Aromatherapy refers to the method of using the aromatic components of plants in appropriate forms to act on the entire body or a specific area to prevent and treat diseases. Essential oils used in aromatherapy are hydrophobic liquids containing volatile aromatic molecules， such as limonene， linalool， linalool acetate， geraniol， and citronellol. These chemicals have been extensively studied and shown to have a variety of functions， including reducing anxiety， relieving depression， promoting sleep， and providing pain relief. Terpenoids are a class of organic molecules with relatively low lipid solubility. After being inhaled， they can pass through the nasal mucosa for transfer or penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream upon local application. Some of these substances also have the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier， thereby exerting effects on the central nervous system. Currently， the academic community generally agrees that products such as essential oils and aromatherapy from aromatic plants have certain health benefits. However， the process of extracting a single component from it and successfully developing it into a drug still faces many challenges. Its safety and efficacy still need to be further verified through more rigorous and systematic experiments. This article systematically elaborated on the efficacy of aromatic substances， including plant extracts and natural small molecule compounds， in antibacterial and antiviral fields and the regulation of nervous system activity. As a result， a deeper understanding of aromatherapy was achieved. At the same time， the potential of these aromatic substances for drug development was thoroughly explored， providing important references and insights for possible future drug research and application.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of combined platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and arterial supercharging technique on the survival rate and functional restoration of cross-body region skin flaps in rabbits. METHODS: Twelve healthy 6-month-old New Zealand White rabbits were randomly assigned to 4 groups ( n=3): sham group, PRP group, anastomosis group, and combined treatment group. An axial skin flap with an area of 12 cm×6 cm on the inner side of the hind limbs of all animals were prepared, with the saphenous artery as the main blood supply. Following the ligation of both the proximal and distal ends of the saphenous artery across all groups, the sham group received no further intervention, the PRP group was subjected to PRP injection, the anastomosis group underwent in situ end-to-end anastomosis of the distal saphenous artery, and the combined treatment group received both in situ distal saphenous artery anastomosis and PRP administration. Flap survival was evaluated and recorded on postoperative days 1, 3, and 7, with survival rates calculated accordingly. On day 7, flap tissue samples were harvested for HE staining to assess basal tissue morphology. Additionally, immunohistochemical staining was conducted to detect the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and CD31 in the flap tissues. RESULTS: At postoperative day 1, no significant difference in flap survival rates were observed among the 4 groups ( P>0.05). At day 3, the PRP group showed no significant difference compared to the sham group ( P>0.05); however, both the anastomosis and combined treatment groups exhibited significantly higher survival rates than the sham group ( P<0.05), the combined treatment group further demonstrated superior survival rates compared to both the PRP and anastomosis groups ( P<0.05). At day 7, the combined treatment group maintained significantly higher survival rates than all other groups ( P<0.05), while both the PRP and anastomosis groups exceeded the sham group ( P<0.05). HE staining at day 7 revealed persistent inflammatory cell infiltration, sheet-like erythrocyte deposition, and disordered collagen fibers in the sham group. The PRP group showed nascent microvessel formation and early collagen reorganization, whereas the anastomosis group displayed mature microvasculature with resolved interstitial edema. The combined treatment group exhibited differentiated microvessels with densely packed collagen bundles. Immunohistochemical analysis at day 7 demonstrated significantly larger relative area percentages of α-SMA, VEGF, and CD31 positive cells in the combined treatment group compared to all other groups ( P<0.05). Both the PRP and anastomosis groups also showed significantly higher values than the sham group ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION The combination of PRP and arterial supercharging techniques significantly enhances flap healing, potentially through mechanisms involving augmented angiogenesis and improved blood supply.
Animals ; Rabbits ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Surgical Flaps/blood supply* ; Graft Survival ; Anastomosis, Surgical/methods* ; Ischemia/surgery* ; Arteries/surgery* ; Skin/blood supply* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism* ; Male ; Skin Transplantation/methods*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antioxidant and osteogenic induction capabilities of calcium phosphate nanoflowers (hereinafter referred to as nanoflowers) in vitro at different concentrations. METHODS: Nanoflowers were prepared using gelatin, tripolyphosphate, and calcium chloride. Their morphology, microstructure, elemental composition and distribution, diameter, and molecular constitution were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. Femurs and tibias were harvested from twelve 4-week-old Sprague Dawley rats, and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were isolated and cultured using the whole bone marrow adherent method, followed by passaging. The third passage cells were identified as stem cells by flow cytometry and then co-cultured with nanoflowers at concentrations of 0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, 1.6, 2.0, 2.4, 2.8, 3.2, and 3.6 mg/mL. Cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) assay was performed to screen for the optimal concentration that demonstrated the best cell viability, which was subsequently used as the experimental concentration for further studies. After co-culturing BMSCs with the screened concentration of nanoflowers, the biocompatibility of the nanoflowers was verified through live/dead cell staining, scratch assay, and cytoskeleton staining. The antioxidant capacity was assessed by using reactive oxygen species (ROS) fluorescence staining. The in vitro osteoinductive ability was evaluated via alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, alizarin red staining, and immunofluorescence staining of osteocalcin (OCN) and Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2). All the above indicators were compared with the control group of normally cultured BMSCs without the addition of nanoflowers. RESULTS: Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the prepared nanoflowers exhibited a flower-like structure; transmission electron microscopy scans discovered that the nanoflowers possessed a multi-layered structure, and high-magnification images displayed continuous atomic arrangements, with the nanoflower diameter measuring (2.00±0.25) μm; energy-dispersive spectroscopy indicated that the nanoflowers contained elements such as C, N, O, P, and Ca, which were uniformly distributed across the flower region; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyzed the absorption peaks of each component, demonstrating the successful preparation of the nanoflowers. Through CCK-8 screening, the concentrations of 0.8, 1.2, and 1.6 mg/mL were selected for subsequent experiments. The live/dead cell staining showed that nanoflowers at different concentrations exhibited good cell compatibility, with the 1.2 mg/mL concentration being the best (P<0.05). The scratch assay results indicated that the cell migration ability in the 1.2 mg/mL group was superior to the other groups (P<0.05). The cytoskeleton staining revealed that the cell morphology was well-extended in all concentration groups, with no significant difference compared to the control group. The ROS fluorescence staining demonstrated that the ROS fluorescence in all concentration groups decreased compared to the control group after lipopolysaccharide induction (P<0.05), with the 1.2 mg/mL group showing the weakest fluorescence. The ALP staining showed blue-purple nodular deposits around the cells in all groups, with the 1.2 mg/mL group being significantly more prominent. The alizarin red staining displayed orange-red mineralized nodules around the cells in all groups, with the 1.2 mg/mL group having more and denser nodules. The immunofluorescence staining revealed that the expressions of RUNX2 and OCN proteins in all concentration groups increased compared to the control group, with the 1.2 mg/mL group showing the strongest protein expression (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The study successfully prepares nanoflowers, among which the 1.2 mg/mL nanoflowers exhibits excellent cell compatibility, antioxidant properties, and osteogenic induction capability, demonstrating their potential as an artificial bone substitute material.
Animals ; Osteogenesis/drug effects* ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/drug effects* ; Calcium Phosphates/pharmacology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Antioxidants/chemistry* ; Cells, Cultured ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects* ; Nanostructures/chemistry* ; Tissue Engineering/methods* ; Bone Marrow Cells/cytology* ; Coculture Techniques ; Tissue Scaffolds/chemistry* ; Male ; Biocompatible Materials/chemistry* ; Cell Survival ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation

Digital technologies have become an integral part of complete denture restoration. With advancement in computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM), tools such as intraoral scanning, facial scanning, 3D printing, and numerical control machining are reshaping the workflow of complete denture restoration. Unlike conventional methods that rely heavily on clinical experience and manual techniques, digital technologies offer greater precision, predictability, and efficacy. They also streamline the process by reducing the number of patient visits and improving overall comfort. Despite these improvements, the clinical application of digital complete denture restoration still faces challenges that require further standardization. The major issues include appropriate case selection, establishing consistent digital workflows, and evaluating long-term outcomes. To address these challenges and provide clinical guidance for practitioners, this expert consensus outlines the principles, advantages, and limitations of digital complete denture technology. The aim of this review was to offer practical recommendations on indications, clinical procedures and precautions, evaluation metrics, and outcome assessment to support digital restoration of complete denture in clinical practice.
Humans ; Denture, Complete ; Computer-Aided Design ; Denture Design/methods* ; Consensus ; Printing, Three-Dimensional

Objective To investigate the application value of the global myocardial work parameters in the non-invasive pressure-strain loop (PSL) technology for early assessment of left ventricular systolic function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 74 patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) who were hospitalized in the Nephrology Department of Zhongshan Hospital (Xiamen Branch), Fudan University, from August 2021 to December 2021. Based on CKD stages, patients were divided into early group (CKD stages 1-3) and advanced group (CKD stages 4-5). Additionally, 30 healthy volunteers matched for age and gender were selected as the control group. General clinical data, routine left ventricular ultrasound indicators, myocardial strain, and global myocardial work parameters were collected and compared among the three groups. Correlation analysis and multiple linear regression were used to assess the influencing factors of myocardial work. Results There were no statistically significant differences in global work index (GWI) and global constructive work (GCW) among the three groups. Compared to the control group, both CKD groups showed significantly reduced global work efficiency (GWE), along with significantly increased global waste work (GWW, P＜0.05). The absolute value of global longitudinal strain (GLS) in the advanced CKD group (n＝42) was significantly lower than that in the early CKD group (n＝32; [﹣17.09±0.82]% vs [﹣18.33±0.90]%, P＜0.05), and GWE was also significantly lower (93.00%[90.00%, 95.00%] vs 96.00%[92.25%, 96.75%], P＜0.05), while GWW was significantly higher than that in the early CKD group (150.00 mmHg%[105.25 mmHg%, 215.00 mmHg%] vs 88.00 mmHg%[64.25 mmHg%, 144.50 mmHg%], P＜0.05). Correlation analysis showed that GWE was negatively correlated with the absolute value of GLS and peak strain dispersion (PSD; r＝﹣0.396, ﹣0.558, P＜0.05), GWW was positively correlated with absolute value of GLS, and PSD (r＝0.341, 0.610, P＜0.01). Multiple linear regression results indicated that PSD was an independent influencing factor for GWE (β＝﹣0.558, P＜0.001) and GWW (β＝0.538, P＜0.001). Conclusions The myocardial work parameters GWE and GWW in non-invasive left ventricular PSL technology can identify subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with CKD early and quantitatively.

This paper introduces the construction and application of the medical quality evaluation indicator system in clinical departments of a large general hospital.It describes the indicator system's constitution and score setting,summarize the characteristics and application practice of the assessment system,and proposes some ideas for the following improvement,which in order to provide some reference for other hospitals.

Objective To explore the efficacy of repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation(rPMS)in patients with lumbar disc herniation(LDH).Methods From March 2023 to March 2024,60 LDH patients were recruited in the inpatient or outpatient department of the rehabilitation department of a tertiary hospital.All patients were randomly assigned to the rPMS group or the conventional group,30 cases in each group.Both groups received routine physical therapy,and the rPMS group was treated with rPMS on this basis.VAS,JOA,and neurophysiological tests were performed before intervention and 2 weeks after intervention.Results The VAS and JOA scores of the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment(P<0.05).Compared with the conventional group,the VAS and JOA scores of the rPMS group were significantly lower(P<0.05).Compared before and after treat-ment,the neuroelectrophysiological examination of the rPMS group was significantly improved(P<0.05).After 2 weeks of treatment,the tibial nerve motor conduction velocity,H reflex latency and IP peak in the conventional group were significantly faster than those before treatment(P<0.05).After 2 weeks of treatment,compared with the conventional group,there were significant differences in tibial nerve motor conduction velocity,peroneal nerve motor conduction velocity,superficial peroneal nerve sensory conduction velocity,sural nerve sensory conduction velocity,H reflex latency and IP peak(P<0.05).Conclusion rPMS can significantly improve and restore pain and nerve injury in patients with LDH.rPMS can be used as an effective adjuvant therapy.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic ultrasound-guided selective varices devascularization (EUS-SVD) for the treatment of esophagogastric varices.Methods:A total of 43 cases of liver cirrhosis with esophageal and gastric varices at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from February to December 2021 were included in a retrospective cohort study. The cases were divided into two treatment groups based on endoscopic treatment: EUS-SVD group ( n=22) and conventional endoscopic sclerosant injection group (conventional gastroscopy group, n=21). The doses of sclerosants and tissue glue, effective rate of esophageal varice treatment within 2 months after surgery, rebleeding rate within 3 months after surgery, and adverse reactions were compared. Results:The differences in terms of mean patient age, gender composition, etiology of liver cirrhosis, Child-Pugh classification of liver function, classification of esophageal varices, composition of endoscopic treatment indications, and mean maximum diameter of gastric varices were not statistically significant between the two groups ( P>0.05), indicating the comparability of baseline data. Perforating veins outside the gastric wall of gastric varices could be detected during the procedure in the EUS-SVD group, and disappearance of gastric varices after injection treatment could be determined, while these two indicators could not be detected in the conventional gastroscopy group. The amounts of sclerosing agents and tissue adhesives used in the EUS-SVD group were 7.54±3.10 mL and 1.30±0.57 mL, respectively, while the corresponding amounts in the conventional gastroscopy group were 7.57±3.50 mL ( t=0.026, P=0.980) and 1.38±0.67 mL ( t=-0.452, P=0.654), respectively. The effective treatment rate for esophageal varice within 2 months after surgery was 63.6% (14/22) in the EUS-SVD group and 52.4% (11/21) in the conventional gastroscopy group, but the difference was not statistically significant ( χ2=0.559, P=0.455). The rebleeding rate within 3 months after surgery was 4.5% (1/22) in the EUS-SVD group, significantly lower than the rate of 33.3% (7/21) in the conventional gastroscopy group ( P=0.021). Neither group experienced events of ectopic embolism or death. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of postoperative pain, fever, nausea and vomiting, or rebleeding rate within 72 hours after surgery ( P>0.05). The incidence of gastric fundus ulcers was 9.1% (2/22) in the EUS-SVD group, significantly lower than the rate of 42.9% (9/21) in the conventional gastroscopy group ( χ2=6.435, P=0.011). Conclusion:EUS-SVD treatment for esophagogastric varices is safe and effective. It can clearly display the deep-seated intramural vessels of the gastric wall, measure the diameter of the blood vessels, accurately inject tissue glue, occlude the varicose veins and perforating vessels, and reduce the occurrence of postoperative ulcers and rebleeding.

Objective:To compare the accuracy of endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) combined with Indian ink marking in locating injection sites for gastric varices, and to explore the influence of the features of gastric varices under endoscopy on the injection sites.Methods:Consecutive patients with gastric varices scheduled for EUS-guided glue injection therapy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from August 2021 to October 2022 were perspectively included. Firstly, gastric varices were assessed under endoscopy, where the size of the veins were estimated while the injection site was preliminarily judged during the procedure. Then EUS was used to identify perforating feeding veins and mark injection sites with Indian ink. After tissue adhesive was injected into identified varices, the change of varices after injection was observed and the marking was identified under endoscopy again. The clarity of the markinges was confirmed and the consistency between EUS-guided Indian ink mark and that under endoscopy was compared. Patients were divided into anastomosis group and non-anastomosis group based on marking consistency to investigate the effect of gastric varices features on the location of injection sites under endoscopy. Treatment efficacy and postoperative adverse events were counted.Results:Finally, 34 patients were included and all of them underwent successful marking under EUS guidance without complications. A total of 40 marker sites were clearly visible with Indian ink staining under endoscopy. The difference in distribution between the anastomotic group and non-anastomotic group marker points between EUS and endoscopy was statistically significant ( χ2=9.103, P=0.003). Vascular occlusion rate was 100.00% (40/40). There were 13 adverse events after operation, mainly fever, abdominal pain and nausea, and no serious adverse events such as allergy and ectopic embolization occurred. There was significant difference between the blood vessel diameter of the anastomotic group (10.84±4.02 mm) and that of the non-anastomotic group (8.80±1.61 mm, t=1.870, P=0.031). The percentage of raised vessels in the anastomotic group was 88.00% (22/25), higher than that in the non-anastomotic group [53.33% (8/15)], and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=6.009, P=0.024). Conclusion:Accuracy in positioning under endoscopy is influenced by variceal diameter and bulge shape, being less precise in varices with smaller diameters and less pronounced bulges.