1.Aerobic Exercise and MOTS-c Ameliorate Hepatic Oxidative Stress and Metabolic Disorder in Type 2 Diabetes via The NRF2/PPARγ Axis
Fei-Long CHEN ; Zhi-Yu LI ; Tu-Tu WANG ; Yu FU ; Lei LÜ ; Cheng-Yuan XING ; Shun-Chang LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(8):2071-2090
ObjectiveType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) often causes severe hepatic metabolic complications, dominated by metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Persistent hepatic steatosis and oxidative stress further trigger steatohepatitis and progressive liver damage, increasing the mortality risk of diabetic patients. Aerobic exercise effectively improves hepatic lipid metabolism and antioxidant capacity, but poor patient adherence restricts its long-term clinical application. Mitochondrial-derived mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA type-c (MOTS-c) is a key peptide regulating insulin sensitivity and hepatic redox homeostasis. This study aimed to explore the protective mechanism of MOTS-c against T2DM-related liver injury and its combined beneficial effect with aerobic exercise via the NRF2/PPARγ signaling axis. This study aimed to investigate whether MOTS-c cooperates with aerobic exercise to alleviate T2DM-associated hepatic oxidative stress and metabolic dysfunction by activating the NRF2/PPARγ axis, and to clarify the molecular and transcriptomic characteristics of their combined intervention. MethodsStable MOTS-c overexpression and knockdown HepG2 cell lines were constructed using lentiviral transfection. An oleic acid-induced cellular lipid accumulation model and NRF2-knockout cell model were applied to verify the NRF2-dependent mechanism ofMOTS-c. Intracellular lipid deposition, triglyceride levels, antioxidant enzyme activities, and the expression of NRF2/PPARγ pathway-related genes and proteins were detected. In vivo, a T2DM rat model with obvious hepatic steatosis was established via a high-fat and high-sucrose diet combined with streptozotocin injection. Model rats received aerobic exercise, MOTS-c intraperitoneal injection, or combined intervention. We detected systemic glycolipid metabolic indicators, hepatic histopathological changes, and the expression of core proteins in the hepatic NRF2/PPARγ axis. Hepatic transcriptomic sequencing was performed to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and enrich key pathways co-regulated by MOTS-c and aerobic exercise. ResultsCellular results showed that MOTS-c overexpression significantly reduced oleic acid-induced lipid deposition, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, and upregulated NRF2 and PPARγ expression. Conversely, MOTS-c knockdown aggravated hepatic lipid accumulation and oxidative damage and inhibited NRF2/PPARγ pathway activation. NRF2 knockout completely eliminated the protective effects of MOTS-c on lipid metabolism and redox balance, confirming its NRF2-dependent regulatory mechanism. In T2DM rats, both MOTS-c supplementation and aerobic exercise effectively improved insulin resistance, corrected glycolipid metabolic disorders, and alleviated hepatic steatosis, while consistently activating the hepatic NRF2/PPARγ axis. Compared with single intervention, the combined treatment showed a better improvement trend in hepatic metabolic and oxidative injury, without definitive synergistic effects. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the co-regulated DEGs of MOTS-c and aerobic exercise were primarily enriched in lipid metabolism and PPAR signaling pathways, with multiple antioxidant and lipid-regulating genes significantly modulated by combined intervention. ConclusionMOTS-c exhibits obvious exercise-mimetic hepatoprotective effects in T2DM. It activates the hepatic NRF2/PPARγ axis to strengthen antioxidant defense, stabilize lipid metabolism, and relieve T2DM-associated hepatic steatosis and oxidative damage. Furthermore, MOTS-c produces additive beneficial effects with aerobic exercise, showing a superior intervention trend on diabetic liver dysfunction. This study identifies the NRF2/PPARγ axis as the core mechanism of MOTS-c-regulated hepatic protection, elucidates the transcriptomic basis of combined intervention, and provides a reliable theoretical basis and potential therapeutic target for clinical intervention in T2DM-complicated MAFLD.
2.Accurate Machine Learning-based Monitoring of Anesthesia Depth with EEG Recording.
Zhiyi TU ; Yuehan ZHANG ; Xueyang LV ; Yanyan WANG ; Tingting ZHANG ; Juan WANG ; Xinren YU ; Pei CHEN ; Suocheng PANG ; Shengtian LI ; Xiongjie YU ; Xuan ZHAO
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(3):449-460
General anesthesia, pivotal for surgical procedures, requires precise depth monitoring to mitigate risks ranging from intraoperative awareness to postoperative cognitive impairments. Traditional assessment methods, relying on physiological indicators or behavioral responses, fall short of accurately capturing the nuanced states of unconsciousness. This study introduces a machine learning-based approach to decode anesthesia depth, leveraging EEG data across different anesthesia states induced by propofol and esketamine in rats. Our findings demonstrate the model's robust predictive accuracy, underscored by a novel intra-subject dataset partitioning and a 5-fold cross-validation method. The research diverges from conventional monitoring by utilizing anesthetic infusion rates as objective indicators of anesthesia states, highlighting distinct EEG patterns and enhancing prediction accuracy. Moreover, the model's ability to generalize across individuals suggests its potential for broad clinical application, distinguishing between anesthetic agents and their depths. Despite relying on rat EEG data, which poses questions about real-world applicability, our approach marks a significant advance in anesthesia monitoring.
Animals
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Machine Learning
;
Electroencephalography/methods*
;
Ketamine/administration & dosage*
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Rats
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Male
;
Propofol/administration & dosage*
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Anesthesia, General/methods*
;
Brain/physiology*
;
Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring/methods*
3.Early Efficacy of Intense Pulsed Light Combined with Non-Ablative Fractional Laser in Preventing Postoperative Pathological Scar Formation and Intervention of Inflammatory Factors
Li-min TIAN ; Yan-qin YU ; Yang ZHANG ; Xin-ying YANG ; Meng-jie WANG ; Ya-gaer TU ; Hao-dong CHEN ; Yue-nan YANG
Progress in Modern Biomedicine 2025;25(13):2181-2187
Objective:To observe the early efficacy of intense pulsed light(IPL)combined with non-ablative fractional laser(NAFL)in preventing postoperative pathological scar formation and intervention of inflammatory factors.Methods:93 patients with postoperative pathological scar formation who were admitted to our hospital from March 2022 to September 2024 were selected,they were divided into control group A(silicone gel treatment,n=31),control group B(NAFL on the basis of control group A,n=31)and study group(IPL on the basis of control group B,n=31)using the random number table method.The clinical efficacy,simple quality of life scale(SF-36),vancouver scar scale(VSS),inflammatory factors[interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),C-reactive protein(CRP)],and adverse reactions among three groups were compared.Results:The clinical total effective rate in the study group were higher than those in the control group A and control group B(P<0.05).SF-36 increased sequentially and VSS decreased sequentially in control group A,control group B,and study group after treatment(P<0.05).CRP,IL-6,and TNF-α decreased sequentially in control group A,control group B,and study group after treatment(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions among the three groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:IPL combined with NAFL in preventing postoperative pathological scar formation,can effectively reduce scar formation,reduce inflammatory factors levels,improve patients' quality of life,and be safe and reliable.
4.Arthroscopic double locking suture combined with single-row suture fixation for posterior root tear of the medial meniscus
Feng TU ; Lin ZHANG ; Jia LI ; Huan YU ; Chen ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma 2025;27(7):599-606
Objective:To investigate the clinical effects of arthroscopic double locking suture combined with single-row suture fixation in the treatment of posterior root tear of the medial meniscus.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of the patients who had been treated for posterior root tear of the medial meniscus by arthroscopic double locking suture combined with single-row suture fixation from January 2018 to December 2021 at Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, The First Hospital of Wuhan. There were 11 males and 23 females with an age of (55.6±4.0) years. Lysholm subjective function score and Tegner motor function score were used to evaluate the knee function, the Kellgren Lawrence grading of the weight-bearing X-ray film of the affected limb was used to evaluate the osteoarthritis of the affected knee, and MRI was used to evaluate the medial meniscus exostosis.Results:All patients were followed up for 28.0 (26.0, 33.3) months. Their Lysholm subjective function score [90.0 (89.0, 91.0) points] at the last follow-up was significantly higher than the preoperative one [57.5 (55.0, 60.0) points], and their Tegner motor function score at the last follow-up [6.0 (6.0, 6.0) points] significantly better than the preoperative one [4.0 (3.8, 4.0) points] ( P<0.05). The Kellgren Lawrence grading resulted in grade 1 in 8 cases, grade 2 in 24 cases, grade 3 in 2 cases at the last follow-up, comparing with grade 0 in 2 cases, grade 1 in 9 cases, and grade 2 in 23 cases before operation. The medial meniscus exostosis was grade 1 in 8 cases and grade 2 in 26 cases at the last follow-up, comparing with 5 cases of grade 1 and 29 cases of grade 2 before operation. The above comparisons showed no significant difference between the last follow-up and preoperation ( P > 0.05). Conclusion:For patients with posterior root tear of the medial meniscus, arthroscopic double locking suture combined with single-row suture fixation can improve significantly their knee joint function, but can hardly improve their medial meniscus exostosis.
5.MITF expression in acral melanoma tissues and its association with clinical,pathological characteristics and prognosis
Tong WANG ; Wei SUN ; Yu XU ; Tu HU ; Wanlin LIU ; Qiongdan ZHENG ; Zijian ZOU ; Zirui DONG ; Wenjie MA ; Yong CHEN
China Oncology 2025;35(9):859-866
Background and purpose:The microphthalmia-associated transcription factor(MITF)plays a complex role in melanoma pathogenesis and progression.It is known to regulate multiple processes both in melanocytes and melanoma cells.While numerous studies have explored MITF in cutaneous melanoma(CM),research in acral melanoma(AM)is still limited.This study retrospectively analyzed the correlation between MITF expression and clinical,pathological characteristics and prognosis in AM patients,providing a basis for prognosis evaluation and personalized treatment plan formulation for patients.Methods:Patients who underwent primary resection of AM at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center from March 2008 to February 2022 were included.All surgical samples were diagnosed by clinical histopathology and used to construct the tissue microarray(TMA).This study was approved by the medical ethics committee of Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center(approval number:2203-ZZK-69-3).Cutting complete tissue microarray and evaluating MITF expression levels by immunohistochemistry(IHC)staining were carried out.The results were independently assessed and scored by three pathologists.Clinical and pathological data were collected from the hospital's electronic medical record system,and each patient's data was matched to their corresponding tissue sample on the chip.Patients were stratified into two groups based on MITF expression levels.Statistical analyses were performed to assess differences in clinical,pathological characteristics and survival outcomes between these two groups.Results:A total of 137 AM patients were included.MITF expression was significantly associated with T stage,N stage,American Joint Committee on Cancer(AJCC)stage,clark level,sentinel lymph node status,and presence of ulceration.Among these,N stage and ulceration were independent risk factors for high expression of MITF after adjusting for confounding factors.Survival analysis showed that AM patients with high MITF expression or higher T stage were associated with shorter disease-free survival(DFS).Patients with high MITF expression showed no significant difference in overall survival(OS)between observation or cytokine therapy and adjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitor(ICI)therapy,whereas those with low MITF expression derived significant survival benefits from ICI treatment.Conclusion:A higher N stage or the presence of ulceration indicates high MITF expression in tumor cells,with high MITF levels serving as a warning signal for early recurrence,metastasis,and even death.Patients with low MITF expression could receive improved OS with early adjuvant ICI therapy.MITF could not only serve as an auxiliary diagnostic marker for melanoma but also provide a basis for clinical prognosis assessment and the formulation of personalized treatment plans.
6.Deubiquitinase JOSD2 alleviates colitis by inhibiting inflammation via deubiquitination of IMPDH2 in macrophages.
Xin LIU ; Yi FANG ; Mincong HUANG ; Shiliang TU ; Boan ZHENG ; Hang YUAN ; Peng YU ; Mengyao LAN ; Wu LUO ; Yongqiang ZHOU ; Guorong CHEN ; Zhe SHEN ; Yi WANG ; Guang LIANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(2):1039-1055
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, which increases the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC). In the pathophysiology of IBD, ubiquitination/deubiquitination plays a critical regulatory function. Josephin domain containing 2 (JOSD2), a deubiquitinating enzyme, controls cell proliferation and carcinogenesis. However, its role in IBD remains unknown. Colitis mice model developed by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) or colon tissues from individuals with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease showed a significant upregulation of JOSD2 expression in the macrophages. JOSD2 deficiency exacerbated the phenotypes of DSS-induced colitis by enhancing colon inflammation. DSS-challenged mice with myeloid-specific JOSD2 deletion developed severe colitis after bone marrow transplantation. Mechanistically, JOSD2 binds to the C-terminal of inosine-5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase 2 (IMPDH2) and preferentially cleaves K63-linked polyubiquitin chains at the K134 site, suppressing IMPDH2 activity and preventing activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and inflammation in macrophages. It was also shown that JOSD2 knockout significantly exacerbated increased azoxymethane (AOM)/DSS-induced CRC, and AAV6-mediated JOSD2 overexpression in macrophages prevented the development of colitis in mice. These outcomes reveal a novel role for JOSD2 in colitis through deubiquitinating IMPDH2, suggesting that targeting JOSD2 is a potential strategy for treating IBD.
7.X-ray irradiation promotes apoptosis in rat astrocytes by upregulating AQP4 and inhibiting autophagy
Yaozu XIONG ; Changhua YU ; Na CHEN ; Fengmei CUI ; Yu TU ; Xiaoting XU
Chinese Journal of Radiation Oncology 2025;34(4):369-378
Objective:To explore the changes of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) expression in rat astrocytes (RA) and rat model of radiation-induced brain injury (RIBI) after X-ray radiation, as well as its impact on cell functions.Methods:Logarithmic-phase RA were divided into four groups: Sham group (no treatment), AQP4 siRNA group (transfected with AQP4 lentivirus), IR group (single 20 Gy X-ray irradiation), and IR+AQP4 siRNA group (transfected with AQP4 lentivirus followed by single 20 Gy X-ray irradiation). The cell proliferation viability after radiation was detected using the CCK-8 assay. The relative expression of AQP4 mRNA in each group was measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and the optimal AQP4 siRNA lentiviral sequence was selected for further studies. Western blot was used to detect the relative expression levels of AQP4, phosphorylated histone H2A family member X (γH2AX), autophagy-related proteins, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), proteins in the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) / protein kinase B (AKT) / mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, and apoptosis-related proteins in cells from each group. Immunofluorescence (co-expression) staining was used to detect the expression of AQP4, γH2AX, GFAP, LC3, phosphatase and tensin homolog-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) in cells from each group, as well as the expression of AQP4 and LC3 in brain tissues from the rat RIBI model. Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis rate of cells in each group. The differences between two groups were compared using the t-test, while the differences among multiple groups were evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's multiple comparison test. Results:The proliferation viability of RA decreased to its lowest level at 24 h after irradiation. At the 24 h post-irradiation time point, the expression levels of γH2AX and AQP4 were significantly increased in the IR group compared with the Sham group. The fluorescence intensity of AQP4 in the AQP4 siRNA group was lower than that in the Sham group. The cells in the IR group showed significant enlargement and irregular morphology, with a significant increase in AQP4 fluorescence intensity, while the IR+AQP4 siRNA group showed mild cell enlargement and lower AQP4 fluorescence intensity compared with the IR group. Compared with the Sham group, the expression of microtubule-associated protein1 light chain 3 (LC3) and PINK1 proteins were decreased in the IR group, while the IR+AQP4 siRNA group showed higher expression levels compared with the IR group. Compared with the Sham group, the IR group showed increased expression of AQP4, GFAP, and sequestosome 1 (P62) proteins, decreased expression of Beclin-1 (BECN1) and LC3 proteins, and a reduced LC3-II/LC3-I ratio, while the IR+AQP4 siRNA group exhibited a restored LC3-II/LC3-I ratio. The apoptosis rate in the AQP4 siRNA group was similar to that in the Sham group, while the IR group showed a significantly increased apoptosis rate, and the IR+AQP4 siRNA group had a lower apoptosis rate than the IR group. The expression of caspase-3 (Caspase3) decreased in the IR group, while the expression of PI3K, AKT, mTOR, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, and cleaved Caspase3 protein increased; these changes were partially reversed in the IR+AQP4 siRNA group. In the rat RIBI model, the expression area and intensity of AQP4 were higher in the IR group compared with the Sham group, while LC3 expression showed the opposite pattern.Conclusions:The possible molecular mechanism of RA apoptosis caused by X-ray irradiation is that irradiation promotes the expression of AQP4, causes cell swelling, inhibits autophagy, and prevents cells from clearing damaged organelles in a timely manner, thereby promoting cell apoptosis.
8.Status quo of general practice postgraduate researches: a visualized analysis of master′s theses
Xiuqing CHEN ; Jing TU ; Zhaoxiang YU ; Fei GAO
Chinese Journal of General Practitioners 2025;24(2):176-183
Objective:To understand the status quo of general practice postgraduate researches through visualized analysis of masters′ theses.Methods:The master′s theses in general medicine from January 2007 to December 2022 were retrieved from China Knowledge and Wanfang databases. The number and regional distribution of theses, the degree-granting institutions were analyzed; the performed keywords were visualizde with CiteSpace and VOSviewer softwares.Results:A total of 1 688 master′s theses in general practice were included in the analysis. The highest number of theses ( n=345) were published in 2022. The theses from institutions in the eastern, central and western regions of China accounted for 45.67% (771/1 688), 22.16% (374/1 688) and 32.17% (543/1 688), respectively, and those in Shaanxi Province accounted for the highest proportion at 13.68% (231/1 688). A total of 3 755 keywords were included in the theses, and the top three were diabetes mellitus (115/3 755), risk factors (77/3 755) and clinical efficacy (71/3 755). The results of keyword clustering and timeline mapping showed that the research topics were mainly clustered around five themes: clinical treatment and drug efficacy/safety for diabetes mellitus, training of general practitioners and evaluation of general practice services, risk factors related to common chronic diseases in the community, risk factors and cognitive changes in cerebrovascular diseases, and pathogenic mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases. The results of the emergent words showed that recent research hotspots mainly included obesity, older adults, and cognitive function. Conclusions:The number of general practice master′s theses published in China is increasing rapidly with an uneven regional distribution; and the research topics are diverse, mainly focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases and analysis of related risk factors.
9.Five-year outcomes of metabolic surgery in Chinese subjects with type 2 diabetes.
Yuqian BAO ; Hui LIANG ; Pin ZHANG ; Cunchuan WANG ; Tao JIANG ; Nengwei ZHANG ; Jiangfan ZHU ; Haoyong YU ; Junfeng HAN ; Yinfang TU ; Shibo LIN ; Hongwei ZHANG ; Wah YANG ; Jingge YANG ; Shu CHEN ; Qing FAN ; Yingzhang MA ; Chiye MA ; Jason R WAGGONER ; Allison L TOKARSKI ; Linda LIN ; Natalie C EDWARDS ; Tengfei YANG ; Rongrong ZHANG ; Weiping JIA
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(4):493-495
10.Cost-effectiveness of angiographic quantitative flow ratio-guided coronary intervention: A multicenter, randomized, sham-controlled trial.
Yanyan ZHAO ; Changdong GUAN ; Yang WANG ; Zening JIN ; Bo YU ; Guosheng FU ; Yundai CHEN ; Lijun GUO ; Xinkai QU ; Yaojun ZHANG ; Kefei DOU ; Yongjian WU ; Weixian YANG ; Shengxian TU ; Javier ESCANED ; William F FEARON ; Shubin QIAO ; David J COHEN ; Harlan M KRUMHOLZ ; Bo XU ; Lei SONG
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(10):1186-1193
BACKGROUND:
The FAVOR (Comparison of Quantitative Flow Ratio Guided and Angiography Guided Percutaneous Intervention in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease) III China trial demonstrated that percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) lesion selection using quantitative flow ratio (QFR) measurement, a novel angiography-based approach for estimating fractional flow reserve, improved two-year clinical outcomes compared with standard angiography guidance. This study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of QFR-guided PCI from the perspective of the current Chinese healthcare system.
METHODS:
This study is a pre-specified analysis of the FAVOR III China trial, which included 3825 patients randomized between December 25, 2018, and January 19, 2020, from 26 centers in China. Patients with stable or unstable angina pectoris or those ≥72 hours post-myocardial infarction who had at least one lesion with a diameter stenosis between 50% and 90% in a coronary artery with a ≥2.5 mm reference vessel diameter by visual assessment were randomized to a QFR-guided strategy or an angiography-guided strategy with 1:1 ratio. During the two-year follow-up, data were collected on clinical outcomes, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), estimated costs of index procedure hospitalization, outpatient cardiovascular medication use, and rehospitalization due to major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). The primary analysis calculated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) as the cost per MACCE avoided. An ICER of ¥10,000/MACCE event avoided was considered economically attractive in China.
RESULTS:
At two years, the QFR-guided group demonstrated a reduced rate of MACCE compared to the angiography-guided group (10.8% vs . 14.7%, P <0.01). Total two-year costs were similar between the groups (¥50,803 ± 21,121 vs . ¥50,685 ± 23,495, P = 0.87). The ICER for the QFR-guided strategy was ¥3055 per MACCE avoided, and the probability of QFR being economically attractive was 64% at a willingness-to-pay threshold of ¥10,000/MACCE avoided. Sensitivity analysis showed that QFR-guided PCI would become cost-saving if the cost of QFR were below ¥3682 (current cost: ¥3800). Cost-utility analysis yielded an ICER of ¥56,163 per QALY gained, with a 53% probability of being cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay threshold of ¥85,000 per QALY gained.
CONCLUSION:
In patients undergoing PCI, a QFR-guided strategy appears economically attractive compared to angiographic guidance from the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03656848.
Humans
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Cost-Benefit Analysis
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Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/methods*
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Male
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Female
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Coronary Angiography/methods*
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Middle Aged
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Aged
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Coronary Artery Disease/surgery*
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Quality-Adjusted Life Years
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Fractional Flow Reserve, Myocardial/physiology*

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