BACKGROUND:Impaired postural control is an important risk factor for falls and secondary damage in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus.Most of the existing studies have analyzed the gait parameters of patients during straight-line walking,but few have analyzed the postural stability characteristics of patients during static and dynamic activities. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the characteristics of postural stability in elderly patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus. METHODS:Twenty-two patients clinically diagnosed with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus at the Department of Neurosurgery,Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University,Shanghai,China,from September 2022 to February 2023 were selected as the patient group,and 18 healthy accompanying family members were selected as the healthy control group.The postural stability characteristics of the subjects were assessed using the Timed Up-and-Go Test,Multi-Directional Reach Test,Berg Balance Scale,and Static Balance Function Test(reaction time,speed of movement,directional control,maximum offset distance,and endpoint travel). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The time required to complete the Timed Up-and-Go Test was significantly longer in the patient group than in the healthy control group(P＜0.05).The results of the stretching test in the four directions of anterior,posterior,leftand right were significantly lower in the patient group than in the healthy control group(P＜0.05).The Berg Balance Scale scores in the patient group were lower than those in the healthy control group(P＜0.05).In the Static Balance Function Test,the results of reaction,movement speed,directional control,maximum offset distance and endpoint travel index were smaller in the patient group than the healthy control group(P＜0.05).To conclude,patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus exhibit overall postural control deficits,and impaired reaction and execution abilities make these patients unable to make timely and accurate motor responses in the face of disturbances from internal or external sources,resulting in postural instability and increasing the risk of falls.

Metabolites produced as intermediaries or end-products of microbial metabolism provide crucial signals for health and diseases, such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). These metabolites include products of the bacterial metabolism of dietary substrates, modification of host molecules (such as bile acids [BAs], trimethylamine-N-oxide, and short-chain fatty acids), or products directly derived from bacteria. Recent studies have provided new insights into the association between MASLD and the risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD). Furthermore, alterations in microbiota composition and metabolite profiles, notably altered BAs, have been described in studies investigating the association between MASLD and the risk of CKD. This narrative review discusses alterations of specific classes of metabolites, BAs, fructose, vitamin D, and microbiota composition that may be implicated in the link between MASLD and CKD.

Metabolites produced as intermediaries or end-products of microbial metabolism provide crucial signals for health and diseases, such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). These metabolites include products of the bacterial metabolism of dietary substrates, modification of host molecules (such as bile acids [BAs], trimethylamine-N-oxide, and short-chain fatty acids), or products directly derived from bacteria. Recent studies have provided new insights into the association between MASLD and the risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD). Furthermore, alterations in microbiota composition and metabolite profiles, notably altered BAs, have been described in studies investigating the association between MASLD and the risk of CKD. This narrative review discusses alterations of specific classes of metabolites, BAs, fructose, vitamin D, and microbiota composition that may be implicated in the link between MASLD and CKD.

Based on commonly used acupoints in the clinical acupuncture treatment of functional dyspepsia （FD）， this study systematically analyzes the therapeutic differences and synergistic effects between local and distal point selection. It also examines the suitability of primary acupoint selection for different FD subtypes， postprandial distress syndrome （PDS） and epigastric pain syndrome （EPS）. The findings suggest that a combination of local and distal acupoints may be more appropriate as primary points for PDS， whereas local acupoints alone may be more suitable for EPS. Additionally， the study explores the impact of various factors， such as stimulation techniques， needling order， intensity or stimulation parameters， and depth， on the efficacy of acupuncture. It concludes that the intrinsic properties of acupoints are the primary determinants of therapeutic direction. Other factors mainly influence the magnitude rather than the direction of the effect. Future research may further investigate how different acupoint combinations， local versus distal， affect the treatment outcomes of FD subtypes， providing new insights for clinical acupuncture prescriptions.

Metabolites produced as intermediaries or end-products of microbial metabolism provide crucial signals for health and diseases, such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). These metabolites include products of the bacterial metabolism of dietary substrates, modification of host molecules (such as bile acids [BAs], trimethylamine-N-oxide, and short-chain fatty acids), or products directly derived from bacteria. Recent studies have provided new insights into the association between MASLD and the risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD). Furthermore, alterations in microbiota composition and metabolite profiles, notably altered BAs, have been described in studies investigating the association between MASLD and the risk of CKD. This narrative review discusses alterations of specific classes of metabolites, BAs, fructose, vitamin D, and microbiota composition that may be implicated in the link between MASLD and CKD.

Objective To evaluate the predictive ability and clinical application value of artificial intelligence (AI) systems in the benign and malignant differentiation and pathological type of pulmonary nodules, and to summarize clinical application experience. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients with pulmonary nodules admitted to the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, from February 2016 to February 2025. Firstly, pulmonary nodules were divided into benign and non-benign groups, and the discriminative abilities of AI systems and clinicians were compared. Subsequently, lung nodules reported as precursor glandular lesions (PGL), microinvasive adenocarcinoma (MIA), and invasive adenocarcinoma (IAC) in postoperative pathological results were analyzed, comparing the efficacy of AI systems and clinicians in predicting the pathological type of pulmonary nodules. Results In the analysis of benign/non-benign pulmonary nodules, clinical data from a total of 638 patients with pulmonary nodules were included, of which there were 257 males (10 patients and 1 patient of double and triple primary lesions, respectively) and 381 females (18 patients and 1 patient of double and triple primary lesions, respectively), with a median age of 55.0 (47.0, 61.0) years. Different lesions in the same patient were analyzed as independent samples. Univariate analysis of the two groups of variables showed that, except for nodule location, the differences in the remaining variables were statistically significant (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, nodule type (subsolid pulmonary nodule), average density, spicule sign, and vascular convergence sign were independent influencing factors for non-benign pulmonary nodules, among which age, nodule type (subsolid pulmonary nodule), spicule sign, and vascular convergence sign were positively correlated with non-benign pulmonary nodules, while average density was negatively correlated with the occurrence of non-benign pulmonary nodules. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the malignancy risk value given by the AI system in predicting non-benign pulmonary nodules was 0.811, slightly lower than the 0.898 predicted by clinicians. In the PGL/MIA/IAC analysis, clinical data from a total of 411 patients with pulmonary nodules were included, of which there were 149 males (8 patients of double primary lesions) and 262 females (17 patients of double primary lesions), with a median age of 56.0 (50.0, 61.0) years. Different lesions in the same patient were analyzed as independent samples. Univariate analysis results showed that, except for gender, nodule location, and vascular convergence sign, the differences in the remaining variables among the three groups of PGL, MIA, and IAC patients were statistically significant (P<0.05). Multinomial multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the differences between the parameters in the PGL group and the MIA group were not statistically significant (P>0.05), and the maximum diameter and average density of the nodules were statistically different between the PGL and IAC groups (P<0.05), and were positively correlated with the occurrence of IAC as independent risk factors. The average AUC value, accuracy, recall rate, and F1 score of the AI system in predicting lung nodule pathological type were 0.807, 74.3%, 73.2%, and 68.5%, respectively, all better than the clinical physicians’ prediction of lung nodule pathological type indicators (0.782, 70.9%, 66.2%, and 63.7% respectively). The AUC value of the AI system in predicting IAC was 0.853, and the sensitivity, specificity, and optimal cutoff value were 0.643, 0.943, and 50.0%, respectively. Conclusion This AI system has demonstrated high clinical value in predicting the benign and malignant nature and pathological type of lung nodules, especially in predicting lung nodule pathological type, its ability has surpassed that of clinical physicians. With the optimization of algorithms and the adequate integration of multimodal data, it can better assist clinical physicians in formulating individualized diagnostic and treatment plans for patients with lung nodules.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the implementation effects of the national centralized drug volume-based procurement policy （abbreviated as “national centralized procurement policy”） in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region prefecture， and to provide a reference for the future centralized drug procurement work of the medical institution. METHODS Drug procurement data before and after policy implementation were included in the study. The six secondary indicators （such as availability， affordability， and drug safety） and eighteen third-level indicators （such as completion rate of agreed purchase volume， affordability level， drug revenue proportion） were introduced， guided by the policy objectives and issues of concern to policy beneficiaries. Descriptive statistics was adopted to analyze the data before and after policy implementation （in 2019 and 2020） in terms of differences and change trends. RESULTS In terms of accessibility， the participation rate of medical institutions in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region was 92.55%， the proportion of diseases involved and median completed procurement rate were 40.16%， and 287.82% respectively， and the total centralized delivery rate was 97.20%. In terms of affordability， the total reduction amplitude in drug price was 74.80% from 2019 to 2022； the charge for medicine per capita in hospitalization， the proportion of medicine used for outpatient service and hospitalization， decreased by 17.61%， 10.22%， and 20.10% in order； the burden levels on medical fares for patients were all below 1 in addition to chronic diseases， and anti-tumor drugs. In terms of the impact on medicine， the ratio of adverse drug reaction event cases in 2022 was 66.00%， an increase of 1.29% compared to the previous； since the implementation of the policy， 12 drugs from local pharmaceutical enterprises from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region had passed the consistency evaluation， and the market concentration rate of the top 8 pharmaceutical companies was less than 20.00%. In terms of the impact on healthcare and medical insurance， the public medical institutions achieved generic substitution for originator drugs mostly until 2022； about 9.12% of drugs that were non- centrally purchased in the same category were used； 63.39% of people under investigation did not show a need for a second dressing change； drug expenditure decreased by 2.459 billion yuan. CONCLUSIONS The national centralized procurement policy achieves a significant effect in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. On the other hand， attention should be paid to these suggestions as follows: expanding the category of drugs used in clinic， conducting clinically comprehensive evaluation of selected drugs， and improving reasonable allocation strategy， etc.

Objective:This study was designed to explore the distribution pattern of TCM syndrome types in patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) stage 3-5 without alternative treatment after objective collection of TCM quad-diagnostic instruments.Methods:The four-diagnostic instruments of Chinese medicine were used to collect the four-diagnostic information of patients with stage CKD 3-5 non-alternative treatment for syndrome determination, and the correlation between TCM syndrome and basic disease characteristics of patients was analyzed.Results:The distribution of TCM syndrome types in 464 patients with CKD 3-5 stage non-substitution therapy was based on deficiency syndrome, and had both standard and solid syndrome. Qi-deficiency syndrome was the most common type, accounting for 24.6% (114/464), followed by kidney-yang deficiency syndrome, heart-qi deficiency syndrome, kidney-yin deficiency syndrome, heart-blood deficiency syndrome, spleen-yang deficiency syndrome and lung-yin deficiency syndrome. The positivism type of this deficiency is blood stasis, dampness-heat, moisture, turbidity and turbidity toxicity. There was no significant difference in gender and age distribution among patients with different CKD stages ( P>0.05), but the proportion of deficiency syndrome gradually increased with the increase of age. There were differences in the distribution of primary deficiency syndrome in different CKD stages ( χ2=57.48, P<0.001), but no difference in the distribution of primary deficiency syndrome ( χ2=2.59, P=0.957). Conclusions:According to the four diagnostic instrument of traditional Chinese medicine, the distribution of TCM syndrome types in patients with stage CKD3-5 non-alternative treatment is based on deficiency syndrome, combined with deficiency of primary and solid syndrome. The syndrome types in CKD3 stage were mainly qi deficiency and kidney qi deficiency, while the TCM syndrome types in CKD stage 4 were qi deficiency and kidney Yang deficiency. With the progression of the disease, the TCM syndromes of stage 5 CKD were mainly heart-qi deficiency and kidney-yang deficiency.

Objective To investigate the association of 13 single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)sites in 6 phalange-bone development related genes[fibroblast growth factor receptor 2(FGFR2),indian hedgehog signaling molecule(IHH),Msh homeobox 1(MSX1),Runx family transcription factor 2(RUNX2),SRY-box transcription factor 9(SOX9),Wnt family member 5A(WNT5A)]with human index-ring finger length ratio(2D∶4D).Methods Digital cameras were used to take frontal photographs of the hands of 731 college students(358 males and 373 females)in Ningxia,and image analysis software was used to mark anatomical points and measure finger lengths of index(2th)and ring(4th);genotyping of 13 SNP sites(rs1047057,rs755793,rs41258305,rs3731881,rs3100776,rs12532,rs3821949,rs45585135,rs3749863,rs1042667,rs12601701,rs1829556,rs3732750)for 6 genes by multiplex PCR;One-Way ANOVA or independent sample t-test indirectly assessed the association between 2D∶4D and 13 SNP sites.Results Both left and right hand 2D∶4D were significantly higher in females than males in Ningxia college students(all P<0.01);no statistically significant differences in genotype and allele frequencies of the 13 SNP sites among different sexes(all P>0.05);among different sexes,male left hand 2D∶4D was significantly associated with the genotype of SOX9 gene rs12601701 site(P<0.05)and right hand 2D∶4D was significantly associated with the genotype of WNT5A gene rs1829556 site(P<0.05);the female right hand 2D∶4D was significantly associated with the MSX1 gene rs12532(P<0.01)and rs3821949(P<0.05)sites genotypes.Conclusion SOX9(rs12601701),WNT5A(rs1829556)and MSX1(rs12532 and rs3821949)gene polymorphisms may be associated with the formation of 2D∶4D in Ningxia population.

Objective To investigate the value of CT value in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid calcification.Methods The CT plain scan data of 48 cases of thyroid benign calcification and 26 cases of thyroid malignant calcification confirmed by pathology were analyzed retrospectively,and the CT values of 74 cases of thyroid calcification were measured.The best threshold and the maximum area under the receiver operator characteristic(ROC)curve for differentiating benign and malignant thyroid calcification were determined by plotting ROC curve,and the corresponding specificity,sensitivity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value,false positive rate,false negative rate,accuracy and Jordan index were calculated.Then the optimal threshold value was used as a parameter for differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid calcification,and we adoptted χ2 analyze the statistical difference between benign and malignant thyroid calcification in CT gray value.Results The area under the ROC curve was 0.814,and the 95%confidence interval(CI)was 0.712-0.915.When the CT value was 869.5HU(for the convenience of 870HU),the specificity was 69.2%,the sensitivity was 81.3%,the positive predictive value was 64.3%,the negative predictive value was 82.6%,the false positive rate was 20.8%,and the false negative rate was 30.8%,the accuracy was 75.7%and the maximum of the Youden index was 0.505.When 870HU was taken as the differential diagnosis parameter of thyroid benign and malignant calcification(χ2=16.795,P<0.001).Conclusion When the CT value is 870HU,it has important value in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid calcification.