0.05),but transiently increased only in desflurane group at 1.5MAC (P

Objective To investigate the effect of sevoflurane postconditioning on the renal injury induced by hind limb ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats.Methods Twenty-four healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 200-250 g,were randomly assigned into 3 groups (n =8 each):sham operation group (group S),group I/R and sevoflurane group (group Spo).Limb ischemia was induced by occlusion of bilateral hind limbs for 4 h followed by 6 h reperfusion.In group Spo,sevoflurane was inhaled for 6 h at the end-tidal concentration of 2.5 ％ before reperfusion,while pure oxygen was inhaled instead of sevoflurane in groups S and I/R.Blood samples were taken from the inferior vena cava at 6 h of reperfusion to determine the serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) concentrations.The rats were then sacrificed and the kidney was removed for determination of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and contents of malondialdehyde (MDA),tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and for microscopic examination.Results The levels of BUN,Cr,MDA,TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly higher,the SOD content was significantly lower (P ＜ 0.05),and the pathological damage was severer in groups I/R and Spo than in group S.Compared with group I/R,the levels of BUN,Cr,MDA,TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly decreased,the SOD content was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.05),and the pathological damage was attenuated in group S.Conclusion Sevoflurane postconditioning can reduce the renal injury induced by hind limb I/R in rats,and the reduction of oxygen radical release and inhibition of inflammatory response may be involved in the mechanism.

Objective To compare the bronchial blocker and double-lumen tube for one-lung ventilation in patients undergoing esophageal cancer resection.Methods Forty ASA physical status Ⅰ-Ⅲ patients of both sexes,aged 42-63 yr,scheduled for elective esophageal cancer resection,were randomly divided into 2 groups (n =20 each):double-lumen endotracheal tube group (group DLT) and bronchial blocker group (group BB).After induction of anesthesia,the patients were intubated with a left-sided double-lumen endotracheal tube and correct positioning was verified by fiberoptic bronchoscopy in group DLT.After induction of anesthesia,the patients were intubated with a conventional single-lumen endotracheal tube,and then the bronchial blocker was inserted under the guidance of fiberoptic bronchoscope in group BB.The intubation time,one-lung ventilation time,time to achieve lung collapse,operation time,extubation time,tube malposition and hypoxemia were recorded.The lung collapse was scored at the end of operation.Hoarseness and throat sore within 2 days after extubation and pulmonary infections within 7 days after operation were recorded.Results Compared with group DLT,intubation time and time to achieve lung collapse were significantly prolonged,and the incidence of hoarseness and throat sore within 2 days after extubation was decreased in group BB (P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in the one-lung ventilation time,operation time,extubation time,lung collapse score,incidence of tube malposition,hypoxemia and pulmonary infections within 7 days after operation between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The efficacy of bronchial blocker is similar to that of double-lumen tube when used for one-lung ventilation in patients undergoing esophageal cancer resection.

Objective To explore the impacts and potential mechanisms of MitoQ on isoflurane-induced injury of primary cultured hippocampal neurons in newborn rats.Methods Fifteen healthy SPF Sprague-Dawley rats of both sex were randomly divided into three groups (n =5 each)u-sing a random number table:control group (group C),multiple exposures to isoflurane anesthesia group (group I)and multiple exposures to isoflurane anesthesia+MitoQ group (group IM).On post-natal days 7,14 and 21,1.5% isoflurane was inhaled for 2 h in group I.MitoQ was intraperitoneally administered in a volume of 0.4 ml/kg before isoflurane anesthesia in group IM,while a mixture of oxygen and air was inhaled instead of isoflurane in group C.HE staining was carried out on postnatal day 28 to observe the morphological changes in hippocampal CA1 region of rat neural cell structures. Hippocampal neuron cells were dissected from clean Sprague-Dawley rats born in 24 h.After primary culture for seven days,MTT assay and TUNEL assay was respectively performed to measure the cell viability and apoptosis of hippocampal neurons.The malondialdehyde (MDA)content and superoxide dismutase (SOD)activity were detected respectively using the thiobarbituric method and xanthinoxi-dase method.Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP)was measured by rhodamine 123 staining, intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS)were tested by DCFH-DA staining.Western blot was used to analyze the protein levels of Bax,Bcl-2 and caspase-3.Results Compared with group C, group I decreased the number of neural cells and the cell survival rate;the apoptotic rate was signifi-cantly increased;MDA contents and ROS production were significantly increased;SOD activity and MMP level were significantly decreased;the expression of Bax and caspase-3 were significantly in-creased,while the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly decreased (P < 0.05 ).Compared with the group I,the damaged neural cells were decreased,the cell survival rate was significantly increased, the apoptotic rate was significantly decreased in group IM;MDA contents and ROS production were significantly decreased;SOD activity and MMP level were significantly increased;the expression of Bax and caspase-3 were significantly decreased,while the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly in-creased (P < 0.05 ).Conclusion Antioxidant MitoQ attenuates isoflurane-induced neuron damage, which may be associated with the inhibition on oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Objective:To investigate the value of MR subtraction images in improving the interobserver agreement for Bosniak Ⅱ, ⅡF, and Ⅲ cystic renal masses (CRMs) with Bosniak classification version 2019.Methods:From January 2009 to August 2020, 323 patients (335 CRMs) with surgical pathology results and complete preoperative MRI examination (T 2WI, T 1WI precontrast images and enhanced MRI in corticomedullary, nephrographic, and excretory phases) were retrospectively collected in the First Medical Center of PLA General Hospital. The CRMs of Bosniak Ⅱ, ⅡF, and Ⅲ were selected and classified by 2 experienced genitourinary radiologists according to the Bosniak classification version 2019. The "Subtraction" function in the American GE ADW 4.4 workstation was used to perform subtraction images reconstruction on the enhanced images in the corticomedullary, nephrographic, and excretory phases. Blinded to pathologic information, the other 2 radiologists independently classified the enrolled CRM cases with and without subtraction MR images, respectively, with an interval of 1 month. Ultimately, by using weighted Kappa value, interobserver agreement was evaluated, and the differences in weighted Kappa value were compared using the Gwet coefficient. Results:A total of 187 patients with 187 CRMs were enrolled in the study. The results of the classification of Bosniak Ⅱ, ⅡF, and Ⅲ CRMs categorized by 2 radiologists without and with subtraction images showed that 119 and 141 cases were consistent, and 68 and 46 were inconsistent, respectively. The weighted Kappa value for interobserver agreement among two radiologists without and with subtraction MR images was 0.60 (95%CI 0.53-0.68) and 0.73 (95%CI 0.66-0.80), respectively. The interobserver agreement was higher with subtraction images than that without subtraction images ( t=-2.56, P=0.011). Conclusion:According to the MRI criteria of Bosniak classification version 2019, the interobserver agreement for Bosniak Ⅱ, ⅡF, and Ⅲ CRMs could be improved using subtraction MR images, which may facilitate the popularization and application of Bosniak classification version 2019.

Objective:To investigate whether different type of chronic prostatitis could have a deleterious effect on semen quality. Methods: Forty-nine patients diagnosed as suffering from chronic prostatitis were included and di-vided into groups according to the presence of infection and/or cellular autoimmune response against prostate anti-gens. Healthy normal individuals were included as controls. Measurements for sperm concentration, motility, morphology, prostate and seminal vesicle markers, antisperm antibodies, white blood cells and pro-inflammatory cytokines were performed accordingly. Results:The most severe abnormalities were found in patients with no evi-dent infection and an autoimmune response against prostate antigens. Moreover, significantly increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were detected in seminal plasma from these patients. Conclusions: This study shows that chronic prostatitis patients with cellular autoimmune response to prostate antigens present important altera-tions in their semen quality parameters and may affect male fertility.

Sex reversal, representing extraordinary sexual plasticity during the life cycle, not only triggers reproduction in animals but also affects reproductive and endocrine system-related diseases and cancers in humans. Sex reversal has been broadly reported in animals; however, an integrated resource hub of sex reversal information is still lacking. Here, we constructed a comprehensive database named ASER (Animal Sex Reversal) by integrating sex reversal-related data of 18 species from teleostei to mammalia. We systematically collected 40,018 published papers and mined the sex reversal-associated genes (SRGs), including their regulatory networks, from 1611 core papers. We annotated homologous genes and computed conservation scores for whole genomes across the 18 species. Furthermore, we collected available RNA-seq datasets and investigated the expression dynamics of SRGs during sex reversal or sex determination processes. In addition, we manually annotated 550 in situ hybridization (ISH), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and im-munohistochemistry (IHC) images of SRGs from the literature and described their spatial expression in the gonads. Collectively, ASER provides a unique and integrated resource for researchers to query and reuse organized data to explore the mechanisms and applications of SRGs in animal breeding and human health. The ASER database is publicly available at http://aser.ihb.ac.cn/.

Objective:To explore the value of intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI) parameters in different regions of the kidney in distinguishing IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients from healthy volunteers.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. Eighty-four patients diagnosed with IgAN (IgAN group) who underwent renal biopsy (lower pole of the left kidney) and were pathologically confirmed at the First Medical Center of PLA General Hospital from February 2022 to September 2023 and thirty-four healthy volunteers (control group) were included prospectively. The regions of interest were outlined in the right renal cortex, medulla, and parenchyma for all subjects, and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), true diffusion coefficient (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D *), and perfusion fraction (f) were measured in the corresponding regions. The differences in IVIM-DWI parameters between the IgAN group and the control group were compared using the student′s t-test or the Mann-Whitney U test. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed on the parameters with statistically significant differences, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. Results:There were statistically significant differences in renal cortical ADC, renal parenchymal ADC, renal cortical D, renal parenchymal D, and renal medullary f values between the IgAN group and the control group ( Z=-3.03, -2.21, -2.62, -2.03, -2.03; P=0.002, 0.027, 0.009, 0.043, 0.042). The AUCs (95% CI) for diagnosing IgAN using renal cortical ADC, renal parenchymal ADC, renal cortical D, renal parenchymal D, and renal medullary f values were 0.679 (0.586-0.762), 0.630 (0.537-0.717), 0.654 (0.535-0.774), 0.619 (0.497-0.742), and 0.620 (0.495-0.745), respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in renal medullary ADC, D, renal cortex, medulla and parenchyma D *, renal cortical and renal parenchymal f values between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:The quantitative parameters of renal IVIM-DWI are influenced by different measurement regions, among which the ADC, D of renal cortex and parenchyma, and f of renal medulla can be used for the initial diagnosis of IgAN.

Objective:To explore the value of quantitative parameters of enhanced MRI in predicting the establishment of inferior vena cava collateral circulation in patients with renal cell carcinoma and inferior vena cava tumor thrombus.Methods:Sixty-seven patients with renal cell carcinoma and inferior vena cava tumor thrombus who underwent radical resection and inferior vena cava venography in First Medical Center, PLA General Hospital from May 2006 to January 2021 were included retrospectively. According to the results of inferior vena cava venography, the patients were divided into two groups: the well-established collateral circulation group ( n=41) and the poor-established collateral circulation group ( n=26). Quantitative parameters were measured on preoperative enhanced MRI images, including tumor size, the maximum diameter of bilateral lumbar veins, the length of tumor thrombus, and the long and short diameters of tumor thrombus. Student′s t test or Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison between the two groups. The independent risk factors related to the establishment of collateral circulation were obtained by binary logistic regression analysis and the model was established. The receiver operating characteristic curve was employed to evaluate MRI quantitative parameters and the logistic model, and the area under the curve (AUC) was compared by the DeLong test. Results:Between the well-established collateral circulation group and the poor-established collateral circulation group, the maximum diameter of the right lumbar vein, the maximum diameter of the left lumbar vein, the length of the tumor thrombus, the long diameter of the tumor thrombus, and the short diameter of the tumor thrombus were different significantly ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the tumor size between the two groups ( t=0.30, P=0.766). The AUC of the maximum diameters of the right lumbar veins and left lumbar veins, length of tumor thrombus, long and short diameters of tumor thrombus in predicting the collateral circulation were 0.917 (95%CI 0.824-0.971), 0.869 (95%CI 0.764-0.939), 0.756 (95%CI 0.636-0.853), 0.886 (95%CI 0.785-0.951), and 0.906 (95%CI 0.809-0.963). The AUC of the maximum diameter of the right lumbar vein and the short diameter of the tumor thrombus were larger than those of the length of the tumor thrombus, and the differences were statistically significant ( Z=2.25, 2.04, P=0.025, 0.041), but the AUC between other parameters had no significant difference ( P>0.05). The maximum diameter of the right lumbar vein (OR 24.210, 95%CI 2.845-205.998), the maximum diameter of the left lumbar vein (OR 20.973, 95%CI 2.359-186.490), and the length of the tumor thrombus (OR 23.006, 95%CI 2.952-179.309) were independent risk factors for predicting the establishment of inferior vena cava collateral circulation. The AUC of logistic model was 0.969 (95%CI 0.931-1.000). Conclusion:Quantitative parameters of tumor thrombus and lumbar vein based on enhanced MRI have a good ability in predicting the establishment of inferior vena cava collateral circulation in patients with renal cell carcinoma and inferior vena cava tumor thrombus. The maximum diameter of bilateral lumbar veins and the length of the tumor thrombus were independent risk factors for inferior vena cava collateral circulation.

Objective:To investigate the intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the differential diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and non-diabetic renal disease (NDRD) among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods:A diagnostic test. In this prospective study, patients with T2DM who underwent both IVIM-DWI and renal biopsy at the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital between October 2017 and September 2021 were consecutively enrolled. IVIM-DWI parameters including perfusion fraction (f), pure diffusion coefficient (D), and pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*) were measured in the renal cortex, medulla, and parenchyma. Patients were divided into the DN group and NDRD group based on the renal biopsy results. IVIM-DWI parameters, clinical information, and diabetes-related biochemical indicators between the two groups were compared using Student′s t-test or Mann-Whitney U test. The correlation of IVIM-DWI parameters with diabetic nephropathy histological scores were analyzed using Spearman′s correlation analyzes. The diagnostic efficiency of IVIM-DWI parameters for distinguishing between DN and NDRD were assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results:A total of 27 DN patients and 23 NDRD patients were included in this study. The DN group comprised 19 male and 8 female patients, with an average age of 52±9 years. The NDRD group comprised 16 male and 7 female patients, with an average age of 49±10 years. The DN group had a higher D* value in the renal cortex and a lower f value in the renal medulla than the NDRD group (9.84×10 -3 mm 2/s vs. 7.35×10 -3 mm 2/s, Z=-3.65; 41.01% vs. 46.74%, Z=-2.29; all P<0.05). The renal medulla D* value was negatively correlated with DN grades, interstitial lesion score, and interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA) score ( r=-0.571, -0.409, -0.409; all P<0.05) while the renal cortex f value was positively correlated with vascular sclerosis score ( r=0.413, P=0.032). The renal cortex D* value had the highest area under the curve (AUC) for discriminating between the DN and NDRD groups (AUC=0.802, sensitivity 91.3%, specificity 55.6%). Conclusion:IVIM-derived renal cortex D* value can be used non-invasively to differentiate DN from NDRD in patients with T2DM that can potentially facilitate individualized treatment planning for diabetic patients.