ObjectiveTo explore the central neuroregulation mechanism of heat-sensitive moxibustion for knee osteoarthritis on pain relief. MethodsThirty patients who did not have experience of Deqi （得气） during heat-sensitive moxibustion treatment were assigned to the "non-Deqi group"， while another 30 patients who had experience of Deqi were assigned to the "Deqi group". Both groups received moxibustion at the left Heding （EX-LE2） acupoint. In the Deqi group， after the patients experienced sensation of Deqi at the acupoint， moxibustion was applied at approximately 3 cm from the skin for 10 minutes； in the non-Deqi group， moxibustion was also applied at approximately 3 cm from the skin for 10 minutes. Both groups received treatment once daily for 10 consecutive days. Knee joint pain was assessed before and after treatment using the visual analog scale （VAS）. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging （rs-fMRI） scans were performed on all participants before the first treatment session and after the final session on the 10th day. The fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations （fALFF） maps before and after treatment were processed using the SPM12 module by MATLAB. ResultsAfter treatment， VAS scores in both groups were significantly lower than before treatment （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）， with the Deqi group showing significantly lower VAS scores than the non-Deqi group （P＜0.01）. Compared to before treatment， the Deqi group exhibited significant activation in the prefrontal cortex （t = 6.28）， white matter （t = 6.36）， and left temporal lobe （t = 9.33）， while significant inhibition was observed in the occipital lobe （t = -9.86） and right cerebrum （t = -4.54， P＜0.01）； in the non-Deqi group， significant changes after treatment were observed in the left occipital lobe （t = -6.42）， left medial frontal gyrus （t = -4.35）， left middle frontal gyrus （t = -4.74）， right superior frontal gyrus （t = -4.82）， right superior temporal gyrus （t = -6.61）， and right cerebellar posterior lobe （t = -8.64）， all of which were in inhibited states （P＜0.01）. Compared to the non-Deqi group， the Deqi group exhibited significant activation after treatment in the external nucleus （t = 5.77）， white matter （t = 3.58）， right cerebrum （t = 5.84）， left cerebellum （t = 5.35）， and left cerebrum （t = 4.32）， while significant inhibition was observed in the prefrontal cortex （t = -4.16）， occipital lobe （t = -4.87）， and precentral gyrus （t = -4.46， P＜0.01）. ConclusionsHeat-sensitive moxibustion provides better analgesic effects for knee osteoarthritis under state of Deqi. Its central neuroregulation mechanism may be related to the involvement of the frontal lobe， temporal lobe， occipital lobe， external nucleus， white matter， right cerebrum， left cerebellum， left cerebrum， and precentral gyrus in modulating pain signals.

BACKGROUND:Pelvic fractures encompass a range of types,and the utilization of a pelvic reduction frame for restoration often lacks a systematic repositioning method.Instead,it relies on the operator's experience in conjunction with fluoroscopic findings,which can lead to uncertainty and non-reproducibility. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the clinical efficacy of combining computer-simulated repositioning techniques with a pelvic reduction frame for the treatment of anteroposterior compression-III pelvic fractures. METHODS:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 19 patients with anteroposterior compression-III pelvic fractures who underwent preoperative repositioning via computer simulation and intraoperative repositioning with the assistance of a pelvic reduction frame between January 2018 and December 2021.Among them,7 cases were fixed with double plate in anterior ring and 12 cases were fixed with single plate combined with anterior subcutaneous internal fixation(INFIX).All patients received posterior ring fixation with two sacroiliac screws.Operative duration,intraoperative reduction time,the frequency of intraoperative fluoroscopy use,blood loss,and follow-up duration were documented.These data were utilized to monitor fracture healing time and postoperative complications.Fracture reduction quality was evaluated according to the Matta scale,and the Majeed Pelvic Function Score was employed to assess patient function during the final follow-up. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Surgery was successfully completed in all 19 patients.The anterior ring was secured with double plates in 7 cases,while a single plate combined with INFIX was utilized in 12 cases.The posterior ring was stabilized with two sacroiliac screws,specifically targeting the S1 and S2 cones.(2)The operation duration ranged from 74 to 147 minutes,with a mean of(101.63±19.55)minutes.Intraoperative repositioning took place over a period of 26 to 41 minutes,with a mean of(38.11±3.31)minutes.The number of intraoperative fluoroscopies conducted ranged from 35 to 81,with a mean of(62.68±13.11)times.Intraoperative bleeding volumes varied from 60 to 130 mL,with a mean of(85.37±20.57)mL.(3)All the patients were diligently monitored for a duration of 12 to 26 months.Fracture healing was observed within a time frame of 12 to 20 weeks,with a mean of(16.37±2.50)weeks.(4)The evaluation according to Matta's criteria one day post-surgery revealed excellent outcomes in 14 cases and good outcomes in 5 cases.At the final follow-up,the Majeed function score indicated excellent results in 16 cases and good results in 3 cases.(5)Two patients experienced localized fat liquefaction phenomena,characterized by redness,swelling,and oozing at the incision site,which gradually resolved with proactive dressing changes.None of the patients encountered complications such as internal fixation loosening,loss of fracture reduction,or nerve injuries post-surgery.It is concluded that the combined approach of using computer-simulated repositioning techniques in conjunction with pelvic reduction frames for the treatment of anteroposterior compression-III pelvic fractures has advantages in enhancing repositioning efficiency and improving pelvic function.

Patients with sudden deafness encounter greater psychological challenges and communication barriers after experiencing sudden hearing loss， and traditional medical models often fail to adequately address their unique needs. This paper analyzed the current situation of emotional and behavioral changes in patients with sudden deafness， and the gap between their expectations and the reality of medical care. From the perspective of narrative medicine， the theory and characteristics of the reconstruction of the doctor-patient relationships in patients with sudden deafness were explored. The results showed that narrative medicine can enhance patients’ emotional resonance and understanding， improve the efficiency and quality of doctor-patient communication， promote the formulation of personalized treatment plans， and enhance treatment adherence and satisfaction. Based on these results， strategies and pathways for the reconstruction of doctor-patient relationships for patients with sudden deafness were proposed， including building empathetic bridges and tapping into mechanisms of emotional resonance within narrative medicine； optimizing communication strategies and promoting the application of narrative techniques in doctor-patient dialogues； connecting narrative pathways and advocating the exploration of stories and strategies in personalized treatments； as well as facilitating treatment adherence and making full use of the psychodynamic effects of narrative medicine. Narrative medicine， as a patient-centered medical practice， can effectively promote the reconstruction of doctor-patient relationships， enhance treatment effectiveness， and offer a more humane treatment experience for patients.

Liver cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. Currently, the available treatment methods cannot fully control its recurrence and mortality rate. Establishing appropriate animal models for liver cancer is crucial for developing new treatment technologies and strategies. The patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model preserves the tumor's microenvironment and heterogeneity, which makes it advantageous for biological research, drug evaluation, personalized medicine, and other purposes. This article reviews the development, preparation techniques, application fields, and challenges of PDX models in liver cancer, providing insights for the research and exploration of PDX models in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies of liver cancer.
Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Animals ; Humans ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays/methods* ; Mice ; Disease Models, Animal

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between the polygenic risks for various psychiatric disorders and clinical and neuropsychological characteristics in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design, 285 children with ADHD and 107 healthy controls were assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist, the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function for parents, the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition, and the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery. Blood samples were collected for genetic data. Polygenic risk scores (PRSs) for various psychiatric disorders were calculated using the PRSice-2 software. RESULTS: Compared with the healthy controls, the children with ADHD displayed significantly higher PRSs for ADHD, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (P<0.05). In terms of daily-life executive function, ADHD-related PRS was significantly correlated with the working memory factor; panic disorder-related PRS was significantly correlated with the initiation factor; bipolar disorder-related PRS was significantly correlated with the shift factor; schizophrenia-related PRS was significantly correlated with the inhibition, emotional control, initiation, working memory, planning, organization, and monitoring factors (P<0.05). The PRS related to anxiety disorders was negatively correlated with total IQ and processing speed index (P<0.05). The PRS related to obsessive-compulsive disorder was negatively correlated with the processing speed index and positively correlated with the stop-signal reaction time index of the stop-signal task (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS PRSs for various psychiatric disorders are closely correlated with the behavioral and cognitive characteristics in children with ADHD, which provides more insights into the heterogeneity of ADHD.
Humans ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/genetics* ; Child ; Male ; Female ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Multifactorial Inheritance ; Adolescent ; Mental Disorders/etiology* ; Executive Function ; Genetic Risk Score

BACKGROUND: Despite some studies identifying a potential association between obesity and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) risk, previous research had overlooked the dynamic nature of body weight over time, leading to inconsistent findings. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the relationship between adult weight change and COPD risk by adjusting for potential confounding factors. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis using data from ten NHANES cycles (1999-2018), including adults aged 40-74 years. Weight change patterns were assessed using BMI at three time points and classified into five categories per period. Absolute weight change was also grouped into five levels. Multivariate logistic regression models, incorporating sampling weights, were used to examine associations between weight change and COPD, adjusting for demographic and lifestyle covariates. RESULTS: Compared with participants who maintained normal weight, stable obesity participants had increased risk of COPD from age 25 years to 10 years before the survey (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.15 to 1.83), in the 10 years period before the survey (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.47 to 2.08), and from age 25 years to survey (OR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.46 to 2.31). Three periods indicate that weight gain in adulthood was associated with risk of COPD. In addition, substantial weight gain of more than 20 kg was associated with a higher risk of COPD. In stratified analyses, we also observed a more significant association between weight change and the risk of COPD in never smokers compared to former smokers. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggested that stable obesity and weight gain in adulthood were associated with an increased risk of COPD compared to those who maintain a normal weight, and that the association between weight gain and the incidence of COPD appears closer in patients who have never smoked.
Humans ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/etiology* ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Weight Gain ; Obesity/complications* ; Risk Factors ; United States/epidemiology* ; Nutrition Surveys ; Body Mass Index

Astragali Radix (AR) and Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma (NR) are frequently employed in cardiovascular disease treatment. However, the efficacy of the AR-NR medicine pair (AN) in improving cardiac remodeling and its underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate AN's cardioprotective effect and potential mechanism on cardiac remodeling using transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in mice and angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) and fibroblasts in vitro. High-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) characterized 23 main components of AN. AN significantly improved cardiac function in the TAC-induced mice. Furthermore, AN considerably reduced the serum levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), cardiac troponin T (CTn-T), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and mitigated inflammatory cell infiltration. Post-AN treatment, TAC-induced heart size approached normal. AN decreased cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area and attenuated the upregulation of cardiac hypertrophy marker genes (ANP, BNP, and MYH7) in vivo and in vitro. Concurrently, AN alleviated collagen deposition in TAC-induced mice. AN also reduced the expression of fibrosis-related indicators (COL1A1 and COL3A1) and inhibited the activation of the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 (Smad3) pathway. Thus, AN improved TAC-induced cardiac remodeling. Moreover, AN downregulated p-dynamin-related protein (Drp1) (Ser616) expression and upregulated mitogen 2 (MFN-2) and optic atrophy 1 (OPA1) expression in vivo and in vitro, thereby restoring mitochondrial fusion and fission balance. In conclusion, AN improves cardiac remodeling by regulating mitochondrial dynamic balance, providing experimental data for the rational application of Chinese medicine prescriptions with AN as the main component in clinical practice.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism* ; Mice ; Rats ; Male ; Mitochondrial Dynamics/drug effects* ; Ventricular Remodeling/drug effects* ; Astragalus Plant/chemistry* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Rhizome/chemistry* ; Panax notoginseng/chemistry* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain/genetics* ; Humans ; Angiotensin II ; Astragalus propinquus

Objective:To analyze the relationship between health belief and the stages of parental decision-making on childhood 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) immunization in China.Methods:Cross-sectional multistage survey sampling method was used to select study subjects. The study subjects were parents who were aged 20-45 years and had one and more children ≤5 years old in three cities in China. A self-administered questionnaire designed based on health belief model was used to collect the information. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationships between perceived susceptibility, perceived severity of illness, perceived effect of PCV13 and stages of parental decision-making on childhood PCV13 immunization.Results:A total of 1 716 valid questionnaires were returned (89.33%). The average age of the study subjects was (35.33±4.95) years, and 79.60% of them were women. In the study subjects, 48.31% had in action, 21.79% were in contemplation and 29.90% were in pre-contemplation. The multinominal logistic regression analysis indicated that high perceived susceptibility ( OR=0.14, 95% CI:0.09-0.22; OR=0.54, 95% CI:0.39-0.76), high perceived severity of illness ( OR=0.55, 95% CI:0.42-0.73), and high perceived effect of PCV13 ( OR=0.27, 95% CI:0.18-0.40; OR=0.51, 95% CI:0.32-0.81) were significantly lower in those who were in contemplation or pre-compared with those who had in action. For study subjects with low perceived susceptibility, high perceived effect of PCV13 might decrease the probabilities of contemplation ( OR=0.53, 95% CI:0.32-0.87) and pre-contemplation ( OR=0.27, 95% CI:0.18-0.41). For those with high perceived susceptibility, perceived severity of illness might decrease the probability of contemplation ( OR=0.43, 95% CI:0.23-0.82). Conclusions:Childhood PCV13 vaccination willingness and level is low in China. It is important to pay greater attention to the intervention on health belief in child parents, such as perceived effect of PCV13, perceived severity of illness, and perceived susceptibility, in health policy development and health promotion.

Octapeptin has strong antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii, while it also has activity against some Gram-positive bacteria. This study used natural octapeptin A3 and B3 as lead compounds for structural modification. Twenty-one peptide derivatives (including A3 and B3) containing eight amino acid residues were prepared by solid-phase synthesis, and evaluated for antibacterial activity and renal cytotoxicity. Among them, three compounds 6, 7 and 17 exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and significantly enhanced the activity for Gram-positive bacteria while maintaining the activity of Gram-negative bacteria. Several compounds improved the activity for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Compound 7 was active against all test strains and had relatively low renal cytotoxicity. The results provide a basis for the further development of novel polypeptide antibiotics.