Objective To investigate the effect of tritiated water on the immune system of zebrafish and its potential molecular mechanism. Methods Zebrafish embryos (2.5 to 3 hours post-fertilization [hpf]) were exposed to 3.7 × 10⁴ Bq/mL tritiated water (tritiated water group), and those exposed to E3 culture medium were used as the control group. The mortality rate, hatching rate, deformity rate, heart rate, body length, yolk sac area, neutrophil count in the tail, immune-related gene expression, and immune-related protein expression of zebrafish in the two groups were determined. Then transcriptome technology was used to further analyze the possible mechanism of tritiated water affecting the immune system of zebrafish. Results Compared with the control group, zebrafish at 72 hpf in the tritiated water group had no significant changes in the mortality rate, hatching rate, deformity rate, body length, and yolk sac area((t = 0.9045, 0.5000, 1.0000, 0.7238, 0.0337, P = 0.4169, 0.6433, 0.3739, 0.4785, 0.9735), but had significantly increased heart rate(t = 4.575，P = 0.002). At 4 days post-fertilization (dpf), the neutrophil count in the tail of zebrafish in the tritiated water group was significantly increased(t = 2.563，P = 0.0196), the mRNA expression of TNF-α was significantly decreased(t = 2.891, P = 0.045), the protein expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) was significantly increased(t = 3.848, P = 0.018), and the protein expression of NLRP3 was significantly decreased(t = 14.98, P = 0.001). At 7 dpf, the neutrophil count in the tail and the protein expression levels of NF-κB, NLRP3, and interleukin-1β were significantly decreased(t = 3.772, 7.048, 15.620, 4.423, P = 0.014, 0.002, 0.0001, 0.012). Transcriptome sequencing revealed that differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in the “neutrophil activation” and “platelet activation pathways” at 4 dpf and in the “neutrophil apoptosis”, “ferroptosis”, and “necroptosis” pathways at 7 dpf. Conclusion Tritiated water exposure induces a temporally dynamic immune response in zebrafish, potentially affecting immune homeostasis by regulating neutrophil activation and apoptosis, as well as the expression of NF-κB and NLRP3.

Objective: To investigate the mechanism by which serum amyloid P component (SAP) alleviates periodontitis in mice, providing an experimental basis to establish SAP as a novel therapeutic agent for periodontitis. Methods: Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee. Periodontitis models were established in wild-type (WT) mice and SAP-transgenic (SAP-Tg) mice, divided into four groups: WT control (WT group), WT periodontitis (WT+P group), SAP-Tg control (Tg group), and SAP-Tg periodontitis (Tg+P group). On day 7, the mice were euthanized, and periodontal tissues, teeth, and alveolar bone were collected. SAP protein expression was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Micro-CT and HE staining were used to measure alveolar bone resorption (distance from the cementoenamel junction to the alveolar bone crest). Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining was performed to assess osteoclast number, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) was employed to evaluate macrophage infiltration. The expression levels of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured by qRT-PCR. Oral microorganism composition was analyzed using 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) gene sequencing. Additionally, macrophages from WT and SAP-Tg mice were isolated to establish an in vitro inflammation model, divided into WT+LPS and Tg+LPS groups. The expression of macrophage polarization-related genes including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), CD86, CD163, and CD206) were assessed by qRT-PCR. After the induction of osteoclast differentiation, TRAP staining was performed. Results: ELISA results demonstrated that periodontal tissues from Tg+P group mice exhibited higher levels of SAP expression compared to the WT+P group. Micro-CT and HE staining analyses revealed that the Tg+P group showed reduced alveolar bone resorption, indicated by a shorter distance between the cementoenamel junction and alveolar bone crest, compared to the WT+P group. Furthermore, TRAP staining results indicated a decrease in osteoclast numbers in the Tg+P group compared to the WT+P group. IHC and qRT-PCR results indicated reduced macrophage infiltration and decreased expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in the Tg+P group. Oral microorganism sequencing showed no significant difference in periodontitis-associated pathogenic bacteria between WT+P and Tg+P groups. In vitro experiments demonstrated that compared to the WT+LPS group, the Tg+LPS group exhibited downregulated M1 macrophage markers (iNOS and CD86) and upregulated M2 macrophage markers (CD163 and CD206). TRAP staining confirmed fewer osteoclasts in the Tg+LPS group. Conclusion SAP overexpression effectively alleviates periodontitis severity in mice by inhibiting M1 macrophage polarization, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, and suppressing osteoclast differentiation, thereby attenuating alveolar bone resorption.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the probiotic Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum BL21 (BL21) in preventing radiation-induced diarrhea (RID) in cervical cancer patients during radiotherapy (RT) and to investigate the intestinal microbiota in the patients. Methods:This study was a prospective, single-arm, phase Ⅱ clinical trial, involving cervical cancer patients treated with radical and adjuvant RT. From the first day of RT, participants took one pack of BL21 powder (containing 20 billion colony-forming unit(CFU) of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum BL21) orally every day until the end of RT. The occurrence of adverse events and RID during RT were assessed as per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events ( CTCAE) v5.0. In this way, the safety and efficacy of BL21 in preventing RID were evaluated. Additionally, the intestinal microbiota in fecal samples collected from the patients before and after RT were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. Results:A total of 35 cervical cancer patients were enrolled in this study, with 29 cases incorporated for the final analysis. No serious adverse event related to the administration of BL21 was observed. The patients exhibited slight RID, with the majority (22/29) developing no or grade 1 RID during RT. The microbiota in the fecal samples showed decreased alpha diversity after RT, as indicated by the Chao1 ( P = 0.002) and Shannon ( P = 0.005) indices. Furthermore, these samples exhibited a notably higher abundance of genus Clostridium (LDA score = 3.98). The fecal samples from patients with grade 1 RID or no RID post-RT exhibited higher alpha diversity than those from patients with grade 2 RID or above post-RT (Chao1: P = 0.07, Shannon: P = 0.28), as well as a high abundance of genera Gemmiger (LDA score = 4.48) and Dorea (LDA score = 3.83). Conclusions:The administration of BL21 to cervical cancer patients during RT is simple, convenient, safe, and effective in preventing RID, thus warranting further investigation.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the probiotic Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum BL21 (BL21) in preventing radiation-induced diarrhea (RID) in cervical cancer patients during radiotherapy (RT) and to investigate the intestinal microbiota in the patients. Methods:This study was a prospective, single-arm, phase Ⅱ clinical trial, involving cervical cancer patients treated with radical and adjuvant RT. From the first day of RT, participants took one pack of BL21 powder (containing 20 billion colony-forming unit(CFU) of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum BL21) orally every day until the end of RT. The occurrence of adverse events and RID during RT were assessed as per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events ( CTCAE) v5.0. In this way, the safety and efficacy of BL21 in preventing RID were evaluated. Additionally, the intestinal microbiota in fecal samples collected from the patients before and after RT were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. Results:A total of 35 cervical cancer patients were enrolled in this study, with 29 cases incorporated for the final analysis. No serious adverse event related to the administration of BL21 was observed. The patients exhibited slight RID, with the majority (22/29) developing no or grade 1 RID during RT. The microbiota in the fecal samples showed decreased alpha diversity after RT, as indicated by the Chao1 ( P = 0.002) and Shannon ( P = 0.005) indices. Furthermore, these samples exhibited a notably higher abundance of genus Clostridium (LDA score = 3.98). The fecal samples from patients with grade 1 RID or no RID post-RT exhibited higher alpha diversity than those from patients with grade 2 RID or above post-RT (Chao1: P = 0.07, Shannon: P = 0.28), as well as a high abundance of genera Gemmiger (LDA score = 4.48) and Dorea (LDA score = 3.83). Conclusions:The administration of BL21 to cervical cancer patients during RT is simple, convenient, safe, and effective in preventing RID, thus warranting further investigation.

Objective To explore the influencing factors of the quality of gastric mucosal preparation before gastroscopy on the clarity of gastric mucosa under gastroscopy.Methods Clinical data of 240 patients who underwent painless gastroscopy for the first time at the endoscopy center of a tertiary hospital in Wenzhou from September 1,2023 to December 31,2024 were analyzed.The mucosal clarity score under gas-troscopy was recorded during the gastroscopy process,and the influencing factors on the qualification rate of gastric mucosal preparation quality for painless gastroscopy were analyzed.Results The unqualified rate of gastric mucosal preparation in patients undergoing painless gastroscopy was 52.9％,with the highest rates in the upper part of the stomach(17.1％)and the bottom of the stomach(12.1％),followed by the lower part of the stomach(9.2％),the antrum(7.9％)and bulb(3.8％),the lowest rates in the esophagus(2.9％).The quality of gastric mucosal preparation was relatively poor.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that,BMI,Helicobacter pylori(Hp)infection,abnormal gastric juice characteristics,and gastric polyps were independent risk factors affecting gastric mucosal preparation(OR=2.784,3.501,3.873,3.611,P＜0.05).Conclusion Insufficient preparation of gastric mucosa is associated with high BMI,Hp infection,abnormal gastric juice characteristics,and gastric polyps.To address patients with these risk factors,individualized pre-treatment plans should be developed based on routine fasting to optimize endoscopic field of view and ensure examination quality.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of transnasal humidified rapid insufflation ventilatory exchange (THRIVE) on regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO 2) during induction of general anesthesia in patients undergoing traumatic brain injury (TBI) emergency surgery. Methods:A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted. The TBI emergency general anesthesia patients who underwent intracranial hematoma removal surgery at the Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital from January to July in 2023 were enrolled. The patients were divided into a conventional mask ventilation group and a THRIVE group using a random number table method. The patients in the conventional mask ventilation group were anesthetized and induced to pre oxygenate without positive pressure ventilation in the front mask for 10 minutes, with an oxygen flow rate of 8 L/min and an fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO 2) of 1.00. After anesthesia induction for about 90 s, tracheal intubation was performed after the muscle relaxant took effect (patient's jaw muscle was relaxed). The patients in the THRIVE group were pre oxygenated with THRIVE for 10 minutes, with an oxygen flow rate of 30 L/min and a FiO 2 of 1.00. During anesthesia induction, the oxygen flow rate was increased to 50 L/min, and anesthesia induction medication was used. The lower jaw of patient was supported with both hands to maintain airway patency, and the patient's mouth was kept closed throughout the process. After the muscle relaxant took effect (the patient's jaw muscle was relaxed), tracheal intubation was performed. At the time of patient entering the operating room, 10 minutes of pre oxygenation, and immediately after successful intubation, rScO 2 was measured on the surgical and non-surgical sides. At the same time, ultrasound was used to measure the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the gastric antrum and arterial blood gas analysis was performed. The partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide (P ETCO 2) during the first mechanical ventilation after successful tracheal intubation, the incidence of hypoxemia [pulse oxygen saturation (SpO 2) < 0.95] during tracheal intubation, as well as prognostic indicators such as the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, total length of hospital stay, and Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) score at discharge were recorded. Results:During the study period, a total of 70 TBI patients underwent emergency general anesthesia surgery, of which 2 patients died postoperatively, 2 patients were unable to cooperate with closed mouth breathing, and 3 patients had poor ultrasound image acquisition in the gastric antrum, all of whom were excluded. A total of 63 patients were ultimately enrolled, including 32 in the conventional mask ventilation group and 31 in the THRIVE group. There were no statistically significant differences in gender, age, body mass index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score, optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD), baseline vital signs, fasting situation, anesthesia time, surgical time, and intraoperative blood loss between the patients in the two groups, indicating comparability. When entering the operating room, there was no statistically significant difference in rScO 2 on the surgical and non-surgical sides, and blood gas analysis indexes arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO 2) and arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO 2) between the patients in the two groups. When pre oxygenated for 10 minutes, both the surgical and non-surgical sides rScO 2 levels in the THRIVE group were significantly higher than those in the conventional mask ventilation group (surgical side: 0.709±0.036 vs. 0.636±0.028, non-surgical side: 0.791±0.016 vs. 0.712±0.027, both P < 0.01), and the PaO 2 was significantly increased [mmHg (1 mmHg≈0.133 kPa): 450.23±60.99 vs. 264.88±49.33, P < 0.01], PaCO 2 was significantly reduced (mmHg: 37.81±3.65 vs. 43.59±3.76, P < 0.01), and the advantage continues tilled immediately after successful intubation. There was no statistically significant difference in CSA at each time point of ultrasound examination between the two groups. Compared with the conventional mask ventilation group, the patients in the THRIVE group showed a significant decrease in P ETCO 2 during the first mechanical ventilation after successful tracheal intubation (mmHg: 43.10±2.66 vs. 49.22±3.31, P < 0.01), and the incidence of hypoxemia during tracheal intubation was also significantly reduced [0% (0/31) vs. 28.12% (9/32), P < 0.01]. In terms of prognostic indicators, there was no statistically significant difference in the length of ICU stay and total length of hospital stay between the patients in the conventional mask ventilation group and the THRIVE group [length of ICU stay (days): 10 (9, 10) vs. 10 (9, 11), total length of hospital stay (days): 28.00 (26.00, 28.75) vs. 28.00 (27.00, 29.00), both P > 0.05]. However, the proportion of patients in the THRIVE group with a good prognosis at discharge (GOS score > 3) was significantly higher than that in the conventional mask ventilation group [35.5% (11/31) vs. 12.5% (4/32), P < 0.05]. Conclusion:THRIVE can significantly increase rScO 2 during anesthesia induction in TBI emergency surgery patients and improve their neurological function prognosis.

Objective To summarize the characteristics of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy(CIPN)in children with acute B-lymphoblast leukemia(B-ALL)and to identify the influencing factors and prognosis of CIPN.Methods The clinical data of 60 children with B-ALL admitted to the 29th Ward of the Department of Hematology and Oncology,Children's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University from June 2020 to December 2023 who received chemotherapy and had finished chemotherapy for 6 months were retrospectively reviewed.Results There were 37 cases of B-ALL combined with CIPN;the incidence of CIPN was 61.7% .Increasing age of onset was a risk factor for CIPN in children[OR=1.209,95% CI(1.023-1.428),P=0.026]with the highest incidence of sensory nerve dysfunction(78.4% ).Electromyography indicated that B-ALL combined with CIPN was multiple peripheral neurogenic lesions with certain reversibility.In the induction stage of chemotherapy,13 cases(35.1% )showed CIPN,accounting for the highest proportion.The CIPN improvement rate 6 months after chemotherapy was 67.6%,the age of onset[OR=2.418,95% CI(0.212-2.106),P=0.018]and the severity of CIPN[OR=203.394,95% CI(2.29-18 065.04). P=0.02]were risk factors for poor prognosis of children with CIPN.The older the age of onset was,the higher the severity of CIPN and worse prognosis were found.Conclusions Children with B-ALL complicated with CIPN are reversible multiple peripheral nerve lesions,and the occurrence and outcome of CIPN is potentially related to individual differences of children.

Objective:To investigate the incidence and potential risk factors associated with postopera-tive spinal epidural hematoma(SEH)following anterior cervical spine surgery(ACSS).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients who underwent ACSS for cervical spondylosis at Peking University Third Hospital between March 2013 and February 2022.Patients who developed postoperative SEH were categorized as the SEH group,while those in the cohort without SEH were randomly selected as the non-SEH group by individually matching with the same operator,same gender,same surgery year,and similar age(±5 years)at a ratio of 4:1.The general condition,pre-operative comorbidities,anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy,preoperative coagulation and platelet counts,American society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification,cervical spondylosis classifi-cation,preoperative modified Japanese Orthopaedic Society score and cervical disability index score,sur-gical modality,surgical segment levels,ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament among the surgi-cal level,surgery duration,estimated blood loss,postoperative drainage volume,preoperative mean arte-rial pressure,mean arterial pressure during postoperative awakening periods,hospital stay and hospitali-zation cost were compared between the two groups.A bivariate Logistic regression model was applied to screen out the independent risk factors and calculate the odds ratios of indicators associated with SEH.Receiver operating characteristic curve and area under the curve(AUC)were used to describe the dis-crimination ability of the indicators.Results:A total of 85 patients were enrolled in the study,including 17 patients in the SEH group and 68 patients in the non-SEH group.Seventeen patients with SEH under-went hematoma evacuation,and all of them were successfully treated and discharged from the hospital.Corpectomy(OR=7.247;95％CI:1.962-26.766;P=0.003)and the highest mean arterial pressure during awakening(OR=1.056;95％CI:1.002-1.113;P=0.043)were independent risk factors for SEH.The AUC values were 0.713(95％CI:0.578-0.848)and 0.665(95％CI:0.51-0.82)re-spectively.The patients with SEH had longer hospital stays(P＜0.001)and greater hospitalization costs(P=0.035).Conclusion:Corpectomy and elevated maximum mean arterial pressure during awakening are independent risk factors for the development of postoperative SEH following ACSS.High-risk patients should be closely monitored during the perioperative period.

Clinical data of 15 patients diagnosed with acute renal infarction (ARI) in Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University from Jan 2011 to Dec 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Of the included 15 patients, there were 14 cases of cardiac origin and 1 case of antiphospholipid syndrome. We found that there were 12 cases of atrial fibrillation, 2 cases of atrial premature beats, 12 cases of elevated level of D-dimer, 15 cases of elevated level of LDH, 11 cases of positive urine occult blood and positive urine protein. Among the 15 patients, catheter-directed thrombolysis was performed in 4 cases, of which 3 cases were revascularized successfully, intravenous thrombolysis in 2 cases and alone anticoagulation therapy in 9 cases. It is suggested that CECT or CTA can assist the early diagnosis of ARI especially in patients with acute onset and persistent abdominal pain with high risk factors of thromboembolism, high levels of LDH, microscopic hematuria and/or proteinuria. Despite prolonged embolic ischemia, try to reconstruct blood flow to save the kidney as much as possible. Late standardized anticoagulant therapy is of critical importance to prevent recurrent embolic episodes.

Hypothyroidism (HT) can arise as a complication of radiotherapy for breast cancer. Despite having a significant impact on patients′ quality of life, HT had always been overlooked by radiotherapists in the past. In recent years, many studies highlighting the protection of the thyroid in the process of radiotherapy for breast cancer have been conducted, achieving valuable conclusion. These studies can serve as a guide for radiotherapists to limit the dose to the thyroid during radiotherapy, thus reducing the incidence of HT.