Retinal microcirculatory disorder is a key factor in the occurrence and development of diabetic retinopathy （DR）， and also an important link in the prevention and treatment of DR. The theory of "Gaozhuo" holds that the microcirculatory disorder in DR is based on the deficiency of spleen Qi and is characterized by the obstruction caused by "Gaozhuo" and blood stasis. The deficiency of spleen Qi is an essential precondition for the endogenous formation and accumulation of Gaozhuo， while Gaozhuo invasion is the direct cause of microcirculatory disorders in DR. The deficiency of spleen Qi and the endogenous formation of Gaozhuo mean the process in which glucose metabolism dysfunction induces an excessive production of inflammatory factors and lipid metabolites. The obstruction caused by "Gaozhuo" and blood stasis is the direct pathogenesis of microcirculatory disorders in DR， encompassing two stages： Gaozhuo obstruction and turbidity and stasis stagnation. Gaozhuo obstruction and turbidity and stasis stagnation represent the process in which inflammatory factors and lipid metabolites damage the retinal microcirculation and induce thrombosis， thus mediating microcirculatory disorders. Turbidity and stasis stagnation and blood extravasation outside the vessels reveal the progression to microvascular rupture and hemorrhage resulting from the microcirculatory disorders. According to the pathogenesis evolution of the theory of "Gaozhuo"， microcirculatory disorders in DR can be divided into deficiency of spleen Qi with Gaozhuo obstruction， deficiency of spleen Qi with turbidity and stasis stagnation， and turbidity and stasis stagnation with blood extravasation outside the vessels. Clinically， treatment principles should focus on strengthening the spleen and benefiting Qi， resolving turbidity， and dispersing stasis. Different syndrome patterns should be addressed with tailored therapies， such as enhancing the spleen and benefiting Qi while regulating Qi and reducing turbidity， strengthening the spleen and benefiting Qi while resolving turbidity and dispelling stasis， and strengthening the spleen and resolving turbidity while removing stasis and stopping bleeding. Representative prescriptions include modified Wendantang， modified Buyang Huanwutang， modified Danggui Buxuetang， Zhuixue Mingmu decoction， Tangmuqing， Shengqing Jiangzhuo Tongluo Mingmu prescription， Danhong Huayu decoction， and Yiqi Yangyin Huoxue Lishui formula.

Objective: To analyze the current burden of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among children and adolescents in China and globally, and to predict the disease burden from 2024 to 2035, providing a scientific basis for formulating relevant public health policies and intervention measures. Methods: Based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database in 2023, the Joinpoint regression model was used to analyze the changing trends of the disease burden of ASD among children and adolescents in China and globally from 1990 to 2023, and the average annual percent change (AAPC) was calculated. An autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model was constructed to predict the disease burden trends of ASD among children and adolescents in China and globally from 2024 to 2035. Results: The prevalence and disability adjusted life years (DALYs) rate of ASD among children and adolescents in China increased from 452.69/100 000 and 86.67/100 000 in 1990 to 762.84/100 000 and 148.52/ 100 000 in 2023(AAPC=1.60%, 1.65%, both P <0.01). The prevalence and DALYs rate of ASD among children and adolescents globally increased from 648.49/100 000 and 123.47/100 000 to 862.44/100 000 and 167.16/100 000(AAPC=0.87%, 0.93%, both P <0.01). In 2023, the highest ASD prevalence and DALY rates occurred in children under 5 years old, with China reporting 848.14/100 000 and 166.69/100 000, both below the global averages of 928.80/100 000 and 181.34/100 000. Projections indicated that by 2035, the ASD prevalence and DALY rates in China would rise to 906.83/100 000 and 168.71/100 000, still below the global averages of 938.04/100 000 and 184.49/100 000. Conclusion The disease burden of ASD among children and adolescents in China and globally has generally increased from 1990 to 2023, with a higher risk of disease at younger ages.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intraoperative pleural irrigation with Nocardia rubra cell-wall skeleton (N-CWS) for reducing pleural effusion drainage after radical surgery for lung cancer. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of lung cancer patients who underwent lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University between December 2024 and May 2025. Patients were divided into a control group and an irrigation group based on the intraoperative use of N-CWS. Patients in the irrigation group received pleural irrigation with 800 μg of N-CWS diluted in 10 mL of normal saline. The following outcomes were compared between the two groups: pleural effusion drainage volume at 0-24 h, 24-48 h, and 48-72 h postoperatively, degree of air leak, chest tube duration, postoperative length of stay, and the incidence of adverse events (fever, chest pain, and nausea and vomiting). Results A total of 245 patients were included (97 males, 148 females) with a mean age of (61.28±6.26) years, with 205 in the control group and 40 in the irrigation group. Compared to the control group, the irrigation group showed significantly lower pleural effusion drainage volumes at 0-24 h, 24-48 h, and 48-72 h, as well as shorter chest tube duration and postoperative length of stay (all P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the degree of postoperative air leak (P=0.661). No significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding the highest body temperature within 72 h post-surgery (P=0.130), fever grade (P=0.196), severity of chest pain (P=0.105), or the incidence of nausea and vomiting (P=0.376). Conclusion Intraoperative pleural irrigation with N-CWS in patients undergoing lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection for lung cancer can significantly reduce postoperative pleural effusion drainage volume, shorten chest tube duration and length of hospital stay. The procedure is safe and feasible.

Objective To investigate the protective effect and underlying mechanisms of HydroMg, a novel sustained-release hydrogen donor, in a model of doxorubicin (DOX)-induced chronic cardiotoxicity. Methods H9C2 cells were treated with 1 μmol/L DOX and/or 1 μg/mL HydroMg, and mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and apoptosis were measured. In the animal experiment, mice were divided into control, HydroMg, DOX, and DOX＋HydroMg groups. The HydroMg group received intraperitoneal injection of HydroMg (100 mg/kg). Chronic cardiotoxicity was established by intraperitoneal injection of DOX (5 mg/kg every week) for four consecutive weeks; In the DOX＋HydroMg group, HydroMg (100 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally 4–5 h prior to each DOX injection. Cardiac function and remodeling were evaluated by echocardiography and heart weight index (HWI). The long-term survival of mice were analyzed. Subsequently, transcriptome sequencing was performed on myocardial tissues from the DOX group to identify key molecular alterations compared with controls. Results At the cellular level, HydroMg treatment effectively reversed DOX-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, as evidenced by restored membrane potential, reductions in total ROS and mitochondrial superoxide levels by approximately 30% and 9%, respectively, and a decrease in the apoptosis rate from 34.13% to 18.27%. In the animal model, compared with the DOX group, HydroMg intervention increased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and fractional shortening (LVFS) by 9.62% and 5.82%, respectively, attenuated the reduction in HWI (4.41 mg/mm vs 3.53 mg/mm), and improved the 4-week survival rate (80% vs 60%). Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the core molecular features of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, including widespread suppression of oxidative phosphorylation and antioxidant pathways. Conclusions HydroMg protects against DOX-induced chronic cardiotoxicity by alleviating oxidative stress and improving mitochondrial function, and provides a potential therapeutic strategy against DOX-related cardiotoxicity.

ObjectiveTo develop and validate a nomogram for predicting the risk of concurrent cognitive impairment in older adults with heart disease. MethodsSelf-reported data from 2 673 respondents in the 2020 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were analyzed. The participants were randomly divided into a training set (n = 1 871) and a validation set (n = 802). Heart disease status was determined using a self-report questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors, and a nomogram for predicting the risk of concurrent cognitive impairment in older adults with heart disease was developed using R software. Bootstrap resampling was used for internal validation, and model performance was further evaluated in the randomly split validation set. The predictive performance of the model was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and calibration curves.. ResultsA total of 2 673 older adults with heart disease were included, out of whom 315 participants in the training set had cognitive impairment. Lasso regression analysis identified age, education level, place of residence, instrumental activities of daily living and depression as predictors of concurrent cognitive impairment. A prediction model incorporating these five variables was constructed. The AUC were 0.827 (95%CI 0.804 to 0.850) in the training set and 0.847 (95%CI 0.812 to 0.882) in the validation set. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test yielded P = 0.154 and P = 0.716 in the training and validation sets, respectively. Calibration curves showed good agreement between predicted and observed probabilities. Decision curve analysis indicated that the model provided favorable net benefit and predictive performance. ConclusionThe nomogram may provide a useful reference for risk screening and early intervention for cognitive impairment in older adults with heart disease.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of emodin on the odontoblastic differentiation of human dental pulp cells （HDPCs） induced by lipopolysaccharide （LPS）. MethodsHDPCs were isolated， cultured and pretreated with LPS and emodin at gradient concentrations. The protein expression levels of odontoblastic differentiation markers （ALP， RUNX2， DMP-1 and DSPP） were detected by Western blot. Bioinformatics analysis and small interfering RNA （siRNA） transfection were performed to identify and verify the downstream signaling pathways and targets of emodin. ResultsCompared with the LPS group， the protein expression levels of ALP， RUNX2， DMP-1 and DSPP significantly increased in the Emodin group （all P<0.05）. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the MAPK signaling pathway was the most significantly enriched pathway. Western blot results demonstrated that the p-ERK/ERK expression ratio was elevated in the OIM+LPS+Emodin group compared with the OIM+LPS group （P<0.05）. The top 10 hub genes associated with emodin-mediated promotion of HDPC odontoblastic differentiation under inflammatory conditions were screened via bioinformatics， including CD44， ITGB2， SP1， TLR2， CCL2， CCL5， ITGAX， CD86， ICAM1 and SYK. RT-qPCR results revealed that the mRNA expression of CD44 was upregulated in the OIM group compared to the CON group （P<0.01）. After CD44 knockdown， the protein levels of ALP， RUNX2， DMP-1 and DSPP decreased in the si-CD44 group compared to the si-NC group （all P<0.05）. ConclusionEmodin can significantly promote odontoblastic differentiation of LPS-challenged HDPCs， and its regulatory effect is closely related to the upregulation of CD44 expression and activation of the ERK signaling pathway.

Objective: To analyze the health literacy possession rate and its trend among residents in Lishui City, Zhejiang Province from 2016 to 2024, so as to provide the evidence for improving health promotion strategies and intervention measures. Methods: Multi-stage stratified random sampling combined with probability proportionate to size sampling method was adopted to select permanent residents aged 15-69 years in Lishui City as survey subjects. Demographic information and health literacy possession status were collected through questionnaire survey. The health literacy possession rate was calculated. The data from 2016 to 2019 and from 2020 to 2024 were standardized using the population data of Lishui City from the Sixth National Population Census in 2010 and the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, respectively. The trend of health literacy possession rate from 2016 to 2024 was analyzed. Results: A total of 42 691 people were surveyed, including 20 509 males (48.04%) and 22 182 females (51.96%), with an average age of (51.63±12.13) years. From 2016 to 2024, the health literacy possession rates were 20.40%, 25.83%, 26.96%, 28.82%, 32.30%, 34.02%, 37.53%, 39.21% and 43.17%, respectively, showing an upward trend (P<0.05). Among the three aspects, the possession rates of basic knowledge and concepts, healthy lifestyle and behaviors, and basic skills all showed upward trends (all P<0.05), with basic knowledge and concepts showing the largest increase and basic skills showing the smallest increase. Among the six health issues, the possession rates of scientific health view, chronic disease prevention and control, safety and first aid, basic medical care, and health information showed upward trends, while the infectious disease prevention and control literacy possession rate showed a downward trend (all P<0.05). The possession rates in the 65-69 age group, illiterate/semi-literate residents, and farmers showed upward trends (all P<0.05), but with small increases and remaining at low levels. Conclusions From 2016 to 2024, the health literacy possession rate of residents in Lishui City showed an overall upward trend, but the increase in basic skills literacy possession rate was relatively slow, and the infectious disease prevention and control literacy possession rate showed a downward trend. It is necessary to strengthen health education for weak links and knowledge among elderly people, residents with low educational level, and farmers to improve health literacy level.

Objective: To investigate the indoor radon concentration and its distribution characteristics in residential buildings in Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, so as to provide the evidence for indoor radon risk assessment and health protection. Methods: From April to September 2023, a stratified random sampling method was used to select 120 residential units from 6 districts (cities) in Wuxi City as measurement points, with monitoring conducted over a period of 3 months. Additionally, 27 residential units were selected for monitoring at the same location in both spring and summer. Sampling was performed using Rn-2012 passive cumulative radon cups, and radon concentration was measured using the TASLimage solid state nuclear track detector etching measurement and analysis system after etching. Indoor radon concentrations were analyzed by region, floor level, season, and building age, and the annual effective dose attributable to indoor radon was estimated. Results: The mean indoor radon concentration in Wuxi City was (62.43±40.41) Bq/m3. Twelve measurement points (10.00%) had radon concentrations >100 Bq/m3. The average annual effective dose to the public from indoor radon was 2.04 mSv. The mean indoor radon concentrations in Binhu District, Liangxi District, Xinwu District, Huishan District, Xishan District, and Yixing City were (68.13±41.13), (42.63±24.86), (70.00±40.37), (41.97±24.52), (65.50±48.44), and (56.04±27.49) Bq/m3, respectively, with no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). The median indoor radon concentrations for floors 1-5, 6-9, 10-20, and >20 were 49.20 (interquartile range, 29.68), 67.60 (interquartile range, 62.00), 76.09 (interquartile range, 49.65), and 48.26 (interquartile range, 17.27) Bq/m3, respectively, with no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). Among the 27 measurement points, the mean summer indoor radon concentration was (96.86±13.01) Bq/m3, which was significantly higher than that in spring (59.00±10.20) Bq/m3 (P<0.05). The median radon concentration for residential buildings constructed between 1990 and 2009 was 48.00 (interquartile range, 33.92) Bq/m3, and that for buildings constructed between 2010 and 2023 was 53.80 (interquartile range, 41.25) Bq/m3, with no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). Conclusions The mean indoor radon concentration in residential buildings in Wuxi City is below the national annual average radon concentration target level. However, the annual effective dose to the public attributable to indoor radon is relatively high. Attention should be paid to the effects of building material type, seasonal variation, and ventilation conditions on radon concentration.

ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of Qi-reinforcing and blood-activating/stasis-expelling Chinese patent medicines in the treatment of coronary microvascular disease （CMD）. MethodsPubMed， Cochrane Library， CNKI， Wanfang Data， and VIP were searched for the randomized controlled trials （RCTs） on the treatment of CMD with Chinese patent medicines for reinforcing Qi and activating blood/expelling stasis with the time interval from inception to December 31， 2023. The primary outcome indicators included the index of microcirculatory resistance （IMR）， coronary flow reserve （CFR）， and corrected TIMI flow frame count （cTFC）. The secondary outcome indicators included symptomatic efficacy， left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF）， hypersensitive C-reactive protein （hs-CRP）， nitric oxide （NO）， and adverse events. Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool 2.0 （RoB 2.0） and Stata 17.0 were used for literature quality evaluation and meta-analysis of the included RCTs. The Grading of Recommendations， Assessment， Development and Evaluation （GRADE） was used to evaluate the quality of evidence. ResultsA total of 36 RCTs were included in this study， involving 3 029 patients. Compared with conventional Western medicine alone， the combined use of Chinese patent medicines for reinforcing Qi and activating blood/expelling stasis and Western medicine reduced the IMR ［mean difference （MD）=-5.93， 95% confidence interval （95%CI） ［-8.73，-3.14］， n=382， P<0.01］， cTFC （MD=-9.35， 95%CI ［-13.94，-4.76］， n=618， P<0.01）， and hs-CRP ［standard mean difference （SMD）=-1.50， 95%CI ［-1.90，-1.11］， n=1 483， P<0.01］， improved the CFR （SMD=1.14， 95%CI ［0.08，2.19］， n=304， P=0.03）， symptomatic efficacy ［relative risk （RR）=1.36， 95%CI ［1.21，1.53］， n=756， P<0.01］， LVEF （MD=4.39， 95%CI ［2.31，6.47］， n=533， P<0.01）， and NO （SMD=3.16， 95%CI ［2.07，4.25］， n=946， P<0.01） of CMD patients. In terms of safety， the combined therapy reduced the occurrence of adverse events in CMD patients （RR=0.49， 95%CI ［0.29，0.82］， n=591， P=0.01）. GRADE showed moderate quality evidence for adverse events， low quality evidence for cTFC， symptomatic efficacy， LVEF， and NO， and very low quality evidence for IMR， CFR， and hs-CRP. ConclusionBased on microcirculatory function indicators， the combined use of Qi-reinforcing and blood-activating/stasis-expelling Chinese patent medicines and Western medicine may further improve the coronary microvascular function in CMD patients with good safety. The above conclusions remain to be verified with high-quality clinical trials.

Objective To discuss the main pathological types and imaging characteristics of pulmonary nodules that are highly suspected to be malignant in clinical practice but are pathologically confirmed to be benign. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of patients with pulmonary nodules who were initially highly suspected of malignancy but were subsequently pathologically confirmed to be benign. These patients were treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University from December 2020 to April 2023. Based on the outcomes of preoperative discussions, the patients were categorized into a benign group and a suspicious malignancy group. The clinical data and imaging characteristics of both groups were compared. Results A total of 232 patients were included in the study, comprising 112 males and 120 females, with a mean age of (50.7±12.0) years. Among these, 127 patients were classified into the benign group, while 105 patients were categorized into the suspicious malignancy group. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding age, gender, symptoms, smoking history, or tumor history (P>0.05). However, significant differences were noted in nodule density, CT values, margins, shapes, and malignant signs (P＜0.05). Further analysis revealed that in the suspicious malignancy group, solid nodules were predominantly characterized by collagen nodules and fibrous tissue hyperplasia (33.3%), followed by tuberculosis (20.4%) and fungal infections (18.5%). In contrast, non-solid nodules were primarily composed of collagen nodules and fibrous tissue hyperplasia (41.2%) and atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (17.7%). Conclusion Benign pulmonary nodules that are suspected to be malignant are pathologically characterized by the presence of collagen nodules, fibrous tissue hyperplasia, tuberculosis, atypical adenomatous hyperplasia, and fungal infections. Radiologically, these nodules typically present as non-solid lesions and may exhibit features suggestive of malignancy, including spiculation, lobulation, cavitation, and pleural retraction.