Yalin Xi

The potential protective effects of Curcuma Radix on diabetic retinopathy were investigated through network pharmacology, molecular docking, and cellular experiments. Network pharmacology results identified four primary active ingredients and twenty key target molecules; Protein-protein interaction network analysis revealed that the core targets regulated by Curcuma Radix in DR include AKT2, RAF1, IL6, IRS1 and IGF1R. KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that Curcuma Radix may improve DR through the HIF-1 signaling pathway, FOXO signaling pathway, and VEGF signaling pathway. Molecular docking results indicated that curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin, and naringenin exhibited favorable docking activities with the core targets AKT2, RAF1, MAPK14, IL6, IRS1 and IGF1R.The ARPE-19 cell experiment results indicated that the four active ingredients could enhance cell viability and mitigate oxidative damage. They exhibited significant gene expression regulation effects on AKT2, RAF1, MAPK14, IL6, IRS1 and IGF1R, which were consistent with the molecular docking outcomes.Through the HUVEC endothelial cell model, the protective effects of the two compounds on the cellular barrier were validated. Demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin demonstrated protective effects on endothelial cells by modulating ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 to improve barrier damage.This study preliminarily revealed, through network pharmacology and experimental validation that four active components in Curcuma Radix modulated high-glucose-induced ARPE-19 cell models by regulating the gene expression of AKT2, RAF1, MAPK14, IL6, IRS1 and IGF1R. Two of these components also mitigated thrombin-induced endothelial cell barrier damage in the HUVEC cell model by regulating VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression, thereby providing protection against DR. This study provides a theoretical foundation for investigating the pharmacological basis and mechanisms underlying these effects.

Foscarbidopa/foslevodopa, a 24-hour subcutaneous infusion of levodopa/carbidopa prodrugs, is approved for advanced Parkinson disease with motor fluctuations. Due to limited post-marketing data, the association between this novel formulation and related adverse events (AEs), particularly infusion-related or neurological complications, remains underexplored. This study aims to identify potential safety signals of foscarbidopa/foslevodopa-associated AEs using data mining of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). To quantify safety risk signals of foscarbidopa/foslevodopa, disproportionality analyzes were conducted using the reporting odds ratio and Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Network methods, based on FAERS data from the last quarter of 2024 (2024Q4) to the second quarter of 2025 (2025Q2). Signal thresholds were strictly defined, and sensitivity analyses were performed to verify the robustness of results; subgroup analyses were conducted to explore sex differences and severity-related characteristics of AEs. The FAERS recorded 7527 foscarbidopa/foslevodopa-related AEs affecting 1914 patients. A total of 1616 patients experienced serious AEs, including 265 deaths. The most frequently reported AEs were on and off phenomenon (n = 223), fall (n = 195), hallucination (n = 156), and dyskinesia (n = 132). Potential safety signals were detected, such as on and off phenomenon, hallucination, and infusion site infection. Notably, FAERS data are subject to spontaneous reporting bias, missing information, and lack of denominator exposure data, so the above results only reflect statistical associations rather than definite causal relationships. FAERS data identify potential clinically significant associative AEs with foscarbidopa/foslevodopa, such as infusion site reactions and infections and hallucination. These findings support the need for enhanced monitoring of high-risk patients (e.g., mental and behavioral disorders, skin disorders) and reinforce the importance of real-world surveillance for novel Parkinson disease therapies. All findings are hypothesis-generating and require further clinical validation to confirm causal relationships.

Objective: To evaluate the global burden of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) among women of reproductive age from 1990 to 2021. Methods: This study analyzed population-based data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database on the incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of PCOS in reproductive-aged women. Age-standardized rates for incidence (ASIR), prevalence (ASPR), and DALYs (ASDR) were calculated per 100,000 population, with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). Data from 204 countries and territories were stratified by age, location, and socio-demographic index (SDI). Results: Globally, the burden of PCOS among reproductive-aged women in 2021 was characterized by ASIR of 64.44 (95% UI: 39.07, 103.40) per 100,000 population, ASPR of 3364.53 (95% UI: 2395.08, 4681.81) per 100,000 population, and ASDR of 29.51 (95% UI: 13.09, 61.49) per 100,000 population. Moreover, the pace of increase in ASIR, ASPR, and ASDR accelerated during 1990–2021, with estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) of 0.65 (95% CI: 0.62, 0.69), 0.74 (95% CI: 0.70, 0.77), and 0.72 (95% CI: 0.68, 0.76), respectively. Among the five SDI regions, the middle SDI region exhibited the highest EAPCs for incidence (1.39; 95% CI: 1.34, 1.43), prevalence (1.39; 95% CI: 1.34, 1.43), and DALYs (1.73; 95% CI: 1.69, 1.78). Regionally, the High-income Asia Pacific region demonstrated the highest ASIR of 308.16 (95% UI: 485.83, 171.53) per 100,000 population. At the national level, Japan exhibited the highest ASIR of 360.92 (95% UI: 199.08, 573.59) per 100,000 population. Conclusion: The global burden of PCOS among women of reproductive age has shown a consistent upward trend in incidence, prevalence, and DALYs. A comprehensive understanding of the epidemiology of PCOS among women of reproductive age is essential for informing targeted prevention strategies and optimizing disease control measures.

Background: Pneumococcal vaccines have been utilized in the United States for decades with extensive clinical safety records. However, comprehensive post-marketing pharmacovigilance evaluations for all available types remain lacking. This study aimed to assess adverse events following immunization (AEFI) using the VAERS database and analyze potential associations between adverse events (AEs) and vaccine administration based on VAERS data.Methods: We retrieved all AEs associated with pneumococcal vaccines recorded in the VAERS database from 1990 through March 2025. Descriptive analyses were conducted to summarize the demographics, clinical characteristics, and vaccination profiles of reported cases. Disproportionality analysis was performed to detect potential safety signals between AEs and vaccine administration.Results: The VAERS database documented 157,244 individuals receiving pneumococcal vaccines, with 158,778 doses administered, capturing 632,481 AE reports following vaccination during the study period. Females showed higher AE reporting rates (54.29%) compared to males (36.88%), with the majority of cases (38.20%) occurring in individuals aged < 18 years. Complete recovery (44.20%) and hospitalization (14.94%) were the most common outcomes. Most AEs (77.11%) occurred within 0–30 days post-vaccination (median onset: 0 day). Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV, 48.92%) and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13, 27.57%) constituted the predominant vaccine types. Disproportionality analysis identified 929 positive AE signals across 24 system organ classes (SOCs), with injection site erythema [reporting odds ratio (ROR) = 4.24], injection site swelling (ROR = 4.19), and injection site pain (ROR = 2.75) being the most frequent. Designated Medical Event (DME) screening revealed erythema multiforme (n = 398) and product contamination microbial (ROR = 11.25) as key safety signals. General disorders (ROR = 1.73) and skin conditions (ROR = 1.69) were the predominant SOC categories.Conclusions: This post-marketing surveillance has revealed predominantly non-serious AEs, with most adverse events clustered within 30 days post-vaccination. These observations reinforce the established safety profile of pneumococcal vaccines while emphasizing temporal risk patterns to guide post-vaccination monitoring protocols and risk-benefit evaluations.

Background: Current sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) epidemiological patterns and COVID-19 impacts remain uncertain. We therefore conducted this global, regional, and national epidemiological study using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2021.Methods: This study analyzed GBD-based population data on SIDS disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Age-standardized DALY rates (ASDR; per 100,000 population) with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) were calculated for 204 countries and territories, stratified by age, location, and socio-demographic index (SDI).Results: In 2021, the ASDR of SIDS accounted for 44.16 (95% UI: 25.70–59.26) per 100,000 population globally, which was a 58.97% decrease from 1990. The low and low-middle SDI quintiles exhibited a disproportionately higher disease burden of SIDS among the five SDI quintiles in 2021. Higher sociodemographic status showed an inverse association with SIDS burden, with high-SDI countries demonstrating a greater reduction compared to low-SDI counterparts from 1990 to 2021 based on age-period-cohort analysis. Although the global burden of SIDS had maintained a sustained downward trend prior to the pandemic, COVID-19 disruptions may have attenuated mitigation progress, with trend analysis suggesting a possible plateau in SIDS burden during this period rather than continued decline. Study findings indicate that although the global incidence of SIDS has shown a steady decline, persistent regional disparities underscore long-standing public health challenges.Conclusion: The burden of SIDS-related DALYs remains substantial, and its post-pandemic evolution trends necessitate dynamic tracking through robust epidemiological surveillance systems.