The radiation-free and unmarked body surface monitoring technology is developed for reducing the additional radiation dose generated by positioning error verification during radiotherapy positioning,and further reducing the positioning error and monitoring the displacement deviation of patients during radiotherapy in real time.At present,the widely used optical surface guided radiotherapy technology is also a type of radiotherapy guided by body surface monitoring.The system mainly uses optical imaging equipment as a tool to complete body surface scanning,three-dimensional reconstruction,real-time monitoring,etc.,thereby assisting doctors to carry out radiotherapy more accurately.Herein the study elaborates on the methods,technologies and research results of guided radiotherapy from the aspects of body surface markers,three-dimensional surface imaging systems and mobile devices,and provides prospects for future researches.

Objective To analyze the effects of national centralized volume-based procurement(CVBP)on hospitaliza-tion expenses of patients undergoing artificial joint replacement under the Diagnosis-Related Group(DRG)payment model in a public hospital,and to provide evidence for advancing reforms in high-value medical consumables and healthcare payment sys-tems.Methods Data from patients undergoing artificial joint replacement in a tertiary public hospital in 2022 were collected.Statistical analysis was used to assess the surplus and deficit of DRG year-end settlements for these cases.By comparing cost com-positions across different medical insurance types,differences in total inpatient medical expenses,out-of-pocket payments,per-sonal medical insurance account expenditures,and pooled fund reimbursements were evaluated before and after CVBP implemen-tation.Results Following CVBP implementation,the sample hospital demonstrated significant improvements in reducing medical costs,alleviating patient financial burdens,and optimizing medical insurance fund utilization.Under the DRG payment model,operational performance remained stable.Post-CVBP,total hospitalization expenses,patient out-of-pocket payments,and pooled fund reimbursements all decreased significantly(P＜0.001).Conclusion The practice of centralized procurement of artificial joints can be extended to other high-value medical consumables,continuously promoting the reform of the medical and health sys-tem,and ultimately achieving mutually beneficial and sustainable development among healthcare providers,insurers,and patients.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of carvacrol(CAR)on high glucose(HG)-induced retinal ganglion cell(RGC)damage by regulating the protein kinase B(PKB,also known as Akt)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-relat-ed factor 2(Nrf2)signaling pathway.Methods The RGC-5 cells in the logarithmic growth phase were inoculated into 96-well cell culture plates with 4 × 104 cells/well and then treated with CAR(5.0 μmol·L-1,10.0 μmol·L-1,20.0 μmol·L-1,40.0 μmol·L-1,80.0 μmol·L-1,and 160.0 μmol·L-1)together with 30.0 mmol·L-1 glucose for 24 hours.Cell viability was detected by the 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT)assay to screen the ex-perimental concentration of CAR.Then,these RGC-5 cells were inoculated into 6-well plates and randomly assigned into the Control group,30.0 mmol·L-1 glucose(HG)group,low-,medium-,and high-concentration CAR groups(CAR-L group,CAR-M group,and CAR-H group),and high-concentration CAR+Nrf2 pathway inhibitor(ML385)group(CAR-H+ML385 group).Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis of RGC-5 cells.The fluorescent probe was used to de-tect the level of oxidative stress in RGC-5 cells.The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was employed to detect the level of superoxide dismutase(SOD),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),malondialdehyde(MDA),glutathione peroxidase(GSH-PX),and reactive oxygen species(ROS)in the supernatant of RGC-5 cells.Western blot was used to detect the ex-pression of proteins related to the Akt/Nrf2 signaling pathway.Results Compared with the HG group,the survival rate of RGC-5 cells increased significantly when the concentration of CAR was above 20.0 μmol·L-1(all P＜0.05).Therefore,20.0 μmol·L-1,40.0 μmol·L-1,and 80.0 μmol·L-1 of CAR were used for subsequent experiments.Compared with the Control group,the apoptosis rate of RGC-5 cells in the HG group increased significantly,the protein expression of Bax and Caspase-3 was up-regulated significantly,the level of interleukin-1β(IL-1β),interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),ROS,LDH,and MDA increased significantly,and the level of SOD and GSH-PX decreased significantly(all P＜0.05).Compared with the HG group,the apoptosis rate of RGC-5 cells in the CAR-L,CAR-M,and CAR-H groups de-creased significantly,the protein expression of Bax and Caspase-3 was down-regulated significantly,the level of IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α,ROS,LDH,and MDA decreased significantly,and the level of SOD and GSH-PX increased significantly(all P＜0.05).Compared with the CAR-H group,the apoptosis rate of RGC-5 cells in the CAR-H+ML385 group increased signifi-cantly,the protein expression of Bax and Caspase-3 was up-regulated significantly,the level of IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α,ROS,LDH,and MDA increased significantly,and the level of GSH-PX and SOD decreased significantly(all P＜0.05).Compared with the Control group,the p-Akt/Akt expression ratio and the relative expression level of Nrf2 in RGC-5 cells decreased significantly in the HG group(both P＜0.05).Compared with the HG group,the p-Akt/Akt expression ratio and the rela-tive expression level of Nrf2 in RGC-5 cells increased significantly in the CAR-L,CAR-M,and CAR-H groups(all P＜0.05).Compared with the CAR-H group,the p-Akt/Akt expression ratio and the relative expression level of Nrf2 decreased signifi-cantly in the CAR-H+ML385 group(both P＜0.05).Conclusion CAR may reduce the inflammatory response level in RGC-5 cells by activating the Akt/Nrf2 signaling pathway,thus inhibiting oxidative stress-related injury and apoptosis.

Objective To compare the 12-month efficacy and safety of N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) versus radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treating great saphenous vein (GSV) insufficiency. Methods A total of 155 patients with GSV insufficiency from five centers were randomly allocated to the NBCA group or RFA group. Postoperative efficacy and safety outcomes were evaluated. Results Immediate postoperative closure rates of the GSV trunk were 100% in both groups. The closure rates of NBCA and RFA group were 98.6% and 98.5% at 3 months, 97.1% and 98.5% at 6 months, 98.1% and 95.9% at 12 months, with no statistically significant differences (P>0.05). After treatment, CEAP classification improved significantly from baseline in both groups. In terms of safety, 1 case of phlebitis, 1 case of ablation-related thrombus extension (ARTE) and 2 cases of calf muscle venous thrombosis(CMVT) occurred in the NBCA group, while 2 cases of limb numbness, 1 case of persistent thigh pain and 2 cases of CMVT in the RFA group. All reported serious adverse events in both groups were assessed as unrelated to the medical device or the trial procedure. Conclusions NBCA demonstrates non-inferior efficacy and safety compared to RFA for treating GSV insufficiency over 12 months.

Objective:To quantitatively detect plasma ceramide (Cer) levels using high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and analyze plasma ceramide levels in homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) patients.Methods:A case-control study was conducted. Plasma samples were collected from 70 healthy individuals who underwent physical examinations at the Health Check-Up Center of Suzhou Municipal Hospital between October 2023 and December 2023, as well as from 34 HoFH patients (including 11 patients with concomitant coronary artery disease) who were treated in the Cardiology Department of the same hospital during the same period. Deuterated isotopes were used as internal standards, and a Phenomenex Kinetex C18 column (2.1×100 mm, 2.6 μm) was employed for separation. An LC-MS/MS method was developed using an AB Sciex 6500+triple quadrupole mass spectrometer for the detection of ceramides, followed by method validation. Additionally, the differences in ceramide levels among healthy individuals, HoFH patients, and HoFH patients with concomitant coronary artery disease were compared. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the diagnostic value of various ceramides for HoFH.Results:A method for the quantification of 9 plasma ceramides was established, showing excellent linearity ( r>0.99), precision (1.8%-11.0%), and recovery rates (89.9%-114.7%), meeting the requirements for detection. Compared to the control group, the HoFH group exhibited significantly higher levels of Cer(d18∶1/14∶0), Cer(d18∶1/16∶0), Cer (d18∶1/18∶0), Cer (d18∶1/18∶1), Cer (d18∶1/20∶0), Cer(d18∶1/22∶0), Cer(d18∶1/24∶0), and Cer(d18∶1/24∶1) ( P<0.05). ROC curve analysis revealed that Cer(d18∶1/18∶0) had the highest diagnostic value for HoFH, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.83, a cutoff value of 64.6 ng/ml, and sensitivity and specificity of 82.4% and 87.1%, respectively. In HoFH patients complicated with coronary artery disease, the plasma ceramide levels of Cer(d18∶1/18∶0) [(155.7±25.1) ng/ml vs (103.0±11.1) ng/ml, P=0.03] and the ratio of Cer (d18∶1/18∶0) to Cer(d18∶1/24∶0) (0.077±0.012 vs 0.048±0.006, P=0.03) were significantly higher than in HoFH patients without coronary artery disease. Conclusion:A quantitative LC-MS/MS method was developed for detecting ceramides in human plasma, which shows potential diagnostic value for patients with HoFH.

Pulpitis is a prevalent inflammatory disease in dentistry, and root canal therapy remains the primary clinical treatment for it. However, pulp removal leads to reduced tooth fracture resistance and complications such as secondary infection and tooth fracture. As a potential alternative, vital pulp therapy (VPT) relies on precise assessment of pulp status; yet current clinical diagnostic methods lack specificity. The establishment of appropriate animal models for pulpitis is crucial for investigating its pathogenesis, developing specific diagnostic biomarkers, and optimizing VPT strategies. This review systematically summarizes experimental animals selection based on anatomical compatibility and pathological similarity, as well as model construction methods and multimodal evaluation systems for pulpitis animal models, aiming to provide insights for related researches.

Amoenucles A-F (1-6), six previously undescribed nucleoside derivatives, and two known analogs (7 and 8) were isolated from the culture of Aspergillus amoenus TJ507. Their structures were elucidated through spectroscopic analysis, single-crystal X-ray crystallography, and chemical reactions. Notably, 3 and 4 represent the first reported instances of nucleosides with an attached pyrrole moiety. Of particular significance, the absolute configuration of the sugar moiety of 1-4 was determined using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), electric circular dichroism (ECD) calculations, and a hydrolysis reaction, presenting a potentially valuable method for confirming nucleoside structures. Furthermore, 1, 2, and 5-8 exhibited potential tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) inhibitory activities, which may provide a novel chemical template for the development of agents targeting autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Aspergillus/chemistry* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Molecular Structure ; Nucleosides/isolation & purification* ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Animals ; Humans ; Mice ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the acupoint selection patterns and core prescriptions of acupuncture for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) using data mining, and to explore the molecular mechanisms of core acupoints through network acupuncture medicine. METHODS: The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on acupuncture for PCOS published from January 1, 2004 to July 21, 2024 were retrieved from CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, PubMed, and Web of Science databases. R software (version 4.4.0) was used for acupoint frequency and association rule analysis to identify core acupoint prescriptions. Potential targets were predicted via the STITCH and Swiss Target Prediction databases, and a "core prescription-active compounds-targets- PCOS" network was constructed. Cytoscape 3.7.1 was applied to build protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks of potential targets of core acupoint prescriptions. Key therapeutic targets were subjected to gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses using the DAVID and Microbioinformatics platforms. RESULTS: A total of 176 RCTs were included, covering 208 prescriptions and 89 acupoints. The five most frequently used acupoints were Guanyuan (CV4), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Zigong (EX-CA1), Zusanli (ST36) and Zhongji (CV3). Association rule analysis yielded 13 core acupoint combinations, with Guanyuan (CV4), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Zigong (EX-CA1) and Zusanli (ST36) as the core prescription. Twenty-seven active compounds were involved, with 852 potential therapeutic targets, among which 208 targets overlapped with PCOS-related targets. Network acupuncture medicine analysis suggested that the core prescription may act through targets such as estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src (SRC), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG), and RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT1). GO and KEGG analyses indicated that the main pathways included the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) signaling pathway, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B (PI3K-AKT) signaling pathway, and advanced glycation end products-receptor for advanced glycation end products (AGE-RAGE) signaling pathway, involving processes such as signal transduction, receptor complex formation, and cytokine activity. CONCLUSION The core acupoint prescription for PCOS might exert therapeutic effects through multiple targets and pathways, providing a theoretical basis for mechanistic research on acupoint prescriptions.
Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Data Mining ; Acupuncture Points ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/metabolism* ; Female ; Protein Interaction Maps ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

The incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) together with their associated risk factors increasingly impact public health. According to the data provided in the 2024 Annual Report on Cardiovascular Health and Diseases in China, the crude incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases among Chinese residents aged ≥18 years, including acute myocardial infarction (AMI), angina pectoris treated by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty/stent implantation and/or coronary artery bypass grafting, stroke, and sudden cardiac death was 620.33 per 100,000 population, with 87.6 for AMI. Stroke had an incidence of 491.0 per 100,000 population. The prevalence of adult coronary heart disease (CHD, aged ≥18 years) was 758 per 100,000 population. The CVD mortality in 2021 remained the highest, exceeding that of cancer and other causes. The crude mortality rate of CVD in 2021 was 364.16 per 100,000 population in rural areas and 305.39 per 100,000 population in urban areas. The crude mortality rates of cerebrovascular diseases and CHD among urban and rural residents in 2021 were 140.02 and 175.58, 135.08 and 148.19 per 100,000 population, respectively. In addition to interpreting the key findings of CVD incidence and mortality in China, we also update the data of associated risk factors, including tobacco use, physical activity, diet and nutrition, overweight and obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, sleep and psychological factors, environmental factors, and the diagnostic conditions of CVD diseases, aiming to provide a scientific foundation for advancing CVD prevention and control, and to inform relevant public health policy development.
Humans ; China/epidemiology* ; Cardiovascular Diseases/mortality* ; Risk Factors ; Adult ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Incidence ; Cerebrovascular Disorders/epidemiology* ; Aged

OBJECTIVES: To analyze sex and age distribution of global disease burden of calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) from 1990 to 2021. METHODS: CAVD data during 1990-2021 were obtained from the IHME website for Global Burden of Disease (GBD). The prevalence, mortality, years lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were analyzed by gender and age groups. Joinpoint regression was used to calculate annual percentage change (APC) and average annual percentage change (AAPC). RESULTS: In 2021, there were 13.32 million CAVD patients and 142 000 deaths caused by CAVD globally. Age-standardized prevalence was higher in males (193.2/10⁵) than that in females (128.9/10⁵). Patients in 65-<85 age group accounted for 64.0% of total cases, while those ≥85 years old accounted for 16.1%. From 1990 to 2021, prevalence increased in both sexes with an AAPC of 0.72% for males and 0.57% for females, respectively. Prevalence grew fastest from 2000 to 2010, slowed thereafter, and declined from 2015 to 2021. In <65 years old, the mortality of males was 2.4 times higher than that of females, while in ≥85 years old, mortality of females (117.3/10⁵) exceeded that of males (99.1/10⁵). YLD rates increased with age, and were higher in males for all age groups. DALY rates decreased overall but increased in ≥85 years old, with a greater increase in females. CONCLUSIONS There are significant gender and age disparities in global disease burden of CAVD, with the elderly, especially super-elderly females deserving particular attention. It is recommended to develop personalized intervention strategies for these populations.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Calcinosis/mortality* ; Prevalence ; Global Burden of Disease ; Aged, 80 and over ; Middle Aged ; Aortic Valve/pathology* ; Aortic Valve Stenosis/epidemiology* ; Age Distribution ; Adult ; Disability-Adjusted Life Years ; Sex Distribution ; Global Health ; Aortic Valve Disease/epidemiology* ; Sex Factors