OBJECTIVE To study the effects of transferrin-targeting peptide T7 （7pep） on intracellular transportation of polyethylene glycol-polycaprolactone （PEG-PCL） micelles in human cervical cancer HeLa cells. METHODS Using coumarin-6 （C6） as fluorescent indicator probe， both coumarin-6 （C6）-loaded PEG-PCL （PEG-PCL-C6） micelles and 7pep-modified PEG- PCL （7pep-PEG-PCL-C6） micelles were prepared by film-dispersion method. The particle size， polydispersity index and appearance morphology were compared between two types of micelles； the real-time uptake of two types of micelles by HeLa cells was compared， and the colocalization of two types of micelles with early endosomes （EE）， endocytic recycling compartments （ERC） and late endosomes （LE） after entry into the cells was observed. RESULTS The particle sizes of PEG-PCL-C6 and 7pep-PEG-PCL- C6 micelles were（75.0±2.3）and（82.0±1.5）nm； the polymer dispersity indexes were 0.17±0.20 and 0.17±0.32， respectively， with a regular spherical appearance. The colocalization results showed that entry speed and amount of 7pep-PEG-PCL-C6 micelles were significantly faster/more than those of PEG-PCL-C6 micelles. 7pep-PEG-PCL-C6 micelles entered EE faster than PEG-PCL-C6 micelles， while PEG-PCL-C6 micelles entered ERC at a faster rate than 7pep-PEG-PCL-C6 micelles， and both PEG-PCL-C6 micelles and 7pep-PEG-PCL-C6 micelles tended to accumulate gradually in LE； Pearson coefficient， signal overlap ratio， and colocalization ratio of 7pep-PEG-PCL-C6 micelles with LE were significantly lower 60 minutes after entering the cell than those 30 minutes after entering the cell （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS Targeting 7pep modification can increase the entry speed and amount of PEG-PCL-C6 micelles， and also alter their intracellular transportation behavior.

Objective: To investigate whether melatonin (MT) secretion in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) exhibits seasonal variations and its correlation with immune regulation. Methods: Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control and model groups, and the pineal gland was removed in the model group. Stomach, jejunum, ileum, and colon tissues were obtained during the spring equinox, summer solstice, beginning of autumn, autumn equinox, and winter solstice. The levels of MT, MT receptors (MR), arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT), hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the GIT were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Except for the stomach, the jejunum, ileum, and the colon showed seasonal tendencies in MT secretion. In the control group, MT secretion in the jejunum and ileum was the highest in the long summer, and colonic MT secretion was the highest in winter. In the model group, MT levels in the colon were highest in the summer. The seasonal rhythms of the MR, AANAT, HIOMT, IL-2, and IL-10 in the colon were roughly similar to those of MT, and changed accordingly after pinealectomy. Conclusions Gastrointestinal MT secretion is related to seasonal changes, and MT secretion in each intestinal segment is influenced by different seasons. The biological effects of MT in the gut are inextricably linked to the mediation of MR, and a hormone-receptor linkage exists between MT and MR. The effect of seasonal changes on the gastrointestinal immune system may be mediated through the regulation of seasonal secretion of MT.

Objective:To explore the differences in clinical and injured vertebra radiological parameters between patients with non-traumatic osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) and those with traumatic OVCF after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP).Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the 369 OVCF patients (with 458 vertebrae injured) who had been treated by PVP at Department of Orthopaedics, Beijing Luhe Hospital between October 2015 and March 2017. There were 292 females and 77 males with a mean age of 73 (60, 79) years. Based on the absence or presence of a trauma history, the patients were stratified into a non-traumatic group (127 patients with 160 vertebrae injured) and a traumatic group (242 patients with 298 vertebrae injured). Clinical parameters [age, gender, body mass index, symptomatic duration, and number of injured vertebrae, visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), duration of follow-up, and rate of new OVCFs] and injured vertebra radiological parameters (position of injured vertebra, fracture type, compression severity, fracture range, cortical defect, intravertebral cleft, spinal canal compromise, basivertebral foramen, morphology of bone cement, range of bone cement, cement leakage, cement volume, rate of vertebral height restoration, recollapse of cemented vertebrae) were recorded perioperatively. All the clinical and radiological parameters were compared between the 2 groups.Results:Compared with the traumatic group, the non-traumatic group had an older age [75 (71, 83) years versus 71 (65, 76) years], more females (85.0% versus 76.0%), a longer symptomatic duration [10.0 (7.0, 15.0) d versus 6.5 (2.0, 12.0) d], a lower preoperative VAS pain score [7 (6, 8) points versus 7 (7, 8) points], a lower VAS pain score at postoperative day 1 [2 (2, 3) points versus 2 (2, 3) points], a lower preoperative ODI [66% (63%, 72%) versus 70% (65%, 73 %)], a lower ODI at postoperative day 1 [32% (30%, 34%) versus 32% (31%, 34%)], a higher rate of new OVCFs during follow-up (34.6% versus 12.8%), a lower rate of thoracolumbar lesions (51.9% versus 70.1%), more deformed fractures (mostly amphicoelous type), a lower rate of cortical defects in the anterior wall (20.0% versus 31.5%), a higher rate of trabecular pattern of cement (83.1% versus 71.8%), a higher rate of type-B cement leakage (50.6% versus 31.9%), a lower rate of type-C cement leakage (5.6% versus 12.8%), a lower rate of recollapse of cemented vertebrae (43.8% versus 55.4%). All the comparisons above were statistically significant ( P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in the other clinical or radiological parameters ( P>0.05). Conclusions:There are statistically significant differences in a significant number of clinical and injured vertebra radiological parameters between patients with non-traumatic OVCF and those with traumatic OVCF after PVP. It is noteworthy that non-traumatic OVCFs are one specific subgroup of OVCFs.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral anisodine hydrobromide tablets in the treatment of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).Methods:A multicenter nonrandomized controlled trial was conducted.A total of 282 acute NAION patients (282 eyes) were recruited from 16 hospitals in China from July 2020 to May 2021.Patients were divided into two groups according to treatment methods, which were control group (124 cases, 124 eyes) receiving regular treatment including citicoline sodium plus Ginkgo biloba leaf liquid extract or Ginkgo biloba leaf extract tablets plus mecobalamin, and experimental group (158 cases, 158 eyes) receiving treatment in control group plus oral anisodine hydrobromide tablets 1 mg, twice daily for 2 to 3 months.Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), visual field index (VFI), peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) and radial peripapillary capillary vessel density (RPC) were assessed at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months after enrollment using the standard decimal visual acuity chart, 750i Humphery visual field analyzer, Cirrus HD-OCT 4000/Cirrus HD-OCT 5000, RTVue-XR optical coherence tomography respectively.The primary outcomes were BCVA and VFI, and the secondary outcomes were pRNFL, RPC, and the side effects during the follow-up.The study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.All patients were fully informed about the treatment and purpose of this study and voluntarily signed the informed consent form.The study protocol was approved by Chinese PLA General Hospital (No.S2020-021-01). Results:In all, 242 patients (242 eyes) completed the follow-up of BCVA, and 98 patients (98 eyes) completed the VFI follow-up.In terms of visual function, BCVA and VFI improved significantly over time in the two groups, and BCVA and VFI were better in experimental group than in control group at various follow-up time points (all at P<0.05). In terms of structure, pRNFL gradually decreased in both groups with the extension of treatment, and pRNFL was significanthy thinner in experimental group than in control group at various follow-up time points (all at P<0.05). There was no significant difference in RPC between the two groups at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). There were two cases with side effects and one case was discontinued due to side effects 25 days after enrollment. Conclusions:Oral anisodine hydrobromide can improve visual acuity and visual field in NAION and accelerate the regression of optic disc edema, with good safety.

Objective:To evaluate the value of integrated PET/MR in assessing myocardial viability in ischemic heart disease.Methods:A total of 39 patients (28 males, 11 females; age (60.1±12.0) years) diagnosed with ischemic heart disease in Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University were retrospectively enrolled from September 2020 to December 2021. All patients underwent cardiac 13N-NH 3·H 2O and 18F-FDG PET/MR examinations. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) sequence was included in MRI scan. PET and MRI images were analyzed and myocardial viability of each myocardial segment was evaluated according to the American Heart Association (AHA) 17 segment method. The extent of left ventricular infarcted myocardium was measured based on PET and MRI images. Weighted Kappa test was used to evaluate the agreement of PET and MRI in assessing myocardial viability. The extent of infarcted myocardium measured by PET and MRI was compared by paired- t test, and Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the correlation between them. Results:There was a moderate agreement between PET and MRI in assessing myocardial viability ( Kappa=0.532, P<0.001), with the agreement rate of 69.83%(463/663). There was no significant difference but strong correlation between the extents of infarcted myocardium measured by PET and MRI ((23.89±14.23)% vs (23.55±11.90)%; t=-0.24, P=0.809; r=0.79, P<0.001). In segments with normal perfusion and metabolism on PET, 22.52% (100/444) showed abnormal enhancement on MRI. On the other hand, 39.89% (73/183) of the segments classified as non-viable on MRI showed normal or viable on PET. Conclusion:Integrated PET/MR is able to take full advantage of the complementary nature of PET and MRI, achieving the comprehensive and accurate evaluation of myocardial viability.

Allergic rhinitis（AR） is an independent risk factor for allergic asthma. Some AR patients may have developed airway hyperresponsiveness（AHR） in the absence of asthma symptoms. In this stage, AHR is often neglected due to the absence of typical asthma symptoms. Exploring the clinically relevant risk factors for AHR in patients with AR, as well as the clinical indicators and biomarkers to predict AHR in patients with AR, is of great significance to the prevention of the occurrence of AHR and asthma. This review summarized the risk factors for the development of AHR in AR patients, and gave hints to the prevention of AHR in AR patients.
Humans ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Respiratory Hypersensitivity ; Asthma ; Risk Factors

Objective To investigate the correlation between left ventricular dysfunction and cogni-tive impairment in patients with ischemic heart disease(IHD),and explore the potential patho-genesis of cognitive impairment in IHD patients.Methods Fifty IHD patients who underwent hybrid cardiac PET/MR in our hospital from September 2020 to December 2022 were retrospec-tively enrolled in this study.According to their Montreal cognitive assessment(MoCA)scores,they were categorized into a cognitively normal group(21 cases,MoCA score ≥26)and a cogni-tively declining group(29 cases,MoCA score＜26).All patients received 13N-NH3·H2O myocar-dial perfusion imaging and 18F-FDG cardiac PET/MR to evaluate cardiac function and obtain car-diac imaging parameters.Spearman correlation analysis was applied to analyze the correlation between cardiac PET/MR parameters and MoCA scores.General linear model analysis was applied to analyze the correlation between MoCA scores and cardiac PET/MR parameters after adjusting for co variates.Results Compared with the cognitively normal group,the patients in the cognitively declining group had significantly lower stroke volume[56.95(47.51,77.64)ml vs 82.66(73.88,92.92)ml,P=0.001],stroke volume index[34.07(28.93,43.20)ml/m2 vs 44.28(38.06,49.49)ml/m2,P=0.008],cardiac output[3.92(3.18,5.34)L/min vs 5.13(4.58,5.67)L/min,P=0.007],and cardiac index[(2.42±0.68)L/(min·m2)vs(2.78±0.39)L/(min·m2),P=0.021].Spearman correlation analysis revealed that MoCA score was positively correlated with stroke volume(r=0.497,P=0.001),stroke volume index(r=0.365,P=0.009)and cardiac output(r=0.361,P=0.010).After adjusting for sex,age,education level and vascular risk factors,MoCA score re-mained positively correlated with stroke volume(r=0.497,P=0.003).Conclusion Systemic hy-poperfusion in IHD patients may be one of the mechanisms leading to cognitive impairment.

Percutaneous vertebral augmentation, including percutaneous vertebroplasty and percutaneous kyphoplasty, has been considered as an effective and safe option in treating osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. The fractured vertebrae were strengthened by the bone cement injected, thus reducing the symptoms related to fracture. Bone cement injected intraoperatively can be divided into extraspinal (leakage) and intraspinal part, depending on its final location. The former may lead to pulmonary embolism, spinal cord or nerve injury, or some other sequelae; the latter may closely relate to the clinical outcome, radiological outcomes, surgical complications and biomechanical properties. To date, there were a large number of studies on term of the distribution type of bone cement. However, the classification criteria varied and there was lack of literature review on this issue. According to the literature reviewed, the distribution type of bone cement was a critical parameter in percutaneous vertebral augmentation; most classification systems were based on the postoperative X-ray, some based on the postoperative CT, and only a few based on postoperative MRI; in different classification systems, criteria on bone cement morphology tends to be consistent, however, criteria on bone cement range tends to be inconsistent, consistency, similarity and controversy all exited among conclusions between various studies on the morphology and range of bone cement; any single classification system can not describe the distribution of bone cement thoroughly. In this study, classification systems were reviewed, clinical significance and biomechanical conclusions of different classification systems were documented, and the reliability and limitations of classification systems were summarized, hence providing an insight for further research on classifications of the bone cement distribution.

Objective:To investigate the features of volume, distribution, grading and staging of prostate cancer(PCa)examined via whole-mount histopathology in transitional PCa.Methods:A total of 129 PCa patients undergone radical prostatectomy(RP)between July 2017 and March 2020 whose whole-mount prostate specimens were prepared after surgery were retrospectively studied.Pathological data on tumor locations, diameters and classification of the International Society of Urologic Pathology(ISUP), radiological data on regions of interest(ROI)and scores of the Prostate Imaging and Reporting Data System(PI-RADS v2)were recorded.The results of pathological whole-mount sections and prostate imaging were compared, and the characteristics and detection rates of lesions in different prostate regions were analyzed.Results:Of all 129 prostate specimens from RP, a total of 213 PCa lesions were detected through whole-mount histopathology.There were 21(9.9%)lesions involving both the peripheral zone(PZ)and the transition zone(TZ), with an average diameter of(2.82±0.71)cm.Of all lesions, 85(39.9%)involved PZ and 107(50.2%)involved TZ, with an average diameter of(1.36±0.81)cm and of(1.60±0.94)cm, respectively.The percentage of lesions involving TZ was higher than that lesions involving PZ, with larger diameters( P<0.05). Of 64 patients with complete MRI data, 105 PCa lesions were detected histopathologically by using whole mount sections, while 75 PCa lesions were detected by MRI, with a statistical difference( P<0.05). For lesions≥1.0 cm or lesions with an ISUP grade group≥2, the detection rate of MRI was lower in TZ lesions( P<0.05). Conclusions:PCa lesions within TZ account for a large proportion and have a relatively large tumor dimeter.PCa lesions within TZ are more likely to be missed in clinical examinations and on MRI, and clinicians should pay close attention during diagnosis and treatment.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of quantitative parameters of synthetic MRI in patients with prostate cancer (PCa).Methods:From April 2018 to April 2019, 25 PCa patients confirmed by whole-mount pathology were prospectively enrolled in Beijing Hospital. All patients underwent prostate MRI examinations including DWI and synthetic MRI. Four kinds of tissue types were identified in pathology, including PCa, stromal hyperplasia (SH), glandular hyperplasia (GH) and prostatitis. According to the pathological results, quantitative parameters including ADC, T 1, T 2 and proton density (PD) values were measured on DWI and synthetic MRI. One-way analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis H test was performed to compare the difference of each parameter among PCa, SH or GH in the transitional zone (TZ). The difference of each parameter between PCa and prostatitis in the peripheral zone (PZ) was evaluated by using independent sample t test or Mann-Whitney U test. The diagnostic performance of each parameter in discriminating PCa from other benign conditions was evaluated by using ROC curve. Area under the curve (AUC) of each parameter was compared by using DeLong test. Results:The overall differences of T 1, T 2 PD and ADC values were statistically significant among PCa and other benign conditions. The T 1, T 2 and ADC values of PCa in the TZ were lower than those in the SH ( P=0.041, 0.030,<0.001) and GH (all P<0.001). The PD value of PCa in the TZ was lower than that in the GH ( P=0.040). The differences of T 1, T 2, PD and ADC values between PCa and prostatitis in the PZ were significant ( P<0.05). The AUC of ADC value (0.943) was higher than that of T 1 (0.691, P=0.001), PD (0.555, P=0.002) and T 2 (0.754, P=0.016) values in differentiating PCa from SH. For discriminating PCa and GH, T 1, T 2 and ADC showed similar AUC ( P>0.05), which were higher than AUC of PD value ( P=0.001). For discriminating PCa and prostatitis, T 1, T 2, PD and ADC values showed similar AUC ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Quantitative parameters of synthetic MRI were practical tools for discriminating PCa from other benign pathologies.