Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is a prevalent malignancy that afflicts the head and neck area and presents a high incidence of metastasis and invasion. Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment are essential for enhancing the quality of life and the survival rates of TSCC patients. The current treatment modalities for TSCC frequently suffer from a lack of specificity and efficacy. Nanoparticles with diagnostic and photothermal therapeutic properties may offer a new approach for the targeted therapy of TSCC. However, inadequate accumulation of photosensitizers at the tumor site diminishes the efficacy of photothermal therapy (PTT). This study modified gold nanodots (AuNDs) with the TSCC-targeting peptide HN-1 to improve the selectivity and therapeutic effects of PTT. The Au-HN-1 nanosystem effectively targeted the TSCC cells and was rapidly delivered to the tumor tissues compared to the AuNDs. The enhanced accumulation of photosensitizing agents at tumor sites achieved significant PTT effects in a mouse model of TSCC. Moreover, owing to its stable long-term fluorescence and high X-ray attenuation coefficient, the Au-HN-1 nanosystem can be used for fluorescence and computed tomography imaging of TSCC, rendering it useful for early tumor detection and accurate delineation of surgical margins. In conclusion, Au-HN-1 represents a promising nanomedicine for imaging-based diagnosis and targeted PTT of TSCC.
Tongue Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/diagnostic imaging* ; Animals ; Gold/chemistry* ; Mice ; Photothermal Therapy/methods* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Photosensitizing Agents ; Metal Nanoparticles ; Humans ; Cell Line, Tumor

BACKGROUND: Chronic liver disease (CLD), mainly non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is a significant public health concern worldwide. This study aims to quantify the burden of NAFLD in CLD globally and within China, using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2021, providing crucial insights for global and local health policies. METHODS: The study used comprehensive data from the GBD study 2021. It included estimates of prevalence, incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Age-standardized rates and average annual percent change (AAPC) from 2011 to 2021 were reported. A meticulous decomposition analysis was conducted. RESULTS: In 2021, there were 1582.5 million prevalent cases, 47.6 million incident cases, 1.4 million deaths, and 44.4 million DALYs attributable to CLD, globally. Among these, NAFLD has emerged as the predominant cause, accounting for 78.0% of all prevalent CLD cases (1234.7 million) and 87.2% of incident cases (41.5 million). Correspondingly, NAFLD had the highest age-standardized prevalence (15,017.5 per 100,000 population) and incidence (876.5 per 100,000 population) rates among CLDs. In addition, China's CLD age-standardized prevalence rate was 21,659.5 per 100,000 population, and the age-standardized incidence rate was 752.6 per 100,000 population, higher than the global average. From 2011 to 2021, the global prevalence rate of CLD increased slowly (AAPC = 0.17), consistent with the trend in China (AAPC = 0.23). Furthermore, the prevalence rate of NAFLD rose significantly in China (AAPC = 1.30) compared with the global average (AAPC = 0.91). Decomposition analysis also showed the worldwide increase in deaths and DALYs for NAFLD, which were primarily attributable to population growth and aging. CONCLUSIONS The burden of CLD and NAFLD remains substantial globally and within China in terms of high prevalence and incidence. As such, this underscores the need for targeted prevention and treatment strategies. These findings emphasize the importance of continued surveillance and research to mitigate the growing impact of liver diseases on global and Chinese health systems.
Humans ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/mortality* ; Global Burden of Disease ; China/epidemiology* ; Prevalence ; Male ; Disability-Adjusted Life Years ; Female ; Incidence ; Middle Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Adult ; Quality-Adjusted Life Years ; Liver Diseases/epidemiology* ; Aged

Objective:To understand the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcome in HIV-infected pregnant women and influencing factors in China and provide reference for the improvement of the health status of HIV-infected pregnant women and their newborns.Methods:Based on a mother-child cohort of HIV-infected pregnant women and children (PMTCT-MC-2005) established in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Yunnan Province and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, this study enrolled pregnant women with or without HIV infection as study subjects from January 2017 to June 2023, a total of 1 646 pregnant women (558 HIV-infected and 1 088 HIV-uninfected) were included, and 34 cases with missing data were excluded. The χ2 test was used to analyze the difference in the incidence adverse pregnancy outcome between two groups, and used logistic regression model to identify the influencing factors of adverse pregnancy outcome in HIV-infected pregnant women. Results:A total of 1 612 pregnant women were included in the study, in whom 541 were infected with HIV and 1 071 were not infected with HIV. The incidence of adverse pregnancy outcome was 18.8% (303/1 612), the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcome was 33.1% (179/541) in the HIV-infected pregnant women and 11.6% (124/1 071) in the pregnant women without HIV infection. The results of multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the influencing factors of adverse pregnancy outcome were age <35 years at delivery (a OR=0.64, 95% CI: 0.43-0.95) compared with the age ≥35 years and the duration of antiviral treatment over 10 years (a OR=0.43, 95% CI: 0.23-0.79) compared with less than one year. Conclusions:The incidence of adverse pregnancy outcome in HIV-infected pregnant women was high in some regions of China during 2017-2023. It is necessary for HIV-infected women to get pregnancy at appropriate time based on antiretroviral treatment effect and strengthen self-care to reduce the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcome.

Objective:To understand the negative conversion of syphilis-specific antibody in follow-up in 0-18 months-old children born to pregnant women with syphilis in China in 2021 and analyze the related factors.Methods:The basic information of pregnant women with syphilis and follow-up information of their children in 2021 were extracted from the National Management Information System for the Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and Hepatitis B. The logistic regression model was used to analyze related factors of negative conversion of syphilis-specific antibody.Results:In 2021, a total of 34 201 children was delivered by syphilis-infected pregnant women, and 23 592 (68.98%) children were included in this study. Negative conversion of syphilis-specific antibody occurred in 21 076 (89.34%) children, but not in 2 516 (10.66%) children. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified several factors associated with a higher probability of the negative conversion of syphilis-specific antibody: prophylactic benzathine penicillin injection at birth (a OR=1.35,95% CI:1.10-1.65), mother's age 26-30 years (a OR=1.22,95% CI:1.01-1.46), 36-40 years (a OR=1.34, 95% CI:1.09-1.64), other ethnic groups (a OR=1.19,95% CI:1.04-1.36), non-syphilis-specific antibody titers less than 1∶8 during pregnancy (a OR=1.56,95% CI:1.37-1.78), penicillin treatment (a OR=1.56,95% CI:1.23-1.98) and standardized treatment (a OR=1.21,95% CI:1.11-1.32). Conclusions:In 2021,the level of syphilitic-specific antibody negative conversion in follow-up in children born to pregnant women with syphilis was high in China. According to the factors associated with syphilis-specific antibody negative conversion, it is necessary to develop the follow-up strategies for the children born to pregnant women.

Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative joint disorder that adversely affects the quality of life of patients.Its pathological characteristics mainly involve the degeneration,destruction,and functional loss of articular cartilage.As one of the most crucial structures in the joint,articular cartilage is an avascular tissue composed of extracellular matrix synthesized by sparsely distributed chondrocytes.Chondrocyte apoptosis is one of the programmed cell death modalities of chondrocytes.During the normal physiological process,the proliferation and apoptosis of chondrocytes maintain a dynamic equilibrium,jointly safeguarding the homeostasis of articular cartilage.However,in the osteoarthritis process,the stimulation of related cytokines after tissue damage induces an imbalance between chondrocyte proliferation and apoptosis,resulting in excessive chondrocyte apoptosis,and subsequently leading to the degradation and degeneration of cartilage.Clinically,traditional Chinese medicine and its related therapeutic approaches remain one of the principal means for treating osteoarthritis in China.The traditional Chinese medicine,which are bioactive compounds extracted from traditional herbal medicines,has gradually gained recognition thanks to their convenient to take and remarkable therapeutic effect.Therefore,this review takes the signaling pathways involved in the inhibition of chondrocyte apoptosis by traditional Chinese medicine as the entry point,systematically retrieves and screens and summarizes relevant studies at home and abroad in the past five years,and analyzes the mechanism of action of related signaling pathways in the treatment of chondrocyte apoptosis in osteoarthritis by traditional Chinese Medicine,providing new options for the pharmacological treatment of osteoarthritis.

Objective:To investigate the application effect of web-based problem-based learning (WPBL) versus traditional teaching in the teaching of geriatric medicine courses.Methods:PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, CBMdisc, and Wanfang Data were searched for clinical studies on the application of WPBL in the teaching of geriatric medicine courses in China and globally published up to October 1, 2023. After literature screening, data extraction, and quality assessment, RevMan5.4.1 was used to perform a systematic review.Results:A total of 14 eligible articles were included in this study, with 1 436 medical students as the subjects and geriatric medicine as the content of teaching. The Meta-analysis showed that WPBL teaching had a better effect than traditional problem-based learning or lecture-based learning in the teaching of geriatric medicine courses and could improve the theoretical examination score [mean difference (MD)=3.53, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.77-5.29, P<0.001], operational skills (MD=5.92, 95%CI=2.67-9.18, P<0.001), critical thinking ability (MD=9.30, 95%CI=5.43-13.18, P<0.001), and teaching satisfaction (MD=1.75, 95%CI=1.49-2.01, P<0.001) among medical students. Conclusions:WPBL in the teaching of geriatric medicine courses can improve the theoretical examination score, operational skills, critical thinking skills, and teaching satisfaction among medical students.

Pain modulation encompasses a complex neurobiological process, in which the lateral habenula (LHb) plays a crucial role in integrating, regulating and modulating pain signals. It is also involved in pain-related memory functions associated with perception, transmission and regulation of pain. Furthermore, the LHb collaborates with structures such as the spinal dorsal horn, forebrain, and amygdala to form an essential neural circuit that contributes to sensitization, development of tolerance, and adaptation processes related to pain. However, there remains limited understanding regarding the specific roles and interactions among different neuron subtypes within the LHb concerning pain regulation. Additionally, further investigation is warranted to explore functional changes and plasticity within both the LHb and its associated neural circuits in chronic pain models. Future research endeavors should utilize advanced neuroimaging techniques alongside optogenetics and gene editing technologies to elucidate intricate neural circuits, cellular architecture, and molecular mechanisms governing LHb function in pain regulation. In conclusion, this paper aims to comprehensively review existing literature on the involvement of the LHb and its neural circuits in modulating pain, thereby enhancing our understanding of their neurobiological mechanisms while providing novel targets for precise therapeutic strategies aimed at alleviating pain.

Pain modulation encompasses a complex neurobiological process, in which the lateral habenula (LHb) plays a crucial role in integrating, regulating and modulating pain signals. It is also involved in pain-related memory functions associated with perception, transmission and regulation of pain. Furthermore, the LHb collaborates with structures such as the spinal dorsal horn, forebrain, and amygdala to form an essential neural circuit that contributes to sensitization, development of tolerance, and adaptation processes related to pain. However, there remains limited understanding regarding the specific roles and interactions among different neuron subtypes within the LHb concerning pain regulation. Additionally, further investigation is warranted to explore functional changes and plasticity within both the LHb and its associated neural circuits in chronic pain models. Future research endeavors should utilize advanced neuroimaging techniques alongside optogenetics and gene editing technologies to elucidate intricate neural circuits, cellular architecture, and molecular mechanisms governing LHb function in pain regulation. In conclusion, this paper aims to comprehensively review existing literature on the involvement of the LHb and its neural circuits in modulating pain, thereby enhancing our understanding of their neurobiological mechanisms while providing novel targets for precise therapeutic strategies aimed at alleviating pain.

Objective:To understand the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcome in HIV-infected pregnant women and influencing factors in China and provide reference for the improvement of the health status of HIV-infected pregnant women and their newborns.Methods:Based on a mother-child cohort of HIV-infected pregnant women and children (PMTCT-MC-2005) established in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Yunnan Province and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, this study enrolled pregnant women with or without HIV infection as study subjects from January 2017 to June 2023, a total of 1 646 pregnant women (558 HIV-infected and 1 088 HIV-uninfected) were included, and 34 cases with missing data were excluded. The χ2 test was used to analyze the difference in the incidence adverse pregnancy outcome between two groups, and used logistic regression model to identify the influencing factors of adverse pregnancy outcome in HIV-infected pregnant women. Results:A total of 1 612 pregnant women were included in the study, in whom 541 were infected with HIV and 1 071 were not infected with HIV. The incidence of adverse pregnancy outcome was 18.8% (303/1 612), the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcome was 33.1% (179/541) in the HIV-infected pregnant women and 11.6% (124/1 071) in the pregnant women without HIV infection. The results of multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the influencing factors of adverse pregnancy outcome were age <35 years at delivery (a OR=0.64, 95% CI: 0.43-0.95) compared with the age ≥35 years and the duration of antiviral treatment over 10 years (a OR=0.43, 95% CI: 0.23-0.79) compared with less than one year. Conclusions:The incidence of adverse pregnancy outcome in HIV-infected pregnant women was high in some regions of China during 2017-2023. It is necessary for HIV-infected women to get pregnancy at appropriate time based on antiretroviral treatment effect and strengthen self-care to reduce the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcome.