Design and initial results of the imaging neutral particle analyzer in large helical device.

A novel Imaging Neutral Particle Analyzer (INPA) was newly installed in early 2024 to enhance the understanding of fast ion confinement on Large Helical Devices (LHDs). This diagnostic system, based on a magnetic spectrometer using a scintillator, provides energy-resolved radial profiles of confined fast ions by measuring charge-exchanged fast neutrals escaping from the plasma. The system utilizes a 100 nm thick carbon foil to ionize the fast neutrals, subsequently deflecting the ions toward a scintillator via the existing local magnetic field. The fast ion energy and sightline determine the position of the scintillation, while the light intensity depends on the flux of the fast ions. The INPA features two apertures, facilitating effective measurements in both clockwise and counterclockwise magnetic field directions in the LHD. This INPA was designed as a passive measurement system that measures fast ions charge exchange with background neutrals, focusing on perpendicular beam ions from 5 to 100 keV with an energy resolution of about 5.75 keV. This paper describes the details of the design, installation, and the initial results of the INPA on the LHD. This work will contribute significantly to a deeper understanding of fast ion transport due to magnetohydrodynamic instabilities.

The initial measurement of a compact D-T neutron spectrometer based on a single-crystal chemical vapor deposition diamond stack for fusion plasma diagnostic.

For developing and characterizing a novel compact D-T neutron spectrometer based on a single-crystal chemical vapor deposition diamond stack for plasma diagnostics toward future D-T fusion reactors, the initial measurement was performed using the accelerator-based D-T neutron sources OKTAVIAN at Osaka University. This neutron spectrometer was designed for the detection of 3-17 MeV neutrons and operated in the proton recoil telescope configuration by installing a polyethylene converter in front of the diamond stack. The measured neutron energy spectra were obtained by summing the energy of the recoil protons deposited in the diamond stack after the coincidence of the recoil protons identified by the time coincidence analysis. The neutron energy peaks measured by the compact D-T neutron spectrometer were almost in agreement with those obtained by the Monte Carlo N-Particle transport (MCNP) simulation. The energy resolution of the compact D-T neutron spectrometer was emulated to be about 4%-5% in D-T neutron measurement. In future work, the design of the compact D-T neutron spectrometer would be optimized to measure the fusion neutron for plasma diagnostics.

Sustainable Participation in Community Health Programs to Promote a Healthy Lifestyle and Prevent and Protect against Dementia among Rural Taiwanese Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: Resource and economic constraints limit access to health care in rural populations, and consequently, rates of chronic illnesses are higher in this population. Further, little is known about how rural populations adopt active and healthy lifestyle behavior for dementia prevention. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the impact of modification in lifestyle behaviors on changes in cognitive function among middle-aged and older adults living in a rural area of Taiwan. DESIGN: In this prospective longitudinal study, changes in lifestyle and cognitive function were compared between the experimental and control groups. SETTING: Six rural community care stations were randomly cluster sampled in southern Taiwan. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 155 participants were enrolled and classified into two groups according to their community activity participation rate (CAPR). The control group (n=68) had a CAPR < 1x/month, and the experimental group (n=87) had a CAPR ≥ 1x/month. MEASUREMENTS: Cognitive function of the participants was measured using the MMSE scale. Lifestyle behaviors were measured using a self-designed questionnaire based on the Transtheoretical Model. RESULTS: From 2018-2020, the experimental group successfully maintained a healthy lifestyle. The MMSE score in the experimental group was significantly higher in the 3rd year than that in the control group (25.37 vs 22.56, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Sustainable community participation and adopting a healthy lifestyle could effectively maintain the cognitive function of the study participants. However, more needs to be done to support rural older adults to maintain a healthy diet and control their weight.

[Long-term outcome of patients with rectal cancer who achieve complete or near complete clinical responses after neoadjuvant therapy: a multicenter registry study of data from the Chinese Watch and Wait Database].

Objective: To report the long-term outcomes of Chinese rectal cancer patients after adopting a Watch and Wait (W&W) strategy following neoadjuvant therapy (NAT). Methods: This multicenter, cross-sectional study was based on real-world data. The study cohort comprised rectal cancer patients who had achieved complete or near complete clinical responses (cCRs, near-cCRs) after NAT and were thereafter managed by a W&W approach, as well as a few patients who had achieved good responses after NAT and had then undergone local excision for confirmation of pathological complete response. All participants had been followed up for ≥2 years. Patients with distant metastases at baseline or who opted for observation while living with the tumor were excluded. Data of eligible patients were retrospectively collected from the Chinese Wait-and-Watch Data Collaboration Group database. These included baseline characteristics, type of NAT, pre-treatment imaging results, evaluation of post-NAT efficacy, salvage measures, and treatment outcomes. We herein report the long-term outcomes of Chinese rectal cancer patients after NAT and W&W and the differences between the cCR and near-cCR groups. Results: Clinical data of 318 rectal cancer patients who had undergone W&W for over 2 years and been followed up were collected from eight medical centers (Peking University Cancer Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Liaoning Cancer Hospital, the First Hospital of Jilin University, and Yunnan Cancer Hospital.) The participants comprised 221 men (69.4%) and 107 women (30.6%) of median age 60 (26-86) years. The median distance between tumor and anal verge was 3.4 (0-10.4) cm. Of these patients, 291 and 27 had achieved cCR or near-cCR, respectively, after NAT. The median duration of follow-up was 48.4 (10.2-110.3) months. The 5-year cumulative overall survival rate was 92.4% (95%CI: 86.8%-95.7%), 5-year cumulative disease-specific survival (CSS) rate 96.6% (95%CI: 92.2%-98.5%), 5-year cumulative organ-preserving disease-free survival rate 86.6% (95%CI: 81.0%-90.7%), and 5-year organ preservation rate 85.3% (95%CI: 80.3%-89.1%). The overall 5-year local recurrence and distant metastasis rates were 18.5% (95%CI: 14.9%-20.8%) and 8.2% (95%CI: 5.4%-12.5%), respectively. Most local recurrences (82.1%, 46/56) occurred within 2 years, and 91.0% (51/56) occurred within 3 years, the median time to recurrence being 11.7 (2.5-66.6) months. Most (91.1%, 51/56) local recurrences occurred within the intestinal lumen. Distant metastases developed in 23 patients; 60.9% (14/23) occurred within 2 years and 73.9% (17/23) within 3 years, the median time to distant metastasis being 21.9 (2.6-90.3) months. Common sites included lung (15/23, 65.2%), liver (6/23, 26.1%), and bone (7/23, 30.4%) The metastases involved single organs in 17 patients and multiple organs in six. There were no significant differences in overall, cumulative disease-specific, or organ-preserving disease-free survival or rate of metastases between the two groups (all P>0.05). The 5-year local recurrence rate was higher in the near-cCR than in the cCR group (41.6% vs. 16.4%, P<0.01), with a lower organ preservation rate (69.2% vs. 88.0%, P<0.001). The success rates of salvage after local recurrence and distant metastasis were 82.1% (46/56) and 13.0% (3/23), respectively. Conclusion: Rectal cancer patients who achieve cCR or near-cCR after NAT and undergo W&W have favorable oncological outcomes and a high rate of organ preservation. Local recurrence and distant metastasis during W&W follow certain patterns, with a relatively high salvage rate for local recurrence. Our findings highlight the importance of close follow-up and timely intervention during the W&W process.

[Senolytic effects on dental pulp stem cell's proliferation and differentiation during long-term expansion].

Objective: To investigate the impact of intermittent senescent cell clearance on the proliferation and differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) in long-term, large-scale expansion, and to explore strategies for maintaining the youthful state of DPSC in vitro. Methods: Human-derived dental pulp stem cells were isolated from healthy permanent teeth extracted for orthodontic or impeding eruption reasons, provided by the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University. Long-term, large-scale in vitro expansion of DPSC was conducted. The study compared young DPSC (passage 5) with aged DPSC (passage 25) using cellular senescence-associated ß-galactosidase staining, colony formation assay, and Alizarin Red S staining for osteogenic differentiation induction. To assess the differences between the two cell populations in terms of senescence and amplification and differentiation ability. Medicine screening for the most effective senolytic was compared among 5 common senolytics [Navitoclax (ABT-263), curcumin, dasatinib, fisetin, and quercetin]. The clearance efficacy was compared using cellular senescence-associated ß-galactosidase staining to reflect the changes in senescent cell ratio. The senolytic with the highest efficacy was chosen for further experiments. The passage at which the proportion of senescent cells significantly increased was identified, and the selected senolytic was administered three times at three-generation intervals from that passage to remove senescent cells. Both the control and senolytic-treated groups were estimated by fluorescence cellular senescence-associated ß-galactosidase staining, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), colony formation assay, wound healing assay, and Alizarin Red S staining for osteogenic differentiation induction. Subcutaneous heterotopic osteogenesis was performed in nude mice and the grafts were analyzed by HE staining and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) immunohistochemical staining. Results: The proportion of senescent cells increased as the expansion extended, leading to decreased proliferation and osteogenic differentiation ability of senescent DPSC compared to young DPSC (P<0.05). Senescent DPSC exhibited altered mRNA expression levels of senescence-related genes, including p21, p16INK4a, IL-6, and Ki67 (P<0.001). Among the five senolytics, ABT-263 had the biggest decreases in the proportion of senescent cells. After intermittent ABT-263 treatment during expansion, the proportion of senescent cells in the senolytic-treated group [(6.72±2.34)%] was significantly lower than that in the control group [(31.82±0.57)%] (P<0.001). RT-qPCR confirmed that compared with the control group, mRNA expressions of p21, p16INK4a, and IL-6 in the senolytic-treated group were significantly decreased (P<0.05), while mRNA expressions of Ki67 were significantly increased (P<0.01). Furthermore, the cell healing ability and osteogenic differentiation ability of the senolytic-treated group were higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). In vivo experimental results indicated that the relative new bone area [(2.36±0.48)%] after DPSC transplantation in the senolytic-treated group was greater than that in the control group [(1.00±0.46)%] (P<0.05), and the expression of ALP was higher than that in the control group (P<0.01). Conclusions: ABT-263 can effectively eliminate senescent cells in long-term large-scale DPSC expansion. Continuous treatment with ABT-263 during cultivation can maintain the proliferation and differentiation ability of DPSC both in vivo and in vitro.

Identification of new subtypes and potential genetic signatures in triple-negative breast cancer using weighted gene co-expression network analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous disease with aggressive behavior and poor prognosis. Here, we used gene expression profiling to define new subtypes of TNBC, which may improve prevention and treatment through personalized medicine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gene expression profiles from the public datasets GSE76250, GSE61724, GSE61723, and GES76275 were subjected to co-expression analysis to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between TNBC and non-TNBC tissues. Consistency clustering was used to define TNBC subtypes, whose correlation with gene modules was analyzed. Enrichment analysis was used to identify module genes' biological functions and pathways. Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis was used to assess immune cell infiltration in the different TNBC subtypes, and the ChAMP package was used to examine methylation sites in TNBC. RESULTS: A total of 4,958 DEGs in TNBC were identified, which showed the same expression differences across all datasets as in the dataset GSE76250 and clustered into 9 co-expression modules. TNBC samples clustered into two subtypes based on nine hub genes from the modules. Class I showed the most significant correlation with module 1, whose genes were related mainly to interleukin-1 response, while class II showed the most significant correlation with module 6, whose genes were related mainly to the transforming growth factor-ß pathway. Class I was significantly enriched in cell cycle and DNA replication, and tumors of this subtype showed lower immune cell infiltration than class II tumors. Tumor infiltration by Th2 cells correlated positively with the expression of MCM10 and negatively with the expression of PREX2. A greater methylation of CIDEC, DLC1, EDNRB, EGR2 and SRPK1 correlated with better prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Class I TNBC, for which a useful biomarker is MCM10, may be associated with a worse prognosis than class II TNBC, for which PREX2 may serve as a biomarker.

Factors influencing the occurrence of hyperuricemia and poor cardiac and renal outcomes in chronic kidney disease.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to analyze the factors influencing the occurrence of hyperuricemia and poor cardiac and renal outcomes in chronic kidney disease (CKD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and sixteen patients with CKD admitted to our hospital from January 2022 to September 2022 were picked as the subjects. Fasting venous blood of these subjects was collected to value the serum uric acid (SUA) levels on an automatic biochemical analyzer. Patients were then grouped as the CKD-only group (n=80) and hyperuricemia group (n=36), according to the SUA results, or the good prognosis group (n=88) and poor prognosis group (n=28), according to the presence of cardiovascular diseases. The changes in laboratory indexes and clinical data were analyzed and compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors for combined hyperuricemia and the risk factors for poor cardiac and renal outcomes in patients with CKD. The correlation between SUA level and cardiac and renal indexes was analyzed by Pearson analysis. RESULTS: Patients in the CKD hyperuricemia group had markedly higher content of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), urinary retinol-binding protein (RBP), urinary N-acetyl-ß-D glucosidase (NAG), much higher proportion of heart failure episodes history, and much lower content of total cholesterol (TC), albumin (Alb), hemoglobin (Hb), urinary α1-microglobulin (α1-MG), and glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) than the CKD-only group (p < 0.05). SUA, BNP, SBP, and history of heart failure episodes were independent risk factors for combined hyperuricemia in CKD patients (p < 0.05). Besides, eGFR, albumin, and hemoglobin were independent protective factors for combined hyperuricemia in CKD patients (p < 0.05). Compared with the good prognosis group, the content of BNP, SBP, DBP, urinary RBP, urinary NAG, and SUA was much higher, the proportion of heart failure episodes history was obviously higher, and the levels of Alb, Hb, TC, eGFR, and urinary α1-MG were sharply lower in the poor prognosis group (p < 0.05). SUA, BNP, SBP, and history of heart failure episodes were independent risk factors for poor cardiac and renal outcomes (p < 0.05), and eGFR was an independent protective factor for poor cardiac and renal outcomes in patients with CKD (p < 0.05). The SUA level in CKD patients was positively correlated with BNP and SBP (r=0.463, 0.215, p < 0.05), but negatively correlated with eGFR (r=0.463, 0.215, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The serum SUA level was elevated with the aggravation of the CKD stage. High serum SUA level is a risk factor for the development of hyperuricemia and poor cardio-renal outcomes in CKD patients, suggesting that early monitoring of changes in SUA levels may help assess the risk of cardio-renal outcomes in CKD patients.

TNFSF14 mediates the impact of docosahexaenoic acid on atopic dermatitis: a Mendelian randomization study.

OBJECTIVE: While current research suggests potential value for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the prevention and management of atopic dermatitis (AD), the causal relationship between DHA and AD remains unclear, and the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To investigate the potential causal relationship between DHA and AD, as well as to explore potential mediating mechanisms, we employed the Mendelian randomization (MR) methods. To study these potential relationships, we conducted MR analysis using publicly available Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) data. Effect estimates were computed using the random-effects inverse-variance weighted method. RESULTS: Our study demonstrates a negative correlation between DHA levels and AD risk (OR: 0.915, 95% CI: 0.858-0.975, p=0.007). Furthermore, in MR analysis using tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 14 (TNFSF14) levels as an outcome, DHA levels also show a negative association with TNFSF14 levels (OR: 0.933, 95% CI: 0.879-0.990, p=0.022). Subsequently, we performed further analysis to explore the relationship between TNFSF14 and AD risk, revealing a positive correlation (OR: 1.069, 95% CI: 1.005-1.137, p=0.033). This suggests a potential mediating role of TNFSF14 in the impact of DHA on AD risk. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, our study employs MR analysis to offer genetic evidence indicating a potential role of DHA in reducing the risk of AD, as well as opening avenues for further in-depth investigation into potential mechanisms. These findings emphasize the importance of ongoing research in this field.

Pretreatment synthetic MRI features for triple-negative breast cancer.

AIM: To evaluate the quantitative parameters derived from synthetic magnetic resonance imaging (SyMRI) for predicting triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study enrolled participants with invasive ductal breast carcinoma (IDBC) and separated them into a TNBC group and a Non-TNBC group. Preoperative breast MRI included both the SyMRI and conventional MRI sequences. The quantitative parameters derived from the SyMRI included T1 and T2 relaxation times, proton density (PD), and their standard deviations (SD). Clinicopathological characteristics, conventional MRI findings, and quantitative synthetic parameters were assessed for all participants. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the potential independent imaging predictors for TNBC preoperatively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the performance of these parameters. RESULTS: A total of 231 participants with histopathological proven IDBC were included in this study (n=46 in the TNBC group and n=185 in the Non-TNBC group). The TNBC group had significantly larger tumour size (p=0.011) and more frequent intratumoural cystic or necrotic lesions (p<0.001) as compared to the Non-TNBC group. The univariate analysis showed that the TNBC tumours had significantly higher T1 (p=0.006) and T2 (p<0.001) values than Non-TNBC tumours. Subsequent multivariable analysis indicated that T2 values and the presence of cystic or necrotic lesions were the independent predictors for TNBC. CONCLUSION: The T2 from synthetic imaging and the presence of cystic degeneration or necrosis within the breast cancer may serve as potential imaging biomarkers for preoperative differentiation of TNBC from Non-TNBC.

[Correlation analysis of dynamic enhanced energy spectrum CT parameters with Ki-67 high expression in hepatocellular carcinoma].

Objective: To investigate the correlation between dynamic enhanced energy spectral CT parameters and Ki-67 high expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: A cross-sectional study. This retrospective case-control study analyzed the clinical data of 101 patients with pathologically confirmed HCC in Xiamen Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University from December 2017 to March 2023. These 101 patients included 84 males and 17 females, and the age[M(Q1, Q3)] was 59.0(49.0,66.0)years. These patients were divided into two groups according to the immunohistochemical Ki-67 expression levels in tumor tissues: the high expression group (Ki-67%>20%, n=59) and the low expression group (Ki-67%≤20%, n=42).CT values on 70 keV and 140 keV monochromatic energy images (HU70 keV-a, HU140 keV-a, HU70 keV-p, HU140 keV-p) and water density (Dwater-a, Dwater-p) were measured in arterial phase and portal vein phase, and the difference of HU70 keV, HU140 keV, Dwater values between portal vein and arterial phase (ΔHU70 keV, ΔHU140 keV, ΔDwater), as well as ratio of HU70 keV, HU140 keV, Dwatervalues between portal vein and arterial phase (HU70 keVratio, HU140 keVratio, Dwaterratio) were calculated. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the CT spectral parameters and Ki-67%. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine the factors associated with high expression of Ki-67. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were used to indicate the efficacy of dynamic enhanced spectral CT in evaluating Ki-67 high expression in HCC. Results: The high Ki-67 expression group revealed higher alpha fetal protein levels, larger tumor diameter and more irregular tumor shape compared with the low Ki-67 expression group,and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that the HU140 keV-p, Dwater-p, HU70 keV ratio, HU140 keV ratio, Dwater ratio, ΔHU70 keV, ΔHU140 keV, ΔDwater were positively correlated with Ki-67 positivity rate (r:0.31-0.50, all P<0.05). The spectral CT parameters (HU70 keV-p, HU140 keV-p, Dwater-p, HU70 keV ratio, HU140 keV ratio, Dwater ratio, ΔHU70 keV, ΔHU140 keV, ΔDwater) in high Ki-67 expression group were significantly higher than those in low Ki-67 expression group (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression model shows that Dwater-p(OR=1.16, 95%CI: 1.05-1.29, P=0.005), ΔHU140 keV(OR=1.39, 95%CI: 1.20-1.62, P<0.001) and irregular tumor morphology (OR=5.25, 95%CI: 1.61-17.12, P=0.006) were correlative factors for high Ki-67 expression. The HU140 keV ratio and ΔHU140 keV alone evaluated the highest AUC of high Ki-67 high expression in HCC, which were 0.82 (95%CI: 0.74-0.90), the sensitivity were 61.0%, and the specificity were 88.1% and 85.7%. The combined analysis of Dwater-p, ΔHU140 keV and irregular tumor morphology had an increased AUC of 0.88 (95%CI: 0.81-0.95) in assessment high Ki-67 expression, with the sensitivity of 84.7% and the specificity of 78.6%. Conclusions: Dynamic enhanced spectral CT parameters were positively correlated with the Ki-67 expression in HCC. Spectral CT provides a non-invasive method to evaluate the proliferation status of HCC cells, and the efficiency could be improved by multi-parameter analysis combining spectral CT parameters and morphologic features.

Outcome of stroke patients eligible to mechanical thrombectomy managed by spoke center, primary stroke center or comprehensive stroke center in the East of France.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients with suspected stroke are referred to the nearest hospital and are managed either in a spoke center (SC), a primary stroke center (PSC), or a comprehensive stroke center (CSC) in order to benefit from early intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). In case of large vessel occlusion (LVO), mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is only performed in the CSC, whereas the effectiveness of MT is highly time-dependent. There is a debate about the best management model of patients with suspected LVO. Therefore, we aimed to compare functional and safety outcomes of LVO patients eligible for MT managed through our regional telestroke system. METHOD: We performed a retrospective analysis of our observational prospective clinical registry in all consecutive subjects with LVO within six hours of onset who were admitted to the SC, PSC, or CSC in the east of France between October 2017 and November 2022. The primary endpoint was the functional independence defined as modified Rankin scale (mRS) score 0 to 2 at 90 days. Secondary endpoints were functional outcome, early neurological improvement, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and 90-day mortality. RESULTS: Among the 794 included patients with LVO who underwent MT, 122 (15.4%) were managed by a SC, 403 (50.8%) were first admitted to a PSC, and 269 (33.9%) were first admitted to the CSC. The overall median NIHSS and ASPECTS score were 16 and 8, respectively. Multivariate analysis did not find any significant difference for the primary endpoint between patients managed by PSC versus CSC (OR 1.06 [95% CI 0.64;1.76], P=0.82) and between patient managed by SC versus CSC (OR 0.69 [0.34;1.40], P=0.30). No difference between the three groups was found except for the parenchymal hematoma rate between PSC and CSC (15.7 versus 7.4%, OR 2.25 [1.07;4.74], P=0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with a first admission to a CSC, the clinical outcomes of stroke patients with LVO eligible for MT first admitted to a SC or a PSC are similar.

Efficacy of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy plus cytoreductive surgery for advanced or recurrent ovarian cancer: a systematic evaluation and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis was performed to investigate the safety and efficacy of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) combined with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) in the treatment of advanced or recurrent ovarian cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An electronic search of databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Medline, and Web of Science, was performed to collect controlled studies on HIPEC combined with CRS administered for advanced ovarian cancer. Meta-analysis was conducted based on the outcome indicators extracted from the included studies, including disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: Twelve pieces of literature were included, involving 1,622 participants, with 694 participants in the control group and 928 in the study group. In terms of DFS, the pooled hazard ratio (HR) was 0.70 (95% CI: 0.58, 0.84), with an HR of 0.77 (95% CI: 0.64, 0.93) in the treatment-naïve subgroup and an HR of 0.54 (95% CI: 0.40, 0.74) in the secondary cytoreduction subgroup. In terms of OS, the pooled HR was 0.63 (95% CI: 0.52, 0.77), with an HR of 0.67 (95% CI: 0.54, 0.83) in the treatment-naïve subgroup and an HR of 0.47 (95% CI: 0.29, 0.77) in the secondary cytoreduction subgroup. With regard to AEs, the pooled odds ratio (OR) was 0.79 (95% CI: 0.68, 0.92). CONCLUSIONS: The benefits of CRS plus HIPEC for the management of advanced ovarian cancer are significant but also associated with an increased risk of adverse events. Thus, clinical use of this co-administration requires caution.

[Epidemiological characteristics and spatio-temporal distribution of pulmonary tuberculosis cases reported in students from Guizhou Province, 2011-2020].

Objective: To analyze the trend of epidemiological characteristics and spatiotemporal distribution of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) among smear-positive or other types of students in Guizhou Province from 2011 to 2020, and to provide a reference for improving prevention and control measures. Methods: Data were collected from the Chinese Information System's Notifiable Disease and Tuberculosis Management Information System for disease control and prevention, the Joinpoint 4.9.1.0 software was used to analyze the trend of registration rate; the ArcGIS 10.6 software was used to construct a ring map and to perform spatial autocorrelation analysis; the SaTScan 9.7 software was used for spatial-temporal scan statistics. Results: A total of 32 682 student PTB cases were reported in Guizhou Province from 2011 to 2020, including 5 949 (18.20%) smear-positive cases. Most cases occurred from high school students of 16 to 18 years old (43.99%, 14 376/32 682); the annual average registered rate was 36.22/100 000, the highest in 2018 (52.90/100 000), and the registration rate showed an increasing trend. Meanwhile, a similar trend of registration rate was observed among smear-positive or other types of students. The spatialtemporal heterogeneity was found that the "high-high" clustering patterns of smear-positive or other types were aggregated in Bijie City. Six spatialtemporal clusters with statistically significant (all P<0.001) were detected among smear-positive or other cases, respectively. Conclusions: Upward trend with spatial- temporal clusters of PTB cases reported in students from Guizhou Province from 2011 to 2020. Surveillance should be strengthened for high school students, and regular screening should be conducted in high-risk areas to control the source of infection and reduce the risk of transmission.

[Circular RNA expression profiles and circRNA-miRNA-mRNA crosstalk in pre-eclamptic placenta].

Objective: To identify the expression profile of circular RNA (circRNA) in placenta of pre-eclampsia (PE) pregnant women by high-throughput sequencing, and to construct the circRNA-microRNA (miRNA)-messenger RNA (mRNA) interaction network, so as to reveal the related pathways and regulatory mechanisms of PE. Methods: The clinical data and placentas of 42 women with PE (PE group) and 30 normal pregnant women (control group) who delivered in West China Second University Hospital from November 2019 to June 2021 were collected. (1) High-throughput sequencing was used to establish the differentially expressed circRNA profiles in placental tissues of 5 pairs of PE group and the control group. (2) Real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to verify the expression levels of 6 differentially expressed circRNAs in placental tissues of PE group and control group. (3) Bioinformatics analysis was used to predict the target miRNA and analyze the co-expressed mRNA to construct a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network. The differentially expressed circRNAs were analyzed by Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathways. (4) Logistic regression analysis, Pearson correlation and Kendall's tau-b correlation analysis were used to test the correlation between the three differentially expressed circRNAs and the risk of PE and clinical characteristics. (5) circRNA_05393 was selected for subsequent functional study. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) and overexpression plasmid were used to knock down or increase the expression level of circRNA_05393 in trophoblast cell line HTR-8/SVneo cells, respectively. Transwell assay was used to detect the migration and invasion ability of the trophoblasts in vitro. Cell counting kit-8 assay was used to detect the proliferation ability of the trophoblasts. Results: (1) Seventy-two differentially expressed circRNAs were identified by high-throughput sequencing, of which 35 were up-regulated and 37 were down-regulated. (2) qRT-PCR showed that compared with the control group, circRNA_00673 (1.306±0.168 vs 2.059±0.242; t=2.356, P=0.021) and circRNA_07796 (1.275±0.232 vs 1.954±0.230; t=2.018, P=0.047) were significantly increased, while circRNA_05393 (1.846±0.377 vs 0.790±0.094; t=3.138, P=0.002) was significantly decreased. (3) The circRNA-miRNA-mRNA interaction network contained 3 circRNAs, 8 miRNAs and 53 mRNAs. GO functional annotation analysis showed that the biological process was mainly enriched in iron ion homeostasis, membrane depolarization during action potential and neuronal action potential. In terms of cellular components, they were mainly enriched in cytoskeleton and membrane components. In terms of molecular function, they were mainly enriched in the activity of voltage-gated sodium channel and basic amino acid transmembrane transporter. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that mRNAs in the interaction network were mainly enriched in complement and coagulation cascade, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, p53 signaling pathway and peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors (PPAR) signaling pathway. (4) Logistic regression analysis showed that down-regulation of circRNA_05393 expression was a risk factor for PE (OR=0.044, 95%CI: 0.003-0.596; P=0.019). Correlation analysis showed that circRNA_05393 was significantly correlated with systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in PE pregnant women (both P<0.05). (5) Knock down or overexpression of circRNA_05393 significantly reduced or increased the migration and invasion abilities of HTR-8/SVneo cells (all P<0.05), but had no significant effect on the ability of tube formation and proliferation (all P>0.05). Conclusions: The construction of circRNA expression profile in placenta and the exploration of circRNA-miRNA-mRNA interaction network provide the possibility to reveal the regulatory mechanism of specific circRNA involved in PE. Inhibition of circRNA_05393 may induce the progression of PE by reducing the migration and invasion of trophoblasts.

Transradial access with Simmons guiding catheter for carotid artery stenting: Feasibility and procedural complications in a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing number of transradial approach (TRA) for carotid artery stenting (CAS), however, similar techniques and materials as for femoral access are used. We report the results of TRA lower profile technique for CAS using a 7 F Simmons guiding catheter, especially in terms of feasibility and procedural safety in a single center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 68 consecutive patients with symptomatic extracranial carotid stenoses who underwent 75 CAS between January 2018 and December 2021. The success and crossover rate, procedural time, fluoroscopy, clinical outcomes, technical considerations, and procedural complications were analyzed. RESULTS: TRA CAS with Simmons guiding catheter was successful in 67/75 (89.3%) cases, with a 7 (9.3%) crossover rate. Fluoroscopy mean time was 15.8 minutes. Two forearm hematomas were described. No ischemic or surgical site complications were reported. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience frontline TRA with a 7 F Simmons guiding catheter is feasible with high procedural success and a low rate of access site complications.

[The official appointment of medical graduates in the Imperial Medical College (Guo Zi Jian Yi Ke) in the Northern Song Dynasty].

The Imperial Medical College (Guo Zi Jian Yi Ke) in the Northern Song Dynasty was established for training Confucian physicians. The medical graduates from this college were granted superior official recognition but still received equal opportunities for their career advancement as other graduates for arts. This was partly because medical graduates were not well respected at that time and partly because the then government attempted to encourage more people to learn medicine. On the other hand, this official system seems to have not been successful in the purpose of training Confucian physicians because they were given more opportunities to be granted as governors of states or counties rather than remaining as Confucian physicians. However, the official system for the medical graduates showed the encouragement and the respect to Confucian physicians from the then government. It changed the medical views of upper class and promoted the development of traditional Chinese medicine.

Reference intervals of C2-C7 lateral spinous process deviation in Chinese adults.

BACKGROUND: Lateral spinous process deviation (LSPD) is a commonly used morphological parameter in the anatomical study of the cervical spinous process. However, quantitative studies on this issue are still lacking. In this study we aimed to establish reference intervals of C2-C7 LSPD in the adult Chinese population and provide decision-making information for clinical practitioners. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 92 adult patients who received neck computed tomography scans, including 42 females and 50 males meeting the inclusion criteria. Three-dimensional reconstruction and anatomical measurements were performed using Mimics Research 19.0 and 3-Matic Research 11.0. RESULTS: The inter-observer reliability of LSPD measurement in this study was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient value > 0.93). Only 2 cases of LSPD angles of 90 degrees were found, which means most cervical spinous process exist deviation. The reference interval for the C2-C7 LSPD angle was (85.11, 94.75) degrees. The C2 LSPD showed the different directions to C5 and C7 (p < 0.05). In the C4 vertebrae, the male tends to have greater LSPD angles than the female (T = -2.013, p = 0.047). In the C2 vertebrae, there was a statistically significant but weak correlation between age and LSPD angles (r = 0.24, p = 0.029). There was no statistically significant effect of sex or age on other levels of cervical vertebrae. CONCLUSIONS: Cervical spinous process deviation of less than 5 degrees on either side is a common morphological manifestation in Chinese adults. Thus, LSPD may not be an indicator for clinical care. Moreover, the vertebrae may have opposite directions of LSPD in the upper levels (C2-C4) and lower levels (C5-C7).

Morphological analysis of C2-C7 spinous process bifurcation in Chinese population: a study using three-dimensional reconstruction of computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the anatomical morphology of the C2 to C7 spinous process (SP) bifurcation (SPB) in the Chinese population and reveal its potential clinical significance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Measurement parameters of the three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions of neck computed tomography scans (n = 92 scans) were retrospectively analysed. The 3D reconstruction and measurements were performed using Mimics Research 19.0 and 3-Matic Research 11.0. Two independent investigators reviewed all the data, including parameters such as the length and angle of the SPB. The effects of age and sex were also analysed. RESULTS: We identified four morphological types of SPB: fully bifid (n = 252, 45.65%), partially bifid (n = 65, 11.78%), non-bifid (n = 226, 40.94%) and unilateral branch (n = 9, 1.63%). The Kappa coefficients indicated good inter-observer reproducibility (0.776), and the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) values demonstrated excellent intra-rater reliability (ICC = 0.9, p < 0.0001) in the classification and measurement of SPB parameters. The percentage of general bifid SP was more than 70% in C2-5 and about 21% in C6, while all C7 SPs presented non-bifid. Morphology was symmetrical in bifid and partially bifid SP, while unilateral SP was not. CONCLUSIONS: The classification system of SPB in this study proved consistent and reliable, despite the subjective bias. Identifying the cervical level by C6 bifurcation is unreliable, as nearly 80% of C6 SP is non-bifid. Our work provides an accurate and effective anatomical reference for SPB studies in the Chinese population.

MRI parameters for predicting the effect of ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound in the ablation of uterine fibroids.

AIM: To study the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters in predicting the efficacy of ultrasonic ablation of fibroids. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 91 patients were divided into groups based on non-perfused volume (NPV) ratio and blood supply type. The preoperative MRI parameters were measured and analysed. A correlation analysis between the MRI parameters and the NPV ratio was performed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to analyse and determine the cut-off value of MRI parameters to predict the ablation rate of fibroids. RESULTS: The uterine fibroids group with an NPV ratio <80% and the group with an NPV ratio of ≥80% had significant differences in signal intensity (SI) at MRI T2-weighted imaging (WI), fibroid-to-rectus abdominis SI ratio (SIR) at T2WI, and blood supply type (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in fibroid volume, T2WI signal uniformity, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. The ADC value and SI and SIR at MRI T2WI in the group with poor blood supply were lower than those in the group with a rich blood supply (p<0.05). SI at MRI T2WI correlated negatively with the NPV ratio. The cut-off values for SI and SIR at MRI T2WI of fibroids whose NPV ratio exceeds 80% were 220.58 and 1.315, respectively. CONCLUSION: SI at MRI T2WI and blood supply type could be predictors of the efficacy of ablation. Ultrasonic ablation of fibroids with MRI T2WI hyperintensity and a rich blood supply had poor efficacy.

Simulations of neutral beam injection and ion cyclotron resonance heating synergy in high power EAST scenarios.

The EAST plasmas heated with deuterium neutral beam injection and ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH) have been simulated by the TRANSP code. The analysis has been conducted using the full wave solver TORIC5, the radio frequency (RF)-kick operator, and NUBEAM to model the RF heating effects on fast ion velocity distribution. In this work, we present several simulated results compared with experiments for high power EAST scenarios, indicating that the interactions between ICRH and fast ions can significantly accelerate fast ions, which are confirmed by the increased neutron yield and broadened neutron emission spectrum measurements.