Objective To investigate the material basis and mechanism of Danshen Baizhu prescription in coronary heart disease, vascular dementia and idiopathic membranous nephropathy based on network pharmacology. Methods TCMSP, PubChem, UniProt, GeneCards, OMIM, and DrugBank databases were used to obtain drug and disease targets, and the TCM-compound-drug target network, compound-common target-disease network, and protein-protein interaction map were drawn by STRING database and Cytoscape software, and gene enrichment analysis was performed by Metascape database. Results A total of 164 active compounds, 509 potential targets, and 141 common targets were screened out. The main active ingredients were Tanshinone II A, Isorhamnetin, Quercetin, Luteolin, Kampferol, β-sitosterol, Stigmasterol, etc. The key targets were albumin, interleukin 6, Tumor necrosis factor , serine/threonine kinase 1, vascular endothelial growth factor A , mainly enriching in the positive regulation of cell migration, cell viability, protein phosphorylation, responsing to growth factors, oxidative stress and other biological processes and lipid and atherosclerosis, MAPK, atherosclerosis and fluid shear force, AGE-RAGE, IL-17, PI3K-Akt and other signaling pathways. Conclusion The mechanism of action of Danshen Baizhu prescription for coronary heart disease, vascular dementia and idiopathic membranous nephropathy may mainly play a role in multiple targets and pathways such as inhibition of inflammation, inhibition of oxidative stress, and vasodilation.

Objective: This study investigates the potential of radiomics to predict postoperative progression of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) after posterior cervical spine surgery. Methods: This retrospective study included 473 patients diagnosed with OPLL at Peking University Third Hospital between October 2006 and September 2022. Patients underwent posterior spinal surgery and had at least 2 computed tomography (CT) examinations spaced at least 1 year apart. OPLL progression was defined as an annual growth rate exceeding 7.5%. Radiomic features were extracted from preoperative CT images of the OPLL lesions, followed by feature selection using correlation coefficient analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, and dimensionality reduction using principal component analysis. Univariable analysis identified significant clinical variables for constructing the clinical model. Logistic regression models, including the Rad-score model, clinical model, and combined model, were developed to predict OPLL progression. Results: Of the 473 patients, 191 (40.4%) experienced OPLL progression. On the testing set, the combined model, which incorporated the Rad-score and clinical variables (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] = 0.751), outperformed both the radiomics-only model (AUC = 0.693) and the clinical model (AUC = 0.620). Calibration curves demonstrated good agreement between predicted probabilities and observed outcomes, and decision curve analysis confirmed the clinical utility of the combined model. SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) analysis indicated that the Rad-score and age were key contributors to the model’s predictions, enhancing clinical interpretability. Conclusion Radiomics, combined with clinical variables, provides a valuable predictive tool for assessing the risk of postoperative progression in cervical OPLL, supporting more personalized treatment strategies. Prospective, multicenter validation is needed to confirm the utility of the model in broader clinical settings.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of vertebral cement augmentation (VCA) at upper instrumented vertebra (UIV) and UIV+1 in preventing proximal junction complications in correction surgery for adult spinal deformity patients. Methods: A literature search was conducted on Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library databases for comparative studies published before December 30th, 2024. Two reviewers independently screened eligible articles based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, assessed study quality with Newcastle-Ottawa scale, and extracted data like study characteristics, surgical details, primary and secondary outcomes. Data analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4 and Stata software. Results: Of all 513 papers screened, a meta-analysis was conducted on 7 articles, which included 333 cases in the VCA group and 827 cases in the control group. Patients in the VCA group had significantly older age and lower T score than patients in the control group. Although there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of proximal junctional failure between the 2 groups, the results of the meta-analysis showed that the incidence of proximal junctional failure and the need for revision surgery were reduced by 36% and 71%, respectively, in the VCA group. One study reported 2 clinically silent pulmonary cement embolism and 1 patient requiring surgical decompression for cement leak into the spinal canal. Conclusion This meta-analysis supported the use of VCA in corrective surgery for spinal deformities patients, especially in patients with advanced age and osteoporosis.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Stroke represents the primary cause of death and persistent disability globally, leading to around 5.5 million annual patient fatalities. The objective was to explore the relationship of dietary fiber with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality risk in patients with stroke. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We extracted stroke patients’ data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. All-cause and CVD mortality were outcomes. Dietary fiber consists of non-digestible forms of carbohydrates, usually polysaccharides that originate from plant-based foods. Covariates including demographic data, vital signs, comorbidities, laboratory parameters, and medication use were screened using the weighted multivariate Cox regression models with backward elimination. Weighted univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were performed to explore the relationship between dietary fiber intake and all-cause/CVD mortality, with hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The association was further investigated in different subgroups. RESULTS: A total of 1,578 patients with stroke were included, of whom 688 (43.6%) died.Total fiber and vegetable fiber intake were analyzed as categorical variables, and the lowest intake was considered reference groups. High intake of total fiber (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.57–0.94) and high intake of vegetable fiber (HR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.48–0.82) were related to lower all-cause mortality risk in individuals with stroke. Similar findings were also observed between higher total fiber (HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.37–0.85) and vegetable fiber intake (HR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.36–0.89) with decreased CVD mortality risk. The relationship between higher total fiber intake and lower all-cause mortality risk was discovered in individuals aged ≥ 60 yrs, smoking, non-CVD, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). High total fiber, or vegetable fiber consumption was linked to lower CVD mortality risk in stroke individuals aged ≥ 60 yrs, females, body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m 2 , non-smoking, and CKD. CONCLUSION Dietary fiber intake and vegetable fiber intake may benefit the prognosis of patients with stroke. Increasing dietary fiber consumption, especially vegetable fiber intake, potentially benefits the prognosis of stroke patients.

Objective: This study investigates the potential of radiomics to predict postoperative progression of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) after posterior cervical spine surgery. Methods: This retrospective study included 473 patients diagnosed with OPLL at Peking University Third Hospital between October 2006 and September 2022. Patients underwent posterior spinal surgery and had at least 2 computed tomography (CT) examinations spaced at least 1 year apart. OPLL progression was defined as an annual growth rate exceeding 7.5%. Radiomic features were extracted from preoperative CT images of the OPLL lesions, followed by feature selection using correlation coefficient analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, and dimensionality reduction using principal component analysis. Univariable analysis identified significant clinical variables for constructing the clinical model. Logistic regression models, including the Rad-score model, clinical model, and combined model, were developed to predict OPLL progression. Results: Of the 473 patients, 191 (40.4%) experienced OPLL progression. On the testing set, the combined model, which incorporated the Rad-score and clinical variables (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] = 0.751), outperformed both the radiomics-only model (AUC = 0.693) and the clinical model (AUC = 0.620). Calibration curves demonstrated good agreement between predicted probabilities and observed outcomes, and decision curve analysis confirmed the clinical utility of the combined model. SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) analysis indicated that the Rad-score and age were key contributors to the model’s predictions, enhancing clinical interpretability. Conclusion Radiomics, combined with clinical variables, provides a valuable predictive tool for assessing the risk of postoperative progression in cervical OPLL, supporting more personalized treatment strategies. Prospective, multicenter validation is needed to confirm the utility of the model in broader clinical settings.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of vertebral cement augmentation (VCA) at upper instrumented vertebra (UIV) and UIV+1 in preventing proximal junction complications in correction surgery for adult spinal deformity patients. Methods: A literature search was conducted on Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library databases for comparative studies published before December 30th, 2024. Two reviewers independently screened eligible articles based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, assessed study quality with Newcastle-Ottawa scale, and extracted data like study characteristics, surgical details, primary and secondary outcomes. Data analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4 and Stata software. Results: Of all 513 papers screened, a meta-analysis was conducted on 7 articles, which included 333 cases in the VCA group and 827 cases in the control group. Patients in the VCA group had significantly older age and lower T score than patients in the control group. Although there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of proximal junctional failure between the 2 groups, the results of the meta-analysis showed that the incidence of proximal junctional failure and the need for revision surgery were reduced by 36% and 71%, respectively, in the VCA group. One study reported 2 clinically silent pulmonary cement embolism and 1 patient requiring surgical decompression for cement leak into the spinal canal. Conclusion This meta-analysis supported the use of VCA in corrective surgery for spinal deformities patients, especially in patients with advanced age and osteoporosis.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Stroke represents the primary cause of death and persistent disability globally, leading to around 5.5 million annual patient fatalities. The objective was to explore the relationship of dietary fiber with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality risk in patients with stroke. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We extracted stroke patients’ data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. All-cause and CVD mortality were outcomes. Dietary fiber consists of non-digestible forms of carbohydrates, usually polysaccharides that originate from plant-based foods. Covariates including demographic data, vital signs, comorbidities, laboratory parameters, and medication use were screened using the weighted multivariate Cox regression models with backward elimination. Weighted univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were performed to explore the relationship between dietary fiber intake and all-cause/CVD mortality, with hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The association was further investigated in different subgroups. RESULTS: A total of 1,578 patients with stroke were included, of whom 688 (43.6%) died.Total fiber and vegetable fiber intake were analyzed as categorical variables, and the lowest intake was considered reference groups. High intake of total fiber (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.57–0.94) and high intake of vegetable fiber (HR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.48–0.82) were related to lower all-cause mortality risk in individuals with stroke. Similar findings were also observed between higher total fiber (HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.37–0.85) and vegetable fiber intake (HR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.36–0.89) with decreased CVD mortality risk. The relationship between higher total fiber intake and lower all-cause mortality risk was discovered in individuals aged ≥ 60 yrs, smoking, non-CVD, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). High total fiber, or vegetable fiber consumption was linked to lower CVD mortality risk in stroke individuals aged ≥ 60 yrs, females, body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m 2 , non-smoking, and CKD. CONCLUSION Dietary fiber intake and vegetable fiber intake may benefit the prognosis of patients with stroke. Increasing dietary fiber consumption, especially vegetable fiber intake, potentially benefits the prognosis of stroke patients.

BACKGROUND:Our previous study found that Modified Erxian Pill could alleviate inflammation in collagen-induced arthritis rats,but its mechanism needs to be further verified. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the components absorbed in the blood of Modified Erxian Pill,and observe the effect of the drug-containing serum of Modified Erxian Pill on pyroptosis of J774A.1 macrophages. METHODS:(1)Analysis of components absorbed in the blood of Modified Erxian Pill:Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry was used to detect and identify Modified Erxian Pill and its components absorbed in the blood.(2)Effect of the drug-containing serum of Modified Erxian Pill on pyroptosis of J774A.1 macrophages:Molecular docking technology was used to initially verify the sesquiterpenoids and NLRP3 in components absorbed in the blood of Modified Erxian Pill.J774A.1 macrophages were randomly divided into blank control group,lipopolysaccharide+adenosine triphosphate group,and lipopolysaccharide+adenosine triphosphate+Modified Erxian Pill with low(2.5%),medium(5%),and high(10%)dose groups.The release of lactate dehydrogenase in the cell supernatant of each group was detected according to the kit instructions.The levels of interleukin-1β and interleukin-18 in cell supernatant were detected in each group by ELISA.The cell membrane damage was detected by Hoechst/PI staining.The expression levels of NLRP3,Caspase-1,GSDMD,and GSDMD-N protein in the cells of each group were detected by western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)A total of 32 active components of Modified Erxian Pill were identified,and 21 components entered the blood.The main components into blood included a variety of sesquiterpenoids.(2)Molecular docking results showed that 3-O-Acetyl-13-deoxyphomenone,Incensol oxide,Atractylenolide III,Rupestonic acid,and 3,7-Dihydroxy-9,11-eremophiladien-8-one had good binding activity with NLRP3.(3)Compared with the blank control group,lactate dehydrogenase activity and the expression levels of interleukin-1β and interleukin-18 were significantly increased in cell supernatant of lipopolysaccharide+adenosine triphosphate group(P<0.001).Hoechst/PI staining showed that the number of PI-positive cells was significantly increased.After the intervention of lipopolysaccharide+adenosine triphosphate+Modified Erxian Pill group,all of them showed different degrees of reduction.(4)Compared with the blank control group,NLRP3,Caspase-1,GSDMD,and GSDMD-N protein expression levels were significantly increased in the lipopolysaccharide+adenosine triphosphate group(P<0.05).Compared with lipopolysaccharide+adenosine triphosphate group,the protein expressions of NLRP3,Caspase-1,GSDMD,and GSDMD-N were significantly decreased in the lipopolysaccharide+adenosine triphosphate+Modified Erxian Pill group(P<0.05),and had a certain dose dependence.These findings verify that the drug-containing serum of Modified Erxian Pill may inhibit the pyroptosis of J774A.1 macrophages by regulating the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway.

Objective To investigate the preventive effects of lidocaine administered through different routes on cardiovascular stress responses during anesthesia tracheal intubation. Methods Total 120 patients scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia were randomly divided into three groups: intravenous injection group （group IV）, throat spray group （group LJ）, and control group （group CT）, with 40 patients in each. Group IV received 50 mg of lidocaine via intravenous injection 1 minute before tracheal intubation. Group LJ received 50 mg of lidocaine sprayed into the pharyngeal cavity, glottis, and subglottic area. Group CT did not receive any treatment, and the remaining procedures were performed following the routine general anesthesia induction protocol. Heart rate （HR）, systolic blood pressure （SBP）, diastolic blood pressure （DBP）, and mean arterial pressure （MAP） were recorded at four time points: T₀ （before tracheal intubation）, T₁ （immediately after tracheal intubation）, T₂ （3 minutes after intubation）, and T₃ （5 minutes after intubation）. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using SPSS 22.0. Results There were no significant differences in HR at various time points within the group LJ. The changes in HR in the group IV and group CT were different statistically from those in the throat spray group. The blood pressure of patients in all three groups increased to varying degrees immediately after tracheal intubation, with the group CT showing particularly significant changes that differed significantly from both the group IV and the group LJ. The group LJ rapidly returned to levels close to those before intubation. Conclusion The preventive effects of lidocaine on stress responses during tracheal intubation were different depending on the route of administration. The inhibitory preventive effect of the throat spray method was superior to that of intravenous lidocaine, especially in preventing changes in heart rate.

Objective To analyze the proportion and clinicopathological characteristics of HER2-positive breast cancer patients with BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants, and their response to neoadjuvant anti-HER2 targeted therapy. Methods The clinicopathological data of 531 breast cancer patients with germline BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants (201 with BRCA1 variants and 330 with BRCA2 variants) were analyzed. Results Among the 201 BRCA1 and 330 BRCA2 variants, 17 (8.5%) and 42 (12.7%) HER2-positive breast cancer cases were identified, respectively, accounting for 11.1% of all BRCA1/2-mutated breast cancers. Compared with BRCA1/2-mutated HR-positive/HER2-negative patients, HER2-positive patients did not present any significant differences in clinicopathological features; however, compared with triple-negative breast cancer patients, HER2-positive patients had a later onset age and lower tumor grade. Among the 17 patients who received neoadjuvant anti-HER2 targeted therapy, 10 cases achieved pCR (58.8%), whereas 7 cases did not (41.2%). Conclusion HER2-positive breast cancer accounts for more than 10% of BRCA1/2-mutated patients. Approximately 40% of these patients fail to achieve pCR after neoadjuvant targeted therapy. This phenomenon highlights the possibility of combining anti-HER2 targeted agents with poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase inhibitors.