This article introduces Professor LIU Xing's clinical experience in treatment of peripheral facial paralysis at the recovery and sequelae stages with the combination of acupotomy, cupping and herbal medication. Based on the analysis of etiology and pathogenesis of peripheral facial paralysis, Professor LIU believes that "invasion of pathogenic wind to collaterals and obstruction of qi and blood" is crucial. Therefore, the treatment focuses on "dispelling wind and harmonizing blood". The compound therapeutic mode is proposed, with acupotomy, cupping and herbal decoction involved, in which, "three-step sequential method of acupotomy" is predominated. Firstly, in the prone position, five "feng" (wind) points are stimulated in patient, Fengfu (GV16), Fengchi (GB20), Yifeng (TE17), Bingfeng (SI12) and Fengmen (BL12). Secondly, in the lateral position, three-facial points are stimulated (FaceⅠneedle: Yangbai [GB14]-Yuyao [EX-HN4]; Face Ⅱ needle: Sibai [ST2]-Quanliao [SI18]; Face Ⅲ needle: Jiache [ST6]-Dicang [ST4]) to restore the deviated facial muscles. Finally, in the supine, two Dantian points are stimulated on the forehead and chest, respectively (upper Dantian: Yintang [GV24⁺], middle Dantian: Danzhong [CV17]), to regulate qi and blood. As the adjunctive therapies, cupping is used to remove stasis, and herbal decoction is to harmonize the body interior. In view of holistic regulation, the treatment is administered in accordance with the affected meridians, so as to expel wind, remove obstruction in collaterals and regulate qi and blood.
Humans ; Facial Paralysis/drug therapy* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Acupuncture Points ; Cupping Therapy ; Aged ; Young Adult

Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common gynecological malignancies, with an increasing incidence rate worldwide. Accurate segmentation of lesion areas in computed tomography (CT) images is a critical step in assisting clinical diagnosis. In this study, we propose a novel deep learning-based segmentation model, termed spatial choice and weight union network (SCWU-Net), which incorporates two newly designed modules: the spatial selection module (SSM) and the combination weight module (CWM). The SSM enhances the model's ability to capture contextual information through deep convolutional blocks, while the CWM, based on joint attention mechanisms, is employed within the skip connections to further boost segmentation performance. By integrating the strengths of both modules into a U-shaped multi-scale architecture, the model achieves precise segmentation of EC lesion regions. Experimental results on a public dataset demonstrate that SCWU-Net achieves a Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) of 82.98%, an intersection over union (IoU) of 78.63%, a precision of 92.36%, and a recall of 84.10%. Its overall performance is significantly outperforming other state-of-the-art models. This study enhances the accuracy of lesion segmentation in EC CT images and holds potential clinical value for the auxiliary diagnosis of endometrial cancer.
Humans ; Endometrial Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging* ; Female ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods* ; Deep Learning ; Algorithms ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods* ; Neural Networks, Computer

OBJECTIVES: To explore the active components that mediate the therapeutic effect of Centella asiatica on psoriasis and their therapeutic mechanisms. METHODS: TCMSP, TCMIP, PharmMapper, Swiss Target Prediction, GeneCards, OMIM and TTD databases were searched for the compounds in Centella asiatica and their targets and the disease targets of psoriasis. A drug-active component-target network and the protein-protein interaction network were constructed, and DAVID database was used for pathway enrichment analysis. In a RAW264.7 macrophage model of LPS-induced inflammation, the anti-inflammatory effect of 7.5, 15, 30, and 60 μmol/L quercetin, asiaticoside, and asiatic acid, which were identified as the main active components in Centella asiatica, were tested by measuring cellular production of NO, TNF‑α and IL-6 using Griess method and ELISA and by detecting mRNA expressions of IL-23, IL-17A, TNF-α and IL-6 and protein expressions of p-STAT3 (Tyr705) and p-STAT3 (Ser727) with RT-qPCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: A total of 139 targets of Centella asiatica and 4604 targets of psoriasis were obtained, and among them CASP3, EGFR, PTGS2, and ESR1 were identified as the core targets. KEGG analysis suggested that quercetin, asiaticoside, and asiatic acid in Centella asiatica were involved in cancer and IL-17 and MAPK signaling pathways. In the RAW264.7 macrophage model of inflammation, treatment with quercetin significantly reduced cellular production of NO, TNF‑α and IL-6, and lowered mRNA expressions of IL-23, IL-17A, TNF‑α and IL-6 and protein expressions of p-STAT3 (Tyr705) and p-STAT3 (Ser727). CONCLUSIONS Quercetin, asiaticoside and asiatic acid are the main active components in Centella asiatica to mediate the therapeutic effect against psoriasis, and quercetin in particular is capable of suppressing cellular production of NO, TNF‑α and IL-6 and regulating the IL-23/IL-17A inflammatory axis by mediating STAT3 phosphorylation to inhibit inflammatory response.
Quercetin/pharmacology* ; Psoriasis/metabolism* ; STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism* ; Mice ; Animals ; Centella/chemistry* ; Triterpenes/pharmacology* ; Phosphorylation ; Interleukin-17/metabolism* ; Interleukin-23/metabolism* ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Pentacyclic Triterpenes/pharmacology* ; Macrophages/drug effects* ; Signal Transduction ; Plant Extracts

Nonunion of osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF), predominantly affecting the elderly, can lead to intractable pain, vertebral collapse, progressive kyphotic deformity, and neurological impairment, significantly compromising patients′ quality of life. There exists considerable debate on diagnosis and management of OVF, encompassing key issues such as clinical diagnosis and staging criteria for nonunion, surgical indications and procedure selection, and postoperative rehabilitation planning. Currently, there lacks standardized clinical guideline and expert consensus on the diagnosis and management of OVF nonunion in China. To address this gap, Minimally Invasive Surgery Group of Chinese Orthopedic Association, Osteoporosis Committee of Chinese Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, Prevention and Rehabilitation Committee for Osteoporosis of Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine and Minimally Invasive Orthopedic Surgery Branch of China Association for Geriatric Care jointly organized domestic experts in spinal surgery, endocrinology, and rehabilitation to formulate the Clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment for nonunion of osteoporotic vertebral fractures ( version 2025), based on existing literature and clinical experience and adhering to principles of scientific rigor and practicality. The guideline provided 13 evidence-based recommendations encompassing diagnosis and treatment of OVF nonunion, aiming to standardize its clinical management.

Objective:To explore the differences between the Phoenix sepsis scoring system including Phoenix sepsis score (PSS) and Phoenix-8 organ dysfunction score (hereinafter referred to as Phoenix-8) and the commonly used pediatric sepsis scores in evaluating clinical characteristics and prognostic analysis of pediatric patients with severe sepsis diagnosed under traditional standards, namely the diagnostic criteria from the 2005 International Pediatric Sepsis Consensus Conference.Methods:This study was a retrospective observational study. From December 2020 to March 2023, 202 pediatric patients with severe sepsis meeting the inclusion criteria were admitted to the Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. Based on the sepsis diagnostic criteria outlined in the International Consensus Criteria for Pediatric Sepsis and Septic Shock (2024), the pediatric patients were categorized into a sepsis group and a non-sepsis group. Sepsis group was further subdivided into a death subgroup and a survival subgroup based on the outcomes. The age, hospitalization costs, disease outcome indicators (e.g., mortality rate and incidence of septic shock), major organ (e.g., heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys) damage and their correlations, as well as PSS, Phoenix-8 and commonly used pediatric sepsis scores (e.g., pediatric sequential organ failure assessment (pSOFA), pediatric risk of mortality score Ⅲ (PRISM Ⅲ), pediatric logistic organ dysfunction-2 score (PELOD-2), pediatric multiple organ dysfunction score (P-MODS), pediatric critical illness score (PCIS), and pediatric early warning score (PEWS)) were collected and compared. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and precision-recall curve were plotted to evaluate the predictive ability of PSS, Phoenix-8, and commonly used pediatric sepsis scores for mortality risk in pediatric patients with severe sepsis under traditional standards. Predictive performance was quantified using the area under the ROC curve (AUROC). Univariate logistic regression analysis was employed to quantify the odds ratios of PSS and Phoenix-8 for predicting mortality risk. Patients with severe sepsis under traditional standards were further stratified into subgroups based on complications and comorbidities, including central nervous system (CNS) diseases, multiple infections, cardiovascular system diseases, shock, and malignancies. The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test was used to assess calibration of PSS and Phoenix-8, and the DeLong test was used to compare whether there were statistically significant differences in the AUROC of PSS and Phoenix-8 for predicting mortality risk among different subgroups of pediatric patients. Results:Compared with those in non-sepsis group, pediatric patients in sepsis group were significantly older ( Z=-2.92, P<0.05) with higher incidences of septic shock and mortality, hospitalization costs, PRISM Ⅲ, PEWS, pSOFA, PELOD-2, PSS, and Phoenix-8 (with χ2 values of 21.28 and 13.64, respectively, Z values of -1.99, -5.33, -5.10, -8.55, -6.91, -10.98, and -9.93, respectively, P<0.05), and lower PCIS ( Z=-3.34, P<0.05). Compared with those in survival subgroup, hospitalization costs, PSS, Phoenix-8, PRISM Ⅲ, PEWS, pSOFA, PELOD-2, and P-MODS of pediatric patients in death subgroup was significantly higher (with Z values of -2.50, -3.50, -2.47, -5.11, -3.84, -2.94, -3.61, and -3.04, respectively, P<0.05). Compared with those in survival subgroup, the incidences of lung damage and liver damage of pediatric patients in death subgroup were also significantly higher (with χ2 values of 6.20 and 10.94, respectively, P<0.05), and 64.7% (97/150) of patients exhibited two or more concurrent organ damage. For predicting mortality risk in pediatric patients with severe sepsis under traditional standards, the AUROC values for PRISM Ⅲ, PCIS, PEWS, pSOFA, PELOD-2, P-MODS, PSS, and Phoenix-8 were approximately 0.70, with optimal cutoff values of 17.5, 91.0, 5.5, 4.5, 2.5, 4.5, 3.5, and 4.5, respectively; PELOD-2 demonstrated the highest sensitivity (0.83); while PRISM Ⅲ, PSS, and Phoenix-8 showed high specificity (>0.80). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that for every 1-point increase in the PSS within 24 hours of pediatric intensive care unit admission, the relative risk of mortality increased by 63.7% (with odds ratio of 1.64, 95% confidence interval of 1.34-1.99, P<0.05). Similarly, for every 1-point increase in the Phoenix-8, the relative risk of mortality increased by 37.5% (with odds ratio of 1.38, 95% confidence interval of 1.18-1.60, P<0.05). The AUROC values (around 0.80) of PSS and Phoenix-8 for predicting mortality risk in pediatric patients with severe sepsis combined with CNS diseases, multiple infections, and cardiovascular system diseases were relatively high. In contrast, the AUROC values (0.60-0.80) for predicting mortality risk in pediatric patients with severe sepsis combined with shock or malignant tumors were moderate. All models passed the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test ( P>0.05). The DeLong test indicated no statistically significant differences in predictive ability between PSS and Phoenix-8 across subgroups of pediatric patients ( P>0.05). Conclusions:PSS and Phoenix-8 exhibited higher specificity than most of the commonly used pediatric sepsis scores in predicting mortality risk under traditional standards. Both scores performed much better in predicting the mortality risk in pediatric patients with severe sepsis combined with CNS diseases, multiple infections, and cardiovascular system diseases.

As a non-invasive biomarker, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) can sensitively identify minimal residual disease (MRD), offering a novel approach for prognosis prediction and efficacy evaluation in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM), thereby aiding in the formulation of personalized treatment strategies. This article summarized the progress in the application of ctDNA detection for MRD in CRLM and provided insights into its future directions.

With the growing complexity and higher risk of modern warfare,artificial intelligence(AI)technologies have been increasingly used in the field of military medicine.This study investigates the innovative applications of AI in military medicine,focusing on practices in such countries as the United States,Israel and the United Kingdom.The research reveals that AI technologies have been extensively applied in battlefield medical training,casualty status monitoring,medical decision support and unmanned rescue operations.Through virtual reality simulation,intelligent decision support and vital sign monitoring technologies,AI has significantly improved the efficiency and precision of battlefield medical care.Despite challenges related to technological implementation,environmental adaptability and ethical controversies,future battlefield medical care will increasingly rely on unmanned systems and intelligent equipment to deliver efficient medical treatment through human-machine collaboration.

Objective To explore the anti-inflammatory properties of the ethyl acetate extract(ETCB)derived from Trollius chinensis Bge.using in vitro RAW264.7 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide and an in vivo mouse auricle model induced by xylene.Utilizing UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS(LC-MS)and network pharmacology,the components of ETCB were analyzed,and its anti-inflammatory mechanisms were preliminarily explored.Methods The anti-inflammatory activity of various solvent extracts of Trollius chinensis Bge.was assessed through the Griess assay.The impact of ETCB on the production of TNF-α and IL-6 in RAW264.7 cells induced by lipopolysaccharide was evaluated using ELISA.Real-time qPCR was conducted to determine the effect of ETCB on the expression levels of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α,IL-6,and iNOS in cells.The anti-inflammatory efficacy was further validated in a xylene-induced ear inflammation mouse model by measuring ear swelling and tissue levels of IL-6 and TNF-α.The composition of ETCB was analyzed using LC-MS.Network pharmacology was employed to screen for effective components,targets,and pathways involved in the anti-inflammatory effects of Trollius chinensis Bge.,followed by molecular docking verification between core components and targets.Results ETCB demonstrated the most potent inhibitory effect on NO production in RAW264.7 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide,indicating its primary role in the anti-inflammatory activity of Trollius chinensis Bge..ETCB significantly reduced TNF-α and IL-6 levels in inflammatory cells(P<0.01)and inhibited the mRNA expression of TNF-α,IL-6,and iNOS.In the xylene-induced mouse ear inflammation model,ETCB effectively alleviated ear swelling and decreased tissue levels of TNF-α and IL-6.LC-MS analysis identified 30 chemical components in ETCB,including 21 flavonoids,7 organic acids,1 polysaccharide,and 1 anthocyanin.Network pharmacology prediction and screening revealed TNF,Akt1,PTGS2,EGFR,SRC,and MMP9 as core targets,with hydroxyquercetin,lignin from fragrant leaves,zeaxanthin from willows,plantain,thistle,and sophora flavins as key anti-inflammatory active ingredients.The molecular docking analysis revealed positive interactions,characterized by favorable binding energy,between the active components and key targets.Conclusion ETCB demonstrates strong anti-inflammatory properties both inside and outside the body,functioning through various targets and pathways.This establishes a basis for deeper understanding of the anti-inflammatory mechanism of Trollius chinensis Bge.

AIM:To clarify the molecular mechanism by which astragaloside Ⅳ(AS-Ⅳ)suppresses oxida-tive stress and alleviates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury(CIRI)via the PTEN-induced kinase 1(PINK1)/parkin mi-tophagy-associated pathway.METHODS:A middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion(MCAO/R)model was estab-lished in Sprague-Dawley rats.The animals were allocated to sham,MCAO/R,AS-Ⅳ,and mitochondrial division inhibi-tor-1(Mdivi-1)treatment groups.The rats in AS-Ⅳ and Mdivi-1 groups were intraperitoneally injected once daily with AS-Ⅳ(20 mg/kg)for 7 d,while those in Midivi-1 group also received intraperitoneal injection of Mdivi-1(1.2 mg·kg-1·d-1).The rats in sham and MCAO/R groups were given equivalent volume of distilled water.Neurological deficits were as-sessed using Zea Longa scoring,infarcted area volumes were measured using TTC staining,and brain tissue pathology was examined using hematoxylin and eosin staining.The levels of malondialdehyde(MDA)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)were assessed by ELISA,while those of reactive oxygen species(ROS)were measured using flow cytometry.The expres-sion levels of PINK1,parkin and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3)were quantified using Western blot and RT-qPCR.RESULTS:AS-Ⅳ administration significantly alleviated neuronal and mitochondrial damage in MCAO/R model rat brains(P＜0.05),together with significant reductions in the cerebral infarct volume and neurological dysfunc-tion(P＜0.05).Significant increases in PINK1,parkin and LC3 protein and mRNA levels were observed in response to AS-Ⅳ(P＜0.05),SOD activity rose,and ROS and MDA levels declined significantly(P＜0.05).The co-administration of Mdivi-1 abrogated the protective benefits of AS-Ⅳ,inhibited activation of the PINK1/parkin pathway,down-regulated LC3 at the mRNA and protein levels,and significantly increased mitochondrial damage.Mdivi-1 also markedly reduced autophagosome formation and SOD activity level,but increased both ROS and MDA levels,cerebral infarct volume,and the severity of neurological deficits(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION:Astragaloside Ⅳ activates the PINK/parkin-mediated mitophagy pathway,inhibits oxidative stress and alleviates CIRI in rats.

Objective The differences in biomechanical characteristics of the lower limbs between individuals with chronic ankle instability(CAI)and healthy individuals during unanticipated and anticipated jumping were compared,in order to provide practical references and ideas for the prevention and treatment of recurrent ankle sprains.Methods Thirty subjects were recruited,including 15 patients with CAI and 15 healthy volunteers.All subjects completed unanticipated and anticipated jumping tests in a random order,with a 1-week interval between the two tests.Kinematic and kinetic data of lower limbs were collected synchronously using Vicon infrared high-speed motion capture system and Kistler three-dimensional force platform.Results At the moment of touchdown,knee flexion angle was significantly greater during unanticipated jumping than that during anticipated jumping(P=0.009),while ankle eversion angle was notably lower(P=0.043).During the early landing phase,unanticipated jumping showed significantly greater peak hip flexion and abduction angles,as well as knee flexion(P=0.038,P=0.036,P=0.04),while peak ankle dorsiflexion and eversion angles were significantly lower(P=0.001,P=0.01)compared to anticipated jumping.Additionally,peak hip abduction moment during unanticipated jumping was significantly higher in patients with CAI than that during anticipated jumping(P=0.028).Conclusions Unanticipated jumping reduced ankle dorsiflexion and eversion angles in individuals with CAI,putting the ankle in an open,sprain-prone position.Individuals with CAI compensated proximally by increasing hip flexion,abduction,knee flexion angles,and hip extension moment to stabilize the ankle.