). Multivariate logistic regression showed that reduced LVEF ( OR=1.08, 95% CI 1.02-1.15, P=0.008), decreased LVESD ( OR=1.07, 95% CI 1.01-1.12, P=0.013), and increased D-dimer levels ( OR=5.40, 95% CI 1.98-14.74, P=0.001) were independent influencing factors for LVT in patients with NIHF. The ROC curve showed that the AUC of the nomogram for predicting LVT in patients with NIHF was 0.793 (95% CI 0.710-0.876, P<0.001). Conclusion:Reduced LVEF, decreased LVESD, and elevated D-dimer are associated with LVT in NIHF patients. The predictive model developed based on the above indicators has certain value in predicting LVT in NIHF patients.

Objective:To investigates the role and mechanism of ferroptosis in combined burn-blast injury with acute lung injury in rats.Methods:This study was an experimental study. Twenty-four 8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control group and experimental group by random number table method, each containing 12 animals. The rats in experimental group were anesthetized and subjected to explosion treatment to create the model of combined burn-blast injury with acute lung injury, whereas the rats in control group underwent sham injury. At 24 hours post injury, the pathological morphology of lung tissue was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemical staining. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6 in the supernatant of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO 2) and arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO 2) of abdominal aortic blood were measured by automatic animal blood gas analyzer. The lung tissue was weighed and the wet-dry weight ratio was calculated. The total protein concentration in BALF was measured by bicinchoninic acid assay. Lung injury was scored based on hematoxylin-eosin staining. The levels of oxidative stress factors, such as reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione, and ferrous ion in lung tissue homogenate of rats were detected by related kits. The expression levels of ferroptosis-related molecule glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), lipid peroxidation-related molecule 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), and oxidative DNA damage-related molecule 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in lung tissue were detected by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry methods. Mitochondrial morphology in lung tissue cells was observed under transmission electron microscopy. The sample number was all 6. Results:At 24 hours post injury, the lung tissue structure of rats in control group was clear and complete, and the alveolar wall was normal; in experimental group, the lung tissue edema of rats was obvious, the alveolar wall became thicker, and the structure was not clear. At 24 hours post injury, compared with those in control group, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in BALF supernatant of rats in experimental group were significantly increased (with t values of 3.96, 9.84, and 10.60, respectively, P<0.05); the wet-dry weight ratio of lung tissue, lung injury score, and total protein concentration in BALF of rats in experimental group were significantly increased (with t values of 6.91, 6.64, and 10.04, respectively, P<0.05), PaO 2 of abdominal aortic blood decreased significantly ( t=8.85, P<0.05) while PaCO 2 did not change significantly ( P>0.05); the levels of SOD and glutathione in the lung tissue homogenate of rats in experimental group were significantly decreased (with t values of 4.36 and 8.56, respectively, P<0.05), while the levels of reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, and ferrous ion were significantly increased (with t values of 11.55, 9.78, and 14.77, respectively, P<0.05). At 24 hours post injury, immunofluorescence staining and immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression levels of GPX4 in lung tissue of rats in experimental group were 0.245±0.024 and 0.786±0.240, respectively, which were significantly lower than 1.000±0.305 and 1.000±0.200 in control group (with t values of 6.05 and 2.60, respectively, P<0.05); the expression levels of 4-HNE in lung tissue of rats in experimental group were 5.93±1.05 and 2.21±0.23, respectively, which were significantly higher than 1.00±0.29 and 1.00±0.23 in control group (with t values of 11.13 and 9.16, respectively, P<0.05); the expression levels of 8-OHdG in lung tissue of rats in experimental group were 2.08±0.40 and 1.61±0.29, respectively, which were significantly higher than 1.00±0.40 and 1.00±0.26 in control group (with t values of 4.72 and 3.87, respectively, P<0.05). At 24 hours post injury, compared with that in control group, the density of mitochondrial double-layer membrane in the lung tissue cells of rats in experimental group increased, the outer membrane ruptured, and the crista decreased. Conclusions:In rats with combined burn-blast injury with acute lung injury, there is oxidative DNA damage in lung tissue cells, the imbalance of antioxidant system in lung tissue, and a decrease in the expression of GPX4, the key molecule against ferroptosis, suggesting that ferroptosis is involved in the pathophysiological process of this disease.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of arthroscopic anatomical reconstruction of the ligament with autologous semitendinosus tendon in the treatment of chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI) complicated with multiple ligament laxity.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the 34 patients with CLAI plus multiple ligament laxity who had been treated at Foot and Ankle Surgery Center, The Fourth Hospital of Wuhan from March 2014 to December 2021. They were 8 males and 26 females with an age of (32.2±5.6) years. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on their treatment methods. A reconstruction group of 20 cases were treated by arthroscopic reconstruction of the ligament with autologous semitendinosus tendon while a repair group of 14 cases treated by arthroscopic repair of the ligament with the modified Brostr?m procedure. The 2 groups were compared in terms of surgical time, and the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, talar tilt (TT), anterior translation of the talus (ATT), and complications at the last follow-up.Results:The 2 groups were comparable because there were no statistically significant differences in the general data, AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score, VAS pain score, TT, or ATT before surgery between the 2 groups ( P > 0.05). The surgical time for the reconstruction group [(97.5±11.4) min] was significantly longer than that for the repair group [(53.6±10.7) min] ( P < 0.05). All the 34 patients were followed up for (35.4±3.5) months. The TT, ATT, AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score, and VAS pain score at the last follow-up were all significantly improved compared with the preoperative values in both groups ( P < 0.05). The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score [(90.6±3.6) points], TT (6.0°±1.5°), and ATT [(3.6±1.4) mm] at the last follow-up in the reconstruction group were all significantly better than those in the repair group [(84.1±11.0) points, 8.6°±4.3°, and (6.6±4.1) mm] ( P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the VAS pain score between the 2 groups at the last follow-up ( P > 0.05). All incisions healed at one stage without such complications as nerve or vascular injury. CLAI recurrence occurred in 5 cases in the repair group, significant worse than that in the reconstruction group (no recurrence) ( P=0.015). Conclusion:In the treatment of CLAI complicated with multiple ligament laxity, arthroscopic anatomical reconstruction of the ligament with autologous semitendinosus tendon can effectively improve ankle function, enhance ankle stability, and reduce recurrence of the condition.