Objective:To investigate the characteristics of resting-state mirror homotopic connectivity and the gray matter volume of brain in patients with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE).Methods:From June 2020 to March 2023, a total of 35 NPSLE patients (NPSLE group) and 30 non-NPSLE patients (non-NPSLE group) were selected from Taizhou People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, another 31 healthy volunteers were recruited as the healthy controls(HC group). All participants underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) assessments. The patients in NPSLE and non-NPSLE groups were additionally assessed using the fatigue scale for motor and cognitive functions (FSMC) and the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS).The DPABI V7.0 toolkit based on the MATLAB platform was used to preprocess the rs-fMRI data and calculate the voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity(VMHC) indexes, and the differences in VMHC between groups were evaluated by covariance analysis in SPM12.0 software, and the VMHC values of brain regions with significant differences were extracted for further comparison between the two groups.Partial correlation analysis was performed to investigate the association between VMHC values and clinical parameters in NPSLE patients.The brain regions with significant differences between NPSLE patients and non-NPSLE patients were used as region of interest (ROI), and gray matter volumes within these ROIs were then calculated by VBM8 toolbox.Results:(1)There were statistically significant differences in the VMHC values of bilateral precentral gyrus, bilateral dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus, bilateral medial and paracingulate gyrus, bilateral parahippocampal gyrus, bilateral middle occipital gyrus, bilateral postcentral gyrus, and bilateral superior temporal gyrus among the 3 groups( F=11.246-14.102, all P<0.05). The NPSLE group exhibited significantly lower VMHC values in these regions compared to both the non-NPSLE group and HC group (all P<0.05), but there were no significant differences in these regions between the non-NPSLE group and HC group (all P>0.05).(2) The gray matter volumes of bilateral dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus(right: (0.57±0.11)mm 3, (0.65±0.08)mm 3, t=-3.409, P=0.001; left: (0.53±0.10)mm 3, (0.60±0.07)mm 3, t=-3.082, P=0.003), bilateral precentral gyrus(right: (0.32±0.06)mm 3, (0.35±0.04)mm 3, t=-2.044, P=0.045; left: (0.39±0.06)mm 3, (0.42±0.04)mm 3, t=-2.505, P=0.015), right medial and paracingulate gyrus((0.66±0.08)mm 3, (0.70±0.07)mm 3, t=-2.491, P=0.015) and left superior temporal gyrus((0.57±0.09)mm 3, (0.61±0.06)mm 3, t=- 2.344, P=0.022) in the NPSLE group were smaller than those of non-NPSLE group.(3)Correlation analysis showed that the VMHC value of dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus was positively correlated with IgA level in NPSLE patients ( r=0.353, P=0.047). Conclusion:Patients with NPSLE generally have decreased mirror homotopy functional connectivity in the cerebral hemispheres, accompanied by a decrease in gray matter volume in some brain regions, which can provide a certain neuroimaging basis for the pathogenesis of brain injury.

To explore the differences in biological gas production in the waterlogged zone of a coal seam fire-affected area, in this study the in-situ gas production experiment was conducted with the mine water from aquitard layers in coal seam fire zones in Xinjiang. The results showed that the biogas production first increased and then decreased with the increase in distance, and the highest gas production reached 216.55 mL. The changes in key metabolic pathways during the anaerobic fermentation of coal were analyzed, which showed that as the distance from the aquitard layer in the coal seam fire zone increased, the methanogenesis pathways gradually shifted from acetic acid decarboxylation and carbon dioxide reduction to acetic acid decarboxylation and methylamine methanogenesis. The significant variability in the in-situ mine water reservoir conditions contributed to the differences. In addition, the reservoir pressure and temperature increased as the distance from the fire zone became longer, and the salinity of the farthest mine water in the reverse fault was the highest due to the lack of groundwater supply. Pearson correlation analysis revealed significant correlations of microbial communities with key functional genes and the types and concentrations of ions. The ions significantly influencing microbial enzymatic metabolic activities included Al³⁺, Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Mg²⁺, PO₄^3-, and Mo⁶⁺. The differences in metabolic pathways were attributed to the integrated effects of a co-occurring environment with multiple ions. The gas production simulation experiments and metagenomic analyses provide data support for the practical application of in-situ biogas experiments, laying a foundation for engineering applications.
Biofuels ; Coal ; Methane/biosynthesis* ; Fires ; Groundwater ; Coal Mining ; Fermentation ; China ; Anaerobiosis

Purpose In this study,tract-based spatial statistical analysis was used to analyze the diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)data of breast cancer patients after chemotherapy,to observe the changes of white matter microstructure after chemotherapy and their correlation with neuropsychological cognitive test results,and to provide imaging markers for the evaluation of brain injury after chemotherapy for breast cancer.Materials and Methods A total of 29 patients with breast cancer before chemotherapy treatment and 30 patients with breast cancer after chemotherapy treatment were enrolled in the study from November 2022 to June 2023 in the Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University.Neuropsychological cognitive test[Montreal cognitive assessment(MoCA),mini-mental state examination(MMSE)]and whole brain DTI examination were respectively performed in the two groups.Fractional anisotropy(FA)and mean diffusivity(MD)were used to compare the differences between the two groups at the structural level.The correlation between the results of DTI and neuropsychological cognitive test was analyzed.Results Compared with the patients with breast cancer before chemotherapy treatment group,patients with breast cancer after chemotherapy treatment group had decreased FA values in bilateral anterior corona radiata,superior corona radiata,corpus callosum body and genu,left posterior thalamic radiation,left external capsule,bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculus,and increased MD values in bilateral anterior corona radiata,superior corona radiata,right posterior corona radiata,corpus callosum body and genu,right posterior thalamic radiation,bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculus.The FA values of left superior corona radiata(r=0.302)and left external capsule(r=0.370)were positively correlated with MMSE results,and the FA values of left outer capsule(r=0.328)were positively correlated with MoCA results(all P<0.05).The MD values of corpus callosum body(r=-0.343)and genu(r=-0.378),left superior corona radiata(r=-0.311),right posterior corona radiata(r=-0.376),right posterior thalamic radiation(r=-0.341)and right superior longitudinal fasciculus(r=-0.392)were negatively correlated with MMSE results(all P<0.05).Conclusion In the chemotherapy group,FA and MD values in multiple brain regions are abnormal,and there is a certain correlation between FA and MD values in some brain regions and neurocognitive test results.The changes of FA and MD values in different brain areas may be potential imaging markers of the abnormal white matter microstructure in breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy.

Objective:To investigate the characteristics of resting-state mirror homotopic connectivity and the gray matter volume of brain in patients with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE).Methods:From June 2020 to March 2023, a total of 35 NPSLE patients (NPSLE group) and 30 non-NPSLE patients (non-NPSLE group) were selected from Taizhou People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, another 31 healthy volunteers were recruited as the healthy controls(HC group). All participants underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) assessments. The patients in NPSLE and non-NPSLE groups were additionally assessed using the fatigue scale for motor and cognitive functions (FSMC) and the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS).The DPABI V7.0 toolkit based on the MATLAB platform was used to preprocess the rs-fMRI data and calculate the voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity(VMHC) indexes, and the differences in VMHC between groups were evaluated by covariance analysis in SPM12.0 software, and the VMHC values of brain regions with significant differences were extracted for further comparison between the two groups.Partial correlation analysis was performed to investigate the association between VMHC values and clinical parameters in NPSLE patients.The brain regions with significant differences between NPSLE patients and non-NPSLE patients were used as region of interest (ROI), and gray matter volumes within these ROIs were then calculated by VBM8 toolbox.Results:(1)There were statistically significant differences in the VMHC values of bilateral precentral gyrus, bilateral dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus, bilateral medial and paracingulate gyrus, bilateral parahippocampal gyrus, bilateral middle occipital gyrus, bilateral postcentral gyrus, and bilateral superior temporal gyrus among the 3 groups( F=11.246-14.102, all P<0.05). The NPSLE group exhibited significantly lower VMHC values in these regions compared to both the non-NPSLE group and HC group (all P<0.05), but there were no significant differences in these regions between the non-NPSLE group and HC group (all P>0.05).(2) The gray matter volumes of bilateral dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus(right: (0.57±0.11)mm 3, (0.65±0.08)mm 3, t=-3.409, P=0.001; left: (0.53±0.10)mm 3, (0.60±0.07)mm 3, t=-3.082, P=0.003), bilateral precentral gyrus(right: (0.32±0.06)mm 3, (0.35±0.04)mm 3, t=-2.044, P=0.045; left: (0.39±0.06)mm 3, (0.42±0.04)mm 3, t=-2.505, P=0.015), right medial and paracingulate gyrus((0.66±0.08)mm 3, (0.70±0.07)mm 3, t=-2.491, P=0.015) and left superior temporal gyrus((0.57±0.09)mm 3, (0.61±0.06)mm 3, t=- 2.344, P=0.022) in the NPSLE group were smaller than those of non-NPSLE group.(3)Correlation analysis showed that the VMHC value of dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus was positively correlated with IgA level in NPSLE patients ( r=0.353, P=0.047). Conclusion:Patients with NPSLE generally have decreased mirror homotopy functional connectivity in the cerebral hemispheres, accompanied by a decrease in gray matter volume in some brain regions, which can provide a certain neuroimaging basis for the pathogenesis of brain injury.

Purpose In this study,tract-based spatial statistical analysis was used to analyze the diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)data of breast cancer patients after chemotherapy,to observe the changes of white matter microstructure after chemotherapy and their correlation with neuropsychological cognitive test results,and to provide imaging markers for the evaluation of brain injury after chemotherapy for breast cancer.Materials and Methods A total of 29 patients with breast cancer before chemotherapy treatment and 30 patients with breast cancer after chemotherapy treatment were enrolled in the study from November 2022 to June 2023 in the Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University.Neuropsychological cognitive test[Montreal cognitive assessment(MoCA),mini-mental state examination(MMSE)]and whole brain DTI examination were respectively performed in the two groups.Fractional anisotropy(FA)and mean diffusivity(MD)were used to compare the differences between the two groups at the structural level.The correlation between the results of DTI and neuropsychological cognitive test was analyzed.Results Compared with the patients with breast cancer before chemotherapy treatment group,patients with breast cancer after chemotherapy treatment group had decreased FA values in bilateral anterior corona radiata,superior corona radiata,corpus callosum body and genu,left posterior thalamic radiation,left external capsule,bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculus,and increased MD values in bilateral anterior corona radiata,superior corona radiata,right posterior corona radiata,corpus callosum body and genu,right posterior thalamic radiation,bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculus.The FA values of left superior corona radiata(r=0.302)and left external capsule(r=0.370)were positively correlated with MMSE results,and the FA values of left outer capsule(r=0.328)were positively correlated with MoCA results(all P<0.05).The MD values of corpus callosum body(r=-0.343)and genu(r=-0.378),left superior corona radiata(r=-0.311),right posterior corona radiata(r=-0.376),right posterior thalamic radiation(r=-0.341)and right superior longitudinal fasciculus(r=-0.392)were negatively correlated with MMSE results(all P<0.05).Conclusion In the chemotherapy group,FA and MD values in multiple brain regions are abnormal,and there is a certain correlation between FA and MD values in some brain regions and neurocognitive test results.The changes of FA and MD values in different brain areas may be potential imaging markers of the abnormal white matter microstructure in breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy.

Objective:To explore the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) from imaging perspective by analyzing voxel-based morphology (VBM) and functional connectivity (FC) in resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).Methods:Thirty-five patients with NPSLE and 30 patients with non-NPSLE admitted to Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Taizhou People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from June 2020 to March 2023 were enrolled; 31 healthy subjects were included as healthy control group during the same period. All subjects completed routine MRI and rs-fMRI, laboratory tests (C3, C4, IgA, IgM and IgG levels), mini-mental state examination (MMSE), hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), and fatigue scale for motor and cognitive functions (FSMC). Whole brain gray matter volume in subjects of the 3 groups was analyzed by VBM method, and the brain regions enjoying significant differences in gray matter volume between the NPSLE group and non-NPSLE group were selected as regions of interest (ROIs) for whole brain FC analysis. Partial correlation method was used to analyze the correlations of imaging indexes in brain regions enjoying significant differences with clinical indexes and imaging scores between NPSLE group and non-NPSLE group. Efficacy of imaging indexes in brain regions enjoying significant difference in differentiating NPSLE from non-NPSLE was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results:(1) Covariance analysis among the 3 groups showed that the gray matter volume in the left inferior frontal gyrus of orbit, left superior frontal gyrus, right rectus gyrus, right transverse temporal gyrus, and right superior frontal gyrus was significantly different among the 3 groups ( P<0.001, FDR corrected); compared with the healthy control group, the NPSLE group had significantly reduced gray matter volume in the left inferior frontal gyrus of orbit, left superior frontal gyrus of orbit, right rectus gyrus, right transverse temporal gyrus, and right superior frontal gyrus ( P<0.001, FDR corrected); compared with the non-NPSLE group, the NPSLE group had significantly decreased gray matter volume in the left inferior frontal gyrus of orbit, right rectus gyrus, and right transverse temporal gyrus ( P<0.001, FDR corrected). (2) Whole brain FC analysis with brain regions enjoying significant differences as seed points showed that Fisher z-transformed FC (zFC) in the right transverse temporal gyrus and bilateral postcentral gyrus of the NPSLE group were significantly decreased ( P<0.001, FDR corrected). (3) Partial correlation analysis showed that, in the NPSLE group, zFC from the right transverse temporal gyrus to left posterior central gyrus was negatively correlated with disease course ( r=-0.390, P=0.027); gray matter volume in the right orbital superior frontal gyrus was negatively correlated with FSMC-cognitive ( r=-0.401, P=0.023); the gray matter volume in the right orbital superior frontal gyrus was negatively correlated with FSMC-motor ( r=-0.374, P=0.035). (4) ROC curve found that gray matter volume in the right rectus gyrus and zFC from the right transverse temporal gyrus to the right posterior central gyrus had relatively high efficacy in differentiating NPSLE from non-NPSLE, with AUC of 0.771 (95% CI: 0.658-0.885, P<0.001) and 0.794 (95% CI: 0.685-0.904, P<0.001), respectively. Conclusion:NPSLE patients have reduced gray matter volume in multiple brain regions (concentrating in the prefrontal limbic system); and reduced FC with some brain regions is noted; multiple indexes are correlated with clinical indexes.

Objective:To summarize and share the experience of one-stage feminization surgery in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).Methods:The clinical data of CAH female children in the Department of Pediatric Urology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from January 2018 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the Prader classification standard, the external genital virilism of children was graded. The cases of Prader grades Ⅱ to Ⅳ were underwent clitoroplasty and labiaplasty, while the cases of Prader Ⅱ and Ⅳ grades were required further vaginoplasty.Partial urogenital sinus mobilization(PUM) or total urogenital sinus mobilization(TUM )was performed according to the length of the urethrovaginal junction to the vulvar opening during the procedure. The postoperative follow-up was included the recovery of the external genitalia wound, the child’s ability to control urination, and the family members’ satisfaction with the child’s external genitalia appearance. Six months after the operation, the satisfaction with the appearance of the external genitalia was evaluated in the outpatient clinic, including four aspects: clitoris, labia majora, labia minora, and vaginal appearance.Results:A total of 18 female children were enrolled, ranging in age from 2 to 9 years old, with an average age of 4.5 years. There were 5 cases of Prader grade Ⅱ, 9 cases of grade Ⅲ, and 4 cases of grade Ⅳ. Ten cases (9 cases of Prader grade Ⅲ and 1 case of grade Ⅳ) underwent PUM, and 3 cases of Prader grade Ⅳ underwent TUM. All patients were followed up for 6-12 months after the operation, and all the wounds of the external genitalia of the children were healed in one stage. The satisfaction of family members to the appearance of external genitalia of children: 15 cases were satisfied, 3 cases were not satisfied; 3 patients were found to have overactive bladder two weeks after the operation, and no special treatment was given, the symptoms disappeared three months after the procedure, and the other children had no abnormal urination control ability. Six months after the process, the external genitalia was evaluated in the physician’s clinic: 17 cases were satisfied, and one was dissatisfied.Conclusions:The surgical method can be selected for better results according to the degree of external genitalia virilism and the common channel length in CAH female children.

Objective:To summarize and share the experience of one-stage feminization surgery in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).Methods:The clinical data of CAH female children in the Department of Pediatric Urology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from January 2018 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the Prader classification standard, the external genital virilism of children was graded. The cases of Prader grades Ⅱ to Ⅳ were underwent clitoroplasty and labiaplasty, while the cases of Prader Ⅱ and Ⅳ grades were required further vaginoplasty.Partial urogenital sinus mobilization(PUM) or total urogenital sinus mobilization(TUM )was performed according to the length of the urethrovaginal junction to the vulvar opening during the procedure. The postoperative follow-up was included the recovery of the external genitalia wound, the child’s ability to control urination, and the family members’ satisfaction with the child’s external genitalia appearance. Six months after the operation, the satisfaction with the appearance of the external genitalia was evaluated in the outpatient clinic, including four aspects: clitoris, labia majora, labia minora, and vaginal appearance.Results:A total of 18 female children were enrolled, ranging in age from 2 to 9 years old, with an average age of 4.5 years. There were 5 cases of Prader grade Ⅱ, 9 cases of grade Ⅲ, and 4 cases of grade Ⅳ. Ten cases (9 cases of Prader grade Ⅲ and 1 case of grade Ⅳ) underwent PUM, and 3 cases of Prader grade Ⅳ underwent TUM. All patients were followed up for 6-12 months after the operation, and all the wounds of the external genitalia of the children were healed in one stage. The satisfaction of family members to the appearance of external genitalia of children: 15 cases were satisfied, 3 cases were not satisfied; 3 patients were found to have overactive bladder two weeks after the operation, and no special treatment was given, the symptoms disappeared three months after the procedure, and the other children had no abnormal urination control ability. Six months after the process, the external genitalia was evaluated in the physician’s clinic: 17 cases were satisfied, and one was dissatisfied.Conclusions:The surgical method can be selected for better results according to the degree of external genitalia virilism and the common channel length in CAH female children.

Objective:To summarize and share the experience of one-stage feminization surgery in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).Methods:The clinical data of CAH female children in the Department of Pediatric Urology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from January 2018 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the Prader classification standard, the external genital virilism of children was graded. The cases of Prader grades Ⅱ to Ⅳ were underwent clitoroplasty and labiaplasty, while the cases of Prader Ⅱ and Ⅳ grades were required further vaginoplasty.Partial urogenital sinus mobilization(PUM) or total urogenital sinus mobilization(TUM )was performed according to the length of the urethrovaginal junction to the vulvar opening during the procedure. The postoperative follow-up was included the recovery of the external genitalia wound, the child’s ability to control urination, and the family members’ satisfaction with the child’s external genitalia appearance. Six months after the operation, the satisfaction with the appearance of the external genitalia was evaluated in the outpatient clinic, including four aspects: clitoris, labia majora, labia minora, and vaginal appearance.Results:A total of 18 female children were enrolled, ranging in age from 2 to 9 years old, with an average age of 4.5 years. There were 5 cases of Prader grade Ⅱ, 9 cases of grade Ⅲ, and 4 cases of grade Ⅳ. Ten cases (9 cases of Prader grade Ⅲ and 1 case of grade Ⅳ) underwent PUM, and 3 cases of Prader grade Ⅳ underwent TUM. All patients were followed up for 6-12 months after the operation, and all the wounds of the external genitalia of the children were healed in one stage. The satisfaction of family members to the appearance of external genitalia of children: 15 cases were satisfied, 3 cases were not satisfied; 3 patients were found to have overactive bladder two weeks after the operation, and no special treatment was given, the symptoms disappeared three months after the procedure, and the other children had no abnormal urination control ability. Six months after the process, the external genitalia was evaluated in the physician’s clinic: 17 cases were satisfied, and one was dissatisfied.Conclusions:The surgical method can be selected for better results according to the degree of external genitalia virilism and the common channel length in CAH female children.

Objective:To summarize and share the experience of one-stage feminization surgery in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).Methods:The clinical data of CAH female children in the Department of Pediatric Urology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from January 2018 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the Prader classification standard, the external genital virilism of children was graded. The cases of Prader grades Ⅱ to Ⅳ were underwent clitoroplasty and labiaplasty, while the cases of Prader Ⅱ and Ⅳ grades were required further vaginoplasty.Partial urogenital sinus mobilization(PUM) or total urogenital sinus mobilization(TUM )was performed according to the length of the urethrovaginal junction to the vulvar opening during the procedure. The postoperative follow-up was included the recovery of the external genitalia wound, the child’s ability to control urination, and the family members’ satisfaction with the child’s external genitalia appearance. Six months after the operation, the satisfaction with the appearance of the external genitalia was evaluated in the outpatient clinic, including four aspects: clitoris, labia majora, labia minora, and vaginal appearance.Results:A total of 18 female children were enrolled, ranging in age from 2 to 9 years old, with an average age of 4.5 years. There were 5 cases of Prader grade Ⅱ, 9 cases of grade Ⅲ, and 4 cases of grade Ⅳ. Ten cases (9 cases of Prader grade Ⅲ and 1 case of grade Ⅳ) underwent PUM, and 3 cases of Prader grade Ⅳ underwent TUM. All patients were followed up for 6-12 months after the operation, and all the wounds of the external genitalia of the children were healed in one stage. The satisfaction of family members to the appearance of external genitalia of children: 15 cases were satisfied, 3 cases were not satisfied; 3 patients were found to have overactive bladder two weeks after the operation, and no special treatment was given, the symptoms disappeared three months after the procedure, and the other children had no abnormal urination control ability. Six months after the process, the external genitalia was evaluated in the physician’s clinic: 17 cases were satisfied, and one was dissatisfied.Conclusions:The surgical method can be selected for better results according to the degree of external genitalia virilism and the common channel length in CAH female children.