ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and possible mechanism of Wei's Huoxue Tongluo Formula （韦氏活血通络方，WHTF） in treating atrophic-stage non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy （NAION） with qi deficiency and blood stasis. MethodsA total of 82 atrophic-stage NAION patients with qi deficiency and blood stasis were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group， with 41 cases in each group. The treatment group was given oral administration of WHTF twice a day plus acupoint injection of distilled water 2 ml at Taiyang （EX-HN5） once daily， while the control group received injection of compound anisodine injection 2 ml at Taiyang （EX-HN5） once daily and oral administration of WHTF placebo twice a day. Both groups received treatment for a course of 14 days. The best-corrected visual acuity （BCVA）， optic disc perfusion density （PD）， flux index （FI）， macular superficial PD， vascular density （VD）， and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores were compared between groups before treatment and on day 7 and day 14 of treatment. Additionally， mean defect （MD） and mean sensitivity （MS） of visual fields were measured before treatment and on day 14， along with safety evaluation. ResultsAfter treatment， both groups showed significant improvement in BCVA， visual field MD and MS， and TCM syndrome scores （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. On day 14 of treatment， the TCM syndrome score in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group （P＜0.05）. There was no significant improvement in optic disc PD and FI， and macular superficial PD and VD after treatment in either group （P＞0.05） except that on day 7 the macular superficial foveal PD in the control group was significantly better than that in the treatment group （P＜0.05）. During the treatment period， no serious adverse events occurred in either group. ConclusionWHTF can improve the visual function indicators including visual acuity and visual field， as well as TCM syndrome scores in atrophic-stage NAION patients with qi deficiency and blood stasis. It shows clinical safety， although it does not appear to have a significant effect on optic disc or macular blood flow.

Gouty arthritis （GA） is an inflammatory disorder caused by monosodium urate （MSU） crystal deposition， accompanied by elevated oxidative stress and aberrant release of inflammatory cytokines， resulting in joint tissue damage and intense pain. Nuclear factor E₂-related factor 2 （Nrf2）， a key transcription factor regulating the antioxidant defence system， exerts cytoprotective effects through dissociation from Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 （Keap1） and activates downstream antioxidant response element （ARE）-mediated pathways. It can upregulate the expression of heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1）， NADH quinone oxidoreductase 1 （NQO1）， superoxide dismutase （SOD）， and glutathione transferase （GST） to preserve redox homeostasis. Moreover， Nrf2 can suppress activation of NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） inflammasomes， reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine production and release， modulate nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） transcriptional activity， regulate gut microbiota balance， enhance mitophagy， and inhibit apoptosis， so as to reduce joint inflammation and pain and promote body recovery. This review systematically examined recent advancements in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） for GA prevention and treatment via regulating the Nrf2 signaling pathway. It delineated Nrf2's molecular mechanisms and its role in GA pathogenesis and elucidated how TCM intervenes in multiple pathways including Keap1/Nrf2/ARE， Nrf2/HO-1（NQO1）， and Nrf2/NF-κB/NLRP3 to exert therapeutic effects. The study demonstrated that TCM monomers and compounds effectively counteract oxidative damage， attenuate inflammatory responses， promote autophagy， and inhibit apoptosis via regulating the Nrf2 signaling pathway. These findings not only clarify the scientific basis of TCM in GA treatment but also offer strategic insights for developing novel Nrf2-targeted anti-gout drugs.

Objective:To evaluate the impact of short-term exposure to daytime heatwaves, nighttime heatwaves, and compound heatwaves on the risk of road traffic mortality and calculate the attributable mortality burden.Methods:This study collected road traffic mortality data from the Disease Surveillance System in Guangdong, Hunan, Zhejiang, Yunnan, and Jilin Provinces from 2013 to 2018. A time-stratified case-crossover design was used in this study, with the death date for each case serving as the case day. Control days were selected from the same year, month, and day of the week as the case day. A conditional logistic regression model was employed to estimate the cumulative associations of short-term exposure to daytime heatwaves, nighttime heatwaves, and compound heatwaves on the risk of road traffic mortality (lag 0-1 day) and to calculate the attributable fractions (AF).Results:Compared to non-heatwave days, the excess risk ( ER) of road traffic mortality on daytime heatwave days, nighttime heatwave days, and compound heatwave days was 5.3% (95% CI: 0.5%-10.2%), 4.9% (95% CI: 0.5%-9.4%) and 7.5% (95% CI: 2.3%- 12.9%), with corresponding AF of 5.0% (95% CI: 0.5%-9.3%), 4.7% (95% CI: 0.5%-8.6%), and 6.9% (95% CI: 2.3%-11.4%), respectively. Stratified analysis showed that the risk of traffic mortalities caused by daytime heatwaves was higher in females ( ER=15.7%, 95% CI: 5.8%-26.5%) than in males ( ER=1.8%, 95% CI: -3.6%-7.4%). Elderly individuals over 64 years old ( ER=10.9%, 95% CI: 0.3%- 22.6%) had a higher risk of road traffic mortalities from compound heatwaves than those under 45 years old ( ER=2.6%, 95% CI: -5.4%-11.2%). The risk of road traffic injury mortality from motor vehicle accidents caused by compound heatwaves ( ER=16.6%, 95% CI:2.4%-32.7%) was higher than that from non-motor vehicle accidents ( ER=5.7%, 95% CI:0.1%-11.5%). Conclusions:Short-term exposure to daytime heatwaves, nighttime heatwaves, and compound heatwaves was associated with an increased risk of road traffic mortality, with the strongest association observed for compound heatwaves. The mortality burden attributable to compound heatwaves was higher than that for daytime and nighttime heatwaves. Heatwaves were more significantly associated with road traffic mortality risk among females, elderly individuals over 64 years old, and motor vehicle accidents.

Objective:To evaluate the impact of short-term exposure to daytime heatwaves, nighttime heatwaves, and compound heatwaves on the risk of road traffic mortality and calculate the attributable mortality burden.Methods:This study collected road traffic mortality data from the Disease Surveillance System in Guangdong, Hunan, Zhejiang, Yunnan, and Jilin Provinces from 2013 to 2018. A time-stratified case-crossover design was used in this study, with the death date for each case serving as the case day. Control days were selected from the same year, month, and day of the week as the case day. A conditional logistic regression model was employed to estimate the cumulative associations of short-term exposure to daytime heatwaves, nighttime heatwaves, and compound heatwaves on the risk of road traffic mortality (lag 0-1 day) and to calculate the attributable fractions (AF).Results:Compared to non-heatwave days, the excess risk ( ER) of road traffic mortality on daytime heatwave days, nighttime heatwave days, and compound heatwave days was 5.3% (95% CI: 0.5%-10.2%), 4.9% (95% CI: 0.5%-9.4%) and 7.5% (95% CI: 2.3%- 12.9%), with corresponding AF of 5.0% (95% CI: 0.5%-9.3%), 4.7% (95% CI: 0.5%-8.6%), and 6.9% (95% CI: 2.3%-11.4%), respectively. Stratified analysis showed that the risk of traffic mortalities caused by daytime heatwaves was higher in females ( ER=15.7%, 95% CI: 5.8%-26.5%) than in males ( ER=1.8%, 95% CI: -3.6%-7.4%). Elderly individuals over 64 years old ( ER=10.9%, 95% CI: 0.3%- 22.6%) had a higher risk of road traffic mortalities from compound heatwaves than those under 45 years old ( ER=2.6%, 95% CI: -5.4%-11.2%). The risk of road traffic injury mortality from motor vehicle accidents caused by compound heatwaves ( ER=16.6%, 95% CI:2.4%-32.7%) was higher than that from non-motor vehicle accidents ( ER=5.7%, 95% CI:0.1%-11.5%). Conclusions:Short-term exposure to daytime heatwaves, nighttime heatwaves, and compound heatwaves was associated with an increased risk of road traffic mortality, with the strongest association observed for compound heatwaves. The mortality burden attributable to compound heatwaves was higher than that for daytime and nighttime heatwaves. Heatwaves were more significantly associated with road traffic mortality risk among females, elderly individuals over 64 years old, and motor vehicle accidents.

Objective:To explore the measurement method and its diagnostic performance based on MRI and CT measurement of vertebral bone density in patients to predict proximal junctional kyphosis after degenerative scoliosis surgery.Methods:Retrospectively included patients who underwent long-segment fixation and fusion surgery at the Department of Orthopedics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2010 to December 2020 and had complete preoperative whole-spine X-rays, CT, MRI and other imaging examination results, and were followed up on schedule. 68 cases of adult degenerative scoliosis, 16 male, 52 women, aged 66.87±6.65 years (range, 54-80 years). The patients were measured based on preoperative lumbar spine MRI T 1WI bone quality score (vertebral bone quality score, VBQ) and CT-based Hounsfield (HU) value, and the patients were divided into postoperative proximal junction kyphosis group or non-proximal junction kyphosis group based on the results of postoperative imaging examinations. The age, gender, BMI, comorbidities, lumbar spine VBQ score, L 1 CT HU value and various imaging parameters before and after surgery were compared between the two groups of patients, including pelvic incident, lumbar lordosis, sagittal vertical axis, pelvic tilt, sacral slope, pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis, T 1 pelvic angle, Upper instrumented vertebrae screw angle, etc. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn to analyze the diagnostic efficacy, sensitivity and specificity of VBQ score, HU value and their combined indicators. Results:Seventeen cases were included in the PJK group and 51 cases in the non-PJK group. The preoperative VBQ and HU values of the PJK group were 3.10±0.43 and 99.76±16.34 respectively, while those of the non-PJK group were 2.62±0.37 and 115.27±13.46 respectively. The differences were statistically significant ( t=3.896, P<0.001; t=4.482, P<0.001). The area under curve (AUC) of VBQ was 0.773 [95% CI(0.633, 0.914)], the sensitivity and specificity are 82.4% and 70.6% respectively, the AUC of HU value was 0.814 [95% CI(0.680, 0.949)], the sensitivity and specificity are 76.5% and 76.5% respectively. The AUC of the two combined indicators was 0.895 [95% CI(0.795, 0.995)], and the sensitivity and specificity were 94.1% and 82.4% respectively. The maximum Youden index and the critical value were respectively, VBQ value 0.530, 2.895, HU value 0.530, 110.0, the combined index 0.765, 0.734. Conclusion:Both VBQ and L 1 HU value can accurately predict proximal junctional kyphosis after degenerative scoliosis surgery. The accuracy of HU value was slightly higher than that of VBQ value. The diagnosis accuracy of the combined index was the highest.

Brain computer interface(BCI)is a rapidly developing rehabilitation technology in recent years, which has been gradually used for cognitive rehabilitation of stroke patients.BCI can activate brain regions related to cognition to a greater extent through motor imagery and neural feedback technology, promote functional connectivity between brain regions, and ameliorate cognitive impairment after stroke.This paper summarized the mechanisms involved in BCI promoting cognitive rehabilitation and current applications of BCI in post-stroke cognitive impairment, and identifies the shortcomings of BCI in the treatment of post-stroke cognitive impairment, in order to provide insight for the research and clinical practice of BCI in post-stroke cognitive rehabilitation.

Objective:To investigate the effect of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) gene on the proliferation and apoptosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma cells in vitro, and the role of Nrf2 gene in regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway.Methods:Three Nrf2 small interfering RNA (siRNA) sequences were designed and synthesized, namely siRNA-223, siRNA-538 and siRNA-756, and the unrelated sequences were designed and synthesized. The plasmids carrying various siRNA sequences of Nrf2 were constructed, and the plasmids carrying siRNA sequences and the plasmids carrying unrelated sequences were transfected into human colorectal adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cells, namely interference group and empty vector group, respectively. Additionally, Caco-2 cells without any treatment were used as the control group. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting (WB) methods were used to detect the relative expression of Nrf2 gene in transcription and translation levels in each group of cells, in order to verify the interference effect of Nrf2; the siRNA with the best interference effect was selected for subsequent experiments. CCK-8 method was used to detect the proliferation ability of each group of cells (expressed as absorbance value); RT-qPCR was used to detect the relative expression of EMT pathway-related factors [vimentin (Vim), N-cadherin (N-cad) and E-cadherin (E-cad)] in transcription level in each group of cells; WB method was used to detect the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax in each group of cells.Results:The results of RT-qPCR and WB methods showed that compared with the control group and the empty group, the relative expression of Nrf2 gene in transcription and translation levels in Caco-2 cells of the siRNA-756 interference group were the lowest, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The CCK-8 results showed that the absorbance values of Caco-2 cells in the control group, empty group and siRNA-756 interference group after 48 hours of culture were (100±5)%, (94±4)% and (82±5)%, respectively; compared with the control group and the empty group, the siRNA-756 interference group had lower absorbance value, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The results of RT-qPCR method showed that the relative expression of Vim and N-cad in transcription level in the siRNA-756 interference group were higher than those in the control group and the empty vector group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05); the relative expression of E-cad in transcription level was lower than those in the control group and the empty vector group, and the differences were statistically significant (both P < 0.05). The results of WB method showed that the relative expression of Bax protein in the siRNA-756 interference group was higher than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P < 0.05). Conclusions:Interference with Nrf2 expression in vitro can weaken the proliferation and anti-apoptotic abilities of human colorectal adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cells. The mechanism may be that Nrf2 regulates the expression of Vim, N-cad and E-Cad in the EMT pathway to enhance the EMT ability of tumor cells.

Objective:To investigate the impact of Tai Chi on brain network topology in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)and mild cognitive impairment(MCI).Method:Patients with T2DM and MCI were recruited and randomly assigned to three groups:Tai Chi group(n=33),fitness walking group(n=31),and health education control group(n=35).Cognitive function was as-sessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)at baseline and after 24 weeks of intervention.Mag-netic resonance imaging(MRI)and graph theory methods were used to analyze characteristic path length,be-tweenness centrality,and nodal efficiency to evaluate brain network topology.Result:After 24 weeks,the MoCA score of the Tai Chi group significantly improved compared to the con-trol group(P=0.016),but there was no significant difference compared to the fitness walking group.No signif-icant changes in characteristic path length were observed among the three groups.Compared to the control group,the betweenness centrality in the Tai Chi group significantly increased in the right precentral gyrus,right middle temporal gyrus(temporoccipital part),and left angular gyrus.Additionally,the betweenness cen-trality in the bilateral middle temporal gyri(temporoccipital part)was higher in the Tai Chi group than in the fitness walking group.Nodal efficiency in the right supramarginal gyrus(posterior part)significantly increased in the Tai Chi group compared to the control group.Correlation analysis showed that the change in between-ness centrality of the left middle temporal gyrus in the Tai Chi group was positively correlated with the change in MoCA score(r=0.642,P＜0.001),and the nodal efficiency of the right supramarginal gyrus was also positively correlated with the change in MoCA score(r=0.372,P=0.033).Conclusion:This study preliminarily reveals that Tai Chi may improve cognitive function in patients with T2DM and MCI by modulating the local topological properties of brain networks,particularly in the left mid-dle temporal gyrus and right supramarginal gyrus.

Objective:To investigate the impact of Tai Chi on brain network topology in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)and mild cognitive impairment(MCI).Method:Patients with T2DM and MCI were recruited and randomly assigned to three groups:Tai Chi group(n=33),fitness walking group(n=31),and health education control group(n=35).Cognitive function was as-sessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)at baseline and after 24 weeks of intervention.Mag-netic resonance imaging(MRI)and graph theory methods were used to analyze characteristic path length,be-tweenness centrality,and nodal efficiency to evaluate brain network topology.Result:After 24 weeks,the MoCA score of the Tai Chi group significantly improved compared to the con-trol group(P=0.016),but there was no significant difference compared to the fitness walking group.No signif-icant changes in characteristic path length were observed among the three groups.Compared to the control group,the betweenness centrality in the Tai Chi group significantly increased in the right precentral gyrus,right middle temporal gyrus(temporoccipital part),and left angular gyrus.Additionally,the betweenness cen-trality in the bilateral middle temporal gyri(temporoccipital part)was higher in the Tai Chi group than in the fitness walking group.Nodal efficiency in the right supramarginal gyrus(posterior part)significantly increased in the Tai Chi group compared to the control group.Correlation analysis showed that the change in between-ness centrality of the left middle temporal gyrus in the Tai Chi group was positively correlated with the change in MoCA score(r=0.642,P＜0.001),and the nodal efficiency of the right supramarginal gyrus was also positively correlated with the change in MoCA score(r=0.372,P=0.033).Conclusion:This study preliminarily reveals that Tai Chi may improve cognitive function in patients with T2DM and MCI by modulating the local topological properties of brain networks,particularly in the left mid-dle temporal gyrus and right supramarginal gyrus.

Background Air pollution is a major public health concern. Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a very important air quality risk communication tool. However, AQHI is usually constructed by single-pollutant model, which has obvious disadvantages. Objective To construct an AQHI based on the joint effects of multiple air pollutants (J-AQHI), and to provide a scientific tool for health risk warning and risk communication of air pollution. Methods Data on non-accidental deaths in Yunnan, Guangdong, Hunan, Zhejiang, and Jilin provinces from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2018 were obtained from the corresponding provincial disease surveillance points systems (DSPS), including date of death, age, gender, and cause of death. Daily meteorological (temperature and relative humidity) and air pollution data (SO₂, NO₂, CO, PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and maximum 8 h O₃ concentrations) at the same period were respectively derived from China Meteorological Data Sharing Service System and National Urban Air Quality Real-time Publishing Platform. Lasso regression was first applied to select air pollutants, then a time-stratified case-crossover design was applied. Each case was matched to 3 or 4 control days which were selected on the same days of the week in the same calendar month. Then a distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) was used to estimate the exposure-response relationship between selected air pollutants and mortality, which was used to construct the AQHI. Finally, AQHI was classified into four levels according to the air pollutant guidance limit values from World Health Organization Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQG 2021), and the excess risks (ERs) were calculated to compare the AQHI based on single-pollutant model and the J-AQHI based on multi-pollutant model. Results PM_2.5, NO₂, SO₂, and O₃ were selected by Lasso regression to establish DLNM model. The ERs for an interquartile range (IQR) increase and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for PM_2.5, NO₂, SO₂ and O₃ were 0.71% (0.34%–1.09%), 2.46% (1.78%–3.15%), 1.25% (0.9%–1.6%), and 0.27% (−0.11%–0.65%) respectively. The distribution of J-AQHI was right-skewed, and it was divided into four levels, with ranges of 0-1 for low risk, 2-3 for moderate risk, 4-5 for high health risk, and ≥6 for severe risk, and the corresponding proportions were 11.25%, 64.61%, 19.33%, and 4.81%, respectively. The ER (95%CI) of mortality risk increased by 3.61% (2.93–4.29) for each IQR increase of the multi-pollutant based J-AQHI , while it was 3.39% (2.68–4.11) for the single-pollutant based AQHI . Conclusion The J-AQHI generated by multi-pollutant model demonstrates the actual exposure health risk of air pollution in the population and provides new ideas for further improvement of AQHI calculation methods.