Objective: o analyze the epidemic characteristics of five sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including syphilis, gonorrhea, condyloma acuminatum, genital herpes and genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province from 2019 to 2023, so as to provide the reference for the prevention and control strategies of STDs. Methods: Data of the onset time and diagnostic types of STDs cases in Yangzhou City from 2019 to 2023 were collected from the Infectious Disease Surveillance System of Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System. The temporal, regional and population characteristics of five types of STDs was analyzed using the descriptive epidemiological method. Results: A total of 10 895 cases of STDs were reported in Yangzhou City from 2019 to 2023, with an average annual reported incidence rate of 47.83/105. The average annual reported incidence rates of syphilis, gonorrhea, condyloma acuminatum, genital herpes and genital Chlamydia trachomatis infections were 41.11/105, 2.83/105, 2.59/105, 0.43/105 and 0.85/105, respectively. The reported incidence rate of STDs showed a decreasing trend from 2019 to 2023 (P<0.05), with an average annual growth rate of -3.44%. The reported incidence rates of syphilis and gonorrhea showed a decreasing trend (both P<0.05), with average annual growth rates of -4.26% and -6.47%, respectively. The reported incidence rate of genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection showed an increasing trend (P<0.05), with an average annual growth rate of 22.32%. Baoying County, Guangling District and Hanjiang District had the top three reported incidence rates of STDs, at 56.61/105, 55.61/105 and 46.50/105, respectively. The average annual reported incidence rate of STDs among males was higher than that among females (53.19/105 vs. 42.54/105, P<0.05). The STD cases were primarily people aged 50 years and above, with 6 641 cases accounting for 60.95%. The occupations of STD cases were mainly farmers, housekeepers and unemployed, with 4 670 and 3 273 cases accounting for 42.86% and 30.04%, respectively. Conclusions The overall reported incidence of STDs in Yangzhou City from 2019 to 2023 showed a downward trend, while the reported incidence of genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection showed an upward trend. The individuals aged 50 years and above, farmers, housekeepers and the unemployed were identified as high-risk groups for STDs.

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease caused by abnormal synchronous discharge of the brain, which is characterized by recurrent and transient neurological abnormalities, mainly manifested as loss of consciousness and limb convulsions, and can occur in people of all ages. At present, anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) are still the main means of treatment, but their efficacy is limited by the problem of drug resistance, and long-term use can cause serious side effects, such as cognitive dysfunction and vital organ damage. Although surgical resection of epileptic lesions has achieved certain results in some patients, the high cost and potential risk of neurological damage limit its scope of application. Therefore, the development of safe, accurate and personalized non-invasive treatment strategies has become one of the key directions of epilepsy research. In recent years, photobiomodulation (PBM) has gained significant attention as a promising non-invasive therapeutic approach. PBM uses light of specific wavelengths to penetrate tissues and interact with photosensitive molecules within cells, thereby modulating cellular metabolic processes. Research has shown that PBM can enhance mitochondrial function, promote ATP production, improve meningeal lymphatic drainage, reduce neuroinflammation, and stimulate the growth of neurons and synapses. These biological effects suggest that PBM not only holds the potential to reduce the frequency of seizures but also to improve the metabolic state and network function of neurons, providing a novel therapeutic avenue for epilepsy treatment. Compared to traditional treatment methods, PBM is non-invasive and avoids the risks associated with surgical interventions. Its low risk of significant side effects makes it particularly suitable for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, offering new therapeutic options for those who have not responded to conventional treatments. Furthermore, PBM’s multi-target mechanism enables it to address a variety of complex etiologies of epilepsy, demonstrating its potential in precision medicine. In contrast to therapies targeting a single pathological mechanism, PBM’s multifaceted approach makes it highly adaptable to different types of epilepsy, positioning it as a promising supplementary or alternative treatment. Although animal studies and preliminary clinical trials have shown positive outcomes with PBM, its clinical application remains in the exploratory phase. Future research should aim to elucidate the precise mechanisms of PBM, optimize light parameters, such as wavelength, dose, and frequency, and investigate potential synergistic effects with other therapeutic modalities. These efforts will be crucial for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of PBM and ensuring its safety and consistency in clinical settings. This review summarizes the types of epilepsy, diagnostic biomarkers, the advantages of PBM, and its mechanisms and potential applications in epilepsy treatment. The unique value of PBM lies not only in its multi-target therapeutic effects but also in its adaptability to the diverse etiologies of epilepsy. The combination of PBM with traditional treatments, such as pharmacotherapy and neuroregulatory techniques, holds promise for developing a more comprehensive and multidimensional treatment strategy, ultimately alleviating the treatment burden on patients. PBM has also shown beneficial effects on neural network plasticity in various neurodegenerative diseases. The dynamic remodeling of neural networks plays a critical role in the pathogenesis and treatment of epilepsy, and PBM’s multi-target mechanism may promote brain function recovery by facilitating neural network remodeling. In this context, optimizing optical parameters remains a key area of research. By adjusting parameters such as wavelength, dose, and frequency, researchers aim to further enhance the therapeutic effects of PBM while maintaining its safety and stability. Looking forward, interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly in the fields of neuroscience, optical engineering, and clinical medicine, will drive the development of PBM technology and facilitate its transition from laboratory research to clinical application. With the advancement of portable devices, PBM is expected to provide safer and more effective treatments for epilepsy patients and make a significant contribution to personalized medicine, positioning it as a critical component of precision therapeutic strategies.

Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of cross-county imported dengue fever cases within Yunnan province in 2023, so as to provide insights into formulation of preventive and control measures for intra-provincial spread of dengue fever. Methods All data pertaining cross-county imported dengue fever cases within Yunnan Province in 2023 were collected, and the temporal, regional and population distributions of the cases were descriptively analyzed. Results A total of 1 664 intra-provincial cross-county imported dengue fever cases were reported in 95 counties (cities, districts) cross 16 profectures (cities) in Yunnan Province in 2023, accounting for 12.34% of total cases in the province. Cross-county imported dengue fever cases were predominantly reported during the period between August and October (1 516 cases, 91.11% of total cases), and peaked in September (659 cases), with a single-day peak on October 8 (36 cases). During the period from September 4 to 10, five counties (cities) with local dengue fever epidemics, including Jinghong City of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Gengma Dai and Wa Autonomous County of Lincang City, Ruili City of Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, Mengla Coun ty of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, and Zhenkang County of Lincang City, exported 165 cross-county imported dengue fever cases to the rest of the province. Among the 1 644 intra-provincial cross-county imported dengue fever cases, the male to female ratio was 1.40∶1.00, and 1 329 cases were at ages of 15 to 55 years (79.87%), with farmers as the predominant occupation (886 cases, 53.25%). The top 5 counties (cities/districts) reporting the highest number of intra-provincial cross-county imported dengue fever cases included Simao District (266 cases) and Lancang Lahu Autonomous County (118 cases) of Pu’er City, Mengla County (91 cases) and Menghai County (91 cases) of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, and Mangshi City (73 cases) of Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, which accounting for 38.40% of total imported cases. These intra-provincial cross-county imported dengue fever cases originated from 7 counties (cities/districts) in 4 prefectures (cities), including 1 261 cases (76.70%) from Jinghong City of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, 224 cases (13.63%) from Ruili City of Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, 103 cases (6.27%) from Gengma Dai and Wa Autonomous County of Lincang City, 31 cases (1.89%) from Mengla County of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, 30 cases (1.82%) from Zhenkang County of Lincang City, 10 cases (0.61%) from Cangyuan Wa Autonomous County of Lincang City, and 5 cases (0.30%) from Mohan-Boten Economic Cooperation Zone of Kunming City. In addition, local dengue fever epidemics following intra-provincial cross-county importation of dengue fevers cases in Simao District, Jinggu Dai and Yi Autonomous County, Mangshi City, Longchuan County, and Cangyuan Wa Autonomous County. Conclusions Farmers and students are high-risk populations for intra-provincial cross-county imported dengue fever cases in Yunnan Province, and health education pertaining personal protection against dengue fever should be strengthened among these high-risk populations by governments at all levels. There is a high risk of local out-break of dengue fever following continuous introduction of intra-provincial cross-county imported cases. Standardized management of intra-provincial cross-county imported dengue fever cases should be reinforced to reduce the risk of local epidemics.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

Myocardial fibrosis (MF) is a common pathological hallmark of cardiovascular diseases, reflecting shared mechanisms in their progression. However, the lack of reliable MF models that accurately mimic its pathogenesis has hindered drug discovery, highlighting the urgent need for more effective therapeutic agents. Herein, a novel contractile three-dimensional (3D) myocardial tissue model integrating cardiomyocytes, cardiac-fibroblasts, and bone marrow-derived macrophages in collagen hydrogel was developed to simulate the fibrotic changes of cardiovascular disease, and facilitate the screening of anti-MF compounds. The 3D myocardial tissue model exhibited precise, visualizable, and quantifiable contractile characteristics under hypoxia and drug interventions. 76 compounds extracted from the resins of Toxicodendron vernicifluum, a traditional Chinese medicine with clear clinical benefits for fibrotic diseases, were screened for anti-fibrotic activity. Using an in vitro 3D oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-treated myocardial tissue model instead of a two-dimensional transforming growth factor-β treated cardiac-fibroblasts model, two candidates including LQ-40 and SQ-3 exert impressive anti-MF activity, which was further validated in left anterior descending coronary artery ligation-induced MF mouse model. The current results demonstrate the feasibility and advantage of the novel contractile 3D tissue model with multi-cell types in discovering candidates for MF, further stressing the great potential of regulating macrophages in the treatment of MF.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the key features of facial and tongue images associated with anemia in female populations, establish anemia risk-screening models, and evaluate their performance. METHODS: A total of 533 female participants (anemic and healthy) were recruited from Shuguang Hospital. Facial and tongue images were collected using the TFDA-1 tongue and face diagnosis instrument. Color and texture features from various parts of facial and tongue images were extracted using Face Diagnosis Analysis System (FDAS) and Tongue Diagnosis Analysis System version 2.0 (TDAS v2.0). Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression was used for feature selection. Ten machine learning models and one deep learning model (ResNet50V2 + Conv1D) were developed and evaluated. RESULTS: Anemic women showed lower a-values, higher L- and b-values across all age groups. Texture features analysis showed that women aged 30-39 with anemia had higher angular second moment (ASM)and lower entropy (ENT) values in facial images, while those aged 40-49 had lower contrast (CON), ENT, and MEAN values in tongue images but higher ASM. Anemic women exhibited age-related trends similar to healthy women, with decreasing L-values and increasing a-, b-, and ASM-values. LASSO identified 19 key features from 62. Among classifiers, the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model achieved the best performance [area under the curve (AUC): 0.849, accuracy: 0.781]. The ResNet50V2 model achieved comparable results [AUC: 0.846, accuracy: 0.818]. CONCLUSION Differences in facial and tongue images suggest that color and texture features can serve as potential TCM phenotype and auxiliary diagnostic indicators for female anemia.
Humans ; Female ; Tongue/diagnostic imaging* ; Adult ; Anemia/diagnosis* ; Middle Aged ; Face/diagnostic imaging* ; Young Adult ; Machine Learning

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality based on the 10-year population-based multicenter prospective study. METHODS: A general population-based multicenter prospective study was conducted at four sites in rural China between 2013 and 2023. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic spline analyses were used to assess the association between BMI and mortality. Stratified analyses were performed based on the individual characteristics of the participants. RESULTS: Overall, 19,107 participants with a sum of 163,095 person-years were included and 1,910 participants died. The underweight (< 18.5 kg/m ²) presented an increase in all-cause mortality (adjusted hazards ratio [ aHR] = 2.00, 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.66-2.41), while overweight (≥ 24.0 to < 28.0 kg/m ²) and obesity (≥ 28.0 kg/m ²) presented a decrease with an aHR of 0.61 (95% CI: 0.52-0.73) and 0.51 (95% CI: 0.37-0.70), respectively. Overweight ( aHR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.67-0.86) and mild obesity ( aHR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.59-0.87) had a positive impact on mortality in people older than 60 years. All-cause mortality decreased rapidly until reaching a BMI of 25.7 kg/m ² ( aHR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92-0.98) and increased slightly above that value, indicating a U-shaped association. The beneficial impact of being overweight on mortality was robust in most subgroups and sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION This study provides additional evidence that overweight and mild obesity may be inversely related to the risk of death in individuals older than 60 years. Therefore, it is essential to consider age differences when formulating health and weight management strategies.
Humans ; Body Mass Index ; China/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Rural Population/statistics & numerical data* ; Aged ; Follow-Up Studies ; Adult ; Mortality ; Cause of Death ; Obesity/mortality* ; Overweight/mortality*

With the rapid development of population aging in various countries around the world,the health and elderly care industry has been paid high attention.The standardization of smart health and elderly care technology and services is particularly important.This paper firstly reviewed the policies related to healthy elderly care in China.By analyzing the industrial standards and provincial standards issued,this paper focused on the policies proposed by the Shanghai Municipal Government for the standardization of smart health and elderly care,as well as the researches on the standard system and the construction of standard families.Shanghai group standards in the field of smart health and elderly care were summarized,including the guidelines for the construction of standard systems,elderly care service platforms,community elderly cafeterias,portable health monitoring terminals,indoor sports services,and home-based elderly care safety monitoring.A series of case analyses of the standardized implementation of the above aspects were also provided.Through standardization research and practice in recent years,it has been fully demonstrated that the standard research plays an important leading role in the field of smart health and elderly care.

Objective To explore the effects of the Otago Exercise Program(OEP)on activities of daily living,muscle strength,balance,and physical function in older adults with sarcopenia,to compare OEP with conventional exercise training,and to provide a basis for clinical rehabilitation programs for older adults with sarcopenia.Methods In this randomized controlled trial,120 older adults clinically diagnosed with sarcopenia were enrolled.The participants were randomly assigned to the OEP intervention group(experimental group)and the conventional exercise intervention group(control group),with 60 in each group.The experimental group underwent 12 weeks of OEP training,three times a week,with each session lasting 45 minutes.The control group underwent conventional exercise training following the same schedule.The Modified Barthel Index was used as the primary outcome measure to assess activities of daily living.Secondary outcome measures included muscle strength,gait stability,dynamic balance,and physical function status,evaluated using grip strength,6-meter walking speed,the Timed Up and Go Test(TUGT),and the Short Physical Performance Battery(SPPB).Results A total of 120 older adults with sarcopenia were included.The mean age of the participants was(80.17±8.48)years.Baseline data before treatment showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups.Both groups completed the treatment within 12 weeks without experiencing any adverse events.The baseline data for the experimental group were as follows,MBI at(67.00±22.76)points,hand grip strength at(15.29±4.94)kg,gait speed at(0.61±0.26)m/s,TUGT time at(15.05±6.74)s,and SPPB score at(6.17±1.40)points,while the corresponding post-intervention findings were as follows,(78.72±15.83)points,(17.67±5.83)kg,(0.77±0.28)m/s,(13.49±6.16)s,and(9.25±1.71)points,respectively.The experimental group showed improvements in all measures from baseline to post-intervention(P＜0.05 for all measures).As for the control group,the baseline data for the corresponding measures were as follows,(67.20±22.12)points,(15.00±5.35)kg,(0.58±0.23)m/s,(17.29±6.90)s,and(6.00±1.24)points,respectively.The post-intervention findings increased to(71.13±20.28)points,(15.47±5.72)kg,(0.64±0.28)m/s,(16.50±6.99)s,and(6.73±1.61)points,respectively,but the changes were not statistically significant(P＞0.05).Furthermore,an intergroup comparison of intervention effects(post-intervention minus preintervention)revealed significant differences in mean changes from baseline.The experimental group demonstrated improvements of(+11.72±6.32)points in modified Barthel Index,(+11.72±6.32)kg in grip strength,(+0.16±0.09)m/s in gait speed,(—1.56±1.32)s in TUGT time,and(—1.56±1.32)points in SPPB score.In contrast,the control group showed smaller changes of(+3.93±5.65)points,(+0.47±1.37)kg,(+0.06±0.07)m/s,(—0.79±1.54)s,and(+0.73±1.12)points,respectively(all P＜0.05).Intergroup comparisons revealed superior outcomes in the experimental group across all measures.Conclusion OEP significantly enhances activities of daily living,improves muscle strength,balance,and physical function in older adults,and is more effective than conventional rehabilitation exercise programs,making it suitable for extensive clinical application.

Objective To investigate the expression of the histone deacetylase SIRT7 in glioma cells and its impact on epithelial-mesenchymal transformation(EMT),as well as its effects on proliferative,migratory and invasive capabilities of glioma cells.Methods Bioinformatics analysis was conducted on data from glioma patients in the Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)and the Chinese glioma Genome Atlas(CGGA)databases to explore the expression of SIRT7 gene in gliomas and its correlation with tumor grading,molecular characteristics and patient clinical prognosis.Glioma cells were randomly divided into control,SIRT7 knockdown,SIRT7 overexpression,drug treatment(10 μmol/L hydrochlorothiazide)and drug(10 μmol/L hydrochlorothiazide)+SIRT7 overexpression groups.The CCK-8 assay,cell scratch assay and Transwell assay were used to observe the effects of upregulating and downregulating SIRT7 expression on glioma cell proliferation,migration and invasion.RT-qPCR and Western blotting were employed to detect the effects of SIRT7 on the expression of neural cadherin(N-cadherin),Vimentin,E-cadherin,transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β),Ki-67,and Smad3 protein in glioma cells.Nude mouse tumor-bearing experiments were conducted to observe the effect of SIRT7 knockdown on glioma growth.Results Higher expression levels of SIRT7 gene were associated with poorer clinical prognosis(P＜0.0001).SIRT7 expression levels were significantly correlated with tumor grading and 1p19q coding status(P＜0.01).Compared with normal HA cells,glioma cells showed significantly increased SIRT7 expression levels(P＜0.01).CCK-8 assay results indicated that,compared with control group,the proliferation activity of glioma cells in SIRT7 knockout group was significantly decreased(P＜0.01),while SIRT7 overexpression group showed significantly increased proliferation activity(P＜0.01).EdU assay results showed that,compared with control group,the proportion of glioma cells in the proliferative stage was significantly decreased in SIRT7 knockdown group(P＜0.01),and significantly increased in SIRT7 overexpression group(P＜0.01).Western blotting results revealed that,compared with control group,the protein expression levels of TGF-β,Smad3,N-cadherin and Vimentin were significantly decreased in SIRT7 knockdown group(P＜0.01),while the expression level of E-cadherin protein was significantly increased(P＜0.05).SIRT7 overexpression group showed significantly increased protein expression levels of TGF-β,Smad3,N-cadherin and Vimentin(P＜0.05),and a significantly decrease in E-cadherin protein expression level(P＜0.05).Scratch assay results indicated that,compared with control group,the migration ability of cells in SIRT7 knockdown group and drug group was significantly decreased(P＜0.01),and SIRT7 overexpression group showed significantly increased cell migration ability(P＜0.05).Compared with drug group,drug+SIRT7 overexpression group exhibited significantly increased cell migration ability(P＜0.01).Transwell assay results showed that,compared with control group,the migration and invasion abilities of cells in SIRT7 knockdown group and drug group were significantly decreased(P＜0.01),and SIRT7 overexpression group exhibited significantly increased migration and invasion abilities(P＜0.01).Compared with drug group,drug+SIRT7 overexpression group showed significantly increased migration and invasion abilities(P＜0.01).Nude mouse tumor-bearing assay results indicated that the volume and weight of glioma in SIRT7 knockdown group were significantly reduced compared with control group(P＜0.01).Conclusions Glioma patients with high SIRT7 expression have poorer clinical prognosis.SIRT7 can regulate the TGF-β/Smad3 pathway to mediate EMT,promoting the proliferation and migration of glioma cells.SIRT7 knockdown can inhibit the growth of transplanted gliomas in nude mice.