Acute hepatitis E (AHE) in the elderly can lead to severe complications including liver failure and mortality, yet the epidemiological landscape remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to assess the burden, trends, and health inequalities of AHE among the elderly over the past three decades, and to further predict its changes by 2030.

Data on AHE in the elderly were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease 2021. The burden of AHE was analyzed by trends, decomposition, cross-country inequalities, and predictive analysis.

In 2021, the global incidence and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) for AHE among the elderly were recorded as 1,130,013.35 and 20,084.77, respectively. Although there were significant differences in the incidence and DALYs across countries, the number of incident cases increased from 1990 to 2021, with a slight rise in age-standardized rates, while the number and age-standardized rate of DALYs showed a declining trend. Decomposition analysis revealed that population growth and aging are the drivers of changes in incidence, while epidemiological changes somewhat offset the increases in DALYs driven by population growth. Low socio-demographic index countries bear a disproportionate burden of elderly AHE, although inequality gaps have narrowed over time. Notably, up to 2030, the number of incident cases and DALYs will continue increasing. The burden in elderly women was more pronounced than in men.

The burden of elderly AHE, as a major public health issue, remains substantial. While cross-country inequities have been alleviated over time, the pressure on lower socio-demographic index countries to control the disease remains high. AHE in elderly women requires further attention. This emphasizes the significant challenges faced in controlling and managing elderly AHE.

Acupuncture treatment on the DU channel has shown therapeutic effects for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but the underlying mechanisms are not yet clear. The purpose of this study was to comprehensively observe the protective effects of acupuncture on different brain regions in AD model mice, providing laboratory evidence for clinical acupuncture intervention in AD.

Eleven senescence-resistant strain 1 male mice were used as the normal control group. The senescence-accelerated prone strain 8 (SAMP8) male mice were used as AD model mice. Thirty-three SAMP8 mice were randomly divided into three groups: AD model group (group M), drug treatment group, and acupuncture treatment group (group A). The effect of acupuncture on learning and memory capabilities of SAMP8 mice was assessed by the Morris water maze test. Nissl staining was employed to provide a general view of the brain structure in AD model mice. Additionally, Western blot analysis was used to quantify Caspase-3 and tau protein levels.

In the spatial navigation test, the ratio of time mice spent in the goal quadrant in group M remained low, even lower than 25%. The ratio of time spent in the goal quadrant by mice in the acupuncture group on day 4 was higher than that on day 1 (P < 0.01). There was a trend indicating that the time ratio of mice in the acupuncture group during the probe trial was higher than in group M, though there was no statistically significant difference. Most traces of mice in group A were in the goal platform quadrant and across the platform in different, yet effective, ways. Compared to group M, most of the cells in the frontal cortex, hippocampus, and temporal cortex of mice in group A were round with clear stratification, regular arrangement, and increased Nissl bodies. The content of Caspase-3 in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of mice in the acupuncture group was lower than in group M (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The content of tau in the hippocampus and temporal cortex of mice in group A was lower than in group M (P < 0.05; P < 0.01).

Acupuncture at the DU channel can improve learning and memory abilities to a certain degree by reducing apoptosis in the frontal cortex and hippocampus and decreasing tau deposition in the hippocampus and temporal cortex of AD model mice.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive malignancy characterized by distinct histological subtypes and a poor prognosis. Among these, the micropapillary pattern, typically observed focally, has been associated with worse outcomes in various cancers. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of the micropapillary pattern in PDAC, focusing on its percentage within the tumor and its impact on overall survival.

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 71 patients with surgically resected PDAC. Micropapillary patterns were categorized based on their percentage within the tumor (≥20%) and compared to non-micropapillary cases. Demographic, clinical, and histological data, including tumor nodule metastasis stage, tumor grade, peripancreatic fat tissue invasion, and resection margin status, were analyzed. Survival data were assessed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards models. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

The cohort included 28 female and 43 male patients, with a mean age of 63.25 years. Of the 71 cases, 23.9% (n = 17) exhibited a micropapillary pattern. The median overall survival for the micropapillary group was eight months, compared to 18 months for the non-micropapillary group (p = 0.017). Multivariate analysis revealed that the micropapillary group had an increased risk of mortality (hazard ratio = 1.892, p = 0.042), independent of tumor nodule metastasis stage.

Our findings indicate that the micropapillary pattern, even when present in as little as 20% of the tumor, serves as an independent prognostic factor for decreased survival in PDAC. Incorporating the percentage of the micropapillary pattern into pathology reports could provide valuable insights into the tumor’s biological behavior, potentially enhancing patient management strategies.

This study investigates the potential of methyl eugenol (ME), a compound found in the essential oils of various plants, to inhibit oxidative stress and its impact on diseases associated with this process. ME has been shown to possess antioxidant properties and antiproliferative activity in several cancers. It also demonstrates neuroprotective potential in conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and ischemic brain injury. The mechanism of action involves the activation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, which facilitates the transcription of antioxidant genes and modulation of pathways such as AMP-activated protein kinase/glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta, thereby reducing the production of reactive oxygen species and pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, research has identified potential toxicological risks associated with ME, including hepatotoxicity and changes in the gut microbiota. These findings highlight the need for caution when considering prolonged exposure to this compound.

Therapy-related B-lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) following treatment for multiple myeloma is a rare occurrence. Despite its rarity and the lack of recognition by the World Health Organization as a distinct disease entity, previous publications indicate its possible emergence following myeloma treatment.

The patient is a 65-year-old gentleman with a history of IgG kappa multiple myeloma, status post multiple lines of therapy. The patient presented with a fever, and a complete blood count showed cytopenia. Bone marrow morphologic evaluation revealed numerous blasts. Immunophenotypic analysis demonstrated that these blasts were B lymphoblasts, despite MYC and unusual surface kappa light chain expression. A diagnosis of B-ALL with surface kappa light chain expression post-myeloma treatment was made. Ancillary studies indicated that the B-ALL and the previous myeloma were clonally unrelated. Next-generation gene sequencing revealed pathogenic mutations in KDM6A and KRAS.

This case highlights the potential for therapy-related B-ALL following myeloma treatment, a phenomenon deserving further investigation. The expression of surface light chain in blasts can present a diagnostic pitfall.

The development and progression of breast cancer may be influenced by thyroid hormone levels. In this study, we investigated thyroid function in pre- and postmenopausal women with breast cancer, with and without neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCh).

The study included 198 women diagnosed with infiltrating ductal carcinoma: 83 did not receive NCh (39 premenopausal and 44 postmenopausal), while 115 underwent NCh before surgery (63 premenopausal and 52 postmenopausal). Additionally, 78 healthy volunteers, aged 28 to 69 years, served as the control group. Serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (fT4), and free triiodothyronine (fT3) were quantified using chemiluminescent immunoassays.

We observed a significant increase in serum TSH and fT4 levels in both pre- and postmenopausal women with breast cancer, regardless of NCh treatment, compared to control subjects. However, postmenopausal women with breast cancer who received NCh showed lower fT4 levels than their untreated counterparts. Notably, fT3 levels increased only in premenopausal women with breast cancer who underwent NCh, compared to both the premenopausal control group and untreated premenopausal breast cancer patients.

Altered thyroid function was observed in both pre- and postmenopausal women with breast cancer, characterized by increased TSH and fT4 levels. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy appeared to attenuate the rise in fT4 levels in postmenopausal women while elevating fT3 levels in premenopausal women. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring thyroid hormone profiles in women with breast cancer, considering menopausal status, given their potential influence on tumor progression and chemotherapy effectiveness.

In recent years, it has been found that Lycium barbarum can repair liver damage and promote liver regeneration. Additionally, the polysaccharides contained in Lycium barbarum have anticancer properties and can induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Molecular docking, a mature computer-aided method, is widely used in drug discovery. This study aimed to verify the efficacy of active ingredients of Lycium barbarum in the treatment of liver cancer by molecular docking.

The effect of the active ingredients of Lycium barbarum in the treatment of liver cancer was verified by molecular docking, based on a previous study that examined the impact of Lycium barbarum on liver cancer using network pharmacology.

The binding energies of the key active ingredients and core targets were all less than −5.0 kcal/mol (1 kcal = 4.184 J), with most of them being less than −7.0 kcal/mol. This indicates that the key active ingredients and core targets have good binding ability, with most demonstrating strong binding affinity.

Most of the active ingredients in wolfberry can spontaneously bind to the core target protein, thereby playing a therapeutic role in liver cancer.

Patients with cirrhosis are at an increased risk of bacterial infection (BI), which is the most common precondition for acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the ability of mitochondria-related indicators (mitochondrial mass and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP)) of T cells in peripheral blood to predict BI and ACLF within 90 days in cirrhotic patients.

We prospectively studied mitochondria-related indicators in various T cells from 235 cirrhotic patients at the Second Hospital of Nanjing. The outcomes of interest were BI and ACLF.

The restricted cubic spline analysis showed that the MMP of CD8+ T cells had a linear relationship with the risk of BI and ACLF (both P < 0.001). Multivariable Cox regression analysis demonstrated that the MMP of CD8+ T cells was an independent risk factor for both BI and ACLF (BI: hazard ratio 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.94–0.98; P < 0.001; ACLF: hazard ratio 0.94, 95% confidence interval 0.90–0.97; P < 0.001). The MMP of CD8+ T cells exhibited better diagnostic efficacy than traditional indices in predicting BI (C index: 0.75). The MMP of CD8+ T cells, when combined with traditional models (Child-Turcotte-Pugh and model for end-stage liver disease score), improved their diagnostic efficiency in predicting both BI and ACLF. Additionally, the MMP of CD8+ T cells showed a significant negative correlation with inflammation-related markers (P < 0.05). Mitochondrial damage and abnormally activated mitochondrial autophagy were observed in CD8+ T cells from cirrhotic patients with low MMP.

The MMP of CD8+ T cells could serve as a valuable predictor of BI and ACLF within 90 days in cirrhotic patients.

The polymer’s slow hydrolysis facilitates the sustained release of the immunogen, stabilizing the antigen encapsulated within the microspheres. As a result, microspheres ranging from 40 µm to 70 µm in diameter can be formed. This innovative microsphere formulation allows for efficient uptake by macrophages and other antigen-presenting cells. This study aimed to use biocompatible polymethyl methacrylate microspheres for the controlled delivery of antigens.

The potency of various formulations containing encapsulated tetanus toxoid (TT) with polymethyl methacrylate polymer microspheres was assessed using the toxin neutralization and challenge methods. The neutralization test was conducted on pooled sera two weeks after the initial immunization and weekly for four weeks following the booster dose administration. Scanning electron micrographs of the microspheres revealed drug leaching from spherical granular matrices.

The injection site showed a higher distribution of smaller microparticles, resulting in depot release. The polymer coating’s thickness was significantly lower compared to the 25% polymer microspheres. Concentrations ranging from 0.00024 mL to 0.00030 mL caused significant tetanic paralysis. Two weeks after the initial immunization, the antigenic activity of TT was below the minimum threshold, possibly due to insufficient levels of antigenic TT within the system within seven days post-immunization. The polymethacrylate microsphere elicited a notable immune response, but only the polymer concentration of 25% w/v met the I.P. requirements; lower polymer concentrations were ineffective.

The polymer’s slow hydrolysis facilitates the sustained release of the immunogen, stabilizing the antigen encapsulated within microspheres. Consequently, microspheres ranging from 40 µm to 70 µm in diameter can be assembled. This innovative microsphere formulation allows for efficient uptake by macrophages and other antigen-presenting cells.