ObjectiveTo explore the association between short-term exposure to atmospheric fine particulate matter （PM_2.5） and ozone （O₃） and systemic inflammatory indicators in patients with pneumonia， and to identify the susceptible populations. MethodsFrom September 2018 to April 2020， data of 1 480 patients admitted for pneumonia was collected from a tertiary hospital in Taiyuan City. Generalized additive models （GAMs） were used to explore the associations between PM_2.5 and O₃ exposure and inflammatory indicators of patients with pneumonia； and to explore the susceptibility factors and susceptible populations to PM_2.5 and O₃ exposures through stratified analyses. ResultsThe short-term exposure to PM_2.5 was associated with changes in peripheral blood C-reation protein （CRP）， erythrocyte sedimentation （ESR）， easinophil （EOS）， neutrophil （NEU） and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio （NLR） in patients with pneumonia， and there were different degrees of hysteresis effects， with the effect values reaching a maximum at lag03， lag03， lag0， lag03， lag03， respectively， which were 4.13% （95%CI： 0.43%‒7.84%）， 3.10% （95%CI： 0.24%‒5.97%）， 5.27% （95%CI： 3.12%‒7.42%）， 1.85% （95%CI： 0.36%‒3.34%）， and 2.53% （95%CI： 0.53%‒4.74%） for every 10 μg·m^-3 of PM_2.5. The changes in O₃ concentration were associated with the elevation of peripheral blood PCT and ESR in patients with pneumonia， and their effect values all reached the maximum at lag01 d， every 1 μg·m^-3 of O₃ elevation increased by 0.38% （95%CI： 0.04%‒0.73%） and 0.47% （95%CI： 0.19%‒0.76%）， respectively. Stratified analyses showed that the associations of PM_2.5 with peripheral blood CRP， ESR， NEU， and NLR in pneumonia patients were more significant in males， the elderly， and those with onset in the cold season； the associations of O₃ with peripheral blood PCT and ESR in pneumonia patients were more significant in the elderly and those with onset in the warm season， and the peripheral blood CRP and PCT in female patients with pneumonia were more susceptible to the changes of O₃. ConclusionShort-term exposure to atmospheric PM_2.5 and O₃ are positively associated with changes in inflammatory indicators in patients with pneumonia， and the effects of PM_2.5 on patients with pneumonia are more extensive than those of O₃， with a longer lag effect. In addition， elderly patients with pneumonia are more sensitive to air pollution， male patients with pneumonia are more sensitive to PM_2.5， and female patients with pneumonia are more sensitive to O₃. Cold and warm seasons can exacerbate the effects of PM_2.5 and O₃ on inflammatory indicators in patients with pneumonia， respectively， and the patients must be protected well.

【Objective】 To analyze the clinical efficacy of modified Devine surgery combined with scrotal flap transfer in the treatment of concealed penis (CP) in children and provide reference for the surgical treatment of CP in children. 【Methods】 The clinical data of 54 CP children who underwent surgery in the Department of Urology, Puren Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology during Jun.2019 and Sep.2022 were retrospectively analyzed, including 27 patients treated with traditional Devine surgery (control group), and 27 patients in the modified group treated with modified Devine surgery combined with scrotal flap transfer (double degloving). The perioperative indexes, incidence of postoperative complications, penile lengthening and satisfaction of postoperative appearance were recorded. 【Results】 The surgical time of the modified group was longer than the control group [(62.78±5.07) min vs. (55.93±4.83) min ](t=5.085, P<0.05). The exposed length and penile lengthening length with moderate and severe CP patients in the modified group at 1 and 6 months after surgery were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05).The duration of prepuce edema, and the satisfaction of family members of moderate and severe CP children were (6.93±1.54) d vs. (5.56±1.16) d, (2.44±0.62) vs. (2.83±0.38), and (2.44±0.73) vs. (3.00±0) between the control and modified groups (P<0.05). There were no statistically significant difference in intraoperative bleeding volume and incidence of complications between the two groups (P>0.05). 【Conclusion】 In the treatment of CP, modified Devine surgery combined with scrotal flap transfer can produce good effects and appearance, which is of high application value.

AIM: To investigate the mechanism of action of Qingxuan Runmu Yin(QRY)in the treatment of dry eye(DE)based on transcriptomics and network pharmacology, and to validate the efficacy and key targets of QRY through a animal model of DE.METHODS:RNA-sequencing(RNA-seq)technology was used to detect differentially expressed genes(DEGs)between mice in the DE group and mice in the normal control group, the active ingredients and potential targets of QRY were screened through database, and gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis were carried out after overlapping the results and obtaining key targets. Additionally, “drug-component-target signaling pathways” network was built and the protein-protein interaction(PPI)was analyzed. Mice were examined for Schirmer I test(SⅠt), tear film breakup time(BUT), and corneal fluorescein staining(FL)every 7 d from the beginning of the animal experiments. Hematoxylin-eosin staining(HE)was performed to observe pathologic changes in mouse corneal tissues. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)were performed to verify the mRNA and protein expression levels of the core targets in mouse corneal tissues.RESULTS:Totally 2 234 DEGs, 233 active ingredients and 457 related targets of QRY were collected, with a total of 64 key targets obtained. GO function and KEGG pathway results showed that QRY was closely related to inflammatory mediators, and 19 core targets such as interleukin-1β(IL-1β)were screened by PPI network construction; SⅠt, BUT and FL results in the QRY group were statistically significantly different compared with the model group(all P<0.05); HE staining showed that corneal epithelial cell stratification was disordered and the corneal morphology was changed in the model group. However, QRY treatment significantly improved corneal morphology and disordered stratification, with a close morphology to the blank group; ELISA, Western blot and qRT-PCR results showed that the protein expression and RNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α)in the QRY group showed a decreasing trend compared with the model group.CONCLUSION: Through the combination of multiple components, multiple targets and multiple pathways, QRY regulated the targets such as IL-6, IL-1β and TNF through quercetin and other main components, thereby inhibiting AGE-RAGE/TNF/IL-17 and other signaling pathways, thus achieving the treatment on DE.

NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) is a flavin protease highly expressed in various cancer cells. NQO1 catalyzes a futile redox cycle in substrates, leading to substantial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. This ROS generation results in extensive DNA damage and elevated poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1)-mediated consumption of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺), ultimately causing cell death. Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), the rate-limiting enzyme in the NAD⁺ salvage synthesis pathway, emerges as a critical target in cancer therapy. The concurrent inhibition of NQO1 and NAMPT triggers hyperactivation of PARP1 and intensive NAD⁺ depletion. In this study, we designed, synthesized, and assessed a novel series of proqodine A derivatives targeting both NQO1 and NAMPT. Among these, compound T8 demonstrated potent antitumor properties. Specifically, T8 selectively inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells and induced apoptosis through mechanisms dependent on both NQO1 and NAMPT. This discovery offers a promising new molecular entity for advancing anticancer research.
Humans ; NAD/metabolism* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase/metabolism* ; Cytokines/metabolism* ; Quinones ; Oxidoreductases

Objective:To explore the predictive value of pulmonary effective arterial elastance (Ea) in patients with heart failure (HF).Methods:This is a retrospective cohort study, which retrospectively included 284 patients with HF who underwent right heart catheterization at Heart Failure Center in Fuwai Hospital between September 2013 and February 2022. Data regarding baseline clinical characteristics, hemodynamic profiles, and prognosis were collected. Ea was calculated as mean pulmonary arterial pressure/stroke volume. Patients were divided into Ea<0.555 group and Ea≥0.555 group according to the median value of Ea (0.555 mmHg/ml, 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). The primary outcome was the primary clinical event, set as the first occurrence of a series of composite events, including all-cause death, heart transplantation, left ventricular assist device implantation, and HF rehospitalization. Event-free survival was defined as the absence of primary clinical events. Spearman correlation analysis was used to calculate the correlation coefficient between Ea and parameters reflective of right heart function. The Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare the different groups for the estimation of outcomes with the log-rank test. We used Cox proportional-hazards regression models to estimate hazard ratios ( HR) for primary clinical event. Subgroup analysis was performed based on the age, gender, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, left ventricular ejection fraction, presence of pulmonary hypertension, and serum N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) values. We used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to calculate the area under the curve ( AUC) of Ea for predicting event-free survival in patients with HF. Results:The median age was 51 years, and 206 (72.5%) patients were male. Ea and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) were significantly correlated ( r=0.698, P<0.001). The correlation between Ea and pulmonary arterial elastance (PAC) were even more significant ( r=-0.888, P<0.001). Compared with Ea<0.555 group, Ea≥0.555 group presented with higher serum NT-proBNP values (4 443 (1 792, 8 554) ng/L vs. 1 721 (480, 4 528)ng/L, P<0.001), higher PVR (3.4 (2.5, 4.7) Wood vs. 1.4 (0.9, 2.2) Wood, P<0.001), lower cardiac output (3.0 (2.3, 3.9) L/min vs. 4.3 (3.8, 4.9) L/min, P<0.001), and lower PAC (1.6 (1.3, 2.0) ml/mmHg vs. 4.0 (3.0, 6.0) ml/mmHg, P<0.001). The median follow-up time was 392 (166, 811) days. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve demonstrated a lower event-free survival rate in the Ea≥0.555 group compared to the Ea<0.555 group ( Plog-rank<0.001). After multivariate adjustment, Ea ( HR=1.734, P<0.001) remained significantly associated with the primary outcome. Subgroup analysis indicated that Ea was associated with the primary outcome across all subgroups. The AUC was 0.724 ( P<0.001) for Ea to predict event-free survival calculated from ROC analysis. Conclusions:Ea is closely related to parameters reflective of right ventricular afterload. Increased Ea is an independent predictor of adverse outcomes in patients with HF.

Objective:To carry out a study on the cost analysis of the clinical use of Artificial Intelligence-assisted Diagnosis Technology for Coronary CT Angiography(CCTA-AI)to explore the cost differences and cost effects of Coronary CT Angiography(CCTA)examinations before and after the introduction of Artificial Intelligence(AI),and analyze the impact of the application of AI technology on the high-quality development of public hospitals.Methods:The operation cost method was used to measure the changes in the cost and efficiency of CCTA examinations before and after the application of AI technology in five sample hospitals in Beijing,and diagnostic accuracy was used as the effect value to calculate the cost effect of CCTA-AI diagnosis versus CCTA-manual diagnosis,and to analyze the main factors affecting the unit cost.Results:The average cost of examination in 5 sample hospitals after the application of AI-assisted diagnosis system was 1 074.90 yuan,and 1 266.61 yuan before the application,with a large difference between institutions.The cost-effectiveness analysis based on diagnostic accuracy showed that the AI group had an absolute advantage over the manual group,with a cost of 1 074 900 yuan for the AI group and an effectiveness of 855.05 persons,and a cost of 1 266 610 yuan for the physician group,with an effectiveness of 815.07 persons for the high-year-end physician group,and an effectiveness of 793.40 persons for the low-year-end physician group;0.46 man-hours could be saved for each patient examined;the unit cost of CCTA examination was affected by a number of factors,among which"the number of annual examinations"and"the number of CT units involved in CCTA examination"had the greatest influence on the unit cost of CCTA examination.Conclusion:The application of AI-assisted diagnostic technology can promote the improvement of quality and efficiency in public hospitals in a certain extent,and help optimize the overall distribution of medical resources at the system level.In the future,the cost analysis of AI technology should be further strengthened to comprehensively assess its actual contribution to the healthcare system.

Human with bi-allelic WNT10A mutations and epithelial Wnt10a knockout mice present enlarged pulp chamber and apical displacement of the root furcation of multi-rooted teeth,known as taurodontism;thus,indicating the critical role of Wnt10a in tooth root morphogenesis.However,the endogenous mechanism by which epithelial Wnt10a regulates Hertwig's epithelial root sheath(HERS)cellular behaviors and contributes to root furcation patterning remains unclear.In this study,we found that HERS in the presumptive root furcating region failed to elongate at an appropriate horizontal level in K14-Cre;Wnt10afl/flmice from post-natal day 0.5(PN0.5)to PN4.5.EdU assays and immunofluorescent staining of cyclin D1 revealed significantly decreased proliferation activity of inner enamel epithelial(IEE)cells of HERS in K14-Cre;Wnt10afl/flmice at PN2.5 and PN3.5.Immunofluorescent staining of E-Cadherin and acetyl-α-Tubulin demonstrated that the IEE cells of HERS tended to divide perpendicularly to the horizontal plane,which impaired the horizontal extension of HERS in the presumptive root furcating region of K14-Cre;Wnt10afl/flmice.RNA-seq and immunofluorescence showed that the expressions of Jag1 and Notch2 were downregulated in IEE cells of HERS in K14-Cre;Wnt10afl/fl mice.Furthermore,after activation of Notch signaling in K14-Cre;Wnt10afl/flmolars by Notch2 adenovirus and kidney capsule grafts,the root furcation defect was partially rescued.Taken together,our study demonstrates that an epithelial Wnt10a-Notch signaling axis is crucial for modulating HERS cell proper proliferation and horizontal-oriented division during tooth root furcation morphogenesis.

Objective:To carry out a study on the cost analysis of the clinical use of Artificial Intelligence-assisted Diagnosis Technology for Coronary CT Angiography(CCTA-AI)to explore the cost differences and cost effects of Coronary CT Angiography(CCTA)examinations before and after the introduction of Artificial Intelligence(AI),and analyze the impact of the application of AI technology on the high-quality development of public hospitals.Methods:The operation cost method was used to measure the changes in the cost and efficiency of CCTA examinations before and after the application of AI technology in five sample hospitals in Beijing,and diagnostic accuracy was used as the effect value to calculate the cost effect of CCTA-AI diagnosis versus CCTA-manual diagnosis,and to analyze the main factors affecting the unit cost.Results:The average cost of examination in 5 sample hospitals after the application of AI-assisted diagnosis system was 1 074.90 yuan,and 1 266.61 yuan before the application,with a large difference between institutions.The cost-effectiveness analysis based on diagnostic accuracy showed that the AI group had an absolute advantage over the manual group,with a cost of 1 074 900 yuan for the AI group and an effectiveness of 855.05 persons,and a cost of 1 266 610 yuan for the physician group,with an effectiveness of 815.07 persons for the high-year-end physician group,and an effectiveness of 793.40 persons for the low-year-end physician group;0.46 man-hours could be saved for each patient examined;the unit cost of CCTA examination was affected by a number of factors,among which"the number of annual examinations"and"the number of CT units involved in CCTA examination"had the greatest influence on the unit cost of CCTA examination.Conclusion:The application of AI-assisted diagnostic technology can promote the improvement of quality and efficiency in public hospitals in a certain extent,and help optimize the overall distribution of medical resources at the system level.In the future,the cost analysis of AI technology should be further strengthened to comprehensively assess its actual contribution to the healthcare system.

Objective:To carry out a study on the cost analysis of the clinical use of Artificial Intelligence-assisted Diagnosis Technology for Coronary CT Angiography(CCTA-AI)to explore the cost differences and cost effects of Coronary CT Angiography(CCTA)examinations before and after the introduction of Artificial Intelligence(AI),and analyze the impact of the application of AI technology on the high-quality development of public hospitals.Methods:The operation cost method was used to measure the changes in the cost and efficiency of CCTA examinations before and after the application of AI technology in five sample hospitals in Beijing,and diagnostic accuracy was used as the effect value to calculate the cost effect of CCTA-AI diagnosis versus CCTA-manual diagnosis,and to analyze the main factors affecting the unit cost.Results:The average cost of examination in 5 sample hospitals after the application of AI-assisted diagnosis system was 1 074.90 yuan,and 1 266.61 yuan before the application,with a large difference between institutions.The cost-effectiveness analysis based on diagnostic accuracy showed that the AI group had an absolute advantage over the manual group,with a cost of 1 074 900 yuan for the AI group and an effectiveness of 855.05 persons,and a cost of 1 266 610 yuan for the physician group,with an effectiveness of 815.07 persons for the high-year-end physician group,and an effectiveness of 793.40 persons for the low-year-end physician group;0.46 man-hours could be saved for each patient examined;the unit cost of CCTA examination was affected by a number of factors,among which"the number of annual examinations"and"the number of CT units involved in CCTA examination"had the greatest influence on the unit cost of CCTA examination.Conclusion:The application of AI-assisted diagnostic technology can promote the improvement of quality and efficiency in public hospitals in a certain extent,and help optimize the overall distribution of medical resources at the system level.In the future,the cost analysis of AI technology should be further strengthened to comprehensively assess its actual contribution to the healthcare system.

Objective:To carry out a study on the cost analysis of the clinical use of Artificial Intelligence-assisted Diagnosis Technology for Coronary CT Angiography(CCTA-AI)to explore the cost differences and cost effects of Coronary CT Angiography(CCTA)examinations before and after the introduction of Artificial Intelligence(AI),and analyze the impact of the application of AI technology on the high-quality development of public hospitals.Methods:The operation cost method was used to measure the changes in the cost and efficiency of CCTA examinations before and after the application of AI technology in five sample hospitals in Beijing,and diagnostic accuracy was used as the effect value to calculate the cost effect of CCTA-AI diagnosis versus CCTA-manual diagnosis,and to analyze the main factors affecting the unit cost.Results:The average cost of examination in 5 sample hospitals after the application of AI-assisted diagnosis system was 1 074.90 yuan,and 1 266.61 yuan before the application,with a large difference between institutions.The cost-effectiveness analysis based on diagnostic accuracy showed that the AI group had an absolute advantage over the manual group,with a cost of 1 074 900 yuan for the AI group and an effectiveness of 855.05 persons,and a cost of 1 266 610 yuan for the physician group,with an effectiveness of 815.07 persons for the high-year-end physician group,and an effectiveness of 793.40 persons for the low-year-end physician group;0.46 man-hours could be saved for each patient examined;the unit cost of CCTA examination was affected by a number of factors,among which"the number of annual examinations"and"the number of CT units involved in CCTA examination"had the greatest influence on the unit cost of CCTA examination.Conclusion:The application of AI-assisted diagnostic technology can promote the improvement of quality and efficiency in public hospitals in a certain extent,and help optimize the overall distribution of medical resources at the system level.In the future,the cost analysis of AI technology should be further strengthened to comprehensively assess its actual contribution to the healthcare system.