BACKGROUND: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is common in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients and may develop earlier in those with multiple cardiovascular comorbidities, potentially impairing self-management and treatment adherence. This study aimed to characterize the prevalence and profile of MCI in AF patients, examine its associations with cardiovascular comorbidities, and assess how these comorbidities influence specific cognitive domains. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from AF patients who underwent cognitive assessment between 2017 and 2021. Cognitive status was categorized as MCI or non-MCI based on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Associations between comorbidities and MCI were assessed by logistic regression, and cognitive domains were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Of 4136 AF patients (mean age: 64.7 ± 9.4 years, 64.7% male), 33.5% of patients had MCI. Among the AF patients, 31.2% of patients had coronary artery disease, 20.1% of patients had heart failure, and 18.1% of patients had hypertension. 88.7% of patients had left atrial enlargement, and 11.0% of patients had reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. Independent factors associated with higher MCI prevalence included older age (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.03-1.05, P < 0.001), lower education level (OR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.31-1.73, P < 0.001), hypertension (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.07-1.52, P = 0.001), heart failure (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.04-1.48, P = 0.020), and lower left ventricular ejection fraction (OR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.04-1.98, P = 0.028). A higher CHA₂DS₂-VASc score (OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.22-1.33, P < 0.001; ≥ 2 points vs. < 2 points), and greater atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease burden (OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.02-2.08, P = 0.040; 2 types vs. 0 type) were linked to increased MCI risk. These above factors influenced various cognitive domains. CONCLUSIONS MCI is common in AF and closely associated with cardiovascular multimorbidity. Patients with multiple comorbidities are at higher risk, highlighting the importance of routine cognitive assessment to support self-management and integrated care.

Cardiac arrest (CA) is a critical condition in the field of cardiovascular medicine. Despite successful resuscitation, patients continue to have a high mortality rate, largely due to post CA syndrome (PCAS). However, the injury and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying PCAS remain unclear. Experimental animal models are valuable tools for exploring the etiology, pathogenesis, and potential interventions for CA and PCAS. Current CA animal models include electrical induction of ventricular fibrillation (VF), myocardial infarction, high potassium, asphyxia, and hemorrhagic shock. Although these models do not fully replicate the complexity of clinical CA, the mechanistic insights they provide remain highly relevant, including post-CA brain injury (PCABI), post-CA myocardial dysfunction (PAMD), systemic ischaemia/reperfusion injury (IRI), and the persistent precipitating pathology. Summarizing the methods of establishing CA models, the challenges encountered in the modeling process, and the mechanisms of PCAS can provide a foundation for developing standardized CA modeling protocols.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Post-Cardiac Arrest Syndrome/physiopathology* ; Heart Arrest/physiopathology* ; Humans ; Ventricular Fibrillation/complications*

Objective To investigate the effect of extracellular heat shock protein(HSP)22 on Toll-like receptor(TLR)4/nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)signaling pathway in oxidative-low-density lipoprotein(ox-LDL)-induced inflammatory damage in coronary endothelial cells(HCAECs).Methods HCAECs were cul-tured in vitro and pretreated with ox-LDL to establish a model of high-lipid-induced endothelial cell injury.Re-combinant human HSP22(rhHSP22)was exogenously treated.The effects of rhHSP22 on the expression of inflammation-related proteins such as interleukin(IL)-8,vascular cell adhesion molecule(VCAM)-1 and NF-κB in endothelial cells and endothelial cell apoptosis were observed.The relationship between HSP22 and TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway was investigated under the action of TLR4 inhibitor E5564.Western blot was used to detect the expression of IL-8,VACM-1 and NF-κB proteins,and flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis of endothelial cells in each group.Results Compared with the CNT group,the relative expression levels of IL-8,VACM-1 and NF-κB protein in the rhHSP22 group,rhHSP22+ox-LDL group,rhHSP22+E5564 group and rhHSP22+E5564+ox-LDL group were significantly increased,and the differences were sta-tistically significant(P<0.05).Compared with the rhHSP22 group,the relative expression levels of IL-8,VACM-1 and NF-κB protein in the rhHSP22+ox-LDL group were significantly increased,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).Compared with the rhHSP22+ox-LDL group,the relative expression levels of IL-8 and VACM-1 in the rhHSP22+E5564+ox-LDL group were decreased,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).Compared with the CNT group,the apoptosis rate in the rhHSP22 group,rhHSP22+ox-LDL group and rhHSP22+E5564+ox-LDL group was significantly increased,and the differ-ence was statistically significant(P<0.05).Compared with the rhHSP22 group,the apoptosis rate in the rhHSP22+ox-LDL group was increased,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Compared with the rhHSP22+ox-LDL group,the apoptosis rate in the rhHSP22+E5564+ox-LDL group was de-creased,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion In ox-LDL-induced inflamma-tory damage of HCAECs,extracellular HSP22 induces the expression of IL-8,VACM-1 and NF-κB proteins by activating the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway,and promotes endothelial cell apoptosis.

Objective To discuss the efficacy and safety of AcoStream mechanical thrombectomy(AMT)system in treating high risk acute pulmonary embolism(APE),and to analyze the risk factors associated with postoperative recurrence of pulmonary embolism(PE).Methods A total of 137 patients with APE,who were admitted to Bingzhou Medical University Hospital Yantai Affiliated hospital from January 2018 to April 2023,were collected.The patients were divided into AMT group(receiving AMT treatment,n=76)and catheter-directed thrombolysis group(CDT group,n=61).The preoperative risk,surgical core indicators,perioperative and follow-up results,and incidence of adverse events were compared between the two groups.One month after treatment,the risk factors for PE recurrence in the AMT group were analyzed.Results Compared with the CDT group,in the AMT group the preoperative risk stratification of pulmonary embolism was higher,the patients were older,the cardiac function grade was higher,the intraoperative used urokinase dose was less,and the postoperative hospital stay was shorter;the differences in the above indexes between the two groups were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).During follow-up period of one month,the difference in the recurrence of pulmonary embolism between the two groups was statistically significant(P=0.026).Logistic regression analysis revealed that pre-operative NT-proBNP was the risk factor for PE recurrence at one month after AMT treatment(OR=1.001,95％CI:1.000-1.001).Conclusion AMT technique carries high efficacy for removing thrombus in different pulmonary artery segments,which is suitable for the treatment of APE.While reducing the bleeding amount,AMT technique will not increase the time spent for operation,besides,it has excellent advantages in improving the right heart function and in ensuring clinical safety.

This paper reported a case of 77-year-old male patient who developed generalized ery-thematous macules,bullae and erosion,accompanied by genital mucosa involvement five days after taking compound sulfamethoxazole tablets.Based on patient's clinical manifestations and auxiliary ex-amination results,the diagnosis of generalized bullous fixed drug eruption was confirmed.Clinicians should be vigilant about generalized bullous fixed drug eruption with genital mucosa involvement and strive for early detection,diagnosis,and treatment.

Objective:To explore the correlation between high cholinergic pathway signaling and cognitive function in patients with Parkinson disease(PD) accompanied with sleep disorder.Methods:PD patients admitted from 2017 to 2022 were divided into PD with sleep disorder group (PD-SD group) ( n=56) and PD without sleep disorder group (PD-NSD group) ( n=41) according to the Parkinson's disease sleep scale (PDSS) score. All participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging examination.All patients were evaluated by the PDSS, Hoehn-Yahr (H-Y), Montreal cognitive assessment scale (MoCA), and cholinergic pathways hyper intensities scale (CHIPS). The difference of cognitive function between the two groups and the correlation between CHIPS and cognitive function were analyzed.Independent sample t-test, Spearman correlation analysis, and binary Logistic regression analysis were performed on the data by SPSS 26.0 statistical software. Results:(1)The MoCA score of the PD-SD group (22.00 (5.00)) was lower than that of the PD-NSD group (26.00 (5.00)) ( Z=-3.830, P<0.05). The total and all aspects scores of CHIPS in PD-SD group were higher than those in PD-NSD group(the total score of the low external capsule: 12.00(8.00), 0(8.00), the total score of the high external capsule: 12.00(2.00), 6.00(9.00), the total score of the radial crown: 8.00(0), 4.00(4.00), the total score of the centrum semiovale: 3.00(4.00), 0(2.00), the total score of the right side: 16.00(9.00), 5.00(10.00), the total score of the left side: 17.00(6.00), 7.00(9.00), the total score of CHIPS: 32.00(14.00), 14.00(20.00))( Z=-5.081, -5.873, -4.933, -3.211, -5.562, -6.232, -5.995, all P<0.05). (2)The correlation analysis between the score of CHIPS and cognitive function in the PD-SD group showed that, the total score of the low external capsule ( r=-0.286), the total score of the centrum semiovale ( r=-0.307), the total score of the right side ( r=-0.376), the total score of the left side ( r=-0.284) and the total score of CHIPS ( r=-0.349) were negatively correlated with MoCA(all P<0.05). (3)Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that white matter lesions in centrum semiovale, low inner capsule, right and left leukodystrophy were not influence factors for cognitive impairment (all P>0.05). Conclusion:PD patients with sleep disorders have lower cognitive function scores, higher CHIPS scores, and significant changes in white matter lesions compared to those without sleep disorders. In PD patients with sleep disorders, the higher the CHIPS score, the lower the cognitive function score, and the more significant the rate of cognitive impairment occurrence and development.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone(DMQ),an active ingredients in fermented wheat germ extract,for inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation and alleviating septic shock in mice.Methods Cultured murine bone marrow-derived macrophages(BMDM)stimulated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS)were treated with DMQ,followed by treatment with Nigericin,ATP,and MSU for activating the canonical NLRP3 inflammasome;the non-canonical NLRP3 inflammasome was activated by intracellular transfection of LPS,and AIM2 inflammasome was activated using Poly A:T.In human monocytic THP-1 cells,the effect of Nigericin on inflammasome activation products was examined using Western blotting and ELISA.Co-immunoprecipitation was performed to explore the mechanism of DMQ-induced blocking of NLRP3 inflammasome activation.In a male C57BL/6J mouse model of LPS-induced septic shock treated with 20 and 40 mg/kg DMQ,the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in the serum and peritoneal lavage fluid were determined using ELISA,and the survival time of the mice within 36 h was observed.Results Treatment with DMQ effectively inhibited LPS-induced activation of canonical NLRP3 inflammasome in mouse BMDM and human THP-1 cells and also inhibited non-canonical NLRP3 inflammasome activation in mouse BMDM,but produced no significant effect on AIM2 inflammasome activation.DMQ significantly blocked the binding between ASC and NLRP3.In the mouse models of septic shock,DMQ treatment significantly reduced the levels of IL-1β in the serum and peritoneal fluid and obviously prolonged survival time of the mice.Conclusion DMQ can effectively block ASC-NLRP3 interaction to inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation and alleviate LPS-induced septic shock in mice.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone(DMQ),an active ingredients in fermented wheat germ extract,for inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation and alleviating septic shock in mice.Methods Cultured murine bone marrow-derived macrophages(BMDM)stimulated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS)were treated with DMQ,followed by treatment with Nigericin,ATP,and MSU for activating the canonical NLRP3 inflammasome;the non-canonical NLRP3 inflammasome was activated by intracellular transfection of LPS,and AIM2 inflammasome was activated using Poly A:T.In human monocytic THP-1 cells,the effect of Nigericin on inflammasome activation products was examined using Western blotting and ELISA.Co-immunoprecipitation was performed to explore the mechanism of DMQ-induced blocking of NLRP3 inflammasome activation.In a male C57BL/6J mouse model of LPS-induced septic shock treated with 20 and 40 mg/kg DMQ,the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in the serum and peritoneal lavage fluid were determined using ELISA,and the survival time of the mice within 36 h was observed.Results Treatment with DMQ effectively inhibited LPS-induced activation of canonical NLRP3 inflammasome in mouse BMDM and human THP-1 cells and also inhibited non-canonical NLRP3 inflammasome activation in mouse BMDM,but produced no significant effect on AIM2 inflammasome activation.DMQ significantly blocked the binding between ASC and NLRP3.In the mouse models of septic shock,DMQ treatment significantly reduced the levels of IL-1β in the serum and peritoneal fluid and obviously prolonged survival time of the mice.Conclusion DMQ can effectively block ASC-NLRP3 interaction to inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation and alleviate LPS-induced septic shock in mice.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and genetic basis of a male patient with primary infertility caused by Acephalic spermatozoa syndrome.Methods:A patient who had presented at the Henan Provincial People′s Hospital on October 1, 2022 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data and results of laboratory exams and sperm electron microscopy were collected. The patient was subjected to whole exome sequencing (WES), and candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing and pathogenicity analysis.Results:WES revealed that the patient has harbored compound heterozygous variants of the PMFBP1 gene, namely c. 853del (p.Ala285Leufs*24) and c. 1276A>T (p.Lys426X), which were both unreported previously. Sanger sequencing suggested that the c. 853del (p.Ala285Leufs*24) variant has derived from his deceased mother, whilst the c. 1276A>T (p.Lys426X) variant has derived from his father. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), both variants were classified as pathogenic (PVS1+ PM2_Supporting+ PP4). Conclusion:The compound heterozygous variants of the PMFBP1 gene probably underlay the Acephalic spermatozoa syndrome in this patient. The discovery of the novel variants has also enriched the mutational spectrum of Acephalic spermatozoa syndrome.

Objective To evaluate the acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)(AECOPD)status via combining clinical data,lung function parameters with CT radiomic features based on machine learning method.Methods A total of 343 COPD patients,including 158 AECOPD patients and 185 non-AECOPD patients were retrospectively selected and randomly divided into training and testing sets at a ratio of 7∶3.The radiomics features were calculated after automatically delineating the whole lung volume of interest(VOI).Five machine learning methods were used to construct the AECOPD diagnostic model,then the corresponding Radiomics score(Rad-score)was calculated in the training set and was validated in the testing set.The logistic-combined model was established after integrating age,Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease(GOLD)classification,vital capacity(VC),forced vital capacity(FVC),forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1),FEV1％pred,FEV1/FVC％,peak expiratory flow(PEF),maximum ventilatory volume(MVV),and Rad-score value.The area under the curve(AUC)of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was calculated to evaluate the evaluated performance of all models.Results The logistic regression model had the best diagnostic performance,with AUC of 0.724 and 0.758 in the training and testing sets,respectively.The performance of the logistic-combined model to diagnose AECOPD was superior to that of the single logistic regression model,with the AUC of 0.777 and 0.760 in the training and testing sets,respectively.Conclusion A combination strategy including clinical data,lung function parameters,and CT radiomics may be helpful to diagnose AECOPD status,with moderate diagnostic performance.