Background and Aims:Portal hypertensive colopathy(PHC)is a common complication of portal hypertension in patients with liver cirrhosis.It may lead to gastrointestinal bleeding,yet its underlying pathogenesis remains unclear,and systematic research in China is limited.This study aimed to analyze the colonoscopic features in cirrhotic patients and to explore their associations with relevant clinical factors.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 99 cirrhotic patients who underwent colonoscopy at Xingtai People's Hospital between July 2020 and December 2024.Colonoscopy,gastroscopy,and clinical data were reviewed.Differences between patients with PHC and those without were compared in terms of sex,Child-Pugh classification,platelet count,presence of ascites,and hepatic encephalopathy.Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors for PHC.Additionally,colorectal lesion detection rates were compared with those of a contemporaneous cohort of 444 participants undergoing national colorectal cancer(CRC)screening at the same center.Results:Among the 105 patients with cirrhosis,the detection rates of PHC,adenomatous polyps,and CRC were 32.32%,28.28%,and 3.03%,respectively,while only 37.37%had no abnormal findings.No serious colonoscopy-related complications were observed.The proportion of males in the PHC group was significantly higher than in the non-PHC group(78.13%vs.50.75%,P=0.009).The PHC group also showed significantly higher rates of Child-Pugh class B/C,and lower platelet count(all P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of ascites and hepatic encephalopathy between the two groups(P>0.05).Multivariate analysis identified that male gender(OR=3.307,95%CI=1.219-8.971)and Child-Pugh class B/C(OR=2.867,95%CI=1.046-7.861)were independent risk factors for PHC.Compared to the CRC screening cohort,cirrhotic patients had a similar adenoma detection rate(28.28%vs.25.00%,P=0.499),and a slightly higher colorectal cancer detection rate that did not reach statistical significance(3.03%vs.0.68%,P=0.135).Conclusion:Colonoscopy revealed a high rate of abnormalities in cirrhotic patients,with PHC and adenomatous polyps being the most common findings.Routine colonoscopy is recommended for cirrhotic patients without contraindications,especially males,and patients with Child-Pugh class B/C,to facilitate early detection of PHC and precancerous lesions,thereby reducing the risk of lower gastrointestinal bleeding and missed diagnoses of malignancy.

Acute liver injury (ALI) serves as a critical precursor and major etiological factor in the progression and ultimate manifestation of various hepatic disorders. The prevention and treatment of ALI is still a serious global challenge. Given the limited therapeutic options for ALI, exploring novel targeted therapeutic agents becomes imperative. The potential therapeutic efficacy of inhibiting RIPK2 is highlighted, as it may provide significant benefits by attenuating the MAPK pathway and NF-κB signaling. Herein, we propose a CMD-OPT model, a two-stage molecular optimization tool for the rapid discovery of RIPK2 inhibitors with optimal properties. Compound RP20, which targets the ATP binding site, demonstrated excellent kinase specificity, ideal oral pharmacokinetics, and superior therapeutic effects in a model of APAP-induced ALI, positioning RP20 as a promising preclinical candidate. This marks the first application of RIPK2 inhibitors in ALI treatment, opening a novel therapeutic pathway for clinical applications. These results highlight the efficacy of the CMD-OPT model in producing lead compounds from known active molecules, showcasing its significant potential in drug discovery.

Objective To investigate the value of prone-position MRI of lumbar spine for diagnosing pediatric occult tethered cord syndrome(OTCS).Methods A total of 67 children with suspected tethered cord syndrome(TCS)and confirmed OTCS by surgery were prospectively enrolled as OTCS group,while 73 healthy subjects were recruited as control group.Supine-and prone-position lumbar MR examinations were performed in both groups.The position of filum terminale on prone axial T2WI and the presence or absence of"sunset sign"(i.e.filum terminale located within the dorsal 1/2 of spinal canal on prone axial T2WI)were observed,spinal cord conus mobility was calculated.The efficacy of"sunset sign"for diagnosing OTCS in children was calculated through comparison between groups.Receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn,the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of spinal cord conus mobility.Results On prone-position axial T2WI,"sunset sign"was found in 58 cases(58/67,86.57％)but not in 9 cases(9/67,13.43％)in OTCS group,which was not even observed in control group.The sensitivity of"sunset sign"for diagnosing pediatric OTCS was 86.57％(58/67),with specificity of 100％(73/73),positive predictive value of 100％(58/58)and negative predictive value of 89.02％(73/82).The spinal cord conus mobility was(19.30±5.89)％in OTCS group and(31.71±6.58)％in control group,being statistically different between groups(t=-11.722,P＜0.001).The sensitivity,specificity and AUC of spinal cord conus mobility for diagnosing pediatric OTCS was 80.60％,90.41％and 0.920,respectively.Conclusion Prone-position MRI of lumbar spine could be used in diagnosing pediatric OTCS.

Objective:To explore the molecular mechanism by which the methionine adenosyltransferase 2A (MAT2A)/β-catenin/zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1)/epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway regulates neural tube defect (NTD) through intracellular S-adenosylmethionine (SAM).Methods:A mouse NTD model was induced using the SAM metabolic disorder inhibitor ethionine. Eighty specific pathogen-free C57BL/6 mice were divided into three groups: a normal group (36 mice), an ethionine group (46 mice), and an ethionine+SAM group (44 mice). Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), ethionine, and ethionine+SAM were respectively injected intraperitoneally on embryonic day 7.5 (E7.5), and the mice were sacrificed on E10.5. Embryonic tissues were collected, and the morphology of embryos in each group was observed under a stereomicroscope. The interaction between ethionine and MAT2A was analyzed using Autodock software. The expression levels of MAT2A, β-catenin, ZEB1, and EMT-related proteins in the brain tissues of embryos from the three groups were measured using immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Variance analysis was used for intergroup comparisons.Results:(1) Autodock analysis results showed that MAT2A binds to ethionine through covalent bonds, exhibiting a complementary effect, thereby accelerating the expression of MAT2A. (2) After successful construction of the NTD model, normal embryos were plump with well-developed brains. NTD embryos showed delayed development, obvious anencephaly, unclosed neural tubes, and asymmetry. (3) The levels of SAM and SAH in the embryonic tissues of the ethionine group were significantly lower than those in the normal group (1 737.56±95.64 vs. 872.33±205.11, and 89.17±9.50 vs. 51.25±9.48, respectively). The SAM and SAH levels in the ethionine+SAM group was 1 197.00±222.27 and 66.61±12.25, significantly higher than those in the ethionine group ( P<0.017). Compared with the normal group and the ethionine+SAM group, the expression of MAT2A mRNA in the embryonic brain tissue of the ethionine group was significantly upregulated (1.00±0.00, 1.59±0.52, and 2.42±0.53, respectively, F=49.64, P<0.001; pairwise comparisons between groups P<0.017). (4) Compared with the normal group, the expression of Ctnnb1 in the ethionine group was reduced, and the expression of Ctnnb1 in the ethionine+SAM group was higher than that in the ethionine group (1.00±0.00, 0.38±0.16, and 0.76±0.10, respectively, F=149.03, P<0.001; pairwise comparisons between groups P<0.017). (5) The expression of ZEB1 in the ethionine group was higher than that in the normal group and the ethionine+SAM group (2.91±0.55, 1.00±0.00, and 1.61±0.20, respectively, F=150.01, P<0.001; pairwise comparisons between groups P<0.017). (6) The expression levels of E-cadherin and Vimentin in the ethionine group were lower than those in the normal group. In contrast, the expression of N-cadherin was higher than that in the normal group. After SAM supplementation, the expression levels of E-cadherin and Vimentin were upregulated, and the expression level of N-cadherin was downregulated (0.54±0.12, 1.00±0.00, and 0.72±0.14, respectively, F=87.44; 0.53±0.17, 1.00±0.00, and 0.76±0.09, F=87.44; 3.11±0.53, 1.00±0.00, and 2.13±0.56, F=95.54; all P<0.001; pairwise comparisons within the same index group P<0.017]). Conclusions:Ethionine promotes the expression of MAT2A, leading to reduced SAM production. Ethionine regulates the level of ZEB1 by increasing MAT2A and inhibits the EMT process to interfere with methionine cycle metabolism, ultimately resulting in NTD.

Background and Aims:Portal hypertensive colopathy(PHC)is a common complication of portal hypertension in patients with liver cirrhosis.It may lead to gastrointestinal bleeding,yet its underlying pathogenesis remains unclear,and systematic research in China is limited.This study aimed to analyze the colonoscopic features in cirrhotic patients and to explore their associations with relevant clinical factors.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 99 cirrhotic patients who underwent colonoscopy at Xingtai People's Hospital between July 2020 and December 2024.Colonoscopy,gastroscopy,and clinical data were reviewed.Differences between patients with PHC and those without were compared in terms of sex,Child-Pugh classification,platelet count,presence of ascites,and hepatic encephalopathy.Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors for PHC.Additionally,colorectal lesion detection rates were compared with those of a contemporaneous cohort of 444 participants undergoing national colorectal cancer(CRC)screening at the same center.Results:Among the 105 patients with cirrhosis,the detection rates of PHC,adenomatous polyps,and CRC were 32.32%,28.28%,and 3.03%,respectively,while only 37.37%had no abnormal findings.No serious colonoscopy-related complications were observed.The proportion of males in the PHC group was significantly higher than in the non-PHC group(78.13%vs.50.75%,P=0.009).The PHC group also showed significantly higher rates of Child-Pugh class B/C,and lower platelet count(all P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of ascites and hepatic encephalopathy between the two groups(P>0.05).Multivariate analysis identified that male gender(OR=3.307,95%CI=1.219-8.971)and Child-Pugh class B/C(OR=2.867,95%CI=1.046-7.861)were independent risk factors for PHC.Compared to the CRC screening cohort,cirrhotic patients had a similar adenoma detection rate(28.28%vs.25.00%,P=0.499),and a slightly higher colorectal cancer detection rate that did not reach statistical significance(3.03%vs.0.68%,P=0.135).Conclusion:Colonoscopy revealed a high rate of abnormalities in cirrhotic patients,with PHC and adenomatous polyps being the most common findings.Routine colonoscopy is recommended for cirrhotic patients without contraindications,especially males,and patients with Child-Pugh class B/C,to facilitate early detection of PHC and precancerous lesions,thereby reducing the risk of lower gastrointestinal bleeding and missed diagnoses of malignancy.

Objective To investigate the value of prone-position MRI of lumbar spine for diagnosing pediatric occult tethered cord syndrome(OTCS).Methods A total of 67 children with suspected tethered cord syndrome(TCS)and confirmed OTCS by surgery were prospectively enrolled as OTCS group,while 73 healthy subjects were recruited as control group.Supine-and prone-position lumbar MR examinations were performed in both groups.The position of filum terminale on prone axial T2WI and the presence or absence of"sunset sign"(i.e.filum terminale located within the dorsal 1/2 of spinal canal on prone axial T2WI)were observed,spinal cord conus mobility was calculated.The efficacy of"sunset sign"for diagnosing OTCS in children was calculated through comparison between groups.Receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn,the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of spinal cord conus mobility.Results On prone-position axial T2WI,"sunset sign"was found in 58 cases(58/67,86.57％)but not in 9 cases(9/67,13.43％)in OTCS group,which was not even observed in control group.The sensitivity of"sunset sign"for diagnosing pediatric OTCS was 86.57％(58/67),with specificity of 100％(73/73),positive predictive value of 100％(58/58)and negative predictive value of 89.02％(73/82).The spinal cord conus mobility was(19.30±5.89)％in OTCS group and(31.71±6.58)％in control group,being statistically different between groups(t=-11.722,P＜0.001).The sensitivity,specificity and AUC of spinal cord conus mobility for diagnosing pediatric OTCS was 80.60％,90.41％and 0.920,respectively.Conclusion Prone-position MRI of lumbar spine could be used in diagnosing pediatric OTCS.

Objective:To explore the molecular mechanism by which the methionine adenosyltransferase 2A (MAT2A)/β-catenin/zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1)/epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway regulates neural tube defect (NTD) through intracellular S-adenosylmethionine (SAM).Methods:A mouse NTD model was induced using the SAM metabolic disorder inhibitor ethionine. Eighty specific pathogen-free C57BL/6 mice were divided into three groups: a normal group (36 mice), an ethionine group (46 mice), and an ethionine+SAM group (44 mice). Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), ethionine, and ethionine+SAM were respectively injected intraperitoneally on embryonic day 7.5 (E7.5), and the mice were sacrificed on E10.5. Embryonic tissues were collected, and the morphology of embryos in each group was observed under a stereomicroscope. The interaction between ethionine and MAT2A was analyzed using Autodock software. The expression levels of MAT2A, β-catenin, ZEB1, and EMT-related proteins in the brain tissues of embryos from the three groups were measured using immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Variance analysis was used for intergroup comparisons.Results:(1) Autodock analysis results showed that MAT2A binds to ethionine through covalent bonds, exhibiting a complementary effect, thereby accelerating the expression of MAT2A. (2) After successful construction of the NTD model, normal embryos were plump with well-developed brains. NTD embryos showed delayed development, obvious anencephaly, unclosed neural tubes, and asymmetry. (3) The levels of SAM and SAH in the embryonic tissues of the ethionine group were significantly lower than those in the normal group (1 737.56±95.64 vs. 872.33±205.11, and 89.17±9.50 vs. 51.25±9.48, respectively). The SAM and SAH levels in the ethionine+SAM group was 1 197.00±222.27 and 66.61±12.25, significantly higher than those in the ethionine group ( P<0.017). Compared with the normal group and the ethionine+SAM group, the expression of MAT2A mRNA in the embryonic brain tissue of the ethionine group was significantly upregulated (1.00±0.00, 1.59±0.52, and 2.42±0.53, respectively, F=49.64, P<0.001; pairwise comparisons between groups P<0.017). (4) Compared with the normal group, the expression of Ctnnb1 in the ethionine group was reduced, and the expression of Ctnnb1 in the ethionine+SAM group was higher than that in the ethionine group (1.00±0.00, 0.38±0.16, and 0.76±0.10, respectively, F=149.03, P<0.001; pairwise comparisons between groups P<0.017). (5) The expression of ZEB1 in the ethionine group was higher than that in the normal group and the ethionine+SAM group (2.91±0.55, 1.00±0.00, and 1.61±0.20, respectively, F=150.01, P<0.001; pairwise comparisons between groups P<0.017). (6) The expression levels of E-cadherin and Vimentin in the ethionine group were lower than those in the normal group. In contrast, the expression of N-cadherin was higher than that in the normal group. After SAM supplementation, the expression levels of E-cadherin and Vimentin were upregulated, and the expression level of N-cadherin was downregulated (0.54±0.12, 1.00±0.00, and 0.72±0.14, respectively, F=87.44; 0.53±0.17, 1.00±0.00, and 0.76±0.09, F=87.44; 3.11±0.53, 1.00±0.00, and 2.13±0.56, F=95.54; all P<0.001; pairwise comparisons within the same index group P<0.017]). Conclusions:Ethionine promotes the expression of MAT2A, leading to reduced SAM production. Ethionine regulates the level of ZEB1 by increasing MAT2A and inhibits the EMT process to interfere with methionine cycle metabolism, ultimately resulting in NTD.

Purpose To demonstrate the advantages of non-contrast-enhanced whole-heart coronary magnetic resonance angiography(NCE-CMRA)in evaluating coronary arteries by comparing ultrasonography(US),and to explore the clinical value of NCE-CMRA in the diagnosis of coronary artery lesions of Kawasaki disease(KD)in children.Materials and Methods NCE-CMRA and US imaging data of 41 children with KD from June 2017 to June 2021 who were diagnosed clinically in Lanzhou University Second Hospital were analyzed retrospectively.The display ability of US and NCE-CMRA in coronary arteries were compared.At the same time,the imaging characteristics of NCE-CMRA were analyzed,and the imaging characteristics such as the range and degree of coronary artery lesions displayed by NCE-CMRA were summarized.Results The overall segment display rate of NCE-CMRA in 41 children with KD was 75.6%;the overall segment display rate of US was 46.3%,with statistical difference between the two techniques(χ2=59.04,P<0.001).Regarding the display of the middle and distal segments of coronary arteries,NCE-CMRA had a clear imaging advantage over US(χ2=57.98 and 161.47,P<0.001).In all cases,25 patients(200 segments)had coronary artery lesions,and 94 segments of coronary artery showed different degrees of dilatation,including 8 segments(8.6%)of giant coronary artery aneurysm,35 segments(37.2%)of medium coronary artery aneurysm,and 51 segments(54.2%)of small coronary artery aneurysm or coronary artery dilation.Conclusion NCE-CMRA technology can objectively and accurately display coronary artery in children,and it can specifically evaluate the degree of damage caused by KD.It has important clinical significance in the diagnosis and evaluation of coronary artery lesions in children with KD.

Objective To compare the synergies between the transcutaneous needle electrodes and the ETT surface electrodes used for neurological surveillance in thyroidology,and explore how to identify and protect recurrent laryngeal nerve and vagus nerve when the patient is not suitable for oral plug or surface electrodes are failure.Methods To collect and analyze the clinical data of 32 patients undergoing surgical treatment for thyroid disease,a total of 40 neurons of the recurrent laryngeal nerves and vagus nerves were monitored,and the amplitude and latency were recorded using ETT surface electrodes and transcutaneous needle electrodes for nerve monitoring,respectively.SPSS 26.0 software was used for statistical analysis,paired t-tests were used to analyze and compare the latency periods,and the rank sum test was used to analyze whether there is a difference in the amplitude obtained from stimulation of transcutaneous needle electrodes and ETT surface electrodes.Results When the transcutaneous needle electrodes were used in thyroid surgery,we identified all the nerves,obtained two-phase electrical signals similar to the latency and amplitude of the ETT surface electrodes,and could effectively identify the recurrent laryngeal nerve and vagus nerve[(3.22±0.50)ms vs.(3.85±1.00)ms,P＜0.05]through the incapacity period,with no obvious difference in the monitoring effect from the ETT surface electrodes[(3.04±0.58)ms vs.(3.89±1.07)ms,P＜0.05].At the same time,the visualization and safety of transcutaneous needle electrodes were higher,with great advantages.Conclusion Transcutaneous needle electrodes can effectively assist in identifying and protecting the recurrent laryngeal nerve and vagus nerve,and thus are an important supplement to ETT surface electrodes.

Objective:To explore the reasons for delayed medical treatment in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) using the treatment pathway theory as a framework, and to propose corresponding strategies to guide timely medical care for PCOS patients.Methods:Purposeful sampling was used to select 14 PCOS patients who sought treatment at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School between November 2022 and May 2023. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and directed content analysis was applied to analyze and extract data.Results:The delay in seeking medical treatment for PCOS patients ranged from five to 60 months. Four main themes and 11 sub-themes were identified as reasons for treatment delays: misconception and delayed recognition of the disease (misunderstanding of symptoms, intermittent symptom presentation) ; delayed seeking of medical help (mismanagement of symptoms, feelings of shame, role conflict, distance and financial constraints, lack of social support) ; delayed diagnosis by healthcare providers (misdiagnosis by healthcare providers, lack of medical resources and services) ; and delayed participation in treatment (lack of health education from medical staff, no immediate fertility needs) .Conclusions:Delays in seeking medical care for PCOS patients are common. Efforts should be made to enhance public education on PCOS for adolescent and reproductive-age women, emphasize the management of the disease in patients without immediate fertility needs, improve primary healthcare institutions' capacity for managing PCOS, and mobilize the social support system to encourage patients to seek medical treatment early, thus reducing the occurrence of delayed medical care.