Objective: To develop a quality appraisal tool for case reports in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) based on their characteristics. [Methods]: An extensive literature search was conducted in Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and China Science and Technology Journal Database (CSTJ), focusing on expert consensus statements and checklists for TCM case reports. Relevant items were extracted, and a Delphi method involving 34 experts was used in two rounds to rate each item on a 5-point Likert scale. Items were screened based on measures of central tendency and coordination (including total score, mean score, percentage of items rated as unimportant, and coefficient of variation). The weighted average method was used to determine item weights and construct the appraisal tool. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s α coefficient. The finalized tool was pilot-tested by two reviewers independently appraising 20 case reports, with an additional four reviewers evaluating 5 of these cases to compare inter-rater consistency. Results: A total of 9 513 articles were retrieved, and 96 items from 25 articles were extracted. After two rounds of the Delphi method, 27 items across 10 domains were retained. The Cronbach’s α coefficient was 0.72 in the first round (acceptable range), and 0.96 in the second round, indicating strong internal consistency. The tool was piloted by six reviewers, achieving a kappa value of 0.663 and a Kendall’s coefficient of concordance of 0.845, demonstrating high consistency among reviewers. Conclusion The developed TCM case report quality appraisal tool, consisting of 27 items in 10 domains, offers a scientific and reliable means of assessing the quality of TCM case reports. The tool showed high consistency and practical utility, and its application is expected to enhance the standardization, scientific rigor, and evidence quality of TCM case reports, facilitating the integration of traditional medical knowledge with modern evidence-based standards.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Yunkang oral liquid on postpartum kidney deficiency in mice. MethodPostpartum mice were randomized into model and low-dose （6 mL·kg^-1）， medium-dose （9 mL·kg^-1）， and high-dose （12 mL·kg^-1） Yunkang oral liquid groups. The mouse model of postpartum kidney deficiency was established by sleep deprivation combined with forced swimming. Another 9 female ICR mice were selected as the normal control group. The mice were administrated with Yunkang oral liquid during the period of modeling. The levels of estradiol （E₂）， progesterone （P）， follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）， and luteinizing hormone （LH） in the serum were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The morphological changes of ovaries and uterus were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， and the expression of transforming growth factor （TGF）-β and Smad2/3 was determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. ResultThe mice in the model group showed prolonged estrous cycle， reduced voluntary activity， dorsal temperature， grip strength， and bone strength， and whitening tongue coating. Compared with the model group， Yunkang oral liquid shortened the estrous cycle， increased the voluntary activity， dorsal temperature， grip strength， and bone strength， and alleviated the whitening of tongue coating. Moreover， it elevated the E₂ and P levels and lowered the FSH and LH levels in the serum， decreased ovarian follicular atresia rate， promoted uterine repair， and down-regulated the expression of TGF-β and Smad2/3 in the ovarian and uterine tissues. ConclusionYunkang oral liquid can ameliorate postpartum kidney deficiency in mice by regulating the TGF-β/Smads signaling pathway.

As an emerging discipline that combines traditional diagnostic methods with modern scientific technology,micro syndrome differentiation has good prospects for development,but there are some controversies in the research process.Based on ancient and modern literature,this article reviewed the origin and flow of research on micro syndrome differentiation,and summarized the problems to be improved in the process of research on micro syndrome differentiation from three aspects:application of disease type,guiding ideology and micro indicators.Based on this,the article further expounded the new thinking on"near-micro"syndrome differentiation from three aspects:connotation,scope of application,and links to traditional identification and micro-identification,and pointed out that the modern medical detection basis should be incorporated into the field of TCM syndrome differentiation,and at the same time,it should be based on the overall thinking mode of TCM,which would provide a new idea for the development of modern TCM diagnosis technology.

Pharmaceutical excipients, as an indispensable part of drug preparation, play crucial roles as drug carriers, improving drug release, ensuring drug stability, and enhancing patient compliance. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) boasts a rich developmental history. With the modernization of technology, the deep integration of pharmacy, chemistry, and materials science has provided broader opportunities for innovative research in TCM. Simultaneously, the demand for high-quality excipients has become increasingly critical.This paper aims to review current research and applications of excipients in TCM preparations, including pre-mixed and co-processed excipients, modified excipients, and the unification of drugs and excipients, such as flavoring agents, fillers, penetration enhancers, and delivery systems. A meticulous synthesis and analysis of existing research aims to provide a reference for selecting excipients in TCM preparations, stimulate innovation in excipient development for TCM, and advocate for the development of personalized excipients.

More than 70%of tumor patients require radiotherapy.Medical electron linear accelerators are important high-end radiotherapy equipment for tumor radiotherapy.With the application of artificial intelligence technology in medical electron linear accelerator,radiotherapy has evolved from ordinary radiotherapy to today's intelligent radiotherapy.This study introduces the development history,working principles and system composition of medical electron linear accelerators.It outlines the key technologies for improving the performance of medical linear electron accelerators,including beam control,multi-leaf collimator,guiding technology and dose evaluation.It also looks forward to the development trend of major radiotherapy technologies,such as biological guided radiotherapy,FLASH radiotherapy and intelligent radiotherapy,which provides references for the development of medical electron linear accelerators.

Objective:To explore the risk factors related to delayed pleural effusion in multiple trauma patients.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 145 multiple trauma patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2022 to October 2023, including 99 males and 46 females, aged 18-81 years [56.0(46.5, 64.5)years]. Based on whether delayed pleural effusion developed after injury, the patients were divided into delayed pleural effusion group ( n=66) and non-delayed pleural effusion group ( n=79). The clinical data of the patients in both groups were collected, including gender, age, underlying disease (diabetes mellitus and hypertension), cause of injury (traffic injury, blow injury, fall from height, and others), comorbid injuries (traumatic brain injury, maxillofacial fracture, clavicular fracture, scapular fracture, sternal fracture, spinal fracture, multiple rib fracture, pneumothorax, lung contusion, and pelvic fracture), severity of injury [injury severity score (ISS) and abbreviated injury scale (AIS) score for the chest], location and number of rib fractures, vital signs at admission (body temperature, heart rate, respiration, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure), and clinical test indices [white blood cells (WBC), hemoglobin (Hb), platelets (PLT), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), fibrinogen (FIB), fibrin degradation product (FDP), D-dimer (D-D), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transferase (ALT), and creatinine (Cr)]. Univariate analysis was conducted to assess the correlation between the forementioned factors and the development of delayed pleural effusion after multiple traumas. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent risk factors for the development of delayed pleural effusion after multiple traumas. Results:The results of univariate analysis showed that multiple rib fracture, pneumothorax, pulmonary contusion, chest AIS score, posterior rib fracture, number of rib fractures, TP, ALB, CRP, PCT and FDP were correlated with delayed pleural effusion in multiple trauma patients ( P<0.05 or 0.01); whereas gender, age, underlying disease, cause of injury, sternal fracture, spinal fracture, clavicular fracture, scapular fracture, pelvic fracture, maxillofacial fracture, traumatic brain injury, anterior rib fracture, ISS, vital signs at admission, WBC, Hb, PLT, FIB, D-D, AST, ALT, and Cr were not correlated with delayed pleural effusion in multiple trauma patients ( P>0.05). The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that lung contusion ( OR=3.96, 95% CI 1.59, 9.85, P<0.01), ALB ( OR=0.79, 95% CI 0.66, 0.94, P<0.01), and CRP ( OR=1.02, 95% CI 1.01, 1.03, P<0.01) were significantly correlated with delayed pleural effusion in multiple trauma patients. Conclusion:Lung contusion, ALB, and CRP are the independent risk factors for delayed pleural effusion in multiple trauma patients.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is currently one of the most severe diseases endangering human health, encompassing myocardial ischemia syndrome, myocardial fibrosis, atrial fibrillation, and other conditions. MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miR) are a class of small non-coding RNAs that can bind to specific sequences and subsequently regulate post-transcriptional processing, translation, or epigenetic modifications, thereby modulating gene expression. Studies have found that miR-223 is associated with the occurrence and development of CVD and represents a potential specific therapeutic target. This article summarizes the relevant research on miR-223 in CVD, focusing on myocardial ischemia syndrome, myocardial fibrosis, and atrial fibrillation, and discusses its application prospects and challenges as a specific therapeutic target, providing new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of CVD.

Objective:To investigate whether KtrA was a binding protein of c-di-AMP, the second messenger in Leptospira, and to explore the function and regulatory mechanism of the c-di-AMP-KtrA/B system. Methods:KtrA gene was amplified by PCR and cloned into pET42a plasmid to construct the pET42a ktrA prokaryotic expression vector. Then the vector was transferred into E. coli BL21DE3 to construct an engineering bacterium E. coli BL21DE3 pET42a-ktrA for the expression of recombinant KtrA (rKtrA). The expressed rKtrA was purified by affinity chromatography. BIAcore technology was used to detect the binding ability of rKtrA to c-di-AMP. Bacterial two-hybrid analysis was used to analyze the interaction between KtrA and KtrB in the leptospiral Ktr system with or without exogenetic c-di-AMP. The above genes were then complemented into the potassium transport-deficient E. coli mutants to analyze the function of the c-di-AMP-KtrA/B pathway. Results:An prokaryotic engineering bacterium for the expression of ktrA gene of Leptospira was constructed successfully. The purified rKtrA could specifically bind to c-di-AMP. There was interaction between KtrA and KtrB, but the interaction could be dissociated by c-di-AMP. The KtrA/B system was involved in potassium ion uptake and it was negatively regulated by c-di-AMP. Conclusions:Leptospiral KtrA was a c-di-AMP-binding protein and the c-di-AMP-KtrA/B system was involved in potassium ion transport.

Advanced radiotherapy technology enables the dose to more accurately conform to the tumor target area of the patient, providing accurate treatment for the patient, but the gradient of the patient's radiation dose at the tumor edge is getting larger, which putting forward higher requirements for radiotherapy dose verification. The dose verification system software KylinRay-Dose4D can verify the patient's pre-treatment plan and the in vivo/on-line dose during the patient's treatment, providing important reference for the physicist to modify the radiotherapy plan and ensuring that the patient receives accurate treatment. This study introduces the overall design and key technologies of KylinRay-Dose4D, and tests the pre-treatment plan dose checking calculation and 2D/3D dose verification through clinical cases. The test results showed that the 2D/3D gamma pass rate (3 mm/3%) of KylinRay-Dose4D reconstructed dose compared with TPS plan dose and measured dose is larger than 95%, which indicating that the reconstructed dose of KylinRay-Dose4D meets the requirement of clinical application.
Humans ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted/methods* ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated/methods* ; Software ; Neoplasms ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Radiometry/methods*

Dynamic multi-leaf collimator, which has the function of radiation beam shaping, is a key executive component of tumor precise radiotherapy, and plays a core role in improving the accuracy, efficiency and quality of radiotherapy. A new type of collimator leaf end structure with circular arc and plane combination was studied, and collimator penumbra performance analysis model combining analytical expression and graphic analysis was developed. The influence of leaf end structure on penumbra was analyzed quantitatively, and a set of three-dimensional structure design of dynamic multi-leaf collimator was completed. The feasibility of the structural design and analysis model was verified through experimental measurements.
Humans ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted/methods* ; Particle Accelerators ; Neoplasms ; Radiotherapy Dosage