Objective To analyze the effect of the activation rate of peripheral blood monocytes on the recovery of patients after liver transplantation and to initially explore the possible influencing factors for differences in monocyte activation rates. Methods A total of 139 patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation from September 2020 to June 2023 at Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University were selected. The proportion of CD14^＋HLA-DR^＋ monocytes in peripheral blood was defined as the monocyte activation rate. The difference in monocyte activation rates between postoperative day 7 (POD7) and postoperative day 1 (POD1) was calculated as Δ, and patients were divided into Δ＞0 group (n＝73) and Δ＜0 group (n＝66). The two groups were compared in terms of complete blood count, liver and kidney function, coagulation indicators, infection indicators, ICU length of stay, total length of hospitalization, and 90-day mortality. Changes in the proportions of different monocytes subsets (Mo0, Mo1, Mo2, and Mo3) and HLA-DR expression in peripheral blood on POD1 and POD7 were detected using flow cytometry. Results The ICU length of stay in the Δ＜0 group was significantly longer than that in the Δ＞0 group (18[12, 26] days vs 14[10, 20.5] days, P＝0.018). On POD1, the proportion of Mo0 in the Δ＞0 group was significantly lower than that in the Δ＜0 group (P＜0.05); on POD7, the proportion of Mo0 in the Δ＞0 group was significantly lower than that in the Δ＜0 group (P＜0.001), while the proportions of Mo1, Mo2, and Mo3 were significantly higher than those in the Δ＜0 group (P＜0.001). Compared to POD1, the HLA-DR expression level of Mo0 in peripheral blood of patients with liver transplantation significantly decreased on POD7 (P＜0.01), while there was no significant difference in HLA-DR expression levels of Mo1, Mo2, and Mo3. Conclusions Increased proportion of Mo0 (CD14^lowCD16⁻HLA-DR^low) among peripheral blood monocyte subsets may be one of the influencing factors for the differences in monocyte activation rates in patients with liver transplantation. The difference in monocyte activation rate can serve as a new clinical indicator for assessing changes in the immune status and postoperative recovery of patients with liver transplantation.

Objective To quantify the volume and movement of cardiac substructures by using coronary computed tomography angiography(CCTA)to provide guidance for the design of deep inspiratory breath-holding radiation therapy for left breast cancer and the protection of organs at risk.Methods Totally 18 female patients who received conventional chest plain scan and CCTA were selected to simulate the design process of radiotherapy plan for left breast cancer patients with internal mammary lymph nodes.Retrospective reconstruction of CCTA data was performed for each patient,with 10 phase images(with an interval of 10％)within a R-R cardiac cycle(10％-100％)to simulate the true range of motion of the heart.The heart,left atrium(LA),left ventricle(LV),right atrium(RA),right ventricle(RV),left anterior descending artery(LAD),left circumflex coronary artery(LCX)and right coronary artery(RCA)were contoured at each phase.The distances from the centroid position to the average position of LAD,LCX and RCA were measured at each phase in the superior-inferior(SI),anterior-posterior(AP)and left-right(LR).The average volume and range of volume changes of LA,LV,RA,RV and heart were analyzed within a cardiac cycle.The expansion margins of planning organs at risk volume(PRV)were calculated.SPSS 19.0 software was used for statistical analysis.Results The following average absolute displacements were found in SI,AP and LR coordinates:(1.8±0.7)mm,(1.2±0.5)mm and(1.5±0.5)mm for LAD,respectively;(2.1±0.7)mm,(1.5±0.6)mm and(1.9±0.7)mm for LCX,respectively;(1.6±0.5)mm,(2.2±0.9)mm and(2.2±0.8)mm for RCA,respectively.The volume changes of LA,LV,RA,RV and heart within a cardiac cycle ranged from 34.3 to 63.9 cm3,122.1 to 154.3 cm3,29.3 to 53.6 cm3,57.2 to 94.3 cm3 and 480.1 to 515.4 cm3,respectively.The theoretical expansion margins of LAD,LCX and RCA in all the three directions were within 2 mm.Conclusion The ranges of movement and volume changes of cardiac substructure are quantitati-vely displayed,and references are provided for the planning of deep inspiratory breath-holding radiation therapy for left breast cancer and the protection of organs at risk.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(3):54-58]

Ovarian tumor (OT) is the most lethal form of gynecologic malignancy, with minimal improvements in patient outcomes over the past several decades. Metastasis is the leading cause of ovarian cancer-related deaths, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Psychological stress is known to activate the glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1), a factor associated with poor prognosis in OT patients. However, the precise mechanisms linking NR3C1 signaling and metastasis have yet to be fully elucidated. In this study, we demonstrate that chronic restraint stress accelerates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis in OT through an NR3C1-dependent mechanism involving nuclear protein 1 (NUPR1). Mechanistically, NR3C1 directly regulates the transcription of NUPR1, which in turn increases the expression of snail family transcriptional repressor 2 (SNAI2), a key driver of EMT. Clinically, elevated NR3C1 positively correlates with NUPR1 expression in OT patients, and both are positively associated with poorer prognosis. Overall, our study identified the NR3C1/NUPR1 axis as a critical regulatory pathway in psychological stress-induced OT metastasis, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for intervention in OT metastasis.

Demyelination and remyelination play key roles in spinal cord injury (SCI), affecting the recovery of motor and sensory functions. Research in rodent models is extensive, but the study of these processes in non-human primates is limited. Therefore, our goal was to thoroughly study the histological features of demyelination and remyelination after contusion injury of the cervical spinal cord in Macaca fascicularis. In a previous study, we created an SCI model in M. fascicularis by controlling the contusion displacement. We used Eriochrome Cyanine staining, immunohistochemical analysis, and toluidine blue staining to evaluate demyelination and remyelination. The results showed demyelination ipsilateral to the injury epicenter both rostrally and caudally, the former mainly impacting sensory pathways, while the latter primarily affected motor pathways. Toluidine blue staining showed myelin loss and axonal distension at the injury site. Schwann cell-derived myelin sheaths were only found at the center, while thinner myelin sheaths from oligodendrocytes were seen at the center and surrounding areas. Our study showed that long-lasting demyelination occurs in the spinal cord of M. fascicularis after SCI, with oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells playing a significant role in myelin sheath formation at the injury site.
Animals ; Spinal Cord Injuries/physiopathology* ; Demyelinating Diseases/etiology* ; Remyelination/physiology* ; Macaca fascicularis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Myelin Sheath/pathology* ; Oligodendroglia/pathology* ; Schwann Cells/pathology* ; Female ; Spinal Cord/pathology* ; Axons/pathology*

Objective To investigate the status of population dynamics and distribution changes of Aedes aegypti in Guangdong Province.Methods Continuous monitoring was conducted from May 2018 to July 2024 in Wushi Town and Qishui Town,Leizhou City,Zhanjiang City,Guangdong Province.Additionally,a survey of the distribution of Ae.aegypti along the Leizhou Peninsula coast was carried out.Results The density of Ae.aegypti in Zhanjiang showed a gradual decline from 2018 to 2024.The last detection of adult Ae.aegypti in Wushi Town was in September 2021,and the last larva was found in October 2023.No Ae.aegypti was detected in Qishui Town during surveys from 2021 to 2024.A survey of 18 coastal villages in the Leizhou Peninsula revealed no detections of Ae.aegypti.Conclusions This study provides a basis for understanding the distribution and population density fluctuations of Ae.aegypti,assessing its invasion risk,and scientifically conducting relevant prevention and control efforts.

Astragali Radix (AR), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has demonstrated therapeutic efficacy against various diseases, including cardiovascular conditions, over centuries of use. While doxorubicin serves as an effective chemotherapeutic agent against multiple cancers, its clinical application remains constrained by significant cardiotoxicity. Research has indicated that AR exhibits protective properties against doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy (DIC); however, the specific bioactive components and underlying mechanisms responsible for this therapeutic effect remain incompletely understood. This investigation seeks to identify the protective bioactive components in AR against DIC and elucidate their mechanisms of action. Through network medicine analysis, astragaloside IV (AsIV) and formononetin (FMT) were identified as potential cardioprotective agents from 129 AR components. In vitro experiments using H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes revealed that the AsIV-FMT combination (AFC) effectively reduced doxorubicin-induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner, with optimal efficacy at a 1∶2 ratio. In vivo, AFC enhanced survival rates and improved cardiac function in both acute and chronic DIC mouse models. Additionally, AFC demonstrated cardiac protection while maintaining doxorubicin's anti-cancer efficacy in a breast cancer mouse model. Lipidomic and metabolomics analyses revealed that AFC normalized doxorubicin-induced lipid profile alterations, particularly by reducing fatty acid accumulation. Gene knockdown studies and inhibitor experiments in H9c2 cells demonstrated that AsIV and FMT upregulated peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) and PPARα, respectively, two key proteins involved in fatty acid metabolism. This research establishes AFC as a promising therapeutic approach for DIC, highlighting the significance of multi-target therapies derived from natural herbals in contemporary medicine.
Animals ; Doxorubicin/adverse effects* ; Saponins/administration & dosage* ; Isoflavones/pharmacology* ; Rats ; Cardiomyopathies/prevention & control* ; Mice ; Fatty Acids/metabolism* ; Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism* ; Triterpenes/administration & dosage* ; Male ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Humans ; Cardiotonic Agents/administration & dosage* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Cell Line ; Astragalus Plant/chemistry* ; Astragalus propinquus

AIM To investigate the inhibitory effect of gallic acid on HCC1806 triple-negative breast cancer xenograft growth in nude mice.METHODS The nude mouse models of HCC1806 triple-negative breast cancer xenograft growth were established and randomly divided into the model group,the gallic acid group(200 mg/kg)and the adriamycin group(5 mg/kg),with 6 mice in each group.After 21 days of respective drug administration,the nude mice were killed and had their xenografts procured and measured.The nude mice had their serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α detected by ELISA;their morphological changes of xenografts observed with HE staining;their protein expressions of p53,PCNA and Ki67 in xenograft detected by immunohistochemistry;their mRNA expressions of PCNA,Ki67,Bcl-2,Bax,Caspase-3,PI3K,Akt,JNK and p38 detected by RT-qPCR;and their protein expressions of Bcl-2,Bax,Caspase-3,cleaved-Caspase-3,PI3K,p-PI3K,Akt,p-Akt,JNK,p-JNK,p38 MAPK and p-p38 MAPK in xenografts detected by Western blot.RESULTS Compared with the model group,the groups intervened with either gallic acid or adriamycin shared decreased tumor weight(P＜0.05);increased serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);condensed or irregular nuclei of xenograft,and increased number of cell necrosis;increased protein expressions of p53 and Bax and the ratios of cleaved-Caspase-3/Caspase-3,p-JNK/JNK and p-p38/p38 in xenograft(P＜0.01);decreased protein expressions of PCNA,Ki67 and Bcl-2 and the ratios of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-Akt/Akt(P＜0.01);decreased mRNA expressions of PCNA,Ki67,Bcl-2,PI3K and Akt(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);and increased mRNA expressions of Caspase-3,Bax,JNK and p38(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).CONCLUSION Gallic acid can inhibit HCC1806 triple-negative breast cancer xenograft growth in nude mice,and the underlying mechanism may involve suppression of pro-cell proliferation proteins,activation of pro-apoptotic proteins,and modulation of the PI3K/Akt and JNK/p38 signaling pathways.

With the rapid increase of MRI systems in hospitals in China,national multi-sectoral strategies have been put forward to clarify requirements for improving image quality of MRI systems and preventing application risks in clinic.Quality control of MRI systems becomes an important task for regulators as well as hospital radiology departments.The tools used for quality control include imaging performance phantom and specialized function phantom,which can realize detection or calibration for parameters such as high contrast resolution,image uniformity and relaxation time.This article mainly reviews the research progress of the operation principles,common types and clinical applications for these two types of phantoms mentioned above.

To formulate an expert consensus on the principles of preoperative hair removal and provide scientific guidance for standardized removal of hair before surgical procedures so as to reduce the incidence of surgical site infections.METHODS Led by the Hospital Management Institute of National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China,this consensus was reached with the joint efforts from the expects of relevant fields such as surgeries,interventional therapies,nursing,and infection prevention and control.The consensus facilitates the classification and evaluation of literatures by following the evidence grade formulated by Oxford Evidence-based Medicine Center and focuses on the association of preoperative hair removal with surgical site infection,it reaches the evidence grade of expert consensus and recommendation intensity by integrating with discussions on meetings and clinical experience of the expects from relevant fields.RESULTS A total of 6 items of consensus were reached by summarizing the latest evidence on the aspects including the indications for preoperative hair removal,tools,range,timing and places.CONCLUSION The consensus,to some extent,make supplements to and complete the exiting regulations and standards.It provides guidance for the medical institutions to carry out the preoperative hair removal.