Honghu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Chen's guidance comes from Dr. Alex P. Carll. Another mentor is Dr. Lu Cai, one of the contributors to the standardization of autophagy detection methods, whose research on criteria for identifying diabetes induced apoptosis has been included in numerous clinical guidelines.

BackgroundThe comparative diagnostic performance of biparametric MRI (bpMRI) versus multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) for clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) continues to be debated. This study aimed to compare mpMRI and bpMRI in detecting csPCa across prostate-specific antigen (PSA) strata and identify supplementary tools comparable to dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) imaging.MethodsImages were evaluated using mpMRI-based mp-PI-RADS and bpMRI-based bp-PI-RADS and simplified PI-RADS (S-PI-RADS) schemes. The lesion volume (LV) was manually segmented by a radiologist using ITK-SNAP software on high b-value DWI images. The diagnostic performance was assessed via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The differences of T2WI-score, DCE assessment and LV between csPCa and non-csPCa in peripheral zone (PZ) with DWI category 3 were compared.ResultsFor overall PSA, mp-PI-RADS and bp-PI-RADS showed comparable AUCs (0.889 vs. 0.882; P > 0.05). When PSA ≤ 10 ng/ml, mp-PI-RADS exhibited the highest specificity (91.0% vs. bp-PI-RADS: 64.4%, S-PI-RADS: 75.0%) and PPV (73.0% vs. bp-PI-RADS: 47.7%, S-PI-RADS: 52.5%). When PSA > 10 ng/ml, S-PI-RADS demonstrated higher sensitivity (91.6% vs. mp-PI-RADS: 83.2%, bp-PI-RADS: 81.2%) and F1-score (0.873 [0.822–0.924] vs. mp-PI-RADS: 0.832 [0.778–0.886], bp-PI-RADS: 0.831 [0.777–0.885]). Among DWI category 3 PZ lesions, neither DCE nor T2WI significantly stratified csPCa risk (P = 0.657 and P = 0.424), whereas LV ≥ 0.5 cm³ showed markedly higher csPCa risk (83.8% vs. 45.8%; P < 0.001).ConclusionsWhile mpMRI and bpMRI exhibit comparable overall diagnostic performance but context-dependent strengths: mpMRI demonstrates higher specificity for avoiding unnecessary biopsies when PSA ≤ 10 ng/ml, whereas bpMRI (particularly S-PI-RADS) maximizes sensitivity for csPCa detection when PSA > 10 ng/ml. LV is anticipated to serve as a complementary radiological biomarker at the absence of DCE.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12880-025-01884-x.

To develop and validate a scoring system that combines clinical and radiological variables to predict the likelihood of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa, which is defined as Gleason Grade group ≥ 2) before biopsy and stratify patients by predicted risk. This retrospective study enrolled 788 patients. Data were stratified into a derivation cohort and two validation cohorts by institutions. Imaging evaluation included: Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System v2.1 (PI-RADS v2.1), Simplified PI-RADS [S-PI-RADS, incorporating qualitative and quantitative assessment of diffusion restriction degree and lesion volume (LV) on DWI/ADC sequences], prostate volume (PV), LV, and the longest to shortest diameter ratio (LD/SD). %fPSA was the ratio of free prostate-specific antigen (PSA) to total PSA (tPSA). The adjusted PSA (aPSA) was derived as: aPSA = tPSA×(LV/PV). Independent csPCa predictors were determined through multivariate regression analysis and transformed into the scoring system. Diagnostic performance of PI-RADS, S-PI-RADS, and the scoring system were compared using ROC analysis. The scoring system was stratified into four risk categories based on total scores. The scoring system-integrating %fPSA, S-PI-RADS, aPSA, and LD/SD-demonstrated robust predictive performance for csPCa across all derivation and validation cohorts (AUC: 0.891, 0.875, and 0.897, respectively), comparable to PI-RADS (AUC: 0.861, 0.880, and 0.865; all P > 0.05). It achieved the highest PPV among three systems in all cohorts (0.780, 0.832, and 0.722). Median predicted probabilities for the low (0-2 points), intermediate-low (3-7), intermediate-high (8-12), and high-risk groups (13-17) were 3.8%, 14.4%, 67.8%, and 90.3%, respectively, aligning with observed risks. While inter-reader agreement for PI-RADS was suboptimal between trained and untrained radiologists (κ = 0.643), the scoring system showed stronger consensus (κ = 0.808). This scoring system demonstrating comparable diagnostic performance to PI-RADS and improving PPV, highlighting its potential clinical practicability.

BackgroundActive physiotherapy utilizes patient-centered, sensorimotor-integrated interventions to modulate central nervous system function. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) compared the efficacy of multimodal active physiotherapy (MAP) versus multimodal passive physiotherapy (MPP) in improving physical and mental health in chronic nonspecific neck pain (CNNP) patients.MethodsThis single-blind, stratified parallel-group RCT included 54 patients with CNNP. Participants were randomly assigned to the MAP or MPP group, both receiving 16 treatment sessions (60 min/session) over 8 weeks. Primary outcomes were pain intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale) and emotional status (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Secondary outcomes included patient-perceived change, pain modulation, insomnia symptoms, kinesiophobia, neck function, and mental health–related quality of life (QoL). Intention-to-treat analyses were performed.ResultsPostintervention, there were no significant group-time interactions in the primary outcomes (pain intensity, anxiety, and depression; all p > 0.05), despite significant within-group improvements from baseline (all p < 0.01). Analyses adjusted for covariates confirmed no between-group differences. For secondary outcomes, the MAP group demonstrated superior improvements compared to the MPP group in conditioned pain modulation, kinesiophobia, and mental health–related QoL; no other significant differences were observed between the groups.ConclusionIn patients with CNNP, MAP and MPP result in comparable improvements in pain and emotional status; however, MAP demonstrates superior benefits relative to MPP in pain modulation, movement-related fear, and mental health–related QoL.Trial RegistrationChinese Registry of Clinical Trials: ChiCTR2500104619

To determine the association between dietary antioxidant sources and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In this observational study, we utilized NHANES 2017-2020 data to identify the factors associated with NAFLD in dietary antioxidant sources via weighted multivariate logistic regression models. Then, Mendelian randomization (MR) was applied to investigate the effect of dietary antioxidant sources on NAFLD at the genetic level. Of the six dietary sources of antioxidants, only vitamin E (Vit E) was significantly associated with NAFLD (OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.97-0.99; p = 0.001). Upon adjusting for all covariates, it was determined that the highest quartile of dietary Vit E intake was associated with a decreased NAFLD occurrence compared with the lowest quartile of dietary Vit E intake (p < 0.001). The results of IVW-MR analysis revealed an association between Vit E and NAFLD (OR = 0.028; p = 0.039). Our research indicates a negative and linear relationship between daily vitamin E intake and NAFLD.

According to the findings of multiple observational studies, immune disorder was a risk factor for prostatitis. However, it remained unknown whether there was a direct causal relationship between immune cells and prostatitis or whether this relationship was mediated by plasma metabolites. Based on the pooled data of a genome-wide association study (GWAS), a genetic variant was used to predict the effects of 731 immunophenotypes on the risk of prostatitis and determine whether the effects were mediated by 1400 metabolites. The bidirectional 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) method was adopted to uncover the causal relationship between immunophenotypes and prostatitis. Subsequently, a 2-step MR method was employed to evaluate whether the metabolites mediated this causal relationship and quantify the mediating effects and the corresponding ratios. In addition, the Bayesian-weighted Mendelian randomization (BWMR) method was employed to verify the results. Among the 731 immunophenotypes analyzed, 16 had causal relationships with the risk of prostatitis, including 11 with positive correlations (P < .05, beta > 0) and 5 with negative correlations (P < .05, beta < 0). The MR analysis screened out 9 metabolites related to the risk of prostatitis. The X − 24344 levels mediated the causal relationship between CD3 on CD39+ activated Treg and prostatitis (mediation effect: 0.01; ratio: 9.82%). Both histidine betaine (hercynine) levels and the proline-to-glutamate ratio mediated the causal relationship between CD14–CD16+ monocyte absolute count and prostatitis, with the mediation effects of −0.016 (14.20%) and −0.008 (7.24%), respectively. The glutamine degradant levels mediated the causal relationship between HLA DR+ CD4+ %T cells and prostatitis, with a mediation effect of −0.012, accounting for 8.07% of the total. The present study indicated that the immune cell subsets predicted based on gene expression profiles were potentially beneficial or harmful risk factors of prostatitis, and plasma metabolites may serve as the mediating factors of the relationship. The study thus shed light on deciphering the immunologic mechanism of prostatitis.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of self-proposed antipruritic lotion combined with clotrimazole cream in the treatment of damp-heat-infiltrating tinea pedis. Methods: 60 patients with tinea pedis were randomly divided into treatment group and control group, 30 cases in each group. The control group was treated with clotrimazole cream, and the treatment group was treated with self-proposed antipruritic lotion combined with clotrimazole cream, and the treatment course was 3 weeks. Observe the clinical symptom score and total effective rate of the 2 groups, and evaluate the safety of the 2 groups. Results: (1) After 3 weeks of treatment, the skin lesion scores of the 2 groups were lower than those before treatment, but the improvement of skin lesions in the treatment group was significantly better than that in the control group (P<0.001) (2) After 3 weeks of treatment, the total effective rate of the treatment group was 93.3%, and that of the control group was 73.3%; the therapeutic efficacy of the treatment group was significantly better than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). (3) During the treatment process, no significant adverse reactions occurred in both groups. Conclusion: The treatment of damp-heat injection tinea pedis by combining with clotrimazole cream is safe and effective, and is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

The spread of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) has resulted in a corresponding increase in the incidence of urinary tract infections (UTIs). The risk factors and hospitalization burden for community-acquired MDRO-associated UTIs are discussed herein. This retrospective study included 278 patients with community-based MDRO-associated UTIs from January 2020 to January 2022. The MDRO (n = 139) and non-MDRO groups (n = 139) were separated based on drug susceptibility results. Community-based MDRO-associated UTIs mainly occurred in the elderly and frail patients with a history of invasive urinary tract procedures. The MDRO group imposed a greater economic burden compared to the non-MDRO group. Independent risk factors for community-based MDRO-associated UTIs were as follows: white blood cell (WBC) count > 10.0 × 109/L (OR = 2.316, 95% CI = 1.316-3.252; P = .018); ≥3 kinds of urinary tract obstructive diseases (OR = 1.720, 95% CI = 1.004-2.947; P = .048); use of 3rd generation cephalosporins (OR = 2.316, 95% CI = 1.316-4.076; P = .004); and a history of invasive urologic procedures (OR = 2.652, 95% CI = 1.567-4.487; P < .001). Days of hospitalization, antibiotic use, and bladder catheter use were significantly greater in the MDRO group than the non-MDRO group (P < .05).