Animal experimentation constitutes a critical link between basic research and clinical application, making its research quality and translational efficiency paramount. Although considerable progress has been made in standardizing operational procedures and ethical guidelines, the standardization of outcome evaluation systems has significantly lagged, creating a key bottleneck that constrains the quality of biomedical research and evidence synthesis. This deficiency is manifested by pronounced heterogeneity in outcome selection across similar studies, incomplete methodological reporting, and disparate criteria for result interpretation, which severely impairs the comparability of findings and the evidence integration. To cope with this challenge, this paper systematically introduces a mature methodological tool from clinical research–the core outcome set (COS)–and explores its construction strategies and application potential in the field of animal experimentation. Given the extensive diversity of animal experiments, a pragmatic strategy of "focusing on key areas, implementing phased pilots, and promoting gradual expansion" should be adopted. This approach prioritizes the development of domain-specific COS for disease areas characterized by high research volume, urgent translational needs, and well-established animal models. A multi-source integration pathway for COS development is detailed, comprising systematic literature searches, methodological appraisals, and expert consensus, with the feasibility of leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance efficiency also being examined. The development and promotion of such COS are not intended to restrict scientific exploration; rather, they aim to establish a new, tiered evaluation paradigm consisting of "core outcomes" (mandatory), "recommended outcomes" (encouraged), and "exploratory outcomes" (optional). This framework is expected not only to enhance research quality through standardization and to adhere to the "3R" principles but also to accelerate the accumulation of high-quality evidence. This, in turn, provides a solid foundation for higher-level evidence synthesis, ultimately facilitating the effective translation of basic research findings into clinical practice and providing an essential methodological framework for scientific advancement in relevant disciplines.

Animal experiments are essential tools in biomedical research, serving as a bridge between basic research and clinical trials. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRs/MAs) of animal experiments are crucial methods for integrating evidence from animal experiment, which can facilitate the translation of findings into clinical research, reduce translational risks, and promote resource integration in basic research. With the continuous development of the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology, its application in SRs/MAs of animal experiments has gained increasing attention. This article first outlines the principles and specific applications of the GRADE methodology in SRs/MAs of animal experiments, including qualitative descriptive systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and network meta-analyses. It then deeply analyzes the misuse of the GRADE methodology in practice, including incorrect evidence grading, improper classification of evidence, misapplication in qualitative systematic reviews, inconsistencies between the documentation of the upgrading and downgrading process and results, and inappropriate use for making recommendations. Furthermore, this article comprehensively discusses the factors influencing the grading of evidence certainty in SRs/MAs of animal experiments, including the impact of bias risk, indirectness, inconsistency, imprecision, and publication bias on evidence downgrading, as well as the role of large effect sizes and cross-species consistency in evidence upgrading. Finally, in response to the issues discussed, improvement strategies are proposed, including further research and optimization of the GRADE methodology for SRs/MAs of animal experiments, the development of reporting guidelines tailored to the characteristics of SRs/MAs in animal experiment research, and enhanced professional training for researchers in the GRADE methodology. This article aims to improve the quality of evidence in SRs/MAs of animal experiments, strengthen their reliability in clinical decision-making, and promote the more efficient translation of findings from animal experiment research into clinical practice.

This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of atractylon on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice. Changes in lung function parameters were measured in mice after intraperitoneal administration of atractylon. Pathological changes in lung tissue were observed by H&E staining, and the degree of pulmonary edema was assessed by the lung wet/dry weight ratio (W/D). Kit assays were used to detect changes in oxidative stress markers in mouse serum and the protein concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). ELISA was employed to measure the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines in BALF and serum. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of proteins related to the cGAS-STING pathway and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in lung tissue. Results showed that, compared to the ALI model group, mice in the low-dose and high-dose atractylon groups exhibited significant improvement in lung function parameters, alleviated pulmonary edema, and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissue. Protein content and inflammatory cytokine levels in serum and BALF were decreased, while serum oxidative stress indicators were improved. Western blot results further indicated that atractylon could regulate the cGAS-STING pathway, blocking the generation of inflammatory signals, and simultaneously inhibit VCAM-1 expression, thereby reducing pulmonary vascular injury. The results suggest that atractylon may alleviate LPS-induced ALI by modulating the cGAS-STING signaling pathway, reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the production of pro-inflammatory mediators, and improving vascular endothelial injury. This study provides a new potential target and theoretical basis for the treatment of ALI, as well as a potential drug candidate for ALI therapy.

Objective To investigate the bone protective effects and underlying mechanisms of 900MHz radiofrequency radiation (RF) at different power densities (50, 150, and 450 μW/cm²) on an ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis mouse model. Methods Sixty 3-month-old C57BL/6 female mice were randomly divided into Sham group (sham exposure), OVX group (ovariectomy), OVX + LRF group (OVX + 50 μW/cm² RF), OVX + MRF group (OVX + 150 μW/cm² RF), OVX + HRF group (OVX + 450 μW/cm² RF), and OVX + E2 group (OVX + estradiol). Ovariectomized mice in the OVX + RF groups were exposed to RF of varying power densities for 4 hours daily. Ovariectomized mice in the OVX + E2 group received intramuscular injections of estradiol (0.04 mg/kg) every two days. After four weeks of intervention, Micro-CT, ELISA, RT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry were employed to analyze bone density, bone microstructure, serum bone metabolic markers, and the expression of related genes and proteins. Results Compared with the Sham group, the OVX group showed significantly decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and bone microstructure indicators such as BV, BV/TV, Tb.Th, and Tb.N, significantly increased bone microstructure indicator Tb.Sp, significantly decreased serum estradiol, significantly increased serum CTX-I, TRACP-5b, BGP, and OPG, significantly increased Nfatc1 and Runx2 mRNAs, and significantly increased OPG and RANKL. Compared with the OVX group, the OVX + MRF group and OVX + E2 group exhibited significantly increased BMD, BV, BV/TV, Tb.Th, and Tb.N, significantly decreased Tb.Sp, significantly increased serum OPG, Runx2 mRNA, and OPG, and significantly decreased serum CTX-I, TRACP-5b, Nfatc1 mRNA, and RANKL. Compared with the OVX group, the OVX + LRF group showed significantly increased cortical bone BMD and Tb.Th, the OVX + HRF group showed significantly increased cortical bone BMD and serum CTX-I and TRACP-5b, and the OVX + MRF group showed significantly increased serum BGP. Among the three power densities, the 150 μW/cm² RF showed the most significant effect. Conclusion The 150 μw/cm² 900 MHz RF can counteract the abnormalities in serum bone metabolism biomarkers, the decrease in BMD, the degeneration of bone microstructure, and the increase in bone resorption caused by ovariectomy in mice.

Diabetic nephropathy(DN), a prevalent microvascular complication of diabetes, has emerged as a leading cause of end-stage renal disease worldwide. Recent studies on the dual-specific phosphatase (DUSP) family have revealed a significant reduction in DUSP expression levels in renal disease, suggesting that enhancing its expression may mitigate or alleviate the symptoms associated with renal disease. The primary function of DUSP is to mediate the dephosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), which effectively inhibits the activation of the MAPK pathway, thus playing a crucial regulatory role in the onset and progression of DN. This article aims to investigate the correlation between DN and DUSP and to summarize the current research advancements concerning DUSP in the context of DN, providing new insights and essential theoretical foundations for its diagnosis and treatment.

Objective To compare the clinical outcomes of the clomiphene citrate(CC)dual stimulation protocol and the luteal phase ovarian stimulation protocol after natural cycle oocytes retrieved in POSEIDON patients with low expected prognosis.Methods The clinical data from patients who underwent in vitro fertilization(IVF)or intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI)at the Reproductive Center of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from May 2016 to December 2023 were analyzed retrospectively.According to the POSEI-DON criteria,including POSEIDON group 3 and group 4,which were treated with the CC dual stimulation protocol(the CC group)and the luteal-phase ovarian stimulation protocol after the natural cycle oocytes retrieval(the natural cycle group).The basic data and clinical outcomes of the two ovulation protocols were analyzed,and the main observations included the number of oocytes retrieved,the cumulative clinical pregnancy rate and the cumulative live birth rate,and explored the impact of ovulation promotion regimens on clinical outcomes through binary logis-tic regression.Results On the whole,there was no significant difference in the total number of oocytes retrieved,cumulative clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate between the CC group and the natural cycle group(all P>0.05),And in POSEIDON group 4,the numbers of oocytes retrieved in the follicular phase of the CC group were higher than those in the natural cycle group,whereas the number of oocytes retrieved in the luteal phase of natural cycle group were higher,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).After logistic regression analysis,the ovulation stimulation protocols did not affect the cumulative clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate of POSEI-DON 3 and 4 group(P>0.05).Conclusions For the POSEIDON patients with a low expected prognosis,the clinical effectiveness of the luteal phase ovarian stimulation protocol after natural cycle oocytes retrieved is not inferior to that of the CC dual stimulation protocol.In POSEIDON group 4,on the premise that the AMH levels of patients in the natural cycle group were lower than those in the CC group,who underwent natural cycle ovulation followed by luteal phase induction achieved similar clinical outcomes to those of the CC dual stimulation protocol group.Therefore,the luteal phase ovarian stimulation protocol after natural cycle oocytes retrieved should be more clinically recommended for POSEIDON group 4 patients.

Objective To compare the clinical outcomes of the clomiphene citrate(CC)dual stimulation protocol and the luteal phase ovarian stimulation protocol after natural cycle oocytes retrieved in POSEIDON patients with low expected prognosis.Methods The clinical data from patients who underwent in vitro fertilization(IVF)or intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI)at the Reproductive Center of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from May 2016 to December 2023 were analyzed retrospectively.According to the POSEI-DON criteria,including POSEIDON group 3 and group 4,which were treated with the CC dual stimulation protocol(the CC group)and the luteal-phase ovarian stimulation protocol after the natural cycle oocytes retrieval(the natural cycle group).The basic data and clinical outcomes of the two ovulation protocols were analyzed,and the main observations included the number of oocytes retrieved,the cumulative clinical pregnancy rate and the cumulative live birth rate,and explored the impact of ovulation promotion regimens on clinical outcomes through binary logis-tic regression.Results On the whole,there was no significant difference in the total number of oocytes retrieved,cumulative clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate between the CC group and the natural cycle group(all P>0.05),And in POSEIDON group 4,the numbers of oocytes retrieved in the follicular phase of the CC group were higher than those in the natural cycle group,whereas the number of oocytes retrieved in the luteal phase of natural cycle group were higher,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).After logistic regression analysis,the ovulation stimulation protocols did not affect the cumulative clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate of POSEI-DON 3 and 4 group(P>0.05).Conclusions For the POSEIDON patients with a low expected prognosis,the clinical effectiveness of the luteal phase ovarian stimulation protocol after natural cycle oocytes retrieved is not inferior to that of the CC dual stimulation protocol.In POSEIDON group 4,on the premise that the AMH levels of patients in the natural cycle group were lower than those in the CC group,who underwent natural cycle ovulation followed by luteal phase induction achieved similar clinical outcomes to those of the CC dual stimulation protocol group.Therefore,the luteal phase ovarian stimulation protocol after natural cycle oocytes retrieved should be more clinically recommended for POSEIDON group 4 patients.

Background::Oral anti-coagulants (OAC) are the intervention for the prevention of stroke, which consistently improve clinical outcomes and survival among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The main purpose of this study is to identify problems in OAC utilization among hospitalized patients with AF in China.Methods::Using data from the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Atrial Fibrillation (CCC-AF) registry, guideline-recommended OAC use in eligible patients was assessed.Results::A total of 52,530 patients with non-valvular AF were enrolled from February 2015 to December 2019, of whom 38,203 were at a high risk of stroke, 9717 were at a moderate risk, and 4610 were at a low risk. On admission, only 20.0% (6075/30,420) of patients with a diagnosed AF and a high risk of stroke were taking OAC. The use of pre-hospital OAC on admission was associated with a lower risk of new-onset ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack among the diagnosed AF population (adjusted odds ratio: 0.54, 95% confidence interval: 0.43–0.68; P <0.001). At discharge, the prescription rate of OAC was 45.2% (16,757/37,087) in eligible patients with high stroke risk and 60.7% (2778/4578) in eligible patients with low stroke risk. OAC utilization in patients with high stroke risk on admission or at discharge both increased largely over time (all P <0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that OAC utilization at discharge was positively associated with in-hospital rhythm control strategies, including catheter ablation (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 11.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] 10.04–13.47; P <0.001), electronic cardioversion (adjusted OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.65–3.51; P <0.001), and anti-arrhythmic drug use (adjusted OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.38–1.53; P <0.001). Conclusions::In hospitals participated in the CCC-AF project, >70% of AF patients were at a high risk of stroke. Although poor performance on guideline-recommended OAC use was found in this study, over time the CCC-AF project has made progress in stroke prevention in the Chinese AF population.Registration::ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02309398.

Objective:To explore the role of mechanical hemodynamic support (MHS) in mapping and catheter ablation of patients with hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia (VT), report single-center experience in a cohort of consecutive patients receiving VT ablation during MHS therapy, and provide evidence-based medical evidence for clinical practice.Methods:This was a retrospective cohort study. Patients with hemodynamically unstable VT who underwent catheter ablation with MHS at Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University between August 2021 and December 2023 were included. Patients were divided into rescue group and preventive group according to the purpose of treatment. Their demographic data, periprocedural details, and clinical outcomes were collected and analyzed.Results:A total of 15 patients with hemodynamically unstable VT were included (8 patients in the rescue group and 7 patients in the preventive group). The acute procedure was successful in all patients. One patient in the rescue group had surgical left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, remaining 14 patients received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for circulation support. ECMO decannulation was performed in 12 patients due to clinical and hemodynamic stability, of which 6 patients were decannulation immediately after surgery and the remaining patients were decannulation at 2.0 (2.5) d after surgery. Two patients in the rescue group died during the index admission due to refractory heart failure and cerebral hemorrhage. During a median follow-up of 30 d (1 d to 12 months), one patient with LVAD had one episode of ventricular fibrillation at 6 months after discharge, and no further episodes of ventricular fibrillation and/or VT occurred after treatment with antiarrhythmic drugs. No malignant ventricular arrhythmia occurred in the remaining 12 patients who were followed up.Conclusions:MHS contributes to the successful completion of mapping and catheter ablation in patients with hemodynamically unstable VT, providing desirable hemodynamic status for emergency and elective conditions.

Objective: To retrospectively analyze the epidemiological characteristics of supernumerary teeth in patients aged 4-18 years old and the influencing factors on the selection of anesthesia methods, and to provide a reference for the selection of anesthesia plans for children and adolescents with supernumerary teeth. Methods: This study is a retrospective study approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee. Based on clinical electronic medical record system and cone beam CT (CBCT) data, a retrospective analysis was conducted on 2 210 patients 4-18 years of age who underwent supernumerary tooth extraction at the School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University from August 2019 to July 2021. Inclusion criteria: ① Age 4-18 years old; and ② The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classifies anesthesia into grades I-II; and ③ Have complete oral and anesthesia case records and relevant imaging data. Exclusion criteria: ① Incomplete medical records or unclear imaging data; and ② Patients with ASA grade II or above. Patients’ gender and age, the number of supernumerary teeth, arch, location, orientation, eruption status, reason for appointment, anxiety level, degree of cooperation, anesthesia method, and other relevant information were collected and statistically analyzed. Results: A total of 1 865 eligible patients were included, with an average age of (8.9±3.2) years old. There were more male patients (71.37%, 1 331 cases) than female patients (28.63%, 534 cases) (P < 0.001), with a gender ratio of 2.49:1. The majority of supernumerary teeth were single (75.97%, 1 417/1 865), primarily located in the maxilla (97.2%, 1 812/1 865) and the anterior dental region (94.2%, 1 757/1 865), and in a centric position (77.3%, 1 442/1 865). The majority of patients with erupted supernumerary teeth were active in seeking treatment (97.67%, 335/343). Patients with supernumerary teeth located in the maxilla and mandible bones, as well as in the nasal floor, were mainly referred to the department for diagnosis, accounting for 94.38%(1 361/1 442) and 90.00% (72/80) (χ2=1 363.24, P < 0.001), respectively. Regarding anesthesia methods, the largest proportion of patients received nitrous oxide sedation-assisted local anesthesia or nerve block anesthesia, accounting for 38.07% (710/1 865), followed by local anesthesia, accounting for 35.23% (657/1 865). The proportion of patients receiving midazolam intravenous sedation with local anesthesia or nerve block anesthesia and general anesthesia was relatively small, accounting for 20.86% (389/1 865) and 5.84% (109/1 865). Patients 13-18 years of age with supernumerary teeth in the mandibular and posterior regions and without anxiety had the highest proportion of local anesthesia use (P < 0.001). In contrast, patients who had supernumerary teeth located at the base of the nose (50%), severe anxiety (94.12%), and poor cooperation (98.18%) had the highest proportion of general anesthesia use (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference (P = 0.35) in the incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications after the extraction of supernumerary teeth. However, the proportion of anesthesia-related complications, such as dizziness, coughing, and respiratory depression, occurring in patients who received general anesthesia was higher than local anesthesia, accounting for 3.81% (P = 0.006). Conclusion There is a gender difference in the incidence of supernumerary teeth in patients 4-18 years of age, with a higher prevalence in males. The majority of supernumerary teeth are single and located in the maxillary anterior region, predominantly in a centric position. Patients whose teeth had erupted were more likely to seek medical treatment voluntarily, while patients with supernumerary teeth located in the maxilla and mandible bones, as well as in the nasal floor were more likely to be referred to the department. Patients with high levels of anxiety, poor cooperation, young age, multiple teeth, and high surgical difficulty were more inclined to choose general anesthesia.