BACKGROUND: Endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) is widely used to treat common bile duct stones (CBDS); however, long-term studies have revealed the increasing incidence of recurrent CBDS after EST. Loss of sphincter of Oddi function after EST was the main cause of recurrent CBDS. Reparation of the sphincter of Oddi is therefore crucial. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness and safety of endoclip papilloplasty (ECPP) for repairing the sphincter of Oddi and elucidate its mechanism. METHODS: Eight healthy Bama minipigs were randomly divided into the EST group and the ECPP group at a 1:1 ratio, and bile samples were collected before endoscopy and 6 months later. All minipigs underwent transabdominal biliary ultrasonography for the diagnosis of cholelithiasis 6 months after endoscopy. The biliary microbiota composition and alpha and beta diversity were analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Differential metabolites were analyzed by bile acid metabolomics to explore the predictive indicators of cholelithiasis. RESULTS: Three minipigs were diagnosed with cholelithiasis in the EST group, while none in the ECPP group showed cholelithiasis. The biliary Firmicutes/Bacteroidota (F/B) ratio was increased after EST and decreased after ECPP. The Chao1 and observed species index significantly decreased 6 months after EST ( P  = 0.017 and 0.018, respectively); however, the biliary α-diversity was similar before and 6 months after ECPP. The β-diversity significantly differed in the EST group before and 6 months after EST, as well as in the ECPP group before and 6 months after ECPP (analysis of similarities [ANOSIM]: R  = 0.917, P  = 0.040; R  = 0.740, P  = 0.035; respectively). Glycolithocholic acid (GLCA) and taurolithocholic acid (TLCA) accumulated in bile 6 months after EST. CONCLUSIONS ECPP has less impact on the biliary microenvironment than EST and prevents duodenobiliary reflux by repairing the sphincter of Oddi. The bile levels of GLCA and TLCA may be used to predict the risk of cholelithiasis.
Animals ; Swine, Miniature ; Swine ; Cholelithiasis/prevention & control* ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic/methods* ; Sphincter of Oddi/surgery* ; Female ; Male

Nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA), one of the most severe types of male infertility, etiology often remains unclear in most cases. Therefore, this study aimed to detect four biallelic detrimental variants (0.5%) in the minichromosome maintenance domain containing 2 ( MCMDC2 ) genes in 768 NOA patients by whole-exome sequencing (WES). Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) demonstrated that MCMDC2 deleterious variants caused meiotic arrest in three patients (c.1360G>T, c.1956G>T, and c.685C>T) and hypospermatogenesis in one patient (c.94G>T), as further confirmed through immunofluorescence (IF) staining. The single-cell RNA sequencing data indicated that MCMDC2 was substantially expressed during spermatogenesis. The variants were confirmed as deleterious and responsible for patient infertility through bioinformatics and in vitro experimental analyses. The results revealed four MCMDC2 variants related to NOA, which contributes to the current perception of the function of MCMDC2 in male fertility and presents new perspectives on the genetic etiology of NOA.
Humans ; Male ; Azoospermia/genetics* ; Meiosis/genetics* ; Spermatogenesis/genetics* ; Adult ; Exome Sequencing ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins/genetics* ; Alleles ; Infertility, Male/genetics*

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) acts as a damage-associated molecular pattern to activate the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling in macrophages, promoting tissue inflammation. However, its role in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains unclear. Macrophage-specific Sting1 knockout mice were used to validate STING's pathological role in AMI. Cardiac and liver mtDNA were used to activate macrophages in co-culture systems with cardiomyocytes to assess fibrosis and hypertrophy. Panaxatriol saponin (PTS) was tested for its ability to block mtDNA-driven macrophage activation and subsequent cardiomyocyte damage. STING-PTS binding ability was analyzed. AMI rats received PTS to evaluate its effects on myocardial inflammation and ventricular remodeling. In vivo, macrophage-specific Sting1 knockout reduced myocardial inflammation and injury after AMI. In vitro, mtDNA-activated macrophages induced cardiomyocyte fibrosis and hypertrophy through STING signaling. PTS suppressed mtDNA-driven macrophage activation by directly binding STING, thereby blocking inflammatory cascades. In AMI rats, PTS treatment attenuated acute inflammation and reversed ventricular remodeling. These findings establish the mtDNA-STING axis in macrophages as a critical driver of post-AMI inflammation and identify pharmacological STING inhibition with PTS as a promising therapeutic strategy. The study bridges genetic validation with translational applications, highlighting macrophage STING as a novel target for ischemic heart disease management.

Cemental tear is a rare and indetectable condition unless obvious clinical signs present with the involvement of surrounding periodontal and periapical tissues. Due to its clinical manifestations similar to common dental issues, such as vertical root fracture, primary endodontic diseases, and periodontal diseases, as well as the low awareness of cemental tear for clinicians, misdiagnosis often occurs. The critical principle for cemental tear treatment is to remove torn fragments, and overlooking fragments leads to futile therapy, which could deteriorate the conditions of the affected teeth. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and subsequent appropriate interventions are vital for managing cemental tear. Novel diagnostic tools, including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), microscopes, and enamel matrix derivatives, have improved early detection and management, enhancing tooth retention. The implementation of standardized diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols, combined with improved clinical awareness among dental professionals, serves to mitigate risks of diagnostic errors and suboptimal therapeutic interventions. This expert consensus reviewed the epidemiology, pathogenesis, potential predisposing factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cemental tear, aiming to provide a clinical guideline and facilitate clinicians to have a better understanding of cemental tear.
Humans ; Dental Cementum/injuries* ; Consensus ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Tooth Fractures/therapy*

Background::Breast cancer is ranked among the most prevalent malignancies in the Chinese female population. However, comprehensive reports detailing the latest epidemiological data and attributable disease burden have not been extensively documented.Methods::In 2018, high-quality cancer surveillance data were recorded in 700 population-based cancer registries in China. We extracted data on female breast cancers (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision [ICD-10]: C50) and estimated the incidence and mortality in 2022 according to the baseline data and corresponding trends from 2010 to 2018. Pathological types were classified according to the ICD for Oncology, 3rd Edition codes. Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were calculated as the sum of the years of life lost (YLLs) and years lived with disability (YLDs).Results::In 2022, approximately 357,200 new female breast cancer cases and 75,000 deaths occurred in China, accounting for 15.59% and 7.94% of total new cancer cases and deaths, respectively. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) was 33.04 per 100,000. When analyzed by pathological type, the ASIRs for papillary neoplasms, invasive breast carcinoma, rare and salivary gland-type tumors, and other types were 1.13, 29.79, 0.24, and 1.88 per 100,000, respectively. The age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) was 6.10 per 100,000. A total of 2,628,000 DALYs were found to be attributable to female breast cancer in China, comprising 2,278,300 YLLs and 349,700 YLDs. The ASIR, ASMR, and age-standardized rate (ASR) for DALYs in urban areas were consistently higher than those in rural areas. We observed a four-fold increase in the ASIR and ASR for DALYs and an eight-fold increase in the ASMR among females over 55 years compared with those aged under 55 years.Conclusion::These data provide invaluable insights into the latest epidemiology of female breast cancer in China and highlight the urgency for disease prevention and control strategy formulation.

Background::Ainuovirine (ANV) is a new generation of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 infection. This study aimed to evaluate the population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) profile and exposure-response relationship of ANV among people living with HIV.Methods::Plasma concentration-time data from phase 1 and phase 3 clinical trials of ANV were pooled for developing the PopPK model. Exposure estimates obtained from the final model were used in exposure-response analysis for virologic responses and safety responses.Results::ANV exhibited a nonlinear pharmacokinetic profile, which was best described by a two-compartment model with first-order elimination. There were no significant covariates correlated to the pharmacokinetic parameters of ANV. The PopPK parameter estimate (relative standard error [%]) for clearance adjusted for bioavailability (CL/F) was 6.46 (15.00) L/h, and the clearance of ANV increased after multiple doses. The exposure-response model revealed no significant correlation between the virologic response (HIV-RNA <50 copies/mL) at 48 weeks and the exposure, but the incidence of adverse events increased with the increasing exposure ( P value of steady-state trough concentration and area under the steady-state curve were 0.0177 and 0.0141, respectively). Conclusions::Our PopPK model supported ANV 150 mg once daily as the recommended dose for people living with HIV, requiring no dose adjustment for the studied factors. Optimization of ANV dose may be warranted in clinical practice due to an increasing trend in adverse reactions with increasing exposure.Trial registration::Chinese Clinical Trial Registry https://www.chictr.org.cn (Nos. ChiCTR1800018022 and ChiCTR1800019041).

Objective:To analyze the association between the triglyceride-glucose(TyG)index and the risk of nephrolithiasis across various demographic and clinical subgroups,aiming to enhance early di-agnosis and treatment of nephrolithiasis and promote personalized care in diverse populations.Methods:This cross-sectional study analyzed the medical records of 84 968 adults,stratified into three categories(low,middle,high)according to their TyG index scores.To evaluate the association between the TyG index and nephrolithiasis risk,multivariable Logistic regression models were employed,adjusting for po-tential confounders.Additionally,piecewise linear regression models were used to investigate the non-linear dynamics of the TyG index's relationship with nephrolithiasis risk.Subgroup analyses were per-formed to explore variations in the effects of the TyG index across different demographic and clinical populations.Results:Increasing TyG index was associated with a higher risk of nephrolithiasis,rising from 4.36％in the low group to 8.96％in the high group(P＜0.001).In adjusted models,males in the middle and high TyG index categories demonstrated significantly elevated risks of nephrolithiasis,with odds ratios of 1.18(95％CI:1.07-1.31,P=0.002)and 1.29(95％CI:1.15-1.45,P＜0.001),respectively.Conversely,in females,the association was not statistically significant post-adjustment(OR=0.98,95％CI:0.82-1.16,P=0.778).Among males,for each unit increment in the TyG index be-low the critical threshold of 8.98,there was a notable 40％escalation in the risk of developing nephroli-thiasis(OR=1.40,95％CI:1.24-1.58,P＜0.001).Surpassing this threshold,the TyG index no longer conferred a significant increase in risk(OR=0.91,95％CI:0.78-1.06,P=0.24).Subgroup analyses indicated that this association remained stable regardless of age,BMI,or hypertension status.Conclusion:The TyG index is positively associated with the risk of nephrolithiasis in males,demonstra-ting a nonlinear dose-response relationship that becomes especially pronounced at certain index levels.This biomarker could potentially serve as a valuable clinical tool for identifying males who are at a high risk of developing nephrolithiasis,thereby enabling targeted preventive strategies.Further research is urgently needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and to verify the applicability of these results across different populations.

Objective:To compare the effects of unilateral thoracic paravertebal block with lidocaine on hemodynamic and the level of consciousness during double lumen endotracheal intubation.Methods:From June to october 2021,a total of 40 patients American Society of Anesthesiologists(ASA)physical status Ⅰ-Ⅱ,aged 19-65 years,scheduled for elective thoracic sugeries in Peking University Interna-tional Hospital block with under general anesthesia requiring orotracheal intubation were recruited and di-vided into two groups:The double-lumen endobronchial intubation(group C)and double-lumen endo-bronchial intubation after thoracic paravertebal block with lidocaine(group P).After an intravenous an-esthetic induction,the orotracheal double-lumen intubation was performed using a Macintosh direct laryn-goscopy,respectively.Invasive blood pressure(BP)and heart rate(HR)were recorded before and after anesthetic induction,immediately after intubation and 5 min after intubation with 1-minute interval and the intubation time was also noted.Rate-pressure product(RPP)were calculated.Results:After anes-thetic induction,BP and RPP in the two groups decreased significantly compared with their preinduction values.As comparison with their postinduction values,the orotracheal intubation in the two groups caused significant increases in BP,HR and RPP.Diastolic blood pressure(DBP)and mean arterial pressure(MAP)increased significantly and lasted for 1-minute in group C compared with the baseline values.Systolic blood pressure(SBP)was not significant change and DBP increased significantly immediately af-ter intubation in group P.HR of both groups after intubation were significantly higher than their baseline values and lasted for 4 min in group C,HR increased significantly immediately after intubation in group P.SBP,DBP,MAP,HR and RPP after intubation in group P were significantly lower than those of group C during the observation period.The value of BIS was similar between the two groups.Compared with group C,the incidence of SBP greater than 30％and RPP greater than 22 000 was significantly lower in group P in the observation period,and no patient in group P developed RPP greater than 22 000.At the end of the incidence of SBP less than 30％of the basal value and HR less than 30％of the baseline,no severe bradycardia occurred in both groups.Conclusion:During double-lumen endobronchial intubation,unilateral thoracic paravertebal block with lidocaine can provide less hemodynamic response and level of conscionsness.