Background Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is the highest consumed and the most widely used phthalic acid ester, their effects on lipid metabolism have attracted the attention of many scholars. However, the associated mechanism is still unclear. Objective To observe the effect of DEHP on lipid metabolism in rats, probe its possible mechanism, and provide a research basis for the effect of DEHP on human lipid metabolism. Methods Forty healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: solvent control (0 mg·kg⁻¹ DEHP), low DEHP (187 mg·kg⁻¹), medium DEHP (375 mg·kg⁻¹), and high DEHP (750 mg·kg⁻¹) groups. DEHP was administered by oral gavage for 6 d per week, consecutively 8 weeks. The rats were weighed once a week during the exposure period. At 24 h after the last exposure, the rats were anesthetized with 20% urethane and sacrificed by apical puncture. Rat livers were harvested and weighed before hematoxylin-eosin (HE) histopathological observation. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA levels of lipid metabolism-related genes Janus kinase 3 (JAK3), signal transducer and activator of transcription 5b (STAT5b), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) in liver, and Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of lipid metabolism-related proteins JAK3, STAT5b, and PPARγ in liver. Results Compared with the control group, there was no significant difference in the body weight gain of the rats in each group (P>0.05). The liver organ coefficients of the DEHP exposure groups were higher than that of the control group (P<0.001), and increased with higher DEHP dosages. The level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in serum decreased in all DEHP exposure groups (P<0.05), and the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in serum increased in the high DEHP group (P<0.05). The results of liver histopathological morphology showed that the hepatocytes of each DEHP group were enlarged and edematous in varying degrees, with loose stroma and irregular arrangement of cells, which were manifested as inflammatory cell infiltration and fatty degeneration of liver cells. Compared to the control group, the mRNA levels of JAK3, STAT5b, and PPARγ in liver tissues of rats in each DEHP group decreased (P<0.001). Compared to the control group, the relative expression levels of JAK3 in each DEHP group decreased (P<0.05), and the relative expression levels of STAT5b and PPARγ in the medium and high DEHP groups decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion DEHP exposure can induce abnormal lipid metabolism in rats, and the mechanism may be related to DEHP inhibiting the activation of JAK3/STAT5b/PPARγ signaling pathway.

Objective:To determine the total and age-specific cut-off values of total prostate specific antigen (tPSA) and the ratio of free PSA divided total PSA (fPSA/tPSA) for screening prostate cancer in China.Methods:Based on the Chinese Colorectal, Breast, Lung, Liver, and Stomach cancer Screening Trial (C-BLAST) and the Tianjin Common Cancer Case Cohort (TJ4C), males who were not diagnosed with any cancers at baseline since 2017 and received both tPSA and fPSA testes were selected. Based on Cox regression, the overall and age-specific (＜60, 60-＜70, and ≥70 years) accuracy and optimal cut-off values of tPSA and fPSA/tPSA ratio for screening prostate cancer were evaluated with time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve (tdROC) and area under curve (AUC). Bootstrap resampling was used to internally validate the stability of the optimal cut-off value, and the PLCO study was used to externally validate the accuracy under different cut-off values.Results:A total of 5 180 participants were included in the study, and after a median follow-up of 1.48 years, a total of 332 prostate cancer patients were included. In the total population, the tdAUC of tPSA and fPSA/tPSA screening for prostate cancer were 0.852 and 0.748, respectively, with the optimal cut-off values of 5.08 ng/ml and 0.173, respectively. After age stratification, the age specific cut-off values of tPSA in the <60, 60-<70, and ≥70 age groups were 3.13, 4.82, and 11.54 ng/ml, respectively, while the age-specific cut-off values of fPSA/tPSA were 0.153, 0.135, and 0.130, respectively. Under the age-specific cut-off values, the sensitivities of tPSA screening for prostate cancer in males <60, 60-70, and ≥70 years old were 92.3%, 82.0%, and 77.6%, respectively, while the specificities were 84.7%, 81.3%, and 75.4%, respectively. The age-specific sensitivities of fPSA/tPSA for screening prostate cancer were 74.4%, 53.3%, and 55.9%, respectively, while the specificities were 83.8%, 83.7%, and 83.7%, respectively. Both bootstrap's internal validation and PLCO external validation provided similar results. The combination of tPSA and fPSA/tPSA could further improve the accuracy of screening.Conclusion:To improve the screening effects, it is recommended that age-specific cut-off values of tPSA and fPSA/tPSA should be used to screen for prostate cancer in the general risk population.

Objective:To determine the total and age-specific cut-off values of total prostate specific antigen (tPSA) and the ratio of free PSA divided total PSA (fPSA/tPSA) for screening prostate cancer in China.Methods:Based on the Chinese Colorectal, Breast, Lung, Liver, and Stomach cancer Screening Trial (C-BLAST) and the Tianjin Common Cancer Case Cohort (TJ4C), males who were not diagnosed with any cancers at baseline since 2017 and received both tPSA and fPSA testes were selected. Based on Cox regression, the overall and age-specific (＜60, 60-＜70, and ≥70 years) accuracy and optimal cut-off values of tPSA and fPSA/tPSA ratio for screening prostate cancer were evaluated with time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve (tdROC) and area under curve (AUC). Bootstrap resampling was used to internally validate the stability of the optimal cut-off value, and the PLCO study was used to externally validate the accuracy under different cut-off values.Results:A total of 5 180 participants were included in the study, and after a median follow-up of 1.48 years, a total of 332 prostate cancer patients were included. In the total population, the tdAUC of tPSA and fPSA/tPSA screening for prostate cancer were 0.852 and 0.748, respectively, with the optimal cut-off values of 5.08 ng/ml and 0.173, respectively. After age stratification, the age specific cut-off values of tPSA in the <60, 60-<70, and ≥70 age groups were 3.13, 4.82, and 11.54 ng/ml, respectively, while the age-specific cut-off values of fPSA/tPSA were 0.153, 0.135, and 0.130, respectively. Under the age-specific cut-off values, the sensitivities of tPSA screening for prostate cancer in males <60, 60-70, and ≥70 years old were 92.3%, 82.0%, and 77.6%, respectively, while the specificities were 84.7%, 81.3%, and 75.4%, respectively. The age-specific sensitivities of fPSA/tPSA for screening prostate cancer were 74.4%, 53.3%, and 55.9%, respectively, while the specificities were 83.8%, 83.7%, and 83.7%, respectively. Both bootstrap's internal validation and PLCO external validation provided similar results. The combination of tPSA and fPSA/tPSA could further improve the accuracy of screening.Conclusion:To improve the screening effects, it is recommended that age-specific cut-off values of tPSA and fPSA/tPSA should be used to screen for prostate cancer in the general risk population.

Objective:A microsurgical simulation training device based on real clinical scenes was designed and its effectiveness was tested.Methods:From January 1, 2020 to January 1, 2023, postgraduate students in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department of the First Medical Center of PLA General Hospital and the Plastic Surgery Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were enrolled in this prospective study. The simulation training device consists of four parts: (1)Blood perfusion system, which is used to simulate living animal blood vessels.(2)The inner baffling rod system, which is used to simulate the operation in deep cavity.(3) The exterior baffling rod system, which is used to simulate the operation in difficult positions.(4) A pulsating platform system is used to simulate microsurgery under the influence of respiratory movement. Preliminary verification of the effect of the simulated training device was as follows: Surgeons with no experience in microsurgery were completely randomized assigned to the control group (traditional microsurgery training group) and the experimental group (training group using the simulated training device). After 4 weeks of microsurgical training, the trainees were assigned to perform two surgical skill assessments, the first using a live animal model for end-to-end anastomosis of rat tail arteries, and the second assessment using end-to-end anastomosis of free latissimus dorsi flap arteries in a real case. The performance of the two groups was compared by using operation time and microsurgical GRS score scale including four items of dexterity, visuospatial ability, operative flow and judgment. Chi-squared test was used to analyze gender between the two groups. GRS scores between the two groups were compared by the Mann-Whitney U test. Participants’ ageand operation time between the two groups was compared by independent t-test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:A total of 18 trainees were enrolled, including 10 in the control group, 6 males and 4 females, with an average age of (27.80±1.87) years. There were 8 subjects in the experimental group, 4 males and 4 females, with an average age of (28.10±1.56) years old. There were no significant differences in age, gender and other baseline characteristics between the two groups ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in GRS score and operation time between the control group and the experimental group ( P> 0.05) in the first assessment. However, in the second assessment of real cases, the GRS score of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group(14.25 vs. 5.70), and the operation duration of the experimental group was also shorter than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant[(100.37±24.65 ) min vs. (105.60±22.84) min] ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared with traditional microsurgery training methods, using microsurgery training devices based on clinical real scenes can effectively shorten the learning curve and enable trainees to master complex micromanipulation skills more quickly.

Objective:A microsurgical simulation training device based on real clinical scenes was designed and its effectiveness was tested.Methods:From January 1, 2020 to January 1, 2023, postgraduate students in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department of the First Medical Center of PLA General Hospital and the Plastic Surgery Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were enrolled in this prospective study. The simulation training device consists of four parts: (1)Blood perfusion system, which is used to simulate living animal blood vessels.(2)The inner baffling rod system, which is used to simulate the operation in deep cavity.(3) The exterior baffling rod system, which is used to simulate the operation in difficult positions.(4) A pulsating platform system is used to simulate microsurgery under the influence of respiratory movement. Preliminary verification of the effect of the simulated training device was as follows: Surgeons with no experience in microsurgery were completely randomized assigned to the control group (traditional microsurgery training group) and the experimental group (training group using the simulated training device). After 4 weeks of microsurgical training, the trainees were assigned to perform two surgical skill assessments, the first using a live animal model for end-to-end anastomosis of rat tail arteries, and the second assessment using end-to-end anastomosis of free latissimus dorsi flap arteries in a real case. The performance of the two groups was compared by using operation time and microsurgical GRS score scale including four items of dexterity, visuospatial ability, operative flow and judgment. Chi-squared test was used to analyze gender between the two groups. GRS scores between the two groups were compared by the Mann-Whitney U test. Participants’ ageand operation time between the two groups was compared by independent t-test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:A total of 18 trainees were enrolled, including 10 in the control group, 6 males and 4 females, with an average age of (27.80±1.87) years. There were 8 subjects in the experimental group, 4 males and 4 females, with an average age of (28.10±1.56) years old. There were no significant differences in age, gender and other baseline characteristics between the two groups ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in GRS score and operation time between the control group and the experimental group ( P> 0.05) in the first assessment. However, in the second assessment of real cases, the GRS score of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group(14.25 vs. 5.70), and the operation duration of the experimental group was also shorter than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant[(100.37±24.65 ) min vs. (105.60±22.84) min] ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared with traditional microsurgery training methods, using microsurgery training devices based on clinical real scenes can effectively shorten the learning curve and enable trainees to master complex micromanipulation skills more quickly.

Objective To explore the value of transesophageal echocardiography(TEE)for surgical therapy of pediatric atrioventricular valve diseases.Methods Data of 273 children with atrioventricular valve diseases who underwent surgical operation under extracorporeal circulation were retrospectively analyzed.Transthoracic echocardiography(TTE)was performed within 1 week before,while TEE was performed before and after surgical operation.Whether TTE diagnosis should be adjusted were evaluated according to findings of TEE,so were the effects of surgical treatments,and the ultrasonic diagnostic coincidence rate before operation were compared taken surgical findings as standards.Results TEE was successfully completed in all 273 children.The diagnostic coincidence rate of preoperative TTE was 83.88％(229/273).After adjustment or supplement according to TEE in 44 cases(44/273,16.12％),the ultrasonic diagnostic coincidence rate reached 100％(273/273),higher than that of preoperative TTE alone(P＜0.001).Residual shunt was found in 5 cases,while no obvious improvement of valvular regurgitation was noticed in 3 cases with post operative TEE,and after corresponding treatments,re-examination of TEE showed satisfactory efficacy in all the above cases.Conclusion TEE could be used to accurately diagnose pediatric atrioventricular valve diseases before and evaluate the efficacy after surgical treatments,having important clinical application value.

OBJECTIVE: To review the research progress of the feasibility of a new treatment method for atrophic rhinitis (ATR) based on tissue engineering technology (seed cells, scaffold materials, and growth factors), and provide new ideas for the treatment of ATR. METHODS: The literature related to ATR was extensively reviewed. Focusing on the three aspects of seed cells, scaffold materials, and growth factors, the recent research progress of ATR treatment was reviewed, and the future directions of tissue engineering technology to treat ATR were proposed. RESULTS: The pathogenesis and etiology of ATR are still unclear, and the effectiveness of the current treatments are still unsatisfactory. The construction of a cell-scaffold complex with sustained and controlled release of exogenous cytokines is expected to reverse the pathological changes of ATR, promoting the regeneration of normal nasal mucosa and reconstructing the atrophic turbinate. In recent years, the research progress of exosomes, three-dimensional printing, and organoids will promote the development of tissue engineering technology for ATR. CONCLUSION Tissue engineering technology can provide a new treatment method for ATR.
Humans ; Tissue Engineering/methods* ; Tissue Scaffolds ; Rhinitis, Atrophic ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Cytokines

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Buyang Huanwutang in regulating macrophage polarization based on the Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4） / nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） / nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor 3 （NLRP3） pathway. MethodRAW264.7 macrophages were intervened with lipopolysaccharide （LPS） of different concentrations （0， 1.25， 2.5， 5， 10， 20， 40， and 80 mg·L^-1） for 24 hours. Cell Counting Kit-8 （CCK-8） assay was used to determine the cell viability of RAW264.7 macrophages. The optimal concentration was chosen to establish an in vitro inflammation model induced by LPS. Cells were divided into a blank group （20% blank serum）， a model group （20% blank serum + 10 mg·L^-1 LPS）， a model control group （20% FBS + 10 mg·L^-1 LPS）， low-， medium-， and high-dose （5%， 10%， and 20%） Buyang Huanwutang-containing serum groups， a high-dose （20%） Buyang Huanwutang combined with NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 （50 μmol·L^-1） group， a high-dose （20%） Buyang Huanwutang combined with reactive oxygen species （ROS） inhibitor NAC （10 μmol·L^-1） group， and a high-dose （20%） Buyang Huanwutang combined with NF-κB inhibitor PDTC （10 μmol·L^-1） group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the expression of interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， interleukin-18 （IL-18）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in RAW264.7 macrophages. Flow cytometry was employed to measure ROS levels in macrophages. Western blot was used to determine the protein expression of M1-type macrophage-related factors inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） and TNF-α， M2-type macrophage-related factors arginase-1 （Arg-1） and interleukin-10 （IL-10）， as well as the proteins in the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway. ResultCCK-8 results indicated that under 10 mg·L^-1 LPS stimulation， RAW264.7 macrophages exhibited the highest cell viability （P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， the model group showed significantly increased levels of IL-1β， IL-18， and TNF-α （P<0.05，P<0.01）， increased ROS expression （P<0.05，P<0.01）， increased protein expression of M1-type macrophage factors iNOS and TNF-α （P<0.01）， decreased protein expression of M2-type macrophage factors Arg-1 and IL-10 （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and upregulated expression levels of TLR4， myeloid differentiation factor 88 （MyD88）， phosphorylated inhibitor of NF-κB （p-IκB）/NF-κB inhibitor （IκB）， phosphorylated NF-κB （p-NF-κB） p65/NF-κB p65， NLRP3， apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD （ASC）， and pro-Caspase-1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， all Buyang Huanwutang-treated groups and inhibitor groups significantly reduced levels of IL-1β， IL-18， and TNF-α （P<0.01）， suppressed the expression of inflammatory factors in RAW264.7 macrophages， decreased cellular ROS expression levels （P<0.01）， downregulated M1-type macrophages iNOS and TNF-α protein expression （P<0.01）， upregulated M2-type macrophages Arg-1 and IL-10 protein expression （P<0.01）， and lowered protein expression levels of TLR4， MyD88， p-IκB/IκB， p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65， NLRP3， ASC， and pro-Caspase-1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionBuyang Huanwutang can improve macrophage inflammation， potentially by reducing macrophage ROS levels， inhibiting RAW264.7 macrophage polarization， and downregulating the protein expression levels of the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway.

Objective:To explore the clinical short-term efficacy of venetoclax (Ven) combined with azacitidine (AZA) in treatment of newly treated and relapsed/refractory patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).Methods:The data of 18 newly treated and relapsed/refractory patients with AML who received Ven+AZA treatment in Suzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from April 2020 to June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The complete remission or complete remission with incomplete recovery of blood cell count (CR/CRi) and objective remission rate (ORR) [calculated as CR/CRi+partial remission (PR)] were analyzed in newly treated and relapsed/refractory patients or patients with different gene mutations. The patients were followed up until June 30, 2022, and the overall survival (OS) of relapsed/refractory patients was analyzed. The occurrence of adverse reactions was summarized.Results:The median age of the 18 patients was 58 years old (23-81 years old), 8 were males and 10 were females; 6 were newly treated and 12 were relapsed/refractory; the median follow-up time was 3 months (1-15 months). In 6 newly treated patients, after the first cycle of Ven+AZA, 5 cases achieved CR/CRi, and the ORR was 83.3% (5/6). In 12 relapsed/refractory patients, after the first cycle of Ven+AZA, 5 cases achieved CR/CRi, 3 achieved PR, and the ORR was 66.7% (8/12). Among the 18 patients, 7 cases had FLT3-ITD/TKD mutation, after the first cycle of Ven+AZA, 1 case achieved CR/CRi, 1 case achieved PR, and the ORR was 28.6% (2/7); 3 cases had NPM1 mutation combined with FLT3-ITD/TKD mutation, 1 case achieved CR/CRi, and the ORR was 33.3% (1/3); 4 cases had IDH1/2 mutation, and 3 cases of them combined with FLT3-ITD/TKD mutation, all of which were non-remission, and the other 1 relapsed/refractory patient combined with K/NRAS mutation achieved CR/CRi; among the 4 cases with K/NRAS mutation, 2 cases combined with FLT3-ITD/TKD mutation, including 1 case of NR and 1 case of PR, and the other 2 cases achieved CR/CRi, the ORR was 75.0% (3/4). Of the 12 relapsed/refractory patients, 6 died by the end of follow-up, with a median OS time of 2.6 months (1- 8 months), including 4 cases of disease progression and 2 cases of disease relapse; the 6 surviving patients had stable disease. All the 18 patients had ≥grade 3 hematologic adverse reactions, and non-hematologic adverse reactions included lung infection, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.Conclusions:Ven+AZA treatment for newly treated and relapsed/refractory AML patients results in a high response rate with tolerable adverse reactions, but it is not effective in AML patients with FLT3-ITD/TKD mutation.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of plasma atherosclerosis index (AIP) on metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in physical examination population.Methods:It was a cross-sectional study. Total of 97 076 people who completed physical examination in the Health Management Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from January to December 2021 and met the integrity of the study were selected as study subjects. Of the subjects, 31 176 people who met the diagnostic criteria of MAFLD were set as the MAFLD group, and the other 65 900 people were set as the non-MAFLD group. Laboratory indexes, height, weight, blood pressure, liver ultrasound and other indicators in the two groups were collected, and the AIP was calculated. The t-test was used for measurement data and chi-square test was used for counting data to compare the differences between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the influencing factors of MAFLD. The two groups were grouped further according to gender and age, and the difference of AIP prediction efficiency in different groups was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results:The average age (47.3 years, Z=-31.734), male proportion (76.9%, χ2=7 837.54) and the average value of AIP (0.23, Z=-155.089) in MAFLD group were all higher than those in non-MAFLD group (all P<0.001). After stratified by age, gender, body mass index (BMI), hypertensive or not, hemoglobin A1c (HbA 1c), triglyceride (TG), fasting blood glucose (FBG), the difference of AIP between the two groups was still statistically significant (all P<0.001). Multifactorial regression analysis showed that alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ( OR=1.024), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ( OR=0.974), serum creatinine (sCr) ( OR=0.975), serum uric acid ( OR=1.004), HbA 1c ( OR=1.231), hemoglobin (HB) ( OR=1.011), platelet(PLT) ( OR=1.002), FBG ( OR=1.131), BMI ( OR=1.419), AIP ( OR=11.318), systolic blood pressure ( OR=1.002), and diastolic blood pressure ( OR=1.012) were independent risk factors for MAFLD (all P<0.001). In the overall population, AIP had an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.808, a cut-off value of 2.045, a sensitivity of 74.5% and a specificity of 72.4%; in the gender subgroup, the AUC was greater in women than in men (0.815 vs 0.764), and the cut-off values, sensitivities and specificities in the two groups were -0.044 vs 0.091, 75.6% vs 72.2%, 73.3% vs 67.6%, respectively; in the age sub-group, the largest AUC (0.848), cut-off value (0.034), sensitivity (79.1%) and specificity (75.3%) were found in the 18-44 years group; the differences were statistically significantin the ROC curve analysis of each group ( P<0.001). Conclusion:AIP is an independent risk factor for MAFLD, which has good predictive value for the occurrence of the disease, and has better predictive effect in women and young groups (18-44 years old).