Objective: To determine the clinical efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection combined with warm acupuncture and moxibustion for treating patients with knee osteoarthritis and cold dampness obstruction syndrome. Methods: One hundred and twenty-eight patients with knee osteoarthritis and cold dampness obstruction syndrome who visited the Rehabilitation Department and Orthopedics Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from January 2023 to March 2024 and who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomly divided into an experimental (n=64) and control group (n=64) using the random number table method. The experimental group was treated with PRP injection combined with warm acupuncture and moxibustion, whereas the control group was treated with normal saline injection combined with warm acupuncture and moxibustion treatment. PRP and normal saline injections were administered once every two weeks, a total of four times. Patients were treated with warm acupuncture and moxibustion once a day, six times a week, for four consecutive weeks. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome, visual analog scale (VAS), and Lysholm scores were determined before treatment, at week 4 and week 8 of treatment, and week 16 of follow-up. Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), osteoprotegerin (OPG), bone gla protein(BGP), and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) levels were compared between the two groups before and after 8 weeks of treatment. The clinical efficacy and safety indicators between the two groups were also compared. Results: There was no statistical difference in baseline data such as gender, age, disease duration, and body mass index between the two groups of patients. Compared with before treatment, both groups showed decreased WOMAC total and subscale, TCM syndrome total score and symptom scores, and VAS scores, and an increase in Lysholm scores at 4, 8, and 16 weeks after treatment. After treatment, serum IL-6, MMP-3, TNF-α, and COMP levels decreased, whereas serum OPG and BGP levels increased (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, patients in the experimental group showed decreased WOMAC total and subscale, TCM syndrome total score and symptom scores, and VAS scores, and an increase in Lysholm score at 4, 8, and 16 weeks after treatment. Compared with the control group, patients in the experimental group showed decreased serum IL-6, MMP-3, TNF-α, and COMP levels and an increase in serum OPG and BPG levels after treatment (P<0.05). The total effective rate of the experimental group was 91.94%, higher than that of the control group (81.97%; P<0.05). Conclusion PRP injection combined with warm acupuncture and moxibustion can improve various TCM symptoms, improve knee joint function and bone metabolism, and reduce inflammation in patients with knee osteoarthritis and cold dampness obstruction syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between erectile dysfunction (ED) and myocardial infarction (MI) using two sample Mendelian randomization. METHODS: A Mendelian randomization study was conducted using comprehensive data on ED and MI from extensive genome-wide association data. Using inverse variance weighted analysis for causal relationships, and correct for confounding factors using multivariate Mendelian randomization, the potential mediating effects were evaluated as well. Based on Genecard data, the genes related to ED and MI were identified. Molecular docking was used to reveal spontaneously bound drug molecules. RESULTS: Our study found that exposure to ED was a risk factor for MI (OR: 1.001 0, 95% CI: 1.000 2－1.001 8, P=0.017 7), which also held true in the validation dataset (OR: 1.028 5, 95% CI: 1.005 0－1.052 6, P=0.017 2). No statistically significant heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy was found. The results of reverse Mendelian randomization analysis showed any reverse causal relationship between ED and MI. In multivariate Mendelian randomization analysis, after excluding confounding factors (excluding triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein), the P-value remained less than 0.05, and the OR ranged from 1.000 1 to 1.000 7, indicating that ED was still a risk factor for MI. In the mediation analysis, it was found that the current mediation ratio of smoking to MI was 13.06%. In summary-data-based mendelian randomization analysis, it was found that the gene PTPN11 was a common target gene for MI and ED (OR=0.990, P<0.001). Subsequent molecular docking with sildenafil, clopidogrel, and dapoxetine could spontaneously bind to the PTPN11 gene receptor. CONCLUSION There is a causal relationship between ED and MI, with smoking as a potential mediating factor, and the gene PTPN11 being a co-target gene.
Humans ; Male ; Mendelian Randomization Analysis ; Myocardial Infarction/genetics* ; Erectile Dysfunction/complications* ; Risk Factors ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

BACKGROUND: The association of systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) with prognosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients has never been investigated in a large sample with long-term follow-up. This study aimed to explore the association of SIRI with all-cause and cause-specific mortality in a nationally representative sample of CAD patients from United States. METHODS: A total of 3386 participants with CAD from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2018 were included in this study. Cox proportional hazards model, restricted cubic spline (RCS), and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) were performed to investigate the association of SIRI with all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Piece-wise linear regression and sensitivity analyses were also performed. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 7.7 years, 1454 all-cause mortality occurred. After adjusting for confounding factors, higher lnSIRI was significantly associated with higher risk of all-cause (HR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.09-1.23) and CVD mortality (HR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.05-1.30) but not cancer mortality (HR = 1.17, 95% CI: 0.99-1.38). The associations of SIRI with all-cause and CVD mortality were detected as J-shaped with threshold values of 1.05935 and 1.122946 for SIRI, respectively. ROC curves showed that lnSIRI had robust predictive effect both in short and long terms. CONCLUSIONS SIRI was independently associated with all-cause and CVD mortality, and the dose-response relationship was J-shaped. SIRI might serve as a valid predictor for all-cause and CVD mortality both in the short and long terms.

Objective To observe the influence of dapagliflozin tablets on myocardial enzymes,mitral valve blood flow and major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)in patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI)complicated with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)after interventional therapy.Methods AMI patients with T2DM were divided into control group and treatment group by cohort method.The control group was given aspirin tablets 300 mg and ticagrelor 180 mg orally,qd,until the day of interventional treatment.After interventional therapy,aspirin tablets 100 mg,qd,oral ticagrelor tablets 90 mg each time,once in the morning and once in the evening.On the basis of the treatment in the control group,the patients in the treatment group were given dapagliflozin tablets 5-10 mg,qd,every morning after admission.After 3 months of continuous treatment,the clinical efficacy,blood glucose control effect[fasting plasma glucose(FPG),2 hour postprandial blood glucose(2 h PG)],myocardial enzymes indicators[creatine kinase(CK),creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB(CK-MB)],ventricular remodeling indicators[left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),left ventricular end systolic diameter(LVESD)],adverse drug reactions and MACE were compared between the two groups.Results There were 55 cases in the control group and 59 cases in the treatment group.After treatment,the total effective rates of the treatment group and the control group were 88.14％(52 cases/59 cases)and 72.73％(40 cases/55 cases),respectively,the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).After treatment,the FPG of the treatment group and the control group were(7.29±0.71)and(7.81±0.75)mmol·L-1,respectively;the 2 h PG were(8.66±1.33)and(9.59±1.38)mmol·L-1,respectively;the CK were(145.68±29.82)and(163.68±42.16)U·L-1,respectively;the CK-MB were(8.21±2.37)and(10.33±3.08)U·L-1,respectively;the LVEF were(57.63±8.74)％and(51.41±6.49)％,respectively;LVESD were(33.26±5.33)and(39.51±5.38)mm,respectively.The above indexes in the treatment group were significantly different from those in the control group(all P＜0.05).During the treatment,the adverse drug reactions in the treatment group mainly included nausea and vomiting,diarrhea,constipation.The adverse drug reactions in the control group mainly included hypoglycemia,diarrhea,headache.The total incidence of adverse drug reactions in the treatment group and the control group was 6.68％(4 cases/59 cases)and 9.09％(5 cases/55 cases),respectively,and the difference was not statistically significant(P＞0.05).After 3 months of follow-up,the total incidence of MACE in the treatment group and the control group was 5.08％and 18.18％,respectively,the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion Dapagliflozin has a significant efficacy in the treatment of AMI patients with T2DM,and it can enhance the effect of blood glucose control,reduce the myocardial injury,inhibit the ventricular remodeling,and reduce the risk of MACE,with high safety.

OBJECTIVE To establish high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)fingerprints of the extract of Fructus Li-gustri Lucidi-Ecliptae Herba and to identify the structure of its chemical constituents.METHODS The chromatographic separation was performed on ZORBAX Extend C18(250 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm)column with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and 0.1%formic acid solution in gradient elution mode at a flow rate of 1.0 mL·min-1.The optimum column temperature was set at 35℃,the detection wavelength was 265 nm,and the injection volume was 10 μL.The HPLC fingerprints of 15 batches of herb pair from different origins were established.Then,similarity evaluation,cluster analysis,and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis were carried out.The chemical structures of the constituents of the herb pair were identified based on the high-resolution mass spectrometry utilizing the UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS in positive and negative-ion modes.RESULTS As a result,the similarity of the 15 bat-ches of samples varied from 0.865 to 0.992.A total of 16 common peaks were identified in the fingerprints,and 7 of them were identi-fied by comparision with the reference substances.Furthermore,55 chemical compounds were detected,and 7 of them were accurately identified based on the reference substances,and the chemical structures of the rest 48 components were temporarily speculated.CON-CLUSION The fingerprint method established in this study is simple,reliable,and reproducible,and can be further used for the quality control of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi-Ecliptae Herba herb pair.The developed UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS method can be applied to identify the structures of chemical constituents in this herb pair and lay a foundation for further research.

Objective:To analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in children in Jiangsu Province from 2014 to 2023.Methods:The acute respiratory infection cases in children aged 0-14 years were selected from outpatient/emergency or inpatient departments in 2 surveillance sentinel hospitals, respectively, in Nanjing, Suzhou and Taizhou of Jiangsu from 1 July 2014 to 31 December 2023, and RSV nucleic acid test was conducted and the intensity of the RSV infection was accessed by WHO influenza epidemiological threshold method, and case information and clinical data were collected. χ2 test was used to compare the differences between groups, and the Bonferroni method was used for pairwise comparisons between groups. Results:In 4 946 cases of acute respiratory infections, the RSV positive rate was 8.21% (406/4 946), and the age M( Q1, Q3) of the cases was 1 (0, 3) years. The RSV positive rate was 10.92% (258/2 362) during 2014-2019 and 6.06% (118/1 948) during 2019-2023, the difference was significant ( χ2=31.74, P<0.001). RSV infection mainly occurred from October to March during 2014-2019, with the incidence peak in December and moderate or higher intensity. The seasonality of RSV infection was not obvious during 2019-2023, with low intensity. The RSV positive rate was highest in children in age group 0- years (17.85%, 151/846), and the positive rate declined gradually with age ( χ2=184.51, P<0.001). The RSV positive rate was higher in inpatient cases (9.84%, 244/2 480) than in outpatient/emergency cases (6.57%, 162/2 466) ( χ2=17.54, P<0.001). In the 155 RSV infection cases with complete clinical data, the clinical symptoms mainly included cough (99.35%, 154/155), fever (55.48%, 86/155), and shortness of breath (45.16%, 70/155). In the cases aged <6 months, the proportion of those with fever was low, but the proportion of those with shortness of breath, transferred to intensive care units, and receiving oxygen therapy were higher (all P<0.05). Children aged <6 months and those with underlying diseases were more likely to have severe RSV infection (all P<0.05). Conclusions:RSV infection in children in Jiangsu Province showed seasonal prevalence in winter from 2014 to 2019. Since 2020, the seasonal characteristics of the epidemic have changed, the epidemic period has been dispersed and the epidemic intensity has decreased. Infants <1 year old were at high risk for RSV infection, and those <6 months old and with underlying diseases might have severe infection.

Aim To predict the mechanism of Fufang Congrong Yizhi Capsules (FCYC) in the treatment of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) by network pharmacology method, and further validate it in combination with cellular experiments. Methods TCMSP, Gene-Cards, OMIM and TTD databases, Chinese Pharmacopoeia and related literature were used to screen the active ingredients of FCYC and the targets of MCI treatment. The TCM-compound-target-disease network and PPI of intersection targets were constructed, and the GO and KEGG analysis were performed by the Ehamb bioinformation platform. GO and KEGG analysis were performed through Yihanbo biological information platform. Cell model of MCI was established by PC-12 injury induced by Aβ

Dual-tracer PET imaging can provide more comprehensive clinical information for disease diagnosis. How to achieve dual-tracer imaging through single imaging session is one of the hot topics in the field of nuclear medicine. The key issues in achieving dual-tracer imaging with a single scan is the accurate separation of single-tracer information from the mixed tracer signal. In the last two decades, separation methods for different tracers have been proposed, and the injection interval between two tracers was reduced. This paper summarizes recent dual-tracer separation methods. The basic principles, features and advantages of separation methods are analyzed. Besides, the outlook on the future development of dual-tracer separation is also discussed in the present review.

Background Mercury, as a global heavy metal pollutant, poses a serious threat to human health. The toxicity of mercury depends on its chemical form. Distinguishing the forms of mercury in the environment is of great significance for mercury management and reducing human mercury exposure risks. Objective To establish a non-targeted metallomics method based on synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SRXRF) spectroscopy combined with machine learning to screen inorganic mercury (IHg) or methylmercury (MeHg) exposed rice plants. Methods Rice seeds were exposed to ultra-pure water (control group), 0.1 mg·L⁻¹ IHg (IHg group) or MeHg (MeHg group) solutions, respectively. After germination, the seedlings were cultured for 21 d, and rice leaves were collected, dried, weighed, and pressed. The content of metallome in rice leaves was determined by SRXRF. Machine learning models including soft independent modeling cluster analysis (SIMCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and logistic regression (LR) were used to classify the SRXRF full spectra of different groups and find the best model to distinguish rice exposed to IHg or MeHg. Besides, characteristic elements were selected as input parameters to optimize the model by improving computing speed and reducing model calculation. Results The SRXRF spectral intensities of the control group, IHg group, and MeHg group were different, indicating that exposure to IHg and MeHg can interfere the homeostasis of metallome in rice leaves. The results of principal component analysis (PCA) of SRXRF spectra showed that the control group could be well distinguished from the mercury exposed groups, but the IHg group and the MeHg group were mostly overlapped. The accuracy rates of the three models (PLS-DA, SIMCA, and LR) were higher than 98% for the training set, higher than 95% for the validation set, and higher than 94% for the cross-validation set. Besides, the accuracy of the LR model was higher than that of the PLS-DA model and the SIMCA model. Furthermore, the accuracy was 92.05% when using characteristic elements K, Ca, Mn, Fe, and Zn selected by LR to distinguish the IHg group and the MeHg group. Compared with the full spectra model, although the prediction accuracy of the characteristic spectral model decreased, the input parameters of the model decreased by 99.51%, and precision, recall, and F1 score were above 84.48%, indicating that the model could distinguish rice exposed to different mercury forms. Conclusion Non-targeted metallomics method based on SRXRF and machine learning can be applied for high-throughput screening of rice exposed to different forms of mercury and thus decrease the risks of people being exposed to mercury.

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of implantable D-shant atrial shunt device in patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH)and right heart failure.A 53-year-old female patient diagnosed with severe idiopathic PAH and right heart failure,her WHO FC grade was Ⅳ.The right heart catheter and implantation of D-shant atrial shunt device were performed under local anesthesia on November 30,2021.A 6 mm×4 cm peripheral artery balloon was selected to dilate the atrial septum and a D-shant atrial shunt device with a fixed 4 mm diameter orifice was implanted into the heart.The clinical symptoms and hemodynamics of the patient was improved after the intervention.Implantation of atrial shunt device as a palliative therapy to established a right to left shunt is another strategy for treating patients with severe PAH in late period,which has good effectiveness and safety.It could be the last replacement therapy to improve symptoms and prolonged lives to drug resistant and severe PAH patients.