Dry eye disease is a chronic ocular surface disorder of multifactorial origin, characterized by a loss of tear film homeostasis and associated with a range of ocular discomfort symptoms. Growing evidence underscores a significant bidirectional relationship between dry eye and depression: individuals with dry eye disease exhibit a higher prevalence of depressive disorders, and conversely, those diagnosed with depression demonstrate an increased susceptibility to developing dry eye. This interplay is mediated through several pathophysiological pathways, such as chronic inflammation, cerebral functional alterations, gut microbiome dysregulation, and sleep disturbances, which may collectively sustain a vicious cycle. The use of antidepressant therapy introduces further complexity, exerting heterogeneous effects on dry eye—some agents may offer symptomatic relief, whereas others can aggravate ocular surface impairment. The mechanisms responsible for these differential outcomes remain incompletely elucidated and merit further investigation. This review systematically consolidates epidemiological data on the dry eye-depression link, examines potential shared pathological mechanisms, and evaluates current therapeutic options. We propose an integrated management approach that combines conventional dry eye treatments, such as traditional Chinese medicine, electroacupuncture, physical activity and antidepressants—a multimodal strategy that may yield synergistic benefits in alleviating both ocular and affective symptoms, thereby improving overall quality of life. Moving forward, research should focus on deciphering the underlying mechanistic pathways and facilitating the translation of these insights into clinical practice to inform targeted, combined treatment regimens for patients with dry eye and depression.

The construction of a training system for visiting physicians in the department of rare diseases in China is an important measure to improve the overall diagnosis and treatment capacity for rare diseases and address the critical challenge of insufficient knowledge and skills among clinicians in practice. This article systematically describes the visiting physician training system established by the Department of Rare Diseases at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. It summarizes the training objectives and positioning, design logic, and learning modules of the system, aiming to provide a reference for the construction of the specialized talent team for rare diseases in China.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the risk factors for sodium valproate （VPA）-induced hyperammonemia in neurocritical patients， and to construct a risk prediction model. METHODS Clinical data were retrospectively collected from 172 neurocritical patients who received VPA treatment in the Department of Critical Care Medicine， the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2022 to June 2025. Patients were divided into the hyperammonemia group （73 cases） and the normal group （99 cases） based on their blood ammonia levels. Univariate analysis and LASSO regression analysis were used to screen for predictive variables. Independent factors were identified through multivariate Logistic regression analysis， and a nomogram was constructed accordingly. The performance of the model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve， calibration curve， and decision curve analysis （DCA）. RESULTS Combination of univariate analysis and LASSO regression analysis screened out seven predictive variables： body mass index （BMI）≥24.0 kg/m 2 ， concomitant use of benzodiazepines， VPA blood concentration， hemoglobin， serum urea， average daily VPA dose， and albumin. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that concomitant use of benzodiazepines， BMI≥24.0 kg/m 2 ， VPA blood concentration， albumin and serum urea level （with odds ratios of 1.615， 1.538， 1.623， 1.942 and 0.637， respectively； 95% confidence intervals of 1.128-2.359， 1.059-2.251， 1.112-2.431， 1.106-3.598 and 0.402-0.980， respectively） were all significantly associated with VPA-induced hyperammonemia in neurocritical patients （ P ＜0.05）. The nomogram prediction model constructed based on these variables was evaluated， showing that the area under the ROC curve was 0.810 for the test set and 0.844 for the validation set. The calibration curves closely approximated t he actual curves， and the application of this model could improve the clinical net benefit. CONCLUSIONS Concomitant use of benzodiazepines， BMI≥24.0 kg/m 2 ， high VPA blood concentration and high albumin level are independent risk factors for VPA-induced hyperammonemia in neurocritical patients， while high serum urea level is an independent protective factor. The risk prediction model constructed based on these factors exhibits good discrimination， consistency， and clinical applicability， making it applicable for predicting the risk of VPA-induced hyperammonemia in neurocritical patients.

Both hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis and fatty liver disease are associated with lipid metabolism disorders and are commonly comorbid with each other in clinical practice. The pathogenesis of such comorbidity involves the interaction between multiple factors such as hypertriglyceridemia， metabolic syndrome， obesity， and insulin resistance， and these factors may form a vicious cycle and jointly promote disease progression. In clinical practice， hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis is characterized by severe disease conditions， a high incidence rate of complications， a high mortality rate， and a tendency for recurrence， and it can easily lead to multi-organ damage and even multiple organ failure without timely treatment， posing a serious threat to the life of patients. Starting from the various signaling pathways associated with hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis comorbid with fatty liver disease， this article discusses the potential molecular mechanisms of synergistic pathogenesis between hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis and fatty liver disease， so as to provide a reference for the early prevention and treatment of such comorbidity.

Objective:To understand the current status and influencing factors for science and technology ethics awareness among medical postgraduates, explore scientific cultivation path, and provide empirical evidence for higher medical colleges to carry out science and technology ethics education.Methods:The study adopted a cluster sampling method and designed a questionnaire. A total of 2 095 medical postgraduates from Hebei Medical University participated in the survey from June to December 2023. SPSS 24.0 was used for non-parametric tests, and the ordered logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors.Results:A total of 1 992 valid questionnaires were collected, with a valid response rate of 95.08% (1 922/2 095). The qualified rate of science and technology ethics awareness among medical postgraduates was 90.76% (1 808/1 992), with 48.24% (961/1 992) of students falling into the good interval and 16.21% (323/1 992) falling into the excellent interval. The regression analysis showed that sex, academic category, students' attention to science and technology ethical issues, and understanding of ethical principles were significant influencing factors for medical postgraduates' science and technology ethics awareness ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The science and technology ethics awareness of medical postgraduates is at a medium level. Higher medical colleges should start from the needs and adhere to the direction of lifelong education to build a multi-subject, all-round, and all-process cultivation path. They can help students cultivate ethical awareness by improving the educational system, building a scientific teaching system, and creating a social education atmosphere. They can also help students internalize ethical norms and externalize them in their behaviors, and ensure that they can maintain ethical sensitivity in scientific and technological activities, thereby cultivating high-quality new medical and health professionals who can anticipate scientific and technological risks and assume ethical responsibilities.

Objective To analyze the use of anticholinergic medications at discharge among elderly patients with chronic heart failure(CHF)and its associated risk factors.Methods Clinical data of 240 elderly CHF patients admitted in our Department of Cardiovascular Diseases between January 1,2020,and December 31,2023 were colloected.Based on ACB score,they were divided into an an-ticholinergic group(ACB score≥1,223 cases)and a non-anticholinergic group(ACB score of 0,17 cases).Using the ACB score,the anticholinergic burden was quantified,and the relationship be-tween anticholinergic burden and various related factors was analyzed using logistic regression.Results The anticholinergic group had significantly younger age[(75.17±7.21)years vs(79.12±8.75)years,P＜0.05],and larger number of discharge medications[8(6,10)vs 5(4,7),P＜0.01]when compared with the non-anticholinergic group.Logistic regression analysis showed that the number of discharge medications was an independent risk factor for increased anticholinergic bur-den in the elderly CHF patients(OR=1.575,95％CI:1.249-1.986,P=0.001).Conclusion The proportion of elderly CHF patients using anticholinergic medications is relatively high.Clinically,special attention should be given to polypharmacy to reduce the incidence of adverse events caused by anticholinergic drugs.

Objective To evaluate the predictive significance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound parameters in combination with serum levels of chemokine ligand 9(CXCL9)and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3(IGFBP-3)for the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma following interventional therapy.Methods A total of 212 patients with liver cancer who received interventional therapy at the hospital between June 2022 and Novem-ber 2023 were selected and categorized into Group A(61 cases)and Group B(151 cases)based on whether tumor recurrence occurred within one year following the intervention.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was con-ducted to identify potential influencing factors associated with post-treatment recurrence.The predictive perfor-mance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound parameters combined with serum biomarkers was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis.Results The levels of several factors including a tumor with a maximum diameter exceeding 3 cm,presence of microvascular invasion,high peak intensity(PI),short time to peak(TTP),short arrival time(AT),elevated serum CXCL9,and decreased serum IGFBP-3 were identified as indepen-dent risk factors for recurrence in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma following interventional therapy(P<0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)for the combination of PI,TTP,AT,along with serum levels of CXCL9 and IGFBP-3,in predicting recurrence after interventional therapy was significantly higher than that of individual fac-tors alone(P<0.05).Conclusions The risk of recurrence in patients undergoing interventional therapy for liver cancer is substantial,and it is influenced by a range of independent risk factors.Combining contrast-enhanced ul-trasound parameters with serum levels of CXCL9 and IGFBP-3 may enhance the predictive accuracy for tumor re-currence in these patients.

Objective To evaluate the predictive significance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound parameters in combination with serum levels of chemokine ligand 9(CXCL9)and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3(IGFBP-3)for the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma following interventional therapy.Methods A total of 212 patients with liver cancer who received interventional therapy at the hospital between June 2022 and Novem-ber 2023 were selected and categorized into Group A(61 cases)and Group B(151 cases)based on whether tumor recurrence occurred within one year following the intervention.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was con-ducted to identify potential influencing factors associated with post-treatment recurrence.The predictive perfor-mance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound parameters combined with serum biomarkers was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis.Results The levels of several factors including a tumor with a maximum diameter exceeding 3 cm,presence of microvascular invasion,high peak intensity(PI),short time to peak(TTP),short arrival time(AT),elevated serum CXCL9,and decreased serum IGFBP-3 were identified as indepen-dent risk factors for recurrence in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma following interventional therapy(P<0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)for the combination of PI,TTP,AT,along with serum levels of CXCL9 and IGFBP-3,in predicting recurrence after interventional therapy was significantly higher than that of individual fac-tors alone(P<0.05).Conclusions The risk of recurrence in patients undergoing interventional therapy for liver cancer is substantial,and it is influenced by a range of independent risk factors.Combining contrast-enhanced ul-trasound parameters with serum levels of CXCL9 and IGFBP-3 may enhance the predictive accuracy for tumor re-currence in these patients.

Objective To examine the association between lymphocyte subsets and renal clinicopathological characteristics as well as prognosis in patients with IgA nephropathy(IgAN).Methods The retrospective analysis included general clinical data and pathological examination results of IgAN patients diagnosed by renal biopsy at the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2018 to January 2022.Correlation tests were conducted to examine the relationship between lymphocyte subsets and other significant clinicopathological parameters.The optimal cut-off value of CD4+T determined using the Youden index,and patients were grouped accordingly.Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression analyses were employed to compare the low and high CD4+T lymphocyte groups among IgAN patients,identifying factors influencing renal function progression.The endpoint event was defined as a decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR)of≥30%from baseline,progression to end-stage renal disease(ESRD)[eGFR<15 mL/(min·1.73 m2)or initiation of renal replacement therapy],or all-cause mortality.Results Low CD4+T lymphocytes were significantly positively correlated with blood IgA levels and the proportion of glomerular crescents in IgAN patients(all P<0.05).This study included a total of 53 IgAN patients,divided into two groups based on CD4+T lymphocyte counts:20 patients in the low CD4+T lymphocyte group and 33 patients in the high CD4+T lymphocyte group.In the low CD4+T lymphocyte group,there was a higher proportion of males and a lower proportion of glomerular crescents(P<0.05).Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that patients with low CD4+lymphocytes had a significantly lower cumulative renal survival rate(Log-Rank test χ2=4.188,P=0.041).Cox regression analysis indicated that low CD4+lymphocytes were an independent risk factor for the progression of renal function decline in IgAN patients(HR=2.614,95%CI:1.006～6.788,P=0.048).Conclusions Patients with higher levels of CD4+T lymphocytes exhibit a lower risk of adverse renal outcomes.In contrast,patients with IgA nephropathy and low CD4+T lymphocyte counts tend to have poorer renal survival rates.

Objective·To detect immunoglobulin(Ig)expression levels in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma(MM)patients before and after induction therapy,and to explore the clinical significance of Ig expression levels and their dynamic changes in relation to treatment efficacy,infection occurrence,and prognosis.Methods·Clinical data from 142 MM patients treated at the Department of Hematology,The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between August 2018 and September 2020 were analyzed.Baseline Ig expression levels and post-induction changes following bortezomib-lenalidomide-dexamethasone(VRD)regimen were assessed.Immunoparesis was defined as uninvolved Igs below the laboratory lower limit of normal.Patients were stratified by immunoparesis severity(mild,moderate,severe,extremely severe).ANOVA,rank-sum tests,and x2 tests were used to analyze correlations with baseline characteristics.The relationship between the improvement in immunoparesis and the induction efficacy,infection occurrence,and prognosis was analyzed based on the dynamic changes in immunoparesis.Results·Normal Igs were severely reduced in newly diagnosed MM patients.Immunoparesis was present in 128 patients(90.1%),with severe or extremely severe immunoparesis accounting for 76.1%.Patients with extensive immunoparesis(all uninvolved Ig levels below the lower normal limit)were more likely to have severe immunoparesis(P<0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in age,gender,presence of severe renal insufficiency,and high-risk cytogenetics among MM patients with different degrees of immunoparesis(P>0.05),but there were statistically significant differences in MM staging(P=0.008)and typing(P=0.010).Most patients with severe immunoparesis were at stage Ⅱ/Ⅲ based on the Revised International Staging System(R-ISS)and were of the IgG type.At diagnosis,the levels of the involved Ig or light chain were negatively correlated with normal Ig levels(P<0.05).Improvement in immunoparesis after induction therapy was positively correlated with treatment response(P=0.006).The infection rate was high(26.8%),but no significant correlation was found between immunoparesis and infection occurrence(P>0.05).After induction therapy,patients showing improvement in immunoparesis had significantly longer progression-free survival(PFS)(median PFS:not reached vs 38 months,P=0.025),but no significant impact on overall survival(OS)was observed(P=0.450).Conclusion·Immunoparesis is common and severe in newly diagnosed MM patients,with severity correlating with disease stage and subtype.VRD therapy can partially reverse immunoparesis,and improvement is positively associated with treatment response and PFS benefit.Infection risk appears unrelated to immunoparesis severity and warrants comprehensive prevention strategies.Humoral immune deficiency may serve as a prognostic indicator in MM,but its impact on OS requires further investigation.