OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects and mechanisms of Lycium ruthenicum Murr. in improving sleep. METHODS Network pharmacology was employed to identify the active components of L. ruthenicum and their associated disease targets， followed by enrichment analysis. A caffeine‑induced zebrafish model of sleep deprivation was established ， and the zebrafish were treated with L. ruthenicum Murr. extract （LRME） at concentrations of 0.1， 0.2 and 0.4 mg/mL， respectively； 24 h later， behavioral changes of zebrafish and pathological alterations in brain neurons were subsequently observed. The levels of inflammatory factors [interleukin-6 （IL-6）， IL-1β， IL-10， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）]， oxidative stress markers [superoxide dismutase （SOD）， malondialdehyde （MDA）， glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px）， catalase （CAT）]， and neurotransmitters [5- hydroxytryptamine （5-HT）， γ-aminobutyric acid （GABA）， glutamic acid （Glu）， dopamine （DA）， and norepinephrine （NE）] were measured. The protein expression levels of protein kinase B1 （AKT1）， phosphorylated AKT1 （p-AKT1）， epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR）， B-cell lymphoma 2 （Bcl-2）， sarcoma proto-oncogene，non-receptor tyrosine kinase （SRC）， and heat shock protein 90α family class A member 1 （HSP90AA1） in the zebrafish were also determined. RESULTS A total of 12 active components and 176 intersecting disease targets were identified through network pharmacology analysis. Among these， apigenin， naringenin and others were recognized as core active compounds， while AKT1， EGFR and others served as key targets； EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance signaling pathway was identified as the critical pathway. The sleep improvement rates in zebrafish of LRME low-， medium-， and high-dose groups were 54.60%， 69.03% and 77.97%， 开发。E-mail：hjp_yft@163.com respectively， while the inhibition ratios of locomotor distance were 0.57， 0.83 and 0.95， respectively. Compared with the model group， the number of resting counts， resting time and resting distance were significantly increased/extended in LRME medium- and high-dose groups （P＜0.05）. Neuronal damage in the brain was alleviated. Additionally， the levels of IL-6， IL-1β， TNF-α， MDA， Glu， DA and NE， as well as the protein expression levels of AKT1， p-AKT1， EGFR， SRC and HSP90AA1， were markedly reduced （P＜0.05）， while the levels of IL-10， SOD， GSH-Px， CAT， 5-HT and GABA， as well as Bcl-2 protein expression， were significantly elevated （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS L. ruthenicum Murr. demonstrates sleep-improving effects， and its specific mechanism may be related to the regulation of inflammatory responses， oxidative stress， neurotransmitter balance， and the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance signaling pathway.

Objective To analyze the clinical efficacy of valve surgeries for infective endocarditis and the affecting factors, and compare the early- and long-term postoperative outcomes of different surgery approaches. Methods The patients with infective endocarditis who underwent valve replacement/valvuloplasty in our hospital from 2010 to 2022 were retrospectively collected. The clinical data of the patients were analyzed. Results A total of 343 patients were enrolled, including 197 patients with mechanical valve replacement, 62 patients with bioprosthetic valve replacement, and 84 patients with valvuloplasty. There were 238 males and 105 females with an average age of (44.2±14.8) years. Single-valve endocarditis was present in 200 (58.3%) patients, and multivalve involvement was present in 143 (41.7%) patients. Sixty (17.5%) patients had suffered thrombosis before surgery, including cerebral embolisms in 32 patients. The mean follow-up time was (60.6±43.8) months. Early mortality within one month after the surgery occurred in 17 (5.0%) patients, while later mortality occurred in 19 (5.5%) patients. Eight (2.3%) patients underwent postoperative dialysis, 13 (3.8%) patients suffered postoperative stroke, 6 patients underwent reoperation, and 3 patients suffered recurrence of infective endocarditis. Smoking (P=0.002), preoperative embolisms (P=0.001), duration of surgery (P=0.001), and postoperative dialysis (P=0.001) were risk factors for early mortality, and left ventricular ejection fraction ≥60% (P=0.022) was protective factor for early mortality. New York Heart Association classification Ⅲ-Ⅳ (P=0.010) and ≥3 valve procedures (P=0.028) were risk factors for late mortality. The rate of composite endpoint events was significantly lower in the valvuloplasty group than that in the valve replacement group. Conclusion For patients with infective endocarditis, smoking and preoperative embolisms are associated with high postoperative mortality, multiple-valve surgery is associated with a poorer prognosis, and valvuloplasty has advantages over valve replacement and should be attempted in the surgical management of patients with infective endocarditis.

This study compared the differences in intestinal absorption characteristics of eleven active components in Rubus multibracteatus(RM) extract(protocatechuic acid, tiliroside, scutellarin, luteoloside, astragalin, epicatechin, catechin, xanthotoxin, p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, and apigenin-7-O-glucuronide) between normal rats and inflammatory pain model rats using the in-vitro everted intestinal sac model. The RM extract was administered at absorption concentrations of 25.0, 50.0, and 100.0 mg·mL~(-1). The contents of the eleven components in intestinal absorption solution samples were quantified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS), and their cumulative absorption(Q) and absorption rate constant(K_a) were calculated to evaluate the absorption characteristics of these components in normal rats and inflammatory pain model rats. The results show that except for catechin, epicatechin, and caffeic acid, the cumulative absorption-time curves of the other eight components(protocatechuic acid, tiliroside, scutellarin, luteoloside, astragalin, xanthotoxin, p-coumaric acid, and apigenin-7-O-glucuronide) exhibit an upward trend without saturation, with correlation coefficients(R~2) all > 0.9, indicating linear absorption. However, the overall absorption of all components is not dose-dependent with increasing concentration, suggesting that their absorption mechanisms are not solely passive diffusion. In both normal and model rats, the jejunum shows the highest absorption for all components except xanthotoxin. The overall absorption of seven components(excluding protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid, apigenin-7-O-glucuronide, and luteoloside) in normal rats is better than that in model rats across all intestinal segments. These findings indicate that the pathological state of inflammatory pain alters the intestinal absorption of RM extract, and its mechanism needs further investigation.
Animals ; Rats ; Intestinal Absorption/drug effects* ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Pain/metabolism* ; Intestines/drug effects* ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To compare the perioperative renal function changes in patients undergoing heart transplantation (HT) and left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. Methods Patients with end-stage heart failure who underwent surgical treatment at Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2019 to April 2024 were included. According to the surgical method, patients were divided into a HT group and a LVAD group, and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of patients before surgery and postoperative 1, 7, 30, 60 days was compared between the two groups. The patients with preoperative renal dysfunction were subdivided into subgroups for comparison of eGFR changes before surgery and 30 days after surgery between the two groups. Results A total of 112 patients were enrolled. There were 78 patients in the HT group, including 61 males and 17 females, aged (44.42±18.51) years. There were 34 patients in the LVAD group, including 30 males and 4 females, aged (54.94±11.37) years. Compared with the HT group, the average age of patients in the LVAD group was greater (P<0.001), body mass index was higher (P=0.008), preoperative eGFR was lower (P=0.009), and the proportions of smokers (P=0.017), alcohol drinkers (P=0.041), and diabetes mellitus (P=0.028) patients were higher. Among patients with preoperative renal dysfunction [eGFR<90 mL/(min·1.73 m2)], compared with the HT group, the postoperative eGFR of the LVAD group was significantly higher than that of the HT group, and it was significantly increased compared with that before surgery; the postoperative eGFR of the HT group was comparable to that before surgery, and more than half of the patients had a lower eGFR than before surgery. Among patients with preoperative renal dysfunction, 11 patients in the HT group received continuous renal replacement therapy, and 8 died early; 2 patients in the LVAD group received continuous renal replacement therapy, and 1 died early. Conclusion For end-stage heart failure patients with combined renal dysfunction, compared with HT, LVAD implantation enables patients to obtain better renal function benefits.

In China, more than half of heart failure patients are ischemic heart failure patients. And a large proportion of left ventricular assist device implantation patients are also ischemic heart failure patients. However, left ventricular assist device implantation in ischemic heart failure patients is facing with problems such as patient screening, coronary artery disease, small left ventricle, mitral insufficiency, and ventricular aneurysm. There are only a few retrospective studies with small sample sizes abroad trying to provide solutions to these problems. While there is a lack of systematic understanding of this issue in China. Therefore, we provide an overview of the application and progress of left ventricular assist devices in ischemic heart failure patients, aiming to help clinicians have a comprehensive understanding of this issue and provide some guidance.

Objective To analyze the acupoint selection rules of acupuncture for the treatment of tic disorders in children based on data mining techniques.Methods A computerized search was conducted for the clinical research literature on acupuncture treatment of tic disorders in children included in the CNKI,Wanfang,VIP,SinoMed,and PubMed databases from January 1992 to December 2022.A database was established by Excel 2019 to count the commonly used treatment methods and analyze the high-frequency application methods acupuncture(high-frequency acupoints,channel entry of acupoints,acupoint association rules,and acupoint clustering),auricular point seed-pressing(high-frequency auricular points,and acupoint association rules),and the high frequency division of cluster needling of scalp point.Results A total of 190 valid literature articles were included,involving 270 acupuncture prescriptions;among them,184 acupoints were counted in the acupuncture method,with a total application frequency of 1 906 times,and the high-frequency application of the acupoints in descending order were Baihui(DU20),Taichong(LR3),Fengchi(GB20),Hegu(LI4),Sanyinjiao(SP6),Neiguan(PC6),Shenmen(HT7),Zusanli(ST36),Yintang(EX-HN3),Sishencong(EX-HN1);and the high-frequency meridians were governor vessol,foot taiyang stomach meridian,foot taiyang stomach meridian,foot shaoyang gallbladder meridian,hand taiyang large intestine meridian,foot taiyang bladder meridian,foot jueyin gallbladder meridian;three sets of strong association rules and five clusters of acupoints were analyzed by SPSS modeler 18.0 and IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0 software.There were 29 acupoints of auricular point seed-pressing,application total frequency was 206 times,high-frequency application of auricular points in descending order of Shenmen(HT7),liver,heart,subcortex,kidney;four groups of acupoint strong association rules were obtained through the analysis of SPSS modeler 18.0 software.A total of 14 zones were involved in the application of cephalic acupoint plexus zoning,of which the high-frequency zones were parietal anterior temporal diagonal,parietal parietal 1,and chorea tremor control zone.Conclusion Acupuncture treatment of tic disorders in children,according to its pathogenesis(liver hyperactivity,kidney depletion,spleen deficiency,phlegm disturbance,etc.)and tic site,select acupoints compatibility,and mostly choose yang meridian acupoints,which is related to the nature and treatment characteristics of wind pathogen.Children's tic disorders are closely related to emotional disorders,therefore acupuncture and auricular acupoints all emphasize the method of soothing the liver and clearing the heart,and regulating the emotional state.Cluster needling of scalp point mostly used parietal temporal anterior oblique line,parietal 1 line,and dance tremor control area for the treatment of tic disorders.For children,auricular point seed-pressing and cluster needling of scalp point has the minimun of pain,the effect of treatment is long,and it is not easy to have dangerous situations such as bent needle,broken needle and so on.

Objective:The outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) for myelodysplastic syndromes-evolved acute myeloid leukemia (MDS-AML) were explored.Methods:A retrospective review was conducted for 54 patients with MDS-AML treated with allo-HSCT in the Institute of Hematology and Blood Disease Hospital from January 2018 to August 2022. The clinical effects after transplantation were observed, and the related risk factors influencing prognosis were explored.Results:Of the total 54 patients, 26 males, 28 females, and 53 patients achieved hematopoietic reconstruction. After a median follow-up of 597 (15-1 934) days, the 1 year overall survival (OS) rate, disease-free survival (DFS) rate, relapse rate (CIR) and non-relapse mortality (NRM) rate were 75.8%±5.8%, 72.1%±6.1%, 12.7%±4.9%, and 17.1%±5.2%, respectively. The 3 year estimated OS, DFS, CIR, and NRM rates were 57.8%±7.5%, 58.1%±7.2%, 23.2%±6.6%, and 23.7%±6.6%, respectively. The cumulative incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) was 57.5%±6.9%, and the cumulative incidence of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) was 48.4%±7.7%. Hematopoietic cell transplantation comorbidity index (HCT-CI) before transplantation was ≥2, minimal residual disease (MRD) was positive on the day of reconstitution, grade Ⅲ/Ⅳ aGVHD, bacterial or fungal infection and no cGVHD after transplantation were adverse prognostic factors for OS ( P<0.05). COX regression model for multivariate analysis showed that HCT-CI score before transplantation, bone marrow MRD on the day of response, grade Ⅲ or Ⅳ aGVHD, and cGVHD after transplantation were the independent adverse factors for OS ( P=0.001, HR=6.981, 95% CI 2.186-22.300; P=0.010, HR=6.719, 95% CI 1.572-28.711; P=0.026, HR=3.386, 95% CI 1.158-9.901; P=0.006, HR=0.151, 95% CI 0.039-0.581) . Conclusion:For patients with MDS-AML and high risk of relapse, allogeneic transplantation must be considered as soon as possible. The enhanced management of post-transplantation complications and maintenance treatment should be provided whenever possible after transplantation.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of modified anti-mesenteric functional end-to-end anastomosis (Kono-S) on Crohn's disease (CD) .Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Clinical data of CD patients who underwent modified Kono-S surgery at Jinling Hospital of Medical School of Nanjing University from January 2020 to April 2023 were collected. Primary endpoint was postoperative endoscopic recurrence rate. Secondary endpoints were postoperative complication rate within 30 days, postoperative clinical recurrence rate, and factors influencing endoscopic recurrence. Endoscopic recurrence was defined as Rutgeerts score of i2b or higher at the anastomotic stomas. Clinical recurrence was defined as Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) >150 points based on the endoscopic recurrence. Patients were divided into recurrence and non-recurrence groups according to the endoscopic recurrence, and univariate analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to identify factors of endoscopic recurrence.Results:A total of 75 CD patients [46 men, 29 women; mean age, (38.5 ± 14.1) years; mean CDAI score, (71.8 ± 22.6) points] were included. Sixty patients underwent partial small bowel resection, 6 underwent ileocecal resection, 6 underwent right hemicolectomy, and 3 underwent subtotal colectomy. The operation time was (116 ± 27) minutes, and the time of the modified Kono-S anastomosis construction was (24 ± 4) minutes. Incidence rate of Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅱ or higher complications was 12% (9/75) within 30 days postoperatively, with no intra-abdominal infectious complication and death. During the follow-up period of 15 (6, 23) months, 39 patients underwent endoscopic examination, and the endoscopic recurrence rate was 20.5% (8/39) and clinical recurrence rate was 2.6% (1/39) . Male was identified as the independent risk factor for endoscopic recurrence ( OR = 18.7, 95% CI: 1.7-200.8, P = 0.02) . Conclusion:Modified Kono-S is a safe and convenient treatment for CD with a low risk of anastomotic endoscopic recurrence, however, male patients are more prone to the recurrence.

Objective To evaluate the effects of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction timing on the motor performance and proprioception by clinical evaluation as well as proprioception and motor performance tests on the patients more than 2 years after ACL reconstruction. Methods The patients who underwent ACL reconstruction in the National Institute of Sports Medicine,General Administration of Sport of China from January 2015 to January 2021 and met the inclusion criteria were followed up,and the postoperative data were collected retrospectively.Fifty-six patients who met the inclusion criteria were included in this study and categorized into two groups:early surgery (n=28,who underwent ACL reconstruction ≤3 weeks after injury) and delayed surgery (n=28,who underwent ACL reconstruction >3 weeks after injury).The basic information,clinical evaluation results,proprioception,and motor performance were compared between the two groups. Results The ACL return to sport after injury scale (ACL-RSI) score in the early surgery group was higher than that in the delayed surgery group [(68.68±22.04)scores vs. (55.82±24.87)scores,P=0.045].There was no difference in the range of motion of the knee joint,the positive rate of pivot shift test,or the scores of Tegner,Marx,Lysholm,knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS),and international knee documentation committee (IKDC) between the two groups (all P>0.05).Although there was no significant difference in range of motion of the knee joint between the two groups,the proportion of knee flexion and extension affected in the early surgery group was smaller than that in the delayed surgery group.Neither motor performance (isokinetic strength test,Y-balance test,and single-leg jump test) nor proprioception had difference between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions Early ACL reconstruction outperformed delayed ACL reconstruction in improving the psychological health,emotions,and confidence in returning to sport,accelerating functional recovery of the patients.The timing of ACL reconstruction has no significant effect on the short-term postoperative knee stability,knee function,motor performance,or proprioceptive recovery of the patients.Early ACL reconstruction is recommended for improving the clinical outcomes.
Humans ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction/methods* ; Proprioception/physiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Female ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries/physiopathology* ; Adult ; Postoperative Period ; Time Factors ; Return to Sport ; Recovery of Function ; Knee Joint/physiopathology* ; Young Adult