INTRODUCTION: Foreign body (FB) ingestion is a common paediatric emergency. While guidelines exist for urgent intervention, less is known of the natural progress of FBs passing through the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). We reviewed these FB transit times in an outpatient cohort. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on all children (≤18 years) treated for radiopaque FB ingestion at two major tertiary paediatric centres from 2015 to 2016. Demographic data, FB types, outcomes and hospital visits (emergency department [ED] and outpatient) were recorded. All cases discharged from the ED with outpatient follow-up were included. We excluded those who were not given follow-up appointments and those admitted to inpatient wards. We categorised the outcomes into confirmed passage (ascertained via abdominal X-ray or reported direct stool visualisation by patients/caregivers) and assumed passage (if patients did not attend follow-up appointments). RESULTS: Of the 2,122 ED visits for FB ingestion, 350 patients who were given outpatient follow-up appointments were reviewed (median age 4.35 years [range: 0.5-14.7], 196 [56%] male). The largest proportion (16%) was aged 1-2 years. Coins were the most common ingested FB, followed by toys. High-risk FB (magnets or batteries) formed 9% of cases ( n =33). The 50 th centile for FB retention was 8, 4 and 7 days for coins, batteries and other radiopaque FBs, respectively; all confirmed passages occurred at 37, 7 and 23 days, respectively. Overall, 197 (68%) patients defaulted on their last given follow-up. CONCLUSION This study provides insight into the transit times of FB ingested by children, which helps medical professionals to decide on the optimal time for follow-up visits and provide appropriate counsel to caregivers.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Eating ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Foreign Bodies/diagnostic imaging* ; Gastrointestinal Tract/diagnostic imaging* ; Gastrointestinal Transit ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore ; Tertiary Care Centers

Network pharmacology and molecular docking were employed to predict the mechanism of Zhizhu Decoction in regulating macrophage polarization to reduce adipose tissue inflammation in obese children, and animal experiments were then carried out to validate the prediction results. The active ingredients and targets of Zhizhu Decoction were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP). The inflammation related targets in the adipose tissue of obese children were searched against GeneCards, OMIM, and DisGeNET, and a drug-disease-target network was established. STRING was used to construct a protein-protein interaction(PPI) network and screen for core targets. R language was used to carry out Gene Ontology(GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. AutoDock was used for the molecular docking between core targets and active ingredients. 24 SPF grade 6-week C57B/6J male mice were adaptively fed for 1 week, and 8 mice were randomly selected as the blank group. The remaining 16 mice were fed with high-fat diet for 8 weeks to onstruct a high-fat diet induced mouse obesity model. After successful modeling, the 16 mice were randomly divided into model group and Zhizhu Decoction group, with 8 mice in each group. Zhizhu Decoction group was intervened by gavage for 14 days, once a day. Blank group and model group were given an equal amount of sterile double distilled water(ddH_2O) by gavage daily. After the last gavage, serum and inguinal adipose tissue were collected from mice for testing. The morphology of inguinal adipose tissue was observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, the levels of inflammatory factors interleukin-6(IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), and the protein expression of macrophage marker molecule nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) and epidermal growth factor like hormone receptor 1(F4/80) was detected by immunofluorescence staining. Network pharmacology predicted luteolin, naringenin, and nobiletin as the main active ingredients in Zhizhu Decoction and 15 core targets. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed involvement in the key signaling pathway of nuclear factor κB(NF-κB). Molecular docking showed that the active ingredients of Zhizhu Decoction bound well to the core targets. Animal experiment showed that compared with the model group, Zhizhu Decoction reduced the distribution of inflammatory cytokines in the inguinal adipose tissue of mice, lowered the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the serum(P<0.05, P<0.01), and down-regulated the expression of iNOS and F4/80(P<0.05). The results showed that the active ingredients in Zhizhu Decoction, such as luteolin, naringenin, and nobiletin, inhibit the aggregation of macrophages in adipose tissue, downregulate their classic activated macrophage(M1) polarization, reduce the expression of inflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-α, and thus improve adipose tissue inflammation in obese mice.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Adipose Tissue/immunology* ; Mice ; Male ; Humans ; Network Pharmacology ; Macrophages/immunology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Child ; Protein Interaction Maps/drug effects* ; Obesity/genetics* ; Inflammation/drug therapy*

Objective:To observe the adaptive changes in the cardiovascular system after travelling to high altitude in healthy people using supine bicycle exercise stress echocardiography（SE），and to reveal the changes in right heart function，pulmonary vascular reserve and right ventricular systolic reserve in healthy people after acute high altitude exposure.Methods:Thirty-six healthy adults were prospectively collected to undergo SE at low altitude（500 m）and high altitude（3 600 m）. Offline analysis was conducted to acquire resting and peak exercise ultrasound parameters at high and low altitudes：tricuspid regurgitant velocity（TRV），tricuspid annular peak systolic velocity（TV-s′），right ventricular end-diastolic area（RVEDA），right ventricular end-systolic area（RVESA），right ventricular fractional area change（RVFAC），right ventricular basal transverse dimension（RVD1），right ventricular mid-ventricular transverse dimension（RVD2），right ventricular longitudinal dimension（RVD3），right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain（RVFWS），right ventricular global longitudinal strain（RVGLS），left ventricular cardiac output（CO），pulmonary artery systolic pressure（PASP），mean pulmonary artery pressure（mPAP），pulmonary resistance（PVR）and the ratio of tricuspid annular systolic displacement（TAPSE）to PASP（TAPSE/PASP）. The pulmonary vascular reserve and right ventricular systolic reserve indices including pulmonary vascular reserve and right ventricular systolic reserve indices（mPAP/CO slope，change in tricuspid annular systolic displacement（ΔTAPSE），change in fractional area change（ΔRVFAC），change in overall long-axis strain of the right ventricle（ΔRVGLS），and change in peak velocity of the lateral wall of the tricuspid annulus（ΔTV-s′）were calculated. The differences of these parameters betweet high and low altitudes were compared.Results:During the resting period，the values of TRV，PASP，mPAP，PVR，RVD2，and RVD3 were higher at high altitude than at low altitude（all P<0.05）. TAPSE/PASP，RVFAC，RVGLS，and RVFWS were lower at high altitude than at low altitude（all P<0.05）. During the peak exercise period，TRV，PASP，mPAP，PVR，RVAD，RVAS，RVD2，and RVD3 were all higher at high altitude than at low altitude（all P<0.05），and RVFAC at high altitude was lower than at low altitude（ P<0.05）. Right ventricular systolic reserve and pulmonary vascular reserve：mPAP/CO slope at high altitude was higher than at low altitude，ΔTV-s′ and RVFAC were lower than at low altitude（all P<0.05），there were no significant differences in ΔTAPSE and ΔRVGLS between the two altitudes（all P>0.05）. Conclusions:Acute high altitude exposure causes adaptive dilatation of the right ventricle accompanied by a reduction in pulmonary vascular reserve and right ventricular contractile reserve function.

With the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence(GAI)technologies,their widespread application in academic research and writing is continuously expanding the boundaries of sci-entific inquiry.However,this trend has also raised a series of ethical and regulatory challenges,inclu-ding issues related to authorship,content authenticity,citation accuracy,and accountability.In light of the growing involvement of AI in generating academic content,establishing an open,controllable,and trustworthy ethical governance framework has become a key task for safeguarding research integrity and maintaining trust within the academic community.This expert consensus outlines ethical requirements across key stages of AI-assisted academic writing-including topic selection,data management,citation practices,and authorship attribution.It aims to clarify the boundaries and ethical obligations surrounding AI use in academic writing,ensuring that technological tools enhance efficiency without compromising in-tegrity.The goal is to provide guidance and institutional support for building a responsible and sustainable research ecosystem.

Gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis (GCPM) is a common and lethal manifestation of advanced gastric cancer, with a median survival of only 5-11 months. This consensus was developed by 30 experts from Asia (China, Japan, Korea, and Singapore) using the Delphi method and the GRADE evidence grading system. A total of 29 statements were formulated, covering the diagnosis and assessment of GCPM, indications for laparoscopic exploration and NIPS (normothermic intraperitoneal and systemic treatment), treatment regimens, prevention and management of complications, criteria for conversion surgery, and postoperative intraperitoneal therapy. The consensus aims to standardize clinical practice and improve the prognosis of patients with GCPM.

With the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence(GAI)technologies,their widespread application in academic research and writing is continuously expanding the boundaries of sci-entific inquiry.However,this trend has also raised a series of ethical and regulatory challenges,inclu-ding issues related to authorship,content authenticity,citation accuracy,and accountability.In light of the growing involvement of AI in generating academic content,establishing an open,controllable,and trustworthy ethical governance framework has become a key task for safeguarding research integrity and maintaining trust within the academic community.This expert consensus outlines ethical requirements across key stages of AI-assisted academic writing-including topic selection,data management,citation practices,and authorship attribution.It aims to clarify the boundaries and ethical obligations surrounding AI use in academic writing,ensuring that technological tools enhance efficiency without compromising in-tegrity.The goal is to provide guidance and institutional support for building a responsible and sustainable research ecosystem.

Objective:To observe the adaptive changes in the cardiovascular system after travelling to high altitude in healthy people using supine bicycle exercise stress echocardiography（SE），and to reveal the changes in right heart function，pulmonary vascular reserve and right ventricular systolic reserve in healthy people after acute high altitude exposure.Methods:Thirty-six healthy adults were prospectively collected to undergo SE at low altitude（500 m）and high altitude（3 600 m）. Offline analysis was conducted to acquire resting and peak exercise ultrasound parameters at high and low altitudes：tricuspid regurgitant velocity（TRV），tricuspid annular peak systolic velocity（TV-s′），right ventricular end-diastolic area（RVEDA），right ventricular end-systolic area（RVESA），right ventricular fractional area change（RVFAC），right ventricular basal transverse dimension（RVD1），right ventricular mid-ventricular transverse dimension（RVD2），right ventricular longitudinal dimension（RVD3），right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain（RVFWS），right ventricular global longitudinal strain（RVGLS），left ventricular cardiac output（CO），pulmonary artery systolic pressure（PASP），mean pulmonary artery pressure（mPAP），pulmonary resistance（PVR）and the ratio of tricuspid annular systolic displacement（TAPSE）to PASP（TAPSE/PASP）. The pulmonary vascular reserve and right ventricular systolic reserve indices including pulmonary vascular reserve and right ventricular systolic reserve indices（mPAP/CO slope，change in tricuspid annular systolic displacement（ΔTAPSE），change in fractional area change（ΔRVFAC），change in overall long-axis strain of the right ventricle（ΔRVGLS），and change in peak velocity of the lateral wall of the tricuspid annulus（ΔTV-s′）were calculated. The differences of these parameters betweet high and low altitudes were compared.Results:During the resting period，the values of TRV，PASP，mPAP，PVR，RVD2，and RVD3 were higher at high altitude than at low altitude（all P<0.05）. TAPSE/PASP，RVFAC，RVGLS，and RVFWS were lower at high altitude than at low altitude（all P<0.05）. During the peak exercise period，TRV，PASP，mPAP，PVR，RVAD，RVAS，RVD2，and RVD3 were all higher at high altitude than at low altitude（all P<0.05），and RVFAC at high altitude was lower than at low altitude（ P<0.05）. Right ventricular systolic reserve and pulmonary vascular reserve：mPAP/CO slope at high altitude was higher than at low altitude，ΔTV-s′ and RVFAC were lower than at low altitude（all P<0.05），there were no significant differences in ΔTAPSE and ΔRVGLS between the two altitudes（all P>0.05）. Conclusions:Acute high altitude exposure causes adaptive dilatation of the right ventricle accompanied by a reduction in pulmonary vascular reserve and right ventricular contractile reserve function.

AIM To establish an HPLC method for the simultaneous content determination of gallic acid,protocatechuic acid,morroniside,loganin,sweroside,paeoniflorin,hypericin,astragalin,salvianolic acid B,salvianolic acid A,epimedin C and icariin in Bushen Huoxue Sanjie Capsules.METHODS The analysis was performed on a 30℃thermostatic Agilent 5 TC-C18 column(250 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of acetonitrile-0.1%phosphoric acid flowing at 1.0 mL/min in a gradient elution manner,and the detection wavelength was set at 240 nm.RESULTS Twelve constituents showed good linear relationships within their own ranges(r≥0.999 8),whose average recoveries were 97.11%-101.14%with the RSDs of 0.60%-2.65%.CONCLUSION This simple,accurate and reproducible method can be used for the quality control of Bushen Huoxue Sanjie Capsules.

Objective: The effect on fat infiltration (FI) of paraspinal muscles in degenerative lumbar spinal diseases has been demonstrated except for spinopelvic parameters. The present study is to identify the effect of spinopelvic parameters on FI of paraspinal muscle (PSM) and psoas major muscle (PMM) in patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. Methods: A single-center, retrospective cross-sectional study of 160 patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) and lumbar stenosis (LSS) who had lateral full-spine x-ray and lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging was conducted. PSM and PMM FIs were defined as the ratio of fat to its muscle cross-sectional area. The FIs were compared among patients with different pelvic tilt (PT) and pelvic incidence (PI), respectively. Results: The PSM FI correlated significantly with pelvic parameters in DLS patients, but not in LSS patients. The PSM FI in pelvic retroversion (PT > 25°) was 0.54 ± 0.13, which was significantly higher in DLS patients than in normal pelvis (0.41 ± 0.14) and pelvic anteversion (PT < 5°) (0.34 ± 0.12). The PSM FI of DLS patients with large PI ( > 60°) was 0.50 ± 0.13, which was higher than those with small ( < 45°) and normal PI (0.37 ± 0.11 and 0.36 ± 0.13). However, the PSM FI of LSS patients didn’t change significantly with PT or PI. Moreover, the PMM FI was about 0.10–0.15, which was significantly lower than the PSM FI, and changed with PT and PI in a similar way of PSM FI with much less in magnitude. Conclusion FI of the PSMs increased with greater pelvic retroversion or larger pelvic incidence in DLS patients, but not in LSS patients.

Objective: The effect on fat infiltration (FI) of paraspinal muscles in degenerative lumbar spinal diseases has been demonstrated except for spinopelvic parameters. The present study is to identify the effect of spinopelvic parameters on FI of paraspinal muscle (PSM) and psoas major muscle (PMM) in patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. Methods: A single-center, retrospective cross-sectional study of 160 patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) and lumbar stenosis (LSS) who had lateral full-spine x-ray and lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging was conducted. PSM and PMM FIs were defined as the ratio of fat to its muscle cross-sectional area. The FIs were compared among patients with different pelvic tilt (PT) and pelvic incidence (PI), respectively. Results: The PSM FI correlated significantly with pelvic parameters in DLS patients, but not in LSS patients. The PSM FI in pelvic retroversion (PT > 25°) was 0.54 ± 0.13, which was significantly higher in DLS patients than in normal pelvis (0.41 ± 0.14) and pelvic anteversion (PT < 5°) (0.34 ± 0.12). The PSM FI of DLS patients with large PI ( > 60°) was 0.50 ± 0.13, which was higher than those with small ( < 45°) and normal PI (0.37 ± 0.11 and 0.36 ± 0.13). However, the PSM FI of LSS patients didn’t change significantly with PT or PI. Moreover, the PMM FI was about 0.10–0.15, which was significantly lower than the PSM FI, and changed with PT and PI in a similar way of PSM FI with much less in magnitude. Conclusion FI of the PSMs increased with greater pelvic retroversion or larger pelvic incidence in DLS patients, but not in LSS patients.