Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis （IPF） can be classified as pulmonary collateral disease，and its pathogenesis is mainly characterized by the loss of Qi meridian nourishment，the loss of Yin meridian nourishment，and the formation of blood stasis in the blood vessels. Qi Yin deficiency is the pathological basis that runs through IPF，and obstruction of meridians and collaterals is a key element in the development of the disease. The dysfunction of "spleen being in charge of the defensive function" is closely related to the formation of the pathological pattern of "lung deficiency and collateral stasis" in IPF. The term "spleen being in charge of the defensive function" originated from the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon. If the spleen is healthy，the Qi will be filled with vitality. Positive energy is stored inside，evil cannot be dried up. Its concept is quite similar to the immune defense function in modern medicine. If the principle of "spleen being in charge of the defensive function" is lost，the key structure and function of the IPF alveolar epithelial barrier may be abnormal，and it can interact with various innate immune cells to promote inflammation and fibrosis processes. Therefore，this article explains the imbalance of immune homeostasis in IPF alveolar epithelium from two aspects：the barrier function of alveolar epithelial cells（AECs） and their interaction with innate immune cells. And based on the theory of "spleen being in charge of the defensive function"，using traditional Chinese medicine for strengthening the spleen and nourishing Qi to treat IPF from the perspective of the spleen. This not only strengthens the scientific connotation of "spleen being in charge of the defensive function" in the pathogenesis of IPF，but also provides new research directions and ideas for its future clinical prevention and treatment.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the observational chart for traumatic limb swelling (OCTLS) for osteofascial compartment syndrome (OCS). METHODS: This was a descriptive-longitudinal study. Data of 316 patients who underwent surgical treatment for tibial fractures in our department from January 2015 to December 2023 were collected. Patients with Gustilo type II or higher open fractures, vascular injury, or bilateral fractures were excluded from the study. Two groups of double-blinded investigators independently assessed patients for the presence of OCS using 2 distinct diagnostic methods. Three senior orthopedic trauma surgeons evaluated patients with post-fracture calf swelling for OCS and the need for fasciotomy based on clinical signs and their extensive clinical experience. Subsequently, fasciotomy was performed according to their judgment, followed by postoperative examination of muscle and soft tissue conditions. Additionally, a follow-up evaluation was conducted to assess for complications such as ischemic muscle contracture. Another 3 trained researchers used OCTLS to grade swelling severity and determine the need for fasciotomy. The final diagnostic gold standard of OCS was determined by referring to whether there was escape of muscles at fasciotomy and/or color change in the muscles or muscle necrosis intraoperatively, and neurological abnormality or contracture at the last follow-up. The results of the 2 diagnostic methods were compared with the final diagnostic result. Kappa consistency test, paired χ² test (McNemar test), and receiver operating characteristic curve were used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the 2 diagnostic methods. RESULTS: Of the 316 patients, 211 were finally included in the study, including 160 males and 51 females, with an average follow-up time of (14.5 ± 2.7) months. Among the 211 patients with tibial fracture-associated swelling, 42 were definitively diagnosed with OCS. Based on clinical symptoms and signs judgment, among the 65 fasciotomy patients, 38 were confirmed as correct, while among the 146 non-fasciotomy patients, 4 developed ischemic muscle contractures. Based on the OCTLS for assessment, fasciotomy was correctly recommended in 36 out of 43 cases, while 6 out of 168 non-fasciotomy patients developed OCS. Compared to the use of the gold standard, clinical signs judgment showed moderate consistency (McNemar's test p < 0.001, Kappa = 0.618, p < 0.001), whereas OCTLS demonstrated strong agreement (McNemar's test p = 1.000, Kappa = 0.808, p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed higher diagnostic accuracy for OCTLS (area under curve = 0.908, 95% CI: 0.843 - 0.972) compared to clinical signs judgment (area under curve = 0.872, 95% CI: 0.812 - 0.933). OCTLS achieved superior accuracy (93.8% vs. 85.3%, χ² = 8.221, p < 0.001) and a lower fasciotomy rate (20.4% vs. 30.8%, χ² = 6.023, p = 0.014). CONCLUSION Compared to clinical signs judgment, OCTLS significantly reduces unnecessary fasciotomy, improves diagnostic accuracy for OCS, and enables non-invasive, dynamic, and quantitative assessment, making it a valuable tool for clinical practice.
Humans ; Compartment Syndromes/etiology* ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Tibial Fractures/surgery* ; Middle Aged ; Fasciotomy ; Edema/etiology* ; Longitudinal Studies ; Aged ; Young Adult

The innate immune sensor NLRP3 inflammasome overactivation is involved in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis. PGAM5 is a mitochondrial phosphatase involved in NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages. However, the role of PGAM5 in ulcerative colitis and the mechanisms underlying PGAM5 regulating NLRP3 activity remain unknown. Here, we show that PGAM5 deficiency ameliorates dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice via suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation. By combining APEX2-based proximity labeling focused on PGAM5 with quantitative proteomics, we identify NEK7 as the new binding partner of PGAM5 to promote NLRP3 inflammasome assembly and activation in a PGAM5 phosphatase activity-independent manner upon inflammasome induction. Interfering with PGAM5-NEK7 interaction by punicalagin inhibits the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages and ameliorates DSS-induced colitis in mice. Altogether, our data demonstrate the PGAM5-NEK7 interaction in macrophages for NLRP3 inflammasome activation and further provide a promising therapeutic strategy for ulcerative colitis by blocking the PGAM5-NEK7 interaction.

Obesity is a significant risk factor for cancer and is associated with breast cancer metastasis. Nevertheless, the mechanism by which alterations in systemic metabolism affect tumor microenvironment (TME) and consequently influence tumor metastasis remains inadequately understood. Herein, we found that perturbations in circulating metabolites induced by obesity promote metastasis-like phenotypes in breast cancer. Oleoylcarnitine (OLCarn) concentrations were elevated in the serum of obese mice and humans. Administration of exogenous OLCarn induces metastasis-like characteristics in breast cancer cells. Mechanistically, OLCarn directly interacts with the Arg176 site of adenylate cyclase 10 (ADCY10), leading to the activation of ADCY10 and enhancement of cAMP production. Mutations at Arg176 prevent OLCarn from binding to ADCY10, disrupting the ADCY10-mediated activation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling pathway. This activation promotes transcription factor 4 (TCF4)-dependent kinesin family member C1 (KIFC1) transcription, thereby driving breast cancer metastasis. Conversely, the neutralization of both ADCY10 and KIFC1 through knockdown or pharmacological inhibition abrogates the oncogenic effects mediated by OLCarn. Hence, obesity-induced systemic environmental changes lead to the aberrant accumulation of OLCarn within the TME, making it a potential therapeutic target and biomarker for breast cancer.

Detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia (DSD) is a lower urinary tract dysfunction syndrome caused by disorders of the neural regulatory pathways for micturition. Its core feature is that the urethral sphincter fails to relax coordinately during detrusor contraction; instead, the persistent abnormal contraction leads to a series of severe complications such as dysuria, elevated intravesical pressure, and upper urinary tract damage.DSD is common in patients with central nervous system lesions, such as spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis. This paper systematically reviews the latest research progress on the neural mechanisms of DSD, including ① loss of central regulation and excessive excitation of the spinal cord center, i.e., the loss of supraspinal inhibition leading to sacral spinal reflex hyperactivity; ② imbalance of key neurotransmitters and receptors, involving excessive glutamatergic excitation, weakened gamma-aminobutyric acid ergic/glycinergic inhibition, and the involvement of purinergic and endocannabinoid systems; ③ neuroimmunity and inflammatory response, where the activation of microglia and astrocytes after spinal cord injury releases pro-inflammatory factors, exacerbating neuronal excitability and circuit remodeling; ④ peripheral nerve and gut-bladder axis mechanisms, where sphincter structural remodeling and the gut microbiota-neuroimmunity crosstalk form a vicious cycle. The paper focuses on the sacral Onuf's nucleus as the“core hub”and key therapeutic target of DSD, discussing the central role of its dysfunction in the occurrence of synergistic disorders. In terms of therapeutic strategies, the paper summarizes existing traditional methods, such as drugs, botulinum toxin injection and neuromodulation, and envisions the cutting-edge directions of targeted intervention, such as precise strategies including gene therapy and neurotrophic support, as well as the challenges faced in clinical translation. Finally, the paper discusses the application prospects of precision medicine and artificial intelligence in the diagnosis and treatment of DSD, including precise classification based on multi-omics data, artificial intelligence-assisted recommendation of individualized treatment plans, and the development of dynamic closed-loop regulation systems. This paper aims to provide a theoretical basis and research direction for in-depth understanding of the neural mechanisms of DSD, and to promote the precise diagnosis, treatment and neural function remodeling.

Objective: To delineate the epidemiologic profile of rifampicin resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (RR-PTB) among students in Chongqing, so as to provide evidence for effectively controlling RR-PTB outbreaks in schools. Methods: Individual level surveillance records of 395 student RR-PTB cases reported from 2015 to 2024 were extracted from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. The Joinpoint regression analysis was employed to quantify temporal trends in the registration rate of student RR-PTB cases, and the comparison of RR-PTB registration rates with different demographic characteristics and different regions was performed using Chi-square test. Results: From 2015 to 2024, a total of 395 student RR-PTB cases were identified, with the registration rate ranged from 0.07 per 100 000 to 1.47 per 100 000, showed a fluctuating upward trend ( AAPC= 35.22%, t =4.13, P <0.01). A turning point was detected in 2017, rates rose during 2015-2017 (APC=295.23%， t =4.62， P < 0.01 ) and plateaued thereafter (APC=-0.47%， t =-0.12， P =0.91). The proportion of RR-PTB cases occurring among students increased both among all RR-PTB cases (1.54% in 2015, 7.48% in 2024) and all student pulmonary tuberculosis cases (0.20% in 2015, 7.17% in 2024), with significant linear trends ( χ 2 trend =33.55,159.98, both P <0.01). The majority of cases were enrolled in senior high school (50.38%), classified as retreatment (53.92%), of Han ethnicity (75.95%), and diagnosed with multidrug resistant tuberculosis(53.16%). There were significant differences in the composition of different ethnicity, registration category and resistance pattern between different years( χ 2=23.47, 17.23, 59.64，all P <0.05). The South-Eastern Wuling Mountainous Region exhibited the highest notification rate (3.96 per 100 000), whereas the western region had the lowest rate ( 0.47 per 100 000). County level jurisdictions reported higher rates than district level ones (2.16 per 100 000 vs 0.63 per 100 000 ). Statistically significant differences were observed in the RR-PTB reported rates among students across different districts and counties( χ 2=418.05,167.05,both P <0.01). Conclusions From 2015 to 2024, the registration rate of detected student RR-PTB cases in Chongqing showed an increasing trend. Students have become one of the key populations for drug resistant TB prevention and control. Intensified health education and active case finding should be implemented to enhance proactive surveillance capabilities.

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and trends of the incidence and mortality of biliary tract cancer in Shanghai from 2002 to 2020. Methods Data on new cases and deaths of malignant tumors of the gallbladder, extrahepatic bile ducts, and other biliary tract organs from 2002 to 2020 were obtained from the Population-based Cancer Registry and Vital Statistics System of Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Cases or deaths, proportion, crude rate, age-specific rate, age-standardized rate (ASR) and others were calculated stratified by year of diagnosis or death, gender and age-group. ASRs were calculated using Segi′s 1960 world standard population. Trends of the annual percent change (APC) of ASRs, age-specific rates and proportions of new cases with selected diagnostic character of biliary tract cancer stratified by different groups were analyzed by Joinpoint analysis software. Results Annual new cases of biliary tract cancer in Shanghai increased from 963 in 2002 to 1 537 in 2020, with ASR of incidence changing from 3.91/10⁵ to 3.59/10⁵. Annual deaths increased from 830 to 1 225, with ASR of mortality decreased from 3.36/10⁵ to 2.69/10⁵. In 2020, the crude rate of incidence of biliary tract cancer was 10.43/10⁵ (9.54/10⁵ in males and 11.30/10⁵ in females) in Shanghai, and the ASR was 3.59/10⁵ (3.54/10⁵ in males and 3.61/10⁵ in females), with no statistically significant gender difference (P=0.731). The crude rate of mortality was 8.31/10⁵ (7.60/10⁵ in males and 9.00/10⁵ in females), and the ASR was 2.69/10⁵ (2.69/10⁵ in males and 2.66/10⁵ in females), also with no significant gender difference (P=0.874). Age-specific nunbers and rates of incidence and mortality generally increased with aging. Stratified by gender, the trend of ASRs of incidence of biliary tract cancer in Shanghai in males showed no significant change (P=0.179) from 2002 to 2020, nor did that of ASRs of mortality (P=0.738). In females, the ASRs of incidence decreased at an average annual rate of 1.58% (P<0.001), while the trend of ASRs of mortality showed no significant change from 2002 to 2011 (P=0.774), but ASRs decreased at an average annual rate of 3.72% from 2011 to 2020 (P<0.001). Among new cases, the proportions of morphological verification increased, while the proportions of imaging verification decreased. The gallbladder was the most common site, but its proportions decreased significantly, whereas the proportions of extrahepatic bile duct increased from 25.75% to 42.88%. Over 60% of cases were unknown stage at diagnosis, while the combined proportions of stages Ⅰ-Ⅲ remained less than that of stage Ⅳ. Conclusions The ASRs for incidence and mortality of biliary tract cancer in Shanghai remain relatively high, with distinct epidemiological characteristics. The improvement in the diagnosis and treatment of biliary diseases maybe have impact on the incidence patterns of biliary tract cancer in Shanghai, but the effect on increasing survival rates and reducing mortality rates is relatively lagging. It needs a big progress to advance the screening, diagnosis, and survival of biliary tract cancer in Shanghai. This study provides a foundation for further research and prevention strategies for biliary tract cancer.

Objective:To observe the effectiveness and safety of different doses of esketamine combined with propofol for intravenous administration in the child patients undergoing enhanced computed tomography(CT)examination,and to clarify the optimal clinical dose of esketamine in combination with propofol for sedation.Methods:This study is a randomized,controlled,double-blind(blinded to subjects and evaluators),and single-center clinical trial.A total of 120 preschool children undergoing enhanced CT examination were randomly divided into propofol group(P group),propofol+0.3 mg·kg-1 esketamine group(P+K3 group),and propofol+0.5 mg·kg-1 esketamine group(P+K5 group),and there were 40 cases in each group.All the children were given 2mg·kg-1 propofol,and additional propofol was administered in increments of 1 mng·kg-1 until the sedation criteria for entering the CT room were met[Modified Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation(MOAA/S)score ≤3].The vital signs of the children were observed and recorded at four time points:before sedation(T0),when sedation was satisfactory(T1),during contrast agent injection(T2),and upon awakening(T3).The examination time,time to satisfactory sedation(from the start of sedation to MOAA/S score≤3),and awakening time(from the end of the examination to MOAA/S score＞4)of the children in various groups were recorded.The total dose of propofol and the proportion of cases requiring additional propofol were compared among various groups.Adverse reactions during induction,examination,and after awakening were also compared among various groups.Results:There were no significant differences in general conditions of the children in three groups(P＞0.05).Hemodynamic parameters:at T2,compared with P group,the SpO2 levels of the children in P+K3 group and P+K5 group were increased(P＜0.05);at T1,compared with P group,the SBP levels of the children in P+K3 group and P+K5 group were increased(P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in examination time of the children in three groups(P＞0.05).Compared with P group and P+K3 group,the time to satisfactory sedation of the children in P+K5 group was shorter(P＜0.05).Compared with P group,the awakening time of the children in P+K3 group and P+K5 group was shorter(P＜0.05).Compared with P group and P+K3 group,the total dose of propofol of the children in P+K5 group was decreased(P＜0.05),and the proportion of cases requiring additional propofol was lower(P＜0.05).Adverse reaction indicators:compared with P group,the incidence of respiratory depression of the children in P+K3 group and P+K5 group was lower(P＜0.05),and the incidence of nausea and vomiting was lower(P＜0.05).Compared with P group and P+K3 group,the incidence of movement during the examination of the children in P+K5 group was lower(P＜0.05),and the incidence of dizziness was higher(P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in the incidence of increased airway secretions of the children in three groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion:The use of 0.5 mg·kg-1 esketamine combined with 2 mg·kg-1 propofol for intravenous administration in the child patients for enhanced CT examination sedation can improve the efficiency of such examinations and offers high safety and effectiveness.

As an important part of the human nervous system,the pelvic and abdominal nerve plexuses not only regulate and coordi-nate functional activities of various organs within the pelvic and abdominal cavities,but also participate in the processes such as pelvic pain conduction and autonomic nervous system modulation.Therefore,in-depth studies on the physiological function and mechanism of action of the pelvic and abdominal nerve plexuses are important for revealing the mysteries of the pelvic and abdominal nerve plex-uses and developing prevention and treatment strategies for related diseases.Recent studies on embryonic development have gradually clarified the developmental processes and related mechanisms of the pelvic and abdominal nerve plexuses,which provides new ideas and methods for disease prevention,diagnosis,and treatment.This article reviews the developmental process,anatomical structure,functional characteristics,and clinical applications of the pelvic and abdominal nerve plexuses from the perspective of embryonic devel-opment.

Pyroptosis is a proinflammatory form of regulated cell death that can lead to the activation of inactive cytokines and the cleavage of gasdermin D in cells.The main pathological outcome of inflammatory bladder disease is the loss of bladder compliance,and cell pyroptosis plays an important role in this process.Some studies have shown that cell pyroptosis is regulated by various mechanisms such as DNA methylation and mitochondrial DNA oxidative damage,which intervene in the biological behavior of bladder urothelial cells in interstitial cystitis and induce impairment of bladder compliance.Therefore,this article reviews the regulatory mechanisms of cell pyroptosis in interstitial cystitis and the potential role of pyroptosis in inflammatory bladder diseases,in order to explore potential diagnostic biomarkers for interstitial cystitis and facilitate the prevention and treatment of interstitial cystitis.