Objective: To analyze the mediating effect of activities of daily living (ADL) among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on caregiver ability and caregiver burden, so as to provide a basis for improving the quality of care. Methods: From February 2024 to March 2025, COPD patients and their caregivers from the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine of a tertiary hospital in Haikou were selected using convenience sampling method. Data on the basic characteristics of both caregivers and patients were collected through questionnaire surveys. The Chinese version of the Family Caregiver Capacity Scale, the Chinese version of the Caregiver Burden Inventory, and the Barthel Index were used to assess caregiver ability, caregiver burden, and patients' ADL, respectively. The mediating effect of ADL among COPD patients on caregiver ability and caregiver burden was analyzed using the Process macro 4.0, with the significance tested via the Bootstrap method. Results: A total of 348 caregivers were surveyed, among whom 274 (78.74%) were females and 74 (21.26%) were males. The majority of caregivers were aged 40 years and above, with 291 individuals (83.62%). The relationship between caregivers and patients was primarily that of being their children, with 185 individuals (53.16%). Correspondingly, 348 COPD patients were surveyed, and the predominant type of medical insurance was the New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme, with 172 cases (49.43%). The median scores of caregiver ability, caregiver burden, and patients' ADL were 19.00 (interquartile range, 5.00), 47.00 (interquartile range, 8.00) and 45.00 (interquartile range, 15.00) points, respectively. Mediating analysis showed that caregiver ability directly affected caregiver burden, with an effect value of 0.693 (95%CI: 0.553-0.832). It also indirectly affected caregiver burden through the patients' ADL, with an effect value of 0.104 (95%CI: 0.029-0.179). This mediating effect accounted for 13.05% of the total effect. Conclusion The ADL of COPD patients played a mediating role between caregiver ability and caregiver burden, with caregiver ability exerting a significant positive indirect effect on caregiver burden through patients' ADL.

AIM To investigate the effects of volatile oil from Acorus tatarinowii Schott(A.tatarinowii)on neuroinflammation in a rat model of tic disorders.METHODS The SD rats were randomly divided into the blank group(8 rats)and the model group(40 rats).The rat models of tic disorders established successfully by intraperitoneal injection of iminodiapropionitrile(IDPN)were further divided into the model group,the tiapride group and the high-dose,moderate-dose and low-dose A.tatarinowii volatile oil groups,with 8 rats in each group.The 4-week intragastric treatment of respective drug was initiated the next day after the completion of modeling,and normal saline was dosed upon the blank group and the model group,during which the rats' behavioral changes were assessed by stereotyped behavior and motor behavior score every week.After the administration,the rats had their morphological changes of striatal neurons observed by Nissl staining;their levels of TGF-β,IL-10,TNF-αand IL-1β in serum and striatum detected by ELISA;their striatal protein expressions of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry;and their striatal expressions of M1,M2 microglia marker proteins CD86,CD206,SYN and PSD-95 detected by immunofluorescence co-staining.RESULTS Compared with the model group,the A.tatarinowii volatile oil groups demonstrated improved twitch-like behavior;decreased scores of motor behavior and rigid behavior(P＜0.01);alleviated damage of Nissl bodies in neurons;increased serum and striatum levels of TGF-β and IL-10(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);decreased levels of TNF-α and IL-1β(P＜0.01);decreased striatal protein expressions of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1(P＜0.01);increased protein expressions of PSD95 and SYN(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);and decreased CD86/Iba1(P＜0.01)and increased CD206/Iba1(P＜0.01)in terms of the fluorescence intensity.CONCLUSION A.tatarinowii volatile oil contributes an anti-tic effect and improves the neuroinflammation in the brain of the rat model of tic disorders by promoting the transformation of microglia into M2 type via CX3CL1/CX3CR1 signal axis.

Objective To compare the pain relief and long-term clinical success rate of vital pulp therapy and root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth with carious irreversible pulpitis.Methods A total of 90 patients diagnosed with carious irreversible pulpitis in mature permanent teeth were collected at Shanghai Stomatological Hospital from Jan 2021 to Jun 2022.They were randomly divided into two groups:test group(n=45)undergoing vital pulp therapy(VPT)and control group(n=45)undergoing root canal treatment(RCT).Pain scores were recorded before treatment,24 hours after operation and 7 days after operation.We conducted clinical evaluation and imaging analysis at 1,6,and 12 months after the surgery,then compared the pain scores and treatment success rates between the two groups.Results Eighty-one patients,including 39 patients in group VPT aged(31.00±1.43)years old and 42 patients in group RCT aged(30.60±1.54)years old,received follow-up for more than 1 year,and the success rate of the test group and control was 97.44%and 95.24%.The pain degree of the two groups was reduced at 24 hours and 7 days after operation(P<0.05),and the pain score of the test group was reduced compared with that in the control group 7 days after operation(P<0.01).Conclusion Compared with root canal treatment,vital pulp therapy for mature permanent teeth with carious irreversible pulpitis can achieve good results in short-term pain evolution and long-term clinical success.

Objective The effect of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation combined with recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide(rhBNP)treatment on ventricular remodeling after percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)in elderly patients with acute anterior wall myocardial infarction.Methods A retrospective analysis was con-ducted on 66 elderly patients with acute anterior myocardial infarction who underwent emergency PCI in our hospital from January 2018 to June 2023.They were divided into a control group(n=32)who underwent PCI+rhBNP,and a study group(n=32)who underwent PCI+rhBNP+intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation.Blood pressure,lactic acid level,mechanical complications,ventricular remodeling,inflammatory factors,myocardial enzymology,ox-LDL level were detected and compared between the two groups.Results Before treatment,Lactic acid,diastolic blood pressure,systolic blood pressure,left ventricular end-systolic diameter(LVESD),left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDD),left ventricular posterior wall thickness(LVPWT),left ventricular remodeling index(LVRI),left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),homocysteine(Hcy),interleukin-6(IL-6)and myocardial troponin were compared between the two groups.Myocardial troponin T(cTnT),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),creatine kinase isoenzyme(CK-MB),oxidized low density lipoprotein(ox-LDL)levels(P>0.05);At 3 months follow-up after discharge,the levels of lactic acid,LVESD,LVEDD,LVPWT,LVRI,Hcy,IL-6,cTnT,LDH,CK-MB and ox-LDL were decreased,and the levels were lower in the study group,and the levels of diastolic blood pressure,systolic blood pressure and LVEF were increased,and the levels were higher in the study group(P<0.05).The pro-portion of mechanical complications between the two groups before and after treatment were compared(P>0.05).Conclusion In elderly patients with acute anterior myocardial infarction after emergency PCI,intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation combined with rhBNP could alleviate ventricular remodeling,myocardial injury,reduce inflamma-tory injury,improve oxidative stress response,and regulate tissue perfusion.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy,safety and economy of inclisiran in the treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with hypercholesterolemia.METHODS A rapid health technology assessment(HTA)approach was employed.HTA reports,systematic reviews(SR)/meta-analyses,and pharmacoeconomic studies related to inclisiran were systematically identified through comprehensive searches of Chinese and English databases,including PubMed,Embase,the Cochrane Library,CNKI and Wanfang database,supplemented by HTA institutional repositories.The search timeframe spanned from database inception to April 2025.The results of the studies were descriptively analysed and summarized through literature screening,data extraction and literature quality assessment.RESULTS The final analysis included 22 studies,comprising one HTA report,15 SR/meta-analyses,and 6 pharmacoeconomic evaluations.Regarding therapeutic efficacy,compared with control group,inclisiran could significantly reduce the levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol,proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9,total cholesterol,triacylglycerol,apolipoprotein B,and lipoprotein(a),increase the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,and reduce the risk of adverse cardiovascular events.In terms of safety,the inclisiran group showed no significant difference compared with the control group in the risk of total adverse events,serious adverse events,or non-serious adverse events;however,an increased incidence of injection site reactions was observed,most of which were mild.In terms of cost-effectiveness,there were discrepancies in research conclusions both domestically and internationally.More studies indicated that inclisiran did not demonstrate cost-effectiveness advantage and would require an appropriate price reduction to meet cost-effectiveness criteria.CONCLUSIONS Inclisiran demonstrates favorable efficacy and acceptable safety in treating atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with hypercholesterolemia,though its economic profile requires improvement.

BACKGROUND:The asymmetrical biomechanical environment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis can lead to further wedge deformation of the vertebral body,which may affect cardiopulmonary function and compress nerves in severe cases.Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with different degrees of scoliosis should be treated with exercise,bracing,and surgery.However,the mechanical mechanism of selecting an orthopedic approach remains unclear due to the individual variability of patients.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the biomechanical mechanism of different orthopedic modalities for the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis to provide a basis for clinical selection of treatment modalities based on the spine model of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients.METHODS:Based on the CT images of an adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patient,a scoliosis model(C7-L5)was reconstructed in Mimics software in three dimensions,and lateral thrust force was applied at the T8/T9 thorax and vertical distraction force was applied over the C7 vertebra with the magnitude of 20,40,60,80,100,and 120 N.The intervertebral disc stress and vertebral displacement in concave and convex sides,and Cobb angle of the spine were analyzed under two orthopedic modalities.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)With lateral thrust,there was no significant change in the C7T1-T7T8 intervertebral disc.The concave and convex stress of T7T8-L4L5 segment decreased first and then increased with the increase of lateral thrust force.The correction effect of lateral thrust on the segment near T8T9 was obvious and weakened with the extension of the segment to the cephalic and caudal ends.At 120 N of lateral thrust,the thoracic Cobb angle changed from 53.2° to 32.5° and the lumbar Cobb angle changed from 50.2° to 43.9°.(2)With the vertical distraction,the thoracic intervertebral disc stresses first decreased and then increased,and all the lumbar disc stresses decreased.The C7 displacement was the most obvious,and the correction effect gradually diminished with the segment extended to the caudal end.At a vertical distraction force of 120 N,the thoracic Cobb angle changed from 53.2° to 39.4° and the lumbar Cobb angle changed from 50.2° to 47.6°.(3)It is concluded that both orthopedic modalities provide improvement in the degree of scoliosis,with the thoracic correction being greater than the lumbar correction.Also,the asymmetric stress distribution on the concave and convex sides is improved,which contributes to normal bone growth.A vertical distraction approach is appropriate for larger Cobb angles,and a lateral thrust approach is appropriate for smaller Cobb angles.The results of this study help to understand the mechanism of spinal orthosis and provide a theoretical basis for the choice of orthopedic approach.

This paper used the Experimental Teaching Management Center as an example to explore the transformation practices of experimental technicians in job responsibilities, team structure, teaching and research capabilities, performance mechanisms, and collaborative education systems. The article systematically analyzed the advantages of the experimental technical team in resource openness, technical support, large instrument management, and multi-team collaboration, and summarized the practical performance through data on project approvals, competition awards, research achievements, and student growth. Additionally, it identified key challenges, including insufficient training, incomplete incentive mechanisms, and the need for improved resource coordination. To address these challenges, the study recommends the continuous enhancement of personnel capacity building, the reform of assessment systems, and the reinforcement of cross-departmental collaboration. This study provides a reference for medical schools to construct the practical path of experimental technical teams participating in the cultivation of innovative and entrepreneurial talents.

Objective:To investigate the effects of different doses of ionizing radiation on the changes in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in the intestines of mice.Methods:C57BL/6 mice aged 6-8 weeks were randomly assigned to four groups (0 Gy, 0.1 Gy, 0.2 Gy, and 0.5 Gy; n=10/group) and subjected to single whole-body irradiation using a 60Co γ-ray source at a dose rate of 13 mGy/min. At 20 weeks post-irradiation, jejunal, ileal, and colonic tissues were collected. Immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were employed to assess mRNA and protein expression of NADPH oxidase components. Hydrogen peroxide (H 2O 2) levels and the expression of Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-κB), a transcriptional regulator of Dual Oxidase 2 (DUOX2), were also measured. Results:Compared with the 0 Gy group, mice in the 0.5 Gy group exhibited shortened villus length in the jejunum, villus fusion in the ileum, and increased crypt spacing in the colon, with statistically significant differences ( t=2.48, P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in other dose groups compared to the 0 Gy group ( P > 0.05).The expression of H 2O 2 in the jejunum, ileum, and colon of the 0.1 Gy group was significantly elevated compared to the 0 Gy group ( t=4.12, 3.12, 3.12; P < 0.05). In the 0.5 Gy group, H 2O 2 expression in the jejunum and colon increased nearly twofold relative to the 0 Gy group ( t=8.67, 8.69; P < 0.05).At 20 weeks post-irradiation, DUOX2 protein expression levels in the jejunum, ileum, and colon were markedly higher in irradiated mice than in the 0 Gy group ( t=3.03, 10.29, 2.74; P < 0.05). DUOX2 mRNA levels in the jejunum, ileum, and colon of the 0.1 Gy group were significantly upregulated compared to the 0 Gy group ( t=12.75, 4.12, 11.14; P < 0.05). Additionally, NOX4 mRNA expression increased in the jejunum of the 0.2 Gy group ( t=4.54, P < 0.05) and in the ileum of the 0.1 Gy group ( t=4.13, P < 0.05).The nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), a transcriptional regulator of DUOX2, showed an upward trend in expression in the jejunum, ileum, and colon of the 0.1 Gy group compared to the 0 Gy group, with statistically significant differences ( t=8.73, 8.18, 7.02; P < 0.05). Conclusion:Low-dose radiation induces long-term effects on the intestinal tract. Specifically, 0.5 Gy irradiation causes mild morphological alterations in the jejunum, ileum, and colon, while 0.1 Gy irradiation promotes the upregulation of DUOX2, a NADPH oxidase, in intestinal tissues.

This paper used the Experimental Teaching Management Center as an example to explore the transformation practices of experimental technicians in job responsibilities, team structure, teaching and research capabilities, performance mechanisms, and collaborative education systems. The article systematically analyzed the advantages of the experimental technical team in resource openness, technical support, large instrument management, and multi-team collaboration, and summarized the practical performance through data on project approvals, competition awards, research achievements, and student growth. Additionally, it identified key challenges, including insufficient training, incomplete incentive mechanisms, and the need for improved resource coordination. To address these challenges, the study recommends the continuous enhancement of personnel capacity building, the reform of assessment systems, and the reinforcement of cross-departmental collaboration. This study provides a reference for medical schools to construct the practical path of experimental technical teams participating in the cultivation of innovative and entrepreneurial talents.

AIM To investigate the effects of volatile oil from Acorus tatarinowii Schott(A.tatarinowii)on neuroinflammation in a rat model of tic disorders.METHODS The SD rats were randomly divided into the blank group(8 rats)and the model group(40 rats).The rat models of tic disorders established successfully by intraperitoneal injection of iminodiapropionitrile(IDPN)were further divided into the model group,the tiapride group and the high-dose,moderate-dose and low-dose A.tatarinowii volatile oil groups,with 8 rats in each group.The 4-week intragastric treatment of respective drug was initiated the next day after the completion of modeling,and normal saline was dosed upon the blank group and the model group,during which the rats' behavioral changes were assessed by stereotyped behavior and motor behavior score every week.After the administration,the rats had their morphological changes of striatal neurons observed by Nissl staining;their levels of TGF-β,IL-10,TNF-αand IL-1β in serum and striatum detected by ELISA;their striatal protein expressions of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry;and their striatal expressions of M1,M2 microglia marker proteins CD86,CD206,SYN and PSD-95 detected by immunofluorescence co-staining.RESULTS Compared with the model group,the A.tatarinowii volatile oil groups demonstrated improved twitch-like behavior;decreased scores of motor behavior and rigid behavior(P＜0.01);alleviated damage of Nissl bodies in neurons;increased serum and striatum levels of TGF-β and IL-10(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);decreased levels of TNF-α and IL-1β(P＜0.01);decreased striatal protein expressions of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1(P＜0.01);increased protein expressions of PSD95 and SYN(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);and decreased CD86/Iba1(P＜0.01)and increased CD206/Iba1(P＜0.01)in terms of the fluorescence intensity.CONCLUSION A.tatarinowii volatile oil contributes an anti-tic effect and improves the neuroinflammation in the brain of the rat model of tic disorders by promoting the transformation of microglia into M2 type via CX3CL1/CX3CR1 signal axis.