OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role of a neural pathway from oxytocin (OXT) neurons in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN) to γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurons (GABAergic neurons) in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC) in regulating pain sensitization in a mouse model of chronic migraine and to explore the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: A chronic migraine mouse model was established by intraperitoneal injection of nitroglycerin (NTG, 1 mg/mL, 10 mg/kg) on days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9. The study consisted of four parts: PartⅠ: 24 male wild-type C57BL/6J mice were divided into four groups (n=6 in each), receiving single or repeated injection of NTG or saline, respectively. Immunofluorescence was used to detect c-Fos and OXT expression in the PVN. Part Ⅱ: 6 male OXT-Cre transgenic C57BL/6J mice were used for anterograde monosynaptic tracing combined with RNAscope and immunofluorescence to identify neural projections from PVN OXT neurons to TNC GABAergic neurons. Part Ⅲ: 30 male OXT-Cre transgenic C57BL/6J mice were bilaterally injected Cre-dependent chemogenetic activation virus into the PVN. These mice were randomly divided into five groups, with six mice in each group. Mice in the clozapine N-oxide (CNO) group and the control group were intra-peritoneally injected with 0.1 mg/mL of CNO solution (1 mg/kg) and the same volume of isotonic normal saline, respectively. 3 hours after the injection, the brain tissues were harvest and c-Fos immunofluorescence staining was performed to verify the efficiency of chemogenetic activation virus. Mice in the model control group and the CNO activated model group were subjected to chronic migraine modeling, with bilateral TNC injection of isotonic normal saline and CNO, respectively, on day 10. The mice in the negative control group were bilaterally intra-TNC injected with isotonic normal saline. After 30 minutes, the Von-Frey filament and acetone tests were used to assess the mechanical pain threshold and cold pain response time in the periorbital region of the mice in these three groups. Part Ⅳ: 24 male OXT-Cre transgenic C57BL/6J mice were bilaterally injected with the Cre-dependent chemogenetic activation virus into the PVN. These mice were randomly divided into four groups, with six mice in each group. Mice in the model control group, the CNO activated model group and the atosiban group were subjected to chronic migraine modeling. On day 10, mice in the negative control group and the model control group were intraperitoneally injected with isotonic normal saline, while mice in the CNO activated model group and the atosiban group were intraperitoneally injected with CNO. After 15 minutes, mice in the atosiban group were bilaterally intra-TNC injected with atosiban, while mice in other three groups were bilaterally intra-TNC injected with isotonic normal saline containing 1% dimethyl sulfoxide. After 15 minutes, the Von-Frey filament and acetone tests were used to assess the mechanical pain threshold and cold pain response time in the periorbital region of the mice. The GABA content in the bilateral TNC was detected by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS: Mice with chronic migraine models exhibited reduced periorbital mechanical pain thresholds and increased periorbital cold pain reaction time, accompanied by an increase in both the number of c-Fos⁺ neurons and the percentage of c-Fos⁺ OXT neurons in the PVN (all P<0.05). The anterograde tracing virus and RNAscope combined with immunofluorescence staining showed that PVN OXT neurons projected to TNC GABAergic neurons. Immuno-fluorescence staining demonstrated that compared with the control group, the percentage of c-Fos⁺ OXT neurons in the PVN of CNO group increased (P<0.05). In bilateral intra-TNC drug administration experiments, compared with the model control group, the periorbital mechanical pain threshold increased, and the periorbital cold pain reaction time decreased in the CNO activated model group (both P<0.05). In intraperitoneal drug administration experiments, compared with the CNO activate model group, the periorbital mechanical pain threshold decreased, and the periorbital cold pain reaction time increased in the atosiban group (both P<0.05). HPLC analysis showed that, compared with the negative control group, the model control group and the atosiban group, GABA level of TNC in the CNO activated model group increased (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS PVN OXT neurons exert a descending facilitatory effect on GABAergic neurons in the TNC via OXT release, thereby ameliorating pain sensitization in chronic migraine.
Animals ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus/physiopathology* ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Migraine Disorders/physiopathology* ; Mice ; GABAergic Neurons/physiology* ; Oxytocin/physiology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Neurons/physiology* ; Mice, Transgenic ; Neural Pathways ; Chronic Disease

Objective:The association between air pollutants and the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between five air pollutants—PM 2.5, PM 2.5–10, PM 10, NO 2, and NO?—and the risk of SCD. Methods:We analyzed data from 460 862 participants in the UK Biobank cohort, all enrolled between 2006 and 2010, with no baseline SCD. Follow-up continued until the study endpoint. Annual average concentrations of the five pollutants were assessed. Associations between pollutants and SCD were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models, followed by Mendelian randomization (MR) to assess causality.Results:Over a mean follow-up of 12.4 years, 2 662 SCD cases were recorded. After adjusting for confounders, no significant associations were found between air pollutants and SCD risk: PM 2.5 ( HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.99–1.07, P = 0.14), PM 2.5–10 ( HR 1.04, 95% CI 1.00–1.08, P = 0.08), PM 10 ( HR 1.01, 95% CI 0.99–1.03, P = 0.26), NO? ( HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.99–1.00, P = 0.26), and NO x ( HR 1.00, 95% CI 1.00–1.01, P = 0.19). MR analysis further supported the absence of causal relationships: PM 2.5 ( β = -0.149, P = 0.90), PM 2.5–10 ( β = 0.387, P = 0.62), PM 10 ( β = -0.994, P = 0.62), NO? ( β = –0.005, P = 0.99), and NO 2 ( β = –0.827, P = 0.25). Conclusions:This study found no evidence linking PM 2.5, PM 2.5–10, PM 10, NO?, or NO 2 to an increased risk of SCD. Mendelian randomization confirmed the lack of causal associations between these pollutants and SCD.

Objective:Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) secondary to acute gastrointestinal bleeding (AGIB) is a common severe condition in emergency department. Currently, there is a lack of sufficient data regarding the use of emergency endoscopy in patients suffering from acute gastrointestinal bleeding (AGIB) complicated with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The objective of this study is to examine the present status, effectiveness, and safety of emergency endoscopy in such patients, and to determine the factors that influence clinicians' decision-making regarding the use of emergency endoscopy.Methods:Clinical data of AGIB patients complicated with AMI who were admitted to the emergency department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2020 to June 2023 were respectively collected. Based on their survival status at discharge, patients were categorized into survival and non-survival groups. Additionally, according to whether emergency endoscopy was performed, patients were further classified into the emergency endoscopy group and the conventional treatment groupStabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting (SIPTW) and logistic regression analysis were used to explore the correlation between emergency endoscopy and prognosis. A paired wilcoxon test was used to analyze whether emergency endoscopy could worsen myocardial injury. A multiple logistic regression model was used to explore the factors influencing clinicians to make emergency endoscopic decisions.Results:A total of 106 patients with AMI secondary to AGIB were included, and 22 patients underwent emergency endoscopy. After weighing, logistic regression analysis showed that emergency endoscopy was a protective factor for patients' survival after discharge ( OR = 0.808, 95% CI: 0.6755-0.967, P = 0.022). In the emergency endoscopy group, there was no significant change in hypersensitive troponin T before and after emergency endoscopy [ 61.1 (35.4, 164.1) ng/L vs 69.8 (60.1, 159.5) ng/L, P = 0.078]. Previous history of coronary heart disease ( OR = 0.098, 95% CI: 0.015-0.381, P = 0.003) was an independent negative factor for emergency endoscopic decision-making. Glasgow Blatchford Score (GBS) on admission ( OR = 1.217, 95% CI: 1.019-1.482, P = 0.038) was an independent positive factor for emergency endoscopic decision-making. Conclusions:Emergency endoscopy is safe and effective in patients with AMI secondary to AGIB. GBS score and previous history of coronary heart disease were the main factors affecting emergency endoscopic decision-making.

Objective:To summarize the experience and effect of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA).Methods:The data of 70 patients with AMI-IHCA-ECPR in extracorporeal life support center of the first affiliated hospital of Nanjing medical university from January 2017 to December 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were grouped by Survival/death at 90 days, with/without combined intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP). Age, sex, Charlson comorbidity index, initial rhythm, Gensini score, ECPR initial blood gas pH and lactate value, no-flow time, time from cardiac arrest to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) initiation (CA-Pump On time), ECMO treatment time, 90-day survival rate were analyzed.Results:Among the 70 patients with AMI-IHCA-ECPR, 22 (31.4%) patients survived at 90 days, of whom 19 (86.4%) patients had good neurological outcomes. About 50% of AMI-IHCA-ECPR patients had severe multi-vessel coronary artery lesions, and there was no significant difference in survival outcomes among different vascular lesions. In the IABP group, the success rate of ECMO withdrawal was low, the duration of ECMO treatment was long, and the combination of IABP did not reduce the mortality. Compared with the death group, the 90-day survival group had a lower Gensini score, a higher ECPR initial blood gas pH and a lower lactic acid value.Conclusions:AMI-IHCA-ECPR combined with IABP did not show significant survival benefits, and about 50% of patients had severe lesions of multiple coronary arteries. It is difficult to evaluate the prognosis based on a single offender vessel. It is recommended to evaluate the outcome of patients by quantification of the severity of coronary artery lesions by Gensini score.

[Objective] To explore the clinical application of cutaneous ureterostomy-flap embedding in radical cystectomy plus urinary diversion. [Methods] The clinical data of 10 patients with bladder cancer treated with this method in our hospital during Feb.and May 2023 were involved.Cutaneous ureterostomy-flap embedding was used in urinary diversion.The stoma-free rate and stenosis rate of stomas within 1 year postoperatively, differences in renal function indicators 1 day before operation and 1 year after operation, urinary diversion-related complications within 6 months postoperatively, including hydronephrosis, urinary tract infections, renal stones were analyzed. [Results] All surgeries were successfully completed.At 1 year postoperatively, renal function indicators showed no significant difference compared to preoperative levels (P>0.05). At 6 months postoperatively, 1 patient developed renal stones, successfully treated with surgery; 2 had urinary tract infection, recovered after antibiotic treatment; 2 had mild unilateral hydronephrosis, alleviated with conservative management.At 1 year postoperatively, the catheter-free rate was 80%(8/10), with no worsening of hydronephrosis or occurrence of ureteral obstruction, and the stent placement duration ranged from 97 to 211 days, average (151.63±42.47) days.The ureteral stent was not removed in 2 patients within 1 year, so the stoma stenosis rate was 20%(2/10). [Conclusion] The application of flap embedding in urinary diversion following radical cystectomy is a simple and safe procedure, with few postoperative complications, high success rate of stent removal, and overall favorable outcomes.

Gas therapy is emerging as a highly promising therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. However, there are limitations, including the lack of targeted subcellular organelle accuracy and spatiotemporal release precision, associated with gas therapy. In this study, we developed a series of photoactivatable nitric oxide (NO) donors NRh-R-NO (R = Me, Et, Bn, iPr, and Ph) based on an N-nitrosated upconversion luminescent rhodamine scaffold. Under the irradiation of 808 nm light, only NRh-Ph-NO could effectively release NO and NRh-Ph with a significant turn-on frequency upconversion luminescence (FUCL) signal at 740 nm, ascribed to lower N-N bond dissociation energy. We also investigated the involved multistage near-infrared-controlled cascade release of gas therapy, including the NO released from NRh-Ph-NO along with one NRh-Ph molecule generation, the superoxide anion O₂^⋅- produced by the photodynamic therapy (PDT) effect of NRh-Ph, and highly toxic peroxynitrite anion (ONOO^‒) generated from the co-existence of NO and O₂^⋅-. After mild nano-modification, the nanogenerator (NRh-Ph-NO NPs) empowered with superior biocompatibility could target mitochondria. Under an 808 nm laser irradiation, NRh-Ph-NO NPs could induce NO/ROS to generate RNS, causing a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential and initiating apoptosis by caspase-3 activation, which further induced tumor immunogenic cell death (ICD). In vivo therapeutic results of NRh-Ph-NO NPs showed augmented RNS-potentiated gas therapy, demonstrating excellent biocompatibility and effective tumor inhibition guided by real-time FUCL imaging. Collectively, this versatile strategy defines the targeted RNS-mediated cancer therapy.

Objective:To investigate the perioperative safety and survival benefits of two-stage operation in the treatment of esophageal malignancies.Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. The clinical data of 70 patients who underwent two-stage operation for esophageal malignancies from January 2015 to January 2023 in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine were retrospectively analyzed. There were 58 males and 12 females. The age ( M(IQR)) was 61 (22) years (range: 9 to 79 years), and 51.4% (36/70) of the patients were older than 65 years. All patients underwent the first operation to remove esophageal tumor and the second operation to complete digestive tract reconstruction. The reasons for two-stage operation were summarized, complications and treatment results were recorded, and the prognosis was calculated using Kaplan-Meier curve. Results:The interval between the two stages was 49 (35) days (range: 32 to 82 days). The follow-up perrod was 28(50) months (range: 1 to 69 months). The 30-day fatality rate after the first operation was 4.3% (3/70) and the 30-day fatality rate after the second operation was 0(0/63). The total complication rate of first operation was 55.7% (39/70), the respiratory complication rate was 10.0% (7/70) and the cardiovascular complication rate was 5.7% (4/70) The incidence of anastomotic leakage was 11.1% (9/63). The overall survival rate at 2, 3 and 5 years was 35.7%, 30.0% and 15.7%, respectively.Conclusion:Two-stage operation in the treatment of complex esophageal malignancies is feasible and yields satisfaetory results.

Objective:To investigate the perioperative safety and survival benefits of two-stage operation in the treatment of esophageal malignancies.Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. The clinical data of 70 patients who underwent two-stage operation for esophageal malignancies from January 2015 to January 2023 in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine were retrospectively analyzed. There were 58 males and 12 females. The age ( M(IQR)) was 61 (22) years (range: 9 to 79 years), and 51.4% (36/70) of the patients were older than 65 years. All patients underwent the first operation to remove esophageal tumor and the second operation to complete digestive tract reconstruction. The reasons for two-stage operation were summarized, complications and treatment results were recorded, and the prognosis was calculated using Kaplan-Meier curve. Results:The interval between the two stages was 49 (35) days (range: 32 to 82 days). The follow-up perrod was 28(50) months (range: 1 to 69 months). The 30-day fatality rate after the first operation was 4.3% (3/70) and the 30-day fatality rate after the second operation was 0(0/63). The total complication rate of first operation was 55.7% (39/70), the respiratory complication rate was 10.0% (7/70) and the cardiovascular complication rate was 5.7% (4/70) The incidence of anastomotic leakage was 11.1% (9/63). The overall survival rate at 2, 3 and 5 years was 35.7%, 30.0% and 15.7%, respectively.Conclusion:Two-stage operation in the treatment of complex esophageal malignancies is feasible and yields satisfaetory results.

Objective:To summarize the experience and effect of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) on the treatment of sudden cardiac death (SCD).Methods:The data of 120 adults with SCD-ECPR in emergency department of the first affiliated hospital of Nanjing Medical University from April 2015 to April 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were grouped by Survival/death at 90 days, OHCA/IHCA (out-of-hospital/in-hospital cardiac arrest), with/without acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and divided according to 60 min of the time from cardiac arrest to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) initiation (CA-Pump On time). Age, sex, Charlson comorbidity index, IHCA/OHCA, initial rhythm, no-flow time, CA-Pump On time, ECMO evacuation success rate, 90-day survival rate, ECMO treatment time were analyzed.Results:①Total of 114 adult patients with SCD-ECPR were enrolled, and 45 (39.5%) patients survived at 90 days, of whom 40 (88.9%) patients had good neurological outcomes.②Age and no-flow time were significantly lower in the 90-day survival group than that in death group, and the proportion of IHCA and shockable initial rhythm was higher. ③The no flow time in IHCA group was significantly lower than that in OHCA group, and the 90-day survival rate was higher. ④OHCA and regional interhospital transport prolonged CA-Pump On time and reduced the 90-day survival rate. ⑤The AMI group was older with a higher Charlson comorbidity index, and the 90-day survival rate was significantly lower than that in non-AMI group.Conclusions:ECPR improves the prognosis of patients with SCD, there are high benefits in patients with long healthy life expectancy, IHCA, shockable initial rhythm, and short no flow time. The smooth life-saving chain of SCD-ECPR improves survival rate, by screening high benefit candidates in patients with OHCA, delayed initiation of ECPR or requiring interhospital transport, despite CA-Pump On time > 60 min, there is still survival potential.