ObjectiveTo investigate the association of the traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome types of primary liver cancer （PLC） with clinical features and multimodal quantitative radiological features on computed tomography （CT） and magnetic resonance imaging （MRI）， and to provide a reference for the objectification of TCM syndrome differentiation and precise diagnosis and treatment. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 312 patients who were diagnosed with PLC in The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine from March 2020 to June 2025， and according to the TCM syndrome type， they were divided into stagnation of liver Qi group with 40 patients， stagnation of liver Qi and spleen deficiency group with 109 patients， Qi stagnation and blood stasis group with 62 patients， dampness-heat toxin amassment group with 81 patients， and liver-kidney Yin deficiency group with 20 patients. Clinical features and multimodal quantitative radiological features were compared between the patients with different TCM syndrome types. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between multiple groups， and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups； the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between multiple groups， and the Dunn’s multiple test was used for further comparison between two groups； the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups， and the Bonferroni method was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsThere were significant differences between the patients with different TCM syndrome types in China liver cancer staging （CNLC）， Child-Pugh class， alanine aminotransferase， aspartate aminotransferase， albumin， direct bilirubin， total bilirubin， prothrombin time， neutrophil， and albumin-bilirubin score （all P<0.05）. In the stagnation of liver Qi group， the patients with Child-Pugh class A accounted for 75.00%； among the patients with CNLC stage I PLC， the patients with stagnation of liver Qi accounted for 60.00%， and those with Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome accounted for 59.68%， while among the patients with CNLC stage IV PLC， the distribution proportion of dampness-heat toxin amassment （27.16%） and liver-kidney Yin deficiency （30.00%） was significantly higher than that of stagnation of liver Qi （2.50%） （all P<0.05）. Radiological examination showed that there were significant differences between the patients with different TCM syndrome types in the number of tumors， ascites， venous tumor thrombus， maximum tumor diameter， intrahepatic metastasis， and lymph node metastasis in the hepatic hilar and retroperitoneal regions （all P<0.05）. Compared with the patients with stagnation of liver Qi， the patients with liver depression and spleen deficiency or liver-kidney Yin deficiency were more likely to develop intrahepatic metastasis； the patients with liver depression and spleen deficiency， dampness-heat toxin amassment， or liver-kidney Yin deficiency were more likely to develop lymph node metastasis in the hepatic hilar and retroperitoneal regions； the patients with liver-kidney Yin deficiency were more likely to experience multiple tumors； the patients with liver depression and spleen deficiency or dampness-heat toxin amassment were more likely to develop ascites （all P<0.05）. Compared with the patients with Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome， the patients with liver depression and spleen deficiency had a significantly longer maximum tumor diameter and a significantly higher proportion of patients with venous tumor thrombus （both P<0.05）. Furthermore， among the 184 patients with MRI diffusion-weighted imaging sequences， the patients with dampness-heat toxin amassment or Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome had significantly higher ADC values and relative ADC values than those with stagnation of liver Qi （all P<0.05）. ConclusionThere are significant differences in CT/MRI radiological features and clinical features between PLC patients with different TCM syndrome types， among whom the patients with liver depression and spleen deficiency， dampness-heat toxin amassment， and liver-kidney Yin deficiency tend to exhibit progressive radiological features， and those with dampness-heat toxin amassment or Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome tend to have higher ADC values. These findings provide an objective basis for TCM syndrome differentiation in PLC.

ObjectiveTo review the current application status， practical challenges， and ethical issues of artificial intelligence （AI） in the field of hospice care， and to conduct a critical evaluation， with a view to offering a reference for promoting the deep integration of AI into clinical hospice care practice in China. MethodsRelevant domestic and international literature was retrieved to comprehensively analyze the application scenarios of AI in hospice care， the practical barriers encountered， and the ethical controversies， and to explore clinical optimization pathways. ResultsAI is gradually transforming the traditional service model of hospice care， with its applications primarily focusing on patient monitoring， symptom management， predictive analytics， clinical decision support， and other aspects. However， its development faced significant practical constraints and complex ethical challenges. ConclusionWhile AI holds immense potential to enhance the quality of hospice care， its application must be grounded in a core ethical framework centered on dignity， empathy， and patient autonomy. Relevant international explorations have been relatively extensive， whereas domestic studies remain in their infancy. Future research urgently warrants an in-depth exploration of the ethical and practical challenges to find localized integration pathways suited to China’s national context.

Objective:To summarize the experience of designing hair transplantation for post-cleft lip repair moustache defects based on the morphological and tissue characteristics of the upper lip.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of male patients treated at the Hair Transplantation Center of Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College from January 2011 to July 2024. Based on the morphology and tissue texture of the upper lip after cleft lip repair, the position and shape of the moustache were designed. Hair follicles were harvested from the mid-occipital region and/or the jaw shadow area using either the strip harvesting method or the follicular unit excision (FUE) technique. Needles of 21 or 22 gauge were used to create incisions in the recipient sites down to the superficial subcutaneous layer. The hair shafts were clamped with micro-forceps and then transplanted into the recipient sites to restore the moustache shape. Postoperatively, the density, shape, direction of the moustache, and the condition of the donor site scars were observed and followed up.Results:A total of 47 male patients, aged 23-43 years (mean 28.7 years), were included. Among them, 29 had undergone lower triangular flap repair, 13 received the Millard technique, and 5 were treated with other surgical methods for cleft lip repair. For hair follicle extraction, the strip method was used in 7 cases, and FUE in 40 cases. The donor sites included the jaw shadow area (9 cases), mid-occipital region (23 cases), and a combination of both (15 cases). The number of transplanted follicular units ranged from 33 to 500 (mean 217). Follow-up duration ranged from 9 months to 10 years (mean 3.5 years). Postoperative complications included folliculitis in 6 cases, and 4 cases required additional transplantation due to insufficient density after one year. The remaining patients exhibited satisfactory hair growth, with natural mustache shape and direction. The graft survival rate was approximately 80%, and donor site scarring was minimal.Conclusion:When performing hair transplantation to treat post-cleft lip repair moustache defects, the design should prioritize the morphological and tissue characteristics of the upper lip, followed by consideration of overall position and bilateral symmetry of the moustache. Only by fully considering the characteristics of the recipient area can optimally repair outcomes be achieved.

Objective:To investigate the effects and its related mechanism of placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells(PMSCs)on the lipopolysaccharides(LPS)damaged astrocytes.Methods:Primary astrocytes were isolated from the cerebral cortex of neonatal rats.The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP)was identified using immu-nofluorescence staining to evaluate the purity of the primary astrocytes.PMSCs were cocultured with LPS-treated astro-cytes.The expression levels of factors related to inflammation including interleukin-1β(IL-1β),inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6),arginase-1(Arg-1),S100 calcium-bind-ing protein A10(S100A10),and TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway-related proteins such as transforming growth factor beta 1(TGF-β1),transforming growth factor beta type I receptor(TβRⅠ),transforming growth factor beta type II re-ceptor(TβRⅡ),phospho-Smad2 and phospho-Smad3(p-Smad2,p-Smad3)in astrocytes from each group were detec-ted using real time RT-PCR or Western blot techniques.Results:Astrocytes at the third passage exhibited an 80%pos-itivity rate for GFAP.After treated with 10 μg/ml LPS,the astrocytes expression levels of pro-inflammatory factors IL-1β,iNOS,IL-6,and TNF-α were significantly increased(P<0.05),while their expression levels of the anti-inflam-matory factors of Arg-1 and S100A10 were significantly decreased(P<0.05).Meanwhile,their expression levels of TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway related proteins of TGF-β1,TβRⅠ,TβRⅡ,p-Smad2 and Smad3 were increased(P<0.05).After the LPS damaged astrocytes were cocultured with PMSCs,their expression levels of pro-inflammatory factors IL-1β,iNOS,IL-6,and TNF-α were significantly decreased(P<0.05),while their expression levels of the anti-inflammatory factors of Arg-1 and S100A10 were significantly increased(P<0.05).Also,their expression levels of TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway related proteins of TGF-β1,TβRⅠ,TβRⅡ,p-Smad2,and Smad3 were decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion:PMSCs may inhibit the activation of A1 astrocytes through the TGF-β/Smad signaling path-way,by which reducing the astrocytic activation.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of short-chain fatty acid(SCFA) on perioperative cognitive dysfunction in aged rats through mitogen-activated protein kinase p38(p38 MAPK)/nuclear factor-κB p65(NF-κB p65) pathway.Methods:According to random number table method, 32 healthy SPF-grade male SD rats, aged 16 months and weighing 520~620 g, were divided into control group, short-chain fatty acid group (SCFA group), perioperative cognitive dysfunction group (PCD group) and perioperative cognitive dysfunction+ short-chain fatty acid group (SCFA+ PCD group), with 8 rats in each group. The perioperative cognitive dysfunction model was established by sevoflurane anesthesia plus internal fixation of tibial fractures. Rats in SCFA group and SCFA+ PCD group freely drank water added with SCFA for 28 days. On the 29th day, rats in SCFA+ FCD group underwent tibial fracture internal fixation surgery. Morris water maze test was performed on the 7th day after surgery to evaluate the cognitive function of rats. The Nissl bodies of hippocampus were observed by Nissl's staining. The hippocampus tissue was collected to analyze the expressions of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), p38 MAPK, phosphorylated p38 MAPK, NF-κB p65 and phosphorylated NF-κB p65 by Western blot.The SPSS 27.0 software was used for statistical analysis. One-way ANOVA was used for comparison among multiple groups, and LSD- t test was used for further pairwise comparison. Results:(1) The results of Morris water maze test showed that the times of crossing the original platform, the escape latency and the residence time in the original platform quadrant were statistically significant among the four groups on the 7th day after surgery ( F=13.80, 47.80, 6.46, all P<0.05). The escape latencies of the SCFA+ PCD group and PCD group were both longer than that in the control group (both P<0.05). The times of crossing the original platform in SCFA+ PCD group and PCD group were less than that of control group (both P<0.05). The residence time in the original platform quadrant in SCFA+ PCD group and PCD group was shorter than that of control group (both P<0.05).Compared with PCD group, the escape latency was shorter, the times of crossing the original platform were more and the residence time in the original platform quadrant was longer in SCFA+ PCD group (all P<0.05). (2) The expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, phosphorylated p38 MAPK and phosphorylated NF-κB p65 were statistically significant among the four groups ( F=184.28, 139.27, 19.40, 58.47, all P<0.05). The expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, phosphorylated p38 MAPK and phosphorylated NF-κB p65 were higher in SCFA+ PCD group (0.49±0.10, 0.60±0.05, 0.489±0.012, 0.435±0.005) and PCD group (0.85±0.05, 1.12±0.08, 0.519±0.028, 0.473±0.008) than those in control group (0.13±0.02, 0.42±0.10, 0.437±0.010, 0.362±0.013)(all P<0.05). The expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, phosphorylated p38 MAPK and phosphorylated NF-κB p65 were lower in SCFA+ PCD group than PCD group (all P<0.05). (3) The average gray value of Nissl bodies was statistically significant different among the four groups ( F=14.65, P<0.05). The average gray value of Nissl bodies was lower in SCFA+ PCD group (193.2±8.1) and PCD group (160.5±14.1) than that of control group (221.2±14.8) (both P<0.05). The average gray value of Nissl bodies was higher in SCFA+ PCD group than that in PCD group( P<0.05). Conclusion:Short-chain fatty acid attenuates cognitive dysfunction, which may be related with inhibiting p38 MAPK/NF-κB p65 pathway and reducing the neuroinflammation.

Objective:To investigate the effects of a low-energy balanced diet combined with exercise intervention on glycolipid metabolism levels in children with simple obesity.Methods:A prospective randomized controlled trial was performed in this study. Forty children with simple obesity who attended the pediatric outpatient department of Tangshan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital in Hebei Province from January 2022 to January 2024 were selected and randomly divided into two groups using a random number table: an observation group ( n=22) and a control group ( n=18). No weight-loss products were used by any children in either group. The control group received exercise intervention alone, while the observation group received a combined intervention of exercise and a low-energy balanced diet. The intervention lasted for 8 weeks for both groups. The differences in energy intake during the intervention, as well as body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and adiponectin levels before and after the intervention were compared between the two groups. Measurement data with normal distribution were expressed as Mean±SD, inter-group comparisons were performed by independent samples t-test, and within-group comparisons before and after treatment were performedby paired t-test. Counting data were expressed as case (%), and inter-group comparisons were performed by χ2 test. Results:The energy intake during the intervention was lower in the observation group than in the control group [(1 450±180) kcal/d vs. (1 780±205) kcal/d, t=-5.35, P<0.001]. Before the intervention, there were no statistically significant differences in body weight, BMI and waist circumference between the two groups (all P>0.05). After 8 weeks of intervention, body weight, BMI, and waist circumference decreased significantly compared to pre-intervention levels in both groups [Control group: (62±12) kg vs. (64±13) kg, (26.4±2.9) kg/m 2 vs. (27.9±3.4) kg/m 2, (85±7) cm vs. (91±7) cm, t=7.23, 9.07, 12.31, respectively, all P<0.001; Observation group: (59±16) kg vs. (65 ± 17) kg, (23.3±4.3) kg/m 2 vs. (28.5±4.1) kg/m 2, (82±9) cm vs. (92±10) cm, t=24.90, 17.93, 21.40, respectively, all P<0.001]. Furthermore, the post-intervention values for body weight, BMI, and waist circumference were significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group ( t=-10.89, -18.92, -5.16, respectively, all P<0.001). Before the intervention, there were no statistically significant differences in FBG, FINS, TG, TC, or adiponectin levels between the two groups (all P>0.05). After 8 weeks of intervention, FBG, FINS, TG, and TC levels decreased significantly compared to pre-intervention levels in both groups [Control group: (4.99±0.26) mmol/L vs. (5.22±0.27) mmol/L, (24±6) mU/L vs. (26±8) mU/L, (1.3±0.5) mmol/L vs. (1.5±0.4) mmol/L, (4.3±0.6) mmol/L vs. (4.5±0.6) mmol/L, t=19.75, 6.69, 7.64, 18.27, respectively, all P<0.001; Observation group: (4.64±0.34) mmol/L vs. (5.31±0.26) mmol/L, (16±5) mU/L vs. (21±10) mU/L, (1.0±0.3) mmol/L vs. (1.4±0.5) mmol/L, (4.0±0.8) mmol/L vs. (4.5±0.8) mmol/L, t=19.66, 8.82, 11.26, 22.68, respectively, all P<0.001]. Adiponectin levels increased significantly in both groups [Control group: (8.0±1.2) mg/L vs. (6.8±1.1) mg/L , t=8.38, P<0.001; Observation group: (8.8±1.1) mg/L vs. (6.8±1.2) mg/L, t=23.78, P<0.001], while the improvements in all these glycolipid metabolic parameters were significantly greater in the observation group than in the control group ( t=3.70, 2.76, 2.42, 2.22,2.14, P=0.001, 0.009, 0.020, 0.027, 0.039). Conclusion:The combined intervention of a low-energy balanced diet and exercise can reduce body weight, blood glucose, and blood lipid levels in obese children, thereby improving their glycolipid metabolism.

Rheumatoid arthritis(RA)is a common autoimmune disease with synovitis as core pathological manifestation,with strong injury and high disability rate,which can not be cured completely at present.Recent studies have shown that tumor necro-sis factor receptor-related factor 6(TRAF6),as a ubiquitin ligase E3,plays a key role in autoimmune diseases and inflammatory diseases through a variety of pathways.This article reviews structure,function,ubiquitin regulation of TRAF6 and research progress of pathogenesis of RA.

Objective:To evaluate the role of meningeal γδ T cell-derived interleukin-17A (IL-17A) in postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in aged mice.Methods:Forty healthy male C57BL/6N mice, aged 18 months, weighing 30-40 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=10 each) using a table of random numbers: control group (group C), anti-γδ T cell receptor antibody (Anti-TCR γδ) group, POCD group (group P), and POCD+ Anti-TCR γδ group (group P+ Anti-TCR γδ). Anesthesia was induced with 8% sevoflurane and maintained with 3% sevoflurane, and the internal fixation for tibial fracture was performed to establish the mouse model of POCD in P and P+ Anti-TCR γδ groups. Anti-TCR γδ antibody 2.5 μg was infused into the occipital cistern on postoperative day 4 in P+ Anti-TCR γδ and Anti-TCR γδ groups. The open field test, novel object recognition test and Y-maze test were conducted sequentially at 7th day after surgery. The total distance traveled in the open field and the number of entries into the central area were recorded, and the novel object recognition index and preference index for exploring the novel arm were calculated. The mice were sacrificed at the end of the behavioral testing, the meninges were obtained for detection of the expression of IL-17A in γδ T cells by flow cytometry, and the hippocampal tissues were harvested for determination of the expression of vesicular glutamate transporter1 (VGLUT1), glutamate receptor 1 (GluR1), and IL-17A receptor (IL-17AR) (by Western blot). Results:There was no statistically significant difference in the total distance traveled in the open field test or the number of entries into the central area among the four groups ( P>0.05). Compared with group C, the novel object recognition index and preference index for novel arm exploration were significantly decreased, the expression of meningeal γδ T cells and IL-17AR in hippocampal tissues was up-regulated, and the expression of VGLUT1 and GluR1 was down-regulated in group P and group P+ Anti-TCR γδ ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the aforementioned parameters in group Anti-TCR γδ ( P>0.05). Compared with group P, the novel object recognition index and preference index for novel arm exploration were significantly increased, the expression of meningeal γδ T cells and IL-17AR was down-regulated, and the expression of VGLUT1 and GluR1 was up-regulated in group P+ Anti-TCR γδ ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Increased meningeal γδ T cell-derived IL-17A can up-regulate the expression of IL17AR in the hippocampus and down-regulate the expression of VGLUT1 and GluR1, thus involving in the development of POCD in aged mice.

OBJECTIVE To observe the current status and influencing factors for the water contamination of humid-ification tanks of ventilators of the patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation.METHODS Totally 139 hu-midified water samples were collected from the patients who received invasive mechanical ventilation in The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from Jul.2024 to Nov.2024.The humidified water samples were collected,cultured and identified on Day 1,3,5 and 7 after humidification tanks replacement.RESULTS Among the 139 samples,25 were tested positive for pathogens,with the positive test rate 17.99％;the positive test rate was highest(33.33％,8/24)in respiratory intensive care unit.The positive test rate was 12.90％on Day 1,18.42％on Day 3,15.00％on Day 5 and 26.67％on Day 7,showing an upward trend.The result of bacterial culture showed that the percentage of isolated Burkholderia cepacia was highest(36.00％).The result of analysis of the related factors for positive test of humidified water samples showed that the sample adding pattern was as-sociated with the isolation rate(P＜0.05).Only 1 case was diagnosed with ventilator-associated pneumonia(VAP)after the humidified water was detected with pathogens and varied in the pathogens.CONCLUSIONS There is an association between the status of water contamination of the ventilator humidification tanks and usage duration of humidification tank.It is necessary to attach great importance to the contamination of humidification tanks,carry out standard management,and implement the prevention and control measures in an all-round way.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) refer to a group of autoimmune-mediated central nervous system inflammatory demyelinating diseases that primarily affect the optic nerve and spinal cord. Most patients have anti-aquaporin 4 (AQP4) autoantibodies. The activation of the complement system plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AQP4 IgG seropositive NMOSD. In recent years, complement inhibitors, such as eculizumab, have demonstrated promising efficacy and development prospects in AQP4 IgG seropositive NMOSD patients. This review article focuses on the advancements made in the utilization of complement inhibitors for the management of NMOSD.