The relationship between gut microbiota and depressive disorder has become a research focus in recent years. Within the microbiota-gut-brain axis, the gut microbiota influences the onset and progression of depressive disorder primarily through the tryptophan metabolic pathway. Tryptophan, an essential amino acid in humans, is subject to dual regulation by intestinal microorganisms, which modulate its metabolic balance via inflammatory stimulation and microbial metabolite production. In depression, excessive activation of the kynurenine branch of tryptophan metabolism leads to the accumulation of proinflammatory and neurotoxic metabolites, thereby exacerbating neuroinflammation in the brain. Intervention studies indicate that the antidepressant-like effects of probiotics and traditional Chinese medicine are associated with remodeling of the gut microbiota, restoration of tryptophan metabolic balance, and alleviation of neuroinflammation. Furthermore, targeted inhibition of kynurenine 3-monooxygenase can mitigate neuroinflammation by regulating microglial activity, thus improving depressive-like behaviors. In summary, the metabolite-inflammation axis represents a central node in the interaction regulation between tryptophan metabolism and the microbiota-gut-brain axis. This provides a theoretical foundation for developing novel therapeutic strategies targeting depression through modulation of gut microbiota-mediated tryptophan metabolism.
Tryptophan/metabolism* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology* ; Humans ; Depressive Disorder/microbiology* ; Probiotics/therapeutic use* ; Brain/metabolism* ; Kynurenine/metabolism* ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Animals ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

BACKGROUND:Diabetic foot patients with wound infections constitute a large patient population,and there is currently no satisfactory treatment approach. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the clinical efficacy of a modified tibial cortex transverse transport combined with antibiotic-loaded bone cement for treating refractory diabetic foot ulcers. METHODS:A total of 46 diabetic foot ulcers patients,27 males and 19 females,with an average age of 64.37 years,were selected from Beijing Chaoyang Hospital,Capital Medical University and Beijing Chaoyang Integrative Medicine Rescue and First Aid Hospital from January 2020 to January 2023.All of them underwent the modified tibial cortex transverse transport combined with antibiotic-loaded bone cement treatment.Ankle-brachial index,WIFi(Wound/Ischemia/Foot infection)classification,pain visual analog scale score,and ulcer area were recorded before and 3 months after surgery. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The mean ulcer healing time for the 46 patients was(58.07±24.82)days.At 3 months postoperatively,there were significant improvements in ankle-brachial index,pain visual analog scale score,ulcer area,and WIFi classification in 46 patients,as compared to the preoperative values,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Two patients experienced pin-tract infections,without infection or ulcer recurrence during the follow-up period.(2)These findings indicate that the modified tibial cortex transverse transport combined with antibiotic-loaded bone cement effectively alleviates patients'pain,improves lower limb circulation,controls infections,and promotes ulcer healing.

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 assess the effectiveness of enhanced tibial transverse transport(TTT)in con-junction with vacuum-assisted closure(VAC)therapy for managing recalcitrant diabetic foot ulcers.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on data from diabetic foot patients with Wagner grade≥2 who were treated at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital and Beijing Chaoyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine between July 2020 and December 2022.The patients were categorized into three groups based on their treatment regimen:VSD treatment(VSD group),modified TTT treatment(TTT group),and combined application of TTT and VSD(combined group).A one-year follow-up was performed to assess general data,ulcer area before and three months after surgery,ankle brachial index,visual analog pain score,as well as adverse events within one year post-surgery among the three groups.Results The VSD group consisted of 43 patients,while the TTT group consisted of 43 patients,and the combined group consisted of 42 patients.There were no statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics among the three groups(P＞0.05).Patients in the VSD group had longer ulcer healing time,higher pain scores,lower ankle brachial index(P＜0.05),larger ulcer area(P=0.029),and higher one-year ulcer recurrence rate compared to those in the TTT group.On the other hand,patients in the combined group had shorter ulcer healing time compared to those in the TTT group(P=0.046).However,there were no significant differences observed between these two groups regarding ulcer area(P=0.362),pain scores(P=0.932),ankle brachial index(P=0.671),and one-year ulcer recurrence rate(P=0.710).Conclusions The efficacy of modified TTT surpasses that of VSD in promoting ulcer healing,alleviating pain,and enhancing lower limb circulation.Furthermore,the combination of VSD with modified TTT demonstrates a potential to further expedite wound healing time.

Objective:To analyze the risk factors of radiation-based sarcopenia in patients with multiple myeloma (MM).Methods:A total of 185 clinical and imaging data of patients with MM admitted to Beijing Chaoyang Hospital from September 2009 to October 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The area of the erector spinae muscle and the area of fatty infiltration (FI) in the fascial compartment were measured by Image-pro Ρlus software, and the area of the fat-free erector spinae muscle and the fat infiltration rate (FI%) were calculated. Sarcopenia was defined as an erector spinae area of less than 3 197 mm 2 in males and 2 895 mm 2 in females. The differences in gender, age, body mass index, disease duration, hemoglobin, leukocytes, platelets, albumin, serum calcium, lactate dehydrogenase, serum creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, M-protein, serum β 2-microglobulin, bortezomib chemotherapy, receipt of stem cell transplantation, osteopathy, stage, recurrence and progression of MM between the sarcopenia group and the normal muscle group were compared. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors of sarcopenia in MM patients. Kaplan-Meier curves were drawn to compare the survival rates between the two groups. Results:53.0% (98/185) of MM patients were complicated with sarcopenia: there were 30 males, whose fat-free erector spinae area was 25.0±6.0 cm 2, the FI of erector spinae was 12.0±4.8 cm 2, and the FI% was 31.5%±12.0%, while there were 68 females, whose fat-free erector spinae area was 22.7±4.2 cm 2, the FI of erector spinae was 10.7±4.1 cm 2, and the FI% was 30.2%±9.8%. 47.0% (87/185) of MM patients had normal muscle mass: there were 62 males, whose fat-free erector spinae area was 40.6±6.5 cm 2, the FI of erector spinae was 9.3±4.8 cm 2, and the FI% was 17.9%±7.4%, while there were 25 females, whose fat-free erector spinae area was 33.6±5.1 cm 2, the FI of erector spinae was 9.9±3.0 cm 2, and the FI% was 21.9%±5.7%. There were statistically significant differences in the gender composition ratio (χ 2=30.47, P<0.001), hemoglobin ( t=-2.73, P=0.007), serum creatinine ( Z=-2.26, P=0.024), receipt of stem cell transplantation (χ 2=4.32, P=0.038), and MM recurrence and progression (χ 2=3.85, P=0.050) between the two groups. However, there were no significant differences in age, body mass index, course of disease, leukocytes, platelets, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, serum calcium, M-protein, serum β 2-microglobulin, bortezomib chemotherapy, osteopathy or MM stage ( P>0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that female was an independent risk factor for sarcopenia in MM patients. The survival rates at 2, 3, 4, and 5 years were 87.9%, 71.8%, 64.4%, and 53.7% in the sarcopenia group, and 92.1%, 75.8%, 66.8%, and 66.8% in the normal muscle group, respectively, with no statistically significant differences ( HR=0.71, P=0.364). Conclusion:The incidence of radiation-based sarcopenia in MM patients is 53.0%. Low hemoglobin and blood creatinine levels, not receiving stem cell transplantation, and recurrence or progression of MM are associated with sarcopenia in MM patients, and female is an independent risk factor for sarcopenia in MM patients.

Objective:To analyze the epidemic situation of plague among animals in the foci of Meriones unguiculatus in Inner Mongolia Plateau, and to find out key influencing factors affecting the epidemic of the plague, and to provide theoretical basis for the prediction, early warning and risk assessment of the plague. Methods:The monitoring data including gerbils density, gerbils body flea index, plague epidemic intensity, etc., as well as environmental data including temperature, precipitation and El Ni?o activity (Southern Oscillation Index, SOI) from 19 banners (counties, cities and districts) in Ulanqab Plateau area, the foci of Meriones unguiculatus in Inner Mongolia Plateau were selected. The methods of correlation analysis, structural equation model and rank correlation were used to analyze the epidemic and key influencing factors of plague among animals in the foci. Results:The plague epidemic cycle in the foci of Meriones unguiculatus in Inner Mongolia Plateau was 5 to 10 years. The correlation analysis results showed that all the factors had influence on each other. Structural equation model screened out that the main influencing factors of plague epidemic were SOI, gerbils density and temperature. SOI had a negative effect on plague epidemic intensity (-0.022) and temperature (-0.029), while gerbils density had a positive effect on plague epidemic intensity (0.014), and temperature had a negative effect on plague epidemic intensity (-0.065). In rank correlation, when the gerbils density was at a high value, the probability of high plague epidemic intensity in that year was 4/9; when SOI was at a low value, the probability was 5/9; when the temperature was at a low value, the probability was 5/9. When the plague epidemic intensity was at a high value in that year, the probability of the plague epidemic intensity being high in the following year was 5/8; when the gerbils density was at a high value in that year, the probability was 4/9; when SOI was at a low value in that year, the probability was 4/9. Conclusion:Climate and biological factors can affect prevalence of plague, and countermeasures should be taken in advance to prevent plague outbreaks when El Ni?o phenomenon, low temperature, high density of gerbils, and high previous-year prevalence of plague appear.

Periodontal pathogens are the main pathogenic factor of periodontitis. Periodontal pathogens have a large variety of virulence factors such as lipopolysaccharide, fimbriae and proteases, which enables the pathogens to infect periodontal tissues and stimulate the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, causing chronic systemic inflammation. Periodontal pathogens may invade multiple systems such as the circulatory system, immune system, respiratory system and digestive system to cause systematic diseases. Recent studies have shown that periodontal pathogens may have close relations with systemic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer. Among the periodontal pathogens, can be found in atherosclerotic plaques to impairing the function of the vascular endothelium; may also increase the level of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α to promote insulin resistance and diabetes. Many of the periodontal pathogens such as , and can be detected in the synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis patients, suggesting their involvement in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. may cause alterations in the intestinal microbiome in mice and promote the occurrence of intestinal tumors. Herein we review the recent progresses in the relationship between periodontal pathogens and systemic diseases.
Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans ; Animals ; Fusobacterium nucleatum ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Periodontitis ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; Prevotella intermedia

Obesity has become one of the most serious issues threatening the health of humankind, and we conducted this study to examine whether and how celastrol protects against obesity.

Objective To study the effect of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) on p57NTR ,inflammatory reaction ,immune regulation and oxidative stress and its effect on intimal hyperplasia .Methods The vascular injury treatment was performed in the diabetic rabbit model with carotid arterial adventitia stripping ,meanwhile t-PA controlled release microspheres were given ,the nerve distribution in the local blood vessels was observed by immunohistochemical staining .The change of nerve remodeling in the control group and treatment group was observed ,meanwhile the effect of giving t-PA controlled release microspheres on the release of ace-tylcholine and norepinephrine was detected .RT-PCR was used to detect local vascular tissue inflammation ,immune effects and oxi-dative stress .The sympathetic neurons and smooth muscle cell co-culture was adopted ,then giving glyoxal treatment as the athero-sclerosis cell model .With the t-PA treatment group as the intervention group ,the effect of t-PA on the number of cholinergic neu-ron ,and synaptic connections between the smooth muscle cells and acetylcholine secretion was observed .The change of t-PA-MMP-p75NTR and NF-kappa B signaling pathway were detected by RT-PCR .Results The vascular injury treatment was performed in the diabetic rabbit model with carotid arterial adventitia stripping ,meanwhile t-PA controlled release microspheres were given ,the nerve distribution in the local blood vessels was observed by immunohistochemical staining .The change of nerve remodeling in the control group and treatment group was observed ,meanwhile the effect of giving t-PA controlled release microspheres on the release of acetylcholine and norepinephrine was detected .RT-PCR was used to detect local vascular tissue inflammation ,immune effects and oxidative stress .The sympathetic neurons and smooth muscle cell co-culture was adopted ,then giving glyoxal treatment as the ath-erosclerosis cell model .With the t-PA treatment group as the intervention group ,the effect of t-PA on the number of cholinergic neuron ,and synaptic connections between the smooth muscle cells and acetylcholine secretion was observed .The change of t-PA-MMP-p75NTR and NF-kappa B signaling pathway were detected by RT-PCR .Conclusion t-PA activates MMPs and feedback in-hibits p75NTR-NF-kappa B signaling pathway to increase vascular adventitia autonomic nerve reconstruction and delay the occur-rence and development of atherosclerosis disease .

OBJECTIVE:To provide reference for standardized management of skin test of cephalosporin injection in our hos-pital. METHODS:In retrospective analysis,skin test of 8 kinds of cephalosporin [cefotaxime(1.0 g),cefotaxime(0.5 g),cefoti-am (1.0 g),cefotiam (0.5 g),ceftazidime (0.5 g),cefminox (0.5 g),cefminox (1.0 g),ceftriaxone (1.0 g)] and the cost of skin test, related cost of allergic reaction induced by cephalosporin injection were analyzed statistically during Sept. 1st, 2015-Aug. 31th,2016. The cost of skin test of cephalosporin injection was compared with allergic reaction cost reduced by skin test. RESULTS:The positive rate of 100330 patients who used above 8 kinds of cephalosporin injections was 6.27%;the rate of skin test was 82.49%;the direct cost of skin test was 3434411.72 yuan;the indirect cost was 141985.12 yuan;the cost of pa-tient was 3162901.44 yuan;the cost of medical insurance was 259096.28 yuan;the cost of the whole society was 3576396.84 yuan. From the perspective of the whole society,the cost of skin test of cephalosporin injections was(447049.61±247395.07)yuan, and allergic reaction cost reduced by skin test was (316075.48 ± 260600.49)yuan. The cost of skin test was significantly higher than allergic reaction cost reduced by skin test,with statistical significance(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Skin test of cephalosporin injection is low in positive rate,has high expense. The government standardizes the management of skin test of cephalosporin injec-tion and reduces the economic burden of patients under the premise of ensuring the safety of drug use.