Elderly patients with primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) exhibit significant prognostic heterogeneity and poor tolerance to immunotherapy. However, there is a lack of early prognostic prediction tools specifically for this population. This study aimed to develop a prognostic prediction model applicable to elderly PMN patients.

Objective: To investigate the barrier membrane fixation performance and enhanced guided bone regeneration (GBR) capability of a thermosensitive adhesive containing bioactive glass nanoparticles in order to provide a novel solution for membrane fixation during GBR procedures. Methods: M2NP@BGN (methoxyethyl acrylate-co-N-isopropylacrylamide-co-protocatechuic acid@Bioactive glass nanoparticle), a thermosensitive adhesive, was synthesized via free radical polymerization by compositing methoxyethyl acrylate, N-isopropylacrylamide, and protocatechuic acid into a basic adhesive that was modified with bioactive glass nanoparticle (BGN). The successful fabrication of basic adhesive M2NP was characterized by attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The thermosensitive adhesive M2NP@BGN (BGN concentration of 1 mg/mL) was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and a rheometer. By adjusting the BGN concentration (0.1 mg/mL, 0.5 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL, and 2 mg/mL), the adhesive and mechanical strengths were investigated with a universal testing machine. Biocompatibility was evaluated with a cell counting kit-8 assay and hemolysis test to identify the optimal formulation. The optimal material’s extract was co-cultured with mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, and its osteogenic activity was examined in vitro by quantitative real-time PCR, alkaline phosphatase, and alizarin red S staining. The rat mandibular defect model was established, filled with bone graft, and divided into 3 groups based on membrane fixation method: M2NP@BGN (BGN concentration of 1 mg/mL) fixation group (M2NP@BGN), titanium nail fixation group (Nail), and unfixed control group (Negative). Bone regeneration was analyzed after 8 weeks by micro computed tomography and histological staining. Results: M2NP@BGN (BGN concentration of 1 mg/mL) was successfully synthesized and demonstrated rapid gelation under warm, humid conditions. The adhesive with a BGN concentration of 1 mg/mL exhibited the highest adhesive strength (P < 0.001) and significantly enhanced mechanical strength (P < 0.001) under 37℃ wet conditions. All formulations showed excellent biocompatibility, with cell viability > 80% and hemolysis ratio < 5%. M2NP@BGN (BGN concentration of 1 mg/mL) significantly upregulated the expression of Runx2 and Col I (P < 0.001) and enhanced the activity of osteogenic differentiation markers (P < 0.05). In the animal model, the M2NP@BGN group (BGN concentration of 1 mg/mL) achieved significantly higher bone volume fraction and better bone maturity compared to the negative and nail groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion M2NP@BGN (BGN concentration of 1 mg/mL) combines excellent wet adhesion with potent osteogenic activity, enhances the bone augmentation efficacy of membranes, and presents a novel fixation strategy with significant clinical translation potential for GBR therapy.

Background/Aims: The pathophysiology of refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (RGERD), which differs from proton pump inhibitor dependent gastroesophageal reflux disease (DGERD), remains incompletely elucidated. This study aims to compare esophageal motility patterns, transdiaphragmatic pressure gradients (TPG), and reflux profiles between RGERD and DGERD patients, and to delineate dynamic pressure gradient-esophagogastric junction (EGJ) interactions in these patients. Methods: In this retrospective study, 274 patients who underwent 24-hour impedance-pH monitoring and high-resolution manometry, along with an assessment of proton pump inhibitor responsiveness, were classified as RGERD (32.5%), DGERD (54.4%), or non-GERD (13.1%). Clinical characteristics, TPG, esophageal motility, and reflux metrics were compared between RGERD and DGERD patients. Subgroup analysis excluding hiatal hernia (HH) was conducted to investigate the pathophysiology of RGERD. Results: The RGERD group exhibited a significantly higher proportion of chest pain compared to the DGERD group. Regarding reflux profiles, RGERD patients without HH (RGERDHH- group) experienced increased weakly acidic reflux (P < 0.001) and prolonged bolus exposure (P = 0.006) compared to their counterparts (DGERDHH- group). Mechanistically, the RGERDHH- group showed reduced lower esophageal sphincter basal pressure (P = 0.010) and EGJ contractile integral (P = 0.005). Notably, following a wet-swallow, the RGERDHH- group experienced the significant elevation in gastric pressure and TPG. Correlation analyses revealed weakly acidic reflux and bolus exposure were positively correlated with gastric pressure variation, and inversely correlated with lower esophageal sphincter basal pressure. Conclusions Transient gastric pressure elevation and compromised EGJ barrier function drive weakly acidic reflux and esophageal bolus exposure. This pressure gradient-barrier mismatch underpins the refractoriness of RGERD.

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined with bloodletting and cupping in the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria（CSU） and to explore its potential mechanisms of action. MethodsSeventy CSU patients were randomly divided into loratadine group and acupuncture + bloodletting group， with 35 patients in each group. The loratadine group received oral loratadine tablets， 10 mg once daily in the evening. The acupuncture + bloodletting group received acupuncture at Zhongwan （CV 12）， Guanyuan （CV 4）， Tianshu （ST 25）， Zusanli （ST 36）， Sanyinjiao （SP 6）， Xuehai （SP 10）， Quchi （LI 11）， Hegu （LI 4）， Taichong （LR 3）， Baihui （GV 20）， and Shenting （GV 24）， once daily，along with bloodletting and cupping at Dazhui （GV 14） and Geshu （BL 17）， every other day. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. The 7-day urticaria activity score（UAS7） was assessed before and after the treatment， and levels of serum immunoglobulin E （IgE）， interleukin-4 （IL-4）， interleukin-5 （IL-5）， eosinophil cationic protein （ECP）， plasma tissue factor （TF）， activated factor Ⅶ （FⅦa）， prothrombin fragment 1+2 （F1+2）， D-dimer （D-D） and complement component 5a （C5a） were detected. ResultsA total of 65 patients were included in the final analysis， 32 in the loratadine group and 33 in the acupuncture + bloodletting group. Before treatment， there was no significant difference in UAS7 score， serum IgE， IL-4， IL-5， ECP levels， or plasma TF， FⅦa， F1+2， D-D， C5a levels between groups （P＞ 0.05）. After treatment， both groups showed significant reductions in UAS7 score， serum IgE， IL-4， IL-5， and plasma TF， FⅦa， F1+2， D-D， and C5a levels compared to those before treatment （P＜0.01）. However， after treatment， there was no significant difference in UAS7 score and serum ECP， IgE， IL-4， IL-5 levels between groups （P＞0.05）. The acupuncture + bloodletting group showed lower plasma TF， FⅦa， F1+2， D-D and C5a levels compared to the loratadine group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. ConclusionAcupuncture combined with bloodletting and cupping can effectively improve the skin symptoms of CSU patients and reduce the levels of inflammatory factors. The potential mechanism of action may involve the regulation of the coagulation-complement-mast cell activation axis， thereby inhibiting mast cell degranulation.

It is believed that the cause of recurrent trigeminal neuralgia is mainly physical injuries and emotional distress. The core pathogenesis lies in the blockage of meridians and disharmony between the body and mind. Therefore， it is proposed that the treatment should focus on simultaneously regulating the body and the mind， with the therapeutic methods of unblocking the meridians and collaterals， soothing the liver and moving qi， and regulating the mind to relieve pain. In clinical practice， liver-soothing and mind-regulating acupuncture combined with para-nerve acupuncture are commonly used， and puncturing upto the bone is applied to strengthen the analgesic effect， providing a new diagnosis and treatment idea for clinical treatment of recurrent trigeminal neuralgia with acupuncture.

Hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection is worldwide and poses a serious threat to human health.Existing conventional therapeutic drugs(e.g.,interferon-alpha,nucleoside analogs)can inhibit intrahepatic replication of HBV,but it is difficult to remove HBV covalently closed circular DNA(cccDNA)from the nucleus of hepatocytes,resulting in the virus not being easily cleared and the formation of a chronic infection that is difficult to cure.However,the emergence of targeted drugs is expected to destroy cccDNA making a cure for HBV infection possible.To achieve this,in vitro cell models of HBV infection and replication are needed to screen for targeted drugs.In recent years,in vitro cell models for HBV research have made fundamental progress,providing a platform for a better understanding of virus-host interactions,in vitro studies of the HBV life cycle,and the screening and evaluation of novel antiviral drugs.In this review,the research progress of HBV infection and replication cell models,and the characteristics and limitations of different cell models are reviewed,aiming to provide a basis for exploring the mechanism of complex chronic HBV infection,screening targeted drugs and selecting suitable HBV cell models in vitro.

Objective:To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture on neuroinflammation in rats with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) by regulating advanced glycation end products (AGE) and its receptor (RAGE) signaling pathway.Methods:Ten healthy male SD rats were randomly selected as the control group, and the remaining 30 SD rats were used to induce PHN model by resin toxin (RTX). Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into model group, positive drug group and electroacupuncture group, with 10 rats in each group. Intervention was conducted on the 7th day of modeling. The electroacupuncture group intervened with "Yanglingquan"(GB34) and "Huantiao"(GB30); the positive drug group was intragastrically administered with pregabalin suspension 27 mg/kg, once a day for 1 week; the control group and model group were not treated. The paw retraction threshold (PWMT) and paw retraction latency (PWTL) were measured before modeling and on the 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th days after modeling; histopathological changes of spinal cord were observed by HE staining; the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in spinal cord tissue were detected by ELISA; the expressions of AGE-RAGE signaling pathway related proteins in spinal cord was detected by Western blot.Results:Compared with the model group, the degree of atrophy and inflammatory infiltration of spinal cord neurons in the positive drug group and electroacupuncture group were reduced. The PWMT value in the positive drug group increased ( P<0.05), and the PWTL value decreased ( P<0.05); compared with the model group, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the spinal cord tissue of the electroacupuncture group and the positive drug group decreased ( P<0.05), and the expressions of AGE, RAGE, p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2, JNK, p-NF-κB/NF-κB and AP-1 decreased ( P<0.05); compared with the positive drug group, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the spinal cord tissue of the electroacupuncture group decreased ( P<0.05), and the protein expressions of AGE, RAGE, p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2, JNK, p-NF-κB/NF-κB and AP-1 decreased ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Electroacupuncture can improve neuroinflammation in PHN rats, the mechanism of which may be related to the regulation of AGE-RAGE mediated pro-inflammatory signaling pathway.

The study was a prospective observational study. A total of 24 patients who underwent maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) at Haidian Hospital in Beijing from May 2024 to June 2024 were included as the study subjects. The safety and efficacy of a new single-needle dialysis in MHD patients were evaluated. The reasons for using single-needle dialysis included waiting for the maturity of internal fistula(7 cases, 29.17%), autogenous arteriovenous fistula thrombosis occurred (6 cases, 25.00%), puncture difficulty occurred (7 cases, 29.17%), and pain sensitivity or elderly (4 cases, 16.67%). The results showed that the average blood flow was (155.65±5.90) ml/min, total blood volume was (35.92±2.65) L during single-needle dialysis. One patient had slight puncture leakage, and the puncture success rate was 95.83%. Relevant indicators of dialysis adequacy showed that the average urea clearance (Kt/V) was 0.90±0.42, urea reduction ratio was 58.31%±7.93%, and online real-time Kt/V monitoring average value was 0.98±0.55. The results suggest that the application of the new improved single-needle dialysis mode in MHD patients is safe and effective.

Objective:To analyze the genomic characteristics and antibiotic resistance of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from food sources in Beijing City in 2022. Methods:A total of 83 strains of Listeria monocytogenes were isolated from three major categories of food, namely raw poultry, raw livestock meat and ready-to-eat foods, in Beijing′s food safety risk monitoring in 2022. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed to determine serogroups, multilocus sequence typing (ST) and core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST). Virulence genes and antibiotic resistance genes were identified using the VFDB and ResFinder 3.0 databases. Antimicrobial susceptibility to eight antibiotics was tested via the broth microdilution method. Results:The predominant serogroup was 1/2a, 3a (61.2%). All the isolates were divided into 14 STs, with ST121 (21.7%), ST8 (20.5%), ST9 (13.3%), and ST87 (13.3%) as the dominant types. All 83 isolates were classified into 75 cgMLST types, with six clusters showing identical profiles, indicating potential clonal transmission. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that strains of the same ST clustered together regardless of geographic origin, and some Beijing isolates differed by fewer than 10 alleles from strains isolated in other countries. All the isolates in the study carried virulence islands 1(LIPI-1) and LIPI-2. LIPI-3 was detected in ST1, ST11 and ST3 isolates, while LIPI-4 was found in ST87 isolates. About 42 isolates (50.6%, including ST1, ST11, ST5, ST307, ST8, ST9, ST155, and ST3) harbored SSI-1, and 18 ST121 isolates carried SSI-2. Only 3.61% (three strains) and 4.82% (four strains) of isolates exhibited resistance to tetracycline and erythromycin, respectively. No resistance to other tested antibiotics was observed.Conclusion:Foodborne Listeria monocytogenes in Beijing exhibits high genomic diversity but is dominated by specific STs, some of which are associated with hypervirulence. Some Beijing isolates have homology with food-derived isolates from other countries.