Diabetic kidney disease （DKD）， one of the leading causes of end-stage renal disease， shows increasing prevalence and mortality， seriously affecting the physical and mental health of patients. As a crucial link in the occurrence and development of DKD， pyroptosis can lead to kidney cell injury and inflammation through the abnormal activation of reactive oxygen species （ROS）/thioredoxin-interacting protein （TXNIP）/NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）， Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）/nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）/NLRP3， nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 （Nrf2）/heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1）， mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK）/NLRP3， and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α （HIF-1α）/NLRP3 signaling pathways， which accelerate the progression of DKD. In recent years， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has demonstrated definite efficacy in the treatment of DKD via multiple targets and pathways. Studies have shown that various TCM active components， including glycosides， flavonoids， polyphenols， terpenoids， and alkaloids， as well as TCM compound prescriptions for clearing heat and detoxifying， tonifying deficiency and consolidating root， and eliminating stasis and descending turbidity， can target relevant signaling pathways to inhibit pyroptosis and intervene in the development of DKD， providing new possibilities for precision treatment of DKD. This article systematically reviews the relevant pathways of pyroptosis and summarizes the research achievements and mechanisms of TCM active components and compound prescriptions in the treatment of DKD via pyroptosis in recent years. This review aims to provide new directions and ideas for the treatment and research of DKD with TCM and promote the modernization and development of TCM.

Background Kurtosis reflecting noise's temporal structure is an effective metric for evaluating noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), and its threshold is still unclear. Objective To explore the energy range of kurtosis and the threshold of NIHL induced by kurtosis in this energy rangeMethods Using cross-sectional design, 4631 noise-exposed workers in manufacturing industry were selected. The hearing loss and noise exposure data of each worker were collected. Logistic regression model was used to establish the dose-response relationship between noise exposure and hearing loss and estimate the range of energy effects. Restricted cubic spline model was utilized to analyze the dose-response relationship curves of kurtosis to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHI) and high-frequency noise-induced hearing loss (HFNIHL) under different 8 h equivalent sound levels (L_{EX,8 h}), as well as to estimate the kurtosis effect threshold. Results The logistic regression model analysis showed that the prevalence of NIHI and HFNIHL increased significantly with increase of L_{EX,8 h} for steady noise; when L_{EX,8 h} of non-steady noise was 80-100 dB(A), the risk of hearing loss increased with an increase in kurtosis (P<0.05). The restricted cubic spline model showed that when L_{EX,8 h} of non-steady noise was 0-80 dB(A) or >100 dB(A), there was no significant relationship between kurtosis and NIHI or HFNIHL. When L_{EX,8 h} was 80-100 dB(A), there was a significant nonlinear dose-response relationship between kurtosis and NIHL or HFNIHL (P <0.001), and kurtosis > 28.08 exerted effect in elevating NIHI or HFNIHL. Conclusion The effect threshold of kurtosis on NIHL is 28.08 when non-steady noise levels are in the range of 80-100 dB(A). The effect threshold of kurtosis needs further verification.

Background Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a prevalent occupational health problem in workplace settings, with non-steady noise exposure being particularly widespread. Although kurtosis-adjusted equivalent sound level (\begin{document}$ {{L'}}_{\text{EX,}\text{8}\text{ h}} $\end{document}) methods based on linear regression are available to assess hearing damage, the complexity of kurtosis effects necessitates introducing new metrics through nonlinear regression to improve predictive accuracy for hearing loss from non-steady noise exposure. Objective To examine the adjustment terms [\begin{document}$ \mathrm{lg}(\beta _{N}/{\beta }_{G}) $\end{document}] and coefficients (λ) of \begin{document}$ {{L'}}_{\text{EX,}\text{8}\text{ h}} $\end{document} using nonlinear regression and evaluate the method’s effectiveness in assessing occupational hearing loss associated with non-steady noise exposure. Methods A cross-sectional study design was employed, enrolling 1034 manufacturing workers and evaluating noise exposure to estimate hearing loss metrics. Quantile regression analysis quantified the proportional contributions of influencing factors for noise-induced permanent threshold shift at 3, 4, and 6 kHz frequencies (NIPTS₃₄₆). \begin{document}$ {{L'}}_{\text{EX,}\text{8}\text{ h}} $\end{document} was computed using multiple linear regression and nonlinear least squares optimization. Paired t-tests analyzed predictive efficacy before and after kurtosis adjustment to evaluate its impact on ISO 1999 NIPTS₃₄₆ predictions. Chow tests compared the similarity of logistic regression curves for high-frequency noise-induced hearing loss (HFNIHL) incidence between non-steady noise (\begin{document}$ {{L'}}_{\text{EX,}\text{8}\text{ h}} $\end{document}) and steady noise (\begin{document}$ {{L}}_{\text{EX,}\text{8}\text{ h}} $\end{document}), thereby validating the effectiveness of \begin{document}$ {{L'}}_{\text{EX,}\text{8}\text{ h}} $\end{document}. Results The quantile regression analysis showed that kurtosis was a significant indicator of occupational hearing loss risk from non-steady noise (contribution rate was 27.5%, P<0.05). The linear regression and nonlinear least squares methods obtained six different combinations of coefficients (λ) and adjustment terms [\begin{document}$ \mathrm{lg}(\beta _{N}/{\beta }_{G}) $\end{document}]. Incorporating these \begin{document}$ {{L'}}_{\text{EX,}\text{8}\text{ h}} $\end{document} adjustments into the ISO 1999 predictive model significantly reduced NIPTS underestimation (from 14.2 dB HL with \begin{document}$ {{L}}_{\text{EX,}\text{8}\text{ h}} $\end{document} to 11.5–5.6 dB HL with \begin{document}$ {{L'}}_{\text{EX,}\text{8}\text{ h}} $\end{document}, P < 0.001). The model \begin{document}$ {{{L'}}_{\text{EX,}\text{8}\text{ h}\text{,6}}=L}_{\mathrm{E}\mathrm{X},8\;\mathrm{h}}+7.9\mathrm{lg}({{\beta }_{N}}/{10}) $\end{document} achieved the most significant improvement, reducing underestimation by 8.7 dB HL. The logistic curve analysis further demonstrated that all \begin{document}$ {{L'}}_{\text{EX,}\text{8}\text{ h}} $\end{document} dose-response relationships for non-steady noise aligned more closely with the steady noise group than \begin{document}$ {{L}}_{\text{EX,}\text{8}\text{ h}} $\end{document}, with \begin{document}$ {{L'}}_{\text{EX,}\text{8}\text{ h}\text{,6}} $\end{document} showing the smallest divergence (difference: 4.1%). Conclusions \begin{document}$ {{L'}}_{\text{EX,}\text{8}\text{ h}} $\end{document} demonstrates superior efficacy in assessing the risk of occupational hearing loss induced by non-steady noise exposure. The \begin{document}$ {{L'}}_{\text{EX,}\text{8}\text{ h}} $\end{document} metric, constructed by calculating adjustment terms and coefficients through nonlinear regression analysis, exhibits greater effectiveness than linear regression methods in evaluating occupational hearing loss associated with non-steady noise exposure.

Background Temporal kurtosis (without frequency weighting, i.e., Z-weighted kurtosis) can evaluate noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). However, few studies have considered the function of frequency weighting (A- or C-weighted) kurtosis on NIHL. Objective To study the significance of A- and C-weighted kurtosis adjustment for equivalent sound level (L'_{EX,8 h}) in evaluating occupational hearing loss. Methods A cross-sectional survey was used to select 973 noise-exposed workers in seven industries as the subjects. The noise exposure of all workers was assessed by distributions of A-, C-, and Z-weighted kurtosis (e.g., K_A, K_C, and K_Z) and respective adjusted equivalent sound level (e.g., L'_{EX,8 h}-K_A, L'_{EX,8 h}-K_C, and L'_{EX,8 h}-K_Z). The significance of A- and C-weighted kurtosis in evaluating NIHL was evaluated by correlations between three types of L'_{EX,8 h} and NIHL, and improvement of noise-induced permanent threshold shift (NIPTS) underestimation predicted by the ISO prediction model (Acoustics—Estimation of noise-induced hearing loss, ISO 1999-2013). Results The median K_A, K_C, and K_Z were 68.33, 28.22, and 19.82, respectively. The binary logistic regression showed that L_{EX, 8 h}-K_A, L_{EX, 8 h}-K_C, and L'_{EX, 8 h}-K_Z were risk factors for NIHL (OR>1, P<0.001). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that when the outcome variable was noise-induced hearing impairment (NIHI), the areas under the curves corresponding to L'_{EX,8 h}-K_A, L'_{EX,8 h}-K_C, and L'_{EX,8 h}-K_Z were 0.625, 0.628, and 0.625, respectively. When the outcome variable was high-frequency noise-induced hearing loss (HFNIHL), the areas under the curves corresponding to L'_{EX,8 h}-K_A, L'_{EX, 8 h}-K_C, and L'_{EX,8 h}-K_Z were 0.624, 0.623, and 0.622, respectively (P<0.05). The order of underestimation improvement values predicted by L'_{EX,8 h} for NIPTS₁₂₃₄ was: L'_{EX,8 h}-K_A (4.68 dB HL)>L'_{EX,8 h}-K_C (4.38 dB HL)>L'_{EX,8 h}-K_Z (4.28 dB HL) (P<0.001). The order of underestimation improvement values predicted by L'_{EX,8 h}-K for NIPTS₃₄₆ was: L'_{EX,8 h}-K_A (7.20 dB HL)>L'_{EX,8 h}-K_C (6.83 dB HL)>L'_{EX,8 h}-K_Z (6.71 dB HL) (P<0.001). Conclusion The adjustment of A- and C-weighted kurtosis to equivalent sound level L_{EX,8 h} can effectively improve the accuracy of the ISO 1999 prediction model in NIPTS prediction, and compared with the C-weighted, the A-weighted kurtosis can improve the result of the ISO 1999 prediction model in terms of underestimating NIPTS.

Diabetic kidney disease （DKD） stands as one of the most prevalent microvascular complications of diabetes，noted for its concealed onset and tendency to evolve into end-stage renal disease，profoundly impacting patients' life expectancy and quality of life. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition （EMT） is a central pathological process in the initiation and progression of DKD，facilitating disease advancement and renal fibrosis，thus representing a crucial focus of research into the pathological mechanisms of DKD. EMT is driven by the abnormal activation of signaling pathways，including transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β）/Smad，secreted glycoprotein/β-catenin，Notch，tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）/nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB），and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin （PI3K/Akt/mTOR），leading to renal cellular injury and subsequently accelerating renal fibrosis and the progression of DKD. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM），characterized by its multi-target and multi-pathway therapeutic approach，demonstrates unique advantages in addressing DKD and EMT. Recent research has shown that active ingredients in TCM，including glycosides，flavonoids，and polyphenols，as well as TCM formulas，can precisely target these relevant signaling pathways，effectively inhibiting cellular injury in DKD and intervening in the EMT process. These findings not only underscore the potential of TCM monomers and formulas in treating DKD and EMT but also pave new directions for research in this field within TCM. This paper systematically reviewed the signaling pathways associated with EMT and provided an in-depth analysis of the research achievements and underlying mechanisms of TCM monomers and formulas in treating DKD and intervening in EMT，aiming to offer new insights and directions for TCM in the treatment of DKD and research on EMT，thereby further promoting the modernization and development of TCM.

Objective: To explore the prevalence of screening myopia and depressive symptom among primary and secondary school students in Xuzhou, and to explore the association of sleep and screen time on the coexistence of screening myopia and depressive symptom, so as to provide scientific references for developing intervention strategies to address the development of myopia and promote mental health in children and adolescents. Methods: From September to October 2024, a stratified cluster random sampling method was used to select 6 605 students in grade 4 to 12 in 2 urban and 2 suburban districts in Xuzhou. The students health condition and influencing factors questionnaire were used to assess students basic information, sleep time, and screen time. The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to assess primary and secondary school students depressive symptom.Unaided distance visual acuity examination was conducted, and refractive assessment was performed using an automated refractometer without cycloplegic agents. The Chi-square test and multiple Logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate the association of sleep and screen time with the coexistence of screening myopia and depressive symptom. Results: The detection rates of screening myopia, depressive symptom, and screening myopia and depressive symptoms co morbidity among primary and secondary school students in Xuzhou were 60.35%, 4.45% and 18.61% respectively. Results from the multinomial Logistic regression analysis, using the healthy group as the reference and after adjusting for confounding factors, showed that students with insufficient sleep duration were more likely to have depressive symptom ( OR=1.57, 95%CI =1.08-2.27) and the coexistence of screening myopia and depressive symptom ( OR=1.85, 95%CI =1.45-2.36). Students with daily screen time≥2 h were more likely to have depressive symptom only ( OR=1.41, 95%CI =1.04-1.93) and the coexistence of screening myopia and depressive symptom ( OR=1.31, 95%CI =1.06-1.61). Further stratified analysis based on sufficient and insufficient sleep duration revealed that only in the insufficient sleep duration group, students with daily screen time≥2 h had an increased risk of depressive symptom only ( OR=1.49, 95%CI =1.07-2.07) and the coexistence of screening positive myopia and depressive symptom ( OR=1.40, 95%CI =1.11- 1.77 ) (all P <0.05). Conclusions Primary and secondary school students with insufficient sleep duration and daily screen time≥2 h have higher risks of depressive symptoms and the coexistence of screening myopia and depressive symptoms. It is recommended to ensure adequate sleep duration and limit screen time for children and adolescents.

Lung cancer is the malignant tumor with the highest incidence and mortality rates globally. Current treatment methods for lung cancer primarily include surgery， chemotherapy， targeted therapy， and immunotherapy. However， the main limitations of these treatments are their side effects， the drug resistance， and the economic burden they impose. As a critical cancer pathway， the Janus kinase （JAK）/signal transducer and activator of transcription （STAT） signaling pathway regulates tumor occurrence and development through multiple mechanisms by influencing various downstream targets. Consequently， the JAK/STAT signaling pathway offers a promising avenue for lung cancer treatment research. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the JAK/STAT signaling pathway plays a key role in the proliferation and growth of lung cancer cells， angiogenesis， epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT）， metabolic alterations， remodeling of the immune microenvironment， and the development of treatment resistance. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has garnered increasing attention due to its minimal side effects， low economic burden， and its potential to enhance efficacy and reduce toxicity when used in conjunction with Western medicine. In addition to traditional Chinese medicine compounds， a growing number of Chinese medicine monomers have come into the spotlight because of their more targeted effects. Numerous studies investigating the regulation of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway by TCM in the treatment of lung cancer have demonstrated that TCM can inhibit the proliferation and invasion of lung cancer cells， tumor angiogenesis， and EMT， improve the inflammatory and immunosuppressive microenvironments， and enhance treatment sensitivity by intervening in the JAK/STAT signaling pathway， thereby impeding the progression of lung cancer. In recent years， the research on the regulation of this pathway by TCM in the treatment of lung cancer has been updated rapidly. However， the summary of these studies has not been updated in time. This review summarizes and reflects on the recent research findings regarding the regulation of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway by TCM to intervene in lung cancer from three aspects， introducing the JAK/STAT pathway， elaborating the mechanism of this pathway in lung cancer， and exploring the intervention of TCM in the treatment of lung cancer through this pathway， to provide more reference for the treatment of lung cancer in the future.

Objective:To evaluate the performance of the neural network model in segmenting gout tophus in the first metatarsophalangeal（MTP1）joint ultrasound images.Methods:A total of 1 218 tophus images from 381 patients who underwent MTP1 ultrasound examinations in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University between May 2023 and December 2024 were prospectively collected. The images were divided into training，validation，and test sets in a ratio of 7∶2∶1. Multiple neural network models were trained to automatically identify and segment tophus in the images，with physician-annotated tophus regions serving as the reference standard. Model performance was evaluated in the test set，and the impact of tophus characteristics（e.g.，echogenicity，size，and presence of bone erosion）on segmentation efficacy was analyzed.Results:In the test set，CMUNeXt demonstrated superior tophus segmentation performance versus Unet，Unet++，TransUnet，and CMU-Net，achieving an accuracy of 99.1%，precision of 79.1%，recall of 84.6%，intersection over union of 68.8%，and Dice similarity coefficient of 80.2%. Logistic regression identified tophus echogenicity，size，and bone erosion as independent efficacy factors OR（95% CI）=7.275（1.598-33.129），21.303（4.282-105.985），13.520（3.617-50.530），0.076（0.007-0.823）（all P<0.05）. Hypoechoic tophus demonstrated significantly superior segmentation performance compared to mixed-echoic and isoechoic tophus（all P<0.05），and lesions with larger maximum diameters（>10 mm）were segmented more effectively than smaller tophus（ P<0.05）. Conclusions:The CMUNeXt model enables accurate identification and segmentation of tophus in MTP1 ultrasound images，particularly excelling for larger and hypoechoic lesions. This approach holds significant promise for AI-assisted diagnosis of MTP1 gouty arthritis.

Objective To explore the advantages and clinical potential of open-mouth CT scanning in reducing oral artifacts.Methods Fifty-one patients with oral and maxillofacial space-occupying lesions and wearing metallic dentures were enrolled.All of them underwent routine CT scan fist and then enhanced CT scan following insertion of a bite block into the mouth.The related slice of artifacts such as tongue,palate and gum were selected,and in which the region of interest was delineated.The advantages and disadvantages of conventional closed-mouth scanning and open-mouth scanning were discussed by calculating artifact indexes and subjectively scoring the image quality by senior doctors.Results Scanning was successfully performed in all patients.Compared with closed-mouth group,open-mouth group had smaller artifact index(P<0.001)and higher subjective score(P<0.001).The artifacts in the lesion area were reduced in 38 out of 51 cases,and the lesion area was staggered from the metallic artifact level in 12 cases.The open-mouth scanning showed the lesion clearly,with high contrast and the best image quality.Conclusion The open-mouth position can effectively reduce artifacts in CT scanning of patients with space-occupying lesions in the oral,and improve image quality.