AIM: To compare the progression of myopia in children wearing orthokeratology lenses combined with low-concentration atropine before and after drug withdrawal, to determine the rebound effect of drug withdrawal in orthokeratology lens wearers, and to analyze its causes based on changes in pupil diameter.METHODS:A prospective case-control study was conducted to collect 80 children with myopia who were treated with orthokeratology lenses combined with 0.01% atropine ophthalmic gel at the Xi'an No.1 Hospital from January to June 2022. One year later, they were divided into a drug withdrawal group(Group A, 40 cases)and a continuous medication group(Group B, 40 cases)based on whether they stopped taking the medication. The progression of myopia before and after drug withdrawal was observed by analyzing changes in axial length(AL)and spherical equivalent(SE)in the group A within 1 a before and after drug withdrawal. The changes in AL, pupil diameter(PD), and SE were compared between the group A and group B within 2 a, and the correlation between PD and AL growth was analyzed.RESULTS:In the group A, the AL increased by 0.17±0.23 and 0.29±0.18 mm at 0.5 and 1 a after drug withdrawal, respectively, which were both greater than before drug withdrawal(t=5.318, 2.983, both P<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in SE growth between the two time points(P>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in AL and PD between the group A and group B at baseline, 0.5 and 1 a during combined medication(all P>0.05). At 1.5 a, the AL growth of the group A was greater than that of the group B(0.32±0.27 mm vs 0.26±0.20 mm, t=7.363, P<0.001), and the PD was smaller than that of the group B(3.60±1.25 mm vs 4.12±1.92 mm, t=-7.541, P<0.001). At 2 a, the AL growth of the group A was greater than that of the group B(0.44±0.18 mm vs 0.32±0.14 mm, t=5.709, P<0.001), and the PD was smaller than that of the group B(3.67±1.31 mm vs 4.02±1.67 mm, t=-4.281, P<0.001). Correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between PD and AL growth at 0.5 and 1 a follow-ups over 2 a(R2=-0.156, -0.190, both P<0.001).CONCLUSION: After stopping low-concentration atropine in children wearing orthokeratology lenses, AL increased more rapidly than before drug withdrawal, PD decreased, and SE changed little. Compared with continuous medication, discontinuation of medication led to faster progression of AL with little change in diopter, and the larger the PD during orthokeratology lens wear, the slower the progression of AL.

AIM: To investigate the effect of intense pulsed light(IPL)combined with Yuyin Runmu formula fumigation and meibomian gland massage on the treatment of patients with meibomian gland dysfunction(MGD)-related dry eye.METHODS: Prospectively selected 198 cases(396 eyes)of MGD-related dry eye patients admitted to our hospital from November 2021 to November 2023, and they were randomly divided into 99 cases(198 eyes)in control group treated with fumigation of Yuyin Runmu formula and meibomian gland massage, and 99 cases(198 eyes)in observation group treated with combined IPL on the basis of the control group. The efficacy of the two groups was compared, as well as the changes in the levels of ocular indexes [tear film break-up time(BUT), Schirmer I test(SⅠt)], visual quality [objective scattering index(OSI), Strehl ratio(SR), and modulation transfer function(MTF)], lipid layer thickness(LLT)of the tear film, and changes in tear fluid levels of inflammatory factors [tumour necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and transforming growth factor-beta 1(TGF-β1)].RESULTS: All the patients completely received the treatment and follow-up. The levels of BUT, SⅠt, SR, MTF, and LLT increased and the levels of OSI, TNF-α, and TGF-β1 decreased in the two groups at 2 mo after treatment(all P<0.001), and the observation group was more favourable(all P<0.001).CONCLUSION: IPL combined with Yuyin Runmu formula fumigation and meibomian gland massage is effective in treating MGD-related dry eye, improving patients' ocular parameters, visual quality, and LLT, and decreasing the levels of inflammatory factors in the tear fluid.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and underlying mechanism of the Wulao Qisun prescription on pathological new bone formation in ankylosing spondylitis （AS）. MethodsSynovial fibroblasts were isolated from the hip joints of AS patients and observed under a microscope to assess cell morphology. The cells were identified using immunofluorescence staining. The isolated AS fibroblasts were divided into blank group， low drug-containing serum group， medium drug-containing serum group， high drug-containing serum group， and positive drug group. After drug intervention， cell proliferation was measured using the cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay to observe fibroblast growth and determine the optimal intervention time. Alkaline phosphatase （ALP） activity was measured using the alkaline phosphatase assay. Protein expression of osteocalcin （OCN）， osteopontin （OPN）， and runt-related transcription factor 2 （Runx2） was detected by Western blot. The mRNA expression levels of Wnt5a， β-catenin， and Dickkopf-1 （DKK-1） were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. ResultsCompared with the blank group， each drug-containing serum group of Wulao Qisun prescription and the positive drug group inhibited the proliferation of AS fibroblasts and reduced ALP expression （P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， the low drug-containing serum group of Wulao Qisun prescription downregulated β-catenin mRNA expression （P<0.05）. The medium and high drug-containing serum groups and the positive drug group significantly downregulated Wnt5a and β-catenin mRNA expression （P<0.05， P<0.01）， with the positive drug group showing the most pronounced effect （P<0.01）. The high drug-containing serum group and the positive drug group significantly upregulated DKK-1 mRNA expression （P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， the low drug-containing serum group of Wulao Qisun prescription inhibited the expression of OPN and Runx2 proteins （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while the medium and high drug-containing serum groups and the positive drug group inhibited the expression of OCN， OPN， and Runx2 proteins （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionThe Wulao Qisun prescription can inhibit the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of AS fibroblasts， thereby delaying the formation of pathological new bone in AS. The possible mechanism involves the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin-related gene expression， further inhibiting the transcription of downstream target genes.

Risk prediction models for postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) can assist healthcare professionals in assessing the likelihood of PPCs occurring after surgery, thereby supporting rapid decision-making. This study evaluated the merits, limitations, and challenges of these models, focusing on model types, construction methods, performance, and clinical applications. The findings indicate that current risk prediction models for PPCs following lung cancer surgery demonstrate a certain level of predictive effectiveness. However, there are notable deficiencies in study design, clinical implementation, and reporting transparency. Future research should prioritize large-scale, prospective, multi-center studies that utilize multiomics approaches to ensure robust data for accurate predictions, ultimately facilitating clinical translation, adoption, and promotion.

Abstract The health literacy level among the elderly in China remains at a low level. The 14th Five-Year Plan for Healthy Aging clearly points out that health literacy promotion projects should be implemented to improve the health literacy level among the elderly. The health literacy promotion strategies for the elderly require individual, social, policy and environmental supports. This article reviewed four types of health literacy promotion strategies for the elderly, including social strategies, lecture-based health education strategies, new media-based health communication strategies and environmental strategies. It also proposed that health education institutions, communities and other parties should work together, take advantage of digital technology and internet, and take various measures simultaneously to improve the health literacy of the elderly.

With the changes of lifestyles and diets, the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing. NAFLD has become one of the most common chronic liver diseases in China, and it is also a serious global health problem. In recent years, a large number of studies have investigated the correlation between NAFLD and cardiovascular disease (CVD), and found that NAFLD is associated with the occurrence and development of CVD, which is an important cause of increased CVD mortality. Therefore, this article reviews the research progress on the co-pathogenesis of NAFLD and CVD.

This paper comprehensively discusses on the potential neurobiological mechanisms of acupuncture in the treatment of tobacco dependence， focusing on three important aspects， including acupuncture's regulation of tobacco dependence behavior， effects of acupuncture on withdrawal syndrome， and the role of acupuncture in preventing relapse. It is found that acupuncture can inhibit drug-seeking behavior by regulating the reward pathway and related neurons， such as dopamine， thus modulating tobacco dependence behavior. It also alleviates withdrawal symptoms by improving the oral environment of smokers and reducing negative emotions after quitting. Furthermore， acupuncture can prevent relapse by decreasing brain network activity related to smoking cravings and improving cognitive brain functions like addiction memory. Currently， research on the specific neurobiological mechanism of acupuncture in treating tobacco dependence and the involved neural circuits is limited. Future research directions are proposed， including the evaluation of clinical effects， exploration of specific therapeutic mechanisms， investigation of brain pathology， and strengthening the exploration of brain functions. Additionally， combining modern technologies to clarify the neural circuits involved in acupuncture intervention will provide a basis for acupuncture treatment of tobacco addiction.

Jianghuanglian is one of the representative processed products of Coptidis Rhizoma for treating cold syndrome with drugs of heat nature， and ginger is used to restrict the bitter cold of Coptidis Rhizoma， which can be traced back to Bojifang， and it is suitable for stagnation of damp-heat in middle-jiao， cold-heat mutual knots and other symptoms. Jianghuanglian retains the alkaloids， phenylpropanoids and flavonoids of Coptidis Rhizoma， and also introduces gingerol components such as 6-gingerol in ginger， which has pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory， antibacterial， anti-tumor， and improving gastrointestinal function. The 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia and many local processing specifications have included the traditional processing process and quality standards of Jianghuanglian， but the specific process parameters and quality standards are incomplete， which limits the production and clinical application of this processed product. By summarizing the processing history， process research， quality evaluation， pharmacodynamic and medicinal property changes and application of Jianghuanglian in the past 20 years， there are differences in the processing methods and standards in various provinces and cities， which are mainly reflected in the preparation method， dosage， processing process and quantitative standards of ginger juice. In addition， there are also certain differences in the changes of the main components of Jianghuanglian prepared from ginger or dried ginger， as well as their efficacy and medicinal properties. The research on the processing process of Jianghuanglian plays an important role in improving its quality standards， and this review can provide a reference for improving the quality evaluation system of Jianghuanglian.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on quadriceps muscle strength and walking for patients after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). MethodsThirty-four patients after ACLR were selected at Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital of Capital Medical University from July, 2022 to October, 2023, and randomly divided into control group (n = 17) and experimental group (n = 17). Both groups received routine rehabilitation and functional training, and the experimental group received NMES during the functional training, while the control group received sham NMES, for eight weeks. Quadriceps peak torque-to-weight ratio, single-leg support phase and plantar impulses during walking were measured before and after intervention. ResultsTwo cases in the control group and three in the experimental group dropped down. Quadriceps peak torque-to-weight ratio improved in both groups after intervention (|t| > 17.578, P < 0.001), and improved more in the experimental group than in the control group (t = 4.714, P < 0.001); while the affected single-leg support phase and the affected/unaffected single-leg support phase ratio improved in both groups (|t| > 16.882, P < 0.001), and improved more in the experimental group than in the control group (t > 3.234, P < 0.01); and plantar impulses of all zones optimized in both groups (t > 9.221, P < 0.001), and were better in the experimental group than in the control group(|t| > 2.852, P < 0.01). ConclusionNMES may further improve quadriceps muscle strength, plantar pressure distribution during walking and single-leg support in patients after ACLR.

Objective To describe the significance of the pretreatment inflammatory indicators in predicting the prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after undergoing radical radiotherapy. Methods The data of 246 ESCC patients who underwent radical radiotherapy were retrospectively collected. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to determine the optimal cutoff values for platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII). The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. We conducted univariate and multivariate analyses by using the Cox proportional risk regression model. Software R (version 4.2.0) was used to create the nomogram of prognostic factors. Results The results of the ROC curve analysis showed that the optimal cutoff values of PLR, NLR, and SII were 146.06, 2.67, and 493.97, respectively. The overall response rates were 77.6% and 64.5% in the low and high NLR groups, respectively (P<0.05). The results of the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that the prognosis of patients in the low PLR, NLR, and SII group was better than that of patients in the high PLR, NLR, and SII group (all P<0.05). The results of the multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that gender, treatment modalities, T stage, and NLR were independent factors affecting the overall survival (OS). In addition, T stage and NLR were independent factors affecting the progression-free survival (PFS) (all P<0.05). The nomogram models of OS and PFS prediction were established based on multivariate analysis. The C-index values were 0.703 and 0.668. The calibration curves showed excellent consistency between the predicted and observed OS and PFS. Conclusion The pretreatment values of PLR, NLR, and SII are correlated with the prognosis of patients with ESCC who underwent radical radiotherapy. Moreover, NLR is an independent factor affecting the OS and PFS of ESCC patients. The NLR-based nomogram model has a good predictive ability.