Objective To investigate the impact of aortic valve calcification on ascending aortic elasticity.Methods A total of 103 patients with aortic valve calcification indicated by coronary computed tomography angiography(CCTA)(calcification group),and 101 patients without aortic valve calcification(non calcification group)were selected.The calcification group was subdivided into group A,group B,and group C based on the number of calcified leaflets.The original data was automatically reconstructed at 5％R-R intervals throughout the cardiac cycle.Cross-sectional area and diameter of the ascending aorta were measured at 45 mm above the annulus,and four ascending aortic elasticity indicators aortic(％A),aortic distensibility(AD),aortic compliance(AC)and aortic stiffness index(ASI)were calculated.Agatston method was used to calculate the aortic valve calcification score.The effect of aortic valve calcification on the elasticity of the ascending aortic and its correlation were analyzed.Results The％A,AD,and AC of the calcification group were lower than those of the non calcification group,but the ASI was higher than that of the non calcification group,the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The number of calcified leaflets affected ascending aortic elasticity,with comparisons between groups A and B,the difference was no statistically significant(P＞0.05),groups A and C,and groups B and C,the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Calcification score was negatively correlated with％A,AD,and AC,and positively correlated with ASI.Conclusion Aortic valve calcification can affect the elasticity of the ascending aortic,and more than two calcified leaflets have more significant effects on the elasticity of the ascending aortic.

Objective To explore the impact of neurally adjusted ventilatory assist(NAVA)mode on the weaning outcomes of patients with severe cerebrovascular disease who have weaning difficulty from mechanical ventilation.Methods Patients with severe cerebrovascular disease who had weaning difficulty from mechanical ventilation and were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit(ICU)of Neurosurgery Departement,the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College(Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College)from November 2019 to November 2021 were prospectively and consecutively included.They were randomly divided into the NAVA group and the pressure support ventilation(PSV)group using a random number table,with 28 patients in each group.Baseline and clinical data of the two groups were collected,including gender,age,main diagnosis,past medical history(hypertension,stroke,respiratory diseases,diabetes,coronary heart disease),body mass index,acute physiology and chronic health evaluation(APACHE)Ⅱ score,Glasgow coma scale(GCS)score,types of difficult weaning(failure of the first spontaneous breathing trial[SBT],re-intubation within 48 h after the first weaning attempt),and mechanical ventilation time before randomization.SBT and weaning-related indicators after randomization were collected,including respiratory mechanics and parameters before SBT implementation after randomization(peak airway pressure,expiratory tidal volume,positive end-expiratory pressure,inspired oxygen concentration,minute ventilation,mean airway pressure,diaphragmatic electrical activity signal value,neural ventilation efficiency,neural mechanical efficiency),basic vital signs(mean arterial pressure,respiratory heart rate)before weaning after passing SBT,blood routine(white blood cells,hemoglobin)and biochemical tests(albumin,creatinine,troponin,B-type natriuretic peptide)within 48 h before weaning,and arterial blood gas within 30 min before weaning(pH,partial pressure of carbon dioxide,partial pressure of oxygen,bicarbonate ion,oxygenation index).The primary outcome measures included the time required for successful weaning from randomization to day 28(if the patient died or failed to wean successfully before day 28 after randomization,the time required for weaning was defined as 28 d),total mechanical ventilation time after randomization,total weaning success rate from randomization to day 28,total weaning-free time at 7,14,and 28 d after randomization,survival time at 28 d and 90 d after randomization,ICU length of stay,total hospital length of stay,and cumulative weaning success rate from randomization to day 28 in both groups.The secondary outcome measures included tracheotomy rate after randomization,ICU mortality rate,mortality rate at 28 d and 90 d after randomization,incidence of mechanical ventilation-related complications(ventilator-associated pneumonia,acute respiratory distress syndrome,pneumothorax,pleural effusion)during mechanical ventilation after randomization,and cumulative survival rate at 90 d after randomization.The human-machine coordination within 24 h after randomization was recorded in both groups including the number and index of ineffective triggering,false triggering,double triggering,premature switching from inspiration to expiration,delayed switching from inspiration to expiration,and triggering delay,as well as the total asynchrony index,with one record every 8 h,each record lasting for 1 min,for a total of 3 min.Results A total of 56 patients with severe cerebrovascular disease who had weaning difficulty from mechanical ventilation were included,with 28 patients in each of the PSV group and the NAVA group.There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of gender,age,main diagnosis,past medical history,body mass index,APACHE Ⅱ score,GCS score,types of difficult weaning,mechanical ventilation time before randomization,indicators before SBT implementation after randomization and after SBT before weaning(all P＞0.05).(1)The time required for successful weaning from randomization to day 28(9.00[7.00,15.50]d vs.15.50[10.25,22.75]d)and total mechanical ventilation time after randomization(8.50[7.00,12.75]d vs.13.50[10.00,20.00]d)were both lower in the NAVA group than those in the PSV group(all P＜0.05).The cumulative weaning success rate of the NAVA group was higher than that of the PSV group at 28 d after randomization(P=0.039),but there was no statistically significant difference in the total weaning success rate between the two groups from randomization to the day 28(92.9％[26/28]vs.85.7％[24/28],P=0.669).The NAVA group had longer periods without mechanical ventilation within 14 d(5.00[0.00,7.00]d vs.0.00[0.00,3.75]d)and within 28 d(18.00[9.25,20.75]d vs.10.50[0.25,17.75]d)after randomization compared with the PSV group(all P＜0.05),but there was no statistically significant difference in the period without mechanical ventilation within 7 d after randomization between the two groups(P=0.159).The ICU stay of the NAVA group was shorter than that of the PSV group(9.00[6.25,16.75]d vs.14.00[10.25,22.50]d,P=0.015),but there were no statistically significant difference in the total hospital stay and survival time within 28 d and 90 d after randomization between the two groups(all P＞0.05).(2)There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in tracheotomy rate,ICU mortality rate,mortality rate at 28 d and 90 d after randomization,complications during mechanical ventilation after randomization,and cumulative survival rate at 90 d after randomization(all P＞0.05).(3)In terms of human-machine coordination,the NAVA group had lower frequencies and indices of false triggering(frequency:0.00[0.00,0.00]time/min vs.0.00[0.00,0.58]time/min;index:0.00[0.00,0.00]vs.0.00[0.00,0.02]),ineffective triggering(frequency:0.00[0.00,0.33]time/min vs.1.00[0.33,2.17]time/min;index:0.00[0.00,0.02]vs.0.05[0.02,0.09]),premature switching(frequency:0.00[0.00,0.33]time/min vs.0.33[0.33,1.00]time/min;index:0.00[0.00,0.01]vs.0.02[0.02,0.05]),delayed switching(frequency:0.00[0.00,0.00]time/min rs.1.17[0.00,5.67]time/min;index:0.00[0.00,0.00]rs.0.06[0.00,0.29]),and delayed triggering(frequency:0.00[0.00,0.58]time/min vs.0.67[0.33,1.67]time/min;index:0.00[0.00,0.02]vs.0.05[0.02,0.10])compared with the PSV group(all P＜0.01).The NAVA group had higher frequencies and indices of double triggering(frequency:1.17[0.33,2.00]time/min vs.0.00[0.00,0.00]time/min;index:0.06[0.02,0.11]vs.0.00[0.00,0.00];all P＜0.01),but the total asynchrony index of the NAVA group was lower than that of the PSV group(0.08[0.04,0.14]vs.0.24[0.19,0.51],P＜0.01).Conclusion The NAVA mode can shorten the weaning and mechanical ventilation time of patients with severe cerebrovascular disease who have weaning difficulty from mechanical ventilation,improve human-machine coordination,and has potential advantages in increasing the weaning success rate.

Objective:To analyze the predictive factors associated with late-onset sepsis(LOS) in very low birth weight infants,and to develop a risk prediction score scale applicable to these infants three days postnatal.This will provide valuable insights for early diagnosis and timely intervention.Methods:Very low birth weight infants admitted to the Children's Hospital of Fudan University from January 1,2022,to June 30,2024,were selected as research subjects.These infants were categorized into two groups:the LOS group and the non-LOS group,based on whether they developed LOS.LASSO regression analysis,alongside univariate and multivariate regression analyses,was employed to identify predictive factors for LOS in this population.A Logistic model was constructed using the optimal combination of predictive variables,and a risk assessment scale was subsequently developed.The prediction performance of the model was evaluated using the Hosmer-Lemeshow chi-square test and the receiver operating characteristic curve.Results:A total of 444 cases of very low birth weight infants were included,of which 185 had LOS and 259 did not.After screening the variables,seven independent factors were included into the model:birth weight,gestational age,tracheal intubation,abnormal skin color,abdominal distension,elevated C-reactive protein levels,and right hand perfusion index.A predictive scoring scale was developed based on the regression coefficients of each variable,with corresponding risk scores assigned as follows:1,4,3,2,1,1,and 2; a score of ≥3.5 indicated high-risk groups.The Hosmer-Lemeshow test results demonstrated that χ2 = 7.602( P = 0.473).The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.792 ( P<0.001),with a sensitivity of 73.5% and specificity of 71.0%. Conclusion:The risk score scale developed in this study exhibits significant predictive capability,providing valuable insights for clinical medical personnel to assess the risk of LOS in very low birth weight infants during the early postnatal period.

With the extension of the global population's lifespan and the increasingly severe aging problem,cardio-vascular diseases have become the leading cause of death among the elderly population.Most cardiovascular diseases orig-inate from the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.In addition to common risk factors such as dyslipidemia,diabetes,hy-pertension,smoking,and obesity,circadian rhythm disruption is also regarded as an important but often overlooked risk factor for atherosclerosis.The circadian rhythm is involved in regulating key physiological processes such as inflammation and metabolism,which in turn affect the pathological processes of arteriosclerosis and thrombosis.In this process,the key genes that maintain the stability of the circadian rhythm,namely clock gene,play a crucial role.Clock gene have an important role in the pathological mechanism of atherosclerosis,and they may become potential new targets for the preven-tion and treatment of atherosclerosis.This paper reviews the latest research progress on the mechanism of action of clock gene in the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis.These findings may provide new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis.

Objective:To investigate the impact of early invasive arterial blood pressure (IBP) monitoring on survival and neurological outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients undergoing extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR).Methods:This retrospective cohort study analyzed 44 OHCA patients receiving ECPR between January 2021 and January 2023. Patients were divided into: Early intervention group : IBP established within 3 min of ECMO initiation; Late intervention group : IBP established after ICU admission. Baseline characteristics, ECMO parameters, and clinical outcomes were compared. Multivariable logistic regression (adjusted for age, initial rhythm, etc.) and Spearman's correlation were used.Results:This study included a total of 44 patients treated with OHCA and ECPR, divided into an early intervention group of 23 cases and a late intervention group of 21 cases. The early intervention group showed significantly higher: Survival to discharge (43.5% vs. 9.5%, P<0.05), Good neurological recovery (CPC 1-2: 34.8% vs. 9.5%, P<0.05).Early intervention independently predicted survival (adjusted OR=18.84, 95% CI:1.97-179.98, P=0.01). Stratified analysis by pH (cutoff 7.0) demonstrated consistent benefits in both pH>7.0 ( aOR=0.392, 95% CI:0.106-0.678) and pH≤7.0 subgroups ( aOR=0.385, 95% CI: 0.075-0.695; interaction P=0.183). Early IBP positively correlated with CPC scores ( ρ=0.40, P=0.007). Conclusions:Early IBP monitoring significantly improves survival and neurological outcomes in OHCA-ECPR patients, supporting its integration into standardized protocols.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is the predominant form of chronic liver disease worldwide. This study was designed to investigate the proportion and characteristics of MAFLD within the general Chinese population and to identify the contributory risk factors for liver fibrosis among MAFLD individuals. METHODS: The participants were recruited from a cohort undergoing routine health evaluations at the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University between May 2019 and March 2023. The diagnosis of MAFLD was based on the established clinical practice guidelines. The fibrosis-4 index score (FIB-4) was employed to evaluate hepatic fibrosis, with a FIB-4 score of ≥1.3 indicating significant fibrosis. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to determine risk factors associated with significant hepatic fibrosis in MAFLD. RESULTS: A total of 22,970 participants who underwent comprehensive medical examinations were included in the analysis. The overall proportion of MAFLD was 28.77% (6608/22,970), with 16.87% (1115/6608) of these patients showing significant fibrosis as assessed using FIB-4. Independent risk factors for significant liver fibrosis in MAFLD patients were male (odds ratio [OR] = 0.676, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.558-0.821), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity (OR = 2.611, 95% CI: 1.557-4.379), body mass index ≥23.00 kg/m 2 (OR = 0.632, 95% CI: 0.470-0.851), blood pressure ≥130/85 mmHg (OR = 1.885, 95% CI: 1.564-2.272), and plasma glucose ≥5.6 mmol/L (OR = 1.815, 95% CI: 1.507-2.186) (all P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS The proportion of MAFLD in an urban Chinese population is 28.77%. About 16.87% of MAFLD patients presented with significant liver fibrosis. Independent risk factors for significant liver fibrosis in MAFLD patients should be noticed.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Liver Cirrhosis/pathology* ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Adult ; Fatty Liver/pathology* ; Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Logistic Models ; Urban Population ; East Asian People

The specific mechanisms of interferon regulatory factor 8(IRF8)in porcine intestinal in-nate immunity and resistance to enteric virus infection remain to be elucidated.To investigate the immunoregulatory role of IRF8,establishing an IRF8 gene knockout porcine intestinal epithelial cell(IPEC-J2)monoclonal cell line is of significant importance.This study initially aimed to obtain recombinant adeno-associated virus rAAV-sgIRF8-eGFP capable of knocking out the IRF8 gene through co-transfection of HEK-293T cells with three plasmids.Subsequently,IPEC-J2 cells were infected with the virus,and those expressing eGFP were selected by flow cytometry and cultured to form monoclonal cell lines.These cell lines were then identified by Sanger sequencing and West-ern blot techniques.Lastly,qPCR analysis was used to measure the expression levels of interferon factors IFN-α,IFN-β,IFN-γ and IFN-λ,providing preliminary insights into the impact of IRF8 gene knockout on IPEC-J2 cell immunity.The results demonstrated successful generation of rAAV-sgIRF8-eGFP,which successfully infected IPEC-J2 cells leading to eGFP fluorescence.Flow cytometry followed by cell culture led to the establishment of two monoclonal cell lines,IRF8-KO1 and IRF8-KO3.Sanger sequencing revealed a five-base deletion in IRF8-KO1 and a seven-base dele-tion in IRF8-KO3.Western blot confirmed the absence of IRF8 protein expression in IRF8-KO1,making it an ideal candidate monoclonal cell line.qPCR analysis of interferon factors indicated sig-nificant decrease in IFN-γ(P＜0.05)and IFN-λ(P＜0.01)transcription level in IRF8-knockout cells,while the transcription levels of IFN-α and IFN-β remained relatively unchanged.This study successfully established an IRF8 gene knockout IPEC-J2 monoclonal cell line,providing a founda-tion for further research on IRF8-related porcine intestinal immune regulation and mechanisms of intestinal virus infection.

The primary role of transfer RNA(tRNA)is to connect a specific amino acid to its 3' end, use its anticodon to match the codon on messenger RNA(mRNA), and deliver the corresponding amino acid to the ribosome for protein synthesis.tRNA exists in two forms: precursor tRNA and mature tRNA.When acted upon by enzymes like Dicer, elaC ribonuclease Z 2(ELAC2), angiopoietin(ANG), and other ribonucleases, tRNA is broken down into tRNA-derived stress-induced RNA(tiRNA)and tRNA-derived fragments(tRF).Recent advancements in RNA sequencing technology have led to increased interest in tiRNA and tRF, shedding light on their roles in various physiological and pathological processes.tRNA-derived small molecules(tsRNA)function similarly to microRNA(miRNA), influencing gene expression and protein synthesis.They show promise as diagnostic markers and potential therapeutic targets for age-related diseases.This review offers a comprehensive analysis of tsRNA classification, biological functions, research advancements, and clinical applications in age-related conditions.

The specific mechanisms of interferon regulatory factor 8(IRF8)in porcine intestinal in-nate immunity and resistance to enteric virus infection remain to be elucidated.To investigate the immunoregulatory role of IRF8,establishing an IRF8 gene knockout porcine intestinal epithelial cell(IPEC-J2)monoclonal cell line is of significant importance.This study initially aimed to obtain recombinant adeno-associated virus rAAV-sgIRF8-eGFP capable of knocking out the IRF8 gene through co-transfection of HEK-293T cells with three plasmids.Subsequently,IPEC-J2 cells were infected with the virus,and those expressing eGFP were selected by flow cytometry and cultured to form monoclonal cell lines.These cell lines were then identified by Sanger sequencing and West-ern blot techniques.Lastly,qPCR analysis was used to measure the expression levels of interferon factors IFN-α,IFN-β,IFN-γ and IFN-λ,providing preliminary insights into the impact of IRF8 gene knockout on IPEC-J2 cell immunity.The results demonstrated successful generation of rAAV-sgIRF8-eGFP,which successfully infected IPEC-J2 cells leading to eGFP fluorescence.Flow cytometry followed by cell culture led to the establishment of two monoclonal cell lines,IRF8-KO1 and IRF8-KO3.Sanger sequencing revealed a five-base deletion in IRF8-KO1 and a seven-base dele-tion in IRF8-KO3.Western blot confirmed the absence of IRF8 protein expression in IRF8-KO1,making it an ideal candidate monoclonal cell line.qPCR analysis of interferon factors indicated sig-nificant decrease in IFN-γ(P＜0.05)and IFN-λ(P＜0.01)transcription level in IRF8-knockout cells,while the transcription levels of IFN-α and IFN-β remained relatively unchanged.This study successfully established an IRF8 gene knockout IPEC-J2 monoclonal cell line,providing a founda-tion for further research on IRF8-related porcine intestinal immune regulation and mechanisms of intestinal virus infection.