BACKGROUND: The available evidence regarding the benefits of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on patients receiving dialysis with coronary artery disease (CAD) is limited and inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PCI and clinical outcomes as compared with medical therapy alone in patients undergoing dialysis with CAD in China. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective study was conducted in 30 tertiary medical centers across 12 provinces in China from January 2015 to June 2021 to include patients on dialysis with CAD. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke. Secondary outcomes included all-cause death, the individual components of MACE, and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium criteria types 2, 3, or 5 bleeding. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between PCI and outcomes. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and propensity score matching (PSM) were performed to account for potential between-group differences. RESULTS: Of the 1146 patients on dialysis with significant CAD, 821 (71.6%) underwent PCI. After a median follow-up of 23.0 months, PCI was associated with a 43.0% significantly lower risk for MACE (33.9% [ n  = 278] vs . 43.7% [ n  = 142]; adjusted hazards ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.45-0.71), along with a slightly increased risk for bleeding outcomes that did not reach statistical significance (11.1% vs . 8.3%; adjusted hazards ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval, 0.82-2.11). Furthermore, PCI was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities. Subgroup analysis did not modify the association of PCI with patient outcomes. These primary findings were consistent across IPTW, PSM, and competing risk analyses. CONCLUSION This study indicated that PCI in patients on dialysis with CAD was significantly associated with lower MACE and mortality when comparing with those with medical therapy alone, albeit with a slightly increased risk for bleeding events that did not reach statistical significance.
Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Coronary Artery Disease/drug therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Renal Dialysis/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; China ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Treatment Outcome

At present, pancreatic cancer is a solid tumor with the worst prognosis. Compared with surgery and chemotherapy, radiotherapy plays an auxiliary role in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. In recent years, significant advances have been achieved in radiotherapy technology, which have been gradually applied in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer. In this article, the progress in radiation therapy in the treatment of pancreatic cancer was reviewed, especially the clinical application of magnetic resonance imaging-guided radiation therapy in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, aiming to deepen the understand of the progress in radiation therapy for pancreatic cancer, and providing reference for improving the survival rate of pancreatic cancer patients.

This study used the Appraisal of Guidelines Research & Evaluation-Health Systems （AGREE-HS） to demonstratively compare 34 global coronavirus disease-2019 （COVID-19） health systems guidance documents （HSGs） and 6 World Health Organization （WHO） standard HSGs. The comparison involved topic， participants， methods， recommendations， and implementability， with the aim of exploring the characteristics of emergency HSGs. The results showed that the emergency HSGs had an overall average score of 49%， with topic having the highest score， recommendations having the second highest score， and participants having the lowest score. The standard HSGs had an overall average score of 79%， with high scores in all items. The emergency HSGs had lower scores in participants， methods， recommendations， and implementability than the standard HSGs （P<0.001）， while the COVID-19 emergency HSGs developed by the WHO had higher score in topic than the standard HSGs （P<0.05）. Compared with those released by countries， the COVID-19 emergency HSG developed by the WHO showed superiority in all items and overall scores （P=0.000 2）. This indicates that emergency HSGs， represented by the COVID-19 emergency HSG， place equal emphasis on topic and recommendations as standard HSGs but have low requirements in terms of expert participation， evidence support， and comprehensive consideration in the time- and resource-limited context. They have the characteristics of prominent topics， clear purposes， orientation to demand， keeping up with the latest evidence， flexible adjustment， and timeliness， emphasizing immediate implementation effects， weakening long-term effects， and focusing on comprehensive benefits. Additionally， developers， types， and report completeness are important influencing factors.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata on neurological function injury in ischemic stroke rats and explore its mechanism. MethodMale SD rats were randomized into sham operation， model， low- and high -dose （3.5 g·kg^-1 and 7 g·kg^-1） Rehmannia Radix Praeparata， and nimodipine （0.01 g·kg^-1） groups. The rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion （MCAO） was established with the modified suture occlusion method. Zea-Longa 5-point scoring was employed to evaluate the neurological function of rats. The cerebral infarction volume was detected by 2，3，5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride （TTC） staining. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and Nissl staining were employed to observe the morphology and damage of the brain tissue. Meanwhile， the serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase （LDH）， oxidative stress-related indicators superoxide dismutase （SOD）， glutathione peroxidase 4 （GPX4）， and malondialdehyde （MDA）， and the iron （Fe） content in the brain tissue were determined. To explore the mechanism of Rehmanniae Radix Preparata in mitigating the neurological damage in ischemic stroke rats， Western blotting was employed to determine the expression levels of proteins in the ischemic brain tissue. The autophagy-associated proteins included autophagy effector （beclin-1）， microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 （LC3B）， and ubiquitin-binding protein p62 （p62）. The ferroptosis-associated proteins included transferrin （TF）， transferrin receptor 1 （TFR1）， ferritin heavy chain 1 （FTH1）， and ferropotin （FPN1）. The neurological function injury-associated proteins included brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） and tyrosine kinase receptor B （TrkB）. ResultCompared with the sham operation group， the model group showed increased neurological function score， cerebral infarction volume， and appearance of nuclear pyknosis and vacuole of cells in the cerebral cortex. In addition， the model group presented elevated levels of LDH， MDA， and Fe （P<0.01） and lowered levels of SOD and GPX4 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata decreased the content of LDH， MDA， and Fe （P<0.05， P<0.01） and elevated the levels of SOD and GPX4 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the sham operation group， the modeling promoted the expression of beclin-1，LC3B Ⅱ/Ⅰ， TF， and TFR1 and inhibited the expression of p62， FTH1， FPN1， BDNF， and TrkB （P<0.01）. The expression levels of these proteins were recovered after the treatment with Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata. ConclusionRehmanniae Radix Praeparata may inhibit ferroptosis and improve the neurological function in ischemic stroke rats by down-regulating the autophagy level in the brain tissue.

Objective:To determine the causal relationship between educational attainment and the risk of allergic rhinitis and (or) eczema using Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses.Methods:This study was a secondary data analysis based on the summary data of genome-wide association studies (GWAS), which involved 293 723 participants (educational attainment) from the Social Science Genetics Association Consortium and 462 013 participants [allergic rhinitis and (or) eczema] from the UK Biobank. Genetic variants that were closely related to educational attainment were identified as instrumental variables. Two-sample MR analyses, including inverse-variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger regression, weighted median method and weighted model-based estimation, were performed to investigate the causal relationship between educational attainment and the risk of allergic rhinitis and (or) eczema, in which the odds ratio ( OR) values were used as indicators. Results:A total of 70 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were chosen as instrumental variables. The MR-Egger regression results suggested that the genetic pleiotropy was unlikely to bias our results ( P=0.107). In the univariable MR analyses, IVW regression showed that the risk of allergic rhinitis and (or) eczema was OR=1.044 (95% CI: 1.020-1.069, P<0.001) and OR=1.170 (95% CI: 1.074-1.256, P<0.001), respectively, for the increase in the duration of education by one year or one standard deviation ( SD) (3.71 years). In the reverse MR analysis, IVW regression showed little evidence that allergic rhinitis and (or) eczema affected educational attainment ( OR=1.020, 95% CI: 0.927-1.023, P=0.683). The results of the weighted median method and weighted mode-based estimation were consistent with the results of IVW. Conclusion:This study suggests that there is a positive causal relationship between educational attainment and the risk of allergic rhinitis and (or) eczema, which means that educational attainment can increase the occurrence of allergic rhinitis and (or) eczema.

Objective:To determine the causal relationship between educational attainment and the risk of allergic rhinitis and (or) eczema using Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses.Methods:This study was a secondary data analysis based on the summary data of genome-wide association studies (GWAS), which involved 293 723 participants (educational attainment) from the Social Science Genetics Association Consortium and 462 013 participants [allergic rhinitis and (or) eczema] from the UK Biobank. Genetic variants that were closely related to educational attainment were identified as instrumental variables. Two-sample MR analyses, including inverse-variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger regression, weighted median method and weighted model-based estimation, were performed to investigate the causal relationship between educational attainment and the risk of allergic rhinitis and (or) eczema, in which the odds ratio ( OR) values were used as indicators. Results:A total of 70 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were chosen as instrumental variables. The MR-Egger regression results suggested that the genetic pleiotropy was unlikely to bias our results ( P=0.107). In the univariable MR analyses, IVW regression showed that the risk of allergic rhinitis and (or) eczema was OR=1.044 (95% CI: 1.020-1.069, P<0.001) and OR=1.170 (95% CI: 1.074-1.256, P<0.001), respectively, for the increase in the duration of education by one year or one standard deviation ( SD) (3.71 years). In the reverse MR analysis, IVW regression showed little evidence that allergic rhinitis and (or) eczema affected educational attainment ( OR=1.020, 95% CI: 0.927-1.023, P=0.683). The results of the weighted median method and weighted mode-based estimation were consistent with the results of IVW. Conclusion:This study suggests that there is a positive causal relationship between educational attainment and the risk of allergic rhinitis and (or) eczema, which means that educational attainment can increase the occurrence of allergic rhinitis and (or) eczema.

Objective:To investigate whether short chain fatty acid(SCFAs) intervention has an antidepressant effect by improving gut microbiota dysregulation and regulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB inflammatory pathway in depression model mice.Methods:Totally 60 SPF grade male C57BL/6 J mice aged 6-8 weeks were randomly divided into three groups: control group, depression model group, and SCFAs group, with 20 mice in each group.The mice in depression model group and SCFAs group were given the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) stimulations for 8 weeks to establish the depression model.From the 6th week, SCFAs group mice were given a mixed solution of short chain fatty acid salts for drinking, until modeling was completed, meanwhile mice in the model group were given 0.78% NaCl solution for drinking.The depression-like behavior was assessed using the sucrose preference test (SPT) and forced swimming test (FST) following modeling, and the open field test (OFT) was employed to evaluate the anxiety-like behavior of mice.16S rRNA gene sequence was used to analyze the gut microbiota of mice.The activation of astrocytes and TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB inflammatory pathway in hippocampus was determined by immunofluorescence staining and Western blot.SPSS 26.0 was used for statistical analysis, one-way ANOVA was used for comparison among the three groups, and LSD- t test was used for further pairwise comparisons. Results:There were statistically significant differences in the sugar water preference rate, the immobility time in FST, and the percentage of activity time in OFT among the three groups ( F=10.554, 10.912, 12.599, all P<0.05).The the sugar water preference rate and the percentage of activity time in OFT of the depression model group were both lower than those of the control group (both P<0.05), and the immobility time in FST was higher than that of the control group ( P<0.05).The sugar water preference rate in SCFAs group((84.7±3.5)%, (75.3±6.0)%)and the percentage of activity time in OFT((7.4±1.4)%, (3.2±0.9)%) were both higher than those in the depression model group(both P<0.05 ), while the immobility time in FST was shorter than that in the depression model group((110.5±21.5) s, (148.0±20.1) s, P<0.05).There was a statistical difference in the β diversity of gut microbiota among three groups ( P=0.001).At the family level, compared with the depression model group, the relative abundance of Rikenellaceaee and Bacteroidaceae increased in the SCFAs group, while the relative abundance of Clostridia_UCG-014 decreased.At the genus level, the relative abundance of Clostridia_UCG-014 and Prevotella decreased, while the relative abundance of Alistipes increased (all P<0.05).The immunofluorescence results showed that there was a statistically significant difference in GFAP expression levels among the three groups of mice ( F=16.565, P=0.004).The GFAP expression in the depression model group was higher than that in the control group and SCFAs group (both P<0.05).The Western blot results showed that there were statistically significant differences in the expression levels of TLR4, MYD88, and NF-κB ptoteins in the hippocampal tissue of the three groups ( F=70.59, 174.39, 14.40, all P<0.05).The protein levels of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB in the depression model group were all higher than those in the control group and SCFAs group (all P<0.05). Conclusion:SCFAs can ameliorate the depressive-like behavior in depression model mice and reduce the activation of astrocytes in the hippocampus, which may be associated with the improvement of dysregulated gut microbiota and down-regulation of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway protein.

Objective:To evaluate the characteristics of vaginal flora between normal and abnormal pregnant women throughout pregnancy.Methods:Vaginal swab specimens were collected from pregnant women in the first (<14 gestation weeks, GW), second (14~28 GW) and third trimester (>28 GW) in Anqing, Anhui Province from February 2018 to February 2020. Pregnant women were divided into normal and abnormal groups according to all clinical diagnosis. The sequences of 16S rRNA gene (V3-V4) from vaginal swabs were analyzed using QIIME2 platform. The differences in the dominance of Lactobacillus, community state type (CST) transition, Alpha diversity and Beta diversity were analyzed. Diversity data after log transition were used in the analysis of linear mixed model. Results:A total of 34 pregnant women (10 normal and 24 abnormal) with 102 samples were included for analysis. The composition of vaginal flora between two groups: the relative abundance of Lactobacillus was the highest at the genus level and Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus iners was the top two species with high relative abundance. The dominance of Lactobacillus, Alpha diversity and transition of CST were also similar. Both groups had a gradually decreased trend of Alpha diversity with GW, and the Chao1, Observed species and Faith′s PD indexes′ were different in different GW ( P<0.05). All Beta diversity metrics in normal group had descending trend, with lower value of the index of first distance which implied a higher microbiota stability, while Bray-Curtis, Weighted UniFrac distance had ascending trend in abnormal group, indicating lower stability. Jaccard distance′s first distance was statistically differed among GW and Unweighted UniFrac distance′s differed between normal and abnormal groups. Conclusions:The first distance of Unweighte UniFrac distance in abnormal pregnant women is higher than that of normal pregnant women and the vaginal flora in abnormal group has lower stability.

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)plays a unique role in preventive treatment of disease,treatment of chronic disease and recovery.Integrating modern science and technology and methods to carry out integrated and innovative research will help to bring the value of traditional Chinese medicine into full play.In recent years,with the rapid development of digital therapeutics such as artificial intelligence and wearable devices,digital therapeutics have emerged.Under the guidance of TCM theory,TCM integrates digital therapeutics technology methods,personalized treatment of patients through advanced program-driven software or combined with hardware devices,and improves patient compliance,gives full play to the advantages of TCM.This paper uses CiteSpace to visualize the research hotspots of digital therapeutics,combined with the literature and the website data of the Food and Drug Administration and the National Medical Products Administration,to sort out the application of digital therapeutics in the prevention,treatment and recovery of diseases,analyze the key technologies and core theories in the current application of digital therapeutics.And taking TCM pentatotherapy,kinesiatrics and aromatherapy as examples,this paper discusses the application forms of digital therapeutics under the guidance of TCM theory,and provides a preliminary paradigm for TCM digital therapeutics.

Cancer stands as one of the predominant causes of mortality globally, necessitating ongoing efforts to develop innovative therapeutics. Historically, natural products have been foundational in the quest for anticancer agents. Bulbocodin D (BD) and Bulbocodin C (BC), two bibenzyls derived from Pleione bulbocodioides (Franch.) Rolfe, have demonstrated notable in vitro anticancer activity. In human lung cancer A549 cells, the IC_50s for BD and BC were 11.63 and 11.71 μmol·L^-1, respectively. BD triggered apoptosis, as evidenced by an upsurge in Annexin V-positive cells and elevated protein expression of cleaved-PARP in cancer cells. Furthermore, BD and BC markedly inhibited the migratory and invasive potentials of A549 cells. The altered genes identified through RNA-sequencing analysis were integrated into the CMap dataset, suggesting BD's role as a potential signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) inhibitor. SwissDock and MOE analyses further revealed that both BD and BC exhibited a commendable binding affinity with STAT3. Additionally, a surface plasmon resonance assay confirmed the direct binding affinity between these compounds and STAT3. Notably, treatment with either BD or BC led to a significant reduction in p-STAT3 (Tyr 705) protein levels, regardless of interleukin-6 stimulation in A549 cells. In addition, the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was activated after BD or BC treatment. An enhancement in cancer cell mortality was observed upon combined treatment of BD and U0126, the MEK1/2 inhibitor. In conclusion, BD and BC emerge as promising novel STAT3 inhibitors with potential implications in cancer therapy.
Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/metabolism* ; STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism* ; Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry* ; A549 Cells ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation