ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Yishen Huashi granules in alleviating renal tubular epithelial cell injury and relieving diabetic kidney disease by regulating the mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK） signaling pathway. MethodsThe db/db mice of 12 weeks old were randomly assigned into model ， dapagliflozin （1.6 mg·kg^-1）， and Yishen Huashi granules （4.7 g·kg^-1）， and db/m mice were used as the control group. The general conditions of mice were observed， and fasting blood glucose and 24-h urinary protein and albumin-to-creatinine ratio （ACR） were measured at weeks 0 and 12 of administration. After 12 weeks of treatment， the levels of serum creatinine （SCr）， blood urea （UREA）， triglycerides （TG）， total cholesterol （TC）， and low density lipoprotein （LDL） were measured. The pathological changes in the renal tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， Periodic acid-Schiff （PAS） staining， Mallory staining， and transmission electron microscopy. Real-time PCR was employed to determine the mRNA levels of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 （MCP-1） and CC chemokine receptor-2 （CCR2） in the renal tissue of mice. The immunohistochemical assay was employed to examine the expression of p38， phospho-p38 （p-p38）， MCP-1， and CCR2 in the renal tissue of mice. Western blotting was employed to measure the protein levels of p-p38， p38， MCP-1， and CCR2 in the renal tissue of mice.HK-2 cells cultured in vitro were grouped as follows： negative control， high glucose（30 mmol·L^-1）， Yishen Huashi granule-containing serum， and SB203580. After 48 h of cell culture in each group， RNA were extracted and the levels of MCP-1， and CCR2 mRNA were determined by Real-time PCR，proteins were extracted and the levels of p38， p-p38， MCP-1， and CCR2 were determined by Western blot. ResultsThe in vivo experiments showed that before treatment， other groups had higher body weight， blood glucose level， 24 h urinary protein， and ACR than the control group （P<0.05，P<0.01）. After 12 weeks of treatment， compared with the model group， the Yishen Huashi granules group showed improved general conditions， a decreasing trend in body weight， lowered levels of blood glucose， 24-h urinary protein， and ACR （P<0.01）， reduced SCr and UREA （P<0.01）， and declined levels of TC， TG， and LDL （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the Yishen Huashi granules group showed alleviated damage and interstitial fibrosis in the renal tissue as well as reductions in glomerular foot process fusion and basement membrane thickening. Moreover， the Yishen Huashi granules group showed down-regulated mRNA levels of MCP-1 and CCR2 （P<0.01）， reduced positive expression of p-p38， MCP-1， and CCR2 （P<0.01）， and down-regulated protein levels of p-p38/p38， MCP-1， and CCR2 （P<0.05） in the renal tissue. The cell experiment showed that compared with the high glucose group， the Yishen Huashi granule-containing serum group showcased down-regulated mRNA levels of MCP-1 and CCR2 （P<0.01） and down-regulated protein levels of p-p38/p38， MCP-1， and CCR2（P<0.05，P<0.01）. ConclusionYishen Huashi granules can regulate glucose-lipid metabolism， reduce 24 h urinary protein and ACR， improve the renal function， alleviate the renal tubule injury caused by high glucose， and protect renal tubule epithelial cells in db/db mice by reducing MCP-1/CCR2 activation via the p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between serum chloride levels and prognosis in patients with hepatic coma in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: We analyzed 545 patients with hepatic coma in the ICU from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database. Associations between serum chloride levels and 28-day and 1-year mortality rates were assessed using restricted cubic splines (RCSs), Kaplan-Meier (KM) curves, and Cox regression. Subgroup analyses, external validation, and mechanistic studies were also performed. RESULTS: A total of 545 patients were included in the study. RCS analysis revealed a U-shaped association between serum chloride levels and mortality in patients with hepatic coma. The KM curves indicated lower survival rates among patients with low chloride levels (< 103 mmol/L). Low chloride levels were independently linked to increased 28-day and 1-year all-cause mortality rates. In the multivariate models, the hazard ratio ( HR) for 28-day mortality in the low-chloride group was 1.424 (95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.041-1.949), while the adjusted hazard ratio for 1-year mortality was 1.313 (95% CI: 1.026-1.679). Subgroup analyses and external validation supported these findings. Cytological experiments suggested that low chloride levels may activate the phosphorylation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, promote the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and reduce neuronal cell viability. CONCLUSION Low serum chloride levels are independently associated with increased mortality in patients with hepatic coma.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Intensive Care Units ; Prognosis ; Chlorides/blood* ; Aged ; Coma/blood* ; Adult

Objective To investigate the effects of Bushen Shengjing Tiaohe Qixue Prescription on rats with diminished ovarian reserve(DOR)based on Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.Methods Totally 60 8-week-old SD female rats were randomly divided into control group,model group,estradiol valerate group and TCM low-,medium-and high-dosage groups,with 10 rats in each group.Except for the control group,the rats in the other groups were given a single intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide 75 mg/kg to replicate the DOR rat model.From the next day of modeling,the corresponding drugs was administered for medication groups by gavage for 3 weeks.The general conditions of the rats were observed,ELISA was used to detect the contents of serum follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH),luteinizing hormone(LH),estradiol(E2),anti-mullerian hormone(AMH)and inhibin B(INHB),HE staining was used to observe the morphologic changes in ovarian tissue,Western blot was used to detect GSK3β,β-catenin,CyclinD1 and c-MYC protein expressions in ovarian tissues,immunohistochemical staining was used to observe β-catenin expression in ovarian tissue,RT-qPCR was used to detect Wnt1,Wnt2,Wnt4,GSK3β,β-catenin,CyclinD1 and c-MYC mRNA expression in ovarian tissue,transmission electron microscopy was used to observe ultrapathologic structure of ovarian granulosa cells.Results Compared with the control group,the rats in the model group had reduced intake of food and water,slow or even reduced body mass gain,and disturbed estrous cycle,the serum contents of FSH and LH increased(P<0.01),the contents of E2,AMH and INHB decreased(P<0.01);the number of follicles of all levels in ovarian tissue was reduced,and there was increased number of atretic follicles with disturbed arrangement of the granulosa cells;the expression of GSK3β protein in ovarian tissue increased(P<0.01),the expression of β-catenin,CyclinD1 and c-MYC protein decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01),and β-catenin positive expression decreased(P<0.01),the expression of Wnt1,Wnt2,Wnt4,β-catenin,CyclinD1 and c-MYC mRNA in ovarian tissue decreased(P<0.01),GSK3β mRNA expression was increased(P<0,01);organelles such as mitochondria and nuclei of ovarian granulosa cells were highly swollen and partially lysed.Compared with the model group,the rats in the administered group all had different degrees of body mass increase,partial restoration of the motility cycle,serum FSH and LH contents decreased,and serum E2,AMH and INHB contents increased(P<0.01,P<0.05);the number of follicles at all levels in ovarian tissue increased to varying degrees,and the atretic follicles were reduced;the expression of GSK3β protein in ovarian tissue decreased,β-catenin,CyclinD1 and c-MYC protein expressions increased,β-catenin positive expression increased,the expression of Wnt1,Wnt2,Wnt4,β-catenin,CyclinD1 and c-MYC mRNA in ovarian tissue increased,and GSK3β mRNA expression decreased,with statistical significance in estradiol valerate group and TCM high-dosage group(P<0.05,P<0.01);mitochondria,endoplasmic reticulum and other organelles of ovarian granulosa cells were mildly to moderately swollen.Conclusion Bushen Shengjing Tiaohe Qixue Prescription can improve ovarian function and regulate serum sex hormone levels in DOR model rats,and its mechanism might be related to the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Cemental tear is a rare and indetectable condition unless obvious clinical signs present with the involvement of surrounding periodontal and periapical tissues. Due to its clinical manifestations similar to common dental issues, such as vertical root fracture, primary endodontic diseases, and periodontal diseases, as well as the low awareness of cemental tear for clinicians, misdiagnosis often occurs. The critical principle for cemental tear treatment is to remove torn fragments, and overlooking fragments leads to futile therapy, which could deteriorate the conditions of the affected teeth. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and subsequent appropriate interventions are vital for managing cemental tear. Novel diagnostic tools, including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), microscopes, and enamel matrix derivatives, have improved early detection and management, enhancing tooth retention. The implementation of standardized diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols, combined with improved clinical awareness among dental professionals, serves to mitigate risks of diagnostic errors and suboptimal therapeutic interventions. This expert consensus reviewed the epidemiology, pathogenesis, potential predisposing factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cemental tear, aiming to provide a clinical guideline and facilitate clinicians to have a better understanding of cemental tear.
Humans ; Dental Cementum/injuries* ; Consensus ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Tooth Fractures/therapy*

Phakic intraocular lens implantation has become one of the important means of correcting refractive errors today. Among them,the implantable collamer lens(ICL)is favored for its wide range of correction, excellent optical quality, and high safety, but the risks of postoperative complications such as glaucoma and anterior subcapsular opacification still exist. Vault is an important indicator for evaluating the safety after ICL implantation, and its ideal state is crucial for preventing complications. Studies have shown that iris morphology has a significant impact on vault. In order to further optimize surgical outcomes and improve surgical safety, this review comprehensively reviews the research progress of iris-related parameters in ICL implantation and discusses the importance of various parameters in preoperative evaluation and postoperative follow-up.

Neoplasms characterized by the expression of markers of neuroendocrine differentiation in neoplastic cells are defined as neuroendocrine neoplasms. A case of neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) with a small amount of papillary adenocarcinoma and significantly vacuolar nucleus at the esophagogastric junction was reported in this article. A 77-year-old male had dysphagia for one week. Endoscopy revealed early-stage esophagogastric junction carcinoma, and biopsy was diagnosed as poorly differentiated carcinoma. Endoscopic submucosal dissection was performed. Histologically, the papillary adenocarcinoma progresses from typically branching papillary structures (well-differentiated) to hyperplasia of the lining epithelium of the papilla to form a cribriform structure (moderately differentiated), to solid area lacking papillary structures (poorly differentiated). There was a continuous process, and during this process, the vacuoles in the nuclei of tumor cells showed progressive changes from mild to obvious and finally to significant vacuoles. The tumor was mainly composed of solid areas (about 95%), with single cell, large cell, round or oval to irregular nuclei, and significantly vacuolar nuclei, nuclei with larger vacuoles appeared in a loop, a few thin weakly basophilic or weakly eosinophilic fine particles could be seen in the vacuoles, and the vacuoles had rough edges. The nucleus chromatin at the outer edge of the vacuoles was fine particles, and mitosis was common (20-30/mm²), atypical mitosis could be seen, and nucleoli could be seen easily, the cytoplasm was weakly eosinophilic, and the boundaries of cells were unclear. The cells were arranged in a nested, trabecular, or diffuse sheet shape, with some arranged in a glandular tube shape. Tumor thrombus was found in the vein of submucosa; the interstitial tissue rich in capillaries within the tumor was accompanied by a large number of neutrophil infiltration. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the solid area of the tumor was positive for synaptophysin (Syn) and chromogranin A (CgA), while papillary adenocarcinoma was negative. Mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) was diffusely positive in papillary adenocarcinoma, while the proportion of positive cells in the solid area of the tumor was about 10% to 15%. In a word, this case showed the extreme situation of the vacuolar nuclear characteristics of NECs, extremely rare, in a sense, this case expanded the boundary of the morphological spectrum of NECs. Understanding the extreme vacuolar features of this nucleus is helpful to make a correct pathological diagnosis.
Humans ; Male ; Esophagogastric Junction/pathology* ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/pathology* ; Vacuoles/pathology* ; Esophageal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Cell Nucleus/pathology* ; Adenocarcinoma, Papillary/pathology* ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology*

Artificial intelligence (AI), particularly deep learning, has demonstrated remarkable performance in medical imaging across a variety of modalities, including X-ray, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, positron emission tomography (PET), and pathological imaging. However, most existing state-of-the-art AI techniques are task-specific and focus on a limited range of imaging modalities. Compared to these task-specific models, emerging foundation models represent a significant milestone in AI development. These models can learn generalized representations of medical images and apply them to downstream tasks through zero-shot or few-shot fine-tuning. Foundation models have the potential to address the comprehensive and multifactorial challenges encountered in clinical practice. This article reviews the clinical applications of both task-specific and foundation models, highlighting their differences, complementarities, and clinical relevance. We also examine their future research directions and potential challenges. Unlike the replacement relationship seen between deep learning and traditional machine learning, task-specific and foundation models are complementary, despite inherent differences. While foundation models primarily focus on segmentation and classification, task-specific models are integrated into nearly all medical image analyses. However, with further advancements, foundation models could be applied to other clinical scenarios. In conclusion, all indications suggest that task-specific and foundation models, especially the latter, have the potential to drive breakthroughs in medical imaging, from image processing to clinical workflows.
Humans ; Artificial Intelligence ; Deep Learning ; Diagnostic Imaging/methods* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Positron-Emission Tomography

BACKGROUND: Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP), a rare and recurrent autoinflammatory disease, imposes a substantial burden on patients and society. Awareness of GPP in China remains limited. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey, conducted between September 2021 and May 2023 across 14 hospitals in China, included GPP patients of all ages and disease phases. Data collected encompassed demographics, clinical characteristics, economic impact, disease severity, quality of life, and treatment-related complications. Risk factors for GPP recurrence were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 127 patients (female/male ratio = 1.35:1), the mean age of disease onset was 25 years (1st quartile [Q1]-3rd quartile [Q3]: 11-44 years); 29.2% had experienced GPP for more than 10 years. Recurrence occurred in 75.6% of patients, and nearly half reported no identifiable triggers. Younger age at disease onset ( P  = 0.021) and transitioning to plaque psoriasis ( P  = 0.022) were associated with higher recurrence rates. The median diagnostic delay was 8 months (Q1-Q3: 2-41 months), and 32.3% of patients reported misdiagnoses. Comorbidities were present in 53.5% of patients, whereas 51.1% experienced systemic complications during treatment. Depression and anxiety affected 84.5% and 95.6% of patients, respectively. During GPP flares, the median Dermatology Life Quality Index score was 19.0 (Q1-Q3: 13.0-23.5). This score showed significant differences between patients with and without systemic symptoms; it demonstrated correlations with both depression and anxiety scores. Treatment costs caused financial hardship in 55.9% of patients, underscoring the burden associated with GPP. CONCLUSIONS The substantial disease and economic burdens among Chinese GPP patients warrant increased attention. Patients with early onset disease and those transitioning to plaque psoriasis require targeted interventions to mitigate the high recurrence risk.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Psoriasis/pathology* ; Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Adolescent ; Child ; Young Adult ; Quality of Life ; Middle Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; East Asian People

Objective To investigate the effects of Bushen Shengjing Tiaohe Qixue Prescription on rats with diminished ovarian reserve(DOR)based on Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.Methods Totally 60 8-week-old SD female rats were randomly divided into control group,model group,estradiol valerate group and TCM low-,medium-and high-dosage groups,with 10 rats in each group.Except for the control group,the rats in the other groups were given a single intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide 75 mg/kg to replicate the DOR rat model.From the next day of modeling,the corresponding drugs was administered for medication groups by gavage for 3 weeks.The general conditions of the rats were observed,ELISA was used to detect the contents of serum follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH),luteinizing hormone(LH),estradiol(E2),anti-mullerian hormone(AMH)and inhibin B(INHB),HE staining was used to observe the morphologic changes in ovarian tissue,Western blot was used to detect GSK3β,β-catenin,CyclinD1 and c-MYC protein expressions in ovarian tissues,immunohistochemical staining was used to observe β-catenin expression in ovarian tissue,RT-qPCR was used to detect Wnt1,Wnt2,Wnt4,GSK3β,β-catenin,CyclinD1 and c-MYC mRNA expression in ovarian tissue,transmission electron microscopy was used to observe ultrapathologic structure of ovarian granulosa cells.Results Compared with the control group,the rats in the model group had reduced intake of food and water,slow or even reduced body mass gain,and disturbed estrous cycle,the serum contents of FSH and LH increased(P<0.01),the contents of E2,AMH and INHB decreased(P<0.01);the number of follicles of all levels in ovarian tissue was reduced,and there was increased number of atretic follicles with disturbed arrangement of the granulosa cells;the expression of GSK3β protein in ovarian tissue increased(P<0.01),the expression of β-catenin,CyclinD1 and c-MYC protein decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01),and β-catenin positive expression decreased(P<0.01),the expression of Wnt1,Wnt2,Wnt4,β-catenin,CyclinD1 and c-MYC mRNA in ovarian tissue decreased(P<0.01),GSK3β mRNA expression was increased(P<0,01);organelles such as mitochondria and nuclei of ovarian granulosa cells were highly swollen and partially lysed.Compared with the model group,the rats in the administered group all had different degrees of body mass increase,partial restoration of the motility cycle,serum FSH and LH contents decreased,and serum E2,AMH and INHB contents increased(P<0.01,P<0.05);the number of follicles at all levels in ovarian tissue increased to varying degrees,and the atretic follicles were reduced;the expression of GSK3β protein in ovarian tissue decreased,β-catenin,CyclinD1 and c-MYC protein expressions increased,β-catenin positive expression increased,the expression of Wnt1,Wnt2,Wnt4,β-catenin,CyclinD1 and c-MYC mRNA in ovarian tissue increased,and GSK3β mRNA expression decreased,with statistical significance in estradiol valerate group and TCM high-dosage group(P<0.05,P<0.01);mitochondria,endoplasmic reticulum and other organelles of ovarian granulosa cells were mildly to moderately swollen.Conclusion Bushen Shengjing Tiaohe Qixue Prescription can improve ovarian function and regulate serum sex hormone levels in DOR model rats,and its mechanism might be related to the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.