Objective: This prospective study evaluated the feasibility of chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI for assessing disease activity in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). Materials and Methods: A total of 88 patients with active TAO, 76 with inactive TAO, and 30 healthy controls were enrolled. CEST MRI-derived magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) and MTR asymmetry (MTRasym) at 1 ppm, 2 ppm, and 3.5 ppm were calculated. Clinical data, MTR, and MTRasym values for the extraocular muscles (one representative muscle per eye, yielding two measurements per participant) were compared among the groups. Spearman’s correlation was used to examine associations between imaging parameters and the clinical activity score (CAS) in patients with TAO. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent associations between imaging parameters and disease activity in patients with TAO (active vs. inactive). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic performance for discriminating active from inactive TAO. Results: Patients with active TAO showed lower MTR values (P < 0.001) and higher MTRasym (1 ppm), MTRasym (2 ppm), and MTRasym (3.5 ppm) (all P < 0.001) compared with those with inactive TAO. MTR was negatively correlated with CAS (r = -0.402; P < 0.001), while MTRasym (1 ppm), MTRasym (2 ppm), and MTRasym (3.5 ppm) were positively correlated with CAS (r = 0.369, 0.350, and 0.349, respectively;all P < 0.001). MTR and MTRasym (1 ppm) were independently associated with TAO activity. The areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) for MTR and MTRasym (1 ppm) in discriminating active from inactive TAO were 0.772 and 0.730, respectively. Combining MTR with MTRasym (1 ppm) significantly improved diagnostic performance compared with either parameter alone, achieving an AUC of 0.805 (P = 0.029 and 0.001). Conclusion MTR and MTRasym (1 ppm) were independently associated with TAO activity. Their combination further enhanced diagnostic performance in distinguishing active from inactive TAO, suggesting their potential as quantitative imaging biomarkers to guide treatment in patients with TAO.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of biodegradable magnesium alloy materials in promoting tendon-bone healing during rotator cuff tear repair and to investigate their potential underlying biological mechanisms. METHODS: Forty-eight 8-week-old Sprague Dawley rats were taken and randomly divided into groups A, B, and C. Rotator cuff tear models were created and repaired using magnesium alloy sutures in group A and Vicryl Plus 4-0 absorbable sutures in group B, while only subcutaneous incisions and sutures were performed in group C. Organ samples of groups A and B were taken for HE staining at 1 and 2 weeks after operation to evaluate the safety of magnesium alloy, and specimens from the supraspinatus tendon and proximal humerus were harvested at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after operation. The specimens were observed macroscopically at 4 and 12 weeks after operation. Biomechanical tests were performed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks to test the ultimate load and stiffness of the healing sites in groups A and B. At 2, 4, and 12 weeks, the specimens were subjected to the following tests: Micro-CT to evaluate the formation of bone tunnels in groups A and B, HE staining and Masson staining to observe the regeneration of fibrocartilage at the tendon-bone interface after decalcification and sectioning, and Goldner trichrome staining to evaluate the calcification. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the expressions of angiogenic factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), as well as osteogenic factors at the tendon-bone interface. Additionally, immunofluorescence staining was used to examine the expressions of Arginase 1 and Integrin beta-2 to assess M1 and M2 macrophage polarization at the tendon-bone interface. The role of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway in tendon-bone healing was further analyzed using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. RESULTS: Analysis of visceral sections revealed that magnesium ions released during the degradation of magnesium alloys did not cause significant toxic effects on organs such as the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys, indicating good biosafety. Histological analysis further demonstrated that fibrocartilage regeneration at the tendon-bone interface in group A occurred earlier, and the amount of fibrocartilage was significantly greater compared to group B, suggesting a positive effect of magnesium alloy material on tendon-bone interface repair. Additionally, Micro-CT analysis results revealed that bone tunnel formation occurred more rapidly in group A compared to group B, further supporting the beneficial effect of magnesium alloy on bone healing. Biomechanical testing showed that the ultimate load in group A was consistently higher than in group B, and the stiffness of group A was also greater than that of group B at 4 weeks, indicating stronger tissue-carrying capacity following tendon-bone interface repair and highlighting the potential of magnesium alloy in enhancing tendon-bone healing. Immunohistochemical staining results indicated that the expressions of VEGF and BMP-2 were significantly upregulated during the early stages of healing, suggesting that magnesium alloy effectively promoted angiogenesis and bone formation, thereby accelerating the tendon-bone healing process. Immunofluorescence staining further revealed that magnesium ions exerted significant anti-inflammatory effects by regulating macrophage polarization, promoting their shift toward the M2 phenotype. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR results demonstrated that magnesium ions could facilitate tendon-bone healing by modulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. CONCLUSION Biodegradable magnesium alloy material accelerated fibrocartilage regeneration and calcification at the tendon-bone interface in rat rotator cuff tear repair by regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, thereby significantly enhancing tendon-bone healing.
Animals ; Rotator Cuff Injuries/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Wound Healing/drug effects* ; Alloys/pharmacology* ; Rats ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Rotator Cuff/metabolism* ; Macrophages/metabolism* ; Magnesium/pharmacology* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism* ; Male ; Biocompatible Materials ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2/metabolism*

Objective:To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and influencing factors of single-cigarette use and dual cigarette-cigar use in China.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study that selected 85 638 urban and rural residents who met the inclusion criteria from the 2018 China Health Literacy Survey as research subjects. An analysis was conducted on 21 849 users of cigarettes and cigars among them. Due to the small number of individuals who exclusively used cigars (247 cases), the research subjects were divided into two categories: exclusive cigarette users and dual users of cigarettes and cigars. The groups were categorized by age (18-34 years, 35-54 years, ≥55 years), gender (male, female), education level (primary school and below, junior high school and high school, university and above) and annual household income (<20 000 yuan, 20 000-<80 000 yuan, ≥80 000 yuan) to compare the tobacco usage rate and conduct subgroup analyses for each subgroup. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed, incorporating general demographic characteristic information to explore the influencing factors of exclusive cigarette use and dual use of cigarettes and cigars, respectively.Results:The rate of exclusive cigarette use in our country was 24.3%, while the dual use rate of cigarettes and cigars was 0.9%. The exclusive cigarette use rate and the dual use rate of cigarettes and cigars among males were significantly higher than those among females (48.25% vs 2.48%, and 1.84% vs 0.06%) (both P<0.001). For males, the high-risk factors for exclusive cigarette use included living in urban areas ( OR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.23-1.54), being Han ethnicity ( OR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.51-1.98), and having an annual household income ≥20 000 yuan ( OR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.38-1.82) while having a junior high school education or higher was a protective factor ( OR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.52-0.90). Age≥35 years ( OR: 3.36, 95% CI: 2.62-4.32) and having a junior high school education or higher ( OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.02-1.67) were risk factors for dual use of cigarettes and cigars in males. Among females, living in urban areas ( OR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.19-1.97) and being Han ethnicity ( OR: 5.96, 95% CI: 4.47-7.96) were risk factors for exclusive cigarette use, while having a university education or higher was a protective factor ( OR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.18-0.42). However, for female dual use of cigarettes and cigars, no significant effects were observed for any demographic characteristics. Conclusions:The use rate of cigarettes alone in China is significantly higher than that of cigarette-cigar dual use, and the rates of cigarette use alone and cigarette-cigar dual use in men are significantly higher than those in women. Tobacco use is being affected by sociodemographic factors, among which place of residence, ethnicity and education level are the main influencing factors of cigarette use alone, and gender, age and education level are the main influencing factors of cigarette-cigar dual use.

One of the technical bottlenecks limiting the high yield of 1,4-butanediamine is the insufficient tolerance of strains to 1,4-butanediamine. Enhancing the tolerance of strains to 1,4-butanediamine is therefore a primary challenge that needs to be addressed for the construction of strains with high yields of 1,4-butanediamine. Staphylococcus pasteuri 326180 exhibits exceptional tolerance to high-concentration 1,4-butanediamine, serving as both an ideal model for studying the mechanism underlying the 1,4-butanediamine tolerance and a novel host for constructing strains capable of efficiently producing 1,4-butanediamine. However, for both the research on the tolerance mechanism and the modification of chassis strains, gene editing of S. pasteuri needs to be carried out at the molecular level. The research objective of this paper is to establish a genetic manipulation system for S. pasteuri, laying foundation for subsequent studies on tolerance mechanism and the modification of chassis strains. This study systematically optimized the electroporation conditions, including key parameters such as the growth phase of cells, electric field strength, electroporation buffer, and recovery medium, successfully establishing an electroporation method for S. pasteuri. Additionally, we constructed the gene editing plasmid pCpfOA by replacing the resistance expression cassette, optimized the selection markers for gene editing, and finally established a CRISPR/Cpf1-based gene editing technology for S. pasteuri, achieving an editing efficiency of 90%. The genetic manipulation system of S. pasteuri established in this study provides technical support for research into the tolerance mechanism of this bacterium and the genetic modification of chassis strains.
Staphylococcus/drug effects* ; Gene Editing/methods* ; Electroporation/methods* ; Plasmids/genetics* ; CRISPR-Cas Systems ; Genetic Engineering/methods*

Objective To explore the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome elements in patients with chronic heart failure(CHF)and their correlation with long-term prognosis,thus to provide an objective basis for clinical treatment of CHF.Methods From January 2006 to July 2014,a retrospective analysis was carried out in 546 patients diagnosed as CHF in the Cardiology Department of Guang'anmen Hospital,China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences.TCM syndrome elements of the patents were determined based on the data collected by four diagnostic methods.Patients were followed up for a maximum of 1 330 days,and long-term prognosis was recorded.With the patient's death as the endpoint event,and the patients were divided into a survival group(291 cases)and a death group(255 cases)according to the endpoint event.The distribution of TCM syndrome elements in the two groups was observed,and differences in the combination patterns of TCM syndrome elements were compared.After that,the correlation between long-term prognosis and TCM syndrome elements in CHF patients was analyzed.Results(1)The age of patients in the death group was greater and serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)level was higher than that in the survival group,the differences being statistically significant(P＜0.01).In terms of New York Heart Association(NYHA)functional classification,the patients of death group had low proportion of heart function level Ⅲ while high proportion of heart function level Ⅳ in comparison with the patients of survival group,the differences being statistically significant(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Statistically significant differences were presented in the cardiac ultrasound indicators of left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDD),and right ventricular end-diastolic diameter(RVEDD)between the two groups(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),while left atrial diameter(LA)showed no significant difference between the two groups(P＞0.05).In terms of underlying diseases,the proportion of coronary heart disease in the death group(87.45%)was higher than that in the survival group(80.76%),with a statistically significant difference(P＜0.05).No significant differences were presented in other underlying diseases(P＞0.05).(2)The death group had more cases of qi deficiency and yin deficiency syndrome elements while less cases of qi stagnation syndrome element than the survival group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The death group had higher proportions of syndrome element combinations such as qi deficiency and yin deficiency with blood stasis,yang deficiency and blood stasis with phlegm-heat,qi deficiency and yin deficiency with phlegm-heat,and yang deficiency and blood stasis with phlegm turbidity than the survival group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Conclusion CHF has the prognosis of developing into yin deficiency or yang deficiency.The death group has higher proportions of qi deficiency and yin deficiency with blood stasis syndrome,and yang deficiency and blood stasis with phlegm turbidity syndrome than the survival group,indicating that there is a poor prognosis,and more attention and early intervention should be done to avoid adverse events.

Objective To investigate the distribution patterns of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome types in patients with chronic heart failure(CHF)complicated with chronic kidney disease(CKD),and to explore the correlation between TCM syndrome types and physicochemical indicators as well as the prognosis.Methods A total of 217 patients with CHF and CKD hospitalized in the Department of Cardiology,Guang'anmen Hospital,China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences between January 2006 and March 2014 were included.Data from the four-examination methods of TCM were collected to determine TCM syndrome types.General information and physicochemical indicators of the patients were also recorded.SPSS 26.0 statistical software was used to analyze the distribution characteristics of TCM syndrome types and their relationships with general information,physicochemical indicators,and the prognosis.Results(1)Among the 217 patients,114 were male and 103 were female,with a male-to-female ratio of 1.11∶1,indicating similar incidence between genders.(2)The distribution of TCM syndrome types in descending order was as follows:yang deficiency with phlegm-stasis syndrome(23.04％),yin deficiency with phlegm-stasis syndrome(22.12％),blood stasis and phlegm turbidity syndrome(21.20％),qi and yin deficiency syndrome(17.51％),and qi deficiency with blood stasis syndrome(16.13％).(3)Regarding age,the blood stasis and phlegm turbidity syndrome group was the youngest,while the qi and yin deficiency syndrome group and the yin deficiency with phlegm-stasis syndrome group were relatively old.The differences between the blood stasis and phlegm turbidity syndrome group and the other two groups were statistically significant(P＜0.05).In terms of disease duration,the blood stasis and phlegm turbidity syndrome group had a shorter course than the yang deficiency with phlegm-stasis syndrome group,with a statistically significant difference(P＜0.01).Regarding mortality,the blood stasis and phlegm turbidity syndrome group had a lower mortality rate compared to the qi and yin deficiency syndrome,yin deficiency with phlegm-stasis syndrome,and yang deficiency with phlegm-stasis syndrome groups,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.01).(4)The N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)level in the qi and yin deficiency syndrome group was higher than that in the blood stasis and phlegm turbidity syndrome group.The estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR-EPI)level in the yin deficiency with phlegm-stasis syndrome,yang deficiency with phlegm-stasis syndrome,and qi and yin deficiency syndrome groups was higher than that in the blood stasis and phlegm turbidity syndrome group.The very low-density lipoprotein(VLDL)level in the yin deficiency with phlegm-stasis syndrome and yang deficiency with phlegm-stasis syndrome groups was higher than that in the qi and yin deficiency syndrome group.The blood chloride(Cl-)level in the qi and yin deficiency syndrome group was lower than that in the yin deficiency with phlegm-stasis syndrome group.All these differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Additionally,no statistically significant differences were observed among different syndrome types in terms of gender,time of death,platelet count(PLT),white blood cell count(WBC),red blood cell count(RBC),hemoglobin(Hb),C-reactive protein(CRP),uric acid(UA),blood potassium(K+),blood sodium(Na+),triglycerides(TG),total cholesterol(TC),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),fasting plasma glucose(FPG),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),total bilirubin(TBIL),direct bilirubin(DBIL),indirect bilirubin(IBIL),ejection fraction(EF),fractional shortening(FS),serum creatinine(Scr),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),and New York Heart Association(NYHA)functional classification(P＞0.05).Conclusion In clinical assessment of patients with CHF and CKD,it is essential to focus on the transition between deficiency and excess syndromes and to emphasize the intervention for the underlying deficiency.Efforts should be made to delay disease progression,prolong the timeline of transformation from excess to deficiency,and extend survival.Furthermore,the phlegm-stasis concretion is the core pathogenesis in these patients.Based on the TCM theory of the spleen being the source of phlegm production,interventions for mixed deficiency-excess syndromes should not only eliminate pathogenic factors but also reinforce spleen qi.Concurrently,attention should be paid to accompanying symptoms such as blood stasis and qi deficiency.By addressing the root cause and cutting off the source of internal phlegm formation while ensuring pathways for its elimination,targeted treatment can be achieved through clarifying the etiology and pathogenesis.

Objective To explore the real experiences of nutrition impact symptoms in esophageal cancer patients during diagnosis and treatment,and to provide references for developing nutritional management strategies.Methods Using purposive sampling,15 esophageal cancer patients admitted to the thoracic surgery department of a tertiary grade A hospital in Guangzhou from October to December 2024 were selected for semi-structured interviews.Thematic analysis was used for data analysis.Results 4 themes and 12 sub-themes were identified:①Multiple symptom perceptions:esophageal obstruction-dysphagia,appetite-affecting symptoms,multiple symptom over-lap,and individual differences in symptom perception.② Insufficient symptom cognition:overestimation of symptom controllability and biased symptom attribution.③ Negative emotional reactions:anxiety and fear about eating,frustration with declining eating function,and helplessness and guilt about losing control over eating.④ Di-verse symptom coping strategies:avoidance coping,adaptive coping,and active nutritional management.Conclusion The nutrition impact symptom experiences of esophageal cancer patients are complex and diverse.Healthcare professionals should promptly identify and assess nutrition impact symptoms,provide nutrition health education,strengthen psychological guidance,and develop culturally distinctive individualized nutritional management strategies.

Objective To compare the efficacy of controlling pediatric myopia progression between defocus incorpo-rated multiple segments(DIMS)spectacle lenses combined with low-concentration atropine(0.1 g·L-1)(DIMSA)and orthokeratology(OK)lenses.Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted on myopic children treated at the De-partment of Ophthalmology,Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between January 2022 and February 2023.Participants were divided into a DIMSA group(88 cases)and an OK lens group(73 cases).Only right eye data were in-cluded for statistical analysis,and the children were followed up for 1 year.The axial length(AL)and spherical equivalent refraction(SER)were measured for the DIMSA group while only AL was measured for the OK lens group at baseline and each follow-up visit.The AL regression rate[(AL regression rate=the number of AL regression cases/total cases in the group)× 100％]and axial elongation(AE)were calculated to compare the myopia control efficacy between the two groups.Results The baseline age of the OK lens group was significantly larger than that of the DIMSA group(P=0.001).The AE value in the DIMSA group was significantly smaller than that in the OK lens group after following up for 6 months,following up for 1 year,and adjusting for baseline age(all P＜0.05).Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that baseline age was the only factor influencing the AE value[OK lens group:unstandardized β=-0.024,standardizedβ=-0.266(P=0.022);DIMSA group:unstandardized β=-0.052,standardized β=-0.487(P＜0.001)].There was a negative correlation between AE and baseline age(OK lens group:r=-0.30,P＜0.001;DIMSA group:r=-0.42,P＜0.001).In the DIMSA group,baseline age was positively correlated with SER progression(r=0.28,P=0.001 5).After following up for 1 year,the proportions of children with different AE velocities differed significantly between the two groups(x2=11.09,P=0.004).AE was controlled better in the DIMSA group than that in the OK lens group.AL regression rates in the DIMSA group were significantly higher than those in the OK lens group after 6 months and 1 year of follow-up(all P＜0.05).No severe ocular adverse events occurred in either group.Conclusion DIMSA demonstrates superior effi-cacy over OK lenses in controlling myopia progression in children with mild-to-moderate myopia.Ophthalmologists should tailor myopia control strategies based on individual needs and characteristics.

Objective:To explore the characteristics of social skills and problem behaviors of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as the association with core symptoms.Methods:A total of 409 patients aged 5-18 years old with ASD or ADHD in the outpatient department of Nanjing Brain Hospital from 2023 to 2024, and 344 children and adolescents with typical development(TD) were recruited.All participants were matched in a ratio of 1∶1∶1 (ASD∶ADHD∶TD) according to gender and age, and 97 participants were included in each group for analysis.The Chinese version of the social skills improvement system rating scales(SSIS-RS-C) was used to evaluate social skills and problem behaviors, and autistic child behavior checklist(ABC), childhood autism rating scale(CARS), the Chinese version of the social communication questionnaire(SCQ) and the Chinese version of Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham, version Ⅳ scale-parent form(SNAP-Ⅳ) were used to evaluate the core symptoms of ASD and ADHD, respectively. SPSS 26.0 software was used to perform variance, Chi-square test, Spearman correlation analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis.Results:The social skills score of ASD group was lower than ADHD group ((61.53±24.26) vs (80.89±15.19), P<0.05), while the problem behavior score of ASD group was higher than ADHD group ((38.82±11.92) vs (34.00±12.45), P<0.05). In ASD group, the scores of ABC, CARS and SCQ were negatively correlated with the score of social skills ( r=-0.26--0.55, P<0.05). In ADHD group, the total score and each subscale of SNAP-Ⅳ were positively correlated with the score of problem behavior ( r=0.25-0.65, P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that empathy was a negative influencing factor of ASD ( B=-0.246, OR=0.782, P<0.05), and hyperactivity/inattention was a positive influencing factor of ASD ( B=0.589, OR=1.802, P<0.01), while only hyperactivity/inattention was a positive influencing factor of ADHD( B=0.779, OR=2.180, P<0.01). Conclusion:Children and adolescents with ASD and ADHD both have defects in social skills and problem behaviors, and these defects are associated with the core characteristics of their respective diseases.

Objective:To analyze and validate the reliability and validity of the social skills improvement system-rating scales Chinese version (parent version) (SSIS-RS-C) in middle school students.Method:A total of 1 486 parents of middle school students were recruited according to the cluster sampling method.The social responsiveness scale and strengths and difficulties questionnaire were used as criterion validity tools.A retest was conducted one month later.SPSS 27.0 was used for descriptive statistics, item analysis, internal consistency test, test-retest reliability test and criterion validity test. AMOS 24.0 was used to perform confirmatory factor analysis .Results:Item analysis indicated significant positive correlations between each item and the subscales ( r=0.293-0.782, all P<0.01), with significant differences in scores between high and low groups ( t=10.079-37.038, all P<0.01).Confirmatory factor analysis supported a seven-factor structure for the social skills subscale(communication, cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy, engagement and self control) and a five-factor structure for the problem behavior subscale (externalizing, bullying, hyperactivity/inattention, internalizing and autism spectrum) of the SSIS-RS-C.There was a positive correlation between the social skills subscale and prosocial behavior ( r=0.637, P<0.001), and between the problem behavior subscale and social impairments and difficult behaviors ( r=0.765, 0.688, both P<0.001).The Cronbach's α coefficients for the total scale, social skills subscale and problem behavior subscale were 0.934, 0.972 and 0.963, respectively.The test-retest correlation coefficients for the total score and the two subscales were 0.665, 0.871 and 0.598, respectively (all P<0.001). Conclusion:The SSIS-RS-C demonstrated good reliability and validity in the Chinese adolescent population.