Biomedical and Environmental Sciences

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Report on Cardiovascular Health and Diseases in China 2023: An Updated Summary (30 day view times: 46)

National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases The Writing Committee of the Report on Cardiovascular Health and Diseases in China

2024, 37(9): 949-992. doi: 10.3967/bes2024.162

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Since 1990, China has made considerable progress in resolving the problem of “treatment difficulty” of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The prevalent unhealthy lifestyle among Chinese residents has exposed a massive proportion of the population to CVD risk factors, and this situation is further worsened due to the accelerated aging population in China. CVD remains one of the greatest threats to the health of Chinese residents. In terms of the proportions of disease mortality among urban and rural residents in China, CVD has persistently ranked first. In 2021, CVD accounted for 48.98% and 47.35% of deaths in rural and urban areas, respectively. Two out of every five deaths can be attributed to CVD. To implement a national policy “focusing on the primary health institute and emphasizing prevention” and truly achieve a shift of CVD prevention and treatment from hospitals to communities, the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases has organized experts from relevant fields across China to compile the “Report on Cardiovascular Health and Diseases in China” annually since 2005. The 2024 report is established based on representative, published, and high-quality big-data research results from cross-sectional and cohort population epidemiological surveys, randomized controlled clinical trials, large sample registry studies, and typical community prevention and treatment cases, along with data from some projects undertaken by the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases. These firsthand data not only enrich the content of the current report but also provide a more timely and comprehensive reflection of the status of CVD prevention and treatment in China.

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Bone Injury and Fracture Healing Biology (30 day view times: 28)

Ahmad Oryan, Somayeh Monazzah, Amin Bigham-Sadegh

2015, 28(1): 57-71. doi: 10.3967/bes2015.006

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Comparative Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses Reveal the Mechanism by Which Foam Macrophages Restrict Survival of Intracellular Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (30 day view times: 25)

Xiao Peng, Yuanyuan Liu, Liyao Chen, Hui Yang, Yan Chang, Yeran Yang, Xuan Zhang, Anna Jia, Yongbo Yu, Yongli Guo, Jie Lu

2025, 38(7): 781-791. doi: 10.3967/bes2025.078

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Objectives This study aimed to investigate the impact of foam macrophages (FMs) on the intracellular survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and identify the molecular mechanisms influencing MTB survival. Methods An in vitro FM model was established using oleic acid induction. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were conducted to identify the key molecular pathways involved in FM-mediated MTB survival. Results Induced FMs effectively restricted MTB survival. Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling revealed distinct changes in gene and metabolite expression in FMs during MTB infection compared with normal macrophages. Integrated analyses identified significant alterations in the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling pathway, indicating that its activation contributes to the FM-mediated restriction of MTB survival. Conclusions FMs inhibit MTB survival. The cAMP signaling pathway is a key contributor. These findings enhance the understanding of the role of FMs in tuberculosis progression, suggest potential targets for host-directed therapies, and offer new directions for developing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies against tuberculosis.

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Trends Analysis on Vaccination Coverage of Influenza in Shandong Province, China (30 day view times: 21)

Guijie Luan, Liang Sun, Weiyan Zhang, Yao Liu, Shaonan Liu

2025, 38(7): 881-884. doi: 10.3967/bes2025.063

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Report on Cardiovascular Health and Diseases in China 2022: an Updated Summary (30 day view times: 20)

The Writing Committee of the Report on Cardiovascular Health and Diseases in China

2023, 36(8): 669-701. doi: 10.3967/bes2023.106

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In the past 30 years, the accessibility and quality index of medical care have made remarkable progress in China, ranking the first among middle-income countries. Many cardiovascular technologies are at or near the world's leading level, and significant progress has been achieved in China solving the problem of “treatment difficulty” of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, due to the prevalence of unhealthy lifestyles among Chinese residents, a huge population with CVD risk factors, accelerated population aging, and other reasons, the incidence and mortality rate of CVD are still increasing, and the turning point of the decline in disease burden has not appeared yet in China. In terms of proportions of disease mortality among urban and rural residents, CVD still ranks the first. In 2020, CVD accounted for 48.00% and 45.86% of the causes of death in rural and urban areas, respectively; two out of every five deaths were due to CVD. It is estimated that the number of current CVD patients in China is around 330 million, including 13 million stroke, 11.39 million coronary heart disease, 8.9 million heart failure, 5 million pulmonary heart disease, 4.87 million atrial fibrillation, 2.5 million rheumatic heart disease, 2 million congenital heart disease, 45.3 million peripheral artery disease, and 245 million hypertension cases. China has entered a new stage of transformation from high-speed development to high-quality development, and the prevention and control of CVD in China should also shift from previous emphasis on scale growth to strategies focusing more on strategic and key technological development in order to curb the trend of increasing incidence and mortality rates of CVD.

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Effects of Oral Vitamin D Supplementation on Vitamin D Levels and Glycemic Parameters in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis (30 day view times: 19)

Xiujuan Zhang, Hongfei Wang, Xia Gao, Yang Zhao

2025, 38(6): 716-726. doi: 10.3967/bes2025.066

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Objective Epidemiological studies have shown that vitamin D status affects glycemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, findings from intervention studies remain inconsistent. Therefore, a network meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the comparative efficacy of various vitamin D supplementation strategies on glucose indicators in adults with T2DM. Methods Eligible studies published before September 12, 2024, were retrieved from PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. A network meta-analysis of multiple dosage strategies—low (< 1,000 IU/day, LDS), medium (1,000–2,000 IU/day, MDS), high (2,000–4,000 IU/day, HDS), and extremely high (≥ 4,000 IU/day, EHDS)—was performed. Results The network meta-analysis of 40 RCTs indicated that, compared with placebo, vitamin D₃ supplementation increased 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25-(OH)-D] levels, with pooled mean difference (MD) showing a stepwise increase from LDS to EHDS. Ranking probabilities showed a corresponding rise in 25-(OH)-D levels from LDS (46.7%) to EHDS (91.2%). EHDS reduced fasting blood glucose (FBG) relative to no treatment. LDS significantly decreased hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and vitamin D₂ significantly affected FBG levels. MDS led to a significant change in fasting insulin (FIN) compared to both placebo (MD: −4.76; 95% CI −8.91 to −0.61) and no treatment (MD: −7.30; 95% CI −14.44 to −0.17). Conclusion The findings suggest that vitamin D supplementation may be a viable approach for improving glycemic control in adults with T2DM, with lower doses potentially offering benefit. The analysis also showed a dose-dependent increase in 25-(OH)-D levels.

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Interpretation of Annual Report on Cardiovascular Health and Diseases in China 2024 (30 day view times: 19)

Mingbo Liu, Xinye He, Xiaohong Yang, Zengwu Wang

2025, 38(8): 893-917. doi: 10.3967/bes2025.099

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Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and their risk factors are exerting an increasingly significant impact on public health, and the incidence rate of CVD continues to rise. This article provides an interpretation of essentials from the newly published Annual Report on Cardiovascular Health and Diseases in China (2024), aiming to offer scientific evidence for CVD prevention, treatment, and the formulation of relevant policies.

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Life-Course Trajectories of Body Mass Index, Insulin Resistance, and Incident Diabetes in Chinese Adults (30 day view times: 19)

Zhiyuan Ning, Jinglan Zhang, Bingbing Fan, Yanlin Qu, Chang Su, Tao Zhang

2025, 38(6): 706-715. doi: 10.3967/bes2025.072

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Objective This study aimed to explore the interplay between the life-course body mass index (BMI) trajectories and insulin resistance (IR) on incident diabetes. Methods This longitudinal cohort included 2,336 participants who had BMI repeatedly measured 3–8 times between 1989 and 2009, as well as glucose and insulin measured in 2009. BMI trajectories were identified using a latent class growth mixed model. The interplay between BMI trajectories and IR on diabetes was explored using the four-way effect decomposition method. Logistic regression and mediation models were used to estimate the interaction and mediation effects, respectively. Results Three distinct BMI trajectory groups were identified: low-stable (n = 1,625), medium-increasing (n = 613), and high-increasing (n = 98). Both interaction and mediation effects of BMI trajectories and IR on incident diabetes were significant (P < 0.05). The proportion of incident diabetes was higher in the IR-obesity than in the insulin-sensitivity (IS) obesity group (18.9% vs. 5.8%, P < 0.001). After adjusting for covariates, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of the IR, IS-obesity, and IR-obesity groups vs. the normal group were 3.22 (2.05, 5.16), 2.05 (1.00, 3.97), and 7.98 (5.19, 12.62), respectively. IR mediated 10.7% of the total effect of BMI trajectories on incident diabetes (P < 0.001). Conclusion We found strong interactions and weak mediation effects of IR on the relationship between life-course BMI trajectories and incident diabetes. IS-obesity is associated with a lower risk of incident diabetes than IR-obesity.

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Independent and Interactive Effects of Air Pollutants, Meteorological Factors, and Green Space on Tuberculosis Incidence in Shanghai (30 day view times: 19)

Qi Ye, Jing Chen, Yating Ji, Xiaoyu Lu, Jiale Deng, Nan Li, Wei Wei, Renjie Hou, Zhiyuan Li, Jianbang Xiang, Xu Gao, Xin Shen, Chongguang Yang

2025, 38(7): 792-809. doi: 10.3967/bes2025.041

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Objective To assess the independent and combined effects of air pollutants, meteorological factors, and greenspace exposure on new tuberculosis (TB) cases. Methods TB case data from Shanghai (2013–2018) were obtained from the Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Environmental data on air pollutants, meteorological variables, and greenspace exposure were obtained from the National Tibetan Plateau Data Center. We employed a distributed-lag nonlinear model to assess the effects of these environmental factors on TB cases. Results Increased TB risk was linked to PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and rainfall, whereas NO₂, SO₂, and air pressure were associated with a reduced risk. Specifically, the strongest cumulative effects occurred at various lags: PM_2.5 (RR = 1.166, 95% CI: 1.026–1.325) at 0–19 weeks; PM₁₀ (RR = 1.167, 95% CI: 1.028–1.324) at 0–18 weeks; NO₂ (RR = 0.968, 95% CI: 0.938–0.999) at 0–1 weeks; SO₂ (RR = 0.945, 95% CI: 0.894–0.999) at 0–2 weeks; air pressure (RR = 0.604, 95% CI: 0.447–0.816) at 0–8 weeks; and rainfall (RR = 1.404, 95% CI: 1.076–1.833) at 0–22 weeks. Green space exposure did not significantly impact TB cases. Additionally, low temperatures amplified the effect of PM_2.5 on TB. Conclusion Exposure to PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and rainfall increased the risk of TB, highlighting the need to address air pollutants for the prevention of TB in Shanghai.

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Role of Folic Acid Supplementation on Association between Short Inter-Pregnancy Intervals and Adverse Birth Outcomes: A Retrospective Cohort Study in Changsha, China (30 day view times: 18)

Zhiqing Zhao, Ling Chen, Wenbin Ouyang, Jing Deng, Xiaohui Chen, Xin Huang

2025, 38(6): 751-756. doi: 10.3967/bes2025.057

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Association between Non-high-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol to High-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Ratio (NHHR) and Stroke among Adults in the USA: A Cross-Sectional NHANES Study (30 day view times: 16)

Haixia Ma, Huaqiu Chen, Peichang Wang

2025, 38(1): 37-46. doi: 10.3967/bes2025.001

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Objective The relationship between non-high-density lipoprotein (NHDL) cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio (NHHR) and stoke remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the adult NHHR and stroke occurrence in the United States of America (USA). Methods To clarify the relationship between the NHHR and stroke risk, this study used a multivariable logistic regression model and a restricted cubic spline (RCS) model to investigate the association between the NHHR and stroke, and data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2005 to 2018. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted to test the robustness of the results. Results This study included 29,928 adult participants, of which 1,165 participants had a history of stroke. Logistic regression analysis of variables demonstrated a positive association between NHHR and stroke (OR 1.24, 95% CI: 1.03–1.50, P = 0.026). Compared with the lowest reference group of NHHR, participants in the second, third, and fourth quartile had a significantly increased risk of stroke after full adjustments (OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.08–1.69) (OR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.42–2.36) (OR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.50–2.79). In the total population, a nonlinear dose-response relationship was observed between the NHHR and stroke risk (P non-linearity = 0.002). This association remained significant in several subgroup analyses. Further investigation of the NHHR may enhance our understanding of stroke prevention and treatment. Conclusion Our findings suggest a positive correlation between the NHHR and an increased prevalence of stroke, potentially serving as a novel predictive factor for stroke. Timely intervention and management of the NHHR may effectively mitigate stroke occurrence. Prospective studies are required to validate this association and further explore the underlying biological mechanisms.

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Cardiovascular Health and Disease Report in China: Two Decades of Progress (30 day view times: 16)

Shuyao Su, Fangchao Liu

2025, 38(8): 891-892. doi: 10.3967/bes2025.098

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Spatial-temporal Dynamics of Tuberculosis and Its Association with Meteorological Factors and Air Pollution in Shaanxi Province, China (30 day view times: 15)

Hengliang Lyu, Xihao Liu, Hui Chen, Xueli Zhang, Feng Liu, Zitong Zheng, Hongwei Zhang, Yuanyong Xu, Wenyi Zhang

2025, 38(7): 867-872. doi: 10.3967/bes2025.083

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Effects of Short-Term Forest Bathing on Human Health in a Broad-Leaved Evergreen Forest in Zhejiang Province, China (30 day view times: 15)

MAO Gen Xiang, LAN Xiao Guang, CAO Yong Bao, CHEN Zhuo Mei, HE Zhi Hua, LV Yuan Dong, WANG Ya Zhen, HU Xi Lian, WANG Guo Fu, YAN Jing

2012, 25(3): 317-324. doi: 10.3967/0895-3988.2012.03.010

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Objective To investigate the effects of short-term forest bathing on human health.Methods Twenty healthy male university students participated as subjects and were randomly divided into two groups of 10.One group was sent on a two-night trip to a broad-leaved evergreen forest,and the other was sent to a city area.Serum cytokine levels reflecting inflammatory and stress response,indicators reflecting oxidative stress,the distribution of leukocyte subsets,and plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentrations were measured before and after the experiment to evaluate the positive health effects of forest environments.A profile of mood states (POMS) evaluation was used to assess changes in mood states.Results No significant differences in the baseline values of the indicators were observed between the two groups before the experiment.Subjects exposed to the forest environment showed reduced oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory level,as evidenced by decreased malondialdehyde,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor α levels compared with the urban group.Serum cortisol levels were also lower than in the urban group.Notably,the concentration of plasma ET-1 was much lower in subjects exposed to the forest environment.The POMS evaluation showed that after exposure to the forest environment,subjects had lower scores in the negative subscales,and the score for vigor was increased.Conclusion Forest bathing is beneficial to human health,perhaps through preventive effects related to several pathological factors.

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Whole-Genome Phylogeny of Brucella melitensis Isolates from Gansu Province, China (30 day view times: 14)

Xiaoyan Zhou, Pinggui Wang, Qingqing Xu, Yu Feng, Dingsheng Wang, Qi Zhao, Lixia Niu, Minghui Ma, Aiwei He, Hai Jiang

2025, 38(7): 873-876. doi: 10.3967/bes2025.084

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Evidence on Invasion of Blood, Adipose Tissues, Nervous System and Reproductive System of Mice After a Single Oral Exposure: Nanoplastics versus Microplastics (30 day view times: 14)

YANG Zuo Sen, BAI Ying Long, JIN Cui Hong, NA Jun, ZHANG Rui, GAO Yuan, PAN Guo Wei, YAN Ling Jun, SUN Wei

2022, 35(11): 1025-1037. doi: 10.3967/bes2022.131

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Objective This study was designed to provide the evidences on the toxicokinetics of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in the bodies of mammals. Methods 100 nm, 3 μm, and 10 μm fluorescent polystyrene (PS) beads were administered to mice once by gavage at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight. The levels and change of fluorescence intensity in samples of blood, subcutaneous fat, perirenal fat, peritesticular fat, cerebrum, cerebellum, testis, and epididymis were measured at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 h after administration using an IVIS Spectrum small-animal imaging system. Histological examination, confocal laser scanning, and transmission electron microscope were performed to corroborate the findings. Results After confirming fluorescent dye leaching and impact of pH value, increased levels of fluorescence intensity in blood, all adipose tissues examined, cerebrum, cerebellum, and testis were measured in the 100 nm group, but not in the 3 and 10 μm groups except in the cerebellum and testis at 4 h for the 3 μm PS beads. The presence of PS beads was further corroborated. Conclusion After a single oral exposure, NPs are absorbed rapidly in the blood, accumulate in adipose tissues, and penetrate the blood-brain/testis barriers. As expected, the toxicokinetics of MPs is significantly size-dependent in mammals.

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Physical Activity Guidelines for Chinese (2021) (30 day view times: 14)

Composing and Editorial Board of Physical Activity Guidelines for Chinese

2022, 35(1): 1-3. doi: 10.3967/bes2022.001

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Disease Burden and Trends of COPD in the Asia-Pacific Region (1990–2019) and Predictions to 2034 (30 day view times: 13)

Jing Ma, Hong Mi

2025, 38(5): 557-570. doi: 10.3967/bes2025.040

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Objective The Asia-Pacific region has a high chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) burden, but studies on its trends are limited. Using the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 data, we analyzed COPD trends in 36 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019 and predicted future incidence trends through 2034. Methods COPD data by age and sex from the GBD 2019 database were analyzed for incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) rates from 1990 to 2019. Joinpoint regression identified significant annual trends, and age-standardized incidence rates were predicted through 2034 using age–period–cohort models. Results The incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disease burden of COPD have been decreasing, and the incidence rates will continue to decrease or remain stable until 2034 in most selected countries and territories, except for a few Southeastern Asian countries. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Vietnam are projected to experience an increase in COPD incidence from 165.3 per 100,000 in 2019 to 177 per 100,000 in 2034 and from 179.9 per 100,000 in 2019 to 192.5 per 100,000 in 2034, respectively. Older males had a higher incidence than any other sex or age group. The sex gap in incidence rates continues to widen, though it is smaller and less significant in the younger age group than in those in the older one. Conclusion COPD rates are expected to decline until 2034 but remain a health risk, especially in countries with rising rates. Urgent action on tobacco control, air pollution, and public education is needed.

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Impact of Endometrial Polyps on Pregnancy Outcomes in Patients with Endometriosis and Infertility: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (30 day view times: 13)

Liang Zhang, Qian Han, Meiru Bao, Ying Wu

2025, 38(3): 341-350. doi: 10.3967/bes2024.175

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Objective To evaluate the impact of endometrial polyps (EP) on postoperative pregnancy outcomes in infertile women with endometriosis (EMs). Methods PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP, SinoMed, and WanFang Data databases were searched to include clinical studies on the effect of EP on pregnancy outcomes in patients with EMs, published before August 31, 2020. A meta-analysis was performed using Rev Man 5.3 software after two investigators independently screened the literature, extracted information, and evaluated the risk of bias of the included studies. Results The meta-analysis included ten studies (651 and 1,040 in the combined EP and uncomplicated EP groups, respectively). The spontaneous pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and live birth rate were significantly lower in the group with combined EPs than in the group without combined EPs [Odd’s ratio (OR) = 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.50–0.80, P = 0.0001; OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.48–0.84, P = 0.001; OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.42–0.96, P = 0.03], and the rate of embryonic abortion was significantly higher than that in the uncomplicated EP group [OR = 3.10, 95% CI: 1.52–6.32, P = 0.002]. Conclusion EP may adversely affect pregnancy outcomes in patients with infertility and EMs. Even after surgical treatment, EP can still reduce natural pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, and live birth rates in infertile women with EMs and increase the risk of embryo arrest in these women.

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Future Projections of Temperature-related Excess Morbidity due to Influenza under Climate Change Scenarios: A Case Study in a Temperate Japanese City (30 day view times: 13)

Keita Wagatsuma

2025, 38(6): 768-772. doi: 10.3967/bes2025.034

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