Background: Adrenocortical hormones, particularly 11-oxygenated androgens, are pivotal in female reproductive health and fertility. Standardized detection kits and population-specific reference intervals are lacking in China, hindering related clinical applications. Methods: A HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) pipeline was developed, rigorously validated, and applied to simultaneously quantify corticosterone, cortisone, cortisol, 18-OH cortisol, androstenedione (A4), 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione (11-OH A4), dehydroepiandrosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in serum samples from 455 reproductive-aged women (18–45 yrs) in Guangxi, China. Age-dependent concentration trends were analyzed, and reference intervals stratified by age (2.5th to 97.5th percentiles) were established. Correlations with body-composition metrics, ethnicity, and the menstrual cycle were investigated. Results: The HPLC-MS/MS method demonstrated high precision (intra- and inter-assay CVs < 15%), accuracy, and sensitivity. All eight hormones exhibited significant age-related declines (P < 0.001 for seven hormones; P = 0.001 for 11-OH A4). Notably, 11-OH A4 levels were significantly lower in the 35–45-yr (3.05 nmol/L) and 25–34-yr (3.09 nmol/L) age groups than in the 18–24-yr (3.57 nmol/L) age group, whereas no significant difference was observed between the 35–45-yr and 25–34-yr age groups. Weak negative correlations were observed between the body mass index and corticosterone and cortisone levels, whereas ethnicity and the menstrual cycle showed no significant associations with hormone levels. Conclusions We developed an HPLC-MS/MS-based method for simultaneously quantifying eight adrenocortical hormones, including 11-OH A4, and defined age-specific reference intervals for reproductive-aged Chinese women. These findings advance the clinical utility of adrenocortical hormones in diagnosing and managing reproductive disorders.

Objective:To investigate the current status and quality and safety of radiation therapy resources in medical institutions in Hunan province.Methods:The basic situation questionnaire, quality and safety self-assessment form were designed according to the content of the survey, distributed and recovered through the network, and the survey was conducted on all medical institutions (excluding military hospitals) conducting radiotherapy in Hunan province in 2022, and the quality and safety evaluation was checked by the Hunan Radiotherapy Quality Control Center using stratified sampling field inspection. The differences between the self-evaluation scores of radiotherapy quality and safety and the on-site inspection scores of each unit was compared using Wilcoxon test.Results:By the end of 2022, there were 76 medical institutions (excluding military hospitals) conducting radiotherapy in Hunan province, including 62 tertiary hospitals and 14 secondary hospitals, with a total of 44 253 radiotherapy patients admitted annually. The total number of personnel engaged in radiotherapy was 1 381, including 746 physicians, 205 physicists, 397 technicians and 33 maintenance engineers. There were a total of 88 accelerators (including 3 tomotherapy units), 10 gamma knives, and 28 rear-loading machines, with 1.33 gas pedals per million population. There were 36 units that were carrying out three-dimensional conformal technology, 60 static intensity modulation technology, 20 volumetric rotational intensity modulation, 27 stereotactic radiotherapy, 44 image-guided radiotherapy, 33 respiratory motion management, and 27 rear-loading radiotherapy. In the quality and safety evaluation situation, the basic requirements of radiotherapy specialty scored high, with 2 units achieving full marks and no failing units. Radiotherapy personnel and organization, radiotherapy process, documentation record score and other aspects of no full-score units, the score was concentrated in 60~＜80 points, and all have part of the unit failed.Conclusions:The radiotherapy industry in Hunan province has been developed steadily in recent years in general, and the structure of radiotherapy personnel tends to be reasonable, but there still exists uneven distribution of radiotherapy resources, poor utilization of equipment in some areas, and inadequate development of technology. The overall quality and safety evaluation are good, but there are still many deficiencies in the organizational requirements of radiotherapy personnel, process requirements and documentation, which need to be continuously optimized and improved in the future, and at the same time, field inspections will be intensified to ensure the quality and safety of radiotherapy.

Objective:To evaluate the effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on sedation in healthy volunteers.Methods:Forty-six healthy volunteers of both sexes, with the Sleep Self-Rating Scale score 10-30, aged 22-28 yr, with the body mass index 18.5-23.0 kg/m 2, were selected and divided into 2 groups ( n=23 each) using a random number table method: TEAS group (E group) and control group (C group). Bilateral Neiguan and Shenmen acupoints were stimulated for 30 min in group E, while the stimulator was only connected, and no current was given in group C. The bispectral index (BIS)value, heart rate, oxygen saturation and mean arterial pressure were recorded at 10 min in the supine position (T 0) during the quiet period, at 10 min intervals during stimulation (T 1, 2) and at 5 min intervals within 15 min after the end of electrical stimulation (T 3-5). Then the condition whether the patient had fallen asleep was observed, and the patients were followed up on the second day for sleep status and related complications. Results:Compared with the baseline at T 0, the BIS value was significantly decreased at T 2-5 in group E ( P<0.05). The BIS value was significantly lower at T 3, 4 in group E than in group C ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in sleep status during stimulation and at the night of the trial between the two groups ( P>0.05). Heart rate, oxygen saturation and mean arterial pressure were in the normal range at each time point, and no trial-related complications occurred in the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:TEAS can produce certain sedative effect on healthy volunteers.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV,1 ml/kg) of the operated lungs in preventing hypoxemia during one-lung ventilation (OLV) in elderly patients undergoing radical resection of esophageal cancer.Methods Sixty American Society of Anesthsiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients of both sexes,aged 65-75 yr,with body mass index of 18.5-24.0 kg/m2,were divided into 2 groups (n =30 each) using a random number table method:convention group and IPPV group.In convention group,ventilator settings were adjusted with the tidal volume of 6-8 ml/kg,respiratory rate of 15 breaths/min,inspiratory/expiratory ratio of 1 ∶ 2,and fraction of inspired oxygen 70％ during OLV.In IPPV group,ventilator settings were adjusted with the tidal volume of 1 ml/kg,respiratory rate of 15 breaths/min,and fraction of inspired oxygen 70％ on the operated side during OLV,and the ventilator settings on the other side were consistent with those previously described in convention group.Before anesthesia induction (T0),at 10 min of two-lung ventilation (T1),at 15,30 and 45 min of OLV (T2,4) and at 10 min after the end of OLV (T5),blood samples were collected from the radial artery for blood gas analysis.The partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) and alveolar to arterial partial pressure of oxygen were recorded.Respiratory index (RI) and oxygenation index (OI) were calculated.The occurrence of PaO2 ＜ 60 mmHg,RI＞ 1.0 and OI＜ 200 mmHg was recorded during OLV.Results Compared with convention group,the RI was significantly decreased at T4,the PaO2 and OI were increased,and the incidence of PaO2＜60 mmHg,RI＞ 1.0 and OI ＜ 200 mmHg was decreased in IPPV group (P＜ 0.05).Conclusion IPPV (1 ml/kg) of the operated lungs can prevent the occurrence of hypoxemia during OLV in elderly patients undergoing radical resection of esophageal cancer.

Objective To observe the expression of tumor stem cell markers P 75NTR,Oct-4,Sox-2,Lin28 and Nanog in the tumor sphere from esophageal squamous cells carcinoma Eca 109 and identify the esophageal squamous cell cancer stem cell marker .Methods The serum-free culture method was used for generating tumor spheres: proliferation was observed in enrichment culture tumor spheres .Small tumor spheres were obtained after 5 days culture and big and round tumor spheres appeared after 14 days culture which were collected for experiments and passaged .The expression and location of P75NTR,Oct-4,Sox-2,Lin28, and Nanog were detected by immunofluorescence cytochemistry .Results The expressions of P75NTR,Oct-4 and Lin28 were positive in the center of tumor spheres and some on cytoplasm and other in nuclei of Eca109 monolayer cells.However, Oct-4 fluorescence intensity was weaker than P75NTR.The expressions of Sox-2 and Nanog were positive in cytoplasm of tumor spheres and Eca 109 monolayer cells .Conclusion The cells expressing P75NTR, Oct-4, and Lin28 in the center of the tumor sphere may be esophageal cancer stem cells .

Objective To investigate the changes of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor typeⅠ(IP3RⅠ)expression in the myocardial tissue of rats with endotoxic shock and probe the possible mechanisms of myocardial depression.Methods Thirty-three male Wistar rats were divided into four groups:control group (n=6) were injected normal saline(4ml/kg),and the other 3 groups (n=9) were injected endotoxin via femoral vein with a different dose of 10mg/kg,5mg/kg,and the artificial sacrificed group(10mg/kg,the rats were sacrificed when the mean arterial pressure was first rapidly decreased,then gradually increased to the normal level).IP3RⅠexpression in the myocardial tissue of rats was detected by immunohistochemistry,Western blot and colloidal gold immunoelectron microscopy technique.Results IP3RⅠexpressions were increased significantly in each group of rats with endotoxic shock than in the control group (P<0.01),and most obviously enhanced in the the artificial sacrificed group.The expression of IP3RⅠwas related to the level of mean arterial pressure.Ectopic expression of IP3RⅠwas observed around the cell membrane of the cardiac myocytes.Conclusion (1)The expression of IP3RⅠenhances in the myocardial tissue of rats with endotoxic shock,and exists ectopic expression.(2) The expression of IP3RⅠwas related to the level of mean arterial pressure.(3) IP3RⅠ may be related to the cardiac contractility and involved in the regulation of mean arterial pressure.