OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of anlotinib combined with penpulimab versus sorafenib as first- line treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma （uHCC） from the perspective of China’s healthcare system. METHODS Based on data from the APOLLO study， a partitioned survival model was established with a 21-day model cycle to simulate patient survival status over 10 years under anlotinib combined with penpulimab regimen or sorafenib monotherapy. Quality-adjusted life year （QALY） was used as the core evaluation parameter to assess the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio （ICER） of different treatment regimens. Using 3 times China’s per capita gross domestic product （GDP） in 2024 （287 247 yuan/QALY） as the willingness-to-pay （WTP） threshold， cost-utility analysis was performed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the treatment regimens. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to validate the robustness of the baseline analysis conclusion. Scenario analysis was performed to consider the impact of anlotinib and penpulimab assistance programs on the results； the price reduction of penpulimab to ensure the cost-effectiveness of the combination regimen was examined under varying WTP thresholds （specifically， 1， 2， and 3 times China’s per capita GDP in 2024）. RESULTS The baseline analysis revealed that the ICER of anlotinib combined with penpulimab regimen relative to the sorafenib regimen was 338 611.20 yuan/QALY， which exceeded the WTP threshold set in this study. Univariate sensitivity analysis indicated that the utility value of progression free survival and penpulimab price significantly influenced the baseline analysis results. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis validated the robustness of the baseline results. The results of scenario analysis indicated that when considering the assistance programs for anlotinib and penpulimab， the obtained ICER values were all below the WTP threshold set at 3 times China’s per capita GDP in 2024. When the price of penpulimab was reduced by 58%， 35%， and 13%， the ICER values were below the WTP threshold， which was 1， 2 and 3 times the per capita GDP of China in 2024， respectively. CONCLUSIONS From the perspective of China’s healthcare system， anlotinib combined with penpulimab regimen for first-line treatment of uHCC lacks cost-effectiveness compared to sorafenib regimen. However， this conclusion would be reversed if the anlotinib and penpulimab assistance programs are taken into account or if the price of penpulimab is reduced by more than 13% and above.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical utility of dual-layer detector CT integrated with virtual monoenergetic imaging (VMI) and an orthopedic metal artifact reduction (O-MAR) algorithm in improving the image quality of patients after lumbar pedicle screw fixation surgery, and to analyze its impact on different types of artifacts and image quality of different tissues.Methods:The study was a prospective study, The study enrolled patients who underwent lumbar pedicle screw fixation at West China Hospital of Sichuan University between March and September 2024. All patients underwent lumbar CT scans using a dual-layer detector system, and four image sets were reconstructed. CLumbar routine scans were performed using dual-layer detector CT, and four image sets were reconstructed:onventional images (CI non-O-MAR), conventional images with O-MAR (CI O-MAR), virtual monoenergetic images (VMI non-O-MAR), and VMI with O-MAR (VMI O-MAR). Objective metrics including artifact index (AI), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were quantified, alongside subjective image quality assessment. One-way ANOVA or Friedman test were used to compare the objective evaluation indicators of image quality between VMI non-O-MAR and VMI O-MAR at different energy levels. Paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for CI non-O-MAR/VMI non-O-MAR versus CI O-MAR/VMI O-MAR comparisons. Results:A total of 30 patients were included, and all underwent internal fixation with titanium alloy pedicle screws. Objective analysis revealed that in both high-and low-density artifact regions, the AI values of the VMI O-MAR group decreased with the increase of energy levels, and were significantly lower than those of the corresponding VMI non-O-MAR group, with a statistically significant difference (all P<0.001). When the energy level≥140 keV, the AI value of the VMI O-MAR group was simultaneously lower than that of the CI non-O-MAR group and the CI O-MAR group, with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). The SNR and CNR on the vertebral bodies in the VMI non-O-MAR group and the VMI O-MAR group showed a decreasing trend with increasing energy levels, and were always lower than those in the CI group at high energy levels (100-180 keV) (all P<0.05). At high energy levels (100-180 keV), the SNR of VMI O-MAR in the intervertebral disc and intraspinal tissues was higher than that of the VMI non-O-MAR group, with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). Compared to other groups, subjective analysis indicated that the 140 keV VMI combined with O-MAR group received the highest image quality scores ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The combined application of VMI and O-MAR technology effectively reduces metal artifacts in post-lumbar fixation CT images. The 140 keV VMI with O-MAR reconstruction provides superior image quality and enhances diagnostic confidence.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical utility of dual-layer detector CT integrated with virtual monoenergetic imaging (VMI) and an orthopedic metal artifact reduction (O-MAR) algorithm in improving the image quality of patients after lumbar pedicle screw fixation surgery, and to analyze its impact on different types of artifacts and image quality of different tissues.Methods:The study was a prospective study, The study enrolled patients who underwent lumbar pedicle screw fixation at West China Hospital of Sichuan University between March and September 2024. All patients underwent lumbar CT scans using a dual-layer detector system, and four image sets were reconstructed. CLumbar routine scans were performed using dual-layer detector CT, and four image sets were reconstructed:onventional images (CI non-O-MAR), conventional images with O-MAR (CI O-MAR), virtual monoenergetic images (VMI non-O-MAR), and VMI with O-MAR (VMI O-MAR). Objective metrics including artifact index (AI), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were quantified, alongside subjective image quality assessment. One-way ANOVA or Friedman test were used to compare the objective evaluation indicators of image quality between VMI non-O-MAR and VMI O-MAR at different energy levels. Paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for CI non-O-MAR/VMI non-O-MAR versus CI O-MAR/VMI O-MAR comparisons. Results:A total of 30 patients were included, and all underwent internal fixation with titanium alloy pedicle screws. Objective analysis revealed that in both high-and low-density artifact regions, the AI values of the VMI O-MAR group decreased with the increase of energy levels, and were significantly lower than those of the corresponding VMI non-O-MAR group, with a statistically significant difference (all P<0.001). When the energy level≥140 keV, the AI value of the VMI O-MAR group was simultaneously lower than that of the CI non-O-MAR group and the CI O-MAR group, with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). The SNR and CNR on the vertebral bodies in the VMI non-O-MAR group and the VMI O-MAR group showed a decreasing trend with increasing energy levels, and were always lower than those in the CI group at high energy levels (100-180 keV) (all P<0.05). At high energy levels (100-180 keV), the SNR of VMI O-MAR in the intervertebral disc and intraspinal tissues was higher than that of the VMI non-O-MAR group, with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). Compared to other groups, subjective analysis indicated that the 140 keV VMI combined with O-MAR group received the highest image quality scores ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The combined application of VMI and O-MAR technology effectively reduces metal artifacts in post-lumbar fixation CT images. The 140 keV VMI with O-MAR reconstruction provides superior image quality and enhances diagnostic confidence.

Objective:To investigate the effects of musculoskeletal ultrasound(MSUS)-guided shoulder joint capsule hydraulic expansion method combined with rotator interval(RI)injection method on ultrasound imaging indicators,shoulder function,and serum inflammatory factors in treating patients with early primary frozen shoulder(PFS).Methods:A total of 168 patients with early PFS admitted to Jiangbei District of The Frist Affiliated Hospital to Army Medical University between June 2021 and June 2023 were selected.They were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group by using a random number table,with 84 patients in each group.The control group received the therapy with MSUS-guided shoulder joint capsule hydraulic expansion.The observation group received the therapy with RI injection on the basis of the control group.After 5 weeks of treatment,the changes of the following parameters were compared and analyzed between the two groups:Visual Analog Scale(VAS)score for shoulder pain,Simple Shoulder Test(SST)score,Constant-Murley Score(CMS),thickness of the glenohumeral joint capsule at the axilla of ultrasound imaging,thickness of coracohumeral ligament(CHL),RI thickness,positivity rate of RI blood flow,passive range of motion(ROM)of the shoulder joint,and serum inflammatory factor levels including tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),C-reactive protein(CRP)and interleukin-6(IL-6).Results:At 5th week after treatment,both groups showed VAS scores decreased,and SST and CMS scores increased.The VAS score(1.34±0.30)of observation group was significantly lower than(1.97±0.46)of control group,and the SST score and CMS score were significantly higher than those of control group(t=10.514,9.597,7.910,P<0.05),respectively.Both groups showed decreases in thickness of the glenohumeral joint capsule at the axilla,CHL thickness,RI thickness,and positivity rate of RI blood flow,and these indicators of observation group were significantly lower than them of control group,with statistically significant differences(t=5.518,16.106,9.050,25.211,P<0.05).The ranges of backward extension and outward rotation of observation group were larger than those of control group,and the differences were statistically significant(t=9.209,12.447,P<0.05).The serum levels of TNF-α,IL-6 and CRP of observation group were significantly lower than those of control group,and the differences were statistically significant(t=10.523,17.750,19.995,P<0.05),respectively.Conclusion:The treatment of MSUS-guided shoulder joint capsule hydraulic expansion combined with RI injection can effectively alleviate the degrees of shoulder pain and dysfunction in patients with early PFS,and improve indicators of ultrasound imaging,the ROM values of outward rotation and backward extension,and reduce serum levels of inflammatory factors,which have favorable therapeutic effects.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), the most common type of head and neck malignancy, has a poor prognosis owing to its high invasiveness and high rate of cervical lymph node metastasis. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex microenvironment that is essential for tumor cell survival. Tumor-associated immune cell (TAIC), the main stromal cell of TME, regulates the proliferation, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT), and anti-tumor immunity of OSCC. M2-tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) promote the invasion and metastasis of OSCC through the macrophage migration inhibitory factor/NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3/interleukin (IL)-1β axis, while N2-tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) regulate the proliferation and EMT of OSCC through the Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathway. Meanwhile, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) accelerate the progression of OSCC by secreting IL-6, IL-10, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β; T cells promote inflammation by secreting IL-17 and inhibit inflammation-mediated tumor immune response by secreting IL-10 and TGF-β; and natural killer (NK) cells recognize and attack OSCC cells to inhibit OSCC progression. TAIC interaction network also regulates OSCC progression. M2-TAMs regulate the invasion and metastasis of OSCC by promoting T cell apoptosis through the secretion of IL-10 and programmed death-ligand (PD-L) -1, while N2-TANs inhibit T cell proliferation and cytotoxicity by secreting LOX-1 and arginase-1. MDSCs inhibit the proliferation and anti-tumor effects of CD8+ T cells through the inactivation of programmed cell death (PD)-1/PD-L1 signaling. Additionally, MDSCs inhibit the proliferation of T cells by decreasing the expression of the CD3-zeta chain and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Moreover, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and NK cells were found to be positively correlated in OSCC progression. Therefore, target regulation, related signaling pathways, and the interaction network of TAIC may serve as promising therapeutic targets in the immunotherapy of OSCC. In this review, we summarize the recent research on the effects of TAIC and their interaction network in the TME in the progression of OSCC and explore its application in the early diagnosis and treatment of OSCC

Objective To establish a stable and reproducible animal model of abdominal intestinal firearm penetrating injury in a cold high-altitude environment.Methods Twenty landrace pigs were randomly and equally assigned to a low-altitude normal temperature(LN)group and a high-altitude cold(HC)group.The HC group was placed in a cold environment at high altitudes,and the LN group was placed in a normal-temperature environment at low altitudes.They were raised for 48 hours respectively.After anesthesia,they were suspended on the shooting range,and the right lower abdomen of the experimental pigs was shot with a gun.After injury,they were simply bandaged and transported back to the laboratory for observation in the normal temperature environment of the low altitudes.The vital signs and injuries at 0,2,4,8,12 and 24 h and 24 h survival rates of experimental pigs were compared.Laparotomy was immediately performed on the dead pigs and the experimental pigs still alive at 24 h to explore the injuries and observe the pathology of the small intestine and colon.Results The 24 h survival rate of the HC group was 70％,with no statistically significant difference compared to the LN group's 90％(P＞0.05).After the injury,the body temperature of both groups gradually increased.The body temperature of the HC group was significantly higher than the LN group at 0,2,4 and 8 h time points(P＜0.001),and the LN group exceeded the HC group at 24 h(P＜0.05).Both groups showed an initial increase followed by a decrease in heart rate,with the HC group significantly higher than the LN group only at 0 h(P＜0.01),and no statistically significant differences were observed at other time points(P＞0.05).Both groups showed an early increase and later decrease in respiratory rate,with the HC group higher than the LN group at 0,4,8,12 and 24 h(P＜0.05 or P＜0.001).There was no statistically significant difference(P＞0.05)between the HC group and the LN group in small intestine rupture,small intestine contusion,mesenteric injury,colon rupture and wound diameter.The pathology of the small intestine and colon in the HC group showed extensive necrosis and shedding of the mucosa layer,severe congestion and edema of the submucosa,and extensive lymphocyte infiltration.The LN group also showed similar symptoms but to a lesser extent.Conclusion This study established a pig model of abdominal firearm intestinal perforation injury in a cold environment at high-altitudes.The model has strong operability and stable damage,which can provide a reference for subsequent research.

Sepsis, a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by an abnormal host response to infection, remains one of the leading causes of mortality in critically ill patients, but there is currently a lack of effective early warning systems and therapeutic strategies for sepsis. In recent years, the interaction between the nervous and immune systems has gained considerable attention. However, the precise mechanisms underlying sepsis-related organ damage and the complex interplay among different organs remain poorly understood. The inflammatory reflex, which involves the central nervous system integrating incoming inflammatory signals and reflexively modulating peripheral inflammatory responses, is a critical interface where the central nervous network regulates peripheral immunity. Modulating the inflammatory reflex to correct immune dysfunction may represent a promising therapeutic breakthrough for sepsis. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms by which the inflammatory reflex induces changes in both the central nervous system and the peripheral immune system in sepsis, as well as its role in organ damage, remain to be elucidated. To this end, the authors reviewed the researches on the role of the inflammatory reflex in the development and progression of sepsis-related organ damage, aiming to provide novel insights into more effective therapeutic strategies for sepsis.

Objective:To construct the training course content for gastrointestinal endoscopy nurses based on job competency model.Methods:Based on the job competency model, the training course content for gastrointestinal endoscopy nurses was constructed on the basis of systematic literature search and semi-structured interviews combined with the Delphi expert consultation.Results:A total of 21 experts from nine regions including Beijing City, Hebei Province, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Shanxi Province, Hubei Province, Tianjin City, Guangdong Province, Jilin Province, and Zhejiang Province were selected for consultation. There were two rounds of expert consultation. In the first round of expert consultation, 21 questionnaires were issued and 21 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 100.00%, of which nine experts proposed a total of 38 amendments. In the second round of expert consultation, 21 questionnaires were issued and 17 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 80.95%, of which two experts proposed modifications. For the two rounds of consultation, the expert authority coefficients were 0.871 and 0.882 respectively, and the coefficients of variation for each entry were 0 to 0.16 and 0 to 0.20, and the Kendall's harmony coefficients were 0.272 and 0.217 ( P<0.01). The finalized training course content for gastrointestinal endoscopy nurse based on job competency model consisted of four first-level indicators, 19 second-level indicators, and 53 third-level indicators. Conclusions:The training course content for the gastrointestinal endoscopy nurses constructed based on the job competency model is scientific, generalizable, and practical, and can provide reference and guidance for the training of endoscopic specialty nursing personnel.

Objective To investigate the impact of different application methods of tissue compensators(bolus)on the skin dose delivered to the chest wall following radical mastectomy for breast cancer.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 60 female patients who underwent radical mastectomy and required chest wall radiotherapy at the hospital between January 2023 and March 2025.The Pinnacle3 9.10 radiotherapy planning system(TPS)was utilized to design two VMAT dual semi-arc radiotherapy plans for each patient,with a prescribed target dose of 50 Gy delivered in 2 Gy fractions over 25 sessions.In Plan 1,a Bolus was applied and optimized during the first 15 fractions,and subsequently removed for the remaining 10 fractions without re-optimization.The sub-field configuration and dose weighting from the initial optimization were retained,and only dose recalculations were performed.The final treatment plan combined both the Bolus-included and Bolus-excluded phases.In contrast,Plan 2 involved the application and optimization of Bolus during the first 15 fractions,followed by its removal and re-optimization of the plan for the last 10 fractions.The two optimized plans were then combined for the overall treatment delivery.Data from the two plan groups were analyzed using a paired sample t-test with SPSS 29.0 software.Results There was a statistically significant difference(P＜0.05)in skin Dmean,V52.5,and V55;heart Dmean,V5,V30,and V40;affected lung Dmean,V5,and V20;PRVcord Dmean and Dmax;healthy breast Dmean,V5,and V10;affected humeral head Dmean and V30;as well as PTV Dmean,V50,V55,D2％,D98％,CI,and MU.Moreover,the dose distribution on the target layer and the DVH curves showed marked differences.However,no statistically significant difference was observed in PTV HI(P=0.125).Conclusion The combination of the two optimized plans,consisting of 15 fractions with bolus and 10 fractions without bolus,more accurately reflects the dose distri-bution within the planned target area and organs at risk,thereby providing enhanced protection for the patient's chest wall skin.

Objective To explore the efficacy of bilateral facial muscle training combined with visual electromyography biofeedback on facial nerve function recovery in patients with idiopathic facial nerve palsy. Methods Patients with idiopathic facial nerve palsy admitted to Shanghai Fifth People’s Hospital, Fudan University from July 2022 to July 2024 were selected and randomly divided into a control group and an intervention group. The control group received conventional physical factor therapy, while the intervention group received bilateral facial muscle training combined with visual electromyography biofeedback therapy based on the control group’s regimen. After 20 treatment sessions, the total effective rate, the House-Brackmann (H-B) facial nerve grading system, the Sunnybrook Facial Grading System (SFGS) score, and the average value ratio of maximal amplitudes of bilateral frontalis and zygomaticus muscles were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 90 patients were included, 45 in each group. After 20 treatment sessions, the total effective rate was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (84.4% vs 75.6%, P＝0.003). Compared with the control group, the intervention group demonstrated a significantly lower H-B grade (P＝0.003) and a higher SFGS score (P＝0.001). The average value ratios of maximal amplitudes of the affected versus healthy side frontalis (P＝0.013) and zygomatic (P＝0.022) muscles were higher in the intervention group than in the control group. Conclusions Bilateral facial muscle training combined with visual electromyography biofeedback is an effective approach for treating idiopathic facial nerve palsy, effectively promoting the recovery of facial nerve function, and improving facial symmetry and facial muscle function.