Objective: This study aimed to systematically evaluate potential causal relationships between nine cathepsins and female infertility using Mendelian randomization (MR) methods. Methods: A bidirectional MR analysis was conducted utilizing single nucleotide polymorphisms as instrumental variables to investigate the potential causal effects between nine cathepsins and female infertility. Genetic data on female infertility were sourced from the FinnGen study, and cathepsin-related data were obtained from genome-wide association studies datasets of European ancestry. Results: Elevated levels of cathepsin E were significantly and inversely associated with the risk of female infertility, suggesting a potential protective role. This finding was further supported by multivariable MR analysis. However, no significant associations were observed between the other eight cathepsins and female infertility. Conclusion This study represents the first systematic MR analysis to identify a potential protective effect of cathepsin E on female infertility.

Objective: This study aimed to systematically evaluate potential causal relationships between nine cathepsins and female infertility using Mendelian randomization (MR) methods. Methods: A bidirectional MR analysis was conducted utilizing single nucleotide polymorphisms as instrumental variables to investigate the potential causal effects between nine cathepsins and female infertility. Genetic data on female infertility were sourced from the FinnGen study, and cathepsin-related data were obtained from genome-wide association studies datasets of European ancestry. Results: Elevated levels of cathepsin E were significantly and inversely associated with the risk of female infertility, suggesting a potential protective role. This finding was further supported by multivariable MR analysis. However, no significant associations were observed between the other eight cathepsins and female infertility. Conclusion This study represents the first systematic MR analysis to identify a potential protective effect of cathepsin E on female infertility.

Objective: This study aimed to systematically evaluate potential causal relationships between nine cathepsins and female infertility using Mendelian randomization (MR) methods. Methods: A bidirectional MR analysis was conducted utilizing single nucleotide polymorphisms as instrumental variables to investigate the potential causal effects between nine cathepsins and female infertility. Genetic data on female infertility were sourced from the FinnGen study, and cathepsin-related data were obtained from genome-wide association studies datasets of European ancestry. Results: Elevated levels of cathepsin E were significantly and inversely associated with the risk of female infertility, suggesting a potential protective role. This finding was further supported by multivariable MR analysis. However, no significant associations were observed between the other eight cathepsins and female infertility. Conclusion This study represents the first systematic MR analysis to identify a potential protective effect of cathepsin E on female infertility.

Objective: This study aimed to systematically evaluate potential causal relationships between nine cathepsins and female infertility using Mendelian randomization (MR) methods. Methods: A bidirectional MR analysis was conducted utilizing single nucleotide polymorphisms as instrumental variables to investigate the potential causal effects between nine cathepsins and female infertility. Genetic data on female infertility were sourced from the FinnGen study, and cathepsin-related data were obtained from genome-wide association studies datasets of European ancestry. Results: Elevated levels of cathepsin E were significantly and inversely associated with the risk of female infertility, suggesting a potential protective role. This finding was further supported by multivariable MR analysis. However, no significant associations were observed between the other eight cathepsins and female infertility. Conclusion This study represents the first systematic MR analysis to identify a potential protective effect of cathepsin E on female infertility.

Objective: This study aimed to systematically evaluate potential causal relationships between nine cathepsins and female infertility using Mendelian randomization (MR) methods. Methods: A bidirectional MR analysis was conducted utilizing single nucleotide polymorphisms as instrumental variables to investigate the potential causal effects between nine cathepsins and female infertility. Genetic data on female infertility were sourced from the FinnGen study, and cathepsin-related data were obtained from genome-wide association studies datasets of European ancestry. Results: Elevated levels of cathepsin E were significantly and inversely associated with the risk of female infertility, suggesting a potential protective role. This finding was further supported by multivariable MR analysis. However, no significant associations were observed between the other eight cathepsins and female infertility. Conclusion This study represents the first systematic MR analysis to identify a potential protective effect of cathepsin E on female infertility.

Objective To verify the safety and effectiveness of a new percutaneous controllable curved plasma radiofrequency instrument for nucleus pulposus ablation. Methods A new percutaneous controllable curved plasma radiofrequency instrument were designed (controllable curved group), and its ablation effect was compared with the currently used straight head non-bendable plasma ablation instrument (non-bendable group) on gross specimens. The ablation instrument was placed through the right intervertebral foramen, and continuous ablation on the same intervertebral disc was conducted for three times. The ablation range and trajectory were recorded, and the temperature changes in the front, back, left, and right of the ablation center during and 15 seconds after ablation were monitored by the inserted temperature probe. Results There were no difference in temperature changes in the front, back, right regions of the ablation center during and 15 seconds after ablation between the two groups. The temperature changes in the left region of the ablation center both during and 15 seconds after 3rd ablation were larger than those in the non-bendable group (P＜0.01). Compared with the non-bendable group, the controllable curved group achieved angle control and larger single ablation area (2.282 5 mm² vs 1.135 8 mm², P＜0.000 1). Conclusions This new percutaneous controllable curved plasma ablation instrument can achieve angle control and ablation on the side opposite to the puncture site, increase ablation volume, and is safe.

Objective:To explore whether the degree of skeletal muscle atrophy in obese individuals under the influence of colorectal cancer is more severe than that in non-obese individuals.Methods:The clinical data of patients who underwent radical resection of colorectal cancer in our department from Jul 2020 to Dec 2021 was collected. Sixty-four obese patients were included and 64 non-obese patients were matched according to propensity score. At the same time, 51 obese patients were collected from non-tumor patients and matched with 51 non-obese patients. The psoas muscle index (PMI) of included patients was analyzed and compared.Results:The PMI of patients with colorectal cancer was significantly lower than that of corresponding non-tumor patients, regardless of gender and body weight (both P<0.05). The PMI of obese patients with colorectal cancer was significantly lower than that of non-obese patients ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The impact of colorectal cancer on skeletal muscle atrophy in obese individuals is greater than that in normal weight individuals. Therefore, the skeletal muscle status of obese patients with colorectal cancer should be evaluated more comprehensively.

Objective To assess the comparative efficacy of different methods for difficult biliary cannulation in endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography(ERCP)through a network meta-analysis.Methods Randomized controlled trials(RCTs)that compared the efficacy of different adjunctive methods(early or late needle-knife technique,pancreatic guidewire-assisted technique,pancreatic stent-assisted technique,transpancreatic sphincterotomy,persistent standard cannulation technique)for difficult biliary cannulation with each other were identified.The success rate of biliary cannulation and the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis(PEP)were the outcomes of interest.Pairwise and network meta-analysis and ranking according to surface under the cumulative ranking curve(SUCRA)for all methods were performed.Results Eighteen RCTs were identified according to selection criteria,and 2 033 patients were enrolled.The use of transpancreatic sphincterotomy over persistent standard cannulation technique(RR=1.34,95%CI:1.02-1.77)and over pancreatic guidewire-assisted technique(RR=1.26,95%CI:1.00-1.60)significantly increased the success rate of biliary cannulation.Based on SUCRA ranking,transpancreatic sphincterotomy followed by early needle-knife techniques were ranked highest in terms of increasing the success rate of biliary cannulation.Only early needle-knife technique significantly decreased PEP rate when compared with persistent standard cannulation technique(RR=0.53,95%CI:0.30-0.94),whereas both early needle-knife techniques and transpancreatic sphincterotomy led to lower PEP rates as compared with pancreatic guidewire-assisted technique(RR=0.41,95%CI:0.17-0.99;RR=0.49,95%CI:0.25-0.96;respectively).Based on SUCRA ranking,early needle-knife technique followed by transpancreatic sphincterotomy were ranked highest for decreasing the PEP rate of biliary cannulation.Conclusions Transpancreatic sphincterotomy increases the success rate of difficult biliary cannulation in ERCP;early needle-knife technique and transpancreatic sphincterotomy are superior to other interventions in decreasing PEP rates and should be considered as a choice of difficult biliary cannulation.

Objective:To study the correlation between third lumbar skeletal muscle index(LSMI) and inflammatory factors and other factors in peripheral blood in gastric cancer patients.Methods:From October 2017 to December 2019, patients with gastric cancer admitted to West China Hospital Sichuan University were included. The LSMI of patients was obtained by dividing the area of skeletal muscle at the third lumbar vertebra level by the square of the height based on preoperative abdominal imaging data. The correlation between preoperative LSMI and inflammatory factors and other factors in peripheral blood were analyzed by person correlation analysis.Results:This study included 132 patients with gastric cancer. Among them, 39 were classified as stage Ⅰ, 36 were stage Ⅱ, and 57 were stage Ⅲ, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis suggested that the LSMI of gastric cancer patients was positively correlated with peripheral red blood cell count( P<0.01), hemoglobin( P<0.01), and prealbumin( P<0.01), and negatively correlated with interleukin-6(IL-6, P=0.027) and C-reactive protein(CRP, P= 0.014). Conclusion:Our study suggested that LSMI can be used as a nutritional index in gastric cancer patients and IL-6 and CRP played an important in the occurrence and development of sarcopenia in gastric cancer patients.

Objective: To explore the diagnostic values of FibroTouch and FibroScan for liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB). Methods: This study enrolled patients with CHB who was accepted liver biopsy at Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University between March 2014 to December 2017. FibroTouch and FibroScan were performed among these patients at same time. Liver stiffness measurement(LSM), optimal cut-off value, receiver operating characteristic(ROC) were compared. Results: In our 103 patients, there were no significantly different between FibroTouch and FibroScan in LSM. The threshold of the optimal cut-off value for FibroTouch and FibroScan were 5.45 versus 5.55 kPa (≥S1), 7.10 versus 6.65 kPa (≥S2), 11.05 versus 9.20 kPa (≥S3), 15.50 versus 15.45 kPa (S4), respectively. The area under the ROC curve for the prediction of the stage1, stage2, stage2, stage 4 of liver fibrosis in these patients were 0.858 versus 0.765 (P=0.54), 0.812 versus 0.801 (P=0.68), 0.863 versus 0.878 (P=0.45), and 1.0 versus 0.99 (P=0.38) respectively. Conclusions FibroTouch and FibmScan have a good consistency in the evaluation of the degree of liver fibrosis in patients with CHB.