ObjectiveThis paper aims to evaluate the intervention effect of Gandou Fumu Decoction （GDFMD） in treating hepatolenticular degeneration with liver fibrosis of liver-kidney deficiency and phlegm-blood stasis syndrome， thereby providing evidence-based medical evidence for the treatment of Wilson's disease （WD）-related liver fibrosis with traditional Chinese medicine through clinical efficacy analysis. MethodsA total of 70 patients with WD-related liver fibrosis of liver-kidney deficiency and phlegm-blood stasis syndrome meeting the inclusion criteria were enrolled from Anhui Provincial Hospital of TCM from October 1， 2023， to October 1， 2024. Participants were divided into a control group and an observation group， with 35 cases in each group. The control group received conventional copper chelation therapy with sodium dimercaptopropanesulfonate （DMPS）. On this basis， the observation group was additionally administered GDFMD orally. Each treatment course lasted eight days， for a total of four treatment courses. Efficacy evaluations were performed before treatment and after the second and fourth treatment courses， respectively. The clinical efficacy and safety of GDFMD in the treatment of WD-related liver fibrosis were assessed by comparing the changes in liver stiffness measurement （LSM）， liver serological markers ［alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， type Ⅳ collagen （C-Ⅳ）， laminin （LN）， N-terminal propeptide of type Ⅲ procollagen （PⅢNP）， and hyaluronic acid （HA）］， fibrosis index based on 4 factors （FIB-4）， AST to platelet ratio index （APRI）， unified Wilson's disease rating scale part Ⅱ （UWDRS-Ⅱ）， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome score， 24-hour urinary copper， and safety indicators between the two groups before and after treatment. ResultsCompared with those before treatment， LSM levels decreased in both groups after two and four treatment courses （P<0.05）. Compared with those after treatment， there was no statistically significant difference in the improvement of LSM levels in the observation group after two treatment courses， and the improvement of LSM levels in the observation group was more obvious after four treatment courses （P<0.05）. Compared with those before treatment， the levels of HA， LN， PⅢNP， and C-Ⅳ decreased in both groups after two and four treatment courses （P<0.05）. Compared with those after treatment， there was no statistically significant difference in the improvement of the C-Ⅳ levels in the observation group after two treatment courses， and the levels of HA， LN， and PⅢNP were more obvious （P<0.05）. After four treatment courses in the observation group， the levels of HA， LN， PⅢNP， and C-Ⅳ were improved more significantly （P<0.05）. Compared with those before treatment， ALT and AST levels decreased in both groups after two and four treatment courses （P<0.05）. Compared with the control group after treatment， there was no statistically significant difference in the improvement of ALT and AST levels in the observation group after two treatment courses， and the improvement of ALT and AST levels in the observation group was more obvious after four treatment courses （P<0.05）. Compared with those before treatment， APRI score and FIB-4 index level decreased in both groups after two and four treatment courses （P<0.05）. Compared with those in control group after treatment， there was no statistically significant difference in the improvement of APRI score and FIB-4 index level in the observation group after two treatment courses， and the APRI score in the observation group was more obvious after four treatment courses （P<0.05）， with no statistically significant improvement in the FIB-4 index difference. Compared with those before treatment， the levels of TCM syndrome scores decreased in both groups after two and four treatment courses （P<0.05）. Compared with that of the control group after treatment， there was no statistically significant difference in the improvement of the level of TCM syndrome scores in the observation group after two treatment courses， and the improvement of the level of TCM syndrome scores in the observation group was more obvious after four treatment courses （P<0.05）. Compared with those before treatment， the UWDRS-Ⅱ scores in both groups after two treatment courses were not improved obviously， and the UWDRS-Ⅱ scores in both groups decreased after four treatment courses （P<0.05）. Compared with those of the control group after treatment， there was no statistically significant difference in the improvement of the UWDRS-Ⅱ scores in the observation group after two treatment courses， and the improvement of the UWDRS-Ⅱ scores in the observation group after four treatment courses was more obvious （P<0.05）. Compared with those before treatment， the 24-h urine copper levels were significantly higher in both groups after two and four treatment courses （P<0.05）. Compared with those in the control group after treatment， the 24-h urine copper levels in the observation group were significantly higher after two and four treatment courses （P<0.01）. After two treatment courses， the 24-h urine copper level in the observation group showed a gradual decreasing trend， although it was higher than that before treatment. After four treatment courses， the control group had an improvement rate of 91.43%， an effective rate of 34.29%， and an apparent rate of 2.86%. The observation group had an improvement rate of 94.29%， an effective rate of 71.43%， and an apparent rate of 8.57%. The efficacy of the observation group was better than that of the control group （P<0.05）. Conclusion① The efficacy of GDFMD combined with DMPS therapy in patients with WD-related liver fibrosis of liver-kidney deficiency and phlegm-blood stasis syndrome is significantly better than that of single DMPS therapy， and the advantages of the combined therapy are more obvious with the prolongation of the treatment cycle. ② GDFMD combined with the DMPS therapy program in the long-term application exhibits no obvious adverse reactions with good safety， which is worthy of clinical popularization and application.

ObjectiveThis paper aims to evaluate the intervention effect of Gandou Fumu Decoction （GDFMD） in treating hepatolenticular degeneration with liver fibrosis of liver-kidney deficiency and phlegm-blood stasis syndrome， thereby providing evidence-based medical evidence for the treatment of Wilson's disease （WD）-related liver fibrosis with traditional Chinese medicine through clinical efficacy analysis. MethodsA total of 70 patients with WD-related liver fibrosis of liver-kidney deficiency and phlegm-blood stasis syndrome meeting the inclusion criteria were enrolled from Anhui Provincial Hospital of TCM from October 1， 2023， to October 1， 2024. Participants were divided into a control group and an observation group， with 35 cases in each group. The control group received conventional copper chelation therapy with sodium dimercaptopropanesulfonate （DMPS）. On this basis， the observation group was additionally administered GDFMD orally. Each treatment course lasted eight days， for a total of four treatment courses. Efficacy evaluations were performed before treatment and after the second and fourth treatment courses， respectively. The clinical efficacy and safety of GDFMD in the treatment of WD-related liver fibrosis were assessed by comparing the changes in liver stiffness measurement （LSM）， liver serological markers ［alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， type Ⅳ collagen （C-Ⅳ）， laminin （LN）， N-terminal propeptide of type Ⅲ procollagen （PⅢNP）， and hyaluronic acid （HA）］， fibrosis index based on 4 factors （FIB-4）， AST to platelet ratio index （APRI）， unified Wilson's disease rating scale part Ⅱ （UWDRS-Ⅱ）， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome score， 24-hour urinary copper， and safety indicators between the two groups before and after treatment. ResultsCompared with those before treatment， LSM levels decreased in both groups after two and four treatment courses （P<0.05）. Compared with those after treatment， there was no statistically significant difference in the improvement of LSM levels in the observation group after two treatment courses， and the improvement of LSM levels in the observation group was more obvious after four treatment courses （P<0.05）. Compared with those before treatment， the levels of HA， LN， PⅢNP， and C-Ⅳ decreased in both groups after two and four treatment courses （P<0.05）. Compared with those after treatment， there was no statistically significant difference in the improvement of the C-Ⅳ levels in the observation group after two treatment courses， and the levels of HA， LN， and PⅢNP were more obvious （P<0.05）. After four treatment courses in the observation group， the levels of HA， LN， PⅢNP， and C-Ⅳ were improved more significantly （P<0.05）. Compared with those before treatment， ALT and AST levels decreased in both groups after two and four treatment courses （P<0.05）. Compared with the control group after treatment， there was no statistically significant difference in the improvement of ALT and AST levels in the observation group after two treatment courses， and the improvement of ALT and AST levels in the observation group was more obvious after four treatment courses （P<0.05）. Compared with those before treatment， APRI score and FIB-4 index level decreased in both groups after two and four treatment courses （P<0.05）. Compared with those in control group after treatment， there was no statistically significant difference in the improvement of APRI score and FIB-4 index level in the observation group after two treatment courses， and the APRI score in the observation group was more obvious after four treatment courses （P<0.05）， with no statistically significant improvement in the FIB-4 index difference. Compared with those before treatment， the levels of TCM syndrome scores decreased in both groups after two and four treatment courses （P<0.05）. Compared with that of the control group after treatment， there was no statistically significant difference in the improvement of the level of TCM syndrome scores in the observation group after two treatment courses， and the improvement of the level of TCM syndrome scores in the observation group was more obvious after four treatment courses （P<0.05）. Compared with those before treatment， the UWDRS-Ⅱ scores in both groups after two treatment courses were not improved obviously， and the UWDRS-Ⅱ scores in both groups decreased after four treatment courses （P<0.05）. Compared with those of the control group after treatment， there was no statistically significant difference in the improvement of the UWDRS-Ⅱ scores in the observation group after two treatment courses， and the improvement of the UWDRS-Ⅱ scores in the observation group after four treatment courses was more obvious （P<0.05）. Compared with those before treatment， the 24-h urine copper levels were significantly higher in both groups after two and four treatment courses （P<0.05）. Compared with those in the control group after treatment， the 24-h urine copper levels in the observation group were significantly higher after two and four treatment courses （P<0.01）. After two treatment courses， the 24-h urine copper level in the observation group showed a gradual decreasing trend， although it was higher than that before treatment. After four treatment courses， the control group had an improvement rate of 91.43%， an effective rate of 34.29%， and an apparent rate of 2.86%. The observation group had an improvement rate of 94.29%， an effective rate of 71.43%， and an apparent rate of 8.57%. The efficacy of the observation group was better than that of the control group （P<0.05）. Conclusion① The efficacy of GDFMD combined with DMPS therapy in patients with WD-related liver fibrosis of liver-kidney deficiency and phlegm-blood stasis syndrome is significantly better than that of single DMPS therapy， and the advantages of the combined therapy are more obvious with the prolongation of the treatment cycle. ② GDFMD combined with the DMPS therapy program in the long-term application exhibits no obvious adverse reactions with good safety， which is worthy of clinical popularization and application.

Objective To investigate the distribution characteristics of Oncomelania hupensis snails in Yunnan Province fol-lowing interruption of schistosomiasis transmission, so as to provide the evidence for assessing the risk of schistosomiasis transmission and scientifically formulating the schistosomiasis surveillance program. Methods According to the requirements of the National Schistosomiasis Surveillance Scheme (2020 Edition), O. hupensis snail surveillance data were collected from 18 schistosomiasis-endemic counties (cities, districts) in Yunnan Province from 2020 to 2024, including area of snail survey, area of snail habitats, area of re-emerging snail habitats, number of frames surveyed, number of frames with O. hupensis snails, number of O. hupensis snails captured, and number of living snails, and the occurrence of frames with snails and mean density of living snails were calculated. Changes in snail status over the 5-year period from 2020 to 2024 and the differences in snail distributions specified by epidemic intensity, environmental type, and vegetation type were analyzed. Results The areas of snail survey increased from 1 727.96 hm² in 2020 to 3 894.45 hm² in 2024 (peak) across 18 schistosomiasis-endemic counties (cities, districts) in Yunnan Province during the period from 2020 through 2024. The areas of snail habitats increased from 70.36 hm² in 2020 to a peak in 2023 (172.04 hm²), followed by a reduction to 132.36 hm² in 2024, and the areas of re-emerging snail habitats increased from 42.71 hm² in 2020 to a peak in 2022 (78.43 hm²), followed by a reduction to 40.21 hm² in 2024. The occurrence of frames with snails and mean density of living snails increased from 1.24% (3 025/244 404) and (0.033 2 ± 0.038 7) snails/0.1 m² in 2020 to peaks at 2.03% (6 231/307 563) and (0.066 9 ± 0.068 4) snails/0.1 m² in 2023, followed by reductions to 1.04% (5 829/559 941) and (0.032 6 ± 0.057 7) snails/0.1 m² in 2024, respectively. There was a significant difference in the occurrence of frames with snails over the 5-year study period (χ² = 1 962.95, P < 0.05), and the occurrence of frames with snails reduced by 48.71% in 2024 relative to in 2023 (χ² = 1 411.05, P < 0.005); however, there was no significant difference in the mean density of living snails over the 5 years (H = 5.310, P > 0.05). There were significant differences in the occurrence of frames with snails (χ² = 481.27, P < 0.05) and mean density of living snails (H = 6.872, P < 0.05) in schistosomiasis-endemic areas with different epidemic intensities. The occurrence of frames with snails (χ² = 25.32 and 38.70, both P values < 0.017) and mean density of living snails (Z = 28.55 and 49.96, both P values < 0.017) were higher in schistosomiasis transmission-interrupted and eliminated areas with snails than in schistosomiasis-eliminated areas without snails, and the occurrence of frames with snails (χ² = 453.54, P < 0.017) and mean density of living snails (Z = −56.97, P < 0.017) were higher in schistosomiasis-eliminated areas with snails than in schistosomiasis transmission-interrupted areas with snails. O. hupensis snails were mainly distributed in paddy fields, dry farmlands and ditches; however, the occurrence of frames with snails (13.40%, 424/3 164) and mean density of living snails [(0.252 8 ± 0.158 7) snails/0.1 m²] were higher in ponds/weirs than in other types of environments (both P values < 0.05). Rice, dry farmland crops and weeds were main vegetations in which O. hupensis snails were distributed, and the occurrence of frames with snails (2.29%, 7 111/310 140) and mean density of living snails [(0.072 3 ± 0.018 9) snails/0.1 m²] were higher in weeds than in other types of environments (both P values < 0.05). Conclusions O. hupensis snails have been effectively controlled in Yunnan Province following implementation of integrated schistosomiasis control measures; however, there are still risk factors for schistosomiasis transmission, including reduced attention to schistosomiasis control and snail re-emergence. Improved control efforts and surveillance system construction and timely identification of risk factors of snail status and timely management are recommended to ensure the achievement of the target of schistosomiasis elimination as scheduled.

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of blue laser vaporization in the treatment of large-volume (＞80 mL) benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 149 BPH patients with prostate volume＞80 mL who underwent blue laser vaporization at our hospital during Aug. 2023 and Aug. 2025. The 1-month postoperative maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) and international prostate symptom score (IPSS), operation time, postoperative hemoglobin drop, bladder irrigation volume, catheter indwelling time, and incidence of postoperative complications were recorded and analyzed. Results All operations were successfully completed, without conversion to other approaches. The operation time was (41.47±11.05) minutes, postoperative hemoglobin drop (2.78±1.19) g/L, bladder irrigation volume (9.97±1.49) bags, and catheter indwelling time (3.30±1.85) days. One month after surgery, the Qmax was significantly higher than the preoperative value [(20.19±3.39) mL/s vs. (2.39±2.17) mL/s], while the IPSS was significantly lower [(4.46±0.87) vs. (27.69±2.06)], with statistically significant differences (P＜0.001). Postoperative complications included 1 case of incontinence (0.67%), 2 cases of urethral stricture/bladder neck contracture (1.34%), and 1 case of secondary bleeding (0.67%), all of which improved with symptomatic treatment. Conclusion Blue laser vaporization is effective for treating large-volume BPH, with advantages such as minimal bleeding risk, short operation time, fast recovery and safety.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the mechanism of cinnamic acid (CA) for improving doxorubicin-induced myocardial injury (DIC) in mice. METHODS: Network pharmacology analysis was used to obtain the key targets of CA and DIC. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomized into Sham, DOX, CA (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg)+DOX, and CA+Ferrostatin-1+DOX groups, and their myocardial function and pathology were examined by echocardiography and HE staining. Serum levels of CK-MB, LDH, MDA, IL-6, TNF‑α and myocardial ROS level were detected, and the expression levels of TLR4 and ferroptosis pathway proteins in myocardial tissue were detected by Western blotting. Cultured murine cardiomyocytes (HL-1 cells) with or without transfection with a small interfering RNA targeting TLR4 (si-TLR4) were treated with DOX or Erastin, and the cellular ROS content was measured by DCFH-DA staining; the expression level of GPX4 was detected using immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: Network pharmacology analysis suggested that CA may improve DIC through TLR4 signaling. DOX treatment caused obvious myocardial injury in mice, which showed significantly increased serum levels of CK-MB, LDH, MDA, IL-6, TNF-α and myocardial ROS level with decreased myocardial levels of SLC7A11 and GPX4 proteins and increased levels of TLR4 and PTGS2 proteins. All these changes in the mouse models were significantly alleviated by treatment with CA, and the mice receiving CA or ferrostatin-1 treatment exhibited increased myocardial expressions of SLC7A11 and GPX4 proteins and lowered expressions of TLR4 and PTGS2 proteins. In cultured HL-1 cells, treatment with DOX and Erastin both obviously increased intracellular ROS level and decreased cellular GPX4 expression level, and these changes were strongly attenuated by TLR4 interference. CONCLUSIONS CA, as a potent herbal monomer, can effectively alleviate DIC in mice by inhibiting TLR4-mediated ferroptosis.
Animals ; Ferroptosis/drug effects* ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism* ; Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice ; Male ; Doxorubicin/adverse effects* ; Cinnamates/pharmacology* ; Signal Transduction ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism*

Oligodendrocyte lineage cells, including oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) and oligodendrocytes (OLs), are essential in establishing and maintaining brain circuits. Autophagy is a conserved process that keeps the quality of organelles and proteostasis. The role of autophagy in oligodendrocyte lineage cells remains unclear. The present study shows that autophagy is required to maintain the number of OPCs/OLs and myelin integrity during brain aging. Inactivation of autophagy in oligodendrocyte lineage cells increases the number of OPCs/OLs in the developing brain while exaggerating the loss of OPCs/OLs with brain aging. Inactivation of autophagy in oligodendrocyte lineage cells impairs the turnover of myelin basic protein (MBP). It causes MBP to accumulate in the cytoplasm as multimeric aggregates and fails to be incorporated into integral myelin, which is associated with attenuated endocytic recycling. Inactivation of autophagy in oligodendrocyte lineage cells impairs myelin integrity and causes demyelination. Thus, this study shows autophagy is required to maintain myelin quality during aging by controlling the turnover of myelin components.
Animals ; Autophagy/physiology* ; Oligodendroglia/metabolism* ; Myelin Sheath/physiology* ; Aging/pathology* ; Myelin Basic Protein/metabolism* ; Cell Lineage/physiology* ; Mice ; Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Brain/cytology* ; Cells, Cultured ; Cell Count

Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is an inherited disease caused by a deficiency of the enzyme arylsulfatase A (ARSA). Lentivirus-modified autologous hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy (HSCGT) has recently been approved for clinical use in pre and early symptomatic children with MLD to increase ARSA activity. Unfortunately, this advanced therapy is not available for most patients with MLD who have progressed to more advanced symptomatic stages at diagnosis. Patients with late-onset juvenile MLD typically present with a slower neurological progression of symptoms and represent a significant burden to the economy and healthcare system, whereas those with early onset infantile MLD die within a few years of symptom onset. We conducted a pilot study to determine the safety and benefit of HSCGT in patients with postsymptomatic juvenile MLD and report preliminary results. The safety profile of HSCGT was favorable in this long-term follow-up over 9 years. The most common adverse events (AEs) within 2 months of HSCGT were related to busulfan conditioning, and all AEs resolved. No HSCGT-related AEs and no evidence of distorted hematopoietic differentiation during long-term follow-up for up to 9.6 years. Importantly, to date, patients have maintained remarkably improved ARSA activity with a stable disease state, including increased Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score and decreased magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesion score. This long-term follow-up pilot study suggests that HSCGT is safe and provides clinical benefit to patients with postsymptomatic juvenile MLD.
Humans ; Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic/genetics* ; Pilot Projects ; Genetic Therapy/methods* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Male ; Follow-Up Studies ; Female ; Lentivirus/genetics* ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Cerebroside-Sulfatase/metabolism* ; Adolescent

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the predominant cause of subfertility in reproductive-aged women; however, its pathophysiology remains unknown. Neurotensin (NTS) is a member of the gut-brain peptide family and is involved in ovulation; its relationship with PCOS is unclear. Here, we found that NTS expression in ovarian granulosa cells and follicular fluids was markedly decreased in patients with PCOS. In the in vitro culture of cumulus-oocyte complexes, the neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1) antagonist SR48692 blocked cumulus expansion and oocyte meiotic maturation by inhibiting metabolic cooperation and damaging the mitochondrial structure in oocytes and surrounding cumulus cells. Furthermore, the ERK1/2-early growth response 1 pathway was found to be a key downstream mediator of NTS/NTSR1 in the ovulatory process. Animal studies showed that in vivo injection of SR48692 in mice reduced ovulation efficiency and contributed to irregular estrus cycles and polycystic ovary morphology. By contrast, NTS partially ameliorated the ovarian abnormalities in mice with dehydroepiandrosterone-induced PCOS. Our findings highlighted the critical role of NTS reduction and consequent abnormal NTSR1 signaling in the ovulatory dysfunction of PCOS, suggesting a potential strategy for PCOS treatment.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/physiopathology* ; Female ; Animals ; Neurotensin/metabolism* ; Receptors, Neurotensin/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Mice ; Ovulation/drug effects* ; Humans ; Granulosa Cells/metabolism* ; Adult ; Oocytes/metabolism* ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Signal Transduction ; Follicular Fluid/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone/analogs & derivatives*

The relationship between hyperuricemia (HUA) and erectile dysfunction (ED) remains inadequately understood. Given that HUA is often associated with various metabolic disorders, this study aims to explore the multivariate linear impacts of metabolic parameters on erectile function in ED patients with HUA. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted involving 514 ED patients with HUA in the Department of Andrology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine (Nanjing, China), aged 18 to 60 years. General demographic information, medical history, and laboratory results were collected to assess metabolic disturbances. Sexual function was evaluated using the 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire. Based on univariate analysis, variables associated with IIEF-5 scores were identified, and the correlations between them were evaluated. The effects of these variables on IIEF-5 scores were further explored by multiple linear regression models. Fasting plasma glucose ( β = -0.628, P < 0.001), uric acid ( β = -0.552, P < 0.001), triglycerides ( β = -0.088, P = 0.047), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( β = -0.164, P = 0.027), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c; β = -0.562, P = 0.012), and smoking history ( β = -0.074, P = 0.037) exhibited significant negative impacts on erectile function. The coefficient of determination ( R ²) for the model was 0.239, and the adjusted R ² was 0.230, indicating overall statistical significance ( F -statistic = 26.52, P < 0.001). Metabolic parameters play a crucial role in the development of ED. Maintaining normal metabolic indices may aid in the prevention and improvement of erectile function in ED patients with HUA.
Humans ; Male ; Erectile Dysfunction/metabolism* ; Hyperuricemia/metabolism* ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Glycated Hemoglobin/metabolism* ; Blood Glucose/metabolism* ; Uric Acid/blood* ; Young Adult ; Triglycerides/blood* ; Adolescent ; Cholesterol, LDL/blood* ; Penile Erection/physiology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires