Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, is characterized by high mortality and recurrence rates. Common treatments include hepatectomy, liver transplantation, ablation therapy, interventional therapy, radiotherapy, systemic therapy, and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). While exhibiting specific advantages, these approaches are associated with varying degrees of adverse effects. To alleviate patients' suffering and burdens, it is crucial to explore additional treatments and elucidate the pathogenesis of HCC, laying a foundation for the development of new TCM-based drugs. With emerging research on gut microbiota, it has been revealed that microbiota plays a vital role in the development of HCC by influencing intestinal barrier function, microbial metabolites, and immune regulation. TCM, with its multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway characteristics, has been increasingly recognized as a vital therapeutic treatment for HCC, particularly in patients at intermediate or advanced stages, by prolonging survival and improving quality of life. Recent global studies demonstrate that TCM exerts anti-HCC effects by modulating gut microbiota, restoring intestinal barrier function, regulating microbial composition and its metabolites, suppressing inflammation, and enhancing immune responses, thereby inhibiting the malignant phenotype of HCC. This review aims to elucidate the mechanisms by which gut microbiota contributes to the development and progression of HCC and highlight the regulatory effects of TCM, addressing the current gap in systematic understanding of the "TCM-gut microbiota-HCC" axis. The findings provide theoretical support for integrating TCM with western medicine in HCC treatment and promote the transition from basic research to precision clinical therapy through microbiota-targeted drug development and TCM-based interventions.
Humans ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/microbiology* ; Liver Neoplasms/microbiology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Animals ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Objective To investigate the risk factors for pneumonia complicating infectious mononucleosis(IM)in adults and construct a nomogram prediction model.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 198 IM patients admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University from January 2015 to December 2021.Patients were divided into pneumonia group(n=52)and non-pneumonia group(n=146)based on whether pulmonary infection occurred during hospitalization.The baseline data(age,gender,place of onset,etc.),clinical manifestations(maximum body temperature,lymph node enlargement,splenomegaly,etc.),and inflammatory indicators[white blood cell count(WBC),C-reactive protein(CRP),etc.]were compared between the two groups.Kaplan-Meier curves were plotted to analyze the key indicators affecting the hospital stay of IM patients.Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors for pneumonia complicating IM in adults and construct a nomogram prediction model based on the identified risk factors.The predictive efficacy of the model was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve and the consistency of the model was assessed using the calibration curve.The fit of the model was evaluated using the Hosmer-Lemeshow test.Additionally,the sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy of the model were assessed using confusion matrix.Results Compared with non-pneumonia group,the pneumonia group had a significantly higher proportion of patients from rural areas,with body mass index(BMI)≥24 kg/m2,smoking history,hepatomegaly,fever duration of≥7 d,as well as increased total hospitalization costs and average daily hospitalization costs,and prolonged hospital stay(P<0.05).The proportion of patients with a history of antibiotic use was lower in the pneumonia group(P<0.05).Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that patients from rural areas,with BMI≥24 kg/m2,smoking history,no prophylactic use of antibiotics,fever duration≥7 d,and hepatomegaly had significantly prolonged hospital stays(P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that living in a rural area(OR=4.089,P<0.05),hepatomegaly(OR=4.082,P<0.05),and elevated WBC(OR=1.205,P<0.05)were independent risk factors for pneumonia complicating IM in adults,while the prophylactic use of antibiotics(OR=0.142,P<0.05)was an independent protective factor.The area under the ROC curve of the constructed nomogram prediction model was 0.827(95%CI 0.762-0.892),and the slope of the calibration curve was close to 1,and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed χ2=5.299,P=0.725,indicating good consistency and fit of the prediction model.The results of the confusion matrix assessment showed that the sensitivity of the model was 0.669(0.624-0.773),the specificity was 0.827(0.724-0.930),and the accuracy was 0.732(0.665-0.793).Conclusion The nomogram prediction model based on place of onset,hepatomegaly,the prophylactic use of antibiotics and WBC has excellent fit and discrimination,providing an effective quantitative tool for prognosis assessment of IM.

Objective To analyze the basic conditions and pathological characteristics of the samples in the Human Brain Bank of Hebei Medical University,which were pathologically diagnosed as cerebral amyloid angiopathy,and to provide reference for the research of related diseases.Methods The basic data of gender,age,apolipoprotein E genotype,pathological classification of cerebral amyloid angiopathy,Alzheimer's disease-related pathological change score,comorbidities and other pathological information were analyzed.Results Up to October 2024,twenty samples were confirmed by pathological diagnosis,with a male to female ratio of 3:1 and an average age of(80.90±8.08)years.Involve three kinds of apolipoprotein E subtype,5 kinds of genotypes(ε2/ε3 xε2/ε4、ε3/ε3 xε3/ε4、ε4/ε4);There were 2 pathologic types,including 6 cases of type 1 and 14 cases of type 2.The pathological grade included 3 grades.The severity grade and subtype classification of cerebral amyloid vascular disease were correlated with the degree of pathological changes of Alzheimer's disease.Cerebral amyloid angiopathy samples could coexist with other degenerative diseases with high comorbidity.Conclusion The incidence of cerebral amyloid angiopathy is higher in the aged samples collected based on Brain Bank,which coexists with conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and microbleeds,etc.It provides more detailed pathological diagnosis basis for further scientific research sharing of samples.

Apical microsurgery is accurate and minimally invasive, produces few complications, and has a success rate of more than 90%. However, due to the lack of awareness and understanding of apical microsurgery by dental general practitioners and even endodontists, many clinical problems remain to be overcome. The consensus has gathered well-known domestic experts to hold a series of special discussions and reached the consensus. This document specifies the indications, contraindications, preoperative preparations, operational procedures, complication prevention measures, and efficacy evaluation of apical microsurgery and is applicable to dentists who perform apical microsurgery after systematic training.
Microsurgery/standards* ; Humans ; Apicoectomy ; Contraindications, Procedure ; Tooth Apex/diagnostic imaging* ; Postoperative Complications/prevention & control* ; Consensus ; Treatment Outcome

Cemental tear is a rare and indetectable condition unless obvious clinical signs present with the involvement of surrounding periodontal and periapical tissues. Due to its clinical manifestations similar to common dental issues, such as vertical root fracture, primary endodontic diseases, and periodontal diseases, as well as the low awareness of cemental tear for clinicians, misdiagnosis often occurs. The critical principle for cemental tear treatment is to remove torn fragments, and overlooking fragments leads to futile therapy, which could deteriorate the conditions of the affected teeth. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and subsequent appropriate interventions are vital for managing cemental tear. Novel diagnostic tools, including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), microscopes, and enamel matrix derivatives, have improved early detection and management, enhancing tooth retention. The implementation of standardized diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols, combined with improved clinical awareness among dental professionals, serves to mitigate risks of diagnostic errors and suboptimal therapeutic interventions. This expert consensus reviewed the epidemiology, pathogenesis, potential predisposing factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cemental tear, aiming to provide a clinical guideline and facilitate clinicians to have a better understanding of cemental tear.
Humans ; Dental Cementum/injuries* ; Consensus ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Tooth Fractures/therapy*

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality based on the 10-year population-based multicenter prospective study. METHODS: A general population-based multicenter prospective study was conducted at four sites in rural China between 2013 and 2023. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic spline analyses were used to assess the association between BMI and mortality. Stratified analyses were performed based on the individual characteristics of the participants. RESULTS: Overall, 19,107 participants with a sum of 163,095 person-years were included and 1,910 participants died. The underweight (< 18.5 kg/m ²) presented an increase in all-cause mortality (adjusted hazards ratio [ aHR] = 2.00, 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.66-2.41), while overweight (≥ 24.0 to < 28.0 kg/m ²) and obesity (≥ 28.0 kg/m ²) presented a decrease with an aHR of 0.61 (95% CI: 0.52-0.73) and 0.51 (95% CI: 0.37-0.70), respectively. Overweight ( aHR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.67-0.86) and mild obesity ( aHR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.59-0.87) had a positive impact on mortality in people older than 60 years. All-cause mortality decreased rapidly until reaching a BMI of 25.7 kg/m ² ( aHR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92-0.98) and increased slightly above that value, indicating a U-shaped association. The beneficial impact of being overweight on mortality was robust in most subgroups and sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION This study provides additional evidence that overweight and mild obesity may be inversely related to the risk of death in individuals older than 60 years. Therefore, it is essential to consider age differences when formulating health and weight management strategies.
Humans ; Body Mass Index ; China/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Rural Population/statistics & numerical data* ; Aged ; Follow-Up Studies ; Adult ; Mortality ; Cause of Death ; Obesity/mortality* ; Overweight/mortality*

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of acute respiratory infections(ARIs)during the autumn-winter season in Beijing,providing evidence for the prevention,control,diagnosis,and treatment of ARIs.Methods A convenience sampling method was employed,enrolling patients who visited Peking Union Medical College Hospital(PUMCH)between September 2023 and February 2024 due to ARIs.Na-sopharyngeal swabs were collected,and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect six common respiratory pathogens[influenza A virus(FluA),influenza B virus(FluB),human rhinovirus(HRV),Myco-plasma pneumoniae(MP),respiratory syncytial virus(RSV),and adenovirus(ADV)],as well as SARS-CoV-2 infection.The distribution patterns of pathogen infections were analyzed.Results A total of 5556 eligible patients were included.The overall positivity rate for the six common respiratory pathogens was 63.7％,with sin-gle-pathogen positivity at 54.0％,dual-pathogen positivity at 8.9％,and triple or more pathogen positivity at 0.7％.The predominant pathogens detected were FluA(16.1％)and RSV(15.7％),followed by ADV(11.1％),MP(11.1％),HRV(10.0％),and FluB(10.0％).No significant difference in overall pathogen positivity was observed between genders.However,significant differences were found between autumn and winter(x2=34.617,P＜0.001)and among pediatric,young/middle-aged,and elderly patients(x2=422.38,P＜0.001).Specifically,MP(x2=8.647,P=0.003),FluA(x2=131.932,P＜0.001),and HRV(x2=174.199,P＜0.001)exhibited significantly higher positivity rates in autumn than in winter,whereas FluB was more prevalent in winter(x2=287.894,P＜0.001).In pediatric patients,MP,RSV,HRV,and ADV positivity rates were significantly higher than in young/middle-aged and elderly patients(all P＜0.001),whereas FluB was more common in young/middle-aged patients(both P＜0.001).The positivity rates of the six common respiratory pathogens significantly declined during the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic period,exhibiting an asynchronous seasonal pattern.Conclusions The prevalence of respiratory pathogens in Beijing is associated with age and season.Tar-geted preventive measures should be implemented in different seasons and for key populations.

A colorimetric detection method for xanthine oxidase activity and its inhibitors(XOI)based on nitrogen-doped carbon-supported ruthenium metal atom(Ru/NC)nanozyme was developed.Through a host-guest strategy,Ru/NC nanozyme with excellent peroxidase-like activity was prepared using zeolitic imidazolate framework-8(ZIF-8)as the host molecule and ruthenium acetylacetonate(Ru(acac)3)as the guest molecule.Based on its peroxidase-like catalytic activity,the visual method for detection of hydrogen peroxide(H 2O 2)and analysis of xanthine oxidase(XO)activity were developed.Under optimized experimental conditions,the linear detection range for H 2O 2 was 10-500 μmol/L,with a detection limit of 4.8 μmol/L(3σ);for XO activity analysis,the linear range was 1-7 mU/mL,with a detection limit of 0.69 mU/mL(3σ).Furthermore,an effective method for screening XOI was developed,which had the advantages of low cost,simplicity,and visualization.

Objective:To explore the clinical and salivary metabolic component characteristics of patients with OSA combined with LPRD, and to investigate the potential co-morbid mechanisms of LPRD and OSA.Methods:A total of 98 adult patients with OSA (81 males and 17 females) who visited the Department of Otolaryngology of Peking University Third Hospital from March 2024 to May 2024 were consecutively included. The age ranged from 19 to 68 years (mean±standard deviation: 39.44±11.39 years). The severity of OSA was grouped according to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) [mild group (29 cases), moderate group (26 cases), and severe group (43 cases)]. Patients with a reflux symptom index score (RSI)>13 points and/or a reflux sign score (RFS)>7 points were considered LPRD positive. Among the 98 OSA patients, 48 had LPRD and 50 did not. All patients were diagnosed with OSA through out of center sleep testing(OCST) or polysomnography (PSG), and general information, laryngoscopic examination images, and RSI scales were collected. The RFS was evaluated based on the laryngoscopic examination results. Saliva samples were collected from both groups for metabolomics analysis. Chi-square test was used for categorical variable comparison, and independent sample t-test or one-way ANOVA analysis of variance was used for continuous variable comparison.Results:Stratified analysis showed that the proportion of male patients in the mild OSA group was significantly lower than that in the moderate or severe OSA groups (58.6%, 92.3%, 93.0%, χ2=16.43, P<0.001), and the BMI was significantly lower in the mild OSA group [(25.80±4.41)kg/m 2, (27.53±3.88)kg/m 2, (28.99±3.65)kg/m 2, F=6.91, P=0.002]. There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of LPRD among patients with different severity of OSA. The BMI of OSA patients with LPRD was higher than that of patients with OSA alone [(28.65±4.75)kg/m 2, (26.94±3.16)kg/m 2, t=-2.07, P=0.041], but there were no statistically significant differences in gender composition, age, AHI, and minimum blood oxygen saturation between the two groups. The metabolomics results of saliva samples from both groups showed significant differences in the levels of tryptophan pathway metabolites. The salivary serotonin metabolite level in patients with LPRD combined with OSA was significantly lower than that in patients with OSA alone (relative abundance 0.12±0.019 vs 0.22±0.046, t=2.04, P=0.045). Conclusion:Patients with OSA combined with LPRD have a greater BMI and significantly lower serotonin, a tryptophan metabolite component of saliva, which may be a potential co-morbidity mechanism between OSA and LPRD.

Depression is a prevalent mental and emotional disor-der that often results in significant emotional disturbances,cog-nitive dysfunction,and memory impairments.It is characterized by a high incidence rate,a substantial disability burden,and limited therapeutic efficacy.Currently,the long-term use of medications for the treatment of depression can result in a range of adverse reactions,highlighting the urgent need to explore no-vel approaches that can effectively alleviate depressive symptoms while minimizing side effects.Curcumin,a natural polyphenolic compound derived from the rhizome of turmeric,demonstrates considerable potential in the prevention and treatment of depres-sion,owing to its diverse array of biological activities.In recent years,numerous studies have investigated the use of curcumin for the treatment of depression.This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the mechanisms of action underlying curcumin's efficacy in treating depression.Specifically,it focu-ses on its ability to improve neurotransmitter imbalances,restore neural plasticity,alleviate neural damage,mitigate dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA)axis,regulate in-flammatory factors and neuroinflammatory signaling pathways,and inhibit oxidative stress.This review is intended to offer in-sights and methodological references for basic research on curcu-min,as well as for the development of novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of depression.