ObjectiveTo characterize the seasonal patterns of influenza in Kunming City, Yunnan Province before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and provide scientific evidence for optimizing influenza prevention and control strategies. MethodsInfluenza-like illness (ILI) and etiological surveillance data for influenza from the 14^th week of 2010 to the 13^th week of 2024 in Kunming City of Yunnan Province were collected. Harmonic regression models were constructed to analyze the epidemic characteristics and seasonal patterns of influenza before (2010/2011‒2019/2020 influenza seasons), during (2020/2021‒2022/2023 influenza seasons), and after (2023/2024 influenza season) the COVID-19 pandemic. ResultsBefore the COVID-19 pandemic, influenza in Kunming City mainly exhibited an annual cyclic pattern without a significant semi-annual periodicity, peaking from December to February of the next year, with an epidemic duration of 20‒30 weeks. During the pandemic, influenza seasonality shifted, with an increase in semi-annual periodicity and an approximate one month delay in annual peaks. However, after the pandemic, the annual amplitude of influenza increased compared with that before the pandemic, and the epidemic duration extended by about one month. Although the annual peak largely reverted to the pre-pandemic levels, the annual peaks for different influenza subtypes/lineages had not fully recovered. ConclusionInfluenza seasonality in Kunming City underwent substantial alterations following the COVID-19 pandemic and has not yet fully reverted to pre-pandemic levels. Continuous surveillance on different subtypes/lineages of influenza viruses remains essential, and prevention and control strategies should be adjusted and optimized in a timely manner based on current epidemic trends.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pill (STDP) in treating stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome by exercise duration and metabolic equivalents. METHODS: This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial enrolled stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome from 22 hospitals. They were randomized 1:1 to STDP (35 mg/pill, 6 pills per day) or placebo for 56 days. The primary outcome was the exercise duration and metabolic equivalents (METs) assessed by the standard Bruce exercise treadmill test after 56 days of treatment. The secondary outcomes included the total angina symptom score, Chinese medicine (CM) symptom scores, Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) scores, changes in ST-T on electrocardiogram and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: This trial enrolled 309 patients, including 155 and 154 in the STDP and placebo groups, respectively. STDP significantly prolonged exercise duration with an increase of 51.0 s, compared to a decrease of 12.0 s with placebo (change rate: -11.1% vs. 3.2%, P<0.01). The increase in METs was significantly greater in the STDP group than in the placebo group (change: -0.4 vs. 0.0, change rate: -5.0% vs. 0.0%, P<0.01). The improvement of total angina symptom scores (25.0% vs. 0.0%), CM symptom scores (38.7% vs. 11.8%), reduction of nitroglycerin consumption (100.0% vs. 11.3%), and all domains of SAQ, were significantly greater with STDP than placebo (all P<0.01). The changes in Q-T intervals at 28 and 56 days from baseline were similar between the two groups (both P>0.05). Twenty-five participants (16.3%) with STDP and 16 (10.5%) with placebo experienced AEs (P=0.131), with no serious AEs observed. CONCLUSION STDP could improve exercise tolerance in patients with stable angina and phlegm-heat and blood stasis syndrome, with a favorable safety profile. (Registration No. ChiCTR-IPR-15006020).
Humans ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Angina, Stable/physiopathology* ; Aged ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome ; Placebos ; Tablets

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the primary fibrogenic cells in the liver, and their activation plays a crucial role in the development and progression of hepatic fibrosis. Here, we report that retinoid X receptor-alpha (RXRα), a unique member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is a key modulator of HSC activation and liver fibrosis. RXRα exerts its effects by modulating calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase β (CaMKKβ)-mediated activation of AMP-activated protein kinase-alpha (AMPKα). In addition, we demonstrate that K-80003, which binds RXRα by a unique mechanism, effectively suppresses HSC activation, proliferation, and migration, thereby inhibiting liver fibrosis in the CCl₄ and amylin liver NASH (AMLN) diet animal models. The effect is mediated by AMPKα activation, promoting mitophagy in HSCs. Mechanistically, K-80003 activates AMPKα by inducing RXRα to form condensates with CaMKKβ and AMPKα via a two-phase process. The formation of RXRα condensates is driven by its N-terminal intrinsic disorder region and requires phosphorylation by CaMKKβ. Our results reveal a crucial role of RXRα in liver fibrosis regulation through modulating mitochondrial activities in HSCs. Furthermore, they suggest that K-80003 and related RXRα modulators hold promise as therapeutic agents for fibrosis-related diseases.

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP), whose etiology is influenced by genetic and clinical risk factors, considerably impacts women's quality of life. However, the genetic underpinnings in non-European populations and comprehensive risk models integrating genetic and clinical factors remain underexplored. This study constructed the first polygenic risk score (PRS) for POP in the Chinese population by utilizing 20 disease-associated variants from the largest existing genome-wide association study. We analyzed a discovery cohort of 576 cases and 623 controls and a validation cohort of 264 cases and 200 controls. Results showed that the case group exhibited a significantly higher PRS than the control group. Moreover, the odds ratio of the top 10% risk group was 2.6 times higher than that of the bottom 10%. A high PRS was significantly correlated with POP occurrence in women older than 50 years old and in those with one or no childbirths. As far as we know, the integrated prediction model, which combined PRS and clinical risk factors, demonstrated better predictive accuracy than other existing PRS models. This combined risk assessment model serves as a robust tool for POP risk prediction and stratification, thereby offering insights into individualized preventive measures and treatment strategies in future clinical practice.
Humans ; Female ; Pelvic Organ Prolapse/epidemiology* ; Middle Aged ; Risk Assessment/methods* ; China/epidemiology* ; Multifactorial Inheritance ; Aged ; Risk Factors ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Case-Control Studies ; Adult ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Genetic Risk Score ; East Asian People

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of daratumumab based regimens in relapse and/or refractory multiple myeloma(RRMM)in the real world,as well as the impact of daratumumab on stem cell collection and engraftment.Methods:The clinical data of patients with RRMM who received daratumumab in hematology department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University from February 2019 to March 2023 and had evaluable efficacy were retrospective analysis.Results:All 43 RRMM patients were treated with daratumumab-based combination regimens,including Dd,DVd,DRd,Dkd,DId,and Dara-DECP.With median follow-up time 10.1(2.1-36.6)months,the best overall response rate(ORR)was 74.4％and a best complete response rate(CR)was 25.6％.1-year overall survival rate(OS)was 84.5％.The most common severe hematologic adverse events(Grade＞3)are 3/4 grade leukopenia(18.6％),and the most common severe non-hematologic adverse events were infusion-related reactions(IRRs,20.9％)and infections(7.0％).Multivariate prognostic analysis showed that extramedullary infiltration was an independent adverse prognostic factor affecting OS(P=0.004).The use of daratumumab has no effect on stem cell collection,or engraftment.Conclusion:Daratumumab is safe and effective in RRMM.

Background::There is a need for effective and safe therapies for psoriasis that provide sustained benefits. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of tildrakizumab, an anti-interleukin-23p19 monoclonal antibody, for treating moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in Chinese patients.Methods::In this multi-center, double-blind, phase III trial, patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis were enrolled and randomly assigned (1:1) to receive subcutaneous tildrakizumab 100 mg or placebo at weeks 0 and 4. Patients initially assigned to placebo were switched to receive tildrakizumab at weeks 12, 16, and every 12 weeks thereafter. Patients in the tildrakizumab group continued with tildrakizumab at week 16, and every 12 weeks until week 52. The primary endpoint was the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 75) response rate at week 12.Results::At week 12, tildrakizumab demonstrated significantly higher PASI 75 response rates (66.4% [73/110] vs. 12.7% [14/110]; difference, 51.4% [95% confidence interval (CI), 40.72, 62.13]; P <0.001) and Physician’s Global Assessment (60.9% [67/110] vs. 10.0% [11/110]; difference, 49.1% [95% CI, 38.64, 59.62]; P <0.001) compared to placebo. PASI 75 response continued to improve over time in both tildrakizumab and placebo-switching to tildrakizumab groups, reaching maximal efficacy after 28 weeks (86.8% [92/106] vs. 82.4% [89/108]) and maintained up to 52 weeks (91.3% [95/104] vs. 87.4% [90/103]). Most treatment-emergent adverse events were mild and not related to tildrakizumab. Conclusion::Tildrakizumab demonstrated durable efficacy through week 52 and was well tolerated in Chinese patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.Trial registration::ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05108766.

Objective:To explore the cerebral cortical mechanism of intravesical electrical stimulation (IVES) on neurogenic underactive bladder (UAB).Methods:A prospective study was conducted on healthy subjects (HS) recruited in our center and patients with neurogenic UAB treated with IVES from March 2022 to June 2023 were included. HS inclusion criteria: females aged 18-60 years; the 72-hour voiding diary was normal; the urine volume was 200-400 ml, and the free urine flow rate > 20 ml/s. HS exclusion criteria: urinary and neurological related disorders; major diseases of all systems of the body; cognitive dysfunction. Inclusion criteria for UAB patients: females aged 18-60 years; neurogenic UAB due to incomplete spinal cord injury (grade D or E) with a duration of > 3 months; previous routine use of intermittent catheterization, or indication of intermittent catheterization (residual urine accounts for > 40% of functional bladder capacity). Exclusion criteria for UAB patients: decreased bladder compliance on urodynamic examination; symptomatic urinary tract infection; concomitant hydronephrosis, vesicoureteral reflux or renal insufficiency (serum creatinine greater than 1.5 times of the normal upper limit); bladder tumors; neurological related diseases; pregnant or trying to conceive; a pacemaker or defibrillator has been implanted in the body. At baseline, the 24-hour voiding diary, residual urine, voiding efficiency, first sensation of bladder filling volume and American Urological Association Symptom Index Quality of Life scores(AUA-SI-QOL)were recorded, and the resting state-functional near-infrared spectroscopy scans of the prefrontal cortex was completed in the bladder emptying state and the strong desire to void stage. The UAB group was re-evaluated after completing 20 IVES treatments. Improvement in residual urine > 50% was defined as success of IVES treatment. The differences in functional connectivity in the prefrontal lobe between the successful UAB group before and after IVES and between the successful UAB group and the HS group were compared.Results:A total of 16 HS and 18 UAB patients were included. Eleven UAB patients were successfully treated by IVES, and 7 UAB patients were failed. Compared with pre-treatment, the post-treatment residual urine volume [90.0(50.0, 120.0) ml vs. 210.0(110.0, 300.0) ml], 24-h intermittent catheterization [3.0(2.0, 4.0) times vs. 4.0(3.0, 4.0) times], first sensation of bladder filling volume [275.0(245.0, 280.0) ml vs. 295.0 (290.0, 315.0) ml] and AUA-SI-QOL score [2.0 (2.0, 3.0) vs. 4.0 (4.0, 4.0)] of the successful UAB group were significantly lower ( P<0.05), and the voiding efficiency [75.0% (69.0%, 85.0%) vs. 42.0% (35.0%, 77.0%)] was significantly higher ( P< 0.05). Before IVES, the successful UAB group compared with the HS group, internal prefrontal functional connectivity was significantly attenuated in the bladder emptying state involving 5 brain regions: bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), bilateral frontopolar area, and left pars triangularis. And in the strong desire to void stage significantly attenuated involving 4 brain regions: bilateral DLPFC and bilateral frontopolar area. In the successful UAB group after IVES compared with the HS group, internal prefrontal functional connectivity was significantly attenuated in the bladder emptying state involving 2 brain regions: left pars triangularis and left DLPFC. And in the strong desire to void stage involving 4 brain regions: left DLPFC, right frontopolar area, the left pars opercularis Broca's area, and the left pars triangularis. After IVES in the successful UAB group compared with pretreatment, prefrontal internal functional connectivity was significantly enhanced in the bladder emptying state involving 4 brain regions: bilateral DLPFC and bilateral frontopolar area, and in the strong desire to void stage involving 4 brain regions: bilateral DLPFC, bilateral frontopolar area. Conclusions:Significant enhancement of functional connectivity within the prefrontal lobes (bilateral DLPFC and bilateral frontopolar area) may be the cortical mechanism of IVES for neurogenic UAB.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of a wearable percutaneous tibial nerve stimulator (TTNS) for tibial neuromodulation (TNM) in the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB).Methods:This research utilizes a single-center, prospective, open clinical trial design. Patients with OAB who were treated at the urology outpatient department of Beijing Bo’ai Hospital from July 2023 to June 2024 were enrolled. All patients met the diagnostic criteria for OAB. All patients received a transcutaneous tibial nerve regulation stimulation therapy, with a frequency of 20 Hz and a pulse width of 0.2 ms. The treatment lasted for 30 minutes each session, twice daily, for a duration of 12 weeks. Follow up evaluations were conducted at weeks 4, 8, and 12 after treatment, including a 72-hour voiding diary, Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS), patient perception of bladder condition scale (PPBC-S) score, American Urological Association Symptom Index (AUA-SI) score, American Urological Association Symptom Index Quality of Life Score (AUA-SI-QOL) score, vital signs, and adverse events.Results:This study included 68 patients, with 28 males and 40 females. Their mean age was (49.6±9.0) years old, the body mass index was(23.2 ± 2.5) kg/m 2. The duration of the disease was(42.0±14.4)months. After 12 weeks of intervention, patient's daily urination frequency decreased from (18.5 ± 3.9) times to (10.3 ± 4.5) times, nocturia frequency decreased from (6.5±2.2) times to (3.9±2.0) times, daily urine leakage decreased from (796.5±140.0) ml to (534.8±135.8)ml, OABSS decreased from (12.6±2.8) to (9.8±3.8), PPBC-S decreased from (5.5±0.6) to (3.8±1.2), AUA-SI decreased from (25.5±2.2) to (16.6±3.6), and AUA-SI-QOL decreased from (5.5±0.5) to (3.7±1.1). The differences in the above indicators before and after treatment were statistically significant ( P<0.05). During the treatment process, there were no serious adverse events related to the equipment, and no neurological related adverse events such as numbness or tingling occurred. Conclusions:The application of wearable percutaneous tibial nerve stimulators in TNM can effectively alleviate OAB symptoms like frequent urination and urgency, with minimal adverse reactions, offering a new treatment option for OAB patients.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between diabetic nephropathy(DN)and diabetic retinopathy(DR)in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)based on imaging and clinical testing data.Methods Totally 600 T2DM patients who visited the First People's Hospital of Ziyang from March 2021 to December 2022 were included.The fundus photography and fundus fluorescein angiography were performed on all these patients and their age,gender,T2DM duration,cardiovascular diseases,cerebrovascular disease,hypertension,smoking history,drinking history,body mass in-dex,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure and other clinical data were collected.The levels of fasting blood glu-cose(FPG),triglyceride(TG),total cholesterol(TC),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),low-density lipo-protein cholesterol(LDL-C),glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c),24 h urinary albumin(UAlb),urinary albumin to creati-nine ratio(ACR),serum creatinine(Scr)and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)were measured.Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors associated with DR.DR staging was performed according to fundus images,and the convolutional neural network(CNN)algorithm was used as an image analysis method to explore the correlation between DR and DN based on emission computed tomography(ECT)and clinical testing data.Results The average lesion area rates of DR and DN detected by the CNN in the non-DR,mild-non-proliferative DR(NPDR),moderate-NPDR,severe-NPDR and pro-liferative DR(PDR)groups were higher than those obtained by the traditional algorithm(TCM).As DR worsened,the Scr,BUN,24 h UAlb and ACR gradually increased.Besides,the incidence of DN in the non-DR,mild-NPDR,moderate-NPDR,severe-NPDR and PDR groups was 1.67％,8.83％,16.16％,22.16％and 30.83％,respectively.Logistic regression analysis showed that the duration of T2DM,smoking history,HbA1c,TC,TG,HDL-C,LDL-C,24 h UAlb,Scr,BUN,ACR and glomerular filtration rate(GFR)were independent risk factors for DR.Renal dynamic ECT analysis demonstrated that with the aggravation of DR,renal blood flow perfusion gradually decreased,resulting in diminished renal filtration.Conclusion The application of CCN in the early stage DR and DN image analysis of T2DM patients will improve the diag-nosis accuracy of DR and DN lesion area.The DN is worsening as the aggravation of DR.