Thyroid cancer is caused by multiple factors, including genetics, environment, metabolism, and the immune microenvironment, among which ionizing radiation exposure is an important risk factor for thyroid cancer. As one of the most sensitive target organs of ionizing radiation, the thyroid gland may have different risks of thyroid cancer caused by different types of ionizing radiation exposures, such as medical exposure, occupational exposure, and emergency exposure. The sensitivity of children and adolescents are higher than that of adults. The dose-response relationship still needs to be further explored. The molecular mechanism between ionizing radiation and the increased risk of thyroid cancer is complex, which may involve DNA damage and repair abnormalities, gene mutations, non-coding RNA regulation, DNA methylation, cell cycle regulation imbalance, and immune microenvironment changes. This article reviews the risk and molecular mechanisms associated with different types of ionizing radiation exposure in thyroid cancer, based on literature retrieved from CNKI and PubMed databases. It aims to provide a theoretical basis for the early monitoring, prevention, and intervention of thyroid cancer related to ionizing radiation exposure.

OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and safety of dupilumab versus thalidomide in the treatment of refractory prurigo nodularis （PN） in adults. METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 123 adult patients with refractory PN admitted to Wuhan First Hospital from May 2021 to June 2024. Among them， 63 patients who received dupilumab comprised the observation group and 60 patients who received thalidomide comprised the control group. Clinical efficacy indicators [Investigator Global Assessment （IGA） score， Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale （P-NRS） score， Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure （POEM） score， and Dermatology Life Quality Index （DLQI） score]， allergic biomarkers [eosinophil （EOS） count in peripheral blood and serum total immunoglobulin E （IgE） level]， psychological scores [Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale （HADS）] before and after treatment， as well as the occurrence of adverse drug reaction during treatment， were compared between the two groups. RESULTS Before treatment， there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in above clinical efficacy indicators， allergic biomarkers， or psychological scores （P＞0.05）. At 4， 8， 12 and 16 weeks after treatment， both groups showed significant decreases in IGA score （except for the control group 4 weeks after treatment）， IGA activity score （except for the control group 4 weeks after treatment）， P-NRS score， POEM score， DLQI score （except for the control group 4 weeks after treatment）， serum EOS count， and serum total IgE level compared with baseline （P＜0.05）； at 12 and 16 weeks after treatment， scores on both the HADS-anxiety subscale and HADS-depression subscale were also significantly lower than baseline in both groups （P＜0.05）； the observation group was significantly lower than the control group （P＜0.05）. The overall incidence of adverse events was 12.70% in the observation group， which was significantly lower than 28.33% in the control group （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Dupilumab treatment in adults with refractory PN demonstrates superior efficacy compared with thalidomide in improving skin lesions， relieving pruritus， reducing peripheral EOS counts and serum total IgE， and improving quality of life and psychological status， while showing a more favorable safety profile.

Objective:To retrospectively analyze the clinical features and surgical efficacy of congenital cholesteatoma （CC） and acquired cholesteatoma （AC） in children. Methods:Clinical data of 169 children with middle ear cholesteatoma were reviewed in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2010 to July 2020. The clinical characteristics, stages, surgical methods, and postoperative recurrence rates were analyzed and summarized. Results:The age distribution of enrolled children ranged from 2 to 14 years. The mean age of the CC group was （5.60±2.48） years compared with （6.45±2.48） years in the AC group, and the difference was statistically significant （P<0.05）. Preoperative hearing in the CC group was （40.06±13.52） dB HL, which was better than in the AC group at （48.40±13.84） dB HL （P<0.05）. The proportion of stage Ⅰ in the CC group was lower than that in the AC group according to EAONO/JOS staging （P<0.05）. The recurrence rate after primary surgery was 19.23% （10/52） in the CC group compared with 36.29% （45/124） in the AC group （P<0.05）. The mastoid retention rates after all operations were 28.85% （15/52） in the CC group and 5.65% （7/124） in the AC group （P<0.05）. Conclusion:Compared with congenital cholesteatoma, acquired cholesteatoma in children is more aggressive and has more complications, higher postoperative recurrence rate, and less possibility of mastoid retention. Early clinical detection and treatment are required, and canal wall-down tympanoplasty should be considered in surgery.
Humans ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear/congenital* ; Child ; Retrospective Studies ; Child, Preschool ; Adolescent ; Male ; Female ; Recurrence ; Cholesteatoma/congenital* ; Tympanoplasty ; Treatment Outcome

Liver fibrosis is a significant health burden,marked by the consistent deposition of collagen.Unfortunately,the currently available treatment approaches for this condition are far from optimal.Lysyl oxidase-like protein 2(LOXL2)secreted by hepatic stellate cells(HSCs)is a crucial player in the cross-linking of matrix collagen and is a significant target for treating liver fibrosis.Mesenchymal stem cell-derived small extracellular vesicles(MSC-sEVs)have been proposed as a potential treatment option for chronic liver disorders.Previous studies have found that MSC-sEV can be used for microRNA delivery into target cells or tissues.It is currently unclear whether microRNA-4465(miR-4465)can target LOXL2 and inhibit HSC activation.Additionally,it is uncertain whether MSC-sEV can be utilized as a gene therapy vector to carry miR-4465 and effectively inhibit the progression of liver fibrosis.This study explored the effect of miR-4465-modified MSC-sEV(MSC-sEVmiR-4465)on LOXL2 expression and liver fibrosis development.The results showed that miR-4465 can bind specifically to the promoter of the LOXL2 gene in HSC.Moreover,MSC-sEVmiR-4465 inhibited HSC activation and collagen expression by downregulating LOXL2 expression in vitro.MSC-sEVmiR-4465 injection could reduce HSC activation and collagen deposition in the CCl4-induced mouse model.MSC-sEVmiR-4465 mediating via LOXL2 also hindered the migration and invasion of HepG2 cells.In conclusion,we found that MSC-sEV can deliver miR-4465 into HSC to alleviate liver fibrosis via altering LOXL2,which might provide a promising therapeutic strategy for liver diseases.

Objective To investigate the effect of preoperative dexmedetomidine(DEX)combined with fascia iliac compartment block(FICB)analgesia on perioperative sleep quality and delirium in elderly patients with hip fracture.Methods A total of 90 elderly patients who received total hip replacement(THA)for hip fracture in our hospital from January 2021 to June 2023 were selectively included,and all patients were randomly divided into control group(n=30),FICB group(n=30)and combination group(n=30).Patients in control group were prepared according to routine surgical procedures before surgery.Patients in combination group and FICB group were given continuous ultrasus-guided iliofascial space block and analgesia two days before surgery after admission.Patients in combination group were given dexmedetomidine nose drops on the night before surgery,the day after surgery and the night after surgery.Visual analogue pain(VAS)scores were recorded at admission(Tl),30 minutes after nasal drops(T2),immediately after entry to the operating table(T3),and at the position of intraspinal anesthesia(T4).Hamilton Anxiety(HAM-A)score and Athens Insomnia Scale(AIS)score were recorded 1 day before surgery,1 day after surgery and 1 day after surgery.Adverse reactions and postoperative delirium(POD)were recorded one week after surgery.Results There were no significant differences in age,sex,body mass index(BMI),fracture type,anesthesia duration,operation time,blood loss and adverse reactions(except daytime sleepiness)among all groups(P＞0.05).The VAS scores of T2,T3 and T4 in the combination group were significantly lower than those in the other two groups.HAM-A and AIS scores were significantly lower than those of the other two groups(P＜0.05).The incidence and duration of postoperative delirium were significantly lower than those in the other two groups(P＜0.05).Conclusion Prospective randomized controlled trials show that FICB combined with DEX can relieve pain,improve perioperative sleep quality and relieve postoperative delirium in patients with THA.

Objective:To identify pathogenic genes in 3 cases of piebaldism, and to explore the genotype-phenotype relationships in piebaldism.Methods:Clinical data were collected from 3 patients with piebaldism and their parents at the Department of Dermatology, Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from January 2019 to December 2021. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from them and 100 unrelated healthy controls, and DNA was extracted. Whole-exome sequencing technology was used to screen genetic variation sites, and then Sanger sequencing was performed for verification. The deleteriousness of genetic variants was evaluated by using pathogenicity analysis software tools.Results:Case 1: a 23-year-old male patient presented with white patches on the forehead, chest, and abdomen for 23 years, and his parents had no similar symptoms; case 2: a 1-year- and 5-month-old male infant presented with white patches on the forehead and abdomen for 1 year, and his parents had no similar symptoms; case 3: a 6-year-old male child presented with white patches on the forehead and limbs for 6 years, and his parents had no similar clinical manifestations. Genetic testing showed that a missense mutation c.2033T>C (p.L678P) in exon 14 of the KIT gene, a splice site mutation c.2485-1G>C in exon 18 of the KIT gene, and a heterozygous missense mutation c.2346C>G (p.F782L) in exon 16 of the KIT gene were identified in the case 1, 2, 3 respectively, but no above mutations were identified in the patients′ parents or 100 unrelated healthy controls. The 3 genetic variants were all novel pathogenic mutations, and all were deleterious mutations.Conclusions:Three novel pathogenic mutations in the KIT gene were identified in the 3 cases of piebaldism, namely c.2033T>C (p.L678P), c.2485-1G>C, and c.2346C>G (p.F782L). It was further verified that the severity of piebaldism was closely related to the type and location of KIT gene mutations.

Mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) is a condition indicated by biochemical testing for autonomous cortisol secretion, yet it lacks the classical signs of Cushing's Syndrome, such as moon face, buffalo hump, plethoric appearance, and purple striae. It is predominantly observed in middle-aged women and is commonly associated with adrenal incidentalomas. Due to the lack of significant clinical signs, the diagnosis of MACS primarily relies on hormonal testing. Patients with MACS often present with comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, and osteoporosis. For those with comorbid conditions, surgical treatment is the principal therapeutic approach. This article summarizes recent national and international guidelines and research to elucidate the updates to the diagnostic criteria for MACS, with a particular focus on the interpretation of the 1 mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test results. It also details the treatment and follow-up strategies for MACS. Furthermore, the article highlights the urgent need for more extensive prospective studies to refine the existing diagnostic criteria and to develop surgical guidelines for a wider range of patients with MACS.

BACKGROUND:Pain mechanisms in patients with lumbar disc herniation are associated with inflammation,autophagy is closely related to intervertebral disc diseases and inflammatory response,and aberrant miR-206 expression can trigger skeletal diseases. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the mechanism of miR-206 on inflammation,analgesia and autophagy related proteins in nucleus pulposus in rats with lumbar disc herniation. METHODS:Sixty SPF male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group,model group,miR-206 mimics-NC group,miR-206 mimics group,miR-206 inhibitor-NC group and miR-206 inhibitor group.Animal models of lumbar disc herniation were established except for the control group.Ten days after modeling,miR-206 mimics-NC group,miR-206 mimics group,miR-206 inhibitor-NC group and miR-206 inhibitor group were injected with miR-206 mimics-NC(20 μmol/L,10 μL),miR-206 mimics(20 μmol/L,10 μL),miR-206 inhibitor-NC(20 μmol/L,10 μL)and miR-206 inhibitor(20 μmol/L,10 μL),respectively.Administration was given once a day for 4 continuous days.The control group and model group were injected with the same dose of normal saline.The paw withdrawal mechanical threshold of bilateral hind feet was measured by Von Frey filaments,and the paw withdrawal thermal latency of bilateral hind feet was measured by heat pain tester.The morphology of dorsal root ganglia was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining.The expressions of inflammatory factors phospholipase A2,cyclooxygenase 2,prostaglandin E2,tumor necrosis factor α,and interleukin 1β in nucleus pulposus were detected by qPCR.The expressions of autophagy-related proteins LC3I and Beclin-1 were detected by western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At 3,7,and 14 days after modeling,the paw withdrawal mechanical threshold and paw withdrawal thermal latency were both decreased in the model group compared with the control group,while the levels of phospholipase A2,cyclooxygenase 2,prostaglandin E2,tumor necrosis factor α,interleukin 1β,LC3I and Beclin-1 increased(P<0.05).The above indexes showed no significant changes in the miR-206 inhibitor-NC group and miR-206 mimics-NC group compared with the model group(P>0.05).Compared with the miR-206 mimics-NC group,the miR-206 mimics group had lower paw withdrawal mechanical threshold and paw withdrawal thermal latency and higher levels of phospholipase A2,cyclooxygenase 2,prostaglandin E2,tumor necrosis factor α,interleukin 1β,LC3I,and Beclin-1 levels(P<0.05).Compared with the miR-206 inhibitor-NC group,the rats in the miR-206 inhibitor group showed opposite changes in the above indicators,and there were significant differences between the two groups(P<0.05).To conclude,inhibition of miR-206 can significantly improve the level of inflammatory factors in nucleus pulposus of rats with lumbar disc herniation,increase pain threshold,and reduce autophagy.The mechanism is related to the inhibition of LC3I and Beclin-1 expression.

Objective:To evaluate the predictive efficacy of sinus CT radiomics for treatment outcomes in nasal polyp patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, including 194 patients with nasal polyps treated between January 2015 and December 2019. The cohort comprised 132 males and 62 females, aged 16 to 75 years. Patients were divided into a training set ( n=135) and an internal validation set ( n=59). An external validation set ( n=34), consisting of 22 males and 12 females aged 16 to 59 years, was included from January 2020 to December 2021. Disease control was evaluated using the criteria from the European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps 2020 (EPOS 2020). Radiomic features were extracted from sinus CT images and analyzed using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. Models combining radiomic and clinical features were developed to predict treatment efficacy. Results:The radiomics and combined models, based on four selected features, outperformed the clinical feature model in the training set, with AUC values of 0.901 and 0.915, versus 0.874, respectively. In the internal validation set, AUCs were 0.839, 0.832, and 0.716. Despite reduced AUCs in the external set, the radiomics model maintained good generalizability (0.748, 0.764, 0.620). Decision curve analysis showed significant clinical benefits in both radiomics and combined models.Conclusion:The CT-based radiomics model demonstrates significant predictive power in identifying refractory nasal polyps, suggesting its potential for clinical application in treatment outcome prediction.

Objective:To assess the prevalence of dentinal hypersensitivity (DH) and related factors in urban adults in China.Methods:The study was designed as an observational, cross-sectional epidemiological study carried out in adults aged 18-69 years old in seven cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, Chengdu, Xi′an, Guangzhou, and Harbin) of China. The study was conducted from March 2021 to May 2023. Patients were required to complete a questionnaire regarding the subjects′ socio-economic factors, dietary behavior, oral health behavior and personal antecedent factors. DH was clinically diagnosed by judging whether the tooth cold air stimulation provoked DH or not, and recorded by investigator pain rating Schiff score. Compare the findings of six cities (Harbin excluded) with a similar study conducted in 2008.Results:In total, 11 622 subjects from seven cities in China participated the study. Fifty two point two percent (6 072/11 622) of subjects reported DH in questionnaire, 36.7% (4 266/11 622) of subjects reported experiencing DH in response to cold air stimulation for at least one study tooth. Risk factors including age, sex, city, toothbrush method and acid reflux showed marked associations with DH ( P<0.05). The prevalence of DH of urban residents in six cities (Harbin excluded) was 33.7% (3 335/9 882), higher than that in 2008 [29.7%(2 354/7 939)]. Conclusions:Overall, DH was common among urban adults in China and the prevalence increased in recent years. Better understanding of DH and its associated factors should be considered in its prevention and management by dental professionals.