ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism of Pibai Yucuo Formula （枇柏愈痤方， PYF） in treating acne from the perspective of skin barrier damage. MethodsThirty-two mice were randomly divided into blank group， model group， minocycline group， and PYF group， with 8 mice in each group. Except for the blank group， mice were induced by intradermal injection of Cutibacterium acnes （C.acnes） combined with topical application of artificial sebum to establish acne model. The blank group and model group received intragastric administration of 0.2 ml of distilled water， while the PYF group received intragastric administration of 22.75 g/（kg·d）of PYF， and the minocycline group received 0.013 g/（kg·d）of minocycline suspension， all once daily for 5 consecutive days. On day 0 and day 6 of the experiment， the body weight of mice in each group was recorded， and the absolute value of the body weight difference during the experiment was calculated. Skin conditions were assessed with multifunctional skin imaging system on the 2nd， 4th and 6th day of the experiment. Skin barrier function indicators including transepidermal water loss （TEWL）， and the water content of the stratum corneum and epidermis on day 0， 2， 4 and 6 of the experiment. Optical coherence tomography （OCT） was used to observe stratum corneum and skin thickness on the 1st， 3rd and 5th day of the experiment. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was performed to observe histopathological changes， while ELISA was used to detect interleukin-17A （IL-17A） levels， and immunofluorescence staining was used to assess skin barrier-related proteins filaggrin （FLG） and loricrin （LOR） levels of skin lesions on day 6 of the experiment. ResultsCompared to the blank group， the model group showed a decrease in body weight on day 6， and an increase in the absolute value of the difference in body weight before and after the experiment （P＜0.05）. On day 4 and 6， TEWL values increased， while water content in the skin stratum corneum and epidermis decreased （P＜0.05）， accompanied by elevated IL-17A level and reduced immunofluorescence intensity of FLG and LOR proteins （P＜0.05）. The model group mice showed papules or pustules at the skin modeling site with progressively worsening desquamation under multifunctional skin imaging system. OCT revealed focal epidermal protrusions， blurred epidermal-dermal boundaries， and disorganized structural layers. HE staining showed significant epidermal hyperkeratosis and incomplete keratinization in the skin， with keratin plug formation in hair follicles and glandular lumens， thickened stratum corneum， hyperplasia of the stratum spinosum， as well as dense dermal inflammatory cell infiltration， and capillary dilation. Compared to the model group， both the minocycline group and the PYF group showed a reduced difference in body weight before and after experiment （P＜0.05）. On day 4 and 6， the TEWL value decreased， and water content of the skin stratum corneum increased （P＜0.05）； on day 6， the IL-17A level in the skin lesions decreased and immunofluorescence intensity of FLG and LOR proteins increased （P＜0.05）. On day 4 and 6， the severity of the skin lesions and range of redness and swelling were lighter than those in the model group， with reverted epidermal thickness， smoother surface and clearer epidermis-dermis boundary. HE staining showed that the degree of skin keratinization was reduced， and the inflammatory infiltration and vascular dilation in the dermis were improved compared to the model group. The PYF group showed better results than the minocycline group in reducing TEWL value on day 4 （P＜0.05）. ConclusionPYF may improve inflammation and skin barrier damage by downregulating IL-17A levels in lesion tissue and increasing skin barrier-related proteins， which could be one of the potential mechanism of action on acne.

ObjectiveTo observe the long-term survival outcomes and complications of liver cirrhosis patients with spontaneous portosystemic shunt and type 1 isolated gastric varices （IGV-1） bleeding after secondary endoscopic preventive therapy， and to investigate the independent influencing factors for long-term prognosis. MethodsA total of 70 liver cirrhosis patients with spontaneous portosystemic shunt and IGV-1 bleeding who were admitted to Beijing Ditan Hospital， Capital Medical University， from January 5， 2015 to November 29， 2019 were enrolled as subjects， and related baseline data were collected， including age， sex， etiology， routine blood test results， liver function parameters， renal function parameters， coagulation parameters， Child-Pugh score， and the presence or absence of comorbidities such as cholestasis， hepatocellular carcinoma， thrombosis， ascites， and hepatic encephalopathy. All patients underwent secondary endoscopic preventive therapy for rebleeding and were followed up for 5 years. The primary endpoints were ectopic embolism rate and all-cause mortality rate， and the secondary endpoints were liver-related mortality and liver-related complications. The independent-samples t test or the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous data between groups， and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. The Cox regression analysis was used to investigate the prognostic factors for 1-， 3-， and 5-year survival time， and the Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent risk factors for liver disease-related complications. ResultsThe incidence rate of ectopic embolism was 0% within 5 years of follow-up. The 1-， 3-， and 5-year all-cause mortality rates were 5.7%， 24.3%， and 32.9%， respectively. There were 2 cases of liver-related death in year 1， 8 cases in year 3， and 12 cases in year 5， resulting in a liver disease-related mortality rate of 17.14% （12/70）. Compared with the survival group， the death group had significantly higher incidence rates of hepatocellular carcinoma （0.00% vs 17.39%， χ²=8.669， P=0.003） and ascites （38.30% vs 52.17%， χ²=7.272， P=0.026）， and compared with the death group， the survival group had significantly lower 5-year incidence rates of rebleeding （10.64% vs 100.00%， χ²=51.383， P<0.001）， ascites （8.51% vs 52.17%， χ²=21.574， P<0.001）， and hepatic encephalopathy （0.00% vs 21.74%， χ²=12.029， P=0.002）. The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that during the 1-year follow-up， comorbidity with hepatocellular carcinoma before surgery （hazard ratio ［HR］=14.601， 95% confidence interval ［CI］： 2.049 — 104.098， P=0.007） and PT （HR=1.662， 95%CI： 1.090 — 2.535， P=0.018） were independent risk factors for survival， and HGB level （HR=0.863， 95%CI： 0.747 — 0.998， P=0.046） was a protective factor for prolonged survival； during the long-term follow-up for 3 or 5 years， preoperative comorbidities with hepatocellular carcinoma （3 years： HR=40.174， 95%CI： 8.939 — 180.559， P<0.001； 5 years： HR=26.739， 95%CI： 6.993 — 102.243， P<0.001） and ascites （3 years： HR=3.638， 95%CI： 1.751 — 7.575， P=0.001； 5 years： HR=2.555， 95%CI： 1.419 — 4.598， P=0.002） were independent risk factors for mortality. The Logistic regression analysis showed that during the follow-up for 3 years， comorbidity with ascites before surgery （odds ratio ［OR］=0.255， 95%CI： 0.102 — 0.636， P=0.003） was associated with a lower risk of rebleeding， while comorbidity with hepatocellular carcinoma before surgery （OR=16.231， 95%CI： 1.298 — 202.878， P=0.031） was an independent risk factor for rebleeding； prothrombin time was a protective factor against hepatic encephalopathy （OR=0.790， 95%CI： 0.648 — 0.964， P=0.020）； during the follow-up for 5 years， aggravation of ascites after surgery （OR=5.578， 95%CI： 1.474 — 21.103， P=0.011） was an independent risk factor for rebleeding， and aggravation of ascites after surgery （OR=175.046， 95%CI： 14.306 — 2 141.909， P<0.001） were independent risk factors for the development of ascites in the future. ConclusionComorbidity with hepatocellular carcinoma before surgery and prothrombin time are independent risk factors for 1-year survival， whereas a high HGB level is a protective factor for increasing 1-year survival. Preoperative comorbidities with hepatocellular carcinoma and ascites are independent risk factors for the long-term prognosis of patients with spontaneous portosystemic shunt and IGV-1 bleeding and can significantly shorten survival time. Preoperative comorbidity with ascites can reduce the occurrence of rebleeding， while postoperative hepatocellular carcinoma and aggravation of ascites after surgery are independent risk factors for rebleeding； aggravation of ascites after surgery is an independent risk factor for the development of ascites in the future.

Objective To study the relationship between vaginal microecological balance and serum T cell subsets,Toll-like receptor 2(TLR2)and Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)after hysterectomy.Methods The clinical data of 120 patients who underwent laparoscopic total hysterectomy in Daxing Teaching Hospital of Capital Medical University from June 2020 to June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were assigned to normal group(n=50)and unbalanced group(n=70)according to postoperative vaginal microecological changes.General information,such as age,body mass index(BMI),disease type,expression of CD+4,CD+8,CD+4/CD+8,TLR2,and TLR4 were compared between the two groups.The risk factors affecting vaginal microecological balance after hysterectomy were analyzed by multivariate Logistic regression.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn to evaluate the efficacy of serum T cell subsets,TLR2,and TLR4 in predicting vaginal microecological imbalance after hysterectomy.Results The levels of CD+4 and CD+4/CD+8 in the unbalanced group were significantly lower than those in the normal group,while the levels of CD+8,TLR2 and TLR4 in the unbalanced group were significantly higher than those in the normal group(P<0.05).Multivariable Logistic regression analysis showed that CD+4,CD+8,CD+4/CD+8,TLR2 and TLR4 expression were the influence factors of vaginal microecological imbalance after hysterectomy(P<0.05).ROC analysis confirmed that the expression of CD+4,CD+8 and CD+4/CD+8 and the levels of TLR2 and TLR4 could be used to predict vaginal microecological imbalance after hysterectomy,and the areas under the curve were 0.718,0.813,0.785,0.851,and 0.945,respectively(all P<0.05).Conclusion CD+4,CD+8,CD+4/CD+8,TLR2 and TLR4 expression levels are the influence factors of vaginal microecological imbalance after hysterectomy.They can be used as biological indicators for evaluating vaginal microecological balance after hysterectomy.

ObjectiveTo investigate the safety and efficacy of puncture cyanoacrylate selective seal （PCSS） under endoscopic ultrasound in the treatment of gastroesophageal varices （GOV）. MethodsA total of 100 patients with liver cirrhosis who underwent endoscopic therapy for the secondary prevention of GOV bleeding in Beijing Ditan Hospital， Capital Medical University， from March 1 to December 31， 2023 were enrolled and randomly divided into PCSS group and traditional endoscopy group. The patients were followed up for 6 months after surgery， and the two groups were compared in terms of clinical outcome and complications. The primary outcome measure was the rate of alleviation or disappearance of GOV， and the secondary outcome measure was variceal rebleeding and death. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed or approximately normally distributed quantitative data between two groups， and the Wilcoxon non-parametric test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed quantitative data between two groups； the chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of qualitative data between two groups. ResultsThere were 50 patients in the PCSS group， among whom 1 patient was lost to follow-up， and there were 50 patients in the traditional endoscopy group， among whom 3 patients were lost to follow-up. There were no significant differences between the two groups in baseline data such as age， sex， Child-Pugh class， varices grade， and GOV typing （all P>0.05）. Compared with the traditional endoscopy group， the PCSS group had significantly better results of the number of endoscopic treatment sessions （t=-15.671， P=0.001）， the total amount of tissue adhesive used （t=-2.830， P=0.006）， and the rate of alleviation or eradication of varices sclerosis （χ²=7.078， P=0.029）. Both groups had low rates of postoperative rebleeding， adverse reactions， and complications， and there were no significant differences between the two groups （all P>0.05）. ConclusionCompared with traditional endoscopy， PCSS can significantly enhance treatment outcome while maintaining safety standards.

ObjectiveTo characterize the evidence distribution and methodological quality of randomized controlled trials （RCTs） on oral Chinese herbal medicine （CHM） for atopic dermatitis （AD） based on evidence mapping. MethodsSeven databases （CNKI， Wanfang Data， VIP， CBM， Cochrane Library， PubMed， and Embase） and the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry were searched for the RCTs in Chinese and English. Evidence distribution was presented graphically and textually， and methodological quality was assessed via the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool （ROB 1.0）. ResultsA total of 168 RCTs were included. The number of annual publications showing an increasing trend， and 72.6% RCTs had sample sizes of 51-100 participants. The studies evaluated 108 distinct CHM interventions categorized as decoctions， granules， Chinese patent medicines， and extracts. Compound Glycyrrhizin was the most frequently used， followed by Xiaofengsan and Chushi Weiling decoction. Among the RCTs， 57.1% had the treatment courses of 4-8 weeks. Outcome measures predominantly focused on clinical response rate， skin lesion severity scores， and adverse events， with less attention to TCM symptom scores， skin barrier function， and relapse rates. The overall risk of bias was generally high. ConclusionWhile CHM for AD is a research hotspot and demonstrates clinical advantages， the related studies have problems such as unclear clinical positioning， poor research standardization and methodological quality， and insufficient prominence of TCM clinical advantages. Large-sample， methodologically rigorous， and high-quality studies are needed to enhance the evidence base for CHM in treating AD.

ObjectiveTo characterize the evidence distribution and methodological quality of randomized controlled trials （RCTs） on oral Chinese herbal medicine （CHM） for atopic dermatitis （AD） based on evidence mapping. MethodsSeven databases （CNKI， Wanfang Data， VIP， CBM， Cochrane Library， PubMed， and Embase） and the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry were searched for the RCTs in Chinese and English. Evidence distribution was presented graphically and textually， and methodological quality was assessed via the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool （ROB 1.0）. ResultsA total of 168 RCTs were included. The number of annual publications showing an increasing trend， and 72.6% RCTs had sample sizes of 51-100 participants. The studies evaluated 108 distinct CHM interventions categorized as decoctions， granules， Chinese patent medicines， and extracts. Compound Glycyrrhizin was the most frequently used， followed by Xiaofengsan and Chushi Weiling decoction. Among the RCTs， 57.1% had the treatment courses of 4-8 weeks. Outcome measures predominantly focused on clinical response rate， skin lesion severity scores， and adverse events， with less attention to TCM symptom scores， skin barrier function， and relapse rates. The overall risk of bias was generally high. ConclusionWhile CHM for AD is a research hotspot and demonstrates clinical advantages， the related studies have problems such as unclear clinical positioning， poor research standardization and methodological quality， and insufficient prominence of TCM clinical advantages. Large-sample， methodologically rigorous， and high-quality studies are needed to enhance the evidence base for CHM in treating AD.

Objective To discuss the application of Hydrocoil Azur CX(an electrolysis dehydration gel platinum coil)in interventional embolization of pulmonary arteriovenous fistula(PAVF).Methods Three patients with untreated PAVF,who were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University of China between May 2023 and July 2023,were selected for this study.Interventional embolization of the responsible vessels with Hydrocoil Azur CX and other spring coils was carried out for all 3 patients.Results Multiple PAVF lesions were effectively obstructed in 3 patients.No recanalization occurred during a follow-up period of 6 months.Conclusion The Hydrocoil Azur CX can effectively and permanently embolize the PAVF.

Objective:To investigate the hepatoprotective effect of N-acetylcysteine(NAC)on rats with liver injury induced by cisplatin and its effect on intestinal flora and the expression of interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),and nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB).Methods:Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group(CG),cisplatin group(CP),and NAC group.The rats in the NAC group were given NAC 15 mg/kg by gavage for 8 consecutive days.At half an hour after intragastric administration on the fifth day,all rats except those in the NC group were given intraperitoneal injection of 8 mg/kg cisplatin to induce acute liver injury.An automatic biochemical analyzer was used to measure the content of aspartate aminotransferase(AST),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),alkaline phosphatase(ALP),and total bilirubin(TBIL);liver index was calculated for the rats;Western blot was used to measure the relative expression levels of NF-κB,IL-6,and TNF-α in liver tissue;the 16S rDNA technique was used to measure and analyze the amplification information of the V3-V4 regions of each sample.Results:Compared with the NC group,the CP group had significant increases in the content of AST,ALT,ALP,and TBIL,while NAC reversed the abnormal liver function caused by cisplatin.Compared with the NC group,the CP group had a sig-nificant increase in liver index(P=0.000),while the NAC group had a significant reduction in liver index compared with the CP group(P=0.007).Compared with the NC group,the CP group had signifi-cant increases in the expression levels of IL-6,TNF-α,and NF-κB,while the NAC group showed reductions in the expression of these genes,with significant differences in the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α(P=0.006 and 0.000).Compared with the NC group,the CP group had a significant increase in the α-diversity index of intesti-nal flora,while compared with the CP group,the NAC group tended to have a reduction in the α-diversity index of intestinal flora.Com-pared with the CP group at the phylum level,the NAC group had an increase in the abundance of Actinobacteria and a reduction in the abundance of Firmicutes.Compared with the CP group at the genus level,the NAC group had a reduction in the abundance of Rumino-coccaceae and increases in the abundance of Bifidobacterium and Allobaculum.Conclusion:NAC can alleviate acute liver injury caused by cisplatin,possibly by downregulating the expression of IL-6,TNF-α,and NF-κB and regulating the abundance and diver-sity of intestinal flora.

Objective:To analyze the related factors of membranous urethral length in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and the early recovery of urinary control function after Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP).Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the case data of 124 patients with BPH admitted to the Yan′an University Affiliated Hospital from January 2017 to January 2023. According to the recovery of postoperative urinary control function, the patients were divided into the urinary control group ( n=81) and the urinary incontinence group ( n=43). The clinical data of the two groups of patients were collected, including age, body mass index, comorbidities, etc. The perioperative indicators [including prostate volume, prostatic specific antigen, membranous urethral length, international prostate symptom score (IPSS), maximum bladder capacity, degree of prostate protrusion into the bladder, etc.], the urodynamic indicators before the operation and 6 months after the operation (including maximum urine flow rate, maximum urethral pressure and bladder compliance) and the urinary control situation of the two groups of patients were observed. Measurement data were expressed as mean±standard deviation ( ± s), and the independent sample t-test was used for comparison between groups; count data were expressed as the cases and percentage, and Chi-square test was used for comparison between groups. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate the influencing factors of early urinary control function recovery after HoLEP. Results:All patients successfully completed the surgery, and the follow-up was conducted 6 months after the operation as the time point. The results of univariate analysis showed that there were no statistically significant differences in age, body mass index, comorbidities, prostatic specific antigen, IPSS score and the degree of prostate protrusion into the bladder between the urinary control group and the urinary incontinence group ( P>0.05). The operation time, indwelling catheter time, prostate volume, preoperative membranous urethral length, postoperative membranous urethral length and the postoperative maximum bladder capacity of the two groups of patients all showed statistically significant differences ( P<0.05). Before the operation, there were no statistically significant differences in urodynamic indicators such as maximum urinary flow rate, maximum urethral pressure and bladder compliance between the two groups of patients ( P>0.05). Six months after the operation, the maximum urinary flow rate, the maximum urethral pressure and the bladder compliance in the two groups of patients increased compared with those before the operation. Moreover, the maximum urinary flow rate [(10.48±0.65) mL/s vs (9.41±0.53) mL/s], the maximum urethral pressure [(41.25±3.46) cmH 2O vs (38.21±3.16) cmH 2O], and bladder compliance [(32.23±3.13) cmH 2O vs (30.23±2.35) cmH 2O] were higher than those in the urinary incontinence group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that operation time ≥1 h, indwelling catheter time ≥5 d, prostate volume ≥60 mL, preoperative membranous urethral length <14 mm, and postoperative membranous urethral length <13 mm were independent risk factors for the recovery of early urinary control function after HoLEP ( OR>1, P<0.05), the maximum bladder capacity after surgery was an independent protective factor for the recovery of early postoperative urinary control function ( OR<1, P<0.05). Conclusions:Preoperative membranous urethral length <14 mm and postoperative membranous urethral length <13 mm are risk factors affecting the recovery of early urinary control function after HoLEP in patients with BPH. A longer membranous urethral length can reduce the risk of postoperative complications and accelerate the recovery of urinary control function in patients.

The aim of this updated guideline is to provide comprehensive recommendations for the management of gout in patients with common comorbidities, such as chronic kidney disease(CKD), cardiovascular disease(CVD), diabetes, osteoarthritis(OA), and gastrointestinal disorders. This guideline was developed by a multidisciplinary expert panel consisting of specialists in endocrinology, rheumatology, nephrology, cardiology, gastroenterology, and methodology. The development process adhered to standard methodologies, including PICO(population, intervention, comparator, and outcomes) question deconstruction, systematic literature review, the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation(GRADE) for evidence and recommendation evaluation, Delphi voting, and expert consensus. The guideline presents 26 evidence-based recommendations addressing 7 clinical questions for patients with hyperuricemia and gout in the context of comorbidities. Key recommendations include the maintenance of strict serum urate targets, particularly for patients with CKD stage≥3, chronic gouty arthritis, and OA, in order to prevent disease progression. In patients with CVD or diabetes, intra-articular triamcinolone is preferred over systemic glucocorticoids. Prioritized anti-inflammatory treatments for patients with CKD, gastrointestinal diseases and OA are recommended. The guideline also introduces emerging therapies, such as interleukin-1 inhibitors and selective urate transport inhibitors, as potential treatment options for refractory cases. The update offers a comprehensive, patient-centered approach to managing gout, particularly in individuals with associated comorbidities. Multidisciplinary collaboration and emerging new treatments and evidence ensure the optimization of the recommendations.