ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Tangbikang dry paste in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy （DPN） based on the glyoxalase-1 （GLO-1）/advanced glycation end products （AGE）/receptor for advanced glycation end products （RAGE） pathway. MethodsA total of 56 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided， with eight assigned to the normal group. The remaining 48 rats were fed a high-fat diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin （STZ） to induce a type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM） model. Based on blood glucose levels， the rats were randomly assigned to the model group， Tanglin group （13.5 mg·kg^-1）， metformin group （135 mg·kg^-1）， and Tangbikang dry paste low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （3， 6， 12 g·kg^-1）. Successful modeling of DPN was confirmed by a decrease in mechanical pain threshold in the model group at week 4. Fasting blood glucose， body weight， and mechanical pain threshold were measured every 4 weeks. After 16 weeks of intervention， the pathological morphology of the sciatic nerve was observed using hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. The expression of RAGE， AGE， protein kinase C （PKC）， and collagen （COL） in the sciatic nerve was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA expression of RAGE， PKC， Toll-like receptor （TLR）， COL， and GLO-1 was detected using real-time quantitative PCR （Real-time PCR）. Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， creatinine （CREA）， urea （UREA）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showed significantly increased fasting blood glucose （P<0.01）， decreased body weight and mechanical pain threshold （P<0.01）， and elevated serum AST， ALT， CREA， UREA， IL-6， and TNF-α levels （P<0.01）. The expression of RAGE， AGE， and PKC in the sciatic nerve was significantly increased （P<0.01）， while COL expression was decreased （P<0.01）. The mRNA expression of TLR， RAGE， and PKC was upregulated （P<0.01）， whereas COL and GLO-1 mRNA levels were downregulated （P<0.01）. Histological examination showed irregular nerve morphology， axonal alterations， and myelin degeneration. Compared with the model group， fasting blood glucose levels in the Tangbikang dry paste high-dose group at all time points and in the medium-dose group at weeks 4 and 16 were significantly reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）. No significant changes in body weight were observed across all Tangbikang dose groups. The mechanical pain threshold was elevated at different time points after administration in all Tangbikang groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels were decreased in all dose groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The expression of RAGE， AGE， and PKC in the sciatic nerve was reduced （P<0.01）， while COL expression was increased （P<0.01）. The mRNA expression of TLR， RAGE， and PKC was downregulated （P<0.01）， whereas GLO-1 mRNA expression was upregulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Additionally， COL mRNA expression was significantly increased in the low- and high-dose groups （P<0.01）. Pathological changes in the sciatic nerve were milder in all Tangbikang groups compared to the model group. ConclusionTangbikang dry paste significantly improves DPN， and its mechanism may be associated with the regulation of the GLO-1/AGE/RAGE signaling pathway.

Diabetic nephropathy （DN） is a renal disorder induced by prolonged hyperglycemia， with major pathological features including persistent albuminuria， progressive decline in glomerular filtration rate， and elevated arterial blood pressure. As one of the most common and severe microvascular complications of diabetes， the pathogenesis of DN is complex and multifactorial. Without timely and effective treatment， DN may eventually progress to end-stage renal disease （ESRD）. Currently available therapeutic options are often associated with significant adverse effects and high costs， and a large number of patients still progress to ESRD due to delayed treatment. Therefore， there is an urgent need for safer and more effective treatment strategies to improve the living standards and enhance the survival and quality of life of patients with DN. Modern studies have demonstrated that the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） signaling pathway plays a critical role in oxidative stress， inflammatory responses， autophagy， and glycolysis， and is closely associated with the pathophysiological progression of DN. In recent years， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has achieved remarkable progress in the prevention and treatment of DN， supported by rich clinical experience and confirmed therapeutic efficacy. With its characteristics of multi-target， multi-component， and multi-pathway actions， along with minimal side effects， TCM can delay the progression of DN and alleviate patient symptoms. Among these mechanisms， the regulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway has gradually become a research hotspot. This paper systematically reviews the role and mechanisms of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in the onset and progression of DN based on extensive literature research， summarizes the latest research advances on the precise modulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway by Chinese medicine monomers， active constituents， Chinese patent medicines， and herbal compound formulas in the treatment of DN， aiming to provide a strong theoretical reference for the development of clinically effective agents for DN prevention and treatment.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Tangbikang dry paste in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy （DPN） based on the glyoxalase-1 （GLO-1）/advanced glycation end products （AGE）/receptor for advanced glycation end products （RAGE） pathway. MethodsA total of 56 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided， with eight assigned to the normal group. The remaining 48 rats were fed a high-fat diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin （STZ） to induce a type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM） model. Based on blood glucose levels， the rats were randomly assigned to the model group， Tanglin group （13.5 mg·kg^-1）， metformin group （135 mg·kg^-1）， and Tangbikang dry paste low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （3， 6， 12 g·kg^-1）. Successful modeling of DPN was confirmed by a decrease in mechanical pain threshold in the model group at week 4. Fasting blood glucose， body weight， and mechanical pain threshold were measured every 4 weeks. After 16 weeks of intervention， the pathological morphology of the sciatic nerve was observed using hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. The expression of RAGE， AGE， protein kinase C （PKC）， and collagen （COL） in the sciatic nerve was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA expression of RAGE， PKC， Toll-like receptor （TLR）， COL， and GLO-1 was detected using real-time quantitative PCR （Real-time PCR）. Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， creatinine （CREA）， urea （UREA）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showed significantly increased fasting blood glucose （P<0.01）， decreased body weight and mechanical pain threshold （P<0.01）， and elevated serum AST， ALT， CREA， UREA， IL-6， and TNF-α levels （P<0.01）. The expression of RAGE， AGE， and PKC in the sciatic nerve was significantly increased （P<0.01）， while COL expression was decreased （P<0.01）. The mRNA expression of TLR， RAGE， and PKC was upregulated （P<0.01）， whereas COL and GLO-1 mRNA levels were downregulated （P<0.01）. Histological examination showed irregular nerve morphology， axonal alterations， and myelin degeneration. Compared with the model group， fasting blood glucose levels in the Tangbikang dry paste high-dose group at all time points and in the medium-dose group at weeks 4 and 16 were significantly reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）. No significant changes in body weight were observed across all Tangbikang dose groups. The mechanical pain threshold was elevated at different time points after administration in all Tangbikang groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels were decreased in all dose groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The expression of RAGE， AGE， and PKC in the sciatic nerve was reduced （P<0.01）， while COL expression was increased （P<0.01）. The mRNA expression of TLR， RAGE， and PKC was downregulated （P<0.01）， whereas GLO-1 mRNA expression was upregulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Additionally， COL mRNA expression was significantly increased in the low- and high-dose groups （P<0.01）. Pathological changes in the sciatic nerve were milder in all Tangbikang groups compared to the model group. ConclusionTangbikang dry paste significantly improves DPN， and its mechanism may be associated with the regulation of the GLO-1/AGE/RAGE signaling pathway.

Diabetic nephropathy （DN） is a renal disorder induced by prolonged hyperglycemia， with major pathological features including persistent albuminuria， progressive decline in glomerular filtration rate， and elevated arterial blood pressure. As one of the most common and severe microvascular complications of diabetes， the pathogenesis of DN is complex and multifactorial. Without timely and effective treatment， DN may eventually progress to end-stage renal disease （ESRD）. Currently available therapeutic options are often associated with significant adverse effects and high costs， and a large number of patients still progress to ESRD due to delayed treatment. Therefore， there is an urgent need for safer and more effective treatment strategies to improve the living standards and enhance the survival and quality of life of patients with DN. Modern studies have demonstrated that the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） signaling pathway plays a critical role in oxidative stress， inflammatory responses， autophagy， and glycolysis， and is closely associated with the pathophysiological progression of DN. In recent years， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has achieved remarkable progress in the prevention and treatment of DN， supported by rich clinical experience and confirmed therapeutic efficacy. With its characteristics of multi-target， multi-component， and multi-pathway actions， along with minimal side effects， TCM can delay the progression of DN and alleviate patient symptoms. Among these mechanisms， the regulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway has gradually become a research hotspot. This paper systematically reviews the role and mechanisms of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in the onset and progression of DN based on extensive literature research， summarizes the latest research advances on the precise modulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway by Chinese medicine monomers， active constituents， Chinese patent medicines， and herbal compound formulas in the treatment of DN， aiming to provide a strong theoretical reference for the development of clinically effective agents for DN prevention and treatment.

Objective:To analyze the dermoscopic and reflectance confocal microscopic characteristics of erythema dyschromicum perstans (EDP), and to explore the value of dermoscopy and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) in the auxiliary diagnosis of EDP.Methods:Clinical data were retrospectively collected from 5 patients with EDP, who visited and were treated in the Department of Dermatology, Hangzhou Third People's Hospital from January to December 2020. Three typical lesions were chosen from each patient, and the 15 lesions were examined by dermoscopy and RCM. Skin specimens were taken from 2 cases at the observation sites for histopathological examination.Results:Among the 5 EDP patients, there were 3 males and 2 females, with an average age of 40.8 years (range, 24 - 62 years) and an average disease course of 15.7 months (range, 3 - 48 months). Disseminated Greyish-green patches on the trunk were observed in 3 cases, 1 case presented with lesions located on the bilateral upper limbs, and 1 presented with a solitary lesion on the neck. Dermoscopy showed that all 15 lesions exhibited a black pepper-like structure. RCM revealed focal liquefaction degeneration of basal cells in all 15 lesions. Histopathological examination of 2 cases showed focal liquefaction degeneration of basal cells and scattered pigmentophages in the dermal papilla.Conclusion:EDP has typical dermoscopic and RCM characteristics, which could provide a basis for its diagnosis and differential diagnosis.

The awake prone position plays an important role in the treatment of hypoxemia and the improvement of respiratory distress symptoms in non-intubated patients. It is widely used in clinical practice because of its simple operation, safety, and economy. To enable clinical medical staff to scientifically and normatively implement prone position for awake patients without intubation, the committees of consensus formulation, guided by evidence-based methodology and Delphi method, conducted literature search, literature quality evaluation and evidence synthesis around seven topics, including indications and contraindications, evaluation, implementation, monitoring and safety management, termination time, complication prevention and health education of awake prone position. After two rounds of expert letter consultation, Expert consensus on implementation strategy of awake prone positioning for non-intubated patients in China (2023) was formulated, and provide guidance for clinical medical staff.
Humans ; Consensus ; Prone Position ; Wakefulness ; China ; Dyspnea

Objective To apply the best evidence of airway clearance for ICU patients and promote an application of the best evidence in clinical practice to promte nuring quality.Methods The best evidence of airway clearance for ICU patients was summarised.Based on the best evidence,a system of 11 review indicators was established for clinical baseline review in combination with clinical scenario analysis and professional judgment according to the principle of operability,measurability,and understandability.On the basis of the results of review and the analysis of obstacle factors,strategies of airway clearance for ICU patients were proposed and implemented in clinical practice.Between September and December 2022,72 hospitalised patients and 30 nursing staff in the ICU of a general hospital in Wuhan were recruited in the study.Between September and October 2022,routine nursing care for airway clearances was given to the patients,and evidence-based nursing care for airway clearance was offered to the ICU patients between November and December 2022.Clinical pulmonary infection score,nursing staff's knowledge of airway clearance and implementation rate of review indicators were compared before and after the application of evidence-based nursing.Results All of the patients went through the study.After the application of evidence-based nursing practice,the clinical pulmonary infection score was decreased from(4.94±1.66)to(4.14±1.68).The score of airway clearance knowledge was increased from(49.17±9.38)points to(82.17±10.56)points.The implementation rate of the 11 indicators of evidence-based practice before the evidence-based practice was 0～80.00%,and it was significantly improved up to 96.67%～100.00%after the evidence-based practice(all P<0.05).Conclusion Implementation of evidence-based nursing practice in the airway clearance for ICU patients can reduce clinical pulmonary infections in ICU patients,improve the knowledge of nurses in cognition of airway clearance hence to improve the quality of nursing and promote the recovery of patients.

Objective:To explore the relationship between thyroid parenchymal echogenicity abnormalities and thyroid function evolution in health examination population.Methods:It was a cohort study. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, participants were selected from individuals who underwent thyroid color ultrasound and thyroid function tests at the Health Management Center of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from January to December 2017. Data including age, gender, smoking history, alcohol consumption history, personal medical history, and thyroid function re-examination information were collected. Follow-up was conducted until the occurrence of thyroid function abnormalities or until the end of the follow-up period. The cumulative incidence rate and incidence density of thyroid function abnormalities were evaluated. Cox regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between thyroid parenchymal echogenicity abnormalities and thyroid function evolution.Results:A total of 6 754 participants were included in this study, with an average age of (45.80±12.12) years, and females accounted for 42.7%. The mean follow-up time was 1.82 years, with a cumulative follow-up duration of 12 263 person-years. During the follow-up period, 154 new cases of thyroid function abnormalities occurred, with a cumulative incidence rate of 2.28% (95% CI: 1.94%-2.66%) and an incidence density of 12.56/1 000 person-years (95% CI: 10.66/1 000-14.69/1 000 person-years). The multivariate adjusted Cox regression analysis showed that individuals with thyroid parenchymal echogenicity abnormalities had a significantly increased risk of developing isolated thyroid stimulating hormone abnormalities and thyroid function abnormalities, with HR(95% CI) of 3.09 (2.02-4.73) and 2.92(1.96-4.33), respectively, both P<0.001. Stratified analysis showed that, except for body mass index <18.5 kg/m 2, current smoking, and current alcohol consumption, all other stratified factors showed a significant increase in the risk of thyroid function abnormalities in individuals with thyroid parenchymal echogenicity abnormalities. Conclusion:Thyroid parenchymal echogenicity abnormalities are important risk factors for the evolution of thyroid function abnormalities. Continuous monitoring of thyroid function should be given due attention.

Objective:To explore the risk factors for atrial fibrillation(AF)in elderly Chinese patients with severe valvular heart disease(VHD).Methods:This was a cross-sectional study and consecutively enrolled 978 elderly patients with severe VHD diagnosed in 18 Class A tertiary hospitals across the country from September 2021 to March 2022, including 322(32.9%)patients with concurrent AF.Clinical and echocardiographic data were collected to analyze the risk factors for AF.Results:Among VHD patients, compared with the non-AF group, the AF group was older, had a higher female ratio, higher diastolic blood pressure, higher proportions with cerebrovascular disease and chronic kidney disease, lower serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol and higher serum creatinine, amino-terminal A-type natriuretion peptide and glycosylated hemoglobin.As for echocardiographic parameters, the left atrial diameter was larger, the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, interventricular septum thickness, and left ventricular posterior wall thickness were smaller in the AF group than in the non-AF group.All of the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05). The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the left atrial anteroposterior diameter increased( OR=1.166, P<0.01), the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter decreased( OR=0.929, P<0.01), and advanced age( OR=1.051, P<0.05)was an independent risk factor for elderly VHD patients with concurrent AF. Conclusions:In elderly patients with severe VHD, advanced age, an increased left atrial anteroposterior diameter, and a decreased left ventricular end-diastolic diameter were independently associated with AF.Therefore, evaluation of cardiac structure and regular follow-up should be performed in elderly patients with severe VHD for early intervention to reduce the incidence of AF.

Objective:To analyze dermoscopic and reflectance confocal microscopic characteristics of acanthosis nigricans, and to assess the value of dermoscopy and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) in the auxiliary diagnosis of acanthosis nigricans.Methods:A total of 63 patients with acanthosis nigricans were collected from Department of Dermatology, the Third People′s Hospital of Hangzhou from January 2018 to December 2019, and 5 healthy individuals served as controls. Two lesions on the neck and axilla were examined with dermoscopy and RCM separately in each patient. Biopsies were carried out at the sites evaluated by dermoscopy and RCM in 3 patients, followed by routine histopathological examination.Results:Dermoscopy showed papilloma-like hyperplasia in 126 (100%) lesions, "fat finger" structures in 119 (94.4%) , and "gully" structures in 120 (95.2%) . RCM showed hyperpigmentation in the basal layers, downward extension and twisting of dermal papillary rings and "gully" structures in 126 (100%) lesions, moderately to highly refractive particles in the dermal papillary rings in 87 (69.0%) .Conclusion:Acanthosis nigricans has typical dermoscopic and reflectance confocal microscopic characteristics, which can provide a basis for its diagnosis and differential diagnosis.