Objective:To quantitatively summarize the catechol-O-methyltransferase ( COMT) gene Val158Met polymorphism and the risk of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Methods:We searched databases including PubMed, Embase, Weipu and Wanfang for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the association between COMT gene polymorphisms and OCD up to November 1, 2023. Studies that reported genotype frequencies for both OCD patients and general healthy controls were included. Stata11 software was used to calculate pooled odds ratios ( OR) with 95% CI, perform heterogeneity test, and assess publication bias. Results:19 studies with 2, 393 OCD patients and 4, 134 healthy controls were included. The overall results showed that the Val158Met polymorphism was associated with OCD patients (allele model: OR=1.10, 95% CI: 1.02-1.20, P=0.016; homozygote model: OR=1.25, 95% CI:1.05-1.49, P=0.014; recessive model: OR=1.18, 95% CI:1.01-1.37, P=0.040). In the ethnic-stratified analysis, this significant association was mainly observed in Caucasians (allele model: OR=1.17, 95% CI:1.06-1.30, P=0.003; homozygote model: OR=1.35, 95% CI: 1.08-1.67, P=0.008; recessive model: OR=1.21, 95% CI: 1.01-1.44, P=0.041; dominant: OR=1.20, 95% CI: 1.01-1.43 P=0.040), but not in Asians. In gender-stratified analysis, Met-homozygote was associated with male OCD ( OR=1.75, 95% CI: 1.00-3.04, P=0.049). Moreover, the additional analysis found that the risk of OCD was significantly increased in Caucasian males (allele model: OR=1.48, 95% CI: 1.08-2.03, P=0.014; heterozygote model: OR=1.41, 95% CI: 1.03-1.93, P=0.030; dominant model: OR=1.60, 95% CI:1.08-2.38, P=0.020). Conclusion:This meta-analysis suggests that the COMT gene Val158Met polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of OCD in males, particularly in Caucasian males.

Objective:To quantitatively summarize the catechol-O-methyltransferase ( COMT) gene Val158Met polymorphism and the risk of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Methods:We searched databases including PubMed, Embase, Weipu and Wanfang for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the association between COMT gene polymorphisms and OCD up to November 1, 2023. Studies that reported genotype frequencies for both OCD patients and general healthy controls were included. Stata11 software was used to calculate pooled odds ratios ( OR) with 95% CI, perform heterogeneity test, and assess publication bias. Results:19 studies with 2, 393 OCD patients and 4, 134 healthy controls were included. The overall results showed that the Val158Met polymorphism was associated with OCD patients (allele model: OR=1.10, 95% CI: 1.02-1.20, P=0.016; homozygote model: OR=1.25, 95% CI:1.05-1.49, P=0.014; recessive model: OR=1.18, 95% CI:1.01-1.37, P=0.040). In the ethnic-stratified analysis, this significant association was mainly observed in Caucasians (allele model: OR=1.17, 95% CI:1.06-1.30, P=0.003; homozygote model: OR=1.35, 95% CI: 1.08-1.67, P=0.008; recessive model: OR=1.21, 95% CI: 1.01-1.44, P=0.041; dominant: OR=1.20, 95% CI: 1.01-1.43 P=0.040), but not in Asians. In gender-stratified analysis, Met-homozygote was associated with male OCD ( OR=1.75, 95% CI: 1.00-3.04, P=0.049). Moreover, the additional analysis found that the risk of OCD was significantly increased in Caucasian males (allele model: OR=1.48, 95% CI: 1.08-2.03, P=0.014; heterozygote model: OR=1.41, 95% CI: 1.03-1.93, P=0.030; dominant model: OR=1.60, 95% CI:1.08-2.38, P=0.020). Conclusion:This meta-analysis suggests that the COMT gene Val158Met polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of OCD in males, particularly in Caucasian males.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of osthole(OST)on skin wound healing and angiogenesis in rats by regulating the sonic hedgehog(SHH)signaling pathway.METHODS Full-layer skin defect wound model rats were established and then randomly separated into Model group,OST low-dose,medium-dose and high-dose groups(OST-L group,OST-M group,OST-H group,20,30,40 mg/kg OST),high-dose OST+SHH inhibitor cyclopamide group(OST-H+cyclopamide group,40 mg/kg OST+10 mg/kg cyclopamide),with 12 rats in each group.Another 12 rats were selected as the control group.The wound healing of rats on 1,7 and 14 days of administration was observed,and the wound healing rate of rats in each group was measured.The pathological changes and collagen deposition in rat wound tissue were observed;the levels of angiopoietin-1(Ang-1)and basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF)in wound tissue of rats were detected;the relative expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGFA)and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2(VEGFR-2)mRNA were also detected in wound tissue of rats;the protein expressions of VEGFA,VEGFR-2,SHH and glioma-associated oncogene homolog-1(GLI1)were determined in wound tissue of rats.RESULTS Compared with Model group,the healing rate of skin wound,relative expression of collagen protein,the levels of Ang-1 and bFGF,the mRNA and protein expressions of VEGFA and VEGFR-2,and the protein expressions of SHH and GLI1 were all significantly increased in OST-M and OST-H groups(P＜0.05).The wound tissue underwent significant re-epithelialization,with reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and granulation tissue edema,and an increase in the number of new blood vessels.SHH inhibitor cycloparamide weakened the promoting effects of OST on skin wound healing and angiogenesis in rats.CONCLUSIONS OST may promote skin wound healing and angiogenesis in rats by activating the SHH signaling pathway.

Objective To explore the predictive value of CT radiomics and morphological features for the prognosis and survival in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)patients.Methods The clinic data of 300 NSCLC patients(300 lesions)were downloaded from the Cancer Imaging Archive,with 210 randomly selected as the training set and 90 as the test set.According to the prognosis and survival,the patients were divided into two groups with survival period≤3 and＞3 years.3D Slicer software was used to delineate the regions of interest layer by layer in CT images,and the radiomics features were extracted from each region of interest.Both t-test and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator were utilized for radiomics feature screening.Three types of prediction models,namely radiomics model,morphological model and combined model,were constructed with Logistic regression,whose performances were evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results The differences in radiomics labels and mediastinal lymph node metastasis between the training set and the test set were statistically significant.For radiomics model,morphological model and combined model,the area under the ROC curve was 0.784(95%CI:0.722-0.847),0.734(95%CI:0.664-0.804)and 0.748(95%CI:0.680-0.815)in the training set,and 0.737(95%CI:0.630-0.844),0.665(95%CI:0.554-0.777)and 0.687(95%CI:0.578-0.797)in the test set,which demonstrated that radiomics model had the best diagnostic performance.Conclusion The CT radiomics model can effectively predict the prognosis and survival in NSCLC patients.

Objective:To compare the prognosis of patients with hepatolithiasis-associated intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated ICC after radical resection.Methods:The clinicopathological and survival data of 69 patients with ICC undergoing radical resection in the Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Lihuili Hospital Affiliated to Ningbo University from January 2012 to February 2024 were retrospectively analyzed, including 40 males and 29 females, aged (62.9±10.2) years. Patients were divided into the stone group ( n=40, with hepatolithiasis) and HBV group ( n=29, with HBV). Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis, and log-rank test was used for survival rate comparison. Cox proportional hazard regression model was used for multivariate analysis to analyze the effect of hepatolithiasis and HBV on the prognosis. Results:The median overall survival of ICC patients in the stone group was 16 months, and that in the HBV group was 27 months. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year cumulative survivals of the stone group were 56.6%, 23.2%, and 10.3%, respectively, which were lower than those of the HBV group (72.0%, 50.7%, and 43.4%, respectively, χ2=5.95, P=0.015). The median recurrence-free survivals (RFS) of the stone group and the HBV group were 12 months and 23 months, respectively. The 1-year and 3-year RFS of the stone group were 49.2% and 18.1%, which were lower than those of the HBV group (65.0% and 39.8%, respectively, χ2=3.94, P=0.047). Univariate analysis showed that hepatolithiasis was assciated with prognosis ( χ2=5.95, P=0.015). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that hepatolithiasis and hepatitis B virus infection had no effect on the prognosis of ICC patients after surgery (all P>0.05). Conclusion:Compared to HBV infection, ICC patients with hepatolithiasis have a worse prognosis. Hepatolithiasis and HBV infection have no effect on the prognosis of ICC after radical resection.

Objective To explore the relationship between basic motor skills and social interaction ability in school-age children with moderate autism,and the mediating role of executive function and the realization path.Methods A cross-sectional design was used to investigate 117 school-age children with autism from Sep.to Dec.2020.The level of basic motor skills was assessed by the test of gross motor development(TGMD),the impairment of executive function was assessed by the behavior rating inventory of executive function(BRIEF),and the social disorder was assessed by the social responsive scale-second edition(SRS-2).Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the interrelationship,and structural equation modeling was applied to explore the path relationship.Results There was a significant negative correlation between the level of basic motor skills and SRS-2 scores(r=-0.312,P＜0.001).There were significant negative correlations between the level of basic motor skills and the BRIEF scores of inhibition(r=-0.336,P＜0.001),switching(r=-0.325,P＜0.001),affective control(r=-0.338,P＜0.001),task initiation(r=-0.240,P=0.009),working memory(r=-0.278,P=0.002),and planning(r=-0.224,P=0.015).The SRS-2 score was positively correlated with the BRIEF scores of inhibition(r=0.378,P＜0.001),switching(r=0.299,P=0.001),affective control(r=0.417,P＜0.001),task initiation(r=0.246,P=0.007),working memory(r=0.409,P＜0.001),and monitoring(r=0.258,P=0.005).Executive function played a complete intermediary role between basic motor skills and social interaction ability(B=-1.912,95％confidence interval:-3.116 to-1.069).Conclusion In school-age children with moderate autism,executive function and social interaction ability change positively with the level of basic motor skills.Basic motor skills can affect social interaction ability through the mediating role of executive function,and inhibition and affective control are important pathways to achieve this.

Objective To compare the differences in lipid metabolism between platinum-resistant and platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer patients at stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ,to analyze the differential intestinal flora using 16S rRNA sequen-cing,and to explore the associations among intestinal flora,lipid metabolism characteristics and platinum resistance in ovarian cancer.Methods Patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer at stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ through surgical pathology were selected,including a platinum-resistant group(11 cases)and a platinum-sensitive group(11 cases).The differences in lipid metabolism between the two groups were compared.The differences in gut microbiota between the two groups were investigated using fecal 16S rRNA sequencing.The association among gut microbiota,lipid metabolism characteristics,and platinum resistance in ovarian cancer was analyzed.Results Significant differ-ences were observed in lipid metabolism-related indicators[total cholesterol(TC),high-density lipoprotein choles-terol(HDL-C),non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(n-HDL),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),apolipoprotein(B)]between the two groups,with higher levels in the platinum-resistant group.The Shannon in-dex(P=0.008 3)and Simpson index(P=0.008 2)both showed higher diversity of gut microbiota in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients compared to the platinum-sensitive group.However,based on OTUs species clus-tering and relative abundance statistics,certain bacterial abundances differed significantly between the groups.Spe-cies such as Parabacteroides,Akkermansia,Blautia,Lachnoclostridium,Fusicatenibacter,and Megamonas had sig-nificantly higher abundances in the platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer group,and Akkermansia(a lipid metabolism-related bacterial group)was the most prevalent.Conclusion The platinum-resistant group of ovarian cancer ex-hibits significantly higher levels of lipid metabolism and gut microbiota diversity compared to the platinum-sensitive group.This suggests that the increase in lipid metabolism levels and fecal microbiota diversity may be associated with the development of platinum resistance.However,certain microbial taxa are reduced in abundance in the plat-inum-resistant group,such as the distinct Akkermansia genus(a lipid metabolism-related microbial community),which may serve as one of the factors inducing platinum-resistance in ovarian cancer.

Objective To investigate the synergistic protective effects of WR-2721 combined with lentinan and cytokines against radiation damage in mice, and to provide a new treatment for acute radiation injury. Methods Seventy Institute of Cancer Research mice were divided into seven groups: a control group, a model group, WR-2721 group, Lentinan & cytokine group, WR-2721 & Lentinan group, WR-2721 & cytokine group and WR-2721 & Lentinan & cytokine group. All groups except the control group were irradiated with ⁶⁰Co γ-rays at a dose rate of 0.8 Gy/min and a cumulative dose of 5.0 Gy. The mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation 14 d after irradiation to measure their spleen index, thymus index, and serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-11 (IL-11), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Results For the mice treated with WR-2721, lentinan, and cytokines, the spleen index was 7.33 ± 2.84, the thymus index was 1.70 ± 0.30, the serum SOD level was 114.0 ± 8.3, the MDA level was 7.33 ± 1.16, the IL-11 level was 155.8 ± 49.4, and the TNF-α level was 174.0 ± 37.8. All these indicators except the spleen index in the combination group significantly differed from those of the model group (P < 0.05 or 0.01), indicating the combined treatment promoted recovery from radiation damage. Conclusion WR-2721 combined with lentinan and cytokines has significant synergistic protective effects, which is a promising treatment for acute radiation injury.

Objective:To reevaluate the upper limit of normal (ULN) of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) by retrospectively analyzing the ALT levels in healthy people in Ningbo area.Methods:A total of 56 140 people who underwent health examination and detection of liver biochemical indexes in the Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Ningbo University and Yinzhou Huamao Hospital of Ningbo from 2018 to 2020 were enrolled. After excluding relevant factors that may lead to liver injury, 11 411 people were included to compare the difference of serum ALT levels among different genders and age groups (20 to 29 years, 30 to 39 years, 40 to 49 years and 50 to 59 years) to determine the ALT ULN in different gender groups. Statistical methods were performed using two independent samples t test and analysis of variance. Results:The serum ALT of males was (19.20±7.90) U/L, which was higher than that of females ((13.75±6.17) U/L), with statistical significance ( t=41.16, P<0.001). The serum ALT ULN in males and in females were 35 U/L and 26 U/L, respectively. The serum ALT levels of 20 to 29, 30 to 39, 40 to 49 and 50 to 59 years old groups were (15.48±7.61) U/L, (16.21±7.40) U/L, (17.36±7.52) U/L and (18.77±7.57) U/L, respectively.The difference was statistically significant ( F=71.51, P<0.001). Serum ALT level in 50 to 59 years old group was higher than that in 20 to 29 years old group, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=13.11, P<0.01). In males, the ALT ULN of 20 to 29 years old was the lowest of 34.43 U/L, and highest of 35.29 U/L in 40 to 49 years old. In females, the ALT ULN in the 20 to 29 years old group was the lowest of 23.01 U/L, and the ALT ULN in the 50 to 59 years old group was the highest of 30.79 U/L. ALT ULN increased with age in females. The serum ALT of males was higher than that of females in all age groups ( t=29.55, 26.91, 13.43 and 4.62, respectively, all P<0.05). Conclusions:The serum ALT level is significantly correlated to gender and age. The serum ALT ULNs of healthy adult are 35 U/L in males and 26 U/L in females in Ningbo area.