Purpose: In this study, the neural communication patterns between hypothalamic structures and cortical areas in girls diagnosed with central precocious puberty (CPP) were explored. Endocrine profiles were incorporated to clarify the pathophysiological interactions between cerebral networks and hormonal regulation. The hypothalamus was designated as the key focus area for connectivity analysis. Methods: Fifty-seven girls (37 CPP, 20 non-CPP) were recruited from the Pediatric Development Clinic at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. The collected data included demographic information, gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulation tests, and magnetic resonance imaging scans. Hypothalamic functional connectivity (FC) was analyzed using predefined region of interest coordinates, and correlations between hormone levels and FC values were assessed. Results: Compared to the non-CPP group, the CPP group exhibited elevated baseline follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), baseline luteinizing hormone (LH), peak FSH, peak LH, and peak LH/FSH ratios. Patients with CPP exhibited enhanced neural synchronization linking the right lateral hypothalamic effector zone to the right superior frontal gyrus (displaying a borderline significant correlation with peak LH concentrations), concurrent with diminished functional coupling of the right lateral hypothalamic efferent to the right fusiform/supramarginal gyri. The left lateral hypothalamic projections demonstrated amplified connectivity with the right cuneus. No FC differences were observed in the medial hypothalamus. Conclusion Abnormal lateral hypothalamus FC patterns were identified in CPP girls and were particularly linked to peak LH levels. The findings offer novel insights into the neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying CPP.

Objective To investigate the general characteristics and treatment processes of patients with advanced esophageal cancer (EC) treated in county- or prefecture-level hospitals in high-incidence areas of EC in China. Methods In this retrospective observational study, electronic medical records of patients with advanced EC were collected from six medical centers in high-incidence areas. Eligible patients had advanced EC and whose first medical contact was documented between January 1, 2022, and June 1, 2024. Descriptive statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate patient characteristics and treatment plans. Results A total of 322 EC patients were included, of whom 230 were male (71.4%). The median age was 69 years. Among the 270 patients with available tumor diagnosis information, 264 patients (97.8%) presented with EC-specific symptoms. Of the 281 patients with pathological data, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was the predominant type, accounting for 254 cases (90.4%). Among 235 patients with information on the initial diagnostic method, 220 (93.6%) were diagnosed through endoscopy. A total of 216 patients (67.1%) with advanced disease progressed from early or locally advanced stages. Surgical treatment was performed in 126 patients (39.1%), of whom 123 (97.6%) achieved R0 resection, and 71 (56.3%) of them received perioperative treatment. Definitive chemoradiotherapy was administered to 116 patients (36.0%). The median disease-free survival for patients undergoing radical surgery was 13.9 months, while that for patients treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy was 10.6 months. At the advanced stage, lymph node metastasis was observed in 250 patients (77.6%), with mediastinal lymph node metastasis being the most common type. Organ metastasis occurred in 176 patients (54.7%), most frequently involving the lungs, liver, and bones. Most patients (79.8%, 229/287) were from the county or city where the hospoital was loacted, 77.9% (232/298) were covered by resident basic medical insurance, and 88.7% (274/309) of patients initiated advanced treatment at the participating hospitals. Conclusion This study reveals the unique epidemiological, clinical, and pathological characteristics of patients with EC in high-incidence areas of China. The results provide an important reference for further exploration of this disease and its management.

The research status and common methods of the Four Tantras are summarized by bibliographic methods.The"philosophy,biology,society,geography,psychology and medicine"model of Tibetan medicine inheritance innovation in the Four Tantras was used to explore the historical necessity of interdisciplinary integration of the Four Tantras.It combines the latest technology and methods at the forefront of systems science,philosophical science,psychological science,astronomy,biological science,geographic science,ecological science,medical science,as well as modern biotechnology and digital technology into the innovation of Tibetan medical heritage.It is also put forward the idea of multidisciplinary intersection and large integration research of the Four Tantras and Tibetan medicine,as well as a new paradigm of systematic Tibetan medicine research that reflects a systemic and holistic view.The culture,theoretical basis and scientific connotation of Tibetan medicine contained in the Four Tantras are preliminarily clarified,which provides basic ideas for the inheritance and innovation of Tibetan medicine.

The research status and common methods of the Four Tantras are summarized by bibliographic methods.The"philosophy,biology,society,geography,psychology and medicine"model of Tibetan medicine inheritance innovation in the Four Tantras was used to explore the historical necessity of interdisciplinary integration of the Four Tantras.It combines the latest technology and methods at the forefront of systems science,philosophical science,psychological science,astronomy,biological science,geographic science,ecological science,medical science,as well as modern biotechnology and digital technology into the innovation of Tibetan medical heritage.It is also put forward the idea of multidisciplinary intersection and large integration research of the Four Tantras and Tibetan medicine,as well as a new paradigm of systematic Tibetan medicine research that reflects a systemic and holistic view.The culture,theoretical basis and scientific connotation of Tibetan medicine contained in the Four Tantras are preliminarily clarified,which provides basic ideas for the inheritance and innovation of Tibetan medicine.

Objective:To investigate the effect of deubiquitinating enzymes(DUBs) USP2 on depressive-like behavior and hippocampal NF-κB expression in mice.Methods:(1) USP2 silencing experiment: Two USP2 silencing interference sequences with the highest knockdown efficiency were screened and cloned into a lentivirus vector. Mice were microinjected with lentivirus vector into both sides of hippocampus to silence the USP2 gene, and depressive behavior and USP2 protein expression in hippocampal tissue were observed. (2) Venlafaxine intervention experiment: total 32 healthy male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into virus control group, Venlafaxine group, USP2 silencing group, and USP2 silencing+ Venlafaxine group according to the random number table method, with 8 mice in each group. Mice were injected with lentivirus into both side of the hippocampus, and 7 days later, they were given intraperitoneal injection of Venlafaxine (5 mg/kg, once a day, for a total of 14 days). After the administration, the depressive behavior of mice was detected by forced swimming test(FST) and tail suspension test(TST), and the expression levels of USP2, p-IκBα, IκBα, p-NF-κB p65, and NF-κB p65 in the hippocampus of mice were detected by Western blot.SPSS 25.0 and GraphPad Prism 8.0 were used for data processing and chart drawing.The t-test was used for comparison between two groups, One-way ANOVA was used for comparison among multiple groups, and Tukey HSD or LSD- t was used for post hoc pairwise comparison when there was homogeneity of variance. Results:(1)The results of the USP2 silencing experiment showed that both screened USP2 silencing sequences had good gene knockout effects. The expression levels of USP2 protein in the hippocampus of mice injected with USP2 silencing virus were lower than those of the negative control virus groups (both P<0.05). The immobility time of mice in the FST and TST was higher than that of the negative control virus group (both P<0.05). (2)Venlafaxine intervention experiment: There were statistically significant differences in immobility time among the four groups of mice in the FST and TST ( F=8.90, 4.41, both P<0.05). The immobility time of FST and the immobility time of TST in the USP2 silencing+ Venlafaxine group ((48.13±12.76) s, (77.38±12.35) s) were lower than those in the USP2 silencing group((129.88±11.67)s, (148.29±15.31)s) (both P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the expression levels of USP2, p-IκBα, and p-NF-κB p65 proteins in the hippocampal tissues of the four groups of mice ( F=8.39, 5.78, 21.32, all P<0.05).The expression level of USP2 protein in the USP2 silencing group(0.49±0.07) was lower than that in the USP2 silencing+ Venlafaxine group(0.79±0.08) and virus control group(1.00±0.07)(both P<0.05), while the expression levels of p-IκBα, p-NF-κB p65 protein (1.63±0.18, 2.14±0.24) were higher than those in the virus control group (1.00±0.06, 1.00±0.04) and the USP2 silencing+ Venlafaxine group (0.70±0.23, 0.68±0.09) (both P<0.05). Conclusion:USP2 scilencing can induce depressive-like behaviors in mice. Venlafaxine ameliorates USP2 silencing-induced depressive-like behaviors, which may be associated with the hippocampal NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the current status of home medicine cabinet management and unmet needs for home-based pharmaceutical services among elderly hypertensive patients in Hubei Province,and to provide evidence for optimizing home pharmaceutical care models.Methods From July 2022 to March 2023,310 elderly hypertension patients across Hubei Province were enrolled.Pharmacists conducted home visits to administer structured questionnaires capturing demographics and blood pressure control rates,perform medication categorization and quality assessments of home medicine cabinets and document cabinet management issues in real-time.Results Among 290 valid questionnaires,binary logistic regression revealed better blood pressure control in non-working and non-smoking individuals.Medicine cabinet audits identified three critical issues:failure to separate Chinese and chemical medicines,duplicate medications with similar ingredients and missing original packaging.Post-intervention,all cabinets demonstrated proper medication categorization and storage compliance.Conclusions Significant medication safety hazards exist in elderly hypertensive patients'home medicine cabinets.Pharmacist-led home interventions effectively cleared substandard medications and improved medication safety.Future home pharmaceutical services should focus on optimizing cabinet management protocols,enhancing medication safety awareness and personalizing pharmaceutical care to ensure precise and effective home-based medication management.

Objective To investigate whether Dauricine(Dau)can ameliorate acute kidney injury induced by renal ischemia-reperfusion(IR)in mice.Methods C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to three experimental groups:sham operation,ischemia-reperfusion injury(IRI),and IRI treated with daunorubicin(IRI+Dau),with 12 animals in each group.Following oral administration of Dau(15 mg/kg),renal ischemia-reperfusion was induced,and blood and kidney tissue samples were collected 24 hours post-surgery.Histopathological changes were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining.Renal function was evaluated by measuring serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)levels.Protein expression related to lipid peroxidation was analyzed using western blotting and immunofluorescence.Inflammatory gene expression was determined via quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR).Nuclear translocation of nuclear factor κB(NF-κB),a key inflammatory marker,was assessed using immu-nofluorescence.Statistical comparisons between groups were performed using t-tests.Results The administration of Dau significantly ameliorated IR-induced acute kidney injury compared to the Sham group.Serum creatinine(P<0.001)and urea nitrogen(P<0.000 1)levels were markedly decreased in Dau-treated mice relative to those in the IRI group.Furthermore,Dau significantly suppressed lipid peroxide production in renal tissues(P<0.001),without significantly affecting the expression levels of Gpx4(P=0.919)and Acsl4(P=0.086),two key proteins involved in lipid peroxidation.In addition,Dau effectively inhibited IR-induced nuclear translocation of NF-κB(P<0.001)and reduced apoptosis in kidney cells(P=0.004).Conclusion Dau mitigates IR-induced kidney damage by reducing the accumulation of lipid peroxides and inhibiting the nuclear translocation of NF-κB,thereby attenuating inflammation and renal cell apoptosis.

Objective:To establish the quality standard of the standard decoction of wine-processed Coptidis Rhizoma by studying the extraction rate, fingerprint and component quantitative analysis.Methods:ccording to the Technical Requirements for Quality Control and Standard Formulation of Chinese Medicine Formula Granules, 15 batches of the standard decoction of wine-processed Coptidis Rhizoma were prepared, and the paste rate was determined; HPLC fingerprints of 15 batches of standard decoction of wine-processed Coptidis Rhizoma were established, and evaluated by combining similarity evaluation, clustering analysis, principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis; the contents of berberine, epiberberine, pamadine, and safranine in the samples of the 15 batches were determined and analyzed their transfer rates.Results:A total of 15 batches of standard decoction samples were calibrated with 11 common peaks, referring to the recognition of 8 components. The similarity between the samples and the control product was greater than 0.900; the clustering analysis could cluster the 15 batches of samples into 2 classes; the results of the principal component analysis showed that the cumulative variance contribution rate of the 3 principal component factors was 89.388%; the OPLS-DA screened out the 3 components of the quality difference; the 15 batches of samples out of the paste rate was 15.7% -20.8%, and the mass fractions of berberine, epiberberine, safranine, and palmatine were 18.47%-24.38%, 2.82%-3.49%, 5.08%-6.69%, and 4.84%-6.68%, respectively, with transfer rates of 41.7%-61.7%, 46.9%-68.7%, 39.8%-61.5%, and 43.8%-65.2%.Conclusion:The fingerprint and content determination method established in this study is accurate, stable, simple, and can be used for the quality control and evaluation of the standard decoction of wine-processed Coptidis Rhizoma.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the therapeutic effect of Ziwuliuzhu acupuncture in a rat model of insomnia and its regulatory effect on the glutamic acid (Glu)/γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-glutamine (Gln) metabolic loop. METHODS: Forty male SD rats were randomly assigned to control group, model group, Najia group and Nazi group (n=10). In the latter 3 groups, rat models of insomnia were established by intraperitoneal injections of p-chlorophenylalanine and verified using a sodium pentobarbital-induced sleep test. After modeling, the rats in Najia and Nazi groups received acupuncture for 7 days at specifically chosen sets of acupoints based on the Ziwuliuzhu rationale in traditional Chinese medicine. Pathological changes in the hypothalamic tissue of the rats were examined with HE staining, and the levels of Glu and GABA in the hypothalamus were determined with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-mass spectrometry (MS)/MS. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of GABAA receptors (GABAARs) in the hypothalamus, and the expression levels of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD65/67) and glutamine synthetase (GS) were determined with Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, the rats in Najia and Nazi groups exhibited decreased Glu levels and GABAA receptor expression and increased GABA levels with a decreased Glu/GABA ratio in the hypothalamus. Ziwuliuzhu acupuncture significantly increased the protein expressions of GAD65 and GAD67 and lowered the expression of GS in the hypothalamus in the rat models of insomnia. CONCLUSIONS Ziwuliuzhu acupuncture produces sedative and hypnotic effects in rat models of insomnia possibly by regulating Glu and GABA-Gln metabolism to restore the excitatory/inhibitory balance between Glu and GABA.
Animals ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Male ; Rats ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/metabolism* ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/therapy* ; Glutamine/metabolism* ; Glutamic Acid/metabolism* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Hypothalamus/metabolism* ; Receptors, GABA-A/metabolism* ; Acupuncture Points

Peri-implant keratinized mucosa (PIKM) augmentation refers to surgical procedures aimed at increasing the width of PIKM. Consensus reports emphasize the necessity of maintaining a minimum width of PIKM to ensure long-term peri-implant health. Currently, several surgical techniques have been validated for their effectiveness in increasing PIKM. However, the selection and application of PIKM augmentation methods may present challenges for dental practitioners due to heterogeneity in surgical techniques, variations in clinical scenarios, and anatomical differences. Therefore, clear guidelines and considerations for PIKM augmentation are needed. This expert consensus focuses on the commonly employed surgical techniques for PIKM augmentation and the factors influencing their selection at second-stage surgery. It aims to establish a standardized framework for assessing, planning, and executing PIKM augmentation procedures, with the goal of offering evidence-based guidance to enhance the predictability and success of PIKM augmentation.
Humans ; Consensus ; Dental Implants ; Mouth Mucosa/surgery* ; Keratins