Iron is an indispensable trace element for the human body to maintain normal physiological functions， widely participating in key processes such as oxygen transport， energy metabolism， and cell signal transduction. The homeostasis of iron is crucial for maintaining the structural integrity and functional stability of the cardiovascular system. Recent studies have shown that iron homeostasis imbalance， especially iron overload， has become a major risk factor for the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis （AS）. The downstream-induced ferroptosis can form a "iron overload-lipid peroxidation-inflammation" vicious triangle through multiple pathways such as promoting oxidative stress， lipid peroxidation， and inflammatory response， and the three mutually reinforce each other to accelerate plaque formation and progression. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has demonstrated unique advantages in the prevention and treatment of AS， with definite clinical efficacy. Its mechanism of action， in addition to improving lipid metabolism and protecting vascular endothelium， is closely related to the regulation of iron homeostasis in the body. From the new perspectives of systemic iron homeostasis imbalance and the "iron overload-lipid peroxidation-inflammation" vicious triangle， this article reviews the research progress in the association between iron homeostasis imbalance and AS in recent years， and integrate the mechanism of iron homeostasis imbalance in modern medicine with the TCM theory of stasis and toxin interconnection. It focuses on exploring the potential molecular mechanisms of TCM in regulating iron homeostasis through intervention in key pathways of iron overload and inhibition of ferroptosis， summarizes the "iron reduction-antioxidation-anti-inflammation" network constructed by TCM compound prescriptions， and the characteristics of TCM active components in synergistically resisting systemic iron homeostasis imbalance through sharing key targets such as nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 （Nrf2） and nuclear factor （NF）-κB. This article provides ideas and a theoretical basis that combine the characteristics of TCM theory with modern scientific evidence for the prevention and treatment of AS.

Objective To analyze the virus subtypes, molecular evolutional and molecular transmission network features of the first confirmed mpox case in Huai’an City, Jiangsu Province, so as to provide insights into understanding of the transmission and evolution dynamics of mpox virus and formulation of the mpox control strategy in the city. Methods Genomic DNA was extracted from swabs of the first confirmed mpox case’s skin lesions in Huai’an City, and the amplicon sequencing library was constructed using the hypersensitive mpox virus whole-genome capture kit. High-throughput sequencing was performed using the GridION X5 nanopore sequencer on the Nanopore sequencing platform, and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis of mpox virus genome sequences was performed following sequence assembly. In addition, phylogenetic analysis, genetic genealogy and molecular traceability analysis were performed. Results The virus whole genome sequence of the first confirmed mpox case was successfully obtained by high-throughput sequencing, with a full length of 197 182 bp, and was named hMpxV/China/JS-HA01/2023, which belonged to the clade IIb (West African clade) lineage B.1.3. Compared with the mpox virus reference sequence MPXV-M5312_HM12_Rivers-001 (GenBank accession number: NC_063383), the genome sequence of the Huai’an virus isolate carried 86 SNPs, including 40 SNPs in the coding region as non-synonymous mutations and 73 SNPs as nucleotide mutations caused by APOBEC3 (APOBEC3). Of the 97 mpox virus gene sequences, 79 sequences were included in the molecular network (81.44%), and the threshold of the genetic distance accessed to the network was 0.35/10⁵. There were two large molecular transmission clusters and one scattered cluster in the molecular transmission network of the mpox virus, andthehMpxV/China/JS-HA01/2023 sequence was located in the large cluster. The 97 gene sequences formed 92 haplotypes, including three shared haplotypes Hap_4, Hap_6 and Hap_38, and an exclusive haplotype Hap_1 of hMpxV/China/JS-HA01/2023 generated from mutation of the exclusive haplotype Hap_43, while the exclusive haplotype Hap_43 was generated from mutation of the shared haplotype Hap_38. Conclusions The whole genome sequence of the mpox virus isolated from the first confirmed mpox case in Huai’an City has been successfully obtained, and the molecular evolutionary and molecular transmission network characteristics of the virus have been preliminarily understood.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of varying doses of methylprednisolone(MP)on mice with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD)induced with influenza A virus(IAV).Methods Mouse model of COPD was established using LPS combined with smoking for 12 weeks,and then these COPD mice were treated with administration of 40 μL IAV via nasal drip to establish a AECOPD model.A total of 15 AECOPD mice were randomly divided into low-,medium-and high-dose MP groups,oseltamivir group and blank group.The body weight and survival time were monitored within 10 d after IAV infection.On days 1,3,and 5 post-treatment,lung function was assessed using whole-body plethysmography(WBP),inflammatory factors in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)were quantified with ELISA,viral titers in BALF were determined using plaque assays,and colony-forming units were evaluated with blood agar plates.Immunofluorescence analysis:① Pulmonary immunofluorescence assay:Mice were randomly categorized into(n=4):LPS 1-day group,LPS 3-day group,and LPS+MP treatment group.All groups received an initial dose of LPS via atomization;subsequently,the LPS+MP treatment group received a single gavage dose of MP.Lung tissues were harvested from the 1-day LPS group on 1 d post-treatment,and from the 3-day LPS and LPS+MP groups on 3 d for immunofluorescence staining.② Cellular immunofluorescence assay:Mouse bone marrow neutrophils were classified into blank control(no intervention),LPS stimulation(LPS group),MP intervention with LPS stimulation(LPS+MP group),and MP intervention alone(MP group).The above cells were collected in 4 h after corresponding interventions for subsequent cellular immunofluorescence analysis.Results ①The medium-dose MP group demonstrated the most significant improvement in survival rate,weight recovery,and lung function when compared to other groups(P＜0.05).② Treatment of medium-dose MP obviously reduced the levels of IL-6 and neutrophil extracellular traps(NETs)(P＜0.05),while,elevated inflammatory factors and NETs were observed in the high-dose MP group on day 5 post-treatment.③ Notable decline in the lung injury score was found in the medium-dose MP group than the other groups(P＜0.05).④The high-dose MP group exhibited substantial bacterial proliferation and delayed viral clearance since day 5 after treatment.Conclusion Medium-dose MP shows best efficacy in treatment of IAV-induced AECOPD,and the dose neither delays viral clearance nor increases the risk of bacterial infection following viral infection.

Background In recent years, the detection rate of thyroid nodules in China's occupational population has shown an upward trend. The prevalence of this disease needs to be taken seriously and targeted measures should be taken to address its influencing factors. Objective To analyze the detection and influencing factors of thyroid nodules among adult male workers in coal mining enterprises in Shanxi Province, and provide a theoretical basis for the prevention of thyroid nodules. Methods A total of 5195 adult male workers from coal mining enterprises who ordered physical examination provided by the Xishan Coal Electricity (Group) Corporation Occupational Disease Prevention and Control Institute in Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province from May 2023 to December 2023 were selected as research subjects. A questionnaire survey, physical examination, ultrasound examination, and biological sample collection and testing were conducted. Thyroid nodules were diagnosed based on ultrasound results, classified and evaluated according to the Chinese-Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (C-TIRADS), and the crude detection rate and standardized detection rate of thyroid nodules in adult male coal mine workers in Shanxi Province wereestimated. Occupational history and occupational exposure information were retrieved from their annual occupational health examination reports provided by the employer. Logistic regression modeling was used to analyze the influencing factors of thyroid nodule. Results A total of 1688 cases of thyroid nodules were detected, with a crude detection rate of 32.49% and an age-standardized detection rate of 31.17%. The cases (constitution ratio) of thyroid nodules by category in the detected cases was as follows: 358 cases (21.21%) were classified as category 2, 1261 cases (74.70%) as category 3, 67 cases (3.97%) as category 4a, and 2 cases (0.12%) as category 4b. The results of logistic regression showed that the duration of exposure to occupational hazards for 11-20 years, 21-30 years, ≥31 years, average monthly working>26 days, and shift work were positively correlated with the detection of thyroid nodules (P<0.05), and the associated ORs (95%CIs) were 1.29 (1.01, 1.65), 1.55 (1.20, 1.99), 1.68 (1.26, 2.55), 1.19 (1.00, 1.40), and 1.15 (1.02, 1.29), respectively. Conclusion The duration of exposure to occupational hazards, average monthly working days, and shift work are influencing factors of thyroid nodules. Intervention measures should be developed based on these influencing factors to prevent the occurrence of thyroid nodules.

Tracheal intubation in emergency and complex scenarios is difficult for critical care medicine residents.Virtual reality(VR)technology has not been used in the training of tracheal intubation in critical care scenarios in China.This project team has developed an emergency tracheal intubation training system for the intensive care unit(ICU)based on virtual simulation technology,and has obtained the computer software copyright registration certificate from the National Copyright Administration(registration number:2024SR1139484).This system uses a case script of acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS)secondary to severe acute pancreatitis,sets the roles of patients,family members,nurses and residents,collects digital resources of ICU rescue scenes,computer-aided design(CAD)drawings,instrument models and equipment photos,models instruments and equipment,and uses PICO 4 Pro VR helmets to display the ICU environment in the virtual scene.The key points of skill assessment include tracheal intubation operation,the ability to interpret laboratory results,the ability to judge diseases and the ability to work in teams.The user center contains 3 submodules,namely,the score center,skill analysis and user management.There are 3 user roles in the system,namely,residents,teachers and administrators.The system can track and record the entire operation process,including video recording and playback,and score and comprehensively evaluate each step,thereby realizing an objective and quantitative training and assessment system.By simulating the three-dimensional clinical operation environment of the ICU,the entire process of real tracheal intubation is fully reproduced.Resident doctors are placed in the ICU rescue scene,focusing on training tracheal intubation skills,the ability of doctor-patient communication,on-the-spot response,and teamwork,which is expected to become an important type of standardized teaching in critical care medicine.

Carbon ion radiotherapy(CIRT)is an advanced radiotherapy method with unique physical and biological properties.It increases the dose to the tumor target area while providing better protection to normal tissues.CIRT can be used for hypoxic tumors resistant to photon radiotherapy.It also has the potential superiority of inducing immune responses and can produce the"abscopal effect"when com-bined with different immunotherapies.Radioimmunotherapy can not only ablate tumors at the irradiated site but also partially control dis-tant metastases at the unirradiated site.However,the underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated.Due to the protection of the tu-mor microenvironment,tumors can sometimes be difficult to completely clear through CIRT-mediated anti-tumor immunity;this can also in-dicate functional limitations of some immune organs after CIRT.Therefore,this study reviewed the impact of CIRT on both innate and adapt-ive immune responses.It also examined the relationship between different radiation doses/fractions and immune protein expression,as well as compared the differences in imaging techniques between carbon ion radiotherapy and traditional radiotherapy.We have also proposed future directions to enhance the superiority of CIRT.This study aimed to provide a strong theoretical basis for improving the efficacy of CIRT and its combination therapy,ultimately benefiting more patients with cancer.

Objective To explore the effectiveness of a tracheal intubation training system based on virtual reality(VR)technology in cultivating the clinical practice abilities of resident physicians.Methods Twenty-five first-year resident physicians who were enrolled in the residency programme at Peking University Third Hospital from August 2024 to February 2025 were recruited for this study.All participants completed a questionnaire after receiving VR-based intensive care unit(ICU)emergency tracheal intubation training,to share their experiences with the VR technology-based ICU emergency tracheal intubation training and the shortcomings encountered during the process.Results ① General information:a total of 25 resident physician questionnaires were distributed in this study and received 25 valid responses(response rate 100%).Among the 25 residents,there were 15 males(60%)and 10 females(40%),with an average age of(25.3±0.8)years.Clinical experience was categorised as≤1 year 4 residents(16%),>1-3 years 8 residents(32%),>3-<5 years 5 residents(20%)and≥5 years 8 residents(32%).Among them,3 residents(12%)had no prior tracheal intubation experience,while 11(44%)had performed>10 intubations.Prior to this training,3 residents(12%)had received other forms of virtual tracheal intubation training,whereas 22(88%)had not.During traditional tracheal intubation training,18 residents(72%)reported that they monitored heart rate and blood pressure,whereas 7(28%)did not.In real-world emergency tracheal intubation scenarios,21 residents(84%)experienced role confusion.Additionally,23 residents(92%)believed that opportunities for tracheal intubation practice were too limited,17(68%)thought traditional training provided more guidance from instructors,and 15(60%)valued practical operation opportunities more in tracheal intubation training.②VR-based ICU emergency tracheal intubation training experience:23 residents(92%)considered the VR-based ICU emergency tracheal intubation training effective,with 13(52%)believing it to be more effective than traditional training.Furthermore,23 residents(92%)felt that the VR-based training created a more relaxed learning atmosphere,heightened their interest in learning tracheal intubation,and had better future prospects;22 residents(88%)believed that VR technology facilitated a better understanding of the laryngeal structure;24 residents(96%)thought that VR-based training reduced practical operation risks and better simulated real-world conditions;16 residents(64%)were highly satisfied with the VR-based ICU emergency tracheal intubation operating system;24 residents(96%)considered the case scenarios in the VR-based training reasonable.17 residents(68%)believed that VR-based training offered more learning opportunities,and 19 residents(76%)thought it reduced anxiety during the intubation process.③ Disadvantages of VR-based ICU emergency tracheal intubation:9 residents(36%)tended to overlook obtaining family consent before emergency tracheal intubation prior to the training.Regarding interactivity,5 residents(20%)rated it as excellent,9(36%)as average,and 11 residents(44%)believe that the interactivity was poor;22 residents(88%)felt a lack of tactile feedback during practical operations;20 residents(80%)recommended adding more simulated scenarios;11 residents(44%)believed that,compared to traditional training,VR training lacked practical operation opportunities.Additionally,17 residents(68%)experienced discomfort such as dizziness during the operation.Conclusion VR-based intubation training effectively enhances technical proficiency and psychological preparedness in ICU clinicians,particularly in anatomical visualization and risk-controlled rehearsal.

The evolution of acupuncture anesthesia (AA) has spanned six decades. Cardiothoracic surgery serves as a representative case study to illustrate this evolution. Reflecting on its historical development, the use of AA in cardiothoracic surgery has advanced from basic AA procedures in the 1960s to combined acupuncture and drug anesthesia techniques in the early 1980s. Since 2005, the innovative use of non-intubation AA combined anesthesia has been implemented extensively in cardiothoracic surgery. As the medical industry continues to evolve, the techniques applied in AA have expanded to encompass the entire perioperative period in cardiothoracic surgery, leading to the introduction of the concept of modern AA. The use of AA in cardiothoracic surgery exemplifies the ongoing advances and integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine. Moving forward, it is imperative to enhance the theoretical framework of AA through the execution of rigorous multicenter clinical trials, to further strengthen the body of evidence supporting evidence-based medicine, and to finally explore the underlying mechanisms of AA. Please cite this article as: Wu XD, Wei XQ, Chen TY, Zhou WX, Wang K, Zhou J. From pioneering to innovation: A comprehensive review of acupuncture anesthesia in cardiothoracic surgeries. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(6):623-629.
Humans ; Acupuncture Analgesia/methods* ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; Anesthesia/methods* ; Thoracic Surgical Procedures

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of biodegradable magnesium alloy materials in promoting tendon-bone healing during rotator cuff tear repair and to investigate their potential underlying biological mechanisms. METHODS: Forty-eight 8-week-old Sprague Dawley rats were taken and randomly divided into groups A, B, and C. Rotator cuff tear models were created and repaired using magnesium alloy sutures in group A and Vicryl Plus 4-0 absorbable sutures in group B, while only subcutaneous incisions and sutures were performed in group C. Organ samples of groups A and B were taken for HE staining at 1 and 2 weeks after operation to evaluate the safety of magnesium alloy, and specimens from the supraspinatus tendon and proximal humerus were harvested at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after operation. The specimens were observed macroscopically at 4 and 12 weeks after operation. Biomechanical tests were performed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks to test the ultimate load and stiffness of the healing sites in groups A and B. At 2, 4, and 12 weeks, the specimens were subjected to the following tests: Micro-CT to evaluate the formation of bone tunnels in groups A and B, HE staining and Masson staining to observe the regeneration of fibrocartilage at the tendon-bone interface after decalcification and sectioning, and Goldner trichrome staining to evaluate the calcification. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the expressions of angiogenic factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), as well as osteogenic factors at the tendon-bone interface. Additionally, immunofluorescence staining was used to examine the expressions of Arginase 1 and Integrin beta-2 to assess M1 and M2 macrophage polarization at the tendon-bone interface. The role of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway in tendon-bone healing was further analyzed using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. RESULTS: Analysis of visceral sections revealed that magnesium ions released during the degradation of magnesium alloys did not cause significant toxic effects on organs such as the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys, indicating good biosafety. Histological analysis further demonstrated that fibrocartilage regeneration at the tendon-bone interface in group A occurred earlier, and the amount of fibrocartilage was significantly greater compared to group B, suggesting a positive effect of magnesium alloy material on tendon-bone interface repair. Additionally, Micro-CT analysis results revealed that bone tunnel formation occurred more rapidly in group A compared to group B, further supporting the beneficial effect of magnesium alloy on bone healing. Biomechanical testing showed that the ultimate load in group A was consistently higher than in group B, and the stiffness of group A was also greater than that of group B at 4 weeks, indicating stronger tissue-carrying capacity following tendon-bone interface repair and highlighting the potential of magnesium alloy in enhancing tendon-bone healing. Immunohistochemical staining results indicated that the expressions of VEGF and BMP-2 were significantly upregulated during the early stages of healing, suggesting that magnesium alloy effectively promoted angiogenesis and bone formation, thereby accelerating the tendon-bone healing process. Immunofluorescence staining further revealed that magnesium ions exerted significant anti-inflammatory effects by regulating macrophage polarization, promoting their shift toward the M2 phenotype. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR results demonstrated that magnesium ions could facilitate tendon-bone healing by modulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. CONCLUSION Biodegradable magnesium alloy material accelerated fibrocartilage regeneration and calcification at the tendon-bone interface in rat rotator cuff tear repair by regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, thereby significantly enhancing tendon-bone healing.
Animals ; Rotator Cuff Injuries/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Wound Healing/drug effects* ; Alloys/pharmacology* ; Rats ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Rotator Cuff/metabolism* ; Macrophages/metabolism* ; Magnesium/pharmacology* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism* ; Male ; Biocompatible Materials ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2/metabolism*