Objective To analyze the clinical significance of subjective visual vertical (SVV) tests at different head deflection angles in assessing utricle function in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Methods A total of 61 BPPV patients who were treated at the Hearing Impairment and Vertigo Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from August 2022 to May 2023 were retrospectively included, and 29 healthy adults were selected as controls. SVV tests were performed on all research subjects at different head deflection angles: upright head (0°), left head 45° (L45°), right head 45° (R45°). The test results between the two groups were compared. Results SVV absolute value at R45° in BPPV group was lower than that in the control group (P＝0.003); there was no significant difference in SVV values at 0° and L45° between the two groups. There was no statistical difference in SVV values at different head deflection angles between the control group and the left BPPV group. SVV absolute value at R45° in right BPPV group was lower than that in the control group (P＜0.001); there was no statistical difference in SVV values at 0° and L45° between the two groups. Conclusions SVV test can provide subjective information about the utricle, and SVV tests at different head deflection angles can fine-tune evaluate the function of the utricle in BPPV patients.

Objective: To examine the impact of temperature on the incidence of hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD), so as to provide a basis for research on the impact of climate on HFMD. Methods: HFMD incidence data in Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province from 2010 to 2022 were collected from the Infectious Disease Surveillance System of Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System. Concurrent meteorological data were obtained from the Huzhou Meteorological Bureau. A distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was employed to analyze the impact of temperature on HFMD incidence. Results: A total of 65 059 cases of HFMD were reported in Huzhou City from 2010 to 2022, with incidence peaks occurring from April to July and from October to November. The 5th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 95th percentiles (P5, P25, P50, P75, and P95) of daily average temperature were 2.5, 9.4, 17.8, 24.7, and 30.6 ℃, respectively. The results from the DLNM analysis revealed a non-linear relationship between daily average temperature and HFMD incidence, which exhibited an irregular "M" shape. The incidence peaks were observed at 6.5 ℃ (RR=1.596, 95%CI: 1.154-2.207) and 25.7 ℃ (RR=3.257, 95%CI: 2.614-4.058), respectively. The maximum single-day effect was observed at a daily average temperature of -6.2 ℃ at lag 0 day (RR=1.250, 95%CI: 1.100-1.420), while the minimum single-day effect was observed at a daily average temperature of 34.6 ℃ at lag 0 day (RR=0.881, 95%CI: 0.826-0.940). The impact of daily average temperature at P5 on the incidence of HFMD showed RR values greater than 1 at lag 0, 3, 27, and 30 days, but less than 1 at lag 9 and 12 days, with no significant cumulative lag effect. In contrast, for the daily average temperature at P95, the RR values less than 1 at lag 15, 18, and 21 days, with significant cumulative lag effects identified. Conclusions The incidence of HFMD in Huzhou City peaks from April to July and again from October to November. There exists a nonlinear relationship and lag effect between temperature and HFMD incidence, with particular attention drawn to the impact of extreme temperatures on the disease's onset.

Sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 3 (SMPD3) encodes neutral sphingomyelinase 2 (nSMase2), which plays an important role in tumor development as a key enzyme regulating cell growth variation and inducing apoptosis with the important messenger molecule ceramide. On one hand, the common epigenetic alteration of SMPD3 methylation mediates carcinogenesis through the disruption of gene expression by regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Meanwhile, SMPD3 also induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in tumor cells through its hydrolysis products. On the other hand, SMPD3 is also closely related to pro-cancer processes such as exosome secretion, inflammatory response, and tumor cell proliferation. In this paper, the biological action of SMPD3 in tumor diseases was reviewed to enhance the understanding of the role of SMPD3 in the development of different tumors and provide broader ideas for basic research and clinical diagnosis and treatment of tumor diseases.

The effect of aspirin eugenol ester(AEE)on the metabolism of rats was investigated to provide theoretical references for the clinical rational use of the drug.Firstly,the appropriate con-centration of AEE suspension was prepared.Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups:the normal group,the AEE low-dose group(18 mg/kg),and the AEE high-dose group(72 mg/kg).The rats in the dosing group were dosed once daily,and the Wistar rats in the normal group were dosed once daily with an equal volume of 0.5％sodium carboxymethylcellulose solution.The feces and urine were collected after 7 days of continuous gavage,and the feces and urine were ana-lyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spec-trometry(UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS)for non-targeted metabolomics and Metabo Analyst 5.0 was used for metabolic pathway enrichment.The results showed that the dose of AEE selected in this experiment was not toxic to the growth of rats.The results of the metabolomics study found that 10 and 8 differential metabolites were identified in rat feces and urine,respectively,involving meta-bolic pathways such as phenylalanine,tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis,phenylalanine metabo-lism,steroid hormone biosynthesis,biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids,aminosugar and nucleo-tide sugar metabolism,fatty acid biosynthesis,and β-alanine metabolism.AEE had no significant effect on the body weight of rats(P＞0.05),but AEE could affect the metabolism of rat organ-ism.Fecal metabolites were mainly involved in metabolic pathways including unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis,tyrosine metabolism,fatty acid biosynthesis,and steroid hormone biosynthesis;urina-ry metabolites were mainly involved in metabolic pathways including purine metabolism,fatty acid biosynthesis,arginine,and proline metabolism.Therefore,the metabolic effects of AEE on rats are mainly closely related to the regulation of lipid metabolism,amino acid metabolism,and energy metabolism.The results of this experiment can provide some references for the efficacy and clinical application of AEE in animals.

Objective:To analyze the sensitivity of cytoplasmic light-chain immunofluorescence with fluorescence in situ hybridization in bone marrow smears (new FISH) for detecting cytogenetic abnormalities in multiple myeloma (MM) .Methods:42 MM patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from April 2022 to October 2023 were enrolled. The patients with MM were detected by new FISH and CD138 immunomagnetic bead sorting technology combined with FISH (MACS-FISH) or cytoplasmic immunoglobulin FISH (cIg-FISH) to analyze cytogenetic detection results using combination probes which included 1q21/1p32, p53, IgH, IgH/FGFR3 [t (4;14) ], and IgH/MAF [t (14;16) ].Results:In 23 patients with MM, the abnormality detection rates of cIg-FISH and new FISH were 95.7% and 100.0%, respectively ( P>0.05). The detection rates of 1q21+, 1p32-, p53 deletion, and IgH abnormalities by cIg-FISH and new FISH were consistent, which were 52.2%, 8.7%, 17.4%, and 65.2%, respectively. The results of the two methods further performed with t (4;14) and t (14;16) in patients with IgH abnormalities were identical. The positive rate of t (4;14) was 26.7%, whereas t (14;16) was not detected. In 19 patients with MM, the abnormality detection rates of MACS-FISH and new FISH were 73.7% and 63.2%, respectively ( P>0.05). The positivity rate of 1q21+, 1p32- and IgH abnormalities detected by MACS-FISH were slightly higher than those detected by new FISH; however, the differences were not statistically significant (all P values >0.05) . Conclusion:The new FISH method has a higher detection rate of cytogenetic abnormalities in patients with MM and has good consistency with MACS-FISH and cIg-FISH.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of preoperative γ-glutamyl transferase/lymphocyte count ratio (GLR) levels for postoperative tumor recurrence in liver transplant recipients with liver cancer.Methods:The clinical data of 158 recipients who were diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (hereinafter referred to as liver cancer) and received liver transplantation at the No. 900 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army from January 2008 to October 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. X-tile software, the Kaplan-Meier method, univariate and multivariate Cox regression, and other statistical methods were performed. The predictive value of preoperative GLR levels for postoperative tumor recurrence in liver transplant recipients with liver cancer and the risk factors for tumor recurrence in liver cancer patients post-liver transplantation were analyzed.Results:The X-tile software analysis confirmed that 96.8 was the optimal cutoff value for the preoperative GLR level to predict recurrence. The grouping threshold for survival analysis using the GLR cutoff value was 96.8. The tumor recurrence rates at 1, 3, and 5 years after surgery in the low-level GLR group (90 cases) and the high-level GLR group were 19.3% vs. 44.2%, 31.8% vs. 60.0%, and 34.1% vs. 62.9% (68 cases), respectively, and the differences were statistically significant between the two groups ( P<0.05). The Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis results showed that the overall postoperative survival rate and recurrence-free survival rate were significantly lower in the high-level GLR group than the low-level GLR group ( P<0.05). The univariate Cox analysis result showed that there were statistically significant differences in preoperative aspartate aminotransferase, alpha fetoprotein, surgery time, maximum diameter of a solitary tumor, presence or absence of microvascular invasion, presence or absence of portal vein tumor thrombus, and preoperative GLR levels between the two groups ( P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis results showed that preoperative alpha-fetoprotein ≥400 ng/ml, GLR≥96.8, and the maximum diameter of a solitary tumor ≥5.0 cm were independent risk factors for postoperative tumor recurrence in liver transplant recipients with liver cancer ( P<0.05). Conclusion:GLR levels have a certain predictive value for postoperative tumor recurrence in liver transplant recipients with liver cancer. Furthermore, the postoperative tumor recurrence rate is relatively high when the preoperative GLR level in liver transplant recipients with liver cancer is ≥96.8.

Background:Following the short-term outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)in December 2022 in China,clinical data on kidney transplant recipients(KTRs)with COVID-19 are lacking.Methods:We conducted a single-center retrospective study to describe the clinical features,complications,and mortality rates of hospitalized KTRs infected with COVID-19 between Dec.16,2022 and Jan.31,2023.The patients were followed up until Mar.31,2023.Results:A total of 324 KTRs with COVID-19 were included.The median age was 49 years.The median time between the onset of symptoms and admission was 13 d.Molnupiravir,azvudine,and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir were administered to 67(20.7%),11(3.4%),and 148(45.7%)patients,respectively.Twenty-nine(9.0%)patients were treated with more than one antiviral agent.Forty-eight(14.8%)patients were treated with tocilizumab and 53(16.4%)patients received baricitinib therapy.The acute kidney injury(AKI)occurred in 81(25.0%)patients and 39(12.0%)patients were admitted to intensive care units.Fungal infections were observed in 55(17.0%)patients.Fifty(15.4%)patients lost their graft.The 28-d mortality rate of patients was 9.0%and 42(13.0%)patients died by the end of follow-up.Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified that cerebrovascular disease,AKI incidence,interleukin(IL)-6 level of>6.8 pg/mL,daily dose of corticosteroids of>50 mg,and fungal infection were all associated with an increased risk of death for hospitalized patients.Conclusions:Our findings demonstrate that hospitalized KTRs with COVID-19 are at high risk of mortality.The administration of immunomodulators or the late application of antiviral drugs does not improve patient survival,while higher doses of corticosteroids may increase the death risk.

Objective:To investigate and analyze the clinical efficacy of salvage liver transplantation (SLT), rehepatectomy (RH), local ablation (LA), and prognostic risk factors in patients with postoperative recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods:Clinical data of 145 patients with recurrent liver cancer in the 900th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of the People's Liberation Army from January 2005 to June 2018 were retrospectively collected. SLT group, RH group, and LA group included 25, 44, and 76 cases, respectively. Follow-up and statistics were recorded on the overall survival rate, relapse-free survival rate, and complications of the three groups of patients at 1, 2, and 3 years after surgery. Univariate and multivariate COX analyses were used to analyze the prognostic risk factors in patients with recurrent HCC.Results:The overall survival rates of 1, 2, and 3 years following surgery in the SLT, RH, and LA groups were 100.0%, 84.0%, 72.0%, 95.5%, 77.3%, 65.9%, 90.8%, 76.3%, and 63.2%, respectively, when the recurrence of liver cancer met the Milan criteria. The overall survival rate did not differ statistically between SLT and RH ( P = 0.303) or between RH and LA ( P = 0.152). There were statistically significant differences in recurrence-free survival between SLT and RH or RH and LA ( P = 0.046). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of complications between SLT and RH or RH and LA ( P > 0.017). Age > 65 years was an independent risk factor affecting the overall survival rate in patients with recurrent HCC. Age > 65 years and recurrence time < 24 months were independent risk factors affecting the recurrence-free survival rate in patients with recurrent HCC. Conclusion:SLT is the best treatment option when the recurrence of HCC meets Milan's criteria. RH and LA are the appropriate treatment plans for recurrent HCC when the liver source is limited.

Objective:To investigate the effect of different spray-coagulation time of argon plasma coagulation (APC) injury on the Glisson system primary branche(G1) in the hepatic portal of pigs.Methods:Fifty clean healthy domestic pigs (27 females and 23 males, aged 7 to 14 months) were selected, with the body weighted (100.0±9.5) kg. They were randomly divided into five groups (A, B, C, D, and E), with 10 pigs in each group. G1 models were made and sprayed by APC for 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 seconds. The damage, maximum damage area, maximum damage depth, and damage of the three branches of the Glisson system (the first branches of the portal vein, intrahepatic bile duct, and hepatic artery) were compared among the groups. The pigs were divided into two groups based on whether the three branches were damaged or not: the three-branch damage group ( n=23) and the control group ( n=27). The maximum damage area and maximum damage depth were compared between the two groups. Results:After the APC spraying, circular or elliptical damage appeared on the surface of the G1, with changes such as yellow-brown color, brown color, charred appearance, and defects. Under the microscope, G1 capsule was found to be deficient, the fibrous tissue beneath the capsule was ruptured, and the structures of small blood vessels and small bile ducts were incomplete. " Burn marks" and damage to the three branches of the Glisson system in G1 were also observed, and the damage was more severe at the center of the spray-coagulation. As the spray-coagulation time increased, the maximum damage area of the G1 model also increased, and the two were positively correlated ( r=0.90, P<0.001). The maximum damage depth was also positively correlated with spray-coagulation time ( r=0.97, P<0.001). The numbers of pigs with damage to the three branches of the Glisson system in Groups A-E were 0, 2, 5, 6, and 10, respectively, and the number of pigs with damage increased with the spray-coagulation time. In the three-branch damage group, the spray-coagulation time, maximum damage area, and maximum damage depth were all higher than those in the control group (without three-branch damage), and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusion:The degree of damage to G1 caused by APC is positively correlated with the spray-coagulation time, and damage to the three branches of the Glisson system in G1 is related to the maximum damage area, maximum damage depth, and APC spray-coagulation time.

There is currently a huge worldwide demand for donor kidneys for organ transplantation. Consequently, numerous marginal donor kidneys, such as kidneys with microthrombi, are used to save patients' lives. While some studies have shown an association between the presence of microthrombi in donor kidneys and an increased risk for delayed graft function (DGF) (McCall et al., 2003; Gao et al., 2019), other studies have demonstrated that microthrombi negatively impact the rate of DGF (Batra et al., 2016; Hansen et al., 2018), but not graft survival rate (McCall et al., 2003; Batra et al., 2016; Gao et al., 2019). In contrast, Hansen et al. (2018) concluded that fibrin thrombi were not only associated with reduced graft function six months post-transplantation but also with increased graft loss within the first year of transplantation. On the other hand, Batra et al. (2016) found no significant differences in the DGF rate or one-year graft function between recipients in diffuse and focal microthrombi groups. To date, however, the overall influence of donor kidney microthrombi and the degree of influence on prognosis remain controversial, necessitating further research.
Humans ; Thrombotic Microangiopathies ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Tissue Donors ; Kidney ; Allografts