ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate the potential molecular biological mechanism of Buyang Huanwu Tongfeng decoction in treating hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis by network pharmacology and molecular docking technology and preliminarily verify the mechanism through animal experiments. MethodsThe active ingredients and targets in the Buyang Huanwu Tongfeng decoction were obtained by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform （TCMSP） and ETCM databases. The DisGeNET and GeneCards databases were utilized to acquire disease targets associated with hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis. These disease targets were then intersected with drug targets to identify key targets. The R language ClusterProfiler package and Python were employed for conducting gene ontology（GO） enrichment analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes（KEGG） enrichment analysis. The regulatory network diagram of the drug-key target-function-pathway was visualized using Cytoscape 3.9.1 software， and the protein-protein interaction （PPI） network for key targets was depicted. Finally， the hub gene was determined through topological analysis. Auto Dock， PyMOL， and other software were used for molecular docking to explore the possible therapeutic mechanism of Buyang Huanwu Tongfeng decoction for hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis. In animal experiments， a composite rat model of hyperuricemia induced by intraperitoneal injection of oteracil potassium combined with gouty arthritis induced by the modified Coderre method was established. Through hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining， uric acid test， enzyme linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）， Western blot， and real-time polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR）， the molecular mechanism and key targets of Buyang Huanwu Tongfeng decoction for treating hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis were observed. ResultsAfter screening and removing duplicate values， 76 active ingredients and 15 key targets were finally obtained. GO enrichment analysis yielded that the treatment of hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis with Buyang Huanwu Tongfeng decoction was significantly associated with acute inflammatory response， astrocyte activation， regulation of interleukin （IL）-8 production， nuclear receptor activity， and binding of growth factor receptor. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis obtained that the key target genes were significantly associated with the IL-17 signaling pathway， advanced glycosylation end/receptor of advanced glycation endproducts（AGE/RAGE） signaling pathway， anti-inflammatory， and other pathways. PPI network indicated that albumin（ALB）， peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ （PPAR-γ）， IL-6， IL-1β， and C-reactive protein（CRP） were the key protein targets. The molecular docking results showed that ALB had the strongest binding force with beta-carotene （β-carotene）. Biochemical results showed that blood uric acid decreased in the Buyang Huanwu Tongfeng decoction groups. HE staining results showed that the low-dose （7.76 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， medium-dose （15.53 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， and high-dose （31.05 g·kg^-1·d^-1） groups of Buyang Huanwu Tongfeng decoction had different degrees of remission， and the remission of the high-dose group was the most obvious. Fibroblastic tissue hyperplasia in synovial joints accompanied with inflammatory cell infiltration， as well as inflammatory cell infiltration in renal tissue of the high-dose group was significantly reduced， followed by the medium-dose and low-dose groups， and the expression of ALB， PPAR-γ， IL-6， IL-1β， and CRP was down-regulated to different degrees. ConclusionBy regulating the targets such as ALB， PPAR-γ， IL-6， IL-1β， and CRP， inhibiting the PPAR-γ/nuclear transcription factor （NF）-κB pathway， and reducing AGEs/RAGE-mediated inflammation， Buyang Huanwu Tongfeng decoction exerts anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects and activates blood circulation and diuresis in the treatment of hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis.

ObjectiveIn the realm of forensic science, dust is a valuable type of trace evidence with immense potential for intricate investigations. With the development of DNA sequencing technologies, there is a heightened interest among researchers in unraveling the complex tapestry of microbial communities found within dust samples. Furthermore, striking disparities in the microbial community composition have been noted among dust samples from diverse geographical regions, heralding new possibilities for geographical inference based on microbial DNA analysis. The pivotal role of microbial community data from dust in geographical inference is significant, underscoring its critical importance within the field of forensic science. This study aims to delve deeply into the nuances of fungal community composition across the urban landscapes of Beijing, Fuzhou, Kunming, and Urumqi in China. It evaluates the accuracy of biogeographic inference facilitated by the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) fungal sequencing while concurrently laying a robust foundation for the operational integration of environmental DNA into geographical inference mechanisms. MethodsITS2 region of the fungal genomes was amplified using universal primers known as 5.8S-Fun/ITS4-Fun, and the resulting DNA fragments were sequenced on the Illumina MiSeq FGx platform. Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis (NMDS) was employed to visually represent the differences between samples, while analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) and permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) were utilized to statistically evaluate the dissimilarities in community composition across samples. Furthermore, using Linear Discriminant Analysis Effect Size (LEfSe) analysis to identify and filter out species that exhibit significant differences between various cities. In addition, we leveraged SourceTracker to predict the geographic origins of the dust samples. ResultsAmong the four cities of Beijing, Fuzhou, Kunming and Urumqi, Beijing has the highest species richness. The results of species annotation showed that there were significant differences in the species composition and relative abundance of fungal communities in the four cities. NMDS analysis revealed distinct clustering patterns of samples based on their biogeographic origins in multidimensional space. Samples from the same city exhibited clear clustering, while samples from different cities showed separation along the first axis. The results from ANOSIM and PERMANOVA confirmed the significant differences in fungal community composition between the four cities, with the most pronounced distinctions observed between Fuzhou and Urumqi. Notably, the biogeographic origins of all known dust samples were successfully predicted. ConclusionSignificant differences are observed in the fungal species composition and relative abundance among the cities of Beijing, Fuzhou, Kunming, and Urumqi. Employing fungal ITS2 sequencing on dust samples from these urban areas enables accurate inference of biogeographical locations. The high feasibility of utilizing fungal community data in dust for biogeographical inferences holds particular promise in the field of forensic science.

Objective:To investigate the current situation of satisfaction with graduate education among recent medical graduates in China, and analyze the differences between different populations, and to propose countermeasures and suggestions.Methods:From June to July 2023, a self-made questionnaire was used to survey 16 903 medical graduates who had recently earned a post-graduate degree from 78 institutions about their satisfaction with curriculum sessions, practical sessions, research training, tutoring, and institutional management. The degrees of satisfaction with education among different populations were compared through the t test and analysis of variance with the use of SPSS 26.0. Results:The scores of satisfaction of the graduates with tutoring, curriculum sessions, practical sessions, institutional management, and research training were 4.44, 4.03, 4.02, 3.90, and 3.82, respectively. Satisfaction scores for individual dimensions were significantly higher for males, doctors, non-transfers, comprehensive universities, non-agricultural household registration, moderate-to-high annual household income per capita, parents with high educational levels, and parents with mid- or senior-level occupations ( P<0.05). Conclusions:There is room for improvement in students' satisfaction with medical graduate education. To improve the quality of medical graduate education, attention should be paid to key populations, education policies, school management, and tutoring to provide appropriate education for different students.

Objective:To analyze the role of learning engagement and learning burnout in the relationship between supervisors' guidance and the personal ability of postgraduates in the Professional Master's Program in Clinical Medicine.Methods:A total of 4 016 postgraduates in the Professional Master's Program in Clinical Medicine from 61 colleges were surveyed in 2020. Common method bias was assessed using the Harman's single factor test and total score was determined by the entropy weight method. Causality and mediation effect were analyzed by linear regression, and mediation effect was tested by Bootstrapping.Results:The average scores of supervisors' guidance, learning burnout, learning engagement and personal ability were (4.13±0.87), (2.49±1.11), (3.88±0.83), and (3.71±0.78), respectively. Supervisors' guidance significantly and positively impacted learning engagement ( β=0.689, P<0.001) and personal ability ( β=0.504, P<0.001). Learning engagement played a partial mediating role (89.30% of mediation effect) between supervisors' guidance and personal ability. Learning burnout (interaction term β=0.078, P<0.001) positively regulated the relationship between supervisors' guidance and learning engagement. Conclusions:Learning engagement can mediate the effect of supervisors' guidance on the personal ability of postgraduates in the Professional Master's Program in Clinical Medicine, and learning burnout positively regulates the effect of supervisors' guidance on learning engagement. Strengthened supervisors' guidance, increased attention to students' learning burnout, and enhanced learning engagement can further improve the personal abilities of postgraduates in the Professional Master's Program in Clinical Medicine.

Objective:To investigate the "burnout-engagement continuum" status of postgraduate supervisors of the Professional Master's Program in Clinical Medicine and to identify key populations.Methods:From October to November 2023, an anonymous online questionnaire survey was conducted to determine the "burnout-engagement continuum" status of postgraduate supervisors of the Professional Master's Program in Clinical Medicine. The scores of different dimensions of job burnout are expressed as mean±standard deviation, and the distribution of supervisors of different status is presented in frequency and percentage. All data analyses were performed in R 4.3.1. Distribution of the five profiles among supervisors of different status was compared using the chi-square test and compared pairwise using the Bonferroni method.Results:A total of 2 664 valid questionnaires were collected. The scores of emotional exhaustion, cynicism and personal accomplishment were（2.46±0.95),（1.74±0.89), and（4.23±0.90), respectively. The prevalence of job engagement, inefficacy, overexertion, disengagement, and burnout among the supervisors were 42.76%（1 139/2 664), 43.54%（1 160/2 664), 33.03%（880/2 664), 14.71%（392/2 664), and 13.66%（364/2 664), respectively. In terms of demographics, the distribution of the "burnout-engagement continuum" was significantly different by age, sex, marital status, and highest education level（ P<0.05). In terms of work-related characteristics, the distribution of the "burnout-engagement continuum" was significantly different by income, professional title, administrative position, and working hours on weekdays and holidays（ P<0.05). The distribution of engagement, inefficacy, and overexertion was significantly different between the eastern and western regions（ P<0.05). Conclusions:There is a high percentage of individuals with burnout among postgraduate supervisors of the Professional Master's Program in Clinical Medicine, and inefficacy is a common negative state. Supervisors who work in the western regions, are under 45 years of age, are male, are married, have a doctorate degree, hold associate senior professional title, have lower relative income, are not holding administrative duties, and work more than 10 hours on workdays and more than 4 hours on holidays are key populations that require increased attention. The psychological state of supervisors can be improved by providing them with more resources, work benefits, and incentives.

Objective:To investigate the satisfaction with team construction and occupational burnout among postgraduate supervisors in clinical medicine in China, and to analyze the relationship of the above two factors with the willingness to hold a position again in the school.Methods:A survey covering 3 409 postgraduate supervisors in clinical medicine across 33 colleges and universities was conducted. Analysis of variance, multiple linear regression analysis, and logistic regression analysis were performed to explore the relationship of satisfaction with team construction and occupational burnout with the willingness to hold a position again in the school among supervisors.Results:In various dimensions of satisfaction with team construction among postgraduate supervisors in clinical medicine, the mechanism of selection scored the highest (4.74±0.53), followed by indicators for selection (4.71±0.56), supervisor training (4.66±0.58), supervisor assessment (4.64±0.65), incentives for teaching (4.61±0.65), and career development (4.56±0.74). Indicators for selection ( OR=2.121) and career development ( OR=2.461) were positively correlated with supervisors' willingness to hold a position again in the school. The degree of being cynical, one of the assessment dimensions of occupational burnout, played a partially mediating role between satisfaction with supervisor team construction and the willingness to hold a position again in the school. Conclusions:Postgraduate supervisors in clinical medicine in China are generally satisfied with supervisor team construction. The degree of their satisfaction and occupational burnout influence their willingness to hold a position again in the school. Therefore, colleges and universities should optimize indicators for selection and provide more diverse career development opportunities for supervisors to enhance supervisors' satisfaction and loyalty.

Objective:To understand the evaluation of graduate education quality by medical graduate supervisors in China, to identify the shortcomings of graduate education quality, and to put forward corresponding suggestions.Methods:From October to November 2023, a self-designed questionnaire was used to investigate the evaluation of school management, supervisor team construction, graduate training process, and graduate training results by 6 025 medical graduate supervisors from 37 universities in China. SPSS 26.0 was used to conduct t-test and analysis of variance to explore the differences in scores given by different supervisor groups for various aspects. Results:The scores given by medical graduate supervisors for school management, supervisor team construction, graduate training process, and graduate training results were (4.63±0.60), (4.59±0.62), (4.58±0.59), and (4.54±0.62), respectively. Supervisors who work in clinical medicine, aged 46-55 years, with 5 or fewer years of teaching experience, supervising master's students, instructing only professional degree students, instructing three or fewer students, holding a bachelor's degree as their highest degree, with the title of professor, holding an administrative position, and working an average of 8-9 hours per day on weekdays and 4 or fewer hours per day on holidays, gave higher scores on all aspects of graduate education quality ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The supervisors gave high scores on the quality of medical graduate education. It is suggested that the quality of graduate education should be continuously improved by optimizing school management systems, strengthening the construction of supervisory teams, and focusing on the process and results of graduate education.

Objective:To investigate the current status of and relationship between practice efficacy, professional identity, and anxiety among public health master's graduates.Methods:From a national survey on the satisfaction with education of fresh medical master's graduates conducted from June to July, 2022, we selected 461 master's graduates of public health with internship experience from 49 institutions. With the use of SPSS 21.0, we compared the scores of practice efficacy, professional identity, and self-rated anxiety by personal characteristics through t-tests and analysis of variance; and explored the mediating role of anxiety in the relationship between practice efficacy and professional identity through stratified regression analysis. Results:The public health master's graduates scored (3.47±1.23) points for anxiety, (3.92±0.88) points for practice efficacy, and (4.33±0.77) points for professional identity. The score of anxiety differed significantly by sex, the degree of being affected by public health emergencies/major outbreaks, and internship initiative (all P<0.05). The score of practice efficacy was significantly different by sex, the type of institution, the degree of being affected by public health emergencies/major outbreaks, and internship initiative (all P<0.05). The score of professional identity differed significantly by sex, the type of institution, major transfer, the degree of being affected by public health emergencies/major outbreaks, internship initiative, and internship duration (all P<0.05). Professional identity was positively correlated with practice efficacy ( r=0.652, P<0.01) and negatively correlated with anxiety ( r=-0.213, P<0.05). The stratified regression results showed that practice efficacy positively influenced professional identity ( β=0.782, P<0.001), and anxiety partially mediated the relationship between the two ( β=-0.104, P<0.05). Conclusions:Anxiety plays a mediating role in the relationship between practice efficacy and professional identity, suggesting that reducing anxiety can help enhance practice efficacy to promote the professional identity of public health master's graduates.

Objective:To investigate the enrollment scale and distribution of Master's Degree in Pediatrics programs in China, and to provide a reference for promoting pediatric education and disciplinary development.Methods:Data on colleges and universities authorized to award Master's Degree in Pediatrics in 2023 were collected, sorted, and analyzed for the number, structure, distribution, and enrollment scale and direction of these institutions using descriptive statistics.Results:Among the 117 clinical medicine academic master's degree programs in China, 72 enroll pediatric academic master's degree candidates, with an enrollment of 260 students. Among the 120 master's degree programs in clinical medicine, 104 enroll professional master's degree candidates, enrolling 1 195 students. Enrollment is mainly concentrated in East China, "non-double first-class" colleges and universities, medical colleges and universities with subject level B, and enrollment is carried out in the direction of secondary disciplines.Conclusions:The number of colleges and universities authorized to award Master's Degree in Pediatrics was small, and the distribution of these colleges and universities was unbalanced. The enrollment scale was small and the orientation of Professional Master's Degree was not reasonable. Some colleges and universities were authorized to award Master's Degree in Pediatrics, but did not enroll any students. It is suggested to increase the number of colleges and universities authorized to award Master's Degree in Pediatrics and strengthen the staffing of pediatric departments. The aim is to expand the enrollment scale of candidates for Master's Degree in Pediatrics, improving the differential training of candidates for Academic Master's Degree and Professional Master's Degree, and attach importance to the construction of pediatrics.

Objective:To analyze the scores and differences of various aspects of public health graduate education management in China, and to provide suggestions for universities to enhance graduate education management.Methods:Based on the data from the 2021 National Survey on Education Satisfaction and Job Evaluation of Medical Graduate Supervisors, we described the public health graduate education management in China from the five perspectives of student enrollment, curriculum, practice, research, and school management. The t-test and analysis of variance were used to analyze the differences in individual characteristics. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze factors influencing the scores of public health graduate education management. Results:Supervisors gave the highest score to curriculum and teaching (mean score, 4.00±0.77), followed by management system and input (mean score, 3.97±0.87), research conditions and achievements (mean score, 3.93±0.80), practical education conditions and effects (mean score, 3.80±0.91), and discipline attractiveness and enrollment quality (mean score, 3.70±0.84). Supervisors who supervised professional degrees, doctoral students, and located in the eastern region gave relatively high scores to public health graduate education, and those with associate professor titles gave relatively low scores.Conclusions:The quality of students recruited for public health graduate education needs to be improved, curriculum design and teaching method need to be adjusted, practice conditions need to be improved, research funding is insufficient, and the construction of academic communication platforms needs to be improved. The relevant universities/colleges need to strengthen the management and increase the investment to promote the high-quality development of public health graduate education.