By reviewing the physical biological research on the activation of acupoint effects by acupuncture， this paper explains the activation mechanism from the perspective of the generation and transmission of mechanical signals caused by acupuncture， and reveals the physical-chemical coupling processes in the acupoint microenvironment. Future research should focus on locally mechanosensitive cells， further exploring how acupuncture mechanical signals trigger dynamic changes in cells and molecules in the acupoints， and the physical-chemical information transduction mechanism， which will provide scientific evidence for the acupoint activation during acupuncture. Related studies will contribute to a deeper understanding of the scientific principles behind acupuncture and promote its clinical application and development.

Objectives:To explore the predictive value of residual Murray's law-based quantitative flow ratio(μQFR)on long-term vessel-oriented composite endpoints(VoCE).Methods:This retrospective study included 3 510 patients from the FAVOR Ⅲ China trial.Offline residual μQFR analysis was performed on all vessels(diameter≥2.5 mm)with 50%-90%stenotic lesions.Patients were stratified into high-,intermediate-,and low-risk groups based on residual μQFR tertiles.The primary endpoint was 3-year VoCE,defined as a composite of cardiac death related to the target vessel,target vessel-related spontaneous myocardial infarction,and ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization.Results:Offline analysis was performed on 5 256 vessels from 3 510 patients.The mean residual μQFR was 0.92±0.75.The high-risk group(residual μQFR≤0.91)with 1 554 patients(1 958 vessels);the intermediate-risk group(residual μQFR 0.92-0.96)with 1 211 patients(1 906 vessels);and the low-risk group(residual μQFR>0.96)with 745 patients(1 392 vessels).Over 3-year follow-up,VoCE occurred in 227 vessels(4.3%).The 3-year VoCE incidence was significantly higher in the high-risk group compared to the intermediate-and low-risk groups(6.2%vs.4.1%vs.2.5%,log-rank P<0.001),primarily driven by ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization(5.0%vs.3.0%vs.1.6%,log-rank P<0.001).Hypertension(OR=0.83,95%CI:0.72-0.96),hypercholesterolemia(OR=0.84,95%CI:0.73-0.97),bifurcation lesions(OR=0.72,95%CI:0.63-0.83),moderate/severe calcification(OR=0.70,95%CI:0.57-0.84),and tandem lesions(OR=0.59,95%CI:0.47-0.75)were independent predictors of lower residual μQFR values.Conclusions:Lower residual μQFR is significantly associated with increased VoCE risk during the 3-year follow up period.

Objective To explore the value of diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI),amide proton transfer-weighted imaging(APTWI)and glucose chemical exchange saturation transfer imaging(glucoCEST)for predicting lymph node metastasis of rectal cancer.Methods Sixty cases of rectal cancer confirmed by pathology were retrospectively enrolled and divided into metastasis group(n=36)and non-metastasis group(n=24)based on the presence or absence of lymph node metastasis.The apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)value,as well as the values of magnetization transfer ratio asymmetry at 3.50 ppm and 1.20 ppm(MTRasym3.50 ppm and MTRasym1.20ppm)of the lesions were respectively obtained based on DWI,APTWI and glucoCEST and then compared between groups.Receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn,the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated to evaluate the efficacy of each parameter alone and their combination for predicting lymph node metastasis of rectal cancer.Results In metastasis group,ADC value of the lesions was lower,while MTRasym3.50 ppm and MTRasym1.20 ppm values were both higher than those in non-metastasis group(all P＜0.05).AUC of the combination of the above parameters for predicting lymph node metastasis of rectal cancer based on ADC,MTRasym3.50ppm and MTRasym1.20 ppm values was 0.970,significantly higher than that of each single parameter(0.858,0.804 and 0.755,respectively;Z=2.442-3.231,all P＜0.05).Conclusion DWI,APTWI and glucoCEST could all be used to predicte lymph node metastasis of rectal cancer.Combination of ADC,MTRasym3.50 ppm and MTRasym1.20 ppm had the highest predictive efficacy.

Objectives:To explore the predictive value of residual Murray's law-based quantitative flow ratio(μQFR)on long-term vessel-oriented composite endpoints(VoCE).Methods:This retrospective study included 3 510 patients from the FAVOR Ⅲ China trial.Offline residual μQFR analysis was performed on all vessels(diameter≥2.5 mm)with 50%-90%stenotic lesions.Patients were stratified into high-,intermediate-,and low-risk groups based on residual μQFR tertiles.The primary endpoint was 3-year VoCE,defined as a composite of cardiac death related to the target vessel,target vessel-related spontaneous myocardial infarction,and ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization.Results:Offline analysis was performed on 5 256 vessels from 3 510 patients.The mean residual μQFR was 0.92±0.75.The high-risk group(residual μQFR≤0.91)with 1 554 patients(1 958 vessels);the intermediate-risk group(residual μQFR 0.92-0.96)with 1 211 patients(1 906 vessels);and the low-risk group(residual μQFR>0.96)with 745 patients(1 392 vessels).Over 3-year follow-up,VoCE occurred in 227 vessels(4.3%).The 3-year VoCE incidence was significantly higher in the high-risk group compared to the intermediate-and low-risk groups(6.2%vs.4.1%vs.2.5%,log-rank P<0.001),primarily driven by ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization(5.0%vs.3.0%vs.1.6%,log-rank P<0.001).Hypertension(OR=0.83,95%CI:0.72-0.96),hypercholesterolemia(OR=0.84,95%CI:0.73-0.97),bifurcation lesions(OR=0.72,95%CI:0.63-0.83),moderate/severe calcification(OR=0.70,95%CI:0.57-0.84),and tandem lesions(OR=0.59,95%CI:0.47-0.75)were independent predictors of lower residual μQFR values.Conclusions:Lower residual μQFR is significantly associated with increased VoCE risk during the 3-year follow up period.

BACKGROUND: The FAVOR (Comparison of Quantitative Flow Ratio Guided and Angiography Guided Percutaneous Intervention in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease) III China trial demonstrated that percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) lesion selection using quantitative flow ratio (QFR) measurement, a novel angiography-based approach for estimating fractional flow reserve, improved two-year clinical outcomes compared with standard angiography guidance. This study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of QFR-guided PCI from the perspective of the current Chinese healthcare system. METHODS: This study is a pre-specified analysis of the FAVOR III China trial, which included 3825 patients randomized between December 25, 2018, and January 19, 2020, from 26 centers in China. Patients with stable or unstable angina pectoris or those ≥72 hours post-myocardial infarction who had at least one lesion with a diameter stenosis between 50% and 90% in a coronary artery with a ≥2.5 mm reference vessel diameter by visual assessment were randomized to a QFR-guided strategy or an angiography-guided strategy with 1:1 ratio. During the two-year follow-up, data were collected on clinical outcomes, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), estimated costs of index procedure hospitalization, outpatient cardiovascular medication use, and rehospitalization due to major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). The primary analysis calculated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) as the cost per MACCE avoided. An ICER of ¥10,000/MACCE event avoided was considered economically attractive in China. RESULTS: At two years, the QFR-guided group demonstrated a reduced rate of MACCE compared to the angiography-guided group (10.8% vs . 14.7%, P <0.01). Total two-year costs were similar between the groups (¥50,803 ± 21,121 vs . ¥50,685 ± 23,495, P = 0.87). The ICER for the QFR-guided strategy was ¥3055 per MACCE avoided, and the probability of QFR being economically attractive was 64% at a willingness-to-pay threshold of ¥10,000/MACCE avoided. Sensitivity analysis showed that QFR-guided PCI would become cost-saving if the cost of QFR were below ¥3682 (current cost: ¥3800). Cost-utility analysis yielded an ICER of ¥56,163 per QALY gained, with a 53% probability of being cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay threshold of ¥85,000 per QALY gained. CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing PCI, a QFR-guided strategy appears economically attractive compared to angiographic guidance from the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03656848.
Humans ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Coronary Angiography/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Coronary Artery Disease/surgery* ; Quality-Adjusted Life Years ; Fractional Flow Reserve, Myocardial/physiology*

ObjectiveFunctional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a novel non-invasive technique for monitoring cerebral activity, can be integrated with upper limb rehabilitation robots to facilitate the real-time assessment of neurological rehabilitation outcomes. The rehabilitation robot is designed with 3 training modes: passive, active, and resistance. Among these, the resistance mode has been demonstrated to yield superior rehabilitative outcomes for patients with a certain level of muscle strength. The control modes in the resistance mode can be categorized into dynamic and static control. However, the effects of different control modes in the resistance mode on the motor function of patients with upper limb hemiplegia in stroke remain unclear. Furthermore, the effects of force, an important parameter of different control modes, on the activation of brain regions have rarely been reported. This study investigates the effects of dynamic and static resistance modes under varying resistance levels on cerebral functional alterations during motor rehabilitation in post-stroke patients. MethodsA cohort of 20 stroke patients with upper limb dysfunction was enrolled in the study, completing preparatory adaptive training followed by 3 intensity-level tasks across 2 motor paradigms. The bilateral prefrontal cortices (PFC), bilateral primary motor cortices (M1), bilateral primary somatosensory cortices (S1), and bilateral premotor and supplementary motor cortices (PM) were examined in both the resting and motor training states. The lateralization index (LI), phase locking value (PLV), network metrics were employed to examine cortical activation patterns and topological properties of brain connectivity. ResultsThe data indicated that both dynamic and static modes resulted in significantly greater activation of the contralateral M1 area and the ipsilateral PM area when compared to the resting state. The static patterns demonstrated a more pronounced activation in the contralateral M1 in comparison to the dynamic patterns. The results of brain network analysis revealed significant differences between the dynamic and resting states in the contralateral PFC area and contralateral M1 area (F=4.709, P=0.038), as well as in the contralateral PM area and ipsilateral M1 area (F=4.218, P=0.049). Moreover, the findings indicated a positive correlation between the activation of the M1 region and the increase in force in the dynamic mode, which was reversed in the static mode. ConclusionBoth dynamic and static resistance training modes have been demonstrated to activate the corresponding brain functional regions. Dynamic resistance modes elicit greater oxygen changes and connectivity to the region of interest (ROI) than static resistance modes. Furthermore, the effects of increasing force differ between the two modes. In patients who have suffered a stroke, dynamic modes may have a more pronounced effect on the activation of exercise-related functional brain regions.

Objective:To construct a thyroid nodule segmentation model using ultrasound dynamic images and explore its potential for assisting in the screening of thyroid nodules.Methods:A total of 126 patients with thyroid nodules（comprising 150 nodules）who were diagnosed and treated at Xuzhou Cancer Hospital from April 2024 to December 2024 were prospectively enrolled. Two-dimensional ultrasound was performed to capture short-axis and long-axis video images of thyroid nodules，forming a dynamic ultrasound image dataset. The dataset was divided into training，validation，and test sets in a ratio of 6∶1∶3. After the training loss curve converged，the model that performed well on the validation set was selected for testing. Three-fold cross-validation was employed for training and testing. All 300 ultrasound videos were divided into three subsets. In each experiment，two subsets were used as the training set，and one subset was used as the test set to evaluate the model's generalization ability. A collaborative spatiotemporal diffusion model was established based on the dynamic trends and tissue texture details of thyroid nodules. Six widely used segmentation metrics were employed to evaluate the model's application capabilities.Results:The study included 126 patients with 150 thyroid nodules，300 dynamic ultrasound images，and video lengths of 3-4 seconds per nodule，resulting in 12 312 segmented images. The size of the thyroid nodules was（10.7 ± 10.6）mm（transverse diameter）×（8.4 ± 6.3）mm（anteroposterior diameter）. Among the nodules，62（41.3%）had clear boundaries，while 88（58.7%）had indistinct boundaries；61（40.7%）exhibited regular shapes，while 89（59.3%）were irregular；66（44.0%）had a taller-than-wide aspect ratio；and 70（46.7%）showed microcalcifications. The collaborative diffusion model based on dynamic ultrasound image segmentation achieved the following scores：a Jaccard score of（69.22 ± 0.03）%，a Dice score of（79.16 ± 0.18）%，a Precision score of（86.70 ± 0.17）%，a Recall score of（77.82 ± 0.04）%，an Sα score of（85.26 ± 0.01）%，and an Eθmn score of（90.58 ± 0.17）%. Compared to other models，this model demonstrated significant improvements across all evaluation metrics，achieving the highest values in each metric with increments of over 8% and 1%，respectively. Conclusions:The collaborative diffusion model with a dynamic controller，constructed based on dynamic ultrasound images of thyroid nodules，demonstrates excellent performance in ultrasound image segmentation. It improves the accuracy of thyroid nodule screening，thereby providing a valuable auxiliary diagnostic tool for clinical practice.

Objective:To propose a deep learning（DL）-based ultrasound imaging auxiliary tool for automatic segmentation and recognition of the brachial plexus（BP），and to enhance the accuracy and safety of clinical procedures.Methods:It was a multicenter study that collected 773 healthy subjects from Peking University Third Hospital and its branch campuses，the Third Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital，and Shanghai Eighth People's Hospital between August 2024 and February 2025. Brachial plexus（BP）images in the interscalene groove were captured used high-frequency ultrasound by senior sonographers，a dataset comprising 1 289 standardized images were constructed and the improved model（CHA-TransUNet）was trained. The test set was input into 6 different models（CHA-TransUNet，R50-Unet，TransUnet，SegFormer，SwinUnet，MISSFormer）for segmentation. Segmentation accuracy was evaluated using metrics including the Dice similarity coefficient（DSC），95% Hausdorff distance（HD95）and mean intersection over union（mIoU），and was compared with the segmentation results of 3 ultrasound physicians with varying experience levels（junior physicians and senior physicians）to validate the model's segmentation efficacy.Results:The CHA-TransUNet model established based on a dataset of 1 289 standardized images achieved segmentation results for the BP with a DSC of 90.15%，mIoU of 91.02%，and HD95 of 8.08. Its accuracy was higher than other mainstream models（DSC：90.15% vs. 87.60%，87.77%，81.35%，84.78%，84.55%），significantly better than junior physicians（DSC：90.15% vs. 68.73%， Z=-127.76， P<0.001），and approached the level of senior physician（DSC：90.15% vs. 86.15%， Z=-31.33， P=0.549）. The model demonstrated superior boundary recognition in complex anatomical structures（e.g.，C6/C7 nerve roots）compared to ultrasound physicians（junior and senior）（HD95：8.08 vs. 26.34，17.44，56.80）. Conclusions:This study proposes an analysis model for BP ultrasound images，CHA-TransUNet. This model achieves segmentation and recognition of the BP with relatively complex pathways and structures. The model exhibits high accuracy and stability，outperforming current mainstream network models and junior physicians while approaching the performance level of senior physicians. It assists junior physicians or trainees in more accurately identifying and localizing the BP.

Objective:To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) in Beijing in 2024, to investigate the infection status of reservoir hosts, vector organisms, and baseline human populations, and provide a scientific basis for formulating prevention and control strategies.Methods:Epidemiological surveys were conducted on all confirmed cases. Serum samples from healthy populations and reservoir hosts were collected for SFTSV antibody detection. Questing ticks were monitored using the flagging method. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was employed to detect SFTSV in cases, reservoir hosts, and ticks. Positive samples underwent whole-genome sequencing and genetic evolution analysis.Results:In 2024, Beijing reported 15 locally infected cases with 4 deaths. The age of onset ranged from 50 to 80 years (median: 66 years). Cases showed a certain degree of geographical clustering, with June being the peak month of onset. The affected population was predominantly farmers, with a male-to-female ratio of 3∶2. Animal contact history emerged as a significant risk factor alongside tick bites. Parthenogenetic tick populations were identified in Pinggu district, while SFTSV-carrying ticks were detected in endemic areas (Mentougou, Shijingshan, and Fengtai Districts). Viral presence was also confirmed in ticks or dogs from non-endemic areas. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed stable clustering of strains into two distinct genotypes (A and B). Antibody-positive individuals were identified in healthy populations from non-endemic areas.Conclusions:The incidence of SFTS in Beijing is increasing, with natural viral circulation already established in non-endemic regions. Enhanced surveillance and adjusted prevention strategies are urgently needed.

Objective:To evaluate the long-term outcomes and predictors of coronary atherosclerotic lesions deemed functionally non-ischemic (quantitative flow ratio(QFR)>0.80) and deferred from intervention.Methods:This study is a post-hoc analysis of the FAVOR Ⅲ China trial, which enrolled 3 825 patients with stable or unstable angina pectoris or with myocardial infarction occurring at least 72 hours prior to screening, between December 5, 2018 and January 9, 2020 from 26 research centers in China. Coronary vessels with QFR>0.80 and without interventional treatment were analyzed in this study. The primary endpoint was 3-year target vessel revascularization. Vessels with revascularization (revascularized group) during follow-up were matched 1∶1 using propensity score matching to comparable vessels without revascularization (non-revascularized group). Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for target vessel revascularization (TVR).Results:A total of 6 212 functionally negative vessels with deferred intervention were included in the final analysis, among which 153 vessels (2.5%) underwent TVR during a 3-year follow-up. Prior to propensity score matching, 6 059 vessels comprised the non-revascularized group. At the vessel level, compared to the non-revascularized group, the revascularized group exhibited a significantly higher proportion of males (79.1% (121/153) vs. 70.2% (4 253/6 059), P=0.018), higher body mass index ((25.6±4.0) kg/m2 vs. (24.3±5.2) kg/m2, P=0.003), and a higher prevalence of hypertension (73.9% (113/153) vs. 65.1% (3 944/6 059), P=0.025). And 152 pairs of vessels were successfully matched. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified in-stent restenosis lesions ( HR=2.59, 95% CI 1.28-5.23, P=0.008) as an independent risk factor for target vessel revascularization. Conclusions:Coronary lesions classified as functionally non-ischemic at baseline are not entirely stable and may progress to lesions that requiring revascularization over time. In-stent restenosis emerges as a critical independent predictor of revascularization.