This article introduces Professor LIU Xing's clinical experience in treatment of peripheral facial paralysis at the recovery and sequelae stages with the combination of acupotomy, cupping and herbal medication. Based on the analysis of etiology and pathogenesis of peripheral facial paralysis, Professor LIU believes that "invasion of pathogenic wind to collaterals and obstruction of qi and blood" is crucial. Therefore, the treatment focuses on "dispelling wind and harmonizing blood". The compound therapeutic mode is proposed, with acupotomy, cupping and herbal decoction involved, in which, "three-step sequential method of acupotomy" is predominated. Firstly, in the prone position, five "feng" (wind) points are stimulated in patient, Fengfu (GV16), Fengchi (GB20), Yifeng (TE17), Bingfeng (SI12) and Fengmen (BL12). Secondly, in the lateral position, three-facial points are stimulated (FaceⅠneedle: Yangbai [GB14]-Yuyao [EX-HN4]; Face Ⅱ needle: Sibai [ST2]-Quanliao [SI18]; Face Ⅲ needle: Jiache [ST6]-Dicang [ST4]) to restore the deviated facial muscles. Finally, in the supine, two Dantian points are stimulated on the forehead and chest, respectively (upper Dantian: Yintang [GV24⁺], middle Dantian: Danzhong [CV17]), to regulate qi and blood. As the adjunctive therapies, cupping is used to remove stasis, and herbal decoction is to harmonize the body interior. In view of holistic regulation, the treatment is administered in accordance with the affected meridians, so as to expel wind, remove obstruction in collaterals and regulate qi and blood.
Humans ; Facial Paralysis/drug therapy* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Acupuncture Points ; Cupping Therapy ; Aged ; Young Adult

Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common gynecological malignancies, with an increasing incidence rate worldwide. Accurate segmentation of lesion areas in computed tomography (CT) images is a critical step in assisting clinical diagnosis. In this study, we propose a novel deep learning-based segmentation model, termed spatial choice and weight union network (SCWU-Net), which incorporates two newly designed modules: the spatial selection module (SSM) and the combination weight module (CWM). The SSM enhances the model's ability to capture contextual information through deep convolutional blocks, while the CWM, based on joint attention mechanisms, is employed within the skip connections to further boost segmentation performance. By integrating the strengths of both modules into a U-shaped multi-scale architecture, the model achieves precise segmentation of EC lesion regions. Experimental results on a public dataset demonstrate that SCWU-Net achieves a Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) of 82.98%, an intersection over union (IoU) of 78.63%, a precision of 92.36%, and a recall of 84.10%. Its overall performance is significantly outperforming other state-of-the-art models. This study enhances the accuracy of lesion segmentation in EC CT images and holds potential clinical value for the auxiliary diagnosis of endometrial cancer.
Humans ; Endometrial Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging* ; Female ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods* ; Deep Learning ; Algorithms ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods* ; Neural Networks, Computer

OBJECTIVES: To explore the active components that mediate the therapeutic effect of Centella asiatica on psoriasis and their therapeutic mechanisms. METHODS: TCMSP, TCMIP, PharmMapper, Swiss Target Prediction, GeneCards, OMIM and TTD databases were searched for the compounds in Centella asiatica and their targets and the disease targets of psoriasis. A drug-active component-target network and the protein-protein interaction network were constructed, and DAVID database was used for pathway enrichment analysis. In a RAW264.7 macrophage model of LPS-induced inflammation, the anti-inflammatory effect of 7.5, 15, 30, and 60 μmol/L quercetin, asiaticoside, and asiatic acid, which were identified as the main active components in Centella asiatica, were tested by measuring cellular production of NO, TNF‑α and IL-6 using Griess method and ELISA and by detecting mRNA expressions of IL-23, IL-17A, TNF-α and IL-6 and protein expressions of p-STAT3 (Tyr705) and p-STAT3 (Ser727) with RT-qPCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: A total of 139 targets of Centella asiatica and 4604 targets of psoriasis were obtained, and among them CASP3, EGFR, PTGS2, and ESR1 were identified as the core targets. KEGG analysis suggested that quercetin, asiaticoside, and asiatic acid in Centella asiatica were involved in cancer and IL-17 and MAPK signaling pathways. In the RAW264.7 macrophage model of inflammation, treatment with quercetin significantly reduced cellular production of NO, TNF‑α and IL-6, and lowered mRNA expressions of IL-23, IL-17A, TNF‑α and IL-6 and protein expressions of p-STAT3 (Tyr705) and p-STAT3 (Ser727). CONCLUSIONS Quercetin, asiaticoside and asiatic acid are the main active components in Centella asiatica to mediate the therapeutic effect against psoriasis, and quercetin in particular is capable of suppressing cellular production of NO, TNF‑α and IL-6 and regulating the IL-23/IL-17A inflammatory axis by mediating STAT3 phosphorylation to inhibit inflammatory response.
Quercetin/pharmacology* ; Psoriasis/metabolism* ; STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism* ; Mice ; Animals ; Centella/chemistry* ; Triterpenes/pharmacology* ; Phosphorylation ; Interleukin-17/metabolism* ; Interleukin-23/metabolism* ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Pentacyclic Triterpenes/pharmacology* ; Macrophages/drug effects* ; Signal Transduction ; Plant Extracts

In recent years, the application of minimal residual disease (MRD) in solid tumors has gained widespread attention. MRD typically refers to the presence of residual cancer cells that remain undetectable by imaging after curative treatments, such as surgical resection. The presence of MRD post-surgery is significantly associated with an increased risk of tumor recurrence. In colorectal cancer, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) serves as an effective marker for assessing MRD, particularly in non-metastatic (stages I-III) colorectal cancer. As a real-time, accurate, and convenient biomarker, ctDNA can effectively predict tumor recurrence, guide postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy decisions, and provide crucial information for recurrence monitoring. The application prospects of ctDNA detection technology are vast, promising more precise and individualized treatment plans for colorectal cancer patients. This article comprehensively analyzes the progress in the application of ctDNA for detecting MRD in non-metastatic colorectal cancer patients, elaborates on its guiding role in clinical treatment decisions, and envisions the future development directions in this field.

Objective:To examine the clinical effect of endovascular treatment for patients with non-acute symptomatic anterior circulation distal medium artery disease (aDMAD).Methods:This is a retrospective case series study.Retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 28 patients(29 lesions) with non-acute symptomatic aDMAD who underwent endovascular treatment at the Department of Neurosurgery,Beijing Hospital from May 2018 to March 2024. There were 15 males and 13 females,with an age of (63.4±10.2) years (range:36 to 82 years). The course of disease were more than 72 hours of all the patients. Confirmed by digital subtraction angiography,the lesion was located in distal anterior circulation and (or) medium arteries. Among them, 21 lesions (72.4%) located at middle cerebral artery and 8 lesions (27.6%) located at anterior cerebral artery.The median degree of stenosis before surgery ( M(IQR)) was 90%(23%) (range:70% to 100%).After standardized drug treatment,there was still a transient ischemic attack or cerebral infarction in the vascular related area.The therapeutic effects and complications were analyzed,and the differences in the occurrence of target vessel restenosis under different interventional treatment methods were collected. Results:A total of 28 patients with 29 lesions underwent endovascular treatment, with a treatment success rate of 96.6% (28/29). The course of disease was 60(66)days (range:9 to 210 days). Simple plain balloon angioplasty was performed in 12 cases (13 lesions), drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty in 7 cases (7 lesions), and stent placement in 9 cases (9 lesions). The median degree of stenosis after surgery was 20%(39%) (range:0 to 50%). There was no new cerebral infarctions,cerebral hemorrhages,or other complications during the perioperative period.Imaging follow-up was conducted on 23 lesions for 12(15)months(range:3 to 34 months),with 10 cases (43.5%) of restenosis,3 cases (13.0%) of symptomatic restenosis,and 4 cases (17.4%) of re-treatment. There were no new cases of cerebral hemorrhage or death during the follow-up process.The restenosis rate was 6/10 for the conventional balloon group,1/6 for the DCB group, and 3/7 for the stent group; the rate of symptomatic restenosis was 1/10 for the conventional balloon group,0/6 for the DCB group, and 2/7 for the stent group.Conclusions:Endovascular treatment for non-acute symptomatic aDMAD is relatively effective,but there is a high rate of restenosis postoperatively. DCB may reduce the occurrence of postoperative restenosis.

In recent years, the application of minimal residual disease (MRD) in solid tumors has gained widespread attention. MRD typically refers to the presence of residual cancer cells that remain undetectable by imaging after curative treatments, such as surgical resection. The presence of MRD post-surgery is significantly associated with an increased risk of tumor recurrence. In colorectal cancer, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) serves as an effective marker for assessing MRD, particularly in non-metastatic (stages I-III) colorectal cancer. As a real-time, accurate, and convenient biomarker, ctDNA can effectively predict tumor recurrence, guide postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy decisions, and provide crucial information for recurrence monitoring. The application prospects of ctDNA detection technology are vast, promising more precise and individualized treatment plans for colorectal cancer patients. This article comprehensively analyzes the progress in the application of ctDNA for detecting MRD in non-metastatic colorectal cancer patients, elaborates on its guiding role in clinical treatment decisions, and envisions the future development directions in this field.

Objective:To examine the clinical effect of endovascular treatment for patients with non-acute symptomatic anterior circulation distal medium artery disease (aDMAD).Methods:This is a retrospective case series study.Retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 28 patients(29 lesions) with non-acute symptomatic aDMAD who underwent endovascular treatment at the Department of Neurosurgery,Beijing Hospital from May 2018 to March 2024. There were 15 males and 13 females,with an age of (63.4±10.2) years (range:36 to 82 years). The course of disease were more than 72 hours of all the patients. Confirmed by digital subtraction angiography,the lesion was located in distal anterior circulation and (or) medium arteries. Among them, 21 lesions (72.4%) located at middle cerebral artery and 8 lesions (27.6%) located at anterior cerebral artery.The median degree of stenosis before surgery ( M(IQR)) was 90%(23%) (range:70% to 100%).After standardized drug treatment,there was still a transient ischemic attack or cerebral infarction in the vascular related area.The therapeutic effects and complications were analyzed,and the differences in the occurrence of target vessel restenosis under different interventional treatment methods were collected. Results:A total of 28 patients with 29 lesions underwent endovascular treatment, with a treatment success rate of 96.6% (28/29). The course of disease was 60(66)days (range:9 to 210 days). Simple plain balloon angioplasty was performed in 12 cases (13 lesions), drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty in 7 cases (7 lesions), and stent placement in 9 cases (9 lesions). The median degree of stenosis after surgery was 20%(39%) (range:0 to 50%). There was no new cerebral infarctions,cerebral hemorrhages,or other complications during the perioperative period.Imaging follow-up was conducted on 23 lesions for 12(15)months(range:3 to 34 months),with 10 cases (43.5%) of restenosis,3 cases (13.0%) of symptomatic restenosis,and 4 cases (17.4%) of re-treatment. There were no new cases of cerebral hemorrhage or death during the follow-up process.The restenosis rate was 6/10 for the conventional balloon group,1/6 for the DCB group, and 3/7 for the stent group; the rate of symptomatic restenosis was 1/10 for the conventional balloon group,0/6 for the DCB group, and 2/7 for the stent group.Conclusions:Endovascular treatment for non-acute symptomatic aDMAD is relatively effective,but there is a high rate of restenosis postoperatively. DCB may reduce the occurrence of postoperative restenosis.

The occurrence of benign prostate hyperplasia(BPH)was related to disrupted sex steroid hormones,and metformin(Met)had a clinical response to sex steroid hormone-related gynaecological disease.How-ever,whether Met exerts an antiproliferative effect on BPH via sex steroid hormones remains unclear.Here,our clinical study showed that along with prostatic epithelial cell(PEC)proliferation,sex steroid hormones were dysregulated in the serum and prostate of BPH patients.As the major contributor to dysregulated sex steroid hormones,elevated dihydrotestosterone(DHT)had a significant positive rela-tionship with the clinical characteristics of BPH patients.Activation of adenosine 5'-monophosphate(AMP)-activated protein kinase(AMPK)by Met restored dysregulated sex steroid hormone homeostasis and exerted antiproliferative effects against DHT-induced proliferation by inhibiting the formation of androgen receptor(AR)-mediated Yes-associated protein(YAP1)-TEA domain transcription factor(TEAD4)heterodimers.Met's anti-proliferative effects were blocked by AMPK inhibitor or YAP1 over-expression in DHT-cultured BPH-1 cells.Our findings indicated that Met would be a promising clinical therapeutic approach for BPH by inhibiting dysregulated steroid hormone-induced PEC proliferation.

Objective:To explore the benefits of transradial diagnostic cerebral angiography in elderly patients and its correlation with morphometric parameters of the aortic arch.Methods:Clinical data and aortic arch CTA imaging parameters of patients who underwent cerebral angiography at the Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Hospital, between May 2022 and April 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.The study aimed to compare the time taken for angiography via radial artery access in elderly patients versus younger patients, as well as via femoral artery access, and to evaluate the associated aortic arch morphology parameters.Results:A total of 101 patients' data were analyzed, with 67 males(66.3%)and an average age of 63.4±12.0 years.Among them, 69 patients(68.3%)were aged 60 and above.The arterial approach for 44 patients(43.6%)was radial, while 57 cases(56.4%)used the femoral artery approach.In the elderly group, 14 cases(20.6%), 31 cases(45.6%), and 23 cases(33.8%)had type Ⅲ aortic arch, respectively.For younger patients, 17 cases(53.1%), 12 cases(37.5%), and 3 cases(9.4%)fell into these categories.The distribution difference was statistically significant( χ2=12.765, P=0.002).Elderly patients had a larger aortic arch width angle compared to younger patients(106°±12°and 100°±12°, t=2.334, P=0.022).The time for whole-brain angiography via radial artery was shorter for elderly patients than via femoral artery(39.8±29.5 minutes and 52.2±28.4 minutes, respectively, t=1.845, P=0.070).In young patients, there was no significant time difference between the two approaches(42.3±30.4 minutes for radial artery and 34.6±11.2 minutes for femoral artery, t=1.026, P=0.313).In the type Ⅱ aortic arch group, the average times for transradial and transfemoral approaches were 38.1±21.7 minutes and 46.7±32.2 minutes, respectively( t=1.020, P=0.314).The average times for the type Ⅲ aortic arch group were 41.9±37.3 minutes and 48.9±20.7 minutes, respectively.Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between the duration of radial artery access and the distance from the origin of the innominate artery to the left subclavian artery(Pearson correlation coefficien( r=-0.372, P=0.014). Conclusions:In elderly patients, particularly those with type Ⅱ or Ⅲ aortic arch or a wide aortic arch, diagnostic cerebral angiography using transradial access is preferable to femoral access.The distance between the innominate artery and the left subclavian artery origin could impact the duration of the procedure.

ObjectiveBased on spatial metabolomics technology combined with pharmacological indexes， to analyze the mechanism of Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus（FCB） powder in improving bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. MethodSixty SD rats were randomly divided into five groups， including the blank group， the model group， and high， medium， low dosage groups of FCB. Except for the blank group， rats in all other groups were injected with bleomycin by tracheal injection to establish a pulmonary fibrosis model. Postoperatively， the high， medium and low dosage groups of FCB were administered aqueous solutions of FCB powder at doses of 0.36， 0.18， 0.09 g·kg^-1， respectively， continuously for 28 d. The blank and model groups were given an equal volume of distilled water by gavage. After the last administration， lung tissues and blood samples were collected， the pathological conditions of rat lung tissues were comprehensively evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin（HE） and Masson staining， and aerodynamic assisted desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging（AFADESI-MSI） was used for MSI of rat lung tissues from different experimental groups. Spatial metabolomics analysis was conducted on the fibrotic areas of lung tissues in the model group and the high dosage group of FCB based on HE staining images. Differential metabolites between groups were screened by orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis（OPLS-DA）， with variable importance in the projection（VIP） values>1， t-test P<0.05， and fold change analysis. Metabolic pathway analysis of the identified differential metabolites was performed using Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes（KEGG）. Protein expression levels of nuclear transcription factor-κB p65（NF-κB p65） and heme oxygenase-1（HO-1） in rat lung tissues were detected by Western blot. Biochemical assessments of superoxide dismutase（SOD）， malondialdehyde（MDA） and glutathione（GSH） levels in rat lung tissues were conducted. Serum levels of interleukin（IL）-1β， IL-6， nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2（Nrf2）， and tumor necrosis factor-α（TNF-α） were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）， and some of the screened signaling pathways with strong correlation were verified. ResultThe results of MSI experiment showed that after 28 d of the administration of FCB powder to rats with pulmonary fibrosis， the content of L-arginine in the fibrotic regions of lung tissues was significantly different from that of rats in the model group， and the content of phosphatidylcholine was lower than that in the fibrotic region of lung tissues of rats in the model group. Western blot results confirmed that， in comparison to the model group， oral administration of FCB powder for 28 d could inhibit the elevated expression of NF-κB p65 protein in the lung tissues of rats with pulmonary fibrosis. Furthermore， high dose of FCB powder was able to significantly inhibit the expression of HO-1 after oral administration （P<0.05）. The cytokine detection results indicated that the concentrations of IL-1β， IL-6 and TNF-α in the serum of rats from the high， medium， low dosage groups of FCB were reduced by comparing with the model group， and the high dose of Chuanbeimu powder administered by gavage could significantly inhibit the trend of decreased SOD， GSH， Nrf2 contents and increased MDA content induced by bleomycin. ConclusionOral administration of FCB powder has the potential to partially ameliorate bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats， and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of pathways associated with inflammation（NF-κB p65） and oxidative stress（Nrf2/HO-1）.