Esophageal carcinoma is a malignant disease with a high incidence rate and poor prognosis. The mitochondrial apoptosis pathway plays a pivotal role in the regulation of cell death and has become a focal point in current cancer therapeutics research. Various active components from traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） can target the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway to inhibit esophageal carcinoma， presenting as potential therapeutic agents for this disease. This paper summarizes relevant research on the inhibition of esophageal carcinoma by active components in TCM via targeting the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. It has been found that flavonoids （casticin， icariin， luteolin， kaempferol， hesperetin， deguelin， etc.）， terpenoids （oridonin， Jaridonin， artesunate， ethyl acetate fraction of pleurotus ferulatus triterpenoid， etc.）， alkaloids （matrine， swainsonine， etc.）， polyphenols （curcumin， epigallocatechin-3-gallate， corilagin， etc.）， steroids （α-hederin， polyphyllin Ⅵ， etc.）， phenols （optimized scorpion venom peptide CT-K3K7， gecko active polypeptide， etc.）， volatile oils （cinnamaldehyde， α -asarone， etc.） and other active components from TCM can target the intrinsic mitochondrial apoptosis pathway， induce apoptosis in esophageal carcinoma cells， and inhibit their proliferation， invasion and migration by regulating oxidative stress， blocking the cell cycle， regulating signaling pathways such as PI3K/Akt and MAPK.

Objective To explore the correlation between the expression of serum microRNA(miR)-1298-5p,miR-625-5p,and miR-155 with the degree of Helicobacter pylori(Hp)infection in elderly gastric cancer patients.Methods From January 2021 to November 2023,120 elderly patients with gastric cancer admitted to the hospital from January 2021 to November 2023 were selected as the gastric cancer group,and 130 non-gas-tric cancer patients who underwent gastroscopy were selected as the control group.The expression levels of miR-1298-5p,miR-625-5p and miR-155 in serum were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR(qPCR).Car-bon 13 urea breath test was used to detect the positive rate of Hp infection in two groups,and the degree of Hp infection in elderly patients with gastric cancer were evaluated.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was applied to analyze the diagnostic value of serum miR-1298-5p,miR-625-5p,and miR-155 expression levels for Hp infection in elderly gastric cancer patients.Pearson method was applied to analyze the correlation between serum miR-1298-5p,miR-625-5p,miR-155 expression and positive rate of Hp infection in elderly gas-tric cancer patients.Results Compared with the control group,the expression levels of miR-1298-5p and miR-625-5p in serum of gastric cancer group decreased(P＜0.05),while the positive rate of Hp infection and the expression level of serum miR-155 increased(P＜0.05).The expression levels of serum miR-1298-5p and miR-625-5p in elderly gastric cancer patients with Hp grade Ⅰ,Ⅱ,and Ⅲ infection were lower than those without Hp infection,while the expression level of miR-155 was higher(P＜0.05).Patients with poor differ-entiation,lymph node metastasis,and TNM stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ had lower expressions of serum miR-1298-5p and miR-625-5p(P＜0.05),and higher expression of miR-155(P＜0.05)than those with moderate-high differen-tiation,no lymph node metastasis,and TNM stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ.The expression levels of serum miR-1298-5p and miR-625-5p were negatively correlated with the positive rate of Hp infection in elderly patients with gastric cancer(r=-0.443,-0.386,both P＜0.001),and the expression levels of serum miR-155 were positively correlated with the positive rate of Hp infection(r=0.525,P＜0.001).The area under the curve(AUC)of serum miR-1298-5p,miR-625-5p and miR-155 combined diagnosis of Hp infection in elderly gastric cancer pa-tients was higher than that of single diagnosis(P＜0.05).Conclusion The expression levels of miR-1298-5p and miR-625-5p in serum of elderly gastric cancer patients with Hp infection decrease,while the expression level of miR-155 increases.These three factors are related to the degree of Hp infection and have good diag-nostic value for the occurrence of Hp infection.

Objective To evaluate the degree of brain atrophy in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3(SCA3)patients based on artificial intelligence(AI)technology,and to explore the correlation between the degree of brain atrophy and the severity of the disease.Methods The clinical and imaging data of 23 SCA3 patients(SCA3 group)and 24 healthy controls(HC)(HC group)were collected.The International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale(ICARS)was used to evaluate the severity of ataxia in patients with SCA3.AI technology was used to process the 3D-T1 WI MR image data of the SCA3 and HC groups to segment and measure the volume and volume percentage of brain,followed by correlation analyses between brain structural alterations and the severity of ataxia in SCA3 patients.Results There were no significant differences in gender and age between the two groups(P＞0.05).The SCA3 group had a significant reduction in the volume and volume percentage of various brain regions,such as the frontal,temporal,parietal,occipital,limbic,right cerebral white mat-ter,subcortical gray matter,cerebellum and brainstem,compared to the HC group(multiple hypothesis testing adjusted P＜0.01).In the SCA3 group,the ICARS showed positive correlation with patient age(r=0.571,P=0.004)and negative correlation with the vol-ume of the left cerebellar white matter,vermis,medulla oblongata,and the volume percentages of bilateral cerebellar white matter,vermis,pons,medulla oblongata(P＜0.05).Conclusion The significant atrophy of the supratentorial and subtentorial regions of the brain in SCA3 patients.The globus pallidus exhibits the most substantial atrophy,suggesting its potential as an imaging diagnostic marker of SC A3.

Objective To investigate the differential expression of miR-124-3p in peripheral blood and clinical sig-nificance of patients with β-thalassemia.Methods Peripheral blood samples were collected from 33 patients with β-thalassemia and 30 healthy controls in Ningde Municipal Hospital Affiliated to Ningde Normal University from June 2021 to August 2022.The expression level of miR-124-3p was detected.Luciferase reporter gene was used to verify the interaction between miR-124-3p and ERF 3'UTR.The correlation between differential expression of miR-124-3p and β-thalassemia was analyzed and the clinical diagnostic value of miR-124-3p for β-thalassemia was eval-uated.Results Compared with healthy control individuals,the expression of miR-124-3p was significantly up-reg-ulated in patients with β-thalassemia(P＜0.001).The genotype of miR-124-3p high expression group was 84.2%β0(16/19),the genotype of low expression group was 55.6%β+(10/18).ROC curve analysis showed that miR-124-3p had predictive efficacy for β-thalassemia(AUC:0.842).Luciferase reporter gene analysis showed that ERF gene was the regulatory target of miR-124-3p.Conclusions The differential expression of miR-124-3p in patients with β-thalassemia is closely related to the genotype and clinical severity of thalassemia,and ERF is negatively reg-ulated by miR-124-3p.miR-124-3p may be an effective diagnostic biomarker for β-thalassemia.

Objective:To establish reference ranges of central nervous system-related fetal intracranial markers during the first trimester in a local population of Suzhou.Methods:Ultrasound images of fetuses with normal birth outcomes in singleton pregnancies who underwent nuchal translucency(NT) screening during the first trimester (11-13 + 6 gestational weeks) from January 2021 to July 2022 at the Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were retrospectively selected. The images including 3 planes: the midsagittal plane of the fetal head, also known as the plane for NT measurement, the trans-ventricular plane of the fetal head, and the axial plane of the fetal head at the posterior fossa level. The brainstem (BS) thickness, brainstem to occipital bone distance (BSOB), the ratio of BS to BSOB (BS/BSOB), intracranial translucency (IT) thickness, cisterna magna (CM) width, and the midbrain (MB) to falx (F) ratio MB/F were measured in the mid-sagittal plane of the fetal head. Choroid plexus length (CPL) to occipital frontal diameter (OFD) ratio CPL/OFD, and choroid plexus area (CPA) to head area (HA) ratio CPA/HA were measured in the trans-ventricular plane of the fetal head. Anteroposterior diameter of the fourth ventricle (4V) and CM were measured in the axial plane of the fetal head at the posterior fossa level.Statistical analysis was performed to obtain the corresponding normal reference range.Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to analyze intra-observer and inter-observer consistency. Pearson correlation analysis and linear correlation analysis were used to study the correlations between crown-lump length (CRL) and intracranial markers, and the regression equation was derived. Results:A total of 2 331 fetuses were enrolled, providing 1 023 images of the midsagittal plane, 817 images of the trans-ventricular plane, and 567 images of the axial plane of the fetal head at the posterior fossa level. The intra-observer and inter-observer ICCs of intracranial markers BS, BSOB, BS/BSOB, IT thickness, CM width, MB/F in the mid-sagittal plane, the intracranial markers CPL/OFD, CPA/HA on the trans-ventricular plane, and the intracranial markers 4V and CM width in the axial plane at the posterior fossa level were all >0.75. Fetal intracranial markers were linearly correlated with CRL. The midsagittal plane: BS, BSOB, BS/BSOB, IT thickness, CM width, MB/F were linearly correlated with CRL ( r=0.508, 0.626, -0.234, 0.105, 0.508, -0.493; all P<0.05); the trans-ventricular plane: CPL/OFD, CPA/HA were linearly correlated with CRL( r=-0.324, -0.268; all P<0.001); the axial plane of the fetal head at the posterior fossa level: 4V, CM width were linearly correlated with CRL ( r=0.246, 0.467; all P<0.001). Conclusions:Quantitative analysis of fetal intracranial markers in the first trimester is feasible. This study constructed a normal reference range of multiple intracranial markers related to central nervous system in the first trimester with a local population of Suzhou. And the construction of this normal range can provide an objective basis for the detection of fetal central nervous system malformations in the first trimester.

ObjectiveThe transcriptome characteristics of different tissues of Codonopsis pilosula were analyzed to illustrate the genetic basis of the accumulation of active ingredients in the root of C. pilosula， and to provide theoretical basis for its high-quality production and cultivation. MethodDifferent tissues of C. pilosula at flowering stage were selected as experimental materials， and the contents of tangshenoside Ⅰ， lobetyolin and atractylenolide Ⅲ were detected by high performance liquid chromatography（HPLC）. RNA-Seq was used to perform transcriptome sequencing of different tissues， and the differentially expressed genes were screened and analyzed by Gene Ontology（GO） and Kyoto Gene and Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes（KEGG） enrichment analysis， in order to explore the characteristics of active compound distribution and the transcriptional profiles. ResultThe contents of polysaccharides and tangshenoside Ⅰ in the root of C. pilosula were significantly higher than those in other tissues. The transcriptional profiles of the root were significantly different from those of stem， leaf and flower. Cluster analysis， GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of differential gene expression showed that the differential expression genes were mainly enriched in flavonoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis， sucrose-starch metabolism， plant hormone signal transduction， plant-pathogen interaction， mitogen-activated protein kinase（MAPK） cascade signal transduction， Adenosine triphosphate（ATP）-binding cassette（ABC） transporter and other pathways. The expression of genes related to biosynthesis of phenylpropanoid compounds were significantly up-regulated in the roots and flowers， and ABC transporter proteins were mostly highly expressed in the flowers. The expression of key enzyme genes for polysaccharide synthesis， such as sucrose：sucrose 1-fructosyltransferase（1-SST） and fructan 1-exohydrolase（1-Feh）， were significantly up-regulated in the roots， and a large number of stress-responsive genes closely related to the accumulation of secondary metabolites were significantly up-regulated in the roots. ConclusionThe active compound content and transcriptional profiles in C. pilosula roots were significantly different from those in stem， leaf， flower and other tissues， showing tissue specificity. Meanwhile， the genes related to stress response and biosynthesis of active compound， such as fructan and phenylpropanoid compounds， were up-regulated in roots of C. pilosula.

OBJECTIVE To observe the efficacy and safety of ceftazidime and avibactam sodium （CAZ/AVI） in the treatment of carbapenem-resistant organism （CRO） infection. METHODS The information of patients with CRO infection admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from September 2019 to March 2022 was collected， and the patients were retrospectively divided into observation group （48 cases） and control group （48 cases） according to the treatment plan. The control group was given Polycolistin B sulfate for injection intravenously at a dose of 500 000 U every 12 hours； no dose adjustment was performed in patients with renal insufficiency or receiving continuous renal replacement therapy （CRRT）. The observation group was given continuous micropump of CAZ/AVI for injection intravenously at a dose of 2.5 g every 8 hours for 2 continous hours； among them， the patients with renal insufficiency received an adjusted dose based on creatinine clearance， and no dose adjustment was performed in patients receiving CRRT. The clinical efficacy and microbiological efficacy as well as body temperature， white blood cell （WBC）， C-reactive protein （CRP） and procalcitonin （PCT） before and after treatment were compared between 2 groups. The prognosis and the occurrence of adverse drug reactions were recorded. The factors influencing the clinical efficacy were screened by Logistic regression analysis. RESULTS The effective rate and microbial clearance rate of the observation group were significantly higher than the control group （P＜0.05）. After treatment， body temperature， PCT and CRP of 2 groups were significantly lower than before treatment， and CRP of the observation group was significantly lower than the control （No.SDFEYJLC2105） group （P＜0.05）. There was no statistically significant differencebetween the two groups in terms of rehabilitation discharge rate， the proportion of patients transferred to general wards，the proportion of dead patients， and the total incidence ofadverse drug reactions （P＞0.05）. CAZ/AVI and prolonging therapy duration were more likely to achieve clinical benefits （odds ratios of 1.146， 7.707，P＜0.05）， while lung infection and CRRT may be independent risk factors for treatment failure （odds ratios of 0.182， 0.236， P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS CAZ/AVI has good efficacy and safety in the treatment of CRO infection， the appropriate extension of antibacterial treatment time can achieve a higher clinical response rate， while lung infection or CRRT may lead to treatment failure.

Objective:To investigate the association between serum zinc levels and convulsive brain injury in infants with mild gastroenteritis complicated with benign infantile seizures (BICE) and febrile seizures (FC).Methods:A case-control study method was conducted. 120 children with mild gastroenteritis and convulsion admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from January 2020 to January 2022 were enrolled as the research subjects. They were divided into BICE group and FC group according to the type of convulsion. The serum zinc level, the frequency and duration of convulsion, and the occurrence of convulsive brain injury in the two groups were recorded. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to screen the risk factors for convulsive brain injury. The Spearman correlation method was used to analyze the association between serum zinc levels, clinical characteristics of convulsion and convulsive brain injury.Results:A total of 120 children were enrolled, of which 81 developed to BICE and 39 developed to FC during hospitalization. The serum zinc level of children in the FC group was significantly lower than that in the BICE group (μmol/L: 39.24±6.50 vs. 48.65±7.21, P < 0.01). In the BICE group and FC group, the serum zinc level in children with more than 2 convulsions was significantly lower than that in the children with one convulsion (μmol/L: 37.65±6.50 vs. 53.17±7.55 in the BICE group, and 30.27±5.58 vs. 44.16±7.57 in the FC group, both P < 0.01). Serum zinc level in children with convulsion duration ≥5 minutes was significantly lower than that in the children with convulsion duration < 5 minutes (μmol/L: 38.75±6.74 vs. 51.21±7.58 in the BICE group, and 31.08±5.46 vs. 45.19±7.25 in the FC group, both P < 0.01). Moreover, the serum zinc level of children with different convulsion frequency and duration in the FC group was significantly lower than that in the BICE group (all P < 0.01). Among the 120 children, 9 cases of convulsive brain injury occurred, and the incidence rate was 7.50%. The incidence of convulsive brain injury in the BICE group was 1.23% (1/81), which was significantly lower than 20.51% in the FC group (8/39, P < 0.01). The serum zinc level of children with convulsive brain injury was significantly lower than that of children with non-brain injury (μmol/L: 28.50±5.00 vs. 60.22±7.31, P < 0.01), and the number of convulsion was significantly higher than that of non-cerebral injury (≥ 2 convulsions: 100.00% vs. 1.80%, P < 0.01), and the duration of convulsion in children with brain injury was significantly longer than that of non-brain-injured children (convulsion duration ≥5 minutes: 100.00% vs. 11.71%, P < 0.01). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that decreased serum zinc level [odds ratio ( OR) = 2.147, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 1.354-3.403], increased number of convulsion ( OR = 3.452, 95% CI was 1.266-9.417), and prolonged convulsion duration ( OR = 3.117, 95% CI was 1.326-7.327) were independent risk factor for convulsive brain injury in children with mild gastroenteritis and convulsion (all P < 0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that serum zinc level, convulsion ≥2 times, duration of convulsion ≥5 minutes and convulsion ≥2 times + convulsion duration ≥5 minutes were significantly negatively correlated with the occurrence of convulsive brain injury in FC children ( r values were -0.546, -0.517, -0.522, and -0.528, all P < 0.01). There was no significant correlation between serum zinc level, convulsion ≥2 times, convulsion duration ≥5 minutes and convulsion ≥2 times+convulsion duration ≥5 minutes and convulsive brain injury in BICE children ( r values were -0.281, -0.129, -0.201, -0.243, all P > 0.05). Conclusions:Serum zinc level is related to the characteristics of convulsive symptoms in children with mild gastroenteritis complicated with FC, and has a strong negative correlation with the occurrence of convulsive brain injury. Active targeted intervention and treatment may help reduce the incidence of brain injury in children.

To explore prognostic factors in intermediate-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity (MRD<0.1%,MRD-)receiving autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT).A total of 59 intermediate-risk AML patients with MRD-were treated with auto-HSCT from January 2015 to September 2021 at Affiliated People′s Hospital of Ningbo University. The clinical data and laboratory results were collected retrospectively. Efficacy, clinical outcome and prognostic factors were analyzed. Univariate analysis was conducted by using log-rank test, the multivariate analysis by Cox proportional risk model.Among 59 patients, there were 27 males and 32 females with median age of 55 (31-69) years old.The median follow-up was 761(317-1 861)days. The 2-year overall survival (OS) rate and event-free survival (EFS) rate were 76.1%±11.4% and 73.4%±11.6% respectively.The univariate analysis showed that age older than 50 years, TET2 gene mutation (TET2 +), achieving MRD negativity over 30 days (MRD 30+) were unfavorable factors of OS ( χ2=6.20, 33.20, 7.18; P=0.013,<0.001, 0.007). TET 2+, WT1 gene mutation (WT1 +), CD34 +cells<2×10 6/kg, MRD 30+were negative factors of EFS ( χ2=17.29, 4.47, 3.94, 9.393; P<0.001, 0.035, 0.047, 0.002).Multivariate analysis showed that MRD 30+, TET2 + were independent prognostic factors of OS and EFS (OS: HR=9.251, 25.839, P=0.036, 0.001;EFS: HR=5.851, 9.199, P=0.043, 0.002). Intermediate-risk AML patients with MRD 30+or TET2 + have very poor prognosis after auto-HSCT. Alternative regimens should be investigated.

IF1 (ATPIF1) is a nuclear DNA-encoded mitochondrial protein whose activity is inhibition of the F