Objective To evaluate cardiac involvement in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) using echocardiography combined with electrocardiography. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the detailed medical records of AAV patients treated in Jining First People’s Hospital between January 2020 and December 2024. Eighty patients were enrolled in the AAV group, and the risk of heart disease was compared between the AAV group and a control group with 80 subjects matched for age, sex, and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Results Electrocardiographic abnormalities were observed in 78.75% of patients in the AAV group, while significant electrocardiographic abnormalities only occurred in symptomatic patients in the control group. There were no differences in left atrial enlargement or interventricular septal thickening between the AAV group and the control group. The overall left ventricular systolic function in the AAV group was lower than that in the control group (8.75% vs. 0). The incidence of reduced diastolic function in the AAV group was significantly higher than that in the control group (37.5% vs. 15%). The incidence rates of tricuspid regurgitation, mitral regurgitation, aortic regurgitation, and pericardial effusion in the AAV group were significantly higher than those in the control group. Pericardial thickening, aortic stenosis, pulmonary hypertension, and rare periaortic granulomas were found in the AAV group, but not in the control group. Conclusion Echocardiography and electrocardiography are important examination methods for evaluating cardiac involvement in AAV. These methods have key roles in disease screening, diagnosis and treatment, follow-up, and prognosis judgment.

A 20-year-old male patient presented to the Department of Dermatology of Peking Union Medical College Hospital with complaints of an 8-year history of facial scarring, swelling of the lower limbs, and a 4-year history of scalp thickening. Physical examination showed thickening furrowing wrinkling of the skin on the face and behind the ears, ciliary body hirsutism, blepharoptosis, and cutis verticis gyrate. Both lower limbs were swollen, especially the knees and ankles. The skin of the palms and soles of the feet was keratinized and thickened. Laboratory examination using bone and joint X-ray showed periostosis of the proximal middle phalanges and metacarpals of both hands, distal ulna and radius, tibia and fibula, distal femurs, and metatarsals.Genetic testing revealed two variants in SLCO2A1, c.1658T > A and c.96+4A > C.Through multidisciplinary consultation, we confirmed the diagnosis of pachydermoperiostosis.

BACKGROUND: Biomarkers-based prediction of long-term risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is scarce. We aim to develop a risk score integrating clinical routine information (C) and plasma biomarkers (B) for predicting long-term risk of ACS patients. METHODS: We included 2729 ACS patients from the OCEA (Observation of cardiovascular events in ACS patients). The earlier admitted 1910 patients were enrolled as development cohort; and the subsequently admitted 819 subjects were treated as validation cohort. We investigated 10-year risk of cardiovascular (CV) death, myocardial infarction (MI) and all cause death in these patients. Potential variables contributing to risk of clinical events were assessed using Cox regression models and a score was derived using main part of these variables. RESULTS: During 16,110 person-years of follow-up, there were 238 CV death/MI in the development cohort. The 7 most important predictors including in the final model were NT-proBNP, D-dimer, GDF-15, peripheral artery disease (PAD), Fibrinogen, ST-segment elevated MI (STEMI), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), termed as CB-ACS score. C-index of the score for predication of cardiovascular events was 0.79 (95% CI: 0.76-0.82) in development cohort and 0.77 (95% CI: 0.76-0.78) in the validation cohort (5832 person-years of follow-up), which outperformed GRACE 2.0 and ABC-ACS risk score. The CB-ACS score was also well calibrated in development and validation cohort (Greenwood-Nam-D'Agostino: P = 0.70 and P = 0.07, respectively). CONCLUSIONS CB-ACS risk score provides a useful tool for long-term prediction of CV events in patients with ACS. This model outperforms GRACE 2.0 and ABC-ACS ischemic risk score.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate how spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) exerts its analgesic effects through regulating brain function in lumbar disc herniation (LDH) patients by utilizing resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). METHODS: From September 2021 to September 2023, we enrolled LDH patients (LDH group, n=31) and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs, n=28). LDH group underwent rs-fMRI at 2 distinct time points (TPs): prior to the initiation of SMT (TP1) and subsequent to the completion of the SMT sessions (TP2). SMT was administered once every other day for 30 min per session, totally 14 treatment sessions over a span of 4 weeks. HCs did not receive SMT treatment and underwent only one fMRI scan. Additionally, participants in LDH group completed clinical questionnaires on pain using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, whereas HCs did not undergo clinical scale assessments. The effects on the brain were jointly characterized using the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo). Correlation analyses were conducted between specific brain regions and clinical scales. RESULTS: Following SMT treatment, pain symptoms in LDH patients were notably alleviated and accompanied by evident activation of effects in the brain. In comparison to TP1, TP2 exhibited the most significant increase in ALFF values for Temporal_Sup_R and the most notable decrease in ALFF values for Paracentral_Lobule_L (voxelwise P<0.005; clusters >30; FDR correction). Additionally, the most substantial enhancement in ReHo values was observed for the Cuneus_R, while the most prominent reduction was noted for the Olfactory_R (voxelwise P<0.005; clusters >30; FDR correction). Moreover, a comparative analysis revealed that, in contrast to HCs, LDH patients at TP1 exhibited the most significant increase in ALFF values for Temporal_Pole_Sup_L and the most notable decrease in ALFF values for Frontal_Mid_L (voxelwise P<0.005; clusters >30; FDR correction). Furthermore, the most significant enhancement in ReHo values was observed for Postcentral_L, while the most prominent reduction was identified for ParaHippocampal_L (voxelwise P<0.005; clusters >30; FDR correction). Notably, correlation analysis with clinical scales revealed a robust positive correlation between the Cuneus_R score and the rate of change in the VAS score (r=0.9333, P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Long-term chronic lower back pain in patients with LDH manifests significant activation of the "AUN-DMN-S1-SAN" neural circuitry. The visual network, represented by the Cuneus_R, is highly likely to be a key brain network in which the analgesic efficacy of SMT becomes effective in treating LDH patients. (Trial registration No. NCT06277739).
Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/diagnostic imaging* ; Male ; Female ; Brain/diagnostic imaging* ; Adult ; Manipulation, Spinal/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Lumbar Vertebrae/physiopathology* ; Pain Management ; Rest ; Case-Control Studies

OBJECTIVE: To explore the molecular mechanism of Shenmai Injection (SMI) against doxorubicin (DOX) induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. METHODS: A total of 40 specific pathogen-free (SPF) male Sprague Dawley (SD) male rats were divided into 5 groups based on the random number table, including the control group, the model group, miR-30a agomir group, SMI low-dose (SMI-L) group, and SMI high-dose (SMI-H) group, with 8 rats in each group. Except for the control group, the rats were injected weekly with DOX (2 mg/kg) in the tail vein for 4 weeks to induce myocardial injury, and were given different regimens of continuous intervention for 2 weeks. Cardiac function was detected by echocardiography and myocardial pathological changes were observed by Van Gieson (VG) staining. Myocardial injury serum markers, including creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), troponin T (cTnT), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), soluble ST2 (sST2), and growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was observed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotinylated dUTP triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) and transmission electron microscopy, and the expressions of target proteins and mRNA were detected by Western blot and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-RCR), respectively. RESULTS: The treatment with different doses of SMI reduced rat heart mass index and left ventricular mass index (P<0.05), significantly improved the left ventricular ejection fraction (P<0.05), decreased the levels of serum CK, LDH, cTnT, and NT-proBNP (P<0.05 or P<0.01), reduced the levels of serum sST2 and GDF-15 (P<0.05 or P<0.01), decreased the collagen volume fraction, reduced the expressions of rat myocardial type I and type III collagen (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and effectively alleviated myocardial fibrosis. And the study found that SMI promoted the expression levels of miR-30a and Bcl-2 in myocardium, and down-regulated the expression of Bax, which inhibited the activation of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and improved myocardial cell apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS SMI can alleviate myocardial injury and apoptosis caused by DOX, and its mechanism possibly by promoting the targeted expression of myocardial Bcl-2 protein through miR-30a.
Animals ; Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Male ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Doxorubicin/pharmacology* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics* ; Drug Combinations ; Injections ; Rats

Magnetic surgery,as an emerging discipline,utilizes the principle of “non-contact” magnetic force to drive the innovative development of surgical technology. Magnetic compression anastomosis (MCA),a significant branch of magnetic surgical technology,demonstrates notable advantages in reducing surgical trauma,shortening operation time,and lowering the risk of complications,particularly in the reconstruction of digestive tract and vascular anastomoses. Compared to traditional suturing and mechanical anastomoses,MCA avoids defects such as the “pinhole effect” and “foreign body reaction”,leveraging the advantages of magnetic force′s non-contact nature,gradient variation, uniformity,and directionality to significantly reduce the risks of anastomotic bleeding,stenosis,and fistula. However,the widespread adoption of MCA still faces challenges,including the biological safety of magnetic materials,optimization of magnet design,intelligent application,and large-scale clinical validation. To address these,it is necessary to further standardize clinical operation procedures,enhance safety assessments,promote interdisciplinary integration,and accelerate technological iteration and translation of research findings,with the aim of facilitating broader clinical application of MCA for the benefit of patients.

Objective:To compare the uncertainty of dose calibration systems between EBT4 and EBT3 films, and to evaluate the effectiveness and accuracy of EBT4 films in radiotherapy dose measurements.Methods:EBT4 and EBT3 films were irradiated with clinical 6 MV photon beams at doses ranging from 0 to 1,600 MU. Films were scanned after resting for 0 and 24 h to establish dose calibration functions based on net optical density. The dose uncertainties introduced by function fitting, dose resolution, film non-uniformity, scan repeatability, and scanner non-uniformity during calibration of the two films were obtained through experimental tests and mathematical calculations. Independent-sample t-tests were used to compare differences in fitting uncertainty and dose resolution between the two films, while homogeneity of variance tests were used to compare differences in film non-uniformity and scan repeatability. The combined total uncertainty was then calculated and compared. Finally, the total combined uncertainty was calculated by integrating all individual sources of uncertainty and compared between the two films. Results:Within the absorbed dose range of 1-12 Gy, EBT4 films exhibited significantly lower dose uncertainties from function fitting and dose resolution than EBT3 films at the same standing time ( P<0.01). No significant differences were observed between the two films in terms of non-uniformity and scan repeatability ( P>0.05). The total dose uncertainties of EBT4 and EBT3 films at 0 h standing were 5.65% and 7.87%, respectively, while the total uncertainties at 24 h standing were 4.73% and 6.33%, respectively. Overall, the dose calibration system of EBT4 films demonstrated consistently lower total uncertainty. Conclusion:Under identical conditions, EBT4 films demonstrate superior and more stable dose uncertainty compared with EBT3 films, thereby meeting the clinical requirements for radiation dose measurements with higher precision.

Magnetic surgery technology leverages the principle of "non-contact" magnetic force, demonstrating revolutionary potential in the field of digestive surgery. It has been widely applied in areas such as gastrointestinal anastomosis, esophageal atresia recanalization, and biliary stricture treatment. Magnetic surgery techniques can be categorized into the following six major types based on their application methods and principles: magnetic compression technology, magnetic navigation technology, magnetic anchoring technology, magnetic levitation technology, magnetic tracing technology, and magnetic drive technology. These innovative surgical techniques significantly simplify surgical operations, solve complex and difficult problems, and improve clinical treatment outcomes. Meanwhile, the deepening application of magnetic surgery technology requires further standardization of clinical operation and quality control standards, reinforcement of safety research, and acceleration of multidisciplinary integration and development. The authors review the develop-ment history of magnetic surgical technology and offer a perspective on its future, highlighting the core concept of surgical innovation. The authors also summarize the clinical applications of magnetic surgery in the treatment of digestive diseases, as well as its key theoretical and technological advance-ments. Looking forward, the authors anticipate that interdisciplinary collaboration and intelligent development, with the aim of further promoting the continuous innovation of surgical technology and enhancing clinical treatment value.

Objective:To investigate the effects of hepatic fatty acid transporter 5 (FATP5) gene expression on the levels of free long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) in mice with metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD).Methods:From June to December 2022, a prospective study was conducted with three experimental groups: wild-type (WT) group, FATP5 gene expression negative (FATP5 -) group, and human FATP5 gene expression positive (hFATP5 +) group, with 10 mice in each group. Each group of mice was fed a high-fat diet for 16 weeks to establish a model of MAFLD. Hepatic tissue changes were observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining. The liver mass and liver coefficient of the mice were measured. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), uric acid (UA), and LCFA levels were determined using an automatic biochemical analyzer. Blood glucose (Glu) levels were measured using a blood glucose analyzer. The liver mass and liver coefficient, TC and TG levels, AST and ALT levels, Glu and UA levels, and LCFA levels were compared among the three groups. Results:In the WT group, there was significant inflammatory cell infiltration within the hepatocytes and a large amount of fat accumulation. In the FATP5 - group, the inflammatory cell infiltration in the hepatocytes was mild with slight fat accumulation. In the hFATP5 + group, the inflammatory cell infiltration in the hepatocytes was severe, with great fat accumulation. The liver mass [(1.27 ± 0.25) g], liver coefficient (2.38 ± 0.19), TC [(1.82 ± 0.26) mmol/L], TG [(0.93 ± 0.24) mmol/L], AST [(169.95 ± 37.73) U/L], ALT [(95.36 ± 21.49) U/L], Glu [(8.34 ± 1.52) mmol/L], and UA [(74.32 ± 15.52) μmol/L] in the FATP5 - group were all significantly lower than those in the WT group [(1.61 ± 0.23) g, (2.71 ± 0.20), (2.31 ± 0.28) mmol/L, (1.34 ± 0.21) mmol/L, (278.31 ± 43.24) U/L, (147.32 ± 28.81) U/L, (10.52 ± 1.24) mmol/L, (96.28 ± 17.43) μmol/L], while the LCFA level [(3.57 ± 0.48) mg/L] in the FATP5 - group was significantly higher than that in the WT group [(2.63 ± 0.56) mg/L] ( t = 3.17, 3.78, 4.06, 4.07, 5.97, 4.57, 3.51, 2.98, 4.03, all P < 0.05). In the hFATP5 + group, the liver mass [(1.92 ± 0.30) g], liver coefficient (2.95 ± 0.23), TC [(2.59 ± 0.24) mmol/L], TG [(1.76 ± 0.35) mmol/L], AST [(341.22 ± 48.98) U/L], ALT [(189.45 ± 17.97) U/L], Glu [(13.21 ± 1.98) mmol/L], and UA [(117.74 ± 18.38) μmol/L] were all significantly higher than those in the WT group, while the LCFA level [(3.57 ± 0.48) mg/L] in the FATP5 + group was significantly lower than that in the WT group ( t = 2.59, 2.49, 2.40, 3.25, 3.04, 3.92, 3.64, 2.68, 3.19, all P < 0.05). Conclusions:The absence of FATP5 in the liver can elevate blood levels of LCFA in mice with MAFLD, reduce food intake, and help alleviate the symptoms of MAFLD.

Objective:To explore the impact of plant and animal dietary behaviors on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in older adults aged ≥65 in 18 longevity areas of China.Methods:The subjects were 5 223 older adults over 65 years old from the Healthy Ageing and Biomarkers Cohort Study (HABCS) in 18 longevity areas in China. Through a questionnaire survey and physical examination, information about their demographic characteristics, lifestyles, daily activities, self-health status, current diseases, and fasting venous blood were collected. Food Frequency and Questionnaire (FFQ) was used to collect data on food intake frequency. Based on the prior method, the plant-based diet index (PDI) and animal-based diet index (ADI) of 5 223 older adults were calculated. Subjects were divided into three groups (low-level group: PDI<39 or ADI<31, middle-level group: 39≤PDI≤42 or 31≤ADI≤34, high-level group: PDI>42 or ADI>34) by tertiles of PDI and ADI. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the association between PDI and ADI and the risk of T2DM.Results:The average age of 5 223 subjects was (84.8±11.5) years, with the median ( Q1, Q3) of PDI about 41(38, 43) and the median ( Q1, Q3) of ADI about 33 (30, 35). The prevalence rate of T2DM was 16.41% (857/5 223). After adjusting for covariates, multivariate logistic regression showed that PDI was negatively associated with T2DM. Compared with the low-level group, the OR (95% CI) for T2DM in the high-level group was 0.83 (0.69-0.99). ADI was positively associated with T2DM, and compared with the low-level group, the OR (95% CI) for T2DM in the high-level group was 1.28 (1.06-1.55). For every one-point increase in PDI and ADI, the risk of T2DM decreased by 2% and increased by 3%, respectively, with the OR (95% CI) of 0.98 (0.96-1.00) and 1.03 (1.01-1.06), respectively. Conclusion:In Chinese older adults ≥65 years in 18 longevity areas, higher adherence to the plant-based behavior may be negatively associated with the risk of T2DM, while higher adherence to the animal-based behavior may be positively associated with the risk of T2DM.