Objective To investigate the global burden of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) from 1990 to 2021 and predict the trends in the burden of VL from 2022 to 2035, so as to provide insights into global VL prevention and control. Methods The global age-standardized incidence, prevalence, mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rates of VL and their 95% uncertainty intervals (UI) were captured from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (GBD 2021) data resources. The trends in the global burden of VL were evaluated with average annual percent change (AAPC) and 95% confidence interval (CI) from 1990 to 2021, and gender-, age-, country-, geographical area- and socio-demographic index (SDI)-stratified burdens of VL were analyzed. The trends in the global burden of VL were projected with a Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model from 2022 to 2035, and the associations of age-standardized incidence, prevalence, mortality, and DALYs rates of VL with SDI levels were examined with a smoothing spline model. Results The global age-standardized incidence [AAPC = -0.25%, 95% CI: (-0.25%, -0.24%)], prevalence [AAPC = -0.06%, 95% CI: (-0.06%, -0.06%)], mortality [AAPC = -0.25%, 95% CI: (-0.25%, -0.24%)] and DALYs rates of VL [AAPC = -2.38%, 95% CI: (-2.44%, -2.33%)] all appeared a tendency towards a decline from 1990 to 2021, and the highest age-standardized incidence [2.55/10⁵, 95% UI: (1.49/10⁵, 4.07/10⁵)], prevalence [0.64/10⁵, 95% UI: (0.37/10⁵, 1.02/10⁵)], mortality [0.51/10⁵, 95% UI: (0, 1.80/10⁵)] and DALYs rates of VL [33.81/10⁵, 95% UI: (0.06/10⁵, 124.09/10⁵)] were seen in tropical Latin America in 2021. The global age-standardized incidence and prevalence of VL were both higher among men [0.57/10⁵, 95% UI: (0.45/10⁵, 0.72/10⁵); 0.14/10⁵, 95% UI: (0.11/10⁵, 0.18/10⁵)] than among women [0.27/10⁵, 95% UI: (0.21/10⁵, 0.33/10⁵); 0.06/10⁵, 95% UI: (0.05/10⁵, 0.08/10⁵)], and the highest mortality of VL was found among children under 5 years of age [0.24/10⁵, 95% UI: (0.08/10⁵, 0.66/10⁵)]. The age-standardized incidence (r = -0.483, P < 0.001), prevalence (r = -0.483, P < 0.001), mortality (r = -0.511, P < 0.001) and DALYs rates of VL (r = -0.514, P < 0.001) correlated negatively with SDI levels from 1990 to 2021. In addition, the global burden of VL was projected with the BAPC model to appear a tendency towards a decline from 2022 to 2035, and the age-standardized incidence, prevalence, mortality and DALYs rates were projected to be reduced to 0.11/10⁵, 0.03/10⁵, 0.02/10⁵ and 1.44/10⁵ in 2035, respectively. Conclusions Although the global burden of VL appeared an overall tendency towards a decline from 1990 to 2021, the burden of VL showed a tendency towards a rise in Central Asia and western sub-Saharan African areas. The age-standardized incidence and prevalence rates of VL were relatively higher among men, and the age-standardized mortality of VL was relatively higher among children under 5 years of age. The global burden of VL was projected to continue to decline from 2022 to 2035.

Objective:To assess the core competencies of internal medicine residents undergoing standardized residency training and to explore the effectiveness of core competency evaluation on mobile devices.Methods:The mobile formative evaluation module was developed based on the "Xueyiku" teaching management platform. From January to December 2023, clinical teachers were asked to evaluate 150 internal medicine residents based on the "Resident Core Competency Milestone Evaluation System in China Consortium of Elite Teaching Hospitals", and the results were analyzed using non-parametric tests.Results:Among the six core competencies of internal medicine residents, professionalism received the highest score, whereas teaching skill received a lower score (97.50 vs. 90.00; H=167.31, P<0.001). Second-year residents had significantly higher scores than first-year residents (93.00 vs. 90.00; P<0.001), but similar scores to third-year residents (93.00 vs. 93.00; P>0.05). In addition, there was no significant difference in score among residents with different medical education backgrounds ( P>0.05). Conclusions:More emphasis should be placed on improving the teaching skills of internal medicine residents, along with the implementation of tiered progressive training. The mobile core competency evaluation is an effective means for assessing the comprehensive skills of residents in a timely manner.

Tibetan sheep,the main domestic animal raised in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region,are a source of human plague transmission.In the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region,Tibetan sheep are considered valuable breeding resources,because of their large body size and high adaptability to high-altitude environments.In recent years,many pastoral areas,particularly those with marmot plague sources,have improved the structure of sheep breeds through pure breeding of Tibetan sheep or hybridization with Tibetan sheep to improve breed quality.The scale of breeding of Tibetan sheep or hybrid sheep is increasing,and their participation in the spread of plague poses a severe challenge to plague prevention and control.This article provides a comprehensive review of the current status of Tibetan sheep plague and related research progress,to provide a theoretical basis for further exploration and research on plague infection and transmission in Tibetan sheep and hybrid sheep.The findings will be critical for conducting risk assessment of Ti-betan sheep plague in marmot plague source areas,enhancing monitoring and early warning capabilities,formulating and implement-ing risk control measures,and strictly preventing the occurrence and spread of human plague.

Objective:To evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of adult patients with Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) in Gansu Province, and provide guidance for rational and effective treatment of KBD patients.Methods:The KBD patients who participated in the "2021 Basic Public Health Service Subsidy Key Endemic Disease Prevention and Control Project" in Gansu Province were selected as the research subjects. Gender, age, clinical grading characteristics, and treatment plan selection of all subjects were analyzed, and the treatment effectiveness of KBD patients in different regions was evaluated.Results:A total of 6 711 KBD patients were included in the treatment program, including 3 139 males (46.8%) and 3 572 females (53.2%), 3 157 cases (47.0%) of patients aged 60 and 3 554 cases (53.0%) over 60 years old. There were 3 921, 2 166, and 624 patients with grades Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and Ⅲ, respectively, accounting for 58.4%, 32.3%, and 9.3%, respectively. The gender, age composition, and clinical grading among KBD patients included in different regions were compared, and the differences were statistically significant (χ 2 = 194.34, 47.44, 408.61, P < 0.001). In the distribution of treatment schemes, the number of patients who selected "drug treatment", "drug treatment combined with physical therapy", "drug treatment combined with acupuncture and moxibustion/massage", "drug treatment combined with acupuncture and moxibustion/massage combined with physical therapy", and "other treatment schemes" were 4 084 (60.9%), 726 (10.8%), 672 (10.0%), 443 (6.6%), and 786 (11.7%), respectively. The distribution of treatment plans in different regions was compared, and the difference was statistically significant (χ 2 = 1 088.38, P < 0.001). The total effective rate of KBD patients was 84.5% (5 668/6 711). The total effective rates of KBD patients with different clinical grades were ranked from high to low as grade Ⅲ (87.3%, 545/624), grade Ⅱ (86.4%, 1 871/2 166), and grade Ⅰ (82.9%, 3 252/3 921). The total effective rate of KBD patients with different treatment schemes from high to low was "drug treatment combined with acupuncture and moxibustion/massage combined with physical therapy" (91.0%, 403/443), "drug treatment combined with physical therapy" (87.1%, 632/726), "drug treatment" (86.7%, 3 539/4 084), "drug treatment combined with acupuncture and moxibustion/massage" (82.3%, 553/672), and "other treatment schemes" (68.8%, 541/786). The total effective rate of KBD patients in different regions, from high to low, was as follows: Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture (100%, 144/144), Qingyang City (88.7%, 3 562/4 017), Pingliang City (85.0%, 1 327/1 562), Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (83.9%, 78/93), Dingxi City (70.9%, 151/213), Tianshui City (62.5%, 125/200), and Longnan City (58.3%, 281/482). The total effective rate of KBD patients in different clinical grades, treatment schemes, and regions was compared, and the differences were statistically significant (χ 2 = 16.95, 181.72, 435.80, P < 0.001). Conclusions:The overall effective rate of treatment for KBD patients in Gansu Province is relatively high, but there are significant differences in therapeutic outcomes among cities (prefectures); it is related to the treatment scheme and the clinical grading of patients. The scheme of "drug treatment combined with acupuncture and moxibustion/massage combined with physical therapy" has better efficacy.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of different sterilization methods on 3D-printed polylactic acid(PLA)guide plates for orthopedic surgery,and to analyze their physical properties,microbial contamination,structural performance and bio compatibility after sterilization.METHODS PLA guide plates for orthopedic surgery were prepared with 3D printing technology and divided into a blank group,a hydrogen peroxide plasma steriliza-tion group,an ethylene oxide sterilization group and a pressure steam sterilization group.Before and after sterili-zation,the changes in volume and weight of the surgical guide plates were measured,microbial detection was con-ducted,structural changes were observed with a laser scanning confocal microscope,and cell co-culture was con-ducted to evaluate biocompatibility,thereby the effects of different sterilization methods were assessed.RESULTS The three sterilization methods had no significant effect on the volume and weight of PLA surgical guide plates.Microbial detection showed that all three sterilization methods were effective in killing bacteria,and bacte-rial cultures were negative.Laser confocal scanning microscopy revealed that sterilization treatment caused certain changes to the microstructure of the surgical guide plates,but high-temperature sterilization had a more pro-nounced effect on the deformation of the guide plate edges.Cell co-culture results indicated that the surgical guide plates treated with the three sterilization methods exhibited acceptable cytotoxicity and had little effect on cell pro-liferation.CONCLUSIONS All three sterilization methods cause microstructural changes to the surgical guide plate.Among them,pressure steam sterilization significantly deforms the structure of the guide plate,directly af-fecting its precise positioning of mutual spatial distances,angular relationships and orientation during surgery.Al-though hydrogen peroxide plasma sterilization does not cause significant deformation,ethylene oxide sterilization has the least impact on material properties and structural stability while ensuring the sterilization effect of PLA surgical guide plates.

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 identify potential serum metabolic biomarkers in colorectal cancer(CRC)patients using untargeted metabolomics and to evaluate their diagnostic and staging value.Methods Serum samples from 100 healthy controls and 100 CRC patients were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS).After data normalization,differential metabolites were screened using multivariate statistical analyses(PCA,OPLS-DA)and subjected to pathway enrichment analysis.Diagnostic performance was assessed via univari-ate and multivariate regression,while Mfuzz clustering was applied to analyze stage-related metabolites(Ⅰ-Ⅳ).Results A total of 432 metabolites were identified with 59 showing significant alterations.Starch and sucrose me-tabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism pathways were significantly enriched.A three-metabolite panel(4,8-dimethylnonanoyl carnitine,9,13-dihydroxy-4-megastigmen-3-one 9-glucoside and C17 sphingosine-1-phosphate)achieved a diagnostic AUC of 0.907,while L-Carnitine and L-Norleucine showed an AUC of 0.776 in staging anal-ysis.Conclusions Specific serum metabolite panel exhibit high diagnostic accuracy,and dysregulated metabolic pathways are associated with CRC progression,suggesting their potential value as biomarkers.

In order to promote the construction of a multi-point trigger intelligent surveillance and early warning system of the plague in China, the development process, application practice, advantages, and limitations of the plague surveillance and early warning system in China and its role in plague prevention and control are reviewed and analyzed. It is suggested to include multiple departments, carry out a multi-channel monitoring mechanism for plague from different perspectives, further improve the plague surveillance and early warning system, and enhance surveillance and early warning capability.

Tibetan sheep,the main domestic animal raised in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region,are a source of human plague transmission.In the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region,Tibetan sheep are considered valuable breeding resources,because of their large body size and high adaptability to high-altitude environments.In recent years,many pastoral areas,particularly those with marmot plague sources,have improved the structure of sheep breeds through pure breeding of Tibetan sheep or hybridization with Tibetan sheep to improve breed quality.The scale of breeding of Tibetan sheep or hybrid sheep is increasing,and their participation in the spread of plague poses a severe challenge to plague prevention and control.This article provides a comprehensive review of the current status of Tibetan sheep plague and related research progress,to provide a theoretical basis for further exploration and research on plague infection and transmission in Tibetan sheep and hybrid sheep.The findings will be critical for conducting risk assessment of Ti-betan sheep plague in marmot plague source areas,enhancing monitoring and early warning capabilities,formulating and implement-ing risk control measures,and strictly preventing the occurrence and spread of human plague.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of different sterilization methods on 3D-printed polylactic acid(PLA)guide plates for orthopedic surgery,and to analyze their physical properties,microbial contamination,structural performance and bio compatibility after sterilization.METHODS PLA guide plates for orthopedic surgery were prepared with 3D printing technology and divided into a blank group,a hydrogen peroxide plasma steriliza-tion group,an ethylene oxide sterilization group and a pressure steam sterilization group.Before and after sterili-zation,the changes in volume and weight of the surgical guide plates were measured,microbial detection was con-ducted,structural changes were observed with a laser scanning confocal microscope,and cell co-culture was con-ducted to evaluate biocompatibility,thereby the effects of different sterilization methods were assessed.RESULTS The three sterilization methods had no significant effect on the volume and weight of PLA surgical guide plates.Microbial detection showed that all three sterilization methods were effective in killing bacteria,and bacte-rial cultures were negative.Laser confocal scanning microscopy revealed that sterilization treatment caused certain changes to the microstructure of the surgical guide plates,but high-temperature sterilization had a more pro-nounced effect on the deformation of the guide plate edges.Cell co-culture results indicated that the surgical guide plates treated with the three sterilization methods exhibited acceptable cytotoxicity and had little effect on cell pro-liferation.CONCLUSIONS All three sterilization methods cause microstructural changes to the surgical guide plate.Among them,pressure steam sterilization significantly deforms the structure of the guide plate,directly af-fecting its precise positioning of mutual spatial distances,angular relationships and orientation during surgery.Al-though hydrogen peroxide plasma sterilization does not cause significant deformation,ethylene oxide sterilization has the least impact on material properties and structural stability while ensuring the sterilization effect of PLA surgical guide plates.