OBJECTIVES: To analyze the disease burden and inequalities of lower extremity peripheral artery disease (LEPAD) among people aged 40 and above in the Belt and Road partner countries from 1990 to 2021. METHODS: Data were retrieved from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 database. The age-standardized prevalence rates, mortality rates, and the annual rate of years lived with disability (YLDs) of LEPAD were analyzed. Trends were measured using the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC), and the slope index of inequality (SII) and concentration index were used to quantify the absolute and relative inequalities. RESULTS: In 2021, the age-standardized prevalence and mortality rates of LEPAD were 3168.26/10⁵ and 3.09/10⁵, increasing by 4.30% and 19.31% compared to 1990, while YLDs rates decreased by 4.00%. Females had higher age-standardized prevalence and YLDs rates, while males had higher mortality rates. The EAPC for prevalence rates was slightly higher in males (0.22%) than in females (0.17%); while the EAPC of age-standardized mortality rate was 2.02% for females, compared to 1.45% for males. From 1990 to 2021, the age-standardized YLDs rates decreased from 16.23/10⁵ to 15.58/10⁵, with a faster decline in females (－0.12%) than in males (－0.06%). LEPAD prevalence varied across countries, with higher burden in Europe and faster growth in Gulf states. Higher socio-demographic index countries had higher prevalence. Inequity improved, with the SII at 52.90/10⁵ and concentration index at 0.038 in 2021. Gender disparities persisted, with concentration index increased to 0.058 in females and reduced to －0.026 in males. CONCLUSIONS LEPAD prevalence and mortality among people aged 40 and above in the Belt and Road partner countries increased, while YLDs rates decreased from 1990 to 2021. Significant differences among people exist depending on gender and country, highlighting the need for enhanced screening, health education, and shared public health strategies across the Belt and Road partner countries.
Humans ; Peripheral Arterial Disease/mortality* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Aged ; Prevalence ; Lower Extremity/blood supply* ; Global Burden of Disease ; Cost of Illness

Oocyte maturation disorders and fertilization failures are caused by a variety of factors, including complex factors such as chromosomal abnormalities and poor oocyte quality. With the widespread use of high-throughput sequencing technology, more and more genetic mutations have been found to be associated with oocyte maturation and fertilization process in infertile patients. This paper summarizes and discusses 11 key genes ( TRIP13, TBPL2, LHX8, PATL2, TUBB8, CDC20, WEE2, ZP, ASTL, JUNO and CD9) related to oocyte maturation and fertilization-related disorders in females, providing a basis for research on the prevention of diseases associated with oocyte maturation blockage and fertilization failure and the development of targeted therapies.

Non-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NCCAH), an autosomal recessive disorder, stems from genetic mutations affecting the enzymes and cofactors integral to adrenal steroidogenesis. These mutations may result in diminished activity or a complete loss of function for critical enzymes, such as 21-hydroxylase, 11β-hydroxylase, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 17α-hydroxylase, and the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR). The impairment of these enzymatic processes has profound implications for reproductive health in females, mediated through both genetic and endocrine pathways. This review aims to explore the pathogenesis of various enzyme defects in different types of NCCAH, their clinical features, and their impact on female fertility. It is hoped that this will help refine the diagnostic strategies for infertility associated with NCCAH, thereby enhancing fertility of patients and providing new directions and opportunities for further research in this field.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) refer to traumatic events such as abuse and neglect experienced before the age of 18 years, which have negative impacts on an individual's physical and mental health. Studies have shown that ACEs not only increase the risk of health-harming behaviors such as smoking and alcohol abuse, but are also risk factors for depression and anxiety. The influence of ACEs on depression and anxiety exhibits type-specificity, cumulative effects, and temporal dynamics. The impact of ACE types on depression and anxiety varies across populations and genders, a dose-response relationship exists between the number of ACEs and depression/anxiety, and the phase, trajectory, and frequency of ACEs also significantly influence depression and anxiety. This article collected literature on ACEs and depression/anxiety from January 1995 to June 2024 by searching the CNKI and PubMed databases. It provides a comprehensive review of the associations between different ACEs types, quantities, categories, timing, trajectories, frequencies, and the risks of depression and anxiety, while also exploring the underlying mechanisms of these associations. The findings aim to offer references for the prevention and intervention of ACEs and the improvement of mental health.

Oocyte maturation disorders and fertilization failures are caused by a variety of factors, including complex factors such as chromosomal abnormalities and poor oocyte quality. With the widespread use of high-throughput sequencing technology, more and more genetic mutations have been found to be associated with oocyte maturation and fertilization process in infertile patients. This paper summarizes and discusses 11 key genes ( TRIP13, TBPL2, LHX8, PATL2, TUBB8, CDC20, WEE2, ZP, ASTL, JUNO and CD9) related to oocyte maturation and fertilization-related disorders in females, providing a basis for research on the prevention of diseases associated with oocyte maturation blockage and fertilization failure and the development of targeted therapies.

OBJECTIVE To observe the effect of the Chinese herbal compound Weidiao No.3 Formula(WD-3)combined with immunotherapy and chemotherapy on survival outcomes in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)with lung-spleen qi dificiency type.METHODS A total of 216 patients with stage Ⅲb-Ⅳ NSCLC without driver gene mutations and with lung-spleen qi vacuity pattern and admitted to the oncology departments of Wuxi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Jiangnan Uni-versity Affiliated Hospital between January 1,2020,and March 1,2025,were enrolled.Based on whether they received WD-3 oral treatment(≥3 months),they were divided into a Chinese medicine exposure group(n=98;WD-3+immunotherapy combined with chemo-therapy)and a non-exposure group(n=118;immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy alone).Propensity score matching(PSM)was used to balance baseline characteristics.Overall survival(OS),progression-free survival(PFS),and baseline characteristics were com-pared between the two groups.Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the association between exposure and outcome,and sensitivity analysis was performed.RESULTS After PSM,there were no statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups(P>0.05).After matching,the median OS(32.92 months)and median PFS(9.07 months)in the Chinese medicine exposure group were longer than those in the non-exposure group(23.24 months and 7.89 months,respectively),with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Multivariate analysis was conducted,incorporating age,PD-L1 expression,KPS score,pathological type,and other factors as covariates to assess the independent association between WD3 exposure and OS and PFS outcomes.The results indicated that WD3 exposure was statistically significant in reducing the risk of death(OS outcome)and disease progression(PFS outcome).Specifically,for the OS outcome,the HR was 0.626,with a 95%CI of 0.438 to 0.894,and P=0.01;for the PFS outcome,the HR was 0.721,with a 95%CI of 0.535 to 0.972,and P=0.032.Sensitivity analysis showed robust results(E-value>2.1).CONCLUSION WD-3 combined with immunotherapy and chemotherapy may prolong OS and PFS and reduce mortality risk in patients with advanced NSCLC without driver gene mutations and with lung-spleen qi dificiency type,achieves adequate therapeutic effects.

Non-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NCCAH), an autosomal recessive disorder, stems from genetic mutations affecting the enzymes and cofactors integral to adrenal steroidogenesis. These mutations may result in diminished activity or a complete loss of function for critical enzymes, such as 21-hydroxylase, 11β-hydroxylase, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 17α-hydroxylase, and the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR). The impairment of these enzymatic processes has profound implications for reproductive health in females, mediated through both genetic and endocrine pathways. This review aims to explore the pathogenesis of various enzyme defects in different types of NCCAH, their clinical features, and their impact on female fertility. It is hoped that this will help refine the diagnostic strategies for infertility associated with NCCAH, thereby enhancing fertility of patients and providing new directions and opportunities for further research in this field.

OBJECTIVE To observe the effect of the Chinese herbal compound Weidiao No.3 Formula(WD-3)combined with immunotherapy and chemotherapy on survival outcomes in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)with lung-spleen qi dificiency type.METHODS A total of 216 patients with stage Ⅲb-Ⅳ NSCLC without driver gene mutations and with lung-spleen qi vacuity pattern and admitted to the oncology departments of Wuxi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Jiangnan Uni-versity Affiliated Hospital between January 1,2020,and March 1,2025,were enrolled.Based on whether they received WD-3 oral treatment(≥3 months),they were divided into a Chinese medicine exposure group(n=98;WD-3+immunotherapy combined with chemo-therapy)and a non-exposure group(n=118;immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy alone).Propensity score matching(PSM)was used to balance baseline characteristics.Overall survival(OS),progression-free survival(PFS),and baseline characteristics were com-pared between the two groups.Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the association between exposure and outcome,and sensitivity analysis was performed.RESULTS After PSM,there were no statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups(P>0.05).After matching,the median OS(32.92 months)and median PFS(9.07 months)in the Chinese medicine exposure group were longer than those in the non-exposure group(23.24 months and 7.89 months,respectively),with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Multivariate analysis was conducted,incorporating age,PD-L1 expression,KPS score,pathological type,and other factors as covariates to assess the independent association between WD3 exposure and OS and PFS outcomes.The results indicated that WD3 exposure was statistically significant in reducing the risk of death(OS outcome)and disease progression(PFS outcome).Specifically,for the OS outcome,the HR was 0.626,with a 95%CI of 0.438 to 0.894,and P=0.01;for the PFS outcome,the HR was 0.721,with a 95%CI of 0.535 to 0.972,and P=0.032.Sensitivity analysis showed robust results(E-value>2.1).CONCLUSION WD-3 combined with immunotherapy and chemotherapy may prolong OS and PFS and reduce mortality risk in patients with advanced NSCLC without driver gene mutations and with lung-spleen qi dificiency type,achieves adequate therapeutic effects.

To analyze the prevalence, genomic characteristics and clinical relevance of carbapenem-resistant bacteria in untreated hospital wastewater, and to provide a reference basis for in-hospital assessment of public health situation and prevention of cross-infection. In March 2023, untreated wastewater in the wastewater treatment station of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and wastewater in the U-shaped wastewater pipes of the hand-washing sinks in 26 wards were collected, centrifuged and diluted, and the drug-resistant bacteria were isolated by using LB solid plates containing meropenem (2 μg/ml) for species identification, drug sensitivity analysis, carbapenenase gene PCR detection and whole genome sequencing. The genome sequence was identified for drug resistance genes. Retrospective research was used, combining multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis, to compare their homology with clinical isolates of the same quarter. The results showed that 56 carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria were isolated from hospital wastewater, originating from 13 genera, of which 17 were isolated from the total hospital wastewater, with Aeromonas spp. as the most dominant genus (35.3%, 6/17), and 39 were isolated from the wastewater of 17 wards, with Pseudomonas spp. as the most dominant genus (30.8%, 12/39). All common wastewater isolates from our hospital were multidrug-resistant bacteria, with up to 100% resistant to some second-and third-generation cephalosporins. A total of 8 carbapenemase genes originated from wastewater isolates, including blaKPC, blaNDM, blaIMP, blaVIM, blaIND, blaOXA-58-like, blaOXA-48-like, and blaOXA-427-like. 39 wastewater isolates carried the carbapenemase genes, and the total wastewater of the hospital carried the highest isolation rate of blaKPC-2 bacteria (35.3%, 6/17) and the highest isolation rate of blaIMP-8 bacteria (31.8%, 7/22) were found in the wastewater from 26 wards. 14 wastewater isolates were found to carry both carbapenemase genes, with a total of 6 combinations. A new blaIMP-101 isoform was also identified for the first time. 4 wastewater isolates and 11 clinical isolates were screened for inclusion in the SNP analysis, in which only 15 SNPs differed between the two strains of ST11 Klebsiella pneumoniae of clinical and wastewater origin, which was highly homologous. In conclusion, the presence of multiple multi-drug resistant conditionally pathogenic bacteria in untreated hospital wastewater has the potential risk of spreading drug-resistant genes in the environment. The highly homologous Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from hospital wastewater and clinics indicates the close association between hospital wastewater and clinical infections. Hospitals need to strengthen the monitoring of drug-resistant bacteria and drug-resistant genes in the wastewater environment, to prevent the widespread dissemination of drug-resistant bacteria and drug-resistant genes in hospital wastewater and to prevent nosocomial infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria in wastewater.

To analyze the prevalence, genomic characteristics and clinical relevance of carbapenem-resistant bacteria in untreated hospital wastewater, and to provide a reference basis for in-hospital assessment of public health situation and prevention of cross-infection. In March 2023, untreated wastewater in the wastewater treatment station of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and wastewater in the U-shaped wastewater pipes of the hand-washing sinks in 26 wards were collected, centrifuged and diluted, and the drug-resistant bacteria were isolated by using LB solid plates containing meropenem (2 μg/ml) for species identification, drug sensitivity analysis, carbapenenase gene PCR detection and whole genome sequencing. The genome sequence was identified for drug resistance genes. Retrospective research was used, combining multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis, to compare their homology with clinical isolates of the same quarter. The results showed that 56 carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria were isolated from hospital wastewater, originating from 13 genera, of which 17 were isolated from the total hospital wastewater, with Aeromonas spp. as the most dominant genus (35.3%, 6/17), and 39 were isolated from the wastewater of 17 wards, with Pseudomonas spp. as the most dominant genus (30.8%, 12/39). All common wastewater isolates from our hospital were multidrug-resistant bacteria, with up to 100% resistant to some second-and third-generation cephalosporins. A total of 8 carbapenemase genes originated from wastewater isolates, including blaKPC, blaNDM, blaIMP, blaVIM, blaIND, blaOXA-58-like, blaOXA-48-like, and blaOXA-427-like. 39 wastewater isolates carried the carbapenemase genes, and the total wastewater of the hospital carried the highest isolation rate of blaKPC-2 bacteria (35.3%, 6/17) and the highest isolation rate of blaIMP-8 bacteria (31.8%, 7/22) were found in the wastewater from 26 wards. 14 wastewater isolates were found to carry both carbapenemase genes, with a total of 6 combinations. A new blaIMP-101 isoform was also identified for the first time. 4 wastewater isolates and 11 clinical isolates were screened for inclusion in the SNP analysis, in which only 15 SNPs differed between the two strains of ST11 Klebsiella pneumoniae of clinical and wastewater origin, which was highly homologous. In conclusion, the presence of multiple multi-drug resistant conditionally pathogenic bacteria in untreated hospital wastewater has the potential risk of spreading drug-resistant genes in the environment. The highly homologous Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from hospital wastewater and clinics indicates the close association between hospital wastewater and clinical infections. Hospitals need to strengthen the monitoring of drug-resistant bacteria and drug-resistant genes in the wastewater environment, to prevent the widespread dissemination of drug-resistant bacteria and drug-resistant genes in hospital wastewater and to prevent nosocomial infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria in wastewater.