OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the short-term outcomes of transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) using the Venus-P valve in patients with moderate-to-severe pulmonary regurgitation and right ventricular systolic dysfunction (RVSD) following surgical repair of complex congenital heart disease. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients undergoing Venus-P valve implantation (TPVR group, n=28) or surgical pulmonary valve replacement (SPVR group, n=19) at Fuwai Hospital between February 2014 and February 2024. All patients had moderate-to-severe pulmonary regurgitation with right ventricular ejection fraction less than 45% preoperatively. Postoperative pulmonary valve function and ventricular parameters were assessed at discharge and during a 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: All procedures were successfully completed with no early mortality. At 6 months, the TPVR group demonstrated significantly lower pulmonary valve transvalvular pressure gradients compared to the SPVR group (P<0.05). Both groups exhibited significant improvements from baseline in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, biventricular ejection fractions, and right ventricular end-diastolic volume index (all P<0.05). The reduction in right ventricular end-diastolic diameter differed between the two groups (P<0.01). However, multivariable analysis revealed no association between this difference and surgical approach (β=4.4, P>0.05). In the TPVR group, QRS duration was significantly shortened postoperatively (P<0.01), with improvements in left ventricular end-diastolic volume index and cardiac index (both P<0.01), but these improvements did not differ significantly from the SPVR group (all P>0.05). During the follow-up, one patient in each group developed infective endocarditis within 1-month post-procedure; both were successfully treated with antibiotics. No other major complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS For patients with moderate-to-severe pulmonary regurgitation and RVSD, TPVR using the Venus-P valve effectively improves short-term pulmonary valve function and ventricular performance with a favorable safety profile, demonstrating potential as a minimally invasive alternative to SPVR .
Humans ; Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Pulmonary Valve/surgery* ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation/methods* ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right/physiopathology* ; Treatment Outcome ; Female ; Male ; Child ; Adult ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Adolescent ; Cardiac Catheterization/methods* ; Child, Preschool

Empathy is crucial for communication and survival for individuals. Whether empathy in pain contagion shows sex differences and its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report that pain contagion can occur in stranger female rats, but not in stranger males. Blocking oxytocin receptors in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) suppressed pain contagion in female strangers, while oxytocin administration induced pain contagion in male strangers. In vitro, corticosterone reduces neuronal activation by oxytocin. During male stranger interactions, higher corticosterone decreased oxytocin receptor-positive neuronal activity in the ACC, suppressing pain contagion. These findings highlight the role of oxytocin in pain contagion and suggest that sex differences in empathy may be determined by the balance of oxytocin and corticosterone in the ACC. This study suggests an approach for the treatment of certain mental disorders associated with abnormal empathy, such as autism and depression.
Animals ; Oxytocin/pharmacology* ; Gyrus Cinguli/drug effects* ; Male ; Female ; Corticosterone/pharmacology* ; Empathy/drug effects* ; Sex Characteristics ; Receptors, Oxytocin/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Pain/psychology* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Neurons/metabolism*

The lung collaterals form a network that branches from the lung meridian, traversing the lung system and extending across the body′s surface. Lung collateral disease refers to the structural alterations or dysfunction in these collaterals caused by external or internal pathogens. Research into the structural and physiological functions of children′s lung collaterals, as well as the pathogenesis and syndrome differentiation for treating lung collateral diseases in children, holds significant value in guiding the prevention and treatment of pediatric respiratory conditions. Drawing on the theory of collateral disease, the clinical insights of both historical and contemporary physicians, and modern research findings—while considering the unique physiological and pathological characteristics of children′s respiratory systems—this study provides a foundational summary of the morphology and spatial distribution of children′s lung collaterals. The characteristics of these collaterals are highlighted as thin, sparse, short, narrow, brittle, and tender. From this structural understanding, the unique physiological functions of children′s lung collaterals are analyzed. The study further explores the interactions between pathogenic factors and lung collaterals, elucidating the pathogenesis and progression of children′s lung collateral diseases. It proposes treatment principles centered on "seeking treatment in the collaterals and employing the method of unblocking collaterals, "which align with the unique features of pediatric lung collaterals. Common treatment approaches, and relevant prescriptions for managing these diseases are summarized. This paper lays the foundation for a theoretical system encompassing the structure, function, pathogenesis, and syndrome differentiation for treating children′s lung collateral diseases. It offers valuable insights for the clinical diagnosis and management of pediatric respiratory diseases linked to collateral dysfunction and serves as a reference for the systematic development of a broader theoretical framework for children′s collateral diseases.

Amorphous calcium phosphate（ACP）is a component of urinary stones，primarily forming mixed stones with calcium oxalate，while pure ACP stones are relatively rare. This article reports a case of a patient with an ACP bladder stone who was admitted due to progressive dysuria over 5 years，which had worsened in the past months. Upon admission，tPSA was 29.63 ng/ml. CT and enhanced MRI revealed multiple bladder stones and prostatic hyperplasia. The patient underwent ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy and transurethral cystolithotripsy with pneumatic lithotripsy. Postoperative infrared spectroscopy confirmed the stone composition as ACP，and prostatic adenocarcinoma was diagnosed by prostate biopsy pathology. Endocrine therapy was administered postoperatively，and follow-up imaging at 3 months showed no stone. This article presents the first reported case of an ACP bladder stone coexisting with prostate cancer，providing important clinical insights into the etiology of such stones and the rare local manifestations of prostate cancer.

Here reports a rare case of severe pneumonia with pulmonary abscess and empyema caused by Trophe-ryma whipplei(TW)infection.TW infection was confirmed by clinical manifestations as well as polymerase chain reaction(PCR)of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)and pleural effusion.After treatment with meropenem(fo-llowed by sequential ceftriaxone)combined with compound sulfamethoxazole,the patient improved and was dis-charged from hospital.Combined with literature review,this study explores the clinical manifestations,laboratory examinations,and treatment scheme of TW infection,aiming to improve the awareness and vigilance of clinicians on TW infection,conduct targeted anti-infection therapy as early as possible,and reduce the mortality of patients.

Here reports a rare case of severe pneumonia with pulmonary abscess and empyema caused by Trophe-ryma whipplei(TW)infection.TW infection was confirmed by clinical manifestations as well as polymerase chain reaction(PCR)of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)and pleural effusion.After treatment with meropenem(fo-llowed by sequential ceftriaxone)combined with compound sulfamethoxazole,the patient improved and was dis-charged from hospital.Combined with literature review,this study explores the clinical manifestations,laboratory examinations,and treatment scheme of TW infection,aiming to improve the awareness and vigilance of clinicians on TW infection,conduct targeted anti-infection therapy as early as possible,and reduce the mortality of patients.

Amorphous calcium phosphate（ACP）is a component of urinary stones，primarily forming mixed stones with calcium oxalate，while pure ACP stones are relatively rare. This article reports a case of a patient with an ACP bladder stone who was admitted due to progressive dysuria over 5 years，which had worsened in the past months. Upon admission，tPSA was 29.63 ng/ml. CT and enhanced MRI revealed multiple bladder stones and prostatic hyperplasia. The patient underwent ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy and transurethral cystolithotripsy with pneumatic lithotripsy. Postoperative infrared spectroscopy confirmed the stone composition as ACP，and prostatic adenocarcinoma was diagnosed by prostate biopsy pathology. Endocrine therapy was administered postoperatively，and follow-up imaging at 3 months showed no stone. This article presents the first reported case of an ACP bladder stone coexisting with prostate cancer，providing important clinical insights into the etiology of such stones and the rare local manifestations of prostate cancer.

Objective:To investigate the central mechanism of moxibustion in treating chronic inflammatory visceral pain(CIVP)and its analgesic effect from the perspective of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)/Ets-like transcription factor 1(ELK1)signaling pathway in the spinal cord. Methods:Clean-grade male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group,a model group,a herb-partitioned moxibustion(HPM)group,a sham-HPM group,a p38 MAPK inhibitor group,and a dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO)group.CIVP rat models were prepared using an enema mixture of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid solution and 50%ethanol.The HPM group was treated with HPM;the sham-HPM group was treated the same as the HPM group,but the moxa cones were not ignited;rats in the p38 MAPK inhibitor group received L5-L6 intrathecal injection of p38 MAPK inhibitor(SB203580);rats in the DMSO group received L5-L6 intrathecal injection of 2%DMSO.Abdominal withdrawal reflex(AWR),mechanical withdrawal threshold(MWT),and thermal withdrawal latency(TWL)were used to observe pain-related behaviors in each group.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the morphological changes in rat colon tissue.Western blotting and real-time quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction were used to detect the phosphorylated protein and mRNA expression of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1(ASK1),MAPK kinase(MKK)3/6,p38 MAPK,ELK1,and mitogen and stress-activated protein kinase 1(MSK1)in the spinal cord. Results:Compared with the normal group,CIVP rats had severe colonic inflammatory injuries,and the pathological injury scores increased significantly,along with increased AWR scores under different colorectal distension(CRD)stimulation pressures and decreased MWT and TWL;the mRNA and phosphorylated protein expression of p38 MAPK,ELK1,MSK1,ASK1,MKK3,and MKK6 all increased in the spinal cord(P<0.01).After HPM treatment,the colon injuries were repaired,and the pathological injury scores decreased;under different CRD stimulation pressures,the AWR scores decreased,and the MWT and TWL increased;the mRNA and phosphorylated protein expression of p38 MAPK,ELK1,ASK1,and MKK3 in the spinal cord also decreased,with statistically significant differences compared with the model group and the sham-HPM group(P<0.01).There were no significant differences in the above indicators between the HPM group and the p38 MAPK inhibitor group(P>0.05),and the same was true regarding the comparisons between the model group and the DMSO group. Conclusion:HPM exerted analgesic effects via downregulating the mRNA and phosphorylated protein expression of ASK1,MKK3,p38 MAPK,and ELK1 in the spinal cord of CIVP rats.The inhibition of spinal p38 MAPK/ELK1 signaling pathway activation may be one of the mechanisms by which HPM relieves pain in CIVP.

Objective:Analysis of the influencing factors of maternal oral health care behavior based on the health belief model.Methods:From July to December 2023, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in Peking Union Medical College Hospital on 316 pregnant women who received the health belief questionnaire and self-efficacy scale。 t test and χ2 test were used to analyze the factors affecting the oral health care behavior of pregnant women from the perspective of social psychology. Results:Among the 316 pregnant women included, 110(34.8%) had poor daily oral health care behavior, 120 (38.1%)did not have oral examination before or during pregnancy. The health beliefs of pregnant women in overall oral care were not high, with a score of 6.63+3.23, Median score is 7 (5).Perceived susceptibility to oral diseases ( OR=1.51, 95% CI:1.026-2.213), self-efficacy of daily living ( OR=2.64, 95% CI: 1.384-5.040), self-efficacy of oral examination ( OR=1.74, 95% CI:1.184-2.570) were independent factors of daily oral health care behavior in pregnant women. Health motivation ( OR=2.47, 95% CI:1.474-4.126) and self-efficacy of oral examination ( OR=4.17, 95% CI:2.626-6.619) were independent factors of oral examination behavior before and during pregnancy. Conclusion:Health beliefs of maternal oral health, especially perceived susceptibility, health motivation and self-efficacy are closely related to maternal oral health care behaviors. To improve the health belief and self-efficacy of pregnant women′s oral health care and avoid potential obstacles, which could be conducive to the effective promotion of oral health care for pregnant women.

Objective:Analysis of the influencing factors of maternal oral health care behavior based on the health belief model.Methods:From July to December 2023, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in Peking Union Medical College Hospital on 316 pregnant women who received the health belief questionnaire and self-efficacy scale。 t test and χ2 test were used to analyze the factors affecting the oral health care behavior of pregnant women from the perspective of social psychology. Results:Among the 316 pregnant women included, 110(34.8%) had poor daily oral health care behavior, 120 (38.1%)did not have oral examination before or during pregnancy. The health beliefs of pregnant women in overall oral care were not high, with a score of 6.63+3.23, Median score is 7 (5).Perceived susceptibility to oral diseases ( OR=1.51, 95% CI:1.026-2.213), self-efficacy of daily living ( OR=2.64, 95% CI: 1.384-5.040), self-efficacy of oral examination ( OR=1.74, 95% CI:1.184-2.570) were independent factors of daily oral health care behavior in pregnant women. Health motivation ( OR=2.47, 95% CI:1.474-4.126) and self-efficacy of oral examination ( OR=4.17, 95% CI:2.626-6.619) were independent factors of oral examination behavior before and during pregnancy. Conclusion:Health beliefs of maternal oral health, especially perceived susceptibility, health motivation and self-efficacy are closely related to maternal oral health care behaviors. To improve the health belief and self-efficacy of pregnant women′s oral health care and avoid potential obstacles, which could be conducive to the effective promotion of oral health care for pregnant women.