Notum, a negative feedback regulator of the Wnt signaling, has emerged as a promising target for treating glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP). This study showcases an efficient strategy for discovering the anti-Notum constituents from herbal medicines (HMs) as novel anti-GIOP agents. Firstly, a rapid-responding near-infrared fluorogenic substrate for Notum was rationally engineered for high-throughput identifying the anti-Notum HMs. The results showed that Bu-Gu-Zhi (BGZ), a known anti-osteoporosis herb, potently inhibited Notum in a competitive-inhibition manner. To uncover the key anti-Notum constituents in BGZ, an efficient strategy was adapted via integrating biochemical, phytochemical, computational, and pharmacological assays. Among all identified BGZ constituents, three furanocoumarins were validated as strong Notum inhibitors, while 5-methoxypsoralen (5-MP) showed the most potent anti-Notum activity and favorable safety profiles. Mechanistically, 5-MP acted as a competitive inhibitor of Notum via creating strong hydrophobic interactions with Trp128 and Phe268 in the catalytic cavity of Notum. Cellular assays showed that 5-MP remarkably promoted osteoblast differentiation and activated Wnt signaling in dexamethasone (DXMS)-challenged MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts. In dexamethasone-induced osteoporotic mice, 5-MP strongly elevated bone mineral density (BMD) and improved cancellous and cortical bone thickness. Collectively, this study constructs a high-efficient platform for discovering key anti-Notum constituents from HMs, while 5-MP emerges as a promising anti-GIOP agent.

Cinnamomi Ramulus and Alismatis Rhizoma are commonly used in the treatment of external-contraction diseases. Cinnamomi Ramulus is pungent， sweet， and warm， with the effects of ventilating lung and dispersing cold， warming Yang and transforming Qi， and promoting water and liquid flow from Taiyang meridian to remove dampness. Alismatis Rhizoma is sweet and cold， with the effects of draining dampness and promoting urination， regulating the waterway， removing water retention in lung， and promoting urination to remove dampness and heat. Herbal pairs are extracted from the accumulated experience of medical practitioners over the ages in the use of medicines and have been proved by clinical application to be composed of simple and effective combinations for specific diseases. The herb pair Cinnamomi Ramulus-Alismatis Rhizoma is an important part in ancient classic formulas such as Wulingsan. Both herbs play a role in draining dampness and promoting urination， warming Yang and transforming Qi， being a representative herb pair used for treating external-contraction exterior syndrome and water retention inside. The review of ancient medical publications revealed that there were a large number of compound formulas containing Cinnamomi Ramulus-Alismatis Rhizoma for dispersing cold and removing dampness， which were widely used for thousands of years in clinical practice. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that the active pharmacological components of Cinnamomi Ramulus （cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic acid） and Alismatis Rhizoma （alisol A and 23-acetate alisol B） have anti-inflammatory， antiviral， and immunoregulatory effects and high safety. Qingfei Paidu decoction containing this herbal pair played an important role in fighting against COVID-19. Despite the extensive pharmacological studies on Cinnamomi Ramulus and Alismatis Rhizoma， few studies have been carried out regarding this herb pair. This paper summarizes the traditional Chinese medicine knowledge about Cinnamomi Ramulus and Alismatis Rhizoma in the treatment of external-contraction diseases and summarizes the chemical composition， pharmacological effects， toxicology and other aspects of the two herbs before and after compatibility， aiming to provide a reference for further research and clinical application.

Objective To observe the value of augmented reality(AR)navigation system for assisting CT-guided puncture of pulmonary nodules in dog models.Methods Five healthy dogs were selected,and 4 target lung rings were implanted in each dog to build pulmonary nodule models.Deferring to crossover design,CT-guided punctures were performed with or without AR navigation 2 and 4 weeks after successful modeling,respectively,while punctures with AR navigation were regarded as AR group and the others as conventional group,respectively.The time duration of puncturing,the times of CT scanning,of needle adjustment,and the deviation distance between needle pinpoint to the center of pulmonary nodule shown on three-dimensional reconstruction were compared between groups.Results The duration time of puncture in AR group and conventional group was(13.62±5.11)min and(20.16±4.76)min,respectively.In AR group,the times of CT scanning,of needle adjustment,and the deviation distance was 2.40±0.50,2.75±0.44 and(2.94±1.92)mm,respectively,while in conventional group was 3.10±0.64,3.70±0.57 and(4.90±3.38)mm,respectively.The introduction of AR navigation was helpful to shortening the duration of puncture,reducing times of CT scanning and needle adjustment,also decreasing positioning error of needle pinpoint(all P＜0.05).In contrast,the variance of puncture sequences and dogs had no obvious effect on the results(both P＞0.05).Conclusion AR navigation system could improve accuracy and efficiency in CT-guided puncture of pulmonary nodules in dog models.

Objective To explore the image quality improvement of portal vein computed tomography venography(CTV)using CE-Boost technique with low dose and low contrast media usage.Methods A total of 50 patients with suspected portal vein disorders who underwent abdominal non-contrast and biphasic contrast-enhanced CT scans using the Canon 320-row CT machine were retrospectively selected.Images of portal venous phase(PVP)were postprocessed with CE-Boost technique.The CT values of each area,standard deviation(SD)values of the paraspinal muscles,volume CT dose index(CTDIvol),and dose length product(DLP)before and after CE-Boost were measured and recorded.The signal-to-noise ratio(SNR),contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR),effective dose(ED)of each blood vessel before and after CE-Boost were calculated.Subjective image quality was analyzed by two senior radiologists using a five-point scale in a double-blinded method.Statistical analysis was performed using paired t-test and Wilcoxon test.Results The CT values of each area with CE-Boost images were significantly higher than those without CE-Boost images(P＜0.001).SNR and CNR of each blood vessel with CE-Boost images were significantly higher than those without CE-Boost images(P＜0.001).The subjective scores of both images were above 3 points,which met the requirements of clinical diagnosis with good consistency(Kappa=0.772,0.697).The median subjective scores of images with CE-Boost were 5(5,5),which were significantly higher than those without CE-Boost images 5(5,4),(P=0.002).CTDIvol,DLP and ED were(1.85±1.12)mGy,(94.66±44.68)mGy·cm and(1.42±0.67)mSv,respectively.Conclusion CE-Boost technique can significantly improve the image quality of portal vein CTV with low dose and low contrast media usage.

Objective To investigate a novel stroke recurrence risk prediction model,which utilized radiomics machine learning methods and specifically combined carotid computed tomography angiography(CT A)with the Essen stroke risk score(ESRS).Methods A total of 136 patients who underwent carotid CT A were analyzed retrospectively.The features of carotid plaque were extrac-ted by machine learning to construct a radiomics feature model,as well as combined with ESRS.Based on clinical outcomes at one-year follow-up,the stroke recurrence risk prediction model was constructed using the logistic regression(LR)machine learning model.To construct an effective and robust model,the dataset was divided into a training set and a validation set in a ratio of 7∶3.The performance of this model was evaluated using area under the curve(AUC)of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve,sensi-tivity and specificity.Results The model had strong predictive value.In the training set,AUC,sensitivity and specificity of this model were 0.903,0.796 and 0.761,respectively.In the validation set,AUC,sensitivity and specificity of this model were 0.869,0.667 and 0.850,respectively.Conclusion The stroke recurrence risk prediction model constructed based on radiomics analysis of carotid plaque characteristics in carotid CTA,in combination with the ESRS,can provide reliable predictions for stroke prognosis.

Objective:To explore the correlation between serum 1, 5-anhydroglucitol (1, 5-AG) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods:A total of 160 patients with T2DM aged 60-75 years old who visited the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University from May 2021 to July 2022 were selected. According to the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), all patients were divided into T2DM with MCI group (T2DM+ MCI group, n=81) and T2DM without MCI group (T2DM group, n=79). All research subjects were tested for glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), serum 1, 5-AG, serum β-amyloid peptide 42 (Aβ42), and blood biochemical indicators.SPSS 25.0 statistical software was used for data analysis. The t test, Mann-Whitney U test and χ2 test were used to compare the two groups. Binary Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relevant influencing factors. Results:(1) Compared with T2DM group, patients in T2DM+ MCI group had significantly higher age, systolic pressure and HbA1c(all P<0.05).The level of 1, 5-AG in T2DM+ MCI group was significantly lower than that in T2DM group( (15.65±2.56 )μg/mL, (18.17±3.72 )μg/mL, P<0.01), and the level of Aβ42 was higher than that of T2DM group (2.95 (3.36) pg/mL, 1.91 (2.48) pg/mL, P<0.05). (2) Binary Logistic regression analysis results showed that HbA1c( β=0.230, OR=1.259, 95% CI=1.010-1.568, P=0.040) and Aβ42( β=0.188, OR=1.206, 95% CI=1.033-1.409, P=0.018) were the independent risk factors for MCI in elderly patients with T2DM, while 1, 5-AG ( β=-0.240, OR=0.786, 95% CI=0.698-0.886, P<0.001) was the protective factor for MCI. Conclusion:There is a positive correlation between serum 1, 5-AG and cognitive function, and the decrease of 1, 5-AG level was associated with the increased risk of MCI in elderly patients with T2DM.

Objective To compare the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation(PNF),con-centric-isometric-eccentric fast training(CIEFT),and concentric-isometric-eccentric slow training(CI-EST)in young adults with flexible flatfoot.Methods Forty participants were randomly allocated into a PNF group,a CIEFT group,a CIEST group and a control group,each of 10.The PNF,CIEFT and CIEST groups underwent six weeks of training as their group names indicated.Then the height differ-ence in the navicular drop test(NDt),normalized navicular height truncated(NNHt),muscle strength of ankle joint,plantar pressure distribution characteristics,and dynamic balance of all groups were re-corded before and after the intervention.Results As to the arch morphology,compared with pre-inter-vention,NDt decreased significantly in the dominant side of PNF group(P=0.049)and the non-domi-nant side of CIEFT group(P=0.034),while NNHt increased significantly in the non-dominant side of CIEFT group(P=0.026).Moreover,compared with pre-intervention,the muscle strength of plantar flex-ion increased significantly in all groups except the control group(dominant/non-dominant side:P=0.003/P=0.004,P=0.000/P=0.000,P=0.001/P=0.001),and that of inversion increased significantly in both PNF and CIEFT groups(dominant/non-dominant side:P=0.011/P=0.005,P=0.003/P=0.003).When it comes to the plantar pressure distribution characteristics,after the intervention,in the non-dominant side,the incremental center of pressure(COP)connections decreased significantly in CIEFT group(P=0.037),while the ratio of medial arch load and the contact area of the medial arch in PNF group de-creased significantly(P=0.012,P=0.027).Moreover,in the dominant side,the contact area decreased significantly in CIEST group(P=0.038),but increased significantly in the control group(P=0.015).What's more,after intervention,the Y-balance test score increased significantly in both sides of PNF and CIEST groups and the dominant side of CIEFT group(P=0.006/P=0.023,P=0.001/P=0.035,P=0.011).Conclusion Through a 6-week exercise intervention,PNF can improve the foot arch morphology and enhance dynamic balance ability in young adults with flexible flatfoot,while concentric-isometric-eccen-tric fast and slow training is superior in improving the foot arch morphology and the dynamic balance ability,respectively.

The bone-touching acupuncture method, as one of the five-body acupuncture techniques, is widely used and highly effective in the treatment of brain diseases, though its theoretical foundation has been lacking. This paper explores the close connection between bones and the brain in both physiological and pathological states, as described in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) classics, and explains the "bone-brain axis" concept within the framework of TCM. It summarizes the effects and characteristics of the five-body acupuncture techniques, traces the origins and modern applications of the bone-touching acupuncture method, and discusses its theoretical basis for treating brain diseases. The aim is to provide a reference for future clinical and mechanistic research on bone-touching acupuncture in brain disease treatment and to offer new perspectives and approaches for acupuncture treatment of brain diseases.
Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Brain/physiopathology* ; Brain Diseases/physiopathology* ; Bone and Bones/physiopathology* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods*

The development of respiratory and critical care medicine from a combination and binding approach to a cross-integrated reconstruction of pulmonary and critical care medicine (PCCM) has become an inevitable trend and basic strategy for the high-quality development of respiratory medicine and actively responding to the prevention and control of major disease risks in China. The author analyzed the dilemmas and bottlenecks in the long-term development of traditional respiratory medicine in China and their causes, summarized the international experience in the establishment of modern respiratory disciplines, and systematically reviewed the development process of traditional respiratory disciplines in China to PCCM department.Finally, the author pointedly put forward some thoughts and prospects on leading the development of disciplines from personnel training, department construction and industry development, promoting the new business form of " integrated vertical and horizontal" disciplines with intelligent information construction, and practicing the concept of population medicine to improve the high-quality development of PCCM.

The incidence and prevention of chronic non-communicable respiratory diseases represented by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchial asthma, and lung cancer, as well asrespiratory communicable diseases such as viral pneumonia and tuberculosis, are becoming increasingly severe and complex.Only by constructing the modern respiratory discipline system of pulmonary and critical care medicine (PCCM) and developing the standardized management of PCCM departments in the hospital, could we achieve the goal of establishing overall specialized capacity for respiratory diseases and improving the ability of disease prevention and treatment in China. This article introducedthe project design and practice exploration based on the standardized construction of PCCM department in hospital, in the context of the new pattern of modern respiratory discipline.It focused on project initiation and management, formulation of evaluation standards, identification process and grading, and phased effectiveness.It also discussed and analyzed the experience, enlightenment, existing problems and suggestions, which could provide reference and advance experience for innovation, governance and improvement of capacity building of respiratory specialty and high-quality development of other medical disciplines and specialties in China.