Objective To explore the construction of heart preservation model of empty beating donor based on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Methods From January 2022 to August 2023, 20 Guangxi Bama miniature pigs weighing 25-30 kg were selected, half male and half female. Under general anesthesia and heparinization, a midline thoracotomy was performed. The pericardium was cut after freeing the anterior and posterior vena cavae, and a perfusion needle was inserted near the brachiocephalic artery in the ascending aorta, connected to a blood collection bag to collect 500-600 mL of blood. The anterior and posterior vena cavae were ligated, the aorta was blocked and perfused with HTK solution to stop the heart beating. The superior and inferior vena cavae were cut off, the right pulmonary vein was decompressed, the aorta and left and right pulmonary arteries and veins were cut off, and the whole heart was removed. An ECMO device was used to continuously perfuse a cardioprotective solution mainly composed of oxygenated warm blood, maintaining the isolated pig heart beating for 8 hours, monitoring (once/hour) ECMO perfusion parameters, blood gas indicators, perfusate electrolytes, inflammatory factors, myocardial enzymes, myoglobin, and troponin levels. Myocardial tissue was taken for hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining to observe myocardial cell damage and evaluate the quality of heart preservation. Results Among the 20 isolated beating pig hearts, 17 successfully resumed beating, 3 experienced ventricular fibrillation, resuscitated after intracardiac electrical defibrillation, and all 20 pig hearts successfully beat for 8 hours. There was no statistical difference in ECMO perfusion parameters, blood gas indicators, perfusate electrolytes, and inflammatory factors at each time point (P>0.05). There were statistical increases in myocardial enzymes, myoglobin, and troponin levels (P<0.05). HE staining results suggested that there was no severe myocardial damage. Conclusion ECMO technology can be used for pig heart preservation with good results, and this study provides experimental evidence for improving heart preservation research in clinical heart transplantation.

Background: Adrenocortical hormones, particularly 11-oxygenated androgens, are pivotal in female reproductive health and fertility. Standardized detection kits and population-specific reference intervals are lacking in China, hindering related clinical applications. Methods: A HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) pipeline was developed, rigorously validated, and applied to simultaneously quantify corticosterone, cortisone, cortisol, 18-OH cortisol, androstenedione (A4), 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione (11-OH A4), dehydroepiandrosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in serum samples from 455 reproductive-aged women (18–45 yrs) in Guangxi, China. Age-dependent concentration trends were analyzed, and reference intervals stratified by age (2.5th to 97.5th percentiles) were established. Correlations with body-composition metrics, ethnicity, and the menstrual cycle were investigated. Results: The HPLC-MS/MS method demonstrated high precision (intra- and inter-assay CVs < 15%), accuracy, and sensitivity. All eight hormones exhibited significant age-related declines (P < 0.001 for seven hormones; P = 0.001 for 11-OH A4). Notably, 11-OH A4 levels were significantly lower in the 35–45-yr (3.05 nmol/L) and 25–34-yr (3.09 nmol/L) age groups than in the 18–24-yr (3.57 nmol/L) age group, whereas no significant difference was observed between the 35–45-yr and 25–34-yr age groups. Weak negative correlations were observed between the body mass index and corticosterone and cortisone levels, whereas ethnicity and the menstrual cycle showed no significant associations with hormone levels. Conclusions We developed an HPLC-MS/MS-based method for simultaneously quantifying eight adrenocortical hormones, including 11-OH A4, and defined age-specific reference intervals for reproductive-aged Chinese women. These findings advance the clinical utility of adrenocortical hormones in diagnosing and managing reproductive disorders.

Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of malaria and provide a basis for developing improved prevention and control measures. Methods Data were obtained from the Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System. Malaria surveillance data for Nanning City from January 1,2023, to December 31,2024, were exported from the Infectious Disease Reporting Information Management Subsystem. The characteristics of the two groups of malaria cases were compared. Results A total of 103 imported malaria cases were reported in Nanning City in 2024, representing a 38.32% decrease compared with the same period of the previous year. No statistically significant difference were observed between cases reported in 2023 and 2024 in terms of average age, gender ratio, proportion of parasite species, and monthly reporting distribution;however, statistically significant differences were found in the proportion of reporting areas and current residence areas(χ2= 13.572 and 10.355, respectively; P = 0.001 and 0.035, respectively). The proportion of cases reported in Shanglin County and the proportion of cases residing in Shanglin County were both lower than those during the same period of the previous year. Conclusions The high aggregation of imported malaria cases in Nanning City has decreased. Medical institutions in areas other than Shanglin County should strengthen their vigilance against malaria.

OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism of the active ingredient compatibility（quercetin， quercitrin and kaempferol at a mass ratio of 2∶9∶3）of Dimocarpus longan Lour. leaves（abbreviated as CDL） on ameliorating glucose and lipid metabolism disorders in type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM） rats. METHODS SD rats were randomly divided into blank control group， model group， metformin hydrochloride group （100 mg/kg）， and CDL high-， medium- and low-dose groups （280， 140， 75 mg/kg）， with 10 rats in each group. Rats in the blank control group were fed with standard chow， while rats in the other groups were given high-sugar and high-fat diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin to establish the T2DM rat model. After successful modeling， rats in each administration group were given corresponding drug solution， and rats in the blank control group and model group were intragastrically administered with equal volume of pure water， once a day， for consecutive 4 weeks. Fasting blood glucose （FBG） was detected at fixed time every week. The curves of oral glucose tolerance test （OGTT） and intraperitoneal insulin tolerance test （IPITT） were plotted， and the area under curve （AUC） was calculated. The pancreatic islet function indexes [fasting insulin （FINS）， homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance （HOMA-IR）， insulin sensitivity index （ISI）]，blood lipid indexes [total cholesterol （TC）， triglyceride （TG）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）] and hepatic glycogen content were determined. The pathological morphological changes of liver and pancreatic tissues were observed. The protein and mRNA expression levels of molecules related to phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） signaling pathway in liver tissues were detected. RESULTS Compared with the blank control group， the FBG， AUC of IPITT curve， AUC of OGTT curve， HOMA-IR， the levels of FINS， TC， TG and LDL-C， as well as the protein and mRNA expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog， forkhead box protein O1 and glycogen synthase kinase-3β in liver tissues were significantly increased in the model group （ P ＜0.05）. ISI， the levels of HDL-C and hepatic glycogen content， along with the protein and mRNA expression of PI3K， insulin receptor substrate-1， Akt and protein expression of phosphorylated Akt in liver tissues were markedly decreased （ P ＜0.05）. In model group rats， the arrangement of hepatocytes was irregular， the overall structure of pancreatic lobules was disordered， and a large number of inflammatory cell infiltration was observed. Compared with the model group， most of the above quantitative indexes were significantly reversed in the CDL high-dose group （ P ＜0.05）， and the pathological lesions of liver and pancreas were obviously alleviated. CONCLUSIONS CDL can regulate glucose and lipid metabolism disorders， elevate insulin sensitivity and relieve insulin resistance in T2DM rats. Its mechanism may be related to the activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

AIM:To investigate the therapeutic effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes(BMSC-Exos)on diabetic retinopathy(DR)in rats, with a focus on their ability to modulate oxidative stress and inflammatory responses through the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.METHODS:Streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into four groups: Group 1 [normal+phosphate-buffered saline(PBS)], Group 2(normal+Exos), Group 3(DR+PBS), and Group 4(DR+Exos). At the 8th week after modeling, BMSC-Exos or PBS were injected intravitreally. Retinal tissues were collected at the 16th week for histological analysis [hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining], apoptosis detection(TUNEL). Oxidative stress markers [8-OHdG, superoxide dismutase(SOD), and glutathione(GSH)] were assessed, and inflammatory cytokines [enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)for interleukin(IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α)], and molecular profiling [quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR)for TLR4, NF-κB, and VEGF] were measured.RESULTS:The BMSC-Exos treatment significantly suppressed the activation of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway in DR rats(P<0.01), which was accompanied by reduced retinal vascular leakage(Evans blue assay, P<0.001), decreased apoptosis(TUNEL, P<0.05), and attenuated oxidative stress(elevated SOD and GSH, reduced 8-OHdG, P<0.05). The levels of inflammatory cytokines(IL-6 and TNF-α)were markedly decreased(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:BMSC-Exos alleviate DR by suppressing the TLR4/NF-κB axis, thus reducing oxidative damage, inflammation, and microvascular dysfunction. This research offers a novel therapeutic approach for early-stage DR.

OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism of the active ingredient compatibility（quercetin， quercitrin and kaempferol at a mass ratio of 2∶9∶3）of Dimocarpus longan Lour. leaves（abbreviated as CDL） on ameliorating glucose and lipid metabolism disorders in type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM） rats. METHODS SD rats were randomly divided into blank control group， model group， metformin hydrochloride group （100 mg/kg）， and CDL high-， medium- and low-dose groups （280， 140， 75 mg/kg）， with 10 rats in each group. Rats in the blank control group were fed with standard chow， while rats in the other groups were given high-sugar and high-fat diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin to establish the T2DM rat model. After successful modeling， rats in each administration group were given corresponding drug solution， and rats in the blank control group and model group were intragastrically administered with equal volume of pure water， once a day， for consecutive 4 weeks. Fasting blood glucose （FBG） was detected at fixed time every week. The curves of oral glucose tolerance test （OGTT） and intraperitoneal insulin tolerance test （IPITT） were plotted， and the area under curve （AUC） was calculated. The pancreatic islet function indexes [fasting insulin （FINS）， homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance （HOMA-IR）， insulin sensitivity index （ISI）]，blood lipid indexes [total cholesterol （TC）， triglyceride （TG）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）] and hepatic glycogen content were determined. The pathological morphological changes of liver and pancreatic tissues were observed. The protein and mRNA expression levels of molecules related to phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） signaling pathway in liver tissues were detected. RESULTS Compared with the blank control group， the FBG， AUC of IPITT curve， AUC of OGTT curve， HOMA-IR， the levels of FINS， TC， TG and LDL-C， as well as the protein and mRNA expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog， forkhead box protein O1 and glycogen synthase kinase-3β in liver tissues were significantly increased in the model group （ P ＜0.05）. ISI， the levels of HDL-C and hepatic glycogen content， along with the protein and mRNA expression of PI3K， insulin receptor substrate-1， Akt and protein expression of phosphorylated Akt in liver tissues were markedly decreased （ P ＜0.05）. In model group rats， the arrangement of hepatocytes was irregular， the overall structure of pancreatic lobules was disordered， and a large number of inflammatory cell infiltration was observed. Compared with the model group， most of the above quantitative indexes were significantly reversed in the CDL high-dose group （ P ＜0.05）， and the pathological lesions of liver and pancreas were obviously alleviated. CONCLUSIONS CDL can regulate glucose and lipid metabolism disorders， elevate insulin sensitivity and relieve insulin resistance in T2DM rats. Its mechanism may be related to the activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of transrectal contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for rectal cancer with intestinal stenosis caused by tumors. Methods Forty-nine patients with rectal cancer underwent transrectal CEUS and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before surgery.Intraoperative tumor localization and postoperative pathological results were taken as the gold standard for diagnosis.The differences in T stage,localization,and tumor length of rectal cancer were compared between the two methods. Results The total accuracy rates of transrectal CEUS and MRI in diagnosing T stage were 75.5% (36/49) and 67.3% (33/49),which had no significant difference (χ²=0.8,P=0.371).The total accuracy rates of transrectal CEUS and MRI in judging tumor localization were 79.5% (39/49) and 77.5% (38/49),which had no significant difference (χ²=0.061,P=0.806).The measurement results of tumor length in pathological examination had no significant difference from the transrectal CEUS results (t=1.42,P=0.162) but a significant difference from the MRI results (t=3.38,P=0.001).Furthermore,transrectal CEUS detected 8 (16.3%) cases of colonic polyps among the 49 patients,while MRI did not detect colon lesions. Conclusions Transrectal CEUS has good consistency with MRI in T staging and localization judgement of rectal cancer with intestinal stenosis,and this method can more accurately evaluate the tumor length and simultaneously evaluate whether there is a lesion in the entire colon at the proximal end of stenosis.It can be used as a supplementary examination before rectal cancer treatment in clinical practice.
Humans ; Rectal Neoplasms/complications* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Aged ; Contrast Media ; Ultrasonography ; Adult ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Constriction, Pathologic/diagnostic imaging* ; Aged, 80 and over ; Intestinal Obstruction/etiology*

A highly efficient oxidase-mimetic silver phosphate/nickel hydroxystannate(Ag3PO4/NiSn(OH)6)composite was synthesized via a precipitation method using nickel hydroxystannate(NiSn(OH)6)as the support.The abundant hydroxyl groups(—OH)on NiSn(OH)6 not only provided nucleation sites for Ag3PO4 nanoparticles but also improved their dispersion and overall material stability.Based on oxidase-like activity of Ag3PO4/NiSn(OH)6 and inhibitory effect of sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate(SDBS)on this catalytic activity,a novel colorimetric sensing method for SDBS detection was developed.Under optimized experimental conditions,the method exhibited a linear range of 3.69-42.7 μmol/L,with a detection limit of 0.135 μmol/L(S/N=3).The regression equation was ΔA652=0.01125C(μmol/L)+0.1498,with a correlation coefficient(R2)of 0.992.Practical application in dishwashing liquid analysis achieved satisfactory recoveries of 96.9%-106.4%,demonstrating the method's reliability for real sample detection.

Objective:To explore the spatial correlation between gray matter volume (GMV) changes and neurotransmitter receptors/transporters in patients with first-episode schizophrenia (FES) .Methods:Fifty-four FES patients(FES group) and fifty-nine healthy controls (HC group) were selected from June 2014 to May 2020 in the Psychiatry Department of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) was conducted on all subjects. Differences of GMV were compared across 400 cortical regions and 32 subcortical regions. Based on the positron emission tomography(PET) data from Neuromaps, which provides the density of 19 different neurotransmitter receptors and transporters, Spearman correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the spatial correlation between GMV changes and neurotransmitter systems.Results:Compared to the HC group, FES group exhibited significant GMV reductions in widespread cortical (90/400) and subcortical (6/32) regions (all FDR-corrected P<0.05). The effect size of GMV reduction (Cohen’s d) showed significant positive correlations with the density of 5-hydroxytryptamine 1a(5HT1a) ( r=0.400, Pspin=0.002), γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor(GABA A)( r=0.307, Pspin=0.002), and metabotropic glutamate receptor 5(mGluR5) ( r=0.275, Pspin=0.020) receptors (all FDR-corrected P<0.05). Conclusion:GMV reductions in a wide range of brain regions existed in patients with FES. There are significant correlations between 5HT1a, GABA A and mGluR5 receptors and gray matter reduction in patients with FES. The disorder of these neurotransmitter receptors may be the potential neurobiological mechanism of gray matter structural abnormalities in the early stage of schizophrenia.

Objective::To evaluate the early pregnancy loss (EPL) rates in women with and without low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) treatment during early pregnancy.Methods::A retrospective, non-randomized study was conducted at Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center between June 2019 and March 2022, involving women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). All participants conceived following standard preconception care and voluntarily chose either the control group or the LMWH intervention group during the first month of pregnancy. The intervention was administered throughout the entire first trimester. Early and final pregnancy outcomes were recorded, with a particular focus on EPL rates. In addition, venous blood samples and clinical data were collected to compare hormonal profiles, blood lipid levels, and anthropometric parameters between the two groups. Statistical analyses included the two-tailed unpaired Student’s t-test, Mann–Whitney U test, Chi-square test, and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. A value of P < 0.050 was considered statistically significant. Results::Thirty-eight women in the LMWH group and 102 women in the control group were included. The EPL rates in the LMWH and control groups were 5.3% (2/38) and 26.5% (27/102), respectively ( χ2 = 7.582, P = 0.006, odds ratio ( OR) = 0.154, 95% confidence interval ( CI): 0.035-0.685). The age ( P = 0.005), PCOS subtype ( P = 0.012), and levels of total cholesterol ( P = 0.003), and high-density lipoprotein ( P = 0.018) were significantly different between these two groups. Continued follow-up was performed to observe the long-time effects of LMWH treatment in early pregnancy. Seventy-three patients were successfully delivered, 23 patients in the LMWH group and 50 patients in the control group. There was no significant difference between the LMWH and control groups in gestation length, bleeding during delivery, birth weight, gender of the newborn, or mode of delivery. In addition, Kaplan-Meier curve analysis revealed that LMWH treatment may decrease the risk of EPL in PCOS patients in the first trimester ( χ2 = 4.144, P = 0.040). Conclusion::LMWH treatment during early pregnancy may reduce the EPL rate in women with PCOS.