Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy(TAO), the most common orbital disease in adults, is characterized by a rising incidence globally. TAO typically presents with clinical features such as proptosis, upper eyelid retraction, ocular motility dysfunction, and diplopia. Additionally, it significantly compromises the integrity of ocular surface structures, leading to symptoms including dryness, foreign body sensation, photophobia and epiphora, which severely impair patients' visual function and quality of life. Recent studies have increasingly highlighted the roles of ocular surface inflammation, immune dysregulation and ocular surface exposure in the pathogenesis of TAO-related ocular surface damage. These factors collectively contribute to pathological changes in ocular surface structures, such as the conjunctiva, cornea, lacrimal gland and meibomian glands. This review comprehensively summarizes the latest research progress on ocular surface structural damage in TAO patients, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation and novel insights for the early diagnosis, disease evaluation and individualized treatment of TAO.

OBJECTIVES: Recent evidence suggests that the gut may be a primary site of metformin action. However, studies on the effects of metformin on gut microbiota remain limited, and its impact on gut microbial metabolites such as short-/medium-chain fatty acids is unclear. This study aims to investigate the effects of metformin on gut microbiota, short-/medium-chain fatty acids, and associated metabolic benefits in high-fat diet rats. METHODS: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: 1) Normal diet group (ND group), fed standard chow; 2) high-fat diet group (HFD group), fed a high-fat diet; 3) high-fat diet + metformin treatment group (HFD+Met group), fed a high-fat diet for 8 weeks, followed by daily intragastric administration of metformin solution (150 mg/kg body weight) starting in week 9. At the end of the experiment, all rats were sacrificed, and serum, liver, and colonic contents were collected for assessment of glucose and lipid metabolism, liver pathology, gut microbiota composition, and the concentrations of short-/medium-chain fatty acids. RESULTS: Metformin significantly improved HFD-induced glucose and lipid metabolic disorders and liver injury. Compared with the HFD group, the HFD+Met group showed reduced abundance of Blautia, Romboutsia, Bilophila, and Bacteroides, while Lactobacillus abundance significantly increased (all P<0.05). Colonic contents of butyric acid, 2-methyl butyric acid, valeric acid, octanoic acid, and lauric acid were significantly elevated (all P<0.05), whereas acetic acid, isoheptanoic acid, and nonanoic acid levels were significantly decreased (all P<0.05). Spearman correlation analysis revealed that Lactobacillus abundance was negatively correlated with body weight gain and insulin resistance, while butyrate and valerate levels were negatively correlated with insulin resistance and liver injury (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Metformin significantly increases the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and promotes the production of short-/medium-chain fatty acids including butyric, valeric, and lauric acid in the colonic contents of HFD rats, suggesting that metformin may regulate host metabolism through modulation of the gut microbiota.
Animals ; Metformin/pharmacology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects* ; Rats ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Male ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism* ; Fatty Acids/metabolism*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the impact of high expression of transmembrane and coiled helix structural domain 1 (TMCO1) on prognosis of gastric cancer and the possible mechanisms. METHODS: TMCO1 expression in gastric cancer and its effect on gastric cancer progression and prognosis were analyzed using publicly available databases and clinical data of patients undergoing radical surgery in our hospital, and its possible biological functions were explored using KEGG and GO analyses. In gastric cancer HGC-27 cells, the effects of lentivirus-mediated TMCO1 overexpression and TMCO1 silencing on cell apoptosis, proliferation, invasion and migration were examined. RESULTS: TMCO1 expression was significantly elevated in gastric cancer tissues (P<0.05), and its high expression was positively correlated with cancer progression (P<0.001) and a lowered postoperative 5-year survival rate of the patients (P<0.05). Bioinformatic analyses suggested that TMCO1 may affect gastric cancer cell apoptosis via Wnt signaling. In HGC-27 cells, TMCO1 overexpression significantly promoted tumor cell proliferation, inhibited cell apoptosis, and enhanced cell migration and invasion, whereas TMCO1 silencing produced the opposite effects. Western blotting showed that β-catenin levels were significantly upregulated in TMCO1-overexpressing cells and downregulated in cells with TMCO1 silencing. CONCLUSIONS TMCO1 is overexpressed in gastric cancer tissues, and its high expression promotes gastric cancer progression and affects long-term prognosis of the patients possibly by activating the Wnt/ β-catenin signaling pathway to inhibit apoptosis of gastric cancer cells.
Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Apoptosis ; Prognosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Movement ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; beta Catenin/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic

Objective To observe impact factors of average glandular dose(AGD)of full field digital mammography(FFDM)and digital breast tomosynthesis(DBT)under breast Combo mode.Methods Totally 169 subjects who received FFDM and DBT under Combo mode were collected retrospectively.The breast compression thickness,tube voltage,tube current and AGD of FFDM and DBT exposure at cranio-caudal(CC)and mediolateral oblique(MLO)positions of bilateral breast were recorded.FFDM or DBT exposure conditions and AGD among different breast compression thickness and breast types were compared,and their correlations were analyzed.The impacts of breast compression thickness and breast density on AGD of FFDM or DBT were observed.Results There were significant differences in tube voltage,tube current and AGD of FFDM or DBT among different breast compression thicknesses(all P＜0.001).With the increase of breast compression thickness,tube voltage,tube current and AGD of FFDM or DBT all increased(all P＜0.001).There were statistical differences in breast compression thickness,tube voltage,tube current and AGD of FFDM or DBT among different types breast(all P＜0.001).Hierarchical analysis showed that,when breast compression thickness was＜50 mm,50-59 mm and＞59 mm respectively,statistical differences in AGDFFDM and AGDDBT among different breast types at CC or MLO positions were found(all P＜0.001).Under the same breast compression thickness,tube current,AGDFFDM and AGDDBT of FFDM or DBT all increased with the increase of breast density(all P＜0.001),while tube voltage of FFDM or DBT had no obvious change(all P＞0.05).Breast compression thickness and breast density were both independent factors of AGD of FFDM or DBT(all P＜0.001).Conclusion Under breast Combo mode,breast compression thickness and gland density both had impacts on AGD of FFDM or DBT,and the former had more significant impact on AGD.

Objective To observe impact factors of average glandular dose(AGD)of full field digital mammography(FFDM)and digital breast tomosynthesis(DBT)under breast Combo mode.Methods Totally 169 subjects who received FFDM and DBT under Combo mode were collected retrospectively.The breast compression thickness,tube voltage,tube current and AGD of FFDM and DBT exposure at cranio-caudal(CC)and mediolateral oblique(MLO)positions of bilateral breast were recorded.FFDM or DBT exposure conditions and AGD among different breast compression thickness and breast types were compared,and their correlations were analyzed.The impacts of breast compression thickness and breast density on AGD of FFDM or DBT were observed.Results There were significant differences in tube voltage,tube current and AGD of FFDM or DBT among different breast compression thicknesses(all P＜0.001).With the increase of breast compression thickness,tube voltage,tube current and AGD of FFDM or DBT all increased(all P＜0.001).There were statistical differences in breast compression thickness,tube voltage,tube current and AGD of FFDM or DBT among different types breast(all P＜0.001).Hierarchical analysis showed that,when breast compression thickness was＜50 mm,50-59 mm and＞59 mm respectively,statistical differences in AGDFFDM and AGDDBT among different breast types at CC or MLO positions were found(all P＜0.001).Under the same breast compression thickness,tube current,AGDFFDM and AGDDBT of FFDM or DBT all increased with the increase of breast density(all P＜0.001),while tube voltage of FFDM or DBT had no obvious change(all P＞0.05).Breast compression thickness and breast density were both independent factors of AGD of FFDM or DBT(all P＜0.001).Conclusion Under breast Combo mode,breast compression thickness and gland density both had impacts on AGD of FFDM or DBT,and the former had more significant impact on AGD.

Objective Through the analysis of notifiable infectious diseases in a tertiary general hospital from 2019 to 2023,the epidemic characteristics of notifiable infectious diseases were understood,providing theoretical basis for the prevention and control of infectious diseases in hospitals.Methods The data of notifiable infectious diseases from 2019 to 2023 were col-lected from the Information system of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and analyzed according to the characteris-tics of time,population and route of transmission by descriptive epidemiological method.The change trend of major infectious dis-eases around 2023 was analyzed.SPSS 22.0 was used for statistical analysis.Results A total of 25 kinds,17 620 cases of in-fectious diseases were reported from 2019 to 2023,including 0 cases of Category A,13 kinds of Category B,3 986 cases and 6 kinds Category C,13 021 cases.The major infectious diseases were influenza and other infectious diarrhea.Among the patients,the male had more cases than female,mainly students.According to the routes of transmission,respiratory infectious diseases have been reported mainly,with a total of 10 970 cases(62.26％),followed by digestive tract infectious diseases,with a total of 4 661 cases(26.45％).Comparing the changing trends of major infectious diseases before and after 2023,it was found that in-fluenza showed a significant upward trend,while other major infectious diseases showed a downward trend.Conclusion The epidemic characteristics of infectious diseases in the hospital have changed in 2023,and relevant prevention and control strategies should be formulated according to the changing trend of infectious diseases in different periods.

The relevant data reported by laboratories carrying out serological prenatal screening in Jiangsu Province from 2021 to 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, and the provincial inter-ventricular quality assessment was realized by comparing the internal quality control data of laboratories. The quality control analysis platform of prenatal screening in Jiangsu Province was used to collect the determination methods, quality control data results of three concentrations, instrument platform, reagents and other relevant information of maternal serological screening quality control in early and middle pregnancy in each laboratory from 2021 to 2022. Firstly, the test results of each laboratory were statistically analyzed, and the precision of each laboratory was evaluated by the variation coefficient of indoor quality control. Secondly, the consistency was evaluated by comparing laboratories with different experimental platforms. The results showed that the passing rate of PAPP-A(pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A) precision test in 2021 and 2022 was 87.5% (7/8) and 92.3% (12/13), respectively. The accuracy pass rate of the Free β-hCG (free beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin)(early pregnancy) test in 2021 and 2022 was 97.5% (39/40) and 95.5% (42/44), and the accuracy pass rate of the AFP(alpha-fetal protein) test in 2021 and 2022 was 100% (40/40) and 90.9% (40/44), respectively. The accuracy pass rate of Free β-hCG (middle pregnancy) test in 2021 and 2022 was 100% (40/40) and 95.5% (42/44), respectively. The consistency of each index was 100%. In conclusion, the relevant data reported by laboratories carrying out serological prenatal screening in Jiangsu Province has a high consistency, and for a small number of laboratories with poor stability, it is necessary to make periodic evaluation and rectification according to the data analysis results, so as to improve the quality control management of maternal serological prenatal screening.

The relevant data reported by laboratories carrying out serological prenatal screening in Jiangsu Province from 2021 to 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, and the provincial inter-ventricular quality assessment was realized by comparing the internal quality control data of laboratories. The quality control analysis platform of prenatal screening in Jiangsu Province was used to collect the determination methods, quality control data results of three concentrations, instrument platform, reagents and other relevant information of maternal serological screening quality control in early and middle pregnancy in each laboratory from 2021 to 2022. Firstly, the test results of each laboratory were statistically analyzed, and the precision of each laboratory was evaluated by the variation coefficient of indoor quality control. Secondly, the consistency was evaluated by comparing laboratories with different experimental platforms. The results showed that the passing rate of PAPP-A(pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A) precision test in 2021 and 2022 was 87.5% (7/8) and 92.3% (12/13), respectively. The accuracy pass rate of the Free β-hCG (free beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin)(early pregnancy) test in 2021 and 2022 was 97.5% (39/40) and 95.5% (42/44), and the accuracy pass rate of the AFP(alpha-fetal protein) test in 2021 and 2022 was 100% (40/40) and 90.9% (40/44), respectively. The accuracy pass rate of Free β-hCG (middle pregnancy) test in 2021 and 2022 was 100% (40/40) and 95.5% (42/44), respectively. The consistency of each index was 100%. In conclusion, the relevant data reported by laboratories carrying out serological prenatal screening in Jiangsu Province has a high consistency, and for a small number of laboratories with poor stability, it is necessary to make periodic evaluation and rectification according to the data analysis results, so as to improve the quality control management of maternal serological prenatal screening.

The superimposition analysis of imaging data on the structure of craniomaxillofacial tissue at different time points of the same object is an important method for studying craniomaxillofacial growth and development,evaluating the efficacy of orthodontic treat-ment and orthognathic surgery.While overcoming the common shortcomings of traditional 2D imaging,3D image superimposition pro-vides more comprehensive craniomaxillofacial information and more accurate dental and bone data.Therefore,more and more scholars are validating and exploring the reliability and accuracy of 3D superimposition technology for clinical applications.This article reviews the 3D image data sources,superimposition methods,and clinical applications,to provide scientific research and clinical guidance for 3D image superimposition technology in orthodontics.

Retinal vein occlusion(RVO)is the second most common cause of vision loss due to retinal vascular disease. Macular edema(ME)is a common complication of RVO and a major cause of central vision impairment. Optical coherence tomography(OCT)is a high-resolution imaging technique that can provide detailed cross-sectional images of the retina and choroid. OCT biomarkers play an important role in the early and accurate diagnosis of RVO-ME, prediction of disease progression, and assessment of visual prognosis. This article provides an overview of various OCT biomarkers for RVO-ME, including retinal thickness, disorganization of retinal inner layers, hyper-reflectivity of retinal inner layer, the integrity of external limiting membrane and ellipsoid zone, the third highest reflectance band of the fovea, hyperreflective dots, paracentral acute middle maculopathy, prominent middle limiting membrane sign, serous retinal detachment height, macular volume and choroidal thickness. These biomarkers serve as objective indicators for evaluating the severity of RVO-ME, guiding treatment decisions, and predicting visual outcomes.