Hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）， the predominant subtype of primary liver cancer， ranks among the top in both incidence and mortality rates of malignant tumors in China. In its early stages， the disease may present with subtle or nonspecific symptoms， often leading to poor clinical prognosis and low patient survival rates， which makes it a significant public health concern. The pathogenesis is associated with multiple factors， including hepatitis virus infection， alcohol consumption， obesity， drug-induced liver injury， and immune disorders， which may interact synergistically to promote disease development. Currently， mainstream therapeutic approaches for HCC in modern medicine encompass surgical resection， liver transplantation， radiofrequency ablation， radiotherapy， and chemotherapy， but they all have certain limitations， such as large side effects and poor prognosis， imposing substantial psychological distress and financial strain on affected individuals. With a rich historical background in hepatic malignancy management， traditional Chinese medicine offers therapeutic benefits characterized by multi-targeted mechanisms， multi-level regulation， minimal adverse effects， and reduced likelihood of disease recurrence. It can not only enhance the curative effect， but also reduce the side effects of radiotherapy， chemotherapy， and surgery. Thus， it has attracted widespread attention. Extensive research has demonstrated that traditional Chinese medicine exhibits significant antitumor properties， along with notable anti-inflammatory and oxidative stress-reducing capabilities， and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of nuclear factor-kappa B （NF-κB） signaling pathway， which can affect multiple stages of hepatocarcinogenesis， such as cell proliferation， invasion， metastasis， and apoptosis. The mechanism of NF-κB signaling pathway in traditional Chinese medicine for HCC treatment has emerged as one of the pivotal research directions in current oncology studies. Based on the existing research foundation， a systematic literature review method was adopted to retrieve and analyze relevant Chinese and English literature in recent years. Integrating the molecular regulatory mechanisms of the NF-κB signaling pathway and its pivotal role in HCC pathogenesis and progression helped further explore the latest research advances in traditional Chinese medicine interventions targeting this pathway for HCC treatment. This approach may provide novel theoretical foundations and translational strategies for the prevention and management of HCC using traditional Chinese medicine.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a critical global health threat. This review systematically examines AMR surveillance technology advances, from conventional culture methods to modern molecular diagnostics (e.g., whole-genome sequencing) and artificial intelligence-assisted approaches. It focuses on the current application of mass spectrometry, machine learning predictive models, and real-time surveillance networks. To address challenges including inadequate technical standardization, clinical translation barriers, and data-sharing limitations, we propose integrated ^"genotype-phenotype^" strategies and global standardization framework, while exploring future applications of CRISPR-based portable detection, single-cell sequencing, and blockchain technologies.

ObjectiveTo clarify whether METTL14 mediates the core role of acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) in promoting myelination and improving behavior in young autistic rats through gene intervention technology. MethodsThe ASD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of valproic acid (VPA) in pregnant rats. Male offspring were intracerebroventricularly injected with adenovirus-packaged METTL14 shRNA (sh-METTL14) or its control (sh-NC) on postnatal day 1, with a model group set as well. Subsequently, the juvenile rats were divided into model group, acupuncture group, acupuncture+sh-NC group, and acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group. The acupuncture group received acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) from postnatal day 7, once daily for 21 consecutive days. Neurobehavioral changes were evaluated by behavioral tests; METTL14 knockdown efficiency and the expression of METTL14, METTL3, and PTEN were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot (WB); PTEN m⁶A levels were measured by RNA immunoprecipitation-qPCR (RIP-qPCR); myelin ultrastructure, expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) and neurofascin 155 (NF155), and dendritic spine density were observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and primary neuron culture. ResultsBehaviorally, knockdown of METTL14 significantly counteracted the beneficial effects of acupuncture in improving self-grooming, open field exploration, three-chamber social interaction, and Morris water maze learning and memory (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the acupuncture+sh-NC group, the acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group showed significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression of hippocampal METTL14 (P<0.01), and the upregulating effects of acupuncture on METTL3 and PTEN expression were reversed (P<0.01). Meanwhile, knockdown of METTL14 significantly inhibited the acupuncture-induced increase in PTEN m⁶A levels (P<0.01). Morphologically, knockdown of METTL14 attenuated the improvement of myelin structure by acupuncture, reversed the downregulation of MBP and upregulation of NF155 induced by acupuncture, and blocked the increase in dendritic spine density (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionMETTL14 is a key molecule mediating the therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Neiguan. Acupuncture at Neiguan upregulates METTL14, thereby enhancing m⁶A methylation modification of PTEN mRNA to stabilize its expression, ultimately promoting myelin development and improving behavioral symptoms in ASD juvenile rats. This preliminarily reveals the modern biological connotation of “opening Xuanfu and dredging myelin”.

ObjectiveTo clarify whether METTL14 mediates the core role of acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) in promoting myelination and improving behavior in young autistic rats through gene intervention technology. MethodsThe ASD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of valproic acid (VPA) in pregnant rats. Male offspring were intracerebroventricularly injected with adenovirus-packaged METTL14 shRNA (sh-METTL14) or its control (sh-NC) on postnatal day 1, with a model group set as well. Subsequently, the juvenile rats were divided into model group, acupuncture group, acupuncture+sh-NC group, and acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group. The acupuncture group received acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) from postnatal day 7, once daily for 21 consecutive days. Neurobehavioral changes were evaluated by behavioral tests; METTL14 knockdown efficiency and the expression of METTL14, METTL3, and PTEN were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot (WB); PTEN m⁶A levels were measured by RNA immunoprecipitation-qPCR (RIP-qPCR); myelin ultrastructure, expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) and neurofascin 155 (NF155), and dendritic spine density were observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and primary neuron culture. ResultsBehaviorally, knockdown of METTL14 significantly counteracted the beneficial effects of acupuncture in improving self-grooming, open field exploration, three-chamber social interaction, and Morris water maze learning and memory (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the acupuncture+sh-NC group, the acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group showed significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression of hippocampal METTL14 (P<0.01), and the upregulating effects of acupuncture on METTL3 and PTEN expression were reversed (P<0.01). Meanwhile, knockdown of METTL14 significantly inhibited the acupuncture-induced increase in PTEN m⁶A levels (P<0.01). Morphologically, knockdown of METTL14 attenuated the improvement of myelin structure by acupuncture, reversed the downregulation of MBP and upregulation of NF155 induced by acupuncture, and blocked the increase in dendritic spine density (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionMETTL14 is a key molecule mediating the therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Neiguan. Acupuncture at Neiguan upregulates METTL14, thereby enhancing m⁶A methylation modification of PTEN mRNA to stabilize its expression, ultimately promoting myelin development and improving behavioral symptoms in ASD juvenile rats. This preliminarily reveals the modern biological connotation of “opening Xuanfu and dredging myelin”.

ObjectiveMicrotube associated protein-2 （MAP-2）， alpha-tubulin （α-tubulin）， and synaptophysin （SYP） are important proteins in neuronal signal communication. This paper observed the effects of modified Zhigancao Tang on the expression of serum α-Synuclein （α-Syn） and its oligomers， MAP-2， α-tubulin， and SYP of patients with liver and kidney deficiency of Parkinson's disease （PD）， analyzed their correlation， and evaluated the therapeutic effect of modified Zhigancao Tang in patients with liver and kidney deficiency of PD based on α-Syn transmission pathway mediated by neuronal communication in vivo. MethodsA total of 60 patients with PD who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into a treatment group （30 cases） and a control group （30 cases）. Both groups were treated on the basis of PD medicine， and the treatment group was treated with modified Zhigancao Tang. Both groups were treated for 12 weeks. The changes in UPDRS score， TCM syndrome score， and expression of serum α-Syn and its oligomers， MAP-2， α-tubulin， and SYP were observed before and after 12 weeks of treatment in each group. The correlation between the above-mentioned serum biological indexes and the levels of serum α-Syn and its oligomers was analyzed. ResultsAfter treatment， the TCM syndrome score， UPDRS score， UPDRS-Ⅱ score， and UPDRS-Ⅲ score of the treatment group were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The UPDRS score， UPDRS-Ⅱ score， and UPDRS-Ⅲ scores in the treatment group were significantly decreased compared with those in the control group after treatment （P<0.05）. After treatment， the total effective rate of the control group was 63.3% （19/30）， and that of the treatment group was 86.7% （26/30）. The clinical effect of the observation group was better than the control group （Z=-2.03， P<0.05）. The total effective rate of the observation group was better than that of the control group， and the difference was statistically significant （χ²=5.136， P<0.05）. After treatment， the oligomer level of serum α-Syn and MAP-2 level in the treatment group were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The levels of serum α-Syn and its oligomers， as well as α-tubulin in the treatment group， were significantly decreased compared with those in the control group after treatment （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Serum α-Syn was correlated with serum MAP-2 and α-Syn oligomer in patients with PD （P<0.05， P<0.01） but not correlated with serum SYP . Serum α-Syn oligomers of patients with PD were correlated with serum MAP-2 and α-tubulin （P<0.05， P<0.01） but not correlated with serum SYP level. Serum SYP of patients with PD was correlated with serum MAP-2 （P<0.05）. ConclusionModified Zhigancao Tang has a therapeutic effect on patients with liver and kidney deficiency of PD by inhibiting the production of α-Syn oligomers and intervening α-Syn microtubule transport pathway in vivo.

Hepatitis E is an acute and self-limiting viral hepatitis caused by the hepatitis E virus (HEV). It has a higher mortality rate among immunosuppressed patients and pregnant women infected with HEV. Although HEV infections in humans are mostly caused by contaminated water or food worldwide, the incidence of transfusion-transmitted hepatitis E is continuously rising. Additionally, the prevalence of serum anti-HEV IgG in the blood donors in China is at a relatively high level, making it worth considering screening blood donors for HEV. This article briefly reviews the globally reported cases of transfusion-transmitted hepatitis E and the HEV screening strategies for blood donations.

Objective To study the age-dependent relationship between body mass index(BMI)and cognitive impairment in rural population aged 40 years and above.Methods From October 2014 to March 2015,people aged 40 years and above,who lived in two natural villages in Huyi District of Xi'an,were selected as the research subjects.Their general demographic information,lifestyle,medical history,family history,physical examination,and biochemical examination were collected.Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE)was used to evaluate global cognitive function.Cognitive impairment was defined as an MMSE score lower than the cutoff value,specifically,scores ≤17 for subjects who were illiterate,scores ≤20 for subjects with primary school education,and scores ≤24 for subjects with junior high school education or above.The age-dependent relationship between BMI and cognitive impairment was discussed using stratified analysis,restricted cubic spline(RCS),and multivariate Logistic regression.Results We included a total of 1 792 subjects in the analysis,of whom 230(12.8％)were diagnosed with cognitive impairment.There were 726 males(40.5％);the average age was(55.53±9.92)years,ranging from 40 to 85 years,1 193 subjects aged 40-59 years(66.6％),and 599 subjects aged ≥60 years(33.4％).The average BMI was(25.29±3.14)kg/m2.In the total population,BMI index was fitted as restricted cubic splines in the Logistic regression model,and other confounding factors were corrected.The results showed that BMI index was significantly correlated with cognitive impairment(Poverall=0.023),and there was a trend of nonlinear relationship(P nonlinear=0.097).The specific relationship was that with BMI=25 kg/m2 as the reference(OR=1),when BMI index was＜25 kg/m2,the OR value increased as BMI index decreased.However,when BMI index was ≥25 kg/m2,the OR value did not change significantly as BMI index increased.The population was divided into two subgroups according to age(40-59 years vs.≥60 years).Stratified analysis showed that in the ≥60 years old subgroup,cognitive impairment had significant correlation with BMI index(Poverall=0.038,Pnonlinear=0.097),and the changing trend of the correlation was similar to that of the overall population.By contrast,in the 40-59 years old subgroup,BMI index was not significantly associated with cognitive impairment(Poverall=0.722,Pnonlinear=0.738).Conclusion The relationship between BMI and cognitive impairment is affected by age.No significant association is found in the middle-aged population of 40-59 years old,but there may be a nonlinear association in the elderly population over 60 years old.Specifically,with BMI=25 kg/m2 as the boundary,as BMI decreases,the risk of cognitive impairment gradually increases.As BMI further increases,the risk of cognitive impairment does not change significantly even though it reaches the obesity level.

Objective To investigate the correlation between coronary heart disease(CHD)and cognitive impairment in rural populations aged 40 and above.Methods From October 2014 to March 2015,all residents aged 40 and above from two villages in Huyi District,Xi'an,were selected as study subjects.Information regarding their demographics,lifestyle habits,medical history,family history,physical examinations,and biochemical tests was collected.The participants were categorized into those with and without the history of CHD.Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE),with scores below the cutoff(illiteracy≤17;primary school≤20;junior high school and above≤24)defined as cognitive impairment.Chi-square test was used to compare the prevalence of cognitive impairment between the CHD and non-CHD groups.Multivariate Logistic regression was employed to adjust for confounding factors in analyzing the relationship between CHD and cognitive impairment.Results A total of 1 833 subjects were included in the analysis,comprising 735 males(40.1％)and 57 individuals with CHD(3.1％).Among them,234 participants(13.3％)met the criteria for cognitive impairment.Univariate analysis showed a higher prevalence of cognitive impairment in the CHD group compared to the non-CHD group(24.6％vs.12.9％,P=0.016).Unadjusted binary Logistic regression analysis indicated a positive correlation between CHD and cognitive impairment(OR=2.199,95％CI:1.185-4.084,P=0.013).However,after adjusting for confounding factors such as gender,age,education level,hypertension,diabetes,dyslipidemia,stroke history and BMI,the association between CHD and cognitive impairment was not statistically significant(OR=1.265,95％CI:0.656-2.441,P=0.483).In the stratified analysis,among diabetic patients,CHD was significantly associated with a high risk of cognitive impairment(OR=4.191,95％CI:1.464-12.000,P=0.008).The prevalence of cognitive impairment significantly increased in patients with CHD combined with diabetes(OR=4.712,95％CI:1.651-13.449,P=0.004).Conclusion This study did not establish a direct association between CHD and cognitive impairment.However,this study suggests that the presence of CHD and diabetes mellitus is significantly associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment.Future prospective studies with larger sample sizes should be conducted to further confirm the relationship between the two.

Objective To analyze the relationship between apolipoprotein E(APOE)genotype and cognitive impairment among individuals aged 40 and above in rural Xi'an and to explore the potential influence of education on this relationship.Methods All permanent residents aged 40 and above from two villages in Huyi District,Xi'an City,were selected as research subjects,employing a cross-sectional survey approach.The Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE)was utilized to assess overall cognitive function,with MMSE scores below the threshold values(illiterate ≤17,primary school ≤20,junior high and above ≤24)considered as cognitive impairment.Fasting elbow venous blood was drawn in the morning,and the APOE genotype was determined.The population was divided into low-education(LE,≤9 years)and high-education(HE,＞9 years)groups based on educational level.Univariate and multivariate analyses were applied to explore the association between APOE genotype and cognitive impairment,as well as MMSE scores in both the total and stratified populations.Results Out of the 1 692 participants,there were 263 APOE ε4 allele carriers(E2/4,E3/4,E4/4)(15.3％),and 205 individuals met the criteria for cognitive impairment(12.1％).Multivariate Logistic regression and linear regression analyses revealed that in both the total population and the LE population,compared to APOE ε4 allele non-carriers(E2/2,E2/3,E3/3),APOE ε4 allele carriers exhibited a higher risk of cognitive impairments(total population:OR=1.509,95％CI:1.030-2.211,P=0.035;LE:OR=1.604,95％CI:1.080-2.381,P=0.019),and their MMSE scores were lower(total population:β=-0.053,95％CI:-0.983--0.162,P=0.006;LE:β=-0.052,95％CI:-1.052--0.124,P=0.013).However,in the HE population,there was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of cognitive impairment(OR=1.883,95％CI:0.254-13.980,P=0.536)and MMSE scores(β=0.001,95％CI:-0.635-0.642,P=0.992)between APOE ε4 allele carriers and non-carriers.Conclusion The APOE ε4 allele was associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment in individuals aged 40 and above in rural areas of Xi'an,while HE attainment may offer protective effects against cognitive impairment in APOE ε4 allele carriers.

Objective:To investigate the effects of red laser versus plasma transurethral enucleation of the prostate (TUEP) on urinary and sexual function in patients under 65 years of age with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Method:This study was a retrospective analysis. Eighty BPH patients under 65 years old, admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Yan'an University between January 2020 and January 2023 were selected. Among them, 40 patients who underwent 980 nm semiconductor red laser TUERP with pre-resection of the urethral mucosa 1 cm proximal to the verumontanum at the prostatic apex and preservation of bladder neck integrity were assigned to the Red Laser Group. Another 40 patients who underwent conventional TURP with a plasma resectoscope were assigned to the Plasma Group. Clinical data and 6-month postoperative follow-up data were collected. Changes in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) score, ejaculatory function score, and ejaculatory discomfort score before and after surgery were compared between the two groups. The incidence rates of decreased semen volume, retrograde ejaculation, and painful ejaculation at 6 months postoperatively were also compared.Results:At 6 months postoperatively, IPSS decreased in both groups compared to preoperative levels and was lower in the Red Laser Group than in the Plasma Group [(4.7±1.3) points vs. (6.3±2.2) points, t=-4.46, P<0.001]. Qmax increased in both groups compared to preoperative levels and was higher in the Red Laser Group than in the Plasma Group [(25.7±1.3) ml/s vs. (22.6±1.2) ml/s, t=10.76, P<0.001]. The ejaculatory function score in the Plasma Group was lower than its own preoperative level [(5.9±0.7) points vs. (11.1±1.6) points, t=5.33, P<0.001] and lower than that in the Red Laser Group [(5.9±0.7) points vs. (11.4±0.9) points, t=7.56, P<0.001]. The ejaculatory discomfort score in the Plasma Group was higher than its own preoperative level [(3.0±1.5) points vs. (0.8±0.6) points, t=4.26, P<0.001] and higher than that in the Red Laser Group [(3.0±1.5) points vs. (0.8±0.6) points, t=5.83, P<0.001]. The incidence rates of decreased semen volume and retrograde ejaculation in the Red Laser Group were lower than those in the Plasma Group [12.5% (5/40) vs. 50.0% (20/40), 10.0% (4/40) vs. 45.0% (18/40), χ2=15.84, 12.65, respectively, both P<0.001]. Conclusions:Using 980 nm semiconductor red laser TUERP with pre-resection of the urethral mucosa 1 cm proximal to the verumontanum and preservation of bladder neck integrity can improve urinary and sexual function in BPH patients under 65 years of age.