Objective To elucidate how the overexpression of cystathionine-β-synthase(CBS)plays an antihypertensive role by affecting peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α(PGC-1α)expression.Methods The adeno-associated viruses(AAVs),ones that overexpressed CBS,and another knocked down PGC-1α,were injected into the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus(PVN)of spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHRs).The rats'blood pressure was monitored,and the level of norepinephrine(NE)was examined by ELISA;PVN inflammatory response,oxidative stress and tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)expression were detected with RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence.Results PVN overexpression of CBS could increase the transcription level of CBS(by 3.8 times,P＜0.05)and PGC-1α(by 1.6 times,P＜0.05)in PVN of SHR.PVN overexpression of CBS could reduce blood pressure in SHR(from 177.81 mmHg to 128.77 mmHg,P＜0.001),but PVN knockdown of PGC-1αweakened such effect(from 128.77 mmHg to 152.79 mmHg,P＜0.05).PVN overexpression of CBS could alleviate PVN inflammatory response and oxidative stress,but this effect was weakened or even eliminated when knocking down PGC-1α was performed at the same time.Conclusion PVN overexpression of CBS can reduce blood pressure in SHR,and this effect may be achieved by increasing the transcriptional level of PGC-1α,alleviating PVN inflammatory response,oxidative stress,and improving sympathetic nerve excitation.

Purpose To investigate the value of two-dimensional speckle tracking in evaluating right ventricular function in cardiac amyloidosis(CA).Materials and Methods A total of 25 patients with CA,30 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM)and 30 healthy controls were retrospectively selected from July 2021 to October 2023 in Wuhan Asia Heart Hospital.The regional difference was represented by the formula apical ratio.The parameters of conventional echocardiography,two-dimensional strain and apical ratio of the three groups were analyzed and compared.Results Only segmental strain was different in right ventricular structure and function between CA group and HCM group,and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05).In the CA group,the strain gradient of the right ventricle from the apex of the heart to the base was the same as that of the left ventricle,that was,the"apex preservation"pattern,which was not seen in the HCM group and the control group.Comparison of the right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain-apical ratio,right ventricle four-chamber longitudinal strain-apical ratio,left ventride global longitudinal strain-apical ratio among the three groups,it was found that the levels of CA group were higher than HCM group and control group,and the differences were statistically significant(H=40.40,43.18,55.43,all P<0.05).The right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain-apical ratio had the highest CA recognition value,the area under the curve was 0.935,sensitivity was 96%and specificity was 83%.Conclusion Two-dimensional speckle tracking can accurately evaluate the right ventricular function impairment in CA patients and provide a new choice for clinical evaluation and identification of CA patients.

OBJECTIVE To explore the diagnostic value of combined detection of droplet digital polymerase chain reaction(ddPCR),C-reactive protein(CRP),procalcitonin(PCT)and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR)for bacterial bloodstream infections.METHODS Patients with suspected bloodstream infections admitted to Jiangbin Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from Jan.2023 to Jun.2024 were selected as the study subjects,with a total of 993 specimens from 543 patients included.Based on ddPCR and blood culture(BC)results,the pa-tients were divided into BC+and/or ddPCR+group(424 specimens)and ddPCR-/BC-group(569 specimens).The bacterial species detected by ddPCR were further classified into single infection group(258 speci-mens),mixed infection group(160 specimens)and ddPCR-group(575 specimens).The levels of CRP,PCT and NLR were compared among the groups.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of ddPCR,CRP,PCT and NLR separately and in combination for bacterial bloodstream in-fections.RESULTS The levels of CRP,PCT and NLR in the BC+and/or ddPCR+group were 71.61(37.00,108.81)mg/L,1.74(0.47,7.93)ng/ml and 9.82(5.53,18.07),respectively,which were higher than those in the ddPCR-/BC-group(P＜0.001).I n the ddPCR mixed infection group,the levels of CRP and PCT were 88.02(42.90,112.39)mg/L and 2.83(0.89,12.35)ng/ml,respectively,which were higher than those in the single infection group(P＜0.05).The qualitative results of ddPCR were better at predicting bloodstream infec-tions(OR=15.279,95％CI:6.525～35.776,P＜0.001).According to ROC curve analysis,ddPCR had the lar-gest area under the curve(AUC)among the single detection indicator(0.759),followed by PCT(0.732).The AUC for the combination of ddPCR qualitative results with CRP,PCT and NLR was 0.830,indicating that the di-agnostic performance of the combined detection was better than that of any single indicator.CONCLUSIONS The combination of ddPCR with PCT,CRP and NLR can improve the accuracy of diagnosing bacterial bloodstream in-fections.Compared with BC,ddPCR has higher sensitivity and can quickly identify the types and concentrations of pathogens in bloodstream infections.

Paraplegia caused by spinal cord injury is a serious neurological complication, for which surgery is currently the main treatment method. Due to different surgical approaches, patients are usually expected to maintain a passive prone position for a long time or switch between the supine and prone positions. Affected by multiple factors such as neurogenic sensory disorders, pathological changes in muscle tone and operative duration, the risk of intraoperative acquired pressure injury (IAPI) is significantly increased. Current clinical prevention strategies for IAPI in these patients predominantly focus on localized pressure relief during positioning, lacking systematic, standardized comprehensive prevention protocols or evidence-based guidelines. To address it, Department of Nursing, Orthopedics Branch, China International Exchange and Promotive Association for Medical and Health Care, Spinal Trauma Professional Committee, Orthopedics Branch, Chinese Medical Doctor Association, Nursing Group of Spine and Spinal Cord Professional Committee of Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine organized experts in relevant fields to formulate Guideline for the prevention of intraoperative acquired pressure injury in paraplegic patients with spinal cord injury ( version 2025), based on evidence-based medical evidence and latest research results and clinical practice at home and abroad. Eleven recommendations were put forward from the aspects of preoperative risk assessment, intraoperative prevention strategies, postoperative handover and monitoring, and supportive mechanisms for IAPI prevention, aiming to standardize the prevention measures and management strategies of IAPI in paraplegic patients with spinal cord injury and accelerate the recovery of patients and improve the therapeutic effect.

Objective:To investigate the expression of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) BMPR1B-AS1 in ovarian cancer and its impact on prognosis, so as to evaluate its value as a potential biomarker.Methods:The TCGA, GEPIA, and UALCAN databases were used to retrospectively analyze the expression differences of BMPR1B-AS1 in gynecological tumors, and prognostic analysis was performed in combination with clinical data. The expression level of BMPR1B-AS1 in ovarian cancer tissues and cell lines was verified by real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used to analyze its relationship with the prognosis of ovarian cancer.Results:Database analysis showed that the expression of BMPR1B-AS1 in ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer was higher than that in the non-tumor group (all P<0.05), and high expression of BMPR1B-AS1 in ovarian cancer was associated with better prognosis ( P<0.05). Experimental verification showed that the expression of BMPR1B-AS1 in ovarian cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in benign ovarian tissues, and the expression of BMPR1B-AS1 in ovarian cancer cell lines was higher than that in normal human ovarian epithelial cells ( P<0.05). Cox regression analysis indicated that high expression of BMPR1B-AS1 was an independent protective factor for the prognosis of ovarian cancer ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The expression of BMPR1B-AS1 in ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer is higher than that in non-tumor groups, and it is an independent protective factor for good prognosis in ovarian cancer patients. It may serve as a new biomarker, providing new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role of ferroptosis in diquat-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) and its molecular mechanisms. METHODS: Transgenic zebrafish models with Tg (Eco.Tshb:EGFP) labeling of the renal tubules and Tg (lyz:dsRed2) labeling of the neutrophils were both divided into control group, gentamicin (positive control) group, diquat poisoning group, ferroptosis inhibitor group. The indicators of kidney injury, inflammatory response, and ferroptosis were examined in the zebrafish, and the changes in expressions of voltage-dependent anion-selective channel protein 1 (VDAC1) and mitochondrial ferritin (FTMT) were detected using Western blotting. RESULTS: AKI induced by diquat exhibited a significant dose-effect relationship, and the severity of injury was proportional to the exposure concentration. Diquat also caused marked oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in the zebrafish models. Rhodamine metabolism assay and HE staining revealed significantly declined glomerular filtration function of the zebrafish as diquat exposure concentration increased. Immunofluorescence staining highlighted significant changes in the expressions of ferroptosis markers GPX4 and FTH1 in zebrafish renal tissues following diquat exposure. In diquat-exposed zebrafish, treatment with ferrostatin-1, a ferroptosis inhibitor, obviously upregulated GPX4 and downregulated FTH1 expressions and improved the metabolic rate of glucan labeled with rhodamine B. Diquat exposure significantly upregulated the expression of VDAC1 and FTMT in zebrafish, and the application of ferrostatin-1 and VBIT-12 (a VDAC1 inhibitor) both caused pronounced downregulation of FTMT expression. CONCLUSIONS Ferroptosis is a critical mechanism underlying diquat-induced AKI, in which VDAC1 and FTMT play important regulatory roles, suggesting their potential as therapeutic target for AKI caused by diquat.
Animals ; Zebrafish ; Ferroptosis/drug effects* ; Acute Kidney Injury/chemically induced* ; Diquat/toxicity* ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Voltage-Dependent Anion Channel 1/metabolism* ; Ferritins/metabolism* ; Oxidative Stress

Instrument separation is a critical complication during root canal therapy, impacting treatment success and long-term tooth preservation. The etiology of instrument separation is multifactorial, involving the intricate anatomy of the root canal system, instrument-related factors, and instrumentation techniques. Instrument separation can hinder thorough cleaning, shaping, and obturation of the root canal, posing challenges to successful treatment outcomes. Although retrieval of separated instrument is often feasible, it carries risks including perforation, excessive removal of tooth structure and root fractures. Effective management of separated instruments requires a comprehensive understanding of the contributing factors, meticulous preoperative assessment, and precise evaluation of the retrieval difficulty. The application of appropriate retrieval techniques is essential to minimize complications and optimize clinical outcomes. The current manuscript provides a framework for understanding the causes, risk factors, and clinical management principles of instrument separation. By integrating effective strategies, endodontists can enhance decision-making, improve endodontic treatment success and ensure the preservation of natural dentition.
Humans ; Root Canal Therapy/adverse effects* ; Consensus ; Root Canal Preparation/adverse effects*

Objective To develop a nomogram model based on the nucleotide-binding oligomer-ization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)/caspase-1 signaling pathway to predict the value of secondary vascular dementia(VaD)after acute cerebral infarction(ACI)following thrombolytic ther-apy.Methods A total of 289 patients with ACI admitted to Yuncheng Central Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University from March 2021 to March 2024 were selected as study subjects,and were divided into VaD group(n=60)and non-VaD group(n=229)based on the occurrence of VaD.Rele-vant clinical data were compared between the two groups,and influencing factors for secondary VaD af-ter ACI were analyzed.A nomogram prediction model was constructed and validated.Results The proportions of patients with a history of smoking,hypertension and coronary heart disease,infarction in key areas,responsible large vessel stenosis ≥50％,leukoaraiosis,and thrombolysis benefit were higher in the VaD group than in the non-VaD group(P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that the degree of responsible vessel stenosis,infarctionin key areas,leukoaraiosis,and the expression of NLRP3,apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD(ASC),and caspase-1,which are related to the NLRP3/caspase-1 signaling pathway,were independent influencing factors for sec-ondary VaD after ACI(P＜0.05).Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve,calibration curve,and decision curve analysis(DCA)indicated that the nomogram model had high discrimina-tion and predictive efficacy,with significant positive net benefit.Conclusion The independent in-fluencing factors for secondary VaD after ACI include the degree of responsible vessel stenosis,in-farction in key areas,leukoaraiosis,and the expression of NLRP3,ASC,and caspase-1 related to the NLRP3/caspase-1 signaling pathway.The nomogram prediction model established based on these indicators has high predictive value and clinical efficacy.