Objective To investigate whether the application of automated software for computed tomography angiography(CTA)and computed tomography perfusion imaging(CTP)can improve in-hospital workflow for endovascular treatment(EVT)in acute ischemic stroke patients.Methods We included patients with acute ischemic stroke who received CTA and CTP evaluation followed by EVT through the stroke emergency pathway at the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University between January 1,2020 and December 30,2022.The patients were divided into two groups:control group and artificial intelligence(Al)group based on whether automated software was used for assessment.The control group consisted of patients who underwent manual post-processing of multimodal imaging before June 2021,while the AI group was composed of patients whose imaging was processed with automated software from July 2021 onwards.The primary outcome was door-to-puncture time(DPT),and the secondary outcome was the 90-day modified Rankin Scale(mRS)score.Results A total of 312 patients were included,with 145 in the control group and 167 in the AI group.The median age of all the patients was 68 years(range:58-74 years),and 55.4％(173 patients)were male.The median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)score at presentation was 16 scores(range:12-19 scores).The median DPT was reduced from 110 min(range:80-150 min)before the use of automated software to 95 min(range:65-125 min)after its implementation(P＜0.001).However,there was no significant difference in the proportion of patients achieving functional independence(mRS score of 0-2)between the two groups(39.3％vs.41.3％,P=0.719).Conclusion The application of multimodal CT automated software improves the in-hospital workflow for acute ischemic stroke patients by reducing the time to EVT.However,the software did not significantly impact neurological functional outcomes as measured by the mRS.

Objective To investigate whether the application of automated software for computed tomography angiography(CTA)and computed tomography perfusion imaging(CTP)can improve in-hospital workflow for endovascular treatment(EVT)in acute ischemic stroke patients.Methods We included patients with acute ischemic stroke who received CTA and CTP evaluation followed by EVT through the stroke emergency pathway at the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University between January 1,2020 and December 30,2022.The patients were divided into two groups:control group and artificial intelligence(Al)group based on whether automated software was used for assessment.The control group consisted of patients who underwent manual post-processing of multimodal imaging before June 2021,while the AI group was composed of patients whose imaging was processed with automated software from July 2021 onwards.The primary outcome was door-to-puncture time(DPT),and the secondary outcome was the 90-day modified Rankin Scale(mRS)score.Results A total of 312 patients were included,with 145 in the control group and 167 in the AI group.The median age of all the patients was 68 years(range:58-74 years),and 55.4％(173 patients)were male.The median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)score at presentation was 16 scores(range:12-19 scores).The median DPT was reduced from 110 min(range:80-150 min)before the use of automated software to 95 min(range:65-125 min)after its implementation(P＜0.001).However,there was no significant difference in the proportion of patients achieving functional independence(mRS score of 0-2)between the two groups(39.3％vs.41.3％,P=0.719).Conclusion The application of multimodal CT automated software improves the in-hospital workflow for acute ischemic stroke patients by reducing the time to EVT.However,the software did not significantly impact neurological functional outcomes as measured by the mRS.

Diabetic nephropathy(DN)is a common complication of diabetes and a leading cause of end-stage renal disease.Transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)/SMAD signaling activation plays an important role in the onset and progression of DN.Reported findings suggest that the activation of TGF-β1(including the latent form,the active form,and the receptors)and its downstream signaling proteins(SMAD3,SMAD7,etc.)plays a critical role in DN.In addition,TGF-β1/SMAD signaling may mediate the pathogenesis and progression of DN via various microRNAs(miRNAs)and long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs).Emerging evidence shows that TGF-β1,SMAD3,and SMAD7 are the main signaling proteins that contribute to the development of DN,and that they can be potential targets for the treatment of DN.However,recent clinical trials have shown that the anti-TGF-β1 monoclonal antibody treatment fails to effectively alleviate DN,which suggests that upstream inhibition of TGF-β1/SMAD signaling does not alleviate clinical symptoms and that this may be related to the fact that TGF-β1/SMAD has multiple biological effects.Targeted inhibition of the downstream TGF-β1 signaling(e.g.,SMAD3 and SMAD7)may be an effective approach to attenuate DN.This article discussed the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms and potential targets for the treatment and prevention of DN by focusing on TGF-β1/SMAD signaling.

Among adolescents, the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has recently increased. A 12-year-old Chinese boy with a one-year history of hyperphagia presented to our clinic. The patient was diagnosed with T2DM one month prior to visiting the clinic and reported undergoing no pharmacologic treatment. Using an integrative medicine approach, including Chinese herbal decoction, berberine hydrochloride tablets, physical exercise and diet control, the patient's fasting blood glucose (FBG) decreased from 8.3 mmol/L to 5.5 mmol/L. Additionally, his glycated haemoglobin decreased from 12.9% to 6.1%, indicating that without any Western medicine intervention his diabetes has been reversed after six months of treatment. His FBG remained normal, and nine months after completion of treatment it was 4.9 mmol/L. A potential mechanism in this response may be related to improved insulin resistance and β-cell function, as indicated by observed changes in homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and β-cell function. Further, weight loss may also have contributed to the effectiveness of the treatment. This case study is the first to present the innovative approach of integrative medicine to achieve remission of new-onset adolescent T2DM.

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of cases of novel coronavirus pneumonia and a preliminary study to explore the relationship between different clinical classification and liver damage. Methods: Consecutively confirmed novel coronavirus infection cases admitted to seven designated hospitals during January 23, 2020 to February 8, 2020 were included. Clinical classification (mild, moderate, severe, and critical) was carried out according to the diagnosis and treatment program of novel coronavirus pneumonia (Trial Fifth Edition) issued by the National Health Commission. The research data were analyzed using SPSS19.0 statistical software. Quantitative data were expressed as median (interquartile range), and qualitative data were expressed as frequency and rate. Results: 32 confirmed cases that met the inclusion criteria were included. 28 cases were of mild or moderate type (87.50%), and four cases (12.50%) of severe or critical type. Four cases (12.5%) were combined with one underlying disease (bronchial asthma, coronary heart disease, malignant tumor, chronic kidney disease), and one case (3.13%) was simultaneously combined with high blood pressure and malignant tumor. The results of laboratory examination showed that the alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin (ALB), and total bilirubin (TBil) for entire cohort were 26.98 (16.88 ~ 46.09) U/L and 24.75 (18.71 ~ 31.79) U/L, 39.00 (36.20 ~ 44.20) g/L and 16.40 (11.34- ~ 21.15) mmol/L, respectively. ALT, AST, ALB and TBil of the mild or moderate subgroups were 22.75 (16.31- ~ 37.25) U/L, 23.63 (18.71 ~ 26.50) U/L, 39.70 (36.50 ~ 46.10) g/L, and 15.95 (11.34 ~ 20.83) mmol/L, respectively. ALT, AST, ALB and TBil of the severe or critical subgroups were 60.25 (40.88 ~ 68.90) U/L, 37.00 (20.88 ~ 64.45) U/L, 35.75 (28.68 ~ 42.00) g/L, and 20.50 (11.28 ~ 25.00) mmol/L, respectively. Conclusion The results of this multicenter retrospective study suggests that novel coronavirus pneumonia combined with liver damage is more likely to be caused by adverse drug reactions and systemic inflammation in severe patients receiving medical treatment. Therefore, liver function monitoring and evaluation should be strengthened during the treatment of such patients.