AIM: To testify the special cytotoxicity of TGFa-SAP on proliferating vascular smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells. METHODS: Conjugation of saporin to TGFα was accomplished after derivatization of saporin and TGFα with N-succinimidyl-3 (2-pyridyldithio) proprionate. Cytotoxicity assays were measured by cell count. The studies of influence of TGFα-SAP on values of thymidine and leucine incorporation into SMCs and ECs were measured by 3H-thymidine uptake and 3H-leucine uptake, respectively. RESULTS: Cytotoxicity assays testified TGFα-SAP conjugate could inhibit remarkably proliferation of SMCs in culture. The values of thymidine of TGFα-SAP group (1 × 10-9 mol·L-1 and 1 × 10-7 mol·L-1) in comparison significantly decreased to 60.9% and 56.0% of the control group respectively, suggesting that cellular DNA synthesis obviously decreased as TGFα-SAP was added. But saporin did not affect cellular DNA synthesis at higher level. The rate of 3H-leucine incorporation of TGFα-SAP group significantly decreased to 47.3% of the control group, suggesting that SMCs protein synthesis obviously decreased as TGFα-SAP was added. But TGFαSAP at the same level did not affect DNA synthesis and protein synthesis of ECs compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: TGFα-SAP possesses the more effective cytotoxicity than saporin and the more specific citotoxicity on proliferating vascular smooth muscle cells than on proliferating endothelial cells.

The external treatmen of traditional Chinese medicine, the enema and the acupuncture is the current methods of external treatment of traditional Chinese medicine treatment for cirrhosis ascites. In the field of external application and enema, most literature reported specific herbal formular for specific disease, while little literature reported combination of oral administration of herb and external application, or external application based on TCM pattern differentiation, or external application on the acupoints. Acupuncture can reduce drug use and avoid their damage on the liver. This paper summarized the current researches of Chinese medicine external treatment, and points out the direction of the research on the external treatment of traditional Chinese medicine.

AIM: To observe the changes of macular retinal structure and microcirculation in patients with pituitary adenoma(PA)by optical coherence tomography(OCT)and optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA).METHODS: Cross-sectional study. A total of 40 PA patients treated at the department of neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University from September 2021 to March 2023 were included as PA group, and 42 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers were selected as normal control group. All patients underwent visual field, OCT and OCTA examinations, and the correlation of ocular parameters in PA patients was analyzed.RESULTS:The vessel density(VD)of each retinal layer in the macular area of the PA group was lower than that of the normal control group, and the superficial vascular complex(SVC)-VD in the macular area was positively correlated with the thickness of the macular ganglion cell complex(mGCC)(except the nasal side of the inner ring and the lower part of the outer ring; P<0.05). The thickness of mGCC in each quadrant of the macular area and the thickness of the circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer(CP-RNFL)in each quadrant were negatively correlated with the mean defect(MD)value of the visual field(P<0.05), and the area of the foveal avascular zone(FAZ)was positively correlated with the MD value(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:The combination of OCT and OCTA can fully understand the microscopic changes of retinal structure and microcirculation function in PA patients, which is of great value in evaluating the preoperative visual function of PA patients.

BACKGROUNDPercutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (PBPV) is the preferred therapy for pulmonary valve stenosis (PVS). This study retrospectively reviewed recent PBPV outcomes in infants with PVS. The aim of this study was to evaluate factors associated with immediate therapeutic outcomes and restenosis during medium-term follow-up.

METHODSThe study included 158 infants with PVS who underwent PBPV from January 2009 to July 2015. Demographic characteristics and patient records were reviewed, including detailed hospitalization parameters, hemodynamic data before and immediately after balloon dilation, cineangiograms, and echocardiograms before PBPV and at each follow-up. All procedures were performed by more than two experienced operators.

RESULTSImmediately after balloon dilation, the pressure gradient across the pulmonary valve decreased from 73.09 ± 21.89 mmHg (range: 43-151 mmHg) to 24.49 ± 17.00 mmHg (range: 3-92 mmHg; P < 0.001) and the right ventricular systolic pressure decreased from 95.34 ± 23.44 mmHg (range: 60-174 mmHg) to 52.07 ± 18.89 mmHg (range: 22-134 mmHg; P < 0.001). Residual transvalvular pressure gradients of 67.31 ± 15.19 mmHg (range: 50-92 mmHg) were found in 8.2% of patients, indicating poor therapeutic effects; 6.4% of patients had variable-staged restenosis at follow-up and 3.8% underwent reintervention by balloon dilation or surgical repairs. Further analysis demonstrated that the balloon/annulus ratio showed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) among groups with different therapeutic effects and between the restenosis and no-stenosis groups. Binary logistic regression analysis further revealed that higher balloon/annulus ratio (odds ratio: 0.005, 95% confidence interval: 0-0.39) was an independent protective factor for restenosis. The rate of severe complications was 1.9%.

CONCLUSIONSPBPV is a definitive therapy for infants with PVS based on its effectiveness, feasibility, and safety. Restenosis upon medium-term follow-up is relatively rare.

BACKGROUNDDrug resistance to targeted therapies occurs in lung cancer, and resistance mechanisms related to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are continuously being discovered. We aimed to establish a novel method for highly parallel multiplexed detection of genetic mutations related to EGFR TKI-resistant lung cancer using Agena iPLEX chemistry and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight analysis on the MassARRAY mass spectrometry platform.

METHODSA review of the literature revealed 60 mutation hotspots in seven target genes (EGFR, KRAS, PIK3CA, BRAF, ERBB2, NRAS, and BIM) that are closely related to EGFR TKI resistance to lung cancer. A total of 183 primers comprised 61 paired forward and reverse amplification primers, and 61 matched extension primers were designed using Assay Design Software. The detection method was established by analyzing nine cell lines, and by comparison with LungCarta™ kit in ten lung cancer specimens. EGFR, KRAS, and BIM genes in all cell lines and clinical samples were subjected to Sanger sequencing for confirming reproducibility.

RESULTSOur data showed that designed panel was a high-throughput and robust tool, allowing genotyping for sixty hotspots in the same run. Moreover, it made efficient use of patient diagnostic samples for a more accurate EGFR TKIs resistance analysis. The proposed method could accurately detect mutations in lung cancer cell lines and clinical specimens, consistent with those obtained by the LungCarta™ kit and Sanger sequencing. We also established a method for detection of large-fragment deletions based on single-base extension technology of MassARRAY platform.

CONCLUSIONSWe established an effective method for high-throughput detection of genetic mutations related to EGFR TKI resistance based on the MassARRAY platform, which could provide more accurate information for overcoming cancers with de novo or acquired resistance to EGFR-targeted therapies.

OBJECTIVE: To screen small molecule metabolites of dibutyl phthalate( DBP) in the rat plasma using ~1H nuclear magnetic resonance( NMR) technology; and to clarify the changes of metabolites and possible mechanism in metabolic regulation of DBP in rats from the molecular level and the aspects of material and energy metabolism. METHODS: According to random number table method,twenty-four specific pathogen free SD male rats were divided into four groups: control group,low dose group,middle dose group and high dose group with the given dose of 0,500,1 000 and1 500 mg / kg of body mass,respectively. After giving DBP of gavage once a day for two weeks,the plasma samples were obtained,and ~1H NMR spectra was recorded. The plasma metabonomic profiles were analyzed using pattern recognition.Difference metabolites were screened by principal components analysis,partial least squares-discriminate analysis and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminate analysis. Biomarkers was screened by variable importance in the projection norm. RESULTS: There were changes of twelve important metabolites in the plasma metabonomic profiles between DBP treatment groups and control group. The differences of metabolites had dose-effect relationship. Plasma levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, hydrobutyrate, glycoprotein, citric acid, glucose,creatine phosphate,unsaturated fatty acid,tyrosine and phenylalanine were reduced( P < 0. 05),while lactic acid and pyruvic acid were increased( P < 0. 05). CONCLUSION: DBP induces the metabolic disorders including amino acid metabolism,lipid metabolism and energy metabolism.

Background Vascular endothelial injury is an important pathogenic step of vibration-induced hand arm vibration disease (HAVD), and long-term vibration exposure can lead to vascular endothelial cell dysfunction and cell damage. Cell ferroptosis may be one of the important mechanisms of vibration-induced vascular endothelial cell injury and HAVD. Objective To explore whether vibration can induce changes in ferroptosis-related indicators in vascular endothelial cells in vitro. Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were divided into four vibrationgroups and two control groups. The vibration groups were exposed to an vibration setting of 125 Hz, 6.5 m·s⁻² frequency band and for different durations: 1 d 2 h (total 1 d, 2 h per day), 1 d 4 h (total 1 d, 4 h per day), 2 d 2 h (total 2 d, 2 h per day), and 2 d 4 h (total 2 d, 4 h per day), respectively. All control groups were treated the same as the experimental groups except no vibration exposure. When the cells were 80% confluent, the control groups and the corresponding experimental groups were harvested at the same time. The effects of subgroup treatments on iron, reduced glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in HUVEC were detected with a cell ferrous colorimetric test kit, a reduced GSH colorimetric test kit, and a trace MDA test kit, respectively. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expressions of ferroptosis-related genes acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 4 (ACSL4), tumor protein 53 (P53), recombinant human ferritin heavy chain (FTH1), and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). Western blot (WB) was used to detect the expression levels of ferroptosis-related proteins in HUVEC. Results Compared with the control groups, the vibration induced an increase in the iron content of HUVEC with a dose-response trend. Compared with the control groups, the reduced GSH content of HUVEC in the vibration group decreased with the increase of vibration time and frequency, and there was a dose-response trend. Compared with the control groups, the intracellular MDA content of HUVEC in the 1 d 2 h, 1 d 4 h, and 2 d 4 h vibration groups increased, and the MDA content in the 1 d 2 h and 1 d 4 h vibration group increased with time. The RT-PCR results showed that the mRNA expression levels of ACSL4 and P53 in the 1 d 4 h group increased compared with the 1 d 2 h group. Compared with the 2 d control group, the mRNA expression levels of ACSL4 in the 2 d 2 h vibration group and the 2 d 4 h vibration group increased, and the mRNA expression level of P53 in the 2 d 4 h vibration group increased. Compared with the 1 d control group, the mRNA expression levels of FTH1 and GPX4 in endothelial cells in the vibration 1 d 2 h group decreased. The WB results showed that compared with the control groups, the expression level of ferroptosis-related protein ACSL4 in endothelial cells increased in the vibration 1 d 2 h group; the expression levels of P53 in the 1 d 2 h and 2 d 4 h vibration groups increased; the expression levels of GPX4 decreased in the 1 d 4 h and 2 d 2 h vibration group, and the decrease was more obvious in the 2 d 2 h vibration group than in the 1 d 2 h vibration group; the above differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Vibration induces an increase in iron content, a decrease in GSH, and an increase in MDA in vascular endothelial cells in vitro, as well as mRNA and protein expressions of ferroptosis-related genes ACSL4, P53, FTH1, and GPX4.

The choice of friction interface has always been a controversial topic in hip arthroplasty. Although the metal-on-metal (MoM) interface has gradually faded out of our vision, its revision is a clinical difficulty. Adverse reactions to metal debris (ARMD) is the most common indication for MoM hip arthroplasty revision, and the clinical results of hip arthroplasty due to ARMD are not satisfactory. At present, the indications and suggestions for revision of ARMD are not uniform. In this article, the clinical diagnosis, indications of revision, risk factors of prognosis, intraoperative suggestions and reasons for revision of ARMD were summarized. This article briefly introduces the diagnosis and treatment strategies and precautions of hip arthroplasty due to ARMD, in order to provide reference for such patients in clinical practice.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip/adverse effects* ; Hip Prosthesis/adverse effects* ; Humans ; Metal-on-Metal Joint Prostheses/adverse effects* ; Prosthesis Design ; Prosthesis Failure ; Reoperation

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mediating effect of the general self-efficacy(GSE), stress coping personality(SCP) and perceived professional benefits(PPB) among nursing practice students. METHODS: A total of 836 nursing interns from six grade A hospitals in six cities were selected as the research subjects using convenience sampling method. The GSE, SCP and PPB were investigated by the General Self-Efficacy Scale, Scale of Stress Coping Personality for College Students and Questionnaire of Nurses Perceived Professional Benefit. RESULTS: The average scores of GSE, SCP, and PPB were(24.6±5.8),(183.1±28.7) and(139.5±18.0), respectively. The scores of GSE and SCP were positively correlated with that of PPB [correlation coefficients(r) were 0.31 and 0.38 respectively, both P<0.01], and a positive correlation was found between GSE and SCP(r=0.41, P<0.01). The hierarchical regression results showed that the sense of control, tenacity and tolerance of SCP of the interns had a predictive effect on their PPB(all P<0.05); but the effect of SCP on PPB was weakened after inclusion of GSE(P<0.01). The structural equation model analysis results showed that both SCP and GSE of interns had a direct positive predictive effect on PPB(all P<0.01), GSE played a partial mediating role between SCP and PPB, accounting for 20.3% of the total effect. CONCLUSION: The SCP of nursing interns can directly or indirectly affect their PPB, and GSE plays a partial mediating effect between SCP and PPB.

n recent years, photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) has gained a wide clinical application in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) for its satisfactory effect, high safety, and low incidence of complications. With the improvement of living conditions, BPH patients are paying more attention to their sexual function, especially erectile function and ejaculatory problems instead of just focusing on the alleviation of lower urinary tract symptoms. Few studies of PVP, however, relate to its association with the sexual function of the patient and there is a certain controversy over the influence of PVP on it in the existing literature. Prevailing views hold that the uprated power in PVP does not affect erectile function or increase the risk of retrograde ejaculation (REj) and that PVP is even better than transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in avoiding the risk of REj.
Aged ; Ejaculation ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; methods ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; therapy ; Male ; Penile Erection ; Prostate ; surgery ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; surgery ; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; Treatment Outcome