1.Diagnostic efficacy of metagenomic next-generation sequencing for spinal infections
Shuang LIU ; Jinyue HE ; Hui CHEN ; Yu XIANG ; Sheng LIAO ; Zuoqiang YAN ; Huorong GOU ; Hang YANG ; Zhongrong ZHANG ; Zehua ZHANG ; Jianzhong XU
Journal of Army Medical University 2025;47(18):2254-2261
Objective To comparatively evaluate the diagnostic value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing(mNGS)versus conventional microbial culture in spinal infections.Methods A cross-section design was conducted on 82 consecutive patients with suspected spinal infections treated between February 2022 and January 2024 at Jiangbei Branch of First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University(Third Military Medical University).Microbiological culture,histopathological examination,and mNGS results from infected specimens were analyzed.Clinical diagnosis,primarily based on clinical manifestations,laboratory tests and radiologic features combined with medical history,was defined as the gold standard,and then the diagnostic performance,including sensitivity and specificity,were compared between mNGS and microbial culture.Results Among the 82 patients,definitive microbiological evidence was identified in 70 cases,and mNGS demonstrated a significantly higher detection rate than microbial culture(64 vs 36 cases,78.05%vs 43.9%,P<0.05).mNGS also obtained obviously higher sensitivity,accuracy,and negative predictive value(NPV),and notably lower positive predictive value(PPV)when compared to conventional microbial culture(all P<0.05).When stratified by infection type,mNGS obtained significantly higher sensitivity and accuracy compared to microbial culture in tuberculous spinal infections(P<0.05).For non-tuberculous spinal infections,mNGS also showed superior sensitivity to microbial culture(P<0.05).Conclusion In patients with spinal infections,mNGS demonstrates a significantly higher pathogen detection rate than conventional microbial culture.This technique can provide early and broad-spectrum pathogenic microbiological evidence for spinal infection.
2.Research on Preservation Performance of Polymer Evidence Bags for Sealing Fire Debris
Yu-Hang JIANG ; Yao LIU ; Yu WANG ; Yan-Ru YAO ; Jing JIN ; Zheng-Zhe ZANG
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(5):765-773,中插11-中插20
Arson is classified as a violent crime,and often involves accelerants that significantly increase casualties and property damage.These accelerants,typically flammable liquids with low saturated vapor pressure,present volatile characteristic components in fire residues,making evidence preservation critical for accurate forensic analysis.In this study,the preservation performance of AMPAC(American KAPAC polyester sampling bags)and polyethylene(PE)evidence bags were evaluated under simulated field conditions(40 oC)through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)technique,focusing on background interference,sealing integrity,and cross-contamination.The results demonstrated that AMPAC bags exhibited minimal background interference(C12?C14 alkanes detected after 3?7 days)and effective gasoline sealing,though slight losses of C2?C3 alkylbenzenes and trace cross-contamination were observed.In contrast,PE bags showed significant background hydrocarbons(C15?C19 alkanes)and pronounced gasoline component losses,including C2?C4 alkylbenzenes,naphthalenes,and indenes.Notably,severe cross-contamination of gasoline markers was detected in adjacent blank PE bags,with characteristic components such as C2?C4 alkylbenzenes,naphthalenes,methylnaphthalenes,dimethylnaphthalenes,indenes,indanes,methylindenes,and dimethylindenes identified,indicating substantial cross-contamination issues in PE evidence bags.Microstructural analysis revealed superior sealing in AMPAC bags attributed to their smooth,dense surface morphology compared to PE's rougher,porous structure.This study established a comprehensive evaluation framework for fire residue evidence containers,and found that PE bags were unsuitable for long-term gasoline evidence preservation due to compromised integrity.These findings provided critical references for forensic container selection in fire investigations.
3.Multimodal MRI features of cerebral small vessel disease combined with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Jing WANG ; Hang PAN ; Yan-ling ZHENG ; Zi-wen LIANG ; Yu-lin WANG ; Qiu-guo OU ; Fan-ying GUAN ; Hai-yan TAO ; Lei SONG ; Rui TANG
Journal of Regional Anatomy and Operative Surgery 2025;34(8):689-692
Objective To analyze the imaging features of cerebral small vessel disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus by multimodal MRI.Methods The clinical data of 160 patients with cerebral small vessel disease admitted to our hospital from January to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.According to whether they were complicated with type 2 diabetes mellitus,they were divided into the diabetic group and the non-diabetic group,with 80 cases in each group.Both groups underwent multimodal MRI scans.And the severity of lacunar infarction,the severity of subcortical and periventricular white matter lesions,white matter integral and cerebral microbleeds of patients in the two groups were compared.Results The severity of lacunar infarction(χ2=34.076,P=0.001),subcortical white matter lesions(χ2=25.000,P=0.001),periventricular white matter lesions(χ2=22.895,P=0.001)and white matter integral(t=12.370,P=0.001)of patients in the diabetic group were significantly higher than those in the non-diabetic group.No cerebral microbleeds were detected in either group of patients.Conclusion Patients with cerebral small vessel disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus show characteristic multimodal MRI changes.The increase in the number of lacunar infarction lesions and the aggravation of white matter lesions can be used as the characteristic imaging basis for the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus related cerebral small vessel disease.
4.Non-pharmacological interventions in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome:A network meta-analysis
Xiao-hui WEI ; Meng-yao MA ; Hang SU ; Tong HU ; Yu-xin ZHAO ; Xing-chao LIU ; Hong-yan BI
National Journal of Andrology 2025;31(3):234-245
Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of shockwave therapy,acupuncture,hyperthermia,biofeedback therapy,elec-trical nerve stimulation,magnetotherapy and ultrasound therapy in the treatment of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome(CP/CPPS),and to provide evidence-based support for clinical decision-making.Methods:Two researchers independently searched PubMed,Web of Science,Embase,Cochrane Library,CNKI,Wanfang,VIP and Chinese Biomedical Literature databases for randomized controlled trials(RCTs)on the effects of different interventions on CP/CPPS from the establishment of the databases to August 2024.We evaluated the quality of the included literature and extracted the relevant data according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions,followed by network meta-analysis using Revman 5.3,R 4.33 and Stata17 software.Results:A total of 25 RCTs involving 1 794 cases were included.The results of network meta-analysis showed that electrical nerve stimulation,shockwave therapy,biofeedback therapy,magnetotherapy,ultrasound therapy and acupuncture were significantly superior to conventional medication and placebo in the total NIH-CPSI scores(P<0.05),and so were electrical nerve stimulation and shock-wave therapy to acupuncture and hyperthermia(P<0.05),magnetic therapy to hyperthermia,and ultrasound therapy to placebo(P<0.05).Shockwave therapy,biofeedback therapy,electrical nerve stimulation,magnetotherapy and ultrasound therapy achieved re-markably better clinical efficacy than conventional medication and placebo in the treatment of CP/CPPS,and so did shockwave therapy than electrical nerve stimulation,hyperthermia,ultrasonic therapy,magnetotherapy and acupuncture.Conclusion:For the treat-ment of CP/CPPS,electrical nerve stimulation is advantageous over the other interventions in improving total NIH-CPSI scores,and shockwave therapy is advantageous in relieving pain symptoms and clinical efficacy.This conclusion,however,needs to be further veri-fied by more high-quality clinical studies.
5.Modification design of EC135 P3H helicopter emergency medical system
Ze-hang HAO ; Yan-jun LI ; Yu-yuan CAO ; Mao-hui ZHOU ; Ya-ling DU
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2025;46(11):24-30
Objective To carry out emergency medical system modification design for EC135 P3H helicopter without compromising the original airframe structure so as to enhance aeromedical rescue capabilities.Methods Firstly,the original cabin seats were removed and medical floor was installed in the cabin;secondly,the medical chair,medical stretcher trolley and its fixing components,storage boxes and oxygen cylinders were mounted onto the floor;finally,a medical equipment fixing frame was formed based on the original helicopter sill structure so as to accommodate medical devices such as defibrillators,ventilators and injection pumps.The modification design scheme had its effectiveness verified with overall aircraft load balance analysis,mechanical analysis,dynamic impact tests of seats and actual modification and flight tests.Results EC135 P3H helicopter proved to meet all the airworthiness certification requirements after emergency medical system modification.Conclusion The proposed modification scheme enables EC135 P3H helicopter to rapidly transition between standard and medical configurations,enhancing its emergency medical rescue capabilities and providing references for medical modifications of helicopters with similar configurations.
6.Targeting farnesoid X receptor as aging intervention therapy.
Lijun ZHANG ; Jing YU ; Xiaoyan GAO ; Yingxuan YAN ; Xinyi WANG ; Hang SHI ; Minglv FANG ; Ying LIU ; Young-Bum KIM ; Huanhu ZHU ; Xiaojun WU ; Cheng HUANG ; Shengjie FAN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(3):1359-1382
Environmental toxicants have been linked to aging and age-related diseases. The emerging evidence has shown that the enhancement of detoxification gene expression is a common transcriptome marker of long-lived mice, Drosophila melanogaster, and Caenorhabditis elegans. Meanwhile, the resistance to toxicants was increased in long-lived animals. Here, we show that farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist obeticholic acid (OCA), a marketed drug for the treatment of cholestasis, may extend the lifespan and healthspan both in C. elegans and chemical-induced early senescent mice. Furthermore, OCA increased the resistance of worms to toxicants and activated the expression of detoxification genes in both mice and C. elegans. The longevity effects of OCA were attenuated in Fxr -/- mice and Fxr homologous nhr-8 and daf-12 mutant C. elegans. In addition, metabolome analysis revealed that OCA increased the endogenous agonist levels of the pregnane X receptor (PXR), a major nuclear receptor for detoxification regulation, in the liver of mice. Together, our findings suggest that OCA has the potential to lengthen lifespan and healthspan by activating nuclear receptor-mediated detoxification functions, thus, targeting FXR may offer to promote longevity.
7.Bacteroi des fragilis-derived succinic acid promotes the degradation of uric acid by inhibiting hepatic AMPD2: Insight into how plant-based berberine ameliorates hyperuricemia.
Libin PAN ; Ru FENG ; Jiachun HU ; Hang YU ; Qian TONG ; Xinyu YANG ; Jianye SONG ; Hui XU ; Mengliang YE ; Zhengwei ZHANG ; Jie FU ; Haojian ZHANG ; Jinyue LU ; Zhao ZHAI ; Jingyue WANG ; Yi ZHAO ; Hengtong ZUO ; Xiang HUI ; Jiandong JIANG ; Yan WANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(10):5244-5260
In recent decades, the prevalence of hyperuricemia and gout has increased dramatically due to lifestyle changes. The drugs currently recommended for hyperuricemia are associated with adverse reactions that limit their clinical use. In this study, we report that berberine (BBR) is an effective drug candidate for the treatment of hyperuricemia, with its mechanism potentially involving the modulation of gut microbiota and its metabolite, succinic acid. BBR has demonstrated good therapeutic effects in both acute and chronic animal models of hyperuricemia. In a clinical trial, oral administration of BBR for 6 months reduced blood uric acid levels in 22 participants by modulating the gut microbiota, which led to an increase in the abundance of Bacteroides and a decrease in Clostridium sensu stricto_1. Furthermore, Bacteroides fragilis was transplanted into ICR mice, and the results showed that Bacteroides fragilis exerted a therapeutic effect on uric acid similar to that of BBR. Notably, succinic acid, a metabolite of Bacteroides, significantly reduced uric acid levels. Subsequent cell and animal experiments revealed that the intestinal metabolite, succinic acid, regulated the upstream uric acid synthesis pathway in the liver by inhibiting adenosine monophosphate deaminase 2 (AMPD2), an enzyme responsible for converting adenosine monophosphate (AMP) to inosine monophosphate (IMP). This inhibition resulted in a decrease in IMP levels and an increase in phosphate levels. The reduction in IMP led to a decreased downstream production of hypoxanthine, xanthine, and uric acid. BBR also demonstrated excellent renoprotective effects, improving nephropathy associated with hyperuricemia. In summary, BBR has the potential to be an effective treatment for hyperuricemia through the gut-liver axis.
8.Research progress on the role of zinc finger proteins in the development of oral cancer
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2025;33(5):425-432
Oral cancer is one of the most common malignancies in the head and neck regions. few patients benefit from current clinical therapy. Zinc finger proteins (ZNFs) are one of the largest transcription factor family proteins in the human genome. ZNFs bind to DNA, RNA, and proteins through their unique three-dimensional structure created by zinc ions to regulate gene transcription, RNA packaging, and protein folding. In recent years, the number of studies focused on the functional mechanism of ZNFs in regulating the progression of oral cancer has been increasing, with focuses on: ① ZNF677, ZNF460, ZNF154, ZNF132, ZNF281, Kaiso, and ZNF582, which regulate the invasion and metastasis of tumor cells; ② ZNF750 and PEST-containing nuclear protein (PCNP), which regulate the cell cycle; ③ ZNFs, which are involved in forming the tumor immune microenvironment, such as ZNF71 and myeloid zinc finger 1 (MZF1). For example, methylation modification modulates the reduction of ZNF677 in oral cancer and reduces the proliferation, migration, and invasion of oral cancer cells by inhibiting the protein kinase B/forkhead box O3a (AKT/FOXO3a) pathway; and ZNF460 promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of oral cancer cells by regulating microRNA-320a/alpha thalassemia/mental retardation, X-linked (ATRX) axis. In addition, ZNF750 inhibits the growth and metastasis of oral cancer by suppressing cell cycle transcription factor activity. Further, ZNF71 promotes the progression of oral cancer by reducing the infiltration of tumor immune cells. In this review, we will summarize the molecular mechanism, regulatory meshwork, and pro-tumor and anti-tumor roles of ZNFs in the pathogenesis of oral cancer. Our study may provide a new strategy for the diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer.
9.Application of right-opening single flap valvuloplasty based on tubular stomach in gastrointestinal reconstruction after laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy
Chun YU ; Weiping JI ; Dejun JIANG ; Xiaolei CHEN ; Shu LIU ; Weizhe CHEN ; Xiaojiao RUAN ; Jun QIAN ; Hang LU ; Jingyi YAN
Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2025;28(8):922-926
Objective:To explore the application value of right-opening single flap valvuloplasty based on tubular stomach in gastrointestinal reconstruction after laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy.Method:Use a linear cutting stapler to make a parallel curve from the angle of the stomach to the junction of the gastric fundus to remove the lesser curvature of the stomach, and detach the gastric body about 5 cm away from the tumor to create a tubular stomach. Use a marker pen to draw a C-shaped seromuscular flap area with a width of 2.5 cm and a height of 3.5 cm 1.5 cm below the residual stomach closure nail, and create a free muscle flap in the gap between the plasma muscle layer and the submucosal layer. Make a transverse incision of 3 cm at the lower edge of the mucosal bed, and intermittently suture the entire lower edge of the gastric wall with 3 stitches. Under laparoscopy, use 4-0 barbed wire to suture the 1 cm wide muscular layer at the top of the tubular stomach and the posterior wall of the esophagus about 5 cm away from the esophageal stump with 3 stitches. Push the upper end of the tubular stomach into the mediastinum, and then tighten the barbed wire to ensure a tight fit between the stomach and the posterior wall of the esophagus. Use an ultrasonic scalpel to remove the esophageal stump, suture the entire posterior wall of the esophagus with the gastric mucosa, and use barbed wire to suture the anterior wall from left to right. The anastomotic site is completely covered with a free muscle flap, and the barbed line is used to continuously suture the muscle flap along the C-shaped line to the gastric pulp muscle layer at the edge of the mucosal bed, embedding the anastomotic site and completing the reconstruction of the digestive tract.Results:Clinical data of 23 patients (18 from the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University and 5 from the Quzhou Hospital affiliated with Wenzhou Medical University) who underwent laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy, tubular gastroesophageal anastomosis, and pure manual right flap reconstruction surgery for esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma and proximal gastric cancer from October 2023 to August 2024. There were 15 males and 8 females, with an age of (65.3±7.7) years, the BMI was (22.9±2.8) kg/m 2. All patients in the group successfully completed the surgery, with a surgery time of (218.5±38.1) minutes, including (73.5±19.2) minutes for anastomosis, intraoperative blood loss of (64.5±15.4) ml, postoperative passage of gas on (3.4±0.5) days, first consumption of liquid food after surgery of (3.9±1.1) days, and postoperative hospital stay of (9.1±0.8) days. One patient developed anastomotic stenosis (grade I) after surgery, presenting with mild swallowing obstruction, which returned to normal after dietary adjustment, and there were no cases of secondary surgery. The median follow-up time for the entire group was 4.0 (0.7-7.0) months, during which there were no deaths or tumor recurrence or metastasis, no complications such as anastomotic stenosis or gastric emptying disorders, and no complaints of acid reflux or heartburn. At one month of postoperative follow-up, the reflux symptom index (RSI) score was (3.1±2.9) points, and at three months, the RSI score was (2.4±1.4) points. Conclusions:The application of right-opening single flap valvuloplasty based on tubular stomach for gastrointestinal reconstruction after laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy is safe,feasible,and has satisfactory short-term efficacy.
10.Research progress of ultrasonic measurement of optic nerve sheath diameter to assess intracranial pressure in children
Chinese Pediatric Emergency Medicine 2025;32(7):530-534
Children with high intracranial pressure can occur in a variety of neurological diseases,is an important cause of secondary brain injury,the disease has a high time sensitivity,and is easy to miss the best treatment time.Invasive monitoring of intracranial pressure has many complications and contraindications,which has promoted the clinical application of noninvasive monitoring of intracranial pressure.The optic nerve sheath has a special anatomical structure,and it is surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid,which is connected with the ventricular system of the brain.When intracranial pressure increases,the optic nerve sheath will be thickened.Ultrasound measurement of the optic nerve sheath diameter can provide non-invasive,real-time and repeated assessment of intracranial pressure.The diameter of optic nerve sheath in children was affected by race,age,sex,transverse diameter of eyeball,openness of fontanel,skull compliance,plasticity,disease course,interobserver variability and other factors.Although there are many influencing factors,compared with invasive monitoring,ultrasonic measurement of optic nerve sheath diameter may be a safe and non-invasive bedside tool to fill,which can evaluate intracranial pressure earlier and faster in real time,and have important role in children with neurocritical diseases.


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