Objective:To investigate the value of coronary CTA (CCTA)-based traditional features and radiomics of plaque in the identification of culprit lesions that caused acute myocardial infarction (AMI).Methods:This was a retrospective multicenter study. From July 2016 to November 2023, a total of 344 patients from the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University (training cohort, n=184), Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University (validation cohort, n=88) and Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (test cohort, n=72) who received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) due to AMI and underwent CCTA within 48 hours of AMI were enrolled. The culprit plaques and non-culprit plaques were identified using a combination of electrocardiogram, CCTA, and angiographic findings. The vessel, plaque location, plaque type, Coronary Artery Disease-Reporting and Data System (CAD-RADS) score, high-risk plaque characteristics, plaque length, plaque volume, and burden were analyzed, and 1 904 radiomics features were extracted for each plaque. The traditional imaging model, the radiomics model, and the combined model were established by using multivariate Logistic regression analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the performance of each model in identifying culprit lesions. The DeLong test was used for the comparison of AUC between every two models. The net reclassification index (NRI) was used to evaluate the incremental value of the combined model to the traditional imaging model and the radiomics model. The decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to assess the clinical net benefit of these models. A correlation heatmap was used to evaluate the correlation between the radiomics score and traditional CCTA factors. The interpretable analysis of the decision process of the combined model was performed by the Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP). Results:In the validation cohort and the test cohort, the AUC of the traditional imaging model developed by the vessel, plaque type, positive remodeling and CAD-RADS score was 0.898 (95% CI 0.869-0.922) and 0.881 (95% CI 0.848-0.910), respectively. The radiomics model developed by six radiomics features was 0.863 (95% CI 0.831-0.891) and 0.863 (95% CI 0.827-0.864), respectively. The AUC of the combined model was 0.930 (95% CI 0.905-0.950)and 0.919 (95% CI 0.889-0.942), respectively. In the validation cohort and the test cohort, the AUC of the combined model was higher than that of the traditional imaging model ( Z=4.013, 4.272, P<0.001) and that of the radiomics model ( Z=4.819, 3.784, P<0.001), respectively. In the validation cohort, the combined model yielded an NRI of 20.43% (95% CI 10.43%-30.44%, P<0.001) and 20.21% (95% CI 9.62%-30.80%, P<0.001) for identifying culprit lesions compared with the traditional imaging model and the radiomics model, respectively. In the test cohort, the combined model yielded an NRI of 28.05% (95% CI 16.72%-39.38%, P<0.001) and 23.57% (95% CI 13.58%-33.56%, P<0.001) for identifying culprit lesions compared with the traditional imaging model and the radiomics model, respectively. DCA showed the combined model had the highest clinical net benefit. The correlation heatmap showed the radiomics score was not correlated or only weakly correlated with traditional CCTA factors. SHAP indicated the radiomics and CAD-RADS score contributed significantly to the model. Conclusion:The CCTA-based traditional features and radiomics of plaque have favorable performance for the identification of culprit plaques in patients with AMI.

Objective:To understand the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and influencing factors in adults with hypertension in China and provide evidence for the management of CKD in hypertension patients.Methods:The prevalence data of CKD in hypertension patients in China were collected from China Chronic Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance in 2018, the data of 68 829 hypertension patients were analyzed. After complex weighting, the prevalence of CKD in the study population was compared. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to explore the influencing factors of CKD in adults with hypertension.Results:The prevalence of CKD in the hypertension patients was 18.2% (95% CI: 17.4%-19.0%) and increased with age, and the prevalence was 16.4% in men and 20.6% in women ( P<0.001). In different age groups, CKD at stage G1 mainly occurred in those aged 18-44 and 45-59 years, with the prevalence of 10.8% and 7.8%, respectively, while CKD at stages G2 and G3a mainly occurred in those aged >60 years, with the prevalence of 9.4% and 9.7%. Multivariate logistic regression results showed that in the hypertension patients, being aged ≥60 years, being women, smoking (including current and ever smoking), physical inactivity, being underweight or obese, and suffering from diabetes, dyslipidemia and hyperuricemia were the potential risk factors for CKD (all P<0.05). Conclusion:The prevalence of CKD was higher in people with hypertension than in general population in China, and age, gender, smoking status, physical activity level, and suffering from diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hyperuricemia or not were significant influencing factors. It is necessary to strengthen health education and kidney function testing in adults with hypertension and develop comprehensive CKD prevention and control measures targeting high-risk population.

Objective To assess the application value of mycoplasma pneumonia(MP)real-time fluorescence of RNA simultaneous amplification and testing(SAT)and MP antibody(MP-Ab)in the diagnosis of MP pneumonia(MPP)in children.Methods A total of 242 children with community-acquired pneumonia hospitalized at Beijing Haidian Hospital from September 2023 to October 2024 were enrolled as subjects.The children were divided into MPP group(n=193)and non-MPP group(n=49)based on MPP diagnosis.All children underwent simultaneous MP-SAT testing and initial MP-Ab detection within 24h of admission.MP-SAT results were monitored until they turned negative,with retesting for MP-Ab on 5-7d post-hospitalization in negative cases.The study compared diagnostic accuracy between MP-SAT and MP-Ab methods,while analyzing correlations between MP-SAT negative conversion time and clinical cure duration.Results For children with disease duration ≤ 7 days,MP-SAT demonstrated higher sensitivity than MP-Ab,with statistically significant difference(P＜0.001).The concordance between MP-SAT and initial MP-Ab test results was weak(Kappa=0.072),while the consistency between MP-SAT and follow-up MP-Ab test results was moderate(Kappa=0.614,P＜0.00 1).Both the clinical cure time and SAT seroconversion time were shorter with doxycycline treatment compared to azithromycin therapy.Conclusion The results of MP-SAT can be used to evaluate the condition of MPP children and guide the timely discontinuation of antibiotics.

Promoting the international acceptance of clinical studies about traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) interventions is a key strategy for internationalization of TCM. However, the complexities of TCM interventions—in terms of the theories, practice patterns, and components—pose challenges to the design and implementation of clinical studies that are well accepted by the international community. This article summarized the current status of clinical studies about TCM interventions that were published in international journals, explored underlying barriers hindering the international acceptance, and discussed potential strategies for future development.

Promoting the international acceptance of clinical studies about traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) interventions is a key strategy for internationalization of TCM. However, the complexities of TCM interventions—in terms of the theories, practice patterns, and components—pose challenges to the design and implementation of clinical studies that are well accepted by the international community. This article summarized the current status of clinical studies about TCM interventions that were published in international journals, explored underlying barriers hindering the international acceptance, and discussed potential strategies for future development.

Promoting the international acceptance of clinical studies about traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) interventions is a key strategy for internationalization of TCM. However, the complexities of TCM interventions—in terms of the theories, practice patterns, and components—pose challenges to the design and implementation of clinical studies that are well accepted by the international community. This article summarized the current status of clinical studies about TCM interventions that were published in international journals, explored underlying barriers hindering the international acceptance, and discussed potential strategies for future development.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical value of an obstetric intelligent assistant in predicting postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) after vaginal delivery.Methods:This retrospective cohort study included 4 832 women who delivered vaginally at ≥26 weeks of gestation at the Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University between May 2023 and April 2025. Participants were categorized into PPH (382 cases, blood loss ≥500 ml within 24 h after delivery) and non-PPH groups (4 450 cases). Using traditional statistical methods combined with machine learning approaches, including support vector machines and extreme gradient boosting, supplemented with deep learning techniques, we developed a novel artificial neural network model—the obstetric intelligent assistant. This model provides a refined classification of PPH occurrence and estimated blood loss volume. The obstetric intelligent assistant integrates 70 antenatal and intrapartum risk factors through hospital information system interfacing to generate visualized risk probability outputs. Predictive performance was compared between the obstetric intelligent assistant and four conventional prediction tools (Chinese Labor Room Traffic Light System; Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses; American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology Safe Motherhood Initiative; and California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative prediction tools) using receiver operating characteristic curve.Results:(1) For antenatal prediction, the obstetric intelligent assistant achieved an area under the curve of 0.826 (95% CI: 0.774-0.838), with sensitivity of 0.794 and specificity of 0.712, while the four conventional prediction tools showed area under the curve ranging from 0.569 to 0.586. (2) For intrapartum prediction, the obstetric intelligent assistant achieved an area under the curve of 0.786 (95% CI: 0.751-0.820), with sensitivity of 0.837 and specificity of 0.762, whereas the conventional tools showed area under the curve between 0.600 and 0.613. Conclusion:The obstetric intelligent assistant demonstrates superior performance in predicting PPH compared to conventional prediction tools.

Objective To investigate the effect of activating the N-type acetylcholine receptor(nAChR)on interleukin-18(IL-18)and PD-1 in mice with acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS).Methods Sixty healthy male BALB/c mice(6 weeks of age)were divided into six groups:normal(N),normal saline control(NS),normal saline+bilateral vagectomy(NS+D),ARDS+segmentation of the vagus nerve on both sides of the neck(A+D),ARDS(A),ARDS+vagal amputation,and administration of an acetylcholine receptor agonist(A+J)groups.Each group included ten mice that were fed and housed under normal conditions.Structural changes in the right lower lung were observed using fluorescence microscopy;phosphorylated nuclear factor-KB protein 65(p-NF-κBP65)levels were assessed using Western blotting;serum IL-18 and PD-1 levels were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)and the double antibody sandwich method;and the percentages of CD3+and CD25+Foxp3+T lymphocytes in the middle lobe of right lung were determined using flow cytometry.Results No inflammatory cell infiltration was observed in groups N and NS.The interstitial lobes in groups A and A+D showed severe inflammatory infiltration,thickening of the alveolar wall,destruction of the alveolar structure,and loss of the alveolar cavity.Serum IL-18 and PD-1 levels in groups A and A+D were significantly higher than those in the other four groups(P＜0.05).p-NF-κBP65 and PD-1 levels in groups A and A+D were significantly higher than those in groups N,NS,and A+J(P＜0.05).CD3+and CD25+Foxp3+T cells in groups A and A+D were significantly higher than those in the other four groups(P＜0.05).Conclusion Active nAChR can inhibit IL-18 and p-NF-κBP65 through the negative regulation of T lymphocytes,decrease PD-1 expression in lung tissues,and alleviate the pathological changes of ARDS.

Objective:To understand the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and influencing factors in adults with hypertension in China and provide evidence for the management of CKD in hypertension patients.Methods:The prevalence data of CKD in hypertension patients in China were collected from China Chronic Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance in 2018, the data of 68 829 hypertension patients were analyzed. After complex weighting, the prevalence of CKD in the study population was compared. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to explore the influencing factors of CKD in adults with hypertension.Results:The prevalence of CKD in the hypertension patients was 18.2% (95% CI: 17.4%-19.0%) and increased with age, and the prevalence was 16.4% in men and 20.6% in women ( P<0.001). In different age groups, CKD at stage G1 mainly occurred in those aged 18-44 and 45-59 years, with the prevalence of 10.8% and 7.8%, respectively, while CKD at stages G2 and G3a mainly occurred in those aged >60 years, with the prevalence of 9.4% and 9.7%. Multivariate logistic regression results showed that in the hypertension patients, being aged ≥60 years, being women, smoking (including current and ever smoking), physical inactivity, being underweight or obese, and suffering from diabetes, dyslipidemia and hyperuricemia were the potential risk factors for CKD (all P<0.05). Conclusion:The prevalence of CKD was higher in people with hypertension than in general population in China, and age, gender, smoking status, physical activity level, and suffering from diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hyperuricemia or not were significant influencing factors. It is necessary to strengthen health education and kidney function testing in adults with hypertension and develop comprehensive CKD prevention and control measures targeting high-risk population.

Objective To assess the application value of mycoplasma pneumonia(MP)real-time fluorescence of RNA simultaneous amplification and testing(SAT)and MP antibody(MP-Ab)in the diagnosis of MP pneumonia(MPP)in children.Methods A total of 242 children with community-acquired pneumonia hospitalized at Beijing Haidian Hospital from September 2023 to October 2024 were enrolled as subjects.The children were divided into MPP group(n=193)and non-MPP group(n=49)based on MPP diagnosis.All children underwent simultaneous MP-SAT testing and initial MP-Ab detection within 24h of admission.MP-SAT results were monitored until they turned negative,with retesting for MP-Ab on 5-7d post-hospitalization in negative cases.The study compared diagnostic accuracy between MP-SAT and MP-Ab methods,while analyzing correlations between MP-SAT negative conversion time and clinical cure duration.Results For children with disease duration ≤ 7 days,MP-SAT demonstrated higher sensitivity than MP-Ab,with statistically significant difference(P＜0.001).The concordance between MP-SAT and initial MP-Ab test results was weak(Kappa=0.072),while the consistency between MP-SAT and follow-up MP-Ab test results was moderate(Kappa=0.614,P＜0.00 1).Both the clinical cure time and SAT seroconversion time were shorter with doxycycline treatment compared to azithromycin therapy.Conclusion The results of MP-SAT can be used to evaluate the condition of MPP children and guide the timely discontinuation of antibiotics.