ObjectiveTo construct a risk prediction model for frequent acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD） under disease-syndrome combination， thus providing decision support for precise clinical intervention. MethodsA total of 2 029 patients with acute exacerbations of COPD admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from January 2020 to August 2024 were retrospectively included. These patients were classified into groups of frequent acute exacerbations （≥2 times/year） and infrequent acute exacerbations （<2 times/year） according to the hospitalization times per year. Risk factors were screened by LASSO regression combined with logistic regression， and a nomogram model was constructed. The model performance was assessed based on the area under the curve （AUC）， calibration curves， and decision curve analysis （DCA）. ResultsThe differences in baseline characteristics between the frequent acute exacerbations group （1 196 cases） and infrequent acute exacerbations group （833 cases） were not statistically significant. LASSO regression combined with multivariate logistic regression screened the following independent risk factors： body mass index （BMI）， hospitalization days， number of smoking years， place of residence， use of noninvasive ventilators， oxygen-demanding therapy， liver cirrhosis， use of systemic glucocorticosteroids， and traditional Chinese medicine syndrome （phlegm and stasis obstructing the lung）. The nomogram model showed good discrimination and calibration in both the training set （AUC=0.748） and validation set （AUC=0.774）. ConclusionThe risk prediction model for frequent acute exacerbations of COPD， integrating traditional Chinese medicine syndrome， constructed in this study has high accuracy. It can provide a scientific basis for early clinical identification of high-risk patients and individualized intervention.

Metabolic associated fatty liver disease （MAFLD） is a chronic liver disease closely associated with metabolic syndrome， characterized by a complex pathogenesis involving genetic， environmental， and lifestyle factors. Recent studies have shown significant disparities in the prevalence rate and clinical features of MAFLD across different racial and ethnic groups， and such disparities might be associated with various factors such as genetic background， environmental factors， socioeconomic disparities， and metabolic profiles. This article reviews the latest research advances in racial and ethnic differences in MAFLD in China and globally， discusses its potential pathogenic mechanisms and clinical significance， proposes future research directions and interventional measures， and emphasizes the critical need to enhance MAFLD screening and preventive health education in multiethnic populations.

AIM: To explore the control effects of wearing orthokeratology lens for 1 a on adolescent myopia patients with different diopters.METHODS: Prospective non-randomized controlled study. A total of 120 adolescent myopic patients(224 eyes), with an average age of 11.00±2.08 years old, who were fitted with orthokeratology lenses in the optometry department of our hospital from November 2022 to May 2023 were collected. There were 3 groups according to the spherical equivalent, including 86 eyes in the group of -0.50--2.00 D, 99 eyes in the group -2.25--4.00 D, and 39 eyes in group -4.25--6.00 D. Patients were followed up for 1 a to observe the changes of uncorrected visual acuity, axial length, corneal curvature, corneal central thickness and corneal endothelial cells density in the three groups after wearing lens for 1 a.RESULTS:A total of 113 cases(212 eyes)were followed up for 1 a, including 82 eyes in the group of -0.50--2.00 D, 95 eyes in the group of -2.25--4.00 D, and 35 eyes in the group of -4.25--6.00 D. There was no statistical difference in corneal central thickness and corneal endothelial cell density among the three groups of patients after wearing lens for 1 a(all P>0.05). Uncorrected visual acuity was significantly improved, and flat kerotometry(FK)and steep kerotometry(SK)were significantly flatter(both P<0.01). Furthermore, the growth of axial length in the three groups of patients after wearing lens for 1 a was 0.21±0.26, 0.13±0.21 and 0.09±0.10 mm, respectively(P<0.05). There were differences between the -0.50--2.00 D group and the -2.25--4.00 D group and -4.25--6.00 D group(P=0.028, 0.010), and there were no differences between the -2.25--4.00 D group and the -4.25--6.00 D group(P=0.344).CONCLUSION:It is safe and effective for young myopia patients to wear orthokeratology lenses, which can prevent the non-benign growth of the axial length and effectively delay the development of myopia, and the myopia control effect is better especially for myopia patients of above -2.0 D.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma polysaccharides on hyperlipidemia in mice by modulating the gut microbiota. MethodsNinety male C57BL/6J mice were randomized into the following groups （n=15）： control， model， simvastatin， low- （100 mg·kg^-1）， medium- （200 mg·kg^-1）， and high-dose （400 mg·kg^-1） Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma polysaccharides groups. Other groups except the control group were fed with a high-fat diet for the modeling of hyperlipidemia， and drug interventions lasted for 12 weeks. Serum levels of total cholesterol （TC）， triglycerides （TG）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C） were measured by an automatic biochemical analyzer. The pathological changes in the liver and epididymal fat were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining， and lipid accumulation in the liver was assessed by oil red O staining. The gut microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. ResultsCompared with the control group， the model group exhibited an increase in body weight （P<0.01）， along with marked elevations in serum levels of TC， TG， and LDL-C （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Furthermore， the model group showcased increase in the liver index and epididymal fat coefficient （P<0.05）， increased liver fat accumulation， enlargement of adipocytes in the epididymal fat， decreases in both alpha and beta diversity of the gut microbiota， and an increase in the relative abundance of Allobaculum （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma polysaccharides suppressed the increase in body weight （P<0.01）， lowered the serum levels of TC， TG， and LDL-C （P<0.05，P<0.01）， reduced the liver index and epididymal fat coefficient （P<0.05）， alleviated liver fat accumulation， and decreased the size of adipocytes in the epididymal fat. Furthermore， it enhanced the alpha and beta diversity of the gut microbiota in mice， reduced the relative abundance of Allobaculum， Erysipelotrichaceae， and Clostridium （P<0.01）， and increased the relative abundance of Akkermansia and Blautia （P<0.01）. ConclusionPolygonati Odorati Rhizoma polysaccharides can ameliorate hyperlipidemia induced by a high-fat diet in mice by regulating the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota.

ObjectiveThe utilization of assisted reproductive technology to rescue genetically modified mouse strains with reproductive disorders provides a reference for improving techniques to preserve valuable experimental mouse strains. MethodsIn vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) technology was performed on 28 strains of infertile male mice aged 9-18 months. Several indicators such as sperm density and sperm motility in infertile male mice were assessed to select the most viable sperm for IVF-ET experiments. Fertility rate, abnormal egg rate, and birth rate were recorded after the birth of the pups. An optimized ovarian transplantation procedure was applied to 12 strains of infertile female mice aged 8-18 months. 6-week-old female mice with the same genetic background were selected as recipients. One intact ovary was removed from each recipient mouse, and the contralateral oviduct was ligated. An ovary from a donor mouse was isolated and transplanted orthotopically into the side where the ovary had been removed in the recipient mouse. Twenty-one days post-surgery, recipient mice were co-housed with 8-week-old wild type male mice of the same genetic background for breeding. Data such as the pregnancy rate and live birth rate of the recipients were recorded after the birth of the pups. ResultsIVF-ET successfully rescued 28 mouse strains, with the oldest male mice being 18 months old. The success rate of the first round of IVF-ET experiments was 89.29% (25/28). The average fertility rate of IVF in infertile male mice was (51.01±14.97)%, the abnormal egg rate was (9.03±5.28)%, and the birth rate of offspring mice was (18.60±7.03)%. 39 out of 40 ovarian transplant recipient mice survived, with a pregnancy rate of 33.33% (13/39) for ovarian transplant recipients, and a live birth rate of 17.95% (7/39). Four mouse strains were successfully rescued using optimized ovarian transplantation technology, with the oldest female mice being 18 months old. 8 strains were not rescued as they failed to produce offspring that survived to sexual maturity. ConclusionIVF-ET is an effective approach for rescuing mice with reproductive disorders caused by different reasons, especially for those beyond the optimal breeding age. Ovarian transplantation technology can also be used as an alternative for aged female mice. But its success rate is relatively lower than that of IVF-ET, and carries a higher experimental risk.

Objective To investigate the correlation between spread through air space (STAS) of sub-centimeter non-small cell lung cancer and clinical characteristics and radiological features, constructing a nomogram risk prediction model for STAS to provide a reference for the preoperative planning of sub-centimeter non-small cell lung cancer patients. Methods The data of patients with sub-centimeter non-small cell lung cancer who underwent surgical treatment in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from January 2022 to October 2023 were retrospectively collected. According to the pathological diagnosis of whether the tumor was accompanied with STAS, they were divided into a STAS positive group and a STAS negative group. The clinical and radiological data of the two groups were collected for univariate logistic regression analysis, and the variables with statistical differences were included in the multivariate analysis. Finally, independent risk factors for STAS were screened out and a nomogram model was constructed. The sensitivity and specificity were calculated based on the Youden index, and area under the curve (AUC), calibration plots and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the performance of the model. Results A total of 112 patients were collected, which included 17 patients in the STAS positive group, consisting of 11 males and 6 females, with a mean age of (59.0±10.3) years. The STAS negative group included 95 patients, with 30 males and 65 females, and a mean age of (56.8±10.3) years. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that male, anti-GAGE7 antibody positive, mean CT value and spiculation were associated with the occurrence of STAS (P＜0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that associations between STAS and male (OR=5.974, 95%CI 1.495 to 23.872), anti-GAGE7 antibody positive (OR=11.760, 95%CI 1.619 to 85.408) and mean CT value (OR=1.008, 95%CI 1.004 to 1.013) were still significant (P＜0.05), while the association between STAS and spiculation was not significant anymore (P=0.438). Based on the above three independent predictors, a nomogram model of STAS in sub-centimeter non-small cell lung cancer was constructed. The AUC value of the model was 0.890, the sensitivity was 76.5%, and the specificity was 91.6%. The calibration curve was well fitted, suggesting that the model had a good prediction efficiency for STAS. The DCA plot showed that the model had a good clinically utility. Conclusion Male, anti-GAGE7 antibody positive and mean CT value are independent predictors of STAS positivity of sub-centimeter non-small cell lung cancer, and the nomogram model established in this study has a good predictive value and provides reference for preoperative planning of patients.

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is the most common primary liver malignancy with high metastasis and recurrence rates, and is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite improvements in detection and treatment, the prognosis for HCC remains poor. In recent years, exosomes, as a newly discovered intercellular communication mediator in the occurrence and development of tumors, deliver biologically active substances to activate or inhibit various signal transduction pathways in recipient cells, thereby regulating liver cancer cells including proliferation, invasion,metastasis, drug resistance and other malignant behaviors. However, the mechanism of exosomes on the invasion and metastasis of HCC is still unclear. Therefore, this paper systematically reviewed the regulatory mechanism of exosomes in HCC invasion and metastasis.

ObjectiveTo unveil the mechanism of Jianpi Huogu prescription （JPHGP） in ameliorating the dyslipidemia of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femur head （SONFH） by oxylipidomics combined with transcriptomics. MethodsSixty SD rats were assigned into normal， model， low-， medium-， and high-dose （2.5， 5， 10 g·kg^-1， respectively） JPHGP， and Jiangushengwan （1.53 g·kg^-1） groups. Lipopolysaccharide was injected into the tail vein at a dose of 20 μg·kg^-1 on days 1 and 2， and methylprednisolone sodium succinate was injected at a dose of 40 mg·kg^-1 into the buttock muscle on days 3 to 5. The normal group received an equal volume of normal saline. Drug administration by gavage began 4 weeks after the last injection， and samples were taken after administration for 8 weeks. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was conducted to reveal the histopathological changes of the femoral head， and the number of adipocytes， the rate of empty bone lacunae， and the trabecular area were calculated. Micro-computed tomography was used for revealing the histological and histomorphometrical changes of the femoral head. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the serum levels of triglyceride （TG）， total cholesterol （TC）， low-density lipoprotein （LDL）， high-density lipoprotein （HDL）， apolipoprotein A1 （ApoA1）， and apolipoprotein B （ApoB）. At the same time， the femoral head was collected for oxylipidomic and transcriptomic detection. The differential metabolites and differential genes were enriched and analyzed， and the target genes regulating lipid metabolism were predicted. The predicted target proteins were further verified by molecular docking， immunohistochemistry， and Western blot. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showcased thinning of the femoral head， trabecular fracture， karyopyknosis， subchondral cystic degeneration， increases in the number of adipocytes and the rate of empty bone lacunae （P<0.01）， a reduction in the trabecular area （P<0.01）， decreases in BMD， Tb.Th， Tb.N， and BV/TV， and increases in Tb.Sp and BS/BV （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the JPHGP groups showed no obvious thinning of the femoral head or subchondroidal cystic degeneration. The high- and medium-dose JPHGP groups presented declines in the number of adipocytes and the rate of empty bone lacunae， an increase in the trabecular area （P<0.05， P<0.01）， rises in BMD， Tb.Th， Tb.N， and BV/TV， and decreases in Tb.Sp and BS/BV （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the normal group， the model group showcased raised serum levels of TG， TC， LDL， and ApoB and lowered serum levels of HDL and ApoA1 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the JPHGP groups had lowered serum levels of TG， TC， LDL， and ApoB （P<0.05， P<0.01） and a risen serum level of ApoA1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Moreover， the serum level of HDL in the high-dose JPHGP group increased （P<0.01）. A total of 19 different metabolites of disease set and drug set were screened out by oxylipidomics of the femoral head， and 119 core genes with restored expression were detected by transcriptomics. The enriched pathways were mainly concentrated in inflammation， lipids， apoptosis， and osteoclast differentiation. Molecular docking， immunohistochemistry， and Western blot results showed that compared with the normal group， the model group displayed increased content of 5-lipoxygenase （5-LO） and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ （PPARγ） in the femoral head （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， medium- and high-dose JPHGP reduced the content of 5-LO and PPARγ （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionJPHGP can restore the levels of oxidized lipid metabolites by regulating the 5-LO-PPARγ axis to treat SONFH in rats. Relevant studies provide experimental evidence for the efficacy mechanism of JPHGP in the treatment of SONFH.

Investigator initiated trial （IIT） represents a primary format for clinical research in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. As key implementation sites for TCM-based IIT targeting malignant tumors， western medicine institutions often face unique challenges in conducting such studies， which limit their feasibility and standardization. This paper reviews the registration status of TCM-based IIT for malignancies conducted in western medical institutions and analyzes key difficulties， including complex project initiation and management processes， limited TCM knowledge and skills among western medicine physicians， and relatively low patient acceptance of TCM. From a practical perspective， the study proposes several optimization strategies. These include improving the review and management mechanisms of TCM-related IIT within western medical institutions， establishing multidisciplinary clinical research teams that integrate TCM and western medicine， and enhancing investigators' training in TCM theory and clinical skills. Additionally， the study suggests standardizing IIT operational procedures， objectifying the collection of TCM diagnostic information， refining subject recruitment methods， and increasing TCM involvement in patient follow-up and management. These investigator-oriented， TCM-featured， and operable strategies aim to promote the high-quality development of TCM-based IIT in western medicine institutions and enhance the clinical application of TCM.

ObjectiveTo unveil the mechanism of Jianpi Huogu prescription （JPHGP） in ameliorating the dyslipidemia of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femur head （SONFH） by oxylipidomics combined with transcriptomics. MethodsSixty SD rats were assigned into normal， model， low-， medium-， and high-dose （2.5， 5， 10 g·kg^-1， respectively） JPHGP， and Jiangushengwan （1.53 g·kg^-1） groups. Lipopolysaccharide was injected into the tail vein at a dose of 20 μg·kg^-1 on days 1 and 2， and methylprednisolone sodium succinate was injected at a dose of 40 mg·kg^-1 into the buttock muscle on days 3 to 5. The normal group received an equal volume of normal saline. Drug administration by gavage began 4 weeks after the last injection， and samples were taken after administration for 8 weeks. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was conducted to reveal the histopathological changes of the femoral head， and the number of adipocytes， the rate of empty bone lacunae， and the trabecular area were calculated. Micro-computed tomography was used for revealing the histological and histomorphometrical changes of the femoral head. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the serum levels of triglyceride （TG）， total cholesterol （TC）， low-density lipoprotein （LDL）， high-density lipoprotein （HDL）， apolipoprotein A1 （ApoA1）， and apolipoprotein B （ApoB）. At the same time， the femoral head was collected for oxylipidomic and transcriptomic detection. The differential metabolites and differential genes were enriched and analyzed， and the target genes regulating lipid metabolism were predicted. The predicted target proteins were further verified by molecular docking， immunohistochemistry， and Western blot. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showcased thinning of the femoral head， trabecular fracture， karyopyknosis， subchondral cystic degeneration， increases in the number of adipocytes and the rate of empty bone lacunae （P<0.01）， a reduction in the trabecular area （P<0.01）， decreases in BMD， Tb.Th， Tb.N， and BV/TV， and increases in Tb.Sp and BS/BV （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the JPHGP groups showed no obvious thinning of the femoral head or subchondroidal cystic degeneration. The high- and medium-dose JPHGP groups presented declines in the number of adipocytes and the rate of empty bone lacunae， an increase in the trabecular area （P<0.05， P<0.01）， rises in BMD， Tb.Th， Tb.N， and BV/TV， and decreases in Tb.Sp and BS/BV （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the normal group， the model group showcased raised serum levels of TG， TC， LDL， and ApoB and lowered serum levels of HDL and ApoA1 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the JPHGP groups had lowered serum levels of TG， TC， LDL， and ApoB （P<0.05， P<0.01） and a risen serum level of ApoA1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Moreover， the serum level of HDL in the high-dose JPHGP group increased （P<0.01）. A total of 19 different metabolites of disease set and drug set were screened out by oxylipidomics of the femoral head， and 119 core genes with restored expression were detected by transcriptomics. The enriched pathways were mainly concentrated in inflammation， lipids， apoptosis， and osteoclast differentiation. Molecular docking， immunohistochemistry， and Western blot results showed that compared with the normal group， the model group displayed increased content of 5-lipoxygenase （5-LO） and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ （PPARγ） in the femoral head （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， medium- and high-dose JPHGP reduced the content of 5-LO and PPARγ （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionJPHGP can restore the levels of oxidized lipid metabolites by regulating the 5-LO-PPARγ axis to treat SONFH in rats. Relevant studies provide experimental evidence for the efficacy mechanism of JPHGP in the treatment of SONFH.