ObjectiveTo investigate the optimal termination time for acupuncture in treating patients with acute peripheral facial paralysis and its cost-effectiveness. MethodsA total of 120 eligible patients with acute-stage peri-pheral facial paralysis were randomly assigned to either the mild dysfunction termination group and the complete recovery termination group， with 60 patients in each group. Both groups received the standard acupuncture treatment protocol. Treatment in the mild dysfunction termination group was terminated when the Sunnybrook facial grade scale （SFGS） score first reached or exceeded 83 points， while that in the complete recovery termination group was terminated when the SFGS score first reached or exceeded 95 points. Assessments were conducted before treatment， 6 and 12 months after onset. SFGS， facial disability index （FDI） including physical function （FDIp） and social function （FDIs）， self-rating anxiety scale （SAS）， and self-rating depression scale （SDS） scores were assessed before treatment， and 6 and 12 months after onset. Any acupuncture-related adverse events during treatment were recorded for safety evaluation. Treatment sessions and medical costs including direct costs， indirect costs， insurance coverage， total societal costs， and patient out-of-pocket expenses were also recorded， and an economic evaluation was conducted including cost-effectiveness ratio （CER） and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio （ICER）. ResultsUltimately， 56 patients in the mild dysfunction termination group and 55 in the complete recovery termination group completed the follow-up. At 6 and 12 months after onset， SFGS and FDIp scores in both groups improved significantly while FDIs， SAS and SDS scores decreased （P＜0.05）. Comparison of scores between groups 6 months and 12 months after onset showed no statistically significant differences （P＞0.05）. During the trial， the incidence of adverse events was 13.3% （8/60） in the mild dysfunction termination group and 18.3% （11/60） in the complete recovery termination group， with no statistically significant difference （P＞0.05）. The number of treatment sessions， total social costs， and out-of-pocket expenses in the mild dysfunction termination group were significantly lower than those in the complete recovery termination group （P＜0.05）. The CER of the mild dysfunction termination group in SFGS， FDIp， FDIs， SAS， and SDS scores was lower than that of the complete recovery termination group. The ICER analysis showed that continuing treatment until full recovery incurred an additional cost of 573.30 CNY/point in SFGS improvement， whereas 1-point improvement in FDIp， FDIs， SAS， and SDS required 21,355.25 CNY， 1779.60 CNY， 3713.96 CNY， and 2755.52 CNY， respectively. ConclusionFor acupuncture in treating acute peripheral facial palsy， terminating treatment when mild dysfunction is achieved yields long-term efficacy comparable to that of continuing treatment until complete recovery， while significantly reducing medical costs and socioeconomic burden.

HR-positive HER2-low breast cancer is a new hotspot therapeutic subtype, accounting for approximately 53.7% of all breast cancers. Patients with this type of cancer tend to have a high rate of lymph node metastasis and poor sensitivity to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and conventional anti-HER2 therapy, and exploring therapeutic strategies for this subtype of patient is a current clinical challenge. Therapeutic strategies for HR-positive HER2-low breast cancer are constantly being updated, including CDK4/6 inhibitors across the lines of therapy, and next-generation antibody-drug conjugates such as T-DXd. With the accumulation of high-level evidence-based evidence for HR-positive HER2-low breast cancer in the future, the research data will provide more practical support for precise diagnosis and treatment, thereby improving the prognosis of patients with HR-positive HER2-low breast cancer.

Patients with severe trauma require an extremely timely treatment and transfusion plays an irreplaceable role in the emergency treatment of such patients. An increasing number of evidence-based medicinal evidences and clinical practices suggest that patients with severe traumatic bleeding benefit from early transfusion of low-titer group O whole blood or hemostatic resuscitation with red blood cells, plasma and platelet of a balanced ratio. However, the current domestic mode of blood supply cannot fully meet the requirements of timely and effective blood transfusion for emergency treatment of patients with severe trauma in clinical practice. In order to solve the key problems in blood supply and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma, Branch of Clinical Transfusion Medicine of Chinese Medical Association, Group for Trauma Emergency Care and Multiple Injuries of Trauma Branch of Chinese Medical Association, Young Scholar Group of Disaster Medicine Branch of Chinese Medical Association organized domestic experts of blood transfusion medicine and trauma treatment to jointly formulate Chinese expert consensus on blood support mode and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma patients ( version 2024). Based on the evidence-based medical evidence and Delphi method of expert consultation and voting, 10 recommendations were put forward from two aspects of blood support mode and transfusion strategies, aiming to provide a reference for transfusion resuscitation in the emergency treatment of severe trauma and further improve the success rate of treatment of patients with severe trauma.

Objective:To explore the application value of shear wave elastography (SWE) in male anterior urethral stenosis.Methods:A total of 40 male patients with anterior urethral stenosis admitted to the Sixth People′s Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Shanghai Jiaotong University from September 2022 to March 2023 were collected. SWE examination was performed before operation to measure the elasticity of urethra and surrounding normal tissues, and to evaluate the location and length of urethral stenosis. When the patient underwent urethral repair and reconstruction surgery, the lesion site of urethral stenosis was measured during the operation to confirm the actual location and length of the lesion during the operation, and the lesion site and length of the urethral stenosis were compared with the preoperative SWE assessment. The specimen of urethral lesion excised during the operation was sent for pathological examination to further confirm whether the tissue was pathological scar tissue.Results:The elastic value of urethral stricture in SWE [(32.9±6.2)kPa] was higher than that of normal urethra [(21.5±4.3)kPa], and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). The length of urinary tract stricture measured by preoperative SWE examination [(3.51±1.09)cm] was basically the same as that of urethral stricture measured during operation [(3.51±1.10)cm], with no statistical significance ( P=0.825). The pathological examination proved that the surgically resected tissue was indeed pathological scar tissue, and the pathological results of the site of urethral stenosis determined by the preoperative SWE examination were 100% consistent with those of the postoperative stenosis. Conclusions:SWE can well evaluate the length of male anterior urethral stenosis and the location of the diseased urethra before surgery, and provide accurate guidance for the scope of urethral lesion and pathological scar resection during surgery.

Objective:To explore the application value of shear wave elastography (SWE) in male anterior urethral stenosis.Methods:A total of 40 male patients with anterior urethral stenosis admitted to the Sixth People′s Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Shanghai Jiaotong University from September 2022 to March 2023 were collected. SWE examination was performed before operation to measure the elasticity of urethra and surrounding normal tissues, and to evaluate the location and length of urethral stenosis. When the patient underwent urethral repair and reconstruction surgery, the lesion site of urethral stenosis was measured during the operation to confirm the actual location and length of the lesion during the operation, and the lesion site and length of the urethral stenosis were compared with the preoperative SWE assessment. The specimen of urethral lesion excised during the operation was sent for pathological examination to further confirm whether the tissue was pathological scar tissue.Results:The elastic value of urethral stricture in SWE [(32.9±6.2)kPa] was higher than that of normal urethra [(21.5±4.3)kPa], and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). The length of urinary tract stricture measured by preoperative SWE examination [(3.51±1.09)cm] was basically the same as that of urethral stricture measured during operation [(3.51±1.10)cm], with no statistical significance ( P=0.825). The pathological examination proved that the surgically resected tissue was indeed pathological scar tissue, and the pathological results of the site of urethral stenosis determined by the preoperative SWE examination were 100% consistent with those of the postoperative stenosis. Conclusions:SWE can well evaluate the length of male anterior urethral stenosis and the location of the diseased urethra before surgery, and provide accurate guidance for the scope of urethral lesion and pathological scar resection during surgery.

Metastasis accounts for 90% of breast cancer deaths, where the lethality could be attributed to the poor drug accumulation at the metastatic loci. The tolerance to chemotherapy induced by breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) and their particular redox microenvironment further aggravate the therapeutic dilemma. To be specific, therapy-resistant BCSCs can differentiate into heterogeneous tumor cells constantly, and simultaneously dynamic maintenance of redox homeostasis promote tumor cells to retro-differentiate into stem-like state in response to cytotoxic chemotherapy. Herein, we develop a specifically-designed biomimic platform employing neutrophil membrane as shell to inherit a neutrophil-like tumor-targeting capability, and anchored chemotherapeutic and BCSCs-differentiating reagents with nitroimidazole (NI) to yield two hypoxia-responsive prodrugs, which could be encapsulated into a polymeric nitroimidazole core. The platform can actively target the lung metastasis sites of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), and release the escorted drugs upon being triggered by the hypoxia microenvironment. During the responsiveness, the differentiating agent could promote transferring BCSCs into non-BCSCs, and simultaneously the nitroimidazole moieties conjugated on the polymer and prodrugs could modulate the tumor microenvironment by depleting nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydrogen (NADPH) and amplifying intracellular oxidative stress to prevent tumor cells retro-differentiation into BCSCs. In combination, the BCSCs differentiation and tumor microenvironment modulation synergistically could enhance the chemotherapeutic cytotoxicity, and remarkably suppress tumor growth and lung metastasis. Hopefully, this work can provide a new insight in to comprehensively treat TNBC and lung metastasis using a versatile platform.

The formation of learning and memory is regulated by synaptic plasticity in hippocampal neurons. Here we explored how gestational exposure to dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid commonly used in clinical practice, has lasting effects on offspring's learning and memory. Adult offspring rats of prenatal dexamethasone exposure (PDE) displayed significant impairments in novelty recognition and spatial learning memory, with some phenotypes maintained transgenerationally. PDE impaired synaptic transmission of hippocampal excitatory neurons in offspring of F1 to F3 generations, and abnormalities of neurotransmitters and receptors would impair synaptic plasticity and lead to impaired learning and memory, but these changes failed to carry over to offspring of F5 and F7 generations. Mechanistically, altered hippocampal miR-133a-3p-SIRT1-CDK5-NR2B signaling axis in PDE multigeneration caused inhibition of excitatory synaptic transmission, which might be related to oocyte-specific high expression and transmission of miR-133a-3p. Together, PDE affects hippocampal excitatory synaptic transmission, with lasting consequences across generations, and CDK5 in offspring's peripheral blood might be used as an early-warning marker for fetal-originated learning and memory impairment.

Objective:To establish a high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the determination of voliconazole (VRC), posaconazole (PCZ), and linazolam (LNZ) in human serum.Methods:This study is a methodological validation by LC-MS/MS. The blood concentration results of VRC, PCZ, and LNZ in our hospital′s anti-infection patients were collected. Voriconazole, Posaconazole, and Linezolid were accurately weighed and prepared. Linezolid-[2H3] was used as the internal standard. After gradient elution on the ACE PFP column, the residuals were analyzed by LC-MS/MS in the positive electrospray ionization mode and multiple reaction monitor (MRM) mode. The method′s linearity, precision, lower limit of detection, and recovery rate were validated according to standard guidelines.Results:The linear correlation coefficient ( r) of the standard curve was above 0.99 ( r>0.99). The linear range of VRC and PCZ were 0.10 mg/L~10.00 mg/L, and the lower limit of detection were 0.01 mg/L. The linear range of LNZ was 0.50 mg/L~50.00 mg/L, and the lower limit of detection was 0.05 mg/L. The recoveries of VRC, PCZ and LNZ were 90.96%-103.18%, 91.84%-99.17%, and 97.04%-100.41%, respectively. Intra-and inter-batch precision (% CV) for VRC were less than 8.30%. Intra-and inter-batch precision (% CV) for PCZ was less than 9.78%. Intra-and inter-batch precision (% CV) for LNZ was less than 7.14%. Drug concentrations in 155 cases of VRC, 44 cases of PCZ, and 59 cases of LNZ were detected. Conclusion:We have established an LC-MS/MS method for the rapid, accurate, highly specific determination of VRC, PCZ, and LNZ concentrations in human serum. This method is suitable for analyzing large clinical sample sets.

Currently, in precision cardiac surgery, there are still some pressing issues that need to be addressed. For example, cardiopulmonary bypass remains a critical factor in precise surgical treatment, and many core aspects still rely on the experience and subjective judgment of cardiopulmonary bypass specialists and surgeons, lacking precise data feedback. With the increasing elderly population and rising surgical complexity, precise feedback during cardiopulmonary bypass becomes crucial for improving surgical success rates and facilitating high-complexity procedures. Overcoming these key challenges requires not only a solid medical background but also close collaboration among multiple interdisciplinary fields. Establishing a multidisciplinary team encompassing professionals from the medical, information, software, and related industries can provide high-quality solutions to these challenges. This article shows several patents from a collaborative medical and electronic information team, illustrating how to identify unresolved technical issues and find corresponding solutions in the field of precision cardiac surgery while sharing experiences in applying for invention patents.

Objective     To establish a machine learning based framework to rapidly screen out high-risk patients who may develop atrial fibrillation (AF) from patients with valvular heart disease and provide the information related to risk prediction to clinicians as clinical guidance for timely treatment decisions. Methods     Clinical data were retrospectively collected from 1 740 patients with valvular heart disease at West China Hospital of Sichuan University and its branches, including 831 (47.76%) males and 909 (52.24%) females at an average age of 54 years. Based on these data, we built classical logistic regression, three standard machine learning models, and three integrated machine learning models for risk prediction and characterization analysis of AF. We compared the performance of machine learning models with classical logistic regression and selected the best two models, and applied the SHAP algorithm to provide interpretability at  the population and single-unit levels. In addition, we provided visualization of feature analysis results. Results    The Stack model performed best among all models (AF detection rate 85.6%, F1 score 0.753), while XGBoost outperformed the standard machine learning models (AF detection rate 71.9%, F1 score 0.732), and both models performed significantly better than the logistic regression model (AF detection rate 65.2%, F1 score 0.689). SHAP algorithm showed that left atrial internal diameter, mitral E peak flow velocity (Emv), right atrial internal diameter output per beat, and cardiac function class were the most important features affecting AF prediction. Both the Stack model and XGBoost had excellent predictive ability and interpretability. Conclusion    The Stack model has the highest AF detection performance and comprehensive performance. The Stack model loaded with the SHAP algorithm can be used to screen high-risk patients for AF and reveal the corresponding risk characteristics. Our framework can be used to guide clinical intervention and monitoring of AF.