Objective To investigate the regulatory mechanism of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in different types of mitral valvular disease (MVD) with atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods From August 2011 to August 2012, patients with moderate to severe MVD accompanied by AF who required mitral valve replacement at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, were included. Based on echocardiographic results, patients were divided into two groups: a mitral regurgitation (MR) with AF (MR-AF) group and a mitral stenosis (MS) with AF (MS-AF) group. Left atrial tissue samples were collected during surgery. Techniques such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting were used to detect key molecules in the TGF-β1/JNK pathway. Results Sixteen patients were enrolled. There were 8 patients in the MR-AF group, including 5 males and 3 females, with an average age of (41.38±11.19) years; and 8 patients in the MS-AF group, including 6 males and 2 females, with an average age of (43.12±5.30) years. The left atrial volume load was higher in MR-AF patients, while the left atrial pressure load was higher in MS-AF patients. In MS-AF patients, the relative expression levels of MAPK9, JUN, CASP3, BAX, and BCL2 mRNA in left atrial tissues were significantly upregulated. The serum TGF-β1 protein level and the relative expression levels of p-JNK, p-c-Jun, and Caspase-3 proteins in the left atrial tissues of the MR-AF group were higher. Myocardial cell damage was more severe in the MS-AF group, and the protein expression level of Bcl-2 was higher. Conclusion Different MVD have distinct hemodynamic characteristics. The myocardium of the left atrium in MR-AF patients is more prone to apoptosis, possibly through the activation of the TGF-β1/JNK signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the 30-day mortality risk factors in elderly patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and to construct a nomogram for predicting mortality risk. Methods A retrospective analysis of elderly (≥70 years) HFrEF patients undergoing isolated CABG at Tianjin Chest Hospital from 2010 to 2024 was performed. Simple random sampling in R software was used to divide the dataset into training and validation sets in a 7 : 3 ratio. The training set was further divided into survivors and non-survivors. Univariate logistic regression was performed to identify differences between groups, followed by multivariate logistic regression to select independent risk factors for death and to establish a death-risk nomogram, which underwent internal validation. The predictive value of the nomogram was assessed by plotting receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision-curve analyses for both the training and validation sets. Results A total of 656 patients were included. The training set consisted of 458 patients (survivors 418, deaths 40); the validation set consisted of 198 patients (survivors 180, deaths 18). In the training set, univariate analysis showed significant differences between survivors and deaths for creatinine (Cr) level, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), maximum Cr, intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) use, assisted ventilation, reintubation, hyperlactatemia, low cardiac output syndrome, and renal failure (P<0.05). After multivariable logistic regression, five independent risk factors were identified: IABP use (OR=3.391, 95%CI 1.065-11.044, P=0.038), reintubation (OR=15.991, 95%CI 4.269-67.394, P<0.001), hyperlactatemia (OR=8.171, 95%CI 2.057-46.089, P=0.007), Cr (OR=4.330, 95%CI 0.997-6.022, P=0.024), and BNP (OR=1.603, 95%CI 1.000-2.000, P=0.010). Accordingly, a nomogram predicting mortality risk was constructed. The ROC and calibration analyses indicated good predictive value: area under the curve (AUC) in the training set was 0.898 (95%CI 0.831-0.966) and in the validation set was 0.912 (95%CI 0.805-1.000). Calibration and decision-curve analyses showed good agreement and clinical utility. Conclusion The nomogram incorporating IABP use, reintubation, hyperlactatemia, creatinine, and BNP provides good predictive value for 30-day mortality after CABG in elderly patients with HFrEF and demonstrates potential clinical utility.

Objective: To investigate an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis at a vocational and technical school in Shaanxi Province in 2024, ao as to provide the reference for the handling of school outbreaks. Methods: The conducted case searches, individual case investigations, and on-site hygienic investigations were established in accordance with the Guidelines on outbreak investigation, prevention and control of Norovirus infection (2015). The potential risk factors were analyzed by case-control study. Anal swab samples from cases and all canteen staff, as well as environmental swab samples were collected to detect common intestinal pathogens. All reserved food samples in canteen were collected to test for common pathogenic bacteria. Results: From October 26 to November 5, 2024, a cumulative total of 53 cases were reported, with an attack rate of 1.47%. The main clinical symptoms included vomiting (83.02%), abdominal pain (56.60%), diarrhea (30.19%), and fever (26.42%). The epidemic curve suggested an intermittent common-source outbreak, with no obvious clustering characteristics in terms of the population and spatial distribution of cases. The case-control analysis revealed that having dinner at the rice-with-dishes-on-top stall on the first floor of the canteen on October 28 was a risk factor for illness (OR=11.025, 95%CI: 2.186-55.601). GⅡ norovirus was detected as positive in anal swab samples from 6 cases and 2 asymptomatic infected canteen staff, as well as in 3 environmental swab samples from the rice-with-dishes-on-top stall. The test results for common pathogenic bacteria in the reserved food samples were all negative. Conclusions This outbreak was caused by an acute gastroenteritis epidemic induced by GⅡ norovirus infection, with a transmission pattern consistent with an intermittent homologous outbreak. The possible source of infection was asymptomatic infected canteen staff mainly through foodborne trasmission, and having meals at the rice-with-dishes-on-top stall was the primary risk factor for this outbreak.

The European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) has recently updated and published the "2024 EACTS guidelines on perioperative medication in adult cardiac surgery". Based on the latest evidence, the guidelines have been updated in multiple aspects including underlying disease management, antithrombotic medication, arrhythmia treatment and other supportive care, etc. This paper aims to summarize and interpret the guidelines, in order to promote clinicians’ understanding and optimize perioperative medical treatment in adult cardiac surgery.

Recent advances in large models demonstrate significant prospects for transforming the field of medical imaging. These models, including large language models, large visual models, and multimodal large models, offer unprecedented capabilities in processing and interpreting complex medical data across various imaging modalities. By leveraging self-supervised pretraining on vast unlabeled datasets, cross-modal representation learning, and domain-specific medical knowledge adaptation through fine-tuning, large models can achieve higher diagnostic accuracy and more efficient workflows for key clinical tasks. This review summarizes the concepts, methods, and progress of large models in medical imaging, highlighting their potential in precision medicine. The article first outlines the integration of multimodal data under large model technologies, approaches for training large models with medical datasets, and the need for robust evaluation metrics. It then explores how large models can revolutionize applications in critical tasks such as image segmentation, disease diagnosis, personalized treatment strategies, and real-time interactive systems, thus pushing the boundaries of traditional imaging analysis. Despite their potential, the practical implementation of large models in medical imaging faces notable challenges, including the scarcity of high-quality medical data, the need for optimized perception of imaging phenotypes, safety considerations, and seamless integration with existing clinical workflows and equipment. As research progresses, the development of more efficient, interpretable, and generalizable models will be critical to ensuring their reliable deployment across diverse clinical environments. This review aims to provide insights into the current state of the field and provide directions for future research to facilitate the broader adoption of large models in clinical practice.
Humans ; Diagnostic Imaging/methods* ; Precision Medicine/methods* ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods*

[Objective] To evaluate the efficacy and practicality of autologous platelet-rich plasma (aPRP) in patients undergoing total aortic arch replacement for aortic dissection. [Methods] A retrospective analysis was performed on 483 patients diagnosed with type A aortic dissection who underwent total aortic arch replacement between January 2016 and November 2023. Patients were categorized into two groups based on whether they received aPRP. Baseline characteristics, intraoperative blood product usage and postoperative outcomes were compared between the two groups. [Results] The aPRP group exhibited reduced usage of allogeneic platelets (1.55±1.04 vs 1.60±1.27)U, allogeneic plasma (480.89±432.49 vs 746.50±508.81)mL, allogeneic RBC (red blood cell)(5.95±1.91 vs 6.17±3.52)U, bivalirudin (2.66±1.51 vs 3.31±1.59)U and coagulation factor Ⅶ (0.67±1.03 vs 1.22±1.43)mg compared to the non-aPRP group (P<0.05). The incidence of postoperative hypoxemia was lower in the aPRP group (43.98% vs 48.41%), and the duration of mechanical ventilation was significantly shorter[median 50.91 (interquartile range 18.71, 113.71) vs 83.40 (37.73, 151.98) hours]. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of postoperative mortality, continuous bedside hemofiltration, cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, paraplegia or re-exploration for hemostasis(P>0.05). [Conclusion] The application of aPRP in total aortic arch replacement effectively diminishes intraoperative blood product usage and the incidence of lung injury-related complications. However, it does not demonstrate significant benefits in terms of mortality, cerebral infarction and other complications.

Objective:To summarized the clinical characteristics and surgical management of anterior cervical enterogenic in pediatric patients. Methods:Clinical data were retrospectively analyzed for 9 children with pathologically confirmed anterior cervical enterogenic cysts（including bronchogenic and esophagogenic subtypes） treated at the Children's Hospital of Shandong University（Jinan Children's Hospital） between January 1, 2020, and November 30, 2023. Results:Nine patients（6 males and 3 females） were involved in this study, aged 14 days to 10 years old. There were 4 cases on the left side, 4 on the right side, and 1 in the middle of the neck. All patients presented with neck masses. The patients were followed up from 3 months to 35 months after surgery and recovered well, with no recurrence or complications observed. Conclusion:①Anterior intestinal cysts in children are rare and easy to be misdiagnosed. ②Concurrent branchial cleft fistulas or associated anomalies may coexist, necessitating comprehensive evaluation. ③Preoperative diagnosis is not easy and mainly depends on pathological diagnosis. ④The treatment of anterior cervical enterogenic cysts in children is surgical resection of the lesion.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Child ; Retrospective Studies ; Child, Preschool ; Infant ; Neck ; Cysts/surgery*

Objective: To establish a progressive research strategy for “colonic components analysis - efficacy verification and mechanism exploration - gut microbiota”, screen pharmacodynamic substances, and investigate their mechanism via gut microbiota. Methods: The pharmacodynamics of Gegen Qinlian decoction (GQD) were assessed using a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis (UC). Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometer was used to identify the prototype and metabolic components of GQD in the colon during UC. To analyze the structure and function of characteristic genera of GQD and its active components, 16S rRNA sequencing was performed. Results: We identified 67 prototypic and 14 metabolic components of GQD in the UC colon. The primary prototype components are flavonoids and alkaloids, including puerarin (PUE), baicalin (BAI), and berberine (BER). The metabolism was predominantly sulfonation. Efficacy verification showed that the main active components, puerarin, baicalin, and berberine, had good therapeutic effects on UC. The results of 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that GQD improved UC by regulating the structure and function of the gut microbiota. The abundance of gut microbiota involved in the metabolism of the prototype components was influenced by the corresponding components. The function prediction results showed that PUE was the most comparable to GQD, with 24 consistent pathways. BAI and BER showed comparable gut microbiota regulation pathways. Characteristic pathways of BER include glucometabolic processes. Conclusion This study focused on the key issues in the gut microbiota pathway and developed a progressive research strategy to understand the transformation mechanisms of colonic components. This research systematically analyzed the active components and metabolic transformation of GQD in the colon during the pathological state of UC, as well as changes in the structure and function of the gut microbiota, clarified the mechanism of GQD and its active components in improving UC via the gut microbiota pathway.

Objective:To analyze the degree of intervertebral disc degeneration above and below the vertebral body in pilots with lumbar spondylolysis.Methods:The medical records of 66 pilots who underwent lumbar imaging examinations at the Air Force Medical Center between September 2011 and January 2025 were retrospectively analyzed. The degree of intervertebral disc degeneration was compared between 33 pilots with lumbar spondylolysis and another 33 age-matched pilots without spondylolysis. The spondylolysis group was divided into subgroups with/without spondylolisthesis and unilateral/bilateral subgroups. The degree of disc degeneration above and below the vertebral body was compared between these subgroups using the modified Pfirrmann grading system.Results:The modified Pfirrmann scores of the discs above and below the spondylolytic vertebral body in the spondylolysis group were significantly higher than those at the corresponding segments in the non-spondylolysis group ( Z=-2.39, -4.41, P=0.017,<0.001). In pilots with spondylolysis accompanied by spondylolisthesis, the modified Pfirrmann score of the disc below the slipped vertebral body was significantly higher than that in pilots without spondylolisthesis ( Z=-3.02, P=0.003). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the modified Pfirrmann score of the disc above the slipped vertebral body between pilots with and without spondylolisthesis ( P>0.05). No significant differences were observed in the modified Pfirrmann scores of the discs above and below the vertebral body between pilots with unilateral and bilateral spondylolysis (both P>0.05). Conclusions:Pilots with lumbar spondylolysis exhibit severe intervertebral disc degeneration above and below the affected vertebral body. Spondylolisthesis can continue to exacerbate degeneration in the disc inferior to the affected vertebra.

Objective:To summarize the surgical management strategy for pediatric pancreatic tumors.Methods:Clinical data of 17 children with pancreatic tumors who underwent surgical treatment in Children's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University from January 2018 to April 2024 were retrospectively analyzed, including 6 males and 11 females, ranging in age from 1 month to 13 years, with a median age of 10 years and 2 months. The data of tumor length and diameter, tumor location, surgical method and postope-rative pathology were analyzed. The prognostic data of all children were followed up by regular telephone and outpatient follow-up.Results:In 17 cases, the tumor diameter was (7.3±2.2) cm, 10 cases were located in the head of the pancreas, 7 cases were located in the tail of the pancreatic body, 1 case was accompanied by liver metastasis, and 1 case was accompanied by left adrenal invasion. Among these cases, 10 cases had pancreatic head tumor, 6 cases had simple pancreatic tumor resection, 1 case had laparoscopic pancreatic tumor resection, and 3 cases had pancreatic head resection plus pancreato-jejunal Roux-en-Y anastomosis. Among the 7 cases of pancreatic body and tail tumors, 3 cases underwent pancreatic body and tail resection, 1 case underwent laparoscopic pancreatic body and tail resection, 1 case underwent tumor resection, 1 case underwent pancreatic body and tail resection plus splenectomy plus hepatic metastasis resection, 1 case underwent pancreatic body and tail resection plus left adrenal resection plus splenectomy. Postoperative pathology showed that there were 13 cases of solid pseudopapilloma, 3 cases of pancreatic blastoma, and 1 case of pancreatic cyst. The median follow-up time was 36 months (2-71 months). All patients survived well.Conclusion:Solid pseudopapillary of the pancreas is the most common type of pancreatic tumor in children, with surgical resection being the first choice of of treatment, offering a favorable prognosis postope-ratively.