ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism of Pibai Yucuo Formula （枇柏愈痤方， PYF） in treating acne from the perspective of skin barrier damage. MethodsThirty-two mice were randomly divided into blank group， model group， minocycline group， and PYF group， with 8 mice in each group. Except for the blank group， mice were induced by intradermal injection of Cutibacterium acnes （C.acnes） combined with topical application of artificial sebum to establish acne model. The blank group and model group received intragastric administration of 0.2 ml of distilled water， while the PYF group received intragastric administration of 22.75 g/（kg·d）of PYF， and the minocycline group received 0.013 g/（kg·d）of minocycline suspension， all once daily for 5 consecutive days. On day 0 and day 6 of the experiment， the body weight of mice in each group was recorded， and the absolute value of the body weight difference during the experiment was calculated. Skin conditions were assessed with multifunctional skin imaging system on the 2nd， 4th and 6th day of the experiment. Skin barrier function indicators including transepidermal water loss （TEWL）， and the water content of the stratum corneum and epidermis on day 0， 2， 4 and 6 of the experiment. Optical coherence tomography （OCT） was used to observe stratum corneum and skin thickness on the 1st， 3rd and 5th day of the experiment. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was performed to observe histopathological changes， while ELISA was used to detect interleukin-17A （IL-17A） levels， and immunofluorescence staining was used to assess skin barrier-related proteins filaggrin （FLG） and loricrin （LOR） levels of skin lesions on day 6 of the experiment. ResultsCompared to the blank group， the model group showed a decrease in body weight on day 6， and an increase in the absolute value of the difference in body weight before and after the experiment （P＜0.05）. On day 4 and 6， TEWL values increased， while water content in the skin stratum corneum and epidermis decreased （P＜0.05）， accompanied by elevated IL-17A level and reduced immunofluorescence intensity of FLG and LOR proteins （P＜0.05）. The model group mice showed papules or pustules at the skin modeling site with progressively worsening desquamation under multifunctional skin imaging system. OCT revealed focal epidermal protrusions， blurred epidermal-dermal boundaries， and disorganized structural layers. HE staining showed significant epidermal hyperkeratosis and incomplete keratinization in the skin， with keratin plug formation in hair follicles and glandular lumens， thickened stratum corneum， hyperplasia of the stratum spinosum， as well as dense dermal inflammatory cell infiltration， and capillary dilation. Compared to the model group， both the minocycline group and the PYF group showed a reduced difference in body weight before and after experiment （P＜0.05）. On day 4 and 6， the TEWL value decreased， and water content of the skin stratum corneum increased （P＜0.05）； on day 6， the IL-17A level in the skin lesions decreased and immunofluorescence intensity of FLG and LOR proteins increased （P＜0.05）. On day 4 and 6， the severity of the skin lesions and range of redness and swelling were lighter than those in the model group， with reverted epidermal thickness， smoother surface and clearer epidermis-dermis boundary. HE staining showed that the degree of skin keratinization was reduced， and the inflammatory infiltration and vascular dilation in the dermis were improved compared to the model group. The PYF group showed better results than the minocycline group in reducing TEWL value on day 4 （P＜0.05）. ConclusionPYF may improve inflammation and skin barrier damage by downregulating IL-17A levels in lesion tissue and increasing skin barrier-related proteins， which could be one of the potential mechanism of action on acne.

Objective:To analyze the related factors of membranous urethral length in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and the early recovery of urinary control function after Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP).Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the case data of 124 patients with BPH admitted to the Yan′an University Affiliated Hospital from January 2017 to January 2023. According to the recovery of postoperative urinary control function, the patients were divided into the urinary control group ( n=81) and the urinary incontinence group ( n=43). The clinical data of the two groups of patients were collected, including age, body mass index, comorbidities, etc. The perioperative indicators [including prostate volume, prostatic specific antigen, membranous urethral length, international prostate symptom score (IPSS), maximum bladder capacity, degree of prostate protrusion into the bladder, etc.], the urodynamic indicators before the operation and 6 months after the operation (including maximum urine flow rate, maximum urethral pressure and bladder compliance) and the urinary control situation of the two groups of patients were observed. Measurement data were expressed as mean±standard deviation ( ± s), and the independent sample t-test was used for comparison between groups; count data were expressed as the cases and percentage, and Chi-square test was used for comparison between groups. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate the influencing factors of early urinary control function recovery after HoLEP. Results:All patients successfully completed the surgery, and the follow-up was conducted 6 months after the operation as the time point. The results of univariate analysis showed that there were no statistically significant differences in age, body mass index, comorbidities, prostatic specific antigen, IPSS score and the degree of prostate protrusion into the bladder between the urinary control group and the urinary incontinence group ( P>0.05). The operation time, indwelling catheter time, prostate volume, preoperative membranous urethral length, postoperative membranous urethral length and the postoperative maximum bladder capacity of the two groups of patients all showed statistically significant differences ( P<0.05). Before the operation, there were no statistically significant differences in urodynamic indicators such as maximum urinary flow rate, maximum urethral pressure and bladder compliance between the two groups of patients ( P>0.05). Six months after the operation, the maximum urinary flow rate, the maximum urethral pressure and the bladder compliance in the two groups of patients increased compared with those before the operation. Moreover, the maximum urinary flow rate [(10.48±0.65) mL/s vs (9.41±0.53) mL/s], the maximum urethral pressure [(41.25±3.46) cmH 2O vs (38.21±3.16) cmH 2O], and bladder compliance [(32.23±3.13) cmH 2O vs (30.23±2.35) cmH 2O] were higher than those in the urinary incontinence group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that operation time ≥1 h, indwelling catheter time ≥5 d, prostate volume ≥60 mL, preoperative membranous urethral length <14 mm, and postoperative membranous urethral length <13 mm were independent risk factors for the recovery of early urinary control function after HoLEP ( OR>1, P<0.05), the maximum bladder capacity after surgery was an independent protective factor for the recovery of early postoperative urinary control function ( OR<1, P<0.05). Conclusions:Preoperative membranous urethral length <14 mm and postoperative membranous urethral length <13 mm are risk factors affecting the recovery of early urinary control function after HoLEP in patients with BPH. A longer membranous urethral length can reduce the risk of postoperative complications and accelerate the recovery of urinary control function in patients.

The aim of this updated guideline is to provide comprehensive recommendations for the management of gout in patients with common comorbidities, such as chronic kidney disease(CKD), cardiovascular disease(CVD), diabetes, osteoarthritis(OA), and gastrointestinal disorders. This guideline was developed by a multidisciplinary expert panel consisting of specialists in endocrinology, rheumatology, nephrology, cardiology, gastroenterology, and methodology. The development process adhered to standard methodologies, including PICO(population, intervention, comparator, and outcomes) question deconstruction, systematic literature review, the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation(GRADE) for evidence and recommendation evaluation, Delphi voting, and expert consensus. The guideline presents 26 evidence-based recommendations addressing 7 clinical questions for patients with hyperuricemia and gout in the context of comorbidities. Key recommendations include the maintenance of strict serum urate targets, particularly for patients with CKD stage≥3, chronic gouty arthritis, and OA, in order to prevent disease progression. In patients with CVD or diabetes, intra-articular triamcinolone is preferred over systemic glucocorticoids. Prioritized anti-inflammatory treatments for patients with CKD, gastrointestinal diseases and OA are recommended. The guideline also introduces emerging therapies, such as interleukin-1 inhibitors and selective urate transport inhibitors, as potential treatment options for refractory cases. The update offers a comprehensive, patient-centered approach to managing gout, particularly in individuals with associated comorbidities. Multidisciplinary collaboration and emerging new treatments and evidence ensure the optimization of the recommendations.

ObjectiveTo characterize the evidence distribution and methodological quality of randomized controlled trials （RCTs） on oral Chinese herbal medicine （CHM） for atopic dermatitis （AD） based on evidence mapping. MethodsSeven databases （CNKI， Wanfang Data， VIP， CBM， Cochrane Library， PubMed， and Embase） and the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry were searched for the RCTs in Chinese and English. Evidence distribution was presented graphically and textually， and methodological quality was assessed via the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool （ROB 1.0）. ResultsA total of 168 RCTs were included. The number of annual publications showing an increasing trend， and 72.6% RCTs had sample sizes of 51-100 participants. The studies evaluated 108 distinct CHM interventions categorized as decoctions， granules， Chinese patent medicines， and extracts. Compound Glycyrrhizin was the most frequently used， followed by Xiaofengsan and Chushi Weiling decoction. Among the RCTs， 57.1% had the treatment courses of 4-8 weeks. Outcome measures predominantly focused on clinical response rate， skin lesion severity scores， and adverse events， with less attention to TCM symptom scores， skin barrier function， and relapse rates. The overall risk of bias was generally high. ConclusionWhile CHM for AD is a research hotspot and demonstrates clinical advantages， the related studies have problems such as unclear clinical positioning， poor research standardization and methodological quality， and insufficient prominence of TCM clinical advantages. Large-sample， methodologically rigorous， and high-quality studies are needed to enhance the evidence base for CHM in treating AD.

ObjectiveTo characterize the evidence distribution and methodological quality of randomized controlled trials （RCTs） on oral Chinese herbal medicine （CHM） for atopic dermatitis （AD） based on evidence mapping. MethodsSeven databases （CNKI， Wanfang Data， VIP， CBM， Cochrane Library， PubMed， and Embase） and the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry were searched for the RCTs in Chinese and English. Evidence distribution was presented graphically and textually， and methodological quality was assessed via the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool （ROB 1.0）. ResultsA total of 168 RCTs were included. The number of annual publications showing an increasing trend， and 72.6% RCTs had sample sizes of 51-100 participants. The studies evaluated 108 distinct CHM interventions categorized as decoctions， granules， Chinese patent medicines， and extracts. Compound Glycyrrhizin was the most frequently used， followed by Xiaofengsan and Chushi Weiling decoction. Among the RCTs， 57.1% had the treatment courses of 4-8 weeks. Outcome measures predominantly focused on clinical response rate， skin lesion severity scores， and adverse events， with less attention to TCM symptom scores， skin barrier function， and relapse rates. The overall risk of bias was generally high. ConclusionWhile CHM for AD is a research hotspot and demonstrates clinical advantages， the related studies have problems such as unclear clinical positioning， poor research standardization and methodological quality， and insufficient prominence of TCM clinical advantages. Large-sample， methodologically rigorous， and high-quality studies are needed to enhance the evidence base for CHM in treating AD.

ObjectiveTo investigate the safety and efficacy of puncture cyanoacrylate selective seal （PCSS） under endoscopic ultrasound in the treatment of gastroesophageal varices （GOV）. MethodsA total of 100 patients with liver cirrhosis who underwent endoscopic therapy for the secondary prevention of GOV bleeding in Beijing Ditan Hospital， Capital Medical University， from March 1 to December 31， 2023 were enrolled and randomly divided into PCSS group and traditional endoscopy group. The patients were followed up for 6 months after surgery， and the two groups were compared in terms of clinical outcome and complications. The primary outcome measure was the rate of alleviation or disappearance of GOV， and the secondary outcome measure was variceal rebleeding and death. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed or approximately normally distributed quantitative data between two groups， and the Wilcoxon non-parametric test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed quantitative data between two groups； the chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of qualitative data between two groups. ResultsThere were 50 patients in the PCSS group， among whom 1 patient was lost to follow-up， and there were 50 patients in the traditional endoscopy group， among whom 3 patients were lost to follow-up. There were no significant differences between the two groups in baseline data such as age， sex， Child-Pugh class， varices grade， and GOV typing （all P>0.05）. Compared with the traditional endoscopy group， the PCSS group had significantly better results of the number of endoscopic treatment sessions （t=-15.671， P=0.001）， the total amount of tissue adhesive used （t=-2.830， P=0.006）， and the rate of alleviation or eradication of varices sclerosis （χ²=7.078， P=0.029）. Both groups had low rates of postoperative rebleeding， adverse reactions， and complications， and there were no significant differences between the two groups （all P>0.05）. ConclusionCompared with traditional endoscopy， PCSS can significantly enhance treatment outcome while maintaining safety standards.

To explore the protective effect of Angelica sinensis polysaccharide(ASP)on leptospiro-sis induced by pathogenic Leptospira infection,the golden hamster model of leptospirosis was se-lected for the experiment.The Leptospira and Leptospira+ASP groups were intraperitoneally injected with Leptospira interrogans serovar Lai strain 56601(1 × 10 6 per hamster).After infec-tion,the Leptospira+ASP group was injected intraperitoneally with ASP(50 mg/kg)for three consecutive days,while the Leptospira group was injected intraperitoneally with normal saline for three days.The experiment employed methods such as daily observation of the clinical symptoms of golden hamsters,statistics of the survival status of each group of golden hamsters,pathological damage of liver,kidney,and lung,bacterial load in organs,and the expression of inflammatory cy-tokines(IL-1β and TNF-α).The results indicated that ASP could effectively alleviate the clinical symptoms of the infected hamsters,enhance the survival rate,ameliorate the pathological damage of the body,reduce the bacterial load in various organs,and mitigate tissue inflammation.This study demonstrated for the first time that ASP has a protective effect on leptospirosis,providing medication guidance for the clinical treatment of leptospirosis.

Objective:To establish a linear calibration method using two reference substances for seven characteristic peaks of Cassiae Semen under complicated chromatographic condition,and to optimize the method.Methods:Using 15 different types of screened chromatographic columns and 2 components as reference compounds pair,the linear calibration method with 2 reference substances was established to predict the retention time of the other 5 components,and the method was verified by unknown chromatographic columns and unknown samples.Combined with column confirmation number and average coincidence rate of target peaks,the location results were compared comprehen-sively,and the method was optimized according to the defect under the influence of complicated chromatographic condition.Results:The average conformity rate of the target peak of the method before optimization was 73.3％,and the average conformity rate of the target peak of the optimized method was 98.7％.The optimized method has a high-er average peak coincidence rate and a wider range of applicability for the chromatographic column.Conclusion:The optimized linear calibration method using two reference substances can assist the localization analysis of chromato-graphic peaks in the characteristic chromatogram under complicated chromatographic condition.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided paraesophageal varices puncture cyanoacrylate selective seal for liver cirrhosis complicated with esophageal varices.Methods:Data of 86 patients with liver cirrhosis complicated with esophageal varices undergoing endoscopic ultrasound-guided paraesophageal varices puncture cyanoacrylate selective seal (the treatment group, n=40) and conventional endoscopic tissue glue injection treatment (the control group, n=46) were retrospectively collected from Beijing Ditan Hospital from January 2023 to October 2023. The reduced percentage of severe varicose veins, the amount of tissue glue used during operation, the number of punctures and the rate of rebleeding in six months were compared. Results:There were no significant differences in the baseline data including gender, age, blood routine index, liver and kidney functions, proportion of severity varicose veins between the two groups ( P>0.05). In the treatment group, severe varicose veins accounted for 90.0% (36/40) before treatment while it was 12.5% (5/40) after the treatment, and the proportion of severe varicose veins decreased by 77.5%. In the control group, the proportion of severe varicose veins was 89.1% (41/46) before while it was 43.5% (20/46) after the treatment, and the proportion of severe varicose veins decreased by 45.6%. The proportion of severe varicose veins decreased more in the treatment group than that in the control group ( χ2=13.86, P<0.001). Compared with the control group, the median amount of tissue glue applied in the treatment group was significantly less (2.5 mL VS 3.0 mL, Z=-3.55, P<0.001), and the median number of punctures was also significantly less (2 VS 6, Z=-7.10, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the rate of rebleeding within six months after the treatment between the two groups [12.5% (5/40) VS 10.9% (5/46), χ2=0.06, P=0.814]. Conclusion:For patients with cirrhosis complicated with esophageal varices, endoscopic ultrasound-guided paraesophageal varices puncture cyanoacrylate selective seal demonstrates superior efficacy over conventional endoscopic treatment, with less tissue glue applied, which is worth of promotion and application in clinical practice.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of laparoscopic iliopubic tract-to-arcuate inferior edge of transversus abdominis suture tightening of the internal ring combined with high ligation of the hernia sac in pediatric giant inguinal hernias.Methods:Randomized controlled study.Clinical data of 62 hernia sides in 61 children with inguinal hernia admitted to the Department of Minimally Invasive Urology, Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University from March 2021 to June 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.The maximum internal ring diameter, measured intraoperatively using an equal proportional indirect measurement technique, was >1.5 cm, defining a giant hernia.One child had bilateral giant hernias.Patients were divided into 2 groups based on surgical technique: the control group [29 sides (28 patients)] underwent traditional laparoscopic high ligation of the hernia sac; the study group [33 sides (33 patients)] underwent the laparoscopic iliopubic tract-to-arcuate inferior edge of transversus abdominis suture tightening of the internal ring combined with high ligation of the hernia sac.Independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Fisher′s exact test were used to compare preoperative characteristics and postoperative complication rates between the two groups. Results:The study group had a median age of 38.00 (20.00, 107.50) months, 93.9%(31/33) were male, and median maximum internal ring diameter was 1.61(1.53, 1.82) cm.The control group had a median age of 32.50 (22.25, 65.00) months, 78.6%(22/28) were male, and median maximum internal ring diameter was 1.58 (1.54, 1.71) cm.There were no statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics between groups (all P>0.05). The operative time for the suture tightening/high ligation component was longer in the study group [(21.73±9.81) minutes] compared to the simple high ligation time in the control group [(16.69±7.36) minutes], with statistical significance ( t=-2.262, P=0.027). In terms of recurrence rate, there was a statistically significant difference between the study group(0) and the control group (4 cases, 13.80%) ( P=0.043). There was no statistical difference between the two groups in the incidence of other complications including intraoperative bleeding, groin area edema, or pain (all P>0.05). Conclusions:The laparoscopic iliopubic tract-to-arcuate inferior edge of transversus abdominis suture tightening of the internal ring combined with high ligation of the hernia sac can effectively reduces postoperative recurrence when applied to the treatment of large hernias and is safe, making it a technique worthy of promotion.