A nomogram diagnostic cardiovascular disease in patients with erythrodermic psoriasis in Chinese.

Objective: Patients with erythrodermic psoriasis (EP) are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), because of the more severe inflammation in the skin areas. This study aimed to develop a diagnostic model for the risk of CVD in EP patients based on the available features and multidimensional clinical data. Methods: A total of 298 EP patients from Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were retrospectively included in this study from May 5th, 2008, to March 3rd, 2022. Of them, 213 patients were selected as the development set by random sampling, and clinical parameters were analyzed by univariate and backward stepwise regression. Whereas the remaining 85 patients were randomly selected as the validation set. The model performance was later assessed in terms of discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness. Results: In the development set, the CVD rate was 9%, which was independently correlated with age, glycated albumin (GA>17%), smoking, albumin (ALB<40 g/L), and lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)>300 mg/L). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) value was 0.83 (95% confidence interval CI, 0.73,0.93). For the validation set of EP patients, the AUC value was 0.85 (95%CI, 0.76,0.94). According to decision curve analysis, our model exhibited favorable clinical applicability. Conclusion: EP patients with age, GA>17%, smoking, ALB<40 g/L, and Lp(a)>300 mg/L are associated with a higher risk of CVD. The nomogram model performs well in predicting the probability of CVD in EP patients, which may help improve perioperative strategies and good treatment outcomes.

Effects of various Fe compounds on the bioavailability of Pb contained in orally ingested soils in mice: Mechanistic insights and health implications.

Reducing lead (Pb) exposure via oral ingestion of contaminated soils is highly relevant for child health. Elevating dietary micronutrient iron (Fe) intake can reduce Pb oral bioavailability while being beneficial for child nutritional health. However, the practical performance of various Fe compounds was not assessed. Here, based on mouse bioassays, ten Fe compounds applied to diets (100-800 mg Fe kg-1) reduced Pb oral relative bioavailability (RBA) in two soils variedly depending on Fe forms. EDTA-FeNa was most efficient, which reduced Pb-RBA in a soil from 79.5 ± 14.7 % to 23.1 ± 2.72 % (71 % lower) at 100 mg Fe kg-1 in diet, more effective than other 9 compounds at equivalent or higher doses (3.6-68 % lower). When EDTA-FeNa, ferrous gluconate, ferric citrate, and ferrous bisglycinate were supplemented, Fe-Pb co-precipitation was not observed in the intestinal tract. EDTA-FeNa, ferrous gluconate, ferric citrate, and ferrous sulfate suppressed duodenal divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1)mRNA relative expression similarly (27-68 % lower). In comparison, among ten compounds, EDTA-FeNa elevated Fe concentrations in mouse liver, kidney, and blood (1.50-2.69-fold higher) most efficiently, suggesting the most efficient Fe absorption that competed with Pb. In addition, EDTA was unique from other organic ligands, ingestion of which caused 12.0-fold higher Pb urinary excretion, decreasing Pb concentrations in mouse liver, kidney, and blood by 68-88 %. The two processes (Fe-Pb absorption competition and Pb urinary excretion with EDTA) interacted synergistically, leading to the lowest Pb absorption with EDTA-FeNa. The results provide evidence of a better inhibition of Pb absorption by EDTA-FeNa, highlighting that EDTA-FeNa may be the most appropriate supplement for intervention on human Pb exposure. Future researches are needed to assess the effectiveness of EDTA-FeNa for intervention on human Pb exposure.

[Experience of He's three-clear method by stages for herpes zoster on the head and face].

The clinical experience of He's three-clear method by stages for herpes zoster on the head and face is summarized. The strong-clear method (blood-letting therapy) combined with mild-clear method (acupuncture with filiform needle) are applied for the acute pain period and subacute pain period of herpes zoster on the head and face. For acute pain period, the bleeding volume should be large (more than 10 mL), and treatment is given once every other day; for the subacute pain period, the bleeding volume should be 5-10 mL, and treatment is given 2-3 times a week. In the chronic pain period, the fire needle of the warm-clear method combined with mild-clear method (acupuncture with filiform needle) are applied for the syndrome of qi-stagnation and blood-stasis, while the warm acupuncture of the warm-clear method combined with mild-clear method (acupuncture with filiform needle) ware applied for the syndrome of qi-deficiency yin-injury blood-stasis.

Xiyanping injection combined with acitretin for psoriasis vulgaris: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Psoriasis represents the chronic, recurrent and inflammatory disorder. The Traditional Chinese Medicine Xiyanping injection (XYP) is extensively applied in China for treating diverse inflammatory disorders, such as bronchitis, viral pneumonia or upper respiratory tract infection. XYP may offer a potential treatment for psoriasis vulgaris (PV). This study focused on analyzing whether XYP combined with acitretin was effective and safe. Methods: The present meta-analysis was carried out in line with guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022333273). Besides, relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared XYP plus acitretin with acitretin alone for treating PV were searched from several databases from their inception till May 2022. In addition, this work utilized RevMan5.4 to conduct risk assessment as well as meta-analysis. Results: This meta-analysis selected altogether 10 RCTs including 815 subjects. Upon quality assessment, the RCTs mainly had low or unclear risk. According to our meta-analysis results, relative to acitretin monotherapy, XYP plus acitretin increased the total clinical effective rate, as evidenced by Psoriasis area and severity index score (PASI)-20, PASI-30 and PASI-60 in patients with PV [risk ratio (RR) = 1.23 Z = 4.87, p < 0.00001, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13-1.34; RR = 1.29, Z = 3.89, p = 0.009, 95% CI: 1.07 to 1.55; and RR = 1.31, Z = 3.89, p = 0.0001, 95% CI: 1.14-1.49]; the reduced levels of TNF-α, MCP-1 and RANTES, the alleviated side effects resulting from acitretin like itchiness (RR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.4 to 0.74, Z = 3.94, p < 0.0001), and the increased levels of aminotransferases and dyslipidemia (RR = 0.5, 95%CI = 0.29, 0.86, p = 0.01; and RR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.23, 0.75, p = 0.004). Conclusion: As suggested in the present meta-analysis, XYP combined with acitretin effectively and safely treats PV. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022333273, identifier PROSPERO 2022 CRD42022333273.

Efficacy and Safety of Jueyin Granules for Patients with Mild-to-Moderate Psoriasis Vulgaris: Protocol for a Multicenter Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Introduction. The etiology and pathogenesis of psoriasis are complex. Blood-heat syndrome is the core pathogenesis of psoriasis. Based on theories of Chinese medicine (CM), heat-clearing and blood-cooling (HCBC) are the primary treatment. Very few studies have investigated the pharmacological mechanism of the CM HCBC method for treating psoriasis. This multicenter randomized controlled trial will focus on treating psoriasis blood-heat syndrome with the HCBC method using Jueyin granules (JYKL). This will be an objective and standardized evaluation of the efficacy, safety, and reproducibility of the HCBC method to obtain objective evidence meeting international standards that aim to establish a clinical standard suitable for the popular application of CM for treating psoriasis. Methods and Analysis. A five-center randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical design will be used in this study. At least 196 participants will be randomly assigned to receive either JYKL or placebo treatment approximately 30 minutes after meals in the morning and evening (one sachet per time, twice daily for 8 consecutive weeks). The study duration will be 17 weeks, including 1 week of screening, 8 weeks of intervention, and 8 weeks of follow-up. The patients will be evaluated every 2 weeks, and the measures will be compared with baseline values. The primary outcome measure will be the psoriasis lesion area severity index. We will also observe the recurrence rate, body surface area, physician global assessment, dermatology life quality index, quality of life index, visual analogue scale score, CM symptom score, combined drug use, and adverse events. This trial is registered with NCT03961230.

Macroscopic and microscopic investigation of adsorption and precipitation of Zn on γ-alumina in the absence and presence of As.

Contaminants zinc (Zn) and arsenate (As) often coexist in soils. However, little is known concerning the impacts of coexisting As on Zn adsorption and precipitation on soil minerals. In the present study, adsorption and precipitation of Zn on γ-alumina in the absence and presence of arsenate was investigated employing batch experiments and Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. Results indicated that Zn formed edge-sharing tetrahedral surface complexes at pH 5.5 and Zn-Al LDH-like (layered double hydroxide) precipitates at pH 7.0 on the surface of γ-alumina. The presence of arsenate significantly enhanced Zn sorption densities, and remarkably changed its bonding environment. At pH 5.5, SR-XRD (Synchrotron Radiation-based X-ray Diffraction) and EXAFS showed that koettigite-like precipitate were formed in the cosorption of Zn and As on γ-alumina regardless of the addition sequence of As and Zn. At pH 7.0, when Zn was preequilibrated with γ-alumina prior to the As introduction, mixed Zn-Al LDH-like and amorphous adamite-like precipitates formed. However, when Zn and As were added simultaneously, only amorphous adamite-like precipitate was observed. Zn inner-sphere complexes and surface ternary complexes γ-alumina-As-Zn were the main outcome when As was preequilibrated firstly. Zn-arsenate precipitates could significantly decrease the concentration of Zn in aqueous solution and decrease the bioavailability and mobilization of Zn in soils.

Influence of bacterial extracellular polymeric substances on the sorption of Zn on γ-alumina: A combination of FTIR and EXAFS studies.

Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) isolated from bacteria, are abound of functional groups which can react with metals and consequently influence the immobilization of metals. In this study, we combined with Zn K-edge Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) techniques to study the effects of EPS isolated from Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas putida on Zn sorption on γ-alumina. The results revealed that Zn sorption on aluminum oxide was pH-dependent and significantly influenced by bacterial EPS. At pH 7.5, Zn sorbed on γ-alumina was in the form of Zn-Al layered doubled hydroxide (LDH) precipitates, whereas at pH 5.5, Zn sorbed on γ-alumina was as a Zn-Al bidentate mononuclear surface complex. The amount of sorbed Zn at pH 7.5 was 1.3-3.7 times higher than that at pH 5.5. However, in the presence of 2 g L-1 EPS, regardless of pH conditions and EPS source, Zn + EPS + γ-alumina ternary complex was formed on the surface of γ-alumina, which resulted in decreased Zn sorption (reduced by 8.4-67.8%) at pH 7.5 and enhanced Zn sorption (increased by 10.0-124.7%) at pH 5.5. The FTIR and EXAFS spectra demonstrated that both the carboxyl and phosphoryl moieties of EPS were crucial in this process. These findings highlight EPS effects on Zn interacts with γ-alumina.

Sorption of roxarsone onto soils with different physicochemical properties.

Elevated roxarsone (ROX) concentrations in soils, caused by land application of ROX-bearing poultry litter, mandate investigation of ROX sorption onto soils. Equilibrium and kinetic studies of ROX sorption onto five soils were carried out to explore the relationship between sorption parameters and soil properties, and to reveal the effects of coexisting humic acid (HA), P(V), As(V), and As(III) on ROX transport. Experimental results indicated that ROX sorption reached equilibrium within 24 h, with pseudo-second order rate constants of 5.74-5.26 × 10(2) g/(mg h); film and intra-particle diffusion were the rate-limiting processes. ROX sorption to soils involved partitioning and adsorption phenomena; however, their relative contributions varied for different soils. The maximum ROX sorption varied with soil type, ranging from 0.59 to 4.12 mg/g. Results from correlation analysis and multiple linear regressions revealed that the maximum sorption capacities, partition coefficients, and desorption percentages were correlated with soil properties, especially iron content, total organic carbon, and dissolved organic carbon. ROX sorption to soils was affected more by soil pH than the initial pH of ROX-containing solutions. Carboxylic and amide functional groups were determined to be responsible for ROX sorption to soils. ROX sorption capacities decreased in the presence of HA, P(V), As(V), and As(III), indicating that ROX mobility in soils was facilitated by dissolved organic matter (DOM) and competing anions.

Inhibition mechanisms of Zn precipitation on aluminum oxide by glyphosate: a 31P NMR and Zn EXAFS study.

In this research, the effects of glyphosate (GPS) on Zn sorption/precipitation on γ-alumina were investigated using a batch technique, Zn K-edge EXAFS, and (31)P NMR spectroscopy. The EXAFS analysis revealed that, in the absence of glyphosate, Zn adsorbed on the aluminum oxide surface mainly as bidentate mononuclear surface complexes at pH 5.5, whereas Zn-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) precipitates formed at pH 8.0. In the presence of glyphosate, the EXAFS spectra of Zn sorption samples at pH 5.5 and 8.0 were very similar, both of which demonstrated that Zn did not directly bind to the mineral surface but bonded with the carboxyl group of glyphosate. Formation of γ-alumina-GPS-Zn ternary surface complexes was further suggested by (31)P solid state NMR data which indicated the glyphosate binds to γ-alumina via a phosphonate group, bridging the mineral surface and Zn. Additionally, we showed the sequence of additional glyphosate and Zn can influence the sorption mechanism. At pH 8, Zn-Al LDH precipitates formed if Zn was added first, and no precipitates formed if glyphosate was added first or simultaneously with Zn. In contrast, at pH 5.5, only γ-alumina-GPS-Zn ternary surface complexes formed regardless of whether glyphosate or Zn was added first or both were added simultaneously.

Distribution and development of the TCM syndromes in psoriasis vulgaris.

OBJECTIVE: To study the distribution and development rules of the TCM syndromes in psoriasis vulgaris. METHODS: Based on the clinical epidemiologic mass survey, the study was carried out by means of a status survey, multi-center and large-sample research. The data base was set up by EPIINFO6.0. The SPSS was used to do the statistical analyses in 2651 cases of psoriasis vulgaris to study the correlations among the distribution and development of the TCM syndromes, the stages of the disease, nationality, psoriasis history, family history, smoking history, alcohol drinking history, and severity of the disease. RESULTS: The TCM syndromes in psoriasis vulgaris mainly include the blood-heat syndrome (53.8%), blood-dryness syndrome (27.4%), and blood-stasis syndrome (18.1%). Other syndromes were rarely seen, covering 0.6%. The concurrent syndromes mainly involve dampness, heat, blood stasis and toxin. The distribution differences of the main syndromes at different stages of the disease had statistical significance (P < 0.01). The syndrome distribution is not related with nationality and family history (P > 0.05), but it was closely related with the psoriasis history, smoking history, alcohol drinking history, and severity of the disease (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: At the initial stage, psoriasis vulgaris usually manifests itself as the blood-heat syndrome, and later it may be improved or turn into the blood-dryness or blood-stasis syndrome. Smoking, alcohol consumption, and severity of the disease may play a role in the syndrome's transformation.

Effects of electrokinetic treatment of a heavy metal contaminated soil on soil enzyme activities.

There is a growing concern on the potential application of a direct current (DC) electric field to soil for removing contaminants, but little is known about its impact on soil enzyme activities. This study investigated the change of enzyme activities of a heavy metal contaminated soil before and after electrokinetic (EK) treatments at lab-scale and the mechanisms of EK treatment to affect soil enzyme activities were explored. After treatments with 1-3 V cm(-1) of voltage gradient for 420 h, soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic carbon, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), soil heavy metal concentration and enzyme activities were analyzed. The results showed that the average removal efficiencies of soil copper were about 65% and 83% without and with pH control of catholyte, respectively, and all the removal efficiencies of cadmium were above 90%. The soil invertase and catalase activities increased and the highest invertase activity was as 170 times as the initial one. The activities of soil urease and acidic phosphatase were lower than the initial ones. Bivariate correlation analyses indicated that the soil invertase and acidic phosphatase activities were significantly correlated with soil pH, EC, and DOC at P<0.05, but the soil urease activities had no correlation with the soil properties. On the other hand, the effects of DC electric current on solution invertase and catalase enzyme protein activities indicated that it had negative effect on solution catalase activity and little effect on solution invertase activity. From the change of invertase and catalase activities in soil and solution, the conclusion can be drawn that the dominant effect mechanism is the change of soil properties by EK treatments.

Pilot-scale electrokinetic treatment of a Cu contaminated red soil.

A pilot-scale experiment for electrokinetic treatment of 700 kg of copper contaminated red soil was conducted using a constant voltage of 80 V. Dynamic removal percentages of Cu from the soil and energy consumption during the treatment were evaluated together with changes of soil pH, electrical conductivity and soil microbial functional diversity before and after the electrokinetic treatment. The results indicate that 76% of Cu was successfully removed from the soil after 140 d of treatment when lactic acid was used as enhancing reagent for adjusting the catholyte pH and dissolving soil Cu by complexation, and the pilot-scale electrokinetic experiment consumed electric energy of 224 kW h t-1 soil. The post-treatment soil pH values decreased about 0.1-1.6 units compared with the initial value (pH 4.8), and soil electrical conductivities in most of soil sections also significantly decreased. Soil microbial functional diversity varied after the electrokinetic treatment, particularly the increase of substrate richness index, which is possibly due to the stimulation of lactic acid that was introduced into the soil column during the experiment.