Objective: To characterize longitudinal trajectories of testicular development in boys and breast development in girls, so as to provide reference data for understanding patterns of pubertal sexual maturation. Methods: Based on the Shanghai Pudong New Area Cohort Study on Growth, Development and Health in Children and Adolescents, a baseline survey was conducted in 2020 using a mult stage cluster random sampling method. A total of 2 184 children who completed all follow ups during the primary school period from 13 elementary schools in Pudong New Area,Shanghai,with annual follow ups during 2021-2025. Testicular volume and Tanner stage of breast development were assessed by professional physicians using standardized visual inspection and palpation. The age distribution of testicular volume and breast development was fitted by using cumulative link mixed models and Turnbull s nonparametric maximum likelihood estimation method. Results: Median ages for testicular volumes of 2, 3, 4 and 5 mL in boys were 7.07, 9.24, 10.29, and 11.57 years old, respectively. Median ages for Tanner breast stages Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ, and Ⅴ in girls were 8.55 , 10.17, 11.18, and 13.78 years old, respectively. Based on overweight and obesity, stratified analysis showed that earlier pubertal onset among overweight/obesity children, and the key milestones for pubertal initiation were testicular volume reaching 4 mL in boys and breast Tanner II in girls for 10.29, 10.83; 8.18, 9.00 years. Conclusion Overweight and obesity are associated with earlier pubertal initiation,but there are certain gender and developmental stage specific patterns.

The study focuses on the concept of multifunctional traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas and aims to evaluate the efficacy of the classical formula Xiaoyao San (逍遥散). Study employs the integrated evidence chain (Eff-iEC) method to organize, integrate, and evaluate its therapeutic efficacy in treating different diseases with the same therapy, and to investigate the feasibility of using Eff-iEC to evaluate the multifunctionality of TCM formulas. The evaluation covered Xiaoyao San's therapeutic effects on depression, premenstrual syndrome, chronic hepatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, dyspepsia, and menopausal syndrome. Concurrently, the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system was used for evaluation, and authoritative medical documents were incorporated to corroborate the recognition of Xiaoyao San within the medical community. Depression and menopausal syndrome received higher ratings than other conditions in the Eff-iEC, GRADE, and Medical Community Recognition assessments. The Eff-iEC evidence grade for Xiaoyao San was rated as "High" or above for chronic hepatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, dyspepsia, and menopausal syndrome. Premenstrual syndrome received a "Moderate ⁺" rating. The GRADE evidence level was "Low-〇〇⨁⨁" for depression, premenstrual syndrome, and chronic hepatitis; "Moderate-〇⨁⨁⨁" for dyspepsia and menopausal syndrome; and "Very Low-〇〇〇⨁" for irritable bowel syndrome. Depression and menopausal syndrome had the highest inclusion frequency, appearing in all 4 categories. Premenstrual syndrome, chronic hepatitis, and dyspepsia are not recommended in Western medical guidelines, but they are included in TCM guidelines, the China National Basic Medical Insurance Drug List, and the China National Essential Drug List. Irritable bowel syndrome appears only in the China National Basic Medical Insurance Drug List and China National Essential Drug List. The evaluation results obtained using the Eff-iEC method align with Medical Community Recognition, providing an objective and comprehensive assessment of Xiaoyao San's efficacy. The findings suggest that Xiaoyao San has strong evidence for treating depression and menopausal syndrome. However, further experimental and clinical trials are needed to assess its efficacy in treating premenstrual syndrome, chronic hepatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and dyspepsia. These results support the clinical efficacy and rational use of Xiaoyao San, expand the application scope of the Eff-iEC method, and offer valuable insights and methodological references for the comparative evaluation of multifunctional TCM formulas.

Background Pneumoconiosis remains a critical occupational disease in China. As a major industrial province, Hebei historically faced severe challenges regarding this condition. The 1986 national epidemiological survey ranked Hebei sixth in reported pneumoconiosis cases nationwide. Objective To analyze 76 years of pneumoconiosis data (1949–2024) in Hebei Province to provide evidence-based support for prevention and control strategies. Methods Occupational pneumoconiosis cases diagnosed in Hebei from 1949 to 2024 were included. Five-year intervals were used to analyze incidence composition, dust exposure duration, age at first diagnosis, and age at death. A hybrid model, integrating autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) with generalized regression neural network (GRNN), was employed to predict case numbers for the 2025−2030 period. Results A total of 36107 cases of pneumoconiosis were recorded (2.10% female) in Hebei from 1949 to 2024. Stages I, II, and III accounted for 77.35%, 16.45%, and 6.20%, respectively. Silicosis (55.60%), coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (27.24%), and pottery workers’ pneumoconiosis (8.88%) were the predominant types. Observed trends included a shortened dust exposure duration [silicosis: (12.78±7.063) years in 2020–2024] and an increasing age at first diagnosis [(54.01±7.499) years in 2020–2024]. The case-fatality rate was 14.84%, with a rising age at death [(82.26±9.632) years in 2015–2019]. Three incidence peaks (1963, 1984, and 2014) correlated with national policies and industrialization phases. The number of pneumoconiosis cases showed a decreasing trend from 2015 to 2024. Chengde and Tangshan were identified as current high-risk areas. The ARIMA-GRNN model projected annual cases between 416 and 429 during 2025–2030. Conclusion In the past decade，the number of pneumoconiosis cases in Hebei Province had shown a decreasing trend, it is projected to plateau with no significant decline over the next five years. Furthermore, challenges such as the proportion of silicosis remaining high and shortened dust exposure duration remain severe. It is recommended to focus on key regions like Chengde (ore mining) and Tangshan (ceramics industry). A comprehensive strategy integrating stricter regulation, technological controls, model innovation, and targeted interventions should be implemented to achieve a further substantial reduction in pneumoconiosis incidence.

Background Pneumoconiosis remains a critical occupational disease in China. As a major industrial province, Hebei historically faced severe challenges regarding this condition. The 1986 national epidemiological survey ranked Hebei sixth in reported pneumoconiosis cases nationwide. Objective To analyze 76 years of pneumoconiosis data (1949–2024) in Hebei Province to provide evidence-based support for prevention and control strategies. Methods Occupational pneumoconiosis cases diagnosed in Hebei from 1949 to 2024 were included. Five-year intervals were used to analyze incidence composition, dust exposure duration, age at first diagnosis, and age at death. A hybrid model, integrating autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) with generalized regression neural network (GRNN), was employed to predict case numbers for the 2025−2030 period. Results A total of 36107 cases of pneumoconiosis were recorded (2.10% female) in Hebei from 1949 to 2024. Stages I, II, and III accounted for 77.35%, 16.45%, and 6.20%, respectively. Silicosis (55.60%), coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (27.24%), and pottery workers’ pneumoconiosis (8.88%) were the predominant types. Observed trends included a shortened dust exposure duration [silicosis: (12.78±7.063) years in 2020–2024] and an increasing age at first diagnosis [(54.01±7.499) years in 2020–2024]. The case-fatality rate was 14.84%, with a rising age at death [(82.26±9.632) years in 2015–2019]. Three incidence peaks (1963, 1984, and 2014) correlated with national policies and industrialization phases. The number of pneumoconiosis cases showed a decreasing trend from 2015 to 2024. Chengde and Tangshan were identified as current high-risk areas. The ARIMA-GRNN model projected annual cases between 416 and 429 during 2025–2030. Conclusion In the past decade，the number of pneumoconiosis cases in Hebei Province had shown a decreasing trend, it is projected to plateau with no significant decline over the next five years. Furthermore, challenges such as the proportion of silicosis remaining high and shortened dust exposure duration remain severe. It is recommended to focus on key regions like Chengde (ore mining) and Tangshan (ceramics industry). A comprehensive strategy integrating stricter regulation, technological controls, model innovation, and targeted interventions should be implemented to achieve a further substantial reduction in pneumoconiosis incidence.

Objective To understand the equity and influencing factors of maternal health service utilization in Changning District, Shanghai. Methods A convenience sampling method was used to conduct a questionnaire survey among mothers of children aged 1 to 1.5 years old who received health services from the child health care clinics and EPI clinics of 10 community health service centers in Changning District, Shanghai from March to April 2022. Count data was expressed by frequency and percentage. Chi-square analysis, binomial logistic regression analysis, and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze fairness-related factors. Rate difference, rate ratio and concentration index were used to represent fairness. Results A total of 696 subjects were investigated, with an average age of (33.35±4.76) years. There were statistically significant differences in service utilization among women with different household registrations only in early pregnancy registration (χ²=11.026, P=0.001) and postpartum visits (χ²=4.989, P=0.026). Women with a career showed differently in folic acid supplement (χ²=6.247, P=0.012), early pregnancy registration (χ²=12.989, P=0.002), physical examination in 42 days postpartum (χ²=4.446, P=0.035) and postpartum contraception (χ²=4.061, P=0.044), and the differences were statistically significant. Women with different monthly family income had a statistically significant difference in pre-pregnancy examination (χ²=8.977, P=0.030) and postpartum visit (χ²=16.114, P=0.001). There was a statistically significant difference between women with maternity insurance or not in the early pregnancy registration (χ²=10.576, P=0.001) and physical examination in 42 days postpartum (χ²=8.166, P=0.004). The results of the multivariate analysis showed that occupation (OR=2.616, 95% CI: 1.142-5.990) and maternity insurance (OR=4.490, 95% CI: 1.992~10.120) affected the utilization of service in early pregnancy registration. The monthly household income (OR=0.278, 95% CI: 0.124-0.625) affected the utilization of services in postpartum visit. At the same time, the monthly household income (10,000-19,999: OR=0.286, 95% CI: 0.090-0.907; ≥30,000: OR=0.180, 95% CI: 0.041-0.801) also affected the utilization of service in physical examination in 42 days postpartum. Conclusion The equity of maternal health care service utilization overall is good in central area in Shanghai, but there is still room for improvement. It is necessary to strengthen community mobilization, propagandize maternal health services, and expand the coverage of maternity insurance to improve the equity of maternal health service utilization and provide equal access to maternity health services.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of acupuncture on the neurotransmitter levels and gut microbiota in a mouse model of Tourette syndrome (TS). METHODS: Thirty-six male C57/BL6 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups using a random number table method: 3,3'-iminodipropionitrile (IDPN) group, control group, acupuncture group, and tiapride group, with 9 mice in each group. In the IDPN group, acupuncture group, and tiapride group, mice received daily intraperitoneal injections of IDPN (300 mg/kg body weight) for 7 consecutive days to induce stereotyped behaviors. Subsequently, in the acupuncture intervention group, standardized acupuncture treatment was administered for 14 consecutive days to IDPN-induced TS model mice. The selected acupoints included Baihui (DU 20), Yintang (DU 29), Waiguan (SJ 5), and Zulinqi (GB 41). In the tiapride group, mice were administered tiapride (50 mg/kg body weight) via oral gavage daily for 14 consecutive days. The control group, IDPN group, and acupuncture group received the same volume of saline orally for 14 consecutive days. Stereotypic behaviors were quantified through behavioral assessments. Neurotransmitter levels, including dopamine (DA), glutamate (Glu), and aspartate (ASP) in striatal tissue were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Dopamine transporter (DAT) expression levels were additionally quantified through quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Gut microbial composition was analyzed through 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing, while metabolic profiling was conducted using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). RESULTS: Acupuncture administration significantly attenuated stereotypic behaviors, concurrently reducing striatal levels of DA, Glu and ASP concentrations while upregulating DAT expression compared with untreated TS controls (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Comparative analysis identified significant differences in Muribaculaceae (P=0.001), Oscillospiraceae (P=0.049), Desulfovibrionaceae (P=0.001), and Marinifilaceae (P=0.014) following acupuncture intervention. Metabolomic profiling revealed alterations in 7 metabolites and 18 metabolic pathways when compared to the TS mice, which involved various amino acid metabolisms associated with DA, Glu, and ASP. CONCLUSIONS Acupuncture demonstrates significant modulatory effects on both central neurotransmitter systems and gut microbial ecology, thereby highlighting its dual therapeutic potential for TS management through gut-brain axis regulation.
Animals ; Tourette Syndrome/metabolism* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Neurotransmitter Agents/metabolism* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice

Addressing the enduring challenge of evaluating traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), the integrated evidence chain-based effectiveness evaluation of TCMs (Eff-iEC) has emerged. This paper explored its capacity through a demonstration study that evaluated the effectiveness evidence of six commonly used anti-hepatic fibrosis Chinese patent medicines (CPMs), including Biejiajian Pill (BP), Dahuang Zhechong Pill (DZP), Biejia Ruangan Compound (BRC), Fuzheng Huayu Capsule (FHC), Anluo Huaxian Pill (AHP), and Heluo Shugan Capsule (HSC), using both Eff-iEC and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. The recognition of these CPMs within the TCM academic community was also assessed through their inclusion in relevant medical documents. Results showed that the evidence of BRC and FHC received higher assessments in both Eff-iEC and GRADE system, while the assessments for others varied. Analysis of community recognition revealed that Eff-iEC more accurately reflects the clinical value of these CPMs, exhibiting superior evaluative capabilities. By breaking through the conventional pattern of TCMs effectiveness evaluation, Eff-iEC offers a novel epistemology that better aligns with the clinical realities and reasoning of TCMs, providing a coherent methodology for clinical decision-making, new drug evaluations, and health policy formulation.

An ideal dermal filler should integrate filling, repair, and anti-aging effects, with immediate tissue augmentation, slow degradation, and progressive stimulation of collagen regeneration. However, commonly used hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels, while effective for rapid filling, suffer from limited duration of support, weak cell adhesion, and an inability to promote collagen regeneration. Silk fibroin (SF), a natural protein from silkworm cocoons, is known for its excellent cell adhesion and collagen-stimulating abilities. However, its limited gelation capability restricts its potential application as a standalone injectable hydrogel. Based on a complementary strategy, this study combines the rapid gelling properties of HA with the collagen regenerative properties of SF to create a co-crosslinked HA-SF hydrogel. The composite hydrogel merges HA's rapid filling effect with SF's strong tissue adhesion and collagen-stimulating abilities. The formulation, physicochemical properties, degradation, biocompatibility, and filling effects of the HA-SF hydrogel were systematically investigated. HA-SF hydrogel exhibits excellent mechanical properties and ensures long-term support while maintaining injectability. Interestingly, after intradermal injection in the UVB-induced photoaging model, HA-SF hydrogel not only enhances hydrogel-cell interaction but also continues to stimulate collagen regeneration, especially type III collagen. This dual action achieves the biological effects of repair and anti-aging while maintaining the filling effect. Proteomic analysis confirms that repair and anti-aging effects are enhanced by the regulation of skin fibroblasts and modulation of amino acid and lipid metabolism. This composite hydrogel holds strong promise for clinical applications, offering a safer, long-lasting, and more natural injectable filler that combines filling, repair, and anti-aging into one system.

POEMS syndrome is a rare condition associated with plasma cell disorders， and it often involves multiple systems and has diverse clinical manifestations. This article reports two cases of POEMS syndrome with hepatosplenomegaly as the initial manifestation. During the course of the disease， the patients presented with lower limb weakness， hepatosplenomegaly， lymph node enlargement， ascites， hypothyroidism， positive M protein， and skin hyperpigmentation， and ¹⁸F-FDG PET-CT imaging revealed bone lesions mainly characterized by osteolytic changes and plasma cell tumors. There was an increase in the serum level of vascular endothelial growth factor. The patients were finally diagnosed with POEMS syndrome， and the symptoms were relieved after immunomodulatory treatment.

Objective:Exploring the association rules of factors influencing high hospitalization costs for cancer patients, providing references for hospitals to optimize medical cost management measures.Methods:In the inpatient case information system of a tertiary general hospital, the medical record homepages of inpatients in the DRG groups of the oncology department in 2022 were obtained. The upper four scores of hospitalization costs was used as the threshold for patient grouping. Patients with hospitalization costs≥this threshold were the high-cost group, while other patients were control group; 12 factors, including age, gender, and admission condition, etc, were considered as potential influencing factors of high hospitalization costs. FP-Growth and Apriori algorithms were used to excavate the potential association rules between the influencing factors of high hospitalization costs. Logistic regression was used to analyze the independent influencing factors of high hospitalization costs.Results:A total of 5 512 hospitalized patients were included, including 1 378 patients in the high-cost group. Thirteen validated strong association rules for factors influencing high hospitalization costs were obtained, of which the rule antecedents included age (≥70 years), number of days in hospital (≥7 days), other diagnoses (≥5), surgery, planned readmission, use of antibiotics, admission (general/critical), living admission score (61~99), level of care (level 1/level 2), non-day ward, criticality during hospitalisation. Logistic regression results showed that all nine influencing factors except gender, use of antibiotics, and readmission plans were independent influences on high hospitalization costs ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The joint application of FP-Growth and Apriori algorithm could effectively explore the association rules of high hospitalization costs for oncology patients. The early warning information mainly included the number of hospitalization days, the number of other diagnoses, surgeries, and so on. It was suggested that medical institutions can reasonably control the high hospitalization costs through clinical pathway management, diagnosis and treatment process reengineering, admission risk assessment, and multidisciplinary collaborative diagnosis and treatment strategies.