Objective To explore the feasibility and reference value of allogeneic lung transplantation and postoperative monitoring in miniature pigs for lung transplantation research. Methods Two miniature pigs (R1 and R2) underwent left lung allogeneic transplantation. Complement-dependent cytotoxicity tests and blood cross-matching were performed before surgery. The main operative times and partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO₂) after opening the pulmonary artery were recorded during surgery. Postoperatively, routine blood tests, biochemical blood indicators and inflammatory factors were detected, and pathological examinations of multiple organs were conducted. Results The complement-dependent cytotoxicity test showed that the survival rate of lymphocytes between donors and recipients was 42.5%-47.3%, and no agglutination reaction occurred in the cross-matching. The first warm ischemia times of D1 and D2 were 17 min and 10 min, respectively, and the cold ischemia times were 246 min and 216 min, respectively. Ultimately, R1 and R2 survived for 1.5 h and 104 h, respectively. Postoperatively, in R1, albumin (ALB) and globulin (GLB) decreased, and alanine aminotransferase increased; in R2, ALB, GLB and aspartate aminotransferase all increased. Urea nitrogen and serum creatinine increased in both recipients. Pathological results showed that in R1, the transplanted lung had partial consolidation with inflammatory cell infiltration, and multiple organs were congested and damaged. In R2, the transplanted lung had severe necrosis with fibrosis, and multiple organs had mild to moderate damage. The expression levels of interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 increased in the transplanted lungs. Conclusions The allogeneic lung transplantation model in miniature pigs may systematically evaluate immunological compatibility, intraoperative function and postoperative organ damage. The data obtained may provide technical references for subsequent lung transplantation research.

AIM:To investigate the safety and efficacy of selecting implantable collamer lens(ICL)size for postoperative vaults using sulcus to sulcus(STS)and other data measured by ultrasound biomicroscopy(UBM), and to explore the relevant factors affecting vaults.METHODS: Prospective case observational study. A total of 95 patients(188 eyes)with ametropia who underwent ICL size optimization and 90 patients(174 eyes)without ICL size optimization, from January to December 2022 and underwent regular follow-up for 6 mo were selected. Patients were divided into an optimized group and a standard group based on whether ICL size optimization was performed. The patients were followed up at 1 d, 1 wk, 1, 3, and 6 mo, and uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA), best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), refraction state, intraocular pressure(IOP), corneal status, anterior chamber depth(ACD), angle opening, vaults and corneal endothelial cell count were collected.RESULTS: No significant difference in spherical equivalent, UCVA and BCVA was found between the two groups(all P >0.05). The safety index was 1.21±0.24 and 1.19±0.21 at 6 mo for the two groups, respectively, while the efficacy index were 1.18±0.22 and 1.07±0.26. The vaults at 6 mo for the two groups was 407.77±159.31 and 467.16±250.07 μm, respectively. In the optimization group, 92.0% of eyes achieved the desired vaults postoperatively, while 74.1% of eyes in the standard group reached the desired vaults. Both groups exhibited a slight downward trend in vaults over time, with no significant differences between the two groups(F=3.478, P=0.063). However, the standard group experienced 6 eyes of ICL replacement and 2 eyes of ICL removal due to acute angle-closure glaucoma induced by angle closure.CONCLUSION: Selecting the ICL size and determining the implantation orientation based on sulcus to sulcus(STS)and other data measured by UBM provides good safety, efficacy, and predictability for postoperative vaults.

AIM:To investigate the safety and efficacy of selecting implantable collamer lens(ICL)size for postoperative vaults using sulcus to sulcus(STS)and other data measured by ultrasound biomicroscopy(UBM), and to explore the relevant factors affecting vaults.METHODS: Prospective case observational study. A total of 95 patients(188 eyes)with ametropia who underwent ICL size optimization and 90 patients(174 eyes)without ICL size optimization, from January to December 2022 and underwent regular follow-up for 6 mo were selected. Patients were divided into an optimized group and a standard group based on whether ICL size optimization was performed. The patients were followed up at 1 d, 1 wk, 1, 3, and 6 mo, and uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA), best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), refraction state, intraocular pressure(IOP), corneal status, anterior chamber depth(ACD), angle opening, vaults and corneal endothelial cell count were collected.RESULTS: No significant difference in spherical equivalent, UCVA and BCVA was found between the two groups(all P >0.05). The safety index was 1.21±0.24 and 1.19±0.21 at 6 mo for the two groups, respectively, while the efficacy index were 1.18±0.22 and 1.07±0.26. The vaults at 6 mo for the two groups was 407.77±159.31 and 467.16±250.07 μm, respectively. In the optimization group, 92.0% of eyes achieved the desired vaults postoperatively, while 74.1% of eyes in the standard group reached the desired vaults. Both groups exhibited a slight downward trend in vaults over time, with no significant differences between the two groups(F=3.478, P=0.063). However, the standard group experienced 6 eyes of ICL replacement and 2 eyes of ICL removal due to acute angle-closure glaucoma induced by angle closure.CONCLUSION: Selecting the ICL size and determining the implantation orientation based on sulcus to sulcus(STS)and other data measured by UBM provides good safety, efficacy, and predictability for postoperative vaults.

Lung transplantation is the ultimate therapeutic option for end-stage pulmonary diseases such as interstitial pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pneumoconiosis. Currently, the shortage of allogeneic lung donors significantly limits the opportunity for end-stage lung disease patients to receive lung transplantation. In recent years, with the rapid development of biomedical engineering technologies, especially the major breakthroughs in genetic modification and cloning, xenogeneic lung transplantation has shown important potential for clinical translation. Among them, genetically modified pigs have become the most promising xenogeneic lung source due to the close similarity of organ size and physiological characteristics to humans, and the ability to perform targeted gene knockouts (such as α-Gal antigen knockout) to reduce the occurrence of hyperacute rejection. This article focuses on the research progress of porcine xenogeneic lung transplantation, systematically reviews the latest achievements and challenges in animal experiments and human trials, and introduces the technical experience accumulated by Shenzhen Third People's Hospital in the porcine-to-monkey xenogeneic lung transplantation model, in the hope of providing practical references for future research in this field.

Objective:To observe the changes of lung function and inflammatory factors in rat models of coal workers' pneumoconiosis at different time points.Methods:In June 2021, 96 healthy male SD rats with SPF grade were divided into 1, 3, and 6-month control group and dust staining group (coal dust group, coal silica dust group, quartz group) according to random number table method, with 8 rats in each group. After one week of adaptive feeding, a one-time non-exposed tracheal perfusion method (1 ml/ piece) was used. The dust dyeing group was given 50 g/L coal dust, coal silica mixed dust and quartz dust suspension, respectively, and the control group was given 0.9% normal saline solution. At 1, 3 and 6 months after perfusion, lung function was detected by animal lung function apparatus, then all lung tissues and alveolar lavage fluid were killed, and lung histopathological morphological changes were observed by HE staining, and the contents of interleukin (IL-1β), IL-18, IL-4 and IL-10 in alveolar lavage fluid were detected by ELISA. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare groups. Two factors (inter-group treatment factor (4 levels) and observation time factor (3 levels) ) were used in the analysis of the effects of inter-group treatment and treatment time on related indicators.Results:HE staining results showed that coal spot appeared in the lung tissue of coal dust group, coal spot and coal silicon nodule appeared in the lung tissue of coal dust group, and silicon nodule appeared in the lung tissue of quartz group. Compared with the control group, the forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume at 0.2 second (FEV 0.2) of rats in the dust staining group had interaction between the treatment and treatment time ( P<0.05). With the increase of dust dyeing time, FVC and FEV 0.2 decreased significantly at 3-6 months of dust dyeing, and the maximum gas volume per minute (MVV) decreased significantly at 1-3 months of dust dyeing ( P<0.05). The lowest lung function index was in quartz group, followed by coal-silica group and coal-dust group. There were statistically significant differences in the main effect and interaction effect of the pro-inflammatory factor IL-18 among all groups in treatment and treatment time (IL-18: F=70.79, 45.97, 5.90, P<0.001), and interaction existed. The highest content of inflammatory factors in alveolar lavage fluid of all dust groups was quartz group, followed by coal silica group and coal dust group. There were significant differences in the main effect and interaction effect of anti-inflammatory factors between groups and treatment time (IL-4: F=41.55, 33.01, 5.23, P<0.001, <0.001, <0.001; IL-10: F=7.46, 20.80, 2.91, P=0.002, <0.001, 0.024), and there was interaction. The highest content of anti-inflammatory factor was in quartz group, followed by coal silica group and coal dust group. Conclusion:Lung function decreased and levels of inflammatory fators increased in rat models of coal workers' pneumoconiosis, with the quartz group being the most severely damaged. Lung function is mainly impaired in thrid-six months, and the content of inflammatory factors begins to change in first-thrid months. MVV are the earliest and most obvious in lung function. IL-18 is suitable for monitoring changes in the pro-inflammatory response of coal workers' pneumoconiosis, and IL-10 is suitable for monitoring changes in anti-inflammatory response.

Objective:To observe the changes of lung function and inflammatory factors in rat models of coal workers' pneumoconiosis at different time points.Methods:In June 2021, 96 healthy male SD rats with SPF grade were divided into 1, 3, and 6-month control group and dust staining group (coal dust group, coal silica dust group, quartz group) according to random number table method, with 8 rats in each group. After one week of adaptive feeding, a one-time non-exposed tracheal perfusion method (1 ml/ piece) was used. The dust dyeing group was given 50 g/L coal dust, coal silica mixed dust and quartz dust suspension, respectively, and the control group was given 0.9% normal saline solution. At 1, 3 and 6 months after perfusion, lung function was detected by animal lung function apparatus, then all lung tissues and alveolar lavage fluid were killed, and lung histopathological morphological changes were observed by HE staining, and the contents of interleukin (IL-1β), IL-18, IL-4 and IL-10 in alveolar lavage fluid were detected by ELISA. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare groups. Two factors (inter-group treatment factor (4 levels) and observation time factor (3 levels) ) were used in the analysis of the effects of inter-group treatment and treatment time on related indicators.Results:HE staining results showed that coal spot appeared in the lung tissue of coal dust group, coal spot and coal silicon nodule appeared in the lung tissue of coal dust group, and silicon nodule appeared in the lung tissue of quartz group. Compared with the control group, the forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume at 0.2 second (FEV 0.2) of rats in the dust staining group had interaction between the treatment and treatment time ( P<0.05). With the increase of dust dyeing time, FVC and FEV 0.2 decreased significantly at 3-6 months of dust dyeing, and the maximum gas volume per minute (MVV) decreased significantly at 1-3 months of dust dyeing ( P<0.05). The lowest lung function index was in quartz group, followed by coal-silica group and coal-dust group. There were statistically significant differences in the main effect and interaction effect of the pro-inflammatory factor IL-18 among all groups in treatment and treatment time (IL-18: F=70.79, 45.97, 5.90, P<0.001), and interaction existed. The highest content of inflammatory factors in alveolar lavage fluid of all dust groups was quartz group, followed by coal silica group and coal dust group. There were significant differences in the main effect and interaction effect of anti-inflammatory factors between groups and treatment time (IL-4: F=41.55, 33.01, 5.23, P<0.001, <0.001, <0.001; IL-10: F=7.46, 20.80, 2.91, P=0.002, <0.001, 0.024), and there was interaction. The highest content of anti-inflammatory factor was in quartz group, followed by coal silica group and coal dust group. Conclusion:Lung function decreased and levels of inflammatory fators increased in rat models of coal workers' pneumoconiosis, with the quartz group being the most severely damaged. Lung function is mainly impaired in thrid-six months, and the content of inflammatory factors begins to change in first-thrid months. MVV are the earliest and most obvious in lung function. IL-18 is suitable for monitoring changes in the pro-inflammatory response of coal workers' pneumoconiosis, and IL-10 is suitable for monitoring changes in anti-inflammatory response.

Objective To observe the value of residual neural network(ResNet)-101-feature pyramid network(FPN)model based on CT for differentiating benign and malignant lung nodules.Methods Totally 2 040 lung nodules in 2 000 patients were retrospectively enrolled,including 1 150 benign and 890 malignant nodules.The nodules were divided into training set(n=1 632)and test set(n=408)at the ratio of 8∶2,the former including 881 benign and 751 malignant ones,while the latter including 269 benign and 139 malignant ones,respectively.Taken ResNet-101 as the backbone network,combined with FPN,a classification model was established based on chest CT,and the efficiency of this model alone and combined with evaluation of physicians for differentiating benign and malignant lung nodules were evaluated.Results Among 269 benign lung nodules in test set,ResNet-101-FPN model alone correctly diagnosed 214 nodules(214/269,79.55%),while combined with evaluation of physicians correctly diagnosed 230 ones(230/269,85.50%).For 139 malignant nodules in test set,ResNet-101-FPN model alone correctly diagnosed 124 nodules(124/139,89.21%),while combined with evaluation of physicians correctly diagnosed 131 ones(131/139,94.24%).The sensitivity,accuracy and precision of ResNet-101-FPN model combined with evaluation of physicians for distinguishing benign and malignant lung nodules were all higher,while the specificity of the combination was lower than those of ResNet-101-FPN model alone,but the differences were not significant(all P＞0.05).Conclusion ResNet-101-FPN model could be used to distinguish benign and malignant lung nodules based on CT.Combining with evaluation of physicians could improve diagnostic efficiency of this model.

Objective:We aimed to develop a novel visualized model based on nomogram to predict postoperative overall survival.Methods:This was a multicenter, retrospective, observational cohort study, including participants with histologically confirmed gastric and colorectal cancer who underwent radical surgery from 11 medical centers in China from August 1, 2015 to June 30, 2018. Baseline characteristics, histopathological data and nutritional status, as assessed using Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002) score and the scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment, were collected. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression and Cox regression were used to identify variables to be included in the predictive model. Internal and external validations were performed.Results:There were 681 and 127 patients in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. A total of 188 deaths were observed over a median follow-up period of 59 (range: 58 to 60) months. Two independent predictors of NRS 2002 and Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM) stage were identified and incorporated into the prediction nomogram model together with the factor of age. The model's concordance index for 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival was 0.696, 0.724, and 0.738 in the training cohort and 0.801, 0.812, and 0.793 in the validation cohort, respectively.Conclusions:In this study, a new nomogram prediction model based on NRS 2002 score was developed and validated for predicting the overall postoperative survival of patients with gastric colorectal cancer. This model has good differentiation, calibration and clinical practicability in predicting the long-term survival rate of patients with gastrointestinal cancer after radical surgery.

Background Aluminum activates signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), causing microglial nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-like receptors protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation and inflammatory responses and producing neurotoxicity. Objective To explore the role of STAT3 regulated NLRP3 inflammasomes in the inflammatory response of mouse microglia cell line (BV2) cells induced by maltol aluminum [Al(mal)₃]. Methods BV2 cells were assigned to five groups: one control group, three Al(mal)₃ exposure groups (low, medium, and high doses at 40, 80, and 160 μmol·L⁻¹ Al(mal)₃ respectively), and one C188-9 (STAT3 antagonist) intervention group [10 μmol·L⁻¹ C188-9 +160 μmol·L⁻¹ Al(mal)₃]. Cell viability was detected by CCK8. The expression of M1/M2 type markers, i.e. CD68/CD206, STAT3, p-STAT3, NLRP3, cleaved-casepase-1, and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC) in BV2 cells were detected by Western blotting, and proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18, and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 were determined by ELISA. Results The results of cell viability assay showed that cell viability gradually decreased with the increase of Al(mal)₃ dose. Compared with the control group, the cell viability of the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group was decreased by 18% (P<0.05); compared with the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group, the cell viability of the C188-9 intervention group was significantly elevated by 14% (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression levels of CD68 in the Al(mal)₃ low-, medium-, and high-dose groups were elevated by 19%, 20%, and 21%, respectively (P<0.05); the expression level of CD206 in the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group was decreased by 25% (P<0.05). Compared with the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group, the expression level of CD68 in the C188-9 intervention group was reduced by 9% (P<0.05), whereas the expression level of CD206 was elevated by 22% (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the p-STAT3 protein expression and the p-STAT3/STAT3 ratio in the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group increased by 129% and 127%, respectively (P<0.05). Compared with the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group, the p-STAT3 protein expression and the p-STAT3/STAT3 ratio in the C188-9 intervention group were decreased by 55% and 54%, respectively (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression level of NLRP3 protein increased by 75% in the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group (P<0.05), the expression levels of cleaved-casepase-1 protein increased by 28% and 35% in the Al(mal)₃ medium- and high-dose groups (P<0.05), and the expression levels of ASC increased by 22%, 25%, and 53% in the Al(mal)₃ low-, medium- and high-dose groups (P<0.05), respectively. Compared with the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group, the expression levels of NLRP3, cleaved-casepase-1, and ASC proteins in the C188-9 intervention group decreased by 30%, 19%, and 32%, respectively (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the levels of IL-1β in the Al(mal)₃ medium- and high-dose groups increased by 18% and 21%, respectively (P<0.05), and the level of IL-18 in the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group increased by 10% (P<0.05). Compared with the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group, the IL-18 levels were reduced by 23% in the C188-9 intervention group (P<0.05). The content of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 did not differ significantly between groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Aluminum can induce inflammatory responses in BV2 microglia and is predominantly pro-inflammatory, and the mechanism may involve STAT3 regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome secretion of inflammatory factors.

Background Occupational aluminum exposure may associate with cognitive impairment in workers. At present, brain functional imaging data are not available for evaluating cognitive dysfunction in workers with occupational exposure to aluminum. The role of brain functional connectivity in cognitive decline associated with occupational aluminum exposure is not clear yet. Objective To explore potential mediating effect of brain functional connectivity value on cognitive decline induced by occupational aluminum exposure, to assess the relationship between cognitive impairment and brain functional connectivity, and to identify appropriate imaging evidence of early cognitive changes induced by occupational aluminum exposure. Methods This study used a subset data from a previous cross-sectional survey. Based on the data of aluminum-exposed workers, over 40 years old, aluminum-exposed working years >1 year, Montreal International Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) (Beijing version) score <26 points, 20 workers were selected as the case group, and 40 healthy workers with the same basic conditions (age, smoking, drinking, etc.) in non-aluminum production were selected as the control group with a 1∶2 matching ratio. The basic information of the subjects was collected, plasma aluminum level and cognitive function level were evaluated, and different brain functional connectivity values of default mode network (DMN) were measured by magnetic resonance imaging. The mediating effect analysis was conducted to examine the role of brain functional connectivity in the relationship between aluminum exposure and cognitive function. Results The plasma aluminum concentration of the case group was 1.76 times higher than that of the control group [(33.04±12.02) µg·L⁻¹ vs (18.74±8.95) µg·L⁻¹, P<0.05]; the MoCA score was 9.5 points lower [(18.35±2.64) vs (27.85±0.92), P<0.05]. The mean functional connection values of DMN1 and DMN2 in the case group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The mean functional connection values of the left precuneus, left middle cingulate cortex, left superior medial gyrus, left precentral gyrus, and left cerebellum also decreased in the case group compared with the control group (P<0.05). Plasma aluminum concentration was negatively correlated with DMN1 functional connectivity value and MoCA scores (b=−0.004, 95%CI: −0.008–−0.001; b=−0.15, 95%CI: −0.233–−0.067; P<0.05). The mean functional connection values of DMN1 and DMN2 were positively correlated with MoCA scores (b=10.945, 95%CI: 5.574–16.316; b=10.107, 95%CI: 2.457–17.758; P<0.05). With the increase of plasma aluminum concentration, MoCA score decreased, but when the plasma aluminum concentration exceeded 19.50 µg·L⁻¹, MoCA score decreased slowly. With the increase of the mean functional connectivity value of DMN1, MoCA score increased, but when the mean functional connectivity value of DMN1 exceeded 1.05 and continued to increase, the increase of MoCA score slowed down. The results of mediating effect analysis showed that the functional connectivity value of DMN1 partially mediated the relationship between plasma aluminum concentration and MoCA score, and the mediating effect was 25.80%. Conclusion Cognitive impairment in occupational aluminum-exposed workers is closely related to brain resting-state functional connectivity. There is a dose-response relationship of plasma aluminum concentration with DMN1 functional connectivity value and MoCA scores, and DMN1 functional connectivity value partially mediates the relationship between plasma aluminum concentration and MoCA scores. The brain functional connectivity value can be used as meaningful imaging data to study the cognitive decline induced by chronic aluminum exposure.