Objective To investigate the association between birth weight and dementia risk and the mediating roles of chronic diseases,and to assess potential biological pathways underlying the birth weight-associated dementia risk based on large-scale proteomics.Methods We used data from 279 743 participants aged 40 to 69 years enrolled in the UK Biobank.Birth weight was categorized into low birth weight(≤2 500 g),normal birth weight(2 500-3 999 g),and macrosomia(≥4 000 g).Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the associations between birth weight categories and all-cause dementia and its subtypes(Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia).Proteomics analyses were conducted to identify proteins and the potential pathways involved.Results Low birth weight was associated with higher risks for all-cause dementia and its subtypes.The hazard ratios were 1.18(95%CI,1.08-1.30)for all-cause dementia,1.14(95%CI,1.00-1.31)for Alzheimer's disease,and 1.22(95%CI,1.01-1.48)for vascular dementia.A non-linear relationship was observed between birth weight and dementia risk(P for nonlinearity<0.001).Certain cardiometabolic diseases in middle-aged adults,such as diabetes,stroke,hypertension,and dyslipidemia,played a significant mediating role in the relationship between low birth weight and dementia risk,with the mediation proportion being 6.3%to 15.8%.Proteomic analyses identified 21 proteins linked to both low birth weight and all-cause dementia risk,which were significantly enriched in the pathways for viral protein interaction with cytokines and cytokine receptors,adipocytokine signaling,and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction.Conclusion Low birth weight is positively associated with dementia risk.Cardiometabolic diseases in middle-aged adults may mediate the relationship between low birth weight and dementia risk.A number of proteins and the associated pathways underscore the relationship between low birth weight and dementia risk.

Objective To investigate the expression and role of T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3(Tim-3)in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune uveitis(EAU).Methods A total of 12 male C57BL/6J mice,aged 4 to 5 weeks,were selected and divided into the control group(n=3)and the experimental group(n=9)using a random number table.The control group(modeling time point:0 days after modeling)received no treatment,while the experimental group was induced to establish an EAU model(divided into three subgroups according to the modeling time points:7 days,14 days,and 21 days after modeling,with 3 mice in each subgroup).Firstly,the interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein 651-670 and complete Freund's adjuvant were fully mixed and emulsified.Then,the emulsion was subcutaneously injected into the two thighs,tail base,and neck of mice in the experimental group(each mouse received 200 μL of immune emulsion containing 500 pg of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein 651-670).Subsequently,each mouse in the experimental group was also intraperitoneally injected with 1 μg of pertussis toxin.The anterior segment and fundus of mice in each group were observed and photographed under a slit-lamp microscope.The clinical and histopatho-logical scoring of these mice was conducted according to the Caspi grading scale based on the severity of inflammation.The serum levels of IFN-γ and IL-17 were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),while the mRNA expression of Tim-3 in the spleen and ocular tissues was detected using the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR).Western blot was employed to detect the protein expression of Tim-3,and immunohistochemistry was used to examine the protein expression of Tim-3 in the spleen tissue.Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism 9.0.Results The clinical scores of the anterior segment,fundus,and histopathology of the mice increased over time after modeling,with statistically significant differences among these groups(P＜0.05).The serum levels of IFN-γ and IL-17 in the mice also increased over time after modeling,with statistically significant differences among these groups(P＜0.05).The relative mRNA expression of Tim-3 in the spleen and ocular tissues of the mice decreased over time after modeling,with statistically significant differences among these groups(P＜0.05).The protein expression of Tim-3 in the ocular and spleen tissues showed the same pattern as its mRNA expression.Conclusion The expression of Tim-3 decreases with the exacerbation of inflammation in the progression of EAU,suggesting that Tim-3 may play a negative immunoregulatory role in the development of uveitis.

Objective:To explore the effects of adjuvant therapy by hyperbaric oxygen for high-energy lower limb fractures.Methods:This prospective case-control study enrolled the patients with high-energy lower extremity fracture who had been admitted to Department of Orthopaedics, Beijing Luhe Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2021 to December 2022. Their fracture types included tibial plateau ones, pilon ones, ankle ones complicated with dislocation, and calcaneal ones. The patients were randomly divided into a control group receiving routine orthopedic treatment and a trial group receiving adjuvant therapy by hyperbaric oxygen in addition to routine orthopedic treatment using a random number table. The first adjuvant therapy by hyperbaric oxygen was conducted in the trial group within 48 h after injury before the timing for surgery was decided according to the soft tissue swelling at the affected limb. Follow-up was conducted until one year after surgery. The early and late wound complications, time from injury to surgery, and hospital stay were compared between the 2 groups.Results:A total of 160 patients with high-energy lower extremity fracture were enrolled in this study. Eventually, 7 patients were excluded, 72 patients [48 males and 24 females, with an age of (46.3±12.5) years] included in the trial group and 81 patients [61 males and 20 females, with an age of (47.8±13.4) years] in the control group. There was no significant difference in the preoperative general data between the 2 groups, indicating comparability ( P>0.05). The incidence of early wound complications in the trial group was 5.6% (4/72), significantly lower than that in the control group [18.5% (15/81)] ( P<0.05). The incidences of late wound complications in the trial and control groups were 12.5% (9/72) and 9.9% (8/81) respectively, showing no statistically significant difference ( P>0.05). The time from admission to surgery was respectively 4 (2, 8) days and 4 (2, 6) days, and the hospital stay respectively 10 (7, 14) days and 9 (6, 12) days for the trial and control groups, showing no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:In the treatment of high-energy lower extremity fractures, adjuvant therapy by hyperbaric oxygen can reduce the incidence of early wound complications without increasing the hospital stay, but it does not reduce the incidence of late wound complications or shorten the preoperative waiting time.

Objective To investigate the expression and role of T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3(Tim-3)in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune uveitis(EAU).Methods A total of 12 male C57BL/6J mice,aged 4 to 5 weeks,were selected and divided into the control group(n=3)and the experimental group(n=9)using a random number table.The control group(modeling time point:0 days after modeling)received no treatment,while the experimental group was induced to establish an EAU model(divided into three subgroups according to the modeling time points:7 days,14 days,and 21 days after modeling,with 3 mice in each subgroup).Firstly,the interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein 651-670 and complete Freund's adjuvant were fully mixed and emulsified.Then,the emulsion was subcutaneously injected into the two thighs,tail base,and neck of mice in the experimental group(each mouse received 200 μL of immune emulsion containing 500 pg of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein 651-670).Subsequently,each mouse in the experimental group was also intraperitoneally injected with 1 μg of pertussis toxin.The anterior segment and fundus of mice in each group were observed and photographed under a slit-lamp microscope.The clinical and histopatho-logical scoring of these mice was conducted according to the Caspi grading scale based on the severity of inflammation.The serum levels of IFN-γ and IL-17 were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),while the mRNA expression of Tim-3 in the spleen and ocular tissues was detected using the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR).Western blot was employed to detect the protein expression of Tim-3,and immunohistochemistry was used to examine the protein expression of Tim-3 in the spleen tissue.Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism 9.0.Results The clinical scores of the anterior segment,fundus,and histopathology of the mice increased over time after modeling,with statistically significant differences among these groups(P＜0.05).The serum levels of IFN-γ and IL-17 in the mice also increased over time after modeling,with statistically significant differences among these groups(P＜0.05).The relative mRNA expression of Tim-3 in the spleen and ocular tissues of the mice decreased over time after modeling,with statistically significant differences among these groups(P＜0.05).The protein expression of Tim-3 in the ocular and spleen tissues showed the same pattern as its mRNA expression.Conclusion The expression of Tim-3 decreases with the exacerbation of inflammation in the progression of EAU,suggesting that Tim-3 may play a negative immunoregulatory role in the development of uveitis.

Objective:To explore the effects of adjuvant therapy by hyperbaric oxygen for high-energy lower limb fractures.Methods:This prospective case-control study enrolled the patients with high-energy lower extremity fracture who had been admitted to Department of Orthopaedics, Beijing Luhe Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2021 to December 2022. Their fracture types included tibial plateau ones, pilon ones, ankle ones complicated with dislocation, and calcaneal ones. The patients were randomly divided into a control group receiving routine orthopedic treatment and a trial group receiving adjuvant therapy by hyperbaric oxygen in addition to routine orthopedic treatment using a random number table. The first adjuvant therapy by hyperbaric oxygen was conducted in the trial group within 48 h after injury before the timing for surgery was decided according to the soft tissue swelling at the affected limb. Follow-up was conducted until one year after surgery. The early and late wound complications, time from injury to surgery, and hospital stay were compared between the 2 groups.Results:A total of 160 patients with high-energy lower extremity fracture were enrolled in this study. Eventually, 7 patients were excluded, 72 patients [48 males and 24 females, with an age of (46.3±12.5) years] included in the trial group and 81 patients [61 males and 20 females, with an age of (47.8±13.4) years] in the control group. There was no significant difference in the preoperative general data between the 2 groups, indicating comparability ( P>0.05). The incidence of early wound complications in the trial group was 5.6% (4/72), significantly lower than that in the control group [18.5% (15/81)] ( P<0.05). The incidences of late wound complications in the trial and control groups were 12.5% (9/72) and 9.9% (8/81) respectively, showing no statistically significant difference ( P>0.05). The time from admission to surgery was respectively 4 (2, 8) days and 4 (2, 6) days, and the hospital stay respectively 10 (7, 14) days and 9 (6, 12) days for the trial and control groups, showing no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:In the treatment of high-energy lower extremity fractures, adjuvant therapy by hyperbaric oxygen can reduce the incidence of early wound complications without increasing the hospital stay, but it does not reduce the incidence of late wound complications or shorten the preoperative waiting time.

Objective:To investigate the workflow, feasibility and advantages of respiratory navigator-guided stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) of liver malignancies on the magnetic resonance linear accelerator (MR-linac).Methods:Clinical data of 10 patients with liver cancer treated with respiratory navigator-guided SBRT on the MR-linac from September to December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. All patients underwent CT and MR simulated localization, and plain, enhanced and 4D CT scan, and T 1 3D MR and T 2 3D MR images were collected. The expiratory 4D CT was chosen to design the reference plan. The T 2 3D navigator MR image (end-exhalation) was collected before treatment, the target position was adjusted or the target shape was modified in combination with the real-time monitoring 2D MR image and appropriate online adaptive planning process was selected. Then, the ability of CT, T 2 3D and T 2 3D navigator MR images to display the tumor was evaluated by naked eye. The changes of target volume were calculated. Dosimetric differences between the adaptive and reference plans were compared. The efficacy and adverse reactions of patients were evaluated. Results:In the free breathing state, the T 2 3D navigator MR image was significantly better than T 2 3D MR image to clearly display the tumor and its boundary. The adaptive plans of adapt-to-position (ATP) and adapt-to-shape (ATS) adopted by 10 patients was 37 times and 22 times respectively. The tumor subsided significantly in 3 patients. The average target conformal index (CI) of the adaptive plans was no different from that of the reference plans, but the gradient index (GI) was higher ( P<0.05), especially in the ATS plans. Compared to the reference plans, the normal liver V 5 Gy, V 10 Gy and D mean were almost the same, but the average MU was increased with a significant difference in the ATP adaptive plans ( P<0.05). The average of MU, segments and normal liver D mean and V 10 Gy in the ATS adaptive plans were lower than those in the reference plans, and the liver V 5 Gy was slightly increased. Seven patients were evaluated after 1 month and 3 months. The local control of lesions was promising. Toxicities were mild and no grade 3 or higher toxicities were observed. Conclusion:Respiratory navigator on MR-linac improves the visual clarity of tumors and online MR images, and shows its advantages to guide the adaptive precision radiotherapy of liver tumors, especially in SBRT.

Objective:To provide insight into the diagnosis for clinicians, the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment history of 3 patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) and testicular adrenal rest tumors (TART) were analyzed.Methods:The clinical, laboratory and imaging data of 3 male patients with 21-OHD and TART, confirmed with CYP21 gene sequencing, from May 2010 to May 2021 in the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. The treatment strategy and clinical outcome were followed up.Results:All the 3 patients were first diagnosed with bilateral adrenal mass at the age of 27-42 years old. They were 145-162 cm tall. The levels of progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) of the 3 patients were relatively high, and that of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) of the 3 patients were low. Testosterone level of 1 patient was significantly elevated, and that of the other 2 patients was below the lower limit of normal range. Testicular ultrasound showed heterogeneous hyperechoic masses in both testes. CT of the adrenal glands showed bilateral adrenal enlargement with mass. All 3 patients were treated with dexamethasone. After 4-96 months of follow-up, 17-hydroxyprogesterone level was kept above the median normal level. One of the patients got married and had a baby after treatment. The sizes of adrenal hyperplasia and testicular masses reduced to various degrees with the change of the testicular masses being proportional to that of adrenal hyperplasia.Conclusions:Patients with 21-OHD are prone to have TART, leading to the impaired testicular function. Early glucocorticold therapy is beneficial to the reduction of TART and restoration of testicular function.

Pancreatic cancer, a common digestive system tumor with high malignancy and a poor prognosis, has several treatment options. However, none of them are particularly effective because understanding the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer remains a significant clinical challenge. Splicing isoforms mediate various biological phenotypes as an important means of regulating gene expression in eukaryotes, and their abnormalities can lead to a variety of diseases. Numb is an important cell fate determining protein whose alternative splicing has been linked to the development of various cancers. In pancreatic cancer, selective splicing of Numb can result in a variety of Numb protein subtypes, each with a different regulatory effect on the activation of various cancer-related signal pathways and tumor cell biology. This paper reviews the recent progress of Numb protein research in pancreatic cancer, with a focus on the regulatory role of its different isoforms in pathogenesis.

Objective:To investigate the possible mechanism of rubbing abdomen to regulate intestinal homeostasis in irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) mouse models.Methods:IBS-C mouse models of intestinal immune dysfunction were established using trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced C57BL/J6 male mice. Thirty C57BL/J6 mice were randomly divided into three groups: the control group, the model group, and the mogul group. After 7 days of modeling, mice in the mogul group were given a mogul mechanical stimulation intervention once per day for 2 weeks, while mice in the control and model groups were not given any intervention. Changes in serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-17A were detected by enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry. The gene expression and protein levels of IL-17A and IL-23 were detected by quantitative real-time fluorescence PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western Blot, respectively. The morphological changes were observed by HE staining. The CD44 and CD62L expression changes were observed by immunofluorescence staining.Results:Compared with the model group, the levels of IL-6 and IL-17A in the serum of mice in the mogul group were decreased, and the expression of IL-6 and IL-7A in the tissues was down-regulated (all P<0.001). In addition, the gene expression and protein expression levels of IL-17A and IL-13 in the tissues of mice in the mogul group were decreased (all P<0.001). HE staining results showed that the mogul mechanical stimulation intervention could repair colonic tissues and reduce the inflammatory response. Immunofluorescence staining results showed that mogul mechanical stimulation intervention could downregulate the expression of CD44 but had no modulating effect on the expression of CD62L. Conclusions:Rubbing abdomen can improve intestinal homeostasis in IBS-C model mice by regulating changes in Th17 cell function.

Background::Erythropoietin is a glycoprotein that mainly regulates erythropoiesis. In patients with chronic renal failure with anemia, darbepoetin alfa can stimulate erythropoiesis, correct anemia, and maintain hemoglobin levels. This study was designed to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of darbepoetin alfa injections as being not inferior to epoetin alfa injections (Recombinant Human Erythropoietin injection, rHuEPO) when maintaining hemoglobin (Hb) levels within the target range (10.0-12.0 g/dL) for the treatment of renal anemia.Methods::Ninety-five patients were enrolled in this study from April 15, 2013 to April 10, 2014 at 25 sites. In this study, patients ( n = 95) aged 18-70 years were randomized into a once per week intravenous darbepoetin alfa group ( n = 56) and a twice or three times per week intravenous epoetin alfa group ( n = 39) for 28 weeks, who had anemia with hemoglobin levels between 6 g/dL and 10 g/dL due to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and were undergoing hemodialysis or hemofiltration with ESA-naive (erythropoiesis stimulating agent-naive). The primary efficacy profile was the mean Hb level (the non-inferiority margin was -1.0 g/dL, week 21-28); the secondary efficacy profiles were the Hb increase rate (week 0-4), the target Hb achievement cumulative rate and time, the change trends of the Hb levels, and the target Hb maintenance ratio. Adverse events (AEs) were observed and compared, and the efficacy and safety were analyzed between the two treatment groups. Additionally, the frequencies of dose adjustments between the darbepoetin alfa and epoetin alfa groups were compared during the treatment period. SAS? software version 9.2 was used to perform all statistical analyses. Descriptive statistics were used for all efficacy, safety, and demographic variable analyses, including for the primary efficacy indicators. Results::The mean Hb level was 11.3 g/dL in the darbepoetin alfa group and 10.7 g/dL in the epoetin alfa group, respectively; the difference of the lower limits of the 95% confidence intervals (CI) between the two groups was 0.1 g/dL (>-1.0 g/dL), and non-inferiority was proven; the Hb levels started to increase in the first four weeks at a similar increase rate; no obvious differences were observed between the groups in the target Hb achievement cumulative rates, and the Hb levels as well as the target Hb level maintenance rate changed over time. The incidence of AEs was 62.5% in the darbepoetin alfa group and 76.9% in the epoetin alfa group. All the adverse events observed in the study were those commonly associated with hemodialysis.Conclusion::Darbepoetin alfa intravenously once per week can effectively increase Hb levels and maintain the target Hb levels well, which makes it not inferior to epoetin alfa intravenously twice or three times per week. Darbepoetin alfa shows an efficacy and safety comparable to epoetin alfa for the treatment of renal anemia.