ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Yuyin Lidan granules （YYLD） in preventing the recurrence of common bile duct stones （CBDS） in patients with liver and gallbladder dampness-heat syndrome following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography （ERCP）. MethodsThis randomized， parallel， controlled trial enrolled postoperative CBDS-ERCP patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Sixty-four patients were randomly assigned to an observation group or a control group， with 32 cases in each. Both groups received conventional Western medical treatment after ERCP， while the observation group additionally received YYLD for 8 weeks. The follow-up period lasted for 1 year. The efficacy indicators included bile bilirubin levels， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores， clinical efficacy rate， pancreatitis and inflammation markers， postoperative liver function， and CBDS recurrence rate at 1-year follow-up， which were used to jointly evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of both groups. ResultsA total of 56 patients completed the study and were included in the final analysis， i.e.， 29 in the observation group and 27 in the control group. Baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups. Compared with pre-treatment and with the control group after treatment， the bile bilirubin level in the observation group significantly decreased （P<0.05）. After treatment， the clinical cure and marked improvement rates were higher in the observation group than in the control group， showing a statistically significant difference in overall clinical efficacy （P<0.05）. Compared with pre-treatment， the primary and secondary symptoms in the observation group， as well as the primary symptom and the secondary symptom of nausea and vomiting in the control group （weeks 4 and 8）， were significantly reduced （P<0.05）. Compared with the control group after treatment， the observation group showed significant reductions in the primary symptom of loose stools/constipation （day 5 and week 4） and in three secondary symptoms， i.e.， bitter taste and sticky dry mouth， abdominal distension and poor appetite （throughout the treatment period）， and general heaviness and fatigue （day 5 and week 4）， with statistical differences （P<0.05）. Compared with pre-treatment， both groups showed decreased lipase and urinary amylase levels （P<0.05）. However， no significant between-group differences were observed in pancreatitis or inflammation-related indices after treatment. Compared with pre-treatment， all liver function indicators in the observation group and alanine aminotransferase （ ALT ）， γ-glutamyl transferase （ γ-GT ）， alkaline phosphatase （ALP）， and conjugated bilirubin in the control group significantly decreased at weeks 4 and 8 （P<0.05）. Compared with the control group after treatment， only serum total bilirubin and unconjugated bilirubin were significantly reduced in the observation group during the treatment period （P<0.05）. ConclusionYYLD combined with conventional Western medical treatment can effectively regulate bilirubin metabolism （in bile and serum）， improve TCM clinical symptoms， and prevent CBDS recurrence after ERCP in patients with liver and gallbladder dampness-heat syndrome. This regimen is safe and effective and is worthy of further clinical research and promotion.

Pancreatic juice (PJ) analysis has emerged as a promising modality for the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases, particularly pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and chronic pancreatitis. This review explores the role of PJ analysis in identifying biomarkers for the early detection and differentiation of pancreatic diseases. PJ, which is rich in pancreatic enzymes and exfoliated cellular material, can be collected endoscopically and is often stimulated by intravenous secretin to enhance its yield. Cytological, proteomic, and genomic analyses of PJ demonstrate its potential in the early detection and differential diagnosis of pancreatic pathologies. The integration of protein-based and genetic markers offers improved sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases. However, several challenges persist, including the need for standardized protocols for PJ collection, processing, and analysis. Despite these limitations, PJ analysis represents a valuable adjunct diagnostic approach that warrants further investigation and clinical validation.

It is considered that "turbid pathogen damaging the clear， and the loss of clarity and harmony regulation" is the core pathogenesis of esophageal precancerous lesions， with turbid pathogen persisting throughout the disease course. Turbid pathogen encompasses qi turbidity， phlegm turbidity， stasis turbidity， and toxin turbidity， closely related to dietary indiscretion， emotional disharmony， spleen-stomach deficiency， and kidney deficiency failing to consolidate. Turbid pathogen undergoes a dynamic evolution process of qi constraint generating turbid→ phlegm-stasis transforming into toxin→turbidity toxin harming the healthy qi， corresponding to the pathological alterations of hypoxia， inflammation and immunosuppression within the tumor microenvironment. The overall therapeutic principle is to remove turbidity and restore clarity. In the early stage， targeting the hypoxic tumor microenvironment， the suggested treatment method is opening constraint and dispersing the block， regulating qi and remove turbidity， with emphasis on soothing liver and regulating stomach， raising the clear and directing the turbid downward. In the middle stage， targeting inflammatory microenvironment， the treatment aims to clear toxin and dissipate nodules， resolve stasis and eliminate turbid， emphasizing phlegm-stasis elimination， turbid-toxin resolution， and concurrent stomach qi protection. In the late stage， corresponding to immunosuppressive microenvironment， the method of boosting qi， nourishing yin， reinforcing healthy qi， and eliminating turbidity can be used， with focus on spleen-stomach tonification， kidney essence replenishment， and healthy qi reinforcement to expel pathogenic factors.

Background: s/Aims: Plasma pregenomic hepatitis B virus RNA (pgRNA) is a novel biomarker in chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB). We aimed to describe the longitudinal profile of pgRNA and factors influencing its levels in CHB patients on nucleoside analogue (NUC). Methods: Serial plasma samples from 1,354 CHB patients started on first-line NUC were evaluated. Time of NUC initiation was taken as baseline (year 0), followed by 1-year, 3-year and 5-year of NUC therapy. pgRNA was measured by Research Use Only RealTime HBV RNA v2.0 (0.2 mL) (Abbott Diagnostics) with lower limit of detection of 0.8 log U/mL (~20 copies/mL). Results: Among 1,354 subjects (median age at baseline 49.8 [interquartile range, IQR 40.2–57.3]) years, 65.2% male, 16.1% hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive, 28.6% cirrhotic), baseline median HBV RNA was 3.68 (IQR 2.42–5.19) log U/mL. Upon NUC therapy, median pgRNA levels were 2.45 (IQR 1.82–3.62), 2.23 (IQR 1.67–3.05) and 2.14 (IQR 1.48–2.86) log U/mL at 1, 3 and 5 years, respectively, with the corresponding log U/mL reductions of 0.82, 1.20 and 1.54. Undetectable/ unquantifiable pgRNA was achieved in 13.5%, 15.9% and 20.1% of patients at 1, 3 and 5 years, respectively. Older age, male sex, HBeAg-negativity and high PAGE-B score were associated with lower pgRNA. Conclusions Plasma pgRNA declines are modest under NUC therapy, with only 16.3% achieving RNA undetectability after 5 years of first-line NUC indicating cccDNA silencing has not been achieved in the majority of patients. Clinical characteristics should be taken into consideration when interpreting the plasma pgRNA level.

Functional cure, defined as sustained hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance with unquantifiable hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA at 24 weeks off treatment, is a favorable treatment endpoint in chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Nonetheless, functional cure is rarely attained with the current treatment modalities of nucleos(t)ide analogues (NUCs) and pegylated interferon alpha. Multiple novel virus-targeting agents and immunomodulators are under development for HBV with functional cure as the treatment goal. Among virus-targeting agents, antisense oligonucleotides and small-interfering RNAs are the most advanced in the developmental pipeline, and can induce potent and sustainable HBsAg suppression. The other virus-targeting agents have varying effects on HBsAg and HBV DNA, depending on the drug mechanism. In contrast, immunomodulators have modest effects on HBsAg and have limited roles in monotherapy. Multiple combination regimens incorporating RNA interference agents with immunomodulators have been studied through many ongoing clinical trials. These combination strategies demonstrate synergistic effects in inducing functional cure, and will likely be the future direction of development. Despite the promising results, research is warranted to optimize treatment protocols and to establish criteria for NUC withdrawal after novel therapies. Functional cure is now an attainable target in CHB, and the emerging novel therapeutics will revolutionize CHB management.

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) poses a major global public health challenge and is a leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer. Hepatic steatosis is common in individuals with CHB compared to the non-CHB population and is particularly prevalent in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-endemic regions, affecting about one-third of CHB patients. The interaction between hepatic steatosis and CHB-related disease progression is complex and still under debate. Evidence demonstrates that co-existing steatosis may worsen liver fibrosis while paradoxically increasing the likelihood of achieving better HBV control. In particular, despite the association of steatotic liver disease (SLD) with lower HBV viral loads and higher rates of HBsAg seroclearance, the coexistence of CHB and SLD can potentially accelerate liver disease progression. Factors such as fat deposition, lipotoxicity, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation in SLD may foster a pro-fibrotic and pro-carcinogenic environment, accelerating the disease progression. Additionally, loss of global DNA methylation, changes in the immune microenvironment, and genetic susceptibility further contribute to the development of CHB-related cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This review examines the mechanisms driving liver disease progression and the heightened risk of cirrhosis and HCC in patients with concurrent CHB and steatotic liver disease, underscoring the importance of prioritizing antiviral therapy for CHB in addition to addressing SLD.

Objective:This study aimed to assess the patch test positivity rate, allergen distribution, and their associations with demographic characteristics and immune indicators in patients with allergic contact dermatitis (ACD).Methods:A retrospective medical record analysis was conducted on 402 patients suspected of ACD (338 females, median age 38 years; 64 males, median age 43 years) seen at Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University between June 2023 and June 2024. Standard patch tests (using 100 haptens from the Chinese baseline series) were administered, and serum total IgE and eosinophil levels were measured. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests, t-tests/Mann-Whitney U tests for group comparisons, and Spearman correlation for associations. Results:The overall patch test positivity rate among the 402 patients was 62.69% (252/402), with 85.71% (216/252) showing sensitivity to the top 21 allergens. Predominantly, the affected individuals were females (84.26%, 182/216) aged 19-35 years (36.57%, 79/216). The primary sensitizers were cobalt chloride (22.89%, 92/402) and nickel sulfate (19.90%, 80/402). The highest proportion of severe reactions (+++) was observed with thimerosal (10/16). Males exhibited significantly higher positive risks for carba mix ( OR=5.10, P=0.002) and octyl gallate ( OR=2.64, P=0.047) compared to females. The age-stratified results revealed that the cobalt chloride positive rate was abnormally increased to 76.72% (50/65) in the 36-50 years age group, a rate significantly higher than those observed in the ≤18 years group (20.00%), the 19-35 years group (21.51%), and the >50 years group (16.13%; all P<0.05). In contrast, the >50 years age group exhibited the highest positive rate for nickel sulfate among all age groups at 20.96% (13/62). No significant correlations were found between the number of positive patch tests, reaction intensity (average/maximum), and total IgE ( r=-0.075-0.063), absolute and percentage of eosinophils ( P>0.05). Clinically, eczema prevalence in the>50 age group was 22.58% (14/62), with ACD complicated by allergic dermatitis being the most common (16.67%, 36/216). Conclusion:Nickel sulfate and cobalt chloride are primary sensitizers for ACD. Sensitization patterns across age groups are similar and unrelated to IgE/EOS levels. The higher incidence of severe reactions to thimerosal may be linked to heightened sensitization to mercury-containing products like vaccine preservatives. The notably increased cobalt chloride positivity in the 36-50 age group suggests a unique exposure risk, while the higher prevalence in females may be associated with contact with nickel/cobalt-containing items such as jewelry and cosmetics.

Objective:To investigate the clinical application effect of absorbable plates in the treatment of children with craniosynostosis.Methods:Retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of patients with congenital craniosynostosis who were treated in the Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2019 to October 2022. Preoperatively, three dimensional CT scan of the skull was performed in order to make a frontal and orbital model. All patients underwent traditional fronto-orbital reconstruction with skull flaps. With the assistance of the frontal and orbital model, the skull flap were rotated and shaped, and then absorbable plates and screws were used for internal fixation under direct vision. Postoperative follow-up observations were conducted on the complications such as infection, incision dehiscence, foreign body reactions of absorbable plates, and the stability of the skull flap.Results:A total of 12 patients were enrolled, 9 males and 3 females, aged 3-17 months, with an average of 11.3 months. There were 7 cases of unilateral coronal craniosynostosis, 3 cases of unilateral coronal craniosynostosis, and 2 cases of Apert syndrome. All cases underwent operation uneventfully, the operation time was 2.8-4.5 hours with an average of 3.6 hours. Follow-up ranged from 13 to 32 months (average, 24.5 months). One patient experienced incision dehiscence 45 days after surgery, which healed after conservative management. The remaining patients had no infections, hematomas, or other complications. All patients had visible and palpable raised masses at the site of absorbable plate implantation in 3-5 months after surgery, which gradually resolved in 10-15 months after surgery.The head shape of patients with craniosynostosis had been significantly improved after surgery, and follow-up CT scans of the skull revealed no displacement of the skull flaps and good osteogenesis.Conclusion:The use of absorbable plates for internal fixation in children with craniosynostosis can achieve stable fixation effects with few complications, and is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of metabolic associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)and its correlation with metabolic components among personnel on tropical islands.Methods The data of personnel who received health examination on islands in 2024 were analyzed,and they were grouped with the age limit of 30 years old to compare the detection rates of MAFLD and metabolic components in different age groups.In people aged≥ 30 years old,the age,gender,body mass index(BMI),waist circumference(WC),fasting blood glucose,blood lipids,liver function,kidney function and other indexes were compared between MAFLD and non-MAFLD groups.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were conducted to analyze the factors affecting the occurrence of MAFLD.The effects of various metabolic components on the risk of MAFLD in different age groups were analyzed by subgroup analyses.Results Among 1213 personnel,175(14.4％)cases had MAFLD,of which 141(80.6％)cases were mild,32(18.3％)were moderate,and 2(1.1％)were severe.The detection rates of MAFLD(25.6％[74/289]vs 10.9％[101/924])and overweight/obesity(55.7％[161/289]vs 37.7％[348/924])in age ≥ 30 years old were significantly higher than those in age＜30 years old(both P＜0.001).In people aged≥ 30 years old,compared with the non-MAFLD group,the BMI,WC,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure,triglyceride(TG),low density lipoprotein-cholesterol,alanine transaminase,aspartate transaminase,gamma glutamyltransferase and uric acid(UA)in the MAFLD group were significantly higher(all P＜0.05),and the high density lipoprotein-cholesterol(HDL-C)was significantly lower(P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in age,gender,fast blood glucose,total cholesterol,alkaline phosphatase,total bilirubin,serum creatinine,or blood urea nitrogen(all P＞0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that WC was an independent risk factor for MAFLD(odds ratio[OR]=1.101,95％confidence interval[95％CI]1.030-1.176,P=0.004);HDL-C was an independent protective factor for MAFLD(OR=0.071,95％CI0.016-0.323,P=0.001);and BMI ≥24.0 kg/m2 and WC≥90 cm were positively correlated with MAFLD(both P＜0.01).In people aged≥30 years old,the risk of MAFLD was increased in those with overweight/obesity,arterial blood pressure≥ 130/85 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa),TG≥1.7 mmol/L,HDL-C≤1.0 mmol/L and UA＞420 μmol/L(all P＜0.05),and the risk of MAFLD was most significantly increased in overweight/obesity people(hazard ratio[HR]=5.088,95％CI 2.724-9.504,P＜0.001).Among people aged＜30 years old,the risk of MAFLD was increased in those with overweight/obesity and UA＞420 μmol/L(both P＜0.01),and the risk of MAFLD was most significantly increased in overweight/obesity individuals(HR=6.305,95％CI3.973-10.006,P＜0.001).Conclusion The detection rates of MAFLD and various metabolic components are higher in the personnel on tropical islands,and the risk of MAFLD is higher in those with overweight/obesity,TG≥1.7 mmol/L and hyperuricemia.