Objective To study the clinical topography of lateral ligament of the rectum.MethodsDissection in the mesorectal plane was performed on cadavers of semi-pelvis sectioned in the sagittal plane. Results Ten of 14 semi-pelvises had substantial connective tissue between the mesorectum and the pelvic side wall. Eight of 10 lateral ligaments had middle rectal artery. Six of 8 middle rectal arteries run in the lateral ligament. The median height of the lateral ligament above the denticulate line was 14 mm (ranging 10～44 mm). Eight of 12 surgical cases had lateral ligament bilaterally, the remaining had lateral ligament unilaterally. Histologically the lateral ligament was composed of connective tissue. It consisted of vessel and nerve. The outer diameter of vessel in the lateral ligament was no more than 1.5 mm. Conclusions 1. The lateral ligament of the rectum presents in most people. The site and structure of lateral ligament was not constant, especially in vascular tissue. 2. Half of the cadavers have middle rectal artery. The rectal artery was tiny. Most of middle rectal artery runs in the lateral ligament. 3. The nerve in the lateral ligament was the part of rectal nerve plexus.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between brain iron deposition and cognitive function in patients with carotid atherosclerosis stenosis (CAS) based on quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM).Methods:This single-center prospective study was performed at the Department of Vascular Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from January 2022 to June 2022. Patients who met the ataxation criteria were divided into the CAS group ( n=16) and the CAS with mild cognitive impairment (CAS-MCI) group ( n=17) according to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores. All patients completed QSM imaging and whole-brain analyses were performed for absolute susceptibility values in cortical regions. Age, sex, education years, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were included as covariates in all analyses. Partial correlation analyses were used to determine the correlation between bilateral CAS degrees and cortical susceptibility values. Further, mediation analyses were performed to determine whether and how cortical susceptibility values affect cognition in CAS patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was also performed to evaluate the predictive worth of differential brain region susceptibility values for cognitive decline. Independent sample t test and Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare quantitative variables. The comparison of categorical variables was conducted using χ2 test, Fisher′s exact test or Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results:A total of 33 patients were included in the study, including 16 in the CAS group and 17 in the CAS-MCI group. There were 23 males and 10 females, aged (62.8±9.0) years (range: 48 to 88 years). CAS-MCI group showed higher right CAS grades ( Z=-2.037, P=0.042). Whole-brain cortical QSM analyses showed higher susceptibility values in the frontal pole ((-0.210±0.080)×10 -8vs.(-0.130±0.120)×10 -8; t=-2.187, P=0.037), superior frontal gyrus ((-0.604±0.243)×10 -8vs. (-0.428±0.203)×10 -8; t=-2.223, P=0.034), and temporal pole ((-0.081±0.115)×10 -8vs. (0.054±0.190)×10 -8; t=-2.417, P=0.022) in CAS-MCI group compared to CAS group. The susceptibility value of the frontal pole showed a positive correlation with the right CAS grade ( r=0.424, P=0.009),while a quasi-significant positive correlation with the left CAS ( r=0.313, P=0.070). The susceptibility values of the frontal and temporal poles were negatively correlated with the MoCA score (frontal pole: r=-0.391, P=0.027; temporal pole: r=-0.410, P=0.020). Mediation analysis showed the effect of right CAS on cognition was fully mediated by the susceptibility value of the frontal pole. The ROC curve revealed that the area under the curve of using hypertension combined with the susceptibility value of the frontal pole to predict cognitive decline was 0.882 (95% CI:0.763 to 0.989) with 82% of sensitivity and 83% of specificity. Conclusions:Multiple cortical regions show iron deposition in CAS-MCI patients. Right CAS plays an important role in cognitive decline, frontal pole iron deposition mediates the effect of right CAS on cognitive function. Quantified frontal pole susceptibility is useful for the diagnosis of cognitive decline in patients with CAS.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between brain iron deposition and cognitive function in patients with carotid atherosclerosis stenosis (CAS) based on quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM).Methods:This single-center prospective study was performed at the Department of Vascular Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from January 2022 to June 2022. Patients who met the ataxation criteria were divided into the CAS group ( n=16) and the CAS with mild cognitive impairment (CAS-MCI) group ( n=17) according to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores. All patients completed QSM imaging and whole-brain analyses were performed for absolute susceptibility values in cortical regions. Age, sex, education years, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were included as covariates in all analyses. Partial correlation analyses were used to determine the correlation between bilateral CAS degrees and cortical susceptibility values. Further, mediation analyses were performed to determine whether and how cortical susceptibility values affect cognition in CAS patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was also performed to evaluate the predictive worth of differential brain region susceptibility values for cognitive decline. Independent sample t test and Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare quantitative variables. The comparison of categorical variables was conducted using χ2 test, Fisher′s exact test or Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results:A total of 33 patients were included in the study, including 16 in the CAS group and 17 in the CAS-MCI group. There were 23 males and 10 females, aged (62.8±9.0) years (range: 48 to 88 years). CAS-MCI group showed higher right CAS grades ( Z=-2.037, P=0.042). Whole-brain cortical QSM analyses showed higher susceptibility values in the frontal pole ((-0.210±0.080)×10 -8vs.(-0.130±0.120)×10 -8; t=-2.187, P=0.037), superior frontal gyrus ((-0.604±0.243)×10 -8vs. (-0.428±0.203)×10 -8; t=-2.223, P=0.034), and temporal pole ((-0.081±0.115)×10 -8vs. (0.054±0.190)×10 -8; t=-2.417, P=0.022) in CAS-MCI group compared to CAS group. The susceptibility value of the frontal pole showed a positive correlation with the right CAS grade ( r=0.424, P=0.009),while a quasi-significant positive correlation with the left CAS ( r=0.313, P=0.070). The susceptibility values of the frontal and temporal poles were negatively correlated with the MoCA score (frontal pole: r=-0.391, P=0.027; temporal pole: r=-0.410, P=0.020). Mediation analysis showed the effect of right CAS on cognition was fully mediated by the susceptibility value of the frontal pole. The ROC curve revealed that the area under the curve of using hypertension combined with the susceptibility value of the frontal pole to predict cognitive decline was 0.882 (95% CI:0.763 to 0.989) with 82% of sensitivity and 83% of specificity. Conclusions:Multiple cortical regions show iron deposition in CAS-MCI patients. Right CAS plays an important role in cognitive decline, frontal pole iron deposition mediates the effect of right CAS on cognitive function. Quantified frontal pole susceptibility is useful for the diagnosis of cognitive decline in patients with CAS.

Objective: To explore the interactions between voriconazole (VRC) and tacrolimus (Tac) in renal transplant recipients, provide dosing rationales for the clinical co-application of two drugs. Methods: Based upon to the inclusion criteria, 17 renal transplantation recipients were selected from August 2012 to December 2016. Before taking VRC, Tac was prescribed for more than 2 days and a steady blood drug concentration was obtained, Tac trough concentrations were determined after using VRC at Day 3/5/7. The pharmacokinetic changes of Tac were analyzed after combined use of VRC. Results: Among them, C₀ and C₀/D of Tac were significantly higher than those of VRC and inter-group differences were statistically significant. At Day 3, 5 and 7 of co-application, pharmacokinetic results showed that, at Day 7 of VRC dosing, Tac achieved a steady effective concentration of 3-8 μg/L. And the total reduction of Tac was 40%-100% of original dose. Conclusions In renal transplant recipients, VRC has a significant impact on Tac. Such an effect shows obvious differences between individuals because of nonlinear pharmacokinetics of VRC and path of interaction CYP3A4/CYP3A5 gene polymorphism. During co-application of VRC and Tac, drug concentration of Tac should be monitored regularly and its dosage adjusted accordingly. Individualized dosing is recommended.