ObjectiveTo investigate the optimal ratio of goat horn replacing antelope horn in Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills and the blood pressure-lowering mechanism of this medicine. MethodsThe blood pressure-lowering efficacy of Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills with varying proportions of goat horn replacing antelope horn was evaluated on spontaneous hypertensive rats （SHR）. In this experiment， 50 SHR rats were randomly grouped as follows： model （n=8）， captopril （0.01 g·kg^-1） （n=6）， low-dose blank Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.342 g·kg^-1） （n=6）， high-dose blank Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.684 g·kg^-1） （n=6）， low-dose antelope horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.378 g·kg^-1） （n=6）， high-dose antelope horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.756 g·kg^-1） （n=6）， low-dose goat horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.378 g·kg^-1） （n=6）， and high-dose goat horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.756 g·kg^-1） （n=6）. Additionally， 8 WKY rats were used as the normal group. Drugs were administered by gavage for 4 weeks while an equal volume of distilled water was administered for the normal and model groups. Blood pressure was measured before administration， 3 h post administration， and biweekly thereafter. In the experiment for Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills with goat horn replacing antelope horn in different proportions， 48 SHR rats were randomly grouped as follows： model， blank Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.684 g·kg^-1）， antelope horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.756 g·kg^-1）， 2× goat horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.824 g·kg^-1）， 4× goat horn Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.969 g·kg^-1）， and 6× goat horn Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （1.112 g·kg^-1）. The normal group included 8 WKY rats， and the normal group and model group received an equal volume of distilled water. The treatment lasted for 2 weeks， and blood pressure was recorded at various time points （pre-administration， 3 h post administration， and on days 4， 7， 10， and 14 of administration）. Serum levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme （ACE）， angiotensin Ⅱ（Ang Ⅱ）， renin， and interleukin-6 （IL-6） were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Histopathological changes in the heart， kidney， and thoracic aorta were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The protein levels of ACE2， angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor （AT1R）， and angiotensinogen （AGT） in the kidney tissue were determined by Western blot， while the expression of nuclear factor （NF）-κB p65 and Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4） in the thoracic aorta tissue was assessed by immunohistochemistry. ResultsCompared with the model group， all treatment groups showed lowered blood pressure （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the 6× goat horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills group showed consistent blood pressure-lowering effect with the antelope horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills group. Compared with the normal group， the model group showed elevated serum levels of ACE， Ang Ⅱ， renin， and IL-6， while the elevations were declined in the Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Pathological changes in the heart， kidney， and thoracic aorta were alleviated in all the treatment groups， with the 6× goat horn- and antelope horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills groups exhibited the best effect. Western blot and immunohistochemistry results showed that all the treatment groups exhibited down-regulated protein levels of AT1R， AGT， NF-κB p65， and TLR4 and up-regulated protein levels of ACE2 （P<0.05， P<0.01） compared with model group， with the 6×goat horn- and antelope horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills groups showcasing the best effect. ConclusionReplacing antelope horn with 6×goat horn in Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills can achieve consistent blood pressure-lowering effect with the original prescription. The prescription may exert the effect by inhibiting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system （RAAS） and TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathways.

AIM:To evaluate the effectiveness of EYESI binocular indirect ophthalmoscope simulation system as a training platform for fundus examination skills of general practitioner.METHODS:Prospective randomized study. A total of 40 general practitioners who received clinical ophthalmology training at Shenzhen Eye Hospital from January 2021 to December 2024 were selected and randomly divided into two groups by random number table method, with 20 cases in the study group and 20 cases in the control group. The study group was trained by EYESI binocular indirect ophthalmoscope simulation system and the control group was trained by conventional teaching. Training effects of the two groups were analyzed.RESULTS: The general information of the two groups was comparable. Through training with the EYESI binocular indirect ophthalmoscope simulator, the study group showed significant improvements in total examination and drawing scores compared to pre-training results(all P<0.001). Additionally, examination duration, retinal light exposure time, and drawing time were all significantly shorter than those before training(all P<0.001).The study group achieved significantly higher total examination and drawing scores than the control group during the EYESI binocular indirect ophthalmoscope simulator assessment(all P<0.001). Furthermore, examination duration, retinal light exposure time, and drawing time were all significantly shorter in the study group compared to the control group(all P<0.001). Moreover, ratings for the novelty of the training method and overall satisfaction with the training were significantly higher in the study group than in the control group(all P<0.001); while the perceived psychological stress during training was significantly lower in the study group(P<0.001).CONCLUSION:The EYESI binocular indirect ophthalmoscope simulaton system effectively enhances both the proficiency in fundus examination skills and overall training satisfaction among general practitioners.

Acute myocardial infarction and acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding are both critical internal medicine conditions. The incidence of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with acute myocardial infarction ranges from 5.31% to 8.90%, with a mortality rate as high as 20.50% to 35.70%. The pathogenesis may be related to the use of antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs, as well as stress-induced injury. In treatment, the contradiction between antiplatelet/anticoagulation therapy and bleeding has made this disease a significant challenge in modern medicine. Therefore, re-exploring the etiology, pathogenesis, treatment principles, and methods of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) for acute myocardial infarction and acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding is of great clinical importance. The research team has been working year-round in the coronary care unit(CCU), managing a large number of such severe patients. By revisiting classic texts and delving into the foundational theories of TCM and historical medical literature, it has been found that this disease falls under the category of "distant blood" in the Synopsis of the Golden Chamber. In terms of etiology, it is primarily associated with weakness of healthy Qi and damage caused by drug toxicity. In terms of pathogenesis, in the acute stage, it mainly manifests as insufficient spleen Yang, deficiency of spleen Qi, and failure of the spleen to control blood. In the remission stage, it is characterized by deficiency of both heart Qi and spleen blood. For treatment, during the acute stage, Huangtu Decoction is used to warm Yang and restrain blood, while in the remission stage, Guipi Decoction is administered to tonify Qi and nourish blood. During the treatment process, for patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding, it is crucial to flexibly apply the treatment principles of "Nil per os" in western medicine and "where there is stomach Qi, there is life; where there is no stomach Qi, there is death" in TCM. Early intervention with Huangtu Decoction can also prevent bleeding, with large doses being key to achieving hemostasis. It is important to address the pathogenesis of heat syndrome in addition to the core pathogenesis of Yang deficiency bleeding and to emphasize the follow-up treatment with Guipi Decoction for a successful outcome.
Humans ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/etiology* ; Myocardial Infarction/drug therapy* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Acute Disease

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is a naturally occurring, low-toxicity, and hydrophilic bile acid (BA) in the human body that is converted by intestinal flora using primary BA. Solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) functions to uptake extracellular cystine in exchange for glutamate, and is highly expressed in a variety of human cancers. Retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RLPS) refers to liposarcoma originating from the retroperitoneal area. Lipidomics analysis revealed that UDCA was one of the most significantly downregulated metabolites in sera of RLPS patients compared with healthy subjects. The augmentation of UDCA concentration (≥25 μg/mL) demonstrated a suppressive effect on the proliferation of liposarcoma cells. [¹⁵N₂]-cystine and [¹³C₅]-glutamine isotope tracing revealed that UDCA impairs cystine uptake and glutathione (GSH) synthesis. Mechanistically, UDCA binds to the cystine transporter SLC7A11 to inhibit cystine uptake and impair GSH de novo synthesis, leading to reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and mitochondrial oxidative damage. Furthermore, UDCA can promote the anti-cancer effects of ferroptosis inducers (Erastin, RSL3), the murine double minute 2 (MDM2) inhibitors (Nutlin 3a, RG7112), cyclin dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) inhibitor (Abemaciclib), and glutaminase inhibitor (CB839). Together, UDCA functions as a cystine exchange factor that binds to SLC7A11 for antitumor activity, and SLC7A11 is not only a new transporter for BA but also a clinically applicable target for UDCA. More importantly, in combination with other antitumor chemotherapy or physiotherapy treatments, UDCA may provide effective and promising treatment strategies for RLPS or other types of tumors in a ROS-dependent manner.

Objective:To introduce a surgical method involving the indwelling of double-J tubes(DJT)in the seminal vesicles after transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy(TSV)in order to reduce the recurrence of refractory ejaculatory duct obstruction(EDO).Methods:This randomized controlled trial included 67 EDO patients undergoing TSV in our hospitals,27 with(the trial group)and 29 without postoperative indwelling of DJTs in the seminal vesicles(the control group).We collected the general information on the pa-tients and TSV-related parameters,including age,body mass index(BMI),preoperative use of antibiotics,history of urinary tract dis-ease,operation time,hospital stay and intra-and postoperative complications,and performed comparative analyses particularly on the surgical effect,complications,recurrence rate and time to recurrence in the two groups of patients.Results:The patients in the trial and control groups were followed up for(40.5±10.6)and(32.5±14.8)months,respectively.There were no statistically signifi-cant differences in the baseline data,intra-and postoperative complications,and postoperative hospital days between the two groups(P＞0.05).Compared with the controls,the patients in the trial group showed a significantly shorter operation time([62.8±6.1]vs[49.5±7.7]min,P＜0.05)and a lower recurrence rate than the controls(18.5％vs 44.8％,P＜0.05),but with no statisti-cally significant difference in the median time to recurrence(21.0 mo vs 22.0 mo,P＞0.05).Conclusion:The novel technique of indwelling double-J tubes in the seminal vesicles after TSV can significantly reduce the recurrence rate of refractory EDO.

The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in China has shown a rising trend. With the patient number of about 8.9 million, heart failure has brought a heavy burden to public health and wellness. Despite the modern medical research progress in the pathogenesis and clinical treatment of heart failure, the patients with heart failure still suffer from recurrent episodes of dyspnea(requiring repeated hospital admissions), diuretic resistance, elevated creatinine levels due to prolonged diuretic use, and poor prognosis, among other major clinical and scientific issues. In traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), heart failure belongs to the category of "heart water". The research team has found that because of the changes in the modern disease spectrum, the differences between ancient and modern physical constitutions, and the use of anti-heart failure drugs in modern medicine, the pathological process of heart failure has been altered, and the symptoms of some patients have become unobvious. As a result, the etiology and pathogenesis of heart failure have undergone major changes. The disease causes include external pathogen attack, emotional disorders, excessive labor injury, medication-induced damage, dietary disorders, water-dampness stagnation, and endowment insufficiency. These causes are closely related to the infection aggravation-induced heart failure, cardiac and psychological diseases, and heart volume overload in modern medicine. The pathogeneses of heart failure include edema due to Yang deficiency and water retention turning into heat in the acute stage and liver depression and Qi stagnation, heart Qi deficiency, kidney Yang deficiency, Qi deficiency in lung and spleen, phlegm and water retention, and internal obstruction due to blood stasis in the remission stage. The corresponding treatment strategies were recommended as follows: Zhenwu Decoction for edema due to Yang deficiency, Mufangji Decoction for water retention turning into heat, Chaihu Longgu Muli Decoction for liver depression and Qi stagnation, Guizhi Decoction for heart Qi insufficiency, Shenqi Pills and Yougui Pills for kidney Yang deficiency, Yupingfeng Powder, Lizhong Decoction, Buzhong Yiqi Decoction, and Guipi Decoction for Qi deficiency in lung and spleen, Fangji Huangqi Decoction, Wuling Powder, Linggui Zhugan Decoction, and Tingli Dazao Xiefei Decoction for internal obstruction due to phlegm and water retention, Guizhi Fuling Pills and Danggui Shaoyao Powder for internal obstruction due to blood stasis. The clinical treatment should follow the principle of considering both pathogenesis and pathology as well as both medicine nature and mechanism. The TCM concept of secondary prevention with TCM formulas for replenishing deficiency should be adopted. The treatment based on the principle and concept above will improve the patients' quality of life, reduce the number of hospital admissions, ameliorate diuretic resistance, and improve the clinical outcomes.
Humans ; Heart Failure/etiology* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common pathological type of thyroid cancer,accounting for 90%.Most cases of PTC are inert tumors,while a few are invasive.Cervical lymph node metastasis is one of the major manifestations of invasive PTC.Preoperative accurate prediction of cervical lymph node metastasis is of great significance for the selection of therapeutic regimen and the evaluation of prognosis.New ultrasound technology is a non-invasive,convenient,and radiation-free examination method,playing a key role in predicting the cervical lymph node metastasis of PTC.This paper reviews the research status and makes an outlook on new ultrasound technology in predicting cervical lymph node metastasis of PTC.
Humans ; Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/diagnostic imaging* ; Lymphatic Metastasis/diagnostic imaging* ; Carcinoma, Papillary/diagnostic imaging* ; Thyroid Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging* ; Technology

Objective To investigate the effect of calcification on the ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation(RFA)of papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC).Methods We retrospectively analyzed the preoperative and follow-up data of 164 patients(182 nodules)with PTC treated by percutaneous ultrasound-guided RFA in the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 1,2018 to December 31,2021.The tumor status 12 months after RFA was taken as the endpoint event.The univariate Logistic regression analysis was employed to predict the influencing factors of incomplete ablation.The factors were then included in the multivariate Logistic regression analysis for prediction of the independent risk factors of incomplete ablation.Results The maximum nodule diameter(OR=1.16,95%CI=1.04-1.29,P=0.009)and calcification ratio >2/3(OR=19.27,95%CI=4.02-92.28,P<0.001)were the factors influencing the disappearance of lesion 12 months after RFA.Conclusions PTC with calcification can be treated with ultrasound-guided RFA.In the case of calcification ratio ≤ 2/3,this therapy demonstrates the effect equivalent to that of no calcification.
Humans ; Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Radiofrequency Ablation/methods* ; Calcinosis ; Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology* ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

Objective To explore the diagnostic efficacy of American Thyroid Association(ATA)guidelines,American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Report and Data System(ACR-TIRADS),and Chinese Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System(C-TIRADS)alone and combined with BRAF^V600E mutation in atypia of undetermined significance/follicular lesion of undetermined significance(AUS/FLUS).Methods A total of 138 patients who underwent ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration(FNA)in the Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2020 to May 2023 were selected.The clinicopathological and ultrasound characteristics were retrospectively analyzed for each nodule.Each nodule underwent preoperative BRAF^V600E mutation testing and was diagnosed according to the ATA guidelines,ACR-TIRADS,and C-TIRADS.The diagnostic efficacy of ATA guidelines,ACR-TIRADS,and C-TIRADS alone and combined with BRAF^V600E mutation was assessed based on the results of histopathological diagnosis.Results The 138 AUS/FLUS thyroid nodules included 45(32.6%)benign ones and 93(67.4%)malignant ones.The patient age(t=1.444,P=0.151),gender(χ²=0.259,P=0.611),and location of nodules(χ²=2.055,P=0.358)had no statistical significance for the differentiation between benign and malignant nodules,while nodule size(Z=2.500,P=0.012),echo(χ²=14.693,P<0.001),composition(χ²=17.075,P<0.001),aspect ratio ≥1(χ²=9.477,P=0.002),and microcalcification(χ²=6.892,P=0.009)were of significance for the differentiation.When applied alone,BRAF^V600E mutation showed high specificity(95.56%)and positive predictive value(95.65%).Among the three ultrasound grading systems,ACR-TIRADS had the highest sensitivity(χ²=37.923,P<0.001;χ²=40.462,P<0.001)and accuracy(χ²=81.595,P<0.001;χ²=76.912,P<0.001),while C-TIRADS had the highest specificity(χ²=11.746,P<0.001;χ²=21.235,P<0.001).However,the three systems showed no statistically significant difference in the diagnostic efficiency when applied alone(Z=1.177,P=0.239;Z=0.213,P=0.831;Z=1.016,P=0.310).The combination of BRAF^V600E mutation with ACR-TIRADS or C-TIRADS improved the diagnostic efficacy of BRAF^V600E mutation in distinguishing the benign and malignant AUS/FLUS nodules(Z=2.107,P=0.035;Z=2.752,P=0.006).The combination of ATA guidelines with BRAF^V600E mutation increased the diagnostic accuracy of BRAF^V600E mutation(χ²=20.679,P<0.001),while it had no statistically significant difference in distinguishing the benign and malignant AUS/FLUS nodules(Z=1.321,P=0.186).The combination of ATA guidelines,ACR-TIRADS,or C-TIRADS with BRAF^V600E mutation improved the diagnostic efficacy of ultrasound grading systems for AUS/FLUS nodules(Z=2.770,P=0.006;Z=2.770,P=0.006;Z=2.890,P=0.004).Specifically,ACR-TIRADS combined with BRAF^V600E mutation showed the highest sensitivity(χ²=4.712,P=0.030;χ²=4.712,P=0.030),while C-TIRADS combined with BRAF^V600E mutation showed the highest accuracy(χ²=77.627,P<0.001;χ²=85.827,P<0.001).However,there were no statistically significant differences in diagnostic performance between the combinations(Z=1.276,P=0.202;Z=0.808,P=0.419;Z=1.615,P=0.106).Conclusion ATA guidelines,ACR-TIRADS,and C-TIRADS combined with BRAF^V600E mutation can improve the diagnostic efficacy of BRAF^V600E mutation or ultrasound grading system alone in AUS/FLUS nodules,which can facilitate the further management and treatment of such patients.
Humans ; United States ; Infant ; Thyroid Neoplasms/genetics* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf/genetics* ; Adenocarcinoma, Follicular/pathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Data Systems ; Thyroid Nodule/genetics* ; Ultrasonography/methods* ; Mutation ; China ; Radiology

As a recognized rare and highly fatal disease, hereditary angioedema (HAE) is difficult to diagnose and characterized by recurrent edema involving the head, limbs, genitals and larynx, etc. Diagnosis of HAE is not difficult. However, low incidence and lack of clinical characteristics lead to difficulty of doctors on timely diagnosis and correct intervention for HAE patients. Therefore, it is crucial to improve the awareness of this disease and prevent its recurrence. for HAE patients. In view of absent cognition of doctors and the general public on HAE, patients often suffer from sudden death or become disabled due to laryngeal edema which cannot be treated in time. Thus, based on the Internet mobile terminal platform, the team set up an all-day rapid emergency response system which is provided for HAE patients by setting up "one-click help". The aim is to offer optimization on overall management of HAE and designed the intelligent follow-up management to provide timely assistance and specialized suggestion for patients with acute attacks.
Humans ; Angioedemas, Hereditary/drug therapy*