ObjectiveTo analyse the efficacy and mechanism of Guizhi Fulingwan in regulating sex hormone disorders in rats with benign prostatic hyperplasia （BPH）. MethodsThirty male SD rats were randomly divided into a sham group， a model group， a finasteride group （0.45 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）， and low-dose and high-dose groups of Guizhi Fulingwan （0.135， 0.337 5 g∙kg^-1∙d^-1）， with six in each group. The BPH model was prepared by subcutaneous injection of 3.5 mg∙kg^-1∙d^-1 testosterone propionate after debridement surgery in all groups except the sham group. The rats in the sham group and the model group were administered with an equal volume of saline by gavage， and the rest of the groups were administered with the corresponding medicinal solution by gavage for 35 days. Histopathology in rats was evaluated by prostate wet weight， volume， index， and hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. The serum sex hormone levels of testosterone （T）， dihydrotestosterone （DHT）， and estradiol （E₂） were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The protein expression of the androgen receptor （AR） was detected by immunohistochemistry. The serum metabolism profiles of rats in the sham group， the model group， and the high-dose group of Guizhi Fulingwan were compared by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem Fourier transform mass spectrometry （UHPLCQ Exactive） to screen for metabolic markers and to obtain relevant metabolic pathways. ResultsCompared with those in the sham group， the wet weight， volume， index， serum sex hormone level， and AR protein expression of the prostate in the model group were all elevated （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the histomorphology showed pathological changes. Compared with those in the model group， the wet weight， volume， index， serum sex hormone level， and AR protein expression of the prostate in the intervention groups showed a decreasing trend （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and histopathology was improved. Serum metabolomics analysis obtained a total of 40 metabolic markers related to the intervention effect of Guizhi Fulingwan， such as dehydrosafynol， hyoscyamine， and lumichrome， which were involved in the pathways of autophagy， riboflavin metabolism， and retrograde endocannabinoid signaling. ConclusionGuizhi Fulingwan can effectively regulate sex hormone disorders in BPH rats， and its mechanism may be related to autophagy， riboflavin metabolism， and retrograde endocannabinoid signaling.

Objective:To analyze the correlation between Cutibacterium acnes (C. acne) ribotypes (RTs) on the skin surface and epidermal barrier function in patients with acne vulgaris.Methods:Sixty patients with acne vulgaris were enrolled in this prospective study from the Department of Dermatology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from November 2018 to May 2019, including 23 males and 37 females, aged (21.6±2.6) years. According to the General Acne Grading System (GAGS) score, the patients were divided into three groups: 28 mild cases, 14 moderate cases, and 18 severe or above cases. Twenty healthy controls aged 18 to 30 years were recruited in the same period from the community, including 5 males and 15 females, aged (24.2±2.3) years. The VISIA skin testing device was used to detect the percentage of red areas and porphyrins on the facial skin of all subjects. The hydration of the stratum corneum (SCH), transepidermal water loss (TEWL), PH value and the skin surface sebum level on the facial skin were detected by CK system. The RTs of C. acne were further analyzed based on the 16s rDNA sequences. The correlation between the abundance of each RT and epidermal barrier function was analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis.Results:Compared with the healthy controls, the percentage of porphyrins [(41.69±23.10) % vs (61.33±24.27) %, t=2.98, P<0.01] and the percentage of red area [(26.71±17.13) % vs (67.97±15.22) %, t=10.78, P<0.01] decreased in the acne vulgaris patients. Meanwhile, the patients of different severity levels had decreased SCH ( P<0.01), but increased TEWL, pH value, and the skin surface sebum level ( P<0.05) compared to healthy controls. Six different RTs (RT1, RT2, RT7, RT12, RT13 and RT14) were found in both healthy controls and acne vulgaris patients with varying degrees of severity, while there was no statistically significant difference of C. acne abundance between the mild patients and the controls ( P>0.05). As the severity of disease increased, the abundance of the above RTs showed a changing trend, with the gradually decreasing abundance of RT1 and the gradually increasing abundance of RT2, RT7, RT12, RT13, and RT14 (all P<0.05). The abundance of RT1 was negatively correlated with pH value ( r=-0.33, P=0.04) and GAGS score ( r=-0.39, P=0.01). The abundance of RT2 ( r=0.39, P=0.02) and RT7 ( r=0.39, P=0.01) were positively correlated with GAGS score. The abundance of RT13 was negatively correlated with SCH ( r=-0.34, P=0.02) and positively correlated with TEWL ( r=0.30, P=0.05). Conclusions:As the severity of disease increases, the abundance of various RTs of C. acne on the skin surface of acne vulgaris patients shows a trend of gradually increasing or decreasing, and the abundance of differential RTs of C. acne is closely related to the function of the epidermal barrier.

The acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults have a higher rate of neurological injury and early death compared with atlas or axial fractures alone. Currently, the diagnosis and treatment choices of acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults are controversial because of the lack of standards for implementation. Non-operative treatments have a high incidence of bone nonunion and complications, while surgeries may easily lead to the injury of the vertebral artery, spinal cord and nerve root. At present, there are no evidence-based Chinese guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults. To provide orthopedic surgeons with the most up-to-date and effective information in treating acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults, the Spinal Trauma Group of Orthopedic Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts in the field of spinal trauma to develop the Evidence-based guideline for clinical diagnosis and treatment of acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults ( version 2023) by referring to the "Management of acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults" published by American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)/Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) in 2013 and the relevant Chinese and English literatures. Ten recommendations were made concerning the radiological diagnosis, stability judgment, treatment rules, treatment options and complications based on medical evidence, aiming to provide a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults.

Objective:To investigate the value of generative adversarial networks-based PET image reconstruction in improving the quality of low-dose 18F-FDG PET images and lesion detection in pediatric patients. Methods:Retrospective analysis of 61 PET images of children (38 males, 23 females, age (4.0±3.5) years) who underwent 18F-FDG total-body PET/CT imaging in Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from August 2021 to December 2021 was performed. The low-dose images (30 s, 20 s, 10 s) of all children extracted by list mode were input into the generative adversarial networks for deep learning (DL) reconstruction to obtain the corresponding simulated standard full-dose images (DL-30 s, DL-20 s, DL-10 s). The semi-quantitative parameters of the liver blood pool and primary lesion of standard full-dose 120 s, 30 s, 20 s, 10 s, DL-30 s, DL-20 s, and DL-10 s images were measured. The target-to-background ratio (TBR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and CV were calculated. The 5-point Likert scale was used for subjective scoring of image quality, and the detective abilities for positive lesions of each groups were compared. The sensitivities and positive predictive values of positive lesions detection were calculated. Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test and χ2 test were used for data analyses. Results:CNR of the 30 s, 20 s, and 10 s groups were lower than those of DL-30 s, DL-20 s, and DL-10 s groups, respectively ( z values: -3.58, -3.20, -3.65, all P<0.05). Score of DL-10 s group was significantly lower than those of 120 s, DL-30 s and DL-20 s groups (4(3, 4), 5(4, 5), 4(4, 5), 4(4, 5); H=97.70, P<0.001). There were no significant differences in TBR, CNR, CV, SUV max and SUV mean of lesions and liver blood pool in 120 s, DL-30 s, DL-20 s, and DL-10 s groups ( H values: 0.00-6.76, all P>0.05). The sensitivities of positive lesion detection in DL-30 s, DL-20 s, and DL-10 s groups were 97.83%(225/230), 96.96%(223/230), 95.65%(220/230), respectively, and the positive predictive values were 96.57%(225/233), 93.70%(223/238), 84.94%(220/259), respectively. The positive predictive value in DL-10 s group was lower than those in DL-30 s and DL-20 s groups ( χ2=23.51, P<0.001). There were more false-positive and false-negative lesions detected by DL-10 s group than those of DL-30 s and DL-20 s groups in different sites. Conclusion:Based on the generative adversarial networks, the image quality of DL-20 s group is high and can meet the clinical diagnostic requirements.

Background: The gut microbial dysbiosis and gender differences in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris have long been postulated respectively. However, there was no data about a genderrelated discrepancy in gut microbiota and microbial metabolism in acne. Objective: This study aimed at identifying the underlying gender-related difference in gut microbiota and metabolism in acne vulgaris. Methods: Fecal samples were collected from 43 acne patients and 43 age and gender-matched controls. Gut microbiota was analyzed by sequencing the V3-V4 region of 16SrDNA gene and microbial metabolites were quantitatively detected using gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Results: Compared with healthy controls, the men had a lower abundance of 18 microbes such as Butyricicoccus, Clostridium sensu stricto, Faecalibaculum, Bacillus, Lactococcus, Blautia, Clostridiales, Lachnospiracea incertae sedis, Ruminococcus at genus level. However, the female patients only showed increased Clostridium sensu stricto and declined Oscillibacter and Odoribacterin. Additionally, the disordered metabolism of fatty acids was identified in male patients, while the dysbiosis of amino acids metabolism in female ones. Conclusion The disorder of gut microbiota and metabolism in acne vulgaris was genderspecific, which supported the potential role of gender difference in the pathogenesis of this disease.

The widespread availability real-world study (RWS) offers valuable insights into disease treatment, disease management, and socio-economic status in routine practice, as well as cautionary tales and methodological challenges such as the discovery of sample heterogeneity and bias of data and its correction. This paper summarizes the common bias and its control in the process of design, implementation and analysis for RWS in order to promote the standardization and rationality of the implementation of RWS.

Humans ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; rehabilitation ; Pneumoconiosis ; rehabilitation ; Respiratory Therapy

Objective To explore imaging feature of muscle crush injury of extremity on contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) by an animal experiment.Methods Twenty-eight New Zealand rabbits were anesthetized by intramuscular pentobarbital sodium (30 mg/kg).A special balloon cuff device was used to create left hind leg crush injury with a force of (18.6 kPa).23 of the 28 rabbits had crush injury of extremity and survived for 72 hours.CEUS evaluated infusion model and contrast intensity in crush region of hind leg at the 0.5,2,6,24 and 72 hour after the release of the crushing pressure.Peak intensity (PI) was analyzed by comparing with serum creatinekinase (CK) and myoglobin (MYO).Results Twenty-three rabbits presented that the area of crushed region in left hind leg was 60 cm2,accounting for 2.6％-3.0％ of body surface area.In different time after decompression,the crushed regions showed rapid enhancement and the intensity was higher than that of no-crushed region.The time-intensity curves of crushed regions all appeared as fast wash-in and slow wash-out.PIs of rushed regions were higher obviously than those of nocrushed regions (P ＜0.001).ROC curves were employed in diagnosis value of PI for crushed region.And PIs showed positive correlation with CK and MYO and the correlation coefficient was 0.833-0.996.Conclusions CEUS presents that the micro-circulation perfusion of the crushed muscle increased obviously after the release of the crush pressure.PIs evaluated quantitatively the micro-circulation perfusion changes.It suggests a potential alternative for evaluating micro-circulation abnormality and ischemia reperfusion injury of the muscle crush injury to extremities.

OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy of injectable gelatin matrix as a hemostatic agent for treatment of grade III-IV hepatic trauma to a canine model with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) guidance.

METHODSTwenty-seven healthy adult dogs underwent celiotomy in induce grade III-IV hepatic trauma in the left lateral lobe of the liver. The dogs were then randomized into 3 groups, namely the treatment group in which the injectable hemostat was percutaneously injected into the injury site under CEUS guidance, and the positive and negative control groups with thrombin solution and normal saline treatment, respectively. Intra-abdominal blood loss within 30 min postoperatively, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 7 days postoperatively were compared among the groups. Follow-up CEUS was performed in each animal 7 days after the operation.

RESULTSThe mean blood loss was 47.69 ml in the treatment group, significantly less than that in the positive control group (81.77 ml, P/0.01) and negative control group (110.35 ml, P<0.01). The treatment group had also significantly lower ALT and AST levels than the two control groups (ALT: 49.37, 62.81, and 82.83 U/L, respectively, P<0.05; AST: 48.32, 67.16, and 82.54 U/L, respectively, P<0.05). In the treatment group, CEUS did not detect hepatic lesions or ascites as found in the two control groups, and the perfusion of the liver was homogeneous.

CONCLUSIONThe injectable hemostat injected under the guidance of CEUS can effectively control grade III-IV hepatic hemorrhage in the canine model and show strong effects of stopping bleeding and promoting wound healing.

Animals ; Contrast Media ; Dogs ; Gelatin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Hemostasis, Surgical ; Liver ; injuries ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

OBJECTIVETo compare the influence of polishing and glazing on ceramic surface roughness and bacterial adhesion to the resulted surfaces.

METHODSThe surface of the ceramic plates were tested and analyzed by atomic force microscope. The influence of resulted surface on Streptococcus mutans adhesion were also evaluated.

RESULTSThe ceramic surface became much smoother after polishing with diamond paste or self-glazing. A positive correlation between surface roughness and bacterial adhesion were observed. Compared with surfaces polished with rubber-wheel, surfaces polished with diamond paste or self-glazing reduced bacterial adhesion to the surface (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONPolishing with diamond paste could be an alternative to self-glazing on ceramic surface roughness and bacterial adhesion.

Bacterial Adhesion ; Ceramics ; Dental Polishing ; Dental Porcelain ; Diamond ; Humans ; Streptococcus mutans ; Surface Properties