Background The moderation role of environmental factors in the spread of hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) has attracted much attention, but the existing conclusions are inconsistent. For example, some scholars believe that high temperature, high humidity, and high concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) increase the risk of HFMD, but other scholars have reached the opposite conclusion, or believe that there is no significant relationship. Objective Based on distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM), to investigate the relationship between the incidence of HFMD and meteorological and air pollutant variables in Lianyungang City, and to provide scientific basis for early warning. Methods Daily data of meteorological factors and air pollutants in Lianyungang City from 2021 to 2024 were retrieved. Meteorological factors included average daily temperature, average wind speed, average air pressure, and relative humidity. Air pollutant indicators included PM_2.5, inhalable particulate matter (PM₁₀), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), NO₂, and ozone (O₃). Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze their correlations with HFMD, and the R package (version 4.3.1) dlnm was used to construct a DLNM model. Results During the study period, a total of 10503 cases were reported, with a male to female ratio of 1.47∶1 and the highest proportion of scattered children (49.97%). The Spearman correlation analysis results showed that daily average temperature (r=0.40), relative humidity (r=0.17) and O₃ (r=0.14) were positively correlated with the incidence of HFMD (all Ps<0.01), while average air pressure (r=−0.34), PM_2.5 (r=−0.24), PM₁₀ (r=−0.24), CO (r=−0.22), and NO₂ (r=−0.06) were negatively correlated with it (all Ps<0.05). There was no statistical relationship of SO₂ and average wind speed with the incidence of HFMD (both Ps>0.05). The cumulative risk effect was greatest when the daily average temperature was 28.50 ℃ (CRR=4.63, 95%CI: 2.68, 8.01). The average wind speed below 0.50 m·s⁻¹ and in the range of 2.50-3.50 m·s⁻¹ showed an acute risk effect, and low pressure (below 1016.00 hPa) could immediately increase the risk of the disease. The cumulative risk effect was greatest when the relative humidity was 100% (CRR=3.16, 95%CI: 1.77, 5.65). The greatest cumulative protective effects of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ were present at concentrations of 158.00 μg·m⁻³ (CRR=0.12, 95%CI: 0.01, 0.99) and 561.50 μg·m⁻³ (CRR=0.01, 95%CI: 0.01, 0.99) respectively. The protective effect of CO was the strongest at the highest concentration (67.00 μg·m⁻³) (RR=0.67, 95%CI: 0.34, 0.64). The cumulative protective effects of SO₂ and NO₂ were both most significant at the concentration of 0.50 μg·m⁻³. Low concentrations of O₃ (below 48.00 μg·m⁻³) showed a risk effect, and the single-day protective effect was significant when the concentration was 141.00 μg·m⁻³. Conclusion There is a nonlinear and hysteretic relationship between environmental factors and the incidence of HFMD. A rational and efficient early warning and prevention and control system can be constructed accordingly.

OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and safety of infliximab（IFX）， ustekinumab（UST） and vedolizumab（VDZ） in the treatment of active Crohn’s disease （CD）. METHODS The patients with active CD who were diagnosed and initially received any of the aforementioned biologics at the First Affiliated Hospital of the USTC （Anhui Provincial Hospital） from January 2020 to December 2023 were selected as the study subjects. They were divided into the IFX group （34 cases）， the UST group （37 cases）， and the VDZ group （15 cases） based on their treatment regimens. Patients in all three groups received induction and maintenance therapy with IFX， UST or VDZ for at least 12 months. The CD Activity Index （CDAI） scores and their changes from baseline （ΔCDAI）， clinical remission rates， clinical response rates， nutritional indicators [body mass index （BMI）， albumin （ALB）， hemoglobin （HGB）]， and inflammatory markers [C-reactive protein （CRP）， erythrocyte sedimentation rate （ESR）] of three groups after the induction phase （9th week of treatment） and during the maintenance phase （12th month of treatment） were compared. Additionally， the cumulative clinical remission rates at 1 year of treatment and the incidence of adverse events （AEs） were compared. RESULTS There were no statistically significant differences in the aforementioned baseline indicators among the three groups （ P ＞0.05）. In all three groups， the CDAI scores were significantly lower after the induction phase and during the maintenance phase， compared to the baseline （ P ＜0.05）. In the IFX group， CDAI scores at the above time points were significantly lower than those in the UST and VDZ groups during the same periods （ P ＜0.05）， and the absolute value of ΔCDAI during the maintenance phase was significantly higher than that in the VDZ group （ P ＜0.05）. The clinical remission rate in the IFX group during the maintenance phase was significantly higher than that in the UST and VDZ groups during the same period， and the clinical response rate was significantly higher than that in the VDZ group during the same period （ P ＜0.05）. The levels of ALB， HGB， CRP and ESR in the IFX group after the induction phase and during the maintenance phase， as well as the levels of CRP and ESR in the UST group after the induction phase， all improved significantly compared to the baseline. Furthermore， the levels of ALB and HGB in the IFX group were significantly higher than those in the UST and VDZ groups during the same period （ P ＜0.05）. The cumulative clinical remission rates among the three groups were significantly different （ P ＜0.05）， with patients in the IFX group achieving remission more rapidly and at a higher proportion. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of AEs among IFX， UST and VDZ groups （14.71%， 8.11% and 20.00%， respectively； P ＞0.05）； infusion reactions were the most common AEs in the IFX group （8.82%）. CONCLUSIONS Compared with UST and VDZ， IFX demonstrates a higher clinical remission rate during the maintenance phase， more effectively improves active CD patients’ nutritional status， and continuously reduces systemic inflammatory responses. However， clinicians should be mindful of the risk of adverse events， such as infusion reactions， associated with this drug.

ObjectiveHyperlipidemia （HLP） is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by abnormal lipid metabolism and is one of the important risk factors for the occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Its incidence has increased year by year， showing a trend toward younger onset. The overall prevalence of HLP among adults in China is as high as 40.40%. Although existing animal models provide important tools for research on the mechanisms of HLP， they generally show insufficient clinical concordance and lack the combined disease-syndrome characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） and Western medicine. This article systematically reviews the research progress of HLP animal models， integrates the clinicopathological characteristics of TCM and Western medicine， and proposes new model construction strategies， aiming to provide an experimental basis for accurately analyzing the pathogenesis of HLP and developing integrated TCM-Western medicine therapies. MethodsBased on literature included in PubMed， CNKI， and Wanfang databases over the past 30 years， the construction methods and evaluation systems of HLP animal models were systematically retrieved and summarized. The concordance of existing animal models was calculated according to the new animal model evaluation method proposed by Professor MIAO Mingsan. ResultsAmong existing Western medicine modeling approaches， genetically modified models showed the highest concordance （72%）， followed by dietary induction （66%） and chemical drug induction （60%）. The dietary induction method is the most widely used in practice because of its simple operation and mature technology. Existing TCM modeling approaches are classified into three types， i.e.， spleen deficiency type， phlegm syndrome type， and liver-kidney yin deficiency type. Among them， the phlegm syndrome type shows a high degree of concordance. However， all three types have the problem of non-objective evaluation indicators and insufficient application of tongue and pulse assessment. ConclusionThe construction of existing HLP disease-syndrome combined animal models is still mainly based on Western medicine modeling methods and lacks adequate reflection of TCM syndromes. In the future， HLP animal models that conform to the clinical disease-syndrome characteristics of both TCM and Western medicine may be constructed through multifactor composite modeling strategies， intelligent tongue image analysis via robot learning， objective pulse detection， the establishment of objective evaluation systems for TCM syndromes through big data computing， and the application of cutting-edge technologies.

ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the effect of whole body vibration training (WBV) at different vibration frequencies on balance and walking function in individuals with stroke. MethodsRandomized controlled trials (RCT) about the effect of WBV on post-stroke balance and walking function were retrieved from CNKI, VIP, Wanfang Data, CBM, PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library databases from inception to April, 2026. Outcome measures included Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Functional Ambulation Category (FAC), and Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT). The methodological quality of the included studies was appraised using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and the PEDro scale. Meta-analysis was performed using Stata 18.0. ResultsA total of 22 RCT comprising 1 335 stroke patients were included, with PEDro scores ranging from five to nine. Meta-analysis demonstrated that compared with control interventions, WBV significantly improved BBS scores (WMD = 4.761, 95%CI 3.220 to 6.302, P < 0.001) and FAC scores (WMD = 0.537, 95%CI 0.239 to 0.835, P < 0.001), and significantly reduced the time of TUGT (WMD = -2.329, 95%CI -3.889 to -0.769, P = 0.003). Subgroup analyses revealed that low-frequency WBV (≤ 20 Hz) produced significant improvement in both balance and walking function relative to controls, whereas high-frequency WBV (> 20 Hz) did not reach statistical significance. Low-frequency WBV intervention was superior to high-frequency WBV in FAC scores (Q = 8.070, P = 0.005), whereas no statistically significant difference was observed between the low- and high-frequency subgroups in BBS and TUGT (P > 0.05). Meta-regression suggested that vibration frequency was not the primary source of heterogeneity; rather, the total number of training sessions and time since stroke might be potential influencing factors. Adverse events were mild and occurred exclusively in the high-frequency group. ConclusionWBV can effectively improve post-stroke balance and walking function. Based on the limited available evidence, low-frequency WBV (≤ 20 Hz) is super to high-frequency WBV in both efficacy and safety. In addition, attention should be paid to the cumulative effect of total training volume, and the timing of intervention should be tailored to the patient's disease duration.

Background/Aims: Transmembrane 4 L six family member 1 (TM4SF1) is highly expressed and contributes to the progression of various malignancies. However, how it modulates hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression and senescence remains to be elucidated. Methods: TM4SF1 expression in HCC samples was evaluated using immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Cellular senescence was assessed through SA-β-gal activity assays and Western blot analysis. TM4SF1-related protein interactions were investigated using immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry, co-immunoprecipitation, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, and immunofluorescence. Tumor-infiltrating immune cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The HCC mouse model was established via hydrodynamic tail vein injection. Results: TM4SF1 was highly expressed in human HCC samples and murine models. Knockdown of TM4SF1 suppressed HCC proliferation both in vitro and in vivo, inducing non-secretory senescence through upregulation of p16 and p21. TM4SF1 enhanced the interaction between AKT1 and PDPK1, thereby promoting AKT phosphorylation, which subsequently downregulated p16 and p21. Meanwhile, TM4SF1-mediated AKT phosphorylation enhanced PD-L1 expression while reducing major histocompatibility complex class I level on tumor cells, leading to impaired cytotoxic function of CD8+ T cells and an increased proportion of exhausted CD8+ T cells. In clinical HCC samples, elevated TM4SF1 expression was associated with resistance to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. Targeting TM4SF1 via adeno-associated virus induced tumor senescence, reduced tumor burden and synergistically enhanced the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy. Conclusions Our results revealed that TM4SF1 regulated tumor cell senescence and immune evasion through the AKT pathway, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target in HCC, particularly in combination with first-line immunotherapy.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), a severe long-term complication of acute pulmonary thromboembolism, is characterized by high mortality and disability rates.The Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension(2024 edition) represents the first comprehensive systematic evaluation of evidence-based medical evidence on CTEPH published domestically and internationally in recent years, formulating recommendations tailored to clinical practice in China to standardize the clinical diagnosis and management of CTEPH. This article provides an interpretative analysis focusing on early recognition of CTEPH, the diagnostic value of various imaging modalities, and the selection of therapeutic strategies, with the aim of providing clinical guidance and support.

Objective To compare the benefits and drawbacks of primary patch expansion versus pericardial tube right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection in patients diagnosed with pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PA/VSD). Methods A retrospective study was conducted on patients diagnosed with PA/VSD who underwent primary right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection surgery at our center between 2010 and 2020. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the type of right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection: a pericardial tube group and a patch expansion group. Clinical data and imaging findings were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 51 patients were included in the study, comprising 31 males and 20 females, with a median age of 12.57 (4.57, 49.67) months. The pericardial tube group included 19 patients with a median age of 17.17 (7.33, 49.67) months, while the patch expansion group consisted of 32 patients with a median age of 8.58 (3.57, 52.72) months. In both groups, the diameter of pulmonary artery, McGoon index, and Nakata index significantly increased after treatment (P<0.001). However, the pericardial tube group exhibited a longer extracorporeal circulation time (P<0.001). The reoperation rate was notably high, with 74.51% of patients requiring further surgical intervention, including 26 (81.25%) patients in the patch expansion group and 12 (63.16%) patients in the pericardial tube group. No statistical differences were observed in long-term cure rates or mortality between the two groups (P＞0.005). Conclusion In patients with PA/VSD, both patch expansion and pericardial tube right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection serve as effective initial palliative treatment strategies that promote pulmonary vessel development and provide a favorable foundation for subsequent radical operations. However, compared to the pericardial tube approach, the patch expansion technique is simpler to perform and preserves some intrinsic potential for pulmonary artery development, making it the preferred procedure.

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.

Background/Aims: Transmembrane 4 L six family member 1 (TM4SF1) is highly expressed and contributes to the progression of various malignancies. However, how it modulates hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression and senescence remains to be elucidated. Methods: TM4SF1 expression in HCC samples was evaluated using immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Cellular senescence was assessed through SA-β-gal activity assays and Western blot analysis. TM4SF1-related protein interactions were investigated using immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry, co-immunoprecipitation, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, and immunofluorescence. Tumor-infiltrating immune cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The HCC mouse model was established via hydrodynamic tail vein injection. Results: TM4SF1 was highly expressed in human HCC samples and murine models. Knockdown of TM4SF1 suppressed HCC proliferation both in vitro and in vivo, inducing non-secretory senescence through upregulation of p16 and p21. TM4SF1 enhanced the interaction between AKT1 and PDPK1, thereby promoting AKT phosphorylation, which subsequently downregulated p16 and p21. Meanwhile, TM4SF1-mediated AKT phosphorylation enhanced PD-L1 expression while reducing major histocompatibility complex class I level on tumor cells, leading to impaired cytotoxic function of CD8+ T cells and an increased proportion of exhausted CD8+ T cells. In clinical HCC samples, elevated TM4SF1 expression was associated with resistance to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. Targeting TM4SF1 via adeno-associated virus induced tumor senescence, reduced tumor burden and synergistically enhanced the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy. Conclusions Our results revealed that TM4SF1 regulated tumor cell senescence and immune evasion through the AKT pathway, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target in HCC, particularly in combination with first-line immunotherapy.