Objective To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compound in treating pulmonary nodules, providing evidence-based medical evidence for TCM intervention in pulmonary nodules. Methods Computer search of PubMed, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and SinoMed was conducted to select randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of TCM compound intervention in pulmonary nodules, with the retrieval time from the inception to November 29, 2023. The Cochrane bias risk assessment tool was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies, and Review Manager 5.4 was used for Meta-analysis. Results A total of 18 RCTs were included, covering 8 provinces across the country, with a total sample size of 1301 patients. The TCM compounds used in the included studies all incorporated the method of dissolving phlegm and dissipating nodules. There was a high risk of bias uncertainty in the included studies. Meta-analysis results suggested that TCM compound could significantly reduce the diameter of pulmonary nodules [MD=−1.41, 95%CI (−1.70, −1.13), P<0.001], decrease the number of nodules [MD=−0.37, 95%CI (−0.73, −0.01), P=0.05], alleviate clinical symptoms [MD=−4.84, 95%CI (−6.04, −3.64), P<0.001], and improve lung function [forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), MD=0.55, 95%CI (0.09, 1.01), P=0.02; FEV1/forced vital capacity, MD=6.12, 95%CI (4.47, 7.78), P<0.001]. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the probability of malignancy between the experimental group and the control group [MD=−0.01, 95%CI (−0.01, 0.00), P=0.09]. Conclusion TCM compound can significantly reduce the diameter of pulmonary nodules, decrease the number of nodules, alleviate clinical symptoms, and improve lung function, but future multicenter, large-sample, high-quality RCTs are still needed to further explore and verify this conclusion.

AIM To investigate the effects of volatile oil from Acorus tatarinowii Schott(A.tatarinowii)on neuroinflammation in a rat model of tic disorders.METHODS The SD rats were randomly divided into the blank group(8 rats)and the model group(40 rats).The rat models of tic disorders established successfully by intraperitoneal injection of iminodiapropionitrile(IDPN)were further divided into the model group,the tiapride group and the high-dose,moderate-dose and low-dose A.tatarinowii volatile oil groups,with 8 rats in each group.The 4-week intragastric treatment of respective drug was initiated the next day after the completion of modeling,and normal saline was dosed upon the blank group and the model group,during which the rats' behavioral changes were assessed by stereotyped behavior and motor behavior score every week.After the administration,the rats had their morphological changes of striatal neurons observed by Nissl staining;their levels of TGF-β,IL-10,TNF-αand IL-1β in serum and striatum detected by ELISA;their striatal protein expressions of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry;and their striatal expressions of M1,M2 microglia marker proteins CD86,CD206,SYN and PSD-95 detected by immunofluorescence co-staining.RESULTS Compared with the model group,the A.tatarinowii volatile oil groups demonstrated improved twitch-like behavior;decreased scores of motor behavior and rigid behavior(P＜0.01);alleviated damage of Nissl bodies in neurons;increased serum and striatum levels of TGF-β and IL-10(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);decreased levels of TNF-α and IL-1β(P＜0.01);decreased striatal protein expressions of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1(P＜0.01);increased protein expressions of PSD95 and SYN(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);and decreased CD86/Iba1(P＜0.01)and increased CD206/Iba1(P＜0.01)in terms of the fluorescence intensity.CONCLUSION A.tatarinowii volatile oil contributes an anti-tic effect and improves the neuroinflammation in the brain of the rat model of tic disorders by promoting the transformation of microglia into M2 type via CX3CL1/CX3CR1 signal axis.

Objective:To explore the prospective association between physical activity level and mor-tality risk in Chinese adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).Methods:Based on the China Kadoorie Biobank(CKB)who had COPD at the baseline survey,this study employed the Cox proportional hazards regression model to estimate the prospective associations between the overall physical activity,different intensities(low-level,moderate-to-vigorous-level),and types(occupational,non-occupational)of physical activity level and the risks of all-cause and cause-specific mortality,such as vascular diseases,cancer,and respiratory diseases.Based on the quintiles of physical activity level,par-ticipants were divided into five groups(Q1-Q5),with the lowest quintile group(Q1)as the reference group.Hazard ratio(HR)and 95％confidence interval(95％CI)were calculated for the remaining.In our study,we also performed sensitivity and subgroup analyses,including age,gender,self-rated health status,severity of COPD,etc.Results:Among 33 588 COPD patients at the baseline survey,8 314(22.2％)deaths were documented during an average follow-up of(11.1±3.1)years.Negative linear associations between the overall physical activity level and mortality risk from all-cause,vascular,and respiratory diseases were observed(P trend for linear correlation being＜0.001,0.002,＜0.001).Compared with the lowest quintile group of total physical activity(Q1),the hazard ratios(HR)and 95％confidence intervals(CI)for all-cause mortality,vascular disease mortality,and respiratory disease mortality in the highest quintile group(Q5)were 0.77(0.70,0.85),0.77(0.65,0.91),and 0.58(0.48,0.71),respectively.The low-level and moderate-to-vigorous-level physical activity were nega-tively associated with all-cause mortality in the COPD patients(P trend for linear correlation:0.002,＜0.001,respectively).Compared with the lowest quintile group of low-intensity and moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity(Q1),the HRs(95％CI)for all-cause mortality in the highest quintile group(Q5)were 0.89(0.82,0.97)and 0.79(0.72,0.87),respectively.The occupational and non-occupational physical activity were also found to have a linear inverse association with all-cause mortality risk among the COPD patients(P trend＜0.001 and 0.015,respectively).Compared with the lowest quintile group of occupational and non-occupational physical activity(Q1),the HR(95％CI)for all-cause mortality in the highest quintile group(Q5)were 0.69(0.61,0.78)and 0.91(0.84,0.98),respectively.The associations between overall physical activity and all-cause mortality risk were stronger for patients aged 60 and above,female,and who reported poor health status(P for interaction:0.028,0.012,0.010).The protective effect of total physical activity was also applicable to the COPD patients of varying severity.Conclusion:Physical activity could reduce the mortality risk in a dose-response relationship among COPD patients,regardless of its intensity and type,especially among indi-viduals aged 60 and above,females,and those with poor self-report health status.

Aim To explore the possible regulatory effect of leptin on acyl-CoA synthetase long chain fami-ly member ACSL5 and their effect on migration and in-vasion of breast cancer cell,and to explore the underly-ing mechanism.Methods The expression of leptin receptor was detected by immunofluorescence assay.The migration and invasion ability of MCF-7 cells were detected by wound healing assay and Transwell assay respectively.The downstream target gene of leptin was analyzed by PCR microarray data.The expression of ACSL5 in breast cancer and its correlation with the staging and prognosis of breast cancer patients were as-sessed uing bioinformatics methods.The expression of ACSL5 in MCF-7 cells treated with different concentra-tions of leptin was detected using real time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR).Overexpressing ACSL5 was constructed by lentiviral transfection;the expressions of EMT related proteins,AMPK-α and p-AMPK-α were detected by Western blot.Results Leptin promoted breast cancer cell mi-gration and invasion and EMT.ACSL5 was significant-ly low expressed in breast cancer and related to progno-sis.Leptin downregulated the expression of ACSL5 through OBR.Leptin activated AMPK pathway to downregulate ACSL5 and promote migration,invasion and EMT of breast cancer cells.Conclusions Leptin may promote the migration,invasion and EMT of breast cancer by downregulating ACSL5 through activating AMPK pathway.

AIM To investigate the effects of volatile oil from Acorus tatarinowii Schott(A.tatarinowii)on neuroinflammation in a rat model of tic disorders.METHODS The SD rats were randomly divided into the blank group(8 rats)and the model group(40 rats).The rat models of tic disorders established successfully by intraperitoneal injection of iminodiapropionitrile(IDPN)were further divided into the model group,the tiapride group and the high-dose,moderate-dose and low-dose A.tatarinowii volatile oil groups,with 8 rats in each group.The 4-week intragastric treatment of respective drug was initiated the next day after the completion of modeling,and normal saline was dosed upon the blank group and the model group,during which the rats' behavioral changes were assessed by stereotyped behavior and motor behavior score every week.After the administration,the rats had their morphological changes of striatal neurons observed by Nissl staining;their levels of TGF-β,IL-10,TNF-αand IL-1β in serum and striatum detected by ELISA;their striatal protein expressions of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry;and their striatal expressions of M1,M2 microglia marker proteins CD86,CD206,SYN and PSD-95 detected by immunofluorescence co-staining.RESULTS Compared with the model group,the A.tatarinowii volatile oil groups demonstrated improved twitch-like behavior;decreased scores of motor behavior and rigid behavior(P＜0.01);alleviated damage of Nissl bodies in neurons;increased serum and striatum levels of TGF-β and IL-10(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);decreased levels of TNF-α and IL-1β(P＜0.01);decreased striatal protein expressions of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1(P＜0.01);increased protein expressions of PSD95 and SYN(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);and decreased CD86/Iba1(P＜0.01)and increased CD206/Iba1(P＜0.01)in terms of the fluorescence intensity.CONCLUSION A.tatarinowii volatile oil contributes an anti-tic effect and improves the neuroinflammation in the brain of the rat model of tic disorders by promoting the transformation of microglia into M2 type via CX3CL1/CX3CR1 signal axis.

Aim To investigate the regulatory effects and underlying mechanisms of 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol(4-MBA),an active ingredient of Gastrodia elata,on hepatic cholesterol metabolism.Methods Acute hy-perlipidemia mouse models were established via egg yolk emulsion induction,and hyperlipidemia rat models were constructed using a high-fat diet.Serum and he-patic total cholesterol(TC),triglycerides(TG),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),and high-den-sity lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)levels were quan-tified via enzymatic assays.Hepatic histopathological changes were evaluated through hematoxylin-eosin(HE)and Oil Red O staining.Interactions between 4-MBA and key cholesterol metabolism targets were sim-ulated using molecular docking.mRNA and protein ex-pression levels of LDL receptor(LDLR),proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9(PCSK9),liver X receptor α(LXRα),peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ(PPARγ),ATP-binding cassette transporter G1(ABCG1),and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase(CYP7A1)were assessed using quantitative polymer-ase chain reaction(qPCR)and immunohistochemis-try.Results In acute hyperlipidemic mice,4-MBA administration significantly reduced serum TG and LDL-C levels while elevating HDL-C(P＜0.05).Hy-perlipidemic rats exhibited decreased serum TG and LDL-C,increased HDL-C(P＜0.01),reduced hepatic LDL-C(P＜0.01),and elevated hepatic HDL-C(P＜0.01).Although TC levels showed a downward trend,the difference lacked statistical significance.He-patic lipid accumulation and steatosis were alleviated.Upregulated mRNA and protein expression of LDLR,PPARγ,LXRα,and ABCG1(P＜0.01),alongside downregulated PCSK9(P＜0.05),were observed.Conclusion 4-MBA modulates cholesterol metabolism primarily via the LDLR/PCSK9 pathway to enhance cholesterol uptake and the PPARγ-LXRα-CYP7A1/ABCA1 axis to promote cholesterol utilization and ef-flux.

The development of breast cancer is closely related to the information transfer in its microenvironment.As a novel information communication tool,exosomes present non-coding RNAs that are involved in breast cancer cell proliferation,migration,invasion,tumour-associated fibroblasts ogenesis,cell cycle,degradation of oncogenes,etc.This paper reviews the relationship between exosomes and the tumour microenvironment and the role of their presenting non-coding RNAs on breast cancer as well as their clinical applications in order to provide new ideas for biological research and therapeutic strategies.

Aim To explore the possible regulatory effect of leptin on acyl-CoA synthetase long chain fami-ly member ACSL5 and their effect on migration and in-vasion of breast cancer cell,and to explore the underly-ing mechanism.Methods The expression of leptin receptor was detected by immunofluorescence assay.The migration and invasion ability of MCF-7 cells were detected by wound healing assay and Transwell assay respectively.The downstream target gene of leptin was analyzed by PCR microarray data.The expression of ACSL5 in breast cancer and its correlation with the staging and prognosis of breast cancer patients were as-sessed uing bioinformatics methods.The expression of ACSL5 in MCF-7 cells treated with different concentra-tions of leptin was detected using real time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR).Overexpressing ACSL5 was constructed by lentiviral transfection;the expressions of EMT related proteins,AMPK-α and p-AMPK-α were detected by Western blot.Results Leptin promoted breast cancer cell mi-gration and invasion and EMT.ACSL5 was significant-ly low expressed in breast cancer and related to progno-sis.Leptin downregulated the expression of ACSL5 through OBR.Leptin activated AMPK pathway to downregulate ACSL5 and promote migration,invasion and EMT of breast cancer cells.Conclusions Leptin may promote the migration,invasion and EMT of breast cancer by downregulating ACSL5 through activating AMPK pathway.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of remimazolam-based anesthesia in daytime laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Methods:In this multicenter, non-inferiority, randomized controlled trial, 300 American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients of either sex, aged 18-60 yr, with body mass index of 18-28 kg/m 2, who underwent daytime laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia with tracheal intubation at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang University School of Medicine, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou First People′s Hospital Affiliated to Westlake University School of Medicine, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from August 2021 to August 2023, were selected and divided into 2 groups ( n=150 each) using a random number table method: remimazolam group (R group) and propofol group (P group). Anesthesia was induced as follows: Sufentanil was intravenously injected at a rate of 0.5 μg/kg, remimazolam was intravenously injected at a rate of 0.3 mg/kg in group R, propofol was intravenously injected at a rate of 2.0-2.5 mg/kg in group P, and cisatracurium besilate was intravenously injected at a rate of 0.2 mg/kg after loss of consciousness in two groups. The patients were mechanically ventilated after tracheal intubation. Anesthesia was maintained as follows: Remimazolam was intravenously injected at a rate of 0.5-1.0 mg·kg -1·h -1 in group R, propofol was intravenously injected at a rate of 4-10 mg·kg -1·h -1 in group P, and remifentanil was intravenously infused at a rate of 0.25-2.00 μg·kg -1·min -1, maintaining intraoperative bispectral index value of 40-60. The success rate of sedation was recorded, and non-inferiority tests were conducted. The time to loss of consciousness, emergence time, extubation time, recovery time of orientation, time of stay in post-anesthesia care unit and occurrence of delayed emergence were recorded. Liver function and renal function were measured before operation and within 24 h after operation. The occurrence of abnormal alanine transaminase, abnormal aspartate transaminase, abnormal creatinine and abnormal urea was recorded. The occurrence of adverse reactions during and after operation was recorded. Results:The success rates of sedation were 98.6% and 99.3% in group R and group P, respectively, there was no statistically significant difference in the success rate of sedation between the two groups ( P>0.05), and the difference in the success rates of sedation between the two groups was -0.007 (95% confidence interval-0.0301-0.0161), which met the pre-set non-inferiority criteria(95% confidence interval >-0.055). Compared with group P, the time to loss of consciousness and recovery time of orientation were significantly prolonged, and the incidence of delayed emergence was increased ( P<0.05), and no statistically significant changes were found in the emergence time, extubation time, time of stay in post-anesthesia care unit and severity of postoperative nausea and vomiting in group R ( P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the abnormal rates of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, creatinine and urea before and after operation between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The efficacy of remimazolam-based anesthesia in daytime laparoscopic cholecystectomy is not inferior to that of propofol-based anesthesia.

Objective To explore the barriers of implementing collaborative chronic wound management within medical consortium and provide references for ensuring continuous care for chronic wound patients.Methods Using purposive and snowball sampling methods,14 specialist nurses participating in chronic wound collaborative management across medical consortium in 7 provinces/municipalities(Beijing,Shanghai,Zhejiang,Sichuan,etc.)were selected for semi-structured interviews between December 2023 and January 2024.Data were analyzed via content analysis.Results Totally 4 themes and 8 subthemes were identified,including management and organizational level(the management system needs improvement;the function of medical information mutual recognition has not been fully realized),resource and technology level(there are insufficient nursing resources at the grassroots hospitals;the specialized nursing capabilities of wound nurses at grassroots hospitals need to be enhanced),patient and demand level(patients' trust is insufficient;patients' concepts are rigid),information technology and support level(the informatization construction of grassroots hospitals lags behind;the intelligence of information systems is insufficient).Conclusion Wound specialist nurses encounter various difficulties when participating in the coordinated management of chronic wounds within the medical consortium.The management and organizational system constraints hinder the effectiveness of the nursing coordination;the resource and technology gap affects the implementation of graded wound care in the region;the lack of patient trust and misconceptions intensify the resistance to coordination;the lagging in information technology construction limits the innovative development of nursing coordination.