Objective: To evaluate the performance of 5T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in visualizing dental pulp and periodontal ligament (PDL) tissues in vivo in the young adult population, thereby providing a basis for the application of high-field MRI technology in clinical oral examinations. Methods: The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the hospital. A total of 15 healthy volunteers (413 permanent teeth altogether) were recruited and underwent full-mouth 5T MRI scans. Among them, six volunteers (168 permanent teeth) also received both 3T MRI and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. Two dental specialists independently evaluated the imaging quality of the dental pulp and PDL on the images using a 5-point Likert scale and recorded the number of detectable root canals for each tooth. Inter-rater agreement was assessed using weighted kappa statistics and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Non-parametric tests were employed to compare differences in imaging performance among different tissue structures, tooth positions, and imaging modalities. Results: 5T MRI can achieve in vivo imaging for most dental pulp tissues and partial periodontal membrane structures. There was a high level of agreement between the two raters in their imaging scores for the dental pulp and PDL (dental pulp κ = 0.934, PDL κ = 0.737). The imaging scores for dental pulp were significantly higher than those for PDL (P < 0.001), and the scores for molar dental pulp were lower than those for premolars and anterior teeth. In the multimodal comparison involving six volunteers, the raters showed good consistency in scoring dental pulp and PDL imaging across 5T MRI, 3T MRI, and CBCT, as well as in root canal counts (5T MRI for dental pulp κ = 0.971, 3T MRI for dental pulp κ = 0.933, CBCT for dental pulp κ = 0.964; 5T MRI for PDL κ = 0.625, 3T MRI for PDL κ = 0.667, CBCT for PDL κ = 0.571; ICC for root canal counts all ≥ 0.990). The imaging scores for dental pulp and PDL using 5T MRI were significantly higher than those using 3T MRI (dental pulp: P < 0.001; PDL: P = 0.022), but there was no statistically significant difference in the detection rate of the number of root canals between the two (P > 0.05). Although the imaging scores for dental pulp and PDL as well as the detection rate of the number of root canals with 5T MRI were inferior to those with CBCT (dental pulp: P < 0.001; PDL: P = 0.02; number of root canals: P < 0.05), 5T MRI can truly achieve "direct imaging" of these two soft tissues. Conclusion 5T MRI enables effective in vivo direct imaging of dental pulp and PDL tissues in the young adult population, indicating its potential clinical application value in the diagnosis and treatment of pulp and periodontal diseases.

Objective To analyze the application of NCompass nitinol stone retrieval basket in ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy, and to evaluate its roles in reducing stone retropulsion and improving stone-free rate(SFR)and stone acquisition rate.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of patients with upper ureteral stones＞1 cm who underwent ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy at China-Japan Friendship Hospital during Jan.2018 and Dec.2023, including 96 cases were in the NCompass group, and 68 cases in the non-basket group.The operation time, stone retropulsion rate, usage rate of flexible ureteroscopy, SFR and stone acquisition rate were compared between the two groups.Results There were no significant differences in the operation time [(29.2±8.4)min vs.(30.9±7.2)min, P=0.170] and stone retropulsion rate(15.6% vs. 27.9%, P=0.055)between the NCompass group and non-basket group.The NCompass group had significantly lower usage rate of flexible ureteroscopy than the non-basket group(24.0% vs. 47.1%, P=0.002), higher SFR 2 days(80.2% vs. 45.6%, P＜0.001)and 1 month(93.8% vs. 83.8%, P=0.040)after operation, as well as the stone acquisition rates 2 days(100% vs. 44.1%, P＜0.001)and 1 month(100% vs. 58.8%, P＜0.001)after operation. Conclusion The NCompass nitinol stone retrieval basket plays dual roles in ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy, which can effectively intercept stones and extract stone fragments, thus significantly improving the SFR and stone acquisition rate, and reducing stone retropulsion and the use of flexible ureteroscopy.

Objective To investigate the etiology and treatment of dysuria shortly after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), so as to improve the therapeutic efficacy. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1361 BPH patients who received HoLEP at our hospital during Mar. 2018 and Mar. 2025. All patients underwent ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), urethral probing or radiography, cystourethroscopy, and urodynamic testing. The causes, treatments and prognosis of dysuria after operation were summarized. Results ninety-eight patients (7.2%) experienced dysuria within 3 months after surgery, and all patients received initial urethral dilation. Among the 62 cases with urethral stricture, 28 were treated with urethral dilation (average of 8 sessions), 16 underwent external urethral incision, 8 underwent anterior urethroplasty, and 10 underwent transurethral plasma incision for urethral stricture. Of the 12 cases with residual prostate tissue, 5 underwent urethral plasma prostatectomy and 7 received medication. All of the 12 cases with bladder neck contracture underwent transurethral plasma incision of the bladder neck and local drug injection. Five cases with intravesical blood clots underwent urethral blood clot irrigation, 2 of which developed active bleeding and then underwent electrocoagulation. Four cases with detrusor dysfunction had catheters re-indwelled for one week followed by medication. Two cases with stone and one case with tissue fragment impacted in the urethra underwent urethral holmium lithotripsy and cystoscopic removal. All patients underwent reoperation successfully and experienced complete resolution or significant improvement of urinary difficulties. Conclusion A certain proportion of patients experience dysuria after HoLEP, with diverse etiologies. The combination of prevention and treatment can reduce the incidence of dysuria.

This paper discusses the pathogenesis and treatment strategies of skin cancer based on the theory of "spleen deficiency-sweat pore obstruction-toxin accumulation". It is believed that although the disease is located in the skin and body hair， it is not only the localized disorder but closely related to the imbalance of qi and blood of zang-fu （脏腑） organs. The core of the disease is the synergistic disorder of spleen， sweat pore， and skin and body hair. The disease progression follows a dynamic evolution from spleen deficiency with loss of nourishment， initial closure of sweat pore to binding of dampness and stasis with obstruction of sweat pore， and then to cancer toxin consolidation with damage to sweat pore. Based on this， three principles of building earth， opening sweat pore and attacking toxin are established. The method of fortifying spleen and raising the clear aims to consolidate the root and restore validity， with commonly used prescriptions including modifications of Buzhong Yiqi Decoction （补中益气汤）， Liujunzi Decoction （六君子汤） and Guipi Decoction （归脾汤）. The method of opening sweat pores with acrid-moistening medicinals is suggested when dredging and unblocking the sweat pore， commonly using acrid and warm dispersing medicinals， supplemented with herbs that nourish fluids and moisten dryness. The method of clearing heat and removing toxin is to break cancer toxin directly， and modifications of prescriptions such as Wuwei Xiaodu Beverage （五味消毒饮）， Xiaolei Pills （消瘰丸） and Xihuang Pills （犀黄丸） are commonly used. These approaches provide valuable ideas for the prevention and treatment of skin cancer with traditional Chinese medicine.

This paper discusses the pathogenesis and treatment strategies of skin cancer based on the theory of "spleen deficiency-sweat pore obstruction-toxin accumulation". It is believed that although the disease is located in the skin and body hair， it is not only the localized disorder but closely related to the imbalance of qi and blood of zang-fu （脏腑） organs. The core of the disease is the synergistic disorder of spleen， sweat pore， and skin and body hair. The disease progression follows a dynamic evolution from spleen deficiency with loss of nourishment， initial closure of sweat pore to binding of dampness and stasis with obstruction of sweat pore， and then to cancer toxin consolidation with damage to sweat pore. Based on this， three principles of building earth， opening sweat pore and attacking toxin are established. The method of fortifying spleen and raising the clear aims to consolidate the root and restore validity， with commonly used prescriptions including modifications of Buzhong Yiqi Decoction （补中益气汤）， Liujunzi Decoction （六君子汤） and Guipi Decoction （归脾汤）. The method of opening sweat pores with acrid-moistening medicinals is suggested when dredging and unblocking the sweat pore， commonly using acrid and warm dispersing medicinals， supplemented with herbs that nourish fluids and moisten dryness. The method of clearing heat and removing toxin is to break cancer toxin directly， and modifications of prescriptions such as Wuwei Xiaodu Beverage （五味消毒饮）， Xiaolei Pills （消瘰丸） and Xihuang Pills （犀黄丸） are commonly used. These approaches provide valuable ideas for the prevention and treatment of skin cancer with traditional Chinese medicine.

Acute lung injury （ALI） is a life-threatening condition characterized by uncontrolled pulmonary inflammatory responses， presenting high morbidity and mortality rates that pose serious threats to patient health. The pathogenesis of ALI involves complex interactions among pathological mechanisms including immune-inflammatory responses， disruption of the alveolar-capillary barrier， mesenchymal stem cell dysfunction， metabolic disorders， ferroptosis， and alterations in the gut microbiota. The dysregulation of programmed cell death （PCD） has increasingly emerged as a research focus. PCD represents a genetically regulated autonomous process of cell death， crucial for maintaining the internal stability of organisms. Recent studies indicate that multiple PCD modes， including apoptosis， pyroptosis， necroptosis， autophagy， and ferroptosis， participate in the development and progression of ALI by mediating pathological processes such as alveolar epithelial cell injury and vascular endothelial barrier disruption. Current therapeutic approaches for ALI encompass lung-protective ventilation， body fluid management， mesenchymal stem cell therapy， and pharmacological interventions. While these measures may alleviate clinical symptoms， they remain unable to reverse the pathological progression of lung injury. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） possesses the unique advantages of a holistic perspective and syndrome differentiation-based treatment， achieving breakthrough progress in targeted PCD intervention for ALI. It can mitigate pulmonary tissue injury by suppressing inflammatory responses， regulating immune function， and improving coagulation disorders， thereby delaying the onset and progression of ALI. This paper delves into the molecular mechanisms of PCD in ALI， systematically reviewing the effects of TCM extracts， active constituents （terpenoids， saponins， flavonoids， and phenols）， and compound formulas （e.g.， Qingjie Huagong prescription， Maxing Kugan Tang， and Yifei Jianpi prescription） in improving pulmonary epithelial cell function and mitigating lung injury by modulating PCD pathways. This review aims to provide theoretical underpinnings and novel directions for drug development in the clinical prevention and treatment of ALI.

Acute lung injury （ALI） is a life-threatening condition characterized by uncontrolled pulmonary inflammatory responses， presenting high morbidity and mortality rates that pose serious threats to patient health. The pathogenesis of ALI involves complex interactions among pathological mechanisms including immune-inflammatory responses， disruption of the alveolar-capillary barrier， mesenchymal stem cell dysfunction， metabolic disorders， ferroptosis， and alterations in the gut microbiota. The dysregulation of programmed cell death （PCD） has increasingly emerged as a research focus. PCD represents a genetically regulated autonomous process of cell death， crucial for maintaining the internal stability of organisms. Recent studies indicate that multiple PCD modes， including apoptosis， pyroptosis， necroptosis， autophagy， and ferroptosis， participate in the development and progression of ALI by mediating pathological processes such as alveolar epithelial cell injury and vascular endothelial barrier disruption. Current therapeutic approaches for ALI encompass lung-protective ventilation， body fluid management， mesenchymal stem cell therapy， and pharmacological interventions. While these measures may alleviate clinical symptoms， they remain unable to reverse the pathological progression of lung injury. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） possesses the unique advantages of a holistic perspective and syndrome differentiation-based treatment， achieving breakthrough progress in targeted PCD intervention for ALI. It can mitigate pulmonary tissue injury by suppressing inflammatory responses， regulating immune function， and improving coagulation disorders， thereby delaying the onset and progression of ALI. This paper delves into the molecular mechanisms of PCD in ALI， systematically reviewing the effects of TCM extracts， active constituents （terpenoids， saponins， flavonoids， and phenols）， and compound formulas （e.g.， Qingjie Huagong prescription， Maxing Kugan Tang， and Yifei Jianpi prescription） in improving pulmonary epithelial cell function and mitigating lung injury by modulating PCD pathways. This review aims to provide theoretical underpinnings and novel directions for drug development in the clinical prevention and treatment of ALI.

Objective The objective of this study was to analyze the mortality and changing trend of head and neck cancer(nasopharyngeal cancer,laryngeal cancer,thyroid cancer,and oral cancer)in cancer registry areas of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Re-gion from 2010 to 2020,and to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of head and neck cancer in Inner Mongolia Au-tonomous Region.Methods The mortality data for head and neck cancers(nasopharyngeal cancer,laryngeal cancer,thyroid cancer,and oral cancers)in the tumor registration database of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 2010 to 2020 were sorted out,and the China standard mortality of head and neck were calculated by gender,urban and rural areas,and cancer types.The average annual per-centage change(AAPC)was analyzed using Joinpoint 4.9.1.0 software to assess the trend of China standard mortality of head and neck cancers and cancer types.Results The China standard mortality of head and neck cancers in cancer registry areas of Inner Mongolia was 2.85/100,000.The China standard mortality of males(4.24/100,000)was higher than that of females(1.53/100,000),and the China standard mortality in rural areas(2.93/100,000)was higher than that in urban areas(2.79/100,000).The China standard mortality of oral cancer was the highest at 1.16/100,000,and the China standard mortality of nasopharyngeal cancer was the lowest at 0.42/100,000.From 2010 to 2020,the mortality of head and neck cancers increased by an average annual rate of 3.79%(95%CI:1.45%-6.17%),and the trend was statistically significant(P=0.005).The mortality of male head and neck canc-er increased by an annual rate of 7.27%(95%CI:3.05%-11.65%),and the trend was statistically significant(P=0.003).The mortality of females decreased by an average annual rate of 1.08%(95%CI:-4.51%-2.47%),and the trend was not statistically significant(P=0.500).The mortality of oral cancer showed an upward trend with an AAPC of 7.35%(P=0.040),and the mortality of laryngeal cancer,thyroid cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer showed no statistically significant trend(AAPC was3.36%,1.38%and-0.36%,respectively,P>0.05).Conclusion The mortality of head and neck cancer in cancer registry areas of Inner Mongolia Au-tonomous Region showed an upward trend from 2010 to 2020.The prevention and treatment of head and neck cancer should be paid to attention,with rural areas and male groups as the key prevention and control targets.The control measures should be strengthened for high-risk behaviors such as occupational exposure and alcohol consumption,oral cancer prevention and control should be focused on,and HPV vaccination and tobacco control policies should be strengthened.

Objective To analyze the basic characteristics of patients with acute myocardial infarction in a tertiary hospi-tal from 2014 to 2023,and provide references for the prevention,treatment,management,and quality control of this disease.Methods Based on the data from the medical records of patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted to a tertiary hospital from January 1,2014,to December 31,2023,the basic characteristics of hospitalized patients and trends in hospitalization costs were analyzed to summarize the development patterns.Results Over the past decade,the number of hospitalized patients with a-cute myocardial infarction has been increasing,while the average length of hospital stay,average cost per hospitalization,and mortality rate have been decreasing.Among the 19 937 patients,there were 16 037 male patients(80.44％)and 3 900 female patients(19.56％),with a male-to-female ratio of 4.11∶1.The median age for male patients was 60 years,while for female patients it was 68 years,indicating that males tend to develop the disease approximately 10 years earlier than females.Among pa-tients aged 60 and above,the mortality rate is positively correlated with age,while among patients below 60,the mortality rate is negatively correlated with age.The decision to undergo surgery has a significant impact on hospitalization costs.From the per-spective of cost structure,the proportion of consumables has decreased from 69.81％to 54.60％in the past decade but remains relatively high.Conclusion With the advancement of hospital management and medical insurance policies,the diagnosis,treat-ment,and quality of care for acute myocardial infarction have significantly improved.However,consumables management remains a key focus.Men and individuals aged 50 and above should be given special attention.During the diagnosis and treatment process,greater attention should also be given to younger or older patients and female patients to reduce the mortality rate.

OBJECTIVE To provide direction and reference for the adjustment of the discount rate （DR） in China’s pharmacoeconomic guidelines. METHODS Search was conducted on the official websites of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research， health technology assessment agencies in various countries/regions， as well as relevant websites of other upper-middle-income or high-income countries/regions. The recommended DR， adjustment trends， and setting rationales in pharmacoeconomic evaluation guidelines across different countries/regions were then summarized and compared. Based on theoretical derivation and literature analysis， the effects of different DR on the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio （ICER） were examined. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS Among the 40 included guidelines， the base-case DR ranged from 1.5% to 5%， with 5% being the most common value； the range for sensitivity analysis was 0 to 12%. Thirty-six countries/regions applied the same DR to both costs and health outcomes， while in the Netherlands， Belgium， Poland and Czech Republic， DR for costs was higher than for health outcomes. In recent years， Korea， France and Ireland had lowered their DR in response to economic changes， whereas the Netherlands and Czech Republic had raised their DR for cost. The setting of the DR was primarily based on the public project investment interest rate or referred to recommendations from internationally authoritative institutions and other relevant guidelines. The direction and magnitude of the impact of different DR on the ICER largely depended on the distribution of costs and health outcomes between the intervention and reference measure. The setting and adjustment of DR were closely associated with the economic environment. Based on international experience, the DR in China can be lowered by 0.5% to 1.5%， and localized empirical research can be conducted using internationally common estimation methods.