ObjectiveTo construct a stable monoclonal human embryonic kidney 293 （HEK293） cell line expressing recombinant human coagulation factor Ⅶ （rhFⅦ） and evaluate the expression level and procoagulant bioactivity of rhFⅦ. MethodsThe plasmid pCDNA3.1-EGFP-FⅦ was transfected into HEK293 cells to verify the effectiveness of the transfection system. The plasmid pCDNA3.1-FⅦ was transfected into HEK293 cells， and monoclonal stable transfected cell lines were selected using geneticin （G418）. The transcription of the FⅦ gene was identified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）. The expression level of rhFⅦ in the supernatant of the monoclonal stable transfected cell line was detected by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot. The concentration of rhFⅦ was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， and the procoagulant activity of rhFⅦ was measured by human coagulation factor Ⅶ potency assay. ResultsHEK293 cells transfected with pcDNA3.1-EGFP-FⅦ showed green fluorescence， indicating that rhFⅦ was successfully expressed in the supernatant of HEK293 cells after transient transfection with pcDNA3.1-FⅦ. The monoclonal stable transfected cell line was obtained by G418 screening. RT-PCR identified that the FⅦ gene was integrated into the genome of the monoclonal stable transfected cell line. The cell viability was good as detected by Cell Counting Kit-8， and a single band of rhFⅦ was obtained by purification of the cell supernatant. The highest rhFⅦ expression was （1.27±0.09） mg/L， and the highest procoagulant activity was （380.29±13.80）%. ConclusionThe monoclonal HEK293 cell lines which can express rhFⅦ protein efficiently and stably with excellent procoagulant bioactivity is successfully screened.

Objective: To explore the application and clinical efficacy of red blood cell therapeutic apheresis in erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) and hereditary hemochromatosis (HH). Methods: 1) The EPP patient was hospitalized twice for "abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and brown urine". One and two sessions of red blood cell exchange/therapeutic plasma exchange (RCE/TPE) were respectively performed during the two hospitalizations. During each session, one RCE with 6-8 units of leukoreduced RBCs and 3-4 TPE procedures with 1 800-2 000 mL of frozen plasma was conducted. Biochemical parameters were monitored before and after treatment. 2) The HH patient was hospitalized for “repeatedly elevated aminotransferases”. Erythrocytapheresis was performed once, removing 550 mL of red blood cells, and venous phlebotomy was conducted once every 2 months subsequently. Blood routine and ferritin levels were assessed before and after treatment. Results: 1) During the first hospitalization, the EPP patient was relieved of the abdominal pain and brown urine after therapeutic apheresis. The total bilirubin level decreased from 141.8 μmol/L on admission to 68.6 μmol/L at discharge, with a symptom remission duration of 10 months. During the second hospitalization, the EPP patient still had recurrent abdominal pain after therapeutic apheresis. He developed psychiatric symptoms and gastrointestinal bleeding subsequently, accompanied by elevated bilirubin levels. Liver function deteriorated and the patient went into the state of the end-stage liver disease (ESLD). 2) For the HH patient, the hemoglobin level prior to erythrocytapheresis and vein phlebotomy was 150-160 g/L, with the lowest value occurring two days after erythrocytapheresis, decreasing to 107 g/L. The ferritin level before erythrocytapheresis was 2 428.08 ng/mL and it declined gradually after theraphy, with the lowest value occurring two months after erythrocytapheresis, decreasing to 1 094 ng/mL. The ferritin level was 1 114 ng/mL two months following the first vein phlebotomy, however it increased to 1 472 ng/mL two months after the second vein phlebotomy. Conclusion: RCE/TPE may alleviate protoporphyrin liver disease and help patients with bridging liver transplantation before EPP developments to ESLD. For HH patients with significantly elevated ferritin levels, erythrocytapheresis reduces serum ferritin more quickly and maintains its level longer relative to phlebotomy.

Dental treatments for children and adolescents have unique clinical characteristics that differ from dental care for adults in terms of children's physiology, psychology, and behavior. These differences impose specific requirements on the application of local anesthesia in pediatric dental procedures. This article presents expert consensus on the principles of local anesthesia techniques in pediatric dental therapies, including the use of common anesthetic drugs and dosage control, safety and efficacy evaluation, and prevention and management of complications. The aim is to improve the safety and quality of pediatric dental treatments and offer guidance for clinical application by dentists.
Humans ; Child ; Anesthesia, Local/methods* ; Consensus ; Anesthesia, Dental/methods* ; Adolescent ; Anesthetics, Local/administration & dosage* ; Dental Care for Children

Background and aims:Liver fibrosis is a prevalent pathological stage of various chronic liver diseases and has the potential to progress to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.However,experimental models for in vivo research are limited.Unexpectedly,increased liver inflammation and fibrosis were previously observed in mice treated with aluminum adjuvant(commercial Imject Alum,a mixture of Al(OH)3 and Mg(OH)2).Our study aimed to reveal the pathogenesis and pathological features of Imject Alum-induced liver injury and evaluate its potential as an experimental model of fibrotic liver disease.Methods and materials:C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into the following four groups:(ⅰ)control group,which received phosphate-buffered saline injections on days 1,12,26,40,and 54;(ⅱ)Imject Alum(Al(OH)3 160 mg/kg)D26 group,which was administered with Imject Alum(Al(OH)3 160 mg/kg)on days 1,12,and 26;(ⅲ)Imject Alum(Al(OH)3 80 mg/kg)D54;and(ⅳ)Imject Alum(Al(OH)3 160 mg/kg)D54 groups,which were treated with 80 mg/kg and 160 mg/kg of Imject Alum(Al(OH)3),respectively,on days 1,12,26,40,and 54.All reagents were delivered by intraperitoneal injection.Serum biochemical pa-rameters,liver pathology,and expression of genes related to inflammation and fibrogenesis were eval-uated.Transcriptome sequencing was performed.The genetic characteristics of the Imject Alum-induced liver lesions in the existing fibrosis model and patients with cirrhosis were determined.Results:Administration of Imject Alum(Al(OH)3 160 mg/kg)at certain points for 54 days led to extensive hepatic inflammation and fibrosis,accompanied by disturbed bile acid metabolism in mice.Moreover,Imject Alum aggravated liver inflammation and injury by activating the pyroptosis-related inflamma-some pathway.Transcriptome analysis revealed that Imject Alum-induced liver lesions had differentially expressed genes that were significantly enriched in pathways related to inflammation,fibrogenesis,and multiple metabolic processes.Moreover,Imject Alum-induced liver lesions exhibited gene signatures similar to those of existing fibrosis models and patients with cirrhosis.Conclusions:Aluminum adjuvant(Imject Alum;Al(OH)3 160 mg/kg)administration at certain points for 54 days resulted in notable liver injury,inflammation,and fibrosis.This model had similar gene expression characteristics with existing fibrosis models and liver samples from patients with cirrhosis.Overall,aluminum adjuvant(Imject Alum)-induced mouse model may be a novel approach for estab-lishing a liver fibrosis animal model.

Objective: To perform transient transfection of recombinant human Factor X(rhFX) into HEK293 cells,to optimize transfection parameters,to develop a high-yield in vitro expression system for rhFX production,and to assess the biological activity of expressed rhFX. Methods: The eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3. 1-EGFP-FX was constructed by inserting the F10 gene into pcDNA3. 1-EGFP and subsequently transfected into HEK293cells to validate the transfection system efficiency. The recombinant expression vector pcDNA3. 1-FX was generated through ligation of the F10 gene fragment with pcDNA3. 1, followed by liposome-mediated transfection into HEK293 cells. The expression of rhFX in the cell supernatant was analyzed by Western blot and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE). Transfection conditions were systematically optimized,and rhFX concentration was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The coagulation bioactivity of rhFX was evaluated through prothrombin time(PT) assay and chromogenic substrate method. Results: rhFX was successfully expressed in the supernatant of HEK293 cells. rhFX was successfully expressed in the supernatant of HEK293 cells. The highest expression level of rhFX was achieved on the third day after transfection when the cell density was 80% and the ratio of plasmid DNA to polyethyleneimine(PEI) transfection reagent was 1 ∶ 2.Triplicate ELISA measurements demonstrated a maximum rhFX concentration of 5. 20 ng/mL in the supernatant.The prothrombin time(PT) of rhFX-containing supernatant was significantly shorter(P 50) of etoxaban was determined to be 1. 449 nmol/L using the chromogenic substrate method based on rhFX,which was in the same order of magnitude as the reported 0. 78 nmol/L in the literature. Conclusion HEK293cells successfully express biologically active recombinant human Factor X(rhFX) protein,laying a foundation for advancing the development of rhFX-based therapeutics.

Objective: The CT/MRI Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) demonstrates high specificity with relatively limited sensitivity for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk patients. This study aimed to explore the possibility of improving sensitivity by combining CT/MRI LI-RADS v2018 with second-line contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) LI-RADS v2017 using sulfur hexafluoride (SHF) or perfluorobutane (PFB). Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis of prospectively collected multicenter data included high-risk patients with treatment-naive hepatic observations. The reference standard was pathological confirmation or a composite reference standard (only for benign lesions). Each participant underwent concurrent CT/MRI, SHF-enhanced US, and PFB-enhanced US examinations. The diagnostic performances for HCC of CT/MRI LI-RADS alone and three combination strategies (combining CT/ MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or a modified algorithm incorporating the Kupffer-phase findings for PFB [modified PFB]) were evaluated. For the three combination strategies, apart from the CT/MRI LR-5 criteria, HCC was diagnosed if CT/MRI LR-3 or LR-4 observations met the LR-5 criteria using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB. Results: In total, 281 participants (237 males; mean age, 55 ± 11 years) with 306 observations (227 HCCs, 40 non-HCC malignancies, and 39 benign lesions) were included. Using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, and modified PFB, 20, 23, and 31 CT/MRI LR-3/4 observations, respectively, were reclassified as LR-5, and all were pathologically confirmed as HCCs. Compared to CT/MRI LI-RADS alone (74%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 68%–79%), the three combination strategies combining CT/MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB increased sensitivity (83% [95% CI: 77%–87%], 84% [95% CI: 79%–89%], 88% [95% CI: 83%–92%], respectively; all P < 0.001), while maintaining the specificity at 92% (95% CI: 84%–97%). Conclusion The combination of CT/MRI LI-RADS with second-line CEUS using SHF or PFB improved the sensitivity of HCC diagnosis without compromising specificity.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pill (STDP) in treating stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome by exercise duration and metabolic equivalents. METHODS: This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial enrolled stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome from 22 hospitals. They were randomized 1:1 to STDP (35 mg/pill, 6 pills per day) or placebo for 56 days. The primary outcome was the exercise duration and metabolic equivalents (METs) assessed by the standard Bruce exercise treadmill test after 56 days of treatment. The secondary outcomes included the total angina symptom score, Chinese medicine (CM) symptom scores, Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) scores, changes in ST-T on electrocardiogram and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: This trial enrolled 309 patients, including 155 and 154 in the STDP and placebo groups, respectively. STDP significantly prolonged exercise duration with an increase of 51.0 s, compared to a decrease of 12.0 s with placebo (change rate: -11.1% vs. 3.2%, P<0.01). The increase in METs was significantly greater in the STDP group than in the placebo group (change: -0.4 vs. 0.0, change rate: -5.0% vs. 0.0%, P<0.01). The improvement of total angina symptom scores (25.0% vs. 0.0%), CM symptom scores (38.7% vs. 11.8%), reduction of nitroglycerin consumption (100.0% vs. 11.3%), and all domains of SAQ, were significantly greater with STDP than placebo (all P<0.01). The changes in Q-T intervals at 28 and 56 days from baseline were similar between the two groups (both P>0.05). Twenty-five participants (16.3%) with STDP and 16 (10.5%) with placebo experienced AEs (P=0.131), with no serious AEs observed. CONCLUSION STDP could improve exercise tolerance in patients with stable angina and phlegm-heat and blood stasis syndrome, with a favorable safety profile. (Registration No. ChiCTR-IPR-15006020).
Humans ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Angina, Stable/physiopathology* ; Aged ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome ; Placebos ; Tablets

Objective:To explore the factors influencing adherence to voice therapy among patients with voice disorders in China. Methods:Patients with voice disorders who visited the Voice Therapy Center at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, from February to May 2022 were enrolled in the study. Adherence was assessed using the URICA-Voice scale, while influencing factors were assessed through the Voice Handicap Index（VHI） scale and a general information questionnaire. Correlation analysis was conducted using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results:A total of 247 patients were included in the study, comprising 57 males（23.08%） and 190 females（76.92%）. The results revealed that: ①Female patients demonstrated higher likelihood of being in the contemplation stage（OR=0.22） compared to males. ②Patients with a monthly family income per capita>6 000 yuan were more likely to be in the contemplation stage than those with<3 000 yuan with an OR = 13.94. ③High vocal-demand occupations increased contemplation stage probability（OR=7.70） compared to moderate-demand occupations. ④Residence within 30-minute commute predicted action/maintenance stages（OR=7.14） versus≥60-minute commute. ⑤Patients whose occupations had high voice demands were more likely to be in the action and maintenance stages than those with average voice demands, with an OR of 16.20. Conclusion:Gender, monthly family income per capita, occupational voice demands, and distance to the hospital significantly impact the URICA-Voice compliance stages of patients. Patients who are female, have higher family income, have occupations with high voice demands, and live closer to the hospital exhibit higher compliance with voice training.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Voice Disorders/therapy* ; Patient Compliance ; Voice Training ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; China ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Voice Quality ; Logistic Models ; Aged

Objective:To compare the efficacy of gasless robotic surgery via transaxillary approach and combined axillary-retroauricular approach for unilateral N1b PTC, and to explore the safety and effectiveness of gasless robotic surgery via transaxillary approach for unilateral N1b PTC. Methods:Unilateral N1b PTC patients who underwent surgery in the Department of Otolaryngology, Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat sen University between July 2016 and December 2024 were included and analyzed. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and the differences of surgical approaches, the patients were divided into the transaxillary approach（TA） group and the combined axillary-retroauricular approach（TARA） group. The demographic data, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, postoperative complications, shoulder function evaluation, postoperative visual analogue scale（VAS） of neck aesthetics and recurrence of the two groups were statistically analyzed. Results:A total of 88 patients undergoing gasless robotic surgery were included in this study, including 23 cases in the TA group and 65 cases in the TARA group. The proportion of males in the TA group was significantly higher than that in the TARA group（56.5% vs 21.5%, χ²=9.776, P=0.002）. The total operation time in the TA group was significantly lower than that in the TARA Group（180.00[155.00, 220.00]min vs 220.00[177.50, 272.50]min, z=-2.775, P=0.006）, and the postoperative blood loss in the TA group was significantly lower than that in the TARA Group（30.00[20.00, 50.00]ml vs 50.00[30.00, 60.00]ml, Z=-2.127, P=0.033）. The proportion of area Ⅱ-Ⅴ in the TA group and the TARA group was 87.0% and 70.8%, respectively, and there was no significant difference between the two groups（P>0.05）. There was no significant difference in lateral cervical lymph node dissection and central lymph node dissection between the two groups（P>0.05）. During the follow-up period, no recurrence was found in the two groups, and there was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups（P>0.05）. According to the stratification of dynamic recurrence risk assessment, it can be seen that the proportion of curative effect satisfaction in the TA group was as high as 95.7%, and that in the TARA group was as high as 81.5%, with no significant difference between the two groups. There was no significant difference in VAS score of neck, Constant Shoulder Score and NDⅡ scale between the two groups（P>0.05）. Conclusion:Gasless robotic surgery via transaxillary approach for unilateral N1b PTC is safe and feasible, and the amount postoperative lymph node acquisition is equivalent to that of combined axillary-retroauricular approach, which can provide a new choice for the treatment of unilateral N1b PTC patients.
Humans ; Robotic Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Axilla/surgery* ; Male ; Female ; Operative Time ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Treatment Outcome ; Postoperative Complications

Single-cell analysis of phenotypic plasticity could improve the development of more effective therapeutics. Still, the development of tools to measure single-cell heterogeneity has lagged due to difficulties in manipulating and culturing single cells. Here, we describe a single-cell culture and phenotyping platform that employs a starburst microfluidic network and automatic liquid handling system to capture single cells for long-term culture and multi-dimensional analysis and quantify their clonal properties via their surface biomarker and secreted cytokine/growth factor profiles. Studies performed on this platform found that cells derived from single-cell cultures maintained phenotypic equilibria similar to their parental populations. Single-cell cultures exposed to chemotherapeutic drugs stochastically disrupted this balance to favor stem-like cells. They had enhanced expression of mRNAs and secreted factors associated with cell signaling, survival, and differentiation. This single-cell analysis approach can be extended to analyze more complex phenotypes and screen responses to therapeutic targets.