Comprehensive review on neprilysin (NEP) inhibitors: design, structure-activity relationships, and clinical applications.

Neprilysin (NEP), a zinc-dependent membrane-bound metallopeptidase, regulates various bioactive peptides, particularly in kidneys, vascular endothelium, and the central nervous system. NEP's involvement in metabolizing natriuretic peptides, insulin, and enkephalins makes it a promising target for treating cardiovascular and Alzheimer's diseases. Several NEP inhibitors, such as sacubitril and omapatrilat, have been approved for clinical use, which inhibit NEP activity to prolong the bioactivity of beneficial peptides, thereby exerting therapeutic effects.

Global burden of cardiovascular disease mortality attributable to secondhand smoke, 1990-2019: Systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

Background: Few studies have globally assessed the cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality burden attributable to secondhand smoke. We aimed to address this research gap.

Methods: We used a systematic analysis design using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Ameliorates Diabetic Kidney Disease by Inhibiting the TXNIP/NLRP3/IL-1β Signaling Pathway.

Recent research indicates that the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is crucial in the development of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the predominant catechin in green tea, has been noted for its anti-inflammatory properties in DKD. However, the specific mechanisms are not yet fully understood.

Acupuncture and moxibustion as adjunctive therapy for postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction in gastric cancer: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of different acupuncture and moxibustion techniques as adjunctive therapy in addressing Postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction (PGD) associated with gastric cancer (GC).

Methods: Eight medical databases were comprehensively searched for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) as of October 2024. A network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed using frequency models, combining all available direct and indirect evidence from RCTs.

The Relationship between Alzheimer's Disease and Ferroptosis: A Bibliometric Study Based on Citespace.

Background: The potential relationship between Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and ferroptosis has received considerable attention, yet there is no comprehensive visualization analysis in this field. This study aimed to explore the research frontiers and hotspots through bibliometric analysis.

Methods: Literature related to AD and ferroptosis was collected from the Web of Science Core Collection.

Integrating bioinformatics and machine learning to uncover lncRNA LINC00269 as a key regulator in Parkinson's disease via pyroptosis pathways.

Background: Pyroptosis, a specific type of programmed cell death, which has become a significant factor to Parkinson's disease (PD). Concurrently, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have garnered attention for their regulatory roles in neurodegenerative disorders. This study was designed to ascertain the key lncRNAs in pyroptosis pathways of PD and elucidate their regulatory mechanisms.

Systemic immune-inflammation index and long-term mortality in patients with hypertension: a cohort study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between systemic inflammation and long-term mortality in patients with hypertension.

Methods: The study employed a retrospective cohort design. The study population was derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), and the mortality data for this population was acquired from the National Death Index (NDI) database.

[Acupoint thread-embedding at fat layer for abdominal obesity: a randomized controlled trial].

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupoint thread-embedding at fat layer for abdominal obesity and its effects on glucose and lipid metabolism.

Methods: Ninety-six patients with abdominal obesity were randomly divided into an acupoint embedding group (48 cases, 3 cases dropped out) and a sham embedding group (48 cases, 3 cases dropped out). Both groups received lifestyle interventions as basic treatment.

Retinopathy in Parkinson's disease: A potential biomarker for early diagnosis and clinical assessment.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder caused by degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, originating from the substantia nigra pars compacta, and characterized by motor symptoms such as bradykinesia, muscle rigidity, resting tremor, and postural instability, as well as non-motor symptoms such as anxiety, depression, reduced sense of smell, cognitive impairment, and visual dysfunction. Emerging evidence highlights the retina as a promising site for non-invasive exploration of PD pathology, due to its shared embryonic origin with the central nervous system. In recent years, with the development of ophthalmic technology, the acquisition of retinal-related function and structure has gradually become mature.

The analgesic effectiveness of auriculotherapy for acute postoperative pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Postoperative pain is a significant yet inadequately managed complication following surgery, and auriculotherapy to alleviate acute postoperative pain (APP) and reduce the use of opioids remains controversial.

Methods: We searched the MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL Complete, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to January 23, 2024 for all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of auriculotherapy in the treatment of APP.

Relative peripheral refractive errors in Chinese children with myopic anisometropia.

Aim: To compare relative peripheral refractive errors (RPREs) in Chinese children with and without myopic anisometropia (MAI) and to explore the relationship between RPRE and myopia.

Methods: This observational cross-sectional study included 160 children divided into two groups according to the interocular spherical equivalent refraction (SER) difference ≥1.0 D in the MAI group (=80) and <1.

Measurement of ocular aberration in noise based on deep learning with a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor.

Shack-Hartmann-based wavefront sensing combined with deep learning, due to its fast, accurate, and large dynamic range, has been widely studied in many fields including ocular aberration measurement. Problems such as noise and corneal reflection affect the accuracy of detection in practical measuring ocular aberration systems. This paper establishes a framework comprising of a noise-added model, Hartmannograms with corneal reflections and the corneal reflection elimination algorithm.

Effects of low-frequency rTMS combined with speech and language therapy on Broca's aphasia in subacute stroke patients.

Introduction: Broca's aphasia is a crushing syndrome after stroke. Although there are multiple therapies, the recovery of a considerable number of patients is still not ideal. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with speech and language therapy has been a promising combination regimen in recent years.

Association between blood lead levels and serum creatinine: a cross-sectional study.

Purpose: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between blood lead levels and serum creatinine.

Methods: In the present study, sample data were derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015-2018 of participants with complete data of blood lead levels and serum creatinine. Multivariate linear regression models were used to examine the association between blood lead levels and serum creatinine.

Electroacupuncture may alleviate inflammatory pain by downregulating the expression of P2Y receptor in the primary somatosensory cortex.

Increasing evidence indicated that purinergic signalling involved in electroacupuncture (EA)-induced analgesia. Whether purinergic P2Y receptor contributes to EA-mediated analgesia remains unclear. Here, we report that the expression of P2Y receptor in the hindlimb region of the primary somatosensory cortex (S1HL) was significantly upregulated on Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA)-induced pain model mice, while was downregulated after EA treatment (2 Hz frequency, 1 mA intensity, and 30 min duration) at "Zusanli" (also named ST36 acupoint).

Observations on relative peripheral refraction in Chinese adults with myopia based on a novel application of multispectral refraction topography.

In this population-based observational cross-sectional study, we investigated retinal peripheral refraction in Chinese adults with myopia. We categorized 1511 Chinese adults with myopia (18 - 55 years) into low (LM), moderate (MM), and high myopia (HM) groups. Axial length, central corneal thickness, steep keratometry, flat keratometry, and intraocular pressure were measured.

Prehospital blood pressure lowering in patients with ischemic stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Whether prehospital blood pressure control improves outcomes among patients with acute ischemic stroke is uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effect of prehospital blood pressure reduction treatment in patients with ischemic stroke.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for randomized controlled trials that compared prehospital blood pressure reduction treatment with usual treatment or no treatment in patients with stroke.

Targeting inflammation and gut microbiota with antibacterial therapy: Implications for central nervous system health.

The complex symbiotic relationship between inflammation, the gut microbiota, and the central nervous system (CNS) has become a pivotal focus of contemporary biomedical research. Inflammation, as a physiological defense mechanism, plays a dual role as both a protective and pathological factor, and is intricately associated with gut microbiota homeostasis, often termed the "second brain." The gutbrain axis (GBA) exemplifies this multifaceted interaction, where gut health exerts significantly regulatory effects on CNS functions.

[Analysis of the outcomes in treatment of ulcerative colitis with acupuncture and moxibustion].

Objective: To clarify the key outcomes of acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Methods: The clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for ulcerative colitis treated with acupuncture and moxibustion were searched from CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, from the inception of each database to March 20th, 2023. The basic information of literature, intervention measures and outcome indexes were collected.

The industry demand oriented construction of intelligence medicine specialty in traditional Chinese medicine university: teachers' perspective.

Background: The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between teaching competence, career development, industrial orientation, and specialty construction in the case of intelligent medicine specialties in universities of traditional Chinese medicine, as well as the influencing factors of specialty construction.

Methods: Two-stage sampling with unequal probability was conducted to distribute self-administered questionnaires in the fieldwork. A structural equation model was built to investigate the influencing factors of specialty construction.