Objective To analyze the effect of releasing the lower pulmonary ligament on right residual lung expansion after right upper lobe resection under different body mass index (BMI) levels. Methods The clinical data of patients who underwent thoracoscopic right upper lobe resection in the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University from 2021 to 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into a group A (17 kg/m2＜BMI≤23 kg/m2), a group B (23 kg/m2＜BMI≤29 kg/m2) and a group C (BMI＞29 kg/m2) according to BMI. The presence of residual cavity was judged by chest X-ray at 7-10 days after operation, the degree of compensation change of the right main bronchus angle was measured, and the changes in lung volume were determined by CT three-dimensional reconstruction. Results A total of 157 patients who underwent thoracoscopic right upper lobe resection were included, including 71 males and 86 females, with an average age of (59.7±11.2) years. There were 50 patients in the group A, 75 patients in the group B, and 32 patients in the group C. In the group A, compared with those without releasing the lower pulmonary ligament, patients with releasing had a lower incidence of postoperative residual cavity (P=0.016), greater changes in bronchus angle (P<0.001), and smaller changes in lung volume (P<0.001). In the group B and C, there was no significant effect of releasing the lower pulmonary ligament on postoperative residual cavity, bronchus angle, and lung volume changes (P>0.05). Conclusion For patients with thin and long body shape and low BMI, releasing the lower pulmonary ligament is helpful to promote the expansion of the residual lung after right upper lobe resection and reduce the occurrence of postoperative residual cavity in patients.

ObjectiveTo investigate the intervention effects of modified Linggui Zhugan Tang （LGZGT） on patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome （OSAHS） of the spleen deficiency and dampness obstruction with blood stasis type， reveal its possible mechanisms， and provide a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of OSAHS with traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. MethodsEighty OSAHS patients with spleen deficiency and dampness obstruction with blood stasis were randomly assigned to a control group and an observation group （1∶1） using a random number table， with 40 patients in each group. The control group received standard basic treatment combined with oral Doxofylline tablets， while the observation group received standard basic treatment combined with modified LGZGT. Serum levels of macrophage migration inhibitory factor （MIF）， microRNA-223 （miR-223）， and interleukin-18 （IL-18） were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， and the mRNA expression levels of MIF， miR-223， and IL-18 were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. After two months of treatment， the total clinical efficacy， apnea-hypopnea index （AHI）， lowest nocturnal oxygen saturation （LSpO₂）， body mass index （BMI）， TCM syndrome scores， and expression levels of MIF， miR-223， and IL-18 before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. Correlations between MIF， miR-223， IL-18 and AHI and LSpO₂ were also analyzed. ResultsCompared with the control group， the observation group showed a significantly higher total clinical effective rate （P<0.01， Z=-3.49）. Within the control group， no significant changes were observed in AHI， LSpO₂， BMI， TCM syndrome scores， or MIF， miR-223， IL-18 levels and their mRNAs after treatment. In the observation group， AHI， BMI， TCM syndrome scores， and MIF and IL-18 levels and their mRNAs decreased significantly， while LSpO₂ increased significantly （P<0.01）. After treatment， compared with the control group， the observation group exhibited significantly lower AHI， BMI， TCM syndrome scores， and MIF and IL-18 levels and their mRNAs， and significantly higher LSpO₂ （P<0.01）. Correlation analysis showed that MIF and IL-18 were positively correlated with AHI （P<0.01） and negatively correlated with LSpO₂ （P<0.01）， whereas miR-223 was negatively correlated with AHI （P<0.01） and positively correlated with LSpO₂ （P<0.01）. ConclusionModified LGZGT may improve OSAHS of the spleen deficiency and dampness obstruction with blood stasis type by reducing airway inflammatory factors， alleviating airway inflammation， relieving airway edema and stenosis， and improving airway obstruction.

Background: High-mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) is a chromatin-binding protein involved in arthritis, ischemia, sepsis, atherosclerosis, neurodegenerative disorders, meningitis, and cancer. HMGB1 exhibits dual roles in cancer, acting as either a tumor suppressor or oncoprotein depending on context. Objective: This research aimed to elucidate HMGB1’s functional significance in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). Methods: We overexpressed HMGB1 in cSCC cell lines using recombinant adenovirus and examined its effects on cell proliferation, colony formation, and cell migration. Results: Immunohistochemical analysis revealed elevated HMGB1 expression levels in cSCC tissue relative to normal epidermis. To assess the influence of HMGB1, we employed recombinant adenoviruses expressing HMGB1 to transduce SCC cell lines (SCC12 and SCC13). Enhanced HMGB1 expression significantly promoted cellular proliferation and colony formation capacity.Notably, HMGB1 overexpression elevated the levels of proliferation regulators, including P63, SOX2, CDK4 and CDK6. Furthermore, HMGB1 overexpression substantially enhanced tumor invasiveness, accompanied by upregulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) biomarkers. Mechanistically, overexpression of HMGB1 enhanced transforming growth factor-β signaling by increasing phosphorylation of SMAD2/3, the key mediators of EMT. Conclusion These data imply that HMGB1 acts as a tumor-promoting factor in cSCC.

Background: and Purpose Vertebrobasilar fusiform aneurysms (VBFAs) carry substantial morbidity and mortality, but optimal management for unruptured VBFAs remains unclear. We compared the safety and efficacy of conservative management (CM), stent-assisted coiling (SAC), and flow diverters (FDs) in patients with unruptured VBFAs, focusing on long-term prognosis. Methods: This study included data from a nationwide Chinese cohort of patients with vertebrobasilar dissecting aneurysms. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) balanced confounders across groups. The primary outcome was poor prognosis (modified Rankin Scale score >2). Secondary outcomes included aneurysm rupture, ischemic stroke, compression symptoms, and VBFA-related deaths. Logistic regression estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: Among 1,115 patients with unruptured VBFAs, 838 (median age, 54 years; 655 men) were included. After IPTW, baseline characteristics were balanced. Median follow-up was 54 months. FD was associated with a lower risk of poor prognosis than CM (OR, 0.48 [95% CI, 0.30 to 0.77]; p=0.002), with no difference between CM and SAC. FD also reduced aneurysm rupture (OR, 0.20 [95% CI, 0.07 to 0.60]; p=0.004) and compression symptoms (OR, 0.30 [95% CI, 0.13 to 0.68]; p=0.004) versus CM. Time-to-event analyses further revealed significant differences in vertebral artery lesions and Type I–II VBFAs, whereas no significant differences were observed in basilar or vertebrobasilar junction lesions or in Type III–IV VBFAs. Conclusions Compared with CM, FD was associated with improved long-term outcomes in unruptured VBFAs, particularly in vertebral artery lesions and Type I–II VBFAs, although residual confounding cannot be excluded.

Background/Aims: Liver transplantation (LT) following total hepatectomy is a life-saving treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The HCC recurrence after LT hinders the effectiveness of the procedure. The objective of this study is to develop a pre-operative risk stratification model based on a liquid biopsy. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive multi-omics study of 260 HCC patients from three centers, including clinical data, low-coverage whole-genome sequencing of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from plasma, as well as whole-exome, single-nucleus RNA, and spatial transcriptomics from matched tumor and non-tumor tissues. Results: We identified cfDNA-derived copy number alteration (CNA) signatures associated with post-transplant recurrence. By integrating cfDNA-derived CNA profiles with single-cell transcriptomic data, we traced recurrence-associated cfDNA to a distinct subpopulation of malignant cells within the primary tumor. These cells were embedded in a pro-metastatic microenvironment of specialized endothelial subtypes and cancer-associated fibroblasts. Notably, most recurrence-associated lesions were detectable in cfDNA prior to liver transplantation (LT). Building on these insights, we developed the ZJU Criteria based on CNA fragments and tumor markers, a pre-LT risk prediction tool that integrates conventional clinical factors with cfDNA-derived CNA signatures, and validated it using internal and independent external cohorts. Conclusion Our findings suggest that post-transplant recurrence commonly originates from advanced subclones that emerge late during tumor evolution. The ZJU Criteria provides an accurate, non-invasive strategy that significantly improves pre-LT risk stratification and clinical decision-making for patients with HCC.

Background: Diabetic pain patients have increased pain at night. Exosomes can relieve neuropathic pain. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of exosome administration at different time points in relieving diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) in rats. Methods: M2 macrophages from bone marrow were induced in mice and exosomes were extracted. A diabetic rat model was induced using streptozotocin, with the mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) of the rats beingmeasured at ≤ 80% of the basal value after 14 days, indicating successful construction of the DNP rat model.Exosomes were administered on three consecutive days at ZT0 (zeitgeber time) and ZT12. Parameters including blood glucose levels, body weight, MWT, and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) were assessed in the rats. The lumbar spinal cord of rats was examined on days 21 and 28 to measure inflammatory factors and observe the expression of M1 and M2 microglia. Furthermore, microglia were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and LPS + exosomes in a controlled in vitro setting to assess alterations in microglia phenotype involving the NF-kB p65 andIKBα inflammatory signaling pathways. Results: The findings revealed that administration of exosomes during the rat resting period at ZT12 resulted in increased MWT and TWL, as well as a shift in microglia polarization towards the M2 phenotype. In vitro analysis indicated that exosomes influenced microglia polarization and suppressed the phosphorylation of NF-kB p65 andIKBα.  Conclusions Temporal therapy with exosomes effectively reduces pain in DNP rats by polarizing microglia andaffecting NF-kB p65 and IKBα signaling pathways.

Objective To study the effect of auditory and speech development after cochlear implant(CI)in children with bilateral cochlear nerve deficiency(CND)and its influencing factors.Methods A total of 20 children with bilateral CND were included in the study,of which 5 were implanted bilaterally and 15 unilaterally.CT of the temporal bone showed stenosis of the cochlear aperture in 14 cases and atresia of the cochlear aperture in 6 cases.There were 8 cases accompanied by other inner ear malformations,and 12 cases with no accompanying inner ear mal-formations.MRI of the internal auditory canal showed 1 nerve in 5 cases,2 nerves in 6 cases,3 nerves in 8 cases,and 4 nerves in 1 case.There were 6 cases in which the EABR was not elicited and 14 cases in which it was elicited.The postoperative auditory and speech abilities of the subjects were evaluated using categories of auditory perform-ance(CAP)and speech intelligibility rating(SIR).Results ① The CAP(P＜0.001)and SIR(P＜0.001)scores of the children with stenosis of the cochlea nerve canal were higher than those of the patients with atresia of the cochlea nerve canal.② The more nerve roots in the internal auditory canal,the higher the score of CAP(P=0.003)and SIR(P=0.008).③ CAP score of the children with EABR elicited was higher than that of the children without EABR elicited(P=0.030).The difference in SIR scores was not statistically significant(P=0.14).④The differences in CAP and SIR between those with bilateral CI and unilateral CI,as well as between those with and without other inner ear malformations,were not statistically significant(P＞0.05).Conclusion Children with bi-lateral CND had significant postoperative improvement in auditory function but poor speech development after CI.Postoperative auditory speech ability was related to the condition of the cochlear foramen,the number of nerve roots in the internal auditory canal,and whether or not the EABR was elicited intraoperatively.

Objective:To investigate the protective effect of achyranthes bidentata(AB)on sperm quality in mice with sper-matogenic disorder through the glycolytic metabolic pathway and its action mechanism.Methods:We equally randomized 40 Kun-ming mice into a normal control,a model control,a low-dose AB(3.5 g/kg)and a high-dose AB group(7.0 g/kg),and established the model of spermatogenic disorder in the latter three groups of mice by intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin(30 mg/kg).Two days after modeling,we collected the testis and kidney tissues and blood samples from the mice for observation of the pathological changes in the testis tissue by HE staining,detection of perm motility with the sperm quality analyzer,examination of the apoptosis of testis cells by flow cytometry,measurement of the levels of testosterone(T),malondialdehyde(MDA),superoxide dismutase(SOD)and cata-lase(CAT)in the serum and testis tissue by ELISA,and determination of expressions of the key enzymes of glycolysis hexokinase Ⅱ(HK2),pyruvate kinase M2(PKM2),platelet phosphofructokinase(PFKP),lactate dehydrogenase A(LDHA)and the meiosis pro-teins REC8 and SCP3 by Western blot,and the mRNA expressions of glycolytic phosphofructokinase 1(PFK1),phosphoglycerate ki-nase 1(PGK1),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-1 β(IL-1β)by fluorescence quantitative PCR(FQ-PCR).Results:Compared with the model controls,the mice in the AB groups showed significant increases in the testis coefficient,kidney in-dex,sperm concentration,sperm motility,spermatogonia,primary spermatocytes,spermatids,sperm count and the serum T level(P＜0.05 orP＜0.01),but dramatic decreases in the apoptosis of testis cells and percentage of morphologically abnormal sperm(P＜0.01).Achyranthes bidentata also significantly elevated the levels of SOD and CAT,and down-regulated the mRNA expressions of MDA,TNF-α and IL-1β(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),and up-regulated the protein expressions of HK2,PKM2,PFKP,LDHA,REC8 and SCP3,and expressions of the glycolysis key genes Pfk1 and Pgk1(P＜0.05 orP＜0.01).Conclusion:Achyranthes bidentata ameliorates doxorubicin-induced spermatogenic disorder in mice by regulating the glycolytic pathway and reducing oxidative stress and the expressions of inflammatory factors.

Objective:Observation of the therapeutic effect of Yugu Ju detergent combined with fusidic acid cream on the repair of wounds infected with Staphylococcus aureus,as well as its impact on serum inflammatory markers TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β,oxidative stress markers MDA,ROS,SOD and Nrf2 levels.Methods:96 patients with skin defects and SA U infection caused by trauma admitted to the hospital from June 2021 to December 2023 were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group.Both groups were treated with debridement,while the control group was treated with external application of fusidic acid cream.The treatment group received external washing with Yugu Ju detergent in addition to the control group.One course of treatment lasted for 7 days,with three consecutive courses of treatment.Observe the wound healing rate,bacterial clearance rate,and changes in TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β,SOD,MDA,ROS,and Nrf2 before and after treatment to evaluate clinical efficacy and safety.Results:The total clinical effective rate of the observation group after treatment was 93.75％(45/48),while that of the control group was 75％(36/48).The observation group was significantly better than the control group(P＜0.05);The wound healing rate and bacterial clearance rate of the observation group at each time point after treatment were higher than those of the control group(P＜0.05);After treatment,the Nrf2 and SOD values in the observation group were higher than those in the control group,while the TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β,MDA,and ROS values were lower than those in the control group(P＜0.05).No adverse reactions occurred during the treatment of both groups.Conclusion:The combination of Yugu Ju detergent and Fusidic acid cream can inhibit SA U and promote the healing of infectious wounds,which may be related to the activation of Nrf2 expression to inhibit oxidative stress and inflammatory response.It is safe and effective,and worthy of promotion and application.

Objective To explore the disinfection effect of periodic hypochlorous acid infusion on water supply pipelines.Methods Water specimens from 6 water outlets of central sterile supply department were collected at baseline for microbial culture.After introducing a slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water generator,water speci-mens were collected every 10 days.Continuous disinfection with hypochlorous acid was carried out on the 1st-3rd day,and discontinued on the 4th-10th day.Water specimens of 6 water outlets were collected on the 1st,4th,7th,and 10th day of each cycle,in total 3 cycles.Microbial culture and metagenomic next-generation sequencing(mNGS)analysis were conducted simultaneously on all water specimens from the outlets of the endoscope cleaning tank.Results Before disinfection of the pipeline,a total of 18 bottles of water specimens were collected.Bacterial count of water specimens from 10 bottles(55.56％)was between 102 and 104 CFU/mL,mainly Sphingomonas ad-hesins and Bacillus cereus.After disinfection,only 2 out of 72 water specimens(2.78％)exceeded the bacterial lim-it.The mNGS results showed that three most dominant bacterial genera in the pre-disinfection water specimens were Sphingomonas,Methylobacterium,and Ralstonia,with stringent mapped reads number(SMRN)ranging from 10 000 to 100 000;while the most dominant bacterial genera in post-disinfection water specimens were Lacto-baci-llus,Ralstonia,Acinetobacter,and Bradyrhizobium.PCoA analysis showed that there was a statistically sig-nificant difference in β-diversity of water specimens before and after disinfection(P＜0.05).Conclusion Periodic hypochlorous acid infusion disinfection can effectively remove bacterial biofilms in water pipelines,but there is a risk of bacterial biofilm recovery during disinfection suspension.In the future,monitoring and management of medical water should be strengthened.