Objective To predict the radiation impact of discharging wastewater containing uranium within the specified limit generated during the normal operation of a new production line at a nuclear fuel plant on the receiving water body and its downstream, and to provide a reference for the management of radioactive liquid effluent discharge from nuclear facilities. Methods Based on the technical guidelines for environmental impact assessment, literature on radiation environmental impact assessment, and data collected from on-site investigations, appropriate hydrological parameters and prediction models were selected to analyze and predict the variation pattern of radioactive nuclide uranium along the receiving water body and the radiation exposure of nearby residents. Results The maximum increase in uranium concentration in the receiving water body and its downstream caused by the discharge of uranium-containing wastewater was 1.14 μg/L. The maximum predicted concentration was 2.75 μg/L after adding the background data of the water body. The resulting maximum individual annual effective dose for the public was 1.49 × 10⁻⁴ mSv/a. Conclusion The maximum predicted uranium concentration in the receiving water body and its downstream is lower than the uranium concentration limit of 30 μg/L specified in the Standards for Drinking Water Quality (GB 5749-2022). The maximum individual annual effective dose for the public is much lower than the control value of 0.2 mSv/a specified in the Radiation Protection Regulations for Uranium Processing and Fuel and Fuel Manufacturing Facilities (EJ 1056-2018). The radiation impact is acceptable.

Objective To compare the benefits and drawbacks of primary patch expansion versus pericardial tube right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection in patients diagnosed with pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PA/VSD). Methods A retrospective study was conducted on patients diagnosed with PA/VSD who underwent primary right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection surgery at our center between 2010 and 2020. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the type of right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection: a pericardial tube group and a patch expansion group. Clinical data and imaging findings were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 51 patients were included in the study, comprising 31 males and 20 females, with a median age of 12.57 (4.57, 49.67) months. The pericardial tube group included 19 patients with a median age of 17.17 (7.33, 49.67) months, while the patch expansion group consisted of 32 patients with a median age of 8.58 (3.57, 52.72) months. In both groups, the diameter of pulmonary artery, McGoon index, and Nakata index significantly increased after treatment (P<0.001). However, the pericardial tube group exhibited a longer extracorporeal circulation time (P<0.001). The reoperation rate was notably high, with 74.51% of patients requiring further surgical intervention, including 26 (81.25%) patients in the patch expansion group and 12 (63.16%) patients in the pericardial tube group. No statistical differences were observed in long-term cure rates or mortality between the two groups (P＞0.005). Conclusion In patients with PA/VSD, both patch expansion and pericardial tube right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection serve as effective initial palliative treatment strategies that promote pulmonary vessel development and provide a favorable foundation for subsequent radical operations. However, compared to the pericardial tube approach, the patch expansion technique is simpler to perform and preserves some intrinsic potential for pulmonary artery development, making it the preferred procedure.

Objective To introduce a modified technique of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction using a handmade bicuspid pulmonary valve crafted from expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) and to summarize the early single-center experience. Methods Patients with complex congenital heart diseases (CHD) who underwent RVOT reconstruction with a handmade ePTFE bicuspid pulmonary valve due to pulmonary regurgitation at Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital from April 2021 to February 2022 were selected. Postoperative artificial valve function and right heart function indicators were evaluated. Results A total of 17 patients were included, comprising 10 males and 7 females, with a mean age of (18.18±12.14) years and a mean body weight of (40.94±19.45) kg. Sixteen patients underwent reconstruction with a handmade valved conduit, with conduit sizes ranging from 18 to 24 mm. No patients required mechanical circulatory support, and no in-hospital deaths occurred. During a mean follow-up period of 12.89 months, only one patient developed valve dysfunction, and no related complications or adverse events were observed. The degree of pulmonary regurgitation was significantly improved post-RVOT reconstruction and during follow-up compared to preoperative levels (P<0.001). Postoperative right atrial diameter, right ventricular diameter, and tricuspid regurgitation area were all significantly reduced compared to preoperative values (P<0.05). Conclusion The use of a 0.1 mm ePTFE handmade bicuspid pulmonary valve for RVOT reconstruction in complex CHD is a feasible, effective, and safe technique.

Objective:To investigate the causal relationship between trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and its precursors (betaine, carnitine, and choline) and pancreatic diseases based on the Mendelian randomization (MR) method.Methods:Genome-wide association study data of TMAO, betaine, carnitine, choline, acute pancreatitis (AP), chronic pancreatitis (CP), pancreatic cancer (PC), and circulating immune cell characteristics (white blood cell, lymphocyte, monocyte, neutrophil, eosinophil and basophil) were collected. According to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE)-MR reporting guidelines, the available genetic variants [single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)] were strictly screened. The causal relationship between exposure (TMAO and its precursors) and outcomes (pancreatic diseases and circulating immune cell characteristics) was evaluated using inverse variance weighting (IVW), MR-Egger regression and weighted median. The reliability of the results was evaluated by sensitivity analysis based on MR-Egger regression, MR-PRESSO, Cochrane's Q test and leave-one-out method. Results:A total of 36 SNP associated with TMAO and its precursors were included. Five of these were associated with TMAO, 13 with betaine, 12 with carnitine, and 6 with choline. ① MR analysis showed that TMAO may increase the risk of AP [odds ratio ( OR) = 1.100, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 1.008-1.200, P = 0.032], and choline may reduce the risk of alcoholic acute pancreatitis (AAP; OR = 0.743, 95% CI was 0.585-0.944, P = 0.015). The analysis results of MR-Egger regression and weighted median were consistent with the IVW results. There is no evidence to support a causal relationship between TMAO and its precursors and the risk of CP and PC. Sensitivity analysis indicated that SNP analyzed by MR showed no heterogeneity and low pleiotropy. The leave-one-out method analysis determined that after excluding any SNP, the effect intervals of the remaining SNP on the results were similar to the overall effect intervals, which suggested the robustness of MR results. ② There was a positive causal relationship between plasma TMAO level and circulating monocyte count ( OR = 1.017, 95% CI was 1.000*-1.034, P = 0.048, * represented that the data was obtained by correcting to 3 decimal places from 1.000 1). The causal effect obtained by MR-Egger regression and weighted median analysis was consistent with the results of IVW. Sensitivity analysis illustrated SNP analyzed by MR showed no heterogeneity and pleiotropy. The leave-one-out method analysis determined that after excluding any SNP, the effect intervals of the remaining SNP on the results were similar to the overall effect intervals, which suggested the robustness of MR results. Conclusion:TMAO and choline may change the risk of AP, and TMAO may contribute to the increase of circulating monocyte count in AP.

Objective:To explore the safety and efficacy of Neuroform Atlas stent assisted coil embolization in intracranial wide-necked aneurysms, and analyze the risk factors for procedure-related complications.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed; the clinical data of 367 patients with 374 intracranial wide-necked aneurysms accepted Neuroform Atlas stent assisted coil embolization from January 2021 to February 2024 were collected. Clinical prognosis, immediate postoperative and 6-12 months postoperative angiography, and procedure-related complications (including perioperative complications and complications during follow-up) were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were used to identify the independent risk factors for procedure-related complications.Results:Immediate postoperative Raymond-Roy Occlusion Classification (RROC) grading I was noted in 323 aneurysms (86.4%), grading II in 42 aneurysms (11.2%), and grading III in aneurysms (2.4%). Perioperative complications occurred in 26 patients (7.1%): 19 (5.2%) were ischemic complications, while 7 (1.9%) were hemorrhagic complications. A total of 260 aneurysms (69.5%) underwent follow-up angiography, including 229 aneurysms (88.1%) with RROC grading I, 25 aneurysms (9.6%) with grading II and 6 aneurysms (2.3%) with grading III. During the follow-up, 5 patients (1.9%) developed stent stenosis, but only 1 patient had transient ischemic attack, and all of them had boundless vessel occlusion. At the last follow-up, 10 patients (2.7%) had poor prognosis, including 8 (2.2%) with severe disabilities (7 with modified Rankin Scale [mRS] scores of 3 and 1 with mRS scores of 4), and 2 (0.5%) deaths (mRS scores of 6). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that large aneurysms and posterior circulation aneurysms were independent risk factors for procedure-related complications ( OR=6.299, 95% CI: 1.131-35.094, P=0.036; OR=3.654, 95% CI: 1.478-9.035, P=0.005). Conclusion:Neuroform Atlas stent assisted coil embolization in intracranial wide-necked aneurysms is safe and feasible; patients with large aneurysms and posterior circulating aneurysms are more likely to have procedure-related complications.

The overuse of antibiotics has led to the severe contamination of water bodies,posing a considerable hazard to human health.Therefore,the development of an accurate and rapid point-of-care testing(POCT)platform for the quantitative detection of antibiotics is necessary.In this study,Cerium oxide(CeO2)and Ferrosoferric oxide(Fe3O4)nanoparticles were simultaneously encapsulated into N-doped nanofibrous carbon microspheres to form of a novel nanozyme(CeFe-NCMzyme)with a porous struc-ture,high surface area,and N-doped carbon material properties,leading to a considerable enhancement of the peroxidase(POD)-like activity compared with that of the CeO2 or Fe3O4 nanoparticles alone.The POD-like activity of CeFe-NCMzyme can be quenched using L-Cysteine(Cys)and subsequently restored by the addition of a quinolone antibiotic(norfloxacin,NOR).Therefore,CeFe-NCMzyme was used as a colorimetric sensor to detect NOR via an"On-Off"model of POD-like activity.The sensor possessed a wide linear range of 0.05-20.0 μM(R2=0.9910)with a detection limit of 35.70 nM.Furthermore,a smartphone-assisted POCT platform with CeFe-NCMzyme was fabricated for quantitative detection of NOR based on RGB analysis.With the use of the POCT platform,a linear range of 0.1-20.0 μM and a detection limit of 54.10 nM were obtained.The spiked recoveries in the water samples were ranged from 97.73％to 102.01％,and the sensor exhibited good accuracy and acceptable reliability.This study provides a portable POCT platform for the on-site and quantitative monitoring of quinolone antibiotics in real samples,particularly in resource-constrained settings.

Objective:The transjugular or transfemoral approach is used as a common method for hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement in current practice. This study aims to confirm the safety and effectiveness of measuring HVPG via the forearm venous approach.Methods:Prospective recruitment was conducted for patients with cirrhosis who underwent HVPG measurement via the forearm venous approach at six hospitals in China and Japan from September 2020 to December 2020. Patients' clinical baseline information and HVPG measurement data were collected. The right median cubital vein or basilic vein approach for all enrolled patients was selected. The HVPG standard process was used to measure pressure. Research data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 statistical software. Quantitative data were used to represent medians (interquartile ranges), while qualitative data were used to represent frequency and rates. The correlation between two sets of data was analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis.Results:A total of 43 cases were enrolled in this study. Of these, 41 (95.3%) successfully underwent HVPG measurement via the forearm venous approach. None of the patients had any serious complications. The median operation time for HVPG detection via forearm vein was 18.0 minutes (12.3~38.8 minutes). This study confirmed that HVPG was positively closely related to Child-Pugh score ( r = 0.47, P = 0.002), albumin-bilirubin score ( r = 0.37, P = 0.001), Lok index ( r = 0.36, P = 0.02), liver stiffness ( r = 0.58, P = 0.01), and spleen stiffness ( r = 0.77, P = 0.01), while negatively correlated with albumin ( r = -0.42, P = 0.006). Conclusion:The results of this multi-centre retrospective study suggest that HVPG measurement via the forearm venous approach is safe and feasible.

AIM:To investigate the effect of ankyrin repeat domain 49(ANKRD49)on epithelial-mesenchy-mal transition(EMT)in NCI-H1299 cells,and to explore its mechanism.METHODS:The ANKRD49 was over-ex-pressed in NCI-H1299 cells.The morphological changes of ANKRD49-overpressing NCI-H1299 cells were observed under microscope.The mRNA and protein expression levels of EMT-related markers[E-cadherin,transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1),vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)]and EMT-related transcription factors(Snail1,Slug,Twist and ZEB1)were detected by RT-qPCR Western blot.Immunofluorescence staining was performed to observe the localiza-tion and expression of E-cadherin and vimentin in ANKRD49-overexpressing cells or control cells.Immunohistochemical method was performed to examine the levels of E-cadherin,α-SMA,Snail,Slug and ZEB1 in lung tissues of nude mice in-oculated with ANKRD49-overexpressing H1299 cells or control cells.RESULTS:Compared with the control group,the ANKRD49 overexpressing cells showed mesenchymal cell morphology(fusiform and less tight connections).RT-qPCR and Western blot results showed that the mRNA and protein levels of mesenchymal markers vimentin and α-SMA in ANKRD49 overexpressing cells were significantly higher than those in cells of control group,while the mRNA and protein levels of epithelial marker E-cadherin were lower than those in cells of control group.Compared with control group,the im-munofluorescence intensity of E-cadherin of H1299 cells decreased in after ANKRD49 overexpression,while that of vimen-tin increased significantly.Snail,Slug and ZEB1 expression were significantly elevated in ANKRD49 overexpressing cells compared with control group.The levels of E-cadherin in lung tissues of nude mice inoculated with ANKRD49-overexpressing H1299 cells declined,while the levels of α-SMA,Snail,Slug and ZEB1 increased compared with those in control mice.CONCLUSION:ANKRD49 promoted EMT of NCI-H1299 cells by increasing the expression of Snail1,Slug and ZEB1 and consequent downreguation of E-cadherin and upregulation of vimentin and α-SMA.

Objective:To compare and analyze the correlation between two kinds of point-of-care testing (POCT) instruments and Roche electrochemiluminescence instrument in detecting myocardial biomarkers,so as to provide reference for the selection of POCT instruments in clinical testing. Methods:A total of twenty patient's samples were selected,which concentration range covered the reportable range of detection results. Two kinds of POCT instruments (named respectively A and B) were used to detect the concentrations of plasma myoglobin (Myo),creatine kinase isoenzyme mass (CK-MB mass),cardiac troponin I(cTnI),and N-terminal fragment of B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)/Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). The results of the electrochemiluminescence instrument were used as reference,and Pearson correlation analysis and Kappa test evaluation were used to evaluate respectively the correlation and consistency of the detected results between the two kinds of POCT instruments and Roche electrochemiluminescence instrument. Results:Our study demonstrated that there were good correlations in the detected results of Myo,CK-MB mass,cTnI,NT-proBNP/BNP between the instrument A and Roche electrochemiluminescence instrument,and between the instrument B and Roche electrochemiluminescence instrument (rinstrumentA=0.994,0.989,0.917,0.996,rinstrumentB=0.928,0.934,0.883,0.977,P<0.05),respectively. In the comparisons about consistencies,the concordance rates between instrument A and electrochemiluminescence instrument were respectively 90％,100％,70％ and 100％ in detecting Myo,CK-MB,cTnI and NT-proBNP,and the concordance rates between instrument B and electrochemiluminescence instrument were respectively 90％,100％,70％ and 100％ in detecting them. Both two kinds of POCT instruments had favorable consistencies with Roche electrochemiluminescence instrument (Kappainstrument A=0.798,1.00,0.429,1.00,Kappainstrument B=0.794,0.886,0.429,1.00),respectively. The precisions of both instruments were less than 10％. Conclusion:Both two kinds of POCT instruments can meet the requirements of clinical test,which have favorable correlations with electrochemiluminescence instrument in detecting myocardial biomarkers.

Objective:To compare percutaneous Kirschner wiring and elastic intramedullary nailing after ultrasound-guided reduction in the treatment of radial neck fractures in children.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the 96 children with radial neck fracture who had been admitted to Department of Orthopedics, Children's Hospital of Anhui Province from January 2020 to January 2023. They were 51 boys and 45 girls with an age of (7.0±2.5) years. By the Judet classification, there were 74 cases of type Ⅲ and 22 cases of type IV. Twenty-one cases were treated with percutaneous Kirschner wiring after ultrasound-guided reduction (Kirschner wire group) while 75 cases with elastic intramedullary nailing after ultrasound-guided reduction (intramedullary nail group). The surgical time, fluoroscopy frequency, fracture healing time, and incidence of complications were compared between the 2 groups. Their postoperative X-ray films were evaluated according to the Métaizeau criteria, and elbow joint function was evaluated according to the Steel and Gtrham scoring at the last follow-up.Results:There was no statistically significant difference in the preoperative general data between the 2 groups, indicating comparability ( P>0.05). The 96 pediatric patients were followed up for (10.6±4.2) months after surgery. The surgical time [(18.5±2.6) minutes] and fluoroscopy frequency [4.0 (3.0, 4.0) times] in the Kirschner wire group were significantly less than those in the intramedullary nail group [(30.9±2.7) minutes, 8.0 (7.0, 9.0) times] ( P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in fracture healing time, good and excellent rate of postoperative reduction by the Métaizeau criteria, good and excellent rate of elbow joint function by the Steel and Gtrham scoring at the last follow-up, or incidence of complications ( P>0.05). Conclusion:In the treatment of radial neck fractures in children, both ultrasound-guided percutaneous Kirschner wiring and elastic intramedullary nailing after ultrasound-guided reduction can lead to similar therapeutic effects, but the former can shorten surgical time, reduce intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, and spare a secondary surgery.