ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of the Yiqi Yangyin Huoxue prescription （YYHP） in the treatment of cathartic colon （CC） and its effects on fecal short-chain fatty acids （SCFAs）， and to explore the correlations among CC severity indicators and between these indicators and patient history. MethodsAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria， 98 patients meeting the diagnostic criteria of both traditional Chinese and Western medicine for CC with the syndrome of Qi-Yin deficiency complicated by blood stasis were randomly assigned to an observation group and a control group. The observation group received YYHP granules， while the control group received lactulose. Both medications were administered twice daily， one sachet each time， half an hour after breakfast and dinner， with a treatment course of 8 weeks. The primary constipation symptom score， Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life （PAC-QOL） score， and TCM syndrome score were assessed before and after treatment and at the 8^th week after the end of treatment. The overall clinical effective rate， as well as the efficacy attenuation index and degree， were evaluated. Fecal SCFA levels were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （GC-MS）. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to explore the correlations among CC severity indicators and between these indicators and patient history. ResultsThe overall clinical effective rate in the observation group （95.83%） was higher than that in the control group （78.72%） （P<0.05）. After treatment， the total scores for primary constipation symptoms， PAC-QOL， and TCM syndromes decreased in both groups （P<0.05）， with more significant reductions in the observation group （P<0.05）. The severity of all primary constipation symptoms was alleviated in both groups （P<0.05）. In terms of "excessive straining and difficult defecation"， "anal heaviness， incomplete evacuation， and bloating sensation"， "abdominal distension"， and "defecation frequency"， the observation group showed better efficacy than the control group （P<0.05）. Scores of the four PAC-QOL dimensions and the scores and severity of primary and secondary TCM symptoms were reduced in both groups （P<0.05）， with more significant reductions in the observation group （P<0.05）. After treatment， acetic acid， propionic acid， butyric acid， and total SCFAs in the observation group increased significantly （P<0.05）. The efficacy attenuation index and degree in the observation group were lower than those in the control group （P<0.05）. No severe adverse reactions occurred in either group， and there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups. Positive correlations of varying degrees were observed among the total scores of primary constipation symptoms， PAC-QOL， and TCM syndromes， as well as between these scores and the history of stimulant laxative use， disease duration， and age. ConclusionYYHP can effectively alleviate the primary constipation symptoms in CC patients， improve quality of life， and ameliorate TCM syndromes， with good safety. It also has the advantage of a lower rebound degree after drug withdrawal， and its mechanism may be related to increasing fecal SCFA levels. Long-term abuse of stimulant laxatives may aggravate the severity of CC and prolong the disease course.

Tropical diseases, the transmission of which is affected by multiple natural and social factors, pose a great challenge to global public health, notably in African countries. During the past several decades, China and African countries have continuously collaborated for the control of neglected tropical diseases and malaria, which has become an important part of global South-to-South cooperation and global health governance. This article reviews the history of China-Africa cooperation for tropical diseases control, summarizes the experiences and achievements over the past decade, analyzes the current challenges in the coopera tion, and proposes future recommendations. The China-Africa cooperation has achieved significant progress in the control of tropical diseases, such as malaria, schistosomiasis, and filariasis, and established a China-Africa cooperation network for tropical diseases control. Through the "Three-Step" strategy of China-Africa cooperation, the effectiveness of China's integrated control strategies has been validated in Africa, and the application of China's tropical disease control technologies has been promoted in African disease-epidemic countries. Currently, China-Africa collaboration, however, still experiences multiple realistic challenges, such as insufficient resources, difficulty in technology transfer, and weak primary healthcare systems. In the future, both sides are recommended to further strengthen policy coordination, deepen technological cooperation, innovate cooperation models, aiming to continuously promote the high-quality development of China-Africa cooperation for tropical diseases control.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of Clonorchis sinensis human infections in Congjiang County, Guizhou Province in 2023, so as to provide insights into formulation of the clonorchiasis control strategy. Methods Congjiang County was divided into eastern, western, southern, northern and central areas according to the geographical locations, and one township was randomly sampled from each area. Then, each administrative village was randomly sampled from each township, and 200 permanent residents over 3 years of age were randomly sampled from each village. Participants’ stool samples were collected for detection of C. sinensis eggs with the Kato-Katz technique (two slides for each stool sample), and the prevalence and intensity of C. sinensis infections were calculated. In addition, the risk factors of clonorchiasis were identified among participants using a questionnaire survey. Results A total of 1 001 residents were included, and the prevalence of C. sinensis infections was 16.28% (163/1 001), with mild infections as the predominant category of infection intensity [73.01% (119/163)]. The prevalence rates of C. sinensis human infections were 30.50% (61/200), 1.50% (3/200), 30.35% (61/201), 12.50% (25/200), and 6.50% (13/200) at five survey sites, respectively (χ² = 107.03, P < 0.05), and there was a significant difference in the prevalence of C. sinensis infections between men [22.44% (112/499)] and women [10.16% (51/502)] (χ² = 27.71, P < 0.05). The prevalence of C. sinensis infections was relatively high among participants at ages of 60 to 70 years [26.14% (23/88)], public servants [46.15% (6/13)], and Han ethnic participants [33.33% (5/15)]. The prevalence of C. sinensis infections was higher among participants with a habit of consuming raw or un-dercooked freshwater fish and shrimp [22.06% (90/408)] than among those without the habit [12.31% (73/593)] (χ² = 16.85, P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference in the prevalence of C. sinensis infections between participants with [13.99% (41/293)] and without separation of raw and cooked chopping boards [17.23% (122/708)] (χ² = 1.59, P > 0.05). In addition, the prevalence of C. sinensis infections was 8.70% (2/23) and 16.46% (161/978) among participants with and without fever complicated by discomfort in the right upper abdomen during the past half year (χ² = 0.99, P > 0.05). Conclusions The prevalence of C. sinensis human infections was high in Congjiang County, Guizhou Province in 2023, and infections predominantly occurred among young and middle-aged men. Intensified health education among high-risk residents and alteration of dietary habits of consuming raw or undercooked freshwater fish or shrimp are recommended to reduce the prevalence of C. sinensis human infections.

Medical ethics aims to address moral issues in medical practice. When analyzing the right and wrong in medicine， it emphatically interprets “what medicine ought to be” and focuses on how physicians should act correctly. Hence， highly directive ethical theories such as deontology and utilitarianism have become the fundamental theories for medical decision-making. Nevertheless， as the concentrated embodiment of medical ethical values， virtue ethics also constitutes an important component of medical ethics. Drawing on Julia Annas’s creative development of virtue ethics theories regarding “right action” and “right emotion，” which is based on the distinction between “virtue learners” and “virtue possessors，” this paper provides a new theoretical perspective and practical approach for bridging the divide between heteronomy and autonomy in medical ethics， enhancing the care for medical staff’s emotions in medical ethics education， and promoting mutual understanding and communication between physicians and patients.

Among chronic hepatitis B patients undergoing long-term treatment with nucleos（t）ide analogues （NAs）， approximately 10%—20% can achieve a low level of <100 IU/mL for hepatitis B surface antigen （HBsAg）. These patients have the advantage to achieve clinical cure （HBsAg clearance） and are currently a key focus for treatment discontinuation and combination treatment strategies. As for the selection of clinical management strategies， the NAs discontinuation strategy， based on the “immune reactivation” hypothesis， may lead to HBsAg clearance in some patients， especially among Caucasians， but the risk of recurrence after discontinuation cannot be neglected. The treatment strategies based on pegylated interferon-α exhibit a higher potential for active HBsAg clearance， and some novel immunomodulators have also shown preliminary efficacy. Overall， for patients with HBsAg <100 IU/mL previously treated with NAs， treatment discontinuation or active combination treatment should be carefully assessed based on individual risk-benefit profiles. In the future， it is essential to incorporate more refined biomarkers for precise stratification and explore novel combination regimens with finite treatment courses that are safe and highly effective， in order to help more patients achieve clinical cure and reduce long-term risks of liver disease.

Background/Aims: Liver transplantation (LT) following total hepatectomy is a life-saving treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The HCC recurrence after LT hinders the effectiveness of the procedure. The objective of this study is to develop a pre-operative risk stratification model based on a liquid biopsy. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive multi-omics study of 260 HCC patients from three centers, including clinical data, low-coverage whole-genome sequencing of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from plasma, as well as whole-exome, single-nucleus RNA, and spatial transcriptomics from matched tumor and non-tumor tissues. Results: We identified cfDNA-derived copy number alteration (CNA) signatures associated with post-transplant recurrence. By integrating cfDNA-derived CNA profiles with single-cell transcriptomic data, we traced recurrence-associated cfDNA to a distinct subpopulation of malignant cells within the primary tumor. These cells were embedded in a pro-metastatic microenvironment of specialized endothelial subtypes and cancer-associated fibroblasts. Notably, most recurrence-associated lesions were detectable in cfDNA prior to liver transplantation (LT). Building on these insights, we developed the ZJU Criteria based on CNA fragments and tumor markers, a pre-LT risk prediction tool that integrates conventional clinical factors with cfDNA-derived CNA signatures, and validated it using internal and independent external cohorts. Conclusion Our findings suggest that post-transplant recurrence commonly originates from advanced subclones that emerge late during tumor evolution. The ZJU Criteria provides an accurate, non-invasive strategy that significantly improves pre-LT risk stratification and clinical decision-making for patients with HCC.

Background/Aims: Biliary tract cancer (BTC) frequently harbors KRAS mutations, which are associated with resistance to traditional treatment and a poor prognosis. Synthetic lethality (SL) strategy may provide other targets of KRAS. Therefore, we aim to identify and validate potential therapeutic targets of KRAS for the treatment of BTC via SL. Methods: The dependency (DepMap) projects were used to predict the synthetic lethal gene of KRAS. FDA-approved anticancer drug library was applied to screen potential drugs effective against KRAS-mutant BTC. Furthermore, the synthetic lethal effects or corresponding mechanisms of potential genes and drugs on BTC were investigated using KRAS-mutant and KRAS-wild type BTC cell lines, patient-derived xenografts (PDX), and KRAS oncogene-driven tumor models, as well as other KRAS-mutant cancer cell lines. Results: Initially, we discovered that the loss of GATA2 reduced the viability of KRAS-mutant but not KRAS-wild-type BTC. Subsequently, the drug library screened out disulfiram, which primarily exerts a synthetic lethal effect by inhibiting interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in KRAS-mutant BTC. Mechanistically, GATA2 specifically enhanced the transcription of IL-1β to promote NF-κB signaling in KRAS-mutant BTC. IL-1β inhibition phenocopied GATA2 deficiency, leading to reduced KRAS-mutant BTC viability. These synthetically lethal effects were confirmed using PDX, a KRAS oncogene-driven tumor model, as well as in other KRAS-mutant cancer cell lines. Conclusions In summary, these results indicate that inhibiting GATA2/IL1β could be a therapeutic strategy in KRAS-mutant BTC and potentially other cancers.

By reviewing modern research and integrating clinical practice， this paper interprets the correlation between "deep heat， deep syncope" and the "macrocirculation-microcirculation" uncoupling in sepsis， alongside its clinical applications in sepsis prevention and treatment. It is considered that "deep heat" corresponds to peripheral vasodilation and the hypermetabolic state at the macrocirculation level， whereas "deep syncope" manifests as hypoperfusion and impaired oxygen utilization at the microcirculation level. These two states interact detrimentally， forming the core contradiction of macrocirculation-microcirculation uncoupling in sepsis. Based on the traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） connotations of "deep heat， deep syncope" and modern medical research， this paper elucidates the systemic pathological evolution of sepsis from the inflammatory cascade to impaired oxygen utilization. Accordingly， the following therapeutic principles are proposed. In the early stage， it is suggested to clear heat and drain fire to vent the constrained yang. In the progressive stage， the focus is put on unblocking the lower jiao （焦） and expelling stasis to dredge the vessels and collaterals. In the recovery stage， the method of regulating and harmonizing yin and yang can be used to smooth the flow of qi and blood.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of modified Shibaotang on serum sex hormone levels in patients with male late-onset hypogonadism of kidney essence deficiency syndrome complicated with diabetes mellitus. MethodsA total of 60 patients with male late-onset hypogonadism of kidney essence deficiency syndrome complicated with diabetes mellitus，who met the inclusion criteria and were admitted to Yinchuan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from October 2022 to October 2023，were selected and randomly divided into an observation group and a control group，with 30 patients in each group. Both groups continued their original treatments，including blood glucose lowering and blood lipid regulation. The observation group was treated with modified Shibaotang，while the control group was treated with testosterone undecanoate capsules. The treatment lasted for 12 weeks. The changes in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）syndrome scores，partial androgen deficiency in aging males （PADAM）symptom scores，glucose metabolism indexes ［fasting plasma glucose （FPG），2-hour postprandial glucose （2 h PG），glycosylated hemoglobin （HbA1c）］，and serum sex hormone indexes ［sex hormone-binding globulin （SHBG），free testosterone （FT），total testosterone （TT），prolactin （PRL），luteinizing hormone （LH），follicle stimulating hormone （FSH），estrogen （E₂）］ were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. Safety was also evaluated. Results（1）Clinical efficacy comparison：After treatment，the clinical efficacy in both groups was similar，and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. （2）TCM syndrome score and PADAM symptom score comparison：After treatment，both groups showed a significant reduction in TCM syndrome scores and PADAM symptom scores （P<0.01），and the observation group showed a significantly greater reduction compared to the control group （P<0.05）. （3）Glucose metabolism indexes comparison：After treatment，the levels of FPG，2 h PG，and HbA1c were significantly reduced in both groups （P<0.01），and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding FPG，2 h PG，and HbA1c levels after treatment. （4）Serum sex hormone indexes comparison：After treatment，the levels of FT，TT，PRL，LH，and FSH were significantly increased in both groups （P<0.01），while E₂ levels were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the levels of FT，TT，PRL，LH，FSH，and E₂ after treatment. There was also no significant difference in SHBG levels within or between the groups before and after treatment. During the clinical observation，neither group exhibited any obvious adverse reactions. ConclusionModified Shibaotang can significantly improve the clinical symptoms of male late-onset hypogonadism of kidney essence deficiency syndrome complicated with diabetes mellitus，reduce blood glucose，and increase sex hormone levels. The mechanism may involve the inhibition of aromatase transformation in adipocytes，promotion of GnRH production，and regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis function.

AIM: To observe the changes of retinal nerve fiber layer(RNFL)thickness and radial peripheral capillary(RPC)density in patients with unilateral branch retinal vein occlusion(BRVO), and further analyze the correlation between RPC density and RNFL thickness.METHODS: Observational study. Totally 37 patients with unilateral BRVO diagnosed at the ophthalmology department of First Hospital of Qinhuangdao from October 2020 to January 2022 were selected, the 37 affected eyes were the unilateral BRVO group, and 37 fellow healthy eyes were the contralateral unaffected group, and 35 healthy individuals(35 right eyes were selected)without ocular diseases during the same period were selected as the normal control group. The best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, anterior segment, fundus and optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)were examined in both eyes of all BRVO patients and healthy individuals. The central macular thickness(CMT), the RNFL thickness, and the optic disc-AV crossing distance(DAVD)were measured by built-in software of the OCTA equipment. The optimized U-net algorithm was used to eliminate the large blood vessels, and then the RPC density was calculated. The CMT, RNFL thickness and RPC density were compared among the three groups. And the correlations of the RPC density with the CMT, RNFL thickness, and the DAVD were investigated.RESULTS: Compared with the contralateral unaffected group and the normal control group, the CMT and the RNFL thickness were significantly thickened in the unilateral BRVO group(all P<0.05); there were no statistical differences in the CMT and the RNFL thickness between the contralateral unaffected group and the normal control group(all P>0.05). The RPC density in the unilateral BRVO group increased compared with the contralateral unaffected group and decreased compared with the normal control group, but there was no statistically difference(all P>0.05). However, the RPC density in the contralateral unaffected group decreased compared with the normal control group(P<0.05). The RPC density in the unilateral BRVO group was not correlated with the CMT(P=0.960), but positively correlated with the RNFL thickness(r=0.401, P=0.014)and negatively correlated with the DAVD(r=-0.339, P=0.040).CONCLUSION: The RNFL thickened significantly and the RPC density did not change significantly in the optic disc area of BRVO patients. The RPC density is positively correlated with the RNFL thickness, indicating that the RNFL thickness can be used as a monitoring indicator to analyze and study the damage degree of the RPC density.