Air pollution associated acute respiratory inflammation and modification by GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms: a panel study of healthy undergraduates.

Epidemiological evidence has linked air pollution with adverse respiratory outcomes, but the mechanisms underlying susceptibility to air pollution remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of glutathione S-transferase (GST) polymorphism in the association between air pollution and lung function levels. A total of 75 healthy young volunteers aged 18-20 years old were recruited for six follow-up visits and examinations. Spirometry was conducted to obtain lung function parameters such as forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1). Nasal fluid concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and 8-epi-prostaglandin F2α (8-epi-PGF2a) were measured using ELISA kits. Linear mixed-effect models were used to evaluate the association of air pollutants with respiratory outcomes. Additionally, polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase mu 1 (GSTM1) and glutathione S-transferase theta 1 (GSTT1) were estimated to explore its role in the association between air pollutants and lung function. We found that short-term exposure to atmospheric particulates such as PM2.5 and PM10 can cause an increase in nasal biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and lung function, while air gaseous pollutant exposure is linked with decreased lung function, except for CO. Stratification analyses showed that an increase in nasal inflammatory cytokines caused by exposure to atmospheric particulates is more obvious in subjects with GSTM1-sufficient (GSTM1+) than GSTM1-null (GSTM1-), while elevated lung function levels due to air particles are more significant in subjects with the genotype of GSTM1- when compared to GSTM1+. As for air gaseous pollutants, decreased lung function levels caused by O3, SO2, and NO2 exposure is more manifest in subjects with the genotype of GSTM1- compared to GSTM1+. Taken together, short-term exposure to air pollutants is associated with alterations in nasal biomarkers and lung function levels in young healthy adults, and susceptible genotypes play an important mediation role in the association between exposure to air pollutants and inflammation, oxidative stress, and lung function levels.

Heavy metal risk of disposable food containers on human health.

The consumption of disposable materials is booming with the rapid development of urbanization and industrialization, which may inevitably cause the release of toxic and harmful substances during use of them in daily life. This study was to estimate element levels such as Beryllium (Be), Vanadium (V), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), Cobalt (Co), Antimony (Sb), Barium (Ba), Lead (Pb), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), and Selenium (Se) in leachate and subsequently assess the health risk of exposure to those disposable products such as paper and plastic food containers. We found that a large amount of metals was released from disposable food containers in hot water, and the order of metal concentration is Zn > Ba > Fe > Mn > Ni > Cu > Sb > Cr > Se > Be > Pb > Co > V > Cd. Additionally, the hazard quotient (HQ) of metals in young adults were less than 1, and were decreased in the order of Sb > Fe > Cu > Be > Ni > Cr > Pb > Zn > Se > Cd > Ba > Mn > V > Co. Furthermore, the excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) results of Ni and Be indicated that chronic exposure to Ni and Be may have a non-negligible carcinogenic risk. These findings suggest that potential health risk of metals may exist for the individuals to use disposable food containers under high temperature environment.

Factors Influencing Professional Identity of Psychiatric Nurses as Second Victims: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The current study aimed to explore the status and influencing factors of professional identity among psychiatric nurses as second victims in China by using a cross-sectional design. We investigated 291 psychiatric nurses from two psychiatric hospitals. Participants were asked to complete a demographic questionnaire, Second Victim Experience and Support Scale, Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale, and Professional Identity Scale for Nurses. Scores of professional identity of psychiatric nurses as second victims were moderate. Regression analysis showed that the second victim experience and support and internal control were significant predictors, explaining 34.2% of the variance in professional identity. Identifying risk factors related to the professional identity of psychiatric nurses as second victims will help managers take timely preventive measures to improve the awareness of the self-health responsibility of psychiatric nurses and reduce the adverse effects of patient safety incidents to enhance their professional identity. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 61(12), 47-54.].

Systematic insight into the active constituents and mechanism of Guiqi Baizhu for the treatment of gastric cancer.

Traditional Chinese medicine treatment of diseases has been recognized, but the material basis and mechanisms are not clear. In this study, target prediction of the antigastric cancer (GC) effect of Guiqi Baizhu (GQBZP) and the analysis of potential key compounds, key targets, and key pathways for the therapeutic effects against GC were carried out based on the method of network analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment. There were 33 proteins shared between GQBZP and GC, and 131 compounds of GQBZP had a high correlation with these proteins, indicating that the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway might play a key role in GC. From these studies, we selected human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and programmed cell death 1-ligand 1 (PD-L1) for docking; the results showed that 385 and 189 compounds had high docking scores with HER2 and PD-L1, respectively. Six compounds were selected for microscale thermophoresis (MST). Daidzein/quercetin and isorhamnetin/formononetin had the highest binding affinity for HER2 and PD-L1, with Kd values of 3.7 µmol/L and 490, 667, and 355 nmol/L, respectively. Molecular dynamics simulation studies based on the docking complex structures as the initial conformation yielded the binding free energy between daidzein/quercetin with HER2 and isorhamnetin/formononetin with PD-L1, calculated by molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area, of -26.55, -14.18, -19.41, and -11.86 kcal/mol, respectively, and were consistent with the MST results. In vitro experiments showed that quercetin, daidzein, and isorhamnetin had potential antiproliferative effects in MKN-45 cells. Enzyme activity assays showed that quercetin could inhibit the activity of HER2 with an IC50 of 570.07 nmol/L. Our study provides a systematic investigation to explain the material basis and molecular mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in treating diseases.

Phthalide derivative CD21 attenuates tissue plasminogen activator-induced hemorrhagic transformation in ischemic stroke by enhancing macrophage scavenger receptor 1-mediated DAMP (peroxiredoxin 1) clearance.

BACKGROUND: Hemorrhagic transformation (HT) is a critical issue in thrombolytic therapy in acute ischemic stroke. Damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP)-stimulated sterile neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the development of thrombolysis-associated HT. Our previous study showed that the phthalide derivative CD21 attenuated neuroinflammation and brain injury in rodent models of ischemic stroke. The present study explored the effects and underlying mechanism of action of CD21 on tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)-induced HT in a mouse model of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) and cultured primary microglial cells. METHODS: The tMCAO model was induced by 2 h occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery with polylysine-coated sutures in wildtype (WT) mice and macrophage scavenger receptor 1 knockout (MSR1-/-) mice. At the onset of reperfusion, tPA (10 mg/kg) was intravenously administered within 30 min, followed by an intravenous injection of CD21 (13.79 mg/kg/day). Neuropathological changes were detected in mice 3 days after surgery. The effect of CD21 on phagocytosis of the DAMP peroxiredoxin 1 (Prx1) in lysosomes was observed in cultured primary microglial cells from brain tissues of WT and MSR1-/- mice. RESULTS: Seventy-two hours after brain ischemia, CD21 significantly attenuated neurobehavioral dysfunction and infarct volume. The tPA-infused group exhibited more severe brain dysfunction and hemorrhage. Compared with tPA alone, combined treatment with tPA and CD21 significantly attenuated ischemic brain injury and hemorrhage. Combined treatment significantly decreased Evans blue extravasation, matrix metalloproteinase 9 expression and activity, extracellular Prx1 content, proinflammatory cytokine mRNA levels, glial cells, and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway activation and increased the expression of tight junction proteins (zonula occludens-1 and claudin-5), V-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog B, and MSR1. MSR1 knockout significantly abolished the protective effect of CD21 against tPA-induced HT in tMCAO mice. Moreover, the CD21-induced phagocytosis of Prx1 was MSR1-dependent in cultured primary microglial cells from WT and MSR1-/- mice, respectively. CONCLUSION: The phthalide derivative CD21 attenuated tPA-induced HT in acute ischemic stroke by promoting MSR1-induced DAMP (Prx1) clearance and inhibition of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway and neuroinflammation.

Functions and mechanisms of circular RNAs in cancer radiotherapy and chemotherapy resistance.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs), one type of non-coding RNA, were initially misinterpreted as nonfunctional products of pre-mRNA mis-splicing. Currently, circRNAs have been proven to manipulate the functions of diverse molecules, including non-coding RNAs, mRNAs, DNAs and proteins, to regulate cell activities in physiology and pathology. Accumulating evidence indicates that circRNAs play critical roles in tumor genesis, development, and sensitivity to radiation and chemotherapy. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are two primary types of intervention for most cancers, but their therapeutic efficacies are usually retarded by intrinsic and acquired resistance. Thus, it is urgent to develop new strategies to improve therapeutic responses. To achieve this, clarification of the underlying mechanisms affecting therapeutic responses in cancer is needed. This review summarizes recent progress and mechanisms of circRNAs in cancer resistance to radiation and chemotherapy, and it discusses the limitations of available knowledge and potential future directions.

Effects of exercise on the quality of life in breast cancer patients: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review to assess the effect of exercise on the quality of life among people with breast cancer. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL, and four Chinese databases were searched for studies published until January 2018. The review included all randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effect of exercise on quality of life compared with that of usual care for people with breast cancer. Two reviewers independently assessed the quality of all the included studies using the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. RESULTS: In total, 36 studies (3914 participants) met the inclusion criteria. We divided the exercise into three modes: aerobic, resistance, and a combination of aerobic and resistance. All three modes of exercise intervention showed a significant effect on quality of life between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise is a safe and effective method of improving the quality of life in patients with breast cancer. In particular, combined training was associated with a significant improvement in quality of life. In future research, more high-quality, multicenter trials evaluating the effect of exercise in breast cancer patients are needed.

The Effects of Astragalus Polysaccharide on Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Proliferation and Morphology Induced by A549 Lung Cancer Cells.

BACKGROUND The tumor microenvironment in lung cancer plays an important role in tumor progression and metastasis. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) co-cultured with A549 lung cancer cells show changes in morphology, increase cell proliferation, and cell migration. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Astragalus polysaccharide (APS), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on the changes induced in bone marrow-derived MSCs by A549 lung cancer cells in vitro. MATERIAL AND METHODS Bone marrow-derived MSCs were co-cultured with A549 cells (Co-BMSCs). Co-cultured bone marrow-derived MSCs and A549 cells treated with 50 µg/ml of APS (Co-BMSCs + APS) were compared with untreated Co-BMSCs. Cell proliferation was measured using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Flow cytometry evaluated the cell cycle. Microarray assays for mRNA expression and Western blot for protein expression were used. RESULTS Compared with untreated Co-BMSCs, APS treatment of Co-BMSCs improved cell morphology, reduced cell proliferation, and inhibited cell cycle arrest. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) pathway, TP53, caspase-3, acetylated H4K5, acetylated H4K8, and acetylated H3K9 were involved in the regulatory process. CONCLUSIONS APS treatment reduced cell proliferation and morphological changes in bone marrow-derived MSCs that were co-cultured with A549 lung cancer cells in vitro.

Association of bone mineral density with lung function in a Chinese general population: the Xinxiang rural cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Bone mineral density (BMD) has been positively associated with lung function in patients diagnosed with respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis. However, the relationship between BMD and lung function is inconsistent in the general population. METHODS: To investigate the association between BMD and lung function in a Chinese general population, a total of 1024 adults aged 40-70 years old from Qiliying (an industrial polluted exposure area) and Langgongmiao (the reference area with non-industrial pollution) were recruited and underwent BMD and spirometry tests. RESULTS: Both BMD and lung function levels were lower in the exposed area compared to the reference area. In addition, BMD and lung function levels were also lower in females compared to males. Both Spearman and partial correlation analyses showed that BMD was positively correlated with FVC and FEV1. After adjusting linear regression analyses for potential confounding factors, every 0.1 g/cm2 drop in BMD was associated with 53.0 mL decrease in FVC and 33.5 mL decrease in FEV1. CONCLUSIONS: A reduction of BMD is associated with lower lung function in a general population from China.

Role of NLRP3 inflammasome in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases.

NLRP3 inflammasome is a key multiprotein signaling platform that tightly controls inflammatory responses and coordinates antimicrobial host defenses by activating caspase-1 for the subsequent maturation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-1ß and IL-18, and induces pyroptosis. The assembly and activation of NLRP3 inflammasome are linked to the pathogenesis of several cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as hypertension and diabetes, and their major consequences-myocardial remodeling. The study of the NLRP3 inflammasome in these cardiovascular disease states may uncover important triggers and endogenous modulators of the disease, and lead to new treatment strategies. This review outlines current insights into NLRP3 inflammasome research associated with cardiovascular diseases and discusses the questions that remain in this field.

Identification of a novel nonsense mutation in the UNC13D gene from a patient with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a heterogeneous and potentially fatal disease that presents symptoms of persistent fever, splenomegaly and cytopenia. Primary HLH is identified as an autosomal recessive disorder with causative genes including HPLH1, PRF1, UNC13D, STX11 and STXBP2. CASE PRESENTATION: Here, we reported an 8-month-old female patient with compound heterozygosity in the UNC13D gene. The patient, who presented typical symptoms, was diagnosed with HLH based on HLH-2004 guidelines. High-throughput amplicon sequencing for the full-length exon, including a 5 bp padding region and 6 HLH-related genes, was performed to identify the pathogenic mutations in this patient. In all, 9 heterozygous variations were detected, namely, 7 nonpathogenic SNPs, one nonsense mutation (NM_199242.2:c.2206C > T, p.Gln736X), and one splicing mutation (NM_199242.2:c.2709 + 1G > A). These two mutations were considered pathogenic according to previous studies and functional prediction. A two-generation pedigree analysis based on Sanger sequencing was performed to confirm the result. CONCLUSION: Compound heterozygosity in the UNC13D gene was identified in trans and considered a causative mutation in a female patient with HLH. The nonsense mutation (NM_199242.2:c.2206C > T, p.Gln736X) was novel in cases of HLH. Our data expand the spectrum of HLH-related mutations in China and demonstrate the potential of high-throughput amplicon sequencing in the diagnosis of HLH.

Characterization of a novel splicing mutation in UNC13D gene through amplicon sequencing: a case report on HLH.

BACKGROUND: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare but fatal disease caused by uncontrolled proliferation of activated lymphocytes and macrophages. Six genes including SH2D1A, PRF1, UNC13D, STX11, STXBP2 and XIAP were reported as causative genes in most cases. CASE PRESENTATION: Here we report a novel splicing mutation in UNC13D gene, which was identified in an 18-year-old female. Patient was diagnosed as HLH base on HLH-2004 guidelines, no history of inherited diseases was revealed in this family, parents were healthy and non-consanguineous. Splenomegaly and hemophagocytosis in bone marrow were observed in clinical examination. Amplicon sequencing for the whole coding region of 6 HLH-related genes was performed on Ion S5XL genetic analyzer. In all, four heterozygous mutations were detected, including 2 nonpathogenic SNPs (PRF1:c.900C > T, STX11:c.*70G > A) and 2 splicing mutations in UNC13D gene (UNC13D:c.1299 + 1G > A and UNC13D:c.2709 + 1G > A), both of which were predicted to be potentially pathogenic by human splicing finder (HSF3) tool. The result was confirmed by two-generation pedigree analysis base on sanger sequencing. CONCLUSIONS: Two compound heterozygous splicing mutations in UNC13D gene were identified and considered to be potential pathogenesis in a female patient of HLH. The mutation UNC13D:c.1299 + 1G > A was reported in HLH for the first time. The inheritance mode and source of the mutation in the proband was examined by family analysis. Our data suggest that further studies of the spectrum of HLH-related mutations in China are warranted.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and It's Predictors Among Tibetan Adolescents 3Years After the High-Altitude Earthquake in China.

This study examined post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD) and it's predictors among 4072 Tibetan adolescents 3years after the highaltitude earthquake. The instruments included The PTSD Checklist-Civilian version, The Internality, Powerful others, and Chance Scale and The Coping Style Scale. The results indicated the prevalence rate of probable PTSD was 17.8%.The predicting factors for PTSD were found to being aged 14 or older, being senior student, being monitor, being buried/injured, have family member died/amputated, have severer property loss, have witnessed death, have negative coping skills, and have power others locus of control. Effective mental health services should be developed to facilitate post-disaster recovery.

A vasoconstrictor response to COX-1-mediated prostacyclin synthesis in young rat renal arteries that increases in prehypertensive conditions.

This study aimed to determine whether prostacyclin (PGI2) functions as an endothelium-derived contracting factor (EDCF) in young rat renal arteries, and, if so, we wanted to examine the underlying mechanism(s) and how it changes in prehypertensive conditions. Vessels from Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and prehypertensive spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) of 25-28 days of age were isolated for functional and biochemical analyses. Result showed that following NO synthase (NOS) inhibition PGI2 and the thromboxane-prostanoid (TP) receptor agonist U-46619 evoked contractions in young WKY renal arteries that were similar to those in prehypertensive SHRs. Meanwhile, the endothelial muscarinic receptor agonist ACh evoked an endothelium-dependent contraction under NOS-inhibited conditions and a production of the PGI2 metabolite 6-keto-PGF1α; both were sensitive to cyclooxygenase (COX) and/or COX-1 inhibition but higher in prehypertensive SHRs than in young WKYs. Interestingly, in WKY renal arteries PGI2 did not evoke relaxation even after TP receptor antagonism that diminished the contraction evoked by the agonist. Indeed, PGI2 (IP) receptors were not detected in the vessel with Western blot. Moreover, we noted that treatment with the nonselective COX inhibitor indomethacin, which was started at the prehypertensive stage, blunted the elevation of systolic blood pressure and reduced the heart-to-body ratio in SHR within 2 mo of treatment. These results demonstrate that due to scarcity of IP receptors, PGI2, which is derived mainly from COX-1-mediated metabolism, acts as an EDCF in young WKY renal arteries, and it increases in prehypertensive conditions. Also, our data revealed that COX inhibition starting from the prehypertensive stage has an antihypertensive effect in young SHRs.

Lifespan extension in Caenorhabiditis elegans by several traditional Chinese medicine formulas.

There is considerable interest in using traditional Chinese medicine formulas (TCMF) to delay aging or treat age-related diseases. Due to cost and duration, the beneficial effects of TCMF on prolongation are mainly extrapolated from vitro studies or physiological indexes. Little is known about whether TCMF are beneficial in whole level, particularly with respect to lifespan. To address this issue, we selected eight formulas with anti-oxidative activity and examined their effects on the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans. The results showed that seven of the eight formulas could prolong lifespan of TK22 mutant significantly and five of the eight formulas could obviously extend lifespan of N2 wild-type. To further characterize the prolongation effects, oxidative stress, thermal stress and reproduction test were assayed. We found that the formulas that extended lifespan of TK22 could also protect it from oxidative stress, without reducing the reproductive capacity. Meanwhile, the formulas that prolonged lifespan of N2 wild-type could also enhance its resistance against thermal stress, with damaging the reproductive fitness. These observations indicate that TCMF used in our experiment could be potential therapeutics for anti-aging.

Morphological, molecular, and biological characterization of bulb rot pathogens in stored Lanzhou lily and the in vitro antifungal efficacy of three plant essential oils.

Lanzhou lily (Lilium davidii var. willmottiae) is an exclusive sweet lily variety indigenous to China, which is susceptible to bulbous rot caused by fungal infection during storage. This experiment tests the pathogenicity of the pure culture isolated from the diseased tissue was confirmed in accordance with Koch's postulates, and the pathomycetes were identified based on their morphological and molecular characteristics. Furthermore, the biological characteristics of the pathogens were investigated, followed by an evaluation of the antifungal effects of three plant essential oils against them. The results showed that two strains of fungi were isolated from Lanzhou lily rot, which were identified as Fusarium oxysporum Schl. and Aspergillus sydowii (Bain. Et sart.). In addition, the pathogenicity of these two strains of fungi was demonstrated that only F. oxysporum induced rot with similar symptoms during the post-harvest storage period. The biological characteristics of F. oxysporum indicated the potato maltose agar and lily dextrose agar were identified as the most suitable media. Sucrose was determined to be the optimal carbon source, while ammonium nitrate was found to be the best nitrogen source for the growth of F. oxysporum. Mycelial growth and sporulation of F. oxysporum occurred at an optimum pH value of 6. Total darkness facilitated mycelial growth and conidial germination. The ideal temperature for growth was found to be 28°C, while relative humidity did not significantly impact mycelial growth; however, a relative humidity of 55% was most favorable for spore production. Among the three essential oils tested, cinnamon essential oil displayed superior antifungal efficacy against F. oxysporum, whereas angelica essential oil and tea tree essential oil also exhibited moderate inhibitory effects against this pathogen. This research provides valuable theoretical insights for disease control during the storage and transportation of Lanzhou lily.

Effect of shenmai injection on anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Shenmai injection is a classic herbal prescription, and is often recommended for the treatment of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. However, the efficacy and safety of Shenmai injection for the treatment of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity have not been reported. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search of eight literature databases and two clinical trial registries, retrieving all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to the treatment of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity with Shenmai injection from the establishment of the databases to July 1, 2023. Data analysis was performed using the Meta package in RStudio and RevMan 5.4. The GRADE pro3.6.1 software was utilized for assessing the quality of evidence. RESULTS: A total of 16 RCTs including 2140 patients were included in this study. Meta-analysis showed that Shenmai injection had an advantage in improving ST-T segment changes (RR = 0.28; 95 % CI, 0.20 to 0.39; P < 0.0001) (P < 0.01), creatine kinase isoenzyme (SMD = -3.49; 95 % CI, -5.24 to -1.74; P < 0.0001), Prolonged QT interval (RR = 0.46; 95 % CI, 0.28 to 0.75; P = 0.0018), Low QRS Voltage (RR = 0.44; 95 % CI, 0.27 to 0.71; P = 0.0007), sinus tachycardia (RR = 0.41; 95 % CI, 0.28 to 0.60; P < 0.0001), atrial premature beats (RR = 0.55; 95 % CI, 0.35 to 0.87; P = 0.01), Premature Ventricular Contractions (RR = 0.39; 95 % CI, 0.26 to 0.59; P < 0.0001) and creatine kinase (SMD = -1.43; 95 % CI, -2.57 to -0.29; P < 0.0001) in patients with anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. advantage, which was supported by sensitivity analyses, but not in improving left ventricular ejection fraction (MD = 16.01; 95 % CI, -3.10 to 35.12; P = 0.10) and atrioventricular block (RR = 0.49; 95 % CI, 0.24 to 1.03; P = 0.06). The literature included in the study did not refer to data regarding the safety aspects of Shenmai injection, so we do not yet know the safety of Shenmai injection. The results of subgroup analyses suggested that heterogeneity was not related to the administered dose and chemotherapy regimen. The publication bias test showed no publication bias. The quality of evidence for the results ranged from "very low" to "moderate." CONCLUSION: This study suggests that Shenmai injection is effective in treating anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity and is a potential treatment for anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. However, due to the poor methodological quality of the included RCTs, we recommend rigorous, high-quality, large-sample trials to confirm our findings.

Hypoglycemic TCM formulas (Huangqi-Gegen drug pair) have the potential as an Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurological disorder. There is a considerable unmet medical need among those suffering from it. HYPOTHESIS AND PURPOSE: Given the link between type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and AD, hypoglycemic traditional Chinese medicine formulas (TCMFs) may be a treatment for AD. We investigated the possibility of identifying anti-AD medicines in hypoglycemic TCMFs and presented another option for the screening of AD medications. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Paralysis of the transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) strain CL4176 (caused by amyloid beta (Aß)1-42 aggregates) was used to evaluate the anti-AD effect. The toxicity and neurodegeneration induced by neuronal expression of Aß in the transgenic C. elegans strain CL2355 were determined using a 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) assay. The transgenic Aß-expressing strain CL 2006 and transgenic tau-expressing strain BR5270 were used to explore the effect of TCMFs on protein expression in C. elegans using ELISAs. Then, network pharmacology was used to determine the mechanism of action. The Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Support System platform was used to investigate prescription patterns, core drugs, and optimum combinations of hypoglycemic TCMFs for AD. RESULTS: Sixteen hypoglycemic TCMFs prolonged the PT50 (half paralysis time) of the CL4176 strain of C. elegans, reduced the percentage of worms paralyzed. The results of network pharmacology showed that prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) and acetylcholine esterase (AChE) are main targets of hypoglycemic TCMFs. Enriched pathway analysis showed that the cholinergic receptor-related pathway was the core pathway of hypoglycemic TCMFs. According to the "four qi and five flavors" system of TCM theory, the main pharmacological qualities were "cold" and "sweet." Through the analysis by TCMISS, we found that Huangqi-Gegen drug pair as the significant Chinese herbs of hypoglycemic TCMFs. The Huangqi-Gegen pairing had the most robust therapeutic effect when delivered at a 2:1 (v/v) ratio. It reduced the paralysis caused by 5-HT, decreased protein expression of AChE and PTGS2, and reduced Aß deposition in the brain of the CL2006 strain of C. elegans. CONCLUSIONS: Huangqi-Gegen is a promising treatment of AD, and its mechanism may be induced by suppressing the protein production of AChE and PTGS2, reducing 5-HT intake, and then decreasing Aß deposition.

HIF-1α serves as a co-linker between AD and T2DM.

Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related brain deterioration is linked to the type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) features hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance. Hypoxia as a common risk factor for both AD and T2DM. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) acts as the main regulator of the hypoxia response and may be a key target in the comorbidity of AD and T2DM. HIF-1α expression is closely related to hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and inflammation. Tissue oxygen consumption disrupts HIF-1α homeostasis, leading to increased reactive oxygen species levels and the inhibition of insulin receptor pathway activity, causing neuroinflammation, insulin resistance, abnormal Aß deposition, and tau hyperphosphorylation. HIF-1α activation also leads to the deposition of Aß by promoting the abnormal shearing of amyloid precursor protein and inhibiting the degradation of Aß, and it promotes tau hyperphosphorylation by activating oxidative stress and the activation of astrocytes, which further exasperates AD. Therefore, we believe that HIF-α has great potential as a target for the treatment of AD. Importantly, the intracellular homeostasis of HIF-1α is a more crucial factor than its expression level.

A latent class analysis of depressive symptoms among rural Chinese adolescents and their association with psychological resilience.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the heterogeneity of depressive symptoms, but few studies have focused on the heterogeneity of depressive symptoms among rural Chinese adolescents. In November to December 2022, multistage sampling was employed to administer questionnaires to 1,816 rural adolescents aged 11-19 years from six schools in Henan Province, China. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Chinese version of the Children's Depression Inventory Scale. Latent class analysis (LCA) was utilized to identify subgroups of depressive symptoms. The investigation of subgroup characteristics and associated factors was conducted through χ2 tests, ANOVA, and multinomial logistic regression analyses. The findings revealed a 24.24 % detection rate of depressive symptoms among Chinese rural adolescents. LCA analysis of responses to the 27 items in the Depressive Symptoms Scale led to the classification of depressive symptoms into four subgroups based on severity: "no depressive symptoms group" (22.5 %), a "low depressive symptoms group" (35.7 %), a "transition group" (31.6 %), and a "high depressive symptoms group" (10.2 %). Gender, grade level, academic performance, academic stress, family environment, and level of psychological resilience are associated factors for subgroups of depressive symptoms among rural adolescents. There should be increased training of rural educators to enable early recognition of depressive characteristics and risk factors, facilitating targeted prevention and intervention strategies.