ObjectiveTo address the key challenges in breast electrical impedance tomography (EIT) reconstruction including the severe ill‑posedness of the inverse problem, limited measurement information from the electrodes, low contrast of small lesions, as well as the common drawbacks of traditional reconstruction methods such as boundary blurring, low spatial resolution, and weak small-target detection capability, and to overcome the limitations of existing deep learning approaches namely low training efficiency, insufficient physical consistency, and substantial information loss during the low‑to‑high dimensional mapping process, this study proposes a multi‑scale attention and dynamic sparse mask fusion network (MADS‑Net). The proposed method aims to enhance high‑resolution reconstruction accuracy, small-lesion detectability, noise robustness, and computational efficiency in breast‑screening-oriented EIT, thereby providing a feasible solution for the application of EIT in breast functional imaging. MethodsThe proposed network adopts a strategy of “locate first, reconstruct later”. It realizes adaptive allocation of computational resources through a dynamic mask module, alleviates information loss in the low-to-high dimensional mapping process via a multi-scale attention mechanism, and embeds physical constraints to improve the physical rationality of reconstruction results. The performance of the proposed method was validated through systematic numerical simulations, agar phantom experiments, and porcine tissue experiments. Comparisons were made with mainstream methods including the Gauss-Newton algorithm, convolutional neural networks, U-Net, and Deep D-Bar. The image correlation coefficient (ICC), root mean square error (RMSE), and peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) were adopted as quantitative evaluation metrics. Furthermore, lesion‑level evaluation metrics were introduced to assess the capability of different methods in reconstructing abnormal target boundaries and small‑sized target regions. ResultsExperimental results demonstrate that MADS-Net outperforms all comparison methods across all test scenarios. In numerical simulations, it achieves higher accuracy in target morphology and spatial location recovery as well as better background suppression. In agar phantom experiments, its detection and imaging reliability for small targets is significantly superior to the comparison methods. In porcine tissue experiments, the model maintains good generalization performance and can adapt to complex biological tissue imaging scenarios. Quantitative results show that MADS-Net achieves an average ICC of 0.917 6±0.048 8, an RMSE as low as0.060 6±0.031 6, and a PSNR of (23.893 9±2.685 3) dB. It successfully detects tiny targets as small as 5 mm within a 100 mm diameter sensing field, reduces the total training duration by 23.5% compared with the baseline method, and maintains stable reconstruction performance even under strong noise interference. ConclusionThe results demonstrate that MADS-Net achieves favorable EIT reconstruction performance in numerical simulations, agar phantom experiments, and porcine tissue experiments, even under common practical imaging challenges including low signal-to-noise ratio and blurred tissue boundaries. This study provides a methodological reference for further research on EIT in breast-screening-related scenarios and other medical functional imaging tasks, and also offers a low-cost, radiation-free alternative for breast lesion screening that aligns with the clinical demand for non-invasive diagnostic tools. It should be noted that real clinical breast data have not yet been used for validation in this study, and the clinical applicability of the proposed method requires further investigation. Future work will prioritize collecting multi-center real clinical breast datasets, and further optimize the model’s generalization ability to adapt to individual differences in breast tissue composition to promote its clinical application.

ObjectiveTo develop a carbon nanoparticle-manganese dioxide (CN-MnO₂) injection integrating visually identifiable staining and magnetic resonance (MR) T₁/T₂ dual-modal imaging, and to systematically evaluate its physicochemical properties, critical quality attributes, biocompatibility, and efficacy for gastrointestinal marking and localization. MethodsCN-MnO₂ was prepared using a mild liquid-phase in situ redox deposition strategy and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The pH of CN-MnO₂ was directly measured using a pH meter. The osmolality pressure of CN-MnO₂ was determined by the freezing point depression method. The bacterial endotoxin was detected using the gel-clot Limulus amebocyte lysate test, which did not rely on absorbance readings. The appearance of the CN-MnO₂ injection solution stored at 4 ℃ under light shielding and sealed for 0, 5, and 10 days was observed, and its hydrated particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, and pH were also measured. With gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA) as the positive control, different concentration gradients were established, and T₁ and T₂ relaxation times were measured to construct concentration-dependent plots of the longitudinal and transverse relaxation rates (R₁ and R₂) and calculate the corresponding relaxivities (r₁ and r₂), compare relaxivity performance, and determine the working concentration for subsequent in vivo experiments. Cytocompatibility was assessed using the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and live/dead staining. Sixteen male 6-week-old SD rats were randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group (n=8 per group) and subcutaneously injected with CN-MnO₂ injection at a total Mn concentration of 0.80 mmol/L or an equal volume of normal saline, respectively. Short-term in vivo safety was evaluated by regular body weight monitoring, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining of major organs, hematological and serum biochemical analyses, inflammatory cytokine detection, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) analysis. Eight male 5–6-month-old Bama minipigs were randomly assigned to a CN-MnO₂ group (n=6) and a carbon nanoparticle suspension injection (CNSI) group (n=2). CN-MnO₂ injection or CNSI was injected subserosally into the stomach, small intestine, and colon. Within 5 min after each injection, the maximum staining diameter at each injection site was measured and recorded. MR T1WI/T2WI scans were performed on days 3 and 7 after injection to evaluate MR visualization at the injection sites. At the end of observation, the injection sites and major organs were collected for histopathological evaluation by hematoxylin-eosin staining. ResultsCN-MnO₂ appeared as a black suspension, with no obvious aggregation or sedimentation after standing at room temperature (20-25 ℃) for 15 days. Its average hydrodynamic diameter was approximately (228.7±15.3) nm, the polydispersity index was 0.184±0.021, and the zeta potential was (-24.6±2.8) mV. XPS showed that CN-MnO₂ was mainly composed of C, O, and Mn, with oxygen accounting for approximately 68.82%. The Mn 2p spectrum exhibited two characteristic peaks at 642.4 and 653.1 eV. XRD indicated that low-crystallinity δ-MnO₂ was dispersed within the carbon matrix. The pH was 6.82±0.06, the osmolality was (298.4±6.7) mOsm/kg, and the bacterial endotoxin level was below the detection limit. In vitro MR imaging showed a clear concentration-dependent response, with r₁ and r₂ values of 9.6 L·mmol^-1·s^-1 and 17.2 L·mmol^-1·s^-1, respectively, indicating favorable T₁/T₂ contrast performance superior to that of Gd-DTPA. At 0.80 mmol/L, CN-MnO₂ showed no obvious cytotoxicity in vitro. Short-term safety evaluation in SD rats revealed no obvious inflammatory response, impairment of liver or renal function, or abnormal manganese accumulation in major organs. In Bama minipigs, the mean staining diameters of the CN-MnO₂ group in the stomach, small intestine, and colon were (0.65±0.12) cm, (0.61±0.11) cm, and (0.58±0.10) cm, respectively, with no significant difference among the three injection sites (P>0.05). The overall mean staining diameter was smaller in the CN-MnO₂ group than in the CNSI group (P<0.05). MR examinations showed that the injection sites were identifiable on both day 3 and day 7, with stronger signals observed on day 3. At the end of observation, no obvious pathological abnormalities were observed at the injection sites or in major organs. ConclusionA CN-MnO₂ injection with uniform particle size and stable physicochemical properties can be successfully prepared. This formulation integrates visible gastrointestinal staining with MR T₁/T₂ dual-modal imaging, providing a new strategy for preoperative gastrointestinal marking and localization as well as precise intraoperative resection.

ObjectiveTo explore the target of Erzhiwan in reducing myocardial injury in ovariectomized mice through non-targeted myocardial metabolomics combined with experimental verification. MethodsOvariectomized mouse model was selected， 40 female C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into sham operation group， model group， estrogen group（estradiol valerate， 1.3×10^-4 g·kg^-1）， Erzhiwan low and high dose groups（3.12， 9.36 g·kg^-1）， with 8 mice in each group. Each administration group was given the corresponding dose of Erzhiwan by gavage， and the sham operation group and model group were given equal volume of distilled water by gavage for 12 weeks. Echocardiography was used to detect cardiac function， hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining was used to observe myocardial morphological changes， and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） was used to detect the levels of estrogen， N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide（NT-proBNP）， hypersensitive troponin T（hs-TnT）， total cholesterol（TC）， triglyceride（TG）， low density lipoprotein cholesterol（LDL-C）， high density lipoprotein cholesterol（HDL-C）， interleukin（IL）-1β， IL-18 and tumor necrosis factor-α（TNF-α）. The non-targeted metabolomics of mouse myocardium were analyzed by ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic field orbital trap high-resolution mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS）， and the differential metabolites and corresponding metabolic pathways were obtained. The mRNA expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase（PI3K） and protein kinase B（Akt） in mouse myocardial tissues were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR）， and the protein expression levels of PI3K， Akt， phosphorylated（p）-Akt were detected by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the sham operation group， the model group showed abnormal cardiac function， increased myocardial fiber space， cardiomyocyte atrophy， sarcoplasmic aggregation， and occasional dissolution or rupture of muscle fiber， the level of estrogen in the serum was decreased， the levels of NT-proBNP， hs-TnT， IL-1β， IL-18， TNF-α， TG， TC and LDL-C were increased， and the level of HDL-C was decreased（P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， Erzhiwan could increase the level of estrogen， improve the abnormal cardiac function， reduce the pathological injury of myocardial tissue， decrease the levels of myocardial injury markers（NT-proBNP， hs-TnT） and inflammatory factors（IL-1β， IL-18， TNF-α）， decrease the levels of TG， TC， LDL-C， and increased the level of HDL-C（P<0.01）. The results of non-targeted myocardial metabolomics showed that 31 of the 162 differential metabolites between the model group and sham operation group were significantly adjusted after administration of Erzhiwan， which were mainly glycerol phospholipid metabolites. Pathway enrichment results showed that Erzhiwan mainly affected glycerophospholipid metabolic pathway， PI3K-Akt pathway， cyclic guanosine monophosphate（cGMP）-protein kinase G（PKG） pathway and other metabolic pathways. Compared with the sham operation group， the levels of phosphatidylcholine（PC， 11 types） and phosphatidylethanolamine（PE， 5 types） in mouse myocardial tissue of the model group were increased（P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the mRNA and protein expressions of PI3K and p-Akt were decreased（P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the levels of PC（11 types） and PE（5 types） were decreased（P<0.05， P<0.01） in myocardial tissue of Erzhiwan group， the mRNA and protein expressions of PI3K and p-Akt were elevated（P<0.01）. ConclusionErzhiwan can alleviate the pathological injury of myocardium in ovariectomized mice， improve the abnormal cardiac function， improve lipid metabolism disorder， and reduce the levels of myocardial injury markers and inflammatory factors， which involves a number of signaling and metabolic pathways in the heart， among which glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway and PI3K/Akt pathway may have key roles.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical manifestations and genotype of a child with You-Hoover-Fong syndrome (YHFS) to enhance clinical understanding of this disease. METHODS: Clinical data of a child who visited the Department of Pediatric Neurorehabilitation of the Women's and Children's Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University in March 2025 for global developmental delay was collected. Peripheral blood samples of the child and his parents were collected for chromosomal microarray analysis and whole exome sequencing (WES). Sanger sequencing was performed for parental validation, and candidate variant was assessed for pathogenicity. Clinical and genetic analyses were conducted based on the child's phenotype. A literature review was performed by retrieving previously reported cases of YHFS due to TELO2 gene variants. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Women's and Children's Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University (Ethics No.: KY-2023-044-K02). RESULTS: The child was a 1-year-and-2-month-old male presenting with global developmental delay, encephalodysplasia, congenital heart disease and distinctive facial features. WES revealed that the child has harbored compound heterozygous variants of the TELO2 gene, namely c.1826G>A (p.Arg609His) and c.1514_1515delAG (p.Glu505Alafs21). Sanger sequencing confirmed that his mother carried a heterozygous c.1826G>A variant and his father carried a heterozygous c.1514_1515delAG variant. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), both variants were classified as likely pathogenic (PM2_Supproting+PM3_Strong+PP1+PP3; PVS1+PM2_Supproting). Literature review has identified 9 articles reporting 31 cases of YHFS due to TELO2 gene variants, with primary clinical manifestations including developmental delay, intellectual disability, distinctive facial features, and congenital heart disease. CONCLUSION The c.1826G>A (p.Arg609His) and c.1514_1515delAG (p.Glu505Alafs*21) compound heterozygous variants of the TELO2 gene probably underlay the pathogenesis of this child. Above finding has provided a basis for the clinical and genetic diagnosis of the child, which also enriched the mutational spectrum of the TELO2 gene, and improved understanding of YHFS.
Humans ; Male ; Infant ; Heterozygote ; Developmental Disabilities/genetics* ; Female ; Exome Sequencing ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Abnormalities, Multiple/genetics* ; Child, Preschool

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.

Objective:To investigate the effects of Xuebijing injection on gut microbiota and intestinal mechanical barrier in mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis, and analyze the potential mechanism by which Xuebijing injection protects gastrointestinal tract.Methods:Twenty-four healthy and clean grade male C57BL/6N mice were divided into four groups, control group, LPS group, LPS+ 5 μl/g Xuebijing injection group (5 μl/g Xuebijing injection group), and LPS+ 10 μl/g Xuebijing injection group (10 μl/g Xuebijing injection group), with six mice in each group. A mouse model of sepsis was established by intraperitoneal injection of mice with 10 μg/g LPS. At 0 and 12 h after successful modeling, the mice were intraperitoneally injected with 5 or 10 μl/g Xuebijing injection. Blood, ileum, and colon fecal samples were collected 12 h after the second administration. ELISA was used to detect the levels of diamine oxidase (DAO), D-blood lactic acid (D-Lac), TNF-α, and IL-6. HE staining was used to observe the local ileum damage, and Chiu′s score was used to evaluate the degree of intestinal tissue damage. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot were used to detect the expression of Claudin-1, Occludin, and zona occludins-1(ZO-1) in ileum tissues, followed by semi quantitative analysis. One-way analysis of variance was used for intergroup comparisons, and LSD or Tamhane′s T2 test was used for pairwise comparisons based on the homogeneity of variance. The diversity and species composition of mouse fecal microbiota, and the differences among groups were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing.Results:The levels of DAO, D-Lac, TNF-α, and IL-6 in the LPS group were higher than those in the control group (all P<0.000 1). After the intervention with Xuebijing injection, the levels of DAO, D-Lac, TNF-α, and IL-6 decreased (all P<0.05) and showed no significant differences with those in the control group (all P>0.05). Besides, 10 μl/g Xuebijing injection was more effective than 5 μl/g Xuebijing injection in reducing the concentrations (all P<0.05). Chiu′s score was higher in the LPS group than in the control group and the 10 μl/g Xuebijing injection group (both P<0.05). Western blot showed that the expression levels of Occludin, Claudin-1, and ZO-1 in the LPS group were lower than those in the control group (all P<0.01), and Xuebijing injection intervention significantly increased the expression levels of these proteins in a dose-dependent manner as compared with the LPS group (all P<0.000 1). Apart from the expression level of ZO-1, which showed no significant difference between the two Xuebijing injection groups ( P>0.05), the results of immunohistochemical staining were consistent with those of Western blot. The 16S rRNA sequencing results showed that there were differences in the Alpha and Beta diversity indices, and the composition and structure of gut microbiota among the four groups. The structure of gut microbiota in the mice treated with Xuebijing injection was similar to that in the mice of the control group and it was in a dose-dependent manner. Wilcoxon rank sum test showed that there were statistically significant differences in six gut microbiota groups at the phylum level, and 32 gut microbiota groups at the genus level among the mice of four groups (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Xuebijing injection can provide protective effects on the gastrointestinal tract by protecting the structure of gut microbiota and intestinal barrier function, and the protective effect is somewhat correlated with the drug dosage.

Objective:To explore the impacts of smoking on the need for respiratory support and mortality in patients hospitalized with pneumonia.Methods:A total of 24 367 patients hospitalized with pneumonia from 2009 to 2017 in the China Kadoorie Biobank, were included. Smoking status was self-reported, and data regarding respiratory support during hospitalization and mortality during follow-up were obtained from medical claims and death registries, respectively. OR, HR, and 95% CI were calculated and adjusted for potential confounders using logistic regression models and Cox proportional hazards regression models, respectively. Results:Among males, current smokers or those who quit smoking due to illness had higher risks of requiring respiratory support ( OR=1.15, 95% CI: 1.03-1.29), 1-year mortality ( HR=1.66, 95% CI: 1.32-2.08), and 5-year mortality ( HR=1.32, 95% CI: 1.13-1.54) following pneumonia hospitalization compared to nonsmokers. Male smokers who started smoking at a younger age or with longer smoking duration had the highest mortality risks (trend test both P<0.05). Female current smokers or those who quit smoking due to illness had higher risks of 1-year mortality ( HR=1.62, 95% CI: 1.17-2.23) and 5-year mortality ( HR=1.33, 95% CI: 1.06-1.67). We found no statistically significant difference in 90-day mortality between current smokers/those who quit smoking due to illness and nonsmokers. Conclusions:Smoking was associated with higher risks of requiring respiratory support and mortality in patients hospitalized with pneumonia, especially among males and heavy smokers. These findings highlight the need for targeted strategies to promote smoking cessation in patients hospitalized with pneumonia.

Objective:To summarize the clinical features, laboratory findings, treatment and prognosis of children confirmed as Mycoplasma pneumoniae-induced rash and mucositis (MIRM) in children. Methods:This retrospective study concluded 6 children diagnosed as MIRM in Department of Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Children′s Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University from August 2023 to April 2024. This paper described the characteristics of MIRM and analyzed the therapeutic strategy and prognosis.Results:A total of 6 children were diagnosed as MIRM including 2 boys and 4 girls with an age of onset was 6.4 (3.1, 7.5) years. Among the 6 patients, 4 patients had oral mucosal involvement among whom 2 showed crusting of the lips. Four patients had ocular involvement manifesting as conjunctival congestion and increased secretion. All patients presented with skin lesions, manifesting as target-shaped damage in 4 cases, herpes herpetiformis in 1 case and purpura-like rash in 1 case. Serological tests for Mycoplasma pneumoniae IgM and Mycoplasma pneumoniae nucleic acid test were positive in all 6 cases. Two cases received intravenous immunogloblin infusion combined with methylprednisolone, monotherapy of methylprednisolone in 4 cases. The course of glucocorticoids was 1-7 weeks, and the initial dose was 2-4 mg/(kg·d), which was gradually reduced according to the rash. The children were followed up for 3 to 9 months, no case suffered from long term ocular or cutaneous complications or recurrence of rash. All cases had good prognosis. Conclusions:Children diagnosed as MIRM present with mild symptoms and usually have good prognosis with early identification and appropriate intervention. Individualized therapy should be applied based on the severity of skin involvement.

Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of knee osteoarthritis(KOA)among military personnel in plateau regions and to explore its risk factors.Methods From July 2023 to July 2024,a multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling method was employed to survey the prevalence of KOA and related risk factors among military personnel in the northwest plateau regions of China,covering different altitudes(1500-4500 m)and geographical areas(Gansu,Qinghai,Tibet,and Xinjiang).All study subjects were divided into KOA and non-KOA groups based on the presence or absence of KOA.Variables including age,gender,body mass index(BMI),education level,smoking status,military rank,military branch,service duration,regional altitude,annual average temperature,training duration,perceived training intensity,and history of knee injury were selected for univariate analyses between groups.Variables with P<0.05 in the univariate analyses were included in the binary multifactor logistic regression to identify risk factors for KOA.Results A total of 3000 questionnaires were distributed,and 2854 valid questionnaires were collected,with a response rate of 95.13%.The sample included 2584 males and 270 females,with 510 cases of KOA,resulting in a prevalence rate of 17.9%.Univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences between KOA and non-KOA groups in terms of age,BMI,smoking status,military rank,military branch,service duration,regional altitude,annual average temperature,training duration,perceived training intensity,and history of knee injury(P<0.05).However,no significant differences were found in gender and education level(P>0.05).Binary multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that older age(OR=1.382,P=0.017),higher BMI(P<0.01),smoking(OR=1.929,P<0.01),higher military rank(OR=1.485,P=0.007),being a member of the Armed Police(P<0.01),longer service duration(P<0.01),higher regional altitude(OR=1.459,P<0.01),lower annual average temperature(OR=1.188,P=0.001),longer training duration(P<0.01),higher perceived training intensity(OR=2.450,P<0.01),and history of knee injury(OR=2.768,P=0.002)were independent risk factors for KOA.Conclusions Older age,overweight/obesity,smoking,higher military rank,being a member of the Armed Police,longer service duration,higher altitude,cold climate,longer training duration,higher training intensity,and history of knee injury are independent risk factors for KOA among military personnel in the northwest plateau regions of China.

Objective To explore the mediating effect of hope between self-perceived burden and quality of life in patients with recurrent malignant tumors.Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted using convenience sampling,selecting 204 patients with recurrent malignant tumors from the Oncology Department of Xiangyang Central Hospital in Hubei Province from September to December 2023.A general information questionnaire,Self-Perceived Burden Scale(SPBS),hope level(HHI),and EORTC QLQ-C30 quality of life questionnaire were utilized for the investigation.Results The SPBS score for patients with recurrent malignant tumors was(28.28±8.92),the HHI score was(35.83±4.30)and the quality of life score was(59.68±23.96).Self-perceived burden was negatively correlated with hope and quality of life(P<0.05;P<0.01),while hope was positively correlated with quality of life(P<0.01).The mediating effect of hope between the burden of self-perception and quality of life is reflected,with the indirect effect accounting for 21.18%of the total effect.Conclusion Patients with recurrent malignant tumors generally have a low quality of life and moderate levels of hope,both of which require improvement.The self-perceived burden of patients is at a mild to moderate level.Healthcare professionals should take effective measures to enhance patients'levels of hope and reduce their self-perceived burden,thereby improving the quality of life for patients with recurrent malignant tumors.