Objective:To investigate the influencing factors and perinatal outcomes associated with monozygotic twins (MZT) following elective single embryo transfer (eSET) via in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET). Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 12 079 patients who achieved pregnancy after undergoing IVF/ICSI-eSET at Reproductive Health Hospital of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between January 2015 and September 2023. Patients were stratified into two groups based on ultrasound findings 30 d post-transfer: singleton pregnancy group and MZT pregnancy group. Finally, 300 MZT and 1 500 single pregnancies, which were randomly matched according to 1∶5 were included by study period. General patients' characteristics, embryo-related factors, and perinatal outcomes were compared between the two groups. A multivariate logistic regression model was employed to identify risk factors for MZT after single embryo transfer, adjusting for potential confounding variables.Results:The incidence of twin pregnancy following single embryo transfer was 2.48% (300/12 079), which was higher than that of naturally conceived monozygotic twin pregnancy. No significant difference was found in baseline characteristics between the two groups (all P>0.05). The blastocyst transfer rate was higher in the MZT pregnancy group [93.3% (280/300)] than in the singleton pregnancy group [88.8% (1 332/1 500), P=0.022]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis also showed that blastocyst transfer was associated with an increased risk of MZT ( OR=0.552, P=0.016, 95% CI: 0.341-0.894). Analysis of blastocyst cycles showed that the risk of MZT was higher when transferring high-quality blastocysts [79.6% (223/280) vs. 67.8% (903/1 332), P<0.001], where as a trophectoderm (TE) grading of C [20.4% (57/280) vs. 32.2% (429/1 332), P<0.001] had a lower risk of MZT. After adjusting for confounding factors, the risk of MZT was found to increase with the transfer of blastocysts with a B-grade inner cell mass (ICM) ( OR=0.601, P=0.001, 95% CI: 0.442-0.819) and A/B grade TE (grade A: OR=2.951, P<0.001, 95% CI: 1.980-4.399; grade B: OR=1.840, P<0.001, 95% CI: 1.315-2.576). The risk of complications during pregnancy [47.7% (143/300) vs. 19.3% (289/1 500), P<0.001], preterm labor [55.1% (140/254) vs. 7.4% (101/1 368), P<0.001], and the risk of stillbirth [3.7% (11/300) vs. 1.5% (22/1 500), P=0.016] were significantly higher in the MZT pregnancy group than in the singleton pregnancy group. Conclusion:Assisted reproductive technology may contribute to the risk of MZT. Transfer of blastocysts, particularly those with loose ICM arrangement and dense TE arrangement, appears to increase the risk of MZT in patients undergoing eSET.

Objective:To investigate the impact of day 3 embryo quality on pregnancy outcomes in frozen-thawed single blastocyst transfer cycles and analyze its value in embryo selection.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted on clinical data from patients undergoing frozen-thawed single blastocyst transfer at the Reproductive Health Hospital of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2020 to December 2023. A total of 4 691 cycles of high-quality day 3 embryo (H-D3) group and 2 598 cycles of low-quality day 3 embryo (L-D3) group in the same period were included. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the effects of day 3 embryo quality on clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and live birth rate (LBR). All the cycles were stratified according to developmental day and quality of blastocyst: 3 920 cycles of high-quality day 5 blastocysts (H-D5), 1 271 cycles of low-quality day 5 blastocysts (L-D5), 834 cycles of H-D6 group and 1 264 cycles of L-D6, the influence of day 3 embryo quality was subsequently analyzed under different conditions.Results:1) Significant differences were observed between H-D3 and L-D3 groups in female age [(31.79±4.42) years vs. (32.28±4.43) years, P<0.001], basal follicle-stimulating hormone levels [6.24 (5.32,7.35) U/L vs. 6.48 (5.42,7.62) U/L, P<0.001], proportion of primary infertility [35.86% (1 682/4 691) vs. 31.99% (831/2 598), P<0.001], proportion of ≥2 prior failed embryo transfer cycles [3.77% (177/4 691) vs. 5.93% (154/2 598), P<0.001], proportion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist/antagonist controlled ovarian hyperstimulation protocol in fresh cycles [93.33% (4 378/4 691) vs. 89.80%(2 333/2 598), P<0.001], embryo cryopreservation duration [3.10 (2.23,7.27) months vs. 3.60 (2.30,15.40) months, P<0.001], proportion of day 5 blastocyst transfers [74.82% (3 510/4 691) vs. 64.70% (1 681/2 598), P<0.001] and proportion of high-quality blastocyst transfers [72.59% (3 405/4 691) vs. 51.92% (1 349/2 598), P<0.001]. No significant differences were found in body mass index, infertility duration, endometrial preparation program or endometrial thickness on transfer day (all P>0.05). 2) Multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the L-D3 group had significantly lower CPR ( OR=0.837, 95% CI: 0.754-0.929, P<0.001) and LBR ( OR=0.880, 95% CI: 0.794-0.974, P=0.014) compared with the H-D3 group. 3) In H-D5 and L-D5 cycles, L-D3 did not significantly affect CPR ( aOR=0.941, 95% CI: 0.805-1.101, P=0.449; aOR=0.910, 95% CI: 0.724-1.142, P=0.415) or LBR ( aOR=1.034, 95% CI: 0.893-1.196, P=0.657; aOR=0.917, 95% CI: 0.729-1.153, P=0.457). However, in D6-H and D6-L cycles, L-D3 significantly reduced CPR ( aOR=0.732, 95% CI: 0.542-0.987, P=0.041; aOR=0.648, 95% CI: 0.515-0.815, P<0.001) and LBR ( aOR=0.645, 95% CI: 0.479-0.869, P=0.004; aOR=0.670, 95% CI: 0.526-0.854, P=0.001). Conclusion:Day 3 embryo quality significantly impacts both CPR and LBR in frozen-thawed day 6 single blastocyst transfer cycles. This suggests that day 3 embryo quality retains clinical relevance as a selection criterion when prioritizing day 6 blastocysts for transfer.

Objective:To investigate the impact of day 3 embryo quality on pregnancy outcomes in frozen-thawed single blastocyst transfer cycles and analyze its value in embryo selection.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted on clinical data from patients undergoing frozen-thawed single blastocyst transfer at the Reproductive Health Hospital of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2020 to December 2023. A total of 4 691 cycles of high-quality day 3 embryo (H-D3) group and 2 598 cycles of low-quality day 3 embryo (L-D3) group in the same period were included. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the effects of day 3 embryo quality on clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and live birth rate (LBR). All the cycles were stratified according to developmental day and quality of blastocyst: 3 920 cycles of high-quality day 5 blastocysts (H-D5), 1 271 cycles of low-quality day 5 blastocysts (L-D5), 834 cycles of H-D6 group and 1 264 cycles of L-D6, the influence of day 3 embryo quality was subsequently analyzed under different conditions.Results:1) Significant differences were observed between H-D3 and L-D3 groups in female age [(31.79±4.42) years vs. (32.28±4.43) years, P<0.001], basal follicle-stimulating hormone levels [6.24 (5.32,7.35) U/L vs. 6.48 (5.42,7.62) U/L, P<0.001], proportion of primary infertility [35.86% (1 682/4 691) vs. 31.99% (831/2 598), P<0.001], proportion of ≥2 prior failed embryo transfer cycles [3.77% (177/4 691) vs. 5.93% (154/2 598), P<0.001], proportion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist/antagonist controlled ovarian hyperstimulation protocol in fresh cycles [93.33% (4 378/4 691) vs. 89.80%(2 333/2 598), P<0.001], embryo cryopreservation duration [3.10 (2.23,7.27) months vs. 3.60 (2.30,15.40) months, P<0.001], proportion of day 5 blastocyst transfers [74.82% (3 510/4 691) vs. 64.70% (1 681/2 598), P<0.001] and proportion of high-quality blastocyst transfers [72.59% (3 405/4 691) vs. 51.92% (1 349/2 598), P<0.001]. No significant differences were found in body mass index, infertility duration, endometrial preparation program or endometrial thickness on transfer day (all P>0.05). 2) Multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the L-D3 group had significantly lower CPR ( OR=0.837, 95% CI: 0.754-0.929, P<0.001) and LBR ( OR=0.880, 95% CI: 0.794-0.974, P=0.014) compared with the H-D3 group. 3) In H-D5 and L-D5 cycles, L-D3 did not significantly affect CPR ( aOR=0.941, 95% CI: 0.805-1.101, P=0.449; aOR=0.910, 95% CI: 0.724-1.142, P=0.415) or LBR ( aOR=1.034, 95% CI: 0.893-1.196, P=0.657; aOR=0.917, 95% CI: 0.729-1.153, P=0.457). However, in D6-H and D6-L cycles, L-D3 significantly reduced CPR ( aOR=0.732, 95% CI: 0.542-0.987, P=0.041; aOR=0.648, 95% CI: 0.515-0.815, P<0.001) and LBR ( aOR=0.645, 95% CI: 0.479-0.869, P=0.004; aOR=0.670, 95% CI: 0.526-0.854, P=0.001). Conclusion:Day 3 embryo quality significantly impacts both CPR and LBR in frozen-thawed day 6 single blastocyst transfer cycles. This suggests that day 3 embryo quality retains clinical relevance as a selection criterion when prioritizing day 6 blastocysts for transfer.

Objective:To explore the changes of brain excitation/inhibition balance and gray matter volume (GMV) and their correlations with clinical features in benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS).Methods:A cross-sectional study was performed; 83 BECTS children enrolled from Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University from January 2015 to January 2024 were selected as BECTS group. During the same period, 101 age- and gender-matched healthy children were recruited as healthy control group through advertisements in local primary schools. Data of conventional MRI and resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) of the two groups were collected. Whole brain GMV was analyzed by voxel-based morphometry (VBM), and Hurst index was calculated based on time series data of blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal of rs-fMRI. Correlations of GMV and Hurst index with disease duration and onset age in children with BECTS were explored by Pearson correlation analysis.Results:Compared with the healthy control group, the BECTS group had significantly increased GMV and decreased Hurst index in the bilateral Rolandic region ( P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that in the BECTS group, GMV in bilateral Rolandic region was negatively correlated with onset age ( r=-0.267, P=0.015) and positively correlated with disease course ( r=0.267, P=0.015); Hurst index in bilateral Rolandic region was positively correlated with onset age ( r=0.323, P=0.003) and negatively correlated with disease course ( r=-0.240, P=0.029); Hurst index was negatively correlated with GMV in bilateral Rolandic region ( r=-0.328, P=0.003). Conclusion:BECTS children have excitation/inhibition imbalance in epilepsy-related regions and cortical structural delay, and both of them are related to onset age and disease course.

Objective To compare the benefits and drawbacks of primary patch expansion versus pericardial tube right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection in patients diagnosed with pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PA/VSD). Methods A retrospective study was conducted on patients diagnosed with PA/VSD who underwent primary right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection surgery at our center between 2010 and 2020. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the type of right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection: a pericardial tube group and a patch expansion group. Clinical data and imaging findings were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 51 patients were included in the study, comprising 31 males and 20 females, with a median age of 12.57 (4.57, 49.67) months. The pericardial tube group included 19 patients with a median age of 17.17 (7.33, 49.67) months, while the patch expansion group consisted of 32 patients with a median age of 8.58 (3.57, 52.72) months. In both groups, the diameter of pulmonary artery, McGoon index, and Nakata index significantly increased after treatment (P<0.001). However, the pericardial tube group exhibited a longer extracorporeal circulation time (P<0.001). The reoperation rate was notably high, with 74.51% of patients requiring further surgical intervention, including 26 (81.25%) patients in the patch expansion group and 12 (63.16%) patients in the pericardial tube group. No statistical differences were observed in long-term cure rates or mortality between the two groups (P＞0.005). Conclusion In patients with PA/VSD, both patch expansion and pericardial tube right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection serve as effective initial palliative treatment strategies that promote pulmonary vessel development and provide a favorable foundation for subsequent radical operations. However, compared to the pericardial tube approach, the patch expansion technique is simpler to perform and preserves some intrinsic potential for pulmonary artery development, making it the preferred procedure.

Objective To explore the influence of blood uric acid (serum uric acid, SUA) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG） on the occurrence of coronary heart disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods T2DM patients admitted to 3201 Hospital from January 2021 to January 2024 were selected and divided into a combined coronary heart disease(CHD) and a simple diabetes mellitus (DM). The clinical data were collected, and the blood SUA and FPG levels were analyzed. The basic characteristics and biochemical indicators of the two groups were analyzed. Risk factors affecting the severity of coronary lesions were identified by multivariate logistic regression analysis. The interaction between SUA and FPG was also evaluated. Results A total of 98 T2DM patients were included in this study, including 53 and 45 patients in the DM and combined CHD groups, respectively. Compared with the DM group, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), SUA and FPG levels were significantly higher in the combined CHD group. The differences were all statistically significant (P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression model analysis showed that LDL-C (OR=1.490, 95%CI: 1.044-1.824), HDL-C (OR=1.182, 95%CI: 0.846-1.314), TC (OR=1.075, 95%CI: 0.891-1.190), TG (OR=1.695, 95%CI: 1.230-2.164), SUA (OR=1.820, 95%CI: 1.294-2.424) and the FPG level (OR=2.154, 95%CI: 1.532-3.079) could be an independent risk factor for the development of CHD (OR value>1, P<0.05). The results of the interaction analysis showed a positive and additive interaction between SUA and FPG, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Both SUA and FPG levels are independent risk factors for the occurrence of CHD. A positive additive interaction between the two may together contribute to the risk of CHD in T2DM patients.

Objective To introduce a modified technique of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction using a handmade bicuspid pulmonary valve crafted from expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) and to summarize the early single-center experience. Methods Patients with complex congenital heart diseases (CHD) who underwent RVOT reconstruction with a handmade ePTFE bicuspid pulmonary valve due to pulmonary regurgitation at Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital from April 2021 to February 2022 were selected. Postoperative artificial valve function and right heart function indicators were evaluated. Results A total of 17 patients were included, comprising 10 males and 7 females, with a mean age of (18.18±12.14) years and a mean body weight of (40.94±19.45) kg. Sixteen patients underwent reconstruction with a handmade valved conduit, with conduit sizes ranging from 18 to 24 mm. No patients required mechanical circulatory support, and no in-hospital deaths occurred. During a mean follow-up period of 12.89 months, only one patient developed valve dysfunction, and no related complications or adverse events were observed. The degree of pulmonary regurgitation was significantly improved post-RVOT reconstruction and during follow-up compared to preoperative levels (P<0.001). Postoperative right atrial diameter, right ventricular diameter, and tricuspid regurgitation area were all significantly reduced compared to preoperative values (P<0.05). Conclusion The use of a 0.1 mm ePTFE handmade bicuspid pulmonary valve for RVOT reconstruction in complex CHD is a feasible, effective, and safe technique.

Objective:To investigate the differences of the glymphatic system (GS) function between patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (mTLE-HS) and healthy controls and between different seizure types by using diffusion tensor imaging along perivascular space (DTI-ALPS), and to analyze the correlation between GS function and the course of disease, as well as the efficacy of predicting the surgical outcome.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. A total of 171 patients with mTLE-HS (mTLE-HS group) and 75 healthy volunteers (HC group) were retrospectively enrolled from July 2009 to July 2021 at Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University. The general information of all subjects, such as seizure type (partial seizure, secondary generalized seizure), surgical outcome, etc., was analyzed. The 3D magnetization prepared rapid gradient echo T 1WI and DTI sequence images were collected. The VBM analysis method was used to segment cerebrospinal fluid and calculate the volume. The ALPS index of the bilateral brain was calculated using the Atlas-based DTI-ALPS method. Independent sample t-test or paired t test were used to compare the ALPS index between the mTLE-HS group and HC group, and between patients with different seizure types. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between bilateral ALPS index and disease duration in mTLE-HS group. The predictive value of the ALPS index for surgical outcomes was evaluated by receiver operating characteristics curve and area under the curve. Results:Among the 171 mTLE-HS patients, 98 patients were mTLE with left-side HS (mTLE-LHS) and 73 patients were mTLE with right-side HS (mTLE-RHS); 37 patients underwent surgical treatment, including 27 with good prognosis and 10 with poor prognosis. Compared with the HC group, the left-side ALPS index of mTLE-LHS and mTLE-RHS were both decreased ( P<0.05). The right-side ALPS index in mTLE-RHS was lower than that in the HC group ( P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the right-side ALPS index between mTLE-LHS and HC group ( P=0.080). The ALPS index on the affected side of patients with secondary generalized seizures was significantly lower than that of patients with only partial seizures (all P<0.05), but the difference in ALPS index on the healthy side was not statistically significant( P>0.05). The left-side and right-side ALPS index in mTLE-LHS were negatively correlated with disease duration ( r=-0.272, P=0.007; r=-0.307, P=0.002), but no significant correlation was found between the left-side or right-side ALPS index in mTLE-RHS (all P>0.05). The DTI-ALPS index on the affected side in mTLE-HS patients exhibited good diagnostic accuracy for surgical outcome classification, with an area under the curve of 0.778. Conclusions:The patients with mTLE-HS exhibit dysfunction of the GS, and the degree of impairment is related to the type of seizure and the course of epilepsy. The ALPS index, which characterizes the function of GS, demonstrates good diagnostic accuracy for classifying surgical outcomes.

Objective:To investigate the influencing factors and perinatal outcomes associated with monozygotic twins (MZT) following elective single embryo transfer (eSET) via in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET). Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 12 079 patients who achieved pregnancy after undergoing IVF/ICSI-eSET at Reproductive Health Hospital of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between January 2015 and September 2023. Patients were stratified into two groups based on ultrasound findings 30 d post-transfer: singleton pregnancy group and MZT pregnancy group. Finally, 300 MZT and 1 500 single pregnancies, which were randomly matched according to 1∶5 were included by study period. General patients' characteristics, embryo-related factors, and perinatal outcomes were compared between the two groups. A multivariate logistic regression model was employed to identify risk factors for MZT after single embryo transfer, adjusting for potential confounding variables.Results:The incidence of twin pregnancy following single embryo transfer was 2.48% (300/12 079), which was higher than that of naturally conceived monozygotic twin pregnancy. No significant difference was found in baseline characteristics between the two groups (all P>0.05). The blastocyst transfer rate was higher in the MZT pregnancy group [93.3% (280/300)] than in the singleton pregnancy group [88.8% (1 332/1 500), P=0.022]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis also showed that blastocyst transfer was associated with an increased risk of MZT ( OR=0.552, P=0.016, 95% CI: 0.341-0.894). Analysis of blastocyst cycles showed that the risk of MZT was higher when transferring high-quality blastocysts [79.6% (223/280) vs. 67.8% (903/1 332), P<0.001], where as a trophectoderm (TE) grading of C [20.4% (57/280) vs. 32.2% (429/1 332), P<0.001] had a lower risk of MZT. After adjusting for confounding factors, the risk of MZT was found to increase with the transfer of blastocysts with a B-grade inner cell mass (ICM) ( OR=0.601, P=0.001, 95% CI: 0.442-0.819) and A/B grade TE (grade A: OR=2.951, P<0.001, 95% CI: 1.980-4.399; grade B: OR=1.840, P<0.001, 95% CI: 1.315-2.576). The risk of complications during pregnancy [47.7% (143/300) vs. 19.3% (289/1 500), P<0.001], preterm labor [55.1% (140/254) vs. 7.4% (101/1 368), P<0.001], and the risk of stillbirth [3.7% (11/300) vs. 1.5% (22/1 500), P=0.016] were significantly higher in the MZT pregnancy group than in the singleton pregnancy group. Conclusion:Assisted reproductive technology may contribute to the risk of MZT. Transfer of blastocysts, particularly those with loose ICM arrangement and dense TE arrangement, appears to increase the risk of MZT in patients undergoing eSET.

Objective:To investigate the impact of different etiologies on the spatial distribution pattern of infarcts and the mapping pattern of focal symptoms in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) using a population-based standardized spatial analysis of MRI.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. Clinical [age, sex distribution, admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at discharge, etc.] and imaging data of 2 610 patients with AIS attending 9 Medical Centers from January 2015 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were categorized into 1 718 cases of large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) type, 335 cases of cardioembolism (CE) type, and 557 cases of small artery occlusion (SAO) type according to TOAST typing. All patients underwent diffusion-weighted imaging, and the detected infarct lesions were segmented and aligned to the standardized space using artificial intelligence-assisted methods, and the spatial distribution frequency heatmaps of lesion locations in patients with different TOAST subtypes were plotted and compared with each other by χ2 test. Lesion-symptom image brain maps with different clinical symptoms were further plotted, and differences of lesion-symptom image relationships among different TOAST subtypes were observed and compared with each other by interaction effect. Results:In all patients, the favored sites of infarct lesions were the bilateral middle cerebral artery region in the anterior circulation and the occipital and brainstem regions in the posterior circulation. Compared with the LAA type, the CE type lesions were more likely to occur in the anterior cerebral artery region, the occipital lobe, and the cerebellum posterior, while the SAO type lesions were more likely to occur in the perforator artery supply area. The lesion-symptom mapping results showed that AIS patients with infarct lesions in the frontoparieto-temporal region in the presence of a left middle cerebral artery supply had higher admission NIHSS scores and higher discharge 90-day mRS scores for the LAA type than for the CE type( P<0.05); AIS patients with infarcted lesions in the brainstem region and some cerebellar regions in the presence of vertebrobasilar artery supply had higher admission NIHSS scores and higher discharge 90-day mRS scores for the CE type than for the LAA type( P<0.05). Conclusion:At the population level, brain mapping reveals specific infarct distribution patterns and differences in lesion-symptom mapping patterns of different etiologies AIS patients, providing imaging evidence for the understanding of AIS pathogenetic mechanisms and clinical management.