This report presented the first imported case of alveolar echinococcosis in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu Province. The patient was a local resident who had worked in Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from 2019 to 2023, an area co-endemic for cystic and alveolar echinococcosis. He presented with hepatic discomfort in June 2023. Imaging examinations revealed an 8 cm × 6 cm mass in the left liver lobe, and serological testing showed positive IgG antibodies against Echinococcus. Post-surgical pathology confirmed the diagnosis of alveolar echinococcosis. Given that Tianzhu County has historically been endemic only for cystic echinococcosis and has not reported local cases of alveolar echinococcosis, this case was identified as an imported case based on epidemiological history. The case underwent left lateral hepatic lobectomy and no recurrence was seen at 2-year follow-up post-surgery. It is recommended to enhance the identification of different types of echinococcosis among clinicians, improve health education among migrant laborers, reinforce active screening among returning labors, and advance a One Health concept-based, cross-regional “human-animal-environment” joint prevention and control mechanism to prevent the risk of imported echinococcosis.

Background Patients with pneumoconiosis often have limited disease-related knowledge, insufficient access to health education, and substantial health management needs. Health education may help improve rehabilitation outcomes and quality of life in this population. Objective To evaluate the effects of health education based on the Listen-Establish-Adopt-Reinforce-Name-Strength (LEARNS) model on rehabilitation outcomes, health-related behaviors, and quality of life among pneumoconiosis patients, and provide effective intervention strategies for the rehabilitation management of patients with pneumoconiosis. Methods A randomized controlled trial was conducted. A total of 120 pneumoconiosis patients treated in the Department of Occupational Diseases, Beijing Emergency General Hospital, from November 2024 to February 2025 were enrolled. Participants were randomly assigned to a control group or an intervention group using a random number table method, with 60 patients in each group. The control group received routine pharmacotherapy, whereas the intervention group received a 12-week LEARNS model-based health-education intervention in addition to routine treatment. The 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) was used to assess exercise tolerance, and the modified Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale (mMRC) was used to evaluate dyspnoea. The Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were applied for psychological status assessment. Pulmonary function, including forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) and forced vital capacity (FVC), was measured using spirometry. A self-designed scale was used to evaluate eight health-related behaviors targeted by the health education program. The 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Assessment Test (CAT) were used to assess quality of life, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was adopted to evaluate sleep quality. Results After the 12-week intervention, the control group showed no statistically significant changes from baseline in the measured outcomes(P＞0.05). In the intervention group, exercise tolerance improved significantly, with the 6-minute walking distance increasing from (382.55±19.52) m to (426.84±33.59) m (P＜0.001). Dyspnoea was also alleviated, with the mMRC score decreasing from 1.37±0.66 to 0.96±0.54 (P＜0.001). The CAT score decreased from 18.95±7.03 to 10.67±3.64 (P＜0.001). Significant improvements were observed in anxiety and depression symptoms (P＜0.001), with the SAS score decreasing from 38.85±6.24 to 34.27±2.27, and the SDS score decreasing from 49.01±3.25 to 45.49±3.44. Sleep quality improved significantly, with the PSQI score dropping from 7.89±4.35 to 4.05±2.31 (P＜0.001). All eight health-related behaviors in the intervention group improved significantly after the intervention (P＜0.001), including acquisition of disease-related knowledge (1.87±0.34 vs. 3.13±0.45), participation in health education activities (1.89±0.52 vs. 3.61±0.38), and regular physical exercise (2.37±0.41 vs. 4.17±0.33). All SF-36 domain scores increased significantly (P＜0.05), with the most prominent improvements observed in physical functioning, general health, and vitality. At week 12, all SF-36 domain scores were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (P＜0.05). No statistically significant between-group differences were detected in pulmonary function parameters (P＞0.05). Conclusion LEARNS model-based health education could improve exercise tolerance, dyspnea, psychological status, sleep quality, health-related behaviors, and quality of life among patients with pneumoconiosis, and therefore may be a useful adjunctive strategy for rehabilitation management in patients with pneumoconiosis.

Objective To establish a rapid analysis method for cyanide based on a ratiometric fluores-cent probe,providing a quantitative strategy for on-site visual and rapid detection of cyanide.Methods A dual-emission ratiometric fluorescent probe(AuNCs-FL)was constructed by using bovine serum al-bumin(BSA)-stabilized gold nanoclusters(AuNCs,fluorescence emission at 660 nm)as the responsive signal unit and fluorescein(FL,emission at 515 nm)as the internal reference.Results The etching effect of cyanide on AuNCs resulted in fluorescence quenching at 660 nm,while the fluorescence inten-sity of FL at 515 nm remained unchanged,enabling a rapid response analysis of cyanide shift from red to green fluorescence.The developed probe enabled rapid analysis of cyanide within 3 min,with a limit of detection(LOD)of 3.4 mg/L and a visual detection range of 10-100 mg/L.Conclusion The AuNCs-FL fluorescent probe is structurally simple,low-cost,and easy to operate,delivering rapid and accurate results.It also avoids the interference from sulfides encountered in commercial cyanide test kits,making it suitable for the on-site rapid detection of suspected powder samples in cyanide poisoning cases.

Aim To elucidate the underlying mecha-nism by which total triterpenoids extracted from Hove-nia dulcis(H-TP)enhance the sensitivity of A549/DDP cells to cisplatin.Methods The ARE-Nrf2 lu-ciferase reporter assay was applied to investigate the impact of H-TP on Nrf2 expression.Western blot was used to detect the protein levels of Keap-1/Nrf2/HO-1,Nrf2-GPX4 signaling pathway,apoptosis-related proteins of Bcl-2 and Bax.Further validation of its effects on Nrf2 was conducted by using Nrf2 activator/inhibitor.Results H-TP could enhance the sensitivi-ty of A549/DDP cells to cisplatin by modulating the expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Bcl-2,inhibiting the Keap-1/Nrf2/HO-1/GPX4 signating pathway in A549/DDP cells,and inducing ferroptosis.Conclusion H-TP enhances the sensitivity of A549/DDP cells to cisplatin by inducing the Nrf2-mediated ferroptosis pathway.

Aim To explore the mechanism of the syn-ergistic effect of the ferroptosis inducer erastin com-bined with shikonin in promoting ferroptosis in human hypertrophic scar fibroblasts(HSFBs).Methods Hypertrophic scar tissues provided by the General Hos-pital of Ningxia Medical University were collected,and HSFBs were extracted.HSFBs were identified by HE staining and immunofluorescence.The inhibitory rates of Era and SHK on HSFBs at different concentrations were detected by CCK-8 assay,and the IC50 value was calculated.CompuSyn software was used to calculate the co-use index(CI).Control group,Erastin(Era)group,shikonin(SHK)group and Era+SHK group were set up,and the number and morphological chan-ges of cells were observed after 24 hours of interven-tion.The ability of cell migration and invasion was de-tected by scratch test and Transwell test.The changes of malondialdehyde(MDA),total iron ion and reactive oxygen species(ROS)were detected by corresponding biochemical kits.The expressions of collagen I,α-SMA and GOT1,SLC7A11,GPX4 and FTH1 were detected by Western blot.Results The IC50 value of Era and SHK of primary HSFBs was 2.22 μmol·L-1 and 3.94μmol·L-1 respectively,which was used as the single drug concentration for subsequent experiments.The CompuSyn software was employed to calculate the CI value when the two drugs were used in combination,and the concentrations corresponding to CI=0.39597(Era:1.2 μmol·L-1+SHK:1.5 μmol·L-1)were selected as subsequent combination concentrations(Because when CI was equal to 0.395 97,the concen-tration of each drug was lower than the concentration of single drug,and the inhibition rate of combined drug was greater than 50％).Compared with the monother-apy group,the number of HSFBs in the SHK+Era group was significantly reduced,cell membrane showed breakage and vesiculation,cell wrinkling became smal-ler,and cytoplasm was concentrated.The migration and invasion ability of HSFBs in the SHK+Era group were obviously weakened(P＜0.05),and the expres-sion of fibrosis-related proteins collagen Ⅰ and α-SMA was reduced(P＜0.05);the contents of MDA,total i-ron ions,and ROS in HSFBs of the SHK+Era group increased(P＜0.05),and the protein expression lev-els of SLC7A11,GOT1,GPX4,and FTH1 further de-creased(P＜0.05).Conclusions Erastin in combi-nation with shikonin can synergistically inhibit the pro-liferation,migration and fibrosis levels of HSFBs.The mechanism may be that erastin enhances the inhibition of shikotin on GOT1,increases the levels of cellular i-ron ions,ROS,and lipid peroxides,thereby promoting ferroptosis in HSFBs.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with sintilimab and bevacizumab biosimilar in the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular careinoma (uHCC).Methods:The clinical data of 64 patients with unresectable HCC, who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between January 2021 and December 2023, were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into a combination group ( n=43, receiving TACE combined with sintilimab and bevacizumab biosimilar) and control group ( n=21, receiving only sintilimab and bevacizumab biosimilar). Survival curves were drawn by Kaplan-Meier method, and the median overall survival (mOS) and median progression-free survival (mPFS) were compared between the two groups. According to the mRECIST criterion, the objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were compared between the two groups. The occurrences of adverse events in both groups were recorded. Results:The mOS and mPFS in the combination group were 22.3 months and 12.4 months, respectively, which in the control group was 11.6 months and 6.4 months, respectively. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant ( P=0.001 and P=0.002). The ORR and DCR in the combination group were 62.8% and 95.3% respectively, which were significantly higher than 19.0% and 57.1% respectively in the control group (all P<0.01). No statistically significant difference in the incidence of severe adverse events existed between the two groups ( P=0.518). Conclusion:TACE combined with sintilimab and bevacizumab biosimilar has efficacy and safety than sintilimab and bevacizumab biosimilar alone.

Objective:To investigate the correlation of systemic immune inflammatory index (SII) and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) with chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) in patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD).Methods:A cross-sectional survey method was used to select 152 patients with stage 5 CKD who received treatment in the Department of Nephrology, Hefei First People's Hospital from January 2023 to January 2024 as research subjects. Based on the patients' intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels, they were divided into three groups: low iPTH group ( n = 63), normal iPTH group ( n = 46), and high iPTH group ( n = 43). The differences in SII and MLR among the three groups were analyzed. The relationship between SII and the occurrence of high iPTH was analyzed to assess the predictive efficacy of SII for high iPTH. Results:Among the 152 patients with stage 5 CKD, the low iPTH group accounted for 41.45% (63/152), the normal iPTH group for 30.26% (46/152), and the high iPTH group for 28.29% (43/152). The prevalence of hypertension in each group was as follows: 85.71% (54/63) in the low iPTH group, 89.13% (41/46) in the normal iPTH group, and 60.77% (30/43) in the high iPTH group ( χ2 = 6.60, P = 0.037). Other parameters showed significant differences among the groups: neutrophil count was 3.60 (2.94, 4.79) × 10 9/L in the low iPTH group, 4.08 (3.16, 4.88) × 10 9/L in the normal iPTH group, and 5.21 (4.08, 6.75) ×10 9/L in the high iPTH group ( Z = 25.64, P < 0.001); lymphocyte count was 1.51 (1.13, 1.85) × 10 9/L, 1.18 (1.00, 1.68) × 10 9/L, and 1.10 (0.75, 1.66) × 10 9/L, respectively ( Z = 8.25, P = 0.016); monocyte count was 0.47 (0.36, 0.62) × 10 9/L, 0.53 (0.42, 0.70) × 10 9/L, and 0.43 (0.33, 0.54) × 10 9/L, respectively ( Z = 8.15, P = 0.017); serum albumin levels were (37.26 ± 5.77) g/L, (36.31 ± 5.68) g/L, and (41.53 ± 4.90) g/L, respectively ( t = 10.85, P < 0.001); creatinine levels were 214.00 (148.00, 343.00) μmol/L, 462.00 (338.50, 682.25) μmol/L, and 835.50 (702.50, 960.75) μmol/L, respectively ( Z = 74.65, P < 0.001); serum calcium levels were 2.19 (2.11, 2.28) mmol/L, 2.16 (2.04, 2.26) mmol/L, and 2.32 (2.10, 2.49) mmol/L, respectively ( Z = 11.77, P = 0.003); serum phosphate levels were 1.21 (1.04, 1.49) mmol/L, 1.47 (1.27, 1.83) mmol/L, and 1.99 (1.65, 2.49) mmol/L, respectively ( Z = 48.72, P < 0.001); SII values were 362.75 (292.68, 639.92), 491.03 (380.12, 715.77), and 851.50 (525.23, 1 149.72), respectively ( Z = 33.02, P < 0.001); and MLR values were 0.30 (0.24, 0.43), 0.43 (0.30, 0.52), and 0.35 (0.28, 0.61), respectively ( Z = 9.02, P = 0.011). All differences among the three groups were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences among the groups regarding age, gender, height, body mass index, smoking history, alcohol consumption history, prevalence of diabetes, platelet count, serum total protein, uric acid, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (all P > 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that elevated SII ( OR = 1.003, P = 0.024) was an independent risk factor for increased serum iPTH ( P < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the area under the curve for SII predicting high iPTH in patients with stage 5 CKD was 0.774 ( P < 0.001). Conclusions:In patients with stage 5 CKD, elevated creatinine, serum calcium, and SII are independent risk factors for increased serum iPTH, and SII has predictive value for the occurrence of high iPTH in patients with CKD.

In order to explore effective ways to reduce non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among female adolescents, a total of 45 female adolescent patients with NSSI in West China Hospital of Sichuan University and Guizhou Second Provincial People's Hospital from June 2021 to June 2024 were selected randomly that divided into groups A, B and C, with 15 cases in each group. Group A was treated with repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and bipolar depression triple therapy, and group B was treated with bipolar depression triple therapy to compare the effectiveness and safety. Group C received bipolar depression triple therapy combined with sham stimulation which only produced stimulating sounds but no stimulating magnetic field as a control in the study. After treatment, the Hamilton Anxiety Score (HAMA), Hamilton Depression Score (HAMD) and Nurses' Global Assessment of Suicide Risk (NGASR) in group A were significantly lower than those in group B and C ( P < 0.01). rTMS combined with bipolar depression triple therapy has a definite effect on reducing NSSI in female adolescents, which can reduce the incidence rate of short-term NSSI behavior in patients.
Humans ; Female ; Adolescent ; Self-Injurious Behavior/prevention & control* ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation/methods* ; Bipolar Disorder/therapy* ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: EPF3 is a fibrinolysin monomer isolated and purified from Pheretima vulgaris Chen, an earthworm used in traditional Chinese medicine as Dilong for treating blood stasis syndrome. Its composition, anticoagulant and fibrinolytic activities, and relevant mechanisms have been confirmed through in vitro experiments. However, whether it has antithrombotic effects in vivo and can be absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract is unknown. This study evaluates the antithrombotic effect in zebrafish and investigates the gastrointestinal stability and intestinal absorption mechanism of this protein in vitro. METHODS: The antithrombotic effect of EPF3 in vivo was verified using the zebrafish thrombus model induced by arachidonic acid and FeCl₃. Then, the protein bands of EPF3 incubated with simulated gastric fluid (SGF), simulated intestinal fluid (SIF), and homogenate of Caco-2 cells (HC2C) were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to evaluate its gastrointestinal stability. Finally, the transport behavior and absorption mechanism of EPF3 were studied using Caco-2 cell monolayer. RESULTS: EPF3 could significantly enhance the returned blood volume and blood flow velocity in zebrafish with platelet aggregation thrombus induced by arachidonic acid. It could also prolong the formation time of tail artery thrombus and increase the blood flow velocity in zebrafish with vessel injury thrombus induced by FeCl₃. EPF3 was stable in SIF and HC2C and unstable in SGF. The permeability of EPF3 in Caco-2 monolayer was time-dependent and concentration-dependent. The efflux ratio was less than 1.2 during transport, and the transport behavior was not affected by inhibitors. EPF3 could reversibly reduce the expression of tight junction-related proteins, including zonula occludens-1, occludin, and claudin-1 in Caco-2 cells. CONCLUSION EPF3 could play a thrombolytic and antithrombotic role in zebrafish. It could be transported and absorbed into the intestine through cellular bypass pathway by opening the intestinal epithelium tight junction. This study provides a scientific explanation for the antithrombotic effect of earthworm and provides a basis for the feasibility of subsequent development of EPF3 as an antithrombotic enteric-soluble preparation. Please cite this article as: Zhong WL, Yang JQ, Liu H, Wu YL, Shen HJ, Li PY, Du SY. Antithrombotic effect in zebrafish of a fibrinolytic protein EPF3 from Dilong (Pheretima vulgaris Chen) and its transport mechanism in Caco-2 monolayer through cell bypass pathway. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(4): 415-428.
Animals ; Zebrafish ; Humans ; Caco-2 Cells ; Fibrinolytic Agents/pharmacology* ; Thrombosis/drug therapy* ; Intestinal Absorption

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between physical activity and genetic risk and their combined effects on the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 318,085 biobank participants from the UK. Physical activity was assessed using the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The participants were stratified into low-, intermediate-, and high-genetic-risk groups based on their polygenic risk scores. Multivariate Cox regression models and multiplicative interaction analyses were used. RESULTS: During a median follow-up period of 13 years, 9,209 participants were diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. For low genetic risk, compared to low physical activity, the hazard ratios ( HRs) for moderate and high physical activity were 0.853 (95% confidence interval [ CI]: 0.748-0.972) and 0.831 (95% CI: 0.727-0.950), respectively. For intermediate genetic risk, the HRs were 0.829 (95% CI: 0.758-0.905) and 0.835 (95% CI: 0.764-0.914), respectively. For participants with high genetic risk, the HRs were 0.809 (95% CI: 0.746-0.877) and 0.818 (95% CI: 0.754-0.888), respectively. A significant interaction was observed between genetic risk and physical activity. CONCLUSION Moderate or high levels of physical activity were associated with a lower risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease across all genetic risk groups, highlighting the need to tailor activity interventions for genetically susceptible individuals.
Humans ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/epidemiology* ; Exercise ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Aged ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Risk Factors ; United Kingdom/epidemiology* ; Incidence ; Adult