OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of thumbtack-needle embedding therapy of auricular acupuncture on gastrointestinal function and intestinal microflora in the patients with gastric cancer after operation, and to explore its mechanism. METHODS: A total of 80 patients with gastric cancer after radical operation were randomly divided into an observation group (40 cases, 3 cases discontinued) and a control group (40 cases, 3 cases discontinued). The patients of both groups received the perioperative care for accelerating recovery. Additionally, in the observation group, the thumbtack-needle embedding therapy of auricular acupuncture was delivered at the auricular points of unilateral side, including Wei (CO₄), Pi (CO₁₃), Dachang (CO₇), Xiaochang (CO₆), Yuanzhong (AT_2,3,4i), Erzhong (HX₁), Sanjiao (CO₁₇) and Jiaowozhong (TF₃), and the needles were embedded and retained for 72 h. The postoperative recovery time of gastrointestinal function (the postoperative bowel sound recovery time, the first exhaust time, the first defecation time), the postoperative hospital stay and pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score were observed in the two groups. Before operation and on day 5 after operation, the serum gastrin level was detected in the two groups. The third-generation 16S rRNA sequencing technology was used to detect the composition and relative abundance of intestinal flora in the two groups before and after operation. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the postoperative bowel sound recovery time, the first exhaust time and the first defecation time were shortened in the observation group (P<0.05). In the observation group, the VAS scores at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after surgery were lower than those of the control group, respectively (P<0.05). There was no significant differences in postoperative hospital stay and serum gastrin level between the two groups (P>0.05). The alpha diversity analysis showed that the differences in Shannon index, Simpson index, Pielou_J index and Pd_fath index were not significant statistically after intervention between the two groups (P>0.05). After intervention, the community structure of the fecal sample was similar at each taxonomic level between the two groups, and although the proportion between species was various, the difference was not significant (P>0.05). After intervention, there were 55 species with the differences between the two groups, 17 species of them presented significant difference in relative abundance in the observation group and 38 species in the control group. Regarding the level of genus, the levels of Klebsiell and Enterobacter increased (P<0.05) and the level of Streptococcus decreased (P<0.05) in the observation group. The main microbial groups that played an important role were Coprobacillaceae, Sutterellaceae and Yersiniaceae in the observation group. KEGG function prediction indicated that the function of intestinal microflora was mainly associated with the cofactor and vitamin metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. CONCLUSION The thumbtack-needle embedding therapy of auricular acupuncture improves the postoperative gastrointestinal function of the patients with gastric cancer probably through regulating the structure and relative abundance of intestinal microflora and affecting the energy metabolism.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Acupuncture, Ear/instrumentation* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Aged ; Stomach Neoplasms/therapy* ; Adult ; Acupuncture Points ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology* ; Intestines/physiopathology* ; Postoperative Period ; Acupuncture Therapy

Objective To explore the value of deep learning image reconstruction(DLIR)algorithm to improve the quality of low keV monochromatic portal vein images of energy spectrum CT.Methods Fifty patients who underwent enhanced upper abdominal energy spectrum CT scan were selected.Mixed-model adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-Veo(50%ASIR-V)algorithm and high-deep learning image reconstruction(DLIR-H)algorithm were used to obtain monochromatic images at 40-70 keV(with intervals of 10 keV).The CT and standard deviation(SD)values of the portal vein trunk,left and right branches,and erector spinae muscle were measured in the transverse position,and the signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and portal vein contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)were calculated for objective evaluation.The portal vein image quality between the two algorithms and different energy was subjectively scored by two physicians.Results In terms of objective evaluation:compared with 50%ASIR-V,the CNR and SNR of portal vein in monochromatic DLIR-H images at the same keV between 40-70 keV energy levels were increased while the SD value was decreased(P＜0.05),and the CT value was unchanged;there was no statistical difference in the magnitude of change in CNR between the two algorithms at different energy levels(P＞0.05);there was a statistically significant difference in the magnitude of change in SNR and SD value(P＜0.05)and the magnitude of change was the largest at 40 keV;comparison between different energy levels of DLIR-H,the CNR and SD value of 40 keV DLIR-H were the highest(P＜0.05),and there was no significant difference in the SNR(P＞0.05).In terms of subjective evaluation:there was no significant difference between the subjective scores of the two algorithms at the same keV from 40-70 keV(P＞0.05),and the two reconstruction algorithms at 40 keV and 50 keV had the highest subjective scores between different keV.Conclusion The DLIR algorithm can reduce the noise of low keV monochromatic images,improve the image quality of portal vein.

Object·To explore the effects of comorbid obsessive-compulsive personality disorder(OCPD)on the behavioral inhibition system(BIS)/behavioral activation system(BAS)in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD).Methods·A total of 247 patients with unmedicated OCD diagnosed in the Mental Health Center,Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from 2014 to 2018 were included and divided into an OCD group(n=202),and an OCD+OCPD group(n=45),and 107 healthy controls were recruited as a comparison group.Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsion Scale(YBOCS),BIS/BAS Scale,Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD),and Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA)were used to assess psychopathological features.Gender differences among the three groups were analyzed using the x2 test.One-way analysis of variance(ANOVA)was used to compare differences in demographic characteristics,psychopathological features,and BIS/BAS scores,followed by the least significant difference(LSD)test for pairwise comparisons.Regression analysis was conducted to explore the relationships between psychopathological features and BIS/BAS scores.Results·There were no significant differences in gender,age,and years of education among the three groups.The scores of YBOCS(t=2.925,P=0.004),HAMD(t=2.130,P=0.034)and HAMA(t=2.568,P=0.011)in the OCD+OCPD group were significantly higher than those in the OCD group.There were statistically significant differences in BIS and BAS scores among the three groups(BIS:F=39.573,P＜0.001;BAS:F=3.915,P=0.021).The results showed that for BIS,there were statistically significant differences in pairwise comparisons among the three groups(OCD+OCPD vs OCD:P=0.002;OCD+OCPD vs HC:P＜0.001;OCD vs HC:P＜0.001),and the scores were OCD+OCPD＜OCD＜HC from low to high.For BAS,the OCD group scored significantly higher than the OCD+OCPD and HC groups(OCD+OCPD vs OCD:P=0.018;OCD vs HC:P=0.043),but there was no significant difference between the OCD+OCPD and HC groups.Regression models of BIS and BAS were constructed for OCD patients with OCPD,and the results showed that the overall prediction effect of the model was significant for BIS total scores(F=2.599,P=0.013).Only the severity of OCPD symptoms can significantly predict BIS scores(t=-2.282,P=0.023).For BAS total scores,the overall prediction effect of the model was not significant(F=1.438,P=0.191).Conclusion·Comorbid OCPD may be an adverse factor for abnormal BIS and a protective factor for abnormal BAS in patients with OCD.

Objective To explore the value of deep learning image reconstruction(DLIR)combined with"three low(low radiation dose,low contrast dose,and low contrast injection rate)techniques"of spectrum CT with low keV in optimizing the image quality of portal vein for liver cirrhosis.Methods Sixty patients with liver cirrhosis who underwent computed tomography portal venography(CTPV)were selected and randomly divided into standard protocol group(group A,n=30)and"three-low"protocol group(group B,n=30).The group A with 120 kVp,contrast dose of 1.4 mL/kg,injection rate of 4.0-5.0 mL/s,and reconstructed 50%adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-Veo(ASIR-V)image.The group B with 80 kVp/140 kVp double instantaneous switching gemstone spectral imaging(GSI)scan,contrast dose of 1.0 mL/kg,injection rate of 3.0-3.5 mL/s,and reconstructed 40 keV DLIR-M and DLIR-H images.The quality of portal vein images,effective dose(ED),contrast dose and injection rate were compared between the two groups.Results The ED of(4.10±1.56)mSv in group B was lower than that of(7.88±1.08)mSv in group A(P<0.001),and the contrast dose of(67.26±8.74)mL in group B was lower than that of(99.12±8.84)mL in group A(P<0.001).The injection rate of 3.0-3.5 mL/s in group B was reduced by 25%-30%compared with group A.Group B had the greatest contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)and signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)of portal vein in the 40 keV DLIR-H.The subjective image quality scores were in good agreement between the two physicians(Kappa value>0.75).The subjective DLIR score in group B was higher than that in group A.Conclusion DLIR combined with"three low techniques"spectrum CT with low keV can improve the image quality of portal vein in liver cirrhosis patients.

Objective To explore the value of deep learning image reconstruction(DLIR)algorithm to improve the quality of low keV monochromatic portal vein images of energy spectrum CT.Methods Fifty patients who underwent enhanced upper abdominal energy spectrum CT scan were selected.Mixed-model adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-Veo(50%ASIR-V)algorithm and high-deep learning image reconstruction(DLIR-H)algorithm were used to obtain monochromatic images at 40-70 keV(with intervals of 10 keV).The CT and standard deviation(SD)values of the portal vein trunk,left and right branches,and erector spinae muscle were measured in the transverse position,and the signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and portal vein contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)were calculated for objective evaluation.The portal vein image quality between the two algorithms and different energy was subjectively scored by two physicians.Results In terms of objective evaluation:compared with 50%ASIR-V,the CNR and SNR of portal vein in monochromatic DLIR-H images at the same keV between 40-70 keV energy levels were increased while the SD value was decreased(P＜0.05),and the CT value was unchanged;there was no statistical difference in the magnitude of change in CNR between the two algorithms at different energy levels(P＞0.05);there was a statistically significant difference in the magnitude of change in SNR and SD value(P＜0.05)and the magnitude of change was the largest at 40 keV;comparison between different energy levels of DLIR-H,the CNR and SD value of 40 keV DLIR-H were the highest(P＜0.05),and there was no significant difference in the SNR(P＞0.05).In terms of subjective evaluation:there was no significant difference between the subjective scores of the two algorithms at the same keV from 40-70 keV(P＞0.05),and the two reconstruction algorithms at 40 keV and 50 keV had the highest subjective scores between different keV.Conclusion The DLIR algorithm can reduce the noise of low keV monochromatic images,improve the image quality of portal vein.

Objective To explore the value of deep learning image reconstruction(DLIR)combined with"three low(low radiation dose,low contrast dose,and low contrast injection rate)techniques"of spectrum CT with low keV in optimizing the image quality of portal vein for liver cirrhosis.Methods Sixty patients with liver cirrhosis who underwent computed tomography portal venography(CTPV)were selected and randomly divided into standard protocol group(group A,n=30)and"three-low"protocol group(group B,n=30).The group A with 120 kVp,contrast dose of 1.4 mL/kg,injection rate of 4.0-5.0 mL/s,and reconstructed 50%adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-Veo(ASIR-V)image.The group B with 80 kVp/140 kVp double instantaneous switching gemstone spectral imaging(GSI)scan,contrast dose of 1.0 mL/kg,injection rate of 3.0-3.5 mL/s,and reconstructed 40 keV DLIR-M and DLIR-H images.The quality of portal vein images,effective dose(ED),contrast dose and injection rate were compared between the two groups.Results The ED of(4.10±1.56)mSv in group B was lower than that of(7.88±1.08)mSv in group A(P<0.001),and the contrast dose of(67.26±8.74)mL in group B was lower than that of(99.12±8.84)mL in group A(P<0.001).The injection rate of 3.0-3.5 mL/s in group B was reduced by 25%-30%compared with group A.Group B had the greatest contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)and signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)of portal vein in the 40 keV DLIR-H.The subjective image quality scores were in good agreement between the two physicians(Kappa value>0.75).The subjective DLIR score in group B was higher than that in group A.Conclusion DLIR combined with"three low techniques"spectrum CT with low keV can improve the image quality of portal vein in liver cirrhosis patients.

Object·To explore the effects of comorbid obsessive-compulsive personality disorder(OCPD)on the behavioral inhibition system(BIS)/behavioral activation system(BAS)in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD).Methods·A total of 247 patients with unmedicated OCD diagnosed in the Mental Health Center,Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from 2014 to 2018 were included and divided into an OCD group(n=202),and an OCD+OCPD group(n=45),and 107 healthy controls were recruited as a comparison group.Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsion Scale(YBOCS),BIS/BAS Scale,Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD),and Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA)were used to assess psychopathological features.Gender differences among the three groups were analyzed using the x2 test.One-way analysis of variance(ANOVA)was used to compare differences in demographic characteristics,psychopathological features,and BIS/BAS scores,followed by the least significant difference(LSD)test for pairwise comparisons.Regression analysis was conducted to explore the relationships between psychopathological features and BIS/BAS scores.Results·There were no significant differences in gender,age,and years of education among the three groups.The scores of YBOCS(t=2.925,P=0.004),HAMD(t=2.130,P=0.034)and HAMA(t=2.568,P=0.011)in the OCD+OCPD group were significantly higher than those in the OCD group.There were statistically significant differences in BIS and BAS scores among the three groups(BIS:F=39.573,P＜0.001;BAS:F=3.915,P=0.021).The results showed that for BIS,there were statistically significant differences in pairwise comparisons among the three groups(OCD+OCPD vs OCD:P=0.002;OCD+OCPD vs HC:P＜0.001;OCD vs HC:P＜0.001),and the scores were OCD+OCPD＜OCD＜HC from low to high.For BAS,the OCD group scored significantly higher than the OCD+OCPD and HC groups(OCD+OCPD vs OCD:P=0.018;OCD vs HC:P=0.043),but there was no significant difference between the OCD+OCPD and HC groups.Regression models of BIS and BAS were constructed for OCD patients with OCPD,and the results showed that the overall prediction effect of the model was significant for BIS total scores(F=2.599,P=0.013).Only the severity of OCPD symptoms can significantly predict BIS scores(t=-2.282,P=0.023).For BAS total scores,the overall prediction effect of the model was not significant(F=1.438,P=0.191).Conclusion·Comorbid OCPD may be an adverse factor for abnormal BIS and a protective factor for abnormal BAS in patients with OCD.

Modulating Tankyrases (TNKS), interactions with USP25 to promote TNKS degradation, rather than inhibiting their enzymatic activities, is emerging as an alternative/specific approach to inhibit the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Here, we identified UAT-B, a novel neoantimycin analog isolated from Streptomyces conglobatus, as a small-molecule inhibitor of TNKS-USP25 protein-protein interaction (PPI) to overcome multi-drug resistance in colorectal cancer (CRC). The disruption of TNKS-USP25 complex formation by UAT-B led to a significant decrease in TNKS levels, triggering cell apoptosis through modulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Importantly, UAT-B successfully inhibited the CRC cells growth that harbored high TNKS levels, as demonstrated in various in vitro and in vivo studies utilizing cell line-based and patient-derived xenografts, as well as APC^min/+ spontaneous CRC models. Collectively, these findings suggest that targeting the TNKS-USP25 PPI using a small-molecule inhibitor represents a compelling therapeutic strategy for CRC treatment, and UAT-B emerges as a promising candidate for further preclinical and clinical investigations.

Objective To explore the relationship between the expression levels of serum cingulate protein(CGN)and polyligand glycan 1(SDC-1)and the disease condition and outcome of hypertensive basal ganglia hemorrhage(HBGH).Methods A total of 123 patients with HBGH admitted to the Second People's Hospi-tal of Lianyungang from February 2019 to February 2022 were selected as the study objects,and 120 healthy volunteers who underwent physical examination in the hospital during the same period were selected as the health group.Serum CGN and SDC-1 expression levels were detected in the two groups.According to the dis-ease outcome,the patients were divided into the improved group(92 cases)and the deteriorated group(31 ca-ses).Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve and the area under the curve(AUC)were used to analyze the predictive value of serum CGN and SDC-1 expression levels on the disease outcome of patients with HB-GH.Results Serum CGN and SDC-1 expression levels in the severe group were higher than those in the mod-erate group and the mild group,and serum CGN and SDC-1 levels in the moderate group were higher than those in the mild group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Serum CGN and SDC-1 expression levels in HBGH patients in three groups were higher than those in health group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Serum CGN and SDC-1 expression levels in the deteriorated group were higher than those in the improved group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).The AUC of serum CGN and SDC-1 for predicting the disease outcome of HBGH patients was 0.742(95％CI:0.792-0.697)and 0.861(95％CI:0.906-0.910),respectively,and the AUC of the combination of the two was 0.917(95％CI:0.962-0.870).The amount of blood loss and ventricular rupture in the deteriorated group were higher than those in the improved group,and the Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS)score on admission was lower than that in the improved group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Multi-variate Logistic regression analysis showed that serum CGN≥51.63 pg/mL(OR=3.815),serum SDC-1≥450.67 μg/L(OR=4.230)and GCS score ≤8(OR=5.333)were the influencing factors for disease outcome of HBGH patients(P＜0.05).Conclusion The increased expression levels of serum CGN and SDC-1 are closely related to the disease aggravation and the deterioration of the disease outcome in patients with HBGH,and they have certain predictive value for the disease outcome in patients with HBGH.

Objective:To discuss the performance of visual score and heart-to-contralateral lung (H/CL) ratio of 99Tc m-pyrophosphate (PYP) SPECT/CT scintigraphy for diagnosing transthyretin-related cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) by using Meta-analysis. Methods:Relevant studies on 99Tc m-PYP SPECT/CT diagnosis of ATTR-CA published before August 20, 2023 from databases including Pubmed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang and China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP) were retrieved. Articles were screened and indices which reflect the diagnostic efficiency such as sensitivity and specificity were extracted. Forest plots were drawn, and subgroup analysis was performed to analyze the heterogeneity. Results:A total of 160 articles were retrieved, and 11 articles involving 1 802 patients were enrolled, of whom 605 were diagnosed with ATTR-CA. All 11 articles were enrolled when analyzing the diagnostic efficiency of visual score for diagnosing ATTR-CA. After integration, the sensitivity and specificity were 0.95(95% CI: 0.91-0.97) and 0.95(95% CI: 0.90-0.98), respectively. Ten articles (1 611 patients) were enrolled when analyzing the diagnostic efficiency of H/CL ratio for diagnosing ATTR-CA. After integration, the sensitivity and specificity were 0.93(95% CI: 0.82-0.98) and 0.99(95% CI: 0.90-1.00), respectively. Subgroup analysis indicated that lack of uniformity in diagnostic criteria was the primary source of heterogeneity. Conclusion:99Tc m-PYP SPECT/CT scintigraphy exhibits high diagnostic efficiency for ATTR-CA.