Objective: To investigate the regional differences in the incidence of urothelial carcinoma among kidney transplant recipients between northern and southern China，so as to provide reference for early diagnosis of this disease. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases，including CNKI，Wanfang，CBM，and PubMed，using the keywords “kidney transplantation” and “tumor” to collect clinical data from qualified kidney transplant centers.The latest and most complete literature data published by 17 transplant centers in northern China and 14 in southern China were included.Statistical analyses were performed to compare the incidence of post-transplant urothelial carcinoma and non-urothelial malignancies. Results: A total of 37 475 kidney transplant recipients were included，among whom 837 (2.23%) developed post-transplant malignancies，including urothelial carcinoma (366/837，43.73%)，non-urothelial carcinoma (444/837，53.05%)，and malignancies with unspecified pathology (27/837，3.23%).The incidence of malignancies was significantly higher in northern China than in southern China [(2.82±1.39)% vs. (1.67±0.83)%，P=0.011]，with a particularly pronounced difference in the incidence of urothelial carcinoma [(1.68±1.12)% vs. (0.32±0.32)%，P<0.001].No significant difference was observed in the incidence of non-urothelial carcinoma between the two regions [(1.11±0.56)% vs. (1.35±0.65)%，P=0.279].Additionally，female transplant recipients exhibited a higher incidence of malignancies than males in both regions (southern China：2.38% vs. 1.80%; northern China：8.93% vs. 2.52%). Conclusion: The incidence of urothelial carcinoma following kidney transplantation is significantly higher in northern China than in southern China，underscoring the importance of implementing regular tumor screening for kidney transplant recipients，particularly for female patients in northern China，to facilitate early diagnosis and timely intervention.

Infertility is a common reproductive disorder affecting millions of couples worldwide. It is estimated that male factors account for about 30%-50% of infertility cases, and some studies have found that the concentration of male sperm gradually decreases over time, a trend that suggests the importance of male fertility. Many factors contribute to the decline of male fertility, among which environmental factors have received widespread attention. After reaching adulthood, spermatogonial stem cells will continue to produce sperm, but these cells exist outside the blood testicular barrier, which makes them highly sensitive to environmental conditions such as air pollution, tobacco smoke, radiation, and heavy metals. It is reported that exposure to these adverse environmental factors not only causes oxidative stress and DNA damage to germ cells, but also leads to abnormal epigenetic modification of sperm DNA, thereby causing a series of diseases. This article reviewed the abnormal methylation changes in DNA associated with exposure to environmental pollutants during spermatogenesis and how these changes affect the quantity, quality, and function of spermatozoa.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the application of transesophageal echocar-diography assessment for mitral valve in patients with atrial septal defects undergoing repair surgery. METHODS: The study group comprised of thirty-two adult patients with atrial septal defect who underwent thoracoscopic repair surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of the Air Force Medical University from March to September 2022. Two-dimensional and real-time three-dimensional transesophageal ultrasonography of the mitral valve were performed after anesthesia. The parameters of the mitral valve structure at the late diastolic and late systolic stages were recorded, including anteroposterior and left-right annular diameters, anterior and posterior valves lengths, the vertical distance from the coaptation point of leaflet zone 2 during systole to the annular plane (mitral valve coaptation depth) and mitral valve coaptation length. Data from 32 patients with normal intracardiac structure and no mitral valve regurgitation (control group) were also collected and compared with those of the study group. Concurrent mitral valvoplasty was performed during the atrial septal defect repair surgery for 7 patients with significant mitral valve structural abnormalities and 2 patients with significantly increased mitral regurgitation after cardiac resuscitation. The study group was followed up with transthoracic echocardiography for 2 years postoperatively. RESULTS: In the study group, 26 (81.3%) patients had varying degrees of mitral valve morphological abnormalities. Among them, 10 (31.3%) patients had short mitral valve coaptation length or depth, 12 (37.5%) patients had closure point malposition, and 4 (12.5%) patients had different bulge of anterior and posterior leaflets. Compared with the control group, the study group had significantly smaller systolic and diastolic mitral left-right annular diameter, mitral posterior valves lengths, mitral coaptation length or depth (all P<0.05), a higher pulmonary systemic flow ratio (P<0.01), and a lower maximum blood flow velocity across the mitral valve (P<0.05). After 2 years of follow-up, among the 9 patients who underwent concurrent mitral valvoplasty, the mitral valve maintained no or little regurgitation, and the average mitral valve pressure difference was less than 5 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). Among the 23 patients without concurrent mitral valvoplasty, 2 patients had moderate regurgitation 1 year after surgery, with a pulmonary/systemic flow ratio larger than 2.8. CONCLUSIONS Patients with large atrial septal defects often have abnormal mitral valve structure. Therefore transesophageal echocardiography is recommended for mitral valve assessment during the surgery. If significant mitral valve structural abnormalities are detected, concurrent mitral valvoplasty is recommended.
Humans ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial/diagnostic imaging* ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal/methods* ; Mitral Valve/surgery* ; Adult ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency/diagnostic imaging*

Objective:To evaluate the mediating effect of electrocardiographic (ECG) indicators in the association between short-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and blood pressure and to explore the key PM 2.5 element constituents that produce the mediating effect. Methods:Based on a cross-sectional survey across 10 cities in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and surrounding areas, PM 2.5 and its element constituents were collected from the nearest air monitoring superstation. Blood pressure and ECG indicators of participants were obtained through physical examinations. A multivariate linear regression was used to evaluate the effect of short-term exposures to PM 2.5 on blood pressure. A mediation analysis was used to identify the mediating effect of ECG indicators in the association between exposure to PM 2.5 and its element constituents and blood pressure. Results:The age of the 1 793 participants was (65.1±13.3) years, and 885 (49.4%) were males. During the study period, the daily mean concentration of PM 2.5 was (70±45) μg/m 3, and the systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and pulse pressure (PP) were (139±20), (82±11), (101±13), and (57±17) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), respectively. The results of the multivariate linear regression showed that for every 10 μg/m 3 increase in PM 2.5 on the same day (lag 0), DBP increased by 0.15 (95% CI: 0.02-0.28) mmHg, and PP decreased 0.18 (95% CI: 0.36-0.01) mmHg. The exposure to 14 elemental constituents, such as Ga, Co and Se, was associated with an increase in DBP, while the exposure to 17 elemental constituents, such as Cs, Se and Ag, was associated with a decrease in PP. At lag 0, the PM 2.5-induced increase in DBP was mediated by the QRS interval (mediation percentage of 18.98%), and the PM 2.5-induced decrease in PP was mediated by the QT interval (mediation percentage of -6.31%). The exposure to K, Br, Pb, Zn, Ca, Co, Pd, Cu, and As constituents was associated with increases in DBP mediated by prolonged QRS interval. The exposure to Pb, Zn, K, and As constituents was associated with decreases in PP mediated by prolonged QRS interval. Conclusion:ECG indicators such as QRS interval may mediate the association between short-term exposure to PM 2.5 and its element constituents and blood pressure.

Whole-genome sequencing, serotype typing, MLST typing, population genetic structure analysis, and core-genome single nucleotide polymorphism (cgSNP) analysis were performed on 23 strains of mucoid Haemophilus influenzae collected from the Laboratory Center of Hunan Children′s Hospital from January 2021 to December 2022. Drug susceptibility tests were conducted using the automated microbial identification and susceptibility analysis system AF-600, and virulence genes and drug resistance genes were analyzed based on the whole-genome sequences. Based on the serotype typing of whole-genome sequencing, all 23 strains were Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). MLST analysis revealed that the 23 strains belonged to six ST types, among which 10 strains (43.5%) were ST386, 5 strains (21.7%) were ST18, and 2 strains (8.7%) were the newly discovered ST2887. Bayesian population structure analysis (BAPS) showed three distinct populations. The results of the virulence gene analysis showed that the carriage rates of genes encoding capsule-related proteins and those associated with bacterial immune regulation and inflammatory signaling pathways were all 100%. However, the ompP5 gene related to bacterial adhesion, and the hgpC and hxuA genes related to bacterial protein metabolism were all present in the newly discovered ST2887. The in vitro drug susceptibility test results of 23 strains of mucoid Hib showed that the resistance rates to ampicillin, cefuroxime, and Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were 13.0%(3 strains), 13.0%(3 strains), and 87.0%(20 strains), respectively. They were sensitive to other beta-lactam drugs. All the 23 strains of mucoid Haemophilus influenzae infected children were Hib, and the main ST types were ST386 and ST18. It is very important to advocate Hib vaccination.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of computed tomographic angiography (CTA) three-dimensional reconstruction technology in the repair of limb wounds using free double-leaf anterolateral thigh perforator flaps.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 30 patients with varying degrees of skin damage on their limbs who were admitted to the Hand and Foot Surgery Department of Yiwu Central Hospital in Zhejiang Province and Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital from January 2015 to March 2022. The patients were divided into observation group ( n=15) and control group ( n=15) based on whether CTA three-dimensional reconstruction was performed preoperatively. In the observation group, CTA three-dimensional reconstruction was performed preoperatively, including 9 males and 6 females, aged 17-67 (49.7±4.2) years. In the control group, handheld Doppler ultrasound angiography was performed preoperatively, including 10 males and 5 females, aged 20-69 (50.4±5.0) years. Relevant intraoperative and postoperative indicators were compared between the two groups, including operation duration, anesthesia recovery time, blood loss, perforator localization accuracy, vascular anastomosis rate between the donor and recipient sites, flap harvesting time, flap survival rate, and incidence of adverse reactions. Follow-up visits were conducted via telephone or outpatient clinic for 3 months postoperatively, with one visit per month, to assess patient satisfaction rates. A multi-criteria decision-making model was established, and the benefit values, risk values, and stability of the decision-making model were evaluated for both groups. Results:Compared with the control group, the observation group had significantly reduced operation duration, anesthesia recovery time, blood loss, and flap harvesting time (all P<0.05). The patient satisfaction rate, perforator localization accuracy, and vascular anastomosis rate between the donor and recipient sites were significantly better in the observation group than in the control group (all P<0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions was 13.3% (2/15) in the observation group, which was lower than 53.3% (8/15) in the control group ( P=0.020). Among the benefit indicators, the vascular anastomosis rate between the donor and recipient sites and flap survival rate had the greatest impact on treatment outcomes. Among the risk indicators, venous crisis and flap necrosis had a greater impact. The benefit-risk value was 77 in the observation group and 56 in the control group, with a difference of 21 (95% CI: 14-26) between the two groups. The observation group had higher values than the control group within the range of 0-100% relative risk weight, indicating good stability of the multi-criteria decision-making evaluation model. Conclusion:CTA three-dimensional reconstruction technology can improve the vascular anastomosis rate between the donor and recipient sites and patient satisfaction rates in the repair of limb wounds using free double-leaf anterolateral thigh perforator flaps.

Objective To investigate the effects of PPARδ agonist pretreatment on mice myocardial is-chemia-reperfusion injury(MI/RI).Methods The mice were divided into the control group(sham operation group),model group(ischemia for 30 min,reperfusion for 24 h),experiment group 1(GW501516,3 mg·kg-1·d-1)and experiment group 2(GW501516,10 mg·kg-1·d-1).LVEF,LVFS,serum CK-MB,LDH and cTnI levels in the mice of each group were measured;the wet-dry myocardial tissue weight ratio was de-tected,the myocardial histomorphology was observed by microscope,the myocardial cellular apoptosis rate was detected by in situ end labeling(TUNEL);Bax and Bcl-2 were detected by Western blot;the mRNA ex-pressions of PGC-1,NFR-1 and NFR-2 were detected by PCR.Results Compared with the control group,the wet-dry weight ratio,myocardial cellular apoptosis rate,CK-MB,LDH,cTnI and Bax protein expressions in the model group were increased,and the Bcl-2 protein expression,LVEF,LVFS,PGC-1 mRNA,NFR-1 mR-NA and NFR-2 mRNA were decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the wet-dry weight ratio,myocardial cellular apoptosis rate,CK-MB,LDH,cTnI levels and Bax protein expression in the experimental group 1 and 2 were decreased,while the levels of Bcl-2 protein expression,LVEF,LVFS,PGC-1 mRNA,NFR-1 mRNA and NFR-2 mRNA were significantly increased(P＜0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the above indicators between the experimental group 1 and 2(P＞0.05).Conclusion PPARδ ag-onist reduces the mitochondrial damage possibly through PGC-1/NFRs signaling pathway,thereby reduces the myocardial cellular apoptosis in mice and ameliorates MI/RI.