Objective: To analyze the disease burden and trends of oral diseases among China’s elderly population (1990-2021) and provide evidence for developing targeted intervention strategies Methods : Using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study, we extracted prevalence, incidence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for oral conditions (permanent dental caries, edentulism, periodontal diseases, and other oral disorders) in individuals aged ≥60 years in China. Due to data limitations, other oral diseases only included DALYs and prevalence. Age-standardized rates (ASR)—including age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR), age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), and age-standardized DALYs rate (ASDR)--were calculated. Trends were assessed via Joinpoint regression using average annual percentage change (AAPC), stratified by sex and age groups (60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85-89, 90-94, 95+ years). Results: From 1990 to 2021, China’s elderly population exhibited distinct trends in oral disease burden. Overall oral diseases showed declining ASDR and ASPR, yet ASIR slightly increased. Permanent dental caries demonstrated significant rises across ASDR, ASIR, and ASPR. Edentulism showed declining ASDR and ASPR alongside stable ASIR. 95+ age group saw rising rates. Periodontal diseases remained largely stable in ASDR and ASPR but experienced a slight ASIR decline. Other oral disorders showed mild ASDR decline and stable ASPR. Notably, sex and age disparities persisted. Women consistently bore higher burdens for overall oral diseases, caries, edentulism, and other oral diseases but lower periodontal disease rates compared to men. 85-89, 90-95, 95+ age group faced rising DALYs and prevalence for overall oral diseases, while all other age groups demonstrated declining trends in both DALYs and prevalence; for permanent caries, the 60-64 age group showed the largest increases in DALY rate, incidence, and prevalence; edentulism demonstrated the most pronounced and sustained rises in DALY rate and prevalence in the 95+ group, while declining most rapidly in the 60-64 age group; for periodontal disease, both DALY rates and prevalence declined in the 90-94 and 95+ age groups, but increased across all measures (DALY rate, incidence, and prevalence) in the 70-74 and 75-79 age group; other oral conditions exhibited relatively stable burden distributions or minor changes, with no significant age-specific shifting trends observed. Conclusion From 1990 to 2021, China’s elderly oral disease burden declined overall, but caries surged, edentulism improved, periodontal diseases stabilized, and other oral diseases slightly declined. Prioritizing older women and the adults aged 85+ is critical to addressing evolving oral health needs.

In this study,the immunological characteristics of the PhoP protein were explored with a two-component system of Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb).Bioinformatics was used to predict the B and T cell epitopes of the PhoP protein.A re-combinant expression plasmid was constructed by PCR analysis of the phoP sequence and cloning into the prokaryotic expres-sion vector pET-28a(+).Competent Escherichia coli BL21 cells were transformed with the recombinant plasmid and expres-sion was induced with IPTG.The recombinant PhoP protein was purified by affinity chromatography.Serum levels of PhoP-specific antibodies in Mtb-infected mice and tuberculosis(TB)patients were analyzed with an ELISA.BALB/c mice were im-munized with the PhoP recombinant protein by intramuscular injection.Sera of mice were collected and antibody titers were detected with an ELISA and specificity was assessed by West-ern blot analysis.Mouse splenocytes were isolated and the pro-portions of IFN-y-positive cells and cytokine levels were detec-ted with an ELISpot and ELISA,respectively.Bioinformatics i-dentified 24 B cell and 11 T cell epitopes of the PhoP protein.A prokaryotic recombinant vector of PhoP was successfully con-structed and the recombinant PhoP protein was obtained by purification.Specific antibody levels to PhoP in sera of Mtb in-fected mice and TB patients increased significantly,with preci-sion of 99.9％and 82.5％,and specificity of 100％,respectively.PhoP protein immunization successfully induced production of specific antibodies in mice.Stimulated by antigens in vitro,IL-2 and IFN-γ levels were significantly increased in the splenocytes of immunized mice.Immunization with the PhoP protein induce a humoral immune response and Thl-dominated cellular immu-nity,indicating that the PhoP protein was immunogenic with diagnostic efficacy for TB.These results lay a foundation to clari-fy the role of PhoP in Mtb infection and application for diagnosis and prevention of TB.

Objective:To retrospectively analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of 85 newly diagnosed patients with follicular lymphoma (FL), as well as the prognostic value of comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) in patients with FL aged ≥ 60 years old.Methods:The clinical data and prognosis of 85 newly diagnosed FL patients admitted from August 2011 to June 2022 were collected. The clinical features, laboratory indicators, therapeutic efficacy, survival and prognostic factors of patients were statistically analyzed, and the prognosis of patients was stratified using various geriatric assessment tools.Results:① The patients with FL were mostly middle-aged and older, with a median age of 59 (20-87) years, including 41 patients (48.2%) aged ≥60 years. The ratio of male to female was 1∶1.36. Overall, 77.6% of the patients were diagnosed with Ann Arbor stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ, and 17 cases (20.0%) were accompanied by B symptoms. Bone marrow involvement was the most common (34.1%). ②Overall, 71 patients received immunochemotherapy. The overall response rate was 86.6%, and the complete recovery rate was 47.1% of 68 evaluated patients. Disease progression or relapse in the first 2 years was observed in 23.9% of the patient. Overall, 14.1% of the patients died during follow-up. ③Of the 56 patients receiving R-CHOP-like therapies, the 3-year and 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 85.2% and 72.8%, respectively, and the 3-year and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 95.9% and 88.8%, respectively. The univariate analysis showed that age ≥60 years old ( HR=3.430, 95% CI 1.256-9.371, P=0.016), B symptoms ( HR=5.030, 95% CI 1.903-13.294, P=0.016), Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) <45.25 ( HR=3.478, 95% CI 1.299-9.310, P=0.013), Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) high-risk ( HR=2.918, 95% CI 1.074-7.928, P=0.036), and PRIMA-prognostic index (PRIMA-PI) high-risk ( HR=2.745, 95% CI 1.057-7.129, P=0.038) significantly predicted PFS. Moreover, age ≥60 years old and B symptoms were independent risk factors for PFS. Progression of disease within 24 months (POD24) significantly predicted OS in the univariate analysis. Conclusions:FL is more common among middle-aged and older women. Age, B symptoms, PNI score, FLIPI high-risk, PRIMA-PI high-risk, and POD24 influenced PFS and OS. The CGA can be used for treatment selection and risk prognostication in older patients with FL.

Polatuzumab vedotin (Pola) is a novel antibody-drug conjugate targeting CD79b, which has been shown to be effective in treating newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) during clinical trials. This study aims to conduct a retrospective analysis of the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of a patient with refractory secondary central nervous system lymphoma at Beijing Hospital, alongside a review of relevant literature. This study included a 79-year-old female patient who was diagnosed with DLBCL affecting the ilium, sacrum, spinal cord, and nerve roots and had an IPI score of 5 and a high-risk score according to MSKCC. She showed a geriatric comprehensive assessment (IACA) score of 2, which was categorized under the unfit group. Her initial treatment comprised chemo-free therapy and radiotherapy, followed by progression. In the second-line treatment, a Pola-based regimen was applied, and the patient achieved a complete response, suggesting that this regimen may be a therapeutic option for patients with DLBCL involving the central nervous system.

Objective To investigate the correlations of serum Aβ1-42,P-Tau181,and Hcy levels with sleep disorders in patients with Parkinson's disease(PD).Methods A total of 80 PD patients were divided into a normal sleep group(＜7 points)and a sleep disorder group(≥7 points)based on the evaluations with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI).Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the correlations between the levels of serum A β1-42,P-Tau181,and Hcy levels and sleep disorders.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were used to analyze the efficacy parameters of different indicators in pre-dicting sleep disorders in those patients.Results Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that serum Aβ1-42 and Hcy were protective and independent risk factors for sleep disorders in the PD patients,respectively(P＜0.05).The predictive AUCs of serum Aβ1-42 and Hcy levels for sleep disorders in the PD patients were 0.757(95%CI:0.652～0.861)and 0.796(95%CI:0.688～0.905),respectively.Conclusion The levels of serum Aβ1-42 and Hcy in PD patients are closely related to sleep disorders.Therefore,they can be used as predic-tive factors for clinical diagnosis of PD with sleep disorders.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of pneumococcal meningitis(PM),and drug sensitivity of Streptococcus pneumoniae(SP)isolates in Chinese children.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical information,laboratory data,and microbiological data of 160 hospitalized children under 15 years old with PM from January 2019 to December 2020 in 33 tertiary hospitals across the country.Results Among the 160 children with PM,there were 103 males and 57 females.The age ranged from 15 days to 15 years,with 109 cases(68.1% )aged 3 months to under 3 years.SP strains were isolated from 95 cases(59.4% )in cerebrospinal fluid cultures and from 57 cases(35.6% )in blood cultures.The positive rates of SP detection by cerebrospinal fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing and cerebrospinal fluid SP antigen testing were 40% (35/87)and 27% (21/78),respectively.Fifty-five cases(34.4% )had one or more risk factors for purulent meningitis,113 cases(70.6% )had one or more extra-cranial infectious foci,and 18 cases(11.3% )had underlying diseases.The most common clinical symptoms were fever(147 cases,91.9% ),followed by lethargy(98 cases,61.3% )and vomiting(61 cases,38.1% ).Sixty-nine cases(43.1% )experienced intracranial complications during hospitalization,with subdural effusion and/or empyema being the most common complication[43 cases(26.9% )],followed by hydrocephalus in 24 cases(15.0% ),brain abscess in 23 cases(14.4% ),and cerebral hemorrhage in 8 cases(5.0% ).Subdural effusion and/or empyema and hydrocephalus mainly occurred in children under 1 year old,with rates of 91% (39/43)and 83% (20/24),respectively.SP strains exhibited complete sensitivity to vancomycin(100% ,75/75),linezolid(100% ,56/56),and meropenem(100% ,6/6).High sensitivity rates were also observed for levofloxacin(81% ,22/27),moxifloxacin(82% ,14/17),rifampicin(96% ,25/26),and chloramphenicol(91% ,21/23).However,low sensitivity rates were found for penicillin(16% ,11/68)and clindamycin(6% ,1/17),and SP strains were completely resistant to erythromycin(100% ,31/31).The rates of discharge with cure and improvement were 22.5% (36/160)and 66.2% (106/160),respectively,while 18 cases(11.3% )had adverse outcomes.Conclusions Pediatric PM is more common in children aged 3 months to under 3 years.Intracranial complications are more frequently observed in children under 1 year old.Fever is the most common clinical manifestation of PM,and subdural effusion/emphysema and hydrocephalus are the most frequent complications.Non-culture detection methods for cerebrospinal fluid can improve pathogen detection rates.Adverse outcomes can be noted in more than 10% of PM cases.SP strains are high sensitivity to vancomycin,linezolid,meropenem,levofloxacin,moxifloxacin,rifampicin,and chloramphenicol.[Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics,2024,26(2):131-138]

Objective To explore the effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation(TEAS)combined with multi-model analgesia on infrared thermal imaging characteristics and pain after total knee arthroplasty(TKA).Methods A total of 74 patients with TKA were divided into the treatment group and the control group according to random number table method,with 37 cases in each group.The control group was treated with multi-model analgesia,and the treatment group was treated with TEAS on the basis of multi-model analgesia for 30 min,once in the morning and afternoon before the patient's rehabilitation exercise 1-7 days after surgery.The infrared thermal imaging data,visual analogue scale(VAS)score,Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC)score and pain threshold of the two groups were recorded and analyzed before and at different time points after operation.Results There were 2 cases dropped out in each group.Compared with before surgery,both groups had an increase in knee joint temperature on the surgical side 14 days after surgery(P<0.05),and the temperature in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).The self knee temperature difference in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group 14 days after surgery(P<0.05).Compared with before surgery,the VAS score of the treatment group decreased 3 and 7 days after surgery(P<0.05),while the VAS score of the control group decreased 7 days after surgery(P<0.05);compared with the control group at 3 and 7 days after surgey,the VAS score of the treatment group was lower than that of the control group.Compared with before surgery,the WOMAC scores of both groups increased 7 days after surgery(P<0.05);after 7 days of surgery,the WOMAC score of the treatment group was lower than that of the control group(P<0.05).Compared with before surgery,the pain threshold values of both groups increased 7 days after surgery(P<0.05);compared with the control group at 3 and 7 days after surgery,the pain threshold values of the treatment group was higher than that of the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion TEAS combined with multi-model analgesia can reduce the temperature of the knee joint,relieve the pain of the operated limb,and promote the early functional recovery of the knee joint after TKA.Infrared thermal imaging technology has a certain application value in indirectly assessing the degree of postoperative pain and detecting early infection of the affected limb.

Objective To explore the treatment effects and mechanism of Fangji Huangqi Xiaozhong Prescription in metabolic syndrome phenotype osteoarthritis(MS-OA)based on PPARγ/NF-κB signaling pathway.Methods SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group,OA group,MS-OA group,Western medicine group,and TCM high-and low-dasage groups.The modified Hulth method was used to make the OA model,and OA model was added with high-carbohydrate high-fat diet to make the MS-OA model.TCM high-and low-dosage groups were given 15.12,7.56 g/kg Fangji Huangqi Xiaozhong Prescription for gavage.The Western medicine group was given 16.2 mg/kg of losoprofen sodium by gavage,while the other groups were given physiological saline by gavage once a day for 6 consecutive weeks.Rat body mass was measured,biochemical detection of blood lipids and blood glucose was conducted,ELISA was used to detect the contents of serum TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-10 and leptin,morphological changes in cartilage tissue were observed using safranin O-fixed green and HE staining,immunohistochemical staining was used to detect expressions of Acan,ColⅩ,MMP13,TNF-α,IL-1β and PPARγ in cartilage tissue,Western blot was used to detected the expression of PPARγ,NF-κBp65 and p-NF-κBp65 protein in cartilage tissue.Results Compared with the sham-operation group,body mass and serum TC,TG,LDL-C,TNF-α,IL-1β and leptin of MS-OA group increased significantly(P<0.01),the contents of HDL-C and IL-10 decreased(P<0.01),cartilage tissue degeneration was significant,and the Mankin score increased(P<0.01),the expression of ColⅩ,MMP13,TNF-α,IL-1β,p-NF-κBp65 protein increased(P<0.05,P<0.01),and the expression of Acan and PPARγ protein decreased(P<0.01).Compared with the MS-OA group,the contents of serum TC,TG,LDL-C,TNF-α and leptin decreased in TCM high-dosage group(P<0.05,P<0.01),the content of IL-10 increased(P<0.05),the pathological damage of cartilage tissue improved,the Mankin score decreased(P<0.01),the expressions of ColⅩ,MMP13,TNF-α,IL-1β and p-NF-κBp65 protein in cartilage tissue decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01),and the protein expressions of Acan and PPARγ protein increased(P<0.01,P<0.05).Conclusion Fangji Huangqi Xiaozhong Prescription can improve lipid metabolism disorder,improve intra-articular inflammatory environment,balance cartilage metabolism,and delay cartilage degeneration in MS-OA rats.Its mechanism may be related to the regulation of PPARγ/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective To evaluate the potential risk of transmission of angiostrongyliasis by common freshwater snails in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, so as to provide insights into local surveillance of angiostrongyliasis. Methods Common freshwater snails were collected from Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province from March to April, 2020, and identified and bred in laboratory. SD rats were infected with third-stage larvae of Angiostrongylus cantonensis that were isolated from commercially available Pomacea canaliculata snails in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, and freshwater snails were infected with the first-stage larvae of A. cantonensis that were isolated from the feces of SD rats 39 days post-infection at room temperature. The developmental process and morphological characteristics of worms in hosts were observed, and the percentages of A. cantonensis infections in different species of freshwater snails were calculated. Then, SD rats were infected with the third-stage larvae of A. cantonensis that were isolated from A. cantonensis-infected freshwater snails, and the larval development and reproduction was observed. Results More than 3 000 freshwater snail samples were collected from farmlands, ditches and wetlands around Erhai Lake in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, and Cipangopaludina chinensis, P. canaliculata, Parafossarulus striatulus, Oncomelania hupensis robertsoni, Galba pervia, Physa acuta, Radix swinhoei, Assiminea spp., Tricula spp. and Bellamya spp. were morphologically identified. A total of 105 commercially available P. canaliculata snails were tested for A. cantonensis infections, and 2 P. canaliculata snails were found to be infected with A. cantonensis, in which the third-stage larvae of A. cantonensis were isolated. Ten species of freshwater snails were artificially infected with the third-stage larvae of A. cantonensis, and all 10 species of freshwater snails were found to be infected with A. cantonensis, with the highest positive rate of A. cantonensis infections in Bellamya spp. (62.3%, 137/204), and the lowest in C. chinensis (35.5%, 11/31). After SD rats were infected with the third-stage larvae of A. cantonensis isolated from different species of freshwater snails, mature adult worms of A. cantonensis were yielded. Conclusions Multiple species of freshwater snails may serve as intermediate hosts of A. cantonensis under laboratory conditions in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province. Further investigations on natural infection of A. cantonensis in wild snails in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture seem justified.

Polysaccharides, predominantly extracted from traditional Chinese medicinal herbs such as Lycium barbarum, Angelica sinensis, Astragalus membranaceus, Dendrobium officinale, Ganoderma lucidum, and Poria cocos, represent principal bioactive constituents extensively utilized in Chinese medicine. These compounds have demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory capabilities, especially anti-liver injury activities, while exhibiting minimal adverse effects. This review summarized recent studies to elucidate the hepatoprotective efficacy and underlying molecular mechanisms of these herbal polysaccharides. It underscored the role of these polysaccharides in regulating hepatic function, enhancing immunological responses, and improving antioxidant capacities, thus contributing to the attenuation of hepatocyte apoptosis and liver protection. Analyses of molecular pathways in these studies revealed the intricate and indispensable functions of traditional Chinese herbal polysaccharides in liver injury management. Therefore, this review provides a thorough examination of the hepatoprotective attributes and molecular mechanisms of these medicinal polysaccharides, thereby offering valuable insights for the advancement of polysaccharide-based therapeutic research and their potential clinical applications in liver disease treatment.
Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Liver Diseases/drug therapy* ; Antioxidants ; Polysaccharides/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional