In recent years， the incidence of pulmonary nodules has kept rising. To give full play to the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） in the treatment of pulmonary nodules and identify the breakthrough points of integrating TCM with Western medicine， the China Association of Chinese Medicine organized medical experts in TCM and western medicine to carry out in-depth discussion regarding this disease. The discussion encompassed the modern medical advances， TCM theories of etiology and pathogenesis， the role and advantages of TCM in the whole course management of pulmonary nodules， contents and methods of research on pulmonary nodules， and science popularization work， aiming to provide a reference for clinical practice and scientific research. After discussion， the experts concluded that the occurrence of pulmonary nodules was rooted in the deficiency of the lung and spleen and triggered by phlegm dampness， blood stasis， and Qi stagnation. TCM can treat pulmonary nodules by controlling and reducing nodules， improving physical constitution， ameliorating multi-system nodular diseases， reducing anxiety and avoiding excessive diagnosis and treatment， and serving as an alternative for patients who are unwilling or unfit for surgical treatment. At present， the optimal diagnosis and treatment strategy for pulmonary nodules has not been formed， which needs to be further studied from multiple perspectives such as clinical epidemiology， biology， and evidence-based medicine. The primary task of current research is to find out the advantages， effective prescriptions， and target populations and determine the effective outcomes of TCM in the treatment of pulmonary nodules. At the same time， basic research should be carried out to explore the etiology and biological behaviors of pulmonary nodules. The expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary nodules with integrated TCM and Western medicine needs to be continuously revised to guide clinicians to conduct standardized， scientific， and accurate effective diagnosis and treatment.

AIM: To investigate the clinical value of serum vitamin A(Vit A)and basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF)levels predicting retinopathy of prematurity(ROP).METHODS: Prospective cohort studies. A total of 411 premature or low birth weight infants with gestational age less than 37 wk or birth weight less than 2 500 g who were delivered in Hainan Branch, Shanghai Children's Medical Center Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from January 2020 to December 2022 were selected as subjects. The Vit A and bFGF levels in peripheral blood were detected at 7 d and 35 d after birth, respectively.RESULTS: A total of 392 premature infants or low birth weight infants completed clinical study, including 51 cases in stage 1-2 ROP group, 23 cases in stage 3-5 ROP group and 318 cases in the group without ROP. At 7 d postnatal, the serum Vit A(0.44±0.17 μmol/L)and bFGF(0.53±0.16 ng/L)levels in stage 1-2 ROP group were lower than those in the group without ROP(0.50±0.12 μmol/L and 0.63±0.15 ng/L; all P<0.05). The serum Vit A(0.34±0.18 μmol/L)and bFGF(0.44±0.18 ng/L)levels in stage 3-5 ROP group were lower than those in the group without ROP(P<0.05). The serum Vit A and bFGF levels in stage 3-5 ROP group were lower than those in stage 1-2 ROP group(P<0.05). At 35d postnatal, the serum Vit A(0.33±0.19 μmol/L)and bFGF(0.39±0.19 ng/L)levels in stage 3-5 ROP group were lower than those in stage 1-2 ROP group(0.43±0.16 μmol/L and 0.48±0.17 ng/L; all P<0.05). According to the ROC curve drawn by serum Vit A, the AUC value was 0.853, the maximum Youden index was 0.68, the best sensitivity was 73%, and the best specificity was 95%. According to the ROC curve drawn by serum bFGF, the AUC value was 0.828, the maximum Youden index was 0.58, the best sensitivity was 90%, and the best specificity was 68%. According to the ROC curve drawn by serum Vit A combined with bFGF, the AUC value was 0.917, the maximum Youden index was 0.70, the best sensitivity was 70%, and the best specificity was 100%.CONCLUSION: Serum Vit A and bFGF levels are sensitive and effective indicators for predicting ROP. If the serum Vit A or bFGF levels are lower in premature infants or low birth weight infants, it may indicate the higher probability of ROP and its pathological stages. In addition, the clinica value of serum Vit A combined with bFGF in the diagnosis of ROP is higher than that of Vit A or bFGF alone, and the misdiagnosis rate is reduced.

BACKGROUND:Three-dimensional(3D)printing is an emerging technology in the field of dentistry.It utilizes a layer-by-layer manufacturing technique to create scaffolds suitable for periodontal tissue engineering applications.Tissue scaffolds produced through 3D printing can possess controlled characteristics,including internal structure,porosity,and interconnectivity,making it an ideal strategy for periodontal tissue engineering. OBJECTIVE:To review the applications of 3D printed scaffolds in periodontal regeneration. METHODS:English search terms were"3D printing,periodontal tissue engineering,additive manufacturing,regenerative medicine,bioengineering,scaffold,bioprinting,periodontitis".Chinese search terms were"3D printing,additive manufacturing,periodontal tissue engineering,scaffolds,bio-inks,bioprinting,tissue engineering".Relevant literature published from 2000 to 2023 in PubMed and CNKI databases was retrieved and included in the review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Over the past few decades,3D printing technology has made significant progress and breakthroughs in tissue engineering and biomedical fields.3D printing technology can provide highly personalized treatment programs,improve the suitability and therapeutic effect of therapeutic stents,and has broad application prospects in periodontal tissue engineering.In periodontal tissue engineering,3D printing applications can better mimic the complex structures of biological tissues and manufacture biocompatible scaffold materials with suitable mechanical and rheological properties.The layer-by-layer construction of tissue engineering scaffolds through 3D printing not only enables the creation of precise and intricate scaffold models for personalized treatment of periodontal disease but also facilitates the incorporation of complex microstructures and channels within the scaffolds to promote cell growth and tissue regeneration.

Nanozymes, a groundbreaking discovery by Chinese scientists, represent a novel and remarkable property of nanomaterials. They not only exhibit catalytic activity comparable to natural enzymes, but also boast exceptional stability, tunable reactivity, and the ability to catalyze reactions under mild conditions. The identification of nanozymes has unveiled the biocatalytic potential of inorganic nanomaterials. In parallel, inorganic minerals have long been regarded as pivotal catalysts in the origin of life, driving the synthesis of early biomolecules. These minerals not only facilitate redox reactions that convert simple inorganic compounds into organic molecules but also enable chiral selection, the synthesis of biomacromolecules, and radioprotective functions via their surface structures. Recent advances suggest that inorganic nanomaterials can delicately catalyze the formation of biomolecules, aid in macromolecular assembly, and provide radiation shielding. Furthermore, nanominerals are found in abundance across Earth and extraterrestrial environments. This paper seeks to explore the potential of nanozymes as catalytic agents in the processes that gave rise to life, integrating the catalytic roles of inorganic minerals with the unique attributes of nanozymes, which will provide a new perspective for research of origin of life.

Purpose::Under-foot impact loadings can cause serious lower limb injuries in many activities, such as automobile collisions and underbody explosions to military vehicles. The present study aims to compare the biomechanical responses of the mainstream vehicle occupant dummies with the human body lower limb model and analyze their robustness and applicability for assessing lower limb injury risk in underfoot impact loading environments.Methods::The Hybrid III model, the test device for human occupant restraint (THOR) model, and a hybrid human body model with the human active lower limb model were adopted for under-foot impact analysis regarding different impact velocities and initial lower limb postures.Results::The results show that the 2 dummy models have larger peak tibial axial force and higher sensitivity to the impact velocities and initial postures than the human lower limb model. In particular, the Hybrid III dummy model presented extremely larger peak tibial axial forces than the human lower limb model. In the case of minimal difference in tibial axial force, Hybrid III's tibial axial force (7.5 KN) is still 312.5% that of human active lower limb's (2.4 KN). Even with closer peak tibial axial force values, the biomechanical response curve shapes of the THOR model show significant differences from the human lower limb model.Conclusion::Based on the present results, the Hybrid III dummy cannot be used to evaluate the lower limb injury risk in under-foot loading environments. In contrast, potential improvement in ankle biofidelity and related soft tissues of the THOR dummy can be implemented in the future for better applicability.

With the improvement of China's socioeconomic status,the issue of aging has become increasingly prominent,making cerebral infarction a common disease among the elderly.In recent years,research on cerebral infarction has gradually deepened,shifting focus from merely protecting and repairing neurons to emphasizing the complex interplay between inflammatory response and autophagy in the brain vascular unit,covering various aspects such as the blood-brain barrier,astrocytes,microglia,and autophagy.This shift in research direction has provided us with a profound understanding of the mechanisms underlying cerebral infarction,offering strong support for innovative future treatment strategies.In this review,we delved into the importance of the interplay between inflammatory response and autophagy in the pathogenesis of cerebral infarction,emphasized the intricate interactions among these biological components,which might lay the groundwork for more effective managements and treatments of cerebral infarction.By comprehensively reviewing existing literatures,we proposed future research directions,aiming to provide more scientific and systematic guidance for the clinical management and treatment of cerebral infarction.

Objective:To evaluate the differences and aesthetic meaning of stable vitiligo treatment in the face and neck region using suction blister transplantation or noncultured autologous suspension of epidermal cells.Methods:Sixty-four stable vitiligo patients (25 males and 39 females with age ranges from 10 to 46 years, average 25 years) in the face and neck region were randomly divided into two groups (32 patients in each group): one group received suction blister transplantation, while other group received noncultured autologous suspension of epidermal cells. Patients′treatment effectiveness, pigmentation and piecing deformity were evaluated in postoperative 3 months and 6 months.Results:In the postoperative 3 months and 6 months, the effectiveness of suction blister transplantation group was 68.75% (22/32) and 90.63% (29/32), respectively, while the effectiveness of noncultured autologous suspension of epidermal cells group was 59.37% (19/32) and 87.50% (28/32), respectively, in which no significant differences were found between two groups ( P>0.05). No obvious pigmentation and piecing deformity were found in noncultured autologous suspension of epidermal cells group, which were much better than the suction blister transplantation group in postoperative 3 months and 6 months. Conclusions:Both suction blister transplantation and noncultured autologous suspension of epidermal cells could bring good treatment effectiveness for patients of stable vitiligo in the face and neck region. Compared with suction blister transplantation, noncultured autologous suspension of epidermal cells could offer better aesthetic appearance.

Background/Aims: Despite the high efficacy of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), approximately 1–3% of hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients fail to achieve a sustained virological response. We conducted a nationwide study to investigate risk factors associated with DAA treatment failure. Machine-learning algorithms have been applied to discriminate subjects who may fail to respond to DAA therapy. Methods: We analyzed the Taiwan HCV Registry Program database to explore predictors of DAA failure in HCV patients. Fifty-five host and virological features were assessed using multivariate logistic regression, decision tree, random forest, eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and artificial neural network. The primary outcome was undetectable HCV RNA at 12 weeks after the end of treatment. Results: The training (n=23,955) and validation (n=10,346) datasets had similar baseline demographics, with an overall DAA failure rate of 1.6% (n=538). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, poor DAA adherence, and higher hemoglobin A1c were significantly associated with virological failure. XGBoost outperformed the other algorithms and logistic regression models, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 1.000 in the training dataset and 0.803 in the validation dataset. The top five predictors of treatment failure were HCV RNA, body mass index, α-fetoprotein, platelets, and FIB-4 index. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the XGBoost model (cutoff value=0.5) were 99.5%, 69.7%, 99.9%, 97.4%, and 99.5%, respectively, for the entire dataset. Conclusions Machine learning algorithms effectively provide risk stratification for DAA failure and additional information on the factors associated with DAA failure.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the effectiveness of the temporal island flap pedicled with the perforating branch of zygomatic orbital artery for repairing defects after periocular malignant tumor resection. METHODS: Between January 2015 and December 2020, 15 patients with periocular malignant tumors were treated. There were 5 males and 10 females with an average age of 62 years (range, 40-75 years). There were 12 cases of basal cell carcinoma and 3 cases of squamous carcinoma. The disease duration ranged from 5 months to 10 years (median, 2 years). The size of tumors ranged from 1.0 cm×0.8 cm to 2.5 cm×1.5 cm, without tarsal plate invasion. After extensive resection of the tumors, the left defects in size of 2.0 cm×1.5 cm to 3.5 cm×2.0 cm were repaired with the temporal island flap pedicled with the perforating branch of zygomatic orbital artery via subcutaneous tunnel. The size of the flaps ranged from 3.0 cm×1.5 cm to 5.0 cm×2.0 cm. The donor sites were separated subcutaneously and sutured directly. RESULTS: All flaps survived after operation and the wounds healed by first intention. The incisions at donor sites healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 6-24 months (median, 11 months). The flaps were not obviously bloated, the texture and color were basically the same as the surrounding normal skin, and the scars at recipient sites were not obviously. There was no complication such as ptosis, ectropion, or incomplete closure of the eyelids and recurrence of tumor during follow-up. CONCLUSION The temporal island flap pedicled with the perforating branch of zygomatic orbital artery can repair the defects after periorbital malignant tumors resection and has the advantages of reliable blood supply, flexible design, and good morphology and function.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Plastic Surgery Procedures ; Skin Transplantation ; Soft Tissue Injuries/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome ; Surgical Flaps ; Arteries/surgery* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/surgery* ; Skin Neoplasms/surgery* ; Perforator Flap/blood supply*

This study aimed to establish the baseline sensitivity of Botrytis cinerea from Panax ginseng to prochloraz, and ensure the fitness of prochloraz-resistant mutants and the cross-resistance of B. cinerea to prochloraz and commonly used fungicides for the prevention and control of gray mold including boscalid, pyraclostrobin, iprodione, and pyrimethanil. The sensitivity of B. cinerea from P. ginseng to fungicides was determined by the mycelial growth rate method. The prochloraz-resistant mutants were screened out through fungicide domestication and ultraviolet(UV) induction. The fitness of resistant mutants was determined through the stability of subculture, mycelial growth rate, and pathogenicity test. The cross-resistance between prochloraz and the four fungicides was determined by Person correlation analysis. The results showed that all B. cinerea strains tested were sensitive to prochloraz, and the EC_(50) value ranged from 0.004 8 to 0.062 9 μg·mL~(-1), with an average of 0.022 μg·mL~(-1). The sensitivity frequency distribution diagram showed that 89 B. cinerea strains were located within the main peak with a continuous single peak curve, and the average EC_(50) value of 0.018 μg·mL~(-1) was taken as the baseline sensitivity of B. cinerea to prochloraz. The fungicide domestication and UV induction obtained 6 resistant mutants, among which 2 strains were unstable and the other 2 strains showed decreased resistance after multiple generations of culture. Furthermore, the mycelial growth rate and spore yield of all resistant mutants were lower than those of their parents, and the pathogenicity of most mutants was lower than that of their parents. In addition, prochloraz had no obvious cross-resistance with boscalid, pyraclostrobin, iprodione, and pyrimethanil. In conclusion, prochloraz has great potential for controlling gray mold in P. ginseng, and the resistance risk of B. cinerea to prochloraz is low.
Humans ; Panax ; Fungicides, Industrial