Radon, the only naturally occurring radioactive noble gas, is among the most common radioactive nuclides to which humans are exposed. Radon can induce various biological effects in the human body and is a risk factor for lung cancer. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are stable, tissue-specific, and abundantly expressed in body fluids. circRNAs can regulate gene expression and play an important role in the development of cancer. In this paper, we summarized the changes in the expression and function of circRNAs, highlighting the potential mechanisms of circRNAs in radon exposure-induced cancers. Our results provided theoretical support for the use of circRNAs as a biomarker of radon exposure-induced radiation damage, and offer a theoretical basis for the early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of radon exposure-induced diseases.

Tick-borne encephalitis is a central nervous system disease caused by infections with tick-borne pathogens, which is characterized by severe clinical symptoms, multiple sequelae, and a high fatality rate. Currently, there is no cure for tick-borne encephalitis. Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is the most common pathogen of tick-borne encephalitis. Therefore, rapid and accurate detection of TBEV contributes to reducing the mortality of tick-borne encephalitis, improving patients' prognosis, and reducing the risk of TBEV transmission. The currently available serological tests for detection of TBEV infections mainly include neutralization test, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence assay, and nucleic acid tests mainly include polymerase chain reaction (PCR), loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), reverse transcription polymerase spiral reaction, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated proteins (Cas)-based assays. This review summarizes the progress of researches on serological and nucleic acid tests for detection of TBEV infections, so as to provide insights into prevention and control of tick-borne encephalitis.

Objective: To investigate the safety and feasibility of transurethral blue laser vaporization of the prostate (BVP) under intravenous anesthesia without intubation. Methods: Clinical data of 30 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (prostate volume <40 mL) patients undergoing BVP under intravenous anesthesia without intubation in our hospital during Jul.and Nov.2024 were retrospectively analyzed.Preoperative and 1-month postoperative international prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality of life score (QoL), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), and postvoid residual volume (PVR) were compared.The operation time, cumulative blue laser activation time, recovery time, postoperative bladder irrigation time, postoperative catheter indwelling time, postoperative 2-hour visual analog scale (VAS) score and incidence of surgical and anesthetic complications were recorded. Results: All 30 patients successfully completed BVP under intravenous anesthesia without intubation.The operation time was (12.5±5.0) min, cumulative laser activation time (9.8±4.1) min, recovery time (6.8±1.2) min, postoperative bladder irrigation time (11.0±4.6) h, postoperative catheter indwelling time (2.7±1.1) days and postoperative 2-hour VAS score was (3.0±1.3).No cases required conversion to intubated general anesthesia, and no severe perioperative surgical or anesthetic complications occurred.Significant improvements in IPSS, QoL, Qmax, and PVR were observed 1 month postoperatively (P＜0.001). Conclusion: BVP under intravenous anesthesia without intubation in the treatment of prostate volume <40 mL BPH is clinically feasible, significantly improving lower urinary tract symptoms without significant surgical or anesthetic complications.

The p60 subunit of the chromatin assembly factor-1 complex, that is, chromatin assembly factor-1 subunit B (CHAF1B), is a histone H3/H4 chaperone crucial for the transcriptional regulation of cell differentiation and self-renewal. CHAF1B is overexpressed in several cancers and may represent a potential target for cancer therapy. However, its expression and clinical significance in lung squamous-cell carcinoma (LUSC) remain unclear. In this study, we performed weighted gene correlation network analysis to analyze the Gene Expression Omnibus GSE68793 LUSC dataset and identified CHAF1B as one of the most important driver gene candidates. Immunohistochemical analysis of 126 LUSC tumor samples and 80 adjacent normal lung tissues showed the marked upregulation of CHAF1B in tumor tissues and the negative association of its expression level with patient survival outcomes. Silencing of CHAF1B suppressed LUSC proliferation in vitro and LUSC tumor growth in vivo. Furthermore, bulk RNA sequencing of CHAF1B knockdown cells indicated SET domain containing 7 (SETD7) as a significant CHAF1B target gene. In addition, CHAF1B competitively binds to the SETD7 promoter region and represses its transcription. Altogether, these results imply that CHAF1B plays a vital role in LUSC tumorigenesis and may represent a potential molecular target for this deadly disease.
Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase/metabolism* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Disease Progression ; Cell Proliferation/genetics* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chromatin Assembly Factor-1/metabolism* ; Animals ; Mice ; Male ; Female

Objective : To explore the risk factors of biliary stricture after liver transplantation and to construct a nomogram prediction model. Methods : The clinical data of 208 liver transplant recipients in hospital were retrospectively analyzed, including 54 cases in the biliary stricture group and 154 cases in the non-biliary stricture group. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to screen out independent predictors, fit the prediction model and construct a visual nomogram to evaluate the prediction model. Survival curves were drawn and multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed. Results : Autoimmune liver diseases(OR=6.610,95%CI: 1.410-30.99), alanine aminotransferase(ALT)(OR=1.007,95%CI: 1.003-1.011), warm ischemia time(OR=1.972,95%CI: 1.399-2.780), cold ischemia time(OR=1.016,95%CI: 1.010-1.022), cytomegalovirus infection(OR=6.037,95%CI: 1.480-24.63) and hepatic vascular stenosis(OR=7.784,95%CI: 2.312-26.20) were independent predictors of biliary stricture after liver transplantation. The area under the curve(AUC) of the nomogram prediction model was 0.921, the cut-off value was 0.238, the sensitivity was 0.889, and the specificity was 0.838. The model showed good discrimination. The Brier score was 0.092, Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit testP=0.253, Calibration curve(B=1 000) was in good agreement, and the model showed good calibration. Decision curve analysis(DCA) showed that the application of the model could benefit liver transplant recipients. The postoperative follow-up time was 27-60 months. The cumulative survival rate of the non-biliary stricture group was better than that of the biliary stricture group(P=0.019), but multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that biliary stricture(HR=1.194, 95%CI: 0.624-2.285) was not an independent risk factor for survival after liver transplantation. Conclusion The nomogram model based on autoimmune liver diseases, ALT, warm ischemia time, cold ischemia time, cytomegalovirus infection and hepatic vascular stenosis performs well and can be used to predict the occurrence of biliary stricture after liver transplantation.

Background::Although overnight fasting is recommended prior to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), the benefits and safety of high-carbohydrate fluid diet (CFD) intake 2 h before ERCP remain unclear. This study aimed to analyze whether high-CFD intake 2 h before ERCP can be safe and accelerate patients’ recovery.Methods::This prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial involved 15 tertiary ERCP centers. A total of 1330 patients were randomized into CFD group ( n = 665) and fasting group ( n = 665). The CFD group received 400 mL of maltodextrin orally 2 h before ERCP, while the control group abstained from food/water overnight (>6 h) before ERCP. All ERCP procedures were performed using deep sedation with intravenous propofol. The investigators were blinded but not the patients. The primary outcomes included postoperative fatigue and abdominal pain score, and the secondary outcomes included complications and changes in metabolic indicators. The outcomes were analyzed according to a modified intention-to-treat principle. Results::The post-ERCP fatigue scores were significantly lower at 4 h (4.1 ± 2.6 vs. 4.8 ± 2.8, t = 4.23, P <0.001) and 20 h (2.4 ± 2.1 vs. 3.4 ± 2.4, t= 7.94, P <0.001) in the CFD group, with least-squares mean differences of 0.48 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.26–0.71, P <0.001) and 0.76 (95% CI: 0.57–0.95, P <0.001), respectively. The 4-h pain scores (2.1 ± 1.7 vs. 2.2 ± 1.7, t = 2.60, P = 0.009, with a least-squares mean difference of 0.21 [95% CI: 0.05–0.37]) and positive urine ketone levels (7.7% [39/509] vs. 15.4% [82/533], χ2 = 15.13, P <0.001) were lower in the CFD group. The CFD group had significantly less cholangitis (2.1% [13/634] vs. 4.0% [26/658], χ2 = 3.99, P = 0.046) but not pancreatitis (5.5% [35/634] vs. 6.5% [43/658], χ2 = 0.59, P = 0.444). Subgroup analysis revealed that CFD reduced the incidence of complications in patients with native papilla (odds ratio [OR]: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.39–0.95, P = 0.028) in the multivariable models. Conclusion::Ingesting 400 mL of CFD 2 h before ERCP is safe, with a reduction in post-ERCP fatigue, abdominal pain, and cholangitis during recovery.Trail Registration::ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT03075280.

Dystrophinopathies caused by variants of DMD gene are a group of muscular diseases including Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Becker muscular dystrophy, and DMD-associated dilated cardiomyopathy. With the advancement of genetic testing techniques and wider implementation of genetic screening, especially the expanded carrier screening, more and more individuals carrying DMD gene variants have been identified, whereas the genetic counseling capacity is relatively insufficient. Currently there is still a lack of professional norms for genetic counseling on dystrophinopathies. In this consensus, the main points to be covered in the pre- and post-test consultation have been discussed, with an aim to provide genetic counseling guidance for the disease diagnosis, treatment, and family reproduction.

Stress and illness connection is complex and involves multiple physiological systems. Panax ginsengs, reputed for their broad-spectrum "cure-all" effect, are widely prescribed to treat stress and related illnesses. However, the identity of ginseng's "cure-all" medicinal compounds that relieve stress remains unresolved. Here, we identify ginsentides as the principal bioactives that coordinate multiple systems to restore homeostasis in response to stress. Ginsentides are disulfide-rich, cell-penetrating and proteolytic-stable microproteins. Using affinity-enrichment mass spectrometry target identification together with in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo validations, we show that highly purified or synthetic ginsentides promote vasorelaxation by producing nitric oxide through endothelial cells via intracellular PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, alleviate α1-adrenergic receptor overactivity by reversing phenylephrine-induced constriction of aorta, decrease monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells via CD166/ESAM/CD40 and inhibit P2Y12 receptors to reduce platelet aggregation. Orally administered ginsentides were effective in animal models to reduce ADP-induced platelet aggregation, to prevent collagen and adrenaline-induced pulmonary thrombosis as well as anti-stress behavior of tail suspension and forced swimming tests in mice. Together, these results strongly suggest that ginsentides are the principal panacea compounds of ginsengs because of their ability to target multiple extra- and intra-cellular proteins to reverse stress-induced damages.

Objective To explore the effects of different doses of valproate on serum thyroxine(TSH),prolactin(PRL)and dopamine(DA)in patients with bipolar disorder(BPD)level of influence.Methods A total of 90 patients with BPD who received treatment in hospital from May 2020 to May 2022 were selected as the study objects.They were randomly divided into groups A,B and C,with 30 cases in all.Groups A,B and C were orally administered 10 mg/kg,15 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg sodium valproate every day,respectively.The clinical efficacy,scores of mental diseases before and after treatment,indexes related to blood drug concentration,serum levels before and after treatment,indexes related to liver function and incidence of adverse reactions were compared among the three groups.Results There was no significant difference in the total effective rate among the three groups after treatment(P>0.05).After treatment,the scores of the three groups were significantly improved compared with before treatment(P<0.05).There was significant difference in the time to reach the stable state serum concentration(P<0.05).There were no significant differences in TSH,PRL and DA levels among the three groups after treatment compared with before treatment(P>0.05).ALT and AST levels in the three groups after treatment were increased compared with those before treatment(P<0.05),and there were statistically significant differences in ALT and AST levels among the three groups after treatment(P<0.05).There was significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions among the three groups(P<0.05).Conclusion Sodium valproate can effectively treat BPD patients and relieve the degree of mania or depression,but has no significant effect on the level of TSH,PRL and DA.Among them,small dose of sodium valproate can guarantee the thera-peutic effect and have less impact on liver function,and less adverse reactions,high safety,worthy of clinical promotion.