ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of herbal cake-separated moxibustion using the classical formula Xiaoyaosan in alleviating neuroimmune inflammatory responses in chronic fatigue syndrome （CFS） rats， based on the regulation of the toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）/myeloid differentiation factor 88 （MyD88）/nuclear transcription factor-κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway. MethodsFifty SPF-grade SD rats aged 6-8 weeks were randomly divided into five groups： Normal group， model group， sham herbal cake moxibustion group， Chinese medicine intragastric administration group， and herbal cake-separated moxibustion group， with 10 rats in each group. Except for the normal group， all other groups underwent a 21-day modeling process， followed by behavioral testing. The herbal cake-separated moxibustion and sham herbal cake moxibustion groups received interventions at the Shenque （CV8）， Guanyuan （CV4）， Zusanli （ST36）， and Qimen （LR14） acupoints. The Chinese medicine intragastric administration group was treated with a Xiaoyaosan suspension via gavage. Behavioral tests were conducted after 10 days of continuous intervention. Serum levels of interleukin （IL）-1β， IL-6， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， as well as hippocampal levels of IL-1β， IL-6， TNF-α， and NF-κB， were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Morphological changes in the hippocampus were observed using hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect mRNA expression levels of TLR4， MyD88， and NF-κB in the hippocampus. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the relative expression levels of TLR4， MyD88， NF-κB， and p65 proteins in the hippocampus. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showed a significant decrease in upright times during the open field test （P<0.01）， as well as significant reductions in total movement distance， resting time， and center region duration （P<0.01）. In the tail suspension test， immobility time increased （P<0.01）， and struggle times decreased （P<0.01）. Serum and hippocampal levels of IL-1β， IL-6， and TNF-α， as well as hippocampal NF-κB levels and TLR4， MyD88， and NF-κB mRNA expression， were significantly elevated （P<0.01）. After treatment， compared with the model group， the total movement distance and upright times in the open field test were significantly increased in all treatment groups （P<0.01）， while resting time and center region duration were notably prolonged （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Immobility time in the tail suspension test was significantly shortened （P<0.01）， and struggle times significantly increased （P<0.05）. Serum and hippocampal levels of IL-1β， IL-6， TNF-α， hippocampal NF-κB levels， and TLR4 and NF-κB mRNA expression were significantly reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the sham herbal cake moxibustion group， the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group showed a significant extension in center region duration during the open field test （P<0.05） and a significant increase in upright times （P<0.01）. In the tail suspension test， immobility time was reduced （P<0.01）， and struggle times increased （P<0.01）. Serum TNF-α levels in the Chinese medicine intragastric administration group were significantly reduced （P<0.01）， while serum IL-6 levels， as well as hippocampal levels of IL-1β， TNF-α， NF-κB， and TLR4， MyD88， and NF-κB mRNA expression， were significantly decreased in both the Chinese medicine intragastric administration group and the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the Chinese medicine intragastric administration group， the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group exhibited significantly increased upright times in the open field test （P<0.01）. In the tail suspension test， immobility time was reduced （P<0.01）， and struggle times increased （P<0.01）. Serum IL-1β， hippocampal TNF-α levels， and TLR4， MyD88， and NF-κB mRNA expression were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionHerbal cake-separated moxibustion effectively improves fatigue and memory function in CFS rats， regulates neuroimmune inflammatory responses， and its mechanism may be related to the modulation of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective To analyze the status of the bacteria in the operative area of transnasal skull base surgery and its correlation with postoperative intracranial infection.Methods The procedure of transnasal skull base surgery was divided into three stages:nasal passage preparation(stage 1),tumor resection(stage 2),and skull base reconstruction(stage 3).Bacterial sampling was taken from the mucosa of the anterior wall of sphenoid sinus or clival recess of sellar floor at the beginning of each stage;and the positive rate of bacterial culture in different stages of operation and its correlation with postoperative intracranial infection were analyzed.Results A total of 105 patients were enrolled in this study,and 315 samples were taken.The average time point of sampling in the three stages was 20.3,45.1 and 131.3 min after the beginning of operation,respectively.The positive results were 9 cases(2.9％)in the stage 1,8 cases(2.5％)in the stage 2,and 23 cases(7.3％)in the stage 3,which were 24 cases of Staphylococcus epidermidis,7 cases of Staphylococcus aureus,3 cases of hemolytic streptococcus,2 cases of Klebsiella pneumonia,and 4 cases of Escherichia coli.There was no significant difference in the positive cases between stage 1 and stage 2(P=0.955),but there were significant differences between stage 1 or 2 and stage 3(P=0.013;P=0.007).There were 36(11.4％)patients with at least one positive result in the three stages,17(16.2％)with cerebrospinal fluid leakage,and 12(11.4％)with intracranial infection.The risk of intracranial infection was 3.1 times higher in patients with positive bacterial culture than patients with negative bacterial culture(OR=3.1,95％CI:0.9-10.6),which was not statistically significant;patients with CSF leakage were 61.4 times higher than those without CSF leakage(OR=61.4,95％CI:11.2-337.1),which was statistically significant(P＜0.001).The consistency rate of bacteria in nasal cavity and postoperative cerebrospinal fluid culture was 57.1％.Conclusion The positive rate of bacterial culture in the operative area of transnasal skull base surgery increases significantly with the extension of operation time,which is a potential risk index of postoperative intracranial infection.

Objective To explore the relationship between dietary fiber intake and hypertension in different populations.Methods Dietary fiber intake was calculated using the data from 2015-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES)database by combining dietary data collected by the 24-hour dietary recall method with the USDA Food and Nutritional Database.Hypertension was defined based on blood pressure values obtained through questionnaires and mobile center measurements.Logistic regression models were used to analyze the relationship between dietary fiber intake and hypertension in individuals aged≥18 years.Generalized additive model(GAM)and smoothed curve fitting were used to analyze the dose-response relationship between them.Results Compared with the low dietary fiber intake(＜17.75 g/d)group,in the total population,the prevalence risk of hypertension was 18% lower in the high dietary fiber intake(≥18.85 g/d)group(OR=0.82,95% CI 0.68-0.98).In the male population,the risk of hypertension in the high dietary fiber intake group decreased by 23% (OR=0.77,95% CI 0.60-0.98).In the female population,when dietary fiber intake was＞28.05 g/d,the risk of hypertension decreased by 6% (OR=0.94,95% CI 0.89-0.99)for 1 g/d increase in dietary fiber intake.In the population aged＞60 years,the risk of hypertension decreased by 31% in the high dietary fiber intake group(OR=0.69,95% CI 0.48-0.99).In the population aged≤45 years,the risk of hypertension decreased by 6% (OR=0.94,95% CI 0.88-0.99)for 1 g/d increase when dietary fiber intake＞34.5 g/d.Conclusions High dietary fiber intake is associated with a decreased risk of developing hypertension,and a reasonable increase in dietary fiber intake can help reduce the incidence of hypertension.

Uncovering the risk factors of pulmonary hypertension and its mechanisms is crucial for the prevention and treatment of the disease.In the current study,we showed that experimental periodontitis,which was established by ligation of molars followed by orally smearing subgingival plaques from patients with periodontitis,exacerbated hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in mice.Mechanistically,periodontitis dysregulated the pulmonary microbiota by promoting ectopic colonization and enrichment of oral bacteria in the lungs,contributing to pulmonary infiltration of interferon gamma positive(IFNγ+)T cells and aggravating the progression of pulmonary hypertension.In addition,we identified Prevotella zoogleoformans as the critical periodontitis-associated bacterium driving the exacerbation of pulmonary hypertension by periodontitis,and the exacerbation was potently ameliorated by both cervical lymph node excision and IFNγ neutralizing antibodies.Our study suggests a proof of concept that the combined prevention and treatment of periodontitis and pulmonary hypertension are necessary.

Objective To analyze the relationship between soluble α-Klotho(SKL)levels and continuous glucose monitoring(CGMS)-derived measures of glycemic management in diabetic kidney disease(DKD)patients.Methods A total of 140 T2DM patients admitted to the Department of General Medicine Affiliated Hospital of Yan'an University from May 2020 to May 2022 were selected and divided into two groups according to the levels of UACR:T2DM group(UACR<30 mg/g,n=60),DKD group(UACR≥30 mg/g,n=80)and 45 healthy persons(NC group)who received physical examination in the hospital during the same period were the NC group.Results The SKL level of DKD group was lower than that of T2DM group and NC group(P<0.05).Spearman correlation analysis showed that SKL was positively correlated with eGRF and TIR(P<0.01),and negatively correlated with Scr,UACR,CysC,β2-MG,FPG,HbA1c,MG,TAR and GMI(P<0.01).Multiple linear regression analysis showed that HbA1c and GMI were the influencing factors of SKL.Conclusion The level of SKL in DKD patients is correlated with HbA1c and GMI.

Intraoperative hypotension is closely associated with postoperative poor prognosis.Machine learning hypotension predictive index(HPI)based on invasive and non-invasive blood pressure monitoring can predict hypotension in non-cardiac and cardiac surgery,which makes blood pressure manage-ment from passive processing to preventive active control.Hemodynamic management based on HPI reduces the occurrence of hypotension in surgery.In this artical,the introduction of HPI,the application of HPI in-vasive and non-invasive blood pressure monitoring in surgery,and the limitations of HPI are reviewed.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility,reliability and validity of the symptom identification scale for kidney yang deficiency syndrome.Methods The symptom identification scale for kidney yang deficiency syndrome developed in previous research was administered to 200 vascular cognitive impairment patients from September 2020 to September 2022 to assess feasibility through recall rate,completion rate,and completion time;reliability was measured using retest reliability,split-half reliability,homogeneity reliability,and inter-rater reliability;and validity was evaluated based on discriminant and structural validity.Results A total of 200 scales were sent out,and all of them cooperated and were completed and retrieved within 20 min.The results of reliability analysis showed that the retest reliability of the scale was 0.828 for the dimension of yang deficiency and 0.718 for the dimension of kidney qi deficiency;the Spearman-Brown coefficient of split-half reliability was 0.784;the Cronbach coefficient of the dimension of yang deficiency was 0.799,and the Cronbach coefficient of the dimension of kidney qi deficiency in the homogeneity reliability was 0.670.The results of the analysis showed that the differences between the kidney yang deficiency syndrome group and the non-kidney yang deficiency syndrome group in the yang deficiency dimension,kidney qi deficiency dimension scores and total scale scores in the discriminant validity were statistically significant(P<0.001);the KMO value in the structural validity was 0.842,and a total of two factors with eigenvalues greater than 1 were extracted,with a cumulative variance contribution rate of 58.227%.Conclusion The symptom identification scale for kidney yang deficiency syndrome demonstrates adequate reliability and validity,potentially enhancing the prediction of kidney yang deficiency in vascular cognitive impairment.However,the validity of the scale is somewhat limited and requires further refinement for clinical application.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the risk factors and sonographic variables that could be integrated into a predictive model for endometrial cancer (EC) and atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) in women with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 1837 patients who presented with AUB and underwent endometrial sampling. Multivariable logistic regression was developed based on clinical and sonographic covariates [endometrial thickness (ET), resistance index (RI) of the endometrial vasculature] assessed for their association with EC/AEH in the development group (n=1369), and a predictive nomogram was proposed. The model was validated in 468 patients. Results: Histological examination revealed 167 patients (12.2%) with EC or AEH in the development group. Using multivariable logistic regression, the following variables were incorporated in the prediction of endometrial malignancy: metabolic diseases [odds ratio (OR)=7.764, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 5.042–11.955], family history (OR=3.555, 95% CI 1.055–11.971), age ≥40 years (OR=3.195, 95% CI 1.878–5.435), RI ≤0.5 (OR=8.733, 95% CI 4.311–17.692), and ET ≥10 mm (OR=8.479, 95% CI 5.440–13.216). :A nomogram was created using these five variables with an area under the curve of 0.837 (95% CI 0.800–0.874). The calibration curve showed good agreement between the observed and predicted occurrences. For the validation group, the model provided acceptable discrimination and calibration. Conclusion The proposed nomogram model showed moderate prediction accuracy in the differentiation between benign and malignant endometrial lesions among women with AUB.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) for assessing disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with tofacitinib. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted among 98 RA patients in active stage treated with tofacitinib in Third Xiangya Hospital and 100 healthy control subjects from the Health Management Center of the hospital from 2019 to 2021. We collected blood samples from all the participants for measurement of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and other blood parameters 1 month before and 6 months after tofacitinib treatment. We further evaluated PLR and NLR before and after tofacitinib treatment in the RA patients, and analyzed their correlations with RA disease activity. RESULTS: PLR and NLR increased significantly in RA patients as compared with the healthy controls. In the RA patients, PLR and NLR were positively correlated with the levels of hs- CRP, ESR, IL- 6, Disease Activity Score of 28 joints-ESR (DAS28-ESR), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP), and rheumatoid factor (RF) before and after tofacitinib treatment. Tofacitinib treatment for 6 months significantly decreased hs-CRP, ESR, IL-6, CCP, RF and DAS28-ESR levels in the RA patients. CONCLUSION NLR and PLR can be useful biomarkers for assessing disease activity in RA patients treated with tofacitinib.
Humans ; Neutrophils ; Retrospective Studies ; C-Reactive Protein/analysis* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Lymphocytes

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the intrauterine phenotype and genotype of eight fetuses carrying a 16p11.2 microdeletion. METHODS: 5100 fetuses undergoing routine prenatal diagnosis were subjected to single nucleotide polymorphism-based microarray (SNP-array) analysis. Fetuses harboring a 16p11.2 microdeletion were analyzed for their ultrasonographic characteristics. RESULTS: Eight fetuses were found to harbor a microdeletion in the 16p11.2 region. Among these, six had a typical 500-600 kb deletion, while the remaining two had an atypical 220 kb deletion at the distal part of 16p11.2. Four fetuses showed vertebral malformations, two had mild left ventriculomegaly, one had hydrocephalus, and one had pulmonary valve stenosis with regurgitation. The parents of five fetuses have accepted pedigree verification, and the results confirmed that the 16p11.2 microdeletions carried by fetuses all had a de novo origin. CONCLUSION The intrauterine phenotypes of fetuses carrying a 16p11.2 microdeletion may be variable, and the deletion can be effectively detected with the SNP-array assay.
Chromosome Deletion ; Female ; Fetus ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Phenotype ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis