ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism of action of Xibining Formula （膝痹宁） for cartilage damage in knee osteoarthritis （KOA） through the cyclic guanosine-adenosine monophosphate synthase （cGAS）- stimulator of interferon genes （STING） signaling pathway. MethodsFifty C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into five groups （10 per group）， sham operation group， KOA model group， low-dose Xibining Formula group， high-dose Xibining Formula group， and high-dose Xibining Formula + agonist group. The KOA models were constructed using the destabilization of the medial meniscus （DMM） method in all groups but the sham surgery group. Two weeks after surgery， the low- and high-dose Xibining Formula groups were administered Xibining Formula at doses of 3.58 g/（kg·d） and 14.32 g/（kg·d） respectively via gavage. The high-dose Xibining Formula + agonist group received 14.32 g/（kg·d） of Xibining Formula via gavage followed by an intraperitoneal injection of Vadimezan （DMXAA） at 25 mg/kg. The sham surgery group and the KOA model group mice were given an equivalent volume of normal saline at 5 ml/（kg·d） via gavage， once daily for four consecutive weeks. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， and interleukin-6 （IL-6） were measured by ELISA； pathological changes in cartilage tissue were observed using hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining and Safranin O-Fast Green staining. Pathological changes were scored according to the Mankin scoring system； the levels of cartilage tissue matrix regulation-related indicators such as matrix metalloproteinase 3 （MMP3）， matrix metalloproteinase 13 （MMP13）， a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5 （ADAMTS）， type-Ⅱ collagen （CⅡ） and aggregated proteoglycan （Aggrecan）， and also cGAS-STING pathway-related protein and mRNA expression levels were detected by Western blot and qPCR methods. ResultsCompared with the sham surgery group， the KOA model group showed severe cartilage edge destruction， significantly increased Mankin scores， significantly decreased protein and mRNA expression levels of COLⅡ and Aggrecan， and significantly increased protein and mRNA expression levels of cGAS， STING， MMP3， MMP13， and ADAMTS5 （P＜0.01）. Compared with the control group， serum level of IL-6， IL-1β， TNF-α in all the intervented groups decreased （P＜0.01）， while compared with high-dose Xibining Formula group， level of IL-6， IL-1β， and TNF-α in low-dose Xibining Formula group and high-dose Xibining Formula + agonist group increased （P＜0.01）. Compared with the KOA model group， all the intervention groups exhibited alleviated cartilage pathological changes， signi-ficantly reduced Mankin scores， significantly increased protein and mRNA expression levels of COLⅡ and Aggrecan， and significantly decreased protein and mRNA expression levels of cGAS， STING， MMP3， MMP13， and ADAMTS5 （P＜0.01）. Compared with high-dose Xibining Formula group， high-dose Xibining Formula + agonist group showed cartilage edge destruction， significantly increased Mankin scores， significantly decreased protein and mRNA expression levels of COLⅡ and Aggrecan， and increased protein and mRNA expression levels of cGAS， STING， MMP3， MMP13， and ADAMTS5 （P＜0.01）. ConclusionXibining Formula may improve KOA cartilage damage by inhibiting the cGAS-STING signaling pathway， decreasing matrix degradation-related proteins， and elevating matrix composition-related proteins.

Intestinal mucositis is a common complication induced by chemotherapy in malignant tumors， which severely compromises the efficacy of chemotherapy and reduces patients’ quality of life. This article systematically reviews the pathological mechanisms underlying chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis， encompassing oxidative damage， inflammatory injury， apoptotic damage， disruption of the intestinal barrier， and intestinal dysbiosis. Additionally， it provides a comprehensive summary of current therapeutic strategies for intestinal mucositis， including chemical agents and composite materials， natural products， compound prescription of traditional Chinese medicine， growth factors， blood products， and fecal microbiota transplantation. Future efforts should strengthen multidisciplinary cross-innovation， integrating animal models and large-scale clinical trials to develop highly effective and low-toxicity therapeutic drugs that balance chemotherapy toxicity and antitumor efficacy.

To explore the formation mechanism of static magnetic field artifacts,motion artifacts,chemical shift artifacts and folding artifacts in magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)equipment,and to propose for different artifact failures and common faults using multiple maintenance methods.The artifacts were mainly related to the anomaly of the magnetic field strength,the unoptimized sequence,and the physical limits.The occurrence of static magnetic field artifacts was reduced by using plane avoidance sequence excitation technology,the motion artifacts were eliminated by propeller imaging technology,the occurrence rate of motion artifacts was reduced by reducing hydrogen proton signal interference,and the fold artifacts were suppressed by expanding the scanning field of view,in order to obtain a good resonance image effect and reduce the probability of MRI artifacts,improve the accuracy of medical detection.

Objective:To construct a metrological safety evaluation model for large medical equipment based on the perspective of metrological safety,and to explore its application value in the management of large medical equipment.Methods:According to the different safety risk sources,the diagnosis and treatment area of large medical equipment was divided into five types:light source,electricity,water,radiation and information.The metrological safety assessment indicators were empowered by combining subjective and objective methods,and engineering support strategies were developed according to the metrological safety levels and safety change trends.A total of 48 large medical equipment in clinical use in The 960th Hospital of PLA Joint Logistic Support Force from 2020 to 2023 were selected.The 42 sets of equipment used during 2020 to 2021 adopted the conventional fault maintenance support mode(referred to as the conventional support mode),and the 43 sets of equipment used from 2022-2023(including 37 in conventional mode and 6 newly added)adopted the metrology safety technical support mode(referred to as metrology safety support mode).The metrology safety management ability score,metrological inspection qualification levels and metrological safety management effects of large medical equipment were compared between the two management modes.Results:The evaluation scores of theoretical knowledge,safety awareness,practical operation and emergency level indicators of large medical equipment use management personnel of the metrology safety support model were(17.39±1.38)points,(17.87±1.08)points,(27.68±1.45)points and(27.96±1.24)points,respectively,which were higher than those of the conventional support mode,the difference was statistically significant(t=4.234,4.371,5.832,3.764,P＜0.05).The average metrological inspection qualified rates(％)of medical imaging equipment,life support equipment,clinical laboratory equipment,operating room equipment and other equipment using the metrology safety support mode were(95.19±2.56)％,(95.56±1.79)％,(94.64±2.42)％,(96.20±2.01)％and(93.46±2.22)％,respectively,which were higher than those of the conventional support mode,the difference was statistically significant(t=3.846,2.809,2.405,2.492,2.742,P＜0.05).The proportion of large medical equipment rated as high safety level and low safety level in the metrological safety support model were 67.44％(29/43)and 4.65％(2/43),respectively,the proportion of high safety level was higher than that in the conventional support mode,and the proportion of low safety level was lower than that in the conventional support mode,the difference was statistically significant(x2=4.261,7.085,P＜0.05).Conclusion:The large medical equipment metrological safety support mode based on the safety perspective can improve the safety management ability of personnel related to equipment use and management,improve the operation quality and performance level of equipment,increase the proportion of high-safety level metrology safety of large medical equipment,and reduce the proportion of low-safety level.

Objective:To screen active antibacterial components from licorice extract using BamA and BamD, the core components of Escherichia coli ( E. coli) β-barrel assembly machinery (BAM), as targets in order to combat the increasingly serious problem of antibiotic resistance. Methods:Affinity ultrafiltration combined with high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) was used to screen the potential components interacting with BamA and BamD from licorice extract. Changes in the expression of bamA and bamD genes of E. coli after treatment with the compounds were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR, and the effects of the compounds on the function of the BAM complex to integrate outer membrane proteins into the bacterial outer membrane were analyzed using an in vitro recombination system. The influence of the compounds on the integrity of bacterial membranes was evaluated through analyzing the accumulation of SDS within the bacterial cells. Results:Bioaffinity ultrafiltration combined with HPLC-MS screening revealed that 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid could interact with BamD. After 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid treatment, the expression of bamA gene increased by 1.5 times, and the expression of bamD gene increased by 2 times. However, the inhibitory effect of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid on the membrane insertion function of the BAM complex was not observed in the in vitro recombinant system assay, and the cell membrane integrity assay experiments did not reveal any disruption of the E. coli cell membrane by 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid. Conclusions:Using BamA and BamD proteins as targets, a natural product screening method using affinity ultrafiltration combined with HPLC-MS is established. The screening result shows that 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid can interact with BamD and affect the expression of outer membrane proteins in E. coli. Therefore, the screening and experimental procedures established in this study are of good reference value for the screening of novel antimicrobial drugs from other sources targeting outer membrane proteins, and this study also suggests that the selection of the relevant target sites is crucial for the successful screening of the corresponding natural products.

Objective To obtain the range of anatomical parameters of healthy knee joints in Chinese males and validate a statistical shape model(SSM)based on the geometric shape of a healthy knee to provide references for the design of knee SSM-based prostheses.Methods Computed tomography(CT)images of knee joints from 112 healthy males were acquired to build three-dimensional(3D)knee joint models.Each model was the target model separately,and the remaining models were used as the training set for principal component analysis(PCA).The obtained knee SSM was fitted to the target model to predict the SSM.The exact anatomical measurement points were marked on the sample and SSM prediction models,and 17 linear and 3 angular parameters were derived.The values of the anatomical parameters were statistically tested using an independent samples t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test,and the validity of the SSM in terms of geometric shape was demonstrated if the resulting P-values were all greater than 0.05.Results Qualitative and quantitative comparative analyses of anatomical parameters showed that the mean deviation of linear parameters was less than 6 mm,and that of angular parameters was less than 2.5°.The results of statistical tests showed P＞0.05 for all anatomical parameters,proving that the knee SSM prediction model was not statistically different from the true healthy model in terms of geometric shape.Conclusions This study derived a reference range of anatomical parameters for a healthy knee and demonstrated that the knee SSM model was consistent with the real healthy model in terms of shape.The results provide a reference for the design of knee SSM-based prostheses.

Objective To investigate the expression of serum miR-133a-3p and miR-324-3p in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation and their relationship with recurrence of atrial fibrillation after radiofrequency ablation.Methods A total of 180 patients with persistent atrial fibrillation(persistent atrial fibrillation group)who were hospitalized in Cangzhou City People's Hospital from July 2019 to July 2022 and received radiofrequency ablation were collected as research objects.According to whether atrial fibrillation recurred,they were assigned into a non recurrence group(n=116)and a recurrence group(n=64).Meanwhile,another 180 healthy individuals who underwent physical examination at the hospital were regarded as the control group.The expression levels of serum miR-133a-3p and miR-324-3p of each group were compared.Multivariate Logistic regression was applied to analyze the factors influencing the recurrence of persistent atrial fibrillation after radiofrequency ablation,and ROC curve analysis was applied to analyze the predictive value of serum miR-133a-3p and miR-324-3p levels for the recurrence of atrial fibrillation in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation after radiofrequency ablation.Results Compared with the control group,the levels of serum miR-133a-3p(0.76±0.25)and miR-324-3p(0.68±0.21)in the persistent atrial fibrillation group were lower than the control group(1.03±0.32,1.05±0.30),and the differences were statistically significant(t=8.921,13.556,all P<0.05).The serum levels of miR-133a-3p(0.58±0.19)and miR-324-3p(0.50±0.16)in the recurrent group were obviously lower than those in the non recurrent group(0.86±0.27,0.78±0.25),and the differences were statistically significant(t=7.349,8.087,all P<0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that serum miR-133a-3p[OR(95%CI):0.673(0.534～0.848)]and miR-324-3p[OR(95%CI):0.756(0.629～0.909)]were protective factors for atrial fibrillation recurrence after radiofrequency ablation in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation,while heart rate[OR(95%CI):2.143(1.265～3.631)]and LAD[OR(95%CI):1.756(1.159～2.661)]were independent risk factors for atrial fibrillation recurrence after radiofrequency ablation in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation(all P<0.05).The AUC of the combination of miR-133a-3p and miR-324-3p in predicting atrial fibrillation recurrence after radiofrequency ablation in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation was 0.901,with the sensitivity and specificity were 82.81%and 86.21%,respectively,which was better than those of their respective prediction alone(Z=4.210,2.804,all P<0.05).Conclusion The expressions of serum miR-133a-3p and miR-324-3p in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation are reduced,and the combination of the two has a good reference value in predicting the recurrence of atrial fibrillation in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation after radiofrequency ablation.

Isolated vertigo due to vascular mechanisms manifests as vertigo, dizziness or imbalance only. Due to the lack of focal neurological symptoms or signs, it is often misdiagnosed as peripheral vestibular disease, resulting in serious adverse consequences. This article reviews the lesion location, cerebrovascular basis, clinical evaluation, and imaging examination of isolated vertigo caused by vascular mechanisms.

Objective:To investigate the association of urinary cadmium levels with peripheral leukocyte classification counts among middle-aged and older adults aged 40 to 89 years in selected areas of China.Methods:The research was based on the survey of the impact of soil quality of agricultural land on human health in typical areas conducted in 2019-2020. A total of 5 600 middle-aged and older adults aged 40 to 89 years were included by using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method. Baseline characteristics of the subjects were collected and physical examinations were performed. Random midstream urine was collected to measure urinary cadmium and urinary creatinine and fasting venous blood was collected to measure the leukocyte count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, monocyte count and eosinophil count. The linear mixed effect model was used to analyse the association of urinary cadmium levels with leukocyte classification counts, and the dose-response relationship between them was analyzed by using the restricted cubic spline (RCS) function.Results:The age of the subjects was (63.17±12.02) years; 2 851 (50.91%) were males; and the M ( Q 1, Q 3) of urinary creatinine-corrected urinary cadmium levels was 2.69 (1.52, 4.69) μg/g·creatinine. After adjusting for confounding factors, the results of linear mixed effects model analysis showed that for each 1-unit increase in urinary creatinine-corrected urinary cadmium level, the percentage change [% (95% CI)] of leukocyte count and lymphocyte count was -1.70% (-2.61%, -0.79%) and -1.57% (-2.86%, -0.26%), respectively. RCS function showed a negative linear relationship between urinary creatinine-corrected urinary cadmium levels and leukocyte counts and lymphocyte counts, respectively (all Pnon-linear>0.05). Conclusion:Urinary cadmium levels are negatively associated with leukocyte count and lymphocyte count among middle-aged and older adults aged 40 to 89 years in selected areas of China.

Objective:Exploring the clinical effects of silicone silver ion foam dressing in managing scalp donor site wounds in burn patients.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of burn patients admitted to the 940th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of PLA from January 2020 to January 2023. Patients underwent intraoperative harvesting of split-thickness skin grafting to repair deep burn wounds, with the denuded scalp area covered by either silicone silver ion foam dressing (Group A) or petrolatum gauze (Group B). Comparison of the following 5 parameters between the two groups: (1) Postoperative wound healing time. (2) Initial dressing change pain score was assessed using the numeric rating scale (NRS). 0 points indicated no pain, 1-3 points indicated mild pain, 4-6 points indicated moderate pain, and 7-10 points indicated severe pain. (3) Number of dressing changes. (4) Secondary trauma score, with a total score ranging from 1 to 3, where a higher score indicates more severe trauma. (5) Proportion of wounds healed to grade A (number of grade A healed cases/total number of cases in each group×100%). Depending on the data type, between-group comparisons were performed using t-test, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, or chi-square test. P<0.05 was considered a statistically significant difference. Results:A total of 60 patients, with 30 in each Group A and Group B, were included in the study. Group A was comprised of 18 males and 12 females, with an average age of (29.4±16.6) years. The burn area was (21.43±5.66)% of the total body surface area (TBSA), and the area of skin taken from the scalp was (1.80±0.61)% of TBSA. Group B was comprised of 20 males and 10 females, with an average age of (30.2±16.2) years. The burn area was (21.37±5.67)% of TBSA, and the area of skin taken from the scalp was (1.78±0.63)% of TBSA. No statistically significant differences were observed in gender distribution, age, burn area, and scalp area between the two groups( P>0.05). The wound healing time in the denuded scalp area was shorter in Group A than in Group B [(5.97±0.41) days vs. (6.93±0.58) days, t=-7.40, P<0.001]. The initial NRS pain score during dressing change was lower in Group A than in Group B [3.0 (2.0, 4.0) points vs. 5.5 (4.0, 6.0) points, Z=-4.82, P<0.001]. Group A had fewer frequency of dressing changes compared to Group B [2 (2, 2) vs. 4 (3, 5), Z=-6.64, P<0.001]. The secondary injury score was lower in Group A than in Group B [1 (1, 1) points vs. 3 (3, 3) points, Z=-7.08, P<0.001]. The proportion of grade A healing was 96.7% (29/30) in Group A and 90.0% (27/30) in Group B, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=0.27, P=0.605). Conclusion:The application of silicone silver ion foam dressing to cover the denuded scalp area of burn patients significantly improves therapeutic efficacy compared to petrolatum gauze. It can shorten wound healing time, reduce the frequency of dressing changes, alleviate pain, minimize the occurrence of secondary injuries, and enhance patient comfort.