Diabetic retinopathy(DR), the most common microvascular complication of diabetes, has become a leading cause of visual impairment and blindness across all age groups. The early diagnosis and severity assessment of DR rely on the precise evaluation of retinal microvascular alterations. The periarterial capillary-free zone(paCFZ), a physiological avascular region surrounding retinal arteries, has recently been recognized as an important biomarker reflecting the status of retinal microcirculation. Advances in optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)have enabled noninvasive, high-resolution quantification of the paCFZ, offering a novel approach for the early detection and stratification of DR. This review systematically summarizes the definition and developmental mechanism of the paCFZ, as well as its morphological characteristics across different stages of DR, with a particular focus on the advantages of OCTA in visualizing and quantifying the paCFZ. We further discuss the differential manifestations of the paCFZ in nonproliferative DR and proliferative DR, and its associations with retinal ischemia and oxygenation status. In addition, the potential clinical value of paCFZ in evaluating responses to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)therapy and predicting disease progression is summarized. Finally, the challenges in clinical translation and future research directions are addressed, aiming to provide theoretical support and new perspectives for early screening, risk stratification, and personalized management of DR.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genotype-phenotype correlation in a Chinese family with structural brain abnormalities due to variant of the TUBB gene. METHODS: A family undergoing prenatal diagnosis at Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital in October 2024 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data were collected. Amniotic fluid sample was subjected to chromosomal copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq). Trio whole-exome sequencing (Trio-WES) was carried out on the amniotic fluid and parental blood samples, and candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the hospital (Ethics No.: 2023-KY-076-01). RESULTS: Both prenatal ultrasound and fetal MRI showed deviation of brain midline, unilateral lateral ventriculomegaly, and bilateral gyral asymmetry. Trio-WES revealed that the fetus has harbored a maternally derived heterozygous missense variant of the TUBB gene [NM_178014.4: c.155A>G (p.N52S)]. Sanger sequencing confirmed that the woman and a previously terminated fetus both harbored the same variant. Both the proband and two fetuses exhibited similar neuroimaging abnormalities including midline deviation and asymmetrical gyri. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the variant was classified as likely pathogenic (PM2_Supporting+PS2_Moderate+PS3). CONCLUSION The heterozygous c.155A>G (p.N52S) variant was the TUBB gene probably underlay the pathogenesis of the structural brain abnormalities in this family. Above findings have expanded the phenotypic spectrum associated with the variant and facilitated the prenatal diagnosis for this family.
Humans ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Tubulin/genetics* ; Adult ; Brain/diagnostic imaging* ; Male ; Pedigree ; DNA Copy Number Variations/genetics* ; Exome Sequencing ; Genetic Association Studies ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Objective To investigate alterations in interhemispheric functional connectivity(FC)in the cerebral cortices connected via the corpus callosum in patients with Alzheimer's disease(AD),and to explore their relationships with cognitive function and activities of daily living.Methods Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected from 28 patients with Alzheimer's dementia(d-AD),47 patients with mild cognitive impairment(MCI),and 37 healthy controls(HC).Using a trancallosal tract template,32 pairs of homologous cortical brain regions directly connected to 32 subregions of the corpus callosum were selected as regions of interest for interhemispheric FC analysis.Further correlation analyses were performed between FC values in patient groups and their scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic(MoCA-B)Scale and the Activities of Daily Living(ADL)Scale.Results Compared with HC group,both MCI and d-AD groups exhibited hyperconnectivity(significantly increased FC)in interhemispheric non-homologous brain regions.Specifically,hyperconnectivity in the MCI group was scattered across the frontal,parietal,temporal,and occipital lobes,while in the d-AD group,it was concentrated within the precentral and postcentral gyri.Notably,hyperconnectivity involving the prefrontal and occipital lobes in the MCI group showed significant declines in the d-AD group.The interhemispheric homologous FC in the d-AD group reduced more significantly than the MCI group.Additionally,in the d-AD group,2 interhemispheric FC within the prefrontal lobe(between the bilateral orbital parts of the inferior frontal gyrus,and between the left medial frontal gyrus and the right middle frontal gyrus)were correlated with MoCA-B scores,and 2 FC(between the bilateral middle occipital gyri,and between the left inferior parietal lobule and the right middle frontal gyrus)were correlated with ADL scores.Conclusion MCI and d-AD exhibit distinct patterns of interhemispheric FC alterations,and the interhemispheric FC changes in AD patients are non-progressive.The close relationships between interhemispheric homologous/non-homologous FC and MoCA-B/ADL scores in d-AD patients provide an objective basis and reference for clinical neuromodulation.

Objective:To compare the mortality of patients with septic shock in the intensive care unit of the emergency department of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital in 2012 and 2022, and analyze the risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients in each year.Methods:According to the diagnostic criteria of septic shock, 82 patients with septic shock admitted to the ICU of the emergency department of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital in 2012 and 52 patients with septic shock admitted to the ICU in 2022 were included. The clinical data of patients in each year and the related indicators that may affect the prognosis were compared. The risk factors of death in patients with septic shock in each year were screened by multivariate logistic regression analysis, and the predictive value of risk factors on death was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results:In 2012, 30 patients with septic shock died and 52 survived. The fatality rate was 36.59%. In 2022, 16 patients with septic shock died and 36 survived, with a fatality rate of 30.77%. There was significant difference in mortality between 2012 and 2022 (χ 2=6.805, P=0.009). In 2012 and 2022, the mortality of septic shock patients with different gender, age and Sequential Organ failure assessment (SOFA) score had statistical significance ( P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that gender ( OR=1.554, P=0.037), lactic acid ( OR=1.062, P=0.035) and SOFA score ( OR=1.199, P=0.028) were the risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients in 2012, gender ( OR=1.234, P=0.028), total cholesterol ( OR=1.358, P=0.028) and SOFA score ( OR=1.388, P=0.034) were the risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients in 2022. ROC curve analysis results showed that SOFA score had higher sensitivity and specificity in predicting death of septic shock patients in 2012 (all P<0.05), and lactic acid, total cholesterol and SOFA score had higher sensitivity and specificity in predicting death of septic shock patients in 2022 (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The case fatality rate of septic shock patients in 2022 is lower than that in 2012, the morbidity and mortality rate of male patients are still higher than that of female patients, and the case fatality rate of patients increases with age. SOFA score was an independent risk factor for the prognosis of septic shock patients in 2012 and 2022.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of intraoperative regional lymph-adenectomy and extended lymphadenectomy in resectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma.Methods:The propensity score matching and retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 187 patients of hilar cholangiocarcinoma who were admitted to Henan University People′s Hospital from January 2014 to January 2018 were collected. There were 105 males and 82 females, aged (57±9)years. Of the 187 patients, 62 patients undergoing hilar cholangiocarcinoma resection with extended lymphadenectomy were divided into the extended group, and 125 patients under-going hilar cholangiocarcinoma resection with regional lymphadenectomy were divided into the regional group. Observation indicators:(1) propensity score matching status and comparison of clinical data of patients between the two groups after matching; (2) intraoperative and postoperative conditions; (3) follow-up. Comparison of measurement data with normal distribu-tion between groups was conducted using the independent sample t test. Comparison of measurement data with skewed distribution between groups was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. Comparison of count data between groups was conducted using the chi-square test. Comparison of ordinal data was conducted using the rank sum test. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot calculate survival rate and survival curve. The Log-rank test was used for survival analysis. Propen-sity score matching was performed using the 1∶1 nearest neighbor matching method, with the caliper value of 0.1. Results:(1) Propen-sity score matching status and comparison of clinical data of patients between the two groups after matching. Of the 187 patients, 104 patients were success-fully matched, with 52 cases in each of the extended group and the regional group. After propensity score matching, the elimination of tumor diameter, neural invasion, Bismuth classification, and TNM staging confounding bias ensured comparability. (2) Intraoperative and postoperative conditions. After pro-pensity score matching, the operation time of the extended group was (341±83)minutes, the number of lymph node dissected was 12.3±4.5, the number of positive lymph node dissected was 2.2±0.7, cases of postoperative new lymphadenectasis was 17. The above indicators of the regional group were (311±73)minutes, 9.2±3.4, 1.5±0.5, 44, respectively. There were significant differences in the above indica-tors between patients of the two groups ( t=-1.99, -3.92, -5.57, χ2=31.18, P<0.05). (3) Follow-up. After propensity score matching, all 104 patients were followed up after surgery, with the follow-up time of 29(range, 3-49)months. The postoperative 3-year overall survival rate was 44.2% of the extended group, versus 30.8% of the regional group, showing a significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=4.41, P<0.05). Conclusions:The perioperative safety of regional lymphadenec-tomy and extended lymphadenectomy in the radical resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma are com-parable. Extended lymphadenectomy can increase the number of positive lymph node detected and improve the postoperative survival rate of patients.

BACKGROUND:Wolff's law points out that the lack of mechanical stress in the body will lead to the degradation of the microstructure of bone tissue,mass loss,and metabolic disorders,and eventually lead to osteoporosis,which suggests that mechanical stress plays an important role in the growth,reconstruction,and formation of bone tissue.At present,the relevant studies concerning mechanical stress on osteoblasts mainly focus on fluid shear force,but it is difficult to intervene in vivo.Meanwhile,some studies have found that compressive stress can also play a similar role in fluid shear force to a certain extent.Exploring the mode of action and influence of compressive stress on cells in vitro experiments can enrich the interaction relationship between mechanical stress and cells.It helps provide a theoretical basis for studies of metabolic bone diseases,including osteoporosis,and other diseases.OBJECTIVE:To review in vitro experiments,the application of compressive stress to cells,different biological behaviors caused by cells,the possible signaling pathways,and possible future applications.METHODS:We searched PubMed,Web of Science,CNKI,and WanFang databases from January 2000 to March 2024 to include all articles related to compressive stress on cells,including basic research and microscopic mechanism studies,using search terms"compressive stress,mechanical stress,hydrostatic pressure,cell"in Chinese and English.Finally,the 63 included articles were reviewed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)There are various ways to apply compressive stress,and different experimental equipment has different ways of pressurizing cells,so it is necessary to further standardize the experimental equipment,standardize the pressurization unit,reduce the confounding factors,and make the reference and comparability between different experimental groups.(2)Compressive stress can cause changes in cell proliferation,differentiation,autophagy,apoptosis,migration,etc.,and the effect of compressive stress is time-or dose-dependent in most cases.(3)At present,most in vitro experimental studies have shown that compressive stress may mainly act on osteoblasts through MAPK signaling pathway and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway,causing osteoblasts to produce different responses.(4)The effect of compressive stress on different cells is not the same,and its possible biological effects need to be studied.(5)Further research on compressive stress is helpful to provide a theoretical basis for treatment in orthopedics,stomatology,tumors and other fields,and gentle disinfection using hydrostatic pressure is a promising disinfection method.

Objective To investigate the effects of Bushen Zhuanggu decoction on total N-terminal propeptide of type Ⅰprocollagen(t-PINP)and β-C-terminal telopeptide of type Ⅰ collagen(β-CTX)in patients with knee osteoarthritis(KOA).Methods A total of 120 patients with liver-kidney deficiency KOA treated in Linping District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from June 2021 to April 2024 were selected and divided into study group and control group according to random number table method,with 60 cases in each group.The patients of control group was given oral treatment with etocoxib and omeprazole,and patients of study group was given oral treatment of Bushen Zhuanggu decoction on the basis of control group.Both groups were treated for one month.The clinical efficacy,TCM syndrome scores,serum t-PINP and β-CTX leves,t-PINP/β-CTX,Western Ontario and Mcmaster Universities osteoarthritis index(WOMAC)scores and adverse reactions during treatment were compared between two groups.Results The total effective rate in study group was significantly higher than that in control group(x2=4.5 13,P=0.034).After treatment,the TCM syndrome scores,serum t-PINP and β-CTX levels and WOMAC scores in two groups were significantly lower than before treatment,and t-PINP/β-CTX were significantly higher than before treatment(P＜0.05).The TCM syndrome scores,serum t-PINP and β-CTX levels and WOMAC scores in study group were significantly lower than those in control group,and t-PINP/β-CTX was significantly higher than that in control group(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in incidence of adverse reactions between two groups(x2=0.686,P=0.408).Conclusion Bushen Zhuanggu decoction can improve the clinical efficacy of KOA patients with liver-kidney deficiency,relieve clinical symptoms and pain,increase t-PINP/β-CTX,and reduce the incidence of adverse reactions.

Purpose To explore whether tryptanthrin(TRYP)can inhibit the malignant behavioral ability of glio-ma cells,and to elucidate the specific mechanism of its action.Methods MTT assay was performed to detect the effect of TRYP on the proliferation of glioma cells;Transwell assay was performed to detect the effect of TRYP on the migration and invasion of glioma cells;AnnexinV-FITC/PI apoptosis assay was performed to detect the effect of TRYP on the apoptosis of glioma cells;PI/RNase cell cycle assay was performed to detect the effect of TRYP on the cell cycle distribution of glioma cells;Western blot assay was performed to detect the effect of TRYP on the protein expressions of p-ERK and c-Myc in glioma cells.The effect of TRYP on the proliferation of glioma cells in vivo was verified by con-structing a subcutaneous transplantation tumor model in nude mice,and the effect of TRYP on the apoptotic ability of cells in the transplantation tumor was detected by TUNEL assay.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the effect of TRYP on the expression of Ki67,BRAF,c-Myc,and p-ERK proteins in transplanted tumor tissues.Results MTT assay showed that TRYP could effectively inhibit the proliferation of glioma cells(P＜0.001).Transwell assay showed that TRYP could inhibit the invasion and migration of glioma cells(P＜0.001).AnnexinV-FITC/PI cell apoptosis as-say showed that TRYP could promote the apoptosis of glioma cells(P＜0.001).The results of PI/RNase cell cycle as-say showed that TRYP was able to promote the G2 phase block of glioma cells(P＜0.001).Western blot results showed that the expression levels of c-Myc and p-ERK proteins in the glioma cells were significantly reduced after TR-YP treatment(P＜0.001).The results of subcutaneous transplantation tumor model in nude mice showed that TRYP could effectively inhibit the growth rate(P＜0.01)and weight(P＜0.05)of transplanted tumor.TUNEL assay showed that TRYP could promote the apoptosis of tumor cells in transplanted tumor(P＜0.001).Immunohistochemis-try results showed that TRYP could effectively inhibit the protein expression of Ki67(P＜0.01),BRAF,c-Myc,and p-ERK(P＜0.001).Conclusion TRYP can inhibit the proliferation,invasion,and migration ability of glioma cells,promote apoptosis of glioma cells,and block the cell cycle of glioma cells.TRYP may inhibit the malignant pro-gression of glioma cells by suppressing the protein expression of BRAF,c-Myc and p-ERK1/2 in the MAPK/ERK sig-naling pathway.

Different animals in Xinjiang carry Escherichia coli O157:H7(E.coli O157:H7),but the connection between these strains is not clear.This study aims to understand the evolutionary sub-group of E.coli O157:H7,the distribution of the dominant genetic lineage,the biofilm formation ability,the carriage of mobile genetic elements and their drug resistance profile.E.coli O157:H7 was identified by PCR.Multilocus sequence typing(MLST)protocol was used for E.coli O157 to detect ST type,plasmid replicon and integron genes.Biofilm formation ability was determined by crystal violet microplate,and Kirby-Bauer was used to detect drug resistance.The results showed that 46.7％(7/15)of E.coli O157:H7 belongs to Group A,53.3％(8/15)of E.coli O157:H7 be-longs to Group E.Sheep source were mainly prevalent in Group A(4/6).Cattle sources are mainly Group E(6/7).A total of six ST types were detected:ST11(8/15),ST-206(1/15),ST-6126(3/15),ST-1640(1/15),ST-178(1/15),ST-4550(1/15).Two strains had a moderate biofilm-form-ing capacity,two strains had a weak biofilm-forming capacity,10 strains have no biofilm-forming capacity.All were multidrug-resistant strains,with complete resistance to lincomycin,oxacillin,clindamycin,vancomycin,midemycin and cefthiophene,and 88％-94％resistance to poly-myxin B,ampicillin,penicillin G and erythromycin,they are highly drug resistant.The five resist-ance genes detected were acrA(66.66％,10/15),tolC(73.33％,11/15),qurS(13.33％,2/15),floR and qurA(6.67％,1/15).Four plasm id replicons were detected,they were IncP(66.66％,10/15),IncFrepB(86.67％,13/15),IncFIA(6.67％,1/15),IncFIB(66.66％,10/15).Two class Ⅰ integrons were detected and they were ISCR1(33.33％,5/15),ISECP1(20％,3/15).The re-sults showed that E.coli O157:H7 in Xinjiang was predominantly prevalent in Group A and Group E.Sheep sources were predominantly prevalent in Group A,and cattle sources were predominantly prevalent in Group E.The ST types were widely distributed,with ST11 types being the predomi-nant type,the biofilm-forming ability was weak,and the resistance was strong,all of them were multi-drug-resistant strains,and the resistance genes were mainly externally excreted from the pumps,and the resistance genes had more spreading elements.

Objective:To compare the mortality of patients with septic shock in the intensive care unit of the emergency department of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital in 2012 and 2022, and analyze the risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients in each year.Methods:According to the diagnostic criteria of septic shock, 82 patients with septic shock admitted to the ICU of the emergency department of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital in 2012 and 52 patients with septic shock admitted to the ICU in 2022 were included. The clinical data of patients in each year and the related indicators that may affect the prognosis were compared. The risk factors of death in patients with septic shock in each year were screened by multivariate logistic regression analysis, and the predictive value of risk factors on death was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results:In 2012, 30 patients with septic shock died and 52 survived. The fatality rate was 36.59%. In 2022, 16 patients with septic shock died and 36 survived, with a fatality rate of 30.77%. There was significant difference in mortality between 2012 and 2022 (χ 2=6.805, P=0.009). In 2012 and 2022, the mortality of septic shock patients with different gender, age and Sequential Organ failure assessment (SOFA) score had statistical significance ( P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that gender ( OR=1.554, P=0.037), lactic acid ( OR=1.062, P=0.035) and SOFA score ( OR=1.199, P=0.028) were the risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients in 2012, gender ( OR=1.234, P=0.028), total cholesterol ( OR=1.358, P=0.028) and SOFA score ( OR=1.388, P=0.034) were the risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients in 2022. ROC curve analysis results showed that SOFA score had higher sensitivity and specificity in predicting death of septic shock patients in 2012 (all P<0.05), and lactic acid, total cholesterol and SOFA score had higher sensitivity and specificity in predicting death of septic shock patients in 2022 (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The case fatality rate of septic shock patients in 2022 is lower than that in 2012, the morbidity and mortality rate of male patients are still higher than that of female patients, and the case fatality rate of patients increases with age. SOFA score was an independent risk factor for the prognosis of septic shock patients in 2012 and 2022.