Ecoflex is a commercial designation for elastomers developed based on the principles of environmental sustainability and flexibility. Various manufacturers offer different types of Ecoflex products with distinct compositions and functions. Among these, the platinum-catalyzed silicone rubber Ecoflex series has demonstrated considerable applicability in various fields of oral medicine due to its excellent flexibility, biocompatibility, stability across a wide temperature range, and tunable mechanical properties. In tissue engineering, it can simulate the mechanical behavior of oral mucosa, and is used in cleft lip surgical training models and preoperative evaluation for temporal bone defect reconstruction. In the field of wearable devices, leveraging its encapsulation protection and flexible characteristics, highly sensitive sensors constructed from Ecoflex can monitor signals such as oral bite force and masticatory muscle activity, thereby aiding in the diagnosis of temporomandibular joint disorders and postoperative evaluation of cleft lip and palate. Moreover, when combined with bio-waste materials, it promotes the functionalization and sustainability of oral wearable devices.In drug delivery systems, its conformability and controlled-release capability address challenges in localized oral drug administration. Designs such as flexible microneedles and temperature-responsive composite systems provide precise solutions for treating periodontitis and oral ulcers. In minimally invasive surgical instruments, its softness enables the development of soft robots and magnetically controlled microfluidic valves, enhancing surgical safety and precision. In the field of oral rehabilitation, Ecoflex soft liner materials, inspired by the suction cup structure of octopus tentacles, improve denture retention. Their low modulus reduces mucosal irritation, ensuring both comfort and durability. Although Ecoflex shows great potential in biomedical applications, it still faces certain challenges, particularly regarding long-term stability after implantation, mechanical fatigue resistance, and microbial colonization, which require further investigation. In the future, with advancements in 3D printing technology, Ecoflex is expected to achieve more precise clinical translation across multiple fields and drive innovation in intelligent biomaterials.

OBJECTIVE To provide references for medical institutions’ outpatient pharmacies to increase the scanning rate， scanning efficiency and scanning accuracy of drug traceability codes.METHODS A total of 4 157 unscanned traceability code records from the first two‑week period of June 2025 were selected from the outpatient pharmacy of our hospital. Pareto chart was adopted to analyze the reasons for unscanned codes， and the Objective-Rules-Training-Check-Culture （ORTCC） model was utilized to carry out fine management. The traceability code scanning rate， pharmacists’ work efficiency （number of prescriptions dispensed per pharmacist per hour， number of drug boxes dispensed per pharmacist per hour）， patients’ medication-waiting time and dispensing errors were compared among four periods： before scanning implementation （June 2024）， before management intervention （June 2025）， the first phase after management （September 2025）， and the second phase after management （December 2025）， so as to evaluate the management effects.RESULTS The traceability code scanning rates in the first phase and second phase after management were remarkably higher than those before management （ P ＜0.05）， and the scanning rate in the second phase after management was obviously higher than that in the first phase after management （ P ＜0.05）. Compared with the period before scanning implementation， the number of prescriptions dispensed per pharmacist per hour， the number of drug boxes dispensed per pharmacist per hour， decreased significantly and patients’ medication-waiting time prolonged markedly before management （ P ＜0.05）. In the second phase after management， both the number of prescriptions dispensed per pharmacist per hour and the number of drug boxes dispensed per pharmacist per hour increased significantly， and patients’ medication-waiting time shortened greatly in contrast with the status before management （ P ＜0.05）. Besides， no statistically significant differences were found in the number of drug boxes dispensed per pharmacist per hour and patients’ medication-waiting time between the second phase after management and the period before scanning implementation （ P ＞0.05）.After the implementation of traceability-code scanning management， dispensing errors presented a gradually declining trend in each stage.CONCLUSIONS The fine management system for outpatient drug traceability codes constructed based on Pareto chart and ORTCC model can improve the traceability code scanning rate and pharmacists’ work efficiency of outpatient pharmacies， and reduce drug dispensing errors.

Objective:To review the literature on improving patients′medical experience, analyze the current research status in this field, and provide references for enhancing patients′medical experience.Methods:A search was conducted for studies related to improving patients′medical experience published from January 2015 to November 2024 in eight databases, including CNKI and Web of Science. Using software CiteSpace 6.4.R1 and VOSviewer 1.6.19 to analyze publication trends, keyword clustering, existing problems in the process of improving patients′medical experience, and the measures taken.Results:6 507 articles were included, of which 4 452 were in English (68.4%) and 2 055 were in Chinese (31.6%). The annual number of publications showed a nearly linear growth trend ( R2 = 0.983 9). The clustering analysis results indicated that domestic and international research mainly focused on patient-centered diagnostic and treatment systems, behaviors, services, and environments. Existing studies revealed that there were still problems such as long waiting times for appointments and consultations (292 articles), uneven distribution of medical resources (198 articles), and poor doctor-patient communication (155 articles). To improve patients′medical experience, the following intervention measures were proposed: accelerating the medical reform process and strengthening government responsibilities (169 articles); enhancing service concepts and innovating service models (363 articles); optimizing the consultation process and simplifying medical procedures (221 articles); improving the consultation environment and optimizing the facilities in the consultation area (181 articles); and integrating technological advantages to cover the entire medical process (346 articles). Conclusions:Research on improving patients' medical experience was increasingly attracting the attention of more and more scholars. Issues such as low service efficiency, unbalanced resource allocation, and poor doctor-patient communication need to be given special attention. In the future, it is recommended to enhance the experience of patients′ medical experience by strengthening policy and institutional guarantees, accelerating the construction of information technology, improving doctor-patient communication skills and humanistic care, and enhancing the capacity of primary medical services.

Objective To investigate the effect of dexmedetomidine combined with ropivacaine on postop-erative sleep quality in patients undergoing upper abdominal surgery following Oblique Subcostal Transversus Abdominis Plane Block(OSTAPB).Methods A total of 140 patients who underwent gastric surgery at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University between September 2024 and November 2024 were enrolled.According to the random number table method,they were randomly allocated into two groups:the simple subcostal transversus abdominis plane block group(Group A)and the dexmedetomidine combined with subcostal transversus abdominis plane block group(Group B),with 70 patients in each group.The study compared the Asymptomatic Sleep Distur-bance Scale(AIS)scores and Self-rating Anxiety Scale(SAS)scores on the night before surgery,AIS scores on the night after surgery and the following day,the amount of remifentanil used during surgery,and the cumulative num-ber of patient-controlled analgesia(PCA)button presses within 3 days postoperatively.Additionally,the Numeric Rating Scale(NRS)pain scores at 2 h,6 h,12 h,24 h,and 48 h post-surgery,as well as the Quality of Recovery-15(QoR-15)scores on the night of surgery and the second day post-surgery,were evaluated.Results There were no significant differences in anxiety levels or subjective sleep quality scores between the two groups prior to the opera-tion(P>0.05).Additionally,there was no significant difference in the usage of remifentanil between Group A and Group B(P>0.05).The NRS scores for pain differed significantly between the two groups within the first 48 hours post-operation(P<0.05);however,no significant difference was observed in NRS scores between the two groups after 24 hours during rest.Furthermore,the number of patient-controlled analgesia(PCA)activations in Group B was significantly lower than that in Group A at 12 hours post-operation(P<0.05).Lastly,both the QoR-15 and sleep quality were significantly higher in Group B compared to Group A(P<0.05).Conclusion Dexmedetomidine combined with ropivacaine for subcostal transversus abdominis plane block not only provides superior postoperative analgesia compared to ropivacaine alone but also enhances patients' sleep quality and recovery quality on the night following surgery,thereby contributing to improved overall postoperative recovery.

Objective:To review the literature on improving patients′medical experience, analyze the current research status in this field, and provide references for enhancing patients′medical experience.Methods:A search was conducted for studies related to improving patients′medical experience published from January 2015 to November 2024 in eight databases, including CNKI and Web of Science. Using software CiteSpace 6.4.R1 and VOSviewer 1.6.19 to analyze publication trends, keyword clustering, existing problems in the process of improving patients′medical experience, and the measures taken.Results:6 507 articles were included, of which 4 452 were in English (68.4%) and 2 055 were in Chinese (31.6%). The annual number of publications showed a nearly linear growth trend ( R2 = 0.983 9). The clustering analysis results indicated that domestic and international research mainly focused on patient-centered diagnostic and treatment systems, behaviors, services, and environments. Existing studies revealed that there were still problems such as long waiting times for appointments and consultations (292 articles), uneven distribution of medical resources (198 articles), and poor doctor-patient communication (155 articles). To improve patients′medical experience, the following intervention measures were proposed: accelerating the medical reform process and strengthening government responsibilities (169 articles); enhancing service concepts and innovating service models (363 articles); optimizing the consultation process and simplifying medical procedures (221 articles); improving the consultation environment and optimizing the facilities in the consultation area (181 articles); and integrating technological advantages to cover the entire medical process (346 articles). Conclusions:Research on improving patients' medical experience was increasingly attracting the attention of more and more scholars. Issues such as low service efficiency, unbalanced resource allocation, and poor doctor-patient communication need to be given special attention. In the future, it is recommended to enhance the experience of patients′ medical experience by strengthening policy and institutional guarantees, accelerating the construction of information technology, improving doctor-patient communication skills and humanistic care, and enhancing the capacity of primary medical services.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of dissociative symptoms induced by esketamine hydrochloride nasal spray in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD).Methods:The medical records of patients in phase Ⅲ clinical trials for the treatment of TRD who received esketamine hydrochloride nasal spray in Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University from June 2018 to February 2021 were collected. The general situation of patients (age, gender, comorbid diseases, etc.), the medication of esketamine hydrochloride nasal spray, the combined use of antidepressants, the time from medication to the occurrence of dissociative symptoms each time, duration, severity, evaluation results of causal relationship with esketamine application, intervention and prognosis were recorded, and a retrospective descriptive statistical analysis was performed.Results:A total of 21 patients with TRD were enrolled in the study, including 17 (81.0%) with dissociative symptoms, 10 males and 7 females; the age ranged from 20 to 53 years, with a median age of 36 years. All patients were treated with esketamine hydrochloride by nasal spray. The first dose was 56 mg, and the other seven doses were 56 mg or 84 mg, twice a week, lasting for 4 weeks. The 17 patients were all given combination treatment with oral antidepressants. A total of 88 times of dissociative symptoms occurred in the 17 patients. The time from medication to the onset of dissociative symptoms ranged from 4 to 128 min, with a median time of 15 min. The duration of dissociative symptoms ranged from 12 to 326 minutes, with a median time of 70 minutes. The dissociative symptoms were mostly mild. The causal relationship analysis between the esketamine hydrochloride nasal spray and the dissociative symptoms showed that it was definitely related in 6 cases, probably in 1 case, and possibly in 10 cases. The dissociative symptoms in all patients were subsided without intervention.Conclusions:Esketamine hydrochloride nasal spray can cause dissociative symptoms in patients with TRD, most of which occur within 30 minutes after the treatment. The duration of symptoms in most patients is less than 120 minutes, most of which are mild and can subside on their own, and the prognosis is good.

Objective To investigate the effect of dexmedetomidine combined with ropivacaine on postop-erative sleep quality in patients undergoing upper abdominal surgery following Oblique Subcostal Transversus Abdominis Plane Block(OSTAPB).Methods A total of 140 patients who underwent gastric surgery at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University between September 2024 and November 2024 were enrolled.According to the random number table method,they were randomly allocated into two groups:the simple subcostal transversus abdominis plane block group(Group A)and the dexmedetomidine combined with subcostal transversus abdominis plane block group(Group B),with 70 patients in each group.The study compared the Asymptomatic Sleep Distur-bance Scale(AIS)scores and Self-rating Anxiety Scale(SAS)scores on the night before surgery,AIS scores on the night after surgery and the following day,the amount of remifentanil used during surgery,and the cumulative num-ber of patient-controlled analgesia(PCA)button presses within 3 days postoperatively.Additionally,the Numeric Rating Scale(NRS)pain scores at 2 h,6 h,12 h,24 h,and 48 h post-surgery,as well as the Quality of Recovery-15(QoR-15)scores on the night of surgery and the second day post-surgery,were evaluated.Results There were no significant differences in anxiety levels or subjective sleep quality scores between the two groups prior to the opera-tion(P>0.05).Additionally,there was no significant difference in the usage of remifentanil between Group A and Group B(P>0.05).The NRS scores for pain differed significantly between the two groups within the first 48 hours post-operation(P<0.05);however,no significant difference was observed in NRS scores between the two groups after 24 hours during rest.Furthermore,the number of patient-controlled analgesia(PCA)activations in Group B was significantly lower than that in Group A at 12 hours post-operation(P<0.05).Lastly,both the QoR-15 and sleep quality were significantly higher in Group B compared to Group A(P<0.05).Conclusion Dexmedetomidine combined with ropivacaine for subcostal transversus abdominis plane block not only provides superior postoperative analgesia compared to ropivacaine alone but also enhances patients' sleep quality and recovery quality on the night following surgery,thereby contributing to improved overall postoperative recovery.

Objective:To investigate the regulatory effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on functional connectivity (FC) of thalamic subregions in patients with premenstrual syndrome (PMS).Methods:This study was a cross-sectional investigation. Clinical, laboratory, and imaging data were retrospectively collected from 56 PMS patients (PMS group) and 66 healthy controls (control group) recruited from various universities and hospitals in Nanning between November 2021 and June 2024. Resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) data and fMRI data during taVNS immediate stimulation (2 Hz, 25 Hz) were acquired from subjects during their late luteal phase. Using thalamic subregions (anterior thalamic nucleus, lateral nucleus, ventral nucleus, medial nucleus, central nucleus, posterior nucleus) as seeds, two-sample t-tests or paired t-tests were employed to analyze alterations in thalamic subregion FC in PMS patients and the regulatory effects of taVNS on these changes. Independent samples t-test were used to compare the differences in clinical and laboratory indicators between the PMS group and the control group. The relationship between taVNS regulation of thalamic subregion FC in PMS patients and thalamic internal functional connectivity were analyzed using mediation effect analysis. Results:Compared to the control group, patients in the PMS group showed increased scores on the Daily Record of Severity of Problems, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale 17, and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 14 during the late luteal phase ( P<0.05). At baseline, PMS patients exhibited higher FC between the left thalamic lateral nucleus and the left insula, and lower FC between the left medial nucleus, posterior nucleus, and ventral nucleus of the thalamus and the right middle frontal gyrus (MFG) compared to the control group (GRF corrected, voxel-level P<0.001, cluster-level P<0.05). During 2 Hz taVNS immediate stimulation in PMS group, FC between the left thalamic medial nucleus, posterior nucleus, ventral nucleus and the right MFG, as well as the FC between the left thalamic ventral nucleu and the left MFG increased compared to baseline levels; meanwhile, FC between the left thalamic posterior nucleus, ventral nucleus and the left insula decreased compared to baseline levels (GRF corrected, voxel-level P<0.001, cluster-level P<0.05). During 25 Hz taVNS immediate stimulation, the FC between the left thalamic ventral nucleus and the right MFG decreased compared to the baseline level (GRF corrected, voxel-level P<0.001, cluster-level P<0.05). Mediation effect analysis showed that the FC between the left thalamic posterior nucleus and the left lateral nucleus mediated part of the association between the FC of the left lateral thalamic nucleus-left insula and the FC of the left ventral thalamic nucleus-left putamen/insula; there were significant direct effects between the FC of the left lateral thalamic nucleus-the left posterior nucleus and FC of the left lateral thalamic nucleus-the left insula, as well as between the FC of the left ventral thalamic nucleus-the left MFG and FC of the left ventral thalamic nucleus-the right MFG. Conclusions:taVNS can modulate abnormal FC of the left thalamic subregions in PMS patients, restoring it toward normalization. The regulatory effects of 2 Hz stimulation are more pronounced than those of 25 Hz stimulation. This modulation primarily operates through two pathways: the left thalamic lateral nucleus-left insula-left thalamic ventral nucleus pathway and the left MFG-left thalamic ventral nucleus-right MFG.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of an electronic balance aid in balance rehabilitation training for patients with acute peripheral vestibular injury by comparing the outcomes of medication-only treatment and medication combined with vestibular rehabilitation using an electronic balance aid.Methods:This was a randomized controlled trial. The study subjects included 98 patients (40 males and 58 females, aged 25-69 years) diagnosed with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) with vertigo or vestibular neuritis, who were treated in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of Tianjin First Central Hospital from November 2022 to November 2023. All patients were randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group at a 1∶1 ratio using the sealed envelope method. Control group (conventional drug treatment): Patients received medication treatment for 2 weeks, including betahistine mesilate tablets, vitamin B1 tablets, methylcobalamin tablets, ginkgo biloba tablets, diphenhydramine hydrochloride injection (within 3 days of onset), metoclopramide hydrochloride injection, and glucocorticoids. Experimental group (conventional drug treatment+device training): On the basis of the same medication treatment as the control group, patients received vestibular rehabilitation training using an electronic balance aid (20 minutes per session, once a day,≥5 days per week, for a total of 2 weeks). SPSS software was used to compare the total scores of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), the total scores of the Sensory Organization Test (SOT), and sensory analysis indicators between the two groups before and after treatment.Results:After treatment, vertigo symptoms significantly improved in both groups. DHI: The total DHI score in the control group decreased from 77.9±1.8 before treatment to 20.2±2.3 after treatment ( P<0.001). In the experimental group, the total DHI score decreased from 73.5±2.1 before treatment to 8.6±0.9 after treatment ( P<0.001). The difference in total DHI scores between the two groups after treatment was statistically significant, with the experimental group showing a lower score ( t=-4.616, P<0.001). The improvement in DHI scores was also more pronounced in the experimental group compared to the control group ( t=2.004, P=0.048). SOT: The total SOT score in the control group increased from 52.90±0.95 before treatment to 73.3±1.1 after treatment ( P<0.001). In the experimental group, the total SOT score increased from 54.9±0.8 before treatment to 83.5±0.9 after treatment ( P<0.001). The difference in total SOT scores between the two groups after treatment was statistically significant, with the experimental group showing a higher score ( t=7.104, P<0.001). The improvement in SOT scores was also more pronounced in the experimental group compared to the control group ( t=6.532, P<0.001). Sensory Analysis Indicators Proprioception (SOM): In the experimental group, the proprioception score significantly increased after treatment compared with before treatment ( t=-2.338, P=0.029), while, there was no statistically significant difference in the proprioception score of the control group before and after treatment ( P=0.537). Before treatment, there were no statistically significant differences in visual, vestibular, or visual dependence scores between the two groups (all P>0.05). After treatment, the visual, vestibular, and visual dependence scores of both groups significantly increased compared with those before treatment (all P<0.05); moreover, the post-treatment visual, vestibular, and visual dependence scores of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared with medication-only treatment, the combination of an electronic balance aid and medication for the treatment and rehabilitation training of patients with acute peripheral vestibular injury can significantly improve the therapeutic effect in the short term.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of Xuanfei Baidu Decoction (XFBD) in a mouse model of dampness-heat toxin pneumonia. By exploring how XFBD exerts its effects, we seek to deepen our understanding of its role in treating pulmonary diseases and to address the current knowledge gap regarding its mechanisms of action, thereby supporting its clinical application. Methods: Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) were employed to analyze the chemical constituents of XFBD. The protective effects of XFBD were evaluated using a dampness-heat toxin-induced mouse model, established through dampness-heat exposure and HCoV-229E infection. XFBD was administered orally, followed by assessments including lung index measurement, micro-CT imaging, viral load quantification, cytokine analysis, and histological evaluation via hematoxylin-eosin staining. Proteomics and single-cell transcriptomic analyses were conducted to explore the potential mechanisms underlying XFBD’s pharmacological effects. A cellular model of HCoV-229E infection was developed to investigate changes in the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway. Molecular docking and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) experiments confirmed the strong binding affinity between key XFBD components and PKA. Finally, PKA activators and inhibitors were applied in vitro to validate these mechanistic findings. Results: In vivo studies demonstrated that XFBD significantly reduced the lung index, improved the structural integrity of lung and tongue tissues, and decreased levels of proinflammatory mediators, including IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α. Proteomic and single-cell transcriptomic analyses showed that the differentially expressed proteins after XFBD treatment were primarily associated with inflammatory responses and immune regulation. The cAMP/PKA signaling pathway was identified as a key mechanism underlying these therapeutic effects. Notably, Western blot, ELISA, molecular docking, and SPR analyses confirmed that XFBD elevated cAMP levels and p-PKA expression, thereby activating the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway in vitro. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that XFBD significantly alleviates symptoms in mice with dampness-heat toxin pneumonia. Its therapeutic effects are mediated, at least in part, through activation of the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway. These findings provide compelling evidence that XFBD is an effective herbal remedy against HCoV-229E infection.