ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Xiezhuo Jiedu prescription in the treatment of ulcerative colitis （UC） by inhibiting ferroptosis and alleviating intestinal mucosal injury based on the nuclear factor E₂ related factor 2/solute carrier family 7 member/glutathione peroxidase 4 （Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4） signaling pathway. MethodsA total of 60 male SD rats were divided into a normal group， a model group， high- and low-dose Xiezhuo Jiedu prescription groups （26.64 and 13.32 g·kg^-1， respectively）， a ferroptosis inhibitor group （Ferrostatin-1， 0.005 g·kg^-1）， and a mesalazine group （0.27 g·kg^-1）， with 10 rats in each group. A UC rat model was established by intrarectal administration of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid （TNBS）-ethanol. The normal group and the model group were intragastrically administered normal saline. The other groups were given intragastric administration according to the corresponding dosage for 7 d. The general condition， disease activity index （DAI） score， colon length， and mucosal injury index （CDMI） score were observed in each group. The pathological changes of colon tissue in each group were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. The intestinal mucosa and mitochondrial morphology in each group were observed by transmission electron microscopy. The expression levels of Occludin， Claudin-1， mucin 2 （MUC2）， and E-cadherin in intestinal tissue were detected by immunofluorescence （IF）. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the expression levels of serum tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and interleukin-10 （IL-10） in each group， and a lactic acid assay kit or ELISA was employed to detect the expression levels of reactive oxygen species （ROS）， ferrous ions （Fe²⁺）， glutathione （GSH）， malondialdehyde （MDA）， 4-hydroxynonenal （4-HNE）， diamine oxidase （DAO）， and D-lactate （D-LA）. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was applied to detect the mRNA expression levels of Nrf2， SLC7A11， GPX4， Occludin， Claudin-1， MUC2， and E-cadherin in each group， and Western blot was adopted to detect the protein expression levels of Nrf2， p-Nrf2， SLC7A11， and GPX4 in each group. ResultsCompared with the normal group， rats in the model group exhibited listlessness， sluggish response， and mucopurulent and bloody stools. The model group also showed significantly increased DAI score， colon length， CDMI score， and expression levels of TNF-α， IL-6， ROS， Fe²⁺， MDA， 4-HNE， DAO， and D-LA （P<0.01）. In addition， it presented significantly decreased IF values of Occludin， Claudin-1， MUC2， and E-cadherin and mRNA and protein expression levels of IL-10， GSH， Nrf2， p-Nrf2， SLC7A11， and GPX4 （P<0.01）. There were different degrees of improvement in each administration group after treatment， and the improvement was the most significant in the high-dose Xiezhuo Jiedu prescription group （P<0.01）. ConclusionXiezhuo Jiedu prescription may alleviate intestinal mucosal injury by inhibiting ferroptosis of intestinal epithelial cells via regulating the Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 signaling pathway， thereby exhibiting efficacy in the treatment of UC.

Objective To systematically analyze the characteristics of the disease burden of hypertensive heart disease (HHD) in the elderly (≥60 years) globally and in China from 1990 to 2021, and to predict its future trends from 2022 to 2040, with the aim of providing data support for optimizing comprehensive prevention and control strategies for HHD. Methods Based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database, the number of prevalent cases and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of HHD in the elderly were extracted for the world, China, and five regions categorized by sociodemographic index (SDI). Joinpoint regression was used to analyze the temporal trends of age-standardized prevalence rate and age-standardized DALYs rate of HHD in the elderly. A three-factor decomposition method was applied to evaluate the relative contributions of aging, population growth, and epidemiological changes to the variations in the elderly HHD burden. Additionally, a Bayesian age-period-cohort model was used to predict the elderly HHD burden from 2022 to 2040. Results In 2021, the number of prevalent elderly HHD cases reached 10 283 000 globally and 3 412 400 in China, representing increases of 179.20% and 159.20% respectively, compared with 1990. The DALYs of elderly HHD were 18 812 700 person-years globally and 4 731 400 person-years in China, rising by 76.08% and 29.45% respectively from 1990. Meanwhile, the growth rates of the number of prevalent cases and DALYs of elderly HHD varied across different SDI regions. From 1990 to 2021, the age-standardized prevalence rate of elderly HHD in China, as well as the age-standardized DALYs rate of elderly HHD both globally and in China, showed significant downward trends (all average annual percentage changes<0, all P<0.001). In 2021, the 70-74 years age group accounted for the highest proportion of prevalent cases and DALYs of elderly HHD, both globally and in China. Decomposition analysis revealed that population growth was the dominant factor driving the increase in the elderly HHD burden across all regions. The prediction model results indicated that the number of prevalent cases and DALYs of elderly HHD would continue to rise globally and in China from 2022 to 2040, with the growth rate of the elderly HHD burden in China between 2021 and 2040 expected to exceed the global average. Conclusion Over the past 32 years, although the age-standardized disease rates of elderly HHD have mainly shown a downward trend globally and in China, the absolute number of the disease burden has increased substantially. The projection model indicates a continued upward trajectory, with the growth rate in China higher than the global average. Therefore, there is an urgent need to implement precise prevention and control strategies to effectively mitigate the disease burden of elderly HHD.

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Coupled with the substantial workload, the clinical management of lung cancer is challenged by the critical need to efficiently and accurately process increasingly complex medical information. In recent years, large language models (LLMs) technology has undergone explosive development, demonstrating unique advantages in handling complex medical data by leveraging its powerful natural language processing capabilities, and its application value in the field of lung cancer diagnosis and treatment is continuously increasing. The paper systematically analyzes that the exceptional potential of LLMs in lung cancer auxiliary diagnosis, tumor feature extraction, automatic staging, progression/outcome analysis, treatment recommendations, medical documentation generation, and patient education. However, they face critical technical and ethical challenges including inconsistent performance in complex integrated decision-making (e.g., TNM staging, personalized treatment suggestions) and "black box" opacity issues, along with dilemmas such as training data biases, model hallucinations, data privacy concerns, and cross-lingual adaptation challenges ("data colonization"). Future directions should prioritize constructing high-quality multimodal corpora specific to lung cancer, developing interpretable and compliant specialized models, and achieving seamless integration with existing clinical workflows. Through dual drivers of technological innovation and ethical standardization, LLMs should be prudently advanced for holistic lung cancer management processes, ultimately promoting efficient, standardized, and personalized diagnosis and treatment practices.

ObjectiveTo explore the incidence of major low anterior resection syndrome （LARS） within six months after sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer and to analyze its associated factors. MethodsClinical records， postoperative rehabilitation data and LARS scores were collected from 889 patients at 3 months postoperatively and from 844 patients at 6 months postoperatively. Patients were divided into a major LARS group and a non-major LARS group. Multivariable Logistic regression was used to analyze factors associated with major LARS at 3 and 6 months postoperatively， and the predictive value of the models was assessed using the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test and the receiver operating characteristic （ROC）. ResultsAmong patients undergoing sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer， 247 patients （27.8%） had major LARS at 3 months postoperatively and 181 patients （21.4%） at 6 months postoperatively. Multivariable Logistic regression showed that Kegel exercises， preoperative radiotherapy， anastomotic leakage， a tumor distance from the anal verge of ≤5 cm， and an anastomotic distance from the anal verge of ≤5 cm were independent factors for major LARS at 3 months postoperatively （P<0.05）. At 6 months postoperatively， occasional Kegel exercises during 0~3 months， Kegel exercises during 4~6 months， hydrotherapy during 4~6 months， preoperative chemotherapy， a tumor distance from the anal verge of ≤5 cm， and an anastomotic distance from the anal verge of ≤5 cm were independent factors （P<0.05）. The models at 3 and 6 months postoperatively showed goodness-of-fit test P values of 0.986 and 0.517 and area under the curve （AUCs） of 0.843 and 0.870， indicating good predictive value. ConclusionThe incidence of major LARS within six months after sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer is relatively high， and greater attention should be paid to patients who receive preoperative chemoradiotherapy， develop anastomotic leakage， or have tumor and anastomotic distances from the anal verge of ≤5 cm. Patients should also be advised that early postoperative Kegel exercises and hydrotherapy may reduce the incidence of major LARS.

Objective: To investigate the technical considerations and clinical value of plasma exchange (PE) in the treatment of cardiohepatic syndrome (CHS). Methods: A 76-year-old male patient with CHS was treated. The patient’s underlying conditions included valvular heart disease (severe mitral and tricuspid regurgitation), chronic heart failure (cardiac function class IV) complicated with liver failure [total bilirubin (TBIL) up to 590.6 μmol/L; alanine aminotransferase (ALT) up to 325.4 IU/L; aspartate aminotransferase (AST) up to 190.4 IU/L]. Due to poor response to conventional anti-heart failure and hepatoprotective therapy, three sessions of stepwise PE (total volume 6 400 mL) were performed. A "calcium-fluid balance-hemodynamics“ trinity monitoring system was established during treatment, comprising:1) prophylactic calcium supplementation (continuous calcium infusion at 5 mL/h initiated before PE); 2) dynamic blood gas monitoring (ionized calcium measured every 30-60 min with calcium dose adjusted accordingly); 3) individualized fluid balance setting (75%-90%); 4) standby norepinephrine (0.02-0.1 μg/kg/min). Results: Complications such as hypocalcemia (lowest 0.83 mmol/L) and hypotension (lowest 65/38 mmHg) occurred during treatment. Hemodynamics were stabilized by adjusting calcium supplementation, regulating fluid balance, and concomitant use of vasoactive agents. After treatment, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) decreased by 42.0% (from 7 122.53 pg/mL to 4 128.77 pg/mL), TBIL decreased by 69.7% (from 590.6 μmol/L to 178.7 μmol/L), ALT decreased by 91.8% (from 325.4 IU/L to 26.7 IU/L), and AST decreased by 83.2% (from 190.4 IU/L to 31.9 IU/L). Conclusion: PE based on the "calcium-fluid balance-hemodynamics" trinity monitoring system can improve cardiac and liver function in patients with CHS.

Objective To evaluate the performance of lightweight Chinese large language models (LLMs) in answering specialized lung cancer questions, and to explore the impact of retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) on model performance. Methods Eleven lightweight Chinese LLMs with parameter sizes ranging from 7B to 32B were included. A lung cancer-specific evaluation dataset consisting of 200 questions [100 A1-type (basic knowledge) and 100 A2-type (clinical case) questions], constructed based on clinical guidelines and thoracic surgery textbooks, was used for assessment. Model performance was evaluated under two conditions (with and without RAG). Accuracy was used to assess model performance, and response latency was recorded to reflect inference efficiency. An accuracy–latency scatter plot was constructed for descriptive analysis of overall model performance. Results All models successfully completed the evaluation. With the introduction of RAG, the overall average accuracy improved from 61.68% to 76.36%. Smaller models demonstrated the most significant improvement (e.g., the accuracy of DeepSeek-7B increased from 32.50% to 60.00%, P<0.001). The average response latency increased from 12.58 s to 13.80 s. The Qwen3 series showed the best overall performance, and Qwen3-32B achieved the highest accuracy under both conditions (76.50% and 84.00%, respectively). After RAG integration, performance differences among model families were markedly reduced. Based on the accuracy-latency trade-off, Qwen3-32B achieved the best balance between accuracy and response latency under the baseline condition, whereas Qwen3-14B demonstrated superior overall performance in terms of accuracy, latency, and computational cost after RAG integration. Conclusion The integration of RAG technology improves the ability of lightweight Chinese LLMs to answer specialized lung cancer questions. Under the dual practical constraints of limited computational resources and medical data security requirements, the "lightweight model+RAG" technical framework may represent a promising deployment solution.

Objective:To investigate the feasibility and value of nomogram based on base line clinical and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) characteristics for pretreatment predicting the depth of myometrial invasion and tumor grade of endometrioid endometrial carcinoma (EEC).Methods:Preoperative baseline clinical characteristics and DCE-MRI characteristics of 194 EEC patients were prospectively collected at Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University from October 2020 to January 2022 and used as a training set. Univariate analysis was conducted to compare baseline clinical characteristics and DCE-MRI quantitative parameters [including tumor volume, and mean, median, and standard deviation of volume transfer constant (K trans), rate constant (K ep), extravascular extracellular volume fraction (V e), and initial area under the enhancement curve (iAUC)] between patients with deep myometrial invasion (DMI) and those with superficial myometrial invasion (SMI), as well as between high-grade and low-grade EEC. Multivariate logistics regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors for the construction of nomogram. An independent external testing set comprising 127 EEC patients was retrospectively collected from Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University (Xiamen Branch). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used for evaluating the model′s predictive performance and clinical net benefit, respectively. Results:(1) The depth of myometrial invasion: univariate analysis showed that in the training set, the EEC patients with DMI differed significantly from those with SMI in clinical characteristics including higher proportion of postmenopausal state and overweight [body mass index (BMI)≥25 kg/m2], and abnormal levels of serum cancer antigen (CA) 125, CA 199, and human epididymis protein 4 (HE4), and in DCE-MRI quantitative parameters including tumor volume, and median, mean, and standard deviation of K trans, median of V e, as well as median, mean, and standard deviation of iAUC (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that the patient′s menstrual status, BMI, CA 199, tumor volume, and mean of iAUC were independent predictors of the depth of myometrial invasion, and constructed the nomogram (recorded as Nomogram_1), achieving an AUC of 0.861 (95% CI: 0.803-0.919) in the training set. In the independent external testing set, the AUC was 0.876 (95% CI: 0.815-0.938), with corresponding sensitivity of 82.0%, specificity of 80.7%, accuracy of 81.1%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 65.3%, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 91.0% for predicting DMI. (2) The EEC grade: univariate analysis showed that in the training set, high-grade EEC patients differed significantly from low-grade EEC in clinical characteristics including patient′s age, the proportion of postmenopausal state and overweight, and abnormal levels of serum CA 125, and in DCE-MRI quantitative parameters including tumor volume, median, mean, and standard deviation of K trans, median and mean of V e, as well as median, mean, and standard deviation of iAUC (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that the patient′s menstrual status, BMI, tumor volume, and median of V e emerged as independent predictors of EEC grade, and constructed the nomogram (recorded as Nomogram_2), achieving an AUC of 0.845 (95% CI: 0.786-0.893) in the training set. While in the external testing set, the AUC was 0.819 (95% CI: 0.744-0.894), with corresponding sensitivity of 72.4%, specificity of 72.4%, accuracy of 72.4%, PPV of 43.8%, and NPV of 89.9% for predicting high-grade EEC. (3) The DCA curves demonstrated that both Nomogram_1 and Nomogram_2 yielded obvious positive clinical net benefits across a wide range of threshold probabilities. Conclusion:The nomogram based on pretreatment clinical and DCE-MRI characteristics has the potential to noninvasive predict the depth of myometrial invasion and grade of EEC, providing valuable reference information for clinical management decision-making.

Objective:To rapidly and accurately detect volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans with potentially inaccurate radiation doses.Methods:The measurement-based dosimetric verification result of 196 VMAT plans obtained using ArcCHECK phantoms were retrospectively collected. Independent dosimetric calculation and verification were conducted for these plans using the ArcherQA system based on a fast Monte Carlo algorithm. The gamma passing rates of dosimetric verification using ArcCHECK phantom and the ArcherQA system were compared, followed by their correlation analysis and linear regression fitting. The ArcherQA system′s gamma passing rate threshold used to detect positive dosimetric verification result obtained using ArcCHECK phantoms, as well as the specificity of the detection, were calculated. Based on this gamma passing rate threshold, another 50 VMAT plans were selected as a test set to assess the ArcherQA system′s ability to detect positive measurement-based dosimetric verification result.Results:The average gamma passing rates for the dosimetric verification of the VMAT plans using the ArcherQA system and ArcCHECK phantoms were 97.28% and 96.57% (3%/3 mm, TH=10%), respectively. Both rates had a correlation coefficient of 0.71 ( P < 0.01) and a linear fitting coefficient of 0.54 ( R2=0.51). When the gamma passing rate for dosimetric verification using ArcCHECK phantoms was set at 90% (3%/2 mm, TH=10%), the gamma passing rate threshold for dosimetric verification using the ArcherQA system should be adjusted to 94.8% to detect all VMAT plans with positive dosimetric verification result obtained using ArcCHECK phantoms, with a specificity of 67.8%. Using this threshold, the ArcherQA system detected all VMAT plans in the test set for which ArcCHECK phantom-based measurement yielded positive dosimetric verification result. Conclusions:By determining an appropriate gamma passing rate threshold, the ArcherQA system can rapidly and accurately detect VMAT plans with potentially inaccurate doses, thus ensuring treatment accuracy and improving work efficiency.

Objective:This study aims to review the practices and approaches of the European Network of Research Integrity Offices(ENRIO) in strengthening the construction and governance of research integrity, providing references for China.Methods:Through literature review and official website information, summarized the basic situation and practical experience of ENRIO.Results:ENRIO had carried out a wide range of practical activities in research integrity, including establishing a network system, forming working groups, developing guidelines, providing training and education, and creating an international communication platform.Conclusions:ENRIO has greatly benefited the construction of research integrity in Europe. These measures have also provided references for China. China′s research integrity construction is a long and arduous task. It is recommended to combine China′s actual situation, empower professional bodies, establish a mechanism for whistleblower protection and investigation and handling, strengthen education and training, and enhance research and international cooperation.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the correlation between styloid process related parameters and symptoms in patients with styloid process syndrome.METHODS A retrospective study was conducted on the 3D reconstruction CT results of the styloid process in 68 patients diagnosed with styloid process syndrome who visited the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery,the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from January 2010 to December 2024.The relationship between parameters such as styloid process length,angle,distance from styloid process tip to pharynx,and specific symptoms in patients with styloid process syndrome was analyzed.RESULTS Among 68 patients with styloid process syndrome,44 had unilateral symptoms and 24 had bilateral symptoms.The length of the styloid process on the symptomatic side of patients with unilateral symptoms(3.86±0.16)cm was significantly longer than that on the asymptomatic side(2.98±0.17)cm(Z=-2.191,P=0.028);The length of the styloid process on the side with severe symptoms in patients with bilateral symptoms(3.98±0.37)cm was also significantly longer than that in patients with mild symptoms(3.37±0.15)cm(t=2.448,P=0.024).Patients with styloid process syndrome mainly present with pharyngalgia(64.71%,44/68).There were no significant differences in the length,inclination angle,anteversion angle,and distance between the styloid process tip and the pharynx among those with unilateral pharyngalgia(n=29),bilateral pharyngalgia(n=15),and non pharyngalgia(n=24)(P>0.05).However,among the 68 patients with styloid syndrome,12 had calcification of the styloid hyoid ligament,while 56 did not.The incidence of unilateral pharyngalgia was significantly higher in patients with calcification of the styloid hyoid ligament than in patients without calcification(66.7%vs.35.7%,χ2=3.909,P=0.048).CONCLUSION The severity of symptoms in patients with styloid process syndrome is related to the length of the styloid process,and those with calcification of the styloid hyoid ligament are more likely to experience pharyngalgia.