ObjectiveTo explore the clinical efficacy and mechanism of Bupi Qingfei prescription （BPQF） in treating stable bronchiectasis in the patients with syndromes of lung-spleen Qi deficiency and phlegm-heat accumulation in the lungs. MethodsA randomized， double-blind， placebo-controlled trial was conducted. Patients were randomized into BPQF and placebo control （PC） groups. On the basis of conventional Western medicine treatment， the BPQF granules and placebo were respectively administered at 10 g each time， twice a day， for a course of 24 weeks. The TCM symptom scores， Quality of Life Questionnaire for Bronchiectasis （QOL-B） scores， lung function indicators， T lymphocyte subsets， level of inflammatory factors in the sputum， level of neutrophil elastase （NE） in the sputum， and occurrence of adverse reactions were observed before and after treatment in the two groups. ResultsA total of 64 patients completed the study， encompassing 32 in the BPQF group and 32 in the PC group. After treatment， the BPQF group showed decreased TCM symptom scores （P<0.01）， increased QOL-B scores （P<0.01）， and declined levels of tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α and NE （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The PC group showed decreased TCM symptom （except spleen deficiency） scores （P<0.01）， increased the QOL-B health cognition and respiratory symptom domain scores （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and a declined TNF-α level （P<0.01）. Moreover， the BPQF group had lower TCM symptom （except chest tightness） scores （P<0.05， P<0.01）， higher QOL-B （except treatment burden） scores （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and lower levels of interleukin-6 and TNF-α （P<0.05） than the PC group. Neither group showed serious adverse reactions during the treatment process. ConclusionBPQF can ameliorate the clinical symptoms of stable bronchiectasis patients who have lung-spleen Qi deficiency or phlegm-heat accumulation in the lungs by regulating the immune balance and inhibiting airway inflammatory responses.

Hepatitis B virus （HBV） exclusively infects liver parenchymal cells and forms covalently closed circular DNA （cccDNA） within their nuclei. HBV cccDNA serves as the essential template for viral gene transcription， the sole source of progeny virus production， and the key driver of viral antigen expression， and it is the molecular basis for the persistence of HBV infection. Therefore， elimination and/or functional silencing of cccDNA is the key to eradicate chronic HBV infection. This article discusses the critical scientific issues that need to be solved during elimination of the harm of HBV infection from the perspectives of the synthesis， transcription， and clearance of cccDNA， as well as the impact of nonparenchymal cells on cccDNA， in order to provide a reference for eradicating HBV infection in the future.

Objective To investigate the regulatory mechanism of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in different types of mitral valvular disease (MVD) with atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods From August 2011 to August 2012, patients with moderate to severe MVD accompanied by AF who required mitral valve replacement at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, were included. Based on echocardiographic results, patients were divided into two groups: a mitral regurgitation (MR) with AF (MR-AF) group and a mitral stenosis (MS) with AF (MS-AF) group. Left atrial tissue samples were collected during surgery. Techniques such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting were used to detect key molecules in the TGF-β1/JNK pathway. Results Sixteen patients were enrolled. There were 8 patients in the MR-AF group, including 5 males and 3 females, with an average age of (41.38±11.19) years; and 8 patients in the MS-AF group, including 6 males and 2 females, with an average age of (43.12±5.30) years. The left atrial volume load was higher in MR-AF patients, while the left atrial pressure load was higher in MS-AF patients. In MS-AF patients, the relative expression levels of MAPK9, JUN, CASP3, BAX, and BCL2 mRNA in left atrial tissues were significantly upregulated. The serum TGF-β1 protein level and the relative expression levels of p-JNK, p-c-Jun, and Caspase-3 proteins in the left atrial tissues of the MR-AF group were higher. Myocardial cell damage was more severe in the MS-AF group, and the protein expression level of Bcl-2 was higher. Conclusion Different MVD have distinct hemodynamic characteristics. The myocardium of the left atrium in MR-AF patients is more prone to apoptosis, possibly through the activation of the TGF-β1/JNK signaling pathway.

[Objective] To analyze the prevalence of human T-lymphocyte leukemia virus (HTLV) among blood donors in Guangzhou from 2016 to 2021, and provide a basis for blood collection and supply management in this region. [Methods] A total of 2 116 951 voluntary blood donors were screened for anti-HTLV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) from March 2016 to December 2021 in Guangzhou, and the reactive cases were further confirmed by Western blotting (WB). Qualitative data were analyzed by χ2 with spss19 software. The trend of the total positive rate of HTLV confirmation test by WB from 2016 to 2021 was analyzed with the Joinpoint software, and the annual percent change (APC) was used to determine whether the trend changes were statistically significant. [Results] From March 2016 to December 2021, the total positive rate for anti-HTLV by ELISA among voluntary blood donors in Guangzhou was 0.019 7% (416/ 2116 951), and the WB confirmed positive rate was 0.001 1% (23/2 116 951). The total positive rate of HTLV among individual voluntary blood donors in the six main districts (0.002 12%, 19/895 301) was higher than that among group voluntary blood donors (0.000 32%, 3/951 947) (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the total positive rate of HTLV confirmation between the six main districts (0.001 19%) and the three non-main districts (0.000 37%) (P>0.05). The trend of the total positive rate of HTLV infection in the six main districts and the Guangzhou area(including the six main districts and three non-main districts) showed no significant increase or decrease. [Conclusion] The prevalence of HTLV among blood donors in Guangzhou remains at a low level.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality based on the 10-year population-based multicenter prospective study. METHODS: A general population-based multicenter prospective study was conducted at four sites in rural China between 2013 and 2023. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic spline analyses were used to assess the association between BMI and mortality. Stratified analyses were performed based on the individual characteristics of the participants. RESULTS: Overall, 19,107 participants with a sum of 163,095 person-years were included and 1,910 participants died. The underweight (< 18.5 kg/m ²) presented an increase in all-cause mortality (adjusted hazards ratio [ aHR] = 2.00, 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.66-2.41), while overweight (≥ 24.0 to < 28.0 kg/m ²) and obesity (≥ 28.0 kg/m ²) presented a decrease with an aHR of 0.61 (95% CI: 0.52-0.73) and 0.51 (95% CI: 0.37-0.70), respectively. Overweight ( aHR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.67-0.86) and mild obesity ( aHR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.59-0.87) had a positive impact on mortality in people older than 60 years. All-cause mortality decreased rapidly until reaching a BMI of 25.7 kg/m ² ( aHR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92-0.98) and increased slightly above that value, indicating a U-shaped association. The beneficial impact of being overweight on mortality was robust in most subgroups and sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION This study provides additional evidence that overweight and mild obesity may be inversely related to the risk of death in individuals older than 60 years. Therefore, it is essential to consider age differences when formulating health and weight management strategies.
Humans ; Body Mass Index ; China/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Rural Population/statistics & numerical data* ; Aged ; Follow-Up Studies ; Adult ; Mortality ; Cause of Death ; Obesity/mortality* ; Overweight/mortality*

Objective To investigate the expression of kinesin family member 15(KIF15), epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2) in gallbladder cancer(GBC) and their clinical and pathological significance. Methods Immunohistochemical staining was employed to detect the expression of KIF15, EGFR, and HER2 proteins in GBC tissue microarrays. The correlation between protein expression levels and various clinical and pathological characteristics of GBC patients was analyzed. Results The positive expression rates of KIF15, EGFR, and HER2 proteins in GBC tissues were 71.6%, 62.2%, and 51.4% respectively, compared to 16.7%, 0, and 0 in para-carcinoma tissues (all P=0.000). KIF15 expression was correlated with cancer differentiation grade (P=0.006), while EGFR expression was associated with lymph node metastasis(P=0.026) and the number of metastatic lymph nodes(P=0.012). HER2 expression was correlated with cancer differentiation grade(P=0.018), tumor size(P=0.005), and T stage(P=0.032). GBC patients with co-positive expression of KIF15 and HER2 had significantly lower overall survival compared to those with negative expression. Positive HER2 expression, lymph node metastasis, and the number of metastatic lymph nodes were identified as independent risk factors for overall survival in GBC patients. Conclusions Positive expression of KIF15, EGFR, and HER2 in GBC tissues are correlated with various clinical indicators and poorer prognosis. These proteins may serve as potential factors for predicting prognosis and evaluating therapeutic efficacy in GBC.

Objective To investigate the effect of different exercise modes on people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)and obesity,thereby providing evidence-based exercise prescriptions for the rehabilitation of this population.Methods Patients diagnosed with NAFLD and obesity through health screenings at the Physical Examination Center of First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University from January to September 2023 were selected and assigned into three groups by random number table method,with 52 cases in each group.The aerobic group underwent aerobic exercise,the resistance group underwent resistance exercise,and the combined group underwent a combination of aerobic and resistance exercise for a duration of 12 weeks.The liver function indicators[including alanine aminotransferase(ALT),gamma-glutamyl transferase(GGT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),albumin,and bilirubin],BMI,waist circumference,blood glucose,and triglyceride(TG)levels in each group were detected and compared.The improvement effect of different exercise modes on the above various indexes in patients with NAFLD and obesity was analyzed.Results After intervention,BMI and waist circumference were significantly decreased in each group(P<0.05);and the ALT,GGT,albumin,bilirubin,TG and blood glucose of the combined group were significantly improved compared with those before intervention(P<0.05).Resistance exercise had a better improvement effect on the ALT,GGT,AST and TG than aerobic exercise(P<0.05),while which had no significant difference in the albumin,bilirubin,BMI,waist circumference or blood glucose compared with aerobic exercise(P>0.05).The improvement effects of aerobic+resistance combined exercise on the BMI,waist circumference,albumin,bilirubin and TG were better than those of aerobic exercise and resistance exercise alone(P<0.05),while which had no significant difference in the improvement of the ALT,GGT or AST compared with resistance exercise alone(P>0.05).Conclusion For people with NAFLD and obesity,a combined aerobic and resistance exercise intervention is recommended,which can improve the liver function,body fat distribution and related metabolic indexes of patients,with better treatment results.

Traditional open thyroid surgery often leaves a scar on the neck,which can affect cosmetic outcomes.Therefore,various endoscopic thyroidectomy approaches via extra-cervical approaches have been developed.However,due to the unique anatomical characteristics of the neck and limitations of endoscopic instruments,conventional endoscopic techniques have certain drawbacks.Robot-assisted endoscopic thyroid surgery can help overcome these limitations.At present,robotic surgical systems remain expensive and the associated surgical costs are high,limiting their widespread adoption.Most surgeons are still relatively unfamiliar with the technique.Nevertheless,with ongoing technological advancements and cost reductions,robot-assisted surgery holds great promise for broader application.Based on years of large-scale experience in endoscopic thyroid surgery at our center,and drawing upon both domestic and international experiences with robotic thyroidectomy,this paper summarizes and proposes a seven-step protocol for robot-assisted endoscopic thyroidectomy via the bilateral axillo-breast approach,aiming to provide a practical reference for the clinical adoption of this technique.

Body weight abnormalities, including overweight, obesity, and underweight, have become a dual public health challenge in Chinese adults: overweight and obesity lead to a variety of chronic complications, while underweight increases the risks of malnutrition, sarcopenia, and organ dysfunction. To systematically address these issues, multidisciplinary experts in endocrinology, sports science, nutrition, and psychiatry from various regions have held multiple weight management seminars. Based on the latest epidemiological data and clinical evidence, they expanded the guideline to include assessment and intervention strategies for underweight, in addition to the core content of obesity management. This guideline outlines the etiological mechanisms, evaluation methods, and multidimensional management strategies for overweight and obesity, covering key areas such as diagnosis and assessment, medical nutrition therapy, exercise prescription, pharmacological intervention, and psychological support. It is intended to provide a scientific and standardized approach to weight management across the adult population, aiming to curb the rising prevalence of obesity, mitigate complications associated with abnormal body weight, and improve nutritional status and overall quality of life.