Empathy is a cornerstone in cultivating medical ethics.This article delves into the profound significance of empathy and underscores the importance of promoting it among medical students and practitioners.It also details methods for strengthening empathy and capacity building concerned in students through oral medicine instruction,with the goal of nurturing oral healthcare professionals who provide compassionate care.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical value of three-dimensional(3D) printing-assisted fenestrated/branched endovascular aortic repair (F/B-TEVAR) for the treatment of endoleak after open surgery for type A aortic dissection.Methods:A multi-center retrospective case series analysis was conducted on 16 patients with anastomotic leakage following Stanford type A aortic dissection open repair, admitted to 12 medical centers between January 2019 and December 2023. All surgeries were led by the vascular surgery team from Department of Vascular Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital. The study included 12 males and 4 females, with an age of (58.1±8.2) years (range: 42 to 75 years). Preoperative patient-specific 3D-printed models or 3D parametric surface topological guides were created based on aortic CT angiography data. These models assisted intraoperative external positioning of fenestration sites, combined with stent diameter selection and inner branch techniques to complete endovascular repair. Surgical procedures, complications, and clinical outcomes were evaluated, with follow-up CT imaging to assess efficacy.Results:All patients successfully underwent surgery without conversion to open repair. One patient had distal stent migration from a prior open repair, requiring intraoperative coverage of the main stent window and conversion to an in situ fenestration procedure. The mean operative time was (332.6±111.2)minutes (range: 80 to 460 minutes). No renal failure, paraplegia, or branch artery loss occurred. Postoperative follow-up ( M(IQR)) was 18(18) months(range: 6 to 36 months), with follow-up rates of 16/16 at 6 months, 10/16 at 12 months, 8/16 at 24 months, and 2/16 at 36 months. During follow-up, endoleak occurred in 3 patients, cerebral infarction in 1 patient, and death in 1 patient. The remaining patients demonstrated stable stent positioning, patent branches, and no endoleak. Conclusion:3D technology-guided F/B-TEVAR shows favorable mid-to short-term outcomes in treating anastomotic leakage after open repair of type A aortic dissection.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical value of three-dimensional(3D) printing-assisted fenestrated/branched endovascular aortic repair (F/B-TEVAR) for the treatment of endoleak after open surgery for type A aortic dissection.Methods:A multi-center retrospective case series analysis was conducted on 16 patients with anastomotic leakage following Stanford type A aortic dissection open repair, admitted to 12 medical centers between January 2019 and December 2023. All surgeries were led by the vascular surgery team from Department of Vascular Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital. The study included 12 males and 4 females, with an age of (58.1±8.2) years (range: 42 to 75 years). Preoperative patient-specific 3D-printed models or 3D parametric surface topological guides were created based on aortic CT angiography data. These models assisted intraoperative external positioning of fenestration sites, combined with stent diameter selection and inner branch techniques to complete endovascular repair. Surgical procedures, complications, and clinical outcomes were evaluated, with follow-up CT imaging to assess efficacy.Results:All patients successfully underwent surgery without conversion to open repair. One patient had distal stent migration from a prior open repair, requiring intraoperative coverage of the main stent window and conversion to an in situ fenestration procedure. The mean operative time was (332.6±111.2)minutes (range: 80 to 460 minutes). No renal failure, paraplegia, or branch artery loss occurred. Postoperative follow-up ( M(IQR)) was 18(18) months(range: 6 to 36 months), with follow-up rates of 16/16 at 6 months, 10/16 at 12 months, 8/16 at 24 months, and 2/16 at 36 months. During follow-up, endoleak occurred in 3 patients, cerebral infarction in 1 patient, and death in 1 patient. The remaining patients demonstrated stable stent positioning, patent branches, and no endoleak. Conclusion:3D technology-guided F/B-TEVAR shows favorable mid-to short-term outcomes in treating anastomotic leakage after open repair of type A aortic dissection.

Objective To identify the N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-related characteristic genes analyzed by gene clustering and immune cell infiltration in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MI/RI) after cardiopulmonary bypass through machine learning. Methods The differential genes associated with m6A methylation were screened by the dataset GSE132176 in GEO, the samples of the dataset were clustered based on the differential gene expression profile, and the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis of the differential genes of the m6A cluster after clustering were performed to determine the gene function of the m6A cluster. R software was used to determine the better models in machine learning of support vector machine (SVM) model and random forest (RF) model, which were used to screen m6A-related characteristic genes in MI/RI, and construct characteristic gene nomogram to predict the incidence of disease. R software was used to analyze the correlation between characteristic genes and immune cells, and the online website was used to build a characteristic gene regulatory network. Results In this dataset, a total of 5 m6A-related differential genes were screened, and the gene expression profiles were divided into two clusters for cluster analysis. The enrichment analysis of m6A clusters showed that these genes were mainly involved in regulating monocytes differentiation, response to lipopolysaccharides, response to bacteria-derived molecules, cellular response to decreased oxygen levels, DNA transcription factor binding, DNA-binding transcription activator activity, RNA polymerase Ⅱ specificity, NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, interleukin-17 signaling pathway. The RF model was determined by R software as the better model, which determined that METTL3, YTHDF1, RBM15B and METTL14 were characteristic genes of MI/RI, and mast cells, type 1 helper lymphocytes (Th1), type 17 helper lymphocytes (Th17), and macrophages were found to be associated with MI/RI after cardiopulmonary bypass in immune cell infiltration. Conclusion The four characteristic genes METTL3, YTHDF1, RBM15B and METTL14 are obtained by machine learning, while cluster analysis and immune cell infiltration analysis can better reveal the pathophysiological process of MI/RI.

Molecular knowledge of human gastric corpus epithelium remains incomplete. Here, by integrated analyses using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), spatial transcriptomics, and single-cell assay for transposase accessible chromatin sequencing (scATAC-seq) techniques, we uncovered the spatially resolved expression landscape and gene-regulatory network of human gastric corpus epithelium. Specifically, we identified a stem/progenitor cell population in the isthmus of human gastric corpus, where EGF and WNT signaling pathways were activated. Meanwhile, LGR4, but not LGR5, was responsible for the activation of WNT signaling pathway. Importantly, FABP5 and NME1 were identified and validated as crucial for both normal gastric stem/progenitor cells and gastric cancer cells. Finally, we explored the epigenetic regulation of critical genes for gastric corpus epithelium at chromatin state level, and identified several important cell-type-specific transcription factors. In summary, our work provides novel insights to systematically understand the cellular diversity and homeostasis of human gastric corpus epithelium in vivo.
Humans ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Gastric Mucosa/metabolism* ; Chromatin/metabolism* ; Stem Cells ; Epithelium/metabolism* ; Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins/metabolism*

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of composite transplantation of artificial dermis and autologous razor-thin graft combined with vacuum sealing drainage in the repair of joint scar after burn.Methods:The clinical data of patients with scar contracture deformity or scar ulcer after extensive burn admitted to the Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery of No. 926 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Force of PLA from January 2019 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients received one-stage contracture scar excision and release or scar ulcer debridement, Lando ?artificial dermis transplantation combined with vacuum sealing drainage, removal of the silicone membrane after complete vascularization of the wound, and secondary transplantation of autologous razor-thin graft. The survival and long-term appearance of skin graft, formation of scar and function recovery of joint were observed. Results:A total of 32 patients were included, including 24 males and 8 females, aged from 18 to 45 years, with an average age of 33 years. Scars were found in 4 cases of the metacarpophalangeal joint, 4 cases of the wrist joint, 10 cases of the elbow joint, and 14 cases of the knee joint and popliteal fossa. One patient underwent surgery to repair bilateral knee joint scar ulcers simultaneously, resulting in a total of 33 surgical sites. Among them, there were 23 sites of scar contracture deformities, 5 sites of scar ulcers, and 5 sites of scar contracture deformities with scar ulcers. After 2 weeks of artificial dermis coverage, the negative pressure device was removed, and the artificial dermis stent vascularization was good in 32 patients (33 surgical sites). After autologous skin graft transplantation, the survival rate was 100% (33/33). Postoperative follow-up for 3 to 12 months showed that there was no ulceration in the skin graft area, the skin color was close to normal, and there were no obvious scar contractures or hyperplasia. The joint function was satisfactory.Conclusion:The composite transplantation of artificial dermis and autologous razor-thin graft combined with vacuum sealing drainage is good to repair scar contracture or scar ulcer of joint after burn, the skin color and texture after operation, and the recovery of joint function is satisfactory.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of composite transplantation of artificial dermis and autologous razor-thin graft combined with vacuum sealing drainage in the repair of joint scar after burn.Methods:The clinical data of patients with scar contracture deformity or scar ulcer after extensive burn admitted to the Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery of No. 926 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Force of PLA from January 2019 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients received one-stage contracture scar excision and release or scar ulcer debridement, Lando ?artificial dermis transplantation combined with vacuum sealing drainage, removal of the silicone membrane after complete vascularization of the wound, and secondary transplantation of autologous razor-thin graft. The survival and long-term appearance of skin graft, formation of scar and function recovery of joint were observed. Results:A total of 32 patients were included, including 24 males and 8 females, aged from 18 to 45 years, with an average age of 33 years. Scars were found in 4 cases of the metacarpophalangeal joint, 4 cases of the wrist joint, 10 cases of the elbow joint, and 14 cases of the knee joint and popliteal fossa. One patient underwent surgery to repair bilateral knee joint scar ulcers simultaneously, resulting in a total of 33 surgical sites. Among them, there were 23 sites of scar contracture deformities, 5 sites of scar ulcers, and 5 sites of scar contracture deformities with scar ulcers. After 2 weeks of artificial dermis coverage, the negative pressure device was removed, and the artificial dermis stent vascularization was good in 32 patients (33 surgical sites). After autologous skin graft transplantation, the survival rate was 100% (33/33). Postoperative follow-up for 3 to 12 months showed that there was no ulceration in the skin graft area, the skin color was close to normal, and there were no obvious scar contractures or hyperplasia. The joint function was satisfactory.Conclusion:The composite transplantation of artificial dermis and autologous razor-thin graft combined with vacuum sealing drainage is good to repair scar contracture or scar ulcer of joint after burn, the skin color and texture after operation, and the recovery of joint function is satisfactory.

Prognostication of coma patients after brain injury is important, yet challenging. In this study, we evaluated the predictive value of amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) for neurological outcomes in coma patients. From January 2013 to January 2016, 128 coma patients after acute brain injury were prospectively enrolled and monitored with aEEG. The 6-month neurological outcome was evaluated using the Cerebral Performance Category Scale. aEEG monitoring commenced at a median of 7.5 days after coma onset. Continuous normal voltage predicted a good 6-month neurological outcome with a sensitivity of 93.6% and specificity of 85.2%. In contrast, continuous extremely low voltage, burst-suppression, or a flat tracing was correlated with poor 6-month neurological outcome with a sensitivity of 76.5% and specificity of 100%. In conclusion, aEEG is a promising predictor of 6-month neurological outcome for coma patients after acute brain injury.
Brain ; physiopathology ; Brain Injuries ; complications ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Coma ; diagnosis ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Electroencephalography ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurophysiological Monitoring ; methods ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Severity of Illness Index

Objective To explore the feasibility and efficacy of transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defect (VSD) through radial artery combined femoral vein approach. Methods A total of 11 patients with congenital VSD, who were admitted to authors' hospital during the period from June 2017 to November2017, were enrolled in this study. The patterns of lesion included intracristal type (n=3) and perimembranous type (n=8), and in 3 patients the VSD was associated with concant ventricular septal aneurysm. Transcatheter closure of VSD via radial approach was carried out in all patients. The mean age of the patients was (37.82±12.44) years old, and the average body weight was (62.79±14.95) kg. The transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed that the mean diameter of VSD was (5.87±1.91)mm. The effect of transcatheter closure therapy was assessed by intraoperative TTE and left ventriculography. All patients were followed up with electrocardiogram and TTE at 24 hours and one, 3, 6 months after transcatheter closure therapy. Results Successful closure was achieved in 10 patients, and one patient had to be transferred to surgery because the catheter could not pass through the defect. The mean diameter of the implanted occluders was (7.50±3.60)mm, the average procedural time and fluoroscopy time were (47.20±5.45) min and (13.00±3.65) min respectively. The postoperative average in-bed time was (99.00±11.97) min. Two patients developed radial artery spasm during the operation. During the follow-up period lasting for a mean of (3.50±1.90) months, no serious complications, such as dropping of occluder, residual shunt, atrioventricular block, aortic regurgitation, radial artery occlusion, etc. occurred in the 10 patients. Conclusion For the treatment of VSD, transcatheter closure through radial artery combined with femoral vein approach is safe and effective. Therefore, this technique is worthy of clinical application.