AIM: To investigate and analyze serum nitric oxide synthase 4(NOX4)and matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-2 expressions in patients with diabetes mellitus(DM)complicated with neovascular glaucoma(NVG)and their clinical significance.METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on 161 patients with DM complicated with NVG admitted to Handan City Eye Hospital(The Third Hospital of Handan)from June 2020 to June 2023. Based on whether complications occurred 1 a after trabeculectomy in the study group patients, they were divided into a group with good prognosis(n=90)and a group with poor prognosis(n=71). During the same period, 161 patients with chronic angle-closure glaucoma without iris neovascularization were selected as the control group. ELISA method was applied to detect the expression levels of serum NOX4 and MMP-2. ROC curve was plotted to evaluate the diagnostic value and postoperative complication prediction value of NOX4 and MMP-2 in patients with DM complicated with NVG. Pearson method was applied to analyze the correlation of NOX4 and MMP-2 with vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and interleukin-6(IL-6). Multivariate Logistic regression was applied to analyze the influencing factors of postoperative complications in the study group.RESULTS:The general information of the study group and control group of patients is comparable. Compared with the control group, the expression levels of serum NOX4, MMP-2, VEGF, and IL-6 in the study group were significantly increased(P<0.001). According to Pearson analysis, serum NOX4 and MMP-2 levels significantly positively correlated with VEGF and IL-6 levels, respectively(P<0.001). According to ROC curve, the AUC of NOX4 combined with MMP-2 in the diagnosis of DM complicated with NVG was better than that of individual diagnosis of NOX4(Z=3.341, P<0.05)and MMP-2(Z=2.788, P<0.05). The duration of DM, the proportion of people with intraocular pressure >21 mmHg, and the expression levels of NOX4, MMP-2, VEGF, and IL-6 in the poor prognosis group were all higher than those in the good prognosis group(P<0.001). The duration of DM, intraocular pressure >21 mmHg, the levels of NOX4, MMP-2, VEGF, and IL-6 were all risk factors for poor prognosis in DM patients with NVG(P<0.001). According to ROC curve, the combined prediction of NOX4 and MMP-2 for postoperative complications in patients with DM complicated by NVG was superior to the AUC predicted by NOX4(Z=3.727, P<0.05)and MMP-2(Z=2.219, P<0.05), respectively.CONCLUSION:NOX4 and MMP-2 are upregulated in the serum of patients with DM complicated by NVG. Combined detection of these two markers holds significant clinical value for the early diagnosis and prognosis of patients with DM complicated by NVG.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of triptolide （TP） exposure during pregnancy and lactation on the reproductive system development and function in male offspring of rats， providing a reference for medication safety during pregnancy and lactation. METHODS Pregnant rats were randomly divided into control group （12 rats， normal saline） and T1-T4 groups [12， 13， 14， 17 rats that received TP at 200， 400， 600， and 800 μg/（kg·d） respectively]. They were given relevant medicine/normal saline intragastrically， once a day， until the offspring were born and naturally weaned， the intragastric administration volume of each rat was consistently 2 mL. After 60 days of feeding， reproductive organ weights and coefficients were measured in male offspring， testicular and epididymal histology and sperm morphology were observed. Sperm motility， sperm count， and serum levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone （GnRH）， follicle stimulating hormone （FSH）， luteinizing hormone （LH）， and testosterone （T） in the epididymides were analyzed. Protein expressions of glycogen synthase kinase 3α （GSK3α）， phosphorylated GSK3α （p-GSK3α）， and phosphatase 1γ2 （PP1γ2） in sperm were also determined. RESULTS Compared with the control group， the testicular and epididymal weights， serum levels of GnRH and T， the relative protein expression of PP1γ2 were significantly decreased in T1-T4 groups. Additionally， in the T2 to T4 groups， there were significant reductions in the weight and coefficient of the seminal vesicle， total number of sperm， sperm concentration， sperm motility as well as relative protein expressions of GSKα， p-GSK3α in the offspring rats. Furthermore， the epididymal coefficient in the T3 and T4 groups， the testicular coefficient， mean sperm track velocity and sperm curvature velocity in the T4 group were significantly decreased （P＜ 0.05）； the number of abnormal sperm， rate of sperm abnormality， and levels of FSH and LH in the offspring rats of the T1 to T4 groups were all significantly increased （P＜0.05）； in the offspring rats of the T1 to T4 groups， there was a decrease in the number of epithelial cells in the seminiferous tubules of the testes. Within the epididymal tissue， degenerative and necrotic changes in the epithelial cells were visible， accompanied by mild infiltration of inflammatory cells in the stroma. CONCLUSIONS TP exposure during pregnancy and lactation disrupts reproductive organ development， impairs spermatogenesis and sperm motility， as well as suppresses androgen synthesis in male offspring，thereby having a negative impact on the development of the reproductive system. These effects may be mechanistically linked to regulation of GSK3α， p-GSK3α and PP1γ2 protein expressions.

Background/Aims: The World Health Organization set the goal of eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV) by 2030, with 80% and 65% reductions in HCV incidence and mortality rates, respectively. We aimed to evaluate the health benefits, cost-effectiveness and return on investment (ROI) of HCV elimination. Methods: Using an HCV transmission compartmental model, we evaluated the benefits and costs of different strategies combining screening and treatment for Chinese populations. We identified strategies to achieve HCV elimination and calculated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted for 2022–2030 to identify the optimal elimination strategy. Furthermore, we estimated the ROI by 2050 by comparing the required investment with the economic productivity gains from reduced HCV incidence and deaths. Results: The strategy that results in the most significant health benefits involves conducting annual primary screening at a rate of 14%, re-screening people who inject drugs annually and the general population every five years, and treating 95% of those diagnosed (P14-R4-T95), preventing approximately 5.75 and 0.44 million HCV infections and deaths, respectively, during 2022–2030. At a willingness-to-pay threshold of $12,615, the P14-R4-T95 strategy is the most cost-effective, with an ICER of $5,449/DALY. By 2050, this strategy would have a net benefit of $120,997 million (ROI=0.868). Conclusions Achieving HCV elimination in China by 2030 will require significant investment in large-scale universal screening and treatment, but it will yield substantial health and economic benefits and is cost-effective.

Background/Aims: The World Health Organization set the goal of eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV) by 2030, with 80% and 65% reductions in HCV incidence and mortality rates, respectively. We aimed to evaluate the health benefits, cost-effectiveness and return on investment (ROI) of HCV elimination. Methods: Using an HCV transmission compartmental model, we evaluated the benefits and costs of different strategies combining screening and treatment for Chinese populations. We identified strategies to achieve HCV elimination and calculated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted for 2022–2030 to identify the optimal elimination strategy. Furthermore, we estimated the ROI by 2050 by comparing the required investment with the economic productivity gains from reduced HCV incidence and deaths. Results: The strategy that results in the most significant health benefits involves conducting annual primary screening at a rate of 14%, re-screening people who inject drugs annually and the general population every five years, and treating 95% of those diagnosed (P14-R4-T95), preventing approximately 5.75 and 0.44 million HCV infections and deaths, respectively, during 2022–2030. At a willingness-to-pay threshold of $12,615, the P14-R4-T95 strategy is the most cost-effective, with an ICER of $5,449/DALY. By 2050, this strategy would have a net benefit of $120,997 million (ROI=0.868). Conclusions Achieving HCV elimination in China by 2030 will require significant investment in large-scale universal screening and treatment, but it will yield substantial health and economic benefits and is cost-effective.

Background/Aims: The World Health Organization set the goal of eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV) by 2030, with 80% and 65% reductions in HCV incidence and mortality rates, respectively. We aimed to evaluate the health benefits, cost-effectiveness and return on investment (ROI) of HCV elimination. Methods: Using an HCV transmission compartmental model, we evaluated the benefits and costs of different strategies combining screening and treatment for Chinese populations. We identified strategies to achieve HCV elimination and calculated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted for 2022–2030 to identify the optimal elimination strategy. Furthermore, we estimated the ROI by 2050 by comparing the required investment with the economic productivity gains from reduced HCV incidence and deaths. Results: The strategy that results in the most significant health benefits involves conducting annual primary screening at a rate of 14%, re-screening people who inject drugs annually and the general population every five years, and treating 95% of those diagnosed (P14-R4-T95), preventing approximately 5.75 and 0.44 million HCV infections and deaths, respectively, during 2022–2030. At a willingness-to-pay threshold of $12,615, the P14-R4-T95 strategy is the most cost-effective, with an ICER of $5,449/DALY. By 2050, this strategy would have a net benefit of $120,997 million (ROI=0.868). Conclusions Achieving HCV elimination in China by 2030 will require significant investment in large-scale universal screening and treatment, but it will yield substantial health and economic benefits and is cost-effective.

ObjectiveTo explore the incremental cost of central line-associated bloodstream infections （CLABSI） after central venous catheterization （CVC） in critically ill patients in the intensive care unit （ICU）， as well as the main cost of nosocomial infection prevention and control. By comparing these two costs， the medical personnel to pay more attention should CLABSI prevention and control from the perspectives of medical quality and economic benefits， and promote the implementation of prevention and control measures. MethodsCluster sampling was used to select 126 critically ill patients who underwent CVC in the ICU of a tertiary traditional Chinese medicine hospital from January 2021 to December 2023， including 65 cases in the CLABSI group and 61 in the non-CLABSI group. Patients’ data were retrospectively collected from the hospital medical records， including the disease type， gender， age， length of hospital stay， outcome， and hospitalization expenses. The costs of different hand hygiene methods and differing approaches to environmental cleaning and disinfection were analyzed and compared. ResultsThere were significant differences in the length of hospital stay （Z=-5.35， P<0.05） and total hospitalization expenses （Z=-6.79， P<0.05） between the CLABSI and non-CLABSI group. Total hospitalization expenses showed significant differences among patients with different lengths of hospital stay （H=43.01， P<0.05）， with much higher median one in those with 60 or more days of hospital stay than other patients. Greater differences of median total hospitalization expenses were found in males than in females （Z=-3.98， P<0.05）， as well as in patients aged 60-80 years than in patients of other ages （Z=-5.79， P<0.05）. ConclusionsThe occurrence of CLABSI significantly increases the ICU patients’ length of hospital stay and hospitalization expenses. There are differences in the costs of different hand hygiene methods and differing approaches to environmental cleaning and disinfection， but these costs are acceptable compared to the incremental costs directly attributable to CLABSI. Therefore， medical institutions should attach importance to the investment in prevention and control of nosocomial infections such as hand hygiene and environmental cleaning and disinfection， formulate practical， reasonable and feasible plans， and ensure their implementation， in order to avoid nosocomial infections， improve the medical quality， effectively control patients’ length of hospital stay and hospitalization costs， and strive to maintain patient safety.

Objective:To explore the application effect of " visual nursing map" in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).Methods:A retrospective analysis was made on 76 patients who underwent CABG in Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from June 2021 to June 2023. 38 cases admitted from June 2021 to May 2022 were included in the control group, and 38 cases admitted from June 2022 to June 2023 were included in the observation group. The control group was given intraoperative routine nursing, and the observation group was given "visual nursing map" nursing measures on this basis. The preoperative preparation time and intraoperative pause time between the two groups were observed and compared. The measurement data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation ( ± s), and t-test was used for inter-group comparison. Counting data were expressed as cases and percentages, and Chi-square test was used for inter-group comparison. Results:In the control group, the preoperative preparation time was (93.2±8.5) min, and the longest procedure was the placement of electrosurgical equipment and instrument trolley, which were (6.4±0.8) min and (32.6±3.5) min, respectively. The intraoperative pause time was (7.3±0.7) min, and the longest time was the unskilled nursing cooperation of proximal and distal vascular anastomosis and the incomplete preparation of sterile surgical materials, which were (2.2±0.4) min and (1.4±0.3) min, respectively. In the observation group, the preoperative preparation time and intraoperative pause time were significantly reduced compared with the control group after the use of "visual nursing map" management on the basis of the control group, which were (79.4±5.4) and (93.2±8.5) min, (4.4±0.6) and (7.3±0.7) min, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The application of "visual nursing graph" in CABG can effectively reduce the preoperative preparation time and intraoperative pause time, and should be further promoted.

Objective:To analyze the blood-transition prototype components and metabolites of Fengliaoxing Fengshi Dieda medicinal liquor.Methods:Ultra-high performance liquid chromatographyquadrupole/electrostatic field orbital trap high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q Exactive Focus MS/MS) technique was used to compare the chromatogram differences of Fengliaoxing Fengshi Dieda medicinal liquor extract, blank serum and drug-containing serum. According to the retention time, relative molecular weight and the ratio with primary and secondary ion fragments provided by MS, the prototype components and metabolites of Fengliaoxing Fengshi Dieda medicinal liquor extract were analyzed in serum of rats after oral administration. The detection conditions were as follows: the mobile phase of methanol (A)-0.1% formic acid solution (B) for elution gradient (0-5 min, 5%A; 5-60 min, 5%-95%A; 60-65 min, 95%A), the flow rate of 0.3 ml/min, heated electrospray ionization, detection range of m/z 80-1 200, positive and negative ion scanning modes.Results:A total of 31 transitional components were detected in the serum, of which 9 were prototype components and 22 were metabolites. The 9 prototype components were identified as phenylacetaldehyde, baogongteng C/ erycibellin, p-coumaric acid, 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural, quinic acid, paeonol, 3-Hydroxybenzaldehyde, salicylic acid, and isourecumenol. The 22 metabolites mainly consist of 11 organic acid components, 3 indole components, 2 organic phenolic components, 2 alkaloid components, 1 nucleoside component, 1 amino acid component, 1 lactone component, and 1 sulfonic component. The metabolic pathways were mainly glucuronidation, sulfation and others, which by phase Ⅱ metabolism.Conclusion:Organic phenols and organic acids are the main components that enter the body of Fengliaoxing Fengshi Dieda Medicinal Liquor, while alkaloid compounds and organic acid components may be potential active ingredients for its pharmacological effects.

Objective:To investigate whether sivelestat sodium (SV) mitigates paraquat (PQ)-induced acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-associated pulmonary fibrosis in mice by suppressing the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway.Methods:Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups ( n=8 per group): Control group, PQ group, PQ+SV group, and SV group. The PQ and PQ+SV groups received an intraperitoneal injection of PQ solution (20 mg/kg) to establish a PQ poisoning model, while the Control and SV groups received an equivalent volume of saline. One hour later, the PQ+SV and SV groups were administered SV solution (100 mg/kg) intraperitoneally, whereas the Control and PQ groups received saline. After 48 hours, the mice were euthanized, and lung tissues were collected. Pathological changes were assessed via hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson staining, followed by Smith and Ashcroft scoring. Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome, caspase-1, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and collagen I. Western blotting was used to measure NLRP3 protein levels. Intergroup comparisons were conducted using one-way ANOVA with LSD post-hoc correction. Results:The Control and SV groups exhibited normal lung morphology, whereas the PQ+SV group showed reduced hemorrhage, congestion, and edema compared to the PQ group. Both PQ and PQ+SV groups exhibited significant weight loss post-intervention compared to the Control group (both P<0.001). HE and Masson staining revealed thickened alveolar septa, congestive and edematous alveolar walls, extensive inflammatory cell infiltration, and collagen deposition in the PQ group. In contrast, the PQ+SV group demonstrated alleviated alveolar wall congestion, reduced inflammatory infiltration, and decreased collagen deposition, with significantly lower Smith and Ashcroft scores [(5.92±1.34) vs. (10.88±1.88), P<0.001; (3.42±1.35) vs. (5.75±0.79), P<0.001]. Immunohistochemistry indicated reduced expression percentages of NLRP3 and caspase-1 in the PQ+SV group compared to the PQ group [(12.79%±0.43%) vs. (16.59%±0.40%), P<0.001; (17.71%±0.92%) vs. (19.84%±0.71%), P<0.001]. Similarly, α-SMA and collagen I expression in lung interstitium was significantly lower in the PQ+SV group [(11.79%±0.58%) vs. (16.14%±0.74%), P<0.001; (16.43%±0.56%) vs. (18.86%±0.60%), P<0.001]. Western blotting confirmed decreased NLRP3 protein expression in the PQ+SV group [(0.54±0.12) vs. (0.81±0.24), P<0.05]. Conclusions:SV attenuates PQ-induced ALI/ARDS-associated pulmonary fibrosis progression by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome, suggesting that NLRP3 may be a key therapeutic target for early intervention in PQ-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Objective To explore the research hotspots and development trends of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen in the past 20 years,and to provide reference for related research.Methods Literatures on Ziziphi Spinosae Semen were searched from January 1,2000 to December 31,2022 in CNKI,Web of Science Core Collection Database.VOS viewer software was used to visually analyze the citation frequency,research institutions and keyword hotspots of English literatures.CiteSpace software was used to visually analyze research institutions,authors,emergence keywords and keyword overlap time of Chinese literatures,and Microsoft Excel 2021 software was used to analyze of annual publication trends and publication volume of Chinese and English literatures,and download frequency of Chinese literatures.Results A total of 4 872 Chinese and 128 English literatures were included,with an overall upward trend in the number of annual publications.The research institutions with the highest number of publications in Chinese and English were Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Tianjin University of Commerce,and the authors with the highest number of publications were DU Chenhui and XIE Junbo,respectively.The most frequent keywords in Chinese literatures were"Ziziphi Spinosae Semen","composed"and"application of compound therapy",and in English literatures were"performance","oxidative stress".Conclusion From 2000 to 2022,the research hotspots of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen mainly focused on the chemical composition,pharmacological effects and clinical application analysis,compatibility research,formulation and preparation.Quality control and evaluation of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen,and the research on the mechanism of preventing and treating insomnia with Ziziphi Spinosae Semen may become future research directions.