Organ transplantation is a vital means of saving patients with end-stage diseases, and organ donation serves as its foundation. China’s cadaveric organ donation system adopts a dual model that recognizes both individual autonomy and next-of-kin decision-making rights. However, in practice, the next-of-kin decision-making rule faces multiple challenges, including a narrow scope of eligible decision-makers, inefficient decision-making processes, the misuse of revocation rights and the absence of disqualification mechanisms. This article explores the legal nature of next-of-kin decision-making rights and reflects on the existing rules. By integrating the principles respect, ‘non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice’ in medical ethics, it proposes three pathways for reform: hierarchical ordering of decision-makers, limitation of revocation rights, and legal codification of disqualification grounds. The aim is to balance individual autonomy, family ethics and public interest, realign the cadaveric organ donation system with its altruistic essence and public-oriented mission, and promote the development of organ donation in China.

ObjectiveTo explore the potential mechanisms by which Myristica fragrans prevents and treats atherosclerosis （AS）. MethodsThe major active components of Myristica fragrans and their shared targets with AS were obtained from databases. The shared targets were subjected to pathway enrichment analysis and PPI network construction using the ClusterProfile package and the STRING database. Molecular docking between key targets and major active components was performed using AutoDock. Gene expression data from early and late， as well as stable and unstable AS plaques， were used to validate changes of key targets and major pathways during AS progression. Western blot， flow cytometry， YO-PRO-1/PI staining， and TUNEL staining were applied to verify the main mechanisms. ResultsNine active components of Myristica fragrans interacted with 293 AS-related targets， among which eight components acted on an average of 57.0% of the shared targets. Gene ontology （GO） and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes （KEGG） enrichment analyses indicated that the anti-AS effects mainly involved oxidative stress， inflammation， lipid metabolism， fluid shear stress， and apoptosis pathways. PPI network revealed JUN， CASP3， MAPK3， and AKT1 as key targets mainly involved in regulating apoptosis. Molecular docking showed stable binding conformations and high affinities between major components and these targets. Integrated analysis of gene expression in early and late， as well as stable and unstable AS plaques， showed significant enrichment of leukocyte apoptosis pathways in late and unstable plaques. Cell experiments further confirmed that Myristica fragrans significantly reduced Cleaved-CASP3（P=0.04）and p-MAPK3（P=0.000 3）levels， increased p-AKT1（P=0.004）levels， and inhibited macrophage apoptosis. ConclusionMyristica fragrans potentially interferes with AS development by modulating pathways related to oxidative stress， inflammation， lipid metabolism， fluid shear stress， and apoptosis， with CASP3， MAPK3， and AKT1 serving as key targets mediating its anti-apoptotic and anti-AS effects.

Objective To assess the survival vulnerability of Oncomelania hupensis in Jiangxi Province under future climate scenarios, and to identify low-vulnerability areas for its survival in this province. Methods Village-level O. hupensis snail survey and O. hupensis snail control with chemical treatments in Jiangxi Province from 2016 to 2024 were captured from the Parasitic Disease Prevention and Control Information Management System of China Disease Prevention and Control Information System. Climatic data were primarily sourced from the Resource and Environmental Science Data Platform, Chinese Academy of Sciences (http://www.resdc.cn/), including annual average temperature, annual average precipitation, annual accumulated temperature above 10 °C, annual accumulated temperature above 0 °C, annual maximum temperature, annual minimum temperature, and annual average relative humidity, and nineteen bioclimatic variables were downloaded from the WorldClim website (https://www.worldclim.org/), including mean diurnal range, isothermality, temperature seasonality, and so on. Elevation and normalized difference vegetation index were catprued from the Resource and Environmental Science Data Platform, Chinese Academy of Sciences (http://www.resdc.cn/), and distance to rivers was downloaded from the WorldPop website (http://www.worldpop.org), and land use and land cover (LULC) data were downloaded from the Big Earth Data Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences (https://data.casearth.cn/), and nature reserve data were obtained from the China Nature Reserve Specimen Resource Sharing Platform (http://www.papc.cn/). Three Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) from the Beijing Climate Center-Climate System Model version 2-Medium Resolution (BCC-CSM2-MR) global climate model were employed as future climate scenarios, including SSP126, SSP245, SSP585, and the biomod2 ensemble model in R package was used to simulate suitable habitats for O. hupensis snails in Jiangxi Province in 2050 and 2070 under these scenarios. A snail survival vulnerability index was constructed based on the area of suitable snail habitats, area covered by snail control through chemical treatment, area covered by nature reserves, and changes in snail habitat fragmentation, and a map of snail survival vulnerability distribution was plotted. Results The real area of snail habitats ranged from 78 486.76 to 85 309.47 hm², and the area of snail control with chemical treatment ranged from 10 138.98 to 13 240.16 hm² in Jiangxi Province from 2016 to 2024. There were 429 to 531 villages detected with snails during the nine-year period, and the number of actually snail-infested villages ranged from 645 to 686. A total of 818 snail-present points and 1 996 snail-absent points were obtained from snail survey records. The best performance of the biomod2 ensemble model was achieved if a weighted mean approach was used as the ensemble strategy, with a true skill statistic value of 0.799 and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.957, and modeling identified annual average relative humidity and annual average precipitation as two most influencing climatic variables for snail distribution. Relative to the current areas of suitable snail habitats under present climate conditions, the area of suitable snail habitats was projected to expand by 24.49% to 46.28% in Jiangxi Province under future climate scenarios, and the proportion of nature reserves areas in the areas of suitable snail habitats was projected to decrease slightly from the current 2.77% to approximately 2.52%, while the proportion of areas of snail control through chemical treatment in areas of suitable snail habitats varied from 0.64% to 19.57%, and the percentage of changes in snail habitat fragmentation ranged from 3.86% to 12.23%. Based on these four indicators, the snail survival vulnerability index was estimated to range from –1.96 to 0.62 in Jiangxi Province. The arithmetic mean of the snail survival vulnerability index differed under three SSP scenarios (SSP126, SSP245 and SSP585), with the highest mean value (–0.69) in 2070 under SSP126, and the lowest mean value (–0.78) in 2070 under SSP585. Conclusions The snail survival vulnerability index ranges from –1.96 to 0.62 in Jiangxi Province under future climate scenarios, and the suitable habitats for O. hupensis snails appear an overall tendency towards expansion. Low-vulnerability snail habitats are mainly distributed along the shores of Poyang Lake and the Yangtze River in Jiangxi Province, partially overlapping with nature reserves. Intensified surveillance of O. hupensis snails is recommended in these areas in the future.

Objective To compare the efficacy of 2 L and 3 L polyethylene glycol(PEG)electrolyte solution for bowel preparation in a real-world setting.Methods A real-world,single-center cohort study was conducted on the individuals undergoing colonoscopy in Department of Gastroenterology of Chengdu Third People's Hospital between May and October 2023.Based on our inclusion and exclusion criteria,they were given 2 L(n=4 684)and 3 L(n=3 700)PEG electrolyte solution for bowel preparation.The primary outcome indicator was the adequacy of bowel preparation by Boston bowel preparation score(BBPS).Secondary outcome indicators included the BBPS score,polyp detection rate(PDR),tolerability,compliance,and incidence of adverse events.Results The adequacy rate of bowel preparation was 94.35％in the 3 L group,significantly higher than that of the 2 L group(91.29％,P＜0.001).The 3 L group obtained a higher BBPS score then the 2 L group(6.92±1.06 vs 6.81±1.14,P＜0.001).But there was no statistical difference in the PDR between the 2 groups(P=0.073).And the rate of PEG completion(P=0.810),administration of low residue diet as required(P=0.094)or use of dimethicone(P=0.072)were comparable between the 2 groups.However,the incidences of vomiting(4.5％vs 3.2％,P=0.002),abdominal discomfort(5.0％vs 3.9％,P=0.011)and sleep disturbance(18.0％vs 14.6％,P＜0.001)were obviously higher in the 3 L group than the 2 L group.Conclusion In a real-world setting,2 L PEG is a considerably safe and effective regimen for bowel preparation.

Objective To investigate the prognostic value of peripheral blood neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio(NLR)and thioredoxin reductase(TrxR)in patients with ovarian cancer receiving immunotherapy.Methods A total of 109 patients with advanced ovarian cancer treated in the Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University from January 2021 to December 2021 were selected as the research objects.The levels of NLR and TrxR in peripheral blood before immunotherapy were detected,and the evaluation value of NLR and TrxR on short-term efficacy,progression-free survival(PFS)and overall survival(OS)in ovarian cancer pa-tients receiving immunotherapy was explored.Results The optimal cut-off values of TrxR and NLR were 4.97 U/mL and 2.49%,respectively.According to the optimal cut-off value of TrxR and NLR,the patients were divided into the high level of TrxR group(69 cases,≥4.97 U/mL)and the low level of TrxR group(40 cases,<4.97 U/mL),the high level of NLR group(72 cases,≥2.49%)and the low level of NLR group(37 cases,<2.49%).The objective response rate(ORR)of the high level of NLR group was lower than that of the low level NLR group(P<0.05),and the disease progression rate(DPR)was higher than that of the low NLR group(P<0.05).The high level of TrxR group had a significantly lower ORR and a significantly higher DPR than the low level of TrxR group(P<0.05).The median PFS and OS of the high level of NLR group were 15.0 months and 16.0 months,respectively.The median PFS and OS of the low level of NLR group were 19.0 months and 21.0 months,respectively.The median PFS and OS of the high level of TrxR group were 15.0 months and 17.0 months,respectively.The median PFS was 18.0 months and the median OS was 21.0 months in the low level of TrxR group.NLR and TrxR were the influencing factors of PFS and OS in pa-tients with ovarian cancer immunotherapy(P<0.05).Conclusion The levels of NLR and TrxR in peripheral blood can be used as important prognostic indicators for advanced ovarian cancer patients receiving immuno-therapy.The lower the levels of NLR and TrxR,the better the prognosis of ovarian cancer patients.

Objective To investigate the expression of circular RNA ubiquitin-associated protein 2(circ-UBAP2)and RAS-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1(Rac1)in cervical cancer tissues and their relation-ship with radiotherapy efficacy and prognosis.Methods A total of 96 patients with cervical cancer admitted to the hospital from January 2019 to May 2021 were selected as the research subjects.Detect the expression of circ-UBAP2 and Rac1 in the cancer tissues and adjacent tissues of the patients.The clinical data of the patients were recorded.According to the radiotherapy efficacy,they were divided into patients with effective radiother-apy(n=62)and patients with ineffective radiotherapy(n=34),and the relationship between the expressions of circ-UBAP2 and Rac1 and the radiotherapy efficacy was analyzed.The survival conditions of the patients were followed up for 3 years and they were divided into the survival group(n=81)and the death group(n=15),and the clinical data of the two groups were compared.The relationship between the expressions of circ-UBAP2 and Rac1 and the survival prognosis of patients was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier.The risk factors influ-encing the prognosis of patients were analyzed by Cox regression.Results The circ-UBAP2 expression and the positive rates of Rac1 expression in cancer tissues were both higher than those in adjacent tissues,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The effective rate of radiotherapy in patients with high ex-pression of circ-UBAP2 and Rac1 in cancer tissues was lower than that in patients with low expression of circ-UBAP2 and Rac1,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The 3-year overall survival rate and average survival duration of patients with high expression of circ-UBAP2 and Rac1 in cancer tissues were lower than those of patients with low expression of circ-UBAP2 and Rac1,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).There were statistically significant differences in clinical stage,tumor differentiation degree,expressions of circ-UBAP2 and Rac1,and the proportion of lymph node metastasis between the two groups(P＜0.05).The results of Cox regression analysis showed that clinical stage Ⅱ B-Ⅲ,poorly differen-tiated tumor degree,high expression of circ-UBAP2 and Rac1,and lymph node metastasis were risk factors af-fecting the prognosis of patients(P＜0.05).Conclusion circ-UBAP2 and Rac1 are abnormally highly ex-pressed in cervical cancer tissues and are related to the radiotherapy efficacy and prognosis.

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum levels of interferon-inducible protein 10(IP-10)and S100 calcium-binding protein A8(S100A8)and the prognosis of patients with severe pneumo-nia(SP).Methods A total of 315 SP patients admitted to the hospital from January 2021 to December 2023 were selected as the SP group,and 315 non-SP patients admitted to the hospital during the same period were selected as the non-SP group.According to the prognosis of SP patients 28 d after admission,they were divided into good prognosis group(199 cases)and poor prognosis group(116 cases).Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect serum IP-10 and S100A8 levels in SP patients.Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between IP-10,S100A8 levels and infection indicators[high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP),procalcitonin(PCT),interleukin-6(IL-6)].Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of poor prognosis in SP patients.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the value of hs-CRP,PCT,IP-10 and S100A8 levels in predicting the poor prognosis of SP patients.Results The serum levels of IP-10,S100A8,hs-CRP,PCT and IL-6 in SP group were higher than those in non-SP group(P＜0.05).Paerson correlation analysis showed that serum IP-10 level in SP group was positively correlated with hs-CRP,PCT and IL-6(r=0.744,0.757,0.740,P＜0.05).S100A8 level was posi-tively correlated with hs-CRP,PCT and IL-6(r=0.769,0.718,0.744,P＜0.05).There were significant differences in oxygenation index,acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ score,clinical pulmonary in-fection score and levels of hs-CRP,PCT,IP-10 and S100A8 between the poor prognosis group and the good prognosis group(P＜0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that hs-CRP,PCT,IP-10 and S100A8 were risk factors for poor prognosis in SP patients,and oxygenation index was a protective factor(P＜0.05).The ROC curve showed that the area under curve(AUC)of the combination of hs-CRP,PCT,IP-10 and S100A8 in predicting poor prognosis of SP patients was 0.965,which was greater than the AUC of the four alone(Zhs-CRP=4.009,ZPCT=4.022,ZIP-10=3.696,ZS100A8=3.309,P＜0.05).Conclusion The serum lev-els of IP-10 and S100A8 are up-regulated in SP patients.The combination of IP-10 and S100A8 has a high pre-dictive value for poor prognosis in SP patients.

Objective:To explore the effects of Yishen Tonglong Granules (YSTLG) on cell proliferation and apoptosis in a nude mouse model of androgen independent prostate cancer subcutaneous transplantation based on non classical Wnt signaling pathway.Methods:The tumor-bearing nude mouse model was established using the human prostate cancer bone metastatic cell line PC-3. After successful modeling, the mice were equally divided into six groups using the random number table method: model group, Western medicine group, Chinese materia medica low-, medium-, and high-dosage groups, and Chinese materia medica-Western medicine combination group. Corresponding drug interventions were administered to each group. Following 28 consecutive days of drug administration, the nude mice were euthanized. Tumor tissues were harvested for pathological observation via HE staining. Cell proliferation was assessed by immunohistochemistry; apoptosis was detected using TUNEL assay; the expressions of non-canonical Wnt signaling pathway-related proteins (Wnt5a, Rac1, RhoA, NFATc1) were analyzed through Western blot and immunohistochemical methods.Results:THE staining results demonstrated that YSTLG could effectively ameliorate pathological alterations in tumor tissues. Compared with the model group, the Chinese materia medica low-, medium-, and high-dosage groups, as well as the Chinese materia medica-Western medicine combination group, exhibited reduced proliferation indices ( P<0.01), elevated apoptosis indices ( P<0.01), down-regulated protein expressions of Wnt5a, Rac1, RhoA, and NFATc1 ( P<0.01), and decreased optical density values of Wnt5a, Rac1, RhoA, and NFATc1 ( P<0.01). These effects displayed a dosage-dependent trend. The Chinese materia medica-Western medicine combination group achieved the most pronounced therapeutic outcomes. Conclusions:YSTLG may exert inhibitory effects on the proliferation of androgen-independent prostate cancer cells and promote apoptosis, possibly through suppression of the non-canonical Wnt signaling pathway. Furthermore, its combination with Wnt signaling inhibitors may exhibit synergistic therapeutic effects.

ObjectiveTo retrospectively analyze the association between novel coronavirus (“SARS-CoV-2”) infection and clinical symptoms in inpatients with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) in Pudong New Area, Shanghai, so as to provide evidence for improving clinical diagnostic ability. MethodsFrom January 13 to March 2, 2023, respiratory tract specimens of 456 inpatients with SARI were collected from 8 sentinel institutions, SARS-CoV-2 was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Whole genome sequencing and sequence analyses were performed to samples with a cycle threshold (Ct) value of <35. At the same time, demographic information, clinical characteristics and underlying disease condition of the cases were collected, and the association between age, symptoms and nucleic acid positive rates was evaluated by χ² test and Spearman correlation analysis. ResultsA total of 456 cases were included, the median (P₂₅, P₇₅) age was 70 (69, 85) years old, of which 200 cases were novel coronavirus nucleic acid positive for SARS-CoV-2, with a positive rate of 43.86%. The positive rate was the highest in the 80-year-old group (56.82%), and the positive rate increased significantly with age (r=0.15, P=0.002). The proportion of oppression in chest, sore throat and expectoration in novel coronavirus nucleic acid positive cases was significantly higher than that in negative cases (all P<0.05). The 33 viruses sequenced successfully were all Omicron subvariants, with BF.7 (51.52%) and BA.5.2 (42.42%) being the predominant ones. ConclusionA positive correlation was observed between advanced age and the risk of SARS-CoV-2 positivity in patients with SARI. The symptoms of expectoration, oppression in chest and sore throat are more common in positive cases, which can be used as a prompt indicator for key screening and clinical identification of elderly SARI cases.

Ferroptosis of chondrocytes is a significant contributor to osteoarthritis (OA), for which there is still a lack of safe and effective therapeutic drugs targeting ferroptosis. Here, we screen for anti-ferroptotic drugs in Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug library via a high-throughput manner in chondrocytes. We identified a group of FDA-approved anti-ferroptotic drugs, among which vitamin K showed the most powerful protective effect. Further study demonstrated that vitamin K effectively inhibited ferroptosis and alleviated the extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation in chondrocytes. Intra-articular injection of vitamin K inhibited ferroptosis and alleviated OA phenotype in destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) mouse model. Mechanistically, transcriptome sequencing and knockdown experiments revealed that the anti-ferroptotic effects of vitamin K depended on growth arrest-specific 6 (Gas6). Furthermore, exogenous expression of Gas6 was found to inhibit ferroptosis through the AXL receptor tyrosine kinase (AXL)/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT serine/threonine kinase (AKT) axis. Together, we demonstrate that vitamin K inhibits ferroptosis and alleviates OA progression via enhancing Gas6 expression and its downstream pathway of AXL/PI3K/AKT axis, indicating vitamin K as well as Gas6 to serve as a potential therapeutic target for OA and other ferroptosis-related diseases.