BackgroundThe functional changes of the default mode network （DMN） are closely related to the onset of major depressive disorders. However， the relationship between the DMN subsystem （core subsystem， dorsomedial prefrontal cortex subsystem， medial temporal lobe subsystem） and symptoms of first-episode major depressive disorder remains unclear. ObjectiveTo investigate abnormal functional connectivity between DMN subsystems and the whole brain in first-episode major depressive disorder patients during the resting-state， and to analyse the correlations between these functional connectivity patterns and clinical symptoms， so as to reveal the potential neural mechanisms from the perspective of DMN subsystem. MethodsFrom September 2020 to September 2023， a total of 64 first-episode outpatients and inpatients meeting the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders， fourth edition （DSM-IV） were enrolled at the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Mental Health Center as the study group. During the same period， 54 healthy volunteers matched for age， gender， and years of education were recruited from the community as the control group. Both groups were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Scale-24 item （HAMD-24）. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance images （rs-fMRI） of the two groups were acquired using a Siemens 3.0 T scanner， and differences in functional connectivity between DMN subsystems （core subsystem， dorsomedial prefrontal cortex subsystem， medial temporal lobe subsystem） and the whole brain were compared. The functional connectivity values of brain regions with statistically significant differences between the two groups were extracted. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient analysis was used to investigate the correlation between these functional connectivity values and HAMD-24 scores of the study group. ResultsUltimately， 46 patients and 43 controls completed the study. Compared with the control group， the study group exhibited significantly stronger functional connectivity in the following pathways： between the right superior parietal lobule （core subsystem） and right cerebellar lobule VIII （t=3.954， P<0.05， GRF-corrected）， between the right lateral temporal cortex （dorsomedial prefrontal cortex subsystem） and right cerebellar lobule VIII， right and left hippocampi， right medial， and paracingulate gyrus （t=4.595， 4.208， 5.200， 4.038， P<0.05， GRF-corrected）， and between the temporoparietal junction （dorsomedial prefrontal cortex subsystem） and left lingual gyrus and right cerebellar lobule VIII （t=3.557， 4.274， P<0.05， GRF-corrected）. Conversely， weaker functional connectivity was observed between the right inferior frontal gyrus and left gyrus rectus （t=-3.824， P<0.05， GRF-corrected）. Furthermore， within the study group， the functional connectivity values between the right lateral temporal cortex and right hippocampus， as well as between the temporoparietal junction and right cerebellar lobule VIII， were both negatively correlated with the HAMD-24 cognitive impairment factor score （r=-0.306， -0.318， P<0.05）. ConclusionIncreased functional connectivity between the DMN （specifically its core and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex subsystems） and cerebellum， partial limbic system， and lingual gyrus may be associated with the neuropathology of first-episode major depressive disorder. Furthermore， alterations in functional connectivity between the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex subsystem and both the cerebellum and hippocampus in these patients may be related to cognitive function. ［Funded by 2019 Annual Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Natural Science Foundation Project （number， 2019MS03038）； 2023 Annual Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Natural Science Foundation Project （number， 2023MS08028）］

Objective To compare H_p(3) calibration with a homemade (A) thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) and an imported (B) TLD in a standard X-ray RQR radiation field, to explore the different responses of A and B, and to provide foundation for the calibration of H_p(3). Methods A column mode was selected. H_p(3) calibration was performed using A and B in a standard X-ray RQR radiation field in the Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory, National Institute for Radiological Protection, China Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Angle response, energy response, and linear response were calibrated with RQR4 (60 kV), RQR7 (90 kV), and RQR9 (120 kV), respectively. Results In terms of angle response, the calibration results of A were relatively high, while the calibration results of B were relatively low. In terms of energy response, the calibration results showed a similar pattern to angle response. In terms of linear response, the calibration results of both A and B were satisfactory. Conclusion Both A and B can be used for normal calibration of H_p(3) in a standard X-ray RQR radiation field. However, in actual monitoring, attention should be paid to the energy and angle response values of TLDs.

Alternative splicing (AS) is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism that removes introns and ligates exons to generate mature messenger RNAs (mRNAs), extremely improving the richness of transcriptome and proteome. Both mammal hosts and pathogens require AS to maintain their life activities, and inherent physiological heterogeneity between mammals and pathogens makes them adopt different ways to perform AS. Mammals and fungi conduct a two-step transesterification reaction by spliceosomes to splice each individual mRNA (named cis -splicing). Parasites also use spliceosomes to splice, but this splicing can occur among different mRNAs (named trans -splicing). Bacteria and viruses directly hijack the host's splicing machinery to accomplish this process. Infection-related changes are reflected in the spliceosome behaviors and the characteristics of various splicing regulators (abundance, modification, distribution, movement speed, and conformation), which further radiate to alterations in the global splicing profiles. Genes with splicing changes are enriched in immune-, growth-, or metabolism-related pathways, highlighting approaches through which hosts crosstalk with pathogens. Based on these infection-specific regulators or AS events, several targeted agents have been developed to fight against pathogens. Here, we summarized recent findings in the field of infection-related splicing, including splicing mechanisms of pathogens and hosts, splicing regulation and aberrant AS events, as well as emerging targeted drugs. We aimed to systemically decode host-pathogen interactions from a perspective of splicing. We further discussed the current strategies of drug development, detection methods, analysis algorithms, and database construction, facilitating the annotation of infection-related splicing and the integration of AS with disease phenotype.
Animals ; Alternative Splicing/genetics* ; RNA Splicing ; Spliceosomes/metabolism* ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; Communicable Diseases/genetics* ; Mammals/metabolism*

Objective:To investigate the role of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in differentiating between autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) and pancreatic cancer (PC).Methods:Data of 133 patients with AIP and 113 patients with PC who underwent EUS because of obstructive jaundice at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2013 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed in the study, and were randomly divided into either a derivation sample or a validation sample using 1∶1 allocation according to the random number. In the derivation sample, 10 EUS characteristics were used to construct a prediction model to distinguish between AIP and PC, in which predictors were identified by multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis and predictive efficacy was evaluated by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis. The predictive efficacy was assessed in the validation sample. In view of the subjectivity in the judgment of diffuse/focal hypoechogenicity, 2 prediction models were designed in order to avoid bias.Results:By multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis, diffuse hypoechogenicity ( OR=591.0, 95% CI: 98.8->999.9, P<0.001) and vessel involvement ( OR=11.9, 95% CI: 1.4-260.2, P=0.023) were identified as statistically significant predictors for distinguishing AIP from PC. EUS characteristics excluding diffuse/focal hypoechogenicity were stepped by logistic regression, which showed that hyperechoic foci/strands ( OR=177.3, 95% CI: 18.7->999.9, P<0.001), pancreatic duct dilation ( OR=60.5, 95% CI: 6.2->999.9, P=0.004), bile duct wall thickening ( OR=35.4, 95% CI: 3.7->999.9, P=0.009), lymphadenopathy ( OR=16.8, 95% CI: 1.7-475.2, P=0.038) and vessel involvement ( OR=22.7, 95% CI: 2.0-725.7, P=0.028) were statistically significant predictors to distinguish the two diseases. Both prediction models were built in the derivation sample, with area under the ROC curve of 0.995 and 0.979 respectively. In the validation sample, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of both prediction models were all >90% by using the optimal cutoff value. Even for discrimination between focal AIP and PC, sensitivity and accuracy of both models were >90%, and specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were all >85%. Conclusion:The 2 prediction models have good differential predictive value, and EUS is a useful tool to differentiate between AIP and PC.

Unlike healthy, non-transformed cells, the proteostasis network of cancer cells is taxed to produce proteins involved in tumor development. Cancer cells have a higher dependency on molecular chaperones to maintain proteostasis. The chaperonin T-complex protein ring complex (TRiC) contains eight paralogous subunits (CCT1-8), and assists the folding of as many as 10% of cytosolic proteome. TRiC is essential for the progression of some cancers, but the roles of TRiC subunits in osteosarcoma remain to be explored. Here, we show that CCT4/TRiC is significantly correlated in human osteosarcoma, and plays a critical role in osteosarcoma cell survival. We identify a compound anticarin-β that can specifically bind to and inhibit CCT4. Anticarin-β shows higher selectivity in cancer cells than in normal cells. Mechanistically, anticarin-β potently impedes CCT4-mediated STAT3 maturation. Anticarin-β displays remarkable antitumor efficacy in orthotopic and patient-derived xenograft models of osteosarcoma. Collectively, our data uncover a key role of CCT4 in osteosarcoma, and propose a promising treatment strategy for osteosarcoma by disrupting CCT4 and proteostasis.

Due to the automation of clinical test and analysis, work units like hospitals have reduced the demand for medical laboratory talents, which has increased the employment pressure of graduates. However, the demand for medical laboratory talents is in short supply with the development of the in-vitro diagnosis industry. Guided by the industry development and the employment demand, our school set up the development direction of "in-vitro diagnosis", combined medicine and engineering, established the corresponding curriculum system, adopted school-enterprise (institution) collaboration and explored the talent training mode of "special direction tutor system". In addition, we provided a special course of "Introduction to Medical Laboratory" to freshmen, helping them select direction and plan their career, and exploring how to cultivate medical and engineering compound applied undergraduate talents of medical laboratory major.

The occurrence of acute hypotensive episodes (AHE) in intensive care units (ICU) seriously endangers the lives of patients, and the treatment is mainly depended on the expert experience of doctors. In this paper, a model for predicting the occurrence of AHE in ICU has been developed using the theory of medical Informatics. We analyzed the trend and characteristics of the mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) between the patients who were suffering AHE and those who were not, and extracted the median, mean and other statistical parameters for learning and training based on support vector machine (SVM), then developed a predicting model. On this basis, we also compared different models consisted of different kernel functions. Experiments demonstrated that this approach performed well on classification and prediction, which would contribute to forecast the occurrence of AHE.
Acute Disease ; Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Forecasting ; Humans ; Hypotension ; diagnosis ; Intensive Care Units ; Models, Cardiovascular ; Support Vector Machine

Graduation project is key link in the cultivation of innovative talents for college teaching work,which is the need of the era.Thus,this paper introduced the current development of biomedical engineering at home and abroad,and the achievement of the graduation project of our university at present.Then,the necessity of the teaching reform and innovation of graduation project are analyzed.The methods for the teaching reform and innovation of graduation project are introduced including the choice of projects,the adjustment of the project schedule,reinforcing the practice of projects and improving the ability to apply knowledge,the assessment criteria of grades for the project,etc.

Objective To evaluate modified retroperitoneal laparoscopic resection of renal cyst. Method Thirty-six patients with renal cyst were treated by modified retroperitoneal laparoscopic resection of renal cyst,summarized the clinic data and follow-up the effect. Results All 36 cases were operated suc-cessfuUy without changing to opening operation,average operation time (50 ± 35)min,no complications oc-curred and no recurrence was found. Conclusions The modified retroperitoneal laparoscopic resection of renal cyst with two 5 mm-trocars and one 10 mm-trocar has less trauma than classic laparoscopic operation. It is one of mini-trauma operation method which is worth to be popularized in clinic.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect and complications of transurethral plasmakinetic prostatectomy (TUPKP) in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

METHODSAll 313 patients underwent TUPKP, and the operative indexes and perioperative blood indexes were recorded. After operation, 290, 288 and 142 cases of BPH were followed up at 1 month, 3 months and 1 year respectively. Qmax, IPSS and QOL were measured in all the catamneses.

RESULTSThe operative time was (51 +/- 22) min; the mount of blood loss was (66 +/- 60) ml; no TURS occurred in any cases. The mean catheterization time was (11 +/- 10) h and the mean postoperative stay was (3.6 +/- 1.3) d. Qmax increased from (9.0 +/- 4.4) ml/s to (20.5 +/- 7.1) ml/s at 1 month, (21.8 +/- 5.4) ml/s at 3 months and (21.4 +/- 6.6) ml/s at 1 year after operation (P < 0.01). Correspondingly, IPSS decreased from (26.2 +/- 5.1) score to (6.0 +/- 9.0) score, (5.6 +/- 0.8) score and (4.4 +/- 2.7) score (P < 0.01), and the QOL of all the catamneses significantly improved.

CONCLUSIONTUPKP, a safe and effective method with fewer complications, can be recommended for the treatment of BPH.