Objective To investigate the protective effects of butyrate on sepsis-related myocardial dys-function.Methods Thirty healthy 8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups:sham operation group(SH,n=10),sepsis group(CL,n=10),and butyrate group(BU,n=10).The CL and BU groups underwent cecal ligation and puncture(CLP)to establish sepsis models,while the SH group received the same surgical procedure without cecal ligation or puncture.Within 30 minutes post-opera-tion,the SH and CL groups received 5 mL normal saline via gavage,whereas the BU group was administered 5 mL sodium butyrate solution(500 mg/kg)in normal saline.Cardiac output(CO)and ejection fraction(EF)were compared among the three groups.Myocardial histopathological injury was assessed by HE staining,and mitochondrial ultrastructural damage was observed by electron microscopy.Serum levels of brain natriuretic peptide(BNP),cardiac troponin Ⅰ(cTnⅠ),and butyrate were compared among groups.Western blot analysis was performed to detect and compare the expression levels of long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4(ACSL4)and glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4)in myocardial tissues.Results After intervention,the BNP and cTnⅠ levels in the CL group were higher than those in the SH group,while CO and EF were lower than those in the SH group(P＜0.05).The BNP and cTnⅠ levels in the BU group were lower than those in the CL group,whereas CO and EF levels were higher than those in the CL group(P＜0.05).HE staining of myocardial tissues re-vealed more severe inflammatory cell infiltration and myocardial cell edema in the CL group compared with the SH group,while the BU group showed reduced inflammatory cell infiltration.Mitochondrial membrane in-tegrity was impaired in the CL group manifested by unclear cristae,swelling,vacuolar degeneration and rup-ture,whereas mitochondrial damage was attenuated in the BU group.Serum butyrate levels were measured as(61.7±21.6)μg/mL,(95.3±16.6)μg/mL and(302.2±49.7)μg/mL in the CL,SH and BU groups respec-tively(P＜0.05).The ACSL4 expression in the CL group was higher than that in the SH group,while GPX4 protein expression was lower than that in the SH group(P＜0.05).The BU group exhibited lower ACSL4 expression and higher GPX4 protein expression compared with the CL group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Buty-rate can ameliorate myocardial injury in septic rats,and its protective effect may be associated with the inhibi-tion of myocardial ferroptosis.

Objective:To investigate the safety and efficacy of flow diverter (FD) in the treatment of middle cerebral artery (MCA) dissection aneurysms.Methods:Patients with MCA dissection aneurysm received FD treatment at the Department of Neurosurgery, Jinjiang Hospital and the Cerebrovascular Disease Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University from January 2021 to December 2023 were included retrospectively. The success rate of procedure, incidence of complications, occlusion rate of aneurysms, and clinical outcome were evaluated.Results:A total of 23 patients were included, with a success rate of 100% for FD implantation and a periprocedural complication rate of 8.7%. Nineteen patients (82.6%) completed angiography follow-up within an average of 7.2 months, of which the aneurysms of 16 patients (84.2%) were completely occluded, 3 (15.8%) were partial occluded, and 2 (10.5%) experienced in-stent restenosis; 14 (73.7%) showed stenosis of covered branch openings, of which 2 (10.5%) had branch occlusions, with no relevant clinical symptoms. The median clinical follow-up time was 23.2 months, with 95.7% of patients achieving good outcome (modified Rankin scale score ≤2).Conclusion:FD is safe and effective in the treatment of MCA dissection aneurysms, and precise device selection and release is the key to improving procedural safety.

Magnetic stimulation has made significant strides in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Nonetheless, current magnetic stimulation techniques lack the precision to accurately modulate specific nuclei and cannot realize deep brain magnetic stimulation. To address this, we utilized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as mediators to achieve precise targeting and penetration. We investigated the effects of magnetic fields with varying frequencies on neuronal activity and compared the activation effects on neurons using a 10-Hz precise magneto-stimulation system (pMSS) with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in mice. Oxytocin levels, dendritic morphology and density, and mouse behavior were measured before and after pMSS intervention. Our findings suggest that pMSS can activate oxytocinergic neurons, leading to upregulation of oxytocin secretion and neurite outgrowth. As a result, sociability was rapidly improved after a one-week pMSS treatment regimen. These results demonstrate a promising magneto-stimulation method for regulating neuronal activity in deep brain nuclei and provide a promising therapeutic approach for autism spectrum disorder.
Animals ; Autism Spectrum Disorder/physiopathology* ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus/physiology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation/methods* ; Male ; Social Behavior ; Mice ; Oxytocin/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neurons/physiology*

Objective To discuss the effect of probucol combined with tirofiban treatment on serum lipid peroxide levels and vascular endothelial function in patients with angina pectoris after interventional surgery of coronary heart disease(CHD).Methods A total of 120 patients with angina pectoris occurring after interventional surgery from January 2018 to December 2022 at the People's Hospital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China were enrolled in this study.Using random digital table method,the patients were divided into observation group(n=60)and control group(n=60).The patients of the control group received tirofiban,while the patients of the observation group received tirofiban plus probucol.All the preoperative and postoperative 7-day relevant indicators were recorded.The main observation indicator was the overall effective rate,and the secondary observation indicators included the frequency and duration of angina attacks,Seattle Angina Questionnaire(SAQ)score,cardiac function,myocardial injury markers,serum lipid peroxide levels,endothelial function and adverse reactions.Results The total effective rate in the observation group was 91.67％(55/60),which was higher than 78.33％(47/60)in the control group,the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).After treatment,the improvement degree of angina pectoris,SAQ score,LVEF,serum superoxide dismutase(SOD),nitric oxide(NO)in the observation group were higher than those in the control group,while the LVESD,LVEDD,serum creatine kinase isozyme(CK-MB),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),creatine kinase(CK),malondialdehyde(MDA),endothelin-1(ET-1)in the observation group were lower than those in the control group,the differences in the above indexes were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).Conclusion For patients with angina pectoris occurring after interventional surgery of CHD,probucol combined with tirofiban has exact efficacy,which can promote the recovery of cardiac function,reduce myocardial injury,regulate serum lipid peroxide levels,and improve vascular endothelial function.

Objective To investigate and analyze the occupational stress levels and influencing factors among radiation workers in China, and provide a reference for alleviating occupational stress and promoting mental health. Methods Using the general situation questionnaire, Effort-Reward Imbalance questionnaire, and radiation protection knowledge questionnaire, a convenience sampling method was adopted to investigate the occupational stress of 243 radiation workers in Liaoning, Fujian, Guangdong, and Xinjiang provinces. The independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance, chi-square test, and binary logistic regression were used to analyze the influencing factors. Results The average score of Effort-Reward Imbalance was 0.97 ± 0.22, and 100 (41.15%) radiation workers had occupational stress. There were significant differences in the detection rate of occupational stress among radiation workers of different ages, working years in radiation positions, monthly incomes, daily sleep durations, and daily working hours (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis identified daily working hours as a factor contributing to occupational stress. Conclusion The occupational stress among radiation workers in China is relatively severe. It is recommended to pay attention to the associated risks and implement targeted intervention measures to reduce the impact of occupational stress.

Objective To analyze the impact of different maze structures of medical electron linear accelerator on the radiation level at the entrance of the treatment room. Methods The Monte Carlo simulation method was used to compare the radiation field distribution in two accelerator rooms with different maze widths and to conduct a detailed analysis of the radiation levels. Results The radiation level at the entrance of the accelerator room with a wide maze was significantly higher than that at the entrance of a compact maze. The neutron radiation level at the entrance of the narrow maze model decreased by 38.6% compared to the wide maze model, and the level of X-ray radiation also showed a declining trend. Conclusion When designing medical electron linear accelerators, a compact maze structure should be adopted to reduce the setting of unnecessary space, thereby lowering the radiation level at the entrance of the treatment room and enhancing the effectiveness of radiation protection.

Objective To investigate the current situation of occupational stress among radiation workers in nuclear power plants in China, to explore the factors influencing occupational stress, and to provide a reference for improving occupational stress. Methods A convenient sampling method was adopted to investigate the occupational stress of 100 radiation workers in two nuclear power plants in Fujian and Liaoning, using the general situation questionnaire, effort-reward imbalance questionnaire, and the radiation protection knowledge questionnaire. Independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance, chi-square test, and binary logistic regression analysis were used to examine the current situation of occupational stress and the influencing factors. Results The average value of effort-reward imbalance was 0.99 ± 0.15 and 47 (47%) radiation workers had occupational stress. There were significant differences in the detection rate of occupational stress among radiation workers with different ages, years of radiation work, monthly incomes, sleep durations (day), and exercise habits (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that monthly income, sleep duration (day), and exercise habits were the influencing factors for occupational stress. Conclusion The occupational stress of radiation workers in nuclear power plants is a serious issue influenced by many factors. Attention should be given to this issue, and targeted interventions should be implemented to improve the social and working environment of this occupational group and reduce the level of occupational stress.

Objective To investigate the value of serum latent transforming growth factor beta binding protein 2(LTBP2),urocortin 1(Ucn1),and cluster of differentiation 90(CD90)levels in the diagnosis and severity assessment of endometriosis(EMT).Methods A total of 103 EMT patients who underwent diagno-sis and treatment in the hospital from January 2020 to December 2023 were selected as the experimental group.The experimental group was separated into a severe group and a mild group.In addition,82 healthy in-dividuals who underwent physical examinations in the hospital were selected as the control group.The correla-tion analysis of serum LTBP2,Ucn1,and CD90 levels was performed using Pearson.Multivariate Logistic re-gression was applied to analyze the influencing factors of EMT.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was applied to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum LTBP2,Ucn1,and CD90 for EMT.Results Compared with the control group,the serum levels of LTBP2,Ucn1,and CD90 in the experimental group showed an in-crease trend(P＜0.05).There was positive correlation between serum LTBP2,Ucn1,and CD90 in the experi-mental group(r=0.377,0.344,0.246,P＜0.001,＜0.001,=0.012).The serum levels of LTBP2,Ucn1,and CD90 were significantly higher in the mild group and the severe group than those in the control group(P＜0.05).The serum levels of LTBP2,Ucn1,and CD90 in the mild group were obviously lower than those in the severe group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).The interleukin(IL)-4 level in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group,and the proportions of menstrual pain and pelvic surgery were higher than those in the control group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Serum levels of LTBP2,Ucn1,and CD90,menstrual pain,and a history of pelvic surgery were risk factors for EMT(P＜0.05),while IL-4 level was a protective factor for EMT(P＜0.05).The area under the curve of serum LTBP2,Ucn1,CD90,and their combination for EMT diagnosis was 0.788,0.801,0.810,and 0.916,with sensitivity of 63.11％,63.11％,62.14％,and 84.47％.The combination of the three(Z LTBP2-triple combination=4.054,P＜0.001,ZUcn1-triple combination=3.966,P＜0.0 01,Z CD90-triple combination=4.193,P＜0.001)had higher diagnostic value for EMT.Conclusion Patients with severe EMT have higher levels of serum LTBP2,Ucn1,and CD90.The com-bination of serum LTBP2,Ucn1,and CD90 has certain diagnostic value for EMT.

Purpose BRCA1/2 gene germline variants of the uncertain significance(VUS)are categorized into five clas-ses based on their risk levels,and three classes require regular periodic analysis due to their unclear clinical significance.The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of updating var-iation evidences on the VUS sites and guide clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods The VUS sites in BRCA1/2 gene were analyzed.971 samples(breast or ovarian cancer)that un-derwent BRCA1/2 germline testing were stored.The VUS sites in BRCA1/2 gene were further reinterpreted by integrating the following evidences,including population frequency database,disease database,computer software prediction,co-segregation evidence,allelic evidence and population cohort evidence to determine whether the variation classification was changed.Results The number of the patients with VUS sites was 142,accounting for 14.6％(142/971).The total number of VUS sites was 128,among which the proportions of missense muta-tion,synonymous mutation,in-frame non-shifted mutation and non-coding region mutation were 70.3％,4.7％,3.1％and 21.9％,respectively.Reinterpretation of VUS sites discovered that 11.7％(15/128)of VUS sites could be downgraded to Class 2,likely benign.Conclusion With the continuous in-creasing evidences of germline variation,the variation classifica-tion of VUS sites will be changed after periodic analysis.

Objective:To accurately identify kidney stones and renal papillary calcification in civil aviation pilots by using an artificial intelligence model based on CT imaging.Methods:The imaging data of 135 civil pilots with kidney stones or renal papillary calcification confirmed by flexible ureteroscope who underwent urinary CT examination in Civil Aviation General Hospital from August 2015 to May 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative CT images of all patients were analyzed blindly by 2 radiologists and recall and accuracy rates were calculated. Pilots with kidney stones and renal papillary calcification were randomly assigned as the training set and test set in a ratio of 4∶1 respectively. An artificial intelligence model was constructed based on preoperative CT plain scan images of training set. The test set was used to detect the model and calculate the recall rate and accuracy rate of the final model in the diagnosis of the 2 types of lesions.Results:Data from 86 pilots with kidney stones and 49 pilots with renal papillary calcification were used to build the model and the training iteration of model establishment was stopped at the 50th time. The final results of the model interpretation test set showed that the recall rate and accuracy rate diagnosing kidney stones was 87.58% and 97.17%, respectively, and the recall rate and accuracy rate diagnosing renal sinus calcification was 96.07% and 92.83%, respectively, and the accuracy rate of the model in diagnosing kidney stones and renal sinus calcification was 96.57%.Conclusions:The artificial intelligence model based on CT imaging has a certain clinical value for the rapid and accurate determination of kidney stones and renal papillary calcification by air crew examiners in civil aviation.