Objective:To explore the relationship between intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and ulcerative colitis (UC).Methods:From December 2023 to June 2024, 85 patients with UC from the Gastroenterology Department of the Luquan branch of the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University were enrolled. The lactulose hydrogen-methane breath test was performed to assess the prevalence of SIBO. Clinical data, including basic information, clinical manifestations, endoscopic manifestations, inflammatory indicators, current medication regimen, and past medical history, were collected. Furthermore, the body mass index (BMI), modified Mayo score, and patient-reported outcome (PRO2) score were calculated to evaluate disease activity in each patient. The Student′s t-test, Chi-square test, non-parametric test, and multiple logistic regression were used to analyze the data and explore the relationship between SIBO and UC. Results:The incidence of abdominal pain and bloating in patients who were SIBO positive with UC was higher than in those who were SIBO negative [abdominal pain: 50.0%(10/20) vs. 23.1%(15/65), χ2=5.34, P=0.021; abdominal distension: 40.0% (8/20) vs. 13.8% (9/65), χ2=5.01, P=0.025]; the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Patients who were SIBO positive with UC were more likely to develop hypoproteinemia and anemia than those who were SIBO negative [hypoproteinemia: 50.0% (10/20) vs. 15.4% (10/65), χ2=8.35, P=0.004; anemia: 35.0% (7/20) vs. 9.2% (6/65), χ2=5.98, P=0.014]; the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). In the intestinal methanogen overgrowth (IMO) positive group, the number of patients with UC with 1-2 stool times/day was higher, and the distribution of stool times between the IMO positive and IMO negative groups was significantly different ( χ2=6.45, P=0.040). Furthermore, combined hypoproteinemia and anemia were risk factors for SIBO in patients with UC (hypoproteinemia OR=4.331, 95% CI 1.117-16.799, P=0.034; anemia OR=5.515, 95% CI 1.231-24.700, P=0.026). Conclusions:We observed a clinical overlap between SIBO and UC. SIBO could be targeted to optimize the treatment of patients with UC in the future.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of stellate ganglion block(SGB)combined with nicergoline in patients with dysphagia after stroke.Methods A total of 104 patients with dysphagia after stroke were randomly divided into the observation group and the control group.The observation group was treated with niergoline and SGB,while the control group received functional electrical stimulation.The total effective rate,swallowing condition,inflammatory factor level and adverse events were compared between the two groups.Results After treatment,the total effective rate was significantly higher in the observation group(92.31%)than that of the control group(73.08%,P＜0.05).The level of interleukin-6(IL-6),the standardized swallowing assessment(SSA)score and the level of tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α)were significantly lower in the observation group than those in the control group(P＜0.05).The Mann swallowing ability assessment scale(MASA)score was significantly higher in the observation group than that of the control group(P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in adverse reactions such as glottis closure and laryngeal spasm between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion The combined treatment of SGB and nicergoline can effectively improve swallowing function in patients with dysphagia after stroke,with good safety,ideal results and high clinical application value.

Aim To investigates whether sphingosine-1-phosphate(S1P)regulates the expression of mitochon-drial calcium uniporter(MCU)via the sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor/proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2(S1PR/Pyk2)sig-naling pathway,thereby reducing oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial damage and inhibiting mitochondria-related apopto-sis.Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVEC)were subjected to oxidative damage using hydrogen peroxide(H2O2)as a model.Different concentrations of S1P were applied to the oxidative damaged HUVEC.Addi-tionally,the S1PR1 agonist SEW2871,the S1PR1 inhibitor W146,and the Pyk2 inhibitor PF-562271 were used to explore the specific mechanism of S1P action.Results S1P treatment significantly alleviated oxidative damage in HUVEC and was accompanied by an increase in S1PR1 expression(P<0.05),while S1PR3 expression remained unchanged.Mean-while,the expression levels of Pyk2 and MCU decreased(P<0.05).SEW2871 further reduced mitochondrial damage,whereas W146 exacerbated it(P<0.05).Furthermore,the application of the Pyk2 inhibitor PF-562271 also reduced H2O2-induced mitochondrial damage(P<0.05),further confirming the role of Pyk2 in this process.Conclusion S1P reduces H2O2-induced mitochondrial damage and inhibits mitochondria-related apoptosis in HUVEC by suppressing Pyk2 expression via S1PR1.

Objective To investigate the association between cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)oligoclonal band(OCB)positivity and clinical manifestations in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder(NMOSD).Methods A retrospective analysis of clinical data from patients with NMOSD treated at our hospital from May 2019 to January 2024 was conducted.Based on OCB test results,patients were categorized into OCB-positive and OCB-negative groups.We compared baseline characteristics between the two groups and analyzed the relationship between clinical features and OCB positivity.Results This study included a total of 62 patients,comprising 17 in the OCB+group and 45 in the OCB-group.Compared with the OCB-group,patients in the OCB+group exhibited more pronounced central nervous system inflammatory features.Specifically,OCB+group had significantly higher proportions of patients with cerebrospinal fluid white blood cell counts>8×10?/L(64.7%vs.26.7%,P=0.003)and elevated immunoglobulin indices(0.72 vs.0.61,P=0.037).Additionally,the OCB+group exhibited more complex and diverse clinical presentations.Specifically,this group showed a higher incidence of mild consciousness impairment during the acute phase(P=0.005)and a greater tendency to present with multiple core symptoms(≥3 core symptoms)occurring concurrently(52.9%vs.20.0%,P=0.025)and misdiagnosis(29.4%vs.8.9%,P=0.101).This was particularly notable when comparing to acute myelitis involving the cervical spinal cord(82.4%vs.53.3%,P=0.036)and acute diencephalic syndrome[41.2%vs.6.7%,P=0.004,including hyponatremia(35.3%vs.8.9%,P=0.033)].Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that OCB positivity(OR=3.895,95%CI:1.065-14.249)was significantly associated with the presence of multiple core symptoms.Conclusion In acute-phase NMOSD patients,OCB+is associated with significantly higher rates of co-occurrence of multiple core symptoms(≥3 core symptoms)and misdiagnosis.Notably,acute myelitis involving the cervical spinal cord and acute diencephalic clinical syndrome are particularly prevalent in this OCB+subgroup.The clinical manifestations are complex and diverse,suggesting the need for enhanced clinical identification and timely intervention.

Aim To investigates whether sphingosine-1-phosphate(S1P)regulates the expression of mitochon-drial calcium uniporter(MCU)via the sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor/proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2(S1PR/Pyk2)sig-naling pathway,thereby reducing oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial damage and inhibiting mitochondria-related apopto-sis.Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVEC)were subjected to oxidative damage using hydrogen peroxide(H2O2)as a model.Different concentrations of S1P were applied to the oxidative damaged HUVEC.Addi-tionally,the S1PR1 agonist SEW2871,the S1PR1 inhibitor W146,and the Pyk2 inhibitor PF-562271 were used to explore the specific mechanism of S1P action.Results S1P treatment significantly alleviated oxidative damage in HUVEC and was accompanied by an increase in S1PR1 expression(P<0.05),while S1PR3 expression remained unchanged.Mean-while,the expression levels of Pyk2 and MCU decreased(P<0.05).SEW2871 further reduced mitochondrial damage,whereas W146 exacerbated it(P<0.05).Furthermore,the application of the Pyk2 inhibitor PF-562271 also reduced H2O2-induced mitochondrial damage(P<0.05),further confirming the role of Pyk2 in this process.Conclusion S1P reduces H2O2-induced mitochondrial damage and inhibits mitochondria-related apoptosis in HUVEC by suppressing Pyk2 expression via S1PR1.

Objective To investigate the association between cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)oligoclonal band(OCB)positivity and clinical manifestations in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder(NMOSD).Methods A retrospective analysis of clinical data from patients with NMOSD treated at our hospital from May 2019 to January 2024 was conducted.Based on OCB test results,patients were categorized into OCB-positive and OCB-negative groups.We compared baseline characteristics between the two groups and analyzed the relationship between clinical features and OCB positivity.Results This study included a total of 62 patients,comprising 17 in the OCB+group and 45 in the OCB-group.Compared with the OCB-group,patients in the OCB+group exhibited more pronounced central nervous system inflammatory features.Specifically,OCB+group had significantly higher proportions of patients with cerebrospinal fluid white blood cell counts>8×10?/L(64.7%vs.26.7%,P=0.003)and elevated immunoglobulin indices(0.72 vs.0.61,P=0.037).Additionally,the OCB+group exhibited more complex and diverse clinical presentations.Specifically,this group showed a higher incidence of mild consciousness impairment during the acute phase(P=0.005)and a greater tendency to present with multiple core symptoms(≥3 core symptoms)occurring concurrently(52.9%vs.20.0%,P=0.025)and misdiagnosis(29.4%vs.8.9%,P=0.101).This was particularly notable when comparing to acute myelitis involving the cervical spinal cord(82.4%vs.53.3%,P=0.036)and acute diencephalic syndrome[41.2%vs.6.7%,P=0.004,including hyponatremia(35.3%vs.8.9%,P=0.033)].Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that OCB positivity(OR=3.895,95%CI:1.065-14.249)was significantly associated with the presence of multiple core symptoms.Conclusion In acute-phase NMOSD patients,OCB+is associated with significantly higher rates of co-occurrence of multiple core symptoms(≥3 core symptoms)and misdiagnosis.Notably,acute myelitis involving the cervical spinal cord and acute diencephalic clinical syndrome are particularly prevalent in this OCB+subgroup.The clinical manifestations are complex and diverse,suggesting the need for enhanced clinical identification and timely intervention.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of stellate ganglion block(SGB)combined with nicergoline in patients with dysphagia after stroke.Methods A total of 104 patients with dysphagia after stroke were randomly divided into the observation group and the control group.The observation group was treated with niergoline and SGB,while the control group received functional electrical stimulation.The total effective rate,swallowing condition,inflammatory factor level and adverse events were compared between the two groups.Results After treatment,the total effective rate was significantly higher in the observation group(92.31%)than that of the control group(73.08%,P＜0.05).The level of interleukin-6(IL-6),the standardized swallowing assessment(SSA)score and the level of tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α)were significantly lower in the observation group than those in the control group(P＜0.05).The Mann swallowing ability assessment scale(MASA)score was significantly higher in the observation group than that of the control group(P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in adverse reactions such as glottis closure and laryngeal spasm between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion The combined treatment of SGB and nicergoline can effectively improve swallowing function in patients with dysphagia after stroke,with good safety,ideal results and high clinical application value.

Objective:To explore the relationship between intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and ulcerative colitis (UC).Methods:From December 2023 to June 2024, 85 patients with UC from the Gastroenterology Department of the Luquan branch of the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University were enrolled. The lactulose hydrogen-methane breath test was performed to assess the prevalence of SIBO. Clinical data, including basic information, clinical manifestations, endoscopic manifestations, inflammatory indicators, current medication regimen, and past medical history, were collected. Furthermore, the body mass index (BMI), modified Mayo score, and patient-reported outcome (PRO2) score were calculated to evaluate disease activity in each patient. The Student′s t-test, Chi-square test, non-parametric test, and multiple logistic regression were used to analyze the data and explore the relationship between SIBO and UC. Results:The incidence of abdominal pain and bloating in patients who were SIBO positive with UC was higher than in those who were SIBO negative [abdominal pain: 50.0%(10/20) vs. 23.1%(15/65), χ2=5.34, P=0.021; abdominal distension: 40.0% (8/20) vs. 13.8% (9/65), χ2=5.01, P=0.025]; the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Patients who were SIBO positive with UC were more likely to develop hypoproteinemia and anemia than those who were SIBO negative [hypoproteinemia: 50.0% (10/20) vs. 15.4% (10/65), χ2=8.35, P=0.004; anemia: 35.0% (7/20) vs. 9.2% (6/65), χ2=5.98, P=0.014]; the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). In the intestinal methanogen overgrowth (IMO) positive group, the number of patients with UC with 1-2 stool times/day was higher, and the distribution of stool times between the IMO positive and IMO negative groups was significantly different ( χ2=6.45, P=0.040). Furthermore, combined hypoproteinemia and anemia were risk factors for SIBO in patients with UC (hypoproteinemia OR=4.331, 95% CI 1.117-16.799, P=0.034; anemia OR=5.515, 95% CI 1.231-24.700, P=0.026). Conclusions:We observed a clinical overlap between SIBO and UC. SIBO could be targeted to optimize the treatment of patients with UC in the future.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of combining carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) with serum Galectin-3 (Gal-3) and Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) in patients with psoriasis complicated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods Thirty-eight patients with psoriasis complicated with CVD were included in CVD group, 51 patients with psoriasis alone were included in psoriasis group, and 60 healthy subjects were selected as control group. Clinical data were collected from each group. The cIMT was measured using carotid ultrasound, and serum Gal-3, PTX3, and inflammatory markers[high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)]were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the influencing factors of CVD in patients with psoriasis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum Gal-3, PTX3, and cIMT for CVD. Results The cIMT was greater in the CVD group and the psoriasis group than in the control group, and the CVD group was greater than the psoriasis group (P < 0.05). The serum levels of Gal-3, PTX3, hs-CRP, PCT, and TNF-α were higher in the CVD group and the psoriasis group than in the control group, and their levels were higher in the CVD group than in the psoriasis group (P < 0.05). The psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score was higher in the CVD group than in the psoriasis group (P < 0.05). Pearson's correlation analysis showed that cIMT, Gal-3, and PTX3 were separately positively correlated with hs-CRP, PCT, and TNF-α (P < 0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that PASI score, cIMT, Gal-3, PTX3, hs-CRP, and TNF-α were independent influencing factors for CVD in patients with psoriasis (OR=1.250, 1.451, 1.432, 1.365, 1.413, 1.465; P < 0.05). The diagnostic model based on cIMT combined with serum Gal-3 and PTX3 had higher diagnostic value for CVD in patients with psoriasis than single diagnosis. The area under the curve was 0.922, with sensitivity and specificity of 0.91 and 0.85, respectively. Conclusion The cIMT, serum Gal-3, and serum PTX3 are independent influencing factors for CVD in patients with psoriasis. The combination of the three indicators has higher diagnostic value for CVD in patients with psoriasis.

Objective To investigate the effect of Danshen Baoxin Cha (DBC) on a rat model of coronary heart disease combined with cognitive impairment. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were randomly assigned to two groups:normal group and model group. Streptozotocin was injected into the bilateral ventricles of rats in the model group to establish cognitive impairment model,then isoproterenol hydrochloride was injected subcutaneously to model myocardial ischemia. Behavioral experiments were conducted to verify the success of the model of cognitive dysfunction. The rats of the model group were randomly divided into five groups:model control group,Tongxinluo Capsule group (TXL group,1.6 g·kg-1),and low-(4 g·kg-1),medium-(8 g·kg-1),and high-(16 g·kg-1) dose DBC groups. These groups were received the respective treatments continuously for two weeks. Subsequently,the Y-maze,novel object recognition and Morris water maze experiment were employed to assess the learning and memory abilities of rats. A kit was utilized to quantify the level of oxidative stress in the brain and the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content in the brain and mitochondria. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Nissl staining were employed to observe the pathological changes of neurons in hippocampus CA1 region. Electron microscopy was utilized to observe the pathological changes of mitochondria in hippocampal CA1 region. The expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α(PGC-1α),glucose transporter type 4(GLUT4),and optic atrophy 1(OPA1) were quantified by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR),and the expression of proteins related to the AMPK/OPA1 signaling pathway was determined by Western Blot analysis. Results Compared with the normal group,the spontaneous alternating reaction rate,the novel object recognition index,number of crossing the original platform,and distance ratio in the model group were obviously decreased (P<0.01). Neuronal density in the CA1 region of the hippocampus was decreased,Nissl bodies were decreased,and nucleus consolidation was increased. The ATP level in mitochondria,and the levels of ATP,SOD,and GSH-PX in brain were significantly decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01),as well as the content of ROS and MDA were significantly increased (P<0.05,P<0.01). The mitochondria of hippocampus in CA1 region were swollen,with sparse and vacuolated cristae. The mRNA expression levels of GLUT4,PGC-1α,and OPA1 were significantly decreased (P<0.01). The protein expression levels of GLUT4,SIRT1,PGC-1α and OPA1,and p-AMPK/AMPK ratio were significantly decreased (P<0.05,P<0.01). Compared with the model group,the behavioral indexes of rats in the DBC groups were significantly improved (P<0.05,P<0.01),the number of neurons in the hippocampal CA1 area,Nissl bodies and nucleus consolidation were improved. The ATP level in mitochondria and the levels of ATP,SOD,and GSH-PX in brain were significantly increased (P<0.05,P<0.01). The levels of ROS and MDA were significantly decreased (P<0.05,P<0.01). The structure of mitochondrial cristae in hippocampal CA1 region were relatively intact. The mRNA expression levels of GLUT4,PGC-1α and OPA1 were increased (P<0.05,P<0.01),and the expression of proteins related to the AMPK/OPA1 signaling pathway was significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01). Conclusion DBC can enhance learning and memory abilities,reduce neuronal damage in a rat model of coronary heart disease combined with cognitive impairment. The mechanism may be related to the reduction of oxidative stress damage in the brain,the activation of the AMPK/OPA1 signaling pathway,and the restoration of energy levels.