Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is primarily transmitted through the respiratory tract, and remains one of the diseases with the highest mortality rate of single-pathogen infections globally. The cell wall polysaccharides of M. tuberculosis are critical for maintaining bacterial structure, mediating pathogenesis, and enabling immune evasion. Lipoarabinomannan (LAM), a key polysaccharide component, has revolutionized non-invasive diagnostic technologies as a TB biomarker, while polysaccharide-based vaccines have emerged as innovative strategies for TB prevention. This review systematically examines the composition, subcellular distribution, and functional roles of M. tuberculosis cell wall polysaccharides in bacterial metabolism, drug resistance, and immune regulation. A particular emphasis is placed on recent advancements in LAM-based diagnostics and vaccine development. Future studies should utilize advanced technologies to precisely characterize the structural features of TB polysaccharides and explore their biological functions, providing a foundation for targeted diagnostic and therapeutic innovations. This article aims to provide reference for advancing both basic research and clinical applications related to M. tuberculosis.

[Objective]To investigate the effect and mechanism of Shuxuetong and its main component hirudin on the apoptosis of cerebellar granule neurons(CGNs)in Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats.[Methods]CGNs incubated in vitro for 7 days were divided into survival control group or 25 K group(cultured in medium containing 25 mmol/L KCL)and apopto-sis group or 5 K group(cultured in medium containing 5 mmol/L KCL).CGNs were separately treated with proportionally diluted and different concentrations of Shuxuetong(1/50,1/40,1/30,1/20 and 1/10)and the corresponding different con-centrations of hirudin(2,2.5,3.34,5 and 10 U/mL).Hoechst staining was performed to analyze the apoptosis.Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of Cleaved Caspase-3,Bim and VEGF.[Results]Hoechst staining showed that 5 K group had a higher apoptosis rate than 25 K group.In 25 K group,there was no significant change in the apoptosis rate between neurons treated with different concentrations of Shuxuetong and hirudin,but significant changes was found in 5 K group and the higher the concentration,the lower the apoptosis rate.Western blot results revealed that,compared with control neurons in 5 K group,Shuxuetong injection and hirudin treatments resulted in a decrease of Cleaved Caspase-3 and Bim expression,but an increase of VEGF protein.[Conclusions]Shuxuetong and its main component hirudin inhibits the apoptosis of CGNs through suppressing proapoptotic BH3-only protein Bim.

Background Long-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) may increase the risk of diabetes, and a healthy diet can effectively control fasting blood glucose levels. However, it is unclear whether dietary factors have a moderating effect on the risk of diabetes associated with atmospheric PM_2.5 exposure. Objective To investigate the association between long-term exposure to PM_2.5 and diabetes in rural areas of Ningxia, and potential interaction of long-term exposure to atmospheric PM_2.5 and diet on diabetes. Methods The study subjects were selected from the baseline survey data of the China Northwest Cohort-Ningxia (CNC-NX) , a natural population cohort. A total of 13917 subjects were included, excluding participants with missing covariate information. We utilized the annual average ambient PM_2.5 concentration from 2014 to 2018 as the long-term exposure level. Logistic regression and multiple linear regression were employed to analyze the associations of long-term atmospheric PM_2.5 exposure with diabetes and fasting blood glucose levels. Stratification by frequency of vegetable consumption, frequency of fruit consumption, and salty taste was used to examine moderating effects on the diabetes risk associated with atmospheric PM_2.5 exposure. Results The mean age of the 13917 subjects was (56.8±10.0) years, and the prevalence of diabetes was 9.8%. Between 2014 and 2018, the average annual concentration of PM_2.5 was (38.10±4.67) μg·m⁻³. The risk (OR) of diabetes was 1.018 (95%CI: 1.005, 1.032) and the fasting blood glucose was increased by 0.011 (95%CI: 0.004, 0.017) mmol·L⁻¹ for each 1 μg·m⁻³ increase in PM_2.5 concentration. Compared to those who consumed vegetables < 1 time per week, individuals who consume vegetables 1-3 times per week and ≥4 times per week had a reduced risk of developing diabetes by 27.1% (OR=0.729, 95%CI: 0.594, 0.893) and 16.8% (OR=0.832, 95%CI: 0.715, 0.971) respectively. Similarly, when compared to those who consumed fruits <1 time per week, individuals who consumed fruits 1-3 times per week and ≥4 times per week exhibited a reduced risk of diabetes by 16.4% (OR=0.836, 95%CI: 0.702, 0.998) and 18.2% (OR=0.818, 95%CI: 0.700, 0.959) respectively. Fasting blood glucose decreased by 0.202 (95%CI: -0.304, -0.101) mmol·L⁻¹ in participants who ate vegetables 1-3 times per week. The effect of salty taste on diabetes and fasting blood glucose was not significant. The results of stratified analysis by dietary factors and PM_2.5 concentration showed that the risks of diabetes were increased in the low PM_2.5 pollution-low vegetable intake frequency group and the high PM_2.5 pollution-low vegetable intake frequency group compared with the low PM_2.5 pollution-high vegetable intake frequency group, with OR values of 3.987 (95%CI: 2.943, 5.371) and 1.433 (95%CI: 1.143, 1.796) respectively. The risk of diabetes was 50.1% higher in participants with high PM_2.5 pollution and low fruit intake frequency than in participants with low PM_2.5 pollution and high fruit intake frequency (OR=1.501, 95%CI: 1.171, 1.926). No interaction was found between salty taste and PM_2.5 on diabetes. Conclusion Long-term exposure to ambient PM_2.5 is associated with an increased fasting blood glucose and an elevated risk of diabetes in rural Ningxia population. Increasing the frequency of weekly consumption of vegetables or fruits may have a certain protective effect against diabetes occurrence, as well as a moderating effect on diabetes and fasting blood glucose levels associated with long-term exposure to atmospheric PM_2.5.

Objective To investigate the risk factors and independent risk factors associated with papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC)cervical lymph node metastasis,and to assess the predictive efficacy of independent risk factors on metastatic lymph nodes.Methods Clinical and ultrasonographic data of 279 patients with PTC were collected,and the patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of cervical lymph node metastasis based on postoperative pathology,and the relevant characteristics of the two groups were ana-lyzed to explore the risk factors and independent risk factors associated with cervical lymph node metastasis in PTC,and the predictive ef-ficacy of independent risk factors on cervical metastatic lymph nodes was compared by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.Results Age,gender and the maximum diameter,border,shape,microcalcifications,and distance from the thyroid capsule of cancer nodes were risk factors for cervical lymph node metastasis in both groups(P＜0.05);male,maximum diameter of cancer nodes 10mm,microcalcifications,and distance from the thyroid capsule ≤2mm were independent risk factors for cervical lymph node metastasis in PTC(P＜0.05);the AUC of the combination of four independent risk factors was 0.785(95％CI:0.721-0.849,P＜0.05),with the highest efficacy in predicting cervical lymph node metastasis.Conclusion Male,maximum diameter of cancer nodes ≥10mm,mi-crocalcifications,and distance from the thyroid capsule ≤2mm were independent risk factors for cervical lymph node metastasis of PTC,and the combination of four independent risk factors could assist in assessing the risk of cervical lymph node metastasis of PTC and improve patient prognosis.

Background The contribution of long-term ambient PM_2.5 exposure to hypertension should not be ignored. However, the conclusions of whether dietary factors play a role in regulating PM_2.5-related hypertension are still inconsistent. Objective To explore the correlation between long-term exposure to ambient PM_2.5 and blood pressure indicators (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, and pulse pressure) in adults in Ningxia and a potential moderating effect of dietary factors. Methods A set of cross-sectional survey data from March, 2013 to May, 2018 was retrieved from the China Northwest Cohort-Ningxia, and the average ambient PM_2.5 concentration in the previous three years was also collected to estimate the long-term exposure of the participants. Binary logistic regression model was used to validate the correlation between long-term exposure to ambient PM_2.5 and hypertension in Ningxia, and linear model was used to study the correlation between long-term exposure to ambient PM_2.5 and blood pressure indicators (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure), and to explore the influence of dietary factors on ambient PM_2.5-related hypertension. Results A total of 11470 participants were included in the study, 42.2% male and 57.8% female. The three-year average ambient PM_2.5 concentration before the baseline survey was 37.0 μg·m⁻³. Each 1 μg·m⁻³ increase in ambient PM_2.5 was associated with an increased risk of hypertension (OR=1.111, 95%CI: 1.097, 1.125), and increased systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, and pulse pressure by 0.886 (95%CI: 0.783, 0.990), 0.570 (95%CI: 0.500, 0.641), 0.676 (95%CI: 0.600, 0.751), and 0.316 (95%CI: 0.243, 0.389) mmHg, respectively. The stratified analysis showed that the OR and 95%CI of hypertension were 1.171 (1.097, 1.254), 1.117 (1.064, 1.174), and 1.160 (1.116, 1.207) respectively for each 1 μg·m⁻³ increased in PM_2.5 with low frequency of vegetable and fruit consumption and salty taste respectively. The OR and 95%CI of hypertension were decreased when the moderate and high frequency of vegetable and fruit intake and moderate and light taste applied, the values were 1.091 (1.062, 1.121) and 1.114 (1.097, 1.131), 1.105 (1.082, 1.129) and 1.111 (1.092, 1.13), 1.115 (1.090, 1.140) and 1.102 (1.083, 1.121) respectively. Compared with low frequency of vegetable and fruit intake and salty taste, the increase degree of ambient PM_2.5 related systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure also decreased in middle and high frequency of vegetable and fruit intake and moderate and light taste. Conclusion Long-term exposure to ambient PM_2.5 is significantly associated with increased risks of hypertension and blood pressure in Ningxia area. Increasing the frequency of vegetable and fruit intake and decreasing salty taste may reduce the effect of ambient PM_2.5 on hypertension and blood pressure.

Objective:To analyze the short and mid-term efficacy of aortic valvuloplasty with autopericardium on children with aortic valve diseases.Methods:A total of 26 children with aortic valve diseases (stenosis or regurgitation) who underwent aortic valvuloplasty with autopericardium in Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital from September 2017 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.The short-term and mid-term follow-up data were collected.The maximum aortic valve pressure gradient, subaortic regurgitation area, left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were compared before and after operation.Paired t test was used to analyze the short-term and mid-term efficacy of aortic valvuloplasty with autopericardium on children with aortic valve diseases. Results:All 26 cases were successfully operated, and there were no deaths and serious complications during the follow-up period of (22.96±6.45) months.There was a significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative maximum aortic valve pressure gradient at 1 month ( t=7.85, P<0.05), 6 months ( t=6.43, P<0.05), 1 year ( t=6.16, P<0.05) and 2 years postoperatively ( t=4.22, P<0.05) in children with aortic stenosis or that combined with mild-to-moderate closure.The follow-up data of 9 children with simple aortic stenosis showed that there was a significant difference between the preoperative (8.87±3.57) cm 2 and postoperative aortic regurgitation area at 1 month ( t=6.85, P<0.05), 6 months ( t=5.13, P<0.05), 1 year ( t=6.62, P<0.05) and 2 years postoperatively ( t=5.41, P<0.05). The LVEDV of 26 children was significantly lower at 6 months[(63.54±27.61) mL], 1 year [(53.61±20.20) mL] and 2 years postoperatively [(64.39±17.78) mL] compared with that of preoperative level[(89.42±45.89) mL]( t=3.89, 4.67, 3.58, all P<0.05). The left ventricular pressure and volume decreased, the enlarged heart was narrowed down, and the geometry of the heart was restored.The LVEF of 26 patients also from (61.65±9.67)% before surgery increased to (67.88±4.69)% 6 months after surgery( t=3.68, P<0.05), and increased to (68.62±4.46)% 1 year after surgery( t=4.01, P<0.05), and increased to (67.55±3.09)% 2 years after operation( t=3.01, P<0.05), and the heart function was improved. Conclusions:Aortic valvuloplasty with autopericardium presents an effective short and mid-term efficacy on children with aortic valve diseases, which prevents or delays the aortic valve replacement.

Extended clinical trials are medical treatment activity based on the humanitarianism to provide new medical products during the clinical trials for specific patients who have no other effective medical means to prolong life or alleviate pain. Extensive clinical trials have both medical and scientific attributes, which are significantly different from registered clinical trials and require special ethical attention. At present, the extended clinical trials in China are still in the initial stage, laws, regulations and supporting management methods are not perfect, and there is a lack of experience in ethical governance of such special clinical trials. This paper took the expanded clinical trial of medical devices as an example, referred to the current laws and regulations at home and abroad, analyzed their characteristics, and put forward some suggestions on the ethical governance of the whole process of the expanded clinical trials of medical devices in China,including special concerns in the application and acceptance, the first review approval strategy and the key points in continuing review.

Research-oriented hospitals are the currently development direction of large hospitals, and their research ethics management has played an important role in China’s scientific and technological innovation and clinical research development through years of practice. However, at present, China’s overall scientific and technology ethics governance framework system is still incomplete, governance authority is insufficient, ethics committee members lack ethical professional technical training, and the awareness and understanding of science and technology ethics among medical staff still need to be improved, which indicates that the level of technology ethics governance in research-oriented hospitals needs to be improved. It is suggested to improve from the aspects of regulatory system, governance responsibilities, training of ethical practitioners, supervision and punishment measures, and ethical education of scientific and technological research talents, so as to better protect subjects and promote the construction of scientific and technological ethics in the research-oriented hospitals.

Objective To investigate whether the semen quality of men undergoing conventional semen analysis from this center has changed over time in 10 years.Methods The data of 231 519 semen samples provided by males undergoing conventional seminal anal-ysis in outpatient department of Reproductive Medicine Affiliated to Shandong University from January 2013 to December 2022 were ret-rospectively analyzed.The sperm concentration,motility,percentage of progressively motile sperm and percentage of normal morphology sperm were analyzed according to the World Health Organization(WHO)Laboratory Manual for the Examination and Treatment of Hu-man Semen(5th edition)and the changes of these parameters in 10 years were compared.Results From 2013 to 2022,there were no significant changes in the proportions of men with different sperm concentration,motility,percentage of progressively motile sperm in reproductive clinics.Approximately 27％of infertile male patients had low sperm concentration each year,approximately 34％of infer-tile male patients had low sperm motility each year,approximately 10％of infertile male patients was not found sperm in semen samples each year,and the percentages of normal morphology sperm of approximately 57％of infertile male patients were lower than the refer-ence value.The semen routine analysis results of approximately 50％of infertile male patients were in the normal range.The proportion of normal semen population did not change significantly.Conclusion The semen quality of infertile men does not change significantly in recent 10 years.

Informed consent is one of the key elements to protect the rights and welfare of the patients or research subjects. With the development of electronic information technology, the diversity and convenience brought by the electronization makes the electronic informed consent (E-Consent) come into being. European and American countries have begun to apply E-Consent in the field of clinical trials, established a relatively perfect E-Consent platform and software system, and initially formed the guiding principles and recommendations of E-Consent. However, the implementation of E-Consent is still less in China, and there is no targeted legal basis and guidelines for ethical review. Therefore, this paper explored the implementation potential of E-Consent domestically by analyzing the application scenarios, advantages and disadvantages, and feasibility of E-Consent, and tried to establish the practical ethic review points of E-Consent based on the basic principles of ethical principles, to ensure that clinical trials have an appropriate E-Consent process.