Objective To compare the ultrasound signs of symptomatic joint lesions in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and gouty arthritis (GA), musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) was utilized.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for 85 hospitalized patients with RA and 55 hospitalized patients with GA in the same period, and the differences in general data, diseased joints and ultrasound signs between the two groups were compared.Re-sults The gender, age and diseased joints of the two groups were statistically significant (all P<0.05).The de-tection rate of knee joint lesions was the highest;the RA group had high sensitivity, high specificity of meniscal in-jury, and high diagnostic efficiency of bone erosion, while the diagnostic performance of the three combined ultra-sound signs of punctate strong echo, double track sign and tophi in the GA group was higher than that of any indi-vidual diagnosis, and the sensitivity and specificity were also higher.The course of disease in the RA group was positively correlated with bone erosion (P<0.05) , and the course in the GA group was positively correlated with tophi (P<0.05).Conclusion The ultrasound signs of RA and GA are different, and MSUS has good value in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the two.

Objective:To evaluate left atrial(LA) function and its value in predicting left ventricular(LV) remodeling in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) by four dimensional automatic left atrial quantitation (4D Auto LAQ).Methods:A total of 176 patients with CHD were prospectively enrolled in Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital from October 2021 to September 2022. They were divided into two groups according to left ventricular mass index: LV remodeling group (female>95 g/m 2, male>115 g/m 2, n=88) and Non-LV remodeling group (female≤95 g/m 2, male≤115 g/m 2, n=88). The 3D dynamic image of LA was analyzed by 4D Auto LAQ on machine to obtain the LA parameters, including the minimum, maximum, pre-systolic and emptying volumes of LA (LAVmin, LAVmax, LAVpreA, LAEV), LA ejection fraction (LAEF), LA reservoir longitudinal and circumferential strains (LASr, LASr-c), LA conduit longitudinal and circumferential strains (LAScd, LAScd-c) and LA contraction longitudinal and circumferential strains (LASct, LASct-c). Logistic regression models were used to analyze the value of LA parameters in predicting LV remodeling in patients with CHD. ROC curve was used to evaluate LA parameters and left atrial volume index (LAVI) to predict the diagnostic efficiency of LV remodeling. Results:Compared with the Non-LV remodeling group, LAVmin, LAVmax, LAVpreA were significantly increased and LAEF, LASr, LAScd, LASct, LASr-c, LAScd-c, LASct-c were significantly decreased in the LV remodeling group ( P<0.05). Logistic regression model showed that LASct-c was an independent risk factor for LV remodeling in patients with CHD after adjustment( OR=2.018, 95% CI=1.214-3.355). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of LASct-c for predicting LV remodeling in CHD patients was 0.844, the sensitivity was 0.784, and the specificity was 0.761. Conclusions:4D Auto LAQ can effectively evaluate LA function in patients with CHD.LASct-c can be used as a reference index to predict LV remodeling in patients with CHD, which provides a new evaluation method in prognosis evaluation of CHD patients.

Background: Chronic skin wounds are a common complication of many diseases such as diabetes. Various traditional methods for assessing skin wound closure are used in animal studies, including wound tracing, calliper measurements and histological analysis. However, these methods have poorly defined wound closure or practical limitations.Digital image analysis of wounds is an increasingly popular, accessible alternative, but it is unclear whether digital assessment is consistent with traditional methods. This study aimed to optimise and compare digital wound closure assessment with traditional methods, using a diabetic mouse model. Diabetes was induced in male C57BL/6J mice by high-fat diet feeding combined with low dose (65 mg/kg of body weight) streptozotocin injections. Mice fed normal chow were included as controls. After 18 weeks, four circular full-thickness dorsal skin wounds of 4 mm diameter were created per mouse. The wounds were photographed and measured by callipers. Wound closure rate (WCR) was digitally assessed by two reporters using two methods: wound outline (WCR-O) and re-epithelialisation (WCR-E).Wounded skin tissues were collected at 10-days post-wounding and wound width was measured from haematoxylin and eosin-stained skin tissue. Results: Between reporters, WCR-O was more consistent than WCR-E, and WCR-O correlated with calliper measurements. Histological analysis supported digital assessments, especially WCR-E, when wounds were histologically closed. Conclusions WCR-O could replace calliper measurements to measure skin wound closure, but WCR-E assessment requires further refinement. Small animal studies of skin wound healing can greatly benefit from standardised definitions of wound closure and more consistent digital assessment protocols.

Objective:To explore the effect of the mucin modulator Talniflumate (Tal) on breast cancer cells and its synergistic effect after combined with the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel (PTX).Methods:The breast cancer cells were cultured in vitro. Lymphocyte proliferation activity assay (MTS) was used to detect the effects of different concentrations of Talniflumate alone and paclitaxel on the survival rate of breast cancer cells. The effects of the above drugs on the apoptosis of breast cancer cells were detected by flow cytometry. Western blot was used to detect the expression of glucosamine transferase (GCNT3) (the target of Talniflumate) in breast cancer cells before and after the treatment with Talniflumate. Transcriptome sequencing clarified the changes in related signaling pathways after treatment with Talniflumate. Results:Talniflumate promoted the apoptosis of breast cancer cells MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The combination of Talniflumate and paclitaxel had a significant synergistic killing effect in MCF7 cells but not MDA-MB-231 cells. Western blot indicated that GCNT3 was highly expressed in MCF7 cells, while almost no expression in MDA-MB-231 cells; Talniflumate could reduce the expression of GCNT3 in MCF7 cells and after combined with paclitaxel, the expression of GCNT3 was downregulated more significantly. Transcriptome sequencing suggested that Talniflumate can regulate the expression of multiple signaling pathways such as TNF, p53, and SNARE.Conclusions:Talniflumate could induce apoptosis of breast cancer cell. Talniflumate combined with paclitaxel has a significant synergistic effect in killing tumor cells in breast cancer cells with high GCNT3 expression such as MCF7. The mechanism of Talniflumate induce apoptosis of breast cancer cells may be related to multiple signaling pathways such as TNF, p53, and SNARE.

Objective:To analyze the left atrial (LA) function and predict the value of diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) in patients with heart failure (HF) by four-dimensional automatic left atrial quantitation (4D Auto LAQ) technology.Methods:A total of 90 patients with HF(LVDD group) and 30 healthy volunteers (control group)were enrolled from January 2021 to July 2021 in Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital. The patients with HF were divided into 3 groups according to the degree of LVDD: grade Ⅰ( n=30), grade Ⅱ( n=30), grade Ⅲ( n=30). Four-dimensional dynamic images of LA were collected by 4D Auto LAQ technology for on-machine analysis. LA volume and strain parameters were obtained, including LA maximum volume index (LAVImax), LA reservoir longitudinal and circumferential strains (LASr, LASr-c), LA conduit longitudinal and circumferential strains (LAScd, LAScd-c) and LA contraction longitudinal and circumferential strains (LASct, LASct-c). Pearson linear correlation was used to analyze the correlation between LA strain parameters and diastolic function parameters (LAVImax, E/A, E/e′) in HF patients. ROC curves were plotted to analyze the diagnostic performance of LA strain parameters and LAVImax for grade Ⅲ LVDD, the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated and pairwise comparisons were made. Results:①Compared with the control group, LAVmin, LAVpreA, LAScd, LASct, LAScd-c, and LASct-c were increased, and LASr, and LASr-c were decreased in the grade Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and Ⅲ LVDD groups (all P<0.05). LAVmin, LAVpreA, LAVmax, LAVImax, LAScd, LASct, LAScd-c and LASct-c were increased, and LASr and LASr-c were decreased in grade Ⅲ LVDD group compared with grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ LVDD groups (all P<0.05). ②Pearson correlation analysis showed that LASr, LASct, LASr-c and LASct-c were strongly correlated with diastolic function parameters (LAVImax, E/A, E/e′) (all P<0.01). ③ROC curve analysis showed that LASr-c had significantly better performance (AUC 0.868, sensitivity 96.7%, specificity 66.7%) than other parameters in the diagnosis of grade Ⅲ LVDD. Conclusions:4D Auto LAQ can effectively evaluate the LA volume and function in patients with HF. LASr-c is optimal in predicting grade Ⅲ LVDD, 4D Auto LAQ provides a new reference for evaluating diastolic function in patients with HF.

Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic capabilities of PCR-flow Fluorescence Hybridization technology in prenatal genetic diagnosis of thalassemia.Methods:8 005 cases of prenatal genetic diagnosis of thalassemia in Guangdong Women and Children Hospital from September 2017 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. All samples were diagnosed by traditional genetic methods include multiple Gap-PCR, PCR-RDB, MLPA and Sanger sequencing. Meanwhile, PCR-flow Fluorescence Hybridization technology was used as a verification platform for detecting common mutation sites of thalassemia. The results were analyzed to evaluate the diagnostic capabilities of PCR-flow Fluorescence Hybridization technology compared with traditional methods in prenatal genetic diagnosis of thalassemia.Results:By traditional methods, 1 939 cases (24.22%, 1 939/8 005) were normal and 6 066 cases (75.78%, 6 066/8 005) were diagnosed as thalassemia, including 4 513 cases of α-thalassemia, 1 475 cases of β-thalassemia, and 78 cases of αβ-thalassemia. By PCR-flow Fluorescence Hybridization technology, 7 845 samples were successfully diagnosed after initial interpretation by software. Compared with traditional methods, all the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 100%. The other 160 samples which failed in the initial interpretation can be successfully interpreted after review or manual interpretation.Conclusion:There were no differences between the two methods on the detecting of common mutation sites of thalassemia.

Objective     To compare the mid- and long-term efficacy of minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting (MICS) versus conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods     This study analyzed 679 patients with coronary heart disease treated in the Minimally Invasive Heart Center of Beijing Anzhen Hospital from 2015 to 2019, including 532 males and 147 females with an average age of 61.16 years. A total of 281 patients underwent MICS (a MICS group) and 398 patients underwent conventional CABG (a CABG group). The clinical data of the patients in the two groups were analyzed. Results    The average operation time was longer (P<0.001), the total hospital stay was shorter (P<0.001), and the amount of drainage 24 h after the operation was less (P=0.029) in the MICS group. There was no statistical difference in the incidence of perioperative complications between the two groups. The median follow-up time was 2.68 years. The follow-up results showed that the total incidence of cumulative main adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in the CABG group was higher at 2 years (6.2% vs. 3.8%) and 4 years (9.3% vs. 7.6%), but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). There was no statistical difference in 2- or 4-year all-cause death between the two groups (3.5% vs. 2.8%, 5.6% vs. 2.8%, P>0.05). At the same time, there was no statistical difference in the incidence of myocardial infarction, stroke or revascularization between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion    Compared with conventional CABG, MICS can achieve satisfactory mid- and long-term outcomes.

Chest trauma is one of the most common injuries. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) as a common complication of chest trauma seriously affects the quality of patients′ life and even leads to death. Although there are some consensus and guidelines on the prevention and treatment of VTE at home and abroad, the current literatures lack specificity considering the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of VTE in patients with chest trauma have their own characteristics, especially for those with blunt trauma. Accordingly, China Chest Injury Research Society and editorial board of Chinese Journal of Traumatology organized relevant domestic experts to jointly formulate the Chinese expert consensus on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of chest trauma venous thromboembolism associated with chest trauma (2022 version). This consensus provides expert recommendations of different levels as academic guidance in terms of the characteristics, clinical manifestations, risk assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of chest trauma-related VTE, so as to offer a reference for clinical application.

Objective:To evaluate the left atrial structure and function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) at different stages by four-dimensional automatic left atrial quantitation (4D-LAQ) and to explore the independent correlative factors affecting left atrial function of patients.Methods:Ninety-six patients who were diagnosed with T2DM in Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital endocrinology from December 2020 to October 2021 were selected as the case group, all cases were divided into two groups according to whether or not they have the microvascular complication: 48 patients with simple diabetes in DM1 group, 48 patients with microvascular complications in DM2 group. Forty-eight healthy volunteers during the same period were randomly recruited as the control group. Left atrial diameter (LAD), inter-ventricular septal thickness (IVST), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), peak value of early diastolic velocity of mitral inflow (E), peak value of late diastolic velocity of mitral inflow (A), peak value of early diastolic tissue Doppler velocity of septal and lateral walls of mitral annulus (septal e′, lateral e′) were routinely measured, E/A, mean e′ and mean E/e′ were calculated.4D-LAQ technique was used to obtain left atrial minimum volume (LAVmin), left atrial maximum volume (LAVmax), left atrial pre-systolic volume (LAVpreA), left atrial maximum volume index (LAVImax), left atrial total emptying fraction (LAEF), left atrial reservoir longitudinal strain (LASr), left atrial conduit longitudinal strain (LAScd) and left atrial contraction longitudinal strain (LASct). The differences of left atrial parameters among three groups were compared. The independent correlation factors affecting left atrial function were investigated by univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses.Results:Compared with the control group, LAEF, LASr and LAScd were decreased in the DM1 group (all P<0.05), there were no significant differences in LAVImax, LAVIpreA and LAVImin between the two groups (all P>0.05). Compared with the control group and DM1 group, LAEF, LASr and LAScd were decreased, LAVImax, LAVIpreA and LAVImin were increased in the DM2 group (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in LASct among the three groups (all P>0.05). Multivariate linear regression analyses showed duration of diabetes was independently and negatively correlated with LASr (β=-0.405, P<0.001); Body mass index(BMI) and E were independently and negatively correlated with LAScd(β=-0.159, P=0.049; β=-0.408, P<0.001), and duration of diabetes and E/e′ were independently and positively correlated with LAScd(β=0.399, P<0.001; β=0.253, P=0.004). Conclusions:Left atrial reservoir function and conduit function are impaired in T2DM patients, and deteriotated as the disease progresses. Duration of diabetes, BMI, E and E/e′ are the independent correlative factors affecting left atrial function.

Objective:To evaluate the distribution of diastolic left ventricular pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by relative pressure imaging (RPI) based on vector flow mapping (VFM), and to explore the clinical risk factors for the diastolic left ventricular pressure distribution.Methods:Thirty patients with T2DM and thirty normal controls were included from August 2020 to July 2021 in Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital. All selected subjects underwent conventional echocardiography.Left intraventricular pressure difference (IVPD) and left intraventricular pressure gradient (IVPG) were measured using RPI of VFM in isovolumic relaxation (IR), rapid filling (RF), atrial contraction (AC), isovolumic contraction (IC) and rapid ejection (RE) phases. The relationships between IVPD with other parameters were analyzed.Results:①Compared with the control group, E/A, e′, IVPD-IR, IVPG-IR, IVPD-RF, IVPG-RF, IVPD-AC, and IVPG-AC were significantly lower and E/e′ was significantly greater in the T2DM group ( P<0.05). ②IVPD-IR, IVPD-RF, and IVPD-AC were positively correlated with E/A ( r=0.309, P<0.05; r=0.274, P<0.05; r=0.273, P<0.05). IVPD-IR, IVPD-RF, and IVPD-AC were negatively correlated with E/e′ ( r=-0.587, P<0.05; r=-0.273, P<0.05; r=-0.415, P<0.05). IVPD-IR and IVPD-AC were positively correlated with e′ ( r=0.451, P<0.05; r=0.431, P<0.05). ③Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that hemoglobin A 1c (HbA 1c) was an independent risk factor affecting IVPD-IR, IVPD-RF, and IVPD-AC (β=-0.417, P<0.05; β=-0.451, P<0.05; β=-0.460, P<0.05). Conclusions:RPI of VFM can quantitatively evaluate diastolic left ventricular pressure distribution in patients with T2DM. HbA 1c is an independent risk factor affecting IVPD-IR, IVPD-RF, and IVPD-AC.