OBJECTIVE To analyze the MSCT and MRI imaging manifestations of patients with duplication of the internal auditory canal(DIAC),improve understanding of the deformity,to provide preoperative basis for cochlear implantation.METHODS Retrospective observation of 20 cases(24 ears)of DIAC inner ear multi-spiral CT(MSCT)and MRI data,measurement and analysis of the width of the internal auditory canal(IAC)and cochlear nerve canal in the lesion group and the control group.RESULTS All DIACs had stenosis of the IAC cambined with other temporal bone malformations.MSCT shows that the 21 ears IAC,while MRI hydrography shows the 16 ears IAC divided into double tubes by bone.MRI hydrography shows a slender vestibulocochlear nerve.There were statistically significant differences(P<0.001)in the width of IAC and cochlear nerve canal between the lesion group and the control group.Six cases(8 ears)had varying degrees of hearing recovery after cochlear implant surgery.CONCLUSION DIAC shows stenosis of the IAC;The bone septa shown on MSCT are its characteristic fertures;MRI hydrography shows underdeveloped vestibular and cochlear nerves;The combination of two imaging examination methods can provide objective reference for the diagnosis of this disease and artificial auditory implantation.

To systematically construct a guideline to provide a methodological guide for researchers to develop patient decision aids.

To systematically construct a guideline to provide a methodological guide for researchers to develop patient decision aids.

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of rashes in monkeypox patients through a series of skin biopsies, and examine their pathological features and the most effective tests.Methods:Patients with monkeypox virus infection admitted to Beijing Ditan Hospital from June to August 2023 were identified. Among them, 24 patients underwent skin biopsies for clinical pathological study that were included in this study. Clinical information, rash pictures, and nucleic acid test results were analyzed using histopathology, immunohistochemistry, RNAscope ? hybridization and electron microscopy. Results:All 24 patients were male, including 14 patients with concurrent human immunodeficiency virus infection. Their average age was (32.3±5.4) years. The nucleic acid test confirmed monkeypox virus infection. The clinical feature of monkeypox rashes was solitary rather than clustered distribution, with rashes occurring in similar phase, distinguishing it from herpesvirus. The rashes in these patients were mostly scattered, with an average of (13.0±11.8) rashes, and most commonly present in the perineum, face, limbs, and trunk. The three main pathological features of these rashes were ballooning degeneration of the epidermal spinous cell layer, the characteristic intra-cytoplasmic Guarnieri′s bodies and significant infiltration of inflammatory cells in whole dermal layer. Immunohistochemistry, RNAscope ? hybridization, and electron microscopy can all effectively detect the monkeypox virus. Electron microscopy showed viral replication in various types of skin cells. Conclusions:The study describes the pathological features of monkeypox virus rashes. Pathological examination of skin biopsy samples is helpful to diagnose these rashes. The study suggests that the monkeypox virus has a unique epitheliotropic affinity and can infect various types of cells in the skin.

Objective:To establish a prediction model for symptomatic radiation pneumonitis (SRP) after radiotherapy for thoracic cancer based on a longitudinal cohort and dose interval variations.Methods:Clinical data of 587 patients who received thoracic radiotherapy in Department of Radiotherapy of Yunnan Cancer Hospital from July 2022 to June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The National Cancer Institute common terminology criteria for adverse events (CTCAE) version 5.0 was used to grade radiation pneumonitis, and clinical factors, traditional independent dosimetric characteristics and dose interval variation characteristics were collected. Features used to predict the occurrence of SRP were screened using genetic algorithms and analyzed the correlation between the selected features and SRP occurrence. Predictive models for SRP occurrence were established using the selected features and evaluated, and the optimal predictive model was visualized using a column chart.Results:The incidence of SRP was 35.94%. Five clinical factors, seven independent dosimetric features and six dose interval variation features were screened out by genetic algorithms to effectively predict the occurrence of SRP. The area under ROC curve (AUC) of clinical factors combined with traditional independent dosimetric factors and dose interval variation factors was 76%. The AUC of clinical factors combined with traditional independent dosimetric factors and that of clinical factors combined with dose interval variation factors was 69% and 67%, respectively. The addition of the characteristics of dose interval variation factors significantly improved the effectiveness of the prediction model.Conclusions:The supplement of the characteristics of dose interval variation factors can significantly improve the performance of the SRP prediction model for thoracic tumors after radiotherapy. The SRP prediction model based on dose interval variations can effectively predict the occurrence of SRP.

Humans ; SARS-CoV-2 ; COVID-19 ; Antibodies ; Antibodies, Viral/therapeutic use* ; Antibodies, Neutralizing/therapeutic use*

Objective To investigate whether Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection correlated with primary infertility,whether H.pylori infection caused the abnormal elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines in primary infertility women,and whether cytotoxin associated gene A (CagA) protein played a key role in it.Methods From September 2015 to August 2016,213 patients with primary infertility (infertility group) and 97 healthy individuals (control group) were selected.According to the common etiologies,patients with primary infertility were divided into groups with single-factor infertility,multifactorial infertility and unexplained reason groups.Serum H.pylori IgG antibody and CagA antibody were examined by H.pylori antibody type test kits.The levels of interleukin (IL)-2,IL-4,IL-5,IL-6,IL-8,IL-10,IL-13,IL-18,IL-1β,granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF),interferon-γ (IFN-γ),tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) and IL-12p70 were tested by ProcartaPlex Immunoassays.Chi square test and independent sample t test were performed for statistical analysis and risk was assessed.Results The positive rate of serum H.pylori IgG antibody of patients with primary infertility was higher than that of healthy control group (74.0％,37/50 vs 56.7％,55/97),and the difference was statistically significant (odds ratio (OR) =2.173,95 ％ confidence interval (CI) 1.028 to 4.595,x2=4.216,P =0.040).There was no statistically significant difference in the positive rate of CagA antibody between primary infertility group and healthy control group (71.7 ％,91/127 vs 74.5 ％,41/55,OR=0.863,95％CI0.421 to1.772,P＞0.05).The serum levels ofIL-8,IL-18 andIFN-γ of H.pylori positive primary infertility patients were (35.14 ± 12.16),(11.83 ± 4.01) and (11.05 ±3.17) ng/L,respectively,which were all higher than those of H.pylori positive healthy control group ((21.44±12.35),(9.89±2.23) and (8.90±1.45) ng/L,respectively) and H.pylori negative primary infertility group ((11.45±8.63),(7.90±0.99) and (8.18±1.10) ng/L,respectively),and the differences were statistically significant (t=6.947,3.366 and 4.811;15.596,8.900 and 8.068;all P＜0.05).The levels of IL-8,IL-18 and IFN-γ of H.pylori positive unexplained reason primary infertility group were (39.97 ± 11.52),(13.12±4.61) and (13.06±3.70) ng/L,respectively,which were all significantly higher than those of single-factor infertility group ((31.65 ±11.20),(11.12 ± 3.46) and (10.14 ± 2.41) ng/L,respectively) and multifactorial infertility group ((30.47±8.49),(11.13±3.79) and (10.07±2.50) ng/L,respectively);and the differences were statistically significant (t=4.217,2.942 and 5.738;5.138,2.562 and 5.218;all P＜0.05).In H.pylori positive primary infertility group,the levels of IL-8,IL-18 and IFN-γ of CagA positive patients were (40.42 ± 13.80),(13.04 ± 4.19) and (11.51± 3.41) ng/L,respectively,which were all significantly higher than those of CagA negative patients ((23.49 ± 11.57),(9.08 ± 1.43) and (10.04 ± 2.29) ng/L,respectively) and CagA positive individuals in healthy control group ((21.85 ± 12.14),(10.20 ± 2.29) and (9.31 ± 2.38) ng/L,respectively);and the differences were statistically significant (t =6.507,5.533 and 2.380;7.417,4.069 and 3.738;all P＜0.05).Conclusion CagA positive H.pylori infection can increase the level of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines,which may be a risk factor of primary infertility.To patients with unexplained primary infertility,this may be the cause of infertility.

Objective To investigate the effectiveness of Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 combined with fructooligosaccharides (FOS) in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) in a mouse model and to analyze the possible mechanism.Methods Fifty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups and respectively given normal diet (ND group), high-fat diet (HFD group), HFD containing Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 (HFD+L) (2.2×109 CFU/ml), HFD containing FOS (HFD+FOS) (4 g/kg per day) and HFD containing Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 and FOS for 16 consecutive weeks.Levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and diamine oxidase (DAO) in serum samples from each group were measured.Expression of tight-junction proteins (Claudin-1 and Occludin), p38 and phosphorylated p38 (p-p38) in intestinal tissues were analyzed.Results Compared with the HFD group, the HFD+FOS+L group showed decreased levels of TC, TG, LDL, LPS and DAO in serum samples, but increased serum HDL level (P<0.05).Moreover, combined treatment with Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 and FOS alleviated liver lipid deposition, significantly increased the expression of Claudin-1 and Occludin in intestine and inhibited the phosphorylation of p38 (P<0.05).Conclusion Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 combined with FOS may increase the expression of Claudin-1 and Occludin through inhibiting the phosphorylation of intestinal p38, which is conducive to maintaining the intestinal mucosal barrier integrity and alleviating NAFLD.

Objective To investigate that butyrate-producing probiotic clostridium butyricum improves the intestinal epithelial barrier function in food allergic mice by regulating TWIK-related potassium channel-1 (Trek1) expression in intestinal epithelial cells.Methods An intestinal allergy mouse model was created,then the model construction effect was verified by detecting the related indicators by ELISA,flow cytometer.The change of small intestinal tissue permeability was detected by the Ussing chambers.The Trek1 expressions in mouse jejunum tissue in control group and allergy group were detected by Western blot and immunofluorescent method;in the Transwell system,T84 cells were used to establish epithelial cellular monolayer for exposing to the allergic mediators,the Trek1 mRNA and protein expression were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot.Then the allergic mice were grouped and treated by different methods including normal saline,SIT,SIT/SB,SB,SIT/CB,CB,SIT/CB/Spadin,the expression of mice intestinal Trek1,intestinal barrier function and allergic reaction indicators were detected.Results Compared with the control group,the small intestinal Trek1 protein and tissue expression level in the food allergic mice were significantly decreased,the intestinal mucosal permeability was significantly increased,the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05);after T84 cells exposing to the allergic mediators,Trek1 mRNA and protein expression were significantly decreased(P＜0.05),but adding p38 inhibitor in advance could antagonize this change;the single use of SIT,clostridium butyricum and sodium butyrate could increase the intestinal Trek1 expression in food allergic mice,and alleviated the allergic reaction(P＜0.05),whereas the combined use of SIT and clostridium butyricum or sodium butyrate had more significant effect(compared with the SIT group,P＜0.05),moreover could significantly decrease small intestinal mucosal permeability and improved the intestinal barrier function(P＜0.05).Conclusion Sodium butyrate or butyrate-producing probiotic clostridium butyricum can restore the intestinal barrier function,alleviates the allergic reaction and strengthens the SIT curative effect in allergic mice by increasing Trek1 expression.

Objective: To investigate the effects of Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 combined with fructooligosaccharides (FOS) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice and its possible mechanism. Methods: A total of 50 male C57 mice were randomly and equally divided into five experimental groups. Group 1 received a normal diet (ND). Other four groups received a high-fat diet (HFD) to establish NAFLD models. In addition to HFD, group 3 received Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 (2.2×10⁹ CFU/mL), group 4 received FOS (4 g/kg per day), and group 5 received Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 (2.2×10⁹ CFU/mL) and FOS (4 g/kg per day). All groups received continuous intervention for 16 weeks. The following indices were measured for all groups after intervention: general condition, the levels of fasting blood glucose, insulin, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and interferon (IFN)-γ in the serum and liver. The mRNA levels of Toll-like receptor (TLR)4, nuclear factor (NF)-κb, insulin receptor (InsR), and insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 were measured by real-time RT-PCR. The data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance and comparison between groups was made by Bonferroni method. Results: Compared with group 2, groups 3, 4, and 5 had significantly lower body weight, Lee's index, liver index, and the levels of blood glucose and insulin resistance (P < 0.05). The serum level of LPS in group 2 was significantly higher than that in the other experimental groups (group 1: 8.80 ± 0.85 U/L, group 3: 12.31 ± 1.01 U/L, group 4: 12.27 ± 0.98 U/L, and group 5: 10.17 ± 0.79 U/L vs group 2: 15.45 ± 1.14 U/L, F = 55.117, P < 0.001). The levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IFN-γ in the serum and liver in group 2 were also significantly higher than those in the other groups (P < 0.05). Group 2 had significantly higher mRNA levels of TLR4 and NF-κb in the liver than the other groups (F = 82.933, P < 0.001; F = 149.033, P < 0.001); however, it had significantly lower mRNA levels of InsR and IRS-1 in the liver than the other groups (F = 33.347, P < 0.001; F = 70.225, P < 0.001). Conclusion Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 combined with FOS can reduce the level of LPS in the blood circulation, inhibit activation of the LPS/TLR4 signaling pathway, and reduce the release of inflammatory factor and the body's insulin resistance, so it can relieve NAFLD.