AIM: To quantify early changes of macular capillary parameters in type 2 diabetic patients using optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA).METHODS: Retrospective case study. A total of 49 healthy subjects, 52 diabetic patients without retinopathy(noDR)patients, and 43 mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy(mNPDR)patients were recruited. Capillary perfusion density, vessel length density(VLD), and average vessel diameter(AVD)were calculated from macular OCTA images(3 mm×3 mm)of the superficial capillary plexus after segmenting large vessels and the deep capillary plexus. Parameters were compared among control subjects, noDR, and mNPDR patients. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve estimated the abilities of these parameters to detect early changes of retinal microvascular networks.RESULTS: Significant differences were found in the VLD and AVD among the three groups(P<0.001). Compared with the control group, the noDR group had significantly higher AVD(P<0.05). VLD of both layers in patients of mNPDR group was significant decreased compared with that of noDR group(all P<0.01). Deep AVD had a higher area under the curve(AUC)of 0.796 than other parameters to discriminate the noDR group from the healthy group. Deep AVD had the highest AUC of 0.920, followed by that of the deep VLD(AUC=0.899)to discriminate the mNPDR group from the healthy group.CONCLUSIONS: NoDR patients had wider AVD than healthy individuals and longer VLD than mNPDR patients in both layers. When compared with healthy individuals, deep AVD had a stronger ability than other parameters to detect early retinal capillary impairments in noDR patients.

The biological clock(also known as the circadian rhythm)is the fundamental reliance for all organisms on Earth to adapt and survive in the Earth's rotation environment.Circadian rhythm is the most basic regulatory mechanism of life activities,and plays a key role in maintaining normal physiological and biochemical homeostasis,disease occurrence and treatment.Recent studies have shown that the biologi-cal clock plays an important role in the development of oral tissues and in the occurrence and treatment of oral diseases.Since there is cur-rently no guiding literature on the research methods of biological clock in stomatology,researchers mainly conduct research based on pub-lished references,which has led to controversy about the research methods of biological clock in stomatology,and there are many confusions about how to rationally apply the research methods of circadia rhythms.In view of this,this expert consensus summarizes the characteristics of the biological clock and analyzes the shortcomings of the current biological clock research in stomatology,and organizes relevant experts to summarize and recommend 10 principles as a reference for the rational implementation of the biological clock in stomatology research.

Objective:To analyze the change in human resources within China′s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 2010 to 2020.Methods:The self-reported information from provincial, prefectural (city), and county (district) levels of China′s CDC, covering employee counts, staff composition, professional qualifications, educational backgrounds, technical titles, and tenure, were extracted from the China Disease Prevention and Control Information System. The demographic context was provided by the annual population figures from the China Statistical Yearbook (2010-2020). The profile of CDC personnel was described, and the average annual percentage rate change (AAPC), average annual percentage rate change (APC), human resource agglomeration degree (HRAD) and the difference between HRAD and population agglomeration degree (PAD) were calculated. The Joinpoint regression model was used to analyze the time trend.Results:The decade under review witnessed a net increase of 17 300 active and 18 300 enrolled personnel in the CDC, surpassing the national population growth rate with AAPCs of 0.93% and 1.03%, respectively. This upward trajectory was statistically significant ( P<0.05). The ratio of disease control personnel per 10 000 population escalated from 1.14 to 1.21. An initial decline in active CDC workforce density (from 1.31 to 1.27 per 10 000 population between 2010 and 2017) was followed by an increase (from 1.28 to 1.37 between 2018 and 2020), with APCs of -0.40% and 3.73%, respectively. The proportion of professional and technical staff in 2019 was highest in the eastern region (86.01%), followed by the western (83.75%) and central regions (79.54%). The period also saw an enhancement in the average academic degree (from 1.91 to 2.43 points) and professional title scores (from 1.39 to 1.53 points) of CDC personnel. While the average tenure in the eastern and western regions showed a slight decline, the central region experienced an increase, with HRAD values indicating a higher concentration in the eastern and central regions compared to the western region. The HRAD-PAD discrepancy revealed a negative value in the eastern region, nearing zero in the central and western regions. Conclusion:Between 2010 and 2020, China′s CDC experienced notable growth in human resources and underwent structural optimization, albeit with significant regional disparities in concentration.

Objective:To analyze the change in human resources within China′s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 2010 to 2020.Methods:The self-reported information from provincial, prefectural (city), and county (district) levels of China′s CDC, covering employee counts, staff composition, professional qualifications, educational backgrounds, technical titles, and tenure, were extracted from the China Disease Prevention and Control Information System. The demographic context was provided by the annual population figures from the China Statistical Yearbook (2010-2020). The profile of CDC personnel was described, and the average annual percentage rate change (AAPC), average annual percentage rate change (APC), human resource agglomeration degree (HRAD) and the difference between HRAD and population agglomeration degree (PAD) were calculated. The Joinpoint regression model was used to analyze the time trend.Results:The decade under review witnessed a net increase of 17 300 active and 18 300 enrolled personnel in the CDC, surpassing the national population growth rate with AAPCs of 0.93% and 1.03%, respectively. This upward trajectory was statistically significant ( P<0.05). The ratio of disease control personnel per 10 000 population escalated from 1.14 to 1.21. An initial decline in active CDC workforce density (from 1.31 to 1.27 per 10 000 population between 2010 and 2017) was followed by an increase (from 1.28 to 1.37 between 2018 and 2020), with APCs of -0.40% and 3.73%, respectively. The proportion of professional and technical staff in 2019 was highest in the eastern region (86.01%), followed by the western (83.75%) and central regions (79.54%). The period also saw an enhancement in the average academic degree (from 1.91 to 2.43 points) and professional title scores (from 1.39 to 1.53 points) of CDC personnel. While the average tenure in the eastern and western regions showed a slight decline, the central region experienced an increase, with HRAD values indicating a higher concentration in the eastern and central regions compared to the western region. The HRAD-PAD discrepancy revealed a negative value in the eastern region, nearing zero in the central and western regions. Conclusion:Between 2010 and 2020, China′s CDC experienced notable growth in human resources and underwent structural optimization, albeit with significant regional disparities in concentration.

Complex systems exist widely,including medicines from natural products,functional foods,and bio-logical samples.The biological activity of complex systems is often the result of the synergistic effect of multiple components.In the quality evaluation of complex samples,multicomponent quantitative analysis(MCQA)is usually needed.To overcome the difficulty in obtaining standard products,scholars have proposed achieving MCQA through the"single standard to determine multiple components(SSDMC)"approach.This method has been used in the determination of multicomponent content in natural source drugs and the analysis of impurities in chemical drugs and has been included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia.Depending on a convenient(ultra)high-performance liquid chromatography method,how can the repeatability and robustness of the MCQA method be improved?How can the chromatography conditions be optimized to improve the number of quantitative components?How can computer software technology be introduced to improve the efficiency of multicomponent analysis(MCA)?These are the key problems that remain to be solved in practical MCQA.First,this review article summarizes the calculation methods of relative correction factors in the SSDMC approach in the past five years,as well as the method robustness and accuracy evaluation.Second,it also summarizes methods to improve peak capacity and quantitative accuracy in MCA,including column selection and two-dimensional chromatographic analysis technology.Finally,computer software technologies for predict-ing chromatographic conditions and analytical parameters are introduced,which provides an idea for intelligent method development in MCA.This paper aims to provide methodological ideas for the improvement of complex system analysis,especially MCQA.

Coronary heart disease （CHD） with atherosclerosis is a common chronic disease worldwide， and anxiety and depression are potential and crucial risk factors for adverse prognosis in CHD. Chaihu Longgu Mulitang （CLMT）， first mentioned in the Shang Han Lun （《伤寒论》）， is a classic prescription for treating Shaoyang diseases combined with disturbance of the mind and spirit， with the effects of harmonizing Shaoyang and calming the mind. Current research on mechanisms has shown that CLMT can play a role in CHD complicated with anxiety and depression through multiple pathways， including regulating related signaling pathways， inhibiting the expression of inflammatory factors， improving oxidative stress damage， modulating neurotransmitter levels， suppressing the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis， promoting mobilization of mesenchymal stem cells from the bone marrow， and inhibiting platelet activation. Clinical studies have demonstrated that CLMT significantly improves symptoms such as angina and insomnia caused by CHD complicated with anxiety and depression， effectively reduces negative emotions， improves traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores， and decreases levels of inflammatory factors. Furthermore， it has fewer adverse reactions and higher safety than conventional western medicine treatments. This article provides a review of the mechanisms and clinical studies of CLMT in the treatment of CHD complicated with anxiety and depression based on a comprehensive analysis of literature from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure （CNKI）， Wanfang Data， VIP， PubMed， and other databases in the past 15 years， in order to provide references for further research on the use of CLMT in the management of CHD complicated with anxiety and depression.

ObjectiveTo analyze the polarized light microscopic characteristics， the composition of physical phases and their relative contents of Maifanitum from different origins， and to establish the Fourier characteristic fingerprint of Maifanitum powder crystals by X-ray diffraction（XRD）. MethodA total of 26 batches of Maifanitum samples were selected， and the microscopic characteristics of the sample powders and grinding flakes were observed by polarized light microscopy under single polarized light and orthogonal polarized light， and the main phase compositions and their relative contents were analyzed by powder crystal XRD technique， and the XRD Fourier characteristic fingerprint of Maifanitum was established. The incident light source of XRD was Cu target Kβ radiation， the light tube voltage and light tube current were 40 kV and 40 mA， respectively， the divergence slit was 1°， the scattering slit was 1°， the receiving slit was 0.2 mm， the scanning speed was 5°·min^-1 with continuous scanning and scanning range of 5-90°（2θ）， and the step length was 0.02°. ResultThe polarized light micrographs of powders and grinding flakes of Maifanitum were obtained， and the main phases were plagioclase， potassium feldspar and quartz， and a few samples also contained illite， pyrite， iron dolomite， calcite， iron amphibole and chlorite， etc. The relative total content of feldspar phases was 61.9%-82.4%， and the relative content of quartz was 12.6%-33.6%. The XRD Fourier fingerprint analysis method of Maifanitum with 13 common peaks as the characteristic fingerprint information was established， and the similarity calculated by the mean correlation coefficient method was 0.920 9-0.997 7， the similarity calculated by the mean angle cosine method was 0.940 5-0.998 4， the similarity calculated by the median correlation coefficient method was 0.921 1-0.997 5， and the similarity calculated by the median angle cosine method was 0.947 5-0.998 2. ConclusionThe polarized light microscopic identification characteristics of Maifanitum are mainly plagioclase， quartz and potassium feldspar， and the technique of powder crystal XRD Fourier fingerprint analysis can be used for the identification of Maifanitum.

Objective:To investigate the value of antithrombin Ⅲ (AT-Ⅲ) in evaluating patients with decompensated hepatitis B liver cirrhosis and complicated with esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EVB).Methods:From January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2021, clinical data of 193 hospitalized patients with hepatitis B liver cirrhosis diagnosed in the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University were retrospectively analyzed, which included coagulation indicator (AT-Ⅲ), liver function indicators (total bilirubin, etc.), abdominal ultrasound results (portal vein diameter, portal vein blood flow velocity), and the occurrence of esophagogastric varices. According to the presence or absence of main complications, 193 patients with hepatitis B liver cirrhosis were divided into compensated group (60 cases) and decompensated group (133 cases). According to the presence or absence of EVB, 133 patients of decompensated group were divided into non-bleeding subgroup (96 cases) and bleeding subgroup (37 cases). The above indicators were compared among compensated group, decompensated group and their subgroups. The independent related factors of decompensated hepatitis B liver cirrhosis and EVB were analyzed. The level of AT-Ⅲ of each group were compared, and the relationship between AT-Ⅲ and Child-Pugh score was analyzed. The diagnostic capability of AT-Ⅲ in decompensated hepatitis B liver cirrhosis and complicated with EVB were analyzed. Mann-Whitney U test, independent sample t test, chi-square test, multiple logistic regression analysis, Pearson correlation analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results:The total bilirubin level of the decompensated group was higher than that of the compensated group, the portal vein diameter was larger than that of the compensated group, and the portal vein blood flow velocity was lower than that of the compensated group (31.50 μmol/L (21.90 μmol/L, 48.80 μmol/L) vs. 19.40 μmol/L (15.00 μmol/L, 25.50 μmol/L); (14.31±3.53) mm vs. (12.57±3.83) mm; (13.39±3.49) cm/s vs. (15.08±4.28) cm/s), and the differences were statistically significant ( Z=-5.76, t=-2.78 and 2.40; P<0.001, =0.006 and 0.018). The incidence of esophagogastric varices of the compensated group and the decompensated group was compared (40.0%, 24/60 vs. 87.2%, 116/133), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=64.06, P<0.001). The diameter of portal vein of the bleeding subgroup was larger than that of the non-bleeding subgroup, and the portal vein blood flow velocity was lower than that of the non-bleeding subgroup ((15.54±4.23) mm vs. (13.87±3.16) mm; (12.05±3.12) cm/s vs. (13.85±3.51) cm/s), and the differences were statistically significant ( t=-2.15 and 2.23, P=0.034 and 0.028). The AT-Ⅲ levels gradually decreased in the non-bleeding subgroup and bleeding subgroup of the compensated group and decompensated group, which were (79.52±16.02)%, (63.91±19.96)% and (35.92±13.69)%, respectively, the difference was statistically significant ( F=5.71, P=0.018). The AT-Ⅲ level of the compensated group was higher than that of the non-bleeding subgroup and the bleeding subgroup of the decompensated group, and the AT-Ⅲ level of the non-bleeding subgroup of the decompensated group was higher than that of the bleeding subgroup, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=5.11, 13.74 and 7.84, all P<0.001). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that total bilirubin and AT-Ⅲ were independent related factors of decompensation of hepatitis B liver cirrhosis ( OR (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.060 (1.018 to 1.104) and 0.945 (0.922 to 0.970), P=0.005 and <0.001). AT-Ⅲ was an independent related factor of decompensation of hepatitis B liver cirrhosis and complicated with EVB ( OR(95% CI) 0.902 (0.856 to 0.950, P<0.001). AT-Ⅲ was negatively correlated with Child-Pugh score ( r=-0.559, P<0.001). ROC analysis showed that the cut-off values of AT-Ⅲ in the diagnosis of decompensated stage of hepatitis B liver cirrhosis and complicated with EVB were 62.5% and 61.5%, the sensitivity was 88.3% and 89.2%, the specificity was 70.7% and 61.5%, and the area under the curve (95% CI) was 0.815 (0.755 to 0.874, P<0.001) and 0.899 (0.828 to 0.971, P<0.001), respectively. Conclusion:AT-Ⅲ is an important indicator in evaluating the severity of disease progression in patients with hepatitis B liver cirrhosis, and it has a certain clinical value in evaluating the bleeding tendency of patients with decompensated hepatitis B liver cirrhosis and complicated with esophagogastric varices.

Pharmaceutical analysis is a discipline based on chemical, physical, biological, and information technologies. At present, biotechnological analysis is a short branch in pharmaceutical analysis; however, bioanalysis is the basis and an important part of medicine. Biotechnological approaches can provide information on biological activity and even clinical efficacy and safety, which are important characteristics of drug quality. Because of their advantages in reflecting the overall biological effects or functions of drugs and providing visual and intuitive results, some biotechnological analysis methods have been gradually applied to pharmaceutical analysis from raw material to manufacturing and final product analysis, including DNA super-barcoding, DNA-based rapid detection, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, hyperspectral imaging combined with artificial intelligence, 3D biologically printed organoids, omics-based artificial intelligence, microfluidic chips, organ-on-a-chip, signal transduction pathway-related reporter gene assays, and the zebrafish thrombosis model. The applications of these emerging biotechniques in pharmaceutical analysis have been discussed in this review.

Objective: Plant hormones act as chemical messengers in the regulation of plant development and metabolism. The production of ginsenosides in Panax hybrid is promoted by auxins that are transported and accumulated by PIN-FORMED (PIN) and PIN-LIKES (PILS) auxin transporters. However, genome-wide studies of PIN/PILS of ginseng are still scarce. In current study, identification and transcriptional profiling of PIN/PILS gene families, as well as their potential relationship with ginsenoside biosynthesis in Panax ginseng were investigated. Methods: PIN/PILS genes in P. ginseng was identified via in silico genome-wide analysis, followed by phylogenetic relationships, gene structure, and protein profiles investigation. Moreover, previously reported RNA-sequence data from various tissues and roots after infection were utilized for PIN/PILS genes expression pattern analysis. The Pearson's correlation analysis of specific PIN/PILS genes expression level and main ginsenoside contents were taken to reveal the potential relationship between auxin transports and ginsenoside biosynthesis in P. ginseng. Results: A genome-wide search of P. ginseng genome for homologous auxin transporter genes identified a total of 17 PIN and 11 PILS genes. Sequence alignment, putative motif organization, and sub-cellular localization indicated redundant and complementary biological functions of these PIN/PILS genes. Most PIN/PILS genes were differentially expressed in a tissue-specific manner, and showed significant correlations with ginsenoside content correspondingly. Eight auxin transporter genes, including both PIN and PILS subfamily members, were positively correlated with ginsenoside content (cor > 0.60; P-value <0.05). The expression levels of eleven auxin transporter genes were increased dramatically in the early stage (0–0.5 DPI) after Cylindrocarpon destructans infection, accompanied with various overall expression patterns, implying the dynamic auxin transport in response to biotic stress. Conclusion: Based on the results, we speculate that the accumulation or depletion in temporal or spatial manner of auxin by PIN/PILS transporters involved in the regulation of HMGR activity and subsequent ginsenoside biosynthesis.