Esophageal cancer is one of the malignant tumors that poses a threat to human health, with both high incidence and malignancy. Currently, surgery following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is the standard treatment for locally advanced esophageal cancer; however, the long-term prognosis remains unsatisfactory. In recent years, inhibitors of programmed death protein-1 (PD-1) and its ligand (programmed death ligand-1, PD-L1) have achieved breakthrough progress in other solid tumors, and research on esophageal cancer is gradually being conducted. With the demonstration of good efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in the first-line and second-line treatment of advanced unresectable esophageal cancer, their incorporation into neoadjuvant treatment regimens has become a hot topic. Therefore, this article reviews the mechanism of action of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and their application in the neoadjuvant treatment of esophageal cancer.

Objective: To explore the application effect of a guided self help intervention based on dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to address non suicidal self injury (NSSI) behavior among college students, so as to provide a reference for reducing the occurrence of NSSI behavior in this population. Methods: A total of 106 college students with NSSI admitted to the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University from January 2021 to January 2023 were selected and divided into an observation group and a control group, with 53 cases in each group, using a random number table method. The control group received routine medication treatment and psychological intervention, while the observation group, on the basis of the interventions provided to the control group, implemented dialectical behavior therapy based guided self help. The approach combines group activities, individual counseling, and selfdirected learning, covering four core modules: mindfulness training, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotion regulation. Meanwhile, data collection, skill check ins, and personalized recommendation pushes were conducted through a WeChat. Both groups were intervented for 12 weeks. Before the intervention and after the intervention, the Adolescent Non suicidal Self injury Behavior Questionnaire, Ottawa Self injury Inventory (OSI), and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) were used to evaluate the patients, and the levels of serum neurotransmitters were detected. The χ 2 test, t test, and Cochran s Q test were used for data comparison and analysis. Results: The incidence rates of NSSI in the observation group after 3, 6, and 12 weeks of intervention were 47.17%, 16.98%, and 5.66%, respectively, all lower than those in the control group (67.92%, 35.85%, 20.75%) ( χ 2=4.67, 4.85, 5.27,all P <0.05). After 12 weeks of intervention, in the NSSI Behavior Questionnaire, the total score of the observation group was (17.94±2.69) points, which was lower than that of the control group (23.04±5.11) points; in the Function Questionnaire, the total score of the observation group was (53.24±8.94) points, which was higher than that of the control group (47.74±8.00) points（both P ＜0.05）. In terms of the OSI, the total score of the observation group was (4.49±0.62) points, lower than that of the control group (6.25±0.81) points;in the BIS, the total score of the observation group was (80.76±7.94) points, lower than that of the control group (87.74±9.34) points，and the differences between groups were statistically significant(both P<0.05). After the intervention, the level of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the observation group was (67.93±5.42) ng/mL, higher than (44.72±5.54) ng/mL of the control group; the levels of substance P and cortisol in the observation group were (35.82±4.47) ng/L and (75.64±8.02) μg/L, respectively, both lower than (48.14±5.32) ng/L and (94.53±10.78) μg/L of the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P <0.05). Conclusion The guided self help intervention based on DBT is helpful for reducing NSSI behavior among college students.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the efficacy and safety of the interleukin-1 （IL-1） receptor antagonist anakinra in the treatment of refractory adult onset Still’s disease （AOSD）， and provide more real-world evidence and practical experience for the treatment of AOSD with this drug. METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on the diagnosis and treatment process of a patient with AOSD complicated with dermatomyositis who received anakinra； systematically searched for relevant literature on the treatment of AOSD with anakinra in Chinese and English databases such as CNKI， PubMed， Medline， etc.， and conduct literature review on its efficacy and safety. RESULTS The patient in this case had poor treatment with multiple traditional drugs and was considered to have AOSD combined with dermatomyositis. After being admitted to the hospital and treated with a combination therapy of anakinra and glucocorticoids for several days， the patient’s clinical symptoms and inflammatory indicators significantly improved， and no serious adverse drug reactions occurred. Pharmacists designed specialized pharmaceutical monitoring pathways and conduct regular follow-up after discharge. After discharge， the patient took medication regularly， and the condition was maintained and relieved； during this period， there was redness and swelling at the injection site which resolved on its own without any other obvious discomfort. Literature review showed that anakinra could increase the response rate and remission rate of AOSD patients， and significantly reduce the dosage of glucocorticoids； adverse events were mainly injection site reactions， with a low overall risk of infection and good safety； however， there was a significant difference in the treatment course， and there was currently no unified plan. CONCLUSIONS Anakinra is an efficient and safe biological agent for treating AOSD， which can rapidly induce and maintain disease remission. For AOSD patients， clinical consideration may be given to using IL-1 antagonists to reduce glucocorticoid dependence， while strengthening long-term medication monitoring.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) for ameliorating diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) based on the analysis of gut microbiota and metabolomics. METHODS: Thirty SPF-grade male SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, and an EA group, with 10 rats in each one. Except in the normal group, the intraperitoneally injection with streptozotocin was used to induce diabetes mellitus model in the rest groups. In the EA group, acupuncture was delivered at bilateral "Zusanli" (ST36), "Sanyinjiao" (SP6), "Pishu" (BL20) and "Shenshu" (BL23), and electric stimulation was attached to "Zusanli" (ST36)-"Sanyinjiao" (SP6) and "Pishu" (BL20)-"Shenshu" (BL23), on the same side, with continuous wave and a frequency of 2 Hz, for 10 min in each intervention. The intervention measure of each group was delivered once every 2 days, 3 times a week, for 8 consecutive weeks. Body weight, random blood glucose (RBG), thermal withdrawal latency (TWL), and mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) before intervention, and in 4 and 8 weeks of intervention, separately, as well as sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV) and motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV) of the sciatic nerve after intervention were measured. Metagenomic sequencing (MS) was used to analyze gut microbiota and screen for differential species. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was employed to detect the differential metabolites in plasma, and the metabolic pathway enrichment analysis was performed on the differential metabolites. Spearman correlation analysis was adopted to assess the relationship between gut microbiota and metabolomics. RESULTS: After 4 and 8 weeks of intervention, when compared with the model group, the EA group showed the increase in body weight, TWL, MWT (P<0.01), and the decrease in RBG (P<0.01). Compared with the normal group, SCV and MCV, as well as Chao1 index were dropped in the model group (P<0.01), and those were elevated in the EA group when compared with those in the model group (P<0.01). The dominant bacterial phyla of each group were Firmicutes (F) and Bacteroidota (B), the ratio of them (F/B) in the model group was lower than that of the normal group (P<0.05), and F/B in the EA group was higher when compared with that in the model group (P<0.05). In comparison with the normal group, the relative abundance increased in Prevotella, Segatella, Prevotella-hominis and Segatella-copri (P<0.05); and it decreased in Ligilactobacillus, Eubacterium, Pseudoflavonifractor, Ligilactobacillus-murinus (P<0.05) in the model group. Compared with the model group, the relevant abundance of the above mentioned gut bacteria was all ameliorated in the EA group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Among the three groups, 120 differential metabolites were identified and enriched in 28 key metabolic pathways, such as glycerophospholipid and linoleic acid, of which, glycerophospholipid was the most significantly affected pathway in EA intervention. Spearman correlation analysis showed that 6 phosphatidylcholine metabolites were significantly positively correlated with Pseudoflavonifractor and were negatively with Prevotella, Segatella, Prevotella-hominis, Segatella-copri; 5 phosphatidylethanolamine metabolites were significantly negatively correlated with Pseudoflavonifractor and positively correlated with Prevotella, Segatella, Prevotella-hominis, Segatella-copri. CONCLUSION EA may regulate metabolic pathways such as glycerophospholipid, modulate specific gut microbiota such as Pseudoflavonifractor, Prevotella, and Segatella, and the co-expressed differential metabolites like phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, thereby reducing blood glucose and protecting nerve function, so as to relieve the symptoms of DPN of rats.
Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Male ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Diabetic Neuropathies/microbiology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Metabolomics ; Humans ; Acupuncture Points

Male infertility has become a global concern, accounting for 20-70% of infertility. Dysfunctional spermatogenesis is the most common cause of male infertility; thus, treating abnormal spermatogenesis may improve male infertility and has attracted the attention of the medical community. Mitochondria are essential organelles that maintain cell homeostasis and normal physiological functions in various ways, such as mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Mitochondrial OXPHOS transmits electrons through the respiratory chain, synthesizes adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and produces reactive oxygen species (ROS). These mechanisms are vital for spermatogenesis, especially to maintain the normal function of testicular Sertoli cells and germ cells. The disruption of mitochondrial OXPHOS caused by external factors can result in inadequate cellular energy supply, oxidative stress, apoptosis, or ferroptosis, all inhibiting spermatogenesis and damaging the male reproductive system, leading to male infertility. This article summarizes the latest pathological mechanism of mitochondrial OXPHOS disorder in testicular Sertoli cells and germ cells, which disrupts spermatogenesis and results in male infertility. In addition, we also briefly outline the current treatment of spermatogenic malfunction caused by mitochondrial OXPHOS disorders. However, relevant treatments have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, targeting mitochondrial OXPHOS disorders in Sertoli cells and germ cells is a research direction worthy of attention. We believe this review will provide new and more accurate ideas for treating male infertility.
Male ; Humans ; Infertility, Male/metabolism* ; Oxidative Phosphorylation ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; Spermatogenesis/physiology* ; Sertoli Cells/metabolism* ; Oxidative Stress/physiology* ; Animals ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism*

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major global health issue, with glycated hemoglobin levels serving as the gold standard for evaluating glucose level control in DM patients. However, it has limitations in reflecting glucose oscillations (i.e. glycemic variability, GV). Increasing evidence suggests that GV is closely related to the progression of diabetes complications and patient prognosis. As people realize the importance of avoiding hypoglycemia while achieving target glycated hemoglobin levels in treatment, the clinical significance of GV becomes more obvious. This article systematically reviewed the concept and connotation of GV, summarized the latest research on its role in the complications of diabetes, and revealed the biochemical and pathophysiological abnormalities caused by excessive glycemic oscillation, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the risk warning and early intervention of DM patients.
Humans ; Blood Glucose/metabolism* ; Diabetes Complications/physiopathology* ; Glycated Hemoglobin/metabolism* ; Hypoglycemia ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications*

It has been popular and challenging to undertake researches on the delay of acquired resistance of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKI). As key cells for tumor initiation, cancer stem cells (CSC) play an important role in the process of resistance to EGFR-TKI. Although preliminary studies found that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) could inhibit CSC properties and delay EGFR-TKI resistance, the specific molecular mechanism remains unclear. By summarizing the empirical syndrome treatment of EGFR-TKI resistance via TCM and combining recent researches on TCM intervention in CSC to delay EGFR-TKI resistance, this review discussed the potential molecular pathways and mechanisms of deceleration in resistance to EGFR-TKI by TCM via inhibiting CSC characteristics, in order to expand the research ideas of TCM in combination with targeted therapy.
Humans ; Neoplastic Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects* ; ErbB Receptors/genetics* ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.05.019.].

OBJECTIVE: Human brucellosis is a serious public health concern in the Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia; however, the epidemic trends are unclear. METHOD: In this study, Joinpoint regression analysis and spatiotemporal analysis were applied to investigate the epidemic evolution of human brucellosis. RESULT: From 2004 to 2023, a total of 35,747 cases were reported, with an annual average of 1787.35 cases and an annual average incidence rate of 176.04/100,000. The incidence increased from 173.96/100,000 in 2004 to 500.71/100,000 in 2009 and fluctuated to 61.43/100,000 in 2023. Three epidemic join points were observed in which the disease experienced an alternative rise and fall, peaking in 2009 (APC = 21.73, P > 0.001) and 2020 (APC = 21.51, P > 0.001). The disease showed a persistent decline trend in lentitude (AAPC = -5.30, P > 0.001), suggesting challenges in disease control and a higher risk of rebound. The most cases were reported in Xilinhot City ( n = 4,777), followed by 4,391 in Sonid Left Banner, and 4,324 in Abaga Banner. Spatiotemporal analysis revealed two high clusters (CI and CII) from 2005 to 2012, the high cluster encompassing eight counties and shifting from north to south. CONCLUSION The present analysis highlights that human brucellosis has decreased significantly in the Xilingol League, but the epidemic is still severe; further implementation of a strict control program is necessary.
China/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Brucellosis/epidemiology* ; Epidemics ; Spatio-Temporal Analysis ; Incidence ; Cluster Analysis