Objective This study compared organ doses and effective doses in typical adult patients during dental CBCT examinations using a head-and-neck anthropomorphic phantom and a whole-body phantom. It aimed to determine an appropriate method for evaluating effective dose in dental CBCT. Methods A domestically manufactured dental CBCT unit was used to scan an adult male anthropomorphic phantom under simulated clinical conditions. Thermoluminescent dosimeters were placed on organs and tissues of a whole-body anthropomorphic phantom. Organ equivalent doses were measured, and effective doses were calculated using two approaches: one based on all organ doses from the whole-body phantom, and the other based only on head-and-neck organ doses. Entrance surface air kerma (K_a,e) was also measured at the lens of the eye, thyroid, thymus, and gonads. Results The effective dose estimated with the whole-body phantom was 382.03 μSv. The effective dose estimated with the head-and-neck phantom was 354.03 μSv. The radiation dose to head-and-neck organs and tissues accounted for 92.7% of the total effective dose. The highest K_a,e values were found in the parotid glands, followed by the lens of the eye. Conclusion During dental CBCT scanning, the contribution of organ below the head and neck to the total effective dose is limited. To simplify dose assessment procedures, the effective dose for the patient can be evaluated using only a head-and-neck phantom.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the capacity for energy production under conditions of increased energy demand in schizophrenia (SCZ) subjects compared to healthy controls. Methods: Twelve healthy controls (33.00±6.07 years) and 12 subjects diagnosed with SCZ or schizoaffective disorder (36.00±8.33 years) matched for age and sex, were recruited for this study. Hypoxic stress was induced during MR scans to elevate the energy demand on the subjects’ bioenergetic systems. Participants breathed air with a lower oxygen concentration (FiO2=13%), maintaining their SpO2 levels (86%) during the initial phase of the scan. 31Phosphorus MR spectroscopy was employed to examine metabolite levels, including phosphocreatine (PCr), β-adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and inorganic phosphate (Pi), as well as the ratios of PCr/Pi and PCr/β-ATP, in regions such as the prefrontal cortex (PFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and posterior cortex (POC), as well as across the entire brain, during both hypoxia and hyperoxia scans. Results: Subjects with SCZ had significantly lower levels of Pi across the brain and particularly, in the PFC, POC, and ACC during the hypoxia scan. Moreover, levels of PCr/Pi, indicative of mitochondrial energy production, were found to be higher in the same brain regions in the SCZ group. No significant differences were found in hyperoxia scan phase. Conclusion These findings suggest a deficit in the bioenergetic systems of individuals with SCZ under conditions of heightened energy demand. Further studies are warranted.

A growing body of research points out that gut microbiota plays a key role in tumor immunotherapy. By optimizing the composition of intestinal microbiota, it is possible to effectively improve immunotherapy resistance and enhance its therapeutic effect. This article comprehensively analyzes the mechanism of intestinal microbiota influencing tumor immunotherapy resistance, expounds the current strategies for targeted regulation of intestinal microbiota, such as traditional Chinese medicine and plant components, fecal microbiota transplantation, probiotics, prebiotics and dietary therapy, and explores the potential mechanisms of these strategies to improve patients' resistance to tumor immunotherapy. At the same time, the article also briefly discusses the prospects and challenges of targeting intestinal microbiota to improve tumor immunotherapy resistance, which provides a reference for related research to help the strategy research of reversing tumor immunotherapy resistance.

ObjectiveBased on the TCM theory of "Yang transforms materials to Qi while Yin constitutes material form"， this paper explored the effects of Zuogui Wan and Yougui Wan on the molecular mechanism of mitochondrial biogenesis during the adipogenic differentiation process of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells （BMSCs） by mediating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α （PGC-1α） and peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor γ （PPARγ）， providing theoretical support for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis （PMOP） using Zuogui Wan and Yougui Wan. MethodsBMSCs were divided into a blank group， Zuogui Wan （ZGW） group， Yougui Wan （YGW） group， and Progynova group. Cell identification was performed using flow cytometry. The growth curves of BMSCs were plotted using the methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide （MTT） method， and the effects of Zuogui Wan and Yougui Wan on the proliferation of BMSCs were detected. The Oil red O staining method was used to detect lipid droplet formation. The Western blot method was used to detect the expression of adipogenesis-related factors PPARγ， CCAAT/enharcer-binding protein （C/EBP）α， C/EBPβ， lipoprotein lipase （LPL） protein， brown adipose tissue-related （BAT） proteins PGC-1α， uncoupcing protein 1 （UCP1）， PR domdin-containing protein 16 （PRDM16）， mitochondrial biogenesis-related PGC-1α， nuclear respiratory factor 1 （Nrf1）， nuclear factor E₂-related factor 2 （Nrf2）， and mitochondrial transcription factor A （TFAM）. The expression of adipogenesis-related factors PPARγ， C/EBPα， C/EBPβ， LPL genes， and the copy number of cytochrome B （CytoB mtDNA） gene was detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. Mitochondrial ultrastructure was detected using transmission electron microscopy. ResultsCompared with that in the blank group， the proliferation ability of BMSCs in each treatment group increased continuously as the intervention progressed， and lipid droplets significantly decreased after the drug intervention. The mRNA and protein expression levels of adipogenesis-related factors PPARγ， C/EBPα， C/EBPβ， and LPL were significantly downregulated （P<0.01）， while those of the BAT-related factors PGC-1α， UCP1， PRDM16 were significantly upregulated （P<0.01）. The number of mitochondria increased， accompanied by reduced swelling. The double membrane and cristae structure were clear， and the internal cristae rupture was reduced. The copy number of CytoB mtDNA in each treatment group was significantly increased （P<0.01）. The protein expression levels of mitochondrial biogenesis-related PGC-1α， Nrf1， Nrf2， and TFAM in each treatment group were significantly increased （P<0.01）. ConclusionBoth Zuogui Wan and Yougui Wan can prevent and treat PMOP by intervening in mitochondrial biogenesis in BMSCs through PGC-1α/PPARγ.

Objective:This study aims to explore the risk factors of Multi-center Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trials (MIITs), and provide a basis for developing study management strategies.Methods:The original draft of MIIT risk evaluation factors was determined through literature analysis and internal discussions of the research group. Thirty five experts were consulted using the Delphi method, and then the MIIT risk evaluation elements were finally determined. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to calculate the weights of each index.Results:The recovery rates of both rounds of expert consultation were 100%, and the degree of expert authority was 0.856. The study ultimately formed an MIIT risk evaluation framework consisting of three first-class indexes, twelve second-class indexes, and thirty-eight third-class indexes. The weight values of the first-class indexes (start-up period, implementation period, and summary period) were 0.209 8, 0.710 6, and 0.079 6, respectively. Meanwhile, the weight values of the second-class indexes and third-class indexes were determined.Conclusions:Exploring the risk evaluation factors of MIIT provides valuable insights into identifying critical risk points, which, in turn, contributes to enhancing MIIT management efficiency, research progress, and quality.

Objective:This study aims to construct an evaluation index system suitable for the core competency of Clinical Research Coordinators (CRCs) in Investigator-Initiated Trials (IITs) in China.Methods:This study developed a system framework through the Onion Model, literature research, and expert interviews, utilized the Delphi method to build the index system. and analyzed the weight of each indicator through the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP).Results:Four first-level indicators were basic knowledge (0.143), job skills (0.300 8), professional quality (0.483 9), and personality traits (0.072 3). Besides, 18 second-level indicators and 49 third-level indicators were developed through the Delphi method. According to the third round expert′s consultation, the average scores of all indexes were >3.50, the authoritative coefficient was 0.86, the coefficient of variation of each index was <0.30, and Kendall coefficients of concordance were 0.183~0.366 ( P<0.001). The consistency ratios of single-sort were<0.1, and the overall sort of all indexes was 0.043 7, which showed good logical reliability. Conclusions:This evaluation index system for Clinical Research Coordinators is of great scientific sense. It provides IIT-conducting investigators in institutions with a proficient assessment tool to help them find qualified and reliable CRCs.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and genetic etiology of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) with myogenic tumors.Methods:The clinical data of 2 children with DMD combined with myogenic tumors diagnosed in Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University in July 2021 and February 2022 were collected. The relevant literature was reviewed to summarize the clinical characteristics and explore the mechanism of the dystrophin ( DMD) gene in myogenic tumors. Results:A 6-year and 10-month-old boy with DMD (deletion of exon 45) and a 12-year-old boy with DMD (deletion of exon 51) were diagnosed with tumors. They were diagnosed with DMD for delayed motor development in the Department of Neurology of Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University. They presented with painless masses in the waist. Postoperative pathological diagnosis: the pathology and immunohistochemistry of case 1 showed an alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) and both myogenin and myogenic differentiation 1 positive; the pathology and immunohistochemistry of case 2 showed an alveolar soft part sarcoma(ASPS) and transcription factor enhancer 3 positive; both cases were myogenic tumors. Literature review (including this paper) showed that there were in total 14 cases with DMD combined with myogenic tumors including 13 cases of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and 1 case of ASPS. All of them are male, and the age of onset of the tumors was 4-17 years. Pathological subtypes were described in 6 cases of ARMS and 5 cases of embryonal RMS, and were not described in 2 cases. The 9 cases described all had large deletions in the DMD gene which can change the reading frame of the DMD gene, and all gene mutations did not exceed exon 62. Conclusions:DMD gene with deletion may increase the risk of having myogenic tumors, and RMS is more common, which is manifested as painless mass in early stage. All DMD gene deletions do not exceed exon 62 and lead to change of the gene reading frame with severe clinical phenotype and degenerative changes in muscle function.

Objective:To investigate the prevalence of flight fatigue among helicopter flying personnel and analyze its contributors in order to provide data for related interventions.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted among 404 helicopter flying personnel between October 8, 2021 and July 31, 2022. Data was collected using a self-designed questionnaire, involving the demography of these subjects, sleep-related factors, flight fatigue, perceived causes of fatigue and coping strategies. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) and Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFI-20) were used to assess sleep quality, mental workload, and levels of flight fatigue over the past month. The total scores of MFI-20 were compared across demographic groups, and correlations with PSQI and NASA-TLX scores were analyzed. Multiple linear regression was performed to identify the determinants of flight fatigue.Results:①Demography: among the 404 helicopter flying personnel, 92.8% (375/404) were pilots and 7.2% (29/404) navigators. As for years of service, 41.6% (168/404) served less than 5 years, while 58.4% (236/404) served more than 5 years. 37.9% (153/404) had a family history of insomnia. 18.8% (76/404) did not habitually nap, 68.9% (226/328) napped for ≤30 min, 31.1% (102/328) napped over 30 min, and 18.3% (74/404) had insomnia over the past month. As for helicopter flying personnel, 75.5% (305/404) reported experiencing fatigue, with 69.1% (279/404) attributing it to flight-related factors and 51.5% (208/404) using coffee as a countermeasure.②Scale scores: the total score of PSQI was [5 (3, 7)], while the highest daytime dysfunction score was [1(0, 2)]. The total score of NASA-TLX was [39.19 (26.57, 51.97)], and the effort score was the highest [10.31(5.07, 14.60)]. The total score of MFI-20 averaged (47.28±14.88), with the mental fatigue score being the highest [(10.03±4.42)]. ③Comparisons of MFI-20 total scores: flying personnel with ≤5 years of flying experience had higher MFI-20 total scores than those with >5 years, and those with a family history of insomnia had higher scores than those without ( t=3.35, 2.44, P=0.001, 0.015). Individuals with insomnia over the past month had higher scores than non-insomniacs ( t=3.33, P=0.001). Significant differences in MFI-20 scores were observed based on nap duration ( F=19.95, P<0.001). Non-nappers had higher scores than those napping for ≤30 min ( P=0.005). Flying personnel who napped for >30 min had higher scores than those did not ( P=0.043) or napped for ≤30 min ( P<0.001). ④Correlation analysis: the total score of MFI-20 was positively correlated with sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep disturbances, hypnotic medications, daytime dysfunction, and the total score of PSQI ( r=0.118-0.226, all P<0.05), but negatively with sleep duration ( r=-0.136, P=0.006). The total score of MFI-20 was positively correlated with mental demand, physical demand, and the total score of NASA-TLX ( r=0.119, 0.168, 0.184, P=0.017, 0.001, <0.001). ⑤Multiple linear regression analysis: the determinants of flight fatigue included aircraft types ( B=-4.956, 95% CI:-8.124--1.788), nap duration ( B=3.693, 95% CI: 1.267-6.119), sleep latency ( B=2.371, 95% CI: 0.229-4.513), sleep duration ( B=-7.383, 95% CI:-10.008--4.758), daytime dysfunction ( B=5.003, 95% CI: 2.967-7.039) and physical workload ( B=0.611, 95% CI: 0.324-0.898). Conclusions:Helicopter flying personnel are vulnerable to flight fatigue, which is strongly linked to sleep quality and mental workload. It is crucial to address flying personnel′s self-perceived fatigue, care about fatigue manifestations across aircraft types, and implement targeted interventions to improve sleep quality and reduce mental workload.

Objective To investigate the changes of serum microRNA (miR)-138-5p and microRNA(miR)-574-5p expression levels and their clinical significance in newborns acute respiratory distress syndrome (nARDS). Methods A total of 112 infants with nARDS from September 2018 to August 2023 in the Neonatal Department of Xiaogan Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology were collected as the observation group. They were divided into good prognosis group (n=98) and the poor prognosis group (n=14). A total of 104 healthy full-term newborns born at the same time were selected as the control group. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression levels of miR-138-5p and miR-574-5p in serum. ROC curve was used to analyze the diagnostic value of serum miR-574-5p and miR-138-5p levels for poor prognosis of infants with nARDS. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis of factors affecting the poor prognosis of infants with nARDS. Results Compared with the control group,the expression level of serum miR-574-5p in the observation group increased (1.72±0.23 vs 1.04±0.17),with the expression level of miR-138-5p decreased (0.55±0.08 vs 1.02±0.16),with statistically significant differences (t=24.557,25.597,all P<0.05). Compared with the good prognosis group,the serum miR-138-5p expression level in the poor prognosis group decreased (0.41±0.06 vs 0.57±0.08),with the miR-574-5p expression level increased (2.07±0.25 vs 1.67±0.19),with statistically significant differences (t=7.188,7.069,all P<0.05). The age,intrauterine distress,and proportion of abnormal amniotic fluid in the poor prognosis group were higher than those in the good prognosis group (t=5.359,4.257,6.577,all P<0.05). MiR-574-5p was an independent risk factor for poor prognosis with nARDS,and miR-138-5p was a protective factor (all P<0.05).The AUC (95％ CI) of serum miR-138-5p and miR-574-5p alone and combined diagnosis of nADRS were 0.793 (0.706～0.864),0.898 (0.826～0.947) and 0.931 (0.867～0.970),respectively. The combined prediction of miR-138-5p and miR-574-5p were better than that of miR-138-5p alone and miR-574-5p alone (Z=2.151,1.982,all P<0.05). Conclusion The expression levels of miR-138-5p in serum of infant with nARDS were lower and the expression levels of miR-574-5p were higher,both of which have certain diagnostic value for poor prognosis of infant with nARDS .

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.