Patients with liver cirrhosis are more susceptible to various bacterial or viral infections due to immune dysfunction. Recent studies have shown that compared with the general population， individuals with liver cirrhosis show a significant increase in the incidence rate of adverse outcomes after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection， including the progression of liver injury and the increase in mortality rate. Vaccination can reduce the incidence rates of breakthrough infections and severe coronavirus disease 2019 （COVID-19） in patients with liver cirrhosis， but such patients have low immune response and thus require booster doses to enhance immunity. This article reviews the clinical features of cirrhotic patients with COVID-19 and related management strategies， in order to provide evidence-based guidance for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of such patients.

Linxian County in Henan Province, Northern China is known as the region with the highest incidence and mortality rate of esophageal cancer worldwide. Since 1959, the Henan medical team has conducted field work on esophageal cancer prevention and treatment in Linxian. Through three generations of effort exerted by oncologists over 65 years of research on esophageal cancer prevention and treatment in Linxian, the incidence rate of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in this area has dropped by nearly 50%, and the 5-year survival rate has increased to 40%, reaching the international leading level. This article aims to summarize the history, present opportunities and new challenges, and explore the experience of esophageal cancer prevention and treatment in Linxian (referred to as the “Linxian experience”), providing reference and guidance to cancer prevention and treatment research in China.

Objective To investigatethe relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and clinicopathological characteristics, p53 expression, and survival of Chinese patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma. Methods A total of 3882 patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma, 970 matched patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and 970 matched patients with gastric cardia adenocarcinoma were included to compare the incidence of GERD symptoms. Patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma were divided into two groups according to the presence and absence of GERD symptoms. The differences in clinicopathological characteristics and p53 expression between the two groups were compared by chi-square test, and the differences in survival between the two groups were compared by landmark analysis. Results The incidence of GERD symptoms increased successively in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, esophageal adenocarcinoma, and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma. In patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma, the proportions of male, less than 65 years old, lower thoracic tumors, tumors without squamous cell carcinoma, poorly differentiation, early tumors (stage 0-I), and p53-positive tumors in the group with GERD symptoms were higher than those in the group without GERD symptoms; moreover, the long-term survival (≥15 years) was better. Conclusion GERD symptom is an important clinical sign of esophageal adenocarcinoma. It is closely related to specific clinicopathological characteristics, p53 overexpression, and good long-term prognosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of autophagy on cardiac tissue injury following common bile duct ligation (CBDL) in rats. METHODS: Twenty-four SPF grade healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups, with 6 rats in each group. The sham-operated (Sham) group underwent only dissection of the common bile duct without ligation. The CBDL group underwent CBDL to simulate jaundice-induced myocardial injury. The autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA)+CBDL group was intraperitoneally injected with 15 mg/kg 3-MA 2 hours before modeling, and then injected once every other day. The CBDL+autophagy enhancer rapamycin (Rapa) group was intraperitoneally injected with Rapa 1 mg/kg 0.5 hour after modeling, and then injected once every other day. The rats in each group were sacrificed 2 weeks after surgery, and blood was taken from the inferior vena cava. Serum total bilirubin (TBil), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB) were detected by using a fully automated animal biochemical analyzer. Serum oxidative stress marker superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were detected by colorimetric assay. The heart tissues of rats were taken and pathological changes were observed under a light microscope after hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Transmission electron microscope was used to observe autophagosomes after double staining with uranyl acetate and lead citrate. The expressions of autophagy-related proteins were detected using Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared with the Sham group, the serum SOD activity of rats in the CBDL group was significantly decreased, while the serum MDA, TBil, ALT, AST, LDH, and CK-MB were significantly increased; the expressions of autophagy-related proteins Beclin-1 and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-II/I (LC3-II/I) were significantly increased, and p62 protein expression was significantly decreased. Autophagosomes were seen under electron microscopy in the CBDL group, and cardiac histopathological morphology showed focal necrosis in the myocardium as well as infiltration of inflammatory cells, dilatation of small interstitial blood vessels, and myocardial fiber degeneration. Compared with the CBDL group, cardiac tissue injury in rats was attenuated by pretreatment with the autophagy inhibitor 3-MA, with a decrease in inflammatory cell infiltration in myocardial tissue, a reduction in interstitial vasodilatation, and a decrease in the area of myocardial fibrosis; a decrease in the number of autophagosomes by electron microscopy; and a further rise in the viability of serum TBil, ALT, and AST [TBil (μmol/L): 184.40±6.74 vs. 120.70±16.93, ALT (U/L): 501.10±62.18 vs. 178.80±22.30, AST (U/L): 806.50±76.92 vs. 275.50±55.81, all P < 0.01], as well as a decrease in the levels of serum SOD, MDA, LDH, and CK-MB [SOD (kU/L): 85.00±5.29 vs. 107.50±7.86, MDA (μmol/L): 10.72±0.93 vs. 15.06±1.88, LDH (U/L): 387.40±119.50 vs. 831.30±84.35, CK-MB (U/L): 320.10±14.04 vs. 814.70±75.66, all P < 0.05]. The expressions of the autophagy-related proteins Beclin-1 and LC3-II/I in cardiac tissues were significantly decreased [Beclin-1 protein (Beclin-1/GAPDH): 0.67±0.04 vs. 0.89±0.01, LC3-II/I ratio: 0.93±0.03 vs. 1.09±0.01, both P < 0.01], and p62 protein expression was significantly increased (p62/GAPDH: 0.99±0.01 vs. 0.60±0.01, P < 0.01). In contrast, compared with the CBDL group, after administration of the autophagy enhancer Rapa, the rats showed increased cardiac tissue injury, increased inflammatory cell infiltration in myocardial tissues, increased interstitial vasodilatation, and increased area of myocardial fibrosis; an increase in autophagosomes was seen by electron microscopy; the change tendency of serum biochemical indicators and proteins in myocardial tissues were opposite with autophagy inhibition group with a decrease in serum TBil, ALT, and AST [TBil (μmol/L): 22.00±3.21 vs. 120.70±16.93, ALT (U/L): 72.13±5.97 vs. 178.80±22.30, AST (U/L): 135.20±12.95 vs. 275.50±55.81, all P < 0.05], as well as a increase in the levels of serum SOD, MDA, LDH, and CK-MB [SOD (kU/L): 208.00±2.65 vs. 107.50±7.86, MDA (μmol/L): 20.38±0.40 vs. 15.06±1.88, LDH (U/L): 1 268.00±210.90 vs. 831.30±84.35, CK-MB (U/L): 1 150.00±158.70 vs. 814.70±75.66, all P < 0.05]. The protein expressions of Beclin-1 and LC3-II/I in cardiac tissues were significantly increased [Beclin-1 protein (Beclin-1/GAPDH): 0.96±0.01 vs. 0.89±0.01, LC3-II/I ratio: 1.19±0.01 vs. 1.09±0.01, both P < 0.05], and p62 protein expression was significantly decreased (p62/GAPDH: 0.19±0.02 vs. 0.60±0.01, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Activation of autophagy in CBDL rats led to myocardial tissue injury and reduced cardiac function. Inhibition of autophagy improved cardiac tissue injury in CBDL rats, while increasing autophagy exacerbated myocardial tissue injury.
Animals ; Autophagy ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Male ; Ligation ; Rats ; Common Bile Duct/surgery* ; Myocardium/pathology* ; Adenine/pharmacology*

Talents are the main force for the development of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM）， and the construction of TCM talents and the reformation of talent evaluation system are essential to promote the inheritance and innovation of TCM. At present， we are still exploring and developing in the fields of the formulation， implementation and evaluation indicators of TCM talent evaluation system. However， there are shortcomings and difficulties. For instance， insufficient stratification in the evaluation， excessive emphasis on the quantity of achievements， neglecting the quality of the achievements and the actual contribution， imperfect assessment indicators， and the weak characteristics of TCM. Therefore， national ministries and commissions have jointly issued a document requesting to break the four only and set a new standard， in order to promote the construction of a scientific and technological talent evaluation system oriented by innovation value， ability and contribution. For the evaluation of TCM clinical talents， China Association for Science and Technology commissioned China Association of Chinese Medicine to build the China Clinical Cases Library of TCM（CCCL-TCM）， which aims at collecting the most authoritative and representative TCM clinical cases and exploring the advantages of applying clinical cases as masterpiece of achievement in TCM clinical talents evaluation. CCCL-TCM can promote the construction of a talent evaluation system that is more in line with the development characteristics of TCM industry， and to carry out relevant pilot in TCM colleges and institutions across the country in order to promote the reformation of TCM talent evaluation system.

Objective:To investigate the influential factors of patients' expectations for clinical decision-making during digestive endoscopy.Methods:A total of 120 patients who underwent digestive endoscopy were admitted to the Endoscopy Center of Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital from January 2020 to January 2022. Their general information was collected, and their clinical decision-making expectations were evaluated using the Control Preference Scale (CPS). The influential factors of clinical decision-making expectations were determined using multiple linear regression analysis.Results:The total CPS score for 120 patients undergoing digestive endoscopy was (50.72 ± 5.48) points, including (14.12 ± 1.48) points for information needs, (25.17 ± 3.52) points for communication needs, and (11.43 ± 2.04) points for decision-making needs. Univariate analysis showed that the CPS score of patients undergoing digestive endoscopy was related to gender, age, marital status, educational level, number of children, and type of visit ( t = 2.68, 2.61, 2.82, 3.28, 3.61, 2.39, all P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that gender, age, educational level, and type of visit were the influential factors of clinical decision-making expectations for patients undergoing digestive endoscopy ( β = -0.71, 1.07, 0.53, -1.15, all P < 0.05). Conclusion:Gender, age, educational level, and type of visit are influential factors of patients' expectations for clinical decision-making during digestive endoscopy. Patients have a clear need for communication during clinical decision-making, and medical staff can strengthen communication with patients, correctly guiding them to participate in clinical decision-making expectations.

Objective To observe the abnormal brain activity in patients with migraine without aura(MwoA)with MRI.Methods Fifty MwoA patients(MwoA group)and 46 healthy volunteers(control group)were prospectively enrolled.Functional MRI(fMRI)was performed to observe the dynamic regional homogeneity(dReHo)of brain regions,then brain regions with differences of dReHo value between groups were extracted,and correlations with clinical scales were analyzed.Results Compared with control group,dReHo values of surrounding cortex of bilateral calcarine fissure and right middle occipital gyrus increased,of right middle temporal gyrus,right middle frontal gyrus and left cuneus decreased in MwoA group(GRF correction,voxel level all P＜0.005,cluster level all P＜0.05).The weight analysis showed that brain regions with top 3 absolute weight values were surrounding cortex of right calcarine fissure,left cuneus and right middle occipital gyrus.dReHo value of surrounding cortex of left calcarine fissure in MwoA patients was negative correlated with self-rating depression scale(SDS)(r=-0.28,P=0.04).Conclusion Abnormalities in the upward transmission pathway of visual information existed in MwoA patient,especially in surrounding cortex of right calcarine fissure,left cuneus and right middle occipital gyrus.

Objective To screen Cuproptosis genes and characteristic genes for differential prognosis in acute mye-loid leukemia(AML)and explore their prognosis in AML as well as their biological roles and correlations in the immune and tumor microenvironment.Methods AML clinical,transcriptome,genomic,and copy number data were downloaded from three major databases,TCGA,GEO,and UCSC,and Cuproptosis genes were collected from published studies.From the perspective of multiomics,the effects of Cuproptosis gene and characteristic gene on survival,immunity,tumor microenvironment,stem cell correlation and drug sensitivity were studied by various bioinformatics methods,meta-analysis and secondary typing.Results One Cuproptosis gene was identified as a differential prognostic gene in AML and five characteristic genes were identified as influencing the prognosis of AML patients by influencing Cuproptosis,and a prognostic model was established.The differential genes were mainly concentrated in mitochondrial activity,REDOX enzyme and energy metabolism.In terms of immunity,macrophage M0,neutrophils,activated memory CD4 T cells and Tregs were positively correlated with risk score,while macro-phage M2,resting mast cells,immature CD4 T cells,helper follicular T cells and memory B cells were negatively correlated with risk score.In terms of tumor microenvironment,the immune cell score of the low-risk group was lower than that of the high-risk group,and in the total score,the tumor microenvironment score of the low-risk group was also lower than that of the high-risk group,indicating that the tumor purity of the high-risk group was lower than that of the low-risk group.However,there was no significant association between stem cells in the high-risk and low-risk groups,and a total of 14 drugs were found to be sensitive to treat AML.Conclusion Cuproptosis gene and characteristic gene are closely related to immune and tumor microenvironment in AML by constructing a prognostic model of AML.

Objective To investigate the correlation between the total CSVD burden and fundus vasculopathy,and evaluate significance of fundus vasculopathy for cognitive impairment in CSVD patients.Methods A total of 290 inpatients who taking physical examination in our department from May 2021 to August 2022 were consecutively recruited,and according to their score of CSVD,they were divided into group 0(129 cases),group 1(51 case),group 2(42 cases),group 3(44 cases),and group 4(24 cases).All the subjects underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging,fundus fluorescein angiography,and cognitive function assessment.The total CSVD burden and fundus vasculopathy were evaluated.The general clinical data,results of laboratory tests,fundus vascularization,and cognitive function were compared among the groups with different CSVD burden scores.Spearman correlation analysis and linear correlation analysis were used to explore the correlation between total CSVD burden score and fundus vascular disease.Results Significant differences were observed in terms of age,years of education,cerebral infarction/TIA,total cho-lesterol,LDL-C,creatinine,MoC A and MMSE scores,positive results of connectivity test,digit-symbol conversion test,Stroop colour-word interference test and verbal fluency test,values of CRAE,CRVE,AVR,Scheie grade,DWMH and PVWMH,enlarged perivascular space in the basal ganglia(BG-EPVS),lacunar infarct and cerebral microbleeds(CMB)in different CSVD total bur-den groups(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Spearman correlation analysis showed that total CSVD burden was negatively correlated with CRAE and AVR(r=-0.655,P=0.000;r=-0.679,P=0.000),and positively with CRVE and Scheie grade(r=0.560,P=0.000;r=0.685,P=0.000).Multivari-ate linear analysis showed that the total CSVD burden after adjusting for relevant risk factors was significantly correlated with CRAE,CRVE,AVR and Scheie grades(P＜0.01).Conclusion Fun-dus vasculopathy is strongly associated with increased total CSVD burden,and it can be regarded as a valid predictor of CSVD-related cognitive impairment.

Objective To investigate the incidence of motoric cognitive risk(MCR)syndrome and declines in both motor and cognitive functions in elderly patients with enlarged perivascular spaces(EPVS).Methods A total of 113 patients(≥60 years old)with EPVS identified by head MRI admitted to our department from March 1 to November 30,2023 were consecutively recrui-ted,and according to having MCR syndrome or not,they were divided into MCR group(44 cases)and non-MCR group(69 cases).Cognitive function and motor function were assessed with aid of Montreal Cognitive Scale(MoCA),Simple Mental State Examination Scale(MMSE),trail making test,and motor function assessments,including Tinetti Balance and Gait Scale,Short Physical Performance Battery(SPPB),8-meter walk,Timed up and Go test(TUGT),walking and contin-uous subtraction task(WSS),walking and semantic fluency task(WSF),and TUGT and serial subtraction task(TUGSS).The motor and cognitive functions were compared between the two groups,and the risk factors related to MCR syndrome in EPVS patients were analyzed by multi-variate logistic regression.Results Compared with the non-MCR group,the MCR group had low-er MoCA score,total SPPB score,8-meter walk speed,and longer times of TMT-A,TMT-B,WSS,WSF and TUGSS(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that in Model 1(including variables with differences in univariate analysis),MoCA score,8-meter walk speed,and TUGSS time were independent risk factors for MCR syndrome in EPVS patients(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);in Model 2(adjusting for age,sex,education level,and comorbidities),MoCA score(OR=0.621,95％CI:0.432-0.929,P=0.010),8-meter walk speed(OR=1.332,95％CI:1.115-1.591,P=0.002),and TUGSS time(OR=0.393,95％CI:0.232-0.665,P=0.001)re-mained independent risk factors for MCR syndrome in EPVS patients.Conclusion Among elderly EPVS patients,those with MCR syndrome show significantly worse cognitive and motor function compared to those without.MoCA score,8-meter walk speed,and TUGSS time are related factors for MCR occurrence in EPVS patients.