Objective This study reports on the obligatory parasitism of water mites Arrenurus sp. on Anopheles messeae at the Manzhouli Port, Inner Mongolia, China. Methods Duing July 2024, a survey on the mosquito diversity was conducted at the Manzhouli Port. Captured mosquitoes and their ectoparasites were identified to species level. Results A total of 1840 adult mosquitoes were collected, representing species from three genera: Culex(Cx. modestus, Cx. pipiens pallens), Aedes(Ae. dorsalis, Ae. flavidorsalis, Ae. flavescens), and Anopheles (An. messeae). Among all the mosqutioes specimens,3 out of 150 captured An. messeae were found to carry ectoparasitic mites, with number of 2,4,27 mites separately. Morphological and molecular identification reached the same result as water mites(Hydrachnidiae, Hydracrina). COI gene sequence showed 94% similarity with the closest species Arrenurus truncatellus. Conlusions Literature review suggests water mites are host-specific parasitism of mosquito species and herein with the first record of Arrenurus sp. parasiting on An. Messeae in the most high-latitude region globally.

OBJECTIVE To construct a predictive tool for surgical site infections(SSIs)in spinal surgery for Chi-nese population to provide evidence support for reducing SSIs.METHODS A systematic review of Chinese and English database literature was conducted for Meta-analysis to obtain pooled risk values for influencing factors,and a risk prediction scoring tool was constructed based on the logistic regression model.Patients who underwent spinal surgery and completed postoperative follow-up in a tertiary hospital in Beijing from Jan.to Dec.2021 were selected to validate the predictive effect of the tool.RESULTS The predictive model for SSIs in Chinese spinal sur-gery patients was Logit(P)=—3.47+0.63(age 60 years)+0.31 ×(patient with cardiovascular disease)+0.69 ×(rheumatoid arthritis)+1.07 ×(diabetes)+1.06 ×(operation duration＞3 h)+1.17 ×(preopera-tive albumin＜35 g/L)+0.71 ×(history of spinal surgery)+0.67 ×(carrying internal implants)+0.73 ×(blood transfusion).The total score of the predictive tool was 92,with a cutoff score of≥24.50 indicating high-risk individuals.The area under the curve was 0.733,with the sensitivity 58.30％and the specificity 79.60％.CONCLUSION The established predictive model for SSIs in Chinese spine surgery demonstrates good predictive performance and can be used as a reference assessment tool in clinical practice.

Chrysophanol(Chr)and physcion(Phy)are primary active ingredients of a well-known traditional Chinese medicine namely rhubarb(Chinese name:Dahuang),and their glucuronides have been revealed as the dominant forms presenting in rats after oral administration.Either Chr or Phy has two glycosylation sites,resulting in a pair of positional isomers for glucuronides of either compound(CG1&CG2 and PG1&PG2).To confirmatively identify these glucuronides,energy-resolved mass spectrometry(ER-MS)was used to pursue the fragmentation trajectories of the targeted fragment ions,and the resultant breakdown graphs that were described by the optimal collision energy(OCE)were expected to exhibit the differences of glycosidic bond cleavage between the isomers.Quantum chemical calculation was thereafter conducted to produce the bond dissociation energy(BDE)of the glycosidic bonds.The isomers were unambiguously identified through applying the positive correlation rule between OCE and BDE.Fortunately,the glucuronides of Chr and Phy in vivo were observed through liver microsomes incubationin vitro.ER-MS was utilized to collect the Gaussian-shaped breakdown graphs in response to the neutral loss of 176 Da,and the absolute values of OCE were compared between positional isomers.The results revealed that CG1(-32.31 eV)>CG2(-31.61 eV),and nonetheless,PG1(-30.00 eV)Chr-8-GluA(-48.787 kJ/mol),and nonetheless,Phy-1-GluA(-48.672 kJ/mol)

Aim To investigate the effects of rosavin on hepatocellular steatosis and its mechanism of action.Methods AML-12 and HepG2 cells were induced to undergo hepatocellular steatosis by free fatty acids(FFA),and the optimal inducing concentration was determined by oil red O staining and CCK-8 assay.The cell activity was detected by CCK-8 assay after ro-savin treatment,and the lipid droplet accumulation was observed by oil red O staining.The levels of triglycer-ide(TG),total cholesterol(TC),glutamic oxalacetic transaminase(AST),glutamic pyruvic transaminase(ALT),superoxide dismutase(SOD),glutathione per-oxidase(GSH-Px),and malondialdehyde(MDA)were detected by kits.The potential targets of rosavin in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)were ana-lyzedby network pharmacology and molecular docking,and the expression of core candidate targets before and after the rosavin intervention was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.Results Hepatocyte steatosis was induced by FFA,and the intervention of rosavin(25,50 μmol·L-1)reduced the number of intracellular lipid droplets in hepatocytes in a dose-de-pendent manner,also lowered the cellular levels of TG,TC,AST,ALT,elevated the levels of SOD and GSH-Px,and reduced the levels of MDA.Network pharma-cological analysis and molecular docking yielded five core candidate targets:NOS3,MAPK14,PPARG,TNF-α,and IGF-1,and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR showed that the action of loxavir significantly re-duced the gene expression of TNF-α and PPARG in hepatocytes after FFA induction.Conclusions Rosa-vin can attenuate the inflammatory response,oxidative stress level,and lipid accumulation in hepatocytes by modulating TNF-α and PPARG,thereby ameliorating FFA-induced hepatocellular steatosis.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a highly prevalent chronic metabolic disease with an increasing incidence worldwide, that poses a significant risk to public health. In many current clinical practices for diabetes management, conventional Western treatments, including oral or injectable hypoglycemic agents, have serious side effects. Given that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is characterized by a multi-component, multi-target and multi-pathway approach, its combination with Western medicine could enhance efficacy and reduce adverse effects. Consequently, the use of TCM as a potential auxiliary or alternative treatment for the prevention and/or management of T2DM has emerged as a research hotspot. This article reviews existing reports on TCM in the treatment of T2DM and provides a detailed discussion of its applications. By integrating relevant clinical evidence, this review summarizes the clinical data on 23 TCM formulas and Chinese patent medicines, comprehensively describing their efficacy and potential pharmacological mechanisms in the treatment of T2DM. This includes an exploration of the impacts of TCM-based therapeutic interventions on T2DM-related microRNAs and their target genes. We hope this review not only offers new insights for future research directions but also enhances the understanding of the scientific value of TCM. Please cite this article as: Ni HX, Cao LH, Gong XX, Zang ZY, Chang H. Traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus: Clinical evidence and pharmacological mechanisms. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(6):605-622.
Humans ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Hypoglycemic Agents/pharmacology*

OBJECTIVE: To explore and quantify the association of hot night exposure during the sperm development period (0-90 lag days) with semen quality. METHODS: A total of 6,640 male sperm donors from 6 human sperm banks in China during 2014-2020 were recruited in this multicenter study. Two indices (i.e., hot night excess [HNE] and hot night duration [HND]) were used to estimate the heat intensity and duration during nighttime. Linear mixed models were used to examine the association between hot nights and semen quality parameters. RESULTS: The exposure-response relationship revealed that HNE and HND during 0-90 days before semen collection had a significantly inverse association with sperm motility. Specifically, a 1 °C increase in HNE was associated with decreased sperm progressive motility of 0.0090 (95% confidence interval [ CI]: -0.0147, -0.0033) and decreased total motility of 0.0094 (95% CI: -0.0160, -0.0029). HND was significantly associated with reduced sperm progressive motility and total motility of 0.0021 (95% CI: -0.0040, -0.0003) and 0.0023 (95% CI: -0.0043, -0.0002), respectively. Consistent results were observed at different temperature thresholds on hot nights. CONCLUSION Our findings highlight the need to mitigate nocturnal heat exposure during spermatogenesis to maintain optimal semen quality.
Humans ; Male ; Semen Analysis ; Adult ; Sperm Motility ; Hot Temperature/adverse effects* ; China ; Middle Aged ; Spermatozoa/physiology* ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To investigate chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection's effect on gestational liver function, pregnancy and delivery complications, and neonatal development. METHODS: A total of 157 HCV antibody-positive (anti-HCV[+]) and HCV RNA(+) patients (Group C) and 121 anti-HCV(+) and HCV RNA(-) patients (Group B) were included as study participants, while 142 anti-HCV(-) and HCV RNA(-) patients (Group A) were the control group. Data on biochemical indices during pregnancy, pregnancy complications, delivery-related information, and neonatal complications were also collected. RESULTS: Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) rates in Group C during early, middle, and late pregnancy were 59.87%, 43.95%, and 42.04%, respectively-significantly higher than Groups B (26.45%, 15.70%, 10.74%) and A (23.94%, 19.01%, 6.34%) ( P < 0.05). Median ALT levels in Group C were significantly higher than in Groups A and B at all pregnancy stages ( P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in neonatal malformation rates across groups ( P > 0.05). However, neonatal jaundice incidence was significantly greater in Group C (75.16%) compared to Groups A (42.25%) and B (57.02%) ( χ ² = 33.552, P < 0.001). HCV RNA positivity during pregnancy was an independent risk factor for neonatal jaundice ( OR = 2.111, 95% CI 1.242-3.588, P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS Chronic HCV infection can affect the liver function of pregnant women, but does not increase the pregnancy or delivery complication risks. HCV RNA(+) is an independent risk factor for neonatal jaundice.
Humans ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Adult ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Infant, Newborn ; Viremia/virology* ; Hepatitis C ; Hepacivirus/physiology* ; Hepatitis C, Chronic/virology* ; Young Adult ; Alanine Transaminase/blood*

OBJECTIVE: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can result in fatigue and post-exertional malaise; however, whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection exacerbates lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) is unclear. This study investigated the association between prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection and postpartum LUTS. METHODS: A multicenter, retrospective cohort study was conducted at two tertiary hospitals in China from November 1, 2022, to November 1, 2023. Participants were classified into infected and uninfected groups based on SARS-CoV-2 antigen results. LUTS prevalence and severity were assessed using self-reported symptoms and the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-Short Form (IIQ-7). Pelvic floor muscle activity was measured using electromyography following the Glazer protocol. Group comparisons were performed to evaluate the association of SARS-CoV-2 infection with LUTS and electromyography parameters, with stratified analyses conducted using SPSS version 26.0. RESULTS: Among 3,652 participants (681 infected, 2,971 uninfected), no significant differences in LUTS prevalence or IIQ-7 scores were observed. However, SARS-CoV-2 infection was an independent factor influencing the electromyographic activity of the pelvic floor muscles (mean tonic contraction amplitudes), regardless of delivery mode ( P = 0.001). CONCLUSION Prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection was not significantly associated with an increased risk of postpartum LUTS but independently altered pelvic floor muscle electromyographic activity, suggesting potential neuromuscular effects.
Humans ; Female ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Adult ; Pregnancy ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms/virology* ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/virology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Electromyography ; SARS-CoV-2/physiology* ; Pelvic Floor/physiopathology* ; Prevalence

Objective To analyze the risk factors and effective predictive indicators for postpartum hemor-rhage(PPH)in pregnant women with severe pre-eclampsia(sPE)in singleton pregnancies.The findings will serve as a valuable reference for the clinical prevention and management of PPH in these patients.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 932 pregnant women with sPE at two tertiary hospitals in Guangzhou from January 1,2016,to December 31,2022.Among these,95 cases were complicated by PPH.A comparative analysis was performed between the sPE group and the sPE with PPH group.Results(1)The incidence of assisted reproductive technology,intrapartum blood loss,placental abruption,elevated D-dimer levels,increased monocyte counts,and higher SIRI levels were significantly higher in the PPH group,whereas platelet counts were significantly lower(P<0.05).(2)The results indicated that intrapartum blood loss,D-dimer levels,and platelet counts were inde-pendently associated with PPH in pregnant women with sPE.(3)The area under the curve(AUC)for intrapartum blood loss,D-dimer,and platelet counts were 0.805,0.717,and 0.571,respectively.The optimal cutoff value for D-dimer was determined to be 2.295 μg/mL.The combined AUC for intrapartum blood loss and D-dimer was 0.859.(4)Intrapartum blood loss values were significantly higher in the PPH group for both vaginal delivery and cesarean section(P<0.001).The corresponding optimal cutoff values were 285 mL and 375 mL,respectively.Conclusions Intrapartum haemorrhage,D-dimer levels,and platelet count were identified as independent risk factors for PPH in pregnant women with sPE.Specifically,pregnant women with sPE who experienced blood loss exceeding 285 mL during vaginal delivery or 375 mL during caesarean section,along with a D-dimer level greater than 2.295 μg/mL,demonstrated an increased likelihood of developing PPH.Therefore,it is crucial to enhance clinical monitoring of these relevant indicators in high-risk populations.

Objective To investigate the risk factors of hemodynamic instability after carotid artery stenting by meta-analysis.Methods Ten databases were searched:PubMed,ProQuest,ScienceDirect,Embase,Cochrane Library,Web of Science,China Knowledge Network,Wanfang Data,VIP Information Database,and China Biomedical Database.The search date was from inception until 2 February 2024,and meta-analysis was performed using Stata 16.0 statistical software.Results A total of 27 studies with 4199 subjects and 22 influencing factors were included.The studies showed a 37.4％(95％CI 30.3％-44.8％)incidence of haemodynamic instability after carotid stenting,Meta-analysis determined that age＞60 years(P＜0.001),hypertension(P＜0.001),calcified plaque(P＜0.001),stenosis＞70％(P=0.008),eccentric plaque(P=0.002),distance from the largest stenosis to the carotid bifurcation≤ 10 mm(P＜0.001),stenosis involvement of the balloon or bifurcation(P＜0.001),balloon post-dilation(P=0.003),open-loop stenting(P＜0.001),dilated balloon diameter≥5 mm(P=0.002),repeat balloon dilation(P=0.011)and balloon dilation pressure≥8 atm(P＜0.001)are risk factors for intraoperative and postoperative haemodynamic instability in patients undergoing carotid artery stenting surgery.Statin use was a protective factor(P＜0.001).Conclusions Medical staff working in the clinic should assess the patient's condition preoperatively,identify risk factors that may lead to haemodynamic instability,and avoid unnecessary intraoperative stimulation of patients who are already in a high-risk state.Reduce postoperative clinical complications in patients with carotid artery stenosis and improve patient recovery.