Diabetic retinopathy(DR)is one of the most common and serious microvascular complications of diabetes, posing a significant threat to patients' visual health. In recent years, epigenetic mechanisms have garnered increasing attention in the scientific community for their pivotal role in the onset and progression of DR. This paper systematically examines the regulatory roles of epigenetic mechanisms in DR, covering key pathways such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodeling, and non-coding RNAs. Under hyperglycemic conditions in diabetes, these epigenetic mechanisms modulate gene expression, thereby influencing critical pathological processes such as oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, mitochondrial dysfunction, and metabolic memory. This article reviews recent advances in epigenetic regulation in DR, providing an in-depth analysis of its underlying molecular mechanisms and complex regulatory networks, and explores the potential of epigenetic markers as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Additionally, this article highlights emerging therapeutic strategies targeting epigenetic modifications, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation and research direction for the early diagnosis and precision treatment of this disease.

BACKGROUND: Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is indicated as a broad-spectrum medicine for a variety of diseases, including cancer and cardiac disease. While the role of ATO in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (HIRI) has not been reported. Thus, the purpose of this study was to identify the effects of ATO on HIRI. METHODS: In the present study, we established a 70% hepatic warm I/R injury and partial hepatectomy (30% resection) animal models in vivo and hepatocytes anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R) models in vitro with ATO pretreatment and further assessed liver function by histopathologic changes, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, cell counting kit-8, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) for extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 was transfected to evaluate the role of ERK1/2 pathway during HIRI, followed by ATO pretreatment. The dynamic process of autophagic flux and numbers of autophagosomes were detected by green fluorescent protein-monomeric red fluorescent protein-LC3 (GFP-mRFP-LC3) staining and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: A low dose of ATO (0.75 μmol/L in vitro and 1 mg/kg in vivo ) significantly reduced tissue necrosis, inflammatory infiltration, and hepatocyte apoptosis during the process of hepatic I/R. Meanwhile, ATO obviously promoted the ability of cell proliferation and liver regeneration. Mechanistically, in vitro  studies have shown that nontoxic concentrations of ATO can activate both ERK and phosphoinositide 3-kinase-serine/threonine kinase (PI3K-AKT) pathways and further induce autophagy. The hepatoprotective mechanism of ATO, at least in part, relies on the effects of ATO on the activation of autophagy, which is ERK-dependent. CONCLUSION Low, non-toxic doses of ATO can activate ERK/PI3K-AKT pathways and induce ERK-dependent autophagy in hepatocytes, protecting liver against I/R injury and accelerating hepatocyte regeneration after partial hepatectomy.
Animals ; Arsenic Trioxide ; Autophagy/physiology* ; Reperfusion Injury/prevention & control* ; Mice ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/physiology* ; Arsenicals/therapeutic use* ; Oxides/therapeutic use* ; Liver/metabolism* ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

Objective:To access the relation of aortic arch calcification (AoAC) volume based on parathyroid SPECT/CT imaging with hungry bone syndrome (HBS) in patients with renal secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) after parathyroidectomy (PTX).Methods:From June 2015 to May 2024, the imaging and clinical data of 89 renal SHPT patients (52 males, 37 females, age: (51.5±10.3) years) who underwent parathyroid 99Tc m-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) SPECT/CT in Affiliated Jiangyin Hospital of Nantong University were retrospectively analyzed. The AoAC volume was measured by Volume software of SPECT/CT system. The patients were divided into HBS group and non-HBS group, and the independent-sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare differences of various indicators between the two groups. Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of HBS. Results:All 89 patients underwent PTX successfully, 50 patients (56.2%) were with HBS and 39 patients (43.8%) were not. The differences of age ((47.9±9.9) vs (56.1±9.0) years, t=-3.98, P<0.001), AoAC volume (0.36(0.02, 1.30) vs 1.57(0.37, 3.77)cm 3, Z=-3.17, P=0.002), preoperative alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (345.75(218.50, 632.50) vs (203.13±114.57)U/L, Z=-4.69, P<0.001), preoperative parathyroid hormone (147.85(109.83, 227.40) vs (135.58±51.14)pmol/L, Z=-2.34, P=0.019) and preoperative serum corrected calcium ((2.38±0.21) vs 2.54(2.39, 2.62)mmol/L, Z=-3.09, P=0.002) between HBS group and non-HBS group were significant. Logistic regression analysis showed that the AoAC volume ((odds ratio, OR)=0.628, 95% CI: 0.427-0.924, P=0.018), preoperative ALP ( OR=1.007, 95% CI: 1.002-1.012, P=0.010) and preoperative serum corrected calcium ( OR=0.041, 95% CI: 0.003-0.545, P=0.016) were independent risk factors for HBS. Conclusion:The AoAC volume measured by preoperative SPECT/CT can be used for an effective criteria of evaluating HBS in patients with renal SHPT after PTX, and AoAC volume may be one of independent risk factors for HBS.

BACKGROUND:Cervical spondylosis is a chronic degenerative disease that has become one of the most common and frequent diseases threatening human health.At present,the initial diagnosis of the cervical spine and its surrounding structures mainly relies on the interpretation of medical images by radiologists,which not only requires a high level of technical requirements for operators,but also has the disadvantages of strong subjectivity,high labor intensity,and low efficiency.With the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology,its powerful data processing and image recognition capabilities have shown broad application prospects in the medical field.Deep learning has also made certain progress in the research of spinal diseases.OBJECTIVE:To summarize the current status and research progress in the application of artificial intelligence technology in cervical spine imaging images in recent years,evaluating the performance of artificial intelligence models as well as future trends and challenges to be overcome.METHODS:The first author searched the relevant articles in WanFang,CNKI,and PubMed in June 2024.The Chinese search terms were"artificial intelligence,deep learning,cervical spine."English serach terms were"artificial intelligence,Al,cervical vertebrae,cervical."Finally,101 articles were included and analyzed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Artificial intelligence technology can realize automatic segmentation of cervical vertebrae and measurement of curvature change by segmentation,classification,landmarks recognition of medical image parts,detect cervical vertebral fracture,nerve root,and spinal cord type cervical spondylosis,identify cervical spine ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament,and predict post-surgery related risk factors and cervical vertebra maturation classification.(2)Although artificial intelligence technology has shown great potential in the field of cervical spine research,it is still in the early stages of exploration and rapid development,with unlimited room for development and innovation.

Objective:To understand the current situation and the relevant factors of the intrinsic capacity of the elderly in nursing institutions.Methods:It was a cross-sectional study. From December 2023 to February 2024, a total of 10 elderly people living in 5 institutions in Huaihua City, Hunan Province, 3 institutions in Changsha City, and 2 institutions in Yinchuan City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, were conveniently selected. Relevant clinical data of the participants were collected through questionnaires. The 5 dimensions of motor, psychological, cognitive, vitality, and perceptual were selected to evaluate the intrinsic capacity of the participants, and their total intrinsic capacity scores were calculated by using the Short Physical Performance Battery, Geriatric Depression Scale, Mini-mental State Examination, Short-Form Mini-Nutritionalas Assessment and the Complaints Sensory Functioning, respectively. Multiple linear stepwise regression models were used to analyze the correlates of intrinsic competence in older adults in nursing facilities.Results:Two hundred and seventy institutionalized older adults were included in the analysis, aged (80.9±8.5) years, 117(43.33%) were male, and the length of residence in an institution was 1.50(0.83, 3.00) years.The intrinsic capacity score of the 270 institutionalized older adults was 2.24±0.97, of which 265(98.15%) had declining intrinsic capacity and 5(1.85%) had good intrinsic capacity. The results of multiple linear stepwise regression analysis showed that literacy level, economic source, occupation, frequency of exercise, use of smartphones, use of elderly mobility aids, and whether or not the elderly living in the nursing home received financial support from the state were independently associated with the intrinsic ability of the elderly living in the nursing home (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The overall level of intrinsic capacity of the investigated elderly in nursing homes is low, and literacy level, economic source, occupation, use of smartphones, use of elderly mobility aids, and whether the nursing home receives state financial support are independent correlates of the intrinsic ability of the elderly in nursing homes.

Objective:To investigate the impact of para-tumoral micro-metastasis(PTMM) and other clinicopathological characteristics on the prognosis of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC).Methods:This is a retrospective cohort study. Clinical data from 137 ICC patients who underwent radical resection at the Hepatobiliary Surgery Center, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, between January 2017 and December 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. The cohort included 91 males and 46 females, with age ( M(IQR)) of 63 (13) years (range: 32 to 82 years). Kaplan-Meier curves were used to estimate median survival times, while Log-rank tests assessed differences in overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were employed to identify factors associated with OS and RFS. Results:The median OS for all 137 ICC patients was 34 months, with 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates of 90.7%, 69.4%, and 39.5%, respectively. The results of univariate and multivariate Cox analysis showed that Child-Pugh grade, CA19-9, carcinoembryonic antigen, and PTMM were independent prognostic factors for OS in ICC patients after radical resection (all P<0.05), Child-Pugh grade, maximum tumor diameter, whether lymph node metastasis, and PTMM were independent prognostic factors for RFS in radical resection in ICC patients (all P<0.05). PTMM-positive patients had a median OS of 21 months and median RFS of 12 months, whereas PTMM-negative patients exhibited a median OS exceeding 60 months and median RFS of 36 months. Log-rank tests demonstrated statistically significant differences in OS and RFS between PTMM-positive and PTMM-negative patients ( P<0.01 and P=0.001, respectively). Conclusion:Preliminary findings suggest that PTMM holds significant prognostic value in evaluating outcomes for ICC patients undergoing curative resection.

Objective:To report the nationwide surveillance results of pathogenic profiles and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Gram-positive bloodstream infections in China in 2023.Methods:The clinical isolates of Gram-posttive bacteria from blood cultures were collected in member hospitals of National Bloodstream Infection Bacterial Resistant Investigation Collaborative System（BRICS）during January to December 2023. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the dilution method recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute（CLSI）. Statistical analyses were conducted using WHONET 5.6 and SPSS 25.0 software.Results:A total of 4 385 Gram-positive bacterial isolates were obtained from 60 participating center. The top five pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus（ n=1 544，35.2%），coagulase-negative Staphylococci（ n=1 441，32.9%）， Enterococcus faecium（ n=574，13.1%）， Enterococcus faecalis（ n=385，8.8%），and α-hemolytic Streptococci（ n=187，4.3%）. The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus（MRSA）and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci（MRCNS）was 26.2%（405/1 544）and 69.8%（1 006/1 441），respectively. Notably，all Staphylococci remained susceptible to glycopeptide or daptomycin. Staphylococcus aureus demonstrated excellent susceptibility（>97.0%）to cephalobiol，rifampicin，trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole，linezolid，minocycline，tigecycline，and eravacycline. No Enterococcus exhibiting resistance to linezolid were detected. Glycopeptide resistance was uncommon but more frequent in Enterococcus faecium（resistance to vancomycin and teicoplanin：both 1.7%）compared to Enterococcus faecalis（both 0.3%）. The detection rates of MRSA and MRCNS exhibited significant regional variations across the country（ χ2=17.674 and 148.650，respectively，both P<0.001）. No vancomycin-resistant Enterococci were detected in central China. Institutional comparison demonstrated higher prevalence of MRSA（ χ2=14.111， P<0.001）and MRCNS（ χ2=4.828， P=0.028）in provincial hospitals than that in municipal hospitals. Socioeconomic analysis identified elevated detection rates of both MRSA（ χ2=18.986， P<0.001）and MRCNS（ χ2=4.477， P=0.034）in less developed regions（per capita GDP

Objective:To report the results of bacterial resistant investigation collaborative system（BRICS）on the distribution and antimicrobial resistance profile of clinical Gram-negative bacteria isolates from bloodstream infections in China in 2023，and provide reference for clinical tretment of bloodstream infections and prevention and control of bacterial resistance.Methods:The clinical isolates of Gram-negative bacteria from blood cultures in member hospitals of BRICS were collected during January 2023 to December 2023. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were conducted by agar dilution or broth dilution methods recommended by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute（CLSI）. WHONET 5.6 and SPSS 25.0 were used to analyze the data.Results:During the study period，11 492 strains of Gram-negative bacteria were collected from 60 hospitals，of which 10 098（87.9%）were Enterobacterales and 1 394（12.1%）were non-fermentative bacteria. The top 5 bacterial species were Escherichia coli（50.0%）， Klebsiella pneumoniae（26.1%）， Pseudomonas aeruginosa（5.1%）， Acinetobacter baumannii complex（5.0%）and Enterobacter cloacae complex（4.1%）. The ESBL-producing rates in Escherichia coli， Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirablilis were 46.8%（2 685/5 741），18.3%（549/2 999）and 44.0%（77/175），respectively. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli（CREC）and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae（CRKP）were 1.3%（76/5 741）and 15.0%（450/2 999）；32.9%（25/76）and 78.0%（351/450）of CREC and CRKP were sensitive to ceftazidime/avibactam combination，respectively. 94.7%（72/76）and 90.2%（406/450）of CREC and CRKP were sensitive to aztreonam/avibactam combination. Furthermore，57.9%（44/76）and 79.1%（356/450）were sensitive to imipenem/relebactam combination. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii（CRAB）complex was 64.6%（370/573），while more than 80.0% of CRAB complex was sensitive to tigecycline，eravacycline and polymyxin B. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa（CRPA）was 17.0%（99/581）. There were differences in the composition ratio of Gram-negative bacteria in bloodstream infections and the prevalence of important Gram-negative bacteria resistance among different regions in China，with statistically significant differences in the prevalence of CREC，CRKP，CRPA and CRAB complex（ χ2=10.6，28.6，10.8 and 19.3， P<0.05）. The prevalence of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli， CREC，CRAB complex and CRKP were higher in provincial hospitals than those in municipal hospitals（ χ2=12.5，9.8，12.7 and 57.8，all P<0.01）. Conclusions:Gram-negative bacteria are the main pathogens causing bloodstream infections in China，and Escherichia coli is ranked in the top，while the trend of Klebsiella pneumoniae increases continuously with time. CRKP infection shows a slow upward trend，CREC infecton maintains a low prevalence level，and CRAB complex infection continues to exhibit a high prevalence rate. The composition and resistance patterns of pathogens causing bloodstream infections vary to some extent across different regions and levels of hospitals in China.

Objective:To investigate the impact of imaging anatomical features on the prognosis of middle-aged and elderly patients with anomalous coronary artery originating from the opposite sinus (ACAOS).Methods:This retrospective cohort study enrolled patients aged ≥45 years who were diagnosed with ACAOS by coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2018. Baseline clinical data and coronary CTA images were collected. Anatomic imaging features were extracted, including ACAOS subtype, course of the anomalous vessel, and ostial angle. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of acute myocardial infarction, cardiac death, and coronary revascularization. The Maxstat method was used to determine the cut-off values of specific anatomical features for predicting MACE risk. Cox proportional hazards models were employed to analyze the impact of these imaging features on MACE in middle-aged and elderly ACAOS patients.Results:A total of 203 patients were enrolled, aged (60.0(51.0, 66.0)) years, including 119 (58.6%) males. Over a follow-up of (98.2±30.9) months, 39 patients experienced MACE. Maxstat identified an optimal cut-off value of 34.3° for the ostial angle of the anomalous vessel. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed that the following factors were independent risk factors for MACE: left-sided ACAOS subtype ( HR=4.35, 95% CI 2.17-8.73, P<0.001), an interarterial course between the aorta and pulmonary artery ( HR=3.21, 95% CI 1.23-8.37, P=0.017), an anomalous vessel ostial angle <34.3° ( HR=2.62, 95% CI 1.18-5.77, P=0.017), and concomitant coronary artery disease ( HR=2.92, 95% CI 1.49-5.73, P=0.002). Conclusion:In middle-aged and elderly patients with ACAOS, the imaging anatomical features of a left-sided ACAOS subtype, an interarterial course, and an ostial angle <34.3° are independent risk factors for MACE.

Objectives:We evaluated the clinical significance of unipolar electrogram and bipolar electrogram in guiding radiofrequency ablation for outflow tract ventricular premature contractions(PVC).Methods:Data were collected from 78 patients who underwent successful radiofrequency ablation of PVC.Pre-procedure electrocardiogram showed a LBBB morphology on inferior leads.In the included patients,the right-side ablation was performed at first,and if the ablation failed,the left-side ablation was then performed.According to the location of the successful ablation target,they were divided into unilateral ablation successful group and bilateral ablation successful group.The differences in the earliest bipolar local activation to QRS(LATBi),unipolar-dV/dTmax to QRS(LATUni),and local activation time were compared between the two groups.Furthermore,the electrogram characteristics predicting bilateral ablation were explored.Results:Patients were divided into unilateral ablation group(n=57)and bilateral ablation group(n=21)according to the ablation site.There were statistically significant differences in LATBi(25[21,30]ms vs.14[10,24]ms),LATUni(7[0,17]ms vs.-23[-41,-11]ms),and ΔLATBi-Uni(15[11,25]ms vs.44[25,56]ms)between the unilateral ablation group and the bilateral ablation group(all P<0.05).Multivariate regression analysis suggested that LATBi,LATUni,and ΔLATBi-Uni were independent predictors of the need for bilateral ablation.There was no significant difference between left and right LATBi,LATUni and ΔLATBi-Uni in the bilateral ablation group.LATUni≤-1 was the most accurate parameter for predicting the need for bilateral ablation(AUC=0.941;specificity 80.7%;sensitivity 100%).Conclusions:LATUni≤-1ms is a useful indicator for predicting the need for bilateral PVC ablation in this patient cohort.