Objective To compare the clinical outcomes of subxiphoid robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (SRATS) and intercostal robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (IRATS) in the treatment of anterior mediastinal tumors. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with anterior mediastinal tumors who underwent robot-assisted surgery in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Gansu Provincial Hospital, from May 2020 to July 2022. According to the surgical approach, patients were divided into an SRATS group and an IRATS group. Perioperative data were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 87 patients were included. There were 41 patients in the SRATS group [23 males, 18 females; mean age, (44.51±11.28) years] and 46 patients in the IRATS group [21 males, 25 females; mean age, (46.67±8.76) years]. Compared with the IRATS group, the SRATS group had significantly less intraoperative blood loss [(24.41±6.67) mL vs. (37.93±9.23) mL, P<0.001], shorter postoperative drainage duration [(1.73±0.59) days vs. (2.54±0.50) days, P<0.001], lower postoperative drainage volume [(94.46±34.08) mLvs. (116.72±24.90) mL, P=0.001], lower visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores on postoperative day 1 [(3.66±0.76) points vs. (4.15±0.84) points, P=0.005] and day 3 [(2.41±0.59) points vs. (2.89±0.82) points, P=0.003], shorter postoperative hospital stay [(4.12±0.81) days vs. (4.98±1.02) days, P<0.001], and lower hospitalization costs [(4.51±0.65) ten thousand yuan vs. (4.86±0.68) ten thousand yuan, P=0.020]. There were no statistical differences between the two groups in operative time or incidence of postoperative complications (P>0.05). Conclusion Both SRATS and IRATS are safe and effective for the treatment of anterior mediastinal tumors. However, SRATS is less invasive and more conducive to enhanced postoperative recovery.

The brain-gut interaction theory is a multidimensional integrative concept based on the brain-gut axis， involving neural， endocrine， and immune regulatory networks as well as the gut microbiota. Zang-fu organs （脏腑） theory in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） shows a high degree of consistency with the brain-gut interaction theory， and the core functions such as the spleen and stomach governing the ascending of the clear and descending of the turbid， the liver governing the free flow of qi， and the heart governing mental and emotional activities are closely associated with the multi-level regulatory mechanisms of the brain-gut axis. TCM therapy can modulate brain-gut interactions through multiple pathways in the treatment of spleen and stomach diseases， including the regulation of gastrointestinal hormone secretion， neurotransmitter levels， the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal （HPA） axis， immune homeostasis and inflammatory responses， as well as the gut microecology. However， current basic research on the brain-gut interaction theory in TCM for spleen and stomach diseases still faces several challenges， such as difficulties in integrating TCM spleen-stomach theory with modern pathophysiology， lack of innovation in research concepts， and limitations in research methodologies. It is therefore proposed that multidisciplinary collaboration， multi-omics technologies， and targeted research approaches should be adopted to provide more comprehensive methods for basic research on TCM spleen and stomach diseases， thereby promoting the in-depth development of brain-gut interaction theory.

Background: and Purpose Vertebrobasilar fusiform aneurysms (VBFAs) carry substantial morbidity and mortality, but optimal management for unruptured VBFAs remains unclear. We compared the safety and efficacy of conservative management (CM), stent-assisted coiling (SAC), and flow diverters (FDs) in patients with unruptured VBFAs, focusing on long-term prognosis. Methods: This study included data from a nationwide Chinese cohort of patients with vertebrobasilar dissecting aneurysms. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) balanced confounders across groups. The primary outcome was poor prognosis (modified Rankin Scale score >2). Secondary outcomes included aneurysm rupture, ischemic stroke, compression symptoms, and VBFA-related deaths. Logistic regression estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: Among 1,115 patients with unruptured VBFAs, 838 (median age, 54 years; 655 men) were included. After IPTW, baseline characteristics were balanced. Median follow-up was 54 months. FD was associated with a lower risk of poor prognosis than CM (OR, 0.48 [95% CI, 0.30 to 0.77]; p=0.002), with no difference between CM and SAC. FD also reduced aneurysm rupture (OR, 0.20 [95% CI, 0.07 to 0.60]; p=0.004) and compression symptoms (OR, 0.30 [95% CI, 0.13 to 0.68]; p=0.004) versus CM. Time-to-event analyses further revealed significant differences in vertebral artery lesions and Type I–II VBFAs, whereas no significant differences were observed in basilar or vertebrobasilar junction lesions or in Type III–IV VBFAs. Conclusions Compared with CM, FD was associated with improved long-term outcomes in unruptured VBFAs, particularly in vertebral artery lesions and Type I–II VBFAs, although residual confounding cannot be excluded.

ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effects of modified Baoyuantang combined with Linggui Zhugantang on post-myocardial infarction heart failure in rats and its influence on NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 3 （NLRP3）/gasdermin D （GSDMD）-mediated pyroptosis. MethodsSixty male SD rats were randomized into sham， model， low-， medium-， and high-dose （2.52， 5.04， 10.08 g·kg^-1， respectively） modified Baoyuantang combined with Linggui Zhugantang， and sacubitril/valsartan sodium （0.021 g·kg^-1） groups， with 10 rats in each group. Except the sham group， the other groups underwent left anterior descending coronary artery ligation for the modeling of myocardial infarction. The treatment groups were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage， and the sham and model groups received an equal volume of normal saline. Administration began on the first day after successful modeling， once daily， for 4 weeks. Echocardiography was used to measure left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF）， left ventricular fractional shortening （LVFS）， left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters （LVIDd and LVIDs）， left ventricular posterior wall thicknesses at end-diastole and end-systole （LVPWd， LVPWs）， and left ventricular volumes at end-diastole and end-systole （LV Vold and LV Vols）. Cardiac mass index and heart weight-to-tibia length ratio were calculated. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining and Sirius Red staining were performed to observe myocardial morphology and collagen deposition. Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the expression of type I collagen （Collagen Ⅰ）， NLRP3， GSDMD， and interleukin-1β （IL-1β）. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the mitochondrial ultrastructure. Tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester （TMRM） staining was conducted to assess mitochondrial membrane potential （MMP） in cardiomyocytes. Real-time PCR was used to quantify the mRNA levels of NLRP3， cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-1 （Caspase-1）， IL-1β， GSDMD， and interleukin-18 （IL-18） in the myocardial tissue. Western blotting was employed to determine the protein levels of NLRP3， Caspase-1， GSDMD， IL-1β， IL-18， nuclear factor kappa-B （NF-κB） p50， and NF-κB p65 in the myocardial tissue. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was adopted to measure the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， IL-1β， and IL-6. ResultsCompared with the sham group， the model group showed increased LVIDd， LVIDs， LV Vold， LV Vols， cardiac mass index， and heart weight-to-tibia length ratio （P<0.05）， decreased LVPWs， LVEF， LVFS， and MMP （P<0.05）， evident myocardial inflammation， fibrosis， and mitochondrial damage， upregulated expression of NLRP3， Caspase-1， GSDMD， IL-1β， IL-18， NF-κB p50， and NF-κB p65， and elevated serum levels of TNF-α， IL-1β， and IL-6 （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， modified Baoyuantang combined with Linggui Zhugantang reduced the LVIDd， LVIDs， LV Vols， cardiac mass index， and heart weight-to-tibia length ratio （P<0.05）， increased the LVPWs， LVEF， LVFS， and MMP （P<0.05）， alleviated myocardial inflammation and fibrosis， improved the mitochondrial structure and function， downregulated the expression of NLRP3， Caspase-1， GSDMD， IL-1β， IL-18， NF-κB p50， and NF-κB p65 （P<0.05）， and reduced the serum levels of TNF-α， IL-1β， and IL-6 （P<0.05）. ConclusionModified Baoyuantang combined with Linggui Zhugantang can ameliorate post-myocardial infarction ventricular remodeling and improve the cardiac function by reducing mitochondrial damage and inhibiting NLRP3/GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Semaphorin 3A （Sema3A） on the progression of pathological cardiac hypertrophy. MethodsWild-type C57BL 6J mice， Sema3A global overexpressing （Sema3A/Cre-ER^TM） mice， and their littermate controls （Cre-ER^TM） were used， with 6 mice per group. A pressure-overload induced cardiac hypertrophy model was established via transverse aortic constriction （TAC）， with a sham-operated group （Sham） as the control. Cardiac hypertrophy was assessed by gross morphology， heart weight/body weight ratio （HW/BW）， heart weight/tibia length ratio （HW/HL）， and heart weight/lung weight ratio （HW/PW）. Cardiac function was evaluated by measuring ejection fraction （EF） and fractional shortening （FS） via echocardiography. In heart tissues， the mRNA level of atrial natriuretic peptide （ANP） and Sema3A were detected by RT-qPCR， Sema3A protein level was detected by western blot， morphological structure was detected by hematoxylin and eosin （HE） staining， level of fibrosis was detected by Masson’s trichrome staining， and angiogenesis was detected by immunohistochemical detection of CD31. For in vitro experiments， rat H9C2 cardiomyocytes were treated with angiotensin Ⅱ （Ang Ⅱ） to induce hypertrophy， with PBS-treated cells as the control. After 48 hours， the mRNA expression of ANP， B-type natriuretic peptide （BNP） and Sema3A were measured by RT-qPCR， and Sema3A protein level was assessed by western blot. ResultsAt the animal level， compared with the sham group， mice subjected to TAC showed significantly increased mRNA levels of ANP in cardiac tissue， as well as markedly elevated mRNA and protein levels of Sema3A （all P<0.05）. Compared with the Cre-ER^TM + TAC group， the Sema3A/Cre-ER^TM + TAC group exhibited more pronounced cardiac hypertrophy， greater ventricular wall thickening， higher HW/BW， HW/HL， and HW/PW ratios， more significant reductions in EF and FS， more severe cardiac fibrosis， and a significant decrease in cardiac CD31 expression levels （all P<0.05）. At the cellular level， compared with the control group， H9C2 cells treated with Ang Ⅱ displayed significantly increased mRNA levels of ANP and BNP， along with markedly elevated mRNA and protein levels of Sema3A （all P<0.05）. ConclusionSema3A promotes the progression of pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy by inhibiting angiogenesis.

N-acetyl-p-aminophenol （APAP） is an antipyretic analgesic commonly used in clinical practice， and APAP overdose can cause severe liver injury and even death. In recent years， the incidence rate of APAP-induced liver injury （AILI） tends to increase， and it has become the second most common cause of liver transplantation worldwide. Autophagy is a highly conserved catabolic process that removes unwanted cytosolic proteins and organelles through lysosomal degradation to achieve the metabolic needs of cells themselves and the renewal of organelles. A large number of studies have shown that autophagy plays a key role in the pathophysiology of AILI， involving the mechanisms such as APAP protein conjugates， oxidative stress， JNK activation， mitochondrial dysfunction， inflammatory response and apoptosis. This article elaborates on the biological mechanism of autophagy in AILI， in order to provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of AILI and the development of autophagy regulators.

BACKGROUND:Cardiac dysfunction due to spinal cord injury is an important factor of death in patients with spinal cord injury;however,the specific mechanism is still not clear.Therefore,revealing the mechanism of cardiac dysfunction in spinal cord injury patients is of great significance to improve their quality of life and survival rate. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the mechanism of luteolin in improving serum-induced myocardial cell death in spinal cord injury rats. METHODS:Allen's impact instrument was used to damage the spine T9-T11 of male SD rats to establish a spinal cord injury model meanwhile a sham operation group was set as the control group.The serum of rats of each group was collected.H9c2 cells were divided into a blank control group,a sham operated rat serum group,a spinal cord injury rat serum group and a luteolin pretreatment group.The cells in blank control group were only cultured with ordinary culture medium.The cells in the sham operated rat serum group were treated with medium containing 10%serum from sham operated rat.The cells in the spinal cord injury rat serum group were treated with medium containing 10%serum from spinal cord injury rat.The cells in the luteolin pretreatment group were precultured with a final concentration of 20 μmol/L luteolin for 4 hours and then changed to a medium containing 10%rat serum from spinal cord injury rat.After 24 hours of culture,the survival rate of each group of H9c2 cells was measured by CCK-8 assay.Western blot assay was used to detect the expression of autophagy related protein LC3 and p62 in H9c2 cells in each group. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the blank control group,there was no significant change in cell survival rate in the sham operated rat serum group(P>0.05).Compared with the sham operated rat serum group,the cell survival rate(P<0.01)and the expression of LC3 protein(P<0.05)in spinal cord injury rat serum group was significantly reduced,and the expression of p62 protein was significantly increased(P<0.05).Compared with the spinal cord injury rat serum group,the survival rate of cells in the luteolin pretreatment group significantly increased(P<0.000 1);the expression of LC3 protein significantly increased(P<0.05),and the expression of p62 protein significantly decreased(P<0.05).The results indicate that luteolin may improve myocardial cell death induced by serum from rats with spinal cord injury by promoting autophagy.

Central serous chorioretinopathy(CSC), the first described pachychoroid disease, is characterized by visual distortions and loss of vision, which are commonly seen in middle-aged male. Research has demonstrated that ocular blood flow in CSC is in a state of overload, characterized by the dilation of vortex vein ampullae and choroidal vasculature. The obstruction of venous outflow is linked to scleral thickness, while the choriocapillaris exhibits perfusion deficits due to compression from the engorged vascular layer. Over time, vascular remodeling occurs, with venous anastomoses forming to create alternative drainage pathways and mitigate blood stasis. These abnormalities in vortex vein dynamics and choroidal circulation play a critical role in elucidating the underlying pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of CSC. This review highlights the alterations in vortex vein and choroidal vasculature in CSC, hoping to understand how the changes of blood flow affect the course of CSC and their correlation with treatment response. By evaluating blood flow dynamics, we aim to determine the disease stage more accurately, optimize therapeutic strategies, and ultimately enhance patient outcomes.

Liver diseases have a high prevalence rate worldwide with relatively poor long-term clinical outcomes and have become one of the leading causes of disease burden and death around the world,which poses significant challenges to public health.Eosinophils(Eos)are a class of highly conserved multifunctional immune cells that play critical effector roles in allergic diseases.In recent years,an increasing amount of evidence has shown that Eos plays an important role in the pathogenesis of liver diseases,exerting a protective or harmful effect in different liver diseases,which has become a research hotspot in this field.This article elaborates on the role and potential mechanism of action of Eos in liver diseases,in order to provide a new perspective for in-depth research on the pathogenesis of liver diseases and lay the foundation for developing therapeutic strategies targeting Eos.

Objective:To address the challenges in cultivating young medical researchers, including the lack of initial research funding, insufficient interdisciplinary collaboration, absence of academic exchange platforms, and inadequate talent incentives, this study analyzes the specific practical measures of the new model(Fund-Alliance-Academic activities-Award Model, hereinafter referred to as ″FAAA model″) of A certain medical college in enhancing the innovative capabilities and interdisciplinary research proficiency of young medical talents in initial stage, and evaluates the practical significance of these initiatives.Methods:Through literature review, the inevitability of interdisciplinary integration was examined in the context of China′s developmental needs and medical discipline advancement. Innovative practices under the FAAA model of A certain medical college were retrospectively analyzed, focusing on the construction of a medical youth scientific innovation and development platform.Results:The FAAA model had achieved effective outcomes in improving young researchers′ capabilities, fostering interdisciplinary achievements, expanding academic influence, and advancing talent echelon development, yet required further refinement.Conclusions:The FAAA model effectively addresses critical bottlenecks in the growth of young medical researchers through systematic support mechanisms, significantly enhancing their scientific competitiveness and interdisciplinary innovation capacity. Its practical measures offer referential value for peer institutions. Future efforts should optimize the ″early funding-achievement incubation-national project linkage″ chain, strengthen institutionalized interdisciplinary collaboration, and build a data-driven ecosystem to provide sustainable talent support for medical science and technology innovation.