Objective To introduce an innovative technique, the "balance-shaped sternal elevation device" and its application in the subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for anterior mediastinal masses resection. Methods Patients who underwent single-port thoracoscopic assisted anterior mediastinal tumor resection through the xiphoid process at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University from May to June 2024 were included, and their clinical data were analyzed. Results A total of 7 patients were included, with 3 males and 4 females, aged 28-72 years. The diameter of the tumor was 1.9-17.0 cm. The operation time was 62-308 min, intraoperative blood loss was 5-100 mL, postoperative chest drainage tube retention time was 0-9 days, pain score on the 7th day after surgery was 0-2 points, and postoperative hospital stay was 3-12 days. All patients underwent successful and complete resection of the masses and thymus, with favorable postoperative recovery. Conclusion The "balance-shaped sternal elevation device" effectively expands the retrosternal space, providing surgeons with satisfactory surgical views and operating space. This technique significantly enhances the efficacy and safety of minimally invasive surgery for anterior mediastinal masses, reduces trauma and postoperative pain, and accelerates patient recovery, demonstrating important clinical significance and application value.

AIM: To compare the changes in corneal epithelial thickness(CET)after small incision lenticule extraction(SMILE)and femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis(FS-LASIK).METHODS: A total of 187 patients(187 eyes)who underwent either SMILE or FS-LASIK at Urumqi Aier Eye Hospital between December 2022 and November 2023 were collected. The patients were divided into SMILE group and FS-LASIK group according to surgical methods. The CET of the patients was measured by optical coherence tomography(OCT)system before surgery and at 1 wk, 1, 3, and 6 mo postoperatively.RESULTS: Changes in corneal epithelial thickness(△CET)in the central, paracentral, and mid-peripheral regions were compared at 6 mo postoperatively. The SMILE group was characterized by the most significant thickening in the central area and the least thickening in the mid-peripheral area; while the FS-LASIK group was characterized by the most significant thickening in the paracentral area and the least thickening in the mid-peripheral region. At 1 wk, 1, 3, and 6 mo postoperatively, within the 0-7 mm corneal area, the △CET for both the SMILE and FS-LASIK groups was correlated with the preoperative spherical equivalent.CONCLUSION: Within 6 mo postoperatively, both SMILE and FS-LASIK showed a similar trend in epithelial thickening but with distinct characteristics. The change in corneal epithelial thickness for both procedures was positively correlated with the preoperative diopter.

Background and Objectives: SH3 and multiple ankyrin repeat domains 3 (Shank3) proteins play crucial roles as neuronal postsynaptic scaffolds. Alongside neuropsychiatric symptoms, individuals with SHANK3 mutations often exhibit symptoms related to dysfunctions in other organs, including the heart. However, detailed insights into the cardiac functions of Shank3 remain limited. This study aimed to characterize the cardiac phenotypes of Shank3-overexpressing transgenic mice and explore the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Cardiac histological analysis, electrocardiogram and echocardiogram recordings were conducted on Shank3-overexpressing transgenic mice. Electrophysiological properties, including action potentials and L-type Ca2+ channel (LTCC) currents, were measured in isolated cardiomyocytes. Ca2+ homeostasis was assessed by analyzing cytosolic Ca2+transients and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ contents. Depolarization-induced cell shortening was examined in cardiomyocytes. Immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometrybased identification was employed to identify proteins in the cardiac Shank3 interactome.Western blot and immunocytochemical analyses were conducted to identify changes in protein expression in Shank3-overexpressing transgenic cardiomyocytes. Results: The hearts of Shank3-overexpressing transgenic mice displayed reduced weight and increased fibrosis. In vivo, sudden cardiac death, arrhythmia, and contractility impairments were identified. Shank3-overexpressing transgenic cardiomyocytes showed prolonged action potential duration and increased LTCC current density. Cytosolic Ca2+ transients were increased with prolonged decay time, while sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ contents remained normal. Cell shortening was augmented in Shank3-overexpressing transgenic cardiomyocytes. The cardiac Shank3 interactome comprised 78 proteins with various functions. Troponin I levels were down-regulated in Shank3-overexpressing transgenic cardiomyocytes. Conclusions This study revealed cardiac dysfunction in Shank3-overexpressing transgenic mice, potentially attributed to changes in Ca2+ homeostasis and contraction, with a notable reduction in troponin I.

Background and Objectives: SH3 and multiple ankyrin repeat domains 3 (Shank3) proteins play crucial roles as neuronal postsynaptic scaffolds. Alongside neuropsychiatric symptoms, individuals with SHANK3 mutations often exhibit symptoms related to dysfunctions in other organs, including the heart. However, detailed insights into the cardiac functions of Shank3 remain limited. This study aimed to characterize the cardiac phenotypes of Shank3-overexpressing transgenic mice and explore the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Cardiac histological analysis, electrocardiogram and echocardiogram recordings were conducted on Shank3-overexpressing transgenic mice. Electrophysiological properties, including action potentials and L-type Ca2+ channel (LTCC) currents, were measured in isolated cardiomyocytes. Ca2+ homeostasis was assessed by analyzing cytosolic Ca2+transients and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ contents. Depolarization-induced cell shortening was examined in cardiomyocytes. Immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometrybased identification was employed to identify proteins in the cardiac Shank3 interactome.Western blot and immunocytochemical analyses were conducted to identify changes in protein expression in Shank3-overexpressing transgenic cardiomyocytes. Results: The hearts of Shank3-overexpressing transgenic mice displayed reduced weight and increased fibrosis. In vivo, sudden cardiac death, arrhythmia, and contractility impairments were identified. Shank3-overexpressing transgenic cardiomyocytes showed prolonged action potential duration and increased LTCC current density. Cytosolic Ca2+ transients were increased with prolonged decay time, while sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ contents remained normal. Cell shortening was augmented in Shank3-overexpressing transgenic cardiomyocytes. The cardiac Shank3 interactome comprised 78 proteins with various functions. Troponin I levels were down-regulated in Shank3-overexpressing transgenic cardiomyocytes. Conclusions This study revealed cardiac dysfunction in Shank3-overexpressing transgenic mice, potentially attributed to changes in Ca2+ homeostasis and contraction, with a notable reduction in troponin I.

Background and Objectives: SH3 and multiple ankyrin repeat domains 3 (Shank3) proteins play crucial roles as neuronal postsynaptic scaffolds. Alongside neuropsychiatric symptoms, individuals with SHANK3 mutations often exhibit symptoms related to dysfunctions in other organs, including the heart. However, detailed insights into the cardiac functions of Shank3 remain limited. This study aimed to characterize the cardiac phenotypes of Shank3-overexpressing transgenic mice and explore the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Cardiac histological analysis, electrocardiogram and echocardiogram recordings were conducted on Shank3-overexpressing transgenic mice. Electrophysiological properties, including action potentials and L-type Ca2+ channel (LTCC) currents, were measured in isolated cardiomyocytes. Ca2+ homeostasis was assessed by analyzing cytosolic Ca2+transients and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ contents. Depolarization-induced cell shortening was examined in cardiomyocytes. Immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometrybased identification was employed to identify proteins in the cardiac Shank3 interactome.Western blot and immunocytochemical analyses were conducted to identify changes in protein expression in Shank3-overexpressing transgenic cardiomyocytes. Results: The hearts of Shank3-overexpressing transgenic mice displayed reduced weight and increased fibrosis. In vivo, sudden cardiac death, arrhythmia, and contractility impairments were identified. Shank3-overexpressing transgenic cardiomyocytes showed prolonged action potential duration and increased LTCC current density. Cytosolic Ca2+ transients were increased with prolonged decay time, while sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ contents remained normal. Cell shortening was augmented in Shank3-overexpressing transgenic cardiomyocytes. The cardiac Shank3 interactome comprised 78 proteins with various functions. Troponin I levels were down-regulated in Shank3-overexpressing transgenic cardiomyocytes. Conclusions This study revealed cardiac dysfunction in Shank3-overexpressing transgenic mice, potentially attributed to changes in Ca2+ homeostasis and contraction, with a notable reduction in troponin I.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of benzyl isothiocyanate(BITC)combined with sorafenib(Sor)in the treatment of anaplastic thyroid cancer(ATC).Methods Two ATC cell lines,8505C and CAL-62,were treated with Sor at concentrations of 0,20,30,40,and 50 μmol/L.The cell survival rate was assessed using CCK-8 assay.The combined dose of BITC and Sor was determined by calculating combination index(CI).CAL-62 and 8505C cells were exposed to 10 μmol/L BITC(BITC group),10 μmol/L Sor(Sor group),or a combination of 10 μmol/L BITC and 10 μmol/L Sor(BITC+Sor group)for 24 hours.The control group was not treated.The effects of Sor and BITC on ATC cell viability were evaluated using the CCK-8 method.Apoptosis was analyzed via flow cytometry.Western blot assay was employed to detect the protein expression levels of LC3B Ⅱ,Beclin-1 and nuclear factor(NF)-κB.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to quantify the mRNA levels of LC3B.Additionally,CAL-62 cells were subcutaneously injected into mice to establish tumor xenograft model.Mice were treated with BITC(100 mg/kg,intraperitoneal injection),Sor(30 mg/kg,intragastric administration)or a combination of BITC and Sor every other day for 21 days.Finally,the expression levels of LC3B Ⅱ,Beclin-1 and NF-κB in tumor tissue were analyzed by Western blot assay.Results Sor significantly inhibited the viability of CAL-62 and 8505C cells in a concentration-dependent manner.The combination index(CI)was 0.710 at BITC 10 μmol/L and Sor 10 μmol/L,indicating a moderate synergistic effect between the two drugs.In both 8505C and CAL-62 cells,compared with the control group,treatment with BITC or Sor resulted in the decreased cell viability,as well as reduced expression levels of Beclin-1 and NF-κB proteins(P＜0.05),and the apoptosis rate,LC3B mRNA and LC3B Ⅱ protein expression levels were significantly increased(P＜0.05).When BITC and Sor were combined,the cell viability,Beclin-1 and NF-κB protein expressions were further reduced compared to either drug alone,while the apoptosis rate,LC3B mRNA and LC3B Ⅱ protein expression levels were significantly elevated(P＜0.05).In the mouse xenograft tumor model,the BITC+Sor group exhibited increased LC3B Ⅱ expression,along with decreased Beclin-1 and NF-κB expression levels,tumor volume and tumor mass compared to the BITC or Sor groups(P＜0.05).Conclusion The combination of BITC and Sor can inhibit ATC cells through NF-κB pathway,induce autophagy and promote apoptosis in vitro and in vivo.

Objective To investigate how dietary supplementation with tetrahydrocurcumin(THC)improves kidney injury in type 2 dia-betic mellitus(T2DM)and its mechanism of action using transcriptome sequencing(RNA-seq).Methods C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to the control,T2DM,and T2DM+THC groups.After a high-fat meal and streptozotocin injection,the body weights and fasting blood glucose levels of each mouse with T2DM were measured.Hematoxylin and eosin staining,Oil red O staining,and RNA-seq were performed to examine kidney pathology,lipid deposition,and differentially expressed genes,respectively,in the mice.Results Mice in T2DM group exhibited significantly higher fasting blood glucose levels(P＜0.001),renal tubule degeneration,glomeruli enlargement,disordered epithelial cells,and increased kidney lipid deposition after 12 weeks compared with those of the control group.THC adminis-tration alleviated all these conditions(P＜0.001).RNA-seq analysis revealed significant gene expression variations among the control,T2DM,and T2DM+THC groups.THC may protect against T2DM-induced kidney injury and lipid deposition by regulating the cell cycle(apoptosis),P53 signaling pathway,and PPARγ signaling path way,as indicated by Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analyses.In mice with T2DM,THC intervention may upregulate the expression of Cd36,Lpl,PPARγ,and Plin4 genes in renal tissues,while downregulating Ccnb1,Ccnb2,Cdk1,Bub1,and Cdc25c gene expressions.The proteins encoded by the four upregulated genes interact,as do those encoded by the five downregulated genes.Conclusion THC administration improves fasting blood glucose levels,reduces renal damage,and decreases fat deposition in mice with T2DM.The processes may involve decreasing apoptosis,blocking the P53 signaling pathway,and activating the PPARγ signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Recombination events are common and serve as the primary driving force of diverse human adenovirus (HAdV), particularly in children with acute respiratory tract infections (ARIs). Therefore, continual monitoring of these events is essential for effective viral surveillance and control. METHODS: Respiratory specimens were collected from children with ARIs between January 2022 and December 2023. The penton base, hexon, and fiber genes were amplified from HAdV-positive specimens and sequenced to determine the virus type. In cases with inconsistent typing results, genes were cloned into the pGEM-T vector to detect recombination events. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) was performed to characterize the recombinant HAdV genomes. RESULTS: Among 6,771 specimens, 277 (4.09%, 277/6,771) were positvie for HAdV, of which 157 (56.68%, 157/277) were successfully typed, with HAdV-B3 being the dominant type (91.08%, 143/157), and 14 (5.05%, 14/277) exhibited inconsistent typing results, six of which belonged to species B. The penton base genes of these six specimens were classified as HAdV-B7, whereas their hexon and fiber genes were classified as HAdV-B3, resulting in a recombinant genotype designated P7H3F3, which closely resembled HAdV-B114. Additionally, a partial gene encoding L1 52/55 kD was identified, which originated from HAdV-B16. CONCLUSION A novel recombinant, P7H3F3, was identified, containing sequences derived from HAdV-B3 and HAdV-B7, which is similar to HAdV-B114, along with additional sequences from HAdV-B16.
Humans ; Adenoviruses, Human/isolation & purification* ; Respiratory Tract Infections/epidemiology* ; Child, Preschool ; Child ; Recombination, Genetic ; Male ; Beijing/epidemiology* ; Infant ; Female ; Phylogeny ; Adenovirus Infections, Human/epidemiology* ; Acute Disease ; Genome, Viral

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the strategies and outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART) for fertility preservation and promotion in women with malignant tumors, and to analyze ART outcomes across different tumor types. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of female patients who underwent ART for fertility preservation or treatment at the Reproductive Center of the Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2023. A total of 163 ART-aided pregnancy patients with malignant tumors were included in the case group, among which 6 patients underwent embryo cryopreservation for fertility preservation before radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Additionally, 11 unmarried women underwent oocyte cryopreservation due to borderline ovarian tumors, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, or hematological malignancies. The control group was selected from women without a history of malignant tumors who received ART treatment during the same period, using propensity score matching at a ratio of 1∶2, resulting in 326 cases. Data were collected through the reproductive medical record system and telephone follow-up (as of October 31, 2024). Baseline characteristics, controlled ovarian hyperstimulation parameters, laboratory indicators, and pregnancy outcomes were compared between case and control groups and among patients with different tumor types, and the tumor recurrence of the patients was followed up. RESULTS: Patients in the case group had significantly lower ovarian reserve (AMH, AFC) and a higher proportion of diminished ovarian reserve compared to the control group (all P<0.01). Regarding the ovulation induction protocol, the proportion of patients using the minimal stimulation protocol in the case group was significantly higher than that in the control group (29.45% vs. 12.88%, P<0.01), and the total dosage of gonadotropins used was lower (P<0.01). In terms of assisted reproductive outcomes, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the number of retrieved oocytes, number of high-quality embryos, fertilization rate, cumulative pregnancy rate, cumulative live birth rate, or miscarriage rate (all P>0.05). However, the number of oocyte retrieval cycles and embryo transfer cycles required to achieve a live birth outcome in the case group were significantly higher than those in the control group (both P<0.05). Subgroup analysis showed that there were no significant differences in cumulative pregnancy rate and live birth rate among patients with different tumor types (thyroid cancer, reproductive system tumors, breast cancer, lung cancer). Nevertheless, lung cancer patients had the lowest ovarian reserve and required the most oocyte retrieval cycles due to their older age; breast cancer patients had a relatively lower fertilization rate partially because some of them were complicated with male factors. A follow-up of 154 tumor patients (with a follow-up rate of 88.5%) revealed that 6 patients (4.20%) had tumor recurrence, and 1 breast cancer patient died due to tumor recurrence. None of the 11 unmarried patients who had undergone oocyte cryopreservation had used the cryopreserved oocytes for assisted pregnancy yet, and 1 patient who had undergone fertility preservation died due to tumor recurrence. CONCLUSIONS Women of reproductive age with malignant tumors are at risk of diminished fertility. ART can effectively preserve and promote fertility, enabling favorable pregnancy and live birth outcomes. It is recommended to initiate a multidisciplinary assessment promptly prior to radiotherapy/chemotherapy and formulate an individualized ART regimen for fertility preservation or promotion, so as to achieve reproductive goals or safeguard future fertility potential.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the value of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight-mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF MS)in direct identification of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae positive for blood culture.METHODS The blood culture bottles that were positive for E.coli or K.pneumoniae were collected from the patients with bloodstream infection who were treated in Zhongshan Hospi-tal,Fudan University from Jul.2021 to Jun.2023.The isolates were collected by using a gel-contact clotting tube,then the tested strains were respectively mixed with 4 μg/ml of imipenem,4 μg/ml of meropenem and 2 μg/ml of ertapenem for coculture and were incubated at 35 ℃ for 4 and 5 hours,finally,the strains were i-dentified by using the mass spectrum.The minimum inhibitory concentrations(MICs)of the three types of drugs were tested by microbroth dilution method and were set as the golden standards for the test.RESULTS Totally 31 strains of E.coli and 28 strains of K.pneumoniae that were positive in blood culture bottles were collected,both of the effective rates of controlled growth of the E.coli strains were 100.00％after the incuba-tion for 4 and 5 hours,and the effective rates of controlled growth of the K.pneumoniae strains were 9 6.43％and 100.00％after the incubation for 4 and hours,respectively.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the K.pneumoniae strains against the three types of drugs were 100.00％after the incubation for 5 hours.The specificity and positive predictive value of the E.coli strains against imipenem,meropenem and ertapenem were 100.00％after the incubation for 5 hours;the sensitivities were 73.58％,78.93％and 78.93％,respectively;the negative predictive values were 70.60％,75.00％and 75.00％,respectively.CONCLUSIONS MALDI-TOF MS is rapid and accurate for direct identification of the carbapenem-resistant E.coli and K.pneumoniae strains positive in blood culture bottles,and the accuracy reaches at 100.00％for the test of drug-resistant K.pneumoniae strains after the incubation for 5 hours.The method may provide evidence for clinical treatment of bloodstream infections induced by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae.