Objective: To analyze characteristics of hepatitis B infection in HBsAg-/HBV DNA+ blood donors in Taiyuan, so as to provide evidence for adjusting blood screening strategies. Methods: Blood samples of HBsAg-/HBV DNA+ donors were tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), chemiluminescence assay, nucleic acid qualitative test, and nucleic acid quantitative test. Data on HBsAg-/HBV DNA+ donors in Taiyuan region from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2024 were statistically analyzed to evaluate the detection rate, demographic characteristics, influencing factors of detection rate, nucleic acid quantitative results, and serological patterns of HBsAg-/HBV DNA+ donors. Results: From January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2024, 991 565 donor samples underwent nucleic acid testing in Taiyuan. A total of 309 HBsAg-/HBV DNA+ samples were detected, resulting in an HBsAg-/HBV DNA+ detection rate of 3.12 per 10 000. The detection rate varied significantly across different years (P<0.05). Males had a significantly higher HBsAg-/HBV DNA+ detection rate than females, first-time donors had a higher rate than repeat donors, and whole blood donors had a higher rate than apheresis donors (P<0.05). The detection rate also differed significantly among age groups (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that gender, age, donation frequency, and donation type were all influencing factors for HBsAg-/HBV DNA+ detection (all P<0.05). The predominant serological patterns among HBsAg-/HBV DNA+ donors were HBsAb+/HBcAb+ (43.69%, 135/309) or HBcAb+ alone (24.27%, 75/309). Viral load was detectable in 53.40% (165/309) of the HBsAg-/HBV DNA+ donors. Among these, 61.21% (101/165) donors had a viral load<20 IU/mL, and 94.55% (156/165) had a viral load<200 IU/mL. Donors with viral load<200 IU/mL primarily exhibited HBsAb+/HBcAb+ (41.67%, 65/156) or HBcAb+alone (36.54%, 57/156) serological patterns. Conclusion: The prevalence of HBsAg-/HBV DNA+ is low among blood donors in Taiyuan. Higher detection rates were observed in the 46-55 years age group, males, first-time donors, and whole blood donors. HBsAg-/HBV DNA+ donors exhibit specific serological patterns and generally have low viral loads, indicating a potential residual transfusion risk. It is recommended to add HBcAb testing, together with high-sensitivity nucleic acid testing technologies and donor follow-up, to ensure blood safety and guide donor reentry.

Background: Sex-based differences often influence the therapeutic efficacy and safety of medications. Semen Cuscutae is a traditional tonic botanical drug with sex-specific characteristics, traditionally indicated for conditions such as impotence (exclusive to males) and restless fetus (exclusive to pregnant females). However, most existing studies have focused on a single sex. Objective: To evaluate the sex-specific biological effects of Semen Cuscutae in rats and explore its molecular mechanisms, with the aim of uncovering its pharmacological characteristics through a multiomics approach. Methods: A traditional aqueous extract of Semen Cuscutae (SCA) was used as the experimental material. Forty adult Sprague-Dawley rats (equal numbers of males and females) were randomly divided into 4 groups: male control, male SCA treatment (240 mg/kg), female control, and female SCA treatment (240 mg/kg), with 10 rats in each group. The biological effects were comprehensively evaluated using a combination of open field test, biochemical analyses, proteomics, and gut microbiota profiling. Results: As a tonic botanical drug, SCA appeared to directly affect the mental and behavioral state of rats. It significantly altered the time spent by rats in the center area during the open field test, showing a sex-dependent reversal of behaviors. Proteomic analysis of brain tissue identified 624 differentially expressed proteins across the groups, with 10 key differentially expressed proteins related to sex differences, including fibroblast growth factor receptor 3, transcription elongation factor A protein-like 1, 40S ribosomal protein S25, neural cell adhesion molecule, and anion exchange protein 2 (SLC4A2). Enrichment analysis revealed that in male rats, SCA upregulated proteins involved in biological processes such as ribosome function and energy derivation, supporting protein synthesis and enhancing energy supply, showing an overall gain effect. In contrast, in female rats, SCA downregulated proteins associated with processes such as positive regulation of target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling and vesicle transport, suggesting suppression of neuronal signaling and material transport, indicative of a shift toward a more restrained physiological state. Furthermore, SCA reduced gut microbiota diversity in female rats but increased it in males, including the abundance of Akkermansia, which may serve as a crucial mediator. Conclusion: Overall, the biological effects of SCA differ significantly between male and female rats, with evidence suggesting greater health benefits in males. These findings help elucidate the scientific basis of its traditional applications and provide guidance for the precise application of SCA as a functional health food.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the mechanism of cordycepin in delaying the transformation from acute kidney injury （AKI） to chronic kidney disease （CKD） （short for “AKI-CKD”）. METHODS Network pharmacology and bioinformatics were used to analyze and predict the signaling pathways of cordycepin in delaying AKI-CKD progression and its relationship with the ferroptosis pathway. Cell experiments were performed to verify the predicted results. Human renal tubular epithelial HK-2 cells were divided into blank group， cordycepin group， model group， and H 2 O 2 +cordycepin group. Except for the blank group and cordycepin group， all other groups were treated with 150 μmol/L H 2 O 2 for 72 h to induce persistent oxidative stress injury in cells. After 72 h of cordycepin （40 μmol/L） intervention， the protein and mRNA expression levels of glutathione peroxidase 4 （GPX4）， long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4 （ACSL4），nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2（Nrf2）， and heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1） in cells were detected. Furthermore， the Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 was added on the basis of H 2 O 2 +cordycepin to verify the role of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. RESULTS Network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis showed that there were 42 overlapping genes related to AKI-CKD and ferroptosis that interact with cordycepin ferroptosis， among which 38 were annotated as ferroptosis-related genes. HO-1 and Nrf2 might be important targets for cordycepin to inhibit ferroptosis. The binding energies of cordycepin with Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins were －8.5 and －6.7 kcal/mol， respectively. Cell experiments showed that compared with the model group， the protein and mRNA expression levels of GPX4， Nrf2 and HO-1 were significantly increased （ P ＜0.05），while the protein and mRNA expression levels of ACSL4 were significantly decrease d （ P ＜0.05） in the H 2 O 2 +cordycepin group. After the addition of the Nrf2 inhibitor ML385， the effects of cordycepin on the above proteins and mRNA were significantly reversed （ P ＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Cordycepin can inhibit ferroptosis by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway， reduce persistent oxidative stress injury of renal tubular epithelial cells， and delay the progression of AKI-CKD.

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical efficacy of autologous parathyroid transplantation into the forearm brachioradialis muscle during thyroid surgery and analyze the timing of graft function recovery. Methods: A total of 52 patients undergoing thyroid surgery with autologous parathyroid transplantation were selected.Serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were measured at various postoperative intervals, and instances of hypoparathyroidism were recorded. Results: Postoperative PTH levels on the transplant side were significantly higher than on the non-transplant side from week 1 to 1 year. Effective graft rates were 1.9% on day 1, 40.4% at week 1, 84.6% at 1 month, and stabilized at around 73% after 1 year. Transient hypoparathyroidism was observed in 17.3% of patients, with no permanent cases. Conclusion Autologous parathyroid transplantation into the forearm brachioradialis muscle effectively preserves parathyroid function, with grafts regaining optimal function within 2–3 months and the graft still having good secretory function 1 year after surgery.

Objective: To characterize the sequence polymorphism of HLA-A, -B, and -C loci in the northern Han Chinese population and to evaluate their selection signals and phylogenetic patterns based on long-read sequencing data. Methods: A total of 408 unrelated healthy blood donors were enrolled. Long-read sequencing of HLA-A, -B, and -C loci was performed using the PacBio Sequel II platform. The Ewens-Watterson neutrality test, sliding-window nucleotide diversity (π) and Tajima′s D analyses were conducted, together with genetic distance heatmaps, principal coordinates analysis (PCoA), and maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis to assess polymorphism distribution, selection signals, and phylogenetic structure across the three loci. Results: The analyzed sequence lengths for the HLA-A, -B, and -C loci were 3 257 bp, 3 794 bp, and 3 831 bp, respectively; the numbers of locus-specific sequence types were 44, 82, and 56, with corresponding locus-specific sequence type diversities of 0.905 2, 0.964 9, and 0.939 8, respectively. The Ewens-Watterson test showed no significant deviation from neutrality (P>0.05). Sliding-window analysis revealed elevated π and Tajima′s D values in exons 2 and 3 as well as in certain intronic regions of HLA-A and HLA-B, whereas HLA-C exhibited relatively lower overall diversity. Genetic distance heatmaps, PCoA, and phylogenetic analysis consistently showed clear clustering in HLA-A and HLA-C, while HLA-B displayed the highest phylogenetic heterogeneity. Conclusion: HLA-A, -B, and -C gene sequences in the northern Chinese Han population exhibit high levels of polymorphism and marked regional heterogeneity. HLA-B shows greater diversity, stronger signals of selection, and more complex phylogenetic structure compared with HLA-A and HLA-C.

The digitization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has generated vast amounts of data. However, these data are characterized by significant heterogeneity and complex semantic structures, posing substantial challenges for systematic integration and intelligent analysis, and limiting its potential for modern clinical and computational research. To address the challenges posed by the high heterogeneity and complex structure in TCM data, we designed and developed the TCM Data Hub platform, which is powered by the YiYuan large language models (LLMs). This platform aims to enhance intelligent data processing capabilities and unlock the potential for clinical application of TCM data through systematic integration and efficient utilization, thereby bridging the gap between traditional knowledge and modern computational research. This study first analyzed the heterogeneity and complexity of TCM information with respect to data types, structures, and semantics. A standardized data framework was constructed to enhance data integration and interoperability. Based on the TCM Intelligent Computing Platform of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, we trained the YiYuan LLMs to acquire domain-specific semantic understanding of TCM, thereby improving the platform’s comprehension of specialized terminology and knowledge systems. Leveraging the natural language processing capabilities of the LLMs, we developed a human-in-the-loop data processing system to enable efficient extraction, cleansing, and structured organization of TCM data. In addition, utilizing Vue and Java technologies, we developed multiple LLM-powered intelligent agents and systems, including a human-in-the-loop data processing system, as well as automated prescription mining and network pharmacology analysis agents. Task-specific agents tailored to TCM data processing were developed to enhance the model’s effectiveness in clinical knowledge discovery. System functionality and platform infrastructure were implemented using Java and Vue technologies.The TCM Data Hub platform has completed system construction and core functionality implementation. It supported integrated management and efficient access to 8 key types of TCM data: prescriptions, materia medica, ingredients, targets, diseases (Western medicine), diseases (TCM), syndromes, and therapeutic methods. The human-in-the-loop data processing system achieved an accuracy of 95.34% in structuring TCM data and supported annotation for data requiring manual labeling. The intelligent agent-driven big-data analytics module enabled 1-click, end-to-end workflows for TCM prescription mining, herb-syndrome association analysis, network pharmacology, and molecular biology research, completing a full data mining task in approximately 30 minutes. Users can interact with and manipulate data through a visual front-end interface. The system demonstrated stable performance, strong scalability, and a user-friendly experience. Empowered by the YiYuan LLMs, the TCM Data Hub platform significantly improves the accessibility, usability, and intelligence of TCM data. It effectively bridges traditional TCM knowledge with modern intelligent technologies, providing robust data support and intelligent tools for TCM research and clinical applications.

ObjectiveTo investigate whether intestinal deficiency of lanosterol synthase （LSS）， a key enzyme in cholesterol synthesis， influences the progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease （MASLD） by regulating intestinal cholesterol absorption and immune response. MethodsLSS heterozygous knockout （LSS^+/-） mice and wild-type （WT） controls were generated using CRISPR/Cas9 technology and fed either a high-fat diet （HFD） or regular chow （CHOW）. The model was validated by genotyping. Hepatic steatosis was assessed by HE and oil red O staining. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the localization and expression of NPC1L1 and CD36 proteins in the intestine. Western blot analysis was performed to measure JNK phosphorylation and TLR4 protein levels in intestinal tissues. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （qPCR） was employed to examine the mRNA expression of TLR4 and IL-6. ResultsLSS^+/- mice were successfully validated by genotyping and reduced intestinal LSS protein expression. HE and oil red O staining of liver sections showed that， compared with WT mice fed a CHOW diet， WT mice fed a HFD exhibited a marked increase in hepatic lipid vacuoles. In contrast， compared with HFD-fed WT mice， HFD-fed LSS^+/- mice displayed significantly attenuated hepatic lipid deposition and reduced serum ALT levels （P<0.05）. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that， compared with WT mice， the expression of the cholesterol absorption protein NPC1L1 in the intestinal villi of LSS^+/- mice was downregulated under both CHOW and HFD conditions （P_HFD<0.001）. Conversely， the expression of the fatty acid transporter CD36 was upregulated in the intestines of LSS^+/- mice （P_CHOW<0.05， P_HFD<0.01）. Western blot analysis demonstrated that， compared with WT mice， TLR4 protein expression in the intestines of LSS^+/- mice significantly increased under both CHOW and HFD conditions （both P<0.05）. JNK phosphorylation level was significantly elevated in LSS^+/- mice under CHOW condition （both P<0.05）. Under HFD condition， total JNK protein expression increased， but its phosphorylation level showed no significant change. qPCR analysis showed that， compared with WT mice， the mRNA levels of TLR4 （P_CHOW<0.01， P_HFD<0.000 1） and IL-6 （P_CHOW<0.001， P_HFD<0.01） were significantly upregulated in the intestines of LSS^+/-mice. ConclusionLSS deficiency counteracts hepatic lipid deposition by orchestrating a synergistic reprogramming involving restricted intestinal cholesterol absorption， enhanced fatty acid utilization， and activation of immune pathways， suggesting intestinal LSS as a potential therapeutic target of MASLD.

ObjectiveTo investigate the platelet metabolomic characteristics of the rat model of coronary heart disease （CHD） with blood stasis syndrome （BSS） based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry （UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS）， screen potential biomarkers and metabolic pathway information， and elucidate the association mechanism between platelet metabolic disorders and myocardial injury. MethodsA total of 12 rats were randomized into a normal group and a modle group. The rat model of CHD-BSS was established by continuous high-fat feeding， intragastric administration of vitamin D3 in divided doses combined with subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol. Additionally， changes in standard lead Ⅱ electrocardiogram （ECG） and myocardial histopathological alterations of rats in the two groups were observed to evaluate myocardial injury in the modle group. After preprocessing of the untargeted metabolomic data of platelet samples from the two groups， multivariate statistical analysis and differential screening were performed sequentially. Principal component analysis （PCA） was performed to verify the separation of metabolic profiles of samples between groups. An orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis （OPLS-DA） model was then constructed to preliminarily screen potential differential metabolites based on model parameters. Secondary screening was conducted with the fold change of metabolite expression to finally identify metabolites with significant intergroup differences， and metabolic pathway enrichment analysis was carried out based on these differential metabolites. Finally， potential platelet-specific biomarkers were identified based on receiver operating characteristic（ROC） curves. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the modle group presented obvious elevation of the J point and an ST-segment elevation greater than 0.1 mV on ECG， as well as pathological injuries such as loose arrangement of fibers and cellular vacuolar degeneration in the myocardial tissue. A total of 370 differentially expressed metabolites were dysregulated in the modle group， involving 8 significantly enriched metabolic pathways，such as purine metabolism， arachidonic acid metabolism， oxidative phosphorylation and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK） signaling pathway. Nine differential metabolites enriched in these pathways showed statistically significant differences in content. ROC curve analysis revealed that the area under the curve（AUC） of all characteristic metabolites was higher than 0.8. Among them， the AUC values of four metabolites， including sphinganine 1-phosphate， sphingosine 1-phosphate， 12-ketoleukotriene B₄ and 14，15-dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid， reached 1.0， indicating their potential as biomarkers. ConclusionPlatelet metabolic characteristics are significantly altered in the rat model of CHD-BSS. The screened potential biomarkers possess favorable diagnostic performance. The pathological changes mediated by these metabolites， including inflammatory response， thrombosis， and energy metabolism disorders， serve as critical mechanisms for abnormal platelet activation and subsequent myocardial injury. Platelet metabolomics provides a new perspective for the screening of biomarkers and research on pathological mechanisms of CHD-BSS.

Background Silicosis is a fatal form of pulmonary fibrosis caused by the inhalation of silica dust. Although the underlying pathogenesis remains unclear, and the macrophage-mediated immune response plays a central role in its development. Objective To investigate the expression, functional role, and upstream regulatory mechanism of C-C motif chemokine ligand 22 (CCL22) in silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Methods Through bioinformatics analysis, we identified CCL22 as a potential key factor in pulmonary fibrosis. We established in vitro models by stimulating human monocytic leukemia cells (THP-1) and peripheral blood mononuclear cell-derived macrophages (PBMC-m) with crystalline silica (CS). The regulation of CCL22 expression by CS was validated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Subsequently, a conditioned co-culture system comprising macrophages and lung epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) was developed to evaluate the effects of CCL22 on lung epithelial cell function. Furthermore, the molecular mechanisms underlying CS-induced CCL22 secretion by macrophages were investigated using bioinformatics analysis, Western blot, specific inhibitors, qRT-PCR, and ELISA. Results Bioinformatics analysis identified CCL22 as a key upregulated molecule in pulmonary fibrosis. In vitro experiments confirmed that CS treatment significantly enhanced CCL22 mRNA transcription and protein secretion in THP-1 and PBMC-m cells (P<0. 0001). In the co-culture system, supernatant from CS-stimulated macrophages with stable CCL22 knockdown significantly inhibited the scratch-healing ability and fibrotic process of BEAS-2B cells, and reversed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype compared to the control group. Mechanism studies found that, compared to other transcription factors such as signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), the inhibition of of specific protein 1 (SP1) most significantly attenuated the CS-induced upregulation of CCL22. Furthermore, pathway inhibition experiments demonstrated that inhibiting extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) reduced both CCL22 expression and p-SP1. Conversely, SP1 intervention did not affect ERK activation. Conclusion CS promotes CCL22 secretion by macrophages through the Raf/ERK-Sp1 signaling pathway, thereby driving fibrotic changes in pulmonary epithelial cells.

Degenerative retinoschisis(RS)is a common peripheral retinal degeneration that typically remains asymptomatic and follows a benign clinical course. However, its morphological resemblance to rhegmatogenous retinal detachment(RRD)presents a diagnostic challenge, as the two conditions demand fundamentally different management and carry distinct prognoses. Precise differentiation is therefore clinically imperative. Recent advances in multimodal imaging have substantially refined the diagnostic accuracy and differential assessment of degenerative RS, establishing spectral-domain optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT)as the definitive reference standard. When the disease progresses to progressive symptomatic schisis-related retinal detachment(PSSRD), prompt surgical intervention, including scleral buckling, pars plana vitrectomy, or a combined approach, is mandated to preserve visual function. Clinical decision-making must be individualized, with the surgical strategy carefully tailored to the specific characteristics of eachcase. This review provides a systematic synthesis of current evidence on the natural history, imaging hallmarks, and surgical management of degenerative RS and its complications, aiming to inform and optimize clinical practice.