Atherosclerosis(As)poses a serious threat to human health,and modern medicine still faces many limi-tations in its treatment of this disease.However,components and compounds of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)have unique advantages in anti-atherosclerosis by regulating macrophage autophagy,they exert anti-inflammatory,anti-oxi-dation,lipid metabolism-regulating and plaque-stabilizing effects.This paper reviews the application of TCM in regulating macrophage autophagy to prevent and treat atherosclerosis,and provides new insights into the application of TCM compo-nents and compounds in the treatment of As.

Objective To quantitatively assess the correlation between the skeletal muscle index(SMI)of patients and the occur-rence of anastomotic leakage(AL)in rectal cancer patients after surgery,and to analyze the risk factors for AL in rectal cancer patients and the influencing factors of sarcopenia.Methods The clinical,pathological,and related imaging data of 362 patients who under-went radical surgery for rectal cancer were retrospectively analyzed.All patients underwent pelvic MRI and abdominal CT scans(plain/enhanced)within one month before surgery,and the third lumbar vertebra skeletal muscle area(L3-SMA)was measured from the images.All patients were divided into AL group(56 cases)and control group(306 cases)based on the presence or absence of postoperative complications.The differences in clinical characteristics and imaging parameters between the two groups were analyzed.A logistic risk prediction model was established.Results Significant differences were observed between the two groups in sarcopenia,type of surgery,surgical approach,serum albumin level,operation duration,stoma type,and extramural vascular invasion(EMVI)(P＜0.05).These factors were incorporated in a multivariate logistic regression analysis model,the area under the curve(AUC)of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve of the model was 0.810[95％confidence interval(CI)0.743-0.876,P＜0.001],with a sensitivity of 0.865 and specificity of 0.669.Conclusion Sar-copenia is a significant risk factor for AL after rectal cancer surgery.It enhances the predictive efficacy for postoperative AL and serves as a basis for identifying high-risk populations for AL in clinical practice.

Purpose To develop and validate a nomogram incorporating high-resolution MRI and clinicopathological indicators for predicting distant metastasis after curative resection of mid-low rectal cancer.Materials and Methods This retrospective study analyzed 219 patients with pathologically confirmed mid-low rectal cancer from Tianjin Union Medical Center(December 2016 to December 2021).Patients were categorized into metastasis(n=46)and non-metastasis(n=173)groups based on postoperative distant metastasis occurrence.All patients underwent preoperative pelvic MRI with measurement of posterior mesangial thickness(PMT),mesentery fat area(MFA)and mesenteric fascia envelopment volume(MFEV)on high-resolution T2WI.Clinicopathological and imaging data were collected.Cox proportional hazards model identified predictive factors for distant metastasis,and a risk probability nomogram was constructed.Predictive performance,goodness-of-fit and clinical applicability were evaluated.Results Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated significantly higher distant metastasis risk in patients with PMT≤1.43 cm,MFA≤19.31 cm2 and MFEV≤137.46 cm3 compared to those with higher values(χ2=29.07,8.71,19.05;all P<0.05).Cox regression identified tumor differentiation(HR=0.536,95％CI 0.290-0.990),pathological N stage(HR=0.397,95％CI 0.210-0.747),perirectal structure invasion(HR=0.242,95％CI 0.068-0.865)and PMT(HR=0.334,95％CI 0.168-0.664)as independent predictors.The nomogram achieved a concordance index of 0.775 with good calibration.Decision curve analysis demonstrated substantial net benefit across wide probability thresholds,indicating excellent clinical applicability.Conclusion Patients with PMT≤1.43 cm,MFA≤19.31 cm2 and MFEV≤137.46 cm3 exhibit elevated distant metastasis risk.The nomogram incorporating tumor differentiation,pathological N stage,perirectal structure invasion and PMT effectively predicts distant metastasis after curative resection of mid-low rectal cancer.

Objective:To construct a meridian tapping exercise program for frail elderly, so as to provide daily healthcare options for frail elderly people.Methods:Guided by the theory of meridians and collaterals, data mining was conducted on the database of ancient Chinese medical literature to select acupoints and meridians for tapping. Through literature research, the exercise prescription was improved. A preliminary exercise prescription was formulated through literature review and revised through two rounds of expert consultation in December 2023.Results:The effective response rate for both rounds of expert consultation questionnaires was 7/7. The expert authority coefficients were 0.83 and 0.87, respectively, and the overall Kendall′s coefficient of concordance was 0.301 and 0.302 (both P<0.05). The final meridian tapping exercise for frail elderly comprised 2 primary indicators, 8 secondary indicators, and 23 tertiary indicators. Conclusions:The meridian tapping exercise for the frail elderly is scientific, reliable and practical, which can provide a choice for the frail elderly to carry out targeted traditional Chinese medicine exercises.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of deep transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with fluoxetine therapy in the treatment of depression in adolescent patients and its effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.Methods:A randomized controlled study was conducted, enrolling 108 adolescent patients with depression diagnosed and treated at The Third Hospital of Quzhou from May 2022 to April 2023. The participants were randomly assigned to an observation group and a control group, with 54 patients in each group. The control group received fluoxetine hydrochloride capsules, while the observation group received deep transcranial magnetic stimulation in addition to the treatment provided to the control group. Both groups underwent a treatment course of 4 weeks. The scores of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF were compared before and after treatment. Serum levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone, cortisol, and adrenocorticotropic hormone were measured before and after treatment. Additionally, the expression levels of cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6 in peripheral blood cells were also detected using western blot assay. The specific regulatory signaling pathways involved in the combined treatment was investigated using transcriptome sequencing.Results:At 2 and 4 weeks after treatment, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores in the observation group [(15.62 ± 1.64), (9.56 ± 1.19)] were significantly lower than those in the control group [(16.69 ± 1.89), (13.47 ± 1.16), t = 3.14, 17.29, both P < 0.01]. The scores of the physiological, psychological, social, and environmental domains in the the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group ( t = -5.06, -3.86; -2.17, -3.26; -1.99, -2.15; -2.02, -3.55, all P < 0.05). After 4 weeks of treatment, serum levels of cortisol, corticotropin-releasing hormone, and adrenocorticotropic hormone in the observation group were (8.97 ± 2.26) mmol/L, (86.33 ± 13.76) ng/L, and (8.69 ± 2.98) mmol/L, respectively. These values were significantly lower than those in the control group, which were (13.06 ± 2.91) mmol/L, (97.41 ± 15.58) ng/L, and (12.77 ± 3.06) mmol/L ( t = 13.73, 16.75, 36.21, all P < 0.001). The levels of cyclooxygenase-2, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in peripheral blood in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t = 8.16, 3.92, 6.16, all P < 0.001). Furthermore, tumor necrosis factor-α levels were positively correlated with serum levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone, cortisol, and adrenocorticotropic hormone ( r = 0.803, 0.846, 0.879, all P < 0.05). Transcriptome sequencing results showed that inflammatory response was a specific regulatory pathway involved in the combined therapy. Conclusions:Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with fluoxetine therapy can effectively improve the clinical symptoms of adolescent patients with depression and further regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and micro-inflammatory state. Therefore, this combined therapy is of great clinical application value.

Objective:To construct a preoperative prehabilitation program for prostate cancer based on evidence-based and Delphi method, so as to provide theoretical basis for medical staff to carry out preoperative prehabilitation research for prostate cancer patients.Methods:From June 2023 to March 2024, the first draft of the prehabilitation plan for prostate cancer before surgery was formed through evidence summary, semi-structured interviews and expert meetings. The experts in related fields were selected for two rounds of Delphi expert consultation. The items were revised according to the expert consultation opinions to establish the final plan.Results:Totally 16 experts were included, aged (43.19 ± 7.57) years. Five were males and 11 were females. The response rates of the two rounds of expert consultation were both 16/16, and the authority coefficients of the two rounds expert consultation were both 0.85. The Kendall coordination coefficients of the importance and feasibility of the items in the second round of consultation were 0.213 and 0.224, both P<0.05. In the second round of consultation, the value of importance assignment of items at all levels was 4.19-4.94 points, and the full score rate was 43.75%-93.75%. The final scheme included 5 first-level items, 13 second-level items, and 34 third-level items. Conclusions:The preoperative prehabilitation program for prostate cancer is scientific, importanceand applicable, which provides a theoretical basis for clinical preoperative prehabilitation for prostate cancer patients.

Purpose To develop and validate a nomogram incorporating high-resolution MRI and clinicopathological indicators for predicting distant metastasis after curative resection of mid-low rectal cancer.Materials and Methods This retrospective study analyzed 219 patients with pathologically confirmed mid-low rectal cancer from Tianjin Union Medical Center(December 2016 to December 2021).Patients were categorized into metastasis(n=46)and non-metastasis(n=173)groups based on postoperative distant metastasis occurrence.All patients underwent preoperative pelvic MRI with measurement of posterior mesangial thickness(PMT),mesentery fat area(MFA)and mesenteric fascia envelopment volume(MFEV)on high-resolution T2WI.Clinicopathological and imaging data were collected.Cox proportional hazards model identified predictive factors for distant metastasis,and a risk probability nomogram was constructed.Predictive performance,goodness-of-fit and clinical applicability were evaluated.Results Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated significantly higher distant metastasis risk in patients with PMT≤1.43 cm,MFA≤19.31 cm2 and MFEV≤137.46 cm3 compared to those with higher values(χ2=29.07,8.71,19.05;all P<0.05).Cox regression identified tumor differentiation(HR=0.536,95％CI 0.290-0.990),pathological N stage(HR=0.397,95％CI 0.210-0.747),perirectal structure invasion(HR=0.242,95％CI 0.068-0.865)and PMT(HR=0.334,95％CI 0.168-0.664)as independent predictors.The nomogram achieved a concordance index of 0.775 with good calibration.Decision curve analysis demonstrated substantial net benefit across wide probability thresholds,indicating excellent clinical applicability.Conclusion Patients with PMT≤1.43 cm,MFA≤19.31 cm2 and MFEV≤137.46 cm3 exhibit elevated distant metastasis risk.The nomogram incorporating tumor differentiation,pathological N stage,perirectal structure invasion and PMT effectively predicts distant metastasis after curative resection of mid-low rectal cancer.

Objective:This study aims to investigate the impact of socioeconomic status on cognitive function in older adults, while analyzing the mediating role of health-related social determinants.The findings will provide a foundation for the implementation of an active aging strategy.Methods:Utilizing data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study(CHARLS)2020, this study employed multiple linear regression analysis to investigate the relationship between socioeconomic status and cognitive function among older adults.A multiple mediation model was applied to evaluate the mediating effects of health-related social determinants on the association between socioeconomic status and cognitive function, with these mediation effects assessed using the Bootstrap method.Results:The results of the multiple linear regression analysis indicated that socioeconomic status significantly positively influences cognitive function in older adults.Factors such as younger age, male gender, Han ethnicity, and urban residence were associated with higher cognitive scores.The mediation analysis demonstrated that, of the total effect of socioeconomic status on cognitive function, health status accounted for 1.564%, individual lifestyle for 14.820%, social support networks for 2.719%, living conditions for 1.632%, and other social structural factors for 1.496%.In the multiple mediation model, a total of 17.945% of the effect of socioeconomic status on cognitive function in older adults was jointly mediated by health-related social determinants.Conclusions:Socioeconomic status is a critical determinant of cognitive impairment among older adults in China.To address this issue, comprehensive interventions should be implemented to promote the equitable distribution of economic and social resources, reduce socioeconomic disparities, and mitigate health inequalities, thereby enhancing the overall cognitive function of disadvantaged groups.Preventive measures and strategies aimed at improving health status, encouraging healthy lifestyle choices, strengthening social support networks, enhancing living conditions, and optimizing social structural factors could serve as essential intervention points to improve the cognitive function of older adults with lower socioeconomic status.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical features and genetic etiology in a child with Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) complicated by growth hormone deficiency. METHODS: A child presented at Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital in October 2014 for "short stature for over 4 years" was selected as the study subject. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from the child and his parents for genomic DNA extraction and whole-exome sequencing (WES). The pathogenicity of the candidate variants was assessed by following the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the hospital (Ethics No.: 2025-003). RESULTS: The patient, a 4-year-and-2-month-old male, presented with short stature and recurrent epistaxis since early childhood. Initial diagnosis of GHD was made via growth hormone stimulation testing. During follow-up, telangiectatic macules and polycythemia gradually appeared. WES revealed that he has harbored a heterozygous c.1807G>A (p.Gly603Arg) variant of the ENG gene, which was absent in both parents and classified as likely pathogenic based on ACMG guidelines. Sanger sequencing confirmed the candidate variant to be de novo. CONCLUSION Patients with HHT combined with GHD may exhibit clinical features such as short stature, telangiectasia, and arteriovenous malformations. The heterozygous c.1807G>A (p.Gly603Arg) variant of the ENG gene probably underlay the pathogenesis of the disease in the proband. Above finding has expanded the mutational spectrum of the ENG gene.
Humans ; Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic/complications* ; Male ; Child, Preschool ; Phenotype ; Endoglin/genetics* ; Mutation ; Human Growth Hormone/deficiency* ; Exome Sequencing

Objective:To explore the technical key points and vital improvements of single-port robotic prepectoral breast reconstruction.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the case data of 10 patients with breast cancer who underwent single-port robotic prepectoral breast reconstruction performed in the Department of Breast Surgery, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University from January to March 2025. Technical key points and vital improvements were summarized.Results:All 10 patients underwent surgery using the da Vinci Xi system. During the postoperative follow-up period of (3±1) months, no cases of flap or nipple-areola complex necrosis occurred, with no instances of implant loss. The patients experienced neither severe perioperative nor late postoperative complications, and all were satisfied with the aesthetic outcomes. In single-port robotic prepectoral breast reconstruction, several technical modifications were implemented, including posterior space liposuction, electrocautery-assisted flap dissection, and single-port Trocar connection to robotic arms. These refinements enabled clear intraoperative visualization of the circummammary ligaments, allowing for breast reconstruction to be completed within the fascial anatomical planes.Conclusion:The single-port robotic prepectoral breast reconstruction, achieved through technical refinements including posterior space liposuction, electrocautery-assisted flap dissection, and single-port Trocar connection to robotic arms, demonstrates excellent procedural feasibility and is expected to enable precise glandular resection while achieving favorable breast contour outcomes.