Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics,distribution of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome types,and the anxiety and depression status in patients with colorectal polyps.Methods From January 2022 to December 2023,a total of 200 cases of patients with colorectal polyps(polyp group)and 100 patients without intestinal abnormalities(non-polyp group)under colonoscope who received colonoscopy or treatment at the Endoscopy Center of Dongguan Hospital,Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine were enrolled.The relevant medical information of the patients in the two groups were collected,and then TCM syndrome differentiation of patients with colorectal polyps were carried out,the general infromation including gender,age,body mass index(BMI),smoking history and alcohol-intake history was recorded,and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HAD)score was calculated for assessing their anxiety and depression status.Results(1)The investigation of clinical characteristics showed that between the polyp group and the non-polyp group,the differences in the general information of gender,age,BMI,smoking history and alcohol-intake history were statistically significant(P<0.05 or P<0.01).As for the gender,the polyp group was predominated by the male(63.5%),while the non-polyp group was predominated by the female(58.0%),indicating that male patients were more likely to suffer from colorectal polyps.In terms of the age,the age group of 51-60 years old accounted for a higher percentage(36.0%)in the polyp group,while the age group of 41-50 years old accounted for a higher percentage(38.0%)in the non-polyp group,indicating that the polyp group had an elder average age than the non-polyp group.In addition,the percentages of patients with obesity(BMI≥28.0 kg/m2),smoking history,and alcohol-intake history in the polyp group were higher than those in the non-polyp group.(2)The analysis of features of colorectal polyps showed that the polyps were mostly seen in the left colon,accounting for 53.5%in the polyp group;adenomatous polyps accounted for 57.0%of all polyps;the size of colorectal polyps was usually less than one centimeter,accounting for 81.5%of all polyps;single colorectal polyps accounted for 45.5%,and multiple colorectal polyps accounted for 54.5%,indicating that colorectal polyps were usually multiple.(3)Among the 200 patients with colorectal polyps,there were 93 cases of syndrome of stagnation dampness due to spleen deficiency(46.5%),59 cases of dampness-heat in large intestine syndrome(29.5%),27 cases of liver depression and qi stagnation syndrome(13.5%),and 21 cases of dampness and blood stasis obstruction syndrome(10.5%).There were no statistically significant differences in the distribution of TCM syndrome types among colorectal polyp patients with different genders,ages,BMIs and alcohol consumption(P>0.05).The difference in the distribution of TCM syndrome types among colorectal polyp patients with or without smoking history was statistically significant(P<0.05).No statistically significant differences were shown in the distribution of TCM syndrome types among the colorectal polyp patients with various foci,number of polyps,and pathological types(P>0.05).The difference in the distribution of TCM syndrome types in colorectal polyp patients with different polyp sizes was statistically significant(P<0.05).In the patients with the polyp size0.05).In addition,the differences of anxiety scores and depression scores in the patients with various TCM syndrome types were not statistically significant(P>0.05).Conclusion(1)The distribution of TCM syndrome types of colorectal polyps is predominated by the syndrome of stagnation dampness due to spleen deficiency and dampness-heat in large intestine syndrome.The distribution of TCM syndrome types has no correlation with anxiety and depression,and the polyp foci,number of polyps,and pathological types of polyps,but has certain correlation with the size of the polyps.(2)Anxiety and depression may be the risk factors for colorectal polyps,but the polyp foci,number of polyps,and pathological types of polyps have no correlation with anxiety and depression,and the size of polyps may have certain correlation with anxiety.(3)Gender,age,smoking history and alcohol-intake history may be the risk factors for colorectal polyps.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of hyperuricemia among ethnic groups in Gongshan county,Yunnan province through a cross-sectional study.Methods A total of 229 residents aged ≥ 18 years from Dulong,Nu,Tibetan,Bai and Lisu ethnic groups were randomly selected in Gongshan County of Yunnan Province for questionnaire survey,physical examinations and laboratory tests.SPSS 22.0 was used for t test,Chi-square test,correlation analysis,and multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results A total of 107 cases of hyperuricemia were identified,with a detection rate of 46.7％,among which the prevalence was 43.9％in males,52.63％in female,48％in the Dulong,51％in the Lisu,47％in the Nu,37.5％in the Bai,52％in the Tibetan and 50％in the Han.There were no statistically significant differences in prevalence among all nationalities(P＞0.05).The proportion of individuals with a history of diabetes,as well as levels of urea nitrogen and serum creatinine,were significantly higher in the hyperuricemia group compared to the non-hyperuricemia group(P＜0.05).Correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between hyperuricemia and diabetes,urea nitrogen and serum creatinine.(P＜0.05).Multivariate regression analysis showed that diabetes and elevated serum creatinine were independent risk factors for the onset of hyperuricemia(P＜0.05).Conclusion The detection rate of hyperuricemia is relatively high in Gongshan County,Yunnan Province,and there is no significant differences in prevalence among ethnic groups.Diabetes and elevated serum creatinine are associated with hyperuricemia,which increase the risk of developing hyperuricemia.

Cold tumors have a poor response to tumor immunotherapy due to low immune cell infiltration and the ability to evade immune attacks. Converting cold tumors into hot tumors can enhance the clinical effectiveness of anti-tumor immunotherapy. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) as a non-invasive treatment can damage tumors through mechanical effects, but there is a lack of research on its cytotoxic mechanisms at the cellular level and its role in inducing anti-immune responses. In this study, the role of HIFU in triggering tumor ferroptosis by disrupting the GSH/GSSG balance through mechanochemical action and the associated anti-tumor immune priming effect were investigated. The use of a nano-enhancer loaded with PFOB combined with HIFU could enhance ferroptosis in triple-negative breast cancer at a specific stage of tumor growth (UTGR = 0) while promoting the conversion of a cold tumor into a hot tumor, thereby improving the immune response. Overall, this provides valuable guidance for the clinical application of HIFU in tumor immunotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and analgesic effects of Yinqiao Powder (YQS) formulated granules and decoction. METHODS: We first evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of the two dosage forms of YQS in a LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cell model using RT-qPCR and Western blotting. We further constructed zebrafish models of inflammation by copper sulfate exposure, caudal fin transection, or LPS and Poly (I:C) microinjection, and evaluated anti-inflammatory effects of YQS granules and decoction by examining neutrophil aggregation and HE staining findings. In a mouse model of acute lung injury (ALI) induced by intratracheal LPS instillation, the effects of YQS gavage at 10, 15, and 20 g/kg on lung pathologies were evaluated by calculating lung wet-dry weight ratio and using HE staining, ELISA and Western blotting. The microbroth dilution method was used to evaluate the antibacterial effect of YQS. Mouse pain models established by hot plate and intraperitoneal injection of glacial acetic acid were used to evaluate the analgesic effects of YQS at 10, 15, and 20 g/kg. RESULTS: Both YQS granules and decoction significantly reduced TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β expressions and p-STAT3 (Tyr 705) phosphorylation level in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells, and obviously inhibited neutrophil aggregation in the zebrafish models. In ALI mice, YQS granules and decoction effectively ameliorated lung injury, lowered lung wet-dry weight ratio, and reduced p-STAT3 (Tyr 705) expression and TNF-α and IL-6 levels. YQS produced obvious antibacterial effect at the doses of 15.63 and 31.25 mg/mL, and significantly reduced body torsion and increased pain threshold in the mouse pain models. CONCLUSIONS The two dosage forms of TQS have similar anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and analgesic effects with only differences in their inhibitory effect on TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β mRNA expressions in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells.
Animals ; Mice ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology* ; Analgesics/pharmacology* ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Zebrafish ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology* ; Powders ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Acute Lung Injury/drug therapy* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Lipopolysaccharides

Objective:To understand the status of frailty among elderly inpatients,analyze its influencing factors,and explore the relationship of frailty with sarcopenia,and subjective social isolation in elderly inpatients.Methods:A total of 518 elderly inpatients from a tertiary hospital in Wuhu were selected as the research subjects.General information questionnaire,Frail Scale,SARC-F Scale,and Subjective Social Isolation Scale were used for investigation.Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors of frailty among elderly inpatients.Results:The incidence of frailty in 518 elderly inpatients was 52.5%(272/518).Logistic regression analysis revealed that recent falls(OR=3.458,95%CI:1.454-8.229),sarcopenia(OR=5.622,95%CI:2.494-12.677),subjective social isolation(OR=181.165,95%CI:57.307-572.721),polypharmacy(OR=2.409,95%CI:1.336-4.346),and 80-89 years old(OR=8.982,95%CI:0.640-2.357)were risk factors for frailty in elderly inpatients(P＜0.05).Conclusions:The prevalence of frailty is high among elderly inpatients.Healthcare professionals should pay attention to the assessment of frailty in elderly inpatients,and promptly implement targeted interventions to slow down or prevent the progression of frailty.

Background::Although overnight fasting is recommended prior to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), the benefits and safety of high-carbohydrate fluid diet (CFD) intake 2 h before ERCP remain unclear. This study aimed to analyze whether high-CFD intake 2 h before ERCP can be safe and accelerate patients’ recovery.Methods::This prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial involved 15 tertiary ERCP centers. A total of 1330 patients were randomized into CFD group ( n = 665) and fasting group ( n = 665). The CFD group received 400 mL of maltodextrin orally 2 h before ERCP, while the control group abstained from food/water overnight (>6 h) before ERCP. All ERCP procedures were performed using deep sedation with intravenous propofol. The investigators were blinded but not the patients. The primary outcomes included postoperative fatigue and abdominal pain score, and the secondary outcomes included complications and changes in metabolic indicators. The outcomes were analyzed according to a modified intention-to-treat principle. Results::The post-ERCP fatigue scores were significantly lower at 4 h (4.1 ± 2.6 vs. 4.8 ± 2.8, t = 4.23, P <0.001) and 20 h (2.4 ± 2.1 vs. 3.4 ± 2.4, t= 7.94, P <0.001) in the CFD group, with least-squares mean differences of 0.48 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.26–0.71, P <0.001) and 0.76 (95% CI: 0.57–0.95, P <0.001), respectively. The 4-h pain scores (2.1 ± 1.7 vs. 2.2 ± 1.7, t = 2.60, P = 0.009, with a least-squares mean difference of 0.21 [95% CI: 0.05–0.37]) and positive urine ketone levels (7.7% [39/509] vs. 15.4% [82/533], χ2 = 15.13, P <0.001) were lower in the CFD group. The CFD group had significantly less cholangitis (2.1% [13/634] vs. 4.0% [26/658], χ2 = 3.99, P = 0.046) but not pancreatitis (5.5% [35/634] vs. 6.5% [43/658], χ2 = 0.59, P = 0.444). Subgroup analysis revealed that CFD reduced the incidence of complications in patients with native papilla (odds ratio [OR]: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.39–0.95, P = 0.028) in the multivariable models. Conclusion::Ingesting 400 mL of CFD 2 h before ERCP is safe, with a reduction in post-ERCP fatigue, abdominal pain, and cholangitis during recovery.Trail Registration::ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT03075280.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of imatinib on the endotoxemia-induced acute lung injury in mice.Methods:Sixty SPF male, 8-12 weeks, C57BL/6 mice were randomly (random) divided into 4 groups ( n=15 each): control group (group C), imatinib group (groupⅠ), endotoxemia group (group LPS) and imatinib + endotoxemia group (group I+LPS). The endotoxemia model of acute lung injury was established. After 24 hours, the mice were sacrificed. The pathological changes of lung tissues were evaluated, the lung injury scores were calculated, and the wet/dry ratios of lung tissues were measured. ELISA was used to detect the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in serum. Detection kits were used to analyze the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the ratio of reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) in lung tissues; The expression levels of phosphorylated nuclear factor-kappa B (p-NF-κB), nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in lung tissues were analyzed by western blotting. Results:Compared with the group C, the wet/dry (W/D) ratio of lungs [(3.47±0.41) vs. (5.58±0.47)], lung injury scores [(1.25±0.89) vs. (10.25±1.75)], and the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in serum increased in the group LPS ( P<0.05). The levels of SOD, CAT, GSH and GSH/GSSG decreased, the level of MDA increased, and the expression of p-NF-κB, Nrf2 and HO-1 protein up-regulated ( P<0.05). Compared with the LPS group, the W/D ratio of lungs [(5.58±0.47) vs.(4.62±0.38)] and lung injury scores [(10.25±1.75) vs. (7.00±1.31)] in the I+LPS group decreased ( P<0.05), and the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the serum decreased ( P<0.05). In lung tissues, the levels of SOD, CAT, GSH and GSH/GSSG increased (all P<0.05), the level of MDA decreased (all P<0.05), the expression of p-NF-κB protein decreased, and the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 protein increased ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Imatinib improves sepsis-induced acute lung injury in mice, and the mechanism of actions behind may be related to the inhibition of oxidative stress.

Objective:To examine the associations of BMI and waist circumference (WC) with the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its subtypes in adults in China.Methods:The data from the China Kadoorie Biobank were used. After excluding those with cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke, or CKD at baseline survey, 480 430 participants were included in this study. Their body height and weight, and WC were measured at baseline survey. Total CKD was defined as diabetic kidney disease (DKD), hypertensive nephropathy (HTN), glomerulonephritis (GN), chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis (CTIN), obstructive nephropathy (ON), CKD due to other causes, and chronic kidney failure. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate the associations between exposure factors and risks of outcomes.Results:During a follow-up period of (11.8±2.2) years, 5 486 cases of total CKD were identified, including 1 147 cases of DKD, 340 cases of HTN, 1 458 cases of GN, 460 cases of CTIN, 598 cases of ON, 418 cases of CKD due to other causes, and 1 065 cases of chronic kidney failure. After adjusting for socio-demographic factors, lifestyle factors, baseline prevalence of hypertension and diabetes, and WC and compared to participants with normal BMI (18.5-23.9 kg/m 2), the hazard ratios ( HRs) of total CKD for underweight (<18.5 kg/m 2), overweight (24.0-27.9 kg/m 2), and obese (≥28.0 kg/m 2) were 1.42 (95% CI: 1.23-1.63), 1.00 (95% CI: 0.93-1.08) and 0.98 (95% CI: 0.87-1.10), respectively. Stratification analysis by WC showed that BMI was negatively associated with risk for total CKD in non-central obese participants (WC: <85.0 cm in men and <80.0 cm in women) ( HR=0.97, 95% CI: 0.96-0.99), while the association was positive in central obese participants (≥90.0 cm in men and ≥85.0 cm in women) ( HR=1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.05). The association between BMI and GN was similar to that of total CKD. BMI was associated with an increased risk for HTN, with a HR of 1.12 (95% CI: 1.06-1.18) per 1.0 kg/m 2 higher BMI. After adjusting for potential confounders and BMI, compared to participants with non-central obesity, the HRs for pre-central obesity (WC: 85.0-89.9 cm in men and 80.0-84.9 in women) and central obesity were 1.26 (95% CI: 1.16-1.36) and 1.32 (95% CI: 1.20-1.45), respectively. With the exception of HTN and CTIN, WC was positively associated with risks for all CKD subtypes. Conclusions:BMI-defined underweight and central obesity were independent risk factors for total CKD, and BMI and WC had different associations with risks for disease subtypes.

Natural compounds demonstrate unique therapeutic advantages for cancer treatment, primarily through direct tumor suppression or interference with the tumor microenvironment (TME). Glycyrrhizic acid (GL), a bioactive ingredient derived from the medicinal herb Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., and its sapogenin glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), have been recognized for their ability to inhibit angiogenesis and remodel the TME. Consequently, the combination of GL with other therapeutic agents offers superior therapeutic benefits. Given GL's amphiphilic structure, self-assembly capability, and liver cancer targeting capacity, various GL-based nanoscale drug delivery systems have been developed. These GL-based nanosystems exhibit angiogenesis suppression and TME regulation properties, synergistically enhancing anti-cancer effects. This review summarizes recent advances in GL-based nanosystems, including polymer-drug micelles, drug-drug assembly nanoparticles (NPs), liposomes, and nanogels, for cancer treatment and tumor postoperative care, providing new insights into the anti-cancer potential of natural compounds. Additionally, the review discusses existing challenges and future perspectives for translating GL-based nanosystems from bench to bedside.
Animals ; Humans ; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Glycyrrhizic Acid/therapeutic use* ; Liposomes/chemistry* ; Micelles ; Nanoparticles/chemistry* ; Neoplasms/pathology* ; Tumor Microenvironment/drug effects* ; Nanoparticle Drug Delivery System/therapeutic use*