Objective To compare the clinical effect of left atrial appendage(LAA)plus atrial septal defect(ASD)closure therapy and ASD closure therapy in treating ASD associated with atrial fibrillation(AF).Methods A total of 102 patients with ASD complicated by non-valvular AF,who were admitted to the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command of China from January 2016 to December 2023,were enrolled in this study.Of the 102 patients,simultaneous one-stop interventional transcatheter LAA plus ASD closure was performed in 52(LAA+ASD closure group)and ASD closure was performed in 50.(ASD closure group).The perioperative and postoperative 30 d,90 d,180 d clinical safety and efficacy were compared between the two groups.Telephone follow-up was conducted,the complications such as embolization and bleeding were recorded,and the medium-to-long-term follow-up results were compared between the two groups.Results The immediate surgical success rate in both groups was 100％.The immediate postoperative monitoring showed that the occlusion effect was satisfactory.In LAA plus ASD closure group,LACBES LAA occluder was used in 27 patients and LAmbre LAA occluder was adopted in 25.There were no statistically significant differences in the patients' baseline characteristics between the two groups(all P＞0.05).In the LAA+ASD closure group,3 patients developed cardiac tamponade,among them 2 patients were cured after pericardiocentesis drainage and one patient was referred to the surgery department to receive occluder removal and intracardiac repair.Medium-to-long-term follow-up was conducted in 101 patients with a median follow-up period of 37.6 months.The incidence of embolic events in the LAA+ASD closure group was lower than that in the ASD closure group(3.9％vs.18.0％,P=0.028).The incidence of bleeding events in the ASD closure group was higher than that in the LAA+ASD closure group(16.00％vs.1.96％,P=0.016).Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that the risk of occurring embolic events and bleeding events in the LAA+ASD closure group was strikingly lower than that in the ASD closure group(HR=4.295 and 7.888 respectively,95％CI:1.317-14.010 and 2.135-29.140 respectively,P=0.040 9 and P=0.020 8 respectively).Conclusion Simultaneous interventional transcatheter LAA plus ASD closure can effectively prevent embolic events such as stroke,etc.in patients with ASD complicated by AF,and its bleeding risk is lower than simple ASD closure.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) represents a paradigmatic approach to personalized medicine, developed through the systematic accumulation and refinement of clinical empirical data over more than 2000 years, and now encompasses large-scale electronic medical records (EMR) and experimental molecular data. Artificial intelligence (AI) has demonstrated its utility in medicine through the development of various expert systems (e.g., MYCIN) since the 1970s. With the emergence of deep learning and large language models (LLMs), AI's potential in medicine shows considerable promise. Consequently, the integration of AI and TCM from both clinical and scientific perspectives presents a fundamental and promising research direction. This survey provides an insightful overview of TCM AI research, summarizing related research tasks from three perspectives: systems-level biological mechanism elucidation, real-world clinical evidence inference, and personalized clinical decision support. The review highlights representative AI methodologies alongside their applications in both TCM scientific inquiry and clinical practice. To critically assess the current state of the field, this work identifies major challenges and opportunities that constrain the development of robust research capabilities-particularly in the mechanistic understanding of TCM syndromes and herbal formulations, novel drug discovery, and the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered clinical care. The findings underscore that future advancements in AI-driven TCM research will rely on the development of high-quality, large-scale data repositories; the construction of comprehensive and domain-specific knowledge graphs (KGs); deeper insights into the biological mechanisms underpinning clinical efficacy; rigorous causal inference frameworks; and intelligent, personalized decision support systems.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Artificial Intelligence ; Humans ; Precision Medicine ; Decision Support Systems, Clinical

Mitochondrial dysfunction in chondrocytes is a key pathogenic factor in osteoarthritis (OA), but directly modulating mitochondria in vivo remains a significant challenge. This study is the first to verify a correlation between mitochondrial dysfunction and the downregulation of the FOXO3 gene in the cartilage of OA patients, highlighting the potential for regulating mitophagy via FOXO3 gene modulation to alleviate OA. Consequently, we developed a chondrocyte-targeting CRISPR/Cas9-based FOXO3 gene-editing tool (FoxO3) and integrated it within a nanoengineered 'truck' (NETT, FoxO3-NETT). This was further encapsulated in injectable hydrogel microspheres (FoxO3-NETT@SMs) to harness the antioxidant properties of sodium alginate and the enhanced lubrication of hybrid exosomes. Collectively, these FoxO3-NETT@SMs successfully activate mitophagy and rebalance mitochondrial function in OA chondrocytes through the Foxo3 gene-modulated PINK1/Parkin pathway. As a result, FoxO3-NETT@SMs stimulate chondrocytes proliferation, migration, and ECM production in vitro, and effectively alleviate OA progression in vivo, demonstrating significant potential for clinical applications.

BACKGROUND:Current osteoarthritis modeling methods include anterior cruciate ligament transection(ACLT)and ACLT combined with medial meniscal anterior horn resection.ACLT requires excessive postoperative exercise,which is time and labor-intensive.Complete removal of anterior horn of the medial meniscus can cause collateral damage and increase variability in modeling outcomes,requiring higher surgical skills from the surgeon. OBJECTIVE:To modify and simplify the traditional method to create animal osteoarthritis model and compare osteoarthritis symptoms of different modeling methods under a low-load exercise environment. METHODS:Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned in four groups(n=12 per group):sham operation(complete exposure of the knee cavity of the left hind limb followed by suturing the joint cavity and skin),ACLT,ACLT+anterior horn resection(removal of the anterior horn of the medial meniscus)and ACLT+anterior horn tear(anterior horn tear of the medial meniscus).At 4 weeks after modeling,the rats were euthanized and their knee specimens were collected for gross observation,X-ray and CT scans,pathological observation,and PCR detection. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Gross observation:Mild meniscal wear was observed in the ACLT group.In the ACLT+anterior horn tear group,severe wear of the lateral condyle articular surface,mild wear of the medial condyle articular surface,severe meniscal wear,and full wear of the medial meniscus were observed.The ACLT+resection group showed severe wear of the lateral condyle articular surface,mild wear of the medial condyle articular surface,absence of the anterior horn of the medial meniscus,and meniscus wear area＞50%.Imaging examinations showed no significant difference among the four groups.However,the anterior tibial translocation sign was observed in the three operation groups and the anterior horn of the medial meniscus was missing in the ACLT+anterior horn resection group.Histopathological section observation:Hematoxylin-eosin,toluidine blue,and Sirius red staining showed smooth joint surfaces in the sham operation group and ACLT group;cartilage damage and matrix degradation were evident in the ACLT+anterior horn tear and ACLT+anterior horn transection groups,with less cartilage damage and matrix degradation in the ACLT+anterior horn tear group.PCR results showed higher mRNA expressions of interleukin 1β,interleukin 6,interleukin 8,tumor necrosis factor α,matrix metalloproteinase 1 and matrix metalloproteinase 3 and lower mRNA expressions of aggrecan in the ACLT+anterior horn tear group and ACLT+anterior horn resection group than in the sham operation group and ACLT group(P＜0.05).The mRNA expressions of interleukin 6,matrix metalloproteinase 1,and matrix metalloproteinase 3 were higher in the ACLT + anterior horn resection group than in the ACLT +anterior horn tear group(P＜0.05).To conclude,ACLT alone is less likely to induce osteoarthritis with obvious cartilage wear.ACLT combined with anterior horn resection or tear of the medial meniscus can induce obvious symptoms of osteoarthritis and achieve similar modeling effects.

Objective:To explore the effects of simulated microgravity on carotid oxidative stress and anti-oxidative stress in rats by using a rat tail-suspension model to simulate the hemodynamic changes caused by microgravity.Methods:Twelve healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were completely randomized into control group and simulated suspension group, with 6 rats in each group. The rats in control group were fed in standard laboratory environment and could move freely. The feeding environment of the simulated suspension group rats was the same as that of the control group, and the tail suspension was maintained for 4 weeks. The differentially expressed genes in carotid tissue were obtained by transcriptome sequencing, and analyzed by volcano plot, Venn diagram and heatmap. The differentially expressed genes were further analyzed by Gene Ontology and the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes. Dihydroethidium staining was used to detect the content of reactive oxygen species in rat carotid artery. Western blotting was used to detect the expression changes of pro-oxidative stress factor nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4 and anti-oxidative stress factors Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1, nuclear factor-E2 related factor 2, heme oxygenase-1, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate quinone oxidoreductase-1 in each group. The contents/activities of malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione and oxidized glutathione in each group were detected using the thiobarbituric acid method, 4-[2-(2-methoxy-4-nitrophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)tetrazol-2-ium-5-yl]benzene-1,3-disulfonate sodium method and colorimetry.Results:Compared with the rats in control group, the wet weight of soleus muscle and the ratio of the wet weight of soleus muscle to body weight in simulated suspension group rats were decreased ( t=19.98, 17.34, both P<0.001), and the differences were significant. Eighty differentially expressed genes related to oxidative stress were screened by transcriptional sequencing (52 up-regulated and 28 down-regulated), which were closely related to vascular remodeling pathways, including cyclic guanosine monophosphate-protein kinase G signal pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase signal pathway, phosphoinositide 3-kinase-Akt signal pathway, protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum and lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis-related signal pathways. These genes were mainly involved in response to antioxidant defense, chaperone-mediated autophagy, stress fiber, contractile actin filament bundle, actin filament bundle, growth factor activity, chaperone binding and cytokine activity. Compared with the control group, the levels of reactive oxygen species ( t=3.83, P=0.028) and malondialdehyde ( t=8.75, P<0.001) in the simulated suspension group were significantly increased. The protein expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4 ( t=11.49 , P<0.001) was significantly increased, with statistical significance. The activities of antioxidant stress related factors superoxide dismutase ( t=6.44, P=0.001), catalase ( t=6.83, P=0.001), and the ratio of reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione ( t=3.46, P=0.003), and nuclear factor-E2 related factor 2 ( t=28.18, P<0.001), heme oxygenase-1 ( t=8.03, P<0.001), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate quinone oxidoreductase-1 ( t=9.71, P<0.001) were significantly decreased, the protein expression of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1 ( t=5.06, P<0.001) was increased, and the differences were statistically significant. Conclusions:Simulated microgravity can enhance the level of carotid oxidative stress in rats, including promoting the expression of pro-oxidative stress-related factors and suppressing the activity of anti-oxidative stress pathways. Their combined action will lead to the oxidative stress injury of carotid arteries. This process may be one of the key mechanisms involved in the remodeling of arterial structure and function induced by simulated microgravity.

Objective::This study aims to investigate the impact of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) severity on the accuracy of echocardiographic estimation of systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).Methods::Patients who were diagnosed with PAH and had a right heart catheterization (RHC) and echocardiography examination were selected retrospectively from May 2018 to December 2021. sPAP measured by RHC is used as the gold standard. A difference in sPAP of less than 10 mmHg between echocardiographic estimation by peak TR velocity and RHC measurement was defined as accurate, with a difference ≥10 mmHg considered inaccurate. The factors affecting the accuracy of echocardiographic sPAP estimation were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis.Results::A total of 138 patients aged (45.57 ± 15.97) years with PAH were enrolled. sPAP measured by echocardiography and RHC were (80.83 ± 23.46) and (81.62 ± 30.05) mmHg, respectively. The values of the 2 methods were highly correlated ( r = 0.809, P < 0.01) and Bland-Altman plots showed good consistency. The accuracy rate of sPAP estimation by echocardiography was 42.03% (58/138). In the 57.97% (80/138) of patients where echocardiography was inaccurate, sPAP was overestimated in 28.26% (39/138) and underestimated in 29.71% (41/138). Univariate analysis showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the accurate and inaccurate groups in World Health Organization-Function Class, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, severity of TR, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), sPAP-RHC, mean pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance ( P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analyses identified the TR severity (odds ratio = 2.292, 95% confidence interval: 1.126–4.667, P = 0.022) and TAPSE (odds ratio = 0.733, 95% confidence interval: 0.621–0.865, P < 0.001) as independent predictors for the accuracy of echocardiographic sPAP estimation. Conclusion::Higher TR severity and lower TAPSE values reduce the accuracy of sPAP estimated by echocardiography. Therefore, TR severity and right heart function should be considered when echocardiography is used to estimate sPAP by the TR velocity.

Objective::This study aims to investigate the impact of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) severity on the accuracy of echocardiographic estimation of systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).Methods::Patients who were diagnosed with PAH and had a right heart catheterization (RHC) and echocardiography examination were selected retrospectively from May 2018 to December 2021. sPAP measured by RHC is used as the gold standard. A difference in sPAP of less than 10 mmHg between echocardiographic estimation by peak TR velocity and RHC measurement was defined as accurate, with a difference ≥10 mmHg considered inaccurate. The factors affecting the accuracy of echocardiographic sPAP estimation were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis.Results::A total of 138 patients aged (45.57 ± 15.97) years with PAH were enrolled. sPAP measured by echocardiography and RHC were (80.83 ± 23.46) and (81.62 ± 30.05) mmHg, respectively. The values of the 2 methods were highly correlated ( r = 0.809, P < 0.01) and Bland-Altman plots showed good consistency. The accuracy rate of sPAP estimation by echocardiography was 42.03% (58/138). In the 57.97% (80/138) of patients where echocardiography was inaccurate, sPAP was overestimated in 28.26% (39/138) and underestimated in 29.71% (41/138). Univariate analysis showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the accurate and inaccurate groups in World Health Organization-Function Class, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, severity of TR, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), sPAP-RHC, mean pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance ( P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analyses identified the TR severity (odds ratio = 2.292, 95% confidence interval: 1.126–4.667, P = 0.022) and TAPSE (odds ratio = 0.733, 95% confidence interval: 0.621–0.865, P < 0.001) as independent predictors for the accuracy of echocardiographic sPAP estimation. Conclusion::Higher TR severity and lower TAPSE values reduce the accuracy of sPAP estimated by echocardiography. Therefore, TR severity and right heart function should be considered when echocardiography is used to estimate sPAP by the TR velocity.

Objective:To explore the effects of simulated microgravity on carotid oxidative stress and anti-oxidative stress in rats by using a rat tail-suspension model to simulate the hemodynamic changes caused by microgravity.Methods:Twelve healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were completely randomized into control group and simulated suspension group, with 6 rats in each group. The rats in control group were fed in standard laboratory environment and could move freely. The feeding environment of the simulated suspension group rats was the same as that of the control group, and the tail suspension was maintained for 4 weeks. The differentially expressed genes in carotid tissue were obtained by transcriptome sequencing, and analyzed by volcano plot, Venn diagram and heatmap. The differentially expressed genes were further analyzed by Gene Ontology and the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes. Dihydroethidium staining was used to detect the content of reactive oxygen species in rat carotid artery. Western blotting was used to detect the expression changes of pro-oxidative stress factor nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4 and anti-oxidative stress factors Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1, nuclear factor-E2 related factor 2, heme oxygenase-1, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate quinone oxidoreductase-1 in each group. The contents/activities of malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione and oxidized glutathione in each group were detected using the thiobarbituric acid method, 4-[2-(2-methoxy-4-nitrophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)tetrazol-2-ium-5-yl]benzene-1,3-disulfonate sodium method and colorimetry.Results:Compared with the rats in control group, the wet weight of soleus muscle and the ratio of the wet weight of soleus muscle to body weight in simulated suspension group rats were decreased ( t=19.98, 17.34, both P<0.001), and the differences were significant. Eighty differentially expressed genes related to oxidative stress were screened by transcriptional sequencing (52 up-regulated and 28 down-regulated), which were closely related to vascular remodeling pathways, including cyclic guanosine monophosphate-protein kinase G signal pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase signal pathway, phosphoinositide 3-kinase-Akt signal pathway, protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum and lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis-related signal pathways. These genes were mainly involved in response to antioxidant defense, chaperone-mediated autophagy, stress fiber, contractile actin filament bundle, actin filament bundle, growth factor activity, chaperone binding and cytokine activity. Compared with the control group, the levels of reactive oxygen species ( t=3.83, P=0.028) and malondialdehyde ( t=8.75, P<0.001) in the simulated suspension group were significantly increased. The protein expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4 ( t=11.49 , P<0.001) was significantly increased, with statistical significance. The activities of antioxidant stress related factors superoxide dismutase ( t=6.44, P=0.001), catalase ( t=6.83, P=0.001), and the ratio of reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione ( t=3.46, P=0.003), and nuclear factor-E2 related factor 2 ( t=28.18, P<0.001), heme oxygenase-1 ( t=8.03, P<0.001), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate quinone oxidoreductase-1 ( t=9.71, P<0.001) were significantly decreased, the protein expression of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1 ( t=5.06, P<0.001) was increased, and the differences were statistically significant. Conclusions:Simulated microgravity can enhance the level of carotid oxidative stress in rats, including promoting the expression of pro-oxidative stress-related factors and suppressing the activity of anti-oxidative stress pathways. Their combined action will lead to the oxidative stress injury of carotid arteries. This process may be one of the key mechanisms involved in the remodeling of arterial structure and function induced by simulated microgravity.

Objective:To investigate the safety and clinical efficacy of the lateral-rectus approach combined with the Pfannenstiel approach in the treatment of pelvic fractures complicated with urethral rupture.Methods:From January 2013 to June 2021, 20 patients with pelvic fracture complicated with urethral rupture were surgically managed through the lateral-rectus approach and the Pfannenstiel approach at Department of Traumatic Surgery, Center for Orthopaedic Surgery, the Third Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University. They were 15 males and 5 females, with an average age of 42 years (from 18 to 55 years). By the Tile classification, there were 11 cases of type B and 9 cases of type C. The first-stage urethral realignment was performed via the Pfannenstiel approach in the supine position after general anesthesia in conjunction with an urologist; at the second-stage, the lateral-rectus approach was used to reduce and fixate the acetabular or pelvic fractures. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fracture reduction quality, pelvic functional recovery and complications were documented.Results:In this cohort, the operation time ranged from 80 to 240 min, averaging 140.5 min; the time for simple urethral convergence ranged from 20 to 30 min; the intraoperative blood loss ranged from 400 mL to 2,000 mL, averaging 730 mL. According to the Mears andVelyvis evaluation for fracture reduction quality, anatomical reduction was achieved in 13 cases, satisfactory reduction in 6 cases, and unsatisfactory reduction in one. The 20 patients were followed up for 12 to 68 months (mean, 37 months) after surgery. One fracture got nonunited but the other fractures got united after 3.0 to 4.5 months (mean, 3.5 months). According to the Majeed scoring system, the pelvic function at 12 months after surgery was excellent in 12 cases, good in 6 and fair in 2, giving an excellent and good rate of 90% (18/20). Screw loosening was found in one patient, traction injury to the lumbosacral trunk nerve in another patient, varying degrees of dysuria which responded to periodic urethral dilation in 8 patients, urethral stricture in 3 patients and erectile dysfunction in 5 patients. No abdominal hernia or pelvic infection was observed.Conclusions:The lateral-rectus approach combined with the Pfannenstiel approach can be used effectively to reduce and fixate the pelvic and acetabular fractures, and to repair the urethral rupture in one stage as well. They are also safe due to a low incidence of such complications as abdominal wall hernia and pelvic infection.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of integrated acetabular wing-plate in the management of both column fractures with posterior wall involvement via the lateral-rectus approach.Methods:A retrospective case series analysis was performed on 43 patients with both column fractures involved with posterior wall admitted to Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University from March 2016 to June 2020. There were 35 males and 8 females, aged 19-78 years [(47.3±13.3)years]. The single lateral-rectus approach was used to expose, reduce and fix the fracture using the integrated acetabular wing-plate. Operation time, incision length, intraoperative blood loss and bone healing time were recorded. Quality of fracture reduction was assessed according to the Matta reduction criteria at postoperative 2 days, and hip function by the modified Merle d′Aubigné-Postel score at postoperative 3 months and 12 months. Postoperative complications were observed.Results:All patients were followed up for 12-48 months [(28.1±13.1)months]. Operation duration was 35-150 minutes [(84.6±26.3)minutes], with incision length of 8-12 cm [(9.4±1.0)cm] and intraoperative blood loss of 100-1 200 ml [(200(300, 500) ml]. Bone healing time was 3-6 months [(3.9±0.9)months]. According to Matta reduction criteria,the results were excellent in 32 patients, good in 7 and poor in 4 at postoperative 2 days, with the excellent and good rate of 91%. The modified Merle d′Aubigné-Postel score was 12-18 points [(16.1±1.5)points] at postoperative 3 months, and 13-18 points [(17.3±1.2)points] at postoperative 12 months ( P<0.01). According to modified Merle d′Aubigné-Postel score, the results were excellent in 3 patients, good in 34 and fair in 6 at postoperative 3 months, with the excellent and good rate of 86%; and the results were excellent in 32 patients, good in 9 and fair in 2 at postoperative 12 months, with the excellent and good rate of 95% ( P<0.01). Postoperative complications were incision fat liquefaction and infection in 1 patient, weakness of hip adduction in 5 and screw loosening with traumatic arthritis in 1. There was no sciatic nerve injury or heterotopic ossification. Conclusion:For both column fractures with posterior wall involvement, single lateral-rectus approach combined with integrated acetabular wing-plate has advantages of short operation time, minor trauma, low rate of bleeding and complications, and good hip function recovery, indicating satisfactory clinical effect.