Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality, characterized by poor prognosis due to its high proliferative and invasive potential. Tumor metabolic reprogramming, particularly involving glucose metabolism, is essential for tumor survival. This study investigates the role of the Hippo pathway effector transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) in regulating gluconeogenesis and promoting tumorigenesis in HCC. Methods: TAZ expression in HCC was analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas data and validated in clinical samples and cell lines. TAZ was overexpressed or silenced in HCC cell lines to evaluate its effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. The expression and prognostic relevance of the gluconeogenesis-related genes phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (PCK1) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6PC) were examined, along with their correlation with TAZ expression. Tumor growth was assessed in nude mice. Interactions between TAZ and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) were investigated using co-immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Results: TAZ was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines. TAZ overexpression enhanced proliferation, reduced apoptosis, and promoted migration and invasion. In contrast, PCK1 and G6PC were downregulated in HCC and showed a negative correlation with TAZ expression. Conclusion TAZ modulates gluconeogenesis and accelerates tumor growth, whereas its knockdown attenuates tumor progression. TAZ interacts with GR, suppressing its transcriptional activity on gluconeogenic gene promoters.

Objective To observe the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)for diagnosing malignant adnexal tumors.Methods Totally 112 patients with single adnexal masse were retrospectively enrolled and divided into benign adnexal tumor group(benign group,n=73)and malignant adnexal tumor group(malignant group,n=39).Clinical data,laboratory indicators,ovarian-adnexal ultrasound reporting and data system(O-RADS)classification based on conventional ultrasound(US),CEUS manifestations and CEUS classification of benign and malignant tumors were compared between groups.Multivariable logistic regression analysis of clinical and laboratory indicators being statistically different between groups,as well as US O-RADS classification and CEUS classification was performed to screen the independent predictors of malignant adnexal tumors,and combined models were constructed using forward stepwise regression method.The efficacy of each independent predictor and combined model for diagnosing malignant adnexal tumors was analyzed.Results Statistical differences of carbohydrate antigen 125(CA125),US O-RADS classification,enhancement time and level of CEUS,as well as CEUS classification were found between groups(all P＜0.05).CA125,US O-RADS classification and CEUS classification were all independent predictors of malignant adnexal tumors(all P＜0.05).Combined model Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ were constructed based on CA125+CEUS classification,US O-RADS classification+CEUS classification and CA125+US O-RADS classification+CEUS classification,respectively.The area under the curve(AUC)of single CA125 level,US O-RADS classification,CEUS classification and combined model Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ for diagnosing malignant adnexal tumor was 0.708,0.809,0.908,0.918,0.945 and 0.954,respectively.AUC of combined model Ⅲ was higher than that of combined model Ⅰ(Z=-2.142,P=0.032),while no significant difference of AUC was found between combined model Ⅱ and Ⅰ nor Ⅱ and Ⅲ(both P＞0.05).Conclusion CEUS could be used to effectively diagnose malignant adnexal tumor.Combining with CA125 level and US O-RADS classification could significantly improve its diagnostic efficacy.

Objective To observe the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)for diagnosing malignant adnexal tumors.Methods Totally 112 patients with single adnexal masse were retrospectively enrolled and divided into benign adnexal tumor group(benign group,n=73)and malignant adnexal tumor group(malignant group,n=39).Clinical data,laboratory indicators,ovarian-adnexal ultrasound reporting and data system(O-RADS)classification based on conventional ultrasound(US),CEUS manifestations and CEUS classification of benign and malignant tumors were compared between groups.Multivariable logistic regression analysis of clinical and laboratory indicators being statistically different between groups,as well as US O-RADS classification and CEUS classification was performed to screen the independent predictors of malignant adnexal tumors,and combined models were constructed using forward stepwise regression method.The efficacy of each independent predictor and combined model for diagnosing malignant adnexal tumors was analyzed.Results Statistical differences of carbohydrate antigen 125(CA125),US O-RADS classification,enhancement time and level of CEUS,as well as CEUS classification were found between groups(all P＜0.05).CA125,US O-RADS classification and CEUS classification were all independent predictors of malignant adnexal tumors(all P＜0.05).Combined model Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ were constructed based on CA125+CEUS classification,US O-RADS classification+CEUS classification and CA125+US O-RADS classification+CEUS classification,respectively.The area under the curve(AUC)of single CA125 level,US O-RADS classification,CEUS classification and combined model Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ for diagnosing malignant adnexal tumor was 0.708,0.809,0.908,0.918,0.945 and 0.954,respectively.AUC of combined model Ⅲ was higher than that of combined model Ⅰ(Z=-2.142,P=0.032),while no significant difference of AUC was found between combined model Ⅱ and Ⅰ nor Ⅱ and Ⅲ(both P＞0.05).Conclusion CEUS could be used to effectively diagnose malignant adnexal tumor.Combining with CA125 level and US O-RADS classification could significantly improve its diagnostic efficacy.

Rats ; Animals ; Adipose Tissue, Brown/physiology* ; Adipose Tissue

Objective:To investigate the effect of diabetes mellitus on pulmonary uptake of sevoflurane.Methods:Twenty patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, aged 40-64 yr, with body mass index of 18.5-22.9 kg/m 2, of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ, undergoing elective surgery with general anesthesia, served as diabetes group (group D). Twenty non-diabetic patients matched by age, gender and surgery were selected as control group (group C). After anesthesia induction and tracheal intubation, sevoflurane was inhaled at a concentration of 2% (oxygen flow 2 L/min). The inhaled concentration (Fi) and exhaled concentration (Fa) at 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 min of inhalation of sevoflurane were recorded, and the Fa/Fi ratio was calculated.The time required for the Fa/Fi ratio to reach 0.7 was recorded. Results:Compared with group C, the Fa/Fi ratio was significantly increased at each time point, and the time required for the Fa/Fi ratio to reach 0.7 was shortened in group D ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Diabetes mellitus can reduce pulmonary uptake of sevoflurane in the patients.

Objective: To investigate the ultrasonic features of placental abruption (PA) and its outcomes of pregnancy. Methods: Prenatal ultrasonic data of 132 pregnant women diagnosed as PA after delivery were collected, and the ultrasonic findings and pregnancy complications were analyzed. Results: PA was detected with ultrasonography in 48 patients while misses in 84 patients, the detection rate was 36.36% (48/132), and the missed diagnosis rate was 63.64% (84/132). Ultrasound showed placental thickening in 29 cases, intraplacental abnormal echo in 16, retroplacental abnormal echo in 9, placental marginal abnormal echo in 6, abnormal echo at placental fetal surface in 4, abnormal echo between uterine wall and amniotic membrane in 2, abnormal echo in amniotic cavity in 7 cases. The main complications of PA included cesarean section, uterine placental stroke, disseminated intravascular coagulation, postpartum hemorrhage, premature birth, severe neonatal asphyxia and even perinatal death. The incidences of complications in pregnant women with PA detected with ultrasound were higher than those in pregnant women with PA missed with ultrasound (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Prenatal ultrasonic detection rate of PA is low, and the pregnancy outcomes of pregnant women with PA detected with ultrasound is relatively poor.

We reported a case of monochorionic monoamniotic twins discordant for anencephaly diagnosed by second-trimester ultrasonography at the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University.Ultrasound at seven weeks of gestation showed only one gestational sac with an embryo inside.Another 12 gestational weeks' ultrasound scan performed at another hospital found one gestational sac and one fetus (crown-rump length was 6.11 cm and nuchal translucency was 0.11 cm) in the upper-middle uterine cavity.The ultrasound examination at 22+6 gestational weeks identified one placenta and two fetuses without obvious diaphragm echo in between.Although no structural abnormality was observed in one fetus,frog-like eyes,absence of skull image and brain tissue echo were presented in the other fetus.The patient was transferred to a higher level hospital and was successfully performed radiofrequency ablation for selective reduction at 23+4 weeks of gestation.At 35 weeks,a premature live boy and an anencephalic stillbirth fetus were born vaginally after premature rupture of membranes.The baby boy was healthy at follow-up at four months old.

Objective To investigate the effects of different doses of dexmedetomidine(Dex) on rabbit sinus node and atrioventricular node.Methods A total of 24 healthy male rabbits weighing 1.5-2.8 kg,were divided into 3 groups randomly according to random number table (n =8).Group C (control),critical dosage of Dex causing sinus bradycardia D1 (loading dose of Dex was 10 μg/kg, continual pumping dose was 5 μg · kg-1 · h-1 ),six times of critical dosage of Dex causing sinus bradycardia D2 (loading dose of Dex was 60 μg/kg,continual pumping dose was 30 μg·kg-1 ·h-1 ). Rabbits were anesthetized,the right femoral artery was separated and catheterized followed by real-time monitoring of arterial blood pressure.Right external jugular vein was searched and separated,bi-polar stimulating electrode were inserted to the junction of superior vena cava and right atrium,the index of sinus node and atrioventricular node were observed by means of programmed stimulation.Si-nus node recovery time (SNRT),corrected sinus node recovery time (CSNRT),total recovery time (TRT),and atrioventricular node 2∶1 point were recorded before Dex infusion (T0 ),1 5-20 min after infusion of Dex (T1 )and 50-60 min after perfusion of Dex (T2 ).Results SNRT,CSNRT,TRT and 2∶1 point had no statistical significance.Compared with T0 ,SNRT,CSNRT and CSNRT were signifi-cantly prolonged at T1 and T2 .2∶1 point in group D1 and D2 was shortened obviously at T1 than that at T2 (P <0.05).SNRT,CSNRT and TRT of group D1 at T2 were significantly prolonged,2∶1 piont was shortened compared with T1 (P <0.05).SNRT,CSNRT and TRT of group D1 and D2 were pro-longed both at T1 and T2 than those of group C.2∶1 point was shortened in group D1 and D2 at T1 than that in group C (P <0.05).Compared with group D1,SNRT,CSNRT and TRT of group D2 at T1 and T2 were prolonged,2∶1 point was shortened obviously (P <0.05).Conclusion Load capacity of 10 μg/kg Dex apparently inhibits the function of rabbit sinus node and atrioventricular node,which is partially recovered within a short time (≤ 1 h).The inhibiting effect is more continously and re-markably in load capacity of 60 μg/kg Dex.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the characteristics of the intestinal microbial flora in the pregnant women with congenital heart disease fetus ( PW group) and normal pregnant women ( NW group) .METHODS: Stool samples were collected from 15 NW and 17 PW cases.The bacterial genomic DNA was extracted.The 16S rDNA was amplified by PCR, and the second generation of Illumina sequencing was conducted.RESULTS: We obtained 2 696 276 ( NW group) and 2 445 530 ( PW group) optimized sequences.The coverage was greater than 97%.We obtained 77 243 operational taxono-mic units ( OTUs) in NW group and 75 600 OTUs in PW group after a 97%similarity merge.In NW group, the Chao 1 in-dex and the Shannon index were greater than those in PW group.The diversity analysis of microbial population indicated that they were mainly composed of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria.In family, the Bifidobacteriaceae and Cori-obacteriaceae were significantly different through analysis of variance.CONCLUSION: The Bifidobacteriaceae and Cori-obacteriaceae may play an important role in the occurrence of congenital heart disease.

OBJECTIVETo propose a new method for automatic segmentation of manually determined knee articular cartilage into 9 subregions for T2 measurement.

METHODSThe middle line and normal line were automatically obtained based on the outline of articular cartilage manually drawn by experienced radiologists. The region of articular cartilage was then equidistantly divided into 3 layers along the direction of the normal line, and each layer was further equidistantly divided into 3 segments along the direction of the middle line. Finally the mean T2 value of each subregion was calculated. Bland-Altman analysis was used to evaluate the agreement between the proposed and manual subregion segmentation methods.

RESULTSThe 95% limits of agreement of manual and automatic methods ranged from -3.04 to 3.20 ms, demonstrating a narrow 95% limits of agreement (less than half of the minimum average). The coefficient of variation between the manual and proposed subregion methods was 4.04%.

CONCLUSIONThe proposed subregion segmentation method shows a good agreement with the manual segmentation method and minimizes potential subjectivity of the manual method.