Objective To investigate the perspectives and consensus among high-level medical professionals in China regarding critical thinking skills,identify key factors influencing the cultivation of critical thinking skills among medical students,propose optimization strategies,and provide both theoretical and practical guidance for standardizing mechanisms of critical thinking training within the medical education system.Methods A mixed-methods approach was employed.Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 22 core personnel involved in critical thinking training from multiple medical universities,hospitals,and clinical research teams across China between March 2023 and June 2023.Grounded theory was applied to explore the influencing factors,and the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory(DEMATEL)method was applied to construct a structural model of the influencing factors.Centrality and causality analyses were conducted to examine the interrelationships among factors.Results The grounded theory analysis revealed a shared conceptual understanding of critical thinking skills among the participants,who emphasized that the development of critical thinking skills was influenced by multiple factors,including individual traits,teaching methods,and institutional environments.According to the DEMATEL analysis,13 core factors influencing the development of critical thinking skills in high-level medical professionals were identified.Among these,knowledge foundation was the most important influencing factor,exhibiting the highest centrality(22.35).Curriculum design was the second most important influencing factor.Conclusion The cultivation of critical thinking skills in medical education exhibits a multi-level interactive structure that encompasses individual,organizational,and institutional dimensions.Future efforts should focus on reinforcing the cognitive scaffolding role of knowledge construction and interdisciplinary curriculum design.

Objective:To investigate the impact of daily step count on glycemic outcomes in community residents with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).Methods:This was a prospective cohort study, in October 2018, 204 residents who met the criteria of IGT were recruited in the Shijingshan District in Beijing. The subjects were tested for fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance test 2-hour blood glucose (2hBG), glycated hemoglobin A 1c (HbA 1c), lipid profile, liver and kidney function, as well as measurements of height, weight and waist circumference. A dedicated mobile application was used to deliver prediabetes health knowledge monthly. Online guidance was provided to answer questions and daily step count was collected using the application. Three years later, a follow-up was conducted to assess the participants′ glycemic outcomes and other indexes, and a total of 142 participants completed the follow-up review. According to daily step count, the subjects were categorized into high step count group (42 cases,>7 000 steps daily), moderate step count group (54 cases, 5 000-7 000 steps daily), and low step count group (46 cases,<5 000 steps daily). Subjects were categorized into diabetes group (30 cases), prediabetes group (77 cases) and normal glucose tolerance group (35 cases) with glycemic outcomes. Independent sample t test was used to compare the differences in blood glucose, blood lipids, and step counts between the two groups. Kruskal-Wallis H test or one-way ANOVA was used to compare the differences in blood glucose, blood lipids, and step counts between multiple groups. The χ2 test was used to compare the differences in glycemic outcomes between multiple groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the impact of daily step counts and body mass index on glycemic outcomes. Linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between daily step counts and 2 h BG. Results:A total of 142 participants completed the 3-year follow-up, including 43 males and 99 females, with a mean age of (60.15±5.67) years. At baseline, males had significantly higher body mass index, waist circumference, and fasting blood glucose when compared to those in females [(26.97±2.43) vs (24.89±2.93) kg/m 2, (92.68±7.75) vs (83.83±8.60) cm, (5.83±0.61) vs (5.62±0.52) mmol/L], the total cholesterol and HDL-C were also significantly lower in males than those in females [(5.10±1.16) vs (5.55±0.95) mmol/L, (1.35±0.34) vs (1.56±0.35) mmol/L] (all P<0.05). After 3-year follow-up, 21.1% (30/142) of IGT participants progressed to diabetes, with an annual conversion rate of approximately 7%. The normal glucose tolerance group showed significantly higher daily step counts when compared with the prediabetes and diabetes groups [(7 886±2 867) vs (5 981±2 655) vs (4 117±2 674) steps] ( H=31.778, P<0.001). Individuals with higher daily step counts exhibited lower body mass index, 2 h BG, and HbA 1c level when compared with those in the ones with moderate and low step counts [(24.26±3.09) vs (25.44±3.38) vs (26.26±3.59) kg/m 2, (7.50±1.71) vs (9.15±3.30) vs (11.19±3.84) mmol/L, 5.97%±0.46% vs 6.14%±0.99% vs 6.40%±0.96%] (all P<0.05). Higher step count was positively correlated with the reversal of prediabetes to normal blood glucose levels (moderate step count, OR=0.297, 95% CI: 0.109-0.804; low step count, OR=0.055, 95% CI: 0.010-0.287), lower daily step count correlated positively with prediabetes progressing to diabetes ( OR=4.857, 95% CI: 1.140-20.689) (all P<0.05). For every additional 1 000 steps per day, the 2 h BG decreased by 0.5 mmol/L. Conclusion:As daily step count increases, the glucose metabolism improves in IGT community residents. Higher daily step count is associated with reversal of IGT to normal glucose tolerance, while lower daily step count may be associated with the progression of IGT to diabetes.

Based on the theory of “manifestation-body and spirit-qi”， it is considered that the pathogenesis of tic disorders （TD） involves three manifestations of “wind， phlegm and fire”， with wind as the leading factor and phlegm and fire as the accompanying factors. It is advocated to identify the abnormality of body and spirit， summarize the evolution of manifestation， and prescribe flexibly based on qi movement of zang-fu organs. Among them， the common symptoms related to tics are mostly belong to wind symptoms， which originated from lung qi failing to purify and liver qi over-ascent. The method of soothing liver wood and purifying lung gold is adopted， and modified Xiaochaihu Decoction （小柴胡汤） and Cangerzi Powder （苍耳子散） are recommended； Patients with prolonged illness and strange symptoms are often mixed with phlegm， which stemmed from the fact that spleen failing to rise clear and stomach failing to downward turbid. The method of raising spleen-earth and lowering stomach-earth is adopted， and modified Yigong Powder （异功散） and Erchen Decoction （二陈汤） are recommended； Patients with severe symptoms are often mixed with fire symptoms， which originated from discordance of water and fire and hyperactivity of heart fire. The method of interacting heart and kidney and coordinating water and fire is adopted， and modified Xiegan Pill （泻肝丸） and Liuwei Dihuang Pill （六味地黄丸） are recommended， in order to regulate qi movement， harmonize body and spirit， and improve the symptoms.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect and mechanism of picroside Ⅱ on the malignant progression of non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC）. METHODS A549 cells were divided into the control group， picroside Ⅱ low-， medium- and high- concentration groups， K6PC-5 [sphingosine kinase 1 （SPHK1） activator] group， and picroside Ⅱ high-dose+K6PC-5 group. Cell proliferation， migration and invasion were detected. Besides， the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen （PCNA）， matrix metalloproteinase-2 （MMP-2）， MMP-9， SPHK1， sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 3 （S1PR3） and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 （ERK1/2） protein in the cells were also observed. BALB/c nude mice were subcutaneously inoculated with A549 cell suspension to establish NSCLC xenograft models. Then they were assigned to the nude mouse-control group， nude mouse-picroside Ⅱ low-， medium- and high-dose groups， nude mouse-K6PC-5 group， and nude mouse-picroside Ⅱ high-dose+K6PC-5 group （with 5 mice in each group） to investigate the effect of picroside Ⅱ on their tumor mass and volume. RESULTS Compared with the control group， the OD450 values， EdU-positive cell rates， scratch healing rates， cell invasion number， and the relative expression levels of PCNA， MMP-2， MMP-9， SPHK1， S1PR3 and ERK1/2 protein in the low-， medium- and high-concentration groups of picroside Ⅱ were significantly decreased. Compared with the nude mouse-control group， the tumor mass and volume in the nude mouse-low-， medium- and high-dose groups of picroside Ⅱ were significantly decreased or shrunk. The changes of above indicators were concentration/dose-dependent （P＜0.05）. The changing trend of the corresponding indicators in the K6PC-5 ZYTS181） group and the nude mouse-K6PC-5 group was opposite （P＜0.05）. Compared with the picroside Ⅱ high-concentration group or the nude mice-picroside Ⅱ high-dose group， the above quantitative indicators in the picroside Ⅱ high- concentration+K6PC-5 group cells and the nude mouse-picroside Ⅱ high-dose+K6PC-5 group nude mice were significantly increased or enlarged （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Picroside Ⅱ may inhibit the malignant progression of NSCLC by inhibiting SPHK1/sphingosine-1-phosphate/S1PR3 signaling pathway.

Lipedema is a disease in which local fat deposits in the body are the main clinical manifestations. It is often characterized by a disproportionate increase in subcutaneous fat tissue in the extremities, buttocks or hip joints. It is often misdiagnosed as obesity or lymphedema in clinical practice. The pathogenesis is not clearly understood, and there is no standardized clinical treatment method. This paper elaborated on the research status of the pathogenesis of lipedema, and summarized the clinical manifestations and classification, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, treatment methods, etc., aiming to provide up-to-date perspectives of lipedema.

Objective To discuss the application of the"rotating guidewire and correcting the filter recovery hook direction technique"("rotation-correction loop technique"for short),a technique invented by the authors in clinical practice,in the retrieval of complex inferior vena cava filter(IVCF),and to discuss its technical skills and advantages.Methods The clinical data of 417 patients carrying an IVCF,who were admitted to the Department of Vascular Surgery of Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University of China to retrieve IVCF between January 2022 and December 2022,were retrospectively analyzed.Taking the time spent on the retrieval of IVCF and the intraoperative radiation dose as the evaluation indicators,the advantages and disadvantages of the standard filter retrieval technique,the"rotation-correction loop technique"and the other loop-assisted techniques were compared.Results Both the intraoperative radiation dose and the time spent on the retrieval of IVCF using"rotation-correction loop technique"were remarkably lower than those of other loop-assisted techniques(P＜0.000 1).Conclusion For the retrieval of complex IVCF,especially for the IVCF which is heavily tilted and/or its recovered hook is attached to the vascular wall,the use of"rotation-correction loop technique"can shorten the time spent on the the retrieval of IVCF and reduce the intraoperative radiation dose.This technique carries high safety and practicability,the device is simple and it can be manipulated by single physician,which is conducive to clinical application and promotion.(J Intervent Radiol,2024,33:289-294)

Objective:To observe the effect of bone forming protein 4 (BMP4) on the proliferation and migration of human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells under oxidative stress, and to preliminarily explore its effect on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of RPE cells.Methods:Human RPE cells cultured in vitro were divided into normal group, pure 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) group (4-HNE group), 4-HNE+NC group and 4-HNE+ small interfering BMP (siBMP4) group. The effect of 4-HNE on the proliferation of RPE cells was detected by thiazole blue colorimetry. The effects of 4-HNE and BMP4 on cell migration were determined by cell scratch test. The expression of BMP4 was detected by immunofluorescence staining, Western blot and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The transfection efficiency of siBMP4 was observed by fluorescence microscopy. Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (MitoSOX) were detected by flow cytometry. The expression of EMT markers E-cadherin and Fibronection were detected by immunofluorescence assay. t-test was used for comparison between the two groups, and one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison between the three groups. Results:Compared with normal group, cell proliferation and migration ability of 4-HNE group were significantly enhanced, with statistical significance ( t=21.619, 24.469; P<0.05). The expression of BMP4 in cells was significantly increased, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=19.441, P<0.05). The relative expression levels of BMP4 mRNA and protein were also significantly increased, with statistical significance ( t=26.163, 37.163; P<0.05). After transfection with siBMP4 for 24 h, the transfection efficiency of BMP4 in RPE cells was>90%. Compared with 4-HNE group and 4-HNE+NC group, the relative expression levels of BMP4 protein ( F=27.241), mRNA ( F=36.943), cell mobility ( F=46.723) and MitoSOX expression levels ( F=39.721) in normal group and 4-HNE+siBMP4 group were significantly decreased. The differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The epithelial marker E-cadherin increased significantly, while the mesenchymal marker Fibronection decreased significantly, with statistical significance ( F= 51.722, 45.153; P<0.05). Conclusions:BMP4 inhibits RPE proliferation and migration under oxidative stress. BMP4 is involved in inducing EMT in RPE cells.

Objective:To investigate whether Lycopi Herba can serve as a viable alternative to Alismatis Rhizoma in the treatment of heart failure (HF) through network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques.Methods:TCMSP database was used to filter active components of Lycopi Herba and Alismatis Rhizoma. SwissTargetPrediction database was used to predict potential targets. HF-related targets were collected from databases such as GeneCards, OMIM, and DisGeNET. Venny 2.1.0 was used to draw a Venn diagram illustrating the intersection of targets between Lycopi Herba and Alismatis Rhizoma and HF. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was established using the String database, and key targets for the treatment of HF with Lycopi Herba and Alismatis Rhizoma were selected using Cytoscape 3.9.1 software to construct a component-intersection target network. The intersection targets were then analyzed for Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways using Metascape. Molecular docking techniques were used to evaluate the affinity between active components and key targets.Results:Lycopi Herba primarily targeted pivotal proteins such as HMGCR and CYP27B1, while Alismatis Rhizoma had a broader target spectrum, including PPARA, JAK2, among others. Shared key targets between the two included HMGCR and ESR1, which were primarily involved in cholesterol synthesis and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Enrichment pathway analysis showed similarities in steroid metabolism between the two; Alismatis Rhizoma, however, was more likely to act through protein phosphorylation regulation and modulating the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway for HF treatment. A unique target for Lycopi Herba in treating HF was CHRM4, indicating its potential for blood pressure regulation and myocardial protection.Conclusions:Both Lycopi Herba and Alismatis Rhizoma exhibit certain commonalities in the treatment of HF, but Alismatis Rhizoma has a wider range of targets and signaling pathways, implying more extensive therapeutic potential. However, considering the nephrotoxicity of Alismatis Rhizoma, Lycopi Herba could be considered as an alternative treatment for HF, especially in patients with renal insufficiency or in the early stages of HF.

Objective To evaluate the characteristics of a rat model of heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction(HFpEF)induced by combined factors,and to investigate the correlation of myocardial strain parameters to myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis.Methods Eight WKY rats and eight spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR)served as control groups and were fed normal feed until the end of the experiment.Thirty-two SHR rats were equally divided into SHR+S,SHR+F,SHR+SF,and SHR+Combined groups,and fed high-salt,high-fat,high-salt-fat,or high-salt-fat-sugar feed,respectively,in combination with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin for 30 weeks.After modeling,the heart weight/body weight(HW/BW)ratio,systolic blood pressure(SBP),and diastolic blood pressure(DBP)were measured.Echocardiography was performed to measure the left ventricular(LV)end-diastolic internal diameter(LVIDd),LV anterior wall thickness(LVAWd),LV posterior wall thickness(LVPWd),LV ejection fraction(LVEF),isovolumetric diastolic time(IVRT),and peak early diastolic passive filling velocity(E)/early diastolic mitral annular velocity(e').Speckle tracking echocardiography was conducted to determine the global longitudinal strain(GLS)and strain rate(GLSr),global radial strain(GRS)and strain rate(GRSr),as well as the global circumferential strain(GCS)and strain rate(GCSr).Serum was collected and analyzed for triglycerides(TG),total cholesterol(TC),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),glucose(GLU),and glycated serum protein(GSP).ELISA were used to measure serum B-type brain natriuretic peptide(BNP),angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ),and galectin-3(Gal-3).Myocardial tissue was subjected to HE and Masson staining for cardiomyocytes and myocardial fibrosis,and the cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area(CSA)and collagen volume fraction(CVF)were calculated.Additionally,the correlation of myocardial strain parameters to CSA and CVF was analyzed.Results Compared with the control group,in model groups,especially the SHR+combined group,HW/BW,SBP,DBP,serum indexes(TC,TG,LDL-C,GLU,GSP,BNP,AngⅡ,and Gal-3)and echocardiographic parameters(LVIDd,LVAWd,LVPWd,IVRT,and E/e')were significantly up-regulated.Absolute values of speckle-tracking echocardiographic parameters(GLS,GLSr,GRS,GRSr,GCS,and GCSr)were decreased considerably.HE and Masson staining of myocardial tissues suggested marked cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and fibrosis,and significant increases were observed in CSA and CVF(P＜0.05).Correlation analysis showed that GLSr,GCS,and GCSr were strongly linked to CSA,and GLS,GLSr,and GCSr were strongly linked to CVF(P＜0.01).Conclusions A rat model of HFpEF induced by hypertension and dysregulation of glucolipid metabolism replicated the basic characteristics of HFpEF in terms of etiology,clinical features,and myocardial pathological changes,and might be a reliable animal model of metabolic syndrome-related HFpEF.Moreover,myocardial strain indices were closely related to myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis and might indirectly reflect subtle myocardial lesions and dysfunction.