1.Application of virtual reality technology in managing negative emotions and postoperative rehabilitation in perioperative patients from 2015 to 2025: a bibliometric analysis
Lijun DONG ; Shihao XU ; Qiuhua CHEN ; Lu ZHANG ; Xiaobing YIN
Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice 2026;32(1):69-82
ObjectiveTo analyze the research status, hotspots and development trends in the application of virtual reality (VR) technology in managing negative emotions and postoperative rehabilitation of perioperative patients over the past decade. MethodsLiteratures related to the application of VR technology in managing negative emotions and postoperative rehabilitation of perioperative patients were retrieved from Web of Science Core Collection database and CNKI, covering the period from January, 2015 to August, 2025, and CiteSpace 6.3.R1 was used for bibliometric analysis. ResultsA total of 267 English literatures and 130 Chinese literatures were included, with the annual number of publications showing an upward trend. The United States was the country with the largest number of publications in English literatures, and Erasmus University Rotterdam was the institution with the largest number of publications. High-frequency keywords included virtual reality, pain, surgery, anxiety and distraction. Research hotspots mainly focused on functional exercise, negative emotions, pain management and multimodal intervention strategies. English researches were deepening towards virtual reality exposure therapy, mechanism exploration and personalized schemes, while Chinese researches focused more on the verification of rehabilitation effects. ConclusionResearches on the application of VR technology in the management of perioperative patients are rapidly developing, with research hotspots shifting from single technology application to multimodal and personalized integrated intervention. Future research should focus on exploring its intervention mechanisms, personalized schemes and the breadth of cross-departmental applications.
2.Report of 4 cases of IgG4-related urinary diseases and literature review
Fanchao WEI ; Zhaoxiang WANG ; Mengwei XU ; Ruochen QI ; Guohui WANG ; Xiaoyan ZHANG ; Tong XU ; Jingliang ZHANG ; Shuaijun MA ; Weijun QIN ; Lijun YANG ; Shichao HAN
Journal of Modern Urology 2025;30(1):59-63
[Objective] To explore the clinical features of IgG4-related urinary diseases so as to provide reference for the diagnosis and treatment of such diseases. [Methods] The clinical data of 4 cases of IgG4-related urinary system diseases diagnosed and treated in Xijing Hospital of Air Force Medical University during Aug.2019 and Dec.2023 were retrospectively collected.Here, we report on the diagnosis and treatment of these patients, analysing their symptoms, serology, imaging and pathology as well as their treatment and outcomes. [Results] The patients included 2 male and 2 female.The lesions were involved with the retroperitoneum and urinary system.Three patients had symptoms of lumbar pain.The imaging manifestations were complex, including retroperitoneal mass involving urinary system organs in 2 cases, tabdense shadow of the right kidney in 1 case, and simple cystic mass of kidney in 1 case.Serum IgG4 value was not detected before surgery.All patients underwent radical surgical treatment.Postoperative pathology showed fibrous tissue hyperplasia with a large number of plasma cells, lymphocytes, a few neutrophil infiltrates, and lymphoid follicles and obliterated vasculitis in some specimens.The number of IgG4+ plasma cells was more than 10 in all tissues under high power microscope.After surgery, 3 patients had symptoms improved, and serum IgG4 value was within the normal range; 1 patient (patem 3) had elevated IgG4 value during follow-up, received subsequent hormone therapy, and the serum IgG 4 level remained stable. [Conclusion] The symptoms of IgG4-related diseases involving the urinary system are non-specific, and the imaging findings are various, easily confused with other diseases.Early detection of serum IgG4 and biopsy pathology can help clinicians make correct diagnosis in the early stage.
3.Dihydroartemisinin suppresses cancer-associated fibroblast-mediated tumor angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
Lanzhen CUI ; Cong XU ; Xiaoxiao LIU ; Jing BAI ; Lijun ZHANG ; Yu PENG ; Xiaoming LI
Chinese Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2025;32(6):341-347
OBJECTIVE To explore the effects of dihydroartemisinin(DHA)on the functions of cancer-associated fibroblasts(CAFs)in the tumor microenvironment in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma(HPSCC).METHODS The influence of conditioned media from CAFs and normal fibroblasts(NFs)on tube formation was assessed using a tube formation assay.Secreted protein levels of IL-6,VEGFA,and VEGFC were measured by immunofluorescence and ELISA.Western blotting was used to evaluate the expression of α-SMA,p-STAT3,STAT3,VEGF-A,and VEGF-C within the STAT3 signaling pathway.After treatment with DHA,the optimal concentration for DHA's effect was determined using CCK8 assays and morphological observations of cells.The impact of DHA on angiogenesis was analyzed through tube formation assays,changes in IL-6 expression were detected using ELISA and immunofluorescence,and alterations in α-SMA,p-STAT3,and STAT3 expression were examined by Western blot.RESULTS Both CAFs and NFs exhibited pro-angiogenic and pro-lymphangiogenic effects,with CAFs showing a more pronounced impact.Activated CAFs overexpressed and secreted high levels of IL-6,VEGF-A,and VEGF-C.The concentration of IL-6 in the conditioned medium supernatants of CAF1 and CAF2 was significantly higher than that of NF1 and NF2(P1<0.001,P2<0.05).Similarly,the concentration of VEGF-A was significantly increased(P1<0.05,P2<0.01),and the concentration of VEGF-C was also significantly increased(P1<0.05,P2<0.01).Treatment with DHA inhibited the activated state of CAFs,reducing the expression and secretion of IL-6 and p-STAT3,thereby suppressing tube formation.CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that CAFs promote angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in HPSCC via activation of the STAT3 pathway.DHA effectively inhibits this process,suggesting a potential new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of HPSCC.
4.Mechanism study on circASAP1 promoting proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells by targeting miR-4500
Yuehua GENG ; Lijun TANG ; Lusheng WEN ; Qiuyan LIN ; Jialun XU ; Limin YANG
Journal of Clinical Medicine in Practice 2025;29(19):58-64
Objective To investigate the regulatory effect of circular RNA ASAP1(circASAP1)targeting microRNA-4500(miR-4500)on the proliferation and apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells.Methods Human osteosarcoma cells(Saos-2)were selected as the experimental subjects and cul-tured in DMEM medium containing 10%fetal bovine serum while maintaining 5%CO2.The expres-sions of circASAP1 and miR-4500 in osteosarcoma tissues were detected using RT-qPCR.Saos-2 cells were transfected with si-NC(40 nmol/L),si-circASAP1(40 nmol/L),pcDNA(0.4 μg),pcDNA-circASAP1(0.4 μg),miR-NC(40 nmol/L),miR-4500 mimics(40 nmol/L),si-circASAP1+anti-miR-NC(40 nmol/L),and si-circASAP1+anti-miR-4500(40 nmol/L),respectively.Cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed using CCK-8,colony formation assays,and flow cytometry.The interaction between circASAP1 and miR-4500 was analyzed using a dual-luciferase reporter assay.Results Compared with adjacent non-tumor tissues,the expression of circASAP1 was significantly upregulated,while that of miR-4500 was significantly downregulated in osteosarcoma tissues(P<0.001).Compared with the si-NC group,the si-circASAP1 group exhibited significantly decreased circASAP1 expression,optical density(OD)values,and the number of cell colonies(P<0.001).Compared with the si-NC group,the si-circASAP1 group showed significantly upregulated levels of cleaved-caspase3 protein,cleaved-caspase9 protein,and the apoptosis rate(P<0.001).StarBase search revealed specific binding sequences between miR-4500 and circASAP1.Co-transfection of miR-4500 mimics and WT-circASAP1 significantly reduced the relative luciferase activity of the cells[(0.34±0.03)versus(0.95±0.06),t=27.280,P<0.001].The expression of miR-4500 in the pcDNA-circASAP1 group was significantly lower than that in the pcDNA group,whereas the ex-pression of miR-4500 in the si-circASAP1 group was significantly higher than that in the si-NC group(P<0.001).Compared with the miR-NC group,the miR-4500 group exhibited significantly in-creased miR-4500 expression,cleaved-caspase3 protein levels,cleaved-caspase9 protein levels,and the apoptosis rate,while the OD values and the number of colonies significantly decreased(P<0.001).Compared with the si-circASAP1+anti-miR-NC group,the si-circASAP1+anti-miR-4500 group showed significantly decreased miR-4500 expression,cleaved-caspase3 protein levels,cleaved-caspase9 protein levels,and the apoptosis rate,while the OD values and the number of col-onies significantly increased(P<0.001).Conclusion The expression of circASAP1 is increased,while that of miR-4500 is decreased in osteosarcoma tissues.Moreover,circASAP1 promotes the proliferation and inhibits the apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells by targeting miR-4500.
5.Construction and validation of a predictive model for early acute kidney injury in patients with cardiac arrest after cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Jinxiang WANG ; Luogang HUA ; Muming YU ; Lijun WANG ; Heng JIN ; Guowu XU
Chinese Journal of Emergency Medicine 2025;34(1):17-24
Objective:To construct a nomogram model for predicting the occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with cardiac arrest (CA) after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and to verify its validity for early prediction.Methods:The study retrospectively included patients aged 18 years and older who received CPR for CA and were admitted to the emergency room of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from February 2016 to September 2023. The general information, underlying diseases, resuscitation related indicators, and first laboratory test results of patients were collected. The patients were randomly divided into training and validation groups at a ratio of 7:3. AKI diagnosis was based on the diagnostic criteria of the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify independent risk factors for AKI in patients with cardiac arrest, and a nomogram was constructed on the basis of the independent risk factors. The predictive performance was evaluated by the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic. The calibration curve, decision curve and clinical impact curve were used to evaluate the model. Bootstrap and cross validation methods were used for internal validation.Results:A total of 527 patients with cardiac arrest were included in the study, 230 patients developed AKI, with an AKI incidence of 43.6%. There was no statistically significant difference in clinical baseline data between the training and validation groups (all P>0.05), indicating comparability between the two groups of data. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed that age ( OR=1.346, 95% CI: 1.197-1.543, P<0.001), CA to CPR time ( OR=2.214, 95% CI: 1.512-3.409, P=0.016), adrenaline dosage ( OR=1.921, 95% CI: 1.383-2.783, P=0.004), APACHE-Ⅱ score ( OR=1.531, 95% CI: 1.316-1.820, P<0.001), baseline creatinine ( OR=1.137, 95% CI: 1.090-1.196, P<0.001), and lactate ( OR=2.558, 95% CI: 1.680-4.167, P<0.001) were the independent risk factors for AKI in patients with cardiac arrest. Initial defibrillable rhythm ( OR=0.214, 95% CI: 0.051-0.759, P=0.023) was a protective factor for AKI in patients with cardiac arrest. A nomogram prediction model was constructed based on the above variables. The AUC of the training group was 0.943 (95% CI: 0.921-0.965) and that of the validation group was 0.917 (95% CI: 0.874-0.960). This prediction model demonstrated good discrimination, calibration and clinical applicability. Conclusions:A nomogram predictive model was constructed on the basis of age, CA to CPR time, initial defibrillable rhythm, adrenaline dosage, the APACHE-Ⅱ score, and baseline creatinine and lactate levels. This nomogram has good predictive value for the early occurrence of AKI in patients with cardiac arrest after cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which can provide new strategies for the early identification of AKI and precise intervention.
6.Interactive network dynamic nomogram for predicting poor neurological outcomes of post-cardiac arrest brain injury patients
Guowu XU ; Jinxiang WANG ; Heng JIN ; Lijun WANG ; Muming YU
Chinese Journal of Emergency Medicine 2025;34(5):684-691
Objective:To develop and validate an interactive network dynamic nomogram for early prediction of poor neurological prognosis in patients with post-cardiac arrest brain injury (PCABI).Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on hospitalized patients who achieved return of spontaneous circulation after cardiac arrest at Tianjin Medical University General Hospital between January 2020 and April 2024. Patients were classified into favorable and poor prognosis groups based on the Glasgow-Pittsburgh Cerebral Performance Category at discharge. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to a training cohort and an internal validation cohort in a 7:3 ratio. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of poor neurological outcomes in PCABI, which were subsequently used to develop a nomogram prediction model. The predictive performance of the nomogram was evaluated by comparing its area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic with those of individual predictors using the DeLong test. Model calibration and clinical utility were assessed using calibration curves and decision curve analysis, respectively. Internal validation was conducted, and an interactive dynamic nomogram was developed using web-based visualization techniques.Results:A total of 276 PCABI patients were enrolled (training set: 196; validation set: 80), with 82 cases (29.7%) classified as poor prognosis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified age ( OR=1.071, 95% CI: 1.021-1.124, P=0.005), APACHEⅡ score ( OR=1.746, 95% CI: 1.393-2.190, P<0.001), initial shockable rhythm ( OR=0.142, 95% CI: 0.025-0.819, P=0.029), defibrillation ( OR=0.228, 95% CI: 0.060-0.869, P=0.030), cardiopulmonary resuscitation duration ( OR=2.116, 95% CI: 1.487-3.010, P<0.001), and lactate level ( OR=1.392, 95% CI: 1.005-1.927, P=0.047) as independent predictors of poor neurological outcomes in PCABI. A nomogram prediction model was developed based on these factors, achieving an AUC of 0.965 (95% CI: 0.939-0.989) in the training cohort and 0.987 (95% CI: 0.967-1.000) in the internal validation cohort. The nomogram demonstrated significantly superior predictive performance compared to individual predictors ( P<0.001) and exhibited excellent discrimination, calibration, and clinical net benefit. The interactive dynamic nomogram, developed through web-based visualization, further enhanced its applicability in clinical practice. Conclusions:The interactive network dynamic nomogram, developed based on age, APACHEⅡ score, initial shockable rhythm, defibrillation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation duration, and lactate level, demonstrated favorable predictive value for poor neurological outcomes in PCABI. This tool facilitates clinical application and offers a novel strategy for early identification and targeted interventions in high-risk patients.
7.Expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of cemental tear.
Ye LIANG ; Hongrui LIU ; Chengjia XIE ; Yang YU ; Jinlong SHAO ; Chunxu LV ; Wenyan KANG ; Fuhua YAN ; Yaping PAN ; Faming CHEN ; Yan XU ; Zuomin WANG ; Yao SUN ; Ang LI ; Lili CHEN ; Qingxian LUAN ; Chuanjiang ZHAO ; Zhengguo CAO ; Yi LIU ; Jiang SUN ; Zhongchen SONG ; Lei ZHAO ; Li LIN ; Peihui DING ; Weilian SUN ; Jun WANG ; Jiang LIN ; Guangxun ZHU ; Qi ZHANG ; Lijun LUO ; Jiayin DENG ; Yihuai PAN ; Jin ZHAO ; Aimei SONG ; Hongmei GUO ; Jin ZHANG ; Pingping CUI ; Song GE ; Rui ZHANG ; Xiuyun REN ; Shengbin HUANG ; Xi WEI ; Lihong QIU ; Jing DENG ; Keqing PAN ; Dandan MA ; Hongyu ZHAO ; Dong CHEN ; Liangjun ZHONG ; Gang DING ; Wu CHEN ; Quanchen XU ; Xiaoyu SUN ; Lingqian DU ; Ling LI ; Yijia WANG ; Xiaoyuan LI ; Qiang CHEN ; Hui WANG ; Zheng ZHANG ; Mengmeng LIU ; Chengfei ZHANG ; Xuedong ZHOU ; Shaohua GE
International Journal of Oral Science 2025;17(1):61-61
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
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Dental Cementum/injuries*
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Consensus
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Diagnosis, Differential
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Cone-Beam Computed Tomography
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Tooth Fractures/therapy*
8.Neuroprotective Effect of Tiaogeng Decoction on Perimenopausal Depression Model Rats via ERβ/MAOA/JNK Signaling Pathway
Lijun ZHU ; Keqian LI ; Shengnan LI ; Lianwei XU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(10):117-129
ObjectiveTo investigate the neuroprotective effects of Tiaoseng decoction on a perimenopausal depression (PMD) rat model and to examine its regulatory influence on the estrogen receptor β (ERβ)/monoamine oxidase A (MAOA)/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway, thereby elucidating its potential mechanisms of action. MethodsForty-eight female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into a sham group, a model group, a 17β-estradiol (E2) group (2.5 × 10-5 g·kg-1), and low-, medium-, and high-dose Tiaoseng decoction groups (9.69, 19.37, 38.74 g·kg-1) by using a random number table method, with eight rats in each group. The PMD model was replicated using ovariectomy (OVX) combined with chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and was treated continuously with 17β-E2 and different doses of Tiaoseng decoction for 28 d, once a day. Depressive-like behaviors were assessed using the sucrose preference test, open-field test, and forced swim test. Histopathological changes in the prefrontal cortex were examined using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Nissl staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to measure serum levels of E2, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in the prefrontal cortex. Mitochondrial ultrastructure of prefrontal cortex neurons was observed via transmission electron microscopy. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) was used to detect neuronal apoptosis in the prefrontal cortex. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was applied to analyze the protein expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), postsynaptic density protein95 (PSD95), and synaptophysin (SYP) in the prefrontal cortex. Immunofluorescence (IF) was conducted to evaluate the average fluorescence intensity of ERβ and MAOA in the prefrontal cortex. Western blot and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) were used to determine the protein and mRNA expression levels of key molecules in the ERβ/MAOA/JNK signaling pathway in the prefrontal cortex. ResultsCompared with the sham group, the model group had significantly reduced sugar-water preference index, total distance traveled, average speed, and activity time in the central region in the open field experiment, E2 content, and SOD content (P<0.01) and significantly reduced BDNF, PSD95, SYP, and ERβ expression and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)/Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) ratio (P<0.01). Additionally, the model group exhibited severe histopathological damage, disrupted mitochondrial structure, cristae disappearance or fracture, swelling, and deformation in the prefrontal lobe. The immobilization time of forced swimming, TUNEL positivity, LH, FSH, MDA, ROS, MAOA, Caspase-3, p-JNK/JNK, and p-c-Jun/c-Jun were significantly increased in the model group compared with the sham group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the low-, medium-, and high-dose Tiaoseng decoction groups and the 17β-E2 group had increased sugar-water preference index, total distance traveled, average speed, and activity time in the central region in the open-field test, E2 content, and SOD content (P<0.05, P<0.01) and elevated BDNF, PSD95, SYP, and ERβ expression and Bcl-2/Bax ratio (P<0.05, P<0.01). In addition, histopathological damage to the prefrontal lobe was improved to different degrees, and mitochondrial structure was gradually repaired. The immobilization time of forced swimming, TUNEL positivity, LH, FSH, MDA, ROS, MAOA, Caspase-3, p-JNK/JNK and p-c-Jun/c-Jun were significantly reduced in the low-, medium-, and high-dose Tiaoseng decoction groups and the 17β-E2 group compared with the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionTiaoseng decoction has significant neuroprotective effects on PMD model rats, which can alleviate perimenopausal depressive disorder by inhibiting oxidative stress, attenuating neuronal apoptosis, and restore synaptic plasticity via ERβ/MAOA/JNK signaling pathway regulation.
9.Influence of COVID-19 infection on the early clinical efficacy of patients undergoing single valve replacement surgery: A retrospective cohort study
Liu XU ; Yongfeng HUO ; Lijun TIAN ; Yun ZHU ; Juan XIAO ; Ruiyan MA
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(05):634-638
Objective To investigate the impact of COVID-19 infection on the early clinical outcomes of patients undergoing valve replacement. Methods Perioperative data of patients who underwent single valve replacement at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army Medical University from January to February 2023 were consecutively collected. Based on COVID-19 infection status, patients were divided into a COVID-19 group and a non-COVID-19 group. The perioperative data were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 136 patients were included, comprising 53 males and 83 females, with a mean age of (53.4±10.2) years. There were 32 patients receiving aortic valve replacements, 102 mitral valve replacements, and 2 tricuspid valve replacements. The COVID-19 group comprised 70 patients, and the non-COVID-19 group included 66 patients. No statistical difference was observed in the incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups [9.09% (6/66) vs. 11.43% (8/70), P=0.654]. However, the COVID-19 group had longer postoperative mechanical ventilation duration [1 201.00 (1 003.75, 1 347.75) min vs. 913.50 (465.50, 1 251.00) min, P=0.001] and ICU stay [3 (2, 3) days vs. 2 (2, 3) days, P<0.001] compared to the non-COVID-19 group. Additionally, troponin I [4.76 (2.55, 7.93) ng/mL vs. 2.66 (1.19, 5.65) ng/mL, P=0.001] and brain natriuretic peptide [608.50 (249.75, 1 150.00) pg/mL vs. 192.00 (100.93, 314.75) pg/mL, P<0.001] levels were significantly higher in the COVID-19 group. Conclusion For patients with single valve disease undergoing elective surgery, short-term outcomes after recovery from COVID-19 infection are favorable, with no significant increase in in-hospital mortality or postoperative complication rates.
10.Cost-effectiveness of angiographic quantitative flow ratio-guided coronary intervention: A multicenter, randomized, sham-controlled trial.
Yanyan ZHAO ; Changdong GUAN ; Yang WANG ; Zening JIN ; Bo YU ; Guosheng FU ; Yundai CHEN ; Lijun GUO ; Xinkai QU ; Yaojun ZHANG ; Kefei DOU ; Yongjian WU ; Weixian YANG ; Shengxian TU ; Javier ESCANED ; William F FEARON ; Shubin QIAO ; David J COHEN ; Harlan M KRUMHOLZ ; Bo XU ; Lei SONG
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(10):1186-1193
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
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Cost-Benefit Analysis
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Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/methods*
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Male
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Female
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Coronary Angiography/methods*
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Middle Aged
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Aged
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Coronary Artery Disease/surgery*
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Quality-Adjusted Life Years
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Fractional Flow Reserve, Myocardial/physiology*

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