Objective To explore the use of T2-fluid attenuated inversion recovery(FLAIR)sequences with a shorter TR to significantly reduce examination time without compromising diagnostic accuracy and image quality,and to obtain satisfactory brain gray and white matter contrast images via adjusting the TE.Methods A total of 60 patients underwent brain MR were selected,and each patient was scanned using two different T2-FLAIR sequences.The scan parameters for sequence A group were TR 9 000 ms,inversion time(TI)2 500 ms,and TE 120 ms.For sequence B group,the scan parameters were TR 6 000 ms,TI 2 000 ms,and TE 120-200 ms(with 20 ms intervals),respectively,and all images data were labeled as B1 to B5.A double-blind method was used to observe the images from both groups,with a 5-point rating scale.The signal-to-noise ratio(SNR),contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)of brain gray and white matter,and the contrast of brain gray and white matter were measured,respectively.SPSS 26.0 statistical software was used for subjective and objective evaluations of the images from both groups.Results For subjective evaluation,there were statistically significant differences in image quality with TE ranged from 120 to 200 ms in B group(H=41.4,P＜0.05).In pairwise comparisons,images from B3 group(TE 160 ms)showed no statistically significant difference compared to A group in subjective evaluations by two physicians(P＞0.05).For objective evaluation,A group exhibited significantly higher SNR compared to B group.Among the images in B group with TE ranged from 120 to 200 ms,SNR decreased gradually with increased TE,while CNR and contrast increased progressively(P＜0.05).Specifically,there were no statistically significant differences between B3 and A groups in terms of CNR and contrast(P＞0.05).Conclusion T2-FLAIR sequences with a shorter TR can significantly reduce examination time.By adjusting the TE,satisfactory brain gray and white matter contrast images can be obtained.When TE is 160 ms,the contrast of brain gray and white matter is optimal,and the SNR of the images meets the requirements for clinical diagnosis.

China has become the country with the highest global burden of heart failure(HF).Despite the widespread use of prognostic-improving medications today,the mortality rate of HF remains high,reaching 13.7％at one year-particularly among patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction(HFrEF).HF interventional device therapy(structural intervention)targets the structural factors underlying HF,including atrial pressure,ventricular remodeling,and valvular intervention.It leverages the heart's intrinsic physiological properties and pathological progression mechanisms to deliver treatments through interventions without external active forces,achieving anatomical or functional repair.This field has emerged as a rapidly growing area and plays an increasingly critical role in HF management.This article provides a comprehensive review and summary of the latest advancements in HF and cardiomyopathy interventional therapy over the past year.It covers various novel technologies and products currently in the research phase,aiming to provide an in-depth analysis of the current status and future directions of HF interventional therapy,and further advance the development of this discipline.

China has become the country with the highest global burden of heart failure(HF).Despite the widespread use of prognostic-improving medications today,the mortality rate of HF remains high,reaching 13.7％at one year-particularly among patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction(HFrEF).HF interventional device therapy(structural intervention)targets the structural factors underlying HF,including atrial pressure,ventricular remodeling,and valvular intervention.It leverages the heart's intrinsic physiological properties and pathological progression mechanisms to deliver treatments through interventions without external active forces,achieving anatomical or functional repair.This field has emerged as a rapidly growing area and plays an increasingly critical role in HF management.This article provides a comprehensive review and summary of the latest advancements in HF and cardiomyopathy interventional therapy over the past year.It covers various novel technologies and products currently in the research phase,aiming to provide an in-depth analysis of the current status and future directions of HF interventional therapy,and further advance the development of this discipline.

Objective This study aimed to provide an effective scientific basis for prevention and control of cockroaches on aircrafts by identifying cockroach-carried pathogens,and assess the insecticidal efficacy of gel bait mediated cockroach control on aircrafts,to provide technical guidance for aircraft disinsection.Methods Cassette-trapping was used to trap cockroaches,and the carried pathogens were detected using bacterial cultivation techniques.The gel bait mediated killing rate was calculated after 1,7,and 30 d by field application of gel bait.Results A total of 411 cockroaches were captured,and all were identified as Blattella germanica.26 strains of pathogenic bacteria were isolated from the trapped cockroaches.The killing rates of cockroaches were 58.8％-96.3％with 1-30 day application of gel bait.Statistically significant differences were observed in cockroach killing rates on different days(χ2=58.95,P<0.01).Conclusions B.germanica carry a large variety of pathogenic bacteria and opportunistic pathogens and are thus important infectious disease carriers.Gel bait agents have proven to be very effective against cockroaches on aircrafts.

The thought of medicine and food homology and substances with both edible and medicinal values are an important part of China's excellent traditional culture and medicine treasure, playing an important role in human diet and health maintenance for thousands of years. Substances with both edible and medicinal values are a standardized name governed by existing regulations, and many substances with both edible and medicinal values in the list lack important information such as original plants and edible and medicinal parts. Some substances change as the relevant regulations change, which confuses the use and regulation. According to the definition and inclusion conditions of substances with both edible and medicinal values in the Regulation of Substances with Both Edible and Medicinal Values Catalogue, this paper comprehensively reviewed the first batch of 87 substances with both edible and medicinal values published in 2002 by collecting information and investigating the practical application. Some substances supplemented, deleted, and revised were analyzed and discussed, and a complete revised list was compiled, encompassing a total of 90 substances, which were when combined with the 19 substances of the last three batches(published in 2019, 2023, and 2024), amounted to a total of 109 substances. In addition, the substances not currently in the published list but have both edible and medicinal values according to the latest definition were summarized, which revealed at least 27 other substances. Therefore, there were at least 136 substances with both edible and medicinal values. Additionally, the potential substances that could be included in the list of substances with edible and medicinal values were prospected, providing a focus for future expansion of the list. This paper systematically reviewed and revised the list of substances with both edible and medicinal values to lay a foundation for the regulatory authorities to revise the catalog of these substances and provide basic information for promoting the new quality productive forces in the health field and boosting the orderly and rapid development of the big health industry.
China ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/standards* ; Plants, Medicinal/chemistry* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

This article aims to explore the effect and mechanism of Liujunzi Pills on the intestinal microbiota of rats with spleen Qi deficiency syndrome. The raw Rhei Radix et Rhizoma water extract(1 g·mL~(-1)) was used to prepare spleen Qi deficiency rat models. A total of 44 SD male rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, Liujunzi Pills groups at high(3.24 g·kg~(-1)), medium(1.62 g·kg~(-1)), low(0.81 g·kg~(-1)) doses, and Shenling Baizhu San(2.50 g·kg~(-1)) group. The drug effect was evaluated by observing the following aspects: spleen index, fecal water content, body weight, and intestinal propulsion index. Gut microbiota analysis and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were conducted on feces. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) and UV spectrophotometry were used to detect interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and adenosine triphosphate(ATP) levels in small intestine tissues. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and transmission electron microscopy were employed to observe changes in intestinal pathology and microstructure. The results show that, compared with the control group, fecal moisture content is significantly increased while spleen index, body weight, and intestinal propulsion index are significantly reduced in rats of the model group, indicating the successful establishment of the model. The above symptoms can be improved by both Shenling Baizhu San and Liujunzi Pills. Compared with the control group, in the model group, the gut microbiota abundance is changed with an unbalanced development: the abundance of beneficial bacteria within the Bacteroidetes phylum is reduced, accompanied by a significantly decreased Shannon index, and reduced signal levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate(NADPH)-related enzymes relevant to mitochondria. However, Liujunzi Pills and Shenling Baizhu San can significantly improve the Bacteroidetes phylum abundance in gut microbiota, microbial diversity, and NADPH activity in the model group. Additionally, compared with the control group, the ATP level is decreased and the IL-1β level is increased in small intestinal tissues of the model group, with shorter small intestinal epithelial villi and decreased mitochondrial number. The above symptoms can be improved by Liujunzi Pills and Shenling Baizhu San. In conclusion, Liujunzi Pills can treat spleen Qi deficiency syndrome by enhancing mitochondrial function to regulate gut microbiota balance and diversity.
Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Qi ; Spleen/metabolism* ; Splenic Diseases/metabolism* ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta/genetics* ; Bacteria/drug effects* ; Feces/microbiology* ; Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism*

A previous study showed that the length of the foreskin plays a role in the risk of sexually transmitted infections and chronic prostatitis, which can lead to poor quality of sexual life. Here, the association between foreskin length and sexual dysfunction was evaluated. A total of 5700 participants were recruited from the andrology clinic at The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (Hefei, China). Clinical characteristics, including foreskin length, were collected, and sexual function was assessed by the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) and Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT) questionnaires. Men with sexual dysfunction were more likely to have redundant foreskin than men without sexual dysfunction. Among the 2721 erectile dysfunction (ED) patients and 1064 premature ejaculation (PE) patients, 301 (11.1%) ED patients and 135 (12.7%) PE patients had redundant foreskin, respectively. Men in the PE group were more likely to have redundant foreskin than men in the non-PE group ( P = 0.004). Logistic regression analyses revealed that the presence of redundant foreskin was associated with increased odds of moderate/severe ED (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.31, adjusted P = 0.04), moderate PE (aOR = 1.38, adjusted P = 0.02), and probable PE (aOR = 1.37, adjusted P = 0.03) after adjusting for confounding variables. Our study revealed a positive correlation between the presence of redundant foreskin and the risk of sexual dysfunction, especially in PE patients. Assessment of the length of the foreskin during routine clinical diagnosis may provide information for patients with sexual dysfunction.
Humans ; Male ; Foreskin ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Adult ; Erectile Dysfunction/epidemiology* ; Premature Ejaculation/epidemiology* ; Middle Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological/epidemiology* ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the use of T2-fluid attenuated inversion recovery(FLAIR)sequences with a shorter TR to significantly reduce examination time without compromising diagnostic accuracy and image quality,and to obtain satisfactory brain gray and white matter contrast images via adjusting the TE.Methods A total of 60 patients underwent brain MR were selected,and each patient was scanned using two different T2-FLAIR sequences.The scan parameters for sequence A group were TR 9 000 ms,inversion time(TI)2 500 ms,and TE 120 ms.For sequence B group,the scan parameters were TR 6 000 ms,TI 2 000 ms,and TE 120-200 ms(with 20 ms intervals),respectively,and all images data were labeled as B1 to B5.A double-blind method was used to observe the images from both groups,with a 5-point rating scale.The signal-to-noise ratio(SNR),contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)of brain gray and white matter,and the contrast of brain gray and white matter were measured,respectively.SPSS 26.0 statistical software was used for subjective and objective evaluations of the images from both groups.Results For subjective evaluation,there were statistically significant differences in image quality with TE ranged from 120 to 200 ms in B group(H=41.4,P＜0.05).In pairwise comparisons,images from B3 group(TE 160 ms)showed no statistically significant difference compared to A group in subjective evaluations by two physicians(P＞0.05).For objective evaluation,A group exhibited significantly higher SNR compared to B group.Among the images in B group with TE ranged from 120 to 200 ms,SNR decreased gradually with increased TE,while CNR and contrast increased progressively(P＜0.05).Specifically,there were no statistically significant differences between B3 and A groups in terms of CNR and contrast(P＞0.05).Conclusion T2-FLAIR sequences with a shorter TR can significantly reduce examination time.By adjusting the TE,satisfactory brain gray and white matter contrast images can be obtained.When TE is 160 ms,the contrast of brain gray and white matter is optimal,and the SNR of the images meets the requirements for clinical diagnosis.

Objective:To explore the changes in early postpartum pelvic floor muscle strength following the implementation of the new labor process.Methods:This retrospective cohort study selected 1 834 primiparous women with singleton, full-term pregnancies who delivered at Peking University First Hospital from February 2011 to March 2016 and had a pelvic floor re-examination 6-8 weeks postpartum. Out of these, 738 cases who followed the old labor process before 2014 were categorized as the old process group, and 1 096 cases who followed the new labor process after 2014 were categorized as the new process group. Basic data, childbirth information, and postpartum pelvic floor muscle strength of the two groups were compared. Data were statistically analyzed using t-test, Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, and ordered multicategory logistic regression to assess the impact of the new and old labor process and other factors on pelvic floor muscle strength. Results:The total duration of labor, as well as the duration of the first, second, and third stages of labor, were longer in the new process group than in the old process group [549.0 min (360.0-768.0 min) vs. 482.5 min (328.0-635.0 min), 465.0 min (297.5-672.5 min) vs. 420.0 min (285.0-555.0 min), 42.0 min (24.0-74.0 min) vs. 27.0 min (18.0-45.0 min), with Z-value of－5.72,－3.95, and－9.28, all P<0.05). The rates of vaginal delivery and labor analgesia were higher in the new process group [72.1% (790/1 096) vs. 67.2% (496/738), χ2=7.41; 67.4% (739/1 096) vs. 53.4% (394/738), χ2=36.82; both P<0.05]. There were no statistically significant differences in the comparison of Class Ⅰ and Class Ⅱ muscle strength grades between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion:There was no significant decline in early postpartum pelvic floor muscle strength following the implementation of the new labor process standards.

Objective To analyze the literature on artificial intelligence in forensic research from 2012 to 2022 in the Web of Science Core Collection Database,to explore research hotspots and developmen-tal trends.Methods A total of 736 articles on artificial intelligence in forensic medicine in the Web of Science Core Collection Database from 2012 to 2022 were visualized and analyzed through the litera-ture measuring tool CiteSpace.The authors,institution,country(region),title,journal,keywords,cited references and other information of relevant literatures were analyzed.Results A total of 736 articles published in 220 journals by 355 authors from 289 institutions in 69 countries(regions)were identi-fied,with the number of articles published showing an increasing trend year by year.Among them,the United States had the highest number of publications and China ranked the second.Academy of Forensic Science had the highest number of publications among the institutions.Forensic Science Inter-national,Journal of Forensic Sciences,International Journal of Legal Medicine ranked high in publica-tion and citation frequency.Through the analysis of keywords,it was found that the research hotspots of artificial intelligence in the forensic field mainly focused on the use of artificial intelligence technol-ogy for sex and age estimation,cause of death analysis,postmortem interval estimation,individual identification and so on.Conclusion It is necessary to pay attention to international and institutional cooperation and to strengthen the cross-disciplinary research.Exploring the combination of advanced ar-tificial intelligence technologies with forensic research will be a hotspot and direction for future re-search.