ObjectiveTo introduce the three main techniques for tuberculosis screening currently used in China, to systematically evaluate their accuracy in diagnosing latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), so as to provide scientific basis and recommendations for the formulation of China’s tuberculosis screening strategy. MethodsLiterature on the diagnosis of tuberculosis by tuberculin skin test (TST), interferon-γ release assay (IGRA), and recombinant Mycobacterium tuberculosis fusion protein (EC) skin test from January 1, 2010 to August 22, 2024 was comprehensively retrieved from PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang Database through computerized search. Besides, all the literature was screened in accordance to the inclusion criteria for diagnostic tests, and characteristic information of the literature selected was extracted simultaneously. Meta-analysis was performed using Stata 17.0 software, with a random-effects model used for weighted quantitative synthesis of included literature, calculating pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). ResultsA total of 543 relevant articles were retrieved, with 105 ultimately included. Among them, 33 articles reported diagnostic data for TST, with a pooled sensitivity of 0.68 (95%CI: 0.62‒0.73), specificity of 0.67 (95%CI: 0.60‒0.73), positive likelihood ratio of 2.0 (95%CI: 1.7‒2.5), and negative likelihood ratio of 0.48 (95%CI: 0.40‒0.58). Ninety-four articles reported the diagnostic value of IGRAs test, with a pooled sensitivity of 0.88 (95%CI: 0.87‒0.89), specificity of 0.82 (95%CI: 0.79‒0.84), positive likelihood ratio of 4.8 (95%CI: 4.2‒5.6), and negative likelihood ratio of 0.15 (95%CI: 0.13‒0.17). Data on EC skin test was limited, but preliminary analysis showed that it had high sensitivity and specificity. ConclusionIGRA has a significant advantage in diagnosing LTBI, and EC skin test also shows good diagnostic performance, although relevant data is limited. TST remains suitable for large-scale screening due to its cost-effectiveness.

ObjectiveAt present, the most commonly used photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy are still chemical photosensitizers, such as porphyrin and methylene blue, in order to specifically target cellular tissues, and thus poison cells, chemical photosensitizers need to use antibody conjugation or a transgenically encoded tag with affinity for the modified photosensitizing ligand, e.g. FlAsH, ReAsh or Halo Tag. Gene-encoded photosensitizers can directly poison cells by targeting specific cell compartments or organelles. However, currently developed gene-encoded photosensitizers have low reactive oxygen species production and low cytotoxicity, so it is necessary to continue to develop and obtain photosensitizers with higher reactive oxygen species production for the treatment of microbial infections and tumors. MethodsIn this study, we developed a photosensitizer LovPSO2 based on the light-oxygen-voltage (LOV) structural domain of phototropin-1B-like from Oryza sativa japonica. LovPSO2 was expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) and purified to obtain protein samples, the purified protein samples were added 3 µmol/L singlet oxygen probe of SOSG and 5 µmol/L superoxide anion probe of DHE after fixed to A₄₄₅=0.063±0.003, respectively, then measured every 2 min of singlet oxygen production for 10 min and every 1 min of superoxide anion production for 5 min under blue light irradiation at 445 nm, 70 µmol·m^-2·s^-1. ResultsThe results showed that LovPSO2 could produce a large amount of singlet oxygen under blue light irradiation at 445 nm, 70 µmol·m^-2·s^-1, and its singlet oxygen quantum yield was 0.61, but its superoxide anion yield was low, so in order to improve the superoxide anion yield of LovPSO2, a mutant with a relatively high superoxide anion yield was obtained by further development and design on its basis LovPRO2. The stability of proteins is crucial for research in drug development and drug delivery, among others. Temperature and light are the key factors affecting the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by photosensitive proteins and their stability, while the temperature in cell culture and mammals in vivo is about 37°C, and the temperature inside tumor cells is about 42-45°C. Therefore, we further analyzed the photostability of miniSOG, SOPP3, LovPSO2, and LovPRO2 and their thermostability at 37℃ and 45℃. The analysis of proteins thermostability showed that LovPSO2 and LovPRO2 had better thermostability at 37℃ and 45℃, respectively. Analysis of the photostability of the proteins showed that LovPRO2 had better photostability. In addition, to further determine the phototoxic effects of photosensitizers, LovPSO2 and LovPRO2 were expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) and HeLa cells, respectively. The results showed that LovPSO2 and LovPRO2 had better phototoxicity to E. coli BL21(DE3) under blue light irradiation, and the cellular phototoxicity lethality was as high as 90% after 30 min of continuous light irradiation, but the phototoxicity was weaker in HeLa cells. The reason for this result may be that the intracellular environment exacerbated the photobleaching of FMN encapsulated by LovPSO2 and LovPRO2, respectively, which attenuated the damage of reactive oxygen species to animal cellular tissues, limiting its use as a mechanistic tool to study oxidative stress. ConclusionLovPSO2 and LovPRO2 can be used as antibacterial photosensitizers, which have broader application prospects in the food and medical fields.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the mediating role of sleep duration in the relationship between depression symptoms and myopia among middle school students. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional research conducted using a stratified cluster random sampling method. A total of 1 728 middle school students were selected from two junior high schools and two senior high schools in certain urban areas and farms of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Questionnaire surveys and vision tests were conducted among the students. Spearman analysis was used to analyze the correlation between depression symptoms, sleep duration, and myopia. The Bootstrap method was employed to investigate the mediating effect of sleep duration between depression symptoms and myopia. RESULTS: The prevalence of myopia in the overall population was 74.02% (1 279/1 728), with an average sleep duration of (7.6±1.0) hours. The rate of insufficient sleep was 83.62% (1 445/1 728), and the proportion of students exhibiting depression symptoms was 25.29% (437/1 728). Correlation analysis showed significant negative correlations between visual acuity in both eyes and sleep duration with depressive emotions as measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (with correlation coefficients of -0.064, -0.084, and -0.199 respectively; P<0.01), as well as with somatic symptoms and activities (with correlation coefficients of -0.104, -0.124, and -0.233 respectively; P<0.01) and interpersonal relationships (with correlation coefficients of -0.052, -0.059, and -0.071 respectively; P<0.05). The correlation coefficients for left and right eye visual acuity and sleep duration were 0.206 and 0.211 respectively (P<0.001). Sleep duration exhibited a mediating effect between depression symptoms and myopia (indirect effect=0.056, 95%CI: 0.029-0.088), with the mediating effect value for females (indirect effect=0.066, 95%CI: 0.024-0.119) being higher than that for males (indirect effect=0.042, 95%CI: 0.011-0.081). CONCLUSIONS Sleep duration serves as a partial mediator between depression symptoms and myopia in middle school students.
Humans ; Myopia/etiology* ; Male ; Female ; Depression/physiopathology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Sleep ; Adolescent ; Students ; Child ; Time Factors ; Sleep Duration

The ventral anterior (VA) nucleus of the thalamus is a major target of the basal ganglia and is closely associated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Notably, the VA receives direct innervation from the hypothalamic histaminergic system. However, its role in PD remains unknown. Here, we assessed the contribution of histamine to VA neuronal activity and PD motor deficits. Functional magnetic resonance imaging showed reduced VA activity in PD patients. Optogenetic activation of VA neurons or histaminergic afferents significantly alleviated motor deficits in 6-OHDA-induced PD rats. Furthermore, histamine excited VA neurons via H1 and H2 receptors and their coupled hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels, inward-rectifier K⁺ channels, or Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels. These results demonstrate that histaminergic afferents actively compensate for Parkinsonian motor deficits by biasing VA activity. These findings suggest that targeting VA histamine receptors and downstream ion channels may be a potential therapeutic strategy for PD motor dysfunction.
Animals ; Histamine/metabolism* ; Male ; Oxidopamine/toxicity* ; Rats ; Ventral Thalamic Nuclei/physiopathology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Disease Models, Animal ; Parkinson Disease/metabolism* ; Neurons/physiology* ; Humans ; Optogenetics

Instrument separation is a critical complication during root canal therapy, impacting treatment success and long-term tooth preservation. The etiology of instrument separation is multifactorial, involving the intricate anatomy of the root canal system, instrument-related factors, and instrumentation techniques. Instrument separation can hinder thorough cleaning, shaping, and obturation of the root canal, posing challenges to successful treatment outcomes. Although retrieval of separated instrument is often feasible, it carries risks including perforation, excessive removal of tooth structure and root fractures. Effective management of separated instruments requires a comprehensive understanding of the contributing factors, meticulous preoperative assessment, and precise evaluation of the retrieval difficulty. The application of appropriate retrieval techniques is essential to minimize complications and optimize clinical outcomes. The current manuscript provides a framework for understanding the causes, risk factors, and clinical management principles of instrument separation. By integrating effective strategies, endodontists can enhance decision-making, improve endodontic treatment success and ensure the preservation of natural dentition.
Humans ; Root Canal Therapy/adverse effects* ; Consensus ; Root Canal Preparation/adverse effects*

To investigate the existence of tick-borne pathogens infection of rodents at the border of China and the Demo-cratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK).PCR was used to detect the spotted fever group rickettsiae(SFGR)ompA gene,Ehrlichia chaffeensis(Ec)and Anaplasma phagocytophilum(Ap)16S rRNA,Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis(CNm)groEL gene,Bartonella(Ba)rpoB gene,and Francisella tularensis(Ft)fopA gene in rodents samples collected from Ji'an of Jilin province and Kuandian of Liaoning Province.The positivity rates of 132 wild rats spleen samples,SFGR,Ec,Ap,CNm,Ba,and Ft were 9.85％,12.88％,5.30％,3.79％,51.52％,and 6.06％,respectively,with statistical differences in in-fection rates(x2=149.236,P=0.000).The infection rate of Ba was the highest in wild rats in this area.There was no signifi-cant difference in the infection rate of SFGR,Ec,Ap,CNm,and Ft among different rats species,but there were significant differences in the infection rate of Ba(x2=13.36,P=0.010).The infection rate of Apodemus agrarius was the highest.A-mong 132 wild rats specimens,the coinfection rate of the two pathogens was 15.9％(21/132),with Ba as the main species(15/132),and two cases of coinfection with three pathogens were detected.The infection of six tick-borne pathogens is common in wild rats at the China/DPRK border.Co-infection of two or three pathogens indicates a risk of multiple tick-borne pathogens and mixed natural foci of multiple tick-borne infec-tious diseases.

AIM To establish the HPLC fingerprints for freeze-dried powder of Yinhuo Decoction,and to determine the contents of rehmannitin D,methylophiopogonanone A,verbascoside,protocatechuic acid,catalpol,schisandrol A,schisandrin B,schisandrin A.METHODS The fingerprint esablishment was performed on a 30℃thermostatic Supersil AQ18 column(4.6 mm×250 mm,5 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of acetonitrile-0.1%phosphoric acid flowing at 1.0 mL/min in a gradient elution manner,and the detection wavelength was set at 230 nm.The UPLC-MS/MS content determination was performed on a 30℃thermostatic Alphasil VC-C18 column(2.1 mm×100 mm,2.5 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of acetonitrile-0.1%formic acid flowing at 0.3 mL/min in a gradient elution manner,and electron spray ionization source was adopted in positive and negative ion scanning with multiple reaction monitoring mode.RESULTS There were 17 common peaks in the fingerprints for 10 batches of freeze-dried powder with the similarities of more than 0.90.and piloside,crystal blue glycoside,deacetylated caryoside schisandrin A were identified.Eight constituents showed good linear relationships within their own ranges(R2＞0.990 6),whose average recoveries were 98.7%-101.1%with the RSDs of 2.0%-5.2%.CONCLUSION The combination of fingerprints and content determination can completely characterize the quality of Yinhuo Decoction reference sample,thus provide a reference for the quality evaluation of its key chemical properties.

A number of chimeric antigen receptor T cells have been marketed in China,which bring new therapeutic options for patients with hematologic tumors.Compared with other drugs,the clinical application of such living cell products has certain special features.Package insert is the carrier of basic information,safety and effectiveness data of drugs,and is an important basis of rationally use for medical personnel and patients.In this paper,we mainly discuss the requirements for writing package inserts of chimeric antigen receptor T cells with cases,in order to provide reference for package inserts and improve the understanding in clinical application.

Objective To mine and analyze the adverse drug reaction(ADR)signals caused by tacrolimus(Tac)combined with mycophenolic acid(MPA)based on Food and Drug Administration(FDA)adverse event reporting system(FAERS)database,so as to provide reference for clinical drug combination.Methods Open Vigil 2.1 platform was used to collect adverse events reports related to Tac and MPA between the first quarter of 2004 and the first quarter of 2023.Disproportionality analysis methods were used to mine the ADR risk signals.Characteristics of the population reporting adverse events were analyzed.ADR that arose from the combination of the two drugs were compared with those specified in the instructions of the two drugs in order to screen out new ADR.Results A total of 32 866 ADR reports of Tac and MPA used in combination were retrieved,in which 17 455 cases(53.11％)were males,11 445 cases(34.82％)were females.Cases were major in age from 40 to 65 years old(13 174 cases,40.08％).ADR with high frequency mainly included pyrexia,infections and renal impairment;ADR with strong signal strength mainly included infections and skin toxicity;new ADR mainly included blood parathyroid hormone increased,heart valve incompetence and acute psychosis.Conclusion When using Tac and MPA in combination,attention and care should be paid to the high frequency,strong signal strength and new signal of ADR.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Chinese medicine (CM) in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China. METHODS: A multi-center retrospective cohort study was carried out, with cumulative CM treatment period of ⩾3 days during hospitalization as exposure. Data came from consecutive inpatients from December 19, 2019 to May 16, 2020 in 4 medical centers in Wuhan, China. After data extraction, verification and cleaning, confounding factors were adjusted by inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), and the Cox proportional hazards regression model was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 2,272 COVID-19 patients were included. There were 1,684 patients in the CM group and 588 patients in the control group. Compared with the control group, the hazard ratio (HR) for the deterioration rate in the CM group was 0.52 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.41 to 0.64, P<0.001]. The results were consistent across patients of varying severity at admission, and the robustness of the results were confirmed by 3 sensitivity analyses. In addition, the HR for all-cause mortality in the CM group was 0.29 (95% CI: 0.19 to 0.44, P<0.001). Regarding of safety, the proportion of patients with abnormal liver function or renal function in the CM group was smaller. CONCLUSION This real-world study indicates that the combination of a full-course CM therapy on the basic conventional treatment, may safely reduce the deterioration rate and all-cause mortality of COVID-19 patients. This result can provide the new evidence to support the current treatment of COVID-19. Additional prospective clinical trial is needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of specific CM interventions. (Registration No. ChiCTR2200062917).
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; COVID-19 Drug Treatment ; Aged ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Treatment Outcome ; China/epidemiology* ; Adult