ObjectiveTo investigate the influencing factors for traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndromes of primary liver cancer， and to provide a theoretical basis for the TCM syndrome differentiation and standardized treatment of liver cancer. MethodsTCM syndrome differentiation was performed for 415 patients who were admitted to Shanxi Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine and were diagnosed with primary liver cancer based on pathological or clinical examinations from January 2019 to December 2023. The chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups， and the unordered polytomous logistic regression model was used to investigate the influencing factors for TCM syndromes of liver cancer. ResultsThe common initial symptoms of the 415 patients with primary liver cancer included pain in the liver area （31.81%）， abdominal distension （25.30%）， abdominal pain （15.18%）， and weakness （13.98%）， and the main clinical symptoms included poor appetite （70.84%）， fatigue （69.16%）， pain in the liver area （67.47%）， poor sleep （59.04%）， abdominal distension （53.01%）， and constipation （52.53%）. There were significant differences in TCM syndromes between patients with different sexes， courses of the disease， clinical stages， Child-Pugh classes， presence or absence of intrahepatic and extrahepatic metastasis， and presence or absence of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization （TACE） and radiofrequency ablation （all P<0.05）. The logistic regression analysis showed that male sex was a risk factor for damp-heat accumulation （odds ratio ［OR］=2.036， P=0.048） and the syndrome of spleen-kidney Yang deficiency （OR=5.240， P<0.001）； a course of disease of<1 year was a risk factor for damp-heat accumulation （OR=2.837， P=0.004） and syndrome of Qi stagnation and blood stasis （OR=2.317， P=0.021）， but it was a protective factor against syndrome of spleen-kidney Yang deficiency （OR=0.385， P=0.005）； Child-Pugh class A/B was a protective factor against liver-kidney Yin deficiency （OR=0.079， P<0.001）； intrahepatic metastasis was a risk factor for liver-kidney Yin deficiency （OR=5.117， P=0.003） and syndrome of spleen-kidney Yang deficiency （OR=3.303， P=0.010）； TACE was a protective factor against liver-kidney Yin deficiency （OR=0.171， P<0.001） and syndrome of spleen-kidney Yang deficiency （OR=0.138， P<0.001）； radiofrequency ablation was a risk factor for damp-heat accumulation （OR=4.408， P<0.001） and liver-kidney Yin deficiency （OR=32.036， P<0.001）. ConclusionSex， course of disease， Child-Pugh class， intrahepatic metastasis， TACE， and radiofrequency ablation are the main influencing factors for TCM syndromes of liver cancer.

Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) is a widely utilized therapeutic approach for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), however, the clinical implementation is constrained by the stringent preparation conditions of radioembolization agents. Herein, we incorporated the superstable homogeneous iodinated formulation technology (SHIFT), simultaneously utilizing an enhanced solvent form in a carbon dioxide supercritical fluid environment, to encapsulate radionuclides (such as ¹³¹I,¹⁷⁷Lu, or ¹⁸F) with lipiodol for the preparation of radiolipiodol. The resulting radiolipiodol exhibited exceptional stability and ultra-high labeling efficiency (≥99%) and displayed notable intratumoral radionuclide retention and in vivo stability more than 2 weeks following locoregional injection in subcutaneous tumors in mice and orthotopic liver tumors in rats and rabbits. Given these encouraging findings, ¹⁸F was authorized as a radiotracer in radiolipiodol for clinical trials in HCC patients, and showed a favorable tumor accumulation, with a tumor-to-liver uptake ratio of ≥50 and minimal radionuclide leakage, confirming the feasibility of SHIFT for TARE applications. In the context of transforming from preclinical to clinical screening, the preparation of radiolipiodol by SHIFT represents an innovative physical strategy for radionuclide encapsulation. Hence, this work offers a reliable and efficient approach for TARE in HCC, showing considerable promise for clinical application (ChiCTR2400087731).

Objective:To discuss the promotive effect of nerve growth factor(NGF),which is highly expressed in the adipose-derived stem cell(ADSC)-induced Schwann-like cells(SCLCs),on the growth of dorsal root ganglion(DRG)cell processes in the rats,and to clarify its mechanism.Methods:The ADSCs were extracted from the epididymal adipose tissue of the SD rats,and their multidirectional differentiation potential was identified through osteogenic,adipogenic,and chondrogenic induction.The ADSCs were induced to differentiate into the SCLCs,and the expression levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP)and S100 calcium-binding protein β(S100β)protein in the ADSCs and SCLCs were detected by immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting methods.The DRG cells were isolated and cultured,and immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the βⅢ-tubulin expression in the DRG cells for identification.The SCLCs were co-cultured with the DRG cells(co-culture group),the single-culture DRG cells were regared as DRG group and toluidine blue staining was used to observe and measure the length of DRG cell processes under the optical microscope in co-culture group and DRG group.Small interfering RNA(siRNA)transfection was used to knock down NGF,and plasmid transfection was used to over-express NGF.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)method was used to detect the NGF mRNA expression levels in the cells in various groups;enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)method was used to detect the NGF protein levels in the cell supernatants.The transfected SCLCs were co-cultured with DRG cells and divided into control group,siNC/vector group,NGF knockdown group(si-NGF group),and NGF over-expression group(oe-NGF group).The lengths of DRG cell processes in various groups were observed.Results:The primary ADSCs adhered within 24 h after seeding,with a small number of lipid droplets remaining.After 3 d of culture,the cells were mostly short spindle-shaped,fusiform,or polygonal,growing rapidly in a vortex pattern.After passaging,the cells exhibited a uniform morphology,appearing as long spindles arranged in a fish-school pattern.After 14 d of adipogenic induction,the cell morphology changed from spindle-shaped to flat-round,with translucent lipid droplets forming in the cytoplasm,which were stained red by Oil Red O.After 28 d of osteogenic induction,the cells appeared sand-like with blurred morphology,and calcified nodules were observed,which were stained red by Alizarin Red and deposited in the extracellular matrix.After 28 d of chondrogenic induction in a 3D culture system,millet-sized chondrogenic spheres formed.Frozen sections of the spheres were stained with Alcian Blue,and acidic mucopolysaccharides in the cartilage tissue were stained blue under the microscope.Under the fluorescence microscope,the third-passage purified ADSCs showed positive expression of CD29[fluorescein isothiocy anate(FITC)-labeled green fluorescence]and CD44(Cy3-labeled red fluorescence).The immunofluorescence staining results showed that GFAP was labeled with FITC(green fluorescence),and S100β was labeled with Cy3(red fluorescence).The Western blotting results showed that compared with ADSCs,the expression levels of S100β and GFAP proteins in the SCLCs were increased(P<0.05).The primary DRG cells began to adhere 6 h after conventional culture,and after 3 d,the cell bodies appeared round and bright,with two linear processes extending from them.Under fluorescence microscope,the cells positively expressed the neuron-specific marker βⅢ-tubulin,confirming that the isolated cells were DRG cells.Compared with the ADSCs,the NGF protein expression level in the SCLCs was increased(P<0.05).Compared with DRG group,the length of DRG cell processes in co-culture group was the highest when DRG cells and SCLCs were co-cultured at a 1∶2 ratio(P<0.05).The RT-qPCR results showed that compared with si-NC group,the expression levels of NGF mRNA in the cell supernatant in si-NGF-1,si-NGF-2,and si-NGF-3 groups were significantly decreased(P<0.05),with si-NGF-1 showing the highest knockdown efficiency,which was selected for subsequent experiments.The ELISA results showed that compared with si-NC group,the NGF levels in the cell supernatant of si-NGF-1,si-NGF-2,and si-NGF-3 groups were decreased(P<0.05).Compared with Vector group,the expression level of NGF mRNA and NGF protein level in the supernatant in oe-NGF group were increased(P<0.05).Compared with control group and siNC/vector group,the length of DRG cell processes in si-NGF group was decreased(P<0.05),while the length of DRG cell processes in oe-NGF group was increased(P<0.05).Conclusion:ADSCs can be directionally differentiated into SCLCs,and the differentiated cells highly express NGF.Knockdown or overexpression of NGF can affect the growth of DRG cell processes.

Objective:To dynamically assess liver fibrosis using magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and explore factors associated with fibrosis reversal in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).Methods:This study included data from patients diagnosed with MASH by liver biopsy who underwent at least two MRE examinations. Patients were divided into a fibrosis reversal group and a non-reversal group according to whether MRE values decreased by 20% during follow-up. Differences in clinical data between the groups were compared using analysis of variance, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and the chi-square test. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to explore independent risk factors for fibrosis reversal in MASH.Results:A total of 46 cases were included in this study (mean age 50.1±12.3 years, BMI 26.1±3.1 kg/m2). Among them, the reversal group accounted for 26.1%. The rate of decrease in MRI proton density fat fraction (PDFF) was significantly higher in the reversal group (-50.0% vs. -8.1%, P=0.001) than in the non-reversal group between the two MRE examinations. The reversal group showed a more significant change rate of decreases in fasting insulin (-37.3% vs. -3.6%, P=0.011), insulin resistance index (-38.6% vs. -6.5%, P=0.044), and ALP (-24.9% vs. 0, P=0.004). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the rate of change in MRI PDFF was an independent predictor of fibrosis reversal ( OR=0.96, 95% CI: 0.92-1.00, P=0.046). Conclusion:A decrease in MRI proton density fat fraction levels is independently associated with liver fibrosis reversal in MASH, suggesting that intervention targeting liver fat content may be an effective treatment strategy.

Objective To analyze the efficacy of vascularized lymph node transplantation(VLNT)combined with lymphatic venous anastomosis(LVA)in the treatment of secondary lower extremity lymphedema assisted by super microsurgical techniques.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for 15 patients with secondary lower limb lymphedema who underwent VLNT+LVA surgery in the Department of Reconstructive and Reconstructive Microsurgery of Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from July 2021 to July 2023,and compared the circumference and volume of each segment of the lower limb between the preoperative and postoperative 90 days.LVA according to the results of ICG examination,3-5 parts of the lower limb were selected for"Z"shaped surgery,and the lymphatic vessels and venules were anastomosed under the microscope in the subcutaneous fat layer.VLNT confirmed and labeled the saphenous branch of the descending knee artery and its accompanying veins in the popliteal fossa,and the latissimus dorsi lymph node flap was incised,and the flap vessels were anastomosed with the saphenous branch of the descending knee artery and its accompanying veins.Postoperative observation of flap vascularization.The circumference and volume of the affected limb were measured before surgery and 90 days after surgery.Results A total of 15 patients with lower extremity lymphedema were included without serious complications.Statistical analysis showed that the circumference of all levels of the affected limb and the volume of the affected limb were improved 90 days after operation compared with those before surgery.Among them,the limb circumference and volume at each level from the highest point of the dorsum of the foot to 52 cm above the ankle improved 90 days after the operation compared with those before the operation.Conclusion LNT+LVA treatment for secondary lower extremity lymphedema can effectively control edema and improve the function of the affected limb.

The prototype theory holds that there are disease prototypes with a series of representative characteristics in the memory of doctors, and clinical disease diagnosis is mainly based on the similarity with these disease prototypes. The case-based teaching method based on prototype theory can facilitate the medical students to create disease prototypes in their memory, thereby enhancing their clinical reasoning ability. Prototype creation and prototype learning based on prototype resemblance theory can be used in artificial intelligence-assisted teaching. The example theory can make up for the loss of specific information during prototype construction. The application of prototype theory must be combined with the practice of medical teaching in China, and the development of clinical reasoning education based on prototype theory is an important research direction in the future.

Objective To analyze the efficacy of vascularized lymph node transplantation(VLNT)combined with lymphatic venous anastomosis(LVA)in the treatment of secondary lower extremity lymphedema assisted by super microsurgical techniques.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for 15 patients with secondary lower limb lymphedema who underwent VLNT+LVA surgery in the Department of Reconstructive and Reconstructive Microsurgery of Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from July 2021 to July 2023,and compared the circumference and volume of each segment of the lower limb between the preoperative and postoperative 90 days.LVA according to the results of ICG examination,3-5 parts of the lower limb were selected for"Z"shaped surgery,and the lymphatic vessels and venules were anastomosed under the microscope in the subcutaneous fat layer.VLNT confirmed and labeled the saphenous branch of the descending knee artery and its accompanying veins in the popliteal fossa,and the latissimus dorsi lymph node flap was incised,and the flap vessels were anastomosed with the saphenous branch of the descending knee artery and its accompanying veins.Postoperative observation of flap vascularization.The circumference and volume of the affected limb were measured before surgery and 90 days after surgery.Results A total of 15 patients with lower extremity lymphedema were included without serious complications.Statistical analysis showed that the circumference of all levels of the affected limb and the volume of the affected limb were improved 90 days after operation compared with those before surgery.Among them,the limb circumference and volume at each level from the highest point of the dorsum of the foot to 52 cm above the ankle improved 90 days after the operation compared with those before the operation.Conclusion LNT+LVA treatment for secondary lower extremity lymphedema can effectively control edema and improve the function of the affected limb.

The prototype theory holds that there are disease prototypes with a series of representative characteristics in the memory of doctors, and clinical disease diagnosis is mainly based on the similarity with these disease prototypes. The case-based teaching method based on prototype theory can facilitate the medical students to create disease prototypes in their memory, thereby enhancing their clinical reasoning ability. Prototype creation and prototype learning based on prototype resemblance theory can be used in artificial intelligence-assisted teaching. The example theory can make up for the loss of specific information during prototype construction. The application of prototype theory must be combined with the practice of medical teaching in China, and the development of clinical reasoning education based on prototype theory is an important research direction in the future.

Objective:To dynamically assess liver fibrosis using magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and explore factors associated with fibrosis reversal in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).Methods:This study included data from patients diagnosed with MASH by liver biopsy who underwent at least two MRE examinations. Patients were divided into a fibrosis reversal group and a non-reversal group according to whether MRE values decreased by 20% during follow-up. Differences in clinical data between the groups were compared using analysis of variance, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and the chi-square test. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to explore independent risk factors for fibrosis reversal in MASH.Results:A total of 46 cases were included in this study (mean age 50.1±12.3 years, BMI 26.1±3.1 kg/m2). Among them, the reversal group accounted for 26.1%. The rate of decrease in MRI proton density fat fraction (PDFF) was significantly higher in the reversal group (-50.0% vs. -8.1%, P=0.001) than in the non-reversal group between the two MRE examinations. The reversal group showed a more significant change rate of decreases in fasting insulin (-37.3% vs. -3.6%, P=0.011), insulin resistance index (-38.6% vs. -6.5%, P=0.044), and ALP (-24.9% vs. 0, P=0.004). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the rate of change in MRI PDFF was an independent predictor of fibrosis reversal ( OR=0.96, 95% CI: 0.92-1.00, P=0.046). Conclusion:A decrease in MRI proton density fat fraction levels is independently associated with liver fibrosis reversal in MASH, suggesting that intervention targeting liver fat content may be an effective treatment strategy.

Objective To explore the relationships between headache and pulmonary function,chronic lung disease(CLD)in middle-aged and elderly people in China.Methods This cross-sectional study collected data from participants aged 45 and above in the 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study(CHARLS).Headache was diagnosed based on self-report,and CLD and asthma were defined by self-reported doctor diagnoses or a combination of health assessments and medication use.Peak expiratory flow(PEF)was used as an indicator of pulmonary function.Multivariable logistic regression model was used to analyze the correlations between PEF,asthma,CLD,and headache.Relationship between PEF and headache was analyzed by restricted cubic spline(RCS)analysis and subgroup analysis.Results Among 12 661 middle-aged and elderly participants,the prevalence of headache was 14.42%(1 826/12 661),with a prevalence of 9.07%(558/6 151)in males and 19.48%(1 268/6 510)in females.After full adjustment for covariates,each 1 L/s increase in PEF was associated with a 7%reduction in the risk of headache(odds ratio[OR]=0.93,95%confidence interval[CI]0.90-0.96,P＜0.001).Categorizing PEF into quartiles(Q1-Q4),as the increase of PEF,the risk of headache significantly decreased(ORs for Q2,Q3,and Q4 were 0.92,0.82,and 0.72,respectively,Ptrend＜0.001).Additionally,asthma(OR=1.78,95%CI 1.43-2.20,P＜0.001)and CLD(OR=2.21,95%CI 1.92-2.53,P＜0.001)were positively associated with the risk of headache.RCS analysis indicated a negative linear correlation between PEF and the risk of headache(Poverall＜0.001,Pnon-linear=0.57).Subgroup analysis revealed that a history of hypertension had a significant impact on the negative association between PEF and headache(Pinteraction＜0.001).Conclusion There is a significant negative correlation between PEF and headache among middle-aged and elderly people in China,while asthma and CLD are positively associated with headache.Improving lung function in middle-aged and elderly populations may be an effective strategy for preventing or alleviating headache.