AIM:This study utilized CRISPR/Cas9 technology to create Retnlb floxp knock-in mice,followed by the application of the Cre-LoxP recombination system to generate intestinal epithelial-specific Retnlb gene knockout mice(Retnlb-CKO).This model was developed to investigate the pathogenic mechanisms of Retnlb in inflammatory bowel disease.METHODS:Female and male C57BL/6N mice,aged 8 weeks with the Retnlbflox/+genotype,were housed togeth-er for breeding.Offsprings were screened to identify those with the Retnlbflox/flox genotype.These mice were then crossed with Vil1-Cre transgenic mice,which express Cre recombinase specifically in intestinal epithelial cells,resulting in Retnlb-flox/+,Cre+mice.Subsequent crosses between Retnlbflox/+,Cre+mice and Retnlbflox/flox mice produced Retnlbflox/flox,Cre+mice(Retnlb-CKO).Six 8-week-old Retnlbflox/flox,Cre+mice and their littermate Retnlbflox/flox mice were selected for experiments.RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry were used to assess Retnlb mRNA and protein levels in colonic epithelium.Phenotypic observa-tions included body length,weight,diet,and reproductive capability.Tissue-to-body weight ratios were calculated to ana-lyze growth and development.Intestinal barrier integrity and colonic expression of inflammatory factors were evaluated.RESULTS:The conditional gene knockout mouse model with specific deletion of Retnlb in intestinal epithelial cells was successfully established and validated through genetic identification,mRNA and protein analysis.Compared to Retnlbflox/flox mice,Retnlb-CKO mice exhibited no significant differences in body length,weight,diet,or reproductive capability.There were no differences in the ratios of heart,liver,spleen,lung,kidney,and colon weight to body weight,nor were there morphological differences in various tissues.However,the mRNA expression of tight junction proteins ZO-1,Occlu-din,and Claudin3 in colon tissues of Retnlb-CKO mice was significantly reduced(P<0.01).PAS staining and immunohis-tochemistry revealed a significant decrease in the number of goblet cells and lysozyme-positive cells in the colon tissues of Retnlb-CKO mice(P<0.01).HE staining showed no obvious pathological change in colon tissues of Retnlb-CKO mice.RT-qPCR further demonstrated a significant downregulation of pro-inflammatory factors NLRP3,interleukin-6(IL-6),IL-1β,and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in colon tissues(P<0.01),along with significant downregulation of inflamma-tion signaling pathway proteins TLR4,MyD88,and NF-κB(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:A conditional colon epithelial cell Retnlb gene knockout mouse model was successfully constructed and validated.The absence of Retnlb in colon cells led to impaired intestinal barrier function,decreased mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory factors in colon tissue,and downregulation of mRNA expression of inflammatory pathway proteins TLR4,MyD88,and NF-κB.

This study was designed to explore the correlation between alterations in NLRP3 levels and Th17/Treg imbalance in asthmatic mice undergoing epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT).A murine model of asthma was established by intraperitoneal injection combined with nebulization of ovalbumin(OVA).Mice were randomly grouped into asthma model group and normal control group.The airway reactivity was detected with non-invasive lung function instrument.Hematoxylin and Eosin(HE)and Masson's trichrome staining were applied to evaluate the histopathological injury of lung tissue and the extent of lung fibrosis;RT-qPCR was applied to detect EMT-related biomarkers(Snail,E-Cadherin,N-Cadherin),the specific transcription factors of T cell subsets(RoRγt,Foxp3)and NLRP3 in lung tissue of mice;Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of E-cadherin,N-Cadherin and NLRP3 in lung tissue of mice.The Th17 and Treg cell populations in the spleen were enumerated via flow cytometry.Furthermore,the expression levels of NLRP3,IL-17 and IL-10 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)were analyzed by Giemsa staining.Compared with the control group,the asthma model group showed higher level of airway resistance,coupled with an obviously decrease in pulmonary ventilation compliance.Pathological alterations in lung tissue were evident,characterized by thickening of the airway epithelium,airway stenosis,infiltration of inflammatory cells,higher expression levels of N-Cadherin and NLRP3 proteins(P<0.05),lower expression level of E-Cadherin(P<0.001)and higher levels of marker genes(Snail and N-Cadherin)in lung tissue.Furthermore,model mice demonstrated higher level of NLRP3 in BALF(P<0.05),higher level of Th17 in spleen,and higher levels of retinoic acid orphan receptor(ROR)-γt mRNA(P<0.05)and Th17-related cytokines(IL-17)(P<0.01).Concurrently,model mice also showed an obviously decrease in the prevalence of Treg cells,Forkhead box Foxp3 mRNA(P<0.001),and Treg-related cytokine IL-10(P<0.05).The results of the Pearson correlation analysis indicated that the level of NLRP3 mRNA was positively correlated the ratio of RoR γt mRNA,but negatively correlated with Foxp3 mRNA in the lung tissue of asthmatic mice.Additionally,NLRP3 in BALF demonstrated a positive correlation with IL-17 and a negative correlation with IL-10.In conclusion,These findings suggest that NLRP3 may trigger bronchial EMT by exacerbating the immune imbalance of Th17/Treg cells.

Objective:To analyze the short-term clinical efficacy and safety of arsenic trioxide (ATO) combined with a modified N7 induction regimen in the treatment of children with high-risk neuroblastoma (NB).Methods:This study was a prospective, single-arm, multicenter phase Ⅱ clinical study. Sixty-seven high-risk NB children from eight units of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Wuhan Children′s Hospital of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Hainan General Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Kunming Children′s Hospital, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and Guangdong Provincial Agricultural Reclamation Center Hospital were enrolled from January 2019 to August 2023 and were treated with ATO combined with a modified N7 induction regimen. The efficacy and adverse effects at the end of induction chemotherapy were assessed and analyzed, and the differences in the clinical characteristics were further compared between the treatment-responsive and treatment-unresponsive groups by using the Fisher′s exact test.Results:Among 67 high-risk NB children, there were 40 males (60%) and 27 females (40%), with the age of disease onset of 3.5 (2.6, 4.8) years. Primary NB sites were mostly in retroperitoneum (including adrenal gland) (56/67, 84%) and the common metastases sites at initial diagnosis were distant lymph node in 25 cases (37%),bone in 48 cases (72%),bone marrow in 56 cases (84%) and intracalvarium in 3 cases (4%). MYCN gene amplification were detected in 28 cases (42%). At the end of induction, 33 cases (49%) achieved complete remission, 29 cases (43%) achieved partial remission, 1 case (1%) with stable disease, and 4 cases (6%) were assessed as progressive disease (PD). The objective remission rate was 93% (62/67) and the disease control rate was 94% (63/67). The percentage of central system metastases at the initial diagnosis was higher in the treatment-unresponsive group than in the treatment-responsive group (2/5 vs. 2% (1/62), P=0.013), whereas the difference in MYCN gene amplification was not statistically significant between two groups (3/5 vs.40% (25/62), P=0.786). Grade Ⅲ or higher adverse reactions during the induction chemotherapy period were myelosuppression occurred in 60 cases (90%), gastrointestinal symptoms occurred in 33 cases (49%), infections occurred in 20 cases (30%), hepatotoxicity occurred in 4 cases (6%), and cardiovascular toxicity occurred in 1 case (2%). There were no chemotherapy-related deaths. Conclusion:ATO combined with N7-modified induction regimen had a superiority in efficacy and safety, which deserved further promotion in clinical practice.

Objective To monitor heart-related parameters of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension(PH)mouse models induced by hypoxia alone and hypoxia combined with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitor SU5416 using echocardiography,and to construct the prediction equation of right ventricular systolic pressure(RVSP).Twenty-four C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into simple hypoxia group(group A),hypoxia combined with SU5416 group(group B),control group(group C),each group 8 mice.Hypoxic PH models were constructed with hypoxia alone and hypoxia combined with SU5416 in group A and group B,respectively.Echocardiography was performed before and during modeling(2,3,4 weeks after interventions),and the relevant parameters were obtained.RVSP was measured using right heart catheterization after the last echocardiography.The changes of ultrasonic parameters were observed,the correlations of ultrasonic parameters 4 weeks after intervention with RVSP were observed,and linear equations for predicting RVSP were established.Results With time going,during modeling,pulmonary artery diameter(PAD),PAD/aorta diameter(AOD)and right ventricle anterior wall thickness(RVAWT)increased,while heart rate,pulmonary artery acceleration time(PAAT),PAAT/pulmonary artery ejection time(PAET)and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion(TAPSE)decreased in group A and B(all P＜0.05).Three and 4 weeks after interventions,PAET,PAAT/PAET and TAPSE in group B decreased compared with those in group A(all P＜0.05).Four weeks after interventions,RVSP in group A and B were highly correlated with PAD/AOD,RVAWT,PAAT,PAAT/PAET and TAPSE(all P＜0.05).The linear regression equations of PAAT/PAET and TAPSE for predicting RVSP in simple hypoxic PH mice models included RVSP=-161.7 ×(PAAT/PAET)+63.85,as well as RVSP=-36.53 ×TAPSE+71.55,while of predicting RVSP in hypoxia combined with VEGFR-2 inhibitor PH mouse models were as follows:RVSP=-266.4 ×(PAAT/PAET)+91.59,RVSP=-69.14 × TAPSE+116.5.Conclusion Four weeks after inerventions,the phenotypes of hypoxic PH mouse models induced by hypoxia alone and hypoxia combined with SU5416 became obvious.Prediction equations of RVSP established based on PAAT/PAET and TAPSE obtained with echocardiography could provide references for relevant research.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of one- stage bilateral video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for resection of bilateral multiple pulmonary nodules (BMPNs). METHODS: We analyzed the clinical characteristics, pathological features, perioperative outcomes and follow-up data of 41 patients with BMPNs undergoing one-stage bilateral VATS from July, 2011 to August, 2021. RESULTS: One-stage bilateral VATS was performed uneventfully in 40 of the patients, and conversion to open surgery occurred in 1 case. The surgical approaches included bilateral lobectomy (4.9%), lobar-sublobar resection (36.6%) and sublobar-sublobar resection (58.5%) with a mean operative time of 196.3±54.5 min, a mean blood loss of 224.6±139.5 mL, a mean thoracic drainage duration of 4.7±1.1 days and a mean hospital stay of 14±3.8 days. Pathological examination revealed bilateral primary lung cancer in 15 cases, unilateral primary lung cancer in 21 cases and bilateral benign lesions in 5 cases. A total of 112 pulmonary nodules were resected, including 67 malignant and 45 benign lesions. Postoperative complications included pulmonary infection (5 cases), respiratory failure (2 cases), asthma attack (2 cases), atrial fibrillation (2 cases), and drug-induced liver injury (1 case). No perioperative death occurred in these patients, who had a 1-year survival rate of 97.6%. CONCLUSION With appropriate preoperative screening and perioperative management, one-stage bilateral VATS is feasible and safe for resection of BMPNs.
Humans ; Multiple Pulmonary Nodules ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Feasibility Studies ; Postoperative Complications ; Drainage

Chronic refractory wound (CRW) is one of the most challengeable issues in clinic due to complex pathogenesis, long course of disease and poor prognosis. Experts need to conduct systematic summary for the diagnosis and treatment of CRW due to complex pathogenesis and poor prognosis, and standard guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of CRW should be created. The Guideline forthe diagnosis and treatment of chronic refractory wounds in orthopedic trauma patients ( version 2023) was created by the expert group organized by the Chinese Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, Chinese Orthopedic Association, Chinese Society of Traumatology, and Trauma Orthopedics and Multiple Traumatology Group of Emergency Resuscitation Committee of Chinese Medical Doctor Association after the clinical problems were chosen based on demand-driven principles and principles of evidence-based medicine. The guideline systematically elaborated CRW from aspects of the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, postoperative management, complication prevention and comorbidity management, and rehabilitation and health education, and 9 recommendations were finally proposed to provide a reliable clinical reference for the diagnosis and treatment of CRW.

Objective:To identify the pathogenic gene mutations in a Chinese achromatopsia family.Methods:A pedigree investigation was performed.A Chinese Han pedigree from Luoyang city of China was enrolled in Henan Eye Hospital in November 2018.The medical history of the patients was collected.The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the families was examined.The maniafestations of the anterior segment and fundus were obtained via slit lamp biomicroscope and slit lamp lens.The diopter was determined by objective and subjective refraction.Color vision was examined by Farnsworth-Munsell Hue Test.Retinal function was evaluated by international standard electroretinogram (ERG). Retina was observed by color photography, and its structural image was obtained by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). The peripheral blood sample was collected from the proband (Ⅲ1) and her younger brother (Ⅲ2) and parents for whole blood DNA extraction, and a whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed to identify the pathogenic genes and mutation sites, and the sequencing data was compared through disease-related databases such as the Human Genome Databases due to a negative detective result of specific hereditary eye disease enrichment panel based on targeted exome capture technology.Sanger sequencing and bioinformatics analysis was carried out with softwares.The cosegregation analysis was performed.This study protocol was approved by an Ethics Committee of Henan Eye Hospital (No.HNEECKY-2019[15]) and complied with Declaration of Helsinki.Written informed consent was obtained from each subject or the guardian before any medical examination.Results:This family included 2 patients and 8 members with normal phenotypes in 3 generations and showed an autosomal recessive inheritance model.Poor vision and photophobia appeared after birth in both Ⅲ1 and Ⅲ2, and these symptoms did not deteriorate with aging.Pigmentary mottling and atrophic changes could be seen in the retinas of the patients.Reflection bands of external membrane and ellipsoid line in macula of patients were irregular on the OCT image.Color vision examination showed achromatopsia of the patients.ERG indicated that the amplitudes of a-, b-waves of scotopic 0.01, 3.0, 10.0 ERG and oscillatory potentials were slightly reduced, and the amplitudes of a-, b-waves of photopic ERG and wavelets of 30 Hz were seriously reduced in both eyes of Ⅲ1 and Ⅲ2.WGS showed that heterozygous mutations of a novel mutation c. 129+ 1G>A and a known mutation c. 1285dupT of CNGB3 gene in Ⅲ1 and Ⅲ2.The mutations were confirmed by Sanger sequencing.Conclusions:The compound heterozygous mutation in c. 129+ 1G>A/c.1285dupT of CNGB3 gene may be responsible for the achromatopsia pathogenesis in this Chinese Han pedigree.The abnormal phenotype of the patients is the result of both CNGB3 c. 129+ 1G>A and CNGB3 c. 1285dupT mutations simultaneously.

Objective:To identify the pathogenic gene mutations in a family with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA).Methods:In October 2018, 1 patient and 3 normal family members from a LCA family was enrolled in this retrospective study. Detailed medical history of proband was obtained and fixation test, cycloplegic refraction, slit-lamp, fundus color photography and full-field ERG were performed. And other family members underwent BCVA, refraction slit-lamp, fundus biomicroscopy with the slit lamp, fundus color photography and full-field ERG. The family was investigated with a specific hereditary eye disease enrichment panel which contained 441 known pathogenic genes and based on targeted exome capture technology first to indentify the potential pathogenic genes and mutations. Then the potential pathogenic mutations were conformed by Sanger sequencing. Finally, the results were analyzed via bioinformatics analysis.Results:The proband showed no trace object from childhood, but had obvious photophobia and nystagmus. No positive changes were found in the anterior segment, vitreous and retina in both eyes. Both cone and rod system function decreased significantly in full-field ERG in both eyes. Gene tests showed the proband carried both RPGRIP1 c.1635dupA and c.3565C> T, which composited a heterozygous mutation. Bioinformatics analysis showed RPGRIP1 c.1635dupA was a pathogenic mutation, and RPGRIP1 c.3565C> T which was a novel potential pathogenic mutation in LCA.Conclusion:The compound heterozygous mutation, c.1635dupA and c.3565C> T in RPGRIP1 may be responsible for the pathogenesis in this Chinese Han LCA pedigree.

Objective: To explore the efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF). Methods: A retrospective analysis of 76 patients with OVCF treated with single and double pedicle approach PVP from April 2016 to June 2017 in the First Affiliated Hospital of He′nan University was conducted.According to the operation method, the patients were divided into unilateral group (42 patients, unilateral pedicle approach), and bilateral group (34 cases, bilateral pedicle approach). The operation time, number of intraoperative X-rays, amount of bone cement injection, height of the vertebral body and the complications were compared between the two groups.The visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Oswestry dysfunction index(ODI) score were used to assess the recovery of the patients. Results: The unilateral group had less operative time[(33.01±3.78)min], intraoperative X-ray number[(22.06±3.85) times]and bone cement injection[(3.53±0.42) mL] compared with the bilateral group (t=8.54, 5.98, 4.74, all P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the recovery of vertebral height and complications between the two groups (all P>0.05). The postoperative VAS and ODI of the two groups were significantly improved compared with those before operation (all P<0.05). Conclusion In the case of reasonable indications, the unilateral approach PVP is better than bilateral, and unilateral approach PVP should be the first choice for OVCF.