As narrow band imaging（NBI） technology and research for vocal fold leukoplakia have advanced, the diagnostic and therapeutic paradigms for this condition have evolved significantly. This paper provides insight into the challenges of clinical management of vocal fold leukoplakia, drawing on our empirical findings to clarify the etiology, differential diagnosis, pathological grading, morphological characteristics, and recent therapeutic developments of this condition.
Humans ; Vocal Cords/pathology* ; Leukoplakia/therapy*

Osteosarcoma (OS), chondrosarcoma (CS), and Ewing sarcoma (ES) represent primary malignant bone tumors and pose significant challenges in oncology research and clinical management. Conventional research methods, such as two-dimensional (2D) cultured tumor cells and animal models, have limitations in recapitulating the complex tumor microenvironment (TME) and often fail to translate into effective clinical treatments. The advancement of three-dimensional (3D) culture technology has revolutionized the field by enabling the development of in vitro constructed bone tumor models that closely mimic the in vivo TME. These models provide powerful tools for investigating tumor biology, assessing therapeutic responses, and advancing personalized medicine. This comprehensive review summarizes the recent advancements in research on 3D tumor models constructed in vitro for OS, CS, and ES. We discuss the various techniques employed in model construction, their applications, and the challenges and future directions in this field. The integration of advanced technologies and the incorporation of additional cell types hold promise for the development of more sophisticated and physiologically relevant models. As research in this field continues to evolve, we anticipate that these models will play an increasingly crucial role in unraveling the complexities of malignant bone tumors and accelerating the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
Bone Neoplasms/pathology* ; Humans ; Osteosarcoma/pathology* ; Tumor Microenvironment ; Sarcoma, Ewing/pathology* ; Chondrosarcoma/pathology* ; Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques/methods* ; Cell Culture Techniques, Three Dimensional/methods* ; Cell Line, Tumor

The oxytocin receptor (OXTR) has garnered increasing attention for its role in regulating both mature behaviors and brain development. It has been established that OXTR mediates a range of effects that are region-specific or period-specific. However, the current studies of OXTR expression patterns in mice only provide limited help due to limitations in resolution. Therefore, our objective was to generate a comprehensive, high-resolution spatiotemporal expression map of Oxtr mRNA across the entire developing mouse brain. We applied RNAscope in situ hybridization to investigate the spatiotemporal expression pattern of Oxtr in the brains of male mice at six distinct postnatal developmental stages (P7, P14, P21, P28, P42, P56). We provide detailed descriptions of Oxtr expression patterns in key brain regions, including the cortex, basal forebrain, hippocampus, and amygdaloid complex, with a focus on the precise localization of Oxtr⁺ cells and the variance of expression between different neurons. Furthermore, we identified some neuronal populations with high Oxtr expression levels that have been little studied, including glutamatergic neurons in the ventral dentate gyrus, Vgat⁺Oxtr⁺ cells in the basal forebrain, and GABAergic neurons in layers 4/5 of the cortex. Our study provides a novel perspective for understanding the distribution of Oxtr and encourages further investigations into its functions.
Animals ; Receptors, Oxytocin/metabolism* ; Male ; Brain/growth & development* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Single-Cell Analysis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; Animals, Newborn

Small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) refer to a class of highly abundant and functionally important non-coding small RNAs that are localized in the eukaryotic nucleus. These snRNAs are highly conserved in different eukaryotes during evolution and form complexes with specific chaperones to fulfill critical biological functions, including precursor messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) splicing and ribosomal RNA (rRNA) modification. Consequently, the regulation of snRNA gene expression is a crucial biological process for plants. In plants, the transcription and processing of snRNAs are regulated by RNA polymerase (Pol), snRNA-activating protein complex (SNAPc), defective in snRNA processing (DSP), and specific cis-elements in the snRNA promoter regions. Proper regulation of snRNA expression is essential for normal plant growth, development, and stress responses. This review summarizes the classification, structures, transcriptional regulation, and biological functions of plant snRNA genes, while outlining future research directions for snRNAs.
RNA, Small Nuclear/physiology* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Transcription, Genetic ; Plants/metabolism* ; RNA, Plant/genetics*

Objective To investigate the causality between dietary factors and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) based on Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Methods Twenty-nine dietary factors were considered as exposure factors, and GERD as the outcome factors. Relevant data were obtained from the IEU open genome-wide association study (GWAS) database, and appropriate instrumental variables (IVs) were selected for MR analysis. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was primarily used to evaluate the results, with MR-Egger regression and the weighted median estimator (WME) serving as supplementary MR analysis methods to explore the associations between various dietary factors and GERD. Different models and tests were employed for sensitivity analysis to examine heterogeneity, horizontal pleiotropy, and robustness of the results. Results A total of eight dietary factors were identified to have significant associations with GERD through MR analysis. Specifically, intake of dried fruits (OR=0.530, 95%CI, 0.418 to 0.674, P < 0.001), amount of fresh fruits (OR=0.631, 95%CI, 0.480 to 0.829, P=0.001), intake of herbal tea (OR=0.995, 95%CI, 0.990 to 0.999, P=0.026), intake of oily fish (OR=0.793, 95%CI, 0.643 to 0.976, P=0.029), and intake of cheese (OR=0.718, 95%CI, 0.597 to 0.868, P=0.001) were negatively associated with GERD, while alcohol consumption frequency (OR=1.329, 95%CI, 1.207 to 1.463, P < 0.001), pork intake (OR=1.806, 95%CI, 1.116 to 2.922, P=0.016), and intake of sugary food/beverage (OR=4.062, 95%CI, 1.543 to 10.696, P=0.001) were positively associated with GERD. Conclusion Intake of dried fruits, fresh fruit, herbal tea, oily fish, and cheese may reduce the risk of GERD, while high alcohol consumption frequency, pork intake, and intake of sugary foods or beverages are associated with an increased risk of GERD.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors in treatment of gastric cancer with ascites.Methods:A retrospective case-control study was conducted. The clinical data of 39 gastric cancer patients with malignant ascites treated in Xi'an Third Hospital from May 2021 to June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were divided into the routine group (18 cases) and the observation group (21 cases) according to different treatment methods. The patients in the routine group were treated with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy combined with systemic intravenous chemotherapy; the patients in the observation group were treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors on the basis of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy combined with systemic intravenous chemotherapy. The clinical efficacy, tumor marker levels, Karnofsky scores, and incidence of adverse reactions of both groups were compared. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the overall survival (OS) of both groups.Results:There were 12 males (66.7%) and 6 females (33.3%) in the routine group, with the age of (57±13) years; 13 males (61.9%) and 8 females (38.1%) in the observation group, with the age of (59±12) years. After treatment, the serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate 125 (CA125), carbohydrate 199 (CA199) levels in the 2 groups were lower than those before treatment, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). After treatment, the serum CEA, CA125, CA199 levels in the observation group were lower than those in the routine group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). After treatment, Karnofsky scores in the observation group were higher than those before treatment [(78.6±7.5) scores vs. (69.5±8.9) scores], and Karnofsky scores in the observation group were higher than those in the routine group [(78.6±7.5) scores vs. (72.8±7.9) scores],and the differences were statistically significant ( t = -3.65, 2.33, all P < 0.05). The objective remission rate (ORR) was 55.6% (10/18) and 71.4%(15/21), respectively in the routine group and the observation group, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2 = 9.24, P = 0.002). The median OS time was 38.97 months (95% CI: 34.99-42.95 months) and 23.62 months (95% CI: 18.49-28.74 months), respectively in the observation group and the routine group, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2 = 3.88, P = 0.049). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the 2 groups (all P > 0.05). No serious treatment-related complications were found in the observation group. Conclusions:Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors shows a good therapeutic effect in the treatment of gastric cancer with ascites, and the adverse reactions are controllable.

Objective:To investigate the application value of 0.9% sodium chloride injection for a balloon catheter in bedside Doppler ultrasound-guided percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy in critically ill patients.Methods:A randomized controlled study was conducted involving 54 critically ill patients who were scheduled for tracheostomy at the Intensive Care Medicine, Jilin Province People's Hospital, from September 2022 to April 2024. These patients were randomly divided into a conventional group ( n = 27) and an ultrasound group ( n = 27) using the random number table method. The conventional group underwent empirical extubation, while the ultrasound group received extubation guided by a balloon catheter filled with 0.9% sodium chloride injection under ultrasound guidance. The following parameters were observed in both groups: duration of operation, incidence of blood oxygen saturation < 90%, incidence of puncturing the endotracheal tube or balloon catheter, distance from extubation site to the incisors, dosage of propofol, length of incision, and amount of bleeding. Results:Both groups of patients successfully completed the procedure on the first attempt, with no significant complications such as extensive bleeding, vascular injury, thyroid damage, or pneumothorax. In the ultrasound group, the incidence of puncturing the endotracheal tube or balloon catheter, duration of operation, and dosage of propofol were 3.7% (1/27), (6.2 ± 1.4) minutes, and 40 (40, 40) mg, respectively, all of which were superior to those in the conventional group [48.1% (13/27), (9.8 ± 2.7) minutes, 80 (70, 80) mg, χ2 = 23.19, t = 6.11, Z = -6.29, all P < 0.05]. The incidence of hypoxemia in the ultrasound group was 0, which was significantly lower than that in the conventional group [29.6% (8/27), P < 0.05]. The distance from extubation site to the incisors in the ultrasound group was 18 (17, 18) cm, which was significantly different from 18 cm of the conventional group ( Z = -2.62, P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in length of incision and amount of bleeding between the two groups ( P = 0.652, 0.878). Conclusion:Performing PDT under bedside Doppler ultrasound guidance with a 0.9% sodium chloride injection-filled balloon catheter in patients requiring mechanical ventilation can reduce procedure duration, lower the incidence of hypoxemia and puncturing of the endotracheal tube or balloon catheter, decrease the use of sedative medications, and enhance the accuracy and safety of the procedure.

Objective:To explore the correlation between anxiety and intimacy in high-risk pregnant women.Methods:From November 2023 to March 2024, convenience sampling was used to select 257 high-risk pregnant women admitted to Department of Obstetrics of four ClassⅢ Grade A hospitals in Beijing as participants. The survey was conducted using the General Information Questionnaire, Locke-Wollance Marital Adjustment Test (LWMAT), and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). Hierarchical linear regression was used to analyze the correlation between anxiety and intimacy in high-risk pregnant women.Results:Among 257 high-risk pregnant women, the SAS score was 30.00 (26.00, 35.00), the anxiety incidence rate was 3.9% (10/257), the LWMAT score was 129.00 (113.50, 141.00), and 227 (88.3%) pregnant women perceived good intimacy. Hierarchical linear regression analysis showed that intimacy was a factor affecting the anxiety of high-risk pregnant women ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:Intimacy can negatively predict anxiety in high-risk pregnant women. Medical and nursing staff should pay attention to the intimacy between high-risk pregnant women and their spouses, and fully leverage the important role of intimacy in improving the negative emotions of high-risk pregnant women.

Objective:To investigate the protective effects of an anti-inflammatory mixture on acute lung injury (ALI) induced by sepsis in rats, as well as its possible mechanisms.Methods:A total of 40 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into the sham group, septic ALI model group (model group), 3-methyladenine (3-MA) control group, and anti-inflammatory mixture pretreatment group, with 10 rats in each group. Cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) was performed to reproduce a septic ALI model. The rats in the sham group only underwent opening and closing the abdomen without perforation and ligation. Both groups were given saline gavage and intraperitoneal injection for 3 consecutive days before surgery. The 3-MA control group was given intraperitoneal injection of saline and autophagy inhibitor 3-MA 15 mg/kg for 3 consecutive days before modeling. The anti-inflammatory mixture pretreatment group was given 8.8 mL/kg of anti-inflammatory mixture by gavage [the composition of anti-inflammatory mixture: rhubarb 15 g (after the next), coptis chinensis 15 g, baical skullcap root 12 g, magnoliae cortex 12 g, dahurian patrinia herb 30 g] and saline intraperitoneal injection for 3 consecutive days before modeling. The rats in each group were anesthetized 24 hours after surgery and died due to abdominal aortic blood collection. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of serum inflammatory cytokines interleukins (IL-1β and IL-6). Lung tissue was taken and then the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected, and the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 were detected by ELISA. Lung wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio was measured. After hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, the histopathological changes of the lungs were observed under light microscopy. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of autophagy markers microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ (LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ) and Beclin-1 protein in lung tissue. Autophagosomes in lung tissue were observed with transmission electron microscopy.Results:Compared with the sham group, the rats in the model group exhibited severe destruction of lung tissue structure, with significant infiltration of inflammatory cells, the lung W/D ratio and the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in serum and BALF were significantly increased, the expressions of LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ and Beclin-1 protein were down-regulated, the autophagosomes were more. The rats in the 3-MA control group exhibited more severe lung tissue injury as compared with the model group, the lung W/D ratio and the levels of inflammatory cytokines in serum and BALF were further increased, the expressions of LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ and Beclin-1 protein still showed a decrease tendency as compared with the sham group, and the autophagosomes were less than that in the model group. Compared with the model group, the anti-inflammatory mixture pretreatment group showed milder lung tissue injury with a minimal amount of inflammatory cell infiltration, the lung W/D ratio was significantly reduced (7.07±1.02 vs. 11.33±1.85, P < 0.05), the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in both serum and BALF were significantly decreased [IL-1β (ng/L): 26.04±3.86 vs. 40.83±5.46 in serum, 17.75±2.02 vs. 26.86±4.32 in BALF; IL-6 (ng/L): 91.28±10.15 vs. 129.44±13.05 in serum, 76.06±7.51 vs. 120.91±7.47 in BALF, all P < 0.05], and the ratio of LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ and Beclin-1 protein expression were significantly increased [LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ ratio: 1.23±0.02 vs. 0.60±0.02, Beclin-1 protein (Beclin-1/GAPDH): 2.37±0.33 vs. 0.62±0.05, both P < 0.05]. Furthermore, an increase in the number of autophagosomes was observed. Conclusion:The anti-inflammatory mixture improves lung injury in rats with sepsis induced by CLP and reduce inflammation levels, potentially through upregulation of Beclin-1-mediated autophagy.

Objective:To explore the changes of gait flexibility and stability in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) 2 years after deep brain stimulation (DBS).Methods:Twenty PD patients accepted DBS in Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Huanhu Hospital from October 2019 to November 2021 were enrolled. Motor symptoms were evaluated by Movement Disorder Society-unified Parkinson's disease rating scale III (MDS-UPDRS-III) at preoperative medication-off state, postoperative medication-off state, and postoperative medication-on state. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) were used to assess the cognition and 39-item Parkinson's disease questionnaire (PDQ-39) was used to evaluate the quality of life at preoperative medication-on state and postoperative medication-on state. A three-dimensional gait analyzer was used to record the gait parameters during Instrumented Stand and Walk test (ISAW) at preoperative medication-off state, postoperative medication-off state, and postoperative medication-on state. Differences in motor symptom scores, cognitive scores, quality of life scores, as well as changes in gait flexibility and stability were compared before and after DBS.Results:(1) The MDS-UPDRS-Ⅲ scores at preoperative medication-off state, postoperative medication-off state, and postoperative medication-on state ([45.30±12.57], [24.95±10.74], [15.80±7.19]) were decreased successively, with significant differences ( P<0.05).(2) Compared with those before surgery, PD patients had significantly lower levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD), total scores of PDQ-39, and scores of question 9 "degree of concern about falling" in PDQ-39 at 2 years after DBS ([711.84±343.99] mg/d vs. [549.30±301.08] mg/d, 47.00[30.00, 64.00] vs. 13.50[7.75, 27.00], 2.00[0.00, 3.00] vs. 0.00[0.00, 1.75], P<0.05). (3) Compared with that at preoperative medication-off state, the arm swing velocity at postoperative medication-on state statistically increased in PD patients ( P<0.05); compared with those at preoperative medication-off state, the arm swing range and turning speed at postoperative medication-off and medication-on states significantly increased in PD patients ( P<0.05); compared with that at preoperative medication-off state, the turning duration at postoperative medication-off state statistically decreased in PD patients ( P<0.05). Compared with that at preoperative medication-off state, the range of motion of the trunk in the horizontal plane at postoperative medication-off and medication-on states increased significantly in PD patients ( P<0.05); compared with that at preoperative medication-off state, the range of motion in the sagittal plane of the lumbar, coronal plane of the trunk, and sagittal plane of the trunk all increased significantly in PD patients at postoperative medication-on state ( P<0.05); the mean velocity and root mean square acceleration at postoperative medication-on state increased significantly in PD patients compared with that at preoperative medication-off state ( P<0.05); conversely, the swing frequency at postoperative medication-off state decreased significantly in PD patients compared with that at preoperative medication-off state ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Two years after DBS, PD patients exhibit obviously improved gait, with enhanced flexibility, and dynamic and static stability.