Objective:To investigate the expression of transcription factor Zinc finger and BTB domain-containing 4 (ZBTB4) in papillary thyroid carcinoma and its relationship with the clinicopathological features of the tumor.Methods:Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to assess ZBTB4 protein of cancerous tissues and paired-normal tissues extracted from surgical samples of 60 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (30 classical and 30 with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) . Fresh tissue samples were collected from above patients, and the expression of ZBTB4 gene mRNA and ZBTB4 protein in cancerous tissues was detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot methods. SPSS statistical software was used to analyze the relationship between the expression level of this gene in tumor tissues, clinicopathological features and tumor prognosis.Results:Immunohistochemical results showed that the expression of ZBTB4 protein in papillary thyroid carcinoma tissues was significantly higher than that in normal thyroid tissues (25.0% vs. 3.3%, P=0.001) . The results of qRT-PCR showed that the expression of ZBTB4 gene mRNA in tumor tissues was significantly higher than that in normal thyroid tissues ( P<0.001) . There was no significant difference in the expression level of ZBTB4 between patients with classical papillary carcinoma and those with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Multivariate analysis showed that the patients with higher expression of ZBTB4 had relatively smaller tumor diameter ( t=2.31, P=0.025) and less lateral cervical lymph node metastasis ( t=4.13, P=0.042) . Conclusions:Patients with higher ZBTB4 expression level have better outcome, as reflected in smaller tumor diameter and lower rates of lateral cervical lymph node metastasis. The molecular mechanism of ZBTB4 gene in papillary thyroid carcinoma needs further study.

Objective To observe the value of whole brain CT perfusion(CTP)-derived arterial phase images combined with artificial intelligence iterative reconstruction(AIIR)for evaluating acute ischemic stroke(AIS).Methods Fifty AIS patients were prospectively enrolled,and whole brain CTP followed by routine CT angiography(CTA)were performed.CTP images were reconstructed using AIIR(CTP-AIIR group)and hybrid iterative reconstruction(HIR,CTP-HIR group),respectively,and CTA images were derived from CTP at the arterial phase.Meanwhile,routine CTA images were obtained using HIR(CTA-HIR group).Then image quality was subjectively evaluated with a 5-point scale.The noise of basilar artery trunk,cavernous segment of internal carotid artery,M1 segment of middle cerebral artery and the brain parenchyma were calculated,and signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)of the above 3 arteries were measured.Taken digital subtraction angiography as the reference standard,the accuracy of CTP and CTA for localizing the responsible vessel of AIS was assessed.Results In CTP-AIIR group,the subjective scoring of 4 subjective metrics,including image noise,sharpness of vessel margin,small vessel visibility and overall diagnosability were significantly higher than,the noise of 3 arteries and brain parenchyma were lower than,and SNR and CNR of 3 arteries were higher than those in CTP-HIR group and CTA-HIR group(all P＜0.017).The diagnostic accuracy of responsible vessel based on CTP-AIIR group and CTA-HIR group were both 96.00％ (48/50),not significantly different with that in CTP-HIR group(44/50,88.00％ )(P=0.142).Conclusion Whole brain CTP-derived arterial phase CTA combined with AIIR could achieve comparable image quality and diagnostic performance of routine CTA for evaluating AIS.

Objective:To investigate the expression of transcription factor Zinc finger and BTB domain-containing 4 (ZBTB4) in papillary thyroid carcinoma and its relationship with the clinicopathological features of the tumor.Methods:Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to assess ZBTB4 protein of cancerous tissues and paired-normal tissues extracted from surgical samples of 60 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (30 classical and 30 with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) . Fresh tissue samples were collected from above patients, and the expression of ZBTB4 gene mRNA and ZBTB4 protein in cancerous tissues was detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot methods. SPSS statistical software was used to analyze the relationship between the expression level of this gene in tumor tissues, clinicopathological features and tumor prognosis.Results:Immunohistochemical results showed that the expression of ZBTB4 protein in papillary thyroid carcinoma tissues was significantly higher than that in normal thyroid tissues (25.0% vs. 3.3%, P=0.001) . The results of qRT-PCR showed that the expression of ZBTB4 gene mRNA in tumor tissues was significantly higher than that in normal thyroid tissues ( P<0.001) . There was no significant difference in the expression level of ZBTB4 between patients with classical papillary carcinoma and those with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Multivariate analysis showed that the patients with higher expression of ZBTB4 had relatively smaller tumor diameter ( t=2.31, P=0.025) and less lateral cervical lymph node metastasis ( t=4.13, P=0.042) . Conclusions:Patients with higher ZBTB4 expression level have better outcome, as reflected in smaller tumor diameter and lower rates of lateral cervical lymph node metastasis. The molecular mechanism of ZBTB4 gene in papillary thyroid carcinoma needs further study.

Objective To observe the value of whole brain CT perfusion(CTP)-derived arterial phase images combined with artificial intelligence iterative reconstruction(AIIR)for evaluating acute ischemic stroke(AIS).Methods Fifty AIS patients were prospectively enrolled,and whole brain CTP followed by routine CT angiography(CTA)were performed.CTP images were reconstructed using AIIR(CTP-AIIR group)and hybrid iterative reconstruction(HIR,CTP-HIR group),respectively,and CTA images were derived from CTP at the arterial phase.Meanwhile,routine CTA images were obtained using HIR(CTA-HIR group).Then image quality was subjectively evaluated with a 5-point scale.The noise of basilar artery trunk,cavernous segment of internal carotid artery,M1 segment of middle cerebral artery and the brain parenchyma were calculated,and signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)of the above 3 arteries were measured.Taken digital subtraction angiography as the reference standard,the accuracy of CTP and CTA for localizing the responsible vessel of AIS was assessed.Results In CTP-AIIR group,the subjective scoring of 4 subjective metrics,including image noise,sharpness of vessel margin,small vessel visibility and overall diagnosability were significantly higher than,the noise of 3 arteries and brain parenchyma were lower than,and SNR and CNR of 3 arteries were higher than those in CTP-HIR group and CTA-HIR group(all P＜0.017).The diagnostic accuracy of responsible vessel based on CTP-AIIR group and CTA-HIR group were both 96.00％ (48/50),not significantly different with that in CTP-HIR group(44/50,88.00％ )(P=0.142).Conclusion Whole brain CTP-derived arterial phase CTA combined with AIIR could achieve comparable image quality and diagnostic performance of routine CTA for evaluating AIS.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of serum neuronal Per-Arnt-Sim domain protein 4(NPASDP-4)and myelin basic protein(MBP)expression in patients with Parkinson's disease in relation to cognitive impairment(CI)and severity.Methods Selected and 138 Parkinson's disease patients admitted to the 909th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of the People's Liberation Army of China as the Parkinson's disease group,and 69 healthy people in the physical examination center of the hospital were in the healthy control group.Patients with Parkinson's disease were divided into normal cognitive function group(n=55),mild CI group(n=51)and dementia group(n=32)according to whether CI occurred and its severity.General data of subjects was collected,the serum levels of NPASDP-4 and MBP were detected by ELISA,correlation analysis was adopted by Spearman rank correlation or Pearson linear correlation,diagnostic value was analyzed by ROC curve,and influencing factors were analyzed by multivariate Logistic regression.Results Compared with the healthy control group,the levels of serum NPASDP-4(6.75±0.48 ng/ml vs 2.38±0.31 ng/ml)and MBP(8.34±0.65 μg/L vs 3.54±0.42 μg/L)in the Parkinson's disease group were increased with statistical significance(r=68.751,55.761,all P＜0.05).There were significant differences in H-Y stage among the normal cognitive function group,mild CI group and dementia group(x2=7.788,P＜0.05).Compared with the group with normal cognitive function(47.92±11.63 score),the mild CI group(50.78±13.69 score)and the dementia group(41.95±10.36 score)showed an increase in UPDRS-Ⅲ scores,and the differences were statistically significant(H=6.672,all P＜0.05).In normal cognitive function group,mild CI group and dementia group,the course of disease,and serum NPASDP-4(5.89±0.40,6.83±0.55,8.12±0.54 ng/ml)and MBP(6.65±0.56,8.94±0.69,10.27±0.70μg/L)levels were significantly increased(H=207.950,355.594,allP＜0.05),while MMSE score(28.47±0.94,24.51±1.35,17.09±2.57 score),MoCA score(27.45±1.03,20.18±1.92,11.75±2.53 score)and GPCOG total score(13.47±0.69,10.25±1.04,8.97±0.82 score)were significantly decreased,and the differences were statistically significant(H=515.005,775.933,327.584,all P＜0.05),respectively.The serum levels of NPASDP-4 and MBP in Parkinson's disease patients were significantly positively correlated with the course of disease(r=0.316,0.358),H-Y stage(r=0.345,0.384)and UPDRS-Ⅲ score(r=0.371,0.396),and significantly negatively correlated with MMSE score(r=-0.468,-0.517),MoCA score(r=-0.504,-0.569)and GPCOG total score(r=-0.527,-0.538)(all P＜0.05),respectivey.The areas under the curve(AUC)of the serum levels of NPASDP-4,MBP and their combination in diagnosing of Parkinson's disease were 0.850,0.930 and 0.960,respectively.The AUC of the serum levels of NPASDP-4 and MBP and their combination in diagnosing the severity of CI in patients with Parkinson's disease were 0.866,0.803 and 0.933,respectively.H-Y stage metaphase[OR(95％CI):4.725(1.742～12.814)],H-Y stage advanced[OR(95％CI):5.083(1.919～13.464)],UPDRS-Ⅲ score[OR(95％CI):3.257(1.464～7.246)],NPASDP-4[OR(95％CI):5.324(1.516～18.701)]and MBP[OR(95％CI):5.769(2.459～13.533)]were the influential factors for CI in patients with Parkinson's disease(all P＜0.05).NPASDP-4[OR(95％CI):4.768(2.382～9.543)]and MBP[OR(95％CI);5.846(3.141～10.882)]were the influential factors for the severity of CI in patients with Parkinson's disease(all P＜0.05).Conclusion The serum levels of NPASDP-4 and MBP in patients with Parkinson's disease were high,and they were closely related to CI and its severity,which may have certain clinical diagnostic value.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of 3D-printed guide plate assisted versus freehand placement of cannulated screws for the treatment of Sanders type II and III calcaneal fractures.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 29 patients with Sanders type II and III calcaneal fractures admitted to Chonggang General Hospital from June 2020 to October 2022. Among them, there were 18 males and 11 females, with an age range of 22-69 years [(40.1±11.5)years]. Nineteen patients were treated with individualized 3D-printed guide plate assisted placement of cannulated screws (3D-printed group) and 10 were treated with freehand placement of cannulated screws (freehand group). The surgical time, fluoroscopy times, postoperative 6-month calcaneal morphology (length, width, height, B?hler angle and Gissane angle), and American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score and Maryland functional score assessed at 3, 6 months after operation and at the final follow-up were compared between the two groups. The incision healing and complications were observed.Results:The patients were followed up for 6-24 months [(11.3±2.5)months]. The surgical time and fluoroscopy times in the 3D-printed group were (53.4±9.1)minutes and (7.3±1.1)times, respectively, which were shorter than (90.2±16.0)minutes and (16.0±3.2)times in the freehand group (all P<0.01). At 6 months after operation, there was no significant difference in calcaneal length between the two groups ( P>0.05); the calcaneal width, height, B?hler angle and Gissane angle in the 3D-printed group [(34.0±1.8)mm, (47.2±1.6)mm, (27.8±1.0)°, (129.2±2.8)°] were superior than those in the freehand group [(37.5±2.0)mm, (43.0±2.7)mm, (25.8±1.5)°, (125.9±2.5)°] (all P<0.01). At 3, 6 months after operation and at the final follow-up, the values of AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score in the 3D-printed group [(72.2±2.3)points, (79.7±2.3)points, (86.5±4.4)points] were higher than those in the freehand group [(64.2±6.9)points, (73.4±4.2)points, (81.8±3.1)points] (all P<0.05); the values of Maryland score in the 3D-printed group [(71.4±7.7)points, (84.7±2.6)points, (91.5±2.5)points] were higher than those in the freehand group [(65.2±5.6)points, (79.1±3.8)points, (87.1±2.9)points] (all P<0.05). All surgical incisions were healed in stage I. In the 3D-printed group, there were no complications regarding infection, iatrogenic vascular or nerve injury, or fixation failure after surgery. In the freehand group, one patient with lateral sural cutaneous nerve injury was resolved spontaneously without specific treatment. Conclusion:Compared with freehand placement of cannulated screws, 3D-printed guide plate assisted placement of percutaneous placement has the advantages of shorter surgical time, fewer fluoroscopy times, lower reduction loss, better ankle joint function recovery, and less complications in treating Sanders type II and III calcaneal fractures.

OBJECTIVES: Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) has recently been investigated as a new inflammatory marker in many inflammatory diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus and immunoglobulin A vasculitis. However, there were very few reports regarding the clinical role of PLR in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis. This study was thus undertaken to investigate the relationship between inflammatory response and disease activity in Chinese patients with myeloperoxidase-anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA) associated vasculitis. Furthermore, we evaluated whether PLR predicts the progression of end stage of renal disease (ESRD) and all-cause mortality. METHODS: The clinical, laboratory and pathological data, and the outcomes of MPO-ANCA associated vasculitis patients were collected. The Spearman correlation coefficient was computed to examine the association between 2 continuous variables. Cox regression analysis was used to estimate the association between PLR and ESRD or all-cause mortality. RESULTS: A total of 190 consecutive patients with MPO-ANCA associated vasculitis were included in this study. Baseline PLR was positively correlated with CRP (r=0.333, P<0.001) and ESR (r=0.218, P=0.003). PLR had no obvious correlation with Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS). Patients having PLR≥330 exhibited better cumulative renal survival rates than those having PLR<330 (P=0.017). However, there was no significant difference in the cumulative patient survival rates between patients with PLR≥330 and those with PLR<330 at diagnosis (P>0.05). In multivariate analysis, PLR is associated with the decreased risk of ESRD (P=0.038, HR=0.518, 95% CI 0.278 to 0.963). We did not find an association between PLR with all-cause mortality using multivariate analysis (HR=1.081, 95% CI 0.591 to 1.976, P=0.801). CONCLUSIONS PLR is positively correlated with CRP and ESR. Furthermore, PLR may independently predict the risk of ESRD.
Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis/diagnosis* ; Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic/analysis* ; China/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/complications* ; Lymphocytes ; Peroxidase ; Retrospective Studies

Objective:To explore the efficacy and safety of TiRobot combined with three-dimensional imaging in the minimally invasive surgery for pelvic fractures.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted of the 40 patients with pelvic fracture who had been treated by fixation with S1 and S2 sacroiliac screws at Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Yangjiang People's Hospital from January 2019 to May 2021. They were divided into 2 groups according to their treatment methods. In the TiRobot group of 20 cases subjected to percutaneous sacroiliac screw fixation assisted by TiRobot combined with three-dimensional imaging, there were 13 males and 7 females with an age of (38.2 ± 8.8) years. In the manual group of 20 cases subjected to fixation with manual placement of sacroiliac screws under conventional C-arm fluoroscopy, there were 11 males and 9 females with an age of (37.3 ± 9.2) years. The 2 groups were compared in terms of fluoroscopy time for screw placement, guide needle adjustment, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, visual analogue scale (VAS) 72 hours after operation, postoperative hospital stay, time to ambulation, excellent to good rate of screw placement, complication rate, fracture union time, Majeed score at 6 months after operation, and excellent to good rate of functional evaluation.Results:There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in their preoperative general data, showing they were comparable ( P > 0.05). In the TiRobot group, fluoroscopy time for screw placement [(8.2 ± 2.9) s], guide needle adjustment [(0.4 ± 0.2) times], operation time [(67.4 ± 5.5) min], and intraoperative blood loss [(36.5 ± 8.0) mL] were significantly less than those in the manual group [(40.4 ± 4.5) s, (8.6 ± 0.7) times, (78.4 ± 7.2) min, and (41.6 ± 7.8) mL], postoperative VAS [3.0 (4.0, 5.0) points] was significantly lower than that in the manual group [4.0 (5.0, 6.0) points], the excellent to good rate of screw placement (100%, 40/40) was significantly higher than that in the manual group (85.0%, 34/40), and the complication rate (5.0%,1/20) was significantly lower than that in the manual group (35.0%, 7/20) (all P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in postoperative hospital stay, time to ambulation, fracture union time, Majeed score, or excellent to good rate of functional evaluation ( P > 0.05). Conclusion:In the minimally invasive surgery for pelvic fractures, TiRobot combined with three-dimensional imaging leads to positive outcomes, because it can reduce operation time and radiation exposure, improve accuracy of screw placement, and increase safety.

Objective To investigate the change of blood lactate level in children with severe sepsis,and its relationship with clinical prognosis.Methods 90 children with severe sepsis who treated in our hospital from February 201 3 to May 201 4 were selected as the study subjects.According to the prognosis of children,they were divided into survival group and death group,45 cases in each group.The blood lactate levels at different time points, blood lactate clearance rates between the two groups at different time points as well as fibrin,oxygenation index and D -dimer levels were compared after admission.Results After treatment,the fibrin,oxygenation index and D -dimer levels in the two groups were improved.The fibrin and D -dimer levels in the survival group[(2.71 ±0.31 )ng/mL, (0.89 ±0.1 0)mg/L)]were lower than those in the death group[(2.89 ±0.21 )ng/mL,(1 .26 ±0.1 8)mg/L)],the differences were significant(t =3.224,P =0.001 ;t =1 2.053,P =0.000).The oxygenation index of the survival group[(1 96.23 ±1 4.69)mmHg)]was higher than that of the death group [(1 80.23 ±21 .03 )mmHg)],the difference was significant(t =4.1 84,P =0.000).The EGOT compliance rate,APACHE Ⅱscore and MODS incidence rate of survival group were significantly lower than those of the death group,the differences were significant(t =7.200,P =0.007;t =9.1 49,P =0.000;t =29.298,P =0.000).The blood lactate levels at each time points in the survival group were significantly lower than the death group,the differences were statistically significant(t =50.543, P =0.000;t =33.932,P =0.000;t =1 7.91 5,P =0.000;t =28.703,P =0.000).The 6 h,24 h blood lactate clearance rates≥1 0% of the survival group (73.33%,80.00%)were significantly higher than those of the death group(37.78%,44.44%),the differences were significant(χ2 =1 1 .520,P =0.000;χ2 =1 2.1 00,P =0.000). Conclusion Lactate level in children with sepsis is an important indicator of prognosis in children with severe sepsis,with guidance for the treatment of children with sepsis.

Objective To explore the clinical efficacy,adverse reactions and serum levels of IL -10 and TNF-αin children with peptic ulcer undergoing sequential therapy.Methods 68 children with peptic ulcer were selected and randomly divided into two groups,34 cases in each group.The control group received quadruple therapy, namely omeprazole,amoxicillin,clarithromycin and bismuch treatment for seven days.The treatment group underwent sequential therapy:the first 5 d of oral omeprazole,amoxicillin treatment,and the next 5 d omeprazole,amoxicillin and inidazole treatment.The clinical efficacy,adverse reactions,IL-10 and TNF-αlevels of the two groups were com-pared.Results The total effective rates after treatment of the control group and treatment group were 88.24% and 91.18% respectively,there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups(χ2 =1.21,P>0.05). After treatment,the levels of IL-10 and TNF-αin the control group were (24.93 ±6.29)pg/mL and (37.93 ± 8.28)pg/mL,which were significantly decreased (t=5.52,P<0.05,t=8.51,P<0.01).And the levels of IL-10 and TNF-αin the treatment group were (21.36 ±6.31)pg/mL and (29.67 ±6.38)pg/mL,which were significantly decreased(t=11.15,12.29,all P<0.01).The levels of IL-10 and TNF -αof the treatment group were much significant than those of the control group after the sequential therapy (t=3.32,P<0.05,t=8.71,P<0.01). Conclusion Sequential therapy for the treatment of children with peptic ulcer has better effect than the quadruple therapy,and can reduce serum IL-10 and TNF-αlevels,it is worthy of promoting.