Objective: To analyze serological and molecular characteristics of asymptomatic HBV infection in HBV surface antigen positive (HBsAg+) blood donors from Dalian. Methods: The prevalence of HBsAg was analyzed among blood donors in Dalian between 2013 and 2022. Randomly selected HBsAg+ blood samples were subjected to HBV serological testing, HBV viral DNA quantification, and HBV genotyping. Results: Over this ten-year period, the prevalence of HBsAg decreased from 1.25% to 0.50% among blood donors in Dalian. Donors who tested positive for HBsAg prior to donation using a rapid test (RT) accounted for 92.5% of all HBsAg+ donors identified. A total of 240 confirmed HBsAg+ blood donors were randomly selected, including 125 donors with positive results and 115 with negative results in the pre-donation rapid test. HBsAg+ donors were mainly males (71.2%), with a median age of 42, and 97.5% of them being first-time donors. Based on HBV serological profiles, three stages of infection were identified: early infection (2.9%), suspected acute hepatitis (0.8%), and chronic infection (96.3%). The dominant HBV genotypes were C (68.9%) and B (28.4%). Among chronic HBV infection individuals, donors infected with HBV genotype B were older than those infected with genotype C (median age: 45y vs 38.5y, P<0.05). Additionally, they showed significantly lower HBsAg levels with a narrower distribution range than those infected with genotype C [median: 23.2 IU/mL (range: <0.05-7 910 IU/mL) vs 968 IU/mL (range: <0.05-3.4×10 ), P<0.05]. However, no significant difference was observed in the HBV DNA loads between these two genotypes (P>0.05). Conclusion: Between 2013 and 2022, the prevalence of HBsAg among blood donors in Dalian showed a year-over-year decline. Chronic infection was predominant among HBsAg+ first-time blood donors. The characteristics of chronic infection in blood donors differed significantly depending on the viral genotype, manifesting as differences in age of infected individuals and HBsAg level distribution.

Objective : To investigate the effects of branched-chain amino acid(BCAA) on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and its potential mechanism. Methods : 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were divided into the Control, differentiation medium(DM), low-concentration BCAA, and high-concentration BCAA groups. A CCK-8 assay was utilized to evaluate pre-adipocyte survival under various BCAA concentrations. Oil-red O staining was used to observe the formation of lipid droplets in adipocytes. Intracellular triglyceride(TG) and total cholesterol(TC) were detected by enzymatic method. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of Stat3 and adipocyte differentiation-related genes. Results : CCK-8 results showed that the viability of 3T3-L1 cells was not affected when the BCAA concentration was ≤ 10 mmol/L. Compared with the DM group, the low-concentration BCAA groups(0.5 and 1.0 mmol/L) had significantly larger intracellular lipid droplets, increased number of lipid droplets, and elevated levels of the intracellular TC(0.88vs0.68 mmol/g; 0.83vs0.68 mmol/g,P<0.01) and TG(0.77vs0.40 mmol/g; 0.62vs0.40 mmol/g,P<0.01). Nevertheless, the cell differentiation in the high-concentration group(5.0 and 10.0 mmol/L) significantly decreased compared with that in the DM group. Further, levels of PPARγ, C/EBPα, Adiponectin, and FABP4 mRNA and protein expression significantly increased in the low-concentration group, but significantly decreased in the high-concentration group than that in the DM group(P<0.01). In addition, low concentrations of BCAA promoted stat3 phosphorylation, while high concentrations inhibited its phosphorylation(P<0.01). Conclusion BCAA have a dual role in regulating the differentiation of preadipocytes through Stat3, i.e. low concentrations of BCAA induce cell differentiation by promoting Stat3 phosphorylation; whereas high concentrations of BCAA inhibit Stat3 phosphorylation and cell differentiation.

Objective To study the relationship between blood microRNA-133b(miR-133b)and solu-ble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1(sFLT1)levels with the prognosis in the patients with endometrial cancer.Methods A total of 122 patients with endometrial cancer visited in the gynecology department of this hospital from January 2015 to January 2016 were prospectively selected as the study subjects,and divided into the sur-vival group(n=58)and death group(n=64)according to the 5-year prognosis of the patients with endome-trial cancer.The miR-133b and sFLT1 levels were compared between the two groups.The COX regression was used to analyze the relationship between miR-133b and sFLT1 with the prognosis of the patients with en-dometrial cancer.Results The levels of miR-133b and sFLT1 in the survival group were higher than those in the death group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).The median survival time in the miR-133b low-level group was shorter than that in the miR-133b high level group,and the difference was sta-tistically significant(P＜0.05).The median survival time of the sFLT1 low level group was shoeter than that in the sFLT1 high level group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The FIGO stageⅢ-Ⅳ and lymph node metastasis were the independent risk factors for the prognosis of endometrial cancer(P＜0.05),and the pathological G1-G2,high level of miR-133b and sFLT1 were the independent protective factors for the prognosis of endometrial cancer(P＜0.05).Conclusion The miR-133b and sFLTl low levels in the patients with endometrial cancer are associated with the disease progression,and both are the independ-ent risk factors of prognosis.

Objective:To establish a predictive model for post-induction hypotension (PIH) in the patients undergoing colorectal cancer resection using machine learning algorithms based on muscle CT parameters.Methods:This was a single-center, retrospective study. Electronic medical records from 318 patients who underwent colorectal cancer resection from September 1, 2018 to September 30, 2021 at our hospital were collected. Predictive variables included age, gender, body mass index, hemoglobin, American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification, TNM staging, age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index, prognostic nutritional index, L 3 level skeletal muscle index, and muscle quality assessed by Hounsfield unit average calculation. The outcome variable was PIH. The training and testing sets were divided based on the timeline (patients before September 1, 2020 were included in the training set, and those after that date were included in the testing set). The filtering method was used to screen the feature variables. Eight models, including logistic regression, Bayesian models, K-nearest neighbors, support vector machines, neural networks, decision trees, extreme gradient boosting trees, and random forests, were established in the training set using over-sampling technique, repeated cross-validation and hyperparameter optimization. After selecting the best model, a sorting chart of the feature variables, a univariate partial dependency profile, and a breakdown profile were drawn. In the testing set, the confusion matrix and parameters were calculated, and the receiver operating characteristic curve, precision recall curve, calibration curve, and decision curve were drawn to evaluate the performance of the predictive model. Results:The screened feature variables were Hounsfield unit average calculation value, age, L 3 level skeletal muscle index, prognostic nutritional index, hemoglobin and body mass index. The random forest was the optimal model, with an accuracy of 0.985 9, a MCC of 0.970 8, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 1.0, and the area under the precision recall curve was 1.0. The Brier score of the calibration curve was 0.076 6; the decision curve showed the highest clinical net benefit of 0.6. Conclusions:In this study, machine learning algorithm is used to identify the important characteristic variables and establish a high-performance PIH prediction model based on muscle CT parameters.

AIM:To investigate the effect of hypericin(Hyp)on the heart of rats with myocardial ischemia-re-perfusion injury(MIRI),and to explore its mechanism.METHODS:Thirty SPF male SD rats were divided into 5 groups:sham group,MIRI group,low-dose Hyp(L-Hyp)group(MIRI+L-Hyp group),high-dose Hyp(H-Hyp)group(MIRI+H-Hyp group),and positive control trimetazidine(TMZ)group(MIRI+TMZ group),with 6 rats in each group.Apart from the sham group,the MIRI model was established by ligating the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery and then recanalizing it in the remaining four groups of rats.The success of the modeling was determined by monitor-ing the electrocardiogram.We assessed the cardiac function in rats using echocardiography.TTC staining was employed to measure the area of myocardial infarction in rats,and HE staining was utilized to observe the morphological traits of rat myocardium.We assayed the activities of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)and the levels of malondialdehyde(MDA)in rat serum using biochemical kits.ELISA kits were applied to assess the contents of cardiac troponin I(cTnI)and reactive oxygen species(ROS)in rat serum.Western blot analysis was perfomed to measure the pro-tein expression levels of AMPK,p-AMPK,Nrf2,and HO-1 in rat myocardial tissues.RESULTS:The rats in MIRI group exhibited increased myocardial tissue injury,larger myocardial infarction areas,decreased left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),and reduced left ventricular fractional shortening(LVFS)compared with sham group,as shown by echo-cardiography.Additionally,there were increases in LDH activity,cTnI,MDA and ROS levels,along with significant de-creases in SOD activity,and p-AMPK,Nrf2 and HO-1 protein levels(P<0.05).Compared with MIRI group,the rats in MIRI+L-Hyp,MIRI+H-Hyp and MIRI+TMZ groups showed decreased myocardial histopathological damage and reduced myocardial tissue infarction area,increased LVEF and LVFS,and lowered serum levels of LDH activity,cTnI,MDA and ROS,while SOD activity,p-AMPK,Nrf2 and HO-1 protein levels were elevated(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Hypericin attenuates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats,possibly by modulating the AMPK/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling path-way.

Objective To investigate the effect of computer-aided diagnosis(CAD)as a"second reader"integrated in prostate cancer(PCa)multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging(mpMRI)on the diagnostic performance.Methods Sixty-four patients were recruited retrospectively.Six readers were divided into 3 groups according to the experience.Unknown the pathologic diagnosis,readers graded according to prostate imaging reporting and data system(PI-RADS)v2.1 and accepted or rejected the revision of PI-RADS v2.1 scores by CAD.Using pathology as the gold standard,the diagnostic efficiency,diagnostic confidence and reading time of PI-RADS v2.1 were compared before and after CAD assistant.Results On the level of lesions,without CAD,the area under the curve(AUC)of reader A1 was higher than B1,C1 and C2,and the AUC of reader A2 was higher than C1 and C2,the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).While the difference of AUC among other readers were not significant(P＞0.05).With CAD,the difference of AUC among all readers were not significant(P＞0.05).On the level of patients,the mean AUC of all readers with CAD[0.903,95％confidence interval(CI)0.848-0.958]was higher than that without CAD(0.863,95％CI 0.800-0.929),the differ-ence was statistically significant(F=6.52,P=0.040).The difference of AUC between without and with CAD assistance was-0.040(95％CI-0.078--0.003),standard deviation was 0.016,the difference was statistically significant(t=-2.55,P=0.040).The diag-nostic confidence of readers was improved significantly with CAD(P＜0.05).Besides,the average reading time of each case required an additional 0.8 min.Conclusion After integrating CAD into PCa mpMRI diagnosis as a"second reader",the performance of less experienced readers can be improved and show similar diagnostic efficiency with experienced readers.

Background:The musk glands of adult male Chinese forest musk deer(Moschus berezovskii Flerov,1929)(FMD),which are considered as special skin glands,secrete a mixture of sebum,lipids,and proteins into the musk pod.Together,these components form musk,which plays an important role in attracting females during the breeding season.However,the relationship between the musk glands and skin of Chinese FMD remains undiscovered.Here,the musk gland and skin of Chinese FMD were examined using histological analysis and RNA sequencing(RNA-seq),and the expression of key regulatory genes was evaluated to determine whether the musk gland is derived from the skin.Methods:A comparative analysis of musk gland anatomy between juvenile and adult Chinese FMD was conducted.Then,based on the anatomical structure of the musk gland,skin tissues from the abdomen and back as well as musk gland tissues were obtained from three juvenile FMD.These tissues were used for RNA-seq,hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining,immunohistochemistry(IHC),western blot(WB),and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)experiments.Results:Anatomical analysis showed that only adult male FMD had a complete glandular organ and musk pod,while juvenile FMD did not have any well-developed musk pods.Transcriptomic data revealed that 88.24%of genes were co-expressed in the skin and musk gland tissues.Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)signaling pathway analysis found that the genes co-expressed in the abdomen skin,back skin,and musk gland were enriched in biological development,endocrine system,lipid metabolism,and other pathways.Gene Ontology(GO)enrichment analysis indicated that the genes expressed in these tissues were enriched in biological processes such as multicellular development and cell division.Moreover,the Metascape predictive analysis tool demonstrated that genes expressed in musk glands were skin tissue-specific.qRT-PCR and WB revealed that sex-determining region Y-box protein 9(Sox9),Caveolin-1(Cav-1),and androgen receptor(AR)were expressed in all three tissues,although the expression levels differed among the tissues.According to the IHC results,Sox9 and AR were expressed in the nuclei of sebaceous gland,hair follicle,and musk gland cells,whereas Cav-1 was expressed in the cell membrane.Conclusions:The musk gland of Chinese FMD may be a derivative of skin tissue,and Sox9,Cav-1,and AR may play significant roles in musk gland development.

【Objective】 To investigate whether the current retention methods in blood stations can fully meet the traceability requirements of blood test results by analyzing the traceability of retained samples for syphilis antibody testing. 【Methods】 Thirty-four one-assay-positive deep-well plate retention samples, 68 double-assay-positive deep-well plate retention samples and 263 negative retention blood braids and corresponding deep-well plate retention samples that expired retention period for syphilis antibody testing from 2014 to 2020 in our center were collected. The TP-ELISA assays of two manufacturers were used for retesting, and the results were recorded and compared with the original results statistically. 【Results】 The concordance rate of the double-assay-positive and single-assay-positive samples with their corresponding deep-well plate samples was 98.53%(67/68) and 67.65%(23/34), respectively(P<0.05). Specific results for single-assay-positive syphilis antibody samples and their corresponding deep-well plate retention samples were as follows: 1) Single positive (reagent A): 13 out of 14 original samples were 0.65