Cardiovascular diseases （CVD），a group of common diseases in clinical practice，are witnessing a steady rise in both incidence and mortality rates，posing a challenge to public health. Gualou Xiebai Banxiatang，originating from Synopsis of the Golden Chamber （《金匮要略》），was initially used to treat severe cases of chest impediment. The formula consists of Trichosanthis Fructus，Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus，Pinelliae Rhizoma，and Baijiu. It has a wide range of clinical applications，with therapeutic effects including moving Qi to relieve depression，activating Yang to dissipate mass，and expelling phlegm to alleviate chest congestion. In recent years，clinical research has confirmed that Gualou Xiebai Banxiatang，with or without modification，used alone or in combination with Western medicine，has definite effects in the treatment of CVD such as hyperlipidemia，coronary atherosclerotic heart disease，hypertension，heart failure，and arrhythmia. It can alleviate disease symptoms and reduce the risk of re-hospitalization. Basic research indicates that the mechanisms of Gualou Xiebai Banxiatang include improving endothelial functions，exhibiting anti-inflammatory properties，countering oxidative stress，preventing apoptosis，inhibiting ventricular remodeling，regulating mitochondrial functions，improving hemorheology，and modulating autophagy and neurotransmitters. This article reviews relevant articles in recent years with focuses on the compatibility，clinical application，and mechanism of Gualou Xiebai Banxiatang. This review is expected to provide a theoretical basis for the mechanism research and clinical application of this formula in treating CVD and to offer ideas and reference for in-depth research.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Naoqingtong decoction （NQT） on the kidney damage and the inflammatory factors NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）， apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a C-terminal caspase recruitment domain （ASC）， cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-1 （Caspase-1）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in spontaneously hypertensive rats （SHRs）. MethodsTwenty-four SHRs were randomized into a model group， a low-dose （12.9 g·kg^-1·d^-1） NQT （NQT-L） group， a high-dose （25.8 g·kg^-1·d^-1） NQT group （NQT-H）， and a captopril （CTP， 20 mg·kg^-1·d^-1） group， with 6 rats in each group. In addition， 6 homozygous male Wistar-Kyoto rats were used as the control group. The control and model groups were administrated with the same amount of normal saline by gavage for 8 weeks. General behaviors of rats were observed during the intervention period， and the blood pressure was measured periodically. At the end of intervention， the body mass was weighed， and both kidneys were collected and weighed for the calculation of the renal index. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to observe the pathological changes in the kidney tissue. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot were employed to determine the expression levels of NLRP3， ASC， Caspase-1， IL-6， and TNF-α in the kidney tissue. ResultsDuring the experiment period， the control group had normal mental status， food intake， and activity， while the model group showed thinning of hair， loss of luster， reduced activity， loss of appetite， fecal adhesion， and irritability， and some of the skin had scratches or blood scabs. The above symptoms were alleviated to different degrees after 8 weeks of NQT administration. An intelligent non-invasive sphygmomanometer was used to measure the tail artery pressure of rats， which showed that the systolic and diastolic blood pressure of rats in the model group was higher than that in the control group （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， drug interventions lowered the systolic and diastolic blood pressure （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the control group， the model group showed severe pathological damage in the kidney tissue， which was alleviated in each drug intervention group. Compared with the control group， the model group showed up-regulated expression levels of NLRP3， ASC， Caspase-1， IL-6， and TNF-α in the kidney tissue （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the drug intervention groups showed down-regulated expression levels of NLRP3， ASC， Caspase-1， IL-6， and TNF-α in the kidney tissue （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionNQT can lower the blood pressure in SHRs by inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes， suppressing renal inflammation， and ameliorating hypertensive kidney damage.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Filipino farmers face unique occupational challenges that increase the risk of mental health issues, particularly anxiety. This study aims to determine the different personal, environmental, socioeconomic, occupational, and psychosocial factors associated with anxiety symptoms among Filipino farmers in Central Luzon.

Chain referral sampling method was used to recruit participants for the study, who underwent screening based on the eligibility criteria. Eligible participants were then asked about anxiety symptoms using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), while the validated, researcher-constructed Data Collection Tool for Factors Associated with Anxiety Symptoms (DCFAAS) was used to determine the farmers’ exposure to a variety of factors. Microsoft Excel was utilized in computing for frequency and percent distribution of participants, in each factor. Binary logistic regression was used to compute crude and adjusted odds ratio of each factor thru IBM SPSS Statistics®.

Among the 113 eligible farmers enrolled in the study, only 19 (16.8%) experienced anxiety symptoms, with excessive worrying, which was seen among 45 participants (39.8%). The mental health of Filipino farmers was significantly affected by the presence of physical illness (OR = 10.70 [95% CI 1.367, 83.773]) and having relatives affecting work completion (OR = 6.45 [95% CI 1.346, 30.896]). 

Despite the low prevalence of anxiety symptoms in this study, the findings suggest government policies to improve mental health service access to farmers, to integrate psychosocial support into agricultural programs, and to address family-related work pressures. By addressing these factors, it can improve farmer productivity and promote overall well-being, putting emphasis on the mental health of the Filipino farmers.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Filipino farmers face unique occupational challenges that increase the risk of mental health issues, particularly anxiety. This study aims to determine the different personal, environmental, socioeconomic, occupational, and psychosocial factors associated with anxiety symptoms among Filipino farmers in Central Luzon.

Chain referral sampling method was used to recruit participants for the study, who underwent screening based on the eligibility criteria. Eligible participants were then asked about anxiety symptoms using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), while the validated, researcher-constructed Data Collection Tool for Factors Associated with Anxiety Symptoms (DCFAAS) was used to determine the farmers’ exposure to a variety of factors. Microsoft Excel was utilized in computing for frequency and percent distribution of participants, in each factor. Binary logistic regression was used to compute crude and adjusted odds ratio of each factor thru IBM SPSS Statistics®.

Among the 113 eligible farmers enrolled in the study, only 19 (16.8%) experienced anxiety symptoms, with excessive worrying, which was seen among 45 participants (39.8%). The mental health of Filipino farmers was significantly affected by the presence of physical illness (OR = 10.70 [95% CI 1.367, 83.773]) and having relatives affecting work completion (OR = 6.45 [95% CI 1.346, 30.896]). 

Despite the low prevalence of anxiety symptoms in this study, the findings suggest government policies to improve mental health service access to farmers, to integrate psychosocial support into agricultural programs, and to address family-related work pressures. By addressing these factors, it can improve farmer productivity and promote overall well-being, putting emphasis on the mental health of the Filipino farmers.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of stretch on long non-coding RNA taurine upregulated gene 1 (TUG1)-mediated miR-545-3p/cannbinoida receptor 2 (CNR2) pathway regulating bone regeneration in the distraction area of rats during distraction osteogenesis. METHODS: Thirty-six 10-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups ( n=12 in each group): group A (femoral fracture+injection of interfering RNA), group B (distraction osteogenesis+injection of interfering RNA), and group C (distraction osteogenesis+injection of TUG1). Groups A and B were injected with 60 μg of interfering RNA at the beginning of incubation period (immediate after operation), the beginning of distraction phase (7 days after operation), and the end of distraction phase (21 days after operation), and group C was injected with 60 μg of synthetic TUG1 in vivo interfering sequence at the same time. The general situation of rats in each group was observed during the experiment. The mineralization of fracture space or distraction area was observed by X-ray films at 21, 35, and 49 days after operation. At 49 days after operation, the samples of the distraction area were taken for HE staining to observe the mineralization, and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expressions of osteoblast-related genes such as TUG1, miR-545-3p, CNR2, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin (OCN), and osteopontin (OPN). Blood samples were collected from the abdominal aorta of the rats, and the expressions of ALP and C terminal telopeptide of type Ⅰ (CTX-Ⅰ) protein were detected by ELISA assay. RESULTS: The results of X-ray film and HE staining observations showed that osteogenesis in group C was superior to groups A and B at the same time point. The results of qRT-PCR showed that the relative mRNA expressions of TUG1, CNR2, ALP, OCN, and OPN in group C were significantly higher than those in group A and group B, and the relative mRNA expression of miR-545-3p in group C was significantly lower than that in group A and group B ( P<0.05). The relative mRNA expressions of TUG1 and ALP in group B were significantly higher than those in group A, and the relative mRNA expression of miR-545-3p in group B was significantly lower than that in group A ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the relative mRNA expressions of CNR2, OCN, and OPN between group A and group B ( P>0.05). The results of ELISA showed that the expressions of ALP and CTX-Ⅰ protein were significantly higher in group C than in group A and group B, and in group B than in group A ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION Under the action of stretch, the expression of TUG1 in the femoral distraction area of rats increases, which promotes the expression of CNR2 by inhibiting the expression of miR-545-3P, which is helpful to the mineralization of the extension area and osteogenesis.
Animals ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Male ; Osteogenesis, Distraction/methods* ; Rats ; RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism* ; Osteopontin/genetics* ; Osteogenesis ; Bone Regeneration ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics* ; Osteocalcin/genetics* ; Alkaline Phosphatase/metabolism* ; Osteoblasts/cytology* ; Signal Transduction ; Femoral Fractures/surgery*

Objective:To analyze the mutation spectrum and hematological phenotype of hemoglobin subunit delta(HBD) gene among prenatal population in Xiangtan City, and to provide scientific basis for screening and diagnosis of rare and complex hemoglobinopathia.Methods:Prenatal population underwent screening and genetic testing for thalassemia at Xiangtan Maternal and Child Health Hospital from October 2022 to December 2023 were selected as the study subjects, combined with capillary electrophoresis results, further HBD gene sequencing was performed to identify specific genotypes.Results:A total of 5 371 subjects were enrolled, 22 cases of HBD gene mutations were detected, with a mutation carrier rate of 0.41% (22/5 371). Among them, 14 cases were diagnosed with δ thalassemia, 7 cases were δ abnormal hemoglobin, and 1 case was δ thalassemia combined with δ abnormal hemoglobin. There were 7 HBD mutant genotypes were included, with -77(T>C) being the most common, followed by hemoglobin (Hb) A 2-Huadu and CD34(+GGT); accounting for 68.2% (15/22), 9.1% (2/22), 9.1% (2/22). CD34(+GGT) was a newly discovered genotype, and CD7(GAG>TAG) was the first reported genotype in Chinese population. The Hb content, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin content were normal or nearly normal in 22 carriers of the HBD gene mutation; capillary electrophoresis demonstrated reduced Hb A 2 content in all cases. Conclusions:HBD gene mutations have been detected in the prenatal population in Xiangtan City, with -77(T>C) being the most common mutation genotype. None of the mutation carriers showed anemia.

This study was performed to investigate the inhibitory effects of Xuebijing injection(XBJ)on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced inflammatory signals on EA.hy926 vascular endothelial cells and the underlying mechanism,and to provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of sepsis with XBJ.WST-1 assay was used to detect the effects of XBJ on the cell viability;Western blot analysis was performed to detect the protein expression levels of IκBα,p-p65,p-ERK,p-JNK,p-p38,p-AMAD17 in cell lysates and the content of sTLR4 fragment in the concentrated culture supernatants.ADAM17 sheddase activity in cells was detected by using a commercial available kit.Data showed that all of the TLR4-mediated inflammatory signals were significantly inhibited by the treatment of XBJ(P＜0.01).ADAM17 phosphorylation and shedding activity were induced by XBJ treatment,simultaneously the sTLR4 contents in the culture media were increased.XBJ-induced shedding of TLR4 was suppressed by the preteatment of 10 μmol/L TAPI-1(an ADAM17 inhibitor).Taken together,XBJ can induce the shedding of TLR4 from cell membrane by up-regulating ADAM17 shedding activity,thereby inhibiting the activation of TLR4-mediated intracellular inflammatory signals in EA.hy926 cells.

Objective:To investigate the effects of modified endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy (mERAT) on the treatment of children with different severities of acute appendicitis.Methods:This study was a case-control study. A total of 586 children with acute appendicitis, who were admitted to the Pediatric Department of Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University between January 2019 and November 2023, were selected as the research subjects. According to the severity of the disease, the patients were divided into simple appendicitis group, suppurative appendicitis group and perforated appendicitis group. The baseline data, hospitalization treatment and costs, outcomes, and recurrence in each group were analyzed, and the difference in the effectiveness of mERAT between the groups were compared by Kruskal-Wallis H test and χ2 test. Results:Among 586 children, there were 338 males and 248 females. The age at onset was 7.0 (4.6, 9.4) years. There were 475 cases of simple appendicitis, 78 cases of suppurative appendicitis, and 33 cases of perforated appendicitis. There were no significant differences in age and gender among the three groups ( F=0.59, χ2=3.31, both P>0.05). However, there were statistically significant differences in body temperature, white blood cell counts, neutrophil percentage, lymphocyte percentage, nausea or vomiting, right lower abdominal pain, umbilical pain, right lower abdominal tenderness, and right lower abdominal rebound pain ( H=7.56, 161.52, 169.11, and 169.61, χ2=12.05, 13.82, 12.05, 7.74, 20.35, and 94.61, all P<0.05). Also, the treatment time, postoperative hospital stay, total hospital stay, and cost showed statistically significant differences ( H=4.70, 33.66, 34.99, 30.37, all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the initial treatment success rate (98.1% (466/475) vs. 98.7% (77/78) vs. 90.9% (30/33), P=0.057). During the 30 (23, 36) months of follow-up, the recurrence rate was 7.9% (35/433) in the simple appendicitis group, 20.8% (15/72) in the suppurative appendicitis group, and 30.0% (9/30) in the perforated appendicitis group, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=23.56, P<0.001). Among the children with recurrent appendicitis, 15 cases still chose mERAT, of them 11 cases (31.2%) had simple appendicitis, 2 cases (2/15) had suppurative appendicitis, and 2 cases (2/9) had perforated appendicitis.The latest time to recurrence in the 3 groups was 32, 35 and 10 months, respectively. Conclusion:Treatment with mERAT has a good effect in pediatric simple appendicitis, but has a higher recurrence rate despite a better initial treatment success rate in suppurative appendicitis and perforated appendicitis.

Objective:To explore the correlation between functional constipation （FC）and its related factors with acute appendicitis（AA）in children，so as to provide a reference for the prevention and clinical diagnosis and treatment of children with AA. Methods:A case-control study was conducted on 170 children diagnosed with AA in the Department of Pediatrics，the Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University，from August 2022 to March 2023，and 170 non-AA children during the same period were selected as control objects.The clinical data，incidence of FC，symptoms related to FC，Bristol stool classification，past constipation history and other information were compared between two groups.Results:The incidence of FC in 170 children with AA was 22.9%（39/170），which was significantly higher than 10.6%（18/170）in the non-AA group（ P<0.01）；For children under four years old，the proportion of faecal retention in AA group was higher than that in non-AA group（25.6% vs. 9.3%, P<0.05）；For children ≥ 4 years old，the proportion of faecal retention and dyschezia in AA group were higher than those in non-AA group（28.2% vs. 6.9%，29.0% vs. 16.4%，respectively,all P<0.05）.The proportion of past constipation history in AA group was higher than that in non-AA group（29.4% vs.14.1%）.The duration of constipation in AA group was longer than that in non-AA group [0.00（0.00，1.25）month vs. 0.00（0.00，0.00）month,all P<0.01].The proportion of children with low Bristol stool classification in AA group was higher than that in non-AA group（ P<0.01）.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that faecal retention[ OR=6.186（95% CI 2.336~16.380）] and long constipation time [ OR=1.310（95% CI 1.095~1.567）]were independent risk factors for AA in children（all P<0.05）. Conclusion:The incidence of faecal retention in children with AA is higher than that in children without AA，and the median duration of constipation is longer than that in children without AA.Fecal retention and long-term constipation are independent risk factors for AA in children.

Objective: Signaling lymphocytic activation molecule family members (SLAMFs) play a critical role in immune regulation of malignancies. This study aims to investigate the prognostic value and function of SLAMFs in ovarian cancer (OC). Methods: The expression analysis of SLAMFs was conducted based on The Cancer Genome Atlas Ovarian Cancer Collection (TCGA-OV) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was further performed on tissue arrays (n=98) to determine the expression of SLAMF7. Kaplan-Meier plotter and multivariate Cox regression model were used to evaluate the correlation of SLAMF7 expression with survival outcomes of patients. The molecular function of SLAMF7 in OC was further investigated using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). Results: SLAMF7 mRNA expression were significantly upregulated in OC tumor tissue compared to normal tissue. IHC revealed that SLAMF7 expression was located in the interstitial parts of tumor tissue, and higher SLAMF7 expression was associated with favorable survival outcomes. GSEA demonstrated that SLAMF7 is involved immune-related pathways. Further analysis showed that SLAMF7 had a strong correlation with the T cellspecific biomarker (CD3) but not with the B cell (CD19, CD22, and CD23) and natural killer cell-specific biomarkers (CD85C, CD336, and CD337). Furthermore, IHC analysis confirmed that SLAMF7 was expressed in tumor-infiltrating T cells, and the IHC score of SLAMF7 was positively correlated with CD3 (r=0.85, p<0.001). Conclusion SLAMF7 is expressed in the interstitial components of clinical OC tissue, and higher SLAMF7 expression indicated a favorable prognosis for patients with OC.Additionally, SLAMF7 is involved in T-cell immune infiltration in OC.