Objective To detect the isocenter of a medical linear accelerator using an optical surface monitoring system (OSMS) combined with a self-made 3D-printed phantom, and compare with the conventional front pointer measurement method. Methods A phantom that could be fixed to the front pointer of the accelerator was fabricated using 3D printing technology. The front pointer method and OSMS were used to detect the rotation isocenter deviations of the accelerator. During the experiments, the collimator, gantry, and couch linear displacement readings were recorded at different angles. We also recorded the measurement time of different surveyors. Results Compared to the front pointer measurement method, the OSMS method showed lower standard deviations. The reductions in standard deviations showed statistical significance in the Lat direction for the collimator rotation isocenter as well as in the Lat and Vrt directions for the gantry rotation isocenter. The mean deviation of Mag values for the collimator rotation isocenter using the OSMS method was 0.50 mm, which was larger than the 0.42 mm using the front pointer method. However, the standard deviation was 0.06 using the OSMS method, which was smaller than the 0.18 using the front pointer method. The mean deviation and standard deviation of Sag values for the gantry rotation isocenter using the OSMS method were 1.03 mm and 0.12, respectively, which were both larger than 0.47 mm and 0.06 using the front pointer method. For the couch rotation isocenter, the mean deviation and standard deviation using the OSMS method were 0.32 mm and 0.04, respectively, which were both smaller than the 0.55 mm and 0.20 using the front pointer method. All surveyors spent less time in isocenter measurements using the OSMS method compared to the front pointer method. Conclusion Compared with the front pointer method, the OSMS method significantly reduces the standard deviation among surveyors, effectively reduces the influence of the angle deviation of the accelerator on the measurement results, reduces detection time, improves detection efficiency, and provides a powerful practical basis for the application of OSMS in detecting the mechanical accuracy of the linear accelerator.

Objective To detect the isocenter of a medical linear accelerator using an optical surface monitoring system (OSMS) combined with a self-made 3D-printed phantom, and compare with the conventional front pointer measurement method. Methods A phantom that could be fixed to the front pointer of the accelerator was fabricated using 3D printing technology. The front pointer method and OSMS were used to detect the rotation isocenter deviations of the accelerator. During the experiments, the collimator, gantry, and couch linear displacement readings were recorded at different angles. We also recorded the measurement time of different surveyors. Results Compared to the front pointer measurement method, the OSMS method showed lower standard deviations. The reductions in standard deviations showed statistical significance in the Lat direction for the collimator rotation isocenter as well as in the Lat and Vrt directions for the gantry rotation isocenter. The mean deviation of Mag values for the collimator rotation isocenter using the OSMS method was 0.50 mm, which was larger than the 0.42 mm using the front pointer method. However, the standard deviation was 0.06 using the OSMS method, which was smaller than the 0.18 using the front pointer method. The mean deviation and standard deviation of Sag values for the gantry rotation isocenter using the OSMS method were 1.03 mm and 0.12, respectively, which were both larger than 0.47 mm and 0.06 using the front pointer method. For the couch rotation isocenter, the mean deviation and standard deviation using the OSMS method were 0.32 mm and 0.04, respectively, which were both smaller than the 0.55 mm and 0.20 using the front pointer method. All surveyors spent less time in isocenter measurements using the OSMS method compared to the front pointer method. Conclusion Compared with the front pointer method, the OSMS method significantly reduces the standard deviation among surveyors, effectively reduces the influence of the angle deviation of the accelerator on the measurement results, reduces detection time, improves detection efficiency, and provides a powerful practical basis for the application of OSMS in detecting the mechanical accuracy of the linear accelerator.

Objective To detect the isocenter of a medical linear accelerator using an optical surface monitoring system (OSMS) combined with a self-made 3D-printed phantom, and compare with the conventional front pointer measurement method. Methods A phantom that could be fixed to the front pointer of the accelerator was fabricated using 3D printing technology. The front pointer method and OSMS were used to detect the rotation isocenter deviations of the accelerator. During the experiments, the collimator, gantry, and couch linear displacement readings were recorded at different angles. We also recorded the measurement time of different surveyors. Results Compared to the front pointer measurement method, the OSMS method showed lower standard deviations. The reductions in standard deviations showed statistical significance in the Lat direction for the collimator rotation isocenter as well as in the Lat and Vrt directions for the gantry rotation isocenter. The mean deviation of Mag values for the collimator rotation isocenter using the OSMS method was 0.50 mm, which was larger than the 0.42 mm using the front pointer method. However, the standard deviation was 0.06 using the OSMS method, which was smaller than the 0.18 using the front pointer method. The mean deviation and standard deviation of Sag values for the gantry rotation isocenter using the OSMS method were 1.03 mm and 0.12, respectively, which were both larger than 0.47 mm and 0.06 using the front pointer method. For the couch rotation isocenter, the mean deviation and standard deviation using the OSMS method were 0.32 mm and 0.04, respectively, which were both smaller than the 0.55 mm and 0.20 using the front pointer method. All surveyors spent less time in isocenter measurements using the OSMS method compared to the front pointer method. Conclusion Compared with the front pointer method, the OSMS method significantly reduces the standard deviation among surveyors, effectively reduces the influence of the angle deviation of the accelerator on the measurement results, reduces detection time, improves detection efficiency, and provides a powerful practical basis for the application of OSMS in detecting the mechanical accuracy of the linear accelerator.

AIM:This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Carthamus tinctorius L.-derived nanovesicles(CDNVs)and their regulatory mechanisms in endothelial cell injury induced by oxidized low-density lipopro-tein(ox-LDL).METHODS:Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs)were cultured in vitro and subjected to ox-LDL treatment to establish an endothelial cell injury model.The experimental groups included the normal control(NC)group,ox-LDL group(HUVECs treated with 100 mg/L ox-LDL for 24 h),and CDNVs+ox-LDL group(pre-treated with 40 mg/L CDNVs for 1 hour followed by co-culture with 100 mg/L ox-LDL for 24 hours).Cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed by the EdU incorporation assay and flow cytometry,respectively.Changes in signal-induced proliferation-associ-ated 1-like protein 2(SIPA1L2)mRNA expression were measured by RT-qPCR,and the expression levels of autophagy-related proteins and SIPA1L2 were evaluated by Western blot.SIPA1L2 ubiquitination was evaluated by immunoprecipita-tion assay.RESULTS:(1)CDNVs were successfully isolated and purified,characterized as nanoscale vesicles with a circular shape and a double-layered membrane structure.(2)CDNVs promoted the proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of ox-LDL-treated HUVECs(P＜0.05).(3)CDNVs suppressed the prorein expression of SIPA1L2 and promoted autophagy in ox-LDL-treated HUVECs(P＜0.05).(4)CDNVs facilitated the ubiquitination of SIPA1L2 protein,and reduced its protein level through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION:CDNVs exert a protective effect against ox-LDL-induced endothelial cell injury by mediating SIPA1L2 ubiquitination and promoting endothelial cell au-tophagy.

Anxiety disorder is a major symptom of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with a comorbidity rate of ~40%. However, the neural mechanisms of the emergence of anxiety in ASD remain unclear. In our study, we found that hyperactivity of basolateral amygdala (BLA) pyramidal neurons (PNs) in Shank3 InsG3680 knock-in (InsG3680^+/+) mice is involved in the development of anxiety. Electrophysiological results also showed increased excitatory input and decreased inhibitory input in BLA PNs. Chemogenetic inhibition of the excitability of PNs in the BLA rescued the anxiety phenotype of InsG3680^+/+ mice. Further study found that the diminished control of the BLA by medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and optogenetic activation of the mPFC-BLA pathway also had a rescue effect, which increased the feedforward inhibition of the BLA. Taken together, our results suggest that hyperactivity of the BLA and alteration of the mPFC-BLA circuitry are involved in anxiety in InsG3680^+/+ mice.
Animals ; Prefrontal Cortex/metabolism* ; Basolateral Nuclear Complex/metabolism* ; Mice ; Anxiety/metabolism* ; Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics* ; Male ; Gene Knock-In Techniques ; Pyramidal Cells/physiology* ; Mice, Transgenic ; Neural Pathways/physiopathology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microfilament Proteins

Chronic pain, frequently comorbid with neuropsychiatric disorders, significantly impairs patients' quality of life and functional capacity. Accumulating evidence implicates the chemokine CCL2 and its receptor CCR2 as key players in chronic pain pathogenesis. This review examines the regulatory mechanisms of the CCL2/CCR2 axis in chronic pain processing at three hierarchical levels: (1) Peripheral Sensitization: CCL2/CCR2 modulates TRPV1, Nav1.8, and HCN2 channels to increase neuronal excitability and CGRP signaling and calcium-dependent exocytosis in peripheral nociceptors to transmit pain. (2) Spinal Cord Central Sensitization: CCL2/CCR2 contributes to NMDAR-dependent plasticity, glial activation, GABAergic disinhibition, and opioid receptor desensitization. (3) Supraspinal Central Networks: CCL2/CCR2 signaling axis mediates the comorbidity mechanisms of pain with anxiety and cognitive impairment within brain regions, including the ACC, CeA, NAc, and hippocampus, and it also increases pain sensitization through the descending facilitation system. Current CCL2/CCR2-targeted therapeutic strategies and their development status are discussed, highlighting novel avenues for chronic pain management.
Humans ; Chronic Pain/physiopathology* ; Animals ; Neuroglia/metabolism* ; Chemokine CCL2/metabolism* ; Receptors, CCR2/metabolism*

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) is significantly expressed in various tissues such as the liver, kidney, myocardium, and skeletal muscle, which plays a central role in the development of various diseases by regulating key physiological processes such as energy homeostasis, redox balance, inflammatory response, and ferroptosis. As an important metabolic and excretory organ of the body, renal dysfunction can lead to water and electrolyte imbalance, toxin accumulation, and multiple system complications. The causes of kidney injury are complex and diverse, including acute injury factors (such as ischemia/reperfusion, nephrotoxic drugs, septic shock, and immune glomerulopathy), as well as chronic progressive causes [such as metabolic disease-related nephropathy, hypertensive nephropathy (HN)], and risk factors such as alcohol abuse, obesity, and aging. This review briefly describes the structure, function, and activity regulation mechanism of PPAR-α, systematically elucidates the molecular regulatory network of PPAR-α in the pathological process of kidney injury including acute kidney injury (AKI) such as renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI), drug-induced AKI, sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI), glomerulonephritis, chronic kidney disease (CKD) such as diabetic nephropathy (DN), HN, and other kidney injury, and summarizes the mechanisms related to PPAR-α regulation of kidney injury, including regulation of metabolism, antioxidation, anti-inflammation, anti-fibrosis, and anti-ferroptosis. This review also evaluates PPAR-α's medical value as a novel therapeutic target, and aims to provide theoretical basis for the development of kidney protection strategies based on PPAR-α targeted intervention.
Humans ; PPAR alpha/metabolism* ; Acute Kidney Injury/therapy* ; Animals ; Kidney/metabolism*

Objectives:To evaluate the safety and feasibility of endovascular aortic repair without contrast agent under branch artery guidewire marking(FLARE technique).Methods:The clinical data of 7 patients who underwent contrast-free endovascular aortic repair with branch artery guidewire marking in Fuwai Hospital from 2024 to 2025 were retrospectively analyzed.The criteria for patient selection included renal insufficiency,history of contrast agent allergy,high risk of high-pressure angiography due to extensive calcification of the aortic arch,and patients'strong personal wishes,all patients merited with anatomically friendly and anchored area criteria.The patients were evaluated by preoperative computed tomography or color Doppler ultrasound,and the occlusive stent anchor point was located by branch artery guidewire marking combined with bone marking during surgery.The primary endpoints were early stage of postoperative renal function changes(comparison of preoperative and postoperative serum creatinine)and surgical technique success rate,and the secondary endpoints included the incidence of internal leakage,re-intervention rates,and incidence of aneurysm and kidney-related adverse events during follow-up.Results:Among the seven patients who underwent endovascular aortic repair without contrast using a branch artery guidewire,four were male,with an average age of(72.0±5.9)years.Six of these patients had infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms,two of them with bilateral renal artery severe stenosis and renal insufficiency underwent renal artery stenting combined with endovascular aortic repair,one patient had isolated chronic renal insufficiency,one had a history of iodine contrast skin allergy,and the remaining two cases wished this surgery option.The seventh patient had a penetrating ulcer in the aortic arch and descending aorta,along with extensive thrombosis and calcification in the ascending aorta,aortic arch and descending aorta.All the patients achieved surgical technique success.No iodine contrast agent was used during the procedure for endovascular aortic repair.In patients with chronic renal insufficiency and renal artery stenosis before surgery,serum creatinine levels were significantly improved after surgery.All patients did not need hemodialysis,there was no allergic reaction,and no graft-related or perioperative complications.The average follow-up was(5.8±3.0)months,all patients recovered well without re-intervention or complications.The creatinine levels did not fluctuate significantly after surgery.Conclusions:Branch artery guidewire marked contrast-free aortic endovascular repair may be a safe and feasible treatment option in selected patients,especially in patients with contraindications to contrast agents.

Objectives:To evaluate the safety and feasibility of endovascular aortic repair without contrast agent under branch artery guidewire marking(FLARE technique).Methods:The clinical data of 7 patients who underwent contrast-free endovascular aortic repair with branch artery guidewire marking in Fuwai Hospital from 2024 to 2025 were retrospectively analyzed.The criteria for patient selection included renal insufficiency,history of contrast agent allergy,high risk of high-pressure angiography due to extensive calcification of the aortic arch,and patients'strong personal wishes,all patients merited with anatomically friendly and anchored area criteria.The patients were evaluated by preoperative computed tomography or color Doppler ultrasound,and the occlusive stent anchor point was located by branch artery guidewire marking combined with bone marking during surgery.The primary endpoints were early stage of postoperative renal function changes(comparison of preoperative and postoperative serum creatinine)and surgical technique success rate,and the secondary endpoints included the incidence of internal leakage,re-intervention rates,and incidence of aneurysm and kidney-related adverse events during follow-up.Results:Among the seven patients who underwent endovascular aortic repair without contrast using a branch artery guidewire,four were male,with an average age of(72.0±5.9)years.Six of these patients had infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms,two of them with bilateral renal artery severe stenosis and renal insufficiency underwent renal artery stenting combined with endovascular aortic repair,one patient had isolated chronic renal insufficiency,one had a history of iodine contrast skin allergy,and the remaining two cases wished this surgery option.The seventh patient had a penetrating ulcer in the aortic arch and descending aorta,along with extensive thrombosis and calcification in the ascending aorta,aortic arch and descending aorta.All the patients achieved surgical technique success.No iodine contrast agent was used during the procedure for endovascular aortic repair.In patients with chronic renal insufficiency and renal artery stenosis before surgery,serum creatinine levels were significantly improved after surgery.All patients did not need hemodialysis,there was no allergic reaction,and no graft-related or perioperative complications.The average follow-up was(5.8±3.0)months,all patients recovered well without re-intervention or complications.The creatinine levels did not fluctuate significantly after surgery.Conclusions:Branch artery guidewire marked contrast-free aortic endovascular repair may be a safe and feasible treatment option in selected patients,especially in patients with contraindications to contrast agents.

AIM:This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Carthamus tinctorius L.-derived nanovesicles(CDNVs)and their regulatory mechanisms in endothelial cell injury induced by oxidized low-density lipopro-tein(ox-LDL).METHODS:Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs)were cultured in vitro and subjected to ox-LDL treatment to establish an endothelial cell injury model.The experimental groups included the normal control(NC)group,ox-LDL group(HUVECs treated with 100 mg/L ox-LDL for 24 h),and CDNVs+ox-LDL group(pre-treated with 40 mg/L CDNVs for 1 hour followed by co-culture with 100 mg/L ox-LDL for 24 hours).Cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed by the EdU incorporation assay and flow cytometry,respectively.Changes in signal-induced proliferation-associ-ated 1-like protein 2(SIPA1L2)mRNA expression were measured by RT-qPCR,and the expression levels of autophagy-related proteins and SIPA1L2 were evaluated by Western blot.SIPA1L2 ubiquitination was evaluated by immunoprecipita-tion assay.RESULTS:(1)CDNVs were successfully isolated and purified,characterized as nanoscale vesicles with a circular shape and a double-layered membrane structure.(2)CDNVs promoted the proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of ox-LDL-treated HUVECs(P＜0.05).(3)CDNVs suppressed the prorein expression of SIPA1L2 and promoted autophagy in ox-LDL-treated HUVECs(P＜0.05).(4)CDNVs facilitated the ubiquitination of SIPA1L2 protein,and reduced its protein level through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION:CDNVs exert a protective effect against ox-LDL-induced endothelial cell injury by mediating SIPA1L2 ubiquitination and promoting endothelial cell au-tophagy.