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.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Objective:To explore the effects of pre-transplant controlling nutritional status(CONUT)and post-transplant minimal residual disease(MRD)on prognosis of patients with multiple myeloma(MM)after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(auto-HSCT).Methods:The clinical data of 79 patients who received auto-HSCT from 2011 to 2020 in The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into Low-CONUT group(n=62)and High-CONUT group(n=17)according to whether the CONUT score was less than 5.The differences in clinical features,hematopoietic reconstruction,adverse reactions,efficacy and survival between the two groups were compared.In addition,the prognostic risk factors were analyzed and verified by time-dependent ROC curve.Results:The proportions of male patients and bone marrow plasma cells＞30％at initial diagnosis in High-CONUT group were both higher than those in Low-CONUT group(both P＜0.05).While,there were no significant differences in hematopoietic reconstruction and adverse reactions(＞grade 2)between the two groups.The complete response(CR)rate and CR+very good partial response(VGPR)rate before transplantation in Low-CONUT group were both significantly higher than those in High-CONUT group(both P＜0.05).After 3 months of transplantation,the CR+VGPR rate still remained an advantage in Low-CONUT group compared with High-CONUT group(P＜0.01),but CR rate did not(P＞0.05).The overall survival(OS)and progression-free survival(PFS)in Low-CONUT group were both superior to those in High-CONUT group(both P＜0.05).Low CONUT score(0-4)before transplantation and negative MRD at 6 months after transplantation were favorable factors affecting OS and PFS(both P＜0.05),while the International Myeloma Working Group(IMWG)high-risk at initial diagnosis and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)level＞250 U/L before transplantation were only risk factors for PFS(both P＜0.05).Time-dependent ROC curve analysis showed that pre-transplant CONUT score and MRD status at 6 months after transplantation could independently or jointly predict 1-and 2-year OS and PFS,and the combined prediction was more effective.Conclusion:The combination of pre-transplant CONUT and post-transplant MRD can better predict the prognosis of MM patients.

Berberine,a traditional Chinese medicine,is an isoquinoline alkaloid extracted from the rhizome of Coptis chinensis.It has anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal effects and is commonly used in the treatment of infections and gastrointestinal diseases.In recent years,studies have found that berberine can play a wide range of anti-cancer effects in the treatment of leukemia,lymphoma,multiple myeloma,etc.In hematologic malignancies,berberine can induce autophagy,promote apoptosis,regulate cell cycle,inhibit inflammatory response,cause oxidative damage to cancer cells and interact with miRNA to inhibit the proliferation,migration and colony formation of cancer cells.This paper will review the role and related mechanisms of berberine in hematological malignancies.

Falls are an adverse health outcome in older adults and are strongly associated with their intrinsic capacity.All five dimensions of intrinsic capacity(locomotion, vitality, cognition, sensory function, and psychosocial function)are associated with falls.This article provided a review of the concept, significance, and impact of each dimension of intrinsic capacity on falls, with the aim of providing relevant information for further research and clinical work.

Objective To explore the efficacy and influencing factors of polyethylene glycol interferon α-2b(Peg-IFNα-2b)combined nucleoside analogues(NAs)in the treatment of hepatitis B virus e-antigen(HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis B(CHB)patients who had received NAs treatment,and evaluate the correlation of mononucleotide polymorphisms of interleukin-28B and programmed death receptor-1(PD-1)with interferon treatment response.Methods HBeAg-negative CHB patients who visited Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from January 2020 to December 2022 were analyzed retrospectively.Patients with Peg-IFNα-2b and NAs treatment were as the study group,while those with NAs therapy alone as the control group.Clinical efficacy of two groups of patients at the 12nd,24th,and 48th weeks of treatment,as well as the persistent response and recurrence at the 72nd week were analyzed.PD-1 and IL-28B single nucleotide polymorphisms were adopted to evaluate the value of HBeAg-nega-tive CHB patients in response to interferon treatment.Results At the 48th week of treatment,the response rate of HBeAg-negative CHB patients in the study group was higher than that in the control group(52.05％[38/73]vs 1.64％[1/61],P＜0.05).Among HBeAg-negative CHB patients in the study group,response rates at 48th week of treatment in patients with baseline HBsAg＜100 IU/mL and HBsAg＜1 000 IU/mL were higher than those with HBsAg≥1 000 IU/mL,respectively(both P＜0.05).Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that in HBeAg-negative CHB patients in the study group,the baseline HBsAg levels(OR=1.004,95％CI:1.001-1.006)and HBsAg decline magnitude at the 24th week of treatment(OR=0.111,95％CI:0.034-0.362)were influencing factors for the response of interferon treatment combined with NAs(both P＜0.05).The results of single nucleo-tide polymorphism analysis showed that in HBeAg-negative CHB patients in the study group,the proportion of PD-1 rs10204525 C/T heterozygous mutation in the response population was higher(66.67％vs 16.67％,P＜0.05),while that of IL-28B mutation was not significantly different(P＞0.05).Conclusion Combined treatment with Peg-IFNa-2b can achieve higher HBsAg clearance rate and serological conversion rate in HBeAg-negative CHB patients who had received NAs treatment.HBsAg decline magnitude at the 24th week of treatment can better pre-dict the response at the 48th week of treatment.Patients with low baseline HBsAg level and those carrying PD-1 rs10204525C/T heterozygous mutation gene present better therapeutic effect after receiving Peg-IFNa-2b.