ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect of α-ketoglutarate （α-KG） on hepatic lipid deposition in offspring caused by arsenic exposure during pregnancy. Methods8-week-old institute of cancer research （ICR） mice were mated in a ratio of 2∶1 between females and males， and the detection of vaginal plugs confirmed pregnant. A total of 32 pregnant mice were randomly divided into four groups： control group， arsenic group， α-KG group， arsenic+α-KG group. On gestational day 0-16 （GD0-GD16）， the arsenic and arsenic+α-KG groups were exposed to sodium arsenite （NaAsO₂ ，15 mg/L） in drinking water everyday， and the α-KG and arsenic+α-KG groups were gavaged with α-KG （2 g/kg） everyday. On GD16， pregnant mice were euthanized to collect fetal liver， and fetal body weight and crown-rump length were measured. Gene expression differences between the control group and the arsenic group were analyzed by transcriptome. The total triglycerides （TGs） and subtypes in fetal liver were detected by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry （LC-MS/MS）. Oil red O staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in the liver. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction （qPCR） was used to detect the expression level of genes related to lipid synthesis， transport， and degradation， and phosphatidylinositol 3' -kinase/ protein kinase B （PI3K/AKT） in the liver of fetus. ResultsTranscriptomics analysis showed that 2 144 genes were downregulated and 1 675 genes were upregulated in the arsenic exposed fetal liver； body weight and crown-rump length were reduced （P_TuKey<0.05）； the level of hepatic TGs was elevated in arsenic group （P_TuKey<0.05）； oil-red O staining showed a significant increase in lipid droplets in arsenic group （P_TuKey<0.01）； the expression of lipid synthesis-related genes were significantly upregulated （P_TuKey<0.05）； the expression of β-oxidation-related genes and lipid degradation-related genes were downregulated （P_TuKey<0.05）； the expression of PI3K， AKT decreased（P_TuKey<0.05）. Compared with the arsenic group， the body weight and crown-rump length of fetus increased in the arsenic+α-KG group （P_TuKey<0.05）； the level of hepatic TGs decreased in the arsenic+α-KG group （P_TuKey<0.05）； oil red O staining showed lipid droplets significantly decreased （P_TuKey<0.01）； the expression of lipid synthesis-related genes were downregulated （P_TuKey<0.05）， the expression of β-oxidation-related genes and lipid degradation-related genes were upregulated （P_TuKey<0.05）； the expression levels of PI3K and AKT increased （P_TuKey<0.05）. Conclusionα-KG alleviated hepatic lipid deposition in offspring exposed to arsenic during pregnancy through activating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

AIM: To investigate the association between dyslipidemia and macular hard exudates(HEs)in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR)secondary to type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).METHODS: NPDR patients attending the outpatient ophthalmology clinic from January 2021 to December 2023 were selected and divided into three groups according to the severity of macular HEs. Group A: None or minimal HEs; Group B: Definite HEs; Group C: Prominent HEs. Total cholesterol(TC), triglycerides(TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), lipoprotein(a)[Lp(a)] levels and other lipid-related indicators were routinely measured. The correlation between these indicators and HEs was analyzed.RESULTS:Group A(24 eyes)consisted of 9 males and 15 females with the mean age of 54.71±6.15 y, group B(52 eyes)consisted of 20 males and 32 females with the mean age of 55.08±6.27 y, group C(14 eyes)consisted of 9 males and 5 females with the mean age of 53.93±6.08 y. The concentration of TC, TG, LDL-C and Lp(a)was highest in group C, followed by group B and lowest in group A with statistically significant differences(P<0.001). There were no statistically significant differences between the three groups for fasting plasma glucose(FPG), glycated hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c), creatinine(Cr), and HDL-C(P>0.05). The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that elevated levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, and Lp(a)were associated with the presence of macular HEs. Receiver operating characteristiccurve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)for TC, TG, LDL-C, Lp(a), and their combination in predicting macular HEs in NPDR were 0.785, 0.718, 0.784, 0.742, and 0.911, respectively, with the combined model demonstrating the highest predictive performance.CONCLUSION: Dyslipidemia is closely associated with the development and progression of macular HEs in patients with NPDR and T2DM. The levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, and Lp(a)were correlated with the severity of macular HEs, suggesting that dyslipidemia may be involved in the pathological process of macular HEs formation.

Objective:To investigate the prognostic value of the combined use of central venous-arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure difference/arterial-central venous oxygen content difference ratio (Pv-aCO 2/Ca-vO 2) combined with peripheral perfusion index (PI) for prognosis in middle-aged and elderly patients with acute heart failure (AHF) complicated by hypoperfusion. Methods:A case-control study was conducted, enrolling middle-aged and elderly AHF patients with tissue hypoperfusion admitted to the Emergency Intensive Care Unit of Nanjing First Hospital from May 2022 to May 2024. The primary endpoint was 28-day all-cause mortality. Patients were divided into survival and death groups based on prognosis. Baseline characteristics and clinical data were compared between groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to evaluate the predictive performance of risk factors. Stratified analysis based on optimal cutoff values was performed, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to compare prognostic differences between subgroups.Results:A total of 70 patients with AHF and hypoperfusion were enrolled, with 36 deaths (28-day mortality rate: 51.43%). No significant differences were observed in baseline characteristics, N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide precursor, creatine kinase, creatine kinase-myocardial band, cardiac troponin I,central venous pressure, or left ventricular ejection fraction between groups(all P>0.05). Compared with the survival group, the death group exhibited significantly higher APACHEⅡ scores, lactate levels, and Pv-aCO 2/Ca-vO 2 ratios, along with lower PI values (all P<0.05). The area under the ROC curve (AUCs) for PI, Pv-aCO 2/Ca-vO 2, and their combination in predicting 28-day mortality were 0.804 (95% CI: 0.701-0.908), 0.848 (95% CI: 0.758-0.938), and 0.922 (95% CI: 0.859-0.985), respectively. The optimal cutoff value for PI was 1.17 (sensitivity 83.3% and specificity 67.6%), and for Pv-aCO 2/Ca-vO 2 was 1.59 (sensitivity 77.8% and specificity 79.4%). Stratified analysis revealed that the PI≤1.17 group had a significantly higher 28-day mortality rate than the PI>1.17 group ( P<0.01), and the Pv-aCO 2/Ca-vO 2>1.59 group had a markedly higher mortality rate than the Pv-aCO 2/Ca-vO 2≤1.59 group ( P<0.01) ,consistent with Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Conclusion:Early assessment of Pv-aCO 2/Ca-vO 2 combined with PI demonstrates superior predictive performance for prognosis in AHF patients with hypoperfusion.

Objective To analyze the cellular and histopathological characteristics of underdiagnosed thyroid nodules of Chinese thyroid imaging reporting and data system(C-TIRADS) categories 3 and 4a,thus improving the understanding of these lesions. Methods The data of ultrasound and fine needle aspiration cytology were collected from 683 nodules diagnosed based on pathological evidence in 549 patients undergoing thyroid surgery.The cellular and histopathological characteristics of C-TIRADS 3 and 4a nodules were analyzed. Results Two hundred and sixty-eight nodules were classified as C-TIRADS category 3,including 236 benign nodules,12 low-risk ones,and 20 (7.46%) malignant ones.Two hundred and twenty-one nodules were classified as C-TIRADS category 4a,including 133 benign nodules,7 low-risk ones,and 81 (36.65%) malignant ones.The malignancy rates differed between C-TIRADS 3 and 4a nodules (χ²=58.93,P<0.001),and both were higher than the recommended malignancy rate in the guidelines for malignancy risk stratification of thyroid nodules (C-TIRADS) (both P<0.001).According to the pathological evidence,the underdiagnosed C-TIRADS 3/4a nodules were mainly papillary thyroid carcinoma,especially in patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis.There was not a consistent one-to-one match between each ultrasound result and each cytological classification of low-risk thyroid nodules.Conclusions When the malignant features in preoprative ultrasound imaging are atypical or absent,papillary thyroid carcinoma (especially with Hashimoto thyroiditis),follicular carcinoma,and medullary carcinoma are likely to be underdiagnosed as C-TIRADS 3 or 4a nodules.Therefore,efforts should be made to fully understand the cellular and pathological characteristics of these lesions.
Humans ; Thyroid Nodule/diagnostic imaging* ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Ultrasonography ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Aged ; Young Adult ; Thyroid Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging* ; Adolescent

Objective:To explore behavioral and electrophysiological differences in risky decision-making between depressed patients with and without suicidal ideation.Methods:A total of 61 patients with first-episode untreated depression were enrolled in the depression clinic of Nanjing Brain Hospital from September 2023 to January 2024, which were divided into the suicidal ideation group( n=32) and the non-suicidal ideation group ( n=29).At the same time, healthy controls matched with sex, age and years of education were recruited from the community( n=36).The event-related potentials (ERP) of the participants were detected, and the amplitude and latency of feedback related negative waves (FRN) and P300 during the feedback phase under Iowa gambling task (IGT) were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0 software.The inter-and intra-group differences of ERP indexes were compared using two-way ANOVA, and Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between ERP indexes and scores of the Beck scale for suicidal ideation. Results:(1)Compared with healthy controls, depressed patients with and without suicidal ideation had both lower net scores in IGT (both P<0.05).(2)When comparing the mean FRN amplitude under different feedback types among the three groups, the main effect of feedback type ( F=8.799, P=0.004), the main effect of group ( F=6.396, P=0.002) and the interaction effect ( F=4.200, P=0.018)were all significant. Under gain feedback conditions, the mean FRN amplitude was lower in both depressed groups compared with healthy controls (both P<0.05). (3)The comparison of the mean P300 amplitude under different feedback types among the three groups showed that the main effect of group ( F=15.719, P<0.001) and the main effect of feedback type ( F=15.949, P=0.001) were both significant, while the interaction effect between group and feedback type was not significant ( F=1.573, P=0.213). The group with suicidal ideation ((0.85±0.21) μV) had a smaller amplitude than both the non-suicidal ideation group ((1.61±0.22) μV) and healthy controls ((2.46±0.20) μV) (both P<0.05). (4)In depressed patients, P300 mean amplitude under both loss and gain feedback conditions were both negatively correlated with suicidal ideation (loss: r=-0.435, P=0.001; gain: r=-0.318, P=0.013). Conclusion:Depressed patients with and without suicidal ideation both exhibit impaired risk decision-making. The decrease of P300 mean amplitude is more significant in depressed patients with suicidal ideation than those without suicidal ideation.P300 mean amplitude may serve as an electrophysiological marker to differentiate depressed patients with suicidal ideation and those without suicidal ideation.

Objective:To explore the latent class of childhood abuse and recent life stress in adolescent depression patients, and its effect on intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) treatment efficacy.Methods:From August 2023 to February 2024, a total of 60 adolescent patients with depression were enrolled. The Chinese version of the maltreatment and abuse chronology of exposure scale (MACE), adolescent self-rating life events check list (ASLEC), Montgomery-Asberg depression rating scale (MADRS)and suicidal ideation scale 5 (SSI-5)were used to assess all subjects. Using latent class analysis, subjects were divided into different subgroups according to 16 factors of MACE and ASLEC. Brain network analysis was conducted using the Dosenbach brain atlas with 160 regions of interest, which were divided into seven large-scale brain subnetworks: visual network (VN), somatosensory motor network (SMN), dorsal attention network (DAN), ventral attention network (VAN), subcortical network (SCN), frontoparietal network (FPN), and default mode network (DMN). Brain network functional connectivity analysis was performed using the DPABI plugin on MATLAB R2022b platform to compare differences in functional connectivity at both edge and network levels between subjects. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 27.0 software, employing Shapiro-Wilk test, chi-square test, independent samples t-test, and Mann-Whitney U test. Results:Based on latent class analysis, subjects were divided into high abuse-high stress group ( n=38) and low abuse-high stress group ( n=22). At baseline, the high abuse-high stress group showed significantly higher scores in SSI-5 (6.39±2.26 vs 3.45(0, 5.25)), Z=-3.628, P<0.001) and MADRS item 10 (3.00(2.00, 5.00) vs 2.00(0.75, 3.25), Z=-2.794, P=0.005) compared to the low abuse-high stress group, while there was no statistically significant difference in the total score of MADRS between the two groups (27.77±4.19, 26.59±4.74, t=1.972, P=0.053). There was no statistically significant difference in the D-value of MADRS score before and after treatment between the two groups (8.45±6.03, 7.27±5.99, t=0.729, P=0.469) and the D-value of MADRS item 10 score before and after treatment between the two groups (1.00 (0, 3.00), 1.00 (0, 1.00), Z=-1.189, P=0.234). The high abuse-high group showed significantly weakened functional connectivity at the edge level compared to low abuse-high stress group at baseline ( P<0.05, NBS corrected). In the high abuse-high stress group, the mean FC values in the differential brain regions at baseline showed significant negative correlation with baseline suicidal ideation scores ( r=-0.475, P=0.003). Conclusion:The different patterns of childhood abuse and recent life stress affect the baseline clinical presentation and brain network functional connectivity of adolescent depression patients. However, the high abuse-high stress group and low abuse-high stress group showed similar responses to iTBS treatment.

Objective:To analyze the characteristics of electroencephalogram microstate parameters in first-episode drug-naive patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), so as to provide electrophysiological evidence for the pathogenesis and early diagnosis of MDD.Methods:Eighty-four first-episode, drug-naive outpatients diagnosed with MDD(MDD group) and 82 healthy controls(healthy group) participated in this study. Resting-state EEG data (5-6 min, with eyes closed) were recorded for all participants. Data preprocessing and microstate analysis were performed using MATLAB and EEGLAB software. Temporal parameters of resting-state brain network microstates were compared using SPSS 26.0.Results:This study identified four typical microstates: Class A microstate(auditory network), Class B microstate(visual network), Class C microstate(salient network), and Class D microstate(attention and control network). The coverage rate (0.16±0.06, 0.21±0.06), duration (67.72±7.07, 72.28±8.59), and incidence rate (2.38±0.68, 2.82±0.67) of microstate A in MDD group were significantly lower than those in healthy group ( F=22.115, 13.368, 18.779, all P<0.001), while the above indexes of microstate B in MDD group were significantly higher than those in healthy group(coverage rate: 0.24±0.07 vs 0.18±0.06, duration: 76.35±11.28 vs 69.46±8.52, incidence rat: 3.16±0.52 vs 2.52±0.57) ( F=41.287, 18.999, 52.245, all P<0.001). Additionally, the microstate D in MDD group showed significantly lower coverage rate(0.33±0.08, 0.36±0.08) and duration (89.66±15.38, 95.46±16.79)compared with healthy group( F=3.932, 4.215, both P<0.05). Notably, significant differences were observed in the transition probabilities between the following microstates: A→B, A→D, B→A, C→A, C→B, D→A and D→B (all P<0.05). Conclusion:First-episode drug-naive depressive patients are characterized by alterations in microstate A, microstate B, and microstate D, which may be the potential pathogenesis of MDD and may serve as electrophysiological indicators for early diagnosis of MDD.

Coronary heart disease is a common cardiovascular disease.Intravascular imaging plays an important role in the management of coronary artery disease.In contemporary clinical practice,intravascular ultrasound(IVUS)and optical coherence tomography(OCT)are widely used.Near-infrared spectroscopy(NIRS)has attracted much attention due to the advantage of being able to sensitively identify lipid components.In recent years,NIRS is still being explored,although some applications have been reported.Lipids play an important role in the assessment of atherosclerotic plaque stability,which further affects the progression and prognosis of coronary heart disease.Therefore,this article will review the current application of NIRS in the diagnosis and treatment of coronary heart disease.It further provides an imaging basis for clinical disease diagnosis and treatment,evaluation and the development of multimodal technology.

Aim To explore the key components and mechanisms of Lizhong decoction in treating rats with cold-damp diarrhea based on network pharmacology,molecular docking technology and animal experiments.Methods By literature review and database collec-tion,the components of Lizhong decoction,therapeutic targets,and the mapping with diarrhea disease targets were conducted to construct an intersection target pro-tein-protein interaction network for screening core tar-gets,and GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis was performed to build an"active component-target-pathway"network,followed by molecular docking vali-dation.Forty-eight rats were randomly divided into the normal control group(K),model group(DG),Lizhong decoction group(LZDG),and Pulsatilla decoction group(BTDG).Subsequently,a rat cold-damp diar-rhea model was established using Senna combined with low-temperature high-humidity environment,and the rats were intervened with Lizhong decoction and Pul-satilla decoction.HE staining was used to detect path-ological changes in intestinal tissue,ELISA was em-ployed to measure the levels of peripheral blood IL-6,IL-10,IL-1 β,and TNF-α,and western blot was used to determine the expression of colon tight junction pro-teins.Results Network pharmacology initially identi-fied 125 compounds in Lizhong decoction,5 186 drug target components,438 disease targets,and 60"drug-disease"shared targets.GO and KEGG enrichment a-nalysis showed that signaling pathways such as IL-17 and TNF were highly enriched.Molecular docking in-dicated that the core components of the drug had good binding activity with corresponding key targets.Liz-hong decoction could effectively improve the clinical symptoms of rats with cold-damp diarrhea,and com-pared with the DG group,the diarrhea rate,diarrhea in-dex,and other related indicators also gradually de-creased to normal levels.Compared with the DG group,the LZDG group showed reduced inflammation levels and a recovery in energy metabolism levels.Conclusion It can regulate targets such as MMP9 and IL-17 signaling pathways through multi-components like Calycosin and formononetin to exert its therapeutic effect on cold-damp diarrhea.

BACKGROUND:Finite element modeling,as an important engineering analysis technique,has been widely used in various fields of bioengineering research.However,there is little literature on what material properties should be selected for each anatomical structure of the knee joint finite element modeling at different ages for different research purposes.OBJECTIVE:To summarize the material properties of knee joint finite element models at different ages based on previous knee joint finite element studies.METHODS:The search terms were"knee,finite element,material selection,ligament injury,osteoarthritis,elderly,children,young people"in Chinese and English.Articles were searched on CNKI and PubMed,with a timeframe of 1950 to 2024.According to inclusion and exclusion criteria,108 articles were finally included for summary.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Children's knee bone density will increase with age,reaching peaks in adulthood.From middle-aged to the age,the elastic modulus of knee joint femur,tibia,fibula,and patella will decrease with age,and then return to the elastic modulus of childhood.The elastic modulus of children and adult cartilage is basically the same,and the elastic modulus of the elderly increases.With the increase of age,the elastic modulus of the knee ligament will decrease to a certain extent,but there is no significant difference in the elastic modulus of the knee ligament of young people and the elderly.With the increase of age,the loss of mechanical integrity of the knee meniscus will damage the biomechanical function of the tissue and disturb the various anisotropic biomechanical responses that are effectively carried and transmitted by the tissue.Knee joint finite element modeling can be used to deeply understand the biomechanical characteristics of the knee joints,develop new implanted materials,predict knee joint diseases,improve surgical technology,and guide patients to rehabilitate exercise.