Objective:To analyze the results of anonymous review and influencing factors of master's degree theses in Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 2018 to 2023, and provide a reference for improving the quality of graduate education.Methods:Using the anonymous review data of 766 master's degree theses submitted by CDC from 2018 to 2023, a statistical analysis was performed on the overall evaluation and four evaluation indicators using the Excel and SPSS 27.0. Potential factors influencing thesis quality were also explored.Results:The overall evaluation scores of the 766 master's degree theses submitted by CDC from 2018 to 2023 were generally rated as "good", with a mean score of (16.58±1.95). The mean scores of the four indicators were all rated as "good" and above. The scores were in the order of thesis topics (17.32±1.81), basic knowledge and research ability (16.51±2.10), innovation and thesis value (16.21±1.96), and thesis standardization (16.08±2.20). The overall evaluation score of students recommended and exempted from entrance exams (17.14±1.54) was higher than that of students admitted through national entrance exams (16.54±1.96). Specifically, significant differences were observed in basic knowledge and research ability and thesis standardization ( P<0.05). The overall evaluation score of academic degree theses (16.81±1.88) was higher than professional degree theses (16.32±1.99). The overall evaluation score of degree theses on basic research (16.99±1.86) was significantly higher than that of theses on applied research (16.33±1.96) and comprehensive research (16.27±1.91) ( P<0.05). The overall evaluation score of theses supported by national funds (17.01±1.77) was significantly higher than that of theses funded by provincial and ministerial projects (16.67±1.96) and other projects (16.18±1.99) ( P<0.05). Conclusions:During 2018-2023, the overall evaluation scores of master's degree theses of CDC were generally rated as "good". The quality of theses and graduate education can be enhanced by improving the quality of sources of students, expanding basic research, applying for high-level fund projects, and establishing effective process management mechanism.

Cholesterol is a crucial lipid in the human body.Elevated levels of cholesterol can result in condi-tions such as hypercholesterolemia.3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase(HMGCR)serves as a pivotal en-zyme in the synthesis of cholesterol,acting as a rate-limiting factor.As a result,HMGCR plays a critical role in maintain-ing cholesterol balance,with the regulatory processes being intricate in vivo.This review outlines the advancements in un-derstanding the regulatory mechanisms of HMGCR,encompassing transcriptional control,degradation pathways,and en-zyme activity.

Background and purpose:There are few studies on the quality of life after transanal total mesorectal excision(TaTME)for rectal cancer,and there is a lack of evidence-based research.This study aimed to evaluate the impact of TaTME in comparison to laparoscopic total mesorectal excision(LaTME)on postoperative quality of life in patients.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical and pathological data from rectal cancer patients who underwent LaTME and TaTME between September 2019 and September 2022 at Renhe Hospital,Baoshan District,Shanghai,and Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center.All the patients completed a set of validated questionnaires one year postoperatively,including the EORCT QLQ-C30,Low Anterior Resection Syndrome(LARS)score,International Prostate Symptom Score(IPSS),Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7(GAD-7),and Patient Health Questionnaire-9(PHQ-9).Comparative analysis of these survey results was performed.The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Renhe Hospital,Baoshan District,Shanghai.The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology(STROBE)checklist was followed for this study.Results:A total of 39 patients in the TaTME group and 38 patients in the LaTME group were included.There were no statistically significant differences between two groups regarding demographic variables such as gender and age,as well as clinical factors including tumor distance from the anal verge,tumor stage,and preoperative neoadjuvant treatment protocols.Analysis of EORCT QLQ-C30 results indicated equivalent overall quality of life between the two groups;however,the TaTME group reported significantly more severe insomnia(P=0.020).No significant differences were observed in LARS severity or total scores between the groups,though the TaTME group demonstrated superior functional outcomes in terms of incontinence for liquid stools and clustering of stools(P=0.007,P=0.004).Additionally,both groups exhibited comparable results in IPSS,and levels of depression and anxiety.Conclusion:The findings suggest that TaTME and LaTME yield similar outcomes in terms of anal and urinary function,overall quality of life,and psychological health,indicating that it is a viable and safe alternative to LaTME in terms of postoperative quality of life.

Background and purpose:There are few studies on the quality of life after transanal total mesorectal excision(TaTME)for rectal cancer,and there is a lack of evidence-based research.This study aimed to evaluate the impact of TaTME in comparison to laparoscopic total mesorectal excision(LaTME)on postoperative quality of life in patients.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical and pathological data from rectal cancer patients who underwent LaTME and TaTME between September 2019 and September 2022 at Renhe Hospital,Baoshan District,Shanghai,and Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center.All the patients completed a set of validated questionnaires one year postoperatively,including the EORCT QLQ-C30,Low Anterior Resection Syndrome(LARS)score,International Prostate Symptom Score(IPSS),Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7(GAD-7),and Patient Health Questionnaire-9(PHQ-9).Comparative analysis of these survey results was performed.The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Renhe Hospital,Baoshan District,Shanghai.The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology(STROBE)checklist was followed for this study.Results:A total of 39 patients in the TaTME group and 38 patients in the LaTME group were included.There were no statistically significant differences between two groups regarding demographic variables such as gender and age,as well as clinical factors including tumor distance from the anal verge,tumor stage,and preoperative neoadjuvant treatment protocols.Analysis of EORCT QLQ-C30 results indicated equivalent overall quality of life between the two groups;however,the TaTME group reported significantly more severe insomnia(P=0.020).No significant differences were observed in LARS severity or total scores between the groups,though the TaTME group demonstrated superior functional outcomes in terms of incontinence for liquid stools and clustering of stools(P=0.007,P=0.004).Additionally,both groups exhibited comparable results in IPSS,and levels of depression and anxiety.Conclusion:The findings suggest that TaTME and LaTME yield similar outcomes in terms of anal and urinary function,overall quality of life,and psychological health,indicating that it is a viable and safe alternative to LaTME in terms of postoperative quality of life.

Cholesterol is a crucial lipid in the human body.Elevated levels of cholesterol can result in condi-tions such as hypercholesterolemia.3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase(HMGCR)serves as a pivotal en-zyme in the synthesis of cholesterol,acting as a rate-limiting factor.As a result,HMGCR plays a critical role in maintain-ing cholesterol balance,with the regulatory processes being intricate in vivo.This review outlines the advancements in un-derstanding the regulatory mechanisms of HMGCR,encompassing transcriptional control,degradation pathways,and en-zyme activity.

Objective:To analyze the results of anonymous review and influencing factors of master's degree theses in Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 2018 to 2023, and provide a reference for improving the quality of graduate education.Methods:Using the anonymous review data of 766 master's degree theses submitted by CDC from 2018 to 2023, a statistical analysis was performed on the overall evaluation and four evaluation indicators using the Excel and SPSS 27.0. Potential factors influencing thesis quality were also explored.Results:The overall evaluation scores of the 766 master's degree theses submitted by CDC from 2018 to 2023 were generally rated as "good", with a mean score of (16.58±1.95). The mean scores of the four indicators were all rated as "good" and above. The scores were in the order of thesis topics (17.32±1.81), basic knowledge and research ability (16.51±2.10), innovation and thesis value (16.21±1.96), and thesis standardization (16.08±2.20). The overall evaluation score of students recommended and exempted from entrance exams (17.14±1.54) was higher than that of students admitted through national entrance exams (16.54±1.96). Specifically, significant differences were observed in basic knowledge and research ability and thesis standardization ( P<0.05). The overall evaluation score of academic degree theses (16.81±1.88) was higher than professional degree theses (16.32±1.99). The overall evaluation score of degree theses on basic research (16.99±1.86) was significantly higher than that of theses on applied research (16.33±1.96) and comprehensive research (16.27±1.91) ( P<0.05). The overall evaluation score of theses supported by national funds (17.01±1.77) was significantly higher than that of theses funded by provincial and ministerial projects (16.67±1.96) and other projects (16.18±1.99) ( P<0.05). Conclusions:During 2018-2023, the overall evaluation scores of master's degree theses of CDC were generally rated as "good". The quality of theses and graduate education can be enhanced by improving the quality of sources of students, expanding basic research, applying for high-level fund projects, and establishing effective process management mechanism.

Background::Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a severe and acute cardiovascular syndrome with high mortality among patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRDs). Accurate prediction and timely intervention play a pivotal role in enhancing survival rates. However, there is a notable scarcity of practical early prediction and risk assessment systems of PE in patients with AIIRD.Methods::In the training cohort, 60 AIIRD with PE cases and 180 age-, gender-, and disease-matched AIIRD non-PE cases were identified from 7254 AIIRD cases in Tongji Hospital from 2014 to 2022. Univariable logistic regression (LR) and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) were used to select the clinical features for further training with machine learning (ML) methods, including random forest (RF), support vector machines (SVM), neural network (NN), logistic regression (LR), gradient boosted decision tree (GBDT), classification and regression trees (CART), and C5.0 models. The performances of these models were subsequently validated using a multicenter validation cohort.Results::In the training cohort, 24 and 13 clinical features were selected by univariable LR and LASSO strategies, respectively. The five ML models (RF, SVM, NN, LR, and GBDT) showed promising performances, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of 0.962-1.000 in the training cohort and 0.969-0.999 in the validation cohort. CART and C5.0 models achieved AUCs of 0.850 and 0.932, respectively, in the training cohort. Using D-dimer as a pre-screening index, the refined C5.0 model achieved an AUC exceeding 0.948 in the training cohort and an AUC above 0.925 in the validation cohort. These results markedly outperformed the use of D-dimer levels alone.Conclusion::ML-based models are proven to be precise for predicting the onset of PE in patients with AIIRD exhibiting clinical suspicion of PE.Trial Registration::Chictr.org.cn: ChiCTR2200059599.

Polygala tenuifolia,commonly known as Yuanzhi(YZ)in Chinese,has been shown to possess anti-insomnia properties.However,the material basis and the mechanism underlying its sedative-hypnotic effects remain unclear.Herein,we investigated the active components and neurochemical mechanism of YZ extracts using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS)-based pharmaco-metabolomics and mass spectrometry imaging(MSI)-based spatial resolved metabolomics.According to the results,17 prototypes out of 101 ingredients in the YZ extract were detected in both the plasma and brain,which might be the major components contributing to the sedative-hypnotic effects.Network pharmacology analysis revealed that these prototypes may exert their effects through neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction,serotonergic synapse,dopaminergic synapse,and dopaminergic synapse,among other pathways.LC-MS/MS-based targeted metabolomics and Western blot(WB)revealed that tryptophan-serotonin-melatonin(Trp-5-HT-Mel)and tyrosine-norepinephrine-adrenaline(Tyr-Ne-Ad)are the key regulated pathways.Dopa decarboxylase(DDC)upregulation and phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase(PNMT)downregulation further confirmed these pathways.Furthermore,MSI-based spatially resolved metabolomics revealed notable alterations in 5-HT in the pineal gland(PG),and Ad in the brainstem,including the middle brain(MB),pons(PN),and hypothalamus(HY).In summary,this study illustrates the efficacy of an integrated multidimensional metabolomics approach in unraveling the sedative-hypnotic effects and neurochemical mechanisms of a Chinese herbal medicine,YZ.

Chronic refractory wounds have been a challenge for clinical treatment because of their diverse causative factors and complex pathological processes, long healing times, and high treatment costs. The microenvironment of the wound surface includes the external microenvironment of the periwound surface, the internal microenvironment of the wound surface, and subsurface physiological structures. Research on clinical treatment strategies based on the microenvironment of chronic refractory wounds continues to innovate and make progress. Hydrogels have the advantages of high-water content, adjustable performance, good biocompatibility, and similarity to extracellular matrix. The ability of hydrogels to load drugs and their modification to confer excellent tissue adhesion, antibacterial, antioxidant, and modulation of inflammatory factor expression can be used to achieve a multi-factor response and modulation of the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of the trauma microenvironment. Therefore, hydrogels have outstanding advantages and clinical application prospects in the repair of chronic, difficult-to-heal wounds. In this review paper, the characteristics and etiology of chronic refractory wounds were introduced, and the classification of microenvironment-responsive hydrogels for chronic refractory wounds and their application in the repair of refractory wounds were reviewed. Besides, the shortcomings of current hydrogels were discussed, and an outlook was proposed.

Objective: To quantitatively assess biochemical alterations in the cartilage of the subtalar and midtarsal joints in chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI) patients with isolated anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) injuries and combined calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) injuries using MRI T2 mapping. Materials and Methods: This study was performed according to regulations of the Committee for Human Research at our institution, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. Forty CLAI patients (26 with isolated ATFL injuries and 14 with combined ATFL and CFL injuries) and 25 healthy subjects were recruited for this study. All participants underwent MRI scans with T2 mapping. Patients were assessed with the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) rating system. The subtalar and midtarsal joints were segmented into 14 cartilage subregions. The T2 value of each subregion was measured from T2 mapping images. Data were analyzed with ANOVA, the Student’s t test, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results: T2 values of most subregions of the subtalar joint and the calcaneal facet of the calcaneocuboid joint in CLAI patients with combined CFL injuries were higher than those in healthy controls (all p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in T2 values in subtalar and midtarsal joints between patients with isolated ATFL injuries and healthy controls (all p > 0.05). Moreover, T2 values of the medial talar subregions of the posterior subtalar joint in patients with combined CFL injuries showed negative correlations with the AOFAS scores (r = -0.687, p = 0.007; r = -0.609, p = 0.021, respectively). Conclusion CLAI with combined CFL injuries can lead to cartilage degeneration in subtalar and calcaneocuboid joints, while an isolated ATFL injury might not have a significant impact on the cartilage in these joints.