objective To retrospectively evaluate the accuracy of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)and CT in preoperative tumor,and nodal metastasis(TN)staging of esophageal carcinoma.Methods TN stages of 87 cases diagnosed with preoperative EUS and CT were compared with postoperative pathological results.No patient underwent radiotherapy or chemotheraphy.The radial echoendoscope was used,and balloon dilation was required in 5 cases with stricture.Results The total accuracy of T staging with EUS was 85.1%.CT could not differentiate Tl from T2.The sensitivity of EUS for N staging was 85.0%,higher than that of CT(60.8%).However,some lymph nodes which were not detected by EUS could be revealed by CT.Accuracy of EUS plus CT in T staging is 85.1%.and that in N staging is 90.8%.Conclusion EUS is the most accurate measure in assessing the depth of tumor invasion,whereas the combination of EUS and CT is capable of an overall evaluation for TNM staging.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at affected-limb gallbladder meridian points and its effect on the recovery of lower limb function in treating hemiplegia patients with cerebral infarction. Methods Sixty hemiplegia patients with cerebral infarction were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 30 cases each. The treatment group received acupuncture at the gallbladder meridian points of the affected-side lower limb as main therapy and the control group, conventional acupuncture. After two courses of treatment, a pre-/post-treatment change in the Lower Extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment score was observed in the two groups and post-treatment walking paces, pace lengths and incidences of strephenopodia were compared between the two groups.Results There was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in the Lower Extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment score in the two groups (P<0.01). There was a statistically significant post-treatment difference in the Lower Extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment score between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in walking pace, pace length and the incidence of strephenopodia between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture at affected-limb gallbladder meridian points can improve lower limb function and reduce the incidence of strephenopodia in hemiplegia patients with cerebral infarction.

[Objective]This study was conducted to examine the effects of dexmedetomidine on the proliferation and angiogenesis of MHCC97H and SMCC7721 human hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)cell lines cultured in hypoxia condition in vitro,and investigated the possible mechanism involved.[Methods]MHCC97H and SMCC7721 human HCC cell lines under hypoxia culture condition were treated with presence or absence of dexmedetomidine(100 μmol/L). Cell viability,colony formation,vasculogenic mimicry(VM) formation were assessed. The effects of dexmedetomidine on α-2A adrenergic receptor(α2A),hypoxia induced factor-1a(HIF-1a),and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)protein expression were evaluated with Western blot analysis.[Results]Cell proliferation assay and colony formation assay indicated that hypoxia obviously promoted the proliferation of MHCC 97H and SMCC7721 cells(CoCl2 group vs corresponding control group,the proliferation rate of MHCC97H and SMCC7721:Day 3,142.2%and 133.8%;Day 4,134.7%and 131.0%;Day 5,133.5%and 136.2%;all P<0.05),and VM formation assay suggested that hypoxia increased angiogenesis of MHCC97H and SMCC7721 cells. Whereas dexmedetomidine significantly inhibited the proliferation(Dex+CoCl2 group vs CoCl2 group,the proliferation rate of MHCC97H and SMCC7721:Day 3,55.7%vs 60.7%;Day 4,46.9%vs 58.1%;Day 5,46.4%vs 57.0%,all P<0.05)and angiogenesis of MHCC97H,SMCC7721 cells induced by hypoxia. Dexmedetomidine may exert these functions by activating α-2A adrenergic receptor,causing an decrease in HIF-1a and VEGF protein,while hypoxia activated HIF-1a and VEGF protein to promote the growth and angiogenesis of cells.[Conclusion]The findings provide evidence that hypoxia could promote the proliferation and angiogenesis of MHCC97H and SMCC7721 cells,while dexmedetomidine might inhibit these effects by down-regulating HIF-1a and VEGF protein expression through activatingα-2A adrenergic receptor.

AIM To study the influence of Huangqi Powder (Puerariae lobatae Radix,Astragali Radix,Mori Cortex) on femur and tibia in rats with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP).METHODS Thirty one-month-old male SD rats were divided into three groups by randomized block design,which were control group (normal saline),prednisone group (3.5 mg/kg prednisone acetate),Huangqi Powder group (clinical adult dosage).Experimental test was maintained for one hundred and twenty days.Double fluorochrome labeling with calcein was performed before necropsy;bone resorption and bone formation index were determined by using blood serum;the femur structural and material mechanics were analyzed by using bone biomechanics method.The cancellous bone of proximal tibial and the cortical bone of tibial shaft static parameter and dynamic parameter were analyzed by bone histomorphometry method.RESULTS Huangqi Powder had no obvious improving effects on bone biomechanics and bone static parameter,but could increas the area,width and number of the proximal tibia bone trabecular.Mark perimeter percentage and mineralization rate of deposition could be increased.CONCLUSION Huangqi Powder can significantly increase proximal tibia cancellous bone mass and enhance bone trabecula structure of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis rats.

Spermatogenesis, a continuous course of cell proliferation and differentiation, depends on reproductive hormones. FSH and LH-induced T are the main hormones regulating spermatogensis. Intratesticular T is one of the key factors in maintaining spermatogenesis, while FSH is just as important for origination and maintenance of normal spermatogenesis. Sertoli cells are the pivot of hormonal regulation. Interestingly, these reproductive hormones also regulate sperm cell apoptosis spermatogenesis. Further studies on the hormonal regulation of spermatogenesis provide a base for the development of safe and recoverable contraceptives for males.
Androgens ; physiology ; Apoptosis ; Contraception ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; physiology ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; physiology ; Male ; Spermatogenesis

Objective: To investigate the underlying influential factors related to emotional overeating behavior among college students,and to provide a reference for formulating intervention strategies for prevention of unhealthy eating behavior of college students. Methods: A questionnaire designed based on the social ecosystem theory was used to assess the potential influential factors of at personal, social, physical and macro level emotional overeating behavior of 2 045 college students. The Emotional Overeating Questionnaire was used to measure the frequency of emotional overeating behavior among normal weight college students. Binary Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the association between dietary norms and the influence emotional overeating behaviors. Results: In the full adjusted model, dietary norms (OR=1.28,95%CI=1.16-1.41)，emotion scale (OR=1.46, 95%CI=1.24-1.73) and close friends attitude(OR=0.75, 95%CI=0.59-0.95)were associated with emotional overeating behaviors. Sex, urban and rural origin, monthly living expenses, parental attitude, distance to frequent fast food restaurants outside the school, and the unmarked proportion of nutritional content and calorie information on food packaging were not associated with emotional overeating behaviors (P>0.05). Conclusion Dietary norms and emotion scale might increase the risk of motional overeating, close friends attitude might reduce the risk of emotional overeating. For reducing the frequency of unhealthy eating behavior, our results implied that 1) it s necessary to improve mental health of the college students; strengthening health education in order to make them distinguish the unhealthy dietary norms is important; peer education might be effective.

Objective: To observe the change and clinical significance of the peripheral blood T-lymphocytes CD45RA⁺ and CD45RO⁺ in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) under different clinical classification. Methods: From October 2015 to July 2017, the clinical data of 80 children with HSP in the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College were retrospectively analyzed.According to the clinical classification, they were divided into three groups: skin involvement group (35 cases), abdominal type group (36 cases), and renal type group (9 cases). Another 80 healthy children were selected as the control group.The changes and clinical significance of peripheral blood T-lymphocytes CD45RA⁺ , CD45RO⁺ and CD45RA⁺ /CD45RO⁺ ratio were analyzed. Results: Among the 80 children, 40 cases were male and 40 cases were female, with age of (7.2±2.3)years old.The CD45RA⁺ and CD45RO⁺ rates in the HSP group were (13.19±7.09)%, (12.07±3.46)%, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the control group [(23.26±6.01)%, (21.74±3.46)%], the differences were statistically significant (t=9.69, 16.42, all P<0.05). The CD45RA⁺ ratio, CD45RA⁺ count and CD45RA⁺ /CD45RO⁺ ratio of the kidney type group were (8.02±3.63)%, (2.19±0.33)/μL, (-0.28±0.19), respectively, which were significantly lower than those of the skin group [(15.74±7.71)%, (2.55±0.33)/μL, (0.27±0.12)], the differences were statistically significant(t=3.085, 2.709, 4.013, all P<0.05). The ratio of CD45RA⁺ /CD45RO⁺ in the abdominal group was significantly lower than that in the skin group[(-0.07±0.27)vs.(0.27±0.12), t=2.989, P<0.05]. Conclusion Peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets CD45RA⁺ and CD45RO⁺ may play a role in the generation and development of immune function changes in children with HSP, and the decrease of CD45RA⁺ T cells may be related to the risk of HSP nephritis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a child with optic atrophy and global developmental delay. METHODS: A child who had presented at the Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center in January 2022 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data were collected. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was carried out for the child. Candidate variant was validated by Sanger sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. RESULTS: The child, a nine-month-old female, had manifested dysopia and global developmental delay. Genetic testing revealed that she has harbored a de novo c.425G>C (p.Arg142Pro) variant of the NR2F1 gene, which has been associated with Bosch-Boonstra-Schaaf syndrome. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the variant was classified as pathogenic (PS2+PM1+PM2_Supporting+PM5+PP3+PP4). CONCLUSION The c.425G>C (p.Arg142Pro) variant of the NR2F1 gene probably underlay the pathogenesis in this child. Above finding has enriched the genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of the NR2F1 gene.
Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Computational Biology ; COUP Transcription Factor I/genetics* ; Genetic Testing ; Genomics ; Genotype ; Optic Atrophy/genetics*

BACKGROUND:Thromboelastography plays an important role in identifying the hypercoagulable state of blood and thrombosis in humans.Recent studies have shown a correlation between an increase in mean platelet volume and thrombosis.We can therefore ask whether the combined diagnosis of thromboelastography and mean platelet volume is a more accurate predictor of thrombosis. OBJECTIVE:To predict the status of blood and the occurrence of thrombosis after total knee arthroplasty by means of mean platelet volume combined with thromboelastography. METHODS:One hundred and twenty patients who underwent unilateral total knee arthroplasty between May 2015 and March 2022 were collected.Patients were divided into 60 patients in the thrombosis group and 60 patients in the control group based on ultrasound findings on postoperative day 7.Whole blood cell and thromboelastography were performed 1 day before,1 and 7 days after surgery,respectively.Multifactorial analysis was used to investigate independent predictors of thrombosis after total knee arthroplasty.The receiver operating characteristic curve and area under the curve were measured in the subjects. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Mean platelet volume correlated most strongly with maximum amplitude,followed by coagulation angle.Mean platelet volume and coagulation angle on postoperative day 1 were independent predictors of thrombosis.Mean platelet volume tended to rise and then fall in patients with thrombosis.The best critical value for mean platelet volume to predict thrombosis was 10.73 fL.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of subjects was 0.665(95%CI:0.568-0.762,P<0.05];whereas the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for subjects using mean platelet volume combined with coagulation angle was 0.815(95%CI:0.750-0.879,P<0.05).In addition,the maximum amplitude,coagulation angle,coagulation index and mean platelet volume were significantly higher in the thrombosis group than in the control group postoperatively(P<0.05).The results suggest that the mean platelet volume can reflect the hypercoagulable state of blood after surgery,and the combination of mean platelet volume and coagulation angle on day 1 after total knee arthroplasty can improve the prediction of thrombosis.

The lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV) is a common lumbar vertebral variation characterized by unilateral or bilateral enlarged transverse processes. When the enlargement of the transverse processes alters the local biomechanics of LSTV, it may give rise to a series of clinical symptoms known as Bertolotti syndrome. The main manifestations include pain in the lumbosacral region, buttocks, outer side of the lower limbs, numbness, and symptoms related to the sciatic nerve. LSTV is often classified using the Castellvi classification. The presence of lumbosacralization and sacralization of vertebrae in LSTV makes it challenging to accurately locate and number LSTV. So various anatomical landmarks and spinal parameters have been proposed to assist in the localization and numbering of LSTV, but they all have a certain error rate. Even after the lumbar vertebrae is clearly numbered, there is often controversy over the baseline selection for preoperative spinal parameters. Currently, the horizontal level of S 1 is considered the optimal measurement baseline, but this conclusion needs further confirmation in a clinical context. The main basis for LSTV diagnosis is imaging signs, while the diagnosis of Bertolotti syndrome requires local injection of local anesthetics or corticosteroids into the pseudo-joint and the exclusion of other degenerative diseases of the lumbar spine. The treatment of Bertolotti syndrome includes conservative and surgical approaches. Common surgical procedures include fusion and decompression, both of which can achieve good short-term outcomes. However, due to the limited number of patients studied or a lack of direct comparisons, it is challenging to determine the superiority of these two methods in terms of medium to long-term effectiveness. This article provides a comprehensive review of the symptoms and causes of Bertolotti syndrome, preoperative localization and numbering of LSTV, baseline selection for preoperative spinal parameter measurements, and treatment methods.