Objective To quantitatively assess the exposure-response association between exposure to heatwave and sudden death, estimate the attributable excess deaths, and identify potential vulnerable subgroups. Methods A time-stratified case-crossover study was conducted among residents who died from sudden death in Jiangsu Province, China between 2015 and 2021. Heatwave events in Jiangsu Province, defined using varying relative temperature thresholds and durations, were identified using temperature data from the China Meteorological Administration Land Data Assimilation System (CLDAS V2.0). Individual heatwave exposure was assessed based on each subject's residential address. The exposure-response association between heatwave and sudden death was evaluated using conditional logistic regression model combined with a Distributed Lag Nonlinear Model(DLNM). Heatwave-attributable excess deaths were estimated. Stratified analyses by sex and age were performed to assess potential effect modifications. Results Under all definitions, exposure to heatwave was significantly associated with an increased risk of sudden death, and the risk increased with the intensity of heatwave. Using the P95_3d definition (temperature exceeding the 95th percentile for ≥3 consecutive days), heatwave was significantlyassociated with a 56% increased risk of sudden death (95% CI: 31%, 86%). The population-attributable fraction of sudden death due to heatwave exposure was 1.45% (95% CI: 0.97%, 1.90%). Stratified analyses indicated no statistically significant differences in the association between heatwave exposure and sudden death across age or sex subgroups. Conclusion Heatwave exposure was associated with an increased risk of sudden death. Reducing heatwave exposure during summer may help lower the occurrence of sudden death.

Hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy (HITHOC) is a localized treatment that combines hyperthermia with medications such as chemotherapy, anti-angiogenic agents, targeted therapy, or immunotherapeutic agents. It has advanced clinical progress for conditions such as malignant pleural mesothelioma, pleural metastasis of lung cancer, and pleural dissemination of thymic tumors. Systematic analyses indicate that as an adjuvant therapy to cytoreductive surgery, HITHOC improves patient survival and effectively controls pleural effusion and pleural metastasis. It exerts antitumor effects by enhancing drug penetration through thermal effects, inducing apoptosis, and modulating the immune microenvironment. HITHOC combined with systemic therapies (e.g., chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy) demonstrates synergistic potential, but its role as a local treatment should be clearly defined as adjunctive within the comprehensive management of advanced-stage patients. Further research is needed to clarify its indications, standardized protocols, and long-term efficacy and to explore optimized regimens and personalized combination treatment strategies. This review delves into the key bottlenecks hindering the development of hyperthermia therapy, such as the lack of high-level evidence-based medicine and the absence of standardized diagnostic and efficacy evaluation criteria, and proposes potential solutions.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the clinical characteristics of euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis （euDKA） induced by empagliflozin， and provide references for safe medication. METHODS Case reports of euDKA induced by empagliflozin were retrieved and analyzed from PubMed， Web of Science， CNKI， and Wanfang Data. The Naranjo’s scale was adopted to assess the causal relationship between empagliflozin and euDKA. RESULTS A total of 29 patients were enrolled， including 16 males and 13 females，with a median age of 58 years. All patients were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus； 22 patients had at least one comorbidity. The median time to euDKA onset was 60 days after administration， and 7 cases occurred within 2 weeks of treatment. Perioperative periods，fasting，and low-carbohydrate or ketogenic diets were the main predisposing factors. Common presentations included nausea，vomiting， fatigue， tachypnea，and tachycardia. The causal relationship between empagliflozin and euDKA was assessed as “probable” in all cases. According to adverse reaction severity grading， 13 cases were grade 3 （severe） and 16 cases were grade 4 （life-threatening）. All patients discontinued empagliflozin and recovered after corresponding treatment. CONCLUSIONS euDKA is a serious adverse reaction to empagliflozin， which mostly occurs early in treatment. Perioperative periods， fasting， and ketogenic diets are prone to induce euDKA. Elderly patients and those with comorbidities are at higher risk. Risk assessment should be conducted before clinical administration； blood ketones and acid-base monitoring should be strengthened in the early medication period； withhold the drug before elective surgery， avoid prolonged fasting；upon diagnosis， discontinue empagliflozin and initiate intravenous insulin， provide fluid resuscitation promptly， and use other treatments to improve patient prognosis.

Root caries is a prevalent chronic oral disease with an average global prevalence of 41.5%, characterized by high incidence, low rate of treatment, and high rate of retreatment. Root caries is primarily caused by core microbiome-induced dysbiosis and has multiple risk factors, including gingival recession, root surface exposure, and salivary dysfunction. The traditional preventive measures and treatments such as fluoride, mineralizing agents, and restorative materials, are unable to restore or maintain oral microecological homeostasis. Recent studies have demonstrated that probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and antimicrobial peptides may prevent and treat root caries by reversing dysbiosis. In addition, these biotherapeutics can reduce acid production by acidiferous bacteria, promote alkali production (hydrogen peroxide and ammonia) by alkali-producing bacteria, inhibit biofilm formation, decrease extracellular polysaccharide production, and suppress microbial adhesion and aggregation. It is expected to play an important role in the prevention and control of root caries. This article aims to review oral probiotics (Streptococcus oligofermentans, Streptococcus oralis subsp. dentisani, and Streptococcus salivarius), prebiotics (arginine, nitrates, and synthetic compounds), synbiotics, and antimicrobial peptides (gallic acid-polyphemusin I and LH12) to provide evidence and guidance for root caries management through microecological modulation.

Objective: The CT/MRI Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) demonstrates high specificity with relatively limited sensitivity for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk patients. This study aimed to explore the possibility of improving sensitivity by combining CT/MRI LI-RADS v2018 with second-line contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) LI-RADS v2017 using sulfur hexafluoride (SHF) or perfluorobutane (PFB). Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis of prospectively collected multicenter data included high-risk patients with treatment-naive hepatic observations. The reference standard was pathological confirmation or a composite reference standard (only for benign lesions). Each participant underwent concurrent CT/MRI, SHF-enhanced US, and PFB-enhanced US examinations. The diagnostic performances for HCC of CT/MRI LI-RADS alone and three combination strategies (combining CT/ MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or a modified algorithm incorporating the Kupffer-phase findings for PFB [modified PFB]) were evaluated. For the three combination strategies, apart from the CT/MRI LR-5 criteria, HCC was diagnosed if CT/MRI LR-3 or LR-4 observations met the LR-5 criteria using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB. Results: In total, 281 participants (237 males; mean age, 55 ± 11 years) with 306 observations (227 HCCs, 40 non-HCC malignancies, and 39 benign lesions) were included. Using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, and modified PFB, 20, 23, and 31 CT/MRI LR-3/4 observations, respectively, were reclassified as LR-5, and all were pathologically confirmed as HCCs. Compared to CT/MRI LI-RADS alone (74%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 68%–79%), the three combination strategies combining CT/MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB increased sensitivity (83% [95% CI: 77%–87%], 84% [95% CI: 79%–89%], 88% [95% CI: 83%–92%], respectively; all P < 0.001), while maintaining the specificity at 92% (95% CI: 84%–97%). Conclusion The combination of CT/MRI LI-RADS with second-line CEUS using SHF or PFB improved the sensitivity of HCC diagnosis without compromising specificity.

Objective: The CT/MRI Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) demonstrates high specificity with relatively limited sensitivity for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk patients. This study aimed to explore the possibility of improving sensitivity by combining CT/MRI LI-RADS v2018 with second-line contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) LI-RADS v2017 using sulfur hexafluoride (SHF) or perfluorobutane (PFB). Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis of prospectively collected multicenter data included high-risk patients with treatment-naive hepatic observations. The reference standard was pathological confirmation or a composite reference standard (only for benign lesions). Each participant underwent concurrent CT/MRI, SHF-enhanced US, and PFB-enhanced US examinations. The diagnostic performances for HCC of CT/MRI LI-RADS alone and three combination strategies (combining CT/ MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or a modified algorithm incorporating the Kupffer-phase findings for PFB [modified PFB]) were evaluated. For the three combination strategies, apart from the CT/MRI LR-5 criteria, HCC was diagnosed if CT/MRI LR-3 or LR-4 observations met the LR-5 criteria using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB. Results: In total, 281 participants (237 males; mean age, 55 ± 11 years) with 306 observations (227 HCCs, 40 non-HCC malignancies, and 39 benign lesions) were included. Using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, and modified PFB, 20, 23, and 31 CT/MRI LR-3/4 observations, respectively, were reclassified as LR-5, and all were pathologically confirmed as HCCs. Compared to CT/MRI LI-RADS alone (74%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 68%–79%), the three combination strategies combining CT/MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB increased sensitivity (83% [95% CI: 77%–87%], 84% [95% CI: 79%–89%], 88% [95% CI: 83%–92%], respectively; all P < 0.001), while maintaining the specificity at 92% (95% CI: 84%–97%). Conclusion The combination of CT/MRI LI-RADS with second-line CEUS using SHF or PFB improved the sensitivity of HCC diagnosis without compromising specificity.

Objective: The CT/MRI Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) demonstrates high specificity with relatively limited sensitivity for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk patients. This study aimed to explore the possibility of improving sensitivity by combining CT/MRI LI-RADS v2018 with second-line contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) LI-RADS v2017 using sulfur hexafluoride (SHF) or perfluorobutane (PFB). Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis of prospectively collected multicenter data included high-risk patients with treatment-naive hepatic observations. The reference standard was pathological confirmation or a composite reference standard (only for benign lesions). Each participant underwent concurrent CT/MRI, SHF-enhanced US, and PFB-enhanced US examinations. The diagnostic performances for HCC of CT/MRI LI-RADS alone and three combination strategies (combining CT/ MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or a modified algorithm incorporating the Kupffer-phase findings for PFB [modified PFB]) were evaluated. For the three combination strategies, apart from the CT/MRI LR-5 criteria, HCC was diagnosed if CT/MRI LR-3 or LR-4 observations met the LR-5 criteria using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB. Results: In total, 281 participants (237 males; mean age, 55 ± 11 years) with 306 observations (227 HCCs, 40 non-HCC malignancies, and 39 benign lesions) were included. Using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, and modified PFB, 20, 23, and 31 CT/MRI LR-3/4 observations, respectively, were reclassified as LR-5, and all were pathologically confirmed as HCCs. Compared to CT/MRI LI-RADS alone (74%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 68%–79%), the three combination strategies combining CT/MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB increased sensitivity (83% [95% CI: 77%–87%], 84% [95% CI: 79%–89%], 88% [95% CI: 83%–92%], respectively; all P < 0.001), while maintaining the specificity at 92% (95% CI: 84%–97%). Conclusion The combination of CT/MRI LI-RADS with second-line CEUS using SHF or PFB improved the sensitivity of HCC diagnosis without compromising specificity.

Objective:To learn about the sales situation of edible salt in Gansu Province after the reform of salt industry system, and provide scientific basis for improving the prevention and control measures of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD).Methods:In 2022, a cross-sectional study method was used to divide the counties (districts) under 11 cities (prefectures) in Gansu Province into urban, suburban, and rural areas. A stratified sampling method was used to divide each city (prefecture) into five regions (east, west, south, north, and center), and 1 county (district) was randomly selected from each region. From each county (district), 5 - 10 edible salt sales outlets of varying scales were selected in each of the five directions. A questionnaire survey was used to investigate the quantity, type, price of edible salt sold, and IDD education efforts in each county (district) in the past six months. One bag of different types of edible salt sold at each sales outlet was randomly selected as a sample, and information such as the brand, manufacturer, and iodine level indicated on the outer packaging was recorded.Results:A total of 1 189 edible salt sales outlets were surveyed, including 157 large supermarkets, 197 medium-sized supermarkets, 760 small supermarkets (convenience/retail stores), 74 vegetable markets (farmers' markets), and 1 specialty salt store. The outlets were distributed in urban (438), suburban (99), and rural (652) areas. Among them, 12.11% (144/1 189) of the outlets sold both iodized and non-iodized salt. A total of 2 004 036 bags of edible salt were sold in 1 189 sales outlets, with a median sales quantity of 250 bags. There were statistically significant differences in sales quantity among sales outlets of different sizes and locations ( H = 57.97, 39.59, P < 0.001). The overall sales of iodized salt were higher than those of non-iodized salt ( Z = - 6.45, P < 0.001). Sales varied significantly by price ( H = 80.69, P < 0.001). A total of 1 740 samples of edible salt were surveyed, including 38 brands. Among them, China Salt Industry Group Co., Ltd. and its affiliated local companies had the highest sales quantity at 70.86% (1 233/1 740). The proportion of samples with iodine level < 5, 18 - 33, and 21 - 39 mg/kg indicated on the outer packaging was 4.08% (71/1 740), 7.01% (122/1 740), and 88.91% (1 547/1 740), respectively. Among 1 189 sales outlets, 26.24% (312/1 189) were aware of the iodine standard for edible salt in Gansu Province, 32.46% (386/1 189) had set up propaganda signs (slogans) for prevention and control of IDD, 59.13% (703/1 189) were aware of recommending iodized salt to pregnant women, and 51.39% (611/1 189) actively promoted knowledge of IDD prevention and control. Conclusions:After the reform of salt industry system, the sales network system of edible salt in Gansu Province has been improved, with multiple entities, brands, and varieties coexisting in the edible salt market. However, there is still a need to strengthen sales supervision and scientific iodine supplementation health education.

Objective:To explore and analyze the perceptions of endocrine nurses regarding the development and certification of nurse practitioners (NPs) in the field of diabetes care, and to provide theoretical support for establishing diabetes-specialized NP roles in China.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted from September 2022 to March 2023 using a self-designed questionnaire among 305 endocrine nurses selected via convenience sampling from 9 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities. The questionnaire covered demographic data, awareness and training of diabetes-specialized NPs, perceived value and development prospects, prescribing rights, and expectations of professional practice. A total of 305 questionnaires were distributed, with 270 valid responses (effective response rate: 88.52%) .Results:Among the 270 respondents, only 13.70% (37/270) were familiar or somewhat familiar with the concept, duties, and scope of practice of nurse practitioners. Regarding qualification requirements, 70.00% (189/270) believed a bachelor's degree was necessary, 72.96% (197/270) supported a requirement of a senior nurse title, and 75.93% (205/270) suggested 5-10 years of specialty experience as the minimum work experience. The core competencies considered essential for diabetes NPs in patient management included: clinical core competency (90.74%, 245/270) , independent practice capability (81.48%, 220/270) , scientific literacy (76.30%, 206/270) , proficiency in information technology and health system optimization (72.22%, 195/270) , and clinical research ability (66.30%, 179/270) . A large majority (94.07%, 254/270) supported establishing NP roles in diabetes care. The most favored form of prescribing authority was protocol-based prescribing (83.33%, 225/270) . Accepted prescription types included: health education prescriptions (98.15%, 265/270) , medical supplies (e.g., dressings, syringes, insulin needles) (90.00%, 243/270) , over-the-counter medications (82.96%, 224/270) , and devices (e.g., insulin pens) (77.78%, 210/270) .Conclusions:Nurse practitioners specializing in diabetes care represent an emerging nursing role with strong developmental prospects and high recognition in China. However, the NP role remains in its exploratory phase. Endocrine nurses show limited awareness of the role, and a structured training system is lacking. Nonetheless, there is strong demand for prescribing rights and a clear willingness to practice in this capacity. It is recommended to proactively develop the role of diabetes NPs, enhance practical training and experience, and support specialty nursing development to improve the quality of health management for diabetes patients.

Objective:To assess the current level of acceptance of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) among maternal and infant care providers and to explore the factors influencing their acceptance.Methods:A convenience sampling method was used to survey 164 maternal and infant care providers from Beijing Hospital and China-Japan Friendship Hospital between March and May 2024. The survey instruments included a general information questionnaire, GAI Acceptance among Maternal and Infant Care Providers Scale, and Self-assessment Scales for Digital Technology Awareness and Self-assessment Scales for Digital Competence. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to identify influencing factors.Results:The total acceptance score of GAI among 164 participants was [181 (158, 200) ]. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that interest in GAI, digital technology awareness, and digital competence were significant influencing factors for GAI acceptance, with statistically significant differences ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:The level of GAI acceptance among maternal and infant care providers was relatively high. It is recommended to strengthen the promotion and training on the application and precautions of GAI, improve their digital competence and professional literacy, while fostering critical and independent thinking, to enhance the integration of GAI into maternal and infant care services.