Objective To investigatethe relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and clinicopathological characteristics, p53 expression, and survival of Chinese patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma. Methods A total of 3882 patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma, 970 matched patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and 970 matched patients with gastric cardia adenocarcinoma were included to compare the incidence of GERD symptoms. Patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma were divided into two groups according to the presence and absence of GERD symptoms. The differences in clinicopathological characteristics and p53 expression between the two groups were compared by chi-square test, and the differences in survival between the two groups were compared by landmark analysis. Results The incidence of GERD symptoms increased successively in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, esophageal adenocarcinoma, and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma. In patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma, the proportions of male, less than 65 years old, lower thoracic tumors, tumors without squamous cell carcinoma, poorly differentiation, early tumors (stage 0-I), and p53-positive tumors in the group with GERD symptoms were higher than those in the group without GERD symptoms; moreover, the long-term survival (≥15 years) was better. Conclusion GERD symptom is an important clinical sign of esophageal adenocarcinoma. It is closely related to specific clinicopathological characteristics, p53 overexpression, and good long-term prognosis.

BACKGROUND:Successful uterine spiral artery remodeling is necessary for normal pregnancy,in which vascular smooth muscle cells are important cells.Interferon-γ is associated with the loss of vascular smooth muscle cells during early pregnancy.However,the specific mechanism is not fully understood. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of interferon-γ on migration and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells through NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD pyroptosis pathway. METHODS:Human vascular smooth muscle cells were divided into control group and interferon-γ group.The control group was cultured normally,and the interferon-γ group was treated with 10 ng/mL interferon-γ for 24 hours.The migration ability of vascular smooth muscle cells was detected by Transwell assay.The apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells was detected by TUNEL assay and flow cytometry.The mRNA expression levels of NLRP3 and caspase-1 were detected by qPCR.Western blot assay was utilized to detect NLRP3,caspase-1,and cleaved N-terminal GSDMD protein expression levels. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group,the migration ability and apoptosis rate of vascular smooth muscle cells in interferon-γ group were significantly increased(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the mRNA expression levels of NLRP3 and caspase-1 in vascular smooth muscle cells of interferon-γ group were significantly increased(P<0.05).Compared with control group,the expression levels of NLRP3,caspase-1,and cleaved N-terminal GSDMD protein in vascular smooth muscle cells in the interferon-γ group were significantly increased(P<0.05).The results suggest that interferon-γ may regulate the migration and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells through NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD pyroptosis pathway.

Objective To analyze the factors influencing iodine nutritional status in pregnant women dur-ing pregnancy,based on thyroid function and thyroid autoantibody levels,and to explore the association between iodine nutritional abnormalities and pregnancy outcomes.Methods A total of 838 pregnant women who underwent routine prenatal checkups at Qinghai Provincial People's Hospital between January 2021 and June 2023 were pro-spectively enrolled in this study.All participants were followed until delivery.Seven cases were lost to follow-up,resulting in a final sample size of 831 participants.Among them,276 were in the first trimester,384 in the second trimester,and 171 in the third trimester.Data on urinary iodine concentration(UIC),urinary creatinine(UCr),thyroid function indicators,and thyroid autoantibodies were collected.Based on their iodine nutritional status,the participants were categorized into either the iodine-sufficient group or the iodine-abnormal group(including iodine-deficient,iodine-hyper-sufficient,and iodine-excessive subgroups).This study analyzed the iodine nutritional sta-tus of pregnant women during different gestational periods,compared thyroid function indices,prevalence of thy-roid diseases,and the positivity rates of thyroid peroxidase antibody(TPOAb),thyroglobulin antibody(TGAb),and thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibody(TRAb)among different iodine status groups.Additionally,ad-verse pregnancy outcomes were compared across groups.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify risk factors associated with iodine abnormalities during pregnancy,and a predictive model was developed to assess its potential predictive value.Results Among the 831 pregnant women included in the study,373 cases(44.89％)exhibited iodine sufficiency,while 458 cases(55.11％)presented with iodine abnormalities,including 282 cases of iodine deficiency,144 cases of iodine hypersufficiency,and 32 cases of iodine excess.No statistically significant differences were observed in the iodine nutritional status across different trimesters(P>0.05).The se-rum level of thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH)was significantly higher in the iodine abnormal group compared to the iodine sufficient group(P<0.05).Additionally,the iodine abnormal group demonstrated higher positivity rates of TPOAb alone,TGAb,and TRAb,as well as increased incidence of thyroid dysfunction and total adverse pregnancy outcomes compared to the iodine sufficient group(all P<0.05).These adverse indicators were also sig-nificantly elevated in the iodine-deficient,iodine super-sufficient,and iodine overdose subgroups compared to the iodine sufficient group(P<0.05).Elevated serum TSH levels and the presence of TPOAb,TGAb,and TRAb were identified as risk factors for iodine abnormalities during pregnancy(P<0.05).The predictive model con-structed for identifying iodine abnormalities in pregnant women demonstrated an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.876,with a sensitivity of 72.27％and a specificity of 89.01％.Conclusions The prevalence of iodine nutritional abnormalities among pregnant women during pregnancy was high,with most cases presenting iodine deficiency.These abnormalities were associated with thyroid function,thyroid autoimmunity,and pregnancy outcomes,but showed no significant correlation with gestational age.Furthermore,the prediction model developed based on iden-tified risk factors demonstrated effective performance in predicting iodine nutritional abnormalities during preg-nancy.

In recent years, the bacteriophage Φ29 (Phi29) DNA polymerase has garnered increasing attention due to its high-fidelity amplification capacity at constant temperatures. To advance the industrial application of this type of isothermal polymerases, this study mined and characterized new enzymes from the microbial metagenome based on the known Phi29 DNA polymerase sequence. The results revealed that a new enzyme, Php29 DNA polymerase, was identified in the microbial metagenome with plants as the hosts. This enzyme exhibited higher strand displacement activity, with a 59.5% similarity to bacteriophage Φ29. Experimental validation demonstrated that the enzyme had 3'→5' exonuclease activity, and its amplification products can serve as substrates for further catalytic reactions. The discovery and validation of Php29 DNA polymerase gives insights into the future industrial application of isothermal polymerases.
DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase/metabolism* ; Bacillus Phages/genetics* ; Metagenome

Objective:To establish a linear calibration method using two reference substances for seven characteristic peaks of Cassiae Semen under complicated chromatographic condition,and to optimize the method.Methods:Using 15 different types of screened chromatographic columns and 2 components as reference compounds pair,the linear calibration method with 2 reference substances was established to predict the retention time of the other 5 components,and the method was verified by unknown chromatographic columns and unknown samples.Combined with column confirmation number and average coincidence rate of target peaks,the location results were compared comprehen-sively,and the method was optimized according to the defect under the influence of complicated chromatographic condition.Results:The average conformity rate of the target peak of the method before optimization was 73.3％,and the average conformity rate of the target peak of the optimized method was 98.7％.The optimized method has a high-er average peak coincidence rate and a wider range of applicability for the chromatographic column.Conclusion:The optimized linear calibration method using two reference substances can assist the localization analysis of chromato-graphic peaks in the characteristic chromatogram under complicated chromatographic condition.

Objective:To explore the application of the O-PIRTAS flipped classroom in teaching the course of "developmental psychology".Methods:This study involved second-year undergraduate students majoring in clinical psychology. The 26 undergraduate students enrolled in 2023 who participated in the late adulthood section of the course were selected as the experimental group (O-PIRTAS teaching), while the 25 undergraduate enrolled in 2022 in the same course were selected as the control group (traditional teaching). Assessments were conducted through closed-book tests and questionnaires. The student questionnaire evaluated their theoretical knowledge, class assessment, and class engagement. The teacher questionnaire assessed the completeness of the lecture, logical flow, and student engagement. SPSS 22.0 was used for t test. Results:In the theoretical examination, the experimental group showed significantly higher scores compared to the control group in knowledge application [(13.09±1.59) vs. (10.54±0.77)] and practical problem-solving ability [(8.27±0.57) vs. (6.95±0.32)]. In the questionnaire survey, 24 (92.00%) students in the experimental group expressed recognition of the flipped classroom mode. Teachers reported greater improvement in satisfaction with the classroom performance of the experimental group compared to the control group.Conclusions:O-PIRTAS flipped classroom improves the quality of teaching "developmental psychology", enhances student learning outcomes, and stimulates learning motivation.

Objective To investigate the effect of the rs3765467 polymorphism of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor(GLP-1R)gene on the efficacy of Liraglutide(Lir)in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)and metabolic associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD).Methods A total of 281 patients with T2DM from May 2022 to May 2023 were selected,including 125 patients with simple T2DM(T2DM group)and 156 patients with T2DM combined with MAFLD(T2DM+MAFLD group).120 healthy individuals during the same period were selected as the control(NC)group.The related indexes of glucose and lipid metabolism were detected.The polymorphism of GLP-1R gene rs3765467 was detected.Results BMI,FPG,HbA1c,HOMA-IR and TG in each group increased in turn(P<0.05),while the distribution frequency of genotype GG and allele G decreased in turn(P<0.05).TC and LDL-C in T2DM and T2DM+MAFLD groups were higher than those in NC group(P<0.05).TC and TG levels in genotype GA/AA patients were significantly higher than those in genotype GG patients(P<0.05).Compared with before treatment,the levels of BMI,FPG,HbA1c,HOMA-IR,TC,TG and LDL-C in T2DM patients with MAFLD were significantly decreased after Lir treatment(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in BMI and related indexes of glucose and lipid metabolism in GG and GA/AA patients before and after Lir treatment(P>0.05).Conclusions The distribution frequency of GG and G allele at rs3765467 of GLP-1R gene is reduced in T2DM patients with MAFLD.The carrying of allele A was associated with increased TC and TG levels,but did not affect the efficacy of Lir in reducing weight and improving glycolipid metabolism.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of dupilumab in the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) in infants aged 6 months to 2 years.Methods:A prospective cohort study was conducted. Children aged 6 months to 2 years with moderate-to-severe AD were enrolled from the Department of Dermatology, Children′s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between July 2022 and March 2023. Children weighing 5 to < 15 kg received subcutaneous injections of dupilumab at a dose of 200 mg every 4 weeks, while those weighing 15 to < 30 kg received subcutaneous injections of dupilumab at a dose of 300 mg every 4 weeks. Three age-matched healthy children were recruited as controls at the same time. Clinical assessments were performed at weeks 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 by using the parameters scoring AD (SCORAD), eczema area and severity index (EASI), investigator′s global assessment (IGA), body surface area (BSA) involvement, patient-oriented eczema measure (POEM), pruritus numerical rating scale (NRS), sleep NRS, and infants′ dermatitis quality of life (IDQoL) index. The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving an IGA score of 0 or 1 (IGA0/1) at week 16, and the key secondary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving at least 75% improvement from baseline in EASI (EASI75) at week 16. In addition, serum immunoglobulin (Ig) E, IgG, IgM, and IgA levels and peripheral blood eosinophil counts were measured at weeks 0, 4, and 16. Peripheral blood T helper (Th) cell subsets were analyzed in 10 AD patients and 3 healthy children at baseline by flow cytometry, and 6 AD patients underwent repeat testing at week 16. Adverse reactions were recorded throughout treatment. Changes in clinical scores over time after dupilumab treatment were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance, and changes in serum total IgE levels were analyzed using generalized estimating equations.Results:A total of 12 children with AD were enrolled, including 8 males and 4 females, aged 1.5 ± 0.3 years, and the baseline SCORAD was 64.8 ± 9.9 points. Compared with baseline, SCORAD, EASI, IGA, BSA, POEM, pruritus/sleep NRS, and IDQoL scores were all significantly reduced at week 2 (all P < 0.05), and continued to decrease at weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16. At week 16, the IGA scores decreased from 3.9 ± 0.3 points at baseline to 1.7 ± 0.9 points, with 9 patients achieving IGA0/1; the EASI scores decreased from 28.1 ± 12.4 points at baseline to 4.9 ± 5.4 points, with 9 patients achieving EASI75. Compared with baseline, serum total IgE levels were significantly reduced at weeks 4 and 16 (Wald χ2 = 11.51, P = 0.003). At baseline, the proportion of Th2 cells among total CD3 +CD4 + T cells in patients was significantly higher than that in healthy controls (6.3% ± 1.3% vs. 4.3% ± 0.8%, t = 2.45, P = 0.032) ; at week 16, the proportion of Th2 cells in patients (5.3% ± 2.0%) was significantly lower than that at baseline ( t = 5.56, P = 0.003). The proportion of Th1/17 cells increased from 2.2% ± 1.5% at baseline to 3.9% ± 2.1% at week 16 ( t = 3.51, P = 0.007), whereas the proportions of Th1 and Th17 cell subsets showed no statistical significance compared with baseline (both P > 0.05). One patient experienced an injection-site reaction and another developed fever, but no treatment-related serious adverse reactions were observed. Conclusions:Dupilumab demonstrated favorable efficacy and safety in infants aged 6 months to 2 years with moderate-to-severe AD. In addition, dupilumab could decrease the proportion of Th2 cell subsets and serum levels of total IgE.

The aim of this updated guideline is to provide comprehensive recommendations for the management of gout in patients with common comorbidities, such as chronic kidney disease(CKD), cardiovascular disease(CVD), diabetes, osteoarthritis(OA), and gastrointestinal disorders. This guideline was developed by a multidisciplinary expert panel consisting of specialists in endocrinology, rheumatology, nephrology, cardiology, gastroenterology, and methodology. The development process adhered to standard methodologies, including PICO(population, intervention, comparator, and outcomes) question deconstruction, systematic literature review, the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation(GRADE) for evidence and recommendation evaluation, Delphi voting, and expert consensus. The guideline presents 26 evidence-based recommendations addressing 7 clinical questions for patients with hyperuricemia and gout in the context of comorbidities. Key recommendations include the maintenance of strict serum urate targets, particularly for patients with CKD stage≥3, chronic gouty arthritis, and OA, in order to prevent disease progression. In patients with CVD or diabetes, intra-articular triamcinolone is preferred over systemic glucocorticoids. Prioritized anti-inflammatory treatments for patients with CKD, gastrointestinal diseases and OA are recommended. The guideline also introduces emerging therapies, such as interleukin-1 inhibitors and selective urate transport inhibitors, as potential treatment options for refractory cases. The update offers a comprehensive, patient-centered approach to managing gout, particularly in individuals with associated comorbidities. Multidisciplinary collaboration and emerging new treatments and evidence ensure the optimization of the recommendations.