The interaction between skeletal aging and systemic aging has emerged as a frontier in the field of aging biology research.Recent studies have indicated that bones serve not only as mechanical support organs but also as endocrine organs that regulate systemic homeostasis through bone-derived factors.This review systematically elaborates the characteristics and mechanisms of skeletal aging, including tissue structural remodeling, cellular phenotypic changes, microenvironmental disruption, and molecular network disorders, etc.In aging organisms, bones interact with other organs to form a "bone-system aging axis", thereby promoting the occurrence and development of geriatric comorbidities.Accordingly, multi-target intervention strategies targeting the "bone-system aging axis" show the potential in decelerating the progression of systemic aging.In-depth research on the characteristic changes in inter-organ communication during the aging process of the body is not only conducive to facilitating the development of more comprehensive systemic anti-aging strategies, but also provides a new perspective for treating geriatric comorbidities and achieving healthy aging.

The interaction between skeletal aging and systemic aging has emerged as a frontier in the field of aging biology research.Recent studies have indicated that bones serve not only as mechanical support organs but also as endocrine organs that regulate systemic homeostasis through bone-derived factors.This review systematically elaborates the characteristics and mechanisms of skeletal aging, including tissue structural remodeling, cellular phenotypic changes, microenvironmental disruption, and molecular network disorders, etc.In aging organisms, bones interact with other organs to form a "bone-system aging axis", thereby promoting the occurrence and development of geriatric comorbidities.Accordingly, multi-target intervention strategies targeting the "bone-system aging axis" show the potential in decelerating the progression of systemic aging.In-depth research on the characteristic changes in inter-organ communication during the aging process of the body is not only conducive to facilitating the development of more comprehensive systemic anti-aging strategies, but also provides a new perspective for treating geriatric comorbidities and achieving healthy aging.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics, treatments and prognoses of carotid artery dissection (CAD).Methods:Nine patients with CAD, admitted to Department of Neurology, Air Force Medical Center of PLA from May 2010 to April 2024, were chosen; the clinical and imaging data, treatments and prognoses (mRS score≤2: good prognosis) of the patients were retrospectively analyzed.Results:(1) Among the 9 patients with CAD, histories of hypertension, diabetes, head and neck trauma, and radiotherapy were noted 3, 2, 4 and 1 patients, respectively; and unclear past history was noted in 1 patient. Carotid ultrasound was performed in 9 patients: slow blood flow of the internal carotid artery with stenosis or occlusion in 7 patients and normal blood flow of the internal carotid artery in 2 patients were noted. MRA in 5 patients showed severe stenosis or subtotal occlusion in the internal carotid artery. DSA in 8 patients showed CAD plus severe stenosis or subtotal occlusion. (2) After ineffective antiplatelet therapy in 3 patients and ineffective anticoagulant therapy in 2 patients, carotid artery stenting (CAS) was performed; direct CAS was given in one patient, and anticoagulant therapy was given in 3 patients. (3) After 3 months of treatment, 9 patients had a good prognosis; carotid ultrasound in 4 patients showed vascular recanalization; MRA re-examination in 3 patients showed vascular recanalization. DSA re-examination in 1 patient showed vascular recanalization; CTA re-examination in 1 patient showed moderate stenosis of the right internal carotid artery.Conclusion:CAD causes are various; CAD should be considered in patients with neck trauma combined with stroke; endovascular treatment should be considered when antiplatelet/anticoagulant therapy are not effective.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics, treatments and prognoses of carotid artery dissection (CAD).Methods:Nine patients with CAD, admitted to Department of Neurology, Air Force Medical Center of PLA from May 2010 to April 2024, were chosen; the clinical and imaging data, treatments and prognoses (mRS score≤2: good prognosis) of the patients were retrospectively analyzed.Results:(1) Among the 9 patients with CAD, histories of hypertension, diabetes, head and neck trauma, and radiotherapy were noted 3, 2, 4 and 1 patients, respectively; and unclear past history was noted in 1 patient. Carotid ultrasound was performed in 9 patients: slow blood flow of the internal carotid artery with stenosis or occlusion in 7 patients and normal blood flow of the internal carotid artery in 2 patients were noted. MRA in 5 patients showed severe stenosis or subtotal occlusion in the internal carotid artery. DSA in 8 patients showed CAD plus severe stenosis or subtotal occlusion. (2) After ineffective antiplatelet therapy in 3 patients and ineffective anticoagulant therapy in 2 patients, carotid artery stenting (CAS) was performed; direct CAS was given in one patient, and anticoagulant therapy was given in 3 patients. (3) After 3 months of treatment, 9 patients had a good prognosis; carotid ultrasound in 4 patients showed vascular recanalization; MRA re-examination in 3 patients showed vascular recanalization. DSA re-examination in 1 patient showed vascular recanalization; CTA re-examination in 1 patient showed moderate stenosis of the right internal carotid artery.Conclusion:CAD causes are various; CAD should be considered in patients with neck trauma combined with stroke; endovascular treatment should be considered when antiplatelet/anticoagulant therapy are not effective.

Objective:To improve the ability of aviation physicians and physical examiners in differential diagnosis of primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) and the level of aeromedical assessment by exploring the diagnosis and treatment of PACNS.Methods:The clinical diagnosis and treatment of a pilot with PACNS were reported and the related literatures were reviewed.Results:The clinical manifestation of the fighter trainer pilot was numbness of the left finger, and then gradually appeared numbness and weakness of the left face and left upper limb more than 1 month. The initial diagnosis was viral encephalitis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and the hormonal shock treatment was ineffective. The final diagnosis was PACNS. The patient′s condition was improved by cyclophosphamide shock treatment. Aeromedical assessment concluded that the pilot was temporarily grounded.Conclusions:Pilot with PACNS is rarely reported and easy to be misdiagnosed due to the clinical and imaging findings are lack of specificity. The aeromedical assessment of PACNS pilots should be individualized according to the severity of illness, type of aircraft and flight duties.

Objective:To improve the ability of aviation physicians and physical examiners in differential diagnosis of primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) and the level of aeromedical assessment by exploring the diagnosis and treatment of PACNS.Methods:The clinical diagnosis and treatment of a pilot with PACNS were reported and the related literatures were reviewed.Results:The clinical manifestation of the fighter trainer pilot was numbness of the left finger, and then gradually appeared numbness and weakness of the left face and left upper limb more than 1 month. The initial diagnosis was viral encephalitis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and the hormonal shock treatment was ineffective. The final diagnosis was PACNS. The patient′s condition was improved by cyclophosphamide shock treatment. Aeromedical assessment concluded that the pilot was temporarily grounded.Conclusions:Pilot with PACNS is rarely reported and easy to be misdiagnosed due to the clinical and imaging findings are lack of specificity. The aeromedical assessment of PACNS pilots should be individualized according to the severity of illness, type of aircraft and flight duties.

Objective:To evaluate rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) in endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) for pancreatic solid lesions, and to compare the difference in ROSE performance between cytopathologists and trained endoscopists.Methods:A total of 168 consecutive patients with pancreatic solid lesions who underwent EUS-FNA from January 2014 to December 2020 at Fuding Hospital, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were recruited. The patients who did not receive ROSE from January 2014 to November 2017 were included in N-ROSE group ( n=67). Since December 2017, the patients who intended to receive EUS-FNA were divided into E-ROSE group ( n=59, patients who received EUS-FNA and ROSE by endoscopists trained with cytopathology) and C-ROSE group ( n=42,patients who received EUS-FNA by untrained endoscopists and ROSE by cytopathologists) according to random number table. The number of punctures, sample adequacy, cytological diagnosis, final diagnosis and diagnostic efficiency (including the sensitivity, the specificity, the positive predictive value, the negative predictive value and the accuracy) in 3 groups were compared. Results:(1) The puncture number in N-ROSE group (4.22±0.76) was significantly more than E-ROSE group (3.12±0.79, P<0.001) and C-ROSE group (3.24±0.91, P<0.001). (2) The proportions of adequate samples in N-ROSE group [82.09% (55/67)] was significantly lower than those of E-ROSE group [96.61% (57/59), χ2=5.308, P=0.021] and C-ROSE group [97.62% (41/42), χ2=4.541, P=0.033]. The proportion of negative cytological diagnosis in N-ROSE group [40.30% (27/67)] was significantly higher than those of E-ROSE group [20.34% (12/59), χ2=5.848, P=0.016] and C-ROSE group [19.05% (8/42), χ2=5.348, P=0.021]. (3) The sensitivity of N-ROSE group [74.07% (40/54)] was significantly lower than those of E-ROSE group [94.00% (47/50), χ2=6.151, P=0.013] and C-ROSE group [94.44% (34/36), χ2=4.817, P=0.028]. The accuracy in N-ROSE group [79.10% (53/67)] was significantly lower than those of E-ROSE group [94.92% (56/59), χ2=5.433, P=0.020] and C-ROSE group [95.24% (40/42), χ2=4.155, P=0.042]. (4) There was no significant difference in any observational index between E-ROSE group and C-ROSE group ( P>0.05). Conclusion:ROSE in EUS-FNA can improve sample adequacy, the diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy, and reduce the number of punctures. The sample adequacy and diagnostic efficiency of endoscopists trained with cytopathology are comparable to those of cytopathologists.

Objective::Microchannels are associated with the progression of atherosclerotic vulnerable plaques. However, in patients with culprit optical coherence tomography (OCT)-defined plaque erosion, the knowledge of microchannels and culprit lesion vulnerability is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate culprit lesion characteristics in patients with ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) caused by plaque erosion with and without microchannels using OCT.Methods::In all, 348 STEMI patients with plaque erosion who underwent OCT of the culprit lesion at the 2 nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University (Harbin, China) from August 2014 to December 2017 were included and divided into the microchannel group ( n= 116, 33.3%) and no-microchannel group ( n = 232, 66.7%). The clinical characteristics and OCT-derived plaque features were compared between both groups. Results::Among the 348 STEMI patients with plaque erosion, culprit lesions with microchannels had higher incidence of lipid plaque (59.5% vs. 45.3%, P= 0.012); calcification (41.4% vs. 24.6%, P= 0.002); spotty calcification (30.2% vs. 18.1%, P= 0.014); macrophages accumulation (72.4% vs. 45.7%, P < 0.001); and cholesterol crystals (32.8% vs. 14.2%, P < 0.001) than those without microchannels. In addition, minimal lumen area was smaller ((1.9 ± 0.9) mm 2vs. (2.8 ± 2.3) mm 2, P < 0.001) and lumen area stenosis was greater ((71.3% ± 13.4%) vs. (65.3% ± 19.3%), P= 0.001) in the microchannel group than in the no-microchannel group. Conclusion::In patients with STEMI caused by plaque erosion, one-third manifested typical microchannel characteristics, and those with microchannels were associated with more severe luminal stenosis and more vulnerable plaque features than those without microchannels.

Objective::Microchannels are associated with the progression of atherosclerotic vulnerable plaques. However, in patients with culprit optical coherence tomography (OCT)-defined plaque erosion, the knowledge of microchannels and culprit lesion vulnerability is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate culprit lesion characteristics in patients with ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) caused by plaque erosion with and without microchannels using OCT.Methods::In all, 348 STEMI patients with plaque erosion who underwent OCT of the culprit lesion at the 2 nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University (Harbin, China) from August 2014 to December 2017 were included and divided into the microchannel group ( n= 116, 33.3%) and no-microchannel group ( n = 232, 66.7%). The clinical characteristics and OCT-derived plaque features were compared between both groups. Results::Among the 348 STEMI patients with plaque erosion, culprit lesions with microchannels had higher incidence of lipid plaque (59.5% vs. 45.3%, P= 0.012); calcification (41.4% vs. 24.6%, P= 0.002); spotty calcification (30.2% vs. 18.1%, P= 0.014); macrophages accumulation (72.4% vs. 45.7%, P < 0.001); and cholesterol crystals (32.8% vs. 14.2%, P < 0.001) than those without microchannels. In addition, minimal lumen area was smaller ((1.9 ± 0.9) mm 2vs. (2.8 ± 2.3) mm 2, P < 0.001) and lumen area stenosis was greater ((71.3% ± 13.4%) vs. (65.3% ± 19.3%), P= 0.001) in the microchannel group than in the no-microchannel group. Conclusion::In patients with STEMI caused by plaque erosion, one-third manifested typical microchannel characteristics, and those with microchannels were associated with more severe luminal stenosis and more vulnerable plaque features than those without microchannels.

Objective:To investigate the image characteristics of woven coronary artery (WCA)on intravascular ultrasound(IVUS) and optical coherence tomography(OCT).Methods:Thirty-seven patients suspected of WCA on coronary angiography were enrolled from Teaching Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medcine, Zhengzhou Cardiovascular Disease Hospital and Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University from January 2013 to July 2020. The intraluminal imaging features of WCA were analyzed using IVUS and OCT.Results:Of the 37 patients admitted at the cardiology service, 9 patients had WCA. All the patients underwent coronary angiography, IVUS and OCT, of which 6 lesions were located on the right coronary artery, 2 lesions were located on the left anterior descending artery and 1 patient had WCA on the circumflex artery. The mean length of WCA lesions was 2.2 cm(ranged from 1.2 cm to 4.5 cm). The angiographic appearance of WCA was numerous small tortious channels origined form the main lumen. The channels appeared to be " doughnut" like pattern and they merged to normal artery again after the anomalous segment. Flow limitation was rare unless there was coronary atherosclerosis. OCT and IVUS showed multiple spiral channels in the anomalous segment, which were independent of each other and each channels had a relatively complete three-layers vascular structure.Conclusions:With typical image characteristics, IVUS and OCT are able to screen out WCA and guide the treatment decision making.