ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect of artemitin against ozone (O₃)-induced pulmonary inflammation in mice and to explore its underlying mechanism. MethodsThirty-two specific pathogen-free (SPF) male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a blank control group, an artemitin-only control group, an O₃-induced model group, and an artemitin-treated group, with 8 mice in each group. In the artemitin-treated group, animals were injected intraperitoneally with artemitin (20 mg/kg) daily, followed by a 1 h exposure to 0.000 25% O₃. The artemitin-only control group received the same artemitin injection but was exposed to clean air. The O₃-induced model group was injected intraperitoneally with an equal volume of normal saline daily, followed by a 1-h exposure to 0.000 25% O₃. The blank control group received the saline injection and was exposed to clean air. All treatments were administered for 7 consecutive days. Pulmonary function indices of the mice in each group were measured using a whole-body plethysmography system. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in the lung tissue, and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was employed for untargeted metabolomic analysis to examine the changes in overall metabolic pathways in plasma. ResultsCompared with the O₃-induced model group, artemitin treatment significantly improved O₃-induced lung function impairments (P<0.05), lowered the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in BALF (P<0.05) and alleviated inflammatory cell infiltration and structural damage in lung tissues. Metabolomics results indicated that artemitin treatment compensatorily enhanced energy supply and oxidized lipid signaling, while inhibiting purine metabolism and tryptophan-derived pathways. ConclusionArtemitin exhibits a significant protective effect against O₃-induced pulmonary inflammation in mice. It corrects upstream metabolic disorders by synergistically modulating tryptophan metabolism, energy metabolism, and lipid inflammatory mediators, thereby inhibiting downstream inflammatory responses and airway hyperresponsiveness. This study not only reveals the pleiotropic mechanism of artemitin in treating airway inflammation but also provides potential metabolic biomarkers and a theoretical basis for its clinical translation.

Objective: To explore the relationship of family function with sleep and externalizing problem behaviors of preschool children, so as to provide a guidance for externalizing problem prevention and intervention among preschool children. Methods: From October 2023 to January 2024, a convenience sampling method was used to select 5 138 preschool children from kindergartens in 8 districts of Wuhan City, Hubei Province. Parents completed the survey for Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale, children s sleep habits and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Spearman correlation analysis was used to examine the correlation of family function with scores of sleep quality and externalizing problem behaviors among preschool children. A mediation model analysis and bootstrap test were conducted to further investigate the mediating role of sleep quality between family function and externalizing problem behaviors. Mplus 8.7 software was used for latent profile analysis of family function. Results: The reported rates of poor sleep quality and externalizing problem behaviors among preschool children were 11.8% ( n =607), 20.0% ( n =1 026). The relevant analysis results showed that family function was negatively correlated with sleep quality and externalizing problem behaviors ( r = -0.20, -0.23), and sleep quality was positively correlated with externalizing problem behaviors ( r =0.27) ( P <0.01). The mediation effect test showed that family function negatively predicted externalizing problem behaviors ( β =-0.079) and sleep quality ( β = -0.075), while sleep quality positively predicted externalizing problem behaviors ( β =0.215) ( P <0.01). The latent profile analysis results showed that family function could be classified into 4 categories: high family function group (23.01%), upper middle family function group (44.65%), moderate family function group (26.24%) and low family function group (6.11%). Compared to high family function, the other three categories significantly positively predicted externalizing problem behaviors, and the mediating effects of sleep quality on different categories of family function were statistically significant [upper middle family function: mediation effect value was 0.022 (95% CI =0.004-0.041) and direct effect value was 0.329 (95% CI =0.263-0.396); middle family function: mediation effect value was 0.087 (95% CI =0.063-0.115) and direct effect value was 0.491 (95% CI =0.416-0.565); low family function: mediation effect value was 0.144 (95% CI =0.107-0.185) and direct effect 0.621 (95% CI =0.503-0.740)] ( P < 0.05 ). Conclusion Family function negatively predicts the externalizing problem behaviors of preschool children, and sleep quality plays a partial mediating role.

Hypertrophic scar is a fibrous hyperplastic disorder that arises from skin injuries. The current therapeutic modalities are constrained by the dense and rigid scar tissue which impedes effective drug delivery. Additionally, insufficient autophagic activity in fibroblasts hinders their apoptosis, leading to excessive matrix deposition. Here, we developed an active microneedle (MN) system to overcome these challenges by integrating micromotor-driven drug delivery with autophagy regulation to remodel the scar microenvironment. Specifically, sodium bicarbonate and citric acid were introduced into the MNs as a built-in engine to generate CO₂ bubbles, thereby enabling enhanced lateral and vertical drug diffusion into dense scar tissue. The system concurrently encapsulated curcumin (Cur), an autophagy activator, and triamcinolone acetonide (TA), synergistically inducing fibroblast apoptosis by upregulating autophagic activity. In vitro studies demonstrated that active MNs achieved efficient drug penetration within isolated scar tissue. The rabbit hypertrophic scar model revealed that TA-Cur MNs significantly reduced the scar elevation index, suppressed collagen I and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) expression, and elevated LC3 protein levels. These findings highlight the potential of the active MN system as an efficacious platform for autonomous augmented drug delivery and autophagy-targeted therapy in fibrotic disorder treatments.

Psoriasis vulgaris is notoriously difficult to treat and prone to recurrence. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， however， has shown considerable efficacy in mitigating or suppressing such recurrence. The underlying reason lies in the TCM concept of "latent pathogens"， which are prone to be reactivated by external pathogenic factors， thereby triggering relapse. At the early stage of recurrence， manifestations of "latent fire" often appear externally. If treatment is not thorough， the condition may shift into a state of "stalemate between healthy Qi and pathogenic factors"， in which the disease appears on the skin but is rooted in deeper pathological layers， remaining unresolved and accumulating internally. Over time， blood stasis arises from fire， and the fire further congeals due to stasis， leading ultimately to recurrent flare-ups. This aligns with the modern immunological concept of "immunological memory" mediated by tissue-resident memory T cells （T_RM） in the skin， which corroborates the TCM view of "latent fire inducing blood stasis". The interaction between T_RM and keratinocytes （KC） parallels the entanglement of latent fire and latent stasis， both of which are deeply entrenched and difficult to resolve. The core pathogenesis of recurrent psoriasis vulgaris lies in "latent fire causing blood stasis". The hallmark is the deep concealment and persistence of latent fire and stasis， which linger and await an opportunity to reemerge. Based on this understanding， Xijiao Dihuangtang is employed to cool the blood， resolve stasis， and eliminate latent pathogens， and treatment is tailored according to the disease stage through three-phase syndrome differentiation. In the progressive stage， both exterior and interior are treated， with emphasis on clearing latent fire. In the stationary stage， the focus shifts to dispelling latent stasis and simultaneously regulating the Zang-fu organs. In the regressive stage， efforts are made to prevent the retention of latent pathogens and to strengthen healthy Qi. Accordingly， drugs effective in dispersing wind and clearing heat， pungent-moistening and dredging the collaterals， and tonifying deficiency and moistening dryness are often employed to achieve optimal outcomes. The precise mechanisms by which Xijiao Dihuangtang treats recurrent psoriasis vulgaris remain to be fully elucidated. Current research suggests it may intervene in the recurrence process through inhibiting KC proliferation via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and glycolysis， regulating the Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg cell balances to restore immune homeostasis， suppressing inflammatory cytokine production to alleviate the inflammatory response， modulating angiogenesis-related factors， such as vascular endothelial growth factor A （VEGF-A） and matrix metalloproteinase-9 （MMP-9）， to control disease progression， and restructuring the gut microbiota to modulate systemic immunity and thereby influence the course of disease recurrence.

Objective To clarify the evidence of the frequency and risk factors for falls in knee osteoarthritis(KOA)of adults by meta-analysis.Methods Computerized searches of the CNKI,VIP,Wanfang data,CBM,PubMed,Cochrane Library,Embase,Web of Science were conducted for literature on risk factors for falls in adults with KOA from the inception of the databases to August 2024.After literature screening,data extraction,and quality evaluation,RevMan 5.4 software was used for Meta-analysis.Results A total of 26 articles were involved.Meta-analysis result showed that the rate of falls was 29.0％.Factors associated with increased risk of falls included being female(OR=1.35),decreased lower limb muscle strength(OR=1.72),decreased knee flexion muscle strength(OR=7.05),decreased static posture stability(OR=1.28),opioid use(OR=1.79),antidepressant use(OR=1.69),frequent stair climbing(OR=7.58),combined neurological disease(OR=1.77),history of falls(OR=3.29)and fear of falling(OR=2.54).Conclusion The rate of falls of patients with KOA is high.The adults with KOA who are women,have lower muscle strength of lower limbs and knee flexion muscle strength,poorer static posture stability,use opioids,antidepressant,frequent stair climbing,combined neurological disorders,previous falls in the past year and fear of falls are at higher risk of falls.Healthcare professionals should dynamically assess and detect the risk of falls in the patients with KOA and adopt targeted,individualized interventions to prevent falls.

Objective:To deeply analyze the epidemiological characteristics and changing trends of intestinal infectious diseases in China, and provide scientific evidence for the prevention and control of intestinal infectious diseases.Methods:The incidence data of notifiable intestinal infectious diseases in China from 2013 to 2022 were collected from China Disease Prevention and Control Information System. Descriptive statistical method was used to analyze the distributions of intestinal infectious diseases in China, and the annual change rate and seasonal index were calculated.Results:During 2013-2022, intestinal infectious diseases were reported nationwide, with the cases accounting for 43.50% of all notifiable infectious disease cases. The average reported incidence rate was 224.50/100 000, showing a decreasing trend year by year (average annual percent change=-6.45%, t=-2.76, P=0.025). The top 5 intestinal infectious diseases were hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) (130.40/100 000), other infectious diarrhea (80.18/100 000), dysentery (7.45/100 000), acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (2.49/100 000) and viral hepatitis E (1.92/100 000). The incidences of dysentery, HFMD, typhoid fever/paratyphoid fever, viral hepatitis A and acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis all showed decreasing trends year by year (all P<0.05), while the incidences of hepatitis E and other infectious diarrhea showed no significant changes with year (both P>0.05). The incidence of intestinal infectious diseases was high during May to October, with the peak in June. The incidence rate of intestinal infectious diseases was significantly higher in men than in women (all P<0.05). The HFMD, other infectious diarrhea and dysentery cases were mainly children aged 0-5 years, while the cholera, hepatitis A, hepatitis E, typhoid fever/paratyphoid fever and acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis cases were mainly farmers aged ≥20 years. The annual reported incidence rate of intestinal infectious diseases was higher in southern provinces (283.66/100 000) than in northern provinces (142.63/100 000), and the annual reported incidence rate of intestinal infectious diseases was higher in coastal provinces (279.52/100 000) than in inland provinces (181.78/100 000), the differences were all significant (both P<0.001). Conclusions:During 2013-2022, the incidence of intestinal infectious diseases decreased significantly in China, with HFMD and other infectious diarrhea as the main diseases. Strengthened surveillance for intestinal infectious diseases should be carried out in key groups, such as children living scatteredly and farmers, and targeted prevention and control measures should be taken according to the epidemiological characteristics of different diseases to effectively reduce the incidence of intestinal infectious diseases.

OBJECTIVE To establish and verify the risk prediction models for postoperative multidrug-resistant or-ganisms(MDROs)infections in the liver transplantation patients based on the machine learning algorithms so as to provide bases for identification of the population at high risk of postoperative MDROs infections.METHODS The liver transplantation patients who were retrospectively collected from intensive care Ⅳ database(MIMIC-Ⅳ)and eICU collaborative research database(eICU)were recruited as the research subjects,meanwhile,the patients who underwent liver transplantation in the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from Jan.2021 to Jul.2024 were assigned as the external verification group.The variables were selected by Lasso regression,and the models were established based on 7 types of machine learning algorithms such as extreme gradient boosting algorithm and random forest.The predictive performances of the models were evaluated by comparing the areas under receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves and the accuracy,the characteristic variables were interpreted by Shapley additive explanations(SHAP),and the risk prediction calculator was established.RESULTS A total of 637 pa-tients were finally enrolled in the study,and the incidence of postoperative MDROs infections was 35.79％.Total-ly 15 variables were finally selected for construction of the model.The area under the receiver operating character-istic curve of XGBoost model was 0.82 for the internal test set,0.78 for the external test set;the predictive per-formance of XGBoost model was better than that of the rest of 6 models.SHAP algorithm indicated that the top 5 important predictive factors were as follows:hepatic encephalopathy,length of intensive care unit(ICU)stay,albumin,model of end-stage liver disease(MELD)and total length of hospital stay.CONCLUSION The risk pre-diction models that are established based on the machine learning algorithms have remarkable effect on prediction of the postoperative MDROs infections and can accurately identify the liver transplantation patients at high risk of postoperative MDROs infections,which may provide guidance for the identification of high-risk population and the development of prevention and treatment measures for infections.

Yi and Gui,its physiological characteristics and pathological manifestations are closely related to the lumbar spine.The intervertebral disc,chamber of arthrosis,requires nourishment from qi and blood circulation,as well as support from liver and kidney functions to maintain its health.Chinese medicine master Shi Qi has based on the pathological manifestations of discogenic low back pain patients at different stages and followed the guidelines of the Visceral manifestation theory.Combining more than 60 years of experience in traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis and treatment,he has used external observations to infer internal conditions and examined causes to find solutions.By entering the body from the outside and focusing on the"Homology of Yi and Gui"as a benchmark,he emphasizes the distinctive characteristic of traditional Chinese medicine in medical treatment.He states that"visceral pattern is fundamental"and"qi-blood is first,"emphasizing the importance of treating liver and kidney together.This article aims to draw on the wisdom of Taishan to provide a bridge for colleagues.

OBJECTIVE To establish and verify the risk prediction models for postoperative multidrug-resistant or-ganisms(MDROs)infections in the liver transplantation patients based on the machine learning algorithms so as to provide bases for identification of the population at high risk of postoperative MDROs infections.METHODS The liver transplantation patients who were retrospectively collected from intensive care Ⅳ database(MIMIC-Ⅳ)and eICU collaborative research database(eICU)were recruited as the research subjects,meanwhile,the patients who underwent liver transplantation in the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from Jan.2021 to Jul.2024 were assigned as the external verification group.The variables were selected by Lasso regression,and the models were established based on 7 types of machine learning algorithms such as extreme gradient boosting algorithm and random forest.The predictive performances of the models were evaluated by comparing the areas under receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves and the accuracy,the characteristic variables were interpreted by Shapley additive explanations(SHAP),and the risk prediction calculator was established.RESULTS A total of 637 pa-tients were finally enrolled in the study,and the incidence of postoperative MDROs infections was 35.79％.Total-ly 15 variables were finally selected for construction of the model.The area under the receiver operating character-istic curve of XGBoost model was 0.82 for the internal test set,0.78 for the external test set;the predictive per-formance of XGBoost model was better than that of the rest of 6 models.SHAP algorithm indicated that the top 5 important predictive factors were as follows:hepatic encephalopathy,length of intensive care unit(ICU)stay,albumin,model of end-stage liver disease(MELD)and total length of hospital stay.CONCLUSION The risk pre-diction models that are established based on the machine learning algorithms have remarkable effect on prediction of the postoperative MDROs infections and can accurately identify the liver transplantation patients at high risk of postoperative MDROs infections,which may provide guidance for the identification of high-risk population and the development of prevention and treatment measures for infections.

Objective:To develop and validate the reliability and validity of the care giver assessment via observation (CGAO) in general hospital .Methods:From July 4, 2022 to June 24, 2023, a total of 120 adult inpatients with somatic diseases in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were selected by cluster sampling. All patients completed the CGAO, union physio-psycho-social assessment questionnaire (UPPSAQ-70) and patient health questionnaire-9 item (PHQ-9) assessment simultaneously. Exploratory factor analysis and item response theory analysis were used to explore the structural validity of CGAO by SPSS 26.0 software.The symptoms items and suicide risk assessed by UPPSAQ-70 and PHQ-9 were used as criteria to verify criterion validity.Results:Through exploratory factor analysis, a single-factor model could be constructed. The analysis based on item response theory suggested that it had a good fit with the single-factor stepwise response model ( χ2/ df=1.307, RMSEA=0.051, CFI=0.986, TLI=0.983). The CGAO total score was significantly positively correlated with the total scores of PHQ-9 and UPPSAQ-70 ( r=0.639, 0.518, both P<0.001). The Cronbach's α coefficient of the CGAO full scale was 0.735. Conclusion:CGAO has good reliability and validity in evaluating mental behavior of patients, and is suitable for early recognition of mental behavior abnormalities of inpatients in general hospitals.