Objective To evaluate the accuracy of multiparametric imaging on the dual-source CT through acceptance and commissioning testing, and to provide a reference for standardized clinical application. Methods Both the adult and pediatric dual-source CT scanning modes were used to scan the electron density phantom, and identical multiparametric image reconstruction tasks were performed, including the conventional CT images, the mixed CT images, the virtual monoenergetic images, the iodine images, the electron density images, and the effective atomic number images. Results In the adult scanning mode, the virtual monoenergetic CT numbers showed the greatest difference for the cortical bone (1722 HU at 40 keV vs. 30 HU at 80 keV), with smaller differences observed for other materials as their atomic numbers decreased. The pediatric scanning mode exhibited a similar trend, with the largest difference occurring at 40 keV (1393 HU). In the adult scanning mode, the deviations between the theoretical and measured iodine concentration values were all within 5%, whereas in the pediatric scanning mode, the largest deviation was 15% for an iodine concentration of 2.0 mg/mL. For the electron density, the largest deviation between the theoretical and measured values occurred in the LN450 lung (9.18% in the adult scanning mode and 8.96% in the pediatric scanning mode); the deviations for the LN300 lung were all below 7.2%, for aluminum below 6.3%, and for other tissues within 3%. For the effective atomic number, the deviations between the theoretical and measured values were all within 5% in both scanning modes. Conclusion To ensure the accuracy and reproducibility of the dual-source CT applications, a comprehensive acceptance testing protocol should be established to guarantee the safety and precision of the CT localization process.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion combined with medication in the treatment of functional constipation in elderly with yang deficiency and qi stagnation and its effect on emotional disorder. METHODS: A total of 86 elderly patients with functional constipation of yang deficiency and qi stagnation were randomly divided into an acupuncture and moxibustion group (43 cases, 1 case dropped out, 1 case was eliminated) and a medication group (43 cases, 1 case dropped out). The medication group was treated with lactulose oral solution, once a day；in the acupuncture and moxibustion group, on the basis of the treatment in the medication group, acupuncture at intestinal three points (bilateral Tianshu [ST25], Shangjuxu [ST37] and Guanyuan [CV4] were selected, 30 min each time, once every other day) combined with thunder-fire moxibustion (Shenque [CV8] was selected, 30 min each time, once every other day) was given. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, the patient assessment of constipation symptoms (PAC-SYM) score, defecation situation (defecation interval time, defecation time, defecation frequency) and the scores of TCM syndrome, patient assessment of constipation quality of life (PAC-QOL), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), self-rating depression scale (SDS) were observed in the two groups. The clinical efficacy and safety of the two groups were evaluated. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, after treatment, the PAC-SYM scores, defecation interval time, defecation time, TCM syndrome scores, PAC-QOL scores, SAS scores and SDS scores in both groups were decreased (P<0.05), the defecation frequency was increased (P<0.05) in the two groups; the PSQI score in the acupuncture and moxibustion group was decreased (P<0.05). The PAC-SYM score, defecation interval time, defecation time, TCM syndrome score, PAC-QOL score, PSQI score, SAS score and SDS score after treatment in the acupuncture and moxibustion group were lower than those in the medication group (P<0.05), and the defecation frequency in the acupuncture and moxibustion group was higher than that in the medication group (P<0.05). The total effective rate of the acupuncture and moxibustion group was 92.7% (38/41), which was higher than 73.8% (31/42) in the medication group (P<0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions in the acupuncture and moxibustion group was 2.44% (1/41), while that in the medication group was 4.76% (2/42), there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Acupuncture and moxibustion combined with medication could improve the defecation situation, emotional disorder, quality of life in elderly patients with functional constipation of yang deficiency and qi stagnation.
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Constipation/drug therapy* ; Female ; Aged ; Male ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Qi ; Middle Aged ; Yang Deficiency/drug therapy* ; Aged, 80 and over ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Acupuncture Points

Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1), a transmembrane protein of the immunoglobulin superfamily, is involved in mediating cell adhesion, tissue metastasis, control of immune response, and metabolic homeostasis. Studies have shown that CEACAM1 protects the liver by promoting insulin clearance and preventing fat deposition. The down-regulation of the CEACAM1 expression level leads to a vicious cycle of insulin resistance and aggravates metabolic disorders. As CEACAM1 is critical in controlling metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), stimulating its pathway or regulating its expression level might be a potential new therapeutic approach for MASLD. In this paper, therefore, we summarize the research progress of CEACAM1 in MASLD.

Objective To compare the safety and efficacy of flexible terminal suction ureteral access sheath(FTS-UAS)and negative pressure ureteral access sheath(NPUAS)in flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy with holmium laser in treatment of renal calculi less than 2 cm in diameter.Methods A total of 68 patients(largest diameter of stone＜2 cm)with renal calculi treated in Yangjiang Hospital Affiliated to Guangdong Medical University during Nov.2022 and Aug.2023 were divided into FTS-UAS group(n=34)and NPUAS group(n=34)according to different surgical methods.The perioperative parameters and stone-free rate(SFR)were compared between the two groups.Results The average SFR on the first day after operation was significantly higher in the FTS-UAS group than in the NPUAS group[85.3％(29/34)vs.61.8％(21/34),P=0.028].The operation time was significantly lower in the FTS-UAS group than in the NPUAS group[(65.85±13.16)min vs.(75.59±20.21)min,P=0.022].For lower calyceal renal calculi,the SFR was significantly higher in the FTS-UAS group than in the NPUAS group[82.4％(14/17)vs.43.8％(7/16),P=0.032].One month after operation,the SFR was higher in the FTS-UAS group than in the NPUAS group[94.1％(32/34)vs.85.3％(29/34),P=0.452].There were no significant differences in hemoglobin reduction,serum creatinine level,postoperative complications,hospital stay and hospitalization costs between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion FTS-UAS in flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy can shorten the operation time and improve stone-clearance rate,which is safe,effective,and worthy of clinical promotion.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between hearing loss and microvascular complications in diabetes.Methods:This cross-sectional study conducted the data from 572 patients with diabetes hospitalized in the Endocrinology Department of the General Hospital of Southern Theater Command from September 2022 to July 2023. All participants underwent electrical audiometry and acoustic immittance in the ENY department. Based on the audiometric results, participants were categorized into normal hearing group and hearing loss group. Additionally, 572 non-diabetic patients from the outpatient department were enrolled as the non-diabetic group. The general information and laboratory results were collected and compared using t test, rank sum test or χ2 test. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association of diabetic hearing loss with diabetic kidney disease(DKD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Results:Among 572 patients with diabetes, 429 suffered from hearing loss and 143 were normal. χ2 test showed significant differences in combined DKD and DPN between two groups, but not in DR. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis identified DKD and DPN as risk factors for hearing loss, but no correlation was found with DR. Conclusion:Diabetic patients with DKD or DPN should be monitored for potential hearing loss. Early screening and treatment are crucial to prevent severe hearing impairment.

Objective:To investigate the application effect of discharge preparation service based on theory of goal attainment on patients with cervical spinal cord injury.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinic data of 60 patients with cervical spinal cord injury admitted to Zhengzhou Orthopedics Hospital from January 2017 to December 2022, including 49 males and 11 females, aged 23-79 years [(52.2±13.5)years]. Patients were all treated with cervical decompression fusion and internal fixation. Patients admitted from January 2017 to December 2019 were treated with conventional nursing intervention (conventional nursing group, n=30) and patients admitted from January 2020 to December 2022 were treated with discharge preparation service based on theory of goal attainment (discharge preparation service group, n=30). The readiness for hospital discharge of the two groups was compared using the Chinese version of Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS) at 4 hours before discharge. The degree of cervical spinal cord dysfunction of the two groups were compared using Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score before intervention, at discharge and at 6 months after discharge. The complication and unplanned readmission rates of the two groups were compared at 6 months after discharge. Results:All the patients were followed up for 6 months. At 4 hours before discharge, the scores of the three parameters of RHDS containing personal status, adaptability and anticipatory support and the total score of the discharge preparation service group were (20.9±3.5)points, (35.9±2.2)points, (30.4±3.0)points and (87.1±7.8)points respectively, higher than those of the conventional nursing group [(16.2±1.7)points, (32.5±2.2)points, (26.3±2.1)points and (75.0±5.6)points respectively] ( P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the JOA score of the two groups before intervention ( P>0.05). The JOA scores of the discharge preparation service group at discharge and at 6 months after discharge were (11.8±1.7)points and (13.8±1.5)points respectively, higher than those of the conventional nursing group [(10.3±1.8)points and (11.6±1.9)points respectively] ( P<0.01). At 6 months after discharge, the complication rate of the discharge preparation service group was 6.7% (2/30), lower than that of the conventional nursing group [36.7% (11/30)] ( P<0.05). The unplanned readmission rate of the discharge preparation service group was 3.3% (1/30), lower than that of the conventional nursing group [23.3% (7/30)] ( P<0.05). Conclusion:For patients with cervical spinal cord injury, discharge preparation service based on theory of goal attainment can improve the discharge readiness, promote spinal functional recovery and reduce the complication and unplanned readmission rates.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major metabolic disease endangering global health, with diabetic nephropathy (DN) as a primary complication lacking curative therapy. Sporoderm-broken spores of Ganoderma lucidum (GLP), an herbal medicine, has been used for the treatment of metabolic disorders. In this study, DN was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats using streptozotocin (STZ) and a high-fat diet (HFD), and the protective mechanisms of GLP were investigated through transcriptomic, metabolomic, and network pharmacology (NP) analyses. Our results demonstrated that GLP intervention ameliorated renal damage and inflammation levels in DN rats. Integrative metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis revealed that GLP treatment modulated glucose and cellular energy metabolisms by regulating relevant genes. GLP significantly suppressed the inflammations by impacting glucose and energy metabolism-related gene expression (Igfbp1 and Angptl4) and enhanced metabolic biomarkers of 4-Aminocatechol. In addition, NP analysis further indicated that GLP may efficiently alleviate DN via immune-related pathways. In conclusion, this study provides supportive evidence of the anti-inflammatory effects of GLP supplements, highlighting their potential for promising clinical applications in treating DN.

Diabetic nephropathy （DN） is one of the common chronic kidney diseases （CKD） worldwide and a major cause of end-stage renal disease （ESRD）， seriously threatening and affecting the life and health of the global population. Currently， the pathogenesis of DN is considered to be closely related to factors such as glucose metabolism disorders， abnormal lipid metabolism， oxidative stress， activation of inflammatory factors， autophagy， and cell apoptosis in the continuous high-glucose environment of the body. Renal fibrosis is an important pathological feature and ultimate pathological outcome of DN. Timely intervention in renal fibrosis is of significant clinical and practical importance for the prevention and treatment of DN. Due to the limitations of western medicine in treating DN， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） intervention in the process of renal fibrosis in DN has been widely used as a routine and potential treatment method due to its multi-component， multi-effect， and multi-target effects， effectively delaying the progression of the disease. It has been found that the Notch signaling pathway plays an important role in the development and maintenance of homeostasis in the body， and abnormal activation of the Notch signaling pathway is associated with DN. Activation of this signaling pathway plays a key role in the process of renal fibrosis. This article reviewed the regulatory mechanism of the Notch signaling pathway in renal fibrosis in DN， focusing on the relationship between targeting Notch signaling pathway by Chinese medicinal monomers and prescriptions and renal fibrosis in DN in order to provide a theoretical basis for the development of new drugs， basic research， and clinical application of TCM in the prevention and treatment of DN.

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA) is a type of bile duct cancer with insidious onset and poor prognosis. Surgical resection is the only potentially curative treatment. The selection of surgical approaches and prognosis assessment depend on different classification systems and preoperative imaging results. This article reviews the progress in classification systems, imaging modalities, biliary drainage techniques, postoperative adjuvant therapy, future liver remnant insufficiency treatment, liver transplantation and resection extent for HCCA.

Diabetic kidney disease （DKD）， a chronic kidney disease with unique pathological structural and functional alterations in the kidney， is a common complication of diabetes mellitus （DM）. The majority of researchers believe that the occurrence of this disease is associated with glucose metabolism disorders， oxidative stress， inflammation， endoplasmic reticulum stress， autophagy， and disorders of lipid metabolism and exosome release. The mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR） signaling pathway， which can maintain glomerular podocyte homeostasis and participate in autophagy， renal fibrosis， oxidative stress， lipid metabolism disorders， and inflammatory response in DKD， has been discovered to play a key role in DKD. Therefore， it has emerged as a novel target for the treatment of DKD. Studies have demonstrated that traditional Chinese medicine can prevent the renal damage in DKD by regulating the mTOR signaling pathway to delay the disease progression and improve the prognosis and the quality of life of the patients. This article summarizes the structure and role of the mTOR signaling pathway in DKD and briefs the research progress in the prevention and treatment of DKD via this signaling pathway by the active components， extracts， and compound prescriptions of Chinese medicines， aiming to present new ideas and approaches for the clinical treatment of DKD with traditional Chinese medicine.