Objective: To explore the characteristics of the diversity and composition of oral microbial flora with age, and to provide a reference for understanding the succession of oral microecology at different ages. Methods: Oral rinse 16S rRNA (V4 region) sequencing data from 9 021 participants 14-69 years of age in the 2009-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were analyzed. Alpha diversity (Observed OTUs, Faith’s PD, Shannon Index), beta diversity (Bray-Curtis and UniFrac), and genus-level composition were examined using weighted generalized linear models (GLMs), including quadratic terms for age and adjusting for key covariates (gender, race/ethnicity, BMI, smoking status, and periodontitis severity). Results: Alpha diversity demonstrated a clear inverted U-shaped trajectory across age, peaking at 25-30 years old and declining thereafter. This trend remained consistent across sex, race, smoking, and periodontal health strata. Beta diversity analyses revealed a modest but steady age-related shift in community structure. Genus-level analyses revealed that Rothia, Prevotella_6, and Lactobacillus increased steadily with age, while Haemophilus, Porphyromonas, and Corynebacterium declined significantly. Notably, potential periodontopathogens, such as Fusobacterium and Treponema_2, peaked in early adulthood before declining with age. Conclusion Age is an important driver of oral microbial succession, and the oral microbiome exhibits dynamic changes across different life stages. Future longitudinal and multi-omic studies are warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these age-related trajectories.

This study developed a core outcome set(COS) for traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) interventions in diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN), standardizing evaluation metrics for TCM efficacy and providing a new framework for DPN treatment and management. A systematic search was conducted across databases, including CNKI, Wanfang, and PubMed, targeting clinical trial literature published between January 1, 2013, and January 1, 2023. The search focused on extracting outcome indicators and measurement tools used in TCM treatments for DPN. Retrospective data collection was performed from January 2018 to June 2023, involving 200 DPN patients hospitalized at the Department of Endocrinology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted with inpatients, outpatients, their families, and nursing staff to further refine and enhance the list of outcome indicators. After two rounds of Delphi questionnaire survey and consensus meeting, a consensus was reached. The study initially retrieved 3 421 publications, of which 170 met the inclusion criteria after review. These publications, combined with retrospective analysis and semi-structured interviews, supplemented the list of indicators. After two rounds of Delphi surveys, experts agreed on 24 indicators and 6 measurement tools. The final COS determined by expert consensus meeting included 5 domains and 13 outcome indicators: neurological function signs, quality of life, TCM syndrome score, nerve conduction velocity, current perception threshold test, fasting blood glucose, 2 h postprandial blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, complete blood count, urinalysis, liver function test, kidney function test, and electrocardiogram.
Humans ; Diabetic Neuropathies/drug therapy* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Male ; Female

Objective:To investigate the association between fibroblast growth factor 21(FGF21)and chronic kidney disease(CKD)in a prediabetic population by conducting a 4-year prospective cohort study among community-dwelling residents aged≥40 years in Guangzhou,China.Methods:A total of 1505 subjects who met the criteria for prediabetes and had complete baseline data were col-lected from the 2012 REACTION cohort,and they were followed up for 4 years to observe newly-onset CKD and the changes in urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio(UACR)and estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR).Results:Among the 1 505 subjects with predia-betes,142 reached the diagnostic criteria for CKD during follow-up,yielding an overall incidence rate of 9.43%(95%CI=7.895%-10.902%).According to baseline serum FGF21 level,the subjects were divided into Q1-Q4 groups,with the lowest level of FGF21 in the Q1 group,and the Q4 group had a significantly higher eGFR than the other groups(P<0.05).After a mean follow-up time of 4 years,UACR was increased by 0.87 mg/g(P<0.001)and eGFR was reduced by 4.8 mL/(min·1.73 m2)(P<0.001).After stratification by FGF21 quartiles,there were differences in the declines of eGFR across groups,with the lowest degree of reduction in the Q2 group.In the multivariate regression model,the serum level of FGF21 was significantly negatively associated with the onset of CKD.When FGF21 was analyzed as a continuous variable in the multivariate lo-gistic regression analysis,FGF21 was still significantly negatively associated with the risk of CKD,which was consistent with the re-sults of the quartile-based analysis.However,restricted cubic spline curves showed an L-shaped non-linear relationship between FGF21 level and the risk of CKD,i.e.,the incidence rate of CKD de-creased with the increase in FGF21 level,but when FGF21 level reached a certain threshold,the risk of CKD no longer changed with FGF21.The linear regression analysis showed that FGF21 was positively associated with UACR and eGFR.Conclusion:In this pro-spective cohort study,FGF21 level might be potentially associated with the future risk of CKD among adults with prediabetes,while fur-ther studies are needed to clarify related mechanisms and clinical value.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the differences of plasma valine level between autistic and healthy children, and to explore the relationship between plasma valine level and developmental quotient in children with autism. METHODS: In this study, a total of 29 autistic children and 30 typically developing children of the same age range were recruited as the autistic group and the control group. The childhood autism rating scale (CARS) was used to assess autistic core symptoms and severity in the autistic children. Children's developmental quotient was evaluated by Gesell developmental schedules (GDS), and plasma valine level was measured by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The correlation between plasma valine level and developmental quotient scores in the autistic group was analyzed. RESULTS: The plasma level of valine in the autism group was significantly lower than in the control group (P < 0.05). Children in the autism group got significantly lower scores in the adaption, gross motor, fine motor, language function and personal/social function subscales in GDS than in the control group (P < 0.000 1). Plasma valine level in the autism group showed significant positive correlations with scores of the fine motor (r=0.441, P < 0.05) and personal/social function (r=0.437, P < 0.05) subscales in GDS, but showed no significant correlations with scores of the adaption, gross motor and language function subscales in GDS (P>0.05). According to the criteria of CARS, children in the autism group were subdivided into the mild to moderate subgroup and the severe subgroup based on the severity of the autistic symptoms. Compared with children in the mild to moderate subgroup, children in the severe subgroup got significantly lower scores in the adaption, fine motor, language function and personal/social function subscales in GDS (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between the two subgroups in gross motor scores and plasma valine level (P>0.05). CONCLUSION The level of valine in plasma of autistic children is relatively lower, and there is a certain relationship between plasma valine level and the fine movement and personal/social function among children with autism.
Humans ; Autistic Disorder/physiopathology* ; Child ; Male ; Female ; Valine/blood* ; Child Development ; Child, Preschool ; Case-Control Studies

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) has recently been proposed as a key player in the representation of itch stimuli. However, to date, little is known about the contribution of specific ACC interneuron populations to itch processing. Using c-Fos immunolabeling and in vivo Ca²⁺ imaging, we reported that both histamine and chloroquine stimuli-induced acute itch caused a marked enhancement of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-expressing interneuron activity in the ACC. Behavioral data indicated that optogenetic and chemogenetic activation of these neurons reduced scratching responses related to histaminergic and non-histaminergic acute itch. Similar neural activity and modulatory role of these neurons were seen in mice with chronic itch induced by contact dermatitis. Together, this study highlights the importance of ACC VIP⁺ neurons in modulating itch-related affect and behavior, which may help us to develop novel mechanism-based strategies to treat refractory chronic itch in the clinic.
Animals ; Pruritus/physiopathology* ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide/metabolism* ; Interneurons/metabolism* ; Gyrus Cinguli/metabolism* ; Mice ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Histamine ; Chloroquine ; Optogenetics ; Mice, Transgenic

Objective:Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a rare autoimmune disease. This study aims to describe the baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes of Chinese PSC patients and explore risk factors associated with prognosis, addressing the lack of long-term prognostic analysis in China.Methods:Clinical data of PSC patients were retrospectively collected from May 2009 to June 2023 in Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, and patient follow-up was conducted through outpatient visits, telephone calls, and medical record reviews. The Cox proportional hazards model and the Kaplan-Meier method were employed to identify risk factors and estimate transplant-free survival.Results:A total of 65 PSC patients were enrolled, with male patients accounting for 50.8% and an average age of onset of 44 years. The disease types primarily included large duct PSC (57.9%) and whole duct PSC (22.8%). Most patients (78.5%) sought medical attention due to symptoms, with common clinical manifestations including jaundice (32.3%), fatigue (23.1%), abdominal discomfort (21.5%), pruritus (16.9%), and fever (10.8%). A total of 19 patients (29.2%) had concomitant ulcerative colitis. Compared to large duct PSC or whole duct PSC, small duct PSC showed a lower proportion of concomitant ulcerative colitis ( P<0.001) and milder baseline disease severity. After a median follow-up of 29 months (interquartile range: 11,53), 19 patients experienced liver transplantations and/or liver disease-related deaths. The overall 2-year and 5-year transplant-free survival rates for PSC patients were 76.0% and 59.5%, respectively. Elevated bile acid levels were identified as an independent risk factor for poor outcomes in PSC patients. Conclusion:The study population of Chinese PSC patients predominantly consisted of middle-aged males, characterized by a low ratio of asymptomatic cases, a low incidence of associated inflammatory bowel disease, and a low rate of transplant-free survival. Elevated bile acid level was identified as an independent risk factor for poor outcomes in PSC patients.

AIM To establish a rapid quantitative analysis model for saponins in Paris polyphylla var.yunnanensis(PPY)by near infrared spectroscopy.METHODS The contents of polyphyllins Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅶ and there total content in PPY were determined by HPLC,while spectral data within the range of 10 000 to 4 000 cm-1 were collected.A quantitative analysis model was established by combining these data with partial least squares regression(PLSR).Multivariate scatter correction(MSC)and vector normalization(SNV)were applied prior to further preprocessing the spectra with original,first-order derivative(1stD),or second-order derivative(2ndD)treatments.Lastly,the model was optimized through non-smoothing(NS),Norris Derivative filtering(Nd),and Savitzky-Golay filtering(S-G)method.Model stability was evaluated based on correlation coefficients and variance.The predicted contents of each saponin component in the validation set samples were calculated.RESULTS The contents of polyphyllins Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅶ were 0.42-17.98,0.46-10.44,0.23-3.86 mg/g,respectively.The total content ranged from 2.91 to 22.1 mg/g.The optimal parameters of three saponins were achieved when selecting the MSC+2ndD+S-G pretreatment method.The corresponding ratio of line segment length to segment gap was 13∶5,15∶5,11∶5,with correlation coefficients of 0.982,0.930,0.958,respectively.The root mean square errors of calibration(RMSEC)were 0.702,0.797,0.238,and the root mean square errors of prediction(RMSEP)were 1.120,0.835,0.304,respectively.The optimal parameters for the total content were obtained when selecting the MSC+2ndD+NS pretreatment method,with a correlation coefficient of 0.970,a RMSEC of 1.090,and a RMSEP of 1.740.CONCLUSION This accurate and rapid method can be used for detection of saponin contents in P.Polyphylla.

AIM To compare the contents of caffeic acid,ferulic acid,narirutin,calycosin,glycyrrhizic acid and atractylenolide Ⅲ of modified Liujunzi Decoction(MLJZD)during small test,pilot test(500,1 500 L)and large production.METHODS The samples were taken after soaking for 60 min,boiling for 0,5,10,15,20,30 min in the first decoction,and boiling for 5,10,15,20 min in the second decoction,respectively,after which the HPLC fingerprints were established,the contents of active constituents were determined.RESULTS There were 6 common peaks in the HPLC fingerprints for small test and pilot test,while 5 common peaks were observable in the HPLC fingerprints for large production,along with the similarities of more than 0.980.During pilot tests at different time points,various active constituents demonstrated consistent content changing trends,whose total content was higher than those during small test and large production.CONCLUSION Process amplification exhibits a little influence on active constituent contents in MLJZD,which don't show increasing trends with the expansion of container and enhancement of dosage.

Objective:To investigate the application effect of a rehabilitation diary combined with self-identity psychological nursing in adolescent patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), and to provide a reference for optimizing intervention strategies for adolescent MDD.Methods:A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted. A total of 110 adolescent patients with MDD admitted to Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital from July 1, 2024, to January 31, 2025 were selected as research subjects by continuous sampling method. Fifty-five patients who received routine nursing care from July 1, 2024, to September 30, 2024, were assigned to the control group. Fifty-five patients who received a rehabilitation diary combined with self-identity psychological nursing from October 1, 2024, to January 31, 2025, were assigned to the combined group. The improvement status of MDD symptoms (Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale), interpersonal relationship (Interpersonal Relationship Assessment Scale), social function (Social Disability Screening Schedule), et al, were compared between groups.Results:A total of 110 patients were included. In the control group, there were 29 males and 26 females, aged (15.38 ± 1.35) years old. In the combined group, there were 28 males and 27 females, aged (15.17 ± 1.36) years old. Before the intervention, there were no statistically significant differences in the improvement of MDD symptoms, interpersonal relationships, and social functions between the two groups of patients (all P>0.05). After 4 and 8 weeks of intervention, the scores of the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and the Social Disability Screening Schedule in the combined group were 25.47 ± 4.12, 22.35 ± 4.29, 12.41 ± 1.68, 11.02 ± 1.32, respectively, which were lower than those of the control group 30.16 ± 5.32, 27.29 ± 4.61, 14.18 ± 1.32, 12.45 ± 2.27, the differences were statistically significant ( t values were 4.04-6.49, all P<0.05). After 8 weeks of intervention, the scores of interpersonal communication, interpersonal friendship, dealing with people and matters, opposite-sex interaction of the Interpersonal Relationship Assessment Scale in the combined group were 4.62 ± 0.53, 4.28 ± 0.38, 4.35 ± 0.61, 3.97 ± 0.28 respectively, which were lower than those of the control group 5.37 ± 0.41, 5.32 ± 0.79, 5.28 ± 0.53, 4.86 ± 0.64, and the differences were statistically significant ( t values were 8.30-9.45, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Rehabilitation diary combined with self-identity psychological nursing intervention for adolescent MDD patients can improve the depression symptoms, interpersonal relationship and social function, and enhance the treatment compliance and quality of life.

Objective:To analyze the epidemiological and radiological features of idiopathic resorption of mesiodens using clinical data and CBCT images.Methods:The gender,age,and CBCT images of the patients with mesioden were collected.The number,position,occurrence and resorption type were analyzed.Results:Idiopathic resorption was present in 89 of 617 mesiodens(509 ca-ses)with a frequency of 14.4％.There was no significant difference between male(342 cases)and female(167 cases)groups(P＞0.05).The resoption incidence of mesiodens was significant different among age groups(P＜0.05).The group with age under 10 years showed the lowest resorption rate(0.6％),while the group with age between 41-50 years showed the highest rate(71.4％).In the 3D direction,resorption occurrence of mesiodens located in different coronal and sagittal plane was significant different(P＜0.05).In the coronal plane,type A2(19.4％)and type C(18.7％)resorption were the highest.In the sagittal plane,type Ⅴ(34.8％)and type Ⅳ(29.9％)resorption were the highest.Intracoronal resorption was the most frequent type(56.2％),followed by crown-root resorption(24.7％),external root resorption(10.1％),mixed internal and external resorption(4.5％),extracoronal resorption(3.4％)and internal root resorption(1.1％).Conclusion:The occurrence of idiopathic resorption of mesiodens is correlated with the age of the patients and the position of the mesiodens in the coronal and sagittal planes.The resorption occurres mostly in the crown.