Currently, the drug delivery system (DDS) based on nanomaterials has become a hot interdisciplinary research topic. One of the core issues is drug loading and controlled release, in which the key lever is carriers. Vaterite, as an inorganic porous nano-material, is one metastable structure of calcium carbonate, full of micro or nano porous. Recently, vaterite has attracted more and more attention, due to its significant advantages, such as rich resources, easy preparations, low cost, simple loading procedures, good biocompatibility and many other good points. Vaterite, gained from suitable preparation strategies, can not only possess the good drug carrying performance, like high loading capacity and stable loading efficiency, but also improve the drug release ability, showing the better drug delivery effects, such as targeting release, pH sensitive release, photothermal controlled release, magnetic assistant release, optothermal controlled release. At the same time, the vaterite carriers, with good safety itself, can protect proteins, enzymes, or other drugs from degradation or inactivation, help imaging or visualization with loading fluorescent drugs in vitro and in vivo, and play synergistic effects with other therapy approaches, like photodynamic therapy, sonodynamic therapy, and thermochemotherapy. Latterly, some renewed reports in drug loading and controlled release have led to their widespread applications in diverse fields, from cell level to clinical studies. This review introduces the basic characteristics of vaterite and briefly summarizes its research history, followed by synthesis strategies. We subsequently highlight recent developments in drug loading and controlled release, with an emphasis on the advantages, quantity capacity, and comparations. Furthermore, new opportunities for using vaterite in cell level and animal level are detailed. Finally, the possible problems and development trends are discussed.

ObjectiveMagnetoencephalography (MEG), a non-invasive neuroimaging technique, meticulously captures the magnetic fields emanating from brain electrical activity. Compared with MEG based on superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID), MEG based on optically pump magnetometer (OPM) has the advantages of higher sensitivity, better spatial resolution and lower cost. However, most of the current studies are clinical studies, and there is a lack of animal studies on MEG based on OPM technology. Pain, a multifaceted sensory and emotional phenomenon, induces intricate alterations in brain activity, exhibiting notable sex differences. Despite clinical revelations of pain-related neuronal activity through MEG, specific properties remain elusive, and comprehensive laboratory studies on pain-associated brain activity alterations are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of inflammatory pain (induced by Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA)) on brain activity in a rat model using the MEG technique, to analysis changes in brain activity during pain perception, and to explore sex differences in pain-related MEG signaling. MethodsThis study utilized adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Inflammatory pain was induced via intraplantar injection of CFA (100 μl, 50% in saline) in the left hind paw, with control groups receiving saline. Pain behavior was assessed using von Frey filaments at baseline and 1 h post-injection. For MEG recording, anesthetized rats had an OPM positioned on their head within a magnetic shield, undergoing two 15-minute sessions: a 5-minute baseline followed by a 10-minute mechanical stimulation phase. Data analysis included artifact removal and time-frequency analysis of spontaneous brain activity using accumulated spectrograms, generating spectrograms focused on the 4-30 Hz frequency range. ResultsMEG recordings in anesthetized rats during resting states and hind paw mechanical stimulation were compared, before and after saline/CFA injections. Mechanical stimulation elevated alpha activity in both male and female rats pre- and post-saline/CFA injections. Saline/CFA injections augmented average power in both sexes compared to pre-injection states. Remarkably, female rats exhibited higher average spectral power 1 h after CFA injection than after saline injection during resting states. Furthermore, despite comparable pain thresholds measured by classical pain behavioral tests post-CFA treatment, female rats displayed higher average power than males in the resting state after CFA injection. ConclusionThese results imply an enhanced perception of inflammatory pain in female rats compared to their male counterparts. Our study exhibits sex differences in alpha activities following CFA injection, highlighting heightened brain alpha activity in female rats during acute inflammatory pain in the resting state. Our study provides a method for OPM-based MEG recordings to be used to study brain activity in anaesthetized animals. In addition, the findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of pain-related neural activity and pain sex differences.

OBJECTIVE: To review the nomenclature, functional unit construction, technical essentials, and prevention and treatment of complications of functional perforator flaps, so as to provide references for the structural and functional reconstruction of composite tissue defects. METHODS: By retrieving and analyzing domestic and foreign literature on anatomical research, technical innovation and clinical application of functional design and application of perforator flaps, combined with the clinical practice of our team, the methods for harvesting and integrating functional units of perforator flaps were summarized. RESULTS: Functional perforator flap refers to a perforator flap that, on the basis of perforator blood supply, carries one or more tissue functional units (such as muscles, nerves, lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, bones, mucous membranes, joints or articular cartilages, etc.) with sufficient blood supply located in the supra-fascia and/or sub-fascia, and is used to reconstruct one or more functions of the recipient site. The design and transfer of functional perforator flaps should not only meet the needs of precise coverage of the wound, but also reconstruct the functions of the recipient site such as muscle contraction, flap sensation, lymphatic drainage, blood flow bridging, bone growth, glandular secretion or joint movement, while avoiding iatrogenic dysfunction in the donor site. CONCLUSION Functional perforator flaps have broken through the limitation of "wound coverage" and realize the integrated reconstruction of "structure-function-aesthetics".
Humans ; Perforator Flap/blood supply* ; Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods* ; Soft Tissue Injuries/surgery* ; Tissue and Organ Harvesting/methods* ; Skin Transplantation/methods*

OBJECTIVE: To review the clinical applications of functional perforator flaps in restoring human body functions. METHODS: An extensive literature review was conducted on both domestic and international publications to summarize the clinical use of functional perforator flaps for functional restoration. RESULTS: Perforator flaps are among the most commonly used flaps in reconstructive surgery. Beyond providing soft tissue repair, they are increasingly employed to reconstruct diverse bodily functions, leading us to propose the concept of the "functional perforator flap". Although various forms of functional perforator flaps are currently utilized, reports are predominantly scattered case studies, lacking systematic organization. Commonly used functional perforator flaps can be categorized into five types: chimeric perforator flaps, perforator flaps for nerve function restoration, perforator flaps for lymphatic drainage enhancement, flow-through perforator flaps, and perforator flaps for restoring bone and joint motion. These flaps significantly broaden the application scope of perforator flaps, elevating the goal of reconstruction from mere wound repair to achieving repair concurrent with functional reconstruction. CONCLUSION The application of various functional perforator flap designs significantly improves wound reconstruction outcomes and represents an effective approach for managing complex defects. Future developments will undoubtedly see more forms of functional perforator flaps reported to meet increasingly sophisticated reconstructive demands.
Humans ; Perforator Flap/blood supply* ; Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods* ; Soft Tissue Injuries/surgery* ; Skin Transplantation/methods* ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVE: To explore the application value of infrared thermography in the design and harvesting of ultrathin anterolateral thigh perforator flaps. METHODS: Between June 2024 and December 2024, 9 cases of ultrathin anterolateral thigh perforator flaps were designed and harvested with the assistance of infrared thermography. There were 7 males and 2 females, aged 21-61 years (mean, 39.8 years). The body mass index ranged from 19.49 to 26.45 kg/m² (mean, 23.85 kg/m²). Causes of injury included 5 cases of traffic accident injuries and 4 cases of machine crush injuries. There were 3 cases of leg wounds, 2 cases of foot wounds, and 4 cases of hand wounds. After debridement, the size of wound ranged from 7 cm×4 cm to 13 cm×11 cm. The time from admission to flap repair surgery was 5-12 days (mean, 7 days). Preoperatively, perforator localization was performed using a traditional Doppler flow detector and infrared thermography, respectively. The results were compared with the actual intraoperative locations; a discrepancy ≤10 mm was considered as consistent localization (positive), and the positive predictive value was calculated. All 9 cases were repaired with ultrathin anterolateral thigh perforator flaps designed and harvested based on thermographic images. The size of flap ranged from 8 cm×5 cm to 14 cm×8 cm, with a thickness of 3-6 mm (mean, 5.2 mm). One donor site was repaired with a full-thickness skin graft, and the others were sutured directly. Postoperatively, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, and anti-vascular spasm treatments were administered, and follow-up was conducted. RESULTS: The Doppler flow detector identified 22 perforating vessels within the set range, among which 16 were confirmed as superficial fascia layer perforators intraoperatively, with a positive predictive value of 72.7%. The infrared thermograph detected 23 superficial fascia layer perforating vessels, and 21 were verified intraoperatively, with a positive predictive value of 91.3%. There was no significant difference between the two methods [OR (95%CI)=3.93 (0.70, 22.15), P=0.100]. The perforator localization time of the infrared thermograph was (5.1±1.3) minutes, which was significantly shorter than that of the Doppler flow detector [(10.1±2.6) minutes; MD (95%CI)=-5.00 (-7.08, -2.91), P<0.001]. Postoperatively, 1 case of distal flap necrosis healed after dressing change; all other flaps survived successfully. The skin grafts at donor site survived, and all incisions healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 3-6 months (mean, 4.7 months). No pain or other discomfort occurred at the donor or recipient sites. All patients with foot wounds could walk with shoes, and no secondary flap revision was required. Flaps in 3 hand wound cases, 2 foot wound cases, and 3 leg wound cases recovered light touch and pressure sensation, but not pain or temperature sensation; the remaining 2 cases had no sensory recovery. CONCLUSION Preoperative localization using infrared thermography for repairing ultrathin anterolateral thigh perforator flaps can help evaluate the blood supply status of perforators, reduce complications, and improve surgical safety and flap survival rate.
Humans ; Perforator Flap/blood supply* ; Adult ; Male ; Thermography/methods* ; Female ; Thigh/blood supply* ; Middle Aged ; Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods* ; Tissue and Organ Harvesting/methods* ; Infrared Rays ; Skin Transplantation/methods* ; Soft Tissue Injuries/surgery* ; Young Adult

Ribosome is an intracellular ribonucleoprotein particle that serves as the site of protein biosynthesis. Ribosomal dysfunction caused by mutations in genes encoding ribosomal proteins (RPs) and ribosome biogenesis factors (RBFs) can lead to a spectrum of diseases, collectively known as ribosomopathy. Phase separation is a thermodynamic process that produces multiple phases from a homogeneous mixture. The formation of membraneless organelles and intracellular structures, including ribosomes and nucleoli, cannot occur without the involvement of phase separation. Here, ribosome structure, biogenesis, and their relationship with ribosomopathy are systematically reviewed. The tissue specificity of ribosomopathy and the role of phase separation in ribosomopathy are particularly discussed, which may offer some clues for understanding the mechanisms of ribosomopathy. Then, some new ideas for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of ribosomopathy are provided.
Humans ; Ribosomes/physiology* ; Ribosomal Proteins/metabolism* ; Mutation ; Animals ; Cell Nucleolus/metabolism* ; Protein Biosynthesis ; Phase Separation

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of whole exome sequencing (WES) for the diagnosis of early-onset genetic diseases among infants aged 0 to 6 month in Ningbo region. METHODS: 268 infants presented at the Women and Children's Hospital Affiliated to Ningbo University from January 2022 to June 2024 undergoing WES-based genetic testing were enrolled. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the infants and their parents and subjected to WES. Pathogenic variants were identified by clinical manifestations. This study has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Hospital (Ethics No. EC2023-017). RESULTS: Among the 268 infants, 124 (46.3%) had phenotype-explaining genetic variants. For 42 family-based WES tests, 20 (47.62%) were abnormal, whilst in 226 single-person WES tests, 104 (46.02%) had abnormalities, with 76 (33.63%) verified by parental testing. In 96 fully family-verified cases, 31 were de novo, 40 were parent-inherited, 25 were single-parent-inherited. These included 35 inborn metabolic errors, 28 rare syndromes, 9 neurodevelopmental disorders, 4 musculoskeletal diseases, 5 congenital deafness, 2 mitochondrial diseases, 4 endocrine diseases, and 9 others. Among these, there were 7 pathogenic copy number variations (all deletions), 3 chromosomal abnormalities, and 85 single-nucleotide variations. One case of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome was detected by methylation MLPA. Among the single-nucleotide variants, 114 pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants were identified in 61 genes, with common ones including missense variants (64.04%), frameshifting variants (20.18%) and splicing variants (4.39%). CONCLUSION WES can offer effective diagnosis for hereditary diseases with specific/non-specific manifestations. For early-age infants, higher detection rates may be attained for inborn metabolic errors, rare syndromes, neurodevelopmental disorders, congenital deafness, and musculoskeletal diseases. Compared with single-person WES, family-based WES can attain a higher diagnostic efficiency.
Humans ; Exome Sequencing/methods* ; Infant ; Female ; Male ; Infant, Newborn ; Genetic Diseases, Inborn/diagnosis* ; Genetic Testing/methods*

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of GJB2 gene c.109G>A (p.V37I) variant among infants with congenital hearing loss and analyze the initial audiological characteristics of children harboring the variant, compare the audiometric difference among individuals with various genotypes, and explore genetic and audiological manifestations of the affected families. METHODS: One hundred twenty six infants diagnosed with congenital hearing loss at the Neonate Screening Center of Ningbo City from June 2021 to December 2024 were selected as the study subjects. The neonates, in addition with members from 16 of their families, had undergone genetic screening for variants of 208 hotspot sites within 24 deafness-associated genes. For cases identified with monoallelic variants and concurrent hearing loss, the full GJB2 gene was sequenced. Meanwhile, a retrospective analysis was carried out on 23 children whom were confirmed to have hearing loss and the c.109G>A variant by whole exome sequencing from March 2022 to December 2024. And 102 children who were excluded to have hearing loss and pathogenic variants by whole exome sequencing were selected as normal controls. Audiological features of individuals harboring the c.109G>A variant were compared. This study has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of The Affiliated Women and Children's Hospital of Ningbo University (Ethics No.: EC2023-009). RESULTS: For the 126 infants with congenital hearing loss, prospective screening has identified 58 (46.03%) to harbor the c.109G>A variant. These included 38 homozygotes and 16 compound heterozygotes. Retrospective review of the 23 c.109G>A positive children has identified 15 as homozygotes and 8 as compound heterozygotes. Genetic testing of the 16 pedigrees has identified 7 homozygotes and 1 compound heterozygote. For the homozygotes combined (n = 53), 96.2% exhibited bilateral symmetric hearing loss, with 78.3% showing high-frequency sloping patterns, and 98.1% having a hearing threshold ranging from 20 to 65 dB. For the compound heterozygotes combined (n = 24), 95.8% showed symmetric loss, with 59.4% having high-frequency sloping, and 97.9% had a hearing threshold ranging from 20 to 65 dB. Both groups showed significantly elevated ABR/PTA thresholds compared with the normal controls (P = 0.000). The compound heterozygous group had higher ABR thresholds (43.3 ± 15.0 dB nHL) compared with the homozygous group (39.1 ± 12.0 dB nHL, P = 0.005). CONCLUSION Infants harboring the GJB2 c.109G>A variant primarily manifest as mild-to-moderate, symmetric, high-frequency sloping hearing loss. Nearly one-third of affected children have thresholds between 20 to 35 dB nHL, suggesting that ABR > 35 dB nHL alone may underestimate the hearing impairment in this population. Compared with homozygotes, compound heterozygotes with the the GJB2 c.109G>A variant can confer a more severe hearing loss.
Humans ; Connexin 26/genetics* ; Female ; Male ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant ; Hearing Loss/genetics* ; Retrospective Studies ; Child, Preschool ; Child ; Genotype ; Connexins/genetics* ; Mutation

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum vitamin D level and central precocious puberty(CPP)in girls.Methods A total of 103 girls(case group)with central precocious puberty from Ningbo Woman and Children's Hospital and 53 healthy girls(control group)from health check-ups in Ningbo Women and Children's Hospital were collected as subjects.The serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3[25(OH)D3]in the two groups were detected by chemiluminescence method.The weight and height of girls in the case group were measured.The serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH)and its peak value,luteinizing hormone(LH)and its peak value,estradiol(E2),prolactin(PRL),human chorionic gonadotropin(HCG)and thyroid function were measured by radioimmunoassay.The peak value of LH/FSH was calculated.B ultrasound examination of uterine adnexa was completed to calculate uterine volume and bilateral ovarian volume.According to the results of serum 25-(OH)D3,girls in the case group were divided into normal vitamin D group and vitamin D deficiency group,and the differences of hormone levels,uterine and ovarian development between the two groups were compared.Results The serum level of 25-(OH)D3 in case group was lower than that in control group,and the vitamin D deficiency rate in case group was higher than that in control group,with statistical significance(P<0.05).The age of breast nodules in vitamin D deficiency group was lower than that in vitamin D normal group(P<0.05).There were no significant differences in body weight,height,body mass index(BMI),uterine volume and left ovarian volume between vitamin D normal group and vitamin D deficiency group(P>0.05),and the right ovarian volume in vitamin D deficiency group was significantly higher than that in vitamin D normal group(P<0.05).There were no significant differences in serum levels of FSH,LH,PRL,HCG,peak value of FSH and thyroid function between normal and deficient groups(P>0.05).The levels of E2,LH and LH/FSH in vitamin D deficiency group were significantly higher than those in vitamin D normal group(P<0.05);25-(OH)D3 was negatively correlated with LH/FSH peak(r=-0.197,P<0.05),but was not significantly correlated with thyroid function,FSH,LH,PRL,E2,HCG,FSH and LH peak(P>0.05).Conclusion Vitamin D deficiency is associated with central precocious puberty in girls.Vitamin D deficiency may lead to early onset of precocious puberty.Vitamin D deficiency may affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis function,resulting in changes in reproductive hormone indexes and consequent increase in ovarian volume in girls.

Qualitative analysis of the ingredients absorbed into blood and their metabolites of Xihuang pill (XHP) were conducted using high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) technology. Network pharmacology was used to explore the potential anticancer mechanisms of the ingredients against glioma, and their specific mechanisms were validated through molecular docking and experimental verification. SD rats were intragastrically administered with XHP, and rat serum samples were collected. Ingredients absorbed into blood and their metabolites were identified based on the retention time of chromatographic peaks, accurate molecular mass, characteristic fragment ions, and comparisons with reference substances and literature data. PharmMapper and SwissTarget Prediction databases were used to obtain the targets of the XHP-medicated serum, while GeneCards, OMIM, PharmGKB, TTD, and DrugBank databases were used to obtain glioma disease targets. The "component-target" network relationship diagram was constructed using Cytoscape 3.9.1 software. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network diagram was constructed using the STRING database, and the targets were analyzed using GO and KEGG analyses. Molecular docking was used to verify the binding ability of core targets with their corresponding compounds in XHP-medicated serum. The potential mechanism of the anti-glioma effect of 11-keto-β-boswellic acid (KBA), a representative component of XHP-medicated serum, was verified using CCK-8 and Western blot assays. A total of 40 compounds were identified in the XHP-medicated serum, including 28 prototype components and 12 metabolites. The network pharmacology results showed that elemonic acid, 3-acetyl-β-boswellic acid, KBA, α-boswellic acid, and other 5 compounds might be the active ingredients of XHP-medicated serum in the treatment of glioma. Glutathione reductase (GSR), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY), aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B1 (AKR1B1) and glutaredoxin (GLRX) were identified as key targets, involving pathways such as glutathione metabolism and the pentose phosphate pathway. Further cell experiments showed that KBA significantly inhibited the proliferation of T98G cells with an IC₅₀ of 30.96 μmol·L^-1, and KBA (30 μmol·L^-1) significantly downregulated the protein expression levels of GSR in T98G cells. In summary, XHP-medicated serum may exert its anti-glioma effect by regulating GSR and G6PD-targeted pathways involved in glutathione metabolism. These results provide valuable evidence for further investigating the mechanism of XHP in treating glioma. The animal welfare and experimental procedures were approved by the Ethical Committee of Laboratory Animals at Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine (approval No. ACU221001).