Objective:To analyze the trend of infertility disease burden from 1990 to 2019 and predict the age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) and age-standardized disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) rate of male and female infertility for 2020—2029, providing a certain reference for the prevention and treatment of infertility diseases.Methods:Based on the Global Burden of Disease 2019, prevalence, ASPR, DALY rate, and age-standardized DALY rate were used to evaluate the global burden of infertility comprehensively. The estimated annual percentage change was used to describe trends in the disease burden of infertility in 21 regions worldwide. The Bayesian age period cohort model was used to predict the ASPR and age-standardized DALY rate for male and female infertility in 204 countries and regions from 2020 to 2029. Sensitivity analysis was performed using the autoregressive integrated moving average model.Results:The prevalence, DALY rate, ASPR and age-standardized DALY rate of global male infertility increased from 319.52 per 100 000,1.82 per 100 000, 2 856.53 per 100 000, and 16.19 per 100 000 in 1990 to 565.30 per 100 000, 3.22 per 100 000, 3 398.53 per 100 000, and 19.36 per 100 000 in 2019, respectively. The prevalence, DALY rate, ASPR, and age-standardized DALY rate of global female infertility increased from 656.67 per 100 000, 3.53 per 100 000, 6 036.36 per 100 000, and 32.27 per 100 000 in 1990 to 1 223.78 per 100 000, 6.59 per 10 000, 7 483.12 per 100 000, and 40.33 per 100 000 in 2019, respectively. The burden of infertility disease was the highest in men and women aged 30-34 years, and the ASPR and age-standardized DALY rates were 4 407.47 per 100 000, 25.08 per 100 000, 10 270.55 per 100 000 and 55.65 per 100 000, respectively. Only in 45-49 years of age, the prevalence of infertility (11.31 per 100 000) and DALY rate (0.06 per 100 000) in women were lower than those in men (15.68 per 100 000 and 0.08 per 100 000). In addition, the burden of infertility was the lowest in high socio-demographic index regions. Cameroon had the highest ASPR (7 652.40 per 100 000) and age-standardized DALY rate (43.94 per 100 000) for male infertility. Chinese women had the highest ASPR (20 402.30 per 100 000) and age-standardized DALY rate (106.16 per 100 000) of infertility. The forecast results show that the burden of male and female infertility diseases will increase in 204 countries and regions from 2020 to 2029.Conclusion:The burden of infertility diseases in men and women increased in 204 countries and regions from 1990 to 2019, and it is predicted that the global burden of infertility diseases will continue to rise in 2020—2029. Preliminary screening of infertility should be carried out as soon as possible, health education should be strengthened and effective prevention and treatment strategies should be formulated.

Functional dyspepsia(FD)is a common functional gastrointestinal disease in clinical practice,which has the characteristics of high incidence,difficult to cure,and recurrence.FD belongs to the categories of"ruffian"and"stomach pain"in TCM,and the disease is located in the stomach,which is closely related to the liver and spleen,and the syndrome of liver depression and spleen deficiency is the most common.This article summarized the literature related to the TCM treatment for FD with liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome,and concluded the clinical application,efficacy characteristics and mechanism,so as to provide reference for clinical treatment and basic research.The analysis found that the clinical efficacy of TCM in the treatment of FD is significant,which can not only improve the digestive symptoms of patients,but also improve their anxiety and depression state and daily life quality,and has the characteristics of overall regulation,syndrome differentiation and treatment,and improvement of physical fitness.Its mechanism may involve multiple pathways and levels such as abnormal gastric motility,abnormal brain-intestinal interaction and immune inflammatory response.

Trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by intense pain in the sensory distribution area of the trigeminal nerve. It can be triggered by non-noxious stimuli such as brushing teeth and washing face. At present, the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia mainly includes oral drugs and surgical treatments. A 92-year-old patient with trigeminal neuralgia was reported. The pain could not be alleviated because the patient was unable to tolerate the side effects of drugs and surgical treatment. Taking into account the onset time and the duration of the curative effect, botulinum toxin type A was combined with cobrotoxin for the treatment of the patient. As a result, the pain symptoms were rapidly alleviated and remained in a relieved state for 8 months. The clinical characteristics of this patient were summarized in this article, and the possible synergistic mechanisms of action of the 2 drugs were discussed. The ultimate objective is to furnish a broader spectrum of alternatives and references for clinical practice.

Depression is a severe mental illness. Although existing antidepressant medications have shown efficacy in many patients, a significant proportion show poor responses to current treatments, necessitating the need for novel therapeutic approaches. Photobiomodulation (PBM), an emerging physical therapy, has recently shown promising efficacy in the treatment of depression, as indicated by two systematic reviews, and is characterized by high safety and good tolerability. However, challenges remain in areas such as light delivery techniques and optimization of treatment parameters. This review summarizes the antidepressant mechanisms of PBM, various methods of light transmission, and recent research progress on its application in the treatment of depression. It also discusses issues related to safety, tolerability, and impact of specific parameters, aiming to provide insights and recommendations for future research on PBM as a therapy for depression.

Objective·To identify relevant biomarkers for patients with coronavirus disease 2019-associated kidney injury(COVID-19-associated KI)and explore the mechanisms underlying the involvement of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2(SARS-CoV-2)proteins in infection-related KI by affecting the interactions between renal cells and macrophages.Methods·A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients with KI treated in Shanghai Ninth,People's,hospital from December 2022 to February 2023.Serum levels of inflammatory factors and chemokines were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).In vitro,human macrophage cell line THP-1 cells were stimulated with recombinant S1 subunit protein derived from SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.The cells and culture supernatants were collected to detect the levels of inflammatory factors and chemokines by using quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR)and ELISA.Conditioned medium was prepared from the cell culture supernatants of S1-stimulated THP-1 cells and used to stimulate human renal epithelial cells(HK-2)in vitro to assess cytokine secretion.Antibody blocking experiments were performed to analyze the effects of the conditioned medium on the production of cytokines in HK-2 cells.Results·Among 39 patients with COVID-19,8(20.50%)had creatinine levels above the reference interval,which indicated the occurrence of KI.The levels of peripheral tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in the COVID-19 patient with KI group[(18.33±8.20)pg/mL]were significantly higher than those in the non-KI group[(11.88±6.50)pg/mL](P=0.015).In vitro assay has shown that S1-spike protein stimulation promoted the level of gene transcription and production of TNF-α,interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and chemokine C-X-C motif ligand 10(CXCL10)in THP-1 macrophage cells(P＜0.001).Furthermore,the conditioned medium from S1-stimulated THP-1 cells promoted the secretion of TNF-α,IL-1β and CXCL10 by HK-2 cells(P=0.005).When anti-TNF-α antibody(Infliximab)was used to block TNF-α in the culture supernatants from S1-stimulated THP-1 cells,the secretion level of TNF-α by HK-2 cells decreased dramatically(P＜0.001).Conclusion·TNF-α levels increase significantly in COVID-19 patients with KI,implying the significance of TNF-α in the occurrence of COVID-19-associated KI.In vitro experiments confirm that the S1 protein induces TNF-α secretion from THP-1 cells,leading to increased inflammatory responses in renal cells,which may contribute to the development of COVID-19-associated KI.Therefore,targeting TNF-α may become an alternative strategy to reduce the occurrence of COVID-19-associated KI.

Objective:To analyze the trend of infertility disease burden from 1990 to 2019 and predict the age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) and age-standardized disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) rate of male and female infertility for 2020—2029, providing a certain reference for the prevention and treatment of infertility diseases.Methods:Based on the Global Burden of Disease 2019, prevalence, ASPR, DALY rate, and age-standardized DALY rate were used to evaluate the global burden of infertility comprehensively. The estimated annual percentage change was used to describe trends in the disease burden of infertility in 21 regions worldwide. The Bayesian age period cohort model was used to predict the ASPR and age-standardized DALY rate for male and female infertility in 204 countries and regions from 2020 to 2029. Sensitivity analysis was performed using the autoregressive integrated moving average model.Results:The prevalence, DALY rate, ASPR and age-standardized DALY rate of global male infertility increased from 319.52 per 100 000,1.82 per 100 000, 2 856.53 per 100 000, and 16.19 per 100 000 in 1990 to 565.30 per 100 000, 3.22 per 100 000, 3 398.53 per 100 000, and 19.36 per 100 000 in 2019, respectively. The prevalence, DALY rate, ASPR, and age-standardized DALY rate of global female infertility increased from 656.67 per 100 000, 3.53 per 100 000, 6 036.36 per 100 000, and 32.27 per 100 000 in 1990 to 1 223.78 per 100 000, 6.59 per 10 000, 7 483.12 per 100 000, and 40.33 per 100 000 in 2019, respectively. The burden of infertility disease was the highest in men and women aged 30-34 years, and the ASPR and age-standardized DALY rates were 4 407.47 per 100 000, 25.08 per 100 000, 10 270.55 per 100 000 and 55.65 per 100 000, respectively. Only in 45-49 years of age, the prevalence of infertility (11.31 per 100 000) and DALY rate (0.06 per 100 000) in women were lower than those in men (15.68 per 100 000 and 0.08 per 100 000). In addition, the burden of infertility was the lowest in high socio-demographic index regions. Cameroon had the highest ASPR (7 652.40 per 100 000) and age-standardized DALY rate (43.94 per 100 000) for male infertility. Chinese women had the highest ASPR (20 402.30 per 100 000) and age-standardized DALY rate (106.16 per 100 000) of infertility. The forecast results show that the burden of male and female infertility diseases will increase in 204 countries and regions from 2020 to 2029.Conclusion:The burden of infertility diseases in men and women increased in 204 countries and regions from 1990 to 2019, and it is predicted that the global burden of infertility diseases will continue to rise in 2020—2029. Preliminary screening of infertility should be carried out as soon as possible, health education should be strengthened and effective prevention and treatment strategies should be formulated.

Objective·To identify relevant biomarkers for patients with coronavirus disease 2019-associated kidney injury(COVID-19-associated KI)and explore the mechanisms underlying the involvement of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2(SARS-CoV-2)proteins in infection-related KI by affecting the interactions between renal cells and macrophages.Methods·A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients with KI treated in Shanghai Ninth,People's,hospital from December 2022 to February 2023.Serum levels of inflammatory factors and chemokines were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).In vitro,human macrophage cell line THP-1 cells were stimulated with recombinant S1 subunit protein derived from SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.The cells and culture supernatants were collected to detect the levels of inflammatory factors and chemokines by using quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR)and ELISA.Conditioned medium was prepared from the cell culture supernatants of S1-stimulated THP-1 cells and used to stimulate human renal epithelial cells(HK-2)in vitro to assess cytokine secretion.Antibody blocking experiments were performed to analyze the effects of the conditioned medium on the production of cytokines in HK-2 cells.Results·Among 39 patients with COVID-19,8(20.50%)had creatinine levels above the reference interval,which indicated the occurrence of KI.The levels of peripheral tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in the COVID-19 patient with KI group[(18.33±8.20)pg/mL]were significantly higher than those in the non-KI group[(11.88±6.50)pg/mL](P=0.015).In vitro assay has shown that S1-spike protein stimulation promoted the level of gene transcription and production of TNF-α,interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and chemokine C-X-C motif ligand 10(CXCL10)in THP-1 macrophage cells(P＜0.001).Furthermore,the conditioned medium from S1-stimulated THP-1 cells promoted the secretion of TNF-α,IL-1β and CXCL10 by HK-2 cells(P=0.005).When anti-TNF-α antibody(Infliximab)was used to block TNF-α in the culture supernatants from S1-stimulated THP-1 cells,the secretion level of TNF-α by HK-2 cells decreased dramatically(P＜0.001).Conclusion·TNF-α levels increase significantly in COVID-19 patients with KI,implying the significance of TNF-α in the occurrence of COVID-19-associated KI.In vitro experiments confirm that the S1 protein induces TNF-α secretion from THP-1 cells,leading to increased inflammatory responses in renal cells,which may contribute to the development of COVID-19-associated KI.Therefore,targeting TNF-α may become an alternative strategy to reduce the occurrence of COVID-19-associated KI.

Functional dyspepsia(FD)is a common functional gastrointestinal disease in clinical practice,which has the characteristics of high incidence,difficult to cure,and recurrence.FD belongs to the categories of"ruffian"and"stomach pain"in TCM,and the disease is located in the stomach,which is closely related to the liver and spleen,and the syndrome of liver depression and spleen deficiency is the most common.This article summarized the literature related to the TCM treatment for FD with liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome,and concluded the clinical application,efficacy characteristics and mechanism,so as to provide reference for clinical treatment and basic research.The analysis found that the clinical efficacy of TCM in the treatment of FD is significant,which can not only improve the digestive symptoms of patients,but also improve their anxiety and depression state and daily life quality,and has the characteristics of overall regulation,syndrome differentiation and treatment,and improvement of physical fitness.Its mechanism may involve multiple pathways and levels such as abnormal gastric motility,abnormal brain-intestinal interaction and immune inflammatory response.

Trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by intense pain in the sensory distribution area of the trigeminal nerve. It can be triggered by non-noxious stimuli such as brushing teeth and washing face. At present, the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia mainly includes oral drugs and surgical treatments. A 92-year-old patient with trigeminal neuralgia was reported. The pain could not be alleviated because the patient was unable to tolerate the side effects of drugs and surgical treatment. Taking into account the onset time and the duration of the curative effect, botulinum toxin type A was combined with cobrotoxin for the treatment of the patient. As a result, the pain symptoms were rapidly alleviated and remained in a relieved state for 8 months. The clinical characteristics of this patient were summarized in this article, and the possible synergistic mechanisms of action of the 2 drugs were discussed. The ultimate objective is to furnish a broader spectrum of alternatives and references for clinical practice.

Depression is a severe mental illness. Although existing antidepressant medications have shown efficacy in many patients, a significant proportion show poor responses to current treatments, necessitating the need for novel therapeutic approaches. Photobiomodulation (PBM), an emerging physical therapy, has recently shown promising efficacy in the treatment of depression, as indicated by two systematic reviews, and is characterized by high safety and good tolerability. However, challenges remain in areas such as light delivery techniques and optimization of treatment parameters. This review summarizes the antidepressant mechanisms of PBM, various methods of light transmission, and recent research progress on its application in the treatment of depression. It also discusses issues related to safety, tolerability, and impact of specific parameters, aiming to provide insights and recommendations for future research on PBM as a therapy for depression.