Piper nigrum L. is an evergreen climbing vine, which belongs to the genus Piperia in the Piperaceae family. Piper nigrum L., which known as the “king of spices”, is used as both food and medicine. The main active substances in Piper nigrum L. are alkaloids mainly composed of amides, and essential oil, as well as phenolic compounds. In this paper, the chemical compositions, especially amide alkaloids, and their biological activities of Piper nigrum L. were summarized. These studies showed that Piper nigrum L., as a medicinal and food plant, had a wide range of biological activities and was deserved further research and in-depth utilization.

Glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px） is a key selenoenzyme that protects the body from oxidative damage. A series of small molecular organic selenium compounds have been designed and synthesized as functional mimics of GPx, among which isoselenazolones are the most widely studied. Taking ebselen as a representative, the catalytic mechanism of isoselenazolones in mimicing GSH-Px activity in vivo, the therapeutic effects of isoselenazolones in stroke, sensorineurium deafness and tinnitus, treatmentresistant depression （TRD） and coronavirus disease 2019 （COVID-19）, and research on their chemical synthesis methods were summarized and discussed in this paper.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) is one of important factors against from the damage under oxidative stress in human body. A high proportion of East Asians carry ALDH2 inactive mutation gene. There are many diseases closely related to ALDH2, such as cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and liver diseases. Recent studies also have found that ALDH2 is associated with ferroptosis. Therefore, ALDH2 has becoming a potential target for the treatment of the above related diseases. Several types of small molecule activators with potential value of clinical application have been reported. The research progress on the structure and function of ALDH2 , the relationship with human diseases and its activators were summarized in this paper.

Objective:To investigate the effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors on reducing residual lymph node metastasis in patients with gastric cancer.Methods:The cohort of this retrospective study comprised patients from Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University and the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University who had undergone systemic treatment prior to gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy and had achieved Grade 1 primary tumor regression (TRG1) from January 2014 to December 2023. After exclusion of patients who had undergone preoperative radiotherapy, data of 58 patients (Nanfang Hospital: 46; First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University: 12) were analyzed. These patients were allocated to preoperative chemotherapy (Chemotherapy group, N=36 cases) and preoperative immunotherapy plus chemotherapy groups (Immunotherapy group, N=22 cases). There were no significant differences between these groups in sex, age, body mass index, diabetes, tumor location, pathological type, Lauren classification, tumor differentiation, pretreatment depth of invasion by primary tumor, pretreatment lymph node stage, pretreatment clinical stage, mismatch repair protein status, number of preoperative treatment cycles, or duration of preoperative treatment (all P>0.05). The primary outcome measure was postoperative lymph node downstaging. Secondary outcomes included postoperative depth of invasion by tumor, number of lymph nodes examined, and factors affecting residual lymph node metastasis status. Results:Lymph node downstaging was achieved significantly more often in the Immunotherapy group than the Chemotherapy group (pN0: 90.9% [20/22] vs. 61.1% [22/36]; pN1: 4.5% [1/22] vs. 36.1% [13/36]; pN2: 4.5% [1/22) vs. 0; pN3: 0 vs. 2.8% [1/36], Z=-2.315, P=0.021). There were no significant difference between the two groups in number of lymph nodes examined (40.5±16.3 vs. 40.8±17.5, t=0.076, P=0.940) or postoperative depth of invasion by primary tumor (pT1a: 50.0% [11/22] vs. 30.6% [11/36]; pT1b: 13.6% [3/22] vs. 19.4% [7/36]; pT2: 13.6% [3/22] vs. 13.9% [5/36]; pT3: 13.6% [3/22] vs. 25.0% [9/36]; pT4a: 9.1% [2/22] vs. 11.1% [4/36], Z=-1.331, P=0.183). Univariate analysis revealed that both preoperative treatment regimens were associated with residual lymph node metastasis status in patients whose primary tumor regression was TRG1 (χ 2=6.070, P=0.014). Multivariate analysis incorporated the following factors: pretreatment depth of invasion by primary tumor, pretreatment lymph node stage, pretreatment clinical stage, number of preoperative treatment cycles, and preoperative treatment duration. We found that a combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy administered preoperatively was an independent protective factor for reducing residual lymph node metastases in study patients whose primary tumor regression was TRG1 (OR=0.147, 95%CI: 0.026–0.828, P=0.030). Conclusion:Compared with preoperative chemotherapy alone, a combination of preoperative immunotherapy and chemotherapy achieved greater reduction of residual lymph node metastases in the study patients who achieved TRG1 tumor regression in their primary lesions.

The surveillance data of new cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2021, in Tengzhou City, Shandong Province, were used to analyze the incidence rate of AMI and its change trend among residents. The age and gender standardized incidence rate was calculated based on the 7th National Population Census 2020. The Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to analyze the trend of onset time and age. From 2013 to 2021, the crude and standardized incidence rate of total AMI in Tengzhou City declined from 130.07/100 000 and 161.12/100 000 to 76.15/100 000 and 72.77/100 000 ( Z=-13.785 and -20.822, both P<0.001). The crude and standardized incidence rates of males were higher than those of females. In 2016, males aged 45-54 years old and females aged 35-64 years old increased by 33.33%, 103.65%, 106.30%, and 95.75% compared to 2015, and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=6.512, 4.965, 25.115, and 46.004, all P<0.05). The incidence rate of AMI in men aged<35 and 35-44 years old had an upward trend. From 2013 to 2021, the incidence rate of AMI decreased by 55.15% in urban areas and 36.59% in rural areas ( Z=-8.529 and -11.235, both P<0.001).

Objective:To investigate the effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors on reducing residual lymph node metastasis in patients with gastric cancer.Methods:The cohort of this retrospective study comprised patients from Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University and the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University who had undergone systemic treatment prior to gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy and had achieved Grade 1 primary tumor regression (TRG1) from January 2014 to December 2023. After exclusion of patients who had undergone preoperative radiotherapy, data of 58 patients (Nanfang Hospital: 46; First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University: 12) were analyzed. These patients were allocated to preoperative chemotherapy (Chemotherapy group, N=36 cases) and preoperative immunotherapy plus chemotherapy groups (Immunotherapy group, N=22 cases). There were no significant differences between these groups in sex, age, body mass index, diabetes, tumor location, pathological type, Lauren classification, tumor differentiation, pretreatment depth of invasion by primary tumor, pretreatment lymph node stage, pretreatment clinical stage, mismatch repair protein status, number of preoperative treatment cycles, or duration of preoperative treatment (all P>0.05). The primary outcome measure was postoperative lymph node downstaging. Secondary outcomes included postoperative depth of invasion by tumor, number of lymph nodes examined, and factors affecting residual lymph node metastasis status. Results:Lymph node downstaging was achieved significantly more often in the Immunotherapy group than the Chemotherapy group (pN0: 90.9% [20/22] vs. 61.1% [22/36]; pN1: 4.5% [1/22] vs. 36.1% [13/36]; pN2: 4.5% [1/22) vs. 0; pN3: 0 vs. 2.8% [1/36], Z=-2.315, P=0.021). There were no significant difference between the two groups in number of lymph nodes examined (40.5±16.3 vs. 40.8±17.5, t=0.076, P=0.940) or postoperative depth of invasion by primary tumor (pT1a: 50.0% [11/22] vs. 30.6% [11/36]; pT1b: 13.6% [3/22] vs. 19.4% [7/36]; pT2: 13.6% [3/22] vs. 13.9% [5/36]; pT3: 13.6% [3/22] vs. 25.0% [9/36]; pT4a: 9.1% [2/22] vs. 11.1% [4/36], Z=-1.331, P=0.183). Univariate analysis revealed that both preoperative treatment regimens were associated with residual lymph node metastasis status in patients whose primary tumor regression was TRG1 (χ 2=6.070, P=0.014). Multivariate analysis incorporated the following factors: pretreatment depth of invasion by primary tumor, pretreatment lymph node stage, pretreatment clinical stage, number of preoperative treatment cycles, and preoperative treatment duration. We found that a combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy administered preoperatively was an independent protective factor for reducing residual lymph node metastases in study patients whose primary tumor regression was TRG1 (OR=0.147, 95%CI: 0.026–0.828, P=0.030). Conclusion:Compared with preoperative chemotherapy alone, a combination of preoperative immunotherapy and chemotherapy achieved greater reduction of residual lymph node metastases in the study patients who achieved TRG1 tumor regression in their primary lesions.

The surveillance data of new cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2021, in Tengzhou City, Shandong Province, were used to analyze the incidence rate of AMI and its change trend among residents. The age and gender standardized incidence rate was calculated based on the 7th National Population Census 2020. The Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to analyze the trend of onset time and age. From 2013 to 2021, the crude and standardized incidence rate of total AMI in Tengzhou City declined from 130.07/100 000 and 161.12/100 000 to 76.15/100 000 and 72.77/100 000 ( Z=-13.785 and -20.822, both P<0.001). The crude and standardized incidence rates of males were higher than those of females. In 2016, males aged 45-54 years old and females aged 35-64 years old increased by 33.33%, 103.65%, 106.30%, and 95.75% compared to 2015, and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=6.512, 4.965, 25.115, and 46.004, all P<0.05). The incidence rate of AMI in men aged<35 and 35-44 years old had an upward trend. From 2013 to 2021, the incidence rate of AMI decreased by 55.15% in urban areas and 36.59% in rural areas ( Z=-8.529 and -11.235, both P<0.001).

Objective:To analyze the changing trend of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) incidence among residents with different characteristics during 9 years of comprehensive hypertension prevention and control (hypertension prevention and control) in Tengzhou from 2013 to 2021.Methods:From January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2021, the new ICH cases collected by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Tengzhou City were analyzed to calculate the incidence of ICH, and the trend of its distribution was analyzed among residents with different ages, sexes, and between urban and rural areas. The registered population information came from Tengzhou Public Security Bureau. Age and sex standardized incidence was calculated based on the 7th National Population Census in 2020. The Cochran-Armitage test was used to analyze the time and age trends of the incidence.Results:The overall ICH crude and standardized incidence in Tengzhou City decreased from 97.30/100 000 to 52.13/100 000 ( Z=-9.93, P<0.001) and 119.30/100 000 to 50.69/100 000 ( Z=-15.40, P<0.001) from 2013 to 2021, and both elevated to form a single peak in 2020, with 22.58% ( χ 2=24.02, P<0.001) and 18.09% ( χ 2=17.08, P<0.001) higher than in 2019, respectively. The trends in male and female incidence over the same period were similar to the overall trends, and the incidence was higher in males than in females in all years. The incidence of ICH increased with age in all years. The difference of increase in male incidence rate in 2020 was statistically significant in three age groups ≥45 years compared with 2019 (36.29%, 23.57% and 16.18%, respectively, χ 2=6.73, 4.65, 4.00, P<0.001). The incidence of ICH decreased by 70.07% and 36.23% ( Z=18.44, 5.22, P<0.001) in urban and rural areas respectively from 2013 to 2021, whereas increased by 34.15% ( χ 2=10.88, P<0.01) and 22.08% ( χ 2=18.63, P<0.001) in 2020 compared with 2019 separately. Conclusions:The incidence of ICH in Tengzhou from 2013 to 2021 showed a significant downward trend, with the decrease in the incidence of ICH in women exceeding that in men. The decrease in the incidence of ICH in urban areas exceeded that in rural areas, and male morbidity seemingly had a younger trend.

Objective:To investigate the temporal trend of the mortality rate of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) among residents with different characteristics during the comprehensive prevention and control of hypertension in Tengzhou, Shandong Province from 2013 to 2021.Methods:Comprehensive prevention and control of hypertension was conducted in Tengzhou, Shandong Province from 2013 to 2021. ICH mortality rate was calculated from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2021. ICH mortality monitoring data from Tengzhou, Shandong Province was used to analyze the temporal trend of ICH mortality among residents with different characteristics. The registered residence population came from the Public Security Bureau of Tengzhou, Shandong Province. The age and gender standardized mortality rate was calculated based on the data of China's seventh population census in 2020. The temporal and age trends of mortality were analyzed using Cochran Armitage Trend Tests.Results:From 2013 to 2021, the overall crude and standardized mortality rates of ICH in Tengzhou, Shandong Province decreased from 50.51/100 000 and 63.21/100 000 to 17.51/100 000 and 16.74/100 000, respectively ( Z=-11.013 and -15.426, P<0.001), with an average annual mortality rate decrease of 12.41% and 15.30%, respectively. The overall crude and standardized mortality rates in 2017 peaked compared to 2016, mainly due to an increase of 32.94% and 30.92% in male ICH crude and standardized mortality rates, respectively ( χ2=12.328 and 15.854, P<0.05). The mortality rate of ICH increased with age, and the decreasing trend over time became increasingly evident with age. The mortality rate of ICH in the ≥65 year old age group decreased by 77.94% over 9 years ( Z=-14.065, P<0.001). In 2017, the mortality rate of ICH in the male age group ≥65 years old and female 45-54 years old increased by 31.13% and 125.79% compared to 2016 respectively, there were statistically significant differences ( χ2=8.877 and 5.421, P<0.05). In 2021, the mortality rates of urban and rural ICH decreased by 93.22% and 46.40% compared to 2013, respectively ( Z=-13.279 and -5.393, P<0.001), with an average annual decrease of 28.56% and 7.50%, respectively. The ICH mortality rate in rural areas increased by 30.54% in 2017 compared to 2016 ( χ2=16.086, P<0.001); after 2018, the mortality rate of ICH began to be higher than that of urban areas ( χ2=33.400 and 67.305, P<0.001). Conclusions:The ICH mortality rate in Tengzhou, Shandong Province has shown a significant downward trend over time, with male mortality rate higher than female mortality rate and rural mortality rate higher than urban areas. This suggests that the key attention should be paid to both male and rural areas.

Objective:To investigate changes in serum C3d and C5b-9 levels in elderly patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy(IMN)and their correlations with prognosis.Methods:Two hundred thirty-one elderly patients with IMN and 96 non-elderly patients with IMN confirmed by kidney biopsy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2015 to May 2017 were enrolled.During the same period, 118 healthy individuals receiving health checkups were included as controls.Patients were divided into the low C3d group( n=112)and the high C3d group( n=113)according to the median level of serum C3d.Serum C3d and C5b-9 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results:Serum C3d and C5b-9 levels in elderly IMN patients were 0.23(0.15, 0.45)mg/L and 0.28(0.20, 1.23)mg/L, respectively, which were higher than those in healthy controls[0.18(0.13, 0.22)mg/L, 0.22(0.16, 0.26)mg/L, respectively]( Z=-4.261 and -6.213, P<0.001). Serum C3d levels in elderly and non-elderly IMN patients were correlated negatively with the estimated glomerular filtration rate( r=-0.155 and -0.426, P=0.019 and 0.000), but positively with serum creatinine, anti-phospholipase A2 receptor(PLA2R)antibody levels and 24 h urinary protein( r=0.184, 0.326, 0.407, 0.321 and 0.145, P=0.005, 0.001, 0.000, 0.001 and 0.027). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the cumulative renal survival rate in elderly IMN patients was lower in the high C3d group than in the low C3d group(47.8% vs.70.8%, Log Rank χ2=7.399, P=0.007). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that high C3d levels were an independent risk factor for poor renal outcomes in elderly IMN patients( HR=2.288, 95% CI: 1.082-4.839, P=0.030). Conclusions:High serum C3d levels are associated with increases in urinary protein excretion and anti-PLA2R antibody levels, renal function decline, and poor renal outcomes in elderly IMN patients.