As a complex autoimmune disease， rheumatoid arthritis （RA） involves immune microenvironment dysregulation resulting from excessive activation of pyroptosis， which is a crucial factor in disease progression. Based on the theory of ying-wei in traditional Chinese medicine， "ying decline and wei attack" is considered the fundamental pathogenesis of RA. Pyroptosis serves as a microscopic manifestation of this concept， suggesting a potential correlation between "ying decline and wei attack" and pyroptosis nd immune microenvironment dysregulation in RA. Accordingly， treatment principles based on this theory are proposed： in the early stage of the disease， boosting wei to consolidate the exterior， and regulating ying to dispel pathogens； in the middle and late stages， harmonizing ying to remove stagnation， and nourishing its transformational source.

ObjectiveTo investigate the potential mechanism of action of the Qufeng Tongqiao Cough-relieving Decoction （祛风通窍止咳方， QTCD） in the treatment of upper airway cough syndrome （UACS）. MethodsTwenty-four guinea pigs were randomly divided into blank group， model group， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） group， and inhibitor group， with six guinea pigs in each group. Except for the blank group， guinea pigs were sensitized with ovalbumin and aluminum hydroxide via intraperitoneal injection， followed by ovalbumin nasal drops combined with smoke exposure to establish the UACS model. After modeling， the TCM group was administered QTCD 0.9 g/（100 g·d） by gavage， the inhibitor group received the transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 4 （TRPV4） inhibitor GSK2193874 1 mmol/L， 5 min by nebulisation， and the blank group and model group were given 2 ml/（100 g·d） normal saline by gavage once daily. After 7 days of treatment， a cough provocation test was performed using 0.4 mol/L citric acid. The levels of IgE in serum and inflammatory cytokines， including interleukin-6 （IL-6）， interleukin-8 （IL-8） in serum， bronchoalveolar lavage fluid （BALF）， and nasal lavage fluid （NLF） were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Histopathological changes in lung and nasal mucosal tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein levels of TRPV4， substance P （SP）， and calcitonin gene-related peptide （CGRP） in lung and nasal mucosal tissues. Real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect the mRNA expression of TRPV4， SP， and CGRP in lung tissues. ResultsHE staining showed significant structural damage and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the lung and nasal mucosal tissues in the model group， while the TCM group and inhibitor group showed improved pathological changes. Compared with the blank group， the model group showed increased cough frequency， serum IgE level， and IL-6 and IL-8 levels in serum， BALF， and NLF. The protein levels of TRPV4， SP， and CGRP in lung and nasal mucosal tissues and their mRNA expression were elevated （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared with the model group， the TCM group and inhibitor group showed reduced cough frequency， serum IgE level， and TRPV4 and SP mRNA expression in lung tissues. The TCM group showed reduced IL-6 and IL-8 levels in serum， BALF， and NLF， and reduced TRPV4 and CGRP protein levels in lung and nasal mucosal tissues. The inhibitor group showed reduced IL-6 and IL-8 levels in serum， BALF， and NLF， reduced IL-6 in BALF， reduced IL-8 in NLF， and decreased TRPV4， SP， and CGRP protein levels in lung tissues and SP and CGRP protein levels in nasal mucosal tissues （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared with the TCM group， the inhibitor group had increased serum IgE， IL-6， and IL-8 levels， increased IL-6 level in BALF， and increased IL-8 levle in NLF， but decreased SP protein level in lung tissues and increased TRPV4 and SP mRNA expression in lung tissues （P＜0.01）. ConclusionQTCD effectively reduces cough frequency in the UACS guinea pig model. Its mechanism may involve inhibiting the activation of the TRPV4 pathway， improving airway neurogenic inflammation， alleviating inflammatory responses， and reducing cough hypersensitivity.

Objective: To investigate the status and influencing factors of influenza vaccination among the elderly, so as to provide insights into improving the strategies for influenza vaccination among the elderly. Methods: Elderly people aged 60 years and above were recruited from one community each in five sub-districts of Shihezi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region using a random sampling method. Demographic information, knowledge about influenza and influenza vaccines, vaccine literacy and influenza vaccination status in the past year were collected through questionnaire surveys. Factors affecting influenza vaccination among the elderly were analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: Totally 1 121 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 95.08%. There were 417 males (37.20%) and 704 females (62.80%). The majority were aged 60-<81 years, accounting for 80.37% (901 individuals). The awareness of knowledge about influenza and influenza vaccines was 78.86%. Low vaccine literacy was observed in 786 individuals, representing 70.12%. The influenza vaccination rate was 20.96%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that age (71-<81 years, OR=1.607, 95%CI: 1.041-2.479; ≥81 years, OR=1.719, 95%CI: 1.040-2.842), educational level (middle school/technical secondary school, OR=0.616, 95%CI: 0.416-0.911), medical expense payment (employee medical insurance, OR=6.531, 95%CI: 2.030-21.010; resident medical insurance, OR=3.385, 95%CI: 1.095-10.466; public expense, OR=4.828, 95%CI: 1.700-13.712), vaccination willingness (yes, OR=6.237, 95%CI: 3.277-11.871), influenza vaccination history (yes, OR=14.600, 95%CI: 8.733-24.408) and vaccine literacy (medium and above, OR=2.412, 95%CI: 1.636-3.555) were associated with influenza vaccination among the elderly. Conclusion The influenza vaccination rate among the elderly was relatively low, and was mainly affected by age, educational level, medical expense payment, vaccination willingness, influenza vaccination history and vaccine literacy.

BackgroundObsessive-compulsive disorder （OCD） is a common neuropsychiatric illness and is listed as one of the top ten disabling conditions causing loss of income and reduced quality of life. Psychological distress is an important cause of anhedonia in OCD patients， and is closely related to psychosomatic symptoms. Therefore， exploring the role of anhedonia in the relationship between psychological distress and psychosomatic symptoms is of great significance for optimizing clinical psychological treatment protocols for OCD patients. ObjectiveTo explore the role of anhedonia in the relationship between psychological distress and psychosomatic symptoms in OCD patients， with the aim of providing references for managing psychosomatic symptoms in patients. MethodsA total of 90 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for OCD according to the International Classification of Diseases， tenth edition （ICD-10）， and who visited the Mental Health Center outpatient clinic of General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from September 2023 to November 2024 were selected as the study objects. The instruments and techniques used for the evaluation were： Dimensional Anhedonia Rating Scale （DARS）， 10-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale （K10） and Psychosomatic Symptom Scale （PSSS）. Model 4 of the Process for SPSS 26.0 was used to test the mediating role of anhedonia in the relationship between psychological distress and psychosomatic symptoms， with Bootstrapping used to assess the significance of mediating effect. ResultsA total of 84 patients （93.33%） completed the valid questionnaire. K10 score was positively correlated with PSSS total score， psychological symptom score and physical symptom score （r=0.559， 0.460， 0.551， P<0.01）. K10 score was negatively correlated with DARS total score （r=-0.527， P<0.01）. The total score of DARS was negatively correlated with PSSS total score （r=-0.497， P<0.01）. Anhedonia mediated the relationship between psychological distress and psychosomatic symptoms， with an indirect effect value was 0.148 （95% CI： 0.042~0.278）， accounting for 26.48% of the total effect. ConclusionPsychological distress can affect the psychosomatic symptoms in OCD patients both directly and indirectly via anhedonia.

Objective To establish a method for the simultaneous determination of DOX·HCl and LND. Methods HPLC was performed on Agilent 5 HC-C₁₈（2） （4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5 µm） column. The mobile phase was methanol-0.1% TFA aqueous solution, and the gradient elution procedure were: 0 to 3 min, 65% methanol; 3 to 7 min, 65%→90% methanol; 7 to 13 min, 90% methanol; 13 to 15 min, 90%→65% methanol; 15 to 20 min, 65% methanol. The collection time was 20 min, the balance time was 3 min, the UV detection wavelengths were 205 nm and 253 nm. The flow rate was 1.0 ml/min and the column temperature was 35℃. The amount of inlet was 10 µl. Results The method was highly specific, and both DOX·HCl and LND exhibited good linearity in the concentration range of 1-40 µg/ml and 6-240 µg/ml, respectively. The two compounds’ precision, stability, and recovery satisfied the requirements of the method. Conclusion This study established a HPLC method that was suitable for the simultaneous detection of DOX·HCl and LND. This method’s high level of specificity, accuracy, and reliability .

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)combined with lenvatinib and camrelizumab in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods The clinical data of a total of 63 patients with advanced HCC,who received TACE combined with lenvatinib and camrelizumab(triple therapy)or TACE combined with lenvatinib(dual therapy)at the Jingmen Municipal People's Hospital of China between April 2020 and December 2021,were retrospectively analyzed.Triple therapy group had 30 patients,and dual therapy group had 33 patients.The post-treatment tumor response,disease progression-free survival(PFS),overall survival(OS),and the incidence of adverse drug reactions were recorded.Results The median follow-up period of the two groups was 14 months(range of 4-26 months).Compared with the dual therapy group,in the triple therapy group the objective response rate(ORR)was remarkably higher(83.3%vs.57.6%,P=0.026),the disease control rate(DCR)was obviously higher(93.3%vs.69.7%,P=0.039),the median PFS was significantly longer(8.0 months vs.5.0 months,P＜0.01),and the median OS was strikingly longer(24.0 months vs.12.0 months,P=0.004).No statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse drug reactions existed between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion For the treatment of advanced HCC,TACE combined with lenvatinib and camrelizumab is clinically safe and effective.(J Intervent Radiol,2024,32:57-62)

Objective To construct methoxy polyethylene glycol (mPEG) modified gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) AuNPs-mPEG@DOX in order to reduce the toxicity and side effects of DOX. Methods AuNPs-mPEG@DOX was prepared and characterized by Z-Average, Zeta potential and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The impact of thiol-linked DOX (HS-DOX) at various dosage concentrations on the drug adsorption rate and drug loading of AuNPs-mPEG@DOX was investigated. Furthermore, a HPLC method was developed to accurately determine the content of unadsorbed HS-DOX in AuNPs-mPEG@DOX. The specificity, linearity, precision, stability and average recovery of this method were thoroughly investigated. The cytotoxic effect of AuNPs-mPEG@DOX on MCF-10A and MCF-7 cells was evaluated using a CCK-8 assay. Results AuNPs-mPEG@DOX was successfully prepared with Z-Average of (46.12±0.49) nm, Zeta potential of (18.60±1.51) nm and the maximum absorption wavelength of 530 nm. An efficient HPLC method for the detection of unadsorbed HS-DOX in AuNPs-mPEG@DOX was devised. The optimal dosage concentration of HS-DOX for AuNPs-mPEG@DOX was determined to be 11.18 μg/ml, resulting in a drug adsorption rate of (9.21±2.88)% and a drug loading rate of (2.01±0.62)%. Cytotoxicity experiments demonstrated that AuNPs-mPEG@DOX significantly reduced the toxic and side effects of DOX on normal breast cells. Additionally, AuNPs-mPEG@DOX and free DOX exhibited comparable cytotoxic effects on breast tumor cells when DOX concentration was equal to or greater than 4.75 μmol/L. Conclusion AuNPs-mPEG@DOX effectively reduce the toxicity of DOX, providing a reference for future research on reducing the toxicity of AuNPs-linked drugs.

Objective: To investigate the changes in the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and let-7e in rats induced by coal mine dust, so as to provide the basis for the mechanism of coal worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP). Methods: Sixty-four clean and healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control group, coal dust group, mixed dust group (mixed coal and silica dust) and quartz group. The rats in the control group were exposed to 1 mL physiological saline by non-exposure tracheal perfusion, and the rats in the dust-exposed groups were exposed to 1 mL dust suspension. Rats were sacrificed by anesthesia after 1 month and 6 months, lung tissue was observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining, the pathological change in the lungs was scored using the Szapiel scoring system, the levels of IL-6 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the expression of let-7e was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Results: A month after exposure, a small amount of coal spots and inflammatory exudation were observed in the lung tissue of the coal dust group and the mixed dust group. The quartz group showed tissue structure destruction and mild fibrosis and thickening of alveolar septum. Six months after exposure, there were more coal spots and slightly thickened alveolar septum in the coal dust group, and hyperplasia of pulmonary interstitial fibers, destruction of alveolar structure and silica nodules were observed in the mixed dust group. In the quartz group, the alveolar structure was obviously destroyed, the interstitial fiber proliferation was significant and silica nodules were seen. Two-factor analysis of variance showed that the interaction between duration of exposure and dust type significantly influenced the pathological score of lung tissue, IL-6 levels, and let-7e expression levels (P<0.05). Under the same dust type, the pathological score of lung tissue and IL-6 levels were higher at 6 months after exposure than at 1 month, while the relative expression of let-7e was lower at 6 months after exposure than at 1 month (all P<0.05). Under the same duration of exposure, the pathological score of lung tissue and IL-6 levels were higher in the dust-exposed groups than in the control group, while the relative expression of let-7e was lower in the dust-exposed groups than in the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusions Coal dust can cause an increase in levels of IL-6 and a decrease in let-7e expression in rats. The type of dust and duration of exposure can interactively affect IL-6 and let-7e.

Objective To construct hepatocyte-specific silence information regulator 3(Sirt3)gene knockout(Sirt3 Δhep)mice by Cre-loxP technique,and to provide an important animal model for further studying the biological function of the hepatocyte Sirt3 gene in diseases.Methods LoxP-labeled Sirt3flox/flox mice were mated with Alb-Cre homozygous(Alb-Cre+/+)mice,and the F1 generation Sirt3flox/-/Alb-Cre+/-mice were then mated with Sirt3flox/flox mice,and the F2 genotype of Sirt3flox/flox/Alb-Cre+/-mice were the Sirt3 Δhep mice constructed in this ex-periment.Sirt3flox/flox/Alb-Cre-/-(Sirt3flox/flox)mice were the control mice.Mouse tail genome DNA was extracted and PCR was used to identify the genotypes of the offspring mice.Immunofluorescence was used to detect Sirt3 ex-pression in mouse hepatocytes.Primary hepatocytes and tissue proteins of Sirt3 Δhep mice were extracted,and the ex-pression of Sirt3 in mouse hepatocytes and other tissues was verified by Western blot.HE staining was used to ob-serve mice's liver,heart,spleen,and lung tissue structure.Results Sirt3 Δhep mice were successfully identified.Immunofluorescence and Western blot results demonstrated a significant decrease in the expression of Sirt3 in the hepatocytes of these mice compared to the control group(P<0.01).At the same time,there was no significant difference in the expression of Sirt3 in the heart,spleen,kidney,and lung tissues of Sirt3 Δhep mice compared with the control group(P>0.05).The results of HE staining showed that the histological characteristics of the liver,heart,spleen,lungs,kidneys,and other major organs of Sirt3 Δhep mice were not significantly different from those of the control group mice.Conclusion Hepatocyte-specific Sirt3 gene knockout mice are successfully constructed,which provides an animal model to explore further the role and molecular mechanism of the hepatocyte Sirt3 gene in diseases.

With the increasing prevalence of diabetes,the prevention and treatment of diabetes nephropathy have become a worldwide problem.The molecular mechanism of the occurrence and development of diabetes nephropathy is still unclear,but many studies in recent years have shown that gut microbiota plays an important role in the progress on diabetes nephropathy.The research progress on the mechanism of gut microbiota participating in diabetes nephropathy was reviewed in this article.