The European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) has recently updated and published the "2024 EACTS guidelines on perioperative medication in adult cardiac surgery". Based on the latest evidence, the guidelines have been updated in multiple aspects including underlying disease management, antithrombotic medication, arrhythmia treatment and other supportive care, etc. This paper aims to summarize and interpret the guidelines, in order to promote clinicians’ understanding and optimize perioperative medical treatment in adult cardiac surgery.

As a common medical condition， vertigo can be induced by multiple diseases in the modern medical system. Its incidence rate shows an upward trend with the increase in age. According to the theory of mutual interference between clear Qi and turbid Qi in Huangdi's Internal Classic （Huang Di Nei Jing）， this paper systematically analyzes the pathogenesis of vertigo and explores the mechanism and clinical application value of Xiao Chaihutang in the treatment of vertigo. It is believed that the mutual inference between clear Qi and turbid Qi leads to the failure of clear Yang to ascend， resulting in the lack of nourishment for the brain and the inability of turbid Yin to descend， which disturbs the clear orifices， thus causing vertigo. The core pathogenesis lies in the dysfunction of Qi movement， the disorder of body fluid distribution， and the imbalance between Yin and Yang. The compatibility of Xiao Chaihutang takes into account the methods of pungent medicinal materials opening and bitter medicinal materials descending， tonifying deficiency and purging excess， and regulating Qi movement. This prescription can regulate the pathological state of the mutual interference between clear Qi and turbid Qi from three aspects： regulating Qi movement throughout the body， harmonizing the distribution of body fluids， and coordinating Yin and Yang as well as the interior and exterior， thus preventing and treating vertigo. Modern research findings show that Xiao Chaihutang can improve hemodynamics to promote cerebral blood circulation and has anti-inflammation， immunomodulatory， and anti-tumor functions， which correspond to the therapeutic effects of Xiao Chaihutang under the theory of mutual interference between clear Qi and turbid Qi. The decoction exerts therapeutic effects on vertigo caused by hypertension， stroke， otitis media， Meniere’s disease， and brain tumor as well as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Further exploration of the theoretical connotation of mutual inference between clear Qi and turbid Qi and analysis of the pathogenesis of vertigo and the therapeutic effect of Xiao Chaihutang can better interpret the internal correlations among the three， thus providing new ideas for the syndrome differentiation and treatment of vertigo.

Peri-implant diseases are characterized by the resorption of hard tissue and the inflammation of soft tissue. Epigenetics refers to alterations in the expression of genes that are not encoded in the DNA sequence, influencing diverse physiological activities, including immune response, inflammation, and bone metabolism. Epigenetic modifications can lead to tissue-specific gene expression variations among individuals and may initiate or exacerbate inflammation and disease predisposition. However, the impact of these factors on peri-implantitis remains inconclusive. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive review to investigate the associations between epigenetic mechanisms and peri-implantitis, specifically focusing on DNA methylation and microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs). We searched for relevant literature on PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar with keywords including "epigenetics," "peri-implantitis," "DNA methylation," and "microRNA." DNA methylation and miRNAs present a dynamic epigenetic mechanism operating around implants. Epigenetic modifications of genes related to inflammation and osteogenesis provide a new perspective for understanding how local and environmental factors influence the pathogenesis of peri-implantitis. In addition, we assessed the potential application of DNA methylation and miRNAs in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of peri-implantitis, aiming to provide a foundation for future studies to explore potential therapeutic targets and develop more effective management strategies for this condition. These findings also have broader implications for understanding the pathogenesis of other inflammation-related oral diseases like periodontitis.
Peri-Implantitis/genetics* ; Humans ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; DNA Methylation ; MicroRNAs/genetics*

Ferroptosis has been shown to mediate the development of fibrosis. Polyphyllin VII (PP7), a bioactive component of Paris polyphylla, exhibits potent anti-inflammatory activity and can significantly alleviate liver fibrosis. In this study, treatment with PP7 significantly inhibited the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which could be suppressed by a ferroptosis inhibitor. In addition, it promoted HSC ferroptosis by suppressing glutathione (GSH) peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and enhanced the expression of CX3C chemokine ligand 1 (CX3CL1). Depletion of CX3CL1 attenuated the effects of PP7 on the activation and ferroptosis of HSCs and the expression of GPX4. Notably, CX3CL1 directly interacted with GPX4, triggering HSC ferroptosis. The transcription factor hypermethylated in cancer 1 (Hic1), which binds to the Cx3cl1 promoter, increased the expression of CX3CL1. Its absence resulted in downregulation of CX3CL1, suppressing the GPX4-dependent ferroptosis of PP7-treated HSCs and promoting their activation. HIC1 was found to directly interact with PP7 at the GLY164 site. Co-culture experiments showed that PP7-induced HSC ferroptosis attenuated macrophage recruitment by regulating inflammation-related genes. HSC-specific inhibition of HIC1 counteracted PP7-induced collagen depletion and HSC ferroptosis in vivo. These findings suggest that PP7 induces HSC ferroptosis through the HIC1/CX3CL1/GPX4 axis.

Pristimerin, which is one of the compounds present in Celastraceae and Hippocrateaceae, has antitumor effects. However, its mechanism of action in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the efficacy and mechanism of pristimerin on ESCC in vitro and in vivo. The inhibitory effect of pristimerin on cell growth was assessed using trypan blue exclusion and colony formation assays. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry. Gene and protein expressions were analyzed through quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was employed to identify significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Cell transfection and RNA interference assays were utilized to examine the role of key proteins in pristimerin?s effect. Xenograft models were established to evaluate the antitumor efficiency of pristimerin in vivo. Pristimerin inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis in ESCC cells. Upregulation of Noxa was crucial for pristimerin-induced apoptosis. Pristimerin activated the Forkhead box O3a (FoxO3a) signaling pathway and triggered FoxO3a recruitment to the Noxa promoter, leading to Noxa transcription. Blocking FoxO3a reversed pristimerin-induced Noxa upregulation and cell apoptosis. Pristimerin treatment suppressed xenograft tumors in nude mice, but these effects were largely negated in Noxa-KO tumors. Furthermore, the chemosensitization effects of pristimerin in vitro and in vivo were mediated by Noxa. This study demonstrates that pristimerin exerts an antitumor effect on ESCC by inducing AKT/FoxO3a-mediated Noxa upregulation. These findings suggest that pristimerin may serve as a potent anticancer agent for ESCC treatment.
Forkhead Box Protein O3/genetics* ; Humans ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma/physiopathology* ; Esophageal Neoplasms/physiopathology* ; Pentacyclic Triterpenes ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics* ; Mice ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Mice, Nude ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Triterpenes/pharmacology* ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Male ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects*

Objective:To assess the viability of reducing radiation dose, contrast media volume, injection flow rate and contrast medium concentration (quadruple low-dose protocol) by utilizing virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) in photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) for aortic CT angiography (CTA), while maintaining image quality in comparison to images obtained from energy-integrating detector CT (EID-CT).Methods:From April 2024 to June 2024, a total of 40 participants who underwent aortic CTA on PCD-CT were prospectively enrolled in the experimental group (PCD-CT group), while 40 patients with similar baseline characteristics who had previously undergone aortic CTA using EID-CT were retrospectively selected for the conventional group (EID-CT group). The EID-CT group used a tube voltage of 90 kVp, a contrast media volume of 60 ml of contrast, an injection flow rate of 3 ml/s, and a contrast concentration of 350 mgI/ml; the PCD-CT group used the QuantumPlus mode, with a tube voltage of 140 kVp, a total amount of iodine in the contrast media of 140 mgI/kg, and an injection flow rate=contrast media volume/(delay time+scan time), and a contrast media concentration of 320 mgI/ml. VMIs in PCD-CT group were reconstructed in 5-keV intervals ranging from 45 to 65 keV. The effective radiation dose and contrast injection protocols were recorded and compared between two groups. Objective image quality assessment was performed for each group. CT attenuation, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were measured at five anatomical locations (ascending aorta, aortic arch, descending aorta, abdominal aorta, and right common iliac artery), and image noise was recorded. Subjective image quality was independently evaluated by two readers using a 5-point Likert scale in a blinded manner. Based on data normality, the one-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test was used for image quality assessment, with Bonferroni-corrected post-hoc analysis for multiple comparisons.Results:There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics between two groups (all P0.05). The PCD-CT group demonstrated significantly lower effective radiation dose [(3.88±0.65) mSv vs. (5.97±1.15)mSv], contrast media volume [(29.25±4.56) ml vs. 60 ml], and injection rate [(2.65±0.42) ml/s vs. 3 ml/s] than the EID-CT group, with reductions of 35%, 51%, and 12%, respectively (all P0.001). For objective image quality, except for the ascending aortic CT attenuation, the CT attenuation, SNR, and CNR of other vessels in the 55 keV PCD-CT group were comparable to those in the EID-CT group. Additionally, the difference in image noise between these two groups was not statistically significant ( P0.05). Concerning subjective image quality, at 55 keV, the PCD-CT group had similar image noise scores and vessel attenuation scores (both P0.05) and better visualization of renal artery branching ( P=0.001) compared to the EID-CT group. Conclusion:In comparison to EID-CT, the use of a 55 keV image in PCD-CT for aortic CTA has demonstrated reductions in radiation dose, contrast media volume, injection flow rate and contrast medium concentration, while maintaining image quality.

Objective:To evaluate the feasibility of head and neck vascular imaging using photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) combined with a “quadruple lows” protocol—characterized by low contrast media volume, low iodine concentration, low injection rate, and low radiation dose—and to compare the image quality with that obtained by energy-integrating detector CT (EID-CT).Methods:A total of 105 patients with suspected cerebrovascular disease were prospectively enrolled at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between April and June 2024. Patients were randomly assigned to three groups ( n=35). Group A underwent conventional head and neck CTA using EID-CT. Group B underwent PCD-CT with a protocol involving ultra-low contrast media volume, low iodine concentration, and low injection rate. Group C underwent PCD-CT with the full “quadruple low” protocol. Objective image quality parameters—including CT attenuation, image noise (standard deviation, SD), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR)—were measured at the ascending aorta, common carotid artery, internal carotid artery, vertebral artery, basilar artery, posterior cerebral artery, and middle cerebral artery. Two radiologists independently rated subjective image quality using a 5-point Likert scale. Differences among groups were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results:Compared to Group A [contrast volume: (42.78±6.64)ml], contrast agent volume was significantly reduced in Groups B and C[ (26.26±4.45) ml and (26.54±3.83)ml, respectively], demonstrating reductions of 39% and 38% (both P<0.01). The iodine concentration was 320 mg/ml in Groups B and C, lower than 350 mg/ml in Group A (8.5%). The injection rate was also reduced in Groups B and C [(3.39±0.61) and (3.55±0.51)ml/s, respectively] compared to Group A [(4.28±0.66) ml/s], with reductions of 21% and 17% (both P<0.01). The effective dose (ED) was similar between Groups A and B [(1.40±0.15) vs. (1.40±0.19)mSv, P>0.05], while Group C demonstrated a significantly lower ED [(0.99±0.09) mSv], with a reduction of 30% compared to Group A and 29% compared to Group B (both P<0.01).In terms of objective image quality, significant differences in image noise (SD) were observed among the three groups at the vertebral artery, internal carotid artery, posterior cerebral artery, and middle cerebral artery (all P<0.05). Groups B and C showed significantly lower SD compared to Group A ( P<0.05), with no significant difference between B and C ( P>0.05). SNR was significantly higher in Groups B and C than in Group A at multiple vascular segments (all P<0.05). CNR differed only at the internal carotid artery, where Groups B and C demonstrated superior performance compared to Group A ( P<0.05).Subjective image quality scores showed no significant difference between Groups A and C ( P>0.05), while Group B had significantly higher scores than both A and C ( P<0.05). All images were deemed diagnostically acceptable. Conclusion:Compared with conventional EID-CT, PCD-CT combined with a “quadruple lows” protocol enables substantial reductions in contrast media and radiation dose while further improving image quality in head and neck CTA.

Objective To observe the feasibility of photon-counting detector(PCD)-CT combined with"four-lows"protocol(low contrast agent concentration,low contrast dose,low contrast agent flow rate,low radiation dose)for coronary CT angiography(CCTA).Methods Totally 106 patients with suspected coronary artery disease were prospectively enrolled and randomized into energy-integrating detector(EID)-CCTA(group A,using conventional scanning protocol,n=52)or PCD-CCTA(group B,using"four-lows"scanning protocol,n=54)groups and underwent relative examinations.The radiation dose,subjective and objective evaluation results of imaging quality were compared between groups.Results The contrast agent dose and flow rate,volume CT dose index,dose length product and effective dose in group B were all lower than those in group A(all P＜0.001).The subjective scores in group B were higher than in group A(5[4,5]vs.4[4,5],Z=-2.310,P=0.021).Compared with group A,CT value,signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio of aortic root and most of the main branches of coronary arteries increased in group B,while standard deviation of CT value decreased(all P＜0.05).Conclusion PCD-CT combined with"four-lows"protocol could be used for CCTA,which could improve imaging quality and reduce contrast agent usage and radiation dose.

Paraplegia caused by spinal cord injury is a serious neurological complication, for which surgery is currently the main treatment method. Due to different surgical approaches, patients are usually expected to maintain a passive prone position for a long time or switch between the supine and prone positions. Affected by multiple factors such as neurogenic sensory disorders, pathological changes in muscle tone and operative duration, the risk of intraoperative acquired pressure injury (IAPI) is significantly increased. Current clinical prevention strategies for IAPI in these patients predominantly focus on localized pressure relief during positioning, lacking systematic, standardized comprehensive prevention protocols or evidence-based guidelines. To address it, Department of Nursing, Orthopedics Branch, China International Exchange and Promotive Association for Medical and Health Care, Spinal Trauma Professional Committee, Orthopedics Branch, Chinese Medical Doctor Association, Nursing Group of Spine and Spinal Cord Professional Committee of Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine organized experts in relevant fields to formulate Guideline for the prevention of intraoperative acquired pressure injury in paraplegic patients with spinal cord injury ( version 2025), based on evidence-based medical evidence and latest research results and clinical practice at home and abroad. Eleven recommendations were put forward from the aspects of preoperative risk assessment, intraoperative prevention strategies, postoperative handover and monitoring, and supportive mechanisms for IAPI prevention, aiming to standardize the prevention measures and management strategies of IAPI in paraplegic patients with spinal cord injury and accelerate the recovery of patients and improve the therapeutic effect.