ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Yifei Jianpi prescription on the of signal transducer and activator of transcription protein 1 （STAT1）/interferon regulatory factor 3 （IRF3） signaling pathway in a pneumonia model induced by lipopolysaccharide （LPS） and to explore the mechanism of Yifei Jianpi prescription in improving lung immune and inflammatory responses. MethodsSixty male SPF SD rats were used in this study. Ten rats were randomly assigned to the normal control group， and the remaining 50 were instilled with LPS in the trachea to establish a pneumonia model. After successful modeling， the rats were randomly divided into the model group， dexamethasone group （0.5 mg·kg^-1）， and Yifei Jianpi prescription high-dose （12 mg·kg^-1）， medium-dose （6 mg·kg^-1）， and low-dose （3 mg·kg^-1） groups， with 10 rats in each group. Treatment was administered once daily， and the normal control and model groups received the same volume of normal saline. After 14 days， flow cytometry was used to detect the classification of whole blood lymphocytes. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to measure serum levels of immunoglobulin G （IgG）， immunoglobulin A （IgA）， immunoglobulin M （IgM）， and the content of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-8 （IL-8）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and interleukin-10 （IL-10） in alveolar lavage fluid （BALF）. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe lung tissue pathology and score the damage. Thymus weight， spleen weight， and wet-to-dry weight ratio （W/D） were recorded. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect the mRNA expression of STAT1， IRF3， IL-6， and interferon-alpha （IFN-α） in lung tissues， while Western blot was performed to assess the protein expression of STAT1， IRF3， IL-6， and IFN-α. ResultsCompared with the normal control group， the model group showed significantly increased proportion of B lymphocytes in peripheral blood， decreased proportions of NK cells and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ （P<0.05， P<0.01）， decreased serum levels of IgG and IgA， significantly increased IgM levels （P<0.01）， significantly elevated content of TNF-α， IL-6， and IL-8 in BALF， and significantly decreased IL-10 levels （P<0.01）. Lung tissue damage was evident， with significant increases in thymus and spleen weights and a higher W/D ratio （P<0.01）. The mRNA and protein expression of STAT1， IRF3， IFN-α， and IL-6 in lung tissues was significantly upregulated （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the Yifei Jianpi prescription groups showed significantly reduced proportions of B lymphocytes in peripheral blood， increased proportions of NK cells and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratios （P<0.05， P<0.01）， significantly increased serum levels of IgG and IgA， significantly decreased IgM levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）， significantly reduced levels of TNF-α， IL-6， and IL-8 in BALF， and significantly increased IL-10 levels （P<0.01）. Lung tissue damage was alleviated， thymus and spleen weights were significantly reduced， and the W/D ratio was markedly decreased （P<0.01）. The mRNA and protein expression of STAT1， IRF3， IFN-α， and IL-6 in lung tissues was significantly downregulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionYifei Jianpi prescription can alleviate lung tissue damage and improve immune and inflammatory responses in LPS-induced pneumonia rats. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of STAT1/IRF3 signaling pathway activation.

Liver diseases are a group of complex clinical conditions caused by various factors and can lead to hepatocyte damage and liver dysfunction， posing a serious threat to human health. The cyclic GMP-AMP synthase （cGAS）-stimulator of interferon genes （STING） signaling pathway plays a key regulatory role in the course of liver diseases and is involved in the development， progression， and treatment of various diseases such as viral hepatitis， nonalcoholic fatty liver disease， liver fibrosis， and liver cancer. This article reviews the regulatory mechanisms of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway in processes such as inflammation， autophagy， antiviral response， and oxidative stress， analyzes its molecular function in liver diseases， and explores its application prospect as a potential target for the treatment of liver diseases， in order to provide a theoretical basis for developing novel therapeutic strategies for liver diseases.

BACKGROUND: Most studies have evaluated disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients based on a set of generic disability weights (DWs). This study aimed to apply local CRC-stage-specific DWs to estimate the burden of DALYs for CRC (CRC-DALYs) in populations in China and consider the influence of local screening coverage of CRC. METHODS: A prevalence-based model was constructed using data from various sources. Years lived with disability (YLDs) were estimated mainly via cumulative prevalence data (based on CRC incidence rates, population numbers, and survival rates), stage-specific proportions of CRC, and DWs of the local population. Years of life lost (YLLs) were calculated based on the CRC mortality rates and standard life expectancies. CRC incidence and mortality rates for the years 2020, 2025, and 2030 were estimated by joinpoint regression, and the corresponding DALYs were predicted. The main assumption was made for CRC screening coverage. Sensitivity analyses were used to assess the impact of population, DWs, and coverage. RESULTS: In 2017, among the Chinese population, the estimated number of CRC-DALYs was 4,303,314 (11.9% for YLDs). If CRC screening coverage rate in China (2.3%) remains unchanged, the overall DALYs in 2030 are predicted to increase by 37.2% (45.1% of those aged ≥65 years). More optimistically, the DALYs would then decrease by 0.7% in 2030 (from 5,902,454 to 5,860,200) if the coverage could be increased to 25.0%. A sensitivity analysis revealed that using local DWs would change the base-case values by 5.7%. CONCLUSIONS The estimated CRC-DALYs in China using population-specific DWs were considerably lower (with a higher percentage of YLDs) than the global burden of disease (GBD) estimates (5,865,004, of 4.6% for YLDs), suggesting the impact extent of applying local parameters. Sustainable scale-up CRC screening needs to be in place to moderate the growth trend of CRC-DALYs in China.
Humans ; Colorectal Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; China/epidemiology* ; Disability-Adjusted Life Years ; Male ; Prevalence ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Quality-Adjusted Life Years ; Adult ; Incidence

OBJECTIVE To explore the effect and mechanism of embryonic intervention with Zuogui pill on the glucose tolerance in offsprings of pregnant rats with gestational diabetes mellitus. METHODS Pregnant rats were randomly divided into blank group， model group， positive control group （insulin glargine）， Zuogui pill low-， medium- and high-dose groups （4.725， 9.45， 18.9 g/kg）. In addition to the blank group， streptozotocin was injected intraperitoneally to establish a gestational diabetes mellitus rat model. From day 6 to day 18 of pregnancy， each group was given relevant medicine and distilled water intragastrically， once a day. After 21 days of birth， the body weight and body length of offsprings were recorded， and the area under the curve （AUC） was calculated through a glucose tolerance test. After 22 days of birth， fasting blood glucose （FBG）， fasting insulin （FINS） levels in serum， insulin sensitivity index （ISI）， and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance （HOMA-IR） were measured， and the morphological structure of pancreatic tissue was observed. The protein spectrum of pancreatic tissue was analyzed by tandem mass tag-based proteomics， and protein and mRNA expression levels of apolipoprotein A1（ApoA1）， solute carrier family 27 member 1 （Slc27a1）， kininogen 1（Kng1） and sodium/potassium-transporting ATPase subunit alpha 2 （Atp1a2）， solute carrier family 7 member 5 （Slc7a5）， solute carrier family 3 member 2 （Slc3a2）， bile acid-coenzyme A： amino acid N- acyltransferase （Baat）， eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 subunit gamma （Eif2s3） were detected. RESULTS Compared with the model group， the body weight， body length and ISI of offsprings in the positive control group and Zuogui pill medium-dose group were significantly increased （P＜0.05）， while the glucose tolerance and islet cell proliferation were significantly improved， and the AUC， FBG， FINS and HOMA-IR were significantly decreased （P＜0.05）. There were 88 potential target proteins for the embryonic intervention of Zuogui pill in offsprings of pregnant rats with gestational diabetes mellitus，involving multiple pathways such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor （PPAR）， cyclic guanosine monophosphate-protein kinase G （cGMP-PKG）， fat digestion and absorption， and bile secretion. The proteins closely related to glucose metabolism and insulin resistance mainly included ApoA1， Slc27a1， Kng1， Atp1a2， Slc7a5， Slc3a2， Baat， and Eif2s3. Among them， compared with the model group， protein and mRNA expressions of Slc7a5， Slc3a2， and Baat in the pancreatic tissues of pregnant rat offsprings in the Zuogui pill medium-dose group were significantly up-regulated （P＜0.05）； protein and mRNA expressions of ApoA1， Slc27a1， Kng1， Atp1a2 and Eif2s3 were all significantly down-regulated （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS The intervention of Zuogui pill in the embryonic period on offsprings of pregnant rats with gestational diabetes mellitus can improve their blood glucose levels and pancreatic pathological morphology. The mechanism may be related to the upregulation of the expressions of Slc7a5， Slc3a2， and Baat and the down-regulation of ApoA1， Slc27a1， Kng1， Atp1a2 and Eif2s3 expressions in the PPAR， cGMP-PKG， fat digestion and absorption， and bile secretion pathways.

With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technology, chatbots have shown great potential in the healthcare sector. From personalized health advice to chronic disease management and psychological support, chatbots have demonstrated significant advantages in improving the efficiency and quality of healthcare services. As the scope of their applications expands, the relationship between technological complexity and practical application scenarios has become increasingly intertwined, necessitating a more comprehensive evaluation of both aspects. This paper, from the perspective of he althcare applications, systematically reviews the technological pathways and development of chatbots in the medical field, providing an in-depth analysis of their performance across various medical scenarios. It thoroughly examines the advantages and limitations of chatbots, aiming to offer theoretical support for future research and propose feasible recommendations for the broader adoption of chatbot technologies in healthcare.

Objective:To investigate the incidence of postoperative infection and its risk factors in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), so that to provide a clinical basis for the prevention and management of postoperative infection in these patients.Methods:Ninety-seven patients pathologically diagnosed with OSCC who underwent surgical treatment in the Department of Oral and Craniomaxillofacial Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People′s Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine between December 2020 and March 2022 were included. This study was a clinical retrospective cohort study. The clinical characteristics and preoperative laboratory indicators of the included patients were collected. Based on the presence or absence of infection, the patients were divided into infection group and non-infection group. Chi-square test and independent samples t test were used for statistical methods. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify influencing factors for postoperative infection, and interaction terms were introduced to assess effect modification between variables. Results:Among the 97 patients, 46(47.42%) developed postoperative infections, of which 44(95.65%) were pulmonary infections. The proportion of hypertension in the infection group was 43.48%(20/46), which was higher than 23.53%(12/51) in the non-infection group, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=4.35, P=0.037). The preoperative glycosylated hemoglobin level in the infection group was 6.26%±0.85%, which was higher than that in the non-infection group (5.77%±0.57%), and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-2.81, P=0.007). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that male (odds ratio ( OR)=0.598, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 0.519 to 0.689, P<0.001), absence of diabetes ( OR=0.416, 95% CI 0.340 to 0.509, P<0.001), and absence of hypertension ( OR=0.647, 95% CI 0.569 to 0.735, P<0.001) were protective factors against postoperative infection. Age>60 years ( OR=1.159, 95% CI 1.031 to 1.304, P=0.014) and alcohol consumption ( OR=1.262, 95% CI 1.024 to 1.555, P=0.029) were risk factors for postoperative infection. Effect modification analysis found that males without diabetes ( OR=0.027, 95% CI 0.001 to 0.687, P=0.029) and the absence of both diabetes and hypertension ( OR=0.378, 95% CI 0.163 to 0.880, P=0.024) were also protective factors against postoperative infection. Conclusions:Risk factors for postoperative infection in OSCC include elder age, alcohol consumption, hypertension, and poor preoperative glycemic control. Therefore, clinical practice should enhance preoperative assessment, promote lifestyle modifications, optimize perioperative blood pressure management, implement glycemic control, and provide perioperative alcohol cessation interventions to reduce the risk of postoperative infection.

OBJECTIVE To observe the in vitro induced drug resistance mechanisms of polymyxin B-resistant Acin-etobacter baumannii and explore the in vitro antimicrobial activity of polymyxin B combined with melatonin.METHODS Totally 10 strains of polymyxin B-sensitive A.baumannii were clinically isolated from the Affiliated Li Huili Hospital of Ningbo university between Jan.2021 to Dec.2021 and were induced to the polymyxin B-resistant strains by means of in vitro induction method.The drug resistance mechanisms of the polymyxin B-resistant A.baumannii strains were explored by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)combined with sequencing analysis.The minimum inhibitory concentrations(MICs)of the single and joint use of polymyxin B and melatonin were detected by using broth microdilution checkerboard.The antibacterial effect of polymyxin combined with melatonin was e-valuated by calculating fractional inhibitory concentration index(FICI).The strains that showed the remarkable synergistic effect for the antimicrobial activity were chosen to determine the time-kill curves.RESULTS Among the polymyxin B-induced drug-resistant A.baumannii strains,there were gene mutations at various loci of polymyxin resistance genes pmrB,lpxA and lpxD.The MIC of polymyxin B against A.baumannii strains declined after the combined use of polymyxin B and melatonin.The combined use of the two drugs that showed synergistic effect for antimicrobial activity accounted for 80.00％(8/10),the additive effect 20.00％(2/10).The time-kill curve showed that the combined use of polymyxin B and melatonin showed remarkable antibacterial effect at the 24th hour.CONCLUSIONS The drug resistance gene mutations that are mediated by chromosomes are the major drug resist-ance mechanisms of the A.baumannii strains to polymyxin B.The combined use of polymyxin B and melatonin may reverse the drug resistance of the A.baumannii to polymyxin B.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for cardiovascular disease(CVD)in patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Methods Clinical data of 225 patients with RA admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2023 to September 2024 were collected,and the patients were divided into CVD group(n=50)and non-CVD group(n=175)according to whether they were complicated by CVD.Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of CVD in RA patients.Results Univariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age,hematocrit,red cell volume distribution width(RDW),erythrocyte sedimentation rate,neutrophil to high density lipoprotein ratio(NHR)and platelet to lymphocyte ratio(PLR)were all influencing factors for CVD in RA patients(P＜0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age,RDW,NHR and PLR were all risk factors for CVD in RA patients(P＜0.05).The results of receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of age,RDW,NHR and PLR diagnosed CVD in RA patients were 0.844,0.797,0.572 and 0.713,respectively.The combined diagnosis AUC of four indexes was 0.898.Conclusion The risk of CVD in RA patients is influenced by many factors,and the combination of age,RDW,NHR,and PLR can improve early diagnosis of CVD in RA patients.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is a primary surgical approach for treating mali-gnant tumors of the pancreatic head and the periampullary region. With the advance in medical technology in recent years, the long-term survival rate of patients undergoing PD has significantly improved, and the incidence of early perioperative complications has markedly decreased. However, current researches predominantly focuse on early postoperative complications, while, limited studies addressing long-term complications. Long-term complications after PD have a significant impact on patients′ quality of life and long-term survival. This authors systematically summarize the common long-term complications following PD, and explore their mechanisms, clinical manifestations, dia-gnostic methods, and treatment strategies, aiming to provide a reference for clinical practice.