Ketone body metabolism plays a significant role in the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy(DR), which closely related to the system and local metabolic disorders as a major microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. Previous research has established a close relationship between dyslipidemia and DR progression. Ketone bodies, comprising β-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, and acetone, are metabolic products generated from fat breakdown when glucose metabolism is impaired. Studies have revealed that ketone body metabolism is intricately linked to multiple pathophysiological processes in DR, including oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and neurodegeneration within retinal cells. This article provides a review exploring the impact of ketone body metabolism on the pathogenesis of DR, and systematically reviews the latest research progress on the impact of ketone bodies on the core pathological links such as retinal vascular barrier destruction, glial cell activation and angiogenesis through metabolic reprogramming, epigenetic modification and cell signal transduction, so as to provide a theoretical basis for in-depth understanding of the metabolic driving mechanism of DR.

[Objective] To establish a cryopreservation protocol for small-volume (≤1 mL) red blood cells (RBCs) and to evaluate the reactivity and stability of blood group antigens after cryopreservation, so as to explore its potential application in immunohematology reference laboratories. [Methods] Small-volume RBCs were cryopreserved for 120 days, followed by thawing and deglycerolization to restore the RBC components. The quality of the RBCs was assessed. Serum antibodies were serially diluted and reacted with RBCs before and after cryopreservation, and agglutination scores were recorded to quantitatively evaluate the reactivity and stability of blood group antigens such as Rh, Duffy, Lewis, Kidd, M, and H. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the percentage and mean fluorescence intensity of ABO antigen expression on RBCs before and after cryopreservation to assess the usability of cryopreserved RBCs in flow immunophenotyping and blood group subtype studies. [Results] The hemolysis rate of thawed and deglycerolized RBCs was (0.27±0.10)%, with a supernatant free hemoglobin level of (0.52±0.14) g/L, and the RBC recovery rate was (69.12±7.91)%. The direct antiglobulin test (DAT) was negative for all thawed RBCs. There was no difference in the reactivity of blood group antigens before and after cryopreservation, and no difference in the percentage and mean fluorescence intensity of A and B antigen expression on RBCs before and after cryopreservation. [Conclusion] The small-volume RBC cryopreservation protocol can be applied to immunohematology analysis in reference laboratories and is expected to be widely used in blood group identification, antibody screening, identification, and blood group-related research.

Micro/nanoplastics (MNPs), recognized as emerging environmental pollutants, are widely distributed in natural environments. Due to their small particle size and significant migratory capacity, MNPs can infiltrate diverse environmental matrices, then invade and accumulate in the organism via the skin, respiration, and digestion. Recently, concerns have grown over the detrimental effects and potential toxicity of MNPs on reproductive health. This review summarized published epidemiological and toxicological studies related to MNPs exposure and their effects on reproductive health. Firstly, this review critically examined the current landscape of epidemiological evidence and found that MNPs (e.g., polystyrene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, etc.) are present in various biological specimens from both males and females, and their presence may be associated with an increased risk of reproductive disorders. Secondly, extensive toxicological studies revealed that MNPs exposure induces reproductive health damage through mechanisms such as disrupting the microstructure of reproductive organs and altering molecular-level expressions. Oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and apoptosis are identified as potential links between MNPs exposure and reproductive damage. Finally, this review addressed the prevalent shortcomings in existing studies and proposed future directions to tackle the challenges posed by MNPs-induced reproductive harm. These insights aim to inform strategies for safeguarding public reproductive health and ecological security, providing a scientific foundation for mitigating risks associated with MNPs pollution.

AIM:To investigate the efficacy and safety of checkpoint inhibitor lenvatinib combined with Tirelizumab in the treatment of advanced he-patocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS:A retro-spective analysis was performed on 52 patients with advanced HCC treated with Renvatinib,tirelli-zumab or their combination from January 2021 to December 2022 in Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University,with disease progression,death and intolerance as endpoints.Efficacy was as-sessed according to RECIST 1.1 criteria and follow-up was conducted up to June 2023.The main end-points of the study were objective response rate(ORR),disease control rate(DCR),progression-free survival,PFS)and security.RESULTS:The combina-tion therapy significantly improved ORR and mPFS in patients compared with tirelizumab or lenvatinib monotherapy.Compared with single tirellizumab or lenvastinib,there was no significant difference in the adverse reactions associated with the combina-tion treatment,suggesting that the combination of the two was generally well tolerated and the side effects are controllable.CONCLUSION:Lonvastinib combined with tirelizumab is more effective in the treatment of HCC,can significantly prolong PFS,and is generally well tolerated,which may be a po-tential treatment for advanced HCC.

Objective:To investigate the risk of falls in patients with Parkinson's disease and establish and validate a prediction model.Methods:We selected 372 patients with Parkinson's disease at Sichuan Nanchong Mental Health Centre from January 2022 to Septem-ber 2023.The patients were divided in a 7:3 ratio into model group(260 cases)and validation group(112 cases).According to previ-ous literature and suspected factors found in clinical practice,we collected general information(sex,age,etc.)and disease-related factors(the duration of Parkinson's disease,the type of medications taken,etc.)that may be associated with falls in patients with Parkinson's disease.In the model group,between patients with and those without falls within 1 year as reported by the patients or their family members,potential predictors for falls were determined through comparison of general information and disease-related factors,least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)regression,and multivariable logistic regression.Based on the significant factors,a nomogram model was established and validated.Results:In the model group,81(31.15%)of the 260 patients experienced falls.According to the LASSO regression and multivariable logistic regression results,alcohol consumption,the type of medications,the score of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part Ⅲ(UPDRS-Ⅲ),the Berg Balance Scale score,the presence of arthritis,and the presence of osteoporosis were independent factors influenc-ing falls in patients with Parkinson's disease.The area under curve(AUC)of the receiver operator characteristic curve(ROC)for pre-dicting the risk of falls in patients with Parkinson's disease was 0.896(95%CI=0.856-0.935)in the model group and 0.883(95%CI=0.840-0.926)in the validation group.The calibration curve analysis results showed that the prediction curves of the model and valida-tion groups closely fitted the standard curves.The decision curve analysis results indicated that when the probability threshold for pre-dicting the fall risk in Parkinson's disease using the nomogram was 0.10-0.90,the net benefit rate of the patients was greater than 0.Conclusion:The risk of falls in patients with Parkinson's disease are mainly influenced by factors such as alcohol consumption and the type of medications.The nomogram model established in this study can be used to predict the fall risk in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Objective To evaluate the characteristics of preoperative corneal astigmatism in cataract surgery candi-dates with high myopia.Methods In this observational study,medical records of consecutive patients who underwent cataract surgery in our hospital between January 2014 and December 2023 were reviewed retrospectively.Biometric param-eters of eyes were measured preoperatively by IOL-Master optical biometry.The cataract patients were classified into a high myopia group[defined as axial length(AL)≥26.00 mm]and a control group(normal ALs,22.00 mm ≤ AL ≤25.00 mm).The characteristics of corneal astigmatism were compared between the two groups.Results Among 17 325 cataract pa-tients(17 325 eyes),2 206 patients(2 206 eyes)had high myopia and 13 429 patients(13 429 eyes)had no high myopia.In the high myopia group,1 822 eyes(82.6％)had corneal astigmatism ≥0.50 D,1 138 eyes(51.6％)had corneal astig-matism ≥1.00 D,623 eyes(28.2％)had corneal astigmatism ≥1.50 D and 314 eyes(14.2％)had corneal astigmatism ≥2.00 D.These proportions were significantly higher than those in the control group(71.9％,35.9％,15.9％and 7.3％,re-spectively;all P＜0.001).In the high myopia group,1 340 eyes(60.7％)had moderate astigmatism,147 eyes(6.7％)had high astigmatism and 922 eyes(41.8％)had with-the-rule(WTR)astigmatism.These 3 proportions were all significantly higher than those in the control group(48.9％,3.3％and 28.2％,respectively;all P＜0.001).Among high-myopia pa-tients,the corneal astigmatism was statistically greater in women than that in men(P=0.001),and the proportion of ob-lique astigmatism was higher in women than that in men(19.3％vs.15.8％,P=0.034).The proportion of against-the-rule(ATR)astigmatism increased significantly with age.In the high myopia group,the corneal astigmatism of eyes with WTR,ATR and oblique astigmatism was(1.26±0.85)D,(1.28±0.81)D and(0.89±0.71)D,respectively.They were signifi-cantly greater than those in the control group[(0.82±0.71)D,(1.06±0.68)D and(0.67±0.53)D,respectively;all P＜0.001].In the high myopia group,there were 31.8％,12.3％and 4.1％of eyes with corneal astigmatism ≥1.00 D,≥1.50 D and ≥2.00 D,respectively.All of these 3 proportions were significantly lower than those of eyes with WTR or ATR astig-matism(all P＜0.05).This finding is consistent with the tendency in the control group.Conclusion A significant bur-den of preoperative corneal astigmatism is observed in cataract surgery candidates with high myopia,with more than 50％of the patients having corneal astigmatism ≥1.00 D.The corneal astigmatism of patients with high myopia is significantly greater than that of patients with normal ALs.The proportion of moderate-to-high astigmatism is significantly higher in high-myopia patients than that in patients with normal ALs.

Triglyceride(TG)is transported in the blood as specific triglyceride-rich lipoprotein(TRL).When TRL is overproduced or the catabolism is not timely,cholesterol ester-rich residues is formed.Both TRL and its residues contribute to the development of atherosclerosis(As)through various direct and indirect mechanisms.Currently,the combination of lifestyle interventions and Western medicines is considered the preferred treatment strategy for As.Howev-er,lipid-lowering therapy alone cannot fully eliminate the residual risk of As.In contrast,traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the holistic regulation of bodily functions to prevent and treat As.This paper will begin by examining the met-abolic mechanisms of TRL,elucidate the role of TRL and its residues in the risk of As occurrence,and summarize current strategies targeting the TRL metabolic pathway to reduce the incidence of As.

Objective To observe the value of three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging(3D-STI)in evaluation on right ventricle(RV)function for predicting adverse events in patients with unstable angina(UA)after percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).Methods A total of 155 UA patients who underwent both 3D-STI and conventional echocardiography and planned to accept PCI were prospectively enrolled and divided into adverse event group(n=37)and control group(n=118)based on the occurrence of adverse events after PCI or not.Clinical data and echocardiographic parameters were compared between groups,and new binary variables were generated according to the optimal cut-off values showed by the maximum Youden index of receiver operating characteristic curves of 3D-STI parameters being statistically different between groups.Then the independent predictors of adverse events among UA patients after PCI were analyzed,a combined model was constructed,and its predictive value was assessed.Results In adverse event group,the left ventricular end diastolic volume(LVEDV)was higher,while the left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain(RVFWLS)and right ventricular global longitudinal strain(RVGLS)were all lower than those in control group(all P＜0.05).The optimal cut-off values for distinguishing adverse event or not was 110 ml for LVEDV,19.05%for RVFWLS and 19.75%for RVGLS,respectively,and all the 3 generated binary variables were independent predictors for adverse events of UA patients after PCI(all P＜0.05).The area under the curve of combined model for predicting adverse events in UA patients after PCI was 0.864.Conclusion RVFWLS＜19.05%and RVGLS＜19.75%obtained with 3D-STI,as well as LVEDV＞110 ml with conventional echocardiography were all independent predictors of adverse events in UA patients after PCI.

Triglyceride(TG)is transported in the blood as specific triglyceride-rich lipoprotein(TRL).When TRL is overproduced or the catabolism is not timely,cholesterol ester-rich residues is formed.Both TRL and its residues contribute to the development of atherosclerosis(As)through various direct and indirect mechanisms.Currently,the combination of lifestyle interventions and Western medicines is considered the preferred treatment strategy for As.Howev-er,lipid-lowering therapy alone cannot fully eliminate the residual risk of As.In contrast,traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the holistic regulation of bodily functions to prevent and treat As.This paper will begin by examining the met-abolic mechanisms of TRL,elucidate the role of TRL and its residues in the risk of As occurrence,and summarize current strategies targeting the TRL metabolic pathway to reduce the incidence of As.