Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment strategies, and prognosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) complicating childhood rheumatic diseases.Methods:A retrospective case series study was performed on the demographic data, laboratory indicators, imaging features, treatment regimens, and follow-up data of 8 children with rheumatic diseases complicated by PE who were admitted to the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Capital Center for Children′s Health, Capital Medical University from January 2014 to October 2023.Results:Among the 8 children, there were 4 boys and 4 girls, with an age of 12.0 (7.5, 13.0) years. Among the primary diseases, there were 3 cases of systemic lupus erythematosus, 2 cases of Beh?et′s disease, 2 cases of Takayasu arteritis, and 1 case of antiphospholipid syndrome. All children developed PE during the active phase of the primary disease. PE was detected at the onset of the primary disease in 3 cases, and the median time from the diagnosis of the primary disease to the development of PE was 10.0 (6.0, 25.0) months in the remaining 5 cases. Fever was present in all 8 children, 4 cases were accompanied by chest tightness, dyspnea, etc., and 2 cases only presented with fever. Laboratory examinations revealed the following results: erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 42.0 (17.0, 78.0) mm/1 h, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein was 12.7 (2.6, 78.7) mg/L, white blood cell count was 9.6 (7.2, 18.7)×10 9/L; D-dimer was 2.3 (0.9, 6.2) mg/L; and hemoglobin was (109±16) g/L.Imaging examinations revealed that 5 cases had involvement of the bilateral lower pulmonary arteries, 5 cases had peripheral embolism, and 3 cases had central PE. Complications included 3 cases of deep vein thrombosis, 2 cases of intracranial venous sinus thrombosis, and 1 case of mild pulmonary hypertension.In terms of treatment, 7 cases received anticoagulation with heparin followed by warfarin. Immunomodulation was mainly based on glucocorticoids combined with immunosuppressants, and 4 cases were combined with biological agents. The follow-up time of 4.17 (1.75, 7.17) years, the time for complete absorption of PE was 10.5 (6.0, 18.0) months; all 8 children had no target events, with no recurrence or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, and the pulmonary artery remodeling was good. Conclusions:PE complicating childhood rheumatic diseases is closely related to the activity of the primary disease. The clinical manifestations are insidious, with fever as the main symptom. Imaging examination is the key to diagnosis.Early adoption of heparin followed by warfarin anticoagulation and glucocorticoids combined with immunosuppressants and (or) biological agents to control the primary disease can achieve a favorable prognosis.

ObjectiveDonkey hide is the sole legally designated raw material for the preparation of the traditional Chinese medicine Ejiao. The quality stability of donkey hide during preservation directly determines the efficacy and safety of Ejiao. This study focuses on the dynamic succession of microbial communities during the preservation of donkey hides from different origins, aiming to clarify the correlation between microbial biodiversity difference and the degradation profiles of hide collagen and critical biochemical components, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for developing targeted preservation strategies based on microbial regulation. MethodsDonkey hides originating from four different regions were subjected to an accelerated microbial aging assay to simulate the spoilage process. The microbial community succession was analyzed using high-throughput sequencing. Microstructure changes and pore structure characteristics were assessed by scanning electron microscopy and mercury intrusion porosimetry, respectively. Additionally, the content of major components, including lipids, proteins, and sugars were determined by biochemical methods. ResultsAfter 96 h of aging, the collagen fiber structure in Africa donkey hides (ADH) exhibited significant degradation and collapse, followed by Xinjiang donkey hides (XDH). Instead, the microstructure of Dong’e black donkey hides (DDH) and Peru donkey hides (PDH) remained relatively intact. The porosities of DDH, XDH, PDH, and ADH increased from 27.9%, 15.7%, 30.3%, and 46.2% to 36.5%, 52.6%, 42.8%, and 57.7%, respectively, during the aging process, which suggested that the originally compact fiber structure was disrupted by microbial aging. Fourier transform infrared spectrometer analysis revealed the amide bands in XDH exhibited relatively weak intensity, and no collagen amide I band was observed in ADH. Meanwhile, the lipid and protein contents decreased in all four types of donkey hides, indicating that these components served as the primary nutrient sources for the growth of microorganism. Notably, the most severe collagen degradation was observed in XDH and ADH. A substantial increase was detected in the total soluble sugar in PDH aging solution and hydroxyproline in the ADH aging solution, respectively. These results indicated that donkey hides exhibit distinct patterns of structural degradation and nutrient utilization. Furthermore, the viable cells number of donkey hides increased sharply after 48 h of aging. Metagenomic analysis revealed that the relative abundance of Euryarchaeota in ADH, PDH and XDH declining from initial 93.19%, 97.73% and 30.08% to 0.79%, 1.43% and 0.02% after 96 h, respectively. Conversely, a significantly increase was observed in the abundance of Bacillota, with a marked increase in ADH, peaking at 92.75%. Additionally, the abundance of Pseudomonadota in PDH increased from 0.10% to 87.84%, suggesting that Bacillota and Pseudomonadota may be key factors exacerbating donkey hide spoilage. Unlike the other three types of donkey hides, the dominant bacterial phylum in DDH shifted from Pseudomonadota to Bacteroidota, characterized by a substantial abundance increase of Bacteroidota from 0.13% to 44.22%. ConclusionRegional variation in origin significantly influence the microbial aging of donkey hides, leading to distinct patterns of structural deterioration and differential nutrient utilization. Therefore, implementing origin-specific preservation strategies, through the precisely controlling environmental factors to suppress harmful phyla such as Bacillota and Pseudomonadota, is crucial for enhancing the storage quality of donkey hides.

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment strategies, and prognosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) complicating childhood rheumatic diseases.Methods:A retrospective case series study was performed on the demographic data, laboratory indicators, imaging features, treatment regimens, and follow-up data of 8 children with rheumatic diseases complicated by PE who were admitted to the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Capital Center for Children′s Health, Capital Medical University from January 2014 to October 2023.Results:Among the 8 children, there were 4 boys and 4 girls, with an age of 12.0 (7.5, 13.0) years. Among the primary diseases, there were 3 cases of systemic lupus erythematosus, 2 cases of Beh?et′s disease, 2 cases of Takayasu arteritis, and 1 case of antiphospholipid syndrome. All children developed PE during the active phase of the primary disease. PE was detected at the onset of the primary disease in 3 cases, and the median time from the diagnosis of the primary disease to the development of PE was 10.0 (6.0, 25.0) months in the remaining 5 cases. Fever was present in all 8 children, 4 cases were accompanied by chest tightness, dyspnea, etc., and 2 cases only presented with fever. Laboratory examinations revealed the following results: erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 42.0 (17.0, 78.0) mm/1 h, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein was 12.7 (2.6, 78.7) mg/L, white blood cell count was 9.6 (7.2, 18.7)×10 9/L; D-dimer was 2.3 (0.9, 6.2) mg/L; and hemoglobin was (109±16) g/L.Imaging examinations revealed that 5 cases had involvement of the bilateral lower pulmonary arteries, 5 cases had peripheral embolism, and 3 cases had central PE. Complications included 3 cases of deep vein thrombosis, 2 cases of intracranial venous sinus thrombosis, and 1 case of mild pulmonary hypertension.In terms of treatment, 7 cases received anticoagulation with heparin followed by warfarin. Immunomodulation was mainly based on glucocorticoids combined with immunosuppressants, and 4 cases were combined with biological agents. The follow-up time of 4.17 (1.75, 7.17) years, the time for complete absorption of PE was 10.5 (6.0, 18.0) months; all 8 children had no target events, with no recurrence or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, and the pulmonary artery remodeling was good. Conclusions:PE complicating childhood rheumatic diseases is closely related to the activity of the primary disease. The clinical manifestations are insidious, with fever as the main symptom. Imaging examination is the key to diagnosis.Early adoption of heparin followed by warfarin anticoagulation and glucocorticoids combined with immunosuppressants and (or) biological agents to control the primary disease can achieve a favorable prognosis.

Objective To explore the effect of sex on the incidence of immune-related cutaneous adverse event (ircAE) during immunotherapy for gastric cancer, and to further analyze the correlation between sex, ircAE and prognosis. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with advanced gastric cancer who received immune checkpoint inhibitors at the Department of Oncology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, from February 1, 2022, to December 31, 2024. Clinicopathological characteristics, occurrence of ircAE, and survival data were collected. The incidence of ircAE was compared between male and female patients. Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot survival curves, and univariate Cox regression analysis was performed to assess prognostic factors. Results A total of 116 patients with advanced gastric cancer were enrolled, including 76 males (65.5%) and 40 females (34.5%). The overall incidence of ircAE was 23.28%, with a higher incidence in male patients than in female patients (28.95% vs 12.50%, P＝0.046). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis on 86 patients with complete follow-up data indicated that patients with ircAE had longer overall survival (OS) than those without ircAE (P＝0.045). Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that male (HR＝0.43, 95%CI 0.22–0.83, P＝0.012) was associated with prolonged OS. Conclusions In gastric cancer immunotherapy, male patients are more likely to develop ircAE and have longer OS than female patients, and the occurrence of ircAE may be related to prolonged OS.

Owing to its inherent advantages—such as being non-destructive, rapid, highly molecule-specific, and minimally interfered with by moisture—Raman spectroscopy has been widely adopted in the fields of skin barrier function assessment, monitoring the transdermal penetration of active cosmetic ingredients, and the identification and quality control of cosmetic products. Despite these strengths, the practical application of this technique faces a significant bottleneck: the strong fluorescence background generated by endogenous skin components and exogenous cosmetic additives. Endogenous skin substances, such as structural proteins (e.g., collagen and elastin), metabolic coenzymes (e.g., nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), and pigments (e.g., melanin), together with exogenous cosmetic constituents like organic colorants, chemical sunscreens, and fragrances, often possess strong absorption and emission characteristics. When excited by lasers, these components produce a fluorescence background that can be 10⁶ to 10⁸ times stronger than the Raman scattering signals, effectively masking the inherently weak vibrational fingerprint information. In recent years, driven by the rapid development of optoelectronic hardware and artificial intelligence algorithms, fluorescence suppression strategies have evolved from isolated, single-method approaches into comprehensive, multi-level synergistic systems. These systems are categorized into three distinct tiers: sample preparation, signal acquisition, and data processing. At the sample preparation level, techniques such as photobleaching and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) are employed to eliminate or bypass the generation of fluorescence at the source. At the signal acquisition level, instrumental improvements—including the use of long-wavelength near-infrared excitation (typically 785 nm or 1 064 nm), confocal spatial filtering, and shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS)— are utilized to physically isolate Raman signals from the fluorescence background. Furthermore, at the data processing level, numerical baseline correction methods such as polynomial fitting, penalized least squares (e.g., airPLS, arPLS), wavelet transform, and derivative algorithms are increasingly integrated into the analytical pipeline to extract Raman spectral features from mixed signals without increasing hardware costs or acquisition time. This review provides a systematic categorization and critical evaluation of these fluorescence suppression methods, detailing their underlying principles, technical advantages, and inherent limitations in diverse experimental setups. By focusing on critical application scenarios—including skin barrier assessment, percutaneous absorption monitoring, the routine quality control of cosmetics, and the emerging field of portable on-site detection—this paper explores the current state of technique selection and optimization. Finally, the article discusses future development trends, emphasizing the necessity of constructing adaptive, tiered suppression strategies, developing intelligent and automated data processing algorithms, and promoting the integration of portable, multi-modal diagnostic devices. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive technical reference to facilitate the transition of Raman spectroscopy from a specialized laboratory tool into a routine, robust analytical platform for advancements in skin science and cosmetic research.

Objective: To examine the association of physical activity with cognitive function and mental health among primary school students based on latent subgroup identification and dose response modeling, and to clarify cognitive-psychological profiles and the protective role of physical exercise, so as to provide evidence based support for physical exercise promoting mental health among primary school students. Methods: A study was conducted among 546 primary school students aged 8-12 years old from a primary school in Shanghai from March to June 2025. Physical fitness indicators, including vital capacity, 50 m sprint, sit and reach, and 1 min rope skipping were measured. Physical exercise was assessed by using the Physical Activity Rating Scale-3 (PARS-3), and mental health was assessed by using the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale, 47-item version (RCADS-47). Cognitive function was assessed by using Stroop, N-back, and task-switching tasks. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was performed for cognitive-psychological health of primary school students based on seven cognitive indicators and six psychological indicators. Multivariable Logistic regression, trend test, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis were used to examine associations between physical exercise and psychological highrisk status. Results: Five cognitive psychological health subgroups were identified:high symptom and impaired cognition group ( n =40, 7.3%), low cognition and low symptom group ( n =108, 19.8% ), and high cognition and high symptom group ( n =110, 20.2%), cognitive advantage and psychologically healthy group ( n = 272, 49.8%), and extremely high symptom and cognitively vulnerable group ( n =16, 2.9%). Among them, the high symptom and impaired-cognition group and extremely high symptom and cognitively vulnerable group were classified as psychologically high risk types. Significant differences were observed across subgroups in psychological symptoms, cognitive function, some physical fitness indicators and physical exercise level, except for body weight, body mass index, and sit and reach ( F =2.64-297.53, all P < 0.05). The results of the multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that high level sports, including high total volume of physical exercise, single session duration >30 min, high intensity, and frequency ≥3 times/week, was associated with lower psychological high risk status ( OR =0.20, 0.36, 0.33, 0.40, all P <0.05). Trend analysis showed that total volume of physical exercise and single session exercise duration were negatively associated with psychological high risk status among primary school students ( OR =0.98, 0.79, both P trend <0.05). RCS analysis showed no statistically significant overall or nonlinear association between total volume of physical exercise and psychological high risk status ( χ 2=2.92, 0.01, both P >0.05). Conclusions Cognitive-psychological health among primary school students is heterogeneous. Physical exercise is associated with psychological health improvement and may show a threshold effect, with total volume of physical exercise and single session exercise duration being the key dimensions.

Mosquito-borne diseases pose a major threat to global public health. The gut microbiota colonizing the mosquito intestinal tract plays a critical role in regulating pathogen infection, replication, and transmission. This review summarizes the effects of mosquito gut microbiota on the transmission potential of mosquito-borne pathogens, explores the interaction mechanisms between gut microbial communities and pathogens, and discusses the potential of microbiome-based strategies to reduce mosquito-borne disease transmission.

Objective:To analyze Hepatitis B virus(HBV)drug resistance mutations in patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB)infection who have undergone long-term monotherapy with Entecavir(ETV)and those receiving combination therapy with ETV and Lamivudine(LAM), and to explore the related factors affecting HBV drug resistance mutations.Methods:The study retrospectively analyzed patients with CHB, compensated cirrhosis, decompensated cirrhosis, and liver cancer who received long-term nucleotide analogue antiviral therapy at the Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital from August 2012 to August 2019.The patients were divided into an ETV monotherapy group and a combined LAM+ETV therapy group.Chi-square tests, independent sample t-tests, and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used to compare the clinical baseline characteristics and HBV drug resistance mutation features between the two therapy groups.A multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the factors related to HBV drug resistance mutations. Results:A total of 533 patients were enrolled in this study, 357 in the ETV monotherapy group and 176 in the LAM+ETV group. The ETV monotherapy group had 122 (34.17%) patients with resistance mutations, while the LAM+ETV group had 126 (71.59%).In general, the difference in gene mutation rate between the two therapy groups was statistically significant( χ2=66.337, P<0.001). The median age and alanine aminotransferase levels of patients with drug resistance mutations in the two therapy groups were higher than those in the non-mutation group[( t=-4.743, P<0.001)/( Z=-4.809, P<0.001), ( Z=-2.667, P=0.007)/( Z=-2.001, P=0.045)].Age( OR=1.044, 95% CI:1.023-1.066), compensated cirrhosis( OR=2.163, 95% CI:1.193-3.922), liver cancer( OR=4.017, 95% CI:2.170-7.436) and the treatment regimen( OR=6.075, 95% CI:3.889-9.489) were associated with drug resistance gene mutations( P<0.001).The mutation rates in different stages of chronic liver disease(CHB, cirrhosis, and liver cancer)showed statistically significant( χ2=41.038, P<0.001; χ2=15.894, P<0.001).The overall mutation rates of ETV-related genes in the two therapy groups were 25.49% and 32.39%, respectively.Additionally, 10 mutation sites and 38 variant combinations were identified, containing five common combinations being rtL180M, rtM204V, rtS202G;rtL180M, rtM204V, rtT184A; rtL180M, rtM204V, rtT184L;rtM204I and rtL180M, rtM204V. Conclusion:In CHB patients undergoing long-term therapy, the rate of HBV resistance mutations is higher in those receiving ETV and LAM combination therapy than in those receiving ETV monotherapy.Monitoring older patients and those with cirrhosis or liver cancer is especially important for preventing resistance mutations.

Objective:To explore the relationship between intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and ulcerative colitis (UC).Methods:From December 2023 to June 2024, 85 patients with UC from the Gastroenterology Department of the Luquan branch of the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University were enrolled. The lactulose hydrogen-methane breath test was performed to assess the prevalence of SIBO. Clinical data, including basic information, clinical manifestations, endoscopic manifestations, inflammatory indicators, current medication regimen, and past medical history, were collected. Furthermore, the body mass index (BMI), modified Mayo score, and patient-reported outcome (PRO2) score were calculated to evaluate disease activity in each patient. The Student′s t-test, Chi-square test, non-parametric test, and multiple logistic regression were used to analyze the data and explore the relationship between SIBO and UC. Results:The incidence of abdominal pain and bloating in patients who were SIBO positive with UC was higher than in those who were SIBO negative [abdominal pain: 50.0%(10/20) vs. 23.1%(15/65), χ2=5.34, P=0.021; abdominal distension: 40.0% (8/20) vs. 13.8% (9/65), χ2=5.01, P=0.025]; the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Patients who were SIBO positive with UC were more likely to develop hypoproteinemia and anemia than those who were SIBO negative [hypoproteinemia: 50.0% (10/20) vs. 15.4% (10/65), χ2=8.35, P=0.004; anemia: 35.0% (7/20) vs. 9.2% (6/65), χ2=5.98, P=0.014]; the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). In the intestinal methanogen overgrowth (IMO) positive group, the number of patients with UC with 1-2 stool times/day was higher, and the distribution of stool times between the IMO positive and IMO negative groups was significantly different ( χ2=6.45, P=0.040). Furthermore, combined hypoproteinemia and anemia were risk factors for SIBO in patients with UC (hypoproteinemia OR=4.331, 95% CI 1.117-16.799, P=0.034; anemia OR=5.515, 95% CI 1.231-24.700, P=0.026). Conclusions:We observed a clinical overlap between SIBO and UC. SIBO could be targeted to optimize the treatment of patients with UC in the future.

Objective To observe the value of Node-RADS based on dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI(DCE-MRI)for assessing axillary lymph node metastasis of breast cancer.Methods A total of 308 patients with breast cancer were retrospectively enrolled and divided into metastasis group(n=153)and non-metastasis group(n=155)based on the presence of axillary lymph node metastasis or not.Two radiologists independently scored the axillary lymph nodes shown on DCE-MRI according to Node-RADS criteria.Inter-observer scores was assessed using Kappa test.Taken pathological result as the gold standard,receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted,and the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated to evaluate the efficacy of Node-RADS scores for diagnosing axillary lymph node metastasis.Results Good inter-observer consistency of Node-RADS scores was observed.When Node-RADS score＞2,the highest AUC of 2 radiologists was 0.928 and 0.921,respectively,being not significantly different(P＞0.05).Conclusion Node-RADS based on DCE-MRI had good efficacy for evaluating axillary lymph node metastasis of breast cancer.Node-RADS score higher than 2 strongly indicated possibility of lymph node metastasis.