AIM: To investigate the influence of relevant inflammatory markers in peripheral blood on the progression of neovascular glaucoma(NVG)secondary to diabetic retinopathy(DR)patients.METHODS: Retrospective case-control study. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the presence or absence of NVG: those with proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR)alone(PDR group, n=148)and those with NVG secondary to PDR(NVG secondary to PDR group, n=142). Peripheral blood inflammatory markers were evaluated, including white blood cell-related indices, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio(PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio(MLR), and systemic immune-inflammation index(SII). The distinctions in peripheral blood inflammatory markers between the two groups of patients and their relationships with NVG secondary to PDR were analyzed.RESULTS:No statistically significant differences were observed in basic characteristics between the two groups, confirming their comparability. However, significant differences were found in eosinophil percentage and MLR between the PDR group and the NVG secondary to PDR group(all P<0.05), with both values being significantly higher in the NVG secondary to PDR group. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that the eosinophil percentage and the MLR were factors influencing the development of patients with NVG secondary to PDR.CONCLUSION: Eosinophil percentage and MLR may be associated with the progression of PDR to NVG, and could serve as potential predictive markers for NVG development in PDR patients.

Castleman disease(CD)is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder with an unclear etiology and pathogenesis.This article reports a case of unicentric Castleman disease(UCD)occurring in the submandibular region.The patient presented with a painless submandibular mass.Imaging studies revealed a well-defined,hypervascular lesion,and histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of plasma cell-type CD.Submandibular CD is exceptionally rare and can be easily misdiagnosed as lymphadenitis or lymphoma,necessitating a com-bination of imaging and pathological examinations for differential diagnosis.This case report provides valuable insights into diagnosis and management of CD.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of mucogingival surgery on aesthetic restoration during the resection of anterio tooth epulis.Methods:A total of 60 patients with gingival tumors in the anterior tooth area were collected,and a control group of17 cases were treated with traditional surgical resection.After tumor resection,the study group of 43 cases underwent simultaneous repair with gingival membrane surgery.Group A underwent coronal reduction flap surgery,group B underwent lateral transposition flap sur-gery,and group C underwent connective tissue graft and coronal reduction flap surgery.Follow up examinations were conducted at 2 month,6 months,and 1 year after surgery to record the distance of gingival recession,the difference between the width of the atta-ched gingiva and the corresponding tooth on the opposite side,the red aesthetic index,patient satisfaction VAS,and postoperative recurrence.Results:The postoperative gingival recession distance in the study group was lower than that in the control group,and the difference between the attached gingival width and the opposite homonymous tooth in the study group was lower than that in the control group.Conclusion:The use of gingival membrane surgery in the anterior tooth area for aesthetic restoration after gingival tumor resection is effective and worthy of promotion.

BACKGROUND: Post-stroke disability diminishes the physical activity (PA) level of survivors, potentially affecting their long-term prognosis. This study endeavors to explore the correlation between daily PA level and the all-cause mortality in patients with a history of stoke in the United States. METHODS: Data of stroke survivors were sourced from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2018. The population was stratified into three groups based on their PA level. Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank tests for significance was used for survival analysis. Weighted Cox proportional hazards regression models were employed to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause mortality. Subgroup analysis was conducted to strengthen the results. RESULTS: A total of 1395 participants were recruited, comprising 679 males and 716 females, with a median age of 68 years. Based on their PA levels, 779 individuals were classified as inactive, 156 as insufficiently active, and 460 as sufficiently active. Following a median observation period of 59 months, there were 476 recorded deaths, with 349, 47, and 80 cases in the three respective groups. Compared to the inactive group, the HRs and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all-cause mortality in participants who were insufficiently active and sufficiently active were 0.58 (0.40, 0.84) and 0.47 (0.33, 0.67), respectively. The Kaplan-Meier curve revealed a significant difference in overall survival between the three groups, as confirmed by the log-rank test (P < 0.0001). Subgroup analysis further validated our results and demonstrated that the protective impact of PA on stroke prognosis varies according to distinct characteristics. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that increased levels of PA are associated with a protective effect on long-term mortality among stroke survivors. Further prospective longitudinal studies are necessary to elucidate the optional PA level and special exercise guideline targeting this population.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Exercise ; Middle Aged ; Nutrition Surveys ; Stroke/mortality* ; United States/epidemiology* ; Survivors/statistics & numerical data* ; Aged, 80 and over ; Mortality

Abdominal obesity represents the predominant obesity phenotype in China.Compared to peripheral obesity,individuals with abdominal obesity are more prone to metabolic disorders,cardiovascular diseases,and higher mortality rates.Catgut embedding therapy at acupoints has demonstrated significant clinical efficacy in preventing and treating abdominal obesity.However,standardized clinical guidelines for its application in abdominal obesity management have not yet been established.This review comprehensively summarizes the clinical applications of catgut embedding therapy for simple abdominal obesity and abdominal obesity with various complications,aiming to provide clinical evidence and theoretical guidance for its use in preventing and treating abdominal obesity.

Objective To investigate whether transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation(TEAS)can improve the muscle strength,endurance and work efficiency of calf muscles in healthy young men,aiming to explore a new method for preventing and combating microgravity-induced muscle atrophy in space environments.Methods 40 healthy young men aged 18-35 years were randomly divided into a Control group(Pseudo Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation)and a Experimental group(Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation)in a 1∶1 ratio,with 20 participants in each group.In the Control group,the indicator light of the stimulator was covered,and the device was turned on,but the electrodes did not contact the skin,The device automatically turned offafter 3 seconds.In the Experimental group,the TEAS device was connected to the current and TEAS intervention was performed.The electrical stimulation waveform was a sperse-dense wave with a frequency of 4/20 Hz,and the intensity was determined by patient tolerance.The acupoints selected for electrical stimulation in both groups were bilateral Zusanli(ST36)、Liangqiu(ST34),Taixi(KI3),and Fuliu(KI7).Zusanli and Liangqiu were paired,and Taixi and Fuliu were paired.The intervention frequency was 30 min/time,1 time/day,6 days/week,for 2 weeks.The relative peak torque at 60°/s,relative peak torque at 180°/s,and average power at 180°/s of the bilateral calf muscles were measured using an isokinetic dynamometer at 0th,7th,and 14d day of the experiment.Results After 1 week of TEAS,compared with Control group,there were no significant changes in the relative peak torque at 60°/s,relative peak torque at 180°/s and average power at 180°/s of the bilateral anterior calf muscles in the Experimental group(all P>0.05);however,compared with Control group,the relative peak torque at 60°/s and the relative peak torque at 180°/s of the bilateral posterior calf muscles in the Experimental group were significantly increased(all P<0.05).After 2 weeks TEAS;compared with the Control group,there were no significant changes in the relative peak torque at 60°/s,relative peak torque at 180°/s and average power at 180°/s of the bilateral anterior calf muscles in the Experimental group(all P>0.05);however,the relative peak torque at 60°/s,relative peak torque at 180°/s,and average power at 180°/s of the bilateral posterior calf muscles were significantly increased in the Experimental group(all P<0.05).Conclusion TEAS of Zusanli,Liangqiu,Fuliu and Taixi acupoints on the lower limbs for 2 weeks can effectively improve the maximum muscle strength,endurance and work efficiency of the posterior calf muscles in healthy young men.

Objective:To investigate the temporal expression of Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF15) in the serum of patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) and explore the clinical significance of GDF15 in protecting cardiomyocytes in ACS.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 289 ACS patients admitted to the emergency departments from February to October 2023. Data on gender, age, troponin T (TnT), creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), GDF15, and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) within 30 minutes of admission were recorded. Differences in these indicators among different groups were compared. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to evaluate the diagnostic value of GDF15, TnT, and BNP for ACS. Among the patients, 15 exhibited a temporal expression pattern of GDF15, and their blood samples were re-measured using a GDF15 fluorescent quantitative immunochromatographic assay kit. Fifteen patients without temporal expression were randomly selected as controls, and their samples were also re-measured to exclude detection errors. Fifteen patients with temporal expression were included in the temporal expression group, and 15 without temporal expression were included in the non-temporal expression group. Laboratory indicators such as fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, triglycerides, creatinine, and uric acid were compared between the groups. Additionally, patient age, gender, body mass index (BMI), coronary angiography results, echocardiography, Gensini score, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and GRACE risk score were recorded to assess their correlation with GDF15 temporal expression. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 27 software, with continuous data expressed as mean ± standard deviation (Mean ± SD) and compared using t-tests and χ2 tests. Results:The overall trend in ACS patients showed a higher proportion of males than females (73.36% vs. 26.64%). The oldest group was the Unstable Angina (UA) group, with a mean age of (63.98 ± 15.19) years, while the youngest group was the non-ACS chest pain group, with a mean age of (54.29 ± 16.39) years. A higher proportion of patients in the UA, ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) groups had a history of smoking. The combination of GDF15 and TnT showed high diagnostic value for ACS, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.843, consistent with previous studies. Among all ACS patients, 15 exhibited a temporal expression pattern of GDF15, where GDF15 levels peaked at 4 hours, gradually decreased, and peaked again at 24 hours. Patients in the temporal expression group had higher LVEF and left ventricular end-systolic diameter compared to the non-temporal expression group. The Gensini score was lower in the temporal expression group, and the GRACE risk score was significantly lower in the temporal expression group (00.7±14.72) compared to the non-temporal expression group (116.1±23.46), with a statistically significant difference ( P = 0.0115). There were no significant differences in general characteristics (age, gender, BMI) or clinical biochemical indicators (fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, creatinine, uric acid) between the temporal and non-temporal expression groups ( P > 0.05). Conclusions:GDF15 demonstrates significant diagnostic and prognostic predictive value in ACS. Patients with temporally dynamic expression of serum GDF15 exhibit milder myocardial injury and a lower probability of mortality. These findings provide novel therapeutic targets and research directions for further exploring the role of GDF15 in ACS management.

Plant-derived bioactive peptides have become a research hotspot in the fields of food and medicine due to their high source safety,easy absorption and utilization by the human body,and potential edible and medicinal value.Bioactive peptides can be classified into antihypertensive,hypoglycemic,hypolipidemic,anticancer,antioxidant,antimicrobial,and anti-inflammatory peptides according to their functions.Among these,antihypertensive,hypoglycemic,and hypolipidemic peptides are collectively referred to as cardiovascular active peptides,which can be used for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases and have an important role in the development of modem biomedicine.This review focused on the preparation methods,separation,purification,and identification techniques of bioactive peptides,as well as their mechanisms of action and applications in regulating cardiovascular diseases,aiming to provide a reference for further development and application of plant-derived cardiovascular peptides.

N6-methyladenosine(m6A)methylation modification is the most common post-transcriptional modification in eukaryotic RNA and plays an important role in RNA metabolism,immune cell stability,and immunomodulation.Systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)is a diffuse,systemic autoimmune disease caused by the binding of autoantibodies to corresponding autoimmune antigens to form immune complex deposits.The pathogenesis of SLE is complex.With the continuous deepening of research,it has been discovered in recent years that m6A methylation modification can participate in the occurrence of SLE by regulating immune cells and promote the development of SLE from aspects such as oxidative stress and inflammatory response.This article reviews the research progress on the three proteins modified by m6A methylation and their relationship with the pathogenesis of SLE.

AIM:To observe the neuroprotective effects of total saponins of Trillium tschonoskii Maxim(TST)on rats with vascular dementia(VD)and explore the drug's impact on astrocytes and the Sonic Hedgehog(Shh)pathway as well as its mechanisms of action.METHODS:A rat model of vascular dementia was established by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion.Subsequently,the rats were randomly divided into four groups:donepezil hydrochloride group,TST group,model group,and sham group,with 18 rats in each group.After 5 weeks of gavage,samples were collected.Cognitive function was evaluated by the water maze test.Histopathological changes in brain tissue were examined with HE and Nissl staining.The ultrastructure of astrocytes was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy.The localization and expression of the neuronal nuclear antigen(NeuN),glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP),Shh,and glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1(Gli1)were identified using immunohistochemistry.Immunofluorescence was also employed to exam-ine the expression of NeuN and GFAP.Finally,Western blot analysis was used to measure the protein levels of NeuN,GFAP,Shh,Patched 1(Ptch1),Gli1,Bax,Bcl-2,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),and interleukin-10(IL-10)in the hippocampus.RESULTS:Compared to the sham group,the model rats demonstrated prolonged escape latency,disorga-nized and loosened neuronal arrangement in the hippocampus and cortex,reduced Nissl bodies,and significant neuronal damage.Astrocytes displayed chromatin aggregation,swollen mitochondria with disrupted cristae structures,and swollen endoplasmic reticulum regions.The expression of NeuN,Shh,and Gli1 positive cells significantly decreased,while GFAP positive cells significantly increased.Additionally,the protein levels of NeuN,Shh,Ptch1,Gli1,IL-10,and Bcl-2 in the hippocampus were reduced(P＜0.05),whereas those of GFAP,Bax,and TNF-α were elevated(P＜0.01).Com-pared to the model group,the donepezil hydrochloride and TST groups effectively improved the aforementioned indicators.CONCLUSION:Total saponins of trillium tschonoskii maxim can effectively alleviate pathological damage to neurons in VD rats,thereby improving learning and memory abilities.The underlying mechanisms may involve inhibiting the overacti-vation of astrocytes,activate the Shh/Ptch1/Gli1 signaling pathway,suppress neuroinflammation,and reduce neuronal apoptosis.