AIM:To investigate the mechanism of chronic stress-induced myocardial injury in atherosclerotic(AS)mice.METHODS:Eight-week-old SPF-grade male ApoE-/-mice and C57BL/6J mice used in this study.The mice received dietary intervention for 10 weeks followed by pathological examination to test the successful AS modeling.After AS establishment,the mice were exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS)for 6 weeks and then divided into five groups:control,CUMS,AS-regular diet(AS-r)+CUMS,AS-high-fat diet(AS-h),and AS-h+CUMS.During CUMS,open-field test and sucrose preference test were performed on mice in all groups.Blood lipids were characterized using an automatic biochemical analyzer.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)and oil red O staining were performed to evaluate pathological changes in the aortic root.Cardiac function was assessed using echocardiography.The serum concentration of myocardial injury markers and ATP content was detected by ELISA.Transmission electron microscopy was employed to observe the ul-trastructure of myocardial mitochondria.Myocardial mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate was determined using the Oxy-graph-2k high-resolution respiratory energy metabolism analyzer.Western blot was conducted to quantify the expression of B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2),Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax),and cleaved caspase-3.RESULTS:compared with the Control group,the total distance traveled,the number of entries into the central area,and the sucrose preference rate were significantly decreased in all CUMS groups(P<0.05).All AS groups exhibited varying levels of lipid deposition and endo-thelial damage in the aortic root,along with a significant reduction in cardiac function(P<0.05)and varying degrees of myocardial injury(P<0.05).In the AS-h+CUMS and AS-r+CUMS groups,myocardial mitochondrial structure was signifi-cantly disrupted.ATP content was significantly reduced(P<0.05),and the rates of oxygen consumption associated with mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I,mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I+II,and the maximum respiratory capacity of the electron transport system were all significantly decreased(P<0.05).Moreover,the protein levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 were significantly increased(P<0.05),while that of Bcl-2 protein was significantly decreased(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Chronic stress triggers mitochondrial non-steady-state load by disrupting myocardial structure and energy metabolism in AS mice,promoting myocardial cell apoptosis and myocardial injury.

Objective: To study the correlation between ceramic and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and explore its related risk factors. Methods: In January 2021, five representative ceramic enterprises were selected from Chancheng District, Nanhai District, Gaoming District and Sanshui District of Foshan City. The ceramic workers who came to Chancheng Hospital of Foshan First People's Hospital for physical examination from January to October 2021 were selected as the research objects, and 525 people were included. Conduct questionnaire survey and pulmonary function test. Logistic regresion was performed to analyze the influencing facters of COPD among ceramic workers. Results: The subjects were (38.51±1.25) years old, 328 males and 197 females, and the detection rate of COPD was 9.52% (50/525). The incidence of respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea, chronic cough, wheezing and chest tightness, the detection rates of abnormal lung age, abnormal lung function and COPD in males were higher than those in females (P<0.05). The logistic regression analysis showed that male, age, working years, smoking status and family history of COPD were the risk factors for COPD among ceramic workers (P<0.05) . Conclusion: The ceramic workers are the high risk population of COPD. We should do a good job in health education, and do a regular physical examination to find the changes of lung function in time, and prevent the occurrence of COPD as soon as possible.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Adult ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/epidemiology* ; Ceramics ; Health Education ; Hospitals ; Physical Examination

Objectives: To investigated the safety and efficacy of treating patients with acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and elevated levels of N-terminal pro-hormone B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) with levosimendan within 24 hours of first medical contact (FMC). Methods: This multicenter, open-label, block-randomized controlled trial (NCT03189901) investigated the safety and efficacy of levosimendan as an early management strategy of acute heart failure (EMS-AHF) for patients with NSTEMI and high NT-proBNP levels. This study included 255 patients with NSTEMI and elevated NT-proBNP levels, including 142 males and 113 females with a median age of 65 (58-70) years, and were admitted in the emergency or outpatient departments at 14 medical centers in China between October 2017 and October 2021. The patients were randomly divided into a levosimendan group (n=129) and a control group (n=126). The primary outcome measure was NT-proBNP levels on day 3 of treatment and changes in the NT-proBNP levels from baseline on day 5 after randomization. The secondary outcome measures included the proportion of patients with more than 30% reduction in NT-proBNP levels from baseline, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during hospitalization and at 6 months after hospitalization, safety during the treatment, and health economics indices. The measurement data parameters between groups were compared using the t-test or the non-parametric test. The count data parameters were compared between groups using the χ² test. Results: On day 3, the NT-proBNP levels in the levosimendan group were lower than the control group but were statistically insignificant [866 (455, 1 960) vs. 1 118 (459, 2 417) ng/L, Z=-1.25,P=0.21]. However, on day 5, changes in the NT-proBNP levels from baseline in the levosimendan group were significantly higher than the control group [67.6% (33.8%,82.5%)vs.54.8% (7.3%,77.9%), Z=-2.14, P=0.03]. There were no significant differences in the proportion of patients with more than 30% reduction in the NT-proBNP levels on day 5 between the levosimendan and the control groups [77.5% (100/129) vs. 69.0% (87/126), χ²=2.34, P=0.13]. Furthermore, incidences of MACE did not show any significant differences between the two groups during hospitalization [4.7% (6/129) vs. 7.1% (9/126), χ²=0.72, P=0.40] and at 6 months [14.7% (19/129) vs. 12.7% (16/126), χ²=0.22, P=0.64]. Four cardiac deaths were reported in the control group during hospitalization [0 (0/129) vs. 3.2% (4/126), P=0.06]. However, 6-month survival rates were comparable between the two groups (log-rank test, P=0.18). Moreover, adverse events or serious adverse events such as shock, ventricular fibrillation, and ventricular tachycardia were not reported in both the groups during levosimendan treatment (days 0-1). The total cost of hospitalization [34 591.00(15 527.46,59 324.80) vs. 37 144.65(16 066.90,63 919.00)yuan, Z=-0.26, P=0.80] and the total length of hospitalization [9 (8, 12) vs. 10 (7, 13) days, Z=0.72, P=0.72] were lower for patients in the levosimendan group compared to those in the control group, but did not show statistically significant differences. Conclusions: Early administration of levosimendan reduced NT-proBNP levels in NSTEMI patients with elevated NT-proBNP and did not increase the total cost and length of hospitalization, but did not significantly improve MACE during hospitalization or at 6 months.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Aged ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Simendan/therapeutic use* ; Non-ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction ; Heart Failure/drug therapy* ; Peptide Fragments ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Biomarkers ; Prognosis

ObjectiveTo compare the therapeutic effects of oral Chinese medicines （including Chinese patent medicines） on coronary artery disease （CAD） by the Bayesian network Meta-analysis. MethodThe randomized controlled trials of treating CAD with oral Chinese medicines were retrieved from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure （CNKI）， Wanfang Data， VIP， PubMed， Web of Science， Embase， and Cochrane Library from the inception to December 1， 2022. The Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool was used to evaluate the quality of the included articles. The direct meta-analysis was performed to compare the performance of oral Chinese medicines alone and in combination with Western medicine in the treatment of CAD in terms of intima-media thickness （IMT）， vascular endothelial function， plaque score， hypersensitive C-reactive protein （hs-CRP）， total cholesterol （TC）， triglyceride （TG）， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， and total response rate. Furthermore， the Bayesian network Meta-analysis was performed to compare the therapeutic effects of different Chinese medicines. ResultA total of 41 articles were included. The direct meta-analysis results showed that Chinese medicines combined with Western medicine outperformed Western medicine alone in recovering all the indicators of CAD. The Bayesian network meta-analysis yielded the following results. In terms of the total response rate， modified Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang and Sanqi Huayu pills had obvious advantages over other Chinese medicines. In terms of IMT and plaque score， Xiaoban Huazhuo decoction， Yiqi Tongluo formula， Ruangan Jiangzhi capsules， and Guanxin Shutong capsules had obvious advantages over other Chinese medicines. In terms of blood lipid indicators， Shenqi Roumai mixture， Ruangan Jiangzhi capsules， Xiaoban Huazhuo decoction， Qiwei Sanxiong decoction， and Sanqi Huayu pills were superior to other Chinese medicines. The Chinese medicines above mainly had the functions of activating blood， resolving stasis， resolving phlegm， and dredging vessels. ConclusionThe combination of oral Chinese medicines and Western medicine is effective in treating CAD. Clinicians can use the drugs targeting abnormal indicators according to the results of this Bayesian network meta-analysis combined with the actual situation of patients to achieve better therapeutic effects.

Objective To analyze the prognosis of pediatric burns and its influencing factors. Methods Clinical data of 1 737 children with burns from January 2013 to December 2017 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University was analyzed by retrospective method. The demographic, clinical features, and related factors affecting prognosis . Results Log-binominal regression model showed that the care rate was higher in children aged 1- and 3- compared with children aged 7-12 (all P<0.05); Boiling water burns had a higher care rate than electric shock and flame burns (including chemical burn) (all P<0.05); Moderate and severe burns had a higher care rate than heavy severe burns (all P<0.05); The unhealed rate of pediatric burns in summer was higher than burned in winter (RR=0.861,95% CI:0.690-1.074); Children without complications had a higher care rate (P<0.05); Children lived in rural areas have a higher unhealed rate than lived in urban areas (RR=0.713，95% CI:0.618-0.824). Conclusions The care rate of pediatric burns was 51.1%. Major influencing factors included children aged 7-12, burned by electric and flame (including chemical burns), burned severe extraordinarily, burned in summer, and with complications, lived in rural.

Objective::To predict the action targets of anti-lung cancer active ingredients of Xiao Chaihutang, in order to explore the " multi-components, multi-targets and multi-pathways" mechanism using network pharmacology. Method::The active ingredients of Xiao Chaihutang that obtained through Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP), traditional Chinese medicine integrative database for herb molecular mechanism analysis(TCMID) and literature were used to predict the targets by the reversed pharmacophore matching method.To screen out optimization targets, we chose elbow point analysis by using self-developed software TCMKD1.0, and screened out lung cancer-related targets by searching databases, such as Therapeutic Target Database (TTD), Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM) and GeneCards, and reviewing literatures.Then components-target network, protein-protein interaction network and targets-pathways network were constructed.The pathway information was acquired with STRING.The Cytoscape 3.6 software was used to construct the ingredients-targets-pathways network of Xiao Chaihutang. Result::The 162 active components in Xiao Chaihutang were obtained, involving 71 anti-lung cancer targets and 11 related pathways.Through topological network analysis, 96 important components, such as quercetin, ginsenosideRh₂, formononetin and β-sitosterol were obtained, 28 key targets, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor (KDR), cysteine protease-3 (Caspase-3), mitogen-activated protein kinase1(MAPK1), hepatocyte growth factor (MET) were received, and 61 core pathways, such as non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, ErbB signaling pathway, VEGF signaling pathway were acquired. Conclusion::The result suggests that the active components of Xiao Chaihutang against lung cancer may include quercetin, ginsenoside Rh₂, 6-shogaol, formononetin, β-sitosterol.And the mechanism may be related to ErbB signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway and VEGF signaling pathway.This research provides a scientific basis for further elucidation of the anti-lung cancer pharmacological mechanism of Xiao Chaihutang.