1.Toy gun-related ocular injuries in the United States children: an analysis of national emergency department data from 2005 to 2024
Ha-Neul YU ; Julius T OATTS ; Gui-Shuang YING
Pediatric Emergency Medicine Journal 2026;13(1):19-28
Purpose:
Toy guns are popular among children but can pose serious risks of eye injury. This study analyzed toy gun-related ocular injuries (TGOIs) in pediatric patients over 20 years using the United States national data.
Methods:
A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was performed using the U.S. National Electronic Injury Surveillance System data from 2005 through 2024. We studied cases of pediatric patients presenting to emergency departments with TGOIs. Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed, and trends were analyzed across the study period, using chi-square test and analysis of variance.
Results:
A total of 695 pediatric cases of TGOI were identified, corresponding to an estimated 16,325 national cases in the U.S. Most injuries occurred in males (77.4%) and age of 7-12 years (54.0%). Common diagnoses included corneal abrasion (33.5%) and hyphema (22.2%), with severe cases also reported such as ruptured globe (1.0%) and corneal laceration (0.3%). Injuries were most frequent during winter (32.1%). Over the study period, there were increases in mean age (from 8.9 years [2005-2009] to 9.6 years [2020-2024]), overall reported number of cases (from 47 to 341), and diagnosis of hyphema (from 8.5% to 25.2%).
Conclusions
Pediatric TGOI is increasing in frequency, with shifting demographic and clinical patterns. These findings highlight the urgent need for enhanced safety regulations and public health interventions to prevent vision-threatening trauma in children.
2.Engineered Bacteriophages for The Treatment of Multidrug-resistant Bacterial Infections
Yu-Ying CHEN ; Chun-Mei HUANG ; Jin-Zhi PAN ; De-Liang LIU ; Yang ZHOU ; Gui-Qin DAI ; Peng-Fei ZHAO ; Hong-Zhou LU ; Ming-Bin ZHENG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(6):1581-1596
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections have emerged as a serious challenge of global public health crisis. The overuse and misuse of conventional antibiotics have dramatically accelerated the emergence, evolution and worldwide spread of drug-resistant bacterial strains, necessitating urgent exploration of novel antibacterial strategies. Bacteriophages serve as natural bacterial predators offering distinct advantages including high host specificity, autonomous self-replication capabilities and cost-effective large-scale production. However, wild-type phages present significant clinical limitations due to their narrow host ranges, susceptibility to rapid immune clearance and poor penetration of bacterial biofilms, which severely restrict their therapeutic applications. The convergence of synthetic biology, nanotechnology and advanced gene editing technologies has accelerated the development of engineered bacteriophage platforms, providing programmable, scalable and clinically translatable pathways to overcome these inherent biological constraints. Here, we systematically delineate four fundamental strategies for engineered bacteriophage development. Chemical modification utilizes reactive functional groups such as amino, carboxyl and thiol moieties on capsid proteins through esterification, amidation or click chemistry reactions to achieve precise drug conjugation and surface functionalization. In vivo editing encompasses ultraviolet or chemical mutagenesis for random mutation induction, homologous recombination for targeted genetic alterations, recombineering methodologies including electroporation-mediated bacteriophage recombination engineering, and CRISPR-Cas systems for precise genome editing to enable exact genetic reconstruction and host range reprogramming. In vitro synthesis leverages genome engineering platforms where intact phage genomes are transferred into yeast or host bacteria to facilitate highly efficient homologous recombination, enabling large DNA fragment assembly and cross-gene host range expansion without bacterial toxicity constraints. Directed evolution combines artificial selection through mutation library screening with rational design approaches involving chimeric receptor binding protein construction or site-specific mutagenesis, effectively balancing the discovery of unknown adaptive pathways with targeted host specificity modification. Moreover, we comprehensively discuss therapeutic applications across diverse clinical scenarios. Engineered bacteriophage effectively disrupt bacterial biofilms through sophisticated functionalized delivery platforms including nanozyme-conjugated phages, phage-liposome nanoconjugates and bio-responsive hydrogels, demonstrating significantly enhanced bactericidal efficiency compared to unmodified free phages. These bioengineered vectors attenuate bacterial virulence and resensitize pathogens to antibiotics by delivering CRISPR-Cas systems or base editors to disrupt critical virulence factors such as pili, capsule synthesis machineries and quorum sensing systems, or by inactivating antibiotic resistance determinants including beta-lactamase genes. As an intelligent nanomedicine delivery platform, engineered bacteriophage enable precise pathogen elimination an through photocatalytic reactive oxygen species generation, immunomodulatory interventions, or controlled release of antibacterial drugs. Furthermore, oral administration of engineered bacteriophage facilitates microbiota modulation, which selectively eliminate intestinal pathogens while preserve beneficial commensal microbiota, thereby restoring microbial community balance and preventing complications associated with dysbiosis. Finally, we critically analyze persistent challenges including host strain matching complexity, evolution of bacterial resistance mechanisms, pharmacokinetic optimization requirements, optimal administration route selection, large-scale production quality control standards and clinical dosing determination protocols. Through multidisciplinary integration of synthetic biology, infectious disease medicine and immunology, future translational medicine studies of bacteriophage should establish comprehensive technical platforms encompassing rapid phage screening, intelligent rational design, rigorous in vivo evaluation and standardized clinical validation processes, ultimately advancing engineered bacteriophage from laboratory innovations to clinically approved therapeutics for effectively combating MDR bacterial infections.
3.The first record of Anopheles messeae (Diptera: Culicidae) parasitized by water mites in China
Xue-ru CHEN ; Wen-zhen YAO ; Yu-hao LI ; Gui-chang LI ; Tao MENG ; Qun-ling FENG ; Xin-hui LIU ; Li-hong QIAO ; Xiang-ting WU ; Xue-feng ZHANG ; Cheng-lin LI ; Xue-cheng DONG ; Da-wei WANG ; Xiao-yan SI ; Yu-hong GUO
Acta Parasitologica et Medica Entomologica Sinica 2026;33(1):53-57
Objective This study reports on the obligatory parasitism of water mites Arrenurus sp. on Anopheles messeae at the Manzhouli Port, Inner Mongolia, China. Methods Duing July 2024, a survey on the mosquito diversity was conducted at the Manzhouli Port. Captured mosquitoes and their ectoparasites were identified to species level. Results A total of 1840 adult mosquitoes were collected, representing species from three genera: Culex(Cx. modestus, Cx. pipiens pallens), Aedes(Ae. dorsalis, Ae. flavidorsalis, Ae. flavescens), and Anopheles (An. messeae). Among all the mosqutioes specimens,3 out of 150 captured An. messeae were found to carry ectoparasitic mites, with number of 2,4,27 mites separately. Morphological and molecular identification reached the same result as water mites(Hydrachnidiae, Hydracrina). COI gene sequence showed 94% similarity with the closest species Arrenurus truncatellus. Conlusions Literature review suggests water mites are host-specific parasitism of mosquito species and herein with the first record of Arrenurus sp. parasiting on An. Messeae in the most high-latitude region globally.
4.Prevalence and risk factors of dry eye disease in male computer professionals under different meteorological and air quality conditions
Ke* HU ; Yu* GUI ; Huanhuan KONG ; Peng CHEN ; Lijuan SUN
International Eye Science 2026;26(9):1670-1674
AIM: To investigate the prevalence of dry eye symptoms among computer professionals in different climate zones and to identify the risk factors associated with dry eye disease.METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted by distributing questionnaires from December 2023 to January 2024 to computer professionals in six prefecture-level cities located in three distinct climate zones. Mixed-effects logistic regression analysis was employed to explore the relationship between environmental factors and the severity of dry eye disease. Environmental factors, including meteorological parameters and air pollutant concentrations, were obtained from the National Meteorological Information Center and the China Air Quality Online Monitoring and Analysis Platform, respectively. The annual mean values of environmental parameters served as independent variables, while the participants' Ocular Surface Disease Index(OSDI)scores were used as the dependent variable in the regression analysis.RESULTS:A total of 364 male participants aged 18-50 y were enrolled in this study. Among them, 80 participants presented with dry eye symptoms, corresponding to a detection rate of 22.0%.There was a significant difference in the detection rate of dry eye symptoms across different regions(P<0.05). Mixed-effects logistic regression analysis identified the following risk factors: daily eye use time(P<0.001, OR=1.669), relative humidity(P=0.047,OR=1.237), NO2 concentration(P=0.042, OR=1.283), PM2.5 concentration(P=0.006,OR=1.485), and CO concentration(P=0.018, OR=1.388). Temperature was found to be a protective factor(P=0.003, OR=0.701).CONCLUSION: Meteorological conditions and air quality significantly influence the occurrence of dry eye symptoms in male computer professionals. Prevention and treatment strategies for dry eye diseases should be tailored to the environmental characteristics of different regions to protect the ocular surface health of this occupational group.
5.Epidemiology and Functional Outcome of Acute Stroke Patients in Korea Using Nationwide data
Seungmin SHIN ; Young Woo KIM ; Seung Hun SHEEN ; Sukh Que PARK ; Sung-Chul JIN ; Jin Pyeong JEON ; Ji Young LEE ; Boung Chul LEE ; Young Wha LIM ; Gui Ok KIM ; Youg Uk KWON ; Yu Ra LEE ; So Young HAN ; Jae Sang OH
Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 2025;68(2):159-176
Objective:
: Korea’s healthcare system and policy promotes early, actively stroke treatment to improve prognosis. This study represents stroke epidemiology and outcomes in Korea.
Methods:
: This study investigated data from the Acute Stroke Assessment Registry. The registry collects data from over 220 hospitals nationwide, focusing on quality stroke service management. Data analysis included patient demographics, stroke severity assessment, and discharge prognosis measurement using standardized scales.
Results:
: Eighty-six thousand five hundred sixty-eight acute stroke patients were collected with demographic and clinical characteristics during 18 months from 2016, 2018, and between 2020 to 2021, focusing on acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and acute ischemic stroke. Of these 86568 patients, 8.3% was SAH, 16.3% ICH, and 74.9% ischemic stroke. Trends showed decreasing SAH and increasing ICH cases over the years. 68.3% stroke patients had the clear onset time. 49.6% stroke patients arrived within 4.5 hours of symptom onset, with more patients treated at general hospitals. Good functional outcomes at discharge was obtained with 58.3% of acute stroke patients, 55.9% of SAH patients, 34.6% of ICH patients, and 63.8% of ischemic stroke patients.
Conclusion
: The results showed that ischemic stroke was the most common subtype, followed by ICH and SAH. Prognosis differed among subtypes, with favorable outcomes more common in ischemic stroke and SAH compared to ICH.
6.HerbRNomes: ushering in the post-genome era of modernizing traditional Chinese medicine research
Yu TIAN ; Hai SHANG ; Gui-bo SUN ; Wei-dong ZHANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(2):300-313
With the completion of the "Human Genome Project" and the smooth progress of the "Herbal Genome Project", the research wave of RNAomics is gradually advancing, opening the research gateway for the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and initiating the post-genome era of medicinal plant RNA research. Therefore, this article proposes for the first time the concept of HerbRNomes, which involves constructing databases of medicinal plant, medicinal fungus, and medicinal animal RNA at different stages, from different origins, and in different organs. This research aims to explore the role of HerbRNA in self-genetic information transmission, functional regulation, as well as cross-species regulation functional mechanisms and key technologies. It also investigates application scenarios, providing a theoretical basis and research ideas for the resistance of TCM or medicinal plants to adversity and stress, molecular assistant breeding, and the development of small nucleic acid drugs. This article reviews recent research progress in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of the transmission and expression of genetic information, self-regulation and cross-species regulation of herbs at the RNA level, along with key technologies. It proposes a development strategy for small nucleic acid drugs based on HerbRNomes, providing theoretical support and guidance for the modernization of TCM based on HerbRNomes research.
7.Relationship between acute stress response and depression among college students: the mediating role of rumination and the moderated role of perceived social support
Gui LUO ; Fenghui YUAN ; Yunjing MOU ; Haijun YU ; Jingjing LIANG ; Jiangbo DANG ; Bin GAO
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(2):153-158
BackgroundDepression has become a public health concern that affects the physical and mental health of college students. acute stress response is a risk factor of depression. Exploring the relationship and mechanism between acute stress response and depression is of great significance for preventing and intervening depression in college students. ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between acute stress response and depression among college students, and to analyze the mediating role of rumination and the moderated effect of perceived social support, so as to provide references for the prevention and intervention of depression in college student . MethodsFrom March to April 2020, a cluster sampling method was employed to select 1 355 college students from three universities in Hubei, Jiangxi and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Participants were assessed with Acute Stress Disorder Scale (ASDS), Ruminative Responses Scale (RRS), Brief form of Perceived Social Support Questionnaire (F-SozU) and Patients' Health Questionnaire Depression Scale-9 item (PHQ-9). Pearson correlation analysis was adopted to examine the correlation between the scores of each scale. The mediating role of rumination between acute stress response and depression and the moderated role of perceived social support were examined respectively by using Model 4 and Model 14 in Macro Program Process 3.3. ResultsA total of 1 303 valid questionnaires were collected, yielding a valid response rate of 96.16%. The results of Pearson correlation analysis showed that ASDS score was positively correlated with RRS score and PHQ-9 score (r=0.649, 0.528, P<0.01) among college students. The mediation analysis results demonstrated that rumination played a partial mediating role between acute stress response and depression, with the mediating effect value of 0.273 (95% CI:0.222~0.328), accounting for 68.59% of the total effect. Perceived social support played a moderated role in the latter path of the mediation model (rumination → depression) (β=-0.004, 95% CI: -0.017~-0.004, P<0.01). ConclusionRumination played a partial mediating role between acute stress response and depression in college students, and perceptive social support played a moderated role between rumination and depression. [Funded by Scientific Research Fund Project of Education Department of Yunnan Province (number, 2025J0437)]
8.Epidemiology and Functional Outcome of Acute Stroke Patients in Korea Using Nationwide data
Seungmin SHIN ; Young Woo KIM ; Seung Hun SHEEN ; Sukh Que PARK ; Sung-Chul JIN ; Jin Pyeong JEON ; Ji Young LEE ; Boung Chul LEE ; Young Wha LIM ; Gui Ok KIM ; Youg Uk KWON ; Yu Ra LEE ; So Young HAN ; Jae Sang OH
Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 2025;68(2):159-176
Objective:
: Korea’s healthcare system and policy promotes early, actively stroke treatment to improve prognosis. This study represents stroke epidemiology and outcomes in Korea.
Methods:
: This study investigated data from the Acute Stroke Assessment Registry. The registry collects data from over 220 hospitals nationwide, focusing on quality stroke service management. Data analysis included patient demographics, stroke severity assessment, and discharge prognosis measurement using standardized scales.
Results:
: Eighty-six thousand five hundred sixty-eight acute stroke patients were collected with demographic and clinical characteristics during 18 months from 2016, 2018, and between 2020 to 2021, focusing on acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and acute ischemic stroke. Of these 86568 patients, 8.3% was SAH, 16.3% ICH, and 74.9% ischemic stroke. Trends showed decreasing SAH and increasing ICH cases over the years. 68.3% stroke patients had the clear onset time. 49.6% stroke patients arrived within 4.5 hours of symptom onset, with more patients treated at general hospitals. Good functional outcomes at discharge was obtained with 58.3% of acute stroke patients, 55.9% of SAH patients, 34.6% of ICH patients, and 63.8% of ischemic stroke patients.
Conclusion
: The results showed that ischemic stroke was the most common subtype, followed by ICH and SAH. Prognosis differed among subtypes, with favorable outcomes more common in ischemic stroke and SAH compared to ICH.
9.Epidemiology and Functional Outcome of Acute Stroke Patients in Korea Using Nationwide data
Seungmin SHIN ; Young Woo KIM ; Seung Hun SHEEN ; Sukh Que PARK ; Sung-Chul JIN ; Jin Pyeong JEON ; Ji Young LEE ; Boung Chul LEE ; Young Wha LIM ; Gui Ok KIM ; Youg Uk KWON ; Yu Ra LEE ; So Young HAN ; Jae Sang OH
Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 2025;68(2):159-176
Objective:
: Korea’s healthcare system and policy promotes early, actively stroke treatment to improve prognosis. This study represents stroke epidemiology and outcomes in Korea.
Methods:
: This study investigated data from the Acute Stroke Assessment Registry. The registry collects data from over 220 hospitals nationwide, focusing on quality stroke service management. Data analysis included patient demographics, stroke severity assessment, and discharge prognosis measurement using standardized scales.
Results:
: Eighty-six thousand five hundred sixty-eight acute stroke patients were collected with demographic and clinical characteristics during 18 months from 2016, 2018, and between 2020 to 2021, focusing on acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and acute ischemic stroke. Of these 86568 patients, 8.3% was SAH, 16.3% ICH, and 74.9% ischemic stroke. Trends showed decreasing SAH and increasing ICH cases over the years. 68.3% stroke patients had the clear onset time. 49.6% stroke patients arrived within 4.5 hours of symptom onset, with more patients treated at general hospitals. Good functional outcomes at discharge was obtained with 58.3% of acute stroke patients, 55.9% of SAH patients, 34.6% of ICH patients, and 63.8% of ischemic stroke patients.
Conclusion
: The results showed that ischemic stroke was the most common subtype, followed by ICH and SAH. Prognosis differed among subtypes, with favorable outcomes more common in ischemic stroke and SAH compared to ICH.
10.Epidemiology and Functional Outcome of Acute Stroke Patients in Korea Using Nationwide data
Seungmin SHIN ; Young Woo KIM ; Seung Hun SHEEN ; Sukh Que PARK ; Sung-Chul JIN ; Jin Pyeong JEON ; Ji Young LEE ; Boung Chul LEE ; Young Wha LIM ; Gui Ok KIM ; Youg Uk KWON ; Yu Ra LEE ; So Young HAN ; Jae Sang OH
Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 2025;68(2):159-176
Objective:
: Korea’s healthcare system and policy promotes early, actively stroke treatment to improve prognosis. This study represents stroke epidemiology and outcomes in Korea.
Methods:
: This study investigated data from the Acute Stroke Assessment Registry. The registry collects data from over 220 hospitals nationwide, focusing on quality stroke service management. Data analysis included patient demographics, stroke severity assessment, and discharge prognosis measurement using standardized scales.
Results:
: Eighty-six thousand five hundred sixty-eight acute stroke patients were collected with demographic and clinical characteristics during 18 months from 2016, 2018, and between 2020 to 2021, focusing on acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and acute ischemic stroke. Of these 86568 patients, 8.3% was SAH, 16.3% ICH, and 74.9% ischemic stroke. Trends showed decreasing SAH and increasing ICH cases over the years. 68.3% stroke patients had the clear onset time. 49.6% stroke patients arrived within 4.5 hours of symptom onset, with more patients treated at general hospitals. Good functional outcomes at discharge was obtained with 58.3% of acute stroke patients, 55.9% of SAH patients, 34.6% of ICH patients, and 63.8% of ischemic stroke patients.
Conclusion
: The results showed that ischemic stroke was the most common subtype, followed by ICH and SAH. Prognosis differed among subtypes, with favorable outcomes more common in ischemic stroke and SAH compared to ICH.


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