Objective To explore the characteristics and correlation between perivascular spaces (PVS) and diffusion tensor image analysis along perivascular spaces (DTI-ALPS) index in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Methods A retrospective study was conducted on a total of 118 participants, including cognitive normal (CN) healthy controls and aMCI patients, recruited from the Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University from September 2020 to September 2022. All participants underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). An automatic segmentation algorithm was used to quantify PVS metrics in the brain, and DTI-ALPS index was calculated based on DTI. Differences in DTI-ALPS index and PVS metrics between the CN and aMCI groups were compared. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent factors influencing aMCI. Correlation analysis was performed to assess relationships among DTI-ALPS index, PVS metrics, and cognitive scores. Results A total of 80 CN healthy controls and 38 aMCI patients were included. The DTI-ALPS index was significantly lower in the aMCI group compared with the CN group (1.28±0.18 vs 1.37±0.21, P＝0.018), while differences in PVS metrics between groups were not statistically significant. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that DTI-ALPS index was an independent factor affecting aMCI (OR＝0.097, 95%CI 0.011–0.833, P＝0.033). Correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship between DTI-ALPS index and MMSE score (r＝0.210, P＝0.023) as well as PVS length in the centrum semiovale (r＝0.216, P＝0.019). Conclusions The DTI-ALPS index may serve as an imaging biomarker for identifying early cognitive impairment, and patients with aMCI exhibit abnormal DTI-ALPS indices, suggesting that brain glymphatic system dysfunction may occur prior to morphological changes.

BACKGROUND:The timing of tourniquet application in traditional total knee arthroplasty has been clearly reported.With the continuous refinement of joint-related techniques,the timing of tourniquet application in total knee arthroplasty under navigation system has rarely been reported.OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effect of total knee arthroplasty with Brainlab navigation system using full-course and half-course tourniquets.METHODS:From January to December 2022,data of 145 eligible patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty under navigation system in Cangzhou Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine in Hebei Province were retrospectively analyzed and they were divided into the full course group(n=71)and the half course group(n=74)according to the timing of tourniquet release.General data,perioperative conditions,postoperative swelling around the knee joint,postoperative lower extremity deep venous thrombosis,visual analog scale score,Hospital for Special Surgery knee score,and forgotten joint score were collected to assess knee joint function and statistically compared.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The operation time of the full course group was shorter than that of the half course group,the incidence of lower extremity deep venous thrombosis was higher,and the postoperative knee joint swelling was more severe(P＜0.001,P=0.027,P＜0.001).The intraoperative blood loss of the full course group was less than that of the half course group(P＜0.001),and the occult blood loss of the full course group was more than that of the half course group(P＜0.001),with statistically significant differences.(2)At 1 week after surgery,the visual analog scale score in the full course group was significantly higher than that in the half course group(P＜0.001).(3)There was no significant difference in forgotten joint score between the two groups at 3,6 months and 1 year after surgery(P＞0.05).(4)It is indicated that in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty using a navigation system,the half-course group has less occult blood loss,lower postoperative swelling and incidence of postoperative lower extremity deep venous thrombosis,and faster recovery of knee joint function.

BACKGROUND:The timing of tourniquet application in traditional total knee arthroplasty has been clearly reported.With the continuous refinement of joint-related techniques,the timing of tourniquet application in total knee arthroplasty under navigation system has rarely been reported.OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effect of total knee arthroplasty with Brainlab navigation system using full-course and half-course tourniquets.METHODS:From January to December 2022,data of 145 eligible patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty under navigation system in Cangzhou Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine in Hebei Province were retrospectively analyzed and they were divided into the full course group(n=71)and the half course group(n=74)according to the timing of tourniquet release.General data,perioperative conditions,postoperative swelling around the knee joint,postoperative lower extremity deep venous thrombosis,visual analog scale score,Hospital for Special Surgery knee score,and forgotten joint score were collected to assess knee joint function and statistically compared.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The operation time of the full course group was shorter than that of the half course group,the incidence of lower extremity deep venous thrombosis was higher,and the postoperative knee joint swelling was more severe(P＜0.001,P=0.027,P＜0.001).The intraoperative blood loss of the full course group was less than that of the half course group(P＜0.001),and the occult blood loss of the full course group was more than that of the half course group(P＜0.001),with statistically significant differences.(2)At 1 week after surgery,the visual analog scale score in the full course group was significantly higher than that in the half course group(P＜0.001).(3)There was no significant difference in forgotten joint score between the two groups at 3,6 months and 1 year after surgery(P＞0.05).(4)It is indicated that in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty using a navigation system,the half-course group has less occult blood loss,lower postoperative swelling and incidence of postoperative lower extremity deep venous thrombosis,and faster recovery of knee joint function.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of Tanzhuo Decoction in the treatment of early diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and its effect on cystatin C (Cys-C), C-reactive protein (CRP), urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER), and creatinine clearance rate (CCr). Methods:Eighty patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated by early diabetic nephropathy who received treatment at Maanshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from 2019 to 2021 were included in this randomized controlled study. They were divided into a control group ( n = 40) and a treatment group ( n = 40) using the random number table method. Patients in the control group received conventional therapy including blood glucose and blood pressure control, while those in the treatment group received Tangzhuo Decoction in addition to the same treatment as that given to the control group. Both groups of patients were treated for 30 days. The clinical efficacy as well as pre- and post-treatment Cys-C, CRP, UAER, and CCr were compared between the two groups. Results:The total response rate in the treatment group was 92.5% (37/40), which was significantly higher than 75.0% (30/40) in the control group ( χ2 = 4.50, P < 0.05). After treatment, Cys-C, CRP, and UAER in the treatment group were (2.04 ± 0.08) mg/L, (3.97 ± 1.71) mg/L, and (91.18 ± 18.68) μg/min, respectively, which were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment ( t = 12.14, 5.59, 4.73, all P < 0.05). After treatment, CCr in the treatment group was (56.3 ± 5.01) mL/min, which was significantly increased compared with that before treatment ( t = -8.56, P < 0.05). After treatment, Cys-C, CRP, and UAER in the control group were (2.17 ± 0.04) mg/L, (4.66 ± 1.47) mg/L, and (103.93 ± 22.62) μg/min, respectively, which were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment ( t = 4.05, 5.00, 2.24, all P < 0.05). After treatment, CCr in the control group was (45.9 ± 4.9) mL/min, which was significantly increased compared with that before treatment ( t = -3.98, P < 0.05). There were significant differences in Cys-C, UAER, and CCr between the treatment and control groups ( t = -7.42, -2.29, 7.82, all P < 0.05). Conclusion:Tanzhuo Decoction for the treatment of early diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus has a definite effect. It can effectively reduce levels of Cys-C and UAER, reduce inflammatory reactions, improve kidney function, and delay the progression of kidney injury.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), including programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1)/ligand (PD-L1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) monoclonal antibody, have been approved for the treatment of multiple advanced malignant tumors, on account of its ideal antitumor activity. For patients receiving ICIs treatment, glucocorticoid intervention and treatment are often applied because of some complications associated with tumor, immunotherapy-related adverse reactions, and pretreatment before immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy. However, excessive physiological dose of glucocorticoid has a certain immunosuppressive effect, which may even affect the curative efficacy of ICIs. Thus, there are controversies about the use of steroids in patients receiving ICIs treatment. In this article, we reviewed the progress of steroids effect on the efficacy of ICIs.

Objective: To assess value of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in TN staging of pancreatic cancer and compared with contrast enhanced computed tomography(CECT). Methods: Seventy-eight cases with pancreatic cancer confirmed by pathology were enrolled in this study. All patients were examined using CEUS and CECT and staged according to the 8th guideline of pancreas tumors of AJCC. The diagnostic accuracies of CEUS in TN staging of pancreas tumors were compared with CECT. Results: The diagnostic accuracies of CEUS in T staging and N staging of pancreatic cancer were 80.8%, and 78.2%, respectively. For CECT, the diagnostic accuracies in T staging and N staging were 88.5%, and 88.5%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the diagnostic accuracies between CEUS and CECT in T staging(χ²=1.56, P=0.21). The diagnostic accuracy of CEUS in N staging was significantly lower than that of CECT(χ²=3.86, P=0.04). Conclusions The diagnostic accuracy of CEUS in T staging of pancreatic cancer is similar to that of CECT, while in its N staging is lower than that of CECT.

Objective To establish an intestinal organoid-based assay to investigate the radiation mitigation effect of epiregulin in vitro. Methods Intestinal crypts were released from tissue incubated with EDTA. Intestinal crypts seeded in 3D matrigel were irradiated at 24 h after plating. The radiation mitigation effect of epiregulin was evaluated by measuring the survival rate, size and budding numbers of the organoid after irradiation, and the basic FGF was used as a positive control of epiregulin. Results Radiation-induced lethality and dose-dependent survival curve of the intestinal organoid were consistent with in vivo data. Treatment with epiregulin (400 ng/ml) at 24 h post-radiation significantly increased survival rate of 8 Gy X-ray irradiated intestinal organoid in comparison with non-treated group [(12.56 ± 1.02)％vs. (4.73 ± 0.38)％, t=12.43,P<0.05]. Conclusions Epiregulin has radiation mitigation effect on intestinal organoid and could serve as a potential medical countermeasure to mitigate gastrointestinal toxicity.

Objective To discuss the safety and the application of the self-designed multifunctional inflatable pelvis and hip-joint fixator (MIPHF) in damage control in pelvic fracture patients.Methods The MIPHF was subjected to pressure test and quality inspection.From September 2016 to June 2017,61 pelvic-fracture patients were treated with our self-designed MIPHF as pre-hospital first-aid care according to the concept of damage control orthopedics (DCO) (MIPHF group).The control group consisted of 69 pelvic-fracture patients who had not received pre-hospital first-aid care with the self-designed MIPHF from December 2015 to August 2016.There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in gender,age,types of pelvic fracture,and preoperative injure severity score (ISS).The study compared the two groups for the case fatality rate,volume of blood transfused during surgeries,early complication rates,fracture reduction (Matta standards),and long-term efficacy (Cole scores).Results The pressure test showed that the MIPHF had a good fixation effect on the pelvis.And the quality inspection showed that the material used for the MIPHF was in line with national standards and the safety was guaranteed.The MIPHF group had 1 death (1.6％) and the control group had 8 deaths (11.6％),which was a significant difference (x2=4.979,P=0.026).All survival patients in both groups were followed up.The MIPHF group (61 cases) received 3.0 to 18.0 months follow-up,with an average of 9.0 months.And the control group (69 cases) had 18.0 to 30.0 months follow-up,with an average of 21.9 months.In the MIPHF group,23 cases were treated conservatively,and 37 cases were treated with surgery.Among them,3 cases were fixed with external fixator,20 cases with anterior open reduction and internal fixation,9 cases with posterior open reduction and internal fixation,and 5 cases with combined anterior and posterior fixation.The timing of surgery was 1 to 20 days after injury,with an average of 4.1 days.The volume of blood transfused in the MIPHF group during surgery was 200 to 1500 ml,with an average of 628.6 ml.In the control group,27 patients were treated conservatively,and 42 patients were treated with surgery.Among them,2 cases were fixed with external fixator,24 cases with anterior open reduction and internal fixation,10 cases with posterior open reduction and internal fixation,and 6 cases with combined anterior and posterior fixation.The timing of surgery was 1 to 15 days after injury,with an average of 3.l days.The volume of blood transfused in the control group during surgery was 200 to 4000 ml,with an average of 1 707.1 ml.There was a significant difference between the two groups in intraoperative blood transfusion(Z=-2.330,P=0.020).The MIPHF group had 10 (16.4％) cases of early serious complications and the control group had 22 (31.9％) cases,which had a significant difference (x2=4.187,P=0.041).According to the criteria proposed by Matta et al.,the good rate of results for treating fractures was 82.0％ in the MIPHF group and 60.9％ in the control group,which got a significant difference (x2=6.967,P=0.008).The MIPHF group and the control group also differed significantly in their mean long-term Cole scores (27.2±4.0 versus 25.1 ±5.6,t=2.457,P=0.015).Conclusion MIPHF,which reflects the DCO concept,may be recommended as pre-hospital first-aid care for patients with pelvic fracture because it can lessen bleeding and prevent secondary pelvic injury,thus reduce case fatality rate and the incidence of complications.It can also improve the success rate of treating pelvic fracture,which will positively affect long-term outcomes.

Objectives To systematically evaluate the effect of music given to pregnant rats on the development of brain functions in the offspring rats and to provide scientific evidence for the application of antenatal musical training and the promotion of welfare for laboratory animals.Methods We comprehensively retrieved and collected the research literatures related to the effect of music on brain function development in offsprings of the pregnant rats from Pubmed,Web of Science,Cochrane Library,Wanfang,Weipu,CNKI and CBMdisc.The retrieval time was set from the foundation date of databases to 2 April,2016.We selected literatures according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,evaluated their utilities,then extracted and qualitatively described the data.Results Seven experimental studies were selected in this study including 4 published in Chinese and 3 in English.The object laboratory animals of those studies were Wistar or SD rats.Music materials involved comfort music,classic music,violin concerto(Liangzhu/The butterfly lovers).Intervention were given to the pregnant rats roundly from the gestation until parturition.These results showed that,to some extent,music stimulations during gestation may promote the development of brain function and improve spatial memory of the offspring rats.However,expressions of some functional receptors were not significantly altered.Conclusions Appropriate music provided to the pregnant rats promote the development of brain functions in their offspring.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between PD-L1 expression and the clinicopathologic features and prognosis in triple-negative breast carcinomas (TNBC). Methods: All 142 cases of TNBC were collected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from February 2011 to December 2014, and the surgical excision or biopsy specimens from patients without chemotherapy and radiotherapy were included. Histopathologic analysis of stromal tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (sTIL) was performed on HE sections, and PD-L1 immunohistochemical staining was done with MaxVision. Results: The PD-L1 expression rate was 34.5% (49/142) in tumor cells, and was 62.0% (88/142) in sTIL. The PD-L1 expression in tumor cells was positively correlated with tumor size (r=0.181, P=0.031), Ki-67 index (r=0.211, P=0.012), sTIL (r=0.380, P<0.01) and PD-L1 expression in sTIL (r=0.447, P<0.01). The PD-L1 expression in sTIL was positively correlated with tumor grade (r=0.215, P=0.01), Ki-67 index (r=0.253, P=0.002) and sTIL (r=0.370, P<0.01). The high stromal CD8⁺ /FOXP3⁺ ratio was significantly associated with improved overall survival (χ²=4.186, P=0.041). The high percentage of sTIL was significantly associated with improved overall survival (χ²=12.427, P<0.01) and progression-free survival (χ²=4.057, P=0.044). Conclusions In TNBC, PD-L1 expression is positively correlated with Ki-67 and sTIL; the stromal CD8⁺ /FOXP3⁺ ratio and sTIL are significantly associated with prognosis. The PD-L1 expression, stromal CD8⁺ /FOXP3⁺ ratio and sTIL are biologically important in TNBC, and all these correlative factors are important potential parameters in assessing immunotherapy for TNBC.