Objective To investigate the correlation between different forms of serum vitamin D levels and liver fibrosis in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Methods Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2021–2023 were analyzed. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between serum total vitamin D, 25(OH)D₃ levels, and liver fibrosis in the MAFLD patients. Results A total of 2 628 patients were included. There were significant differences between MAFLD patients with liver fibrosis and those without fibrosis in age, smoking history, waist circumference, body mass index, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, hypertension history, vitamin D, and 25(OH)D₃ levels (P＜0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that compared to the low total serum vitamin D group (11.2-61.8 nmol/L), MAFLD patients with high total vitamin D levels (89.1 nmol/L＜vitamin D≤290 nmol/L) exhibited a 22% reduced risk of liver fibrosis (OR＝0.78, 95%CI 0.64-0.94, P＝0.015). Similarly, compared to the low 25(OH)D₃ group (4.1-57.0 nmol/L), those with high 25(OH)D₃ level [84.7 nmol/L＜25(OH)D₃≤288 nmol/L] showed a 23% lower risk of liver fibrosis (OR＝0.77, 95%CI 0.62-0.95, P＝0.021). After adjusting for covariates, high total vitamin D levels remained significantly associated with reduced liver fibrosis risk (OR＝0.63, 95%CI 0.42-0.94, P＝0.036). Conclusions Elevated serum total vitamin D and 25(OH)D₃ levels are protective factors against early liver fibrosis in MAFLD patients.

OBJECTIVE: To explore prevalence, incidence and possible factors of immediate herniated discs after posterior cervical expansive open-door laminoplasty (EODL). METHODS: Totally 29 patients with cervical spinal stenosis and intervertebral disc herniation who underwent EODL from October 2020 to December 2021 were collected, including 24 males and 5 females, aged from 43 to 81 years old with an average of (61.3±9.0) years old;the courses of disease ranged from 1 to 120 months with an average of (36.4±37.0) months. Three or more intervertebral discs on C₃-C₇ were observed. The clinical efficacy was evaluated according to Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score before operation, 3 days and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after operation, respectively. The changes of herniated disc before and after operation were measured by multipoint area method and two-dimensional distance method, and incidence and percentage of herniated disc regression were further calculated. Cervical imaging parameters such as Cobb angle (C₃-C₇), intervertebral angle, T₁ slope (T₁S), spinal canal sagittal diameter, K-line angle, dural sac sagittal diameter were measured and compared before and after operation. Pearson correlation was used to analyze correlation between cervical sagittal imaging parameters and disc herniation changes before and after operation. RESULTS: All patients obtained grade A wound healing, and 14 of them were followed up for 3(1.00, 5.25) months. There were no immediate or long-term postoperative complications. Totally 101 herniated intervertebral discs were measured, of which 79 regression numbers were obtained by area measurement. The number of intervertebral disc regressions by distance measurement was 77. There was no statistically significant difference in Cobb angle, intervertebral angle, T₁S and K-line angle of C₃-C₇ (P>0.05), however, there were statistically significant differences in sagittal diameter of spinal canal, sagittal diameter of dural sac, and JOA score before and after operation(P<0.05). The regression ratio of disc herniation ranged from 5% to 50%, and regression ratio of disc herniation was greater than 25% in 45.57%(36/79). Disc herniation in C_4,5 was positively correlated with sagittal plane diameter in C₅(r=0.423, P=0.028). There was a negative correlation between changes of C_3,4 and C_3,4 intervertebral angle (r=-0.450, P=0.041). The improvement rate of cervical JOA score immediately after operation was (59.54±15.07) %, and postoperative follow-up improved to (76.57±14.66) %. CONCLUSION Herniated disc regression immediately after EODL is a common occurrence, and EODL should be selected as far as possible under the premise of satisfying surgical indications. The regression of disc herniation is positively correlated with spinal canal sagittal diameter, and spinal canal should be enlarged as far as possible in the appropriate scope during EODL, so as to create more opportunities and conditions for disc regression and achieve better clinical results.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/diagnostic imaging* ; Spinal Stenosis/diagnostic imaging* ; Laminoplasty/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging* ; Adult ; Aged, 80 and over ; Intervertebral Disc/surgery*

Hearing loss is the most prevalent disabling disease. Cochlear implantation（CI） serves as the primary intervention for severe to profound hearing loss. This consensus systematically explores the value of genetic diagnosis in the pre-operative assessment and efficacy prognosis for CI. Drawing upon domestic and international research and clinical experience, it proposes an evidence-based medicine three-tiered prognostic classification system（Favorable, Marginal, Poor）. The consensus focuses on common hereditary non-syndromic hearing loss（such as that caused by mutations in genes like GJB2, SLC26A4, OTOF, LOXHD1） and syndromic hereditary hearing loss（such as Jervell & Lange-Nielsen syndrome and Waardenburg syndrome）, which are closely associated with congenital hearing loss, analyzing the impact of their pathological mechanisms on CI outcomes. The consensus provides recommendations based on multiple round of expert discussion and voting. It emphasizes that genetic diagnosis can optimize patient selection, predict prognosis, guide post-operative rehabilitation, offer stratified management strategies for patients with different genotypes, and advance the application of precision medicine in the field of CI.
Humans ; Cochlear Implantation ; Prognosis ; Hearing Loss/surgery* ; Consensus ; Connexin 26 ; Mutation ; Sulfate Transporters ; Connexins/genetics*

Objective To investigate the role of transcription factor EB(TFEB)in endotoxin-tolerant macrophages.Methods The RAW264.7 cells were divided into blank group(DMEM medium),LPS 5 group(5 ng/mL LPS treatment for 4 h),LPS 100 group(100 ng/mL LPS treatment for 4 h),and tolerance group(5 ng/mL LPS for 12 h followed by 100 ng/mL LPS for 4 h).The releases of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-6 were measured using ELISA.Western blotting and immunofluorescence assay were used to evaluate the distribution of autophagy-related proteins LC3 and P62,as well as TFEB in the cytoplasm and nucleus.Lentiviral overexpression of TFEB or siRNA-mediated knockdown of TFEB were performed to observe the changes in autophagy levels and bacterial clearance ability in the tolerant cells.Results The cells in the tolerance group had significantly lower contents of TNF-α and IL-6,as well as reduced bacterial clearance ability(P<0.01),down-regulated LC3 expression while up-regulated P62 level,and decreased expression of TFEB in both the cytoplasm and nucleus(P<0.01)when compared with the cells of the LPS 100 group.Overexpression of TFEB significantly increased LC3 level,reduced P62 level,and enhanced bacterial clearance ability in the endotoxin-tolerant cells(P<0.01).In contrast,siRNA-mediated knockdown of TFEB had no significant impacts on LC3 and P62 expression levels or bacterial clearance ability.Conclusion Overexpression of TFEB can restore the autophagy of endotoxin-tolerant cells and enhance their bacterial clearance capacity,thereby alleviating the immunosuppressive state of sepsis.These findings suggest that TFEB holds promise as a potential therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of sepsis.

Objective To investigate the role and underlying mechanism of activating transcription factor 3(ATF3)in suppressing lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced autophagy and inflammatory responses in macrophages.Methods Firstly,the gene expression omnibus(GEO)database was used to analyze ATF3 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)from sepsis patients,and gene set enrichment analysis(GSEA)was performed to identify enriched signaling pathways.Secondly,RAW264.7 macrophages were divided into a blank control group and an LPS-stimulated group(100 ng/mL LPS).Western blotting and immunofluorescence assay were used to detect ATF3 protein expression and observe its subcellular localization,respectively.Lentiviral transduction was used to generate ATF3 knockdown and overexpression cell lines to evaluate their effects on cytokine release and bacterial clearance.Cleavage Under Targets and Tagmentation(CUT&Tag)sequencing was employed to identify downstream target genes transcriptionally regulated by ATF3.Furthermore,the impact of ATF3 knockdown or overexpression on autophagy-related gene 5(ATG5),autophagy-related gene 16-like 1(ATG16L1),and autophagy levels was evaluated.Results GEO analysis revealed that ATF3 expression was significantly elevated in PBMCs from sepsis patients(P<0.01),and GSEA showed significant enrichment of autophagy-related and inflammation-related pathways(P<0.01).In RAW264.7 cells,100 ng/mL LPS stimulation significantly increased ATF3 expression in the nucleus than the blank control group(P<0.01).ATF3 knockdown led to increased secretions of TNF-α and IL-6 and enhanced bacterial clearance of macrophages(P<0.01),whereas ATF3 overexpression significantly suppressed TNF-α and IL-6 releases,and remained bacterial clearance at a low level when compared with the conditions in the negative control(NC)group(P<0.01).CUT&Tag results demonstrated that ATF3 was enriched at the promoter regions of key autophagy genes Atg5 and Atg16l1.Compared with the NC group,ATF3 knockdown significantly up-regulated the protein levels of LC3-II/I,ATG5,and ATG16L1 while decreased p62 expression(P<0.01).Conversely,ATF3 overexpression inhibited the expression of LC3-II/I,ATG5,and ATG16L1(P<0.01),but had no significant effect on p62 level.Conclusion Sepsis induces elevated ATF3 expression in macrophages,and suppresses autophagic activity and down-regulates pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6,which probably mediated by ATF3 regulating transcription of ATG5 and ATG16L1,suggesting ATF3 as a potential therapeutic target for autophagy-inflammation imbalance.

Objective To analyze the basic conditions and pathological characteristics of the samples in the Human Brain Bank of Hebei Medical University,which were pathologically diagnosed as cerebral amyloid angiopathy,and to provide reference for the research of related diseases.Methods The basic data of gender,age,apolipoprotein E genotype,pathological classification of cerebral amyloid angiopathy,Alzheimer's disease-related pathological change score,comorbidities and other pathological information were analyzed.Results Up to October 2024,twenty samples were confirmed by pathological diagnosis,with a male to female ratio of 3:1 and an average age of(80.90±8.08)years.Involve three kinds of apolipoprotein E subtype,5 kinds of genotypes(ε2/ε3 xε2/ε4、ε3/ε3 xε3/ε4、ε4/ε4);There were 2 pathologic types,including 6 cases of type 1 and 14 cases of type 2.The pathological grade included 3 grades.The severity grade and subtype classification of cerebral amyloid vascular disease were correlated with the degree of pathological changes of Alzheimer's disease.Cerebral amyloid angiopathy samples could coexist with other degenerative diseases with high comorbidity.Conclusion The incidence of cerebral amyloid angiopathy is higher in the aged samples collected based on Brain Bank,which coexists with conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and microbleeds,etc.It provides more detailed pathological diagnosis basis for further scientific research sharing of samples.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of three-connections and four-screwings technique in the treatment of high double column acetabular fractures through a single ilioinguinal approach.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the data of 42 patients who had been treated for high double column acetabular fractures from June 2017 to June 2020 at Trauma Ward 2, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, The First Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Changde. There were 19 males and 23 females with an age of (42.7±25.6) years. 29 injuries were due to a traffic accident, 12 ones to fall from a height, and one to fall. The time from injury to operation was (4.5±2.1) days. All the patients were treated by the three-connections and four-screwings technique through a single ilioinguinal approach. Briefly, the anterior column was connected and secured to the main bone using 3 routes, and the posterior column was attached and fixated to the anterior column reset using 2 or 3 of the 4 screwings. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fracture reduction quality, fracture healing time, hip function at the last follow-up and complications during the follow-up were recorded.Results:For this cohort, the operation time was (150.0±30.5) min, and intraoperative blood loss (300.0±50.0) mL. According to the Matta scale for postoperative acetabular fracture reduction, 34 cases were excellent, 6 cases good, and 2 cases acceptable, with an excellent and good rate of 95.2% (40/42). After operation one patient had fat liquefaction and wound exudation which responded to drainage and dressing change. The 42 patients were followed up for (15.0±3.4) months. All fractures healed after (11.0±2.0) months. By the modified Merle d'Aubigné & Postel scoring system, the hip function was evaluated at the last follow-up as excellent in 33 cases, as good in 6 cases, and as fair in 3 cases, yielding an excellent and good rate of 92.9% (39/42).Conclusions:In the treatment of high double column acetabular fractures, the three-connections and four-screwings technique through a single ilioinguinal approach can lead to fine reduction and rigid fixation by lag screw compression and neutralization plate protection. Consequently, early functional exercises can be performed to secure good therapeutic outcomes for the patients.

BACKGROUND:In recent years,some scholars in the field of tendon bone injury have attached stromal cell-derived factor 1 to tissue engineering scaffolds to promote tendon bone healing,and achieved good results.However,whether stromal cell-derived factor 1 promotes tendon bone healing mechanisms and participates in the repair of natural healing has not yet been defined. OBJECTIVE:To study the expression of stroma-cell derived factor 1 during tendon bone healing after rupture of the whole supraspinatus muscle of the rabbit rotator cuff and its migration effect and optimal in vitro migration promoting concentration on stem cells during tendon bone injury. METHODS:Totally 18 adult New Zealand rabbits were randomly selected to establish rotator cuff injury models,and an additional 3 rabbits were selected as blank controls.At 3,5,7,14,21,and 28 days after modeling,three rabbits were executed separately and the rabbits in the blank group were sacrificed.The tissues of tendon bone junction were taken and stored in a-80℃refrigerator.The expression of stromal cell-derived factor 1 was detected by ELISA at each time point after injury.Mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from the bone marrow of young rabbit femur,cultured,and identified.Transwell assay was performed to verify the migration-promoting effect of stromal cell-derived factor 1 on stem cells and the optimal migration-promoting concentration in vitro.The stem cells cultured to P3 were co-cultured with BrdU and injected into the rabbit ear marginal vein,and immunohistochemical staining was used to verify whether the stem cells migrated to the injury site. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Stromal cell-derived factor 1 gene expression was bimodal during rotator cuff tendon bone healing.Stromal cell-derived factor 1 gene expression increased significantly at 3 days post-injury(P<0.01)and then decreased,reaching a minimum at 5 days post-injury.It increased again and reached a peak 14 days after injury(P<0.01)and then decreased.(2)Cell immunohistochemical staining displayed that stem cells labeled with BrdU did migrate to the injury site.(3)The results of the transwell experiment exhibited that 60-80 ng/mL stromal cell-derived factor 1 had the best effect on promoting migration of stem cells,while a concentration of 200 ng/mL inhibited migration.(4)Stromal cell-derived factor 1 is involved in the healing of rotator cuff tendon bone during the inflammatory response phase and the proliferation phase.The mechanism of action may be to promote the migration of stem cells to the injury and their differentiation into various types of cells to promote repair.In addition,the pro-migration effect of stromal cell-derived factor 1 exists at a range of concentrations,beyond which it may act as an inhibitor.

Objective:To explore the patterns of failure after postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy for gastric cancer.Methods:Clinical data of patients diagnosed with gastric cancer or gastroesophageal junction carcinoma with pathological stages T 3-4N 0 or T xN 1-3 admitted to Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from May 2009 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received postoperative radiotherapy. During the follow-up, tumor recurrence was confirmed by imaging or endoscopic or pathological data, etc. According to the location of tumor recurrence, recurrence patterns were divided into local, regional and distant recurrence. Differences in recurrence patterns among different groups were compared using t-test and Chi-square test. Patient survival was assessed through Kaplan-Meier method. Results:A total of 76 patients were enrolled, with a median age of 49 years old (27-67 years old), 34 cases (45%) were classified as T 3 stage, 40 cases (53%) of T 4 stage, and 75 cases (99%) of N 1-3 stage, respectively. Seventy-three patients (92%) were classified as stage Ⅲ, and 38 patients (50%) underwent D2 dissection. The median follow-up time was 32.8 months (7.1-138.5 months). The median time of recurrence was 17.6 months (2.9-113.6 months). The median survival time after recurrence was 8.19 months (0.6-91.9 months). There were 13 cases (17%) of local recurrence, 6 cases (8%) of regional recurrence, and 72 cases (95%) of distant metastasis in patients. Peritoneal metastasis (33 cases, 43%) and distant lymph node metastasis (12 cases, 16%) were the main patterns of distant recurrence. Conclusions:By intensity-modulated radiotherapy technology, adjuvant radiotherapy yields favorable local and regional control for gastric cancer. Distant metastasis is still the main pattern of recurrence.

Objective:To analyze clinical efficacy of intensity-modulated chemoradiotherapy for patients with anal squamous cell carcinoma and identify prognostic factors.Methods:Clinical data of patients with anal squamous cell carcinoma who received intensity-modulated chemoradiotherapy in the Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 1, 2010 to January 1, 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Regular follow-up was carried out. The main indexes included disease-free survival (DFS), locoregional failure-free survival (LRFFS) and overall survival (OS), and adverse reactions were recorded. The survival curve was delineated by Kaplan-Meier method and the influencing factors of survival were analyzed by Cox regression models.Results:A total of 65 patients were enrolled with 19 (29%) males and 46 (71%) females. According to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 7 th edition staging, there were 7 (11%), 28 (43%), 10 (15%), and 20 (31%) patients with stage I, II, IIIa, and IIIb, respectively. Before the chemoradiotherapy, 2 (3%) patients received chemotherapy and 12 (18%) patients received local resection. The median dose of radiotherapy was 54 Gy (range: 45-64 Gy) and the main concurrent chemotherapy regimen was capecitabine combined with cisplatin ( n=34, 52%). The completion rate of radiotherapy during concurrent chemoradiotherapy was 100%, and the chemotherapy completion rate was 88%. During the therapy, 5 patients (8%) were interrupted but completed concurrent chemoradiotherapy in full dose, and 8 patients (12%) reduced the dose of concurrent chemotherapy due to the toxicities. During the chemoradiotherapy, 15 cases (23%) experienced grade 3-4 leukopenia, and 17 cases (26%) experienced grade 3-4 radiation dermatitis. No treatment-related death occurred during the treatment. The median follow-up time was 50.4 months (range: 4.4-142.2 months), local recurrence occurred in 7 cases (11%), distant metastasis occurred in 3 cases (5%), and the 5-year DFS, LRFFS and OS rates were 78.8%, 86.5% and 85.1%, respectively. Cox univariate analysis indicated that T stage was significantly associated with DFS ( P=0.006), and tended to be associated with OS ( P=0.054). Conclusions:Intensity-modulated radiotherapy combined with concurrent chemotherapy is an effective treatment for anal squamous cell carcinoma, with tolerable acute toxicities. T stage is an influencing factor of DFS in anal squamous cell carcinoma patients.