Background/Aims: Liver transplantation (LT) following total hepatectomy is a life-saving treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The HCC recurrence after LT hinders the effectiveness of the procedure. The objective of this study is to develop a pre-operative risk stratification model based on a liquid biopsy. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive multi-omics study of 260 HCC patients from three centers, including clinical data, low-coverage whole-genome sequencing of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from plasma, as well as whole-exome, single-nucleus RNA, and spatial transcriptomics from matched tumor and non-tumor tissues. Results: We identified cfDNA-derived copy number alteration (CNA) signatures associated with post-transplant recurrence. By integrating cfDNA-derived CNA profiles with single-cell transcriptomic data, we traced recurrence-associated cfDNA to a distinct subpopulation of malignant cells within the primary tumor. These cells were embedded in a pro-metastatic microenvironment of specialized endothelial subtypes and cancer-associated fibroblasts. Notably, most recurrence-associated lesions were detectable in cfDNA prior to liver transplantation (LT). Building on these insights, we developed the ZJU Criteria based on CNA fragments and tumor markers, a pre-LT risk prediction tool that integrates conventional clinical factors with cfDNA-derived CNA signatures, and validated it using internal and independent external cohorts. Conclusion Our findings suggest that post-transplant recurrence commonly originates from advanced subclones that emerge late during tumor evolution. The ZJU Criteria provides an accurate, non-invasive strategy that significantly improves pre-LT risk stratification and clinical decision-making for patients with HCC.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder （ADHD） is often accompanied by tic disorder. The core pathogenesis is considered to be ministerial fire scorching yin and internal stirring of deficient wind， which leads to disharmony between the body and spirit， resulting in clinical manifestations. The treatment principles emphasize nourishing yin fluids， calming ministerial fire， and extinguishing endogenous wind （内风）. The method of nourishing yin fluids is applied throughout the entire treatment process， commonly using ingredients such as Shudihuang （Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata）， Shanzhuyu （Corni Fructus）， Gouqizi （Lycii Fructus）， Wuweizi （Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus）， and Tusizi （Cuscutae Semen）. These are combined with approaches to harmonize the zang-fu organs， primarily including extinguishing liver wind， clearing heart fire， nourishing kidney water， and strengthening spleen earth， thereby stabilizing ministerial fire and extinguishing endogenous wind. Additionally， emotional regulation and smoothing emotional constraint are essential to improve clinical symptoms in children with ADHD comorbid with tic disorder.

Objective: To investigate the correlation between color parameters (L^*, a^*, b^*, Eab^*) and the contents of reducing sugars, total polysaccharides, total oligosaccharides, as well as four saccharides (fructose, glucose, sucrose, and kestose) during the nine cycles of steaming and sun-drying processing of Polygonatum kingianum, and to preliminarily explore the optimal processing duration.
Methods: The color changes were objectively evaluated using a colorimeter. The anthrone-sulfuric acid method was employed to determine total polysaccharides and oligosaccharides. The 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) colorimetric method was used to measure total reducing sugar content. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with charged aerosol detection (HPLC-CAD) was applied for quantitative analysis of fructose, glucose, sucrose, and kestose. Multivariate statistical analysis was conducted to assess samples from different processing stages.
Results: Significant variations in color and component contents were observed across processing stages. The herbal pieces progressively darkened with increased processing cycles: brightness (L^*) and total color difference (Eab^*) initially decreased then stabilized, while a^* (red-green) and b^* (yellow-blue) values first increased then declined. Total polysaccharides and oligosaccharides showed overall decreasing trends, whereas reducing sugars initially increased before stabilizing. Fructose and glucose levels rose continuously, while sucrose and kestose decreased progressively, becoming undetectable after five cycles.
Conclusion: The chromatic alteration and saccharide composition of P. kingianum showed significant correlation with processing duration. Both total color difference (Eab^*) and reducing sugar content stabilized after four processing cycles (12 hours), suggesting that four cycles of steaming and sun-drying may represent the optimal processing duration.

Objective: To investigate the correlation between the color parameters (L^*, a^*, b^*, Eab^* values) of Polygoni Multiflori Radix Praeparata powder prepared by different processing techniques and the contents of 2,3,5,4’-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, emodin, physcion, emodin-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, physcion-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside.
Methods: The L^*, a^*, b^* and Eab^* values of Polygoni Multiflori Radix Praeparata powder prepared by different processing techniques were determined by spectrophotometer, and the contents of the five components were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. Secondly, SPSS 26.0 software and Simca 14.1 software were used to analyze the correlation.
Results: Through the hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), it was found that the steamed samples and black bean steamed samples could be obviously divided into two categories: raw products and processed products. The processed products could be further divided into 2-8 h and 12-48 h. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the content of stilbene glycoside was significantly positively correlated with L^*, a^* and b^* values (P<0.01). The a^* value was significantly positively correlated with the content of emodin and physcion (P<0.01). Emodin-8-O-β-D-glucoside was positively correlated with L^* value and b^* value, while physcion-8-O-β-D-glucoside was negatively correlated with a^* value. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS) showed that 2,3,5,4’-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside (VIP=1.69) and emodin-8-O-β-D-glucoside (VIP=1.06) were the key variables affecting chromaticity characteristics (P<0.01).
Conclusion: The three processes of steaming, black bean steaming and black bean stewing are consistent in composition transformation and chromaticity variation, and stilbene glycoside can be used as a specific index component to characterize the processed color. Chromatic parameters can effectively reflect the processing progression and serve as quality monitoring indicators during production.

ObjectiveType I interferon (IFN-I) signaling is essential for antiviral innate immunity, yet its sustained or excessive activation contributes to the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases and interferonopathies, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and Aicardi-Goutières syndrome. Current strategies targeting this pathway, exemplified by JAK inhibitors, act mainly on downstream signal transduction and provide limited direct control over upstream IFN-I production, while also carrying the risk of broad immunosuppression. Phyllanthus emblica L. has long been used in traditional medicine for inflammatory disorders, but the bioactive constituent responsible for its regulation of IFN-I signaling and the underlying molecular mechanism have not been clearly defined. This study aimed to identify the active anti-inflammatory component of P. emblica and to characterize its mechanism of action on the IFN-I pathway in macrophages. MethodsActive components ofP. emblica and their candidate targets were screened by network pharmacology using the TCMSP and DrugBank databases (oral bioavailability≥30%, drug-likeness≥0.18) and intersected with inflammation-related genes retrieved from public databases. The predicted interaction between EGCG and IFN-I pathway proteins (TBK1, IRF3, STAT1) was evaluated by molecular docking, with BX795 and GSK8612 used as reference TBK1 inhibitors. Mechanistic experiments were performed in THP-1-derived macrophages and primary bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM). Upstream signaling was activated by transfection of the nucleic acid analogs poly(I∶C) and poly(dA∶dT) or by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation, whereas downstream signaling was activated by exogenous IFN-β. An siRNA-mediated TREX1 knockdown model was used to mimic endogenous nucleic acid-driven interferonopathy. Expression of IFN-β1 and interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) was measured by RT-qPCR, protein phosphorylation by Western blot, and IFN-β secretion by ELISA. Cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) and drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) were used to probe the interactionbetween EGCG and IRF3. ResultsNetwork pharmacology identified (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) as a candidate IFN-I-suppressive constituent of P. emblica, with predicted binding to TBK1, IRF3, and STAT1. Molecular docking yielded binding energies of -9.2, -7.2, and -8.2 kcal/mol for TBK1, IRF3, and STAT1, respectively, indicating an affinity for TBK1 comparable to that of the reference inhibitors BX795 (-5.7 kcal/mol) and GSK8612 (-6.4 kcal/mol). EGCG suppressed IFN-β1 and ISG mRNA expression under poly (I∶C), poly (dA∶dT), and LPS stimulation in both THP-1 macrophages and BMDM. At the protein level, EGCG reduced the phosphorylation of TBK1 and IRF3 without affecting the levels of the upstream sensors cGAS and RIG-I, and lowered IFN-β secretion in a concentration-dependent manner. CETSA and DARTS showed that EGCG did not enhance the thermal stability or protease resistance of IRF3, indicating that its effect on IRF3 is indirect. Following IFN-β stimulation, prolonged EGCG treatment reduced STAT1 phosphorylation in a time-dependent manner without an apparent change in IRF9, and partially attenuated ISG transcription; this effect was not monotonicly concentration-dependent, and CXCL10 showed the most consistent suppression. In TREX1-knockdown cells, the elevated mRNA levels of ISG15, ISG56, and CXCL10 were reduced by EGCG. ConclusionEGCG suppresses IFN-I responses by concurrently inhibiting TBK1-IRF3-dependent IFN‑β production and JAK-STAT1-mediated downstream transcription. These in vitro findings provide a mechanistic basis for the anti-inflammatory use of P. emblica in traditional medicine and identify EGCG as a candidate for further evaluation in interferon-driven autoimmune disease models.

Objective: To systematically evaluate the influencing factors for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Chinese children, so as to provide the evidence for risk prediction and intervention of ASD. Methods: The publications pertaining to the influencing factors for ASD in Chinese children were retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang Data, VIP, PubMed and Embase database from inception to August 2024. A meta-analysis was performed using R package version 4.4.1. Sensitivity analysis was performed using the "leave-one-out" evaluation procedure. Publication bias was assessed using Egger regression test. Results: A total of 38 high-quality articles out of 9 015 articles were finally included, covering 149 607 individuals, with 5 974 cases of ASD. The meta-analysis showed that demographic factors including family history of related diseases (OR=14.958), maternal age of ≥35 years (OR=2.287) and parental history of hazardous occupations (OR=3.511); pregnancy-related factors including history of abortion (OR=5.832), no folate supplementation before and during pregnancy (OR=4.566), tobacco exposure before and during pregnancy (OR=2.596), history of other adverse exposures before and during pregnancy (OR=3.533), history of infectious diseases during pregnancy (OR=3.753), history of non-infectious diseases during pregnancy (OR=2.563), psychological problems during pregnancy (OR=3.864), history of medication during pregnancy (OR=6.651), adverse environmental exposures during pregnancy (OR=3.754), severe pregnancy reactions (OR=5.082), abnormal perinatal period (OR=2.987), cesarean delivery (OR=1.659), other perinatal adverse factors (OR=3.856), history of neonatal asphyxia (OR=2.792) and neonatal jaundice (OR=3.687); parenting factors including non-exclusive breastfeeding (OR=2.510), early/excessive screen exposure (OR=3.589) and feeding problems (OR=3.113); and individual factors including being male (OR=3.333) and history of convulsions/epilepsy (OR=7.035) were influencing factors for ASD in Chinese children. Conclusions The prevalence of ASD in Chinese children is primarily associated with 23 influencing factors, including family history of related diseases, history of abortion, no folate supplementation before and during pregnancy, medication during pregnancy, early/excessive screen exposure and history of convulsions/epilepsy.

Objective:To explore the influencing factors for skin pruritus and to construct a nomogram prediction model in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.Methods:It was a retrospective cross-sectional investigation study. The PD patients who were regularly followed up between July, 2023 and April, 2024 in PD center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were enrolled in this study. The pruritus status was evaluated by the 14-Item UP-Dial Scale. The general demographic data and clinical data were collected. The patients were divided into pruritus group and non-pruritus group according to the presence or absence of skin itching. The differences of clinical data and laboratory results were compared between the two groups. Logistic regression was used to analyze the associated factors for pruritus in PD patients. The nomogram model was constructed by R software. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test were used to evaluate the performance of the model, and its clinical effectiveness was evaluated using the calibration curve.Results:A total of 315 PD patients were enrolled in this study, with age of (48.0±12.9) years, including 134 females (42.5%). Among them, 161 patients (51.1%) experienced skin pruritus. Of whom, 111 patients (68.9%) had mild pruritus, 34 patients (21.1%) had moderate pruritus, 16 patients (9.9%) had severe pruritus. The age ( t=-2.266, P=0.024), proportion of diabetes mellitus ( χ2=3.910, P=0.048), Charson comorbidity index ( Z=-2.458, P=0.014), blood eosinophil percentage ( Z=-2.385, P=0.017), C-reactive protein ( Z=-2.590, P=0.010), serum phosphorus ( Z=-3.233, P=0.001) and β2 microglobulin ( Z=-2.756, P=0.006) level in the pruritus group were higher than those in the non-pruritus group, and the measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR) level ( Z=-3.708, P<0.001) of patients in the pruritus group was lower than that in the non-pruritus group. There were 262 patients in the training set and 53 patients in the validation set. The multivariate logistic regression analysis in the training set revealed that advanced age ( OR=1.032, 95% CI 1.010-1.054, P=0.004), lower mGFR ( OR=0.758, 95% CI 0.648-0.886, P<0.001), higher serum phosphorus ( OR=2.761, 95% CI 1.282-6.024, P=0.010), and elevated blood eosinophil percentage ( OR=1.098, 95% CI 1.012-1.191, P=0.025) were independent factors associated with pruritus in PD patients. The nomogram model constructed based on these indicators demonstrated good discrimination and calibration. In the training set, the area under the ROC curve ( AUC) was 0.757 (95% CI 0.699-0.816), with Hosmer-Lemeshow test χ2=4.979, P=0.760. In the validation set, the AUC was 0.779 (95% CI 0.651-0.907), and Hosmer-Lemeshow test χ2=12.938, P=0.114. Conclusions:The prevalence of skin pruritus is 51.1% in PD patient. Advanced age, lower mGFR, higher serum phosphorus and higher blood eosinophil percentage are the independent influencing factors for pruritus in PD patients. The nomogram model constructed based on these indicators shows excellent predictive performance for skin pruritus in PD patients.

In proton therapy,prompt gamma-ray imaging is considered as one of the most promising methods for assessing proton beam range.Prompt gamma-ray imaging detector evaluates the proton beam range based on the prompt gamma-ray distribution obtained by the prompt gamma-ray imaging system,which enables high-precision measurement of the proton beam range.Herein a proton beam range verification algorithm is designed for the newly developed prototype of the range verification detector(pixelated prompt gamma-ray imaging detector),which verifies the range estimation accuracy of the prototype for different phantoms and different energies of homogeneous media through Monte Carlo simulation.The results show that the accuracy of the proton beam range verification algorithm is within 0.5 mm of the safety margin error of the Bragg peak,and the measurement accuracy is significantly improved with the increase of the number of protons,indicating that the prototype algorithm is feasible for proton beam range verification.

Objective:To investigate the enhancement effect of deep progressive reconstruction (DPR) algorithm on image quality and standardized uptake value (SUV) of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) in obese patients. Methods:The images of a total of 27 obese patients,who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT in Affiliated Nanjing Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from September 2023 to May 2024,were retrospectively enrolled. The images of all patients were collected by using uMI 780 PET/CT. Ordered subset expectation maximization (OSEM) iterative algorithm and DPR algorithm were adopted to reconstruct PET images,and measure counting rate of scattering coincidence of PET/CT images,counting rate of true coincidence,noise equivalent counting rate (NECR) and scattering fraction (SF). The quality indicators of PET images included signal-to-noise ratio (SNR),the maximum SUV (SUVmax) of lesions,the tumor-to-background ratio (TBR),the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and the visual scores of 18F-FDG PET/CT images on livers were evaluated. The differences and consistency of various indicators between DPR and OSEM reconstruction algorithms were further analyzed. Results:The average 18F-FDG PET/CT injection activity of 27 patients was (0.12±0.01) mCi (1 mCi=37 MBq)/kg,and the counting rate of true coincidence,NECR and SF of PET images were respectively (153.73±25.09),(44.81±8.47) kcps and (36.77±1.91)％. The SNR of liver obtained by DPR algorithm was (15.83±3.60),which was significantly higher than that (9.06±1.87) of OSEM algorithm,with statistically significant (t=20.6,P<0.05),and there was significantly correlation in liver SNR between two algorithms (R2=0.91,P<0.05). In 27 uptake 18F-FDG PET/CT lesions,the SUVmax,TBR and CNR of lesions that were obtained from OSEM algorithm were respectively (5.86±1.49),(1.95±0.49) and (17.74±4.77),which were lower than corresponding those of DPR algorithm,and the differences were significant (t=9.03,8.79,15.49,P<0.05),respectively. There were significant correlations in SUVmax,TBR and CNR between the two algorithms (R2=0.71,0.70,0.76,P<0.05),respectively. The visual scores of PET images obtained from the DPR algorithm was 4 (3,5) scores,which was significantly higher than 3 (2,4) scores of OSEM algorithm,and the difference of that between two algorithms was significant (U=396,P<0.05). Conclusion:The scattering effect of 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging is stronger in obese patients,whose counting rate of equivalent effect of noise is lower. The DPR reconstruction algorithm can significantly improve the SNR and lesion contrast of PET images than the OSEM algorithm,which has significant gain effect on the SUVmax of lesions,and it can significantly improve the quality of 18F-FDG PET/PET images in obese patients.

Recent studies have shown that the physiological homeostasis of oral mucosal cells is regulated by the circadian clock.Dis-ruption or dysfunction of the circadian clock is closely associated with the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC).Research based on the circadian clock offers a novel perspective on the pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies for OSCC.However,there is current-ly limited research on this topic,and people generally have insufficient understanding and recognition of the circadian clock.Given the complexity and challenges of circadian clock which is the fourth dimension of medical research,we organize relevant experts based on summarizing the current research results of circadian clock in the pathogenesis and precision diagnosis and treatment of OSCC,combining the scientific principles of the circadian clock's role and their long-term research experience,then summarizes and recommends the con-sensus opinions for the research of circadian clock in the pathogenesis mechanism and precision diagnosis and treatment of human OSCC,with the hope of providing guidance for the basic research and clinical application of circadian clock or circadian rhythm in the pathogene-sis mechanism and precision diagnosis and treatment of oral and maxillofacial squamous cell carcinoma.