ObjectiveTo investigate the value of liver stiffness measurement （LSM） and spleen stiffness measurement （SSM） measured by two-dimensional shear wave elastography （2D-SWE） in the diagnosis of severe portal hypertension （SPH） and high-risk varices （HRV）， and to provide a basis for noninvasive assessment of portal hypertension. MethodsA prospective study was conducted among 78 patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension who were treated in Liver Research Center of Beijing Friendship Hospital， Capital Medical University， from December 2019 to April 2023. According to hepatic venous pressure gradient （HVPG）， the patients were divided into 6 mmHg≤HVPG<12 mmHg group， 12 mmHg≤HVPG<20 mmHg group， and HVPG ≥20 mmHg group. All patients underwent gastroscopy and 2D-SWE within 1 week after HVPG measurement， and SWE-LSM and SWE-SSM measured by 2D-SWE were recorded. A one-way analysis of variance or the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups， and the chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. With HVPG and gastroscopy findings as the gold standard， the receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve was plotted and the area under the ROC curve （AUC） was calculated to evaluate diagnostic performance， while the DeLong test was used for comparison of AUC. The Pearson or Spearman correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation between variables， and the linear regression analysis and the Logistic regression analysis were used to investigate the influencing factors for HVPG and HRV. ResultsThe mean HVPG was 18.1±6.4 mmHg for the patients enrolled in this study， and HRV was observed in 62 patients （79.5%）. Both SWE-LSM and SWE-SSM were significantly positively correlated with HVPG （r=0.413 and 0.633， both P<0.001）， with an AUC of 0.812 and 0.902， respectively， in the diagnosis of HVPG≥12 mmHg and an AUC of 0.804 and 0.789， respectively， in the diagnosis of HVPG≥20 mmHg （all P>0.05）. The multivariate linear regression analysis showed that SWE-SSM was an independent influencing factor for HVPG （β=0.17， P<0.001）. In the diagnosis of HRV， only SWE-SSM showed a significant positive correlation with HRV （r=0.432， P<0.001）， with a better diagnostic performance than SWE-LSM in terms of AUC （0.808 vs 0.642， Z=2.775， P=0.006）. The multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that platelet count was an independent influencing factor for HRV （odds ratio=0.97， P=0.014）. ConclusionSWE-SSM is closely correlated with both HVPG and HRV， showing a good performance in the diagnosis of SPH and HRV， and therefore， it is expected to become an effective noninvasive tool for assessing portal hypertension.

The co-occurrence of diabetes mellitus complicated with depression （DD） is a clinically prevalent comorbidity characterized by complex pathogenesis and challenging therapeutic management， severely impairing patients' quality of life. Recent research indicates that dysregulation in microglia-neuron interaction plays a pivotal role in the pathological progression of DD. Sustained hyperglycemia can activate central microglia， promoting the activation of NOD-like receptor protein 3（NLRP3） inflammasome and the release of abundant pro-inflammatory cytokines， such as interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， which trigger neuroinflammation. This cascade leads to hippocampal neuronal damage， impaired synaptic plasticity， and neurotransmitter imbalances， ultimately exacerbating depressive-like behaviors. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） offers advantages in preventing and treating DD through its multi-component， multi-target， and holistic regulatory approach. TCM can intervene in excessive microglial activation and their aberrant interactions with neurons by modulating neurotrophic signaling pathways such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF）/tyrosine receptor kinase B （TrkB）， suppressing neuroinflammation， preserving neuronal structure and function， regulating synaptic plasticity， and improving glucose and lipid metabolism， thereby exerting synergistic therapeutic effects. Focusing on the role of microglia-neuron interaction in the pathological progression of DD， this review systematically elaborates on the research progress of TCM in regulating this interactive process， providing new perspectives and potential targets for the clinical prevention and treatment of DD.

The co-occurrence of diabetes mellitus complicated with depression （DD） is a clinically prevalent comorbidity characterized by complex pathogenesis and challenging therapeutic management， severely impairing patients' quality of life. Recent research indicates that dysregulation in microglia-neuron interaction plays a pivotal role in the pathological progression of DD. Sustained hyperglycemia can activate central microglia， promoting the activation of NOD-like receptor protein 3（NLRP3） inflammasome and the release of abundant pro-inflammatory cytokines， such as interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， which trigger neuroinflammation. This cascade leads to hippocampal neuronal damage， impaired synaptic plasticity， and neurotransmitter imbalances， ultimately exacerbating depressive-like behaviors. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） offers advantages in preventing and treating DD through its multi-component， multi-target， and holistic regulatory approach. TCM can intervene in excessive microglial activation and their aberrant interactions with neurons by modulating neurotrophic signaling pathways such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF）/tyrosine receptor kinase B （TrkB）， suppressing neuroinflammation， preserving neuronal structure and function， regulating synaptic plasticity， and improving glucose and lipid metabolism， thereby exerting synergistic therapeutic effects. Focusing on the role of microglia-neuron interaction in the pathological progression of DD， this review systematically elaborates on the research progress of TCM in regulating this interactive process， providing new perspectives and potential targets for the clinical prevention and treatment of DD.

In September 2023， the Measures for Scientific and Technological Ethics Review （Trial Implementation） was issued， revising the provisions related to the simplified procedure for ethical review in Chapter 3， Section 3. This revision of these provisions provides systematic guarantees for further optimizing ethical review work， ensuring that ethical review procedure is well-regulated， and improving scientific research efficiency. The “simplified procedure” does not mean reducing the quality and requirements of the review. Instead， based on always following internationally recognized ethical standards and emphasizing not violating national laws and regulations， improving the efficiency of ethical review and subsequent research work， and promoting the development of life sciences and medical research involving humans. In practical work， it introduces numerous new opportunities and challenges for the improvement of ethics review ability， such as new tests on the judgment and decision-making power of ethics committees， how to ensure the reliability and controllability of the conditions related to the simplified review procedure， and how to determine the basic conditions for adopting the simplified review procedure for review. Therefore， to actively respond to the challenges and possible risks brought by the simplified procedure review， efforts should be made to achieve three “unifications”， including the unification of researchers’ moral autonomy and the heteronomy of supervision implemented by relevant departments； the unification of the standard formulation of the simplified procedure review and the review work in practice； and the unification of ethical responsibility and legal responsibility.

Objective To explore the application value of the deep learning image reconstruction algorithm(ClearInfinity,CI)combined with high tube voltage and low tube current low-dose computed tomography(LDCT)in lung screening.Methods A total of 216 patients underwent lung screening CT plain scan were selected.Patients were randomly divided into conventional-dose group(A group)and low-dose group(B group).Image reconstructed by using the iterative algorithm(ClearView+,CV)in group A,CV-60％,CI-30％,CI-60％,and CI-90％algorithms in group B.CT value,noise,image quality,and edge detail were conducted with both objective and subjective evaluations.Lung nodules were automatically detected by using computer-aided diagnosis software,and radiation doses were recorded.Results Images reconstructed with the CI showed significantly superior signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)than with the CV(P＜0.05).Additionally,there was a significant correlation in lung nodule detection performance between the CI and the CV(P＜0.05).The effective dose(ED)in group B was reduced by approximately 85.80％compared to group A(P＜0.01).Although the SNR and CNR were highest with CI-90％,the subjective image quality was lower than that of CI-60％.CI-60％and CI-90％showed same performance in lung nodule detection using artificial intelligence(AI)software.Conclusion The application of LDCT scanning protocol using the CI algorithm based on deep learning,combined with high tube voltage and low tube current is feasible for lung screening.It is recommended to use CI-60％in clinical diagnosis to improve the safety and diagnostic confidence of lung CT screening.

The objective of this study was to investigate whether Stenotrophomonas maltophilia(S.maltophilia)induces ferroptosis,a form of iron-dependent cell death,leading to an inflamma-tory response in RAW 264.7 macrophages by elevating oxidative stress levels.RAW 264.7 cells were stimulated with varying concentrations of S.maltophilia.The concentrations of TNF-αand IL-1β were quantified using ELISA kits to assess the impact of S.maltophilia on the inflammatory response in RAW 264.7 cells.The activities of glutathione(GSH)and malondialdehyde(MDA)levels were measured using GSH and MDA assay kits to evaluate changes in oxidative stress.West-ern blot analysis was employed to detect the expression levels of COX-2,xCT,GPX4,and other proteins involved in ferroptosis signaling pathways,thereby investigating the effect of S.malto-philia on ferroptosis in RAW 264.7 cells.The results demonstrated that S.maltophilia induced concentration-dependent increases in inflammation and oxidative stress in RAW 264.7 cells,up-regulated the expression of COX-2 protein and down-regulated the expression of xCT and GPX4.Pretreatment with the ROS inhibitor N-acetylcysteine(NAC)significantly mitigated the S.malto-philia-induced oxidative stress and ferroptosis signaling activation,thereby alleviating the inflam-matory response.Furthermore,treatment with the ferroptosis inhibitor Fer-1 directly suppressed the activation of the ferroptosis signaling pathway and reversed the inflammation induced by S.maltophilia.These findings suggest that S.maltophilia triggers inflammation in RAW 264.7 cells by activating the ferroptosis signaling pathway via an increase in oxidative stress levels.

Objective To explore the effect and mechanism of Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu Formula(ZGJTJYF)in treating diabetes-related depression by regulating glutamate receptor 2(GluR2).Methods The primary isolated and cultured hippocampal neurons of SD rats were used.The experiment consisted of normal,model,blank serum(10％blank serum),positive drug(10％[metformin+fluoxetine]drug-containing serum),20％ZGJTJYF group,10％ZGJTJYF group,10％ZGJTJYF+GluR2 knockdown group,and 10％ZGJTJYF+GluR2 overexpression group(with corresponding volume fractions of ZGJTJYF drug-containing serum added).The ZGJTJYF+GluR2 knockdown and overexpression groups,were transfected with lentivirus to obtain hippocampal neurons with either GluR2 overexpression or knockdown.The glucose(150 mmol/L)and corticosterone(200 μmol/L)were used for 18 h to establish an in vitro cell model of hippocampal neurons in diabetes-related depression.After 24 h of successful modeling,the corresponding serum was added to each group for intervention.After 24 h of intervention,the morphological structure of hippocampal neurons was observed using an optical microscope.Biochemical methods were used to determine the glucose and insulin content in cell supernatant.An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)and dopamine(DA)levels in the cell supernatant,and the microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B light chain 3 autophagy double-labeled adenovirus(mRFP-GFP-LC3)autophagy fluorescence double labeling method was used to detect the average fluorescence intensity of LC3 protein in hippocampal neurons.Nissl staining was used to observe synaptic damage in hippocampal neurons,and an immunofluorescence method was used to detect the protein expression of Parkin,phosphatase and tensin homolog-induced putative kinase 1(PINK1),regulating synaptic membrane exocytosis 3(RIMS3),synapsin 1(SYN1),postsynaptic density-95(PSD-95),synapse-associated protein 102(SAP 102),and GluR2 in hippocampal neurons.Realtime fluorescence PCR was used to detect GluR2 mRNA expression in hippocampal neurons,while Western blotting was employed to assess the expression of mitophagy proteins Parkin and PINK1 in these neurons.Results Compared to the normal group,the model group and blank serum group showed structural damage to hippocampal neurons,increased glucose content in cell supernatant,decreased insulin,5-HT,and DA content,increased average fluorescence intensity of LC3,Parkin,and PINK1,decreased average fluorescence intensity of RIMS3,SYN1,PSD-95,SAP 102,and GluR2,decreased GluR2 mRNA expression,increased protein expression of Parkin and PINK1(P＜0.05),and decreased Nissl bodies.Compared to the model group and blank serum group,the above indicators in each administration group were improved to varying degrees(P＜0.05).Compared to the positive drug group,the average fluorescence intensity of LC3,Parkin,and PINK1 decreased,Parkin and PINK1 protein expression decreased,and the average fluorescence intensity of GluR2,SYN1,and PSD-95 increased in 10％ZGJTJYF,20％ZGJTJYF group,and 10％ZGJTJYF+GluR2 overexpression group(P＜0.05).Compared to 10％and 20％ZGJTJYF groups,10％ZGJTJYF+GluR2 knockdown group showed a decrease in 5-HT content,an increase in average fluorescence intensity of LC3 and Parkin,a decrease in average fluorescence intensity of SYN1,PSD-95,and GluR2,a decreased in GluR2 mRNA expression,and an increase of Parkin and PINK1 protein expression(P＜0.05).In contrast,the above indicators were improved to varying degrees in 10％ZGJTJYF+GluR2 overexpression group(P＜0.05).Compared to 10％ZGJTJYF+GluR2 knockdown group,the above abnormal indicators in 10％ZGJTJYF+GluR2 overexpression group were reversed to varying degrees(P＜0.05).Conclusion ZGJTJYF has a protective effect on synaptic damage of hippocampal neurons in diabetes-related depression,and its mechanism may be related to the upregulation of GluR2 and the inhibition of mitophagy over activation.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels and intracranial or extracranial atherosclerosis in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD).Methods:A total of 407 patients with CSVD admitted to Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between July 2021 and September 2023 were enrolled in the study. Carotid duplex ultrasound was used to measure the internal diameter, intima-media thickness (IMT), vascular wall thickness, plaque property score, stenosis index, and stenosis ratio of the bilateral common carotid arteries, internal carotid arteries, external carotid arteries, and vertebral arteries. Magnetic resonance angiography was used to assess the degree of stenosis in intracranial arteries. Patients were divided into 4 groups based on the serum IGF-1 levels (low level group:≤5.21 ng/ml, medium level group:>5.21 ng/ml and ≤10.73 ng/ml, high level group:>10.73 ng/ml and ≤24.26 ng/ml, extremely high level group:>24.26 ng/ml). The IMT of the common carotid artery, carotid plaques, diameters of various cervical vascular lumens, carotid artery diameter stenosis, and intracranial artery stenosis in 4 groups of the patients were compared. The relationship between IGF-1 and intracranial and extracranial atherosclerosis was analyzed by univariate Logistic regression analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis.Results:There were inter group differences among the 4 groups in internal carotid artery diameter [low level group 5.45 (0.50) mm vs medium level group 5.32 (0.55) mm vs high level group 5.30 (0.55) mm vs extremely high level group 5.30 (0.50) mm; H=8.210, P=0.042]. The carotid IMT [low level group 0.80 (0.05) mm vs medium level group 0.80 (0.05) mm vs high level group 0.83 (0.03) mm vs extremely high level group 0.83 (0.09) mm; H=8.107, P=0.044], the proportion of carotid artery vascular wall thickening [low level group 52.9%(54/102) vs medium level group 48.0%(49/102) vs high level group 68.3%(69/101) vs extremely high level group 60.8%(62/102); χ2=9.889, P=0.020], the carotid artery plaque property score [low level group 1 (2) vs medium level group 2 (2) vs high level group 2 (2) vs extremely high level group 2 (2); H=8.913, P=0.030] and the proportion of anterior cerebral artery stenosis [low level group 2.9%(3/102) vs medium level group 2.0%(2/102) vs high level group 4.0%(4/101) vs extremely high level group 10.8%(11/102); χ2=10.473, P=0.014] had inter group differences among the 4 groups, and the differences were statistically significant. Univariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that carotid artery vascular wall thickening ( OR=1.197, 95% CI 1.003-1.429, P=0.046), anterior cerebral artery stenosis ( OR=1.814, 95% CI 1.148-2.867, P=0.011), and basilar artery stenosis ( OR=1.530, 95% CI 1.084-2.159, P=0.015) were correlated with IGF-1 levels. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that after adjusting for age, gender, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and C-reactive protein, IGF-1 was positively correlated with the carotid artery vascular wall thickening ( OR=1.311, 95% CI 1.014-1.696, P=0.039); after adjusting for age, IGF-1 was positively correlated with the anterior cerebral artery stenosis ( OR=2.130, 95% CI 1.201-3.776, P=0.010); after adjusting for gender, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and cholesterol levels, IGF-1 was positively correlated with basilar artery stenosis ( OR=1.688, 95% CI 1.063-2.681, P=0.027). Conclusions:There is an association between IGF-1 levels and intracranial and extracranial atherosclerosis in patients with CSVD. IGF-1 may play a role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis in CSVD.

Objective To explore the effect and mechanism of Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu Formula(ZGJTJYF)in treating diabetes-related depression by regulating glutamate receptor 2(GluR2).Methods The primary isolated and cultured hippocampal neurons of SD rats were used.The experiment consisted of normal,model,blank serum(10％blank serum),positive drug(10％[metformin+fluoxetine]drug-containing serum),20％ZGJTJYF group,10％ZGJTJYF group,10％ZGJTJYF+GluR2 knockdown group,and 10％ZGJTJYF+GluR2 overexpression group(with corresponding volume fractions of ZGJTJYF drug-containing serum added).The ZGJTJYF+GluR2 knockdown and overexpression groups,were transfected with lentivirus to obtain hippocampal neurons with either GluR2 overexpression or knockdown.The glucose(150 mmol/L)and corticosterone(200 μmol/L)were used for 18 h to establish an in vitro cell model of hippocampal neurons in diabetes-related depression.After 24 h of successful modeling,the corresponding serum was added to each group for intervention.After 24 h of intervention,the morphological structure of hippocampal neurons was observed using an optical microscope.Biochemical methods were used to determine the glucose and insulin content in cell supernatant.An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)and dopamine(DA)levels in the cell supernatant,and the microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B light chain 3 autophagy double-labeled adenovirus(mRFP-GFP-LC3)autophagy fluorescence double labeling method was used to detect the average fluorescence intensity of LC3 protein in hippocampal neurons.Nissl staining was used to observe synaptic damage in hippocampal neurons,and an immunofluorescence method was used to detect the protein expression of Parkin,phosphatase and tensin homolog-induced putative kinase 1(PINK1),regulating synaptic membrane exocytosis 3(RIMS3),synapsin 1(SYN1),postsynaptic density-95(PSD-95),synapse-associated protein 102(SAP 102),and GluR2 in hippocampal neurons.Realtime fluorescence PCR was used to detect GluR2 mRNA expression in hippocampal neurons,while Western blotting was employed to assess the expression of mitophagy proteins Parkin and PINK1 in these neurons.Results Compared to the normal group,the model group and blank serum group showed structural damage to hippocampal neurons,increased glucose content in cell supernatant,decreased insulin,5-HT,and DA content,increased average fluorescence intensity of LC3,Parkin,and PINK1,decreased average fluorescence intensity of RIMS3,SYN1,PSD-95,SAP 102,and GluR2,decreased GluR2 mRNA expression,increased protein expression of Parkin and PINK1(P＜0.05),and decreased Nissl bodies.Compared to the model group and blank serum group,the above indicators in each administration group were improved to varying degrees(P＜0.05).Compared to the positive drug group,the average fluorescence intensity of LC3,Parkin,and PINK1 decreased,Parkin and PINK1 protein expression decreased,and the average fluorescence intensity of GluR2,SYN1,and PSD-95 increased in 10％ZGJTJYF,20％ZGJTJYF group,and 10％ZGJTJYF+GluR2 overexpression group(P＜0.05).Compared to 10％and 20％ZGJTJYF groups,10％ZGJTJYF+GluR2 knockdown group showed a decrease in 5-HT content,an increase in average fluorescence intensity of LC3 and Parkin,a decrease in average fluorescence intensity of SYN1,PSD-95,and GluR2,a decreased in GluR2 mRNA expression,and an increase of Parkin and PINK1 protein expression(P＜0.05).In contrast,the above indicators were improved to varying degrees in 10％ZGJTJYF+GluR2 overexpression group(P＜0.05).Compared to 10％ZGJTJYF+GluR2 knockdown group,the above abnormal indicators in 10％ZGJTJYF+GluR2 overexpression group were reversed to varying degrees(P＜0.05).Conclusion ZGJTJYF has a protective effect on synaptic damage of hippocampal neurons in diabetes-related depression,and its mechanism may be related to the upregulation of GluR2 and the inhibition of mitophagy over activation.

Objective To explore the therapeutic effect of precise disconnection of pargastric varices guided by endoscopic ultrasound in the treatment of esophagogastric variceal bleeding.Method A retrospective analysis was conducted on 20 patients with cirrhosis esophagogastric variceal bleeding treated with endoscopic ultrasound-guided precise disconnection of pargastric varices from January 1,2024 to December 31,2024.The efficacy was analyzed.Result All 20 patients successfully completed the precise disconnection of pargastric varices under the guidance of endoscopic ultrasound.The injection of tissue gel combined with the placement of spring coils(14 cases)and the injection of tissue gel alone(4 cases)successfully blocked the pargastric varices.All patients did not experience perforation,esophageal and cardia stenosis,massive bleeding,septicemia,or ectopic embolization.One patient who received tissue gel alone had slight bleeding from the pargastric varices after surgery and improved after 3 days of treatment to reduce portal vein pressure.Another one patient who received tissue gel alone had a low-grade fever and normal body temperature after 3 days of anti-infection treatment.Conclusion Precise disconnection of pargastric varices under the guidance of endoscopic ultrasound has a good therapeutic effect on esophagogastric variceal bleeding,with fewer complications such as ectopic embolization,massive bleeding,infection,and perforation.However,close follow-up observation is still needed to address the issue of pargastric varices.