OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics, steroid hormone profiles, and genetic variants in two female patients with Non-classic adrenal hyperplasia (NCAH). METHODS: Clinical data and samples were collected from two patients who had visited Huaian Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Yangzhou University on September 27, 2022 and June 25, 2023, respectively, with an initial diagnosis of Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and suspected NCAH. Seven steroid hormones in dried blood spots were analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Single base variants and repeat/deletions in the CYP21A2 gene were analyzed by using a classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) gene assay, and 10 related genes were analyzed by third-generation sequencing (TGS) should the variants be unclear. This study has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the hospital (Ethics No.: 2025003). RESULTS: Patient 1 was a 14-year-old girl, and patient 2 was a 23-year-old woman with insulin resistance. Both patients had hirsutism, acne, bilateral polycystic ovarian morphology, in addition with significantly elevated serum testosterone by chemiluminescence. The steroid hormone profiles of both patients suggested a significant increase in 17-hydroxyproesterone, normal cortisol and 11-deoxycortisol. Patient 2 additionally showed a significant rise in 21-deoxycortisol. The presentation of both patients was indicative of NCAH, which was also evidenced by their respective medical histories. Sanger sequencing of long fragment PCR amplification combined with multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) revealed that patient 1 harbored a mild c.92C>T (p.P31L) variant and a severe variant with a large segmental deletion in CYP21A2. Patient 2 was finally confirmed by TGS to carry mild CYP21A2 variants in the 5' untranslated region (5' UTR) promotor region (c.-126C>T, c.-113G>A, c.-110T>C) and a severe c.293-13C/A>G variant. The promotor region variants had resulted in decompression of the long fragment P1X/P2 amplification, leading to homozygous result of Sanger sequencing for c.293-13C/A>G, which in turn halved the amplification signal for the wt-113 SNP probe. In addition, the wtI2G-A probe was enhanced by interference in the MLPA assay. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that NCAH should be excluded when PCOS is accompanied by a significant increase in serum testosterone, that mass spectrometry of steroid hormone profiles containing 17-hydroxyprogesterone is useful for the detection of NCAH, and that TGS is advantageous in confirming the diagnosis of NCAH when compared with conventional genetic testing methods.
Humans ; Female ; Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital/blood* ; Adolescent ; Steroid 21-Hydroxylase/genetics* ; Young Adult ; Genetic Variation ; Adult

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel intravascular lithotripsy(IVL)balloon—Vesscrack shockwave balloon—for vascular preparation before stent implantation in patients with severe coronary artery calcification(CAC).Methods This was a prospective,single-arm,multicenter study conducted in China from June 2022 to October 2022.Patients with severe CAC were treated with the Vesscrack shockwave balloon for lesion preparation,followed by drug-eluting stent(DES)implantation.Of these,33 patients underwent optical coherence tomography(OCT).The primary endpoint was procedural success,defined as successful stent implantation with residual stenosis≤30％and the absence of in-hospital major adverse events,including cardiac death,target vessel-related myocardial infarction,or target lesion revascularization.Results A total of 170 patients[mean age:(65.9±7.9)years,116 males]were enrolled.After treatment with IVL and DES,the minimum lumen diameter increased significantly compared to baseline[(2.34±0.40)mm vs.(0.95±0.33)mm,P＜0.001],the degree of stenosis was significantly reduced[(13.24±6.60)％vs.(65.18±10.59)％,P＜0.001].Procedural success was achieved in 100％of cases,and device success was 98.8％.The 30-day patient-related cardiovascular clinical composite endpoint(POCE)rate was 0.0,with no target lesion failure,no confirmed or potential thrombotic events were observed.The shockwave energy generator demonstrated excellent stability and ease of use.Among the 33 patients assessed with OCT,after IVL intervention,the maximum calcified area of the lumen[(3.51±1.51)mm2 vs.(2.85±1.80)mm2,P＜0.001],and the minimum lumen area within the target lesion[(3.08±1.04)mm2 vs.(2.02±0.75)mm2,P＜0.001],and after DES intervention,the luminal area of the largest calcified site[(6.59±1.64)mm2 vs.(2.85±1.80)mm2,P＜0.001]and the minimum luminal area within the target lesion[(6.19±1.45)mm2 vs.(2.02±0.75)mm2,P＜0.001]were significantly increased,and the differences were statistically significant.Conclusions The Vesscrack shockwave balloon is effective and safe for vascular preparation in patients with severe CAC prior to stent implantation.It achieves significant calcified plaque modification,high procedural success rates,and minimal complications.

Objective:To compare the therapeutic efficacy and safety of local anesthesia and spinal anesthesia for the patients with varicocele(VC)who underwent microsurgical varicocelectomy(MV).Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the data of VC patients who underwent MV treatment at the Andrology Department of the Affiliated Ruikang Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine from May 2020 to March 2023.Cases with complete clinical data and follow-up evaluation were selected and divided into a control group(spinal anesthesia)and an observation group(local anesthesia)according to different anesthesia methods.The surgical time(including anesthesia time),visual analogue scale(VAS)score for pain,hospital stay,treatment cost,sperm concentration,for-ward motile sperm rate,and normal sperm morphology rate after three months of surgery,as well as postoperative complications and re-currence rate were compared between the two groups.Results:A total of 107 eligible cases were included,with 56 cases in the con-trol group and 51 cases in the observation group.There was no significant difference in the VAS score for pain during and after four hours of surgery,as well as postoperative complications,and recurrence rate between the two groups(P＞0.05).There was an signif-icant increase in sperm concentration,forward motile sperm rate,and normal sperm morphology rate in both of two groups after three months of surgery(P＜0.05).However,there was no significant difference between the two groups three months after surgery(P＞0.05).The surgical time and hospital stay were shorter than those of the control group(P＜0.05).And the treatment cost in observa-tion group was lower than that of the control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Both local anesthesia and lumbar anesthesia for MV treatment of VC have good efficacy and safety.However,patients treated with MV under local anesthesia for VC have obvious advanta-ges in terms of operation time(including anesthesia time),hospital stay,and treatment cost,which is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Objective:To study the effects of arsenic exposure on neurological function including voluntary motor ability, anxiety, and short-term memory ability of rats, as well as its impact on the expression levels of synaptic function related genes such as neuropeptide 1 (NLGN1), glutamate receptor 2A (NR2A), and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95).Methods:Forty 3-week-old male specific pathogen free (SPF) grade Wistar rats [weighing (453.97 ± 35.68) g] were selected and divided into four groups using a random number table: 0 (control group) and 2, 10, and 50 mg/L arsenic exposure groups, with 10 rats in each group. They were given deionized water and 2, 10, and 50 mg/L sodium arsenite solutions for 12 weeks, respectively. The open field experiment and Y-maze experiment were used to test the voluntary motor ability, anxiety, and short-term memory ability of rats. Nissl staining was used to observe the pathological damage of the hippocampus in the brain. Real time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of NLGN1, NR2A, and PSD95 in the hippocampus, respectively.Results:The results of the open field experiment revealed that the horizontal movement distances of rats in the 2 and 10 mg/L arsenic exposure groups were reduced compared to the control group, the movement distances in the central area in the 2, 10, and 50 mg/L arsenic exposure groups were reduced compared to the control group, and the residence time in the central area in the 10 and 50 mg/L arsenic exposure groups was reduced compared to the control group ( P < 0.05). The results of Y-maze experiment showed that the retention time of new arms in rats of the 2 and 10 mg/L arsenic exposure groups was shorter than that in the control group ( P < 0.05). The pathological examination results of Nissl staining showed that the control group had abundant Nissl bodies in hippocampal tissues of the cytoplasm with intact neuronal structures, tightly arranged cells, appearing blue purple in color and clear visible nuclei. However, the number of Nissl bodies decreased, intercellular gaps increased, disordered arrangement increased, cytoplasmic staining was lighter, and nuclear shrinkage phenomenon increased in the hippocampal tissues of rats in the 2, 10 and 50 mg/L arsenic exposure groups. The real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR detection results showed that there was a statistically significant difference in the mRNA expression levels of NLGN1, NR2A, and PSD95 in the hippocampal tissues of the four groups ( F = 13.85, 44.94, 4.63, P < 0.05). The results of Western blot analysis showed that the protein expression levels of NLGN1 and NR2A in the hippocampal tissues of rats in the 10 and 50 mg/L arsenic exposure groups were lower than those in the control group (0.65 ± 0.07, 0.69 ± 0.03 vs 1.00 ± 0.04, 0.51 ± 0.11, 0.51 ± 0.13 vs 1.00 ± 0.07, P < 0.05), and the expression level of PSD95 in the hippocampal tissues of rats in the 50 mg/L arsenic exposure group was lower than that in the control group (0.51 ± 0.09 vs 1.00 ± 0.05, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Arsenic may affect synaptic function and cause neurological dysfunction in rats by adjusting the expression levels of NLGN1, NR2A, and PSD95.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of facilitated percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)with half-dose recombinant staphylokinase(r-SAK)in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI)who are expected to undergo PCI within 120 minutes.Methods From October 2021 to August 2022,a total of 200 STEMI patients in eight centers were included and randomly assigned in a 1﹕1 ratio to either r-SAK group or control group.Patients received loading doses of aspirin and ticagrelor and intravenous heparin and were randomized to receive an intravenous bolus of either 5 mg r-SAK or normal saline prior to PCI.The outcomes were set as ST-segment resolution(STR)at 60-90 minutes after PCI,the proportion and transition of pathological Q waves on the 5th day after PCI,and the proportion of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T(hs-cTnT)peaking within 12 hours of onset.The safety outcome was major bleeding events defined as Bleeding Academic Research Consortium(BARC)≥type 3 bleeding during hospitalization.Results Compared with the control group,the r-SAK group had a higher proportion of STR≥70%within 60-90 minutes after PCI(58.3%vs.40.3%,P=0.009);a lower proportion of pathological Q waves(59.1%vs.74.1%,P=0.040);a lower rate of Q wave progression(14.8%vs.43.2%,P＜0.001);a higher rate of Q wave disappearance(12.5%vs.3.7%,P=0.027);and a higher proportion of hs-cTnT peaking within 12 hours of symptom onset[31/40(77.5%)vs.17/33(51.5%),P=0.027].Regarding the safety outcome,no significant difference in BARC≥type 3 bleeding was found between the two groups during hospitalization(P＞0.05).Conclusions For STEMI patients who were expected to undergo primary PCI within 120 minutes of symptom onset,the facilitated PCI with half-dose r-SAK significantly increased the proportion of STR≥70%at 60-90 minutes after PCI,reduced the formation of pathological Q waves,and shortened the time to peak hs-cTnT,without increasing the risk of bleeding,which should be an alternative reperfusion strategy worthy of further study.

Objective:To explore the independent risk factors for uremic encephalopathy(UE)in maintenance hemodialysis(MHD)patients and provide evidence for early clinical warning and intervention.Methods:A case-control study was conducted,enrolling 67 MHD patients diagnosed with UE(UE group)at Laibin People's Hospital from January 2010 to December 2024,and 67 non-UE patients during the same period(control group).Demographic characteristics,dialysis parameters,laboratory indicators,and infection events were collected.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent risk factors for UE.Results:The UE group had significantly higher rates of infection(58.2％vs.29.9％),serum creatinine(789 vs.702 μmol/L),and iPTH levels(568 vs.385 pg/mL)compared to the control group(P＜0.05).Multivariate analysis revealed that concurrent infection(OR=3.022,95％CI:1.312-6.958),elevated serum creatinine(OR=1.004,95％CI:1.000-1.008),and elevated iPTH(OR=1.002,95％CI:1.001-1.003)were independent risk factors for UE(P＜0.05).The combined prediction model achieved an AUC of 0.878(95％CI:0.822-0.934),with 82.1％sensitivity and 80.6％specificity.Conclusion:Infection,elevated serum creatinine,and elevated iPTH significantly increase the risk of UE in MHD patients.Clinical management should emphasize infection prevention,toxin clearance optimization,and parathyroid function regulation to reduce UE incidence.

CRM 197(cross-reacting material 197),a naturally occurring mutant of diphtheria toxin,is a safe and effective vaccine vector and extensively used on developing conjugate or combined vaccines.The mutant loses its enzymatic activity,but fully retains its receptor-binding ability and immunogenicity.In current work,the diphtheria toxin mutant CRM 197 and its fusion proteins with the receptor-binding do-main of botulinum neurotoxin serotype E(EHc)were developed using genetic engineering technology.These recombinant proteins were confirmed by Western blotting and SDS-PAGE.BALB/c mice were im-munized with the CRM197-EHc and EHc-CRM197 fusion proteins,and their immunogenicity was evalua-ted.These two fusion protein molecules,CRM197-EHc and EHc-CRM197,as subunit vaccines,elicited a robust humoral immune response targeting both CRM197 and EHc antigens in the immunized mice.Compared to the mixture of CRM197 and EHc,the mice vaccinated with the fusion proteins(CRM197-EHc and EHc-CRM197)induced higher levels of anti-CRM197 antibodies,and the mice vaccinated with EHc-CRM197 also generated strongest anti-EHc antibodies.Consequently,as a carrier molecule in the fusion protein vaccine,EHc enhances the immunogenicity of CRM197 molecules.Likewise,CRM197 boosts the immunogenicity of EHc in the EHc-CRM197 fusion protein.

CRM 197(cross-reacting material 197),a naturally occurring mutant of diphtheria toxin,is a safe and effective vaccine vector and extensively used on developing conjugate or combined vaccines.The mutant loses its enzymatic activity,but fully retains its receptor-binding ability and immunogenicity.In current work,the diphtheria toxin mutant CRM 197 and its fusion proteins with the receptor-binding do-main of botulinum neurotoxin serotype E(EHc)were developed using genetic engineering technology.These recombinant proteins were confirmed by Western blotting and SDS-PAGE.BALB/c mice were im-munized with the CRM197-EHc and EHc-CRM197 fusion proteins,and their immunogenicity was evalua-ted.These two fusion protein molecules,CRM197-EHc and EHc-CRM197,as subunit vaccines,elicited a robust humoral immune response targeting both CRM197 and EHc antigens in the immunized mice.Compared to the mixture of CRM197 and EHc,the mice vaccinated with the fusion proteins(CRM197-EHc and EHc-CRM197)induced higher levels of anti-CRM197 antibodies,and the mice vaccinated with EHc-CRM197 also generated strongest anti-EHc antibodies.Consequently,as a carrier molecule in the fusion protein vaccine,EHc enhances the immunogenicity of CRM197 molecules.Likewise,CRM197 boosts the immunogenicity of EHc in the EHc-CRM197 fusion protein.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical value and safety of an intraperitoneal chemotherapy port technique in patients with gastric cancer and peritoneal metastases undergoing intraperitoneal chemotherapy.Methods:This was a retrospective, descriptive case analysis. From November 2022 to October 2024, patients diagnosed with gastric cancer and peritoneal metastases at Wuxi Branch of Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine with an expected survival >3 months, underwent laparoscopic exploration combined with implantation of an intraperitoneal chemotherapy port [PORT-A-CATH II system (Model 21-4055-24)] implantation. The procedure was as follows: (1) after laparoscopic exploration, a 4-cm skin incision was made at a predetermined site and a subcutaneous pocket created by dissecting to the muscle fascia and removing subcutaneous fat as needed to position the port septum 0.5-1.0 cm from the skin surface; (2) under direct laparoscopic visualization, the abdominal cavity was punctured and a guidewire inserted, followed by an 8.5 Fr sheath, through which a catheter with three trimmed side holes was placed after removal of the sheath; (3) the catheter length in the abdominal cavity was adjusted to 25–30 cm and the catheter trimmed, and connected to the port base, ensuring it extended beyond the connector's visible hole; (4) the whole port was placed within the subcutaneous pocket, and non-absorbable sutures used to create a double purse-string suture at the catheter's abdominal entry, forming an anti-reflux ring; (5) non-absorbable sutures were used to securely fix the port to the fascia through its four base holes and the exposed catheter segments on the fascia sutured and buried; (6) patency was confirmed by injecting saline and followed by intermittent skin closure provided there was no bleeding; and (7) the catheter tip was positioned in the pelvic cavity under laparoscopic guidance. Postoperatively, the patients underwent normothermic intraperitoneal and systemic treatment. The port infusion protocol involved disinfecting the skin (>10 cm diameter) around the port, confirming the puncture site, inserting a Huber needle vertically at 90° to the port base, infusing 100 mL saline to ensure patency, followed by continuous infusion of 1000 mL paclitaxel solution, and sealing with 20 mL saline before removing the needle. No saline flushing was required between chemotherapy infusions. The primary outcomes were the incidence and management of complications post-port implantation.Results:The study cohort comprised 225 patients with gastric cancer and peritoneal metastases. Using standardized port implantation and postoperative puncture procedures, the complication rate during follow-up was 14.2% (32/225), including effusion in 14 patients (6.2%), port infection in 10 (4.4%), incision dehiscence in four (1.8%), port inversion in two (0.9%), hematoma in one (0.4%), and catheter rupture in one (0.4%). Seventy-five percent (24/32) of patients with complications recovered and continued using the port after conservative treatments (e. g., aspiration of effusions, antibiotic therapy, incision management), whereas the remaining 25.0% (8/32) with complications required surgical removal of the port because the treatment was ineffective. The presence of preoperative ascites ( P=0.019) and peritoneal cancer index score>15 ( P=0.038) were significantly associated with development of complications. Conclusions:Our standardized procedure for intraperitoneal chemotherapy port implantation is safe and feasible for patients with gastric cancer and peritoneal metastases, having a low overall complication rate. Most complications can be successfully managed with conservative treatment, the device thus providing reliable support for intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Background: and Purpose Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) following endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is a severe complication associated with adverse functional outcomes and increased mortality rates. Currently, a reliable predictive model for sICH risk after EVT is lacking. Methods: This study used data from patients aged ≥20 years who underwent EVT for anterior circulation stroke from the nationwide Taiwan Registry of Endovascular Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke (TREAT-AIS). A predictive model including factors associated with an increased risk of sICH after EVT was developed to differentiate between patients with and without sICH. This model was compared existing predictive models using nationwide registry data to evaluate its relative performance. Results: Of the 2,507 identified patients, 158 developed sICH after EVT. Factors such as diastolic blood pressure, Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score, platelet count, glucose level, collateral score, and successful reperfusion were associated with the risk of sICH after EVT. The TREAT-AIS score demonstrated acceptable predictive accuracy (area under the curve [AUC]=0.694), with higher scores being associated with an increased risk of sICH (odds ratio=2.01 per score increase, 95% confidence interval=1.64–2.45, P<0.001). The discriminatory capacity of the score was similar in patients with symptom onset beyond 6 hours (AUC=0.705). Compared to existing models, the TREAT-AIS score consistently exhibited superior predictive accuracy, although this difference was marginal. Conclusions The TREAT-AIS score outperformed existing models, and demonstrated an acceptable discriminatory capacity for distinguishing patients according to sICH risk levels. However, the differences between models were only marginal. Further research incorporating periprocedural and postprocedural factors is required to improve the predictive accuracy.