Objective: To investigate whether Tuina alleviates fibrotic symptoms in myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) by regulating transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway, thereby deactivating these points. Methods: This study comprised two experimental phases. In phase 1, 27 specific pathogen-free (SPF) grade female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomized into three groups: control 1, model 1, and Tuina 1 groups. Model 1 and Tuina 1 groups underwent an 8-week MTrPs modeling protocol involving blunt impact and eccentric exercise. After successful modeling, rats in Tuina 1 group received manual pressing on nodules or cord-like taut bands on the medial aspect of the left hindlimb. Pain sensitivity and tissue stiffness were evaluated via pressure pain threshold (PPT) and soft tissue tension (STT). Muscle histopathology and fibrosis were observed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson staining. Inflammatory factors in muscle were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while immunofluorescence (IF) and Western blot (WB) were used to detect the expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen Ⅲ, and TGF-β1. In phase 2, 45 SPF female SD rats were randomized into five groups: control 2, model 2, Tuina 2, TGF-β1 inhibitor (TI), and Tuina + TGF-β1 agonist (Tuina + TA) groups. All groups except control 2 underwent standardized MTrPs modeling. Rats in Tuina 2 group received consistent pressing manipulation. TI group received intraperitoneal injections of oxymatrine, while Tuina + TA group received intraperitoneal injections of SRI-011381 hydrochloride followed by the same pressing protocol as Tuina 2 group. WB was used to detect the expression of collagen I, collagen III, TGF-β1, and phosphorylated-Smad3 (p-Smad3)/Smad3. Results: In phase 1, Tuina significantly improved PPT and STT in MTrPs of rats (P < 0.01), reversed pathological damages including disorganized muscle fiber arrangement, abnormal myocyte morphology, and exacerbated fibrosis. In addition, in MTrPs of rats in model 1 group, expression levels of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and fibrosis markers (α-SMA, collagen I, and collagen III) were upregulated, and all exhibited a significant downward trend after Tuina intervention (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). This indicates that the therapeutic effects of Tuina are directly associated with reduced local inflammation and fibrosis in MTrPs. In phase 2, compared with model 2 group, rats in TI and Tuina 2 groups had decreased expression levels of TGF-β1 and p-Smad3/Smad3 in MTrPs, alongside reduced levels of inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, NF-κB, and TNF-α) and fibrosis markers (α-SMA, collagen I, and collagen III) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). When co-administered with TGF-β1 agonist, the therapeutic effects of Tuina were significantly attenuated, with rebounded TGF-β1 expression and p-Smad3/Smad3 in local MTrPs, and fibrosis and inflammatory responses were re-exacerbated (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Conclusion Tuina can effectively reduce inflammatory responses and fibrosis in MTrPs tissue, and its mechanism is closely related to the inhibition of the TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway, which plays a critical role in Tuina-mediated regulation of MTrPs fibrosis.

[摘 要] 目的：探讨乙醛脱氢酶1A1（ALDH1A1）mRNA负载树突状细胞（DC）疫苗体外诱导抗鼻咽癌干细胞免疫反应的能力。方法：体外转录ALDH1A1 mRNA并电转染至人外周血DC，构建ALDH1A1-DC疫苗，转染EGFP mRNA为对照。流式细胞术检测DC表型、淋巴细胞亚群、细胞毒性T 淋巴细胞（CTL）增殖和细胞因子分泌。分选ALDH+和ALDH- C666-1细胞，检测干细胞标志物（CD24、CD133）和干性基因（OCT4、SOX2、Nanog）的表达水平，采用CCK-8法评估ALDH1A1-DC疫苗诱导的特异性免疫杀伤能力。结果：EGFP-DC荧光表达率显著高于未转染DC（P < 0.000 1），ALDH1A1-DC抗原提呈分子HLA-ABC、共刺激分子CD86、CD40和CCR7表达与未转染DC相比显著增强（P = 0.001 3、P = 0.005 9、P = 0.000 4及P = 0.001 9）。与单独淋巴细胞组（T）及空载DC诱导的淋巴细胞组（DC-T）相比，ALDH1A1-DC诱导的CTL比例最高（均P < 0.000 1），分裂指数最高（P = 0.000 2、P = 0.000 3），且CD8+CD69+（P = 0.000 5、P < 0.000 1）和CD8+ IFN-γ+（P = 0.012 6、P = 0.001 9）细胞亚群比例均显著提高。ALDH1A1-DC-T细胞对ALDH+C666-1悬浮细胞球的杀伤效果显著优于ALDH-细胞球（P = 0.001 0），且与其他各组淋巴细胞相比表现出较强的抗ALDH+C666-1悬浮细胞球的免疫效应（P = 0.001 0，P < 0.000 1）。然而，HLA-ABC阻断后其对ALDH+C666-1细胞的特异性杀伤效应显著降低（P < 0.000 1）。结论：mRNA转染DC后可翻译蛋白并促进DC成熟，增强其诱导特异性CTL免疫反应的能力。

Liver transplantation is a crucial treatment for end-stage liver disease,yet its complexity continues to limit clinical application.With the development of the internet and big data,artificial intelligence(AI)technologies have gradually expanded their use in liver transplantation surgery,covering donor liver evaluation,organ allocation,robot-assisted surgery,and postoperative management,demonstrating significant advantages.However,the application of AI also raises a series of ethical issues,notably fairness in resource allocation,conflicts between technical limitations and the principle of non-maleficence,ambiguous responsibility attribution,patient privacy security,and informed consent.This article systematically reviews the current applications of AI in liver transplantation surgery and the related ethical challenges,aiming to provide a reference for its rational use and sustainable development.

Sarcopenia is a systemic disease characterized by accelerated loss of skeletal muscle mass and function,leading to an increased incidence of adverse outcomes such as falls and fractures.Sarcopenia is classified into primary and secondary types,with primary sarcopenia being closely related to aging and posing a serious threat to a healthy life among the elderly.Sarcopenia has an insidious onset and is often overlooked in terms of its clinical treatment.Its pathogenesis is complex,involving functional changes and pathological alterations in multiple systems,and presenting major research challenges.Cell models can effectively be used to simulate the pathological changes of diseases under controllable conditions,thus facilitating the investigation of the etiology and factors influencing sarcopenia,and providing an important approach for in-depth studies of its mechanism;however,there is currently no standardized cell model in the field of sarcopenia research.Commonly used cell models currently include models involving protein metabolism interventions,oxidative stress,and inflammatory response interventions.This review considers the commonly used skeletal muscle cell types and modeling method of sarcopenia,to provide a solid foundation and important method ological reference for further simulation of the pathological process of sarcopenia in subsequent experimental studies.

Objective:To explore the intervention effect of health nutrition model based on digital management on patients with gestational diabetes mellitus, and to provide reference for blood sugar control and pregnancy outcome improvement of gestational diabetes mellitus.Methods:Using a randomized controlled study method, totally 80 cases of gestational diabetes mellitus admitted to Langfang People's Hospital from October 2021 to March 2023 were prospectively selected and randomly divided into control group and experimental group according to the random number table method, with 40 cases in each group. The control group was given routine management, and the experimental group was combined with the health nutrition model based on digital management on this basis. Both groups began to intervene after the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus, and the intervention lasted until one week before the patient's expected delivery. Follow-up to delivery. The delivery mode, weight gain during pregnancy, insulin use during pregnancy, pregnancy outcome and neonatal outcome of the two groups were statistically analyzed. The blood glucose level of the two groups before and after intervention were compared.Results:The age of the control group was 20-31 (26.25 ± 1.98) years old, while the age of the experimental group was 20-33 (25.93 ± 2.11) years old. The cesarean section rate in the experimental group was 32.50% (13/40), which was lower than that in the control group (57.50%, 23/40) ( χ2=5.05, P<0.05). The weight gain during pregnancy in the experimental group was (6.03 ± 0.89) kg, which was lower than (7.93 ± 1.36) kg in the control group ( t=7.39, P<0.05). After intervention, the levels of serum glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting blood glucose and 2 h postprandial blood glucose in the two groups were lower than those before intervention, and those in the experimental group were (5.19 ± 0.54) %, (4.98 ± 0.49) mmol/L, (6.04 ± 1.15) mmol/L, which were lower than (5.67 ± 0.75) %, (5.37 ± 0.54) mmol/L, (7.16 ± 1.36) mmol/L in the control group ( t=3.28, 3.42, 3.96, all P<0.05). The proportion of macrosomia in the experimental group was 2.50% (1/40), which was lower than 20.00% (8/40) in the control group ( χ2=4.51, P<0.05). The experimental group had no abnormal pregnancy outcome and neonatal outcome respectively as 92.50% (37/40) and 92.50% (37/40), which were 70.00% (28/40) and 57.50% (23/40) in the control group, their difference was statistically significant ( χ2=6.65, 13.07, both P<0.05). Conclusions:The application of health nutrition model based on digital management to intervene in patients with gestational diabetes could effectively improve their blood glucose control effect, improve pregnancy outcome and neonatal outcome, and hada good intervention effect.

Objective:To investigate the impacts of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 (VD) and Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) on intestinal flora in animals with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and their possible mechanisms. Methods:A methionine- choline-deficient (MCD) diet-induced rat model of MAFLD was created. Forty 10-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into methionine-choline-sufficient (MCS) group, MCD group, VD group, LP group, and VD-LP group, with 8 rats in each group. The intervention groups (VD group, LP group, and VD-LP group) were gastrically fed with VD peanut oil solution (6 ng/100 g daily), Lactobacillus plantarum solution (2×10 9CFU/100 g daily), and a combination of these two solutions, respectively. MCS group, MCD group, and LP group were given the same volume of peanut oil on a daily basis. Fecal samples from rats were collected at week 4 and analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing for fecal flora structure. Portal vein blood samples were collected to detect liver biochemistry and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels. Pathological changes in liver and terminal ileum tissues were observed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Results:Compared with the MCS group, the MCD group exhibited massive steatosis and lipid infiltration in liver tissues, markedly thinned ileum mucosa, severely damaged villi structure, excessive necrotic and shedding of epithelial cells, and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Compared with the histopathological changes in the MCD group, the steatosis and lipid infiltration of liver tissue, the damage to the ileal mucosa structure and epithelial cells, and the infiltration of inflammatory cells were alleviated in the VD group, LP group, and VD-LP group. Compared with MCS group, the MCD group had significantly higher serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (158.50±14.03 U/L vs. 20.38±7.39 U/L), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (43.88±11.36 U/L vs. 25.75±5.90 U/L), total bile acid (TBA) (140.60±11.77 μmol/L vs. 19.96±4.31 μmol/L), and LPS (16.57±1.19 pg/ml vs. 7.43±0.95 pg/ml) (All P<0.001),which confirmed the successful establishment of rat models of MAFLD. Serum ALT, AST, TBA, and LPS levels in all the three intervention groups were significantly lower than those in MCD group, and the most significant reductions in ALT (51.38±9.05 U/L vs. 158.50±14.03 U/L), AST (55.88±12.19 U/L vs. 143.88±11.36 U/L), TBA (21.00±8.17 μmol/L vs. 140.60±11.77 μmol/L), and LPS (9.72±0.71 pg/ml vs. 16.57±1.19 pg/ml) were seen in the VD-LP group. The microbiota in the MCD group predominantly featured Muribaculaceae, while the MCS group and other intervention groups primarily harbored Lactobacillus. Firmicutes and Lactobacillus were significantly decreased in the MCD group ,while Bacteroidete, Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobiota, Prevotellaceae UCG-003, Escherichia coli, Bacteroides, and Enterococcus increased significantly. The opposite was true for each intervention group. There were significant differences in Lactobacillus between MCD group and the other four groups. Conclusion:VD and LP can remarkably improve lipid deposition in MAFLD by regulating intestinal flora.

Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy(TAO) is an organ-specific autoimmune disease closely related to hy-perthyroidism,but it may also be detected in chronic autoimmune thyroiditis patients with normal thyroid functions or hy-pothyroidism.The clinical manifestations of TAO are diverse,and the progression of the disease varies.Therefore,accu-rately assessing its activity and the extent of lesions is crucial for guiding clinical treatment.Imaging examinations play an important role in the clinical diagnosis and evaluation of TAO.Commonly used methods include computed tomography(CT)and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).In this article,the current applications of CT and MRI to the evaluation of TAO were reviewed,aiming to assist clinicians in selecting appropriate imaging modalities for accurate disease staging and formulating more rational treatment strategies.

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effect of hyaluronic acid(HA)scaffold combined with adipose-derived stem cells(ADSCs)in chronic wound healing of lower limbs and explore its applica-tion potential in promoting chronic wound healing.Methods A total of 50 patients were included in this study.They were divided into study and control groups according to the random number table method.There were 25 cases in each of the two groups of patients.HA and ADSCs were mixed in a 1:1 ratio and evenly injected into the wound base and the subcutaneous tissue around the wound at a rate of 0.1 ml/cm3.In the control group,ADSCs were only injected into the wound base and subcutaneous tissue around the wound.The infection rate,treatment satisfaction,wound healing rate,visual analogue score(VAS),and wound quantitative score were compared between the two groups at 7 days,14 days,and 28 days.Results The infection rate in the study group was lower than that in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Moreover,at 14 days and 28 days after treatment,the wound healing rate in the study group was higher than that in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).On the 7th,14th,and 28th days after treatment,the VAS scores and the wound quantitative scores were lower than those in the control group,and the difference was statisti-cally significant(P<0.05).Furthermore,the treatment satisfaction rate in the research group(92％)was higher than that in the control group(80％).Conclusion HA scaffold combined with ADSCs could promote the healing of chronic wounds in lower limbs,reduce infection rate,and relieve wound pain,which provides a new idea for the treatment of chronic wounds.

OBJECTIVE To explore the clinical characteristics of Tropheryma whipplei(TW)infection and observe the application of pathogenic metagenomic next-generation sequencing(mNGS)in diagnosis of TW infection.METHODS The clinical data were collected from 1 patient who was diagnosed by mNGS in the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University on Apr.9,2022.The data including the results of laboratory tests and treatment out-comes were summarized,and a literature review was conducted.RESULTS A 50-year-old woman presented to the hospital with chest tightness and chest pain lasting for 3 days,accompanied by dyspnea,palpitations,and expec-toration.The chest plain CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)scan suggested a high probability of pul-monary infection.Normal flora were isolated by culture of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF);TW and human βherpes virus type 7 were detected in BALF by mNGS,with the sequence numbers 327 000 and 9,respectively.The pulmonary symptoms of the patient were improved after joint treatment of the infection with etimicin,levo-floxacin and minocycline.The patient repeatedly sought for medical treatment due to the pain of shoulder joint and limitation of motion.CONCLUSIONS TW is one of major pathogens leading to the infections of systemic multiple systems,and it is necessary to attach great importance to the diagnosis and treatment.The traditional laboratory test method can not achieve ideal diagnosis effect and is more likely to make a missed diagnosis.mNGS is more ac-curate and more efficient than the traditional detection method in diagnosis of TW-induced diseases.Early use of mNGS can make a rapid identification of pathogens and facilitate the reasonable clinical use of antibiotics.It is of great significance for control of the disease progression,improvement of prognosis and prevention of recurrence.

On May 2025,European Association for the Study of the Liver published Clinical Practice Guidelines on extrahepatic abdominal surgery in patients with cirrhosis and advanced chronic liver disease.The guidelines systematically elaborate on the preoperative assessment,various surgical indications,and perioperative management of patients with cirrhosis or advanced chronic liver disease undergoing extrahepatic surgery,in order to provide comprehensive recommendations for preoperative assessment and perioperative management in patients with cirrhosis and advanced chronic liver disease who have surgical indications.This article makes an excerpt of the methodology and key recommendations of the guidelines.