Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease is the largest liver disease around the world and is a serious public health hazard， but there has always been a lack of drugs approved for treatment. On March 14， 2024， Resmetirom became the first drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis （MASH）. This article summarizes the mechanism of action of Resmetirom in the treatment of MASH， related clinical trial designs， and some research results and analyzes shortcomings and future prospects. Current data have shown that Resmetirom is effective in improving steatohepatitis and liver fibrosis， but there is still a large gap between Resmetirom and the ideal drug for the treatment of MASH， and it is expected to develop more effective drugs for MASH.

Toxoplasma gondii is a single-celled parasite that infects nearly all warm-blooded animals, including humans (Montoya and Liesenfeld, 2004). It occurs worldwide and can persist for a lifetime in mammals. Humans get infected by eating undercooked meat of animals containing the tissue cysts of this parasite. In immune-competent individuals, T. gondii infection usually does not cause significant clinical symptoms, whereas in pregnant or immunocompromised individuals, T. gondii infection (toxoplasmosis) can cause more serious problems like abortion and even death (Dunn et al., 1999; Wang et al., 2017). A combination of pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine is usually used to treat toxoplasmosis, although it is generally inefficient and causes side effects (Alday and Doggett, 2017). Worse still, there is a lack of vaccines to prevent T. gondii infection in humans or animals.
Toxoplasma/enzymology* ; Animals ; Humans ; Toxoplasmosis ; Mitochondria/enzymology* ; Protozoan Proteins/metabolism*

Abstract: Objective To compare the diagnostic efficacy of the upgraded version of the GeneXpert automated fluorescent quantitative PCR system (GeneXpert MTB/RIF Ultra, GeneXpert Ultra) and the original version of the GeneXpert system (GeneXpert MTB/RIF, Xpert), real-time fluorescent quantitative nucleic acid detection (FQ-PCR), real-time fluorescent thermostatic amplification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis RNA (SAT-RNA), real-time fluorescent thermostatic amplification detection of DNA (thermostatic amplification method) and traditional BACTEC MGIT 960 liquid culture (culture method) for special specimens of tuberculosis, in order to analyze its application value in clinical detection. Methods Using prospective research methods, a total of 170 special specimens (including 47 pleural and ascites effusion samples, and 34 24-hour urinary sediment specimens, 49 tissue specimens and 40 fester specimens) were collected i'an Chest Hospital from January to September 2021. GeneXpert Ultra, Xpert, FQ-PCR, SAT-RNA, isothermal amplification, and traditional culture were used for detection. Clinical diagnosis was used as the standard, and sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, coincidence rate, and Kappa value were compared among the methods. Results The sensitivities of GeneXpert Ultra, Xpert, FQ-PCR, SAT-RNA, isothermal amplification, and traditional culture were 65.18% (73/112), 49.11% (55/112), 37.50% (42/112), 19.64% (22/112), 8.04% (9/112), and 22.32% (25/112), respectively. The sensitivity of GeneXpert Ultra was higher than that of the other five methods, and the differences were statistically significant (χ2=66.25, 42.10, 28.89, 13.09, 4.92, 15.18, all P<0.05). GeneXpert Ultra result analysis showed that: 5.48%(4/73) cases had trace, that is, trace Mycobacterium tuberculosis load, 79.45% (58/73) cases were extremely low, 10.96% (8/73) cases were low, 2.74% (2/73) were medium, , and 1.36% (1/73) were high load. In 4 trace samples, the Xpert detection was negative for all. Of the 73 GeneXpert Ultra positive reports, 63 were rifampicin-sensitive, 6 were rifampicin-resistant, and 4 were rifampicin-resistant but of unclear resistance. Of the 55 Xpert positive reports, 45 were rifampicin-sensitive, 2 were rifampicin-resistant, and 8 were rifampicinresistant but of unclear resistance.. Conclusions The new generation of GeneXpert MTB/RIF Ultra has high sensitivity, specificity and drug resistance detection rate, and its advantage is even more apparent in the pathogenic diagnosis of special specimens of tuberculosis. It can be used as one of the preferred methods in samples with low bacterial load.

Objective:To characterize the histopathological subtypes and their clinicopathological parameters of gender and onset age by common, rare and sparse primary esophageal malignant tumors (PEMT).Methods:A total of 272 437 patients with PEMT were enrolled in this study, and all of the patients were received radical surgery. The clinicopathological information of the patients was obtained from the database established by the State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment from September 1973 to December 2020, which included the clinical treatment, pathological diagnosis and follow-up information of esophagus and gastric cardia cancers. All patients were diagnosed and classified by the criteria of esophageal tumor histopathological diagnosis and classification (2019) of the World Health Organization (WHO). The esophageal tumors, which were not included in the WHO classification, were analyzed separately according to the postoperative pathological diagnosis. The χ 2 test was performed by the SPSS 25.0 software on count data, and the test standard α=0.05. Results:A total of 32 histopathological types were identified in the enrolled PEMT patients, of which 10 subtypes were not included in the WHO classification. According to the frequency, PEMT were divided into common (esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, ESCC, accounting for 97.1%), rare (esophageal adenocarcinoma, EAC, accounting for 2.3%) and sparse (mainly esophageal small cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, etc., accounting for 0.6%). All the common, rare, and sparse types occurred predominantly in male patients, and the gender difference of rare type was most significant (EAC, male∶ female, 2.67∶1), followed with common type (ESCC, male∶ female, 1.78∶1) and sparse type (male∶ female, 1.71∶1). The common type (ESCC) mainly occurred in the middle thoracic segment (65.2%), while the rare type (EAC) mainly occurred in the lower thoracic segment (56.8%). Among the sparse type, malignant melanoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma were both predominantly located in the lower thoracic segment (51.7%, 66.7%), and the others were mainly in the middle thoracic segment.Conclusion:ESCC is the most common type among the 32 histopathological types of PEMT, followed by EAC as the rare type, and esophageal small cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma as the major sparse type, and all of which are mainly occur in male patients. The common type of ESCC mainly occur in the middle thoracic segment, while the rare type of EAC mainly in the lower thoracic segment. The mainly sparse type of malignant melanoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma predominately occur in the lower thoracic segment, and the remaining sparse types mainly occur in the middle thoracic segment.

Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment on motor function, cerebral blood flow, cerebral infarction volume, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model rats. Methods: Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, and an EA group, with eight rats in each group. The middle cerebral artery ischemia-reperfusion model was established by the suture-occluded method in the model group and the EA group, while not in the normal group. The EA group was pretreated with EA at bilateral Fengchi (GB20) before model preparation, once a day for 30 min each time for a total of 7 d. The changes in the CatWalk gait parameters, modified Bederson neurological deficit score, cerebral blood flow, cerebral infarction volume after ischemia, and VEGF level in the brain tissue of rats in each group were observed. Results: Compared with the normal group, the modified Bederson neurological deficit score in the model group and the EA group increased after modeling (P<0.05), and the CatWalk gait parameters (one-leg stance duration, gait cadence, and gait cycle) were all changed (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the modified Bederson neurological deficit score in the EA group decreased (P<0.05), and the CatWalk gait parameters improved (P<0.05). Immediately after ischemia, the cerebral blood flow in the normal group was greater than that in the model group and the EA group (P<0.05); after reperfusion, the cerebral blood flow in the EA group was greater than that in the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, the cerebral infarction volume in the model group and the EA group increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the cerebral infarction volume in the EA group decreased (P<0.05). The expression level of VEGF-positive cells in the rat brain tissue in the model group was higher than that in the normal group (P<0.05), and was higher in the EA group than in the model group (P<0.05). Conclusion: EA pretreatment improves the limb motor function in MCAO model rats, alleviates the symptoms of neurological deficits, promotes the recovery of cerebral blood flow, reduces the cerebral infarction area after MCAO modeling, and increases the VEGF expression in the brain tissue.

Objective:To explore the metabolic outcomes of type 2 diabetes patients with different durations after 1 year treatment under the standardized metabolic disease management model.Methods:(1)From September 2017 to September 2018, 345 type 2 diabetes patients in the Standardized Metabolic Management Center(MMC) of Shanghai General Hospital were recruited and included in this research. They were divided into newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes(duration≤1 year) and long-term groups(duration>1 year). The general characteristics, blood pressures, glycemic levels, lipids levels, control rates and comprehensive compliance rates(blood glucose, pressure and lipids all reached targets) were compared at baseline between 2 groups.(2)All patients underwent one year standardized management, and metabolic indicators mentioned above and control rates at the time were compared as well.Results:(1) At baseline, compared with long-term group, patients in newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes group were younger ( P<0.01), and 2 h blood glucose level after glucose loading were higher [(15.20±5.26 vs 13.68±4.94) mmol/L, P<0.01]. (2) After one year standardized management, body weight, blood pressure, glucose and lipids metabolism in all patients were significantly improved. Compared with patients in long-term group, newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients achieved better glycemic level [fasting blood glucose(6.27±1.56 vs 7.63±2.08) mmol/L, P<0.01; glycated hemoglobin(6.33±0.96 vs 7.23±1.37) %, P<0.01] , and had higher HOMA-β [(74.01±56.45 vs 40.17±37.07) %, P<0.01]. The glycemic control, blood pressure and blood lipids control rates in both groups increased significantly in one year. Comprehensive compliance rate of the whole patients increased from 5.80% to 24.06%. The metabolism indexes of the newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes group were better than those of the long-term group[comprehensive compliance rate: (24.73% vs 17.18%, P=0.087, glycemic control rate(84.62% vs 53.37%, P<0.01)]. Conclusion:Standardized metabolic disease management promoted the overall improvement in blood glucose, blood pressure, and lipids levels in type 2 diabetes patients, especially in terms of blood glucose and those of the newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes. In the future, we should focus on the early diagnosis and treatment of type 2 diabetes, actively promote the MMC model and stress the integrated management of blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood lipid levels. We should pay more attention to the long-term patients, to improve their awareness and treatment compliance.

Objective: To explore the glycemic control of newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes with different levels of baseline body mass index (BMI) after 6 months treatment under the standardized metabolic disease management model. Methods: (1) 163 patients of newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes were divided into normal weight (BMI 18.5-23.9 kg/m²), overweight (BMI 24.0-27.9 kg/m²), and obese (BMI≥28 kg/m²) groups according to baseline BMI, the blood glucose and lipids levels were compared among 3 groups. (2) The blood glucose levels were compared among 3 groups after 6 months of standardized management. (3) The overweight and obese patients were divided into group weight loss≥5% and group weight loss<5% or weight gain in 6 months. The blood glucose levels were compared. Results: (1) At baseline, overweight and obese groups had higher homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance and lower high density lipoprotein-cholesterol compared with normal weight group. (2) After 6 months of treatment, HbA_1C and HbA_1C reduction showed no difference among 3 groups (normal, overweight and obese) after adjusted by baseline HbA_1C. The rate of HbA_1C<7% among 3 groups were 77.78%, 83.95%, and 80.43% (P>0.05). (3) After 6 months of treatment, 32.28% overweight and obese patients lost weight by ≥ 5%, while HbA_1Cand HbA_1Creduction showed no difference between 2 groups (weight loss≥5% and weight gain or weight loss<5%) after adjusted by baseline HbA_1C. Both groups achieved good glycemic control [(6.27±1.38 vs 6.43±0.66)%], but have no significantly(P>0.05). Group weight loss≥5% had better glucose control (92.68% vs 77.91%, P<0.05). Conclusions As BMI increased, insulin resistance and lipid disorders were more serious in newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes. After 6 months of standardized metabolic management, newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes with different baseline BMI and weight changes both achieved good glycemic control. In addition, patients losing weight equal to or more than 5% achieved higher attainment of HbA_1C targets.

Objective To explore the effects of Living with Hope Program(LWHP) on family caregivers of patients with advanced lung cancer.Methods Totally 60 family caregivers of patients with advanced lung cancer were randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group.The experimental group received LWHP intervention and routine care knowledge education,the control group only received routine care knowledge education.Hope,self-efficacy,anxiety and depression,and quality of life were evaluated at the first week,the second week,the first month,and the third month.Differences between two groups were compared using variance analysis of repeated measurements.Results The self-evaluation of the intervention was 76.6％,and the main effects of hope level,selfefficacy,anxiety and depression,and mental health were statistically significant (P＜0.05);the time effect on hope level and self-efficacy were statistically significant (P＜0.05);there were interaction effects between intervention and time on hope level,self-efficacy,anxiety and depression,and mental health (P＜0.05).Conclusion LWHP can effectively improve hope level,self-efficacy and mental health status,and alleviate anxiety and depression of family caregivers of patients with advanced lung cancer.

Objective To investigate the changes of serum adiponectin (APN) levels in patients with essential hypertension (EH) and the correlation with carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT).Methods Sixty patients with EH(EH group) and 30 healthy people (control group) were studied,the EH patients were divided into 3 subgroups with 20 cases each according to the standard of China guideline for hypertension prevention and control (2005).The serum APN level was detected by double antibody sandwich ABC enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,the blood lipids levels [total cholesterol (TC),triglyeride (TG),low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and highdensity lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C)]were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer,and the carotid artery IMT was detected by color Doppler ultrasonography.Results The serum APN levels and carotid artery IMT in EH group and 1,2,3 subgroup were significant differences compared with those in control group [(3.94 ± 1.28),(5.25 ± 1.69),(4.01 ±1.27),(2.56 ± 0.87) mg/L vs.(7.63 ± 2.50) mg/L; (1.30 ± 0.42),(0.94 ± 0.30),(1.32 ± 0.44),(1.65 ±0.51)mm vs.(0.69 ± 0.22) mm,P ＜ 0.05].The comparison between two subgroups,along with elevated blood pressure levels,APN levels gradually decreased,and carotid artery IMT gradually increased (P ＜0.05).The serum TC,TG,LDL-C and HDL-C levels in EH group and 1,2,3 subgroup were significant differences compared with those in control group [TC:(6.53 ± 2.09),(5.14 ± 1.66),(6.59 ± 2.20),(7.86 ±2.42) mmol/L vs.(4.17 ± 1.32) mmool/L;TG:(2.15 ± 0.69),(1.72 ± 0.55),(2.07 ± 0.69),(2.65 ± 0.82)mmol/L vs.(1.38 ±0.44) mmol/L;LDL-C:(3.78 ± 1.21),(3.12 ± 1.01),(3.74 ± 1.25),(4.48 ± 1.38)mmol/L vs.(2.46 ±0.78) mmol/L;HDL-C:(0.96 ±0.31),(1.39 ±0.45),(0.85 ±0.28),(0.64 ±0.20)mmol/L vs.(1.69 ± 0.54) mmol/L,P ＜ 0.05].The comparison between two subgroups,along with elevated blood pressure levels,TC,TG and LDL-C levels gradually increased,and HDL-C gradually decreased (P ＜0.05).There was negative correlation between the serum APN level and carotid artery IMT (r =-0.435,P＜0.01),and there was correlation between the serum APN level and blood lipids levels (TC,TG,LDL-C and HDL-C) (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions The APN plays an important role in the occurrence and development of EH,it is closely related to the carotid artery IMT thickening and lipid metabolism disorders.Increasing the lipid-lowering drugs may improve the efficacy of antihypertensive therapy in patients with resistant EH.

Objective To explore the association of C20orf54 gene rs3746804 position single nucleotide polymorphism and susceptibility to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).Methods Purification of genomic DNA from whole blood was used the Maxwell(R) 16 System.rs3746804 in C20ort54 was detected by direct sequencing in 434 ESCC patients from Changzhi (Shanxi province) and Linzhou (Henan province) and 554 healthy controls from Changzhi,Linzhou and including immigrators from Linzhou to Changzhi.Results For rs3746804,the genotypic frequencies of CT(37.5％ vs 51.0％,37.5％ vs 52.0％),CC (44.2％ vs 34.8％,44.2％ vs 33.0％) in Changzhi ESCC patients showed significant differences with healthy Changzhi controls and the healthy immigrator controls (all P ＜ 0.05),and the frequencies of TT(18.3％ vs 4.1％) and CC (44.2％ vs 54.6％) in Changzhi ESCC patients showed significant differences with Linzhou ESCC patients (all P ＜0.05).The genotypic frequencies of TT (4.1％ vs 15.0％),CT (41.2％ vs 52.0％) and CC(54.6％ vs 33.0％) showed significant differences between Linzhou ESCC patients and the healthy immigrator controls (all P ＜ 0.05),and the frequencies of TT (4.1％ vs 14.1％) and CC (54.6％ vs 34.8％) showed significant differences between Linzhou ESCC patients and Changzhi healthy controls (all P ＜ 0.01).Meanwhile,there were significant differences between ESCC patients (including Changzhi and Linzhou ESCC patients) and healthy controls (including the healthy Changzhi,Linzhou and immigrator controls) in genotypic frequencies of CT(39.2％ vs 48.7％) and CC (48.8％ vs 38.2％) (all P ＜ 0.01).CT and CT + TT genotype could decrease the risk of ESCC compared with the CC genotype (OR =0.630,95％ CI0.481-0.826 ; OR =0.654,95％ CI 0.507-0.844).Conclusion There is a closed relationship between SNP rs3746804 in C20orf54 and susceptibility to ESCC.