A case of chronic kidney disease patient with rapid deterioration of renal function, hair loss, and spontaneous resolution of facial warts after COVID-19 infection.

Background: Individuals with pre-existing chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at an increased risk of experiencing severe symptoms if infected with COVID-19. This report presents the case of a patient with CKD who contracted COVID-19 and subsequently experienced rapid deterioration of kidney function, hair loss, and spontaneous remission of facial warts. Case presentation: A 60-year-old Chinese man with a decade-long history of abnormal serum creatinine (Scr) levels and recently heightened fatigue sought treatment. The disease was previously managed and deemed resolved in 2020. However, when he contracted the novel coronavirus on December 20, 2022, he experienced persistent fatigue without other symptoms. In early January 2023, Scr levels was examined as more than 300 µmol/L. This was followed by hair loss, including eyebrows and lashes, and the spontaneous resolution of a longstanding facial wart. During this period, although the patient received kidney-protecting drugs and a lifestyle optimization, Scr increased continuously and the disease eventually progressed to the uremic stage. As the patient still had relatively abundant urine volume, the patient chose peritoneal dialysis treatment. At a two-month follow-up, he had adhered to the CAPD protocol without complications and his hair had begun to regrow. After eight months, his hair had mostly regrown, and his Scr levels kept stable. Conclusion: This case may represent the inaugural instance of CKD patients experiencing rapid deterioration of renal function, hair loss, and spontaneous remission of common warts. The underlying mechanisms of this unique phenomenon warrant further researches and debate.

The global landscape and research trend of lymphangiogenesis in breast cancer: a bibliometric analysis and visualization.

Background: Breast cancer persists as a major public health issue on a global scale. Lymphangiogenesis is an indispensable element in the promotion of breast cancer metastasis. Inhibiting the metastasis of breast cancer can be accomplished through targeting lymphangiogenesis. The purpose of this study was to examine research trends, major topics, and development directions of lymphangiogenesis in breast cancer through a bibliometric analysis, which may serve as a reference for future research and clinical practice. Methods: English publications with article type article or review about lymphangiogenesis in breast cancer from inception to September 30, 2023, retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection Database (WOSCC), and VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and Microsoft Excel were applied for bibliometric study. Results: In this paper, a total of 369 articles and reviews were included. The 369 papers were written by 2120 authors from 553 organizations across 42 countries, published in 199 journals, and cited 12458 references from 1801 journals up to September 30, 2023. Moreover, the annual publications had a rising trajectory between 2004 to 2014 but declined from 2015. The US was the leading nation in publications and citations. Meanwhile, academics Mousumi Majumder and Peeyush Lala had the highest cumulative number of publications. Based on the number of publications/citations, Cancer Research was the most influential journal. The most cited paper was "Lymphangiogenesis: Molecular Mechanisms and Future Promise" by Tuomas Tammela, published in the Journal of Cell. Additionally, keywords frequency analysis demonstrated that "lymphangiogenesis," "breast cancer," "VEGF-C," "angiogenesis," and "metastasis" were the most frequent keywords, and the newly emergent topics could be represented by "tumor microenvironment," "metastasis," "stem-cell," "triple-negative breast cancer," and "blood vessels." Conclusions: Currently, there is a strong research basis for lymphangiogenesis in breast cancer. The core research team was primarily situated in the US. Investigating the mechanism of lymphangiogenesis in breast cancer will always remain a highly discussed topic. In particular, it was essential to emphasize the relationship between lymphangiogenesis and tumor microenvironment, stem cells, triple-negative breast cancer, and metastasis, which could be the frontiers.

Assessment of the 2023 European Kidney Function Consortium (EKFC) equations in a Chinese adult population.

OBJECTIVES: The European Kidney Function Consortium (EKFC) developed two novel equations in 2023 for estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR): one sex-free cystatin C-based equation (EKFCCys) and one creatinine-cystatin C combined equation (EKFCCr-Cys). This study compared their performance with the previous creatinine-based EKFC equation (EKFCCr) and commonly used Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) and Berlin Initiative Study (BIS) equations in Chinese adults. METHODS: A total of 2,438 Chinese adults (mean age=53.04 years) who underwent the 99mTc-DTPA renal dynamic imaging for reference GFR (rGFR) were included. Diagnostic value was evaluated using correlation coefficients, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROCAUC). Performance was assessed in terms of bias, precision (interquartile range of the median difference [IQR]), accuracy (percentage of estimates ±30 % of rGFR [P30], and root-mean-square error [RMSE]) across age, sex, and rGFR subgroups. Gender differences in bias and P30 were also analyzed. RESULTS: Average rGFR was 73.37 mL/min/1.73 m2. EKFC equations showed stronger correlations and larger AUCs compared to the parallel CKD-EPI equations, with EKFCCr-Cys demonstrating the greatest improvement (R=0.771, ROCAUC=0.913). Concerning bias, precision, and accuracy, EKFC equations consistently outperformed CKD-EPI equations. EKFCCr-Cys and EKFCCr performed acceptably well in the entire population and were equivalent to BIS equations in the elderly. All equations, including EKFCCys, showed similar P30 accuracy across sexes. CONCLUSIONS: EKFC equations provided a reasonable alternative for estimating GFR in the Chinese adult population. While EKFCCys did not outperform EKFCCr, EKFCCr-Cys improved the accuracy of single-marker equations.

Multiple and large simple renal cysts are associated with glomerular filtration rate decline: a cross-sectional study of Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Although simple renal cyst (SRC) is a kind of structural alterations of kidney with age, the relationship between SRC and renal function is still obscure. We investigated the relationship between SRC and renal function in Chinese population. METHODS: The medical records of 41,842 individuals who underwent physical examinations at the Health Check-up Center at our institution in 2018 were reviewed. According to whether with SRC, they were divided into no-SRC and SRC groups. SRCs were classified into subgroups based on number (< 2 vs. ≥ 2) and size (< 2 cm vs. ≥ 2 cm). Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between SRC and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). RESULTS: Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for eGFR slight decline in subjects with SRC was 1.26(95% confidence interval (95% CI):1.17-1.35, p < 0.001), and the OR for eGFR severe decline was 1.35(95% CI: 1.16-1.56, p < 0.001) compared with no-SRC. The adjusted OR of SRC number ≥ 2 and ≥ 2 cm on the risk of eGFR severe decline was the highest (OR:1.68, 95% CI:1.25-2.23, p < 0.01) of four SRC subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: SRC is related to eGFR decline, especially when the person with one more SRCs and the size of SRC is more than 2 cm. SRC could be a warning sign for clinicians to judge the decline of renal function.

Data mining of reference intervals for serum creatinine: an improvement in glomerular filtration rate estimating equations based on Q-values.

OBJECTIVES: Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimating equations based on rescaled serum creatinine (SCr/Q) have shown better performance, where Q represents the median SCr for age- and sex-specific healthy populations. However, there remains a scarcity of investigations in China to determine this value. We aimed to develop Chinese age- and sex-specific reference intervals (RIs) and Q-values for SCr and to validate the equations incorporating new Q-values. METHODS: We included 117,345 adults from five centers for establishing RIs and Q-values, and 3,692 participants with reference GFR (rGFR, 99mTc-DTPA renal dynamic imaging measurement) for validation. Appropriate age partitioning was determined using the decision tree method. Lower and upper reference limits and medians were calculated using the refineR algorithm, and Q-values were determined accordingly. We evaluated the full age spectrum (FAS) and European Kidney Function Consortium (EKFC) equations incorporating different Q-values considering bias, precision (interquartile range, IQR), and accuracy (percentage of estimates within ±20 % [P20] and ±30 % [P30] of rGFR). RESULTS: RIs for males were: 18-79 years, 55.53-92.50 µmol/L; ≥80 years, 54.41-96.43 µmol/L. RIs for females were: 18-59 years, 40.42-69.73 µmol/L; 60-79 years, 41.16-73.69 µmol/L; ≥80 years, 46.50-73.20 µmol/L. Q-values were set at 73.82 µmol/L (0.84 mg/dL) for males and 53.80 µmol/L (0.61 mg/dL) for females. After validation, we found that the adjusted equations exhibit less bias, improved precision and accuracy, and increased agreement of GFR categories. CONCLUSIONS: We determined Chinese age- and sex-specific RIs and Q-values for SCr. The adjustable Q-values provide an effective alternative to obtain valid equations for estimating GFR.

Breastmilk microbiome changes associated with lactational mastitis and treatment with dandelion extract.

Introduction: Dandelion (Pugongying) is one of the most frequently used Chinese herbs for treating lactational mastitis (LM). Pugongying granules, a patented medication primarily comprised of dandelion extract, have been approved by CFDA for LM treatment in China. The aims of this study were to investigate the etiology of LM and the mechanism by which Pugongying granules decrease LM symptoms, with a particular focus on the microbial communities found in breastmilk. Methods: Participants were recruited from a previously performed randomized controlled trial (Identifier: NCT03756324, ClinicalTrials.gov). Between 2019 and 2020, women diagnosed with unilateral LM at the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Third Affiliated Hospital were enrolled. In total, 42 paired breastmilk samples from the healthy and affected breasts of the participants were collected. Additionally, 37 paired pre- and post-treatment breastmilk samples from the affected breast were collected from women who received a 3-day course of either Pugongying granules (20 women) or cefdinir (17 women). Clinical outcomes [e.g., body temperature, visual analogue scale (VAS) score for breast pain, the percentage of neutrophils (NE%)] were analyzed pre- and post-treatment, and the breastmilk samples were subjected to 16S rRNA gene sequencing to analyze the alpha and beta diversities and identify significant bacteria. Finally, the relationship between microorganisms and clinical outcomes was analyzed. Results: There was no significant difference in fever and pain between the Pugongying group and cefdinir group. The most prevalent bacterial genera in breastmilk were Streptococcus and Staphylococcus. Compared to healthy breastmilk, microbial diversity was reduced in affected breastmilk, and there was a higher relative abundance of Streptococcus. After Pugongying treatment, there was an increase in microbial diversity with significantly higher abundance of Corynebacterium. A negative correlation was found between Corynebacterium, VAS score, and NE%. Treatment with cefdinir did not affect microbial diversity. Taken together, our results show a correlation between LM and reduced microbial diversity, as well as an increased abundance of Streptococcus in affected breastmilk. Conclusion: Pugongying granules enhanced microbial diversity in breastmilk samples. Given the substantial variation in individual microbiomes, identifying specific species of Streptococcus and Corynebacterium associated with LM may provide additional insight into LM pathogenesis and treatment.

Non-sentinel lymph node metastases risk factors in patients with breast cancer with one or two sentinel lymph node macro-metastases.

Approximately 59 % of patients with breast cancer with one or two sentinel lymph nodes (1-2 SLN) macrometastases do not benefit from axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), which may also incur morbidities. It is necessary to evaluate the association between various clinicopathological characteristics and non-sentinel lymph node metastases (non-SLNM) in patients with breast cancer with 1-2 SLN macrometastases, and determine whether they 1-2 should avoid ALND. Eight electronic literature databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journal, Wanfang, and Chinese Biomedical Literature) were searched from their inception to June 30, 2023, and two reviewers independently extracted the data and assessed the risk of bias. Association strength was summarized using odds ratios (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI). Heterogeneity was accounted for using a subgroup analysis. Publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots and Egger's test. There were 25 studies with 8021 participants, and 27 potential risk factors were evaluated. The risk factors for non-SLNM in patients with 1-2 SLN macrometastatic breast cancer include the following: factors of primary tumor: multifocality (OR (95 % CI (2.63 (1.96, 3.54))), tumor size ≥ T2 (2.64 (2.22, 3.14)), tumor localization (upper outer quad) (2.06 (1.23, 3.43)), histopathological grade (G3) (2.45 (1.70, 3.52)), vascular invasion (VI) (2.60 (1.35, 4.98)), lymphovascular invasion (LVI) (2.87 (1.80, 4.56)), perineural invasion (PNI) (3.16 (1.18,8.43)). Factors of lymph nodes: method of SLNs detected (blue dye) (3.85 (1.54, 9.60)), SLN metastasis ratio ≥0.5 (2.79 (2.24, 3.48)), two positive SLNs (3.55, (2.08, 6.07)), zero negative SLN (3.72 (CI 2.50, 4.29)), extranodal extension (ENE) (4.69 (2.16, 10.18)). Molecular typing: Her-2 positive (2.08 (1.26, 3.43)), Her-2 over-expressing subtype (1.83 (1.22, 2.73)). Factors of examination/inspection: axillary lymph nodes (ALNs) positive on imaging (3.18 (1.68, 6.00)), cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) (4.01 (2.33,6.89)), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (2.13 (1.32-3.43)). This review identified the risk factors for non-SLNM in patients with 1-2 SLN macrometastatic breast cancer. However, additional studies are needed to confirm the above findings owing to the limited number and types of studies included.

Network pharmacology and in vivo and in vitro experiments to determine the mechanism behind the effects of Jiawei Yanghe decoction via TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB against mastitis.

Background: In the Qing dynasty, Yanghe decoction was as a therapeutic soup for effectively treating chronic inflammatory disorders. It was used as a therapeutic soup for effectively treating chronic inflammatory disorders. In the clinical use of Yanghe decoction, the adjustment of the medication for a variety of inflammatory diseases have therapeutic effect, including mastitis. Therefore, Jiawei Yanghe decoction (JWYHD) may be used to treat inflammatory breast diseases. Methods: First, LM- and JWYHD-related components were retrieved from the database and analysis platform. Next, protein-protein interaction networks were constructed to screen the key targets, and gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of gene and genome enrichment analyses were performed to predict the potential biological functions and mechanisms of JWYHD. Simultaneously, the JWYHD samples were collected and analyzed by UPLC-HRMS. Finally, in vivo and in vitro experiments were conducted to construct animal and cellular inflammation models of mastitis with LPS. Pathological changes in the mammary tissues were detected. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and Western blotting was performed to determine the mRNA and protein levels of inflammatory cytokines and toll-like receptor 4/myeloid differentiation primary response 88/nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway in the breast tissues to elucidate the potential underlying mechanisms of anti-mastitis effects of JWYHD from different aspects. Results: In total, 103 compounds were detected in JWYHD by UPLC-HRMS. 691 active ingredients of JWYHD were screened by network pharmacology, and 47 LM-related targets were identified. The PPI network analysis of the targets revealed the 5 core targets. The KEGG enrichment results established the NF-κB signaling pathways as the core. After JWYHD intervention, low inflammatory enrichment and mild inflammatory damage in breast tissues were observed. Furthermore, JWYHD treatment affected mammary gland inflammatory cytokines and the TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB signaling pathway by considerably reducing the respective protein levels and gene expression; thus, JWYHD alleviated LM symptoms. Conclusions: We hypothesized and demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effects of JWYHD by cytokine regulation via the TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB signaling pathway. In conclusion, JWYHD showed its potential in LM treatment and in treating other acute and chronic inflammatory diseases.

Xiaozheng pill exerts an anti-mammary hyperplasia effect through Raf/ERK/ELK and HIF-1α/bFGF pathways.

Background and aim: The purpose of this study is to explore whether the Xiaozheng pill (XZP) has the effect of anti-hyperplasia of mammary glands (HMG) and to identify the related signaling pathways. Experimental procedure: We analyzed the effective chemical components of the XZP, as well as the key chemical components, key proteins, main biological processes, and pathways in the treatment of HMG; Secondly, the levels of Estradiol (E2), Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), Luteinizing hormone (LH), Progesterone (P), Raf/ERK/ELK and HIF-1α/bFGF pathways related proteins were detected; Finally, the effect of XZP on metabolites was analyzed by metabolomics. Results and conclusion: In this study, we identified key targets and pathways for XZP therapy of HMG, including EGFR, VEGFA, ER, and Ras signaling pathways. Animal experiments show that XZP can reduce the levels of E2, LH, and FSH and increase the expression of P in HMG mice. XZP can restore the normal structure of breast tissue and reduce ERα, ERß, and PR expression in breast tissue. In addition, metabolomics results show that XZP also regulates HMG metabolites, including HIF-1α and metabolic pathways. The Western blot results showed that XZP intervention can reduce the protein expression of p-Raf1, Raf1, p-ERK1/2, ERK1/2, ELK, HIF-1α, and bFGF in the breast tissue of HMG mice. XZP may eliminate abnormal breast hyperplasia through inhibition of apoptosis and angiogenesis, which may be linked with the regulation of the Raf/ERK/ELK and HIF-1α/bFGF signaling pathways in HMG mice. These results suggest that XZP treatment may be beneficial for the management of HMG.

Treatment of gastric paralysis after gastric schwannoma by electroacupuncture: A case report and literature review.

OBJECTIVE: We identified the potential role of electroacupuncture (EA) as an alternative therapy to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in a rare case of postoperative gastroparesis after gastric schwannoma (GS). CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 31-year-old woman presented with impaired gastric emptying after gastrectomy for GS and was diagnosed with postoperative gastroparesis syndrome (PGS). The symptoms were slightly relieved after routine placement of the jejunal tube; however, symptoms such as dietary intolerance and impaired gastric emptying persisted. After the consultation, the patient agreed to undergo EA therapy. INTERVENTION AND RESULTS: The patient was able to tolerate oral intake after seven days of EA treatment, and the frequency and amount of food intake increased. The jejunal tube was removed at the outpatient follow-up two weeks after discharge, and the patient resumed a semi-liquid diet and was able to eat small amounts of rice. Reexamination of the upper digestive tract angiography showed that part of the contrast agent passed through the pyloric sinus, which showed improvement. CONCLUSION: EA stimulation increased tolerance to transoral feeding in patients with postoperative gastroparesis and facilitated the passage of contrast agents through the pyloric sinus. No adverse effects were observed during treatment, and the treatment was well accepted and tolerated by patients. A review article noted the benefits of acupuncture for gastrointestinal disorders but lacked high-quality evidence to support this.1 Therefore, the therapeutic role of EA needs to be further elucidated to provide high-quality evidence-based medical evidence for its clinical use.

Mechanisms of single herbs and herbal pairs in the treatment of mammary gland hyperplasia: An integrated review.

Background: The pathogenesis of hyperplasia of mammary glands (HMG) is a complex process, involving multiple links and systems within the body. Current clinical research indicates that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) demonstrates a significant therapeutic effect in treating HMG. Single herbs or herbal pairs (two herbs) are the basic units of preventing and treating HMG. It is of great significance to explore the mechanism of single herbs or herbal pairs in treating HMG for clarifying the mechanism of preventing HMG with TCM. Purpose: This study aimed to review the literature, summarize the known mechanisms of single herbs and herbal pair therapy for treating hyperplasia of mammary glands (HMG), and elucidate the relevant substances involved within and outside the body during these treatments. Study design: In this study, the action mechanism of single herbs or herbal pairs in treating HMG was selected as the research object. English articles were mainly selected and Chinese articles were supplemented. We conducted a literature search in PubMed, CNKI, WanFang Database, etc，including full-text studies published between January 1992 and December 31, 2022. The primary literature was carefully screened, and the mechanism of action was explored by logical analysis. Methods: We conducted a literature review focusing on basic studies that explored the mechanisms underlying the effects of herbal treatments for mammary gland hyperplasia. The literature search was performed in PubMed, CNKI, and WanFang Database, covering full-text articles published from January 1992 to 31 December 2022, using various keywords (e.g., hyperplasia of mammary glands, single herb, herbal pair, effect, mechanism, inclusion criteria). Exclusion criteria were also set. We employed methods such as literature measurement, literature research, and content analysis to logically analyze, induce, and deduce the findings of the collected literature. Results: This review reveals that several distinct mechanisms contribute to the beneficial effects of single herbs or herbal pairs on the recovery of mammary gland hyperplasia. Regarding hormone levels, Chinese herbs can decrease hormones such as Estradiol(E2) and Prolactin(PRL), increase Progesterone(P) levels, balance the E2/P ratio, reduce the expression of sex hormone receptors, and lessen the self-sensitivity of breast tissue under the influence of E2. Histologically, Chinese herbs can inhibit breast neovascularization and alleviate blood viscosity. At the cellular level, Chinese herbs can modulate the expression of apoptosis genes and proteins, decrease cell proliferation activity, and ultimately inhibit or even reverse breast hyperplasia. From a pharmacological perspective, Chinese herbs exhibit analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-regulating properties. Conclusion: The evidence in this review demonstrates the effectiveness of single herbs or herbal pairs in preventing and treating mammary gland hyperplasia, with precise underlying mechanisms.

Effects of Tuina Combined With Moxibustion on Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: A Randomized Cross-Over Controlled Trial.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of Tuina combined with moxibustion on relieving breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). A randomized cross-over controlled trial was conducted at our institution. All patients with BCRL were assigned to 2 groups: Group A and Group B. In the first period (weeks 1-4), tuina and moxibustion were performed in Group A and pneumatic circulation and compression garment in Group B. The washout period took place from weeks 5 to 6. In the second period (weeks 7-10), pneumatic circulation and compression garment were performed in Group A, and tuina and moxibustion in Group B. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by measuring the affected arm volume, circumference, and Visual Analog Scale for swelling. Regarding the results, a total of 40 patients were included, and 5 cases were dropped. After treatment, both the traditional Chinses medicine (TCM) treatment and complete decongestive therapy (CDT) was found to reduce the volume of the affected arm (P < .05). At the endpoint (visit 3), compared with CDT, the effect of the TCM treatment was more evident than that of CDT (P < .05). After the TCM treatment, the arm circumference at the elbow crease and proximal 10 cm to elbow crease was reduced, which was statistically different from that before treatment (P < .05). Post-CDT treatment, the arm circumference at proximal 10 cm to wrist crease and the elbow crease and proximal 10 cm to elbow crease decreased, which was statistically different from that before treatment (P < .05). At the endpoint (visit 3), the arm circumference at proximal 10 cm to elbow crease of the patients treated with TCM was less than that of CDT (P < .05). Moreover, the VAS scores for swelling were better after compared with before TCM treatment and CDT (P < .05). At the endpoint (visit 3), the subjective relief of swelling by TCM treatment was greater than CDT (P < .05). Ultimately, tuina combined with moxibustion can alleviate BCRL symptoms, which is primarily reflected in reducing the affected arm volume and circumference and relieving swelling.Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration Number ChiCTR1800016498).

Effects of short-term PM2.5 exposure on blood lipids among 197,957 people in eastern China.

Globally, air pollution is amongst the most significant causes of premature death. Nevertheless, studies on the relationship between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure and blood lipids have typically not been population-based. In a large, community-based sample of residents in Yixing city, we assessed the relationship between short-term outdoor PM2.5 exposure and blood lipid concentrations. Participants who attended the physical examination were enrolled from Yixing People's hospital from 2015 to 2020. We collected general characteristics of participants, including gender and age, as well as test results of indicators of blood lipids. Data on daily meteorological factors were collected from the National Meteorological Data Sharing Center ( http://data.cma.cn/ ) and air pollutant concentrations were collected from the China Air Quality Online Monitoring and Analysis Platform ( https://www.aqistudy.cn/ ) during this period. We applied generalized additive models to estimate short-term effects of ambient PM2.5 exposure on each measured blood lipid-related indicators and converted these indicators into dichotomous variables (non- hyperlipidemia and hyperlipidemia) to calculate risks of hyperlipidemia associated with PM2.5 exposure. A total of 197,957 participants were included in the analysis with mean age 47.90 years (± SD, 14.28). The increase in PM2.5 was significantly associated with hyperlipidemia (odds ratio (OR) 1.003, 95% CI 1.001-1.004), and it was still significant in subgroups of males and age < 60 years. For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5, triglyceride levels decreased by 0.5447% (95% CI - 0.7873, - 0.3015), the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration increased by 0.0127 mmol/L (95% CI 0.0099, 0.0156), the total cholesterol concentration increased by 0.0095 mmol/L (95% CI 0.0053, 0.0136), and no significant association was observed between PM2.5 and the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration. After excluding people with abnormal blood lipid concentrations, the associations remained significant except for the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration. PM2.5 was positively correlated with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol, and negatively correlated with triglyceride, indicating PM2.5 can potentially affect health through blood lipid levels.

METTL3 alleviates D-gal-induced renal tubular epithelial cellular senescence via promoting miR-181a maturation.

Methyltransferase-like protein 3 (METTL3) mediated N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) modification has been implicated in many physiological and pathological processes. However, its function and mechanism in kidney aging are not entirely clear. Here, we investigated changes in m6A levels of aging kidneys and the role of METTL3 in senescent renal tubular epithelial cells and its potential mechanisms. First, we used the naturally aged mouse model and the D-galactose (D-gal)-induced aged mouse model. Dot blot and m6A RNA methylation quantification showed significantly decreased m6A levels in both models. In addition, we observed that METTL3 was down-regulated in D-gal-induced senescent human renal tubular epithelial cell line (HK-2). METTL3 reduction was associated with senescence-related phenotypes of HK-2 cells. We also found that miR-181a-5p attenuated HK-2 senescence by targeting the NF-κB pathway. Moreover, METTL3 was able to promote the maturation of miR-181a-5p and then inhibited the expression of NF-κB and IL-1α. Taken together, we demonstrate that the METTL3/miR-181a-5p/NF-κB axis counteracts HK-2 senescence. Our results suggest that METTL3 may be a novel biomarker and a potential therapy target for kidney aging.

Traditional Chinese medicine for the COVID-19 pandemic: An online cross-sectional survey among health care workers.

Background: : During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, health care workers (HCWs) have faced a heightened risk of infection. Preventative measures are critical to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and protect HCWs. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been recommended to prevent and treat COVID-19 in China. We conducted this survey to investigate the use of infection control behaviors, preventative and therapeutic interventions, and outcomes among HCWs during the surge of Omicron variant infections to explore the association of preventative measures with outcomes and to investigate the factors influencing the adoption of TCM as a preventative measure. Methods: : The questionnaire consisted of 23 sections with 154 questions intended for HCWs. The targeted respondents comprised all HCWs from Xiamen Hospital Affiliated of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. The recruitment process was open between March 17 and June 1, 2022. Chi-square test was used to estimate the relationship between prevention and outcomes. Multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate factors influencing the use of TCM as a preventative measure. Results: : Among the 1122 participants who completed the questionnaire, 79.71% took preventative measures, including TCM (56.21%), physical activities (52.37%) and food supplements (26.99%). Xiamen preventative formula (a government-approved fixed prescription) (45.22%) and Lianhua Qingwen preparations (18.95%) were the most commonly used Chinese medicines. Thirty-six participants reported flu-like symptoms and three were diagnosed with COVID-19. Flu-like symptoms were not associated with prevention, vaccination, or TCM. Frontline working experience (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.46-0.80), good knowledge of post-COVID-19 syndrome (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.39-0.84), Western medicine qualifications (OR = 2.41, 95% CI: 1.51-3.86), nurses (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.21-2.40), and medical technicians (OR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.25-4.10) were associated with the willingness of using TCM as a preventative measure. Conclusion: : Complementary medicine, especially TCM, could be used for COVID-19 prevention. Knowledge of COVID-19 may prompt people to use TCM to prevent COVID-19. Multicenter studies and prospective cohort follow-up studies are needed to provide further insights into the use of TCM for COVID-19 management.

Four types of RNA modification writers predict the prognosis of prostate cancer.

RNA modification is an important part of epigenetic regulation. However, the relationship between RNA modification writers and prostate cancer (PCa) remains unclear. We obtained transcriptome data from The Cancer Genome Atlas; the expression of writers for four RNA modifications (N6-methyladenosine, N1-methyladenosine, alternative polyadenylation and adenosine-to-inosine RNA editing) was altered in PCa tissue when compared with normal tissue. RNA modification writers affect the expression of immune checkpoints. Gene ontology (GO) functional enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses revealed that the RNA modification was related to the cell cycle. Hub genes were screened using machine learning, and a risk score model was established using multivariate Cox analysis. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses showed that a risk score model based on RNA modification writers could be an independent prognostic factor for PCa. In conclusion, our study showed that RNA modification writers are differentially expressed in PCa and might influence the development of PCa by regulating immune checkpoints and the cell cycle. The risk score model of RNA modification writers is predicted to be an independent prognostic factor for PCa. Thus, RNA modification writers might be used as potential indicators for the clinical diagnosis of PCa.

Clinical Effectiveness and Safety of Chinese Herbal Medicine Compound Kushen Injection as an Add-On Treatment for Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the effect and safety of compound Kushen injection (CKI) as an add-on treatment on the treatment for breast cancer. METHODS: We searched eight major electronic databases from their inception to November 1, 2021, for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing CKI plus chemotherapy with chemotherapy alone. Primary outcomes included objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR), health-related quality of life (HRQoL), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes included adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and tumor marker level. We used Cochrane's RevMan 5.3 for data analysis. The GRADEpro was used to appraise the certainty of evidence. Trial sequential analysis (TSA) was applied to estimate the required sample size in a meta-analysis and test the robustness of the current results. RESULTS: Thirty RCTs with 2556 participants were totally included. CKI plus chemotherapy showed significant effects in increasing ORR (RR 1.30, 95%CI [1.18, 1.43], I 2 = 27%, n = 1694), increasing DCR (RR 1.21, 95%CI [1.15, 1.28], I 2 = 16%, n = 1627), increasing HRQol as measured by Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) score improvement rate (RR 1.42, 95% CI [1.26, 1.61], I 2 = 37%, n = 1172), increasing the PFS (MD 2.24 months, 95%CI [1.26, 3.22], n = 94) and the OS (MD 2.24 months, 95%CI [1.45, 3.43], n = 94), compared to chemotherapy alone. The results showed that CKI plus chemotherapy had a lower risk of ADRs than that of chemotherapy alone group. The certainty of evidence of the included trials was generally low to very low. TSA for ORR and KPS score improvement rate demonstrated that the current results reached a sufficient power regarding both numbers of trials and participants. CONCLUSIONS: Low certainty of evidence suggested that the combination of CKI and conventional chemotherapy appeared to improve ORR, DCR, and KPS score in breast cancer patients. Conclusions about PFS and OS could not be drawn due to lack of evidence. Additionally, CKI appeared to relieve the risk of ADRs in patients with breast cancer receiving chemotherapies. However, due to weak evidence, the findings should be further confirmed in large and rigorous trials.

The mechanism of action of Fangji Huangqi Decoction on epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer using high-throughput next-generation sequencing and network pharmacology.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Fangji Huangqi Decoction (FHD) is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). FHD has been hypothesized to inhibit the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, which may positively impact breast cancer prevention and treatment. However, its exact mechanism of action is still unknown. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to screen potential targets of FHD for the treatment of EMT in breast cancer through network pharmacology, and to verify their therapeutic effects in vitro experiments and high-throughput second-generation sequencing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data sets of effective components and targets of FHD were established through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database. The GeneCards and OMIM databases were used to establish breast cancer-related target datasets, which were then matched with the TCM target data. The interaction between key target proteins was analyzed using the STRING database; the gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases were used to identify the associated biological processes and enriched signal pathways, respectively. The active ingredient disease target network was analyzed using Cytoscape. Finally, next generation sequencing was used to verify the related pathways of FHD intervention in EMT in breast cancer. High-content screening was used to identify the genes/pathways affected by FHD. MDA-MB-231 and HCC-1937 breast cancer cell lines were used to evaluate the impact of FHD on migration, invasion, and EMT. RESULTS: Eighty possible significant targets were identified for the treatment of breast cancer EMT with FHD; GO and KEGG were used to identify 173 cell biological processes associated with breast cancer (P < 0.05), including the NF-κB and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. The high-throughput sequencing and network pharmacology results were highly consistent. The migration and invasion ability of MDA-MB-231 cells was reduced and their EMT status could be reversed by DSHR2 knockdown. The results of morphology and scratch assays showed that FHD could improve the EMT status of HCC-1973. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides more evidence to support the clinical application of FHD, which has reliable interventional effects on breast cancer EMT. Its therapeutic effects may involve a multi-target, multi-pathway, and multi-mechanism effect.

Eczema compound patents' herbal combination rules research based on complex system entropy clustering: A review.

The aim of this study is to investigate the herbal compound patents' combination rules of eczema. Eczema herbal compound patents (oral drugs) from the past 29 years were collected, and a database was created. Complex system entropy clustering was used to analyze the prescription rule for eczema herbal compound patents. In total, 1039 eczema herbal compound patents, including 398 Chinese herbs, were identified. Complex system entropy clustering acquired high-frequency herbs, herbal couples, and core associations. Eczema herbal compound patents are known for clearing dampness and heat, dispelling poison, evacuating wind, and invigorating and cooling blood. By using complex system entropy clustering, herbal correlation of eczema herbal compound patents can be effectively analyzed.