Atherosclerosis （AS） is a chronic and inflammatory vascular disease. Macrophages are common immune cells and play an important role in the development of AS. In recent years， research has found that the formation of AS plaques is closely related to pathological and physiological processes such as macrophage polarization， energy metabolism， and lipid phagocytosis. This review aims to summarize the mechanism of macrophages in the development of AS， and to explore potential therapeutic methods for delaying AS by regulating macrophages， providing new ideas for the treatment and research of AS.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for postoperative recurrence and metastasis in patients with T1 stageⅢ/Ⅳ clear cell renal cell carcinoma(ccRCC), and to analyze the influence of surgical methods on prognosis, so as to provide prognostic evaluation and treatment guidance for clinical practice. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 398 patients diagnosed with T1 stage Ⅲ/Ⅳ ccRCC who underwent either partial nephrectomy(PN)or radical nephrectomy(RN)at Jiangsu Province Hospital during Jan. 2008 and Sep. 2022. The patients were divided into recurrence group(n=49)and non-recurrence group(n=349)according to whether the tumor recurred during the follow-up period. The general, clinical data and prognosis were compared between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to explore the factors influencing disease-free survival(DFS)and overall survival(OS)after surgery. Subgroup analysis using Kaplan-Meier curves was performed for T1a and T1b patients. Results During the median follow-up of 67(42, 98)months, the recurrence group was characterized by older age, larger tumor diameter, higher proportion of T1b stage, and more complex tumor anatomy. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that age ≥55 years and R.E.N.A.L. score ≥7 were independent risk factors for poorer DFS and OS(P＜0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed that PN or RN did not significantly affect DFS or OS in T1a patients and OS in T1b patients, while RN significantly improved DFS in T1b patients(P＜0.05). Conclusion Age ≥55 years and R.E.N.A.L. score ≥7 are independent risk factors for poor DFS and OS in highgrade T1 ccRCC patients. For T1b patients, RN may improve DFS.

Objective To observe the value of 80 kVp combined with artificial intelligence iterative reconstruction(AIIR)in lower extremity CT angiography(CTA)of diabetic foot.Methods Sixty patients with diabetic foot were prospectively enrolled and divided into experimental group and control group(each n=30).Lower extremity CTA was performed using 80 kVp combined with AIIR in experimental group,while using 120 kVp combined with hybrid iterative reconstruction(HIR)in control group.The subjective and objective evaluation results of imaging quality,as well as the radiation dose of scanning were compared between groups.Results Compared with control group,images in experimental group showed higher subjective scores(5[5,5]vs.4[4,4]),displayed more branches of lower limb arteries(both P＜0.05),while the radiation dose decreased by 59.76％ ([8.29±0.53]mSv vs.[20.60±2.42]mSv).CT values,signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)of each lower extremity artery segments were higher,while the noise of each lower extremity artery segments in experimental group were lower than those in control group(all P＜0.05).Conclusion 80 kVp combined with AIIR could reduce radiation dose and improve imaging quality of lower extremity CTA of diabetic foot,hence being helpful to displaying small arteries of lower extremity,such as dorsalis pedis arteries and common plantar metatarsal arteries.

Objective To observe conventional ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)manifestations of Ewing sarcoma(ES)in children.Methods Fifteen children with pathologically confirmed ES were retrospectively collected.Conventional ultrasound and CEUS characteristics of lesions were analyzed.Results Among 15 cases,ES of bone(ESB)was found in 7 cases,while extraskeletal ES(EES)was observed in the other 8 cases.Solitary tumor was noticed in 14 cases,with a median maximum diameter of 7.50 cm,while multiple abdominal masses were found in 1 case.The tumors had irregular shapes and poorly defined boundaries,with medium echogenicity in 7 cases,low echogenicity in 6 cases,while in other 2 cases present as cystic-solid lesions.CDFI showed sparse blood flow in 11 cases,abundant or slightly abundant blood flow in 2 and 1 case,respectively,while no obvious blood flow was observed in 1 case.Rapid high enhancement and rapid washout were found in all 7 cases underwent CEUS,while patchy no-enhancement areas were detected in 4 cases.Conclusion Conventional ultrasonic manifestations of ES had certain specificities,which demonstrated a rapid enhancement and rapid washout pattern during CEUS and may be accompanied by necrosis.

Objective To explore the mechanism of Lidan Huatan Huoxue Decoction improving cognitive impairment caused by obesity based on metabolomics.Methods Twenty-four 6-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group fed with regular diet(Con,n=6)and a modeling group fed with high-fat and high-sugar diet(n=18).Rats with a body mass that is 20%higher than the standard body mass of their age-matched peers fed with ordinary diet were considered to have a successful obese model established.The presence of cognitive impairment was assessed by Morris water maze and Barnes maze tests.After the obese-induced cognitive impairment(OICI)model was established,the modeling rats were randomly divided into a model group(Model,n=6),a donepezil group(Donepezil,n=6),and a Lidan Huatan Huoxue Decoction group(LHH,n=6).Drugs were administered to the donepezil and LHH groups by gastric intubation.The donepezil group was administered with a dose of 0.45 mg·(kg·d)-1,while the LHH group was administered with a dose of 25 g·(kg·d)-1.The normal and model groups were given the same volume of normal saline by gastric intubation for 8 weeks.Before the rats were sacrificed,water maze and Barnes maze experiments were conducted to assess cognitive function.After sacrifice,specimens were collected for biochemical and histological examination of liver tissue and brain tissue.Non-targeted metabolomic analysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS)was performed on feces,serum,and brain tissue to analyze changes in differential metabolites in rats.Results Compared with the model group,the intervention of Donepezil and LHH effectively improved the learning and memory ability of OICI rats(P<0.05 or P<0.01),inhibited the overactivation of hippocampal microglia,and increased the number of hippocampal synaptic proteins.LHH improved metabolic-related indicators in OICI rats(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Metabolomic analysis showed significant differences in metabolites in feces,serum,and brain tissue between the model group and the normal group.The main affected pathways in fecal metabolites included steroid biosynthesis,caffeine metabolism,lysosome,vitamin B6 metabolism,phenylalanine,tyrosine,and tryptophan biosynthesis.The main affected pathways in serum metabolites included central carbon metabolism in cancer,pentose phosphate pathway,mineral absorption,protein digestion and absorption,and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis.The main affected pathways in brain tissue metabolites included glycerophospholipid metabolism,β-alanine metabolism,propionic acid metabolism,niacin and nicotinamide metabolism,and caffeine metabolism.After LHH intervention,fecal metabolites showed the most significant changes,mainly involving vitamin B6 metabolism,vitamin digestion and absorption,histidine metabolism,fructose and mannose metabolism,and steroid biosynthesis.Conclusion LHH can improve cognitive impairment in obese rats mainly by regulating fecal metabolites.The main pathways involved include vitamin B6 metabolism,vitamin digestion and absorption,histidine metabolism,fructose and mannose metabolism,and steroid biosynthesis.Among them,vitamin B6 metabolism and vitamin digestion and absorption may be the most important pathways.

Objective To explore the mechanism of Lidan Huatan Huoxue Decoction improving cognitive impairment caused by obesity based on metabolomics.Methods Twenty-four 6-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group fed with regular diet(Con,n=6)and a modeling group fed with high-fat and high-sugar diet(n=18).Rats with a body mass that is 20%higher than the standard body mass of their age-matched peers fed with ordinary diet were considered to have a successful obese model established.The presence of cognitive impairment was assessed by Morris water maze and Barnes maze tests.After the obese-induced cognitive impairment(OICI)model was established,the modeling rats were randomly divided into a model group(Model,n=6),a donepezil group(Donepezil,n=6),and a Lidan Huatan Huoxue Decoction group(LHH,n=6).Drugs were administered to the donepezil and LHH groups by gastric intubation.The donepezil group was administered with a dose of 0.45 mg·(kg·d)-1,while the LHH group was administered with a dose of 25 g·(kg·d)-1.The normal and model groups were given the same volume of normal saline by gastric intubation for 8 weeks.Before the rats were sacrificed,water maze and Barnes maze experiments were conducted to assess cognitive function.After sacrifice,specimens were collected for biochemical and histological examination of liver tissue and brain tissue.Non-targeted metabolomic analysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS)was performed on feces,serum,and brain tissue to analyze changes in differential metabolites in rats.Results Compared with the model group,the intervention of Donepezil and LHH effectively improved the learning and memory ability of OICI rats(P<0.05 or P<0.01),inhibited the overactivation of hippocampal microglia,and increased the number of hippocampal synaptic proteins.LHH improved metabolic-related indicators in OICI rats(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Metabolomic analysis showed significant differences in metabolites in feces,serum,and brain tissue between the model group and the normal group.The main affected pathways in fecal metabolites included steroid biosynthesis,caffeine metabolism,lysosome,vitamin B6 metabolism,phenylalanine,tyrosine,and tryptophan biosynthesis.The main affected pathways in serum metabolites included central carbon metabolism in cancer,pentose phosphate pathway,mineral absorption,protein digestion and absorption,and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis.The main affected pathways in brain tissue metabolites included glycerophospholipid metabolism,β-alanine metabolism,propionic acid metabolism,niacin and nicotinamide metabolism,and caffeine metabolism.After LHH intervention,fecal metabolites showed the most significant changes,mainly involving vitamin B6 metabolism,vitamin digestion and absorption,histidine metabolism,fructose and mannose metabolism,and steroid biosynthesis.Conclusion LHH can improve cognitive impairment in obese rats mainly by regulating fecal metabolites.The main pathways involved include vitamin B6 metabolism,vitamin digestion and absorption,histidine metabolism,fructose and mannose metabolism,and steroid biosynthesis.Among them,vitamin B6 metabolism and vitamin digestion and absorption may be the most important pathways.

Objective To investigate the safety and efficacy of combined confluence microdissection or balloon dilatation followed by laparoscopic transcystic common bile duct exploration (LTCBDE) in day surgery laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods The clinical data of 203 patients with day surgery laparoscopic cholecystectomy combined with LTCBDE from June 2021 to June 2024 in Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into an observation group (59 cases, including 42 cases of confluent microdissection and 17 cases of balloon dilatation) and a conventional group (144 cases) according to the surgical technique used. Baseline characteristics, intraoperative exploration results, operation time, postoperative recovery and complications were compared between the two groups. Results The history of preoperative cholangitis or pancreatitis (P<0.001) was more common in the observation group. And total bilirubin level was significantly higher in the observation group than in the conventional group (P=0.035). The observation group had a longer operative time (P=0.014) and higher hospitalization costs (P=0.001), but there was no difference in intraoperative bleeding and postoperative discharge time. There were no serious postoperative complications in either group. Conclusions Under the premise of strict patient screening, day surgery LTCBDE combined with confluence microdissection or balloon dilatation can effectively solve the problem of difficult choledochoscopic access, with high safety and thoroughness of exploration. Both techniques provide a feasible minimally observation solution for day surgery biliary exploration.

Background and purpose:Members of the serine protease inhibitor(SERPIN)family can influence tumorigenesis,progression,and prognosis by modulating processes such as apoptosis,invasion,metastasis,and angiogenesis in tumor cells.However,their role in pancreatic cancer remains unclear.This study aimed to investigate the impact of high expression of serine protease inhibitor A3(SERPINA3)on the proliferation,apoptosis,migration,and chemoresistance of pancreatic cancer cells and its mechanism.Methods:This study analyzed the SERPINA3 expression levels in the normal pancreatic ductal epithelial cell line hTERT-HPNE and pancreatic cancer cell lines SW1990,Capan-1,PANC-1,and ASPC-1 by real-time reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR).We established gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cell lines PANC-1/R and ASPC-1/R,and used qRT-PCR assay and cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)to determine the SERPINA3 expression levels in the constructed resistant cell lines and their parental sensitive cell lines,as well as the differences in their chemosensitivity to gemcitabine.We constructed the SERPINA3-knockdown cell line si-SERPINA with siRNA,and the negative control group si-SERPINA#NC with siRNA negative control.We used MDA assay,CCK-8 assay,EdU cell proliferation assay,transwell migration assay,matrigel invasion assay,scratch assay,and apoptotic assay to respectively detect the lipid oxidation levels,proliferation,migration,invasion,wound-healing ability,and the influence on apoptosis of the gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cells in the si-SERPINA group and the si-SERPINA#NC group.Results:Compared with normal pancreatic ductal epithelial cells hTERT-HPNE,the expression level of SERPINA3 in various pancreatic cancer cell lines was significantly increased(P＜0.05).mRNA and protein expression levels of SERPINA3 in PANC-1/R and ASPC-1/R were significantly increased compared with those in parent cells(P＜0.001).When SERPINA3 was knocked down in PANC-1/R and ASPC-1/R cells,the survival rate of the cells under different concentrations of gemcitabine chemotherapy decreased,and MDA detected that the lipid oxidation level was increased(P＜0.001).In addition,the proliferation rate of PANC-1/R and ASPC-1/R cell lines with SERPINA3 knockout,the number of migrating/invading cells and the healing rate of scratch test were significantly decreased(P＜0.01),and flow cytometry demonstrated that the number of apoptotic cells was increased(P＜0.05).These results suggest that SERPINA3 knockdown can inhibit the proliferation,migration,invasion and wound healing ability of gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cells,and promote the apoptosis of these resistant cells.Conclusion:SERPINA3 overexpression was found in various pancreatic cancer cells.SERPINA3 overexpression promoted malignant progression and chemotherapy resistance of pancreatic cancer,and interference with SERPINA3 expression promoted ferroptosis and enhanced chemotherapy sensitivity of gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cells.

Purpose To investigate the correlation between tumor budding in penile squamous cell carcinoma(SCC)and its clinicopathological features.Methods Clinical data and pathological slides from 69 cases of penile SCC were collected.Tumor budding was examined microscopically,and statistical analyses were performed to assess the relationship between tumor budding and various clinicopathological features.Results Among the 69 cases of pe-nile SCC,41 cases exhibited low-grade tumor budding and 28 cases displayed high-grade tumor budding.Tumor bud-ding was significantly correlated with tumor size,urethral invasion,invasion of the urethral corpus spongiosum,inva-sion of the penile corpus cavernosum,tumor necrosis,nerve invasion,vascular tumor thrombus,and pathological T stage(all P＜0.05).In contrast,no significant association was found between tumor budding and HPV-related versus non-HPV-related penile SCC(P＞0.05).Log-rank survival analysis indicated that patients with high-grade tumor bud-ding had a significantly lower survival rate compared to those with low-grade tumor budding(P＜0.05).Conclusion Tumor budding is a distinct pathological feature of penile SCC,and high-grade tumor budding is associated with a more aggressive biological behavior.

Objective:To investigate the value of MULTI-parametric MR imaging with flexible design (MTP) combined with microview diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in predicting pituitary tumor invasion of cavernous sinus.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. The clinicopathological and imaging data of 59 patients with suspected pituitary tumor who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from December 2021 to August 2024 were prospectively analyzed. According to Knosp classification, patients with pituitary tumor were divided into non-invasive group (28 cases) and invasive group (31 cases). All patients underwent MTP and microview DWI sequence scanning, and the corresponding parameter values [T 1, R 2*, T 2* and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)] were measured on the MTP quantitative map and ADC map at the maximum diameter level of the pituitary tumor. Independent sample t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare the clinical data, quantitative parameter values and proliferation index (Ki-67) between the non-invasive group and the invasive group. Quantitative parameter values with statistically significant differences were jointly included in logistic regression to construct the model. Receiver characteristic curve and area under the curve (AUC) were used to analyze single variables and logistic model in predicting the value invasion of pituitary tumor cavernous sinus invasion. Spearman correlation was used to analyze the correlation between the quantitative values and Ki-67 level. Results:There was no significant difference in age and gender between the non-invasive group and the invasive group ( P>0.05). T 1 and T 2* values in invasion group were higher than those in non-invasion group ( Z=4.42, P<0.001; Z=3.43, P<0.001), R 2* values and ADC values in the invasion group were lower than those in the non-invasion group, and the difference was statistically significant (t=4.07, P<0.001; Z=-3.07, P=0.002). The AUC values of T 1, R 2*, T 2*, ADC, logistic model 1(T 1+R 2*+ADC) and logistic model 2(T 1+T 2*+ADC) for predicting pituitary tumor cavernous sinus invasion were 0.835, 0.767, 0.760, 0.733, 0.926 and 0.925, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that the value of pituitary tumor T 1 was positively correlated with Ki-67 ( r=0.431, P=0.002). Conclusion:Quantitative parameters of MTP sequence and microview DWI sequence can quantitatively evaluate pituitary tumor invasion of cavernous sinus, and the combination of the two sequences can significantly improve the prediction efficiency.