ObjectiveTo investigate the imaging features of calcium salt deposition and serological markers in patients with alveolar echinococcosis through a retrospective analysis， as well as independent risk factors for the degree of calcium salt deposition in lesions， and to provide a basis for assessing disease process. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for the imaging and clinical data of 107 patients with alveolar echinococcosis who were admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University from December 2023 to June 2025， and according to the volume of calcium salt deposition， they were divided into non-deposition group with 16 patients， mild deposition group with 52 patients， moderate deposition group with 16 patients， and severe deposition group with 23 patients. A one-way analysis of variance or the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison of continuous data between groups， and the χ² test or Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. The four groups were further combined into the low deposition group （no/mild deposition） and the high deposition group （moderate/severe deposition）. A binary logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the independent influencing factors for calcium salt deposition， and a predictive model was established. The receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve was used to assess the predictive performance of the model， and the Bootstrap method was used for internal validation. ResultsThere were significant differences between the four groups in sex distribution， involvement of other sites， white blood cell count， lymphocyte percentage， fibrinogen， uric acid， sodium ion， chloride ion， and calcium ion （all P<0.05）. The univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences between the four groups in sex， involvement of other sites， white blood cell count， lymphocyte percentage， fibrinogen， alanine aminotransferase， albumin， creatinine， uric acid， sodium ion， chloride ion， and calcium ion （all P<0.1）. The multi-collinearity diagnosis showed that the VIF values for all continuous variables ranged from 1.104 to 1.760， suggesting that collinearity did not affect modeling. An ordinal logistic regression model was established based on sex， involvement of other sites， calcium ion， lymphocyte percentage， and uric acid. The multivariate analysis showed that lymphocyte percentage （odds ratio ［OR］=1.106， 95% confidence interval ［CI］： 1.041 — 1.174， P=0.001） and blood calcium level （OR=0.005， 95%CI： 0.000 —0.230， P=0.007） were independent influencing factors for the degree of calcium salt deposition. The regression equation was established as Logit（P）=8.231 + 0.100 × lymphocyte percentage -5.344 × calcium ion. The ROC curve analysis showed that the model had an area under the ROC curve of 0.716， with a Youden index of 0.353， a sensitivity of 1.000， and a specificity of 0.353. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed that the model had poor calibration （χ²=20.688， P=0.008）. The Bootstrap method with 1000 repeated samples showed that the estimated values of lymphocyte percentage （OR=1.106， 95%CI： 1.049 — 1.186， P=0.002） and calcium ion （OR=0.005， 95%CI： 0.000 — 0.214， P=0.010） were consistent with the original model， and the confidence intervals did not include 1， which further supported the reliability of the model. ConclusionBoth lymphocyte percentage and blood calcium level are independent influencing factors for calcium salt deposition in alveolar echinococcosis， and the degree of calcium salt deposition in alveolar echinococcosis lesions increases with the reduction in blood calcium level and the increase in lymphocyte percentage.

Objective To understand the situation of dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) quality control testing phantoms in radiation health technical service institutions in Guangdong province, analyze the differences among different phantoms, and provide a reference for dental CBCT quality control testing. Methods The testing phantoms of 49 radiation health technical service institutions were used as the research objects. The designated CBCT equipment was used for scanning and imaging. The Z-score method was used to evaluate the high-contrast resolution, low-contrast resolution, and distance measurement deviation of each phantom. Results The satisfaction rates of various items for the phantoms in 49 institutions ranged from 85.7% to 100%. The distance measurement deviations of four institutions were “suspicious”, and the high-contrast resolution of four institutions and the distance measurement deviation of one institution were “unsatisfactory”. Conclusion The overall performance of dental CBCT quality control testing phantoms in radiological health technical service institutions in Guangdong province is satisfactory. However, there are still some phantoms with poor results in items such as distance measurement deviation and high-contrast resolution. The structural design, material selection, and manufacturing process of the phantom may all affect the results of quality control testing. Therefore, appropriate phantoms, optimized exposure conditions, and suitable reconstruction algorithms should be used in CBCT quality control testing to ensure accurate and reliable measurements.

Objective To assess the risk of human Spirometra mansoni infections and investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) towards sparganosis mansoni among residents in Henan Province, so as to provide insights into formulation of the sparganosis mansoni control measures. Methods Qinling Village in Fugou County of Zhoukou City, Bali Village in Yancheng District of Luohe City, Duzhai Village in Puyang County of Puyang City and Doushan Village in Luoshan County of Xinyang City were sampled as survey sites in Henan Province from July to August 2023, and more than 40 frogs were sampled from ponds or streams in each survey site for detection of Sparganum mansoni infections. At least 150 residents were sampled using a cluster sampling method from each survey site, and the sero-prevalence of anti-S. mansoni IgG antibody was estimated. In addition, a questionnaire survey was conducted on the KAP towards sparganosis mansoni among participants, and the proportion of eligible KAP, rate of correct KAP and KAP scores were calculated. Results A total 229 frogs were collected from 4 survey sites in 2023, and the overall prevalence of S. mansoni infection was 4.37% (10/229) in frogs, with 7.75% (10/129) prevalence in wild frogs and 0 in farm-bred frogs. A questionnaire survey was performed among 649 residents sampled from 4 survey sites, and 649 serum samples were collected. The seroprevalence of anti-S.mansoni IgG antibody was 0.15% (1/649) and the overall proportion of eligible KAP was 23.73% (154/649) among participants. There were age- (χ² = 30.905, P = 0.000), educational level- (χ² = 41.011, P = 0.000), and occupation-specific proportions of eligible KAP among participants (χ² = 10.721, P = 0.005), and the proportion of eligible KAP decreased with age (χ² _trend = 22.717, P = 0.000) and increased with education levels (χ² _trend = 40.025, P = 0.000). The rates of correct KAP towards sparganosis mansoni were 40.81% (2 119/5 192), 96.66% (1 882/1 947) and 63.81% (3 727/5 841) (χ² = 1 913.731, P = 0.000) among residents, respectively. The rates of correct KAP towards sparganosis mansoni varied significantly among survey sites (χ² = 136.872, 42.347 and 255.157; all P values= 0.000, with the highest rate of correct knowledge (51.94%, 748/1 440) and practices (75.86%, 1 229/1 620) in Yancheng District of Luohe City and the highest rate of correct attitudes in Puyang County of Puyang City (99.11%, 446/450) (all P values< 0.05). Conclusions There is still a high transmission risk of sparganosis mansoni in Henan Province, and the KAP towards sparganosis mansoni is required to be improved among residents.

Given the increasing concern regarding antibacterial resistance, the antimicrobial properties of naphthoquinones have recently attracted significant attention. While 1,4-naphthoquinone and its derivatives have been extensively studied, the antibacterial properties of 5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives remain relatively unexplored. This study presents a comprehensive in vitro and in vivo analysis of the antibacterial activity of 35 naturally sourced and chemically synthesized derivatives of 5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone. Kirby-Bauer antibiotic testing identified three compounds with activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), with one compound (PNP-02) demonstrating activity comparable to vancomycin in minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and time-kill assays. Microscopic and biochemical analyses revealed that PNP-02 adversely affects the cell wall and cell membrane of MRSA. Mechanistic investigations, including proteomic sequencing analyses, Western blotting, and RT-qPCR assays, indicated that PNP-02 compromises cell membrane integrity by inhibiting arginine biosynthesis and pyrimidine metabolism pathways, thereby increasing membrane permeability and inducing bacterial death. In an in vivo mouse model of skin wound healing, PNP-02 exhibited antibacterial efficacy similar to vancomycin. The compound demonstrated low toxicity to cultured human cells and in hemolysis assays and remained stable during serum incubation. These findings suggest that PNP-02 possesses promising bioactivity against MRSA and represents a potential novel antibacterial agent.
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/genetics* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry* ; Naphthoquinones/administration & dosage* ; Animals ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mice ; Humans ; Staphylococcal Infections/microbiology* ; Molecular Structure

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays an important role in preventing and treating diseases and improving human health. However, the complex bioactive components and regulation of signaling pathway and network restrict the elucidation of the mechanisms of action of TCM. A human being is regarded as a super "symbiont" composed of body cells and commensal microorganisms. Gut microbiota is the core commensal microorganism system of a human body, being considered as "the second genome" and the new "organ". Alterations in gut microbiota reflect the state of body health and progression of diseases. Recent investigations have revealed that the TCM rich in polysaccharides and polyphenols can modulate gut microbiota metabolites to rehabilitate gut homeostasis, thus ameliorating diseases via regulating gut-liver axis or gut-brain axis. This review summarizes the causal relationship and mechanisms of action of TCM in the treatment of diseases from the perspective of gut microbiota metabolites. Our findings are expected to provide new insights into the mechanisms of TCM in preventing and treating diseases and guidance for TCM-based drug discovery in the future.
Humans ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Polyphenols/pharmacology* ; Polysaccharides/pharmacology*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the technical key points and effectiveness of ultrasonic bone scalpel-assisted anterior controllable antedisplacement and fusion (ACAF) for treating cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). METHODS: Between June 2022 and December 2024, 11 OPLL patients underwent ultrasonic bone scalpel-assisted ACAF. The cohort included 8 males and 3 females, aged 49-74 years (mean, 56.7 years). The OPLL classification included 5 cases of mixed-type, 4 cases of segmental-type, and 2 cases of continuous-type cases. Ossification involved 2-5 spinal segments (mean, 3.2). Disease duration ranged from 2 to 18 months (mean, 6.2 months). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and complications were recorded. Pain improvement was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and neurological function was evaluated using Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score. Postoperative cervical CT and MRI were performed to measure spinal canal encroachment rate, spinal canal area, and spinal cord sagittal diameter. RESULTS: All operations were successfully completed. The operation time ranged from 174 to 360 minutes (mean, 255.9 minutes). The intraoperative blood loss ranged from 170 to 530 mL (mean, 345.9 mL). The C ₅ nerve root palsy occurred in 1 patient. No cerebrospinal fluid leakage, aggravated spinal cord injury, or recurrent/superior laryngeal nerve injuries occurred. All patients were followed 3-12 months (mean, 7.2 months). At last follow-up, VAS scores significantly decreased and JOA scores significantly increased compared to preoperative values ( P<0.05). According to the JOA improvement rate, the effectiveness was rated as excellent in 2 cases, good in 8, and fair in 1, with an excellent and good rate of 90.9%. Radiological re-examination revealed no implant loosening, screw breakage, or aggravated spinal stenosis. Postoperative spinal canal encroachment rate significantly decreased, while spinal canal area and spinal cord sagittal diameter significantly increased compared to preoperative measurements ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION For the treatment of cervical OPLL via ACAF, the intraoperative application of ultrasonic bone scalpel-assisted osteotomy enables precise vertebral groove creation and mobilization of the vertebra-ossification complex, thereby enhancing surgical safety and achieving satisfactory short-term effectiveness.
Humans ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Female ; Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament/diagnostic imaging* ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging* ; Spinal Fusion/instrumentation* ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonic Surgical Procedures/instrumentation* ; Operative Time

OBJECTIVE: To define a safe distance range from the LC-Ⅱ screw trajectory to the apex of the greater sciatic notch based on pelvic CT measurements, and to clinically assess the feasibility of using this range under iliac oblique view combined with iliac tangential view fluoroscopy to guide screw insertion. METHODS: CT scans of 104 normal pelvises collected between January 2022 and February 2025 were analyzed. There were 52 males and 52 females, with a median age of 45.8 years (range, 19-76 years). The RadiAnt DICOM Viewer software was used to reconstruct coronal, sagittal, and axial sections of the potential LC-Ⅱ screw trajectory. The maximum safety distance (Dmax) and the optimal safety distance (Dopt) from this trajectory to the greater sciatic notch were measured on the coronal and sagittal views. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 21 patients with LC-Ⅱ type pelvic fractures treated with the LC-Ⅱ screws fixation. And the screws were placed within the pre-defined safe distance under guidance from the iliac oblique view and iliac tangential view. Postoperative CT scans were obtained to evaluate the accuracy of screw placement. RESULTS: Radiographic measurements from the 104 cases showed that Dmax ranged from 1.87 to 3.87 cm (mean, 2.79 cm), and Dopt ranged from 1.01 to 2.92 cm (mean, 1.84 cm). Both Dmax and Dopt were significantly greater in the males than in the females ( P>0.05). No significant difference was found between the left and right sides within the same gender ( P>0.05). All 21 patients successfully underwent fracture reduction and fixation, with a total of 23 LC-Ⅱscrews implanted. According to the Lonstein grading system, the screw placement accuracy was rated as excellent in 16 screws, good in 3, fair in 3, and poor in 1, with an excellent and good rate of 82.6%. CONCLUSION Utilizing a CT-defined safe distance range from the screw trajectory to the greater sciatic notch, and adhering to this range under iliac oblique view combined with iliac tangential view fluoroscopy, enables the accurate and precise placement of LC-Ⅱ screws.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Bone Screws ; Adult ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods* ; Aged ; Ilium/surgery* ; Pelvic Bones/diagnostic imaging* ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation* ; Retrospective Studies ; Fluoroscopy ; Fractures, Bone/diagnostic imaging* ; Young Adult

Objective:To establish and assess the quality control and improvement system for metabolic and bariatric surgery in Beijing.Methods:Based on relevant documents from the National Health Commission and the Beijing Municipal Health Commission,and referencing the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery,a quality control system was developed under the Beijing Quality Control and Improvement Center of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. The system incorporated on-site evaluations,data registration,and specialized training. From May to December 2023,on-site assessments were conducted at 21 hospitals in Beijing performing bariatric surgery,evaluating personnel qualifications,infrastructure,clinical workflows,and postoperative follow-up. A quality control database was created to collect real-time surgical data,and training was provided for data entry and professional skills. Assessment results were classified as excellent,qualified,or needing improvement,with rectification suggestions offered and follow-up visits conducted to track progress.Results:All 21 hospitals achieved a 100% compliance rate for surgical indications, 16 (76.2%) met standardized surgical operation criteria,and 14 (66.7%) had standardized postoperative management. However,only 5 (23.8%) achieved a 12-month postoperative follow-up rate of ≥60%,and 4 (19.1%) had established specialized databases. Key challenges included insufficient specialized staffing (19.1%), lack of multidisciplinary collaboration (47.6%), inadequate equipment (57.1%), and low follow-up rates (57.1%). The database collected data from over 2 000 patients across 111 fields. After rectification, specialized database coverage rose to 61.9% (13 hospitals). Multi-level training programs developed backbone physicians and specialized nurses,significantly addressing the shortage of specialized personnel.Conclusion:The quality control system established in this study,through the integration of on-site evaluation,data registration,and specialized training,effectively enhances the standardization of surgical practices and data management capabilities.

Objective:To investigate the completion rate of tumor evaluation at initial assessment and after neoadjuvant therapy for mid and low rectal cancer patients in the national multicenter real-world database.Methods:The prospective real-world study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 1 074 patients who underwent surgical treatment for mid and low rectal cancer in 47 national medical institutions, including Peking Union Medical College Hospital et al, from May 12,2023 to May 11,2024 were collected. Observation indicators: (1) clinical characteristics of patients with mid and low rectal cancer; (2) initial colonoscopy and pathologic evaluation of tumors in patients with mid and low rectal cancer; (3) initial imaging evaluation of patients with mid and low rectal cancer; (4) imaging evaluation after neoadjuvant therapy for patients with mid and low rectal cancer. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M( Q1, Q3). Count data were described as absoluter numbers and/or percentages. Results:(1) Clinical characteristics of patients with mid and low rectal cancer. Of the 1 074 patients, there were 713 males and 361 females, aged 63(56,70)years. The body mass index of 1 074 patients was 24(21,26)kg/m 2.For American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, there were 147 cases of stage Ⅰ, 641 cases of stage Ⅱ, 157 cases of stage Ⅲ, 2 cases of stage Ⅳ, and there were 127 cases missing data. (2) Initial colonoscopy and pathologic evaluation of tumors in patients with mid and low rectal cancer. Of the 1 074 patients, there were 787 cases (73.28%) undergoing complete colonoscopy, and there were only 197 cases (18.34%) undergoing immunohistochemical evaluation of all four mismatch repair proteins. (3) Initial imaging evaluation of patients with mid and low rectal cancer. Of the 1 074 patients, there were 842(78.40%) patients completing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ultrasound evaluation, and there were 914(85.10%) patients completing chest, abdomen, and pelvis enhanced computed tomography (CT) evaluation. In the 149 patients completing rectal ultrasound evaluation, there were 122 cases (81.88%) comple-ting T staging evaluation, and there were 81 cases (54.36%) completing N staging evaluation. In the 808 patients completing rectal MRI evaluation, there were 708 cases (87.62%) completing T staging evaluation, and there were 590 cases (73.02%) completing N staging evaluation. (4) Imaging evalua-tion after neoadjuvant therapy for patients with mid and low rectal cancer. Of the 388 patients with neoadjuvant therapy, there were 332 patients (85.57%) completing MRI or ultrasound evaluation, and there were 327 patients (84.28%) completing chest, abdomen, and pelvis enhanced CT evalua-tion. In the 70 patients completing rectal ultrasound evaluation, there were 65 cases (92.86%) com-pleting T staging evaluation, and there were 49 cases (70.00%) completing N staging evaluation. In the 327 patients completing rectal MRI evaluation, there were 246 cases (75.23%) completing T staging, and there were 228 cases (69.72%) completing N staging evaluation. Conclusion:The com-pletion rate of tumor imaging evaluation at initial assessment and after neoadjuvant therapy for mid and low rectal cancer patients on a national scale is relatively good.