Objective:To provide preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) for a patient with Incontinentia pigmenti (IP) due to IKBKG gene variant but without family samples through construction of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based haplotype by Long-read sequencing (LRS) technology. Methods:A female IP patient with a heterozygous IKBKG c. 1167dup variant but without family genetic data who sought genetic counseling at Women and Children′s Hospital of Ningbo University in November 2021 was selected as the study subject. The IKBKG gene has a highly homologous pseudogene IKBKGP1. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples from the couple, and LRS was used to obtain informative SNP loci flanking the variant locus, enabling the construction of SNP haplotype with a long segment spanning from the non-homologous region of IKBKG to the variant site. Trophoblast cells were biopsied from blastocysts fertilized through intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to determine the SNP information of the embryos. Linkage analysis with the parental SNP haplotypes was conducted to detect the carrier status of the embryos and exclude chromosomal aneuploidies. Sanger sequencing was carried out to validate the result. A euploid embryo without the pathogenic variant was selected for transfer. Prenatal diagnosis was carried out by amniocentesis at mid-trimester to verify the result of PGT, and follow-up was conducted after the baby was born. This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Women and Children′s Hospital of Ningbo University (Ethics No. EC2023-094). Results:In total seven blastocysts were tested, and PGT results indicated that two embryos were euploid and did not carry the pathogenic variant. One euploid embryo was transferred, which resulted in a singleton pregnancy. Amniocentesis at 24 weeks of gestation confirmed that the status of fetal IKBKG gene, and its chromosomal status was consistent with the PGT results. A healthy male infant was born at 38 + 6 weeks of gestation. Conclusion:For IP patients with de novo mutation or without family samples, PGT with LRS can directly construct the SNP-based haplotype while avoiding interference from pseudogenes, providing an effective strategy for PGT.

Objective To design a Five-Elements Music Software based on Traditional Chinese Medicine's(TCM)theory of five elements music therapy and music emotion classification.The software is intended to provide appropriate music selections tailored to the negative emotional states of cancer patients and evaluate its effectiveness in psychological rehabilitation.Methods ①Music screening and classification:Qualitative analysis was used by six experts in TCM,psychology,nursing,and musicology to screen five elements music and classify corresponding emotional categories.②Software design and development:Based on screening and classification of music materials,design and develop a"Five Elements Music Software Based on Emotion Classification".③Software application evaluation:Recruit 50 cancer patients from the"Beijing Anti Cancer Paradise"as participants to have a trial listening experience with music software,and fill out a satisfaction questionnaire to evaluate its application effect.Results This study established a music database containing 150 pieces of five-elements musical tunes and completed the classification of emotional categories.Among the included subjects,80%of the recruited objects were satisfied with the experience of the five elements music software,of which the application experience of female patients was significantly better than that of male patients,and breast cancer patients were better than other cancer patients,with a statistically significant difference(P<0.05).The five elements music Software in clinic showed comparing with other two groups after four weeks,there was a significant difference for HAMD when comparing five elements music software group and the other two groups(P<0.05).Conclusion The five-element music software designed based on emotion classification effectively meets the psychological rehabilitation needs of cancer patients.It provides appropriate music selections and convenient listening method to regulate cancer-related negative emotions,extending psychological rehabilitation from the hospital to the home.

OBJECTIVE: To provide preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) for a patient with Incontinentia pigmenti (IP) due to IKBKG gene variant but without family samples through construction of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based haplotype by Long-read sequencing (LRS) technology. METHODS: A female IP patient with a heterozygous IKBKG c.1167dup variant but without family genetic data who sought genetic counseling at Women and Children' Hospital of Ningbo University in November 2021 was selected as the study subject. The IKBKG gene has a highly homologous pseudogene IKBKGP1. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples from the couple, and LRS was used to obtain informative SNP loci flanking the variant locus, enabling the construction of SNP haplotype with a long segment spanning from the non-homologous region of IKBKG to the variant site. Trophoblast cells were biopsied from blastocysts fertilized through intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to determine the SNP information of the embryos. Linkage analysis with the parental SNP haplotypes was conducted to detect the carrier status of the embryos and exclude chromosomal aneuploidies. Sanger sequencing was carried out to validate the result. A euploid embryo without the pathogenic variant was selected for transfer. Prenatal diagnosis was carried out by amniocentesis at mid-trimester to verify the result of PGT tests, and follow-up was conducted after the baby was born. This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Women and Children's Hospital of Ningbo University (Ethics No. EC2023-094). RESULTS: A total of seven blastocysts were tested, and PGT results indicated that two embryos were euploid and did not carry the pathogenic variant. One euploid embryo was transferred, which resulted in a singleton pregnancy. Amniocentesis at 24 weeks of gestation confirmed that the status of fetal IKBKG gene, and its chromosomal status was consistent with the PGT results. A healthy male infant was born at 38+6 weeks of gestation. CONCLUSION For IP patients with de novo mutation or without family genetic samples, PGT with LRS can directly construct the SNP-based haplotype while avoiding interference from pseudogenes, providing an effective strategy for PGT.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Genetic Testing/methods* ; Haplotypes/genetics* ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods* ; I-kappa B Kinase/genetics* ; Incontinentia Pigmenti/diagnosis* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics* ; Preimplantation Diagnosis/methods* ; Infant, Newborn

Chronic limb-threatening ischemia(CLTI)is a serious peripheral arterial disease(PAD)characterized by reduced blood flow in the limbs,resulting in tissue damage and dysfunction.Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)have become a research hotspot in the field of CLTI treatment in recent years due to their unique regenerative ability and immunomodulatory properties.In the environment of hypoxia and tissue injury,MSCs can promote angiogenesis,reduce inflammation and promote tissue repair by secreting cytokines,cell differentiation and inter-cellular signal transduction,so as to improve the symptoms and prognosis of patients with CLTI,showing a broad clinical application prospect.

Prolactin, a peptide hormone primarily synthesized and secreted by lactotrophs in the anterior pituitary gland, plays key roles in lactation, reproduction, and immune regulation. Recent research has highlighted its critical involvement in maintaining metabolic homeostasis, with both elevated and deficient levels disrupting metabolic functions such as glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as energy regulation. This study reviews recent advancements in prolactin and its receptors′ role in metabolic regulation, emphasizing its pivotal contribution to metabolic homeostasis.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of preoperative ultrasound in combination with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR),calcitonin(Ctn),and carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)for cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma.Methods A total of 103 patients diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC)who were admitted to the hospital between October 2021 and October 2024 were selected as the case group.Among them,34 patients with cervical lymph node metastasis confirmed by surgical and pathological examination were assigned to the metastatic group,and 69 patients without cervical lymph node metas-tasis were assigned to the non-metastatic group.Additionally,103 patients with benign thyroid nodules admitted during the same period were enrolled as the control group.Clinical data,ultrasonographic features,and serum levels of NLR,Ctn,and CEA were compared between the metastatic and non-metastatic groups.The predictive value of ultrasonographic features and the combined detection of NLR,Ctn,and CEA levels for cervical lymph node metastasis in PTC was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis.Results Compared to the control group,the case group exhibited a higher proportion of patients with microcalcification and grade 3 blood flow,as well as elevated levels of NLR,Ctn,and CEA(P<0.05).Similarly,compared to the non-metastatic group,the metastatic group showed a higher proportion of patients with microcalcification and grade 3 blood flow,along with increased levels of NLR,Ctn,and CEA(P<0.05).The metastatic group tested positive,whereas the non-metastatic group tested negative.The area under the curve(AUC)for ultrasound features(micro-calcification,blood flow classification)combined with NLR,Ctn,and CEA levels in diagnosing cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma was higher than that of individual indicators(P<0.05).Conclusions Preoperative ultrasound combined with the assessment of NLR,Ctn,and CEA levels demonstrates significant predictive value for cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Objective:To assess performance advantages of voxel-less optimization(VoLO)algorithm of CyberKnife-based S7 treatment plan system for the optimization of stereotactic body radiation therapy(SBRT)for liver cancer.Methods:The case data of 20 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma from Chinese PLA General Hospital during June 2022 and April 2023 were retrospectively selected,which included 10 patients with large hepatocellular carcinoma and 10 patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma.All patients adopted respectively sequential optimization(SO)and VoLO to conduct optimization for plan.The optimized quality of plan and execution efficiency of two kinds of algorithms were assessed,and the influences of different tumor volumes also were considered.The planed quality assessment included dosimetric parameters of the target region and organ at risk(OAR).The assessment parameters of execution efficiency included the numbers of monitor units(MUs),nodes and beams,and estimated treatment time.Paired t-test method was adopted to analyze quality of plan and treatment efficiency.Results:On the aspect of the dose of target region,for small hepatocellular carcinoma,the conformity index(CI)value(1.08±0.05)of target region of VoLO algorithm was significantly better than(1.17±0.06)of SO algorithm(t=4.631,P<0.05).The gradient index(GI),coverage rate and dose by 95%(D95%)of VoLO algorithm were better than those of SO algorithm,while the differences were not significant(P>0.05).According to the defined standards of liver surgery,for large hepatocellular carcinoma,the differences in CI,GI,coverage rate and D95%of target region between two kinds of algorithms were significant(t=3.337,4.238,-3.359,-3.311,P<0.05),respectively.On the aspect of dosimetry for OAR,for the target region of large hepatocellular carcinoma,the differences of liver Dmean and D700 cm3 between two kinds of algorithms were significant(t=4.114,3.415,P<0.05).However,for small hepatocellular carcinoma,there was no significant statistical difference in dosimetry parameters of OAR between two kinds of algorithms(P>0.05).The execution efficiency of the plan of VoLO group was obviously higher than that of SO group,and the differences of MU number,node number,beam number and estimated treatment time between two groups were significant(t=12.661,4.423,5.024,9.487,P<0.05).Conclusion:The quality of VoLO plan is significantly better than that of SO,which has a significant improvement in execution efficiency of treatment.For the cases of large hepatocellular carcinoma with more complexity,the VoLO optimization shows better advantages on the aspect of dose on target region,and protection for normal liver.

Objective To design a Five-Elements Music Software based on Traditional Chinese Medicine's(TCM)theory of five elements music therapy and music emotion classification.The software is intended to provide appropriate music selections tailored to the negative emotional states of cancer patients and evaluate its effectiveness in psychological rehabilitation.Methods ①Music screening and classification:Qualitative analysis was used by six experts in TCM,psychology,nursing,and musicology to screen five elements music and classify corresponding emotional categories.②Software design and development:Based on screening and classification of music materials,design and develop a"Five Elements Music Software Based on Emotion Classification".③Software application evaluation:Recruit 50 cancer patients from the"Beijing Anti Cancer Paradise"as participants to have a trial listening experience with music software,and fill out a satisfaction questionnaire to evaluate its application effect.Results This study established a music database containing 150 pieces of five-elements musical tunes and completed the classification of emotional categories.Among the included subjects,80%of the recruited objects were satisfied with the experience of the five elements music software,of which the application experience of female patients was significantly better than that of male patients,and breast cancer patients were better than other cancer patients,with a statistically significant difference(P<0.05).The five elements music Software in clinic showed comparing with other two groups after four weeks,there was a significant difference for HAMD when comparing five elements music software group and the other two groups(P<0.05).Conclusion The five-element music software designed based on emotion classification effectively meets the psychological rehabilitation needs of cancer patients.It provides appropriate music selections and convenient listening method to regulate cancer-related negative emotions,extending psychological rehabilitation from the hospital to the home.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of preoperative ultrasound in combination with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR),calcitonin(Ctn),and carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)for cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma.Methods A total of 103 patients diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC)who were admitted to the hospital between October 2021 and October 2024 were selected as the case group.Among them,34 patients with cervical lymph node metastasis confirmed by surgical and pathological examination were assigned to the metastatic group,and 69 patients without cervical lymph node metas-tasis were assigned to the non-metastatic group.Additionally,103 patients with benign thyroid nodules admitted during the same period were enrolled as the control group.Clinical data,ultrasonographic features,and serum levels of NLR,Ctn,and CEA were compared between the metastatic and non-metastatic groups.The predictive value of ultrasonographic features and the combined detection of NLR,Ctn,and CEA levels for cervical lymph node metastasis in PTC was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis.Results Compared to the control group,the case group exhibited a higher proportion of patients with microcalcification and grade 3 blood flow,as well as elevated levels of NLR,Ctn,and CEA(P<0.05).Similarly,compared to the non-metastatic group,the metastatic group showed a higher proportion of patients with microcalcification and grade 3 blood flow,along with increased levels of NLR,Ctn,and CEA(P<0.05).The metastatic group tested positive,whereas the non-metastatic group tested negative.The area under the curve(AUC)for ultrasound features(micro-calcification,blood flow classification)combined with NLR,Ctn,and CEA levels in diagnosing cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma was higher than that of individual indicators(P<0.05).Conclusions Preoperative ultrasound combined with the assessment of NLR,Ctn,and CEA levels demonstrates significant predictive value for cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

The liver is the largest visceral organ in the human body, responsible for multiple important functions such as metabolism, detoxification, nutrient storage, and immune regulation. Hepatocytes located along the portal-central vein axis have heterogeneity in gene expression and function, which led to the concept of liver zonation. Cells in different regions play different roles in metabolic processes, and the coordination and cooperation between these cells are crucial for maintaining normal liver function. In recent years, the advancements in single-cell genomics and spatial transcriptomics technologies have significantly improved our understanding of liver zonation. This article summarizes the important role of metabolic zonation in maintaining liver function and its relationship with disease and aging, providing a theoretical basis for further research and therapeutic strategies.