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 screening and validation of key genes for programmed cell death(PCD)in gout through bioinformatics and machine learning and immunoinfiltration analysis.Methods Gout-related datasets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database,comprising the human gout dataset GSE160170 and murine gout dataset GSE190138,which served as the training cohort.Differentiall expression genes(DEGs)were screened with difference factor>2 and P<0.05.The DEGs of two data sets were intersected to obtain the common DEGs(co-DEGs).The co-DEGs were enriched by GO function and KEGG pathway analysis.The combination of co-DEGs and PCD related gene set was used to obtain PCD related DEGs.A PPI network was built in the STRING database.The key module genes were screened in Cytoscape's MCODE,the hub genes were screened in 12 algorithms built into the Cytohubba plugin,including Degree,MCC,DMNC,MCN,EPC,BottleNeck,EcCentricity,closness,Radiality,Betweeness,Stress and Clusteringcoefficoent,the common genes of the two was as candidate genes.The regression model of least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)was used to screen key genes in the GSE160170 and GSE190138 data sets respectively,and the intersection of the two was adopted to obtain key genes.The diagnostic value of key genes in gout was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.The expression difference of gout related immune cells was investigated by single sample gene set enrichmemt analysis(ssGSEA)immunoinfiltration analysis.Finally,blood samples from 30 gout patients admitted to the Department of Rheumatology,Xi'an Fifth Hospital from February to April 2024 were collected as the experimental group,while blood samples from 30 healthy subjects were collected as the control group.RNA was extracted from the Peripheral blood mononuclear cell(PBMC).Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)was used to validate the expression of key genes in clinical samples.Results 53 common DEGs of GSE160170 and GSE190138 were obtained,among which 43 genes were up-regulated and 10 were down-regulated.GO and KEGG indicated that most genes were involved in cell death,apoptosis,interlenkin(IL)-17 signaling pathway,tumor necrosis facter(TNF)signaling pathway and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-(NOD)-like receptor signaling pathway.12 co-DEGs of programmed cell death and gout were obtained.A total of 7 candidate genes were screened.LASSO regression model screened 5 genes and 4 genes respectively in two datasets,and 3 key genes were abtained by the intersection of the two datasets,which were IL-6,plasminogen activator urokinase receptor(PLAUR)and NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein3(NLRP3).Validation within the training set revealed that all three genes attained perfect diagnostic performance for gout,with area under the ROC(AUC-ROC)curve values of 1.00.Immunoinfiltration analysis showed that the changes of activated CD4+T cells,activated CD8+T cells and natural killer cells were closely related to the occurrence and development of gout.In the clinical samples,compared with the control group,PLAUR,NLRP3 and IL-6 were highly expressed in gout patients,and the differences were statistically significant(t=18.852,9.633,8.293,all P＜0.05).Conclusion IL-6,PLAUR and NLRP3 provide potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the diagnosis and treatment of gout,offering new directions in this field.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical status of long-term oral anticoagulant management in patients with atrial fibrillation, and to analyze the obstacles and promoting factors in the implementation of evidence, so as to provide evidence for clinical transformation.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. Through the evidence-based nursing method, guided by the Ottawa Model, the review indicators and review methods were developed based on the best evidence. The clinical status review of 100 patients who met the inclusion criteria in the Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University was conducted from August to November 2022 using a convenience sampling method, and based on the results of the review, an analysis of obstacles and promoting factors was carried out to develop a clinical response.Results:This study included 100 patients with atrial fibrillation, 60 males and 40 females, aged (70.14 ± 10.39) years. Totally 26 best items were included, and 24 review indicators were developed, among which only 4 indicators had a compliance rate of 100% , 2 indicators had a compliance rate of >60% , 5 indicators had a compliance rate of <60% , and 13 indicators had a compliance rate of 0. According to the results of the review, a comprehensive and systematic analysis was conducted from the three dimensions of system, practitioners, patients and family members. For each dimension, obstacles and promoting factors were analyzed in depth from evidence-based change, potential adopters and practical environment.Conclusions:There is a gap between the best evidence and clinical status of long-term oral anticoagulant management in patients with atrial fibrillation. In-depth analysis of obstacle factors, formulate countermeasures, and promote the efficient implementation of evidence in clinical practice.

Objective To screening and validation of key genes for programmed cell death(PCD)in gout through bioinformatics and machine learning and immunoinfiltration analysis.Methods Gout-related datasets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database,comprising the human gout dataset GSE160170 and murine gout dataset GSE190138,which served as the training cohort.Differentiall expression genes(DEGs)were screened with difference factor>2 and P<0.05.The DEGs of two data sets were intersected to obtain the common DEGs(co-DEGs).The co-DEGs were enriched by GO function and KEGG pathway analysis.The combination of co-DEGs and PCD related gene set was used to obtain PCD related DEGs.A PPI network was built in the STRING database.The key module genes were screened in Cytoscape's MCODE,the hub genes were screened in 12 algorithms built into the Cytohubba plugin,including Degree,MCC,DMNC,MCN,EPC,BottleNeck,EcCentricity,closness,Radiality,Betweeness,Stress and Clusteringcoefficoent,the common genes of the two was as candidate genes.The regression model of least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)was used to screen key genes in the GSE160170 and GSE190138 data sets respectively,and the intersection of the two was adopted to obtain key genes.The diagnostic value of key genes in gout was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.The expression difference of gout related immune cells was investigated by single sample gene set enrichmemt analysis(ssGSEA)immunoinfiltration analysis.Finally,blood samples from 30 gout patients admitted to the Department of Rheumatology,Xi'an Fifth Hospital from February to April 2024 were collected as the experimental group,while blood samples from 30 healthy subjects were collected as the control group.RNA was extracted from the Peripheral blood mononuclear cell(PBMC).Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)was used to validate the expression of key genes in clinical samples.Results 53 common DEGs of GSE160170 and GSE190138 were obtained,among which 43 genes were up-regulated and 10 were down-regulated.GO and KEGG indicated that most genes were involved in cell death,apoptosis,interlenkin(IL)-17 signaling pathway,tumor necrosis facter(TNF)signaling pathway and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-(NOD)-like receptor signaling pathway.12 co-DEGs of programmed cell death and gout were obtained.A total of 7 candidate genes were screened.LASSO regression model screened 5 genes and 4 genes respectively in two datasets,and 3 key genes were abtained by the intersection of the two datasets,which were IL-6,plasminogen activator urokinase receptor(PLAUR)and NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein3(NLRP3).Validation within the training set revealed that all three genes attained perfect diagnostic performance for gout,with area under the ROC(AUC-ROC)curve values of 1.00.Immunoinfiltration analysis showed that the changes of activated CD4+T cells,activated CD8+T cells and natural killer cells were closely related to the occurrence and development of gout.In the clinical samples,compared with the control group,PLAUR,NLRP3 and IL-6 were highly expressed in gout patients,and the differences were statistically significant(t=18.852,9.633,8.293,all P＜0.05).Conclusion IL-6,PLAUR and NLRP3 provide potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the diagnosis and treatment of gout,offering new directions in this field.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical status of long-term oral anticoagulant management in patients with atrial fibrillation, and to analyze the obstacles and promoting factors in the implementation of evidence, so as to provide evidence for clinical transformation.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. Through the evidence-based nursing method, guided by the Ottawa Model, the review indicators and review methods were developed based on the best evidence. The clinical status review of 100 patients who met the inclusion criteria in the Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University was conducted from August to November 2022 using a convenience sampling method, and based on the results of the review, an analysis of obstacles and promoting factors was carried out to develop a clinical response.Results:This study included 100 patients with atrial fibrillation, 60 males and 40 females, aged (70.14 ± 10.39) years. Totally 26 best items were included, and 24 review indicators were developed, among which only 4 indicators had a compliance rate of 100% , 2 indicators had a compliance rate of >60% , 5 indicators had a compliance rate of <60% , and 13 indicators had a compliance rate of 0. According to the results of the review, a comprehensive and systematic analysis was conducted from the three dimensions of system, practitioners, patients and family members. For each dimension, obstacles and promoting factors were analyzed in depth from evidence-based change, potential adopters and practical environment.Conclusions:There is a gap between the best evidence and clinical status of long-term oral anticoagulant management in patients with atrial fibrillation. In-depth analysis of obstacle factors, formulate countermeasures, and promote the efficient implementation of evidence in clinical practice.

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.

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 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.