Background Gestational weight gain is closely related to maternal and infant health outcomes. Pregnant women are simultaneously exposed to four metals—lithium (Li), vanadium (V), uranium (U), and bismuth (Bi)—through inhalation of fine particulate matter and consumption of contaminated food and water. Existing studies suggest that exposure to these metals may be associated with gestational weight gain. However, no study has yet explored the complex relationships between exposure to mixtures of these four metals and weight gain at different stages of pregnancy. Objective To investigate the associations between mixed exposure to Li, V, U, and Bi in early pregnancy and the average weekly gestational weight gain during both early pregnancy and mid-to-late pregnancy. Methods This prospective study recruited eligible women in early pregnancy from an obstetrics clinic of a tertiary hospital in Jinan, China, between September 2021 and July 2023. Pre-pregnancy weight, current weight (at 11⁺⁰ to 13⁺⁶ weeks of gestation), and spot urine samples (≥5.0 mL) were collected at enrollment. Urinary concentrations of Li, V, Bi, and U were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Participants were followed up in late pregnancy (≥28 weeks of gestation) to collect information on physical activity via questionnaire; weight measurements at the last antenatal visit (35⁺⁰ to 37⁺⁶ weeks of gestation) were obtained from the hospital information system. After adjusting for covariates, multiple linear regression and generalized additive models were used to assess the associations of individual metals with weekly weight gain in early pregnancy and in mid-to-late pregnancy. Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) and quantile-based g-computation (Qgcomp) were applied to evaluate the joint effects of the metal mixture exposure on weekly weight gain at the two gestational stages. Results A total of 313 pregnant women were included. The geometric means of urinary Li, V, U, and Bi concentrations were 37.07, 0.20, 0.06, and 0.04 μg·L⁻¹, respectively; after creatinine adjustment, the corresponding values were 46.82, 0.25, 0.07, and 0.05 μg·g⁻¹ (Cr). The mean weekly gestational weight gain was (0.19±0.25) kg in early pregnancy and (0.53 ± 0.18) kg in mid-to-late pregnancy. Both multiple linear regression and generalized additive models showed that urinary V concentration was positively associated with average weekly gestational weight gain in early pregnancy, while no significant associations were found for other metals or for gestational weight gain in mid-to-late pregnancy. In the BKMR model with early-pregnancy weight gain as the outcome, V had the strongest association [posterior inclusion probability (PIP)=0.773]. When other metals were fixed at their medians, V showed a positive non-linear association with the outcome. A significant single-metal effect of V and its interaction with Li were observed. Compared with the 50th percentile of the metal mixture, the average weekly weight gain in early pregnancy increased by 0.016 (95%CI: 0.003, 0.029) and 0.018 (95%CI: 0.001, 0.036) at the 60th and 65th percentiles, respectively; conversely, at the 25th percentile, it decreased by 0.026 (95%CI: 0.002, 0.050). Overall, the joint effect of the metal mixture on early- pregnancy weight gain showed an upward trend. In the BKMR model for mid-to-late pregnancy gestational weight gain, all PIPs were<0.5, and no significant single-metal effects, interactions, or joint effects were identified. Qgcomp results confirmed a positive association between the metal mixture and early-pregnancy weight gain (b=0.031, 95%CI: 0.010, 0.051; P<0.01), with V contributing the highest positive weight (0.71). No significant association was found for weight gain in mid-to-late pregnancy (b=0.007, P=0.339). Conclusion Higher levels of co-exposure to the Li, V, Bi, and U metal mixture during early pregnancy may be associated with increased average weekly weight gain in early pregnancy. Among these metals, V exhibits a predominant role and appears to interact with Li. No association is observed between early-pregnancy metal mixture exposure and average weekly gestational weight gain in mid-to-late pregnancy. These findings suggest that monitoring and managing metal exposure during early pregnancy may be crucial for the rational regulation of gestational weight gain.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of intravenous colistin sulfate combined with nebulized inhalation versus intravenous monotherapy for pulmonary infections caused by carbapenem-resistant organism (CRO). METHODS: A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted. Clinical data were collected from patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of 10 tertiary class-A hospitals in Henan Province between July 2021 and May 2023, who received colistin sulfate for CRO pulmonary infections. Data included baseline characteristics, inflammatory markers [white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil count (NEU), procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP)], renal function indicators [serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN)], life support measures, anti-infection regimens, clinical efficacy, microbiological clearance rate, and prognostic outcomes. Patients were divided into two groups: intravenous group (colistin sulfate monotherapy via intravenous infusion) and combination group ((intravenous infusion combined with nebulized inhalation of colistin sulfate). Changes in parameters before and after treatment were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 137 patients with CRO pulmonary infections were enrolled, including 89 in the intravenous group and 48 in the combination group. Baseline characteristics, life support measures, daily colistin dose, and combination regimens (most commonly colistin sulfate plus carbapenems in both groups) showed no significant differences between two groups. The combination group exhibited higher clinical efficacy [77.1% (37/48) vs. 59.6% (52/89)] and microbiological clearance rate [60.4% (29/48) vs. 39.3% (35/89)], both P < 0.05. Pre-treatment inflammatory and renal parameters showed no significant differences between two groups. Post-treatment, the combination group showed significantly lower WBC and CRP [WBC (×10⁹/L): 8.2±0.5 vs. 10.9±0.6, CRP (mg/L): 14.0 (5.7, 26.6) vs. 52.1 (24.4, 109.6), both P < 0.05], whereas NEU, PCT, SCr, and BUN levels showed no significant between two groups. ICU length of stay was shorter in the combination group [days: 16 (10, 25) vs. 21 (14, 29), P < 0.05], although mechanical ventilation duration and total hospitalization showed no significant differences between two groups. CONCLUSIONS Intravenous colistin sulfate combined with nebulized inhalation improved clinical efficacy and microbiological clearance in CRO pulmonary infections with an acceptable safety profile.
Humans ; Colistin/therapeutic use* ; Retrospective Studies ; Administration, Inhalation ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use* ; Carbapenems/pharmacology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/drug effects* ; Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Respiratory Tract Infections/drug therapy*

Coptis chinensis Franch. and Panax ginseng C. A. Mey. are traditional herbal medicines with millennia of documented use and broad therapeutic applications, including anti-diabetic properties. However, the synergistic effect of total alkaloids from Coptis chinensis and total ginsenosides from Panax ginseng on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its underlying mechanism remain unclear. The research demonstrated that the optimal ratio of total alkaloids from Coptis chinensis and total ginsenosides from Panax ginseng was 4∶1, exhibiting maximal efficacy in improving insulin resistance and gluconeogenesis in primary mouse hepatocytes. This combination demonstrated significant synergistic effects in improving glucose tolerance, reducing fasting blood glucose (FBG), the weight ratio of epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT), and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in leptin receptor-deficient (db/db) mice. Subsequently, a T2DM liver-specific network was constructed based on RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) experiments and public databases by integrating transcriptional properties of disease-associated proteins and protein-protein interactions (PPIs). The network recovery index (NRI) score of the combined treatment group with a 4∶1 ratio exceeded that of groups treated with individual components. The research identified that activated adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) signaling in the liver played a crucial role in the synergistic treatment of T2DM, as verified by western blot experiment in db/db mice. These findings demonstrate that the 4∶1 combination of total alkaloids from Coptis chinensis and total ginsenosides from Panax ginseng significantly improves insulin resistance and glucose and lipid metabolism disorders in db/db mice, surpassing the efficacy of individual treatments. The synergistic mechanism correlates with enhanced AMPK/ACC signaling pathway activity.
Animals ; Panax/chemistry* ; Ginsenosides/administration & dosage* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/metabolism* ; Mice ; Male ; Alkaloids/pharmacology* ; Coptis/chemistry* ; Drug Synergism ; Insulin Resistance ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Humans ; Transcriptome/drug effects* ; Blood Glucose/metabolism* ; Hypoglycemic Agents/administration & dosage* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Hepatocytes/metabolism*

Traditional open thyroid surgery often leaves a scar on the neck,which can affect cosmetic outcomes.Therefore,various endoscopic thyroidectomy approaches via extra-cervical approaches have been developed.However,due to the unique anatomical characteristics of the neck and limitations of endoscopic instruments,conventional endoscopic techniques have certain drawbacks.Robot-assisted endoscopic thyroid surgery can help overcome these limitations.At present,robotic surgical systems remain expensive and the associated surgical costs are high,limiting their widespread adoption.Most surgeons are still relatively unfamiliar with the technique.Nevertheless,with ongoing technological advancements and cost reductions,robot-assisted surgery holds great promise for broader application.Based on years of large-scale experience in endoscopic thyroid surgery at our center,and drawing upon both domestic and international experiences with robotic thyroidectomy,this paper summarizes and proposes a seven-step protocol for robot-assisted endoscopic thyroidectomy via the bilateral axillo-breast approach,aiming to provide a practical reference for the clinical adoption of this technique.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of liquid nitrogen cryopreservation and reimplantation versus allograft reconstruction in patients underwent resection of primary malignant bone tumors of the long bones of the extremities.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 144 patients who underwent resection of primary malignant bone tumors of the long bones of the extremities followed by either liquid nitrogen cryopreservation and reimplantation or massive allografts reconstruction at the Beijing Jishuitan Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University from January 2012 to July 2023. The study included 82 males and 62 females, with an average age of 23.8±12.3 years (range, 6-64 years). Patients were divided into two groups based on the reconstruction method: the cryopreservation and reimplantation group (72 cases) and the allograft group (72 cases). The following outcomes were recorded during follow-up: local tumor recurrence, bone union, union time, graft survival, and reasons for graft removal. Graft-related complications were recorded using the modified Henderson classification system of the International Limb Salvage Association. Limb function was assessed at the last follow-up using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score (MSTS-93).Results:All patients completed surgery and were followed up for a mean of 60.2±32.1 months (range, 12-149 months). At the last follow-up, 24 patients were dead from the tumor, 16 patients survived with the tumor (2 cases of local recurrence and 14 cases of distant metastasis), and 104 patients survived without the tumor. The bone union rate and union time in cryopreservation and reimplantation group were 90% (65/72) and 9.6±4.8 months, respectively, which was significantly superior to those in allograft group [68% (49/72) and 15.9±6.7 months, P<0.05]. The 5-year overall graft survival rate was 86.8% [95% CI (80.1%, 95.7%)] in cryopreservation and reimplantation group, higher than 73.2% [95% CI(68.4%, 84.5%)] in allograft group significantly (χ 2=7.122, P=0.017). The rates of graft removal due to non-union and infection in the cryopreservation and reimplantation group were 0% (0/72) and 1.4% (1/72), respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the allograft group [5.6% (4/72) and 9.7% (7/72), P<0.05]. Overall, 48.6% (70/144) of patients experienced at least one graft-related complication, with a complication rate of 33.3% in cryopreservation and reimplantation group, lower than the 61.1% in allograft group significantly (χ 2=11.146, P<0.001). The complications with the highest incidence rate were nonunion (20.8%, 30/144), followed by structural failure (17.4%, 25/144), tumor progression (10.4%, 15/144), infection (10.4%, 15/144), and soft tissue failure (5.6%, 8/144). The incidence rates of the atrophic non-union and the structural failure of grafts were 9.7% (7/72) and 1.4% (1/72) respectively in the cryopreservation and reimplantation group, which were significantly lower compared to the allograft group [29.2% (21/72) and 13.9% (10/72), P<0.05]. At the last follow-up, the MSTS-93 score was 89.7%±8.3% in the cryopreservation and reimplantation group, and 87.6%±7.5% in the allograft group, with no statistically significant difference ( t=0.326, P=0.542). Conclusion:Compared with allograft reconstruction, autologous inactivated bone grafting demonstrated superior bone union efficiency and fewer complications, it may be considered for reconstruction in cases whose tumor bone is not severely osteolytic or pathologically fractured.

Objective:To explore the differences in the CVD risk and lipid profiles in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients with different disease activity and investigate lipid management status in Chinese patients with PsA.Methods:Patients were enrolled from PKUPsA-PC cohort in Peking University First Hospital from January 2016 to January 2024. Data were collected at their first visit, including disease activity score, lipid profiles and treatment. Two modified CVD risk prediction models (modified China-PAR and modified FRS-CVD) were applied to predict the CVD risk over 10 years. All enrolled patients were subsequently stratified into low, intermediate and high-risk groups. The status of lipid target achievement was assessed based on lipid management recommendations proposed by prediction models. In addition, DAPSA was used to stratify PsA patients into remission, low, moderate and high-disease activity groups, and the differences in CVD risk and lipid profiles among PsA patients with different disease activity status were explored. The t test was used for comparison between 2 groups for measures that conformed to normal distribution; the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison between 2 groups for measures that were skewed; and the chi-square test was used for comparison between 2 groups for categorical data.Results:Three hundred and seven PsA patients were included in this study. They were aged 47 (36, 57) years with 121 (39.4%) female, disease duration of skin lesions of 14 (7, 23) years and disease duration of PsA for 3 (1, 8) years. There were 148 (48.2%) patients with dyslipidemia, and 38 (25.7%) of them were receiving lipid lowering drugs. By the modified China-PAR model, there were 174 (56.7%), 76 (24.8%) and 57 (18.5%) in the low-, moderate- and high-risk groups. By the modified FRS-CVD model, there were 173 (56.4%), 58 (18.9%) and 76 (24.7%) patients in the corresponding groups. According to the recommendations for lipid management based on FRS-CVD model, 80 (26.1%) patients did not achieve the target of lipid profile, including 9/174 (5.2%) in the modified model low-risk group, 20/76 (26.3%) in the intermediate-risk group, and 51/57 (89.5%) in the high-risk group, but there were only 12 (15.0%) patients receiving statin therapy. Compared with the remission and low disease activity groups, patients in the moderate-to-high disease activity group were older [50 (37, 60) years vs. 43 (35, 55) years, Z=-2.42, P=0.016]; had a higher proportion of hypertension (30.3% vs. 15.0%, χ2=9.60, P=0.002); and had lower HDL-C levels [1.1 (0.9, 1.3) mmol/L vs. 1.2 (1.0, 1.4) mmol/L, Z=-3.18, P=0.001]. Under the modified China-PAR and modified FRS-CVD risk prediction models, a higher proportion of patients with high disease activity in PsA were stratified at high 10-year CVD risk compared with the remission and low disease activity groups (29.5% vs. 19.6%, χ2=3.81, P=0.005) and (23.5% vs. 12.4%, χ2=6.00, P=0.014). Conclusion:Nearly half of the PsA patients are at medium-high risk to CVD. CVD risk is significantly higher in patients with moderate to high disease activity than in patients with remission and low disease activity. HDL-c levels are lower in patients with high disease activity. Nevertheless a quarter of patients did not achieve the target of lipid profile, and few patients are receiving statin. More attention should be paid to CVD risk evaluation and lipid management as a part of treat-to-target strategy to improve the prognosis.

Spine fracture and dislocation are common traumatic spinal conditions that often require surgical intervention due to compromised spinal stability. Surgical approaches include anterior, posterior, and combined anterior-posterior spinal procedures. According to the specific surgical requirements, patients may be placed in the prone position or repositioned between prone and supine positions during surgery. Intraoperative repositioning has become an essential step in patient positioning. However, during repositioning, patients with spinal fracture and dislocation are at increased risk for complications such as hemodynamic instability, nerve injury, and pressure injuries to the skin and soft tissue. Notably, due to the instability of the spinal cord, even minor manipulations can further exacerbate the damage, potentially leading to severe outcomes like paraplegia. Although the current clinical guidelines provide instructive recommendations for standard position, there remains no specific protocols for intraoperative repositioning in patients with spine fracture and dislocation. With a concern for the lack of clinical studies on positioning techniques, risk prevention, and operational norms for special patients, no applicable guidelines or standards are available. A consensus was required to provide clinical reference, meet the requirements of surgical treatment, and minimize the safety risks of patients caused by improper placement of positions. Professional Committee of Operating Room Nursing of Shaanxi Nursing Association organized experts in nursing management and operating room nursing from major hospitals across China to formulate Expert consensus on intraoperative repositioning for patients with spinal fracture and dislocation ( version 2025). The consensus provides 11 recommendations covering pre-repositioning preparation, intraoperative maneuvers, and post-repositioning observation, aiming to provide references for clinical standardization of the intraoperative repositioning process and protection of patients′ safety.

All four patients were female, with an average age of 28.8 days and an average weight of 3.64 kg. Only case 4 was born prematurely at 34 W+5 and was treated conservatively until 71 days to complete operation. All the others completed primary corrective surgery in the neonatal period, and all survived after operation. Two different surgical techniques were used to repair the aortic-pulmonary window and the aortic origin of the right pulmonary artery, including 1 case using the aortic internal baffle technique and another 3 cases underwent replantation of the right pulmonary artery (1 case was reconstructed in situ, and the other 2 cases were reconstructed by moving the right pulmonary artery in the anterior of aorta). Case 2 who received aortic internal baffle technique underwent two reoperation because of right pulmonary artery stenosis. While, right pulmonary artery of cases 3 and 4 developed well after being reconstructed the right pulmonary artery anterior translocation. After the diagnosis of Berry syndrome through cardiac color ultrasound and CT angiography, a primary surgical radical treatment should be performed as soon as possible at an experienced pediatric cardiac center. Although the surgery is high-risk and complex, it is safe and effective.

Liver transplantation (LT) has become a standard treatment for end-stage liver diseases, and graft injury is intricately associated with poor prognosis. Granzyme B (GZMB) plays a vital role in natural killer (NK) cell biology, but whether NK-derived GZMB affects graft injury remains elusive. Through the analysis of single-cell RNA-sequencing data obtained from human LT grafts and the isolation of lymphocytes from mouse livers following ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), we demonstrated that 2NK cells with high expression of GZMB are enriched in patients and mice. Both systemically and liver-targeted depletion of NK cells led to a notable reduction in GZMB⁺ cell infiltration, subsequently resulting in diminished graft injury. Notably, the reconstitution of Il2rg ^-/- Rag2 ^-/- mice with purified Gzmb-KO NK cells demonstrated superior outcomes compared to those with wild-type NK cells. Crucially, global knockout of GZMB and pharmacological inhibition exhibited remarkable improvements in liver function in both mouse IRI and rat LT models. Moreover, a phosphorylated derivative of FDA-approved vidarabine was identified as an effective inhibitor of mouse GZMB activity by molecular dynamics, which could provide a potential avenue for therapeutic intervention. Therefore, targeting NK cell-derived GZMB during the LT process suggests potential therapeutic strategies to improve post-transplant outcomes.