OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and safety of roxadustat versus recombinant human erythropoietin （rHuEPO）， each combined with intravenous iron supplementation， in the treatment of renal anemia （RA） in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis （MHD）. METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical records of 152 patients diagnosed with RA and receiving MHD at the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University between January 2022 and June 2024. According to the treatment regimen， patients were divided into observation group （n＝72） and control group （n＝80）. Both groups of patients received MHD and intravenous iron therapy， with the observation group additionally receiving roxadustat and the control group receiving rHuEPO， both for a treatment duration of 12 weeks. Changes in anemia indicators， iron metabolism parameters， inflammatory markers， cardiac function parameters， quality of life scores before and after therapy， and adverse events during treatment were compared between the two groups. RESULTS After 12 weeks of treatment， both groups showed significant increase in hemoglobin， red blood cell count， hematocrit， serum iron， transferrin， total iron binding capacity， transferrin saturation， left ventricular ejection fraction， E/A ratio， cardiac output， 36-Item Short Form Health Survey score， and Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form score compared to baseline （P＜0.05）. Conversely， the levels of ferritin， C-reactive protein， interleukin-6， tumor necrosis factor-α， brain natriuretic peptide， and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide were significantly reduced （P＜0.05）. The improvements in the observation group were significantly greater than those in the control group （P＜ 0.05）. Moreover， the incidence of adverse events was significantly lower in the observation group compared to the control group （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Compared to rHuEPO combined with intravenous iron supplementation， roxadustat combined with intravenous iron supplementation is more effective in improving anemia， iron metabolism， inflammatory status， cardiac function， and quality of life in patients with RA undergoing MHD. Additionally， it demonstrates a better safety profile.

OBJECTIVES: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) imposes a heavy burden on individuals, families, and society. This study analyzed the incidence and mortality trends of RA in China from 1990 to 2023 to provide epidemiological evidence for precise prevention and control. METHODS: Data on RA incidence, age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), deaths, and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) in China by sex and age group from 1900 to 2021 were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database. Joinpoint regression was used to analyze trends in ASIR and ASMR. An age-period-cohort model was constructed using R4.3.1 to evaluate longitudinal age trends and estimate relative risk (RR) values for period and cohort effects. RESULTS: In 2021, the number of RA cases, ASIR, deaths, and ASMR in China were 247 300, 13.70 per 100 000, 10 300, and 0.54 per 100 000, respectively. From 1990 to 2021, the ASIR of RA increased annually among both females and males, with average annual percentage changes (AAPCs) of 0.44% and 0.72%, respectively. Over the same period, ASMR declined in the total population and among females, with AAPCs of -0.78% and -1.19%, while the change in males was not statistically significant. Age-period-cohort analysis showed that the peak incidence occurred in women aged 60-64 years and men aged 75-79 years, and mortality increased with age. The period effect for incidence rose in both sexes, reaching 1.10 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.94 to 1.27] for females and 1.14 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.27) for males during 2017 to 2021, compared with 2002 to 2006. The mortality period effect RR exhibited a downward-upward-downward pattern, decreasing to 0.56 (95% CI 0.52 to 0.61) in females and 0.75 (95% CI 0.68 to 0.82) in males in 2017 to 2021. Cohort analysis indicated that the highest incidence risk occurred in individuals born during 2012 to 2016, while the cohort effect RR for female RA mortality showed a continuous decline beginning with the 1922 to 1926 birth cohort. CONCLUSIONS The incidence and mortality risks of RA in China have continued to decline. However, with the aging of the population, the incidence and mortality risks among the elderly have increased. Middle-aged women and elderly men should receive focused attention. Health authorities should strengthen education, prevention, and screening among middle-aged women and enhance disease monitoring in elderly populations to reduce the national burden of RA.
Humans ; China/epidemiology* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/epidemiology* ; Incidence ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Aged ; Cohort Studies ; Mortality/trends* ; Age Distribution ; Age Factors ; Aged, 80 and over ; Adolescent

Objective:To analyze the relationship between the expression level of calumenin(CALU)and the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)patients by bioinformatics tools and establish the prognostic prediction nomogram,and to clarify its possible mechanism.Methods:The data of 374 HCC tissue samples were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)database and the data of 160 normal tissue samples were down loaded from Genotype-Tissue Expression(GTEx)database.Paired sample t-test was used to analyze the difference in CALU expression between the HCC tissue samples and the paired adjacent normal tissue samples.Human Protein Atlas(HPA)database was used to verify the results.DESeq2 package was used to screen the differentially expressed genes(DEGs)between CALU low expression group and CALU high expression group in the HCC tissue samples.R package pROC was used to analyze the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to confirm the prognosis value of CALU in the HCC patients with different clinicopathological characteristics,and ggplot2 package was used to construct the forest plot.R packages rms and survival were used to construct the nomogram and its calibration curve,and the diagnostic value of CALU in distinguishing HCC tissue from normal tissue was analyzed.The data from Kaplan-Meier Plotter database were used to further verify the relationship between CALU and the prognosis of HCC patients.The gene transcriptional expression data of 216 HCC samples obtained from GSE14520 dataset were used to verify the prediction accuracy of the nomogram.Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analyses were used to determine the function and enrichment pathways of the DEGs,and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis(GSEA)was used to obtain the significantly enriched gene sets of the DEGs.Single-cell sequencing data of 10 HCC tissue samples and 8 adjacent normal tissue samples obtained from GSE149614 dataset were used to verify the relationship between CALU and the prognosis of HCC patients and its mechanism.Results:Compared with normal tissue,the expression level of CALU mRNA in HCC tissue was significantly increased(P＜0.001),and the expression level of CALU protein in HCC samples was also increased.A total of 928 DEGs were identified between CALU low expression group and CALU high expression group in the HCC samples,including 784 upregulated DEGs and 144 downregulated DEGs.The ROC analysis results indicated that CALU showed high diagnostic value in distinguishing cancer tissue from adjacent non-cancer tissue with an area under curve(AUC)of 0.839.Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the survival rate of HCC patients in CALU high expression group was significantly lower than that in CALU group low expression(P＜0.001).Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses results demonstrated that high expression of CALU was an independent risk factor of the prognosis in HCC patients,and a prognosis prediction nomogram was constructed.The applicability of nomogram on the prognosis of HCC was verified by GSE14520 dataset.The GO enrichment analysis results showed that DEGs were mainly enriched in pathways related to the oxidative stress,ferroptosis and cuproptosis(P＜0.05).The KEGG enrichment analysis results showed that DEGs were mainly enriched in the pathways related to extracellular matrix(ECM)receptor interaction,linoleic acid metabolism and neuroactive ligand receptor interaction(P＜0.05).The GSEA results showed that high expression of CALU may promote the G1-S phase transition of the cell cycle,ubiquitination protein polymerization and HCC progression,while low expression of CALU may activate oxidative stress,ferroptosis and cuproptosis in HCC cells.Single-cell sequencing analysis results showed that the expression level of CALU mRNA was significantly increased in HCC cells with advanced tumor stages.HCC_CALU_High cell subset was mainly related to ubiquitination,p53 and cell cycle(P＜0.01),and HCC_CALU_Low cell subset was mainly related to oxidative stress,ferroptosis,and histone binding(P＜0.01).Conclusion:The high expression of CALU may be related to the poor prognosis of HCC patients.The constructed nomogram of HCC prognosis shows favourable effect in predicting the survival rate of the HCC patients.The up-regulation of CALU may promote HCC progression by regulating the G1-S phase of the cell cycle and ubiquitination of protein,while down-regulation of CALU may inhibit HCC progression by inducing oxidative stress,ferroptosis and cuproptosis in cells.

The contents of Zhang Zhongjing's works Treatise on Exogenous Febrile Disease,the Jade Case Classic of the Golden Cabinet,and Essentials from the Golden Cabinet(collectively known as the three classical medical books of Zhang Zhongjing),as well as Important Formulas Worth A Thousand Gold Pieces and Supplement to"Important Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces",which were cited in the Arcane Essentials from the Imperial Library(Wai Tai Mi Yao Fang)during comparative proofreading were analyzed.Wai Tai Mi Yao Fang is a book edited and public by the Bureau of Revising Medical Books in Northern Song Dynasty.The contents in the collation records for Wai Tai Mi Yao Fang were compared to the original text of the above five classical medical books proofread in Song Dynasty.The results showed that:(1)the ministers of Song Dynasty which were in charge of the proofreading mainly took the previously-proofread books as references,and widely referenced to the other editions of Wai Tai Mi Yao Fang,which reflected the proofreading principles of the Bureau of Revising Medical Books in Northern Song Dynasty,i.e.,collecting various editions widely and then identifying similarities and differences;(2)the analysis of the collation record in Zhongjing's Treatise on Exogenous Febrile Disease by using comparative proofreading method plus reasoning proofreading method showed that,the medical knowledge of the ministers of Song Dynasty had some limitations;(3)some of the medical terminology used by the ministers of Song Dynasty in their collation record influenced the naming convention of later generations of medical science,for example,making the Piyue Pills be the synonym of the Maziren Wan(Maren Wan).The results indicated that the complexity and uncertainty of the textual content of the popular edition of Wai Tai Mi Yao Fang should deserve the attention,and their influences on the development of later generations'scholarship need further in-depth study.

This article summarizes Professor Li Ziyong's clinical experience with the round-sharp needle.As one of the core needle types in the Huang Di Nei Jing(The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic)nine-needle system,the round-sharp needle has long been marginalized in clinical practice due to historical discontinuities in its transmission and insufficient research on its morphological characteristics,resulting in its unique therapeutic value remaining largely unrecognized.Through nearly three decades of clinical practice,Professor Li innovatively proposed the acupuncture concept of"unblocking passages and guarding the pivotal mechanism",guided by the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic principle that"ordinary practitioners focus on the joints,while superior practitioners focus on the pivotal mechanisms".Under this theoretical framework,he has extensively applied the round-sharp needle in clinical settings.With its unique design combining rounded and sharp features,the round-sharp needle demonstrates remarkable clinical efficacy by intervening at the fascial layer and releasing local fascial adhesions.It exhibits rapid onset and stable therapeutic outcomes.This article systematically reviews Professor Li's understanding of the round-sharp needle,its key operational techniques,and clinical case studies,aiming to establish a replicable paradigm for its modern application and promote the clinical translation of classical acupuncture theory.

Although the incidence of each individual type of rare tumor is relatively low, their cumulative impact affects a vast patient population, and their survival prognosis is significantly worse than that of common tumors. In recent years, China has made remarkable progress in clinical research on rare tumors, with a rapid increase in the number of studies and a diversified exploration of treatment modalities. However, clinical research on rare tumors still faces numerous challenges, such as uneven distribution of medical resources, the absence of a foundational registration system, and insufficient motivation for original research and development. Looking ahead, key measures including specialized development, a national collaborative group model, full utilization of real-world data, application of novel clinical research designs, and artificial intelligence technologies will strongly drive comprehensive advancements in China′s rare tumor prevention and treatment system.

Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (PACC) is a rare exocrine tumor of the pancreas with distinct clinical and pathological features. In recent years, advancements in molecular biology techniques have led to a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying PACC. Progress in imaging, endoscopic, and molecular diagnostic technologies has improved the early detection rate of PACC. The primary treatment modalities for PACC include surgical resection, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy; however, the therapeutic efficacy still requires further improvement. This article reviews the current research status of PACC, covering its epidemiology, pathological characteristics, molecular alterations, diagnostic methods, and treatment strategies, and discusses the controversies and future directions in PACC research.

Gynecologic malignant tumors are among the leading diseases threatening women's lives and health,with the highest morbidity and mortality rates among all female diseases.These tumors originate from female reproductive organs and are typically classified based on the affected site.Ovarian cancer(OC),endometrial cancer(EC)and cervical cancer(CCA)are the most common types.Currently,gynecologic malignant tumors are primarily treated with a combination of surgery,chemotherapy and radiotherapy,where drugs play a critical role in the treatment process.However,the actual clinical effectiveness is often influenced by various factors,such as adverse reactions due to drug toxicity and the drug resistance and insensitivity observed in some patients,which limit improvements in patient survival rates.Recent studies have shown that the same type of tumor exhibits significant biological characteristics and drug response heterogeneity among different individuals,which is a key factor contributing to the varied clinical outcomes when using the same drug treatment for the same type of gynecologic malignant tumor.To achieve individualized and precise treatment for gynecologic malignant tumors,there is an urgent need to develop in vitro models that closely resemble human tumors for clinical research.Drug screening is a technique used to identify and evaluate compounds with pharmacological activity and potential therapeutic effects,providing doctors with scientific guidance on drug use,thereby avoiding blind drug testing and reducing patients'therapeutic pain and economic burden by assessing the effects of different drugs under specific conditions.Organoid models have been extensively studied as an innovative drug screening tool and personalized medicine for treating gynecologic malignancies.Organoids are tissue-like structures with a specific spatial arrangement formed in vitro through three-dimensional cell culture,capable of highly simulating the structure and function of tissues in vivo and displaying histological and genotypic characteristics very similar to human organs.This approach has largely overcome the limitations of traditional tumor models,such as patient-derived cancer cell models and patient-derived tumor xenograft models,becoming an essential research tool in oncology.It provides a more physiologically relevant experimental platform for drug screening studies of gynecologic malignancies.This paper compared the advantages and disadvantages of several preclinical cancer models,reviewed the development process of organoids,and described the establishment of gynecologic oncology organoids and their application in drug screening for ovarian,endometrial,and cervical cancers.Additionally,we discussed the current limitations of organoid technology in its application and envisioned its future development,aiming to provide insights for future medical research,particularly in new drug discovery and personalized medicine.

Objective To investigate the clinical application of perioperative human serum albumin(HSA)in cardiac surgery in multiple regions in China,and to evaluate the rationality of its clinical application in conjunction with the clinical guidelines,in order to provide a reference for promoting the rational application of HSA.Methods The medical records of patients who underwent cardiac surgery from April to June 2019 in eight hospitals across the country were retrospectively collected.The statistical information on patients'general information,the dosage,course of treatment,and cost of HSA,and the serum albumin level before and after medication was analyzed to evaluate the use of HSA.Relevant evaluation criteria were established,and the rationality of its medication was evaluated.Results Data from a total of 449 patients were included for analysis,the appropriate rate of medication was 81.1％.The course of medication was mostly＞2-5 days and the total amount of HSA was mostly 50-99 g.The main purpose of medicaiton were improving colloid osmotic pressure,reducing exudation to improve interstitial edema,postoperative volume expansion.Conclusion Clinical attention should be paid to ensure the rational application of HSA in cardiac surgery during the perioperative period and prevent the abuse of blood products.

Objective:To investigate the role of survivin in the regulation of leptin expression and its sensitivity.Methods:Survivin was overexpressed in adipocytes via lentivirus, and the RNA-sequencing(RNA-seq) was used to explore the effect of survivin on the regulation of adipocyte secretory proteins. Survivin was overexpressed in the inguinal adipose tissue(iWAT) of mice by targeted injection of adeno-associated virus(AAV). The transcription levels of leptin and adiponectin were detected by realtime quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR), and the secretion levels of leptin and adiponectin in cellular supernatants and mice serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The protein level of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3) in hypothalamus was detected by Western blotting to investigate the effect of survivin on central leptin sensitivity.Results:Survivin overexpression in both 3T3-L1 and primary white adipocyte significantly down-regulated the leptin transcriptional expression without affecting the adipocyte differentiation( P<0.01). Overexpression of survivin significantly decreased leptin level without affecting the adiponectin levels in the cellular supernatant( P<0.001). Overexpression of survivin in iWAT via AAV injection, not only specifically down-regulated leptin transcriptional level in a dose dependent manner in local adipose tissue, but also led to a decrease in serum leptin level( P<0.05). In mice fed short-term high-fat diet, STAT3 phosphorylation level in hypothalamus significantly increased, suggesting improved central leptin sensitivity. Conclusion:Survivin could downregulate leptin expression and improve leptin sensitivity in high-fat diet induced obese mice.