Forsythia suspensa is a traditional Chinese medicine and a commonly used landscaping plant. Its dried fruit is used in medicine for its functions of clearing heat, removing toxins, reducing swelling, dissipating masses, and dispersing wind and heat. It possesses extremely high medicinal and economic value. However, the genetic differentiation and diversity of its wild populations remain unclear. In this study, chloroplast genome sequences were obtained from 15 wild individuals of F. suspensa using high-throughput sequencing technology. The sequence characteristics and intraspecific variations were analyzed. The results were as follows:(1) The full length of the F. suspensa chloroplast genome ranged from 156 184 to 156 479 bp, comprising a large single-copy region, a small single-copy region, and two inverted repeat regions. The chloroplast genome encoded a total of 132 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes.(2) A total of 166-174 SSR loci, 792 SNV loci, and 63 InDel loci were identified in the F. suspensa chloroplast genome, indicating considerable genetic variation among individuals.(3) Population structure analysis revealed that F. suspensa could be divided into five or six groups. Both the population structure analysis and phylogenetic reconstruction results indicated significant genetic variation within the wild populations of F. suspensa, with no obvious correlation between intraspecific genetic differentiation and geographical distribution. This study provides new insights into the genetic diversity and differentiation within F. suspensa species and offers additional references for the conservation of species diversity and the utilization of germplasm resources in wild F. suspensa.
Genome, Chloroplast ; Forsythia/classification* ; Phylogeny ; Genetic Variation ; Chloroplasts/genetics* ; Microsatellite Repeats

Diabetic foot (DF) is one of the most serious chronic complications of diabetes. The incidence rate among global diabetes patients is as high as 15% to 25%, and about 50% of patients will develop contralateral foot ulcers within 5 years after the first unilateral ulcer. As a non-invasive prevention and control solution, the application progress of functional insoles is mainly reflected in the following aspects:(1) Material innovation. The application of new composite materials and smart materials has significantly enhanced the pressure reduction effect and comfort. (2) Structural optimization. The development of multi-layer design and local pressure reduction structure has achieved more precise pressure distribution regulation. (3) Manufacturing process. 3D printing and parametric design have enabled the personalized customization of functional insoles. (4) Intelligent monitoring. It integrates functions such as pressure sensing and temperature monitoring, achieving real-time monitoring and early warning of foot conditions. Clinical research has confirmed that personalized functional insoles could reduce the incidence of foot ulcers and shorten the healing time of ulcers. At present, the research hotspots mainly focus on the development of smart materials, the construction of multi-functional integration and remote monitoring systems. However, in-depth research is still needed in the aspects of biomechanical mechanisms, standardized evaluation systems and long-term efficacy assessment. The development of future functional insoles should focus on the coordinated advancement of "personalization-intelligence-standardization", with the aim of providing more effective solutions for the prevention and treatment of DF.
Humans ; Diabetic Foot/therapy* ; Foot Orthoses

Objective Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species(mtROS)could cause damage to pancreatic β-cells,rendering them susceptible to oxidative damage.Hence,investigating the potential of the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant(Mito-TEMPO)to protect pancreatic β-cells from ferroptosis by mitigating lipid peroxidation becomes crucial. Methods MIN6 cells were cultured in vitro with 100 μmol/L sodium palmitate(SP)to simulate diabetes.FerroOrange was utilized for the detection of Fe2+fluorescence staining,BODIPY581/591C11 for lipid reactive oxygen species,and MitoSox-Red for mtROS.Alterations in mitophagy levels were assessed through the co-localization of lysosomal and mitochondrial fluorescence.Western blotting was employed to quantify protein levels of Acsl4,GPX4,FSP1,FE,PINK1,Parkin,TOMM20,P62,and LC3.Subsequently,interventions were implemented using Mito-TEMPO and Carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone(CCCP)to observe changes in ferroptosis and mitophagy within MIN6 cells. Results We found that SP induced a dose-dependent increase in Fe2+and lipid ROS in MIN6 cells while decreasing the expression levels of GPX4 and FSP1 proteins.Through bioinformatics analysis,it has been uncovered that mitophagy assumes a crucial role within the ferroptosis pathway associated with diabetes.Additionally,SP decreased the expression of mitophagy-related proteins PINK1 and Parkin,leading to mtROS overproduction.Conversely,Mito-TEMPO effectively eliminated mtROS while activating the mitophagy pathways involving PINK1 and Parkin,thereby reducing the occurrence of ferroptosis in MIN6 cells.CCCP also demonstrated efficacy in reducing ferroptosis in MIN6 cells. Conclusion In summary,Mito-TEMPO proved effective in attenuating mtROS production and initiating mitophagy pathways mediated by PINK1 and Parkin in MIN6 cells.Consequently,this decreased iron overload and lipid peroxidation,ultimately safeguarding the cells from ferroptosis.

Objective To discuss the application of the"rotating guidewire and correcting the filter recovery hook direction technique"("rotation-correction loop technique"for short),a technique invented by the authors in clinical practice,in the retrieval of complex inferior vena cava filter(IVCF),and to discuss its technical skills and advantages.Methods The clinical data of 417 patients carrying an IVCF,who were admitted to the Department of Vascular Surgery of Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University of China to retrieve IVCF between January 2022 and December 2022,were retrospectively analyzed.Taking the time spent on the retrieval of IVCF and the intraoperative radiation dose as the evaluation indicators,the advantages and disadvantages of the standard filter retrieval technique,the"rotation-correction loop technique"and the other loop-assisted techniques were compared.Results Both the intraoperative radiation dose and the time spent on the retrieval of IVCF using"rotation-correction loop technique"were remarkably lower than those of other loop-assisted techniques(P＜0.000 1).Conclusion For the retrieval of complex IVCF,especially for the IVCF which is heavily tilted and/or its recovered hook is attached to the vascular wall,the use of"rotation-correction loop technique"can shorten the time spent on the the retrieval of IVCF and reduce the intraoperative radiation dose.This technique carries high safety and practicability,the device is simple and it can be manipulated by single physician,which is conducive to clinical application and promotion.(J Intervent Radiol,2024,33:289-294)

Objective:To investigate the effect of anoxic cold environment at 4500 m altitude on female men-struation.Methods:From March 1 to March 20,2023,women in a unit at an altitude of 4500 meters were selected for reproductive health questionnaire survey,and were divided into≤6 months group,6 months to 12 months group and≥12 months group according to altitude exposure time.The changes of menstruation in each group were analyzed to explore the relevant influencing factors.Results:The total incidence of abnormal menstruation in working women in hypoxic cold environment was as high as 66.14%,and there was no statistically significant difference between the groups at different high-altitude exposure times(P＞0.05).The highest incidence of dys-menorrhea among the types of menstrual changes was 61.90%,but there was no statistically significant differ-ence between the groups at different high altitude exposure times(P＞0.05).There was a statistically significant difference(P＜0.05)in the proportion of insufficient sleep for at least 3 days per week,nervousness and anxiety,and training during their menstrual period in the women who experienced changes in their menstrual cycle com-pared to those who did not.Conclusions:Hypoxic cold environment can lead to the change of female menstrua-tion,and it is combined with sleep deficiency,tension and anxiety,and menstrual exercise.

Objective To assess the screening efficacy of a novel esophageal cell collector and esophageal exfoliated cell cytology examination for esophageal cancer and investigate risk factors associated with cytological examination results in the Han and Mongolian ethnic groups.Methods ①A total of 1196 high-risk individuals with esophageal cancer were selected for treatment at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College.Esophageal cells were collected,and endoscopic examination and mucosal biopsy of the esophagus were performed.The pathological examination of the digestive tract endoscopic biopsy tissue was used as the gold standard to verify the diagnostic efficacy of cytological examination.① In this study,9256 Han and 572 Mongolian individuals who participated in esophageal cancer screening in the Baotou area were selected as the research subjects.General information,dietary habits,lifestyle habits,and other information of the subjects were collected through a questionnaire survey.Esophageal cells were collected using a new type of esophageal cell collector,and logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for positive cytology in Han and Mongolian populations.Results ① The novel esophageal cell collector and esophageal exfoliated cell cytology examination demonstrated excellent screening capabilities for esophageal cancer,with sensitivity(92.86％),specificity(99.58％),positive predictive value(PPV)of 72.22％,negative predictive value(NPV)of 99.92％,positive likelihood ratio(PLR)of 221.10,negative likelihood ratio(NLR)of 0.07,Youden index of 0.92,and an area under the ROC curve of 0.961(0.923-1.0).The optimal cutoff value was 2.50,yielding a sensitivity of 92.90％and specificity of 88.20％.②The cytological positivity rate among the Mongolian population(2.27％)was higher than that among the Han population(1.12％).The proportion of alcohol drinkers,those with a preference for hot and spicy foods,and those consuming pickled foods was higher in the Mongolian population than in the Han population.Logistic regression analysis revealed risk factors for the Han population:gender(OR=0.381,95％CI:0.256-0.568),age(OR=1.091,95％CI:1.067-1.116),alcohol consumption(OR=1.693,95％CI:1.150-2.492),and smoking(OR=2.127,95％CI:1.439-3.143).Risk factors for the Mongolian population were gender(OR=0.174,95％CI:0.047-0.638),age(OR=1.124,95％CI:1.052-1.200),and alcohol consumption(OR=3.945,95％CI:1.074-14.489).Conclusion ①The novel type of esophageal cell collector-esophageal exfoliative cytology examination has good screening efficacy for esophageal cancer.② Gender,age,alcohol consumption,and hot eating habits are the main risk factors for positive cytological diagnosis in the Mongolian population,while gender,age,alcohol consumption,and smoking are the main risk factors for positive cytological diagnosis in the Han population.

Microecological flora, an important part of the human microenvironment, changes with the changes in the internal and external environments of the human body, and plays an important role in maintaining human body's normal function. Endometriosis (EMs) is a common estrogen-dependent female disease chara-cterized by the growth of endometrial glands and mesenchyme outside the uterine cavity. Existing studies have shown that imbalance of intestinal and reproductive tract flora can trigger local immune-inflammatory responses and cause systemic immune-inflammatory responses through cytokines and metabolic pathways, which in turn participate in the progression of EMs. Thus, the diagnosis and treatment of EMs through microecological flora interventions is one of the hotspots research in this field. This article aims to review the research progress on the correlation between microbial dysbiosis and EMs, with the hope of providing more references for the treatment of EMs.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is an increasingly common liver disease worldwide. MAFLD is diagnosed based on the presence of steatosis on images, histological findings, or serum marker levels as well as the presence of at least one of the three metabolic features: overweight/obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic risk factors. MAFLD is not only a liver disease but also a factor contributing to or related to cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which is the major etiology responsible for morbidity and mortality in patients with MAFLD. Hence, understanding the association between MAFLD and CVD, surveillance and risk stratification of MAFLD in patients with CVD, and assessment of the current status of MAFLD management are urgent requirements for both hepatologists and cardiologists. This Taiwan position statement reviews the literature and provides suggestions regarding the epidemiology, etiology, risk factors, risk stratification, nonpharmacological interventions, and potential drug treatments of MAFLD, focusing on its association with CVD.

The modernization and development of traditional Chinese medicine has led to higher standards for the quality of traditional Chinese medicine products. The extraction process is a crucial component of traditional Chinese medicine production, and it directly impacts the final quality of the product. However, the currently relied upon methods for quality assurance of the extraction process, such as simple wet chemical analysis, have several limitations, including time consumption and labor intensity, and do not offer precise control of the extraction process. As a result, there is significant value in incorporating near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in the production process of traditional Chinese medicine to improve the quality control of the final products. In this study, we focused on the extraction process of Xiao'er Xiaoji Zhike oral liquid (XXZOL), using near-infrared spectra collected by both a Fourier transform near-infrared spectrometer and a portable near-infrared spectrometer. We used the concentration of synephrine, a quality control index component specified by the pharmacopoeia, to achieve rapid and accurate detection in the extraction process. Moreover, we developed a model transfer method to facilitate the transfer of models between the two types of near-infrared spectrometers (analytical grade and portable), thus resolving the low resolution, poor performance, and insufficient prediction accuracy issues of portable instruments. Our findings enable the rapid screening and quality analysis of XXZOL onsite, which is significant for quality monitoring during the traditional Chinese medicine production process.

Objective: To elucidate the use of radiological studies, including nuclear medicine, and biopsy for the diagnosis and staging of prostate cancer (PCA) in clinical practice and understand the current status of PCA in Asian countries via an international survey. Materials and Methods: The Asian Prostate Imaging Working Group designed a survey questionnaire with four domains focused on prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), other prostate imaging, prostate biopsy, and PCA backgrounds. The questionnaire was sent to 111 members of professional affiliations in Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan who were representatives of their working hospitals, and their responses were analyzed. Results: This survey had a response rate of 97.3% (108/111). The rates of using 3T scanners, antispasmodic agents, laxative drugs, and prostate imaging-reporting and data system reporting for prostate MRI were 21.6%−78.9%, 22.2%−84.2%, 2.3%−26.3%, and 59.5%−100%, respectively. Respondents reported using the highest b-values of 800−2000 sec/mm2 and fields of view of 9−30 cm. The prostate MRI examinations per month ranged from 1 to 600, and they were most commonly indicated for biopsy-naïve patients suspected of PCA in Japan and Singapore and staging of proven PCA in Korea and Taiwan.The most commonly used radiotracers for prostate positron emission tomography are prostate-specific membrane antigen in Singapore and fluorodeoxyglucose in three other countries. The most common timing for prostate MRI was before biopsy (29.9%). Prostate-targeted biopsies were performed in 63.8% of hospitals, usually by MRI-ultrasound fusion approach. The most common presentation was localized PCA in all four countries, and it was usually treated with radical prostatectomy. Conclusion This survey showed the diverse technical details and the availability of imaging and biopsy in the evaluation of PCA. This suggests the need for an educational program for Asian radiologists to promote standardized evidence-based imaging approaches for the diagnosis and staging of PCA.