Background/Aims: Liver transplantation (LT) following total hepatectomy is a life-saving treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The HCC recurrence after LT hinders the effectiveness of the procedure. The objective of this study is to develop a pre-operative risk stratification model based on a liquid biopsy. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive multi-omics study of 260 HCC patients from three centers, including clinical data, low-coverage whole-genome sequencing of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from plasma, as well as whole-exome, single-nucleus RNA, and spatial transcriptomics from matched tumor and non-tumor tissues. Results: We identified cfDNA-derived copy number alteration (CNA) signatures associated with post-transplant recurrence. By integrating cfDNA-derived CNA profiles with single-cell transcriptomic data, we traced recurrence-associated cfDNA to a distinct subpopulation of malignant cells within the primary tumor. These cells were embedded in a pro-metastatic microenvironment of specialized endothelial subtypes and cancer-associated fibroblasts. Notably, most recurrence-associated lesions were detectable in cfDNA prior to liver transplantation (LT). Building on these insights, we developed the ZJU Criteria based on CNA fragments and tumor markers, a pre-LT risk prediction tool that integrates conventional clinical factors with cfDNA-derived CNA signatures, and validated it using internal and independent external cohorts. Conclusion Our findings suggest that post-transplant recurrence commonly originates from advanced subclones that emerge late during tumor evolution. The ZJU Criteria provides an accurate, non-invasive strategy that significantly improves pre-LT risk stratification and clinical decision-making for patients with HCC.

Objective To explore the efficacy of DSA-guided intrathecal drug delivery system combined with Zi Wu Liu Zhu Acupoint Therapy for management of cancer pain and provide reference for its standardized clinical application.Methods and Results Recommendations were formulated based on literature review and expert group discussion,and consensus was reached following expert consultation.The consensus recommendations are comprehensive,covering the entire treatment procedures from preoperative assessment and preparation,surgical operation process,postoperative management and traditional Chinese medicine treatment to individualized treatment planning.The study results showed that the treatment plans combining traditional Chinese with Western medicine effectively alleviated cancer pain,reduced the use of opioid drugs,and significantly improved the quality of life and enhanced immune function of the patients.Postoperative follow-up suggested good treatment tolerance among the patients without serious complications.Conclusion The formulated consensus is comprehensive and can provide reference for clinicians to use DSA-guided intrathecal drug delivery system combined with Zi Wu Liu Zhu Acupoint Therapy.The combined treatment has a high clinical value with a good safety profile for management of cancer pain.

Objective To explore the therapeutic effect of picroside Ⅱ(P Ⅱ)on diabetes nephropathy(DN)rats by regulating fatty acid synthase(Fas)/fatty acid synthase ligand(FasL)signaling pathway.Methods A DN rat model was constructed by combining high sugar and high-fat diet with streptozotocin(STZ)injection.DN rats were grouped into model group(DN group),low,medium and high dose picroside Ⅱ groups(P-L group,P-M group,P-H group),and high dose picroside Ⅱ+Fas recombinant protein group(P-H+rh-Fas group),with healthy rats as control group,and 18 rats in each group.Fasting blood glucose(FBG),body mass,24-hour urinary protein(24h UTP),and renal function(SCr,BUN)were measured in rats.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining and Masson staining were applied to observe the pathological changes in renal tissue of rats;immunohistochemistry and Western blot were applied to detect the expression of RAGE,COL-Ⅳ and pathway proteins,respectively.Results Compared with the control group,rats in DN group showed thickening of the glomerular basement membrane,mesangial proliferation,tubular degeneration,dilation,atrophy,fatty degeneration,obvious collagen deposition,higher levels of FBG,24h UTP,SCr,BUN,TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-1β,body mass loss,and higher expression of RAGE,COL-Ⅳ,Fas and FasL(P＜0.05).Compared with the DN group,the glomerular and tubular lesions were reduced and collagen deposition was decreased in the P-L,P-M and P-H groups,furthermore,the FBG,24h UTP,SCr,BUN,TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β levels were lower,body mass was higher,and the RAGE,COL-Ⅳ,Fas,FasL expression was lower(P＜0.05).Compared with the P-H group,the renal tissue lesions in the P-H+rh-Fas group worsened,the FBG,24 h UTP,SCr,BUN,TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β levels were higher,body mass was lower,and the RAGE,COL-Ⅳ,Fas,FasL expression was higher(P＜0.05).Conclusion Picroside Ⅱ exerts therapeutic effects on DN rats by inhibiting the Fas/FasL signaling pathway.

Objective To explore the effectiveness of integrating virtual simulation technology with case-based learning(CBL)in the teaching of clinical blood transfusion testing technology.Methods From January to June 2024,99 undergraduate students majoring in medical laboratory science at our university were selected and divided into an observation group(50 students)and a control group(49 students)based on their classes.The control group followed a traditional theoretical teaching model,while the observation group employed virtual simulation technology combined with CBL.Results The study compared as-sessment scores for theory learning,practical skills,case analysis,and comprehensive quality,teaching effects such as coordina-tion and cooperation abilities,self-efficacy measured by the GSES scale,and teaching satisfaction between the two groups.The results indicated that the observation group had significantly higher scores in all assessment categories,teaching effect abilities,and total GSES scores compared to the control group(P＜0.05).The total teaching satisfaction rate in the observation group reached 100%,significantly higher than the 80% in the control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion The integration of virtual simu-lation technology with CBL innovates the teaching model for clinical blood transfusion testing courses,effectively enhancing students'professional skills and comprehensive quality,boosting self-efficacy,and achieving high student satisfaction,demon-strating significant potential for broader application.

Objective To explore the therapeutic effect of picroside Ⅱ(P Ⅱ)on diabetes nephropathy(DN)rats by regulating fatty acid synthase(Fas)/fatty acid synthase ligand(FasL)signaling pathway.Methods A DN rat model was constructed by combining high sugar and high-fat diet with streptozotocin(STZ)injection.DN rats were grouped into model group(DN group),low,medium and high dose picroside Ⅱ groups(P-L group,P-M group,P-H group),and high dose picroside Ⅱ+Fas recombinant protein group(P-H+rh-Fas group),with healthy rats as control group,and 18 rats in each group.Fasting blood glucose(FBG),body mass,24-hour urinary protein(24h UTP),and renal function(SCr,BUN)were measured in rats.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining and Masson staining were applied to observe the pathological changes in renal tissue of rats;immunohistochemistry and Western blot were applied to detect the expression of RAGE,COL-Ⅳ and pathway proteins,respectively.Results Compared with the control group,rats in DN group showed thickening of the glomerular basement membrane,mesangial proliferation,tubular degeneration,dilation,atrophy,fatty degeneration,obvious collagen deposition,higher levels of FBG,24h UTP,SCr,BUN,TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-1β,body mass loss,and higher expression of RAGE,COL-Ⅳ,Fas and FasL(P＜0.05).Compared with the DN group,the glomerular and tubular lesions were reduced and collagen deposition was decreased in the P-L,P-M and P-H groups,furthermore,the FBG,24h UTP,SCr,BUN,TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β levels were lower,body mass was higher,and the RAGE,COL-Ⅳ,Fas,FasL expression was lower(P＜0.05).Compared with the P-H group,the renal tissue lesions in the P-H+rh-Fas group worsened,the FBG,24 h UTP,SCr,BUN,TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β levels were higher,body mass was lower,and the RAGE,COL-Ⅳ,Fas,FasL expression was higher(P＜0.05).Conclusion Picroside Ⅱ exerts therapeutic effects on DN rats by inhibiting the Fas/FasL signaling pathway.

Department of Kidney Transplantation, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University reported a case of vasoplegic syndrome (VS). During a livingdonor kidney transplantation, the patient developed abrupt hypotension immediately after allograft reperfusion, with blood pressure dropping to 50/30 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). The diagnosis of VS was confirmed through multidisciplinary consultation, integration of clinical indicators, and ultrasonographic assessment. Management included vasopressor therapy (dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine), fluid resuscitation, blood transfusion, and albumin administration. Hemodynamics were subsequently stabilized, and kidney allograft function returned to normal. At more than three months of followup, both kidney function and blood pressure remained stable.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between acupuncture during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) and the live birth rate (LBR) using different propensity score methods. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, eligible women who underwent a COH were divided into acupuncture and non-acupuncture groups. The primary outcome was LBR, as determined by propensity score matching (PSM). LBR was defined as the delivery of one or more living infants that reached a gestational age over 28 weeks after embryo transfer. The propensity score model encompassed 16 confounding variables. To validate the results, sensitivity analyses were conducted using three additional propensity score methods: propensity score adjustment, inverse probability weighting (IPW), and IPW with a "doubly robust" estimator. RESULTS: The primary cohort encompassed 9751 patients (1830 [18.76%] in the acupuncture group and 7921 [81.23%] in the non-acupuncture group). Following 1:1 PSM, a higher LBR was found in the acupuncture cohort (41.4% [755/1824] vs 36.4% [664/1824], with an odds ratio of 1.23 [95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.41]). Three additional propensity score methods produced essentially similar results. The risk of serious adverse events did not significantly differ between the two groups. CONCLUSION This retrospective study revealed an association between acupuncture and an increased LBR among patients undergoing COH, and that acupuncture is a safe and valuable treatment option. Please cite this article as: Zheng XY, Jiang ZY, Li YT, Li CL, Zhu H, Yu Z, Yu SY, Yang LL, Tang SY, Lü XY, Liang FR, Yang J. Association between acupuncture and live birth rates after fresh embryo transfer: A cohort study based on different propensity score methods. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(5):528-536.
Humans ; Female ; Propensity Score ; Embryo Transfer ; Adult ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Pregnancy ; Live Birth ; Birth Rate ; Cohort Studies

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the impact of glycemic control and diabetes duration on subsequent myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with both coronary heart disease (CHD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 33,238 patients with both CHD and T2D in Shenzhen, China. Patients were categorized into 6 groups based on baseline fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels and diabetes duration (from the date of diabetes diagnosis to the baseline date) to examine their combined effects on subsequent MI. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used, with further stratification by age, sex, and comorbidities to assess potential interactions. RESULTS: Over a median follow-up of 2.4 years, 2,110 patients experienced MI. Compared to those with optimal glycemic control (FPG < 6.1 mmol/L) and shorter diabetes duration (< 10 years), the fully-adjusted hazard ratio ( HR) (95% Confidence Interval [95% CI]) for those with a diabetes duration of ≥ 10 years and FPG > 8.0 mmol/L was 1.93 (95% CI: 1.59, 2.36). The combined effects of FPG and diabetes duration on MI were largely similar across different age, sex, and comorbidity groups, although the excess risk of MI associated with long-term diabetes appeared to be more pronounced among those with atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSION Our study indicates that glycemic control and diabetes duration significant influence the subsequent occurrence of MI in patients with both CHD and T2D. Tailored management strategies emphasizing strict glycemic control may be particularly beneficial for patients with longer diabetes duration and atrial fibrillation.
Humans ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Coronary Disease/complications* ; Myocardial Infarction/etiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; China/epidemiology* ; Glycemic Control ; Blood Glucose ; Adult ; Risk Factors ; Time Factors

Thoracolumbar spine fracture often leads to severe pain, functional impairments, and neurological deficits, for which open reduction and internal fixation can effectively restore the spinal structural stability. Open decompression and reduction with internal fixation can help relieve spinal cord compression and improve spinal function in cases of concomitant cord injury. Although spinal stability can be restored through surgery, patients often face chronic pain and functional impairments postoperatively. A postoperative rehabilitation program is critical in optimizing therapeutic outcomes, reducing complications, and minimizing the risk of secondary injuries. However, current rehabilitation methods, such as physical therapy, functional training, and pain management, are confronted with problems in clinical practice, including significant variation in efficacy, poor patient adherence, and prolonged rehabilitation period. There is an urgent need for a unified rehabilitation strategy to address these problems. To this end, the Spinal Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Physicians Branch of the Chinese Medical Association and the Spine Health Professional Committee of the Chinese Human Health Technology Promotion Association organized experts from relevant fields to formulate Evidence-based guidelines for rehabilitation treatment after internal fixation of thoracolumbar spine fracture in adults ( version 2025) by integrating evidences from clinical researches and advanced rehabilitation concepts at home and abroad. A total number of 14 recommendations concerning the rehabilitation treatment with multimodal analgesia, psychological intervention, deep vein thrombosis prevention, core muscle and extremity exercise, appropriate use of braces, early weight-bearing, device-aided rehabilitation exercise, neuroregulatory therapy, rehabilitation team were put forward, aiming to standardize the post-operative rehabilitation process following internal fixation, promote the functional recovery, and enhance patients′ quality of life.

Acute symptomatic osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fracture (ASOTLF) can lead to chronic low back pain, kyphosis deformity, pulmonary dysfunction, loss of mobility, and even life-threatening complications. Vertebral augmentation is currently the mainstream treatment method for this condition. In 2019, the Editorial Board of Chinese Journal of Trauma and the Spinal Trauma Group of Orthopedic Surgeons Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association collaboratively led the development of Clinical guideline for vertebral augmentation for acute symptomatic osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures. Six years later, with advances in clinical diagnosis and treatment techniques as well as accumulating evidence in related fields, the 2019 guideline requires updating. To this end, the Spinal Trauma Group of Orthopedic Surgeons Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association, the Spinal Health Professional Committee of China Human Health Science and Technology Promotion Association, and the Minimally Invasive Orthopedics Professional Committee of Shaanxi Medical Doctor Association have organized experts in the field to develop the Clinical guideline for vertebral augmentation of acute symptomatic osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures ( version 2025) , based on the latest evidence-based medical researches. This guideline incorporates 3 recommendations retained from the 2019 version with updated strength of evidence, along with 12 new recommendations. It provides recommendations from six aspects of diagnosis, pain management, treatment option selection, prevention of postoperative complications, anti-osteoporosis therapy, and postoperative rehabilitation, aiming to provide a reference for standard treatment of vertebral augmentation for ASOTLF in hospitals at all levels.