Background/Aims: Non-pharmacological treatments are crucial for managing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), yet patient engagement remains a challenge. Understanding patients' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding these treatments is essential for improving care. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted across 5 hospitals, from October 2023 to February 2024. A self-designed knowledge, attitudes, and practices questionnaire along with the IBS quality of life and IBS severity scoring system was administered, and 496 valid responses were analyzed. Statistical analyses included correlation tests, multivariate linear regression, and mediation effect analysis. Results: The median scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice were 28, 25.5, and 21, respectively. Significant positive correlations were found between knowledge-attitude (r = 0.195), knowledge-practice (r = 0.364), and attitude-practice (r = 0.151). The multivariate linear regression analysis further indicated that knowledge (β = 0.399, P < 0.001) and attitude (β = 0.219, P = 0.022) positively correlated with the practical performance. SEM revealed that knowledge had a significant direct effect on both attitude (β = 0.186, P = 0.013) and practice (β = 0.356, P = 0.006). However, the direct effect of attitude on practice was not significant, and attitude did not mediate the relationship between knowledge and practice. Conclusions IBS patients exhibit a significant gap between their positive attitudes and their actual practices concerning non-pharmacological treatments. Knowledge is a direct driver of practice, but positive attitudes alone are insufficient to translate into behavior. Healthcare providers must move beyond simply fostering positive attitudes and focus on targeted educational interventions that provide actionable knowledge and skills to improve patient outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze sex and age distribution of global disease burden of calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) from 1990 to 2021. METHODS: CAVD data during 1990-2021 were obtained from the IHME website for Global Burden of Disease (GBD). The prevalence, mortality, years lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were analyzed by gender and age groups. Joinpoint regression was used to calculate annual percentage change (APC) and average annual percentage change (AAPC). RESULTS: In 2021, there were 13.32 million CAVD patients and 142 000 deaths caused by CAVD globally. Age-standardized prevalence was higher in males (193.2/10⁵) than that in females (128.9/10⁵). Patients in 65-<85 age group accounted for 64.0% of total cases, while those ≥85 years old accounted for 16.1%. From 1990 to 2021, prevalence increased in both sexes with an AAPC of 0.72% for males and 0.57% for females, respectively. Prevalence grew fastest from 2000 to 2010, slowed thereafter, and declined from 2015 to 2021. In <65 years old, the mortality of males was 2.4 times higher than that of females, while in ≥85 years old, mortality of females (117.3/10⁵) exceeded that of males (99.1/10⁵). YLD rates increased with age, and were higher in males for all age groups. DALY rates decreased overall but increased in ≥85 years old, with a greater increase in females. CONCLUSIONS There are significant gender and age disparities in global disease burden of CAVD, with the elderly, especially super-elderly females deserving particular attention. It is recommended to develop personalized intervention strategies for these populations.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Calcinosis/mortality* ; Prevalence ; Global Burden of Disease ; Aged, 80 and over ; Middle Aged ; Aortic Valve/pathology* ; Aortic Valve Stenosis/epidemiology* ; Age Distribution ; Adult ; Disability-Adjusted Life Years ; Sex Distribution ; Global Health ; Aortic Valve Disease/epidemiology* ; Sex Factors

Pulpitis is a prevalent inflammatory disease in dentistry, and root canal therapy remains the primary clinical treatment for it. However, pulp removal leads to reduced tooth fracture resistance and complications such as secondary infection and tooth fracture. As a potential alternative, vital pulp therapy (VPT) relies on precise assessment of pulp status; yet current clinical diagnostic methods lack specificity. The establishment of appropriate animal models for pulpitis is crucial for investigating its pathogenesis, developing specific diagnostic biomarkers, and optimizing VPT strategies. This review systematically summarizes experimental animals selection based on anatomical compatibility and pathological similarity, as well as model construction methods and multimodal evaluation systems for pulpitis animal models, aiming to provide insights for related researches.

Objective:To investigate the influencing factors of adult dental fluorosis in drinking water-borne endemic fluorosis areas of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.Methods:A case-control study was conducted in January 2024 to select adult fluorosis patients (case group) and healthy individuals (control group) from the drinking water-borne endemic fluorosis areas in Helinger County, Hohhot City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region as the survey subjects. Urine samples were collected to determine urinary fluoride concentration. A questionnaire survey was conducted. SPSS 25.0 software was used for χ 2 test and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) was used to analyze the association between urinary fluoride concentration and the risk of dental fluorosis in adults. Results:A total of 161 individuals were included in the survey, including 100 in the case group and 61 in the control group. The results of univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in the distribution of gender, smoking, and urinary fluoride concentration between the case group and the control group (χ 2 = 7.54, 5.02, 9.69, P < 0.05). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that gender ( OR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.18 - 0.73, P = 0.005) and urinary fluoride concentration ( OR = 3.08, 95% CI: 1.46 - 6.67, P = 0.003) were the influencing factors of adult fluorosis. RCS analysis showed a significant linear dose-response relationship between the risk of dental fluorosis and urinary fluoride concentration ( Poverall trend = 0.001, Pnonlinear = 0.071). When the urinary fluoride concentration was greater than 1.57 mg/L, the risk of dental fluorosis increased with the increase of urinary fluoride concentration. Conclusion:Gender and urinary fluoride concentration are the risk factors of dental fluorosis in adults in drinking water-borne endemic fluorosis areas of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Objective To fabricate wall-less vascular tissue mimicking materials(TMM)with different tube diameters that match the hemodynamic parameters of human carotid arteries,and to investigate their hemodynamic characteristics.Methods TMM with different diameters and blood mimicking fluids containing scattering particles were fabricated.The variation laws of hemodynamic parameters under different flow velocities and TMM phantom diameters were verified.Key hemodynamic parameters including peak systolic velocity(PSV),end-diastolic velocity(EDV),and resistance index were measured using Doppler ultrasound,and their clinical application value in carotid artery diseases was evaluated.Results The fabricated samples exhibited a sound velocity of(1506.2±0.1)m/s and an attenuation of(0.76±0.01)dB/cm,and the vascular diameters were 4.0 and 6.0 mm,which corresponded to the normal clinical range of the external and internal carotid arteries,respectively.For the 4.0 mm TMM,both PSV and EDV were linearly correlated with flow velocity(R2=0.77,P<0.001;R2=0.74,P=0.001),and Pearson correlation analysis confirmed strong positive correlations(r=0.89,95%CI:0.82-0.93;r=0.94,95%CI:0.90-0.97,all P<0.001).For the 6.0 mm TMM,PSV and EDV also demonstrated significant linear correlations with flow velocity(R2=0.70,P=0.001;R2=0.61,P=0.005),with Pearson correlation analysis revealing strong positive correlations(r=0.86,95%CI:0.78-0.91;r=0.79,95%CI:0.68-0.87).All the data were consistent with hemodynamic parameters and followed the variation law of hemodynamic parameters.Conclusion The fabricated TMM and blood mimicking fluids meet the requirements for clinical ultrasound research on hemodynamics,and their material ratios can be used as a reference for the subsequent researches with diverse objectives.

Objective:To investigate the influencing factors of adult dental fluorosis in drinking water-borne endemic fluorosis areas of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.Methods:A case-control study was conducted in January 2024 to select adult fluorosis patients (case group) and healthy individuals (control group) from the drinking water-borne endemic fluorosis areas in Helinger County, Hohhot City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region as the survey subjects. Urine samples were collected to determine urinary fluoride concentration. A questionnaire survey was conducted. SPSS 25.0 software was used for χ 2 test and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) was used to analyze the association between urinary fluoride concentration and the risk of dental fluorosis in adults. Results:A total of 161 individuals were included in the survey, including 100 in the case group and 61 in the control group. The results of univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in the distribution of gender, smoking, and urinary fluoride concentration between the case group and the control group (χ 2 = 7.54, 5.02, 9.69, P < 0.05). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that gender ( OR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.18 - 0.73, P = 0.005) and urinary fluoride concentration ( OR = 3.08, 95% CI: 1.46 - 6.67, P = 0.003) were the influencing factors of adult fluorosis. RCS analysis showed a significant linear dose-response relationship between the risk of dental fluorosis and urinary fluoride concentration ( Poverall trend = 0.001, Pnonlinear = 0.071). When the urinary fluoride concentration was greater than 1.57 mg/L, the risk of dental fluorosis increased with the increase of urinary fluoride concentration. Conclusion:Gender and urinary fluoride concentration are the risk factors of dental fluorosis in adults in drinking water-borne endemic fluorosis areas of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Pulpitis is a prevalent inflammatory disease in dentistry, and root canal therapy remains the primary clinical treatment for it. However, pulp removal leads to reduced tooth fracture resistance and complications such as secondary infection and tooth fracture. As a potential alternative, vital pulp therapy (VPT) relies on precise assessment of pulp status; yet current clinical diagnostic methods lack specificity. The establishment of appropriate animal models for pulpitis is crucial for investigating its pathogenesis, developing specific diagnostic biomarkers, and optimizing VPT strategies. This review systematically summarizes experimental animals selection based on anatomical compatibility and pathological similarity, as well as model construction methods and multimodal evaluation systems for pulpitis animal models, aiming to provide insights for related researches.

Objective To fabricate wall-less vascular tissue mimicking materials(TMM)with different tube diameters that match the hemodynamic parameters of human carotid arteries,and to investigate their hemodynamic characteristics.Methods TMM with different diameters and blood mimicking fluids containing scattering particles were fabricated.The variation laws of hemodynamic parameters under different flow velocities and TMM phantom diameters were verified.Key hemodynamic parameters including peak systolic velocity(PSV),end-diastolic velocity(EDV),and resistance index were measured using Doppler ultrasound,and their clinical application value in carotid artery diseases was evaluated.Results The fabricated samples exhibited a sound velocity of(1506.2±0.1)m/s and an attenuation of(0.76±0.01)dB/cm,and the vascular diameters were 4.0 and 6.0 mm,which corresponded to the normal clinical range of the external and internal carotid arteries,respectively.For the 4.0 mm TMM,both PSV and EDV were linearly correlated with flow velocity(R2=0.77,P<0.001;R2=0.74,P=0.001),and Pearson correlation analysis confirmed strong positive correlations(r=0.89,95%CI:0.82-0.93;r=0.94,95%CI:0.90-0.97,all P<0.001).For the 6.0 mm TMM,PSV and EDV also demonstrated significant linear correlations with flow velocity(R2=0.70,P=0.001;R2=0.61,P=0.005),with Pearson correlation analysis revealing strong positive correlations(r=0.86,95%CI:0.78-0.91;r=0.79,95%CI:0.68-0.87).All the data were consistent with hemodynamic parameters and followed the variation law of hemodynamic parameters.Conclusion The fabricated TMM and blood mimicking fluids meet the requirements for clinical ultrasound research on hemodynamics,and their material ratios can be used as a reference for the subsequent researches with diverse objectives.

Thoracic trauma has the characteristics of complexity, specificity, urgency and severity. Therefore, the treatment is particularly important. Thoracic Traumatology Group, Trauma Medicine Branch of Zhejiang Medical Association organized the writing of the thoracic trauma and further optimization consensus of Zhejiang thoracic surgery industry Treatment and diagnosis of rib and sternum trauma: A consensus statement by Zhejiang Association for Thoracic Surgery (version 2021), compiled the popular science book Emergency Treatment and Risk Avoidance Strategy of Thoracic Trauma and Illustration of Real Scene Treatment of Trauma, actively prepared to build the trauma database of Zhejiang Province, and participated in the construction of trauma group in the Yangtze River Delta. Although Zhejiang Province has carried out many related works in the diagnosis and treatment of chest trauma, it is still inconsistent with the development requirements of the times. Standardization of chest trauma treatment, popularization of relevant knowledge, management of trauma big data, grass-roots radiation promotion tour and further optimization of industry consensus are the requirements and objectives of this era.

Objective: To investigate the effects of ticagrelor on cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with coronary heart disease after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: A total of 1 073 patients, who were diagnosed as coronary heart disease and underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) within 1 year after PCI, were enrolled from September 2017 to September 2019 in Peking University Third Hospital, including 309 patients in ticagrelor group and 764 patients in clopidogrel group. Clinical information, blood test results, echocardiographic parameters, cardiorespiratory fitness related parameters (including peak oxygen uptake (VO₂), anaerobic threshold VO₂, peak oxygen pulse (VO₂/HR) and carbon dioxide ventilation equivalent (VE/VCO₂) slope), coronary lesions and intervention information were obtained. Cardiopulmonary fitness related indexes were compared between the two groups, and the correlation between ticagrelor use and cardiopulmonary fitness related indexes was analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. Patients who underwent CPET within 1 month after PCI were included in the subgroup analysis. Results: In ticagrelor group, the age was (60.3±10.3) years, and 253(81.9%) cases were male. The age of clopidogrel group was (60.6±10.0) years, and there were 608(79.6%) males. No significant differences were observed in peak VO₂, anaerobic threshold VO₂, and peak VO₂/HR between the two groups (all P>0.05), but the VE/VCO₂ slope was significantly higher in the ticagrelor group than in the clopidogrel group (30.075 (27.207, 33.603) vs. 28.853 (25.970, 32.336), P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis suggested that the peak VO₂, anaerobic threshold VO₂ and peak VO₂/HR were not significantly correlated with the ticagrelor use (all P>0.05), while the VE/VCO₂ slope was independently correlated with ticagrelor use (OR=1.098, 95%CI 1.032-1.168, P=0.003). Subgroup analysis of patients who underwent CPET within 1 month after PCI also indicated that no significant difference were observed in peak VO₂, anaerobic threshold VO₂, peak VO₂/HR and VE/VCO₂ slope between the two groups (all P>0.05). Logistic regression analysis suggested that the peak VO₂, anaerobic threshold VO₂ and peak VO₂/HR were not significantly correlated with ticagrelor use (all P>0.05), while the VE/VCO₂ slope was significantly correlated with ticagrelor use (OR=1.132, 95%CI 1.030-1.244, P=0.010). Conclusion Among coronary heart disease patients after PCI, treatment with clopidogrel does not result in significant decrease in exercise endurance as compared with patients treated with ticagrelor.