Compared with traditional therapies for chronic liver disease （CLD）， Bifidobacterium has the characteristics of multi-target intervention， high biosafety， and good host compatibility and provides new strategies for intervention of CLD progression in terms of microecological regulation. Various studies have shown that Bifidobacterium regulates liver homeostasis and exerts a therapeutic effect on CLD by regulating intestinal flora， maintaining antioxidation， promoting energy consumption， alleviating inflammation， improving glycolipid metabolism， and exerting an antitumor effect. This article systematically reviews the studies on Bifidobacterium in the treatment of CLD in China and globally， explores their different mechanisms， and elaborates on the interaction between related signaling pathways （such as the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 signaling pathway and the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase signaling pathway） and the liver， in order to provide a basis for probiotic intervention in liver pathology， as well as new ideas for the comprehensive treatment of CLD.

ObjectiveTo investigate whether Bushen Huoxue prescription improves embryo implantation through regulating exosomal miRNA to enhance maternal-fetal interface communication based on Bushen Huoxue therapy. MethodsIn the animal experiment， all the rats （except for the blank group） were administered hydroxyurea （450 mg·kg^-1） via gavage for 10 d， as well as epinephrine （0.3 mg·kg^-1） and mifepristone （5.5 mg·kg^-1） via subcutaneous injection for 7 d to establish an implantation disorder model of kidney deficiency and blood stasis type. The Bushen Huoxue prescription （BSHX） groups were administered the prescription at different doses （7.30 g·kg^-1 for the high-dose group， 3.65 g·kg^-1 for the medium-dose group， and 1.83 g·kg^-1 for the low-dose group） via gavage. The dydrogesterone group was administered the corresponding medicine （2.63 mg·kg^-1） via gavage. After intervention for 10 days， uterine histopathological changes were observed via hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Mucin （MUC1）， forkhead box protein O1 （FoxO1）， and homeobox A10 （HoxA10） expression levels were detected by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot. Cell experiment selected primary endometrial epithelial cells （EEC） and trophoblast cells （TC） as research subjects. Exosome-free medicated serum was prepared by ultracentrifugation and cultured in complete medium. Exosomes were isolated from cell supernatants by ultracentrifugation for cross-co-culture. After 48 h， migration and invasion abilities were assessed by scratch and Transwell assays. Sequencing was then performed on EEC-origin exosomal miRNA. ResultsThe model rats exhibited thin endometrium， along with reduced blood vessels， glandules， and pinopode numbers. BSHX improved endometrial morphology and increased pinopode numbers. MUC1， FoxO1， and HoxA10 expressions were downregulated in the model rats， while these parameters were upregulated after BSHX medium- and high-dose intervention. In the cell experiment， after exosome-free medicated serum intervention for 24 h， migration and invasion abilities were enhanced in the BSHX groups （P<0.01）. In EEC-origin exosomal miRNA sequencing， gene ontology （GO） and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） analyses revealed enrichment in biological processes （gastrulation， neuronal differentiation， alongside cell development and regeneration）， involving the mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK）， FoxO1， Wnt， mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR）， and tumor necrosis factor （TNF） signaling pathways. ConclusionBSHX promotes embryo implantation by improving endometrial receptivity via regulating exosomal miRNA. These findings provide potential targets for exosomal miRNA-based assisted reproductive strategies and a novel theoretical basis for infertility treatment by traditional Chinese medicine.

Background: As Taiwan’s population ages, falls among older adults have become a critical public health concern. However, limited data exist regarding temporal trends and injury patterns in fall-related emergency department (ED) visits. This study aimed to examine trends in fall-related ED visits and hospitalizations among older adults in Taiwan and to explore injury distributions by age group. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the National Taiwan University Hospital between 2011 and 2017. Patients aged ≥65 years were compared with those aged 20–64 years. Fall-related visits were identified using chief complaints and the International Classification of Diseases 9th/10th revision (ICD-9/ICD-10) codes. Outcomes included hospitalization rates, length of stay, and 30-day mortality. Results: A total of 22,471 fall-related ED visits were analyzed. While visits among younger adults declined (annual growth rate, -1.34%), visits among older adults increased (2.37% annually), with the steepest rise in those aged ≥85 years. Hospitalization occurred in 27.1% of older adults, nearly double that of younger adults (14.4%). Older adults also had longer hospital stays and higher 30-day mortality rates, findings consistent even when restricted to lower limb fractures. Conclusion Fall-related ED visits and hospitalizations are rising disproportionately among Taiwan’s older population. Targeted prevention strategies and transitional care interventions are urgently needed to address the growing clinical and economic burden of falls in aging societies.

Background: Adrenocortical hormones, particularly 11-oxygenated androgens, are pivotal in female reproductive health and fertility. Standardized detection kits and population-specific reference intervals are lacking in China, hindering related clinical applications. Methods: A HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) pipeline was developed, rigorously validated, and applied to simultaneously quantify corticosterone, cortisone, cortisol, 18-OH cortisol, androstenedione (A4), 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione (11-OH A4), dehydroepiandrosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in serum samples from 455 reproductive-aged women (18–45 yrs) in Guangxi, China. Age-dependent concentration trends were analyzed, and reference intervals stratified by age (2.5th to 97.5th percentiles) were established. Correlations with body-composition metrics, ethnicity, and the menstrual cycle were investigated. Results: The HPLC-MS/MS method demonstrated high precision (intra- and inter-assay CVs < 15%), accuracy, and sensitivity. All eight hormones exhibited significant age-related declines (P < 0.001 for seven hormones; P = 0.001 for 11-OH A4). Notably, 11-OH A4 levels were significantly lower in the 35–45-yr (3.05 nmol/L) and 25–34-yr (3.09 nmol/L) age groups than in the 18–24-yr (3.57 nmol/L) age group, whereas no significant difference was observed between the 35–45-yr and 25–34-yr age groups. Weak negative correlations were observed between the body mass index and corticosterone and cortisone levels, whereas ethnicity and the menstrual cycle showed no significant associations with hormone levels. Conclusions We developed an HPLC-MS/MS-based method for simultaneously quantifying eight adrenocortical hormones, including 11-OH A4, and defined age-specific reference intervals for reproductive-aged Chinese women. These findings advance the clinical utility of adrenocortical hormones in diagnosing and managing reproductive disorders.

Objectives: . Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is a significant cause of hearing loss. Intratympanic steroid injection (ITSI) is commonly used as an initial or salvage treatment; however, the lack of a standardized treatment protocol has resulted in variability in clinical practice. In addition, no efficient prediction model currently exists to support personalized management. Therefore, this study aimed to develop tailored management strategies for ISSNHL using a machine-learning model. Methods: . This retrospective multicenter cohort study was conducted between January 2015 and December 2020, with data analysis performed between January 2021 and March 2024. Patients were selected based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision criteria for ISSNHL, along with relevant medication and procedure codes. Patients with pure-tone audiogram results not meeting ISSNHL criteria, better initial hearing in the affected ear, an identifiable etiology, no post-treatment audiogram, or delayed treatment (>6 weeks) were excluded. We included 770 patients diagnosed with ISSNHL who received ITSI. The primary outcome was the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for prediction performance. Recovery status was determined using the last pure-tone audiogram. Modeling was conducted on the Quanta for Medical Care AI platform using five machine-learning algorithms and a nested cross-validation framework, in which feature selection and hyperparameter tuning were performed in the inner folds and model performance was evaluated in the outer folds. Results: . A random forest classifier outperformed the other models in predicting hearing outcomes, achieving an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.788. Time to ITSI was the most influential treatment-related factor, with ITSI administered within 10 days of hearing loss being associated with better outcomes. This model can be used to provide personalized prognostic estimates under different treatment protocols. Conclusion . The machine-learning-based prediction model facilitates personalized treatment strategies and timely treatment adjustments for ISSNHL, thereby optimizing the likelihood of complete recovery.

Background/Aims: Dysregulated cholesterol metabolism is a hallmark of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that drives tumor initiation and progression. However, clinical targeting of cholesterol metabolism has yielded limited benefits due to stringent feedback in tumor cells. Identifying a central mediator capable of restoring cholesterol homeostasis within the cell’s intrinsically fine-tuned regulatory framework is urgently needed. Methods: We integrated a proteomic dataset from patients with cholesterol-dysregulated HCC into a global cholesterol metabolic regulatory network to identify potential therapeutic targets for disrupted cholesterol homeostasis. The prognostic significance of the candidate targets was further validated in an independent cohort through immunohistochemistry. Functional and mechanistic studies were conducted in vitro using HCC cell lines and in vivo using mouse models. The pharmacological efficacy of the candidate agent was evaluated in both subcutaneous and orthotopic HCC mouse models. Results: ER lipid raft-associated 1 (ERLIN1), a pivotal regulator of cholesterol metabolism reprogramming, was identified as an independent favorable prognostic indicator in HCC. ERLIN1 constrains HCC progression both in vitro and in vivo by stabilizing the INSIG1–SCAP–SREBP2 axis and maintaining the metabolic balance of intracellular cholesterol. Under hypoxia, impaired factor-inhibiting hypoxia-1-dependent hydroxylation of ASB11 at asparagine residues 90 and 92 enhances ASB11-mediated ERLIN1 degradation. Pharmacological targeting of this axis using zoledronic acid (ZoA) attenuated HCC progression by weakening the ASB11–ERLIN1 interaction and restoring cholesterol homeostasis. Conclusions ERLIN1 represents a druggable metabolic vulnerability in cholesterol-dysregulated HCC. Targeting the ASB11–ERLIN1 axis with the clinically approved ZoA reestablishes cholesterol homeostasis and offers a promising therapeutic strategy to overcome the current limitations of cholesterol-targeted HCC therapies.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on prolonged disorders of consciousness (pDoC) after stroke. MethodsSixty patients with pDoC admitted to Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital from January to July, 2024 were randomly assigned into control group (n = 30) and observation group (n = 30). Both groups received conventional rehabilitation therapy combined with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, while the observation group received rTMS in addition, for four weeks. Before and after treatment, they were assessed with Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and bilateral N20 amplitude and latency of somatosensory-evoked potential (SEP), while consciousness status classification and Judson classification were recorded. ResultsOne case in the control group and two in the observation group dropped out. Significant time main effects and interaction effects were observed in CRS-R score (F = 118.420, P < 0.001; F = 23.980, P < 0.001, respectively) and NIHSS score (F = 103.376, P < 0.001; F = 14.241, P < 0.001, respectively). Significant group main effects, time main effects and interaction effects were observed in N20 amplitude (F > 4.303, P < 0.05) and N20 latency (F > 7.569, P < 0.05). Simple effects analysis showed CRS-R score, N20 amplitude, NIHSS score and N20 latency were better in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05) after the intervention, while the consciousness status classification and Judson classification were also better (|Z| > 2.160, P < 0.05). ConclusionrTMS can further promote recovery of consciousness, improve neurological function, and enhance the integrity of central conduction pathways in patients with pDoC after stroke.

This study investigated the potential pathogenicity and genetic characteristics of ST314 Salmonella Kentucky(S.Ken-tucky)isolates from a broiler slaughterhouse.Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing(WGS)were used to determine antimicrobial resistance,virulence factors,and the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes(ARGs)and mobile genetic elements(MGEs)among the isolates.The three multidrug resistant(MDR)isolates exhibited high resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents.The F4-2S strain exhibited resistance to 14 drugs across seven categories,whereas the F4T strain showed resistance to 13 drugs in the same number of categories.In contrast,the Y23 strain was resistant to nine drugs in six categories.Notably,F4-2S dem-onstrated high homology with F4T:both possessed 13 ARGs distributed across nine categories,in addition to a wide range of virulence factors,including secretion systems and effector proteins.The presence of IncR and IncX1 plasmids significantly enhanced both the antimicrobial resistance and pathogenicity of the isolates.The genome map of Y23 revealed a chromosome alongside two plasmids.The chromosome containedonly one resistance gene but several virulence factors,including the type III secretion system(T3SS),which is crucial for bacterial invasion.The plasmid pY23-1 contained eight types of 19 ARGs.Comparative analysis indicated that pY23-1 ex-hibited high homology with pZ1323SSL0055 and pSAL-045,all of which contained multiple ARGs,thus suggesting critical roles of these genes in the evolution of bacterial resistance.In conclusion,ST314 S.Kentucky demonstrated a complex mechanism of resis-tance coupled with significant pathogenic potential.The ARGs and MGEs in the plasmid contributed to the emergence and dissemina-tion of antimicrobial resistance.The multiple virulence factors present in the chromosome may be key factors driving the increasing virulence of ST314 S.Kentucky.

This study investigated the infection status,drug resistance,and molecular characteristics of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli(STEC)in domestic goats in Chengkou county,Chongqing.In August 2023,283 fecal samples were collected from households in Chengkou county.After enrichment with EC broth and inoculation onto selective media,samples that tested positive for stx1/stx2 were selected for further isolation.The positive strains were investigated with antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole genome sequencing.According to the whole genomic sequences,the stx subtypes,serotypes,multi-locus sequence types,virulence genes,drug resistance genes,and phylogenetic relationships of the STEC strains were analyzed.Forty-six strains of STEC were isolated from 283 goat fecal samples,thus resulting in a detection rate of 16.25%.The 46 STEC strains were categorized into 12 O∶H serotypes,among which O76∶H19 and O8∶H7 predominated,each represented by 9 strains.Five STEC strains were identified as serotype O157∶H7.The 46 STEC strains were categorized into 11 sequence types(STs),among which ST675 and ST196 predominated,each represented by nine strains,accounting for a 19.57%proportion.The strains were categorized into 7 stx subtypes,among which stx1c(26/46,56.52%),followed by stx2k(9/46,19.57%)predominated.All nine Stx2k-STEC strains were identified as serotype O8∶H7 and sequence type ST196.In antimicrobial susceptibility testing,2 STEC strains were resistant to ampicillin,one strain was resistant to ampicillin/sulbactam,one strain was resistant to cefazolin,and one strain was resistant to cefoxitin.Nine Stx2k-STEC strains were found to carry the beta-lactam resistance gene blaEC-18.Antimicrobial sensitivity tests revealed that the nine Stx2k-STEC strains were sensitive to all 15 tested antibiotics.Moreover,phylogenetic analysis indicated that the 9 Stx2k-STEC strains were remarkably similar but showed high genetic diversity with respect to that of the Stx2k-STEC strains isolated from other regions in China.Goatsare an important animal reservoir for STEC in theChengkou district of Chongqing,and novel sequence type Stx2k-STEC strains distinct from those found in other regions of China were identified in this region.

Objective To explore the scheme for the deployment and withdrawal of the surgical module of the new-type tent hospital system.Methods A set of standardized scheme for deploying and withdrawing the surgical module of the new-type tent hosital system was proposed and implemented in terms of labor division,operation precedure,operation technique and precaution.The operating time,number of operational errors and number of equipment damages were recorded for each of the five deployment and withdrawal operations before and after the program was executed,and the team members'immediate heart rate,percentage of maximum heart rate(MHR)and rating of perceived exercise(RPE)at the end of the operation were recorded after the program was implemented.SPSS 26.0 software was used for statistical analysis.Results The standardized scheme had the deployment time shortened from(85.15±11.430)min to(58.23±8.513)min,withdrawal time decreased from(65.36±9.369)min to(48.92±7.129)min,with the differences being statistically significant(P＜0.05);the numbers of operatio-nal errors and equipment damages were both reduced when compared with those before the implementation of the schemce;the immediate heart rate of the team members at the end of the operation ranged from 43 to 157 beats/min,with an average value of 151.1 beats/min,the individual MHR percentages were from 75％to 87％,with an average value of 81.1％,and the RPE scores were from 14 to 17,with an average value of 15.3,which all could be categorized as moderate-operation intensity.Condusion The standardized deployment and withdrawal scheme for the surgical module meets the needs of actual combat and training assessment,and thus is worthy promoting in medical institutions equipped with the surgical module of the new-type tent hosital system.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(2):74-79]