Objective To compare the dosimetric differences, plan complexity, verification pass rate, and execution efficiency of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans designed for post-mastectomy radiotherapy of breast cancer using Halcyon 2.0 and VitalBeam accelerators in flattening filter-free mode. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on imaging data from 87 female breast cancer patients aged 29 to 75 (49.9 ± 9.9) years who underwent modified radical mastectomy followed by radiotherapy. VMAT plans were designed using both VitalBeam and Halcyon accelerators in flattening filter-free mode. The dosimetric parameters, plan complexity, verification pass rate, and execution efficiency were compared between the plans designed for both accelerators, with a significance level of P<0.05. Results In terms of target volume parameters, Halcyon 2.0 plans demonstrated superior homogeneity index and conformity index. For organs at risk, the Halcyon 2.0 plans showed lower doses for the lungs (D_20% and D_mean) and heart (D_mean) compared to the VitalBeam plans (all P<0.05). Regarding plan complexity, Halcyon 2.0 plans exhibited better median average aperture area variation (0.35 ± 0.02), smaller aperture score, and larger median plan aperture area than VitalBeam plans (all P<0.05). However, VitalBeam plans had a superior median modulation complexity score (0.28 ± 0.01) compared to Halcyon 2.0 plans (P<0.05). Patient plans were assessed using the ArcCHECK phantom, revealing higher pass rates and significantly shorter execution time for Halcyon plans compared to VitalBeam plans (P<0.05). Conclusion Both Halcyon 2.0 and VitalBeam accelerators can provide high-quality VMAT plans for postoperative radiotherapy of breast cancer, with excellent verification pass rates ensuring treatment accuracy and efficacy. However, Halcyon 2.0 offers lower plan complexity, simplifies the treatment planning process, and reduces execution time, thereby achieving higher treatment efficiency and demonstrating greater advantages in clinical applications.

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion(I/R)injury refers to the irreversible cardiac damage and cardio-myocyte apoptosis that occur upon the restoration of blood flow following ischemia in ischemic heart disease(IHD).Given its high incidence,elevated mortality rate,and poor clinical outcomes,the prevention and treatment of I/R injury are of considerable clinical significance.Mitochondrial dynamics dysfunction,characterized by abnormalities in mitochondrial morphology,fission,and fusion,has emerged as a critical pathological feature.Evidence indicates that correcting these dysfunctions can enhance myocardial energy metabolism,mitigate oxidative stress,calcium overload,and inflammatory responses,and inhibit the pathological opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore and vascular remodeling.These effects position mitochondrial dynamics as a promising therapeutic target for IHD and I/R injury.This paper ex-plores the pathophysiological mechanisms by which mitochondrial dynamics dysfunction in cardiomyocytes,vascular endo-thelial cells,and vascular smooth muscle cells contributes to the development and progression of I/R injury,aiming to of-fer novel insights into its prevention and treatment.

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion(I/R)injury refers to the irreversible cardiac damage and cardio-myocyte apoptosis that occur upon the restoration of blood flow following ischemia in ischemic heart disease(IHD).Given its high incidence,elevated mortality rate,and poor clinical outcomes,the prevention and treatment of I/R injury are of considerable clinical significance.Mitochondrial dynamics dysfunction,characterized by abnormalities in mitochondrial morphology,fission,and fusion,has emerged as a critical pathological feature.Evidence indicates that correcting these dysfunctions can enhance myocardial energy metabolism,mitigate oxidative stress,calcium overload,and inflammatory responses,and inhibit the pathological opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore and vascular remodeling.These effects position mitochondrial dynamics as a promising therapeutic target for IHD and I/R injury.This paper ex-plores the pathophysiological mechanisms by which mitochondrial dynamics dysfunction in cardiomyocytes,vascular endo-thelial cells,and vascular smooth muscle cells contributes to the development and progression of I/R injury,aiming to of-fer novel insights into its prevention and treatment.

Objective:To evaluate the dosimetric characteristics of intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) and photon volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in radiation therapy planning for patients with bilateral breast cancer after breast-conserving surgery.Methods:On the computed tomography localization images of 18 patients with bilateral breast cancer, target volumes and organs at risk were contoured to develop both IMPT and VMAT plans for each patient. Two IMPT plans were designed based on the clinical target volume (CTV) with robust optimization (RO-IMPT) and the planning target volume (PTV) without RO (NonRO-IMPT), respectively. The RO-IMPT, NonRO-IMPT, and VMAT plans were normalized such that the prescription dose could cover 95% of the target volume. The dosimetric parameters of target volumes and organs at risk were evaluated, and the dosimetric characteristics of the two techniques were compared.Results:In terms of target volumes, the RO-IMPT group showed significantly lower D1%, Dmean, and homogeneity index (HI) and a significantly higher D99% of the CTV than those of the PTV in the VMAT group ( t=-8.96, -8.21, -8.13, 4.96, P<0.05). The NonRO-IMPT group showed significantly lower D1%, Dmean, and HI and a significantly higher conformity index of the PTV than those of the PTV in the VMAT group ( t=-7.75, -6.25, -6.11, 7.53, P<0.05). In terms of organs at risk, the two IMPT groups showed significantly lower values than the VMAT group for the V5- V30 and Dmean of the whole lungs, V5- V40 and Dmean of the heart, D1% and Dmean of the left anterior descending coronary artery, D1% of the spinal cord, Dmean of normal tissues, and Dmean of the skin ( t= -28.47 to -3.25, P<0.05). There was no significant difference in any other evaluation indices ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Both IMPT and VMAT can meet the clinical requirements of radiotherapy plans following breast-conserving surgery for bilateral breast cancer. IMPT has apparent advantages over VMAT in protecting organs at risk.

Objective:To identify candidate strains of Nontoxigenic Clostridioides difficile (NTCD) with potential for intervention in Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and analyze their phenotypic characteristics. Methods:A total of 713 Clostridioides difficile strains from various sources were systematically collected nationwide between 2015 and 2023. This included 649 strains isolated from human fecal samples and 64 strains isolated from the fecal samples of farmed animals. NTCD strains were preliminarily screened through toxin gene detection and antibiotic sensitivity test, and then NTCD candidate strains with potential for intervention in CDI were screened by a series of in vitro experiments, including MLST, sporulation, germination, adhesion, motility, and biofilm formation ability. Ultimately, the virulence genes and antimicrobial resistance genes of the candidate strains were comprehensively analyzed to rigorously assess their safety profiles. Results:Among 713 strains of C. difficile from different sources, 10 strains were initially screened out, which were non-toxin-producing and sensitive to antibiotics. MLST showed that seven strains were from the Clade1 branch and three strains were of a novel type. The results of sporulation and germination showed that SD59, SD178, SJZ17, and WZ142 had stronger sporulation and germination abilities. The adhesion of 10 strains was high, and the adhesion rate was between 72.93% and 99.32%. The motility of all strains was different, and the motility of SD178, SD59 and SJZ17 was stronger. The biofilm-forming ability of all strains was weak. SD59, SD178 and SJZ17 carried a limited number of virulence and resistance genes, thereby posing a relatively low safety risk. Conclusion:Three NTCD strains are successfully selected as potential effective NTCD strains to interfere with CDI.

Objective:To understand the status and influencing factors of social isolation in elderly individuals with chronic diseases.Methods:A multi-stage sampling method was used to select elderly individuals from eight communities or villages in Hefei from July to September 2022. The study employed a general information survey, the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6) , the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) , the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) , and the Personal Social Capital Scale 16 (PSCS-16) . Binary Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the factors influencing social isolation in elderly individuals with chronic diseases.Results:A total of 1 133 elderly individuals were surveyed, among which 538 had chronic diseases. Among the 538 elderly individuals with chronic diseases, 209 were socially isolated, resulting in a social isolation rate of 38.8%. Binary Logistic regression analysis revealed that living area, fear of falling, depression, social capital, and social support were significant factors influencing social isolation ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:The social isolation rate among elderly individuals with chronic diseases is high. Special attention should be given to elderly individuals living in rural areas, those who fear falling, and those experiencing depression. Additionally, improving social capital and social support can help alleviate social isolation in these elderly individuals.

Objective:To explore the potential categories and influencing factors of attitudes to aging among the elderly in nursing homes.Methods:Convenience sampling was used to select elderly from 15 nursing homes in Anhui Province from March to July 2024 for the study. The survey was conducted using the General Information Questionnaire, Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire, Belongingness Scale for Older Adults in Nursing Facilities, and the Lubben Social Network Scale. Mplus 8.3 was used to conduct a latent profile analysis, and multivariate Logistic regression was employed to explore the factors influencing the latent categories of attitudes toward aging among the elderly in nursing facilities.Results:A total of 370 questionnaires were distributed, and 366 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 98.9%. The attitudes to aging of 366 elderly of nursing facilities were expressed in three potential categories, namely, negative-perceived type (48.6%), moderate-low psychosocial loss type (35.0%), and positive and optimistic-comprehensive type (16.4%). Multicategorical Logistic regression analysis showed that the number of children, location of the nursing home, educational level, self-rating health, belongingness to the nursing home, and social network were the influencing factors of the potential categories of attitudes to aging among the elderly in the nursing home, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:There is group heterogeneity in the attitudes to aging among the elderly in nursing homes. Healthcare professionals should focus on negative-perceived elderly and provide targeted interventions based on the potential categories of factors influencing their attitudes to aging.

Objective:To understand the status and influencing factors of social isolation in elderly individuals with chronic diseases.Methods:A multi-stage sampling method was used to select elderly individuals from eight communities or villages in Hefei from July to September 2022. The study employed a general information survey, the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6) , the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) , the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) , and the Personal Social Capital Scale 16 (PSCS-16) . Binary Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the factors influencing social isolation in elderly individuals with chronic diseases.Results:A total of 1 133 elderly individuals were surveyed, among which 538 had chronic diseases. Among the 538 elderly individuals with chronic diseases, 209 were socially isolated, resulting in a social isolation rate of 38.8%. Binary Logistic regression analysis revealed that living area, fear of falling, depression, social capital, and social support were significant factors influencing social isolation ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:The social isolation rate among elderly individuals with chronic diseases is high. Special attention should be given to elderly individuals living in rural areas, those who fear falling, and those experiencing depression. Additionally, improving social capital and social support can help alleviate social isolation in these elderly individuals.

Objective To analyze the correlations between the thoracic electrical impedance tomography(EIT)-derived parameters global inhomogeneity(GI),center of ventilation(COV),regional ventilation delay(RVD),and atelectasis in hospitalized patients,and to explore their effectiveness in evaluating atelectasis.Methods The clinical data of 140 hospitalized patients monitored by thoracic EIT between Sep.2024 and Jan.2025 were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were assigned to 2 groups based on chest computed tomography confirmation of atelectasis within the preceding short-term period during EIT monitoring:non-atelectasis group or atelectasis group.The algorithm software designed with MATLAB was used to acquire GI and COV.RVD was obtained through analysis with the Dr?ger EIT Data Analysis Tool 6.3 software,and patients'general data were concurrently documented.Comparative analysis of EIT-derived parameters between groups was conducted.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to investigate the correlations of GI,COV,and RVD with atelectasis,while receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to assess the efficacy of EIT-derived parameters in evaluating atelectasis.Results A total of 140 patients were enrolled,with 19(13.6%)cases presenting atelectasis.Compared to the non-atelectasis group,the atelectasis group demonstrated significantly higher proportions of male patients and cardiovascular disease and thoracic surgery(non-pulmonary)histories,lower body mass index(BMI),and alongside elevated GI and RVD values with reduced COV(all P＜0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that GI,COV,and RVD maintained independent associations with atelectasis after adjusting for age,gender,BMI,pleural effusion,and emphysema(odds ratio[OR]=1.39,95%confidence interval[CI]1.20-1.67;OR=0.85,95%CI 0.75-0.96;OR=1.22,95%CI 1.09-1.39;all P＜0.05).The area under curve(AUC)values of GI,COV,and RVD for evaluating atelectasis in hospitalized patients were 0.82,0.80,and 0.82,respectively(while RVD demonstrated a higher AUC,its clinical applicability was influenced by respiratory patterns).Conclusion Thoracic EIT-derived parameters GI and COV demonstrate significant correlations with atelectasis and may serve as valuable indicators for evaluating atelectasis in hospitalized patients.

Objective:To analyze the efficacy of delineating the clinical target volume (CTV) following the trajectory of trigeminal nerve branches and elective neck irradiation (ENI) in postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for adenoid cystic carcinoma of head and neck (ACCHN).Methods:In this study, the data of ACCHN patients without distal metastasis who received postoperative radiotherapy after radical surgery at the Ninth People's Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from January 2016 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Postoperative radiotherapy target zone and intensity-modulated radiotherapy plan for ACCHN were formulated according to the site of primary focus, whether nerve invasion and pathological staging. Kaplan-Meier method was applied to perform survival analysis, while assessing the tumor local control rate and locoregional recurrence pattern under this target zone outlining principle.Results:A total of 309 ACCHN patients were included. With a median follow-up of 49 months, the 5-year local control rate was 93.2%, the 5-year overall survival rate, locoregional recurrence-free survival rate, and distant metastasis-free survival rate were 90.8%, 90.6%, 66.3%, respectively. Twenty-three patients developed locoregional recurrence, including 14 with primary tumor recurrence alone, 5 with regional lymph node recurrence alone, and 4 with both primary and regional lymph node recurrence. Among the patients with primary tumor recurrence, 11 had recurrence related to the trigeminal nerve branches,and 7 had recurrence in the tumor bed or surgical bed region, with no out-of-field recurrence. Among the 9 patients with lymph node recurrence, none had undergone neck dissection.Conclusions:Delineating the CTV following the trigeminal nerve branches in postoperative radiotherapy for ACCHN achieves excellent local control. Elective neck irradiation avoids irradiation of the entire neck lymphatic drainage area with a low regional recurrence rate.