OBJECTIVES: To construct a Z-score regression model for coronary artery diameter based on echocardiographic data from children in Sichuan Province and to establish a Z-score calculation formula. METHODS: A total of 744 healthy children who underwent physical examinations at Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2020 to December 2022 were selected as the modeling group, while 251 children diagnosed with Kawasaki disease at the same hospital from January 2018 to December 2022 were selected as the validation group. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to analyze the relationships between coronary artery diameter values and age, height, weight, and body surface area. A regression model was constructed using function transformation to identify the optimal regression model and establish the Z-score calculation formula, which was then validated. RESULTS: The Pearson correlation analysis showed that the correlation coefficients for the diameters of the left main coronary artery, left anterior descending artery, left circumflex artery, and right coronary artery with body surface area were 0.815, 0.793, 0.704, and 0.802, respectively (P<0.05). Among the constructed regression models, the power function regression model demonstrated the best performance and was therefore chosen as the optimal model for establishing the Z-score calculation formula. Based on this Z-score calculation formula, the detection rate of coronary artery lesions was found to be 21.5% (54/251), which was higher than the detection rate based on absolute values of coronary artery diameter. Notably, in the left anterior descending and left circumflex arteries, the detection rate of coronary artery lesions using this Z-score calculation formula was higher than that of previous classic Z-score calculation formulas. CONCLUSIONS The Z-score calculation formula established based on the power function regression model has a higher detection rate for coronary artery lesions, providing a strong reference for clinicians, particularly in assessing coronary artery lesions in children with Kawasaki disease.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Child, Preschool ; Child ; Coronary Artery Disease/diagnostic imaging* ; Infant ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; Regression Analysis ; Coronary Vessels/diagnostic imaging* ; Echocardiography ; Adolescent

OBJECTIVE: To investigate lymph node metastasis (LNM) in the prostatic anterior fat pad (PAFP) of PCa patients after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), and analyze the clinicopathological features and prognosis of LNM in the PAFP. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological data on 1 003 cases of PCa treated by RARP in the Department of Urology of PLA General Hospital from January 2017 to December 2022. All the patients underwent routine removal of the PAFP during RARP and pathological examination, with the results of all the specimens examined and reported by pathologists. Based on the presence and locations of LNM, we grouped the patients for statistical analysis, compared the clinicopathological features between different groups using the Student's t, Mann-Whitney U and Chi-square tests, and conducted survival analyses using the Kaplan-Meier and Log-rank methods and survival curves generated by Rstudio. RESULTS: Lymph nodes were detected in 77 (7.7%) of the 1 003 PAFP samples, and LNM in 11 (14.3%) of the 77 cases, with a positive rate of 1.1% (11/1 003). Of the 11 positive cases, 9 were found in the upgraded pathological N stage, and the other 2 complicated by pelvic LNM. The patients with postoperative pathological stage≥T3 constituted a significantly higher proportion in the PAFP LNM than in the non-PAFP LNM group (81.8% ［9/11］ vs 36.2% ［359/992］, P = 0.005), and so did the cases with Gleason score ≥8 (87.5% ［7/8］ vs 35.5% ［279/786］, P = 0.009). No statistically significant differences were observed in the clinicopathological features and biochemical recurrence-free survival between the patients with PAFP LNM only and those with pelvic LNM only. CONCLUSION The PAFP is a potential route to LNM, and patients with LNM in the PAFP are characterized by poor pathological features. There is no statistically significant difference in biochemical recurrence-free survival between the patients with PAFP LNM only and those with pelvic LNM only. Routine removal of the PAFP and independent pathological examination of the specimen during RARP is of great clinical significance.
Humans ; Male ; Prostatectomy/methods* ; Robotic Surgical Procedures ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Prognosis ; Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology* ; Adipose Tissue/pathology* ; Prostate/pathology* ; Lymph Nodes/pathology* ; Middle Aged ; Aged

Periodontitis is a common oral disease characterized by progressive alveolar bone resorption and inflammation of the periodontal tissues. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) has been used in the treatment of various immune-inflammatory diseases due to its excellent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions. Here, we investigated for the first time the therapeutic effect of DMF on periodontitis. In vivo studies showed that DMF significantly inhibited periodontal destruction, enhanced mitophagy, and decreased the M1/M2 macrophage ratio. In vitro studies showed that DMF inhibited macrophage polarization toward M1 macrophages and promoted polarization toward M2 macrophages, with improved mitochondrial function, inhibited oxidative stress, and increased mitophagy in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, DMF increased intracellular mitochondrial Tu translation elongation factor (TUFM) levels to maintain mitochondrial homeostasis, promoted mitophagy, and modulated macrophage polarization, whereas TUFM knockdown decreased the protective effect of DMF. Finally, mechanistic studies showed that DMF increased intracellular TUFM levels by protecting TUFM from degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasomal degradation pathway. Our results demonstrate for the first time that DMF protects mitochondrial function and inhibits oxidative stress through TUFM-mediated mitophagy in macrophages, resulting in a shift in the balance of macrophage polarization, thereby attenuating periodontitis. Importantly, this study provides new insights into the prevention of periodontitis.
Dimethyl Fumarate/pharmacology* ; Mitophagy/drug effects* ; Animals ; Mice ; Macrophages/metabolism* ; Periodontitis/prevention & control* ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Peptide Elongation Factor Tu/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Male ; Mitochondria/drug effects*

Deactivation of the mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) is important for the metabolic switching of cancer cell from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis. Studies examining PDC activity regulation have mainly focused on the phosphorylation of pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1), leaving other post-translational modifications largely unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that the acetylation of Lys 488 of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex component X (PDHX) commonly occurs in hepatocellular carcinoma, disrupting PDC assembly and contributing to lactate-driven epigenetic control of gene expression. PDHX, an E3-binding protein in the PDC, is acetylated by the p300 at Lys 488, impeding the interaction between PDHX and dihydrolipoyl transacetylase (E2), thereby disrupting PDC assembly to inhibit its activation. PDC disruption results in the conversion of most glucose to lactate, contributing to the aerobic glycolysis and H3K56 lactylation-mediated gene expression, facilitating tumor progression. These findings highlight a previously unrecognized role of PDHX acetylation in regulating PDC assembly and activity, linking PDHX Lys 488 acetylation and histone lactylation during hepatocellular carcinoma progression and providing a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for further development.
Humans ; Acetylation ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics* ; Liver Neoplasms/genetics* ; Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex/genetics* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Animals ; Mice ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Histones/metabolism* ; Disease Progression

Objective:To explore the clinical and genetic characteristics of two children with mental retardation and microcephaly.Methods:Two children who had visited the Anhui Children′s Hospital respectively on March 12 and June 22, 2021 were selected as the study subjects. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from them and their parents, and subjected to chromosomal karyotyping and whole exome sequencing analyses. Candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing and pathogenicity analysis. This study was approved by the Anhui Children′s Hospital (Ethics No. EYLL-2018-008).Results:Chromosomal karyotyping and copy number detection of the two children had found no abnormality. Whole exome sequencing revealed that child 1 has harbored a c. 471delT (p.Pro157Profs*9) frameshifting variant of the CASK gene, whilst child 2 has harbored a c. 1259_1269delCTGAGAATAAC (p.Pro420fs*27) frameshifting variant of the CASK gene. Sanger sequencing confirmed that both variants were de novo in origin. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Association for Molecular Pathology (ACMG-AMP), both variants were rated as pathogenic (PVS1+ PS2+ PP3). Conclusion:The de novo variants of the CASK gene probably underlay the pathogenesis of mental retardation and microcephaly in both children.

Patients with severe trauma require an extremely timely treatment and transfusion plays an irreplaceable role in the emergency treatment of such patients. An increasing number of evidence-based medicinal evidences and clinical practices suggest that patients with severe traumatic bleeding benefit from early transfusion of low-titer group O whole blood or hemostatic resuscitation with red blood cells, plasma and platelet of a balanced ratio. However, the current domestic mode of blood supply cannot fully meet the requirements of timely and effective blood transfusion for emergency treatment of patients with severe trauma in clinical practice. In order to solve the key problems in blood supply and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma, Branch of Clinical Transfusion Medicine of Chinese Medical Association, Group for Trauma Emergency Care and Multiple Injuries of Trauma Branch of Chinese Medical Association, Young Scholar Group of Disaster Medicine Branch of Chinese Medical Association organized domestic experts of blood transfusion medicine and trauma treatment to jointly formulate Chinese expert consensus on blood support mode and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma patients ( version 2024). Based on the evidence-based medical evidence and Delphi method of expert consultation and voting, 10 recommendations were put forward from two aspects of blood support mode and transfusion strategies, aiming to provide a reference for transfusion resuscitation in the emergency treatment of severe trauma and further improve the success rate of treatment of patients with severe trauma.

Objective:To retrospectively analyze the viral levels and associated factors in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related primary liver cancer (PHC) in real-world settings and further explore the correlation between low viral load (LVL) and/or low-level viremia (LLV) and PHC.Methods:Five hundred twenty-four cases with HBV-related PHC with complete pathologically confirmed data from 2013 to 2020 were included. Percentages (%) were used to express their viral load, antiviral (oral) status, patient compliance, presence or absence of cirrhosis, family history of liver cancer, and others. LVL definition: After excluding detection errors by PCR method, serum HBV DNA <50-2 000 IU/ml, and those who had received antiviral drug treatment were called LLV. Antiviral treatment (AVT) rate definition: As of the confirmed diagnosis of PHC, those who had been regularly treated using oral antiviral drugs for six months or more (≥6 months).Results:General situation: The ratio of male to female enrolled patients was 15.90:1 (493/31). Patients aged >40 years accounted for 91.98% (482 cases). Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity condition: The ratio of HBsAg-positive to HBsAg-negative/anti-HBc-positive (HBsAg-/anti-HBc+) PHC patients was 5.89:1 (448/76). Among the 76 HBsAg-/anti-HBc+patients, the ratio of HBsAg-/anti-HBs+/anti-HBc+ to HBsAg-/anti-HBs-/anti-HBc+ patients was 0.95:1 (37/39). Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeA) positivity condition: The ratio of HBeAg-negative to HBeAg-positive cases was 3.23:1 (400/124). HBV DNA level condition: The medical history records of 75.00% of patients (393/524) had traceable HBV DNA test reports. Out of 393 patients, 45.04% (177/393) accounted for undetectable HBV DNA, 13.49% (53/393) accounted for LVL, 41.48% (163/393) accounted for HBV DNA exceeding the upper limit of LVL, and 4.07% (16/393) accounted for LLV. Among HBsAg-positive and HBsAg-/anti-HBc+ patients, the HBV DNA positivity rates were 59.12% (214/362) and 6.45% (2/31), respectively. Antiviral treatment condition: Among the 448 HBsAg-positive PHC patients, the total AVT rate was 18.08% (81/448), of which seven patients did not have their HBV DNA results traced back. Among them, the AVT rate of 148 patients with HBV DNA lower than the lowest detection value was 41.22% (61/148); the AVT rate of 53 patients with LVL was 18.87% (10/53); and the AVT rate of 163 patients with HBV DNA≥LVL upper limit was 1.84% (3/163). Liver cirrhosis and family history condition: 348 patients (66.41%) had liver cirrhosis. 67 patients (12.79%) had a distinct family history of HBV-related liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) condition: 514 patients underwent AFP testing, with 30.93% of the patients had normal AFP levels, and 69.07% had AFP levels exceeding the upper limit of normal values (355/514). Among them, 10 μg/L400 μg/L accounted for 34.44% (177/514) and 34.63% (178/514), respectively. Tissue typing condition: 99.05% (519/524) were hepatocellular carcinoma, and well-differentiated and moderately differentiated cases accounted for only 8.59%.Conclusions:In the real world, comprehensive, timely screening, standardized, and effective antiviral treatment have not yet been achieved for patients with chronic hepatitis B, resulting in the persistence of HBsAg and/or HBV DNA positivity (especially LVL and/or LLV). Although LVL does not account for a high proportion among all HBV-related PHC populations, the vast majority of LVL populations have not received any antiviral treatment. In addition, some PHC populations with HBV DNA>2 000 IU/ml have not received standard antiviral treatment before the onset of the disease, which should be paid attention to. At the same time, HBsAg-/anti-HBc+ populations may have latent HBV infection and may even progress to PHC. Notably, PHC may still occur after HBeAg seronegative conversion.

Objective To investigate the association between the serum creatinine/cystatin C ratio(SCr/Cys C)as a Sarcopenia index(SI)and the incidence of in-hospital adverse events in patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI)undergoing emergency percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).Additionally,we evaluate the predictive efficacy of the SI in predicting major adverse cardiovascular events(MACEs)during hospitalization.Methods A total of 306 patients with AMI who underwent emergency PCI in the 904th Hospital of PLA Joint Logistics Support Force from January 2020 to March 2023 were consecutively included in this retrospective analysis.Patients were divided into two groups based on the occurrence of MACEs during hospitalization:MACEs group(n=43)and non-MACEs group(n=263).Clinical characteristics and pre-PCI laboratory test results were collected.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors for MACEs.The predictive performance of SI was assessed using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis.Results The incidence of in-hospital MACEs in AMI patients was 14.1%.The results of the independent samples t-test showed that the SI level in MACEs group was significantly lower than that in non-MACEs group,with a statistically significant difference(P<0.001).The results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that new-onset atrial fibrillation,Killip class 2-4,SI,and TG were independent risk factors for in-hospital adverse events after emergency PCI.The ROC curve results showed that the predictive value of SI(AUC=0.741,95%CI 0.666-0.816)using the SCr/Cys C ratio was superior to that of single Cys C(AUC=0.658,95%CI 0.570-0.746)for predicting post-PCI MACEs,with a statistically significant difference(P<0.05),and the optimal cutoff value for SI was 78.14.After stratifying SI based on the cutoff value,the results of the independent samples t-test showed that compared to the higher SI group,the lower SI group had a higher occurrence of specific adverse events such as heart failure(P<0.001),malignant arrhythmias(P=0.009),and strokes(P=0.003),with statistically significant differences.Conclusions The results highlight SI as an independent risk factor for MACEs during hospitalization after emergency PCI in AMI patients.Furthermore,SI has proven to be an effective prognostic index for patient outcomes.

Objective·To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and malignant tumors based on the Shanghai community elderly cohort.Methods·The study subjects were selected from the Shanghai community elderly cohort established from February to August 2019,with a total of 17 948 people.The study subjects were divided into 4 groups according to self-reported presence or absence of tumors and/or cardiovascular diseases during the baseline survey:tumor-free and non-cardiovascular disease group,single cardiovascular disease group,single tumor group and tumor cardiovascular disease co-occurrence group.The differences among the four groups of subjects were collected and compared in terms of demographic characteristics and physiological indicators,daily living habits(smoking,drinking tea,drinking coffee,drinking carbonated drink,drinking alcohol,sedentary time,physical activity level and sleep quality),past medical history,psychological status(depression and anxiety)and dietary compliance.Results·Among the study subjects,60.1%of tumor patients were complicated with cardiovascular diseases.The differences among the four groups of subjects in age,gender,educational level,pre-retirement occupation,waist circumference,hip circumference and body mass index were statistically significant(all P<0.05).Compared with the tumor-free and non-cardiovascular disease group,the single cardiovascular disease group,single tumor group and tumor cardiovascular disease co-occurrence group all exhibited lower proportions of smoking and high physical activity levels(all P<0.05),and higher proportion of sedentary time exceeding 4 h/d and poor sleep quality(all P<0.05);the proportion of subjects with past medical histories including hyperlipidemia,peripheral vascular disease,endocrine system disease,respiratory system disease,urinary system disease and digestive system disease of the single cardiovascular disease group and the tumor cardiovascular disease co-occurrence group was higher(all P<0.05),and the proportion of subjects with depression and anxiety was also higher(all P<0.05).Furthermore,compared with the tumor-free and non-cardiovascular disease group,the single cardiovascular disease group had lower compliance rates of poultry,fish,fruit and liquid milk(all P<0.05).Among the four groups,only the compliance rate of vegetable intake exceeded 50%,while the compliance rates of poultry,fish,fruit,liquid milk and tubers were all below 20%.Conclusion·In the elderly population of Shanghai communities,over half of malignant tumor patients are concomitant with cardiovascular diseases.Unhealthy daily habits are prevalent among those with cardiovascular diseases,tumors and tumor-cardiovascular disease co-occurrence.The intake of many foods in the elderly of the community do not reach the levels recommended by Chinese Dietary Guidelines.

Objective To explore specific magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)features of somatic symptoms in depression by comparing the differences of brain gray matter volume in depression patients with and without somatic symptoms using voxel-based morphometry(VBM).Methods A total of 52 depression patients were recruited and divided into somatic and no somatic symptoms group according to the patient health questionnaire-15 score(＞9 and≤9,respectively).Forty gender-age-matched healthy volunteers were recruited as the control group.All subjects underwent MRI scanning.Imaging data were analyzed to explore the differences in brain gray matter between groups using VBM.Results Compared with control group,gray matter volume increased in the right superior temporal gyrus,and decreased in the right inferior orbitofrontal gyrus,right inferior temporal gyrus,left inferior orbitofrontal gyrus,and left superior temporal gyrus for depressive patients with somatic symptoms(P＜0.001);gray matter volume increased in the right middle temporal gyrus,and decreased in the right superior temporal gyrus and right inferior temporal gyrus for depressive patients without somatic symptoms(P＜0.001).Only the volume in the right tongue and left cingulate gyrus increased in depressive patients with somatic symptoms compared with that in patients without somatic symptoms(P＜0.01).Conclusion VBM-MRI has demonstrated increased volume in the tongue and cingulate gyrus in the somatic symptoms of depression.