ObjectiveTo study the mechanism of Huanglian Jiedutang （HLJDT） in treating mice with atherosclerosis （AS） by improving ferroptosis. MethodsA total of 10 SPF C57BL/6J mice were selected as a normal group， and 50 ApoE^-/- mice were randomly divided into five groups： model group， low-dose group of HLJDT， medium-dose group of HLJDT， high-dose group of HLJDT， and atorvastatin （ATV） group. ApoE^-/- mice were fed a high-fat diet for eight weeks to establish the AS model， and at the 9th week， they were given normal saline， low， medium， and high doses of HLJDT （3.9， 7.8， 15.6 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， and atorvastatin calcium tablets （0.01 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， respectively， for a total of eight weeks. The formation of aortic plaque in mice was observed by gross oil red O staining and Masson staining. The levels of total cholesterol （TC）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， triglyceride （TG）， and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C） in blood fat were measured by the automatic biochemical analyzer， and the mitochondrial structure of the aorta was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The content of serum superoxide dismutase （SOD） in serum was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The content of reduced glutathione （GSH） in serum was detected by the microplate method， and that of malondialdehyde （MDA） in serum was detected by the TBA method. The protein expression of nuclear factor E₂-associated factor 2 （Nrf2）/glutathione peroxidase 4 （GPX4） signaling pathway was detected by Western blot. ResultsCompared with those of the normal group， the contents of TC， LDL-C， TG， HDL-C， and MDA in the serum and the aortic vascular plaque deposition of the model group were significantly increased （P<0.01）， while the expression levels of SOD and GSH in serum， as well as Nrf2， solute carrier family 7 member 11 （SLC7A11）， and GPX4 in aorta were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Mice in the model group appeared mitochondrial fragmentation and vacuolation in the aorta， volume atrophy， mitochondrial crista reduction， or a loose and disorganized form. Compared with those in the model group， the aortic vascular plaque deposition was significantly decreased in the low-dose， medium-dose， and high-dose groups of HLJDT and ATV group， and the contents of serum TC， LDL-C， TG， and MDA in serum were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The contents of serum SOD and GSH and the expression levels of Nrf2， SLC7A11， and GPX4 in the aorta were increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the symptoms of aortic mitochondrial vacuolation were alleviated. The number of cristae was increased， and they were ordered neatly. ConclusionHLJDT can reduce aortic vascular plaque deposition， decrease blood lipid and MDA expression， increase SOD and GSH expression， and ameliorate the pathological changes of ferroptosis， the mechanism of which is related to the Nrf2/GPX4 signaling pathway.

Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） therapy has unique clinical advantages in the treatment of atrial fibrillation， mainly reflected in five aspects， improving quality of life， enabling early diagnosis and treatment， promoting cardiac rehabilitation， making up for the limitations of Western medicine， and improving the success rate of catheter ablation. However， there is insufficient evidence in current clinical research. Based on the current status of TCM research in the treatment of atrial fibrillation， it is suggested that future studies should focus on standardized research on syndrome differentiation and classification. This can be achieved through clinical epidemiological surveys， expert consensus， and other methods to establish a unified syndrome differentiation and classification standard for atrial fibrillation. Clinical efficacy evaluation indicators should be standardized， and core outcome measures for clinical research on TCM treatment of atrial fibrillation should be developed through systematic reviews， patient interviews， and other methods. Additionally， clinical research design， implementation， and data management should be improved. By leveraging modern information technologies such as artificial intelligence， the scientific and standardized nature of TCM intervention research on atrial fibrillation can be enhanced， ultimately improving the quality of research.

Background: s/Aims: Non-invasive models stratifying clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) are limited. Herein, we developed a new non-invasive model for predicting CSPH in patients with compensated cirrhosis and investigated whether carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified using the new model. Methods: Non-invasive risk factors of CSPH were identified via systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). A new non-invasive model was validated for various performance aspects in three cohorts, i.e., a multicenter HVPG cohort, a follow-up cohort, and a carvediloltreating cohort. Results: In the meta-analysis with six studies (n=819), liver stiffness measurement and platelet count were identified as independent risk factors for CSPH and were used to develop the new “CSPH risk” model. In the HVPG cohort (n=151), the new model accurately predicted CSPH with cutoff values of 0 and –0.68 for ruling in and out CSPH, respectively. In the follow-up cohort (n=1,102), the cumulative incidences of decompensation events significantly differed using the cutoff values of <–0.68 (low-risk), –0.68 to 0 (medium-risk), and >0 (high-risk). In the carvediloltreated cohort, patients with high-risk CSPH treated with carvedilol (n=81) had lower rates of decompensation events than non-selective beta-blockers untreated patients with high-risk CSPH (n=613 before propensity score matching [PSM], n=162 after PSM). Conclusions Treatment with carvedilol significantly reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified by the new model.

Background: s/Aims: Non-invasive models stratifying clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) are limited. Herein, we developed a new non-invasive model for predicting CSPH in patients with compensated cirrhosis and investigated whether carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified using the new model. Methods: Non-invasive risk factors of CSPH were identified via systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). A new non-invasive model was validated for various performance aspects in three cohorts, i.e., a multicenter HVPG cohort, a follow-up cohort, and a carvediloltreating cohort. Results: In the meta-analysis with six studies (n=819), liver stiffness measurement and platelet count were identified as independent risk factors for CSPH and were used to develop the new “CSPH risk” model. In the HVPG cohort (n=151), the new model accurately predicted CSPH with cutoff values of 0 and –0.68 for ruling in and out CSPH, respectively. In the follow-up cohort (n=1,102), the cumulative incidences of decompensation events significantly differed using the cutoff values of <–0.68 (low-risk), –0.68 to 0 (medium-risk), and >0 (high-risk). In the carvediloltreated cohort, patients with high-risk CSPH treated with carvedilol (n=81) had lower rates of decompensation events than non-selective beta-blockers untreated patients with high-risk CSPH (n=613 before propensity score matching [PSM], n=162 after PSM). Conclusions Treatment with carvedilol significantly reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified by the new model.

Background: s/Aims: Non-invasive models stratifying clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) are limited. Herein, we developed a new non-invasive model for predicting CSPH in patients with compensated cirrhosis and investigated whether carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified using the new model. Methods: Non-invasive risk factors of CSPH were identified via systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). A new non-invasive model was validated for various performance aspects in three cohorts, i.e., a multicenter HVPG cohort, a follow-up cohort, and a carvediloltreating cohort. Results: In the meta-analysis with six studies (n=819), liver stiffness measurement and platelet count were identified as independent risk factors for CSPH and were used to develop the new “CSPH risk” model. In the HVPG cohort (n=151), the new model accurately predicted CSPH with cutoff values of 0 and –0.68 for ruling in and out CSPH, respectively. In the follow-up cohort (n=1,102), the cumulative incidences of decompensation events significantly differed using the cutoff values of <–0.68 (low-risk), –0.68 to 0 (medium-risk), and >0 (high-risk). In the carvediloltreated cohort, patients with high-risk CSPH treated with carvedilol (n=81) had lower rates of decompensation events than non-selective beta-blockers untreated patients with high-risk CSPH (n=613 before propensity score matching [PSM], n=162 after PSM). Conclusions Treatment with carvedilol significantly reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified by the new model.

Pre-admission is a critical initiative to optimize medical service processes and alleviate the challenge of "difficult access to healthcare. "However, there is currently a lack of standardized protocols for pre-admission procedures. This study aims to systematically analyze key nodes and risk factors in pre-admission process design and propose optimization strategies, providing a foundation for policy formulation and hospital practices. By constructing a "forward-reverse" dual-process model of pre-admission and identifying risk points based on stakeholder theory (patients, hospitals, healthcare administration, and insurance), the study reveals that while pre-admission can reduce the average length of stay, improve bed turnover rates, and enhance patient satisfaction, it also presents risks such as cross-period financial settlement, challenges in insurance policy adaptability, demands for information system integration, and the need for defining medical safety boundaries. To optimize the pre-admission process and mitigate these risks, this study explores framework improvements in areas including eligibility criteria, mode selection, cost settlement, transition between pre-admission and inpatient status, and cancellation of pre-admission, offering practical guidance for public hospitals. The authors argue that pre-admission requires tripartite collaboration among hospitals, insurers, and healthcare administrations: hospitals should establish top-level design, continuously refine processes, and implement dynamic risk assessment mechanisms; insurance providers should support cross-period settlement policies; and healthcare administrations should issue guiding policies or standardized protocols. Through multi-department coordination and collaborative efforts, the optimization and innovation of pre-admission processes can be advanced, ultimately delivering more efficient and convenient healthcare experiences for patients.

Objective To explore the mechanism of miR-421 affecting the occurrence and development of depression.Methods A depressive rat model was established by single intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide(LPS),and depressive behavior was detected by glucose preference test and open-field test.miRNA microarray chips and RT-PCR were used to analyze the expression level of miR-421 in hippocampus of the depressed rats.TargetScan database and mi RDB database were used to predict the target genes of miR-421.Dual luciferase reporter gene assay was used to observe the binding of miR-421 to the target genes.The impact of over-expression and inhibition of miR-421 on target genes was observed,then the influence of over-expression and inhibition of target genes on downstream factors was observed,and the related mechanism of miR-421 on depression was explored.Results miRNA microarray chips and RT-PCR assay showed that miR-421 was highly expressed in the hippocampus of the depressed rats(P<0.001),Inhibition of miR-421 expression could significantly restore the body weight and exercise ability of the depressed rats(P<0.001).Binding targets of Menin and miR-421 were predicted by TargetScan database,and interaction between Menin and miR-421 was demonstrated by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay.Menin expression was down-regulated while miR-421 was overexpressed(P<0.001),whereas it was up-regulated as miR-421 was inhibited(P<0.001).qPCR indicated that expressions of Caspase-3 and NF-κB in the hippocampus of the depressed rats was significantly increased(P<0.001),and IL-1β expression in the hippo-campus was significantly increased(P<0.01).When the expression of Menin was inhibited,the expressions of Caspase-3,NF-κB and IL-1β were increased(P<0.001),while the expressions of Caspase-3,NF-κB and IL-1β were decreased when Menin was overexpressed(P<0.001).Conclusions Inhibition of miR-421 expression can increase Menin expression,decrease Caspase-3 content,and reduce neuroinflammatory response,thereby improving depressive symptoms.

Objective To investigate the effect of acupuncture on the morphology of the dry eye rabbit's cornea and the nuclear factor κB(NF-κB)signaling pathway of the corneal tissue to analyze the mechanism of acupuncture on dry eyes.Methods Twenty-four healthy New Zealand rabbits,without restriction on sex,were randomly divided into four groups,including a blank group,a model group,an acupuncture group,and a sham acupuncture group,with 6 in each group.Rabbits in the blank group were not treated;rabbits in the other three groups were treated with scopolamine hydro-bromide 2.0 mg·kg-1 by subcutaneous injection at 8:00,11:00,14:00 and 18:00 each day for 35 consecutive days un-til the end of the experiment.Rabbits in the sham acupuncture group were treated with sham acupuncture on the 22nd day after successful modeling by quickly pricking acupoints(Jingming BL1,Cuanzhu BL2,Sizhukong SJ23,Taiyang EX-HN5 and Tongziliao GB1)with a blunt acupuncture needle,once a day,for a total of 14 days.Rabbits in the acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture at the same acupoints as the sham acupuncture group after successful modeling.The corneal fluorescence staining was conducted on Days 0,21,28 and 35 after modeling.On Day 35,corneal confocal microscope ex-aminations were conducted.Then,the rabbits were sacrificed,the corneal morphological changes were observed by light microscope and transmission electron microscope,and the expression of corneal NF-κB protein was detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the model group,the score of rabbit corneal fluorescein staining in the acupuncture group and blank group decreased on the 28th and 35th days after modeling,and the differences were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).The results of the confocal microscope examination on Day 35 after modeling showed that,compared with other groups,there were a large number of globular immune cells and activated stromal cells with unclear boundaries and irregu-lar sizes in the stromal layer and inflammation in the area with irregular intercellular space in the model group and the sham acupuncture group.In the acupuncture group,the morphology of stromal layer cells improved,the cells were slightly acti-vated,and there were no obvious abnormalities in the corneal nerve morphology.On the 35th day after modeling,the re-sults of the light microscope showed that,the surface of the corneal tissue in the model group and the sham acupuncture group showed hyperkeratinized flat epithelial cells,lymphocyte infiltration,increased number of focal epithelial cell layers,and epithelial cell detachment.In the acupuncture group,there were 4-6 layers of epithelial cells in the corneal epitheli-um,and epithelial shedding decreased.In addition,the lymphocyte infiltration decreased compared with the model group.On the 35th day after modeling,the results of the transmission electron microscope showed that abnormal microvilli oc-curred and epithelial cells were absent in the corneal epithelial cells of rabbits in the model group and the sham acupuncture group,the cell space was widened,the rough endoplasmic reticulum was severely expanded,and desmosomes were dis-banded with mitochondrial swelling.In the acupuncture group,the microvilli structure of epithelial cells was sparse and short,local deletion was still observed,the rough endoplasmic reticulum was slightly expanded,and no obvious swelling of mitochondria was observed.On the 35th day after modeling,the Western blot examination results showed that,compared with the blank group,the expression of p-NF-κB p65 was up-regulated in both the model group and sham acupuncture group(both P＜0.05);compared with the model group and sham acupuncture group,the expression of p-NF-κB p65 in the acupuncture group was down-regulated(both P＜0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture can inhibit the NF-κB signaling path-way to play an anti-inflammatory role and relieve corneal inflammation and injury of dry eye rabbit models.

In the European Guideline on Management of Major Bleeding and Coagulopathy Following Trauma updated recently, there are 39 clinical practice recommendations that follow an approximate temporal path for management of the bleeding trauma patient, with recommendations grouped behind key decision points, including initial resuscitation and prevention of further bleeding, diagnosis and monitoring of bleeding, rapid control of bleeding, initial management of bleeding and coagulopathy, further goal-directed coagulation management, management of antithrombotic agents, thromboprophylaxis, guideline implementation and quality control, as welll as the management of tissue oxygenation, volume, fluids and temperature. In this paper, we introduce the recommendations and rationale of the guideline and add some newly published clinical study evidence. These information would be very helpful to the development and training of the guidelines or protocols for the management of the trauma patient with major haemorrhage and coagulopathy in China.

Intracellular overexpression of cytoglobin (Cygb) has been shown to reduce extracellular matrix deposition and promote liver fibrosis recovery, but its mechanism is not yet clear. This study constructed and expressed a fusion protein (TAT-Cygb) of cell penetrating peptide TAT and Cygb, to investigate the effect of fusion protein TAT-Cygb on regulating hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) ferroptosis. Cultured human hepatic stellate cells line (LX2) were treated with TAT-Cygb and erastin in vitro, respectively. The effects of ferroptosis phenotype in LX2 cells induced by TAT-Cygb, including cell viability, cell morphology, iron ion (Fe²⁺) content, lipid peroxidation product levels, and antioxidant system indicators, were investigated using trypan blue staining, transmission electron microscopy, Prussian blue staining, and reagent kits detection. After co-treatment with TAT-Cygb and ferrostain-1, the levels of Fe²⁺, reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) and glutathione (GSH) were measured by reagent kits. The protein expression levels of alpha smooth actin (α-SMA), collagen I and fibronectin were detected by Western blot, and the protein expression level of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and desmin relevant to fibrosis were observed by immunofluorescence. The results showed that TAT-Cygb could significantly reduce the viability of LX2 cells and trigger events relevant to ferroptosis, including promoting intracellular Fe²⁺ accumulation, and inducing mitochondrial morphological changes, and intensifying lipid peroxidation products accumulation, and decreasing the level of antioxidant indexes, which played a similar role as erastin; Fer-1 significantly weakened the increase in Fe²⁺, ROS, MDA, 4-HNE levels induced by TAT-Cygb, as well as the decrease in NADPH and GSH levels, while also weakening the TAT-Cygb-induced over-expression levels of α-SMA, collagen I and fibronectin, and TAT-Cygb-induced under-expression levels of EGFR and desmin. This cellular level study indicated that TAT-Cygb can induce ferroptosis of activated HSCs. This study revealed the potential mechanism of TAT-Cygb anti-liver fibrosis, and provided the experimental basis for further research on the molecular mechanism of TAT-Cygb realizing biological function by regulating the ferroptosis pathway.