The multimorbidity of rheumatoid arthritis （RA） and periodontitis （PD） has drawn increasing attention， as both conditions are characterized by chronic inflammation， immune dysregulation， and progressive bone destruction. Modern research confirms that PD is a significant risk factor for RA development， and their coexistence mutually exacerbates disease progression. However， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） currently lacks a systematic theoretical explanation for this complex multimorbid relationship. This study， based on the TCM theory of abnormal collateral， thoroughly examines the intrinsic connection between RA and PD multimorbidity， proposing "abnormal collateral as the pivot， with accumulated toxins eroding bone" as the core TCM pathogenesis. The research elucidates PD as the "origin of abnormal collateral"， where its pathogens act as toxic factors that invade the joints through collaterals， triggering RA via mechanisms such as molecular mimicry. The dynamic pathological progression of RA-PD multimorbidity can be described as follows： the displacement of Ying and Wei at the microscopic level manifests as immune hyperactivation， leading to collateral malnutrition； heat-toxins traversing collaterals induce collateral hyperactivity， resulting in pathological angiogenesis； ultimately， toxin accumulation at the pivotal abnormal collateral site erodes bone， activating the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand （RANKL）-receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B （RANK） signaling pathway-driven osteoclast differentiation. This theoretical framework innovatively integrates modern findings in oral microbiology， immune-inflammation， and bone metabolism， offering a holistic and dynamic perspective to understand the complexity of multimorbidity. Given the limited efficacy of current periodontal treatments for RA and the scarcity of reported TCM compound interventions for multimorbidity， the abnormal collateral theory proposes a systematic intervention strategy centered on "governing diseases through collaterals and regulating collaterals with herbs"， along with TCM therapeutic principles such as "unblocking， clearing， and nourishing collaterals". Potential herbal treatments for multimorbidity are also highlighted. Future research should focus on refining TCM syndrome patterns in multimorbid patients and leveraging omics technologies for deeper exploration， thereby providing a theoretical foundation and research direction for TCM in addressing complex multimorbid conditions.

The multimorbidity of rheumatoid arthritis （RA） and periodontitis （PD） has drawn increasing attention， as both conditions are characterized by chronic inflammation， immune dysregulation， and progressive bone destruction. Modern research confirms that PD is a significant risk factor for RA development， and their coexistence mutually exacerbates disease progression. However， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） currently lacks a systematic theoretical explanation for this complex multimorbid relationship. This study， based on the TCM theory of abnormal collateral， thoroughly examines the intrinsic connection between RA and PD multimorbidity， proposing "abnormal collateral as the pivot， with accumulated toxins eroding bone" as the core TCM pathogenesis. The research elucidates PD as the "origin of abnormal collateral"， where its pathogens act as toxic factors that invade the joints through collaterals， triggering RA via mechanisms such as molecular mimicry. The dynamic pathological progression of RA-PD multimorbidity can be described as follows： the displacement of Ying and Wei at the microscopic level manifests as immune hyperactivation， leading to collateral malnutrition； heat-toxins traversing collaterals induce collateral hyperactivity， resulting in pathological angiogenesis； ultimately， toxin accumulation at the pivotal abnormal collateral site erodes bone， activating the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand （RANKL）-receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B （RANK） signaling pathway-driven osteoclast differentiation. This theoretical framework innovatively integrates modern findings in oral microbiology， immune-inflammation， and bone metabolism， offering a holistic and dynamic perspective to understand the complexity of multimorbidity. Given the limited efficacy of current periodontal treatments for RA and the scarcity of reported TCM compound interventions for multimorbidity， the abnormal collateral theory proposes a systematic intervention strategy centered on "governing diseases through collaterals and regulating collaterals with herbs"， along with TCM therapeutic principles such as "unblocking， clearing， and nourishing collaterals". Potential herbal treatments for multimorbidity are also highlighted. Future research should focus on refining TCM syndrome patterns in multimorbid patients and leveraging omics technologies for deeper exploration， thereby providing a theoretical foundation and research direction for TCM in addressing complex multimorbid conditions.

Clinical chemotherapy for prostate cancer is still compromised by high treatment thresholds and severe off-target toxicity of drugs. Given the limited progress in improving therapeutic outcomes and reducing toxicity with the existing toolbox, efforts to broaden the chemotherapeutic window are highly desired. Here, we discover that gossypol (GSP, a natural compound) dramatically enhances the chemosensitivity of cabazitaxel (CTX), even at previously ineffective concentrations. Based on this interesting finding, we exploit a carrier-free chemotherapeutic nano-booster for prostate cancer treatment, which is molecularly co-assembled by GSP and cabazitaxel (CTX). GSP not only readily forms nanoassembly with CTX, but also functions as a chemotherapeutic enhancer that unlocks an ultra-low-dose chemotherapeutic window. Not only that, precise dual-drug nanoassembly confers CTX a significantly larger maximum tolerable dose. As expected, the nano-booster exerts striking therapeutic benefits in mouse prostate tumor xenograft models. This study advances chemotherapeutic window expansion and self-sensitized chemotherapy toward clinical applicability.

Objective:To investigate the association between the metabolic score for visceral fat(METS-VF)and sarcopenia in older adults in China.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted.A total of 1 262 participants aged ≥60 years old who did not diagnose with sarcopenia in 2011 and had complete follow-up data in 2015 were selected from the China health and retirement longitudinal survey(CHARLS). Participants were divided into the low METS-VF group (n=621)and the high METS-VF group (n=641), and then the corrleation between METS-VF and sarcopenia was analyzed.Results:The inverse probability of treatment weighting(IPTW)was used to balance all covariates between the low METS-VF group and high METS-VF group.The results showed that 30 participants in the low METS-VF group and 47 participants in the high METS-VF group were diagnosed with sarcopenia, with prevalence rates of 4.83%(30/621)and 7.33%(47/641), respectively.The difference in the prevalence of sarcopenia between the two groups was statistically significant after IPTW ( χ2=3.934, P=0.048, SMD=0.150). Logistic regression analysis showed that, after adjusting for various confounders, high METS-VF was significantly associated with an increased risk of sarcopenia in older adults( OR=2.130, 95% CI: 1.294~3.572, P=0.003). Subgroup analyses further indicated that individuals without cardiovascular disease had a relatively higher risk of sarcopenia( P for interaction=0.032). Conclusions:METS-VF is associated with an increased risk of sarcopenia in older adults in China, and its predictive and diagnostic value warrants further investigation.

Objective:To analyze the disease burden and changing trend of pancreatic cancer in our country from 1990 to 2021, and predict the incidence and mortality trends of pancreatic cancer from 2022 to 2036.Methods:Utilizing the data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 Study, the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), and disability-adjusted life rate (DALY) of pancreatic cancer in our country from 1990 to 2021 were evaluated. DALY is calculated by adding the number of years of life lost due to pancreatic cancer to the years of life lost due to disability. The Joinpoint model was used to calculate the average annual percentage change (AAPC), the age-period-cohort model was applied to control the influence of age, period and birth cohort, and the Bayesian age-period-cohort model was used to predict the incidence and mortality trends of pancreatic cancer in our country from 2022 to 2036.Results:Compared with 1990, the data of ASIR, ASMR and age-standardized disability-adjusted life years (DALY) rates of pancreatic cancer in our country in 2021 all increased, and the increase in men was more significant than that in women. The peaks of morbidity and mortality in 1990 and 2021 were both occurred in the elderly. The incidence rate, mortality rate and changes of men in all age groups were higher than those of women. The changes in the age-standardized DALY rate were mainly reflected in the male population. The first peaks of the age-standardized DALY rate in 1990 and 2021 both occurred at the age of 70-74, and the second peak of the age-standardized DALY rate in 2021 shifted to the age of 85-89. The peak rate of age-standardized DALY in females is earlier than that in males. The AAPC of ASIR and ASMR for all genders of pancreatic cancer in our country from 1990 to 2021 was 0.72 (95% CI: 0.50-0.94, P<0.001) and 0.56 (95% CI: 0.31-0.82, P<0.001), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant. In our country men with pancreatic cancer, ASIR (AAPC=0.89, 95% CI: 0.68-1.10, P<0.001) and ASMR (AAPC=0.71, 95% CI: 0.49-0.93, P<0.001) were compared with ASIR (AAPC=0.48, 95% CI: ) in women. 0.22-0.73, P<0.001) and ASMR (AAPC=0.33, 95% CI: 0.08-0.58, P=0.010) increased rapidly, and the difference was statistically significant. The ASDR of all genders showed an upward trend (AAPC=0.36, 95% CI: 0.18-0.54, P<0.001), and the difference was statistically significant. The incidence rate and mortality rate of all genders are on the rise. When the age of the population is over 60 years old, the incidence and mortality of specific diseases show an upward trend with the delay of the birth cohort. It is expected that from 2022 to 2036, the ASIR and ASMR of both men and women will increase annuallyand eventually double. Conclusion:From 1990 to 2021, the burden of pancreatic cancer in our country has generally shown an increasing trend, and it is expected that the disease burden will further increase in the future.

Objective To evaluate the application of Cystatin C(Cys C)international primary reference material and national secondary reference materials for quantity transfer in seven conventional systems.Methods Seven Cys C reagents from different manufacturers commonly used in clinical laboratories were used to simultaneously measure two standard substances[ERM-DA471/IFCC,GBW(E)091173～6]and 42 individual serum samples.The theoretical and measured values of the standard substances were linearly fitted,and the measured values of the single serum samples were substituted into the fitting equation to obtain the calibrated values,and the measured values and calibrated values were compared with CLSI EP9-A3 file.Results The theoretical and measured values of ERM-DA471/IFCC and GBW(E)091173～6 were linearly fitted,and the regression equations were Y=0.941X+0.159,Y=0.963X+0.162,respectively,with correlation coefficients of 1.000(taking system B as an example).All system analysis models were analyzed using Passing-Bablok regression analysis.The comparison bias between the calibration values and measurement values of two standards in seven systems were-20.38%～10.58%and-16.76%～9.90%,respectively,with the same bias trend.The comparison bias of the calibrated values of the two standard substances was-4.18%～2.31%.The calibration of the standards had a significant improvement for the bias between calibration value and measurement value exceeding±4%.The bias of the measured values in the pairwise combinations of each system at each medical decision level was-17.87%～14.97%and the bias range of GBW(E)091173～6 calibration values at each medical decision level was-4.96%～4.51%,with most values being less than 3%.The bias of ERM-DA471/IFCC calibration values was-3.92%～6.30%,with most values being less than 4%.Among them,the most common situation was that the bias of ERM-DA471/IFCC calibration value was less than that of measurement value,and the bias of GBW(E)091173～6 calibration value was less than that of ERM-DA471/IFCC calibration value,with 51.19%(43/84)of the comparison bias bata at the level of medical decisionmaking.Conclusion Both reference materials can improve the alignment bias of conventional system,and GBW(E)091173～6 calibration effect is better than ERM-DA471/IFCC.

Objective To evaluate the application of Cystatin C(Cys C)international primary reference material and national secondary reference materials for quantity transfer in seven conventional systems.Methods Seven Cys C reagents from different manufacturers commonly used in clinical laboratories were used to simultaneously measure two standard substances[ERM-DA471/IFCC,GBW(E)091173～6]and 42 individual serum samples.The theoretical and measured values of the standard substances were linearly fitted,and the measured values of the single serum samples were substituted into the fitting equation to obtain the calibrated values,and the measured values and calibrated values were compared with CLSI EP9-A3 file.Results The theoretical and measured values of ERM-DA471/IFCC and GBW(E)091173～6 were linearly fitted,and the regression equations were Y=0.941X+0.159,Y=0.963X+0.162,respectively,with correlation coefficients of 1.000(taking system B as an example).All system analysis models were analyzed using Passing-Bablok regression analysis.The comparison bias between the calibration values and measurement values of two standards in seven systems were-20.38%～10.58%and-16.76%～9.90%,respectively,with the same bias trend.The comparison bias of the calibrated values of the two standard substances was-4.18%～2.31%.The calibration of the standards had a significant improvement for the bias between calibration value and measurement value exceeding±4%.The bias of the measured values in the pairwise combinations of each system at each medical decision level was-17.87%～14.97%and the bias range of GBW(E)091173～6 calibration values at each medical decision level was-4.96%～4.51%,with most values being less than 3%.The bias of ERM-DA471/IFCC calibration values was-3.92%～6.30%,with most values being less than 4%.Among them,the most common situation was that the bias of ERM-DA471/IFCC calibration value was less than that of measurement value,and the bias of GBW(E)091173～6 calibration value was less than that of ERM-DA471/IFCC calibration value,with 51.19%(43/84)of the comparison bias bata at the level of medical decisionmaking.Conclusion Both reference materials can improve the alignment bias of conventional system,and GBW(E)091173～6 calibration effect is better than ERM-DA471/IFCC.

Objective:To investigate the association between the metabolic score for visceral fat(METS-VF)and sarcopenia in older adults in China.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted.A total of 1 262 participants aged ≥60 years old who did not diagnose with sarcopenia in 2011 and had complete follow-up data in 2015 were selected from the China health and retirement longitudinal survey(CHARLS). Participants were divided into the low METS-VF group (n=621)and the high METS-VF group (n=641), and then the corrleation between METS-VF and sarcopenia was analyzed.Results:The inverse probability of treatment weighting(IPTW)was used to balance all covariates between the low METS-VF group and high METS-VF group.The results showed that 30 participants in the low METS-VF group and 47 participants in the high METS-VF group were diagnosed with sarcopenia, with prevalence rates of 4.83%(30/621)and 7.33%(47/641), respectively.The difference in the prevalence of sarcopenia between the two groups was statistically significant after IPTW ( χ2=3.934, P=0.048, SMD=0.150). Logistic regression analysis showed that, after adjusting for various confounders, high METS-VF was significantly associated with an increased risk of sarcopenia in older adults( OR=2.130, 95% CI: 1.294~3.572, P=0.003). Subgroup analyses further indicated that individuals without cardiovascular disease had a relatively higher risk of sarcopenia( P for interaction=0.032). Conclusions:METS-VF is associated with an increased risk of sarcopenia in older adults in China, and its predictive and diagnostic value warrants further investigation.

Objective:To analyze the disease burden and changing trend of pancreatic cancer in our country from 1990 to 2021, and predict the incidence and mortality trends of pancreatic cancer from 2022 to 2036.Methods:Utilizing the data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 Study, the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), and disability-adjusted life rate (DALY) of pancreatic cancer in our country from 1990 to 2021 were evaluated. DALY is calculated by adding the number of years of life lost due to pancreatic cancer to the years of life lost due to disability. The Joinpoint model was used to calculate the average annual percentage change (AAPC), the age-period-cohort model was applied to control the influence of age, period and birth cohort, and the Bayesian age-period-cohort model was used to predict the incidence and mortality trends of pancreatic cancer in our country from 2022 to 2036.Results:Compared with 1990, the data of ASIR, ASMR and age-standardized disability-adjusted life years (DALY) rates of pancreatic cancer in our country in 2021 all increased, and the increase in men was more significant than that in women. The peaks of morbidity and mortality in 1990 and 2021 were both occurred in the elderly. The incidence rate, mortality rate and changes of men in all age groups were higher than those of women. The changes in the age-standardized DALY rate were mainly reflected in the male population. The first peaks of the age-standardized DALY rate in 1990 and 2021 both occurred at the age of 70-74, and the second peak of the age-standardized DALY rate in 2021 shifted to the age of 85-89. The peak rate of age-standardized DALY in females is earlier than that in males. The AAPC of ASIR and ASMR for all genders of pancreatic cancer in our country from 1990 to 2021 was 0.72 (95% CI: 0.50-0.94, P<0.001) and 0.56 (95% CI: 0.31-0.82, P<0.001), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant. In our country men with pancreatic cancer, ASIR (AAPC=0.89, 95% CI: 0.68-1.10, P<0.001) and ASMR (AAPC=0.71, 95% CI: 0.49-0.93, P<0.001) were compared with ASIR (AAPC=0.48, 95% CI: ) in women. 0.22-0.73, P<0.001) and ASMR (AAPC=0.33, 95% CI: 0.08-0.58, P=0.010) increased rapidly, and the difference was statistically significant. The ASDR of all genders showed an upward trend (AAPC=0.36, 95% CI: 0.18-0.54, P<0.001), and the difference was statistically significant. The incidence rate and mortality rate of all genders are on the rise. When the age of the population is over 60 years old, the incidence and mortality of specific diseases show an upward trend with the delay of the birth cohort. It is expected that from 2022 to 2036, the ASIR and ASMR of both men and women will increase annuallyand eventually double. Conclusion:From 1990 to 2021, the burden of pancreatic cancer in our country has generally shown an increasing trend, and it is expected that the disease burden will further increase in the future.

Organoid is a newly developed cellular there-dimensional culture system in recent years. Organoids have a three-dimensional structure, which is similar to that of the real organs. Together with the characteristics of self-renewal and reproduction of tissue origin, organoids can better simulate the function of real organs. Organoids provide a new platform for the study of organogenesis, regeneration, disease pathogenesis, and drug screening. The digestive system is an essential part of the human body and performs important functions. To date, organoid models of various digestive organs have been successfully established. This review summarizes the latest research progress of organoids of taste buds, esophagi, stomachs, livers and intestines, and prospects future application of organoids.
Humans ; Organoids ; Intestines ; Liver