Acute-on-chronic liver failure （ACLF） is a complex clinical syndrome， and early identification and accurate prognostic evaluation are of great importance for patient treatment and management. In recent years， with in-depth research on the pathogenesis of ACLF， multiple prognostic biomarkers have been proposed and used in clinical practice. This article systematically reviews the research advances in prognostic biomarkers for ACLF from the aspects of clinical predictive models， immunological biomarkers， metabolic biomarkers， genetic and epigenetic biomarkers， microbiome-related biomarkers， and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and multi-omics， and it also discusses the value and application prospects of these biomarkers in the prognostic evaluation of ACLF and proposes future research directions， in order to provide a scientific and comprehensive reference for clinicians， guide individualized treatment and management of ACLF patients， and finally improve the clinical outcomes of patients.

Objective To carry out a proficiency testing of content determination of geniposide in Gardeniae fructus,evaluate the content determination ability of index components in traditional Chinese medicine in the laboratory of inspection and detection in drug-related fields,and improve the quality control ability of content determination of related laboratories.Methods The laboratory's capability-verification activities were conducted based on the CNAS-RL02 Rules for Proficiency Testing and ISO/IEC 17043 Conformity Assessment-General Requirements for Proficiency Testing.After preparing the sample,the results of homogeneity and stability tests were analyzed according to CNAS-GL003 Guidance on Evaluating the Homogeneity and Stability of Samples Used for Proficiency Testing.After the test results were qualified,they were used as proficiency testing samples and randomly distributed to participants.The results were collected,and the robust statistical method and the Z scores were used to analyze the results of these laboratories'reports.Results 403 laboratories in this proficiency testing program reported the results,of which 367 results were acceptable,accounting for 91.07％,17(4.22％)laboratories obtained suspicious results,and 19 laboratories gave unsatisfactory results,with the dissatisfaction rate of 4.71％.Conclusion The majority of the 403 participant laboratories have the ability to determine the content of geniposide in Gardeniae fructus by HPLC and the laboratory testing ability and quality management level of the drug monitoring system are high.This proficiency testing provides a basis for understanding the technical reserve capacity and management level of China's pharmaceutical inspection and testing laboratories,and provides technical support for future government supervision.

Background::Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has potential risks for both clinically worsening pulmonary hypertension (PH) and increasing mortality. However, the data regarding the protective role of vaccination in this population are still lacking. This study aimed to assess the safety of approved vaccination for patients with PH.Methods::In this national prospective cohort study, patients diagnosed with PH (World Health Organization [WHO] groups 1 and 4) were enrolled from October 2021 to April 2022. The primary outcome was the composite of PH-related major adverse events. We used an inverse probability weighting (IPW) approach to control for possible confounding factors in the baseline characteristics of patients.Results::In total, 706 patients with PH participated in this study (mean age, 40.3 years; mean duration after diagnosis of PH, 8.2 years). All patients received standardized treatment for PH in accordance with guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of PH in China. Among them, 278 patients did not receive vaccination, whereas 428 patients completed the vaccination series. None of the participants were infected with COVID-19 during our study period. Overall, 398 patients received inactivated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine, whereas 30 received recombinant protein subunit vaccine. After adjusting for baseline covariates using the IPW approach, the odds of any adverse events due to PH in the vaccinated group did not statistically significantly increase (27/428 [6.3%] vs. 24/278 [8.6%], odds ratio = 0.72, P = 0.302). Approximately half of the vaccinated patients reported at least one post-vaccination side effects, most of which were mild, including pain at the injection site (159/428, 37.1%), fever (11/428, 2.6%), and fatigue (26/428, 6.1%). Conclusions::COVID-19 vaccination did not significantly augment the PH-related major adverse events for patients with WHO groups 1 and 4 PH, although there were some tolerable side effects. A large-scale randomized controlled trial is warranted to confirm this finding. The final approval of the COVID-19 vaccination for patients with PH as a public health strategy is promising.

With the rapid development of industry and economy,the emergence of a large number of chemicals has made of risk management more difficult.Traditional risk assessment relies on animal experiments for toxicity testing.However,animal experiments are time-consuming,costly,and unable to meet the practical needs of risk assessment.The increasing maturity of toxicity testing alternative technologies signifies the possibility of rapid,sensitive,and accurate identification of chemical toxicity.This article focuses on the research and applications of alternative toxicity testing by reviewing the background,developments,and current research at home and abroad.It also discusses the progress in alternative testing methods in such areas as cosmetics and food safety risk assessment and explores the problems with the development of alternative testing technologies and risk assessment in China.This review aims to provide a reference for the system construction of cosmetics health risk assess-ment in China.

Objectives:The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of the cumulative workload of HUTT testing physicians on diagnostic outcomes. Methods:This study retrospectively and consecutively included the data of testing physicians and patients who underwent HUTT at Fuwai Hospital,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences,from January 2016 to December 2022.Based on the cumulative workload of physicians during the period from the initiation of tilt tests at the hospital to the end of the study,the physicians were categorized into low (50-100 sases),moderate (100-350 sases),and high (1000-4000 sases) cumulative workload groups,the cumulatie workload of no physician is 351-999 sases.Additionally,physicians were grouped by sex,educational background,and professional title to analyze differences in diagnostic rates of tilt table test reports within and between these groups. Results:The study included 22 testing physicians and 6122 patients.There were statistically significant differences in the rates of positive,suspicious positive,and negative reports among the 22 physicians (P<0.001).The average suspicious positive report rate in the moderate cumulative workload group was significantly higher than in the low and high cumulative workload groups (3.21％ vs.1.09％ vs.1.62％,P=0.001).The suspicious positive report rate was higher in the female physician group compared to the male physician group (2.25％ vs.1.07％,P=0.017),in the undergraduate physician group compared to the postgraduate physician group (2.46％ vs.1.52％,P=0.013),and in the junior title group compared to the intermediate and senior title groups (3.40％ vs.1.75％ vs.2.53％,P=0.024).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a moderate cumulative workload was an influencing factor for suspicious positive reports,regardless of whether negative or positive was used as the reference (all P<0.05). Conclusions:There are certain differences in the diagnostic report rates of HUTT among different individual physicians.Physicians with a moderate cumulative workload are more likely to issue suspicious positive HUTT diagnostic reports.

Objective To explore the differences in scapular motion and shoulder function between patients suffering from rotator cuff tears(RCT)with and without type Ⅲ scapular dyskinesis(SD).Meth-ods Between September 2021 and March 2023,sixteen patients suffering from rotator cuff tears with SD(SD group)and 17 counterparts without SD(non-SD group)were recruited from the Sports Hospital of the General Administration of Sport of China.Their scapular motion was assessed by measuring three parameters in the X-rays,including scapular spine line(LSS),scapular upward rotation angle(SU-RA),and coracoid upward shift distance(CUSD).Moreover,their shoulder range of motion in flexion,abduction and external rotation were recorded,and further evaluated using the Pain Visual Analog Scale(VAS)and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Score(ASES).Results No significant differenc-es were found between the two groups in the average score of SURA,CUSD and LSS at 0°～30° shoul-der abduction,or in that of CUSD and LSS at 60°～90°shoulder abduction.However,the average SU-RA score of the SD group at 60°～90°shoulder abduction was significantly greater than the other group(P<0.05).The shoulder ranges of motion during active flexion,abduction and external rotation were significantly smaller in the SD group than in the non-SD group(P<0.05).Moreover,the average VAS score in the SD group was significantly higher than the non-SD group(P<0.05),while the average ASES score was significantly lower than the latter group(P<0.05).Conclusions RCT patients type III SD exhibits greater scapular upward rotation during shoulder abduction compared to those without SD.Moreover,the former patients suffer from more severe pain and have worse shoulder range of motion and functional performance than the latter.

Objective:To explore the value of 18F-fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) PET/CT in the assessment of early-stage graft fibrosis (S1-S2) after liver transplantation (LT). Methods:From November 2021 to April 2022, 17 adult liver transplant recipients (12 males and 5 females; age (52.6±7.9) years) in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University were enrolled retrospectively in this study. All 17 patients received laboratory examinations, FibroScan, 18F-FAPI PET/CT and liver biopsy. According to the Scheuer scoring system, hepatic tissue was divided into no fibrosis (S0) and early fibrosis (S1-S2). Independent-sample t test was used to compare SUV max between two groups, and Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare liver stiffness measurement (LSM). ROC curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of LSM and SUV max in the early fibrosis of liver grafts. Delong test was used to compare the difference of AUCs. Results:Among 17 adult LT recipients, 11 were in stage S0, 5 were in stage S1, and 1 was in stage S2. There were significant differences in LSM and SUV max between no fibrosis group and early fibrosis group (LSM: 5.4(4.7, 6.6) vs 12.9(5.6, 19.9) kPa, z=-2.01, P=0.044; SUV max: 1.7±0.8 vs 3.9±1.6, t=-3.14, P=0.019). The threshold value of LSM in predicting early-stage graft fibrosis was 8.2 kPa and the AUC was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.54-0.95), which was 2.0 and 0.92 (95% CI: 0.78-1.00) for SUV max respectively. There was no significant difference in AUC between the two tools ( z=0.80, P=0.421). Conclusion:18F-FAPI PET/CT can precisely evaluate the early fibrosis of allografts, with the similar diagnostic efficacy with FibroScan (LSM), which is expected to be a new non-invasive diagnostic tool for predicting the early-stage of graft liver fibrosis.

Objective:To observe the effectiveness and safety of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with inner limiting membrane (ILM) removal and 41G microneedle subretinal injection of balanced salt solution (BSS) in the treatment of refractory macular hole.Methods:A prospective clinical study. From January to June 2023, 20 cases (20 eyes) of refractory macular hole patients diagnosed through examination at The Affiliated Eye Hospital of Nanchang University were included in the study. The basal diameter of the affected eye's basal diameter (BD) was >1 000 μm. Macular hole index (MHI) was <0.5. The affected eye received treatment with 23G PPV combined with ILM removal and 41G microneedle subretinal injection of BSS. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), microperimetry, and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) were performed before and 1, 2, 3, and 6 months after surgery for the affected eye. BCVA examination was performed using standard logarithmic visual acuity chart, and convert it to logarithmic minimum resolution angle (logMAR) visual acuity for statistical purposes. MP-3 microperimetry was used for micro view examination, record the mean sensitivity (MS) of the retinal within a 12° range of the fovea. OCTA was used to measure the area of the avascular zone of the macula (FAZ), perimeter of the FAZ (PERIM), retinal vascular length density (VLD), and vascular perfusion density (VPD). The changes in BCVA, MS, FAZ area, PERIM, VLD, VPD before and after surgery were compared and analyzed. After the same time, the closure of macular hole and the occurrence of complications after surgery were observed. Single factor analysis of variance was used to compare the observation indicators at different times before and after surgery. The correlation between various observation indicators and preoperative minimum diameter (MD), BD, and hiatus height at 6 months after surgery were analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis.Results:Among the 20 cases with 20 eyes, there were 2 males with 2 eyes and 18 females with 18 eyes. Age was (61.45±8.56) years old. The logMAR BCVA, MS, FAZ area, PERIM, VLD, and VPD of the affected eye were 1.46±0.21, (16.20±5.81) dB、(0.40±0.17) mm 2, (2.89±0.99) mm, (6.23±3.59) mm -1, (0.17±0.10)%, respectively. Six months after surgery, out of 20 eyes, macular hole closure and incomplete closure were 18 (90.0%, 18/20) and 2 (10.0%, 2/20) eyes, respectively. The logMAR BCVA, MS, FAZ area, PERIM, VLD, and VPD were 0.80±0.20, (22.20±4.60) dB, (0.18±0.10) mm 2, (1.83±0.80) mm, (9.54±2.88) mm -1, (0.31±0.14)%. Compared with before surgery, the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The correlation analysis results showed a positive correlation ( P<0.05) between preoperative BD and postoperative 6-month PERIM and VPD. There was a negative correlation between preoperative MD and postoperative VLD at 6 months ( P<0.05). There was a negative correlation between preoperative MHI and logMAR BCVA and VPD at 6 months after surgery ( P<0.05). No complications such as elevated or decreased intraocular pressure, damage to retinal pigment epithelium, retinal hemorrhage, endophthalmitis, or retinal detachment occurred after surgery in all affected eyes. Conclusion:Minimally invasive PPV combined with ILM removal and 41G microneedle subretinal injection of BSS can effectively improve the closure rate of refractory macular hole patients in the short term, improve vision, and have good safety.

Atherosclerotic calcified nodule is rare but important cause of coronary artery thrombosis and acute coro-nary syndrome.Eruptive calcified nodule is characterized by clusters of burst like calcified fragments protruding into the lumen accompanied by ruptured fibrous caps and thrombus attached to the surface,which is a potential cause of sudden car-diac death.The prognosis of acute coronary syndrome caused by calcified nodule is poor,and the incidence of periopera-tive myocardial infarction,cardiac death,and target lesion revascularization is high.This article reviews the progress in the diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerotic calcified nodule in coronary artery.

Polygoni multiflori radix praeparata is a processed product of Polygoni multiflori radix(Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.),and its main components include stilbene glycosides,anthraquinones,flavonoids,alkaloids,phenolic acids,etc.It has antioxidant,antianemic,anti-tumor,hypoglycemic,anti-inflammatory effects,etc,and is widely used in clinical practice.The processing technology is mainly stewinging with black bean juice,steaming,processing for 9 times and braising and simmering.After processing,the color deepens and the content of composition changes.By consulting domestic and foreign literature,the research on Polygoni multiflori radix praeparata is not comprehensive enough compared with Polygoni multiflori radix.Therefore,this paper mainly summarizes the processing technology,chemical composition and pharmacological activity of Polygoni multiflori radix preparata reported in the past 20 years,and provides a reference for further development of Polygoni multiflori radix preparata.