China is currently in an accelerated stage of population aging, and brain diseases pose a significant threat to the health of the elderly. " Preventing brain aging and maintaining brain health" has become a high-level goal of healthy aging. During the process of aging, the physiological and psychological states of elderly people change, making them prone to nervousness and exhaustion, which can disturb the brain spirit, damage the brain collaterals, and severely endanger brain health. Starting from the holistic view of cultivating both body and spirit in traditional Chinese medicine, based on the physical and mental characteristics of the elderly, this paper applies the concept and method of " relaxation and tranquility" in the protection of elderly brain health, focusing on maintaining relaxation and tranquility in both physical and mental aspects. Specific measures include emphasizing subjective consciousness, relaxing the heart and calming down; utilizing the daoyin method, relaxing the body and calming down, combining relaxation and tranquility, cultivating both body and spirit to prevent diseases and protect the brain, which enables the elderly to have a healthy mind and body, a sense of happiness and fulfillment, and to age gracefully. Simultaneously, advocating for tranquility is also called " respect" for relaxation, following nature to understand constant changes, and improving one′s ability to think positively in old age, in order to expand ideas for the protection of elderly brain health.

AIM: To analyze the clinical utility and value of the ultra-wide-field swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography(UWF-SS-OCTA)technique in changes of blood flow density and thickness in the central and peripheral regions of the retina and choroid in patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR)with or without diabetic kidney disease(DKD).METHODS: Cross-sectional study. Totally 50 cases(50 eyes)of diabetes mellitus(DM)that visited our hospital between June 2023 and June 2024 were included. They were divided into three groups: NPDR combined with DKD group(DKD group, n=20), NPDR without DKD group(NDKD group, n=20), and DM without retinopathy group(DM group, n=10, which served as control). In order to investigate the impact of DKD on ocular microangiopathy in NPDR patients, the retina and choroid within 24 mm×20 mm of the scan were separated into central and peripheral areas using the 3×3 nine-grid partition option that comes with UWF-SS-OCTA, and the parameters were then quantitatively assessed.RESULTS:The central and peripheral blood flow density of the choroidal capillary layer(CCP)was statistically significant between the DM group and the DKD group(t=3.93, P=0.0003; t=3.34, P=0.0016), and between the NDKD group and the DKD group(t=-3.06, P=0.003; t=-2.55, P=0.013), but there was no statistically significant difference between the DM group and the NDKD group(t=1.44, P=0.157; t=1.26, P=0.21). The mid-large choroidal vessel(MLCV)showed a progressive decline in central and peripheral blood flow density in the DM, NDKD, and DKD groups(F=13.74, 19.03, all P<0.0001). The DM, NDKD, and DKD groups saw a progressive decrease in central and peripheral choroidal thickness(CT; F=10.72, P=0.0001; F=13.12, P<0.001).CONCLUSION:CCP, MLCV, and CT can be used as visual indicators to identify impaired renal function in patients with NPDR. UWF-SS-OCTA can support the development of precise and noninvasive monitoring and treatment technology for diabetic ocular microangiopathy, while also offering a scientific foundation for the joint management of DR and DKD.

OBJECTIVE To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of different chemotherapy combination regimens for first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer （mCRC）. METHODS PubMed， Cochrane Library， Embase and Web of Science were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled clinical trial （RCT） on first-line treatment for mCRC from January 1， 2000 to February 16， 2025. Two reviewers independently screened literature， extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Network meta-analysis was performed by using R4.4.3 and Stata 17.0 software. RESULTS A total of 28 RCTs， involving 16 intervention measures， were included. In terms of prolonging progression-free survival （PFS） and overall survival （OS）， FOLFOX （5-fluorouracil+oxaliplatin+calcium folinate regimen）+cetuximab had the highest probability of ranking first. In terms of improving objective response rate （ORR）， FOLFOXIRI （5-fluorouracil+oxaliplatin+irinotecan+calcium folinate regimen）+ bevacizumab and FOLFOX+bevacizumab+nivolumab had the highest probability of ranking first； in terms of the incidence of grade 3 or higher adverse reactions， FOLFOXIRI+panitumumab had the highest probability of ranking first； in subgroup analysis of KRAS wild-type patients， FOLFIRI （5-fluorouracil+irinotecan+calcium folinate regimen）+panitumumab and FOLFIRI+bevacizumab had the highest probability of ranking first in terms of prolonging PFS and OS， respectively； in terms of ORR， FOLFOXIRI+ cetuximab had the highest probability of ranking first. CONCLUSIONS In first-line treatment for mCRC， FOLFOX combined with targeted therapy has advantages in terms of efficacy and safety. However， individualized treatment strategies should be formulated based on the KRAS gene status and tumor location of patients.

AIM: To investigate the effect of intravitreal injection of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator(r-TPA)before pars plana vitrectomy(PPV)on surgical outcomes in patients with rupture of the globe(RG).METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 37 patients(37 eyes)with RG who underwent PPV 7-10 d after Stage Ⅰ suturing and stabilization at our hospital between April 2020 and November 2023. Based on whether an intravitreal r-TPA injection was administered 1 d before PPV, patients were divided into two groups, with 14 cases(14 eyes)in pre-operative r-TPA injection group, and 23 cases(23 eyes)in control group without pre-operative r-TPA injection. The intraoperative retinal reattachment rate, intraoperative silicone oil application, postoperative intraocular rebleeding, postoperative hypotony, and best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA)were compared between the two groups.RESULTS: The baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups(P>0.05). Significant differences were found between the two groups in the intraoperative retinal reattachment rate, the volume of silicone oil injected, and the proportion of BCVA(all P<0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in the intraoperative silicone oil tamponade rate, postoperative intraocular rebleeding, or postoperative hypotony rates(all P>0.05).CONCLUSION: RG patients who received an intravitreal r-TPA injection 1 d before PPV demonstrated significantly higher intraoperative retinal reattachment rates and better postoperative visual acuity outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of needle cauterization on vitiligo with deficiency cold and blood stasis. METHODS: A total of 62 patients of vitiligo with deficiency cold and blood stasis were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 31 cases each group.On the basis of 308 nm excimer light irradiation combined with ironing with Chinese medicine, the control group was treated with tacrolimus ointment for external use, twice a day; the observation group was treated with needle cauterization at vitiligo spots, once a week.Both groups were treated for 10 weeks. Before and after treatment, the area of vitiligo spot, TCM syndrome score, serum levels of inflammatory indexes (interleukin[IL]-6 and IL-17) were observed in the two groups, and the clinical effect was evaluated. RESULTS: After treatment, the areas of vitiligo spot, TCM syndrome scores and serum levels of IL-6, IL-17 were decreased compared with those before treatment in both groups (P<0.05), and the above indexes in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate in the observation group was 93.5% (29/31), which was higher than 77.4% (24/31) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Needle cauterization could reduce the areas of vitiligo spot in patients of vitiligo with deficiency cold and blood stasis, improve the clinical symptoms, its mechanism may be related to the reduction of serum levels of inflammatory indexes.
Humans ; Vitiligo/physiopathology* ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Middle Aged ; Adolescent ; Interleukin-6/blood* ; Interleukin-17/blood* ; Cautery ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Needles ; Cold Temperature ; Treatment Outcome

Rice (Oryza sativa L.), as a thermophilic crop, is highly susceptible to cold stress during its growth process. Chilling injury at the plumule stage and seedling stage often affects the morphological development and leads to yield reduction of rice. The exploration and utilization of cold tolerance genes are among the most direct and effective approaches to address cold stress in rice. To identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with cold tolerance at plumule and seedling stages, in this study, we measured the seedling rates and survived seedling rates of the indica rice cultivar 'HZ', the japonica cultivar 'Nekken2', and their 120 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) under cold stress. A previously constructed high-density genetic linkage map was used for the mapping of the QTLs conferring cold tolerance at the plumule and seedling stages. A total of 4 QTLs for plumule-stage cold tolerance and 9 QTLs for seedling-stage cold tolerance were detected, with the maximum limit of detection reaching 5.20. Notably, a genetically overlapping QTL for both plumule and seedling stages was identified on chromosome 8, spanning a physical interval of 24 432 953-25 295 129 bp. Candidate genes within the detected QTL intervals were screened, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was conducted to analyze the gene expression during the plumule and seedling stages. The results revealed that LOC_Os03g06570, LOC_Os03g07100, LOC_Os06g08280, LOC_Os08g38440, LOC_Os08g39100, and LOC_Os08g39540 exhibited significantly differential expression between the parental lines. These genes were either significantly downregulated or upregulated under cold stress. Among them, the first three gene (LOC_Os03g06570, LOC_Os03g07100, and LOC_Os06g08280) were hypothesized to be key candidates regulating the cold tolerance of rice seedlings, while the latter three genes (LOC_Os08g38440, LOC_Os08g39100, and LOC_Os08g39540) were identified as comprehensive regulators of cold tolerance during both plumule and seedling stages. These findings lay a foundation for the fine mapping and cloning of cold tolerance genes at the plumule and seedling stages, providing valuable insights for breeding cold-tolerant rice varieties.
Quantitative Trait Loci/genetics* ; Oryza/growth & development* ; Seedlings/growth & development* ; Cold Temperature ; Chromosome Mapping ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant

To study the carriage status of drug susceptibility, clonal complex groups, serotypes, surface proteins and virulence genes of Streptococcus agalactiae from respiratory specimen sources. A total of 35 strains of S.agalactiae meeting the criteria were collected from 3 hospitals in 2 locations, Tangshan and Jinan. The age span of the patients was 3 days-92 years, and the percentage of elderly patients≥60 years was 71.5%.The susceptibility to 9 antimicrobial drugs was measured and analyzed using the micro broth dilution method. The strains were 100.0% sensitive to penicillin, linezolid, vancomycin, and ceftriaxone; However, it exhibits high resistance rates to erythromycin, clindamycin and levofloxacin, at 97.1%, 85.7% and 82.9% respectively; and the resistance rates to tetracycline and chloramphenicol were 34.3% and 14.2%, respectively. Genome sequence determination and analysis showed that 16 resistance genes were detected in 35 strains, among which: macrolide and lincosamide resistance genes were mainly ermB, with a carrying rate of 74.2%; tetracycline resistance genes were mainly tetM, with a carrying rate of 25.7%; in addition, the mutation rates of the quinolone resistance determinants gyrA and parC were 88.5% and 85.7%, respectively. 35 strains belonged to 6 ST types and 4 clonal groups, with CC10/ST10 as the main one, accounting for 62.8%; they contained 4 serotypes of Ⅰb, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅴ, as well as 1 untyped strain, with serotype Ⅰb as the main one, accounting for 65.7%. The strains carried three pilus types, PI1+PI2a, PI2a and PI2b types, respectively, and detected five surface proteins, alpha, alp1, rib, srr, and r df_0594, and seven virulence factors, cba, cfb, cylE, fbsA, hylB, l mb, and pavA. Overall, S.agalactiae isolated from respiratory tract specimens is predominantly sourced from elderly patients, with CC10 strains being most prevalent. These strains harbor multiple drug-resistant and virulence genes, demonstrating elevated resistance rates to macrolides, lincosamides, and quinolones. This emphasizes the necessity for vigilant attention to the health threat posed by S. agalactiae from respiratory tract speciments of elderly patients.

Breast cancer has been the second most common solid tumor that metastasizes to the central nervous system after lung cancer.Triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC)has an earlier occurrence and high incidence of brain metastasis with its associated poor prognosis and limited treatment options due to the presence of the blood-brain barrier and lack of targeted drugs.Local treatment,including surgery and radiation therapy,are still the main therapy for brain metastasis.Surgical resection can not only relieve neurologic impairment of brain metastasis patients,but also can clarify the pathological type.Moreover,surgical resection combined with radiotherapy can improve the prognosis of brain metastasis patients compared to surgery or radiotherapy alone.By now,whole-brain radiation therapy(WBRT)is still considered the gold standard for multiple brain metastases,and meningeal metastases,but it will lead to neurocognitive decline,so hippocampal avoidance is essential.For selected patients with oligometastases,stereotactic radiotherapy has replaced WBRT to reduce cognitive toxicity.However,local treatment of TNBC brain metastasis cannot control the progress of brain metastasis and has significant side effects,so systemic therapy is needed.Chemotherapy drugs such as capecitabine and cisplatin can penetrate the blood-brain barrier,but their efficacy is limited.Therefore,the research and development of new targeted drugs and the exploration of new targets are necessary for TNBC brain metastasis.Research has found that patients carrying germline BRCA1/2 mutations have a higher risk of brain metastasis.Currently,the poly adenosine diphosphate ribose polymerase(PARP)inhibitor demonstrated antitumor activity in patients with advanced breast cancer and a germline BRCA1/2 mutation,and it can penetrate the blood-brain barrier.The phase Ⅲ trial EMBRACA reported that the PARP inhibitor talazoparib can prolong the progression-free survival of TNBC patients with brain metastasis.In addition,antibody drug conjugates(ADCs)trastuzumab deruxtecan(T-DXd)can also penetrate the blood-brain barrier.Studies such as DEBBRAH have shown that T-DXd has significant therapeutic effects in HER2 positive brain metastasis patients,while research on HER2 low expression patients has not yet reached the endpoint,and its role in TNBC brain metastasis is worth looking forward to.Sacituzumab govitecan(SG)is also an ADC composed of an antibody targeting the human trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2.The phase Ⅲ ASCENT study showed that in the full population(including 61 patients with brain metastasis),SG could significantly prolong the progression-free survival of advanced TNBC patients compared to the patients who received chemotherapy.ANG1005,a novel taxane derivative,can cross the blood-brain barrier as well.A multicenter,open-label phase Ⅱ study revealed that ANG1005 could prolong overall survival of patients with brain metastasis.In addition,phosphoinositide3-kinase,(PI3K)/protein kinase(AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)pathway inhibitors,fatty acid synthase inhibitors,and the drugs with new delivery systems have become potential treatment options for TNBC brain metastasis patients.Although the Impassion 130 reported that no benefit trend for immunotherapy in TNBC brain metastasis,basic research has shown that radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy has a synergistic effect.Currently,multiple clinical trials(NCT03483012,NCT03449238,etc.)are exploring the efficacy of radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy in brain metastasis,and the results are promising.This article reviewed the research progress of TNBC brain metastasis treatment.

Objective To investigate the application value of energy spectral CT low energy(keV)targeted reconstruction tech-niques combined with adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-Veo(ASIR-V)algorithm in lower extremity computed tomography venography(CTV).Methods Forty patients with lower extremity CTV examination were retrospectively selected.Gemstone spec-tral imaging(GSI)mode was used with a transient tube voltage of 80 kVp/140 kVp and tube current in GSI Assist mode.Group A(conventional group):70 keV combined with 40％ASIR-V mono-energy images,conventional display field of view(DFOV)inclu-ding both lower extremity.Group B(low keV group):50 keV combined with 50％ASIR-V mono-energy images,DFOV as in group A.Group C(low keV targeted reconstruction group):50 keV combined with 50％to 80％ASIR-V mono-energy images(10％interval,called as groups C1-C4),targeted reconstruction(small DFOV,covered one lower extremity with left and right femurs as the center).The CT and standard deviation(SD)values of the bilateral lower extremity veins were measured on each axial image and the signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)were calculated.Two observers scored the venous images and the sharpness of embolus display subjectively using a 5-point scale and Kappa test was used to examine the consistency.Results In terms of vein dis-play,the score of groups B and C was better than that of group A(P＜0.05).In terms of embolus display sharpness,the scores of large and small embolus in group C increased with the increase of ASIR-V percentage initially and then gradually decreased(P＜0.05).The scores in group C2 were the highest which were superior to the scores of group B and group A(P＜0.05).The CT values of each venous segment in groups B and C were higher than those in group A(P＜0.05).In groups C1 to C4,with the increasing weight of ASIR-V,the SNR and CNR increased gradually(P＜0.05),but slightly lower than those in group B(P＜0.05).Conclusion 50 keV targeted reconstruction techniques combined with 60％ASIR-V algorithm significantly improves the contrast of lower extremity veins and the embolus display sharpness,providing more accurate clinical imaging information.

Objective To investigate the influence of spectral CT monochromatic imaging technique on image quality and liver vol-ume measurement in computed tomography portal venography(CTPV).Methods A total of 120 patients who underwent contrast-enhanced abdominal CT examination were prospectively selected and randomly divided into group A and group B.The group A(n=60)was scanned with conventional parameters such as 120 kVp,Smart mA mode,and image reconstruction of 60％adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-Veo(ASIR-V);while the group B(n=60)was with instantaneous switching 80/140 kVp,gemstone spectral imaging(GSI)Assist mode,and image reconstruction of 60％ASIR-V.In group B,six subgroups of images from 75 to 50 keV(with 5 keV interval)were recorded as subgroups B1 to B6.On the axial images,the CT values and standard deviation(SD)values of por-tal vein,liver and erector spinae were measured,and then the contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)of portal vein and liver were calculated.The Liver Segmentation software was used to segment the liver in groups A and B,the liver volumes by automatic segmentation and manual segmentation(golden standard)were recorded,and then the volume difference rate was calculated.The overall image quality and automatic liver segmentation results were evaluated by two radiologists using a 5-point scale.Results In terms of overall image quality,subgroup B6 achieved the highest score and was superior to group A(P＜0.001).In terms of liver segmentation,subgroup B3 had the highest score and was superior to group A(P＜0.001).With the decrease of keV,the CT values,SD values and CNR of portal vein and liver in group B were gradually increased(P＜0.05),in which subgroup B6 was higher than that in group A(P＜0.001).The volume difference rate initially decreased and then increased with the decrease of keV.Except for subgroups B2 and B3,the differences were statistically significant between other subgroups and group A(P＜O.001),and the subgroup B3 had the lowest volume difference rate.Conclusion Spectral CT monochromatic ima-ging technique has an influence on CTPV image quality and liver volume measurement.The 50 keV images are the best for displaying portal vein,and the automatic liver segmentation volume of 65 keV images is closest to the real liver volume.