Objective:To investigate the expression of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) BMPR1B-AS1 in ovarian cancer and its impact on prognosis, so as to evaluate its value as a potential biomarker.Methods:The TCGA, GEPIA, and UALCAN databases were used to retrospectively analyze the expression differences of BMPR1B-AS1 in gynecological tumors, and prognostic analysis was performed in combination with clinical data. The expression level of BMPR1B-AS1 in ovarian cancer tissues and cell lines was verified by real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used to analyze its relationship with the prognosis of ovarian cancer.Results:Database analysis showed that the expression of BMPR1B-AS1 in ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer was higher than that in the non-tumor group (all P<0.05), and high expression of BMPR1B-AS1 in ovarian cancer was associated with better prognosis ( P<0.05). Experimental verification showed that the expression of BMPR1B-AS1 in ovarian cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in benign ovarian tissues, and the expression of BMPR1B-AS1 in ovarian cancer cell lines was higher than that in normal human ovarian epithelial cells ( P<0.05). Cox regression analysis indicated that high expression of BMPR1B-AS1 was an independent protective factor for the prognosis of ovarian cancer ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The expression of BMPR1B-AS1 in ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer is higher than that in non-tumor groups, and it is an independent protective factor for good prognosis in ovarian cancer patients. It may serve as a new biomarker, providing new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer.

Objective:To understand trends and hotspots of TCM research papers published in journals with high IF basing on a bibliometric analysis.Methods:TCM research papers published between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2024 from 80 journals with IF higher than 16.0 were retrieved from medical, life sciences and comprehensive journals in Journal Citation Reports of 2024. CiteSpace 6.3.R1 and Excel 2021 were used to analyze and visualize annual publication volume, research fields, features of clinical study, institutes, funds and keywords.Results:A total of 51 papers were included, showing an increasing trend in annual publication volume; the main research areas were pharmacology, acupuncture&moxibustion and internal medicine. Multi-center randomized controlled trials were the main clinical studies; China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences was the leading institute in terms of publication volume; 84 funds were involved, including National Natural Science Foundation of China. Keywords that appeared most frequently were TCM, efficacy, double blind, electroacupuncture, stimulation and management.Conclusion:The number and quality of TCM research papers are improved simultaneously; future research needs to deepen international cooperation, and pay attention to the integration of TCM diagnosis and treatment characteristics and modern scientific research methods.

OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism by which Cuscuta chinensis flavonoids （CCF） promote decidualization and improve recurrent spontaneous abortion （RSA）. METHODS HTR-8/SVneo cells in logarithmic growth phase were randomly divided into blank group， lipopolysaccharide （LPS） group， CCF group， SGK2 inhibitor （GSK650394， abbreviated as “GSK”） group and CCF+GSK group. Each group was treated with the corresponding agents accordingly. HTR-8/SVneo cells with SGK2 knockdown were randomly divided into small interfering RNA of SGK2 （siSGK2） group and siSGK2+CCF group； additionally， blank group and LPS group were established； each group was treated with the corresponding agents accordingly. The cell survival rate， expression levels of WNK signaling pathway- and decidualization-related proteins and mRNAs， as well as mitochondrial membrane potential levels， were assessed in each group before and after SGK2 knockdown. RSA mice model was constructed and randomly divided into model group， CCF low-dose group， CCF high-dose group， GSK group， and combined dosing group， with 4 mice in each group. Other 4 normal pregnant female mice were selected as the control group. The number of implanted embryos， viable fetuses， and lost embryos in mice was recorded. The morphological changes of endometrium and decidualization were observed， and WNK signaling pathway- and decidualization-related proteins and mRNAs expressing levels as well as mitochondrial membrane potential levels were all detected. RESULTS Compared with the blank group， the cell survival rate， as well as the protein and mRNA expression levels of SGK2， WNK1， WNK4， prolactin， insulin-like growth factor- binding protein-1， oxidative stress responsive kinase 1， and Ste20-like proline-/alanine-rich kinase were significantly reduced in the LPS group （P＜0.05）； compared with the LPS group， the cell survival rate and the expression levels of the above- mentioned proteins and mRNAs were significantly increased in the CCF group， while the cell survival rate and the expression levels of the above-mentioned proteins and mRNAs were significantly decreased in the GSK group （P＜0.05）； compared with the CCF group， the cell survival rate and the expression levels of the above-mentioned proteins and mRNAs were significantly reduced in the CCF+GSK group （P＜0.05）. After knocking down SGK2， compared with the LPS group， the cell survival rate， red/green fluorescence intensity ratio， and the expression levels of the above-mentioned proteins and mRNAs were significantly reduced in the siSGK2 group （P＜0.05）； compared with the siSGK2 group， the cell survival rate， red/green fluorescence intensity ratio， and the expression levels of the above-mentioned proteins and mRNAs were significantly increased in the siSGK2+CCF group （P＜0.05）. The in vivo experimental results showed that CCF treatment can significantly improve the number of implanted embryos and viable fetuses in RSA model mice and reduce lost embryos， the expression levels of the above-mentioned proteins and mRNAs in endometrial tissue were significantly increased， and the red/green fluorescence intensity ratio was significantly increased （P＜ 0.05）； the combined dosing group could reverse the effect of CCF （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS CCF can activate SGK2， up- regulate the WNK signaling pathway， promote endometrial decidualization， and improve RSA.

Objective:To investigate the epidemiological characteristics, disease spectrum, and laboratory characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus/cytomegalovirus (HIV/CMV) co-infection, to provide references for clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted. Clinical information of 544 HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients who underwent CMV-DNA tests in Beijing Ditan Hospital in 2023 was collected. Participants were categorized into CMV-infection group (126 cases) and non-CMV-infection group (418 cases). The prevalence of CMV infection was analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to identify risk factors for CMV/AIDS co-infection. The disease spectrum, laboratory characteristics, serum CMV-DNA load changes, treatment prognosis and outcomes in the CMV-infected group were evaluated. SPSS 27.0 was used for statistical analysis including the χ 2 test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Kruskal-Wallis H test. Results:The CMV infection rate among HIV/AIDS patients was 23.16% (126/544). Multivariate analysis identified low CD4 +T-lymphocyte count [<50 cells/μl; OR=27.962, 95% confidence interval( CI) 11.957-65.389] and high HIV RNA load (>1×10 5 copies/ml; OR=2.057, 95% CI 1.237-3.420) as independent risk factors for CMV co-infection in HIV/AIDS patients. Among the 126 HIV/CMV co-infected patients, CMV viremia was the most common manifestation (38.10%, 48/126), followed by CMV pneumonia (33.33%, 42/126) and CMV retinitis (11.90%, 15/126), which were mainly observed in patients with CD4 +T-lymphocyte counts <50 cells/μl. Of the patients receiving anti-CMV therapy, 80.70% (46/57) exhibited reduced CMV-DNA loads compared with baseline. Totally 29.82% (17/57) of those patients initiating antiretroviral therapy alone achieved CMV-DNA reduction compared with baseline. Overall, 80.16% (101/126) of patients achieved favorable prognosis. Conclusion:CMV co-infection is high in HIV/AIDS patients. Disease spectrum of HIV/CMV co-infection are dominated by CMV viremia and CMV pneumonia. Timely anti-CMV therapy is pivotal for reducing CMV-DNA loads and improving prognosis.

Objective:To investigate the epidemiological characteristics, disease spectrum, and laboratory characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus/cytomegalovirus (HIV/CMV) co-infection, to provide references for clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted. Clinical information of 544 HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients who underwent CMV-DNA tests in Beijing Ditan Hospital in 2023 was collected. Participants were categorized into CMV-infection group (126 cases) and non-CMV-infection group (418 cases). The prevalence of CMV infection was analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to identify risk factors for CMV/AIDS co-infection. The disease spectrum, laboratory characteristics, serum CMV-DNA load changes, treatment prognosis and outcomes in the CMV-infected group were evaluated. SPSS 27.0 was used for statistical analysis including the χ 2 test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Kruskal-Wallis H test. Results:The CMV infection rate among HIV/AIDS patients was 23.16% (126/544). Multivariate analysis identified low CD4 +T-lymphocyte count [<50 cells/μl; OR=27.962, 95% confidence interval( CI) 11.957-65.389] and high HIV RNA load (>1×10 5 copies/ml; OR=2.057, 95% CI 1.237-3.420) as independent risk factors for CMV co-infection in HIV/AIDS patients. Among the 126 HIV/CMV co-infected patients, CMV viremia was the most common manifestation (38.10%, 48/126), followed by CMV pneumonia (33.33%, 42/126) and CMV retinitis (11.90%, 15/126), which were mainly observed in patients with CD4 +T-lymphocyte counts <50 cells/μl. Of the patients receiving anti-CMV therapy, 80.70% (46/57) exhibited reduced CMV-DNA loads compared with baseline. Totally 29.82% (17/57) of those patients initiating antiretroviral therapy alone achieved CMV-DNA reduction compared with baseline. Overall, 80.16% (101/126) of patients achieved favorable prognosis. Conclusion:CMV co-infection is high in HIV/AIDS patients. Disease spectrum of HIV/CMV co-infection are dominated by CMV viremia and CMV pneumonia. Timely anti-CMV therapy is pivotal for reducing CMV-DNA loads and improving prognosis.

Objective:To investigate the expression of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) BMPR1B-AS1 in ovarian cancer and its impact on prognosis, so as to evaluate its value as a potential biomarker.Methods:The TCGA, GEPIA, and UALCAN databases were used to retrospectively analyze the expression differences of BMPR1B-AS1 in gynecological tumors, and prognostic analysis was performed in combination with clinical data. The expression level of BMPR1B-AS1 in ovarian cancer tissues and cell lines was verified by real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used to analyze its relationship with the prognosis of ovarian cancer.Results:Database analysis showed that the expression of BMPR1B-AS1 in ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer was higher than that in the non-tumor group (all P<0.05), and high expression of BMPR1B-AS1 in ovarian cancer was associated with better prognosis ( P<0.05). Experimental verification showed that the expression of BMPR1B-AS1 in ovarian cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in benign ovarian tissues, and the expression of BMPR1B-AS1 in ovarian cancer cell lines was higher than that in normal human ovarian epithelial cells ( P<0.05). Cox regression analysis indicated that high expression of BMPR1B-AS1 was an independent protective factor for the prognosis of ovarian cancer ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The expression of BMPR1B-AS1 in ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer is higher than that in non-tumor groups, and it is an independent protective factor for good prognosis in ovarian cancer patients. It may serve as a new biomarker, providing new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer.

Primary liver cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, its early diagnosis and early treatment are of great clinical importance. The main detection tools for liver cancer include serological indicators, imaging tests and risk assessment models. With the advancement of technology and research, the sensitivity and specificity of laboratory tests for liver cancer have been substantially improved, but there are still false negatives and low rates of early diagnosis. For different causes and prevalence regions, each country has developed its clinical practice guidelines to guide risk groups for effective prevention, early diagnosis and standardized treatment. It is important to establish a liver cancer diagnosis strategy that is suitable for China′s national conditions, concerning the guidelines for the vigilance and prevention of liver cancer. In this article, the advantages and disadvantages of liver cancer-related tests and the impact of future development trends on laboratory strategies are explained from the perspective of laboratory testing strategies, to provide theoretical support for the practical application of liver cancer diagnostic strategies.

The health risk posed by emerging environmental contaminants has become a public concern. Increasing evidence indicate that maternal exposure to multiple emerging environmental contaminants disrupts embryonic development. However, the underlying mechanisms of this developmental toxicity remain unclear, hindering risk assessment and prevention efforts. In this column, the developmental toxicity mechanisms of various emerging pollutants were studied by employing model animals, big data analysis, and single-cell sequencing. We hope that this column will encourage further research into the developmental toxicity mechanisms of emerging environmental contaminants and provide a scientific base for policy-making.

Objective Chlorination is often used to disinfect recreational water in large amusement parks;however,the health hazards of chlorination disinfection by-products(DBPs)to occupational populations are unknown.This study aimed to assess the exposure status of chlorinated DBPs in recreational water and the health risks to employees of large amusement parks. Methods Exposure parameters of employees of three large amusement parks in Shanghai were investigated using a questionnaire.Seven typical chlorinated DBPs in recreational water and spray samples were quantified by gas chromatography,and the health risks to amusement park employees exposed to chlorinated DBPs were evaluated according to the WHO's risk assessment framework. Results Trichloroacetic acid,dibromochloromethane,bromodichloromethane,and dichloroacetic acid were detected predominantly in recreational water.The carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of the five DBPs did not exceed the risk thresholds.In addition,the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of mixed exposure to DBPs were within the acceptable risk limits. Conclusion Typical DBPs were widely detected in recreational water collected from three large amusement parks in Shanghai;however,the health risks of DBPs and their mixtures were within acceptable limits.