ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy of Maxing Loushi decoction in the treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （AECOPD） with phlegm turbidity obstructing lung syndrome， and to investigate its effects on inflammatory factors， immune function， and the programmed death-1（PD-1）/programmed death-ligand 1 （PD-L1） signaling pathway. MethodsA randomized controlled study was conducted， enrolling 90 hospitalized patients with AECOPD and phlegm turbidity obstructing lung syndrome in the Respiratory and Emergency Departments of Dongzhimen Hospital， Beijing University of Chinese Medicine， from April 2024 to December 2024. Patients were randomly assigned to a control group and an observation group using a random number table， with 45 patients in each group. The control group received conventional Western medical treatment， while the observation group received additional Maxing Loushi decoction for 14 days. Clinical efficacy， COPD Assessment Test （CAT） score， modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale （mMRC）， 6-minute walk test （6MWT）， serum inflammatory factors， T lymphocyte subsets， and serum PD-1/PD-L1 levels were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. ResultsThe total clinical effective rate was 78.57% （33/42） in the control group and 95.35% （41/43） in the observation group， with the observation group showing significantly higher efficacy than that of the control group. The difference was statistically significant （χ² = 5.136， P<0.05）. After treatment， both groups showed significant reductions in CAT and mMRC scores （P<0.05， P<0.01） and significant increases in 6MWT compared to baseline （P<0.01）. The observation group demonstrated significantly greater improvements than the control group in this regard. Levels of inflammatory markers including C-reactive protein （CRP）， procalcitonin （PCT）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， monocyte chemoattractant protein-1（MCP-1）， and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α （MIP-1α） were significantly reduced in both groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）， with greater reductions in the observation group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. CD8⁺ levels were significantly reduced （P<0.01）， while CD3⁺， CD4⁺， and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ levels were significantly increased in both groups after treatment （P<0.05， P<0.01）， with more significant improvements observed in the observation group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Serum PD-1 levels were reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and PD-L1 levels were increased significantly in both groups after treatment （P<0.05， P<0.01）， with more pronounced changes in the observation group （P<0.05）. ConclusionMaxing Loushi decoction demonstrates definite therapeutic efficacy as an adjunctive treatment for patients with AECOPD and phlegm turbidity obstructing lung syndrome. It contributes to reducing serum inflammatory factors， improving immune function， and regulating the PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy of Maxing Loushi decoction in the treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （AECOPD） with phlegm turbidity obstructing lung syndrome， and to investigate its effects on inflammatory factors， immune function， and the programmed death-1（PD-1）/programmed death-ligand 1 （PD-L1） signaling pathway. MethodsA randomized controlled study was conducted， enrolling 90 hospitalized patients with AECOPD and phlegm turbidity obstructing lung syndrome in the Respiratory and Emergency Departments of Dongzhimen Hospital， Beijing University of Chinese Medicine， from April 2024 to December 2024. Patients were randomly assigned to a control group and an observation group using a random number table， with 45 patients in each group. The control group received conventional Western medical treatment， while the observation group received additional Maxing Loushi decoction for 14 days. Clinical efficacy， COPD Assessment Test （CAT） score， modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale （mMRC）， 6-minute walk test （6MWT）， serum inflammatory factors， T lymphocyte subsets， and serum PD-1/PD-L1 levels were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. ResultsThe total clinical effective rate was 78.57% （33/42） in the control group and 95.35% （41/43） in the observation group， with the observation group showing significantly higher efficacy than that of the control group. The difference was statistically significant （χ² = 5.136， P<0.05）. After treatment， both groups showed significant reductions in CAT and mMRC scores （P<0.05， P<0.01） and significant increases in 6MWT compared to baseline （P<0.01）. The observation group demonstrated significantly greater improvements than the control group in this regard. Levels of inflammatory markers including C-reactive protein （CRP）， procalcitonin （PCT）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， monocyte chemoattractant protein-1（MCP-1）， and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α （MIP-1α） were significantly reduced in both groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）， with greater reductions in the observation group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. CD8⁺ levels were significantly reduced （P<0.01）， while CD3⁺， CD4⁺， and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ levels were significantly increased in both groups after treatment （P<0.05， P<0.01）， with more significant improvements observed in the observation group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Serum PD-1 levels were reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and PD-L1 levels were increased significantly in both groups after treatment （P<0.05， P<0.01）， with more pronounced changes in the observation group （P<0.05）. ConclusionMaxing Loushi decoction demonstrates definite therapeutic efficacy as an adjunctive treatment for patients with AECOPD and phlegm turbidity obstructing lung syndrome. It contributes to reducing serum inflammatory factors， improving immune function， and regulating the PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo observe the antidepressant effect of Chaihu Shugansan combined with ferulic acid on the rat model of chronic unpredictable mild stress （CUMS） and explore the mechanism from the histomorphology of frontal cortex， expression of key molecules in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF）/tyrosine kinase receptor B （TrkB） signaling pathway， and changes in monoamine neurotransmitter levels. MethodsSixty adult male SD rats were randomized into six groups （n=10）： blank control， depression model， Chaihu Shugansan （3.3 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， ferulic acid （50 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）， Chaihu Shugansan （3.3 g·kg^-1·d^-1） + ferulic acid （50 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）， and fluoxetine （2.1 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）. Rats in other groups except the blank control group were subjected to a mild chronic unpredictable stress stimulus every day. Seven stimuli were used， including fasting with free access to water for 24 h， water deprivation with free access to food for 24 h， wetting the bedding with water in the cage， restraint for 3 h， tail clamping for 1 min， swimming in ice water at 4 ℃， and day and night reversal. Each stimulus was used 1 to 3 times， and the modeling lasted for a total of 21 days. At the same time of stimulation， rats in each medication group were treated with corresponding agents by gavage， while those in the blank control group and the depression model group received equal volumes of normal saline by gavage. The open field test， sucrose preference test， and forced swimming test were conducted before and after modeling. The rats were anesthetized by intraperitoneal injection of 3% pentobarbital sodium， and the frontal cortex was isolated on ice. The mRNA and protein levels of BDNF， TrkB， and cyclic adenosine monophosphate-responsive element-binding protein （CREB） in the frontal cortex were determined by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot， respectively. The levels of monoamine neurotransmitters 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT）， dopamine （DA）， and norepinephrine （NE） in the frontal cortex were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Light microscopy was employed to observe the histopathological changes in the frontal cortex. ResultsCompared with the blank control group， the depression model group showed reduced body mass （P<0.05， P<0.01）， decreased number of crossings and rearings in the open field test and sucrose preference （P<0.01）， prolonged time of immobility in the forced swimming test （P<0.01）， reduced neuronal cells， increased necrotic cells， and darkening cell staining in the frontal cortex， down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of BDNF， TrkB， CREB， and lowered levels of 5-HT， NE， and DA in the frontal cortex （P<0.01）. Compared with the depression model group， each intervention group showed improved general state， increased body mass （P<0.05）， increased number of crossings （P<0.05）， shortened immobility time in the forced swimming test （P<0.01）， increased neuronal cells， reduced necrotic cells， and lightened cellular staining in the frontal cortex， up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of BDNF， TrkB and CREB， and elevated levels of 5-HT， NE， and DA in the frontal cortex （P<0.01）. Moreover， the Chaihu Shugansan + ferulic acid group outperformed the Chaihu Shugansan group and the ferulic acid group in increasing the body mass and the 5-HT content in the frontal cortex （P<0.05）. The combination group outperformed the Chaihu Shugansan group regarding the number of rearings and up-regulation in the mRNA level of BDNF in the frontal cortex （P<0.05）， and it was superior to the ferulic acid group in terms of shortening the immobility time in the forced swimming test， up-regulating the mRNA levels of BDNF， TrkB， and CREB and the protein levels of BDNF and CREB in the frontal cortex， and increasing the DA content in the frontal cortex （P<0.05）. ConclusionChaihu Shugansan combined with ferulic acid can exert antidepressant effect on the rat model of CUMS by regulating the BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway and monoamine neurotransmitter content in the frontal cortex. Moreover， the antidepressant effect of Chaihu Shugansan combined with ferulic acid was more significant than that of Chaihu Shugansan and ferulic acid used alone.

The production of high-quality oocytes requires precisely orchestrated intercellular communication. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-derived nanoparticles that play a vital role in the transfer of bioactive molecules, which has gained much attention in the field of diagnosis and treatment. Over the past ten years, the participation of EVs in the reproductive processes of oocytes has been broadly studied and has shown great potential for elucidating the intricacies of female reproductive health. This review provides an extensive discussion of the influence of EVs on oocytes, emphasizing their involvement in normal physiology and altered cargo under pathological conditions. In addition, the positive impact of therapeutic EVs on oocyte quality and their role in alleviating ovarian pathological conditions are summarized.
Humans ; Extracellular Vesicles/physiology* ; Oocytes/cytology* ; Female ; Animals ; Cell Communication/physiology*

Objective:To investigate the effects of thoracolumbar vertebral fracture with incomplete spinal cord injury on male sexual function and postoperative prognosis.Methods:A retrospective review was conducted on data from 144 male patients with thoracolumbar vertebral fractures and incomplete spinal cord injuries treated between May 2009 and May 2021 in the Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics at Peking University Third Hospital. Patients ranged in age from 19 to 55 years (mean: 38.6±10.6 years) and underwent posterior incision and reduction internal fixation. The International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5), the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT), and the International Spinal Cord Injury Male Sexual Function Basic Data Set were used for sexual function evaluation. Based on the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Spinal Cord Injury classification, changes in neurological and sexual function were assessed at the pre-injury stage, 3 months post-injury, 2 years postoperatively, and at the final follow-up. Factors influencing sexual dysfunction and recovery were analyzed. Spearman correlation analysis was used to identify factors affecting sexual function injury and recovery.Results:A total of 117 patients were included in the final analysis. Follow-up duration ranged from 26.2 to 161.7 months (mean: 74.6±40.5 months). After injury, ASIA grades were distributed as follows: 43 patients with grade B, 41 with grade C, and 33 with grade D. At the 2-year follow-up, 30 patients were grade E, 63 grade D, 19 grade C, and 5 grade B. Improvement in ASIA classification was observed in 90.6% (106/117) of patients: 79 improved by one grade, 27 by two grades, 8 remained unchanged, 1 worsened by one grade, and 2 worsened by two grades. Mean IIEF-5 scores were 19.5±6.4 pre-injury, 8.7±8.0 at 3 months post-injury, and 17.5±7.1 at 2 years postoperatively, with statistically significant differences ( F=123.247, P<0.001). Differences between 3 months post-injury vs. pre-injury and 2 years postoperatively vs. 3 months post-injury were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Mean PEDT scores were 5.3±3.1 pre-injury, 6.9±5.2 at 3 months post-injury, and 6.4±5.1 at 2 years postoperatively, with statistically significant differences ( F=17.014, P<0.001). The difference between 3 months post-injury and pre-injury was statistically significant ( P<0.05), but not between 2 years postoperatively and 3 months post-injury ( P>0.05). At the 2-year follow-up, 96 patients had their IIEF-5 classification restored to pre-injury levels, 85 restored PEDT classifications, and 83 restored both. Post-injury ASIA classification was positively correlated with a decrease in IIEF-5 score and an increase in PEDT score at 3 months post-injury ( P<0.05). Injury segment was positively correlated with the decrease in IIEF-5 score ( P<0.05). Time from injury to surgery showed a positive correlation with increased PEDT score at 3 months ( P<0.05). Post-injury ASIA grade, injury segment, time to surgery, age, intraoperative decompression, and spinal cord function recovery all showed significant correlations with changes in IIEF-5 and (or) PEDT scores at 2 years postoperatively ( P<0.05). According to the International Spinal Cord Injury Male Sexual Function Basic Data Set, the proportion of patients willing to discuss sexual issues increased from 29.9% at 3 months post-injury to 47.9% at 2 years postoperatively ( P<0.05). The proportion of patients with absent or diminished psychogenic erections remained stable (48.7% vs. 48.9%, P>0.05), while those with normal reflexive erections increased from 34.2% to 65.0% ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Thoracolumbar fractures with incomplete spinal cord injury result in reduced erectile function and increased incidence of premature ejaculation. The degree of spinal cord injury and the level of the injured segment are strongly correlated with the extent of sexual dysfunction. At the 2-year postoperative follow-up, 70.9% of patients had recovered sexual function to pre-injury levels.

Objective:To investigate the effects of thoracolumbar vertebral fracture with incomplete spinal cord injury on male sexual function and postoperative prognosis.Methods:A retrospective review was conducted on data from 144 male patients with thoracolumbar vertebral fractures and incomplete spinal cord injuries treated between May 2009 and May 2021 in the Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics at Peking University Third Hospital. Patients ranged in age from 19 to 55 years (mean: 38.6±10.6 years) and underwent posterior incision and reduction internal fixation. The International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5), the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT), and the International Spinal Cord Injury Male Sexual Function Basic Data Set were used for sexual function evaluation. Based on the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Spinal Cord Injury classification, changes in neurological and sexual function were assessed at the pre-injury stage, 3 months post-injury, 2 years postoperatively, and at the final follow-up. Factors influencing sexual dysfunction and recovery were analyzed. Spearman correlation analysis was used to identify factors affecting sexual function injury and recovery.Results:A total of 117 patients were included in the final analysis. Follow-up duration ranged from 26.2 to 161.7 months (mean: 74.6±40.5 months). After injury, ASIA grades were distributed as follows: 43 patients with grade B, 41 with grade C, and 33 with grade D. At the 2-year follow-up, 30 patients were grade E, 63 grade D, 19 grade C, and 5 grade B. Improvement in ASIA classification was observed in 90.6% (106/117) of patients: 79 improved by one grade, 27 by two grades, 8 remained unchanged, 1 worsened by one grade, and 2 worsened by two grades. Mean IIEF-5 scores were 19.5±6.4 pre-injury, 8.7±8.0 at 3 months post-injury, and 17.5±7.1 at 2 years postoperatively, with statistically significant differences ( F=123.247, P<0.001). Differences between 3 months post-injury vs. pre-injury and 2 years postoperatively vs. 3 months post-injury were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Mean PEDT scores were 5.3±3.1 pre-injury, 6.9±5.2 at 3 months post-injury, and 6.4±5.1 at 2 years postoperatively, with statistically significant differences ( F=17.014, P<0.001). The difference between 3 months post-injury and pre-injury was statistically significant ( P<0.05), but not between 2 years postoperatively and 3 months post-injury ( P>0.05). At the 2-year follow-up, 96 patients had their IIEF-5 classification restored to pre-injury levels, 85 restored PEDT classifications, and 83 restored both. Post-injury ASIA classification was positively correlated with a decrease in IIEF-5 score and an increase in PEDT score at 3 months post-injury ( P<0.05). Injury segment was positively correlated with the decrease in IIEF-5 score ( P<0.05). Time from injury to surgery showed a positive correlation with increased PEDT score at 3 months ( P<0.05). Post-injury ASIA grade, injury segment, time to surgery, age, intraoperative decompression, and spinal cord function recovery all showed significant correlations with changes in IIEF-5 and (or) PEDT scores at 2 years postoperatively ( P<0.05). According to the International Spinal Cord Injury Male Sexual Function Basic Data Set, the proportion of patients willing to discuss sexual issues increased from 29.9% at 3 months post-injury to 47.9% at 2 years postoperatively ( P<0.05). The proportion of patients with absent or diminished psychogenic erections remained stable (48.7% vs. 48.9%, P>0.05), while those with normal reflexive erections increased from 34.2% to 65.0% ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Thoracolumbar fractures with incomplete spinal cord injury result in reduced erectile function and increased incidence of premature ejaculation. The degree of spinal cord injury and the level of the injured segment are strongly correlated with the extent of sexual dysfunction. At the 2-year postoperative follow-up, 70.9% of patients had recovered sexual function to pre-injury levels.

The paper summarizes the imaging evaluation methods for assessing the degree of carotid artery stenosis and analyzes the unique advantages and limitations of various imaging techniques in vascular imaging based on existing guidelines and consensus.The paper focuses on reviewing the clinical applications of several novel ultrasound technologies,including the use of advanced hemodynamic parameters such as blood flow dispersion(Tur index)and wall shear stress(WSS).Carotid artery stenosis is closely associated with cardiovascular disease.Although non-invasive and radiation-free ultrasound technology has certain limitations in diagnostic accuracy to a certain extent,with the continuous emergence of advanced functions such as ultrasound hemodynamics and vascular elasticity,the combination of multi-modality and multi-parameter ultrasound is expected to become an important method for efficient diagnosis of arterial stenosis in the future.

Objective:To analyze the current situation of dosimetry audits for linear accelerators in China comprehensively based on the literature, including the range of output dose deviation and the qualified rate of output dose deviation.Methods:Literature search including non-full-text was carried out in CNKI database for literature on output dose verification using dosimeter comparison and quality control test, respectively. Data extraction and analysis were carried out for each kind of eligible literature. The data on the number of tested linear accelerators, the number of qualified linear accelerators, the qualified rate of output dose deviation and the range of output dose deviation were extracted, and the total qualified rate of output dose deviation was calculated based on the total number of tested linear accelerators and the total number of qualified linear accelerators. The data on qualified rate of output dose deviation and output dose deviation in past years were sorted out and their trend was analyzed.Results:A total of 11 literatures using dosimeter comparison method for output dose verification were retrieved, and the total qualified rate of the output dose deviation reported in these literatures was 90.7%. The qualified rate of the output dose deviation in the early years was either as low as 75% or as high as 100%, and remained around 90% in recent years. A total of 19 literatures using quality control test method for output dose verification were retrieved, and the total qualified rate of X-ray and electron beam output dose deviation reported in these literatures was 86.5% and 78.4%, respectively. Of the 12 data on X-ray output dose qualified rate in 2014-2019, 8 were below 90.0% and 4 were above 90.0%. Of the 7 data on X-ray output dose qualified rate in 2020-2023, 2 were below 90.0% and 5 were greater than or equal to 90.0%. The qualified rate of electron beam output dose was 46.2%-80.0% before 2021 and 100% from 2021 to 2023.Conclusions:The qualified rate of the output dose deviation of linear accelerators in China reported in the literature in recent years is on the rise, but the total qualified rate of the output dose deviation of linear accelerators in China is still lower than in developed countries. In order to ensure the therapeutic effect of the patients undergoing radiotherapy, measures should be taken to reduce the output dose deviation of linear accelerators and improve the level of qualified rate of output dose verification.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an acquired clonal hematopoietic stem cell disease caused by abnormal expression of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) on the cell membrane due to mutations in the phosphatidylinositol glycan class A(PIGA) gene. It is commonly characterized by intravascular hemolysis, repeated thrombosis, and bone marrow failure, as well as multiple systemic involvement symptoms such as renal dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension, swallowing difficulties, chest pain, abdominal pain, and erectile dysfunction. Due to the rarity of PNH and its strong heterogeneity in clinical manifestations, multidisciplinary collaboration is often required for diagnosis and treatment. Peking Union Medical College Hospital, relying on the rare disease diagnosis and treatment platform, has invited multidisciplinary clinical experts to form a unified opinion on the diagnosis and treatment of PNH, and formulated the Expert Consensus of Multidisciplinary Diagnosis and Treatment for Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (2024), with the hope of promoting the standardization of PNH diagnosis and treatment.