The cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB)-regulated transcription coactivator, CRTC (also known as transducer of regulated CREB, TORC), is identified as a potent modulator of cAMP response element (CRE)-driven gene transcription. The CRTC family consists of three members (CRTC1-3), among which the CRTC1 shows the highest expression in the brain. Several studies have demonstrated that the CRTC1 plays critical roles in neuronal dendritic growth, long-term synaptic plasticity, memory consolidation and reconsolidation etc., whereas dysfunction of CRTC1 is mainly involved in neurodegenerative disorders. In light of these findings, we aim to review recent research reports that indicate the CRTC1 dysfunction and its underlying mechanisms in the neurodegenerative disorders.
Brain ; physiology ; Dendrites ; physiology ; Humans ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; physiopathology ; Neuronal Plasticity ; Transcription Factors ; physiology

ObjectiveTo investigate the application value of Toshiba 320-row dynamic volumetric CT angiography in the diagnosis of venous erectile dysfunction (VED).

METHODSWe enrolled in this study 33 patients diagnosed with ED by audiovisual sexual stimulation screening in the outpatient department. Penile erection was induced in the patients by injection of 2 mg phentolamine plus 30 mg papaverine into the corpus cavernosum, followed by that of contrast agent of iobitridol through the vein and corpus cavernosum successively. Then 320-row dynamic volumetric CT angiography was performed and the images of the corpus cavernosum in the arterial and venous phases were collected and processed.

RESULTSDifferent degrees of abnormal venous drainage were observed in 29 of the patients, including 7 cases (24.1%) of back deep venous leakage, 6 cases (20.7%) of foot venous leakage, 3 cases (10.3%) of dorsal superficial venous leakage, 1 case (3.5%) of intervertebral venous leakage, 2 cases (6.9%) of cavernous venous leakage, and 10 cases (34.5%) of mixed venous leakage. Ten of the patients underwent surgery, dorsal deep penile vein ligation in 2 cases, dorsal deep vein embedding plus foot vein ligation in 4, and foot vein ligation in the other 4. Eight of the patients were followed up for 3－12 months post-operatively, during which 2 achieved obvious erectile improvement, while the other 6 gained normal penile erection.

CONCLUSIONSToshiba 320-row dynamic volumetric CT angiography is a reliable method for the diagnosis of VED, which displays the precise location of venous leakage for clinical treatment, with the advantages of clearer images, lower doses of contrast agent and radiation, and faster examination than X-ray penile angiography.

Adult ; Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; Computed Tomography Angiography ; Contrast Media ; Drug Combinations ; Erectile Dysfunction ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Injections ; Iohexol ; analogs & derivatives ; Ligation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Papaverine ; administration & dosage ; Penile Erection ; Penis ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Phentolamine ; administration & dosage ; Veins ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical efficacy of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis in patients over 75 years old. METHODS: The clinical efficacy of primary fixed platform UKA in patients with osteoarthritis, was retrospectively analyzed from October 2014 to November 2020. Age, body mass index (BMI), range of motion (ROM), preoperative joint function score, the quality of life score and other preoperative indicators were measured by propensity score matching (PSM). The patients were divided into elderly group (≥75 years old) and control group (<75 years old). Oxford knee score(OKS), Western Ontario McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index(WOMAC), Short Form-12 including physical component summary (PCS), mental component summary(MCS), minimal clinically important difference(MCID ) and clinical complications were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS: A total of 514 patients were analyzed, 428 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. A propensity-score matching study was conducted to eliminate confounding factors. After 1∶2 propensity match, there were 84 patients in elderly group (≥75 years), age ranged from 75 to 88 years old, with an average of (78.79±3.08) years old, and 168 patients in control group (<75 years), age ranged from 47 to 74 years old, with an average of (64.10±5.96)years old. The follow-up duration of two groups ranged from 12 to 84 months with an average of (29.35±16.52) months in elderly group, and 12 to 85 months with an average of (31.83±17.34) months in control group. There was only significant difference in age between the elderly and control groups preoperatively (P<0.01). Postoperatively, the elderly group showed significantly higher WOMAC (P<0.01) and lower SF-12 PCS scores (P<0.01) as compared to the control group. There was no significant difference between the elderly group and the control group in knee range of motion, OKS and the proportion of each scoring system reaching the minimum clinical difference value (P>0.05). In the aspect of preperative complications, the elderly group exhibited more surgical site complications and postoperative delirium compared to control group(P<0.05). The differences in other indicators including deep vein thrombosis, acute urinary retention, cardiovascular events, cerebrovascular events and radiolucent lines around prothesis were not statistically significant(P>0.05). CONCLUSION UKA in the treatment of elderly patients over 75 years old with knee osteoarthritis was safe and feasible, and could obtain satisfactory short-term efficacy.
Humans ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/surgery* ; Knee Prosthesis ; Retrospective Studies ; Propensity Score ; Quality of Life ; Knee Joint/surgery* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee/methods* ; Treatment Outcome

Carcinoma, Verrucous ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Skull Base ; pathology

Objective: To research the change of PR interval shortening in ECG examination in different periods of pregnancy. Methods: From March 2016 to August 2016, 616 pregnant women who underwent maternity examinations in the Women and Children's Hospital of Ningbo were selected in this study.According to the different gestational periods, they were divided into the early pregnancy group (198 cases), the mid-pregnancy group (232 cases) and the late pregnancy group (186 cases). And another 241 non-pregnant women who underwent health examination in our hospital during the same period were selected as controls.All pregnant and non-pregnant women were examined by electrocardiogram, and the results of electrocardiogram were analyzed.The average heart rate, the average PR interval and the shortened ratio of PR interval were compared between the two groups of women and women with different pregnancy periods, and the short PR interval distribution of women in different pregnancy periods was observed. Results: The average heart rate level, PR interval and PR interval shortening ratio of pregnant women and non-pregnant women were (76.55±7.81)times/min, (0.096±0.008)s, 12.66% and (72.56±6.49)times/min, (0.138±0.014)s, 4.98%, respectively.The average heart rate and the shortening ratio of PR interval in pregnant women were significantly higher than those in non-pregnant women, while the average PR interval in pregnant women was significantly lower than that in non-pregnant women, the differences were statistically significant (t=7.565, χ²=10.879, t=52.672, all P<0.05). With the increase of pregnancy cycle, the shorter the average heart rate and PR interval of pregnant women, the shorter the average PR interval.The average heart rate, PR interval and PR interval shortening ratio in the early pregnancy group, the mid-pregnancy group and the late pregnancy group were (75.41±6.65)times/min, (0.103±0.010)s, 8.59% and (77.03±7.12)times/min, (0.095±0.009)s, 11.21% and (79.74±8.43)times/min, (0.088±0.008)s, 18.82%, respectively.There were statistically significant differences among the three groups(t=16.720, 116.440, χ²=9.791, all P<0.05). Conclusion Pregnancy women are prone to have shorten PR interval, and its incidence increases with the increase of pregnancy cycle, but in most cases belongs to benign electrophysiological changes, and the prognosis is good without special treatment.It is of great significance for clinical diagnosis and treatment to reduce the outcome of bad pregnancy by observing the shortening of the PR interval of electrocardiogram during the pregnancy.

【Objective】 The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence status of neonatal congenital heart disease (CHD) in Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province from 2017 to 2021, and to analyze the influencing factors, so as to provide reference for preventing the risk of CHD and reduce the prevalence of CHD. 【Methods】 Using cross-sectional survey method, the neonatal data from March 2017 to December 2021 were captured from Zhenjiang Neonatal Disease Screening Center, and were analyzed by linear trend chi-square test; binary Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of CHD. 【Results】 A total of 13 156 newborns screened positive for CHD in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, with CHD confirmed in 6 300 cases. Among these, 3 066 cases were boys (48.7%) and 3 234 cases were girls (51.3%). The prevalence rates of neonatal CHD in Ningbo city for the years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 were 2.07%, 1.10%, 2.00%, 2.04% and 1.08%, respectively, with an overall prevalence from 2017 to 2021 of 1.69%. The chi-square test for the linear trend indicated a decreasing prevalence of neonatal CHD over time(χ²=178.518,P<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that maternal age [36 to 45 years(OR=1.24), >45 years(OR=1.66)], male infants (OR=1.26), premature birth [<32 weeks (OR=1.13), 32 - 36 weeks(OR=1.54)], and being a second birth (OR=2.56) were independent risk factors for the development of CHD (P<0.05). 【Conclusions】 The prevalence of CHD in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province is higher than that of CHD in China and other cities of Zhejiang Province. Although the prevalence showed a decreasing trend over time, targeted prevention and control measures need to be implemented to reduce the prevalence of CHD.

BACKGROUNDShang Ring male circumcision (MC) is a safe surgery with good short-term effects. This retrospective study was performed to investigate the long-term result of patients who had undergone Shang Ring MC.

METHODSA total of 103 patients who underwent the surgery were recruited in the study. Before and after the surgery, a questionnaire inquiring sexual function and sexual satisfaction was filled up. Face-to-face interview was executed. Physical examination of the external genitals was performed and complications were evaluated.

RESULTSThe median follow-up duration was 19.1 months (range from 9 to 28 months). The mean width of penile mucosa was (9.3 ± 2.5) mm. The mean width of scar was (3.7 ± 1.6) mm. No tender pain was found in participants when palpating the penis. No significant or functional complication was observed except of mucosa asymmetry in one case and scar hyperplasia in two cases. The postoperative sexual function did not differ from the preoperative one, although partners showed better satisfaction toward sexual life.

CONCLUSIONShang Ring MC represents a good long-term cosmetic result with no significant complication or adverse effects on sexual function.

Adult ; Cicatrix ; diagnosis ; Circumcision, Male ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Sexual Behavior ; physiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVES: To explore the species, quantity and distribution of diatoms in Ningbo three-river watershed during summer and to provide scientific basis for forensic examination of drowning cases in the waters of Ningbo. METHODS: Water samples were collected in July and August of 2015. Fourteen water sampling points were selected from the Yao River, the Fenghua River and the Yong River. The morphological features of diatom species and dominant diatoms were distinguished by microscope. RESULTS: A total of 16 species of diatoms were detected in the Yao River, the Fenghua River and the Yong River. Melosira was the dominant species in the Yao River, and the quantity and richness were higher than in other rivers. The richness of Cyclotella in the Yong River was higher than in other rivers. The richness of Pinnularia and Licmophora were higher in the Fenghua River than in the Yao River and the Yong River. CONCLUSIONS The species and proportion of diatom is different in each river. Database of the species and relative composition for the diatoms in corresponding river is established, which may provide data support for forensic examination of drowning cases in Ningbo three-river watershed.
China ; Diatoms/classification* ; Drowning ; Rivers ; Seasons