The gradient field, one of the core magnetic fields in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems, is generated by gradient coils and plays a critical role in spatial encoding and the generation of echo signals. The uniformity or linearity of the gradient field directly impacts the quality and distortion level of MRI images. However, traditional point measurement methods lack accuracy in assessing the linearity of gradient fields, making it difficult to provide effective parameters for image distortion correction. This paper introduced a spherical measurement-based method that involved measuring the magnetic field distribution on a sphere, followed by detailed magnetic field calculations and linearity analysis. This study, applied to assess the nonlinearity of asymmetric head gradient coils, demonstrated more comprehensive and precise results compared to point measurement methods. This advancement not only strengthens the scientific basis for the design of gradient coils but also provides more reliable parameters and methods for the accurate correction of MRI image distortions.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging/instrumentation* ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods* ; Nonlinear Dynamics ; Magnetic Fields ; Algorithms ; Phantoms, Imaging

While multiple step saccades (MSS) are occasionally reported in the healthy population, they are more evident in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Therefore, MSS has been suggested as a biological marker for the diagnosis of PD. However, the lack of clarity on the neural mechanism underlying the generation of MSS largely impedes their application in the clinic. We have proposed recently that MSS are triggered by the discrepancy between desired and executed saccades. Accordingly, brain regions involved in saccadic planning and execution might play a role in the generation of MSS. To test this hypothesis, we explored the role of the prefrontal (PFC) and posterior parietal cortex (PPC) in generating MSS by conducting two experiments: electroencephalographic recording and single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation in the PFC or PPC of humans while participants were performing a gap saccade task. We found that the PFC and PPC are involved in the generation of MSS.
Humans ; Parietal Lobe/physiology* ; Saccades/physiology* ; Prefrontal Cortex/physiology* ; Male ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ; Female ; Electroencephalography ; Adult ; Young Adult

Pulpotomy, which belongs to vital pulp therapy, has become a strategy for managing pulpitis in recent decades. This minimally invasive treatment reflects the recognition of preserving healthy dental pulp and optimizing long-term patient-centered outcomes. Pulpotomy is categorized into partial pulpotomy (PP), the removal of a partial segment of the coronal pulp tissue, and full pulpotomy (FP), the removal of whole coronal pulp, which is followed by applying the biomaterials onto the remaining pulp tissue and ultimately restoring the tooth. Procedural decisions for the amount of pulp tissue removal or retention depend on the diagnostic of pulp vitality, the overall treatment plan, the patient's general health status, and pulp inflammation reassessment during operation. This statement represents the consensus of an expert committee convened by the Society of Cariology and Endodontics, Chinese Stomatological Association. It addresses the current evidence to support the application of pulpotomy as a potential alternative to root canal treatment (RCT) on mature permanent teeth with pulpitis from a biological basis, the development of capping biomaterial, and the diagnostic considerations to evidence-based medicine. This expert statement intends to provide a clinical protocol of pulpotomy, which facilitates practitioners in choosing the optimal procedure and increasing their confidence in this rapidly evolving field.
Humans ; Calcium Compounds/therapeutic use* ; Consensus ; Dental Pulp ; Dentition, Permanent ; Oxides/therapeutic use* ; Pulpitis/therapy* ; Pulpotomy/standards*

Intentional tooth replantation (ITR) is an advanced treatment modality and the procedure of last resort for preserving teeth with inaccessible endodontic or resorptive lesions. ITR is defined as the deliberate extraction of a tooth; evaluation of the root surface, endodontic manipulation, and repair; and placement of the tooth back into its original socket. Case reports, case series, cohort studies, and randomized controlled trials have demonstrated the efficacy of ITR in the retention of natural teeth that are untreatable or difficult to manage with root canal treatment or endodontic microsurgery. However, variations in clinical protocols for ITR exist due to the empirical nature of the original protocols and rapid advancements in the field of oral biology and dental materials. This heterogeneity in protocols may cause confusion among dental practitioners; therefore, guidelines and considerations for ITR should be explicated. This expert consensus discusses the biological foundation of ITR, the available clinical protocols and current status of ITR in treating teeth with refractory apical periodontitis or anatomical aberration, and the main complications of this treatment, aiming to refine the clinical management of ITR in accordance with the progress of basic research and clinical studies; the findings suggest that ITR may become a more consistent evidence-based option in dental treatment.
Humans ; Tooth Replantation/methods* ; Consensus ; Periapical Periodontitis/surgery*

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum orexin-A(OXA)and aspartate amin-otransferase(AST)levels and the disease severity and prognosis in patients with acute ischemic stroke(AIS).Methods A total of 167 AIS patients(AIS group)treated at Hebei Provincial People's Hospital from January 2021 to January 2024 and 84 healthy individuals undergoing physical examinations(control group)were selected as the research objects.AIS patients were categorized by severity into mild AIS group[National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)score＜5,42 cases],moderate AIS group(NIHSS score 5—＜16,56 cases),moderate-to-severe AIS group(NIHSS score 16—＜21,36 cases),and severe AIS group(NIHSS score ≥21,33 cases).Based on 3-month prognosis(modified Rankin scale),patients were divided into poor prognosis group(＞2 grade,54 cases)and good prognosis group(≤2 grade,113 cases).Spearman correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between NIHSS scores and serum OXA and AST levels in AIS pa-tients.Multivariate unconditional Logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between serum OXA and AST levels and the prognosis of AIS patients.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the predictive efficacy of serum OXA and AST levels for prognosis.Results Compared with the control group,serum OXA level in the AIS group was lower,while AST level was higher(P＜0.05).Ser-um OXA level progressively decreased,and AST level progressively increased across the mild,moderate,mod-erately severe,and severe AIS groups(P＜0.05).NIHSS score was negatively correlated with serum OXA level and positively correlated with AST level in AIS patients(P＜0.05).High OXA level was an independent protective factor for poor prognosis in AIS patients,while high AST level was an independent risk factor(P＜0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)of the combined assessment of serum OXA and AST levels in predic-ting poor prognosis in AIS patients was 0.873,which was greater than the AUC of OXA(0.793)and AST(0.770)alone(P＜0.05).Conclusion In AIS patients,lower serum OXA level and higher AST level are as-sociated with disease severity and poor prognosis.The combined evaluation of serum OXA and AST levels has higher predictive value for AIS prognosis.

Objective To compare the clinical effects of single-puncture and double-puncture subcutaneous tunneling techniques for PICC placement in cancer patients,and to provide references for nurses in selecting appropriate catheterization methods.Methods A continuous sampling method was adopted to select cancer patients who underwent PICC placement in the Department of Oncology at a tertiary general hospital in Nanning from June 2022 to December 2023.According to the actual catheterization technique received by patients,they were assigned to either the single-puncture or double-puncture subcutaneous tunneling group.After 1:1 propensity score matching(PSM),the 2 groups were compared in terms of catheter-related complication rates,pain scores and total catheterization time.Results After propensity score matching,79 patients were included in each group.The results showed that the incidence of catheter-related thrombosis,pain scores,and total catheterization time in the one-needle subcutaneous tunneling group were significantly lower than those in the two-needle subcutaneous tunneling group,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).Conclusion The one-needle subcutaneous tunneling method can effectively reduce the incidence of catheter-related thrombosis and pain during catheterization in cancer patients,while also shortening the total catheterization time.

Objective:To analyze the differences in routine blood tests and infection markers among elderly AIDS patients with other opportunistic infections, to explore their immune status and inflammatory responses, and to provide new molecular markers for clinical diagnosis.Methods:The study included general indicators, routine blood tests, and infection markers of older HIV patients with other opportunistic infections admitted to Beijing You'an Hospital, Capital Medical University, from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2024.Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 27.0 software, with a significance level set at P<0.05. Results:A total of 94 elderly AIDS patients with various opportunistic infections were included in this study.Among them, the majority were co-infected with tuberculosis, accounting for 60 cases(63.83%), followed by 23 cases(24.47%)of AIDS patients co-infected with syphilis.Additionally, there were 7 cases of AIDS co-infected with amoebiasis(7.45%)and 4 cases of AIDS co-infected with monkeypox(4.26%).Almost all cases of combined infections were male, with males comprising 91.3% of AIDS patients co-infected with syphilis and 100% in the other co-infected groups.There were 9 blood routine and infectious markers that exhibited significant differences between patients with HIV co-infected with tuberculosis and those with other opportunistic infections.These markers included lymphocytes(LYM), hemoglobin(HGB), erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR), C-reactive protein(CRP), procalcitonin(PCT), T lymphocytes, CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells, and the CD4/CD8 ratio( P<0.05).Specifically, the levels of LYM, HGB, T lymphocytes, CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells, and the CD4/CD8 ratio in elderly AIDS patients with tuberculosis were significantly lower than those in patients with other co-infections(all P<0.05).Conversely, the levels of inflammatory factors such as PCT, ESR, and CRP were notably higher in the former group(all P<0.05).The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis revealed that when LYM was utilized as an individual indicator for the differential diagnosis between AIDS patients with tuberculosis and those with other opportunistic infections, the area under the curve(AUC)amounted to 0.832.However, the CRP/LYM ratio demonstrated the optimal diagnostic performance in differential diagnosis, with an AUC reaching 0.866. Conclusions:The immune function of elderly AIDS patients is further compromised following co-infection with tuberculosis, which is accompanied by a severe inflammatory response.The CRP/LYM ratio shows promise as a hematological molecular marker for differentiating between AIDS patients with tuberculosis and those with other opportunistic infections.

Objective:To analyze the physical activity level of patients treated with a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for coronary artery disease in the early out-of-hospital recovery phase, and the factors influencing it.Methods:Patients who had been discharged within the previous 6 months after their first PCI treatment were surveyed using a general information questionnaire, the long form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), the Chinese version of the Tilburg Frailty Scale, the Social Support Rating Scale, and for their ability in the activities of daily living. Epidemiological descriptive methods were used to analyze the reported physical activity levels, and multifactoral logistic regression was applied to explore the influencing factors. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was drawn to evaluate the predictive value of the risk factors.Results:A total of 394 former patients were surveyed, including 117 (30%) reporting a low level of physical activity, 202 (51%) describing a moderate level and 75 (19%) claiming a high level. The univariate analysis revealed significant differences in physical activity levels among those of different ages, with different chronic co-morbidities, and with different frailty and self-care ability. Multifactoral logistic regression analysis showed that advanced age, chronic co-morbidities, frailty and little self-care ability are significant predictors of a low level of physical activity. The area under the ROC curve for predicting the physical activity level by combining those four factors was 0.89 (95% CI 0.84-0.94), with a sensitivity of 0.89 and a specificity of 0.80. Conclusions:The physical activity level of patients treated with PCI for coronary disease is moderately low early after their release from the hospital. Targeted intervention to increase it is called for.

Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of crisaborole ointment 2% versus pimecrolimus cream 1% in the treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children aged 2 years or older.Methods:A multicenter, randomized, open-label, controlled clinical trial was conducted. A total of 120 pediatric patients aged 2 - 17 years with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis were enrolled from departments of dermatology of 8 hospitals in China between March 2022 and February 2023. The participants were randomly assigned in a 1∶1 ratio to the crisaborole group and the pimecrolimus group, and received the treatment with crisaborole ointment 2% and pimecrolimus cream 1% respectively, twice a day for 4 weeks. Visits were scheduled at baseline/on day 1, as well as on days 8, 15, and 29. The primary efficacy outcome was the percentage of patients achieving the Investigator's Static Global Assessment (ISGA) success (defined as clear [0] or almost clear [1] on the ISGA scale, combined with ≥ 2‐grade improvement from baseline) on day 29. The secondary efficacy outcomes included changes in the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) total scores from baseline to day 29, percentages of patients achieving ISGA improvement (defined as clear [0] or almost clear [1] on the ISGA scale), as well as changes in the Peak Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) /Infants' Dermatology Life Quality Index (IDLQI) /Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) scores, and in the Dermatitis Family Impact (DFI) scores. Drug safety was evaluated according to the incidence of adverse events. Categorical data were compared using the chi-square test. Since measurement data did not follow a normal distribution, the rank sum test was used for comparisons of measurement data between groups.Results:A total of 106 children with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis were included in the per-protocol analysis set, with 52 in the crisaborole group (26 males and 26 females) and 54 in the pimecrolimus group (27 males and 27 females). There were no significant differences in age, disease duration, ISGA and EASI scores at baseline between the two groups (all P > 0.05). On day 29, 22 patients (42.31%) in the crisaborole group and 25 (46.30%) in the pimecrolimus group achieved ISGA success, with no significant difference between the two groups ( χ2 = 0.17, P = 0.68) ; 35 patients (67.31%) in the crisaborole group and 45 (83.33%) in the pimecrolimus group achieved ISGA improvement, also with no significant difference between the two groups ( χ2 = 3.68, P = 0.06) ; additionally, there were no significant differences in the EASI, pruritus NRS, DLQI/IDLQI/CDLQI, or DFI scores between the two groups (all P > 0.05). Adverse reactions to the two topical agents were mainly local reactions such as mild to moderate pain, itching, or worsening of itching, and no obvious systemic adverse reactions occurred. The incidence of drug-related adverse reactions was 46.15% (24 cases) in the crisaborole group and 37.04% (20 cases) in the pimecrolimus group, with no significant difference between the two groups ( χ2 = 0.91, P = 0.34) . Conclusion:The efficacy of crisaborole ointment 2% was comparable to that of pimecrolimus cream 1% in the treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children aged ≥ 2 years, and it yielded early and rapid improvement in the quality of life of patients and their families, with good safety and tolerability profiles.