Rho proteins and the Rho-associated protein kinase(ROCK)signaling pathway are cruci-al components of intracellular signaling cascades.Rho proteins,which belong to the small GTPase family,play a pivotal role in regulating essential elements of the cytoskeleton within cells.ROCK functions as a downstream effector protein kinase of Rho,modulating various biological processes,including cell morphology,migration,and proliferation.Recent studies have underscored the signifi-cance of the ROCK signaling pathway in the replication of a diverse group of viruses.Furthermore,it has been discovered that some viruses disrupt cellular contraction,adhesion,and migration through the Rho/ROCK pathway,subsequently influencing the immune response triggered by vi-ral infections and affecting the tight junctions between cells.This article primarily reviews the re-search progress regarding the Rho/ROCK signaling pathway and its key signaling molecules,Rho and ROCK,in terms of their activation and regulation of viral replication and tight junction pro-teins between cells.

Objective:To explore the impacts of smoking on the need for respiratory support and mortality in patients hospitalized with pneumonia.Methods:A total of 24 367 patients hospitalized with pneumonia from 2009 to 2017 in the China Kadoorie Biobank, were included. Smoking status was self-reported, and data regarding respiratory support during hospitalization and mortality during follow-up were obtained from medical claims and death registries, respectively. OR, HR, and 95% CI were calculated and adjusted for potential confounders using logistic regression models and Cox proportional hazards regression models, respectively. Results:Among males, current smokers or those who quit smoking due to illness had higher risks of requiring respiratory support ( OR=1.15, 95% CI: 1.03-1.29), 1-year mortality ( HR=1.66, 95% CI: 1.32-2.08), and 5-year mortality ( HR=1.32, 95% CI: 1.13-1.54) following pneumonia hospitalization compared to nonsmokers. Male smokers who started smoking at a younger age or with longer smoking duration had the highest mortality risks (trend test both P<0.05). Female current smokers or those who quit smoking due to illness had higher risks of 1-year mortality ( HR=1.62, 95% CI: 1.17-2.23) and 5-year mortality ( HR=1.33, 95% CI: 1.06-1.67). We found no statistically significant difference in 90-day mortality between current smokers/those who quit smoking due to illness and nonsmokers. Conclusions:Smoking was associated with higher risks of requiring respiratory support and mortality in patients hospitalized with pneumonia, especially among males and heavy smokers. These findings highlight the need for targeted strategies to promote smoking cessation in patients hospitalized with pneumonia.

Objective:To systematically evaluate the unmet needs and challenges of caregivers of cancer patients at home and clarify their unmet needs.Methods:A computerized search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, ProQuest, Scopus, CINAHL, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, VIP, and China Biology Medicine disc for qualitative studies on the unmet needs and challenges of caregivers of cancer patients in the home environment. The search time limit was from the establishment of the databases to April 30, 2024. The Joanna Briggs Institute Centre for Evidence-Based Healthcare's quality assessment criteria for qualitative research were used to evaluate the quality of the literatures, and the aggregative integration method was used to summarize and integrate the research results.Results:A total of 17 articles were finally included, which were summarized into eight new categories. Further synthesis yielded three integrated results: caregivers in the home environment face multi-dimensional unmet needs and challenges related to patients; caregivers in the home environment face challenges and unmet needs in self-care; caregivers in the home environment are hesitant to obtain external support, and continuity and sustainability are hindered.Conclusions:Medical staff should accurately assess the unmet needs of caregivers of cancer patients at home, pay attention to their negative experiences, promote positive coping, optimize the patient-and family-centered cancer care model, and strengthen social support.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between lipid levels and cognitive impairment in the elderly Chinese population using prospective cohort data.Methods:Based on the China-PAR (Prediction for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in China) cohort, this study included 24 380 individuals aged ≥60 years who participated in the cognitive function follow-up survey from 2018 to 2019. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), with cognitive impairment defined according to different educational levels: MMSE ≤17 for illiterate individuals, MMSE ≤20 for those with primary education and MMSE ≤24 for those with secondary education or above. Multivariable linear regression and logistic regression models were employed to examine the associations between six baseline lipid indicators and cognitive scores, as well as cognitive impairment. Additionally, restricted cubic splines were used to explore the exposure-dose relationship between lipid levels and cognitive function.Results:The study population had a median follow-up time of 11.6 years, with a baseline age of (59.7±6.8) years. Among the participants, 9 510 (39.0%) were males, and the mean MMSE score was 24.7±6.8. A total of 3 887 individuals (15.9%) were identified as cognitively impaired. The results of multivariable linear regression and logistic regression indicated that total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) levels were not only significantly positively associated with cognitive scores but also significantly associated with a lower risk of cognitive impairment. Each 1 mmol/L increase in these lipid levels corresponded to β values (95% CI) of 0.267 (0.173-0.361), 0.385(0.271-0.499) and 0.331(0.231-0.431), respectively. Each 1 mmol/L increase in these lipid levels corresponded to odds ratio ( OR) (95% CI) values of 0.915 (0.876-0.956), 0.875 (0.830-0.923) and 0.886 (0.848-0.927), respectively. The dose-response curve demonstrated that the negative association was primarily observed within the guideline-recommended optimal lipid level range. Specifically, when LDL-C was less than 3.4 mmol/L and non-HDL-C was less than 4.1 mmol/L, the corresponding OR (95% CI) values were 0.859 (0.796-0.926) and 0.876 (0.818-0.939). Conclusion:Lipid levels exhibit a certain linear negative association with cognitive impairment in elderly Chinese adults, with LDL-C and non-HDL-C demonstrating a stronger effect, particularly within the guideline-recommended optimal range.

With the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence(GAI)technologies,their widespread application in academic research and writing is continuously expanding the boundaries of sci-entific inquiry.However,this trend has also raised a series of ethical and regulatory challenges,inclu-ding issues related to authorship,content authenticity,citation accuracy,and accountability.In light of the growing involvement of AI in generating academic content,establishing an open,controllable,and trustworthy ethical governance framework has become a key task for safeguarding research integrity and maintaining trust within the academic community.This expert consensus outlines ethical requirements across key stages of AI-assisted academic writing-including topic selection,data management,citation practices,and authorship attribution.It aims to clarify the boundaries and ethical obligations surrounding AI use in academic writing,ensuring that technological tools enhance efficiency without compromising in-tegrity.The goal is to provide guidance and institutional support for building a responsible and sustainable research ecosystem.

With the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence(GAI)technologies,their widespread application in academic research and writing is continuously expanding the boundaries of sci-entific inquiry.However,this trend has also raised a series of ethical and regulatory challenges,inclu-ding issues related to authorship,content authenticity,citation accuracy,and accountability.In light of the growing involvement of AI in generating academic content,establishing an open,controllable,and trustworthy ethical governance framework has become a key task for safeguarding research integrity and maintaining trust within the academic community.This expert consensus outlines ethical requirements across key stages of AI-assisted academic writing-including topic selection,data management,citation practices,and authorship attribution.It aims to clarify the boundaries and ethical obligations surrounding AI use in academic writing,ensuring that technological tools enhance efficiency without compromising in-tegrity.The goal is to provide guidance and institutional support for building a responsible and sustainable research ecosystem.

This study investigated the infection status,drug resistance,and molecular characteristics of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli(STEC)in domestic goats in Chengkou county,Chongqing.In August 2023,283 fecal samples were collected from households in Chengkou county.After enrichment with EC broth and inoculation onto selective media,samples that tested positive for stx1/stx2 were selected for further isolation.The positive strains were investigated with antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole genome sequencing.According to the whole genomic sequences,the stx subtypes,serotypes,multi-locus sequence types,virulence genes,drug resistance genes,and phylogenetic relationships of the STEC strains were analyzed.Forty-six strains of STEC were isolated from 283 goat fecal samples,thus resulting in a detection rate of 16.25%.The 46 STEC strains were categorized into 12 O∶H serotypes,among which O76∶H19 and O8∶H7 predominated,each represented by 9 strains.Five STEC strains were identified as serotype O157∶H7.The 46 STEC strains were categorized into 11 sequence types(STs),among which ST675 and ST196 predominated,each represented by nine strains,accounting for a 19.57%proportion.The strains were categorized into 7 stx subtypes,among which stx1c(26/46,56.52%),followed by stx2k(9/46,19.57%)predominated.All nine Stx2k-STEC strains were identified as serotype O8∶H7 and sequence type ST196.In antimicrobial susceptibility testing,2 STEC strains were resistant to ampicillin,one strain was resistant to ampicillin/sulbactam,one strain was resistant to cefazolin,and one strain was resistant to cefoxitin.Nine Stx2k-STEC strains were found to carry the beta-lactam resistance gene blaEC-18.Antimicrobial sensitivity tests revealed that the nine Stx2k-STEC strains were sensitive to all 15 tested antibiotics.Moreover,phylogenetic analysis indicated that the 9 Stx2k-STEC strains were remarkably similar but showed high genetic diversity with respect to that of the Stx2k-STEC strains isolated from other regions in China.Goatsare an important animal reservoir for STEC in theChengkou district of Chongqing,and novel sequence type Stx2k-STEC strains distinct from those found in other regions of China were identified in this region.

Rho proteins and the Rho-associated protein kinase(ROCK)signaling pathway are cruci-al components of intracellular signaling cascades.Rho proteins,which belong to the small GTPase family,play a pivotal role in regulating essential elements of the cytoskeleton within cells.ROCK functions as a downstream effector protein kinase of Rho,modulating various biological processes,including cell morphology,migration,and proliferation.Recent studies have underscored the signifi-cance of the ROCK signaling pathway in the replication of a diverse group of viruses.Furthermore,it has been discovered that some viruses disrupt cellular contraction,adhesion,and migration through the Rho/ROCK pathway,subsequently influencing the immune response triggered by vi-ral infections and affecting the tight junctions between cells.This article primarily reviews the re-search progress regarding the Rho/ROCK signaling pathway and its key signaling molecules,Rho and ROCK,in terms of their activation and regulation of viral replication and tight junction pro-teins between cells.

Objective:To explore the impacts of smoking on the need for respiratory support and mortality in patients hospitalized with pneumonia.Methods:A total of 24 367 patients hospitalized with pneumonia from 2009 to 2017 in the China Kadoorie Biobank, were included. Smoking status was self-reported, and data regarding respiratory support during hospitalization and mortality during follow-up were obtained from medical claims and death registries, respectively. OR, HR, and 95% CI were calculated and adjusted for potential confounders using logistic regression models and Cox proportional hazards regression models, respectively. Results:Among males, current smokers or those who quit smoking due to illness had higher risks of requiring respiratory support ( OR=1.15, 95% CI: 1.03-1.29), 1-year mortality ( HR=1.66, 95% CI: 1.32-2.08), and 5-year mortality ( HR=1.32, 95% CI: 1.13-1.54) following pneumonia hospitalization compared to nonsmokers. Male smokers who started smoking at a younger age or with longer smoking duration had the highest mortality risks (trend test both P<0.05). Female current smokers or those who quit smoking due to illness had higher risks of 1-year mortality ( HR=1.62, 95% CI: 1.17-2.23) and 5-year mortality ( HR=1.33, 95% CI: 1.06-1.67). We found no statistically significant difference in 90-day mortality between current smokers/those who quit smoking due to illness and nonsmokers. Conclusions:Smoking was associated with higher risks of requiring respiratory support and mortality in patients hospitalized with pneumonia, especially among males and heavy smokers. These findings highlight the need for targeted strategies to promote smoking cessation in patients hospitalized with pneumonia.

Objective:To summarize the clinical features, laboratory findings, treatment and prognosis of children confirmed as Mycoplasma pneumoniae-induced rash and mucositis (MIRM) in children. Methods:This retrospective study concluded 6 children diagnosed as MIRM in Department of Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Children′s Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University from August 2023 to April 2024. This paper described the characteristics of MIRM and analyzed the therapeutic strategy and prognosis.Results:A total of 6 children were diagnosed as MIRM including 2 boys and 4 girls with an age of onset was 6.4 (3.1, 7.5) years. Among the 6 patients, 4 patients had oral mucosal involvement among whom 2 showed crusting of the lips. Four patients had ocular involvement manifesting as conjunctival congestion and increased secretion. All patients presented with skin lesions, manifesting as target-shaped damage in 4 cases, herpes herpetiformis in 1 case and purpura-like rash in 1 case. Serological tests for Mycoplasma pneumoniae IgM and Mycoplasma pneumoniae nucleic acid test were positive in all 6 cases. Two cases received intravenous immunogloblin infusion combined with methylprednisolone, monotherapy of methylprednisolone in 4 cases. The course of glucocorticoids was 1-7 weeks, and the initial dose was 2-4 mg/(kg·d), which was gradually reduced according to the rash. The children were followed up for 3 to 9 months, no case suffered from long term ocular or cutaneous complications or recurrence of rash. All cases had good prognosis. Conclusions:Children diagnosed as MIRM present with mild symptoms and usually have good prognosis with early identification and appropriate intervention. Individualized therapy should be applied based on the severity of skin involvement.