This paper summarizes the experience of professor LIU Shangyi in differentiating and treating rectal carcinoma from the perspective of "treating ulcers as tumors". It is believed that the manifestations of rectal cancer， such as anal itching， cauliflower-like or ulcerative tumors， and bloody stools， are similar to external skin itching， skin ulceration， swelling， and skin bleeding. Therefore， the treatment principles of sores and ulcers department can be applied to treat tumors. Following the diagnostic and treatment approach of dermatology regarding the clinical typical symptoms， for anal itching， the main treatment is to dispel wind and remove dampness， clear heat to relieve itching， using "skin medicinals" such as Difuzi （Fructus Kochiae） and Baixianpi （Cortex Dictamni）， as well as wind medicinals such as Shengma （Rhizoma Cimicifugae） and Fangfeng （Radix Saposhnikoviae）. For constipation， the method of clearing heat and resolving toxins， unblocking the bowels and discharging heat can be used， commonly using Baitouweng （Radix Pulsatillae）， Donglingcao （Herba Rabdosiae Rubescentis） and Dahuang （Radix et Rhizoma Rhei）. In terms of mucosal ulcers， it is critical to differentiate between yin and yang； the treatment of yang ulcers should focus on clearing heat and resolving toxins， commonly using modified Xianfang Huoming Beverage （仙方活命饮）； for yin ulcers， emphasis should be placed on removing dampness and resolving phlegm， commonly with modified Yiyi Fuzi Baijiang Powder （薏苡附子败酱散）. For bloody stool， differentiation is made between deficiency and excess， with the use of Diyu （Radix Sanguisorbae） and Huaihua （Flos Sophorae） for excess syndrome to cool and stop blee-ding， and both herbs dry-fried until charred combined with liver-tonifying medicinals for deficiency syndrome

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.jpha.2023.08.006.].

Objective To explore the research status and emerging focus of virtual reality(VR)technology in the field of stroke.Methods The global literature of VR technology in the field of stroke from Jan.2014 to Aug.2024 was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection.Bibliometric software was used to draw a visual knowledge map of authors,institutions,key words,etc.Results After excluding proofreading notices,editorial materials,conference papers,etc.,a total of 785 articles were included.Over the past decade,the number of new publications has shown an upward trend.China was the country with the largest total number of publications(130 articles).Lamontagne Anouk(10 articles)and Calabro Rocco Salvatore(10 articles)were tied for the authors with the highest number of publications.The institution and journal with the most literature in this field were McGill University(Canada,27 articles)and Journal of Neuroengineering and Rehabilitation(60 articles),respectively.The key word analysis and the results of the strongest burst key words indicated that the research focused on upper limb,gait training,motor function,cognitive rehabilitation,post-stroke unilateral spatial neglect,stimulation,motor imagery,cortical reorganization,etc.Conclusion Over the past decade,the application of VR technology has gradually increased in both breadth and depth in the field of stroke,bringing new opportunities and thoughts to stroke rehabilitation.The new forms of VR technology combined with neuromodulation,neuroimaging,brain-computer interfaces,artificial intelligence,and telemedicine may be the future research topics and directions.

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.

Objective:To reveal the coupling mechanism of beam temporal profile and tissue oxygen content on radical kinetics, further explain the potential biological basis of the FLASH effect, and provide a reference for beam optimization and treatment planning design of FLASH radiotherapy (FLASH-RT).Methods:TOPAS-nBio v3.0 was used to simulate the physical and chemical processes of electron beams in water, and a full-scale kinetic model was established covering the generation, diffusion, reaction, and quenching of free radicals such as hydroxyl radical (·OH) and hydrated electrons (e aq-). Under different beam temporal profiles (single pulse, multi-pulses, continuous wave irradiation) and different oxygen concentration conditions, the evolution dynamics of free radicals were systematically simulated. At the same time, the data on e aq- content were obtained by experimental measurement of laser absorption spectroscopy to verify the accuracy of the model prediction. Results:The changing trend of e aq- concentration measured in the experiment was highly consistent with the simulation result, verifying the reliability of the constructed model. The beam time structure had a significant impact on the peak value and duration of free radical concentration. The single-pulse structure can cause the free radicals to rapidly increase and then quickly quench in a short time, while the continuous or long-pulse structure can cause the radical concentration to remain at a high level for a long time. The evolution of ·OH was not sensitive to the oxygen environment, while e aq- are greatly affected by the oxygen environment. The scavenging efficiency of free radicals in a hypoxic environment was significantly decreased, leading to an enhanced accumulation of oxidative damage to biological macromolecules. The lifespan of e aq- in an oxygen-rich environment decreased rapidly. Conclusions:Radical kinetics are regulated by both the beam temporal profile and oxygen content. FLASH-RT can utilize single-pulse or multi-pulses intervals to form periodic windows, reducing normal tissue damage by efficiently scavenging free radicals through antioxidants, while free radicals in tumor tissues continuously accumulate and amplify damage, thus generating a selective protective effect.

Solanum nigrum is a traditional Chinese herb widely distributed in China. It is rich in active ingredients such as alkaloids and saponins， and has shown remarkable hepatoprotective effects and various mechanisms in the treatment of various liver diseases. It can prevent and treat chemical liver injury through anti-inflammatory， antioxidant， gut microbiota-regulating， and anti- fibrotic pathways. In the prevention and treatment of fatty liver disease， it can regulate lipid metabolism， inhibit lipogenesis， and promote fat degradation. It has potential antiviral activity against viral hepatitis. By inducing tumor cell apoptosis， arresting the cell cycle， and inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and metastasis and so on， it plays a role in the prevention and treatment of liver cancer. Clinically， S. nigrum has been used in the treatment of liver cancer and liver fibrosis after chronic hepatitis B， showing good efficacy and high safety. Future research should focus on further elucidating its mechanisms of action and promoting the development and application of new drugs， in order to benefit more patients with liver diseases.

Objective:To reveal the coupling mechanism of beam temporal profile and tissue oxygen content on radical kinetics, further explain the potential biological basis of the FLASH effect, and provide a reference for beam optimization and treatment planning design of FLASH radiotherapy (FLASH-RT).Methods:TOPAS-nBio v3.0 was used to simulate the physical and chemical processes of electron beams in water, and a full-scale kinetic model was established covering the generation, diffusion, reaction, and quenching of free radicals such as hydroxyl radical (·OH) and hydrated electrons (e aq-). Under different beam temporal profiles (single pulse, multi-pulses, continuous wave irradiation) and different oxygen concentration conditions, the evolution dynamics of free radicals were systematically simulated. At the same time, the data on e aq- content were obtained by experimental measurement of laser absorption spectroscopy to verify the accuracy of the model prediction. Results:The changing trend of e aq- concentration measured in the experiment was highly consistent with the simulation result, verifying the reliability of the constructed model. The beam time structure had a significant impact on the peak value and duration of free radical concentration. The single-pulse structure can cause the free radicals to rapidly increase and then quickly quench in a short time, while the continuous or long-pulse structure can cause the radical concentration to remain at a high level for a long time. The evolution of ·OH was not sensitive to the oxygen environment, while e aq- are greatly affected by the oxygen environment. The scavenging efficiency of free radicals in a hypoxic environment was significantly decreased, leading to an enhanced accumulation of oxidative damage to biological macromolecules. The lifespan of e aq- in an oxygen-rich environment decreased rapidly. Conclusions:Radical kinetics are regulated by both the beam temporal profile and oxygen content. FLASH-RT can utilize single-pulse or multi-pulses intervals to form periodic windows, reducing normal tissue damage by efficiently scavenging free radicals through antioxidants, while free radicals in tumor tissues continuously accumulate and amplify damage, thus generating a selective protective effect.

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.

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α), a core transcription factor responding to changes in cellular oxygen levels, is closely associated with a wide range of physiological and pathological conditions. However, its differential impacts on vascular cell types and molecular programs modulating human vascular homeostasis and regeneration remain largely elusive. Here, we applied CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing of human embryonic stem cells and directed differentiation to generate HIF-1α-deficient human vascular cells including vascular endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as a platform for discovering cell type-specific hypoxia-induced response mechanisms. Through comparative molecular profiling across cell types under normoxic and hypoxic conditions, we provide insight into the indispensable role of HIF-1α in the promotion of ischemic vascular regeneration. We found human MSCs to be the vascular cell type most susceptible to HIF-1α deficiency, and that transcriptional inactivation of ANKZF1, an effector of HIF-1α, impaired pro-angiogenic processes. Altogether, our findings deepen the understanding of HIF-1α in human angiogenesis and support further explorations of novel therapeutic strategies of vascular regeneration against ischemic damage.
Humans ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism* ; Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Transcription Factors/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Hypoxia/metabolism* ; Cell Hypoxia/physiology*

Objective:Explore the feasibility and advantages of using proximal and distal ends of thoracodosal artery and vein as recipient vessels in deep inferior epigastric perforator flap immediate breast reconstruction.Methods:The clinical data of patients who underwent breast reconstruction surgery using the proximal and distal ends of the thoracodorsal vein as recipient vessels at the Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University from March 2022 to June 2023 were analyzed retrospectively. Preoperative examinations included thoracoabdominal angiography and color Doppler ultrasonic localization of the main trunk and perforators of the inferior epigastric vessels. The procedure began with mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection, followed by the isolation of bilateral perforators and the main trunk of the abdominal flap. The main trunks of the bilateral inferior epigastric arteries were then transected, and their vascular pedicles exposed and anastomosed respectively to the proximal and distal ends of the thoracodorsal artery and vein. Both arteries and veins were joined end-to-end. The flap after trimming and reconstruction was then implanted into the cavity left after mastectomy through the incision. Breast positioning was performed with the patient in a knee-bent and hip-flexed position. After adjusting the shape of the reconstructed breast. The donor site was closed, the umbilicus was reconstructed, drainage tubes were placed, and the breast incision was closed. Postoperative follow-up monitored complications associated with the flap and patient satisfaction with the breast reconstruction, utilizing a self-assessment method.Results:Four female patients were included, aged (46.0±6.5) years, ranging from 37 to 52 years. All four patients had bilateral vascular pedicles in the donor area, with three patients having thoracodorsal vessels at the distal and proximal ends as recipient vessels, and one patient having anterior serratus branch of the thoracodorsal vessels at the distal and proximal ends. All drainage tubes were removed within 7 to 10 days after surgery. Patients were discharged. Follow-up period ranged from 1 to 15 months, averaging 6 months. The patients recovered well postoperatively, with no flap-related complications occurring. All four patients were satisfied with the result of the reconstruction.Conclusion:The simultaneous application of the proximal and distal ends of the thoracodorsal artery and vein can ensure the safety of flap survival while reducing damage to the ribs and intercostal muscles, achieving better aesthetic result.