Objective To systematically analyze the disease burden, long-term trends, and age-sex distribution of major valvular heart disease (VHD) subtypes—rheumatic heart disease (RHD), non-rheumatic valvular disease (NRVD), and non-rheumatic calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD)—in global, Chinese, and US populations from 1990 to 2021, providing evidence for public health strategies and clinical resource allocation. Methods Based on publicly available data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2021, we extracted incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for VHD from 1990 to 2021. Age-standardized rates (ASRs) were calculated using the GBD 2021 global standard population, and the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) with its 95% uncertainty interval (UI) was computed for the period. Data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/Eurostat surveys, and Chinese national registries were used for trend triangulation and contextual background. Results From 1990 to 2021, the ASR and disease burden of RHD significantly decreased globally and in China (EAPC for DALYs in China: −4.8%, 95%UI: −5.0% to −4.6%). In contrast, the burden of NRVD and CAVD steadily increased in aging populations like those in China and the US, with a higher burden observed in older adults and males. In 2021, the incidence of NRVD and CAVD peaked in individuals aged ≥65 years, with rates being significantly higher in men than in women. RHD burden was concentrated in low socio-demographic index (SDI) regions, whereas NRVD/CAVD burden was strongly associated with high-SDI regions. Conclusion The global VHD epidemiological landscape is transitioning from an RHD-dominant to an NRVD/CAVD-dominant pattern. China faces a dual challenge of a residual RHD burden and a rapidly growing burden of degenerative valvular diseases. Developing tailored screening, prevention, and treatment strategies for different disease subtypes and populations is crucial.

ObjectiveTo establish an objective evaluation system based on the quality characteristics of Gardeniae Fructus without relying on the origin label according to the theory of excellent shape， high quality， and superior effect of authentic medicinal materials， thus providing a scientific basis for the standardization of Gardeniae Fructus. MethodsDifferent batches of Gardeniae Fructus samples were collected from different producing areas. Through herbal textual research and a review of modern literature， fruit length， maximum fruit diameter， and chroma were selected as quantitative indicators to characterize the traditional appearance traits of Gardeniae Fructus. The above indicators were measured by a vernier caliper and a spectrophotometer. Through classical famous prescription data and literature analysis， total iridoid glycosides， total crocus glycosides， and total flavonoids were selected as the core component indicators related to efficacy， and their content was determined. Finally， through cluster analysis， the threshold ranges of the quantitative indicators of excellent shape and high quality were determined， and the applicability of the established evaluation system was verified by the determination of the indicators for each batch of medicinal materials. ResultsThe excellent shape indicators of Gardeniae Fructus were the fruit length-to-maximum fruit diameter ratio ≤1.86， 0°≤h≤45°， and L^*≥ 37.32. The content of total iridoid glycosides， total crocus glycosides， and total flavonoids should be no less than 2.2%， 0.44%， and 0.028%， respectively. The measurement results of different batches of Gardeniae Fructus showed that the evaluation system could effectively distinguish the Gardeniae Fructus samples in line with the traditional cognition of excellent shape and high quality. ConclusionThis study preliminarily constructs an excellent shape and high quality-based quality evaluation system for Gardeniae Fructus， which links appearance traits with chemical indicators and provides a methodological basis for the quality control and scientific grading of this herbal medicine.

Objective To analyze the global pattern, long-term trends, and regional and population heterogeneity in the burden of 375 diseases and injuries and 88 risk factors from 1990 to 2023 using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 (GBD 2023). Methods Publicly available GBD 2023 estimates were extracted for incidence, deaths, years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs), disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and age-standardized rates at the global level and by socio-demographic index (SDI), GBD region, age group, and sex. Descriptive analysis, ranking comparison, stratified analysis, and trend analysis were performed, and 95% uncertainty interval was used to assess the stability of estimates. Results In 2023, non-communicable diseases were the leading contributor to global DALYs, accounting for 64.39% of DALYs across the three major disease and injury groups (communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases, non-communicable diseases, and injuries), and also had the highest age-standardized DALYs rate. From 1990 to 2023, age-standardized DALYs rates declined for three major disease and injury groups, with estimated annual percentage changes of −2.69%, −0.78%, and −1.47%, respectively. Cardiovascular diseases ranked first by both DALYs and deaths in 2023, whereas respiratory infections and tuberculosis ranked first by incidence. Non-communicable diseases were the leading cause of disease burden across all SDI strata. As the SDI level declined, the burden of communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases, as well as injuries, increased markedly. Behavioral and metabolic risks remained the main contributors to attributable deaths and DALYs. Conclusion From 1990 to 2023, the global burden of disease continues to shift toward non-communicable diseases; however, some regions still face a double burden of infectious, maternal and child, injury-related, and chronic diseases. Integrating deaths, DALYs, YLLs, YLDs, and risk-attributable burden helps identify priority areas for prevention and resource allocation across regions and populations.

Lung cancer is the malignant tumor with the highest morbidity and mortality worldwide. The number of cases and deaths in China also remains at a high level， posing a severe threat to human health. In recent years， although early diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for lung cancer have been continuously optimized， with clinical interventions mainly consisting of surgery， radiotherapy， chemotherapy， targeted therapy， and immunotherapy， the patient prognosis remains unsatisfactory. The core reason is that the mechanisms underlying lung cancer development and progression have not yet been fully elucidated. Therefore， delving into the molecular mechanisms and key regulatory nodes is of great significance for improving diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes. In recent years， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） and its active components have demonstrated unique advantages and potential in the prevention and treatment of lung cancer through epigenetic regulation. Studies have confirmed that single herbs， compound formulas， and active components of TCM can exert anti-tumor effects by modulating epigenetic pathways such as DNA methylation， histone modification， and non-coding RNAs. These effects include inhibiting tumor cell proliferation， inducing apoptosis， reducing invasive and metastatic capacity， regulating the cell cycle， and modulating the tumor microenvironment， thereby blocking the initiation and progression of lung cancer. Furthermore， TCM shows significant advantages in enhancing the anti-tumor efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents and alleviating treatment-related adverse effects. However， the current research on TCM-based epigenetic regulation of lung cancer remains at a preliminary exploratory stage. Common limitations include the complexity of targets， a predominant focus on crude herbal extracts or single epigenetic modifications， and a lack of systematic elucidation of the synergistic effects among multiple epigenetic modifications and the regulatory networks involving multicellular interactions. This article reviews the epigenetic mechanisms involved in the development and progression of lung cancer and summarizes the basic and clinical research progress in TCM interventions， aiming to offer insights for further elucidating lung cancer pathogenesis and exploring TCM-based therapeutic strategies.

Colorectal cancer is a malignant tumor of the digestive system that seriously endangers human health. Small extracellular vesicles (sEV) are a class of extracellular vesicles with lipid bilayer structure with diameter less than 200 nm. SsEV mediate cell-to-cell information exchange through a variety of components. MicroRNA (miRNA), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), circular RNA (circRNA) and proteins are involved in regulating the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer and play important roles in the diagnosis and prognosis of colorectal cancer. The various active components of sEV hold application value in the 'diagnosis-treatment-prognosis' of colorectal cancer, providing a reference for their application prospects.

Objective To explore the relationship between triglyceride-glucose(TyG)index and hypertension in patients with cerebral hemorrhage.Methods A total of 1718 patients with cere-bral hemorrhage admitted to our hospital from January,2013 to May,2023 were enrolled in this study.According to the TyG index quartile,437 cases were assigned into Q1 group(≤8.375),424 cases into Q2 group(TyG index 8.376～8.737),429 cases into Q3 group(TyG index 8.738～9.087),and 428 cases into Q4 group(≥9.088).The general clinical data were compared in the four groups.Logistic regression analysis was used to study the correlation between TyG index and hy-pertension.Results There were significant differences among the four groups in terms of age,hy-pertension,diabetes,SBP,DBP,TC,TG,HDL-C,LDL-C,FBG,glycated hemoglobin and TyG in-dex(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Logistic regression analysis showed that when the TyG index was a con-tinuous variable,it was significantly correlated with the risk of hypertension(OR=1.999,95％CI:1.393-2.869,P=0.001).When the index was used as a categorical variable,with Q1as a ref-erence,TyG index in Q3 and Q4 was associated with an increase in OR of hypertension(OR=1.869,95％CI:1.220-2.865,P=0.004;OR=1.844,95％CI:1.125-3.020,P=0.015).After ad-justing cofounders,the association of TyG index and risk of hypertension was stronger in the fe-males(OR=2.618,95％CI:1.312-5.221,P=0.006)than the males(OR=1.783,95％CI:1.151-2.761,P=0.010),and in the patients ≥65 years old(OR=3.277,95％CI:1.600-6.741,P=0.001)than those＜65 years old(OR=1.782,95％CI:1.076-2.949,P=0.025).Conclusion TyG index is closely associated with hypertension in patients with cerebral hemorrhage,especially in women and elderly.

Objective:To establish a protocol for virus isolation using the mixed method, and evaluate the efficacy of the suspended method and the mixed method in isolating herpes simplex virus (HSV).Methods:Simulated HSV-infected clinical samples were prepared using HSV-1 F strain and CDC-P1 strain. Both the suspended method and the mixed method were used to isolate HSV-1 from these samples. The virus isolation efficiency of the mixed method under various conditions was assessed. These conditions included different multiplicity of infection (MOI), cell seeding densities, and virus adsorption times.The 50% tissue culture infective dose (TCID 50) assay was used for the assessment. The positive rates of virus detection under low viral load conditions were compared between the two methods. Results:Under the conditions of a MOI of 0.005, a virus adsorption time of 15 min, and a cell seeding density of 1×10 6 cell/ml, the mixed method achieved effective isolation of HSV-1. When the virus titer of the sample was 100 TCID 50/ml, the positivity rate of the mixed method reached 100.0%, while the positivity rates of the suspended method were 50.7% (38/75) and 52.0% (39/75) after cultured for 72 h and 96 h, respectively. When the virus titer of the sample was 10 TCID 50/ml, the positivity rate of the mixed method was 100.0%, while the positivity rate of the suspension method was 0. Conclusions:The mixed method exhibits significantly higher efficiency in HSV isolation compared with the suspended method. Under the conditions of high viral load, both the suspended method and the mixed method can be effective in isolating HSV-1. For clinical samples with low viral loads, the mixed method has greater applicability.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between mutations in KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, and PIK3 CA and the clinical characteristics of elderly colorectal cancer(CRC)patients. Methods:Paraffin-embedded tissue samples were obtained from 191 elderly CRC patients who consulted at Huadong Hospital, affiliated to Fudan University, between January 2022 and July 2023.Following deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA)extraction, the amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction(ARMS-PCR)was employed to detect the mutation profiles of KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, and PIK3 CA.Concurrently, serum samples collected prior to radical resection were analyzed for carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA), carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA19-9), and carbohydrate antigen 72-4(CA72-4)using electrochemical luminescence.A comparative analysis of the clinical characteristics and preoperative serological tumor marker concentrations among patients with different gene mutations was conducted to elucidate their correlation. Results:A total of 191 elderly CRC patients were enrolled in the study, with ages ranging from 60 to 94 years(mean age 72.1±7.8 years), including 112 males.The mutation rate of KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, and PIK3 CA, as determined by combined detection, was found to be 49.21%(94/191)among elderly CRC patients. KRAS exhibited the highest mutation rate at 35.08%, with statistically significant differences observed in gender, primary site, degree of differentiation, and neurovascular invasion between patients with and without KRAS mutations( P<0.05 for all comparisons).The BRAF mutation rate was 8.90%, and significant differences in gender, age, primary site, and degree of differentiation were also noted between patients with and without BRAF mutations( P<0.05 for all).The mutation rates for NRAS and PIK3 CA were 2.62% and 5.24%, respectively, with no statistically significant differences in the clinical characteristics of patients across different groups( P>0.05 for all).Additionally, the proportion of patients over the age of 90 in the double mutation group was significantly higher( P<0.01).Significant differences in serum CA19-9 concentrations were observed among the various mutation types( P<0.05). Conclusions:There are notable differences in age, gender, primary site, degree of differentiation, and neurovascular invasion among elderly CRC patients with varying mutation statuses of KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, and PIK3 CA.Patients with double mutations exhibited higher concentrations of CA19-9 in preoperative serum.

Sacroiliac complex injuries are commonly seen in high-energy pelvic fractures. The injuries make a big difference in treatment patterns due to the diverse injury types, posing considerable challenges in formulating optimal treatment strategies, and hence are persistent clinical difficulties in orthopedic trauma. The clinical management of sacroiliac complex injuries presents several key challenges such as a non-negligible rate of missed diagnoses in associated vascular and visceral injuries, absence of standardized protocols for surgical approaches and reduction-fixation strategies across different injury patterns, and ongoing controversies regarding surgical indications and optimal timing for patients combined with concomitant lumbosacral plexus injuries. Currently, no systematic clinical guidelines are available for the diagnosis and treatment of sacroiliac complex injuries both domestically and internationally. To this end, the Pelvic and Acetabular Surgery Group, Orthopedic Branch, China International Exchange and Promotive Association for Medical and Health Care and Orthopedic Physician Branch, Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized a panel of domestic experts in the field to develop the Clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of sacroiliac complex injuries ( version 2025), based on evidence-based medicine and adhering to the principles of scientific rigor, clinical applicability, and innovation. These guidelines provided 11 recommendations covering diagnosis, therapeutic principles and techniques, management protocols for lumbosacral plexus injuries, outcome evaluation, and postoperative rehabilitation pathways, etc., aiming to standardize the clinical management of sacroiliac complex injuries.

Elderly patients are a crucial population for medical treatment and referral.The establishment of standardized and efficient referral channels is essential for enhancing the referral process, improving treatment outcomes for the elderly, and optimizing the allocation of medical resources.Referral network analysis examines the integrity, structure, and dynamics of referrals to infer the characteristics of the network.This can offer insights for enhancing referral policies and elevating medical service standards.While existing research predominantly concentrates on referral networks within the general population, there is a noticeable gap in studies focusing on elderly patients.This review article assesses domestic and international research on networks formed between medical institutions or physicians through patient referrals, aiming to inform and enhance referral policies in our country.