OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid （ω-3PUFA） combined with clomiphene on clinical efficacy， pregnancy and safety in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome （PCOS）. METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 112 PCOS patients who received treatment in Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Hunan Prevention and Treatment Institute for Occupational Diseases from January 2022 to December 2023. According to the different treatment regimens， the patients were divided into single-drug group （60 cases） and drug-combination group （52 cases）. Single-drug group was given clomiphene orally， and drug-combination group was given clomiphene+ω-3PUFA. Clinical efficacy， pregnancy status and the occurrence of adverse drug reaction （ADR） as well as ovarian function and oxidative stress indexes before and after treatment were compared between 2 groups. RESULTS The overall response rate （90.38% vs. 71.67%）， ovulation rate （84.62% vs. 61.67%）， and pregnancy rate （51.92% vs. 26.67%） were all markedly higher in drug combination group than single drug group （ P ＜0.05）. Before treatment， there was no statistical significance in ovarian function and oxidative stress indexes between 2 groups （ P ＞0.05）. Compared with before treatment， serum anti-Müllerian hormone levels， inhibin B concentr ations， and the number of cystic follicles in 2 groups were decreased significantly after 12 weeks of treatment （ P ＜0.05）. The endometrial thickness increased significantly （ P ＜0.05）， while the serum levels of malondialdehyde and advanced oxidation protein products decreased significantly （ P ＜0.05）； the activities of serum superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase increased significantly （ P ＜0.05）； the improvement of drug combination group was significantly better than single drug group （ P ＜0.05）. The ovarian volumes in both groups were significantly smaller after treatment compared to before treatment （ P ＜0.05）， but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups （ P ＞0.05）. There was no significant difference in the overall incidence of ADR between the two groups during the treatment （ P ＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS The combination of ω-3PUFA and clomiphene has a definite therapeutic effect on PCOS， which can effectively reduce the body’s oxidative stress response， improve ovarian function， and increase ovulation and pregnancy rates.

Brain’s neural activities encompass both periodic rhythmic oscillations and aperiodic neural fluctuations. Rhythmic oscillations manifest as spectral peaks of neural signals, directly reflecting the synchronized activities of neural populations and closely tied to cognitive and behavioral states. In contrast, aperiodic fluctuations exhibit a power-law decaying spectral trend, revealing the multiscale dynamics of brain neural activity. In recent years, researchers have made notable progress in studying brain aperiodic dynamics. These studies demonstrate that aperiodic activity holds significant physiological relevance, correlating with various physiological states such as external stimuli, drug induction, sleep states, and aging. Aperiodic activity serves as a reflection of the brain’s sensory capacity, consciousness level, and cognitive ability. In clinical research, the aperiodic exponent has emerged as a significant potential biomarker, capable of reflecting the progression and trends of brain diseases while being intricately intertwined with the excitation-inhibition balance of neural system. The physiological mechanisms underlying aperiodic dynamics span multiple neural scales, with activities at the levels of individual neurons, neuronal ensembles, and neural networks collectively influencing the frequency, oscillatory patterns, and spatiotemporal characteristics of aperiodic signals. Aperiodic dynamics currently boasts broad application prospects. It not only provides a novel perspective for investigating brain neural dynamics but also holds immense potential as a neural marker in neuromodulation or brain-computer interface technologies. This paper summarizes methods for extracting characteristic parameters of aperiodic activity, analyzes its physiological relevance and potential as a biomarker in brain diseases, summarizes its physiological mechanisms, and based on these findings, elaborates on the research prospects of aperiodic dynamics.

Geriatric oral health care encounters significant challenges with the increase in the proportion of older individuals. Age-related changes in the dentition, muscles, and joints result in a decline in objective masticatory function, subjective restoration requirements, and acceptability among the elderly population, with individual variations influenced by systemic health. Considering functional requirements, the adaptability of stomatognathic and systemic health conditions, health economics and other factors, the authors believe that it should not be limited to the conventional "one-to-one" strategy for replacing missing teeth in geriatric prosthodontics. There is an urgent need for a precise and adaptable restoration strategy that is more suitable for older individuals. The proposal of a new concept of functional tooth loss updates the minimal restoration standards for elderly patients and establishes the theory of age-friendly functional restoration. Based on the restoration strategy of functional tooth loss, this paper proposes a new concept termed "age-friendly functional restoration of the stomatognathic system", which integrates treatment considerations including endodontics, periodontology, mucosa, muscles, temporomandibular joint, and systemic health. Efforts should be made in four areas as follows. Firstly, the "assessment of accessible function" should be enhanced by considering the interrelationship between stomatognathic and systemic health. Secondly, the "evaluation of appropriate function" is supposed to be optimised in view of subjective needs and objective evaluation of the stomatognathic system. Moreover, the "formulation of treatment plans" needs to be accomplished with the aid of assistive technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to accurately exert appropriate functional restoration. Lastly, the "management and maintenance of health" is likely to be strengthened through follow-ups, propaganda and education, and preventive healthcare, so as to improve quality of life and ultimately achieve healthy ageing among older individuals.
Humans ; Tooth Loss/therapy* ; Aged ; Stomatognathic System ; Oral Health ; Dental Care for Aged ; Dental Restoration, Permanent/methods*

Objective:To investigate the association between serum IgG concentration and renal prognosis in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN).Methods:It was a multi-center retrospective cohort study, patients with biopsy proven primary IgAN who were recorded in the Chinese IgA Nephropathy Information Registration System between April 1996 and September 2018 were included. Exclusion criteria were: (1) age <18 years; (2) <8 glomeruli in biopsy specimens; (3) estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <15 ml·min -1·(1.73 m 2) -1 at biopsy; (4) missing baseline serum IgG values; (5) incomplete follow-up data; (6) follow-up duration <12 months. Enrolled patients were divided into 3 groups according to the baseline tertiles of serum IgG: ≤9.50 g/L (G1 group), 9.51-11.99 g/L (G2 group), and ≥12.00 g/L (G3 group). Clinical, and pathological parameters were compared across groups. The endpoint events were defined as doubled serum creatinine level from baseline, or end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Results:A total of 1 976 IgAN patients were included in this study, 631 were in G1 group, 664 in G2 group, and 681 in G3 group. The comparison of baseline clinical data showed that there were statistically significant differences among the three groups in terms of gender, age, microscopic hematuria, edema, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, hemoglobin, serum creatinine, eGFR, 24-hour urine protein quantity, blood uric acid, blood albumin, serum IgA, serum IgM, the proportion of using immunosuppressants, and the proportion of using glucocorticoids (all P<0.05). In terms of pathology, the higher the serum IgG concentration, the relatively less severe the overall renal pathological damage. The results of univariate Cox regression analysis showed that gender, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, hemoglobin, serum creatinine, eGFR, 24-hour urine protein quantity, total protein, serum albumin, globulin, serum IgG, Oxford renal pathological classification, glomerular sclerosis ratio, and glomerular IgM deposition were all associated with the occurrence of renal endpoint events (all P<0.05). Based on clinical practice and previous studies, after adjusting for gender, age, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, eGFR, 24-hour urine protein quantity, body mass index, Oxford renal pathological classification, glomerular sclerosis ratio, and the use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors, glucocorticoids, and immunosuppressants, multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that as a continuous variable, the baseline serum IgG level ( HR=0.91, 95% CI 0.87-0.96) was independently associated with the risk of renal endpoint events in IgAN patients; as a categorical variable, with serum IgG ≤ 9.50 g/L as the reference, serum IgG 9.51-11.99 g/L and serum IgG ≥ 12.00 g/L were independent factors for the occurrence of renal endpoint events in IgAN patients ( HR=0.69, 95% CI 0.49-0.96, P=0.027; HR=0.50, 95% CI 0.34-0.74, P<0.001). During a median follow-up of 33(21, 53) months started from the date of renal biopsy and continued until December 31, 2019, the median follow-up duration was 33 (21, 53) months, and a total of 232 patients (11.74%) reached the composite endpoint. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the higher the serum IgG concentration in patients with IgAN, the higher their cumulative renal survival rate (Log-rank test, χ2=47.176, P<0.001). Conclusion:The higher level of serum IgG at diagnosis is associated with better clinicopathologic features and renal outcomes, and may portend better renal survival in IgAN patients.

Infiltration of a large number of inflammatory cells in the synovial tissue of rheumatoid arthritis(RA)promotes vascu-lar neovascularisation and the formation of aggressive pannus,which ultimately lead to bone erosion and cartilage destruction,causing irreversible damage to the joints.Numerous studies have demonstrated the role of proangiogenic factors such as growth factors,adhesion factors,angiopoietin 2,matrix metalloproteinas-es,and macrophage migration inhibitory factors in stimulating vascular opacification formation during RA progression.In re-cent years,a variety of traditional Chinese medicines have dem-onstrated inhibitory effects on the formation of pannus.In this paper,we elucidate the mechanism of pro-angiogenic factors in RA and review the latest research results on traditional Chinese medicines that inhibit the formation of pannus through the above mechanisms,so as to provide more research ideas for the treat-ment of RA.

Objective:To develop a treatment-related quality of life scale for Chinese patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and to test its reliability and validity.Methods:The initial scale was constructed through a literature search, Delphi expert correspondence, and cognitive testing. This study conducted a preliminary survey of 379 patients with MM and a formal survey of 865 patients from the hematology departments of 155 hospitals nationwide from February 2024 to March 2024. The final scale was obtained after conducting item analysis and reliability and validity tests on the initial scale.Results:The constructed scale contains 36 items covering six domains: physiological, psychological, social, treatment side effects, general health, and others. In the preliminary survey, the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of each item ranged from 0.597 to 0.939, and the test-retest reliability was 0.747 ( P<0.001). Exploratory factor analysis extracted eight common factors with a cumulative variance contribution of 60.058%. In the formal survey, the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of each item ranged from 0.484 to 0.930, and the test-retest reliability was 0.835 ( P<0.001). Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a comparative fit index of 0.750, a root-mean-square error of approximation of 0.090, and a root-mean-square residual of 0.067. Conclusion:The treatment-related quality of life scale for Chinese patients with MM designed in this study exhibited good reliability and validity, reflecting the impact of treatment on the quality of life of patients. This scale can provide a reference to clinicians for assessing the disease status of patients.

Objective:To investigate the iodine nutrition status of children aged 8 - 10 and pregnant women in Xining City, Qinghai Province.Methods:From 2019 to 2021, a stratified cluster sampling method was used to divide 7 counties (districts) under the jurisdiction of Xining City, Qinghai Province into 5 sampling areas according to east, west, south, north, and center each year. One township (town, street) was selected from each area. Forty non boarding students aged 8 to 10 from each primary school (half male and half female, age balanced) and 20 pregnant women from each township (town, street) location were selected to collect edible salt samples at home and a random urine sample to measure salt iodine and urinary iodine level. B-ultrasound was used to measure thyroid volume in children and the goiter rate was calculated.Results:A total of 6 534 samples of household edible salt were collected from children and pregnant women, with an average salt iodine concentration of 25.58 mg/kg. The coverage rate of iodized salt was 97.50% (6 371/6 534), and the qualified iodized salt consumption rate was 89.46% (5 845/6 534). A total of 4 362 urine samples were collected from children, with a median urinary iodine level of 183.10 μg/L. The difference between different years was statistically significant ( H = 20.27, P < 0.001). A total of 2 169 urine samples were collected from pregnant women, with a median urinary iodine level of 168.90 μg/L. The difference between different years was statistically significant ( H = 107.09, P < 0.001). A total of 3 336 cases of thyroid gland examination were conducted in children, including 33 cases of thyroid enlargement, with a goiter rate of 0.99%. There was a statistically significant difference between different years (χ 2 = 15.00, P < 0.001). Conclusion:From 2019 to 2021, children aged 8 to 10 and pregnant women in Xining City are at an appropriate level of iodine, and the achievements in prevention and treatment of iodine deficiency disorders still need to be continuously consolidated.

Objective:To predict the therapeutic targets and potential mechanism of Yi medicine Tiaojing Yangyan Capsules in treating primary dysmenorrhea, menstrual disorders and oligomenorrhea using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS combined with network pharmacology.Methods:Using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS method, the chemical components in Tiaojing Yangyan Capsules were identified through automatic matching and retrieval from Waters UNIFI Chinese Materia Medica Database based on chromatographic peak retention time, precise relative molecular weight, characteristic fragment ions, and other information. TCMSP and SwissTarget Prediction databases were used to obtain chemical component targets, constructing a "drug-active component-target-disease" visual regulatory network and PPI network through databases such as GeneCards, DrugBank, TTD, PharmGKB, and Cytoscape 3.8.0 software. Metascape database was used to perform GO functional and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis on intersecting targets, and the potential mechanism of Tiaojing Yangyan Capsules in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea was predicted.Results:Totally 67 components components were analyzed and identified from the Tiaojing Yangyan Capsules, which acted on 350 targets related to primary dysmenorrhea and menstrual disorders. The 15 main active components, including Ginsenoside Rg1, Ginsenoside Re, and Notoginsenoside Fe, targeted key proteins such as TNF, HSP90AA1, and STAT3, which would treat primary dysmenorrhea by regulating pathways such as the PI3K-Akt, FoxO, and Calcium.Conclusion:Tiaojing Yangyan Capsules may alleviate inflammatory reactions, alter hormone levels, regulate ovarian function, promote blood circulation, remove blood stasis, and regulate qi and blood through multiple components, targets, and pathways, thereby playing a preventive and therapeutic role in primary dysmenorrhea, menstrual disorders, and other conditions.

Traditional development of small protein scaffolds has relied on display technologies and mutation-based engineering, which limit sequence and functional diversity, thereby constraining their therapeutic and application potential. Protein design tools have significantly advanced the creation of novel protein sequences, structures, and functions. However, further improvements in design strategies are still needed to more efficiently optimize the functional performance of protein-based drugs and enhance their druggability. Here, we extended an evolution-based design protocol to create a novel minibinder, BindHer, against the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). It not only exhibits super stability and binding selectivity but also demonstrates remarkable properties in tissue specificity. Radiolabeling experiments with ^99mTc, ⁶⁸Ga, and ¹⁸F revealed that BindHer efficiently targets tumors in HER2-positive breast cancer mouse models, with minimal nonspecific liver absorption, outperforming scaffolds designed through traditional engineering. These findings highlight a new rational approach to automated protein design, offering significant potential for large-scale applications in therapeutic mini-protein development.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (CIPN) is a severe dose-limiting adverse event of chemotherapy. Presently, the mechanism underlying the induction of CIPN remains unclear, and no effective treatment is available. In this study, through metabolomics analyses, we found that nab-paclitaxel therapy markedly increased serum serotonin [5-hydroxtryptamine (5-HT)] levels in both cancer patients and mice compared to the respective controls. Furthermore, nab-paclitaxel-treated enterochromaffin (EC) cells showed increased 5-HT synthesis, and serotonin-treated Schwann cells showed damage, as indicated by the activation of CREB3L3/MMP3/FAS signaling. Venlafaxine, an inhibitor of serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake, was found to protect against nerve injury by suppressing the activation of CREB3L3/MMP3/FAS signaling in Schwann cells. Remarkably, venlafaxine was found to significantly alleviate nab-paclitaxel-induced CIPN in patients without affecting the clinical efficacy of chemotherapy. In summary, our study reveals that EC cell-derived 5-HT plays a critical role in nab-paclitaxel-related neurotoxic lesions, and venlafaxine co-administration represents a novel approach to treating chronic cumulative neurotoxicity commonly reported in nab-paclitaxel-based chemotherapy.
Paclitaxel/toxicity* ; Animals ; Albumins/adverse effects* ; Serotonin/metabolism* ; Mice ; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Venlafaxine Hydrochloride/therapeutic use* ; Neurotoxicity Syndromes/metabolism* ; Middle Aged ; Schwann Cells/metabolism* ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/drug therapy* ; Antineoplastic Agents