Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Objective To compare effectiveness between the modified and traditional pressure-overload myocardial hypertrophy(POMH) model by abdominal aorta coarctation (AAC) method. Methods Totally 45 rats were divided into three groups(n = 15 per group), sham group, traditional group, and modified group. In the traditional group, the diameter ol the abdominal aorta was narrowed to 0. 70 mm through a midline incision for 4 weeks; in the modified group, the diameter of the abdominal aorta was narrowed above the left kidney to 0. 45 mm for 1 week, and then the narrowing was lifted postoperatively. The cardiac index, heart weight (HW) /body weight (BW) and left ventricular index, left ventricular weight (LVW)/BW were measured from the heart specimens, and the cross-sectional area of cardiac myocytes, myocardial collagen area, and myocardial collagen area Iraction were measured in the pathological sections by HE staining and Masson staining. Results Compared with the sham group, the differences in end-systolic interventricular septum thickness (IVSs), left ventricular end-systolic posterior wall thickness (LVPWs), HW/BW, LVW/BW, cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area, myocardial collagen area, myocardial collagen area fraction, and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) expression levels were statistically significant (P<0. 05) in the modilied and traditional groups of rats. The differences in these indices were not statistically significant between the modified and traditional groups (P>0. 05). Conclusion The modified abdominal aortic constriction method used in this experiment is time-saving, stable, homogeneous and easy to replicate, and is a more ideal approach to establish a rat model of POMH.

BACKGROUND:Diabetic foot patients with wound infections constitute a large patient population,and there is currently no satisfactory treatment approach. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the clinical efficacy of a modified tibial cortex transverse transport combined with antibiotic-loaded bone cement for treating refractory diabetic foot ulcers. METHODS:A total of 46 diabetic foot ulcers patients,27 males and 19 females,with an average age of 64.37 years,were selected from Beijing Chaoyang Hospital,Capital Medical University and Beijing Chaoyang Integrative Medicine Rescue and First Aid Hospital from January 2020 to January 2023.All of them underwent the modified tibial cortex transverse transport combined with antibiotic-loaded bone cement treatment.Ankle-brachial index,WIFi(Wound/Ischemia/Foot infection)classification,pain visual analog scale score,and ulcer area were recorded before and 3 months after surgery. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The mean ulcer healing time for the 46 patients was(58.07±24.82)days.At 3 months postoperatively,there were significant improvements in ankle-brachial index,pain visual analog scale score,ulcer area,and WIFi classification in 46 patients,as compared to the preoperative values,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Two patients experienced pin-tract infections,without infection or ulcer recurrence during the follow-up period.(2)These findings indicate that the modified tibial cortex transverse transport combined with antibiotic-loaded bone cement effectively alleviates patients'pain,improves lower limb circulation,controls infections,and promotes ulcer healing.

Objective To assess the effectiveness of enhanced tibial transverse transport(TTT)in con-junction with vacuum-assisted closure(VAC)therapy for managing recalcitrant diabetic foot ulcers.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on data from diabetic foot patients with Wagner grade≥2 who were treated at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital and Beijing Chaoyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine between July 2020 and December 2022.The patients were categorized into three groups based on their treatment regimen:VSD treatment(VSD group),modified TTT treatment(TTT group),and combined application of TTT and VSD(combined group).A one-year follow-up was performed to assess general data,ulcer area before and three months after surgery,ankle brachial index,visual analog pain score,as well as adverse events within one year post-surgery among the three groups.Results The VSD group consisted of 43 patients,while the TTT group consisted of 43 patients,and the combined group consisted of 42 patients.There were no statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics among the three groups(P＞0.05).Patients in the VSD group had longer ulcer healing time,higher pain scores,lower ankle brachial index(P＜0.05),larger ulcer area(P=0.029),and higher one-year ulcer recurrence rate compared to those in the TTT group.On the other hand,patients in the combined group had shorter ulcer healing time compared to those in the TTT group(P=0.046).However,there were no significant differences observed between these two groups regarding ulcer area(P=0.362),pain scores(P=0.932),ankle brachial index(P=0.671),and one-year ulcer recurrence rate(P=0.710).Conclusions The efficacy of modified TTT surpasses that of VSD in promoting ulcer healing,alleviating pain,and enhancing lower limb circulation.Furthermore,the combination of VSD with modified TTT demonstrates a potential to further expedite wound healing time.

Objectives:Distolingual root of the permanent mandibular first molar(PMFM-DLR)has been frequently reported,which may complicate the treatment of periodontitis.This study aimed to assess the morphological features of PMFM-DLR and investigate the correlation between the morphological features of PMFM-DLR and periodontal status in patients with Eastern Chinese ethnic background.Materials and methods:A total of 836 cone beam computed tomography(CBCT)images with 1497 mandibular first molars were analyzed to observe the prevalence of PMFM-DLR at the patients and tooth levels in Eastern China.Among them,complete periodontal charts were available for 69 Chinese patients with 103 teeth.Correlation and regression analyses were used to evaluate the correlation between the morphological features of DLR,bone loss,and periodontal clinical parameters,including clinical attachment loss(CAL),probing pocket depth(PPD),gingival recession(GR),and furcation involvement(FI).Results:The patient-level prevalence and tooth-level prevalence of DLR in mandibular first molars were 29.4%and 26.3%,respectively.Multiple linear regression analysis suggested that bone loss at the lingual site and CAL were negatively affected by the angle of separation between distolingual and mesial roots in the transverse section,while they were significantly influenced by age and the angle of separation between distobuccal and mesial roots in the coronal section.Conclusions:The prevalence of PMFM-DLR in Eastern China was relatively high in our cohort.The morphological features of DLR were correlated with the periodontal status of mandibular first molars.This study provides critical information on the morphological features of DLR for improved diagnosis and treatment options of mandibular molars with DLR.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of Xuanfei Yipi Formula,a prescription derived from modified Jianpi Pill recorded in Yi Fang Ji Jie(A Collection of Prescriptions with Expositions),in treating senile sarcopenia with spleen-stomach weakness type,and to observe its effect on chronic low-grade inflammation of the patients.Methods Seventy cases of senile sarcopenia patients of spleen-stomach weakness type were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group,with 35 cases in each group.The control group was given exercise and nutritional guidance,while the observation group was treated with Xuanfei Yipi Formula orally on the basis of the control group,and the intervention time of both groups was eight weeks.The changes of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome scores,appendicular skeletal muscle mass index(ASMI),grip strength,6-meter walking pace,and the serum levels of C-reactive protein(CRP),interleukin 6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α)in the two groups before and after treatment were observed.After treatment,the clinical efficacy and safety of the patients in the two groups were evaluated.Results(1)After eight weeks of treatment,the total effective rate in the observation group was 94.29%(33/35),and that in the control group was 77.14%(27/35),the intergroup comparison(by chi-square test)showed that the efficacy of the observation group was significantly superior to that of the control group(P＜0.05).(2)After treatment,the TCM syndrome scores in the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease of TCM syndrome score in the observation group was more obviously than that in the control group(P＜0.01).(3)After eight weeks of treatment,the ASMI,grip strength and 6-meter walking pace in the two groups were significantly higher than those before treatment,and the increase of ASMI and grip strength in the observation group was more obviously than that in the control group(P＜0.05).(4)After eight weeks of treatment,the levels of serum CRP,IL-6,and TNF-α in the two groups were decreased significantly compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease of serum CRP level in the observation group was more obviously than that in the control group(P＜0.05).(5)During the treatment,no obvious adverse reactions occurred in both groups,and the safety indexes of liver and kidney functions of the patients were all within the normal range.Conclusion Xuanfei Yipi Formula can improve the clinical symptoms of senile sarcopenia patients,and its mechanism is probably related with the regulation of chronic low-grade inflammation.