This study analyzes the global patents development and clinical applications of photon counting CT (PCCT) technology in the past 20 years, including the trends of global patent application, the patent portfolio planning, key innovations and technological evolution of top medical device companies. The study utilizes patent retrievals in incoPat database, and then carries out patent navigation analysis. At the same time, with reports of clinical trials and research, the advantages and prospects of PCCT in clinical diagnosis are sorted out. With the rapid growth of the number of patent applications for PCCT, the technologies and clinical trials are becoming increasingly mature. It is expected that in the next few years, more PCCT products will be launched to the market, bringing a more accurate and safe diagnostic experience to radiologists and patients.
Patents as Topic ; Photons ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Humans

Objective:To explore the correlation between the initial estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and all-cause mortality in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing urgent-start peritoneal dialysis (USPD).Methods:The clinical data of 380 ESRD patients undergoing USPD from January 2013 to June 2023 in Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University were retrospective analyzed. According to the median initial eGFR of 6.25 ml/(min·1.73 m 2), the patients were divided into low eGFR group with eGFR<6.25 ml/(min·1.73 m 2) and high eGFR group with eGFR ≥6.25 ml/(min·1.73 m 2), with 190 patients in each group. The baseline characteristics and hematological indexes within 48 h before USPD were compared between the two groups. The patients were followed up until death or until June 30, 2023, and all-cause mortality was recorded. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to evaluate the accumulated survival rate. Multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to identify the independent risk factors for all-cause mortality in ESRD patients undergoing USPD, with subgroup analyses based on age, gender and diabetes. Results:The median follow-up time was 40.7 (21.7, 59.0) months, 112 patients died, with a total mortality rate of 29.5% (112/380). The blood potassium, blood phosphorus, urea nitrogen, uric acid, parathyroid hormone and dialysis age in high eGFR group were significantly lower than those in low eGFR group: (4.1 ± 0.7) mmol/L vs. (4.5 ± 0.8) mmol/L, (1.6 ± 0.4) mmol/L vs. (1.9 ± 0.6) mmol/L, (21.8 ± 7.2) mmol/L vs. (29.7 ± 11.0) mmol/L, (359.8 ± 99.4) μmol/L vs. (429.4 ± 116.9) μmol/L, 242.2 (151.5, 398.3) ng/L vs. 281.7 (189.1, 487.2) ng/L and 36.1 (18.8, 54.0) months vs. 43.7 (28.8, 68.2) months, the diabetes rate, hemoglobin, platelet count, blood chloride, fasting blood glucose and mortality rate were significantly higher than those in low eGFR group: 20.0% (38/190) vs. 11.6% (22/190), (100.6 ± 18.2) g/L vs. (96.1 ± 20.0) g/L, (207.7 ± 72.6) × 10 9/L vs. (192.4 ± 65.6) × 10 9/L, (100.6 ± 4.1) mmol/L vs. (99.4 ± 4.7) mmol/L, (5.9 ± 2.3) mmol/L vs. (5.5 ± 1.9) mmol/L and 34.2% (65/190) vs. 24.7% (47/190), and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01 or< 0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis result showed that the all-cause mortality rate in high eGFR group was significantly higher than that in low eGFR group, and there was statistical difference (log-rank χ2 = 6.64, P<0.01). After adjusting for gender, age and confounding factors, multivariate Cox regression analysis result showed that elevated eGFR, increased mean corpuscular volume and elevated fasting blood glucose were independent risk factors for all-cause mortality in ESRD patients undergoing USPD ( HR = 1.14, 1.04 and 1.15; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.26, 1.01 to 1.08 and 1.03 to 1.29; P<0.01 or<0.05), while female was an independent protective factor ( HR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.92, P<0.05). Subgroup analysis result showed a consistent effect of eGFR on mortality in ESRD patients undergoing USPD. Conclusions:Higher initial eGFR in ESRD patients undergoing USPD is associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality.

Aural vertigo frequently encountered in the otolaryngology department of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） mainly involves peripheral vestibular diseases of Western medicine， such as Meniere's disease， benign paroxysmal positional vertigo， vestibular neuritis， and vestibular migraine， being a hot research topic in both TCM and Western medicine. Western medical therapies alone have unsatisfactory effects on recurrent aural vertigo， aural vertigo affecting the quality of life， aural vertigo not relieved after surgery， aural vertigo with complex causes， and children's aural vertigo. The literature records and clinical practice have proven that TCM demonstrates unique advantages in the treatment of aural vertigo. The China Association of Chinese medicine sponsored the "17th youth salon on the diseases responding specifically to TCM： Aural vertigo" and invited vertigo experts of TCM and Western medicine to discuss the difficulties and advantages of TCM diagnosis and treatment of aural vertigo. The experts deeply discussed the achievements and contributions of TCM and Western medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of aural vertigo， the control and mitigation of the symptoms， and the solutions to disease recurrence. The discussion clarified the positioning and advantages of TCM treatment and provided guidance for clinical and basic research on aural vertigo.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of Bairui Granules （百蕊颗粒） in the treatment of acute pharyngitis with wind-heat syndrome. MethodsA multicenter， double-blind， double-simulation， randomised controlled trial was conducted， in which 162 patients with acute pharyngitis and wind-heat syndrome from 7 centers were recruited， and each center was divided into trial group and control group on the ratio of 2∶1. In the trial group， 108 cases were orally administered with Bairui Granules plus Reyanning Granules （热炎宁颗粒） simulant， and in the control group， 54 cases were orally administered with Reyanning Granules plus Bairui Granules simulant for 5 days， with a follow-up visit on the 6th day. Full analysis set （FAS） analysis and per protocol set （PPS） were used for analysis， respectively. The primary efficacy index was the disappearance rate of sore throat after 5-day treatment； the secondary efficacy indexes were the disappearance rate of sore throat after 3-day treatment， as well as the visual analogue score （VAS） of sore throat before treatment， every day during the treatment， and follow-up on day 6， and the traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome score was performed before treatment and at the follow-up on day 6. The effectiveness on TCM syndrome was evaluated at the follow-up on day 6， and the changes of vital signs， blood routine， urine routine， liver functions， kidney function， the adverse events before and after the treatment were recorded， and safety analysis set （SS） was analysed. Results162 patients entered the FAS and SS analyses， and 158 cases （105 cases in the trial group and 53 cases in the control group） entered the PPS analysis. FAS analysis showed that the disappearance rate of sore throat after 5-day treatment was 80.56% （87/108） in the trial group and 64.81% （35/54） in the control group， and the difference between groups was statistically significant （χ² = 5.10， P = 0.0239）. PPS analysis showed that the disappearance rate of sore throat after 5-day treatment was 80.00% （84/105） in the trial group and 64.15% （34/53） in the control group， and the difference between groups was statistically significant （χ² =4.85， P = 0.0277）. FAS and SS analyses both showed that the difference in disappearance rate of sore throat between groups on 3-day treatment was not statistically significant （P＞0.05）. Compared with those before treatment， the VAS scores of sore throat were lower in both groups during treatment on day 2， 3， 4， 5， and follow-up on day 6 （P＜0.01）， but the difference between groups at each time point was not statistically significant （P＞0.05）. TCM syndrome scores of both groups at the follow-up were lower than that before treatment， and those of the trial group were lower than those of the control group （P＜0.01）. The cure rate and effective rate of TCM syndrome of the trial group were significantly higher than those of the control group （P＜0.01）. There was no significant difference in blood routine， urine routine， liver function， kidney function between groups before and after treatment （P＞0.05）， and no serious adverse events occured in both groups. ConclusionBairui Granules showed clinical effectiveness in the treatment of acute pharyngitis of wind-heat syndrome， and it could significantly improve the clinical symptoms， accelerate the disappearance time of sore throat with good safety.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease （GERD） is a frequently and commonly occurring disease in clinic. In recent decades， with the development in pathophysiology and drug researches， modern medicine has achieved remarkable progress and results in diagnosis and treatment. However， the treatments for non-erosive reflux disease， refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease， proton pump inhibitor resistance， overlap of disease symptoms， and extraesophageal symptoms are limited and ineffective. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） was widely used in clinical practice， which has been proved effective in relieving symptoms and improving the quality of life. Sponsored by China Association of Chinese Medicine （CACM） and undertaken by the Spleen and Stomach Disease Branch of CACM， "the 12^th Youth Salon of Clinical Predominance Disease Series （GERD）" invited 18 authoritative digestive experts of TCM and western medicine to discuss "the difficulties of clinical diagnosis and treatment of GERD and TCM advantages". The focus issues such as modern medical diagnosis and treatment achievements and contributions， improvement and maintenance of symptoms， response to overlapping disease symptoms， reduction and withdrawal of acid suppressors， and treatment of extra-esophageal symptoms were discussed in depth. TCM and western medicine exchanged and complemented each other's strengths， combing the difficulties of modern medical diagnosis and treatment， which clarified the positioning and advantages of TCM and provided guidance for clinical and scientific research.

Vincristine, a widely used chemotherapeutic agent for treating different cancer, often induces severe peripheral neuropathic pain. A common symptom of vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathic pain is mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia. However, mechanisms underlying vincristine-induced mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia are not well understood. In the present study, we show with behavioral assessment in rats that vincristine induces mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia in a PIEZO2 channel-dependent manner since gene knockdown or pharmacological inhibition of PIEZO2 channels alleviates vincristine-induced mechanical hypersensitivity. Electrophysiological results show that vincristine potentiates PIEZO2 rapidly adapting (RA) mechanically-activated (MA) currents in rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. We have found that vincristine-induced potentiation of PIEZO2 MA currents is due to the enhancement of static plasma membrane tension (SPMT) of these cells following vincristine treatment. Reducing SPMT of DRG neurons by cytochalasin D (CD), a disruptor of the actin filament, abolishes vincristine-induced potentiation of PIEZO2 MA currents, and suppresses vincristine-induced mechanical hypersensitivity in rats. Collectively, enhancing SPMT and subsequently potentiating PIEZO2 MA currents in primary afferent neurons may be an underlying mechanism responsible for vincristine-induced mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia in rats. Targeting to inhibit PIEZO2 channels may be an effective analgesic method to attenuate vincristine-induced mechanical hypersensitivity.

The discussion and research on the clinical dominant diseases of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） have attracted increasing attention. Through approaches including modern technology， evidence-based medical methods， and multi-disciplinary treatment， we should construct a sound TCM inheritance and innovation system， establish a collaborative innovation mechanism， and integrate major research projects， striving to make breakthroughs in TCM theory， methodology， standards， and regulation system， promoting the scientific and technological progress of TCM， and thereby improving its curative effect. The China Association of Chinese Medicine （CACM） carried out a series of youth salon seminars for clinical dominant diseases in TCM， discussing and sorting out the advantages of the dominant diseases in clinical diagnosis and treatment of TCM and integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine in specific diseases or fields. Authoritative experts in the industry were invited to give comment and guidance to form a report. Centering on clinical research of dominant diseases， thematic research was carried out in the aspects of practice， human experience-based evidence， and transformation path. Through the systematic study of the dominant diseases， the advantages of TCM in different stages of disease treatment were excavated to constantly improve the prevention and treatment ability of TCM and carry forward the advancement of TCM theory and practice. At the same time， the communication and understanding between traditional Chinese and western medicine were improved， laying the foundation for the further formation of industry guidelines or consensus and comprehensive promotion. These seminars are expected to provide references for the development of policy planning， clinical diagnosis and treatment， health economy， and social services in TCM and lay the foundation for the formation of a new modern diagnosis and treatment system with Chinese characteristics.

In response to the Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Promoting the Inheritance， Innovation， and Development of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） and the spirit of the National Conference on TCM， Chinese Association of Chinese Medicine organized experts in Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery of traditional Chinese and western medicine to discuss the clinical advantages of TCM and integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine in the treatment of allergic rhinitis （AR） and they reached a basic consensus. In recent years， the prevalence of AR has been on the rise， threatening the quality of life of patients and giving rise to a heavy burden to both the patients and the society. AR is resulted from immune imbalance rather than reduced immunity or hyperimmunity， and the imbalance is similar to the Yin-yang disharmony in TCM. In the treatment of this disease， western medicine features rapid onset. However， it is cost-intensive and causes severe surgical trauma， and the recurrence is common. TCM boasts diverse methods for AR， which can be used in all stages of this disease. It has advantages in controlling symptoms such as nasal congestion， runny nose， or dysosmia in the attack stage， preventing recurrence in the remission stage， and treating refractory AR or steroid-resistant AR. In particular， acupuncture enjoys a reputation in treatment of AR， which has been supported by evidence-based medicine and recommended by guidelines. While treating local symptoms of AR， TCM regulates the psychosomatic conditions， which facilitates chronic disease management and long-term follow-up. We should integrate the advantages of TCM and western medicine， give full play to the unique nonnegligible and irreplaceable advantages of TCM， formulate a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment scheme for learning and promotion， and summarize the research outcomes to promote the theoretical innovation of TCM on AR from the perspective of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine.

Ménière's disease （MD） is an inner ear disease characterized by vertigo， tinnitus， hearing loss， and ear stuffiness. Modern therapies such as drugs， surgery， and vestibular function rehabilitation have limited effects in relieving the symptoms and reducing the recurrence. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） can alleviate the symptoms of MD with simple operation and mild adverse reactions while emphasizing psychological adjustment. The TCM treatment of MD is individualized depending on different stages and pathogenic factors. The internal treatment mainly targets phlegm， dampness， water， wind， fire， deficiency， and blood stasis. External interventions include acupuncture and moxibustion. This paper reviewed the published articles about the treatment of MD with TCM. In recent five years， the published studies were mainly clinical trials and experience discussion （or case reports）， and few reports of fundamental research were published. In these studies， the Western medicine diagnosis of MD mostly refers to the Diagnostic Basis and Efficacy Evaluation of Ménière's Disease （Guiyang， 2006） and the Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Ménière's Disease （2017）， while the TCM diagnosis mostly refers to the Criteria of Diagnosis and Therapeutic Effect of Diseases and Syndromes in Traditional Chinese Medicine issued by the National Administration of TCM in 1994. The efficacy was mostly evaluated based on clinical efficacy， scales， syndrome scores， pure tone audiometry， etc.， while caboratory indexes were rarely used. The available clinical studies about the treatment of MD with TCM generally have low quality of evidence and single intervention means. In the future， the research on the treatment of MD with TCM can be improved by standardizing the research program， improving the quality of evidence， exploring more intervention methods， and strengthening basic research.

Lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans is a clinical manifestation of atherosclerosis in the lower extremities.At present, the main treatment methods include stent implantation, balloon angioplasty.However the incidence of restenosis after interventional surgery is high, which seriously affects the effect of surgical treatment and the prognosis of patients.This article reviews the mechanism, influencing factors and the latest progress in the prevention and treatment of vascular restenosis after arteriosclerosis obliterans of the lower extremity orteriosclerosis obliterans intervention, which is of important clinical significance to the early prevention and treatment of instent restenosis.