Malignant gastric outlet obstruction (MGOO) occurs in 2% to 25% of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) who do not undergo surgical intervention. Over the past decade, duodenal self-expandable metal stent (D-SEMS) has been widely used for MGOO and has demonstrated high technical (89.1% to 100%) and clinical (85.7% to 94.3%) success rates.Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided gastroenterostomy (EUS-GE) has emerged as a promising alternative with comparable technical (89.3% to 98.9%) and clinical (89.0% to 100%) success rates. Notably, EUS-GE reduces the 6-month reintervention rate by approximately 25% relative to D-SEMS in patients with MGOO, thus making it an increasingly popular treatment option. Despite its advantages, EUS-GE may not be suitable for patients with massive ascites, extensive peritoneal carcinomatosis, gastric linitis plastica, or an inaccessible small bowel. Moreover, EUSGE requires a longer procedure time and incurs higher overall costs, even when considering the increased reintervention rate associated with D-SEMS. While the risk of adverse events is similar between EUS-GE and D-SEMS, EUS-GE requires a higher level of operator expertise to ensure safety and may also require deeper levels of anesthesia than D-SEMS. Advancements in cancer therapy have prolonged survival in PDAC patients, but most do not require reintervention for MGOO, unlike those with other malignancies. Thus, EUS-GE may be suitable for patients with a longer life span who are willing to undergo deep anesthesia at a high-volume center with an experienced specialist. Given these considerations, more comprehensive studies are needed before EUS-GE can be recommended as a standard replacement for D-SEMS in the treatment of MGOO.

Nonunion of osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF), predominantly affecting the elderly, can lead to intractable pain, vertebral collapse, progressive kyphotic deformity, and neurological impairment, significantly compromising patients′ quality of life. There exists considerable debate on diagnosis and management of OVF, encompassing key issues such as clinical diagnosis and staging criteria for nonunion, surgical indications and procedure selection, and postoperative rehabilitation planning. Currently, there lacks standardized clinical guideline and expert consensus on the diagnosis and management of OVF nonunion in China. To address this gap, Minimally Invasive Surgery Group of Chinese Orthopedic Association, Osteoporosis Committee of Chinese Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, Prevention and Rehabilitation Committee for Osteoporosis of Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine and Minimally Invasive Orthopedic Surgery Branch of China Association for Geriatric Care jointly organized domestic experts in spinal surgery, endocrinology, and rehabilitation to formulate the Clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment for nonunion of osteoporotic vertebral fractures ( version 2025), based on existing literature and clinical experience and adhering to principles of scientific rigor and practicality. The guideline provided 13 evidence-based recommendations encompassing diagnosis and treatment of OVF nonunion, aiming to standardize its clinical management.

For middle-aged and elderly patients with conditions such as spinal fractures and degenerative spinal diseases, spinal internal fixation is a core surgical procedure for reconstructing spinal stability, heavily relying on the biomechanical stability provided by pedicle screw systems. Whereas, these patients are often complicated by osteoporosis that can significantly compromise the stability of the bone-pedicle screw interface, leading to a marked increase in pedicle screw loosening and surgical failure rates. The bone cement-augmented pedicle screw technique, which involves injecting bone cement into the vertebral body or screw trajectory to optimize the mechanical properties of the bone-pedicle screw composite, has been proven to significantly enhance fixation strength and effectively prevent screw-related failures, thereby reducing the incidence of internal fixation failure in high-risk populations undergoing spinal fusion. However, the widespread clinical application of this technique has faced challenges such as inaccurate clinical decision-making (indication and contraindication selection), non-standardized operative practices, and insufficient awareness of complication prevention, resulting in considerable variability in clinical outcomes and even severe complications. To address this, Prof. Luo Fei from First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University initiated the project and the Chinese Association Orthopaedic Surgeons organized relevant experts to develop the Evidence-based clinical practice guideline for bone cement-augmented pedicle screw technique ( version 2025), based on current evidence. The guidelines put forward 8 recommendations regarding the clinical value, scope of application, and operational standards of the technique, aiming to provide evidence-based medical support and technical standardization for clinical decision-making.

The efficacy of Xiangmei Pills on rats with ulcerative colitis(UC) was investigated by characterizing the spectrum of the active chemical components of Xiangmei Pills. Rapid identification and classification of the main chemical components were performed,and the therapeutic effects of Xiangmei Pills on the proteins and intestinal flora of UC rats were analyzed to explore the mechanism of its action in treating UC. Fifty SD rats were acclimatized to feeding for 3 d and randomly divided into blank group, model group,mesalazine group(0. 4 g·kg~(-1)), low-dose group of Xiangmei Pills(1. 89 g·kg~(-1)), and high-dose group of Xiangmei Pills(5. 67 g·kg~(-1)), with 10 rats in each group. 5% dextrose sodium sulfate(DSS) was given by gavage to induce the male SD rat model with UC,and the corresponding medicinal solution was given by gavage after 10 days, respectively. The therapeutic effect of Xiangmei Pills on rats with UC was evaluated according to body mass, disease activity index(DAI), and hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, and the histopathological changes in the colon were observed. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/electrostatic field orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS) technique was used to rapidly and accurately identify the main chemical constituents of Xiangmei Pills. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor(AhR),interferon-γ(IFN-γ), mucin-2(MUC-2), and cytochrome P450 1A1(CYP1A1) in colon tissue. Interleukin-22(IL-22) expression in colon tissue was detected by immunofluorescence. The 16S r DNA high-throughput sequencing technique was used to study the modulatory effects of Xiangmei Pills on the intestinal flora structure of rats with UC. Pharmacodynamic results showed that compared with that of the blank group, the colon tissue of the model group was congested, and ulcers were visible in the mucosa; compared with that in the model group, the histopathology of the colon of the rats with UC in the groups of Xiangmei Pills were improved, with scattered ulcers and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration. Chemical analysis showed that a total of 45 components were identified by mass spectrometry information, including 15 phenolic acids, 8 coumarins, 15 organic acids, 3 amino acids, 2 flavonoids, and 2 other components. Compared with those in the blank group, the levels of Ah R, CYP1A1, MUC-2, and IL-22 proteins in the colon tissue of rats in the model group were significantly decreased, and the level of IFN-γ protein was significantly increased; the intestinal flora of rats in the model group was disorganized, with a decrease in the abundance of the flora; the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes,unclassified genera of Ascomycetes, Prevotella of the Prevotella family, and Prevotella decreased significantly, and that of Firmicutes decreased, but the difference was not statistically significant. The relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillus increased significantly. Compared with those of the model group, the levels of Ah R, CYP1A1, MUC-2, and IL-22proteins in the colonic tissue of the groups of Xiangmei Pills were significantly higher, and the levels of IFN-γ proteins were significantly lower. The recovery of the intestinal flora was accelerated, and the diversity of the intestinal flora was significantly increased. The relative abundance of Bacteroidetes was significantly increased, and that of unclassified genera of Ascomycetes,Lactobacillus, Prevotella of the Prevotella family, and Prevotella was significantly increased. The relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Bifidobacterium was significantly decreased. This study demonstrated that Xiangmei Pills can effectively treat UC, mainly through the phenolic acid and organic acid components to stimulate the intestinal barrier, regulate protein expression and the relative abundance and diversity of intestinal flora, and play a role in the treatment of UC.
Animals ; Colitis, Ulcerative/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Male ; Rats ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Humans ; Mass Spectrometry ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics* ; Bacteria/drug effects*

OBJECTIVE: To explore clinical efficacy of bone cement filling combined with lower extremity arterial balloon dilation in treating Wagner grade Ⅳ diabetic foot (DF). METHODS: From January to October 2024, 9 Wagner grade Ⅳ DF patients with lower extremity vascular occlusion were admitted, including 7 males and 2 females, aged from 51 to 87 years old;5 patients on the left side and 4 patients on the right side. All patients were underwent stageⅠdebridement of the affected foot and bone cement filling, and treated with lower extremity arterial balloon dilation after operation, they were. After the formation of the induced membrane, stageⅡwound repair was performed. The wound healing time and condition were observed. Ankle-brachial index (ABI) was used to evaluate the lower extremity vascular perfusion before operation and 3 months after operation, respectively. RESULTS: The wounds of all 9 patients healed completely, and the healing time ranged from 45 to 65 days. All patients were followed up for at least 6 months without recurrence. The skin of the affected foot wound healed with keratinization, and there was mild scar hyperplasia locally (1 patient had necrosis of the adjacent toe after stageⅠsurgery and was debridement and toe amputation again). The narrowed or occluded blood vessels of the lower extremities were all recanalized. ABI recovered from 0.3 to 0.5 before operation to 1.0 to 1.1 at 3 months after operation. CONCLUSION Bone cement filling combined with lower extremity arterial balloon dilation for the treatment of grade Wagner Ⅳ DF is conducive to promoting healing of the affected foot, effectively preventing secondary ulceration of the affected foot, and clinical therapeutic effect is satisfactory.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Diabetic Foot/surgery* ; Aged ; Bone Cements/therapeutic use* ; Aged, 80 and over ; Lower Extremity/blood supply*

Lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans(LEASO)is a disease characterized by the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in the lower extremity arteries,leading to arterial stenosis,occlusion,and consequent chronic limb ischemia.This article analyzes the clinical data of a patient with LEASO complicated by an iodine contrast agent allergy,along with the treatment involving intravascular ultrasound(IVUS)-guided endovascular intervention performed without contrast agent,and reviews relevant literature.The patient,a 53-year-old female,presented with coldness and numbness in the left lower extremity and pain after walking for 2 years,symptoms which had worsened over the past 2 months,with a maximum claudication distance of less than 50 meters.The lower extremity arterial CT angiography(CTA)results indicated"left iliac artery occlusion and left superficial femoral artery stenosis."After examination,the patient exhibited allergic symptoms.Upon admission,other diseases were ruled out.Given that the lower extremity symptoms severely impacted the patient's daily life and considering the potential for contrast agent allergy,the use of contrast agent was abandoned.IVUS guidance alone was employed to assess the intravascular condition for the interventional procedure.The surgical interventions chosen were drug-coated balloon angioplasty of the left superficial femoral artery and stent implantation in the left iliac artery.Postoperatively,the patient was able to walk normally,the discomfort resolved,and the treatment outcome was satisfactory.For LEASO patients with contrast agent allergy or other contraindications to contrast use,the sole use of IVUS guidance combined with invasive blood pressure monitoring to intraoperatively assess efficacy can effectively avoid contrast agent administration,providing a valuable reference for clinicians managing such cases.

Despite therapy with potent antiviral agents, chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients remain at high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While metabolites have been rediscovered as active drivers of biological processes including carcinogenesis, the specific metabolites modulating HCC risk in CHB patients are largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that baseline plasma from CHB patients who later developed HCC during follow-up exhibits growth-promoting properties in a case-control design nested within a large-scale, prospective cohort. Metabolomics analysis reveals a reduction in long-chain acylcarnitines (LCACs) in the baseline plasma of patients with HCC development. LCACs preferentially inhibit the proliferation of HCC cells in vitro at a physiological concentration and prevent the occurrence of HCC in vivo without hepatorenal toxicity. Uptake and metabolism of circulating LCACs increase the intracellular level of acetyl coenzyme A, which upregulates histone H3 Lys14 acetylation at the promoter region of KLF6 gene and thereby activates KLF6/p21 pathway. Indeed, blocking LCAC metabolism attenuates the difference in KLF6/p21 expression induced by baseline plasma of HCC/non-HCC patients. The deficiency of circulating LCACs represents a driver of HCC in CHB patients with viral control. These insights provide a promising direction for developing therapeutic strategies to reduce HCC risk further in the antiviral era.

Functional dyspepsia (FD), characterized by persistent or recurrent dyspeptic symptoms without identifiable organic, systemic or metabolic causes, is an increasingly recognized global health issue. The objective of this guideline is to equip clinicians and nursing professionals with evidence-based strategies for the management and treatment of adult patients with FD using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The Guideline Development Group consulted existing TCM consensus documents on FD and convened a panel of 35 clinicians to generate initial clinical queries. To address these queries, a systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Database, China Biology Medicine (SinoMed) Database, Wanfang Database, Traditional Medicine Research Data Expanded (TMRDE), and the Traditional Chinese Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (TCMLARS). The evidence from the literature was critically appraised using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. The strength of the recommendations was ascertained through a consensus-building process involving TCM and allopathic medicine experts, methodologists, pharmacologists, nursing specialists, and health economists, leveraging their collective expertise and empirical knowledge. The guideline comprises a total of 43 evidence-informed recommendations that span a range of clinical aspects, including the pathogenesis according to TCM, diagnostic approaches, therapeutic interventions, efficacy assessments, and prognostic considerations. Please cite this article as: Zhang SS, Zhao LQ, Hou XH, Bian ZX, Zheng JH, Tian HH, Yang GH, Hong WS, He YY, Liu L, Shen H, Li YP, Xie S, Shu J, Zeng BF, Li JX, Liu Z, Xiao ZH, Xiao JD, Zheng PY, Huang SG, Chen SL, Fei GJ. International clinical practice guideline on the use of traditional Chinese medicine for functional dyspepsia (2025). J Integr Med. 2025; 23(5):502-518.
Dyspepsia/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*

Objective:To investigate the correlation between vasoactive-inotropic score and 30-day mortality after surgery in acute Stanford type A aortic dissection(ATAAD) patients.Methods:The clinical data of 242 patients with ATAAD who underwent surgical treatment was retrospectively analyzed between November 2015 and May 2024. There were 172 males and 70 females. The average age was(53.1±11.9) years, ranging from 28 to 85 years. Patients were divided into death group(18 cases) and survival group(224 cases) according to the 30-day outcomes after surgery. The VIS at different time points and perioperative indexes of two groups of patients were analyzed, and multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of 30-day mortality after surgery in ATAAD patients. The receiver operating characteristic curve( ROC) was drawn to evaluate the predictive value of vasoactive-inotropic score. Results:Among 242 ATAAD patients, 18 patients died within 30 days after surgery, with a mortality rate of 7.4%. The age, incidence of pericardial tamponade/cardiogenic shock, incidence of malperfusion syndrome, cardiopulmonary bypass time, red blood cell transfusion intraoperative and in 24 hours postoperatively, ventilator assisted time, and incidence of major postoperative complications of patients in the death group were significantly higher than those in the survival group( P<0.05). The VIS of the death group was significantly higher than that of the survival group at all time points( P<0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve( AUC) of VIS for predicting death at each time point was greater than 0.500( P<0.05), with the highest AUC(0.906) of the second 24 hours(VISmax48h) in ICU. The optimal cut off value was determined to be 9, with a sensitivity of 0.944 and a specificity of 0.821. Logistic regression analysis showed that the VISmax48h of the second 24 hours in ICU was an independent risk factor for 30-day mortality after surgery in ATAAD patients( OR=1.462, 95% CI: 1.230-1.737, P<0.05). Conclusion:When VISmax48h≥9, patients with ATAAD have an increased risk of mortality after surgery. VISmax48h, cardiopulmonary bypass time, and red blood cell transfusion intraoperative in 24 hours postoperatively are independent risk factors for the 30-day mortality of ATAAD patients.

OBJECTIVE To establish a risk prediction model for antibiotic-associated diarrhea(AAD)in intensive care unit(ICU)patients receiving mechanical ventilation so as to provide bases for early identification of high-risk population and formulation of corresponding individualized prevention strategies.METHODS A total of 1016 pa-tients who received mechanical ventilation and were treated with antibiotics in the ICU of The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from Jan.1,2020 to Jun.30,2022 were retrospectively enrolled in the study and were divided into the AAD group with 200 cases and the non-AA group according to the diagnostic criteria for AAD.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed for risk factors for AAD in the ICU patients receiv-ing mechanical ventilation,and the nomogram prediction model was established with R software.The performance of the model was evaluated by means of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves and calibration curves.RESULTS Among the 1016 patients who underwent mechanical ventilation,200 had AAD,and the incidence rate of AAD was 19.69％.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that hemoglobulin[OR=0.990,95％CI(0.983 to 0.997)],C-reactive protein[OR=1.046,95％CI(1.009 to 1.085)],serum phosphorus[OR=0.498,95％CI(0.328 to 0.755)],serum lipase[OR=1.001,95％CI(1.000 to 1.002)],ceftriaxo ne sodium[OR=2.331,95％CI(1.253 to 4.334)],linezolid[OR=2.387,95％CI(1.329 to 4.289)],fluconazole[OR=2.083,95％CI(1.238 to 3.505)]and sedatives[OR=0.307,95％CI(0.160 to 0.590)]were the risk factors for the AAD in the ICU patients receiving mechanical ventilation.The area under ROC curve(AUC)of the predic-tion model established based on the risk factors was 0.705 for the training set,0.751 for the validation set.Hos-mer-Lemeshow test indicated that the predicated probability of the model was consistent with the actual risk for the occurrence(x2=6.057,5.304,P=0.641,0.725).CONCLUSION The nomogram model that is established based on the above influencing factors can quantitatively predict the risk for AAD in the ICU patients undergo-ing mechanical ventilation,and it has certain clinical predictive efficiency.