Objective: To investigate the biological effects of carvacrol on rats with stomach-heat and stomach-cold and its regulation on transient receptor potential(TRP) channels in rats with stomach-heat, and to study the cold and heat properties of carvacrol and its possible mechanism. Methods: According to the random number method, 100 SD rats were divided into stomach-heat blank group, stomach-heat model group, Coptidis Rhizoma group, stomach-heat low-dose and high-dose carvacrol group, stomach-cold blank group, stomach-cold model group, Baked ginger group, stomach-cold low-dose group and high-dose carvacrol group, 10 rats in each group. The rat model of stomach-heat was established by intragastric administration of pepper aqueous solution (0.80 g/kg) and anhydrous ethanol, and the rat model of stomach-cold was established by intragastric administration of water extract of Anemarrhena asphodeloides and sodium hydroxide (10.40 g/kg). On the day of modeling, the rats in the Baked ginger group were given Baked ginger decoction (0.78 g/kg), and the rats in the Coptidis Rhizoma group were given Coptidis Rhizoma decoction (0.43 g/kg).The stomach-cold and stomach-heat low-dose group of carvacrol was given carvacrol emulsion (40 mg/kg), high-dose group was given carvacrol emulsion (80 mg/kg).All rats of the blank and model groups were given the equal volume of emulsion prepared by 5% dimethyl sulfoxide, 1% Tween 80, 1% polyethylene glycol 400, and 93% normal saline, once a day, for 7 days. The general condition of rats was observed and the body mass was recorded. The pathological morphology of gastric tissue was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The changes of material and energy metabolism, cyclic nucleotide (cAMP), thyroid hormone and gastrointestinal hormone in each group were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression levels of transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1), transient receptor potential channel M8 (TRPM8) and uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) in rats with gastric fever were detected by Western blotting. Results: Compared with the stomach-heat blank group, the body mass of rats in the stomach-heat model group decreased at the fifth and seventh day (P<0.05). The contents (or ratio) of hepatic glycogen (HGlyc), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) were decreased (P<0.05), and Na+ -K+ -ATPase, Ca2+ -Mg2+ -ATPase, cytochrome C oxidase (COX), NADH dehydrogenase (ND), cyclic adenosine phosphate (cAMP), cAMP/cyclic guanosine phosphate (cGMP), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), gastrin (GAS), motilin (MTL), and α-amylase (α-AMS) all increased (P<0.05). Compared with the stomach-heat model group, the body mass of rats in the Coptidis Rhizoma group decreased at the third, fifth, and seventh day, the contents (or ratio) of HGlyc, TC, TG, VIP and α-AMS were increased, and Na+ -K+ -ATPase, COX, ND, cAMP, cAMP/cGMP, T3, T4, and GAS all decreased (P<0.05). The body mass of rats in the stomach-heat low-dose carvacrol group decreased at the seventh day. The contents (or ratio) of HGlyc, TC, and VIP were increased, Na+ -K+ -ATPase, COX, ND, cAMP, cAMP/cGMP, T3, T4, and MTL all decreased, the expression of TRPV1 and UCP1 in gastric tissue decreased, while TRPM8 increased (P<0.05) in rats of the stomach-heat low-dose and high-dose carvacrol groups. Compared with the stomach-cold blank group, the body mass of rats in the stomach-cold model group decreased at the third, fifth, and seventh day, the contents (or ratio) of HGlyc, TC, TG, α-AMS, and VIP all increased, while Na+ -K+ -ATPase, Ca2+ -Mg2+ -ATPase, COX, ND, cAMP, cAMP/cGMP, T3, T4, GAS, and MTL all decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the stomach-cold model group, the body mass of rats in the Baked ginger group was increased at the seventh day, and the contents (or ratio) of HGlyc, VIP, and α-AMS all decreased, while Na+ -K+ -ATPase, COX, ND, cAMP/cGMP, T3, T4, GAS, and MTL all increased (P<0.05). The contents of HGlyc, cAMP, α-AMS, and VIP of rats in the stomach-cold low and high-dose carvacrol group all decreased (P<0.05). TG in the stomach-cold low-dose carvacrol group was increased. TC, Ca2+ -Mg2+ -ATPase, and cGMP all increased, while cAMP/cGMP decreased (P<0.05) in the high-dose carvacrol group. Conclusion In this study, the rat model of stomach-cold and stomach-heat were successfully established by using cold and heat factors. The result showed that carvacrol had a certain inhibitory effect on body mass, material energy metabolism, cyclic nucleotide level, thyroid hormone and gastrointestinal function in rats with stomach-heat, indicating that the drug was cold. Carvacrol′s cold medicinal property could be biologically explained by TRPV1 activation, UCP1 induction, and TRPM8 suppression.

Background The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is a vast area with a wide array of ecological environments, resulting in considerable regional variations in air pollution characteristics. Current research is limited by a scarcity of systematic, region-wide studies and risk assessments. Objective To assess the health risks associated with inhalation exposure to nine heavy metal and metalloid elements in atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) for the population of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Methods From the 10th to the 16th of each month throughout 2023, atmospheric PM_2.5 samples were collected at designated monitoring sites in 12 leagues (cities) across the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to analyze the characteristics and trends in concentration. The health risk assessment model developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency was employed to evaluate both the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks associated with the heavy metal elements beryllium (Be), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), hydrargyrum (Hg), plumbum (Pb), manganese (Mn), and nickel (Ni) and the metalloid elements stibium (Sb) and arsenic (As). Results In 2023, a total of 1206 valid PM_2.5 samples were analyzed from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The annual average PM_2.5 concentrations in Inner Mongolia, as well as in the cities of Ordos, Wuhai, and the Alxa League, all exceeded the national limit of 35 μg·m⁻³. The PM_2.5 concentrations across the leagues (cities) exhibited a clear seasonal variation, peaking in winter, followed by spring, and reaching a minimum in summer and autumn. The median PM_2.5 concentration in Ordos throughout the year was higher than that in the other leagues (cities) of the region. Concerning health risks, the non-carcinogenic risks associated with the 9 elements detected in each league (city) were all below 1, indicating acceptable levels. However, the non-carcinogenic risk values for Mn, Cr, and As were relatively high; specifically, Ordos City displayed the highest non-carcinogenic risk values for Mn (7.74×10⁻¹) and Cr (2.97×10⁻²), while Chifeng City recorded the highest value for As (2.34×10⁻³). The carcinogenic risk values for As, Cd, Cr, and Ni fell within the range of 1×10⁻⁹ to 1×10⁻⁵, representing an acceptable level. The health risks varied with age, and the elderly residents faced the highest non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks. Conclusion While the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks from heavy metals and metalloids within atmospheric PM_2.5 in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region are generally within acceptable limits, the potential risks that Mn, As, and Cr pose to the health of elderly people warrants particular attention, and Ordos and Chifeng cities exhibit notably higher health risks among other areas. It is recommended that regular, long-term monitoring be conducted, taking into account the specific conditions at monitoring sites across each league (city), and that targeted air quality management strategies be implemented to protect public health.

Objective:To investigate the effect and mechanism of vitamin K2 on vascular calcification in a type 2 diabetes rat model.Methods:Thirty male Wistar rats,6 weeks old,were acclimatized for 7 days.Ten rats were randomly selected as the negative control group,fed a normal diet,and injected with an equal amount of citrate buffer.The remaining rats were fed a high-fat and high-sugar diet for 4 weeks,and then type 2 diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin.After successful induction of the diabetes model,the diabetic rats were numbered by body weight and divided into the diabetes group and the diabetes+vitamin K2 group according to the principle of stratified random grouping.These two groups were fed a high-fat diet and a high-fat diet containing vitamin K2,respectively,while the control group continued to be fed a normal diet.After 13 weeks of feeding,the rats were sacrificed for sample collection,and blood glucose and vascular calcium concentration were measured.Von Kossa staining was used for histopathological detection.The relative expression levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α),pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4(PDK4),matrix Gla protein(MGP),and bone morphogenetic protein-2(BMP-2)mRNA and proteins were measured by qRT-PCR and Western blot,respectively.Results:Compared with the control group,blood glucose levels in the diabetes group and diabetes+vitamin K2 group were significantly elevated(P＜0.01),but there was no significant difference between the two groups.There was no significant difference in vascular calcium concentration among the three groups(P＞0.05).Von Kossa staining showed that the control group exhibited normal vascular structures,while the diabetes group showed a large number of brown-black calcification plaques between elastic fibers in the vascular media.The diabetes+vitamin K2 group had either no calcification plaques or only a few brown-black calcification plaques.Compared with the control group,the expression levels of PDK4,MGP,and BMP-2 mRNA and proteins were higher in the diabetes group(P＜0.05),but there was no significant difference in the expression level of HIF-1α.Only the expression level of PKD4 protein had significance between the control group and diabetes+vitamin K2 group(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the above indexes between the diabetic group and diabetic+vitamin K2 group(P＞0.05).Conclusions:Type 2 diabetes mellitus may cause vascular calcification by increasing the expression of PDK4,which in turn leads to increased expression of BMP-2 and MGP.Vitamin K2 can inhibit vascular calcification in diabetes.

Objective To investigate the difference in visual quality between oval and round corneal flaps in femtosecond excimer laser in situ keratomileusis(FS-LASIK).Methods In a prospective randomized controlled clinical study,patients who voluntarily underwent FS-LASIK surgery in Wuhan University Affiliated Aier Ophthalmology Hospital from June 2022 to February 2023 were randomly divided into oval valve group and round valve group,with 36 patients(72 eyes)in each group.During FS-LASIK,oval and round corneal flaps were made,and excimer laser surgery was performed in parallel.Observe intraoperative and postoperative complications.The unaided visual acuity(UCVA)and spherical equivalent(SE)at 1 day,1 week,1 month and 3 months after surgery were compared between the two groups at 3 months after surgery,and the modulation transfer function(MTF),Strel ratio(SR)and total higher-order aberration at 3 months after surgery were compared between the two groups.Results All patients had successfully completed the surgery without serious complications.There was no significant difference between the oval valve group and the round valve group in UCVA at 1 day,1 week after surgery,1 month after surgery,3 months after surgery.There was no significant difference between the two groups on the postoperative SE at 1 day,1 week after surgery,1 month after surgery,and 3 months after surgery.There was no significant difference in MTF,SR and total higher-order aberration between the two groups at 3 months after surgery.Conclusion Ideal visual acuity can be achieved with either oval or round corneal flap during FS-LASIK,and there is no significant difference in visual quality between the two in the early postoperativeperiod.

Terminally ill patients face multiple difficulties in home care.Home-based palliative care ad-hering to the concept of whole-person,whole-family,whole-team,and whole-course care is able to meet the needs of terminally ill patients and their families.In this paper,we reported the care history and home-based pal-liative care process of a patient with end-stage breast tumor and summarized the experience,aiming to provide reference for the future work of home-based palliative care.

A method capable of retinal vessel segmentation and three-dimensional(3D)reconstruction is proposed for the early diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy.The 3D reconstruction can avoid the misjudgments of blood vessel length,curvature and branch angle after segmentation,which will affect the early diagnosis.IAAnet algorithm for retinal image segmentation combines traditional Unet with Inception V3,atrous spatial pyramid pooling and AttentionGates to reduce information loss and avoid over-fitting,thereby improving the network's ability to extract features.The projection reconstruction method is used to restore the 3D information of blood vessels,and supports the adjustments of brightness and contrast,so that doctors can better observe the real state of blood vessels.The proposed algorithm has an accuracy,recall rate,F1 score,intersection over union and area under ROC curve of 97.68%,96.07%,97.26%,92.79%and 94.00%,respectively.Compared with other networks,IAAnet algorithm exhibits higher segmentation accuracy,and can obtain more vascular information in 3D image after 3D projection reconstruction to assist in the early diagnosis.

Objective:To explore the correlation between hip muscle factors measured with CT imaging and recovery of independent mobility within 1 year after surgery in elderly patients with hip fractures.Methods:A prospective cohort study was conducted on the clinical data of 680 elderly patients with hip fractures admitted to Beijing Jishuitan Hospital of Capital Medical University from November 2018 to December 2019. The patients were assigned to dependent group and assistant group according to whether they regained pre-injury independent mobility within 1 year after surgery. Gender, age, body mass index, personal history, living habits, past diseases, Charlson comorbidity index, laboratory test indicators, fracture types, anesthesia types, surgical methods, rehabilitation training, time from injury to surgery, and hip muscle parameters in both groups were recorded. OsiriX software was employed in the measurement of the hip muscles to measure the muscle area and density of the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius/minimus on CT images, and the average values were calculated as hip muscle area and density. Then the variables of hip muscle area and density were converted seperately to gender-normalized Z-scores, and were divided into high-area group ( Z≥0) and low-area group ( Z<0), and high-density group ( Z≥0) and low-density group ( Z<0) respectively. Observable variables were primarily analyzed using univariate analysis between the independent group and assistant group. Those variables with statistically significant differences in the univariate analysis or would potentially affect mobility recovery according to previous researches although there were no statistical significance were included in a multivariate Logistic regression analysis. Three Logistic regression models were designed (Model 1 uncorrected, Model 2 corrected for gender, age and body mass index, Model 3 corrected for variables in Model 2 and other variables included after above-mentioned analysis) to analyze whether muscle parameters were risk factors for recovery of independent mobility. Additionally, generalized estimating equations were used for repeated measurement to analyze the correlation between hip muscle area and recovery of independent mobility after surgery. Results:Compared to the assistant group, the independent group were younger in age, with lower rate of living alone, being housebound, cognitive impairment, and Charlson comorbidity index, lower level of hemoglobin and albumin, higher rate of femoral neck fractures, lower rate of internal fixation, shorter time from injury to surgery, larger hip muscle area, and higher hip muscle density ( P<0.05 or 0.01). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that, in the fully corrected Model 3, only hip muscle area remained significantly correlated with recovery of independent mobility ( P<0.05), while no significant difference was found between the high-density group and low-density group ( P>0.05). In the repeated measurement, patients in the high-area group were 1.84 times more likely to restore independent mobility than those in the low-area group ( OR=1.84, 95% CI 1.33, 2.53, P<0.01). Conclusions:Hip muscle area measured with CT imaging is closely correlated to the recovery of independent mobility within 1 year after surgery in elderly patients with hip fractures. Moreover, larger hip muscle area indicates a larger likelihood of recovery of independent mobility.

Objective:To explore the feasibility and consistency of a new digital classification system of pelvic fractures named as JST classification based on close reduction techniques.Methods:A retrospective collection was conducted of the data from the 63 patients with pelvic fracture who had undergone surgical treatment after JST classification at Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from March 2021 to March 2023. Digital classification of the pelvic fractures was performed based on their locations and displacements. The classification first divides the pelvis into 4 parts: left half pelvis and right half pelvis; sacral Denis Ⅲ area and pubic symphysis. The symmetrical left and right sacral Denis Ⅰ and Denis Ⅱ areas are also included in the left/right half pelvis. Subsequently, the left half pelvis and right half pelvis are divided into 4 regions and marked by capitalized English letters: Sacrum Area (including Denis Ⅰ and Denis Ⅱ, denoted as S), Sacroiliac Joint Area (denoted as J), Iliac Area (denoted as I), and Pubic Area (denoted as P); to distinguish right/left, R and L are used as prefixes. The 2 asymmetric parts are also marked with English letters: Denis Ⅲ area of the sacrum (denoted as Sac), and pubic symphysis (denoted as C). Afterwards, the fracture line morphology and displacement in each region are marked digitally to form a complete JST classification system. The inter- and intra-observer reliabilities (Fleiss' and Cohen's Kappa) of the JST classification system were tested by 3 observers with more than 10 years of experience in pelvic fracture treatment.Results:Consistency analysis of the JST classification results showed that the mean κ value of the intra-observer reliability was 0.818 (from 0.658 to 0.946, P<0.001) and the inter-observer reliability 0.873 (from 0.674 to 1.000, P<0.001), both indicating excellent agreement. Of the 63 patients, 59 obtained successful closed reduction with the assistance of the Rossum Robot R-Universal intelligent orthopedic surgical robot system after fracture classification by the JST system, yielding a success rate of 93.7% (59/63). Conclusions:The new JST classification system for pelvic fractures demonstrates strong intra and inter-observer reliabilities compared with traditional classification systems. As JST classification system labels each fracture site and key bones, it is of great significance for the deep learning and intraoperative operations of intelligent fracture robots.

Objective:To explore the rehabilitation effect of multi-factor intervention based on the Finnish model of prevention of cognitive impairment in the elderly on patients with cognitive impairment after first-episode stroke, and to provide reference for rehabilitation nursing of cognitive impairment after stroke.Methods:The quasi-experiment research scheme was adopted and convenience sampling method was used to select participants with first-episode stroke cognitive impairment hospitalized in the General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University Airport Site. The 50 patients admitted from January to June 2022 were selected as the control group, and 50 patients admitted from July to December 2022 were selected as the intervention group. The control group received routine rehabilitation nursing and health education, and the intervention group received the Finnish model of prevention of cognitive impairment in the elderly on patients before discharge on the basis of the control group. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Health Education Compliance Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients were used to evaluate the changes of overall cognitive function and rehabilitation compliance before intervention, 3 and 6 months after intervention.Results:The final control group included 49 cases, including 35 males and 14 females, aged (64.67 ± 7.47) years old; the intervention group included 50 cases, 32 males and 18 females, aged (66.68 ± 8.75) years old. Before intervention, there were no significant differences in overall cognitive function and compliance of rehabilitation score ( P>0.05). At 3 and 6 months after intervention, the overall cognitive function score, the total score on compliance of rehabilitation, dimension scores of diet compliance, exercise rehabilitation compliance and health behavior compliance of the intervention group were (26.36±2.36) , (125.96 ± 13.80) , (23.30 ± 5.26) , (27.72 ± 4.46) , (43.66 ± 6.80) and (27.26 ± 3.71) , (152.44 ± 9.06) , (30.12 ± 6.42) , (33.32 ± 3.02) , (52.36 ± 4.70) , respectively. They were higher than the control group (24.04 ± 4.50) , (116.67 ± 10.26) , (19.31 ± 3.95) , (25.29 ± 3.45) , (40.59 ± 4.33) and (24.27 ± 4.33) , (138.92 ± 16.71) , (24.20 ± 4.48) , (30.00 ± 5.53) , (47.65 ± 8.03) , and the differences had statistical significance ( t values were -5.31- -2.67, all P<0.05). According to the variance analysis of repeated measurement, intergroup and time factor, the interaction between groups and time had significant impact on general cognitive function score, the total score of rehabilitation compliance, the dimension scores of diet, exercise rehabilitation and health behavior compliance ( Fgroup values were 8.33-18.08, Ftime values were 135.71-944.69, Finteraction values were 5.46-27.30, all P<0.05) . Time factor had significant impact on patient medication adherence score ( Ftime=206.23, P<0.05) . Conclusions:Multi-factor intervention based on the Finnish model of prevention of cognitive impairment in the elderly can improve the overall cognitive function and rehabilitation compliance of patients with cognitive impairment after first-episode stroke.

Objective:To investigate the changes of thyroid hormones and the flow velocity of superior thyroid artery in patients with Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyrotoxicosis before and after treatment with methimazole.Methods:A case-control study was conducted to select 45 cases of Graves' disease and 45 cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis from October 2021 to December 2022 in the Department of Endocrinology, North China University of Science and Technology Affiliated Hospital. The changes of thyroid hormone and blood flow velocity of superior thyroid artery in patients with Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis before and after treatment with methimazole were analyzed. Measurement data satisfying normal distribution were expressed by xˉ±s, and the mean between two groups was compared by t test. Measurement data not satisfying normal distribution were expressed by M( Q1, Q3), and the median between two groups was compared by Wilcoxon rank sum test. χ 2 test was used to compare the constituent ratio of enumeration data among groups. Results:There was no significant difference in thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) between the two groups before treatment, and there was no significant difference in TSH between the two groups after 1 month and 3 months of treatment (all P>0.05). The levels of free triiodothyronine (FT3) were (24.09±9.29) pmol/L and (17.41±9.36) pmol/L in Graves' disease group and Hashimoto's thyroiditis group respectively before treatment. FT4 were (60.23±20.82) and (43.47±21.71) pmol/L, respectively, and the peak stolie vloiy (PSV) were (69.53±5.70) and (52.65±4.64) cm/s, respectively in Graves' disease group and Hashimoto's thyroiditis group respectively before treatment. There were significant differences between the two groups ( t values wrere 3.39 and 3.74, Z=13.83, all P<0.001). The difference of FT3 between one month after treatment and before treatment was (-6.36±5.32) and (-12.64±9.08) pmol/L ( t=4.02, P<0.001) and the difference in FT3 between 3 months of treatment and before treatment was (-10.14±9.50) and (-17.80±11.17) pmol/L, respectively ( t=3.51, P<0.001) between the Graves disease group and the Hashimoto's thyroiditis group. The difference in FT4 between the Graves disease group and the Hashimoto's thyroiditis group after 1 month of treatment and before treatment was (-28.47±10.09) and (-20.57±14.48) pmol/L ( t=7.01, P<0.001), and the difference of FT4 was (-47.06±20.57) and (-30.17±20.54) pmol/L ( t=3.91, P<0.001) between the Graves disease group and the Hashimoto toxin group. The difference between one month after treatment and before treatment was (-13.10(-34.10,-2.60)) and (-10.50(-27.5,-0.20)) cm/s ( Z=2.63, P=0.009), respectively. The difference between 3 months and before treatment was (-31.40(-53.20,-12.70)) and (-19.90(-46.00,-4.70)cm/s ( Z=4.40, P<0.001)) between the Graves disease group and the Hashimoto's thyroiditis group, and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion:Thyroid hormone levels were decreased after treatment with methimazole in patients with diffuse toxic goiter and Hashimoto toxemia, but the difference was not statistically significant. The PSV level of superior thyroid artery in patients with diffuse toxic goiter was significantly lower than that in patients with Hashimoto's thyrotoxicosis.