Objective:To explore the effects of bone mineral density (BMD) on postoperative cage subsidence in patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) in different regions of the vertebrae.Methods:The study is a retrospective case-control analysis. The clinical and imaging data of 164 cervical spondylosis patients who underwent ACDF at Department of Spine Surgery, the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University between January 2021 and June 2024 were retrospectively reviewed. Data from 147 patients (230 intervertebral spaces) constituted the analysis set, including 80 males and 67 females, with an age of (54.5±11.2) years (range: 32 to 81 years). Patients were grouped based on postoperative cage subsidence: 74 patients were included in the subsidence group, and 73 patients were included in the non-subsidence group (grouped by patients); 99 intervertebral spaces were included in the subsidence group, and 131 intervertebral spaces were included in the non-subsidence group (grouped by intervertebral space). Cage subsidence was defined as a≥3 mm loss of intervertebral height at the operated level on lateral radiographs during follow-up. Cervical BMD was assessed using Hounsfield Units (HU) values obtained from CT images. Independent sample t-test or Chi-squared test were used to compare baseline characteristics between groups. Multivariate Logistic regression analyzed the influence of HU values at different locations on cage subsidence. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis calculated the area under the curve (AUC) to evaluate the predictive value of HU values for cage subsidence and determine optimal thresholds. The Delong test compared the predictive differences for subsidence among HU values from different vertebral locations at the surgical fixation levels. A validation set comprising clinical data from 17 single-level surgery patients was used to further verify the accuracy of the established thresholds for predicting cage subsidence. Results:In the analysis set, there were no statistically significant differences in age, sex, body mass index, or underlying diseases between patients in the subsidence group and the non-subsidence group (all P>0.05). The HU values of subsided intervertebral spaces were lower than those of non-subsided intervertebral spaces (upper vertebra: 360.1±86.4 vs. 301.7±93.3, t=4.899, P<0.01; lower vertebra: 328.8±83.6 vs. 282.5±88.1, t=4.062, P<0.01; endplate of the upper vertebra: 604.7±150.9 vs. 521.6±125.3, t=4.446, P<0.01; endplate of the lower vertebra: 554.4±157.9 vs. 502.8±139.0, t=2.582, P=0.010). ROC curves showed that HU values at different locations of the surgical level all had predictive value for cage subsidence (upper vertebra: AUC=0.702, P<0.01; lower vertebra: AUC=0.667, P<0.01; endplate of the upper vertebra: AUC=0.657, P<0.01; endplate of the lower vertebra:AUC=0.610, P<0.01). The optimal thresholds for predicting cage subsidence for the upper vertebral body, lower vertebral body, endplate of the upper vertebra, and endplate of the lower vertebra were 325.0, 247.1, 533.1, and 547.4, respectively. However, the differences in predictive value among HU values from different vertebral locations were not statistically significant( P>0.05). In the validation set, the sensitivity and specificity of the HU value of upper vertebra for predicting cage subsidence were 6/7 and 9/10, respectively; for the lower vertebra, they were 5/7 and 9/10; for the endplate of the upper vertebra, they were 6/7 and 8/10; for the endplate of the lower vertebra, they were 5/7 and 8/10. Conclusion:The BMD of different parts of the vertebral body has potential predictive value for cage subsidence after ACDF surgery.

Objective:To quantitatively evaluate the changes of the sciatic nerve of rabbits following acute cold exposure and intraperitoneal lavage rewarming therapy by applying shear wave elastography（SWE）technology.Methods:Thirty healthy adult New Zealand white rabbits，weighing approximately（4.0 ± 0.2）kgResults:Body temperature comparison：the body temperature of all 3 groups decreased at T2 compared to T1，with statistically significant differences（all P<0.05）. By T4，the body temperature of all groups had returned to normal，showing no significant differences compared to T1（ P>0.05）. The peritoneal lavage + rewarming platform group showed a faster recovery rate in body temperature during T2-T3 compared to both the rewarming platform group and the blank control group，with statistically significant differences（all P<0.05）. There were no significant differences in the recovery rate between the rewarming platform group and the blank control group during T2-T3（all P>0.05）. Comparison of conventional ultrasound parameters：the longitudinal width，cross-sectional area，and perimeter of the sciatic nerve showed statistically significant differences between T2 and T1（all P<0.05）. No significant differences were observed between T3 and T4，or between T1 and T4（all P>0.05）. Comparison of SWE parameters：T2 phase showed an increase in SWE values of the sciatic nerve，with statistically significant differences in the maximum（Emax）and average（Emean）Young's modulus compared to T1 and T4（all P<0.05）. No significant differences were observed between T1 and T4（all P>0.05）. Transmission electron microscopy results：under acute cold exposure，the sciatic nerve showed swelling，with vacuole formation visible in the axons. After peritoneal lavage rewarming therapy，the morphology of the sciatic nerve returned to normal. Conclusions:Following acute cold exposure，the rabbit's sciatic nerve exhibits contraction，with increased stiffness，which can be quantitatively assessed using conventional ultrasound combined with SWE. Peritoneal lavage therapy is an effective rewarming method that significantly enhances the rewarming rate.

Objective:To develop and validate artificial intelligence (AI) models based on deep learning for precise boundary identification of early gastric cancer (EGC) in narrow-band imaging (NBI) and near focus narrow-band imaging (NF-NBI) endoscopic images.Methods:Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) images from 282 patients diagnosed as having EGC by postoperative pathology at the Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University were retrospectively collected from February 2016 to June 2024. The images were randomly divided into the training set and the validation set at an approximate 8∶2 ratio. In the NBI modality, 980 images from 171 patients were used for training, 235 images from 61 patients were used for validation. In the NF-NBI modality, 1 273 images from 128 patients were used for training, and 373 images from 35 patients were used for validation. This study trained a total of six convolutional neural network (CNN) models: two independent CNN1 models, two independent CNN2 models, and two fused CNN3 models. Using expert-delineated EGC boundaries based on post-ESD pathological findings as the gold standard, the intersection over union (IOU) value of the CNN3 models was compared against junior (<5 years experience), mid-level (5-10 years), and senior (>10 years) endoscopists.Results:In NBI validation set, the IOU value of CNN3 model was significantly higher than that of junior (0.732 VS 0.489, Z=11.528, P<0.001) and mid-level endoscopists (0.732 VS 0.521, Z=11.184, P<0.001). However, no significant difference was observed between CNN3 model and senior endoscopists (0.732 VS 0.739, Z=0.593, P=0.554). Similarly, in NF-NBI validation set, CNN3 model outperformed junior (0.757 VS 0.537, Z=15.944, P<0.001) and mid-level endoscopists (0.757 VS 0.597, Z=9.722, P<0.001), while matching senior endoscopists (0.757 VS 0.769, Z=0.854, P=0.394). Conclusion:The fused CNN3 model achieves senior expert-level accuracy in delineating EGC boundaries in both NBI and NF-NBI images, demonstrating potential to assist less-experienced endoscopists in precise identification of EGC boundaries.

Objective:To quantitatively evaluate the changes of the sciatic nerve of rabbits following acute cold exposure and intraperitoneal lavage rewarming therapy by applying shear wave elastography（SWE）technology.Methods:Thirty healthy adult New Zealand white rabbits，weighing approximately（4.0 ± 0.2）kgResults:Body temperature comparison：the body temperature of all 3 groups decreased at T2 compared to T1，with statistically significant differences（all P<0.05）. By T4，the body temperature of all groups had returned to normal，showing no significant differences compared to T1（ P>0.05）. The peritoneal lavage + rewarming platform group showed a faster recovery rate in body temperature during T2-T3 compared to both the rewarming platform group and the blank control group，with statistically significant differences（all P<0.05）. There were no significant differences in the recovery rate between the rewarming platform group and the blank control group during T2-T3（all P>0.05）. Comparison of conventional ultrasound parameters：the longitudinal width，cross-sectional area，and perimeter of the sciatic nerve showed statistically significant differences between T2 and T1（all P<0.05）. No significant differences were observed between T3 and T4，or between T1 and T4（all P>0.05）. Comparison of SWE parameters：T2 phase showed an increase in SWE values of the sciatic nerve，with statistically significant differences in the maximum（Emax）and average（Emean）Young's modulus compared to T1 and T4（all P<0.05）. No significant differences were observed between T1 and T4（all P>0.05）. Transmission electron microscopy results：under acute cold exposure，the sciatic nerve showed swelling，with vacuole formation visible in the axons. After peritoneal lavage rewarming therapy，the morphology of the sciatic nerve returned to normal. Conclusions:Following acute cold exposure，the rabbit's sciatic nerve exhibits contraction，with increased stiffness，which can be quantitatively assessed using conventional ultrasound combined with SWE. Peritoneal lavage therapy is an effective rewarming method that significantly enhances the rewarming rate.

Objective:To develop and validate artificial intelligence (AI) models based on deep learning for precise boundary identification of early gastric cancer (EGC) in narrow-band imaging (NBI) and near focus narrow-band imaging (NF-NBI) endoscopic images.Methods:Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) images from 282 patients diagnosed as having EGC by postoperative pathology at the Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University were retrospectively collected from February 2016 to June 2024. The images were randomly divided into the training set and the validation set at an approximate 8∶2 ratio. In the NBI modality, 980 images from 171 patients were used for training, 235 images from 61 patients were used for validation. In the NF-NBI modality, 1 273 images from 128 patients were used for training, and 373 images from 35 patients were used for validation. This study trained a total of six convolutional neural network (CNN) models: two independent CNN1 models, two independent CNN2 models, and two fused CNN3 models. Using expert-delineated EGC boundaries based on post-ESD pathological findings as the gold standard, the intersection over union (IOU) value of the CNN3 models was compared against junior (<5 years experience), mid-level (5-10 years), and senior (>10 years) endoscopists.Results:In NBI validation set, the IOU value of CNN3 model was significantly higher than that of junior (0.732 VS 0.489, Z=11.528, P<0.001) and mid-level endoscopists (0.732 VS 0.521, Z=11.184, P<0.001). However, no significant difference was observed between CNN3 model and senior endoscopists (0.732 VS 0.739, Z=0.593, P=0.554). Similarly, in NF-NBI validation set, CNN3 model outperformed junior (0.757 VS 0.537, Z=15.944, P<0.001) and mid-level endoscopists (0.757 VS 0.597, Z=9.722, P<0.001), while matching senior endoscopists (0.757 VS 0.769, Z=0.854, P=0.394). Conclusion:The fused CNN3 model achieves senior expert-level accuracy in delineating EGC boundaries in both NBI and NF-NBI images, demonstrating potential to assist less-experienced endoscopists in precise identification of EGC boundaries.

Objective:To explore the effects of bone mineral density (BMD) on postoperative cage subsidence in patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) in different regions of the vertebrae.Methods:The study is a retrospective case-control analysis. The clinical and imaging data of 164 cervical spondylosis patients who underwent ACDF at Department of Spine Surgery, the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University between January 2021 and June 2024 were retrospectively reviewed. Data from 147 patients (230 intervertebral spaces) constituted the analysis set, including 80 males and 67 females, with an age of (54.5±11.2) years (range: 32 to 81 years). Patients were grouped based on postoperative cage subsidence: 74 patients were included in the subsidence group, and 73 patients were included in the non-subsidence group (grouped by patients); 99 intervertebral spaces were included in the subsidence group, and 131 intervertebral spaces were included in the non-subsidence group (grouped by intervertebral space). Cage subsidence was defined as a≥3 mm loss of intervertebral height at the operated level on lateral radiographs during follow-up. Cervical BMD was assessed using Hounsfield Units (HU) values obtained from CT images. Independent sample t-test or Chi-squared test were used to compare baseline characteristics between groups. Multivariate Logistic regression analyzed the influence of HU values at different locations on cage subsidence. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis calculated the area under the curve (AUC) to evaluate the predictive value of HU values for cage subsidence and determine optimal thresholds. The Delong test compared the predictive differences for subsidence among HU values from different vertebral locations at the surgical fixation levels. A validation set comprising clinical data from 17 single-level surgery patients was used to further verify the accuracy of the established thresholds for predicting cage subsidence. Results:In the analysis set, there were no statistically significant differences in age, sex, body mass index, or underlying diseases between patients in the subsidence group and the non-subsidence group (all P>0.05). The HU values of subsided intervertebral spaces were lower than those of non-subsided intervertebral spaces (upper vertebra: 360.1±86.4 vs. 301.7±93.3, t=4.899, P<0.01; lower vertebra: 328.8±83.6 vs. 282.5±88.1, t=4.062, P<0.01; endplate of the upper vertebra: 604.7±150.9 vs. 521.6±125.3, t=4.446, P<0.01; endplate of the lower vertebra: 554.4±157.9 vs. 502.8±139.0, t=2.582, P=0.010). ROC curves showed that HU values at different locations of the surgical level all had predictive value for cage subsidence (upper vertebra: AUC=0.702, P<0.01; lower vertebra: AUC=0.667, P<0.01; endplate of the upper vertebra: AUC=0.657, P<0.01; endplate of the lower vertebra:AUC=0.610, P<0.01). The optimal thresholds for predicting cage subsidence for the upper vertebral body, lower vertebral body, endplate of the upper vertebra, and endplate of the lower vertebra were 325.0, 247.1, 533.1, and 547.4, respectively. However, the differences in predictive value among HU values from different vertebral locations were not statistically significant( P>0.05). In the validation set, the sensitivity and specificity of the HU value of upper vertebra for predicting cage subsidence were 6/7 and 9/10, respectively; for the lower vertebra, they were 5/7 and 9/10; for the endplate of the upper vertebra, they were 6/7 and 8/10; for the endplate of the lower vertebra, they were 5/7 and 8/10. Conclusion:The BMD of different parts of the vertebral body has potential predictive value for cage subsidence after ACDF surgery.

Objective:To identify the characteristics of the bone marrow immune microenvironment associated with long-term survival in multiple myeloma (MM) patients.Methods:In the follow-up cohort of patients with newly diagnosed MM and who received “novel agent induction therapy and subsequent autologous stem cell transplantation and immunomodulator maintenance therapy” in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, a cross-sectional study was carried out between August 2019 and May 2020. Using NanoString technology, the RNA expression of 770 bone marrow immune-related markers was compared between 16 patients who had progression-free survival ≥5 years and 5 patients with progressive disease. Among the 16 patients who achieved long-term survival, 9 achieved persistent minimal residual disease (MRD) negative while the other 7 had persistent positive MRD. The functional scores of each kind of immune cells were calculated based on the expression level of characteristic genes, so as to indirectly obtained the proportion of each immune cell subset. The Mann-Whitney U test and the Kruskal Wallis test were used for statistical analysis. Results:The proportion of neutrophils was significantly higher in long-surviving MM patients than in patients with progressive disease [functional scores, 13.61 (13.33, 14.25) vs. 12.93 (12.58, 13.38); Z=2.31, P=0.021]. Among long-surviving patients, those who were MRD-positive had a significantly greater number of mast cells compared with those who were MRD-negative [functional scores, 7.09 (6.49, 8.57) vs. 6.03 (5.18, 6.69); H=2.18, P=0.029]. Compared with patients with progressive disease, four genes (CTSG, IFIT2, S100B, and CHIT1) were significantly downregulated and six (C4B, TNFRSF17, CD70, IRF4, C2, and GAGE1) were upregulated in long-surviving patients. Among long-surviving patients, only gene CMA1 was significantly upgraded, 10 genes (ISG15, OAS3, MX1, IFIT2, DDX58, SIGLEC1, CXCL10, IL1RN, SERPING and TNFSF10) were significantly downregulated in the MRD-positive group compared with that in the MRD-negative group, the first 5 of which are related to the interferon response pathway. Conclusions:The increased neutrophil and mast cell numbers may be related to long-term survival in MM. Interferon signaling activation may be a key bone marrow immune profiling feature for MRD-negative, long-surviving patients with MM.

Objective:To analyze the clinical value of 18F-FDG PET/MR for precise localization of epileptogenic foci in patients with refractory epilepsy. Methods:From February 2019 to December 2021, 81 patients (52 males, 29 females; age (30.0±10.9) years) with refractory epilepsy confirmed in Ruijin Hospital Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine were retrospectively enrolled. All patients underwent preoperative PET/MR exam, and the possible position of the epileptogenic foci were determined by PET/MR imaging and pre-surgical evaluation, then the stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) electrodes were implanted. Surgery was performed, and outcome was assessed by using a modified Engel classification two years after surgery. χ2 test was used to compare the detection rates of MRI and PET/MR fusion imaging in localizing epileptogenic foci and the detection rates of epileptogenic foci in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and extratemporal lobe epilepsy (ETLE) by PET/MR. Results:MRI correctly localized seizure foci in 38 patients, with the detection rate of 46.91%(38/81), while PET/MR detected seizure foci in 73 patients, with the detection rate of 90.12%(73/81; χ2=35.05, P<0.001). There were 63 TLE and 18 ETLE patients. The detection rate of PET/MR in localizing seizure foci in TLE patients was 95.24%(60/63), which was significantly higher than that in ETLE patients (13/18; χ2=5.94, P=0.015). After 2 years follow-up, the postoperative efficacy rate of TLE patients with Engel grades Ⅰ-Ⅱ was 76.19%(48/63), which was 13/18 of ETLE patients ( χ2=0.12, P=0.731). Conclusion:Hybrid PET/MR imaging can accurately locate epileptogenic foci, especially for MRI negative lesions, which provides precision imaging information for surgical planning and improves surgical success rate.

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of electroacupuncture on the expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1(ABCA1),ATP-binding cassette transporter G1(ABCG1),and class B type Ⅰ scavenger receptor(SR-B Ⅰ)genes and proteins in peritoneal macrophages of atherosclerotic rabbits.The study aimed to explore the mechanism underlying the treatment of atherosclerosis(AS)with electroacupuncture.Methods Twenty-six male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into the negative control group(n=7)and the modeling group(n=19)using a random number table method.The negative control group rabbits were fed a regular diet,while the modeling group was induced with a combination of high-fat feed and common carotid artery balloon injury surgery to create an AS model.After successful modeling,the rabbits in the modeling group were further divided into the model group,the electroacupuncture group,and the atorvastatin group,with 6 rabbits in each group.The rabbits in the electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture at"'Neiguan'(PC6)","'Zusanli'(ST36)",and"'Guanyuan'(ST25)"acupoints,using a density wave,a current of 1 mA,and a frequency of 4 Hz/20 Hz,once a day.The needle was retained for 20 minutes each time,and a total of 4 courses of treatment were conducted,with 6 days per course.The rabbits in the atorvastatin group were administered atorvastatin calcium tablet suspension(1 mg/kg)orally once a day,for 6 days per course,with a total of 4 courses.After the interventions,HE staining was performed to observe the morphological changes in the common carotid artery tissue of the rabbits.Peritoneal macrophages were collected from the rabbits,and the mRNA expression levels of ABCA1,ABCG1,and SR-B Ⅰ were measured using real-time fluorescence PCR.The protein expression levels of ABCA1,ABCG1,and SR-B Ⅰ were detected using Western blotting.Results The negative control group exhibited smooth intima of common carotid artery in rabbits,while the model group displayed damaged intima of common carotid artery,thickened artery walls,and the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.The electroacupuncture group and atorvastatin group showed significant improvements in wall thickening and a reduction in plaque area.Compared with the negative control group,the mRNA and protein expressions of ABCA1,ABCG1,and SR-B Ⅰ in peritoneal macrophages of rabbits in the model group were reduced(P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the electroacupuncture group and atorvastatin group exhibited increased mRNA and protein expressions of ABCA1,ABCG1,and SR-B Ⅰ in abdominal macrophages of rabbits(P＜0.01).Furthermore,the atorvastatin group demonstrated increased mRNA levels of ABCG1 and SR-B Ⅰ,as well as increased protein expressions of ABCA1,ABCG1,and SR-B Ⅰ in peritoneal macrophages of rabbits,in comparison to the electroacupuncture group(P＜0.01).Conclusion Electroacupuncture can enhance the expressions of ABCA1,ABCG1,and SR-B Ⅰ mRNA and protein in abdominal macrophages of AS rabbits,thereby promoting the process of cholesterol reverse transport.This may be one of the mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of AS.

Objective To study the prognostic factors of progressive hearing loss among children with large vestibular aqueduct syndrome(LVAS).Methods The clinical data of 49 children(95 ears)with LVAS who re-ceived at least two hearing tests from January 2017 to January 2023 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed,and they were divided into two groups according to the progression of hearing loss:the stable group(55 ears)and the progressive group(40 ears).The effects for progressive hearing loss of initial age,gender,laterality,imaging features,audiometric data,and incomplete partition type Ⅱ(IP-Ⅱ)and SLC26A4(type A,B,C,D)genotypes were analyzed by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis.The potential prognostic factors were further verified by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.Results Each dB decrease in the initial average hearing threshold in-creased the expected hazard by 7.03％(P=0.02).Incomplete partition type Ⅱ(IP-Ⅱ)was associated with 5.11 hazard ratio(95％CI,1.81 to 14.45,P=0.002).Genotype C was associated with 6.13 hazard ratio for progressive hearing loss(95％CI,2.07 to 18.13,P=0.001).Conclusion The initial average hearing threshold,IP-Ⅱ,and SLC26A4 genotype C were significant effect factors of progressive hearing loss in patients with LVAS.This could predict the progression of hearing loss in children with LVAS and help identify patients at high risk for progressive hearing loss.