Objective To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy for surgical treatments among patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis in Gansu Province from 2006 to 2023, so as to provide insights into optimization of the diagnosis and treatment strategies against hepatic cystic echinococcosis. Methods The demographic and clinical data of all echinococcosis cases included in central government fiscal transfer payment program for echinococcosis control and undergoing surgical treatments in Gansu Province from 2006 to 2023 were captured. Hepatic cystic echinococcosis patients with complete medical records and follow-up data were included in the study, and patients’ characteristics, including hospital where patients received diagnosis and treatment, methods of case identification, year of surgery, classification of lesions, number of lesions, size of lesions, course of disease, surgical methods, and post-surgical follow-up data. The cure and recurrence of hepatic cystic echinococcosis were evaluated according to the Guidelines for Management of Echinococcosis Patients in the Central Government Fiscal Transfer Payment Program, and the cure and recurrent rates were calculated. Results Data were collected from 1 686 surgical patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 1 222 hepatic cystic echinococcosis patients undergoing surgical treatments were included during the period from 2006 to 2022, including 1 166 cured patients (95.42%) and 88 patients with postsurgical recurrence (7.20%), and the cure rate of surgical treatments appeared a tendency towards a rise among patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis from 2008 to 2022 (χ²_trend = 19.39, P < 0.05). The cure rates of hepatic cystic echinococcosis were 100% (177/177), 94.81% (128/135) and 94.62% (861/910) among patients detected through regular physical examinations, screened by the central government fiscal transfer payment program for echinococcosis control, and those who passively sought healthcare services, respectively (χ² = 9.95, P < 0.05). The cure rates of hepatic cystic echinococcosis were 95.96% (1 046/1 090) among patients with a disease course of 2 years and less and 90.90% (120/132) among patients with a disease course of over 2 years (χ² = 6.87, P < 0.05), and there were significant differences in the cure rates among patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis in terms of number of lesions (χ² = 24.44, P < 0.05) and surgical methods (P < 0.05). The cure rate of hepatic cystic echinococcosis patients was significantly higher following initiation of the central government fiscal transfer payment program for echinococcosis control (96.06%, 1 096/1 141) than before the program (86.42%, 70/81) (χ² = 16.06, P < 0.05), and the cure rate of hepatic cystic echinococcosis patients was significantly higher in designated hospitals (96.48%, 741/768) than in non-designated hospitals (93.37%, 366/392) (χ² = 5.78, P < 0.05). The median follow-up period was 4 (interquartile range, 7) years among 1 222 hepatic cystic echinococcosis patients undergoing surgical treatments. The recurrent rate of hepatic cystic echinococcosis appeared a tendency towards a decline from 2008 to 2022 (χ²_trend = 36.86, P < 0.05), with a reduction from 23.08% (9/39) in 2008 to 1.85% (1/54) in 2021, and the post-surgical recurrence rate of hepatic cystic echinococcosis was lower following initiation of the central government fiscal transfer payment program for echinococcosis control (5.87%, 67 / 1 141) than before the program (25.93%, 21/81) (χ² = 45.51, P < 0.05). In addition, the post-surgical recurrence rate of hepatic cystic echinococcosis was higher in non-designated hospitals (10.46%, 41/392) than in designated hospitals (5.60%, 43/768) (χ² = 9.12, P < 0.05), and there was a significant difference in the post-surgical recurrence rate among patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis in terms of surgical methods (P < 0.05), with the highest recurrence rate (11.54%) seen among patients undergoing percutaneous fine-needle aspiration of cyst fluids-based surgical procedures (P < 0.05). Conclusion Since the initiation of the central government fiscal transfer payment program for echinococcosis control in Gansu Province in 2006, an increase in the surgical cure rate and a reduction in the recurrence of hepatic cystic echinococcosis had been found among patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis, indicating a high overall therapeutic efficacy.

Background Cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) and miR-132-3p have been proved to be related to many neurodegenerative diseases. Our research group previously has demostrated that the neurotoxicity of aluminum is relevant to abnormal phosphorylation of tau protein, but whether aluminum affects the abnormal phosphorylation of tau protein through GREB and miR-132-3p has not been reported yet . Objective To investigate the effect of aluminum on CREB and miR-132-3p during abnormal phosphorylation of tau protein in rat hippocampus. Methods Twenty-eight two-month-old SD rats with comparable weigh, were randomly assigned to four groups: control group (saline) and low, middle, and high dose exposure groups [10, 20, and 40 μmol·kg⁻¹ Al(mal)₃] with each group containing 7 rats, and the exposure period was 3 months by intraperitoneal injection every other day. After rats’ exposure to aluminum, Morris water maze was employed to assess their capabilities of learning and memory. The miR-132-3p gene expression level was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The levels of CREB, phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB) (Ser133), RAS p21 protein activator 1 (RASA1) tau, and p-tau (Ser396) proteins were determined by Western blot. Results The results of Morris water maze showed that in the navigation experiment (from first day to the fifth day), the average escape latency of the rats exposed to three doses of aluminum was longer than that of the control rats (P<0.05). The middle dose group and the high dose group demonstrated shorter duration and lower frequency of platform traversal in the designated quadrant when compared to the control group and the low dose group (P<0.05). Moreover, the duration in the target quadrant of the rats exposed to high dose aluminum was shorter than that of the rats exposed to medium dose aluminum (P<0.05). The results of Morris water maze suggested that aluminum could damage the learning and memory ability of rats. The qRT-PCR findings indicated a decline in miR-132-3p gene expression in rat hippocampus correlating with higher Al(mal)₃ dose (P<0.05). The Western blot test showed that the protein expressions of CREB and p-CREB (Ser133) were reduced in both the middle dose group and the high dose group (P<0.05) when compared to the control group and the low dose group, and likewise, compared to the control group, the group receiving low dose exhibited lower level of p-CREB (Ser133) protein expression (P<0.05). It was found that the further increase of aluminum exposure dose would lead to the further decrease of CREB and p-CREB (Ser133) protein expression levels (F=36.429, P<0.001; F=78.672, P<0.001), aluminum exposure dose was negatively correlated with the expression levels of the two proteins (r=−0.848, P<0.001; r=−0.928, P<0.001). The expression levels of RASA1 protein and tau protein in the aluminum exposure groups surpassed those in the control group (P<0.05). The tau protein phosphorylation level was higher in the middle dose group than in the control group (P<0.05), while the high dose group showed elevated phosphorylation level relative to the control group, the low dose group, and the middle dose group (P<0.05). Conclusion Aluminum may promote abnormal phosphorylation of tau protein by affecting CREB and miR-132-3p, which eventually leads to the impairment of learning and memory ability.

Objective:To prepare 7-hydroxyethyl chrysin(7-HEC)loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA)nanoparticles and to detect the in vitro release.Methods:The 7-HEC/PLGA nanoparticles were prepared by emulsification solvent volatilization method.The particle size,polydispersity index(PDI),encapsulation rate,drug loading and zeta potential were measured.The prescription was optimized by single factor investigation combined with Box-Behnken response surface method.Mannitol was used as protectant to prepare lyophilized powder,and the optimal formulation was characterized and studied for the in vitro release.Results:The optimal formulation of 7-HEC/PLGA nanoparticles was as follows:drug loading ratio of 2.12∶20,oil-water volume ratio of 1∶14.7,and 2.72%soybean phospholipid as emulsifier.With the optimal formulation,the average particle size of 7-HEC/PLGA nanoparticles was(240.28±0.96)nm,the PDI was 0.25±0.69,the encapsulation rate was(75.74±0.80)%,the drug loading capacity was(6.98±0.83)%,and the potentiostatic potential was(-18.17±0.17)mV.The cumulative in vitro release reached more than 50%within 48 h.Conclusions:The optimized formulation is stable and easy to operate.The prepared 7-HEC/PLGA nanoparticles have uniform particle size,high encapsulation rate and significantly higher dissolution rate than 7-HEC.

Patients with severe trauma require an extremely timely treatment and transfusion plays an irreplaceable role in the emergency treatment of such patients. An increasing number of evidence-based medicinal evidences and clinical practices suggest that patients with severe traumatic bleeding benefit from early transfusion of low-titer group O whole blood or hemostatic resuscitation with red blood cells, plasma and platelet of a balanced ratio. However, the current domestic mode of blood supply cannot fully meet the requirements of timely and effective blood transfusion for emergency treatment of patients with severe trauma in clinical practice. In order to solve the key problems in blood supply and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma, Branch of Clinical Transfusion Medicine of Chinese Medical Association, Group for Trauma Emergency Care and Multiple Injuries of Trauma Branch of Chinese Medical Association, Young Scholar Group of Disaster Medicine Branch of Chinese Medical Association organized domestic experts of blood transfusion medicine and trauma treatment to jointly formulate Chinese expert consensus on blood support mode and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma patients ( version 2024). Based on the evidence-based medical evidence and Delphi method of expert consultation and voting, 10 recommendations were put forward from two aspects of blood support mode and transfusion strategies, aiming to provide a reference for transfusion resuscitation in the emergency treatment of severe trauma and further improve the success rate of treatment of patients with severe trauma.

Background Parabens, a widely used class of preservatives, are suspected to be potential obesogens as emerging endocrine disrupting chemicals with reproductive and developmental toxicity. Objective To analyze five urinary parabens (PBs) and estimate the associations of exposure to PBs with adiposity measures in 10-year-old school-age children. Methods A total of 471 school-age children aged 10 years from the Sheyang Mini Birth Cohort were enrolled in this study. A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect socio-demographic information, physical activity, and dietary intake. Weight, height, and waist circumference of children were measured, and age- and sex-adjusted body mass index (BMI-Z score) was calculated. Spot urine samples were collected during the follow-up visits. Urinary concentrations of five PBs including methyl-paraben (MeP), ethyl-paraben (EtP), propyl-paraben (PrP), butyl-paraben (BuP), and benzyl-paraben (BzP) were detected by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Generalized linear models (GLMs) and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were applied to estimate associations of individual/overall urinary PBs concentrations with BMI Z-score and waist circumference. Results The positive rates of selected five urinary PBs were in the range from 78.98% to 98.94%. The urinary PBs concentrations (geometric mean) were in the range of 0.31-5.43 μg·L⁻¹. The children's BMI Z-score and waist circumference (mean ± standard deviation) were (0.56±1.40) and (67.62±10.07) cm respectively. The GLMs results showed that the urinary BzP concentration was negatively associated with waist circumference (b=−0.08, 95%CI: −0.14, −0.02; P=0.01). In sex-stratified analysis, the urinary concentration of BzP was negatively associated with BMI-Z score (b=−0.59, 95%CI: −0.88, −0.30; P<0.001) and waist circumference (b=−0.80, 95%CI: −1.23, −0.37; P<0.001) in boys, but not in girls. The BKMR results also found significant negative correlations of urinary BzP concentrations with BMI-Z score and waist circumference, which were consistent with the GLM results. Conclusion The selected 10-year-old children are extensively exposed to PBs in the study area. Furthermore, childhood PBs exposure may have potential impacts on childhood adiposity measures with sex-specific effects.

Objective:To explore the clinical value of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer and assessment of cervical lymph node metastasis.Methods:The clinical data of 90 patients with thyroid cancer who received treatment in Zhoushan Hospital from October 2018 to April 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent a two-dimensional ultrasound examination and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy before surgery. Taking surgical and pathological diagnosis as the gold standard, the efficiency of two-dimensional ultrasound examination versus ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer and cervical lymph node metastasis and in the identification of benign and maligant lymph nodes were investigated. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the correlation between different ultrasound signs and the detection rate of lymph nodes. Results:Pathological results showed that among the 90 patients, 73 patients had thyroid cancer, and 17 patients had benign lesions. Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy results showed that 70 patients had thyroid cancer, and 20 patients had benign lesions, including 4 cases of missed diagnosis and 2 cases of misdiagnosis. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, accuracy rate, and Kappa value were 94.52%, 88.24%, 93.33%, and 0.79, respectively. These were highly consistent with the surgical and pathological diagnosis (Kappa value > 0.75). Two-dimensional ultrasound revealed 69 patients with thyroid cancer and 21 patients with benign lesions, including 7 cases of missed diagnosis and 4 cases of misdiagnosis. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, accuracy rate, and Kappa value were 90.41%, 76.47%, 87.78%, and 0.63, respectively. Pathological results revealed that cervical lymph node metastasis occurred in 12 patients, and it did not occur in 78 patients. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, accuracy rate, and Kappa value of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy were 83.33%, 97.50%, 95.65%, and 0.81 respectively. These were highly consistent with surgical and pathological results (Kappa value > 0.75). The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, accuracy rate, and Kappa value of two-dimensional ultrasound examination were 75.00%, 94.87%, 92.22%, and 0.67, respectively. A total of 156 lymph nodes were detected by ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy, including 103 benign lymph nodes and 53 malignant lymph nodes, with a diagnostic accuracy rate of 94.17% and 96.22%, respectively. A total of 173 lymph nodes were detected by two-dimensional ultrasound, including 111 benign lymph nodes and 62 malignant lymph nodes, with a diagnostic accuracy rate of 91.89% and 91.93%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the diagnostic accuracy of benign and malignant lymph nodes between the two examination methods ( χ2 = 0.42, 0.92, both P > 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that hyperechoic masses, cystic lesions, and internal calcification were significantly correlated with the detection rate of lymph nodes diagnosed by two-dimensional ultrasound and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy ( OR = 6.64, 5.32, 4.12, 7.07, 5.60, 5.06, all P < 0.05). Conclusion:Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy has high diagnostic efficiency for thyroid cancer and cervical lymph node metastasis. Ultrasound signs of hyperechoic mass, cystic lesions, and internal calcification are significantly correlated with the detection rate of lymph nodes.

ObjectiveTo study the effect of upper limb robot-assisted therapy on upper limb function and cerebral cortex activation in stroke patients using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). MethodsFrom January, 2022 to January, 2023, 32 stroke patients in Zhejiang Rehabilitation Medical Center were randomly divided into control group (n = 16) and experimental group (n = 16). Both groups received routine neurological medication and routine rehabilitation. The control group received routine upper limb exercises, the experimental group received upper limb robot-assisted therapy. They were assessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremities (FMA-UE) and fNIRS (oxyhemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin, and total hemoglobin) before and four weeks after treatment. NIRS_SPM was used for activation analysis, Homer2 was used for blood oxygen concentration analysis. ResultsAfter treatment, the score of FMA-UE increased in both groups (|t| > 5.910, P < 0.001), and was higher in the experimental group than in the control group (t = -2.348, P < 0.05). fNIRS activation results showed that, the activation increased in the experimental group after treatment in channel 17 (F = 9.354, P < 0.01), and it was more than that in the control group (F = 5.217, P < 0.05). fNIRS blood oxygen concentration results showed that, the blood oxygen concentration increased in the experimental group after treatment in channel 17 (F = 12.179, P < 0.01), and it was more than that in the control group (F = 4.883, P < 0.05). ConclusionThe upper limb robot-assisted therapy can improve the upper limb motor function and cerebral cortex activation of stroke patients.

Objective:To compare the differences in the prevalence of mild micro-hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) among patients with cirrhosis by using the psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES) and the Stroop smartphone application (Encephal App) test.Methods:This prospective, multi-center, real-world study was initiated by the National Clinical Medical Research Center for Infectious Diseases and the Portal Hypertension Alliance and registered with International ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05140837). 354 cases of cirrhosis were enrolled in 19 hospitals across the country. PHES (including digital connection tests A and B, digital symbol tests, trajectory drawing tests, and serial management tests) and the Stroop test were conducted in all of them. PHES was differentiated using standard diagnostic criteria established by the two studies in China and South Korea. The Stroop test was evaluated based on the criteria of the research and development team. The impact of different diagnostic standards or methods on the incidence of MHE in patients with cirrhosis was analyzed. Data between groups were differentiated using the t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and χ2 test. A kappa test was used to compare the consistency between groups. Results:After PHES, the prevalence of MHE among 354 cases of cirrhosis was 78.53% and 15.25%, respectively, based on Chinese research standards and Korean research normal value standards. However, the prevalence of MHE was 56.78% based on the Stroop test, and the differences in pairwise comparisons among the three groups were statistically significant (kappa = -0.064, P < 0.001). Stratified analysis revealed that the MHE prevalence in three groups of patients with Child-Pugh classes A, B, and C was 74.14%, 83.33%, and 88.24%, respectively, according to the normal value standards of Chinese researchers, while the MHE prevalence rates in three groups of patients with Child-Pugh classes A, B, and C were 8.29%, 23.53%, and 38.24%, respectively, according to the normal value standards of Korean researchers. Furthermore, the prevalence rates of MHE in the three groups of patients with Child-Pugh grades A, B, and C were 52.68%, 58.82%, and 73.53%, respectively, according to the Stroop test standard. However, among the results of each diagnostic standard, the prevalence of MHE showed an increasing trend with an increasing Child-Pugh grade. Further comparison demonstrated that the scores obtained by the number connection test A and the number symbol test were consistent according to the normal value standards of the two studies in China and South Korea ( Z = -0.982, -1.702; P = 0.326, 0.089), while the other three sub-tests had significant differences ( P < 0.001). Conclusion:The prevalence rate of MHE in the cirrhotic population is high, but the prevalence of MHE obtained by using different diagnostic criteria or methods varies greatly. Therefore, in line with the current changes in demographics and disease spectrum, it is necessary to enroll a larger sample size of a healthy population as a control. Moreover, the establishment of more reliable diagnostic scoring criteria will serve as a basis for obtaining accurate MHE incidence and formulating diagnosis and treatment strategies in cirrhotic populations.

Inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase subunit beta (IKKβ) is one of important kinases in inflammation to phosphorylate inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B (IκBα) and then activate nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB). Inhibition of IKKβ has been a therapeutic strategy for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Here we report that IKKβ is constitutively activated in healthy donors and healthy Ikkβ ^C46A (cysteine 46 mutated to alanine) knock-in mice although they possess intensive IKKβ-IκBα-NF-κB signaling activation. These indicate that IKKβ activation probably plays homeostatic role instead of causing inflammation. Compared to Ikkβ ^WT littermates, lipopolysaccharides (LPS) could induce high mortality rate in Ikkβ ^C46A mice which is correlated to breaking the homeostasis by intensively activating p-IκBα-NF-κB signaling and inhibiting phosphorylation of 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) expression. We then demonstrated that IKKβ kinase domain (KD) phosphorylates AMPKα1 via interacting with residues Thr183, Ser184, and Thr388, while IKKβ helix-loop-helix motifs is essential to phosphorylate IκBα according to the previous reports. Kinase assay further demonstrated that IKKβ simultaneously catalyzes phosphorylation of AMPK and IκBα to mediate homeostasis. Accordingly, activation of AMPK rather than inhibition of IKKβ could substantially rescue LPS-induced mortality in Ikkβ ^C46A mice by rebuilding the homeostasis. We conclude that IKKβ activates AMPK to restrict inflammation and IKKβ mediates homeostatic function in inflammation via competitively phosphorylating AMPK and IκBα.

Objective:To evaluate the reporting quality of diagnostic radiological imaging case reports published in Chinese science citation database (CSCD) imaging journals.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional survey. We searched CSCD to include imaging journals from 2021 to 2022, from which we retrieved diagnostic radiological imaging case reports published in 2020, and evaluated their reporting quality using case reports (CARE) reporting criteria.Results:A total of five imaging CSCD journals were searched, with 161 final diagnostic imaging case reports included. The median and interquartile range reporting rate of the included studies was 33.5% (7.5%, 93.3%), and patient perspective and informed consent were not reported in all studies. Items with reporting rates below 10% included 3a (abstract-introduction), 3c (abstract-diagnoses, therapeutic interventions, and outcomes), 8b (diagnostic challenges), and 8d (prognosis where applicable), with reporting rates of 2.5% (4/161), 0.6% (1/161), 0.6% (1/161), and 4.3% (7/161), respectively. Reporting rates for items between 10% and 50% included 3b (abstract-main symptoms and/or important clinical findings), 4 (introduction), 5c (medical, family, and psycho-social history), 7 (timeline), 10 (follow-up and outcomes), and 11a (a scientific discussion of the strengths and limitations), with reporting rates of 16.8% (27/161), 30.4% (49/161), 34.2% (55/161), 24.8% (40/161), 32.9% (53/161), and 31.7% (51/161), respectively; The reporting rates for item 1 (title), item 2 (keywords), item 5a (identified patient specific information), item 5b (primary concerns and symptoms of the patient), item 8a (diagnostic testing), and item 11c (the scientific rationale for any conclusions) were all over 90%. Moreover, the number of authors as well as the number of disciplines were not associated with the quality of diagnostic imaging case reports.Conclusions:The overall adherence to CARE items in radiographic diagnostic case reports published in the CSCD imaging journals is low. Editors of the imaging journals, radiologists and the researchers of the reporting standard should emphasize the guidelines for drafting case reports and improve the quality of reporting of case reports.