Objective:To investigate the ultrasonographic characteristics and risk factors of breast cancer internal mammary lymph node (IMLN) metastasis.Methods:A retrospective analysis of 296 first diagnosed breast cancer patients in the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from March 2010 to May 2020. IMLN was divided into metastatic group (236 cases) and non-metastatic group (60 cases) based on pathology. Chi-square test and independent sample t test were used to analyze the ultrasound characteristics of IMLN metastasis and factors related to metastasis. ROC curve analysis of IMLNs were plotted to obtain the diagnostic thresholds and their sensitivity and specificity.Univariate and multivariate Logistic analysis was used to analyze the risk factors of IMLN metastasis. Results:①The appearances of IMLN in ultrasound were normal type, thickened-cortex type, unclear hilus structure type and thickened-nodular soft tissue type. ②In the two groups, the differences in IMLN long diameter, thickness diameter, number, and lymphatic hilum structure type were statistically significant (all P<0.05), and there were no significant differences in IMLN long diameter/thickness diameter and IMLN blood supply (all P>0.05). ③The long diameter threshold of IMLN for diagnosis of metastasis was 10.5 mm, the are under the ROC curve(AUC) was 0.825, with sensitivity of 58.5% and specificity 93.3%; thickness and diameter threshold was 4.5 mm, AUC was 0.790, with sensitivity 66.9% and specificity 75.0%. The sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis of long-diameter combined structure type were 56.3% and 93.3%, respectively; the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis of thick-diameter combined structure type were 64.8% and 81.7%, respectively. The cortical thickness threshold was 1.9 mm, and the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 91.9% and 86.7%, respectively. ④The risk factors of IMLN metastasis inculded univariate analysis showed tumor length, tumor volume, axillary lymph node long diameter, axillary lymph node metastasis, and clavicle lymph node metastasis. There was a statistically significant difference in the pathology of the lower lymph nodes between the two groups ( P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that the long diameter of the tumor and the metastasis of the axillary lymph nodes were independent risk factors of IMLN metastasis. Conclusions:The metastatic IMLN mostly manifest as no lymphatic hilum structure or cortical thickening (≥1.9 mm), and multiple IMLN can help diagnose metastasis.Ultrasound can better assess breast cancer IMLN metastasis, and the diagnostic efficiency of IMLN long-diameter combines structure type is higher.Independent risk factors for IMLN metastasis include tumor size and axillary lymph node metastasis.

Objective:To explore the characteristics of self-referential network (SRN) functional connectivity in subjective cognitive decline (SCD) patients with normal and impaired metacognition.Methods:Seventy-one subjects were selected from Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database, with 25 cognitively normal controls and 46 SCD patients. The metacognitive level of SCD patients was assessed by Everyday Cognition Scale (ECog), and then, they were divided into a metacognitively normal group ( n=25, metacognitive scores>-0.074) and a metacognitively impaired group ( n=21, metacognitive scores≤-0.074). Results of Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Montreal Cognitive Scale (MoCA), Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE), Rey Auditory Word Learning Test (RAVLT), Logical Memory Scale, expressions of pathological markers (cerebrospinal fluid β-amyloid protein [Aβ], total tau protein [t-tau] and phosphorylated tau protein [p-tau]), brain glucose metabolism, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were collected and compared among the 3 groups. Independent component analysis (ICA) was used to extract SRN and analyze the different brain regions among the 3 groups; Pearson correlation was used to analyze the correlations of SRN functional connectivity changes with cognitive scales and pathological markers. Results:No significant differences in demographic characteristics (age and gender), scores of GDS, MoCA and MMSE, or levels of Aβ, t-tau, p-tau and brain glucose metabolism were noted among the 3 groups ( P>0.05). The metacognitive scores in metacognitively impaired group were significantly lower than those in metacognitively normal group and cognitively normal controls ( P<0.05). Significant difference in the functional connectivity of bilateral anterior cingulate gyrus and bilateral orbitofrontal cortex was noted among the 3 groups (TFCE-FWE correction, P<0.01, voxel>100); compared with the cognitively normal controls, the metacognitively impaired group showed significantly decreased functional connectivity of bilateral orbitofrontal cortex, while the metacognitively normal group showed enhanced functional connectivity of bilateral orbitofrontal cortex (TFCE-FWE correction, P<0.01, voxel>100); compared with the metacognitively normal group, the metacognitively impaired group had statistically decreased functional connectivity of bilateral orbitofrontal cortex (TFCE-FWE correction, P<0.01, voxel>100). Further correlation analysis showed that difference value of functional connectivity of bilateral orbitofrontal cortex between metacognitively impaired group and cognitively normal controls was negatively correlated with RAVLT-immediate scores ( r=-0.445, P=0.043); difference value of functional connectivity of bilateral orbitofrontal cortex between metacognitively impaired group and metacognitively normal group was negatively correlated with RAVLT-immediate scores ( r=-0.463, P=0.034). Conclusion:SCD patients with different metacognitive levels have characteristic SRN functional connectivity changes; impaired metacognition may be an early feature of Alzheimer's disease.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of lower limb neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on mechanical ventilation patients in intensive care unit (ICU).Methods:Databases including the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, SinoMed, CNKI, VIP and Wanfang database were searched from inception to May 2021. Randomized controlled trails (RCT) about the influence of NMES of lower limbs in patients with mechanical ventilation in ICU were collected. Routine rehabilitation measures were implemented in the control group, while the combination of routine rehabilitation and NMES on the lower limbs was implemented in the observation group. The literature screening, data extracting, and bias risk assessment of included studies were conducted independently by two reviewers. RevMan 5.3 software was used to perform Meta-analysis. Funnel plot was used to test publication bias.Results:A total of 8 RCT were eventually enrolled. The literature quality evaluation results showed that 1 study was grade A and 7 studies were grade B, suggesting that the quality of the included literature was relatively high. The Meta-analysis results showed that NMES in the lower extremities could effectively shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation in ICU patients [standardized mean difference ( SMD) = -0.51, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was -0.72 to -0.31, P < 0.000 01], increase the maximum inspiratory pressure [MIP; mean difference ( MD) = 14.19, 95% CI was 9.30 to 19.09, P < 0.000 01], and improve the functional status of critically ill patients [functional status score for ICU (FSS-ICU); MD = 10.44, 95% CI was 3.12 to 17.77, P = 0.005] with statistically significances. However, there were no significant advantages in increasing the Medical Research Council (MRC) score ( MD = 2.13, 95% CI was -1.38 to 5.63, P = 0.23), reducing ICU mortality [relative risk ( RR) = 0.80, 95% CI was 0.51 to 1.24, P = 0.31], shortening length of ICU stay ( MD = -0.54, 95% CI was -3.67 to 2.59, P = 0.74), and the combined effect was not statistically significant. Funnel plot based on the duration of mechanical ventilation showed that the distribution of included articles was basically symmetrical, and no publication bias was detected. Conclusions:NMES of the lower limbs can not only shorten the ventilation duration effectively, but also improve the MIP and functional status of mechanically ventilated patients in ICU. However, it has no significant effect on the MRC score, ICU mortality and length of ICU stay of patients with mechanical ventilation. In the future, high-quality, large sample size and multi-center RCT are needed to verify the effects of NMES.

Objective To investigate the expression of essential meiotic endonuclease 1(EME1)in liver cancer tissue and its effect on the biological behavior of hepatoma cells.Methods The TCGA database was used to identify the differentially expressed genes between liver cancer tissue and paracancerous tissue.Immunohistochemistry and Western Blot were used to measure the expression abundance of EME1 in liver cancer tissue.A lentivirus was constructed by short hairpin RNA,and BEL-7404 cells were transfected with the lentivirus to interfere with the expression of the EME1 gene;the cells were divided into silencing group(shEME1 group)and control group(shCtrl group).Quantitative real-time PCR and Western Blot were used to measure the mRNA and protein expression levels of EME1;Celigo Image Cytometer and MTT assay were used to measure cell proliferation rate;flow cytometry was used to observe cell cycle;Caspase 3/7 activity was used to measure cell apoptosis.The independent-samples t-test was used for comparison between two groups.Results TCGA results showed that the mRNA expression level of EME1 in liver cancer tissue was 18.9 times that in paracancerous tissue(t=5.00,P<0.001),and the protein expression level of EME1 in liver cancer tissue was 7.0 times(based on immunohistochemistry:8.4±2.6 vs 1.2±0.4,t=7.55,P<0.001)or 2.5 times(based on Western Blot:249.0%±35.5%vs 100.0%±77.8%,t=3.02,P<0.05)that in paracancerous tissue.After lentivirus infection,compared with the shCtrl group,the shEME1 group had an mRNA expression level of EME1 reduced by 29.9%(29.9%±0.9%vs 100.0%±3.6%,t=32.82,P<0.001),a protein expression level of EME1 reduced by 35.7%(35.7%±14.9%vs 100.0%±28.9%,t=3.42,P<0.05),and a level of cell counting reduced by 45.1%(4 053±167 vs 8 988±477,t=16.91,P<0.001),as well as a level of cell activity reduced to 66.9%(0.518±0.046 vs 0.774±0.022,t=8.74,P<0.001)and a level of colony forming ability reduced to 29.0%(75±6 vs 260±9,t=28.92,P<0.001).Compared with the shCtrl group,the shEME1 group had a significant increase in the proportion of cells in G1 phase(49.9%vs 44.0%,t=8.96,P<0.001)and significant reductions in the proportion of cells in G2/M phase(15.9%vs 17.9%,t=9.13,P<0.001)and S phase(34.2%vs 38.1%,t=6.91,P<0.001),while Caspase 3/7 activity was enhanced by 1.5 times(145.8%±5.9%vs 100.0%±2.3%,t=12.50,P<0.001).Conclusion EME1 is highly expressed in liver cancer tissue,and silencing the EME1 gene can inhibit the proliferation of hepatoma cells and promote cell apoptosis.

Objective: To compare the dosimetric parameters of target volumes and organs at risk between volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for left sided breast cancer after breast-conserving surgery by a meta-analysis. Methods: Literature search was performed to include related studies to analyze the dosimetric parameters of target volumes and organs at risk. Results: A total of 11 studies involving 154 patients were included in meta-analysis. There were no significant differences in D_mean, HI of PTV-Whole breast and PTV-Boost. Comparing to IMRT, VMAT increased the conformity index (CI) of PTV-Whole breast (P=0.000) and PTV-Boost (P=0.002). When the mean volume of target volumes was≤634 cm³, there were no significant differences in D_mean, V₅, V₂₀ of the heart and left sided lung, V₃₀ of the heart, D_mean of the right sided lung and breast between VMAT and IMRT.When the mean volume of target volumes was>634 cm³, the D_mean(P=0.037), V₅(P=0.005) and V₂₀(P=0.030) of the heart in IMRT was lower than VMAT, but the V₃₀(P=0.001) of heart in VMAT was lower than IMRT.IMRT showed significantly lower D_mean(P=0.013), V₅(P=0.000), V₂₀(P=0.000) of the left sided lung, and D_mean(P=0.001) of the right sided lung than VMAT.There were no significant differences in D_mean of the right sided breast. Conclusions There were no significant differences in dosimetric parameters of target volumes between VMAT and IMRT.When the mean volume of target volumes was≤634 cm³, there were no significant differences in dosimetric parameters of organs at risk. When the mean volume of target volumes was>634 cm³, IMRT has some advantages in protection of the heart and lung.

Objective: To investigate the current status of myopia in children and adolescents in Qamdo, Tibet, and analyze related influencing factors, so as to provide a basis for the prevention and control of adolescents in plateau areas. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 959 children and adolescents randomly selected from one district and two counties in Qamdo (from the fourth grade of elementary school to the second grade of high school) for visual acuity and refraction tests and filled out a vision related behavior questionnaire to analyze the incidence of myopia among adolescents in the region and its associated factors. Results: The myopia rate of adolescents in grades 4-11 was 54.43%, the rate of undercorrection of refractive errors was 85.25%, and the percentage of students wearing eyeglasses was 34.67%,fully vision correction rate was 42.54%. The myopia rate of students in grades 4-6 was 35.14%, 64.71% in grades 7-9, and 73.48% in grades 10-11. The myopia rate increased with grades( χ 2= 101.18 , P <0.01). The myopia rate (70.40%) of urban students (grades 4-9) was higher than that of county level(41.45%), and the myopia rate of students with myopia from either parent (68.24%) was higher than that of students without myopia (51.91%) , the myopia rate of girls (59.96%) was higher than that of boys (48.36%)( χ 2=53.19，13.46，12.98， P <0.01). Use electronic products for more than 2.5 hours per day, electronic devices usage after bedtime, the light low indoor brightness when studying on a sunny day, and only use one of the table lamps or roof lights when studying at night, preference for fried food, poor sleep quality, in the morning the students who still feel tired are at higher risk of myopia( χ 2=10.35, 10.91, 6.87, 4.25, 4.97, 5.71, 12.11, P < 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that the occurrence of myopia was related to region, grade, gender, parental myopia, time spent on electronic products every day in the past 5 months, and sleep quality( P <0.05). Conclusion The high rate of myopia in children and adolescents in Qamdo may be related to the quality of sleep, the length of time electronic products are used, the eye environment, and the frequency of eating fried foods. Outdoor activities do not show significant differences.

Objective:To investigate the role of recombinant phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) tandem dominant epitopes (PLA2RTD) in the removal of anti-PLA2R autoantibodies (anti-PLA2R) from primary membranous nephropathy (PMN).Methods:The recombinant protein PLA2RTD (cysteine-rich domain, C-type lectin like domain 1 and C-type lectin like domain 7) was expressed in bacmid-insect cell expression system. Circular dichroism was used to determine the secondary structure of PLA2RTD. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunofluorescence were used to determine the biological activity of PLA2RTD. Epoxy activation method was used to couple the recombinant PLA2RTD and agarose gel CL-6B microspheres for preparing specific immune adsorbent of anti-PLA2R.Results:The study achieved the expression of PLA2RTD in the first time from the bacmid-insect cell system, demonstrating the good immunogenicity and high binding specificity of PLA2RTD. A single in vitro adsorption of PLA2RTD could averagely eliminate 76.66% of anti-PLA2R [(6.66±0.30) RU/ml vs. (28.54±2.10) RU/ml], the changes of IgG, IgA, albumin, β2 microglobulin, interleukin 6, and tumor necrosis factor α were all less than 4% after completion of adsorption, and the second or third repeated use of PLA2RTD could maintain the adsorption efficiency of about 65%. Conclusion:PLA2RTD-based specific immunosorbent can effectively remove anti-PLA2R in plasma, which provides a new way to specifically remove PMN-related autoantibodies.