This study aims to explore the impact of host plants on the quality of Taxilli Herba and provide a theoretical basis for the quality control of Taxilli Herba. The components of Taxilli Herba from three different host plants(Morus alba, Salix babylonica, and Cinnamomum cassia) and its 3 hosts(mulberry branch, willow branch, and cinnamon branch) were detected by widely targeted metabolomics based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS). Principal component analysis(PCA), orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA), and Venn diagram were employed for analysis. A total of 717 metabolites were detected in Taxilli Herba from the three host plants and the branches of these host plants by UPLC-MS/MS. The results of PCA and OPLS-DA of Taxilli Herba from the three different host plants showed an obvious separation trend due to the different effects of host plants. The Venn diagram showed that there were 32, 8, and 26 characteristic metabolites in samples of Taxilli Herba from M. alba host, S. babylonica host, and C. cassia host, respectively. It was found by comparing the characteristic metabolites of Taxilli Herba and its hosts that each host transmits its characteristic components to Taxilli Herba, so that the Taxilli Herba contains the characteristic components of the host. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway analysis showed that the differential metabolites of Taxilli Herba from the three hosts were mainly enriched in flavonoid biosynthesis, arginine and proline metabolism, and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathways. Furthermore, the differential metabolites enriching pathways of Taxilli Herba from the three hosts were different depending on the host. In a word, host plants have a significant impact on the metabolites of Taxilli Herba, and it may be an important factor for the quality of Taxilli Herba.
Metabolomics/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Quality Control ; Salix/chemistry* ; Cinnamomum aromaticum/metabolism* ; Principal Component Analysis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between the timing of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI) and prognosis. METHODS: This is a single-center retrospective cohort study. Patients who received TEVAR for BTAI at our institution from October 2016 to September 2023 were divided into 2 categories depending on the injury severity score (ISS) (≤ 25 vs. > 25) and when the TEVAR was performed for BTAI (within 24 h vs. after 24 h), respectively. The analysis included all patients who received TEVAR treatment after being diagnosed with BTAI through whole-body CT angiography. Patients treated with open repair and non-operative management were excluded. After propensity-score matching for various factors, outcomes during hospitalization and follow-up were compared. These factors included demographics, comorbidities, concomitant injuries, cause and location of aortic injury, Glasgow coma scale score, society for vascular surgery grading, hemoglobin concentration, creatinine concentration, shock, systolic blood pressure, and heart rate at admission. The comparison was conducted using SPSS 26 software. Continuous variables were presented as either the mean ± standard deviation or median (Q₁, Q₃), and were compared using either the t-test or the Mann-Whitney U test. Categorical variables were expressed as n (%), and comparisons were made between the 2 groups using the χ² test or Fisher's exact test. Statistical significance was defined as a 2-sided p < 0.05. RESULTS: In total, 110 patients were involved in the study, with 65 (59.1%) patients having ISS scores > 25 and 32 (29.1%) receiving immediate TEVAR. The perioperative overall mortality rate in the group with ISS > 25 was significantly higher than that in the group with ISS ≤ 25 (11 (16.9%) vs. 2 (4.4%), p < 0.001). Upon admission, the elective group exhibited a notably higher Glasgow coma scale score (median (Q₁, Q₃)) compared to the immediate group (15 (12, 15) vs. 13.5 (9, 15), p = 0.039), while the creatinine concentration (median (Q₁, Q₃)) at admission was significantly higher in the immediate group (90.5 (63.8, 144.0) vs. 71.5 (58.3, 80.8), p = 0.012). The final sample included 52 matched patients. Complications occurred significantly less frequently in the elective group compared to the immediate group (16 (50.0%) vs. 3 (10.0%), p < 0.001). Single-factor analysis of variance showed that complications in hospitalized patients were significantly associated with immediate TEVAR as the sole independent risk factor (odds ratio: 9.000, 95% confidence interval: 2.266-35.752, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION In this propensity-score matched analysis of patients undergoing TEVAR for BTAI, elective TEVAR was significantly associated with a lower risk of complication rates. In this study using propensity-score matching, patients who underwent elective TEVAR for BTAI had lower complication rates than immediate TEVAR.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Aorta, Thoracic/surgery* ; Female ; Endovascular Procedures/methods* ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating/mortality* ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Aged ; Injury Severity Score ; Elective Surgical Procedures ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Endovascular Aneurysm Repair

Hearing loss is the most prevalent disabling disease. Cochlear implantation（CI） serves as the primary intervention for severe to profound hearing loss. This consensus systematically explores the value of genetic diagnosis in the pre-operative assessment and efficacy prognosis for CI. Drawing upon domestic and international research and clinical experience, it proposes an evidence-based medicine three-tiered prognostic classification system（Favorable, Marginal, Poor）. The consensus focuses on common hereditary non-syndromic hearing loss（such as that caused by mutations in genes like GJB2, SLC26A4, OTOF, LOXHD1） and syndromic hereditary hearing loss（such as Jervell & Lange-Nielsen syndrome and Waardenburg syndrome）, which are closely associated with congenital hearing loss, analyzing the impact of their pathological mechanisms on CI outcomes. The consensus provides recommendations based on multiple round of expert discussion and voting. It emphasizes that genetic diagnosis can optimize patient selection, predict prognosis, guide post-operative rehabilitation, offer stratified management strategies for patients with different genotypes, and advance the application of precision medicine in the field of CI.
Humans ; Cochlear Implantation ; Prognosis ; Hearing Loss/surgery* ; Consensus ; Connexin 26 ; Mutation ; Sulfate Transporters ; Connexins/genetics*

Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is an inherited disease caused by a deficiency of the enzyme arylsulfatase A (ARSA). Lentivirus-modified autologous hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy (HSCGT) has recently been approved for clinical use in pre and early symptomatic children with MLD to increase ARSA activity. Unfortunately, this advanced therapy is not available for most patients with MLD who have progressed to more advanced symptomatic stages at diagnosis. Patients with late-onset juvenile MLD typically present with a slower neurological progression of symptoms and represent a significant burden to the economy and healthcare system, whereas those with early onset infantile MLD die within a few years of symptom onset. We conducted a pilot study to determine the safety and benefit of HSCGT in patients with postsymptomatic juvenile MLD and report preliminary results. The safety profile of HSCGT was favorable in this long-term follow-up over 9 years. The most common adverse events (AEs) within 2 months of HSCGT were related to busulfan conditioning, and all AEs resolved. No HSCGT-related AEs and no evidence of distorted hematopoietic differentiation during long-term follow-up for up to 9.6 years. Importantly, to date, patients have maintained remarkably improved ARSA activity with a stable disease state, including increased Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score and decreased magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesion score. This long-term follow-up pilot study suggests that HSCGT is safe and provides clinical benefit to patients with postsymptomatic juvenile MLD.
Humans ; Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic/genetics* ; Pilot Projects ; Genetic Therapy/methods* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Male ; Follow-Up Studies ; Female ; Lentivirus/genetics* ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Cerebroside-Sulfatase/metabolism* ; Adolescent

Comprehensive improvement in course teaching quality is an important link in deepening the reform of undergraduate education and teaching. Since 2018, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, has implemented the collective lesson preparation system of "two meetings, seven decisions, and three preparation sessions" for undergraduate clinical courses, thereby effectively implementing subject cooperation, organizational guidance, and resource integration among clinical teachers and determining the key elements of the course through "teaching, learning, and exam preparations" before class. In the process of course operation, the concept of quality control based on plan-do-check-act cycle is deeply integrated with the collective lesson preparation system, and active implementation of the whole-process quality control loop of planning (plan), organization and implementation (do), inspection of results (check), and treatment and improvement (action) has effectively improved the teaching quality of undergraduate clinical courses.

This paper applied gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), network pharmacology and nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectroscopy (¹H NMR) metabolomics techniques to study the material basis and mechanism of action of Ning Shen Essential Oil in anti-insomnia. The main volatile components of Ning Shen Essential Oil were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the insomnia-related targets were predicted using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systematic Pharmacology Database and Analytical Platform (TCMSP) and the databases of GeneCards, OMIM and Drugbank. The insomnia model of rats was replicated by intraperitoneal injection of 4-chloro-DL-phenylalanine (PCPA). Animal experiments were approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Ethics No.: SDUTCM20221025010). The modulating effect of Compound Ning Shen Essential Oil on anxiety behavior of rats was evaluated by behavioral related indexes. The serum levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenotropic corticotropic hormone (ACTH) and melatonin (MT) were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Rat serum and hippocampus were taken for nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) metabolomics to detect the changes of endogenous metabolites in rat serum hippocampus, to designate the differential metabolites and to construct metabolic pathways. The results showed that the exercise distance in the open field experiment and the number of times and time to enter the open arm in the elevated cross maze experiment of the rats in the model group were significantly reduced (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The behavioral indexes of rats improved to different degrees after the administration of Ning Shen Essential Oil. The serum CRH and ACTH levels of rats in the model group increased significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the MT level decreased significantly (P < 0.01); After the intervention, serum CRH and ACTH levels were reduced to different degrees, and MT levels could be regressed. ¹H NMR metabolomics screened 10 potential biomarkers related to insomnia, which involved in 6 potential metabolic pathways. A total of 35 components of Ning Shen Essential Oil were detected by GC-MS, the main component targets of Ning Shen Essential Oil and insomnia disease targets were intersected, a total of 172 intersecting genes were screened, and 26 core targets were identified. The study demonstrated that Ning Shen Essential Oil had protective effects against PCPA-induced insomnia in rats, which was probably correlated with regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) related hormones and metabolism of amino acids, lipids and choline.

Human physiological indicators have become an important standard for assessing health in modern society.Traditional detection methods often require a separate laboratory,complex operation process and long detection time,so it is urgent to develop portable,fast and accurate on-site detection technologies for bioanalysis.Point-of-care testing(POCT),which differs from traditional laboratory testing,can realize the rapid in situ detection of biomarkers without the complicated analytical process of the laboratory.Smartphones,which are an essential tool in our daily life,not only have independent operating systems and built-in storage functions,but also have high-definition cameras,which have great application potential in POCT visualization.The combination of various biosensing technologies and smartphones has developed into a new direction in the field of POCT.This review mainly introduced the research progress of smartphone-based visual biosensors in POCT in recent years,including colorimetric sensors,fluorescence sensors,chemiluminescence sensors and electrochemiluminescence sensors.Finally,the problems faced by smart-phone-based visual biosensors in the application of POCT were summarized,and their future development was prospected.

ObjectiveThe chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) technique has become a valuable tool in diagnosing metabolic changes associated with cerebral and systemic diseases, leveraging the calculation of compounds with exchangeable protons in proximity to water molecules. Specifically, the amide proton transfer (APT) CEST technique has shown promise in diagnosing cerebral strokes and tumors by comparing altered endogenous proteins or peptides with normal tissues. Reduced field of view (rFOV) imaging technology has been widely used in the diagnosis of small organ lesions in the body. In this study, we aim to apply the rFOV imaging to identify CEST signals in the rectum, investigating the potential utility of rFOV technique in clinical diagnosis of rectal diseases and providing metabolic insights for chemoradiotherapy. MethodsMRI images of eleven healthy volunteers were acquired using transverse Full_FOV and rFOV CEST imaging on a 3T scanner. The resolution was set at 2.5×2.5×6 mm³ and 1.5×1.5×6 mm³ for Full_FOV or the rFOV method. Saturation powers of 0.7 μT and 2 μT were applied. For the 2 μT saturation, MTRasym at ±3.5 ppm was employed, while for 0.7 μT saturation, Lorentzian difference was used for CEST quantification of the contrast maps and curves. ResultsThe rFOV method has the advantage of halving the scan time while maintaining the same contrast as the Full_FOV method. When compared to Full_FOV methods, rFOV methods exhibited nearly identical Z_spec and very similar MTRasym curves. Additionally, rFOV with a 1.5 mm×1.5 mm in-plane resolution could be achieved in approximately 3 min. rFOV method displayed better structural details for the entire rectum, including CEST contrast maps and quantitative curves. ConclusionCEST MRI proves valuable in diagnosing rectal diseases, and employing the rFOV technique could provide higher spatial and temporal resolution. CEST MRI should be the preferred choice for offering improved diagnostic capabilities with its potential for rectal disease diagnosis.

BACKGROUND:With the variation of disease treatment modes and the in-depth research on senile osteoporosis in recent years,increasing studies have confirmed that traditional Chinese medicine has a significant effect on the prevention and treatment of senile osteoporosis. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of Yishen Gushu Formula on bone metabolic markers in patients with osteoporosis of kidney deficiency and blood stasis type. METHODS:102 patients with senile osteoporosis of kidney deficiency and blood stasis type who were treated at Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from July 2020 to March 2022 were enrolled,including 32 males and 70 females,aged 71-93 years.All patients were randomly divided into two groups,with 51 patients in each group.The control group was treated with calcium carbonate D3 granules and sodium alendronate tablets,while the treatment group was treated with Yishen Gushu Formula beyond the control group.Treatments in each group lasted 3 months.Bone mineral density of the L1-4 lumbar vertebrae and left femoral neck,visual analog scale score,and serum levels of osteocalcin,osteopontin,type Ⅰ collagen cross-linked C-terminal peptide and tartrate resistant acid phosphatase were measured before and 3 months after treatment.Traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score and therapeutic efficiency were also assessed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After 3 months of treatment,the bone mineral density of the lumbar vertebrae(L1-4)and left femoral neck was significantly increased in both two groups(P<0.05),and the bone mineral density of the lumbar vertebrae(L1-4)and left femoral neck was significantly higher in the treatment group than the control group(P<0.05).The visual analog scale scores of both groups after 3 months of treatment were lower than those before treatment(P<0.05),and the visual analog scores of the treatment group after 3 months of treatment were lower than those of the control group(P<0.05).After 3 months of treatment,the serum levels of osteocalcin,osteopontin,type Ⅰ collagen cross-linked C-terminal peptide and tartrate resistant acid phosphatase were significantly improved in both two groups,while compared with the control group,the serum levels of osteocalcin and osteopontin were significantly higher(P<0.05)and the serum levels of type Ⅰ collagen cross-linked C-terminal peptide and tartrate resistant acid phosphatase were significantly lower in the treatment group(P<0.05).After 3 months of treatment,the Traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores were decreased in both two groups,while the Traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group.After 3 months of treatment,no significant adverse reactions occurred in both groups.The total effective rate was 88.2%and 70.6%in the treatment and control groups respectively,and there was a significant difference between the two groups(P<0.05).To conclude,Yishen Gushu Formula combined with anti-osteoporosis drugs can significantly improve the clinical symptoms of patients with senile osteoporosis of kidney deficiency and blood stasis type and prevent disease progression by regulating bone metabolism,increasing bone mineral density,and relieving pain.

The prevalence of food allergy is increasing worldwide and seriously affects the living quality of patients and their families. Egg allergy is one of the commonest forms of food allergy. The traditional regimen is to delay the introduction of eggs to infant complementary foods, which is not able to reduce the prevalence of egg allergies and causes negative effects on infants′ physical and psychological conditions. Oral tolerance therapy is an approach to establish immune tolerance by the active suppression of specific immune responses to antigens in the gastrointestinal tract. The development of oral tolerance through early introduction of eggs to infant complementary has proven effective in randomized controlled trials, which has been incorporated into infant feeding guidelines in many countries. This article focuses on the mechanism, efficacy and safety of oral tolerance induction in the prevention of egg allergy.