Objective To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy for surgical treatments among patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis in Gansu Province from 2006 to 2023, so as to provide insights into optimization of the diagnosis and treatment strategies against hepatic cystic echinococcosis. Methods The demographic and clinical data of all echinococcosis cases included in central government fiscal transfer payment program for echinococcosis control and undergoing surgical treatments in Gansu Province from 2006 to 2023 were captured. Hepatic cystic echinococcosis patients with complete medical records and follow-up data were included in the study, and patients’ characteristics, including hospital where patients received diagnosis and treatment, methods of case identification, year of surgery, classification of lesions, number of lesions, size of lesions, course of disease, surgical methods, and post-surgical follow-up data. The cure and recurrence of hepatic cystic echinococcosis were evaluated according to the Guidelines for Management of Echinococcosis Patients in the Central Government Fiscal Transfer Payment Program, and the cure and recurrent rates were calculated. Results Data were collected from 1 686 surgical patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 1 222 hepatic cystic echinococcosis patients undergoing surgical treatments were included during the period from 2006 to 2022, including 1 166 cured patients (95.42%) and 88 patients with postsurgical recurrence (7.20%), and the cure rate of surgical treatments appeared a tendency towards a rise among patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis from 2008 to 2022 (χ²_trend = 19.39, P < 0.05). The cure rates of hepatic cystic echinococcosis were 100% (177/177), 94.81% (128/135) and 94.62% (861/910) among patients detected through regular physical examinations, screened by the central government fiscal transfer payment program for echinococcosis control, and those who passively sought healthcare services, respectively (χ² = 9.95, P < 0.05). The cure rates of hepatic cystic echinococcosis were 95.96% (1 046/1 090) among patients with a disease course of 2 years and less and 90.90% (120/132) among patients with a disease course of over 2 years (χ² = 6.87, P < 0.05), and there were significant differences in the cure rates among patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis in terms of number of lesions (χ² = 24.44, P < 0.05) and surgical methods (P < 0.05). The cure rate of hepatic cystic echinococcosis patients was significantly higher following initiation of the central government fiscal transfer payment program for echinococcosis control (96.06%, 1 096/1 141) than before the program (86.42%, 70/81) (χ² = 16.06, P < 0.05), and the cure rate of hepatic cystic echinococcosis patients was significantly higher in designated hospitals (96.48%, 741/768) than in non-designated hospitals (93.37%, 366/392) (χ² = 5.78, P < 0.05). The median follow-up period was 4 (interquartile range, 7) years among 1 222 hepatic cystic echinococcosis patients undergoing surgical treatments. The recurrent rate of hepatic cystic echinococcosis appeared a tendency towards a decline from 2008 to 2022 (χ²_trend = 36.86, P < 0.05), with a reduction from 23.08% (9/39) in 2008 to 1.85% (1/54) in 2021, and the post-surgical recurrence rate of hepatic cystic echinococcosis was lower following initiation of the central government fiscal transfer payment program for echinococcosis control (5.87%, 67 / 1 141) than before the program (25.93%, 21/81) (χ² = 45.51, P < 0.05). In addition, the post-surgical recurrence rate of hepatic cystic echinococcosis was higher in non-designated hospitals (10.46%, 41/392) than in designated hospitals (5.60%, 43/768) (χ² = 9.12, P < 0.05), and there was a significant difference in the post-surgical recurrence rate among patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis in terms of surgical methods (P < 0.05), with the highest recurrence rate (11.54%) seen among patients undergoing percutaneous fine-needle aspiration of cyst fluids-based surgical procedures (P < 0.05). Conclusion Since the initiation of the central government fiscal transfer payment program for echinococcosis control in Gansu Province in 2006, an increase in the surgical cure rate and a reduction in the recurrence of hepatic cystic echinococcosis had been found among patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis, indicating a high overall therapeutic efficacy.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global public health threat. The World Health Organization (WHO) 2020–2024 global TB reports provide a comprehensive overview of the TB situation from 2019 to 2023. In 2023, TB re-emerged as the world's leading infectious killer, with an estimated 10.8 million new cases. While the growth in the incidence rate slowed, the number of deaths decreased to 1.25 million. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted TB control efforts in 2020–2021. As control measures are gradually restored, a positive trend in TB control is emerging. However, significant regional disparities in incidence persist, with eight high-burden countries, including India and China, accounting for over two-thirds of the global total. In 2023, global treatment coverage for drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) was 44.00% with a treatment success rate of 68.00%; yet, with 400 000 new drug-resistant cases, the control situation remains severe. China has achieved remarkable progress in TB control: new cases fell to 741 000 in 2023 (an incidence of 52 per 100 000); mortality decreased significantly; its share of the global DR-TB burden dropped from 14.00% to 7.30%; and the TB/HIV co-infection rate declined from 1.68% in 2019 to 0.66% in 2023, outperforming the global average. Globally, control measures continue to be optimized: treatment coverage increased from 70.00% in 2019 to 75.00% in 2023, the number of people receiving preventive therapy grew to 4.7 million, and rapid diagnostic coverage reached 48.00%. In China, the number of patients treated recovered to 565 000 in 2023, and rapid diagnostic coverage rose to 74.00%. Although technological innovations have enhanced the efficiency of prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and management, achieving the 2030 End TB Strategy goals will require strengthening TB management, building primary healthcare capacity, and targeting interventions for high-risk populations, while balancing resource allocation with technological innovation to address the challenges of a heterogeneous global epidemic.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical feasibility and potential for malignant transformation prevention of hyperkeratotic oral leukoplakia (OLK) treatment using erbium, chromium:yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet laser (Er,Cr:YSGG) ablation combined with 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT), providing a reference for clinical practice. Methods: Two cases of histopathologically confirmed gingival leukoplakia were treated. Following Er,Cr:YSGG (wavelength: 2,780 nm) ablation of the hyperkeratotic layer, 20% ALA solution was topically applied for 3 hours, followed by irradiation with a 635 nm diode laser (energy density: 100 J/cm²). Follow-up assessments included lesion regression and exfoliative cytology DNA ploidy stability, supplemented by a systematic literature review on OLK treatment advancements. Results: Case 1: at 1-year follow-up, > 90% lesion regression was observed (residual: 2 mm circular white patch) without recurrence, with stable diploid DNA ploidy. Case 2: complete lesion resolution and no recurrence at 1 year, with stable diploid DNA ploidy. Literature review showed that pharmacological therapies ameliorate OLK symptoms but fail to halt malignant progression, while surgical interventions carry recurrence risks. PDT demonstrates unique advantages by selectively targeting dysplastic cells. However, uneven ALA penetration due to the keratin barrier limits efficacy. Compared to needling, diode laser, or CO₂ laser pretreatment, Er,Cr:YSGG leverages water absorption for precise, low-thermal keratin ablation, substantially enhancing tissue permeability and optimizing ALA diffusion, thereby improving PDT outcomes. Conclusion Er,Cr:YSGG ablation combined with PDT serves as an optimized regimen for hyperkeratotic OLK, offering a novel approach to mitigate OLK carcinogenesis.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between the course of antibiotics during perioperative period and postoperative infection in pregnant women with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome(HIV/AIDS) undergoing cesarean section, and to guide the rational use of antibiotics in clinical practice. METHODS A total of 53 cesarean section women in the hospital from January 2014 to September 2022 were chosen as research objects. According to the course of antibiotics, the puerperae were divided into two groups. The treatment course of antibiotics in the study group(n=31) was >24 h and ≤48 h, and the control group(n=22) was ≤24 h. The postoperative wound healing, inflammatory indexes, postoperative infection rate, and postoperative hospital stay were observed. RESULTS There was no significant difference in postoperative body temperature, white blood cell count, neutrophil ratio, C-reactive protein, postoperative hospital stay, wound healing grade and postoperative infection rate between the study group and the control group. CONCLUSION Antibiotics for HIV/AIDS patients during perioperative period of cesarean section for <24 h may play a better role in preventing postoperative infection.

OBJECTIVE To study the correlation between penetration enhancement effect and transepidermal water loss(TEWL)values of essential oils(EOs)from traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).METHODS The amount of 3 kinds of glycosides(geniposide,gentiopicroside,paeoniflorin)and their oil-water partition coefficient were determined by HPLC.The penetration enhancement effect of the five EOs from Gaoliangjiang(Alpiniae Officinarum Rhizoma,AOR),Ganjiang(Zingiberis Rhizoma,ZR),Bohe(Menthae Haploca-lycis Herba,MHH),Hujiao(Piperis Fructus,PF)and Wuzhuyu(Euodiae Fructus,EF)on geniposide,gentiopicroside,and paeoniflor-in were performed by the modified Franz diffusion cell method with the abdominal skin of rats.The TEWL values were measured to evalu-ate the effect of the five EOs on the skin barrier function of rats.The correlation between penetration enhancement effect of EOs and their effect on skin barrier function was investigated by correlation analysis.RESULTS AOR oil,ZR oil,MHH oil,and PF oil could im-prove the absorption of the three glycosides and reduce skin barrier function of rats.The results of correlation analysis showed that the penetration enhancement effect of EOs was significantly related to TEWL values following dermal administration of EOs.CONCLUSION TEWL measurement technology provides a more convenient method for the selection of penetration enhancers.

Cognitive decline is one of the main clinical symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases. There is no specific drug treatment, which seriously affects the quality of life and rehabilitation process of these patients. Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) technology such as transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial electrical stimulation known as its advantages of non-invasive, painless, and easy to operate, has been used in clinical treatment of cognitive disorders. In particular, it has a good effect on improving cognitive functions such as memory, attention, orientation and language ability. In recent years, the study of cerebellar involvement in learning and memory through brain-cerebellar circuit has attracted much attention, and cerebellum has become a new target for NIBS technology exploration. However, the correlation between cerebellar NIBS and cognitive function regulation is still unclear. This paper aims to provide the evidences of the anatomic and functional basis of cerebellar involvement in cognitive function regulation and cerebellar non-invasive stimulation on cognitive function regulation.

Diabetes mellitus(DM)is a common metabolic disease,and its hyperglycemia can induce many complications and even threaten human health and life.Ferritinophagy,currently a research focus,has been proven to be related to the occurrence and development of DM and its complications.Ferritinophagy,which is cell-selective,is mediated by nuclear receptor coactivator 4(NCOA4),which degrades ferritin in autophagosomes and releases excessive iron ions so that irons are overloaded and ROS are accumulated.This process contributes to the upstream ferroptosis.This article reviews the mechanism of ferritinophagy and its pathogenesis in DM and its complications,and further analyzes the effects of regulated ferritinophagy on DM and its complications,pro-viding new insight into the prevention and treatment of DM and its complications.

BACKGROUND:Autophagy and ferroptosis play important roles in the development of chronic kidney disease,but the molecular mechanisms and gene targets related to autophagy and ferroptosis in renal tissue of chronic kidney disease are still unclear. OBJECTIVE:To screen differentially expressed genes in chronic kidney disease-related datasets based on bioinformatics,and to explore potential key biomarkers suitable for screening renal function progression in patients with chronic kidney disease. METHODS:(1)The GSE137570 dataset was obtained from GEO database to screen the differentially expressed genes by Networkanalyst database analysis.Ferroptosis and autophagy related targets were obtained by OMIM,GENECARD,FerrDb and HAMdb databases.The respective data were intersected to obtain autophagy-ferroptosis related differentially expressed genes in chronic kidney disease for parallel enrichment analysis.The STRING website was used to construct the protein-protein interaction network of differentially expressed genes,which was imported into Cytoscape software and analyzed by MCODE and Cytohubba plug-in to screen potential core targets.Enrichment analysis was performed to obtain the functions of these potential core targets.(2)In the in vitro experiment,mouse renal tubular epithelial cells were divided into two groups:the control group received no intervention,while the model group was stimulated with 5 ng/mL transforming growth factor β1 for 24 hours to induce mesenchymal transformation of renal tubular epithelial cells.Flow cytometry was used to measure the levels of reactive oxygen species and changes in mitochondrial membrane potential in the cells.RT-PCR was employed to assess ferroptosis,autophagy-related markers,and the mRNA expression of potential core targets in the cells. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After screening the GSE137570 dataset,a total of 480 differentially expressed genes were obtained,including 104 upregulated genes and 376 downregulated genes(log2|(FC)|>1,P<0.05).There were 562 ferroptosis-related targets and 1 266 autophagy-related targets obtained from the OMIM,GENECARD,FerrDb,and HAMdb databases.Intersection of differentially expressed genes with ferroptosis-and autophagy-related targets yielded 15 ferroptosis-related targets and 18 autophagy-related targets,respectively.The enrichment analysis results indicate that ferroptosis-related differentially expressed genes are primarily involved in biological processes such as sulfur amino acid metabolism,neutrophil degranulation,and ferroptosis signaling pathways.Autophagy-related differentially expressed genes are mainly enriched in biological processes such as platelet degranulation,extracellular matrix degradation,and receptor tyrosine kinase signaling.After screened by MCODE and CytoHubba,key genes were identified in the protein-protein interaction network,including CD44,ALB,TIMP1,PLG,CCL2,and DPP4.Immune infiltration analysis results indicate that immune cells such as B cells,CD4+ T cells,NK cells,and monocytes show significant differential expression in renal tissue after chronic kidney disease,and the core targets are also significantly correlated with these immune cells(P<0.05).The results of receiver operator characteristic curve analysis further demonstrate that the pathological progression of chronic kidney disease can be effectively diagnosed by CD44,ALB,TIMP1,PLG,CCL2,and DPP4.Single-cell sequencing results show that,except for PLG,the expression of target genes in the renal tissue of mice in each model group is generally consistent with the results of this experiment.RT-PCR results demonstrate that,for the validation of autophagy and ferroptosis phenotypes,compared with the control group,the model group shows a significant decrease in mRNA expression of LC3B,Nrf2,and SLC7A11(P<0.05),and a significant increase in P62 mRNA expression(P<0.05).Regarding the validation of potential core targets,compared with the control group,the model group exhibits a significant decrease in mRNA expression of ALB and PLG(P<0.05),and a significant increase in TIMP1 and CCL2 mRNA expression(P<0.05).Overall,these findings indicate that,through bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation,CD44,ALB,TIMP1,PLG,and CCL2 are abnormally expressed in the renal tissue of patients with chronic kidney disease,closely correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate and tubulointerstitial fibrosis,and maybe play a predictive role in the progression of chronic kidney disease.

Objective:To study the the mechanism of action of Huanglong Mixture in the treatment of cough variant asthma (CVA) in children based on the IL-4/signal transduction and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) signaling pathway using network pharmacology methods, molecular docking techniques, and in vitro cell experiments.Methods:The components and targets of various TCM components in Huanglong Mixture were searched in TCMSP database, HERB database and literature, and the disease targets of CVA were found in Gene Cards database, OMIM database, DrugBank database and PharmGkb database. The STRING database was used to construct the protein-protein interaction network, and Cytoscape 3.9.1 was used for topology analysis to screen out the core targets. The disease-drug-component-target network was constructed to screen out the core components. The KEGG enrichment analysis and GO enrichment analysis of the intersection targets were performed using Metascape software. PDB protein database, PubChem, Autodock and R language were used for molecular docking verification of core targets and core drug components. Finally, rat primary airway smooth muscle cells were cultured, modeled with interleukin-4 (IL-4), and p-STAT6 expression in the cytoplasm and nucleus was detected by Western blot.Results:A total of 122 effective components were obtained, including quercetin, kaempferol, luteolin and so on. The core targets included JUN, ESR1, TP53, MYC, HIF1, etc. GO enrichment analysis involved biological processes such as response to external stimuli, response to oxygen levels, positive regulation of protein phosphorylation, and regulation of cellular stress response. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the main pathways of Huanglong Mixture in treating CVA included advanced glycation end product-glycation end product receptor (AGE-RAGE) signaling pathway, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase-protein kinase B (PI3K-Akt) signaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway, Janus kinase/signal transduction activation factor (JAK-STAT) signaling pathway. Molecular docking found that the core targets and core drug components had good combination. Cell experiments also confirmed that Huanglong Mixture could inhibit p-STAT6 entering the nucleus.Conclusions:The effective components and targets of Huanglong Mixture in the treatment of CVA are successfully predicted. The mechanism of Huanglong Mixture in the treatment of children with CVA may be related to the inhibition of IL-4/STAT6 signaling pathway.