ObjectiveTo explore the effects of Jingui Shenqiwan （JSW） and Liuwei Dihuangwan （LDW） on the reproductive ability and brain function of normal mice and compare the actions of the two medications. MethodsSeven groups of female and male mice were divided at a ratio of 2∶1. Except for the control group， the other six groups were as follows： a group of both males and females receiving JSW （3.0 g·kg^-1）， a group of both males and females receiving LDW （4.5 g·kg^-1）， a group of males receiving water and females receiving JSW， a group of males receiving water while females receiving LDW， a group of females receiving water while males receiving JSW， and a group of females receiving water while males receiving LDW. Each group was administered the drug for 14 days and then caged together at a 2∶1 （female∶male） ratio to detect the number of pregnant mice and calculate the pregnancy rate. Pregnant mice continued receiving the drug until they naturally gave birth， which was followed by the observation of newborn mice， calculation of their average number， and the measurement of the offspring's preference for sugar water and neonatal recognition index. At the end of the experiment， the weights of the thymus and spleen were measured to calculate the organ coefficients， and mRNA or protein expression was analyzed in the brain and testes or ovaries. A 1% sucrose solution was used to examine the euphoria of their brain reward systems， while novel object recognition test （NOR） was applied to assess their memory capabilities. mRNA expression was detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） assay， and protein expression was analyzed with Western blot. ResultsCompared with the control group， oral administration of JSW to both male and female mice for 14 days significantly increased the pregnancy rate of female mice on day 2 after being caged together （P<0.05）， while LDW showed a trend but no statistical significance. Additionally， compared with the control group， JSW could upregulate the gene expression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone （GnRH） in the thalamus， as well as reproductive stem cell factor （SCF） and tyrosine kinase receptor （c-Kit） in the testes and reproductive stem cell marker mouse vasa homologue （MVH） in the ovaries， upregulate the expression of proteins influencing neuronal functional activity， such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF）， in hippocampal neurons （P<0.05）， and enhance sucrose preference in male mice （P<0.05）. Compared with the control group， JSW significantly increased sucrose preference and novel object recognition index in offspring mice （P<0.05）， which was related to the upregulation of hippocampal dopamine D1 receptor （D1R） and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor （Nmdar） gene expression. Compared with the control group， both JSW and LDW could upregulate the protein expression of glucocorticoid receptor （GR）， BDNF， and tyrosine kinase receptor B （TrkB） in the hippocampus of offspring mice （P<0.05）. ConclusionJSW significantly enhances the reproductive ability of normal mice， which is not only related to the release of gonadotropin but also associated with its regulation of brain function. Additionally， JSW has a certain regulatory effect on the brain function of the offspring mice.

Myocardial infarction （MI） and osteoporosis （OP）， as two prevalent metabolic diseases with high morbidity and mortality rates， are respectively characterized by cardiovascular system dysfunction and bone homeostasis imbalance， collectively posing significant global public health challenges. While clinically often considered as independent diseases， recent studies have revealed shared pathological mechanisms between the two. This study initiated its exploration from the traditional Chinese medicine concept of the "heart-bone" axis， systematically analyzing the correlation between MI and OP from perspectives including hemodynamics， neuroendocrinology， calcium homeostasis， inflammation and vascular injury， as well as hormone levels. By discussing the pathological mechanisms of "heart disease affecting the bones and bone disease affecting the heart"， the study also elucidated advancements in both Western and traditional Chinese medicine treatments. The goal is to provide novel insights and methodologies for the prevention and treatment of "heart-bone comorbidities"， thereby facilitating comprehensive management of cardiovascular and skeletal diseases.

Myocardial infarction （MI） and osteoporosis （OP）， as two prevalent metabolic diseases with high morbidity and mortality rates， are respectively characterized by cardiovascular system dysfunction and bone homeostasis imbalance， collectively posing significant global public health challenges. While clinically often considered as independent diseases， recent studies have revealed shared pathological mechanisms between the two. This study initiated its exploration from the traditional Chinese medicine concept of the "heart-bone" axis， systematically analyzing the correlation between MI and OP from perspectives including hemodynamics， neuroendocrinology， calcium homeostasis， inflammation and vascular injury， as well as hormone levels. By discussing the pathological mechanisms of "heart disease affecting the bones and bone disease affecting the heart"， the study also elucidated advancements in both Western and traditional Chinese medicine treatments. The goal is to provide novel insights and methodologies for the prevention and treatment of "heart-bone comorbidities"， thereby facilitating comprehensive management of cardiovascular and skeletal diseases.

This paper outlines the development of artificial intelligence （AI） and its applications in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） research， and elucidates the roles and advantages of large language models， knowledge graphs， and natural language processing in advancing syndrome identification， prescription generation， and mechanism exploration. Using spleen-stomach diseases as an example， it demonstrates the empowering effects of AI in classical literature mining， precise clinical syndrome differentiation， efficacy and safety prediction， and intelligent education， highlighting an upgraded research paradigm that evolves from data-driven and knowledge-driven approaches to intelligence-driven models. To address challenges related to privacy protection and regulatory compliance in cross-institutional data collaboration， a "trusted federated evidence-based analysis platform for TCM spleen-stomach diseases" is proposed， integrating blockchain-based smart contracts， federated learning， and secure multi-party computation. The deep integration of AI with privacy-preserving computing is reshaping research and clinical practice in TCM spleen-stomach diseases， providing feasible pathways and a technical framework for building a high-quality， trustworthy TCM big-data ecosystem and achieving precision syndrome differentiation.

ObjectiveTo investigate the current status of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among the elderly population in rural areas of Changxing County, Zhejiang Province, and to provide an evidence for the development of LTBI prevention and control measures. MethodsBetween January and May 2024, elderly individuals participating in urban and rural residents’ health checkups were screened for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection using a domestically produced interferon-γ release assay (IGRA) kit. Individuals tested positive by IGRA but without active tuberculosis were classified as LTBI cases. The prevalence of LTBI among the participants was subsequently analyzed. ResultsAmong the 6 765 subjects, 637 tested positive by IGRA, including one identified active tuberculosis patient, resulting in a LTBI prevalence rate of 9.40%. There was a statistically significant difference in positivity rates across different IGRA methodologies (χ²=35.530, P<0.001). Higher LTBI rate was observed in males, individuals with a history of diabetes mellitus, and those with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis, exhibiting statistically significant differences (χ²=32.401, P<0.001; χ²=5.789, P=0.020; χ²=39.248, P<0.001, respectively.) No statistically significant difference in LTBI rate was found across different age groups (χ²=0.238, P=0.971). ConclusionThe prevalence of LTBI among the elderly rural residents in Changxing County is relatively low. Male, individuals with a history of diabetes mellitus, and those with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis have an increased risk of LTBI, warranting targeted risk monitoring and timely interventions.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy and safety of human epidermal growth factor gel in the treatment of pin tract infections after surgery in patients with severe spinal deformity. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 26 patients with pin tract infections after skull-pelvic ring traction for severe spinal deformity admitted from February 2019 to May 2022. Among them, 11 were male and 15 were female;the age ranged from 18 to 31 years, with an average of (24.1±4.3) years;the Cobb angle ranged 80.3° to 120.7°, with an average of (88.6±10.2)°;there were 52 iliac traction pins, 104 pin tract openings, and 38 pin tract infections. According to the Checketts-Otterbum classification, there were 11 infections of gradeⅠ, 13 infections of gradeⅡ, 10 infections of grade Ⅲ, and 4 infections of grade Ⅳ. The patients were divided into the conventional dressing change group (13 cases) and the growth factor group (13 cases) by coin flipping. Clinical efficacy was evaluated by recording the visual analogue scale(VAS) score during dressing change, duration of dressing change, cost of dressing change, positive rate of bacterial culture, wound improvement rate, and wound improvement time. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in VAS or duration of dressing change between the two groups (P>0.05). The cost of dressing change was (800.0±59.5) yuan in the conventional dressing change group and (1 179.5±80.9) yuan in the growth factor group, with a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the positive rate of bacterial culture between the two groups (P>0.05). In the conventional dressing change group, within 20 pin tract infections, 2 infections achieved wound healing, 7 infections showed improvement, and 11 infections were ineffective;in the growth factor group, within 18 pin tract infections 5 infections achieved wound healing, 8 infections showed improvement, and 5 infections were ineffective, with a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). The wound healing time was (22.8±4.9) days in the conventional dressing change group and (14.2±2.5) days in the growth factor group, with a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). No complications occurred in either group. CONCLUSION The application of human epidermal growth factor gel in the treatment of pin tract infections after skull-pelvic ring surgery in patients with severe spinal deformity is easy to operate, does not increase patient pain, and has significant efficacy. It shortens wound healing time, effectively promotes wound healing, and has good safety and high cost-effectiveness.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Adolescent ; Retrospective Studies ; Case-Control Studies ; Young Adult ; Epidermal Growth Factor/therapeutic use* ; Traction/adverse effects* ; Gels ; Bone Nails/adverse effects* ; Surgical Wound Infection/drug therapy*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short-and medium-term efficacy of posterior medial branch block in the treatment of persistent pain after percutaneous vertebral augmentation. METHODS: From January 2018 to January 2023, a total of 1, 062 patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures underwent percutaneous vertebral augmentation. Among them, 32 elderly patients who experienced persistent low back pain after surgery and subsequently received posterior medial branch block and cryoablation were included. Six patients died during follow-up, leaving 26 patients for final analysis (1 male, 25 females). The mean age was (82.96±5.66) years (ranged, 76 to 94 years). The mean body mass index was (23.76±3.08) kg·m^-2(ranged 18.1 to 27.2 kg·m^-2). The bone mineral density T-value ranged from -2.5 to -4.3 with a mean of (-3.09±0.56). The mean volume of bone cement injected was 6.00 (5.38, 7.00) ml. Fracture locations were T₁₁ (2 cases), T₁₂ (7 cases), L₁ (10 cases), L₂ (6 cases), and L₃ (1 case). The mean interval from vertebral augmentation to block treatment was (7.12±2.22) months (rangd 6 to 12 months). The vertebral augmentation procedures were percutaneous kyphoplasty(PKP) in 12 cases and percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in 14 cases. At the 2nd week, 3rd month, and 6th month after the block, the numerical rating scale(NRS), Oswestry disability index(ODI), patient satisfaction, and pain relief rate at the 6th month were evaluated. Relationships between pain relief rate at the 6th month after the last treatment and possible influencing factors were analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with X-ray films after percutaneous vertebral augmentation, the X-ray films before block showed an increase in kyphotic angle and vertebral compression rate, with statistically significant differences(P<0.05). At the 2nd week, 3rd month, and 6th month after posterior medial branch block and cryoablation, NRS and ODI scores were significantly lower than before the block(P<0.05). Among the 26 patients, 5 received additional cryoablation. At the 6th month after the last treatment, 19 patients reported excellent or good satisfaction. Univariate binary Logistic analysis showed all P>0.05, and no independent factor affecting final satisfaction or pain relief at 6 months after the last treatment was identified. CONCLUSION Posterior medial branch block(with cryoablation) can effectively improve short-and medium-term symptoms and function in patients with persistent axial low back pain after percutaneous vertebral augmentation for osteoporotic vertebral fractures.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Spinal Fractures/surgery* ; Aged, 80 and over ; Osteoporotic Fractures/surgery* ; Vertebroplasty/adverse effects* ; Nerve Block/methods*

The prevalence of Class III malocclusion varies among different countries and regions. The populations from Southeast Asian countries (Chinese and Malaysian) showed the highest prevalence rate of 15.8%, which can seriously affect oral function, facial appearance, and mental health. As anterior crossbite tends to worsen with growth, early orthodontic treatment can harness growth potential to normalize maxillofacial development or reduce skeletal malformation severity, thereby reducing the difficulty and shortening the treatment cycle of later-stage treatment. This is beneficial for the physical and mental growth of children. Therefore, early orthodontic treatment for Class III malocclusion is particularly important. Determining the optimal timing for early orthodontic treatment requires a comprehensive assessment of clinical manifestations, dental age, and skeletal age, and can lead to better results with less effort. Currently, standardized treatment guidelines for early orthodontic treatment of Class III malocclusion are lacking. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the etiology, clinical manifestations, classification, and early orthodontic techniques for Class III malocclusion, along with systematic discussions on selecting early treatment plans. The purpose of this expert consensus is to standardize clinical practices and improve the treatment outcomes of Class III malocclusion through early orthodontic treatment.
Humans ; Malocclusion, Angle Class III/classification* ; Orthodontics, Corrective/methods* ; Consensus ; Child

Aim To study the protective effect of puer-arin(PR)on myocardial injury in diabetic mice and to explore the related mechanism.Methods Eight male C57BL/6J mice were randomly selected as the control group,and the remaining mice were randomly injected with streptozotocin(STZ)to construct a diabetes mod-el,and the mice that were successfully modeled were randomly divided into the model group,PR high,medi-um and low dose groups,pyroptosis inhibitor(NSA)group and pyroptosis inducer(Nigericin)group,which were administered continuously for 12 weeks.After the last dose,the serum and heart tissues of mice were taken to observe the changes of myocardium,the con-tents of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)and creatine ki-nase isoenzyme(CK-MB)in the serum were detected,and the protein and mRNA expressions of pyroptosis-related factors(NLRP3,caspase-1,GSDMD,IL-18,IL-1β)in myocardial tissues of mice were detected.Re-sults Compared with the control group,the model group had swollen and twisted myocardial tissue,myo-cardial arrangement disorder,increased collagen fibers,increased content of LDH and CK-MB in serum,and significantly increased the expression of pyroxosis relat-ed factors in myocardial tissue(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the pathologi-cal changes of myocardial tissue in in the PR and NSA groups were significantly improved,the content of ser-um LDH and CK-MB was significantly reduced,and the expression of pyroxosis related factors in myocardial tis-sue was significantly inhibited(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),while there was no significant change in the Nigericin group.Conclusions PR has a protective effect on myocardial injury in diabetic mice,and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the NL-RP3/caspase-1/GSDMD pyrosis signaling pathway.

Objective To analyze the application value of 3D Slicer software in endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenoma resection.Methods A retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 36 patients with pituitary adenomas treated with 3D Slicer-assisted endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery(3D Slicer group)in the Department of Neurosurgery,The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University,from January 2024 to December 2024.Preoperatively,multimodal images were fused and reconstructed using 3D Slicer software to systematically evaluate bony anatomical structures such as sphenoid sinus ostia,intrasphenoidal septa,and sellar floor structures,design the size of pedicled nasoseptal flaps,and clarify the positional relationships between pituitary adenomas and surrounding vital structures including the internal carotid artery,pituitary gland,and optic chiasm,so as to provide real-time guidance for intraoperative procedures.Meanwhile,45 patients with pituitary adenomas treated with neuronavigation-assisted endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery from January 2023 to December 2023 were included as the control group(neuronavigation group).The surgical outcomes and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.Results Compared with the neuronavigation group,the 3D Slicer group demonstrated higher identification rates of the optic nerve groove and carotid artery impression(94.4％vs.77.8％),shorter operative time[(2.9±0.6)h vs.(3.5±0.9)h],less intraoperative bleeding[(159.7±70.5)mL vs.(237.8±96.0)mL],and a lower incidence of postoperative olfactory dysfunction(8.3％vs.26.7％),with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).However,there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the identification rate of the sphenoid sinus ostium(100.0％vs.97.8％),gross total resection rate(75.0％vs.64.4％),and the incidence of other postoperative complications,including cerebrospinal fluid leakage(0.0％vs.6.7％),intracranial infection(2.8％vs.11.1％),transient diabetes insipidus(30.6％vs.22.2％),and hypopituitarism(38.9％vs.37.8％,P＞0.05).Conclusion 3D Slicer software helps improve the mastery of anatomical basics in endoscopic transsphenoidal approach among junior and primary physicians,enhancing the clinical efficacy and safety of pituitary adenoma resection,and thus is worthy of clinical promotion.