Objective:To investigate the effect of abdominal circumference on intestinal radiation dose volume and acute intestinal toxicity in pelvic intensity modulated radiation therapy for rectal cancer.Methods:A total of 150 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) who received adjuvant and neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy at the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guizhou Medical University from March 2023 to January 2025 were enrolled, including 82 cases of adjuvant radiotherapy and 68 cases of neoadjuvant radiotherapy. All patients underwent radiotherapy CT simulation positioning in the standard mode of prone position with abdominal board padding and bladder filling. Intestinal toxicity was categorized as a binary variable based on the occurrence of ≥2 grade acute intestinal toxicity. Linear and logistic regression models were used to analyze the factors influencing intestinal radiation dose volumes (V 10, V 20, V 30, V 40) and acute intestinal toxicity in LARC patients. Generalized additive models and piecewise linear and logistic regression analyses were employed to examine the threshold effects of abdominal circumference on intestinal radiation dose volumes and acute intestinal toxicity. The threshold value for abdominal circumference was determined based on the upper limit of the 95% CI for the threshold. A difference test was used to validate the differences in intestinal radiation dose volume and acute intestinal toxicity between small and medium-to-large abdominal circumferences. Results:Univariate analysis showed that, gender, body mass, abdominal circumference, planning target volume (PTV), intestinal volume were all influencing factors for the radiation dose volumes (V 10, V 20, V 30, V 40) of each intestinal segment of patients with LARC undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy (all P<0.05). Body mass, abdominal circumference, intestinal volume were all influencing factors for the radiation dose volumes (V 10, V 20, V 30, V 40) of each intestinal segment of patients with LARC undergoing neoadjuvant radiotherapy (all P<0.05). Body mass index (BMI), abdominal circumference, intestinal volume and individual intestinal radiation volumes (V 10, V 20, V 30, V 40) were all influencing factors for the acute intestinal toxicity of patients with LARC undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy (all P<0.05). Body mass, BMI, abdominal circumference, multiple intestinal radiation dose volumes (V 20, V 30, V 40) were all influencing factors for the acute intestinal toxicity of patients with LARC undergoing neoadjuvant radiotherapy (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that, abdominal circumference (V 10: β=-1.01, 95% CI: -1.68--0.33, P=0.004; V 20: β=-0.94, 95% CI: -1.28--0.60, P<0.001; V 30: β=-0.58, 95% CI: -0.82--0.34, P<0.001; V 40: β=-0.41, 95% CI: -0.60--0.23, P<0.001) was an independent influencing factor for the radiation dose volume of each intestinal segment of patients with LARC undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy. Abdominal circumference (V 10: β=-0.92, 95% CI: -1.62--0.22, P=0.010; V 20: β=-0.84, 95% CI: -1.11--0.57, P<0.001; V 30: β=-0.42, 95% CI: -0.57--0.28, P<0.001; V 40: β=-0.30, 95% CI: -0.41--0.19, P<0.001) was an independent influencing factor for the radiation dose volume of each intestinal segment of patients with LARC undergoing neoadjuvant radiotherapy. Abdominal circumference ( OR=0.86, 95% CI: 0.78-0.95, P=0.002) was an independent influencing factor for the acute intestinal toxicity of patients with LARC undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy. Abdominal circumference ( OR=0.87, 95% CI: 0.79-0.96, P=0.004) was an independent influencing factor for the acute intestinal toxicity of patients with LARC undergoing neoadjuvant radiotherapy. The generalized additive model revealed a nonlinear relationship between abdominal circumference and intestinal radiation dose volume and acute intestinal toxicity of adjuvant radiotherapy patients. Further segmented regression analysis results showed that there was a threshold effect between abdominal circumference and intestinal radiation dose volume (V 10, V 20, V 30, V 40) and acute intestinal toxicity. The inflection point values between abdominal circumference and intestinal radiation dose volume V 10, V 20, V 30, V 40 in LARC patients undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy were all 71.9 cm; the inflection point values between abdominal circumference and the intestinal radiation dose volume V 10, V 20, V 30, V 40 in LARC patients undergoing neoadjuvant radiotherapy were 69.0, 69.0, 69.0, 68.6 cm, respectively; The inflection point values between abdominal circumference and acute intestinal toxicity in LARC patients undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy and neoadjuvant radiotherapy were 71.9, 69.0 cm, respectively. Based on the upper limit of the 95% CI threshold, the cutoff values for small and medium-to-large abdominal circumferences for patients undergoing adjuvant and neoadjuvant radiotherapy were set at 76.1, 71.9 cm, respectively. In patients undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy, the levels of intestinal radiation dose volume V 10 [ (7.65±2.29) cm 3vs. (5.88±2.68) cm 3, t=2.76, P=0.007], V 20 [ (4.28±1.27) cm 3vs. (2.72±1.31) cm 3, t=4.81, P<0.001], V 30 [ (2.42±1.07) cm 3vs. (1.37±0.76) cm 3, t=4.95, P<0.001], V 40 [ (1.69±0.74) cm 3vs. (0.92±0.58) cm 3, t=4.93, P<0.001] in the small abdominal circumference group ( n=22) were significantly higher than those in patients with medium-to-large abdominal circumferences ( n=60) ; In patients undergoing neoadjuvant radiotherapy, patients with small abdominal circumferences ( n=11) had significantly higher V 20 [ (3.09±0.84) cm 3vs. (2.28±1.17) cm 3, t=2.17, P=0.033], V 30 [1.44 (1.22, 1.53) cm 3vs. 0.91 (0.56, 1.22) cm 3, Z=-3.04, P=0.002], V 40 [0.93 (0.84, 1.09) cm 3vs. 0.44 (0.30, 0.81) cm 3, Z=-3.19, P=0.001] than patients with medium-to-large abdominal circumferences ( n=57). In patients receiving adjuvant radiotherapy and neoadjuvant radiotherapy, there were statistically significant differences in acute intestinal toxicity between patients with small abdominal circumferences and with medium-to-large abdominal circumferences ( χ2=10.46, P=0.001; χ2=8.13, P=0.004) . Conclusions:In the standard mode (prone position with abdominal board padding and bladder filling), abdominal circumference is an independent factor influencing the intestinal radiation dose volume and acute intestinal toxicity in rectal cancer radiotherapy patients. There is a significant non-linear threshold effect between abdominal circumference and different levels of intestinal radiation dose volume and acute intestinal toxicity. The impact of abdominal circumference on intestinal radiation dose volume and toxicity differs significantly before and after the inflection point value. Patients with smaller abdominal circumferences not only fail to achieve the expected benefits under the current standard radiotherapy regimen but also face higher risks of intestinal radiation dose volume and toxicity.

Objective To discuss the factors influencing the occurrence of frailty in patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI)after receiving interventional treatment,and to construct a prediction model,to draw a nomogram,and to make the validation of the model.Methods Using convenient sampling method,a total of 462 patients with AMI,who were admitted to the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine of three Grade Ⅲ-A hospitals in Shandong Province of China from July 2023 to January 2024,were selected as the study subjects.Among them,324 AMI patients encountered from July 2023 to November 2023 were selected as modeling group,and logistic regression was used to construct a risk prediction model and draw a nomogram to visualize the model.The remaining 138 AMI patients encountered from December 2023 to January 2024 were used as the validation group.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve and Hosmer-Lemeshow testing were adopted to verify the predictive effect of the model.Results Of 324 patients in the modeling group,170(52.47％)developed frailty.Univariate analysis showed that significant differences in age,education level,body mass index(BMI),Charlson comorbidity index,grip strength,walking speed,brain natriuretic peptide precursor level,physical exercise,multiple medication,and kinesophobia existed between the two groups(all P＜0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age,BMI,Charlson comorbidity index,grip strength,walking speed,NT-ProBNP precursor level,physical exercise,multiple medication,and kinesophobia were the influencing factors of frailty in patients with AMI after receiving interventional treatment,with an OR value of 1.061,0.630,1.529,0.931,0.005,0.358,1.783,2.929,and 0.497 respectively.The above nine factors were used as independent variables to draw the nomogram,the area under ROC curve of the model was 0.851(95％CI:0.809-0.892),the optimal critical value was 0.562,the sensitivity was 84.1％,and the specificity was 72.1％.Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit testing showed that the model had anx2=12.957 and P=0.113.Conclusion The frailty condition of AMI patients after receiving interventional treatment is at a low to medium levels.The frailty risk prediction model constructed in this study has good prediction effect,which can provide guidance for clinical nurses to timely identify high-risk patients and to promptly adopt interventional measures.

AIM: To investigate the potential of human induced pluripotent stem cells(hiPSCs)differentiating into corneal epithelial cells in the simulated limbal stem cells(LSCs)microenvironment.METHODS: The hiPSC cell lines were established in vitro, and hiPSCs were co-cultured with corneal stromal cells in transwell system, which simulated the LSC microenvironment. Bone morphogenetic protein 4(BMP4)and a specific transforming growth factor β inhibitor(SB431542)were added to improve the differentiation efficacy. The expression of corneal epithelial cell-specific markers CK3 and CK12, corneal epithelial cell precursor CK15, and the limbal stem cell markers ABCG5 were determined by immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry.RESULTS: The hiPSCs were actively proliferated in vitro, and immunofluorescence staining showed positive stem cell-specific markers OCT4, SOX2, TRA-1-60 and NANOG. Furthermore, hiPSCs co-cultured with corneal stromal cells exhibited LSCs markers ABCG5 and corneal epithelial cell precursor markers CK15 were positive; however, corneal epithelial cell markers CK3 and CK12 were negative. With the addition of BMP4 and SB431542, hiPSCs showed positive expression of CK3, and the CK3 expression increased over the time.CONCLUSION: With the addition of SB431542 and BMP4, hiPSCs cultured in simulated LSCs microenvironment could differentiate into corneal epithelial cells.

Following the principles of evidence-based medicine,in accordance with the structure and drafting rules of standardized documents,based on literature research,according to the characteristics of chronic cough in children and issues that need to form a consensus,the TCM Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Cough in Children was formulated based on the Delphi method,expert discussion meetings,and public solicitation of opinions.The guideline includes scope of application,terms and definitions,eti-ology and diagnosis,auxiliary examination,treatment,prevention and care.The aim is to clarify the optimal treatment plan of Chinese medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease,and to provide guidance for improving the clinical diagnosis and treatment of chronic cough in children with Chinese medicine.

Objective To investigate the protective effects of HTD4010 against lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced septic cardiomyopathy(SCM)in mice and explore the mechanisms mediating its effect.Methods Forty-five male ICR mice were randomized equally into control group,LPS(10 mg/kg)group,and LPS+HTD4010 group(in which 2.5 mg/kg HTD4010 was injected subcutaneously at 1 h and 6 h after LPS injection).Cardiac function of the mice was evaluated by ultrasound,and pathological changes in the myocardial tissues were observed with HE staining.The levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in serum and myocardial tissues were detected using ELISA,and apoptosis of the cardiomyocytes was detected with TUNEL staining.The expression levels of the key proteins associated with apoptosis,autophagy and the AMPK/mTOR pathway in the myocardial tissues were detected using Western blotting.The ultrastructural changes of cardiac myocardial mitochondria was observed with transmission electron microscopy.Results LPS exposure caused severe myocardial damage in mice,characterized by myocardial fiber rupture,structural disorder,inflammatory cell infiltration,and mitochondrial damage.The LPS-treated mice exhibited significantly decreased cardiac LVEF and FS values,elevated IL-6 and TNF-αlevels in serum and myocardial tissue,and an increased myocardial cell apoptosis rate with enhanced expressions of Bax,p-62 and p-mTOR and lowered expressions of Bcl-2,LC3 Ⅱ/I,Beclin-1 and p-AMPK(P<0.05 or 0.01).Treatment of the septic mice with HTD4010 significantly alleviated myocardial damage,increased LVEF and FS values,reduced IL-6 and TNF-α levels in serum and myocardial tissue,decreased cardiomyocyte apoptosis,lowered myocardial expressions of Bax,p-62 and p-mTOR,and increased Bcl-2,LC3 Ⅱ/I,Beclin-1 and p-AMPK expressions(P<0.05 or 0.01).Conclusion HTD4010 can attenuate myocardial injury in SCM mice possibly by promoting autophagy via modulating the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the protective effects of HTD4010 against lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced septic cardiomyopathy(SCM)in mice and explore the mechanisms mediating its effect.Methods Forty-five male ICR mice were randomized equally into control group,LPS(10 mg/kg)group,and LPS+HTD4010 group(in which 2.5 mg/kg HTD4010 was injected subcutaneously at 1 h and 6 h after LPS injection).Cardiac function of the mice was evaluated by ultrasound,and pathological changes in the myocardial tissues were observed with HE staining.The levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in serum and myocardial tissues were detected using ELISA,and apoptosis of the cardiomyocytes was detected with TUNEL staining.The expression levels of the key proteins associated with apoptosis,autophagy and the AMPK/mTOR pathway in the myocardial tissues were detected using Western blotting.The ultrastructural changes of cardiac myocardial mitochondria was observed with transmission electron microscopy.Results LPS exposure caused severe myocardial damage in mice,characterized by myocardial fiber rupture,structural disorder,inflammatory cell infiltration,and mitochondrial damage.The LPS-treated mice exhibited significantly decreased cardiac LVEF and FS values,elevated IL-6 and TNF-αlevels in serum and myocardial tissue,and an increased myocardial cell apoptosis rate with enhanced expressions of Bax,p-62 and p-mTOR and lowered expressions of Bcl-2,LC3 Ⅱ/I,Beclin-1 and p-AMPK(P<0.05 or 0.01).Treatment of the septic mice with HTD4010 significantly alleviated myocardial damage,increased LVEF and FS values,reduced IL-6 and TNF-α levels in serum and myocardial tissue,decreased cardiomyocyte apoptosis,lowered myocardial expressions of Bax,p-62 and p-mTOR,and increased Bcl-2,LC3 Ⅱ/I,Beclin-1 and p-AMPK expressions(P<0.05 or 0.01).Conclusion HTD4010 can attenuate myocardial injury in SCM mice possibly by promoting autophagy via modulating the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway.

Objectives:To investigate the impact of resting heart rate on the risk of all-cause mortality in ultra-high risk atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease(ASCVD)patients. Methods:A total of 3 645 patients with ultra-high risk ASCVD(as defined in the 2023 Chinese Lipid Management Guidelines)were screened from the 2006 to 2020 Kailuan Study cohort,and after excluding 602 patients with missing resting heart rate,3 043 patients were included in the final analysis.Patients were divided into＜68 beats/min group(n=744),68-74 beats/min group(n=786),75-80 beats/min group(n=760),and≥81 beats/min group(n=753)according to the resting heart rate.Cox proportional regression model was used to estimate the hazard ratios(HRs)and 95%CI for all-cause mortality associated with the different resting heart rate groups and every 10 beats/min increase of resting heart rate.The dose-effect relationship of resting heart rate level and all-cause mortality was assessed by a restricted cubic spline regression model.The Kaplan-Meier method was applied to calculate the cumulative all-cause mortality in different groups,and the differences were compared using log-rank test. Results:The median follow-up time was 5.81(3.46,9.64)years,there were 772(25.37%)all-cause deaths during follow up.After adjusting major confounding factors,the results showed that compared with＜68 beats/min group,the risk of all-cause mortality in 75-80 beats/min group and≥81 beats/min group increased by 24%(HR=1.24,95%CI:1.01-1.52,P=0.047)and 47%(HR=1.47,95%CI:1.20-1.81,P＜0.001),respectively;the risk of all-cause mortality in 68-74 beats/min group was similar(HR=1.06,95%CI:0.86-1.31,P=0.625).In addition,an increase of 10 beats/min in resting heart rate was associated with a 13%increase in the risk of all-cause mortality(HR=1.13,95%CI:1.07-1.19,P＜0.001).In stratified analyses,it was found that for every 10 beats/min increase in resting heart rate,women faced a higher risk of all-cause mortality than men,and patients＜65 years old faced a higher risk of all-cause mortality than patients≥65 years old.The restricted cubic spline analysis also showed that resting heart rate was linearly associated with the risk of all-cause mortality(Poverall＜0.001,Pnon-linear=0.933),and the risk increased significantly with resting heart rate＞70 beats/min. Conclusions:Increased resting heart rate is linearly associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality in patients with ultra-high risk ASCVD.The appropriate intervention cut-off point of resting heart rate for ultra-high risk ASCVD patients may be＞75 beats/min.

Objectives:To investigate the association of trajectories of atherogenic index of plasma(AIP)with the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease(ASCVD). Methods:A total of 51 831 employees and retirees who participated in Kailuan Group health examination for three consecutive times from 2006 to 2010 were included in this study.AIP was calculated using the log(triglycerides[TG]/high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol[HDL-C])formula.AIP trajectory models were fitted by the SAS Proc Traj program,and according to AIP trajectory,the subjects were divided into low stability group(n=11 114),low to moderate stability group(n=21 647),medium to high stability group(n=13 659),and high stability group(n=5 411).Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the cumulative incidence of ASCVD in different groups and compared by log-rank test.Cox proportional risk regression model was used to analyze the effects of different AIP trajectories on ASCVD risk. Results:Finally,51 831 patients were included in the analysis.During a mean follow-up of(10.19±2.22)years,5 142(9.92%)subjects developed ASCVD,4 013(7.74%)subjects died.Cox regression analysis after adjusting for confounding factors showed:compared with the low stability group,the risk of ASCVD increased by 13%(HR=1.13,95%CI:1.04-1.23,P=0.003)and 20%(HR=1.20,95%CI:1.10-1.31,P＜0.001)and 41%(HR=1.41,95%CI:1.27-1.57,P＜0.001)in the low to moderate stability group,moderate to high stability group and high stability group,respectively,and the risk increased gradually(Ptrend＜0.001).Stratified analysis showed that the risk of ASCVD in people aged＜65 years and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)＜3.4 mmol/L with long-term high levels of AIP was higher than that in people aged≥65 years and LDL-C≥3.4 mmol/L(both Pinteraction＜0.01). Conclusions:In Kailuan Study cohort,those with long-term high levels of AIP had a higher risk of ASCVD,and the risk gradually increased.In addition,we found that the risk of ASCVD in people with long-term high levels of AIP was higher in＜65 years old than in≥65 years old,and the risk of ASCVD in people with LDL-C＜3.4 mmol/L was higher than that in people with LDL-C≥3.4 mmol/L.

Critical ultrasonography is widely used in ICU and has become an indispensable tool for clinicians. However, besides operator-dependency of critical ultrasonography, lack of standardized training mainly result in the physicians′ heterogenous ultrasonic skill. Therefore, standardized training as well as strict quality control plays the key role in the development of critical ultrasonography. We present this quality control standards to promote better development of critical ultrasonography.

Objective:To investigate the clinical features and prognosis of acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) in children.Methods:The clinical data and follow-up information of 41 pediatric patients with ANE treated in Wuhan Children′s Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology from January 2014 to September 2019 were retrospectively reviewed.Results:The 41 patients included 23 males and 18 females with the onset age of (4.4±3.2) years.The main prodromal symptoms were gastrointestinal (20/41 cases, 48.8%) and respiratory infections (19/41 cases, 46.3%). Acute encephalopathy progressed rapidly following the prodromal infection [29 cases (70.7%) ≤2 days], and patients had clinical manifestations of coma (32/41 cases, 78.0%), convulsion (32/41 cases, 78.0%), multiple organ dysfunction (27/41 cases, 65.9%), shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation were rarely occured, and 28 cases (68.3%) were admitted to intensive care unit for treatment.Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed lesion involving thalamus (41/41 cases, 100.0%), periventricular white matter (34/41 cases, 82.9%), brainstem (31/41 cases, 75.6%), basal ganglia (26/41 cases, 63.4%), cerebral cortex and subcortex (20/41 cases, 48.8%) and cerebellum (18/41 cases, 43.9%). The common presentations on the apparent diffusion coefficient mapping of brain MRI were " tricolor pattern" or " bicolor pattern" of the thalamus.During follow-up (≥ 6 months), MRI showed that hemorrhage, cystic degeneration and atrophy changed dynamically with the progression of ANE.All cases were treated with glucocorticoids, 38 cases(92.7%) with intravenous immune globulin.Seven cases (17.1%) were died and the 34 survivors had different degrees of neurological dysfunction.Conclusions:ANE in children is a distinctive type of clinicoradiologic syndrome with rapid progression and various presentations.Brain MRI has typical imaging characteristics and dynamically indicates the progression of this disease.The treatment options are still limited, the prognosis is poor and the survivors are often with neurological dysfunction.