ObjectiveTo explore the effects of Jingui Shenqiwan （JSW） and Liuwei Dihuangwan （LDW） on the reproductive ability and brain function of normal mice and compare the actions of the two medications. MethodsSeven groups of female and male mice were divided at a ratio of 2∶1. Except for the control group， the other six groups were as follows： a group of both males and females receiving JSW （3.0 g·kg^-1）， a group of both males and females receiving LDW （4.5 g·kg^-1）， a group of males receiving water and females receiving JSW， a group of males receiving water while females receiving LDW， a group of females receiving water while males receiving JSW， and a group of females receiving water while males receiving LDW. Each group was administered the drug for 14 days and then caged together at a 2∶1 （female∶male） ratio to detect the number of pregnant mice and calculate the pregnancy rate. Pregnant mice continued receiving the drug until they naturally gave birth， which was followed by the observation of newborn mice， calculation of their average number， and the measurement of the offspring's preference for sugar water and neonatal recognition index. At the end of the experiment， the weights of the thymus and spleen were measured to calculate the organ coefficients， and mRNA or protein expression was analyzed in the brain and testes or ovaries. A 1% sucrose solution was used to examine the euphoria of their brain reward systems， while novel object recognition test （NOR） was applied to assess their memory capabilities. mRNA expression was detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） assay， and protein expression was analyzed with Western blot. ResultsCompared with the control group， oral administration of JSW to both male and female mice for 14 days significantly increased the pregnancy rate of female mice on day 2 after being caged together （P<0.05）， while LDW showed a trend but no statistical significance. Additionally， compared with the control group， JSW could upregulate the gene expression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone （GnRH） in the thalamus， as well as reproductive stem cell factor （SCF） and tyrosine kinase receptor （c-Kit） in the testes and reproductive stem cell marker mouse vasa homologue （MVH） in the ovaries， upregulate the expression of proteins influencing neuronal functional activity， such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF）， in hippocampal neurons （P<0.05）， and enhance sucrose preference in male mice （P<0.05）. Compared with the control group， JSW significantly increased sucrose preference and novel object recognition index in offspring mice （P<0.05）， which was related to the upregulation of hippocampal dopamine D1 receptor （D1R） and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor （Nmdar） gene expression. Compared with the control group， both JSW and LDW could upregulate the protein expression of glucocorticoid receptor （GR）， BDNF， and tyrosine kinase receptor B （TrkB） in the hippocampus of offspring mice （P<0.05）. ConclusionJSW significantly enhances the reproductive ability of normal mice， which is not only related to the release of gonadotropin but also associated with its regulation of brain function. Additionally， JSW has a certain regulatory effect on the brain function of the offspring mice.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Shenge Bushen Capsules （SBC） on sexual development in normal 3-week-old mice. MethodsThe experiment consisted of two parts. In the first part， mice were divided into four groups： The control group and the low， medium， and high-dose SBC groups （234.7， 469.4， 938.7 mg·kg^-1， respectively）. In the second part， mice were divided into four groups： Control group， Pseudostellariae Radix polysaccharide （PRP） group， total flavonoids group， and SBC group， all receiving a dose of 469.4 mg·kg^-1. After 7 days of administration， the vaginal opening of female mice and the descent of testes and scrotum in male mice， as well as the ovarian and testicular organ indices， were observed. After 4 weeks of administration， female and male mice were housed together for 2 days， and the pregnancy rate of females was monitored. After delivery， the pregnant female mice continued receiving the treatment for 4 weeks， and the sexual development of their offspring， including vaginal opening， testicular descent， and organ indices of ovaries and testes， was observed. Serum sex hormones were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， and the expression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone （GnRH） and growth hormone （GH） proteins in the hypothalamus was assessed by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the control group， there was no significant effect on the vaginal opening of female mice or the descent of testes in male mice after 7 days of SBC administration. After 4 weeks of administration， the pregnancy rate in the low-dose group was significantly reduced （P<0.05）， but no significant effects were observed in the other groups. The three doses of SBC did not significantly affect the ovarian or testicular organ indices， and there was no significant upregulation in the expression of GnRH or GH in the hypothalamus. The primary component of SBC， Pseudostellariae Radix polysaccharide， significantly reduced the vaginal opening in female mice after 7 days of administration （P<0.05）. After 4 weeks， the serum estradiol levels of non-pregnant female mice were decreased （P<0.05）， but there was no significant effect on the expression of GnRH or GH proteins in the hypothalamus of either male or female mice. Additionally， there were no significant effects on precocious puberty indicators， such as vaginal opening and testicular descent， in the offspring mice. ConclusionSBC does not significantly promote precocious puberty in young mice， and it does not have any noticeable effects on the pregnancy rate of adult mice or the sexual development of their offspring.

Objective To systematically review the sex differences in efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Methods We conducted a computer search of Medline, The Cochrane Library, and EMbase from inception to November 2022 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the efficacy of ICIs in patients with NSCLC. A meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software. Results Finally 16 RCTs with a total of 9 653 patients were included, and the modified Jadad scale score was≥4 points. Meta-analysis results showed that in female NSCLC patients receiving immune therapy, the median overall survival (OS) [HR=0.72, 95%CI (0.61, 0.85), P<0.001] was longer than that in males [HR=0.73, 95%CI (0.69, 0.78), P<0.001]. Males [HR=0.64, 95%CI (0.58, 0.71), P<0.001] had an advantage over females [HR=0.76, 95%CI (0.57, 1.03), P=0.760] in median progression-free survival (PFS). Conclusion Females receiving ICIs have an advantage over males in terms of median OS. However, males tend to derive greater benefit from ICIs in terms of median PFS.

Tracheobronchial adenoid cystic carcinoma （TACC） is a low-grade malignant tumor originating from the airway mucosa. Despite its slow progression，it is characterized by high invasiveness，frequent recurrence，and a strong tendency for metastasis. Preclinical studies have shown that vascular-targeted therapy holds significant potential. However，an effective systemic treatment for TACC has not been established yet. This study explored TACC from the perspective of "Feiji" in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） as the starting point. It deeply investigated the mechanisms of abnormal collaterals and tumor vascular recruitment and further elaborated on the theoretical connection between abnormal collaterals and tumor vascular recruitment. Firstly，collateral hyperactivity led to disordered and erratic pulmonary collaterals. Their abnormal structures were similar to the disorderly and tortuous nature of tumor （pseudo）angiogenesis. This resulted in imbalances in the functions of circulation，perfusion，and reverse injection of the pulmonary collaterals，and then led to unrestrained collateral dysfunction and the accumulation of pathogenic factors. Secondly，the remodeling of the extracellular matrix （ECM） and epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） in TACC were critical processes in vascular co-option （VCO），representing the micro-level manifestation of the displacement of nutrient and defense. During this process，ECM remodeling made TACC cells more likely to hijack normal blood vessels，creating a complex vascular microenvironment conducive to tumor growth. In terms of treatment，this study proposed a TCM strategy of "regulating collaterals to expel pathogenic factors and nourishing collaterals to strengthen the healthy Qi"，and listed potential TCM. These were intended to regulate the Qi and blood in the collaterals，repair the functions of abnormal collaterals，and intervene in the vascular recruitment process of TACC. Future research should focus on improving the TCM clinical syndrome characteristics of TACC. Through modern molecular biology techniques，it is necessary to deeply analyze the micro-level pattern of vascular recruitment in TACC. This would enrich the understanding of the profound connection between abnormal collaterals and tumor vascular recruitment，providing empirical evidence for TCM-targeted therapies for vascular recruitment in TACC.

During orthodontic treatment, clinical monitoring of patients is a crucial factor in determining treatment success. It aids in timely problem detection and resolution, ensuring adherence to the intended treatment plan. In recent years, digital technology has increasingly permeated orthodontic clinical diagnosis and treatment, facilitating clinical decision-making, treatment planning, and follow-up monitoring. This review summarizes recent advancements in digital technology for monitoring orthodontic tooth movement, related complications, and appliance-wearing compliance. It aims to provide insights for researchers and clinicians to enhance the application of digital technology in orthodontics, improve treatment outcomes, and optimize patient experience. The digitization of diagnostic data and the visualization of dental models make chair-side follow-up monitoring more convenient, accurate, and efficient. At the same time, the emergence of remote monitoring technology allows orthodontists to promptly identify oral health issues in patients and take corresponding measures. Furthermore, the multimodal data fusion method offers valuable insights into the monitoring of the root-alveolar relationship. Artificial intelligence technology has made initial strides in automating the identification of orthodontic tooth movement, associated complications, and patient compliance evaluation. Sensors are effective tools for monitoring patient adherence and providing data-driven support for clinical decision-making. The application of digital technology in orthodontic monitoring holds great promise. However, challenges like technical bottlenecks, ethical considerations, and patient acceptance remain.

Fungal keratitis represents a significant cause of blindness, with current therapeutic approaches yielding limited success. The disease's onset and progression are primarily driven by fungal virulence factors and the host's immune response. The innate immune system is the first to respond, with neutrophils playing a pivotal role in the antifungal defense. Although neutrophils are critical for pathogen clearance, their excessive or abnormal activation can lead to tissue damage, exacerbating the disease. Thus, elucidating the mechanisms underlying neutrophil activity in fungal keratitis is crucial for refining treatment strategies. This article aims to systematically review the principal antimicrobial mechanisms employed by neutrophils, including phagocytosis, degranulation, and the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps(NETs). Furthermore, it explores the crosstalk between neutrophils and macrophages, alongside their collective impact and underlying mechanisms in the context of fungal keratitis. Exploration of the mechanisms of fungal keratitis facilitates precise intervention and enhances the efficacy of treatment.

With the growing aging population, female stress urinary incontinence (SUI), due to its high incidence, has become a common disease that seriously affects patients' quality of life and brings heavy economic burden to families and society.Over the past century, the surgical treatments of SUI were continuously updated along with the in-depth research on the disease mechanism.However, in recent years, the concept of anti-incontinence surgery has shifted from treating the causes to reshaping the urinary control mechanism.As a result, the mid-urethral sling (MUS) procedure has gained global acceptance since its introduction, swiftly acknowledged both domestically and internationally as the gold standard due to its minimally invasive nature and proven effectiveness.MUS is also the most commonly used surgical method for SUI patients treated in our center.Based on our own surgical experience, we will analyze the main steps, technical points, and preventive strategies of surgical complications of MUS, so as to provide clinical reference.

The plants of the genus Caragana Fabr. are desert plants of the Leguminosae family, which are widely used in traditional ethnomedicine, with the effects of nourishing Yin and nourishing blood, dispelling wind and removing dampness, clearing heat and detoxifying toxins. The anti-inflammatory effect of Caragana Fabr. has attracted much attention, the research on the related mechanism has made some progress, but it lacks systematic collation. By summarising the anti-inflammatory effects of the active ingredients of Caragana Fabr., the authors found that they have good anti-inflammatory activities on different inflammatory cell models in vitro, and have good improvement effects on rheumatoid arthritis, colitis, complex nephritis, and acute lung injury and other disease models. The anti-inflammatory effects of the active components of this genus mainly include the reduction of the levels of a variety of pro-inflammatory factors, and the signalling pathways involved mainly include TLR4/NF-κB, TLR4/MAPK, TLR4/NF-κB/IRF3, JAK/STAT-1, ERK/STAT-1 and so on. Therefore, the paper mainly reviews the research progress on the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of the Caragana Fabr. plants and their active components according to disease types, with a view to providing reference for the in-depth study of their anti-inflammatory activities and the development of new products with related functions.

ObjectiveTo investigate the association between maternal infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant during pregnancy and common infant illnesses and neurodevelopment. MethodsA cohort study was designed, selecting 113 pregnant women from Shanghai’s Pudong New Area who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by nasal swab reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and were transported to medical institutions for isolation treatment between March and May 2022. These women constituted the pregnancy infection group. Concurrently, 226 pregnant women from the same region and time period who did not infect with SARS-CoV-2 were selected as the control group. Both groups were followed up until delivery and their offspring’s one year old. The differences in the risk of common infant illnesses and the level of infant’s neurodevelopment at age one were compared between the two groups. ResultsNo significant difference was found in the incidence of common illnesses before one year of age between the pregnancy infection group and the control group. Additionally, no significant differences were found in any domain scores of the ASQ-3 between the two groups. ConclusionMaternal infection with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant during pregnancy was not statistically significant correlated with common infant illnesses in infancy and neurodevelopment at age one.

BackgroundPatients with schizophrenia experience low quality of life， and internalized stigma is considered an important indicator for quality of life， while the mediating role of self-esteem and severity of negative symptoms in the relationship between internalized stigma and quality of life remains underexplored. ObjectiveTo examine the mediating role of self-esteem and severity of negative symptoms in the relationship between internalized stigma and quality of life， so as to provide references for improving their quality of life. MethodsA total of 342 patients with schizophrenia who were hospitalized in 6 hospitals in Xiangyang City， Siping City and Changchun City from April to September 2023 were included， and all of whom met the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia according to the International Classification of Diseases， tenth edition （ICD-10）. Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale （ISMI）， Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale （SQLS）， Self-Esteem Scale （SES） and negative symptom subscale of Positive and Negative Symptom Scale （PANSS） were administered to all patients. Spearman correlation analysis was adopted to determine correlations between the different scales. A structural equation modeling was constructed using Amos 28.0， and Bootstrap method was employed to verify the mediating effect of self-esteem and negative symptom severity in the association between internalized stigma and quality of life. ResultsA total of 309 patients （90.35%） completed questionnaires in this study. The ISMI score of schizophrenia patients was positively correlated with both SQLS score and the PANSS negative symptom subscale score （r=0.612， 0.492， P<0.01）， while was negatively correlated with SES score （r=-0.513， P<0.01）. The SQLS score was negatively associated with the SES score （r=-0.555， P<0.01） and positively associated with PANSS negative symptom subscale score （r=0.672， P<0.01）. The SES score was negatively correlated with PANSS negative symptom subscale score （r=-0.433， P<0.01）.The total effect value of internalized stigma on quality of life was 0.746 （95% CI： 0.680~0.806）. Self-esteem and severity of negative symptoms independently mediated the relationship between internalized stigma and quality of life， and the indirect effect values were 0.151 （95% CI： 0.062~0.254） and 0.126 （95% CI： 0.047~0.205）， accounting for 20.24% and 16.89% of the total effect， respectively. In addition， a chained mediation effect of self-esteem and quality of life was also demonstrated， the indirect effect value was 0.102 （95% CI： 0.049~0.165）， accounting for 13.67% of the total effect）. ConclusionInternalized stigma in patients with schizophrenia patients can not only directly affect the quality of life， but also indirectly affect the quality of life of patients through either separate or chained mediation of self-esteem and the severity of negative symptoms. ［Funded by Hubei Provincial Undergraduate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Project （number， S202410519027）］