Objective:To investigate whether ultra-high dose rate (FLASH) irradiation can reduce radiation-induced intestinal injuries of mice compared to conventional dose rate (CONV) irradiation.Methods:Both FLASH and CONV irradiation were delivered with electron beam, with dose rates of 750 Gy/s and 0.5G y/s, respectively. A total of 105 mice were randomly divided into groups using a simple randomization method. Twenty-one mice were selected for weight observation, 7 mice in each group. After 9 Gy FLASH and CONV irradiation on the abdomen, the weight changes of mice were measured every other day, and compared among three groups. Twenty-four mice were selected for pathological examination including 5 mice in the control group. Three-and-a-half-day days after 12 Gy FLASH ( n=10) and CONV irradiation ( n=9) on the abdomen, the intestines of the mice were taken. Pathological sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) to compare the number and percentage of regenerated crypts of the small intestine between two groups. After 12 Gy FLASH ( n=10) and CONV irradiation ( n=10) on the abdomen, the survival of 20 mice was observed. After FLASH using 4.5 Gy×2 times ( n=10) and CONV irradiation at 9 Gy×1 time ( n=10) on the abdomen, the weight changes were observed. After FLASH using 6 Gy×2 times ( n=10) and CONV irradiation at 12 Gy×1 time ( n=10) on the abdomen, the survival of mice was observed. The time interval between two irradiation was 1 min. EBT3 film was employed to monitor the actual exposure dose of the mice. The variables conforming to normal distribution were expressed by Mean±SD. Inter group comparison was performed by independent t-test. The survival of mice among different groups was compared by log-rank test. Results:After 9 Gy of abdominal irradiation, the mean weight of mice in the FLASH group was significantly higher than that in the CONV group. The weight of mice in the FLASH and CONV groups was (19.8±0.8) g and (18.0±1.8)g ( P=0.036) at 7 days after irradiation, (22.0±1.0)g and (21.2±0.5)g ( P=0.075) at 15 days after irradiation, and (24.2±1.4)g and (22.0±1.2)g ( P=0.012) at 25 days after irradiation, respectively. After 12 Gy irradiation, the mean survival of mice in FLASH and CONV groups was 4 days and 4.7 days ( P=0.029). After 12 Gy total abdominal irradiation, the mean number of intestinal regenerative crypts in the FLASH and CONV groups was 2.9/mm and 1.2/mm ( P=0.041), and the percentage of intestinal regenerative crypts was 34.1% and 14.1%, respectively. The survival of mice irradiated by FLASH using 6 Gy×2 times was longer compared with that of mice after CONV irradiation at 12 Gy×1 time. The weight of mice after 4.5 Gy×2 times irradiation was higher than that of mice after CONV irradiation at 9 Gy×1 time. Conclusion:Weight, survival and the number of intestinal regenerative crypts in the FLASH group are higher than those in the CONV group after irradiation, indicating that radiation-induced intestinal injury caused by FLASH irradiation is slighter than that of CONV irradiation.

Esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EGVB) is one of the main complications of decompensated portal hypertension, especially in patients with liver cirrhosis, and it often has a high mortality rate. Medication combined with endoscopy is the main prevention and treatment method for EGVB, while transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) combined with variceal embolization can also be selected for some high-risk patients, and individualized diagnosis and treatment of portal hypertension based on hepatic venous pressure gradient should become the latest consensus and the main strategy. This article mainly reviews endoscopic therapy and TIPS for the prevention and treatment of EGVB patients with decompensated portal hypertension in terms of selection of indications, incidence rate of complications, and respective advantages and disadvantages.

Objective:The investigation and research on the application status of Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient (HVPG) is very important to understand the real situation and future development of this technology in China.Methods:This study comprehensively investigated the basic situation of HVPG technology in China, including hospital distribution, hospital level, annual number of cases, catheters used, average cost, indications and existing problems.Results:According to the survey, there were 70 hospitals in China carrying out HVPG technology in 2021, distributed in 28 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central Government). A total of 4 398 cases of HVPG were performed in all the surveyed hospitals in 2021, of which 2 291 cases (52.1%) were tested by HVPG alone. The average cost of HVPG detection was (5 617.2±2 079.4) yuan. 96.3% of the teams completed HVPG detection with balloon method, and most of the teams used thrombectomy balloon catheter (80.3%).Conclusion:Through this investigation, the status of domestic clinical application of HVPG has been clarified, and it has been confirmed that many domestic medical institutions have mastered this technology, but it still needs to continue to promote and popularize HVPG technology in the future.

Objective:To investigate the effects of theta burst stimulation(TBS)mode repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (r-TMS) in the left prefrontal on negative symptoms and cognitive function in the elderly chronic schizophrenic patients.Methods:Totally 48 patients with stable chronic senile schizophrenia (24 cases in r-TMS treatment group and 24 cases in r-TMS pseudo stimulation control group) were selected. The treatment group was given the TBS mode r-TMS performed in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The control group was given pseudo stimulation at the same site. Before and after treatment, the brief psychiatric rating scale(BPRS), scale for assessment of negative symptoms(SANS), and positive and negative syndrome scale(PANSS)were used to assess mental symptoms, while Mattis-dementia rating scale(MDRS-2)and social adaptation functioning evaluation(SAFE)were used to assess cognitive function and social function. SPSS 20.0 was used for statistical analysis.Comparisons of the differences between inter groups and intra groups were conducted by independent sample t test and paired t-test. Results:(1)There were significant differences in the total score of PANSS scale((60.17±3.73), (56.67±3.12)), the negative symptom subscale score of PANSS((20.88±2.94), (17.96±2.33)) and the score of SANS((30.67±1.66), (30.25±1.45)) before and after treatment in the treatment group (all P<0.05). The D-value before and after treatment in the scores of BPRS ( t=3.513, P=0.001), PANSS ( t=6.048, P<0.01), negative symptom subscale ( t=6.610, P<0.01) and SANS ( t=8.239, P<0.01) were significantly different between the two groups. (2)There were significant differences in the scores of MDRS-2 and its sub scales before and after treatment in the treatment group (all P<0.05). The D-value before and after treatment in the scores of MDRS-2 ( t=6.216, P<0.01), attention ( t=4.596, P<0.01), start/maintain ( t=6.424, P<0.01), concept formation ( t=3.974, P<0.01), construction( t=2.194, P=0.033) and memory ( t=3.162, P=0.003) were significantly different between the two groups.(3)There was no significant difference in the SAFE score between the treatment group and the control group before and after treatment ( t=0.138, 0.142, both P>0.05). Conclusion:TBS can improve the negative symptoms and cognitive function in patients with the elderly chronic schizophrenic, but the effect of social function is not clear.

Objective:To help clinicians simplify the post-processing operations of structures by developing rapid processing software for target area and organs at risk structures based on ESAPI.Methods:SmartStructure script software was developed based on ESAPI, verified and evaluated in clinical work. 10 cases of rectal cancer receiving neoadjuvant radiotherapy, 10 breast cancer treated with postoperative radiotherapy, 10 cervical cancer receiving postoperative radiotherapy, 10 nasopharyngeal carcinoma receiving radical radiotherapy and 10 lung stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) were selected, and different types of tumors had different post-processing operations of structures. In each case, three methods were used for post-processing of structures. In the control group (manual group), normal manual processing was employed. In the experimental group 1(SmaStru-N group), scripts without templates were utilized. In the experimental group 2(SmaStru-P group). scripts combined with templates were adopted. The processing time of the three methods was compared. Clinicians scored the scripting software from multiple aspects and compared the feeling scores of scripting software and manual operation.Results:All three methods can be normally applied in clinical settings. The error rate in the manual group was 7.0%, 3.0% in the SmaStru-N group 0% in the SmaStru-P group, respectively. Compared with the manual method, SmaStru-N shortened the processing time of target area and organs at risk by 60.9% and 93.3% for SmaStru-P. In addition, SmartStructure was superior to manual method in terms of using feeling scores. Clinicians gave lower score for the" applicability" and" simplicity" , and higher score on the" accuracy" and" efficiency" .Conclusions:Compared with conventional manual structure processing method, SmartStructure software can rapidly and accurately process all structures of the target area and organs at risk, and its advantages become more obvious with the increasing number of structures that need to be processed. SmartStructure software can meet clinical requirements, reduce the error rate, elevate processing speed, improve the working efficiency of clinicians, providing basis for the development of adaptive radiotherapy.

Gegen Qinlian Decoction (GQD), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, has long been used for the treatment of common metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the main limitation of its wider application is ingredient complexity of this formula. Thus, it is critically important to identify the major active ingredients of GQD and to illustrate mecha-nisms underlying its action. Here, we compared the effects of GQD and berberine, a hypothetical key active pharmaceutical ingredient of GQD, on a diabetic rat model by comprehensive analyses of gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids, proinflammatory cytokines, and ileum transcriptomics. Our results show that berberine and GQD had similar effects on lowering blood glucose levels, modulating gut microbiota, inducing ileal gene expression, as well as relieving systemic and local inflammation. As expected, both berberine and GQD treatment significantly altered the overall gut microbiota structure and enriched many butyrate-producing bacteria, including Faecalibacterium and Roseburia, thereby attenuating intestinal inflammation and lowering glucose. Levels of short-chain fatty acids in rat feces were also significantly elevated after treatment with ber-berine or GQD. Moreover, concentration of serum proinflammatory cytokines and expression of immune-related genes, including Nfkb1, Stat1, and Ifnrg1, in pancreatic islets were significantly reduced after treatment. Our study demonstrates that the main effects of GQD can be attributed to berberine via modulating gut microbiota. The strategy employed would facilitate further stan-dardization and widespread application of TCM in many diseases.

Objective: To better understand the significance of the pressure-time curve and flow-time curve from the perspective of PB840 ventilator working principle. Methods: ① Mechanical principle: flow supply valves (air valve and oxygen valve) and exhalation valve in PB840 ventilator were controlled to achieve the ventilation target (volume or pressure) by the central processing unit according to the monitoring data from pressure sensors (P₁ at the supply side, P₂ at the exhalation side) and flow sensors (Q₁ at the air side, Q₂ at the oxygen side, Q₃ at the exhalation side). ② The essence of curve: each point means a value of pressure or flow at a certain time measured by the sensors or calculated by the system. ③ The respiratory process could be divided into inspiratory part, expiratory part, and the connection part from expiratory to inspiratory. The air running state and the respiratory mechanics relationship at the three parts could be inferred according to the form of curves. Results: ① Inspiratory process: at volume-controlled and constant flow ventilation: there should be a relationship "Pc-Pa = XR" between alveolar pressure (Pa) and circuit pressure (Pc) according to Ohm law. So, the Pc curve (pressure-time curve) could indirectly reflect the Pa curve with the flow (X) and resistance (R) being constant. At pressure-set ventilation: it is the goal of ventilator to maintain the Pc at the target level. So, the stability of the target pressure line in pressure-time curve reflects the matching ability of the flow supply valves and the exhalation valve. ② Expiratory process: it could be divided into pre-expiratory [without basic flow (Ba) or bias flow (Bi)] and post-expiratory (with Ba or Bi), where Ba or Bi is equal to "Q₁+Q₂". So, the mathematical function are "X(t) = Q₃t" in pre-part, and "X(t) = Q₃t-(Q₁t+Q₂t)" in post-part. The relationship between pressure and flow at peak expiratory flow point: it could be found that there is an obvious time span and area formation under the curve from 0 to peak point (Fpeak) after stretching the abscissa axis of flow-time curve. It means that some gas have been discharged from the lung when it arrives at the peak point. So, the alveolar pressure should be lower than the platform pressure at the point (Pplat). The circuit pressure is significantly higher than positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) at the point in the stretching axis diagram. So, it means that the formula "R_E = (Pplat-PEEP)/Fpeak" to calculate the expiratory resistance (R_E) is unreasonable in the angle of Ohm law. ③ The process from exhalation to inspiratory: according to the difference of the starting point of the conversion, it could be divided into two cases: one is that the inspiratory started from the ending of exhalation. Here, the inhaling starting point is lying in the abscissa axis. The other is that the inspiratory started before the ending of exhalation (with endogenous positive end expiratory pressure). Here, the starting point is lying below the abscissa axis, and the slope of the following curve is obviously larger than the slope of natural expiratory curve. According to the difference of results from the starting point to the end of the inhalation triggering effort, it could be divided into two cases: one is that it reach the trigger point. Here, the expiratory curve extends upward from or below the horizontal axis until an effective air supply is triggered. The other is that it could not reach the trigger point. Here, the expiratory curve extends upward from or below the horizontal axis, but then runs downward (meaning exhaling). Conclusion It is helpful to analyze the ventilation state, ventilation failure, and the causes of man-machine confrontation with understanding the ventilation principle and the air route map of the ventilator.

OBJECTIVE: To better understand the significance of the pressure-time curve and flow-time curve from the perspective of PB840 ventilator working principle. METHODS: (1) Mechanical principle: flow supply valves (air valve and oxygen valve) and exhalation valve in PB840 ventilator were controlled to achieve the ventilation target (volume or pressure) by the central processing unit according to the monitoring data from pressure sensors (P₁ at the supply side, P₂ at the exhalation side) and flow sensors (Q₁ at the air side, Q₂ at the oxygen side, Q₃ at the exhalation side). (2) The essence of curve: each point means a value of pressure or flow at a certain time measured by the sensors or calculated by the system. (3) The respiratory process could be divided into inspiratory part, expiratory part, and the connection part from expiratory to inspiratory. The air running state and the respiratory mechanics relationship at the three parts could be inferred according to the form of curves. RESULTS: (1) Inspiratory process: at volume-controlled and constant flow ventilation: there should be a relationship "Pc-Pa = XR" between alveolar pressure (Pa) and circuit pressure (Pc) according to Ohm law. So, the Pc curve (pressure-time curve) could indirectly reflect the Pa curve with the flow (X) and resistance (R) being constant. At pressure-set ventilation: it is the goal of ventilator to maintain the Pc at the target level. So, the stability of the target pressure line in pressure-time curve reflects the matching ability of the flow supply valves and the exhalation valve. (2) Expiratory process: it could be divided into pre-expiratory [without basic flow (Ba) or bias flow (Bi)] and post-expiratory (with Ba or Bi), where Ba or Bi is equal to "Q₁+Q₂". So, the mathematical function are "X(t) = Q_3t" in pre-part, and "X(t) = Q_3t-(Q_1t+Q_2t)" in post-part. The relationship between pressure and flow at peak expiratory flow point: it could be found that there is an obvious time span and area formation under the curve from 0 to peak point (Fpeak) after stretching the abscissa axis of flow-time curve. It means that some gas have been discharged from the lung when it arrives at the peak point. So, the alveolar pressure should be lower than the platform pressure at the point (Pplat). The circuit pressure is significantly higher than positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) at the point in the stretching axis diagram. So, it means that the formula "R_E = (Pplat-PEEP)/Fpeak" to calculate the expiratory resistance (_E) is unreasonable in the angle of Ohm law. (3) The process from exhalation to inspiratory: according to the difference of the starting point of the conversion, it could be divided into two cases: one is that the inspiratory started from the ending of exhalation. Here, the inhaling starting point is lying in the abscissa axis. The other is that the inspiratory started before the ending of exhalation (with endogenous positive end expiratory pressure). Here, the starting point is lying below the abscissa axis, and the slope of the following curve is obviously larger than the slope of natural expiratory curve. According to the difference of results from the starting point to the end of the inhalation triggering effort, it could be divided into two cases: one is that it reach the trigger point. Here, the expiratory curve extends upward from or below the horizontal axis until an effective air supply is triggered. The other is that it could not reach the trigger point. Here, the expiratory curve extends upward from or below the horizontal axis, but then runs downward (meaning exhaling). CONCLUSIONS It is helpful to analyze the ventilation state, ventilation failure, and the causes of man-machine confrontation with understanding the ventilation principle and the air route map of the ventilator.
Exhalation ; Humans ; Positive-Pressure Respiration ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Respiratory Mechanics ; Ventilators, Mechanical

Objective To explore the variation and clinical value of the degradation of endothelial glycocalyx in the patients with septic shock. Methods A prospective case control study was conducted. Patients of 18 years or older diagnosed with septic shock and admitted to Department of Critical Care Medicine of Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University from June 2014 to May 2015 were enrolled. The levels of degradation products, including hyaluronic acid (HA) and heparin sulfate (HS), at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48 hours were determined, while 20 healthy people were enrolled and served as controls. The changes of HA and HS were analyzed in the patients with septic shock. The differences of HA and HS between survival group and death group after 28 days were also analyzed. The relationships between HA, HS and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, arterial blood lactate (Lac), platelet, albumin were analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. The receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to assess the prognostic value of HA and HS for patients with septic shock. Results Thirty-one patients diagnosed as septic shock were enrolled, among whom 17 patients died after 28 days, with a mortality of 54.8%. The levels of HA and HS in patients with septic shock were increased significantly as compared with those of health control group, peaked at 48 hours, and the levels of HA and HS at 48 hours were significantly higher than those at 0 hour [HA (μg/L): 119.47±32.44 vs. 94.84±23.63, HS (μg/L): 72.83±19.03 vs. 58.83±16.63, both P < 0.05]. The levels of HA and HS at 0 hour and 48 hours in death group were significantly higher than those of the survival group [HA (μg/L): 130.42±27.67 vs. 93.29±29.80, 105.14±19.18 vs. 70.82±13.24; HS (μg/L): 67.23±25.01 vs. 39.23±14.58, 79.74±19.84 vs. 56.17±14.53, all P < 0.05]. The levels of HA and HS in patients with septic shock were remarkably positively correlated with the levels of TNF-α, SOFA score, Lac, and platelet, but were remarkably negatively correlated with albumin levels (r value of HA was 0.595, 0.462, 0.545, 0.466, -0.534, respectively; r value of HS was 0.607, 0.468, 0.563, 0.547, -0.455, respectively; all P < 0.05). It was demonstrated by ROC curves that the areas under ROC curve (AUC) of HA and HS at 0 hour and 48 hours for predicting the prognosis of patients with septic shock were 0.881, 0.940 and 0.833, 0.821, respectively, the sensitivities of HA and HS were 87.5%, 100.0% and 83.3%, 81.3%, respectively, and the specificities of HA and HS were 82.6%, 78.3% and 91.3%, 78.3%, respectively. Conclusions The concentrations of degradation products generated by endothelial glycocalyx in the blood of the patients with septic shock are remarkably increased. The elevated levels of the degradation products are closely associated with the severity of septic shock, microcirculation disturbance, and the levels of inflammatory factors.

Objective To explore the relationship between college students' psychological health status,family parenting styles and personality characteristics using the structural equation model.Methods A total of 4 866 College students (2 122 males,2 744 females) were surveyed with NEO five-factor inventory (NEO-FFI),family upbringing style questionnaire(FUSQ) and psychological symptom inventory-100(PSI-100).Lisrel 8.7 was used to construct the structural equation model.Results NEO-FFI total score was 198.08±15.31,PSI-100 total score was 167.08±68.23,father upbringing style questionnaire total score was 457.80±62.10,and mother upbringing style questionnaire total score was 459.27±61.91.For the factors of personality,the more influential factors were agreeableness,conscientiousness and openness.There was a negative correlation between good personality and psychological symptoms(path coefficient =-0.73,P＜0.05).For the factors of family parenting styles,parenting dimension scores (such as mother's democracy,encouragement,understanding,father's supervision,respect) were negatively correlated with psychological symptom scores(path coefficient=-0.18,P＜0.05).Conclusion Family parenting styles can directly affect the psychological symptoms and the personality status,thereby affecting mental health of college students.Personality characteristics could be a mediated variable to regulate the relationship between family parenting styles and psychological health of college students.