Objective:To explore the dosimetric characteristics of proton radiotherapy plan and photon radiotherapy plan for esophageal cancer.Methods:Four patients who were admitted to Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute from January 2024 to April 2024 with esophageal cancer (cervical, middle thoracic and total esophageal tube, as well as the lymphatic drainage areas involved) and required radiotherapy were selected as the research subjects. Intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) plans were designed respectively based on the clinical target volume and the dose constraints for organs at risk (OARs). Dosimetric parameters, including conformity index (CI), homogeneity index (HI), gradient index (GI) for target coverage, as well as OARs dosimetric parameters were evaluated. The volume of additional dose deposition in the body was compared by assessing regions receiving 10%, 30%, and 50% of the prescription dose.Results:For all four cases, IMPT plans yielded lower HI values (0.12, 0.10, 0.06, and 0.08) than IMRT plans (0.15, 0.13, 0.10, and 0.11), and the GI values of IMPT plans (3.11, 3.21, 2.43, and 2.72) was lower than IMRT plans (4.52, 5.14, 3.09, and 3.92). Moreover, the CI of the IMPT plans (0.59, 0.60, 0.77, and 0.72) was inferior to IMRT plans (0.81, 0.77, 0.91, and 0.85). Compared with the IMRT plans, in the whole lung dose indicators of the IMPT plans for the 4 patients, V 5 decreased by 34.1%, 55.0%, 79.7% and 60.3%, respectively; V 20 decreased by 48.3%, 43.9%, 65.8% and 40.8%, respectively, and D mean decreased by 43.4%, 57.2%, 76.2% and 45.4%, respectively. V 30 of the heart decreased by 36.2%, 45.3%, 40.1% and 52.4%, respectively, and D mean of heart decreased by 96.6%, 57.9%, 58.5% and 55.3%, respectively. For the middle and lower thoracic target area, the liver was significantly protected in the IMPT plan (D mean decreased by 76.0% compared with the IMRT plan). In terms of the additional dose deposition in the patient's body, IMPT plans reduced the volumes receiving 10%, 30% and 50% of the prescription dose by 45.0%-61.4%, 41.2%- 61.8% and 34.8%-61.6%, respectively, compared with the IMRT plans. Conclusions:By comparing the dosimetric parameters of IMPT and IMRT plans for 4 cases of esophageal cancer, the IMPT plans have advantages in reducing the doses to lung tissue, heart, and liver, and can also reduce additional dose deposition in the patient's body.

Objective:To analyze the epidemic trend and spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of pertussis in Shandong Province from 2015 to 2024.Methods:Data on pertussis cases in Shandong Province from 2015 to 2024 were collected from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. The ArcGIS spatiotemporal method was used to analyze the epidemic trend and spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of pertussis, and determine the hotspots of incidence.Results:From 2015 to 2024, 46 172 cases of pertussis were reported in Shandong Province, with an average annual incidence rate of about 4.60/100 000. The reported incidence rate showed an overall upward trend, and in 2024, the reported incidence rate reached the highest level in history (19.20/100 000) since the implementation of children′s planning immunization. The areas with high incidence rates were mainly located in the central and western regions of Shandong Province, including Jinan city, Liaocheng city, Tai′an city, Zibo city, Binzhou city, Jining city, Dezhou city, Zaozhuang city, and Dongying city. The global spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that the Moran′s I index of incidence rate of pertussis in Shandong Province in each year from 2015 to 2024 was >0.00, showing obvious spatial clustering. Local spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that the "high high" clustering areas were mainly distributed in some counties (cities, districts) in the central and western regions of Shandong Province, which were hotspots for pertussis incidence in Shandong Province. The spatial trend surface analysis showed that the annual incidence rate of pertussis in each year basically decreased from west to east. In the early stage of the north-south direction, there was a curved trend of low north-south and high in the middle. In the middle and later stages, the northern part was mostly in a higher position, indicating that the central and western regions were the high-risk areas for pertussis in Shandong Province. Conclusions:The pertussis epidemic in Shandong Province from 2015 to 2024 has obvious spatiotemporal clustering, and the central and western regions are the key areas for pertussis prevention and control.

Spatially fractionated radiation therapy (SFRT) dates from 1909. With the development of radiotherapy technologies and radiobiological theories, advances have been made in both the connotation and implementation method of SFRT. Additionally, clinical outcomes have further corroborated the role of SFRT as a palliative radiotherapy technique. This review summarizes the advances in the application of SFRT as a palliative radiotherapy technique from the aspects of the development history and related technologies, radiobiological basis, and clinical applications, in order to offer a reference for the implementation of SFRT.

Chemical communication in plant-microbiome and intra-microbiome interactions weaves a complex network, critically shaping ecosystem stability and agricultural productivity. This non-contact interaction is driven by small-molecule signals that orchestrate crosstalk dynamics and beneficial association. Plants leverage these signals to distinguish between pathogens and beneficial microbes, dynamically modulate immune responses, and secrete exudates to recruit a beneficial microbiome, while microbes in turn influence plant nutrient acquisition and stress resilience. Such bidirectional chemical dialogues underpin nutrient cycling, co-evolution, microbiome assembly, and plant resistance. However, knowledge gaps persist regarding validating the key molecules involved in plant-microbe interactions. Interpreting chemical communication requires multi-omics integration to predict key information, genome editing and click chemistry to verify the function of biomolecules, and artificial intelligence (AI) models to improve resolution and accuracy. This review helps advance the understanding of chemical communication and provides theoretical support for agriculture to cope with food insecurity and climate challenges.
Microbiota/physiology* ; Plants/microbiology* ; Artificial Intelligence ; Ecosystem

Spatially fractionated radiation therapy (SFRT) dates from 1909. With the development of radiotherapy technologies and radiobiological theories, advances have been made in both the connotation and implementation method of SFRT. Additionally, clinical outcomes have further corroborated the role of SFRT as a palliative radiotherapy technique. This review summarizes the advances in the application of SFRT as a palliative radiotherapy technique from the aspects of the development history and related technologies, radiobiological basis, and clinical applications, in order to offer a reference for the implementation of SFRT.

Objective:To analyze the epidemic trend and spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of pertussis in Shandong Province from 2015 to 2024.Methods:Data on pertussis cases in Shandong Province from 2015 to 2024 were collected from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. The ArcGIS spatiotemporal method was used to analyze the epidemic trend and spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of pertussis, and determine the hotspots of incidence.Results:From 2015 to 2024, 46 172 cases of pertussis were reported in Shandong Province, with an average annual incidence rate of about 4.60/100 000. The reported incidence rate showed an overall upward trend, and in 2024, the reported incidence rate reached the highest level in history (19.20/100 000) since the implementation of children′s planning immunization. The areas with high incidence rates were mainly located in the central and western regions of Shandong Province, including Jinan city, Liaocheng city, Tai′an city, Zibo city, Binzhou city, Jining city, Dezhou city, Zaozhuang city, and Dongying city. The global spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that the Moran′s I index of incidence rate of pertussis in Shandong Province in each year from 2015 to 2024 was >0.00, showing obvious spatial clustering. Local spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that the "high high" clustering areas were mainly distributed in some counties (cities, districts) in the central and western regions of Shandong Province, which were hotspots for pertussis incidence in Shandong Province. The spatial trend surface analysis showed that the annual incidence rate of pertussis in each year basically decreased from west to east. In the early stage of the north-south direction, there was a curved trend of low north-south and high in the middle. In the middle and later stages, the northern part was mostly in a higher position, indicating that the central and western regions were the high-risk areas for pertussis in Shandong Province. Conclusions:The pertussis epidemic in Shandong Province from 2015 to 2024 has obvious spatiotemporal clustering, and the central and western regions are the key areas for pertussis prevention and control.

In recent years, with the in-depth research on rosacea, dermatologists′ understanding of rosacea has gradually increased. However, misdiagnosis and overdiagnosis emerge as a tendency because some doctors roughly equate erythema with rosacea, neglecting the differential diagnosis with other similar skin problems. This article discusses clinical manifestations and diagnostic criteria of rosacea, elaborates on how to make a correct diagnosis, and lists key points in differential diagnosis between rosacea and other skin diseases, with a view to providing a reference for clinicians in the treatment of rosacea, and to reducing its misdiagnosis and overdiagnosis.

Objective:To investigate the prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in patients with rosacea, and to analyze the relationship between breath test results and the occurrence of rosacea.Methods:Patients with rosacea were enrolled from the outpatient department of Xiangya Hospital from March 2022 to June 2023. The methane-hydrogen breath test was used to detect intestinal levels of methane and hydrogen in all patients to investigate the prevalence of SIBO. The basic information, clinical symptoms and severity, quality of life scores, gastrointestinal symptoms, and past medical history of the patients were collected. Statistical analysis was carried out by using the chi-square test, nonparametric test and multivariate logistic regression models to investigate the relationship between SIBO and the occurrence of rosacea.Results:A total of 116 patients with rosacea completed the methane-hydrogen breath test. They were aged 18 to 56 years (median [ Q1, Q3]: 25 [22, 33] years), and included 7 males (6.0%) and 109 females (94.0%) ; there were 43 cases (37.1%) of erythematotelangiectatic rosacea, and 73 (62.9%) of papulopustular rosacea. As the breath test showed, 94 patients were diagnosed with SIBO (81.0%, 95% CI: 72.7% - 87.7%) based on the breath tests, 84 showed positive hydrogen breath test results (72.4%, 95% CI: 63.3% - 80.3%), and 47 had positive methane breath test results (40.5%, 95% CI: 31.5% - 50%). Among the 67 patients with moderate to severe erythema, 33 (49.3%) showed positive methane breath test results, and 14 of 49 (28.6%) patients with mild erythema showed positive methane breath test results, with a rate difference of 20.7% ( P = 0.025, 95% CI: 13.9% - 27.5%) ; there were no significant differences in the positive rates of SIBO and hydrogen breath test results between the patients with moderate to severe erythema and those with mild erythema (both P > 0.05). No significant differences were observed in the age, gender, clinical subtypes, severity of papulopustules, flushing and burning sensation, or rosacea quality of life index scores between the SIBO-positive and -negative groups, between hydrogen-positive and -negative groups, and between methane-positive and -negative groups (all P > 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that methane positivity on breath test was associated with the severity of erythema in rosacea ( OR = 2.495, 95% CI: 1.102 - 5.649, P < 0.05) . Conclusions:The prevalence of SIBO was relatively high in the patients with rosacea. However, only the positive rate of methane breath test differed between the rosacea patients and non-rosacea controls, and there was some correlation between methane positivity on breath test and increased severity of rosacea erythema.

Objective:To explore the application process, efficacy and safety of MR-guided radiotherapy based on MR-linac in esophageal cancer.Methods:The clinical data of patients with esophageal cancer treated with MR-linac at Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute from September 2021 to July 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, to investigate the treatment process of esophageal cancer with MR-linac, and to analyze the efficacy and safety of patients. All patients received MR-guided radiotherapy, underwent CT and MR localization, target area delineation, and design of the Monaco treatment planning system plan. Adaptation-to-position adjustment was conducted during the pre-treatment evaluation. The median number of fractions was 25, the median single dose of planning target volume was 1.8 Gy, and the median total dose was 50.2 Gy. Median follow-up was 16 months.Results:Among the 12 patients in the whole group, there were 1 case of cervical esophageal cancer, 3 cases of upper thoracic esophageal cancer, 4 cases of middle thoracic esophageal cancer and 4 cases of lower thoracic esophageal cancer, including 3 cases of neoadjuvant radiotherapy and 9 cases of radical radiotherapy. All patients had a smooth treatment process. The median treatment time was 33 min, and the patients had good compliance. For patients with radical radiotherapy, one month after radiotherapy, the number of objective remission cases was 3, and the number of disease-control cases was 9; six months after radiotherapy, the number of objective remission cases was 3, and the number of disease-control cases was 6. All patients treated with neoadjuvant radiotherapy underwent surgery within 2 months, and one patient achieved pathological complete remission. The most common acute adverse reactions were radiation esophagitis (7 cases) and leukopenia in bone marrow suppression (8 cases), with late-stage adverse reactions being radiation pneumonia (1 case). The adverse reactions to radiotherapy were slight, and no grade 4 or above adverse reactions were observed.Conclusion:The clinical treatment process for esophageal cancer under MR-guided radiotherapy based on MR-linac is feasible, with good curative effects and mild adverse reactions.

Paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) is the most common subtype of paroxysmal movement disorders, characterized by the chorea and dystonia triggered by sudden changes in movement or posture. The condition can be effectively controlled by medications such as carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine. PKD is an autosomal dominant inherited disorder, with causative genes identified as PRRT2 and TMEM151A. Due to insufficient understanding of this condition among clinicians, it is frequently misdiagnosed as epilepsy or hysteria, leading to delay of treatment. The systematic overview about the etiology, pathogenesis, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, auxiliary investigations, diagnostic criteria, differential diagnosis, therapeutic approaches, and prognosis of PKD is provided in this article.