Objective:To investigate the difference in brain activity intensity between methamphetamine (MA) dependent patients (MA group) and healthy controls (control group) using fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF), and to establish a classification model between these two groups using support vector machine (SVM).Methods:From February 2014 to October 2019, a total of 46 male MA-dependent patients and 46 male healthy controls were recruited from the Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Ningbo University. The study collected resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data and analyzed the differences in brain functional activity between the two groups. This analysis was conducted using both static and dynamic fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (d-fALFF). Additionally, the study examined the correlation between fALFF/d-fALFF values in specific brain regions and the total scores, as well as each factor score, of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Furthermore, the relationship between fALFF/d-fALFF values and the age of first use and total dose of MA in the MA group was investigated. Finally, the fALFF map and d-fALFF map of brain regions with significant differences between groups were used as features for constructing classification.Results:Compared to the healthy control group, those dependent on MA showed significantly increased fALFF mainly in the nucleus accumbens, caudate nucleus, thalamus, and amygdala nucleus( t=-5.21--2.72, all P<0.05). The MA group exhibited decreased fALFF in the superior frontal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, orbital gyrus, and cingulate gyrus( t=3.59-5.00, all P<0.05). Most of the brain regions with decreased d-fALFF overlapped with those exhibiting decreased fALFF( t=3.33-4.87, all P<0.05). The results of the correlation analysis showed that the fALFF value of the right nucleus accumbens was positively correlated with the age of first use of MA ( r=0.537, P<0.001). There is no significant relationship between the abnormal fALFF and d-fALFF values in the MA group and the total scores and each factor scores of BPRS, as well as the total dose of MA taken (after removing outliers). Based on fALFF and d-fALFF values, the SVM classifier achieved accuracies of 90.33%±6.89% and 71.56%±7.80%, respectively. Conclusions:There are significant abnormalities in the low-frequency fluctuation of the resting brain in patients dependent on MA. These abnormalities reflect the rigidity of prefrontal cortex activity, functional impairment, and dysfunction of the anti-reward system. These factors may be one of the causes for MA dependent behavior and repeated episodes. In addition, the fALFF values may be helpful for distinguishing MA dependent individuals from the control group.

Objective:To summarize the initial experience of 5G-ultra-long-distance robotic hepatectomy.Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. The clinical information from 5 cases of 5G ultra-long-distance robot-assisted hepatectomy performed was collected from June 2023 to October 2024, in collaboration between Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine in Hangzhou and Alaer Hospital, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine in Alaer, located 4 600 km apart. The patients comprised 1 male and 4 females, aged from 36 to 59 years, with an average age of 48 years. Their body mass index ranged from 20.4 to 30.9 kg/m2, with an average of 24.62 kg/m2. Preoperatively, 5 patients were diagnosed with liver disease requiring hepatectomy. The operations used 5G ultra-remote four-arm endoscopic robot surgery system. The remote control room was located in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital (Hangzhou, Zhejiang), and the robot operating room was located in Alaer Hospital (Alaer, Xinjiang). The wired network relied on 60 Mb/s high-speed public Internet special line (China Telecom). In order to ensure the security of data transmission, the system implemented a double-layer encryption strategy for the wired network, and carried out strict debugging and verification for both the wired and wireless networks. Perioperative data and information on network performance were collected for 5 patients.Results:The surgical duration of the 5 cases of 5G ultra-long-distance robot-assisted hepatectomy ranged from 49 to 342 minutes, with an average of 184 minutes. Intraoperative blood loss varied from 5 to 800 ml, averaging 183 ml. Network performance was evaluated during the surgery, revealing an average network latency of 108.2 ms, with no significant lag or delay observed during any of the procedures. All patients recovered smoothly, with a postoperative hospital stay ranging from 5 to 10 days, averaging 7.2 days. Postoperative complications included 1 case of hypoproteinemia and 1 case of pleural effusion. Pathological examination confirmed that all cases suffered benign liver diseases (three patients with hepatic hemangioma, one with regenerative nodule in cirrhosis, and one with hepatolithiasis and choledocholithiasis).Conclusion:The preliminary exploration of clinical practice indicated that 5G-ultra-long-distance robot-assisted surgery is feasible for hepatectomy, with no severe complications affecting patients′ recovery.

Objective:To study the alternation of plasma ghrelin in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) and to evaluate the efficacy of gastric slow wave analysis in predicting the severity of AP.Methods:Clinical data and blood samples of 129 patients with AP and 16 individuals for normal physical examination in the Department of Gastroenterology, Jiangnan University Affiliated Central Hospital (Wuxi No.2 People's Hospital) from September 2018 to August 2024 were prospectively collected. Individuals with normal physical examinations were included in the normal control group, including 9 males and 7 females, aged (50.9±14.2) years. The finally enrolled 125 patients with AP included 82 males and 43 females, aged (49.5±15.6) years, which were grouped according to disease severity. Mild AP (MAP) was included in the MAP group ( n=84), while moderate to severe and severe acute AP were included in the non-MAP group ( n=41). The surface gastrogram of all AP patients was detected on the 2nd and 4th day after admission. The slow waves of gastric electricity were recorded, and gastric growth hormone-releasing hormone, C-reactive protein (CRP), etc. were detected simultaneously. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to analyze the influencing factors of AP severity (MAP or non-MAP). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the indicators in predicting the severity of AP. Results:The levels of gastric growth hormone-releasing hormone in both the non-MAP group and MAP group on the 2nd and 4th day after admission were lower than those in normal control group (all P<0.05). The percentages of normal gastric electrical slow waves in the first and fourth leads, the mean percentages of normal gastric electrical slow waves in the four leads, and the main frequency on the 2nd day of admission in the non-MAP group were lower than those in the normal control group, and the main power and C-reactive protein were higher than those in the MAP group, the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed the percentage of normal gastric electrical slow wave in the first lead on the 2nd day of admission ( OR=0.914, 95% CI: 0.869-0.961, P=0.001) and CRP ( OR=1.008, 95% CI: 1.002-1.013, P=0.012) were the influencing factors of the severity of AP. The area under the ROC curve of the percentage of normal gastric electrical slow wave in the first lead on the 2nd day of admission in predicting the severity of AP was 0.705, with a sensitivity of 97.6% and a specificity of 35.7%. Conclusion:The plasma gastric growth hormone-releasing hormone in patients with AP decreases in the early stage. The low percentage of normal slow waves in the first lead of gastric electrocardiogram on the 2nd day of admission is a risk factor for the severity of AP and can be used for the early prediction of the severity.

BACKGROUND: Spicy food consumption has been reported to be inversely associated with mortality from multiple diseases. However, the effect of spicy food intake on the incidence of vascular diseases in the Chinese population remains unclear. This study was conducted to explore this association. METHODS: This study was performed using the large-scale China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) prospective cohort of 486,335 participants. The primary outcomes were vascular disease, ischemic heart disease (IHD), major coronary events (MCEs), cerebrovascular disease, stroke, and non-stroke cerebrovascular disease. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the association between spicy food consumption and incident vascular diseases. Subgroup analysis was also performed to evaluate the heterogeneity of the association between spicy food consumption and the risk of vascular disease stratified by several basic characteristics. In addition, the joint effects of spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of vascular disease were also evaluated, and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the reliability of the association results. RESULTS: During a median follow-up time of 12.1 years, a total of 136,125 patients with vascular disease, 46,689 patients with IHD, 10,097 patients with MCEs, 80,114 patients with cerebrovascular disease, 56,726 patients with stroke, and 40,098 patients with non-stroke cerebrovascular disease were identified. Participants who consumed spicy food 1-2 days/week (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = [0.93, 0.97], P <0.001), 3-5 days/week (HR = 0.96, 95% CI = [0.94, 0.99], P = 0.003), and 6-7 days/week (HR = 0.97, 95% CI = [0.95, 0.99], P = 0.002) had a significantly lower risk of vascular disease than those who consumed spicy food less than once a week ( Ptrend <0.001), especially in those who were younger and living in rural areas. Notably, the disease-based subgroup analysis indicated that the inverse associations remained in IHD ( Ptrend = 0.011) and MCEs ( Ptrend = 0.002) risk. Intriguingly, there was an interaction effect between spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of IHD ( Pinteraction = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS Our findings support an inverse association between spicy food consumption and vascular disease in the Chinese population, which may provide additional dietary guidance for the prevention of vascular diseases.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Prospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Vascular Diseases/etiology* ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology* ; Adult ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Cerebrovascular Disorders/epidemiology* ; East Asian People

Background and Aims:Biliary tract cancers(BTCs)are highly aggressive malignancies with dismal prognosis,for which radical resection remains the only potentially curative treatment.Laparoscopic surgery has demonstrated superiority over open surgery in perioperative safety and recovery,yet it is technically limited in complex operations.Robot-assisted laparoscopy,with its high-definition three-dimensional vision and enhanced instrument dexterity,may overcome these limitations.However,comparative evidence balancing baseline differences between laparoscopic and robot-assisted laparoscopic radical resections for BTCs is still lacking.This study aimed to evaluate and compare their short-term safety using propensity score matching(PSM).Methods:A total of 151 patients with biliary tract cancers who underwent radical resection were retrospectively enrolled from the Chinese Biliary Tract Tumor Collaborative Group database,including 128 in the laparoscopic group and 23 in the robotic-assisted laparoscopic group.To balance baseline differences,an initial 1∶1 PSM was performed,yielding 19 laparoscopic and 19 robotic cases.Subsequently,using the robotic group as the reference,a 1∶2 PSM was conducted,resulting in 36 laparoscopic and 18 robotic cases.Primary outcomes(conversion to open surgery,ICU admission,and postoperative complications)and secondary outcomes(operative time,intraoperative blood loss,transfusion,postoperative hospital stay,reoperation,readmission,and hospitalization costs)were compared between the two groups.Multivariate regression analyses were performed to explore factors associated with conversion to open surgery and postoperative hospital stay.Results:After matching,baseline characteristics were well balanced between groups.For primary outcomes,the conversion rate to open surgery was significantly higher in the laparoscopic group than in the robotic group(41.7％vs.0,P=0.001),while ICU admission,overall postoperative complications,and Clavien-Dindo graded complications showed no significant differences(all P＞0.05).For secondary outcomes,the postoperative hospital stay was significantly more extended in the laparoscopic group compared with the robotic group(18.5 d vs.8.0 d,P=0.005),whereas operative time,intraoperative blood loss,transfusion,reoperation,readmission,and hospitalization costs were comparable(all P＞0.05).Logistic regression for conversion did not identify statistically significant predictors,but moderately differentiated tumors,elevated preoperative CA19-9,and higher harvested lymph node counts showed trends toward increased risk.Multivariate linear regression revealed that robotic-assisted surgery was an independent factor for reduced postoperative hospital stay(P=0.024),while preoperative total bilirubin(P=0.020),longer operative time(P=0.000),postoperative complications(P=0.006),and reoperation(P=0.005)were found to be associated with a prolonged hospital stay.Conclusion:Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical resection for BTCs is not inferior to conventional laparoscopy in short-term safety and may further reduce conversion rates and hospital stay.Its technical advantages may be particularly valuable in anatomically complex or challenging cases.Nonetheless,cost-effectiveness and resource allocation should be considered for wider adoption.

Objective:To investigate the difference in brain activity intensity between methamphetamine (MA) dependent patients (MA group) and healthy controls (control group) using fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF), and to establish a classification model between these two groups using support vector machine (SVM).Methods:From February 2014 to October 2019, a total of 46 male MA-dependent patients and 46 male healthy controls were recruited from the Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Ningbo University. The study collected resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data and analyzed the differences in brain functional activity between the two groups. This analysis was conducted using both static and dynamic fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (d-fALFF). Additionally, the study examined the correlation between fALFF/d-fALFF values in specific brain regions and the total scores, as well as each factor score, of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Furthermore, the relationship between fALFF/d-fALFF values and the age of first use and total dose of MA in the MA group was investigated. Finally, the fALFF map and d-fALFF map of brain regions with significant differences between groups were used as features for constructing classification.Results:Compared to the healthy control group, those dependent on MA showed significantly increased fALFF mainly in the nucleus accumbens, caudate nucleus, thalamus, and amygdala nucleus( t=-5.21--2.72, all P<0.05). The MA group exhibited decreased fALFF in the superior frontal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, orbital gyrus, and cingulate gyrus( t=3.59-5.00, all P<0.05). Most of the brain regions with decreased d-fALFF overlapped with those exhibiting decreased fALFF( t=3.33-4.87, all P<0.05). The results of the correlation analysis showed that the fALFF value of the right nucleus accumbens was positively correlated with the age of first use of MA ( r=0.537, P<0.001). There is no significant relationship between the abnormal fALFF and d-fALFF values in the MA group and the total scores and each factor scores of BPRS, as well as the total dose of MA taken (after removing outliers). Based on fALFF and d-fALFF values, the SVM classifier achieved accuracies of 90.33%±6.89% and 71.56%±7.80%, respectively. Conclusions:There are significant abnormalities in the low-frequency fluctuation of the resting brain in patients dependent on MA. These abnormalities reflect the rigidity of prefrontal cortex activity, functional impairment, and dysfunction of the anti-reward system. These factors may be one of the causes for MA dependent behavior and repeated episodes. In addition, the fALFF values may be helpful for distinguishing MA dependent individuals from the control group.

The profound integration of novel qualitative productive forces throughout the entire process of diagnosing and treating gastrointestinal cancer has catalyzed innovative advance-ments in surgical techniques and postoperative rehabilitation. In the field of minimally invasive resection, technological innovations, from laparoscopic surgery to robot-assisted surgical systems that transcend traditional visual and operational limitations, and further to the integration of artificial intelligence and 5G technologies that overcome spatiotemporal barriers for real-time decision-making and telemedicine, have significantly enhanced the precision and safety of gastrointestinal tumor surgery. Concurrently, the development of innovative medical devices plays a pivotal role in improving perioperative and postoperative rehabilitation efficiency. Functional device design focuses on addressing the holistic needs of patients throughout their clinical journey, systematically resolving efficiency and safety bottlenecks inherent in conventional diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Technological progress has further enabled non-invasive, convenient remote health management for patients. Novel qualitative productive forces not only redefine surgical paradigms but also deliver efficient, safe, and patient-centered diagnostic and therapeutic experiences through comprehensive innovation across all treatment phases. This evolution marks a critical breakthrough in modern medicine's transition toward intelligence and systematization, heralding a new era of intelligent healthcare delivery.

Objective:To study the alternation of plasma ghrelin in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) and to evaluate the efficacy of gastric slow wave analysis in predicting the severity of AP.Methods:Clinical data and blood samples of 129 patients with AP and 16 individuals for normal physical examination in the Department of Gastroenterology, Jiangnan University Affiliated Central Hospital (Wuxi No.2 People's Hospital) from September 2018 to August 2024 were prospectively collected. Individuals with normal physical examinations were included in the normal control group, including 9 males and 7 females, aged (50.9±14.2) years. The finally enrolled 125 patients with AP included 82 males and 43 females, aged (49.5±15.6) years, which were grouped according to disease severity. Mild AP (MAP) was included in the MAP group ( n=84), while moderate to severe and severe acute AP were included in the non-MAP group ( n=41). The surface gastrogram of all AP patients was detected on the 2nd and 4th day after admission. The slow waves of gastric electricity were recorded, and gastric growth hormone-releasing hormone, C-reactive protein (CRP), etc. were detected simultaneously. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to analyze the influencing factors of AP severity (MAP or non-MAP). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the indicators in predicting the severity of AP. Results:The levels of gastric growth hormone-releasing hormone in both the non-MAP group and MAP group on the 2nd and 4th day after admission were lower than those in normal control group (all P<0.05). The percentages of normal gastric electrical slow waves in the first and fourth leads, the mean percentages of normal gastric electrical slow waves in the four leads, and the main frequency on the 2nd day of admission in the non-MAP group were lower than those in the normal control group, and the main power and C-reactive protein were higher than those in the MAP group, the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed the percentage of normal gastric electrical slow wave in the first lead on the 2nd day of admission ( OR=0.914, 95% CI: 0.869-0.961, P=0.001) and CRP ( OR=1.008, 95% CI: 1.002-1.013, P=0.012) were the influencing factors of the severity of AP. The area under the ROC curve of the percentage of normal gastric electrical slow wave in the first lead on the 2nd day of admission in predicting the severity of AP was 0.705, with a sensitivity of 97.6% and a specificity of 35.7%. Conclusion:The plasma gastric growth hormone-releasing hormone in patients with AP decreases in the early stage. The low percentage of normal slow waves in the first lead of gastric electrocardiogram on the 2nd day of admission is a risk factor for the severity of AP and can be used for the early prediction of the severity.

The profound integration of novel qualitative productive forces throughout the entire process of diagnosing and treating gastrointestinal cancer has catalyzed innovative advance-ments in surgical techniques and postoperative rehabilitation. In the field of minimally invasive resection, technological innovations, from laparoscopic surgery to robot-assisted surgical systems that transcend traditional visual and operational limitations, and further to the integration of artificial intelligence and 5G technologies that overcome spatiotemporal barriers for real-time decision-making and telemedicine, have significantly enhanced the precision and safety of gastrointestinal tumor surgery. Concurrently, the development of innovative medical devices plays a pivotal role in improving perioperative and postoperative rehabilitation efficiency. Functional device design focuses on addressing the holistic needs of patients throughout their clinical journey, systematically resolving efficiency and safety bottlenecks inherent in conventional diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Technological progress has further enabled non-invasive, convenient remote health management for patients. Novel qualitative productive forces not only redefine surgical paradigms but also deliver efficient, safe, and patient-centered diagnostic and therapeutic experiences through comprehensive innovation across all treatment phases. This evolution marks a critical breakthrough in modern medicine's transition toward intelligence and systematization, heralding a new era of intelligent healthcare delivery.

Objective:To summarize the initial experience of 5G-ultra-long-distance robotic hepatectomy.Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. The clinical information from 5 cases of 5G ultra-long-distance robot-assisted hepatectomy performed was collected from June 2023 to October 2024, in collaboration between Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine in Hangzhou and Alaer Hospital, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine in Alaer, located 4 600 km apart. The patients comprised 1 male and 4 females, aged from 36 to 59 years, with an average age of 48 years. Their body mass index ranged from 20.4 to 30.9 kg/m2, with an average of 24.62 kg/m2. Preoperatively, 5 patients were diagnosed with liver disease requiring hepatectomy. The operations used 5G ultra-remote four-arm endoscopic robot surgery system. The remote control room was located in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital (Hangzhou, Zhejiang), and the robot operating room was located in Alaer Hospital (Alaer, Xinjiang). The wired network relied on 60 Mb/s high-speed public Internet special line (China Telecom). In order to ensure the security of data transmission, the system implemented a double-layer encryption strategy for the wired network, and carried out strict debugging and verification for both the wired and wireless networks. Perioperative data and information on network performance were collected for 5 patients.Results:The surgical duration of the 5 cases of 5G ultra-long-distance robot-assisted hepatectomy ranged from 49 to 342 minutes, with an average of 184 minutes. Intraoperative blood loss varied from 5 to 800 ml, averaging 183 ml. Network performance was evaluated during the surgery, revealing an average network latency of 108.2 ms, with no significant lag or delay observed during any of the procedures. All patients recovered smoothly, with a postoperative hospital stay ranging from 5 to 10 days, averaging 7.2 days. Postoperative complications included 1 case of hypoproteinemia and 1 case of pleural effusion. Pathological examination confirmed that all cases suffered benign liver diseases (three patients with hepatic hemangioma, one with regenerative nodule in cirrhosis, and one with hepatolithiasis and choledocholithiasis).Conclusion:The preliminary exploration of clinical practice indicated that 5G-ultra-long-distance robot-assisted surgery is feasible for hepatectomy, with no severe complications affecting patients′ recovery.