Objective:To investigate the difference of accuracy between magnetic induction Freehand-3D ultrasound and two-dimensional ultrasound in measuring the volume of thyroid model.Methods:Forty thyroid models were established using porcine liver, and the Archimedes procedure was set as gold standard in the measurement of the volume of each model. The accuracy of measurement of the porcine thyroid model volume between two-dimensional ultrasound and magnetic induction Freehand-3D ultrasound were compared.Results:There were no significant differences in the accuracy of measurements of thyroid model volume among two-dimensional ultrasound, magnetic induction Freehand-3D ultrasound and Archimedes procedure (all P>0.05). Compared with the Archimedes procedure, magnetic induction Freehand-3D ultrasonic method showed higher correlation coefficient of the measurement of thyroid model volume ( r=0.998). Bland-Altman analysis showed the lower measure error with a relative error of 3.42% and range of -9.57% to 12.07%. And the limits of agreement were (-1.253, 0.999) in the magnetic induction Freehand-3D ultrasonic measurement. Conclusions:Compared with two-dimensional ultrasound, the magnetic induction Freehand-3D ultrasound show higher accuracy in the measurement of the volume of the thyroid model.

Objective:To investigate the feasibility of ultrasound-guided percutaneous endomyocardial septal cryoablation of in vitro porcine hearts and to compare its effect with the percutaneous endomyocardial radiofrequency ablation.Methods:Experiment 1: Six in vitro porcine hearts were divided into 1 min ( n=2), 3 min ( n=2) and 5 min ( n=2) groups according to the cryoablation time, and all were subjected to ultrasound-guided percutaneous intra-myocardial septal cryoablation at 100% power respectively. After cryoablation, ultrasound images, the size of the solid dissection of the ice ball, and the size of the necrotic area after melting of the frozen ice ball were measured. Experiment 2: The in vitro porcine hearts were divided into cryoablation group ( n=3) and radiofrequency ablation group ( n=3), and ultrasound-guided percutaneous endomyocardial septal cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation were performed with 100% cryo power and 40 W radiofrequency power, and the extent of complete necrotic area and incomplete necrotic area were compared between the two ablation methods after 1 min. Results:Experiment 1: In the 1 min cryoablation time group ( n=2), the short diameter of the puck measured by ultrasound was (8.00±0.84)mm, the short diameter of the puck measured by solid was (8.38±1.19)mm, and the short diameter of the necrotic zone measured by solid was (8.35±0.83)mm; in the 3 min group ( n=2), the short diameter of the puck measured by ultrasound was (19.4±0.28)mm, and the short diameter of the puck measured by solid was (19.03±0.33)mm, solid measurement of the short diameter of the necrotic zone was (19.16±0.25)mm; in the 5 min group ( n=2), the short diameter of the puck measured under ultrasound was (26.4±2.54)mm, solid measurement of the short diameter of the puck was (26.01±0.24)mm, and solid measurement of the short diameter of the necrotic zone was (24.82±0.25)mm. Randomized blocks analysis of variance was performed on this data and the difference of block Factor b (freezing time: 1 min, 3 min, 5 min) among the three groups was statistically significant( F=505.884, P<0.001). The SNK- q test showed that all three groups differed from each other(all P<0.05). The analysis results for the treatment factors K (measurement modality-ultrasound image measurements, solid anatomical measurements of the puck, and measurements of the necrotic area after melting of the frozen puck) was not statistically significant ( F=0.470, P=0.635). Experiment 2: In the RF ablation group ( n=3), the ratio of incomplete necrotic zone to the radius of the RF ablation area was 0.64±0.01; in the cryoablation group ( n=3), the ratio of incomplete necrotic zone to the radius of the ablation area was 0.26±0.02. The difference was statistically significant( P=0.002) and it can be considered that the incomplete necrotic zone of cryoablation was smaller than that of RF ablation. Conclusions:Percutameous intramyocardial septal cryoablation is controllable in scope, ultrasound image evaluation of ablation area is more accurate and incomplete necrosis area is small, which may have potential applications in cardiac ablation.

Objective To analyse the prognosis of 117 newly diagnosed nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients underwent intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Methods From Jan to Nov 2005, 117 NPC patients who were treated by IMRT were enrolled. There were 81 males and 36 females with a median age of 42 years (range 18-76 years). According to Chinese Fuzhou Staging system(1992), 11 cases were Stage I , 15 Stage Ⅱ, 54 Stage Ⅲ and 37 Stage ⅣA. IMRT was carried out with Peacock plan. The prescription dose to the gross target volume(GTVnx) of nasopharyngeal tumor was 68 Gy, that of positive neck lymph nodes (GTVnd) was 60-66 Gy, clinical target volume 1 (CTV1) was 60 Gy, and CTV2 was 54 Gy. Results After a median follow-up time of 48 months (range 10.5-59.5 months), the 3-and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 95.7 % and 89.7 %, the disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 91.5 % and 87.2%, and the local-regional control rates were 94.0 % and 91.5 %. Univariate analysis showed the KPS, stage, Fuzhou clinical stage, status of blood platelet before treatment and uric acid after treatment were correlated with OS rate. T stage was the only independent factor of prognosis in the COX stepwise regression model. Conclusion Radical IMRT significantly prolongs the survival of NPC patients. T stage is the only independent prognostic factor for NPC patients.

Objective To explore the predictive value of contrast-enhanced echocardiography com-bined with serum levels of CD137 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 6(IGFBP-6)for cardiovascular adverse events(MACE)in elderly patients with stable coronary heart disease(CHD)after percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).Methods A total of 108 elderly patients with stable CHD(CHD group)who visited Department of Cardiology of Changsha First Hospital from March 2020 to March 2022 were recruited in this study.They were grouped into a non-MACE group(81 cases)and a MACE group(27 cases)according to whether MACE occurred after PCI.Another 100 healthy individuals who taking physical examination during the same period served as control group.Their serum CD137 and IGFBP-6 levels were detected,and the contrast agent filling speed(β value)and maximum number of microbubbles(A value)were calculated based on the results of contrast-enhanced echocardiography.Their general clinical data were col-lected.ROC curve analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data.Results The serum levels of CD137 and IGFBP-6 were significantly higher,while the β value and A value were obviously lower in the CHD group than the control group(P＜0.01).And the serum levels were notably higher,and the β value and A value were remarkably lower in the MACE group than the non-MACE group(P＜0.01).The AUC of cardiac ultrasound parameters βvalue and A value combined with serum CD137 and IGFBP-6 to predict MACE after PCI in CHD patients was 0.930,which was significantly higher than the AUC value of every single indicator(P＜0.01).β value,A value,CD137 and IGFBP-6 levels were all risk factors for the occurrence of MACE in CHD patients after PCI(P＜0.01).Conclusion Contrast-enhanced echocardiography,serum CD137 and IGFBP-6 levels have certain predictive value for MACE in elderly CHD patients after PCI,and combined detection has higher predictive value.

PURPOSE: Hrd1 has recently emerged as a critical regulator of B-cells in autoimmune diseases. However, its role in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to examine Hrd1 expression and B-cell accumulation and their possible roles in CRSwNP. METHODS: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting were used to assess gene and protein expression in nasal tissue extracts. Cells isolated from nasal tissues and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were characterized by flow cytometry. Local antibody production was measured in tissue extracts with a Bio-Plex assay. Additionally, changes in Hrd1 expression in response to specific inflammatory stimuli were measured in cultured dispersed polyp cells. RESULTS: Nasal polyps (NPs) from patients with eosinophilic CRSwNP (ECRS) had increased levels of Hrd1, B-cells and plasma cells compared with NPs from patients with non-eosinophilic CRSwNP (non-ECRS) or other control subjects (P < 0.05). The average Hrd1 levels in B-cells in NPs from ECRS patients were significantly higher than those from non-ECRS patients and control subjects (P < 0.05). NPs also contained significantly increased levels of several antibody isotypes compared with normal controls (P < 0.05). Interestingly, Hrd1 expression in cultured polyp cells from ECRS patients, but not non-ECRS patients, was significantly increased by interleukin-1β, lipopolysaccharide and Poly(I:C) stimulation, and inhibited by dexamethasone treatment (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Differential Hrd1 expression and B-cell accumulation between the ECRS and non-ECRS subsets suggests that they can exhibit distinct pathogenic mechanisms and play important roles in NP.
Antibody Formation ; Autoimmune Diseases ; B-Lymphocytes* ; Blotting, Western ; Dexamethasone ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosinophils* ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Immunohistochemistry ; Nasal Polyps* ; Plasma Cells ; Polyps ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tissue Extracts

Objective:To analyze the prevalence and clinical features of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Chengde city.Methods:From August 2022 to June 2023, throat swabs and clinical data of 478 hospitalized children with respiratory tract infection in the Chengde Central Hospital were collected. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the molecular epidemiology of RSV-A and RSV-B subtypes and analyze the clinical features of patients with RSV infection.Results:Among the hospitalized children, 67.57% (323/478) tested positive for RSV. The outbreak of RSV infection was caused by RSV-A subtype. The peaks of RSV-A infection occurred from November to December, 2022 and May to June, 2023. There were 86.07% (278/323) of the RSV-A-positive cases had mixed infection with other pathogens, primarily bacterial pathogens with Streptococcus pneumoniae being the most common, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae. Influenza virus A was the most common viral pathogens causing mixed infection. The level of lactate dehydrogenase was higher in the patients with single RSV-A infection than in those with mixed infection ( Z=2.396, P=0.017), and higher than the normal upper limit. Compared with the single infection group, the mixed infection group had higher white blood cell count ( Z=2.417, P=0.016), neutrophil ratio ( Z=3.218, P=0.001), C-reactive protein level ( Z=1.998, P=0.046) and creatinine level ( Z=2.107, P=0.035), and lower lymphocyte ratio ( Z=3.205, P=0.001), but they were all within the normal range. There were no significant differences in the clinical features between RSV-A-positive patients co-infected with bacteria or other viruses (all P>0.05). Conclusions:RSV-A is the leading cause of respiratory tract infection in children in Chengde from 2022 to 2023, and often co-detected with bacteria. The mixed infection with other respiratory pathogens is related to the clinical features of patients with RSV-A infection.

Objective:To investigate risk factors for early mortality (EM) in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) and to build an EM-predictive model.Methods:In a cohort of 275 patients with NDMM, risk factors for EM at 6, 12, and 24 months after diagnosis (EM6, EM12, and EM24, respectively) were determined to establish a model to predict EM.Results:The rates of EM6, EM12, and EM24 were 5.5% , 12.7% , and 30.2% , respectively. The most common cause for EM was disease progression/relapse, accounting for 60.0% , 77.1% , and 84.3% of EM6, EM12, and EM24, respectively. EM6 was associated with corrected serum calcium >2.75 mmol/L and platelet count <100×10 9/L, whereas risk factors for EM12 included age >75 years, ISS Ⅲ, R-ISS Ⅲ, corrected serum calcium >2.75 mmol/L, serum creatinine >177 μmol/L, platelet count <100×10 9/L, and bone marrow plasma cell ratio ≥ 60% . In addition to the risk factors for EM12, EM24 was also associated with male sex and 1q21 gain. By multivariate analysis, age >75 years, platelet count <100×10 9/L, and 1q21 gain were independent risk factors for EM24 but there were no independent risk factors significantly associated with EM6 and EM12. Using a scoring system including these three risk factors, a Cox model for EM24 was generated to distinguish patients with low (score<3) and high (score ≥ 3) risk. The sensitivity and specificity of the model were 20.7% and 99.2% , respectively. Further, an internal validation performed in a cohort of 183 patients with NDMM revealed that the probability of EM24 in high-risk patients was 26 times higher than that in low-risk patients. Moreover, this model was also able to predict overall survival. The median overall survival of patients with scores of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 were 59, 41, 22, 17.5, and 16 months, respectively. Conclusion:In the study cohort, the EM6, EM12, and EM24 rates were 5.5% , 12.7% , and 30.2% , respectively, and disease progression or relapse were main causes of EM. An EM24-predictive model built on three independent risk factors for EM24 (age>75 years, platelet count<100×10 9/L, and 1q21 gain) might predict EM risk and overall survival.

Objective:To investigate different regulatory effects of S100A8/A9 expressed by keratinocytes in 3 common inflammatory skin injury modes: UVB-induced skin injury, allergic contact dermatitis, and psoriasis.Methods:Wild-type C57BL/6JGpt mice aged 6 to 8 weeks were selected for the following experiments: (1) mouse models of UVB-induced skin injury were established by single exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation on the shaved dorsal skin of mice (UVB group, n = 4), with the mice receiving no UVB radiation serving as a control group ( n = 4) ; (2) mouse models of allergic contact dermatitis were established by application of 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) to the right ears of mice (DNCB group, n = 4), with the left ears of mice treated with a vehicle control serving as a control group ( n = 4) ; (3) mouse models of psoriasis-like skin inflammation were established by topical application of imiquimod cream to the depilated dorsal skin of mice (imiquimod group, n = 4), with the mice treated with vaseline serving as a control group ( n = 4). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to assess histopathological changes in mouse skin tissues obtained from each group, and immunohistochemical study and Western blot analysis were performed to determine the expression of S100A8 and S100A9 in the mouse dorsal epidermis or ear skin lesions. In vitro cultured HaCaT cells were subjected to the following experiments: (1) cells in the UVB group were treated with a single UVB irradiation at a dose of 50 mJ/cm 2, and cells in the control group received no irradiation; (2) some cells were treated with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) (collectively referred to as TI), and named as the TI group, which simulated the inflammatory environment in allergic contact dermatitis, while cells treated with corresponding solvents served as the control group; (3) cells were treated with 5 cytokines (interleukin 17A [IL-17A], IL-22, IL-1α, oncostatin M, and TNF-α, collectively referred to as M5), and named as the M5 group, which simulated the inflammatory environment in psoriasis, while cells treated with corresponding solvents served as the control group. Real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR, Western blot analysis, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed to determine the mRNA and protein expression of S100A8 and S100A9, and to detect the extracellular secretion level of S100A8/A9, respectively. Results:Immunohistochemical study and Western blot analysis revealed that S100A8 and S100A9 expression levels were significantly higher in the skin lesions of mouse models of UVB-induced skin injury, allergic contact dermatitis, and psoriasis-like skin inflammation than in their corresponding control groups; immunohistochemical study further demonstrated that the increase in the expression of the two proteins was more pronounced in the mouse models of psoriasis-like skin inflammation. In the in vitro cell experiments, the mRNA expression of S100A8 and S100A9 in HaCaT cells at 12 and 24 hours were markedly higher in the UVB group (e.g., at 24 hours, 6.14 ± 0.60 vs. 1.00 ± 0.08, 2.58 ± 0.06 vs. 1.02 ± 0.22, respectively, both P < 0.01), TI group (e.g., at 24 hours, 3.90 ± 0.75 vs. 1.00 ± 0.02, 2.42 ± 0.30 vs. 1.01 ± 0.13, respectively, both P < 0.05), and M5 group (e.g., at 24 hours, 157.59 ± 9.30 vs. 1.00 ± 0.11, 251.37 ± 6.63 vs. 1.00 ± 0.03, both P < 0.001) than in the corresponding control groups, so were the extracellular secretion levels of S100A8/A9 at 24 and 48 hours (all P < 0.001), with some differences observed in their response patterns; notably, the response was more pronounced in the mouse model of psoriasis-like skin inflammation. Additionally, the protein expression levels of S100A8 and S100A9 in HaCaT cells were significantly higher in the M5 group than in the control group ( t = 4.66, 4.63, respectively, both P < 0.01), but were significantly lower in the UVB group ( t = -3.75, -3.34, P = 0.020, 0.029, respectively) and TI group ( t = -3.30, -4.50, P = 0.030, 0.011, respectively) than in the control groups. Conclusion:Keratinocytes exhibited active responses following 3 common inflammatory skin injuries, with their effector molecules S100A8 and S100A9, as damage-associated molecular patterns, playing crucial roles in UVB-induced skin injury, allergic contact dermatitis, and psoriasis, and the response seemed to be more pronounced in psoriasis-like dermatitis.

Objective:To improve the prognosis stratification, especially early mortality(EM), of elderly patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma(NDMM).Methods:In this retrospective study, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis were conducted to identify the independent prognostic factors associated with overall survival(OS)and the chi-square test and multivariate Logistic analysis were used to identify the prognostic factors associated with EM in 223 elderly patients(age≥65 years)with NDMM from three centers in the country.Results:Increased NT-pro-BNP(≥300 pg/ml), ECOG-PS≥2 and stage Ⅲ R-ISS were identified as three independent adverse prognostic factors of OS.The rates of EM3, EM6, EM12 and EM24 were 12.1%, 20.1%, 32.2% and 60%, respectively.The most common cause for EM6(particularly EM3)was disease-related complications resulting from ineligibility for treatment due to poor physical performance, severe organ dysfunction or treatment discontinuation due to treatment intolerance, while the most common cause for EM12(particularly EM24)was disease progression or relapse mainly as a result of inadequate treatment.R-ISS staging failed to predict EM, while decreased eGFR, ECOG-PS≥2, and increased NT-pro-BNP were able to estimate the risk of EM, with increased NT-pro-BNP as a common independent factor for EM12( P=0.03)and EM24( P=0.015). Conclusions:R-ISS staging, which primarily reflects MM biology, cannot predict EM.However, factors such as NT-pro-BNP, eGFR and ECOG-PS associated with frailty and impairment of organ functions can be used to estimate the risk of EM, among which NT-pro-BNP may be the most important independent factor for EM.Therefore, incorporation of these frailty-related biomarkers into R-ISS staging may be able to more precisely estimate the prognosis and particularly early death of elderly patients with NDMM.

【Objective】 To understand the emotion and sleep state of youths and adolescents who returned to school during the mild period of COVID-19. 【Methods】 A total of 1621 subjects were investigated using the self-made information questionnaire， SAS， SDS and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index （PSQI）. Nvivo12.0 and SPSS23.0 were used to analyze the data. 【Results】 The subjects reported boredom， worry， nervousness. There were significant differences in sleep quality index in terms of gender， residence status， time of reading news of COVID-19， and time of communicating with parents （P<0.01）. The sleep quality index （4.67±3.12） of college students was lower than the norm （5.8±2.4） （P<0.001）， the SAS score （42.87±9.94） of teenagers was higher than the norm （29.78±10.07） （P<0.001）， and the SDS score （47.64±11.34） of youths and teenagers was higher than the norm （33.46±8.55） （P<0.001）. During this period， PSQI was significantly positively correlated with SAS score and SDS score， and effectively predicted SAS score and SDS score. 【Conclusion】 During the stage of work and school resumption， the emotional state of youths and teenagers was still affected， but presented positive characteristics， with a variety of positive emotions. Compared with the general state， youths and teenagers showed higher depression and anxiety， but sleep quality of college students was better than that in the general state.