Search

Abstract Background Although many people received the COVID-19 vaccine, shortly after the Chinese government announced that the three-year COVID-19 restrictions were being eased, the first large number of Omicron infections appeared in Beijing. We describe epidemiological characteristics, clinical severity, and time-to-event distribution of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Beijing Omicron outbreak, comparing those who received the booster vaccine with cases of full-course/partial-course vaccines. Methods We collected epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and clinical management data from the hospital information system (HIS) for 1495 cases during Dec 2022-Jan 2023. We also collected illness onset time, diagnosis time, hospital admission time, and start and end times of each treatment. In addition, we collected the time of vaccination, inoculation times, and type of COVID-19 vaccination thorough the vaccination system. We described the epidemiological characteristics across vaccine inoculation doses, and estimated the risk of death, mechanical ventilation, and admission to the intensive care unit for patients admitted to hospital. We used the Kaplan–Meier method to estimate the survival rate and plot the survival curve, and the Cox proportional hazards model to assess the effect of covariates on survival time. Results Of the 1495 cases, 58.1% were male. The median ages in the non-vaccinated and vaccinated groups were 80 and 47 years. Elderly with underlying medical conditions and lower BMI less willing to vaccinate(p

Abstract Objective To introduce a specialized device designed for the fixation of the cervical-thoracic spine and describe its surgical installation, finite element analysis, and clinical outcomes. Methods A finite element model of the C6-T1 segment was developed and validated, and simulations of subtotal resection of anterior cervical vertebrae, artificial vertebrae placement, and titanium plate fixation were performed. The model was subjected to a 75 N load to simulate the weight of the head and a 1 N·m force to simulate flexion, lateral bending, and axial rotation. The analysis focused on range of motion, total stress, stress in the artificial vertebrae, and stress in the device. The clinical outcomes were evaluated in a retrospective case series of 140 patients with cervical spine fractures. Results Under the same loading conditions, the maximum stresses on specialized anatomical and biomechanical devices for the fixation of the cervicothoracic segment of the spine during neutral, forwards flexion, backwards extension, left lateral bending, right lateral bending, left rotation, right rotation and other working conditions were 25.097 MPa, 149.480 MPa, 64.150 MPa, 67.804 MPa, 72.754 MPa, and 117.98 MPa, respectively. And, the maximum ROMs were 2.230 mm, 5.585 mm, 4.682 mm, 3.184 mm, 3.061 mm, 4.451 mm, and 4.645 mm. Compared with those in the preoperative period, the patients’ CL, OPCL, UCL, LCL, UROM, LROM, VAS score, NDI score, JOA score, intervertebral space height at the injured segment, cervical anterior kyphosis angle, Cobb angle, vertebral displacement, ASIA grade, fracture classification, and vertebral displacement improved (P

Prior to embryo implantation, the endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) during the menstrual cycle undergo a significant structural and functional transformation known as decidualization to support conception. During this process, glucose consumption and utilization by endometrial cells increase to meet energy demands. Abnormal glucose metabolism in the endometrium impairs decidualization, leading to pregnancy complications, including implantation failure and pregnancy loss. However, the mechanisms modulating glucose metabolism in endometrial stromal cells during decidualization are still unclear. In this review, we describe the functions and regulation of glucose transporters (GLUTs) involved in glucose uptake, as well as the modulation of key enzymes catalyzing glucose utilization. Moreover, we present recent findings on the role of glucose related metabolites in the decidualization of ESCs.

Abstract Metabolic reprogramming is widely recognized as a hallmark of malignant tumors, and the targeting of metabolism has emerged as an appealing approach for cancer treatment. Mitochondria, as pivotal organelles, play a crucial role in the metabolic regulation of tumor cells, and their morphological and functional alterations are intricately linked to the biological characteristics of tumors. As a key regulatory subunit of mitochondria, mitochondrial inner membrane protein (IMMT), plays a vital role in degenerative diseases, but its role in tumor is almost unknown. The objective of this research was to investigate the roles that IMMT play in the development and progression of breast cancer (BC), as well as to elucidate the underlying biological mechanisms that drive these effects. In this study, it was confirmed that the expression of IMMT in BC tissues was significantly higher than that in normal tissues. The analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database revealed that IMMT can serve as an independent prognostic factor for BC patients. Additionally, verification in clinical specimens of BC demonstrated a positive association between high IMMT expression and larger tumor size (> 2 cm), Ki-67 expression (> 15%), and HER-2 status. Furthermore, in vitro experiments have substantiated that the suppression of IMMT expression resulted in a reduction in cell proliferation and alterations in mitochondrial cristae, concomitant with the liberation of cytochrome c, but it did not elicit mitochondrial apoptosis. Through Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) analysis, we have predicted the associated metabolic genes and discovered that IMMT potentially modulates the advancement of BC through its interaction with 16 metabolic-related genes, and the changes in glycolysis related pathways have been validated in BC cell lines after IMMT inhibition. Consequently, this investigation furnishes compelling evidence supporting the classification of IMMT as prognostic marker in BC, and underscoring its prospective utility as a novel target for metabolic therapy.

Heterogeneous landscape environments can lead to varying effectiveness of ecological restoration techniques (ERT). Distinguishing heterogeneous landscapes for adaptive management in ecological engineering projects is key to maximizing their ecological benefits. This paper conducted a quantitative analysis of the effectiveness of different ERTs in the Effect Zone of the China-Nepal Highway. The study firstly divided the China-Nepal Highway Effect Zone into seven ecoregions using the SKATER spatial clustering algorithm. Seven spatial-physical factors, including annual average rainfall (RAIN), annual average temperature (TEMP), vegetation supply water index (VSWI), altitude, relief ratio (RR), slope (S), soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TP), and total phosphorus (TP), are used for analysis, and watersheds are used as the smallest clustering unit. Secondly, an index system for evaluating the effectiveness of different ERTs was constructed, and the entropy weight method was used to determine the weight of each indicator. Furthermore, four evaluation methods, RSR, TOPSIS, VIKOR and FCE, were used to conduct a fuzzy Borda combined evaluation of the effectiveness of different ERTs at distinct ecoregions. The results suggest that the varying resilience of different ecoregions is likely the major reason in causing the differences in the effectiveness of ERTs. Lastly, we constructed an adaptive management system for ecological engineering projects along the China-Nepal Highway based on the spatial suitability of ERTs in each ecoregion.

ABSTRACT: Chickens infected with FAdV-4 and FAdV-8b both exhibit hepatic lesions characterized by hemorrhagic necrosis and intranuclear inclusion body formation. However, only FAdV-4 induces pericardial effusion and acute mortality in chickens. To investigate the similarities and differences in the pathogenicity of HPS and IBH, this study intends to compare the infectivity and pathogenicity of FAdV-4 and FAdV-8b, 2 serotypes of fowl adenovirus isolated in our laboratory. The 2 viruses were respectively inoculated subcutaneously into SPF chicks at the neck. The clinical manifestations and pathological changes in these infected groups of chickens differed to some extent. Chickens infected with FAdV-4 exhibit evident depression and acute mortality, with a mortality rate of 60%; while those infected with FAdV-8b only display mild depression. Postmortem examination reveals serosanguinous effusion in the pericardial sac, spot-like hemorrhage, and focal necrosis in the liver of chickens infected with FAdV-4. Additionally, various degrees of edema are observed in organs such as the lungs, spleen, kidneys, and pancreas. In contrast, chickens infected with FAdV-8b exhibit spot-like hemorrhage and focal necrosis in the liver but do not display pericardial effusion or widespread organ edema. Histopathological examination demonstrates that both FAdV-4 and FAdV-8b can induce inflammatory reactions of varying degrees in the kidneys, pancreas, and duodenum of chickens, while reducing the necrosis of bursa of Fabricius, thymus, and spleen lymphocytes. Our data preliminarily reveal that both FAdV-4 and FAdV-8b can induce strong pathogenicity in chickens.

Abstract The objective is to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of the S8 navigation system and the Tinavi orthopaedic surgery robot in the treatment of upper cervical instability. The research methods adopted are as follows. The clinical data of patients with upper cervical instability who underwent surgery from May 2021 to December 2021 were analysed retrospectively. Patients were divided into a navigation group (assisted by the S8 navigation system) and a tinavi group (assisted by the Tinavi robot) according to the auxiliary system used. Computed tomography and digital radiography were performed after the operation. The accuracy of pedicle screw placement was evaluated using the criteria put forward by Rampersaud. Degree of facet joint violation, visual analogue scale score, neck disability index and Japanese orthopaedic association score were recorded and assessed during follow-up examinations in both groups. Record two groups of surgery-related indicators. Record the complications of the two groups. A total of 50 patients were included. 21 patients in the navigation group and 29 in the tinavi group. The results of the study are as follows. The average follow-up time was 12.1 months. There was no significant difference in nail placement accuracy between the navigation and tinavi groups (P > 0.05); however, the navigation group had a significantly higher rate of facet joint violation than that of tinavi group (P 0.05). We come to the following conclusion. The Stealth Station S8 navigation system (Medtronic, USA), which also uses an optical tracking system, and the Tinavi Orthopedic robot have shown the same high accuracy and satisfactory clinical results in the treatment of upper cervical instability. Although the S8 navigation system still has many limitations, it still has good application prospects and is a new tool for spine surgery.

ABSTRACT Cryptococcal meningitis (CM), a common and serious opportunistic infection mostly caused by Cryptococcus neoformans, is primarily treated with fluconazole. Nevertheless, Cryptococcus neoformans strains that undergo repeated exposure to azoles can gradually acquire heteroresistance to fluconazole. The management of this specific CM infection poses a substantial challenge. Determining a globally accepted definition for fluconazole heteroresistance and developing effective and prompt methods for identifying heteroresistance is of utmost importance. We collected data on the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients diagnosed with CM. All the available Cryptococcus neoformans strains isolated from these patients were collected and subjected to antifungal susceptibility testing and evaluation of fluconazole heteroresistance. AIDS was present in 40.5% of the patients, whereas 24.1% did not have any underlying diseases. Patients with chronic diseases or impaired immune systems are susceptible to infection by Cryptococcus neoformans, a fungus that frequently (39.6%, 19/48) shows heteroresistance to fluconazole, as confirmed by population analysis profile (PAP).IMPORTANCEFluconazole heteroresistance poses a significant threat to the efficacy of fluconazole in treating cryptococcal meningitis (CM). Unfortunately, the standard broth microdilution method often misses the subtle percentages of subpopulations exhibiting heteroresistance. While the population analysis profile (PAP) method is esteemed as the gold standard, its time-consuming and labor-intensive nature makes it impractical for routine clinical use. In contrast, the Kirby-Bauer (KB) disk diffusion method offers a simple and effective screening solution. Our study highlights the value of KB over PAP and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) by demonstrating that when adjusting the inoculum concentration to 1.0 McFarland and subjecting samples to a 72-hour incubation period at 35°C, the KB method closely mirrors the outcomes of the PAP approach in detecting fluconazole heteroresistance. This optimization of the KB method not only enhances assay efficiency but also provides a blueprint for developing a timely and effective strategy for identifying heteroresistance.

Abstract Background As a key enzyme in ceramide synthesis, longevity assurance homologue 2 (LASS2) has been indicated to act as a tumour suppressor in a variety of cancers. Ferroptosis is involved in a variety of tumour processes; however, the role of LASS2 in regulating ferroptosis has yet to be explored. This article explores the potential underlying mechanisms involved. Methods Bioinformatics tools and immunohistochemical staining were used to evaluate LASS2 expression, and the results were analysed in relation to overall survival and clinical association in multiple cancers. Coimmunoprecipitation-coupled liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (co-IP LC-MS) was performed to identify potential LASS2-interacting proteins in thyroid, breast, and liver cancer cell lines. Transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics analyses of multiple cancer cell types were performed using MS or LC–MS to further explore the underlying mechanisms involved. Among these tumour cells, the common LASS2 interaction partner transferrin receptor (TFRC) was analysed by protein–protein docking and validated by coimmunoprecipitation western blot, immunofluorescence, and proximity ligation assays. Then, we performed experiments in which tumour cells were treated with Fer-1 or erastin or left untreated, with or without inducing LASS2 overexpression, and assessed the molecular biological and cellular functions by corresponding analyses. Results Low LASS2 expression is correlated with adverse clinical characteristic and poor prognosis in patients with thyroid cancer, breast cancer or HCC. Multiomics analyses revealed significant changes in the ferroptosis signalling pathway, iron ion transport and iron homeostasis. Our in vitro experiments revealed that LASS2 overexpression regulated ferroptosis status in these tumour cells by affecting iron homeostasis, which in turn inhibited tumour migration, invasion and EMT. In addition, LASS2 overexpression reversed the changes in tumour cell metastasis induced by either Fer-1 or erastin. Mechanistically, LASS2 interacts directly with TFRC to regulate iron homeostasis in these tumour cells. Conclusions In summary, our study reveals for the first time that LASS2 can inhibit tumour cell metastasis by interacting with TFRC to regulate iron metabolism and influence ferroptosis status in thyroid, breast, and liver cancer cells, these results suggest potential universal therapeutic targets for the treatment of these cancers.

Abstract The objective was to compare the clinical efficacy of percutaneous pedicle screw internal fixation with the aid of the TINAVI orthopaedic surgery robot with that of traditional open surgery for Levine–Edward type IIA (postreduction) hangman fractures and to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the TINAVI robot-assisted orthopaedic surgery procedure. The clinical data of 60 patients with Levine–Edward type IIA (postreduction) hangman fractures treated surgically from June 2015 to February 2022 were analysed retrospectively. Among these patients, 25 were treated with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation under TINAVI (the robot group), and 35 were treated with pedicle screw implantation assisted by a conventional C-arm X-ray machine (the traditional operation group). The pedicle screw placement grade was evaluated according to the Rampersaud scale. The correct rate of pedicle screw placement was calculated. The invasion of adjacent facet joints, VAS score (Visual Analogue Scale), NDI score (Neck Disability Index), SF-36 score (36-Item Short-Form Health Survey questionnaire), EQ-5D score (EuroQol-5 dimensions questionnaire) and operation-related data were recorded, and patients were followed up. All patients were followed up for an average of 15.0 ± 3.4 months. The accuracy of screw placement in the robot group was higher than that in the traditional operation group, while the rates of intraoperative blood loss and invasion of the facet joint were lower and the incision length and length of hospital stay were shorter. On the 3rd day after the operation, the VAS score in the robot group was significantly higher than that in the traditional operation group, but there was no significant difference in the NDI score. On the 3rd day after the operation, the SF-36 and EQ-5 questionnaire scores of the robot group were better than those of the traditional operation group. No complications occurred in any of the patients. Postoperative cervical X-ray showed that the cervical vertebra was stable, and there was no fracture, angle or displacement. Postoperative CT showed that all fractures healed, and the average healing time was 3.4 months. The treatment of Levine–Edward IIA (postrepositioning) hangman fractures with percutaneous pedicle fixation assisted by the TINAVI orthopaedic surgery robot can significantly improve screw placement accuracy with a low rate of invasion of the adjacent facet joint, a short operation time, a low bleeding rate, and high patient satisfaction. Although there are still many disadvantages, it still has good prospects for application.

Ketone bodies are considered as an alternative energy source for diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) and can improve the energy supply of the heart muscle, suggesting that it may be an important area of research and development as a therapeutic target for DCM. Cumulative cardiovascular trials have shown that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors reduce cardiovascular events in diabetic populations. Whether SGLT2 inhibitors improve DCM by enhancing ketone body metabolism remains and whether they help prevent oxidative damage remains to be clarified. Here, we present the combined results of nine GSE datasets for diabetic cardiomyopathy (GSE215979, GSE161931, GSE145294, GSE161052, GSE173384, GSE123975, GSE161827, GSE210612, and GSE5606). We found significant up-regulated gene 3-hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA synthetase 2 (HMGCS2) and down-regulated gene 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (BDH1) and 3-oxoacid CoA-transferase1 (OXCT1), respectively. Based on the analysis of the constructed protein interaction network, it was found that HMGCS2 was in the core position of the interaction network. In addition, Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis mainly focused on redox process, acyl-CoA metabolic process, catalytic activity, redox enzyme activity and mitochondria. The activity of HMGCS2 in DCM heart was increased, while the expression of ketolysis enzymes BDH1 and OXCT1 was inhibited. In vivo, Empagliflozin (Emp) treated DCM group significantly decreased ventricular weight, myocardial cell cross-sectional area, and myocardial fibrosis. In addition, Emp further promoted the activity of BDH1 and OXCT1, increased the utilization of ketone bodies, further promoted the activity of HMGCS2 in DCM, and increased the synthesis of ketone bodies, prevented mitochondrial breakage and dysfunction, increased myocardial ATP to provide sufficient energy, inhibited oxidative stress and apoptosis of cardiac cells ex vivo, and improved the myocardial dysfunction of DCM. Emp can improve mitochondrial dysfunction in diabetic cardiomyopathy by regulating ketone body metabolism and oxidative stress. These findings provide a theoretical basis for evaluating Emp as a treatment for DCM.

The incidence of lumbar disc herniation has gradually increased in recent years, and most patients have symptoms of low back pain and nerve compression, which brings a heavy burden to patients and society alike. Although the causes of disc herniation are complex, intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is considered to be the most common factor. The intervertebral disc (IVD) is composed of the upper and lower cartilage endplates, nucleus pulposus, and annulus fibrosus. Aging, abnormal mechanical stress load, and metabolic disorders can exacerbate the progression of IDD. Among them, high glucose and high-fat diets (HFD) can lead to fat accumulation, abnormal glucose metabolism, and inflammation, which are considered important factors affecting the homeostasis of IDD. Diabetes and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) accumulation- can lead to various adverse effects on the IVD, including cell senescence, apoptosis, pyroptosis, proliferation, and Extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. While current research provides a fundamental basis for the treatment of high glucose-induced IDD patients. further exploration into the mechanisms of abnormal glucose metabolism affecting IDD and in the development of targeted drugs will provide the foundation for the effective treatment of these patients. We aimed to systematically review studies regarding the effects of hyperglycemia on the progress of IDD.

Abstract Automatic machine learning of empirical models from experimental data has recently become possible as a result of increased availability of computational power and dedicated algorithms. Despite the successes of non-parametric inference and neural-network-based inference for empirical modelling, a physical interpretation of the results often remains challenging. Here, we focus on direct inference of governing differential equations from data, which can be formulated as a linear inverse problem. A Bayesian framework with a Laplacian prior distribution is employed for finding sparse solutions efficiently. The superior accuracy and robustness of the method is demonstrated for various cases, including ordinary, partial, and stochastic differential equations. Furthermore, we develop an active learning procedure for the automated discovery of stochastic differential equations. In this procedure, learning of the unknown dynamical equations is coupled to the application of perturbations to the measured system in a feedback loop. We show that active learning can significantly improve the inference of global models for systems with multiple energetic minima.

Fossil identification is an essential and fundamental task for conducting palaeontological research. Because the manual identification of fossils requires extensive experience and is time-consuming, automatic identification methods are proposed. However, these studies are limited to a few or dozens of species, which is hardly adequate for the needs of research. This study enabled the automatic identification of hundreds of species based on a newly established fossil dataset. An available “bivalve and brachiopod fossil image dataset” (BBFID, containing >16,000 “image-label” data pairs, taxonomic determination completed) was created. The bivalves and brachiopods contained in BBFID are closely related in morphology, ecology and evolution that have long attracted the interest of researchers. We achieved >80% identification accuracy at 22 genera and ∼64% accuracy at 343 species using EfficientNetV2s architecture. The intermediate output of the model was extracted and downscaled to obtain the morphological feature space of fossils using t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE). We found a distinctive boundary between the morphological feature points of bivalves and brachiopods in fossil morphological feature distribution maps. This study provides a possible method for studying the morphological evolution of fossil clades using computer vision in the future.

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of posterior surgery in the treatment of craniovertebral junction (CVJ) deformities with torticollis and methods for preventing and treating complications in order to obtain a reasonable treatment strategy. Methods From January 2007 to December 2017, 78 patients who suffered from CVJ deformities with torticollis treated by posterior surgery were analyzed. The surgical techniques were all posterior correction and fusion to restore the anatomical alignment of the craniovertebral junction. The visual analog score (VAS) and Short Form‐36 (SF‐36) health survey questionnaire were utilized to evaluate preoperative and postoperative neck pain, and changes in the torticollis angle and atlas‐dens interval (ADI) were evaluated through anteroposterior X‐ray and computed tomography. Intra‐ and postoperative complications were all recorded. One‐way ANOVA, LSD‐t test, and χ2 test were performed to evaluate the difference between the preoperative and postoperative data. Results The mean follow‐up time was 37.4 ± 15.7 months, the average operation time was 115.6 ± 12.8 min, and the average blood loss was 170.8 ± 26.3 mL. According to the deformity site, the range of posterior correction and fusion was as follows: 38 cases of C1–C2, 33 cases of C0–C2, and seven cases of C0–C3. The preoperative SF‐36, VAS, torticollis angle, and ADI were 42.6 ± 8.8, 4.8 ± 1.1, 37.2 ± 11.2°, and 4.9 ± 2.3 mm, respectively. The difference was significant at 3 months post operation (p 0.05). Conclusion It can objectively achieve favorable correction and satisfactory clinical effects under posterior correction and fixation for CVJ deformities with torticollis. Intra‐ and postoperative complications can be settled by proper management.

Phage contamination has become a major concern for industrial bacteria, such as Escherichia coli BL21(DE3), used in fermentation processes. Herein, we report a CRISPR/Cas9 defense system-based strategy to precisely prey and degrade phage DNA to decontaminate target phages. First, we isolated a novel phage from fermentation substrates with BL21(DE3) as the host, named TR1. It showed a typical podovirus morphology with a head diameter of 51.46 ± 2.04 nm and a tail length of 9.31 ± 2.77 nm. The burst size of phage TR1 was 151 PFU/cell, suggesting its strong fecundity in the fermentation system. Additionally, whole-genome sequencing revealed that phage TR1 has a DNA genome of 44,099 bp in length with a 43.8% GC content, encoding a total of 68 open reading frames. Comparative genomics and phylogenetic analysis designated this phage to be a new species of the genus Christensenvirus. To counteract phage TR1, we employed the CRISPR/Cas9 system-based strategy and constructed two phage-resistant E. coli strains, BL21-C and BL21-T, based on conserved genes. Both EOP assays and growth curves indicated strong phage resistance of the recombinant strains, without affecting cell growth. Therefore, this study aimed to provide a resilient strategy to respond to ever-changing phages and ongoing phage–host arm race in industrial fermentation environments by the personalized design of spacers in the recombinant CRISPR/Cas system-containing plasmid. More importantly, our research sparks the use of phage defense mechanism to prevent phage contamination in extensive biotechnological applications.

The Permian–Triassic mass extinction has been considered the largest bio-crisis of the Phanerozoic, with more than 90% of marine species extinct. Previous studies showed that ostracods suffered various extinction patterns in different localities and were relatively enriched in the lowermost Triassic shallow marine microbialites. Multiple hypotheses have been put forward to explore the reasons for this phenomenon. Abundant ostracod fossils were collected from the microbialite-bearing Youping section in the Nanpanjiang Basin. 45 species in 22 genera from Wujiaping Formation increased dramatically to 104 species in 33 genera from the microbialites of basal Luolou Formation. However, Ostracods from the Youping section suffered severe extinction during the second phase of the Permian–Triassic crisis, i.e., the earliest Triassic mass extinction (ETME), rather than the first phase, i.e., the latest Permian mass extinction (LPEM). In addition, the Sørenson coefficient has been used to examine the similarity of faunal associations among different sections of the Permian–Triassic transitional beds. There was no significant differences for ostracods between microbialites and non-microbialites sections based on similarity analysis. Thus, we proposed that “Shallow marine refuge” hypothesis could explain the high diversity and high abundance of ostracods of the Permian–Triassic transitional beds. Besides, ostracods showed remarkable geographical differentiation at both regional and global scales during the Permian–Triassic transitional beds and were presumably controlled by geographical isolation.

ObjectiveTo study the clinical effect and influencing factors of kyphoplasty in the treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures (OTCF) complicated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).MethodsA total of 472 patients with OTCF complicated with diabetes who were enrolled in our hospital from January to December 2019 were selected as the study subjects, and all patients were treated with percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP). The effects of gender, age, smoking, drinking, body mass index (BMI), bone mass density (T score), fasting blood glucose level, fasting C-peptide, glycosylated hemoglobin, course of T2DM, vertebral segment and surgical instrument on postoperative improvement were analyzed. The quality of life was evaluated by visual analog score (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) before PKP and 7 days, and 6 months after PKP, and the patient satisfaction was assessed by the modified Macnab criteria at 6 months postoperatively.ResultsThe overall excellent and good rate of evaluation result was satisfactory. In multivariate regression, independent risk factors for poor patient satisfaction included: age ≥70 years (odds ratio (OR) = 2.298, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.290–4.245, P = 0.025), fasting blood glucose ≥8 mmol/L [OR = 2.657, 95%(CI) 1.288–4.121, P = 0.016], glycosylated hemoglobin ≥6.5 mmol/L [OR = 3.438, 95%(CI) 2.543–4.628, P = 0.001], duration ≥8 years [OR = 1.732, 95%(CI) 1.471–3.253, P = 0.019] and Kyphon instrument [OR = 1.472, 95%(CI) 1.112–2.228, P = 0.018] were independent influencing factors of OTCF complicated with DM.ConclusionKyphoplasty for patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures complicated with diabetes can achieve a satisfactory clinical effect, the curative effect is affected by many factors, attention to these factors can improve the clinical effect.

Curcumin-loaded zein/sodium caseinate-alginate nanoparticles were successfully fabricated using a pH-shift method/electrostatic deposition method. These nanoparticles produced were spheroids with a mean diameter of 177 nm and a zeta-potential of −39.9 mV at pH 7.3. The curcumin was an amorphous, and the content in the nanoparticles was around 4.9% (w/w) and the encapsulation efficiency was around 83.1%. Aqueous dispersions of the curcumin-loaded nanoparticles were resistant to aggregation when subjected to pH changes (pH 7.3 to 2.0) and sodium chloride addition (1.6 M), which was mainly attributed to the strong steric and electrostatic repulsion provided by the outer alginate layer. An in vitro simulated digestion study showed that the curcumin was mainly released during the small intestine phase and that its bioaccessibility was relatively high (80.3%), which was around 5.7-fold higher than that of non-encapsulated curcumin mixed with curcumin-free nanoparticles. In the cell culture assay, the curcumin reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity, and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation in hydrogen peroxide-treated HepG2 cells. The results suggested that nanoparticles prepared by pH shift/electrostatic deposition method are effective at delivering curcumin and may be utilized as nutraceutical delivery systems in food and drug industry.

Corrosion poses a significant risk to the safety of energy pipelines, while landslide disasters emerge as the primary threat responsible for triggering pipeline failures across mountainous areas. To date, there is limited research focused on the safety of energy pipelines considering the synergistic effect of corrosion and landslides. The present study proposes a finite element (FE)-based model to assess the condition of corroded pipelines under landslides. The effects of corrosion dimensions (length and depth) and location are determined. A novel equation is finally developed to predict the maximum stress and determine the most disadvantageous position for corroded pipelines under various landslide displacements. The results demonstrate that (1) as the landslide progresses, the pipeline’s stress significantly increases; (2) corrosion depth has a more significant impact on the pipeline condition than the corrosion length, and it is positively correlated with the pipe’s stress; (3) the maximum stress exhibits a nonlinear relationship with the landslide-facing position and the corrosion circumferential location; and (4) when the axial position of the corrosion is more than 6.5 m away from the center of the landslide, the location of maximum stress shifts from the corrosion region to the central section of the pipeline within the landslide. This work contributes to helping pipeline owners to understand the applicability of energy pipelines subjected to the combined effects of corrosion and landslides and provides support for future risk assessment efforts in pipeline integrity management.

Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus, SEZ) is an essential zoonotic bacterial pathogen that can cause various inflammation, such as meningitis, endocarditis, and pneumonia. Gasdermin D (GSDMD) is involved in cytokine release and cell death, indicating an important role in controlling the microbial infection. This study investigated the protective role of GSDMD in mice infected with SEZ and examined the role of GSDMD in peritoneal macrophages in the infection. GSDMD-deficient mice were more susceptible to intraperitoneal infection with SEZ, and the white pulp structure of the spleen was seriously damaged in GSDMD-deficient mice. Although the increased proportion of macrophages did not depend on GSDMD in both spleen and peritoneal lavage fluid (PLF), deficiency of GSDMD caused the minor release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) during the infection in vivo. In vitro, SEZ infection induced more release of IL-1β, IL-18, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in wild-type macrophages than in GSDMD-deficient macrophages. Finally, we demonstrated that pore formation and pyroptosis of macrophages depended on GSDMD. Our findings highlight the host defense mechanisms of GSDMD against SEZ infection, providing a potential therapeutic target in SEZ infection.

Abstract Background To investigate the clinical efficacy and therapeutic value of posterior decompression reduction, bone grafting fusion, and internal fixation for treatment of symptomatic old thoracolumbar fractures. Method Retrospective analysis was conducted for 14 patients (9 men, 5 women; average age 40.1 years) with old thoracolumbar fractures who underwent posterior operation. American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scores were used to evaluate neurologic function. Vertebral body height, Cobb angle in the sagittal plane, spinal canal volume ratio (%) and bone graft fusion were analyzed by radiography and computed tomography on different follow-up times. Results Mean follow-up was 27.1 months (23–36 months). Of three patients with ASIA grade A, 2 had improved postoperative urination and defecation, although no classification change. Preoperative ASIA score for eight patients with incomplete injury was grade B; four patients recovered to grade C at final follow-up. Preoperative ASIA score was C in three patients, increased to D in two patients and returned to normal E in one patient. Preoperative results showed average injured vertebra height loss rate decreased from 50.4 to 8.9%; average Cobb angle on the sagittal plane recovered from 39.6 to 6.9°; and the average spinal canal volume ratio recovered from 33.8 to 5.9%. Bony fusion was achieved; local lumbago and leg pain were relieved to some extent. No patients exhibited loosening of the fracture treated by internal fixation, pseudoarthrosis, or other related serious complications. Conclusion Treatment of old thoracolumbar fractures by posterior decompression reduction, bone grafting fusion, and internal fixation can relieve spinal cord compression, improve neurologic function of some patients (ASIA grades B–C), effectively relieve pain, correct deformity, restore biomechanical stability, and significantly improve quality of life.

The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) has been widely used in every area of our daily life to provide accurate Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) services. However, due to the multipatch effect and an obstructed view of the satellite, GNSS receivers are susceptible to large-ranging errors, which are particularly prevalent in urban areas where precise positioning is indispensable. The deployment of the high-spatial-density Fifth-Generation (5G) network makes it possible to provide a broad area with high-precision positioning service. Obviously, it promoting the deep integration of the GNSS system and the 5G mobile communication network and establishing a Highly Dependable Spatio-temporal Network (HDSN) have become an inevitable trend. The existing algorithm for the fusion of multiple signals has difficulty settling problems such as the fast fluctuation of available signal sources and the poor stability of multi-scale multi-type signal estimation in GNSS-5G hybrid networks. Here, we propose a Square Root Unscented Stable Filter (SRUSF) for GNSS and 5G joint positioning with a compact coupled filter group architecture in a highly dependable spatio-temporal network. A stabilized coefficient is added to guarantee positive covariance of the estimation error. The possibility of divergence of filtering results due to the variation in signal sources and the incomplete agreement between the system model and the actual situation are reduced. The simulation results show that the proposed SRUSF method substantially enhances the positioning accuracy and reliability compared with the other five joint estimation methods for multiple signals. This work will enable the terminal of mass users to provide timing and positioning services with unprecedented accuracy and dependability under the GNSS and 5 G-based spatio-temporal network’s architecture.

BackgroundIntraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) has become an increasingly essential technique in spinal surgery. However, data on the diagnostic value of IONM in predicting impending postoperative neurological deficits (PONDs) for patients who underwent posterior decompression surgery for thoracic spinal stenosis (TSS) are limited. Furthermore, patients who are at the highest risk of waveform changes during the surgery remain unknown. Our purpose was to (1) assess the diagnostic accuracy of IONM by combining somatosensory-evoked potential (SSEP) with motor-evoked potential (MEP) in predicting PONDs for patients who underwent the surgery and (2) identify the independent risk factors correlated with IONM changes in our study population.MethodsA total of 326 consecutive patients who underwent the surgery were identified and analyzed. We collected the following data: (1) demographic and clinical data; (2) IONM data; and (3) outcome data such as details of PONDs, and recovery status (complete, partial, or no recovery) at the 12-month follow-up visit.ResultsIn total, 27 patients developed PONDs. However, 15, 6, and 6 patients achieved complete recovery, partial recovery, and no recovery, respectively, at the 12-month follow-up. SSEP or MEP change monitoring yielded better diagnostic efficacy in predicting PONDs as indicated by the increased sensitivity (96.30%) and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) value (0.91). Only one neurological deficit occurred without waveform changes. On multiple logistic regression analysis, the independent risk factors associated with waveform changes were as follows: preoperative moderate or severe neurological deficits (p = 0.002), operating in the upper- or middle-thoracic spinal level (p = 0.003), estimated blood loss (EBL) ≥ 400 ml (p < 0.001), duration of symptoms ≥ 3 months (p < 0.001), and impairment of gait (p = 0.001).ConclusionSomatosensory-evoked potential or MEP change is a highly sensitive and moderately specific indicator for predicting PONDs in posterior decompression surgery for TSS. The independent risks for IONM change were as follows: operated in upper- or middle-thoracic spinal level, presented with gait impairment, had massive blood loss, moderate or severe neurological deficits preoperatively, and had a longer duration of symptoms.Clinical Trial Registration[http://www.chictr.org.cn]; identifier [ChiCTR 200003 2155].

Under the promotion of exploration and development for shale oil and gas, marine shale has become a hotspot of fine-grained sedimentary studies in China. Paleo-environment reconstruction has always been an important aim, especially for black shale. Based on a large number of samples collected from Wufeng and Longmaxi Formations of two field sections in western Hubei and eastern Chongqing, this study compares the vertical variations in total organic carbon content, quartz/clay mineral value, and trace element compositions of these two profiles to reflect the paleo-environment changes from the latest Ordovician to the earliest Silurian. The results show that during the later Ordovician period, when Wufeng Formation deposited, the study area experienced a water depth change from relative deep facies to shallow marine, and paleo-redox changed from oxygen rich to anoxic, and even euxinic, followed by the content of oxygen increase. When the Guanyinqiao Bed deposited, the basin suddenly became shallower, and the deposition environment changed to be oxygen enriched for high water energy, circulating oxygen enriched. In the earliest stage Silurian, when the Longmaxi Formation formed, and the paleo-water also suffered several changes of sea level, and the paleo-environment also changed from anoxic to oxic. These changes can correspond to the third-forth order sequences well.

Past studies suggested that during early lactation and the transition period, higher plasma growth hormone (GH) levels in subclinical ketosis (SCK) might involve the initiation of body adipose tissues mobilization, resulting in metabolic disorders in ruminants particularly hyperketonemia. The upregulated GH mRNA expression in adipose tissue may take part in the adipolysis process in SCK-affected cows that paves a way for study further. This study aimed to characterize the plasma levels of GH, β-hydroxybutyrate acid (BHBA) and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) and glucose (GLu) in ketotic cows and healthy control (CON) cows; to measure the liver function test (LFT) indices in ketotic and healthy CON cows, and finally the quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assay of candidate genes expressed in adipose tissues of ketotic and healthy CON cows during 0 to 7 week postpartum. Three experiments were conducted. Experiment-1 involved 21 Holstein cows weighing 500–600 kg with 2–5 parities. Results showed that GH, BHBA, and NEFA levels in ketotic cows were significantly higher and the GLu level significantly lower. Pearson's correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation of GH with BHBA, NEFA, and GLu in ketotic and healthy CON cows. In experiment-2, dynamic monitoring of LFT indices namely, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), globulin (GLOB) and albumin/globulin (A/G) were examined. The TBIL, DBIL, and GGT indices were significantly higher in ketotic cows and TP was significantly lower. In experiment-3, mRNA expression levels of GHR and peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) genes in adipose tissue were significantly upregulated in ketotic cows. However, the mRNA expression of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-1), insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-1R), and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) genes in adipose tissue were downregulated in ketotic cows. Our study concluded that during postpartum, higher plasma GH levels in SCK cows might involve the initiation of body adipose tissue mobilization, resulting in hyperketonemia.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is thought to be the most prevalent chronic joint disease. The incidence of OA is rising because of the ageing population and the epidemic of obesity. This research was designed for the identification of novel diagnostic biomarkers for OA and analyzing the possible association between critical genes and infiltrated immune cells. 10 OA samples from patients with spinal OA and 10 normal samples were collected. GSE55235 and GSE55457 datasets including human OA and normal samples were downloaded from the GEO datasets. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between 20 OA and 20 controls. SVM-RFE analysis and LASSO regression model were carried out to screen possible markers. The compositional patterns of the 22 types of immune cell fraction in OA were determined by the use of CIBERSORT. The expression level of the biomarkers in OA was examined by the use of RT-PCR. In this study, an overall 44 DEGs were identified: 18 genes were remarkably upregulated and 26 genes were distinctly downregulated. KEGG pathway analyses revealed that pathways were significantly enriched including IL-17 signal path, rheumatoid arthritis, TNF signal path, and lipid and atherosclerosis. Based on the results of machine learning, we identified APOLD1 and EPYC as critical diagnostic genes in OA, which were further confirmed using ROC assays. Immune cell infiltration analysis revealed that APOLD1 was correlated with mastocytes stimulated, NK cells resting, T cells CD4 memory resting, DCs stimulated, T cells gamma delta, macrophages M0, NK cells stimulated, and mastocytes resting. Moreover, we found that EPYC was correlated with mastocytes stimulated, NK cells resting, T cells CD4 memory resting, DCs stimulated, T cells gamma delta, macrophages M0, NK cells stimulated, and mastocytes resting. Overall, our findings might provide some novel clue for the exploration of novel markers for OA diagnosis. The critical genes and their associations with immune infiltration may offer new insight into understanding OA developments.

Al2O3-based composite ceramics have excellent high temperature performance and are ideal materials for preparing hot end components. However, poor fracture toughness and thermal shock resistance limit its applications. Based on the excellent low thermal expansion characteristics and thermal shock resistance of Al2TiO5 ceramic, different composition ratios of Al2O3/Al2TiO5 composite ceramics were prepared by directed laser deposition (DLD) technology. Effects of TiO2 doping amount on microstructure and properties of the composite ceramics were investigated. Results show that α-Al2O3 phase is discretely distributed in the continuous aluminum titanate matrix when TiO2 doping amount between 2 and 30 mol%. With the increase of TiO2 doping amount, content of Al2O3 gradually decreases and its morphology changes from cellular to dendritic. When TiO2 doping amount reaches 43.9 mol%, the microstructure transforms into fine Al2TiO5/Al6Ti2O13 eutectic structure. Property test results show that Al2O3/Al2TiO5 composite ceramics have good comprehensive mechanical properties when TiO2 doping amount between 2 and 6 mol%.

Summary: Microglia are well known to play a critical role in maintaining brain homeostasis. However, their role in epileptogenesis has yet to be determined. Here, we demonstrate that elevated mTOR signaling in mouse microglia leads to phenotypic changes, including an amoeboid-like morphology, increased proliferation, and robust phagocytosis activity, but without a significant induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines. We further provide evidence that these noninflammatory changes in microglia disrupt homeostasis of the CNS, leading to reduced synapse density, marked microglial infiltration into hippocampal pyramidal layers, moderate neuronal degeneration, and massive proliferation of astrocytes. Moreover, the mice thus affected develop severe early-onset spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRSs). Therefore, we have revealed an epileptogenic mechanism that is independent of the microglial inflammatory response. Our data suggest that microglia could be an opportune target for epilepsy prevention.

Aiming at the high cost of data labeling and ignoring the internal relevance of features in existing trademark retrieval methods, this paper proposes an unsupervised trademark retrieval method based on attention mechanism. In the proposed method, the instance discrimination framework is adopted and a lightweight attention mechanism is introduced to allocate a more reasonable learning weight to key features. With an unsupervised way, this proposed method can obtain good feature representation of trademarks and improve the performance of trademark retrieval. Extensive comparative experiments on the METU trademark dataset are conducted. The experimental results show that the proposed method is significantly better than traditional trademark retrieval methods and most existing supervised learning methods. The proposed method obtained a smaller value of NAR (Normalized Average Rank) at 0.051, which verifies the effectiveness of the proposed method in trademark retrieval.

The deep fascia of the vertebrate body comprises a biomechanically unique connective cell and tissue layer with integrative functions to support global and regional strain, tension, and even muscle force during motion and performance control. However, limited information is available on deep fascia in relation to bone in disuse. We used rat hindlimb unloading as a model of disuse (21 days of hindlimb unloading) to study biomechanical property as well as cell and tissue changes to deep fascia and bone unloading. Rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 8, each): hindlimb unloading (HU), HU + vibration (HUV), and cage-control (CON). The HUV group received local vibration applied to the plantar of both hind paws. Micro-computed tomography analyzed decreased bone mineral density (BMD) of vertebra, tibia, and femur in HU vs. CON. Biomechanical parameters (elastic modulus, max stress, yield stress) of spinal and crural fascia in HU were always increased vs. CON. Vibration in HUV only counteracted HU-induced tibia bone loss and crural fascia mechanical changes but failed to show comparable changes in the vertebra and spinal fascia on lumbar back. Tissue and cell morphometry (size and cell nuclear density), immunomarker intensity levels of anti-collagen-I and III, probed on fascia cryosections well correlated with biomechanical changes suggesting crural fascia a prime target for plantar vibration mechano-stimulation in the HU rat. We conclude that the regular biomechanical characteristics as well as tissue and cell properties in crural fascia and quality of tibia bone (BMD) were preserved by local plantar vibration in disuse suggesting common mechanisms in fascia and bone adaptation to local mechanovibration stimulation following hind limb unloading in the HUV rat.

Epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are common comorbidities of one another. Despite the prevalent correlation between the two disorders, few studies have been able to elucidate a mechanistic link. We demonstrate that forebrain specific Tsc1 deletion in mice causes epilepsy and autism-like behaviors, concomitant with disruption of 5-HT neurotransmission. We find that epileptiform activity propagates to the raphe nuclei, resulting in seizure-dependent hyperactivation of mTOR in 5-HT neurons. To dissect whether mTOR hyperactivity in 5-HT neurons alone was sufficient to recapitulate an autism-like phenotype we utilized Tsc1flox/flox;Slc6a4-cre mice, in which mTOR is restrictively hyperactivated in 5-HT neurons. Tsc1flox/flox;Slc6a4-cre mice displayed alterations of the 5-HT system and autism-like behaviors, without causing epilepsy. Rapamycin treatment in these mice was sufficient to rescue the phenotype. We conclude that the spread of seizure activity to the brainstem is capable of promoting hyperactivation of mTOR in the raphe nuclei, which in turn promotes autism-like behaviors. Thus our study provides a novel mechanism describing how epilepsy can contribute to the development of autism-like behaviors, suggesting new therapeutic strategies for autism.

Dent is a common form of defect on oil and gas pipeline. Some dents will undergo elastic or plastic recovery due to changes in internal pressure, also known as springback. To analyze the springback law of an API X60 pipeline with a dent defect, the secondary development technology of finite element software ABAQUS was used for parametric modeling of a dented pipeline. Using this model, the effects of various factors (wall thickness, internal pressure, indenter size, dent location, and dent depth) on the springback coefficient of a dented pipeline were analyzed. The significance of each factor was analyzed by combining an orthogonal experimental design with the Grey correlation degree. Finally, nonlinear regression analysis was used to obtain formulas for the springback coefficient as a function of the influential factors. The results show that the springback coefficient of the dented pipeline after pressurization was between 0.15 and 0.65, and the factor that had the largest effect on the springback coefficient was the dent location. The springback coefficient of the dented pipeline after de-pressurization was between 1.1 and 1.5, and the factor that had the largest effect on the springback coefficient was the internal pressure. The formulas that relate the springback coefficient and various influential factors can be used as a reference for estimating the springback of dented pipelines.

Marine biotoxins distribute widely, have high toxicity, and can be easily accumulated in water or seafood, exposing a serious threat to consumer health. Achieving specific and sensitive detection is the most effective way to prevent emergent issues caused by marine biotoxins; however, the previous detection methods cannot meet the requirements because of ethical or technical drawbacks. Aptamers, a kind of novel recognition element with high affinity and specificity, can be used to fabricate various aptasensors (aptamer-based biosensors) for sensitive and rapid detection. In recent years, an increasing number of aptamers and aptasensors have greatly promoted the development of marine biotoxins detection. In this review, we summarized the recent aptamer-related advances for marine biotoxins detection and discussed their perspectives. Firstly, we summarized the sequences, selection methods, affinity, secondary structures, and the ion conditions of all aptamers to provide a database-like information; secondly, we summarized the reported aptasensors for marine biotoxins, including principles, detection sensitivity, linear detection range, etc.; thirdly, on the basis of the existing reports and our own research experience, we forecast the development prospects of aptamers and aptasensors for marine biotoxins detection. We hope this review not only provides a comprehensive summary of aptamer selection and aptasensor development for marine biotoxins, but also arouses a broad readership amongst academic researchers and industrial chemists.

Inhibition of mTOR by rapamycin has been shown to suppress seizures in TSC/PTEN genetic models. Rapamycin, when applied immediately before or after a neurological insult, also prevents the development of spontaneous recurrent seizures (epileptogenesis) in an acquired model. In the present study, we examined the mTOR pathway in rats that had already developed chronic spontaneous seizures in a pilocarpine model. We found that mTOR is aberrantly activated in brain tissues from rats with chronic seizures. Furthermore, inhibition of mTOR by rapamycin treatment significantly reduces seizure activity. Finally, mTOR inhibition also significantly suppresses mossy fiber sprouting. Our findings suggest the possibility for a much broader window for intervention for some acquired epilepsies by targeting the mTOR pathway.

Background: The aim of this study was to explore the clinical value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in evaluating complications after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with common bile duct (CBD) stones. Methods: Patients who were diagnosed with CBD stones and underwent ERCP from December 2021 to December 2023 were selected as the study subjects. According to whether postoperative complications occurred, they were divided into complication group (n = 28) and non-complication group (n = 132). The general clinical data, biochemical indexes, serum PCT, and CRP levels before ERCP and 4 hours and 24 hours after ERCP were compared. The changes of serum PCT and CRP levels in patients with different types of complications at 4 hours and 24 hours after ERCP were analyzed. The value of serum PCT, CRP levels, and combined indicators in distinguishing postoperative complications was analyzed. Results: The proportion of previous pancreatitis and complications (hypertension and diabetes) in the complication group was higher than that in the non-complication group. Serum PCT and CRP levels of patients in the complication group were significantly higher than those in the non-complication group at 24 hours after ERCP (p < 0.001). Stratified according to the main types of complications, CRP level of patients with postoperative pancreatitis continued to increase at 4 hours and 24 hours after ERCP, while serum PCT increased only after 24 hours. When serum PCT and CRP levels were higher than 2.61 µg/mL and 68.18 mg/mL, respectively, at 24 hours after ERCP, the patients with postoperative complications could be well distinguished. The combination of the two indicators had a higher value in distinguishing patients with postoperative complications than the serum indicators alone. Conclusions: The increase of serum PCT and CRP levels after ERCP is related to the complications after ERCP in patients with CBD stones. For patients with a high risk of complications after ERCP, the possibility of complications occurring can be evaluated by combined examination of serum PCT and CRP levels, and prevention and treatment measures can be taken as soon as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]