Esophageal stricture is a common esophageal lesion in adults and children, and endoscopic dilatation is currently the standard treatment. However, high recurrence rate and frequent dilations have become a major problem in patients. Esophageal stents provide sustained dilation therapy but can lead to serious complications such as displacement, perforation, and bleeding, necessitating removal. Biodegradable stents, with the advantage of both dilation and self-degradation, are promising potential solutions to this problem. Currently, biodegradable materials are mainly categorized into metals and polymers, leading to the development of magnesium alloy esophageal stents and polymer esophageal stents. Among polymer stents, poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) stents and SX-ELLA stents have been put into clinical application. In recent years, with the advancement of 3D bioprinting technology, the personalized fabrication of biodegradable stents has become feasible. In this paper, we will outline the current research status and progress of biodegradable magnesium alloy stents and polymer stents, introduce the new process of constructing esophageal stents by 3D bioprinting technology, focusing on the clinical research of SX-ELLA stents in pediatric and adult patients. We will also analyze the existing problems with biodegradable stents and the directions for future development.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of manual acupuncture manipulations (MAMs) on subcutaneous muscle tissue, by developing quantitative models of "lifting and thrusting" and "twisting and rotating", based on machine learning techniques. METHODS: A depth camera was used to capture the acupuncture operator's hand movements during "lifting and thrusting" and "twisting and rotating" of needle. Simultaneously, the ultrasound imaging was employed to record the muscle tissue responses of the participants. Amplitude and angular features were extracted from the movement data of operators, and muscle fascicle slope features were derived from the data of ultrasound images. The dynamic time warping barycenter averaging algorithm was adopted to align the dual-source data. Various machine learning techniques were applied to build quantitative models, and the performance of each model was compared. The most optimal model was further analyzed for its interpretability. RESULTS: Among the quantitative models built for the two types of MAMs, the random forest model demonstrated the best performance. For the quantitative model of the "lifting and thrusting" technique, the coefficient of determination (R²) was 0.825. For the "twisting and rotating" technique, R² reached 0.872. CONCLUSION Machine learning can be used to effectively develop the models and quantify the effects of MAMs on subcutaneous muscle tissue. It provides a new perspective to understand the mechanism of acupuncture therapy and lays a foundation for optimizing acupuncture technology and designing personalized treatment regimen in the future.
Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Machine Learning ; Male ; Adult ; Female ; Subcutaneous Tissue/diagnostic imaging* ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between fish consumption and stroke is inconsistent, and it is uncertain whether this association varies across predicted stroke risks. METHODS: A cohort study comprising 95,800 participants from the Prediction for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in China project was conducted. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect data on fish consumption. Participants were stratified into low- and moderate-to-high-risk categories based on their 10-year stroke risk prediction scores. Hazard ratios ( HRs) and 95% confidence intervals ( CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazard models and additive interaction by relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), attributable proportion (AP), and synergy index (SI). RESULTS: During 703,869 person-years of follow-up, 2,773 incident stroke events were identified. Higher fish consumption was associated with a lower risk of stroke, particularly among moderate-to-high-risk individuals ( HR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.47-0.60) than among low-risk individuals ( HR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.49-0.85). A significant additive interaction between fish consumption and predicted stroke risk was observed (RERI = 4.08, 95% CI: 2.80-5.36; SI = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.42-1.89; AP = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.28-0.43). CONCLUSION Higher fish consumption was associated with a lower risk of stroke, and this beneficial association was more pronounced in individuals with moderate-to-high stroke risk.
Humans ; China/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Stroke/etiology* ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Incidence ; Aged ; Animals ; Fishes ; Risk Factors ; Diet ; Seafood ; Adult ; Cohort Studies

Objective:To explore the short-term oncological efficacy of the total prostatic urethra preservation（TPUP）technique in laparoscopic radical prostatectomy and its impact on postoperative urinary continence rate.Methods:The clinical data of 17 prostate cancer patients admitted to Shaoxing People’s Hospital from July 2023 to July 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. The age was（70.5 ± 6.5）years，the body mass index was（23.6 ± 2.5）kg/m 2，and the prostate-specific antigen（PSA）level was（7.845 ± 3.929）ng/ml. The preoperative biopsy pathological Gleason score were 6 in 8 cases，and 7 in 9 cases. All patients underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy，and the TPUP technique was used during the operation. The integrity of the preserved urethra was improved by preserving the prostatic surgical capsule closely attached to the corpus spongiosum of the urethra. During the operation，the urethra was completely preserved in 2 cases，nearly completely preserved in 14 cases，and partially preserved in 1 case. The recovery of urinary continence on the day of catheter removal and at 1 and 3 months after the operation was recorded. Recovery of urinary continence was defined as pad within 24 hours. PSA was re - examined at 6 weeks and 3 months after the operation. Results:All 17 operations in this study were successfully completed. The operation time was（143.6 ± 31.6）minutes，and the intraoperative blood loss was 50.0（20.0，50.0）ml. None of the cases was converted to open surgery，and no Clavien - Dindo grade ≥ 2 complications such as blood transfusion or intestinal injury occurred during the peri-operative period. The PSA levels at 6 weeks and 3 months after the operation were 0.054（0.008，0.215）ng/ml and 0.008（0.005，0.037）ng/ml，respectively. The indwelling catheter time after the operation was（13.4 ± 2.1）days. The number of cases with recovered urinary continence on the day of catheter removal and at 1 and 3 months after the operation was 10，15，and 17，respectively.Conclusions:The TPUP technique in laparoscopic radical prostatectomy leads to good recovery of postoperative urinary continence，and there is a slowly PSA decrease in the short term.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between lipid levels and cognitive impairment in the elderly Chinese population using prospective cohort data.Methods:Based on the China-PAR (Prediction for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in China) cohort, this study included 24 380 individuals aged ≥60 years who participated in the cognitive function follow-up survey from 2018 to 2019. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), with cognitive impairment defined according to different educational levels: MMSE ≤17 for illiterate individuals, MMSE ≤20 for those with primary education and MMSE ≤24 for those with secondary education or above. Multivariable linear regression and logistic regression models were employed to examine the associations between six baseline lipid indicators and cognitive scores, as well as cognitive impairment. Additionally, restricted cubic splines were used to explore the exposure-dose relationship between lipid levels and cognitive function.Results:The study population had a median follow-up time of 11.6 years, with a baseline age of (59.7±6.8) years. Among the participants, 9 510 (39.0%) were males, and the mean MMSE score was 24.7±6.8. A total of 3 887 individuals (15.9%) were identified as cognitively impaired. The results of multivariable linear regression and logistic regression indicated that total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) levels were not only significantly positively associated with cognitive scores but also significantly associated with a lower risk of cognitive impairment. Each 1 mmol/L increase in these lipid levels corresponded to β values (95% CI) of 0.267 (0.173-0.361), 0.385(0.271-0.499) and 0.331(0.231-0.431), respectively. Each 1 mmol/L increase in these lipid levels corresponded to odds ratio ( OR) (95% CI) values of 0.915 (0.876-0.956), 0.875 (0.830-0.923) and 0.886 (0.848-0.927), respectively. The dose-response curve demonstrated that the negative association was primarily observed within the guideline-recommended optimal lipid level range. Specifically, when LDL-C was less than 3.4 mmol/L and non-HDL-C was less than 4.1 mmol/L, the corresponding OR (95% CI) values were 0.859 (0.796-0.926) and 0.876 (0.818-0.939). Conclusion:Lipid levels exhibit a certain linear negative association with cognitive impairment in elderly Chinese adults, with LDL-C and non-HDL-C demonstrating a stronger effect, particularly within the guideline-recommended optimal range.

Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of B-type natriuretic peptide(BNP)combined with the Evaluation of Guidelines in Syncope Study(EGSYS)score for cardiogenic syncope(CS), and to provide evidence for rapid clinical identification of high-risk patients.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed 366 patients with syncope hospitalized in the department of cardiovascular medicine of Beijing Hospital from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2022.Based on the international guideline diagnostic criteria, the patients were categorized into four groups: neutrally mediated reflex syncope(NMS)group, orthostatic hypotension(OH)group, cardiogenic syncope(CS)group, and syncope of unknown origin(US)group.BNP levels were measured at admission and EGSYS scores were calculated.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis was performed to assess the diagnostic efficacy of individual and combined indices for CS.Results:A total of 366 syncope patients were included, among which 70 patients(19.1%)were diagnosed with NMS, 25 patients(6.8%)with OH, 44 patients(12.0%)with CS, and 227 patients(62.0%)with US.Patients in the CS group had significantly higher BNP levels and EGSYS scores compared to those in the NMS, OH, and US groups(all P<0.001). The AUC of EGSYS score for diagnosing CS was 0.783(95% CI: 0.711-0.855), while the AUC of BNP level for diagnosing CS was 0.805(95% CI: 0.727-0.884). When BNP level was combined with EGSYS score, diagnostic performance was significantly improved, with the AUC increasing to 0.855(95% CI: 0.792-0.918). Conclusions:The combination of BNP and EGSYS score significantly can improve the diagnostic accuracy of cardiogenic syncope, providing a practical diagnostic strategy for the early identification of high-risk syncope patients in clinical practice.

Objectives:To explore the independent and combined effects of sleep duration and physical activity(PA)on the incidence of cardiovascular disease(CVD).Methods:The study subjects were derived from three sub-cohorts of the China-PAR project.Information on sleep and PA was collected from the surveys conducted in 2007-2008,and the incidence and mortality data of CVD were obtained during the follow-up survey from 2012 to 2015.Sleep duration was categorized into≤6 h/d,>6-8 h/d,and>8 h/d,and the PA level was classified according to the tertiles of PA volume(MET-h/d).The Cox proportional hazards model stratified by cohort source was applied to estimate the associations of PA and sleep duration with CVD incidence,coronary heart disease(CHD)incidence,and stroke incidence.Results:A total of 93 933 participants were included.During an average follow-up of(5.82±0.98)years,3 862 CVD events were documented.Compared with the low PA group,the hazard ratios(HRs)and 95%confidence intervals(CIs)of the CVD incidence,CHD incidence,and stroke incidence for the high PA group were 0.73(0.65-0.82),0.62(0.49-0.77)and 0.88(0.76-1.01),respectively.A U-shaped relation between sleep duration and incidence of CVD and stroke was observed.Compared with those who slept for>6-8 h/d,the risk of CVD(HR[95%CI]:1.10[1.00-1.21],P=0.04)and stroke(HR[95%CI]:1.33[1.18-1.49],P<0.01)was higher among participants slept>8 h/d.The risk of CVD,CHD and stroke tended to be higher in the≤6 h/d sleep group.Compared with the high PA combined with>6-8 h/d,the risk of stroke was highest in the high PA combined with>8h/d sleep group(HR[95%CI]:1.74[1.37-2.22],P<0.05),while the risks of CVD(HR[95%CI]:1.69[1.39-2.04],P<0.05)and CHD(HR[95%CI]:1.99[1.41-2.81],P<0.05)were highest in the low PA combined with≤6 h/d sleep group.Conclusions:Adequate physical activity and appropriate sleep duration are associated with lower risk of morbidity from CVD,CHD and stroke.

Objectives:This study aims to investigate the association between Chinese visceral adiposity index(CVAI)and the risk of cardiovascular disease(CVD),and explore the sex differences.Methods:Participants were screened from the three sub-cohorts of Prediction for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in China(China-PAR)project,baseline information on body measure and biochemistry examinations were collected from 1998,2000-2001,and 2007-2008,separately.Participants were followed up to 2015.Cohort-stratified Cox proportional risk models were used to analyze the relationship between CVAI,both in continuous(per standard deviation increase)and categorical(quartiles,with Q1 as reference)scales,and CVD risk in the total population,men and women.The multiplicative interaction between sex and CVAI on CVD risk were calculated.Restricted cubic spline regression was employed to investigate the dose-response relationship.Results:A total of 98 464 participants without CVD at baseline were included.During the 723 508 person-years of follow-up,3 605 CVD events were recorded.After multivariate adjustment,the HRs(95％CIs)of CVD were 1.25(1.20-1.29),1.09(1.04-1.15),and 1.54(1.46-1.64)for per standard deviation increment in CVAI in the general population,men and women,respectively.Besides,compared with Q1 group,the HRs(95％CIs)in Q4 group were 1.87(1.67-2.10),1.33(1.14-1.54)and 3.84(3.09-4.78),correspondingly,and the effect of CVAI on the risk of CVD was significantly higher in women than in men(Pinteraction<0.05).Additionally,there was a positive dose-response relationship between CVAI and the risk of CVD.Conclusions:Elevated CVAI is an independent risk factor for CVD,especially in women.

Objective:To investigate the protective effect of PSD95 on neurobehavioral abnormalities and synaptic damage in cortex induced by hypoxia exposure in mice.Methods:The 3-week-old C57BL/6 male mice were injected with neuron-specific adeno-associated virus through stereotaxic brain after 7 days of normal environment adaptation.The mice were divided into normoxia group(AAV-NC-Nor),control hypoxia group(AAV-NC-Hyp),normal oxygen group with over-expression of postsynaptic density-95(PSD95)(AAV-PSD95-Nor),and hypoxia group with over-expression of PSD95(AAV-PSD95-Hyp).Using a hypobaric hypoxia chamber,PSD95-overexpressing mice were continuously ex-posed to hypoxic conditions for 14 days to establish a hypoxia exposure model.The open field,elevated cross maze and conditioned fear tests were used to detect the neurobehavioral activities of mice,and Golgi staining was used to observe the density of neuronal dendritic spines in cortex.The expression of PSD95,SYN1 and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subtype 2A(NMDAR2A)were detected by Western blot.Result:Compared with the normal oxygen group,the total distance and average speed of exercise in the open field experiment of mice in hypoxia group increased(P＜0.01),the rigidity time of mice in the conditioned fear box decreased(P＜0.01),and the density of dendritic spines in cortical region decreased(P＜0.05).The expressions of PSD95,SYN1 and NMDAR2A were decreased(P＜0.05).After the over-expression of PSD95,the autonomic activity of mice was reduced,the fear memory was relieved(P＜0.05),the dendrite density was reversed(P＜0.05),and the expression of synaptic related protein was increased(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Over-expression of PSD95 can alleviate neurobehavioral abnormalities and decline of fear memory induced under hypoxia exposure,protect neuronal dendritic spine injury in cortical region,and up-regulate the expression of syn-aptic protein.

Objective:To study the risk factors of thyroid nodules in patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods:Data of patients with type 2 diabetes with normal thyroid function admitted to the Department of Endocrinology of Heze Municipal Hospital from January to June 2024 were collected. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of thyroid nodules in patients with type 2 diabetes, and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of each influencing factor.Results:Among 162 patients with type 2 diabetes, 96 had thyroid nodules, accounting for 59.3%. The incidence of thyroid nodules in women was significantly higher than that in men (χ 2 = 4.56, P = 0.034). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age (≥50 years old), overweight and obesity [body mass index (BMI)≥24.0 kg/m 2], high glycated hemoglobin (≥10%), and high total cholesterol ( > 6.5 mmol/L) were independent risk factors for thyroid nodules in patients with type 2 diabetes ( OR = 1.83, 1.67, 1.08, 3.65, P < 0.05), and men was an independent protective factor ( OR = 0.63, P = 0.039). The ROC curve results showed that total cholesterol and total cholesterol combined with glycated hemoglobin could distinguish patients with thyroid nodules from those without thyroid nodules, with AUC = 0.64 and 0.68, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant ( P < 0.05). Conclusions:The incidence of thyroid nodules in patients with type 2 diabetes is relatively high. Age, overweight and obesity, high glycated hemoglobin, and high total cholesterol are independent risk factors for thyroid nodules in patients with type 2 diabetes, and total cholesterol has the ability to distinguish patients with thyroid nodules.