BACKGROUND: Spicy food consumption has been reported to be inversely associated with mortality from multiple diseases. However, the effect of spicy food intake on the incidence of vascular diseases in the Chinese population remains unclear. This study was conducted to explore this association. METHODS: This study was performed using the large-scale China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) prospective cohort of 486,335 participants. The primary outcomes were vascular disease, ischemic heart disease (IHD), major coronary events (MCEs), cerebrovascular disease, stroke, and non-stroke cerebrovascular disease. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the association between spicy food consumption and incident vascular diseases. Subgroup analysis was also performed to evaluate the heterogeneity of the association between spicy food consumption and the risk of vascular disease stratified by several basic characteristics. In addition, the joint effects of spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of vascular disease were also evaluated, and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the reliability of the association results. RESULTS: During a median follow-up time of 12.1 years, a total of 136,125 patients with vascular disease, 46,689 patients with IHD, 10,097 patients with MCEs, 80,114 patients with cerebrovascular disease, 56,726 patients with stroke, and 40,098 patients with non-stroke cerebrovascular disease were identified. Participants who consumed spicy food 1-2 days/week (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = [0.93, 0.97], P <0.001), 3-5 days/week (HR = 0.96, 95% CI = [0.94, 0.99], P = 0.003), and 6-7 days/week (HR = 0.97, 95% CI = [0.95, 0.99], P = 0.002) had a significantly lower risk of vascular disease than those who consumed spicy food less than once a week ( Ptrend <0.001), especially in those who were younger and living in rural areas. Notably, the disease-based subgroup analysis indicated that the inverse associations remained in IHD ( Ptrend = 0.011) and MCEs ( Ptrend = 0.002) risk. Intriguingly, there was an interaction effect between spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of IHD ( Pinteraction = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS Our findings support an inverse association between spicy food consumption and vascular disease in the Chinese population, which may provide additional dietary guidance for the prevention of vascular diseases.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Prospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Vascular Diseases/etiology* ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology* ; Adult ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Cerebrovascular Disorders/epidemiology* ; East Asian People

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the leading malignancy in China in terms of both incidence and mortality. With increased health awareness and the widespread use of low-dose computed tomography (CT), early diagnosis rates have been steadily improving. Surgical intervention remains the primary treatment option for early-stage lung cancer, and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has become a common approach due to its minimal invasiveness and rapid recovery. However, post-discharge recovery remains incomplete, underscoring the importance of postoperative care. Traditional follow-up methods, lack standardization, consume significant medical resources, and increase the burden of the patients. Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven disease management platforms offer a novel solution to optimize postoperative follow-up. This study followed 463 lung cancer surgery patients using an AI-based platform, aiming to identify common postoperative issues, propose solutions, improve quality of life, reduce recurrence-related costs, and promote AI integration in healthcare. METHODS: Using the AI disease management platform, this study integrated educational videos, collaboration between healthcare teams and AI assistants, daily health logs, health assessment forms, and personalized interventions to monitor postoperative recovery. The postoperative rehabilitation status of the patients was assessed by the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ-MC). Two independent t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze the causes of postoperative cough in lung cancer. RESULTS: Most issues occurred within 7 d post-discharge, significantly declined on 14 d post-discharge. Factors such as gender, smoking history, and surgical approaches were found to influence cough recovery. The incidence of cough on 7 d post-discharge in females was higher than that in males (P<0.01), while the incidence of cough on 14 d post-discharge in elderly patients was lower than that in young patients (P=0.03). The AI-based platform effectively addressed cough, pain, and sleep disturbances through phased interventions. CONCLUSIONS The AI-based platform significantly enhanced postoperative management efficiency and the self-care capabilities of the patients, particularly in phased cough management. Future integration with wearable devices could enable more precise and personalized postoperative care, further advancing the application of AI technology across multidisciplinary healthcare domains.
Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/rehabilitation* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Patient Discharge ; Artificial Intelligence ; Adult ; Postoperative Care ; Postoperative Period ; Disease Management ; Quality of Life

Digital technologies have become an integral part of complete denture restoration. With advancement in computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM), tools such as intraoral scanning, facial scanning, 3D printing, and numerical control machining are reshaping the workflow of complete denture restoration. Unlike conventional methods that rely heavily on clinical experience and manual techniques, digital technologies offer greater precision, predictability, and efficacy. They also streamline the process by reducing the number of patient visits and improving overall comfort. Despite these improvements, the clinical application of digital complete denture restoration still faces challenges that require further standardization. The major issues include appropriate case selection, establishing consistent digital workflows, and evaluating long-term outcomes. To address these challenges and provide clinical guidance for practitioners, this expert consensus outlines the principles, advantages, and limitations of digital complete denture technology. The aim of this review was to offer practical recommendations on indications, clinical procedures and precautions, evaluation metrics, and outcome assessment to support digital restoration of complete denture in clinical practice.
Humans ; Denture, Complete ; Computer-Aided Design ; Denture Design/methods* ; Consensus ; Printing, Three-Dimensional

Objective To analyze the level of occupational health literacy (OHL) and mental health status in key populations in Jiangsu Province, and explore the impact of OHL on occupational stress, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and insomnia symptoms. Methods A total of 11 181 workers from Jiangsu Province from April to December 2023 were selected as the research subjects using a combination of stratified cluster random sampling and probability proportional sampling method. The OHL levels of the workers, as well as their occupational stress, depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and insomnia symptoms, were investigated using the Occupational Health Literacy Questionnaire of National Key Populations (including Occupational Health Literacy Scale, Core Occupational Stress Scale, Patient Health Questionaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale, and Self-Sleep Management Questionnaire). Results The OHL level of the research subjects was 41.7%, and the literacy levels of the four dimensions of occupational health legal knowledge, basic knowledge of occupational health protection, basic skills of occupational health protection, and healthy working style and behavior were 40.6%, 76.4%, 28.0% and 54.4%, respectively. The detection rates of occupational stress, depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and insomnia symptoms were 21.8%, 17.7%, 26.4% and 29.6%, respectively. The result of multivariable logistic analysis showed that participants with adequate OHL had a lower risk of occupational stress, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and insomnia symptoms than those without adequate OHL (all P<0.01) after controlling individual and occupational confounding factors. The odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were 0.448(0.402-0.499), 0.664(0.593-0.742), 0.705(0.639-0.777) and 0.885(0.809-0.969), respectively. Conclusion OHL is an independent influencing factor for occupational stress, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and insomnia symptoms in key populations from Jiangsu Province. Effective measures should be taken to improve the OHL level of workers, to reduce the risks of occupational stress, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and insomnia symptoms.

Background::Liver cancer is largely resistant to chemotherapy. This study aimed to identify the effective chemotherapeutics for β-catenin-activated liver cancer which is caused by gain-of-function mutation of catenin beta 1 ( CTNNB1), the most frequently altered proto-oncogene in hepatic neoplasms. Methods::Constitutive β-catenin-activated mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) were established by deleting exon 3 ( β-cateninΔ(ex3)/+ ), the most common mutation site in CTNNB1 gene. A screening of 12 widely used chemotherapy drugs was conducted for the ones that selectively inhibited β-cateninΔ(ex3)/+ but not for wild-type MEFs. Untargeted metabolomics was carried out to examine the alterations of metabolites in nucleotide synthesis. The efficacy and selectivity of methotrexate (MTX) on β-catenin-activated human liver cancer cells were determined in vitro. Immuno-deficient nude mice subcutaneously inoculated with β-catenin wild-type or mutant liver cancer cells and hepatitis B virus ( HBV); β-cateninlox(ex3)/+ mice were used, respectively, to evaluate the efficacy of MTX in the treatment of β-catenin mutant liver cancer. Results::MTX was identified and validated as a preferential agent against the proliferation and tumor formation of β-catenin-activated cells. Boosted nucleotide synthesis was the major metabolic aberration in β-catenin-active cells, and this alteration was also the target of MTX. Moreover, MTX abrogated hepatocarcinogenesis of HBV; β-cateninlox(ex3)/+ mice, which stimulated concurrent Ctnnb1-activated mutation and HBV infection in liver cancer. Conclusion::MTX is a promising chemotherapeutic agent for β-catenin hyperactive liver cancer. Since repurposing MTX has the advantages of lower risk, shorter timelines, and less investment in drug discovery and development, a clinical trial is warranted to test its efficacy in the treatment of β-catenin mutant liver cancer.

Objective By population survey,to explore the epidemiological characteristics of gastric precancerous lesions in Lishui District of Nanjing and provide objective basis for the prevention and treatment of early gastric cancer.Methods From July 2021 to December 2022,21 977 patients who received endoscopy and/or 13C-UBT in Lishui District People's Hospital and 6 medical community units in Nanjing City were retrospectively analyzed for demography characteristics,detection rate of gastric precancerous lesions,and H.Pylori infection rate.Results(1)590 cases of gastric precancerous lesions were detected(detection rate 2.68%);(2)The total detection rate of precancerous lesions and three pathological types in males were all higher than those in females(all P<0.001);(3)The minimum age for the total detection rate of precancerous lesions in males and the mini-mum age for each pathological type were lower than in females(P<0.001,0.009,0.005,0.002);(4)The popu-lation total H.pylori infection rate was 23.10%,the H.pylori infection rate in patients with precancerous lesions was higher than that in non-precancerous lesions(P<0.001),both H.pylori infection rate of male and female in precancerous lesions were all higher than those of non-precancerous lesions of the same sex(all P<0.001),in addition,the H.pylori infection rate of male whether in precancerous or non-precancerous lesions was higher than that of female(all P<0.001);(5)The precancerous lesions detection rate in male,female,and the overall age range of 20～29 to 70～79 years is positively correlated with age growth(P<0.001),and rapidly decreases after the age of 79,the of H.pylori infection rate was also positively correlated with age growth(P<0.001),and the trend of age change(P<0.001)was parallel to the precancerous lesions detection rate.Conclusions The detec-tion rate of gastric precancerous lesions in this region is above the average level in China;the total H.pylori infec-tion rate is at a relatively low level in China;the H.pylori infection rate is parallel to the age trend of the detection rate of gastric precancerous lesions,and increases with age.

Objective:To compare the influence of dronedarone and amiodarone on the bleeding risk of patients with atrial fibrillation treated with rivaroxaban anticoagulation.Methods:Clinical data of 81 patients with atrial fibrillation treated with rivaroxaban anticoagulation at Xi'an International Medical Center Hospital from January 2020 to July 2023, including 36 patients treated with dronedarone and 45 patients treated with amiodarone, were retrospectively analyzed. The effects of dronedarone and amiodarone on the anticoagulation of rivaroxaban were compared using the incidence of bleeding events, thrombosis events, and adverse reactions as outcome measures.Results:The total bleeding in the dronedarone group [22.22% (8/36)] was significantly higher than that in the amiodarone group [6.67% (3/45)] ( χ2 = 4.12, P < 0.05). The total bleeding of conventional-dose rivaroxaban in the dronedarone group was 30.00% (6/20), while the total bleeding of low-dose rivaroxaban was 12.50% (2/16), with no statistical significance ( χ2 = 1.58, P > 0.05). No thrombotic events or adverse reactions to dronedarone or amiodarone were observed in all patients. Conclusion:Compared with amiodarone, dronedarone significantly increases the bleeding risk of rivaroxaban anticoagulation in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, and reducing the dose of rivaroxaban in patients using dronedarone does not reduce the bleeding risk.

Age-related macular degeneration(AMD)is a common irreversible blinding eye disease in the elderly char-acterized by choroidal neovascularization in the macular area.Thyroxine and its receptors are significantly expressed in the retina,and free thyroid hormones are closely related to the occurrence and development of AMD.This article summarizes the basic and clinical research progress of thyroxine in AMD,in order to provide scientific theoretical basis for further ex-ploring the pathogenesis of AMD and better prevention and treatment of the disease.

Objective:To explore the significance of CAS-R-2 frameless brain stereotactic apparatus assisted trepanation and drainage in the treatment of hypertensive basal ganglia cerebral hemorrhage.Methods:The clinical data of 60 patients with hypertensive basal ganglia cerebral hemorrhage, who underwent CAS-R-2 frameless brain stereotactic apparatus assisted trepanation and drainage in Beijing Luhe Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2018 to December 2022, were retrospectively analyzed. The surgical related indexes and adverse reactions were recorded. The patients were followed up for 6 months, and the prognosis was evaluated using the Glasgow outcome score (GOS).Results:A total of 60 cases of CAS-R-2 frameless brain stereotactic apparatus assisted trepanation and drainage were all successfully performed, and the operation time was (53 ± 18) min. There were 2 cases (3.3%) of postoperative puncture path hematoma, which were completely resolved with conservative treatment. The expansion of postoperative intracerebral hematoma was not observed. The drainage tube retention after operation ≤2 d was in 44 cases (73.3%), and the drainage tube retained for 3 to 4 d was in 16 cases (26.7%), all of them had no intracranial infection after operation. Fifteen cases (25.0%) were complicated with severe pneumonia after operation, and 2 cases (3.3%) died due to severe pneumonia combined with multiple organ failure. Follow up at 6 months after operation, 17 cases (28.3%) were good, 19 cases (31.7%) had mild disability, 16 cases (26.7%) had severe disability, 6 cases (10.0%) had vegetative survival status, and 2 cases (3.3%) died.Conclusions:The CAS-R-2 frameless brain stereotactic instrument assisted trepanation and drainage for the treatment of hypertensive basal ganglia cerebral hemorrhage has the characteristics of simple operation, accurate positioning, minimal trauma, and fewer complications. It is a safe and effective method for treating hypertensive basal ganglia cerebral hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND:The increase in multi-drug resistant bacterial infections has become a major problem in modern healthcare due to the development of bacterial resistance to antibiotics and the development of new antibacterial alternative drug materials is of great importance. OBJECTIVE:To synthesize and perform a series of characterization of a CeO2 nanoenzyme to investigate its biocompatibility and antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli. METHODS:CeO2 nanoenzymes were synthesized using a hydrothermal method.The morphology,product composition,and chemical composition were analyzed using characterization methods such as X-ray diffraction,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,Fourier infrared analysis,Raman spectroscopy,scanning electron microscopy,and transmission electron microscopy.The peroxide-mimetic enzyme activity of CeO2 nanoenzymes was characterized using TMB color development assay.The toxic effect of CeO2 nanoenzymes at different concentrations(10,25,and 50 μg/mL)on mouse fibroblast L929 cells was evaluated using the CCK-8 assay.The antibacterial properties of CeO2 nanoenzymes against Escherichia coli under different conditions were evaluated using the plate coating method.Changes in intra-bacterial reactive oxygen species after treatment with different conditions were detected using a reactive oxygen species detection kit. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The morphology of the synthesized CeO2 nanoparticles was rod-shaped,with Ce3+ accounting for 29.87%of the total Ce3+/Ce4+ and an average grain size of 7.4 nm.In a slightly acidic environment containing TMB and pH=5.5,CeO2 nanoenzymes mixed with H2O2 showed excellent peroxidase activity,but did not show peroxidase simulated activity at pH=7.4.(2)There was no statistically significant difference in the toxic effects of CeO2 nanoparticles at various mass concentrations on mouse fibroblast L929 cells.(3)In a slightly acidic environment at pH 5.5,Escherichia coli was inhibited to a certain extent in the presence of CeO2 nanoenzyme alone at a concentration of 10 μg/mL,with a decrease in CFU results of about 0.5 log(P＜0.01);in a slightly acidic environment containing 50 μmol/L H2O2,CeO2 nanoenzyme showed excellent antibacterial effects against Escherichia coli,with a decrease in Escherichia coli CFU results of by about 1.5 log(P＜0.001).After CeO2 nanoenzymes interacted with Escherichia coli,the level of reactive oxygen species in Escherichia coli increased(P＜0.05);after CeO2 nanoenzymes interacted with Escherichia coli together with H2O2,the level of reactive oxygen species in Escherichia coli increased significantly(P＜0.001).(4)The results show that the CeO2 nanoenzymes have good biocompatibility,are inherently antibacterial,and can exhibit peroxidase activity in a slightly acidic environment containing low concentrations of H2O2,and generate reactive oxygen species to kill bacteria,thus showing excellent antibacterial effects.