Hepatitis D virus （HDV）， as a defective virus， relies on the envelope protein of hepatitis B virus （HBV） to complete replication and transmission. Chronic hepatitis B （CHB） patients comorbid with HDV infection may experience significant acceleration of liver disease progression and a significantly higher risk of serious complications such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） compared with the patients with CHB alone， which poses a serious threat to the life and health of patients. At present， the coverage rate of HDV screening needs to be improved， and some patients with HBV/HDV co-infection have not been found in time. Therefore， strengthening the understanding of HDV among clinicians， expanding the scope of HDV screening， identifying patients with infection in a timely manner， and performing standardized antiviral therapy and long-term follow-up management are of great significance for improving the prognosis of patients， reducing disease burden， improving the quality of life of patients， and achieving the global goal of “eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030”.

Radiation-induced skin injury can occur following multiple radiotherapy treatments or nuclear accidents, significantly impacting patients’ quality of life. Radiation-induced skin ulcers often fail to heal and currently lack effective treatment options. Previous studies have demonstrated that cellular senescence is a critical factor contributing to the impaired healing of these ulcers. This article reviews the occurrence and progression of radiation-induced skin damage, the role of cellular senescence in wound healing, potential mechanisms and related biomarkers, and explores the significance of removing senescent cells in alleviating radiation-induced skin damage. It is hoped that this review will provide new insights for the treatment of radiation-induced skin injuries.

Objective:Based on data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (GBD 2021), this study aims to analyze the epidemiological trends of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in China from 1990 to 2021 and to assess the projected disease burden.Methods:Data on incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) for IBD in China from 1990 to 2021 were extracted from the GBD 2021 database. Annual percent change (EAPC) and Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) analyses were employed to evaluate these trends. Additionally, predictions for the disease burden over the next 25 years were made.Results:The age-standardized incidence rate of IBD in China rose from 0.74 per 100 000 in 1990 to 1.40 per 100 000 in 2021, an 89.19% increase. The age-standardized prevalence rate increased from 5.59 per 100 000 in 1990 to 9.16 per 100 000 in 2021, marking a 63.86% rise. Conversely, the age-standardized case fatality rate decreased from 0.75 per 100 000 in 1990 to 0.33 per 100 000 in 2021, a reduction of 56.00%. The total DALYs decreased from 162 186 in 1990 to 136 932 in 2021, a decline of 15.57%, while the age-standardized DALY rate fell from 18.38 per 100 000 in 1990 to 7.68 per 100 000 in 2021, a decrease of 58.22%. Analysis by age group revealed that the age-standardized incidence rate for the 35-39 years cohort increased most significantly, with an EAPC of 3.23%. The age-standardized prevalence rate for the 50-54 years cohort increased most significantly, with an EAPC of 2.85%. Gender analysis indicated that from 1990 to 2021, the age-standardized prevalence rate was higher among females than males, but the age-standardized case fatality rate rate was higher among males. From 2004 to 2021, the age-standardized DALY rate declined for both sexes, though it remained higher in males. By 2046, the number of new cases is projected to be slightly higher in males, while case fatality rate and DALYs are expected to remain low for both genders.Conclusions:Over the past three decades, the disease burden of IBD in China has increased significantly, particularly in terms of incidence and prevalence. Despite a general decrease in case fatality rates, the burden of IBD may increase in the elderly population due to aging demographics. Therefore, effective preventive measures, early screening, and aggressive treatment are crucial, especially for the elderly.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and independent risk factors of severe disease in patients with anti-nuclear matrix protein (NXP) 2 antibody-positive juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM).Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including 219 anti-NXP2 antibody-positive JDM patients admitted to 23 children′s hospitals across China from July 2011 to July 2023. Patients were classified into severe and non-severe groups based on classification criteria for severe dermatomyositis. Demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, and laboratory parameters were compared between the 2 groups using independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, or χ2 test. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for severe disease. The receiver operating characteristic curve was employed to calculate optimal cut-off values. Results:Among the 219 patients, 108 were male and 111 were female, with an age at onset of 6.3 (3.5, 9.4) years. The severe group comprised 69 patients, and the non-severe group 150 patients. The severe group had significantly higher rates of fever, heliotrope rash, subcutaneous edema, periorbital edema, anti-Ro52 antibody positivity, as well as elevated levels of ferritin-to-albumin ratio (FAR), creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis identified anti-Ro52 antibody positivity ( OR=13.26, 95% CI 1.37-128.29) and elevated FAR ( OR=1.90, 95% CI 1.09-2.31) as independent risk factors for severe anti-NXP2 antibody-positive JDM (both P<0.05). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that a FAR cutoff value of 6.82 predicted severe disease with an area under the curve of 0.87 (95% CI 0.81-0.94, P<0.001), sensitivity of 0.85, and specificity of 0.70. All patients received glucocorticoid therapy, and the severe group received higher proportions of steroid pulse therapy, cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil, intravenous immunoglobulin, biologics, and adjuvant treatments compared to the non-severe group (all P<0.05). In terms of outcomes, 2 patients (2.9%) in the severe group died (due to neurological involvement and intestinal perforation, respectively), while the remaining patients achieved complete clinical response or remission. All patients in the non-severe group achieved remission. Conclusions:The primary clinical features of anti-NXP2 antibody-positive JDM included fever, heliotrope rash, subcutaneous edema, periorbital edema, anti-Ro52 antibody positivity, and elevated levels of CK, AST, LDH, and FAR. Furthermore, anti-Ro52 antibody positivity and a FAR>6.82 were identified as independent risk factors.

Objective:To investigate the prevalence status and the clinical characteristics of hepatitis D virus (HDV) among patients chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the Xinjiang region.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted. Serum samples from 1 830 patients with chronic HBV infection who visited the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from December 2022 to October 2023 were collected. All sera were tested for anti-HDV IgG and IgM. Sera positive for anti-HDV IgG or IgM were selected for HDV RNA detection. HDV RNA-positive sera were sequenced to determine the HDV genotype. Age, gender, HBV course, and anti-HBV treatment status were used as scoring items based on the propensity score matching (PSM) method. Chronic HBV patients with negative anti-HDV were matched in a ratio of 1∶1. The clinical characteristics of anti-HDV -positive-patients were analyzed. The t-test was used for comparison between groups of normally distributed continuous data. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for comparison between groups of skewness distribution. The χ2 test was used for comparison between groups of enumeration data. Results:The positive detection rates of anti-HDV IgG, anti-HDV IgM, and HDV RNA in 1 830 cases with chronic HBV infection were 2.24% (41/1 830), 1.09% (20/1 830), and 1.69% (31/1 830), respectively. All HDV RNA-positive patients had HDV genotype 1. Two anti-HDV-positive patients had negative hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Gender, age, HBV course, and anti-HBV treatment status had no significant difference. The quantification of HBsAg, liver biochemical indexes (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and total bile acids), the proportion of patients with liver cirrhosis, and alpha-fetoprotein were significantly higher in the anti-HDV-positive group than in those in the anti-HDV-negative group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The prevalence rate of HDV in chronic HBV-infected patients at a single center in the Xinjiang region was 2.24%, with the primary genotype being 1. Furthermore, overlap infection should be paid attention to because it might aggravate liver damage.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and independent risk factors of severe disease in patients with anti-nuclear matrix protein (NXP) 2 antibody-positive juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM).Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including 219 anti-NXP2 antibody-positive JDM patients admitted to 23 children′s hospitals across China from July 2011 to July 2023. Patients were classified into severe and non-severe groups based on classification criteria for severe dermatomyositis. Demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, and laboratory parameters were compared between the 2 groups using independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, or χ2 test. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for severe disease. The receiver operating characteristic curve was employed to calculate optimal cut-off values. Results:Among the 219 patients, 108 were male and 111 were female, with an age at onset of 6.3 (3.5, 9.4) years. The severe group comprised 69 patients, and the non-severe group 150 patients. The severe group had significantly higher rates of fever, heliotrope rash, subcutaneous edema, periorbital edema, anti-Ro52 antibody positivity, as well as elevated levels of ferritin-to-albumin ratio (FAR), creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis identified anti-Ro52 antibody positivity ( OR=13.26, 95% CI 1.37-128.29) and elevated FAR ( OR=1.90, 95% CI 1.09-2.31) as independent risk factors for severe anti-NXP2 antibody-positive JDM (both P<0.05). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that a FAR cutoff value of 6.82 predicted severe disease with an area under the curve of 0.87 (95% CI 0.81-0.94, P<0.001), sensitivity of 0.85, and specificity of 0.70. All patients received glucocorticoid therapy, and the severe group received higher proportions of steroid pulse therapy, cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil, intravenous immunoglobulin, biologics, and adjuvant treatments compared to the non-severe group (all P<0.05). In terms of outcomes, 2 patients (2.9%) in the severe group died (due to neurological involvement and intestinal perforation, respectively), while the remaining patients achieved complete clinical response or remission. All patients in the non-severe group achieved remission. Conclusions:The primary clinical features of anti-NXP2 antibody-positive JDM included fever, heliotrope rash, subcutaneous edema, periorbital edema, anti-Ro52 antibody positivity, and elevated levels of CK, AST, LDH, and FAR. Furthermore, anti-Ro52 antibody positivity and a FAR>6.82 were identified as independent risk factors.

Objective:To investigate the prevalence status and the clinical characteristics of hepatitis D virus (HDV) among patients chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the Xinjiang region.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted. Serum samples from 1 830 patients with chronic HBV infection who visited the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from December 2022 to October 2023 were collected. All sera were tested for anti-HDV IgG and IgM. Sera positive for anti-HDV IgG or IgM were selected for HDV RNA detection. HDV RNA-positive sera were sequenced to determine the HDV genotype. Age, gender, HBV course, and anti-HBV treatment status were used as scoring items based on the propensity score matching (PSM) method. Chronic HBV patients with negative anti-HDV were matched in a ratio of 1∶1. The clinical characteristics of anti-HDV -positive-patients were analyzed. The t-test was used for comparison between groups of normally distributed continuous data. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for comparison between groups of skewness distribution. The χ2 test was used for comparison between groups of enumeration data. Results:The positive detection rates of anti-HDV IgG, anti-HDV IgM, and HDV RNA in 1 830 cases with chronic HBV infection were 2.24% (41/1 830), 1.09% (20/1 830), and 1.69% (31/1 830), respectively. All HDV RNA-positive patients had HDV genotype 1. Two anti-HDV-positive patients had negative hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Gender, age, HBV course, and anti-HBV treatment status had no significant difference. The quantification of HBsAg, liver biochemical indexes (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and total bile acids), the proportion of patients with liver cirrhosis, and alpha-fetoprotein were significantly higher in the anti-HDV-positive group than in those in the anti-HDV-negative group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The prevalence rate of HDV in chronic HBV-infected patients at a single center in the Xinjiang region was 2.24%, with the primary genotype being 1. Furthermore, overlap infection should be paid attention to because it might aggravate liver damage.

Objectives:This study aims to investigate the relationship between neutrophil to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio(NHR)and incidence of cardiovascular disease(CVD)among individuals with metabolic associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD).Methods:We conducted a prospective cohort study utilizing health check-up data from 2006 to 2007 at Kailuan General Hospital and its 10 affiliated hospitals.The study population consisted of employees and retirees diagnosed with MAFLD,excluding those with incomplete neutrophil and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol data or a history of heart failure,myocardial infarction,cerebral hemorrhage,or cerebral infarction.CVD was defined as the presence of heart failure,myocardial infarction,cerebral hemorrhage,or cerebral infarction.Annual follow-ups were conducted from 2006,new-onset CVD cases identified through discharge records from the 11 Kailuan Group hospitals and records from municipal social insurance agencies,the final follow up date was December 31,2022.NHR was calculated as the ratio of neutrophil to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,and the MAFLD cohort(n=28 952)was stratified into four groups by NHR quartiles:Q1 group(NHR<1.97,n=7 241),Q2 group(1.97≤NHR<2.57,n=7 235),Q3 group(2.57≤NHR<3.36,n=7 240),and Q4 group(NHR≥3.36,n=7 236).The Kaplan-Meier method was employed to plot survival curves for new-onset CVD,and the cumulative incidences of CVD across different NHR quartiles groups were determined.Intergroup comparisons were made using the log-rank test,and a multifactorial Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the association between NHR quartiles and the risk of new-onset CVD in the MAFLD population.Results:The average follow-up duration was(14.03±3.99)years,during which 4 666 new CVD cases were recorded among the study population.The number of CVD cases across Q1 group to Q4 group were 1 061,1 167,1 186 and 1 252,respectively,with an overall incidence density of 11.5 cases per 1 000 person-years.The incidence densities for Q1 group to Q4 group were 10.4,11.4,11.7 and 12.5 cases per 1 000 person-years,respectively.The multifactorial Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed that higher NHR quartiles were associated with an increased relative risk of new-onset CVD(Q2 group:HR=1.13,95%CI:1.04-1.23;Q3 group:HR=1.15,95%CI:1.05-1.25;Q4 group:HR=1.22,95%CI:1.12-1.33).Conclusions:The risk of new-onset cardiovascular disease in individuals with MAFLD escalates with increasing NHR.

Objectives:This study aims to investigate the relationship between neutrophil to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio(NHR)and incidence of cardiovascular disease(CVD)among individuals with metabolic associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD).Methods:We conducted a prospective cohort study utilizing health check-up data from 2006 to 2007 at Kailuan General Hospital and its 10 affiliated hospitals.The study population consisted of employees and retirees diagnosed with MAFLD,excluding those with incomplete neutrophil and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol data or a history of heart failure,myocardial infarction,cerebral hemorrhage,or cerebral infarction.CVD was defined as the presence of heart failure,myocardial infarction,cerebral hemorrhage,or cerebral infarction.Annual follow-ups were conducted from 2006,new-onset CVD cases identified through discharge records from the 11 Kailuan Group hospitals and records from municipal social insurance agencies,the final follow up date was December 31,2022.NHR was calculated as the ratio of neutrophil to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,and the MAFLD cohort(n=28 952)was stratified into four groups by NHR quartiles:Q1 group(NHR<1.97,n=7 241),Q2 group(1.97≤NHR<2.57,n=7 235),Q3 group(2.57≤NHR<3.36,n=7 240),and Q4 group(NHR≥3.36,n=7 236).The Kaplan-Meier method was employed to plot survival curves for new-onset CVD,and the cumulative incidences of CVD across different NHR quartiles groups were determined.Intergroup comparisons were made using the log-rank test,and a multifactorial Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the association between NHR quartiles and the risk of new-onset CVD in the MAFLD population.Results:The average follow-up duration was(14.03±3.99)years,during which 4 666 new CVD cases were recorded among the study population.The number of CVD cases across Q1 group to Q4 group were 1 061,1 167,1 186 and 1 252,respectively,with an overall incidence density of 11.5 cases per 1 000 person-years.The incidence densities for Q1 group to Q4 group were 10.4,11.4,11.7 and 12.5 cases per 1 000 person-years,respectively.The multifactorial Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed that higher NHR quartiles were associated with an increased relative risk of new-onset CVD(Q2 group:HR=1.13,95%CI:1.04-1.23;Q3 group:HR=1.15,95%CI:1.05-1.25;Q4 group:HR=1.22,95%CI:1.12-1.33).Conclusions:The risk of new-onset cardiovascular disease in individuals with MAFLD escalates with increasing NHR.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of lamb′s tripe extract and vitamin B 12 capsule (LTEVB 12C) on chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) at different locations (antrum lesser curvature, antrum greater curvature, gastric angle, corpus lesser curvature, and corpus greater curvature). Methods:From August 2011 to January 2013, 715 patients with CAG in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial were enrolled from 16 tertiary first-class hospitals across the country, including the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, the First Hospital of Jilin University, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, etc., there were 476 cases in the LTEVB 12C group and 239 cases in the placebo group. The patients of the LTEVB 12C group received LTEVB 12C, and the patients of placebo group received LTEVB 12C mimetic, all the medications were taken 3 capsules each time and 3 times a day after meals, and the treatment course of 2 groups were both 6 months. The efficacy evaluation criteria included the effective rate (a decrease of ≥1 in histopathological score compared with baseline after 6 months of treatment) and the reversal rate (a decrease of ≥ 2 in histopathological score compared with baseline after 6 months of treatment in the patients with moderate to severe CAG). The impact of lesion sites on the therapeutic effects of LTEVB 12C was analyzed by logistic regression analysis. The two-way unordered Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test considering the center effect and Pearson chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Results:The effective rates of chronic inflammation at the antrum greater curvature and corpus greater curvature (23.3%, 110/473 vs. 13.0%, 31/239; 20.3%, 96/472 vs. 12.6%, 30/239), the effective rates of atrophy at the antrum lesser curvature, antrum greater curvature, gastric angle, corpus lesser curvature, and the corpus greater curvature (27.0%, 118/437 vs. 15.7%, 34/216; 29.2%, 126/432 vs. 18.5%, 38/205; 27.8%, 121/435 vs. 16.7%, 36/216; 32.5%, 127/391 vs. 19.8%, 37/187; 33.0%, 119/361 vs. 21.8%, 39/179), and the effective rates of intestinal metaplasia at the antrum lesser curvature, antrum greater curvature, gastric angle, and the corpus lesser curvature (45.0%, 112/249 vs. 29.8%, 31/104; 53.8%, 86/160 vs. 33.9%, 21/62; 45.8%, 103/225 vs. 24.0%, 25/104; 51.9%, 83/160 vs. 28.3%, 17/60) of the LTEVB 12C group were all higher than those of the placebo group, and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=10.76, 6.39, 9.69, 7.91, 11.05, 9.62, 8.57, 5.20, 7.11, 12.45, and 6.73; all P<0.05). The reversal rates of chronic inflammation at the corpus lesser curvature and corpus greater curvature (5.2%, 12/231 vs. 0, 0/123; 4.7%, 8/170 vs. 0, 0/88), the reversal rates of atrophy at the antrum lesser curvature, antrum greater curvature, corpus lesser curvature, and the corpus greater curvature (6.8%, 22/323 vs. 1.3%, 2/151; 9.2%, 29/315 vs. 1.4%, 2/144; 14.2%, 38/267 vs. 2.5%, 3/121; 20.8%, 35/168 vs. 5.8%, 4/69), and the reversal rates of intestinal metaplasia at the antrum lesser curvature, antrum greater curvature, gastric angle, and the corpus lesser curvature (29.8%, 39/131 vs. 9.1%, 4/44; 41.0%, 32/78 vs. 12.5%, 3/24; 33.3%, 44/132 vs. 4.8%, 3/63; 50.0%, 37/74 vs. 8.7%, 2/23) of the LTEVB 12C group were all higher than those of the placebo group, and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=6.58, 5.12, 5.60, 8.61, 11.43, 6.59, 7.30, 4.95, 15.92, 7.62; all P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the effective rates and reversal rates of active inflammation at different locations between the LTEVB 12C group and the placebo group (all P>0.05). The results of logistic regression analysis (taking the antrum lesser curvature as the reference) further confirmed that the reversal rates of chronic inflammation ( OR=0.22, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.07 to 0.67; OR=0.24, 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.80), atrophy ( OR=0.28, 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.49; OR=0.28, 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.49), and intestinal metaplasia ( OR=0.42, 95% CI: 0.24 to 0.77; OR=0.20, 95% CI: 0.08 to 0.52) at the corpus lesser curvature and corpus greater curvature were all higher than those at the antrum lesser curvature, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). There were no statistically siginificant differences in the reversal rates of the aforementioned pathological features between the antrum greater curvature, gastric angle, and the antrum lesser curvature (all P>0.05). Conclusion:LTEVB 12C can achieve good efficacy in the treatment of CAG, and the chronic inflammation, atrophy, and intestinal metaplasia at multiple locations are improved, especially at the corpus lesser curvature and the corpus greater curvature.