ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate the traditional Chinese medicine syndrome types in patients with chronic hepatitis B （CHB） complicated by metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease （MAFLD） and explore the correlations between these syndrome types and clinical indicators， as well as ocular manifestation characteristics， thereby providing a reference for syndrome differentiation and treatment strategies in traditional Chinese medicine. MethodsGeneral data， information from the four diagnostic methods of traditional Chinese medicine， clinical indicators， and ocular manifestation data were collected from 506 patients with CHB complicated by MAFLD enrolled at the Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu between June 2024 and December 2024. Cluster analysis， principal component analysis， and complex network models were employed to identify the distribution patterns of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes. Correlations between different syndrome types and clinical indicators， as well as ocular manifestation characteristics， were further analyzed. ResultsThe predominant syndromes identified in patients with CHB complicated by MAFLD were dampness and heat accumulation （51.58%）， liver depression with spleen deficiency （31.62%）， blood stasis obstructing collaterals （8.89%）， and Qi-Yin deficiency （7.91%）. No statistically significant differences were found among the four syndrome types in routine blood tests and liver function indicators. However， patients with the dampness and heat accumulation type exhibited significantly higher levels of total cholesterol （TC）， triglycerides （TG）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， liver stiffness measurement （LSM）， controlled attenuation parameter （CAP）， and alpha-fetoprotein （AFP）， along with lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）， compared with those with other syndrome types. Regarding ocular manifestations， the incidence of moon halo signs was significantly higher in patients with the blood stasis obstructing collaterals type than in those with other syndrome types. Additionally， the incidence in scleral zone 3 （corresponding to the large intestine） was higher in patients with the damp and heat accumulation type. ConclusionDampness and heat accumulation is the core syndrome type in patients with CHB complicated by MAFLD， commonly accompanied by spleen deficiency， liver depression， blood stasis， and Yin deficiency. A complex syndrome pattern characterized by a predominance of dampness and heat， along with a mixture of deficiency and excess， is formed. Different traditional Chinese medicine syndrome types are associated with distinct clinical indicators and ocular manifestation characteristics. Among them， patients with the dampness and heat accumulation type exhibit more pronounced metabolic disturbances and liver injury， whereas those with the blood stasis type show a higher incidence of moon halo signs. Abnormalities in scleral zone 3 are also more prevalent in patients with dampness and heat type.

ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate the distribution patterns of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes in patients with chronic hepatitis B （CHB） comorbid with metabolically associated fatty liver disease （MAFLD） and analyze their correlation with clinical characteristics and the progression of liver fibrosis. MethodsA cross-sectional study method was employed， and 506 patients with CHB comorbid with MAFLD who attended the Hepatology Outpatient Department of Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu from June 2024 to December 2024 were enrolled. General information， traditional Chinese medicine syndromes information， laboratory indicators， and imaging examination results were collected using case report forms （CRF）. Tongue images of patients were acquired using a tongue diagnosis instrument， and tongue feature parameters were extracted using computer image processing technology. Frequency analysis， factor analysis， and cluster analysis， and other methods were used to explore syndrome categories and distribution patterns. Non-parametric tests were used to compare the differences in clinical characteristics among different syndromes. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the correlation between traditional Chinese medicine syndromes and the progression of liver fibrosis. ResultsThe main traditional Chinese medicine syndromes in patients with CHB comorbid with MAFLD were mainly dominated by damp-heat accumulation syndrome， liver stagnation and spleen deficiency syndrome， and phlegm-blood stasis syndrome， with damp-heat accumulation syndrome accounting for the highest proportion （41.89%）. Compared with those without damp-heat accumulation syndrome， patients with damp-heat accumulation syndrome had significantly lower tongue proper H value， tongue coating H value， and tongue coating a^* value （P<0.05）， significantly higher tongue coating b^* value （P<0.05）， significantly increased levels of white blood cell （WBC）， red blood cell （RBC）， hemoglobin （HGB）， and glucose （GLU）， increased CAP values （P<0.05）， a higher proportion of males （P<0.05）， and a younger age （P<0.05）. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses show that age， hepatitis B surface antigen （HBsAg）， diabetes， and damp-heat accumulation syndrome are independent risk factors for liver fibrosis （P<0.05）， and that damp-heat accumulation syndrome is predominantly distributed in liver fibrosis stage F0-F1. ConclusionDamp-heat accumulation syndrome is a typical syndrome in patients with CHB comorbid with MAFLD， which is significantly associated with enhanced inflammatory response， metabolic disorders， and early liver fibrosis， and is a key link in disease progression. Clinical attention and early intervention are needed.

ObjectiveTo investigate the acute effects of compound air pollution on children’s respiratory function. MethodsUsing panel group study design， 223 students in five classes of grade 4 from two primary schools （a， b） in Xuhui and Hongkou districts of Shanghai were randomly selected to measure pulmonary function and exhaled nitric oxide （FeNO）. The first three tests were carried out from May to June in 2020， and the fourth test was carried out from September to December in 2021. At the same time， the daily and hourly mean values of PM_2.5， PM₁₀， SO₂， NO₂， O₃ and CO was collected from the nearby air quality monitoring points of the two schools during the same period ， as well as meteorological monitoring data （temperature， humidity， wind speed and atmospheric pressure）. The linear mixed effect model was used to analyze the effects of air pollution on pulmonary function and respiratory inflammation in the summer. ResultsThe results of single pollutant model showed that PM_2.5， PM_10， SO₂ and NO₂ were positively correlated with FeNO， and the effect was reflected in lag0， lag1 and lag3 （P<0.05）. PM_2.5， PM₁₀ and NO₂ were negatively correlated with the changes of lung function FEF_25%， FEF_50%， FEF_75%， FeF_25%-75%， PEF， FVC， FEV1 and FEV1/FVC， and the effect was reflected in lag0 to lag3 days （P<0.05）. The results of the dual pollutant model showed that the concentration changes of SO₂ and NO₂ were significantly correlated with the decrease of FEV1 when combined with O₃ or PM_2.5 （P<0.01）， and the concentration changes of PM_2.5 was significantly correlated with the increase of FeNO when O₃， SO₂ and NO₂ were combined respectively （P<0.01）. The effects of the dual pollutant model were greater than the effect of PM_2.5 single pollutant model. ConclusionThe health effects of different air pollutants on children’s respiratory tract function indexes in summer are different. The combined effects of two pollutants on the lung function of children increased to different degrees. Although air pollution is light in summer， it still has an impact on children’s respiratory tract function index and inflammation index， and the combined effect of dual pollutants is more significant than that of single pollutant.

Mitochondrial dysfunction after spinal cord injury (SCI) is recognized as a crucial pathological mechanism for secondary SCI. Studies have indicated that mitochondrial transfer plays a significant role in the process of neural regeneration following injury. After mitochondria migrating to injured neurons, they mainly function via enhancing the energy metabolism level of damaged neurons and reducing oxidative stress. In this article, we present an exhaustive overview on mechanism of mitochondrial transfer, and impact on neural regeneration after mitochondrial transfer so as to provide valuable insights for further exploring the role of mitochondrial transfer in SCI progression and offer innovative perspective on potential therapeutic strategies for SCI.

Objective To investigate the effects and mechanisms of median nerve electrical stimulation on synaptic plasticity in ischemic stroke rats.Methods 18 healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into Sham group(n = 6),ischemic stroke group(MCAO group,n = 6)and median nerve electrical stimulation group(MNES group,n = 6).The left middle cerebral artery occlusion model of rats was established by thread plug method.Thread plug was not inserted in sham group.The median nerve electrical stimulation group was given median nerve electrical stimulation intervention on the 3rd day after modeling,and intervention on the next day.After intervention for 7 times,behavioral detection,HE staining was used to detect median nerve injury.Nissl staining was used to detect cerebral infarction volume.Western blot was used for detection of the expression level of proteins related to synaptic plasticity,and electron microscopy was performed.Results HE staining showed that median nerve electrical stimulation did not cause damage to the median nerve in stroke rats,and the median nerve membrane was intact without obvious inflammatory cells.Compared with MCAO group,the neural function,motor function and coordination of the injured forelimb in MNES group were significantly improved(P<0.01).Compared with MCAO group,cerebral infarction volume in MNES group was significantly reduced(P<0.05),the pyknosis of Nissl bodies in ischemic penumbra decreased.Compared with MCAO group,the expression levels of synaptic plastication-related proteins PSD95 and synI in the cortex of MNES group were significantly up-regulated after median nerve electrical stimulation(P<0.05),the number of synapses in the ischemic cortex increased significantly(P<0.01).Conclusion Median nerve electrical stimulation is a safe and effective therapeutic measure to improve nerve function after stroke,and its mechanism is related to promoting synaptic plasticity.

Objective:To explore the prognostic value of the serum concentration of human soluble stromelysin-2(sST2)combined with ultrasonic left ventricular diastolic function parameters for elderly patients with septic shock.Methods:This prospective study involved 150 elderly patients with septic shock admitted to the intensive care unit(ICU)of the First Hospital of Jiaxing between May 2019 and May 2022.Data on the following parameters were recorded on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 in the ICU: sST2 concentration, mitral early-diastolic inflow peak velocity(E), mitral late-diastolic inflow peak velocity(A), E/A ratio, early diastolic mitral annular velocity(e'), and E/e' ratio.According to the 28-day prognostic outcome obtained during follow-up, patients were divided into a survival group and a death group to compare differences in values of the above parameters between the two groups and at different time points.Logistic regression was used to analyze independent risk factors for 28-day mortality.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the predictive value for 28-day mortality, and further risk stratification was performed according to optimal cut-off values to compare differences in 28-day mortality under different risk stratification methods.The Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to compare 28-day cumulative survival under different risk stratification methods and analyze the predictive value of the combination of the parameters for 28-day mortality.Results:On day 5 following ICU admission, e' was lower and E/e' and sST2 were higher in the death group than in the survival group.Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis suggested that sST2(odds ratio: 1.010, P<0.001)was an independent risk factor for 28-day mortality in elderly patients with septic shock.sST2 had a sensitivity of 50.2%, a specificity of 79.1%, and an area under the curve of 0.660 for predicting 28-day mortality in patients with septic shock.The sST2 concentration was 89.3 μg/L on day 5 after ICU admission, which was the clinical cutoff point for predicting 28-day mortality.Based on the risk stratification of sST2 levels, the 28-day mortality rate was higher in the sST2>89.3 μg/L group than in the sST2≤89.3 μg/L group.Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the 28-day cumulative survival rate was significantly lower in the sST2>89.3 μg/L group than in the sST2≤89.3 μg/L group(44.0% vs.66.7%, log-rank test: χ2=9.101, P=0.003).The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the combination of sST2, e', and E/e' significantly improved the prediction efficiency of 28-day mortality in elderly patients with septic shock, with an area under the curve of 0.844, a sensitivity of 89.7%, and a specificity of 66.5%. Conclusions:sST2 is an independent risk factor for 28-day mortality in elderly patients with septic shock.When combined with e' and E/e', sST2 can more accurately evaluate the survival prognosis of these patients.

The nucleocapsid (N) protein of SARS-CoV-2 has been reported to have a high ability of liquid-liquid phase separation, which enables its incorporation into stress granules (SGs) of host cells. However, whether SG invasion by N protein occurs in the scenario of SARS-CoV-2 infection is unknow, neither do we know its consequence. Here, we used SARS-CoV-2 to infect mammalian cells and observed the incorporation of N protein into SGs, which resulted in markedly impaired self-disassembly but stimulated cell cellular clearance of SGs. NMR experiments further showed that N protein binds to the SG-related amyloid proteins via non-specific transient interactions, which not only expedites the phase transition of these proteins to aberrant amyloid aggregation in vitro, but also promotes the aggregation of FUS with ALS-associated P525L mutation in cells. In addition, we found that ACE2 is not necessary for the infection of SARS-CoV-2 to mammalian cells. Our work indicates that SARS-CoV-2 infection can impair the disassembly of host SGs and promote the aggregation of SG-related amyloid proteins, which may lead to an increased risk of neurodegeneration.
Amyloidogenic Proteins/metabolism* ; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/genetics* ; Animals ; COVID-19 ; Cytoplasmic Granules/metabolism* ; Mammals ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Stress Granules

Objective:To evaluate the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) at Neiguan on dexmedetomidine-induced bradycardia in patients.Methods:Sixty American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients, aged 20-50 yr, weighing 48-60 kg, scheduled for elective gynecological surgery under general anesthesia, were divided into 2 groups ( n=30 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C) and TEAS group (group T). Dexmedetomidine 1 μg/kg was infused intravenously over 10 min followed by intravenous infusion 0.5 μg·kg -1·min -1 in two groups, and the patients in group T simultaneously received TEAS (frequency 2/100 Hz, disperse-dense wave, intensity 5-10 mA according to the current that could be tolerated) at bilateral Neiguan acupoints.The stimulator was only connected, and no current was given in group C. Before the infusion of dexmedetomidine (T 0) and at 10 min of dexmedetomidine infusion (T 1), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) was recorded, and electrocardiogram (ECG) was collected to calculate the PR interval, QT interval, QT interval, Tp-e interval and index of cardiac electrophysiological balance (iCEB). The development of arrhythmia was recorded. Results:Compared with the baseline value at T 0, HR was significantly decreased, and QT interval and PR interval were prolonged at T 1 in two groups, and iCEB was increased, and Tp-e interval was prolonged at T 1 in group C ( P<0.05). Compared with group C, HR was significantly increased, PR interval and Tp-e interval were shortened at T 1, and the incidence of bradycardia and atrioventricular block was increased in group T ( P<0.05). Conclusion:TEAS at Neiguan can decrease the risk of bradycardia induced by dexmedetomidine, and the mechanism may be related to shortening atrioventricular conduction time and reducing heterogeneity of ventricular repolarization in patients.

In recent years, the research on gold nanoparticles has made great progress. Gold nanoparticles with different morphologies have good application prospects in drug delivery and tumor treatment. Some gold nanoparticles have entered the stage of clinical trials. Gold nanorods have become important research objects due to their special optical properties and photothermal treatment potential. In this paper, the optical properties and main applications of gold nanorods were reviewed. Gold nanorods have good surface modifiable properties and can be modified through surface ligand exchange to improve their biocompatibility. The photothermal properties of gold nanorods can be improved by adjusting the aspect ratio to adjust the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak to achieve near-infrared light excitation. These characteristics make gold nanorods show good application prospects in the detection of biological macromolecules, real-time imaging in vivo, and early diagnosis and treatment of tumors. Using gold nanorods as a carrier and modified with different targeting molecules can improve the targeting of its drug delivery system and reduce damage to normal cells, so as to realize the combined application of chemotherapy and photothermal therapy, and finally achieve a better therapeutic effect. Combining gold nanorods with stem cells or certain specific biomolecules can form a hybrid gold nanorod system which provides new ideas for further improving the efficiency of tumor treatment.

Phospholysine phosphohistidine inorganic pyrophosphate phosphatase (LHPP) is a highly conserved histidine phosphatase from worms to humans in evolution. Recent studies have shown that LHPP, as a tumor suppressor, can inhibit the proliferation, growth and migration of the cells and promote apoptosis by participating in the regulation of various cell signaling pathways and protein phosphorylation. Therefore, the deeply study on the mechanism of LHPP is helpful to explore the best diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for related tumors, which is essential for improving the prognosis of related tumors.