Metabolomics covers a wide range of applications in life sciences, biomedicine, and phytology. Data acquisition (to achieve high coverage and efficiency) and analysis (to pursue good classification) are two key segments involved in metabolomics workflows. Various chemometric approaches utilizing either pattern recognition or machine learning have been employed to separate different groups. However, insufficient feature extraction, inappropriate feature selection, overfitting, or underfitting lead to an insufficient capacity to discriminate plants that are often easily confused. Using two ginseng varieties, namely Panax japonicus (PJ) and Panax japonicus var. major (PJvm), containing the similar ginsenosides, we integrated pseudo-targeted metabolomics and deep neural network (DNN) modeling to achieve accurate species differentiation. A pseudo-targeted metabolomics approach was optimized through data acquisition mode, ion pairs generation, comparison between multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) and scheduled MRM (sMRM), and chromatographic elution gradient. In total, 1980 ion pairs were monitored within 23 min, allowing for the most comprehensive ginseng metabolome analysis. The established DNN model demonstrated excellent classification performance (in terms of accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score, area under the curve, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC)) using the entire metabolome data and feature-selection dataset, exhibiting superior advantages over random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and multilayer perceptron (MLP). Moreover, DNNs were advantageous for automated feature learning, nonlinear modeling, adaptability, and generalization. This study confirmed practicality of the established strategy for efficient metabolomics data analysis and reliable classification performance even when using small-volume samples. This established approach holds promise for plant metabolomics and is not limited to ginseng.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common respiratory emergency, but current clinical treatment remains at the level of symptomatic support and there is a lack of effective targeted treatment measures. Our previous study confirmed that inhalation of hydrogen gas can reduce the acute lung injury of ARDS, but the application of hydrogen has flammable and explosive safety concerns. Drinking hydrogen-rich liquid or inhaling hydrogen gas has been shown to play an important role in scavenging reactive oxygen species and maintaining mitochondrial quality control balance, thus improving ARDS in patients and animal models. Coral calcium hydrogenation (CCH) is a new solid molecular hydrogen carrier prepared from coral calcium (CC). Whether and how CCH affects acute lung injury in ARDS remains unstudied. In this study, we observed the therapeutic effect of CCH on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced acute lung injury in ARDS mice. The survival rate of mice treated with CCH and hydrogen inhalation was found to be comparable, demonstrating a significant improvement compared to the untreated ARDS model group. CCH treatment significantly reduced pulmonary hemorrhage and edema, and improved pulmonary function and local microcirculation in ARDS mice. CCH promoted mitochondrial peripheral division in the early course of ARDS by activating mitochondrial thioredoxin 2 (Trx2), improved lung mitochondrial dysfunction induced by LPS, and reduced oxidative stress damage. The results indicate that CCH is a highly efficient hydrogen-rich agent that can attenuate acute lung injury of ARDS by improving the mitochondrial function through Trx2 activation.

Objective To systematically evaluate the efficacy of β-blocker in pediatric patients with congestive heart failure and congenital heart disease,and to provide evidence for clinician.Methods Before-and-after self-control study and randomized controlled trials were retrieved from PubMed,EMbase,the Cochrane Library,CNKI,WanFang,VIP databases,and the search time was from the establishment of the database to October 31,2023.All outcomes included left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),left ventricular fraction shortening,LVFS),left ventricular end-diastolic dimension(LVDD),Left ventricular end-systolic dimension(LVSD),N-terminal proB brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP),heart rate,blood pressure and cardiac function improvement.Results A total of 20 trials involving 1 068 children with heart failure(dilated cardiomyopathy and endocardial fibroelastosis were included.Meta-analysis results showed that the addition of β-blockers(metoprolol succinate,bisoprolol and carvedilol)on the basis of conventional drug therapy for heart failure had significant effects on LVEF[MD=13.06,95%CI(11.67,14.45),P<0.001],LVFS[MD=6.96,95%CI(6.54,7.37),P<0.001],LVDD[MD=-6.43,95%CI(-7.58,-5.28),P<0.001]and LVSD[MD=-8.30,95%CI(-8.83,-7.76),P<0.001]were significantly improved.In addition,blood pressure,heart rate,NT-proBNP and cardiac function could also be improved.Conclusion The combination regimen of β-blockers on the basis of conventional drug therapy for heart failure can improve cardiac function and symptoms of heart failure in children with congestive heart failure.Therefore,it is recommended that β-blockers should be actively used in the conventional treatment regimen for children with congestive heart failure.

Objective:To investigate the effect and of piperine(PIP)on nerve injury in rats with cerebral infarction.Meth-ods:The rat model of cerebral infarction was prepared by modified thread embolism method.The rats were divided into Sham group,Model group,piperine group(PIP group,20 mg/kg piperine),piperine+PKA inhibitor group(PIP+H-89 group,20 mg/kg PIP+5 mg/kg H-89).The rats were scored for neurological impairment,the volume of cerebral infarction,neuronal damage and neuronal apoptosis were observed,and the levels of cAMP,IL-1β and IL-6 in hippocampus and the protein expressions of GFAP,NSE,AC6,PKA,p-CREB,CREB and BDNF were detected.Results:Compared with Sham group,Model group had large cerebral infarction,cerebral in-farction volume,the neurological deficit score,neuronal apoptosis rate,the levels of IL-6 and IL-1β in hippocampus,and number of GFAP positive cells,the positive expression rates of NSE protein increased,the number of Nissl bodies,and the expressions of cAMP,AC6,PKA,p-CREB and BDNF proteins in hippocampus decreased(P<0.05);compared with Model group,cerebral infarc-tion volume,the neurological deficit score,neuronal apoptosis rate,the levels of IL-6 and IL-1β in hippocampus,and number of GFAP positive cells,the positive expression rates of NSE protein in the PIP group decreased,the number of Nissl bodies,and the ex-pressions of cAMP,AC6,PKA,p-CREB and BDNF proteins in hippocampus increased(P<0.05);the effect of piperine in improving nerve injury in rats with cerebral infarction was able to be reversed by H-89.Conclusion:PIP can inhibit the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons,and improve the neural injury induced by cerebral infarction by activating AC/PKA/CREB signal pathway.

ObjectiveTo observe the lower limb muscle activation strategy of healthy middle-aged and old women during stair ascent and descent with surface electromyography. MethodsFrom August, 2021 to February, 2022, 20 healthy middle-aged and old women were measured the surface electromyography root mean square (RMS) and integrated electromyography (iEMG) of bilateral vastus lateral, rectus femoris, vastus medialis, biceps femoris and semitendinosus during stair ascent and descent, and co-contraction ratio was calculated. ResultsDuring stair ascent, the RMS of bilateral vastus lateral, rectus femoris and vastus medialis was higher at starting stage than at following stage (|t| > 6.650, P < 0.001), while the RMS of biceps femoris and semitendinosus was lower (t > 3.559, P < 0.01); and the co-contraction ratio of hamstrings/quadriceps was lower at starting stage than at following stage (t > 8.185, P < 0.001). During stair descent, the RMS of bilateral vastus lateral, vastus medialis, biceps femoris and semitendinosus was higher at following stage than at starting stage (t > 2.345, P < 0.05), as well as the co-contraction ratio of hamstrings/quadriceps (t > 2.405, P < 0.05). ConclusionThe activities of the muscles around the knees are almost symmetrical during stair ascent and descent for healthy middle-aged and old women. The activation and co-contraction ratio of quadriceps and hamstring are various at starting/following stages.

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of CT-guided 125I seed implantation in patients with oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activating mutations (EGFRm+ ) without progression after first-line EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) treatment. Methods:From January 2015 to January 2019, 89 eligible patients (38 males, 51 females; age: (62±11) years) in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into 2 groups according to different treatment methods. The 125I seeds were implanted for oligometastatic lesions and/or primary tumors without progression after first-line EGFR-TKIs therapy in local consolidation treatment group (Group A, n=32). The maintenance treatment group (Group B, n=57) only received EGFR-TKIs until disease progression. The progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of the 2 groups were estimated by Kaplan-Meier curves, and were compared by using log-rank test. Complications in Group A were observed. Results:The follow-up time of the group A and group B were 36.5(31.0, 43.3) months and 30.0(24.0, 35.0) months respectively. The median PFS and OS in group A were 15.0(95% CI: 12.8-17.2 ) months and 37.0(95% CI: 33.9-40.1) months, both of which were significantly longer than those in group B (12.0(95% CI: 10.9-13.1) months and 31.0(95% CI: 28.9-33.1) months; χ2 values: 8.80, 7.15, P values: 0.003, 0.007). In Group A, the total incidence of complications in CT-guided 125I seed implantation was 21.9%(7/32), and the common complications and adverse events were pneumothorax and hemoptysis. Only 1 patient underwent chest tube insertion, and the rest were treated with conservative treatment. No operation related death occurred. Conclusion:CT-guided 125I seed implantation is safe and feasible for patients with EGFRm+ oligometastatic NSCLC without progression after first-line EGFR-TKIs treatment, and can prolong the PFS and OS of patients.

Objective:To compare and analyze the technical success rate and safety between computed tomography(CT)-percutaneous radiological gastrostomy (PRG) and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG).Methods:From January 2017 to January 2022, at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, the data of 76 patients who underwent gastrostomy due to inability to eat orally were collected, including 38 patients in PEG group and 38 patients in CT-PRG group. Surgical outcomes and complications were compared between the PEG and CT-PRG groups. Surgical outcomes included technical success rate, operation time, postoperative body mass index and hospital stay; while complications included minor complications (such as perifistula infection, granulation tissue proliferation, leakage, pneumoperitoneum, fistula tube obstruction, fistula tube detachment and persistent pain) and serious complications (such as bleeding, peritonitis, colonic perforation and death within 30 d). Independent sample t test, chi-square test, and Fisher exact probability test were used for statistical analysis. Results:The technical success rate of CT-PRG group was higher than that of the PEG group (100.0%, 38/38 vs. 78.9%, 30/38), and the operation time was shorter than that of the PEG group ((17.16±8.52) min vs. (29.33±16.22) min), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=1.19, t=2.36; P=0.038 and 0.011). There were no significant differences in postoperative body mass index ((16.29±3.56) kg/m 2 vs. (16.12±3.17) kg/m 2) and hospital stay ((4.13±1.26) d vs. (3.52±1.13) d) between PEG group and CT-PRG group (both P>0.05). The incidence of minor complications in the PEG group was 42.1% (16/38), including 6 cases of perifistulal infection, 1 case of leakage, 5 cases of fistula tube obstruction, 1 case of fistula tube detachment, and 3 cases of persistent pain. The incidence of serious complications was 5.3% (2/38), including 1 case of bleeding and 1 case of colonic perforation. The incidence of minor complications in the CT-PRG group was 39.5% (15/38), including 5 cases of perifistula infection, 1 case of granulation tissue proliferation, 3 cases of pneumoperitoneum, 3 cases of fistula tube obstruction, 2 cases of fistula tube detachment, and 1 case of persistent pain. The incidence of serious complications was 0. There was no significant difference in the incidence of minor complications between the PEG group and the CT-PRG group ( P>0.05), while the incidence of serious complications in the CT-PRG group was lower than that of the PEG group, and the difference was statistically significant (Fisher exact probability test, P=0.043). Conclusion:PEG is a safe and effective method of gastrostomy, but for patients with esophageal obstruction, CT-PRG can be an effective supplement to PEG.

Objective:To compare the safety and clinical value of percutaneous computed tomography (CT)-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (CT-FNA) with CT-guided core-needle biopsy (CT-CNB) in diagnosis of pancreatic lesions.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with pancreatic lesions who underwent percutaneous CT-guided biopsy from January 2017 to January 2022 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. A total of 454 patients (251 men, 203 women) were enrolled in this study with age of (60.5±11.6) years old. They were divided into the CT-FNA group ( n=300) and the CT-CNB group ( n=154) according to the biopsy method. The one-time diagnosis rate, accuracy, sensitivity, false negative rate and incidence rate of complications of the two groups were compared. Results:The one-time diagnosis rate and accuracy rate in the CT-CNB group were slightly higher than those in the CT-FNA group, but the differences were not statistically significant [92.2%(142/154) vs. 86.0%(258/300), χ 2=3.74, P=0.053; 97.4%(150/154) vs. 92.0%(276/300), χ 2=0.16, P=0.690]. Compared with the CT-FNA group, the CT-CNB group had a higher sensitivity and a lower false negative rate, and the differences were statistically significant [97.2%(138/142) vs. 91.5%(260/284), χ 2=4.89, P=0.036; 2.8%(4/142) vs. 8.5%(24/284), χ 2=4.89, P=0.036]. Common complications in the two groups were pain, hematoma and pancreatitis, and there was no statistically significant difference in the incidences of complication [9.0%(27/300) vs. 9.1%(14/154), χ 2<0.01, P=0.975]. Conclusions:Both CT-FNA and CT-CNB were safe for diagnosis of pancreatic lesions, with high diagnostic yields and with similar safety and accuracy. When compared with CT-FNA, CT-CNB has a higher sensitivity and a lower false negative rate.

Er: YAG laser bleaching is a new tooth bleaching method compared with traditional bleaching technology. The Er: YAG laser significantly improves the bleaching efficiency, has the advantages of high safety, short treatment time and excellent bleaching effect and is widely used in clinical operations. This paper summarizes the working principle and bleaching characteristics of Er: YAG laser bleaching technology and its effect on tooth structure. The existing literature suggests that the high absorption of water and hydroxyapatite by the Er: YAG laser makes it work well on water-bearing tissues and dental tissues. When it is absorbed by the bleaching agent on the tooth surface, it accelerates the catalytic oxidation-reduction reaction and selectively acts on the pigment particles deposited on the tooth, thereby achieving the effect of tooth bleaching. Er: YAG laser bleaching can be applied to most discolored teeth. The bleaching process is rapid and effective. During the bleaching process, for the dental pulp tissue, the temperature of the pulp cavity is lower than the critical value of 5.6 ℃, causing no pathological damage to the dental pulp tissue. For the hard tissues of the teeth, laser irradiation will cause changes in the chemical composition of calcium and phosphorus. The enamel presents a unique lava-like shape, and the bonding strength of the tooth increases after bleaching. Compared with other lasers, the Er: YAG laser has a wavelength close to the peak of water, and adding other ingredients to the bleaching agent is not required. Almost all the energy is used for the bleaching agent, with no damage to the surrounding tissues.

Objective:To explore whether the regular feedback system in opportunistic screening of colorectal cancer can improve the adenoma detection rate (ADR) of endoscopists.Methods:This study was an observational study, divided into three stages: the baseline stage before intervention (the pre-intervention period), the regular feedback stage (the intervention period) and the post-intervention stage (the post-intervention period). In the pre-intervention period, all patients who underwent opportunistic screening of colorectal cancer in Department of Gastroenterology in Beijing Shijitan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from June 2017 to May 2018 were reviewed, and the ADR of each endoscopist was calculated. In the intervention period from June 2018 to November 2018, colonoscopies were performed on patients for opportunistic screening of colorectal cancer by endoscopists who participated in the feedback. The ADR of each endoscopist during the previous month was calculated at the beginning of each month and feedback was provided in the form of a report. In the post-intervention period from December 2018 to January 2019, colonoscopies were performed on patients for opportunistic screening of colorectal cancer by endoscopists who participated in the feedback. The ADR of each endoscopist was calculated after the feedback stopped. ADR and polyp detection rate (PDR) of three stages were compared.Results:A total of 1 768, 1 308 and 344 patients were enrolled for opportunistic screening of colorectal cancer during the pre-intervention, the intervention and the post-intervention period respectively. Eight endoscopists participated in the whole process of this study. The total ADR increased from 23.70% (419/1 768) in the pre-intervention period to 33.72% (441/1 308) in the intervention period ( χ2=37.449, P<0.05). Two months after intervention, ADR decreased slightly to 33.14% (114/344), but was still higher compared with before ( χ2=13.602, P<0.05). The total PDR increased from 47.17% (834/1 768) in the pre-intervention period to 52.68% (689/1 308) in the intervention period ( χ2=9.111, P<0.05). Two months after the intervention, PDR increased slightly to 53.78% (185/344), and still higher compared with before ( χ2=5.035, P<0.05). Conclusion:Regular feedback to endoscopists can improve ADR in opportunistic screening of colorectal cancer.