1.Inheritance and Current Research Status of Major Spleen-Stomach Theories in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Ling HU ; Fengyun WANG ; Xudong TANG ; Beihua ZHANG ; Yunkai DAI ; Xu CHEN ; Shiqi LI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(1):87-94
This paper systematically reviews the core concepts and lines of theoretical inheritance of major spleen-stomach theories in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), including spleen deficiency theory, spleen-stomach damp-heat theory, and liver-spleen disharmony theory. It is found that these theories have all undergone a developmental trajectory characterized by classical foundation, refinement of therapeutic methods, systematization of pathogenesis, and modern innovation. The evolution of spleen-stomach theory has achieved a shift from a singular focus on tonifying the spleen to regulating dynamic middle-jiao (焦) balance, and from localized spleen-stomach regulation to the circular movement of qi involving all five zang organs. In terms of modern disease-syndrome integrative research, spleen deficiency syndrome is shown to be closely associated with impairment of the gastrointestinal mucosal barrier, metabolic disorders, and gene polymorphisms related to Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric diseases. Spleen-stomach damp-heat syndrome is closely linked to hyperactive energy metabolism, inflammatory cytokines, and abnormal expression of aquaporins. Liver-spleen disharmony syndrome is mainly associated with dysregulation of the brain-gut axis and microbiota-related metabolic disorders. It is proposed that future research on spleen-stomach diseases and syndromes should further elucidate their potential multidimensional differential biological characteristics, thereby promoting the modernization of the TCM discipline of spleen-stomach studies.
2.Intervention effect of school based salt reduction health education on knowledge attitude behavior and urinary sodium among primary school students
YANG Zheng, XU Jie, MAO Tao, CHENG Luyao, YANG Zeguang, QU Chen, ZHEN Shiqi, LIN Jiajin, ZHANG Yang
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(5):637-641
Objective:
To evaluate the intervention effect of school based salt reduction health education, so as to provide a scientific basis for constructing a more effective and sustainable salt reduction intervention model for children.
Methods:
According to a randomized controlled trial design, in June 2022, probability proportional to size sampling was used to select 501 second grade students (248 in the control group and 253 in the intervention group) from 10 primary schools in Zhenjiang (intervention group) and 10 primary schools in Yangzhou (control group), Jiangsu Province. An one year school based salt reduction health education intervention was implemented. This included 20 online and 8 offline health education sessions, monitoring of salt consumption in the canteen, and the establishment of a salt reduction environment on campus. The control group received no additional salt reduction interventions. A questionnaire survey and 24 hour urinary sodium test were conducted before and after the intervention. The difference in differences method was used to evaluate the intervention effect.
Results:
After the intervention, the intervention group showed significant net intervention effects in knowledge aspects, including knowing that primary school students consume less salt than adults ( OR=3.55,95%CI =1.69-7.47), daily salt intake of primary school students ( OR=6.64,95%CI =3.71-11.87), long term high salt intake leading to hypertension ( OR=6.83,95%CI =3.93-11.91), low salt intake not causing hair graying ( OR= 1.66 ,95%CI =1.00-2.75), salt content in food labels ( OR=4.56,95%CI =2.63-7.91), and common high salt foods ( OR=3.39,95%CI =1.87-6.14) (all P <0.05). In terms of attitude, the net intervention effect for having a positive attitude toward using less salt in home cooking was significantly increased ( OR=1.88,95%CI =1.13-3.12, P <0.05). There were no statistically significant net intervention effects for salt reduction related behaviors (all P >0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the changes of 24 hour urinary sodium between the intervention group and the control group before and after intervention ( P >0.05).
Conclusions
School based salt reduction health education effectively improves students salt reduction knowledge and attitudes but has a limited effect on behavior change. The home-school collaboration should be strengthened, and the dietary environment should be optimized simultaneously.
3.Effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation on postoperative muscle atrophy in patients with foot and ankle fracture: A randomized controlled pilot study
Ying Xue ; Xiaoqian Dai ; Xueming Chen ; Shiqi Guo ; Chunxian Wang ; Zhili Li ; Rui He ; Zhaoxia Liu ; Yinghui Li ; Baixiao Zhao
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences 2025;2025(2):308-316
ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) for muscle atrophy in patients with immobilization after surgical fixation of foot and ankle fractures.MethodsThis was a two-arm randomized controlled trial wherein 80 patients were recruited and divided into control (n = 40) and intervention (n = 40) groups. The control group received conventional orthopedic treatment, whereas the intervention group received TEAS and conventional treatment. The intervention group received TEAS 3 times a week for 30 min each time for 8 weeks. The primary outcomes were muscle thickness (MT) and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the rectus femoris and gastrocnemius muscles, whereas the secondary outcome measure was echo intensity (EI). Data were collected before the fixation operations (baseline assessment) and 4 and 8 weeks after intervention.ResultsCompared with baseline, the MT and CSA were reduced in both groups by the end of treatment, whereas EI increased in both groups. At week 4, the reduction in the rectus femoris CSA in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P = .02); however, the between-group differences in the MT and EI (all P .05) were not significant. No serious adverse events were observed in either group.ConclusionOur study showed that TEAS can improve muscle atrophy by attenuating the decline in the muscle CSA. Because this was only a pilot trial, subsequent studies will need longer follow-ups and larger sample sizes.
4.Guidelines for Medical Examination for Cancer in Health Examination Agency(2025 Edition)
Wanqing CHEN ; Zhijian XU ; Qiang ZENG ; Ni LI ; Wei CAO ; Kexin CHEN ; Feng SUN ; Yuping LIU ; Yutong HE ; Peng WANG ; Shiqi TANG ; Qun ZHANG ; Kaifeng PAN ; Jie HE
China Cancer 2025;34(9):667-697
Cancer incidence in China has been rising steadily,with a particularly heavy burden from several high-prevalence malignancies.Medical examination for cancer plays a critical role in the early detection of cancer,precancerous lesions,and precursor conditions,thereby facilitating timely diagnosis and intervention.Such examination also addresses the growing demand for person-alized cancer screening services among diverse population groups.The development of evidence-based,context-specific cancer screening guidelines is essential to enhance the standardization,quality,and equity of preventive screening practices across the country,ultimately improving out-comes in early cancer detection and treatment.Guided by the Department of Medical Emergency Response of the National Health Commission,the Guidelines for Medical Examination for Cancer in Health Examination Agency(2025 Edition)were developed under the leadership of the National Cancer Center.A multidisciplinary panel of experts formulated the guidelines in accordance with the principles and methodology of the World Health Organization Handbook for Guideline Deve-lopment.The guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations on key clinical domains:target cancers and populations,overall screening workflow,screening protocols,diagnostic technolo-gies,result interpretation,follow-up procedures,and quality control.The primary objective is to standardize cancer screening practices in health examination agency and strengthen China's ca-pacity for prevention and control of high-burden cancers.
5.Molecular epidemiology study of Enterobacteriales carrying blaNDM gene in Lishui area
Jiaoli CHEN ; Zhiming GONG ; Jianfen XU ; Xiaopeng LIU ; Shiqi FAN ; Yun′an ZHAO ; Xinmi ZHAO ; Xiaolei HU ; Jiansheng HUANG
Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology 2025;45(4):317-323
Objective:To analyze the drug-resistance pattern and molecular epidemiological characteristics of Enterobacteriales carrying the blaNDM gene in Lishui, aiming to guide clinical anti-infection treatment. Methods:Non-duplicate blaNDM-carrying Enterobacteriales, isolated from Lishui Central Hospital, were collected and identified by VITEK MS. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were detected by the broth microdilution method. The ST types of the strains were determined by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Plasmid types were identified by transformation or conjugation experiments and replication initiator amplification experiments. The transposon structures were detected by PCR amplification. Finally, the epidemic regularity of blaNDM gene in Lishui was analyzed from three levels: clonal group, plasmid, and mobile genetic elements. Results:A total of 109 blaNDM-positive strains were collected. Among them, 60 strains carried the blaNDM-1 gene and 49 strains carried the blaNDM-5 gene. The 109 strains showed 100% resistance to ceftazidime and cefotaxime. The resistance rates to peracillin-tazobactam and imipenem were higher than 80%. Strains carrying the blaNDM-5 gene were more resistant to meropenem than those carrying blaNDM-1 gene( P<0.05). A total of 68 STs were detected from 109 strains, and IncX3, IncFⅡγ, IncA/C and IncT/R plasmids were detected, and 90.83% of the blaNDM genes were located in the IncX3 plasmid. Twelve types of blaNDM gene surrounding structures existed, and they all carried the highly conserved blaNDM- bleMBL- trpF gene sequence. Conclusions:The blaNDM gene has diverse transmission modes in Lishui. The IncX3 plasmid is the main factor mediating its transfer, and all strains carry highly conserved blaNDM- bleMBL- trpF gene sequence.
6.Impact of long-term blood pressure variability on arteriosclerosis in women with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy
Chunle QU ; Ning YANG ; Maoti WEI ; Shiqi YIN ; Shuohua CHEN ; Shouling WU ; Yuming LI
Chinese Journal of Cardiology 2025;53(10):1112-1118
Objective:To explore the relationship between long-term blood pressure variability and arteriosclerosis in women with a history of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP).Methods:This study was a retrospective cohort study. Data were obtained from the Kailuan Research Database. Women with a history of HDP who delivered between January 1990 and December 2020 and completed brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) measurement in the postpartum period were enrolled. Baseline data were obtained from the first post-delivery health examination, while the outcome measure was the baPWV recorded during the last follow-up visit, synchronized with blood pressure measurements. Based on long-term blood pressure variability, the enrolled study subjects were divided into the first, second, and third tertile groups in ascending order using the tertile method, and intergroup differences in clinical characteristics were compared. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to evaluate the impact of long-term blood pressure variability levels on arteriosclerosis risk in women with a history of HDP. Sensitivity analyses excluded individuals with multiple deliveries to validate the robustness of findings. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on delivery age (<40 vs. ≥40 years) and blood pressure measurement frequency (3 vs. >3 times) to explore the potential impact of different population characteristics on the study results.Results:A total of 421 study subjects were enrolled, aged (36.07±6.05) years, with a baPWV value of (1 376.80±238.18) cm/s. Long-term blood pressure variability was 4.66 (3.41, 6.50) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). The first, second and third quartile group included 140, 141 and 140 individuals, respectively. In the total population, the incidence of arteriosclerosis was 40.4% (170/421). The incidence rates in the first, second, and third tertile groups were 34.3% (48/140), 39.0% (55/141), and 47.9% (67/140), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that increased long-term blood pressure variability was an independent risk factor for arteriosclerosis in women with a history of HDP ( OR=1.702, 95% CI 1.018-2.844, P=0.043). The results of sensitivity analyses were consistent with that of the primary analysis ( OR=1.758, 95% CI 1.044-2.959, P=0.034). Subgroup analyses further indicated that in the subgroups with delivery age <40 years ( OR=2.116, 95% CI 1.153-3.885, P=0.016) and blood pressure measurement frequency >3 times ( OR=1.894, 95% CI 1.069-3.355, P=0.029), the association between long-term blood pressure variability and arterial stiffness risk was more significant. Conclusions:For women with a history of HDP, elevated long-term blood pressure variability may increase the risk of arteriosclerosis, and this effect is more pronounced in younger women (delivery age <40 years) and those with high-frequency blood pressure measurements (>3 times). Enhanced monitoring and management of blood pressure variability in this population are crucial to improving long-term cardiovascular health outcomes.
7.Clinical and genetic investigation of 4 children with microdeletion KBG syndrome
Miaomiao LI ; Zixia ZHANG ; Shiqi WANG ; Xi WANG ; Jiaqian HU ; Mengqin WANG ; Haiyan WEI ; Yongxing CHEN
Chinese Journal of Pediatrics 2025;63(7):794-797
Objective:To analyze the genetic characteristics of clinical manifestations in children with KBG syndrome due to microdeletions.Methods:A retrospective case summary was conducted. Four children diagnosed with KBG syndrome due to 16q24.3 microdeletion at Children′s Hospital of Zhengzhou University from July 2021 to April 2024 were enrolled.Their clinical manifestations, biochemical parameters, imaging data, whole-exome sequencing results, treatments and follow-up outcomes were reviewed.Results:The cohort included two males and two females (diagnosed at 81, 18, 26, and 56 months of age, respectively), from four unrelated families. All patients exhibited peculiar facial features (Cupid′s bowed-shaped lips, prominent ears, thick eyebrows), skeletal abnormalities (brachydactyly, abnormal ribs, short stature, etc.), ocular anomalies (astigmatism, strabismus, amblyopia, etc.), intrauterine growth restriction, and developmental retardation. Case 2, 3, 4 had cranial imaging abnormalities, including thin anterior pituitary lobes with pineal cyst, left ventricular cyst, and abnormal pituitary stalk or lateral ventricles with sinusitis, respectively. Two children had intellectual disability, two had congenital heart disease, and one had delayed bone age and hair abnormalities. Whole exome genomic sequencing confirmed 16q24.3 microdeletions encompassing ANKRD11 gene in all four cases. Two children treated with recombinant human growth hormone achieved height increments of 1.5 s and 0.4 s, respectively. Conclusions:Typical features of 16q24.3 microdeletion-induced KBG syndrome include peculiar facial features, macrodontia, skeletal anomalies, neurological abnormalities, and ocular defects. Genetic testing is essential for definitive diagnosis. The treatment of KBG syndrome requires early diagnosis and multidisciplinary collaboration to implement individualized treatment for multisystem symptoms.
8.Differences in lipid profile results of high-triglyceride serum samples detected by four different analytical systems
Ruohong CHEN ; Jingyao CAI ; Xing LYU ; Xin LIU ; Shiqi HE ; Min HU ; Sisheng YI
Chinese Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2025;48(7):869-878
Objective:To compare the differences among four routine lipid testing systems in detecting high triglyceride (TG) serum samples and evaluate the accuracy and consistency of the four homogeneous low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) reagents using vertical auto profile (VAP) as the reference method.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 249 serum samples with elevated TG levels collected from the Department of Laboratory Medicine at the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between January and October 2024. TG, total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, and HDL-C were measured using four homogeneous detection systems: Beckman Coulter (USA), Wako Pure Chemical Industries (Japan), Mindray (China), and Roche Diagnostics (Germany). VAP was used to analyze lipoprotein subfractions, including very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), intermediate-density lipoprotein cholesterol (IDL-C), LDL-C, lipoprotein(a) cholesterol [Lp(a)-C], and HDL-C. The mean coefficient of variation ( CV) across the four systems was calculated for each parameter. Pearson correlation and ordinal logistic regression (OLR) were used to assess correlations between the four HDL-C/LDL-C systems and VAP. Bland-Altman plots were generated to evaluate biases, and deviations were calculated. For parameters with significant deviations, multivariate linear regression and standardized coefficients were used to analyze correlations between biases and lipoprotein subfractions. Based on the Chinese Guidelines for Lipid Management (2023), LDL-C and non-HDL-C treatment goals were categorized into five risk levels (ultra-high, high, moderate, high-risk, and low-risk). VAP results defined LDL-C/non-HDL-C intervals, and the four systems′ concordance in risk classification was evaluated. Samples were grouped into A, B, C, D ( n=63, 62, 62, 62) by TG concentration, and ANOVA, chi-square, and Fisher exact tests assessed intergroup differences. Results:The mean CVs across systems for TG, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, and non-HDL-C were 2.98%, 1.76%, 18.10%, 5.60%, 2.58%, respectively. Pearson correlations between LDL-C results (Beckman, Wako, Mindray, Roche) and VAP were 0.889, 0.854, 0.899, and 0.973; mean relative deviations were 54.8%, 41.0%, 49.3%, and 3.6%; classification accuracies were 6.0% (15/249), 21.3% (53/249), 9.2% (23/249), and 76.7% (191/249). HDL-C deviations were 18.7%, 15.1%, 11.1%, and 8.7%, with correlations ( r) of 0.883, 0.911, 0.959, and 0.950 (all P<0.001). LDL-C means showed no intergroup differences (A-D), but CV increased with TG levels ( P<0.001). HDL-C means and CVs showed no significant intergroup differences. Beckman, Wako, and Mindray LDL-C results exhibited significant positive biases correlated with TG and VLDL-C (multivariate regression; P<0.05); VLDL-C had the strongest influence (standardized coefficients: 0.820, 0.394, 0.813; P<0.001). Non-HDL-C classifications matched VAP in 92.4% (Beckman), 85.9% (Wako), 94.0% (Mindray), and 93.2% (Roche), with no intergroup differences. Conclusion:For high-TG sera, Beckman, Wako, and Mindray LDL-C exhibited significant positive biases correlated with TG and VLDL-C, while Roche LDL-C showed minimal deviation. TG, TC, HDL-C, and non-HDL-C results showed minimal variation across the four systems. All systems demonstrated comparable accuracy for non-HDL-C compared to VAP. The non-HDL-C measured by the four detection systems demonstrates high accuracy and consistency in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk stratification and lipid-lowering goal assessment, and it is unaffected by TG levels.
9.Understanding the Anti-Inflammatory Pathway of the Ethyl Acetate Extract Obtained from Trollius chinensis Bge.using LC-MS and Network Pharmacology
Qiao CHEN ; Peng ZHANG ; Shiqi HAN ; Zhaohua SHI ; Xianxiang TIAN ; JunJie HU
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(2):404-419
Objective To explore the anti-inflammatory properties of the ethyl acetate extract(ETCB)derived from Trollius chinensis Bge.using in vitro RAW264.7 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide and an in vivo mouse auricle model induced by xylene.Utilizing UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS(LC-MS)and network pharmacology,the components of ETCB were analyzed,and its anti-inflammatory mechanisms were preliminarily explored.Methods The anti-inflammatory activity of various solvent extracts of Trollius chinensis Bge.was assessed through the Griess assay.The impact of ETCB on the production of TNF-α and IL-6 in RAW264.7 cells induced by lipopolysaccharide was evaluated using ELISA.Real-time qPCR was conducted to determine the effect of ETCB on the expression levels of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α,IL-6,and iNOS in cells.The anti-inflammatory efficacy was further validated in a xylene-induced ear inflammation mouse model by measuring ear swelling and tissue levels of IL-6 and TNF-α.The composition of ETCB was analyzed using LC-MS.Network pharmacology was employed to screen for effective components,targets,and pathways involved in the anti-inflammatory effects of Trollius chinensis Bge.,followed by molecular docking verification between core components and targets.Results ETCB demonstrated the most potent inhibitory effect on NO production in RAW264.7 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide,indicating its primary role in the anti-inflammatory activity of Trollius chinensis Bge..ETCB significantly reduced TNF-α and IL-6 levels in inflammatory cells(P<0.01)and inhibited the mRNA expression of TNF-α,IL-6,and iNOS.In the xylene-induced mouse ear inflammation model,ETCB effectively alleviated ear swelling and decreased tissue levels of TNF-α and IL-6.LC-MS analysis identified 30 chemical components in ETCB,including 21 flavonoids,7 organic acids,1 polysaccharide,and 1 anthocyanin.Network pharmacology prediction and screening revealed TNF,Akt1,PTGS2,EGFR,SRC,and MMP9 as core targets,with hydroxyquercetin,lignin from fragrant leaves,zeaxanthin from willows,plantain,thistle,and sophora flavins as key anti-inflammatory active ingredients.The molecular docking analysis revealed positive interactions,characterized by favorable binding energy,between the active components and key targets.Conclusion ETCB demonstrates strong anti-inflammatory properties both inside and outside the body,functioning through various targets and pathways.This establishes a basis for deeper understanding of the anti-inflammatory mechanism of Trollius chinensis Bge.
10.Association between the non-treatment threshold or upper limit of normal of alanine aminotransferase and liver pathological injury in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and a persistently low level of alanine aminotransferase
Ming SHU ; Suwen JIANG ; Airong HU ; Qin CHEN ; Jialan WANG ; Menghan JIN ; Haojin ZHANG ; Shiqi YANG ; Shiyang FAN
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(10):2044-2053
ObjectiveTo investigate the significance of different non-treatment thresholds or upper limits of normal (ULN) of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in evaluating significant liver pathological injury in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and to provide guidance for clinical diagnosis and treatment. MethodsThis study was conducted among 733 patients with chronic HBV infection who were hospitalized in Ningbo No. 2 Hospital from January 2015 to December 2023 and underwent liver biopsy and histopathological examination, and all patients had a persistent ALT level of ≤40 U/L and positive HBV DNA (>30 IU/mL). According to the treatment threshold or ULN of ALT, the patients were divided into group 1 with 575 patients (≤35 U/L for male patients, ≤25 U/L for female patients), group 2 with 430 patients (≤30 U/L for male patients, ≤19 U/L for female patients), group 3 with 443 patients (≤27 U/L for male patients, ≤24 U/L for female patients), group 4 with 446 patients (≤25 U/L), group 5 with 158 patients (>35 U/L for male patients, >25 U/L for female patients), and group 6 with 145 patients (>30 — ≤35 U/L for male patients, >19 — ≤25 U/L for female patients). Groups 2, 5, and 6 were compared to analyze the severity of liver pathological injury in patients with different ALT levels and the constituent ratio of patients with significant liver pathological injury, and groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 were compared to investigate the value of different ULN or non-treatment thresholds of ALT in determining liver inflammation grade (G), liver fibrosis stage (S), and the treatment indication based on liver pathology. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups; a one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison between multiple groups, and the least significant difference t-test or the Tambane’s test was used for further comparison between two groups; the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups, and the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison between multiple groups and further comparison between two groups; the chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups; a Ridit analysis was used for comparison of ranked data. A multivariate Logistic regression analysis (forward stepwise) was performed with whether liver pathology met the treatment indication (≥G2 and/or ≥S2) as the dependent variable and related factors with a significant impact on the dependent variable (P <0.05) as the independent variable. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC), as well as sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio, was used to assess the diagnostic value of different non-treatment thresholds of ALT. ResultsAmong the 733 patients, 259 (35.33%) had ≥G2 liver inflammation, 211 (28.79%) had ≥S2 liver fibrosis, and 306 (41.75%) had treatment indication (≥G2 and/or ≥S2). There was a significant difference in liver inflammation grade (G0 — G4) between groups 2, 5, and 6 (χ2=22.869, P <0.001), and there were also significant differences in the constituent ratios of patients with ≥G2 or ≥G3 liver inflammation between the three groups (χ2=21.742 and 14.921, P<0.001 and P=0.001). There was a significant difference in liver fibrosis stage (S0 — S4) between groups 2, 5, and 6 (χ2=16.565, P<0.001), and there were also significant differences in the constituent ratios of patients with ≥S2, ≥S3 or S4 liver fibrosis between the three groups (χ2=13.264, 13.050, and 6.260, P=0.001, 0.001, and 0.044). There were significant differences between groups 2, 5, and 6 in the constituent ratios of patients with or without treatment indication based on liver pathology (χ2=20.728, P<0.001). There were significant differences between groups 2, 5, and 6 in the constituent ratio of male patients (χ2=24.836, P<0.05), age (F=5.710, P<0.05), ALT (F=473.193, P<0.05), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (F=107.774, P<0.05), ALT/AST ratio (F=40.167, P<0.05), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) (H=15.463, P<0.05), aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) (H=63.024, P<0.05), and LIF-5 (5 indicators for liver inflammation and fibrosis) (H=46.397, P<0.05). In groups 1 — 4, compared with the patients without treatment indication, the patients with treatment indication had a significantly lower constituent ratio of patients with positive HBeAg, significantly lower levels of platelet count (PLT) and HBV DNA, and significantly higher age, ALT, AST, GGT, APRI, FIB-4, and LIF-5 (all P<0.05). The Logistic regression analysis showed that age (odds ratio [OR]=1.044, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.025 — 1.063, P<0.001), GGT (OR=1.022, 95%CI: 1.007 — 1.038, P=0.003), and HBV DNA (OR=0.839, 95%CI: 0.765 — 0.919, P<0.001) were influencing factors for treatment indication based on liver pathology in group 1; HBeAg (OR=1.978, 95%CI: 1.269 — 3.082, P=0.003), age (OR=1.048, 95%CI: 1.025 — 1.071, P<0.001), GGT (OR=1.016, 95%CI: 1.001 — 1.031, P=0.041), and PLT (OR=0.995, 95%CI: 0.991 — 1.000, P=0.049) were influencing factors in group 2; age (OR=1.040, 95%CI: 1.014 — 1.066, P=0.002), ALT (OR=1.047, 95%CI: 1.005 — 1.092, P=0.029), HBV DNA (OR=0.817, 95%CI: 0.736 — 0.907, P<0.001), and LIF-5 (OR=7.382, 95%CI: 1.151 — 47.330, P=0.035) were influencing factors in group 3; age (OR=1.054, 95%CI: 1.031 — 1.077, P<0.001), ALT (OR=1.061, 95%CI: 1.016 — 1.107, P=0.008), and HBV DNA (OR=0.825, 95%CI: 0.743 — 0.917, P<0.001) were influencing factors in group 4. The diagnostic performance for identifying ≥G2 liver inflammation, ≥S2 liver fibrosis, and treatment indication in groups 1 — 4 had an AUC of >0.7; group 1 showed the lowest sensitivity (28.76%) and the highest specificity, positive predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio in judging treatment indication; group 2 had the highest sensitivity and negative predictive value and the lowest negative likelihood ratio; groups 3 and 4 had similar diagnostic indicators. ConclusionIn patients with chronic HBV infection and a persistently low ALT level, the severity of liver histopathological injury and the constituent ratio of significant liver histopathological injury decrease with the reduction in ALT level. A higher non-treatment threshold or ULN of ALT can help to identify the patients requiring treatment (with a higher specificity), while a lower non-treatment threshold or ULN of ALT can help to identify the patients who do not require treatment (with a higher sensitivity).


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