Objective To evaluate the application value of superb microvascular imaging(SMI)in pre-dicting ovarian cancer staging.Methods One hundred and thirty-six patients with ovarian cancer who under-went surgical treatment in our hospital from March 2019 to May 2024 were enrolled.Transvaginal,transab-dominal low-frequency,and transabdominal high-frequency two-dimensional grayscale imaging,Color Doppler Flow Imaging(CDFI),and SMI were performed before surgery for staging prediction.Taking surgical-patho-logical staging as the gold standard,the sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy of the combined application of transvaginal SMI,transabdominal low-frequency SMI,and transabdominal high-frequency SMI for predicting ovarian cancer staging were calculated.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was established,the area under the ROC curve(AUC)was calculated,and the diagnostic efficacy of SMI for predicting ovarian cancer staging was determined.Results The combined application of transvaginal SMI,transabdominal low-frequency SMI,and transabdominal high-frequency SMI for predicting ovarian cancer staging showed that sen-sitivity was 89.35%,92.36%,81.65%,and 83.21%for stages Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ,respectively;specificity was 86.93%,84.29%,83.39%,and 82.88%;accuracy was 92.50%,94.38%,80.15%,and 84.96%;and AUC was 0.799,0.760,0.695,and 0.727.Conclusion SMI has a high application value in predicting the stage of ovarian cancer,especially for stage Ⅰ and stage Ⅱ ovarian cancer.

Background Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are considered to be one of the biggest health problems in the workplace, seriously affecting the productivity and quality of life of the working population. Long working hours may associate with WMSDs, and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) is beneficial for WMSDs. However, the independent and combined effects of these two factors on WMSDs remain poorly understood. Objective To explore the independent and joint relationships between long working hours, leisure time physical activity (LTPA), and WMSDs, and to provide a basis for prevention and intervention of WMSDs. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1227 frontline workers from multiple secondary industry companies in Nanchong City in 2023 using cluster random sampling. Demographic characteristics information, weekly working hours, LTPA, personal health behaviors, and occupational factors were collected through questionnaires. The Chinese version of Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire was used to assess WMSDs. χ² test and logistic regression were used to analyze the relationships between long working hours and/or LTPA and WMSDs. Results A total of 1227 workers were surveyed with a mean age of (41.3±9.3) years and 855 (69.7%) were male and 372 (30.3%) were female. Among then, 855 (69.7%) workers reported working >40 h per week, and 254 (20.7%) reported working ≥ 55 h per week; 561 (45.7%) reported no LTPA and 192 (15.6%) reported high LTPA. The overall positive rate of WMSDs was 57.4%. The positive rate of WMSDs was 71.3% in those working ≥55 h per week, which was significantly higher than those in the other groups (51.3%-58.2%, P<0.05). Comparison among the positive rate of WMSDs in the weekly working 41-48 h group (54.4%), the 49-54 h group (58.2%), and the ≤40 h group (51.3%) showed no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). The positive rate of WMSDs was higher in workers with no LTPA (59.0%)/low LTPA (58.9%) than in those with high LTPA (49.0%) (P<0.05). The logistic regression models showed that after adjusting gender, age, work experience, income per month, night shift, industry, prolonged fixed posture, prolonged repetition, smoking and alcohol drinking, compared with weekly working ≤40 h, the risk of WMSDs was higher in those with extra-long working hours (≥55 h·week⁻¹ ) (OR=2.155, 95%CI: 1.504, 3.088), whereas those with high LTPA had a lower risk of WMSDs (OR=0.614, 95% CI: 0.432, 0.874 ). The combination of no LTPA and extra-long working hours (≥55 h·week⁻¹) and low LTPA and extra-long working hours (≥55 h·week⁻¹) showed associations with WMSDs, with 2.360 and 2.049 times higher risk of WMSDs than that of the combination of no LTPA and standard working hours (≤40 h ·week⁻¹) respectively (P<0.05), whereas the combination of high LTPA and long working hours was not observed statistical significance (P>0.05). Conclusion Extra-long working hours and/or LTPA show different associations with the risk of WMSDs. Extra-long working hours are significantly positively associated with the risk of WMSDs, whereas high LTPA is significantly negatively associated with the risk of WMSDs. The combination of extra-long working hours with no or low LTPA is associated with elevated risk of reporting WMSDs, whereas no statistical significance is observed for the high LTPA-long work hours combination.

Objective:To explore the prognostic value of serum free light chain in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients.Methods:Retrospective cohort study was conducted. One hundred and fifty-six newly diagnosed chronic lymphocytic leukemia(CLL) patients in the first affiliated hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2016 to December 2020 were included in the retrospective analysis. Among them, there were 106 males and 50 females, with a median age of 60.7 (53.4, 66.0) years old.Serum sample was collected, serum free light chains were detected, and patients were divided into a treatment group (106 cases) and a follow-up group (50 cases) based on the presence of treatment indications.The threshold of serum free light chain(sFLC) was defined by the reference range of the instruction manual and ROC curve. Three indicators were used, including sFLCR, sFLC(κ+λ) and sFLC(κ-λ). Patients were divided into normal sFLCR group ( n=61)and abnormal group( n=95), as well as sFLC (κ+λ) low value group ( n=88) and high value group ( n=68), and sFLC (κ-λ) low value group ( n=64) and high value group ( n=92).The abnormal group and high value group were enrolled as the experimental group, while the normal group and low value group were enrolled as control group. Chi-square test and Fisher′s exact test were used to compare the clinical data, cytogenetics, and molecular biology characteristics of patients in two groups, Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the median treatment-free survival (TFS) of the patients, and Cox regression was used to screen the prognostic factors of the patients. Results:The proportion of Rai stage Ⅰ-Ⅳ ( χ2=8.16, P<0.05 and χ2=7.63, P<0.05 and χ2=5.45, P<0.05), Binet stage B-C( χ2=4.11, P<0.05 and χ2=9.43, P<0.05 and χ2=7.34, P<0.05), β 2-microglobulin>3.5 mg/L( χ2=5.13, P<0.05 and χ2=18.3, P<0.05 and χ2=12, P<0.05), ATM gene mutation rate( χ2=6.21, P<0.05 and χ2=4.88, P<0.05 and χ2=5.19, P<0.05), and immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (IGHV) mutation free rate ( χ2=18.9, P<0.05 and χ2=24.6, P<0.05 and χ2=10.4, P<0.05)in the experimental group were significantly higher than that in control group 1 ( P<0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that sFLC(κ+λ) ( HR=1.615,95% CI 1.012-2.576, P=0.044), β 2-microglobulin>3.5 mg/L( HR=2.103,95% CI 1.356-3.262, P=0.001) and TP53 deletion and/or mutation( HR=1.892,95% CI 1.082-3.308, P=0.025) were independent prognostic factors affecting the patients time to first treatment(TFT). Conclusions:Serum free light chains can predict the risk of early treatment and have good prognostic significance in newly diagnosed CLL patients.

BACKGROUND:Synovitis is involved in all stages of osteoarthritis and is a key factor contributing to the development of osteoarthritis.Studies have shown that circular RNA(circRNA)plays an important role in the proliferation,apoptosis and extracellular matrix degradation of synovial cells and chondrocytes.OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of circRNA SEC24A on the interleukin-1β-induced proliferation,apoptosis,and expression of inflammatory factors in human synovial fibroblasts.METHODS:Human synovial fibroblasts were divided into four groups,including control group,interleukin-1β group,empty vector group,and sh-circSEC24A group.Except for the control group,the other three groups were induced with 10 ng/mL interleukin-1β for 24 hours to establish inflammatory cell models;the empty vector group and sh-circSEC24A group were infected with empty vector virus and lentiviral vector knocking down circSEC24A.CCK-8 assay was used to detect cell proliferation.Flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis.ELISA was used to detect the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9,matrix metalloproteinase-13,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α in cell supernatant.Western blot assay was used to detect the relative expression levels of Bax,Bcl-2,matrix metalloproteinase-9,matrix metalloproteinase-13,casepase3,cleaved-casepase3,casepase8,and cleaved-casepase8 proteins in cells.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)qRT-PCR results showed that compared with the normal group,the expression of circSEC24A in human synovial fibroblasts induced by interleukin 1β was significantly up-regulated.(2)The absorbance value of cells in the sh-circSEC24A group detected by CCK-8 assay was significantly higher than that of interleukin 1β group and empty vector group(P＜0.05).The apoptosis rate of sh-circSEC24A group detected by flow cytometry was significantly lower than that of interleukin 1β group and empty vector group(P＜0.05).(3)The levels of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 6 in the supernatant of human synovial fibroblasts in the sh-circSEC24A group detected by ELISA were significantly lower than those in the interleukin 1β group and the empty vector group(P＜0.01,P＜0.001).(4)Western blot assay results showed that compared with the interleukin 1β group and the empty vector group,the expression of the pro-apoptotic factor Bax protein in the sh-circSEC24A group significantly decreased,and the expression of the anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2 protein increased significantly(P＜0.05);apoptosis and related activating factors cleaved-casepase3 and cleaved-casepase8 protein expressions were both reduced(P＜0.05).(5)ELISA and western blot assay results showed that compared with the interleukin 1β group and the empty vector group,the sh-circSEC24A group had lower levels of matrix metalloproteinase 9 and matrix metalloproteinase 13 protein(P＜0.05).These findings indicated that the expression of circSEC24A was abnormally increased in human synovial fibroblasts induced by interleukin 1β.Knocking down circSEC24A expression could promote the proliferation of human synovial fibroblasts and inhibit apoptosis,inflammatory factor release,and extracellular matrix degradation,suggesting that circSEC24A may be an important intervention target for early osteoarthritis.

Objective:To explore the application of "flipped classroom + PBL + CBL" in clinical teaching of ultrasound medicine.Methods:Sixty undergraduate students enrolled in the internship of ultrasound medicine at the Department of Ultrasound in The University-Town Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were randomly divided into two groups: 30 in the control group (traditional teaching mode) and 30 in the experimental group (flipped classroom + PBL + CBL teaching mode). After internship, the theoretical knowledge, operational skills, and teaching satisfaction of the two groups of students were compared and analyzed. Moreover, the importance and satisfaction of "flipped classroom + PBL + CBL" teaching mode were analyzed using the importance-satisfaction quadrant chart.Results:The experimental group outperformed the control group in theoretical knowledge scores, medical history collection, equipment adjustment, operation skills, image quality, report writing, and teaching satisfaction ( t values: -22.35, -19.45, -18.65, -18.32, -19.16, and -18.67, respectively; All P<0.001). In the importance-satisfaction quadrant chart of "flipped classroom + PBL + CBL" teaching mode, students attached importance to and were satisfied with courseware making and course difficulty. However, improvements are needed in Mandarin proficiency, ultrasound image selection, and divergent thinking. Conclusions:In the clinical teaching of ultrasound medicine, the "flipped classroom + PBL + CBL" teaching mode is useful to improve the ability of students to identify and solve problems and lifelong self-study. This mode improves the quality of teaching ultrasound medicine and is worthy of promotion and exploration.

Objective:To investigate the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of brucellosis in Heilongjiang Province, Jilin Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (hereafter referred to as the Hei-Ji-Meng province and region), and study the influencing factors of brucellosis incidence.Methods:Using a retrospective analysis method, the data of brucellosis incidence in 22 prefecture-level cities in the Hei-Ji-Meng province and region from 2014 to 2018, as well as the data of natural environmental factors (precipitation, temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, wind speed, vegetation index) and social environmental factors (livestock breeding, livestock and poultry meat production, cultivated land area) were collected and integrated. The spatial autocorrelation model and spatial Dubin model were used to analyze the spatial and temporal distribution rule of brucellosis and the impact of environmental factors on the incidence of brucellosis in prefecture-level cities.Results:From 2014 to 2018, the incidence of brucellosis in the Hei-Ji-Meng province and region was 18.77/100 000, among which the incidence in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region was 33.45/100 000, followed by Heilongjiang Province (13.67/100 000) and Jilin Province (6.57/100 000). Among all prefecture-level cities, the brucellosis incidence was relatively higher in Hinggan League of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (69.10/100 000). Except 2016, the brucellosis incidence in other years had a positive spatial correlation (global Moran's I > 0, P < 0.05). The high-high concentration aggregation pattern was mainly concentrated in Ulanqab City, Xilingol League, Chifeng City, Tongliao City, Hinggan League, Hohhot City, and Hulunbuir City of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Among the environmental factors related to brucellosis, cultivated land area and sheep breeding density had a positive effect on brucellosis incidence in the local area, with the effect intensity of 0.39 and 0.32, respectively ( P < 0.001). The average humidity from April to July had a negative effect on the brucellosis incidence in the local area, with the effect intensity of - 0.22 ( P = 0.023). The indirect effect of the number of pigs slaughtered on the brucellosis incidence in adjacent areas was the most significant, and the effect intensity was 2.15 ( P < 0.001). Conclusions:Among the Hei-Ji-Meng province and region, the annual average incidence rate of brucellosis in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is relatively higher, and the high-high concentration areas are mainly concentrated in this region. Among the environmental factors, the cultivated land area, sheep breeding density, the average humidity from April to July and the number of pigs slaughtered have an impact on brucellosis incidence.

Objective To explore the distribution patterns of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndromes in patients with metabolic syndrome caused by antipsychotic drugs.Methods A standardized TCM syndrome survey was performed to collect diagnostic information from 160 patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome due to antipsychotic drug use.Subsequent frequency analysis,cluster analysis,and Bayesian network analysis were carried out.The syndrome pattern distribution was ultimately determined through relevant literatures and expert opinions.Results Five TCM syndromes were identified through frequency,cluster,and Bayesian network analyses.The most common syndrome was qi deficiency with phlegm-dampness(30％),followed by spleen deficiency with phlegm-Heat(23.75％),qi and yin deficiency Pattern(21.88％),yin deficiency with damp-heat(17.50％),and stomach fire hyperactivity pattern(6.88％).Conclusion The pathogenesis of antipsychotics-induced metabolic syndrome involves a complex interplay of deficiency and excess factors.The primary disease is mainly located at the spleen and stomach,with involvement of the liver,kidney,and heart.Pathogenic factors include qi deficiency,yin deficiency,dampness,heat,pathogenic fire,and phlegm.

Aim To study the regulatory effect of acupuncture pretreatment on ferroptosis of nerve cells in rats with ischemic stroke.Methods Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into sham middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)group,MCAO group,and acupuncture+MCAO group.In the acupuncture+MCAO group,the acupuncture points of DU26,PC6,and SP6,were selected for acupuncture pretreatment,once a day for a total of 5 days.After pre-treatment,MCAO or sham MCAO models were prepared.The Zausinger sextintegral method was used to score the neuro-logical function of rats,and the infarct volume of brain tissue was calculated by TTC staining.Electron microscopy was used to observe the pathomorphological changes of brain tissue.The iron content was detected by colorimetric method,the content of malondialdehyde(MDA)and glutathione(GSH)was determined by ELISA,and the expression of glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4)was detected by immunofluorescence.Results Compared with the sham MCAO group,the MCAO group had a decrease in neurological function scores,a significant increase in infarct volume,a decrease in the number of mitochondria under electron microscopy,a rupture and vacuolization of the inner mitochondrial cristae,an in-crease in the contents of iron and MDA in brain tissue,and a decrease in GSH content and GPX4 expression.Compared with the MCAO group,the acupuncture+MCAO group had an increase in neurological function scores,a decrease in infarct volume,a large number of mitochondria under electron microscopy,a clear structure,a decrease or disordered arrangement of some mitochondrial crest structures,a decrease in the contents of iron and MDA in brain tissue,and an increase in GSH content and GPX4 expression.Conclusion Acupuncture pretreatment can alleviate neurological damage in rats,and its mechanism may be related to regulating iron,GSH and MDA contents in brain tissue,and GPX4 expression,improving cell antioxidant capacity and inhibiting nerve cell ferroptosis.