Objective:To develop and evaluate a medical visual question answering (VQA) model for neonatal lung ultrasound (LUS) images to enhance intelligent auxiliary diagnosis of neonatal pulmonary diseases.Methods:Using data from neonates admitted to Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University (January 2023 to December 2024), an image-question-answer dataset comprising 251 LUS images was constructed [43 pneumonia (17.1%), 42 neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (16.7%), 83 transient tachypnea (33.1%), and 83 normal (33.1%) images] with a four-tier medical question-answer framework. Building upon the Qwen2.5-VL-7B base model and integrating LoRA fine-tuning with chain-of-thought prompting, we developed the NLUS-VQA model to enhance visual-language semantic alignment and enable stepwise clinical reasoning, achieving efficient small-sample adaptation. Model performance was comprehensively assessed through natural language generation metrics (BLEU-4, ROUGE-1/2/L), qualitative evaluation of characteristic recognition, and clinical consistency analysis.Results:(1) Quantitative evaluation demonstrated that NLUS-VQA achieved scores of 22.38 (BLEU-4), 48.26 (ROUGE-1), 22.40 (ROUGE-2), and 37.20 (ROUGE-L), representing significant improvements over baseline models. (2) Qualitatively, the model exhibited strong performance in identifying lung consolidation, coalescent B-lines, and snowflake signs, with its chain-of-thought strategy enhancing clinical interpretability and answer accuracy. (3) Clinically, NLUS-VQA achieved a Cohen's Kappa coefficient of 0.78 and diagnostic accuracy of 80.8% (21/26), indicating substantial agreement with clinical experts.Conclusion:The NLUS-VQA model demonstrates robust interpretability in recognizing key sonographic patterns (e.g. lung consolidation, confluent B-lines, and snowflake signs), providing a scalable framework for small-sample medical image analysis, though diagnostic performance on complex conditions remains limited by dataset scale and minority class representation.

Objective:To develop and evaluate a medical visual question answering (VQA) model for neonatal lung ultrasound (LUS) images to enhance intelligent auxiliary diagnosis of neonatal pulmonary diseases.Methods:Using data from neonates admitted to Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University (January 2023 to December 2024), an image-question-answer dataset comprising 251 LUS images was constructed [43 pneumonia (17.1%), 42 neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (16.7%), 83 transient tachypnea (33.1%), and 83 normal (33.1%) images] with a four-tier medical question-answer framework. Building upon the Qwen2.5-VL-7B base model and integrating LoRA fine-tuning with chain-of-thought prompting, we developed the NLUS-VQA model to enhance visual-language semantic alignment and enable stepwise clinical reasoning, achieving efficient small-sample adaptation. Model performance was comprehensively assessed through natural language generation metrics (BLEU-4, ROUGE-1/2/L), qualitative evaluation of characteristic recognition, and clinical consistency analysis.Results:(1) Quantitative evaluation demonstrated that NLUS-VQA achieved scores of 22.38 (BLEU-4), 48.26 (ROUGE-1), 22.40 (ROUGE-2), and 37.20 (ROUGE-L), representing significant improvements over baseline models. (2) Qualitatively, the model exhibited strong performance in identifying lung consolidation, coalescent B-lines, and snowflake signs, with its chain-of-thought strategy enhancing clinical interpretability and answer accuracy. (3) Clinically, NLUS-VQA achieved a Cohen's Kappa coefficient of 0.78 and diagnostic accuracy of 80.8% (21/26), indicating substantial agreement with clinical experts.Conclusion:The NLUS-VQA model demonstrates robust interpretability in recognizing key sonographic patterns (e.g. lung consolidation, confluent B-lines, and snowflake signs), providing a scalable framework for small-sample medical image analysis, though diagnostic performance on complex conditions remains limited by dataset scale and minority class representation.

Objective: To investigate sodium and potassium intakes among individuals undergoing physical examinations in Changsha City, so as provide the evidence for developing nutritional interventions. Methods: The individuals undergoing physical examinations in the Center for Health Management, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from February 2017 to March 2020 were selected, and their gender, age, history of diseases, history of medications, smoking and drinking behaviors were collected through questionnaire surveys. The blood pressure, height and body weight were measured, and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The levels of blood glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and serum creatinine were detected, and the 24-h urinary excretions of sodium and potassium were measured using the Kawasaki method to estimate sodium and potassium intakes. According to the recommended intakes for preventing chronic diseases (PI values) in the Chinese Dietary Reference Intakes (2013 revised version), the gender-, age- and BMI-specific intakes of sodium and potassium were analyzed. Results: Totally 50 543 subjects were enrolled, with a mean age of (45.64±11.89) years. There were 28 555 men (56.50%) and 21 988 women (43.50%), and there were 19 405 overweight individuals (38.39%), 6 276 obese individuals (12.42%), 13 410 smokers (26.53%), 14 740 drinkers (29.16%), 9 217 individuals with hypertension (18.24%), 3 589 individuals with diabetes (7.10%), 18 232 individuals with dyslipidemia (36.07%). The mean sodium intake was (4 143.29±1 216.46) mg/d among the study subjects, and there were 49 277 participants with sodium intakes that exceeded the PI value (97.50%). Higher sodium intakes were found in men [ (4 345.52±1 231.45) mg/d ], individuals at ages of 36 to 45 years [ (4 185.41±1 202.95) mg/d ], obese individuals [ (4 578.94±1 282.66) mg/d ], smokers [ (4 191.71±1 219.91) mg/d ], drinkers [ (4 325.12±1 245.65) mg/d ], individuals with hypertension [ (4 358.89±1 265.70) mg/d ] and individuals with dyslipidemia [ (4 261.60±1 228.86) mg/d ]. The mean potassium intake was (1 986.26±526.42) mg/d among the study subjects, and there were 50 440 participants with potassium intakes that exceeded the PI value (99.80%). Higher potassium intakes were seen in men [ (2 061.94±556.91) mg/d ], individuals at ages of 35 years and below [ (2 027.24±533.37) mg/d ], obese individuals [ (2 133.27±580.25) mg/d ], smokers [ (2 023.08±557.72) mg/d ], drinkers [ (2 048.43±557.53) mg/d ], individuals without hypertension [ (1 994.65±552.63) mg/d ] and individuals with dyslipidemia [ (2 038.22±546.52) mg/d ]. Conclusions Higher sodium intakes and lower potassium intakes than the PI values are found among individuals undergoing health examinations in Changsha City. Health education is recommended to be reinforced to improve sodium and potassium intakes.

Metaphorical narrative, as a kind of image, has a remarkable effect on the research of children’s psychological intervention. It is an important way of human cognition of the world, and its essence is the cross-domain mapping between the source domain and the target domain. Taking intractable diseases in children as an example, this paper illustrated the importance of metaphorical narrative in children’s diseases narrative, life and health education, disease science popularization, diseases notification, as well as the treatment communication. This paper aimed to arouse more researchers’ attention to the metaphorical narrative, actively apply metaphorical narrative to clinical practice, guide disease subjects to eliminate fear, accept diseases, so as to achieve the doctor-patients’ vision fusion and positively cooperate with clinical treatment. Not only can an appropriate metaphor help people get out of psychological difficulties, but it can renew a healthy life story.

By discussing metaphorical thinking and disease narrative under the narrative context of life and health, and clarifying both their correlation and their importance in the humanistic care, this paper aimed to advocate subjects of life to externalize their inner pain and anguish, help them with potential inspiration, self-empowerment as well as the repair of narration breakage in disease narration, and lead them into a healthy and harmonious narrative process of life. Metaphor and disease narrative are the essence of healing trauma and can construct the community relationship among narrative subjects.

【Objective】 To explore the effect of low levels of calcium on the biological characteristics of ameloblasts. 【Methods】 Rat primary ameloblasts were cultured in standard DMEM medium. After five days they were identified by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Then 0, 0.6 and 1.2 mmoL/L Ca²⁺ and 100 mL/L fetal bovine serum were added into DMEM medium without calcium. After 48 hours, the cell morphology was observed by inverted microscope. The proliferation and apoptosis of cells were separately examined by MTT and AnnexinV-PI. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression levels of amelogenin and KLK4 mRNA. 【Results】 After Five days in standard DMEM medium, the cells were shaped like the paving pattern. RT-PCR showed that both amelogenin and KLK4 were expressed in the cells. Immunohistochemical staining showed that most cells had positive staining for amelogenin. After 48 hours of calcium intervention, some cells in 1.2 mmoL/L Ca²⁺ group had higher nuclear density and poor light transmittance, and more high columnar cells could be observed in 1.2 mmoL/L Ca²⁺ group than those in 0 and 0.6 mmoL/L Ca²⁺ groups. With the decrease in calcium concentration in the medium, MTT showed that the proliferation activity of ameloblasts reduced (P<0.01). Annexin V-PI showed that the percentage of apoptotic cells decreased, and there was a significant difference between 1.2 mmoL/L and 0 mmoL/L Ca²⁺ groups (P<0.05). Real time-PCR showed that the expressions of amelogenin and KLK4 mRNA reduced (P<0.01). 【Conclusion】 Low-level calcium may inhibit the differentiation of ameloblasts, thereby affecting the formation of enamel mineralization.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of miR-186 inhibition on the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-α) and mitochondrial function in hypoxic vascular endothelial cells. METHODS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) cultured in routine or hypoxic conditions for 6 h were examined for the expression of miR-186. A miR-186 inhibitor was transfected in the HUVECs, and the cells were subsequently cultured in hypoxic condition for 6 h to observe the changes in the mitochondrial structure under an electron microscope. The changes in the mRNA and protein expressions of HIF-1α in response to miR-186 interference were tested using real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: The expression of miR-18 was mildly increased in HUVECs after hypoxic exposure for 6 h (=0.0188). Interference of miR-186 expression obviously promoted the mRNA and protein expressions of HIF-1α in HUVECs. In hypoxic conditions, miR-186 interference significantly reduced mitochondrial damage in HUVECs as observed under electron microscope (=0.0297). CONCLUSIONS Inhibition of miR-186 protects vascular endothelial cells against hypoxic injuries by promoting HIF-α expression to lessen mitochondrial damage, suggesting the possibility of targeted miR-186 interference for treatment of hemorrhagic shock.
Cell Hypoxia ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; MicroRNAs ; Mitochondria ; Umbilical Veins

Objective To evaluate the application value of low-dose CT (LDCT) in physical examination for coal miners with different exposure time.Methods The consecutive three-year imaging data of 972 coal miners with over 20-year exposure were retrospectively reviewed.All miners were divided into 3 groups according to different exposure time,including 317 cases with less than 10 years,299 cases with 10-20 years and 356 cases with more than 20 years.All subjects underwent LDCT examination every year during three consecutive years.Results Baseline LDCT:As the exposure time was prolonged (with less than 10 years,10-20 years and more than 20 years),the number of coal miners has increased with non-calcified pulmonary nodules,interstitial pulmonary lesions,clinically cured or stable stage of pulmonary tuberculosis,pulmonary calcification and pulmonary fibrous stripes,but without statistically significant difference.The detection rates of lung bullae,aorta and coronary artery sclerosis were also increased mildly,with the prolonged exposure time.There was no significant correlation between exposure time and detection rates of bronchiectasis,pulmonary inflammatory lesions,lymph node enlargement or calcification,pleural lesions.The exposure time of 6 cases of malignant nodules and 2 cases of active tuberculosis was more than 10 years.During a two-year follow-up using LDCT scan,there were no significant changes in most of intrapulmonary,pleural and mediastinal lesions.Neither were in pulmonary nodules less than or equal to 4 mm.Three pulmonary nodules with 4-8 mm diameters were enlarged.Most of the inflammatory lesions have changed in size.Conclusion The LDCT scan has a certain value for chest physical examination of the coal miners with different exposure time.It is very necessary to screen the high-risk population of coal miners with exposure time of more than 10 years using LDCT.LDCT reexamination has significant value for pulmonary nodules and inflammatory lesions with diameter of more than 4 mm.Most of intrapulmonary,pleural and mediastinal lesions have no obvious change in the short term,and make an annual reexamination unnecessary,neither does a negative baseline LDCT.

Objective: To investigate the clinical significance of low-dose CT (LDCT) in coal mine workers with relatively long working years. Methods: A total of 907 coal mine workers with ≥20 working years were enrolled, among whom there were 863 male and 44 female workers with a mean age of 49.5 years. Digital radiography (DR) was performed for these workers in 2013, and LDCT was performed for three consecutive years from 2014 to 2016. Results: A total of 32 workers were found to have lung nodules by DR in 2013, while in 2014, 269 workers were found to have non-calcified lung nodules by LDCT, and there was a significant difference in the number of workers with lung nodules (χ²=233.73, P<0.005) . There was also a significant difference in the detection rate of nodules between the workers with different working years of dust exposure (χ²=6.648, P=0.00) . The male workers had a significantly higher detection rate of nodules than the female workers (χ²=5.690, P=0.017) . There was no significant difference in the number of nodules between workers with different types of work (χ²=16.985, P=0.05) . There were 443 lung nodules in total, among which 71.56% were solid nodules and 55.75% had a size of ≤4mm; malignant nodules were confirmed by surgery in 6 (0.66%) of the 907 workers after baseline LDCT. LDCT reexamination in 2015 and 2016 found new nodules in 8 workers and enlarged nodules in 3 workers, and there was no significant change in the number of nodules with a size of ≤4 mm. Conclusions It is necessary to perform high-risk population screening for coal mine workers by LDCT. The follow-up strategies for nodules with a size of ≤4mm are the same as those for negative results; annual reexamination is recommended for nodules with a size of >4-8 mm, and clinical treatment should be considered for nodules with a size of >8 mm.

P-450-dependent epoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid and the products of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) have been demonstrated to be involved in angiogenesis and tumor progression. This study examined the expression of EETs and the role of the pathway in the angiogenesis of multiple myeloma (MM). MM cell lines of U266 and RPMI8226 were cultured, and the EETs levels (11, 12-EET and 14, 15-EET) in the supernatant were determined by ELISA. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured and used for analysis of the angiogenesis activity of the two MM cell lines, which was examined both in vitro and in vivo by employing MTT, chemotaxis, tube formation and matrigel plug assays. 11, 12-EET and 14, 15-EET were found in the supernatant of the cultured MM cells. The levels of the two EETs in the supernatant of U266 cells were significantly higher than those in the RPMI8226 cell supernatant (P<0.05), and the levels paralleled the respective angiogenesis activity of the two different MM cell lines. 17-octadecynoic acid (17-ODYA), as a specific inhibitor of P450 enzyme, suppressed HUVECs proliferation and tube formation induced by MM cells. Furthermore, 17-ODYA decreased the EET levels in the supernatant of MM cells. These results suggest that EETs may play an important role in the angiogenesis of MM, and the inhibitor 17-ODYA suppresses this effect.