Objective: To investigate the effects of "liver-smoothing and spirit-regulating" acupuncture on the intestinal flora, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the hippocampal toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/ transcription factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway in depressive disorder mouse model, and to explore its underlying mechanisms. Methods: Eighteen male SPF-grade C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to the control, model, and acupuncture groups using a random number method, with six mice in each group. The depression disorder model was induced in mice from both the acupuncture and model groups using CUMS. The mice in the acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture at the acupoints of "Baihui" (DU20), "Yintang" (DU29), "Hegu" (LI4), and "Taichong" (LR3) on the 15th day of modeling, with a duration of 20 min per session, once per day, for 2 consecutive weeks. Behavioral differences were assessed using the sucrose preference test, open field test, and forced swim test. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe pathological changes in the hippocampus and colon. The levels of the inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and LPS in the hippocampus and colon were measured using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of TLR4 and NF-κB protein in the hippocampus. Changes in gut microbiota structure and abundance were analyzed by 16 S rDNA sequencing. Results: Compared to the control group, the model group showed reduced sucrose preference rate, time in the center area, and total distance, with an increase in immobility time (P<0.01). Inflammatory pathological changes were observed in the hippocampal CA1 region and colon. The contents of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and LPS in the hippocampus and colon increased (P<0.01). The protein expression levels of hippocampal TLR4 and NF-κB were increased (P<0.01). The Chao1 index was increased (P<0.01). The relative abundances of Pseudomonadales, Acinetobacter, Moraxellaceae, Solibacillus, Escherichia_shigella, Enterobacteriaceae, Enterobacterales, Dubosiella, and Erysipelottichales were decreased, while the relative abundances of Alloprevotella and gram_negative_bacteriurh_cTPY_13 were increased (P<0.05). The pathways of lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis and pathogenic Escherichia coli infection were upregulated, and the pathway of terpenoid backbone biosynthesis was downregulated (P<0.01). Compared to the model group, the acupuncture group showed increased sucrose preference, time in the center area, and total distance, with a decrease in immobility time (P<0.01). The inflammatory pathological changes in the hippocampal CA1 region and colon were alleviated. The contents of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and LPS in the hippocampus and colon were reduced(P<0.01). The protein expression levels of hippocampal TLR4 and NF-κB were reduced (P<0.01). The Chao1 index was decreased (P<0.05), and the relative abundances of Dubosiella and Erysipelotrichaceae were increased, while the relative abundance of Rikenellaceae, Alloprevotella, and gram_negative_bacteriuch_cTPY_13 were decreased(P<0.05). The pathways of lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis and pathogenic Escherichia coli infection were significantly downregulated, and the pathway of terpenoid backbone biosynthesis was upregulated (P<0.01). Conclusion " Liver-smoothing and spirit-regulating" acupuncture can improve depressive symptoms in depressive disorder mice, potentially through regulating the LPS and TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway mediated by intestinal flora, reducing the inflammatory response of the hippocampus, and improving the pathological injury of the hippocampus.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism and clinical manifestations of a case with complex structural variations involving chromosomes 5, 7, and 14, and assess the value of Chromosome conformation-based karyotyping (C-MoKa) for its diagnosis. METHODS: Two half-sibs by the same father presented at the First Hospital of Lanzhou University in December 2024 for severe multi-system abnormalities were selected as study subjects. Peripheral blood samples from the their parents were subjected to conventional chromosomal karyotyping analysis. The father was further analyzed using C-MoKa, while both siblings underwent copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq). This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Hospital (Ethics No.: LDYYSZLLKH2025-05). RESULTS: Conventional karyotype analysis indicated that the father has a karyotype of 46,XY,add(5)(p15.3). CNV-seq identified multiple chromosomal abnormalities in both siblings, including duplications and deletions of chromosomes 14 and 5. C-MoKa analysis further revealed a complex chromosomal structural variation involving chromosomes 5, 7, and 14 in the father. These variations were closely associated with the severe phenotypes noted in both children. CONCLUSION Complex chromosomal structural variations can lead to multi-system abnormalities and significantly impact reproductive health. Compared to conventional karyotyping, the C-MoKa technique has shown significant advantage in identifying such complex rearrangements. The combined application of multiple techniques can improve the accuracy of diagnosis, enabling genetic counseling for carriers to reduce their risk for producing further affected offspring.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; China ; Chromosome Aberrations ; DNA Copy Number Variations/genetics* ; Karyotyping ; Pedigree ; East Asian People/genetics*

Objective:To understand the status of bone health literacy in middle-aged and older female breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and analyze its influencing factors using structural equation modeling.Methods:A convenience sampling method was used to select 250 middle-aged and older breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in two tertiary hospitals in Xi'an from May to October 2024. Patients were surveyed using a general information questionnaire, the Bone Health Literacy Scale for Middle-Aged and Older Women, the Perceived Social Support Scale, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the correlations among bone health literacy, perceived social support, and self-efficacy.Results:A total of 250 questionnaires were distributed, and 239 valid questionnaires were recovered, yielding an effective response rate of 95.6% (239/250). The mean score of the Bone Health Literacy Scale among the 239 patients was (39.71±8.16). Bone health literacy was positively correlated with perceived social support and self-efficacy ( P<0.01). Perceived social support directly affected bone health literacy and could also indirectly influence it through general self-efficacy, with an indirect effect value of 0.367, accounting for 45.2% of the total effect (0.367/0.812) . Conclusions:Healthcare professionals should implement effective interventions to enhance patients' perceived social support and strengthen their self-efficacy, thereby improving bone health literacy.

Objective:To understand the status of bone health literacy in middle-aged and older female breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and analyze its influencing factors using structural equation modeling.Methods:A convenience sampling method was used to select 250 middle-aged and older breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in two tertiary hospitals in Xi'an from May to October 2024. Patients were surveyed using a general information questionnaire, the Bone Health Literacy Scale for Middle-Aged and Older Women, the Perceived Social Support Scale, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the correlations among bone health literacy, perceived social support, and self-efficacy.Results:A total of 250 questionnaires were distributed, and 239 valid questionnaires were recovered, yielding an effective response rate of 95.6% (239/250). The mean score of the Bone Health Literacy Scale among the 239 patients was (39.71±8.16). Bone health literacy was positively correlated with perceived social support and self-efficacy ( P<0.01). Perceived social support directly affected bone health literacy and could also indirectly influence it through general self-efficacy, with an indirect effect value of 0.367, accounting for 45.2% of the total effect (0.367/0.812) . Conclusions:Healthcare professionals should implement effective interventions to enhance patients' perceived social support and strengthen their self-efficacy, thereby improving bone health literacy.

Objective:To investigate the temporal expression of Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF15) in the serum of patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) and explore the clinical significance of GDF15 in protecting cardiomyocytes in ACS.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 289 ACS patients admitted to the emergency departments from February to October 2023. Data on gender, age, troponin T (TnT), creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), GDF15, and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) within 30 minutes of admission were recorded. Differences in these indicators among different groups were compared. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to evaluate the diagnostic value of GDF15, TnT, and BNP for ACS. Among the patients, 15 exhibited a temporal expression pattern of GDF15, and their blood samples were re-measured using a GDF15 fluorescent quantitative immunochromatographic assay kit. Fifteen patients without temporal expression were randomly selected as controls, and their samples were also re-measured to exclude detection errors. Fifteen patients with temporal expression were included in the temporal expression group, and 15 without temporal expression were included in the non-temporal expression group. Laboratory indicators such as fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, triglycerides, creatinine, and uric acid were compared between the groups. Additionally, patient age, gender, body mass index (BMI), coronary angiography results, echocardiography, Gensini score, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and GRACE risk score were recorded to assess their correlation with GDF15 temporal expression. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 27 software, with continuous data expressed as mean ± standard deviation (Mean ± SD) and compared using t-tests and χ2 tests. Results:The overall trend in ACS patients showed a higher proportion of males than females (73.36% vs. 26.64%). The oldest group was the Unstable Angina (UA) group, with a mean age of (63.98 ± 15.19) years, while the youngest group was the non-ACS chest pain group, with a mean age of (54.29 ± 16.39) years. A higher proportion of patients in the UA, ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) groups had a history of smoking. The combination of GDF15 and TnT showed high diagnostic value for ACS, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.843, consistent with previous studies. Among all ACS patients, 15 exhibited a temporal expression pattern of GDF15, where GDF15 levels peaked at 4 hours, gradually decreased, and peaked again at 24 hours. Patients in the temporal expression group had higher LVEF and left ventricular end-systolic diameter compared to the non-temporal expression group. The Gensini score was lower in the temporal expression group, and the GRACE risk score was significantly lower in the temporal expression group (00.7±14.72) compared to the non-temporal expression group (116.1±23.46), with a statistically significant difference ( P = 0.0115). There were no significant differences in general characteristics (age, gender, BMI) or clinical biochemical indicators (fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, creatinine, uric acid) between the temporal and non-temporal expression groups ( P > 0.05). Conclusions:GDF15 demonstrates significant diagnostic and prognostic predictive value in ACS. Patients with temporally dynamic expression of serum GDF15 exhibit milder myocardial injury and a lower probability of mortality. These findings provide novel therapeutic targets and research directions for further exploring the role of GDF15 in ACS management.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for stroke-associated pneumonia(SAP)in patients with acute anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion stroke after endovascular treatment(EVT).Methods A total of 115 patients with acute anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion stroke who received EVT in the Department of Neurology,The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University,from March 2022 to May 2023 were continuously included.Their clinical data were retrospectively collected.The patients were divided into SAP group(55 cases)and non-SAP group(60 cases)according to the occurrence of SAP after the operation.Differences in baseline data,surgical and perioperative indicators were compared between the two groups,and the risk factors for SAP after EVT were analyzed using the multivariate Logistic regression analysis.Results Univariate analysis showed there were significant differences in the Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS)score and the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)score at admission,incidence of dysphagia,duration of the surgery,proportion of general anesthesia,rate of unsuccessful vascular recanalization and the rate of immediate CT high-density sign between SAP group and non-SAP group(all P＜0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis of the above indicators showed that duration of the surgery(OR=1.014,95％CI:1.001-1.028,P＜0.05),dysphagia(OR=6.137,95％CI:1.694-22.232,P＜0.01)and unsuccessful vascular recanalization(OR=6.043,95％CI:1.062-34.382,P＜0.05)were independent risk factors for SAP after EVT.Conclusion Long duration of EVT,dysphagia and unsuccessful vascular recanalization are directly related to the occurrence of SAP after EVT in patients with acute anterior circulation large-vessel occlusive infarction.Therefore,targeted measures should be taken as soon as possible to reduce the incidence of SAP after EVT and thus improve the clinical prognosis of these patients.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) on the prognosis of patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) wild-type lung adenocarcinoma.Methods:A total of 132 surgical paraffin specimens of EGFR wild-type lung adenocarcinoma diagnosed at the Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Xinjiang Medical University from January 2016 to December 2023 and 12 pairs of cancer and paracancerous fresh tissues from patients with EGFR wild-type lung adenocarcinoma diagnosed in March-July 2024 were collected with their clinical information. Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression levels of citrullinated histone H3 (CitH3) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in cancerous and paraneoplastic tissues. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the infiltration of PD-L1, CD4 + T cells and CD8 + T cells in the tumors. The clinical and prognostic correlations between NETs and EGFR wild-type lung adenocarcinoma patients were analyzed. Results:The expression of MPO ( P＜0.001) and CitH3 ( P=0.009) was significantly increased in the tumors compared with the paracancerous tissues. The rate of high expression of NETs in cancer tissues was higher in patients with EGFR wild-type lung adenocarcinoma who were in stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ, with lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, pleural invasion, high expression of Ki-67, low expression of CD8 + T, and lowered lymphocyte counts when compared to paraneoplastic tissues ( P＜0.05). Patients were stratified based on TNM stage Ⅱb for prognostic analysis. Kaplan-Meier univariate analysis showed that the median overall survival (OS) (stage Ⅰ to Ⅱb: 47 vs 87 months; stage Ⅲ to Ⅳ: 27 months vs not reach) and the median disease-free survival (DFS) (stage Ⅰ to Ⅱb: 42 vs 78 months; stage Ⅲ to Ⅳ: 18 vs 39 months) of patients with high expression of NETs in stage Ⅰ to II b and stage Ⅲ to Ⅳ were lower than those with low expression (stage Ⅰ to Ⅱb: OS, P＜0.001; DFS, P＜0.001; stage Ⅲ to Ⅳ: OS, P=0.001; DFS, P=0.022). The OS (stage Ⅰ to Ⅱb: HR=3.513, 95% CI: 1.966-6.277, P＜0.001; stage Ⅲ to Ⅳ: HR=3.215, 95% CI: 1.324-7.806, P=0.010) and the DFS (stage Ⅰ to Ⅱb: HR=2.478 ,95% CI: 1.396-4.400, P=0.002; stage Ⅲ to Ⅳ: HR=2.248, 95% CI: 1.089-4.638, P=0.028) in the group with high expression of NETs in either stage Ⅰ to Ⅱb or stage Ⅲ to Ⅳ were significantly shorter than those in the group with low expression. Conclusion:The EGFR wild-type lung adenocarcinoma patients with high expression of NETs have relatively shorter DFS and OS, which are independent risk factors for the prognosis of patients with EGFR wild-type lung adenocarcinoma, and are likely to be the potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of EGFR wild-type lung adenocarcinoma.

Objective To perform an analytical comparison of CT findings between sarcomatoid clear cell renal cell carcinoma(sccRCC)and grade 4 clear cell renal cell carcinoma(ccRCC),to improve preoperative diagnosis for sccRCC.Methods The pathology and imaging data of 18 patients with sccRCC and 23 patients with grade 4 ccRCC were retrospectively analyzed,the differences of non-contrast and contrast-enhanced CT features between the two groups were compared.Results(1)sccRCC and ccRCC demonstrated similar features regarding hemorrhage,calcification,retroperitoneal lymph node enlargement,distant metastasis,invasion of perinephric organs,vascular invasion,and neovascularization around and within the tumor,as well as CT values at different phases.No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups(P＞0.05).(2)In the sccRCC,solid components were predominant in 6 cases,compared to 16 cases in the ccRCC,showed a significant difference(P=0.017).The ratio of cystic and necrotic areas in sccRCC was 0.66±0.20,and that in ccRCC was 0.51±0.17,with a statistically significant difference(P=0.015).(3)Using a cystic and necrotic area ratio of 0.63 as the diagnostic threshold yields the optimal discriminative performance,with an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.732,a sensitivity of 0.611,and a specificity of 0.826.Conclusion sccRCC is distinguished by a significantly higher proportion of cystic and necrotic elements as opposed to the grade 4 ccRCC.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of cefoperazone-sulbactam(CS)combined with ulinastatin in the treatment for stroke-associated pneumonia(SAP)after endovascular treatment of acute large vessel occlusive stroke(AIS-LVO).Methods This study retrospectively included patients who developed SAP after endovascular treatment of AIS-LVO admitted to the intensive care unit of the Department of Neurology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from March 2022 to December 2023.Patients were randomly divided into the ulinastatin group(combined application of ulinastatin and CS)and the control group(sole application of CS)using a random number table.Baseline and clinical data,including sex,age,infarct laterality,culprit vessel,trial of Org 10172 in acute stroke treatment(TOAST)classification,baseline National Institutes of Health stroke scale(NIHSS)score,baseline Glasgow coma scale(GCS)score,medical history(hypertension,diabetes,coronary heart disease,atrial fibrillation,past history of stroke),history of smoking and alcohol consumption,admission baseline blood pressure,laboratory test results at admission(including red blood cell count,white blood cell count,neutrophil count,platelet count,random blood glucose levels,albumin,creatinine,low-density lipoprotein cholesterol,uric acid,and D-dimer),and endovascular therapies(including mechanical retrieval of thrombus,stenting,balloon dilatation,arterial thrombolysis and combination therapy)were collected from both groups.After the diagnosis of SAP,patients in both groups underwent conventional treatment such as sputum expectoration and clearance,antipyretic and antitussive treatment,oxygen therapy,respiratory support,fluid and nutrition support,along with CS anti-infective therapy.In contrast to the control group,the ulinastatin group additionally received continuous ulinastatin treatment for at least 7 days.The adverse reactions of the two groups after initiating SAP treatment including allergic reactions(such as sudden dyspnea,skin redness,and shock),decrease in peripheral white blood cell count(below 4.0 × 109/L),nausea and vomiting,diarrhea,rash and/or itching,and liver enzymes(aspartate aminotransferase or alanine aminotransferase)elevation(more than twice the upper limit of normal)were compared between the two groups.The efficacy indicators encompassing arterial blood gas analysis(oxygenation index)and inflammatory factor indicators(interleukin-6[IL-6],procalcitonin)after 7 days of SAP treatment,pneumonia-related symptoms and signs before and after SAP treatment(including body temperature,heart rate,respiratory rate,sputum volume and characteristics,changes in lung rales,etc.),imaging examinations(such as head CT and chest CT).The evaluation of therapeutic efficacy is classified as(1)markedly effective:following treatment,significant relief was observed on pneumonia-related symptoms and signs,with body temperature returned to normal,and arterial blood gas analysis and inflammatory factor indicators returned to normal levels;post-treatment imaging studies reveal that over 2/3 of lung inflammation has been absorbed;(2)effective:after treatment,some improvement was observed in pneumonia-related symptoms and signs,with mild improvement in arterial blood gas analysis and inflammatory factor indicators;post-treatment imaging studies reveal some absorption of lung inflammation;(3)ineffective:no improvement or further deterioration of pneumonia-related symptoms,arterial blood gas analysis,and inflammatory factor indicators after treatment.The arterial blood gas analysis,inflammatory factor indicators and efficacy indicators were evaluated and compared between the control and the ulinastatin group.Compare the prognosis(improvement of the lesion in the chest CT after 7 days of treatment,length of stay in the intensive care unit,total length of hospital stay,and modified Rankin scale[mRS]score assessed via telephone follow-up or outpatient revisit 90 days after endovascular treatment[with an mRS score ≤2 indicating a good prognosis],as well as mortality).Results A total of 99 patients with AIS-LVO who developed SAP after endovascular treatment were included in this study,with 69 males(69.7％)and 30 females(30.3％),and an average age of(68±10)years.Among them,there were 46 cases in the ulinastatin group and 53 cases in the control group.(1)No statistically significant differences were observed in baseline or clinical characteristics between the two groups(all P＞0.05).(2)The overall effective(markedly effective and effective)rate of SAP treatment was greater in the ulinastatin group than that in the control group(89.1％[41/46]vs.69.8％[37/53],P=0.019).(3)No statistically significant differences were observed in serum IL-6 levels,procalcitonin levels,or arterial oxygenation index between the ulinastatin group and the control group before treatment(all P＞0.05).seven days after treatment,the levels of serum IL-6([21.13±14.86]ng/L vs.[64.39±52.95]ng/L)and procalcitonin([0.12±0.11]μg/L vs.[0.31±0.20]μg/L)in the ulinastatin group were significantly lower compared to those before treatment(all P＜0.01),and the arterial oxygenation index was significantly higher than that before treatment([359.35±92.56]mmHg vs.[273.34±95.65]mmHg,P＜0.01).Seven days after treatment,the levels of serum IL-6([21.13±14.86]ng/L vs.[31.90±21.95]ng/L)and procalcitonin([0.12±0.11]μg/L vs.[0.26±0.24]μg/L)in the ulinastatin group were significantly lower than those in the control group(all P＜0.01),and the arterial oxygenation index was significantly higher than that of the control group([359.35±92.56]mmHg vs.[314.81±81.97]mmHg,P=0.020).(4)In the ulinastatin group,there was 1 case of nausea and vomiting,1 case of itching and/or rash,and 1 case of elevated liver enzymes,resulting in an adverse reaction rate of 6.5％(3/46).In the control group,there were 2 cases of nausea and vomiting,1 case of itching and/or rash,and 1 case of elevated liver enzymes,resulting in an adverse reaction rate of 7.5％(4/53).No statistically significant differences were observed in the adverse reaction rate between the two groups(P＞0.05).(5)After 7 days of treatment,the ulinastatin group exhibited a greater improvement rate in chest CT lesions compared to the control group(93.5％[43/46]vs.77.4％[41/53],P=0.026).No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of the length of stay in the intensive care unit or the total length of hospital stay(both P＞0.05).Additionally,the 90-day mortality rate after intravascular treatment was lower in the ulinastatin group compared to the control group(6.5％[3/46]vs.20.8％[11/53],P=0.040).No statistically significant differences were observed in the good prognosis rate between the two groups(P=0.119).Conclusions Combined treatment with CS and ulinastatin can improve the clinical symptoms,inhibit inflammatory factors and reduce mortality rate in SAP patients after receiving endovascular treatment for AIS-LVO.The results of this study still need to be further confirmed by large-scale prospective studies.

Purpose To explore the diagnostic value of two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography(2D-STE)in differentiating left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH)caused by Fabry disease from other etiologies.Materials and Methods A total of 23 patients clinically confirmed Fabry disease with LVH(Fabry disease group)in Peking University First Hospital from August 2014 to February 2023,retrospectively.23 patients with hypertensive LVH(hypertensive LVH group)and 23 with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM)(HCM group)were also included.Conventional echocardiographic parameters and 2D-STE-derived left atrial strain and left ventricular longitudinal strain were analyzed and compared among the three groups.LASSO regression was used to select variables and construct a diagnostic model to differentiate hypertensive LVH,HCM and Fabry disease group.Results The Fabry disease group showed significantly reduced left ventricular global longitudinal strain and segmental left ventricular longitudinal strain in the basal anterior wall,basal anterolateral wall and mid inferior wall compared to the hypertensive LVH group(P<0.05).There were no significant differences in left atrial strain,left ventricular global longitudinal strain and segmental left ventricular longitudinal strain between the Fabry disease and HCM groups(P>0.05).Compared to the conventional echocardiography-based model,the combined model did not significantly improve diagnostic accuracy for differentiating the three etiologies(Z=-1.314--0.594,all P>0.05).Conclusion Compared to patients with hypertensive LVH,HCM and Fabry disease group exhibit varying degrees of decrease in global and segmental longitudinal strain of the left atrium and left ventricle.Additional measurements of left ventricular longitudinal strain and left atrial strain do not provide significant incremental diagnostic value over conventional echocardiography in distinguishing among Fabry disease,hypertensive LVH and HCM.