ObjectiveTo explore the clinical features and causative genes of short stature children with unknown etiology， providing evidence for precise clinical diagnosis and treatment. MethodsThe study recruited children with suspected but undiagnosed short stature from the pediatric endocrinology department in our hospital between January 2018 and August 2022. A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical manifestations， laboratory test and whole exome sequencing （WES） results. Causative genes were classified and analyzed according to different pathogenic mechanisms. ResultsA total of 48 children （30 boys and 18 girls） were enrolled， aged 7.73 ± 3.97 years， with a height standard deviation score （ HtSDS） of -3.63 ± 1.67. Of the patients， 33 （68.8%） suffered from facial anomalies， 31 （64.6%） from skeletal abnormalities， 26 ［54.2%， 61.5% of whom born small for gestational age （SGA）］ from perinatal abnormalities， 24 ［50.0%， 87.5% of whom with growth hormone （GH） peak concentration below normal］ from endocrine disorders and 21（43.8%） had a family history of short stature. Laboratory tests showed that GH peak concentration following stimulation test was （9.72 ± 7.25） ng/mL， IGF-1 standard deviation score was -0.82 ± 1.42， the difference between bone age and chronological age was -0.93 ± 1.39 years. Of the 25 cases with mutant genes found by WES， 14 （56.0%） had pathogenic mutation， 6 （24.0%） likely pathogenic mutation， and 5 （20.0%） mutation of uncertain significance. Pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants were identified in 14 genes， including 10 affecting intracellular signaling pathways （PTPN11， RAF1， RIT1， ARID1B， ANKRD11， CSNK2A1， SRCAP， CUL7， SMAD4 and FAM111A） and 4 affecting extracellular matrix （ECM） components or functions （ACAN， FBN1， COL10A1 and COMP）. ConclusionsA rare monogenic disease should be considered as the possible etiology for children with severe short stature accompanied by facial anomalies， disproportionate body types， skeletal abnormalities， SGA， GH peak concentration below normal and a family history of short stature. WES played an important role in identifying the monogenic causes of short stature. This study indicated that affecting growth plate cartilage formation through intracellular signaling pathways and ECM components or functions was the main mechanism of causative genes leading to severe short stature in children. Further research may help discover and study new pathogenic variants and gene functions.

Threatened abortion is a common disease of obstetrics and gynecology and one of the diseases responding specifically to traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. The China Association of Chinese Medicine organized experts in TCM obstetrics and gynecology， Western medicine obstetrics and gynecology， and pharmacology to deeply discuss the advantages of TCM and integrated Chinese and Western medicine treatment as well as the medication plans for threatened abortion. After discussion， the experts concluded that chromosome， endocrine， and immune abnormalities were the key factors for the occurrence of threatened abortion， and the Qi and blood disorders in thoroughfare and conception vessels were the core pathogenesis. In the treatment of threatened abortion， TCM has advantages in preventing miscarriages， alleviating clinical symptoms and TCM syndromes， relieving anxiety， regulating reproductive endocrine and immune abnormalities， personalized and diversified treatment， enhancing efficiency and reducing toxicity， and preventing the disease before occurrence. The difficulty in diagnosis and treatment of threatened abortion with traditional Chinese and Western medicine lies in identifying the predictors of abortion caused by maternal factors and the treatment of thrombophilia. Recurrent abortion is the breakthrough point of treatment with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine. It is urgent to carry out high-quality evidence-based medicine research in the future to improve the modern diagnosis and treatment of threatened abortion with TCM.

Objective To analyze the consistency between computer tomography angiography(CTA)and digital subtraction angiography(DSA)in evaluating the global limb anatomic staging system(GLASS)stage of patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia(CLTI).Methods The clinical data of patients with CLTI,who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University of China to receive treatment between January 2017 and December 2020,were retrospectively analyzed.Taking the DSA assessment as the gold standard,the consistency of CTA and DSA in evaluating the GLASS stage of patients with CLTI was analyzed.Results In the assessment of GLASS stage of CLTI,CTA showed strong agreement with DSA.The weighted Kappa coefficient of CTA and DSA for the staging of femoropopliteal segment was 0.798(95％CI=0.722-0.873,P＜0.01),and the weighted Kappa coefficient of CTA and DSA for the staging of infrapopliteal artery segment was 0.785(95％ CI=0.725-0.845,P＜0.0l).For the overall staging of GLASS,the weighted Kappa coefficient of CTA and DSA was 0.832(95％ CI=0.752-0.91 1,P＜0.01).All the above results indicated that a very strong consistency existed between CTA and DSA in evaluating the GLASS stage of patients with CLTI.Conclusion CTA examination of lower limb can accurately evaluate GLASS score and stage of CLTI patient's target lesions,which is helpful in diagnosing lower extremity arteriosclerosis occlusion disease as well as in assessing the technical difficulty degree of its revascularization operation.(J Intervent Radiol,2024,33:300-303)

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of recombinant human anti-severe acute respiratory syn-drome coronavirus 2(anti-SARS-CoV-2)monoclonal antibody injection(F61 injection)in the treatment of patients with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)combined with renal damage.Methods Patients with COVID-19 and renal damage who visited the PLA General Hospital from January to February 2023 were selected.Subjects were randomly divided into two groups.Control group was treated with conventional anti-COVID-19 therapy,while trial group was treated with conventional anti-COVID-19 therapy combined with F61 injection.A 15-day follow-up was conducted after drug administration.Clinical symptoms,laboratory tests,electrocardiogram,and chest CT of pa-tients were performed to analyze the efficacy and safety of F61 injection.Results Twelve subjects(7 in trial group and 5 in control group)were included in study.Neither group had any clinical progression or death cases.The ave-rage time for negative conversion of nucleic acid of SARS-CoV-2 in control group and trial group were 3.2 days and 1.57 days(P=0.046),respectively.The scores of COVID-19 related target symptom in the trial group on the 3rd and 5th day after medication were both lower than those of the control group(both P＜0.05).According to the clinical staging and World Health Organization 10-point graded disease progression scale,both groups of subjects improved but didn't show statistical differences(P＞0.05).For safety,trial group didn't present any infusion-re-lated adverse event.Subjects in both groups demonstrated varying degrees of elevated blood glucose,elevated urine glucose,elevated urobilinogen,positive urine casts,and cardiac arrhythmia,but the differences were not statistica-lly significant(all P＞0.05).Conclusion F61 injection has initially demonstrated safety and clinical benefit in trea-ting patients with COVID-19 combined with renal damage.As the domestically produced drug,it has good clinical accessibility and may provide more options for clinical practice.

Objective To observe the value of laparoscopic ultrasound(LUS)combined with CT three-dimensional reconstruction for guiding laparoscopic hepatectomy(LH).Methods Data of 78 hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)patients who underwent LH were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into observation group(n=46)or control group(n=32)based on whether underwent preoperative CT three-dimensional reconstruction and LUS.Clinical data,perioperative data and prognosis were compared between groups.Results No significant difference of clinical data was found(all P＞0.05),whereas significant differences of tumor body mainly location,resection method,tumor resection margin,surgical operation time,intraoperative blood loss,postoperative hospital stay,postoperative complication grading and incidence were found between groups(all P＜0.05).During follow-up period,15 patients died in observation group and 14 died in control group.Significant difference of disease-free survival rate was detected between groups(x2=4.210,P=0.040).Conclusion LUS combined with CT three-dimensional reconstruction for guiding LH could reduce intraoperative injury and complication incidence,improving disease-free survival rate of HCC patients.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Shenbao tablet in the treatment of kidney-yang deficiency syndrome.Methods Patients with kidney-yang deficiency syndrome,will were treated with Shenbao Tablets orally,3 tablets once,3 times a day,and the course of treatment was 56 days or 84 days,depending on the condition.By comparing the clinical efficacy,the changes of symptom scores and syndrome scores before and after treatment,and symptoms remission time,the effectiveness of Shenbao tablet in the treatment of kidney-yang deficiency syndrome was evaluated.The safety was evaluated by adverse reactions.Results There were 339 patients in the 56-day group and 345 patients in the 84-day group.After treatment,the clinical effective rates of the 56-day group and the 84-day group were 91.74％and 97.97％,respectively,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).In the 56-day group and the 84-day group,the excellent rate were 58.41％and 59.13％,clinical control rates were 18.58％and 27.54％,and the progress rates were 14.75％and 11.30％,respectively.After treatment,the symptom scores of kidney-yang deficiency syndrome were significantly reduced respectively within both groups(P＜0.05).In the 56-day group and the 84-day group,the nocturia scores of were 0.89±1.27 and 0.60±1.03,the soreness of waist scores were 1.31±1.19 and 0.72±1.00,the morning diarrhea scores were 0.28±0.74 and 0.19±0.61,the anaphrodisia scores were 0.65±1.13 and 0.53±0.98,the low spirits scores were 0.29±0.81 and 0.08±0.40,the cold limbs score were 1.09±1.20 and 0.55±0.93,the edema scores were 0.14±0.55 and 0.05±0.30,the bright pale complexion scores were 0.20±0.59 and 0.24±0.65,respectively.There were significant differences in the reduction of each symptom score between the two groups(P＜0.05);the 56-day group had a more significant decrease in the score of cold limbs than the 84-day group.The remaining symptom scores decreased more significantly in the 84-day group.After treatment,the syndrome scores of kidney-yang deficiency syndrome in the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment(all P＜0.05);the change rates of score in the 56-day group and the 84-day group were(-72.33±24.57)％and(-78.77±19.53)％,respectively,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The self-reported time to first symptom relief was(14.85±7.18)days in the 56-day group and(14.10±7.78)days in the 84-day group,with no significant difference(P＞0.05).The incidence of adverse reactions of Shenbao tablets was 5.37％,mainly reflected in hepatobiliary system diseases,gastrointestinal system diseases and various examination abnormalities.Conclusions After taking Shenbao tablets for 2 to 3 months,the clinical symptoms of kidney-yang deficiency were better improved,and the improvement was more significant after 3 months of treatment.The security of Shenbao Tablets was good.

Objective To compare the anesthetic effect and safety of remimazolam and propofol on patients underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer.Methods Clinical data of patients with lung cancer underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery were retrospectively collected.Remimazolam group was anesthetized by remimazolam,and propofol group was anesthetized by propofol.The changes in mean arterial pressure(MAP)and heart rate(HR)were compared between the two groups of patients before anesthesia induction(T0),after 5 min of tracheal intubation(T1),after 1 h of surgery(T2),during thorax closure(T3)and at 5 min after extubation(T4).The sedation onset time,recovery time and extubation time in the two groups were recorded.Stress response indicators[adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH),cortisol(Cor)]were compared at T0 and T4.Ramsay sedation score(RSS)was used to assess the sedation degree at T4.Visual analogue score(VAS)was applied to evaluate the pain degree at 2,12 and 24 h after surgery,and the perioperative anaesthesia-related adverse events were observed.Results There were 58 cases in remimazolam group and 64 cases in propofol group.The MAP values at T1 in remimazolam group and propofol group were(85.03±4.37)and(78.24±4.48)mmHg;at T2 were(80.39±3.95)and(75.49±4.11)mmHg;at T3 were(84.43±4.02)and(79.59±3.97)mmHg;the HR values at T2 were(76.44±5.75)and(72.39±6.03)beat·min-1,the difference were all significant(all P＜0.05).The sedation onset times in remimazolam group and propofol group were(62.45±6.27)and(72.33±7.19)s;the recovery times were(7.22±1.23)and(8.24±1.48)min;the extubation times were(8.34±1.50)and(10.09±1.83)min;the RSS scores at T4 were(2.03±0.39)and(1.88±0.35)points,the difference were all significant(all P＜0.05).The total incidence rates of anesthesia-related adverse events in remimazolam group and propofol group were 6.90％and 21.88％,respectively(P＜0.05).Conclusion Both remimazolam and propofol can play a good sedative effect during lung cancer video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery anesthesia.Remimazolam anesthesia has more stable intraoperative hemodynamics,faster onset and elimination,and higher safety.

Objective To explore the neuroprotective effect of coenzyme Q10 and its possible mechanism in mice with chronic restraint stress(CRS).Methods Mouse models of CRS were treated with intraperitoneal injections of coenzyme Q10 at low,moderate and high doses(50,100 and 200 mg/kg,respectively,n=8),VX765(a caspase-1 specific inhibitor,50 mg/kg,n=8),or fluoxetine(10 mg/kg,n=8)on a daily basis for 4 weeks,and the changes in depression-like behaviors of the mice were assessed by sugar water preference test,forced swimming test and tail suspension test.The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP)in the hippocampus of the mice was detected using immunohistochemistry,and the number of synaptic spines was determined with Golgi staining.Western blotting was performed to detect the changes in the expressions of GFAP and pyroptosis-related proteins in the hippocampus,and the colocalization of neurons and caspase-1 p10 was examined with immunofluorescence assay.Results Compared with the normal control mice,the mouse models of CRS showed significantly reduced sugar water preference and increased immobility time in forced swimming and tail suspension tests(P<0.05),and these depression-like behaviors were obviously improved by treatment with coenzyme Q10,VX765 or FLX.The mouse models showed a significantly decreased positive rate of GFAP and lowered GFAP protein expression in the hippocampus with obviously decreased synaptic spines,enhanced expressions of GSDMD-N,caspase-1 and IL-1β,and increased colocalization of neurons and caspase-1 p10(all P<0.05).All these changes were significantly ameliorated in the mouse models after treatment with Q10.Conclusion Coenzyme Q10 can alleviate depression-like behaviors in mice with CRS by down-regulating the pyroptosis signaling pathway.

Objective Genomic alterations and potential neoantigens for cervical cancer immunotherapy were identified in a cohort of Chinese patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma(CSCC). Methods Whole-exome sequencing was used to identify genomic alterations and potential neoantigens for CSCC immunotherapy.RNA Sequencing was performed to analyze neoantigen expression. Results Systematic bioinformatics analysis showed that C>T/G>A transitions/transversions were dominant in CSCCs.Missense mutations were the most frequent types of somatic mutation in the coding sequence regions.Mutational signature analysis detected signature 2,signature 6,and signature 7 in CSCC samples.PIK3CA,FBXW7,and BICRA were identified as potential driver genes,with BICRA as a newly reported gene.Genomic variation profiling identified 4,960 potential neoantigens,of which 114 were listed in two neoantigen-related databases. Conclusion The present findings contribute to our understanding of the genomic characteristics of CSCC and provide a foundation for the development of new biotechnology methods for individualized immunotherapy in CSCC.

Objective To investigate the correlation between the level of N-terminal pro-Brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)and cardiorespiratory fitness following acute exposure to high altitude.Methods Forty-six subjects were recruited from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University in June 2022,including 19 males and 27 females.After completing cardiopulmonary exercise test(CPET),serological detection of myocardial cell-related markers,and multiple metabolites at a plain altitude(300 meters above sea level),all subjects flew to a high-altitude location(3900 meters above sea level).Biomarker testing and CPET were repeated on the second and third days after arrival at high altitude.Changes in serum biomarker and key CPET indicators before and after rapid ascent to high altitude were compared,and the correlation between serum levels of various myocardial cell-related markers and metabolites and high altitude cardiorespiratory fitness was analyzed.Results Compared with the plain altitude,there was a significant decrease in maximal oxygen uptake after rapid ascent to high altitude[(25.41±6.20)ml/(kg.min)vs.(30.17±5.01)ml/(kg.min),P<0.001].Serum levels of NT-proBNP,Epinephrine(E),plasma renin activity(PRA),angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ),angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2)and leptin(LEP)significantly increased,with all differences being statistically significant(P<0.05)after acute high altitude exposure.In contrast,no statistically significant differences were observed for creatine kinase MB(CK-MB),cardiac troponin I(cTnI),myoglobin(Myo)and norepinephrine(NE)(P>0.05).Correlation analysis showed a significant negative correlation between NT-proBNP at plain altitude(r=-0.768,P<0.001)and at high altitude(r=-0.791,P<0.001)with maximal oxygen uptake at high altitude.Multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that maximal oxygen uptake at plain altitude(t=2.069,P=0.045),NT-proBNP at plain altitude(t=-2.436,P=0.020)and at high altitude(t=-3.578,P=0.001)were independent influencing factors of cardiorespiratory fitness at high altitude.Conclusion Cardiorespiratory fitness significantly decreases after rapid ascent to high altitude,and the baseline NT-proBNP level at plain altitude is closely related to cardiorespiratory fitness at high altitude,making it a potential predictor indicator for high altitude cardiorespiratory fitness.