Objective To investigate the rate of germline variants in patients with pancreatic cancer and clinical characteristics related with germline variants.Methods A total of 271 patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer were enrolled in this study.Germline variants of 21 tumor susceptibility genes were detected by next-generation sequencing,and the relationship between germline variants and clinical factors such as age of onset,family history and personal history was analyzed.Results The rate of germline P/LP variants was 6.3%in unselected pancreatic cancer patients,but was high as 17.1%in genetic high-risk group patients(those with a family or personal history of cancer,or early-onset).Genes with higher frequency of germline variants in pancreatic cancer patients were PALB2,BRCA2,and ATM.Conclusion The rate of germline variants in overall pancreatic cancer patients is not high,but it increases significantly in genetic high-risk group,proving the importance of clinical factors in the screening of hereditary pancreatic cancer.

Objective To evaluate the value of high-throughput sequencing(HTS)data reanalysis that does not include ERBB2 copy number variation(CNV)analysis,in identifying ERBB2 amplification in patients with colorectal cancer.Methods The HTS data of 252 cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed by pathological biopsy who received peripheral blood cfDNA HTS detection samples were retrospectively analyzed.According to the HTS data of ERBB2 non-amplified samples judged by immunohistochemistry(IHC)and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH),the number of chromosome 17(Chr17)reads in the total number of reads was calculated the range of the ratio was initially determined as the threshold for prompting ERBB2 amplification.Suspected positive samples were screened according to thresholds and verified by digital PCR,IHC and FISH.Results The proportion of the number of Chr17 reads accounts for the number of total reads in the 89 cases of ERBB2 non-amplified samples determined by IHC and/or FISH ranged from 0.188 to 0.299(0.239±0.192).Using 0.298(1.25 times the mean)as the threshold indicating ERBB2 amplification,the data of 163 samples were analyzed,of which 7 cases were suspected to be positive,and the ratio ranged from 0.302 to 0.853.Among them,5 cases were determined to be positive by IHC and/or FISH,and 6 cases were confirmed to be positive by digital PCR.The ratio of the number of Chr17 reads to the number of total reads was positively correlated with the ratio of ERBB2/EIF2C1,and the correlation was good(r2=0.909).Conclusion The high-throughput sequencing data that does not cover the ERBB2 CNV analysis has a certain hint value for ERBB2 amplification in patients with colorectal cancer.

Objective To investigate the microstructural changes of temporal lobe epilepsy(TLE)in patients with sleep disorders based on diffusion kurtosis imaging(DKI).Methods This research prospectively included 38 TLE patients(case group)and 20 healthy controls(HC)(HC group).Participants used sleep questionnaires to evaluate their sleep status.All TLE patients were divided into groups with and without sleep disorders according to the diagnostic criteria and scale scores of sleep disorders.The mean kurtosis(MK),mean diffusivity(MD),and fractional anisotropy(FA)of the relevant region of interest(ROI)were measured by DKI sequence.The differences of sleep quality scores and DKI parameters between groups were further compared via independent samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance.Results The Epworth sleepiness scale(ESS),Athens insomnia scale(AIS),and Pittsburgh sleep qual-ity index(PSQI)scores of TLE patients with sleep disorders were significantly higher than those of HC group(P＜0.05).The FA and MK values in TLE patients were significantly lower than those in HC group,while the MD value of TLE patients were substan-tially higher than that of HC group(P＜0.05).The values of MK and FA in left TLE patients with sleep disorders were significantly lower than those of without sleep disorders(P＜0.05),while there was no significant difference in MD value between the two groups(P＞0.05).MK value of right TLE patients with sleep disor-ders was significantly lower than that of without sleep disorders(P＜0.05),however,there were no significant differences in MD and FA values between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion Quantitative DKI analysis revealed differences in DKI parameters in TLE patients combined with sleep disorders,inferring a specific white matter fiber damage in this group and providing imaging data to support the personalized treatment and prognostic assessment of these patients.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) diseases are common clinical conditions. The number of patients with TMJ diseases is large, and the etiology, epidemiology, disease spectrum, and treatment of the disease remain controversial and unknown. To understand and master the current situation of the occurrence, development and prevention of TMJ diseases, as well as to identify the patterns in etiology, incidence, drug sensitivity, and prognosis is crucial for alleviating patients′suffering.This will facilitate in-depth medical research, effective disease prevention measures, and the formulation of corresponding health policies. Cohort construction and research has an irreplaceable role in precise disease prevention and significant improvement in diagnosis and treatment levels. Large-scale cohort studies are needed to explore the relationship between potential risk factors and outcomes of TMJ diseases, and to observe disease prognoses through long-term follw-ups. The consensus aims to establish a standard conceptual frame work for a cohort study on patients with TMJ disease while providing ideas for cohort data standards to this condition. TMJ disease cohort data consists of both common data standards applicable to all specific disease cohorts as well as disease-specific data standards. Common data were available for each specific disease cohort. By integrating different cohort research resources, standard problems or study variables can be unified. Long-term follow-up can be performed using consistent definitions and criteria across different projects for better core data collection. It is hoped that this consensus will be facilitate the development cohort studies of TMJ diseases.

Objective The aim is to utilize CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology to construct Dmd gene mutant mice with a point mutation in exon 23 of the Dmd gene. Subsequently, the phenotypic changes of the mice in muscles and immune systems are analyzed and verified, providing an evaluation model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and other related diseases.MethodsBased on the sequence characteristics of exon 23 of the Dmd gene, small guide RNA (sgRNA) was designed and synthesized. Cas9 mRNA, sgRNA fragments, and oligo donor DNA were microinjected into fertilized eggs of C57BL/6J mice. After transferring the fertilized eggs to surrogate mice, F0 generation mice were born. After mating with F0 generation mice, offspring mice were obtained, and Dmd gene positive mutant (Dmd^Mu/+) mice were obtained after genotype identification. Male hemizygous Dmd^Mu/+(Dmd^Mu/Y) mice were selected for phenotype validation. The body weight of live 3- and 9-month-old mice were recorded. Muscle tension was evaluated through the grid test. Hearts and semitendinosus muscles were collected, and the histopathological changes were observed using HE staining. Further, the expression of Dmd protein in muscle tissue of 9-month-old mice was analyzed by Western blotting.An acute inflammation model was established in Dmd^Mu/Y mice using lipopolysaccharide induction. Peripheral blood from the submandibular vein was collected, and the changes in the proportion of neutrophils and monocytes were detected by flow cytometry.Results The results of genome sequencing and Western blotting confirmed the successful construction of Dmd gene point mutant mice (Dmd^Mu/+ mice). Dmd protein expression was not detected in skeletal muscle and myocardium of Dmd^Mu/+ mice, and it was significantly reduced compared to wild-type C57BL/6J mice (P<0.05). Compared with wild-type mice of the same background, Dmd^Mu/Y mice at 3 and 9 months of age showed significant weight loss (P<0.01) and decreased muscle tension (P<0.05). 9-month-old Dmd^Mu/Y mice exhibited significant pathological changes in skeletal muscle and myocardium, including widening of intermuscular space. Under normal condition, compared with wild-type mice, the proportion of neutrophils and monocytes in the peripheral blood of 3-month-old Dmd^Mu/Y mice was significantly lower than that of wild-type mice (P<0.01). After lipopolysaccharide stimulation, the proportion of neutrophils in peripheral blood of 3-month-old Dmd^Mu/Y mice remained significantly lower compared to that of wild-type mice (P<0.01). The proportion of neutrophils in peripheral blood of 9-month-old Dmd^Mu/Y mice significantly decreased after lipopolysaccharide induction (P<0.01), with a trend of change observed in monocytes between groups.Conclusion The successful construction of the Dmd gene mutant mouse model has confirmed the vital function of Dmd gene in maintaining normal muscle tissue morphology and muscle tone. It preliminarily indicated that Dmd gene deletion could significantly reduce the proportion of neutrophils in peripheral blood, offering a new perspective for the study of immune system alterations in Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients.

Objective To investigate the feasibility and value of a multi-parametric MRI radiomics-based nomogram model for pretreatment predicting the lymphovascular space invasion(LVSI)of endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma(EEA).Methods Preoperative MRI and baseline clinical characteristics of 205 EEA patients were prospectively collected from Oct 2020 to Jan 2022 in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital,Fudan University,and randomly divided into training set(n=123)and validation set(n=82)in a 6∶4 ratio.The whole-tumor region of interest was manually drawn on T2-weighted imaging,diffusion-weighted imaging(apparent diffusion coefficient),and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI,respectively,for radiomics features extraction.In the training set,univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to select independent clinical predictors of LVSI(+)and construct the clinical model.The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)regression and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to select optimal radiomics features to form a radiomics signature.A combined nomogram model was established by integrating clinical independent predictors and the radiomics signature,and validated in the validation set.The predicting performance and clinical net benefit were evaluated by using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)and clinical decision curve analysis,respectively.Results Of the 205 EEA cases,144 cases were LVSI(-)and 61 cases were LVSI(+).Menopausal status,CA125,and CA199 were independent clinical predictors for the LVSI(+),and contributing to a clinical model with AUCs of 0.714(training)and 0.731(validation).From 8 240 extracted radiomics features,five were selected to construct a MRI radiomics signature after de-redundancy and LASSO dimensionality reduction,yielding AUCs of 0.860(training)and 0.759(validation).The combined nomogram model showed AUCs of 0.887(training)and 0.807(validation),outperforming others and achieving maximum clinical benefit in a large range of threshold probability in both training and validation sets.Conclusion The multi-parametric MRI-based nomogram model has the potential for pretreatment predicting the LVSI status of EEA,providing valuable information for clinical management decision-making and improving patient's clinical benefits.

Objective To analyze the correlation of eyeball diameters of normal fetuses with fetal gender and gestational age(GA)in the second and third trimesters,as well as the MRI morphological features of fetal eyeball,for providing reference for prenatal MRI diagnosis.Methods MRI data of fetuses who underwent prenatal MRI in Department of Radiology,Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital,Fudan University from Mar 2014 to Jun 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.All fetuses had no abnormal findings in MRI and the subsequent ultrasound follow-up before birth.The left and right maximum transverse diameter of the eyeball(TDE),the upper-lower diameter of the eyeball(ULDE),and the anterior-posterior diameter of the eyeball(APDE)were measured in the transverse and sagittal T2-HASTE images(the maximum distance between the outer edges of the eye-rings),respectively.The correlation between the diameters and fetal gender was analyzed,as well as between the diameters and GA.Regression analyses were performed on the diameters and fetal age.MRI morphological features of fetal eyeballs in different GA in the second and third trimesters were observed,and the changing trends in TDE/APDE,TDE/ULDE and APDE/ULDE with the increasing GA were quantitatively analyzed.Results There were no significant differences between the left and right TDE,APDE and ULDE in normal fetuses in the second and third trimesters(t=0.198,-0.963,0.774,respectively),and none of them was related to fetal gender(r=-0.047,-0.040,-0.030,-0.022,-0.026 and-0.026,respectively).The left and right TDE,APDE and ULDE showed a highly linear increase with GA in the second and third trimesters(r=0.964,0.962,0.966,0.966,0.972,0.972,0.972,respectively,all P<0.001).The linear regression equations were as follows:left TDE(cm)=0.044×GA(wk)+0.368(R2=0.930),right TDE(cm)=0.045×GA(wk)+0.359(R2=0.926),left APDE(cm)=0.049×GA(wk)+0.078(R2=0.934),right APDE(cm)=0.049×GA(wk)+0.0073(R2=0.933),left ULDE(cm)=0.044×GA(wk)+0.242(R2=0.946),right ULDE(cm)=0.045×GA(wk)+0.237(R2=0.945).The fetal eyeballs transitioned from a conoidal shape in about the 20th week towards a more spherical geometry in about the 38th week.The TDE/APDE and TDE/ULDE decreased while APDE/ULDE increased with increasing GA.All of them gradually approached 1.0 in the third trimester,but the TDE was always the largest throughout the second and third trimesters.Conclusion The normal fetal eyeball development in the second and third trimesters demonstrates a symmetrical pattern and is gender-neutral.The TDE,APDE and ULDE linearly increased with GA and morphologically transitioned from a conoidal shape towards a more spherical geometry.

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Guhuaisi Kangfu Pills on rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head(SONFH).Methods Sixty rats were randomly divided into blank group,model group,Xianling Gubao Capsules group and Guhuaisi Kangfu Pills low-,medium-and high-dose groups,10 rats in each group.Except for the blank group,the SONFH model was established by lipopolysaccharide combined with Glucocorticoid induction method in all other groups of rats.At the end of the intervention,for the femoral head,blood vessel radiography was performed to observe the microvascular changes in the bone marrow,and hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining and calculation of the empty bone trap rate,Micro-CT scanning analysis,and compression experiments were carried out,and the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)was used to detect the gene expressions of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K),protein kinase B(Akt)1,vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1(CD31)in whole blood.Results Compared with the blank group,the blood supply in the femoral head medullary cavity of the model group was poor,the empty bone lacuna rate was increased(P＜0.05),the bone mineral density and bone volume fraction were significantly decreased(P＜0.05),the maximum load and elastic modulus of the femoral head were decreased(P＜0.05),and the mRNA expression levels of Akt1,PI3K,VEGF and CD31 in whole blood were decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the blood supply in the femoral head medullary cavity was relatively good,the empty bone lacuna rate was decreased(P＜0.05),the bone mineral density,bone volume fraction,trabecular number and trabecular thickness were significantly increased(P＜0.05),the trabecular separation was significantly decreased(P＜0.05),the maximum load and elastic modulus of the femoral head were increased(P＜0.05),and the mRNA expression levels of Akt1,PI3K,VEGF and CD31 in the whole blood were increased(P＜0.05)in the high-dose group of Guhuaisi Kangfu Pills and Xianling Gubao Capsules group.There was no significant difference in the above indexes between the high-dose group of Guhuaisi Kangfu Pills and the Xianling Gubao Capsules group(P＞0.05).Conclusion Guhuaisi Kangfu Pills improves SONFH in rats,and its mechanism is related to the promotion of VEGF/PI3K/Akt pathway gene expression,thereby promoting angiogenesis.

Objective To monitor the susceptibility of clinical isolates to antimicrobial agents in tertiary hospitals in major regions of China in 2022.Methods Clinical isolates from 58 hospitals in China were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using a unified protocol based on disc diffusion method or automated testing systems.Results were interpreted using the 2022 Clinical &Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)breakpoints.Results A total of 318 013 clinical isolates were collected from January 1,2022 to December 31,2022,of which 29.5％were gram-positive and 70.5％were gram-negative.The prevalence of methicillin-resistant strains in Staphylococcus aureus,Staphylococcus epidermidis and other coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species(excluding Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Staphylococcus schleiferi)was 28.3％,76.7％and 77.9％,respectively.Overall,94.0％of MRSA strains were susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and 90.8％of MRSE strains were susceptible to rifampicin.No vancomycin-resistant strains were found.Enterococcus faecalis showed significantly lower resistance rates to most antimicrobial agents tested than Enterococcus faecium.A few vancomycin-resistant strains were identified in both E.faecalis and E.faecium.The prevalence of penicillin-susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae was 94.2％in the isolates from children and 95.7％in the isolates from adults.The resistance rate to carbapenems was lower than 13.1％in most Enterobacterales species except for Klebsiella,21.7％-23.1％of which were resistant to carbapenems.Most Enterobacterales isolates were highly susceptible to tigecycline,colistin and polymyxin B,with resistance rates ranging from 0.1％to 13.3％.The prevalence of meropenem-resistant strains decreased from 23.5％in 2019 to 18.0％in 2022 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa,and decreased from 79.0％in 2019 to 72.5％in 2022 in Acinetobacter baumannii.Conclusions The resistance of clinical isolates to the commonly used antimicrobial agents is still increasing in tertiary hospitals.However,the prevalence of important carbapenem-resistant organisms such as carbapenem-resistant K.pneumoniae,P.aeruginosa,and A.baumannii showed a downward trend in recent years.This finding suggests that the strategy of combining antimicrobial resistance surveillance with multidisciplinary concerted action works well in curbing the spread of resistant bacteria.

Bavachin is a dihydroflavonoid compound isolated from Psoralea corylifolia, and exhibits anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and lipid-lowering activities. Recent attention has gradually drawn on bavachin-induced apoptosis in many human cancer cell lines. However, the anti-cancer effects and related mechanisms in colorectal cancer remain unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of bavachin on colorectal cancer in vivo and in vitro. The results showed that bavachin inhibited the proliferation of human colorectal cancer cells and induce apoptosis. These changes were mediated by activating the MAPK signaling pathway, which significantly up-regulated the expression of Gadd45a. Furthermore, Gadd45a silencing obviously attenuated bavachin-mediated cell apoptosis. Inhibition of the MAPK signaling pathway by JNK/ERK/p38 inhibitors also weakened the up-regulation of Gadd45a by bavachin. The anticancer effect of bavachin was also validated using a mouse xenograft model of human colorectal cancer. In conclusion, these findings suggest that bavachin induces the apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells through activating the MAPK signaling pathway.
Humans ; Signal Transduction ; Flavonoids/pharmacology* ; Proteins/pharmacology* ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Colorectal Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Cycle Proteins/pharmacology*