BACKGROUND:Currently,there have been studies on three-dimensional digitalization and visualization systems for adult acupoints,but there are not many reports on the visualization of pediatric acupoints based on real pediatric digital sectional anatomical datasets. OBJECTIVE:To design and develop a digital three-dimensional visualization system for children's neck acupoints,to provide a basis for acupuncture and moxibustion,meridian and acupoint science teaching,clinical practice,acupuncture manipulation practice,and acupuncture safety research,and to provide a basis for the development of children's acupoint simulation system. METHODS:Based on a real cross-sectional anatomical dataset of pre-school boys,a three-dimensional digital virtual anatomical model of the neck region of children and internal multi-organ three-dimensional reconstruction were completed using PhotoShop 2021 and Digihuman Reconstruction System software.A database of 11 acupoints was compiled,including Fengfu and Fengchi,using the Unity database language.A three-dimensional model of children's neck anatomy,acupoint database,and writing acupuncture operation codes were integrated in Unity3D software.A three-dimensional digital visualization system for children's neck acupoints was successfully created,which integrated simulation acupoint positioning,three-dimensional acupoint anatomy,acupuncture training,clinical teaching,and acupuncture safety research. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)This study was based on real child specimens.Manual layer by layer segmentation of cross-sectional images was used to ensure the accuracy of the three-dimensional model to the greatest extent possible.The 3D software Digihuman Reconstruction System was utilized to extract and save independent segmentation data.PhotoShop 2021 software was collaborated with to complete dozens of three-dimensional reconstruction anatomical models of the outer skin of the neck and its internal bone structure,cervical spinal cord,blood vessels and nerves,muscles,and ligaments in children.The basic morphology and overall contour integrity verification of each independent structure were completed in MeshLab software.The 3-material research 13.0 software was applied for final fine tuning and anatomical position confirmation,successfully simulating and restoring the true anatomical morphology of the neck of preschool children.(2)Based on and referring to the national standards of the People's Republic of China,a database of commonly used acupoints in children's neck region was collected and organized,including their names,meridians,positioning,local anatomy,needle insertion levels,acupuncture methods,acupuncture accidents and prevention,acupoint indications,and two-dimensional anatomical sectional images.(3)Unity3D software was employed to integrate the three-dimensional model of children's neck,acupuncture simulation operation,and acupoint database,and a three-dimensional digital children's neck acupoint acupuncture visualization system was successfully constructed.The system displayed information on children's neck acupoints,two-dimensional and three-dimensional anatomical structures,and achieved two-dimensional and three-dimensional acupuncture simulation functions and acupuncture safety research functions for children's neck acupoints.Based on the ultra-thin sectional anatomical dataset of real child specimens,the first three-dimensional digital and visualization system for acupoints in the neck region of children had been constructed.Compared with previous acupoint acupuncture systems,it is more in line with the anatomical and morphological development characteristics of Asian children and has high application value in the fields of acupuncture safety research,clinical teaching,and acupuncture simulation training.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of iruplinalkib for ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC） patients who had not previously received ALK-tyrosine kinase inhibitors （TKIs） from the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system. METHODS Based on the INSPIRE clinical trial， a three-health state partitioned survival model was developed to simulate the progression of disease， with model cycle of 3 weeks and a life-year time range of 15 years； the discount rate was 5%. For the treatment of ALK-positive advanced NSCLC， total cost， quality-adjusted life year （QALY）， and incremental cost- effectiveness ratio （ICER） were compared between iruplinalkib and crizotinib； using 1-3 times China’s per capita gross domestic product （GDP） （89 358-268 074 yuan） in 2023 as the willingness-to-pay （WTP） threshold， the cost-effectiveness of two regimens were compared. The sensitivity analysis and scenario analysis （altering the distribution of survival curves， utility values） were conducted to assess model robustness. RESULTS Compared with the crizotinib regimen， the ICER for the iruplinalkib regimen was 194 412.74 yuan/QALY， which was below the WTP threshold of three times China’s per capita GDP in 2023 yuan）. The results under the scenario of altering the survival curve distribution were consistent with the base case analysis. However， after increasing the utility value of the disease progression state， the ICER exceeded the WTP threshold， and iruplinalkib no longer had a cost-effective advantage. The results of the one-way sensitivity analysis indicated that the cost of iruplinalkib and the utility values of disease progression states had a significant impact on the ICER. The probabilistic sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the base case analysis results. CONCLUSIONS From the perspective of China’s healthcare system， compared with crizotinib regimen， the therapy with iruplinalkib is cost-effective for ALK-positive NSCLC patients who have not previously received ALK-TKIs.

This study aims to develop a fully automated method for tooth segmentation and root canal measurement based on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images, providing objective, efficient, and accurate measurement results to guide and assist clinicians in root canal diagnosis grading, instrument selection, and preoperative planning. The method utilized Attention U-Net to recognize tooth descriptors, cropped regions of interest (ROIs) based on the center of mass of these descriptors, and applied an integrated deep learning method for segmentation. The segmentation results were mapped back to the original coordinates and position-corrected, followed by automatic measurement and visualization of root canal lengths and angles. The results indicated that the Dice coefficient for segmentation was 96.42%, the Jaccard coefficient was 93.11%, the Hausdorff Distance was 2.07 mm, and the average surface distance was 0.23 mm, all of which surpassed existing methods. The relative error of the root canal working length measurement was 3.15% (< 5%), the curvature angle error was 2.85 °, and the correct classification rate of the treatment difficulty coefficient was 90.48%. The proposed methods all achieved favorable results, which can provide an important reference for clinical application.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography/methods* ; Deep Learning ; Humans ; Dental Pulp Cavity/diagnostic imaging* ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods*

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) with radiolabeled SSTR2 agonists is a treatment option that is highly effective in controlling metastatic and progressive neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Previous studies have shown that an SSTR2 agonist combined with albumin binding moiety Evans blue (denoted as ¹⁷⁷Lu-EB-TATE) is characterized by a higher tumor uptake and residence time in preclinical models and in patients with metastatic NETs. This study aimed to enhance the in vivo stability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of ¹⁷⁷Lu-EB-TATE by replacing the maleimide-thiol group with a polyethylene glycol chain, resulting in a novel EB conjugated SSTR2-targeting radiopharmaceutical, ¹⁷⁷Lu-LNC1010, for PRRT. In preclinical studies, ¹⁷⁷Lu-LNC1010 exhibited good stability and SSTR2-binding affinity in AR42J tumor cells and enhanced uptake and prolonged retention in AR42J tumor xenografts. Thereafter, we presented the first-in-human dose escalation study of ¹⁷⁷Lu-LNC1010 in patients with advanced/metastatic NETs. ¹⁷⁷Lu-LNC1010 was well-tolerated by all patients, with minor adverse effects, and exhibited significant uptake and prolonged retention in tumor lesions, with higher tumor radiation doses than those of ¹⁷⁷Lu-EB-TATE. Preliminary PRRT efficacy results showed an 83% disease control rate and a 42% overall response rate after two ¹⁷⁷Lu-LNC1010 treatment cycles. These encouraging findings warrant further investigations through multicenter, prospective, and randomized controlled trials.

Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation) is a specific form of post-translational modification (PTM) predominantly triggered by the activation of poly-ADP-ribose polymerase 1 (PARP1). However, the role and mechanism of PARylation in the advancement of acute kidney injury (AKI) remain undetermined. Here, we demonstrated the significant upregulation of PARP1 and its associated PARylation in murine models of AKI, consistent with renal biopsy findings in patients with AKI. This elevation in PARP1 expression might be attributed to trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4me3). Furthermore, a reduction in PARylation levels mitigated renal dysfunction in the AKI mouse models. Mechanistically, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry indicated that PARylation mainly occurred in receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1), thereby facilitating its subsequent phosphorylation. Moreover, the phosphorylation of RACK1 enhanced its dimerization and accelerated the ubiquitination-mediated hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) degradation, thereby exacerbating kidney injury. Additionally, we identified a PARP1 proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC), A19, as a PARP1 degrader that demonstrated superior protective effects against renal injury compared with PJ34, a previously identified PARP1 inhibitor. Collectively, both genetic and drug-based inhibition of PARylation mitigated kidney injury, indicating that the PARylated RACK1/HIF-1α axis could be a promising therapeutic target for AKI treatment.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of high glucose on macrophage polarization and the role of immune-responsive gene 1 (IRG1) in mediating its effect. METHODS: RAW264.7 cells were transfected with IRG1-overexpressing plasmid or IRG1 siRNA via electroporation and cultured in either normal or high glucose for 72 h to observe the changes in cell viability and morphology using CCK-8 assay and phase contrast microscopy. The protein levels of IRG1, iNOS, Arg-1, IL-1β and IL-10 in the treated cells were detected with Western blotting, and the fluorescence intensities of iNOS and Arg-1 were detected using immunofluorescence assay. The protein levels of IL-1β and IL-10 in the culture medium were determined with ELISA. RESULTS: High glucose exposure significantly reduced IRG1 and Arg-1 expressions, increased iNOS and IL-1β expressions and IL-1β secretion, and decreased IL-10 level in RAW264.7 cells. Transfection with the IRG1-overexpressing plasmid provided the cells with obvious resistance to high glucose-induced changes in iNOS, Arg-1, IL-1β and IL-10, whereas IRG1 knockdown further enhanced the effects of high glucose exposure on Arg-1 expression and the expression and secretion of IL-10. CONCLUSIONS High glucose promotes M1 polarization of the macrophages possibly through a mechanism to inhibit the expression of IRG1 protein, thus leading to chronic inflammatory response.
Animals ; Mice ; Macrophages/drug effects* ; Glucose/pharmacology* ; Interleukin-10/metabolism* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/metabolism* ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism* ; Arginase/metabolism* ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics* ; Transfection ; Inflammation

The central amygdala (CeA) is a crucial modulator of emotional, behavioral, and autonomic functions, including cardiovascular responses. Despite its importance, the specific circuit by which the CeA modulates blood pressure remains insufficiently explored. Our investigations demonstrate that photostimulation of GABAergic neurons in the centromedial amygdala (CeM^GABA), as opposed to those in the centrolateral amygdala (CeL), produces a depressor response in both anesthetized and freely-moving mice. In addition, activation of CeM^GABA axonal terminals projecting to the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) significantly reduces blood pressure. These CeM^GABA neurons form synaptic connections with NTS neurons, allowing for the modulation of cardiovascular responses by influencing the caudal or rostral ventrolateral medulla. Furthermore, CeM^GABA neurons targeting the NTS receive dense inputs from the CeL. Consequently, stimulation of CeM^GABA neurons elicits hypotension through the CeM-NTS circuit, offering deeper insights into the cardiovascular responses associated with emotions and behaviors.
Animals ; GABAergic Neurons/physiology* ; Male ; Central Amygdaloid Nucleus/physiopathology* ; Hypotension/physiopathology* ; Mice ; Blood Pressure/physiology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Solitary Nucleus/physiology* ; Photic Stimulation ; Neural Pathways/physiology*

Given the increasing concern regarding antibacterial resistance, the antimicrobial properties of naphthoquinones have recently attracted significant attention. While 1,4-naphthoquinone and its derivatives have been extensively studied, the antibacterial properties of 5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives remain relatively unexplored. This study presents a comprehensive in vitro and in vivo analysis of the antibacterial activity of 35 naturally sourced and chemically synthesized derivatives of 5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone. Kirby-Bauer antibiotic testing identified three compounds with activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), with one compound (PNP-02) demonstrating activity comparable to vancomycin in minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and time-kill assays. Microscopic and biochemical analyses revealed that PNP-02 adversely affects the cell wall and cell membrane of MRSA. Mechanistic investigations, including proteomic sequencing analyses, Western blotting, and RT-qPCR assays, indicated that PNP-02 compromises cell membrane integrity by inhibiting arginine biosynthesis and pyrimidine metabolism pathways, thereby increasing membrane permeability and inducing bacterial death. In an in vivo mouse model of skin wound healing, PNP-02 exhibited antibacterial efficacy similar to vancomycin. The compound demonstrated low toxicity to cultured human cells and in hemolysis assays and remained stable during serum incubation. These findings suggest that PNP-02 possesses promising bioactivity against MRSA and represents a potential novel antibacterial agent.
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/genetics* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry* ; Naphthoquinones/administration & dosage* ; Animals ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mice ; Humans ; Staphylococcal Infections/microbiology* ; Molecular Structure

Objective To study the effects of sodium cantharidinate (SC) on the proliferation and apoptosis of gastric cancer cells through JAK2/ STAT3 pathway. Methods Gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901 was cultured and treated with different concentrations of SC (0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0, and 16.0 μmol/L) and then transfected with control plasmid or JAK2 plasmid. Cell survival rate, apoptosis rate, and the expression levels of p-JAK2, p-STAT3, p-p38, p-ERK, and p-JNK were detected after 48 h of treatment. Results The results indicated that 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0, and 16.0 μmol/L of SC inhibited cell proliferation, and the survival rate decreased with an increase in SC concentration (P<0.05). SC doses of 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 μmol/L were selected for the subsequent experiments. Compared with the control group, the apoptosis rate of the 1.0 μmol/L SC group exhibited no significant difference (P>0.05), while those of the 2.0 and 4.0 μmol/L SC groups increased significantly (P<0.05). The expression levels of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 significantly decreased (P<0.05), while no significant difference was noted in the expression levels of p-p38, p-ERK, and p-JNK (P>0.05) in the 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 μmol/L SC groups. The JAK2 plasmid was transfected simultaneously with the 4.0 μmol/L SC treatment; the expression levels of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 and the survival rate increased, whereas the apoptosis rate decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion SC inhibits the growth and promotes the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of JAK2/STAT3 pathway activation.

Humans are born under the nourishment of heaven and earth qi.The physiological and pathological functions of the human body are influenced by the alternation of cold and heat in the four seasons.Allergic diseases often occur or worsen during seasonal transitions,corresponding to the theory of the spleen dominating the end of the four seasons in traditional Chinese medicine.Splenic dysfunction disrupts the body's internal clock during seasonal transitions,making it unable to adapt to external climate changes,causing the onset or exacerbation of specific allergic symptoms.The theory of"the spleen serves as the guard"originated from Huangdi Neijing,which is a succinct summary of the role of the spleen in defending the body against external pathogens.The theory emphasizes that the spleen transports drinks and foods internally to supplement healthy qi,and regulates defensive qi externally to protect the whole body.This theory is closely linked to the seasonal changes in immune function,thereby influencing the seasonal onset of allergic diseases.This paper explores the roles of the spleen in time-based self-regulation and immune defense against seasonal allergic diseases according to the theory of"spleen serves as the grard."The dysfunction of this protective mechanism,which leads to disharmony in nutritive qi and defensive qi,internal production of phlegm-dampness,and zang-fu organs malnutrition,are the key factors causing recurrent and persistent allergic diseases during seasonal transitions.This study provides insights for elucidating the mechanisms behind seasonal allergic disease outbreaks and their prevention.