Objective To describe the significance of the pretreatment inflammatory indicators in predicting the prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after undergoing radical radiotherapy. Methods The data of 246 ESCC patients who underwent radical radiotherapy were retrospectively collected. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to determine the optimal cutoff values for platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII). The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. We conducted univariate and multivariate analyses by using the Cox proportional risk regression model. Software R (version 4.2.0) was used to create the nomogram of prognostic factors. Results The results of the ROC curve analysis showed that the optimal cutoff values of PLR, NLR, and SII were 146.06, 2.67, and 493.97, respectively. The overall response rates were 77.6% and 64.5% in the low and high NLR groups, respectively (P<0.05). The results of the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that the prognosis of patients in the low PLR, NLR, and SII group was better than that of patients in the high PLR, NLR, and SII group (all P<0.05). The results of the multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that gender, treatment modalities, T stage, and NLR were independent factors affecting the overall survival (OS). In addition, T stage and NLR were independent factors affecting the progression-free survival (PFS) (all P<0.05). The nomogram models of OS and PFS prediction were established based on multivariate analysis. The C-index values were 0.703 and 0.668. The calibration curves showed excellent consistency between the predicted and observed OS and PFS. Conclusion The pretreatment values of PLR, NLR, and SII are correlated with the prognosis of patients with ESCC who underwent radical radiotherapy. Moreover, NLR is an independent factor affecting the OS and PFS of ESCC patients. The NLR-based nomogram model has a good predictive ability.

In 2023, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was renamed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease by the American and European liver associations. This new nomenclature recognizes metabolic dysfunction as the central driver of the disease, and the diagnostic criteria now require the presence of hepatic steatosis plus at least one of five cardiometabolic risk factors. B-mode ultrasonography remains the most common and practical method for detecting hepatic steatosis, although newer ultrasound techniques based on attenuation, backscatter, and speed of sound have gained traction as tools to diagnose and quantify hepatic steatosis. Additionally, ultrasound elastography is increasingly used in routine clinical practice to assess liver fibrosis, diagnose cirrhosis, and identify clinically significant portal hypertension.

In 2023, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was renamed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease by the American and European liver associations. This new nomenclature recognizes metabolic dysfunction as the central driver of the disease, and the diagnostic criteria now require the presence of hepatic steatosis plus at least one of five cardiometabolic risk factors. B-mode ultrasonography remains the most common and practical method for detecting hepatic steatosis, although newer ultrasound techniques based on attenuation, backscatter, and speed of sound have gained traction as tools to diagnose and quantify hepatic steatosis. Additionally, ultrasound elastography is increasingly used in routine clinical practice to assess liver fibrosis, diagnose cirrhosis, and identify clinically significant portal hypertension.

In 2023, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was renamed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease by the American and European liver associations. This new nomenclature recognizes metabolic dysfunction as the central driver of the disease, and the diagnostic criteria now require the presence of hepatic steatosis plus at least one of five cardiometabolic risk factors. B-mode ultrasonography remains the most common and practical method for detecting hepatic steatosis, although newer ultrasound techniques based on attenuation, backscatter, and speed of sound have gained traction as tools to diagnose and quantify hepatic steatosis. Additionally, ultrasound elastography is increasingly used in routine clinical practice to assess liver fibrosis, diagnose cirrhosis, and identify clinically significant portal hypertension.

In 2023, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was renamed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease by the American and European liver associations. This new nomenclature recognizes metabolic dysfunction as the central driver of the disease, and the diagnostic criteria now require the presence of hepatic steatosis plus at least one of five cardiometabolic risk factors. B-mode ultrasonography remains the most common and practical method for detecting hepatic steatosis, although newer ultrasound techniques based on attenuation, backscatter, and speed of sound have gained traction as tools to diagnose and quantify hepatic steatosis. Additionally, ultrasound elastography is increasingly used in routine clinical practice to assess liver fibrosis, diagnose cirrhosis, and identify clinically significant portal hypertension.

In 2023, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was renamed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease by the American and European liver associations. This new nomenclature recognizes metabolic dysfunction as the central driver of the disease, and the diagnostic criteria now require the presence of hepatic steatosis plus at least one of five cardiometabolic risk factors. B-mode ultrasonography remains the most common and practical method for detecting hepatic steatosis, although newer ultrasound techniques based on attenuation, backscatter, and speed of sound have gained traction as tools to diagnose and quantify hepatic steatosis. Additionally, ultrasound elastography is increasingly used in routine clinical practice to assess liver fibrosis, diagnose cirrhosis, and identify clinically significant portal hypertension.

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Modified Banxia Shumi Decoction on p-chlorophenylalanine(PCPA)-induced insomnia model rats.Methods Forty-eight male SD rats were randomly divided into six groups,i.e.,the normal group,the model group,the low-,medium-and high-dose groups of Chinese medicine and the Diazepam group,with 8 rats in each group.For 7 consecutive days before modeling,rats in the Chinese medicine low-,medium-and high-dose groups were treated with Modified Banxia Shumi Decoction for prophylactic treatment.Except for the normal group,PCPA-induced insomnia rat model was established in all groups.After modeling on day 1,each group continued to be administered the corresponding drug for 7 days.Body mass was monitored,open-field behavioral tests were performed,serum levels of orexin A(OXA)and orexin B(OXB)were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),the expression of hypothalamic orexin receptor 1(OX1R)was determined by immunohistochemistry,and hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was used to observe the pathologic changes in the hypothalamus of rats.Results(1)Before modeling,the growth trend of body mass of rats in each group was smooth,with no significant difference between groups;after modeling,except for the normal group,the growth rate of body mass of rats in each group slowed down or even declined;after 14 days of administration of Modified Banxia Shumi Decoction,the body mass of the Chinese medicine medium-dose group was significantly increased compared with that of the model group(P＜0.01).(2)Compared with the normal group,the model group showed an increase in the total distance of activity in the open field,the distance of activity in the central region and the number of times of entering the central region(P＜0.01),a significant increase in serum OXA and OXB contents(P＜0.01),a significant increase in the expression of hypothalamic OX1R(P＜0.01),and HE staining showed mild hyperplasia of the hypothalamic glial cells;compared with the model group,the total distance of activity in the open field,the distance of activity in the central region and the number of times entering the central region were reduced in the rats in the Chinese medicine medium-dose group and the Diazepam group(P＜0.01),the levels of serum OXA and OXB were significantly reduced(P＜0.01),the expression of hypothalamic OX1R was significantly reduced(P＜0.01),and the HE staining showed that a large number of neurons with perineurial interspace enlarged and the local glial cell hyperplasia.Conclusion Modified Banxia Shumi Decoction can improve insomnia and reduce anxiety in rats by down-regulating the levels of OXA and OXB in serum and the expression of OX1R in the hypothalamus.

Objective To compare the role and importance of fibular fixation in tibiofibular fractures by Meta-analysis.Methods The literature related to the comparison of the efficacy of fixation of the fibula with or without fixation on the treatment of tibiofibular fractures was searched through the databases of China Knowledge Network,Wipu,Wanfang,The Cochrane Li-brary,Web of science and Pubmed,and statistical analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software.The rates of malrotation,rotational deformity,internal/external deformity,anterior/posterior deformity,non-union,infection,secondary surgery and op-erative time were compared between the fibula fixation and non-fixation groups.Results A total of 11 publications were includ-ed,six randomised controlled trials and five case-control trials,eight of which were of high quality.A total of 813 cases were in-cluded,of which 383 were treated with fibula fixation and 430 with unfixed fibulae.Meta-analysis results showed that fixation of the fibulae in the treatment of tibiofibular fractures reduced the rates of postoperative rotational deformity[RR=0.22,95％CI(0.10,0.45),P＜0.000 1]and internal/external deformity[RR=0.34,95％CI(0.14,0.84),P=0.02]and promoted fracture heal-ing[RR=0.76,95％CI(0.58,0.99),P=0.04].In contrast,the rates of poor reduction[RR=0.48,95％CI(0.10,2.33),P=0.36],anterior/posterior deformity[RR=1.50,95％CI(0.76,2.96),P=0.24],infection[RR=1.43,95％CI(0.76,2.72),P=0.27],sec-ondary surgery[RR=1.32,95％CI(0.82,2.11),P=0.25],and operative time[MD=10.21,95％CI(-17.79,38.21),P=0.47]were not statistically significant(P＞0.05)for comparison.Conclusion Simultaneous fixation of the tibia and fibula is clinically more effective in the treatment of tibiofibular fractures.

Objective To correctly identify the blood group of ABO and study its molecular biological characteristics.Methods Blood samples from blood donors with discrepancies in forward and reverse typing using the microplate method were subjected to both saline tube agglutination test for serological identification and polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primers(PCR-SSP)for genotyping.Additionally,direct sequencing of exons 1 to 7 of the ABO gene was performed on some donor samples to analyze their blood phenotype,genotype and gene sequence.Results For 256 samples showing discrepancy between forward and reverse typing in microwell method,119 were identified as normal ABO blood types,90 were weakened ABO antibodies and 47 were ABO subtypes by serology tube test.According to the PCR-SSP genotyping test,233 of 256(91.02%)were consistent with serological phenotype and genotype,17 of 256(6.64%)were inconsistent,and 6 samples can′t read genotype based on the kit result typing table.A total of 17 genotypes were identified in 250 samples as AO1 in 56,AO2 in 58,AA in 50,BO1 in 31,BO2 in 17,BB in 8,O1O1 in 2,O1O2 in 7,AB in 13,AO4 in 1,A205O2 in 1,A205A in 1,A201A in 1,O1O4 in 1,O2O2 in 1,A201B in 1 and A205B in 1.Sequencing of exons 1 to 7 of the ABO gene was carried out in 78 samples,and 29 ABO alleles were detected,seven of which were common alleles(?A101,?A102,?A104,?B101,?O01,?O02,?O04),22 of which were rare alleles(?A201,?A205,?Ax01,?Ax03,?Ax13,?Ax19,?Ax22,?Ael10,?B305,?Bel03,?Bel06/?Bx02,?Bw07,?Bw12,?Bw17,?Bw37,?O05,?O26,?O61,?B(A)04,?B(A)07,?cisAB01 and ?cisAB01var).In addition,six rare allele mutation sites were identified(c.101A＞G;c.103_106delG;c.146_147insGC;c.259G＞T;c.322C＞T;c.932T＞C).Conclusion The identification of ambiguous ABO blood group requires the combination of serological testing and molecular biological examination to correctly identify the blood type and ensure the safety of clinical blood transfusion.

Objective Dexmedetomidine(Dex)is a highly selective α2 adrenoceptor agonist that reduces blood pressure and heart rate.However,its ability to provide stable hemodynamics and a clinically significant reduction in blood loss in spine surgery is still a matter of debate.This study aimed to investigate the effects of Dex on intraoperative hemodynamics and blood loss in patients undergoing spine surgery. Methods The Web of Science,MEDLINE,EMBASE,and the Cochrane Library were searched up to February 2023 for randomized controlled trials(RCTs)including patients undergoing spine surgeries under general anaesthesia and comparing Dex and saline.A fixed-or random-effect model was used depending on heterogeneity. Results Twenty-one RCTs,including 1388 patients,were identified.Dex added the overall risk of intraoperative hypotension(odds ratio[OR]:2.11;95％confidence interval[CI]:1.24-3.58;P=0.006)and bradycardia(OR:2.48;95％CI:1.57-3.93;P=0.0001).The use of a loading dose of Dex led to significantly increased risks of intraoperative hypotension(OR:2.00;95％CI:1.06-3.79;P=0.03)and bradycardia(OR:2.28;95％CI:1.42-3.66;P=0.0007).For patients receiving total intravenous anesthesia,there was an increased risk of hypotension(OR:2.90;95％CI:1.24-6.82;P=0.01)and bradycardia(OR:2.66;95％CI:1.53-4.61;P=0.0005).For patients in the inhalation anesthesia group,only an increased risk of bradycardia(OR:4.95;95％CI:1.41-17.37;P=0.01)was observed.No significant increase in the risk of hypotension and bradycardia was found in the combined intravenous-inhalation anesthesia group.The incidence of severe hypotension(OR:2.57;95％CI:1.05-6.32;P=0.04),but not mild hypotension,was increased.Both mild(OR:2.55;95％CI:1.06-6.15;P=0.04)and severe(OR:2.45;95％CI:1.43-4.20;P=0.001)bradycardia were associated with a higher risk.The overall analyses did not reveal significant reduction in intraoperative blood loss.However,a significant decrease in blood loss was observed in total inhalation anesthesia subgroup(mean difference[MD]:-82.97;95％CI:-109.04--56.90;P＜0.001). Conclusions Dex increases the risks of intraoperative hypotension and bradycardia in major spine surgery.The administration of a loading dose of Dex and the utilization of various anesthesia maintenance methods may potentially impact hemodynamic stability and intraoperative blood loss.