Background The benchmark dose (BMD) method calculates the dose associated with a specific change in response based on a specific dose-response relationship. Compared with the traditional no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) method, the BMD method has many advantages, and the 95% lower confidence limit of benchmark dose lower limit (BMDL) is recommended to replace NOAEL in deriving biological exposure limits. No authority has yet published any health-based guideline for rare earth elements. Objective To evaluate genotoxicity threshold induced by acute exposure to neodymium nitrate in mice using BMD modeling through micronucleus test and comet assay. Methods SPF grade mice (n=90) were randomly divided into nine groups, including seven neodymium nitrate exposure groups, one control group (distilled water), and one positive control group (200 mg·kg⁻¹ ethyl methanesulfonate), 10 mice in each group, half male and half female. The seven dose groups were fed by gavage with different concentrations of neodymium nitrate solution (male: 14, 27, 39, 55, 77, 109, and 219 mg·kg⁻¹; female: 24, 49, 69, 97, 138, 195, and 389 mg·kg⁻¹) twice at an interval of 21 h. Three hours after the last exposure, the animals were neutralized by cervical dislocation. The bone marrow of mice femur was taken to calculate the micronucleus rate of bone marrow cells, and the liver and stomach were taken for comet test. Results The best fitting models for the increase of polychromatophil micronucleus rate in bone marrow of female and male mice induced by neodymium nitrate were the exponential 4 model and the hill model, respectively. The BMD and the BMDL of female mice were calculated to be 31.37 mg·kg⁻¹ and 21.90 mg·kg⁻¹, and those of male mice were calculated to be 58.62 mg·kg⁻¹ and 54.31 mg·kg⁻¹, respectively. The best fitting models for DNA damage induced by neodymium nitrate in female and male mouse hepatocytes were the exponential 5 model and the exponential 4 model, respectively, and the calculated BMD and BMDL were 27.15 mg·kg⁻¹ and 11.99 mg·kg⁻¹ for female mice, and 16.28 mg·kg⁻¹ and 10.47 mg·kg⁻¹ for male mice, respectively. The hill model was the best fitting model for DNA damage of gastric adenocytes in both female and male mice, and the calculated BMD and BMDL were 36.73 mg·kg⁻¹ and 19.92 mg·kg⁻¹ for female mice, and 24.74 mg·kg⁻¹ and 14.08 mg·kg⁻¹ for male mice, respectively. Conclusion Taken the micronucleus rate of bone marrow cells, DNA damage of liver cells and gastric gland cells as the end points of genotoxicity, the BMDL of neodymium nitrate is 10.47 mg·kg⁻¹, which can be used as the threshold of genotoxic effects induced by acute exposure to neodymium nitrate in mice.

Objective:To investigate the evaluation efficacy and predictive prognostic value of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) response in tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in combination with PD-1 inhibitors (α-PD-1) for intermediate-to-advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 205 patients with intermediate-to-advanced HCC who were admitted to 9 medical centers, including Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University et al, from March 2020 to July 2022 were collected. There were 178 males and 27 females, aged (52±12)years. Based on AFP response at 6-8 weeks after treatment, patients were divided into the AFP response group (AFP level decreased by ≥50% compared to baseline) and the AFP no response group (AFP level decreased by <50% compared to baseline). Observation indicators: (1) AFP response evaluation of anti-tumor efficacy; (2) comparison of patient prognosis; (3) analysis of factors affecting patient prognosis. Measurement data with normal distrubution were represented as Mean± SD, and measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(range) and M( Q1, Q3). Count data were described as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw survival curve and calculate survival rate, and the Log-Rank test was used for survival analysis. The COX proportional risk model was used for univariate analysis and the COX stepwise regression model was used for multivariate analysis. Results:(1) AFP response evaluation of anti-tumor efficacy. Before treatment, all 205 patients were positive of AFP, with a baseline AFP level of 1 560(219,3 400)μg/L. All 205 patients were treated with TKIs in combination with α-PD-1, and the AFP level was 776(66,2 000)μg/L after 6 to 8 weeks of treatment. Of the 205 patients, 88 cases were classified as AFP response and 117 cases were classified as AFP no response. According to the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors version 1.1, the objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 42.05%(37/88) and 94.32%(83/88) in patients of the AFP response group and 16.24% (19/117) and 64.10% (75/117) in patients of the AFP no response group, showing significant differences between them ( χ2=16.846, 25.950, P<0.05). According to the modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors, the ORR and DCR were 69.32% (61/88) and 94.32% (83/88) in patients of the AFP response group and 33.33% (39/117) and 64.10% (75/117) in patients of the AFP no response group, showing significant differences between them ( χ2=26.030, 25.950, P<0.05). (2) Comparison of patient prognosis. All 205 patients were followed up for 12.4(range, 2.4-34.0)months after treatment. The median progression free survival time and total survival time were 5.5 months and 17.8 months, respectively. The 1-year, 2-year progression free survival rates were 20.8% and 7.2%, and the 1-year, 2-year overall survival rates were 68.7% and 31.5%, respectively. The median progression free survival time, 1-year and 2-year progression free survival rates were 9.7 months, 39.6% and 14.2% in patients of the AFP response group and 3.7 months, 7.8% and 2.0% in patients of the AFP no response group, showing a significant difference in progression free survival between them ( χ2=43.154, P<0.05). The median overall survival time, 1-year and 2-year overall survival rates were not reached, 85.2% and 56.3% in patients of the AFP response group and 14.6 months, 56.3% and 14.5% in patients of the AFP no response group, showing a significant difference in overall survival between them ( χ2=33.899, P<0.05). (3) Analysis of factors affecting patient prognosis. Results of multivariate analysis showed that invasion of large blood vessels, extrahepatic metastasis, combined hepatic artery intervention therapy, and AFP response were independent factors influencing progression free survival in patients with intermediate-to-advanced HCC who were treated with TKIs in combination with α-PD-1 ( hazard ratio=1.474, 1.584, 0.631, 0.367, 95% confidence interval as 1.069-2.033, 1.159-2.167, 0.446-0.893, 0.261-0.516, P<0.05), and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score, invasion of large blood vessels, extrahepatic metastasis, and AFP response were independent factors influencing overall survival in patients with intermediate-to-advanced HCC who were treated with TKIs in combination with α-PD-1 ( hazard ratio= 1.347, 1.914, 1.673, 0.312, 95% confidence interval as 1.041-1.742, 1.293-2.833, 1.141-2.454, 0.197-0.492, P<0.05). Conclusions:AFP response at 6-8 weeks after treatment can effectively evaluate anti-tumor efficacy of TKIs in combination with α-PD-1 for intermediate-to-advanced HCC. AFP response is the independent factor influencing progression free survival and overall survival in patients with intermediate-to-advanced HCC who were treated with TKIs in combination with α-PD-1.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) versus functional electrical stimulation (FES) in the treatment of post-stroke complex regional pain syndrome. Methods:The randomized controlled study included 60 patients with post-stroke complex regional pain syndrome who received treatment at the Wenzhou TCM Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University from July 2021 to February 2023. These patients were divided into an rTMS group ( n = 30) and an FES group ( n = 30) using a random number table method. Patients in the rTMS group were treated with rTMS, while those in the FES group were treated with FES. All treatments were performed once daily for 8 consecutive weeks. The clinical efficacy, total active movement score of the fingers, Fugl-Meyer assessment scale score, Activity of Daily Living score, modified Barthel Index score, shoulder joint range of motion, and safety were compared between the two groups. Results:The total response rate in the FES group was 86.7% (26/30), which was significantly higher than 83.3% (25/30) in the rTMS group ( Z = 0.09, P = 0.93). After treatment, there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of total active movement score of the fingers and Fugl-Meyer assessment scale score ( P = 0.244, 0.262). No significant differences were found between the two groups in MBI score and ADL score (both P > 0.05). There was also no significant difference in shoulder joint range of motion between the two groups ( P > 0.05). Conclusion:Both rTMS and FES are highly effective for post-stroke complex regional pain syndrome. They can improve upper limb function, enhance daily living abilities, and remodel neurological functions of the brain.

Objective To explore the therapeutic effect of plum blossom needle tapping combined with 3M physical therapy on temporomandibular joint disorders(TMD).Methods sixty TMD patients admitted to our hospital from January 2022 to December 2022 were selected and divided into an observation group and a control group,with 30 cases in each group.The control group received 3M physical therapy treatment,while the observation group received plum blossom needle tapping combined with 3M physical therapy treatment.Compared the changes in the Jaw functional limitation scale(JFLS),visual analogue scale(VAS),maximum active mouth opening(MMO),root mean square(RMS)surface electromyography(EMG)of the masseter muscle in mandibular position and under tight cotton swab testing between two groups of patients.Results After 4 weeks of treatment,the JFLS and VAS scores in the observation group were significantly reduced compared to those in the control group,while the MMO significantly exceeded that of the control group,indicating a statistically significant difference(P<0.05).After 4 weeks of treatment,the RMS value of the masseter muscle in the mandibular position decreased in the observation group,but increased in the tight bite cotton swab test.The muscle recruitment ability was significantly improved,and the degree of improvement was notably superior to that of the control group,with the difference being statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion The combination of plum blossom needle acupuncture and 3M physical therapy can notably alleviate pain,enhance maximum mouth opening,and improve mandibular function in TMD patients,accurate effect.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of different combinations of acupuncture and robot training on balance function in patients with Parkinson's disease.Methods A total of 60 patients with Parkinson's disease admitted to Wenzhou Traditional Medicine Hospital from October 2020 to October 2022 were randomly divided into two groups.Group A was given robot training after receiving acupuncture of Baihui and Dazhui points.Group B received those treatments simultaneously.And the balance function of patients was evaluated by Berg balance scale(BBS),Morse fall assessment scale(MFS)and timed up and go test(TUGT).Results In the intra-group comparison,TUGT in group A was significantly improved after 4 weeks of treatment(P<0.01);MFS and TUGT in group B were significantly improved compared with those before treatment(P<0.01).After 8 weeks of treatment,BBS and TUGT in group A were significantly improved compared with those before treatment(P<0.01);BBS,MFS and TUGT in group B were significantly improved compared with those before treatment(P<0.01).At the 12th week,BBS,MFS and TUGT in both groups were significantly improved compared with those before treatment(P<0.01).Comparison between groups:BBS,MFS and TUGT in group B were not significantly different from those in group A at 4 weeks of treatment(P>0.05);After 8 weeks of treatment,MFS in group B was significantly improved compared with that in group A(P<0.05),BBS and TUGT were better than that in group A without significant difference(P>0.05).After 12 weeks of treatment,BBS(P<0.01),MFS(P<0.01)and TUGT(P<0.05)in group B were significantly improved compared with group A.Conclusion Acupuncture at Baihui and Dazhui points combined with robot training simultaneously can improve the balance function and anti-falling ability of Parkinson's disease.

Objective:To investigate the regulatory mechanism of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) NEF on T cell immune function in postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) mice.Methods:Female Balb/c mice were used to construct OVX model ( n=46) and sham control group ( n=16) . Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-SCs) from these two groups of mice were cultured. NEF recombinant expression vector (pIRSE2-NEF) was constructed and transfected into BMSCs. RT-qPCR was used to detect NEF and miR-21 levels in BMSCs cells in sham group, OVX group, and pIRSE2-NEF group. Luciferase gene report experiment was used to verify the binding effect of NEF and miR-21. The remaining 40 OVX mice were divided into 4 groups, including OVX group ( n=10) , pIRSE2-NEF injection group (pIRSE2-NEF group, n=10) , pIRSE2-NEF combined with PD-1 inhibitor group (pIRSE2-NEF+ PD-L1-IN-1 group, n=10) , and pIRSE2-NEF combined with miR-21 mimic (mimic) group (pIRSE2-NEF+ mimic group, n=10) . The remaining 10 mice in sham group were used as the control group. ELI-SA was used to detect the levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-13 and PD-1/PD-1L in peripheral blood. Flow cytometry was used to detect the shift of serum Treg-Th17 cell subsets. Results:Compared with the Sham group (1.01±0.04, 1.00±0.03) , the expression of NEF in BMSCs of OVX group was down-regulated (0.23±0.01) , and miR-21 was up-regulated (2.96±0.05) ( P<0.05) . Compared with OVX group (1.23±0.15, 5.20±0.31) , NEF in BMSCs cells of Pirse2-nef group was significantly up-regulated (6.83±0.35) ( P<0.05) , while miR-21 was down-regulated (0.29±0.11) ( P<0.05) .NEF has a direct binding base site with miR-21.The levels of IFN-γ (3.25±0.21) , IL-2 (2.44±0.06) and Th17/Treg ratio (3.18±0.65) in peripheral blood of mice in OVX group were significantly higher than those in Sham group (1.03±0.02, 1.00±0.01, 0.86±0.09) (all P<0.05) . The levels of IL-4 (0.45±0.02) , IL-13 (0.43±0.07) , PD-1 (0.24±0.03) and PD-1L (0.51±0.06) were significantly lower than those of Sham group (1.00±0.04, 1.00±0.02, 1.00±0.03, 1.00±0.00) ( P<0.05) ; Compared with OVX, IFN-γ (2.02±0.06) , IL-2 (0.88±0.01) and Th17/Treg ratio (1.43±0.22) in Pirse2-nef group were decreased. The levels of IL-4 (0.87±0.03) , IL-13 (0.84±0.07) , PD-1 (0.79±0.06) and PD-1L (0.77±0.06) were increased (all P<0.05) ; Compared with Pirse2-nef group, IFN-γ (2.89±0.06) , IL-2 (2.07±0.07) and Th17/Treg ratio (2.39±0.38) were increased in Pirse2-nef+ PD-L1-in-1 group. The levels of IL-4 (0.68±0.03) , IL-13 (0.76±0.08) , PD-1 (0.52±0.02) and PD-1L (0.83±0.04) were decreased (all P<0.05) . Moreover, the pIRSE2-NEF+ mimic group had the same adjustment effect as the pIRSE2-NEF+ PD-L1-IN-1 group. Conclusion:lncRNA-NEF improves immune imbalance and PD-1/PD-1L-mediated Treg-Th17 cell balance in postmenopausal osteoporosis mice by sponging miR-21.

Objective:To evaluate the oncologic outcomes of different laparoscopic radical hysterectomy.Methods:From January 2011 to December 2014, the laparoscopic operation cases of cervical cancer at stage Ⅰb1, Ⅰb2, Ⅱa1 and Ⅱa2, including the histologic subtypes of squamous-cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma, were collected in five clinical centers. The data were divided into two groups according to the surgical procedures, that is, modified laparoscopic-vaginal radical hysterectomy (mLVRH) and total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (TLRH). The overall survival rate (OS), disease-free survival rate (DFS) at 5 years were retrospectively analyzed in this study.Results:There were 674 cases in total, including 377 cases of mLVRH, 297 cases of TLRH. (1) The OS at 5 years: the mLVRH was 96.1% and the TLRH was 92.0%, and the mLVRH was higher than that of TLRH （ P=0.010）. Stratify analysis， including stage of disease （Ⅰb1 and Ⅱa1）， histologic subtypes （squamous-cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma）， lymph node metastasis， revealed that, ① Stage of disease: in stage Ⅰb1, the OS at five years of mLVRH was higher than that in TLRH group （98.6% vs 93.6%, P=0.012）. In stage Ⅱa1, there was significant difference between the two groups, the OS at five years of mLVRH and TLRH were 93.6% and 77.6% （ P=0.007）. ② Histologic subtypes: for the OS at five years of squamous-cell carcinoma, mLVRH and TLRH were 96.1% and 92.3%, and there was significant difference （ P=0.046）； for adenocarcinoma, the OS at five years were 91.0% and 88.6%， and there was no difference between two groups （ P=0.230）. ③ Lymph node metastasis： the mLVRH and TLRH with lymph node metastasis, the OS at five years were 98.6% and 96.4%; the mLVRH and TLRH without lymph node metastasis, the OS at five years were 89.3% and 80.8%. There were no significant differences between the two groups,respectively ( P=0.156， P=0.093）. (2) The DFS at 5 years: there was no significant difference between mLVRH and TLRH (94.1% vs 90.9%, P=0.220). Stratify analysis for stage of disease, the mLVRH group was higher than that in the TLRH group in stage Ⅰb1 (97.0% vs 92.8%, P=0.039). However, for stage Ⅱa1, there was no significant difference between mLVRH and TLRH group （88.2% vs 75.8%, P=0.074）. Conclusions:The results of this retrospective study indicated that different laparoscopy surgical procedures had diverse oncologic outcomes. The OS at 5 years of the mLVRH is superior to the TLRH. The DFS at 5 years in Ⅰb1 stage, the mLVRH is higher than the TLRH. Therefore, the modified laparoscopy is still an alternative surgery for early cervical cancer patients when following the principle of no-tumor-exposure.

Objective To explore the effect of ATP-sensitive potassium channel opener,diazoxide (DZX),on protecting hippocampal neurons of oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) and its molecular mechanism.Methods OGD hippocampal neurons and hippocampal brain slices were used as models,MTT and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) assays were used to determine activities of these neurons.Hippocampal neurons and hippocampal brain slices without any treatment were used as normal control group,OGD hippocampal neurons or hippocampal brain slices were used as OGD group,DZX and DZX+5-HD were used to treat the OGD hippocampal neurons or hippocampal brain slices as OGD+DZX and OGD+DZX+5-HD groups,respectively.The apoptosis rate of each group was determined by flow cytometry;expressions of apoptotic related genes,including Bax,Bc1-2 and Caspase-3,were detected by real time-PCR;TUNEL assay was used to examine the apoptotic cells in the hippocampal brain slices and patch clamp was used to record the average current density of each group.Results MTT results showed that the optical density in OGD group,OGD+DZX group and OGD+DZX+5-HD group at 0,4,8 and 12 h after OGD pretreatment was significantly lower than that in the normal control group (P＜0.05).LDH release results revealed that LDH release in OGD group,OGD+DZX group and OGD+DZX+5-HD group at 0,4,8 and 12 h after OGD pretreatment was significantly higher than that in the normal control group (P＜0.05).Flow cytometry and TUNEL assay results revealed that the apoptosis rate of hippocampal neurons in OGD group was significantly higher than that in normal control group (P＜0.05),and that in OGD+DZX group was significantly reduced as compared with that in the OGD group (P＜0.05);that in the DZX+5-HD+OGD group was significantly higher than that in the OGD+DZX group (P＜0.05),but significantly lower than that in the OGD group (P＜0.05).Real time-PCR results suggested that the expressions ofapoptotic genes Bax and Caspase-3 in OGD group were significantly higher than those in the normal control group,those in OGD+DZX group were significantly lower than those in the OGD group,those in OGD+DZX+5-HD group were significantly higher than those in the OGD+DZX group,but still significantly lower than those in the OGD group (P＜0.05).While the expression of anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 was contrary to apoptotic gene Bax and Caspase-3.The patch clamp tests demonstrated that the average current density of OGD group (93.2±5.4) was dramatically increased than that in normal control group (53.3±5.3),while the average current density of OGD+DZX group (53.2±3.0) was reduced to normal level,and the average current density of OGD+DZX+5-HD group (83.4±4.8) was close to OGD group,all of the results had significant statistical differences (P＜0.05).Conclusion DZX is able to protect hippocampal neurons against apoptosis via inhibiting the expressions ofapoptotic genes Bax and Caspase-3.

Objective] To sum up Pro. Cheng Zhiqing’s clinical experience in treating hypertension with insomnia in menopause. [Method] Select 3 classical cases of the disease above treated by Pro. Cheng Zhiqing for analysis and discussion, and summarize her differentiation thought and treatment features. [Result] In her view, such disease is mostly concerned with liver, as well as related to heart, kidney, etc., the pathological course concerns mother-organ disorder involving its child-organ, so the therapy shall center on stretching liver, clearing liver, smoothing liver and tonifying liver, also purging child-organ in excess, nourishing mother-organ in deficiency, treating multi-organ in the same time, therefore to get better clinical effect. [Conclusion] For the hypertension with insomnia in menopause, Pro. Cheng Zhiqing is good at grasping disease mechanism, revising famous and recipe decoctions in generations, with close compatibility of medicines, definite cure effect, worth reference.

Objectives To prospectively investigate the diagnostic accuracy,image quality and radiation doses of prospectively ECG-triggered high-pitch spiral acquisition computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) using Flash dual-source CT for the diagnosis of significant coronary stenoses.Methods Seventy-three patients underwent both CTCA and CCA.CTCA was performed using a Flash dual-source CT system with data acquisition at a high-pitch of 3.4.CCA served as the standard of reference.Radiation dose values were calculated using the dose-length product.Results There were 925 vessel segments in 73 patients.(1)Diagnostic accuracy: the sensitivity,specificity and positive and negative predictive values were 93.2％ (164/176),96.4％ (722/749),85.9％ (164/191),98.4％ (722/734) for segment assessment and 98.4％ ( 123/125 ),87.4％ ( 83/95 ),91.1％ ( 123/135 ),97.6％ ( 83/85 ) for vessel assessment and 100％ (44/44),89.7％ ( 26/29 ),93.6％ ( 44/47 ),100％ ( 26/26 ) for patient assessment.( 2 ) Image quality: there were 2 coronary segments of right coronary artery and one segment of left circumflex artery with non-diagnostic image quality.There was no non-diagnostic image quality in left anterior descending artery.(3) Radiation dose: the effective radiation dose was ( 1.14 ± 0.10) mSv.Conclusions CTCA using the prospectively ECG-triggered high-pitch spiral mode of the Flash dual-source CT system is associated with high diagnostic accuracy for the assessment of coronary artery stenoses at low dose.