In recent years， NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） inflammasome in tumors has become a research hotspot， especially in melanoma， colorectal cancer， lung cancer， and breast cancer， and more and more evidence has shown that inflammation plays a role in the development， progression， angiogenesis， and invasion of cancer. Hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） is the most common type of primary liver cancer， and there are still controversies over the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in the development and progression of HCC. Therefore， this article reviews the potential impact of NLRP3 inflammasome in the progression of HCC and its mechanism of action in anticancer therapy， and it is believed that NLRP3 inflammasome can be used as an effective therapeutic target for HCC patients.

ObjectiveUsing the Delphi method and analytic hierarchy process （AHP） to screen diagnostic items for qi stagnation syndrome and determine their weights， providing a reference for the development of a diagnostic scale of qi stagnation syndrome. MethodsLiterature related to qi stagnation syndrome were screened from databases including CNKI， Wanfang， VIP， SinoMed （from inception to October 31， 2020）. Through systematic review of literature and expert discussions， the information on the four examinations of traditional Chinese medicine were organized and an item pool was constructed. The Delphi method was used to screen the item indicators， while the AHP was employed to determine their weights. Statistical methods such as mean value， full score ratio， rank sum， unimportant percentage， and coefficient of variation were used for item screening， with the weights calculated by AHP serving as the item weights. ResultsA total of 235 articles and books were included for analysis， resulting in an item pool of 16 items. After three rounds of expert consultation， a total of 84 valid questionnaires were collected， with a total expert enthusiasm coefficient of 99% and authority coefficient of 0.86， 0.84， 0.83， respectively， and the coordination coefficients were 0.45， 0.49， and 0.29， respectively. Through the statistics analysis， 8 diagnosis items were screened out， including distension （stuffi-ness） or distending pain or scurrying pain， wiry pulse， depressed emotions， frequent sighing， deep and wiry pulse， irritability， pale red tongue， and thin white coating. The AHP showed that the order of weights of the first-level indicators from high to low was clinical symptoms， pulse manifestation， and tongue manifestation； the order of weights of the second-level indicators from high to low was distension （stuffiness） or distending pain or scurrying pain， wiry pulse， depressed emotions， frequent sighing， deep and wiry pulse， irritability， pale red tongue， and thin white coating. ConclusionBy applying the Delphi method and AHP to analyze and evaluate the diagnostic items for qi stagnation syndrome， key diagnostic items were screened and their weights determined， laying the foundation for the development of a diagnostic scale for qi stagnation syndrome.

Objective To investigate the role of glutamatergic neurons in the dorsomedial periaqueductal grey(dmPAG)in regulating excessive defensive behaviors in mice with post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD).Methods Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to stereotactic injections of different recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors(rAAV2/9-CaMKⅡ-mCherry,rAAV2/9-CaMKⅡ-hM3Dq-mCherry and rAAV2/9-CaMKⅡ-hM4Di-mCherry)into the bilateral dmPAG for chemogenetic activation or inhibition of the glutamatergic neurons,followed 2 weeks later by PTSD modeling by single prolonged stress.The looming test,response to whisker stimulation test and contextual fear conditioning(CFC)test were used to observe changes in defensive behaviors of the PTSD mice.The activity of glutamatergic neurons in the dmPAG were observed using immunofluorescence staining.Results Compared with the control mice,the mouse models of PTSD showed a shortened latency of flights with increased time spent in the nest,response scores of defensive behaviors and freezing time(all P<0.01).Immunofluorescence staining revealed significantly increased c-fos-positive glutamatergic neurons in the dmPAG of PTSD mice with defensive behaviors.Activation of the glutamatergic neurons in the dmPAG(in PTSD hM3Dq group)did not cause significant changes in the latency of flights or time in nest but obviously increased response scores of defensive behaviors and freezing time of the mice,whereas inhibiting the glutamatergic neurons in the dmPAG(in PTSD hM4Di group)caused the reverse changes and obviously alleviated defensive behaviors in the PTSD mice(P<0.05 or 0.01).Conclusion Inhibiting the activity of glutamatergic neurons in the dmPAG can alleviate defensive behaviors in mice with PTSD.

Objective To investigate the role of glutamatergic neurons in the dorsomedial periaqueductal grey(dmPAG)in regulating excessive defensive behaviors in mice with post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD).Methods Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to stereotactic injections of different recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors(rAAV2/9-CaMKⅡ-mCherry,rAAV2/9-CaMKⅡ-hM3Dq-mCherry and rAAV2/9-CaMKⅡ-hM4Di-mCherry)into the bilateral dmPAG for chemogenetic activation or inhibition of the glutamatergic neurons,followed 2 weeks later by PTSD modeling by single prolonged stress.The looming test,response to whisker stimulation test and contextual fear conditioning(CFC)test were used to observe changes in defensive behaviors of the PTSD mice.The activity of glutamatergic neurons in the dmPAG were observed using immunofluorescence staining.Results Compared with the control mice,the mouse models of PTSD showed a shortened latency of flights with increased time spent in the nest,response scores of defensive behaviors and freezing time(all P<0.01).Immunofluorescence staining revealed significantly increased c-fos-positive glutamatergic neurons in the dmPAG of PTSD mice with defensive behaviors.Activation of the glutamatergic neurons in the dmPAG(in PTSD hM3Dq group)did not cause significant changes in the latency of flights or time in nest but obviously increased response scores of defensive behaviors and freezing time of the mice,whereas inhibiting the glutamatergic neurons in the dmPAG(in PTSD hM4Di group)caused the reverse changes and obviously alleviated defensive behaviors in the PTSD mice(P<0.05 or 0.01).Conclusion Inhibiting the activity of glutamatergic neurons in the dmPAG can alleviate defensive behaviors in mice with PTSD.

The incidence of osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral fracture (OTLVF) in the elderly is gradually increasing. The kyphotic deformity caused by various factors has become an important characteristic of OTLVF and has received increasing attention. Its clinical manifestations include pain, delayed nerve damage, sagittal imbalance, etc. Currently, the definition and diagnosis of OTLVF with kyphotic deformity in the elderly are still unclear. Although there are many treatment options, they are controversial. Existing guidelines or consensuses pay little attention to this type of fracture with kyphotic deformity. To this end, the Lumbar Education Working Group of the Spine Branch of the Chinese Medicine Education Association and Editorial Committee of Chinese Journal of Trauma organized the experts in the relevant fields to jointly develop Clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral fractures with kyphotic deformity in the elderly ( version 2024), based on evidence-based medical advancements and the principles of scientificity, practicality, and advanced nature, which provided 18 recommendations to standardize the clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Objective:To evaluate the impact of orthopedic robotic assistance and conventional freehand methods on surgical strategies, the safety of pedicle screw placement, and clinical efficacy in patients with upper cervical spine diseases.Methods:From January 2017 to March 2023, a total of 63 cases with upper cervical spine disease, were divided into two groups based on the screw placement technique: the robot-assisted pedicle screw placement (RA) group (41 cases) and the conventional freehand pedicle screw placement (CF) group (22 cases), were retrospectively included. These patients in the RA and CF groups underwent two types of posterior cervical surgery, including occipitocervical fusion (9 cases and 8 cases) and fixation and fusion of atlantoaxial and distal vertebrae (32 cases and 14 cases). The outcome parameters, including the disease course, surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, fluoroscopy frequency, radiation dose, hospital stay, treatment costs, complications, the rate of the pedicle screw placement, accuracy of upper cervical pedicle screw placement, and the risk factors that possibly affected the accuracy were recorded and analyzed. Postoperative follow-up was conducted for at least 6 months, and the efficacy of patients was assessed using imaging parameters, ASIS classification, VAS, and JOA scores.Results:Both groups had no screw-related complications and no spinal cord or vertebral artery injuries. In the RA group, the pedicle screw placement rates for the patients with occipitocervical fusion, and fixation and fusion of atlantoaxial and distal vertebrae were 100% (48/48) and 89.6% (138/154), respectively, far exceeding the placement rate in the CF group 42.9% (18/42) and 78.3% (54/69) (χ 2=37.403, P<0.001; χ 2=5.128, P=0.024). The fluoroscopic exposure dose and operation time of the two types of surgical patients in the RA group were both higher than those in the CF group ( P<0.05). Compared with the CF group, the accuracy of C 1 screws in the RA group increased from 42% (11/26) to 80% (51/64), with statistical significance (χ 2=13.342, P=0.004); while the accuracy of C 2 screws improved from 77% (33/43) to 88% (63/72) with no statistical difference (χ 2=2.863, P=0.413). Non-parametric correlation analysis found a significant correlation between the accuracy of C 1 and C 2 pedicle screw placement and the order of guide wire insertion in the RA group ( r=0.580, P<0.001; r=0.369, P=0.001). Postoperatively, both groups showed significant differences in cervicomedullary angle (CMA), Chamberlain angle (CL), McGregor angle, Boogard angle, Bull angle, clivus-canal angle (CCA), occipitocervical (C 0-C 2) angle, posterior occipitocervical angle (POCA), C 2-C 7 angle, and anterior atlantodental interval (ADI) ( P<0.05). The ASIA classification improved to varying degrees for both groups postoperatively, but there were no statistically significant differences between preoperative, postoperative, and last follow-up evaluations. VAS and JOA scores significantly improved for both groups postoperatively and at the last follow-up ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Both orthopedic robotic-assisted and conventional freehand pedicle screw placement techniques achieved satisfactory therapeutic effects in the treatment of upper cervical spine diseases. The orthopedic robot can effectively ensure the accuracy of upper cervical pedicle screw placement, the increase placement rate of pedicle screws in the upper cervical spine, and reduce fluoroscopy exposure. However, it is necessary to avoid the vertebral displacement caused by the priority insertion of the guide needle, which may affect the accuracy of subsequent planning.

Objective:To develop and interpret the reporting checklist for Delphi technique in clinical research papers, so as to provide guidance for such research paper reporting.Methods:On the basis of drawing on previous domestic and foreign medical paper reporting standards, guidelines, domestic paper writing standards, and clinical research paper evaluation methods, the reporting checklist for Delphi technique in clinical research papers was developed from the perspective of professionalism and standardization in critical appraisal, combining the characteristics of Delphi technique (anonymity, iteration, controlled feedback, and data statistics), and through literature review and the establishment of research groups for discussion, as well as the organization of expert focus groups.Results:The checklist was structured according to the paradigm of the paper, including the front part (titles, abstracts, ethics, references and so on), the text part (introduction, methods, results, discussion and conclusion), and other (dissemination and so on) items (including 26 list items and 44 detailed contents) .Conclusions:The development of the reporting checklist can be used to guide authors and researchers to report the entire research process clearly and completely, improving the rigor and transparency of paper reporting. This checklist can also be used by editors and reviewers to select and integrate review comments one by one, so as to improve the quality of paper review.

Objective To evaluate the acceptability and effectiveness of different doses of midazolam oral solution in sedating infants during echocardiographic studies.Methods Two hundred and fourty patients aged 1 to 3 years who underwent echocardiographic study in sedation in our hospital were enrolled in this study.After recording the baseline data of all infants,they were randomly divided into four groups:0.3 mg·kg-1 midazolam oral solution group(M1 group),0.5 mg·kg-1 midazolam oral solution group(M2 group),0.7 mg·kg-1 midazolam oral solution group(M3 group)and 0.5 mL·kg-1 10%chloral hydrate administrated rectally group(C group),60 case per group,and the sedation was performed in the corresponding method of each group.The 5-point facial hedonic and Ramsay scales were used to evaluate acceptability and effectiveness in sedation.The onset time and duration time of sedation were recorded.Results Compared with the C group,the 5-point facial hedonic scale scores in M1,M2,and M3 groups increased during sedation(F=17.50,P<0.017).The onset time of sedation in the M1 and M2 groups was longer than that in the C group(P<0.017),and the duration time of sedation in the M1 and M2 groups was shorter than that in the C group(P<0.017).There was no significant difference in the onset time(P=0.85)and duration time(P=0.50)of sedation between the M3 and C groups.The onset time of sedation in the M1and M2groups was longer than that in the M3 group(P<0.017),and the duration time of sedation in the M1 and M2 groups were shorter than that in the M3 group(P<0.017).Conclusions The acceptability of infants with midazolam oral solution sedation under echocardiographic study was better than that of 10%chloral hydrate administrated rectally.There were fewer adverse reactions with the midazolam oral solution.The 0.7 mg·kg-1 midazolam oral solution had a rapid onset of sedation and definite effect.

Objective To explore the risk factors for acute thrombosis of arteriovenous fistulae(AF)in maintenance hemodialysis(MHD)patients and the construction of a Nomogram prediction model.Methods A total of 418 patients who underwent MHD treatment in the outpatient clinic of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from December 2020 to December 2022 were selected for the study.The patients were divided into the acute thrombosis group(n=32)and non-acute thrombosis group(n=386)according to whether acute thrombosis of AF was formed or not.The influencing factors affecting acute thrombosis of AF in MHD patients were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis.A Nomogram predic-tion model was established based on their independent risk factors,and Bootstrap was used to validate the efficacy of the Nomo-gram model.Results The complicated diabetes,complicated hypotension,puncture failure on dialysis,calcium-phosphorus product,hypersensitive C-reactive protein(hs-CRP),total cholesterol(TC),and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-C)levels in patients in the acute thrombosis group were significantly higher than those in the non-acute thrombosis group(P＜0.05);logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes,hypotension,puncture failure on dialysis,calcium-phosphorus product elevation,high hs-CRP and high LDL-C level were the independent risk factors affecting acute thrombosis of AF in patients undergoing MHD(P＜0.05);the Nomogram model was constructed based on the 6 independent risk factors,and the consistency index(C-index)of the model was 0.893(95％confidence interval:0.833-0.928);in addition,its calibration curve and the standard curve were well fitted,the area under the curve was 0.918.Conclusion Diabetes,hypotension,puncture failure during dialysis,calcium-phosphorus product elevation,and high levels of hs-CRP and LDL-C are the risk factors for acute thrombosis of AF in patients undergoing MHD,and the Nomogram model constructed based on the independent risk factors has excellent predictive ability in predicting the occurrence of acute thrombosis of AF in patients undergoing MHD,which can help in the early screening of patients with high risk of clinical acute thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the regulatory effects of GABAergic neurons in the zona incerta (ZI) on sevoflurane and propofol anesthesia. METHODS: Forty-eight male C57BL/6J mice divided into 8 groups (n=6) were used in this study. In the study of sevoflurane anesthesia, chemogenetic experiment was performed in 2 groups of mice with injection of either adeno-associated virus carrying hM3Dq (hM3Dq group) or a virus carrying only mCherry (mCherry group). The optogenetic experiment was performed in another two groups of mice injected with an adeno-associated virus carrying ChR2 (ChR2 group) or GFP only (GFP group). The same experiments were also performed in mice for studying propofol anesthesia. Chemogenetics or optogenetics were used to induce the activation of GABAergic neurons in the ZI, and their regulatory effects on anesthesia induction and arousal with sevoflurane and propofol were observed; EEG monitoring was used to observe the changes in sevoflurane anesthesia maintenance after activation of the GABAergic neurons. RESULTS: In sevoflurane anesthesia, the induction time of anesthesia was significantly shorter in hM3Dq group than in mCherry group (P < 0.05), and also shorter in ChR2 group than in GFP group (P < 0.01), but no significant difference was found in the awakening time between the two groups in either chemogenetic or optogenetic tests. Similar results were observed in chemogenetic and optogenetic experiments with propofol (P < 0.05 or 0.01). Photogenetic activation of the GABAergic neurons in the ZI did not cause significant changes in EEG spectrum during sevoflurane anesthesia maintenance. CONCLUSION Activation of the GABAergic neurons in the ZI promotes anesthesia induction of sevoflurane and propofol but does not affect anesthesia maintenance or awakening.
Male ; Animals ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Propofol/pharmacology* ; Sevoflurane/pharmacology* ; Zona Incerta ; Anesthesia, General ; GABAergic Neurons