ObjectiveTo observe the effects of Dihuang Yinzi （DY） on motor dysfunction in rats with advanced Parkinson's disease （PD） and to investigate the mechanisms by which DY improves advanced PD symptoms through the "gut microbiota-short-chain fatty acids （SCFAs）-inflammation-neuroprotection pathway". MethodsAn advanced PD rat model was induced by rotenone. Rats were divided into a normal group， model group， positive drug group （levodopa， 50 mg·kg^-1）， and DY low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （5.2， 10.4， 20.8 g·kg^-1）. After 7 days of administration， motor function was evaluated using the open-field， pole-climbing， and inclined plate tests. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe pathological changes in the substantia nigra and colon， and immunohistochemistry was performed to detect α-Synuclein （α-Syn） and tyrosine hydroxylase （TH） expression in the substantia nigra. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to measure levels of dopamine （DA）， 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT）， 3，4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid （DOPAC）， Levodopa， homovanillic acid （HVA）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and interleukin-1β （IL-1β）. Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression of zonula occludens-1 （ZO-1） and occludin. Gut microbiota diversity was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing， and gas chromatography （GC） was used to determine the content of SCFAs in colonic contents. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showed significantly decreased movement speed and distance in the open-field test， prolonged pole-climbing time， and reduced retention angle on the inclined plate （P<0.01）， accompanied by increased α-Syn expression （P<0.01） and decreased TH expression （P<0.01） in the brain. Compared with the model group， all DY dose groups improved motor dysfunction in advanced PD rats to varying degrees （P<0.05， P<0.01） and alleviated pathological damage in the brain and colon. High-dose DY significantly reduced α-Syn aggregation in the substantia nigra （P<0.01） and increased TH expression （P<0.01）. ELISA and Western blot results showed that， compared with the normal group， the model group exhibited decreased levels of DA， 5-HT， DOPAC， Levodopa， and HVA in the striatum （P<0.01）， increased levels of TNF-α， IL-6， and IL-1β in the colon and striatum （P<0.01）， and significantly reduced expression of ZO-1 （P<0.05） and occludin in the colon （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， all DY dose groups increased the levels of DA， 5-HT， DOPAC， Levodopa， and HVA in the striatum to varying degrees （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In the high-dose DY group， the levels of TNF-α， IL-6， and IL-1β in the colon and striatum were reduced （P<0.01）， while the expression of ZO-1 （P<0.05） and occludin in the intestine was increased. The 16S rRNA sequencing results indicated that the relative abundances of Actinobacteriota， Enterobacteriaceae， and Erysipelotrichaceae were increased in the model group， whereas the relative abundances of Bacteroidota， class Clostridia， Lachnospiraceae， and Akkermansia muciniphila were decreased. These changes were effectively reversed after high-dose DY intervention. GC analysis showed that the content of SCFAs in the colonic contents of rats in the model group was decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while after high-dose DY intervention， the levels of acetate， propionate， isobutyrate， and butyrate were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionDY may exert therapeutic effects in advanced PD by regulating the gut microbiota-SCFAs-inflammation pathway.

: To analyze the prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency among primary and secondary school students in Rural Nutrition Improvement Program areas of Guizhou Province in 2023, and to explore the related factors, so as to provide evidence for Rural Nutrition Improvement Program optimization. Methods: In September 2023, a stratified random cluster sampling strategy was used to select 40 rural compulsory education schools with rural nutrition improvement program in five counties of Guizhou Province. School level questionnaire was employed to collect information of basic characteristics and school meal implementation. A total of 7 826 primary and secondary school students aged 6-16 underwent anthropometry and hemoglobin (Hb) determination; serum ferritin (SF) was additionally measured in a random subsample of 1 795 pupils. Students in Grade 3 and above also completed a questionnaire covering demographic characteristics, dietary behaviours and nutrition knowledge. Group comparisons were conducted by Chi square test or Fisher s exact test, and multivariable Logistic regression models were constructed to identify factors associated with anemia and iron deficiency. Results: The overall Hb level was (133.21±12.95)g/L, with an anemia prevalence of 7.17%. The overall SF level was (69.58±59.01)μg/L, with an iron deficiency prevalence of 2.73%. Multivariable analysis showed that stunting ( OR =1.88), school menus without nutrient calculation ( OR =1.61) and absence of menu planning software in the current semester ( OR =2.34) independently increased anemia risk, whereas obesity reduced it ( OR =0.54) (all P <0.05). Girls ( OR =4.16) and Grades 7-9 ( OR =5.93) increased iron deficiency risk (both P <0.05). Compared with rarely eating fresh vegetables, students with consuming <3 kinds per day ( OR =0.08) or exactly 3 kinds per day ( OR =0.06) had lower iron deficiency risks (both P <0.05). Conclusions Anemia and iron deficiency are prevalent among primary and secondary school students in Guizhou. Targeted intervention measures should be implemented for key populations to enhance the effectiveness of nutrition improvement program.

OBJECTIVE To provide a reference for the quality control of Hypericum perforatum. METHODS High- performance liquid chromatography （HPLC） was used to establish fingerprints for 20 batches of H. perforatum and determine the contents of its main components： chlorogenic acid， rutin， hyperin， isoquercitrin， avicularin， quercitrin and quercetin. Cluster analysis was conducted using SPSS 26.0 software. The chromaticity values （luminance value L*， red-green value a*， and yellow- blue value b*） of H. perforatum powder were measured using electronic eye. A prediction model for the contents of seven components in H. perforatum based on its appearance chromaticity values was established using machine learning algorithms. The predictive performance of the models was evaluated using root-mean-square-error （RMSE）. RESULTS A total of 16 common peaks were calibrated in the fingerprints of 20 batches of H. perforatum， and 9 peaks were identified， which were chlorogenic acid， rutin， hyperin， isoquercitrin， avicularin， quercitrin， quercetin， hypericin and hyperforin； the similarities of the 20 batches of samples and reference fingerprint ranged from 0.889-0.987. The contents of chlorogenic acid， rutin， hyperin， isoquercitrin， avicularin， quercitrin and quercetin were 0.025%-0.166%， 0.048%-0.339%， 0.082%-0.419%， 0.017%-0.209%， 0.011%-0.134%， 0.020%-0.135%， 0.041%-0.235%， respectively. Cluster analysis results showed that 18 batches of qualified H. perforatum were grouped into three categories， when the Euclidean distance was set to 1.4. L* of the 20 batches of H. perforatum ranged from 62.814 to 75.668， a* ranged from 1.409 to 3.490， and b* ranged from 25.249 to 30.759. RMSE of three prediction models， namely XGBoost， LightGBM， and AdaBoost， ranged from 0.008 to 0.070， indicating good fitting performance. XGBoost model predicted the contents of the other six components with high accuracy， except for rutin. CONCLUSIONS The established fingerprints and content determination methods are accurate， reproducible， and reliable. The content prediction model based on appearance chromaticity values， combined with machine learning algorithms， can be used for the quality control of H. perforatum.

AIM: To investigate the influence of relevant inflammatory markers in peripheral blood on the progression of neovascular glaucoma(NVG)secondary to diabetic retinopathy(DR)patients.METHODS: Retrospective case-control study. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the presence or absence of NVG: those with proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR)alone(PDR group, n=148)and those with NVG secondary to PDR(NVG secondary to PDR group, n=142). Peripheral blood inflammatory markers were evaluated, including white blood cell-related indices, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio(PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio(MLR), and systemic immune-inflammation index(SII). The distinctions in peripheral blood inflammatory markers between the two groups of patients and their relationships with NVG secondary to PDR were analyzed.RESULTS:No statistically significant differences were observed in basic characteristics between the two groups, confirming their comparability. However, significant differences were found in eosinophil percentage and MLR between the PDR group and the NVG secondary to PDR group(all P<0.05), with both values being significantly higher in the NVG secondary to PDR group. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that the eosinophil percentage and the MLR were factors influencing the development of patients with NVG secondary to PDR.CONCLUSION: Eosinophil percentage and MLR may be associated with the progression of PDR to NVG, and could serve as potential predictive markers for NVG development in PDR patients.

Background/Aims: Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a chronic liver disease characterized by hepatic steatosis. Ubiquitin-specific protease 29 (USP29) plays pivotal roles in hepatic ischemiareperfusion injury and hepatocellular carcinoma, but its role in MASLD remains unexplored. Therefore, the aim of this study was to reveal the effects and underlying mechanisms of USP29 in MASLD progression. Methods: USP29 expression was assessed in liver samples from MASLD patients and mice. The role and molecular mechanism of USP29 in MASLD were assessed in high-fat diet-fed and high-fat/high-cholesterol diet-fed mice and palmitic acid and oleic acid treated hepatocytes. Results: USP29 protein levels were significantly reduced in mice and humans with MASLD. Hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis were significantly exacerbated by USP29 deletion and relieved by USP29 overexpression. Mechanistically, USP29 significantly activated the expression of genes related to fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) under metabolic stimulation, directly interacted with long-chain acyl-CoA synthase 5 (ACSL5) and repressed ACSL5 degradation by increasing ACSL5 K48-linked deubiquitination. Moreover, the effect of USP29 on hepatocyte lipid accumulation and MASLD was dependent on ACSL5. Conclusions USP29 functions as a novel negative regulator of MASLD by stabilizing ACSL5 to promote FAO. The activation of the USP29-ACSL5 axis may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for MASLD.

To introduce and analyze guideline terminology related to clinical question formulation, evidence retrieval and appraisal, and recommendation development.

Background/Aims: Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a chronic liver disease characterized by hepatic steatosis. Ubiquitin-specific protease 29 (USP29) plays pivotal roles in hepatic ischemiareperfusion injury and hepatocellular carcinoma, but its role in MASLD remains unexplored. Therefore, the aim of this study was to reveal the effects and underlying mechanisms of USP29 in MASLD progression. Methods: USP29 expression was assessed in liver samples from MASLD patients and mice. The role and molecular mechanism of USP29 in MASLD were assessed in high-fat diet-fed and high-fat/high-cholesterol diet-fed mice and palmitic acid and oleic acid treated hepatocytes. Results: USP29 protein levels were significantly reduced in mice and humans with MASLD. Hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis were significantly exacerbated by USP29 deletion and relieved by USP29 overexpression. Mechanistically, USP29 significantly activated the expression of genes related to fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) under metabolic stimulation, directly interacted with long-chain acyl-CoA synthase 5 (ACSL5) and repressed ACSL5 degradation by increasing ACSL5 K48-linked deubiquitination. Moreover, the effect of USP29 on hepatocyte lipid accumulation and MASLD was dependent on ACSL5. Conclusions USP29 functions as a novel negative regulator of MASLD by stabilizing ACSL5 to promote FAO. The activation of the USP29-ACSL5 axis may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for MASLD.

Background/Aims: Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a chronic liver disease characterized by hepatic steatosis. Ubiquitin-specific protease 29 (USP29) plays pivotal roles in hepatic ischemiareperfusion injury and hepatocellular carcinoma, but its role in MASLD remains unexplored. Therefore, the aim of this study was to reveal the effects and underlying mechanisms of USP29 in MASLD progression. Methods: USP29 expression was assessed in liver samples from MASLD patients and mice. The role and molecular mechanism of USP29 in MASLD were assessed in high-fat diet-fed and high-fat/high-cholesterol diet-fed mice and palmitic acid and oleic acid treated hepatocytes. Results: USP29 protein levels were significantly reduced in mice and humans with MASLD. Hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis were significantly exacerbated by USP29 deletion and relieved by USP29 overexpression. Mechanistically, USP29 significantly activated the expression of genes related to fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) under metabolic stimulation, directly interacted with long-chain acyl-CoA synthase 5 (ACSL5) and repressed ACSL5 degradation by increasing ACSL5 K48-linked deubiquitination. Moreover, the effect of USP29 on hepatocyte lipid accumulation and MASLD was dependent on ACSL5. Conclusions USP29 functions as a novel negative regulator of MASLD by stabilizing ACSL5 to promote FAO. The activation of the USP29-ACSL5 axis may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for MASLD.

ObjectiveTo analyze the characteristics and influencing factors of elderly hospitalized patients with carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacillus (CRO) infection in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a gradeⅡ level A general hospital in Yangpu District of Shanghai, and to provide scientific basis for the prevention and control of hospital-acquired CRO infection in such hospitals. MethodsThe clinical data of elderly ICU patients (age ≥60 years) from January 2019 to December 2023 were retrospectively collected. A total of 122 cases with hospital-acquired CRO infection were used as the case group, and a total of 68 cases with carbapenem-sensitive gram-negative (CSO) infection were used as the control group. The clinical characteristics of the two groups were analyzed, and univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis were performed for screening for possible influencing factors on hospital-acquired CRO infection. ResultsThe main pathogens of CRO infection were carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) (53 cases, 43.44%) and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) (46 cases, 37.70%), and 17 patients (13.93%) had more than two types of CRO infection. Among the CRO infection, the main sites were lower respiratory tract infection (58 cases, 47.54%), ventilator-associated pneumonia (21 cases, 17.21%), and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (16 cases, 13.11%). The incidence rate of poor prognosis was higher in the CRO infection group (54.10%) than that in the CSO infection group (36.76%) (P=0.021). The results of univariate analysis showed that male, history of hospitalization within three months, chronic respiratory disease, hypoproteinemia, anemia, and history of invasive procedures prior to infection, including indwelling central venous catheter, invasive mechanical ventilation, urinary catheter, gastric tube placement and parenteral nutrition, in addition, heparin anticoagulation, the use of broad-spectrum penicillin, third-generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, carbapenems, carbapenems combined with fluoroquinolones, carbapenems combined with glycopeptides, use of ≥3 antibiotics and long time of antibiotic use prior to infection were all associated with the CRO infection (P<0.05). The results of logistic regression analysis showed that use of carbapenems (OR=7.739, 95%CI: 2.226‒26.911), ≥3 types of antibiotics (OR=6.307, 95%CI: 1.674‒23.754), invasive mechanical ventilation (OR=4.082, 95%CI: 1.795‒9.281), urinary catheter (OR=3.554, 95%CI: 1.074‒11.758), and comorbid hypoproteinemia (OR=4.741, 95%CI: 2.039‒11.022) and diabetes (OR=3.245, 95%CI: 1.344‒7.839) were positively correlated with the risk of CRO infection. ConclusionConcurrent use of carbapenems with multiple other antibiotics, as well as the use of invasive mechanical ventilation, urinary catheter, and comorbid hypoproteinemia and diabetes, may be associated with an increased influencing of CRO infection. More attention should be paid to the prevention and control of infection in elderly patients with the above-mentioned risk factors, and active screening of drug-resistant bacteria should be strengthened. Besides, the rational use of broad-spectrum antibiotics such as carbapenems, avoiding unnecessary invasive operations, and paying attention to patient nutrition and blood glucose control all can reduce the incidence of CRO infection and help to improve clinical outcomes.

Objective To explore the efficacy of progressive exercise training based on the modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale (mMRC) grading in respiratory rehabilitation for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at a primary healthcare setting. Methods A total of 106 patients with COPD admitted to Zhuanqiao Community Health Service Center in Shanghai from Aug.1, 2022 to Jul. 30, 2024 were selected as research subjects. They were randomly divided into a study group and a control group in a 1∶1 ratio, with 53 patients in each group. The control group received conventional treatment, while the study group received conventional treatment combined with progressive exercise training. After 4 weeks of continuous treatment, the changes in the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), COPD assessment test (CAT) score, mMRC grading, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) grading and pulmonary function were compared between the two groups. Results Patients in both groups showed improvements in 6MWT distance, CAT score, mMRC grading, GOLD grading, and pulmonary function compared to baseline (P＜0.05). Moreover, the study group had better improvements in 6MWT distance, CAT score, mMRC grading, GOLD grading, and pulmonary function than the control group (P＜0.05). Conclusions Conventional treatment combined with progressive exercise training based on mMRC grading can enhance the effect of respiratory rehabilitation in patients with COPD, particularly in improving pulmonary function and exercise tolerance.