Objective To compare H_p(3) calibration with a homemade (A) thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) and an imported (B) TLD in a standard X-ray RQR radiation field, to explore the different responses of A and B, and to provide foundation for the calibration of H_p(3). Methods A column mode was selected. H_p(3) calibration was performed using A and B in a standard X-ray RQR radiation field in the Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory, National Institute for Radiological Protection, China Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Angle response, energy response, and linear response were calibrated with RQR4 (60 kV), RQR7 (90 kV), and RQR9 (120 kV), respectively. Results In terms of angle response, the calibration results of A were relatively high, while the calibration results of B were relatively low. In terms of energy response, the calibration results showed a similar pattern to angle response. In terms of linear response, the calibration results of both A and B were satisfactory. Conclusion Both A and B can be used for normal calibration of H_p(3) in a standard X-ray RQR radiation field. However, in actual monitoring, attention should be paid to the energy and angle response values of TLDs.

Objective To investigate the value of minimum apparent diffusion coefficient(ADCmin)and delta apparent diffusion coefficient(dADC)of quantitative parameters of MR diffusion weighted imaging(DWI)in differentiating benign from stage Ⅰ malignant ovarian epithelial tumors.Methods A total of 112 patients with primary ovarian epithelial tumors confirmed by operation and pathology(43 benign tumors and 69 stage Ⅰ malignant tumors)were retrospectively selected.All patients underwent routine MRI and DWI before operation.The ADCmin and dADC of solid portion were measured and compared between the two groups.Logistic regression anal-ysis and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve were used to evaluate diagnostic performance of each parameter alone and in combination in differentiating ovarian epithelial benign and stage Ⅰ malignant tumors.Results The ADCmin was greater in benign tumors than that in stage Ⅰ malignant tumors,while dADC was smaller in benign tumors than that in stage Ⅰ malignant tumors(P＜0.05).Logis-tic regression analysis showed that ADCmin and dADC were independent risk factors for stage Ⅰ malignant tumors.With threshold of 1.183 × 10-3 mm2/s for ADCmin and 0.579 × 10-3 mm2/s for dADC,the area under the curve(AUC)was 0.802 and 0.857,sensitivity and specificity of 0.885,0.808,0.714,0.857,respectively.According to regression equation logit(P)=7.154+0.267 × dADC-1.016 X ADCmin,the AUC(0.951)was greater than that of single parameter,the sensitivity was 0.890,the specificity was 0.995.Conclusion ADCmin and dADC are useful for differentiating ovarian epithelial benign from stage Ⅰ malignant tumors,and ADCmin combined with dADC can improve the diagnose accuracy before operation.

Objective To discuss the clinical value of echocardiographic indicators in assessing the short-term efficacy of transcatheter aortic valve replacement(TAVR)and surgical aortic valve replacement(SAVR)in treating patients with severe aortic valve stenosis(AS).Methods The clinical data of 70 patients with severe AS,who received treatment at the Daping Hospital of Army Military Medical University of China between June 2019 and September 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into SAVR group(n=40)and TAVR group(n=30).The preoperative one-week and postoperative one-month echocardiographic indicators were compared between the two groups.Results In both groups,the postoperative one-month peak aortic valve velocity(Vmax),aortic valve mean transvalvular pressure gradient(mPG),relative thickness of chamber wall(RWT),and left ventricular mass index(LVMI)were decreased when compared with preoperative values(all P＜0.05);in TAVR group the left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),LVMI and incidence of perivalvular leakage were remarkably higher than those in SAVR group,while the Vmax and mPG were obviously lower than those in SAVR group(all P＜0.05).In TAVR group,the mitral regurgitation decreased from preoperative 12 patients(40％)to postoperative 2 patients(6.7％)and the over-moderate tricuspid regurgitation decreased from preoperative 7 patients(23.3％)to postoperative one patient(3.3％)(all P＜0.05).In SAVR group,the mitral regurgitation decreased from preoperative 15 patients(37.5％)to postoperative 2 patients(5.0％)and the over-moderate tricuspid regurgitation decreased from preoperative 9 patients(22.5％)to postoperative one patient(2.5％)(all P＜0.05).The pulmonary artery hypertension in TAVR group decreased from preoperative 17 patients(56.7％)to postoperative 4 patients(13.3％),which in SAVR group decreased from preoperative 22 patients(55.0％)to postoperative 5 patients(12.5％)(P＜0.05),but the differences in the above indexes between the two groups were not statistically significant(all P＞0.05).Conclusion TAVR and SAVR have similar efficacy in improving secondary valve regurgitation and pulmonary artery hypertension caused by severe AS.TAVR is superior to SAVR in improving postoperative ventricular reverse remodeling and hemodynamics,although the incidence of paravalvular leakage in TAVR is higher than that in SAVR.(J Intervent Radiol,2024,33:479-482)

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is the pathological structure of incurable fibroproliferative lung diseases that are attributed to the repeated lung injury-caused failure of lung alveolar regeneration (LAR). Here, we report that repetitive lung damage results in a progressive accumulation of the transcriptional repressor SLUG in alveolar epithelial type II cells (AEC2s). The abnormal increased SLUG inhibits AEC2s from self-renewal and differentiation into alveolar epithelial type I cells (AEC1s). We found that the elevated SLUG represses the expression of the phosphate transporter SLC34A2 in AEC2s, which reduces intracellular phosphate and represses the phosphorylation of JNK and P38 MAPK, two critical kinases supporting LAR, leading to LAR failure. TRIB3, a stress sensor, interacts with the E3 ligase MDM2 to suppress SLUG degradation in AEC2s by impeding MDM2-catalyzed SLUG ubiquitination. Targeting SLUG degradation by disturbing the TRIB3/MDM2 interaction using a new synthetic staple peptide restores LAR capacity and exhibits potent therapeutic efficacy against experimental PF. Our study reveals a mechanism of the TRIB3-MDM2-SLUG-SLC34A2 axis causing the LAR failure in PF, which confers a potential strategy for treating patients with fibroproliferative lung diseases.

Objective:To explore the application value of biplane transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) combining superb microvascular imaging (SMI) in evaluating preoperative T stage of mid-low rectal cancer.Methods:From Jan 2021 to Apr 2022, 90 patients with middle and low rectal cancer undergoing surgical treatment in Da Ping Hospital, Army Medical Center of PLA were equally divided into trial group and control group . Patients in the control group received TRUS combining with color Doppler blood flow imaging (CDFI) mode, patients in the trial group received additional SMI . Preoperative ultrasound T staging was performed. Artery blood flow resistance index (RI), pulsation index (PI), peak systolic velocity (PSV), and end diastolic velocity (EDV) of tumors were measured and recorded. Receiver operating characteristics curves were drawn to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy.Results:The accuracy rate of the control group was 67% (30/45), and the consistence with the pathological stage (Kappa=0.510, P<0.05) was lower than that of 84% (38/45) and (Kappa=0.779, P<0.001) of the trial group ( χ2=3.850, P<0.05). Among different T stages, the difference of RI and PI were significant ( F=5.619, P=0.002; F=25.500, P<0.001), the difference of PSV was not significant ( F=1.464, P=0.231), and the difference of EDV was weakly correlated ( F=2.723, P=0.05). The ROC curves showed that the area under curve of RI, PI, EDV, and PSV was 0.573, 0.517, 0.527 and 0.501, respectively. With the diagnostic sensitivity rate for T1 to T4 as 70.4%, 58.8%, 93.3%, 68.8%, while the diagnostic specificity rate was 87.3%, 90.4%, 96.8%, 93.2%. Conclusion:Biplane TRUS combining SMI can improve the accuracy in preoperative ultrasound T staging of mid-low rectal cancer.

Objective:To investigate the immunoregulatory effects of Glycyrrhiza uralensis ethanol extract(GUEE) on the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) and the adjuvant effect of GUEE on OVA in na?ve BALB/c mice and an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma mouse model. Methods:GUEE was prepared, and the effects of different concentrations of GUEE on the maturation of DCs and the secreted cytokines as well as the effects of GUEE on bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced DC maturation were examined in vitro. The effect of GUEE on the morphology of mouse bone marrow derived DCs was observed using microscopy. Molecular expression levels on the surface of DCs were detected using flow cytometry. The levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the supernatant of DCs cultures were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The maturation status of DCs was detected by flow cytometry by injecting different concentrations of GUEE into the paws of mice and isolating the draining lymph nodes 24 h later. The naive BALB/c mice were co-immunized with OVA, and the changes in regulatory T cells (Treg) were detected by flow cytometry. An OVA-protein-induced mouse asthma model was established to investigate whether GUEE as a tolerogenic adjuvant has an antigen-specific therapeutic effect on asthmatic mice. Pulmonary pathological changes were analyzed by hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE) and PAS staining. OVA-specific antibodies in serum and the frequencies of Tregs, CD4 + IFN-γ + and CD4 + IL-4 + T cells in the spleen were detected by ELISA and flow cytometry, respectively. Results:GUEE suppressed DCs maturation induced by LPS both in vitro and in vivo (all P<0.05), and reduced proinflammatory cytokine production, including IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12 and TNF-α in the absence or presence of LPS (all P<0.05). Moreover, co-immunization with OVA and GUEE increased the amount of Tregs in na?ve BALB/c mice ( P<0.05). In OVA-induced asthmatic mice, OVA and GUEE co-immunization and GUEE alone treatment substantially ameliorated the inflammation of lung tissues, decreased the levels of IgG 1 and the amount of CD4 + IL-4 + T cells, and increased the amount of Tregs (all P<0.05). Conclusions:GUEE alone or as the tolerogenic adjuvant can ameliorate allergic diseases through inhibition of DC maturation and type 2 helper T cell responses and induction of Tregs.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) photodynamic therapy (PDT) combined with CO 2 fractional laser on hypertrophic scars. Methods:From 2017 to 2019, 20 patients [17 males, 3 females, aged (24.4±4.24) years] with mandibular acne keloid in the Department of Dermatology of Air Force Medical Center, were treated with ALA-PDT combined with CO 2 fractional laser treatment, once a month, 3 times in total, and were followed up for 6 months. The efficacy, safety, and recurrence were evaluated by the Vancouver scar scale (VSS) score. Results:The effective rate was 100% after three treatments. The VSS score decreased significantly after the first treatment, and as the number of treatments increased, the VSS score further decreased. The first improvement after treatment was thickness and hardness. There was no recurrence during the 6-month follow-up. The main adverse reactions were pain, erythema and pigmentation.Conclusions:ALA-PDT combined with CO 2 fractional laser can be used as a new treatment for hypertrophic scars.

OBJECTIVES: Liver cancer is the sixth most common malignant tumor in the world. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for 85%-90% of all patients with liver cancer. It possesses the characteristics of insidious onset, rapid progression, early recurrence, easy drug resistance, and poor prognosis. NIMA related kinase 2 (NEK2) is a cell cycle regulating kinases, which regulates cell cycle in mitosis. Cellular senescence is a complex heterogeneous process, and is a stable form of cell cycle arrest that limits the proliferative potential of cells. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the expression level of NEK2 and the senescence in hepatoma cells, and to explore the effect of NEK2 expression on hepatoma cell senescence and the underlying molecular mechanism. METHODS: A total of 581 senescence-relevant genes were obtained from the GenAge website. The gene expression data of tumor tissues of 370 HCC patients were downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas database. The co-expression of NEK2 and aging-related genes was analyzed by R-package. KEGG was used to analyze the significant gene enrichment pathway of differentially expressed genes in NEK2 overexpression HEK293. The stable transfected cell lines with overexpression and knockdown of NEK2 were constructed in hepatoma cell line SMMC-7721 and HepG2, and senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining was used to detect senescence, the cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 method and clone formation experiment, the cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry, and the expression of proteins related to p53/p21, p16/Rb, and phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN)/Akt signal transduction pathway was detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: There were 320 senescence related genes co-expressed with NEK2. KEGG analysis showed that the senescence signaling pathway was significantly enriched in HEK293 cells with overexpression of NEK2.Compared with SMMC-7721 or HepG2 without knockdown of NEK2, the senescent cells of SMMC-7721 and HepG2 with knockdown of NEK2 were increased, cell proliferation and clone formation were decreased significantly, the percentage of cells in G₀/G₁ phase was increased, the expression levels of phospho-Akt (p-Akt) and phospho-Rb (p-Rb) protein were decreased significantly, and the expression level of p16 protein was increased significantly (all P<0.05). Compared with SMMC-7721 or HepG2 transfected with blank plasmid, the senescent cells of SMMC-7721 and HepG2 overexpressing NEK2 were decreased, the cell proliferation and clone formation were increased significantly, the percentage of cells in G₀/G₁ phase were decreased, the expression levels of p-Akt and p-Rb protein were increased significantly, and the expression level of p16 protein was decreased significantly (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS NEK2 may mediate the anti-aging effect of hepatoma cells through p16/Rb and PTEN/Akt signal transduction pathways, which provides a new theoretical basis for NEK2 to promote the progress of liver cancer and a new idea for the targeting treatment for liver cancer.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation/physiology* ; Cellular Senescence/genetics* ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/pathology* ; NIMA-Related Kinases/genetics* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism*

Objective : To investigate the clinical effect of periodontal endoscope-assisted scaling and root planing (SRP) in treating advanced periodontitis. Methods: Nineteen cases of grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ periodontitis selected from June 2017 to January 2019 in the Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University were divided into the periodontal endoscope and control groups. In the periodontal endoscope group, SRP was performed under a periodontal microscope in one treatment after initial supragingival scaling; in the control group, SRP was performed under regular conditions, and additional SRP was conducted in positive bleeding on probing sites twice every other week as needed. Periodontal status, including probing depth (PD), bleeding on probing (BOP) and attachment loss (AL), was recorded by a Florida probe. Results: For sites of 40.05). There was no significant difference in the BOP positive rate or AL change between the two groups at 3 months and 6 months (P > 0.05). For sites with PD > 6 mm, at baseline, the positive rates of PD, BOP and AL in the endoscope group were more serious than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant. The PD- and BOP-positive rates and AL in the endoscope group and control group decreased significantly from baseline at 3 and 6 months. However, PD in the endoscope group became shallower than that in the control group (P < 0.05) after 3 and 6 months. There was no significant difference in the BOP positive rate or AL between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion When compared to regular SRP, periodontal microscope-assisted SRP achieves better improvement in PD and is more beneficial for reducing the BOP and AL of deeper sites.

Objective:To observe the effect of combining transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with functional electrical stimulation-assisted cycling (FES-cycling) on lower limb motor function early after a stroke.Methods:Thirty-seven survivors of a recent stroke were divided into a tDCS treatment group ( n=18) and a pseudo-stimulation group ( n=19). While receiving routine rehabilitation training and clinical drug treatment, the tDCS treatment group also cycled in response to functional electrical stimulation while simultaneously receiving tDCS anode stimulation of the motor cortex M1 area. The pseudo-stimulation group followed the same protocol but with the tDCS stimulation inactivated. Both groups were treated for 20min daily, 5 days weekly for 4 weeks. Before and after the 4 weeks of treatment, the lower limb motor function, walking ability and ability in the activities of daily living of both groups were evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer assessment scale for the lower extremities (FMA-LE), the timed up and go test (TUGT) and the modified Barthel index (MBI) respectively. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to detect each subject′s cerebral cortex motor threshold (CMT) , cortical latency (CL) and central motor conduction time (CMCT) as well as the amplitude (Amp) of the motor evoked potential of the lower limb primary motor cortex (M1 area). Results:After 4 weeks of treatment, the average FMA-LE and MBI scores and TUGT times of the two groups had improved significantly compared with those before treatment. The average FMA-LE score and TUGT time of the tDCS group were significantly better than those of the pseudo-stimulation group. The average CMT, CL and CMCT in both groups were significantly lower than those before the intervention, while the average Amp had increased significantly, but there were significant differences in the average CMT, Amp, CL and CMCT between the two groups after the 4 weeks of treatment.Conclusions:Transcranial direct current stimulation combined with cycling assisted by functional electrical stimulation can effectively stimulate excitability in the motor cortex soon after a stroke. That should promote the recovery of nerve activity and lower limb function.