Objective To explore the value of high-frequency ultrasound in the detection of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma and displaying lesion characteristics. Methods A total of 38 paitients with hepatocellular carcinoma satellite lesions within 40 mm of subcutaneous tissue were underwent low-frequency (1-5 MHz) and high-frequency (6-9 MHz) ultrasound. Detection rates and ultrasonic features were compared. Results High-frequency grayscale ultrasound had a higher detection rate (71.1% vs. 36.8%, P＜0.001). Subgroup analysis showed higher detection rates with chemotherapy history (88.9% vs. 33.3%, P＝0.002), fatty liver (71.9% vs 31.3%, P＜0.001) or superficial lesion (within 20 mm, 76.5% vs 41.2%, P＝0.031). High-frequency ultrasound also showed clearer margins (P＝0.004) and more arterial-phase rim enhancement (P＝0.007). Conclusions 6-9 MHz ultrasound detects metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma, especially superficial lesions, more effectively than 1-5 MHz ultrasound and better visualizes characteristics.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) in atherosclerotic plaques for regulating inflammatory responses during atherosclerosis (AS) progression. METHODS: Human coronary artery specimens from autopsy cases were examined for ATF3 protein expression and localization using immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting. Apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE^-/-) mouse models of AS induced by high-fat diet (HFD) feeding for 12 weeks were subjected to tail vein injection of adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9) to knock down ATF3 expression. After an additional 5 weeks of HFD feeding, the mice were euthanized for analyzing structural changes of the aortic plaques, and the expression levels of ATF3, inflammatory factors (CD45, CD68, IL-1β, and TNF-α), and NF-κB pathway proteins (P-IKKα/β and P-NF-κB p65) were detected. In the cell experiment, THP-1-derived foam cells were transfected with an ATF3-overexpressing plasmid or an ATF3-specific siRNA to validate the relationship between ATF3 and NF‑κB signaling. RESULTS: In human atherosclerotic plaques, ATF3 expression was significantly elevated and partially co-localized with CD68. ATF3 knockout in ApoE^-/- mice significantly increased aortic plaque volume, upregulated the inflammatory factors, enhanced phosphorylation of the NF‑κB pathway proteins, and increased the expressions of VCAM1, MMP9, and MMP2 in the plaques. In THP-1-derived foam cells, ATF3 silencing caused activation of the NF‑κB pathway, while ATF3 overexpression suppressed the activity of the NF-κB pathway. CONCLUSIONS AS promotes ATF3 expression, and ATF3 deficiency exacerbates AS progression by enhancing plaque inflammation via activating the NF-κB pathway, suggesting the potential of ATF3 as a therapeutic target for AS.
Animals ; Activating Transcription Factor 3/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Humans ; Mice ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic/metabolism* ; Inflammation/metabolism* ; Apolipoproteins E ; Atherosclerosis/metabolism* ; Diet, High-Fat

Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy of laparoscopic Miles surgery through extraperitoneal stoma and intraperitoneal stoma.Methods:The medical records of 140 patients with low rectal cancer after laparoscopic Miles surgery admitted to Gastrointestinal Surgery of Northern Jiangsu People′s Hospital of Jiangsu Province from January 2018 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 80 were males and 60 were females, aged 50 to 75 years old, with an average age of 63.95 years old. They were divided into observation group (extraperitoneal stoma, n=70) and control group (intraperitoneal stoma, n=70) based on the stoma method. Through telephone, WeChat, outpatient follow-up and other contact methods, the intraoperative and postoperative recovery, the incidence of perioperative complications (stoma edema, stoma ischemia, peristoma inflammation, perineal/pelvic infection, lung infection) and the incidence of complications at 6 months and 1 year after surgery (stoma stricture, parastoma hernia/internal hernia, stoma prolapse/retraction), and the difference in the ability of artificial anus to control defecation at 1 year after surgery were compared between the two groups. SPSS27.0 statistical software was used for data analysis and processing. Results:(1) Incidence of individual complications such as lung infection between the two groups of patients during the perioperative period (4.3% vs 4.3%, χ2=0.17, P=0.676), stoma edema (25.7% vs 21.4%, χ2=0.36, P=0.550), stoma ischemia (7.1% vs 7.1%, χ2=0.00, P=1.000), peristomal inflammation (20.0% vs. 18.6%, χ2=0.05, P=0.830), perineal/pelvic infection (15.7% vs 27.1%, χ2=2.72, P=0.099), there was no difference between the two groups. There was still no difference in the overall complication rate between the two groups (72.9% vs 78.6%, χ2=0.62, P=0.430). (2) After follow-up to 6 months after surgery, the overall complication rate was 5.7% in the observation group compared with 22.9% in the control group ( χ2=7.06, P=0.008). In particular, the incidence of post-operative parastomal hernia/internal hernia did not occur in the observation group, while 8.6% of patients in the control group occurred (18.6% vs 42.9%, χ2=4.35, P=0.037). (3) After follow-up to 1 year after surgery, the overall complication rate in the observation group was lower than that in the control group ( χ2=8.59, P=0.003). The incidence of parastomal hernia/internal hernia after operation in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (2.9% vs 14.3%, χ2=4.47, P=0.034). (4) At the one-year follow-up, the overall excellent and good rate in the evaluation of bowel function in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (71.4% vs 48.6%, χ2=7.62, P=0.006). Conclusions:In laparoscopic Miles surgery for patients with rectal cancer, choosing extraperitoneal stoma has achieved good results, which can reduce the risk of complications 6 months or even 1 year after surgery, especially in preventing and controlling parastomal hernia/internal hernia. It has significant advantages, and at the same time, it can also promote the recovery of patients′ bowel function and reduce other related complications, thereby ensuring patient safety.

Objective:To explore the effects and potential mechanisms of cell growth regulator 1 ( CGREF1) with an EF hand domain in colorectal cancer proliferation and migration. Methods:Fifty paraffin specimens of colorectal cancer tissues and corresponding paracancerous tissues were selected from January 2023 to January 2024 from the Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University for analysis, and TCGA, GDSC, KMPLOT and STRING databases were used to explore the expression, prognosis, immune microenvironment, drug sensitivity and related signaling pathway functions of CGREF1 in colorectal cancer. Tissue and cellular expression levels of CGREF1 were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR. Lentiviral-mediated CGREF1 overexpression in SW-620 cells (OE- CGREF1 vs NC groups) was functionally characterized through CCK-8 proliferation assays, colony formation tests, and scratch wound healing migration assays, with mechanistic investigation via Western blot analysis of apoptosis markers, invasion-related proteins, and RAS/RAF/ERK pathway components. In vivo tumorigenicity was assessed by subcutaneous injection of control or CGREF1-overexpressing SW620 cells in nude mice ( n=3 per group) with tumor growth monitoring. Software of GraphPad Prism 9 was used for statistical analysis of experimental data. Results:CGREF1CGREF1RASERK Studies based on databases, clinical samples and colorectal cancer cell line analyses demonstrated that CGREF1 is downregulated in colorectal cancer, where low CGREF1 expression showed positive correlation with tumor diameter and invasion depth. CGREF1 is closely related to tumor immune infiltration microenvironment and sensitivity to multiple anti-tumor drugs. Overexpression of CGREF1 promoted cell apoptosis while inhibiting cell proliferation, invasion and migration. Overexpression of CGREF1 downregulated the expression levels of RAS, ERK and P-P38/MAPK pathway proteins. CGREF1 inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Conclusion:CGREF1 can inhibit the proliferation, colony formation, and migration of CRC cells through the RAS/ERK/MAPK pathway.

Objective To investigate the regulatory role and mechanism of mitochondrial riboso-mal protein S35(MRPS35)in the proliferation,invasion,and migration of colon cancer cells.Meth-ods A total of 120 colon cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues from patients undergoing radical resection for colon cancer were collected.Human colon cancer cell lines(HCT116,SW480,SW620)and a human normal colon epithelial cell line(NCM460)were cultured.Bioinformatics analysis,real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction,Western blot,immunohistochemical(IHC)analysis,and cellular functional experiments(plate clone formation assay,scratch test,Transwell migration assay,CCK-8 cell viability assay)were conducted to evaluate the expression and regulatory mechanism of MRPS35 in colon cancer.Results Bioinformatics analysis showed that the expression level of the MRPS35 gene was higher in colorectal cancer tissues than in adjacent normal tissues(P＜0.05).The relative expression levels of MRPS35 mRNA and MRPS35 protein were higher in human colon cancer cell lines(HCT116,SW480,SW620)than in NCM460 cells(P＜0.05).The relative ex-pression level of MRPS35 protein was higher in colon cancer tissues than that in adjacent normal tis-sues(P＜0.05).The expression level of MRPS35 was significantly correlated with tumor diameter,tumor differentiation,and T stage(P=0.002,0.021,0.036).Patients with high MRPS35 expres-sion had a higher overall survival rate than those with low MRPS35 expression(Log-rank P=0.015).After knockdown of MRPS35,the abilities of colon cancer cell cloning,proliferation,invasion,and migration were significantly enhanced.Furthermore,the expression of Wnt1,β-Catenin,and their downstream target proteins increased significantly after MRPS35 knockdown.Conclusion MRPS35 is significantly overexpressed in both colon cancer tissues and colon cancer cells,and it may inhibit the occurrence and development of colon cancer by regulating the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway.Therefore,MRPS35 has the potential to become a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for colon cancer.

Objective To construct a patient decision aid(PtDA)for exercise training in pa-tients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)and explore its impacts on decision-making quality of patients' exercise regimens.Methods The development of the PtDA for exercise training in COPD patients was accomplished through literature analysis,the Delphi method,and user surveys,followed by an intervention study.A total of 59 inpatients with COPD were included as study sub-jects.The control group received routine care along with general exercise training guidance,while the intervention group received routine care combined with shared decision-making for exercise training based on the PtDA.The decision conflict and decision preparedness levels of patients in both groups were compared before the intervention and on the day of discharge.The exercise self-efficacy of pa-tients was measured before intervention,on the day of discharge,and 1 month and 3 months after dis-charge.Results The intervention group had significantly lower scores for decision conflict and signif-icantly higher scores for decision preparedness and exercise self-efficacy compared with the control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion The PtDA for exercise training can improve decision conflict and de-cision preparedness in COPD patients,enhance their exercise self-efficacy levels,and provide references for healthcare professionals in improving exercise adherence.

Objective:To explore the clinical application and triage management value of using blood circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) (cysteine dioxygenase type 1 gene, CDO1, and Homeobox protein A9 gene, HOXA9) hypermethylation level to detect and diagnose ovarian cancer.Methods:A case-control study was conducted on patients who went for surgery at Chengdu Womens and Childrens Central Hospital from November 2022 to October 2023. Blood samples were collected before surgery for evaluation of cancer antigen 125 (CA125), human epididymis protein 4 (HE4), risk of ovarian malignancy algorithm (ROMA) score, and DNA methylation testing. The basic clinical information, biomarkers, and transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) information were collected simultaneously. Information from a total of 151 patients was collected, including 122 cases with benign pathology and 29 ovarian cancer cases. The pathologic diagnosis of ovarian tissue was defined as the gold standard. The multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify high-risk factors for ovarian cancer. The clinical efficacy of DNA methylation detection for ovarian cancer was analyzed using the area under curve (AUC).Results:The results showed that the age, menopausal status, CA125 and HE4 detection, ROMA score, positivity rate of CDO1 gene and HOXA9 gene single or combined testing in ovarian cancer patients were higher than those in the benign group and showed significant differences ( P<0.05). Among these detection protocols, the AUC of CDO1 and HOXA9 dual gene methylation testing for ovarian cancer was the highest at 0.936 (95% CI, 0.878-0.994), with 89.7% (95% CI 73.6%-96.4%) sensitivity and 97.5% (95% CI 93.0%-99.2%) specificity, respectively. The positive detection rate of CDO1 and HOXA9 dual gene methylation in early ovarian cancer FOGO I-II stage is 12/14 higher than other tests. Conclusion:Blood cfDNA methylation detection, a simple, non-invasive, and highly sensitive detection method, is superior to the current ovarian cancer testing in the risk assessment and early detection.

Objective:To evaluate safety and efficacy of B-type suture method ileostomy.Methods:Clinical data from 204 patients undergoing laparoscopic low anterior resection combined with protective ileostomy was analysed. Patients were divided into B-type suture ileostomy group ( n=67) and traditional ileostomy group ( n=137). Results:compared with traditional ileostomy group, B-type suture ileostomy group showed statistically significant differences in total operation time [(164±26) min vs. (172±24) min, t=2.229, P=0.027], ileostomy time [(12.7±2.3) min vs. (14.8±2.2) min, t=-6.565, P<0.001], blood loss [(57±20) ml vs. (69±31) ml, t=-2.797, P=0.006], postoperative hospital stay [(10.2±1.9) d vs. (11.8±2.3) d, t=-4.851, P<0.001], specimen incision infection rate (0 vs. 5.1%, P=0.047), postoperative body pain [82 (79-84) vs. 78 (76-80), Z=-5.805, P<0.001], and ileostomy incorporation time [(46±11) min vs. (51±12) min, t=-2.540, P=0.012]. Conclusion:B-type suture ileostomy for prophylactic ileostomy in laparoscopic low anterior resection for rectal cancer is safe and feasible.

  Objective  To promote the development of high-quality health standards in China and summarize the characteristics of global health standards management systems and development processes.  Methods  We conducted a systematic search of relevant databases and the websites of standardization institutions. A descriptive method was used to analyze the basic characteristics of the standard management systems and development processes.  Results  The majority of the investigated countries and organizations primarily implement voluntary standards, with the exception of Chinese and the European Committee for Standardization that enforce compulsory standards. All countries and organizations have health standards at the national, group, and enterprise levels. In China and Japan, standards authorities are subordinate to the government, while in other countries or organizations, they operate as independent civil societies. The development process for health standards generally involves five stages: "Project/Proposal → Draft → Enquiry → Review → Publication". However, the specific steps in the development of health standards vary across different countries and organizations. Furthermore, China ranks high in the number of both standards and health standards issued, but the proportion of health standards is only 2.06%.  Conclusions  There are significant differences between China and other countries in terms of the management system and development process of health standards. To promote the management and development of high-quality health standards in China, we recommend promoting the coordination mechanism for standard development, increasing efforts to publicize standards and evaluate the implementation effect, strengthening the construction of personnel for the development of health standards, optimizing the efficiency of standard development and improving the internationalization level of health standards.

Objective:To understand the epidemiological characteristics and trends of injury in older adults in Jiangsu Province from 2006 to 2022 and provide a scientific basis for developing prevention and control measures.Methods:The data on injury cases aged 60 and older were collected from 12 sentinel hospitals in Jiangsu Province during 2006-2022. The study analyzed the proportion of injury cases among the elderly in the overall population and calculated the annual percent change and average annual percent change (AAPC). A pairwise comparison between groups was performed, and the differences were judged according to the adjusted standardized residuals.Results:From 2006 to 2022, there were 218 426 injury cases among individuals aged 60 and older in Jiangsu Province, which accounted for an increasing proportion of injury cases within the entire population (AAPC=3.17%, P<0.001). The first five causes of elderly injury were falls (42.06%), road traffic injuries (20.20%), animal injuries (11.45%), knife/sharp injuries (9.43%), and blunt injuries (8.13%). From 2006 to 2022, the proportion of falls, animal injuries, and knife/sharp injuries among the elderly aged ≥60 showed an increasing trend, while the proportion of road traffic injuries and blunt injuries decreased (all P<0.001). The incidence of injury was highest in October, with a daily incidence peak between 8:00 and 10:00. Leisure activities (40.34%) were the major activity leading to injury. The injury occurred mainly at home (53.74%), and the injury intention was mainly unintentional (97.41%), all of which showed an increasing trend ( P<0.001). The injuries were mainly bruises (36.00%), and the most common injured positions of the body were low limbs (27.55%), all of which showed a decreasing trend ( P<0.001). About 69.80% of cases were slight, and 79.38% were discharged after treatment, which showed an increasing trend ( P<0.001). Conclusions:The injury data for individuals aged 60 and older in Jiangsu Province exhibited varying trends from 2006 to 2022. There was a noticeable increase in the proportion of elderly injury cases within the overall injury population, as well as an upward trend in falls, animal injuries, and knife/sharp injuries as leading causes of injury. It is imperative to actively develop prevention measures based on the epidemiological characteristics and evolving trends of elderly injuries in Jiangsu Province.