Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)for the treatment of locally recurrent breast cancer.Methods The clinical data of 57 patients with locally recurrent breast cancer from January 2018 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.Twenty-four patients(group A)received TACE using adriamycin 12 mg/m2 and paclitaxel 45 mg/m2,which was accomplished by local perfusion into the tumor target blood vessels with microcatheter catheterization,the embolization material was Embosphere microspheres,and the embolization endpoint was occlusion of the main stem of the target vessel.Other 33 patients who received systemic chemotherapy using adriamycin 40 mg/m2 and paclitaxel 135 mg/m2 in the same period were collected as group B.The 6-month disease control rate(DCR),progression-free survival(PFS)and overall survival(OS)were compared between the two groups.Results Successful TACE was accomplished in all the 24 patients of group A,with a technical success rate of 100％.In group A,the 6-month DCR was 87.50％,the median PFS was 12 months,and the median OS was 22 months.In group B,the 6-month DCR was 63.63％,the median PFS was 9 months,and the median OS was 20 months.The differences in the 6-month DCR and the median PFS between the two groups were statistically significant(P=0.04 and P=0.03 respectively),while no statistically significant difference in the median OS existed between the two groups(P=0.21).The incidence of post-embolization syndrome in group A was 75％(18/24),the clinical symptoms included chest wall pain and mild fever,which disappeared 3 days after symptomatic treatment such as pain-relief and antipyretic medication,and no TACE-related serious complications such as target vessel injury,ectopic embolization of embolization materials or chest wall necrosis occurred in all patients.All patients were followed up for a mean period of(19.47±4.96)months(range of 8-24 months)Conclusion For the treatment of locally recurrent breast cancer,TACE is superior to systemic chemotherapy in short-term efficacy.TACE carries no intervention-related serious complications.However,more studies need to be conducted before its long-term efficacy and safety can be clarified.(J Intervent Radiol,2024,33:280-284)

Objective:To explore the impact of treatment duration with human urinary kallidinogenase (HUK) on the efficacy and safety of acute ischemic stroke (AIS).Methods:In this subgroup analysis of RESK study, a total of 990 AIS patients recruited from 65 centers in China between August 2015 and June 2020 were included and divided into short medication group (HUK for 8 days, n=185) or long medication group (HUK for 15 days or 21 days, n=805). The proportions of patients with modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0, 0-1, 0-2 at 90 days, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score change from baseline to 22 days, the proportions of patients with Barthel index (BI)≥95 at 90 days, and the incidences of adverse events were analyzed. Comparisons between groups were conducted using chi-square test, single factor and multivariate Logistic regression analysis, etc. Results:Multivariate regression analysis showed that the proportions of patients with 90-day mRS score of 0-2 [74.1% (137/185) vs 75.0% (604/805); OR=1.047, 95% CI 0.676-1.620, P=0.838] and 22-day NIHSS score change from baseline (4.60±2.00 vs 4.26±2.80; OR=-0.390, 95% CI -1.125-0.344, P=0.297) showed no statistically significant difference between the short medication and long medication groups; the proportions of patients with 90-day mRS score of 0-1 [48.1% (89/185) vs 59.1% (476/805); OR=0.674, 95%CI 0.463-0.983, P=0.041] and 90-day BI≥95 [43.6% (79/181) vs 55.1% (442/802); OR=0.614, 95%CI 0.420-0.897, P=0.012] were significantly lower in the short medication group than in the long medication group. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidences of adverse events between these 2 groups. Conclusions:In AIS patients, consecutive 8-day dosing of HUK improved immediate (22-day NIHSS score) and long-term outcome (90-day mRS score 0-2) and was safely tolerated. When applicable, extended duration of HUK could improve long-term disability-free rate (90-day mRS score 0-1) and quality of life (90-day BI) without increasing the risk of adverse events.

BACKGROUND:The researchers noted that upon embedding clinical-grade catgut and polyglycolide-co-lactide threads in the normal human"Zusanli"(ST 36)acupoint,the local area displayed temporal and inflammatory stimulatory effects,resulting in thread differentiation.However,the underlying mechanism behind thread involvement remains to be studied. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the expression levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide,5-hydroxytryptamine,leukotriene B4,and bradykinin at point"Zusanli"(ST 36)in rats after embedding catgut and polyglycolide-co-lactide respectively at different time points. METHODS:110 male SD rats were divided into a blank group(10 rats),a catgut embedding group(50 rats),and a polyglycolide-co-lactide embedding group(50 rats)according to the random number table method.In the blank group,no thread was embedded.In catgut embedding group and the polyglycolide-co-lactide embedding group,the thread was embedded in the left side of the ST36 acupoint once.Tissue was collected from the left side of the ST36 acupoint area 8 hours,3,7,14,and 21 days after embedding.The expression levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide and 5-hydroxytryptamine were detected by immunohistochemistry,and the contents of leukotriene B4 and bradykinin were detected by ELISA. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the blank group,the expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide,5-hydroxytryptamine,bradykinin,and leukotriene B4 was significantly increased in the 8 hours,3,7,14,and 21 days of the catgut embedding group(P<0.05);calcitonin gene-related peptide expression was significantly increased in 8 hours,3,7,and 14 days in the polyglycolide-co-lactide embedding group(P<0.05);the expression of bradykinin was significantly increased in 8 hours,3,and 7 days(P<0.05);the expression of leukotriene B4 was significantly increased at 8 hours,3,7,14,and 21 days(P<0.05).(2)Compared with the polyglycolide-co-lactide embedding group,the expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide was increased at 7,14,21 days after thread embedding(P<0.05),and the expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine was increased at 8 hours,3,7,14 and 21 days after thread embedding(P<0.05);contents of leukotriene B4 and bradykinin in tissues were increased at 8 hours,3,14 and 21 days after embedding(P<0.05)in the catgut embedding group.(3)The results show that calcitonin gene-related peptide,5-hydroxytryptamine,leukotriene B4,and bradykinin in the acupoint region alter after catgut embedding in the ST36 of rats,as well as the alteration of calcitonin gene-related peptide,leukotriene B4,and bradykinin is found in the acupoint region after polyglycolide-co-lactide embedding in rats,which may be one of the mechanisms involved in the local time sensitive stimulus effects caused by embedding threads at acupoints.Moreover,there is a discernible difference between the two thread types.

ObjectiveTo investigate the current status and development needs of evidence-based medicine （EBM） capability in ethnic minority medicine， and explore effective strategies to enhance EBM capability in this field. MethodsThe questionnaire survey was conducted in various ethnic minority medical institutions and research organisations. The questionnaire covered three dimensions， firstly， perceptions and attitudes towards evidence-based medicine； secondly， advantages and challenges in the development of ethnic minority medicine； thirdly， demands and recommendations for enhancing evidence-based medicine capability in ethnic minority medicine. ResultsA total of 501 valid questionnaires were collected， of which 103 questionnaires were collected by re-sending to minority medicine regions with insufficient participation. The questionnaires included 354 responses （70.66%） from practitioners of minority medicine， including Tibetan medicine， Mongolian medicine， Uyghur medicine， Zhuang medicine， and Korean medicine. Among the 501 questionnaires， 146 respondents （29.14%） indicated that they knew about EBM， 355 respondents （70.86%） had either a "general understanding" or had "not heard about" EBM before， and 469 respondents （93.61%） believed that introducing ECM could promote the development of ethnic minority medicine. The primary challenge in promoting EBM in the field of ethnic minority medicine is the lack of professionals in EBM and a lack of understanding of how to apply it into clinical practice （442 respondents， 88.22%）. In the 9-point importance rating for enhancing evidence-based abilities， high scores were achieved in standardization of clinical practice guidelines （7.50±1.90） and methods for sample sizes in clinical research （7.45±1.90）. Regarding the demand for improving clinical research literacy， expert academic lectures， and experience sharing （404 respondents， 80.64%） and evidence-based methodology monographs on ethnic minority medicine （401 respondents， 80.04%） were emphasized. ConclusionsPractitioners in ethnic minority medicine hold a positive attitude towards integrating EBM. However， there remains substantial room for the education and dissemination of EBM. Enhancing evidence-based capabilities can be achieved through specific measures such as cultivating or recruiting talents in EBM， establishing evidence-based support platforms for clinical research， organizing regular academic lectures and exchanges， and strengthening the construction of theoretical frameworks and evaluation systems tailored to ethnic minority medicine， thereby following a path of evidence-based practices aligned with the unique characteristics of ethnic minority medicine.

Objective: To elucidate the biological basis of the heart qi deficiency (HQD) pattern, an in-depth understanding of which is essential for improving clinical herbal therapy. Methods: We predicted and characterized HQD pattern genes using the new strategy, TCM-HIN2Vec, which involves heterogeneous network embedding and transcriptomic experiments. First, a heterogeneous network of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) patterns was constructed using public databases. Next, we predicted HQD pattern genes using a heterogeneous network-embedding algorithm. We then analyzed the functional characteristics of HQD pattern genes using gene enrichment analysis and examined gene expression levels using RNA-seq. Finally, we identified TCM herbs that demonstrated enriched interactions with HQD pattern genes via herbal enrichment analysis. Results: Our TCM-HIN2Vec strategy revealed that candidate genes associated with HQD pattern were significantly enriched in energy metabolism, signal transduction pathways, and immune processes. Moreover, we found that these candidate genes were significantly differentially expressed in the transcriptional profile of mice model with heart failure with a qi deficiency pattern. Furthermore, herbal enrichment analysis identified TCM herbs that demonstrated enriched interactions with the top 10 candidate genes and could potentially serve as drug candidates for treating HQD. Conclusion Our results suggested that TCM-HIN2Vec is capable of not only accurately identifying HQD pattern genes, but also deciphering the basis of HQD pattern. Furthermore our finding indicated that TCM-HIN2Vec may be further expanded to develop other patterns, leading to a new approach aimed at elucidating general TCM patterns and developing precision medicine.

Objective:To explore the influencing factors of the incentives contract of the government for physicians in public hospitals to complete economic and public welfare tasks,and provide corresponding incentive strategies.Methods:Modeling method of multi task principal-agent theory are applied.Results:The optimal incentive coefficient of the government are negatively associated with the cost coefficient of physicians'efforts,physicians'risk attitudes and cost relevance.The uncertainty of the external environment has different effects.Conclusion:The realization of the incentive contract for physicians in public hospitals requires the government to timely adjust the corresponding incentive strategies according to the changes of parameters,so as to ensure the public welfare of medical services and the acquisition of long-term profits.

Objective:To study the influencing factors of the effort level and incentive coefficient of doctors in public hospitals under different fairness preferences,and provide suggestions for the design of the incentive mechanism for doctors in public hospi-tals.Methods:The equity preference theory,principal-agent theory and Matlab Software were used for analysis.Results:The doc-tor's effort level was negatively correlated with the cost coefficient,positively correlated with the fairness preference level,and the promotion effect of vertical fairness preference on the effort level was higher than that of horizontal fairness preference;the incentive coefficient was positively correlated with the doctor's vertical fairness preference and negatively correlated with the horizontal equity preference.Conclusion:The government and hospital managers should reduce the effort cost of doctors,fully understand the fair-ness preference of doctors,strengthen the supervision of doctors'work,adopt a comprehensive incentive strategy to intervene in the fairness preference of doctors,and transform the negative utility of doctors'equity preference into the enthusiasm for working hard.

Objective:To explore the influencing factors of the incentives contract of the government for physicians in public hospitals to complete economic and public welfare tasks,and provide corresponding incentive strategies.Methods:Modeling method of multi task principal-agent theory are applied.Results:The optimal incentive coefficient of the government are negatively associated with the cost coefficient of physicians'efforts,physicians'risk attitudes and cost relevance.The uncertainty of the external environment has different effects.Conclusion:The realization of the incentive contract for physicians in public hospitals requires the government to timely adjust the corresponding incentive strategies according to the changes of parameters,so as to ensure the public welfare of medical services and the acquisition of long-term profits.

Objective:To study the influencing factors of the effort level and incentive coefficient of doctors in public hospitals under different fairness preferences,and provide suggestions for the design of the incentive mechanism for doctors in public hospi-tals.Methods:The equity preference theory,principal-agent theory and Matlab Software were used for analysis.Results:The doc-tor's effort level was negatively correlated with the cost coefficient,positively correlated with the fairness preference level,and the promotion effect of vertical fairness preference on the effort level was higher than that of horizontal fairness preference;the incentive coefficient was positively correlated with the doctor's vertical fairness preference and negatively correlated with the horizontal equity preference.Conclusion:The government and hospital managers should reduce the effort cost of doctors,fully understand the fair-ness preference of doctors,strengthen the supervision of doctors'work,adopt a comprehensive incentive strategy to intervene in the fairness preference of doctors,and transform the negative utility of doctors'equity preference into the enthusiasm for working hard.

Objective:To explore the influencing factors of the incentives contract of the government for physicians in public hospitals to complete economic and public welfare tasks,and provide corresponding incentive strategies.Methods:Modeling method of multi task principal-agent theory are applied.Results:The optimal incentive coefficient of the government are negatively associated with the cost coefficient of physicians'efforts,physicians'risk attitudes and cost relevance.The uncertainty of the external environment has different effects.Conclusion:The realization of the incentive contract for physicians in public hospitals requires the government to timely adjust the corresponding incentive strategies according to the changes of parameters,so as to ensure the public welfare of medical services and the acquisition of long-term profits.