Objective: This prospective study evaluated the feasibility of chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI for assessing disease activity in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). Materials and Methods: A total of 88 patients with active TAO, 76 with inactive TAO, and 30 healthy controls were enrolled. CEST MRI-derived magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) and MTR asymmetry (MTRasym) at 1 ppm, 2 ppm, and 3.5 ppm were calculated. Clinical data, MTR, and MTRasym values for the extraocular muscles (one representative muscle per eye, yielding two measurements per participant) were compared among the groups. Spearman’s correlation was used to examine associations between imaging parameters and the clinical activity score (CAS) in patients with TAO. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent associations between imaging parameters and disease activity in patients with TAO (active vs. inactive). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic performance for discriminating active from inactive TAO. Results: Patients with active TAO showed lower MTR values (P < 0.001) and higher MTRasym (1 ppm), MTRasym (2 ppm), and MTRasym (3.5 ppm) (all P < 0.001) compared with those with inactive TAO. MTR was negatively correlated with CAS (r = -0.402; P < 0.001), while MTRasym (1 ppm), MTRasym (2 ppm), and MTRasym (3.5 ppm) were positively correlated with CAS (r = 0.369, 0.350, and 0.349, respectively;all P < 0.001). MTR and MTRasym (1 ppm) were independently associated with TAO activity. The areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) for MTR and MTRasym (1 ppm) in discriminating active from inactive TAO were 0.772 and 0.730, respectively. Combining MTR with MTRasym (1 ppm) significantly improved diagnostic performance compared with either parameter alone, achieving an AUC of 0.805 (P = 0.029 and 0.001). Conclusion MTR and MTRasym (1 ppm) were independently associated with TAO activity. Their combination further enhanced diagnostic performance in distinguishing active from inactive TAO, suggesting their potential as quantitative imaging biomarkers to guide treatment in patients with TAO.

Objective:To investigate the feasibility and safety of implementing a domestic vehicle-mounted remote mobile robotic surgical system in thyroid surgery applications, integrated with 5G communication technology.Methods:Using the main system located on the vehicle-mounted mobile robot operating platform of the 960th Hospital of PLA Joint Logistics Support Force and the slave system of Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, the remote radical thyroidectomy 5G communication technology, and analyze the clinical and information transmission data of two female patients who underwent remote mobile robot thyroid cancer surgery on October 21, 2024 at Weifang Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.Results:The remote radical thyroidectomy was conducted by the robosurgeons utilizing a vehicle-mounted mobile robotic surgical system, and the procedure was successfully completed without necessitating intermediate open surgery. The operation durations for patient 1 and patient 2 were 135 minutes and 108 minutes, respectively, with 7 and 13 lymph nodes dissected, respectively. The average delay in surgical data transmission was recorded at 61.9 milliseconds, with no instances of signal interruption or frame loss. The procedure proceeded smoothly, without any jamming, and the audio and video transmissions were consistently clear. Follow up for 21 days after surgery showed no complications such as hoarseness, skin damage, or lymphatic fistula.Conclusion:The implementation of a vehicle-mounted remote mobile robotic surgery system for thyroid surgery has demonstrated safety and feasibility. Furthermore, the utilization of the 5G network offers rapid data transmission and minimal latency, closely approximating the therapeutic efficacy of traditional robotic thyroidectomy.

Given the increasing concern regarding antibacterial resistance, the antimicrobial properties of naphthoquinones have recently attracted significant attention. While 1,4-naphthoquinone and its derivatives have been extensively studied, the antibacterial properties of 5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives remain relatively unexplored. This study presents a comprehensive in vitro and in vivo analysis of the antibacterial activity of 35 naturally sourced and chemically synthesized derivatives of 5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone. Kirby-Bauer antibiotic testing identified three compounds with activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), with one compound (PNP-02) demonstrating activity comparable to vancomycin in minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and time-kill assays. Microscopic and biochemical analyses revealed that PNP-02 adversely affects the cell wall and cell membrane of MRSA. Mechanistic investigations, including proteomic sequencing analyses, Western blotting, and RT-qPCR assays, indicated that PNP-02 compromises cell membrane integrity by inhibiting arginine biosynthesis and pyrimidine metabolism pathways, thereby increasing membrane permeability and inducing bacterial death. In an in vivo mouse model of skin wound healing, PNP-02 exhibited antibacterial efficacy similar to vancomycin. The compound demonstrated low toxicity to cultured human cells and in hemolysis assays and remained stable during serum incubation. These findings suggest that PNP-02 possesses promising bioactivity against MRSA and represents a potential novel antibacterial agent.
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/genetics* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry* ; Naphthoquinones/administration & dosage* ; Animals ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mice ; Humans ; Staphylococcal Infections/microbiology* ; Molecular Structure

Objective To explore the risk factors for portal vein thrombosis(PVT)in patients with cirrhosis in the decompensated stage and construct a risk prediction model for PVT so as to improve the early diagnosis rate of decompensated liver cirrhosis PVT.Methods The clinical data of patients with cirrhosis in the decompensated stage admitted to Department of Gastroenterology,The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University between June 2018 and June 2023 were collected and divided into cirrhosis PVT group(n=135)and cirrhosis non-PVT group(n=225)according to whether or not portal vein thrombosis was formed.We made a univariate analysis of the general data,laboratory indexes,liver function scores and imaging findings of the patients in the two groups,and indexes with statistically significant differences were included in binary Logistic regression for multifactorial analysis to screen out independent risk factors.A predictive model of binary Logistic regression was established based on the independent risk factors.The clinical data of the validation set were incorporated into the model,the accuracy of the prediction model was evaluated by receiver operating curve(ROC),and the practicability of the model was evaluated by consistency curve to complete the validation and evaluation of the constructed prediction model.Internal stability of the model was verified with Bootstrap method.Finally,R software(4.3.1)was used to draw a nomogram of the prediction model to visualize the model.Results Univariate analysis revealed statistically significant differences between patients in the PVT and non-PVT groups in the following five aspects:history of splenectomy,history of endoscopic varicose vein treatment,portal vein diameter,and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(P＜0.05).Binary Logistics regression analysis showed that a history of splenectomy(P=0.002,OR=3.012,95％CI:1.500-6.047),a history of endoscopic varicose vein treatment(P=0.001,OR=2.276,95％CI:1.400-3.698),widening of portal vein diameter(P=0.007,OR=1.942,95％CI:1.202-3.136),increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(P=0.009,OR=1.886,95％CI:1.170-3.041),and elevated D-dimer(P＜0.001,OR=3.725,95％CI:2.149-6.485)were independent risk factors for the formation of portal vein thrombosis in patients with cirrhosis in the decompensated stage of cirrhosis chemically presented(P＜0.05).The area under the ROC curve of the predictive model and the model after internal validation was 0.760 and 0.7494,respectively.The model still had good prediction ability and accuracy in the verification set.Conclusion A history of splenectomy,history of endoscopic varicose vein treatment,widening of portal vein diameter,increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio,and elevated D-dimer concentration are independent risk factors for the formation of portal vein thrombosis in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.The Logistic prediction model and visual nomogram constructed based on the above independent risk factors have a good ability to predict the occurrence of PVT in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and have important clinical guiding significance for early screening patients with PVT in decompensated cirrhosis.

Objective To investigate the distribution of pathogens and changes in serum humanβ-defendin-3(HBD3)and FMS like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand(Flt3L)levels in patients with pulmonary infection after esophageal cancer radical surgery.Methods Prospectively,patients who underwent radical resection of esophageal cancer and developed pulmonary infection from January 2022 to January 2024 were selected as the infection group(75 cases),and patients who underwent radical resection of esophageal cancer and did not develop pulmonary infection were selected as the non-infection group(93 cases).Patients in the infection group were divided into the mild group(25 cases),the moderate group(39 cases),and the severe group(11 cases)based on the CURB-65 score.The distribution of pathogenic bacteria in patients of the infection group was analyzed by the fully automatic microbial identification instrument.The expression levels of HBD3 and Flt3L in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Multivariate Logistic regression was applied to analyze the risk factors for postoperative pulmonary infection in esophageal cancer patients.ROC curve was applied to analyze the diagnostic value of HBD3 and Flt3L levels for postoperative pulmonary infection in esophageal cancer patients.Results Among 75 infected patients,90 strains of pathogens were detected,including 49 strains(54.44％)of Gram negative bacteria,29 strains(32.22％)of Gram positive bacteria,and 12 strains(13.33％)of fungi.The serum HBD3 and Flt3L levels in the infection group were greatly higher than those in the non infection group(P＜0.05).The serum HBD3 and Flt3L levels in the severe group were higher than those in the moderate group and mild group(P＜0.05),while the serum HBD3 and Flt3L levels in the moderate group were higher than those in the mild group(P＜0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that HBD3,Flt3 L,tumor location in the upper/middle segment,intraoperative bleeding ≥ 500 ml,diabetes,and smoking history were all factors influencing the pulmonary infection after radical resection of esophageal cancer(P＜0.05).According to the ROC curve,the AUC value for diagnosing postoperative pulmonary infection in esophageal cancer patients with serum HBD3 level alone was 0.789.The AUC value for diagnosing postoperative pulmonary infection in esophageal cancer patients with serum Flt3L level alone was 0.863,the AUC value of the combined diagnosis of the two was 0.934,which was greatly higher than that of the individual diagnosis(Zcombination vs HBD3=3.723,Zcombination vs Flt3L=2.098,P＜0.05).Conclusion The serum HBD3 and Flt3L levels in patients with pulmonary infection after esophageal cancer radical surgery are highly expressed,and the serum HBD3 and Flt3L levels are correlated with the severity of pulmonary infection.The two are risk factors for postoperative pulmonary infection in esophageal cancer patients after radical surgery,and their combination can effectively diagnose postoperative pulmonary infection in esophageal cancer patients.

Objective:To explore the clinical value of autologous umbilical cord whole blood(UCB) priming of the cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) circuit in neonatal cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease(CHD).Methods:This prospective non-randomized controlled trial included neonates undergoing CHD surgery at Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital from August 2024 to January 2025. The experimental group used autologous UCB for CPB circuit priming, while the control group used adult allogeneic blood(AAB) priming when UCB was unavailable. Preoperative characteristics, intraoperative CPB and aortic cross-clamping(ACC) times, postoperative ICU stay duration, mechanical ventilation time, and hospitalization length were compared.Results:There were no significant differences in preoperative baseline characteristics between the two groups( P>0.05). At the end of surgery, red blood cell count(RBC), hemoglobin level(Hb), and creatine kinase(CK) showed no significant differences between the groups( P> 0.05). Additionally, perioperative left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) demonstrated no statistically significant variations( P>0.05). At surgery completion, the UCB group exhibited lower hematocrit(HCT) and higher blood lactic acid(Lac) levels but these differences resolved by 6 hours postoperatively( P>0.05). The UCB group had higher maximum vasoactive-inotropic scores(VISmax) within 48 hours and longer ICU stays, though total hospitalization and mechanical ventilation durations showed no significant differences( P>0.05). Conclusion:Autologous UCB priming reduces AAB requirements and has minimal impact on postoperative cardiac and pulmonary function recovery, or homeostasis., which is safe and feasible. This study provides evidence supporting the clinical application of UCB priming in CPB circuits.

Objective To explore the risk factors for portal vein thrombosis(PVT)in patients with cirrhosis in the decompensated stage and construct a risk prediction model for PVT so as to improve the early diagnosis rate of decompensated liver cirrhosis PVT.Methods The clinical data of patients with cirrhosis in the decompensated stage admitted to Department of Gastroenterology,The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University between June 2018 and June 2023 were collected and divided into cirrhosis PVT group(n=135)and cirrhosis non-PVT group(n=225)according to whether or not portal vein thrombosis was formed.We made a univariate analysis of the general data,laboratory indexes,liver function scores and imaging findings of the patients in the two groups,and indexes with statistically significant differences were included in binary Logistic regression for multifactorial analysis to screen out independent risk factors.A predictive model of binary Logistic regression was established based on the independent risk factors.The clinical data of the validation set were incorporated into the model,the accuracy of the prediction model was evaluated by receiver operating curve(ROC),and the practicability of the model was evaluated by consistency curve to complete the validation and evaluation of the constructed prediction model.Internal stability of the model was verified with Bootstrap method.Finally,R software(4.3.1)was used to draw a nomogram of the prediction model to visualize the model.Results Univariate analysis revealed statistically significant differences between patients in the PVT and non-PVT groups in the following five aspects:history of splenectomy,history of endoscopic varicose vein treatment,portal vein diameter,and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(P＜0.05).Binary Logistics regression analysis showed that a history of splenectomy(P=0.002,OR=3.012,95％CI:1.500-6.047),a history of endoscopic varicose vein treatment(P=0.001,OR=2.276,95％CI:1.400-3.698),widening of portal vein diameter(P=0.007,OR=1.942,95％CI:1.202-3.136),increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(P=0.009,OR=1.886,95％CI:1.170-3.041),and elevated D-dimer(P＜0.001,OR=3.725,95％CI:2.149-6.485)were independent risk factors for the formation of portal vein thrombosis in patients with cirrhosis in the decompensated stage of cirrhosis chemically presented(P＜0.05).The area under the ROC curve of the predictive model and the model after internal validation was 0.760 and 0.7494,respectively.The model still had good prediction ability and accuracy in the verification set.Conclusion A history of splenectomy,history of endoscopic varicose vein treatment,widening of portal vein diameter,increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio,and elevated D-dimer concentration are independent risk factors for the formation of portal vein thrombosis in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.The Logistic prediction model and visual nomogram constructed based on the above independent risk factors have a good ability to predict the occurrence of PVT in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and have important clinical guiding significance for early screening patients with PVT in decompensated cirrhosis.

Objective:To explore the predictive value of epicardial adipose thickness(EAT)for pre-eclampsia(PE)evaluated by echocardiography.Methods:The clinical data of 242 early pregnant women admitted to Wuhu First People's Hospital from September 2020 to November 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.According to whether PE occurred,they were divided into PE group(n=31)and non-PE group(n=211).The echocardio-graphic data of pregnant women at 11+0-13+6 weeks of gestation were collected,and the influencing factors of PE in pregnant women were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn to evaluate the predictive value of EAT for PE in pregnant women.Results:There were statisti-cally significant differences in age,pregnancy mode,body mass index(BMI),history of hypertension,systolic and diastolic blood pressure,serum soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1(sFlt-1)/placental growth fac-tor(PLGF)ratio and EAT between PE group and non-PE group(P<0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analy-sis showed that increased BMI(OR 1.492,95%CI 1.161-2.724),history of hypertension(OR 3.684,95%CI 2.074-6.542),increased serum sFlt-1/PLGF value(OR 1.982,95%CI 1.268-3.099),and increased EAT(OR 2.246,95%CI 1.292-3.903)were independent risk factors for PE in pregnant women(P<0.05).The results of ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of ultrasound evaluation of EAT in predicting PE in pregnant women was0.848(95%CI0.785-0.910,P<0.001).When the optimal cutoff value was5.63 mm,the sensitivity was 85.71%and the specificity was 67.14%.Conclusions:Ultrasound evaluation of EAT for PE pre-diction has good application value.

Objective:To explore the predictive value of epicardial adipose thickness(EAT)for pre-eclampsia(PE)evaluated by echocardiography.Methods:The clinical data of 242 early pregnant women admitted to Wuhu First People's Hospital from September 2020 to November 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.According to whether PE occurred,they were divided into PE group(n=31)and non-PE group(n=211).The echocardio-graphic data of pregnant women at 11+0-13+6 weeks of gestation were collected,and the influencing factors of PE in pregnant women were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn to evaluate the predictive value of EAT for PE in pregnant women.Results:There were statisti-cally significant differences in age,pregnancy mode,body mass index(BMI),history of hypertension,systolic and diastolic blood pressure,serum soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1(sFlt-1)/placental growth fac-tor(PLGF)ratio and EAT between PE group and non-PE group(P<0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analy-sis showed that increased BMI(OR 1.492,95%CI 1.161-2.724),history of hypertension(OR 3.684,95%CI 2.074-6.542),increased serum sFlt-1/PLGF value(OR 1.982,95%CI 1.268-3.099),and increased EAT(OR 2.246,95%CI 1.292-3.903)were independent risk factors for PE in pregnant women(P<0.05).The results of ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of ultrasound evaluation of EAT in predicting PE in pregnant women was0.848(95%CI0.785-0.910,P<0.001).When the optimal cutoff value was5.63 mm,the sensitivity was 85.71%and the specificity was 67.14%.Conclusions:Ultrasound evaluation of EAT for PE pre-diction has good application value.

Objective:To explore the clinical value of autologous umbilical cord whole blood(UCB) priming of the cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) circuit in neonatal cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease(CHD).Methods:This prospective non-randomized controlled trial included neonates undergoing CHD surgery at Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital from August 2024 to January 2025. The experimental group used autologous UCB for CPB circuit priming, while the control group used adult allogeneic blood(AAB) priming when UCB was unavailable. Preoperative characteristics, intraoperative CPB and aortic cross-clamping(ACC) times, postoperative ICU stay duration, mechanical ventilation time, and hospitalization length were compared.Results:There were no significant differences in preoperative baseline characteristics between the two groups( P>0.05). At the end of surgery, red blood cell count(RBC), hemoglobin level(Hb), and creatine kinase(CK) showed no significant differences between the groups( P> 0.05). Additionally, perioperative left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) demonstrated no statistically significant variations( P>0.05). At surgery completion, the UCB group exhibited lower hematocrit(HCT) and higher blood lactic acid(Lac) levels but these differences resolved by 6 hours postoperatively( P>0.05). The UCB group had higher maximum vasoactive-inotropic scores(VISmax) within 48 hours and longer ICU stays, though total hospitalization and mechanical ventilation durations showed no significant differences( P>0.05). Conclusion:Autologous UCB priming reduces AAB requirements and has minimal impact on postoperative cardiac and pulmonary function recovery, or homeostasis., which is safe and feasible. This study provides evidence supporting the clinical application of UCB priming in CPB circuits.