Objective To explore the echocardiographic features of critically ill patients with infection, and to evaluate the predictive value of echocardiographic parameters for 28-day mortality and myocardial injury. Methods Using a single-center prospective cohort design, 120 critically ill patients with infection admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University from January 2024 to January 2025 were enrolled consecutively. According to the severity of infection, patients were divided into the sepsis group (n＝75) and the non-sepsis group (n＝45). Cox proportional hazards models and modified Poisson regression were used to analyze risk factors of 28-day all-cause mortality and myocardial injury. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log-rank test were used to assess prognosis differences among patients with different ultrasound parameters. ROC curve and area under the curve (AUC) were applied to evaluate the predictive performance of ultrasound parameters, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) model was used to explore nonlinear relationships. Results The E/e′ ratio was significantly higher in the sepsis group than in the non-sepsis group (P＜0.001), while left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) were lower in the sepsis group (P＜0.05). The Cox proportional hazards model found no association between ultrasound parameters and 28-day all-cause mortality. Modified Poisson regression showed that, after adjusting for confounding factors, elevated E/e′ was an independent risk factor of myocardial injury (RR＝1.12, 95% CI 1.07–1.17, P＜0.001). Survival analysis demonstrated that patients with E/e′ ＞10.9 had lower 28-day survival rates (P＝0.02), and the AUC for E/e′ predicting myocardial injury was 0.835. RCS analysis suggested a nonlinear relationship between E/e′ and myocardial injury risk (P＜0.001). Conclusions E/e′, LVEF, and LVFS have no significant predictive value for 28-day mortality risk in critically ill patients with infections. Elevated E/e′ is an independent risk factor of myocardial injury in such patients, with a nonlinear relationship.

Background:Rhei Radix et Rhizoma has been traditionally used as a potent laxative for centuries due to its remarkable efficacy.Raw pieces of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma(RP)are known for their strong laxative effects,often accompanied by side effects,while steamed Rhei Radix et Rhizoma pieces(SP)possess a milder laxative effect and are widely used clinically.However,there is a lack of comprehensive evidence examining the mechanisms underlying SP's effectiveness,particularly from a bioavailability perspective.Objective:This study aimed to investigate the impact of the steaming process on the in vivo disposition of RP and SP through pharmacokinetics,tissue distribution,and excretion assays.Methods:An ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for the simultaneous quantitative analysis of prototype anthraquinones and their glucuronide metabolites.Pharmacokinetic,tissue distribution,and excre-tion assays were conducted in constipation rats following oral administration of RP and SP.Blood,tissue,urine,and fecal samples were collected and analyzed to compare the absorption,distribution,metabolism,and excretion profiles of anthraquinones,high-lighting differences in bioavailability and safety between RP and SP.Results:Compared with the RP group,the SP group showed significantly reduced area under the plasma concentration-time curve,mean residence time,and half-life time values for rhein-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside,rhein,emodin,aloe-emodin,and their glucuronide metabolites.The clearance values were significantly increased in the SP group.These results demonstrate that SP led to lower exposure levels and higher elimination rates of these components compared with RP.Additionally,these compo-nents were primarily distributed in the large intestine,where they exerted their laxative effects.Glucuronide metabolites were mainly excreted through urination,while prototype components were excreted in both urine and feces.Notably,the cumulative excretion of aloe-emodin,emodin,rhein,and their glucuronide metabolites was significantly higher in both urine and feces after SP administra-tion,indicating that SP enhances the excretion of these components compared with RP.Conclusion:The findings suggest that SP reduced anthraquinone exposure levels while enhancing their excretion,demonstrating that the steaming process significantly promotes the elimination of key components.This study provides a comprehensive analysis of how steaming alters the in vivo disposition of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma,offering a scientific basis for the improved safety and clinical use of SP.These insights not only clarify the mechanistic differences between RP and SP but also contribute to a broader understanding of processing-induced modifications in Chinese medicines.This research paves the way for optimizing Chinese medicine processing techniques to enhance the safety and efficacy of herbal therapies.

With the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence(GAI)technologies,their widespread application in academic research and writing is continuously expanding the boundaries of sci-entific inquiry.However,this trend has also raised a series of ethical and regulatory challenges,inclu-ding issues related to authorship,content authenticity,citation accuracy,and accountability.In light of the growing involvement of AI in generating academic content,establishing an open,controllable,and trustworthy ethical governance framework has become a key task for safeguarding research integrity and maintaining trust within the academic community.This expert consensus outlines ethical requirements across key stages of AI-assisted academic writing-including topic selection,data management,citation practices,and authorship attribution.It aims to clarify the boundaries and ethical obligations surrounding AI use in academic writing,ensuring that technological tools enhance efficiency without compromising in-tegrity.The goal is to provide guidance and institutional support for building a responsible and sustainable research ecosystem.

Background:Rhei Radix et Rhizoma has been traditionally used as a potent laxative for centuries due to its remarkable efficacy.Raw pieces of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma(RP)are known for their strong laxative effects,often accompanied by side effects,while steamed Rhei Radix et Rhizoma pieces(SP)possess a milder laxative effect and are widely used clinically.However,there is a lack of comprehensive evidence examining the mechanisms underlying SP's effectiveness,particularly from a bioavailability perspective.Objective:This study aimed to investigate the impact of the steaming process on the in vivo disposition of RP and SP through pharmacokinetics,tissue distribution,and excretion assays.Methods:An ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for the simultaneous quantitative analysis of prototype anthraquinones and their glucuronide metabolites.Pharmacokinetic,tissue distribution,and excre-tion assays were conducted in constipation rats following oral administration of RP and SP.Blood,tissue,urine,and fecal samples were collected and analyzed to compare the absorption,distribution,metabolism,and excretion profiles of anthraquinones,high-lighting differences in bioavailability and safety between RP and SP.Results:Compared with the RP group,the SP group showed significantly reduced area under the plasma concentration-time curve,mean residence time,and half-life time values for rhein-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside,rhein,emodin,aloe-emodin,and their glucuronide metabolites.The clearance values were significantly increased in the SP group.These results demonstrate that SP led to lower exposure levels and higher elimination rates of these components compared with RP.Additionally,these compo-nents were primarily distributed in the large intestine,where they exerted their laxative effects.Glucuronide metabolites were mainly excreted through urination,while prototype components were excreted in both urine and feces.Notably,the cumulative excretion of aloe-emodin,emodin,rhein,and their glucuronide metabolites was significantly higher in both urine and feces after SP administra-tion,indicating that SP enhances the excretion of these components compared with RP.Conclusion:The findings suggest that SP reduced anthraquinone exposure levels while enhancing their excretion,demonstrating that the steaming process significantly promotes the elimination of key components.This study provides a comprehensive analysis of how steaming alters the in vivo disposition of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma,offering a scientific basis for the improved safety and clinical use of SP.These insights not only clarify the mechanistic differences between RP and SP but also contribute to a broader understanding of processing-induced modifications in Chinese medicines.This research paves the way for optimizing Chinese medicine processing techniques to enhance the safety and efficacy of herbal therapies.

Objective:To investigate lymph node metastasis(LNM)in the prostatic anterior fat pad(PAFP)of PCa patients after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy(RARP),and analyze the clinicopathological features and prognosis of LNM in the PAFP.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological data on 1 003 cases of PCa treated by RARP in the Department of Urolo-gy of PLA General Hospital from January 2017 to December 2022.All the patients underwent routine removal of the PAFP during RARP and pathological examination,with the results of all the specimens examined and reported by pathologists.Based on the pres-ence and locations of LNM,we grouped the patients for statistical analysis,compared the clinicopathological features between different groups using the Student's t,Mann-Whitney U and Chi-square tests,and conducted survival analyses using the Kaplan-Meier and Log-rank methods and survival curves generated by Rstudio.Results:Lymph nodes were detected in 77(7.7％)of the 1 003 PAFP samples,and LNM in 11(14.3％)of the 77 cases,with a positive rate of 1.1％(11/1 003).Of the 11 positive cases,9 were found in the upgraded pathological N stage,and the other 2 complicated by pelvic LNM.The patients with postoperative pathological stage≥T3 constituted a significantly higher proportion in the PAFP LNM than in the non-PAFP LNM group(81.8％[9/11]vs 36.2％[359/992],P=0.005),and so did the cases with Gleason score ≥8(87.5％[7/8]vs 35.5％[279/786],P=0.009).No statisti-cally significant differences were observed in the clinicopathological features and biochemical recurrence-free survival between the pa-tients with PAFP LNM only and those with pelvic LNM only.Conclusion:The PAFP is a potential route to LNM,and patients with LNM in the PAFP are characterized by poor pathological features.There is no statistically significant difference in biochemical recur-rence-free survival between the patients with PAFP LNM only and those with pelvic LNM only.Routine removal of the PAFP and inde-pendent pathological examination of the specimen during RARP is of great clinical significance.

Objective:To analyze the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic transhepatic section biliary exploration without T-tube drainage in the treatment of intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct stones.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 200 patients with intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct stones who underwent surgical treatment in Ankang Central Hospital from January 2020 to December 2024, including 79 males and 121 females, with the average age of (64.1±6.1) years. Among the 200 patients, 100 underwent laparoscopic hepatectomy and stone removal through transhepatic section cholangiography and choledochoscopy and were included in the observation group. Another 100 patients underwent laparoscopic hepatectomy, common bile duct incision, choledochoscopic exploration and stone removal, and T-tube drainage and were included in the control group. The intraoperative blood loss, operation time, postoperative hospital stay, hospitalization cost, postoperative pain score, time to get out of bed and move around, recovery time of intestinal function, abdominal drainage time, total complication rate, recurrence of stones, biliary tract infection, etc. were compared between the two groups.Results:The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay and hospitalization cost of the observation group (165.8±29.9 min, 158.9±23.7 ml, 8.8±1.8 d and 46, 037.8±312.6 yuan, respectively) were all lower than those of the control group (220.3±37.5 min, 232.5±36.7 ml, 12.5±2.5 d, and 57 006.2±528.5 yuan) and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The postoperative pain score of the control group was (4.8±1.3) points, the postoperative time to get out of bed for activities was (1.6±0.5) d, the postoperative recovery time of intestinal function was (3.2±0.7) d, and the abdominal drainage time was (5.0±0.8) d. All were higher than those of the observation group (3.2±0.8) points, (0.8±0.2) d, (1.8±0.5) d, and (2.5±0.6) d, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The total incidence of complications, recurrence of stones and infection rate of biliary tract in the observation group were 6.0%(6/100), 3.0%(3/100) and 2.0%(2/100) respectively, which were lower than those in the control group at 36.0%(36/100), 11.0%(11/100) and 9.0%(9/100). The differences were all statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Laparoscopic transhepatic section biliary exploration without T-tube drainage for the treatment of intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct stones is feasible and safe.

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of the sixth generation CyberKnife (M6) in treating patients with brain metastases, and analyze clinical characteristics and dosimetric factors.Methods:Clinical data of patients with brain metastases who received CyberKnife treatment at Sichuan Cancer Hospital from April 2023 to March 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were treated with CyberKnife with 6 MV X-ray. According to the maximum diameter of brain metastases, the radiation prescription dose of brain metastases was adjusted. The tumor remission, recurrence, 6-month and 1-year overall survival (OS), local control (LC) of intracranial target lesions, progression-free survival (PFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) of intracranial brain metastases and adverse reactions were evaluated. According to the median biological dose, the survival difference between the groups was compared. Survival analysis was conducted by Kaplan-Meier method. Survival differences among different groups were analyzed by log-rank test.Results:A total of 63 eligible patients with brain metastases were enrolled, with a median age of 59 years (rang: 36-80 years). Among them, 47 patients were diagnosed with primary tumors originating from the lungs, 16 patients with primary tumors originating from other organs; 44 patients with single brain metastases, and 19 patients with 2-3 lesions, respectively. The median biological dose was 67.2 Gy (rang: 47.4-86.4 Gy), and the median single dose was 8 Gy/F (rang: 4-24 Gy/F). The follow-up was conducted until July 15, 2024. The median follow-up time for the entire group was 9 months (rang: 2-15 months). Among the 87 target lesions treated with CyberKnife, 11 patients corresponding to 14 target lesions experienced local recurrence. And the 6-month and 1-year LC rates were 92.5% and 70.9%, respectively. Ten patients corresponding to 16 target lesions died. And the 6-month and 1-year OS rates were 92.7% and 74.8%, respectively. Thirty-five patients corresponding to 50 target lesions experienced disease progression. And the 6-month and 1-year PFS rates were 64.3% and 25.5%, respectively. Thirty-three patients corresponding to 48 target lesions showed distant metastasis outside the target lesions, with a 6-month DMFS of 67.0% and a 1-year DMFS of 33.9%. Group comparison showed that 43 target lesions in the group receiving ≤67.2 Gy irradiation and 44 in the group receiving >67.2 Gy irradiation. The 6-month LC, OS, PFS, and DMFS rates between two groups were 89.8% vs. 97.7% ( P=0.127), 89.8% vs. 95.4% ( P=0.305), 65.4% vs. 68.5% ( P=0.514), 65.4% vs. 68.5% ( P=0.516), respectively. The 1-year LC, OS, PFS, and DMFS rates between two groups were 54.1% vs. 89.5% ( P=0.003), 67.3% vs. 82.9% ( P=0.219), 19.2% vs. 32.7% ( P=0.370) and 23.3% vs. 33.0% ( P=0.533). During the follow-up, only 2 patients (3.2%) were found to have grade 1-2 radiation-induced brain injury (asymptomatic brain injury) by MRI examination, and there were no other radiotherapy related adverse reactions. Conclusions:CyberKnife therapy is clinically effective for brain metastases, with mild adverse reactions. Increasing the tumor irradiation dose can improve local tumor control and is expected to further improve the OS of patients.

For middle-aged and elderly patients with conditions such as spinal fractures and degenerative spinal diseases, spinal internal fixation is a core surgical procedure for reconstructing spinal stability, heavily relying on the biomechanical stability provided by pedicle screw systems. Whereas, these patients are often complicated by osteoporosis that can significantly compromise the stability of the bone-pedicle screw interface, leading to a marked increase in pedicle screw loosening and surgical failure rates. The bone cement-augmented pedicle screw technique, which involves injecting bone cement into the vertebral body or screw trajectory to optimize the mechanical properties of the bone-pedicle screw composite, has been proven to significantly enhance fixation strength and effectively prevent screw-related failures, thereby reducing the incidence of internal fixation failure in high-risk populations undergoing spinal fusion. However, the widespread clinical application of this technique has faced challenges such as inaccurate clinical decision-making (indication and contraindication selection), non-standardized operative practices, and insufficient awareness of complication prevention, resulting in considerable variability in clinical outcomes and even severe complications. To address this, Prof. Luo Fei from First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University initiated the project and the Chinese Association Orthopaedic Surgeons organized relevant experts to develop the Evidence-based clinical practice guideline for bone cement-augmented pedicle screw technique ( version 2025), based on current evidence. The guidelines put forward 8 recommendations regarding the clinical value, scope of application, and operational standards of the technique, aiming to provide evidence-based medical support and technical standardization for clinical decision-making.

Objective:To systematically evaluate the safety and efficacy of the novel fibroblast activation protein (FAP)-targeted tracer 64Cu-FAP inhibitor (FAPI)-XT117 in patients with malignant solid tumors, and to compare with 18F-FDG. Methods:This self-controlled study was conducted on fifteen patients (8 males, 7 females; age (60 ±9) years) with malignant solid tumors from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University between July 2023 and December 2023. Each subject underwent 64Cu-FAPI-XT117 PET/CT at 30, 60, and 120min post-injection and was assigned to three dose cohorts (111MBq, 148MBq, and 185MBq; 5 patients in each cohort), and safety assessments were conducted within 24h after injection. In addition, all patients underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT at 60min post-injection. Time-activity curves were generated for 64Cu-FAPI-XT117, and the dosimetry was calculated. Image quality was evaluated using a 5-point Likert scale, and the optimal injected activity and imaging time point were determined. The paired t test was used to compare differences of the lesion detection count and SUV max between 64Cu-FAPI-XT117 and 18F-FDG PET/CT. Results:64Cu-FAPI-XT117 was well tolerated, with no adverse events reported. Time-activity curves of 68Ga-FAPI-XT117 revealed prominent uptake in the uterus, while the background activity in other organs remained low, with the whole-body effective dose of (0.0084±0.0021)mSv/MBq. The optimal imaging time point for 64Cu-FAPI-XT117 PET/CT was 60min post-injection, with an optimal administered activity of 111MBq. Compared with 18F-FDG, 64Cu-FAPI-XT117 demonstrated significantly higher uptake and more lesions in lymph-node metastases (SUV max: 8.6±3.8 vs 15.3±6.8, t=2.33, P=0.048; number of lesions: 8.3±5.4 vs 15.0±6.4; t=4.21, P=0.003) and distant metastases (SUV max: 11.8±3.7 vs 20.9±7.2, t=3.66, P=0.022; number of lesions: 7.0±3.2 vs 12.4±3.7, t=2.86, P=0.046). Conclusions:64Cu-FAPI-XT117 PET/CT is well tolerated in patients with solid tumors, with a controllable radiation risk. Moreover, it outperforms 18F-FDG PET/CT in the assessment of metastases.

Objective To explore the feasibility and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation for unresectable pancreatic cancer.Methods Totally 84 patients who underwent ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation for unresectable pancreatic cancer were enrolled,and the technical success rate,complete ablation rate,complication rate,pain relief rate and survival time,etc.were observed.Results The median age of 84 cases was 61.5 years.Totally 86 tumors,including 44.19％(38/86)at the head/neck and 55.81％(48/86)at the body/tail of pancreas were detected,and a total of 85 ablation sessions were performed with the median ablation energy applied per tumor of 9.90(1.08,21.60)kJ and the complete ablation rate of 42.86％(36/84).The technical success rate was 100％(85/85).Thirty-nine complication events occurred in 25 cases,no ablation-related death.Among 34 patients underwent ablation mainly for pain symptoms,the pain score decreased from(6.22±1.12)points before treatment to(1.94±1.64)points after treatment(P＜0.001).During 6.8(3.3,12.9)months' follow-up,the mean survival time was(8.5±6.7)months,and all 47 patients died due to tumor progression.Conclusion Ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation was safe and feasible for unresectable pancreatic cancer.