The alternative pathway (AP) of the complement system is a key contributor to the pathogenesis of several diseases including paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), C3 glomerular disease (C3G) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Complement factor B (CFB) is a trypsin-like serine protein that circulates in the human bloodstream in a latent form. As a key node of the alternative pathway, it is an important target for the treatment of diseases mediated by the complement system. With the successful launch of iptacopan, the CFB small molecule inhibitors has become a current research hotspot, a number of domestic and foreign pharmaceutical companies are actively developing CFB small molecule inhibitors. In this paper, the research progress of CFB small molecule inhibitors in recent years is systematically summarized, the representative compounds and their activities are introduced according to structural types and design ideas, so as to provide reference and ideas for the subsequent research on CFB small molecule inhibitors.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of the integrated schistosomiasis control programme in Wuhan City from 2005 to 2023, so as to provide insights into precision control and elimination of schistosomiasis. Methods The integrated measures for schistosomiasis control implemented by health, agriculture, water resources, and forestry departments of Wuhan City, and the epidemiological data of schistosomiasis in Wuhan City were collected from 2005 to 2023, and the prevalence of human schistosomiasis, prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum infections in humans and bovines, areas of S. japonicum-infected snail habitats, areas of snail habitats in inner embankments, and actual areas of snail habitats were retrieved. In addition, the trends in prevalence of schistosomiasis in humans and livestock and snail status were evaluated in Wuhan City from 2005 to 2023 using Mann-Kendall test and a Joinpoint regression model. Results Mann-Kendall test revealed a tendency towards a decline in the prevalence of human schistosomiasis (Z = -4.41, P < 0.01), prevalence of S. japonicum infections in humans (Z = -4.89, P < 0.01) and bovines (Z = -4.50, P < 0.01), areas of S. japonicum-infected snail habitats (Z = -3.91, P < 0.01), areas of snail habitats in inner embankments (Z = -2.28, P = 0.02), and actual areas of snail habitats (Z = -5.95, P < 0.01) in Wuhan City from 2005 to 2023. Joinpoint regression analysis showed an average annual reduction of 8.58% in the prevalence of human schistosomiasis in Wuhan City from 2005 to 2023 [average annual percent change (AAPC) = -8.58%, 95% confidence interval (CI): (-10.02%, -6.65%), P < 0.01], with two joinpoints in 2013 and 2016, respectively, and the tendency towards a decline showed statistical significance during the period from 2013 through 2016 [annual percent change (APC) = -34.41%, 95% CI: (-40.36%, -20.01%), P < 0.01]. The prevalence of S. japonicum human infections appeared an average annual reduction of 51.91% in Wuhan City from 2005 to 2023 [AAPC = -51.91%, 95% CI: (-58.12%, -44.25%), P < 0.01], with two joinpoints in 2014 and 2017, respectively, and the tendency towards a decline showed statistical significance during the period from 2014 through 2017 [APC = -98.17%, 95% CI: (-99.17%, -90.87%), P < 0.01]. The prevalence of S. japonicum infections in bovines appeared an average annual reduction of 53.12% in Wuhan City from 2005 to 2023 [AAPC = -53.12%, 95% CI: (-59.65%, -42.44%), P < 0.01], with two joinpoints in 2011 and 2014, respectively, and the tendency towards a decline showed statistical significance during the period from 2014 through 2017 [APC = -98.63%, 95% CI: (-99.44%, -90.93%), P < 0.01]. The areas of S. japonicum-infected snail habitats appeared an average annual reduction of 47.09% in Wuhan City from 2005 to 2023 [AAPC = -47.09%, 95% CI: (-52.92%, -38.26%), P < 0.01], with two joinpoints in 2011 and 2014, respectively, and the tendency towards a decline showed statistical significance during the period from 2011 through 2014 [APC = -97.27%, 95% CI: (-98.65%, -88.06%), P < 0.01]. The areas of snail habitats in inner embankments appeared an average annual reduction of 4.45% in Wuhan City from 2005 to 2023 [AAPC = -4.45%, 95% CI: (-5.18%, -3.82%), P < 0.01], with three joinpoints in 2011, 2015 and 2018, respectively, and statistical significance was seen in the tendency towards a decline during the period from 2005 through 2011 [APC = -16.38%, 95% CI: (-20.15%, -14.25%), P < 0.01]. In addition, the actual areas of snail habitats appeared an average annual reduction of 2.65% in Wuhan City from 2005 to 2023 [AAPC = -2.65%, 95% CI: (-2.89%, -2.40%), P < 0.01], with a joinpoint in 2013, and the tendency towards a decline showed statistical significance during the period from 2013 through 2023 [APC = -4.06%, 95% CI: (-4.66%, -3.58%), P < 0.01]. Conclusions The integrated schistosomiasis control programme achieved significant effectiveness in Wuhan City from 2005 to 2023, with a tendency towards a decline in morbidity due to schistosomiasis in humans and livestock and snail status. The integrated schistosomiasis control strategy with emphasis on management of the source of S. japonicum infections should continue to be implemented to consolidate the schistosomiasis control achievements and achieve the goal of schistosomiasis elimination in the city.

Staphylococcus aureus has the ability to invade bovine mammary epithelial cells and cause persistent intracellular infections.For diagnosing mastitis in cows caused by the bacterial in-fections,it is necessary to determine whether there is a persistent intracellular infection by S.au-reus within mammary epithelial cells,and to establish scientific treatment strategies and imple-ment proactive management decisions.The content of this study is the establishment of a brand new diagnostic method aimed at confirming this type of bovine disease efficiently and cost-effec-tively.The diagnostic procedure is as follows:Add 100 μL S.aureus liquid culture with a concentra-tion of 8.5 ×1010 CFU/mL to the well-grown bovine mammary epithelial cell line and co-culture at 37 degrees Celsius for 2 h to establish an intracellular infection model;After the co-cultivation is completed,add 100 μL of lysostaphin to the dish to thoroughly eliminate extracellular S.aureus.It can be confirmed that the model has been successfully established that black spherical bacteria with a diameter of approximately 1μm are observed within the sample cells using a transmission e-lectron microscope.Intracellular infection is evidenced by the observation of DNA-staining positive material within the cytoplasm of DAPI-stained sample cells,as observed through a laser confocal microscope.The sample is subjected to gram staining after being treated with 200 μL of 0.5％Tri-tonX-100 for 15 min,and intracellular infection is observed within the cytoplasm of the sample cells with Gram-positive results under oil immersion microscopy.The results of the novel"Tri-tonX-100 & gram staining method"validate that the presence of Staphylococcus aureus individu-als within bovine mammary epithelial cells is consistent with images observed under transmission electron microscopy and laser confocal microscopy.The verification results indicate that the"Tri-tonX-100 & gram staining method"is suitable for the diagnosis of S.aureus persistent intracellu-lar infection in bovine mastitis.Later,somatic cells from milk were extracted by gradient centrifu-gation and purified to obtain bovine mammary epithelial cells for clinical testing of 70 S.aureus positive mastitis cattle,which showed a positive rate of 82.9％and a negative rate of 17.1％.

Objective:In order to effectively educate students on tooth defect diseases and restoration techniques, the teaching and research team at the School of Stomatology of Qingdao University developed an integrated course operative dentistry. This course is specifically designed to align with the undergraduate curriculum reform requirements of "Three Early, Two Multiple and One Integration".Methods:The teaching practice of operative dentistry was conducted with the stomatology undergraduates of grade 2020 and 2021. The course group redesigned the curriculum by reorganizing teaching content, rebuilding teaching resources, reconstructing teaching mode, and reshaping the evaluation system. Evaluation of the curriculum design included test scores, satisfaction questionnaires, and teacher self-evaluation. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 27.0 software, including independent sample t-tests for numerical variables and Fisher's exact test or Wilcoxon rank sum test for categorical variables. Results:Through the integrated course learning, 92.68% (38/41) of the students of grade 2020 and 97.44% (38/39) of the students of grade 2021 can basically or completely master various dental defect repair schemes and understand the importance of preserving natural tooth. 82.93% (34/41) of the students of grade 2020 and 100.00% (39/39) of the students of grade 2021 could basically or completely master the key points of various dental defect restorations.Conclusions:Through the practice of teaching, it has been confirmed that the integrated course of operative dentistry is beneficial to students' mastering the knowledge and skills of dental defect diseases and their restoration in a more comprehensive way, and is conducive to the cultivation of clinical thinking, hands-on ability and the patient-centered, comprehensive problem-solving thinking, which is in line with the guidance on the innovation and development of medical education.

The"ying-wei imbalance"theory originates from Inner Canon of Yellow Emperor,which refers to the dynamic pathological process of yingfen and weifen circulation,distribution,posture,strength,and weakness due to internal and external disturbance,emphasizing that"ying-wei imbalance"is the key to disease occurrence.The sanjiao,as the"envoy of primordial qi,"is central to yingfen and weifen,and the coordinated operation of yingfen and weifen depends on the promotion of the qi of sanjiao.Therefore,based on the yingfen and weifen theory and sanjiao differentiation and treatment,this paper discusses the etiology and pathogenesis of chronic pulmonary heart disease,as well as the syndrome differentiation approach."Ying-wei imbalance"is the core of this mechanism:in the early stage,the loss of yingfen and weifen nutrition,combined with the deficiency of the qi of sanjiao,allows exogenous pathogens to invade the lungs.During progression,dysfunction in the transportation function of yingfen and weifen,along with the stagnation of the qi of sanjiao,results in pulmonary and cardiac involvement,accompanied by phlegm accumulation and stagnation.The end stage is characterized by the failure of both ying and wei,along with dysfunction of the sanjiao and zang-fu organs,which interact to form a pathological chain of"qi disease involving body."Accordingly,the treatment principle of"harmonizing yingfen and weifen,giving sanjiao treatment"was proposed.This is implemented through three therapeutic strategies:"harmonizing""returning",and"astringing"aimed at restoring balance.In the early stage,treatment focuses on tonifying the lungs and consolidating the exterior to eliminate pathogenic factors and activate stagnation.The selected formula is Buyuan Decoction with modifications to harmonize sanjiao.During the developmental stage,treatment focuses on promoting collaterals and dispersing phlegm,utilizing the modified Xuefu Zhuyu Decocotion to facilitate the restoration of function to the sanjiao.In the final stage,Fuyang Decoction,with modifications,is used to resolve fluid retention and nourish both qi and blood.Discussions are closely focused on the syndrome differentiation system of"sanjiao-yingfen and weifen,"in order to offer a novel perspective on the management of chronic pulmonary heart disease.

In response to the new requirements for course instruction outlined in the revised training program for medical imaging program, this study integrated medical imaging technology courses based on the principle of outcome-oriented education and by leveraging self-developed digital resources, with imaging methods as the entry point. The core elements of the course teaching were re-optimized and reorganized to transcend the temporal and spatial limitations of course delivery, enabling the rational application of diverse teaching methods. This approach facilitated the integration of knowledge across three specialized courses, namely medical imaging physics, medical imaging equipment, and medical imaging examination techniques, and achieved full-dimensional and whole-process teaching evaluation. While reducing the number of hours allocated to theoretical instruction, the teaching objectives were achieved with high quality, providing a reference for the integration of digital technologies into the teaching of medical imaging and related disciplines.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the management status of small pressure steam sterilizers in dental institu-tions across seven major regions of China and provide references for establishing standardized monitoring and eval-uation protocols for sterilization efficacy.METHODS From Aug.to Nov.2023,a convenience sampling method was employed to select 885 dental institutions of various levels from seven geographical regions.An online survey using a self-designed questionnaire was conducted to assess the management status of small pressure steam steri-lizers in dental institutions.RESULTS A total of 885 questionnaires were distributed,with 770 valid responses col-lected,covering 770 dental institutions at all levels.The survey involved 2 056 small pressure steam sterilizers,of which 43.14％were pre-vacuum type and 89.40％were benchtop models.Tertiary dental institutions had the high-est proportion of imported small pressure steam sterilizers(60.15％),with most devices in use for 5-10 years(36.88％).Secondary and low er-level institutions predominantly used domestically produced small pressure steam sterilizers(74.60％),which used for 3-5 years accounting for the highest proportion(34.29％).While 85.58％of dental institutions employed dedicated sterilization personnel,only 45.84％performed proper maintenance for small pressure steam sterilizers.Training rates were 80.00％for department of stomatology in ungraded general hospitals and primary medical institutions,76.19％in prejob and 71.43％during the work for department of sto-matology in primary clinics,respectively.CONCLUSIONS Although most dental institutions demonstrate sound policy formulation,challenges persist in equipment maintenance,policy implementation and grassroots training.Future efforts should be made on strengthening maintenance and inspection of equipment,enhancing sys-tem supervisory mechanisms,and optimizing training systems to ensure dental treatment safety.

Xeroderma pigmentosum(XP)is a rare autosomal recessive disorder related to XP gene variation,often causing secondary malignant tumors.This article reports a case of a young child with secondary squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip caused by xero-derma pigmentosum.Through a review of relevant literature,the clinical characteristics,pathogenesis,clinical pathological manifesta-tions,and prognosis of XP are discussed.

Staphylococcus aureus has the ability to invade bovine mammary epithelial cells and cause persistent intracellular infections.For diagnosing mastitis in cows caused by the bacterial in-fections,it is necessary to determine whether there is a persistent intracellular infection by S.au-reus within mammary epithelial cells,and to establish scientific treatment strategies and imple-ment proactive management decisions.The content of this study is the establishment of a brand new diagnostic method aimed at confirming this type of bovine disease efficiently and cost-effec-tively.The diagnostic procedure is as follows:Add 100 μL S.aureus liquid culture with a concentra-tion of 8.5 ×1010 CFU/mL to the well-grown bovine mammary epithelial cell line and co-culture at 37 degrees Celsius for 2 h to establish an intracellular infection model;After the co-cultivation is completed,add 100 μL of lysostaphin to the dish to thoroughly eliminate extracellular S.aureus.It can be confirmed that the model has been successfully established that black spherical bacteria with a diameter of approximately 1μm are observed within the sample cells using a transmission e-lectron microscope.Intracellular infection is evidenced by the observation of DNA-staining positive material within the cytoplasm of DAPI-stained sample cells,as observed through a laser confocal microscope.The sample is subjected to gram staining after being treated with 200 μL of 0.5％Tri-tonX-100 for 15 min,and intracellular infection is observed within the cytoplasm of the sample cells with Gram-positive results under oil immersion microscopy.The results of the novel"Tri-tonX-100 & gram staining method"validate that the presence of Staphylococcus aureus individu-als within bovine mammary epithelial cells is consistent with images observed under transmission electron microscopy and laser confocal microscopy.The verification results indicate that the"Tri-tonX-100 & gram staining method"is suitable for the diagnosis of S.aureus persistent intracellu-lar infection in bovine mastitis.Later,somatic cells from milk were extracted by gradient centrifu-gation and purified to obtain bovine mammary epithelial cells for clinical testing of 70 S.aureus positive mastitis cattle,which showed a positive rate of 82.9％and a negative rate of 17.1％.

The"ying-wei imbalance"theory originates from Inner Canon of Yellow Emperor,which refers to the dynamic pathological process of yingfen and weifen circulation,distribution,posture,strength,and weakness due to internal and external disturbance,emphasizing that"ying-wei imbalance"is the key to disease occurrence.The sanjiao,as the"envoy of primordial qi,"is central to yingfen and weifen,and the coordinated operation of yingfen and weifen depends on the promotion of the qi of sanjiao.Therefore,based on the yingfen and weifen theory and sanjiao differentiation and treatment,this paper discusses the etiology and pathogenesis of chronic pulmonary heart disease,as well as the syndrome differentiation approach."Ying-wei imbalance"is the core of this mechanism:in the early stage,the loss of yingfen and weifen nutrition,combined with the deficiency of the qi of sanjiao,allows exogenous pathogens to invade the lungs.During progression,dysfunction in the transportation function of yingfen and weifen,along with the stagnation of the qi of sanjiao,results in pulmonary and cardiac involvement,accompanied by phlegm accumulation and stagnation.The end stage is characterized by the failure of both ying and wei,along with dysfunction of the sanjiao and zang-fu organs,which interact to form a pathological chain of"qi disease involving body."Accordingly,the treatment principle of"harmonizing yingfen and weifen,giving sanjiao treatment"was proposed.This is implemented through three therapeutic strategies:"harmonizing""returning",and"astringing"aimed at restoring balance.In the early stage,treatment focuses on tonifying the lungs and consolidating the exterior to eliminate pathogenic factors and activate stagnation.The selected formula is Buyuan Decoction with modifications to harmonize sanjiao.During the developmental stage,treatment focuses on promoting collaterals and dispersing phlegm,utilizing the modified Xuefu Zhuyu Decocotion to facilitate the restoration of function to the sanjiao.In the final stage,Fuyang Decoction,with modifications,is used to resolve fluid retention and nourish both qi and blood.Discussions are closely focused on the syndrome differentiation system of"sanjiao-yingfen and weifen,"in order to offer a novel perspective on the management of chronic pulmonary heart disease.