Objective: To determine the causative agent, clinical manifestations and risk factors for infection during a September 2023 outbreak of acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) in Pak Touch village, Ratanakiri province, Cambodia. Methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted. Cases were age-matched to controls (1:1), who were randomly selected from the village population. Twenty-one conjunctival samples were analysed using real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR). RNA sequencing was additionally performed to identify the causative agent of the outbreak. Logistic regression models were used to identify significant risk factors. Results: A total of 73 cases and 73 controls were included in the analysis. Cases had a median age of 20 years (range: 1–70, mean and standard deviation: 27.7 ± 20.0), and 46.6% (34/73) were male. The overall attack rate was 12.3% (73 cases/594 residents). Clinical presentations included conjunctival hyperaemia (100%), subconjunctival haemorrhage (82.2%, 60), pain and discharge (64.4%, 47 each), eyelid swelling (57.5%, 42) and tearing (54.8%, 40). RT–PCR identified enterovirus in 52.4% (11/21) of conjunctival swabs, with RNA sequencing confirming the coxsackievirus A24 variant as the causative agent in five swabs. Statistical analysis identified significant risk factors, including physical contact with patients with acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 4.42, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.90–10.10), frequent eye rubbing (aOR: 4.56, 95% CI: 2.00–10.37) and poor hand hygiene (aOR: 3.70, 95% CI: 1.64–8.43). Discussion: The outbreak of acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis in Pak Touch village was primarily caused by coxsackievirus A24. Significant risk factors included physical contact with infected individuals, frequent eye rubbing and poor hand hygiene. Effective hygiene measures are crucial to prevent the spread of AHC.

Objective:To present a set of clinically representative quality assurance (QA) test cases for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRT) plans of multiple intracranial metastases, in order to assess the plan quality and machine execution capabilities.Methods:Based on the clinical characteristics of multiple brain metastases, four groups of test cases with three target volumes (TVs), six TVs, nine TVs, and TVs near organs at risk (OARs) were designed. For these cases, SRT plans were developed, and plan quality was assessed using metrics including the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group conformality index (RTOG CI), gradient index (GI), homogeneity index (HI), and the volume of normal brain tissue receiving a dose of 24 Gy ( V24 Gy), which was defined as the volume enclosed by the 24 Gy isodose line around the Brain-PTV ( V24 Gy of Brain-PTV). Verification plans were generated for each test case, including the verification of point doses, planar doses (PD), and SRS MapCHECK (SMC) semiconductor matrix planar doses. Compared with the calculated result of the treatment planning system (TPS), the criteria for the γ analysis of planar doses were set at 1 mm/2% and 2 mm/2%. Results:For the four groups of test cases, the mean CI, GI, HI, and V24 Gy of Brain-PTV were 1.04±0.03, 3.79±0.40, 0.73±0.01 and (7.46±3.80) cm 3, respectively. The mean deviations of the point doses were 0.88%±0.98%, 1.47%±0.79%, 1.52%± 0.76%, and 1.17% ± 0.38%, respectively. The mean γ passing rates of the single fields for PDs were greater than 98% at 2 mm/2% and exceeding 96% at 1 mm/2%, and the mean γ pass rates of the SMC semiconductor matrix for PDs were 97.75% ± 2.31% and 99.33% ± 0.62%, at 1 mm/2% and 2 mm/2% respectively. Conclusions:The proposed QA test cases for SRT of multiple intracranial metastases allow for the effective assessments of the plan quality and machine execution capabilities and, thus, can assist various centers in clinical applications.

Objective:Investigating the association of the systemic immune-inflammation index and the pan-inflammation index with incident non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).Methods:This retrospective cohort study included 42 891 participants who underwent at least two health examinations at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University between 2014 and 2023. Based on their levels of the systemic immune inflammation index (SII) and the pan immune inflammation value (PIV), participants were respectively divided into four quartile groups (Q1 to Q4). Cox proportional hazards models were employed to analyze the association of different SII and PIV levels, as well as their quartile groups, with new onset NAFLD in the total population and across various subgroups. Restricted cubic splines were used to examine the dose response relationship between these inflammatory indices and incident NAFLD. Additionally, sensitivity analyses were conducted to confirm the robustness of the findings.Results:After adjusting for confounding factors, the natural logarithm-transformed lnSII ( HR=1.247, 95% CI: 1.184-1.314, P<0.001) and lnPIV ( HR=1.192, 95% CI: 1.148-1.238, P<0.001) were significantly positively associated with the risk of NAFLD. When the subjects were grouped by SII quartiles (Q1-Q4), compared with those in Q1, participants in Q2, Q3, and Q4 exhibited progressively higher risks of incident NAFLD:11.9% ( HR=1.119, 95% CI: 1.051-1.192, P<0.001), 17.1% ( HR=1.171, 95% CI: 1.100-1.248, P<0.001), and 29.1% ( HR=1.291, 95% CI: 1.211-1.377, P<0.001), respectively. Quartile analysis of PIV yielded similar trends: the risk of incident NAFLD increased for 10.4% ( HR=1.104, 95% CI: 1.034-1.179, P=0.003), 18.7% ( HR=1.187, 95% CI: 1.112-1.266, P<0.001), and 30.5% ( HR=1.305, 95% CI: 1.223-1.393, P<0.001) in Q2, Q3, and Q4 group respectively when compared to that in Q1 group. Subgroup analysis confirmed consistent associations of SII and PIV with elevated NAFLD risk across all subgroups. Conclusion:Elevated levels of SII and PIV are significantly associated with increased risk of NAFLD.

Objective:To investigate transition pattern of health status among middle-aged and elderly population in China based on frailty index.Methods:In this retrospective cohort study, middle-aged and elderly people were selected from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2011; and 1 434 subjects were followed up to 2015. The frailty index was calculated from the prevalence of chronic diseases, daily activity ability and blood biomarkers, and the frailty state was divided by quartiles of the frailty index. Markov models were constructed to determine the transition probabilities of different frailty states.Results:The mean age of the 1 434 subjects was (59.0±9.4) years and the mean frailty index was 0.11±0.05. In the healthy individuals, 63.0% remained healthy after a four-year follow-up; during the same follow-up period, 40.9% of the mildly frail individuals and 23.0% of the moderately frail individuals remained in their baseline frailty status. Increasing age leaded to a gradual increase in the probability of the population shifting to a severely frailty state. Women were more likely to shift to severe frailty status than men (0.029 vs 0.019, Z=3.03, P=0.002). Conclusion:Among middle-aged and elderly population in China, the transition of health states follows a pattern where higher frailty levels are associated with lower stability. Advanced age and female gender are identified as risk factors for progression to severe frailty.

Objective:To present a set of clinically representative quality assurance (QA) test cases for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRT) plans of multiple intracranial metastases, in order to assess the plan quality and machine execution capabilities.Methods:Based on the clinical characteristics of multiple brain metastases, four groups of test cases with three target volumes (TVs), six TVs, nine TVs, and TVs near organs at risk (OARs) were designed. For these cases, SRT plans were developed, and plan quality was assessed using metrics including the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group conformality index (RTOG CI), gradient index (GI), homogeneity index (HI), and the volume of normal brain tissue receiving a dose of 24 Gy ( V24 Gy), which was defined as the volume enclosed by the 24 Gy isodose line around the Brain-PTV ( V24 Gy of Brain-PTV). Verification plans were generated for each test case, including the verification of point doses, planar doses (PD), and SRS MapCHECK (SMC) semiconductor matrix planar doses. Compared with the calculated result of the treatment planning system (TPS), the criteria for the γ analysis of planar doses were set at 1 mm/2% and 2 mm/2%. Results:For the four groups of test cases, the mean CI, GI, HI, and V24 Gy of Brain-PTV were 1.04±0.03, 3.79±0.40, 0.73±0.01 and (7.46±3.80) cm 3, respectively. The mean deviations of the point doses were 0.88%±0.98%, 1.47%±0.79%, 1.52%± 0.76%, and 1.17% ± 0.38%, respectively. The mean γ passing rates of the single fields for PDs were greater than 98% at 2 mm/2% and exceeding 96% at 1 mm/2%, and the mean γ pass rates of the SMC semiconductor matrix for PDs were 97.75% ± 2.31% and 99.33% ± 0.62%, at 1 mm/2% and 2 mm/2% respectively. Conclusions:The proposed QA test cases for SRT of multiple intracranial metastases allow for the effective assessments of the plan quality and machine execution capabilities and, thus, can assist various centers in clinical applications.

Objective To explore the impact of vision impairment(VI)on the gait of hemiplegic patients,assess their walking ability and fall risks,and provide a basis for developing effective rehabilitation strategies.Methods Thirty hemiplegic patients were enrolled and stratified by the severity of visual acuity impairment into three groups(unimpaired,mildly impaired,and severely impaired).The gait data of patients under uncorrected vision were collected using the Qualisys motion capture system and the Kistler three-dimensional force platform,and the balance ability of patients was assessed simultaneously.Subsequently,the gait and assessment data were statistically analyzed to compare inter-group differences.Results Compared with the visually unimpaired group,significant differences in step length,symmetry,and walking speed were observed in hemiplegic patients of the mild visual impairment group and severe visual impairment group.As VI increased,gait abnormalities became more pronounced,with a longer double-limb support phase,a longer swing phase of the affected limb,and a shorter single-limb support phase of the affected limb in the gait cycle.Compared with the visually unimpaired group,significant differences in center of pressure(COP)and COP symmetry were found between the mild visual impairment group and severe visual impairment group,with gait abnormalities intensifying.The Berg balance scale(BBS)scores showed that there was a significant difference between the visually unimpaired group and severe visual impairment group,indicating that the group with visual impairment had poorer balance ability.Conclusions VI has a significant negative impact on the gait and walking ability of hemiplegic patients.This study emphasizes the importance of focusing on the impact of VI in the rehabilitation of hemiplegic patients,with regular vision assessments and personalized interventions being conducted,which are of great significance in enhancing patients' walking quality.

In view of the few studies on the influence of Armillaria spp. infection on the content of the chemical components in different parts of Polyporus umbellatus sclerotia, this study determined the biomass of P. umbellatus sclerotia and the contents of ergosterol, polyporusterone A, polyporusterone B and polysaccharide in the separated cavity wall of the sclerotia and the uninfected part of the sclerotia in different harvesting years under the conditions of A. gallica and A. mellea infection respectively. According to the difference of content and dynamic changes of the polysaccharide and the steroid substances, the superior Armillaria sp. was screened to obtain the best harvest years of P. umbellatus. Using HPLC and UV-VIS spectrophotometry methods, the contents of ergosterol, polyporusterone A, polyporusterone B and polysaccharide in P. umbellatus sclerotia infected by the two Armillaria spp. in different years were determined. In addition, the differentially expressed genes related to P. umbellatus polysaccharide synthesis were screened according to the transcriptomic data of different parts of P. umbellatus after A. mellea infection. With the increase of years, the biomass of sclerotia infected by different Armillaria spp. had significant differences, and there were significant differences in the four components of sclerotia. The four components of the separated cavity wall of the sclerotia were significantly higher than those of the uninfected part. The best harvest time was the third year after cultivation. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the infection of Armillaria spp. could significantly promote polysaccharide synthesis, which provided a basis for polysaccharide content determination at the molecular level. The study clarified the influence of different Armillaria spp. infection on the accumulation of chemical components of P. umbellatus sclerotia, laying a foundation for exploring the symbiosis mechanism and provided a scientific clue for screening superior Armillaria sp. and guiding the artificial cultivation of P. umbellatus sclerotia.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) serves as a treasure trove of ancient knowledge, holding a crucial position in the medical field. However, the exploration of TCM's extensive information has been hindered by challenges related to data standardization, completeness, and accuracy, primarily due to the decentralized distribution of TCM resources. To address these issues, we developed a platform for TCM knowledge discovery (TCMKD, https://cbcb.cdutcm.edu.cn/TCMKD/). Seven types of data, including syndromes, formulas, Chinese patent drugs (CPDs), Chinese medicinal materials (CMMs), ingredients, targets, and diseases, were manually proofread and consolidated within TCMKD. To strengthen the integration of TCM with modern medicine, TCMKD employs analytical methods such as TCM data mining, enrichment analysis, and network localization and separation. These tools help elucidate the molecular-level commonalities between TCM and contemporary scientific insights. In addition to its analytical capabilities, a quick question and answer (Q&A) system is also embedded within TCMKD to query the database efficiently, thereby improving the interactivity of the platform. The platform also provides a TCM text annotation tool, offering a simple and efficient method for TCM text mining. Overall, TCMKD not only has the potential to become a pivotal repository for TCM, delving into the pharmacological foundations of TCM treatments, but its flexible embedded tools and algorithms can also be applied to the study of other traditional medical systems, extending beyond just TCM.

Objective To explore the immediate impact of acute vision changes in hemiplegic patients on their gait.Methods Thirty visually normal hemiplegic patients were recruited.Plane mirrors(0°),concave lenses(+150°,+450°)were selected to simulate normal vision,moderate myopia,and high myopia scenarios for straight line walking tests.The Qualisys three-dimensional(3D)motion capture system and Kistler 3D force platform were employed to collect kinematic and dynamic parameters of the patients,and the differences in related indicators before and after visual intervention were compared.Results Visual intervention affected the step length,walking speed,and joint angles of hemiplegic patients.Especially after acute vision changes,there was a significant difference in the stride length and ankle joint angles on the patient's affected side.Under high myopia,the step length and step length symmetry were better than those under moderate myopia,but at the expense of gait speed.Visual intervention led to asymmetric trends in step the length symmetry and joint angle symmetry.There were very significant differences in center of pressure(COP)and COP symmetry between normal vision and high myopia.Conclusions Acute vision changes can affect the gait of hemiplegic patients,especially in individuals with high myopia presenting both a notable decrease in walking speed and an increased ankle range of motion,and an increase in walking speed with moderate myopia.Meanwhile,the symmetry of the COP decreases,indicating that acute vision changes lead to a higher risk of falls for patients.Reasonable vision assessment and corresponding intervention measures are expected to improve walking ability and life quality of the patients.

Objective To explore the impact of vision impairment(VI)on the gait of hemiplegic patients,assess their walking ability and fall risks,and provide a basis for developing effective rehabilitation strategies.Methods Thirty hemiplegic patients were enrolled and stratified by the severity of visual acuity impairment into three groups(unimpaired,mildly impaired,and severely impaired).The gait data of patients under uncorrected vision were collected using the Qualisys motion capture system and the Kistler three-dimensional force platform,and the balance ability of patients was assessed simultaneously.Subsequently,the gait and assessment data were statistically analyzed to compare inter-group differences.Results Compared with the visually unimpaired group,significant differences in step length,symmetry,and walking speed were observed in hemiplegic patients of the mild visual impairment group and severe visual impairment group.As VI increased,gait abnormalities became more pronounced,with a longer double-limb support phase,a longer swing phase of the affected limb,and a shorter single-limb support phase of the affected limb in the gait cycle.Compared with the visually unimpaired group,significant differences in center of pressure(COP)and COP symmetry were found between the mild visual impairment group and severe visual impairment group,with gait abnormalities intensifying.The Berg balance scale(BBS)scores showed that there was a significant difference between the visually unimpaired group and severe visual impairment group,indicating that the group with visual impairment had poorer balance ability.Conclusions VI has a significant negative impact on the gait and walking ability of hemiplegic patients.This study emphasizes the importance of focusing on the impact of VI in the rehabilitation of hemiplegic patients,with regular vision assessments and personalized interventions being conducted,which are of great significance in enhancing patients' walking quality.