Medicine
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In traditional medicine (TM), blood stasis syndrome (BSS) is characterized by insufficient blood flow, resulting in a group of symptoms such as fixed pain, a dark complexion, bleeding, and an astringent pulse. While BSS pathology has been previously explored, its molecular mechanisms remain elusive owing to challenges in linking TM symptoms to genes. Our study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying BSS using a phenotype-genotype association approach. ⋯ Enrichment analysis indicated the involvement of BSS genes in the immune system (P-value = 4.49e-14) and hemostasis (P-value = 1.28e-07) pathways. BSS symptoms were linked to genes regulating blood coagulation, immune responses, blood flow, and inflammatory reactions. This approach may be extended to establish genotype networks for understanding TM pattern identifications, which are composed of diverse groups of symptoms, for personalized diagnosis and treatment.
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Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a group of life-threatening autoimmune small vessel vasculitis and the prognosis depends heavily on whether a prompt diagnosis is achieved. Autoimmune thyroiditis is the most common autoimmune endocrine disease and could overlap with other autoimmune diseases. It remains elusive whether autoimmune thyroiditis affects the risk of AAV development. ⋯ Mendelian randomization-Egger and the weighted median method were used to confirm the results. We found a causal association between Hashimoto thyroiditis and MPA while no causal effect of Grave disease on MPA. This study contributed a genetic viewpoint to the understanding of the link between autoimmune thyroiditis and AAV.
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Duodenal ulcer (DU) represents a clinical manifestation and disease state that occurs when the mucosal surface of the duodenum is damaged. The processes of autophagy and apoptosis have been linked to the development of DU, yet the precise roles they play remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the expression and mechanism of action of microRNAs (miRNA)-137 (miR-137) in DU. ⋯ miR-137 is upregulated in DU patients and contributes to ulcer progression by inhibiting BNIP3L, reducing autophagy, and promoting apoptosis. Targeting miR-137 could provide a novel therapeutic strategy for DU management.
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Previous observational studies have suggested that higher levels of education attainment and intelligence (IQ) are associated with better health outcomes in humans. However, the causal link between education attainment and IQ and their association with health outcomes remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the distinct impacts of intelligence and educational attainment on gastrointestinal symptoms. ⋯ Our study revealed causal relationships between gastrointestinal disorders and educational attainment. Educational attainment may mediate between intelligence and the impacts on the gastrointestinal system. However, further research is required to understand the underlying pathogenic processes completely.
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Observational Study
Construction and validation of a prediction model for acute ischemic stroke patients with concomitant deep vein thrombosis.
The aim was to investigate the independent risk factors for complications of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), and to establish a nomogram prediction model accordingly. The data of AIS patients in our hospital were collected from January 2021 to December 2023, and single-factor and multifactorial logistic regression analyses were used to determine the independent risk factors for the complication of DVT in patients with AIS and to establish the corresponding nomogram. ⋯ After univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, a total of 5 variables were identified as independent risk factors for the complication of DVT in patients with AIS: age > 70 years (OR, 1.551; 95% CI, 1.189-2.751), diabetes (OR, 2.543; 95% CI, 1.322-4.265), the national institutes of health stroke scale > 16 (OR, 3.124; 95% CI, 1.314-7.003), D-dimer > 0.5 mg/L (OR, 2.303; 95% CI, 1.250-3.645), and fibrinogen > 4 g/L (OR, 1.918; 95% CI, 1.532-6.369). The nomogram constructed in this study for AIS patients with concomitant DVT has good predictive accuracy and helps physicians to intervene in advance in patients at high risk of acute AIS patients with concomitant DVT.