Objective To observe the value of susceptibility weighted imaging(SWI)based on 5.0T MRI for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)complicated with vein tumor thrombi.Methods Totally 63 HCC patients were retrospectively enrolled,among them 17 complicated with vein tumor thrombi.The efficacy of 5.0T SWI for detecting vein tumor thrombus was observed,and the image quality were compared between 5.0T and 3.0T.Results 5.0T SWI displayed vein tumor thrombi in 16 cases,except for 1 case with vein tumor thrombi in the upper segment of the left lateral lobe of the left portal vein.The liver edge score,overall image quality score,signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio of portal venous phase and hepatobiliary phase in 5.0T enhanced MRI were all higher than those in 3.0T(all P＜0.05).Conclusion 5.0T SWI was helpful for diagnosing HCC complicated with vein tumor thrombi.

Tourette syndrome(TS)is a chronic neurodevelopmental disorder.Acupuncture can effectively improve the clinical symptoms of TS patients.This article systematically summarized the clinical research status of acupuncture for the treatment of TS in recent years from the aspects of characteristic acupuncture methods,characteristic needles and comprehensive therapies,and put forward suggestions and prospects for systematically elaborating the peripheral-central mechanism of acupuncture for TS around the intestinal immunity and brain network mechanism in the future,so as to provide reference for optimizing clinical research and treatment.

Objective:To investigate the impact of the interval period between biopsy and MR examination on tumor detection and extraprostatic extension (EPE) assessment for prostate cancer (PCa) using multi-parametric MRI (mpMRI).Methods:The study was cross-sectional and retrospectively included 130 patients with PCa who underwent RP and preoperative systematic biopsies followed by mpMRI between January 2021 and December 2022 in the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to interval following biopsy (group A,<3 weeks, 31 cases; group B, 3-6 weeks, 67 cases; group C,>6 weeks, 32 cases). The percentages of hemorrhage volume in the total prostate were drawn on T 1WI and calculated. The junior, senior and expert radiologists independently localized the index lesions and calculated the accuracy for tumor detection, in addition to assessing the probabilities of EPE according to EPE grade. The correlation between the hemorrhage extent and interval was analyzed using the Spearman correlation coefficient. The accuracy for tumor detection was compared using χ2 test among groups. The diagnostic performance of the radiologists for EPE prediction was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic curve, and the differences between the corresponding area under the curve (AUC) were compared using the DeLong test. Results:The percentage of hemorrhage was correlated with the interval between biopsy and MR examination ( r=-0.325, P<0.001). The detection accuracy of junior radiologist was 83.9% (26/31), 76.1% (51/67), and 78.1% (25/32) in group A, B and C, respectively; no differences were observed in the detection accuracy among three groups ( χ2=0.76, P=0.685). The detection accuracy of senior radiologist was 83.9% (26/31), 80.6% (54/67), and 71.9% (23/32) in 3 groups with no differences ( χ2=1.53, P=0.464). The detection accuracy of expert radiologist was 80.6% (25/31), 77.6% (52/67), and 93.8% (30/32) with no differences ( χ2=3.95, P=0.139). The AUC (95% CI) for predicting EPE were 0.830 (0.652-0.940), 0.704 (0.580-0.809), 0.800 (0.621-0.920) in the group A, B and C for junior radiologist; 0.876 (0.708-0.966), 0.768 (0.659-0.863), 0.896 (0.736-0.975) for senior radiologist; and 0.866 (0.695-0.961), 0.813 (0.699-0.895), 0.852 (0.682-0.952) for expert radiologist, respectively. No differences were observed among the subgroups in each radiologist ( P>0.05). Conclusion:The interval period does not significantly affect the detection accuracy and EPE assessment of PCa using mpMRI. There is probably no necessity for prolonged intervals following systematic biopsy to preserve the clarity of MRI interpretation for PCa.

Objective To explore the application value of single-port laparoscopic high ligation of processus vaginalis by using the Veress needle.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on data of 51 cases of single-port laparoscopic high ligation of processus vaginalis with the Veress needle from January 2021 to March 2023.A Veress needle was used instead of hernia needle to perform high ligation of processus vaginalis.Results All the operations were successful without additional auxiliary ports or conversion to open surgery.The time of unilateral operation in 46 cases was 6-15 min(mean,8.9±1.9 min).The bilateral operation time in 5 cases was 13-19 min(mean,15.4±2.3 min).After 6 months of follow-up after surgery,there was no recurrence in all children,and no complications such as suture knot reaction,scrotal edema,scrotal hematoma,iatrogenic cryptorchidism,and testicular atrophy occurred.Conclusions Single-port laparoscopic high ligation of processus vaginalis by using the Veress needle has the advantages of single-port surgery,single puncture,and simple performance.The therapeutic effect is definite and it is worthy to be popularized.

Objective:To investigate the expression level of small nucleolar RNA SNORD15A in bone marrow of patients with acute leukemia (AL) and its relationship with clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients.Methods:Bone marrow blood samples of 53 newly treated AL patients and 29 healthy subjects without clinical diagnosis of hematologic diseases or other malignant diseases (control group) at the Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University from March 2018 to December 2021 were collected. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the relative expression of SNORD15A in bone marrow blood mononuclear cells of the two groups. The median relative expression of SNORD15A (0.148) was used as the boundary, and AL patients were divided into low expression group (<0.148) and high expression group (≥0.148). The relationship between the expression level of SNORD15A and the clinical characteristics, clinical indicators and overall survival (OS) of AL patients was analyzed. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis and log-rank test was performed; Cox proportional hazards model was used for univariate and multivariate analyses of OS of patients.Results:The relative expression of SNORD15A was 0.148 (0.012-1.376) in newly treated AL patients and 0.921 (0.513-2.288) in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( Z = -6.85, P < 0.01). The differences in SNORD15A relative expression between patients with different prognostic stratification, efficacy and with or without fever and bleeding were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The differences in platelet count, plateletcrit and albumin levels between SNORD15A low expression group and high expression group were statistically significant (all P < 0.05), and the differences in molecular biology and cytogenetic characteristics were not statistically significant (all P > 0.05). The patients in SNORD15A high expression group had better OS than the low expression group ( P < 0.05). The results of univariate Cox regression analysis showed that SNORD15A was an influencing factor for patients' OS ( HR = 0.063, 95% CI 0.005-0.766, P < 0.05); the results of multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that fatigue ( HR = 4.754, 95% CI 1.014-22.290), fever ( HR = 0.147, 95% CI 0.029-0.746) and hemoglobin ( HR = 0.970, 95% CI 0.944 -0.998) were independent influencing factors for OS (all P < 0.05). Conclusions:SNORD15A is lowly expressed in AL and may be an indicator for disease monitoring and prognostic assessment in AL patients.

Objective:To construct and evaluate a screening and diagnostic system based on color fundus images and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted screening for optic neuritis (ON) and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).Methods:A diagnostic test study. From 2016 to 2020, 178 cases 267 eyes of NAION patients (NAION group) and 204 cases 346 eyes of ON patients (ON group) were examined and diagnosed in Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center of Sun Yat-sen University; 513 healthy individuals of 1 160 eyes (the normal control group) with normal fundus by visual acuity, intraocular pressure and optical coherence tomography examination were collected from 2018 to 2020. All 2 909 color fundus images were as the data set of the screening and diagnosis system, including 730, 805, and 1 374 images for the NAION group, ON group, and normal control group, respectively. The correctly labeled color fundus images were used as input data, and the EfficientNet-B0 algorithm was selected for model training and validation. Finally, three systems for screening abnormal optic discs, ON, and NAION were constructed. The subject operating characteristic (ROC) curve, area under the ROC (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and heat map were used as indicators of diagnostic efficacy.Results:In the test data set, the AUC for diagnosing the presence of an abnormal optic disc, the presence of ON, and the presence of NAION were 0.967 [95% confidence interval ( CI) 0.947-0.980], 0.964 (95% CI 0.938-0.979), and 0.979 (95% CI 0.958-0.989), respectively. The activation area of the systems were mainly located in the optic disc area in the decision-making process. Conclusion:Abnormal optic disc, ON and NAION, and screening diagnostic systems based on color fundus images have shown accurate and efficient diagnostic performance.

Objective:To explore the effects and possible mechanisms of melatonin combined with enriched environment on the learning and memory ability of senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8(SAMP8).Methods:Forty-eight SAMP8 male mice aged 4 months were randomly divided into model group, enriched environment group, melatonin group and melatonin combined with enriched environment group (combined intervention group) by random number table method, with 12 mice in each group. Mice in the melatonin group and combined intervention group were subcutaneously injected with melatonin at a dose of 8 mg·kg -1·d -1, and the mice in the model group and the enriched environment group were given the same amount of normal saline instead.The mice in model group and melatonin group were raised in a standard environment, and the mice in enriched environment group and combined intervention group were raised in an enriched environment.The intervention lasted 28 days. The aging degree of mice was scored before and 28 days after the intervention. Morris water maze test was used to detect the learning and memory ability of mice. Nissl staining and TUNEL staining were used to observe the Nissl staining positive cells and apoptotic cells in the CA1 area of hippocampus.ELISA was used to detect the levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the hippocampus of mice. Western blot was used to detect the levels of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) 1-42, microtubule-associated protein tau (tau) phosphorylated at threonine (Thr) 205 (Tau pT205), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 protein in the hippocampus of mice. qRT-PCR was used to detect the levels of TLR4, NF-κB p65 mRNA in the hippocampus of mice. SPSS 22. 0 statistical software was used for repeated measure ANOVA, one-way ANOVA and LSD test. Results:(1) Aging score: after intervention, the aging scores of mice in the four groups were significantly different ( F=120.601, P<0.01). The aging scores of mice in the enriched environment group, melatonin group, and combined intervention group were lower than those in the model group (all P<0.05), while the aging score of mice in the combined intervention group was significantly lower than those in the enriched environment group and melatonin group (both P<0.05). (2) The results of the location navigation experiment showed that the time × group interaction effect of the escape latencies of mice in the four groups were significant ( F=30.524, P<0.001). From the 2nd to 4th day, the escape latencies of mice in the enriched environment group, melatonin group and combined intervention group were all lower than that in the model group (all P<0.05). The results of the space exploration experiment showed that the residence time in the target quadrant and the number of platform crossings of mice in the four groups were significantly different ( F=291.328, 113.482, both P<0.01). The residence time in the target quadrant ((29.45±1.70)s, (32.44±1.55)s, (37.48±0.84) s) and the number of platform crossings ((6.44±0.61) times, (7.16±0.70) times, (12.60±1.23) times) of mice in the enriched environment group, melatonin group and combined intervention group were higher than those in the model group ((15.07±1.28) s, (4.10±0.61) times), while the residence time in the target quadrant and the number of platform crossings of mice in the enriched environment group and the melatonin group were significantly lower than those in the combined intervention group (all P<0.05). (3) Nissl and TUNEL staining showed that the number of Nissl positive neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region of mice in the four groups were significantly different ( F=809.264, P<0.01), and the number of apoptotic cells in the hippocampal CA1 region were also significantly different ( F=1 060.583, P<0.01). The number of Nissl stained positive neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region of mice in the combined intervention group was more than those in the model group, enriched environment group, and melatonin group (all P<0.05), and the number of apoptotic cells were less than those in the model group, enriched environment group, and melatonin group (all P<0.05). (4) The results of ELISA assay showed that there were significantly different in the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in the hippocampus of mice in the four groups ( F=152.887, 63.506, 432.026, all P<0.01). The contents of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in the hippocampus of mice in the enriched environment group, melatonin group, and combined intervention group were lower than those in the model group(all P<0.05). Among them, the contents of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in the hippocampus of mice in the enriched environment group and melatonin group were significantly higher than those in the combined intervention group (all P<0.05). (5) Western blot analysis showed that there were significantly different in the protein expression levels of Aβ1~42, tau pT205, TLR4, NF-κB p65 in the hippocampus of mice in the four groups ( F=122.349, 98.934, 201.635, 116.553, all P<0.01). The protein expression levels of Aβ1-42, tau pT205, TLR4, and NF-κB p65 in the hippocampus of mice in the enriched environment group, melatonin group, and combined intervention group were lower than those in the model group.Among them, the protein expression levels of Aβ1-42, tau pT205, TLR4, NF-κB p65 in the hippocampus of mice in the enriched environment group and melatonin group were significantly higher than those in the combined intervention group (all P<0.05). (6) qRT-PCR showed that the mRNA expression levels of TLR4 and NF-κB p65 in the hippocampus of mice in the four groups were significantly different ( F=42.913, 102.446, both P<0.01). The mRNA expression levels of TLR4 ((0.63±0.05), (0.55±0.04), (0.42±0.03)) and NF-κB p65 ((0.98±0.06), (0.82±0.04), (0.72±0.04)) in the hippocampus of mice in the enriched environment group, melatonin group and combined intervention group were lower than those in the model group ((0.74±0.07), (1.20±0.05)) (all P<0.05). Among them, the mRNA expression levels of TLR4 and NF-κB p65 in the hippocampus of mice in the enriched environment group and melatonin group were significantly higher than those in the combined intervention group (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Melatonin combined with enriched environment can improve the learning and memory ability and neuroinflammatory response of SAMP8 mice, and its mechanism may be related with the down-regulation of TLR4/NF-κB p65 signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Since the diagnostic value of aldosterone to renin ratio (ARR) calculated by plasma renin concentration (PRC) or plasma renin activity (PRA) is still inconclusive, we conducted a meta-analysis by systematically reviewing relevant literature to explore the difference in the diagnostic efficacy of ARR calculated by PRC or PRA, so as to provide guidance for clinical diagnosis. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library from the establishment of the database to March 2021. We included studies that report the true positive, false positive, true negative, and false negative values for the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism, and we excluded duplicate publications, research without full text, incomplete information, or inability to conduct data extraction, animal experiments, reviews, and systematic reviews. STATA 15.1 was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The pooled results showed that ARR (plasma aldosterone concentration [PAC]/PRC) had a sensitivity of 0.82 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.78-0.86), a specificity of 0.94 (95% CI: 0.92-0.95), a positive-likelihood ratio (LR) of 12.77 (95% CI: 7.04-23.73), a negative LR of 0.11 (95% CI: 0.07-0.17), and symmetric area under the curve (SAUC) of 0.982, respectively. Furthermore, the diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of ARR (PAC/PRC) was 180.21. Additionally, the pooled results showed that ARR (PAC/PRA) had a sensitivity of 0.91 (95% CI: 0.86-0.95), a specificity of 0.91 (95% CI: 0.90-0.93), a positive LR of 7.30 (95% CI: 2.99-17.99), a negative LR of 0.10 (95% CI: 0.04-0.26), and SAUC of 0.976, respectively. The DOR of ARR (PAC/PRA) was 155.52. Additionally, we conducted a subgroup analysis for the different thresholds (<35 or ≥35) of PAC/PRC. The results showed that the DOR of the cut-off ≥35 groups was higher than the cut-off <35 groups (DOR = 340.15, 95% CI: 38.32-3019.66; DOR = 116.40, 95% CI = 23.28-581.92). CONCLUSIONS The research results suggest that the determination of ARR (PAC/PRC) and ARR (PAC/PRA) was all effective screening tools for PA. The diagnostic accuracy and diagnostic value of ARR (PAC/PRC) are higher than ARR (PAC/PRA). In addition, within a certain range, the higher the threshold, the better the diagnostic value.
Aldosterone ; Area Under Curve ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism/diagnosis* ; Hypertension ; Renin

Objective:To investigate the changing characteristics and stages of balloon pressures in treatment of trigeminal neuralgia by percutaneous balloon compression (PBC), and explore the relations of balloon pressures at different stages with postoperative facial numbness and pain recurrence.Methods:A prospective analysis was performed. Thirty-two patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia, admitted to our hospital from May 2019 to May 2020, were chosen. During surgery, a manometer was connected with computer manometry software to continuously monitor the balloon pressure changes; pear-shaped stage and maintenance stage were named during the balloon pressure changes. The facial numbness occurrence and pain recurrence were assessed by Barrow Institute of Neurology (BNI) facial numbness and pain intensity scales. Robust evaluation method referred to American Institute for Clinical and Laboratory Standardization (CLSI) C28-A2 document was used to determine the reference ranges of balloon pressures at the pear-shaped stage, maintenance stage and whole-process stage (pear-shaped stage+maintenance stage). Spearman rank correlation test was used to analyze the correlations of balloon pressures at the pear-shaped stage, maintenance stage and whole-process stage with facial numbness 24 h and 12 months after surgery, and pain recurrence 6 and 12 months after surgery.Results:Among the 32 patients, pain relief was found in 31 patients and lateral numbness was found in 30 patients 24 h after surgery. Pain recurred 12 months after surgery in 2 patients. The reference ranges of pressure at pear-shaped stage, maintenance stage and whole-process stage were (157.2-128.5) kPa, (136.10-117.9) kPa and (141.9-119.9) kPa, respectively. The pressures at pear-shaped stage, maintenance stage and whole process stage were positively correlated with facial numbness 24 h and 12 months after surgery ( P<0.05); there were negative correlations between pressures at pear-shaped stage and whole-process stage and pain recurrence 6 months after surgery ( P<0.05); pressures at pear-shaped stage, maintenance stage and whole-process stage were negatively correlated with pain recurrence 12 months after surgery ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The lower the balloon pressure during PBC, the more likely it would have pain recurrence after surgery; and the higher the pressure, the more likely it would have facial numbness after surgery; the efficacy of PBC can be maximized when the balloon pressures maintains at adequate ranges ([157.2-128.5] kPa at the pear-shaped stage, [136.1-117.9] kPa at the maintenance stage and [141.9-119.9] kPa at the whole-process stage).

Objective:To investigate the effect of miR-129-3p on the proliferation, migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by targeting E2F transcription factor 5 (E2F5).Methods:The expression of miR-129-3p and E2F5 in different liver cancer cell lines and normal liver cell lines were detected by fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction. HepG2 cell lines overexpressing miR-129-3p were constructed, thiazole blue cell proliferation assay and plate cloning test were used to detect the proliferation and clone formation ability of each cell. Cell scratch assay and transwell assay were used to detect cell migration and invasion. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression. The targeting relationship between miR-129-3p and E2F5 was verified by dual luciferase reporter gene method and western blotting. The experimental groups were as follows: non-transfection (NC) group; transfection control miR-con (miR-con) group; transfection of miR-129-3p (miR-129-3p) group; co-transfection of miR-129-3p and empty vector pcDNA (miR-129-3p+ pcDNA) group; co-transfection of miR-129-3p and pcDNA-E2F5 (miR-129-3p+ pcDNA-E2F5) group.Results:The expression of miR-129-3p in MHCC-97H, HepG2, LM3, Hep3B, PLC, HUH7 were all lower than that of HL-7702, the difference were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The number of cell clones [(86.56±20.84) vs. (511.29±45.03)and(509.78±40.81)], the cell migration rate [(3.03±1.29)% vs. (15.01±2.30)% and(14.99±2.31)%], the relative expression of migration-related protein MMP-2 [(0.51±0.22)vs.(1.87±0.30)and(1.84±0.35)]and the number of transmembrane cells [(33.10±1.58) vs. (101.23±0.31) and (100.96±3.44)] in miR-129-3p group were all decreased when compared with NC group and miR-Con group, the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Dual luciferase reporting assay showed that miR-129-3p can negatively target E2F5 and inhibit its expression. Conclusion:The expression level of miR-129-3p is low in hepatocellular carcinoma cells, overexpression of miR-129-3p can inhibit the malignant biological behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by targeting E2F5.