Objective To investigate the association of the expressions of Fas, FasL, Bcl-2 and Bax in thyroid tissue with the pathogenesis in Graves′ disease (GD). Methods Thyroid tissues from 54 patients with GD and 10 patients with thyroid adenoma (paraadenoma tissue as normal controls) were studied for Fas, FasL, Bcl-2 and Bax expressions in the thyrocytes and lymphocytes by immunohistochemical method. Quantitative analysis was performed by Mias 99 pathological image system. Results (1) The positive granule area, average light density and integrated light density of Fas, FasL, Bcl-2 and Bax in the thyroid tissue from patients with GD were higher than those from normal controls (P

Objective To better understand pathological types of pediatric interstitial pneumonia and improve clinical diagnosis by analyzing the clinical records and pathological typing of interstitial pneumonia. Methods 70 cases of children diagnosed as interstitial pneumonia by autopsy were retrospectively analyzed. Results The number of males was more than that of females. There was a signiifcant predominance of infants less than 2 years. The clinical features include acute onset, rapid development, short duration and atypical clinical manifestations. Most patients had poor prognosis and curative effect with general therapies. Twelve cases had dubious etiology. Pathologic types of 58 cases with unclear etiology were diffuse alveolar damage type (DAD type, 38/58), desquamative interstitial pneumonia type (DIP type, 5/58), lymphoid interstitial pneumonia type (LIP type, 3/58), DAD type complicating DIP type (6/58), DAD type complicating LIP type (2/58), DAD type complicating respiratory bronchiolotitis-associated interstitial lung disease type (RB-ILD type, 3/58), DIP type complicating LIP type (1/58). Conclusions The conifrmed diagnosis rate was relatively low for pediatric interstitial pneumonia. Postmortem examination was helpful for diagnosis and improving clinical diagnosis and pathological typing.

Purpose: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common postoperative complication of pelvic surgery for which there is currently no effective treatment. This study investigated the therapeutic effects and potential mechanisms of adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells-derived mitochondria (ADSCs-mito) transplantation in a rat model of bilateral cavernous nerve injury (CNI) ED. Materials and Methods: We isolated mitochondria from ADSCs and tested their quality. In vivo, twenty male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham operation group and CNI groups that received intracavernous injection of either phosphate buffer solution, ADSCs-mito or ADSCs. Two weeks after therapy, the erectile function of the rats was evaluated and the penile tissues were harvested for histologic analysis and western blotting. In vitro, the apoptosis rate, reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondria derived active oxygen (mtROS) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels were detected in corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CCSMCs) after the incubation with ADSCs-mito. In addition, intercellular mitochondrial transfer was visualized by co-culture of ADSCs and CCSMCs. Results: The ADSCs, ADSCs-mito and CCSMCs were isolated and identified successfully. ADSCs-mito transplantation notably restored the erectile function and smooth muscle content of CNI ED rats. Moreover, the levels of ROS, mtROS and cleaved-caspase 3 were reduced and the levels of superoxide dismutase and ATP were increased after ADSCs-mito transplantation. In CNI ED rats, the mitochondrial structure of cells in penile tissues was destroyed. ADSCs could transfer its own mitochondria to CCSMCs. Pre-treatment with ADSCs-mito could significantly decrease apoptosis rate, ROS levels and mtROS levels as well as restore the ATP level in CCSMCs. Conclusions ADSCs-mito transplantation significantly ameliorated ED induced by CNI, with similar potency to ADSCs treatment. The ADSCs-mito might exert their effects via anti-oxidative stress, anti-apoptosis and modulating energy metabolism of CCSMCs. Mitochondrial transplantation should be a promising therapeutic method for treating CNI ED in the future.

Objective:To explore the causal association between inflammatory cytokines and fibromyalgia by Mendelian randomization analysis.Methods:By mining the GWAS Catalog database and FinnGen database, the exposure factor was set as inflammatory cytokines, and the outcome was fibromyalgia. The main analysis method adopted in this study is inverse variance weighted (IVW) method, with MR-Egger, Simple Mode method, weighted median (WM), and Weighted Mode as supplementary statistical methods for Mendelian randomization analysis. Subsequently, by swapping the exposure factors and outcomes, the directionality of the analysis was tested.Results:Among the 91 known inflammatory cytokines, a causal association was found between natural killer cell receptor 2B4 (CD244), monocyte chemotactic protein 2 (MCP-2), C-X-C chemokine 6 (CXCL6), interleukin 12β subunit (IL12B), and fibromyalgia. Among them, CD244, CXCL6, and IL12B were positively correlated with FM [CD244: OR(95% CI)=1.21(1.08, 1.35), P<0.001]. [MCP-2: OR(95% CI)=0.91(0.87, 0.96), P<0.001], [CXCL6: OR(95% CI)=1.15(1.06, 1.24), P<0.001], IL-12B [ OR(95% CI)=1.13(1.06, 1.20), P<0.001]. Sensitivity analysis did not find multiple effects, heterogeneity,or correlation. Conclusion:The increase in the levels of CD244, CXCL6, and IL-12B will increase the risk of FM, while the increase in the level of MCP-2 will reduce the risk of FM disease.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of standardized bowel preparation and nursing procedures in patients with colon disease underwent full abdominal CT examination.Methods:A total of 281 inpatients who were diagnosed as "colon tumors" and underwent full-abdominal CT examinations from January 2016 to December 2017 were selected. From January to December 2016, 153 patients were included in the study, which is the pre-implementation group; from January to December 2017, 128 patients were included in the study, all of whom received standardized bowel preparation and nursing procedures, and were the post-implementation group. Compare and observe the differences in the cleanliness, intestinal filling and CT image quality of patients before and after the intervention measures.Results:After the implementation of standardized nursing procedures, the proportion of patients with good intestinal cleanliness was 71.09% (91/128), which was higher than the pre-implementation of 33.33% (51/153) ( χ2 value was 40.79, P<0.001). The proportion of patients with sub-intestinal preparations also decreased ( P<0.05). The proportion of patients with good intestinal filling in the post-implementation group was 75.00% (96/128), which was higher than 42.48% (65/153) in the pre-implementation group ( χ2 value was 42.63, P<0.001). After the implementation of standardized nursing procedures, the image quality rate of patients with whole abdominal CT was 90.63% (116/128), which was higher than the pre-implementation 32.68% (50/153) ( χ2 value was 98.34, P<0.001). Conclusion:The standardized nursing process can improve the quality of bowel preparation and significantly improve the image quality of abdominal CT examination.

Background::Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) plays an important role in the progression of gastric cancer (GC). Their involvement ranges from genetic regulation to cancer progression. However, the mechanistic roles of RP11-789C1.1 in GC are not fully understood.Methods::We identified the expression of lncRNA RP11-789C1.1 in GC tissues and cell lines by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction. A series of functional experiments revealed the effect of RP11-789C1.1 on the proliferation of GC cells. In vivo experiments verified the effect of RP11-789C1.1 on the biological behavior of a GC cell line. RNA pull-down unveiled RP11-789C1.1 interacting proteins. Western blot analysis indicated the downstream pathway changes of RP11-789C1.1, and an oxaliplatin dosing experiment disclosed the influence of RP11-789C1.1 on the drug sensitivity of oxaliplatin. Results::Our results demonstrated that RP11-789C1.1 inhibited the proliferation of GC cells and promoted the apoptosis of GC cells. Mechanistically, RP11-789C1.1 inhibited checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) phosphorylation by binding ataxiatelangiectasia mutated and Rad3 related (ATR), a serine/threonine-specific protein kinase, promoted GC apoptosis, and mediated oxaliplatin sensitivity.Conclusion::In general, we discovered a tumor suppressor molecule RP11-789C1.1 and confirmed its mechanism of action, providing a theoretical basis for targeted GC therapy.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and cardiometabolic risk (CMR) through quantitative computed tomography (QCT).Methods:The present study included 76226 participants. Abdominal fat areas were measured using the QCT Pro Model 4 system. Cardiometabolic indices were collected, including systolic and diastolic blood pressures, fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density and high-density lipoprotein cholesterols CMR score was the sum of abnormal blood pressure, fasting glucose, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Restricted cubic spline and ordered logistic regression models were applied.Results:The mean age was 50±13 years and the percentage of men was 58.8%. The level of VAT area was higher in men than in women (191.7±77.1 cm 2 vs 116.4±56.2 cm 2, P<0.0001 for all). After adjustment for age, the cardiometabolic indices except high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased with increasing VAT area. When VAT area was 300 cm 2, age-adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of a CMR score ≥ 1 were 14.61 (13.31, 16.04) for men and 5.46 (4.06, 7.36) for women, and the age-adjusted probability of a CMR score ≥ 3 was 31.7% for men and 31.3% for women. Conclusions:QCT-derived VAT is closely related to CMR. The findings suggest that measurement of visceral fat is recommended for the management of abdominal obesity in subjects who agree to undergo lung cancer screening via low-dose CT without additional radiation exposure.

Objective:To describe the baseline characteristics of the subjects enrolled in the China Quantitative CT (QCT) big data program in 2018—2019.Methods:Based on baseline data from the Chinese health big data project from January 2018 to December 2019 from the eligible enrolled population, measurements of bone mineral density (BMD) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) were performed using Mindways′ QCT Pro Model 4 system. The baseline data of age, gender, regional distribution, height, weight, abdominal circumference, blood pressure, blood routine and blood biochemical tests were analyzed. And the single factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to check the age related trend of BMD and VAT in both genders.Results:After screening the inclusion exclusion criteria and outliers of the main indicators, 86 113 people were enrolled in the project. The enrollment rate was 92.47%, including 35 431 (41.1%) women and 50 682 (58.9%) men, and the ratio of men to women was 1.43. The mean age was (50.3±12.7) years in all the subjects, and it was (50.2±12.8) years and (50.4±12.5) years in men and women, respectively, and there was no statistical difference between the two genders ( P>0.05). Total of 43 833 people were enrolled in east China, it was the largest group by region (50.90%), it was followed by central China (16 434 people, 19.08%), and the number of people enrolled in Northeast China was the lowest (2 914 people, 3.38%). The rate of completing of health information indicators related to the main outcome of the study were all above 70%, and there were significant differences between men and women (all P<0.05). The mean BMD was (139.33±46.76) mg/cm 3 in women, (135.90±36.48) mg/cm 3 in men, which showed a decreasing trend with age in both gender (both P<0.001); the mean intra-abdominal fat area was (116.39±56.23) cm 2 in women, (191.67±77.07) cm 2 in men, and there was an increasing trend with age in both men and women (both P<0.001). Conclusions:There are gender differences in BMD and VAT measured by QCT with different age tendency, and there are gender differences in health information index. Regional factors should also be taken into account for regional differences in the inclusion of data.

Objective:To investigate the normal reference values of spinal bone mineral density measured by quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and the differences of bone mineral density (BMD) in different regions of in Chinese adult males.Methods:Men who underwent low-dose CT lung scan for cancer screening in regions of Northeast, North, East, South, Central and Southwest of China from January 2018 to December 2019 were selected. And the lumbar vertebrae BMD values in the male subjects were measured by the QCT system (Mindways Software, Inc.). The mean BMD values and their decline rates were calculated at an age interval of 10 years, and the prevalence of osteoporosis was calculated according to the American College of Radiology spine QCT osteoporosis diagnostic criteria.Results:A total of 50 682 males with a mean age of (50.22±12.79) years (ranged 20 to 98 years) were included in this study. The peak BMD of (173.11±28.56) mg/cm 3 in the healthy Chinese adult male population appeared in the age group of 20 to 29 years and then declined with age. Before the age of 70 years, the BMD was relatively higher in males in South China, and it was lower in Central China and Southwest China, and it was intermediate in Northeast, North and East of China, with statistically significant differences. There was no significant differences in BMD in the males in the two age groups of 70 to 79 years and 80 and older among the regions in China. The overall decline rate of spinal BMD in Chinese males under QCT was about 46.92% over the lifetime, and it declined obviouslyin the 40-49 age group. The overall prevalence of osteoporosis in Chinese male population aged 50 years and above was approximately 11.42%, with the highest prevalence in Southwest China and Central China (14.72% and 13.87%, respectively) and the lowest in North China and South China (8.53% and 7.71%, respectively). Conclusions:A reference of lumbar spine BMD values for healthy males in China based on QCT is established. BMD values were highest in South China and Lowest in Central China.

Objective:To establish the normal reference value of lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) under quantitative CT (QCT) in Chinese healthy adult females and to explore the regional differences.Methods:Total of 35 431 healthy women who met the inclusion criteria of Chinese health quantitative CT big data program were selected in this study. The BMD of the central plane of L 1 and L 2 vertebrae was measured by Mindways′s QCT system, and the mean value was taken. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the BMD differences of lumbar vertebrae in women of different ages and regions. The subjects were grouped by an age interval of 10 years, and the level of BMD in different regions of the same age group were compaired. Results:The peak BMD of Chinese healthy adult women appeared in the age group of 20-29 years (Northeast China(183.01±24.58) mg/cm 3, North China (188.93±24.80) mg/cm 3, East China (187.54±27.71) mg/cm 3, South China (186.22±33.72) mg/cm 3, Central China (176.33±24.91) mg/cm 3, Southwest China(182.25±28.00) mg/cm 3), and then it decreased with age. The level of BMD in different regions decreased with the age. Before the age of 70 years, BMD in Central and Southwest China was always at a low level((176.23±24.91) to (90.38±28.12) mg/cm 3, 182.25±28.00 to (88.55±25.68) mg/cm 3), lower than those in Northeast China ((183.01±24.58) to (99.69±27.85) mg/cm 3), North China ((188.93±24.80) to (95.89±26.12) mg/cm 3), East China ((187.54±27.71) to (95.65±27.86) mg/cm 3). After 70 years of age, BMD tended to be the same in different regions ( P>0.05). The BMD values in Central China and Southwest China were similar in the age group of 40-60 years ( P>0.05). The BMD values in the health adult femles in the age group of 60 years in different regions of Chinawere all lower than those of bone mass abnormality (all P<0.05). The detection rate of osteoporosis in females over 50 years was the highest in Southwest China (25.65%) and it was the lowest in North China (17.30%). Conclusions:This study establishes reference values of BMD under QCT in healthy Chinese women, which can be used as a reference basis for identifying women with low BMD who are at risk of osteoporosis. The BMD value is the lowest in Southwest China and the highest in South China.