Objective:This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of surgical intervention for patients with stage Ⅳ esophageal cancer who demonstrated tumor regression following first-line treatment.Methods:This was a descriptive case series. The inclusion criteria for surgery were as follows: (1) an initial diagnosis of stage Ⅳ esophageal cancer, i.e. cT4b or cM1; (2) the presence of residual tumor following first-line therapy deemed potentially resectable upon reassessment; and (3) sufficient organ function to tolerate surgical procedures. Clinical data were retrospectively collected for 63 patients with stage Ⅳ esophageal cancer who underwent surgery following first-line therapy at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between January 2014 and December 2023. Of these patients, 12 were initially staged as IVA, and 51 as IVB. Post-treatment restaging revealed that 9 patients achieved a clinical complete response, while 3 were downstaged to stage Ⅰ, 14 to stage Ⅱ, 24 to stage Ⅲ, and 13 to stage ⅣB (with regression of distant metastatic lesions enabling curative resection). Surgical approaches included right thoracic esophagectomy ( n=55), left thoracic esophagectomy ( n=4), and transmediastinal esophagectomy ( n=4). Additionally, 7 patients required extended organ resection. Two-field lymph node dissection was performed in 49 patients, while 14 underwent three-field lymph node dissection. Postoperative management varied: 31 patients received no adjuvant therapy, 11 underwent immunochemotherapy, 8 received immunotherapy alone, 8 underwent chemotherapy, 4 received chemoradiotherapy, and 1 received combined radiotherapy and immunotherapy. The primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), with secondary endpoints including surgical outcomes and postoperative complications. Results:All 63 patients successfully underwent surgery without intraoperative mortality. R0 resection was achieved in 58 cases (92.1%), while R1 and R2 resections were performed in 1 case (1.6%) and 4 cases (6.3%), respectively. The mean operative time was 357±135 minutes. Postoperative complications were observed in 27 cases (42.9%), with 9 cases (14.3%) classified as Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅲ or Ⅴ. One patient (1.6%) died perioperatively. The median follow-up duration was 21 months (range: 4–107 months). The median OS was 64.8 months (95% CI: 50.9–78.6 months), and the median PFS was 68.0 months (95% CI: 53.9–82.3 months). Among 24 patients with supraclavicular lymph node metastases, 6 experienced recurrence and 8 died. Of 25 patients with abdominal metastases, 3 had recurrence and subsequently died. All 4 patients with lung metastases and both patients with bone metastases experienced recurrence and death.Conclusions:Surgical intervention is a feasible and safe treatment option for selected patients with stage Ⅳ esophageal cancer who demonstrate the potential for curative resection following first-line therapy.

Objective To explore the role of ferroptosis in DIC through bioinformatics analysis of hub genes involved in ferroptosis in doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy(DIC),combined with in vitro experimental validation.Methods Divalent iron fluorescence staining confirms the occurrence of ferroptosis in myocardial cells of DIC.The GSE207737 dataset was retrieved from the Gene Expression Comprehensive Database(GEO)and intersected with the FerrDb database to identify ferroptosis-related genes.Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analyses of the intersected genes and intersecting the genes obtained from LASSO regression analysis and SVM-SFR machine learning methods were used to obtain ferroptosis hub genes for DIC.Real-time PCR was used to validate H9C2 cells in the control and DIC model groups,and Western blotting was used to further validate those whose bioinformatics and real-time PCR results that did not match.Results Thirty-eight ferroptosis-related genes in DIC were identified,and GO and KEGG analyses showed that these genes mainly participate in cell metabolism.Five hub genes for ferroptosis in DIC were obtained using machine learning methods:Mpc1,Prdx1,Kdm4a,Alox 12b,and Tfrc.Through in vitro experiments,the mRNA expression levels of Mpc1,Prdx1,and Kdm4a were downregulated in the DIC model group compared to those in the control group(P＜0.001),whereas the mRNA expression level of Alox12b was upregulated(P＜0.001).There were no significant differences in the mRNA or protein expression levels of Tfrc(P＞0.05).Conclusion Mpc1,Prdx1,Kdm4a,and Alox12b are key genes involved in ferroptosis in doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy and potential targets for the prevention and treatment of doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy in ferroptosis.

Objective:This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of surgical intervention for patients with stage Ⅳ esophageal cancer who demonstrated tumor regression following first-line treatment.Methods:This was a descriptive case series. The inclusion criteria for surgery were as follows: (1) an initial diagnosis of stage Ⅳ esophageal cancer, i.e. cT4b or cM1; (2) the presence of residual tumor following first-line therapy deemed potentially resectable upon reassessment; and (3) sufficient organ function to tolerate surgical procedures. Clinical data were retrospectively collected for 63 patients with stage Ⅳ esophageal cancer who underwent surgery following first-line therapy at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between January 2014 and December 2023. Of these patients, 12 were initially staged as IVA, and 51 as IVB. Post-treatment restaging revealed that 9 patients achieved a clinical complete response, while 3 were downstaged to stage Ⅰ, 14 to stage Ⅱ, 24 to stage Ⅲ, and 13 to stage ⅣB (with regression of distant metastatic lesions enabling curative resection). Surgical approaches included right thoracic esophagectomy ( n=55), left thoracic esophagectomy ( n=4), and transmediastinal esophagectomy ( n=4). Additionally, 7 patients required extended organ resection. Two-field lymph node dissection was performed in 49 patients, while 14 underwent three-field lymph node dissection. Postoperative management varied: 31 patients received no adjuvant therapy, 11 underwent immunochemotherapy, 8 received immunotherapy alone, 8 underwent chemotherapy, 4 received chemoradiotherapy, and 1 received combined radiotherapy and immunotherapy. The primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), with secondary endpoints including surgical outcomes and postoperative complications. Results:All 63 patients successfully underwent surgery without intraoperative mortality. R0 resection was achieved in 58 cases (92.1%), while R1 and R2 resections were performed in 1 case (1.6%) and 4 cases (6.3%), respectively. The mean operative time was 357±135 minutes. Postoperative complications were observed in 27 cases (42.9%), with 9 cases (14.3%) classified as Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅲ or Ⅴ. One patient (1.6%) died perioperatively. The median follow-up duration was 21 months (range: 4–107 months). The median OS was 64.8 months (95% CI: 50.9–78.6 months), and the median PFS was 68.0 months (95% CI: 53.9–82.3 months). Among 24 patients with supraclavicular lymph node metastases, 6 experienced recurrence and 8 died. Of 25 patients with abdominal metastases, 3 had recurrence and subsequently died. All 4 patients with lung metastases and both patients with bone metastases experienced recurrence and death.Conclusions:Surgical intervention is a feasible and safe treatment option for selected patients with stage Ⅳ esophageal cancer who demonstrate the potential for curative resection following first-line therapy.

Objective:To analyze the burden and trends of noncommunicable chronic disease(NCD) attributable to metabolic factors in China from 1990 to 2021.Methods:Data from the Global Burden of Diseases(GBD) 2021 database were utilized to describe changes in mortality and disability-adjusted life years(DALYs) of NCD in China from 1990 to 2021. Stratified analyses were conducted by age, sex, sociodemographic index(SDI), and related risk factors. Statistical analyses and predictions were conducted using the age-period-cohort model and the Nordpred model.Results:In 2021, the age-standardized mortality rate and age-standardized DALYs rate of NCD attributable to metabolic factors in China were 227.56 per 100 000 and 4 829.39 per 100 000, respectively. Their average annual percentage changes were -0.76%( P<0.001) and -0.77%( P<0.001). Overall, the burden decreased progressively with higher SDI levels. Analysis using the age-period-cohort model indicated reduced birth cohort and period effects for metabolic factor-attributable NCD, while age effects rose significantly. The minimum relative risk( RR) value was observed in the 15-19 age group( RR=0.01), and the maximum RR value occurred in the 95-99 age group( RR=996.86). The overall rising mortality trend indicated that age effects are the predominant driver at present. Projections estimate that by 2046, deaths from metabolic factor-attributable NCD in China will reach 8 189 563, with an age-standardized mortality rate of 236.95 per 100 000. Conclusions:China continues to face a substantial burden of NCD linked to metabolic factors, with older adults, males, and individuals with hypertension, diabetes, and prediabetes identified as key populations requiring targeted interventions.

Objective To explore the role of ferroptosis in DIC through bioinformatics analysis of hub genes involved in ferroptosis in doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy(DIC),combined with in vitro experimental validation.Methods Divalent iron fluorescence staining confirms the occurrence of ferroptosis in myocardial cells of DIC.The GSE207737 dataset was retrieved from the Gene Expression Comprehensive Database(GEO)and intersected with the FerrDb database to identify ferroptosis-related genes.Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analyses of the intersected genes and intersecting the genes obtained from LASSO regression analysis and SVM-SFR machine learning methods were used to obtain ferroptosis hub genes for DIC.Real-time PCR was used to validate H9C2 cells in the control and DIC model groups,and Western blotting was used to further validate those whose bioinformatics and real-time PCR results that did not match.Results Thirty-eight ferroptosis-related genes in DIC were identified,and GO and KEGG analyses showed that these genes mainly participate in cell metabolism.Five hub genes for ferroptosis in DIC were obtained using machine learning methods:Mpc1,Prdx1,Kdm4a,Alox 12b,and Tfrc.Through in vitro experiments,the mRNA expression levels of Mpc1,Prdx1,and Kdm4a were downregulated in the DIC model group compared to those in the control group(P＜0.001),whereas the mRNA expression level of Alox12b was upregulated(P＜0.001).There were no significant differences in the mRNA or protein expression levels of Tfrc(P＞0.05).Conclusion Mpc1,Prdx1,Kdm4a,and Alox12b are key genes involved in ferroptosis in doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy and potential targets for the prevention and treatment of doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy in ferroptosis.

Objective:To analyze the burden and trends of noncommunicable chronic disease(NCD) attributable to metabolic factors in China from 1990 to 2021.Methods:Data from the Global Burden of Diseases(GBD) 2021 database were utilized to describe changes in mortality and disability-adjusted life years(DALYs) of NCD in China from 1990 to 2021. Stratified analyses were conducted by age, sex, sociodemographic index(SDI), and related risk factors. Statistical analyses and predictions were conducted using the age-period-cohort model and the Nordpred model.Results:In 2021, the age-standardized mortality rate and age-standardized DALYs rate of NCD attributable to metabolic factors in China were 227.56 per 100 000 and 4 829.39 per 100 000, respectively. Their average annual percentage changes were -0.76%( P<0.001) and -0.77%( P<0.001). Overall, the burden decreased progressively with higher SDI levels. Analysis using the age-period-cohort model indicated reduced birth cohort and period effects for metabolic factor-attributable NCD, while age effects rose significantly. The minimum relative risk( RR) value was observed in the 15-19 age group( RR=0.01), and the maximum RR value occurred in the 95-99 age group( RR=996.86). The overall rising mortality trend indicated that age effects are the predominant driver at present. Projections estimate that by 2046, deaths from metabolic factor-attributable NCD in China will reach 8 189 563, with an age-standardized mortality rate of 236.95 per 100 000. Conclusions:China continues to face a substantial burden of NCD linked to metabolic factors, with older adults, males, and individuals with hypertension, diabetes, and prediabetes identified as key populations requiring targeted interventions.

Objective:To analyze the correlation between serum glycated hemoglobin (HbA 1c), γ-glutamyltranspeptidase(γ-GT) and intercellular adhesion factor-1 (ICAM-1) levels and cognitive impairment in elderly patients with hyperlipidemia complicated with cardiovascular disease. Methods:In this retrospective cohort study, 158 elderly patients who underwent examination and were diagnosed with hyperlipidemia complicated with cardiovascular disease at Beijing Anzhen Hospital Affiliated with Capital Medical University from January to December 2022 were selected as study subjects. The simple mental state scale (MMSE) was assessed in the subjects in combination with the subject′s level of education. Illiteracy≤17 points, primary school≤20 points, middle school and above≤24 points were classified as cognitive impairment group (67 cases), the rest were were classified into the non-cognitive impairment group (91 cases); and another 50 healthy elderly people who received physical examination in the same period were selected as the control group. The blood samples in the three groups were extracted to measure serum HbA 1c, γ-GT and ICAM-1. The correlation between HbA 1c, γ-GT and ICAM-1 levels with cognitive impairment were analyzed. Results:The serum levels of HbA 1c, γ-GT and ICAM-1 in the cognitive impairment group were all significantly higher than those in the non-cognitive impairment group and the control group [5.41%±1.04% vs 4.82%±0.95%, 4.39%±0.86%; (52.01±10.96) vs (41.28±9.23), (25.03±7.17) U/L; (336.61±85.36) vs (286.93±72.53), (143.52±64.20) g/ml], and the MMSE score was significantly lower [(20.19±2.85) vs (25.30±1.24), (27.14±1.56) points] (all P<0.05). Serum levels of HbA 1c, γ-GT and ICAM-1 were all significantly negatively correlated with MMSE score ( r=-0.512, -0.498, -0.563) (all P<0.05). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) for serum HbA 1c, γ-GT, and ICAM-1 levels in the assessment of cognitive dysfunction were 0.657, 0.816, and 0.691, respectively (all P<0.05). The optimal cut-off values were 5.115%, 47.65 U/L, and 304.58 g/ml, respectively. Conclusion:Serum HbA 1c, γ-GT and ICAM-1 levels in elderly patients with hyperlipidemia complicated with cardiovascular disease are negatively correlated with cognitive impairment, and have certain value for the evaluation and early diagnosis of cognitive impairment.

BACKGROUND:In the research on acupuncture treatment for lumbar disc herniation,most acupuncture treatments are performed under CT guidance or without guidance.The precise control of the target site and the effective acupuncture location are not clear. OBJECTIVE:To observe the clinical effects of acupuncture at Jiaji points under ultrasonic guidance in treating lumbar disc herniation. METHODS:A total of 70 cases of lumbar disc herniation,36 males and 34 females aged 18-65 years old,were selected from Chinese PLA General Hospital and Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine.They were divided into trial group and control group by random number table method,with 35 cases in each group.The control group received acupuncture at Jiaji points.The trial group received acupuncture at Jiaji points under ultrasonic guidance.The patients were treated once on the day of treatment and 4,7 days after treatment.Visual analog scale score,Oswestry disability index,Japanese Orthopaedic Association score,and MOS 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey(SF-36)were evaluated before and after treatment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with before treatment,the visual analog scale scores of both groups were decreased after treatment(P<0.01).Compared with the control group,the visual analog scale scores of the trial group were decreased on days 2,3,6,7 of treatment and 1,2 weeks after the end of treatment(P<0.05,P<0.01).(2)Compared with before treatment,Oswestry disability index after treatment was decreased in both groups(P<0.01).Compared with the control group,Oswestry disability index of the trial group was decreased from days 1 to 7 of treatment and 1,2 weeks after treatment(P<0.01).(3)Compared with before treatment,the Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores of both groups were increased after treatment(P<0.01).Compared with the control group,the Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores of the trial group were increased on days 3,7 of treatment and 1,2 weeks after treatment(P<0.05,P<0.01).(4)Compared with before treatment,SF-36 scores in both groups were increased after treatment(P<0.01).There was no significant difference in SF-36 scores between the two groups after treatment(P>0.05).(5)These results show that acupuncture at Jiaji points has curative effect on lumbar disc herniation,and ultrasonic guidance could improve the clinical curative effect of acupuncture at Jiaji points for lumbar disc herniation.

Chemical cleaning and disinfection are crucial steps for eliminating infection in root canal treatment.However,irrigant selection or irrigation procedures are far from clear.The vapor lock effect in the apical region has yet to be solved,impeding irrigation efficacy and resulting in residual infections and compromised treatment outcomes.Additionally,ambiguous clinical indications for root canal medication and non-standardized dressing protocols must be clarified.Inappropriate intracanal medication may present side effects and jeopardize the therapeutic outcomes.Indeed,clinicians have been aware of these concerns for years.Based on the current evidence of studies,this article reviews the properties of various irrigants and intracanal medicaments and elucidates their effectiveness and interactions.The evolution of different kinetic irrigation methods,their effects,limitations,the paradigm shift,current indications,and effective operational procedures regarding intracanal medication are also discussed.This expert consensus aims to establish the clinical operation guidelines for root canal irrigation and a position statement on intracanal medication,thus facilitating a better understanding of infection control,standardizing clinical practice,and ultimately improving the success of endodontic therapy.

The overall health condition of patients significantly affects the diagnosis,treatment,and prognosis of endodontic diseases.A systemic consideration of the patient's overall health along with oral conditions holds the utmost importance in determining the necessity and feasibility of endodontic therapy,as well as selecting appropriate therapeutic approaches.This expert consensus is a collaborative effort by specialists from endodontics and clinical physicians across the nation based on the current clinical evidence,aiming to provide general guidance on clinical procedures,improve patient safety and enhance clinical outcomes of endodontic therapy in patients with compromised overall health.