[Acupuncture based on "status-target coherence" theory combined with Kegel exercises for vaginal laxity syndrome: a randomized controlled trial].

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture based on "status-target coherence" theory combined with Kegel exercises for vaginal laxity syndrome (VLS).

Methods: Sixty-six patients with VLS were randomized into an observation group (33 cases, 2 cases dropped out, 1 case was discontinued) and a control group (33 cases, 5 cases dropped out). The observation group was treated with acupuncture combined with Kegel exercises, acupuncture was applied to bilateral Ciliao (BL32), Zhongliao (BL33), Sanyinjiao (SP6), etc.

Evaluation of Auricular Acupressure on Myopia Prevention among Children Aged 6-12 Years with Pre-Myopia in China: Study Protocol of a Prospective Multi-Center Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: The increasing prevalence of myopia among Chinese children and adolescents, especially at younger ages, has emerged as a significant concern in recent years. Pre-myopia is a key period for myopia prevention and control in children and adolescents. Previous studies suggested auricular acupressure (AA) therapy might offer a viable approach to prevent and slow down myopia progression.

Yu-Xue-Bi capsule ameliorates aggressive synovitis and joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis via modulating the SUCNR1/HIF-1α/TRPV1 axis.

Background: Specific treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is still an unmet need. Yu-Xue-Bi (YXB) capsule effectively treats RA with blood stasis syndrome (BS). However, its mechanism remains unclear.

Development and validation of a nomogram to predict survival in septic patients with heart failure in the intensive care unit.

Heart failure is a common complication in patients with sepsis, and individuals who experience both sepsis and heart failure are at a heightened risk for adverse outcomes. This study aims to develop an effective nomogram model to predict the 7-day, 15-day, and 30-day survival probabilities of septic patients with heart failure in the intensive care unit (ICU). This study extracted the pertinent clinical data of septic patients with heart failure from the Critical Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC-IV) database.

PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors related adverse events: A bibliometric analysis from 2014 to 2024.

Programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors are considered effective alternatives for the primary treatment of recurrent metastatic cancers. However, they can induce various adverse events affecting multiple organ systems, potentially diminishing patients' quality of life, and even leading to treatment interruptions. Adverse events related to PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors differ from those associated with CTLA-4 inhibitors and are more commonly observed in the treatment of solid tumors.

TangBi Formula for Painful Diabetic Distal Symmetric Polyneuropathy: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled and Parallel-Group Trial.

Objective: To determine whether the use of herbal medicines combined with conventional treatment is more effective than conventional medication alone in improving clinical symptoms in patients with diabetic distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSPN).

Methods: This multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial recruited patients from 6 clinical centers in mainland China. A total of 188 patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the treatment group (Tangbi Formula plus methylcobalamin) and the control group (placebo plus methylcobalamin).

Targeting ion homeostasis in metabolic diseases: Molecular mechanisms and targeted therapies.

The incidence of metabolic diseases-hypertension, diabetes, obesity, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and atherosclerosis-is increasing annually, imposing a significant burden on both human health and the social economy. The occurrence and development of these diseases are closely related to the disruption of ion homeostasis, which is crucial for maintaining cellular functions and metabolic equilibrium. However, the specific mechanism of ion homeostasis in metabolic diseases is still unclear.

The Predictive Value of TyG Index and NLR for Risk of CHD and the Severity of Coronary Artery Lesions in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: There is a paucity of research examining the Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in relation to the onset and severity of coronary heart disease (CHD) in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aims to explore the relationship between these biomarkers and the risk of CHD in T2DM patients and clarify their association with the CHD severity.

Methods: A total of 518 patients with T2DM who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) were included and categorized into either the T2DM group or the T2DM combined with CHD group based on the angiographic findings.

Exploiting Mitochondria by Triggering a Faulty Unfolded Protein Response Leads to Effective Cardioprotection.

This study investigates the role of Fundc1 in cardiac protection under high-altitude hypoxic conditions and elucidates its underlying molecular mechanisms. Using cardiomyocyte-specific knockout ( ) mice, we demonstrated that deficiency exacerbates cardiac dysfunction under simulated high-altitude hypoxia, manifesting as impaired systolic and diastolic function. Mechanistically, we identified that Fundc1 regulates cardiac function through the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (mito-UPR) pathway.

Intra-Articular Platelet-Rich Plasma versus Hyaluronic Acid in the Treatment of Hip Osteoarthritis: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Overlapping Systematic Reviews.

Purpose: The debate over the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) versus hyaluronic acid (HA) in treating hip osteoarthritis (HOA) continues. This cross-sectional analysis of overlapping systematic reviews aims to evaluate the efficacy of intra-articular PRP compared to HA for HOA treatment. The goal is to guide decision-makers in selecting the most reliable systematic reviews and to provide treatment recommendations based on the best available evidence.

Effects of metabolism upon immunity: Targeting myeloid-derived suppressor cells for the treatment of breast cancer is a promising area of study.

Breast cancer (BC) ranks among the most prevalent malignancies affecting women, with advanced-stage patients facing an increased mortality risk. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) contribute significantly to poor prognostic outcomes. Research has concentrated predominantly on the immunological mechanisms underlying MDSC functions, but a comprehensive investigation into the metabolic interactions between BC cells and MDSCs is lacking.

Annao Pingchong decoction attenuates oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis following intracerebral hemorrhage via RAGE-NOX2/4 axis.

Background: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a severe condition associated with high mortality and disability rates. Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the development of secondary brain injury (SBI) following ICH. Previous research has demonstrated that Annao Pingchong decoction (ANPCD) treatment for ICH has antioxidant effects, but the exact mechanism is not yet fully understood.

Research progress and treatment status of malignant ascites.

Malignant ascites (MA), a common and serious complication of various cancers in the abdominal cavity, originates from the extensive infiltration, metastasis, and growth of cancer cells in or on the abdominal cavity, leading to abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity and the formation of MA. MA seriously reduces the quality of life of cancer patients, shortens their survival period, and generally has a poor prognosis. Modern medicine has developed various strategies for the treatment of MA, including targeted supportive treatment, diuretic treatment, abdominal paracentesis, surgical intervention, and intraperitoneal administration therapy.

Sarcopenic obesity is significantly associated with poorer overall survival after liver transplantation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Sarcopenia has been shown to worsen survival after liver transplantation. However, it remains unclear whether coexisting sarcopenia and obesity, so-called sarcopenic obesity (SO), may also synergistically increase their adverse effects. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate whether pre-transplant SO independently predicts survival in this population.

Bioinformatics identification based on causal association inference using multi-omics reveals the underlying mechanism of Gui-Zhi-Shao-Yao-Zhi-Mu decoction in modulating rheumatoid arthritis.

Object: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a prevalent and currently incurable autoimmune disease. Existing conventional medical treatments are limited in their efficacy, prolonged disease may lead to bone destruction, joint deformity, and loss of related functions, which places a huge burden on RA patients and their families. For millennia, the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), exemplified by the Gui-Zhi-Shao-Yao-Zhi-Mu decoction (GZSYZM), has been demonstrated to offer distinct therapeutic advantages in the management of RA.

Bibliometrics of trends in global research on the roles of stem cells in myocardial fibrosis therapy.

Background: Myocardial fibrosis, a condition linked to several cardiovascular diseases, is associated with a poor prognosis. Stem cell therapy has emerged as a potential treatment option and the application of stem cell therapy has been studied extensively. However, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of these studies has yet to be conducted.

The relationship between inflammatory factors and heart failure: evidence based on bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis.

Objective: Inflammatory factors play a crucial role in the onset and progression of heart failure. To further explore the causal relationship between inflammatory factors and heart failure, we employed bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate the causal links between 91 inflammatory cytokines and heart failure.

Methods: We conducted our study using the bidirectional Mendelian randomization approach.

Inflammation and nutritional status in relation to mortality risk from cardio-cerebrovascular events: evidence from NHANES.

Objective: Inflammation and nutritional status are closely associated with the mortality risk of survivors of cardio-cerebrovascular events. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between inflammation and nutritional indices and mortality among, identifying the most predictive indices.

Methods: This study included cohort data of the survivors of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in 1999-2010.

The potential of cellular homing behavior in tumor immunotherapy: from basic discoveries to clinical applications of immune, mesenchymal stem, and cancer cell homing.

The efficacy of immunotherapy, a pivotal approach in the arsenal of cancer treatment strategies, is contingent on the capacity of effector cells to localize at the tumor site. The navigational capacity of these cells is intricately linked to the homing behaviors of specific cell types. Recent studies have focused on leveraging immune cells and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) homing for targeted tumor therapy and incorporating cancer cell homing properties into anti-tumor strategies.

Potential of natural drug modulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress in the treatment of myocardial injury.

Myocardial injury (MI) is a common occurrence in clinical practice caused by various factors such as ischemia, hypoxia, infection, metabolic abnormalities, and inflammation. Such damages are characterized by a reduction in myocardial function and cardiomyocyte death that can result in dangerous outcomes such as cardiac failure and arrhythmias. An endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-induced unfolded protein response (UPR) is triggered by several stressors, and its intricate signaling networks are instrumental in both cell survival and death.