OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To analyze the auxiliary diagnostic effect of oral cone beam computed tomography(CBCT)in root canal treatment of flight personnel.Methods Eighty flight personnel who underwent root canal treatment in Qingdao Special Service Rehabilitation Center of the Navy from February 2020 to February 2022 were enrolled in this study.All the patients received X-ray examination and oral CBCT.The number of detected root canals,root canal localization,and root canal treatment were analyzed.Results There were 235 root canals in the 80 patients.The detection rate of oral CBCT was significantly higher than that of X-ray examination(94.47%vs 87.66%,P<0.05).A total of 206 root canals were detected by both detection methods,and the Kappa value for consistency in the number of root canals detected was 0.643(P<0.05).The successful rate of root canal negotiation assisted by oral CBCT was significantly higher than that of X-ray examination(90.64%vs 82.98%,P<0.05).Conclusion Oral CBCT can effectively assist in the detection of complex root canals,increase the number of detected root canals and assist in the location of the root canals,check the calcification of root canals,and guide root canal negotiation,which provide a guarantee for complex root canal treatment of flight personnel.

Objective To explore the pioneering symptoms of the gastrointestinal symptom cluster and their influencing factors in gastric cancer patients with chemotherapy.Methods Based on the hospital's management system for scientific research data,463 gastric cancer patients with chemothera-py were surveyed through multicenter collaboration by the corresponding module of the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory(MDASI),the Chinese Medicine Constitution Classification and Identification Standard,and the Chinese Medicine SyndromeIdentification Standard for Gastric Cancer.IBM SPSS Statistic 22.0 and IBM SPSS Modeler 18.0 were used for data analysis.Results The first occurrence of dry mouth in the gastrointestinal symptom cluster of gastric cancer patients with chemotherapy was(22.99±10.70)hours after chemotherapy.The support,confidence,and lift for the association be-tween dry mouth and decreased appetite were 62.2％,94.8％and 1.52,respectively;for dry mouth and nausea,the numerical values were 62.2％,89.6％and 1.44;for dry mouth and vomiting,the numerical values were 62.2％,79.5％and 1.28.The results of one-way ANOVA and multivariate linear regression analysis showed that alcohol consumption,syndrome of stomach heat injuring yin,and phlegm-dampness constitution were independent influencing factors for dry mouth in gastric cancer patients with chemotherapy(P＜0.05).Conclusion Dry mouth,as a pioneering symptom of the gastroin-testinal symptom cluster,is of great significance in clinical assessment and management.Improved assessment of dry mouth can provide a basis for the construction of subsequent risk prediction model,the formulation of targeted interventions,and the enhancement of symptom management efficiency.

Postoperative infection of internal fixation of closed fractures the lower limbs in adults represents a devastating complication, characterized by diagnostic challenges, prolonged treatment duration and high disability rates. Current management of these infections faces multiple challenges, such as difficulties in early accurate diagnosis, and various controversies about the treatment plan, leading to poor overall diagnosis and treatment results. To address these issues, based on evidence-based medicine and principles with emphasis on scientific rigor, clinical applicability and innovation, the Trauma Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, Orthopedic Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, Orthopedics Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, and Trauma Orthopedics and Polytrauma Group of the Resuscitation and Emergency Committee of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association have collaboratively organized a panel of relevant experts to develop the Guideline for diagnosis and treatment of infection after internal fixation of closed lower limb fractures in adults ( version 2025). The guideline proposed 10 recommendations, aiming to provide a foundation for standardized diagnosis and treatment of postoperative infection in adults with closed lower limb fractures.

Prostate cancer (PCa) ranks as the second most prevalent malignancy among men worldwide. Early diagnosis, personalized treatment, and prognosis prediction of PCa play a crucial role in improving patients' survival rates. The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly the utilization of deep learning (DL) algorithms, has brought about substantial progress in assisting the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis prediction of PCa. The introduction of the foundation model has revolutionized the application of AI in medical treatment and facilitated its integration into clinical practice. This review emphasizes the clinical application of AI in PCa by discussing recent advancements from both pathological and imaging perspectives. Furthermore, it explores the current challenges faced by AI in clinical applications while also considering future developments, aiming to provide a valuable point of reference for the integration of AI and clinical applications.
Humans ; Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Male ; Artificial Intelligence ; Deep Learning ; Prognosis

The chemical components of Carthami Flos were investigated by using macroporous resin, silica gel column chromatography, reversed-phase octadecylsilane(ODS) column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20, and semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). The planar structures of the compounds were established based on their physicochemical properties and ultraviolet-visible(UV-Vis), infrared(IR), high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry(HR-ESI-MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) spectroscopic technology. The absolute configurations were determined by comparing the calculated and experimental electronic circular dichroism(ECD). Six flavonoid C-glycosides were isolated from the 30% ethanol elution fraction of macroporous resin obtained from the 95% ethanol extract of Carthami Flos, and identified as saffloquinoside F(1), 5-hydroxysaffloneoside(2), iso-5-hydroxysaffloneoside(3), isosafflomin C(4), safflomin C(5), and vicenin 2(6). Among these, the compounds 1 to 3 were new chalcone C-glycosides. The compounds 1, 2, 4, and 5 could significantly increase the viability of H9c2 cardiomyocytes damaged by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation(OGD/R) at a concentration of 50 μmol·L~(-1), showing their good cardioprotective activity.
Glycosides/pharmacology* ; Flowers/chemistry* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Carthamus tinctorius/chemistry* ; Chalcones/pharmacology* ; Animals

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia in the elderly. This study aimed to evaluate urban-rural disparities in its prevalence and management in elderly Chinese. METHODS: Consecutive participants aged ≥ 65 years attending outpatient clinics were enrolled for AF screening using handheld single-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) from April 2017 to December 2022. Each ECG rhythm strip was reviewed from the research team. AF or uninterpretable single-lead ECGs were referred for 12-lead ECG. Primary study outcome comparison was between rural and urban areas for the prevalence of AF. The Student's t-test was used to compare mean values of clinical characteristics between rural and urban participants, while the Pearson's chi-square test was used to compare between-group proportions. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the association between AF and various patient characteristics. RESULTS: The 29,166 study participants included 13,253 men (45.4%) and had a mean age of 72.2 years. The 7073 rural participants differed significantly (P ≤ 0.02) from the 22,093 urban participants in several major characteristics, such as older age, greater body mass index, and so on. The overall prevalence of AF was 4.6% (n = 1347). AF was more prevalent in 7073 rural participants than 22,093 urban participants (5.6% vs. 4.3%, P < 0.01), before and after adjustment for age, body mass index, blood pressure, pulse rate, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and prior medical history. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified overweight/obesity (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.17-1.54) in urban areas and cigarette smoking (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.20-2.17) and alcohol consumption (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.04-1.93) in rural areas as specific risk factors for prevalent AF. In patients with known AF in urban areas (n = 781) and rural areas (n = 338), 60.6% and 45.9%, respectively, received AF treatment (P < 0.01), and only 22.4% and 17.2%, respectively, received anticoagulation therapy (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS In China, there are urban-rural disparities in AF in the elderly, with a higher prevalence and worse management in rural areas than urban areas. Our study findings provide insight for health policymakers to consider urban-rural disparity in the prevention and treatment of AF.

Objective:To investigate the effect of nuclear receptor subfamily 2 group F member 2(NR2F2)on the biological behaviors of human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells,and to clarify its molecular mechauism and provide the new idea for treatment of ovarian cancer.Methods:Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis(GEPIA)Database analyse the expression level of NR2F2 gene in ovarian tissue,and analyse its correlation with clinical prognosis of ovarian cancer patients.The human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells were divided into control group and NR2F2 over-expression(NR2F2 OE)group,which were transfected with mCherry control virus and NR2F2 OE over-expression virus,respectively,when the cell deusity reached 70％,and the stable transfection SKOV3 cell lines were screened with puromycin(puro)48h lafter.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)and Western blotting methods were used to detect the transfection efficiencies of the cells;RT-qPCR method was used to detect the expression levels of NR2F2 and sex-determining region Y-box 2(SOX2)mRNA in the cells in two groups;Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of NR2F2,ATP-binding cassette superfamily G member 2(ABCG2),and programmed cell death 1-ligand 1(PD-L1)protcins in the cells in two groups.CCK-8 assay was used to detect the proliferation activities of the cells in two groups;Wound assay was used to detect the migration rates of the cells in two groups;Transwell chamber assay was used to detect the number of transmembrane cells;Spheroidization assay was used to detect the numbers of spheroids in the cells;peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)-mediated tumor cell killing assay was used to detect the relative densities of surviving tumor cells;CCK-8 assay was used to detect the half maximal inhibitory concentration(IC50)of paclitaxel(PTX)and carboplatin(CBP).Results:Compared with normal ovarian tissue,the expression level of NR2F2 gene in ovarian tumor tissue was decreased(P＜0.05),and decreased with the improvement of clinical pathological grading of ovarian tumor.The patients with higher expression level of NR2F2 gene had better clincal prognosis.The SKOV3 cells with NR2F2 over-expresson were successfully constructed,and the expression levels of NR2F2 mRNA and protein in the cells in NR2F2 OE group were increased compared with control group(P＜0.001).The CCK-8 assay results showed that compared with control group,the proliferation activities of the cells in NR2F2 OE group were decreased at different time points(1,2,3,and 4 d)(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The cell wound assay results showed that compared with control group,the migration rate of the cells in NR2F2 OE group was decreased(P＜0.001).The Transwell assay results showed that compared with control group,the number of transmembrane cells in NR2F2 OE group was decreased(P＜0.01).Compared with control group,the number of the spheroids in NR2F2 OE group was decreased(P＜0.05),and the expression levels of SOX2 mRNA(P＜0.01)and protein(P＜0.001)were increased.Compared with control group,the relative density of surviving tumor cells in NR2F2 OE group was decreased,but the difference was not significant(P＜0.05),and the expression level of PD-L1 protein was decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with control group,the proliferation activities of cells in NR2F2 OE group were decreased(P＜0.05),and the drug sensitivities of the cells to PTX and CBP were enhanced(P＜0.05);the IC50 of PTX was significantly reduced,while the IC50of CBP could not be calculated due to excessively high drug concentration;the expression level of ABCG2 protein was decreased(P＜0.05).Conclusion:The over-expression of NR2F2 may inhibit the proliferation,migration,and invasion of the human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells,decrease the expression levels of SOX2,PD-L1 and ABCG2 proteins,suppress the stemness and immune evasion ability of the SKOV3 cells,and enhance the sensitivities of the SKOV3 cells to PTX and CBP.

Objective:To discuss the effect of long non-coding RNA(lncRNA)LINC00973 on the migration,invasion,and distant metastasis of epithelial ovarian cancer,and to clarify its molecular mechanism.Methods:The human ovarian cancer SKOV3 and OVCAR3 cells were divided into EF1a-FH empty vector control group(control group),LINC00973 overexpression group(LINC00973 OE group),U6-shRNA empty vector control group(SHV group),and LINC00973 knockdown group(LINC00973 KD group),and were transfected with lentivirus containing nonsense sequence(pLent-EF1a-FH-CMV-copGFP-P2A-Puro),LINC00973 overexpression,nonsense sequence(pLent-U6-shRNA-CMV-copGFP-P2A-Puro)and LINC00973 shRNA,respectively,followed by puromycin screening to obtain stably transfected SKOV3 and OVCAR3 cells.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)method was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of target genes in the cells in various groups;wound healing assay was used to detect the migration rate of the cells in various groups;Transwell chamber assay was used to detect the number of transmembrane cells in various groups;The mice were divided into control group(WT group),LINC00973 OE group,and LINC00973 KD group,with 4 mice in each group.SKOV3 wild-type cells,LINC00973 OE cells,and LINC00973 KD cells were intraperitoneally injected into the mice in various groups,respectively,to establish the epithelial ovarian cancer intraperitoneal implantation and metastasis model;HE staining was used to observe the morphology of the colon and liver tissues of the mice in various groups;RNA-secquencing(RNA-seq)was used to analyze the differentially expressed genes between SHV and LINC00973 KD groups in the SKOV3 cell line;RT-qPCR method was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of LINC00973 in the normal ovarian epithelial cells IOSE-80 and epithelial ovarian cancer cells SKOV3,A2780 and OVCAR3,the mRNA expression levels of LINC00973,Vimentin,Snail family transcriptional repressor 1(Snail),Twist family basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor 1(Twist),zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1(ZEB1),zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2(ZEB2),CXCL8 and matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)16 in the cells in various groups,and the mRNA expression levels of LINC00973,Vimentin and Twist in liver and colon tissues of the mice in various groups.Results:Compared with normal ovarian epithelial cells IOSE-80,the expression level of LINC00973 mRNA in the epithelial ovarian cancer cells SKOV3,OVCAR3 and A2780 was significantly increased(P<0.01),with the highest expression level of LINC00973 in SKOV3 and OVCAR3 cells,which were therefore selected for subsequent experiments.In SKOV3 and OVCAR3 cells,compared with control group,the expression level of LINC00973 mRNA in the cells in LINC00973 OE group was increased(P<0.01);compared with SHV group,the expression level of LINC00973 mRNA in the cells in LINC00973 KD group was decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),indicating successful construction of LINC00973 overexpression and knockdown cell lines.In SKOV3 cells,compared with control group,the mRNA expression levels of Vimentin and Twist in LINC00973 OE group were increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),while no significant difference was observed in Snail mRNA expression level(P>0.05);compared with SHV group,the mRNA expression levels of Vimentin,Snail and Twist in LINC00973 KD group were decreased(P<0.01).In OVCAR3 cells,compared with control group,the mRNA expression levels of Vimentin,Snail and Twist in LINC00973 OE group were increased(P<0.01);compared with SHV group,the expression levels of Vimentin,Snail,and mRNA Twist in LINC00973 KD group were decreased(P<0.01).The wound healing assay results showed that compared with control group,the wound healing rates of the SKOV3 and OVCAR3 cells in LINC00973 OE group were significantly increased(P<0.01);compared with SHV group,the wound healing rates of the cells in LINC00973 KD group were significantly decreased(P<0.01).The Transwell chamber assay results showed that compared with control group,the numbers of transmembrane cells of the SKOV3 and OVCAR3 cells in LINC00973 OE group were significantly increased(P<0.01);compared with SHV group,the numbers of transmembrane cells in LINC00973 KD group were significantly decreased(P<0.01).Compared with WT group,the number of peritoneal nodules in LINC00973 OE group was increased,with rough liver surface and multiple nodules formed on mesentery and colon surface,and the expression levels of LINC00973,Vimentin,and Twist mRNA in colon tissue were increased(P<0.01);compared with WT group,no nodules were formed in the peritoneal cavity of LINC00973 KD group,with smooth liver surface,no nodules in liver tissue,and decreased expression levels of LINC00973,Vimentin,and Twist mRNA,and no nodules were observed on mesentery and colon surface.The HE staining results showed that compared with WT group,the multiple lesions were observed in liver and colon tissues in LINC00973 OE group,manifested as uneven cell size,irregular shape,unclear cell boundaries,increased nuclear division,and uneven red staining in cytoplasm,while in LINC00973 KD group,the cells in liver and colon tissues were arranged neatly with regular shape,and uniform distribution of nuclei and cytoplasm.The RNA-seq results showed that compared with SHV group,no key signaling pathways related to tumor metastasis were enriched in LINC00973 KD group,and the transcription levels of metastasis-related genes CXCL8,MMP16,ZEB1,and ZEB2 were decreased.The RT-qPCR results showed that compared with control group,the expression levels of ZEB1,ZEB2,CXCL8,and MMP16 mRNA in the cells in LINC00973 OE group were significantly increased(P<0.01);compared with SHV group,the expression levels of ZEB1,ZEB2,CXCL8,and MMP16 mRNA in the cells in LINC00973 KD group were significantly decreased(P<0.01).Conclusion:LINC00973 can up-regulate the expression of metastasis-related factors Vimentin,Snail,Twist,ZEB1,ZEB2,CXCL8,and MMP16,and promote the migration,invasion,and distant metastasis of epithelial ovarian cancer.