OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of Erzhu Jiedu Decoction (EZJDD) Granules in treating mid-advanced hepatitis B virus-associated primary liver cancer (HBV-PLC) patients with Pi (Spleen)-deficiency and dampness-heat syndrome. METHODS: From January 2021 to June 2023, a cohort of 132 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to a control group or a EZJDD group according to the random numbers, with 66 patients in each group. The patients in the control group received conventional treatment for 3 months, followed by a 3-month follow-up. In addition to the conventional treatment, patients in the EZJDD group were administered EZJDD Granules (10.9 g/pack, 2 packs twice per day) orally for same duration. Progression-free survival (PFS) as primary outcome was evaluated by Kaplan Meier method. Karnofsky performance status (KPS) scores were used to assess the quality of life in two groups before and after treatment, and survival rates were determined as well. The efficacy of Chinese medicine syndrome was calculated with Nimodipine method. Liver function, tumor indicators and T lymphocyte subsets were measured, respectively. Safety indicators were recorded and assessed. RESULTS: Of the 116 patients who completed the study, 57 were in the control group and 59 in the EZJDD group. The median PFS was 3.53 months (106 days) in the EZJDD group compared to 2.33 months (70 days) in the control group (P=0.005). Six-month survival rate was 52.63% (30/57) in the control group and 69.49% (41/59) in the EZJDD group (P=0.039). The median KPS score in the EZJDD group [70(63, 90)] was higher than that in the control group [70(60, 80)] (P=0.013). The total effective rate of CM syndrome was 52.63% (30/57) in the control group and 77.97% (46/59) in the EZJDD group (P=0.005). The levels of alpha fetoprotein, alpha fetoprotein-L3, alpha-L-fucosidase and protein induced by Vitamin K absence or antagonist- II in the EZJDD group increased less than the control group (P>0.05). CD8⁺ levels were decreased, while CD3⁺ and CD4⁺ levels, as well as CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio were significantly increased in the EZZJD group (P<0.05). No treatment-related adverse reactions were observed during the study. CONCLUSION EZJDD Granules significantly prolonged the median PFS and improved 6-month survival rate in patients with mid-advanced HBV-PLC (Registration No. ChiCTR2200056922).
Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Liver Neoplasms/complications* ; Hepatitis B virus/physiology* ; Hepatitis B/complications* ; Treatment Outcome ; Adult ; Spleen/drug effects* ; Quality of Life ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Aged ; Syndrome

Objective:To retrospectively analyze the clinical features and surgical efficacy of congenital cholesteatoma （CC） and acquired cholesteatoma （AC） in children. Methods:Clinical data of 169 children with middle ear cholesteatoma were reviewed in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2010 to July 2020. The clinical characteristics, stages, surgical methods, and postoperative recurrence rates were analyzed and summarized. Results:The age distribution of enrolled children ranged from 2 to 14 years. The mean age of the CC group was （5.60±2.48） years compared with （6.45±2.48） years in the AC group, and the difference was statistically significant （P<0.05）. Preoperative hearing in the CC group was （40.06±13.52） dB HL, which was better than in the AC group at （48.40±13.84） dB HL （P<0.05）. The proportion of stage Ⅰ in the CC group was lower than that in the AC group according to EAONO/JOS staging （P<0.05）. The recurrence rate after primary surgery was 19.23% （10/52） in the CC group compared with 36.29% （45/124） in the AC group （P<0.05）. The mastoid retention rates after all operations were 28.85% （15/52） in the CC group and 5.65% （7/124） in the AC group （P<0.05）. Conclusion:Compared with congenital cholesteatoma, acquired cholesteatoma in children is more aggressive and has more complications, higher postoperative recurrence rate, and less possibility of mastoid retention. Early clinical detection and treatment are required, and canal wall-down tympanoplasty should be considered in surgery.
Humans ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear/congenital* ; Child ; Retrospective Studies ; Child, Preschool ; Adolescent ; Male ; Female ; Recurrence ; Cholesteatoma/congenital* ; Tympanoplasty ; Treatment Outcome

Cervical spinal cord injury without fracture-dislocation (CSCIWFD) is referred to as a special type of cervical spinal cord injury characterized by traumatic spinal cord dysfunction and no significant bony structural abnormalities on imagines. Duo to the high risk of missed diagnosis during the initial consultation, CSCIWFD may lead to progressive neurological deterioration or even complete paralysis, severely impacting patients′ prognosis. Currently, there are no established consensuses over the diagnosis and treatment of CSCIWFD, such as the lack of evidence-based standards for indications of non-surgical treatment and risk of secondary neurological injury, as well as debates over the optimal timing for surgical intervention and indications for different surgical approaches. To address these issues, the Spine Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts in the relevant fields to formulate Diagnosis and treatment guideline for acute cervical spinal cord injury without fracture- dislocation in adults ( version 2025) . Based on evidence-based medicine and the principles of scientific rigor and clinical applicability, the guidelines proposed 11 recommendations covering terminology, diagnosis, evaluation treatment, and rehabilitation, etc., aiming to standardize the management of CSCIWFD.

For middle-aged and elderly patients with conditions such as spinal fractures and degenerative spinal diseases, spinal internal fixation is a core surgical procedure for reconstructing spinal stability, heavily relying on the biomechanical stability provided by pedicle screw systems. Whereas, these patients are often complicated by osteoporosis that can significantly compromise the stability of the bone-pedicle screw interface, leading to a marked increase in pedicle screw loosening and surgical failure rates. The bone cement-augmented pedicle screw technique, which involves injecting bone cement into the vertebral body or screw trajectory to optimize the mechanical properties of the bone-pedicle screw composite, has been proven to significantly enhance fixation strength and effectively prevent screw-related failures, thereby reducing the incidence of internal fixation failure in high-risk populations undergoing spinal fusion. However, the widespread clinical application of this technique has faced challenges such as inaccurate clinical decision-making (indication and contraindication selection), non-standardized operative practices, and insufficient awareness of complication prevention, resulting in considerable variability in clinical outcomes and even severe complications. To address this, Prof. Luo Fei from First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University initiated the project and the Chinese Association Orthopaedic Surgeons organized relevant experts to develop the Evidence-based clinical practice guideline for bone cement-augmented pedicle screw technique ( version 2025), based on current evidence. The guidelines put forward 8 recommendations regarding the clinical value, scope of application, and operational standards of the technique, aiming to provide evidence-based medical support and technical standardization for clinical decision-making.

This consensus was developed by the Orthodontic Society of the Chinese Stomatological Association to provide a systematic, scientific, and practical guideline for informed consent in orthodontic care. Orthodontic treatment is typically lengthy, highly individualized, and involves multiple factors such as growth and development, occlusal function, and facial esthetics. Rapid technological advances and diverse risk profiles make the traditional reliance on orthodontist experience or institutional templates insufficient to ensure patients′ full understanding and autonomous decision-making. To address this, the expert panel conducted extensive reviews of domestic and international guidelines, analyzed representative dispute cases, and performed multicenter patient-clinician surveys. Using a multi-round Delphi method, the group established a standardized informed consent framework covering the initial consultation, treatment, and retention phases. The consensus emphasizes that informed consent is not only a fundamental legal and ethical requirement but also a key step in building trust, improving patient compliance, and enhancing treatment satisfaction. Orthodontists should clearly and comprehensively explain treatment plans, potential risks, uncertainties, and associated costs, while respecting the autonomy of patients or guardians, and maintain continuous communication and dynamic evaluation throughout the treatment process. The release of this consensus provides unified and authoritative guidance for clinical orthodontics, helping to standardize informed consent, enhance its transparency, safeguard patient rights, reduce medical risks, and promote high-quality, sustainable development of orthodontic practice.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)is a malignant lesion originating from the oral mucosal squamous epithelium,account-ing for over 80％of oral and maxillofacial malignancies.Key etiological factors include tobacco,alcohol abuse,and betel quid chewing.In China,its incidence has shown an overall upward trend,posing a significant threat to public health.OSCC exhibits high local invasive-ness,making early diagnosis critical for improving prognosis.Its clinical management requires close multidisciplinary collaboration among oral and maxillofacial surgery,head and neck surgery,radiation oncology,medical oncology,reconstructive surgery,radiology,patholo-gy,and nutritional support teams.Given the increasing disease burden of OSCC and rapid development of multidisciplinary collaborative models,an expert panel has formulated this integrated management consensus based on evidence-based medicine and extensive deliber-ation.Centered on the'Prevention-Screening-Diagnosis-Treatment-Rehabilitation'framework,the consensus provides comprehensive guidance for the entire disease course of OSCC patients,aiming to standardize clinical practice.

Objective To investigate the association of digit ratio with single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)at three loci(rs17576,rs3918249,rs9509)of matrix metallopeptidase 9(MMP-9)gene.Methods A total of 804 Ningxia Han youths(399 males and 405 females)were used as the study subjects.A digital camera was used to take frontal photographs of the hands,and image analysis software was used to mark the anatomical points and measure the lengths of each finger of both hands(2D,3D,4D,5D);Multiplexed PCR was used to detect the three polymorphic sites of the MMP-9 gene,SPSS 25.0 and R Studio software were used for data analysis and plotting.Results The 2D/3D(P＜0.05)and 2D/4D(left,P＜0.01,right,P＜0.05)of both hands,2D/5D(P＜0.01),3D/5D,4D/5D(P＜0.05)of the right hand,and 3D/4D(P＜0.05)of the left hand in female youths of Ningxia Han were significantly higher than those in males,Differences in genotypes and allele frequencies at all 3 loci of the MMP-9 gene were not statistically significant between genders(P＞0.05).Right hand 2D/4D was significantly associated with genotypes at the rs17576 and rs3918249 loci in male youths(P＜0.05).Conclusion MMP-9 gene SNPs(rs17576 and rs3918249)may be associated with the formation of 2D/4D of Ningxia Han male youths.

Objective:To analyze the changes and significance in clinical cardiac indicators of early cardiac myocardial dysfunction and cardiac substructure dose during conventional radiotherapy for N 2-N 3 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with mediastinal lymph node metastases. Methods:The data of 34 NSCLC patients with lymph node metastases in regions 4-8 admitted to the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guizhou Medical University from June 2022 to August 2023 were observed and analyzed. All patients were treated with volumetric modulated arc therapy with a prescribed dose of 60-70 Gy. Cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were measured at 6 time points: within 1 week before radiotherapy ( t0); when the cumulative radiotherapy dose reaches 20 Gy ( t20), 40 Gy ( t40), 60 Gy ( t60) during radiotherapy; within 1 week after radiotherapy ( tp); 1 month after radiotherapy( tp1). Left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) and left atrial global longitudinal strain (LAGLS) were assessed at 4 time points: t0, t40, tp and tp1, respectively. The changes in cardiac indicators at different time points during radiotherapy and their correlation with substructure doses were analyzed using analysis of variance, linear regression analysis, and Pearson correlation. Results:The correlation between cardiac substructure dose and mean heart dose (MHD) in the study cohort in the descending order was as follows: left ventricle ( B=0.43, P<0.001), right ventricle ( B=0.37, P=0.002), left atrium ( B=0.16, P<0.001), and right atrium ( B=0.15, P=0.001). There were significant differences in the changes of LVGLS and LAGLS across different time points ( F=3.13, P=0.029; F=17.18, P<0.001). At 1 month after radiation, LAGLS was significantly decreased compared to pre-radiation levels ( P=0.009), whereas no significant difference was observed in LVGLS ( P=1.000). No significant differences were observed in the changes of cTnT and NT-proBNP across different time points (all P>0.05). Significant correlations were identified between cTnT and right ventricle mean dose at t40 ( r=0.38, P=0.025), as well as between NT-proBNP and right atrium mean dose at t60 and tp ( r=0.54, P=0.001; r=0.41, P=0.016). Conclusions:At present, there is no significant difference between the sensitive serum markers of myocardial injury and LVGLS in detecting early myocardial injury. LAGLS may hold substantial clinical value. There is uncertainty about radiation injury and repair of various cardiac substructures.

Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma(OPSCC)is a malignant tumor originating from the squamous epithelium of the oro-pharyngeal mucosa,accounting for more than 90％of oropharyngeal malignancies.In recent years,human papillomavirus(HPV)infec-tion has become one of the primary etiological factors of oropharyngeal squamous carcinoma.The incidence of HPV-associated oropharyn-geal squamous carcinoma has been rising annually,with a noticeable trend toward younger populations,posing a significant threat to hu-man health.Due to the distinct biological behavior and clinical characteristics of HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous carcinoma com-pared to its non-HPV-related counterpart,the diagnostic and treatment strategies for oropharyngeal squamous carcinoma have undergone substantial changes.Prevention and screening for oropharyngeal squamous carcinoma are of critical importance.The diagnostic and treat-ment process involves multi-disciplinary collaboration,including oral and maxillofacial surgery,otolaryngology,head and neck surgery,oncology,radiology and pathology.Based on evidence from clinical practice,a comprehensive,integrated diagnostic and therapeutic ap-proach has been established,centered around the concept of"prevention,screening,diagnosis,treatment,and rehabilitation",covering the entire patient lifecycle and providing a valuable reference for clinical practice.

Aim To investigate the effect of exosomes derived from bone marrod-derived mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)on dexamethasone-induced C2C12 muscular canal atrophy.Methods(1)C57BL/6J mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isola-ted and cultured by whole bone marrow adhesion meth-od.(2)Extraction and identification of BMSCs EXOs were performed.(3)Myogenic differentiation of C2C12 cells was carried out.(4)The successfully differentia-ted myotubes were divided into the control group(cul-tured in 2％equine serum medium for 48 h),dexam-ethasone group(dexamethasone,DEX,10 μmol·L-1 concentration of DEX interfered with myotubes for 48 h),and exosomes group(exosomes,EXOs,interfered with myotubes for 48 h),exosome inhibitor group(exo-somes extracted from BMSCs after 10 μm GW4869 in-tervention,interfered with myotubes for 48 h).48 h later,the morphology and diameter of muscle tubes were observed and measured by microscope.Cell via-bility of each group was detected by CCK-8 method.The expression levels of atrogin-1 and MuRF-1,myo-genic differentiation antigen(MYOD)in each group were detected by Western blot.Results BMSCs were long spusiform,and BMSCS-EXOS showed a circular bilayer structure under transmission electron microsco-py,with a diameter of about 200 nm.CD9,CD63 and CD81 were highly expressed.Compared with the con-trol group,cell activity in DEX group decreased(P＜0.01),diameter of myotubes decreased(P＜0.01),expressions of atrogin-1(P＜0.05)and MuRF-1(P＜0.01)were significantly up-regulated,and expression of MYOD(P＜0.01)was significantly down-regula-ted.Compared with the DEX group,cell activity in the BMSCs-EXOs group increased(P＜0.01),diameter of myotubes increased(P＜0.01),expressions of atrogin-1(P＜0.05)and MuRF-1(P＜0.01)were signifi-cantly down-regulated,and expression of MYOD(P＜0.01)was up-regulated.Compared with the BMSCs-EXOs group,cell activity of the BMSCs-EXOs(GW4869)group decreased(P＜0.05),diameter of myotubes decreased(P＜0.01),expressions of atrog-in-1(P＜0.05)and MuRF-1(P＜0.05)were up-regulated,and expression of MYOD(P＜0.01)was down-regulated.Conclusion Bone marrow mesen-chymal stem cell-derived exosomes(BM-MSCs-EXOs)inhibit dexamethasone-induced C2C12 muscle tube at-rophy.