Objective To investigate the functional changes of dendritic cells(DCs)in patients at different stages of hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection and analyze the mechanisms underlying DC dysfunction.Methods Single-cell RNA sequencing dataset GSE182159 was downloaded from the GEO database and classified into healthy control(HC),immune active(IA),and immune tolerant(IT)groups based on infection stage.Peripheral blood samples were collected from 7 IA patients,7 IT patients,and 12 healthy controls.Flow cytometry was used to isolate classical dendritic cells(cDC)and plasmacytoid dendritic cells(pDC).The expression levels of transcription factors in cDC and pDC were measured by quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR).Bioinformatics analyses were per-formed using R and Python package.Results The proportions of DCs in IA and IT groups were higher than that in HC group.Func-tional enrichment analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes(DEGs)of cDCs in the IA group were primarily enriched for the processes,such as inflammatory response,MHC classⅡantigen processing and presentation,cell migration,signal transduction,metabolism,and immune response.In contrast the IT group exhibited lower enrichment intensity and a significant reduction in interfer-on responses.The DEGs of pDC in the IA group were enriched in the processes of MHC-Ⅱantigen presentation,Fc receptor signal transduction,and metabolism,whereas those in the IT group were showed enrichment only in Fc receptor signal transduction and me-tabolism with a lower intensity.Both groups exhibited reduced synthesis of typesⅠandⅡinterferons in pDC,with the IT group showing a more pronounced downregulation.Cell-cell communication analysis demonstrated enhanced interactions between myeloid cells(except pDC)and T cells in the IA group,whereas the interactions between cDC/pDC and T cells in the IT group were reduced.Transcription factor analysis revealed that STAT2,STAT3,IRF1,and IRF5 were highly expressed in the IA group but their expression exhibited low-er expression levels in the IT group.In contrast,BHLHE40 was broadly upregulated in both cDC and pDC subsets within the IT group.The qRT-PCR results were consistent with the findings from the single-cell transcription factor analysis.Conclusion The IT phase of hepatitis B infection represents a critical period for cDC dysfunction,characterized by significant suppression of MHCⅡantigen presen-tation,metabolism,and interferon responsiveness.The functional impairment of pDC precedes that of cDC,as evidenced by a marked downregulation of interferon synthesis capacity observed during the IA phase.

Objective To investigate the prevalence and burden of retinoblastoma(RB)in China based on the Glob-al Burden of Disease Study 2021(GBD 2021),thus providing a theoretical foundation for the diagnosis and treatment of RB.Methods Relevant indicators such as the standardized incidence rate,standardized prevalence rate,standardized mortality rate,and standardized disability-adjusted life year(DALY)rate of RB in the total population,males,and females in China from 1990 to 2021 were analyzed to assess the prevalence and disease burden of this disease.The Joinpoint model was employed to analyze the annual percent change(APC)and the average annual percent change(AAPC)of the overall standardized incidence rate,overall standardized prevalence rate,overall standardized mortality rate,and overall standard-ized DALY rate of RB in China from 1990 to 2021.In addition,the changes in the overall standardized incidence rate,over-all standardized prevalence rate,overall standardized mortality rate,and overall standardized DALY rate were compared be-tween China and the globe from 1990 to 2021.Results Compared with 1990,the standardized incidence rate of RB in the total population,males,and females in China increased by 1.840 times,2.154 times,and 1.689 times,respectively,in 2021;the standardized prevalence rate of RB in the total population,males,and females in China increased by 1.876 times,2.133 times,and 1.701 times,respectively;the standardized mortality rate of RB in the total population,males,and fe-males in China decreased by 0.679 times,0.636 times,and 0.714 times,respectively;the standardized DALY rate of RB in the total population,males,and females in China decreased by 0.652 times,0.616 times,and 0.676 times,respectively.Joinpoint analysis showed that compared with 1990,the APPC of the overall standardized incidence rate and the overall standardized prevalence rate in China in 2021 increased by 3.21 and 3.23,respectively;the AAPC of the overall standard-ized mortality rate and the overall standardized DALY rate decreased by 3.61 and 3.46,respectively.Compared with 1990,the global overall standardized incidence rate and overall standardized prevalence rate increased by 0.237 times and 0.242 times,respectively.The global overall standardized mortality rate and overall standardized DALY rate decreased by 0.212 times and 0.195 times,respectively.Conclusion Compared with 1990,the standardized incidence rate and standardized prevalence rate of RB in the total population,males,and females in China increased in 2021,while the standardized mortal-ity rate and DALY rate decreased in 2021,indicating an increase in the prevalence of the disease but a decrease in the dis-ease burden.From 1990 to 2021,the difference between the overall standardized incidence rate and overall standardized prevalence rate in China and the global level first increased and then decreased;however,the overall standardized mortality rate and overall standardized DALY rate in China were always lower than the global level.

Objective To investigate the prevalence and burden of retinoblastoma(RB)in China based on the Glob-al Burden of Disease Study 2021(GBD 2021),thus providing a theoretical foundation for the diagnosis and treatment of RB.Methods Relevant indicators such as the standardized incidence rate,standardized prevalence rate,standardized mortality rate,and standardized disability-adjusted life year(DALY)rate of RB in the total population,males,and females in China from 1990 to 2021 were analyzed to assess the prevalence and disease burden of this disease.The Joinpoint model was employed to analyze the annual percent change(APC)and the average annual percent change(AAPC)of the overall standardized incidence rate,overall standardized prevalence rate,overall standardized mortality rate,and overall standard-ized DALY rate of RB in China from 1990 to 2021.In addition,the changes in the overall standardized incidence rate,over-all standardized prevalence rate,overall standardized mortality rate,and overall standardized DALY rate were compared be-tween China and the globe from 1990 to 2021.Results Compared with 1990,the standardized incidence rate of RB in the total population,males,and females in China increased by 1.840 times,2.154 times,and 1.689 times,respectively,in 2021;the standardized prevalence rate of RB in the total population,males,and females in China increased by 1.876 times,2.133 times,and 1.701 times,respectively;the standardized mortality rate of RB in the total population,males,and fe-males in China decreased by 0.679 times,0.636 times,and 0.714 times,respectively;the standardized DALY rate of RB in the total population,males,and females in China decreased by 0.652 times,0.616 times,and 0.676 times,respectively.Joinpoint analysis showed that compared with 1990,the APPC of the overall standardized incidence rate and the overall standardized prevalence rate in China in 2021 increased by 3.21 and 3.23,respectively;the AAPC of the overall standard-ized mortality rate and the overall standardized DALY rate decreased by 3.61 and 3.46,respectively.Compared with 1990,the global overall standardized incidence rate and overall standardized prevalence rate increased by 0.237 times and 0.242 times,respectively.The global overall standardized mortality rate and overall standardized DALY rate decreased by 0.212 times and 0.195 times,respectively.Conclusion Compared with 1990,the standardized incidence rate and standardized prevalence rate of RB in the total population,males,and females in China increased in 2021,while the standardized mortal-ity rate and DALY rate decreased in 2021,indicating an increase in the prevalence of the disease but a decrease in the dis-ease burden.From 1990 to 2021,the difference between the overall standardized incidence rate and overall standardized prevalence rate in China and the global level first increased and then decreased;however,the overall standardized mortality rate and overall standardized DALY rate in China were always lower than the global level.

Objective:To analyze the experiences of implementing coverage with evidence development for cell and gene therapy products in the UK.to provide references for the future access of cell and gene therapy products in China.Methods:By systematically combing the strategies of coverage with evidence development adopted by National Health Service(NHS)in the UK.,and summarizing the four links of assessment,payment,further evidence collection and final decision-making,the implementation experience of coverage with evidence development of cell and gene therapy products was analyzed by taking the reimbursement of four typical cell gene therapy products as an example,and suggestions were made for the access of this type of products in China.Results:Access to cell and gene therapy products in the UK.is cautious,with assessment focused on clinical utility.Management access agreement is used to control the risk of overspending during specialized fund reimbursement,while a unified data collection system has been established.Conclusion:China could learn from the experience of the UK.and promote the admission of cell gene therapy products from three aspects:exploring the evidence-based reimbursement model for universal commercial medical insurance;developing a targeted data collection framework based on actual data needs;establishing a unified data collection platform to provide the support for product access decision.

Background and Aims:Complex choledocholithiasis often coexists with stenosis of the ampulla of Vater,which increases the difficulty and complexity of treatment.If only the stones in the bile duct are removed without addressing the ampullary stenosis,the disease is prone to recurrence.Previously,most treatments involved the use of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)to guide the wire for sphincterotomy and stone extraction,followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy.However,ERCP has limitations in handling complex cases.In response,our team pioneered a new method of treating choledocholithiasis combined with stenosis of the ampulla of Vater via a transabdominal approach.This study was performed to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of this method,aiming to provide a new therapeutic option for clinical practice.Methods:A randomized controlled study was conducted with 120 patients treated at Chengdu Second People's Hospital from 2021 to 2023 for gallbladder stones and choledocholithiasis with stenosis of the ampulla of Vater.Patients were divided into an observation group and a control group,with 60 cases in each group.The observation group underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy with choledochotomy for stone extraction,followed by retrograde guidance of duodenal papillary sphincterotomy through the opened bile duct,simultaneously treating gallbladder,bile duct stones,and stenosis of the ampulla of Vater.The control group underwent traditional ERCP approach for sphincterotomy,stone extraction,and laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Perioperative variables were collected for both groups and the surgical outcomes were compared.Results:Among the 120 patients,54 were male and 66 were female.There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of stone extraction success rate,intraoperative blood loss,postoperative 24-h total bilirubin,direct bilirubin,transaminases,white blood cell count,jaundice relief time,or incidence rates of bile leakage,retroperitoneal bleeding/infection,and severe pancreatitis(all P>0.05).The observation group had significantly shorter average operative time and postoperative hospital stay compared to the control group(98.67 min vs.110.8 min,P<0.05;3.81 d vs.5.61 d,P<0.05).Additionally,the observation group had a significantly lower incidence of postoperative hyperamylasemia and/or hyperlipasemia and mild pancreatitis(1.67%vs.25.00%,P<0.001;0 vs.10%,P=0.027).Conclusion:The novel transabdominal approach is superior to the ERCP approach in terms of reducing surgery time and hospitalization time,and it carries a lower risk of postoperative mild pancreatitis and hyperamylasemia and/or hyperlipasemia.The stone extraction success rate is comparable to that of ERCP,making it a viable alternative treatment option.

Objective:To investigate the prevalence, severity, and influencing factors of chronic periodontitis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Nanjing.Methods:From June to August 2022, by using a multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling method, a total of 1 477 community-dwelling T2DM patients aged 35 years and older were selected and included from the National Essential Public Health Services Program for T2DM health management. Physical examinations, laboratory tests, and questionnaire surveys were conducted. Study participants were divided into chronic periodontitis group and non-chronic periodontitis group. The chronic periodontitis group was defined as having interproximal clinical attachment loss (CAL) detected at least at two non-adjacent sites, or having buccal/lingual CAL≥3 mm at least at two sites with probing depth (PD)≥3 mm, while excluding CAL caused by non-periodontal reasons. The remaining participants were classified as the non-chronic periodontitis group. In the chronic periodontitis group, patients who had PD≥6 mm at least at two sites with CAL≥5 mm were defined as severe periodontitis, with remaining cases classified as mild-to-moderate periodontitis.Results:The prevalence of chronic periodontitis among T2DM patients was 70.1% (962/1 373), with mild to moderate and severe periodontitis prevalence rates of 62.4% (857/1 373) and 7.6% (105/1 373), respectively. After complex weighted processing, the prevalence of chronic periodontitis in T2DM patients was 67.9%, with mild to moderate and severe periodontitis prevalence rates of 61.2% and 6.7%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting all covariates, compared with mental workers, the risk of chronic periodontitis was significantly higher in retired people ( OR=1.78, 95 %CI: 1.75-1.81, P<0.001), unemployed/others ( OR=2.18, 95 %CI: 2.14-2.22, P<0.001), and physical workers ( OR=3.80, 95 %CI: 3.73-3.87, P<0.001). In terms of blood glucose control status, compared with the group that met both control targets, the risk of chronic periodontitis was significantly higher in the group that met only one target ( OR=1.28, 95 %CI: 1.27-1.30, P<0.001) and the group that met neither target ( OR=3.29, 95 %CI: 3.25-3.34) ( P<0.001). The results of ordered Logistic regression showed that after adjusting for all covariates, compared with male patients, female patients had a significantly lower risk of progression to severe periodontitis ( OR=0.77, 95 %CI: 0.76-0.78, P<0.001). In terms of the score of healthy lifestyle, compared with those with a score of 0-2, the risk of progression to severe periodontitis was significantly lower in those with a score of 3 ( OR=0.85, 95 %CI: 0.84-0.86, P<0.001) and 4 ( OR=0.51, 95 %CI: 0.50-0.52, P<0.001). In terms of blood glucose control, compared with the group that met both control targets, the risk of progression to severe periodontitis was significantly higher in the group that met only one target ( OR=1.27, 95 %CI: 1.26-1.29, P<0.001) and the group that meet neither target ( OR=3.24, 95 %CI: 3.21-3.28, P<0.001). Furthermore, poor blood glucose control was significantly positively associated with increased periodontitis severity, demonstrating that worse glycemic control status corresponded to a higher risk of worsening periodontitis severity ( P<0.001). Conclusions:There is an association between the glycemic control status of T2DM patients and chronic periodontitis.

Background and Aims:Complex choledocholithiasis often coexists with stenosis of the ampulla of Vater,which increases the difficulty and complexity of treatment.If only the stones in the bile duct are removed without addressing the ampullary stenosis,the disease is prone to recurrence.Previously,most treatments involved the use of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)to guide the wire for sphincterotomy and stone extraction,followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy.However,ERCP has limitations in handling complex cases.In response,our team pioneered a new method of treating choledocholithiasis combined with stenosis of the ampulla of Vater via a transabdominal approach.This study was performed to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of this method,aiming to provide a new therapeutic option for clinical practice.Methods:A randomized controlled study was conducted with 120 patients treated at Chengdu Second People's Hospital from 2021 to 2023 for gallbladder stones and choledocholithiasis with stenosis of the ampulla of Vater.Patients were divided into an observation group and a control group,with 60 cases in each group.The observation group underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy with choledochotomy for stone extraction,followed by retrograde guidance of duodenal papillary sphincterotomy through the opened bile duct,simultaneously treating gallbladder,bile duct stones,and stenosis of the ampulla of Vater.The control group underwent traditional ERCP approach for sphincterotomy,stone extraction,and laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Perioperative variables were collected for both groups and the surgical outcomes were compared.Results:Among the 120 patients,54 were male and 66 were female.There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of stone extraction success rate,intraoperative blood loss,postoperative 24-h total bilirubin,direct bilirubin,transaminases,white blood cell count,jaundice relief time,or incidence rates of bile leakage,retroperitoneal bleeding/infection,and severe pancreatitis(all P>0.05).The observation group had significantly shorter average operative time and postoperative hospital stay compared to the control group(98.67 min vs.110.8 min,P<0.05;3.81 d vs.5.61 d,P<0.05).Additionally,the observation group had a significantly lower incidence of postoperative hyperamylasemia and/or hyperlipasemia and mild pancreatitis(1.67%vs.25.00%,P<0.001;0 vs.10%,P=0.027).Conclusion:The novel transabdominal approach is superior to the ERCP approach in terms of reducing surgery time and hospitalization time,and it carries a lower risk of postoperative mild pancreatitis and hyperamylasemia and/or hyperlipasemia.The stone extraction success rate is comparable to that of ERCP,making it a viable alternative treatment option.

Objective:To analyze the experiences of implementing coverage with evidence development for cell and gene therapy products in the UK.to provide references for the future access of cell and gene therapy products in China.Methods:By systematically combing the strategies of coverage with evidence development adopted by National Health Service(NHS)in the UK.,and summarizing the four links of assessment,payment,further evidence collection and final decision-making,the implementation experience of coverage with evidence development of cell and gene therapy products was analyzed by taking the reimbursement of four typical cell gene therapy products as an example,and suggestions were made for the access of this type of products in China.Results:Access to cell and gene therapy products in the UK.is cautious,with assessment focused on clinical utility.Management access agreement is used to control the risk of overspending during specialized fund reimbursement,while a unified data collection system has been established.Conclusion:China could learn from the experience of the UK.and promote the admission of cell gene therapy products from three aspects:exploring the evidence-based reimbursement model for universal commercial medical insurance;developing a targeted data collection framework based on actual data needs;establishing a unified data collection platform to provide the support for product access decision.

Colitis is a common inflammatory bowel disease whose pathogenesis is related to immune regula-tion and intestinal microbial homeostasis.Exosomes are membrane vesicles secreted by cells that contain proteins,lipids,and other substances.Stem cells and macrophages can participate in the regulation of related diseases by secreting exosomes.It has been found that exosomes of stem cell and macrophage origin are closely involved in the regulation of colitis,and exosomes derived from stem cells,especially mesenchymal stem cells,play an important role in anti-colitis.This article reviews the role and possible mechanisms of mesenchymal stem cell-based and macrophage-derived exosomes in the regulation of colitis,aiming to provide ideas for in-depth study of colitis and new strategies for its treatment.

Objective:To investigate the association between serum uric acid trajectories and the risk of renal function decline and diabetic kidney disease(DKD) incidence in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods:This retrospective cohort study included 5 037 elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus aged 60 years and above who underwent at least three health examinations between 2019 and 2023, with 2019 as the baseline. Latent growth mixture modeling(LGMM) was employed to identify distinct serum uric acid trajectories. Renal function changes and DKD incidence were followed from 2020 to 2023. Binary logistic regression models were used to assess the association between serum uric acid trajectories and the risks of renal function decline and DKD.Results:Two distinct serum uric acid trajectory groups were identified based on model selection criteria: A stable group( n=4 485, 89.04%) and an inverted U-shaped group( n=552, 10.96%). After adjusting for potential confounders, compared with the stable trajectory group, the inverted U-shaped group showed a significantly increased risk of estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR) <60 mL·min -1·(1.73 m 2) -1, ≥25% decline in eGFR, doubling of serum creatinine, and DKD events, with OR(95% CI) of 1.99(1.28-3.09), 2.27(1.65-3.13), 1.52(1.09-3.02), and 1.52(1.27-1.82), respectively(all P<0.05). In addition, multivariate analysis indicated that elevated baseline serum uric acid levels were also associated with an increased risk of adverse renal outcomes and DKD incidence; However, the magnitude of the associations was lower than that observed for serum uric acid trajectory groups. Conclusions:An inverted U-shaped serum uric acid trajectory is significantly associated with an increased risk of renal function progression and DKD in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. These findings highlight the importance of long-term dynamic monitoring of serum uric acid levels to facilitate early identification and intervention for high-risk individuals.