Objective To observe the value of three-dimensional ultrasound combined with microvascular flow imaging for prenatal diagnosis of fetal intracranial anomalies.Methods Totally 118 fetuses with intracranial anomalies diagnosed through cranial MRI/induced labor specimen dissection who underwent prenatal ultrasound examination were retrospectively enrolled.Two-dimensional,three-dimensional ultrasound and microvascular flow imaging manifestations of fetal intracranial anomalies were observed,and the accuracy of three-dimensional ultrasound combined with microvascular flow imaging for prenatal diagnosis of fetal intracranial anomalies was analyzed.Results The accuracy of three-dimensional ultrasound combined with microvascular flow imaging for prenatal diagnosis of fetal intracranial anomalies was 93.22％(110/118),of isolated and non-isolated intracranial anomalies was 97.47％(77/79)and 84.62％(33/39),respectively.Six fetuses were missed diagnosis of malformations of cortical development(1 fetus of tuberous sclerosis,4 of abnormal morphology of the sulci gyrus and 1 of schizencephaly)and 1 fetus of intracranial softening lesion,while posterior fossa arachnoid cyst in 1 fetus was misdiagnosed as mega cisterna magna.Conclusion The accuracy of three-dimensional ultrasound combined with microvascular flow imaging for prenatal diagnosis of fetal intracranial anomalies was relatively high.

Objective To observe the value of prenatal ultrasound for diagnosing fetal intracranial arachnoid cyst(IAC)and predicting outcomes.Methods A total of 240 fetuses with IAC confirmed by fetal brain MR examination or clinical follow-up were retrospectively enrolled,and the prenatal ultrasonic manifestations were observed.The outcomes of pregnancy were recorded,and the neurological development and treatment after birth were regularly followed up,then the fetuses were classified into good outcome or poor outcome groups.Univariate and binary logistic regression were used to analyze clinical data and prenatal ultrasonic findings,and the impact factors of outcomes of fetal IAC were screened.Results Among 240 fetuses,IAC located in the supratentorial area in 192(192/240,80.00％)and in the infratentorial area in 48(48/240,20.00％)fetuses.The size of IAC was 0.3-6.2 cm,with an average of(1.4±0.9)cm.Single lesion was found in 230 fetuses(230/240,95.83％),while multiple lesions were detected in 10 fetuses(10/240,4.17％).IAC presented as thin-walled cystic echoes with clear intracranial boundaries and good intracapsular sound transmission in all 240 fetuses,including 150(150/240,62.50％)with simple IAC and 90(90/240,37.50％)complicated with intracranial or other system malformations.Totally 189 fetuses were delivered successfully,while 51 underwent induction of labor.The newborns were followed up to 6-84 months.Among 240 fetuses with IAC,171(171/240,71.25％)had good outcome and 69(69/240,28.75％)had poor outcome.The size,number of lesion and whether combined with malformations or not on prenatal ultrasound and gender were all independent impact factors of outcomes of fetal IAC(OR=1.558,6.323,0.911,2.662,all P＜0.05).Conclusion Prenatal ultrasound could accurately diagnose and predict the outcomes of fetal IAC.

Objective To observe prenatal ultrasonic findings of fetal malformation of cortical development(MCD).Methods Totally 37 singleton fetuses with MCD diagnosed by fetal cranial MRI and/or genetic examination were retrospectively enrolled,and prenatal ultrasonic manifestations were observed.Results Among 37 fetuses,29(29/37,78.38％)were found with abnormal Sylvian fissure,26(26/37,70.27％)with widened/asymmetrical lateral ventricles,22(22/37,59.46％)with abnormal surface sulci,14(14/37,37.84％)with abnormal cavity of septum pellucidum(CSP)/corpus callosum(CC),11(11/37,29.73％)with midline deviation/curvature,11(11/37,29.73％)with widened subarachnoid space,10(10/37,27.03％)with head circumference＜2 standard deviation below mean value,9(9/37,24.32％)with abnormalities in the cerebellar hemisphere/vermis,7(7/37,18.92％)with abnormal echoes in the brain parenchyma,7(7/37,18.92％)with midline cysts and 2(2/37,5.41％)with enlarged ganglion eminence.Conclusion Fetal MCD mainly presented as abnormal Sylvian fissure,widened/asymmetrical lateral ventricles and abnormal surface sulci,which might accompanied by abnormal CSP/CC,midline deviation/curvature,widened subarachnoid space and abnormal head circumference in prenatal ultrasound.

Objective·To determine hyaluronan(HA)expression in the endocrine-resistant microenvironment of estrogen receptor-positive(ER+)breast cancer and elucidate its impact on the acquired resistance.Methods·Chemiluminescent immunoassay was used to quantify HA levels in the culture supernatants of fulvestrant-resistant breast cancer cells.An immunofluorescence(IF)assay was performed to visualize the colocalization of CD44 and HA in MCF7/FulR cells.Using an established adaptive endocrine-resistant breast cancer mouse model,HA expression in resistant breast cancer tissues was assessed by immunohistochemistry(IHC)assay.Single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)and RNA sequencing(RNA-seq)were conducted to examine transcriptomic profiles and alterations in HA-related genes in resistant breast cancer cells.Flow cytometry(FCM)was utilized to measure the proportion of CD44+CD24-cells in MCF7/FulR.The correlation between HA synthesis genes and cell stemness was investigated in clinical ER+breast cancers from GEO data sets.Hyaluronidase(HAase)treatment was applied to remove the"HA coat",and RT-qPCR and Western blotting analysis were carried out to monitor changes in stemness-related molecules.CCK-8 assays,flow cytometry(FCM),and Hoechst 33258 staining were performed to determine changes in apoptosis and fulvestrant efficiency after HAase treatment.Results·IF results revealed that compared with MCF7 cells,the"HA coat"on the surface of MCF7/FulR cells was significantly thickened.IHC demonstrated markedly increased HA retention in fulvestrant-resistant mouse breast cancer tissues.ScRNA-seq and RNA-seq analyses indicated elevated expression of stemness-related genes and HA synthesis-associated genes in fulvestrant-resistant breast cancer cells.Correlation analysis revealed a positive association between HA synthesis and cancer stemness in ER+breast cancer.IF and RT-qPCR results demonstrated that removing the HA coating from the surface of MCF7/FulR cells led to a significant reduction in the expression of stemness-related molecules;concurrently,CCK-8 assays,FCM analysis,and Hoechst 33258 staining revealed that"HA coat"clearance reduced MCF7/FulR'tolerance to fulvestrant and increased apoptosis.Conclusion·Endocrine-resistant breast cancer cells develop an enriched"HA coat",which promotes stemness in fulvestrant-resistant tumors.Disruption of this HA coat through HAase treatment effectively reduces cell stemness,induces apoptosis,and re-sensitizes breast cancer cells to fulvestrant.

Objective·To determine hyaluronan(HA)expression in the endocrine-resistant microenvironment of estrogen receptor-positive(ER+)breast cancer and elucidate its impact on the acquired resistance.Methods·Chemiluminescent immunoassay was used to quantify HA levels in the culture supernatants of fulvestrant-resistant breast cancer cells.An immunofluorescence(IF)assay was performed to visualize the colocalization of CD44 and HA in MCF7/FulR cells.Using an established adaptive endocrine-resistant breast cancer mouse model,HA expression in resistant breast cancer tissues was assessed by immunohistochemistry(IHC)assay.Single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)and RNA sequencing(RNA-seq)were conducted to examine transcriptomic profiles and alterations in HA-related genes in resistant breast cancer cells.Flow cytometry(FCM)was utilized to measure the proportion of CD44+CD24-cells in MCF7/FulR.The correlation between HA synthesis genes and cell stemness was investigated in clinical ER+breast cancers from GEO data sets.Hyaluronidase(HAase)treatment was applied to remove the"HA coat",and RT-qPCR and Western blotting analysis were carried out to monitor changes in stemness-related molecules.CCK-8 assays,flow cytometry(FCM),and Hoechst 33258 staining were performed to determine changes in apoptosis and fulvestrant efficiency after HAase treatment.Results·IF results revealed that compared with MCF7 cells,the"HA coat"on the surface of MCF7/FulR cells was significantly thickened.IHC demonstrated markedly increased HA retention in fulvestrant-resistant mouse breast cancer tissues.ScRNA-seq and RNA-seq analyses indicated elevated expression of stemness-related genes and HA synthesis-associated genes in fulvestrant-resistant breast cancer cells.Correlation analysis revealed a positive association between HA synthesis and cancer stemness in ER+breast cancer.IF and RT-qPCR results demonstrated that removing the HA coating from the surface of MCF7/FulR cells led to a significant reduction in the expression of stemness-related molecules;concurrently,CCK-8 assays,FCM analysis,and Hoechst 33258 staining revealed that"HA coat"clearance reduced MCF7/FulR'tolerance to fulvestrant and increased apoptosis.Conclusion·Endocrine-resistant breast cancer cells develop an enriched"HA coat",which promotes stemness in fulvestrant-resistant tumors.Disruption of this HA coat through HAase treatment effectively reduces cell stemness,induces apoptosis,and re-sensitizes breast cancer cells to fulvestrant.

Objective To observe the value of three-dimensional ultrasound combined with microvascular flow imaging for prenatal diagnosis of fetal intracranial anomalies.Methods Totally 118 fetuses with intracranial anomalies diagnosed through cranial MRI/induced labor specimen dissection who underwent prenatal ultrasound examination were retrospectively enrolled.Two-dimensional,three-dimensional ultrasound and microvascular flow imaging manifestations of fetal intracranial anomalies were observed,and the accuracy of three-dimensional ultrasound combined with microvascular flow imaging for prenatal diagnosis of fetal intracranial anomalies was analyzed.Results The accuracy of three-dimensional ultrasound combined with microvascular flow imaging for prenatal diagnosis of fetal intracranial anomalies was 93.22％(110/118),of isolated and non-isolated intracranial anomalies was 97.47％(77/79)and 84.62％(33/39),respectively.Six fetuses were missed diagnosis of malformations of cortical development(1 fetus of tuberous sclerosis,4 of abnormal morphology of the sulci gyrus and 1 of schizencephaly)and 1 fetus of intracranial softening lesion,while posterior fossa arachnoid cyst in 1 fetus was misdiagnosed as mega cisterna magna.Conclusion The accuracy of three-dimensional ultrasound combined with microvascular flow imaging for prenatal diagnosis of fetal intracranial anomalies was relatively high.

Objective To observe the value of prenatal ultrasound for diagnosing fetal intracranial arachnoid cyst(IAC)and predicting outcomes.Methods A total of 240 fetuses with IAC confirmed by fetal brain MR examination or clinical follow-up were retrospectively enrolled,and the prenatal ultrasonic manifestations were observed.The outcomes of pregnancy were recorded,and the neurological development and treatment after birth were regularly followed up,then the fetuses were classified into good outcome or poor outcome groups.Univariate and binary logistic regression were used to analyze clinical data and prenatal ultrasonic findings,and the impact factors of outcomes of fetal IAC were screened.Results Among 240 fetuses,IAC located in the supratentorial area in 192(192/240,80.00％)and in the infratentorial area in 48(48/240,20.00％)fetuses.The size of IAC was 0.3-6.2 cm,with an average of(1.4±0.9)cm.Single lesion was found in 230 fetuses(230/240,95.83％),while multiple lesions were detected in 10 fetuses(10/240,4.17％).IAC presented as thin-walled cystic echoes with clear intracranial boundaries and good intracapsular sound transmission in all 240 fetuses,including 150(150/240,62.50％)with simple IAC and 90(90/240,37.50％)complicated with intracranial or other system malformations.Totally 189 fetuses were delivered successfully,while 51 underwent induction of labor.The newborns were followed up to 6-84 months.Among 240 fetuses with IAC,171(171/240,71.25％)had good outcome and 69(69/240,28.75％)had poor outcome.The size,number of lesion and whether combined with malformations or not on prenatal ultrasound and gender were all independent impact factors of outcomes of fetal IAC(OR=1.558,6.323,0.911,2.662,all P＜0.05).Conclusion Prenatal ultrasound could accurately diagnose and predict the outcomes of fetal IAC.

Objective To observe prenatal ultrasonic findings of fetal malformation of cortical development(MCD).Methods Totally 37 singleton fetuses with MCD diagnosed by fetal cranial MRI and/or genetic examination were retrospectively enrolled,and prenatal ultrasonic manifestations were observed.Results Among 37 fetuses,29(29/37,78.38％)were found with abnormal Sylvian fissure,26(26/37,70.27％)with widened/asymmetrical lateral ventricles,22(22/37,59.46％)with abnormal surface sulci,14(14/37,37.84％)with abnormal cavity of septum pellucidum(CSP)/corpus callosum(CC),11(11/37,29.73％)with midline deviation/curvature,11(11/37,29.73％)with widened subarachnoid space,10(10/37,27.03％)with head circumference＜2 standard deviation below mean value,9(9/37,24.32％)with abnormalities in the cerebellar hemisphere/vermis,7(7/37,18.92％)with abnormal echoes in the brain parenchyma,7(7/37,18.92％)with midline cysts and 2(2/37,5.41％)with enlarged ganglion eminence.Conclusion Fetal MCD mainly presented as abnormal Sylvian fissure,widened/asymmetrical lateral ventricles and abnormal surface sulci,which might accompanied by abnormal CSP/CC,midline deviation/curvature,widened subarachnoid space and abnormal head circumference in prenatal ultrasound.

Background The prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia is higher among underground coal miners than surface workers. The special underground work environment and unhealthy habits such as smoking, drinking, and a high-salt diet may lead to changes in bone metabolism, increasing the risk of fragility fractures and placing a heavy economic burden on individuals and society. Objective To identify potential factors influencing fragility fractures among coal miners in different working environments and to provide a basis for targeted preventive measures to reduce the occurrence of fragility fractures. Methods Male participants who attended at least one of the physical examinations in Kailuan Group between June 2006 and December 2020 were included in the study. The participants were divided into two groups based on their working environment: surface or underground. A case-control study was conducted, where patients with new fragility fractures served as the case group and participants without fragility fractures served as the control group. The two groups were matched with a case:control ratio of 1:4 by age (±1 year) and the same year of physical examination. The matching process was repeated twice, once for the surface working population and once for the underground working population. The analysis of risk factors was conducted using conditional logistic regression models. Results Among a total of 113138 employees in Kailuan Group, 82631 surface workers and 30507 underground workers were included, respectively. The number of individuals who suffered fragility fractures was 1375, accounting for 1.22% of the total population. The incidence of fragility fractures in underground workers was significantly higher than that in surface workers (1.63%>1.07%, P<0.001). The results of conditional logistic regression model showed that current smoking (OR=1.26, 95%CI: 1.05, 1.51), manual labor (OR=1.37, 95%CI: 1.06, 1.78), diabetes (OR=1.26, 95%CI: 1.04, 1.54), sinus tachycardia (OR=1.81, 95%CI: 1.23, 2.66), history of stroke (OR=1.51, 95%CI: 1.09, 2.09), education at college and above (OR=0.65, 95%CI: 0.45, 0.95), high income level (OR=0.69, 95%CI: 0.54, 0.90), elevated hemoglobin (OR=0.91, 95%CI: 0.85, 0.98), and elevated total cholesterol (OR=0.90, 95%CI: 0.82, 0.99) were associated with fragility fractures in the surface working population of coal mines; current smoking (OR=1.48, 95%CI: 1.17, 1.87), current drinking (OR=1.26, 95%CI: 1.01, 1.56), manual labor (OR=2.64, 95%CI: 1.41, 4.94), history of dust exposure (OR=1.28, 95%CI: 1.03, 1.58), and obesity (OR=0.72, 95%CI: 0.52, 0.96) were associated with fragility fractures in the underground working population of coal mines. Conclusion In preventing fragility fractures, special attention should be paid to the bone health of underground workers engaged in manual labor or having a history of dust exposure. It is important to correct their unhealthy behaviors in a timely manner, such as smoking and drinking, and to appropriately increase body weight to prevent fragility fractures. For surface workers, particular attention should be given to the high-risk group for fragility fractures, such as low family income per capita, manual labor, and having a history of stroke or diabetes; in addition, close monitoring of their resting heart rate, hemoglobin levels, and total cholesterol levels may help prevent fragility fractures.

Objective:To explore the diagnostic value of ultrasound in posterior fossa anomalies (PFA) at 11-13 + 6 gestational weeks by measuring brainstem (BS), brainstem-to-occipital bone (BSOB) diameter and BS/BSOB ratio. Methods:A total of 209 normal fetuses (control group) were randomly selected from Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, between March 2018 and November 2021. Reference ranges for BS, BSOB diameter and BS/BSOB ratio were obtained on the mid-sagittal view of the fetal profile and the relationship of three parameters and crown-rump length (CRL) was investigated. The intra- and inter-observer reliabilities were determined by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) in 30 normal fetuses. Fourteen fetuses diagnosed with PFA in the same period including 10 cases of cystic posterior fossa malformations (cPFM) and 4 cases of open spine bifida (OSB) were retrospectively selected to compare BS, BSOB diameter and the BS/BSOB ratio with control group.Results:BS and BSOB diameters were successfully obtained in all control fetuses (100%), and the intra- and inter-observer reliabilities for BS and BSOB diameters were good (ICC=0.877, 0.846 and 0.939, 0.895). In the control group, BS and BSOB diameter linearly correlated with CRL ( r=0.867, 0.794; all P<0.001), while the BS/BSOB ratio was 0.75 (0.71, 0.79). There were significant differences of BSOB diameter and BS/BSOB ratio between control group and PFA group (all P<0.05). Except for one isolated vermian hypoplasia (VH), the BSOB diameters in 9 (90%) cases of cPFM were above the 95th percentile of the calculated normal range and were below the 5th percentile in 4(100%) cases of OSB.Except for one isolated VH, the BS/BSOB ratio in 9 (90%) cases of cPFM was below the 5th percentile of the calculated normal range. The BS/BSOB ratio in 4 (100%) cases of OSB was above the 95th percentile of the calculated normal range. Conclusions:The measurements of BS and BSOB diameter are feasible with good repeatability. Abnormal BSOB diameter and BS/BSOB ratio are suggestive for PFA. The posterior fossa of isolated VH can be normal in the first trimester.