Tuberculosis (TB), a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is primarily airborne and remains a global health problem, especially in resource-limited countries and regions. The emergence of drug resistance in M. tuberculosis has rendered the existing means ineffective in the treatment of TB. Therefore, research in new therapeutic directions has become imperative. In this review, we outline functional peptides in terms of the mechanisms of action, anti-TB attempts, advantages and disadvantages, and latest advances, aiming to analyze the research progress in anti-TB peptides. Furthermore, we investigate the potential applications of bioactive compounds found in traditional Chinese Medicine within the context of peptides.

The investigator-initiated trials （IIT）， as a widely existing form of clinical research both domestically and internationally， have attracted the attention of governments around the world due to the potential legal risks and issues they may cause， and the trend of legal supervision has gradually strengthened. The legal regulation of IIT in China is still in its early stages， with numerous legal issues that need to be clarified and sorted out. Based on the domestic and international legal reviews of IIT， this paper systematically sorted out the current situation of legal supervision of IIT in China and examined the existing issues， including weak legislative rules， incomplete regulatory systems， imperfect protection rules for research participants and informed consent systems， inadequate regulation of conflicts of interest management， and lax legal supervision of ethical review. Furthermore， this paper proposed suggestions for legal regulation of IIT from three perspectives， including strengthening legislation and emphasizing regulation， improving the mechanism for protecting research participants’ rights and interests， and balancing the legalization of IIT and the scientific development of clinical research， with a view to providing references for legal regulatory paths of IIT in China.

Objective:To explore the impact of different nutritional statuses on the prognosis of elderly patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF), and to provide a basis for early intervention of the nutritional status of elderly IPF patients.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 237 elderly patients clinically diagnosed with IPF who were admitted to the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2018 to May 2024.The GLIM criteria were applied to diagnose malnutrition and classify its severity.The patients were divided into two groups: those without nutritional risk(Group A)and those with nutritional risk(Group B). Group B was further subdivided into three subgroups: patients with only nutritional risk(Subgroup B1), those with moderate malnutrition(Subgroup B2), and those with severe malnutrition(Subgroup B3). The study observed the clinical characteristics of elderly IPF patients and the impact of nutritional factors on hospital admission frequency, activities of daily living(ADL), and all-cause mortality.Results:A total of 237 patients was included, with 129 patients(54.43%)in Group A and 108 patients(45.57%)in Group B. Among them, there were 34 patients(14.35%)in Subgroup B1, 57 patients(24.05%)in Subgroup B2, and 17 patients(7.17%)in Subgroup B3.The number of hospitalizations was significantly higher in both Group B and Subgroup B3 compared to Group A(both P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were found in the number of hospitalizations between Subgroup B1 or Subgroup B2 and Group A. There was no significant difference in the reduction of ADL between Group B(including all its subgroups)and Group A. The risk of mortality significantly increased with the increase in the severity of malnutrition(all P<0.05). After adjusting for factors such as gender, age, polypharmacy, home oxygen therapy, self-care ability, days of hospital stay, number of hospitalizations, pulmonary function, and inflammatory factors, nutritional risk and the degree of malnutrition remained independent risk factors for all-cause mortality in elderly IPF patients. Conclusions:A significant proportion of elderly IPF patients were found to have nutritional risk or malnutrition.The number of hospitalizations was significantly correlated with the nutritional status of these patients.After adjusting for multiple relevant factors, nutritional risk and the severity of malnutrition remained independent risk factors for mortality in elderly IPF patients.Therefore, greater emphasis should be placed on nutritional assessment and early nutritional intervention in the management of elderly IPF patients, so as to prevent and reduce the occurrence of nutrition-related adverse events.

Objective:To assess the effect of transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB) with liposomal bupivacaine and general anesthesia on postoperative delirium (POD) in elderly patients with prior novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19).Methods:In this randomized double-blind controlled study, 416 patients of either sex, aged 65-90 yr, weighing 50-90 kg, of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅰ-Ⅲ, diagnosed as having COVID-19 within 6 months prior to surgery, who underwent laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery under combination of elective TAPB and combined intravenous-inhalational general anaesthesia at Qingdao Municipal Hospital from June 2023 to December 2024, were selected. The patients were divided into liposomal bupivacaine group ( n=208) and bupivacaine hydrochloride group ( n=208) using the random number table method. After induction of anaesthesia, bilateral TAPB was performed with liposomal bupivacaine injectio 266 mg (40 ml) in liposomal bupivacaine group and with 0.5% bupivacaine hydrochloride 40 ml in bupivacaine hydrochloride group. The primary outcome measure was the occurrence of POD within 7 days after surgery. Secondary outcome measures included severity of POD, pain scores at 24, 48 and 72 h after operation, the rate of postoperative rescue analgesia and consumption of morphine, duration of post-anesthesia care unit stay, and length of hospital stay. The occurrence of complications such as death, reoperation, atelectasis and pneumonia was recorded at 30 days after surgery. Results:Compared with bupivacaine hydrochloride group, the incidence of POD was significantly decreased (21.5% [43/200]versus 12.0% [24/200]), pain scores at 24, 48 and 72 h after operation were decreased, the rate of postoperative rescue analgesia and consumption of morphine were decreased, and the duration of post-anesthesia care unit stay and length of hospital stay were shortened in liposomal bupivacaine group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the severity of POD and the case fatality rate and related complications within 30 days after surgery between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Liposomal bupivacaine TAPB combined with general anesthesia can reduce the development of POD in elderly patients with prior COVID-19.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between preoperative concentrations of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (sTREM2) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and postoperative delirium (POD) in patients undergoing total knee/hip arthroplasty.Methods:Six hundred and twenty-five patients of either sex, aged 50-90 yr, weighing 50-80 kg, with American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅰor Ⅱ, with the preoperative Mini-Mental State Examination score > 23, who underwent elective knee/hip arthroplasty under combined spinal-epidural anesthesia at Qingdao Municipal Hospital from January 2022 to December 2023, were selected. The CSF specimens 2 ml were withdrawn from the subarachnoid space after successful subarachnoid puncture for determination of the concentrations of sTREM2, Amyloid beta protein (Aβ 42), total tau protein (T-tau), and phosphorylated tau protein (p-tau) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. POD was assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method. Patients were divided into POD group and non-POD group based on whether POD occurred. Logistic regression was used to identify the risk and protective factors for POD. The performance of CSF sTREM2 concentration combined with CSF biomarker levels in predicting POD was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and clinical decision curve. The mediating effect of CSF biomarker concentrations in the relationship between CSF sTREM2 concentration and POD was analyzed. Results:Five hundred and nineteen patients were finally included, with 112 patients in POD group and 407 patients in non-POD group. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that the elevated preoperative sTREM2 concentration in CSF was the risk factor for POD after adjusting for multiple confounding factors such as age, sex, body mass index, years of education, Mini-Mental State Examination score, history of smoking, history of drinking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease. The area under the ROC curve of the preoperative sTREM2 concentration in CSF in predicting POD was 0.716, and the area under the ROC curve of the preoperative sTREM2 concentration in CSF combined with CSF biomarkers in predicting POD was 0.796. This model had high clinical application value and predictive efficacy. The relationship between the preoperative sTREM2 concentration in CSF and POD was partially mediated by the CSF p-tau concentration (proportion of mediated effect 24.67%) and t-tau protein concentration (proportion of mediated effect 17.33%).Conclusions:The elevated preoperative concentration of sTREM2 in CSF is a risk factor for POD in patients undergoing total knee/hip arthroplasty, and concentrations of t-tau and p-tau in CSF play a mediating role in the relationship between the preoperative CSF sTREM2 concentration and POD.

Objective:To evaluate the association between postoperative delirium (POD) and preoperative frailty in elderly patients undergoing knee or hip arthroplasty.Methods:This nested case-control study utilized medical records from elderly patients who underwent knee or hip arthroplasty under combined spinal-epidural anesthesia at Qingdao Municipal Hospital between September 2021 and May 2023. Participants were divided into 2 groups based on clinically diagnosed POD: POD group ( n=53) and non-POD group ( n=256). Univariate analysis was conducted on suspected influencing factors, and logistic regression analysis was utilized to identify the risk factors for POD. Receiver operating characteristic and clinical decision curves were plotted to evaluate the predictive performance of these risk factors for POD. Mediation analysis was performed, and a clinically applicable nomogram was constructed to achieve visual prediction of outcomes. Results:There were statistically significant differences in age, preoperative frailty, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification, Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale scores, and concentrations of Aβ 42, Aβ 40, phosphorylated tau protein (p-tau protein) and tau protein, Aβ 42/tau ratio and Aβ 42/p-tau ratio in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) between non-POD group and POD group ( P<0.05). Preoperative frailty was a risk factor for POD ( P<0.05). Mediation analysis revealed that the association between preoperative frailty and POD was mediated by CSF tau protein concentrations. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of preoperative frailty and CSF biomarker concentrations in predicting POD was 0.974 ( P<0.05). The clinical decision curve demonstrated that the model combining the preoperative frailty and CSF biomarker concentrations predicted a higher net benefit ( P<0.05). The clinical decision curve showed that the model combining preoperative frailty and CSF biomarker concentrations predicted a higher net benefit. Conclusions:Preoperative frailty is a risk factor for POD in elderly patients undergoing knee or hip arthroplasty, and its combination with CSF biomarker concentrations can effectively predict the occurrence of POD. CSF tau concentration mediates the association between preoperative frailty and development of POD.

Objective:To evaluate the association between the preoperative aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) ratio and postoperative delirium (POD) in patients undergoing total knee/hip arthroplasty.Methods:In this nested case-control study, medical records from patients, aged ≥55 yr, of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅰ or Ⅱ, with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale score >24 on preoperative day 1, scheduled for elective total knee/hip arthroplasty under combined spinal-epidural anesthesia at Qingdao Municipal Hospital between November 2021 and December 2023, were collected. POD was assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method. Patients were categorized into POD and non-POD groups based on the occurrence of POD. Logistic regression was employed to identify protective and risk factors for POD. The predictive performance of preoperative AST/ALT ratio alone and its combination with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker concentrations for POD was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves, and the clinical utility of the prediction models was assessed using decision curve analysis. Mediation analysis was conducted to examine the mediation role of CSF biomarkers in the relationship between the preoperative AST/ALT ratio and POD. Restricted cubic splines were used to assess the nonlinear relationship between the preoperative AST/ALT ratio and POD.Results:A total of 460 patients were finally included, with 49 in POD group and 411 in non-POD group. After adjustment for multiple confounding factors including age, sex, educational level, MMSE score, history of hypertension, history of diabetes, history of smoking and history of alcohol use, multivariable logistic regression identified that the higher preoperative AST/ALT ratio, CSF total tau protein (t-tau) and phosphorylated tau protein (p-tau) concentrations were independent risk factors for POD, whereas lower CSF β-amyloid 42 (Aβ 42) concentration, Aβ 42/t-tau ratio and Aβ 42/p-tau ratio served as protective factors ( P<0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the preoperative AST/ALT ratio combined with CSF biomarkers in predicting POD was 0.939 ( P<0.001), demonstrating high clinical efficacy. After adjusting for age, educational level, sex, MMSE score, history of hypertension, history of diabetes, history of smoking, history of alcohol use and body mass index, restricted cubic splines revealed a nonlinear relationship between preoperative AST/ALT levels and the probability of POD, and the probability of POD increased with rising ratios when the preoperative AST/ALT ratio ranged from 1.09 to 1.40 ( Poverall < 0.05, Pnonlinear <0.05). After stratification by sex, the preoperative AST/ALT ratio demonstrated a linear relationship with the probability of POD ( Poverall <0.05, Pnonlinear>0.05). Mediation analysis indicated that the relationship between the preoperative AST/ALT ratio and POD was partially mediated by CSF p-tau concentration (proportion mediated 18.1%), CSF t-tau concentration (proportion mediated 12.0%), and the Aβ 42/t-tau ratio (proportion mediated 15.4%). Conclusions:A higher preoperative AST/ALT ratio is an independent risk factor for POD in total knee/hip arthroplasty patients. The concentrations of CSF t-tau and p-tau and Aβ 42/t-tau ratio have a mediating role in the relationship between the preoperative AST/ALT ratio and POD.

Objective:To explore the impact of different nutritional statuses on the prognosis of elderly patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF), and to provide a basis for early intervention of the nutritional status of elderly IPF patients.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 237 elderly patients clinically diagnosed with IPF who were admitted to the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2018 to May 2024.The GLIM criteria were applied to diagnose malnutrition and classify its severity.The patients were divided into two groups: those without nutritional risk(Group A)and those with nutritional risk(Group B). Group B was further subdivided into three subgroups: patients with only nutritional risk(Subgroup B1), those with moderate malnutrition(Subgroup B2), and those with severe malnutrition(Subgroup B3). The study observed the clinical characteristics of elderly IPF patients and the impact of nutritional factors on hospital admission frequency, activities of daily living(ADL), and all-cause mortality.Results:A total of 237 patients was included, with 129 patients(54.43%)in Group A and 108 patients(45.57%)in Group B. Among them, there were 34 patients(14.35%)in Subgroup B1, 57 patients(24.05%)in Subgroup B2, and 17 patients(7.17%)in Subgroup B3.The number of hospitalizations was significantly higher in both Group B and Subgroup B3 compared to Group A(both P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were found in the number of hospitalizations between Subgroup B1 or Subgroup B2 and Group A. There was no significant difference in the reduction of ADL between Group B(including all its subgroups)and Group A. The risk of mortality significantly increased with the increase in the severity of malnutrition(all P<0.05). After adjusting for factors such as gender, age, polypharmacy, home oxygen therapy, self-care ability, days of hospital stay, number of hospitalizations, pulmonary function, and inflammatory factors, nutritional risk and the degree of malnutrition remained independent risk factors for all-cause mortality in elderly IPF patients. Conclusions:A significant proportion of elderly IPF patients were found to have nutritional risk or malnutrition.The number of hospitalizations was significantly correlated with the nutritional status of these patients.After adjusting for multiple relevant factors, nutritional risk and the severity of malnutrition remained independent risk factors for mortality in elderly IPF patients.Therefore, greater emphasis should be placed on nutritional assessment and early nutritional intervention in the management of elderly IPF patients, so as to prevent and reduce the occurrence of nutrition-related adverse events.

Maxillofacial fractures are common and frequently occurring diseases in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.The traditional clinical diagnosis and treatment process is easily affected by complex maxillofacial anatomy and differences in doctors' experience in reading X-rays and making diagnoses.In recent years,artificial intelligence technology has provided new solutions for the accurate diag-nosis and treatment planning of maxillofacial fractures.Automating image analysis through computer vision methods improves diagnostic accuracy and efficiency and assists in formulating treatment plans,showing broad application prospects and value.This article reviews and summarizes the research on the application of artificial intelligence in the auxiliary diagnosis and treatment of maxillofacial fractures at home and abroad,analyzes its advantages and disadvantages,and looks forward to future research trends.