ObjectiveTo delineate imaging findings using an imaging platform and investigate the correlation between MRI characteristics of spinal cord atrophy and clinical diagnosis in children with spinal cord injury (SCI). MethodsImaging data of 150 children with SCI admitted to Beijing Bo'ai Hospital, China Rehabilitation Research Center, from January, 2002 to March, 2024 were collected and imported into the imaging platform. The anteroposterior and transverse diameters of the middle part of the spinal cord at the cross-section with the most severe atrophy were measured, and the relevant indicators of the previous normal spinal cord segment were measured as controls; the radiomic features were extracted. Clinical data of the children including gender, age, cause of injury, sensory level, motor level, spinal cord injury level, injury severity and disease course were collected. ResultsSpinal cord atrophy was identified in 81 cases (54%), among which 78 cases (96%) were American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) grade A and 3 cases (4%) were AIS grade C. The upper boundary of the spinal cord atrophy site strongly correlated with the injury level, motor level and sensory level (r > 0.8, P < 0.001). ConclusionMore than half of children with SCI may develop secondary spinal cord atrophy, the vast majority of whom suffer from complete spinal cord injury; the upper boundary of spinal cord atrophy is correlated with the injury level.

Objective:To study the risk factors of thyroid nodules in patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods:Data of patients with type 2 diabetes with normal thyroid function admitted to the Department of Endocrinology of Heze Municipal Hospital from January to June 2024 were collected. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of thyroid nodules in patients with type 2 diabetes, and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of each influencing factor.Results:Among 162 patients with type 2 diabetes, 96 had thyroid nodules, accounting for 59.3%. The incidence of thyroid nodules in women was significantly higher than that in men (χ 2 = 4.56, P = 0.034). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age (≥50 years old), overweight and obesity [body mass index (BMI)≥24.0 kg/m 2], high glycated hemoglobin (≥10%), and high total cholesterol ( > 6.5 mmol/L) were independent risk factors for thyroid nodules in patients with type 2 diabetes ( OR = 1.83, 1.67, 1.08, 3.65, P < 0.05), and men was an independent protective factor ( OR = 0.63, P = 0.039). The ROC curve results showed that total cholesterol and total cholesterol combined with glycated hemoglobin could distinguish patients with thyroid nodules from those without thyroid nodules, with AUC = 0.64 and 0.68, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant ( P < 0.05). Conclusions:The incidence of thyroid nodules in patients with type 2 diabetes is relatively high. Age, overweight and obesity, high glycated hemoglobin, and high total cholesterol are independent risk factors for thyroid nodules in patients with type 2 diabetes, and total cholesterol has the ability to distinguish patients with thyroid nodules.

Radiation-induced heart disease(RIHD)is a severe complication in patients with thoracic cancer undergoing radiotherapy,with important impacts on long-term survival among cancer survivors.There is an urgent need to investigate the pathogenesis of RIHD and to develop effective therapeutic agents,and the establishment of high-quality RIHD animal models is pivotal to addressing these issues.This review summarizes the critical factors to consider in establishing RIHD animal models,including species selection,radiation type,dosage,fractionation,and target fields,and modeling timeline,along with the evaluation method and success criteria.We also consider the potential pathogenic mechanisms underlying RIHD,including DNA damage,oxidative stress,inflammatory responses,mitochondrial dysfunction,renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activation,and myocardial fibrosis,as well as their interrelationships.These insights provide a comprehensive reference framework for constructing RIHD animal models and advancing mechanistic investigations into this condition.

Objective To explore the effects of different concentrations of simvastatin on nerve regeneration after sciatic nerve injury.Methods Rats were randomly divided into the normal group,the control group,the low-dose group and the high-dose group,with 3 rats in each group.Except for the normal group,adult rat sciatic nerve crush injury models were established in the other groups.Rats in the normal group and the control group were orally administered with water,while those in the low-dose group and high-dose group were orally administered with 98%simvastatin at dosages of 4 mg/mL and 40 mg/mL,respectively.The sciatic nerve regeneration in rats was evaluated by sciatic function index(SFI),HE staining,luxol fast blue(LFB)staining and immunofluorescence staining,etc.Results The SFI of rats in the high-dose group 7 days and 14 days after surgery were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05);there was no significant difference in SFI of rats between the low-dose group and the control group 7 days and 14 days after surgery(P>0.05).HE staining and LFB staining results showed that compared with the control group,the number of neurons of rats in the high-dose group increased,the nerve fibers and myelin were clearer and denser,and the nerve function was significantly restored;while no significant improvement was observed in the sciatic nerve of rats in the low-dose group.The immunofluorescence staining results showed that compared with the control group,the immunofluorescence intensity in the high-dose group increased,while that in the low-dose group decreased,the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion High-dose simvastatin can promote peripheral nerve regeneration by regulating the expression of M2 macrophages.

Objective To examine the level of sperm flagellar tubulin glycosylation(Gly-Tubulin)in asthenospermia patients(AP)and discuss its significance.Methods According to the principle of inclusion and exclusion criteria,108 patients treated in the Department of Andrology in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Maternal and Child Health Hospital from June 2021 to May 2022 were rolled in this study.According to the results of semen examine,they were divided into group AP(n=74),and normal control(NC)group(n=34).Colleced the clinical date of both group,such as the age,the sterility period.The levels of sex hormones were detected by chemiluminescence method.The glycosylated Tubulin levels of the sperm were detected by Western blot and immunofluorescence was used for localization analysis,and the relationship between the Gly-Tubulin of sperm flagellar and asthenospermia was analyzed by Multivariate Logistic regression analysis.Results Compared to NC group,the sterility period of group AP was prolong(3.98±0.30 vs 0.78±0.08),the percent of forward sperm motility was decreased(18.55±0.97 vs 46.24±1.89)and the expression level of Gly-Tubulin in the sperm flagellar was decreased(0.64±0.11 vs 1.00±0.00),the differences with statistical significance(t=62.038,χ2=14.394,3.148,all P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH),luteinizing hormone(LH),prolactin(PRL),estradiol(E2),testosterone,semen volume,sperm concentration and total sperm between the two groups(t/χ2=0.043～1.503,all P>0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the percent of forward sperm motility and the sperm flagellar Gly-Tubulin expression level were independent risk factors for male asthenospermia(Wald χ2=4.406,7.492,P<0.05).Conclusion Abnormal level of Gly Tubulin in sperm flagella may be closely related to the occurrence and development of asthenospermia.

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder caused by an imbalance between excitation and inhibition in the central nervous system.Recently,the role of the orexin system in the pathogenesis of epilepsy has garnered significant attention.Orex-in primarily regulates arousal states and enhances neuronal excit-ability through activation of OX1-R/OX2-R receptors.Studies have shown that elevated orexin levels lower the seizure thresh-old,while orexin receptor antagonists(ORAs)exhibit potential antiepileptic effects.ORAs suppress epileptiform discharges by reducing glutamate release,enhancing GABAergic inhibitory effects,and modulating the thalamocortical circuit.Animal ex-periments and preliminary clinical studies demonstrate that OX1R antagonists decrease excitatory synaptic transmission,whereas OX2 R antagonists primarily strengthen GABA-mediated inhibition.With the widespread application of ORAs in sleep disorders,exploring their clinical value as antiepileptic drugs will become a key focus for future research.This review summa-rizes the role of the orexin system in epileptogenesis and discus-ses the research progress and future directions of ORAs as poten-tial antiepileptic agents.

Objective:To utilize the left ventricular myocardial work（LVMW）technique for early identification of myocardial damage in patients with fabry disease（FD）.Methods:In an observational cross-sectional study，35 patients with FD who visited the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from February 2023 to April 2024 were included. They were categorized into two groups based on left ventricular mass index（LVMI）：the non-left ventricular hypertrophy group（LVH-FD group，14 cases）and the left ventricular hypertrophy group（LVH+FD group，21 cases）. Further gender-stratified analysis was performed on parameters related to left ventricular global longitudinal strain（LVGLS）and LVMW. Additionally，for the FD group with normal LVGLS，a comparison of their LVMW-related parameters was made with a control group. A control group consisting of 28 healthy subjects from the same period was selected for comparison. The LVGLS，global work index（LVGWI），global constructive work（LVGCW），global wasted work（LVGWW），and global work efficiency（LVGWE）of the three groups were analyzed using two-dimensional speckle tracking and non-invasive myocardial work techniques，and intergroup comparisons of these parameters were performed. Pearson's linear correlation was applied to analyse the correlation between LVGWI，LVGWE and LVMI.Results:① According to the LVMI grouping results，compared with the control group，the LVH-FD group showed decreased LVGWI（ P<0.05），while the LVH+FD group exhibited reductions in LVGLS，LVGWI，and LVGWE（all P<0.05）. Compared to the LVH-FD group，the LVH+FD group demonstrated lower LVGLS，LVGWI，and LVGWE（all P<0.05）. ② Gender subgroup analysis revealed that in the female subgroup，no statistically significant differences were observed in LVGLS，LVGWI，and LVGWE between the female control group and the female LVH-FD group（all P>0.05）. However，the female LVH+ FD group showed decreased LVGLS，LVGWI，and LVGWE compared to both the female control group（all P<0.05）and the female LVH-FD group（all P<0.05）. In the male subgroup，compared to the male control group，the male LVH-FD group had reduced LVGWI（ P<0.05）but no significant differences in LVGLS or LVGWE（both P>0.05）. The male LVH+ FD group displayed lower LVGLS，LVGWI，and LVGWE compared to both the male control group（all P<0.05）and the male LVH- FD group（all P<0.05）. ③Compared with the control group，the LVGLS-normal FD group had a reduced LVGWI（ P<0.05），while there were no statistically significant differences in LVGLS，LVGWE，LVGCW，and LVGWW between these two groups（all P>0.05）. ④LVGWI and LVGWE were negatively correlated with LVMI（ r=-0.617，-0.707；both P<0.001）. Conclusions:LVMW can detect early cardiac dysfunction in patients with FD and is of guiding value for their clinical management.

Objective By observing and measuring the relevant data of the buccal branch of the facial nerve,the parotid duct and the facial artery,the positional relationship among the three was analyzed to avoid accidental injury to the buccal branch of the facial nerve and the parotid duct when ligaturing the facial artery during the operation.Methods Forty adult head and neck specimens were dissected to observe the relationship between the buccal branch of the facial nerve and the parotid duct,the course and positional relationship of the facial artery,and the relationship between the buccal branch of the facial nerve and the peripheral vascular network.The relevant diameters were measured with a vernier caliper.Results The buccal branch of the facial nerve was divided into the superior buccal branch and the inferior buccal branch,and there was no direct anastomosis or connecting fiber between the buccal branch of the facial nerve and the parotid duct.The superior buccal branch was relatively thick,and it has a relatively constant position,which was parallel to the parotid duct.The position of the inferior buccal branch was not constant and it ran on or slightly above the plane of angulus oris.The superior buccal branch was located(10.76±5.54)mm from the parotid duct,while the inferior buccal branch was positioned(6.84±4.06)mm away from the parotid duct.The course of the main trunk of the facial artery was relatively fixed.Moreover,if the branch of the facial artery was missing,other branches of the facial artery would extend to replace the missing branch artery.The main trunk of the facial artery had a diameter of(2.34±0.83)mm,and its branches formed anastomoses with the buccal branch of the maxillary artery,creating a vascular network in the parotid and buccal regions.There was a vascular network around the buccal branch of the facial nerve,which was mostly small branches of the facial artery and the superficial temporal artery.Conclusion The buccal branch of the facial nerve exhibits a consistent anatomic relationship with the parotid duct and the facial artery.During the ligation of the facial artery,the parotid duct can serve as a landmark to accurately locate the buccal branch of the facial nerve,thereby significantly reducing the risk of inadvertent injury to the buccal branch of the facial nerve and the parotid duct.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate programmed death-ligand 1 tumor proportion score in predicting the safety and efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 antibody-based therapy in treating patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in a real-world setting. METHODS: This retrospective, multicenter, observational study enrolled adult patients who received PD-1/PD-L1 antibody-based therapy in China and met the following criteria: (1) had pathologically confirmed, unresectable stage III-IV NSCLC; (2) had a baseline PD-L1 tumor proportion score (TPS); and (3) had confirmed efficacy evaluation results after PD-1/PD-L1 treatment. Logistic regression, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and Cox regression were used to assess the progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and immune-related adverse events (irAEs) as appropriate. RESULTS: A total of 409 patients, 65.0% ( n = 266) with a positive PD-L1 TPS (≥1%) and 32.8% ( n = 134) with PD-L1 TPS ≥50%, were included in this study. Cox regression confirmed that patients with a PD-L1 TPS ≥1% had significantly improved PFS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.747, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.573-0.975, P = 0.032). A total of 160 (39.1%) patients experienced 206 irAEs, and 27 (6.6%) patients experienced 31 grade 3-5 irAEs. The organs most frequently associated with irAEs were the skin (52/409, 12.7%), thyroid (40/409, 9.8%), and lung (34/409, 8.3%). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that a PD-L1 TPS ≥1% (odds ratio [OR] 1.713, 95% CI 1.054-2.784, P = 0.030) was an independent risk factor for irAEs. Other risk factors for irAEs included pretreatment absolute lymphocyte count >2.5 × 10 9 /L (OR 3.772, 95% CI 1.377-10.329, P = 0.010) and pretreatment absolute eosinophil count >0.2 × 10 9 /L (OR 2.006, 95% CI 1.219-3.302, P = 0.006). Moreover, patients who developed irAEs demonstrated improved PFS (13.7 months vs. 8.4 months, P <0.001) and OS (28.0 months vs. 18.0 months, P = 0.007) compared with patients without irAEs. CONCLUSIONS A positive PD-L1 TPS (≥1%) was associated with improved PFS and an increased risk of irAEs in a real-world setting. The onset of irAEs was associated with improved PFS and OS in patients with advanced NSCLC receiving PD-1/PD-L1-based therapy.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/metabolism* ; Male ; Female ; Retrospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Lung Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Aged ; B7-H1 Antigen/metabolism* ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/metabolism* ; Adult ; Aged, 80 and over ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/therapeutic use*

This study aimed to investigate the effects of acupuncture on dynamic changes in Ca²⁺, Na⁺, and H₂O₂ flux following eccentric exercise-induced muscle injury. The total of 324 healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: control group (C), eccentric exercise group (E), eccentric exercise with acupuncture group (EA), EA with TRP channel blocker group (EAT), EA with NOX2 blocker group (EAN) and EA with placebo group (EAP). Gastrocnemius muscles were subject to lengthening contractions with percutaneous electrical stimulation, followed by immediate pretreatment with blocking agents. After 30 min, acupuncture needling was administered to the gastrocnemius muscle, and real-time dynamic changes of Ca²⁺, Na⁺ and H₂O₂ flux were measured with non-invasive micro-test technique during the needle retention period, immediately, 3 h, 6 h, and 24 h post-extraction respectively. Results showed that compared with the E group, acupuncture significantly increased net Ca²⁺ efflux (P < 0.05), extended the period of net Na⁺ influx, and significantly decreased net H₂O₂ efflux (P < 0.05). However, these effects were significantly attenuated in the EAT and EAN groups, where excessive net H₂O₂ efflux was observed (P < 0.001). These findings indicate that acupuncture regulates the dynamic changes of Ca²⁺, Na⁺ and H₂O₂ flux by activating the TRP channels and interacting with NOX2 activity following eccentric exercise-induced skeletal muscle injury.
Animals ; Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism* ; Rats, Wistar ; Rats ; Male ; Calcium/metabolism* ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism* ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; Sodium/metabolism* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; NADPH Oxidase 2