Chronic heart failure （CHF） is a group of complex clinical syndromes caused by abnormal changes in the structure and/or function of the heart due to various reasons， resulting in disorders of ventricular contraction and/or diastole. CHF is a condition where primary diseases such as coronary heart disease， hypertension and pulmonary heart disease recur frequently and persist for a long time， presenting blood stasis in meridians and collaterals， stagnation of water and dampness， and accumulation of Qi in collaterals. Its pathogenesis is complex and may involve myocardial energy metabolism disorders， oxidative stress responses， myocardial cell apoptosis， autophagy， inflammatory responses， etc. According to the theory of restraining hyperactivity to acquire harmony， we believe that under normal circumstances， the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK） signaling pathway functions normally， maintaining human physiological activities and energy metabolism. Under pathological conditions， the AMPK signaling pathway is abnormal， causing energy metabolism disorders， inflammatory responses， and myocardial fibrosis. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） can regulate the AMPK signaling pathway through multiple mechanisms， targets， and effects， effectively curbing the occurrence and development of CHF. It has gradually become a research hotspot in the prevention and treatment of this disease. Guided by the theory of TCM， our research group， through literature review， summarized the relationship between the AMPK pathway and CHF and reviewed the research progress in the prevention and control of CHF with TCM active ingredients， TCM compound prescriptions， and Chinese patent medicines via regulating the AMPK pathway. The review aims to clarify the mechanism and targets of TCM in the treatment of CHF by regulating the AMPK pathway and guide the clinical treatment and drug development for CHF.

Stroke is the leading cause of death and disability among adults in China， and its common complications include digestive system abnormalities， cognitive impairment， depression， stroke-associated pneumonia， and hemiplegia. The combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine has great potential in treating post-stroke complications. Xinglou Chengqitang （XLCQT） is a representative prescription of alleviating the disease in the upper part by treating the lower part. It has definite therapeutic effect and high safety. Clinically， XLCQT is often used to treat stroke and its complications. However， the quantity and quality of clinical trials of XLCQT in treating post-stroke complications need to be improved. Additionally， since the basic research is weak， the material basis and multi-target mechanism for the efficacy of this prescription are unknown. This article reviews XLCQT in terms of the pharmacodynamic basis， medicinal properties， safety evaluation， and progress in clinical research and mechanisms in treating post-stroke complications. This article summarizes 22 key active ingredients of XLCQT in treating acute stroke complicated with syndrome of phlegm heat and fu-organ excess. Among these key active ingredients， resveratrol， kaempferol， luteolin， chrysoeriol， apigenin， （+）-catechin， and adenosine have good pharmacokinetic properties and high bioavailability. The mechanisms of XLCQT in treating post-stroke complications are complex， including inflammatory response， brain-gut axis， hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal （HPA） axis， intestinal flora， neurotrophic factors， autophagy， oxidative stress， and free radical damage. This review helps to deeply understand the pharmacodynamic basis and mechanisms of XLCQT in treating post-stroke complications and provides a theoretical basis for the clinical application of XLCQT against post-stroke complications and the development of drugs.

Glaucoma， characterized by pathological elevation of intraocular pressure， progressive optic nerve damage， and apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells， is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness. It is strongly associated with significant vision loss and a decline in quality of life. Although pharmacological therapy remains the primary approach to managing glaucoma， clinical outcomes are often suboptimal， highlighting the urgent need for safe and effective alternative treatments. In traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， glaucoma is categorized as part of the "five wind internal obstruction" syndrome， and TCM has amassed substantial experience in the prevention and treatment of this condition. Therefore， this article provided a comprehensive review of recent findings on the relationship between glaucoma and relevant signaling pathways， as well as the regulatory effects of TCM on these pathways in the treatment of glaucoma. TCM can exert therapeutic effects by modulating key signaling pathways， including the Toll-like receptor 4/myeloid differentiation factor 88/nuclear factor-κB （TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB） signaling pathway， Janus kinase （JAK）/signal transducer and activator of transcription （JAK/STAT） pathway， phosphoinositide 3-kinase/serine-threonine protein kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin （PI3K/Akt/mTOR） pathway， nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） inflammasome pathway， and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 （Nrf2/HO-1） pathway. These pathways are involved in reducing inflammation， inhibiting apoptosis and ferroptosis， and ameliorating oxidative stress. By synthesizing current research， this article offers theoretical insights and practical references for advancing the understanding of the pathological mechanisms underlying glaucoma， innovating strategies for optic nerve protection， and promoting integrative TCM and Western medical approaches in glaucoma management.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical and genetic features of a child with Pontocerebellar hypoplasia type 2B (PCH2B) due to compound heterozygous variants of the TSEN2 gene. METHODS: A PCH2B patient presented at Department of Pediatric Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University in June 2023 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the patient were retrospectively analyzed. The patient and her parents were subjected to whole exome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. Pathogenicity of the candidate variants were classified based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). A literature review was also conducted by searching the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, and PubMed databases from their establishment to May 2025 using keywords "TSEN2 gene" "PCH2B" and "Pontocerebellar Hypoplasia 2B" to summarize the clinical and genotypic features of patients with PCH2B due to variants of the TSEN2 gene. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Hospital (No.: #202310892). RESULTS: The patient, a 6-year-5-month-old girl, had exhibited severe global developmental delay, developmental regression, autism spectrum disorder, myoclonus of eyelids, feeding difficulty, irritability, progressive microcephaly, esotropia, and hypotonia. MRI showed reduced volume of bilateral cerebellar hemispheres and vermis. Genetic testing revealed that she has harbored compound heterozygous variants of the TSEN2 gene (NM_025265.4), namely c.1054A>T (p.Lys352*) and c.899G>T (p.Ser300Ile), which were inherited from her father and mother, respectively. Both variants were classified as likely pathogenic based on the ACMG guidelines and were previously unreported. Literature review has identified six PCH2B patients with missense, nonsense, frameshift, and splice site variants of the TSEN2 gene. Their main clinical manifestations included global developmental delay, progressive microcephaly, feeding difficulties, irritability, and vermis hypoplasia. Cranial MRI and genetic testing are crucial for definite diagnosis. CONCLUSION The c.1054A>T (p.Lys352*) and c.899G>T (p.Ser300Ile) compound heterozygous variants of the TSEN2 gene probably underlay the pathogenesis in this patient. Above findings has expanded the genotypic and phenotypic spectra of TSEN2-related PCH2B, and offered guidance for genetic counseling for this family.
Child ; Female ; Humans ; Cerebellar Diseases/genetics* ; Exome Sequencing ; Heterozygote ; Mutation

ObjectiveTo understand the status of parasitic infection in the food sold on market in Qingpu District of Shanghai, and to provide an evidence for the development of prevention and control strategies for parasitic infection applicable to Qingpu District. MethodsAquatic products, meat products and other foodstuffs sold on online shops, at farm product markets, supermarkets/foodstores and restaurants were sampled in Qingpu District, Shanghai, during 2015‒2023, based on the administrative division of Qingpu District. The parasitic infection in the food samples were examined using pressing method and digestion for detecting metacercariae in freshwater products and pickled products, using dissection microscopy for Anisakis larvae in seawater products, Taenia cysticercus and Trichinella encysted larvae in meat products. ResultsA total of 1 079 samples of food products were examined during 2015‒2023, with a total parasite infection rate of 13.44%. The total parasite infection rate of freshwater fish products was 3.40% (16/471), and the difference of parasite infection rates between different freshwater fish species was statistically significant (χ²=229.609, P=0.001). The total infection rate of Clonorchis sinensis was 3.18% (15/471), which had been detected in Pseudorasbora parva, Cyprinidae rhodeus, and Carassius auratus, with a positive rate of 77.78% (7/9), 50.00% (5/10) and 3.90% (3/77), respectively. Metorchis orientalis was detected in in Pseudorasbora parva, with a positive rate of 33.33% (3/9). The positive rate of Gnathostoma spinigerum (third-stage larvae) was 0.81%. Paragonimus metacercariae were not detected in the freshwater shrimps and crabs. The infection rate of seawater fish products was 26.46%. The difference of parasite infection rate in seawater fishes was statistically significant (χ²=109.181, P=0.001). A total of 53 pork and beef samples were tested, none was detected with Trichinella larva cysts, Taenia solium metacercariae, and Taenia saginata metacercariae. The total infection rate of pickled yellow mud snail products was 58.11% (43/74). Paragonimus metacercariae was not detected in any of the pickled aquatic product samples. ConclusionThere are different degrees of parasitic infection in freshwater products, seawater products and pickled aquatic products in Qingpu District of Shanghai. The risk of parasite infection from raw or undercooked foods is high. Health education on healthy dietary practices such as throughly cooked food should be strengthened for local residents.

Objective: To investigate the effects of different storage temperatures and durations on the activities of coagulation factor Ⅷ (Factor Ⅷ, FⅧ) and coagulation factor Ⅸ (Factor Ⅸ, FⅨ) after whole blood collection, so as to provide data support for the optimal storage conditions. Methods: A total of 16 mL of whole blood was collected from each of the 20 healthy volunteers at our blood center and aliquoted into 8 sodium citrate anticoagulant tubes. Two tubes were immediately centrifuged for the measurement of FⅧ and FⅨ activity levels. The remaining 6 tubes of whole blood were respectively stored under room temperature and low-temperature conditions. At 2, 4, and 6 h, the whole blood samples were centrifuged and analyzed for FⅧ and FⅨ activity levels. The mean values of the two immediately tested tubes were used as the control group, while other tubes were designated as the experimental groups for comparison. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0. Results: The activity of FⅧ in whole blood remained stable after 4 hours of storage at both room temperature and low temperature (116.53±25.95 vs 125.22±27.33, 109.77±23.23 vs 125.22±27.33) (P>0.05 for both). However, by 6 hours, FⅧ activity showed a statistically significant decline compared to the control group (108.65±22.92 vs 125.22±27.33, 100.46±20.19 vs 125.22±27.33) (P<0.05 for both), though the room temperature group results were closer to the control values. The activity of FⅨ in whole blood remained stable after 6 hours of storage under both conditions (97.14±19.48 vs 96.76±19.67, 97.10±17.45 vs 96.76±19.6) (P>0.05 for all comparisons). Conclusion: For whole blood samples after collection, storage at either room temperature or low temperature for up to 4 hours does not compromise the accuracy of test results. When stored for 6 hours, FⅨ activity remains stable, whereas FⅧ activity decreases significantly. Notably, FⅧ activity demonstrates better stability at room temperature than under low-temperature conditions within the 6-hour storage.

Objective: To study the correlation between activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) mixing test results and the inhibitor titers in hemophilia A inhibitor-positive patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 41 patients with severe hemophilia A and inhibitors (and negative for lupus anticoagulant) were included from the hemophilia clinic of Shandong Blood Center from February 2022 to February 2024. All patients underwent APTT mixing test. The Rosner's index (RI, including the immediate RI and the RI after 2-hour water bath incubation [water bath 2h RI]), the time-dependent difference (Δ value), and the corrected percentage were calculated based on results of APTT mixing test. The median (interquartile range) of the corresponding indexes were calculated, and the ROC curves for identification of high inhibitor titers using the four indexes (the immediate RI, the water bath 2h RI, the Δ value, and the corrected percentage) were plotted, The correlations between APTT mixing test and inhibitor titers for coagulation factor Ⅷ (Factor Ⅷ, FⅧ) were investigated. Results: The median (lower quartile, upper quartile) of immediate RI, water bath 2h RI, Δ-value and corrected percentage for FⅧ inhibitor positive patients were 11.0 (5.4, 29.3)%, 45.0 (25.7, 75.0)%, 26.2 (7.6, 41.8) s, and 82.2 (58.5, 91.6)%, respectively. The median (lower quartile, upper quartile) of the immediate RI, water bath 2h RI, Δ-value and corrected percentage were 25.2 (13.0, 37.5)%, 64.1 (44.6, 72.6)%, 38.0 (14.3, 38.3) s, and 66.5 (50.1, 82.1)% for the high-titer inhibitor group, and 5.2 (4.2, 9.4)%, 17.9 (8.8, 28.0)%, 13.0 (7.6, 25.4) s, and 92.3 (88.0, 94.3)% for the low-titer inhibitor group. The AUCs of the ROC curves for discrimination between high and low titer inhibitor were: 0.9105 for immediate RI, 0.9118 for water bath 2h RI, 0.8873 for correcter percentage, and 0.6532 for Δ-value. Conclusion: High-titer inhibitors can be highly suspected in hemophiliac patients with an immediate RI >10% and a water bath 2h RI >45%, and the presence of low-titer inhibitors is suspected in patients with a 4-second < immediate RI <10% and a 13% < water bath 2h RI <45%.

Pre-admission is a critical initiative to optimize medical service processes and alleviate the challenge of "difficult access to healthcare. "However, there is currently a lack of standardized protocols for pre-admission procedures. This study aims to systematically analyze key nodes and risk factors in pre-admission process design and propose optimization strategies, providing a foundation for policy formulation and hospital practices. By constructing a "forward-reverse" dual-process model of pre-admission and identifying risk points based on stakeholder theory (patients, hospitals, healthcare administration, and insurance), the study reveals that while pre-admission can reduce the average length of stay, improve bed turnover rates, and enhance patient satisfaction, it also presents risks such as cross-period financial settlement, challenges in insurance policy adaptability, demands for information system integration, and the need for defining medical safety boundaries. To optimize the pre-admission process and mitigate these risks, this study explores framework improvements in areas including eligibility criteria, mode selection, cost settlement, transition between pre-admission and inpatient status, and cancellation of pre-admission, offering practical guidance for public hospitals. The authors argue that pre-admission requires tripartite collaboration among hospitals, insurers, and healthcare administrations: hospitals should establish top-level design, continuously refine processes, and implement dynamic risk assessment mechanisms; insurance providers should support cross-period settlement policies; and healthcare administrations should issue guiding policies or standardized protocols. Through multi-department coordination and collaborative efforts, the optimization and innovation of pre-admission processes can be advanced, ultimately delivering more efficient and convenient healthcare experiences for patients.

BACKGROUND: Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP), a rare and recurrent autoinflammatory disease, imposes a substantial burden on patients and society. Awareness of GPP in China remains limited. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey, conducted between September 2021 and May 2023 across 14 hospitals in China, included GPP patients of all ages and disease phases. Data collected encompassed demographics, clinical characteristics, economic impact, disease severity, quality of life, and treatment-related complications. Risk factors for GPP recurrence were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 127 patients (female/male ratio = 1.35:1), the mean age of disease onset was 25 years (1st quartile [Q1]-3rd quartile [Q3]: 11-44 years); 29.2% had experienced GPP for more than 10 years. Recurrence occurred in 75.6% of patients, and nearly half reported no identifiable triggers. Younger age at disease onset ( P  = 0.021) and transitioning to plaque psoriasis ( P  = 0.022) were associated with higher recurrence rates. The median diagnostic delay was 8 months (Q1-Q3: 2-41 months), and 32.3% of patients reported misdiagnoses. Comorbidities were present in 53.5% of patients, whereas 51.1% experienced systemic complications during treatment. Depression and anxiety affected 84.5% and 95.6% of patients, respectively. During GPP flares, the median Dermatology Life Quality Index score was 19.0 (Q1-Q3: 13.0-23.5). This score showed significant differences between patients with and without systemic symptoms; it demonstrated correlations with both depression and anxiety scores. Treatment costs caused financial hardship in 55.9% of patients, underscoring the burden associated with GPP. CONCLUSIONS The substantial disease and economic burdens among Chinese GPP patients warrant increased attention. Patients with early onset disease and those transitioning to plaque psoriasis require targeted interventions to mitigate the high recurrence risk.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Psoriasis/pathology* ; Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Adolescent ; Child ; Young Adult ; Quality of Life ; Middle Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; East Asian People