AIM: To evaluate the visual function and optical quality in adults aged 80y and older following the bilateral implantation of zonal refractive multifocal intraocular lens(IOL, LS-313 MF30).METHODS: A single-center, non-randomized, prospective clinical trial was conducted, involving cataract patients aged 80 y and older. Patients received bilateral implantation of the LS-313 MF30 or CT Asphina 409MP, based on personal preference. Postoperative assessments included uncorrected and corrected visual acuity at distance, intermediate, and near ranges, as well as defocus curve. Subjective evaluations were performed using the visual function(VF-14)questionnaire, spectacle independence rates, and patient satisfaction surveys. Photic phenomena such as glare, halos, and starbursts were also analyzed.RESULTS: The MF30 group(16 eyes from 8 participants, 85.38±2.56 y)exhibited superior uncorrected and corrected intermediate and near visual acuity compared to the 409MP group(26 eyes from 13 participants, 85.77±2.20 y), while distance visual acuity was comparable between groups. The defocus curve of the MF30 group revealed two peaks at 0.00 D and -3.00 D, indicating a broader depth of focus. Patients in the MF30 group reported higher rates of spectacle independence and greater satisfaction. While photic phenomena such as glare(28.6% vs 18.5%, P=0.584), starburst(9.5% vs 3.7%, P=0.567)and halos(23.8% vs 11.11%, P=0.438)were more prevalent in the MF30 group, they were generally mild and did not significantly impact daily activities.CONCLUSION: Zonal refractive multifocal IOLs provide elderly patients with improved distance and near vision, greater spectacle independence, and greater satisfaction. Although photic phenomena were slightly more frequent with MF30, they are generally reported as non-disruptive and do not affect their daily life compared to monofocal IOLs.

Numerous techniques for C2 screw fixation have been recently reported. However, concerns remain regarding the risk of spinal cord or vertebral artery injury and inadequate biomechanical stability. To our knowledge, the specific transforaminal “in-out-in” screw fixation technique has not been previously reported. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and preliminary clinical outcomes of a transforaminal “in-out-in” multi-cortical purchase screw for posterior C2 screw fixation. Between October 2022 and March 2023, 10 patients underwent posterior atlantoaxial internal fixation. All patients had severe hypoplasia of the C2 pedicle on at least one side, precluding the use of standard C2 pedicle screws. A transforaminal “in-out-in” screw was used as an alternative. No spinal cord injury, vascular injury, or other major complications were observed. No implant failure was noted at the final follow-up. In conclusion, the transforaminal “in-out-in” screw may achieve rigid three-column fixation with multiple cortical purchases. It represents a safe and effective alternative for posterior C2 fixation in patients with severely narrow C2 pedicles where traditional pedicle screw placement is not feasible.

Objective To explore the efficacy of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT) in distinguishing the properties of abnormal lymph nodes and its role in assessing the prognosis of patients with related diseases, and to provide more precise evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment regimen formulation. Methods The clinical data of 97 patients with malignant tumors diagnosed with abnormal lymph nodes at Wuxi People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University between April 2024 and June 2025 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into a malignant lymph node group (n=47) and a benign lymph node group (n=50) based on pathological results. PET/CT metabolic parameters [maximum standardized uptake value (SUV_max), mean standardized uptake value (SUV_mean), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG)] were compared between the two groups of patients. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the diagnostic value of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT parameters for abnormal lymph nodes. Progression-free survival was compared among patients in the malignant lymph node group stratified by different levels of SUV_max, SUV_mean, MTV, and TLG. Results SUV_max, SUV_mean, MTV, and TLG were significantly higher in the malignant lymph node group than in the benign lymph node group (P < 0.05). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for predicting malignant lymph nodes with SUV_max, SUV_mean, MTV, and TLG were 0.761, 0.855, 0.860, and 0.792, with sensitivities of 74.47%, 82.98%, 74.47%, and 70.21%, and specificities of 76.00%, 76.00%, 90.00%, and 82.00%, respectively (P < 0.05). Comparison of progression-free survival in patients with malignant lymph nodes with different ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT parameter levels revealed that patients with lower levels of SUV_max, SUV_mean, MTV, and TLG had significantly longer progression-free survival than those with higher levels (Log-rank χ²=4.297, P=0.038; Log-rank χ²=6.569, P=0.010; Log-rank χ²=5.970, P=0.015; and Log-rank χ²=7.422, P=0.006, respectively). Conclusion ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters (SUV_max, SUV_mean, MTV, and TLG) demonstrate high efficacy in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant abnormal lymph nodes and prognostic evaluation, providing significant guidance for clinical treatment decisions.

Objective To investigate the prognosis and its influencing factors in patients with hypertension complicated with heart failure (HF). Methods A total of 381 patients with hypertension and HF who were treated in our hospital from March 2022 to April 2025 were chosen. The patients were followed up for the prognosis within 6 months and split into good prognosis group (n=266) and poor prognosis group (n=115). The clinical data of the two groups were compared and analyzed. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the influencing factors of poor prognosis. Results The group with poor prognosis had higher proportions of atrial fibrillation and New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III-IV, as well as increased left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVED), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVES), interventricular septum thickness (IVS), and left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPW) compared to the group with good prognosis (P<0.05). Additionally, levels of systolic blood pressure (SBP), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), creatinine (Cr) were elevated (P<0.05), while left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was decreased (P<0.05). NYHA classification, LVEF, LVED, LVPW, NT-proBNP were independent influencing factors of poor prognosis in patients with hypertension complicated with HF (P<0.05). Conclusion NYHA classification, LVEF, LVED, LVPW and NT-proBNP are closely related to the poor prognosis of patients with hypertension and HF.

Objective To explore the efficacy of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT) in distinguishing the properties of abnormal lymph nodes and its role in assessing the prognosis of patients with related diseases, and to provide more precise evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment regimen formulation. Methods The clinical data of 97 patients with malignant tumors diagnosed with abnormal lymph nodes at Wuxi People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University between April 2024 and June 2025 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into a malignant lymph node group (n=47) and a benign lymph node group (n=50) based on pathological results. PET/CT metabolic parameters [maximum standardized uptake value (SUV_max), mean standardized uptake value (SUV_mean), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG)] were compared between the two groups of patients. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the diagnostic value of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT parameters for abnormal lymph nodes. Progression-free survival was compared among patients in the malignant lymph node group stratified by different levels of SUV_max, SUV_mean, MTV, and TLG. Results SUV_max, SUV_mean, MTV, and TLG were significantly higher in the malignant lymph node group than in the benign lymph node group (P < 0.05). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for predicting malignant lymph nodes with SUV_max, SUV_mean, MTV, and TLG were 0.761, 0.855, 0.860, and 0.792, with sensitivities of 74.47%, 82.98%, 74.47%, and 70.21%, and specificities of 76.00%, 76.00%, 90.00%, and 82.00%, respectively (P < 0.05). Comparison of progression-free survival in patients with malignant lymph nodes with different ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT parameter levels revealed that patients with lower levels of SUV_max, SUV_mean, MTV, and TLG had significantly longer progression-free survival than those with higher levels (Log-rank χ²=4.297, P=0.038; Log-rank χ²=6.569, P=0.010; Log-rank χ²=5.970, P=0.015; and Log-rank χ²=7.422, P=0.006, respectively). Conclusion ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters (SUV_max, SUV_mean, MTV, and TLG) demonstrate high efficacy in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant abnormal lymph nodes and prognostic evaluation, providing significant guidance for clinical treatment decisions.

Objective To explore the efficacy of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT) in distinguishing the properties of abnormal lymph nodes and its role in assessing the prognosis of patients with related diseases, and to provide more precise evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment regimen formulation. Methods The clinical data of 97 patients with malignant tumors diagnosed with abnormal lymph nodes at Wuxi People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University between April 2024 and June 2025 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into a malignant lymph node group (n=47) and a benign lymph node group (n=50) based on pathological results. PET/CT metabolic parameters [maximum standardized uptake value (SUV_max), mean standardized uptake value (SUV_mean), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG)] were compared between the two groups of patients. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the diagnostic value of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT parameters for abnormal lymph nodes. Progression-free survival was compared among patients in the malignant lymph node group stratified by different levels of SUV_max, SUV_mean, MTV, and TLG. Results SUV_max, SUV_mean, MTV, and TLG were significantly higher in the malignant lymph node group than in the benign lymph node group (P < 0.05). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for predicting malignant lymph nodes with SUV_max, SUV_mean, MTV, and TLG were 0.761, 0.855, 0.860, and 0.792, with sensitivities of 74.47%, 82.98%, 74.47%, and 70.21%, and specificities of 76.00%, 76.00%, 90.00%, and 82.00%, respectively (P < 0.05). Comparison of progression-free survival in patients with malignant lymph nodes with different ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT parameter levels revealed that patients with lower levels of SUV_max, SUV_mean, MTV, and TLG had significantly longer progression-free survival than those with higher levels (Log-rank χ²=4.297, P=0.038; Log-rank χ²=6.569, P=0.010; Log-rank χ²=5.970, P=0.015; and Log-rank χ²=7.422, P=0.006, respectively). Conclusion ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters (SUV_max, SUV_mean, MTV, and TLG) demonstrate high efficacy in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant abnormal lymph nodes and prognostic evaluation, providing significant guidance for clinical treatment decisions.

Computer-assisted methods for pathological image analysis can improve doctor's efficiency of image reading and diagnostic accuracy, effectively addressing the shortage of pathology diagnostic manpower. With the rapid development of artificial intelligence and digital pathology, deep learning technology has spurred a wealth of research in the field of histopathology. This article reviews the various applications of deep learning in digital pathological image analysis, such as pathological image segmentation, cancer auxiliary diagnosis, and cancer prognosis prediction, and discusses the challenges and solutions in its application. Furthermore, it predicts future trends in deep learning for pathological image analysis and proposes potential research directions.
Deep Learning ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods* ; Artificial Intelligence ; Neoplasms

OBJECTIVE: To explore the molecular mechanism of Shenmai Injection (SMI) against doxorubicin (DOX) induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. METHODS: A total of 40 specific pathogen-free (SPF) male Sprague Dawley (SD) male rats were divided into 5 groups based on the random number table, including the control group, the model group, miR-30a agomir group, SMI low-dose (SMI-L) group, and SMI high-dose (SMI-H) group, with 8 rats in each group. Except for the control group, the rats were injected weekly with DOX (2 mg/kg) in the tail vein for 4 weeks to induce myocardial injury, and were given different regimens of continuous intervention for 2 weeks. Cardiac function was detected by echocardiography and myocardial pathological changes were observed by Van Gieson (VG) staining. Myocardial injury serum markers, including creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), troponin T (cTnT), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), soluble ST2 (sST2), and growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was observed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotinylated dUTP triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) and transmission electron microscopy, and the expressions of target proteins and mRNA were detected by Western blot and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-RCR), respectively. RESULTS: The treatment with different doses of SMI reduced rat heart mass index and left ventricular mass index (P<0.05), significantly improved the left ventricular ejection fraction (P<0.05), decreased the levels of serum CK, LDH, cTnT, and NT-proBNP (P<0.05 or P<0.01), reduced the levels of serum sST2 and GDF-15 (P<0.05 or P<0.01), decreased the collagen volume fraction, reduced the expressions of rat myocardial type I and type III collagen (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and effectively alleviated myocardial fibrosis. And the study found that SMI promoted the expression levels of miR-30a and Bcl-2 in myocardium, and down-regulated the expression of Bax, which inhibited the activation of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and improved myocardial cell apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS SMI can alleviate myocardial injury and apoptosis caused by DOX, and its mechanism possibly by promoting the targeted expression of myocardial Bcl-2 protein through miR-30a.
Animals ; Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Male ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Doxorubicin/pharmacology* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics* ; Drug Combinations ; Injections ; Rats

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of Chinese patent medicine Huatuo Zaizao Pill (HTZZ) on neurological function and limb motor in ischemic stroke (IS) patients during convalescence. METHODS: This is a prospective, open-labelled, randomized controlled trial. Patients with IS were recruited from the Neurology Department of Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences from May 2021 to June 2023. Eligible participants were randomly assigned to the HTZZ (40 cases) or control group (40 cases) at a ratio of 1:1. The HTZZ group was treated with oral HTZZ (8 g, thrice daily) combined with conventional treatment, while the control group received only conventional treatment. The treatment duration was 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) score from baseline to week 6 and 12. Secondary outcomes included changes in scores of National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FM), and Barthel Index (BI) from baseline to week 6 and 12, as well as lipid indices after 12 weeks. All adverse events (AEs) were recorded and liver and kidney indices were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 72 patients completed the study (38 in the HTZZ group and 34 in the control group). Compared with the control group, the HTZZ group demonstrated significant improvements in MAS, NIHSS, FM, and BI scores following 6 and 12 weeks of treatment in both intent-to-treat and per-protocol analyses (all P<0.05). No significant differences were noted between groups in lipid indices, AEs, and liver and kidney dysfunction after 12 weeks (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS HTZZ alleviated spasticity and enhanced neurological function and prognosis of IS patients during convalescence. However, further evaluation of HTZZ's effect on IS outcomes is warranted in clinical trials with larger sample sizes and extended observation periods. (Trial registration No. NCT04910256).
Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Male ; Female ; Ischemic Stroke/physiopathology* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Recovery of Function/drug effects* ; Convalescence ; Extremities/physiopathology* ; Treatment Outcome ; Prospective Studies