BACKGROUND:Multiple studies have confirmed that mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)signaling pathway is involved in cell proliferation,and microRNA(miR)is involved in the occurrence and development of hypertrophic scars.Therefore,the role of miR-27a-3p and MAPK signaling pathways in pathological scar formation has been further explored. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect of miR-27a-3p on the proliferation of human hypertrophic scar fibroblasts through the MAPK signaling pathway. METHODS:The primary fibroblasts were isolated and collected from the skin samples.The primary fibroblasts were observed by inverted microscope and verified by immunofluorescence.The relative expression level of miR-27a-3p in tissues was detected by qRT-PCR.The target genes of hsa-miR-27a-3p were predicted using the database,and then the predicted target genes were enriched by gene ontology function analysis and biological pathway enrichment analysis of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes.There were seven groups:blank control,negative control,miR-27a-3p mimic,miR-27a-3p inhibitor,miR-27a-3p mimic+p38 MAPK inhibitor,miR-27a-3p mimic+extracellular regulated protein kinase inhibitor,miR-27a-3p mimic+c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor.Western blot was used to detect the levels of extracellular regulated protein kinase,c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor.and p38 kinase and their phosphorylation levels.Cell counting kit-8 and EdU were used to detect cell proliferation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with normal skin fibroblasts,hypertrophic scar fibroblasts had stronger proliferative activity(P<0.05)and faster proliferation level(P<0.001).Compared with normal skin,miR-27a-3p was highly expressed in hypertrophic scars(P<0.001).Compared with the negative control group,overexpression of miR-27a-3p could promote cell proliferation activity(P<0.001)and proliferation levels(P<0.001).Compared with the negative control group,knockdown of miR-27a-3p could inhibit the proliferation activity(P<0.05)and proliferation levels(P<0.001).Compared with the negative control group,overexpression of miR-27a-3p promoted the phosphorylated levels of extracellular regulated protein kinase,c-Jun N-terminal kinase,and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(P<0.05).Compared with the negative control group,knockdown of miR-27a-3p inhibited the phosphorylated levels of extracellular regulated protein kinase,c-Jun N-terminal kinase,and p38 MAPK(P<0.05).Compared with the miR-27a-3p mimic group,specific inhibitors of extracellular regulated protein kinase,c-Jun N-terminal kinase,and p38 MAPK reversed the effects of miR-27a-3p on the proliferative activity(P<0.01)and proliferation level(P<0.001)of fibroblasts.To conclude,these results suggest that miR-27a-3p promotes the proliferation of human hypertrophic scar fibroblasts by activating the MAPK signaling pathway.

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of basic anesthesia combined with local anesthesia in the preoperative localization of multiple pulmonary nodules. Methods The clinical data of patients who underwent preoperative localization for multiple pulmonary nodules resection under single-port thoracoscopy in Nanjing Brain Hospital from July 2023 to September 2023 were extracted. They were divided into a group A and a group B according to the localization method. The patients in the group A were localized under local anesthesia, and the patients in the group B were localized with basic anesthesia combined with local anesthesia. The basic clinical characteristics, localization success rate, incidence of localization complications, localization time, and pain score of the two groups were compared and analyzed. Results Finally, we included 200 patients with 100 patients in each group. There were 49 males and 51 females at age of 25-77 (50.94±14.29) years in the group A. There are 45 males and 55 females at age of 24-78 (48.25±14.04) years in the group B. The incidence of localization complications (4% vs. 13%, P=0.04), localization time [(19.90±8.66) min vs. (15.23±5.98) min, P<0.01], and pain score[ (2.01±2.09) vs. (3.29±2.54), P<0.01] in the group B were significantly lower than those in the group A, and the differences were statistically significant. The localization success rate of the group B was significantly higher than that of the group A (98% vs. 92%, P=0.04), and the difference was statistically significant.Conclusion Mobile CT combined with basic anesthesia for preoperative localization of multiple pulmonary nodules is highly safe, has a high success rate, and provides high patient comfort, making it a valuable approach for clinical promotion.

BACKGROUND The increasing morbidity of liver cancer has led to a growing demand for transplantation. Split liver transplantation (SLT) is a promising way to ameliorate organ shortages. However, the safety and efficacy of SLT are still controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical outcome of SLT in liver cancer patients at our center. METHODS: A total of 74 patients who received liver transplantation at a tertiary hospital from March 2019 to July 2023 were retrospectively studied, of whom 37 recipients underwent SLT and 37 recipients underwent whole-graft liver transplantation (WGLT). Clinical data were analyzed and compared between patients who underwent SLT and WGLT. RESULTS: SLT and WGLT were successfully performed, with no intraoperative transplant-related mortality. Postoperatively, no significant differences in total bilirubin (TB, P=0.266), alanine transaminase (ALT, P=0.403) and aspartate transaminase (AST, P=0.160) levels within 30 d were detected between the two groups. The transplant-related mortality rates were 8.1% in the SLT group and 5.4% in the WGLT group within 30 d of surgery (P=1.000), and 10.8% and 8.1%, respectively, at 90 d after surgery (P=1.000). There were no significant differences in overall survival (OS) and progress-free survival (PFS) between the SLT and WGLT groups (P=0.910, P=0.190). CONCLUSION: Our results show that SLT does not imply additional risks in treating liver cancer compared with WGLT.

BACKGROUND: The contraction behaviors of cardiomyocytes (CMs), especially contraction synchrony, are crucial factors reflecting their maturity and response to drugs. A wider field of view helps to observe more pronounced synchrony differences, but the accompanied greater computational load, requiring more computing power or longer computational time. METHODS: We proposed a method that directly correlates variations in optical field brightness with cardiac tissue contraction status (CVB method), based on principles from physics and photometry, for rapid video analysis in wide field of view to obtain contraction parameters, such as period and contraction propagation direction and speed. RESULTS: Through video analysis of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived CMs labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) cultured on aligned and random nanofiber scaffolds, the CVB method was demonstrated to obtain contraction parameters and quantify the direction and speed of contraction within regions of interest (ROIs) in wide field of view. The CVB method required less computation time compared to one of the contour tracking methods, the LucasKanade (LK) optical flow method, and provided better stability and accuracy in the results. CONCLUSION This method has a smaller computational load, is less affected by motion blur and out-of-focus conditions, and provides a potential tool for accurate and rapid analysis of cardiac tissue contraction synchrony in wide field of view without the need for more powerful hardware.

Objective: To explore the risk factors of allogeneic blood transfusion during lung transplant surgery and prognostic effects of transfusion by analyzing the basic data, surgical details, laboratory tests results, and intraoperative blood transfusion details during the perioperative period of lung transplant, so as to guide clinical blood use. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 319 patients who underwent lung transplantation surgery in our hospital from January 2022 to December 2023. The patients were divided into a non-transfusion group (n=70) and a transfusion group (n=249) based on their intraoperative blood transfusion status. The clinical data, surgical details, perioperative laboratory results and other relevant preoperative and postoperative parameters were compared between the two groups, and the postoperative prognosis (improvement, non-recovery, and death) was analyzed. Results: After comparison between the two groups of patients, it was found that the non-transfusion group had higher levels of preoperative Hb (g/L)(144.41±17.66 vs 129.78±20.44), preoperative Hct [43.25(40.23, 47.5) vs 40.7(37, 43.55)], preoperative TBIL (μmol/L)[11.45(9.15, 15.3)vs 9.9(6.88, 13.33)], and postoperative PLT (×10 /L)(167.74±64.43 vs 132.37±54.84) than the transfusion group (all P<0.05). The non-transfusion group had lower levels of preoperative pCO (mmHg)[41.4(37.4, 45.8)vs 45.3(40, 52.48)], postoperative TBIL (μmol/L)[25.45(17.68, 33.95)vs 30.8(21.55, 43.05)], postoperative pH (7.41±0.09 vs 7.45±0.10), bilateral lung transplantation [27(38.6%) vs 157(63.1%)], surgical duration (h) [5(4, 7)vs 6.5(5, 8)], use of ECMO [52(74.3%) vs 232(93.2%)], and intraoperative blood loss (mL)[600(500, 800)vs 1 000(800, 1 500)] compared to the transfusion group (all P<0.05). The items with P<0.1 in the compared indicators were included in the binary logistic regression analysis, and the results showed that bilateral lung transplantation, intraoperative blood loss, preoperative TBIL, postoperative PLT, postoperative TBIL, preoperative pCO2, and postoperative pH were significantly correlated with whether blood transfusion was performed (P<0.05). The P values of the Chi-square test for postoperative improvement and mortality in the non transfusion group and transfusion group were both greater than 0.05, indicating no statistically significant difference in the prognosis rate between the two groups of patients. Conclusion: Bilateral lung transplantation, intraoperative blood loss, preoperative TBIL, and preoperative pCO are risk factors for blood transfusion during lung transplantation. Intraoperative blood transfusion has a significant impact on postoperative PLT, postoperative TBIL, and postoperative pH indicators, but has no significant effect on prognosis. A comprehensive evaluation of laboratory indicators and surgical details can help developing blood transfusion strategies more effectively.

Objective: To investigate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of sodium pyruvate (SP) on RBC storage lesions using an oxidative damage model. Methods: Six units of leukocyte-depleted suspended RBCs (discarded for non-infectious reasons within three days post-collection) were randomly assigned to four groups: negative control (NS), positive control (PS), experimental group 1 (SP1), and experimental group 2 (SP2). Oxidative stress was induced in the PS group by the addition of hydrogen peroxide (H O ), while SP1 and SP2 received SP supplementation at different concentrations (25 mM and 50 mM, respectively) in the presence of H O . After 1 hour of incubation, RBC morphology was assessed microscopically, and biochemical indicators including glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), methemoglobin (MetHb), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and Na /K -ATPase activity were measured. Results: RBCs in the PS group exhibited pronounced morphological damage, including cell shrinkage and echinocyte formation, whereas both SP-treated groups showed significantly reduced structural injury. SP treatment led to elevated GSH levels and decreased concentrations of MDA and MetHb, suggesting attenuation of oxidative stress. Additionally, SP enhanced intracellular ATP levels and Na /K -ATPase activity, thereby contributing to membrane stability. Notably, the SP2 group (50 mM) demonstrated superior protective effects compared to SP1 (25 mM). Conclusion: Sodium pyruvate effectively attenuates oxidative storage lesions in RBCs, primarily through its antioxidant properties, energy metabolism supporting ability, and celluar membrane stabilizing function. These findings suggest SP as a promising additive for enhancing the quality and safety of stored RBCs.

Objective To explore the application of plasma 7 microRNA (miR7) testing in the differential diagnosis of very early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods This study is a multicenter real-world study. Patients with single hepatic lesion (maximum diameter≤2 cm) who underwent plasma miR7 testing at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Anhui Provincial Hospital, and Peking University People’s Hospital between January 2019 and December 2024 were retrospectively enrolled. Patients were divided into very early-stage HCC group and non-HCC group, and the clinical pathological characteristics of the two groups were compared. The value of plasma miR7 levels, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) in the differential diagnosis of very early-stage HCC was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the curve (AUC). In patients with both negative AFP and DCP (AFP＜20 ng/mL, DCP＜40 mAU/mL), the diagnostic value of plasma miR7 for very early-stage HCC was analyzed. Results A total of 64 528 patients from 4 hospitals underwent miR7 testing, and 1 682 were finally included, of which 1 073 were diagnosed with very early-stage HCC and 609 were diagnosed with non-HCC. The positive rate of miR7 in HCC patients was significantly higher than that in non-HCC patients (67.9% vs 24.3%, P＜0.001). ROC curves showed that the AUCs for miR7, AFP, and DCP in distinguishing HCC patients from the non-HCC individuals were 0.718, 0.682, and 0.642, respectively. The sensitivities were 67.85%, 43.71%, and 44.45%, and the specificities were 75.70%, 92.78%, and 83.91%, respectively. The pairwise comparison of AUCs showed that the diagnostic efficacy of plasma miR7 detection was significantly better than that of AFP or DCP (P＜0.05). Although its specificity was slightly lower than AFP and DCP, the sensitivity was significantly higher. Among patients negative for both AFP and DCP, miR7 maintained an AUC of 0.728 for diagnosing very early-stage HCC, with 67.82% sensitivity and 77.73% specificity. Conclusions Plasma miR7 testing is a potential molecular marker with high sensitivity and specificity for the differential diagnosis of small hepatic nodules. In patients with very early-stage HCC lacking effective molecular markers (negative for both AFP and DCP), miR7 can serve as a novel and effective molecular marker to assist diagnosis.

Objective To analyze the independent risk factors affecting complications of preoperative CT-guided Hookwire localization of pulmonary nodules, and establish and validate a nomogram risk prediction model. Methods Clinical data of patients who underwent thoracoscopic lung surgery with preoperative CT-guided Hookwire localization at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Affiliated Nanjing Brain Hospital, Nanjing Medical University from January 2023 to October 2023 were collected. Patients were divided into a complication group and a non-complication group according to whether they had complications. The clinical data of the two groups were compared by univariate analysis and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis to determine the independent risk factors causing complications during localization, and a nomogram prediction model was established. The discrimination of the model was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the consistency between predicted events and actual results was evaluated by calibration curve. Results A total of 300 patients were included, including 143 males and 157 females, aged 24-68 (46.00±22.81) years. Univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in age, number and location of nodules, preoperative anxiety score, history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), number of needle adjustments, pain score, and distance between the tip of the localization needle and the visceral pleura between the two groups (P<0.05). Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis suggested that pain score [OR=1.253, 95%CI (1.094, 1.434), P=0.001], age [OR=1.020, 95%CI (1.000, 1.042), P=0.049], history of COPD [OR=3.281, 95%CI (1.751, 6.146), P<0.001], number of nodules [OR=1.667, 95%CI (1.221, 2.274), P=0.001], preoperative anxiety score [OR=1.061, 95%CI (1.031, 1.092), P<0.001], number of needle adjustments [OR=1.832, 95%CI (1.263, 2.658), P=0.001], and distance between the needle tip and the visceral pleura [OR=1.759, 95%CI (1.373, 2.254), P<0.001] were associated with localization complications. The area under the ROC curve for the modeling group was 0.825, and that for the validation group was 0.845. Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the ideal curve of the model fitting curve and that of the modeling group and internal validation group, indicating good goodness of fit (χ2=6.488, P=0.593). Conclusion Advanced age, multiple nodules, preoperative anxiety, history of COPD, multiple needle adjustments, severe pain during localization, and long distance between the tip of the localization needle and the visceral pleura are independent risk factors for complications of lung nodule localization, and the prediction model based on these factors has good predictive performance.

To compare the clinical efficacy of intralesional corticosteroid injection combined with topical corticosteroids versus topical corticosteroids alone in patients with idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM).

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in differentiating tumor deposits (TDs) from metastatic lymph nodes (MLNs) in rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 70 patients with rectal cancer, including 168 lesions (70 TDs and 98 MLNs confirmed by histopathology), who underwent pretreatment MRI and subsequent surgery between March 2019 and December 2022. The morphological characteristics of TDs and MLNs, along with quantitative parameters derived from DCE-MRI (K trans , kep, and v e) and DWI (ADCmin, ADCmax, and ADCmean), were analyzed and compared between the two groups.Multivariable binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to assess the diagnostic performance of significant individual quantitative parameters and combined parameters in distinguishing TDs from MLNs. Results: All morphological features, including size, shape, border, and signal intensity, as well as all DCE-MRI parameters showed significant differences between TDs and MLNs (all P < 0.05). However, ADC values did not demonstrate significant differences (all P > 0.05). Among the single quantitative parameters, v e had the highest diagnostic accuracy, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.772 for distinguishing TDs from MLNs. A multivariable logistic regression model incorporating short axis, border, v e, and ADC mean improved diagnostic performance, achieving an AUC of 0.833 (P = 0.027). Conclusion The combination of morphological features, DCE-MRI parameters, and ADC values can effectively aid in the preoperative differentiation of TDs from MLNs in rectal cancer.