OBJECTIVE To explore the improvement effects of Suting pingchuan decoction （STPC） on bronchial asthma in rats and its potential mechanism. METHODS Male SD rats were randomly divided into blank group， model group， STPC low-， medium- and high-dose groups （4.14， 8.28， and 16.56 g/kg， respectively， based on the crude drug dosage）， and dexamethasone group （positive control， 1 mg/kg）， with 8 rats in each group. Except for the blank group， the other groups were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin and challenged by nebulized inhalation of ovalbumin to establish a bronchial asthma model. From the day of nebulization challenge， rats of each group were administered the corresponding drug solution or normal saline by gavage 1 hour before aerosolization， once a day， for 7 consecutive days. During the experiment， behavioral changes in rats of each group were observed. After the last administration， the levels of inflammatory factors （interleukin-1β， interleukin-18） in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid （BALF）， and oxidative stress indexes [malondialdehyde （MDA）， superoxide dismutase （SOD）] in lung tissue were determined； pathological changes in lung tissue were observed； cell apoptosis in lung tissue， and the mRNA expression of nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing receptor 3 （NLRP3） and the protein expressions of NLRP3， cleaved caspase-1， caspase-1， gasdermin D （GSDMD） and gasdermin D-N-terminal domain （GSDMD-N） in lung tissue were detected. RESULTS Compared with the blank group， rats in the model group showed symptoms such as scratching their ears and noses and frequent sneezing； the lung tissue structure was severely damaged， and there was obvious inflammatory cell infiltration. The levels of inflammatory factors in BALF， as well as the level of MDA， TUNEL-apoptotic cell rate， the mRNA expression of NLRP3， and the protein expressions of NLRP3， cleaved caspase-1， caspase-1， GSDMD-N and GSDMD in lung tissue were significantly increased or up-regulated， while the level of SOD in lung tissue was significantly decreased （ P ＜0.05 or P ＜0.01）. Compared with the model group， the above symptoms and pathological damages of lung tissue in each drug group were significantly improved， and all quantitative indicators （except for the protein expressions of GSDMD in the STPC groups， as well as the level of SOD， and the protein expressions of cleaved caspase-1， caspase-1 and GSDMD-N in the STPC low-dose group） were significantly reversed （ P ＜0.05 or P ＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS STPC can improve airway inflammation and lung tissue damage in rats with bronchial asthma， reduce the level of oxidative stress， and decrease the release of inflammatory factors such as IL-1β and IL-18. Its mechanism of action may be related to the inhibition of pyroptosis activation mediated by the NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD signaling pathway.

Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic value of MRI findings in differentiating between tophus and giant cell tumors of the tendon sheath (GCTTS) in the knee.Methods:The study was a case-control study. The clinical and MRI data of patients diagnosed with knee tophus or GCTTS was retrospectively analyzed at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from September 2018 to September 2024. The study included 23 cases of tophus and 22 cases of GCTTS. MRI sequences, including T 1WI, fat-suppressed T 2WI, and proton density weighted imaging, were evaluated. Parameters including lesion signal intensity and homogeneity, margin, maximum diameter, location (inside or outside the synovial cavity), ligament/tendon involvement, ligament/tendon parenchymal changes, adjacent bone erosion, bone marrow edema, synovial hyperplasia, joint effusion, and periarticular soft tissue swelling were recorded. Independent sample t-tests, χ2 tests, or Fisher exact tests were used to compare MRI findings between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictive factors. Results:Significant differences in terms of maximum diameter, location (inside or outside the synovial cavity), ligament/tendon involvement, ligament/tendon parenchymal changes, adjacent bone erosion, bone marrow edema, and periarticular soft tissue swelling between the two groups were found (all P<0.05). No significant differences for other parameters were observed (all P>0.05). Lesion location and ligament/tendon parenchymal involvement demonstrated the highest sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing the two diseases. The sensitivity and specificity values for lesion location were 0.78 and 0.95. The sensitivity and specificity values for ligament/tendon involvement were 0.78 and 1.00. Multivariate logistic regression identified lesion location (inside or outside the synovial cavity) as an independent predictor for differentiating tophus from GCTTS ( OR=31.48, 95% CI 1.58-625.69, P=0.024). Conclusion:The location of the lesion (inside or outside the synovial cavity) and involvement of ligament/tendon parenchyma are critical factors in differentiating knee tophus from GCTTS. Additionally, lesion location serves as an independent predictor for distinguishing between the two conditions.

Background: Active surveillance (AS) has emerged as a viable management strategy for low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), following pioneering trials at Kuma Hospital and the Cancer Institute Hospital in Japan. Numerous prospective cohort studies have since validated AS as a management option for low-risk PTMC, leading to its inclusion in thyroid cancer guidelines across various countries. From 2016 to 2020, the Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study of Active Surveillance on Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma (MAeSTro) enrolled 1,177 patients, providing comprehensive data on PTMC progression, sonographic predictors of progression, quality of life, surgical outcomes, and cost-effectiveness when comparing AS to immediate surgery. The second phase of MAeSTro (MAeSTro-EXP) expands AS to low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) tumors larger than 1 cm, driven by the hypothesis that overall risk assessment outweighs absolute tumor size in surgical decision-making. Methods: This protocol aims to address whether limiting AS to tumors smaller than 1 cm may result in unnecessary surgeries for low-risk PTCs detected during their rapid initial growth phase. By expanding the AS criteria to include tumors up to 1.5 cm, while simultaneously refining and standardizing the criteria for risk assessment and disease progression, we aim to minimize overtreatment and maintain rigorous monitoring to improve patient outcomes. Conclusion This study will contribute to optimizing AS guidelines and enhance our understanding of the natural course and appropriate management of low-risk PTCs. Additionally, MAeSTro-EXP involves a multinational collaboration between South Korea and Australia. This cross-country study aims to identify cultural and racial differences in the management of low-risk PTC, thereby enriching the global understanding of AS practices and their applicability across diverse populations.

Objective:To analyze the genetic characteristics of varicella-zoster virus（VZV）in Anhui province from 2022 to 2023.Methods:Vesicle fluid and throat swab samples were collected from suspected varicella patients in Anhui province during 2022—2023. Fresh vesicle fluid samples were selected for VZV isolation，and real-time PCR was used for VZV nucleic acid detection. For positive samples，the region containing five single nucleotide polymorphism（SNP）sites in the open reading frame 22（ORF22）fragment was amplified，and PCR products were sequenced to identify viral genotypes. Reference sequences of VZV genotypes were downloaded from GenBank，sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree analysis were performed using Sequencher and MEGA5.0 software. Additionally，four SNP sites in ORF38 and ORF62 fragments were detected to distinguish vaccine strains from wild strains.Results:Among 96 samples from suspected varicella cases，55 of 61 vesicle fluid samples and 21 of 35 throat swab samples were positive for VZV nucleic acid. The virus isolation rate for vesicle fluid samples was 14.75%. Genetic sequencing was successful for 51 strains，all of which were wild strains belonging to the clade 2 genetic branch. Compared with the reference strain of clade 2，the nucleotide and amino acid homologies of the ORF22 fragment were 99.46%~100% and 98.39%~100%，respectively. One strain（2023VZVCZ45）exhibited an A→G mutation at site 37916.Conclusion:The prevalent VZV strains detected in Anhui province during 2022—2023 were all wild strains of clade 2，with no vaccine-associated cases identified.

Turning to critical illness is a common stage of various diseases and injuries before death. Patients usually have complex health conditions, while the treatment process involves a wide range of content, along with high requirements for doctor′s professionalism and multi-specialty teamwork, as well as a great demand for time-sensitive treatments. However, this is not matched with critical care professionals and the current state of medical care in China. Telemedicine, which shortens the distance of medical professionals and the gap of disease diagnosis and treatments in various regions through electronic information, can effectively solve the current problem. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a standardized, high-quality visualization telemedicine round system .Therefore, experts have been organized to search domestic and foreign literature on telemedicine round for critically ill patients and to form this consensus based on clinical experiences so as to further improve the level of critical care treatments in regions.

This article reviews the progress of clinical research on abnormal sounds after ceramic-on-ceramic total hip arthroplasty, with a focus on analyzing the differences between the third-generation and fourth-generation ceramic prostheses. Abnormal sounds generally refer to high-pitched audible sounds (such as creaking, clicking, etc.) during hip joint movement after surgery, which are considered possible precursors to prosthesis fragmentation (for example, patients with abnormal sounds have more ceramic particles in the joint fluid, and some are accompanied by prosthesis fragmentation). The fundamental frequency of abnormal sounds in the third-generation ceramic prostheses ranges from 400 to 7 500 Hz (approximately 1 500 Hz in males and 2 500 Hz in females), while the acoustic characteristics of the fourth-generation ones remain unclear. The reported occurrence time of abnormal sounds varies significantly among different studies, with an average of 6.4 to 40 months after surgery. This variation may be influenced by patient characteristics, surgical technique, and prosthesis type. Abnormal sounds are considered a possible early indicator of prosthesis fragmentation; for instance, higher concentrations of ceramic particles have been detected in the synovial fluid of affected patients, and some cases have been accompanied by prosthesis fracture. The incidence of abnormal sounds with the fourth-generation prostheses ranges from 3.8% to 46.6% (with a follow-up period exceeding 10 years), while the third-generation shows rates of 0% to 19.7% with no difference between the two generations. Although the fourth-generation prostheses are superior to the third-generation in material toughness (flexural strength>1 380 MPa) and hardness, they still fail to solve the problem of abnormal sounds, and the incidence may increase with the extension of the follow-up time (for example, in some studies, the incidence at 10-year follow-up is higher than that at 5-year follow-up). Abnormal sounds are mostly associated with movements such as extreme flexion (e.g., squatting) and walking. Different sound properties (such as friction sound) correspond to specific inducing movements and locations, among which friction sound requires vigilance against the risk of prosthesis fragmentation. The risk factors include patient-related factors (height, weight, activity level, etc.), surgical factors (prosthesis position angle), and prosthesis-related factors (design, diameter, neck length, etc.). Proposed mechanisms include abnormal edge loading, stripe wear, femoral neck impingement, wear particle generation, and prosthesis mismatch. Adverse outcomes include decreased patient satisfaction with life, revision surgery (with an incidence of 0.2% to 4.65%), and prosthesis fragmentation. Currently, there are still controversies in research. Future studies need to focus on special patient groups, surgical techniques (such as robot-assisted surgery), and the optimization of prosthesis materials and designs (such as gradient structures and surface coatings) to reduce the incidence of abnormal sounds.

In recent years, there has been a significant surge in the prevalence of myopia at younger ages in China. Numerous studies have investigated methods for preventing and controlling myopia, including orthokeratology, low-concentration atropine eye drops, light therapy, posterior scleral reinforcement, and traditional Chinese medicine. These approaches can modulate choroidal thickness, blood flow, and target various molecular mechanisms. Orthokeratology and low-concentration atropine demonstrate a thickening effect on the choroid and regulate choroidal blood flow; the use of multi-point defocus control lenses also shows promise in thickening the choroid; the influence of light and light feeding therapy on myopia prevention and control is also reflected in the choroidal thickness and blood flow; and the traditional Chinese medicine has shown good prospect in influencing the microstructure of the choroid for myopia prevention and control. However, the long-term effects of various prevention and control measures on the choroid still need to be explored with a large sample size. This article provides an overview of various methods used to regulate the choroid and prevent myopia. The mechanisms by which these interventions act on the choroid are described to provide new insights and identity novel clinical strategies for myopia management.

Objective To investigate the effects of different anesthesia depths on stress states and inflammatory mediators in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy.Methods A total of 89 lung cancer patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy were selected as study subjects.Based on intraoperative bispectral index(BIS)range,the patients were divided into deep anesthesia group(BIS of 40 to＜50,n=45)and shallow anesthesia group(BIS of 50 to＜60,n=44).Vital signs(mean arterial pressure,heart rate and blood oxygen saturation),anesthesia re-covery time,extubation time,dosage of vasoactive drugs,postoperative pain intensity[Visual Ana-logue Scale(VAS)],postoperative analgesic dosage,perioperative stress state[prostaglandin E2(PGE2),nerve growth factor(NGF)and substance P(SP)],levels of inflammatory mediators[neuron-specific enolase(NSE),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and S100β protein]at different time points(before anesthesia induction,immediately after intubation,before lesion resection and at the end of surgery)and the incidence of anesthesia-related adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.Results Before lesion resection and at the end of surgery,the mean arterial pressure and heart rate in the deep anesthesia group were significantly lower than those in the shallow anesthe-sia group(P＜0.05).The anesthesia recovery time and extubation time in the deep anesthesia group were significantly longer than those in the shallow anesthesia group(P＜0.05).At the end of surgery and on postoperative day one,the levels of PGE2,NGF and SP in the deep anesthesia group were significantly lower than those in the shallow anesthesia group,while the levels f NSE,TNF-α and S100β protein were significantly higher than those in the shallow anesthesia group(P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in the dosage of vasoactive drugs,VAS scores,sufentanil dos-age and the incidence of anesthesia-related adverse reactions between thetwo groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion During one-lung ventilation in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy,deep anesthesia can effectively control surgical stress and maintain stability of intraopera-tive hemodynamics,but it is associated with delayed postoperative awakening and more pronounced inflammatory response.Shallow anesthesia results in faster postoperative awakening and lower levels of inflammatory mediators,but it is associated with more significant intraoperative stress response and unstable hemodynamics.

INTRODUCTION: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a serious but underdiagnosed condition. Demand for the gold standard diagnostic polysomnogram (PSG) far exceeds its availability. More efficient diagnostic methods are needed, even in tertiary settings. Machine learning (ML) models have strengths in disease prediction and early diagnosis. We explored the use of ML with oximetry, demographic and anthropometric data to diagnose OSA. METHODS: A total of 2,996 patients were included for modelling and divided into test and training sets. Seven commonly used supervised learning algorithms were trained with the data. Sensitivity (recall), specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) (precision), negative predictive value, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and F1 measure were reported for each model. RESULTS: In the best performing four-class model (neural network model predicting no, mild, moderate or severe OSA), a prediction of moderate and/or severe disease had a combined PPV of 94%; one out of 335 patients had no OSA and 19 had mild OSA. In the best performing two-class model (logistic regression model predicting no-mild vs. moderate-severe OSA), the PPV for moderate-severe OSA was 92%; two out of 350 patients had no OSA and 26 had mild OSA. CONCLUSION Our study showed that the prediction of moderate-severe OSA in a tertiary setting with an ML approach is a viable option to facilitate early identification of OSA. Prospective studies with home-based oximeters and analysis of other oximetry variables are the next steps towards formal implementation.
Humans ; Oximetry/methods* ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/diagnosis* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Machine Learning ; Polysomnography ; Adult ; Anthropometry ; ROC Curve ; Aged ; Algorithms ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Neural Networks, Computer ; Demography

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on improving motor function and regulating microglial activation based on Notch receptor 1 (Notch1)/Hes family bHLH transcription factor 1 (Hes1) pathway in mice with Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: Thirty-six male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a control group, a model group and an EA group, 12 mice in each group. PD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) for 7 consecutive days in the model group and the EA group. From the 1st day of modeling, EA was applied at "Baihui" (GV20) and bilateral "Shenshu" (BL23) in the EA group, with continuous wave, in frequency of 2 Hz and current of 2 mA, 15 min a time, once a day for 14 days continuously. The behavioral performance was evaluated by gait test, pole climbing test and hanging test, the number of positive cells of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and the co-expression positive cells of Notch1/ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba-1) in the substantia nigra of midbrain was assessed by immunofluorescence, the protein expression of TH, α-synuclein (α-syn), Notch1, Hes1, Iba-1, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), Arginase-1 (ARG1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 was detected by Western blot, the mRNA expression of Notch1 and Hes1 was detected by real-time PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, in the model group, the stride frequency was accelerated (P<0.001) and the stride length was shortened (P<0.001) for the four limbs, the pole climbing test time was prolonged (P<0.01) and the grip level was reduced (P<0.01); in the substantia nigra of midbrain, the number of positive cells of TH was decreased (P<0.001), the number of co-expression positive cells of Notch1/Iba-1 was increased (P<0.001), the protein expression of α-syn, Notch1, Hes1, Iba-1, iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1βand IL-6 was increased (P<0.01, P<0.05, P<0.001), the protein expression of TH, ARG1 and IL-10 was decreased (P<0.01, P<0.001), the mRNA expression of Notch1 and Hes1 was increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, in the EA group, the stride frequency was decelerated (P<0.001) and the stride length was increased (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.001) for the four limbs, the pole climbing test time was shortened (P<0.05) and the grip level was increased (P<0.05); in the substantia nigra of midbrain, the number of positive cells of TH was increased (P<0.01), the number of co-expression positive cells of Notch1/Iba-1 was decreased (P<0.001), the protein expression of α-syn, Notch1, Hes1, Iba-1, iNOS, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β was decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), the protein expression of TH, ARG1 and IL-10 was increased (P<0.05, P<0.001, P<0.01), the mRNA expression of Notch1 and Hes1 was decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION EA can improve the behavioral performance and protect the dopaminergic neurons in PD mice, its mechanism may relate to the inhibition of Notch1/Hes1-mediated neuroinflammation, thus inhibiting the microglial activation.
Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Microglia/metabolism* ; Male ; Receptor, Notch1/metabolism* ; Parkinson Disease/physiopathology* ; Transcription Factor HES-1/metabolism* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Humans ; Signal Transduction