ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy and mechanisms of Qigui Didang decoction in the treatment of kidney collateral stasis syndrome in patients with stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ diabetic kidney disease （DKD） in a real-world setting. MethodsPatients with stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ DKD with kidney collateral stasis syndrome admitted to Beijing Aerospace General Hospital from January 2022 to December 2024 were selected for clinical study. According to treatment methods， patients were divided into the Qigui Didang decoction group （Qigui Didang decoction + conventional treatment） and the control group （conventional treatment alone）. A 1∶1 propensity score matching （PSM） method was used to reduce bias caused by confounding factors. Clinical efficacy， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） symptom scores， renal function indicators， mRNA expression related to pathway mechanisms， glycolipid metabolism indices， and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. ResultsA total of 120 patients with stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ DKD with kidney collateral stasis syndrome were included， including 62 cases in the Qigui Didang Decoction group and 58 cases in the control group. Before matching， there were statistically significant differences between the two groups in DKD stage， baseline urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio （UACR）， 24-hour urine total protein （24 h-UTP）， and estimated glomerular filtration rate （eGFR） （P<0.05）. After matching， 47 cases were included in each group， and there was no statistically significant difference in baseline data between the two groups. After matching， the total clinical effective rate of the Qigui Didang decoction group was significantly higher than that of the control group （χ²=4.681， P<0.05）. Compared with data before treatment， the scores of primary and secondary TCM symptoms in the Qigui Didang decoction group were significantly decreased （P<0.05）. Compared with data before treatment， serum creatinine （SCr）， 24 h-UTP， and UACR levels were significantly decreased， while eGFR was significantly increased in the Qigui Didang decoction group （P<0.05）. Compared with data before treatment， the mRNA expression of silent information regulator 1 （Sirt1） was significantly upregulated， while the mRNA expression of nuclear factor-kappa B （NF-κB） and tumor suppressor protein p53 （p53） was significantly downregulated in the Qigui Didang decoction group （P<0.05）. Compared with data before treatment， fasting plasma glucose （FPG）， 2-hour postprandial plasma glucose （2 hPG）， glycated hemoglobin A1c （HbA1c）， total cholesterol （TC）， triglycerides （TG）， and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C） levels were decreased， while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C） levels were increased （P<0.05）. There was no statistically significant difference in adverse reactions between the two groups. ConclusionQigui Didang decoction combined with conventional treatment can significantly improve renal function， glycolipid metabolism， and TCM syndromes in patients with stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ DKD with kidney collateral stasis syndrome， with good safety. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of the Sirt1/NF-κB/p53 signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy and mechanisms of Qigui Didang decoction in the treatment of kidney collateral stasis syndrome in patients with stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ diabetic kidney disease （DKD） in a real-world setting. MethodsPatients with stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ DKD with kidney collateral stasis syndrome admitted to Beijing Aerospace General Hospital from January 2022 to December 2024 were selected for clinical study. According to treatment methods， patients were divided into the Qigui Didang decoction group （Qigui Didang decoction + conventional treatment） and the control group （conventional treatment alone）. A 1∶1 propensity score matching （PSM） method was used to reduce bias caused by confounding factors. Clinical efficacy， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） symptom scores， renal function indicators， mRNA expression related to pathway mechanisms， glycolipid metabolism indices， and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. ResultsA total of 120 patients with stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ DKD with kidney collateral stasis syndrome were included， including 62 cases in the Qigui Didang Decoction group and 58 cases in the control group. Before matching， there were statistically significant differences between the two groups in DKD stage， baseline urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio （UACR）， 24-hour urine total protein （24 h-UTP）， and estimated glomerular filtration rate （eGFR） （P<0.05）. After matching， 47 cases were included in each group， and there was no statistically significant difference in baseline data between the two groups. After matching， the total clinical effective rate of the Qigui Didang decoction group was significantly higher than that of the control group （χ²=4.681， P<0.05）. Compared with data before treatment， the scores of primary and secondary TCM symptoms in the Qigui Didang decoction group were significantly decreased （P<0.05）. Compared with data before treatment， serum creatinine （SCr）， 24 h-UTP， and UACR levels were significantly decreased， while eGFR was significantly increased in the Qigui Didang decoction group （P<0.05）. Compared with data before treatment， the mRNA expression of silent information regulator 1 （Sirt1） was significantly upregulated， while the mRNA expression of nuclear factor-kappa B （NF-κB） and tumor suppressor protein p53 （p53） was significantly downregulated in the Qigui Didang decoction group （P<0.05）. Compared with data before treatment， fasting plasma glucose （FPG）， 2-hour postprandial plasma glucose （2 hPG）， glycated hemoglobin A1c （HbA1c）， total cholesterol （TC）， triglycerides （TG）， and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C） levels were decreased， while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C） levels were increased （P<0.05）. There was no statistically significant difference in adverse reactions between the two groups. ConclusionQigui Didang decoction combined with conventional treatment can significantly improve renal function， glycolipid metabolism， and TCM syndromes in patients with stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ DKD with kidney collateral stasis syndrome， with good safety. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of the Sirt1/NF-κB/p53 signaling pathway.

With the rising incidence of diabetes， diabetic kidney disease （DKD） has become a significant global health burden. Although current prevention and treatment strategies can partially delay the progression of DKD， the risk of patients advancing to end-stage renal disease remains high. Since the concept of the "gut-kidney axis" was first introduced at the International Congress on Dialysis in 2011， research on the role of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of DKD has received increasing attention. This review summarizes the current research on gut microbiota， explores the mechanisms through which it contributes to DKD development， and outlines clinical approaches for DKD prevention and treatment based on the "gut-kidney axis" theory. Evidence indicates that dietary interventions， intake of probiotics or prebiotics， use of metformin and novel antidiabetic drugs， and application of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） compound formulas can effectively improve gut microbiota composition， influence metabolite production， and restore the intestinal mucosal barrier. These interventions can further regulate intestinal innate immunity and inflammatory responses， thereby modulating the progression of DKD. Despite challenges posed by the traditional oral administration of water-decocted TCM compound formulas and the complexity of their ingredients， increasing evidence suggests that TCM may indirectly affect the occurrence and development of DKD by modulating gut microbiota. This finding provides a new perspective on the potential mechanisms of TCM in DKD treatment and may offer novel strategies for DKD prevention and therapy.

Objective To investigate the effectiveness of optimized flow sensitive black blood(FSBB)imaging in detecting the number of branches and measuring the depth of lenticulostriate arteries(LSAs)in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods The ima-ging and clinical data of 39 patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent vascular recanalization under digital subtraction angi-ography(DSA)were prospectively collected.All patients received 3.0T MR FSBB imaging within 48-96 hours postoperatively.The number and depth of LSAs branches on the affected side were observed,measured and recorded by the post-processing workstations for both FSBB and DSA images.The difference and correlation of the number and average depth of LSAs branches detected by FSBB and DSA were analyzed.The consistency of the average depth of LSAs branches detected by FSBB and DSA was evaluated.Results There was no statistically significant difference in the number and depth of bilateral LSAs branches detected by FSBB and DSA(P＞0.05).FSBB and DSA showed strong positive correlations in detecting the number and depth of LSAs branches(r=0.786,0.704;P＜0.05).The number of average depth difference of bilateral LSAs branches detected by FSBB and DSA exceeded the limit of agreement(LoA)was 3,accounting for 4.92％(＜5％).Conclusion Optimized FSBB imaging can be used to assess the detection of the number and depth measurement of LSAs branches in patients with acute ischemic stroke,showing good consistency with DSA.It provides valua-ble imaging evidence for the morphological assessment of LSAs in clinical practice.

Objective:To investigate the association between abdominal fat-related indicators derived from quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and coronary artery calcification (CAC) in middle-aged and elderly individuals, as well as the diagnostic value of these indicators.Methods:This cross-sectional study enrolled middle-aged and elderly participants who underwent health check-ups at Kaifeng Central Hospital between January and December 2024. Participants were divided into a CAC group and a non-CAC group based on the presence or absence of CAC. The CAC group was then stratified into mild, moderate, and severe subgroups according to CAC severity. General clinical data were collected for all participants. All subjects underwent one-stop QCT scanning of the chest and abdomen. An automated abdominal fat analysis system was used to identify fat distribution regions. If accurate identification was not possible, a semi-automated segmentation algorithm combined with manual correction was applied instead. Two physicians performed the measurements independently, and inter-observer consistency was assessed. The average values were calculated to obtain visceral fat area (VFA) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA). The ratio of visceral fat area to subcutaneous fat area (VFA/SFA) was also computed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with CAC in middle-aged and elderly individuals. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of these indicators for CAC. DeLong′s test was used to compare the differences in the area under the curve ( AUC). Results:A total of 252 middle-aged and elderly individuals were included, with a median age of 61 (interquartile rang: 59, 69) years. Of these individuals, 188(74.6%) were males. Among them, 172 were classified into the CAC group and 80 into the non-CAC group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that VFA, VFA/SFA ratio, age, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), and hypertension were independently associated with CAC in middle-aged and elderly individuals (all P<0.05). The mild, moderate, and severe CAC subgroups comprised 78, 51, and 43 participants, respectively. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) demonstrated that VFA and VFA/SFA increased with CAC severity, and there were statistically significant differences between the subgroups (all P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the AUCs of VFA and VFA/SFA for diagnosing CAC were 0.841 and 0.810, respectively, with no significant difference between them ( P>0.05). The optimal cutoff values were 177.45 cm2 for VFA (sensitivity: 83.1%, specificity: 72.5%) and 1.592 for VFA/SFA (sensitivity: 65.7%, specificity: 83.7%). For the diagnosis of moderate-to-severe CAC, the AUCs of VFA and VFA/SFA were 0.765 and 0.761, respectively ( P>0.05 for comparison), with cutoff values of 231.75 cm2 (sensitivity: 61.7%, specificity: 83.3%) and 1.962 (sensitivity: 64.9%, specificity: 80.8%). Conclusion:Abdominal VFA and VFA/SFA derived from QCT are independently associated with the presence of CAC in middle-aged and elderly individuals, demonstrating good diagnostic performance for both overall CAC and moderate-to-severe CAC.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between membranous urethral length (MUL) and early urinary continence recovery after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 71 prostate cancer patients who underwent RARP by a single surgeon at the PLA General Hospital between January 2020 and December 2023. Patient characteristics included: age of (65.32±6.04) years, BMI (25.21 ± 2.59) kg/m 2, prostate volume 32.41 (24.75, 44.40) ml, PSA 11.67 (8.22, 22.66) ng/ml. Gleason score [6/7/8/9-10: 15 (21.2%)/29 (40.8%)/16 (22.5%)/11 (15.5%)], Clinical stage [cT 1/cT 2/cT 3: 4 (5.6%)/61 (85.9%)/6 (8.5%)]. Measured MUL using multiparametric prostate MRI, median MUL was 13.25 (10.41-14.99) mm. Neurovascular bundle (NVB) preservation in 13 (18.3%) cases. Patients were grouped based on continence recovery at 1 and 3 months post-catheter removal. Age, BMI, prostate volume, PSA, Gleason score, clinical stage, NVB preservation, pathological stage, catheter indwelling time, and MUL were compared between groups. Multivariate analysis identified independent predictors of continence recovery. Results:All 71 surgeries were successful, pathological stage [pT 2/pT 3-4: 47 (66.2%)/24 (33.8%)], and catheter indwelling time 2.7 (2.0, 3.0) weeks. Follow-up data at 2 months were available for 71 patients, at 1 month, 42 patients achieved continence (continence group) and 29 had incontinence (incontinence group).No significant differences were observed between continence and incontinence groups in age [(64.93±6.48)years vs. (65.79±5.89) years], BMI [(26.26±2.52)kg/m 2 vs. (24.52±2.42) kg/m 2], prostate volume [32.00 (24.12, 41.11)ml vs. 33.00 (25.27, 47.97) ml], PSA [12.55 (8.31, 24.00) ng/ml vs. 11.30 (7.92, 20.65) ng/ml], Gleason score [6/7/8/9-10: 6 (14.2%)/18 (42.9%)/12 (28.6%)/6 (14.3%) vs. 9 (31.0%)/11 (37.9%)/4 (13.8%)/5 (17.3%)], clinical stage [cT 1/cT 2/cT 3: 2 (4.8%)/35 (83.3%)/5 (11.9%) vs. 2 (6.9%)/26 (89.7%)/1 (3.4%)], NVB preservation [7 (16.7%) vs. 6 (20.7%)], pathological stage [pT 2/pT 3-4: 27 (64.3%)/15 (35.7%) vs. 20 (69.0%)/9 (31.0%)], or catheter indwelling time [2.6(2.0, 3.0) weeks vs. 2.9 (2.0, 3.4) weeks]. However, MUL was significantly longer in the continence group [13.77 (11.70, 15.32) mm vs. 10.32 (9.65, 13.57) mm, P<0.01]. Follow-up data at 3 months were available for 69 patients, At 3 months, 61 patients achieved continence (continence group) and 8 remained incontinent (incontinence group). No significant differences were observed in age [(64.89±6.25)years vs. (68.13±4.09) years], BMI [(25.34±2.64)kg/m 2 vs. (24.36±2.49) kg/m 2], prostate volume [32.41 (24.44, 44.16)ml vs. 36.13 (27.48, 48.26) ml], PSA [12.50 (8.28, 22.76)ng/ml vs. 13.34 (5.88, 23.39) ng/ml], Gleason score [6/7/8/9-10: 12 (19.7%)/25 (41.0%)/14 (23.0%)/10 (16.3%) vs. 3 (37.5%)/3 (37.5%)/2 (25.0%)/0], clinical stage [cT 1/cT 2/cT 3: 3 (4.9%)/52 (85.2%)/6 (9.8%) vs. 1 (12.5%)/7 (87.5%)/0], NVB preservation [9 (14.8%) vs. 3 (37.5%)], pathological stage [pT 2/pT 3-4: 41 (67.2%)/20 (32.8%) vs. 5 (62.5%)/9 (31.0%)], or catheter indwelling time [2.7(2.0, 3.0)weeks vs. 3.0 (2.3, 3.7) weeks]. MUL remained significantly longer in the continence group [13.57 (10.57, 15.10)mm vs. 10.12 (9.36, 10.42) mm, P=0.002]. Multivariate logistic regression incorporating age, BMI, prostate volume, MUL, NVB preservation, and catheter indwelling time identified MUL as an independent protective factor for continence recovery at both 1 month [ OR=0.62, 95 CI 0.49-0.79, P<0.01] and 3 months [ OR=0.61, 95 CI 0.41-0.92, P=0.017]. Conclusions:MUL is independently associated with early urinary continence recovery after RARP, serving as a protective predictor at both 1 and 3 months after catheter removal.

Objective:To investigate the risk factors for positive surgical margins（PSM）after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy（RARP），and to develop and validate a predictive nomogram.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological data of 874 prostate cancer patients who underwent RARP performed by a single surgeon at the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital between January 2012 and December 2018. Patients were divided into positive surgical margin（n=327）and negative surgical margin（n=547）groups based on postoperative margin status.The PSM group had significantly higher preoperative median tPSA［31.200（19.050，54.400）ng/ml vs. 15.050（9.840，27.590）ng/ml， P<0.01］，higher proportion of patients with PSAD>1 ng/ml 2［49.5%（162/327）vs. 21.2%（116/547）， P<0.01］，biopsy Gleason score ≥8［33.3%（109/327）vs. 21.2%（116/547）， P<0.01］，ISUP grade 4-5［33.3%（109/327）vs. 21.2%（116/547）， P<0.01］，clinical T stage ≥cT 3［11.3%（37/327）vs. 4.2%（23/547）， P<0.01］，and high-risk classification［82.3%（269/327）vs. 55.9%（306/547）， P<0.01］compared to the negative surgical margin group. Conversely，the PSM group had a lower prevalence of hypertension［29.7%（97/327）vs. 40.2%（220/547）， P=0.002］.Patients were randomly split into a training cohort（n=656，75%）and an internal validation cohort（n=218，25%）. An external validation cohort included 71 patients who underwent RARP by different surgeons between January 2014 and December 2016. No significant differences in baseline characteristics were observed between cohorts（ P>0.05）.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses identified independent predictors of PSM，which were incorporated into a nomogram. Predictive performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic（ROC）curves，decision curve analysis（DCA），and calibration curve. Internal and external validations were performed. Results:The PSM group had longer postoperative hospitalization［6（5，8）vs. 6（5，7）days， P=0.028］，higher rates of pathologic Gleason score ≥8［41.5%（115/277）vs. 24.9%（111/446）， P<0.01］，ISUP grade 4-5［41.5%（115/277）vs. 24.9%（111/446）， P<0.01］，pT 3 stage［52.3%（171/327）vs. 17.4%（95/547）， P<0.01］，pN 1 stage［12.8%（42/327）vs. 3.8%（21/547）， P<0.01］，extracapsular extension［52.3%（171/327）vs. 17.4%（95/547）， P<0.01］，and seminal vesicle invasion［34.6%（113/327）vs. 9.1%（50/547）， P<0.01］.Multivariate analysis identified elevated tPSA（ OR=1.014，95% CI 1.004—1.024，P=0.006）and PSAD ≥0.15 ng/（ml/g）（ OR=11.638，95% CI 1.450—93.396，P=0.021）as independent risk factors for PSM. The area under the ROC curve（AUC）of the nomogram constructed based on the above variables was 0.770（95% CI 0.735—0.805）. The AUC values for the internal and external validation sets were 0.698（95% CI 0.630—0.767）and 0.643（95% CI 0.513—0.774），respectively. The calibration curve demonstrated good agreement between the predicted and observed outcomes，and the DCA indicated that the predictive model has potential clinical utility in decision-making. Conclusion:tPSA and PSAD were identified as independent risk factors for PSM. The nomogram constructed based on these two independent predictive variables effectively predicted PSM after RARP.

ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism of Shenfuhuang Formula （参附黄配方） in prevention and treatment of epsis-associated encephalopathy from the perspective of brain genomics. MethodsC57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into sham surgery group， sepsis group， and Shenfuhuang group， with 20 mice in each group. The sepsis group and Shenfuhuang group were induced to develop sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture （CLP） procedure. At 4 hours after modelling， Shenfuhuang group were gavaged with 2.5 g/（kg·d） of Shenfuhuang Formula， 0.5 ml each time， at 12 hours intervals， for a total of 4 times after modelling. Sepsis group and sham surgery group were given 0.5 ml of purified water orally. At 48 hours after modeling， the transcriptome sequencing was used to explore the differential gene expression in the effects of Shenfuhuang Formula on the brain regions of septic mice， and real-time PCR and ELISA were later used to further validate the differential gene and proteins expression. ResultsA total of 4605 genes were differentially expressed in Shenfuhuang group compared with sepsis group， of which 2353 genes were up-regulated and 2252 genes were down-regulated. According to the results of previous publications， six key genes were screened， including serine/threonine-protein kinase （Nek1）， myelin-associated glycoprotein （Mag）， endothelial cell-specific tyrosine kinase receptor （Tek）， a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 20 （Adamts20）， lymphocyte antigen 86 （Ly86）， and E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase （Traip）. Further genetic and protein validation revealed that， compared to the sham surgery group， the mRNA levels and corresponding protein levels of Nek1， Mag， Tek， Adamts20， Ly86， and Traip in the brain tissue of septic mice significantly reduced （P＜0.05）. In comparison to the sepsis group， Shenfuhuang group showed significantly increased mRNA levels and corresponding protein levels of Nek1， Mag， Tek， Adamts20， Ly86， and Traip （P＜0.05）. ConclusionThe potential therapeutic targets of Shenfuhuang Formula for treating sepsis-associated encephalopathy may be related to the Nek1， Mag， Tek， Adamts20， Ly86， and Traip genes and their encoded proteins.

Diabetes mellitus has the characteristics of chronic inflammatory diseases,often accompanied by intestinal flora disorders.Based on the TCM theory of"stomach exuberance and spleen deficiency",combined with modern medical research,this article explained the occurrence and development of diabetes mellitus from intestinal flora and inflammatory reaction.Diabetes mellitus was divided into three categories:stomach heat and deficiency of spleen yin,stomach heat and deficiency of spleen qi,and stomach heat and deficiency of spleen yang,and summarized the three methods of"clearing and draining heat,nourishing yin and moistening intestine","clearing dampness and heat,strengthening spleen and qi"and"clearing dampness and heat,strengthening spleen and warming yang",which could treat diabetes mellitus by improving intestinal flora disorder and reducing inflammatory reaction.

Objective:To investigate the association between abdominal fat-related indicators derived from quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and coronary artery calcification (CAC) in middle-aged and elderly individuals, as well as the diagnostic value of these indicators.Methods:This cross-sectional study enrolled middle-aged and elderly participants who underwent health check-ups at Kaifeng Central Hospital between January and December 2024. Participants were divided into a CAC group and a non-CAC group based on the presence or absence of CAC. The CAC group was then stratified into mild, moderate, and severe subgroups according to CAC severity. General clinical data were collected for all participants. All subjects underwent one-stop QCT scanning of the chest and abdomen. An automated abdominal fat analysis system was used to identify fat distribution regions. If accurate identification was not possible, a semi-automated segmentation algorithm combined with manual correction was applied instead. Two physicians performed the measurements independently, and inter-observer consistency was assessed. The average values were calculated to obtain visceral fat area (VFA) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA). The ratio of visceral fat area to subcutaneous fat area (VFA/SFA) was also computed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with CAC in middle-aged and elderly individuals. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of these indicators for CAC. DeLong′s test was used to compare the differences in the area under the curve ( AUC). Results:A total of 252 middle-aged and elderly individuals were included, with a median age of 61 (interquartile rang: 59, 69) years. Of these individuals, 188(74.6%) were males. Among them, 172 were classified into the CAC group and 80 into the non-CAC group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that VFA, VFA/SFA ratio, age, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), and hypertension were independently associated with CAC in middle-aged and elderly individuals (all P<0.05). The mild, moderate, and severe CAC subgroups comprised 78, 51, and 43 participants, respectively. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) demonstrated that VFA and VFA/SFA increased with CAC severity, and there were statistically significant differences between the subgroups (all P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the AUCs of VFA and VFA/SFA for diagnosing CAC were 0.841 and 0.810, respectively, with no significant difference between them ( P>0.05). The optimal cutoff values were 177.45 cm2 for VFA (sensitivity: 83.1%, specificity: 72.5%) and 1.592 for VFA/SFA (sensitivity: 65.7%, specificity: 83.7%). For the diagnosis of moderate-to-severe CAC, the AUCs of VFA and VFA/SFA were 0.765 and 0.761, respectively ( P>0.05 for comparison), with cutoff values of 231.75 cm2 (sensitivity: 61.7%, specificity: 83.3%) and 1.962 (sensitivity: 64.9%, specificity: 80.8%). Conclusion:Abdominal VFA and VFA/SFA derived from QCT are independently associated with the presence of CAC in middle-aged and elderly individuals, demonstrating good diagnostic performance for both overall CAC and moderate-to-severe CAC.