It is regarded that the disease location of refractory facial paralysis is in the channel sinews of the face， with its primary pathogenesis characterized by a combination of deficiency and stasis of the channel sinews. The integration of repeated shallow needling method and fire acupuncture can first remove stagnation within the channel sinews， and second utilize the warming effect of fire to reinforce yang， stimulate meridian qi， and nourish the channel sinews. This approach balances both supplementation and drainage manipulation， aligning with the underlying pathogenesis of deficiency and stasis combination. In clinical practice， diagnostic methods should be applied flexibly to accurately identify the affected channel sinews. The severity of facial symptoms， the size and mobility of the paralyzed facial muscles， as well as the depth and size of the reactive points identified through palpation， should be considered when determining the extent of the condition. By adjusting the appropriate level of stimulation， the fire acupuncture with repeated shallow needling method could effectively improve facial muscle morphology and function， promoting recovery from the disease.

Total-body PET/CT, with its long axial field of view and high sensitivity detector, has shown potential for reducing the dose of radiopharmaceuticals. However, pediatric patients are significantly more sensitive to radiation and have a higher long-term cancer risk than adults, posing fundamental challenges for dose management in PET/CT examinations for these patients. In this article, the technical characteristics of total-body PET/CT and its radiation exposure status in children were systematically analyzed. The radiation exposure could be controlled by the following optimization strategies: adjusting the CT exposure parameters, optimizing the scanning mode, adding reconstruction algorithm, and reducing the injected dose of radioactive tracer. By addressing both external and internal radiation during the PET/CT scanning process, the overall radiation dose received by pediatric patients can be reduced within a certain range. In addition, this article also discusses the technical differences between “total-body” and “whole-body” concepts, and emphasizes that the future optimization of radiation dose in pediatric PET/CT should be realized by integration of personalized scanning protocols. Through reasonable management of scanning protocols and processes, low-dose and high-quality PET/CT imaging can be achieved in clinical environments, thus maximizing protection of pediatric patient health while minimizing the risks associated with ionizing radiation exposure.

The translocator protein (TSPO) positron emission tomography (PET) can noninvasively detect neuroinflammation associated with epileptogenesis and epilepsy. This study explored the role of the TSPO-targeting radioligand [¹⁸F]F-TFQC, an m-trifluoromethyl ER176 analog, in the PET neuroimaging of epileptic rats. Initially, [¹⁸F]F-TFQC was synthesized with a radiochemical yield of 8%-10% (EOS), a radiochemical purity of over 99%, and a specific activity of 38.21 ± 1.73 MBq/nmol (EOS). After determining that [¹⁸F]F-TFQC exhibited good biochemical properties, [¹⁸F]F-TFQC PET neuroimaging was performed in epileptic rats at multiple time points in various stages of disease progression. PET imaging showed specific [¹⁸F]F-TFQC uptake in the right hippocampus (KA-injected site, i.e., epileptogenic zone), which was most pronounced at 1 week (T/NT 1.63 ± 0.21) and 1 month (T/NT 1.66 ± 0.20). The PET results were further validated using autoradiography and pathological analysis. Thus, [¹⁸F]F-TFQC can reflect the TSPO levels and localize the epileptogenic zone, thereby offering the potential for monitoring neuroinflammation and guiding anti-inflammatory treatment in patients with epilepsy.

AIM:To perform a multidimensional analysis of the clinical study characteristics of endo-metriosis based on the ClinicalTrials.gov,providing comprehensive and objective information for re-searchers,clinicians,and clinical pharmacists.METHODS:A thorough investigation was conduct-ed on clinical trials related to endometriosis,regis-tered on the ClinicalTrials.gov from its inception to October 20,2023.Relevant trial data were extract-ed and statistically analyzed using bibliometrics and comparative research methods.RESULTS:A to-tal of 667 endometriosis clinical studies were regis-tered globally,showing an annual increase.The United States(127 trials),France(70 trials),and Ita-ly(57 trials)had the highest number of registered trials.Interventional studies were predominant(416 trials,62.4%),followed by observational stud-ies(251 trials,37.6%).Within interventional stud-ies,drug therapy was the primary intervention(223 trials,53.6%).Despite endometriosis being a female condition,male subjects were also consid-ered,with 6 trials specifically requiring male partici-pants and 37 trials not restricting gender.Compa-nies/corporations were the main funding sources,while public and governmental organizations pro-vided relatively less funding.CONCLUSION:Clinical trial research on endometriosis is in a phase of growth,with drug therapy being the main treat-ment approach.However,there is a relative lack of investment and attention from public funds and governmental organizations.

Objective To observe the value of deep learning model for automatically segmenting prostate on large-field T2WI based on integrated 68Ga-prostate specific membrane antigen(PSMA)PET/MRI.Methods Ninety male patients with prostate tumors who underwent 68Ga-PSMA PET/MRI were retrospectively enrolled and divided into training set(n=72)and validation set(n=18)at the ratio of 4∶1.Models were established based on 3D SegResNet and 3D Unet deep learning neural networks,respectively.Taken physicians'manual segmentation results as reference standards,the performances of models for segmenting the peripheral zone(PZ)and central zone(CZ)+transition zone(TZ)of prostate on large-field T2WI were evaluated.Results In both training and validation sets,the Dice similarity coefficient(DSC)of 3D SegResNet deep learning model for segmenting prostate on T 2WI were both higher than that of 3D Unet model(both P＜0.05),the 95％Hausdorff distance(HD95)of SegR esNet deep learning model for segmenting prostate CZ+TZ was lower than that of 3D Unet model(both P＜0.05),while DSC and HD95 of these 2 models for segmenting prostate CZ+TZ were superior to PZ(all P＜0.05).Conclusion 3D SegResNet deep learning model could be used to automatically segment prostate on large-field T2WI based on integrated 68Ga-PSMA PET/MRI.

Objective To compare the contents of alkaloid in Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix with different degrees of processing and their effects on electrocardiogram and vagus nerve action potential in SD rats;To establish a toxicity evaluation method for Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix and its processed products.Methods HPLC was used to determine the contents of six alkaloid components,including benzoyl neoaconitine,benzoyl aconitine,benzoyl subeaconitine,neoaconitine,subeaconitine and aconitine in Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix and Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix Cocta of soaking and boiled for 30 minutes,boiled for 4 h without soaking,soaking and boiled for 4 h,and soaking and boiled for 8 h.SD rats were subjected to sublingual drainage with Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix and four types of processed products.The vagus nerve action potential and electrocardiogram of rats before and after administration were recorded,and the correlation analysis between alkaloid content and vagus nerve action potential and heart rate was conducted.Results The contents of alkaloid of the four processed products showed that the content of diester alkaloids was soaking and boiled for 30 min>boiled for 4 h without soaking>soaking and boiled for 4 h>soaking and boiled for 8 h;monoester alkaloid content:boiled for 4 h without soaking>soaking and boiled for 30 min>soaking and boiled for 4 h>soaking and boiled for 8 h.After the administration of each sample,compared with the basal discharge,the vagus nerve discharge of rats with different processed products was changed by sublingual administration,heart rate increased,the degree of arrhythmia increased,and it varied with the degree of processing;the results of correlation analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between the nerve discharge area and the contents of diester alkaloids and total alkaloids.Conclusion The action potential of the vagus nerve and electrocardiogram of rats after sublingual drainage administration can reflect the degree of numbness in the tongue,which can provide reference for the study of tongue sensation of Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix.

Objective:To investigate the risk factors for lung metastasis from differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), predict the occurrence of lung metastasis, and diagnose lung metastasis early.Methods:From April 2013 to May 2023, 442 DTC patients (145 males, 297 females; age (41.6±13.1) years) who received 131I treatment in the First Affiliated Hospital of the Air Force Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were divided into lung metastasis group ( n=124) and non-lung metastasis group ( n=318) according to pathology or clinical, imaging and laboratory test results. Patients were randomly divided into training set ( n=309) and validation set ( n=133) at the ratio of 7∶3. The differences of clinical data between the two groups were compared by χ2 test and Mann-Whitney U test. Factors affecting lung metastasis were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression analysis. ROC curve analysis was used to evaluate the predictive ability of the model. Results:The differences of sex, primary tumor type, multifocal, extra thyroid tissue invasion, number of operations, thyroglobulin (Tg) level before 131I treatment, maximum diameter of primary lesion, lymphocyte absolute value, neutrophil absolute value and B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase (BRAF) V600E mutation between the two groups were statistically significant ( χ2 values: 7.72-107.77, z values: from -6.50 to -2.44, all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that multifocal (odds ratio ( OR)=5.646, 95% CI: 1.763-18.089, P=0.004), BRAF V600E mutation ( OR=0.184, 95% CI: 0.062-0.543, P=0.002), Tg level before 131I treatment ( OR=1.015, 95% CI: 1.004-1.025, P=0.005), lymphocyte absolute value ( OR=0.395, 95% CI: 0.166-0.940, P=0.036) and maximum diameter of primary lesion ( OR=1.932, 95% CI: 1.207-3.093, P=0.006) were independent factors affecting lung metastasis. The AUCs of the training set and validation set obtained by the nomogram prognostic model were 0.899 and 0.889, respectively. Conclusion:Large primary tumor, multiple focus, non-mutated BRAF V600E gene, high Tg level before 131I treatment and low lymphocyte absolute value may be considered as risk factors for lung metastasis of DTC.

Objective:To compare the diagnostic efficacy of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/ CT and multi-parameter magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) for pelvic lymph node metastases in prostate cancer patients who received neoadjuvant endocrinology or not after initial diagnosis. Methods:Data of 52 patients with moderate and high-risk prostate cancer admitted to Xijing Hospital from February to October 2023, aged (65.8±6.6) years, preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) 26.67 (13.09, 84.89) ng/ml, were retrospectively analyzed. Before operation, there were 28 cases of cT 2stage, 16 cases of cT 3 stage and 8 cases of cT 4 stage. There were 22 cases of cN 0 and 30 cases of cN 1. All patients underwent 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT and mpMRI at the same time, and were diagnosed positive lymph nodes in 28 and 21 cases, respectively. Risk stratification were high risk in 45 cases, and medium risk in 7 cases. According to the preoperative endocrine treatment, they were divided into the newly diagnosed group without treatment (24 cases) and the endocrine treated group (28 cases), whose ages were (65.0±7.1) years and (66.8±6.1) years, respectively. Preoperative PSA was 26.17 (16.73, 61.18) ng/ml and 27.32 (11.94, 130.18) ng/ml, respectively. Gleason scores ≤7 were in 10 cases (41.7%) and 6 cases (21.4%), and Gleason scores >7 were in 14 cases (58.3%) and 22 cases (78.6%), respectively. There were 15 (62.5%) and 13 (46.4%) cases of cT 1-2 stage, and 9 (37.5%) and 15 (53.6%) cases of cT 3-4 stage, respectively. There were 16 (66.7%) and 6 (21.4%) cases of stage N 0, 8 (33.3%) and 22 (78.6%) cases of stage N 1, respectively. There were 22 (91.7%) and 20 (71.4%) cases of stage M 0, 2 (8.3%) and 8 (28.6%) cases of stage M 1, respectively. PET/CT diagnosis of lymph node positive was in 9 cases (37.5%) and 19 cases (67.9%), and mpMRI diagnosis of lymph node positive was in 5 cases (20.8%) and 16 cases (57.1%). The number of positive lymph nodes diagnosed by PET/CT was 13 (72.2%) and 47 (90.1%), and the number of positive lymph nodes diagnosed by mpMRI was 8 (44.4%) and 32 (61.5%). There was no significant difference ( P>0.05). All patients underwent radical prostatectomy as well as enlarged pelvic lymph node resection. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the two imaging examinations in the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis were compared according to the results of postoperative pathological examination of lymph nodes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to compare the accuracy of the two imaging tests in the diagnosis of pelvic lymph node metastasis in the newly diagnosed untreated group and the endocrine treated group. Results:In this study, of 52 cases, 26 (50.0%) had positive lymph nodes by pathological examination. In this study, a total of 681 lymph nodes were dissected, with 70 lymph nodes (10.28%) being pathologically positive, and the positive rate of 26 patients was 17.99% (70/389). The PET/CT and mpMRI detection rates of 26 node-positive patients were 92.3% (24/26) and 57.7% (15/26), respectively. There were 9 (37.5%) and 17 (60.7%) lymph node positive patients in the untreated group and the endocrine therapy group, respectively. There were 320 and 361 lymph nodes were clear, with 18 (5.6%) and 52 (14.4%) positive lymph nodes, respectively. The detection rates of PET/CT and mpMRI were 88.89% (8/9) and 94.12% (16/17)in the untreated group, and 44.44% (4/9) and 64.71% (11/17)in the endocrine treated group, respectively. In the newly treated group, the area under the curve (AUC) of PET/CT and mpMRI for diagnosing positive lymph nodes were 0.911 and 0.689 ( P=0.027), the sensitivity were 88.9% and 44.4%, and the specificity were 93.3% and 93.3%, respectively. PPV were 88.9% and 80.0%, and NPV were 93.3% and 73.7%, respectively. In the endocrine therapy group, the AUC of PET/CT and mpMRI for lymph node positive diagnosis were 0.834 and 0.596 ( P=0.011), the sensitivity were 94.1% and 64.7%, the specificity were 72.7% and 54.5%, and the PPV were 84.2% and 68.8%, respectively. NPV were 88.9% and 50.0%, respectively. Conclusions:For prostate cancer patients, regardless of whether they receive neoadjuvant endocrine therapy, 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT can accurately detect pelvic lymph node metastasis, and the diagnostic efficacy is significantly better than that of mpMRI.

Objective To observe the value of high-frequency ultrasound(HFUS)and shear wave elastography(SWE)parameters of lower extremity muscles for evaluating dermatomyositis(DM).Methods Totally 19 DM patients(DM group)and 20 healthy subjects(control group)were prospectively enrolled,and lower extremity muscles HFUS and SWE examinations were performed.The echoes,thickness and shear wave velocity(SWV)of bilateral vastus lateralis and lateral head of gastrocnemius were compared between groups.Receiver operating characteristic curves were drawn,and the area under the curves(AUC)were calculated to evaluate the efficacy of each ultrasonic parameter for evaluating DM.Results The proportion of muscle echo score of 1-point,thickness of bilateral lateral head of gastrocnemius,SWV of bilateral vastus lateralis and lateral head of gastrocnemius in DM group were all lower than those in control group(all P＜0.05).SWV of bilateral vastus lateralis and left lateral head of gastrocnemius had excellent efficacies for evaluating DM(AUC 0.932-0.968).The thickness of bilateral lateral head of gastrocnemius and SWV of right lateral head of gastrocnemius had good efficacy for evaluating DM(AUC 0.784-0.884),while the muscles'echo had general efficacy(AUC=0.658).Conclusion HFUS and SWE parameters of lower extremity muscles could be used to evaluate DM,among which SWE parameters had relatively higher values.

Objective To explore the significance of serum β-nerve growth factor(β-NGF)and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand(TRAIL)testing in clinical diagnosis and prognosis assessment in patients with pulmonary heart disease(PHD)complicated with pulmonary artery hypertension(PAH).Methods A 1:1 case-control study was conducted in Daxing District People's Hospital of Beijing from January 2019 to June 2022,in which 86 patients with PHD complicated with PAH and 86 patients with isolated PHD were selected as case group and control group.Retrospective analysis was conducted.The case group was divided into mild PAH group(n=39),moderate PAH group(n=25)and severe PAH group(n=22)according to pulmonary artery systolic pressure(PASP).Meanwhile,the case group was divided into good prognosis group(n=75)and poor prognosis group(n=11)based on the outcomes after one year of discharge.Demographic data and laboratory examination indicators of study subjects were collected,and serum β-NGF and TRAIL levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Pearson product-moment correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship among β-NGF,TRAIL and PASP.Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors influencing PAH in patients with PHD.ROC curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of β-NGF and TRAIL for PAH.Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was carried out to assess the relationship among β-NGF,TRAIL and poor prognosis in patients with PHD complicated with PAH,and ROC curve was used to evaluate its predictive value for poor prognosis.Result Compared with control group,the duration of PHD in case group was longer(8.63±1.27 years vs 5.49±1.15 years),and serum β-NGF level(26.97±8.25 ng/ml vs 22.14±7.32 ng/ml)and TRAIL level(2.83±0.76 ng/ml vs 1.71±0.68 ng/ml)were increased,with significant differences(t=17.006,4.064,10.183,all P＜0.05).Serum β-NGF and TRAIL had certain diagnostic values for PAH in PHD patients,with AUC of 0.842 and 0.838,respectively.And the combined diagnostic AUC was 0.920,which was higher than that of single indicators(Z=3.416,3.508,all P＜0.05).Serum β-NGF(23.26±5.13 ng/ml,27.83±5.57 ng/ml,32.57±6.02 ng/ml)and TRAIL(2.24±0.65 ng/ml,2.89±0.71 ng/ml,3.81±0.90 ng/ml)levels among patients with mild PAH,moderate PAH,severe PAH were sequentially elevated,and the differences were significant(F=20.624,31.972,all P＜0.05).Serum β-NGF and TRAIL were positively associated with PASP(r=0.673,0.659,P＜0.05).Serum β-NGF(36.34±8.05 ng/ml)and TRAIL(3.49±1.01 ng/ml)levels in poor prognosis group were higher compared to good prognosis group(25.59±7.28 ng/ml,2.73±0.89 ng/ml),and the differences were significant(t=4.516,2.604,all P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that,the PHD duration[OR(95％CI):1.784(1.135～2.806)],β-NGF[OR(95％CI):1.976(1.108～3.523)]and TRAIL[OR(95％CI):1.866(1.123～3.101)]were independent risk factors for occurrence of PAH in patients with PHD(all P＜0.05).Multivariate COX proportional risk regression results showed that PHD duration[OR(95％CI):1.167(1.082～1.364)],β-NGF[OR(95％CI):1.322(1.134～1.649)],TRA-IL[OR(95％CI):1.259(1.087～1.590)]were independent risk factors for poor prognosis in patients with PHD complicated with PAH(all P＜0.05).Serum β-NGF and TRAIL could predict the poor prognosis in patients with PHD complicated with PAH,with AUC of 0.863 and 0.881,respectively.The combined diagnostic AUC was 0.907,which was higher than that of single indicators(Z=2.905,3.128,all P＜0.05).Conclusion Elevated serum β-NGF and TRAIL were independent risk factors for PAH and were associated with severity of PAH.Early combined detection of β-NGF and TRAIL can improve the diagnostic value for PAH and predict poor prognosis of patients.