Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Neddylation is a crucial posttranslational modification that involves the attachment of neural precursor cell-expressed developmentally downregulated protein 8(NEDD8)to a lysine residue in the substrate via the sequential actions of the E1 NEDD8-activating enzyme(NAE)(E1),E2 NEDD8-conjugating enzyme(E2),and E3 NEDD8-ligase(E3).The most extensively studied substrates of neddylation are members of the cullin family,which act as scaffold components for cullin ring E3 ubiquitin ligases(CRLs).Since cullin neddylation activates CRLs,which are frequently overactive in tumors,inhibiting neddylation has emerged as a promising strategy for developing novel antitumor therapies.This review explores the antitumor effects of inhibiting neddylation that leads to the inactivation of CRLs and provides a summary of known inhibitors that target protein-protein interactions(PPIs)within the neddylation enzymatic cascade.

Objective:To study the relationship between microRNA (miRNA, miR)-675-3p, miR-675-5p, miR-29b-3p, miR-let-7b-3p and fluoride induced articular cartilage injury in rats.Methods:Using the factorial design, thirty 3-week-old specific pathogen free grade male Wistar rats (weighted 125 - 150 g) were selected and randomly divided into a control group, a 25 mg/L fluoride group, and a 50 mg/L fluoride group using a random number table method, with 10 rats in each group. The control group drank distilled water, while the fluoride exposure groups drank distilled water with fluoride ion concentrations of 25 and 50 mg/L, respectively. Five rats were euthanized in each group at 3 and 6 months of feeding, respectively. Visual observation was used to observe the occurrence of dental fluorosis in rats, and fluoride ion selective electrode method was used to detect the fluoride level in blood, urine, and cartilage. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and safranin O-fast green staining were used to observe the pathological changes of articular cartilage, and Mankin score was used to evaluate the grading of cartilage injury. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression levels of miR-675-3p, miR-675-5p, miR-29b-3p, and miR-let-7b-3p in cartilage.Results:After 3 and 6 months of fluoride exposure, no dental fluorosis was observed in the control group, while rats in the 25 and 50 mg/L fluoride groups showed varying degrees of dental fluorosis. There were statistically significant differences in the levels of blood fluoride (mg/L: 0.11 ± 0.04, 0.57 ± 0.32, 0.29 ± 0.06, 0.07 ± 0.01, 0.31 ± 0.05, 0.38 ± 0.06), urine fluoride (mg/L: 1.81 ± 0.58, 13.18 ± 2.29, 66.11 ± 20.74, 2.35 ± 1.08, 14.79 ± 3.87, 28.32 ± 4.79), and cartilage fluoride (mg/kg: 341.83 ± 44.07, 612.99 ± 174.72, 991.26 ± 227.32, 338.29 ± 72.53, 957.09 ± 195.86, 1 535.53 ± 89.01) among in rats the control group, 25 mg/L fluoride group, and 50 mg/L fluoride group ( F = 7.76, 42.78, 40.54, 23.10, 18.96, 80.81, P < 0.05). In the 50 mg/L fluoride group, there were statistically significant differences in the levels of urine fluoride and cartilage fluoride of rats exposed for different times ( t = 4.45, - 3.80, P < 0.05). The Mankin score grading for cartilage injury showed that at 3 months of fluoride exposure, there were 4, 0, and 0 rats with normal cartilage in the control group, 25 mg/L fluoride group, and 50 mg/L fluoride group, 1, 4, and 1 rats with mild injury, and 0, 1, and 4 rats with moderate injury, respectively. At 6 months of fluoride exposure, there were 4, 0, and 0 rats with normal cartilage in the control group, 25 mg/L fluoride group, and 50 mg/L fluoride group, 1, 3, and 0 rats with mild injury, 0, 1, and 3 rats with moderate injury, and 0, 1, and 2 rats with severe injury, respectively. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR results showed that fluoride exposure dose had individual effects on the expression of miR-675-3p, miR-675-5p, miR-29b-3p, and miR-let-7b-3p in cartilage ( F = 8.68, 7.97, 9.34, 10.14, P < 0.05). There was no individual effect of fluoride exposure time on the expression of miR-675-3p, miR-675-5p, miR-29b-3p, and miR-let-7b-3p in cartilage ( F = 0.00, 0.15, 0.63, 0.53, P > 0.05). However, there was no interaction effect between fluoride exposure time and dose on the above-mentioned miRNA ( F = 0.68, 0.05, 0.22, 0.24, P > 0.05). The correlation analysis results showed that miR-675-3p and miR-675-5p in cartilage were negatively correlated with blood fluoride, urine fluoride, and cartilage fluoride ( r = - 0.37, - 0.42, - 0.56, - 0.53, - 0.57, - 0.53, P < 0.05), while miR-29b-3p and miR-let-7b-3p were positively correlated with urine fluoride and cartilage fluoride ( r = 0.58, 0.40, 0.48, 0.47, P < 0.05). The results of ordered logistic regression analysis showed that miR-675-3p, miR-675-5p, miR-29b-3p, and miR-let-7b-3p were influencing factors of dental fluorosis grading ( OR = 0.13, 0.04, 1.55, 2.58, P < 0.05) and Mankin score grading ( OR = 0.04, 0.06, 1.41, 1.58, P < 0.05). Conclusion:MiR-675-3p, miR-675-5p, miR-29b-3p, and miR-let-7b-3p may be involved in the process of fluoride induced articular cartilage injury.

Objective:To understand the current status of epidemiological investigation task force construction and the performance of infectious disease epidemic response in county (district) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCs) in China, analyze the influencing factors and provide scientific evidence to improve the construction of grassroot epidemiological investigation task force.Methods:A survey was conducted in epidemiological investigation staff in county (district) CDCs in 31 provinces (autonomous regions/municipalities) and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps in China. A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect information based on the epidemiological dynamic data collection platform of China CDC. A descriptive epidemiological analysis was conducted, and multiple linear regression models were used to identify the factors associated with the performance of infectious disease epidemic response.Results:A total of 24 934 epidemiological investigation task force members from 2 897 county (district) CDCs were surveyed in the study. In the epidemiological investigation task force, women, those with bachelor's degree and public health workers accounted for 62.46%, 71.36%, and 49.05% respectively. Up to 91.72% of the task force members had participated in field epidemic response. The average score of awareness of epidemic investigation procedures was 60.00, while the average score of key skill proficiency in the investigation was 42.22. The epidemic response performance showed correlations with area, gender, age, education level, major, and field epidemiology training programs, those who had received longer training showed higher competency scores (all P<0.001). Conclusions:Progress has been made in the construction of epidemiological investigation task force in grass-root CDCs in China, but further improvements are needed, especially in the knowledge awareness and investigation skills of the task force. Field epidemiology training demonstrated substantial impact on the improvement of epidemic response performance, indicating that it is necessary to further strengthen the training in grassroot public health workers for the better response to infectious disease epidemics.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

The development status of the key technologies of first-aid robotics was introduced in autonomous system,embo-died intelligence,digital twins,large artificial intelligence model and autonomous unmanned medical treatment.The present situation in first-aid robotics equipment was reviewed for first-aid diagnosis,treatment,assistance and transportation.The development trends of the key technology and equipment of first-aid robotics were analyzed.It was pointed out the involve-ment of big model-based embodied intelligence technology and digital twins technology in first aid might provide new pers-pectives for the application and advancement of specialized first-aid robotics.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(3):96-114]

Working memory is an executive memory process that includes encoding, maintenance, and retrieval. These processes can be modulated by transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) with sinusoidal waves. However, little is known about the impact of the rate of current change on working memory. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of two types of tACS with different rates of current change on working memory performance and brain activity. We applied a randomized, single-blind design and divided 81 young participants who received triangular wave tACS, sinusoidal wave tACS, or sham stimulation into three groups. Participants performed n-back tasks, and electroencephalograms were recorded before, during, and after active or sham stimulation. Compared to the baseline, working memory performance (accuracy and response time) improved after stimulation under all stimulation conditions. According to drift-diffusion model analysis, triangular wave tACS significantly increased the efficiency of non-target information processing. In addition, compared with sham conditions, triangular wave tACS reduced alpha power oscillations in the occipital lobe throughout the encoding period, while sinusoidal wave tACS increased theta power in the central frontal region only during the later encoding period. The brain network connectivity results showed that triangular wave tACS improved the clustering coefficient, local efficiency, and node degree intensity in the early encoding stage, and these parameters were positively correlated with the non-target drift rate and decision starting point. Our findings on how tACS modulates working memory indicate that triangular wave tACS significantly enhances brain network connectivity during the early encoding stage, demonstrating an improvement in the efficiency of working memory processing. In contrast, sinusoidal wave tACS increased the theta power during the later encoding stage, suggesting its potential critical role in late-stage information processing. These findings provide valuable insights into the potential mechanisms by which tACS modulates working memory.
Humans ; Memory, Short-Term/physiology* ; Male ; Female ; Young Adult ; Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation/methods* ; Brain/physiology* ; Adult ; Electroencephalography ; Single-Blind Method

Neddylation is a crucial posttranslational modification that involves the attachment of neural precursor cell-expressed developmentally downregulated protein 8 (NEDD8) to a lysine residue in the substrate via the sequential actions of the E1 NEDD8-activating enzyme (NAE) (E1), E2 NEDD8-conjugating enzyme (E2), and E3 NEDD8-ligase (E3). The most extensively studied substrates of neddylation are members of the cullin family, which act as scaffold components for cullin ring E3 ubiquitin ligases (CRLs). Since cullin neddylation activates CRLs, which are frequently overactive in tumors, inhibiting neddylation has emerged as a promising strategy for developing novel antitumor therapies. This review explores the antitumor effects of inhibiting neddylation that leads to the inactivation of CRLs and provides a summary of known inhibitors that target protein-protein interactions (PPIs) within the neddylation enzymatic cascade.