ObjectiveTo study the clinical characteristics and influencing factors of rheumatoid arthritis （RA） in the patients with cold dampness obstruction syndrome. MethodsThe RA patients treated in the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Rheumatology of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital from August 2022 to June 2024 were selected. The demographic information， clinical data， laboratory test results， and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） symptom information were collected for syndrome differentiation， on the basis of which the characteristics and influencing factors of cold dampness obstruction syndrome were analyzed. ResultsA total of 258 RA patients were selected in this study， including 88 （34.1%） patients with cold dampness obstruction syndrome， 53 （20.5%） patients with dampness and heat obstruction syndrome， 31 （12.0%） patients with wind dampness obstruction syndrome， 29 （11.2%） patients with liver-kidney deficiency syndrome， 19 （7.4%） patients with Qi-blood deficiency syndrome， 14 （5.4%） patients with phlegm-stasis obstruction syndrome， 15 （5.8%） patients with stasis obstructing collateral syndrome and 9 （3.5%） patients with Qi-Yin deficiency syndrome. The patients were assigned into two groups of cold dampness obstruction syndrome and other syndromes. The group of cold dampness obstruction syndrome had lower joint fever， 28-tender joint count （TJC28）， and 28-joint disease activity score （DAS28）-C-reactive protein （CRP） and higher central sensitization， cold feeling of joints， fear of wind and cold， cold limbs， and abdominal distention than the group of other syndromes （P<0.05）. The binary logistic regression analysis showed that central sensitization （OR 5.749， 95%CI 2.116-15.616， P<0.001） and DAS28-CRP （OR 0.600， 95% CI 0.418-0.862， P=0.006） were the independent factors influencing cold dampness obstruction syndrome in RA. ConclusionCold dampness obstruction syndrome is a common syndrome in RA patients. It is associated with central sensitization， cold feeling of joints， abdominal distension and may be a clinical syndrome associated with central sensitization.

BACKGROUND:It is known that N6-methyladenosine(m6A)plays a role in the pathogenesis of various diseases and studies have suggested its involvement in the pathologic changes of steroid-induced femoral head necrosis(SNFH).However,research on m6A methylation modifications in steroid-induced femoral head necrosis is limited. OBJECTIVE:Using bioinformatics methods to identify the differential expression of m6A-related genes in steroid-induced femoral head necrosis and to predict miRNAs associated with these genes to further elucidate the role and mechanism of m6A methylation in steroid-induced femoral head necrosis. METHODS:Differential gene expression between steroid-induced femoral head necrosis and control groups was analyzed using GSE123568 gene expression data and identified using the"limma"package in R.Functional enrichment analysis was performed on the differentially expressed genes.Differential analysis of the related genes was carried out using the"ggstatsplot"package in R.The differential genes were cross-validated using the GSE74089 dataset.An mRNA-miRNA regulatory network was constructed,and co-expression analysis was performed on the module genes followed by enrichment analysis.Differences in immune cell infiltration between steroid-induced femoral head necrosis and control groups were quantified using the ssGSEA method. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Correlation analysis revealed 13 m6A-related genes,and further analysis through the protein-protein interaction network identification and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that YTHDF2 was expected to be a core differential gene as a potential early biomarker.Enrichment analysis indicated that differentially expressed genes were mainly involved in inflammation and immune response and were closely related to osteoclasts.Cross-validation analysis showed that differential gene expression results between the two datasets were consistent.mRNA-miRNA regulatory network analysis revealed that YTHDF2 was negatively correlated with miRNA-27a.Immune infiltration analysis revealed an increase in immune cell infiltration in steroid-induced femoral head necrosis,and YTHDF2 was positively correlated with the infiltration of CD4+T cells.To conclude,m6A-related gene YTHDF2 can serve as a potential biomarker of steroid-induced femoral head necrosis and is valuable for the early clinical diagnosis and treatment of steroid-induced femoral head necrosis.The negative correlation between YTHDF2 and mir-27a and the positive correlation between YTHDF2 and CD4+T cell infiltration provide new insights into the early diagnosis and treatment of steroid-induced femoral head necrosis and shed light on the mechanism of m6A in steroid-induced femoral head necrosis.

Objective To explore and verify the protective and therapeutic effects and possible mechanisms of Zukamu granules on hypoxia alone and hypoxia+Su5416-induced hypoxic pulmonary hypertension(HPH)in mice.Methods Multiple databases and related literature were used to collect the active ingredients data in Zukamu granules and the HPH-related targets were predicted and obtained.The network construction and enrichment analysis were performed.The HPH mouse models were es-tablished by two-week hypoxia and four-week hypoxia+Su5416 induction,and the relevant indicators and the main pharmacodyna-mic indexes such as right ventricular pressure were tested.Masson staining was used to observe the pathological changes in lung tissues,and Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of bax,bcl-2,PI3K,p-PI3K,eNOS,and HIF-1α in lung tis-sues.Results A total of 167 active ingredients of Zukamu granules were screened,with 179 intersecting targets with HPH,in-cluding targets like PIK3CA and HIF-1.The validation experimental results showed that Zukamu granules could significantly re-duce right ventricular systolic pressure and right ventricular hypertrophy in HPH mice,and down-regulate the expression of bcl-2 and HIF-1α and up-regulate the expression of bax,PI3K,p-PI3K and eNOS in mice lung tissues.Conclusion Zukamu gran-ules may act against HPH by modulating bax/bcl and PI3K-eNOS/HIF-1α signaling pathways.

Objective:To assess the goal fulfillment in terms of blood glucose, blood pressure, blood lipid, and the composite indicator of these three in patients with diabetes who received intensified treatment at Peking Union Medical College Hospital and regular follow-up for 12 months, analyze the influencing factors, and explore the comprehensive management model for intensive diabetes treatment outpatient services.Methods:This study was a prospective, observational cohort study. The diabetes patients who received long-term regular follow-up at the intensive diabetes treatment outpatient clinic of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2012 to 2023 were selected as the research subjects. They were followed up and clinical data were collected at the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th months of follow-up. The study assessed the goal fulfillment rates in terms of blood glucose, blood pressure, blood lipid, and the composite indicator of these three, with the goals of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c)<7%, blood pressure<130/80 mmHg, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)<2.6 mmol/L. The study also analyzed the impact of factors, including gender, age, type of diabetes, duration of diabetes, body mass index, comorbidities, complications, and treatment regimens, on the outcomes of comprehensive diabetes management.Results:A total of 232 patients were included in the study, of whom 210 were with type 2 diabetes (90.5%), 13 with type 1 diabetes (5.6%), 5 with latent autoimmune diabetes of the adult (2.2%), 3 with diabetes after total pancreatectomy (1.3%), and 1 with mitochondrial diabetes (0.4%). After 3 months of intensified management, the goal fulfillment rates of blood glucose (67.7% vs. 34.1%, Kappa=0.336, P<0.001), blood pressure (53.4% vs. 37.5%, Kappa=0.159, P=0.001), blood lipid (59.1% vs. 39.2%, Kappa=0.198, P<0.001), and the composite indicator (20.7% vs. 3.0%, Kappa=0.177, P<0.001) were significantly increased. Continued treatment at 6, 9, and 12 months showed stable and sustained increases in the goal fulfillment rates of blood glucose, blood pressure, blood lipid, and the composite indicator. Logistic regression analysis showed that baseline hyperglycemia ( P=0.002), disease duration ≥5 years ( P<0.001), smoking ( P=0.009), alcohol consumption ( P=0.038), presence of diabetic complications ( P=0.001), combination therapy with oral antidiabetic drugs and insulin ( P<0.001), and use of antiplatelet drugs ( P=0.037) were risk factors for uncontrolled HbA1c. Baseline hypertension ( P<0.001), alcohol consumption ( P=0.030), and comorbid dyslipidemia ( P=0.028) were risk factors for uncontrolled blood pressure. Baseline uncontrolled LDL-C ( P=0.020) and non-use of statins ( P<0.001) were risk factors for uncontrolled blood lipid. Conclusions:Among patients with the long-term follow-up at our intensive diabetes treatment clinic, the goal fulfillment rates of blood glucose, blood lipid, blood pressure, and the composite indicator of these three are relatively higher. However, it is still necessary to improve patient compliance as much as possible, emphasize weight management, and persist on the comprehensive diabetes treatment.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a chronic progressive retinal disease caused by sustained hyperglycemia, which has become one of the leading causes of severe visual impairment and blindness in China.Nevertheless, factors that contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of DR remain unclear.Previous research has revealed that some environmental pollutants including particulate matter, H 2S, cobalt, cadmium, cesium, phthalic acid esters, methylglyoxal and 2-piperidone can potentially increase the risk or progression of DR through the related pathways of oxidative stress, inflammatory response and vascular endothelial growth factor.To clarify the causal and dose-response relationship between exposure to environmental pollutants and DR, further investigation is required to explore the detailed mechanisms.Moreover, longitudinal studies with quantified measurements of environmental exposures are also needed.This article reviews recent epidemiological research and the potential mechanisms of correlation between DR and air pollution, heavy metal pollution and chemical pollution.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of Sanguisorbae Radix(SR)in the treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC).Methods Using the GSE92415 dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus database,we analyzed differentially expressed genes and carried out weighted gene correlation network analysis and FerrDb analysis.Core genes were identified through protein-protein interaction(PPI)network and correlation analysis.UC mouse model induced by dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)was constructed and treated with SR via intragastric administration for 9 days.Disease activity index(DAI)and colon length were recorded.Pathological changes in colon tissue were observed using the HE staining.Levels of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-6(IL-6)were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Lipid peroxidantion factors such as malondialdehyde(MDA)and glutathione(GSH)were detected using biochemical test kits.Protein expression levels of zonula occludens protein-1(ZO-1)tight junction protein,peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma(PPARG),solute carrier family 7 member 11(SCL7A11),and glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4)were examined by Western blot or immunofluorescence labeling.Results Nine differentially expressed genes associated with ferroptosis were screened and PPARG was identified as a key gene.Correlation analysis showed a strong correlation between PPARG and ferroptosis.Subsequently,the potential mechanism of SR in improving UC in mice was discussed according to the bioinformatics screening results.The experimental results demonstrated that SR significantly reduced the DAI,prevented colon shortening and improved intestinal mucosal barrier function in the colon.SR decreased TNF-α and IL-6 levels,MDA content and GSH levels in colon tissues.SR also enhanced the expression of PPARG,SLC7A11 and GPX4,which reversed the effect of DSS in mice with colitis.Conclusions Ferroptosis is closely related to UC.SR can inhibit ferroptosis by regulating PPARG and SCL7A11/GPX4 expression,thereby improving colon epithelial injury and dysfunction in UC mice.This provides ideas and directions for UC treatment strategies.

Neuroimaging is increasingly widely used in the field of ADHD research,and more and more studies have shown that ADHD patients have structural abnormalities such as reduced cortical volume,thinning thickness,and reduced surface area,which are related to complex clinical symptoms and abnormal brain function in patients.However,the use of neuroimaging to identify biomarkers as an objective diagnostic tool for ADHD still faces many challenges.Multimodal studies can be used to explore the relationship between the structure and function of different brain regions in ADHD patients,and to use neuroimaging to reveal the mechanism of the evolution of clinical symptoms in the whole life cycle of ADHD patients.

Objective:To investigate the characteristics of gut microbiota in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) complicated by nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).Methods:A total of 74 patients first diagnosed with T2DM at the Endocrinology Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from April 2021 to October 2023 were included. Among them, 28 patients had concurrent NAFLD while 46 patients did not. Additionally, 51 healthy controls were matched (HC group). Clinical laboratory parameters were collected, and 16S rRNA sequencing with fecal samples was conducted to compare the differences in gut microbiota across the groups.Results:Compared to the group with T2DM, patients with concurrent T2DM and NAFLD were younger, had higher level of insulin resistance as assessed by the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, higher body mass index (BMI), and higher triglyceride levels. There was no difference in α-diversity across the three groups ( P>0.05), while there was a significant difference in β-diversity ( P=0.03). The Eubacterium coprostanoligenes, Fusicatenibacter, Parasutterella and Tyzzerella 3 were enriched in the group with concurrent T2DM and NAFLD as shown by the relative abundance, while the relative abundance of Flavonifractor was decreased in this group. Tyzzerella 3 abundance was positively correlated with triglyceride and albumin levels and negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. Conclusion:Patients with T2DM complicated by NAFLD exhibit dysbiosis in gut microbiota composition and specific genera abundance, with Flavonifractor identified as a potential protective factor for T2DM complicated by NAFLD.

Objective:To evaluate the effects of remimazolam on gastrointestinal motor function in the patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy.Methods:A total of 262 American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients, aged 18-64 yr, with body mass index of 18-28 kg/m 2, scheduled for elective gastrointestinal endoscopy from May 2022 to August 2022, were divided into 2 groups ( n=131 each) using a random number table method: remimazolam group (group R) and propofol group (group P). The patients in group R received intravenous remimazolam 0.20-0.25 mg/kg, and patients in group P received intravenous propofol 1.5-2.0 mg/kg. The gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed when the patients′ Modified Observer′s Assessment of Alertness/Sedation scores ≤3. During fasting before gastrointestinal preparation, before gastrointestinal endoscopy and while leaving the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), the concentrations of serum motilin and gastrin were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the intestinal peristalsis rating assessed by the endoscopist during the examination was recorded, the occurrence of hypotension and hypoxemia during the examination and occurrence of abdominal distension, abdominal pain, and nausea and vomiting during stay in PACU were recorded. Results:Compared with group P, the intestinal peristalsis rating was significantly increased, the serum motilin and gastrin concentrations were increased while leaving PACU, the incidence of hypotension and hypoxemia was decreased during the examination, and the incidence of abdominal distention was decreased during stay in PACU in group R ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Remimazolam has a milder inhibitory effect on secretion of gastrointestinal hormones than propofol in the patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy and is helpful for the recovery of gastrointestinal motility.

Standardization is the universal language of the world, and standardization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is essential for its communication in China and globally. However, the principles and methods of TCM acupuncture standardization have been unclear and inadequate in the early stages. Based on an investigative approach to understanding the current status, identifying problems, and finding solutions, our team has established basic principles of TCM acupuncture that embody Chinese wisdom, evaluated the international strategic environment systematically, proposed the principle of “importance of harmony and exercise of impartiality”, and established basic working principles. A series of methods for TCM acupuncture standard development and evaluation have been constructed, including general standards for the revision of TCM acupuncture standards, the first TCM acupuncture clinical research management specification, a shared full chain technology platform, a data center, and an evaluation research base for TCM acupuncture clinical research. Evaluation criteria for ancient literature and expert experience, a recommendation method for the “three main and three auxiliaries” TCM guideline for prevention were established, and quantifiable assessment methods of TCM standard applicability were proposed. These findings provide methodological guidance for TCM acupuncture standardization.