Objective:To investigate the predictive value of preoperative aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase ratio (AAR) for early recurrence after radical resection of single small hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 137 patients who underwent radical resection of liver cancer at the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from January 2017 to July 2021. These patients were categorized into a recurrence group ( n = 72) and a non-recurrence group ( n = 65) based on early postoperative recurrence. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted in the training cohort to identify independent risk factors for early recurrence of small hepatocellular carcinomas. Subsequently, the AARs were grouped, and patients with similar propensity scores estimated by the logistic model were matched 1:1 using the Propensity Score Match method with a caliper value of 0.02 to eliminate confounders. Logistic regression analysis was then repeated to assess the predictive value of the matched AAR for postoperative recurrence in patients with single small hepatocellular carcinoma. Results:Univariate analysis revealed that age ( χ2 = 4.22, P = 0.040), the ratio of fibrinogen to albumin ( χ2 = 8.26, P = 0.004), and the AAR ( χ2 = 5.83, P = 0.016) were significantly associated with early recurrence of small liver cancer after radical resection. Multivariate logistic regression analysis further identified age ( P = 0.042), the ratio of fibrinogen to albumin ( P = 0.024), and the AAR ( P = 0.018) as independent risk factors for early recurrence of single small hepatocellular carcinoma following radical surgery. After excluding confounding factors using the Propensity Score Match method, 25 patient pairs were successfully matched. Post-matching logistic regression analysis revealed that an AAR > 0.74 ( P = 0.005) and age > 60 years ( P = 0.024) were independent risk factors for early recurrence in patients with single small hepatocellular carcinoma following radical resection. Conclusion:Preoperative AAR is an independent risk factor for early recurrence in patients with single small hepatocellular carcinoma following surgery, demonstrating excellent predictive value.

Objective:To investigate the predictive values of clinical test indexes and imaging indexes for early postoperative recurrence of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related small hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods:Clinical case data of 163 patients with HBV-related small hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing radical hepatectomy at the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery in the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from January 2017 to August 2021 were retrospectively collected. The patients were categorized into 87 cases in an early recurrence group and 76 cases in a non-early recurrence group according to whether or not they had recurrence within 2 years after surgery. After excluding the covariance of various indicators, independent risk factors for postoperative tumor recurrence were established using univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis. A clinical prediction model was constructed and presented visually in a nomogram diagram, and the predictive ability of the nomogram diagram model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves as well as calibration curves. Cox regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between independent risk factors and time to recurrence.Results:Univariate analysis showed that in the early recurrence group, the number and proportion of patients with preoperative gamma-glutamyl transferase to lymphocyte count ratio (GLR) > 35.79 [41.38% (36/87)], tumor multiplicity [25.29% (22/87)], the presence of peritumoral edema [45.98% (40/87)], intratumoral small arterial clusters [50.58% (44/87)], and age ≥ 60 years [74.71% (65/87)] were significantly higher than those in the non-early recurrence group ( χ2 = 5.73, 3.78, 3.97, 3.73, 3.75, all P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that GLR > 35.79 and the presence of peritumoral edema were independent risk factors for early recurrence after radical hepatectomy of HBV-related small hepatocellular carcinomas [odds ratio ( OR) = 2.22, 1.99, 95% confidence interval ( CI): 1.10-4.59, 1.00-3.99, P < 0.05]. The nomogram diagram prediction model was established, with a C index of 0.70 (95% CI: 0.60-0.79) in the receiver operating characteristic curve and a Brier Score of 0.22 in the calibration curve, which demonstrated good model differentiation and accuracy. Cox regression analysis showed that a GLR > 35.79 and the presence of peritumoral edema were risk factors affecting the time to recurrence after resection of HBV-associated small hepatocellular carcinomas. Conclusion:GLR > 35.79 and the presence of peritumoral edema are independent risk factors for early recurrence after radical hepatectomy of HBV-related small hepatocellular carcinoma. The constructed clinical prediction model has good predictive efficacy.

Objectives:to analyze the efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)for complex left main(LM)lesions combined with chronic total occlusion(CTO)of the right coronary artery. Methods:Ninety patients with complex left main lesions hospitalized in Hunan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2019 to December 2022 were consecutively included.According to the coronary angiographic vascular lesions,patients were divided into complex left main lesions combined with right coronary artery CTO(observation group,n=30)and complex left main lesions without right coronary artery CTO(control group,n=60).The baseline clinical data,intraoperative conditions,angiographic results,and postoperative follow-up results of the patients were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Results:Fifty-eight(64.4%)out of the 90 patients were male.There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of baseline clinical data(all P>0.05),left main lesion condition(P=1.000),left main calcification condition(P=0.249),and preoperative TIMI flow grading(P=1.000).In the comparison between observation group and the control group,intraoperative occurrence of no-reflow(3.3%vs.5.0%,P=1.000),hypotension(10.0%vs.8.3%,P=1.000),pericardial effusion(3.3%vs.0%,P=0.333),the percentage of intravascular ultrasound(IVUS)use(86.7%vs.90.0%,P=0.635),and the use of circulatory assist device(P=0.699),and the proportion of intraoperative coronary spinning(26.7%vs.21.7%,P=0.597)were all similar between the two groups.The median follow-up time was 14.50(11.83,15.85)months,and the differences in the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)such as recurrent angina,acute myocardial infarction,rebleeding,readmission for heart failure,and cardiac death(31.0%vs.32.1%,P=1.000)were not statistically significant between the observation group and the control group. Conclusions:PCI revascularization may be a viable approach for elderly patients with complex LM lesions with multiple underlying disease,and combined right coronary artery CTO,intolerance and reluctance to CABG.

Objective:To screen preoperative microvascular invasion (MVI)-related indicators in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma by machine learning, and to construct a predictive model for predicting MVI and evaluate it.Methods:The clinical data of hepatocellular carcinoma patients who underwent radical resection from January 2018 to March 2023 in General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 437 patients were enrolled, including 325 males and 112 females, aged (56.3±13.6) years. The 437 patients were divided into a training set ( n=305) and a test set ( n=132) by computer-generated random numbers on a 7∶3 basis; the training set was used to construct the predictive model as well as to internally validate it by the five-fold cross-validation method, and the test set was used to externally validate the model. Two machine learning Boruta algorithm and LASSO regression, were used to screen MVI characteristic variables and construct multifactorial logistic regression prediction models. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curves, and decision curve were evaluated for predictive modeling, applying Shapley's additive explanatory analysis (SHAP) of the significance of key variables. Results:The intersection (5 variables) of 8 characteristic variables selected by Boruta algorithm and 8 variables selected by LASSO regression were selected: aspartate aminotransferase/lymphocyte ratio (ALR), tumor margin, intratumbral necrosis, tumor number and tumor maximum diameter, and the logistic regression model was constructed. The area under ROC curve for predicting the MVI were 0.77 (95% CI: 0.70-0.82) (training set), 0.76 (95% CI: 0.63-0.87) (validation set), and 0.84 (95% CI: 0.78-0.91) (test set). The prediction results of calibration curve logistic regression model were close to those of reagent, and the analysis of decision curve indicates that the model had good clinical application value. According to the mean absolute SHAP value, the order of importance was tumor margin, tumor maximum diameter, tumor number, ALR, and intratumoral necrosis. Conclusion:Tumor margin, tumor maximum diameter, tumor number, ALR and intratumoral necrosis were independent influencing factors for hepatocellular carcinoma associated with MVI, and the logistic regression model based on these factors was effective in predicting MVI.

Objective:To explore the clinical effects of intramuscular injection of oryzanol for 5 and 10 days in the treatment of menopausal syndrome.Methods:This study adopts a case-control study method.Twenty patients with menopausal syndrome admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital from July 2021 to March 2022 were selected and randomly divided into a control group and an observation group using a random number table method, with 10 patients in each group. The control group was given intramuscular injection of oryzanol once a day for 5 consecutive days on the basis of routine health education; On the basis of routine health education, the observation group was given intramuscular injection of oryzanol once a day for 10 consecutive days. Two groups of patients completed a total of 6 visits before treatment and on days 5, 10, 30, 60, and 90 of treatment. Baseline survey was conducted to record the basic information of patients, including demography data, menstruation, past history, surgical history, drug allergy and the main symptoms of climacteric syndrome, and the baseline hormone level of patients was detected. Compare the menopausal symptoms by modified K-score, Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) score, menopausal specific quality of life (MENQOL) score, post treatment injection site pain by visual analog score (VAS), and observe adverse reactions during treatment between the two groups of patients at each visit time point.The measurement data conforming to the normal distribution is expressed in xˉ± s. The comparison between the two groups is performed by t test, and the change trend of the two groups at each time point is compared by repeated measurement analysis of variance; The measurement data that do not conform to the normal distribution are represented by M( Q1, Q3), and the Kruskal Wallis test is used for comparison between groups; Counting data is represented by examples(%), Fisher's exact probability method is used for inter group comparison, and Wilcoxon rank sum test is used for rank data comparison. Results:The body mass of the control group was higher than that of the observation group [(62.50±11.88) kg vs (52.90±4.28) kg, t=2.40, P=0.027]. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in other demography data and previous history, sex hormone levels, menopausal symptoms, and menstrual conditions (all P>0.05). Compared with the baseline, the modified K-score, PSQI score, and MENQOL vascular dilation and contraction, psychological state, physiological state, and sexual life scores of the two groups of patients on the 5th, 10th, 30th, 60th, and 90th day of treatment were significantly reduced, and showed a gradually decreasing trend with the extension of observation time (the values in Group F were 36.37, 12.40, 18.69, 24.73, 40.77, and 18.39, respectively, P<0.001), but there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (all P>0.05). After treatment, the VAS score of the control group was 1 point in 2 cases, 2 points in 4 cases, and 3 points in 4 cases; The VAS score of the observation group was 1 in 4 cases, 2 in 3 cases, and 3, 5, and 6 in 1 case each. There was no statistically significant difference in VAS scores between the two groups ( Z=0.43, P=0.664), and no adverse events or serious adverse events were observed during the treatment period. Conclusions:Intramuscular injection of oryzanol injection for 5 and 10 days can improve menopausal symptoms, improve sleep quality and overall quality of life in patients with menopausal syndrome, and the overall effect is similar.

Traumatic brain injury ( TBI ) has caused serious economic and social burdens, but due to its heterogeneity, there is no effective treatment. In TBI with different severity, diffuse axonal injury (DAI) incidenceis high. The investigation on DAI will contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of TBI. In this study, the classification of TBI and the research status of DAI were summarized. The method to judge the severity of TBI and DAI, and animal experimental models and related injury criteria and thresholds were reviewed. The result show that DAI is mainly generated by rotational acceleration and it is related to angular acceleration, angular velocity and duration. Several TBI animal models can induce the pathology of DAI, and inertial rotation models which can produce only rotational acceleration have been developed. However, these models are instantaneous rotation models, and the rotation duration is uncontrollable, thus a longer duration is impossible, and DAI severity under long rotational motion cannot be studied. The study proposes that a new rotation animal model which can control rotation duration should be developed. The development of the animal model and investigation on pathomechanism of the model will contribute to the prevention and treatment of DAI.

The bionic optic nerve can mimic human visual physiology and is a future treatment for visual disorders. Photosynaptic devices could respond to light stimuli and mimic normal optic nerve function. By modifying (Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythio-phene):poly (styrenesulfonate)) active layers with all-inorganic perovskite quantum dots, with an aqueous solution as the dielectric layer in this paper, we developed a photosynaptic device based on an organic electrochemical transistor (OECT). The optical switching response time of OECT was 3.7 s. To improve the optical response of the device, a 365 nm, 300 mW·cm ^-2 UV light source was used. Basic synaptic behaviors such as postsynaptic currents (0.225 mA) at a light pulse duration of 4 s and double pulse facilitation at a light pulse duration of 1 s and pulse interval of 1 s were simulated. By changing the way light stimulates, for example, by adjusting the intensity of the light pulses from 180 to 540 mW·cm ^-2, the duration from 1 to 20 s, and the number of light pulses from 1 to 20, the postsynaptic currents were increased by 0.350 mA, 0.420 mA, and 0.466 mA, respectively. As such, we realized the effective shift from short-term synaptic plasticity (100 s recovery of initial value) to long-term synaptic plasticity (84.3% of 250 s decay maximum). This optical synapse has a high potential for simulating the human optic nerve.
Humans ; Quantum Dots ; Bionics ; Oxides ; Optic Nerve

Metformin has been used for the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus for decades due to its safety, low cost, and outstanding hypoglycemic effect clinically. The mechanisms underlying these benefits are complex and still not fully understood. Inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory-chain complex I is the most described downstream mechanism of metformin, leading to reduced ATP production and activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Meanwhile, many novel targets of metformin have been gradually discovered. In recent years, multiple pre-clinical and clinical studies are committed to extend the indications of metformin in addition to diabetes. Herein, we summarized the benefits of metformin in four types of diseases, including metabolic associated diseases, cancer, aging and age-related diseases, neurological disorders. We comprehensively discussed the pharmacokinetic properties and the mechanisms of action, treatment strategies, the clinical application, the potential risk of metformin in various diseases. This review provides a brief summary of the benefits and concerns of metformin, aiming to interest scientists to consider and explore the common and specific mechanisms and guiding for the further research. Although there have been countless studies of metformin, longitudinal research in each field is still much warranted.
Humans ; Metformin/pharmacokinetics* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/metabolism* ; Hypoglycemic Agents/pharmacology* ; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism* ; Aging

Objective To investigate the influence of internal and external sphincter loss synergy on stress distributions and urine flow rates of lower urinary tract organs and tissues. Methods Based on collodion slice, the geometric model of the lower urinary tract was reconstructed, and finite element model of the lower urinary tract with muscle active force was established. Through fluid structure coupling simulation, the changes of tissue stress and urine flow rate were simulated under four conditions: normal contraction of internal and external sphincter, total loss of muscle active force and single loss of muscle active force for internal and external sphincters at the end of urination. Results The urethral stress changes in normal contraction of internal and external sphincter muscles were the same as the clinically measured urethral pressure changes. Compared with normal contraction, when the internal sphincter lost its muscle active force alone, stress of the internal sphincter and the urethra of the prostate was reduced by 33.6% and 13.8%, and flow rate of urine in this position was also reduced. When the external sphincter lost its muscle active force alone, the urethral stress of the external sphincter and external urethra was reduced by 59.5% and 24.03%, respectively. When the internal and external sphincter lost muscle active force, stress of the internal sphincter, the prostate, the external sphincter and the external urethra were reduced by 38.77%, 18.6%, 63.58%, 29.74%, respectively, and flow velocity in the corresponding position was also reduced. Conclusions Internal and external sphincter loss synergy resulted in the difference of tissue stress and urine flow rate. The results can provide the theoretical basis for surgical treatment of urinary incontinence caused by sphincter.

Objective:To establish a convenient preoperative nomogram prediction model for early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)with microvascular invasion (MVI), and to evaluate the model through internal and external validations for use informulating reasonable and individualized treatment strategies for patients with early-staged HCC.Methods:The clinical data of 294 patients who underwent hepatectomy at the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from January 2017 to December 2020 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Based on the different admission times, they were divided into the training group ( n=231) and the validation group ( n=63). Based on the results from previous published literatures and our relevant clinical experience, risk factors including γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), fibrinogen albumin ratio (FAR), lymphocyte monocyte count ratio (LMR) and ALT-platelet ratio (APRI) were subjected to multi-factor logistic regression analysis to determine independent risk factors of HCC with MVI, and a nomogram prediction model was then constructed. The validation group was applied to the model for validation. Results:Of 294 patients who were enrolled in this study, there were 231 patients in the training cohort, with an average age of (55.1±10.9) years. In the training group, 95 patients were MVI positive and 136 patients were MVI negative. In the validation group, 38 patients were MVI positive and 25 patients were MVI negative. Logistic regression analysis showed that FAR>0.06, GGT>50 U/L, APRI>0.16, tumor diameter>5 cm, LMR>3.57 and PLR>98.75 were independent risk factors ( P<0.05), and a nomogram prediction model was established. The correction curve of the nomogram showed that the actual prediction result was close to the ideal result of the prediction model. The internal validated results showed the C-indexes to be between 0.71 and 0.90, and the prediction model had good discrimination. DCA curve was used to evaluate the clinical net benefit of the predictive model. When the net benefit rate was above zero, the threshold of the prediction model was 4%-77%, indicating that the prediction model had good clinical practicability. Conclusion:The established nomogram prediction model based on preoperative clinical indexes of GGT, APRI, LMR, PLR, FAR and diameter of tumor could be used to predict early diagnosis of HCC with MVI. The nomogram has good clinical application values.