Objective: Negative symptoms in schizophrenia indicate a poor prognosis. However, the mechanisms underlying the development of negative symptoms remain unclear. This study investigated the relationship between negative symptoms in schizophrenia and frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA). Methods: The study used a 32-channel electroencephalography to acquire alpha power in 4 target-paired sites in each patient. Regional alpha asymmetry was calculated based on the alpha power using EEGLAB Frontal Alpha Asymmetry Toolbox. Results: Sixty schizophrenia patients with predominant negative symptoms (PNS), 72 stabilized schizophrenia (SS) patients, and 73 healthy control (HC) participants were enrolled in this study. No significant differences were observed in FAA between the PNS and SS groups, although both groups exhibited reduced P3-P4 alpha asymmetry compared to HCs. A positive correlation was found between F7-F8 alpha asymmetry and illness duration. Additionally, a predictive model based on P3-P4 alpha asymmetry scores was able to differentiate schizophrenia patients from HCs, achieving a sensitivity of 71.2% and a specificity of 72.6%. Conclusion This study highlighted that parietal alpha asymmetry could serve as a valuable diagnostic tool for schizophrenia.

ObjectiveTo construct a group-based trajectory model (GBTM) for early medication adherence check-in, and to analyze the relationship between different trajectories and treatment outcomes in tuberculosis patients using data that were generated from smart tools for monitoring their medication adherence and check-in. MethodsFrom October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023, a total of 163 pulmonary tuberculosis patients diagnosed in Fengxian District were selected as the study subjects. The GBTM was utilized to analyze the weekly active check-in trajectories of the subjects during the first 4 weeks and establish different trajectory groups. The χ² tests were employed to compare the differences between groups and logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the relationship between different trajectory groups and treatment outcomes. ResultsA total of four groups were generated by GBTM analyses, of which a low level of punch card was maintained in group A, 6% of the drug users increased rapidly from a low level in group B, 17% of drug users increased gradually from a low level in group C, and 18% of drug users maintained a high level of punch card in group D. The trajectory group was divided into two groups according to homogeneity, namely the low level medication punch card group (group A) and the high level medication punch card group (group B, group C, and group D). The results of multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that low-level medication check-in (OR=3.250, 95%CI: 1.089‒9.696), increasing age (OR=1.030, 95%CI: 1.004‒1.056), and not undergoing sputum examination at the end of the fifth month (OR=2.746, 95%CI: 1.090‒7.009) were significantly associated with poor treatment outcomes. ConclusionThe medication check-in trajectory of pulmonary tuberculosis patients within the first 4 weeks is correlated with adverse outcomes, or namely consistent low-level medication adherence check-ins are associated with poor treatment outcomes, while high-level medication adherence check-ins are associated with a lower incidence of adverse outcomes.

Depression, a prevalent mental disorder with significant socioeconomic burdens, underscores the urgent need for safe and effective non-pharmacological interventions. Recent advances in microbiome research have revealed the pivotal role of gut microbiota dysbiosis in the pathogenesis of depression. Concurrently, exercise, as a cost-effective and accessible intervention, has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in alleviating depressive symptoms. This comprehensive review synthesizes current evidence on the interplay among exercise, gut microbiota modulation, and depression, elucidating the mechanistic pathways through which exercise ameliorates depressive symptoms via the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis. Depression is characterized by gut microbiota alterations, including reduced alpha and beta diversity, depletion of beneficial taxa (e.g., Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Coprococcus), and overgrowth of pro-inflammatory and pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Morganella, Klebsiella, and Enterobacteriaceae). Metagenomic analyses reveal disrupted metabolic functions in depressive patients, such as diminished synthesis of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), impaired tryptophan metabolism, and dysregulated bile acid conversion. For instance, Bifidobacterium longum deficiency correlates with reduced synthesis of neuroactive metabolites like homovanillic acid, while decreased Coprococcus abundance limits butyrate production, exacerbating neuroinflammation. Furthermore, elevated levels of indole derivatives from Clostridium species inhibit serotonin (5-HT) synthesis, contributing to depressive phenotypes. These dysbiotic profiles disrupt the MGB axis, triggering systemic inflammation, neurotransmitter imbalances, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity. Exercise exerts profound effects on gut microbiota composition, diversity, and metabolic activity. Longitudinal studies demonstrate that sustained aerobic exercise increases alpha diversity, enriches SCFA-producing genera (e.g., Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Roseburia, and Akkermansia), and suppresses pathobionts (e.g., Desulfovibrio and Streptococcus). For example, a meta-analysis of 25 trials involving 1 044 participants confirmed that exercise enhances microbial richness and restores the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, a biomarker of metabolic health. Notably, endurance training promotes Veillonella proliferation, which converts lactate into propionate, enhancing energy metabolism and delaying fatigue. Exercise also strengthens intestinal barrier integrity by upregulating tight junction proteins (e.g., ZO-1, occludin), thereby reducing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) translocation and systemic inflammation. However, excessive exercise may paradoxically diminish microbial diversity and exacerbate intestinal permeability, highlighting the importance of moderate intensity and duration. Exercise ameliorates depressive symptoms through multifaceted interactions with the gut microbiota, primarily via 4 interconnected pathways. First, exercise mitigates neuroinflammation by elevating anti-inflammatory SCFAs such as butyrate, which suppresses NF-κB signaling to attenuate microglial activation and oxidative stress in the hippocampus. Animal studies demonstrate that voluntary wheel running reduces hippocampal TNF‑α and IL-17 levels in stress-induced depression models, while fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from exercised mice reverses depressive behaviors by modulating the TLR4/NF‑κB pathway. Second, exercise regulates neurotransmitter dynamics by enriching GABA-producing Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, thereby counteracting neuronal hyperexcitability. Aerobic exercise also enhances the abundance of Lactobacillus plantarum and Streptococcus thermophilus, which facilitate 5-HT and dopamine synthesis. Clinical trials reveal that 12 weeks of moderate exercise increases fecal Coprococcus and Blautia abundance, correlating with improved 5-HT bioavailability and reduced depression scores. Third, exercise normalizes HPA axis hyperactivity by reducing cortisol levels and restoring glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity. In rodent models, chronic stress-induced corticosterone elevation is reversed by probiotic supplementation (e.g., Lactobacillus), which enhances endocannabinoid signaling and hippocampal neurogenesis. Furthermore, exercise upregulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) via microbial metabolites like butyrate, promoting histone acetylation and synaptic plasticity. FMT experiments confirm that exercise-induced microbiota elevates prefrontal BDNF expression, reversing stress-induced neuronal atrophy. Fourth, exercise reshapes microbial metabolic crosstalk, diverting tryptophan metabolism toward 5-HT synthesis instead of neurotoxic kynurenine derivatives. Butyrate inhibits indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), a key enzyme in the kynurenine pathway linked to depression. Concurrently, exercise-induced Akkermansia enrichment enhances mucin production, fortifies the gut barrier, and reduces LPS-driven neuroinflammation. Collectively, these mechanisms underscore exercise as a potent modulator of the microbiota-gut-brain axis, offering a holistic approach to alleviating depression through microbial and neurophysiological synergy. Current evidence supports exercise as a potent adjunct therapy for depression, with personalized regimens (e.g., aerobic, resistance, or yoga) tailored to individual microbiota profiles. However, challenges remain in optimizing exercise prescriptions (intensity, duration, and type) and integrating them with probiotics, prebiotics, or FMT for synergistic effects. Future research should prioritize large-scale randomized controlled trials to validate causality, multi-omics approaches to decipher MGB axis dynamics, and mechanistic studies exploring microbial metabolites as therapeutic targets. The authors advocate for a paradigm shift toward microbiota-centric interventions, emphasizing the bidirectional relationship between physical activity and gut ecosystem resilience in mental health management. In conclusion, this review underscores exercise as a multifaceted modulator of the gut-brain axis, offering novel insights into non-pharmacological strategies for depression. By bridging microbial ecology, neuroimmunology, and exercise physiology, this work lays a foundation for precision medicine approaches targeting the gut microbiota to alleviate depressive disorders.

This paper aimed to systematically evaluate the effects of hypoxic training at different fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO₂) on body composition, glucose metabolism, and lipid metabolism in obese individuals, and to determine the optimal oxygen concentration range to provide scientific evidence for personalized and precise hypoxic exercise prescriptions. A systematic search was conducted in the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and CNKI databases for randomized controlled trials and pre-post intervention studies published up to March 31, 2025, involving hypoxic training interventions in obese populations. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software to assess the effects of different fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO₂≤14% vs. FiO₂>14%) on BMI, body fat percentage, waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), with subgroup analyses based on oxygen concentration. A total of 22 studies involving 292 participants were included. Meta-analysis showed that hypoxic training significantly reduced BMI (mean difference (MD)=-2.29,95%CI: -3.42 to -1.17, P<0.000 1), body fat percentage (MD=-2.32, 95%CI: -3.16 to -1.47, P<0.001), waist circumference (MD=-3.79, 95%CI: -6.73 to -0.85, P=0.01), fasting blood glucose (MD=-3.58, 95%CI: -6.23 to -0.93, P=0.008), insulin (MD=-1.60, 95%CI: -2.98 to -0.22, P=0.02), TG (MD=-0.18, 95%CI: -0.25 to -0.12, P<0.001), and LDL-C (MD=-0.25, 95%CI: -0.39 to -0.11, P=0.000 3). Greater improvements were observed under moderate hypoxic conditions with FiO₂>14%. Changes in HOMA-IR (MD=-0.74, 95%CI: -1.52 to 0.04,P=0.06) and HDL-C (MD=-0.09, 95%CI: -0.21 to 0.02, P=0.11) were not statistically significant. Hypoxic training can significantly improve body composition, glucose metabolism, and lipid metabolism indicators in obese individuals, with greater benefits observed under moderate hypoxia (FiO>14%). As a key parameter in hypoxic exercise interventions, the precise setting of oxygen concentration is crucial for optimizing intervention outcomes.

ObjectiveTo identify the characteristic exhaled volatile organic compounds （VOCs） associated with postoperative pulmonary complications （PPCs） in patients after abdominal surgery. MethodsThis study prospectively enrolled 76 patients with tracheal intubation who were transferred to intensive care unit （ICU） after abdominal surgery at Peking University People's Hospital between December 10， 2022 and June 30， 2023. The patients' basic information was collected during their perioperative period， and their exhaled VOCs were collected within 24 hours after their admission to the ICU， and then analyzed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry （GC-MS）. According to whether PPCs occurred 24 hours after surgery， the patients were divided into PPCs group （n=44） and non-PPCs group （n=32）， and the differences of VOCs were compared between the two groups. Lasso regression analysis was used to screen the valuable variables of VOCs， and Logistics regression analysis to determine the characteristic VOCs associated with the occurrence of PPCs. ResultsAmong the 76 patients， 44 had PPCs and 32 had no PPCs. Lasso regression analysis screened 4 PPCs-related compounds from exhaled VOCs of two groups for further analysis and Logistics regression analysis showed that the increase of 1-Hexadecanol content in exhaled breath was significantly correlated with the occurrence of PPCs （OR： 1.000， P=0.002）. ConclusionThis study indicated that the increased content of 1-Hexadecanol in patients' exhaled breath after abdominal surgery may be associated with the occurrence of PPCs.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of exempting Asian-type DEL pregnant women from anti-D monitoring and RhD immunoglobulin prophylaxis injections by comparing and analyzing the clinical incidence of anti-D alloimmunization between Asian-type DEL pregnant women and true RhD-negative pregnant women. Methods: A total of 165 pregnant women who were initially screened as RhD negative by the saline method and received medical treatment in our hospital from December 2022 to August 2024 were collected as the research subjects. Absorption and elution tests, DEL genotyping, and gene sequencing were used to divide the pregnant women into the Asian-type DEL group and the true negative group. After obtaining informed consent, the following clinical management plan was implemented for pregnant women with Asian-type DEL: exemption from routine anti-D antibody detection, exemption from RhD immunoglobulin prophylaxis, and transfusion of RhD-positive red blood cells. Blood samples of newborns were sent for examination of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). The routine management plan was implemented for true negative pregnant women. The incidence of alloimmunization and HDFN was comparatively analyzed between the two groups. Results: Among 165 initially screened RhD negative pregnant women, serological testing and genotyping confirmed 42 as Asian-type DEL, 9 as D variant, and 114 as true negative. Among 42 pregnant women with Asian-type DEL, 3 cases tested positive for HDFN due to receiving RhD immunoglobulin prophylaxis injection. The remaining 39 cases were exempted from anti-D testing after being fully informed of the risk, and did not receive RhD immunoglobulin prophylaxis. The HDFN tests were all negative. In the true negative group, anti-D antibodies were detected in 20 cases, of which 6 cases tested positive for HDFN. A pregnant woman with Asian -type DEL did not show RhD homologous immune response after receiving 2 units of RhD positive red blood cells. Statistical analysis revealed a significantly lower risk of anti-D alloimmunization in Asian-type DEL carriers compared to true D-negative pregnant women (P<0.05). Conclusion: Pregnant women with Asian-type DEL can be exempted from routine anti-D antibody testing and do not require routine RhD immunoglobulin prophylaxis injections.

Objective: We employed Mendelian randomization (MR) to test the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory of emotional pathogenesis concept and explore the causal relationship between negative emotions and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: Data of negative emotions, bronchitis, emphysema, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were downloaded from genome-wide association study (GWAS) public database for a two-sample MR analysis. Independent single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with negative emotions, bronchitis, and emphysema were selected as instrumental variables. Primary causal estimates were derived using inverse-variance weighting (IVW), supplemented by weighted median (WM), and simple mode (SM) methods. Sensitivity analyses included MR-Egger regression and MR-PRESSO to assess pleiotropy, Cochran’s Q test for heterogeneity, and multivariate MR to adjust for smoking. Mediation analysis evaluated the role of inflammatory markers. Reverse MR was tested for bidirectional causality. Weak instrument bias was mitigated via F-statistic thresholds (> 10). All analyses were conducted in RStudio. Results: MR analysis identified significant causal effects of several negative emotions on COPD. Genetically, the IVW analysis of seen doctors for nerves anxiety tension or depression [ORIVW = 1.006, 95% CI = (1.002, 1.010), P = 0.002], sensitivity/hurt feelings [ORIVW = 1.024, 95% CI = (1.004, 1.044), P = 0.017], and irritability [ORIVW = 1.019, 95% CI = (1.003, 1.035), P = 0.019 were robustly associated with increased risks of COPD. No heterogeneity was detected among the different instrumental variables (IVs) for depression (P = 0.655) and irritability (P = 0.163). MR-Egger regression intercepts for all emotional exposures were close to zero and statistically non-significant, indicating no evidence of directional pleiotropy. The horizontal pleiotropy results showed that except for worry (MR-PRESSO P = 0.006), other emotion exposures confirming no substantial pleiotropic bias. Multivariable MR demonstrated that anxiety remained independently associated with COPD after adjusting for smoking (P = 0.002), while associations with other negative emotions were attenuated post-adjustment. The mediation analysis revealed that CRP mediated 3.93% of the total effect of anxiety on COPD. However, reverse MR analysis found no evidence of reverse causality. Conclusion This study confirmed the causal effects of negative emotions on COPD through MR analysis and revealed that negative emotions may trigger CRP production, which plays an essential mediating role in this relationship. This study provides a reliable modern theoretical basis for emotion theory in TCM.

Hypercoagulable state (HCS) after kidney transplantation is one of the common and serious complications in kidney transplant recipients, which has attracted increasing attention in recent years. HCS refers to the abnormal and excessive activation of blood coagulation function, leading to the increased risk of thrombosis. After kidney transplantation, the combined effects of hemodynamic changes, surgical trauma and severe rejection increase the incidence of HCS, not only raising the risk of thrombosis but also potentially causing graft failure and affecting the postoperative survival rate of patients. This article reviews the influencing factors, clinical manifestations, diagnostic methods and preventive strategies of HCS after kidney transplantation, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for optimizing perioperative management and improving the prognosis of patients.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the mechanisms of paeoniflorin （PF） in anti-hyperprolactinemia （HPRL）. METHODS Twenty-four female SD rats were divided into blank control group （intragastric administration of 5% gum arabic solution）， olanzapine group （model group， intragastric administration of 5 mg/kg olanzapine suspension）， and PF group （intragastric administration of 5 mg/kg olanzapine suspension， followed by gavaging with 50 mg/kg PF solution 2 hours later） with 8 rats in each group. Once a day， continuously model/administer until the plasma prolactin （PRL） levels in the olanzapine group were twice as high as those in the blank control group. PRL levels were measured. The changes in gut microbiota of rats were analyzed， including assessments of α-diversity （Simpson， Chao1， and Shannon indexes）， β-diversity， species composition analysis （at the phylum and genus levels）， and microbiome LEfSe analysis. Fecal untargeted metabolomics technology was employed to analyze the effects of PF on the fecal metabolomics of rats， including multivariate statistical analysis， screening of differential metabolites， and pathway enrichment analysis. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to examine the correlations between differential microbiota and differential fecal metabolites. RESULTS PF significantly reduced serum PRL levels of rats in olanzapine group （P＜0.05）. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that PF improved the α-diversity and β-diversity of gut microbiota in HPRL rats （P＜0.05）， restoring them to levels similar to the blank control group. At the phylum level， PF significantly reduced the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Desulfobacterota， while increasing the relative abundance of Verrucomicrobiota in HPRL rats （all P＜0.05）. At the genus level， PF reversed the relative abundance of Desulfovibrio，Allobaculum， and Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group， etc （all P＜0.05）. The results of LEfSe analysis revealed that PF significantly enriched microbial taxa such as Actinobacteriota，Staphylococcales， Corynebacteriales， etc （all P＜0.05）. Metabolomics analysis identified 51 differential metabolites， with key metabolic pathways enriched in steroid hormone biosynthesis， prostate cancer， ovarian steroidogenesis， etc. Correlation analysis showed that the relative abundance of gut microbiota such as Desulfovibrio and Aerococcus was significantly correlated with the levels of steroid hormone metabolites such as tetrahydrocortisol and adrenosterone （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS PF alleviates PRL by modulating gut microbiota structure in HPRL rats （including significantly reducing the relative abundance of Desulfovibrio， Allobaculum and Aerococcus， as well as significantly increasing the relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae_UBA1819 and Muribaculum）， and regulating steroid hormone pathways， then exerting its anti-HPRL effect.

The current classification methods for traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） visceral syndrome differentiation suffer from excessive generalization， which hinders their clinical application. Based on the analysis of the pattern of "one syndrome corresponding to multiple formulas"， this paper focused on the principle of syndrome-formula correspondence， and proposed that formula-syndromes are the smallest units for refining visceral syndromes. By establishing the correspondence between formula-syndromes and visceral syndromes， this study aims to further clarify the refined categories of syndromes and their treatment patterns， providing a new perspective for the standardization and objectification of TCM syndromes.