Hypoxia is a commenest pathological process. The cellular oxygen sensors and signal transduction involved in hypoxic responses are so far not fully elucidated. There are many theories. Perhaps the oxygen sensors are different among different kinds of cells, and between acute and chronic hypoxic responses. The mitochondria cytochrom-oxidase-H_2O_2 might be the principal pathway leading to the constrictive response of pulmonary smooth muscle cells to hypoxia. The heme protein - reactive oxygen pathway might mediate the response of glomus cells in carotid body to hypoxia. The NADPH oxidase might be the oxygen sensor in airway chemoreceptor. As for chronic hypoxic responses, the oxygen dependent regulation of hypoxia-inducible factors by prolyl and asparaginyl hydroxylation has been paid great attention in recent years.

AIM: To investigate the role of Ca2+ - activated, delayed - rectifier and ATP sensitive K+ channel (KCa, Kdr, KATP) in airway hyperresponsiveness of asthmatic guinea pigs. METHODS: The method of recording the tone of isolated trachea rings was performed, and the changes of dose-response curves of trachea rings to histamine caused by different K+ channel blockade were investigated. RESULTS: (1) After inhibition of KCa, by tetraethylammonium (TEA) , the dose - response curve of trachea rings to histamine did not change in control group, while the maximal contraction of trachea rings to 10-4 mol/L and 10-3 mol/L histamine decreased significantly ( P

AIM:To investigate the role of potassium channel expression alteration in chronic cigarette smoking-induced increase in pulmonary vascular responsiveness,the effect of chronic cigarette smoking on large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel(BKCa) and voltage-dependent delayed rectifier potassium channel(Kv1.5) expression in rat pulmonary smooth muscle cells were investigated in vivo.METHODS: HE staining,immuno-histochemistry and in situ hybridization techniques were used.RESULTS:(1) Chronic cigarette smoking downregulates the protein and mRNA expression of BKCa in pulmonary arterial smooth muscles.(2) Chronic cigarette smoking downregulated the protein and mRNA expression of Kv1.5 in pulmonary arterial smooth muscles.(3) In big artery,BKCa decreased more makedly than Kv1.5,but in small artery,both of them decreased equally.CONCLUSION: Chronic cigarette smoking downregulates the levels of BKCa and Kv1.5 in rat pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells in vivo,which maybe contribute to the mechanism of cigarette smoking-induced increase in pulmonary vascular responsiveness.

Objective: To evaluate the application of laplacian-regularized mean apparent propagator (MAPL)-MRI to brain glioma-induced corticospinal tract (CST) injury. Materials and Methods: This study included 20 patients with glioma adjacent to the CST pathway who had undergone structural and diffusion MRI. The entire CSTs of the affected and healthy sides were reconstructed, and the peritumoral CSTs were manually segmented. The morphological characteristics of the CST (track number, average length, volume, displacement of the affected CST) were examined and the diffusion parameter values, including fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), radial diffusivity (RD), mean squared displacement (MSD), q-space inverse variance (QIV), returnto-origin probability (RTOP), return-to-axis probabilities (RTAP), and return-to-plane probabilities (RTPP) along the entire and peritumoral CSTs, were calculated. The entire and peritumoral CST characteristics of the affected and healthy sides as well as those relative CST characteristics of the patients with motor weakness and normal motor function were compared. Results: The track number, volume, MD, RD, MSD, QIV, RTAP, RTOP, and RTPP of the entire and peritumoral CSTs changed significantly for the affected side, whereas the AD and FA changed significantly only in the peritumoral CST (p < 0.05). In patients with motor weakness, the relative MSD of the entire CST, QIV of the entire and peritumoral CSTs, and the AD, MD, RD of the peritumoral CST were significantly higher, whereas the RTPP of the entire and peritumoral CSTs and the RTOP of the peritumoral CST were significantly lower than those in patients with normal motor function (p < 0.05 for all). In contrast, no significant changes were found in the CST morphological characteristics, FA, or RTAP (p > 0.05 for all). Conclusion MAPL-MRI is an effective approach for evaluating microstructural changes after CST injury. Its sensitivity may improve when using the peritumoral CST features.

Objective: To evaluate the application of laplacian-regularized mean apparent propagator (MAPL)-MRI to brain glioma-induced corticospinal tract (CST) injury. Materials and Methods: This study included 20 patients with glioma adjacent to the CST pathway who had undergone structural and diffusion MRI. The entire CSTs of the affected and healthy sides were reconstructed, and the peritumoral CSTs were manually segmented. The morphological characteristics of the CST (track number, average length, volume, displacement of the affected CST) were examined and the diffusion parameter values, including fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), radial diffusivity (RD), mean squared displacement (MSD), q-space inverse variance (QIV), returnto-origin probability (RTOP), return-to-axis probabilities (RTAP), and return-to-plane probabilities (RTPP) along the entire and peritumoral CSTs, were calculated. The entire and peritumoral CST characteristics of the affected and healthy sides as well as those relative CST characteristics of the patients with motor weakness and normal motor function were compared. Results: The track number, volume, MD, RD, MSD, QIV, RTAP, RTOP, and RTPP of the entire and peritumoral CSTs changed significantly for the affected side, whereas the AD and FA changed significantly only in the peritumoral CST (p < 0.05). In patients with motor weakness, the relative MSD of the entire CST, QIV of the entire and peritumoral CSTs, and the AD, MD, RD of the peritumoral CST were significantly higher, whereas the RTPP of the entire and peritumoral CSTs and the RTOP of the peritumoral CST were significantly lower than those in patients with normal motor function (p < 0.05 for all). In contrast, no significant changes were found in the CST morphological characteristics, FA, or RTAP (p > 0.05 for all). Conclusion MAPL-MRI is an effective approach for evaluating microstructural changes after CST injury. Its sensitivity may improve when using the peritumoral CST features.

Objective To explore prophylactic bilateral internal iliac arteries balloon occlusion in treating pernicious placenta previa complicated with placenta implantation before cesarean section.Methods Data of 32 patients with pernicious placenta previa complicated with placenta implantation underwent prophylactic bilateral internal iliac arteries balloon occlusion(Balloon Group)were analyzed retrospectively.40 patients with pernicious placenta previa complicated with placenta implantation without treatment of prophylactic bilateral internal iliac arteries balloon occlusion(Control Group)were selected.The mean blood loss and infusion amount during the operation,operative time,newborn Apgar score were compared between the two groups.Results The mean blood loss and infusion amount during the operation,operative time,newborn Apgar score of balloon group was superior to the control group and the difference was significant.All mothers and infants were healthy detected by clinical checking on 3-6 months after birth.Conclusion Prophylactic bilateral internal iliac arteries balloon occlusion is a safe and effective treatment before cesarean section used in pernicious placenta previa complicated with placenta implantation,and worthy of further promotion.

Objective To analyze the characteristics and malignancy of red-patch like lesion(RPL)during cystoscopy,and to explore the significance of RPL biopsy.Methods Clinical data of patients who had RPL detected in our hospital during Jan.2019 and Jun.2023 were retrospectively analyzed,including gender,age,cause of examination,presence of scars,complications and biopsy pathology.The patients were divided into the benign and malignant groups,and their clinical and RPL characteristics were analyzed.Results A total of 521 cases of RPL were enrolled including 416(79.8％)benign cases,and 105(20.2％)malignant cases.The averae age of the malignant group was higher than the benign group's[(66.8±12.2)years vs.(62.8±12.9)years,P=0.005].The malignant detection rate of RPL in postoperative follow-up patients,those with hematuria and those with lower urinary tract symptoms was 23.7％(92/389),19.6％(9/46),4.7％(4/86),respectively.According to direct observation and experience,the detection rate of pathological malignancy in the three groups of patients with high suspicion of RPL malignancy,mild suspicion of RPL malignancy and high probability of benign was 56.9％(37/65),37.0％(30/81)and 10.1％(38/375),respectively.Conclusion Once RPL is detected during cystoscopy,active biopsy should be performed.For elderly male patients undergoing postoperative follow-up,RPL biopsy is particularly important,especially when the lesion is located on or near the scar surface.

Objective:To compare the perioperative complications and prognosis of intracorporeal and extracorporea lileal conduit urinary diversion(ICUD or ECUD)following robot-assisted radical cystectomy(RARC).Methods:The data of 95 patients who underwent RARC treatment in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from March 2016 to June 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 37 underwent ICUD and 58 underwent ECUD. In the ICUD group, there were 32 males and 5 females, aged(68.0±7.8) years, body mass index (BMI) of (24.1±3.4) kg/m 2, American Society of Anesthesiologists(ASA)score of 1-2 in 4 cases(10.8%), ASA score of 3-5 in 33 cases(89.2%), preoperative hemoglobin of(126.5±14.2)g/L, albumin of(39.0±2.2)g/L, and C-reactive protein of 4.0(2.0-8.5) mg/L. In the ECUD group, there were 53 males and 5 females, aged(67.5±9.0)years, BMI of(24.2±3.6)kg/m 2, ASA score of 1-2 in 16 cases(27.6%), ASA score of 3-5 in 42 cases (72.4%) , preoperative hemoglobin of(129.0±12.4)g/L, albumin (38.2±3.1) g/L, and C-reactive protein of 4.9 (3.1-14.4) mg/L. There was no significant difference in preoperative data between the two groups ( P>0.05). The two groups underwent RARC and pelvic lymph node dissection similarly. The ICUD group underwent a total intracorporeal ileal conduit and the ECUD group underwent extracorporeal ileal conduit with direct vision through a median incision in the lower abdomen.There were 32 cases (86.5%) and 46 cases (79.3%) undergoing expanded pelvic lymph node dissection in the ICUD group and the ECUD group respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant ( P=0.374). The complications were graded according to the Clavien-Dindo grading system. The perioperative complications and prognosis of the two groups were compared. Results:The operation time of the ICUD group and the ECUD group were (430±63) min vs. (410±69) min, respectively ( P=0.163). The estimated blood loss were (435±233) ml vs. (388±277) ml, respectively ( P=0.182). Intraoperative blood transfusion were 10 cases (27.0%) and 12 cases (20.7%)( P=0.475). None of the above differences were statistically significant. Postoperative albumin of the ICUD group and the ECUD group were (31.5±2.4) g/L vs. (31.0±2.8) g/L ( P=0.387), postoperative C-reactive protein were 30.9 (10.4-52.1) mg/L vs.29.5 (14.4-58.5) mg/L ( P=0.655) and postoperative hemoglobin were (110.0±13.8) g/L vs. (113.7±13.4) g/L ( P=0.187). The postoperative feeding recovery were 4(3-5) d vs. 4(3-5) d ( P=0.752) and the postoperative hospital stay were 13(10-19) d vs. 13(11-18) d ( P=1.000). There was no statistically significant difference in perioperative data. The postoperative pathological examination results of ICUD group and ECUD group showed that there were 17 cases (45.9%) vs.19 cases (32.8%) in T a/T 1/Tis stage, 12 cases (32.4%) vs. 18 cases (31.0%) in T 2 stage, 5 cases (13.5%) vs. 19 cases (32.8%) in T 3 stage, 3 cases (8.1%) vs. 2 cases (3.4%) in T 4 stage, respectively and the difference was not statistically significant( P=0.166). The number of lymph nodes removed were (18.2±6.7) vs.(16.5±7.9)( P=0.178) and the number of patients with positive lymph nodes were 6(16.2%) vs.11(19.0%), respectively( P=0.733). None of the patients had positive margins. There was no statistically significant difference in pathological examination overall. There were 14 cases (37.8%) in the ICUD group and 21 cases (36.2%) in the ECUD group experiencing complications within 30 days after operation and the difference was not statistically significant( P=0.872). The complications within 90 days after operation were 14 cases (37.8%) vs. 24 cases (41.4%) respectively and the difference was not statistically significant( P=0.731). Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅲ-Ⅴ complications in the two groups were 1 case (2.7%) vs.1 case (1.7%) respectively, with no significant difference ( P=0.849). One patient in the ICUD group developed an intestinal anastomotic leakage and underwent reoperation for repairing and 1 patient in the ECUD group developed mechanical intestinal obstruction and underwent reoperation. The rate of readmission within 90 days after operation of the ICUD group was lower than that of the ECUD group, but the difference was not statistically significant [3 cases (8.1%) vs. 11 cases (19.0%), P=0.090]. Postoperative follow-up was 13-53 months and the median follow-up of ICUD group and ECUD group were 19 months and 31 months respectively. There was no significant difference in the survival curve between the two groups( P=0.746). The 1-year survival rate was 91.9% in the ICUD group and 91.4% in the ECUD group. Routine re-examination of urinary system CT or B-ultrasound was performed 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after surgery. The incidence of ureteral dilatation/hydronephrosis in the ICUD group was lower than that of the ECUD group, with 4.1%(3 sides) vs. 14.7%(17 sides)( P=0.020). Conclusion:Compared with RARC+ ECUD, RARC+ ICUD does not increase the incidence of complications within 90 days after surgery and may reduce the risk of upper urinary tract dilatation.

Objective:To evaluate the predictive value of proximal ureteral diameter (D1)to distal ureteral diameter (D2)ratio (DDR) for impacted stones in the middle and upper ureter.Methods:The clinical data of 173 patients with middle and upper ureteral calculi admitted to the Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2014 to November 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 75 males and 98 females, with the median age of 56.0 (51.0, 62.0) years old and median body mass index of 26.1 (24.8, 27.2) kg/m 2. The imaging data of the patients were analyzed. The impacted stones were defined as the inability of the contrast agent to pass through the site of obstruction when intravenous urography or CT urography was performed, resulting in the inability of the ureter to visualize normally in parts below the site of obstruction. D1 was defined as the proximal ureteral diameter at the lower pole of the kidney on horizontal CT images. D2 was defined as the ureteral diameter 3 cm from the calculi. The stone diameter, stone CT value, D1, D2, and DDR were compared between impacted stone group and non-impacted stone group. Univariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the different indicators. Random number table was used to divide the training set and validation set according to the ratio of 7∶3. Through least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO) regression analysis, the independent influencing factors were obtained and the nomogram model was established (Model 1). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the curve (AUC) were used to verify the predictive efficacy of the model, and the other three effective models (Model 2-4) were constructed by stepwise multivariate logistic regression. The deLong test was used to compare whether there was a significant difference in the AUC between Model 1 and the other three models, and the net benefit of patients was analyzed by clinical decision curve analysis(DCA). Results:In this study, 64 cases (37.0%) were impacted ureteral calculi and 109 cases (63.0%) were non-impacted ureteral calculi, and there were significant differences in diameter[7.8(6.2, 8.8)mm vs. 6.3(5.2, 8.1)mm] , CT value[878.5(763.8, 940.5)HU vs.764.0 (613.0, 854.0) HU], D1[11.1(8.9, 14.9) mm vs. 9.1(7.1, 10.8) mm], D2[4.1(3.1, 4.9) mm vs. 5.0(4.1, 5.9) mm] and DDR[3.1(2.3, 3.9) vs. 1.8(1.4, 2.4)] between the two groups( P < 0.05). The results of univariate logistic regression analysis showed that stone diameter ( OR = 1.333, P < 0.001), CT value ( OR = 1.002, P=0.002), D1 ( OR = 1.146, P<0.001), D2 ( OR = 0.652, P < 0.001) and DDR ( OR = 2.995, P<0.001) were the influencing factors of impacted stones. The training set and validation set included 122 cases and 51 cases, respectively, without significant differences in their image characteristics and outcomes ( P > 0.05). The results of LASSO regression analysis showed that λ corresponding to the simplest result in the optimal range was 0.0908, and three variables were included at this time, and the influencing factors of impacted stones were stone diameter (coefficient 0.0700, OR = 1.073), CT value (coefficient 0.0003, OR = 1.001) and DDR (coefficient 0.5960, OR = 1.815). Moreover, Model 1 was established. According to the model fitting results, ROC curves were plotted, and the AUC of Model 1 was 0.862, and the AUCs of Model 2-4 were 0.859, 0.762, and 0.793, respectively. After deLong test, there was no significant difference between Model 1 and Model 2 ( Z = 0.248, P = 0.804). The AUC of Model 1 was superior to that of Model 3 ( Z = 2.888, P = 0.004) and Model 4 ( Z = 2.321, P = 0.020). The DCA suggested that Model 1 could improve the net benefit rate by up to approximately 21% of patients. Conclusions:DDR is the influencing factor of impacted ureteral calculi, and the model constructed by DDR, stone CT value and stone diameter can effectively predict the probability of impacted ureteral calculi in the middle and upper ureter.

Objective:To explore the effects of the deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) technique on cardiac dosimetry in internal mammary node irradiation with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMN-IMRT) for postoperative left breast cancer.Methods:Totally 23 left breast cancer patients in the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College from Octorber 2021 to July 2022 receiving postoperative IMN-IMRT were enrolled in this study. The changes in dosimetric parameters for their heart and left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) in the DIBH mode were observed, and the potential factors affecting DIBH effects were analyzed.Results:Compared with the free breath (FB) mode, the DIBH mode manifested a heart volume decrease by 18% ( t = 10.47, P < 0.001), a left lung volume increase by 42% ( t = -14.55, P < 0.001), and significantly reduced dosimetric parameters ( Dmean, Dmax, V5- V30) for the heart and LAD, exhibiting statistically significant differences ( t=-13.38 to -3.30, P<0.05). As indicated by the Pearson correlation analysis, the relative ratio of cardiac dose reduction was positively correlated with that of left lung expansion ( r = 0.82, P < 0.001) and negatively correlated with the patient′age ( r = -0.56, P = 0.005). Conclusions:DIBH can effectively reduce the heart and LAD radiation doses in IMN-IMRT for postoperative left breast cancer and that the patient's age, and the DIBH effects might be affected by the vital capacity.