Fear of disease progression(FoP)is a common psychological state among patients with coronary heart dis-ease(CHD),which exists throughout the course of disease and seriously affects the prognosis.High level of FoP not only harms the mental health of patients but also do not benefit their rehabilitation after discharge.This concept was first proposed by foreign researchers studying the psychological state of cancer patients.In recent years,there have been numerous studies on the influencing factors and qualitative aspects of FoP in CHD patients,while related inter-vention studies remain few.This paper reviews the concept,scales and related influencing factors of FoP,providing ideas for medical staff to provide targeted interventions for CHD patients.

AIM To establish the quantitative models for gallic acid,mononucleoside,loganin,resveratrol,and rhein in Yishen Xiezhuo Mixture.METHODS HPLC was adopted in the content determination of various effective components,after which the near-infrared spectroscopy(NIRS)data were collected in 128 batches of samples and pretreatment was conducted,competitive adaptive reweighting sampling(CARS)algorithm was used for screening wavelength,partial least square method(PLS)regression analysis was performed.RESULTS There were no significant differences between the predicted values obtained by PLS models and measured values obtained by HPLC for various effective components(P＞0.05).CONCLUSION The quantitative models established by NIRS combined with chemometrics display good predictive performance,which can be used for the rapid determination of effective components in Yishen Xiezhuo Mixture,and provide a reference for the rapid monitoring of other traditional Chinese medicine preparations in production processes.

Objective:This study aims to investigate the expression of uridine diphosphate-glucose[]pyrophos-phorylase 2(UGP2)in breast cancer(BC)tissues and its oncogenic mechanism,assessing its potential value as a diag-nostic and prognostic biomarker for breast cancer.Methods:(1)Online database analysis was conducted to assess UGP2 mRNA and protein expression levels in breast cancer and explore their correlation with clinical characteristics.Im-munohistochemistry(IHC)was used to verify UGP2 expression in human breast cancer tumor tissues and evaluate its relationship with clinicopathological features.(2)Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and COX regression models were used to analyze the impact of UGP2 expression on breast cancer patient prognosis.(3)Bioinformatics methods were em-ployed to investigate the correlation between UGP2 and tumor immune cell infiltration,and to predict the biological func-tions and associated signaling pathways of UGP2 in breast cancer.Results:(1)The mRNA and protein expression levels of UGP2 were upregulated in breast cancer tissues(both P<0.05),and were negatively correlated with ER-positive and PR-positive status(OR<1,P<0.05),while positively correlated with Ki-67 levels and the triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC)subtype(OR>1,P<0.05).(2)Elevated expression levels of UGP2 were associated with poorer survival rates in breast cancer patients(both P<0.05)and were identified as an independent adverse prognostic factor for breast cancer(HR=1.40,P<0.05).(3)Functional analysis results suggested that UGP2 may promote tumor progression by regulating metabolism,hormone signaling,and the immune microenvironment.Additionally,UGP2 expression was negatively cor-related with NK cell activation status and positively correlated with the inhibitory state.Conclusion:UGP2 expression is elevated in breast cancer tissues and is closely associated with poor patient prognosis.It may promote cancer pro-gression through mechanisms such as metabolic reprogramming and immune suppression.UGP2 shows promise as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in breast cancer,providing a basis for personalized treatment.

Objective:To investigate the pharmacological mechanism of Compound Xuanju Capsule in the treatment of erectile dysfunction(ED)by using network pharmacology and molecular docking technology.Methods:The active ingredients and targets of Compound Xuanju Capsule were screened using Traditional Chinese Medicine Systematic Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP).TTD,OMIM,DrugBank and GeneCards databases were used to obtain genes related to ED,and the union of the results was taken as the disease genes of ED.The common target of drug and disease was taken as the potential target of Compound Xuanju Capsule in ED,and the drug-disease interaction network was constructed by using Cytoscape software.The protein-protein interaction(PPI)network was constructed by using String database,which was then imported into Cytoscape to identify the key target.Based on the drug-disease intersection genes,GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed to predict the relevant signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms of Compound Xuanju Capsule for the treatment of ED.Autodock software was used to perform molecular docking between the active ingredients and the core targets.Results:Forty chemical components of Compound Xuanju Capsule were screened,and 239 predicted targets were obtained.A total of 1 907 ED-related genes were screened,and 97 common targets were identified between Compound Xuanju Capsule and ED,among which the core targets included EGFR,ESR1,HIF1A,PTGS2,and STAT3.The signaling pathways obtained by KEGG enrichment analysis included calcium signaling pathway,HIF-1 signaling pathway,PI3K-Akt signaling pathway,cGMP-PKG signaling pathway,relaxin signaling pathway,Serotonergic synapse signaling pathway.The molecular docking results showed that there were molecular binding sites between the key active ingredients and the core targets with strong binding activity.Conclusion:Compound Xuanju Capsule may treat ED through multi-target pathways such as anti-inflamnmato-ry and improving cellular oxidative stress.

Objective To explore the feasibility and corresponding implementation methods of constructing a sample resource bank based on individual-level data of completed clinical trials and using it to construct external controls for drug/device clinical trials.Methods Taking the pre-marketing clinical trial of transcatheter active valve replacement(TAVR)for the treatment of aortic valve stenosis as an example,the individual-level databases of multiple trials were standardized to form a sample bank.The original data of any trial in the sample bank were selected as the experimental group,and the remaining samples were selected as the control group.The potential confounding was handled by using the propensity score matching and stratification methods to clarify the process of constructing external controls based on the sample bank of individual-level data of clinical trials.Results This study included individual-level data of single-group trials of 4 TAVR devices,with a total of 569 subjects(59.2%male).The number of subjects in Trials 1 to 4 was 120,120,163,and 166,respectively.Propensity score matching enabled the matching of 113,117,125,and 147 subjects with comparable or similar characteristics from individual-level data from other trials,respectively,demonstrating a high matching success rate.The PS score distribution plot after stratification showed that the proportions of subjects in the experimental and control groups in strata 1 to 5 in scheme 1 were 4/103,11/103,22/92,32/87,and 51/64,respectively.For all constructed external controlled trials,a certain number of control samples with similar baseline characteristics to the experimental groups were distributed within each propensity score stratum.The results of the simulation test also reflected the potential differences between different devices in the 12-month all-cause mortality rate.Conclusions The sample bank constructed with individual-level data from clinical trials,as a high-quality data source,can serve as a source of external control for single-arm trials in the same field,and as a useful supplement to the external control scenario of real-world evidence to support drug and device development.At the same time,targeted research on research methods and bias control measures in related fields is also needed.

Fear of disease progression(FoP)is a common psychological state among patients with coronary heart dis-ease(CHD),which exists throughout the course of disease and seriously affects the prognosis.High level of FoP not only harms the mental health of patients but also do not benefit their rehabilitation after discharge.This concept was first proposed by foreign researchers studying the psychological state of cancer patients.In recent years,there have been numerous studies on the influencing factors and qualitative aspects of FoP in CHD patients,while related inter-vention studies remain few.This paper reviews the concept,scales and related influencing factors of FoP,providing ideas for medical staff to provide targeted interventions for CHD patients.

Objective To explore the feasibility and corresponding implementation methods of constructing a sample resource bank based on individual-level data of completed clinical trials and using it to construct external controls for drug/device clinical trials.Methods Taking the pre-marketing clinical trial of transcatheter active valve replacement(TAVR)for the treatment of aortic valve stenosis as an example,the individual-level databases of multiple trials were standardized to form a sample bank.The original data of any trial in the sample bank were selected as the experimental group,and the remaining samples were selected as the control group.The potential confounding was handled by using the propensity score matching and stratification methods to clarify the process of constructing external controls based on the sample bank of individual-level data of clinical trials.Results This study included individual-level data of single-group trials of 4 TAVR devices,with a total of 569 subjects(59.2%male).The number of subjects in Trials 1 to 4 was 120,120,163,and 166,respectively.Propensity score matching enabled the matching of 113,117,125,and 147 subjects with comparable or similar characteristics from individual-level data from other trials,respectively,demonstrating a high matching success rate.The PS score distribution plot after stratification showed that the proportions of subjects in the experimental and control groups in strata 1 to 5 in scheme 1 were 4/103,11/103,22/92,32/87,and 51/64,respectively.For all constructed external controlled trials,a certain number of control samples with similar baseline characteristics to the experimental groups were distributed within each propensity score stratum.The results of the simulation test also reflected the potential differences between different devices in the 12-month all-cause mortality rate.Conclusions The sample bank constructed with individual-level data from clinical trials,as a high-quality data source,can serve as a source of external control for single-arm trials in the same field,and as a useful supplement to the external control scenario of real-world evidence to support drug and device development.At the same time,targeted research on research methods and bias control measures in related fields is also needed.

PURPOSE: We carried out the study aiming to explore and analyze the risk factors, the distribution of pathogenic bacteria, and their antibiotic-resistance characteristics influencing the occurrence of surgical site infection (SSI), to provide valuable assistance for reducing the incidence of SSI after traumatic fracture surgery. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study enrolling 3978 participants from January 2015 to December 2019 receiving surgical treatment for traumatic fractures was conducted at Tangdu Hospital of Air Force Medical University. Baseline data, demographic characteristics, lifestyles, variables related to surgical treatment, and pathogen culture were harvested and analyzed. Univariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to reveal the independent risk factors of SSI. A bacterial distribution histogram and drug-sensitive heat map were drawn to describe the pathogenic characteristics. RESULTS: Included 3978 patients 138 of them developed SSI with an incidence rate of 3.47% postoperatively. By logistic regression analysis, we found that variables such as gender (males) (odds ratio (OR) = 2.012, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.235 - 3.278, p = 0.005), diabetes mellitus (OR = 5.848, 95% CI: 3.513 - 9.736, p < 0.001), hypoproteinemia (OR = 3.400, 95% CI: 1.280 - 9.031, p = 0.014), underlying disease (OR = 5.398, 95% CI: 2.343 - 12.438, p < 0.001), hormonotherapy (OR = 11.718, 95% CI: 6.269 - 21.903, p < 0.001), open fracture (OR = 29.377, 95% CI: 9.944 - 86.784, p < 0.001), and intraoperative transfusion (OR = 2.664, 95% CI: 1.572 - 4.515, p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for SSI, while, aged over 59 years (OR = 0.132, 95% CI: 0.059 - 0.296, p < 0.001), prophylactic antibiotics use (OR = 0.082, 95% CI: 0.042 - 0.164, p < 0.001) and vacuum sealing drainage use (OR = 0.036, 95% CI: 0.010 - 0.129, p < 0.001) were protective factors. Pathogens results showed that 301 strains of 38 species of bacteria were harvested, among which 178 (59.1%) strains were Gram-positive bacteria, and 123 (40.9%) strains were Gram-negative bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus (108, 60.7%) and Enterobacter cloacae (38, 30.9%) accounted for the largest proportion. The susceptibility of Gram-positive bacteria to Vancomycin and Linezolid was almost 100%. The susceptibility of Gram-negative bacteria to Imipenem, Amikacin, and Meropenem exceeded 73%. CONCLUSION Orthopedic surgeons need to develop appropriate surgical plans based on the risk factors and protective factors associated with postoperative SSI to reduce its occurrence. Meanwhile, it is recommended to strengthen blood glucose control in the early stage of admission and for surgeons to be cautious and scientific when choosing antibiotic therapy in clinical practice.
Humans ; Surgical Wound Infection/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Risk Factors ; Retrospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Fractures, Bone/surgery* ; Aged ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Logistic Models ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use* ; Incidence ; Bacteria/drug effects*

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 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*