Chronic hepatitis B virus （HBV） infection is the main cause of the disease burden of viral hepatitis worldwide， and meanwhile， due to changes in lifestyle and dietary habits， the incidence rate of metabolic associated fatty liver disease （MAFLD） is constantly increasing， making MAFLD the leading chronic liver disease around the world. Chronic HBV infection comorbid with MAFLD is becoming more and more common in clinical practice. Metabolic factors， rather than viral factors， are the main cause of chronic HBV infection comorbid with MAFLD. During disease progression， steatohepatitis and fibrosis， rather than steatosis， are the main influencing factors for the progression to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. For patients with chronic HBV infection and MAFLD， integrated management of virus and metabolic factors is of great importance. This article reviews the tissues regarding the interaction， prognosis， and clinical management of chronic HBV infection and MAFLD.

Objective:To investigate effect of neferine(NeF)on myocarditis in heart failure(HF)rats by regulating CC-che-mokine ligand 2/CC chemokine receptor 2(CCL2-CCR2)signaling axis.Methods:HF rat model was constructed by ligating left ante-rior descending branch,and randomly separated into HF group,different doses of NeF groups(5 mg/kg,10 mg/kg,20 mg/kg),20 mg/kg NeF+CCL2 group,another 10 rats without ligating left anterior descending branch were regarded as sham surgery group.After treatment,cardiac function[left ventricular end systolic diameter(LVESD),ejection fraction(EF),left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)]were evaluated.Serum indicators[brain natriuretic peptide(BNP),IL-1β,N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-pro BNP),TNF-α]were detected.Myocardial tissue was isolated and expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β,pathological damage,collagen deposition,expressions of CCL2 and CCR2 proteins were detected.Results:Compared with sham surgery group,HF group showed a decrease in myocardial cells,infiltration of inflammatory cells,and severe deposition of collagen fibers,LVESD,serum BNP,NT-pro BNP,TNF-α,IL-1β levels,myocardial tissue TNF-α,IL-1β expressions,collagen area ratio,CCL2,CCR2 protein expressions were greatly increased,LVEF and EF were greatly decreased(P<0.05).Compared with HF group,central muscle tissue damage and collagen fiber deposition were reduced in different doses of NeF groups,LVESD,serum BNP,NT-pro BNP,TNF-α,IL-1β levels,myocardial tissue TNF-α,IL-1β expressions,collagen area ratio,CCL2,CCR2 protein expressions were greatly decreased,LVEF and EF were greatly increased,with differences between groups(P<0.05).After CCL2 intervention,compared with 20 mg/kg NeF group,myocardial tissue damage and collagen fiber deposition were worsened,LVESD,serum BNP,NT-pro BNP,TNF-α,IL-1β levels,myocardial tissue TNF-α,IL-1β expressions,collagen area ratio,CCL2,CCR2 protein expressions were greatly increased,LVEF and EF were greatly decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion:NeF regulates CCL2-CCR2 signaling axis,inhibits myocar-ditis in HF rats,and improves cardiac function.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common concomitant disease in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and prediabetes. Therefore, T2DM/NAFLD patient populations are at high risk for cardiovascular disease. The occurrence and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-related liver fibrosis and cardiovascular disease have a severe impact on the patient’s prognosis and mortality rate. The American Diabetes Association's 2024 "Guidelines for the Standardized Management of Diabetes" put forward recommendations relevant to the screening, evaluation, treatment, and management of NAFLD in T2DM and prediabetic populations, as well as liver fibrosis. The important measures for decelerating liver inflammation and fibrosis progression and the risk of cardiovascular disease are based on improvements in lifestyle methods, weight loss, and blood sugar control.

In June 2024,the European Association for the Study of the Liver,the European Association for the Study of Diabetes,and the European Association for the Study of Obesity jointly released the latest edition of clinical practice guidelines on the management of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MASLD),which comprehensively elaborates on the definition,prevalence rate,natural disease history,screening,diagnosis,and treatment of MASLD and proposes 33 statements and 72 recommendations.This article gives an excerpt of the key points in this document.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 308-nm excimer lamp and 308-nm excimer laser in the treatment of pediatric vitiligo.Methods:Clinical data were collected from children with stable vitiligo who received targeted phototherapy at the Department of Dermatology of Xijing Hospital from 2010 to 2015, and retrospectively analyzed. The patients were treated with either 308-nm excimer laser or 308-nm excimer lamp, and all were given topical drugs. The treatment lasted for at least 3 months, and follow-up for at least 6 months. The severity of vitiligo was assessed using the Vitiligo Area and Severity Index (VASI) score. The efficacy was evaluated after 3 months of treatment, and at least a 50% reduction in the VASI score (VASI50) was defined as "effectiveness". A logistic regression model was constructed using treatment efficacy as the dependent variable to screen factors related to the treatment outcome. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare skewed data before and after treatment. Adverse reactions during treatment were recorded to evaluate the safety of targeted phototherapy.Results:A total of 194 children with stable vitiligo were included, comprising 103 males (53.1%) and 91 females (46.9%), with the age being 6 to 14 (10.2 ± 2.3) years. Among them, 138 (71.1%) received 308-nm excimer laser therapy, while 56 (28.9%) received 308-nm excimer lamp therapy. The VASI score ( M [ Q1, Q3]) was 0.12 (0.05, 0.40) at the baseline, significantly decreased to 0.06 (0.02, 0.19) after 3 months of treatment ( Z = 12.02, P < 0.001). After 3 months of treatment, 52 patients achieved VASI50, and 30 achieved VASI75, resulting in an overall response rate of 42.3% (82/194). Specifically, in the 308-nm excimer laser group, 38 patients achieved VASI50 and 26 achieved VASI75, with a response rate of 46.4% (64/138) ; in the 308-nm excimer lamp group, 14 patients achieved VASI50 and 4 achieved VASI75, yielding a response rate of 32.1% (18/56). Univariate logistic regression analysis indicated that lesions located on the head and neck or the trunk were more prone to repigmentation compared with those on the limbs ( OR = 3.56, 95% CI: 1.15 - 11.02, P = 0.027; OR = 6.58, 95% CI: 1.81 - 23.96, P = 0.004, respectively) ; additionally, facial lesions around the eyes were more prone to repigmentation compared with lesions on other facial areas ( OR = 4.58, 95% CI: 1.10 - 19.11, P = 0.037), and hair involvement in vitiligo lesions on the head and neck made repigmentation less likely to occur compared with lesions without hair involvement ( OR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.13 - 0.75, P = 0.010). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the periorbital region was the most favorable site for repigmentation among facial areas ( OR = 5.37, 95% CI: 1.18 - 24.34, P = 0.029), and hair involvement in vitiligo lesions on the head and neck was an independent risk factor for phototherapy-induced repigmentation ( OR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.08 - 0.96, P = 0.042). Among the 194 patients treated with targeted phototherapy for 3 months, 33 experienced short-term treatment-related adverse reactions, including erythema, blisters, desquamation, itching, and pain; most adverse reactions were mild, and no severe adverse reactions were observed. Conclusion:Targeted phototherapy using 308-nm excimer laser or 308-nm excimer lamp was safe and effective for the treatment of pediatric vitiligo.

Humans ; Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma ; Esophageal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Microbiota

【Objective】 To investigate the effects of echinacoside （ECH） on mitochondrial biosynthesis and cardiomyocytes’ apoptosis in heart failure （HF） and to explore its related mechanisms. 【Methods】 The experimental animals were divided into three groups： the rat model of HF （HF） was induced by intraperitoneal injection of ISO， and pre-treated with ECH by intraperitoneal injection （ECH） and nomal control （ctrl group）. Cardiac function was detected by echocardiography after 2 weeks of treatment. The ultrastructure of myocardium was observed by transmission electron microscopy and the mitochondrial density and vacuolation rate were analyzed. The expressions of apoptosis-associated proteins were evaluated by Western blotting， and genes related to mitochondrial biosynthesis were examined by Real-time PCR. 【Results】 ECH increased 1eft ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF） and 1eft ventricular fraction shortening （LVFS）， but decreased 1eft ventricular end-systolic diameter （LVEDs） and 1eft ventrieular end-diastolic diameter （LVEDd） when compared to HF group （P<0.01） and improved cardiac function. The myocardial ultrastructure was significantly improved by ECH， the density of regular shapes of mitochondria was increased， and the percentage of vacuolated rate was reduced by ECH （P<0.01）. The expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was upregulated and that of pro-apoptotic protein Bax was downregulated in ECH group. The mRNA of mitochondrial biosynthesis related genes PGC-1， NFR-1， NFR-2 and TFAM was significantly upregulated in ECH group. 【Conclusion】 ECH promotes mitochondrial biosynthesis and inhibits cardiomyocytes’ apoptosis by up-regulating PGC-1/NFR signaling pathway， thus improving cardiac function.