Hepatic fibrosis refers to excessive accumulation and abnormal proliferation of fibrous connective tissue in the liver triggered by multiple pathogenic factors， and it may progress to liver cirrhosis， portal hypertension， and liver cancer. The pathological mechanisms of hepatic fibrosis involve hepatocyte injury， inflammatory cell infiltration with the release of inflammatory mediators， hepatic stellate cell activation， and extracellular matrix deposition. Recent studies have focused on mitochondrial dysfunction in disease progression， including the molecular pathways for hepatic fibrosis driven by metabolic disorders， energy deficiency， oxidative stress， mitochondrial dynamic imbalance， and autophagic dysfunction， all of which can induce liver injury. This article reviews the latest advances in hepatic fibrosis， in order to provide new therapeutic strategies for clinical management.

Objective To investigate the influencing factors of stroke patients with hypertension and their compliance with antihypertensive drugs, and to provide targeted intervention measures for stroke prevention in hypertensive patients.  Methods Using the method of multi-stage cluster sampling, a total of 59,434 permanent residents aged 40 and above were selected from 48 monitoring sites in 9 cities of Hebei Province from December 2019 to December 2020. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of stroke complicated with hypertension and the compliance of patients with antihypertensive drugs.  Results Among the 59 434 subjects, the prevalence rate of stroke was 4.33% and the prevalence rate of stroke complicated with hypertension was 82.47%. The results of univariate analysis showed that the proportion of women, rural areas, dyslipidemia, diabetes, obesity, and people with family history of stroke was higher in stroke patients with hypertension, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that rural areas, dyslipidemia, diabetes, obesity, and family history of stroke significantly increased the risk of stroke, and the OR (95%CI) values were 1.29 (1.03-1.62), 1.39 (1.12-1.72), 1.58 (1.25-1.99), 1.61 (1.22-2.12) and 1.60 (1.26-2.04), respectively. Among stroke patients with hypertension, 92.71% of patients took antihypertensive drugs. It was found that women's compliance with antihypertensive drugs was good, with an OR (95%CI) value of 1.46 (1.01-2.09).  Conclusion The prevalence rate of stroke complicated with hypertension is high in people aged 40 and above in Hebei Province. Hypertensive people should lower blood lipids, control blood glucose, and lose weight as soon as possible to prevent the occurrence of stroke.

The coagulation factors in cryoprecipitate are mainly coagulation factor Ⅷ, fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor (VWF), and coagulation factor ⅩⅢ. This article provides different treatment dosages and plans for different patients with rare coagulation disorders based on their actual conditions referring to international and domestic guidelines and consensus. In order to achieve precise infusion for cryoprecipitate, it is necessary to avoid poor treatment effects caused by insufficient doses, as well as waste of blood components and the risk of thrombosis caused by excessive infusion.

Objective: To investigate the trend in disease burden of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in China from 1990 to 2021, so as to provide a reference for formulating prevention and control strategies for chronic respiratory diseases. Methods: Based on the Global Burden of Disease 2021 database, data on the number of incident cases, incidence, standardized incidence, number of deaths, mortality, standardized mortality, number of disability-adjusted life years (DALY), DALY rate, and standardized DALY rate of ILD in China were collected. The incidence, mortality, and DALY rate were used to analyze the disease burden of ILD. The estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was employed to assess the trend in standardized incidence, standardized mortality, and standardized DALY rate of ILD from 1990 to 2021. Rate decomposition analysis was applied to identify the main contributing factors affecting the trend in disease burden. Results: In 2021, China reported 48 514 cases, 7 674 deaths, and 222 288 person-years of DALY due to ILD, representing increases of 155.43%, 159.70%, and 97.34%, respectively, compared with 1990. From 1990 to 2021, the standardized incidence and standardized mortality of ILD in China showed upward trends (EAPC=1.106% and 0.239%, both P<0.05), while the standardized DALY rate showed a downward trend (EAPC=-0.230%, P<0.05). From 1990 to 2021, the standardized incidence and standardized mortality among males showed upward trends (EAPC=1.199% and 0.520%, both P<0.05), while the trend in the standardized DALY rate was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Among females, the standardized incidence of ILD showed an upward trend (EAPC=0.966%, P<0.05), while the standardized mortality and standardized DALY rate showed downward trends (EAPC=-0.306% and -0.760%, both P<0.05). In 2021, the incidence, mortality, and DALY rate of ILD in China increased with age, peaking in the group aged ≥95 years at 14.84/105, 13.90/105, and 124.71/105, respectively. Across all age groups aged ≥55 years, the incidence, mortality, and DALY rate of ILD were consistently higher in males than in females. The increase in the number of incident cases, deaths, and DALY due to ILD in China from 1990 to 2021 was primarily influenced by population aging, with contribution rates of 42.65%, 68.25%, and 69.79%, respectively. Conclusions From 1990 to 2021, the incidence and mortality risk of ILD in China showed upward trends, while the disability risk demonstrated a downward trend. Males bore a heavier disease burden of ILD, and aging was identified as the primary factor contributing to the increased burden of ILD in China.

Myocardial fibrosis is a serious cause of heart failure and even sudden cardiac death. However, the mechanisms underlying myocardial ischemia-induced cardiac fibrosis remain unclear. Here, we identified that the expression of sterile alpha and TIR motif containing 1 (SARM1), was increased significantly in the ischemic cardiomyopathy patients, dilated cardiomyopathy patients (GSE116250) and fibrotic heart tissues of mice. Additionally, inhibition or knockdown of SARM1 can improve myocardial fibrosis and cardiac function of myocardial infarction (MI) mice. Moreover, SARM1 fibroblasts-specific knock-in mice had increased deposition of extracellular matrix and impaired cardiac function. Mechanically, elevated expression of SARM1 promotes the deposition of extracellular matrix by directly modulating P4HA1. Notably, by using the Click-iT reaction, we identified that the increased expression of ZDHHC17 promotes the palmitoylation levels of SARM1, thereby accelerating the fibrosis process. Based on the fibrosis-promoting effect of SARM1, we screened several drugs with anti-myocardial fibrosis activity. In conclusion, we have unveiled that palmitoylated SARM1 targeting P4HA1 promotes collagen deposition and myocardial fibrosis. Inhibition of SARM1 is a potential strategy for the treatment of myocardial fibrosis. The sites where SARM1 interacts with P4HA1 and the palmitoylation modification sites of SARM1 may be the active targets for anti-fibrosis drugs.

Objective To establish a rapid and accurate droplet digital PCR(ddPCR)detection method for detecting Staphylococcus aureus(SA)in laboratory animals and the environment.Methods Using the heat-stable nuclease gene(nuc)of SA as the target gene,a pair of specific primers and probes are designed within its conserved region.Optimize the reaction conditions,test the dynamic range,and evaluate the specificity and stability of the method.Using the same template,test reactions were performed with both ddPCR and real-time quantitative PCR(qPCR)method to assess the interchangeability between the two approaches.Finally,the method is applied to the detection of various clinical samples.Results The kinetic range of the established SA ddPCR method is 100～15 000 copies/μL,with a detection limit of 2.5 copies and a quantification limit of 10 copies;The specificity of this method was tested,and only SA showed positive droplets,while no positive droplets were found for other pathogens;After measuring three parallel samples,the standard deviation and relative standard deviation were calculated.It was found that within the dynamic detection interval of ddPCR,as the target copy number gradually decreased,the relative standard deviation showed an upward trend,but remained below 25％.This result indicates that the detection method has good stability.Conclusions The established ddPCR method for detecting SA has the advantages of high sensitivity,strong specificity,good stability,and good reproducibility.This method can be applied for the detection of SA in laboratory animals.

Objective To establish a rapid and accurate droplet digital PCR(ddPCR)detection method for detecting Staphylococcus aureus(SA)in laboratory animals and the environment.Methods Using the heat-stable nuclease gene(nuc)of SA as the target gene,a pair of specific primers and probes are designed within its conserved region.Optimize the reaction conditions,test the dynamic range,and evaluate the specificity and stability of the method.Using the same template,test reactions were performed with both ddPCR and real-time quantitative PCR(qPCR)method to assess the interchangeability between the two approaches.Finally,the method is applied to the detection of various clinical samples.Results The kinetic range of the established SA ddPCR method is 100～15 000 copies/μL,with a detection limit of 2.5 copies and a quantification limit of 10 copies;The specificity of this method was tested,and only SA showed positive droplets,while no positive droplets were found for other pathogens;After measuring three parallel samples,the standard deviation and relative standard deviation were calculated.It was found that within the dynamic detection interval of ddPCR,as the target copy number gradually decreased,the relative standard deviation showed an upward trend,but remained below 25％.This result indicates that the detection method has good stability.Conclusions The established ddPCR method for detecting SA has the advantages of high sensitivity,strong specificity,good stability,and good reproducibility.This method can be applied for the detection of SA in laboratory animals.

BACKGROUND:The stemness index may be associated with the prognosis and immune infiltration of sarcoma,but the specific regulatory mechanism and characteristic genes have yet to be fully elucidated. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the correlation between stem cells and prognosis as well as immune infiltration in sarcoma employing the gene stemness index model and to identify the ferroptosis signature genes associated with sarcoma stem cells. METHODS:The sarcoma RNA sequencing data and related clinical information were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA).The sarcoma RNA sequencing data were grouped using the sarcoma stemness index.Survival data were used to analyze prognosis between groups.Differentially expressed genes were obtained for pathway enrichment and immune infiltration analysis.Ferroptosis-related differential genes were used to construct a protein interaction network and analyze prognostic correlation.Rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines were cultured and divided into adherent cell group and stem cell group.The adherent cell group received no intervention,while the stem cell group was treated with serum-free culture to enrich stem cells in rhabdomyosarcoma cells.qRT-PCR was used to evaluate stemness markers,ferroptosis-related genes,and mRNA expression of ferroptosis-related markers in the cells. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Patients were divided into high and low stemness index groups based on the median stemness index.The progression-free survival of patients in the high stemness index group was lower than that in the low stemness index group by disease risk prediction,suggesting poor prognosis.(2)According to GO and KEGG analysis,the groups with high and low stemness indices differed from one another.There were differences in immune infiltration between the high and low stemness index groups.Nine of the 23 ferroptosis-related genes in the differential genes have the potential to establish a highly correlated network of protein interactions.Patients with high expression of IDO1,IFNG,and AQP5 have a better prognosis,while those with high expression of CA9 have a poor prognosis.(3)The qRT-PCR results demonstrated a significant upregulation of stem cell-related markers NANOG,SOX2,and OCT4 mRNA expressions in the stem cell group compared to the adherent cell group(P<0.05).Compared to the adherent cell group,the stem cell group exhibited decreased mRNA expression level of ferroptosis-related marker SLC7A11(P<0.05)while showing increased levels of ACSL4,GPX4,FTH1,and COX2(P<0.05).Compared to the adherent cell group,the stem cell group displayed decreased mRNA expression level of differentially expressed gene CA9 alongside elevated levels of IDO1,IFNG,and AQP5(P<0.05).Stem cells were strongly associated with sarcoma survival and ferroptosis by bioinformatics analysis and experimental verification.Sarcoma stem cells have aberrant expression of CA9,IDO1,IFNG,and AQP5,which may serve as new targets for sarcoma therapy as well as diagnostic indicators.

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Tangning Tongluo tablets in the treatment of nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy （DR）. MethodsFourteen research centers participated in this study， which spanned a time interval from September 2021 to May 2023. A total of 240 patients with nonproliferative DR were included and randomly assigned into an observation group （120 cases） and a control group （120 cases）. The observation group was treated with Tangning Tongluo tablets， and the control group with calcium dobesilate capsules. Both groups were treated for 24 consecutive weeks. The vision， DR progression rate， retinal microhemangioma， hemorrhage area， exudation area， glycosylated hemoglobin （HbA1c） level， and TCM syndrome score were assessed before and after treatment， and the safety was observed. ResultsThe vision changed in both groups after treatment （P<0.05）， and the observation group showed higher best corrected visual acuity （BCVA） than the control group （P<0.05）. The DR progression was slow with similar rates in the two groups. The fundus hemorrhage area and exudation area did not change significantly after treatment in both groups， while the observation group outperformed the control group in reducing the fundus hemorrhage area and exudation area. There was no significant difference in the number of microhemangiomas between the two groups before treatment. After treatment， the number of microhemangiomas decreased in both the observation group （Z=-1.437， P<0.05） and the control group （Z=-2.238， P<0.05）， and it showed no significant difference between the two groups. As the treatment time prolonged， the number of microhemangiomas gradually decreased in both groups. There was no significant difference in the HbA1c level between the two groups before treatment. After treatment， the decline in the HbA1c level showed no significant difference between the two groups. The TCM syndrome score did not have a statistically significant difference between the two groups before treatment. After treatment， neither the TCM syndrome score nor the response rate had significant difference between the two groups. With the extension of the treatment time， both groups showed amelioration of TCM syndrome compared with the baseline. ConclusionTangning Tongluo tablets are safe and effective in the treatment of nonproliferative DR， being capable of improving vision and reducing hemorrhage and exudation in the fundus.

Objective This study aimed to develop an automated method for syndrome element differenti-ation in Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM).Methods We first constructed and trained an Instruction-tuned Multi-Task TCM text embedding model(Instr-MT-TCM)using four distinct TCM task datasets,including domain knowledge,synonymous terminology,syndrome differentiation and treatment,and TCM case labels.Subsequently,five TCM diagnostics experts holding master's degrees or higher were organized to screen a real-world TCM case dataset and annotate symptoms and signs.The purpose was to evaluate the F1-score of the proposed method—the combination of Instr-MT-TCM and a Large Language Model(LLM)—by comparing its performance against the manual annotation result on the syndrome element differentiation task.Finally,to validate its feasibility in real-world clinical settings,the method was applied to 48 prostate cancer cases to calculate the syndrome element scores.Results The Instr-MT-TCM model showed rapid performance improvement in its early training phase,achieving a Recall@1(R@1)of 0.848.Experts curated a dataset of 1,793 real-world clinical cases,covering 34 common diseases and 66 syndrome patterns.In the syndrome element differentiation task,the collaborative framework of LLM and Instr-MT-TCM achieved a mean F1-score of 0.927,outperforming the 0.512 from manual annota-tion.The syndrome element analysis revealed that the predominant elements of disease nature were fire(heat)and yin deficiency,while the main elements of disease location were bladder and kidney.Conclusion This study proposes and validates a novel method for automated TCM syndrome element dif-ferentiation based on the synergy between LLM and our custom Instr-MT-TCM model.Achieving a high F1-score(0.927)on real-world data,the method demonstrates excellent accuracy and generalization ability.Its application in prostate cancer analysis highlights its significant clinical potential,offering effective technical support,and a new research direction for intelligent TCM syndrome element differentiation.