Objective:To investigate the relationship between serum endothelia cell-specific molecules (endocan), 8-hydroxy-2′deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and restless legs syndrome (RLS) in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis.Methods:A total of 180 ESRD hemodialysis patients admitted to the Shenyang First People′s Hospital, the Liaoning Electric Power Center Hospital and the Northern Theater Command General Hospital of the Chinese People′s Liberation Army from May 2021 to May 2023 were prospectively selected and divided into RLS group (41 cases) and non-RLS group (139 cases) according to whether RLS occurred. According to the International RLS Rating Scale (IRLS), the patients with RLS were divided into mild group (12 cases), moderate group (19 cases) and severe group (10 cases). Serum endocan and 8-OHdG levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pearson correlation was used to analyze the correlation between serum endocan, 8-OHdG levels and IRLS scores in RLS patients. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to evaluate the influencing factors of RLS in ESRD hemodialysis patients. The diagnostic value of serum endocan and 8-OHdG levels in ESRD hemodialysis patients was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results:Comparing with the non-RLS group [(4.03±1.23)ng/ml, (0.38±0.13)ng/ml], the levels of serum endocan in the RLS group [(6.10±1.95)ng/ml], 8-OHdG [(0.53±0.14)ng/ml] were higher ( t=8.180, 6.379, P<0.001). The levels of serum endocan of the RLS patients in the mild, moderate and severe groups [(3.61±1.01)ng/ml, (6.39±1.41)ng/ml, (8.54±2.68)ng/ml], 8-OHdG [(0.39±0.07)ng/ml, (0.51±0.05)ng/ml, (0.74±0.08)ng/ml] were increased successively ( F=23.065, 83.013, P<0.001). Pearson correlation analysis showed that serum endocan and 8-OHdG levels were positively correlated with IRLS scores in RLS patients ( r=0.813, 0.830, P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that long dialysis time, elevated serum endocan and 8-OHdG were independent risk factors for RLS in ESRD hemodialysis patients, and elevated ferritin was independent protective factor (all P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of RLS in ESRD hemodialysis patients diagnosed with serum endocan and 8-OHdG combined was 0.919 (95% CI: 0.870-0.955), which was larger than in patients diagnosed with serum endocan and 8-OHdG alone 0.791 (95% CI: 0.724-0.848), 0.780 (95% CI: 0.712-0.838). Conclusions:The increase of serum endocan and 8-OHdG is related to the occurrence and severity of RLS in ESRD hemodialysis patients. The combined detection of serum endocan and 8-OHdG levels is of high diagnostic value in the occurrence of RLS in ESRD hemodialysis patients.

Autoimmune oophoritis is a rare cause of primary ovarian insufficiency(POI), and some patients may also have concurrent adrenal insufficiency. This condition significantly impairs reproductive function and is often difficult to distinguish from common causes of POI, leading to missed or incorrect diagnoses. This paper reports a case of autoimmune oophoritis treated in our department and provides an updated summary of recent advances in the understanding of this condition, with the aim of raising clinical awareness and improving diagnostic accuracy among healthcare professionals.

Objective To analyze the MRI artifact of the inner ear structure in patients with peripheral vertigo acquired by using 3D fast imaging employing steady state acquisition(3D FIESTA-C)and 3D fast spin echo(3D-Cube T2).Methods Data of 63 patients with peripheral vertigo treated in the Department of Otolaryngology,The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University,from October 2023 to June 2024 were filtered for analysis.The patients consisted of 16 males and 47 females,aged 18 to 60 years old.Two senior radiologists independently evaluated the quality of the acquired images through the two MRI sequences.Kappa test was used to evaluate the consistency of the two radiologists' subjective judgments,and Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the image quality between each sequence.The accuracy of 3D FIESTA-C,3D-Cube T2 and combination of the two sequences was calculated in the presentation of inner ear structure.Results The overall image quality of 3D-Cube T2 was better than that of 3D FIESTA-C(Z=-11.670,P＜0.001),and the accuracy of 3D FIESTA-C combined with 3D-Cube T2 was superior to that of each sequence in demonstrating the semicircular canals.The demonstration accuracy of horizontal semicircular canal among three scan protocols was statistically different(P＜0.001).Conclusion 3D FIESTA-C has the advantage in detecting horizontal semicircular canal,and 3D-Cube T2 always provides high quality images of upper semicircular canal.Compared with each scanning sequence,3D FIESTA-C combined with 3D-Cube T2 can effectively avoid misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis of semicircular canal structures in the patients with peripheral vertigo.

Objective:To evaluate the levels and source of cadmium exposure by dietary pathway among middle-aged and elderly people ≥40 in cadmium-contaminated areas of China.Methods:A total of 7 193 people aged 40-89 years from four typical cadmium-contaminated areas in China were selected as the study subjects. Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), Total Diet Study (TDS) and a 3-day-24-hour dietary recall survey were conducted. Dietary cadmium intake and food sources through dietary pathways were assessed based on cadmium content in foods, consumption amounts and intake frequencies.Results:The mean age of the participants was 63.39±12.21 years, with 50.05% being males. The average monthly dietary cadmium intake was 7.39 μg/(kg·BW). Staple foods and vegetables were the primary sources of dietary cadmium intake, accounting for 57.51% and 32.48%, respectively. The monthly dietary cadmium intake in all surveyed regions did not exceed the Provisional Tolerable Monthly Intake (PTMI) recommended by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA).Conclusion:The monthly dietary cadmium intake among middle-aged and elderly people in cadmium-contaminated areas of China is relatively low, with the risk remaining at an acceptable level. Staple foods and vegetables are the most significant contributors to dietary cadmium intake.

Autoimmune oophoritis is a rare cause of primary ovarian insufficiency(POI), and some patients may also have concurrent adrenal insufficiency. This condition significantly impairs reproductive function and is often difficult to distinguish from common causes of POI, leading to missed or incorrect diagnoses. This paper reports a case of autoimmune oophoritis treated in our department and provides an updated summary of recent advances in the understanding of this condition, with the aim of raising clinical awareness and improving diagnostic accuracy among healthcare professionals.

Objective:To investigate the role and underlying mechanism of protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) and its inhibitor in alkali burn-induced corneal neovascularization (CNV).Methods:Seventy-two SPF-grade C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a normal group and 1 day post-modeling, 4 days post-modeling, and 7 days post-modeling groups to establish an alkali burn-induced CNV model and determine the optimal time point for analysis.Another 90 mice were randomly assigned to five groups: alkali burn group, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group, PRMT1 inhibitor group, fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) inhibitor group, and PRMT1 inhibitor combined with FGF2 group to evaluate the role of PRMT1 in CNV.Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and murine macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells were used to establish a hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced in vitro model to mimic the ischemic microenvironment.Cells were assigned to the following groups: control group, H/R group, H/R+ DMSO group, H/R+ si-NC group, H/R+ si-PRMT1 group, H/R+ si-FGF2 group, H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor group, and H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor+ FGF2 group.Corneal opacity and CNV areas were assessed by slit-lamp microscopy.Corneal structural changes and inflammatory cell count were determined by hematoxylin and eosin staining.PRMT1-positive cell count was determined by immunohistochemistry and the expression of PRMT1, CD31, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), F4/80, CD206, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was assessed by immunofluorescence staining.The expression levels of macrophage markers, including F4/80, iNOS, CD206, interleukin-10 (IL-10), and arginase-1 (Arg-1), were quantified by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot.Cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenic capacity were evaluated by functional assays including the CCK-8 assay, wound healing assay, Transwell migration assay, and tube formation assay.The research process followed the relevant regulations of the Visual and Ophthalmology Association, and the research plan was approved by the Laboratory Animal Committee of Wuhan University (No.20220504A). Results:Compared with the normal group, the 7 days post-modeling group showed significantly increased corneal opacity scores and CNV area, upregulated VEGF expression, and increased inflammatory cells (all P<0.05).The number of PRMT1-positive cells in the alkali burn group was (39.67±3.51) cells/visual field, which was significantly higher than (3.33±0.58) cells/visual field in the normal group ( t=17.68, P<0.01).Both mRNA and protein expression levels of PRMT1 and FGF2 were significantly elevated in the alkali burn group compared with the normal group (all P<0.01).Compared with the alkali burn group, the PRMT1 inhibitor group showed reduced corneal opacity scores, decreased CNV area, fewer inflammatory cells, and lower expression levels of PRMT1, FGF2, VEGF, Arg-1, IL-10 proteins, as well as CD206 mRNA (all P<0.05).Cell viability, migration distance, migration number, and tubes formed were significantly increased in the H/R group compared with the control group, significantly reduced in the H/R+ si-PRMT1 and H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor groups compared with the H/R group and significantly increased in H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor+ FGF2 group than in H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor group (all P<0.05).Compared with the H/R group, the H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor group exhibited reduced expression of FGF2, VEGFA, p-PI3K, and p-Akt, while those were upregulated in the H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor+ FGF2 group compared with the H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor group (all P<0.05).The proportions of CD206-positive cells in the H/R, H/R+ DMSO, H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor, and H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor+ FGF2 groups were all significantly higher than those in the control group, and significantly higher in the H/R, H/R+ DMSO, and H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor+ FGF2 groups compared with the H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor group (all P<0.05).Compared with the alkali burn group, the FGF2 inhibitor group, PRMT1 inhibitor group, and PRMT1 inhibitor+ FGF2 group all showed reduced corneal opacity scores, CNV area, and decreased number of VEGFA-, CD206-, and F4/80-positive cells, with the above indicators being lower in the PRMT1 inhibitor group compared with the FGF2 inhibitor and PRMT1 inhibitor+ FGF2 groups and higher in PRMT1 inhibitor+ FGF2 group than in the FGF2 inhibitor group (all P<0.05).Compared with the alkali burn group, the PRMT1 inhibitor group had decreased protein expression levels of FGF2, p-PI3K, p-Akt, CD31, VEGFA and Arg-1, with higher protein expression levels in the PRMT1 inhibitor+ FGF2 group than in the PRMT1 inhibitor group (all P<0.05). Conclusions:PRMT1 may regulate macrophage activation and anti-inflammatory polarization via the FGF2/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, thereby promoting the occurrence and development of CNV.Targeted inhibition of PRMT1 may serve as an effective therapeutic strategy for CNV.

Objective:To develop and evaluate a deep learning-based automatic measurement model for panoramic ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) images.Methods:A diagnostic test study was conducted.Preoperative UBM examination results of 372 patients who underwent implantable collamer lens (ICL) implantation were collected at the Eye Center of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University between February 2021 and March 2023.A total of 1 368 panoramic UBM images were obtained to establish an image database.The dataset was divided into a training set (760 images), a validation set (86 images) and an internal test set (522 images).An expert panel consisting of three ophthalmologists annotated the images.The UNet+ + network was used to automatically segment anterior segment tissues, such as the cornea, lens and iris.In addition, image processing techniques and geometric localization algorithms were developed to automatically identify the anatomical landmarks of pupil diameter (PD), anterior chamber depth (ACD), angle-to-angle distance (ATA) and sulcus-to-sulcus distance (STS) to complete the measurement of these parameters.Additionally, 480 panoramic UBM images of 135 patients (240 eyes) from Aier Eye Hospital of Wuhan University were used as an external test set to further evaluate the performance of the model in different centers.The consistency between the measurements from the model and expert panel, the Pentacam system was assessed.Finally, 150 images were randomly selected from the external test set for a human-machine comparison to further evaluate the model's performance.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University (No.WDRY-2022-K109) and Aier eye Hospital of Wuhan University (No.2023IRBKY120903).Written informed consent was obtained from each subject.Results:In the internal test dataset and external test dataset, with manual labeling as the reference standard, the model achieved a mean Dice coefficient of not less than 0.882.At least 95.65% of the anatomical landmark localization results had Euclidean distance differences within 250 μm.The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for the measurements of PD, ACD, angle-to-angle ATA, and STS were at least 0.958, with mean relative errors not exceeding 2.407%.With the Pentacam measurements as the reference standard, the ICCs for PD in the internal and external test sets were 0.540 and 0.466, respectively, while the ICCs for ACD were 0.946 and 0.908, respectively.In the human-machine comparison, the ICCs between the model's measurements and those of senior experts were all not lower than 0.969.Conclusions:The deep learning-based model can automatically measure anterior segment parameters from preoperative panoramic UBM images of patients undergoing ICL surgery.The model demonstrates a consistency comparable to that of senior experts, while providing higher efficiency.In terms of ACD measurement, the model shows good agreement between the measurements obtained from the model and Pentacam system.

Objective To analyze the MRI artifact of the inner ear structure in patients with peripheral vertigo acquired by using 3D fast imaging employing steady state acquisition(3D FIESTA-C)and 3D fast spin echo(3D-Cube T2).Methods Data of 63 patients with peripheral vertigo treated in the Department of Otolaryngology,The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University,from October 2023 to June 2024 were filtered for analysis.The patients consisted of 16 males and 47 females,aged 18 to 60 years old.Two senior radiologists independently evaluated the quality of the acquired images through the two MRI sequences.Kappa test was used to evaluate the consistency of the two radiologists' subjective judgments,and Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the image quality between each sequence.The accuracy of 3D FIESTA-C,3D-Cube T2 and combination of the two sequences was calculated in the presentation of inner ear structure.Results The overall image quality of 3D-Cube T2 was better than that of 3D FIESTA-C(Z=-11.670,P＜0.001),and the accuracy of 3D FIESTA-C combined with 3D-Cube T2 was superior to that of each sequence in demonstrating the semicircular canals.The demonstration accuracy of horizontal semicircular canal among three scan protocols was statistically different(P＜0.001).Conclusion 3D FIESTA-C has the advantage in detecting horizontal semicircular canal,and 3D-Cube T2 always provides high quality images of upper semicircular canal.Compared with each scanning sequence,3D FIESTA-C combined with 3D-Cube T2 can effectively avoid misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis of semicircular canal structures in the patients with peripheral vertigo.

Objective:To investigate the role and underlying mechanism of protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) and its inhibitor in alkali burn-induced corneal neovascularization (CNV).Methods:Seventy-two SPF-grade C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a normal group and 1 day post-modeling, 4 days post-modeling, and 7 days post-modeling groups to establish an alkali burn-induced CNV model and determine the optimal time point for analysis.Another 90 mice were randomly assigned to five groups: alkali burn group, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group, PRMT1 inhibitor group, fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) inhibitor group, and PRMT1 inhibitor combined with FGF2 group to evaluate the role of PRMT1 in CNV.Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and murine macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells were used to establish a hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced in vitro model to mimic the ischemic microenvironment.Cells were assigned to the following groups: control group, H/R group, H/R+ DMSO group, H/R+ si-NC group, H/R+ si-PRMT1 group, H/R+ si-FGF2 group, H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor group, and H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor+ FGF2 group.Corneal opacity and CNV areas were assessed by slit-lamp microscopy.Corneal structural changes and inflammatory cell count were determined by hematoxylin and eosin staining.PRMT1-positive cell count was determined by immunohistochemistry and the expression of PRMT1, CD31, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), F4/80, CD206, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was assessed by immunofluorescence staining.The expression levels of macrophage markers, including F4/80, iNOS, CD206, interleukin-10 (IL-10), and arginase-1 (Arg-1), were quantified by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot.Cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenic capacity were evaluated by functional assays including the CCK-8 assay, wound healing assay, Transwell migration assay, and tube formation assay.The research process followed the relevant regulations of the Visual and Ophthalmology Association, and the research plan was approved by the Laboratory Animal Committee of Wuhan University (No.20220504A). Results:Compared with the normal group, the 7 days post-modeling group showed significantly increased corneal opacity scores and CNV area, upregulated VEGF expression, and increased inflammatory cells (all P<0.05).The number of PRMT1-positive cells in the alkali burn group was (39.67±3.51) cells/visual field, which was significantly higher than (3.33±0.58) cells/visual field in the normal group ( t=17.68, P<0.01).Both mRNA and protein expression levels of PRMT1 and FGF2 were significantly elevated in the alkali burn group compared with the normal group (all P<0.01).Compared with the alkali burn group, the PRMT1 inhibitor group showed reduced corneal opacity scores, decreased CNV area, fewer inflammatory cells, and lower expression levels of PRMT1, FGF2, VEGF, Arg-1, IL-10 proteins, as well as CD206 mRNA (all P<0.05).Cell viability, migration distance, migration number, and tubes formed were significantly increased in the H/R group compared with the control group, significantly reduced in the H/R+ si-PRMT1 and H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor groups compared with the H/R group and significantly increased in H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor+ FGF2 group than in H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor group (all P<0.05).Compared with the H/R group, the H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor group exhibited reduced expression of FGF2, VEGFA, p-PI3K, and p-Akt, while those were upregulated in the H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor+ FGF2 group compared with the H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor group (all P<0.05).The proportions of CD206-positive cells in the H/R, H/R+ DMSO, H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor, and H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor+ FGF2 groups were all significantly higher than those in the control group, and significantly higher in the H/R, H/R+ DMSO, and H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor+ FGF2 groups compared with the H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor group (all P<0.05).Compared with the alkali burn group, the FGF2 inhibitor group, PRMT1 inhibitor group, and PRMT1 inhibitor+ FGF2 group all showed reduced corneal opacity scores, CNV area, and decreased number of VEGFA-, CD206-, and F4/80-positive cells, with the above indicators being lower in the PRMT1 inhibitor group compared with the FGF2 inhibitor and PRMT1 inhibitor+ FGF2 groups and higher in PRMT1 inhibitor+ FGF2 group than in the FGF2 inhibitor group (all P<0.05).Compared with the alkali burn group, the PRMT1 inhibitor group had decreased protein expression levels of FGF2, p-PI3K, p-Akt, CD31, VEGFA and Arg-1, with higher protein expression levels in the PRMT1 inhibitor+ FGF2 group than in the PRMT1 inhibitor group (all P<0.05). Conclusions:PRMT1 may regulate macrophage activation and anti-inflammatory polarization via the FGF2/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, thereby promoting the occurrence and development of CNV.Targeted inhibition of PRMT1 may serve as an effective therapeutic strategy for CNV.

Objective:To develop and evaluate a deep learning-based automatic measurement model for panoramic ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) images.Methods:A diagnostic test study was conducted.Preoperative UBM examination results of 372 patients who underwent implantable collamer lens (ICL) implantation were collected at the Eye Center of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University between February 2021 and March 2023.A total of 1 368 panoramic UBM images were obtained to establish an image database.The dataset was divided into a training set (760 images), a validation set (86 images) and an internal test set (522 images).An expert panel consisting of three ophthalmologists annotated the images.The UNet+ + network was used to automatically segment anterior segment tissues, such as the cornea, lens and iris.In addition, image processing techniques and geometric localization algorithms were developed to automatically identify the anatomical landmarks of pupil diameter (PD), anterior chamber depth (ACD), angle-to-angle distance (ATA) and sulcus-to-sulcus distance (STS) to complete the measurement of these parameters.Additionally, 480 panoramic UBM images of 135 patients (240 eyes) from Aier Eye Hospital of Wuhan University were used as an external test set to further evaluate the performance of the model in different centers.The consistency between the measurements from the model and expert panel, the Pentacam system was assessed.Finally, 150 images were randomly selected from the external test set for a human-machine comparison to further evaluate the model's performance.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University (No.WDRY-2022-K109) and Aier eye Hospital of Wuhan University (No.2023IRBKY120903).Written informed consent was obtained from each subject.Results:In the internal test dataset and external test dataset, with manual labeling as the reference standard, the model achieved a mean Dice coefficient of not less than 0.882.At least 95.65% of the anatomical landmark localization results had Euclidean distance differences within 250 μm.The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for the measurements of PD, ACD, angle-to-angle ATA, and STS were at least 0.958, with mean relative errors not exceeding 2.407%.With the Pentacam measurements as the reference standard, the ICCs for PD in the internal and external test sets were 0.540 and 0.466, respectively, while the ICCs for ACD were 0.946 and 0.908, respectively.In the human-machine comparison, the ICCs between the model's measurements and those of senior experts were all not lower than 0.969.Conclusions:The deep learning-based model can automatically measure anterior segment parameters from preoperative panoramic UBM images of patients undergoing ICL surgery.The model demonstrates a consistency comparable to that of senior experts, while providing higher efficiency.In terms of ACD measurement, the model shows good agreement between the measurements obtained from the model and Pentacam system.