AIM: To investigate the differences in morphological structure and retinal blood perfusion between the affected eye and the contralateral healthy eye using optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)in patients with idiopathic macular epiretinal membrane(IMEM)before and after surgery, and to evaluate the association of these parameters with functional and anatomical outcomes to inform prognostic assessment. METHODS:A prospective study was conducted at Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital between January 2023 and December 2024. Consecutive patients diagnosed with unilateral IMEM were enrolled; the fellow eye served as an internal control. All participants underwent standardized ophthalmic evaluations, including optical coherence tomography(OCT), OCTA, and color fundus photography. Key quantitative parameters assessed included best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA), central macular thickness(CMT), foveal avascular zone(FAZ)area, vessel density in the inner capillary plexus(ICP), superficial capillary plexus(SCP), deep capillary plexus(DCP), and choroidal capillary perfusion area(CCPA). Measurements were obtained preoperatively and at 1 and 3 mo postoperatively. Correlation analyses were performed between the above parameters and postoperative BCVA and CMT.RESULTS: This study enrolled 30 patients(60 eyes)diagnosed with IMEM, comprising 14 males and 16 females, with a mean age of 65.4±10.8 y.At baseline, IMEM-affected eyes demonstrated significantly reduced BCVA, DCP density, and FAZ area, alongside significantly increased CMT and CCPA, compared with contralateral controls. Following vitrectomy with membrane peeling, CMT decreased significantly at both 1 and 3 mo(both P<0.05)postoperatively; DCP density and BCVA showed significant improvement(both P<0.05). No significant change in FAZ area was observed postoperatively(P>0.05). At 3 mo postoperatively, BCVA of the affected eye was negatively correlated with CMT(r=-0.549, P=0.022). At 1 mo postoperatively, CMT was negatively correlated with preoperative DCP and FAZ, positively correlated with preoperative CMT, and positively correlated with ICP and SCP at 1 mo postoperatively, and negatively correlated with FAZ at 1 mo postoperatively(all P<0.05). Furthermore, CMT at 3 mo postoperatively was negatively correlated with preoperative DCP(r=-0.498,P=0.042).CONCLUSION:In patients with IMEM, the affected eyes exhibit significantly reduced DCP density and FAZ area, alongside increased CMT and CCPA. Following vitrectomy with membrane peeling, CMT decreased progressively, DCP density demonstrated partial restoration, and vision improved gradually. Preoperatively, smaller CMT larger DCP, and FAZ were associated with more favorable surgical outcomes; postoperatively, smaller ICP and SCP densities—combined with a larger FAZ—also correlated with better functional recovery.

Objective:This study aims to investigate the alterations in m 6A methylation associated with age-related idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF). Methods:By collecting peripheral blood samples from IPF patients, we investigated the changes in m6A modification levels of total RNA and key regulatory factors in elderly IPF patients.Then, the pulmonary fibrosis models of young and old mice were constructed for verification.A total of 10 IPF patients and 10 healthy controls were selected for this study.The m 6A methylation quantitative kit was employed to assess the m 6A modification levels of total RNA.The expression levels of key m 6A methylation regulators, METTL3, METTL14, and FTO, were quantified using qRT-PCR.Additionally, thirty-two healthy male C57BL/6 mice, comprising 16 mice aged 10-12 weeks and 16 mice aged 6-7 months, were divided into four groups: young control(A), young pulmonary fibrosis(B), aged control(C), and aged pulmonary fibrosis(D), with 8 mice in each group.Mice in groups B and D were intratracheally administered bleomycin to establish a pulmonary fibrosis model, while those in groups A and C received normal saline.Twenty-eight days post-model establishment, the mice were euthanized, and lung tissues were collected for analysis.Histological evaluations were performed using hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining, Masson staining, hydroxyproline content determination, and immunohistochemistry to assess the extent of pulmonary fibrosis.The m 6A methylation quantification kit was also utilized to measure the m 6A modification levels of total RNA in lung tissue.Furthermore, the mRNA and protein expression levels of the methyltransferase METTL3 were assessed by qRT-PCR and Western blot experiments. Results:The level of m 6A modification was significantly elevated in the aged IPF patient group(0.36±0.03)compared to the control group t=4.882( P<0.05).Furthermore, the expression of METTL3 was markedly higher in the aged IPF patients( t=6.082), while the expression of METTL14 was significantly lower t=17.58( P<0.05).In contrast, the expression level of FTO did not exhibit a significant difference.It is hypothesized that the increased m 6A modification of total RNA in aged IPF patients is closely associated with METTL3.Furthermore, the degree of lung fibrosis in aged mice was more severe than that in young mice.Immunohistochemistry results indicated that TGF-β1 expression was elevated in the lung fibrosis group, with higher levels observed in group D compared to group B( t=5.891, P<0.05), and in group C compared to group A t=4.135( P<0.05).The percentage of positive area for α-SMA was significantly greater in the lung fibrosis mouse model than in the control group t=20.08( P<0.05).The level of m 6A modification was increased in both lung fibrosis groups relative to the normal control group( P<0.05), although no significant difference was found between group D and group B. Overall, METTL3 mRNA and protein expression were upregulated in the lung fibrosis group, with expression in group D being lower than in group B( P<0.05). Conclusions:The level of m 6A modification is elevated in pulmonary fibrosis, and the expression of METTL3 is upregulated in this condition.The downregulation of METTL3 may be associated with the extent of aging, which subsequently exacerbates the progression of pulmonary fibrosis.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical value of 11C-methyl- L-methionine (MET) PET/MR in the differential diagnosis between neoplastic and non-neoplastic brain lesions. Methods:From July 2017 to May 2022, a total of 34 patients (19 males, 15 females, age 8-81 years) who received 11C-MET PET/MR imaging for suspected brain tumors in Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology were retrospectively enrolled. Postoperative pathological or clinical follow-up results were used as the gold standard. Diagnostic performance of 11C-MET PET/MR and contrast-enhanced MRI was evaluated by ROC curve analysis and Delong test, as well as the diagnostic performance of PET metabolic parameters (SUV and target to background ratio (TBR)), MRI multi-sequence parameters (cerebral blood flow (CBF), relative CBF (rCBF), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), relative ADC (rADC), choline/creatine (Cho/Cr) and choline/ N-acetylaspartate (Cho/NAA)) and their combination. Results:A total of 35 lesions of 34 patients were enrolled, including 12 (34.3%) non-neoplastic lesions and 23(65.7%) neoplastic lesions. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for 11C-MET PET/MR were 91.3%(21/23), 12/12, and 94.3%(33/35), in contrast to 16/18, 2/10, and 64.3%(18/28) for contrast-enhanced MRI. Maximum TBR (TBR max) showed the highest discriminative value (AUC=0.877, 95% CI: 0.692-1.000). The combination of TBR max, minimum ADC (ADC min), rCBF, and Cho/NAA could achieve a higher diagnostic performance (AUC=0.918, 95% CI: 0.816-1.000), although the difference was not statistically significant ( Z=-0.42, P=0.676). Conclusion:Multiple quantitative parameters of 11C-MET PET/MR are beneficial to distinguish neoplastic from non-neoplastic brain lesions, and their combination may improve the diagnostic confidence.

BACKGROUND:The extracellular-regulated protein kinase 5(ERK5)signaling protein is essential for the survival of organisms,and resveratrol can promote osteoblast proliferation through various pathways.However,whether resveratrol can regulate osteoblast function through the ERK5 signaling protein needs further verification. OBJECTIVE:To explore the regulatory effect of ERK5 on the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells and related secreted proteins,and to further verify whether resveratrol can complete the above process by activating ERK5. METHODS:Mouse MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts were treated with complete culture medium,XMD8-92(an ERK5 inhibitor),epidermal growth factor(an ERK5 activator),resveratrol alone,XMD8-92+EGF,and resveratrol+XMD8-92,respectively.Western blot assay was used to detect the expression of ERK5 and p-ERK5 proteins,proliferation-related proteins Cyclin D1,CDK4 and PCNA,and osteoblast-secreted proteins osteoprotegerin and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand in MC3T3-E1 cells of each group.The fluorescence intensity of ERK5,osteoprotegerin and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand in each group was detected by cell immunofluorescence staining,and cell proliferation was detected by EdU staining,respectively.The appropriate concentration and time of resveratrol intervention in MC3T3-E1 cells were determined by cell morphology observation and cell counting kit-8 assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The activation of ERK5 signaling protein could effectively promote the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells,up-regulate the osteoprotegerin/receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand ratio.The appropriate concentration and time for resveratrol intervention in MC3T3-E1 cells was 5 μmol/L and 24 hours,respectively.Resveratrol could activate ERK5 signaling protein,thereby promoting osteoblast proliferation and up-regulating the osteoprotegerin/RANKL ratio.All these results indicate that resveratrol can promote the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells and up-regulate the osteoprotegerin/RANKL ratio by activating the ERK5 signaling protein.

The control and utilization of microorganisms in space-based animal culture constitute a pivotal challenge underpinning research domains such as space life sciences and extraterrestrial life-support system.This paper systematically examines the origins,transmission routes,and latent risks of microbial contamination in space-based animal culture facilities.A comprehensive analysis is conducted on the advancements in on-orbit implementation of microbial containment strategies,including physical filtration systems,antimicrobial surface coatings,and environmental parameter optimization.Additionally,the study evaluates the prospective applications of probiotic consortia and functionally engineered microorganisms in enhancing animal welfare,stabilizing biosphere conditions,and enabling closed-loop waste recycling.Notably,this work highlights the paradigm shift from reactive microbial suppression to proactive microbiome engineering in space-based animal husbandry,thereby establishing a theoretical framework for sustainable development of space-based animal culture.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of Tongnaoyin on the blood-brain barrier status and neurological impairment in acute ischemic stroke （AIS） patients with the syndrome of phlegm-stasis blocking collaterals by dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging （DCE-MRI）. MethodsA total of 63 patients diagnosed with AIS in the Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine from October 2022 to December 2023 were enrolled in this study. According to random number table method，the patients were assigned into a control group （32 cases） and an observation group （31 cases）. The control group received conventional Western medical treatment，and the observation group took 200 mL Tongnaoyin after meals，twice a day from day 2 of admission on the basis of the treatment in the control group. After 7 days of treatment，the patients were examined by DCE-MRI. The baseline data for two groups of patients before treatment were compared. The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale （NIHSS） score and modified Rankin Scale （mRS） score were recorded before treatment and after 90 days of treatment for both groups. The rKtrans，rKep，and rVe values were obtained from the region of interest （ROI） of the infarct zone/mirror area and compared between the two groups. ResultsThere was no significant difference in the NIHSS or mRS score between the two groups before treatment. After 90 days of treatment，the NIHSS and mRS scores declined in both groups，and the observation group had lower scores than the control group （P<0.05）. After treatment，the rKtrans and rVe in the observation group were lower than those in the control group （P<0.01）. ConclusionCompared with conventional Western medical treatment alone，conventional Western medical treatment combined with Tongnaoyin accelerates the repair of the blood-brain barrier in AIS patients，thereby ameliorating neurological impairment after AIS to improve the prognosis.

Objective To conduct a comparative study on the biomechanical performance of using sutures for repairing inferior pole patellar fractures.Methods Compared to the normal patellar structure(Group A),four repair methods,namely,'Krackow'suture(Group B),"Kessler"fixation(Group C),'8-figure'mesh method(Group D),and modified suture bridge(Group E)were adopted.The static stiffness and dynamic stability of inferior pole patellar fractures fixed by each repair method were measured at 30°,60°,and 90° knee flexion.Results The stiffness at all flexion angles in Group E was closer to that in Group A,compared to other repair groups,followed by Group B,then Group D,and finally Group C.After the first cycle,at 30° knee flexion,Group C showed the greatest displacement,while Groups B and E had slightly larger displacements than the Group A,and the displacement of Group D was smaller than that of Group A.At 60° and 90° knee flexion,the displacement in all repair groups was smaller than that of Group A.After 200 cycles in the subsequent three cycles,displacement changes in all repair groups were smaller than those in Group A.Conclusions All repair methods were effective.In terms of biomechanical fixation performance,the modified suture bridge was superior to the'Krackow'suture and'8-figure'mesh,with Kessler fixation being the least effective.However,factors such as the injury severity,incision location,and surgical time should be comprehensively considered in actual clinical use,and it is recommended that the repair method should be selected in the following order:E,B,D,and C.

Objective:To describe the trend of changes in the disease burden of age-related hearing loss in China and globally from 1990 to 2021,to forecast the prevalence and years lived with disability(YLD)rates of age-related hearing loss from 2022 to 2036,and to provide a reference for the prevention and control of the disease burden associated with age-related hearing loss.Methods:Using the Global Burden of Disease 2021(GBD2021)data,this study selected age-standardized prevalence rate(ASPR)and YLD as indicators.The disease burden and long-term trends of age-related hearing loss in China and globally from 1990 to 2021 were described by different socio-demographic index(SDI)and gender.Joinpoint regression was used to calculate the average annual percent change(AAPC)to assess the trend changes in the disease burden.Decomposition analysis was applied to explore the relative im-pacts of aging,population growth,and epidemiological changes on the variation in disease burden.An autoregressive integrated moving average(ARIMA)model was used to forecast the age-standardized pre-valence rate and YLD rates from 2022 to 2036.Results:The prevalence of age-related hearing loss in China in 2021 was 82 162.49(73 288.08-89 187.21)per 100 000,higher than the global SDI level of 66 238.16(59 982.54-72 669.82)per 100 000,the high SDI region's level of 57 650.42(52 059.12-63 889.02)per 100 000,the upper-middle SDI region's level of 69 115.59(62 494.18-75 340.64)per 100 000,the middle SDI region's level of 72 365.56(65 181.43-78 912.01)per 100 000,the lower-middle SDI region's level of 64 439.66(58 368.22-71 468.27)per 100 000,and the low SDI region's level of 61 725.25(55 749.18-68 477.67)per 100 000.The age-related hearing loss YLD rate in China was 2 762.98[95％uncertainty interval(UI):1 855.28-3 880.68]per100000,higher than the global SDI level of 2 236.75(95％UI:1 511.56-3 155.88)per 100 000,the high SDI region's level of 1 805.79(95％UI:1 212.69-2 577.17)per 100 000,the upper-middle SDI re-gion's level of 2 316.58(95％UI:1 557.53-3 274.87)per 100 000,the middle SDI region's level of 2 480.99(95％UI:1 678.17-3 489.24)per 100 000,the lower-middle SDI region's level of 2 313.28(95％UI:1 578.35-3 271.50)per 100 000,and the low SDI region's level of 2 383.55(95％UI:1 623.66-3 365.68)per 100 000.From 1990 to 2021,both the prevalence and YLD rate of age-related hearing loss in China showed an increasing trend,rising by an average of 0.18％(95％CI:0.16％-0.19％)and 0.29％(95％CI:0.27％-0.30％)per year,respectively.The rates of in-crease in prevalence were the same for both men and women,with men showing a 0.18％increase(95％CI:0.17％-0.19％,P＜0.001)and women showing a 0.18％increase(95％CI:0.16％-0.19％,P＜0.001).However,the YLD rate increase was faster in men than in women,with men experiencing a 0.32％increase(95％CI:0.27％-0.37％,P＜0.001)and women experiencing a 0.27％increase(95％CI:0.26％-0.28％,P＜0.001).Decomposition analysis showed that population growth was the main factor driving the increase in prevalence and YLD rate globally and across different SDI regions.However,aging was the primary factor contributing to the increase in prevalence and YLD rate in China.ARIMA model predictions suggested that the prevalence and YLD rate of age-related hearing loss would continue to rise from 2022 to 2036,with the predicted prevalence and YLD rate in 2036 reaching 89 723.99 per 100 000 and 2 872.47 per 100 000,respectively.Conclusion:The prevalence and disease burden of age-related hearing loss in individuals aged 60 and above in China rank first globally.From 1990 to 2021,both the prevalence and YLD rate of age-related hearing loss have shown a continuous upward trend,consistently surpassing the levels observed in various SDI regions worldwide.The prevalence and disease burden of age-related hearing loss are particularly significant among elderly men.Moreover,projections indicate that the disease burden of age-related hearing loss will continue to rise over the next 15 years.Therefore,it is urgent to pay close attention to age-related hearing loss in this specific population,and early intervention measures are crucial to reduce the disease burden associated with age-related hearing loss.

Objective To conduct a comparative study on the biomechanical performance of using sutures for repairing inferior pole patellar fractures.Methods Compared to the normal patellar structure(Group A),four repair methods,namely,'Krackow'suture(Group B),"Kessler"fixation(Group C),'8-figure'mesh method(Group D),and modified suture bridge(Group E)were adopted.The static stiffness and dynamic stability of inferior pole patellar fractures fixed by each repair method were measured at 30°,60°,and 90° knee flexion.Results The stiffness at all flexion angles in Group E was closer to that in Group A,compared to other repair groups,followed by Group B,then Group D,and finally Group C.After the first cycle,at 30° knee flexion,Group C showed the greatest displacement,while Groups B and E had slightly larger displacements than the Group A,and the displacement of Group D was smaller than that of Group A.At 60° and 90° knee flexion,the displacement in all repair groups was smaller than that of Group A.After 200 cycles in the subsequent three cycles,displacement changes in all repair groups were smaller than those in Group A.Conclusions All repair methods were effective.In terms of biomechanical fixation performance,the modified suture bridge was superior to the'Krackow'suture and'8-figure'mesh,with Kessler fixation being the least effective.However,factors such as the injury severity,incision location,and surgical time should be comprehensively considered in actual clinical use,and it is recommended that the repair method should be selected in the following order:E,B,D,and C.

Objective:To describe the trend of changes in the disease burden of age-related hearing loss in China and globally from 1990 to 2021,to forecast the prevalence and years lived with disability(YLD)rates of age-related hearing loss from 2022 to 2036,and to provide a reference for the prevention and control of the disease burden associated with age-related hearing loss.Methods:Using the Global Burden of Disease 2021(GBD2021)data,this study selected age-standardized prevalence rate(ASPR)and YLD as indicators.The disease burden and long-term trends of age-related hearing loss in China and globally from 1990 to 2021 were described by different socio-demographic index(SDI)and gender.Joinpoint regression was used to calculate the average annual percent change(AAPC)to assess the trend changes in the disease burden.Decomposition analysis was applied to explore the relative im-pacts of aging,population growth,and epidemiological changes on the variation in disease burden.An autoregressive integrated moving average(ARIMA)model was used to forecast the age-standardized pre-valence rate and YLD rates from 2022 to 2036.Results:The prevalence of age-related hearing loss in China in 2021 was 82 162.49(73 288.08-89 187.21)per 100 000,higher than the global SDI level of 66 238.16(59 982.54-72 669.82)per 100 000,the high SDI region's level of 57 650.42(52 059.12-63 889.02)per 100 000,the upper-middle SDI region's level of 69 115.59(62 494.18-75 340.64)per 100 000,the middle SDI region's level of 72 365.56(65 181.43-78 912.01)per 100 000,the lower-middle SDI region's level of 64 439.66(58 368.22-71 468.27)per 100 000,and the low SDI region's level of 61 725.25(55 749.18-68 477.67)per 100 000.The age-related hearing loss YLD rate in China was 2 762.98[95％uncertainty interval(UI):1 855.28-3 880.68]per100000,higher than the global SDI level of 2 236.75(95％UI:1 511.56-3 155.88)per 100 000,the high SDI region's level of 1 805.79(95％UI:1 212.69-2 577.17)per 100 000,the upper-middle SDI re-gion's level of 2 316.58(95％UI:1 557.53-3 274.87)per 100 000,the middle SDI region's level of 2 480.99(95％UI:1 678.17-3 489.24)per 100 000,the lower-middle SDI region's level of 2 313.28(95％UI:1 578.35-3 271.50)per 100 000,and the low SDI region's level of 2 383.55(95％UI:1 623.66-3 365.68)per 100 000.From 1990 to 2021,both the prevalence and YLD rate of age-related hearing loss in China showed an increasing trend,rising by an average of 0.18％(95％CI:0.16％-0.19％)and 0.29％(95％CI:0.27％-0.30％)per year,respectively.The rates of in-crease in prevalence were the same for both men and women,with men showing a 0.18％increase(95％CI:0.17％-0.19％,P＜0.001)and women showing a 0.18％increase(95％CI:0.16％-0.19％,P＜0.001).However,the YLD rate increase was faster in men than in women,with men experiencing a 0.32％increase(95％CI:0.27％-0.37％,P＜0.001)and women experiencing a 0.27％increase(95％CI:0.26％-0.28％,P＜0.001).Decomposition analysis showed that population growth was the main factor driving the increase in prevalence and YLD rate globally and across different SDI regions.However,aging was the primary factor contributing to the increase in prevalence and YLD rate in China.ARIMA model predictions suggested that the prevalence and YLD rate of age-related hearing loss would continue to rise from 2022 to 2036,with the predicted prevalence and YLD rate in 2036 reaching 89 723.99 per 100 000 and 2 872.47 per 100 000,respectively.Conclusion:The prevalence and disease burden of age-related hearing loss in individuals aged 60 and above in China rank first globally.From 1990 to 2021,both the prevalence and YLD rate of age-related hearing loss have shown a continuous upward trend,consistently surpassing the levels observed in various SDI regions worldwide.The prevalence and disease burden of age-related hearing loss are particularly significant among elderly men.Moreover,projections indicate that the disease burden of age-related hearing loss will continue to rise over the next 15 years.Therefore,it is urgent to pay close attention to age-related hearing loss in this specific population,and early intervention measures are crucial to reduce the disease burden associated with age-related hearing loss.