Objective:To explore the value of using computed tomography(CT)values to distinguish fresh and old fractures vertebral bodies in osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures(OVCF).Methods:Retrospective analysis of clinical data of 101 OVCF patients in our hospital from September 2022 to September 2023.Kappa test for consistency between magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)and vertebral CT values in distinguished fresh or old OVCF.The difference of CT values between fresh,old fractures and adjacent normal vertebral bodies were compared.The diagnostic efficiency was analyed by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results:There was a high consistency between vertebral CT values and MRI in the diagnosis of OVCF in fresh and old fractures(Kappa value=0.934).There was a difference in difference of CT values between adjacent normal vertebral bodies and fresh fractures vertebral bodies(P＜0.05).There was a difference in difference of CT values of fresh fractures vertebral bodies and old fractures vertebral bodies(P＜0.05).The ROC curve analysis results showed that,the combined measurement of CT values of fresh and old fractured vertebral bodies has an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.723,which was higher than alone measurement of the CT values of fresh fractured vertebral bodies and old fractured vertebral bodies of 0.536 and 0.610(Z=2.548,2.605,2.841,P＜0.05).Conclusion:CT values of vertebral bodies show high consistency in distinguish fresh and old fractures of OVCF compared to MRI findings,and the diagnostic efficiency of combine detection is relatively high.

Objective:To explore the diagnostic value of conventional computed tomography(CT)combined with enhanced CT scan in bone metastases.Methods:This study was a retrospective observational study,84 suspected bone metastases patients admitted to our hospital from January 2022 to August 2024 were selected,All patients underwent conventional CT and enhanced CT scan and pathological examination,Using pathological examination results as the"gold standard"for diagnosis.The imaging manifestations of bone metastases using conventional CT combined with enhanced CT scan examination were observed;The detection rate and bone metastases types of conventional CT and enhanced CT scan were analyzed;The bone metastases location in different types of malignant tumors were analyzed;The detection results of bone metastases between conventional CT and enhanced CT scan were compared;the diagnostic efficacy of conventional CT and enhanced CT scan alone and in combination for bone metastases were analyzed by Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results:The detection rate of osteogenic,osteolytic,cystic and mixed bone metastases by conventional CT combined with enhanced CT scan was supered to that of conventional CT and enhanced CT scan alone(P＜0.05).Bone metastases from lung cancer,breast cancer and other tumors mainly occur in the spine,limbs and ribs,while esophageal cancer,gastric cancer,liver cancer,prostate cancer,thyroid cancer,renal cancer,and nasopharyngeal cancer had relatively fewer bone metastases.The positive detection cases of bone metastases used conventional CT combined with enhanced CT scan were supered to those used conventional CT and enhanced CT scan alone.The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of conventional CT combined with enhanced CT scan for the diagnosis of bone metastases were 94.00％,94.11％and 94.04％,respectively,and the positive/negative predictive values were 95.91％and 91.42％,respectively.The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of conventional CT scan were 84.00％,78.78％and 80.95％,respectively,and the positive/negative predictive values were 85.71％and 74.28％,respectively.The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of enhanced CT were 89.79％,85.71％and 88.09％,respectively.and the positive and negative predictive values were 89.79％and 85.71％,respectively.The diagnostic efficacy of conventional CT combined with enhanced CT scan for bone metastases was significantly better than that of conventional CT and enhanced CT scan alone.Conclusions:Conventional CT combined with enhanced CT scan can significantly improve the diagnostic efficiency of bone metastases,and provide an important basis for clinical treatment.

Objective:To explore the value of using computed tomography(CT)values to distinguish fresh and old fractures vertebral bodies in osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures(OVCF).Methods:Retrospective analysis of clinical data of 101 OVCF patients in our hospital from September 2022 to September 2023.Kappa test for consistency between magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)and vertebral CT values in distinguished fresh or old OVCF.The difference of CT values between fresh,old fractures and adjacent normal vertebral bodies were compared.The diagnostic efficiency was analyed by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results:There was a high consistency between vertebral CT values and MRI in the diagnosis of OVCF in fresh and old fractures(Kappa value=0.934).There was a difference in difference of CT values between adjacent normal vertebral bodies and fresh fractures vertebral bodies(P＜0.05).There was a difference in difference of CT values of fresh fractures vertebral bodies and old fractures vertebral bodies(P＜0.05).The ROC curve analysis results showed that,the combined measurement of CT values of fresh and old fractured vertebral bodies has an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.723,which was higher than alone measurement of the CT values of fresh fractured vertebral bodies and old fractured vertebral bodies of 0.536 and 0.610(Z=2.548,2.605,2.841,P＜0.05).Conclusion:CT values of vertebral bodies show high consistency in distinguish fresh and old fractures of OVCF compared to MRI findings,and the diagnostic efficiency of combine detection is relatively high.

Objective:To explore the diagnostic value of conventional computed tomography(CT)combined with enhanced CT scan in bone metastases.Methods:This study was a retrospective observational study,84 suspected bone metastases patients admitted to our hospital from January 2022 to August 2024 were selected,All patients underwent conventional CT and enhanced CT scan and pathological examination,Using pathological examination results as the"gold standard"for diagnosis.The imaging manifestations of bone metastases using conventional CT combined with enhanced CT scan examination were observed;The detection rate and bone metastases types of conventional CT and enhanced CT scan were analyzed;The bone metastases location in different types of malignant tumors were analyzed;The detection results of bone metastases between conventional CT and enhanced CT scan were compared;the diagnostic efficacy of conventional CT and enhanced CT scan alone and in combination for bone metastases were analyzed by Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results:The detection rate of osteogenic,osteolytic,cystic and mixed bone metastases by conventional CT combined with enhanced CT scan was supered to that of conventional CT and enhanced CT scan alone(P＜0.05).Bone metastases from lung cancer,breast cancer and other tumors mainly occur in the spine,limbs and ribs,while esophageal cancer,gastric cancer,liver cancer,prostate cancer,thyroid cancer,renal cancer,and nasopharyngeal cancer had relatively fewer bone metastases.The positive detection cases of bone metastases used conventional CT combined with enhanced CT scan were supered to those used conventional CT and enhanced CT scan alone.The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of conventional CT combined with enhanced CT scan for the diagnosis of bone metastases were 94.00％,94.11％and 94.04％,respectively,and the positive/negative predictive values were 95.91％and 91.42％,respectively.The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of conventional CT scan were 84.00％,78.78％and 80.95％,respectively,and the positive/negative predictive values were 85.71％and 74.28％,respectively.The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of enhanced CT were 89.79％,85.71％and 88.09％,respectively.and the positive and negative predictive values were 89.79％and 85.71％,respectively.The diagnostic efficacy of conventional CT combined with enhanced CT scan for bone metastases was significantly better than that of conventional CT and enhanced CT scan alone.Conclusions:Conventional CT combined with enhanced CT scan can significantly improve the diagnostic efficiency of bone metastases,and provide an important basis for clinical treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) in promoting recovery of the facial function with the involvement of autophagy, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. METHODS: Seventy-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into the control, sham-operated, facial nerve injury (FNI), EA, EA+3-methyladenine (3-MA), and EA+GDNF antagonist groups using a random number table, with 12 rats in each group. An FNI rat model was established with facial nerve crushing method. EA intervention was conducted at Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6), Yifeng (SJ 17), and Hegu (LI 4) acupoints for 2 weeks. The Simone's 10-Point Scale was utilized to monitor the recovery of facial function. The histopathological evaluation of facial nerves was performed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The levels of Beclin-1, light chain 3 (LC3), and P62 were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Additionally, IHC was also used to detect the levels of GDNF, Rai, PI3K, and mTOR. RESULTS: The facial functional scores were significantly increased in the EA group than the FNI group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). HE staining showed nerve axons and myelin sheaths, which were destroyed immediately after the injury, were recovered with EA treatment. The expressions of Beclin-1 and LC3 were significantly elevated and the expression of P62 was markedly reduced in FNI rats (P<0.01); however, EA treatment reversed these abnormal changes (P<0.01). Meanwhile, EA stimulation significantly increased the levels of GDNF, Rai, PI3K, and mTOR (P<0.01). After exogenous administration with autophagy inhibitor 3-MA or GDNF antagonist, the repair effect of EA on facial function was attenuated (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS EA could promote the recovery of facial function and repair the facial nerve damages in a rat model of FNI. EA may exert this neuroreparative effect through mediating the release of GDNF, activating the PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway, and further regulating the autophagy of facial nerves.
Rats ; Male ; Animals ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Electroacupuncture ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/metabolism* ; Facial Nerve Injuries/therapy* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Beclin-1 ; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; Signal Transduction ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; Autophagy ; Mammals/metabolism*

Objective:To investigate the correlation among physical activity,mild depressive symptoms and frontal alpha power asymmetry in college students.Methods:Seventy college students with mild depressive symp-toms who conformed to the standard of the Self-Rating Scale for Depression(SDS)of 53-62 and 70 normal col-lege students were recruited.The frontal alpha power was measured under quiet and closed-eye state,and the total physical activity(PA)was assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire.Results:The college students with mild depressive symptoms had lower Total PA scores,right frontal alpha power and frontal alpha a-symmetry(FAA)than the normal controls(P＜0.001).In college students with mild depressive symptoms,the to-tal PA scores(r=-0.29,P＜0.05)and FAA(r=-0.41,P＜0.001)were negatively correlated with SDS scores,and the total PA scores were positively correlated with FAA(r=0.34,P＜0.01).Conclusion:The college students with mild depressive symptoms may have reduced physical activity and asymmetric right lateralization of frontal alpha power.There is a correlation among depressive symptoms,physical activity and frontal alpha power a-symmetry in college students with mild depressive symptoms.

The Piezo protein is a non-selective mechanosensitive cation channel that exhibits sensitivity to mechanical stimuli such as pressure and shear stress. It converts mechanical signals into bioelectric activity within cells, thus triggering specific biological responses. In the digestive system, Piezo protein plays a crucial role in maintaining normal physiological activities, including digestion, absorption, metabolic regulation, and immune modulation. However, dysregulation in Piezo protein expression may lead to the occurrence of several pathological conditions, including visceral hypersensitivity, impairment of intestinal mucosal barrier function, and immune inflammation.Therefore, conducting a comprehensive review of the physiological functions and pathological roles of Piezo protein in the digestive system is of paramount importance. In this review, we systematically summarize the structural and dynamic characteristics of Piezo protein, its expression patterns, and physiological functions in the digestive system. We particularly focus on elucidating the mechanisms of action of Piezo protein in digestive system tumor diseases, inflammatory diseases, fibrotic diseases, and functional disorders. Through the integration of the latest research findings, we have observed that Piezo protein plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of various digestive system diseases. There exist intricate interactions between Piezo protein and multiple phenotypes of digestive system tumors such as proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis. In inflammatory diseases, Piezo protein promotes intestinal immune responses and pancreatic trypsinogen activation, contributing to the development of ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and pancreatitis. Additionally, Piezo1, through pathways involving co-action with the TRPV4 ion channel, facilitates neutrophil recruitment and suppresses HIF-1α ubiquitination, thereby mediating organ fibrosis in organs like the liver and pancreas. Moreover, Piezo protein regulation by gut microbiota or factors like age and gender can result in increased or decreased visceral sensitivity, and alterations in intestinal mucosal barrier structure and permeability, which are closely associated with functional disorders like irritable bowel sydrome (IBS) and functional consitipaction (FC). A thorough exploration of Piezo protein as a potential therapeutic target in digestive system diseases can provide a scientific basis and theoretical support for future clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies.

Objective:To examine the burden and trends of acute viral hepatitis in Guangdong Province from 1990 to 2019, and provide reference evidences for hepatitis prevention and control in the province.Methods:Data on acute viral hepatitis (hepatitis A, B, C, and E) in Guangdong from 1990 to 2019 were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 database. The incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) data were analyzed by age and gender, and the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was calculated to describe the changing trends in disease burden.Results:From 1999 to 2019, the standardized incidence, prevalence, mortality, and DALY of acute viral hepatitis in Guangdong were higher than the national averages. In 2019, 51.43% (2 245 087/4 365 221) of acute viral hepatitis cases in Guangdong Province were mainly attributed to hepatitis B, and 77.18% (106/138) of deaths were due to acute hepatitis B. In different age groups, except for acute hepatitis B, which was more common in adults, the incidence rates of other types of viral hepatitis such as hepatitis A, B, and E showed an overall decreasing trend with age. The mortality rates of different types of acute viral hepatitis, except for the <5 age group, increased with age. The overall incidence and mortality rates of acute viral hepatitis were higher in men than in women.Conclusions:The overall burden of acute viral hepatitis in Guangdong declined in 2019, but remained higher than the national level. Further efforts are needed to strengthen hepatitis prevention and screening in different population in Guangdong Province, especially in children and the elderly.

Objective To establish antemortem and postmortem injury models in nude mice,observe the morphological changes of the wounds and the changes of the microbial communities in the wounds at different time points after the injury,and analyze the differences between antemortem and postmor-tem wounds.Methods Abdominal injury models were established in 48 BALB/c nude mice,which were classified into antemortem injury,4 h and 72 h postmortem injury groups,and the gross manifesta-tions and histopathological changes were observed on days 1,3,5,8,11 and 15 after injury.The mi-crobial communities in the wounds were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing technology.QIIME 2 soft-ware was used to calculate Shannon and Observed species indices.The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to determine statistical differences in α-diversity between groups.Jaccard similarity coefficients were calculated by using R v4.3.0 software and applied to the principal co-ordinates analysis to demonstrate inter-sample differences.Permutational multivariate analysis of variance(PERMANOVA)was used to analyze the differences between groups in the composition of bacterial colonies,and R2 values were calculated.Results On days 8,11 and 15 after injury,the antemortem and postmortem injuries could not be differentiated by morphological examination;the Shannon index and Observed species index were statistically different between the antemortem injury group and the 72 h postmortem injury group;the Jaccard similarity coefficient of the microbial community was statistically different between the an-temortem injury group and the 72 h postmortem injury group.The PERMANOVA R2 value gradually increased with the extension of time(0.22-0.61).Conclusion Through the analysis of the wound mi-crobial community,the microbial composition of wounds at different time points can be identified and compared,which provides a new perspective and method for the differentiation of antemortem injuries from postmortem injuries,with good application prospects.

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at investigating the carrier rate of, and molecular variation in, α- and β-globin gene mutations in Hunan Province. METHODS: We recruited 25,946 individuals attending premarital screening from 42 districts and counties in all 14 cities of Hunan Province. Hematological screening was performed, and molecular parameters were assessed. RESULTS: The overall carrier rate of thalassemia was 7.1%, including 4.83% for α-thalassemia, 2.15% for β-thalassemia, and 0.12% for both α- and β-thalassemia. The highest carrier rate of thalassemia was in Yongzhou (14.57%). The most abundant genotype of α-thalassemia and β-thalassemia was -α ^3.7/αα (50.23%) and β ^IVS-II-654/β ^N (28.23%), respectively. Four α-globin mutations [CD108 (ACC>AAC), CAP +29 (G>C), Hb Agrinio and Hb Cervantes] and six β-globin mutations [CAP +8 (C>T), IVS-II-848 (C>T), -56 (G>C), beta nt-77 (G>C), codon 20/21 (-TGGA) and Hb Knossos] had not previously been identified in China. Furthermore, this study provides the first report of the carrier rates of abnormal hemoglobin variants and α-globin triplication in Hunan Province, which were 0.49% and 1.99%, respectively. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates the high complexity and diversity of thalassemia gene mutations in the Hunan population. The results should facilitate genetic counselling and the prevention of severe thalassemia in this region.
Humans ; beta-Thalassemia/genetics* ; alpha-Thalassemia/genetics* ; Hemoglobinopathies/genetics* ; China/epidemiology* ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing