Objective To investigate the ultrasonographic characteristics of acute Stanford type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) involving the renal arteries and their relationship with renal function. Methods Patients with ATAAD admitted to Deyang People's Hospital from February 2013 to May 2023 were selected for the study. Based on whether the renal arteries were involved in the dissection, the patients were divided into two groups: a renal artery involvement group and a renal artery non-involvement group. General data and ultrasound characteristics of the two groups were compared. Logistic regression analysis and model correction were performed to analyze the relationship between ultrasound characteristics and renal function involvement in ATAAD patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the predictive value of ultrasound characteristics for renal artery involvement in ATAAD patients. Additionally, patients in the renal artery involvement group were divided into normal renal function and abnormal renal function subgroups based on serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr) levels. Clinical data of the two subgroups were compared, and a log-binomial model was used to analyze the risk effects of ultrasound characteristics for abnormal renal function. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to assess the correlation between ultrasound characteristics of renal artery involvement and renal function indicators. Results A total of 163 patients were included, consisting of 106 males and 57 females, with a mean age of (50.06±10.46) years (ranging from 20 to 85 years). Significant differences in gender, Scr, and BUN were observed between the renal artery involvement group and the renal artery non-involvement group (P<0.001). Compared to the renal artery non-involvement group, the renal artery involvement group had an increased ascending aorta diameter, a greater proportion of ascending aortic dilation and poor renal perfusion (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis indicated that ascending aorta diameter, ascending aortic dilation, and poor renal perfusion were independent factors for renal artery involvement (P<0.05). Ultrasonographic characteristics showed good predictive ability for renal artery involvement in ATAAD patients. Furthermore, the combination of the three characteristics yielded a higher predictive value for renal artery involvement. Compared to the normal renal function group, the abnormal renal function group had higher BUN and Scr levels, increased ascending aortic diameter, a greater proportion of ascending aortic dilation and poor renal perfusion (P<0.05). The log-binomial model analysis revealed that the risk ratios for ascending aortic diameter, ascending aortic dilation, and poor renal perfusion were statistically significant both before and after adjustment (P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis revealed that ascending aortic diameter, ascending aortic dilation, and poor renal perfusion were strongly correlated with renal function parameters (P<0.05). Conclusion Ultrasound characteristics of ATAAD involving the renal arteries are associated with renal function. Ascending aorta diameter, ascending aortic dilation, and poor renal perfusion are independent risk factors for abnormal renal function.

BACKGROUND: Severe stroke has high rates of mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to investigate the clinical course, causes of worsening, and outcomes of severe ischemic stroke. METHODS: This prospective, multicenter cohort study enrolled adult patients admitted ≤30 days after ischemic stroke from nine hospitals in China between September 2017 and December 2019. Severe stroke was defined as a score of ≥15 on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Clinical worsening was defined as an increase of 4 in the NIHSS score from baseline. Unfavorable functional outcome was defined as a modified Rankin scale score ≥3 at 3 months and 1 year after stroke onset, respectively. We performed Logistic regression to explore baseline features and reperfusion therapies associated with clinical worsening and functional outcomes. RESULTS: Among 4201 patients enrolled, 854 patients (20.33%) had severe stroke on admission. Of 3347 patients without severe stroke on admission, 142 (4.24%) patients developed severe stroke in hospital. Of 854 patients with severe stroke on admission, 33.95% (290/854) experienced clinical worsening (median time from stroke onset: 43 h, Q1-Q3: 20-88 h), with brain edema (54.83% [159/290]) as the leading cause; 24.59% (210/854) of these patients died by 30 days, and 81.47% (677/831) and 78.44% (633/807) had unfavorable functional outcomes at 3 months and 1 year respectively. Reperfusion reduced the risk of worsening (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.24, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.12-0.49, P  <0.01), 30-day death (adjusted OR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.11-0.41, P  <0.01), and unfavorable functional outcomes at 3 months (adjusted OR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.08-0.68, P <0.01) and 1 year (adjusted OR: 0.17, 95% CI: 0.06-0.50, P  <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one-fifth of patients with ischemic stroke had severe neurological deficits on admission. Clinical worsening mainly occurred in the first 3 to 4 days after stroke onset, with brain edema as the leading cause of worsening. Reperfusion reduced the risk of clinical worsening and improved functional outcomes. REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03222024.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Prospective Studies ; Ischemic Stroke/mortality* ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Stroke ; Brain Ischemia

Vein graft (VG) failure (VGF) is associated with VG intimal hyperplasia, which is characterized by abnormal accumulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Most neointimal VSMCs are derived from pre-existing VSMCs via a process of VSMC phenotypic transition, also known as dedifferentiation. There is increasing evidence to suggest that ginger or its bioactive ingredients may block VSMC dedifferentiation, exerting vasoprotective functions; however, the precise mechanisms have not been fully characterized. Therefore, we investigated the effect of ginger on VSMC phenotypic transition in VG remodeling after transplantation. Ginger significantly inhibited neointimal hyperplasia and promoted lumen (L) opening in a 3-month VG, which was primarily achieved by reducing ferroptotic stress. Ferroptotic stress is a pro-ferroptotic state. Contractile VSMCs did not die but instead gained a proliferative capacity and switched to the secretory type, forming neointima (NI) after vein transplantation. Ginger and its two main vasoprotective ingredients (6-gingerol and 6-shogaol) inhibit VSMC dedifferentiation by reducing ferroptotic stress. Network pharmacology analysis revealed that 6-gingerol inhibits ferroptotic stress by targeting P53, while 6-shogaol inhibits ferroptotic stress by targeting 5-lipoxygenase (Alox5), both promoting ferroptosis. Furthermore, both ingredients co-target peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), decreasing PPARγ-mediated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 1 (Nox1) expression. Nox1 promotes intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and directly induces VSMC dedifferentiation. In addition, Nox1 is a ferroptosis-promoting gene that encourages ferroptotic stress production, indirectly leading to VSMC dedifferentiation. Ginger, a natural multi-targeted ferroptotic stress inhibitor, finely and effectively prevents VSMC phenotypic transition and protects against venous injury remodeling.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the expression of lysosomal-associated membrane protein 5 (LAMP5) and microRNA (miR)-302a-3p in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and their functional mechanism on the invasion and metastasis of OSCC. METHODS: The expression of LAMP5 in OSCC and its sensitivity as a prognostic indicator were analyzed on the basis of The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Western blot, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and cell immunocytochemistry were used to detect the expression of LAMP5 in OSCC tissues and cells. The effect of LAMP5 on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OSCC cells was evaluated through cell counting kit-8, immunocytochemistry, migration, and invasion assays, respectively. The miRNA targeting prediction websites were used to predict the miR that regulates LAMP5 and verify the targeted regulatory effect of miR-302a-3p on LAMP5. The effect of LAMP5 knockdown on OSCC tumor growth was evaluated in a nude mouse tumorigenesis model. RESULTS: LAMP5 was highly expressed in OSCC tissues and cells. It showed high sensitivity in the early diagnosis of OSCC. LAMP5 knockdown significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OSCC cells, whereas LAMP5 overexpression increased these cell activities. The expression of LAMP5 was regulated by miR-302a-3p. In vivo, LAMP5 knockdown significantly inhibited the growth of OSCC tumor. CONCLUSIONS LAMP5 promotes the malignant progression of OSCC by enhancing the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OSCC cells. The expression of LAMP5 is negatively regulated by miR-302a-3p.
MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Mouth Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Humans ; Animals ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/genetics* ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Cell Proliferation ; Mice, Nude ; Cell Movement ; Lysosomal Membrane Proteins/genetics* ; Mice ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Neoplasm Metastasis

【Objective】 To explore the safety of transrectal ultrasound-guided transperineal injection of sodium hyaluronate to expand the Dirichlet gap in laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. 【Methods】 A total of 14 healthy male purebred beagle dogs were selected and randomly divided into 2 groups, with 7 in either group.The control group was treated with conventional laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, while the experimental group was treated with laparoscopic radical prostatectomy after 2.5 mL sodium hyaluronate was injected into the Dirichlet gap under the guidance of transrectal ultrasound.The total operation time, prostate separation time, intraoperative blood loss and rectal status of the 2 groups were observed. 【Results】 After the injection of sodium hyaluronate into the Dirichlet gap between the prostate and the rectum, no rectal tissue was found in the prostate, and no obvious damage was found in the posterior rectum in either groups.The postoperative hemoglobin (HGB) was [(118.70±2.56) g/L vs.(122.10±2.19) g/L, P=0.02]; the total operation time was [(141.40±9.80) min vs.(119.10±9.16) min, P<0.05]; the prostate separation time was [(24.99±1.75) min vs.(16.64±2.34) min, P<0.05]; the amount of bleeding was [(47.43±4.32) mL vs.(34.86±5.18) mL, P<0.05] in the control group and experimental group. 【Conclusion】 Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy performed after 2.5 mL of sodium hyaluronate injection into the Dirichlet gap under the guidance of transrectal ultrasound can shorten the total operation time, the separation and resection time of the prostate, and reduce the amount of bleeding, which can improve and reduce the incidence of rectal injury, and prove the feasibility of this approach for prostatic cancer.

BackgroundCompared with absenteeism， health-related productivity loss has a long-lasting negative effect， and poses a greater harm and loss. The health-related productivity loss is mediated by self-efficacy， and perceived social support has been shown to have an impact on health-related productivity loss， whereas the interaction mechanism among the three remains unclear. ObjectiveTo investigate the status of perceived social support， occupational coping self-efficacy and health-related productivity loss among ICU nurses， and to test the mediation role of perceived social support in the relationship between occupational coping self-efficacy and health-related productivity loss. MethodsFrom September to November， 2021， purposive sampling technique was adopted to select 468 ICU nurses in 8 tertiary hospitals in Sichuan Province. Subjects were assessed using self-made general information questionnaire， Perceived Social Support Scale （PSSS）， Occupational Coping Self Efficacy Scale for Nurses （OCSE-N） and Stanford Presenteeism Scale-6 （SPS-6）. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the correlation among variables. Amos 24.0 was utilized to test the mediation role of perceived social support in the relationship between occupational coping self-efficacy and health-related productivity loss. ResultsA total of 415 ICU nurses completed the valid questionnaire survey. ICU nurses scored （63.13±11.62） on PSSS， （22.24±6.15） on OCSE-N， and （16.83±4.24） on SPS-6. Health-related productivity loss was detected in 279 ICU nurses （67.23%）. Correlation analysis denoted that PSSS total score was positively correlated with OCSE-N total score （r=0.348， P<0.05）， and negatively correlated with SPS-6 total score （r=-0.274， P<0.05）. OCSE-N total score was negatively correlated with SPS-6 total score （r=-0.421， P<0.05）. The direct effect value of occupational coping self-efficacy on health-related productivity loss was -0.401， and perceived social support showed a mediation role in the relationship between occupational coping self-efficacy and health-related productivity loss （the indirect effect value was -0.052， accounting for 11.48% of the total effect）. ConclusionThe occupational coping self-efficacy of ICU nurses may affect the health-related productivity loss through the action path of perceived social support.［Funded by Scientific Research Project of Sichuan Provincial Health Commission （number， 19PJ042）］

OBJECTIVE To provide reference for the access to medical insurance for rare diseases in China based on the existing access pathway and framework by analyzing the access policy of medical insurance for rare diseases in the United Kingdom （UK）. METHODS After collecting relevant guidelines and policy documents related to drug use for rare diseases in the UK， content analysis method was used to analyze the evaluation mechanism of drug use for rare diseases， reimbursement decision- making standards， stakeholder participation， coping strategies for dealing with uncertainties and risks， and policy implementation effects， and extract the key points of medical insurance access for drug use for rare diseases in the UK， to provide some suggestions for the establishment of medical insurance access system for rare diseases in China. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS From the perspective of access， the UK had adopted a separate approach and clear criteria to assess and reimburse drugs for rare diseases. From the perspective of evaluation mechanism， multi-stakeholders such as doctors， patients and applicants participated in the decision-making process in the UK. The UK addressed uncertainty and risk by gathering better clinical evidence and using the patient access programme. After the implementation of the policy related to drug use for rare diseases， the UK had achieved remarkable results in terms of funding for drug use for rare diseases， the reimbursement rate of drug application， and the number of funded patients. It is suggested that in the process of establishing and improving the evaluation and reimbursement system for rare diseases drugs in China， the availability of rare diseases drugs should be improved by establishing a separate access assessment path for rare diseases drugs and involving more stakeholders.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mediating role of loneliness and social anxiety in the relationship between basic psychological needs satisfaction and smartphone addiction among high school students， and to provide references for the intervention to smartphone addiction for high school students. MethodsIn April 2022， a total of 14 666 high school students from 5 middle schools in a county of Sichuan Province were included by random sampling method. Basic Psychological Needs Scales （BPNS）， the UCLA Loneliness Scale-3 edition （UCLA-3）， Interaction Anxiousness Scale （IAS） and the Mobile Phone Addiction Index （MPAI） were used for cross-sectional investigation. Bootstrap method was used to analyze the mediating role of loneliness and social anxiety in the relationship between the basic psychological needs satisfaction and smartphone addiction. Results① In this study， 14 036 valid questionnaires were returned， and 1 752 （12.48%， 95% CI： 0.114~0.136） high school students were found to be addicted to smartphone phone. The BPNS score was negatively correlated with UCLA-3， IAS and MPAI scores （r=-0.771， -0.486， -0.417， P<0.01）. And MPAI score was positively correlated with IAS and UCLA-3 scores （r=0.403， 0.424， P<0.01）. IAS score was positively correlated with UCLA-3 score （r=0.458， P<0.01）. ②The degree of basic psychological needs satisfaction in high school students can directly negatively predict smartphone addiction （β=-0.383， P<0.05）， and can also indirectly affect smartphone addiction through loneliness and social anxiety （β=-0.130， P<0.05）. ③Loneliness （indirect effect value was -0.145） and social anxiety （indirect effect value was -0.074） partially mediate between the basic psychological needs satisfaction and smartphone addiction. Loneliness-social anxiety also has significant chain mediating effect （indirect effect value was -0.034）， which accounted for 8.88%. ConclusionThe basic psychological needs satisfaction can not only directly affect the occurrence of smartphone addiction， but also indirectly affect the occurrence of smartphone addiction through the chain mediation of loneliness and social anxiety.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) escape from the immune system is mediated through several immunosuppressive phenotypes that are critical to the initiation and progression of tumors. As a hallmark of cancer, DNA damage repair is closely related to changes in the immunophenotypes of tumor cells. Although flap endonuclease-1 (FEN1), a pivotal DNA-related enzyme is involved in DNA base excision repair to maintain the stability of the cell genome, the correlation between FEN1 and tumor immunity has been unexplored. In the current study, by analyzing the clinicopathological characteristics of FEN1, we demonstrated that FEN1 overexpressed and that an inhibitory immune microenvironment was established in OSCC. In addition, we found that downregulating FEN1 inhibited the growth of OSCC tumors. In vitro studies provided evidence that FEN1 knockdown inhibited the biological behaviors of OSCC and caused DNA damage. Performing multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC), we directly observed that the acquisition of critical immunosuppressive phenotypes was correlated with the expression of FEN1. More importantly, FEN1 directly or indirectly regulated two typical immunosuppressive phenotype-related proteins human leukocyte antigen (HLA-DR) and programmed death receptor ligand 1 (PD-L1), through the interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)/janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator transcription 1 (STAT1) pathway. Our study highlights a new perspective on FEN1 action for the first time, providing theoretical evidence that it may be a potential immunotherapy target for OSCC.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology* ; DNA ; Down-Regulation ; Flap Endonucleases/metabolism* ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Interferon-gamma/metabolism* ; Mouth Neoplasms/pathology* ; Phenotype ; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck ; Tumor Microenvironment ; Janus Kinases/metabolism*