Comparison of Vertebral Artery Ultrasound, Magnetic Resonance Angiography and Digital Subtraction Angiography in the Diagnosis of Vertebral Artery Stenosis in Patients with Posterior Circulation Ischemia

SUMMARY: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical value of vertebral artery ultrasound (VAU), Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) and Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) on vertebral artery stenosis in patients with posterior circulation ischemia. Seventy-three patients with posterior circulation ischemia underwent vertebral artery ultrasound and magnetic resonance angiography as well as digital subtraction angiography, and the diagnosis of vertebral artery stenosis (VAS) and the degree of stenosis (normal, mild stenosis, moderate stenosis, severe stenosis, and occlusion) were recorded and compared between digital subtraction angiogram and vertebral artery ultrasound and magnetic resonance angiography. The vertebral artery stenosis rates on digital subtraction angiography and vertebral artery ultrasound were 87.30 % (55/63) and 49.20 % (31/63), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant. The rates of vertebral artery stenosis on digital subtraction angiography and, magnetic resonance angiography was 90.38 % (47/52) and 88.46 % (46/ 52), respectively, and the differences was not statistically significant. The sensitivity, accuracy, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value of vertebral artery ultrasound in diagnosing vertebral artery stenosis were 51.35 %, 54.76 %, 18.18 %, and 95.00 %, respectively, lower than those of magnetic resonance angiography, which were 91.89 %, 90.48 %, 57.14 %, and 97.14 %, respectively. Of the noninvasive imaging techniques, vertebral artery ultrasound does not accurately characterize vertebral artery stenosis and its degree of stenosis. Magnetic resonance angiography effectively screens for vertebral artery stenosis and its degree of stenosis, and can be used as a reliable tool for vertebral artery stenosis in posterior circulation cerebral infarction, and can be used in conjunction with digital subtraction angiogram in order to improve diagnostic convenience and accuracy.

El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar el valor clínico de la ecografía de la arteria vertebral (VAU), la angiografía por resonancia magnética (ARM) y la angiografía por sustracción digital (DSA) en la estenosis de la arteria vertebral en pacientes con isquemia de la circulación posterior. A 73 pacientes con isquemia de la circulación posterior se les realizó una ecografía de la arteria vertebral y una angiografía por resonancia magnética, así como una angiografía por sustracción digital, y se les diagnosticó estenosis de la arteria vertebral (EVA) y el grado de estenosis (normal, estenosis leve, estenosis moderada, estenosis grave, y oclusión) se registraron y compararon la angiografía por sustracción digital y la ecografía de la arteria vertebral y la angiografía por resonancia magnética. Las tasas de estenosis de la arteria vertebral en la angiografía por sustracción digital y la ecografía de la arteria vertebral fueron del 87,30 % (55/63) y del 49,20 % (31/63), respectivamente, y la diferencia fue estadísticamente significativa. Las tasas de estenosis de la arteria vertebral en la angiografía por sustracción digital y la angiografía por resonancia magnética fueron del 90,38 % (47/52) y del 88,46 % (46/52), respectivamente, y las diferencias no fueron estadísticamente significativas. La sensibilidad, precisión, valor predictivo negativo y valor predictivo positivo de la ecografía de la arteria vertebral en el diagnóstico de estenosis de la arteria vertebral fueron 51,35 %, 54,76 %, 18,18 % y 95,00 %, respectivamente, inferiores a los de la angiografía por resonancia magnética, que fueron 91,89 %, 90,48 %, 57,14 % y 97,14 %, respectivamente. De las técnicas de imagen no invasivas, la ecografía de la arteria vertebral no caracteriza con precisión la estenosis de la arteria vertebral y su grado de estenosis. La angiografía por resonancia magnética detecta eficazmente la estenosis de la arteria vertebral y su grado de estenosis, y puede usarse como una herramienta confiable para la estenosis de la arteria vertebral en el infarto cerebral de circulación posterior, y puede ser utilizada junto con la angiografía por sustracción digital para mejorar el diagnóstico y la exactitud.

Role and mechanism of action of Yinchenhao Decoction in inhibiting ferroptosis of hepatocytes in mice with autoimmune hepatitis / 临床肝胆病杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the role and mechanism of action of Yinchenhao Decoction in inhibiting ferroptosis of hepatocytes in mice with autoimmune hepatitis. MethodsA total of 18 specific pathogen-free female C57BL/6 mice were selected and divided into normal group， model group， and treatment group using a random number table， with 6 mice in each group. The mice in the model group and the treatment group were injected with concanavalin A （Con A） via the caudal vein to establish a mouse model of autoimmune hepatitis， and those in the normal group were injected with normal saline. The mice in the treatment group were given prophylactic treatment with Yinchenhao Decoction （4.68 g crude drug/kg） by gavage at 14 days before modeling， and Con A was injected after the last gavage. The levels of alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， interferon gamma （IFN-γ）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， iron ion， glutathione （GSH）， reactive oxygen species （ROS）， adenosine triphosphate （ATP）， and malondialdehyde （MDA） were measured； liver index and spleen index were calculated； the expression levels of GPX4 and SLC7A11 were measured； liver histopathological changes were compared between groups. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between three groups， and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group had significant increases in liver index， spleen index， ALT， AST， IFN-γ， TNF-α， iron ion， ROS and MDA （all P<0.05） and significant reductions in the content of GSH and ATP and the protein expression levels of GPX4 and SLC7A11 （all P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the treatment group had significant reductions in liver index， spleen index， ALT， AST， IFN-γ， TNF-α， iron ion， ROS and MDA （all P<0.05） and significant increases in the content of GSH and ATP and the protein expression levels of GPX4 and SLC7A11 （all P<0.05）. HE staining showed that compared with the normal group， the model group showed massive hepatocyte degeneration and necrosis and inflammatory cell aggregation at the portal area， and compared with the model group， the treatment group had alleviation of liver necrosis and inflammatory infiltration. ConclusionLiver injury induced by Con A may be associated with ferroptosis. Yinchenhao Decoction can increase the protein expression levels of SLC7A11 and GPX4 protein and thus inhibit ferroptosis of hepatocytes induced by Con A.

Comparison of Anatomic Locking Titanium Plate and Intramedullary Nail in the Treatment of Distal Tibial Fractures / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

ObjectivesTo compare the clinical efficacy and complications of anatomic locking titanium plate （hereinafter referred to as “titanium plate screw”） and intramedullary nail in the treatment of distal tibial fractures.Methods From September 2019 to September 2021， 32 patients diagnosed with AO-A fracture of distal tibia at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were included in this study. Of these， 15 cases were treated with titanium plate screws and 17 cases were treated with intramedullary nails. General surgical indexes， fracture healing time and postoperative operation were compared between the two groups.ResultsAll patients were followed up for 10 to 20 months， with an average of 12 months. The operative time and intraoperative fluoroscopy times of intramedullary nail group were longer than those of titanium plate screw group， but the preoperative waiting time and hospitalization days was less or were fewer than those of titanium plate screw group， the difference was statistically significant （P < 0.05）. There was no significant difference in fracture healing time between the two groups （P> 0.05）. At 6 weeks after operation， VAS scores in both groups were lower than those before operation， with statistically significant difference （P<0.05）. There was no significant difference in VAS scores between the intramedullary nail group and the titanium plate screw group （P> 0.05）. AOFAS scores 6 months after surgery， ankle joint motion and complication rate 1 year after surgery in intramedullary screw group were better than those in titanium plate screw group， and the differences were statistically significant （P< 0.05）. There was no significant difference in AOFAS scores between the two groups at 1 year after operation （P> 0.05）.ConclusionTitanium plate screw and intramedullary nail are both effective methods for the treatment of distal tibial AO-A fracture， and there is no significant difference in long-term clinical efficacy. Intramedullary nail has fewer soft tissue complications， less impact on ankle motion， faster recovery and higher safety， while titanium plate screw has a higher probability of postoperative soft tissue infection. We suggest that in clinical work， preoperative evaluation of patients should be done well. Under the premise of grasping the indications， intramedullary nail has fewer complications and certain advantages.

Experience of Medicinal Insects for Gynaecological Diseases / 中医杂志

It is believed that all kinds of gynaecological diseases are mostly related to deficiency and stagnation of qi and blood. Medicinal insects are good at running and scurrying， with the effectiveness of activating blood circulation and dispelling blood stasis， moving qi and relieving pain， searching and dredging collaterals， attacking hardness and dissipating mass， and purging foetus and resolving mass， etc. Appropriate prescriptions can enhance the effectiveness of the formula in eliminating blood stasis and eliminating stagnation. In the treatment of menstrual disorders， chronic pelvic inflammatory disease， uterine cavity disease， incomplete miscarriage， ectopic pregnancy， and other gynaecological diseases， medicinal insects including Quanxie （Scorpio）， Wugong （Scolopendra）， Tubiechong （Eupolyphaga/Steleophaga）， Jiuxiangchong （Coridius chinenses）， Shuizhi （Hirudo）， Mangchong （Tabanus）， Dilong （Pheretima） and other insects for medicinal purposes could be used， and the self-prescribed empirical formulas such as Sanhuang Decoction （三黄汤）， Hongteng Decoction （红藤汤）， Penning Decoction （盆宁方）， Shapei Decoction （杀胚方）， and Gongwaiyun Decoction （宫外孕方） and so on， were all applied medicinal insects and showed effective in clinic.

Identification and Analysis of SND1 as an Oncogene and Prognostic Biomarker for Lung Adenocarcinoma / 中国肺癌杂志

BACKGROUND@#Transcription factor (TF) can bind specific sequences that either promotes or represses the transcription of target genes, and exerts important effects on tumorigenesis, migration, invasion. Staphylococcal nuclease-containing structural domain 1 (SND1), which is a transcriptional co-activator, is considered as a promising target for tumor therapy. However, its role in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unclear. This study aims to explore the role of SND1 in LUAD.@*METHODS@#Data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC), and Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database was obtained to explore the association between SND1 and the prognosis, as well as the immune cell infiltration, and subcellular localization in LUAD tissues. Furthermore, the functional role of SND1 in LUAD was verified in vitro. EdU assay, CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, scratch assay, Transwell assay and Western blot were performed.@*RESULTS@#SND1 was found to be upregulated and high expression of SND1 is correlated with poor prognosis of LUAD patients. In addition, SND1 was predominantly present in the cytoplasm of LUAD cells. Enrichment analysis showed that SND1 was closely associated with the cell cycle, as well as DNA replication, and chromosome segregation. Immune infiltration analysis showed that SND1 was closely associated with various immune cell populations, including T cells, B cells, cytotoxic cells and dendritic cells. In vitro studies demonstrated that silencing of SND1 inhibited cell proliferation, invasion and migration of LUAD cells. Besides, cell cycle was blocked at G1 phase by down-regulating SND1.@*CONCLUSIONS@#SND1 might be an important prognostic biomarker of LUAD and may promote LUAD cells proliferation and migration.

Research progress of small molecule fluorescent probes for ferrous ion and heme / 药学学报

Small molecule fluorescent probes have gained widespread attention for their advantages of high selectivity, sensitivity, and easy to operate, and have played a critical role in the detection of various species. They have also demonstrated great potential in the field of biomedical research. Iron, as the most abundant transition metal in the human body, plays a vital role in many physiological functions. Due to the influence of the reductive microenvironment of cell, ferrous ion (Fe2+) is the main component of labile iron in living cells. Heme, consisting of Fe2+ and protoporphyrin IX, is one of the main signaling molecules that wrap biological iron in the human body, and also participates in many physiological and pathological processes. Therefore, the development of small molecule fluorescent probes for detecting Fe2+ and heme as effective monitoring tools will help to further understand their pathological and physiological functions, with potential applications in other fields. This review summarizes the research progress of small molecule fluorescent probes for Fe2+ and heme detection in recent years, and provides insights into future directions for their development.

The mechanism research of Xiaoyan Lidan formula for the intervention of chronic intrahepatic cholestasis based on metabolomics combined with molecular docking analysis / 药学学报

In this study, the mechanism of Xiaoyan Lidan formula (XYLDF) against 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydro-2,4,6-collidine (DDC)-induced chronic intrahepatic cholestasis (CIHC) in mice was investigated based on metabolomics, molecular docking and pharmacological methods. In the pharmacodynamics study, a dosage of 5 g·kg-1 (clinical equivalent) XYLDF was administered in DDC-induced mice, then the effect of XYLDF against CIHC was evaluated by measuring the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (AKP) as well as total bilirubin (TBIL) in serum and observing liver histopathological changes. All experiments were approved by the Ethical Committee Experimental Animal Center of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (ZYD-2021-001). The serum metabolites of mice in each group were detected and identified based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry, and the relevant biological pathways and molecular key targets were further enriched. Molecular docking technology was used to further evaluate the binding activity of the main active ingredients of XYLDF with potential targets. Subsequently, the in vitro experiment was conducted for the validation of the vital target. The results showed that compared with the model group, XYLDF significantly decreased the levels of ALT, AST, AKP and TBIL in the serum of CIHC mice, as well as alleviated inflammatory infiltration and hepatocyte necrosis in liver tissue. According to the metabonomic study, a total of 35 differential metabolites was identified as biomarkers associated with cholestasis, 12 of which were significantly recovered by XYLDF treatment. These biomarkers were involved in the pathways of primary bile acid biosynthesis and linoleic metabolism, which are closely related to the mechanism of XYLDF against CIHC. Protein-protein interaction network indicated that cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) and cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) are significant potential targets with good binding properties with six major active ingredients of XYLDF. Furthermore, it was found that 4-methoxy-5-hydroxycanthin-6-one, dehydroandrographolide and isodocarpin, three of the main active components in XYLDF, markedly induced the expression of CYP3A4 mRNA in vitro. This study revealed that XYLDF mainly mediates the biosynthesis of bile acids in CIHC mice to improve liver tissue lesions and bile efflux disorders, among which, CYP3A4 is the key target in the protection of XYLDF against CIHC. This research provides a reference for further elucidation of the pharmacological mechanism of XYLDF.

Polysaccharide of Balanophora involucrata Hook. f. attenuates cell ferroptosis in rats with experimental liver injury through SLC7A11/GPX4 pathway / 药学学报

Polysaccharide of Balanophora involucrata Hook. f. (BPS), the major component of Balanophora involucrata Hook. f., was confirmed the protective effect on liver injury in our previous study. This research aimed to investigate the protective mechanism of BPS on experimental liver injury by attenuating cell ferroptosis through modulating solute carrier family 7 member 11/glutathione peroxidase 4 (SLC7A11/GPX4) pathway. The animal experiment was approved by the Experimental Animal Ethical Committee of Hubei Minzu University and all rats had received human care in compliance with the institutional animal care guidelines. Rats were given intraperitoneal injection of (D-galactosamine, D-GalN) solution (800 mg·kg-1) one time to establish the acute liver injury model. The results showed aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) levels in serum were decreased, and the contents of reactive oxygen species (ROS), Fe2+, malondialdehyde (MDA) and lipid peroxide (LPO) in liver tissues also decreased and glutathione (GSH) level increased after BPS administration with 200 mg·kg-1. Besides, BPS reduced iron deposition and increased the expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 proteins in liver tissue. In conclusion, BPS ameliorated experimental liver injury by alleviating cell ferroptosis through SLC7A11/GPX4 pathway. The present study pointed to the possibility of utilizing BPS for protection against liver injury in clinic.

Nephrotoxicity caused by polymyxin in the treatment of drug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections：a meta-analysis / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the incidence of nephrotoxicity in patients with drug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections after the use of polymyxin， and to provide evidence-based reference for clinical rational drug use. METHODS PubMed， Embase， Web of Science， the Cochrane Library， Wanfang database， CNKI， VIP and SinoMed were searched to collect randomized controlled trials （RCTs） or cohort studies about the polymyxin （trial group） versus other antibiotics （control group） or polymyxin B （trial group） versus polymyxin E （control group）. After literature screening， data extraction and quality evaluation， RevMan 5.4.1 software was used for meta-analysis. RESULTS A total of 37 studies were included， including 4 RCTs and 33 cohort studies， with a total of 5 871 patients. The meta-analysis results showed that in RCT [RR＝2.64，95%CI （1.43，4.87），P＝0.002] and in cohort studies [RR＝1.59， 95%CI （1.27， 1.98）， P＜0.000 1]， the incidence of nephrotoxicity in the trial group was significantly higher than control group. The results of the subgroup analysis of cohort studies showed that the incidence of nephrotoxicity in the trial group （receiving polymyxin） was significantly higher than control group （receiving new β-lactam and β-lactamase inhibitors and tigecycline）； when Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes （KDIGO）， renal replacement therapy or 0.5 times increase in serum creatinine were used as the standard of nephrotoxicity， the incidence of nephrotoxicity in the trial group was significantly higher than the control group （P＜0.05）. The incidence of nephrotoxicity in patients receiving polymyxin E was significantly higher than those using polymyxin B [RR＝0.57， 95%CI （0.39，0.84）， P＝0.005]. CONCLUSIONS In the treatment of drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria infections， the incidence of nephrotoxicity caused by polymyxin is relatively high. The TYU108F）； incidence of nephrotoxicity caused by polymyxin E is higher than polymyxin B.

Progress in the diagnosis and treatment of immunoglobulin G4-related ophthalmic diseases / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

Immunoglobulin G4-related diseases(IgG4-RD)are chronic, systemic diseases that have received much attention in recent years. IgG4-RD can affect almost all tissues of the body, mainly manifested by swelling and space-occupying changes in the involved sites. It is called IgG4-related ophthalmic disease(IgG4-ROD)when the lesions invade the ocular area. The disease mainly invades the lacrimal glands, orbital fat, infraorbital nerve, extraocular muscles, and eyelids. At present, the main treatment modalities for IgG4-ROD include medication, surgery, and radiation therapy, etc. With the enhanced understanding of the disease and the increasing cure rate in recent years, this article reviews the latest progress in the epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations, imaging features, diagnosis and treatment of IgG4-ROD.

Surveys on management of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome in ten hospitals in Northwest China in 2016 and 2021 / 中华围产医学杂志

Objective:To analyze the status of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) management in 10 hospitals in Northwest China over the past five years and to investigate the strategies for improving the prevention and treatment of RDS.Methods:This retrospective study involved premature infants with RDS who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care units (NICU) of 10 hospitals (six in Shaanxi Province, three in Gansu Province, and one in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region) of the Northwest China Neonatal Collaborative Group within 3 d after birth from January 1 to December 31, 2016, and from January 1 to December 31, 2021. Basic information, perinatal condition, treatment approaches, complications, and prognosis of the patients were compared. T-test, rank sum, and Chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis. Result:(1) This study enrolled 322 premature infants with RDS in 2016 and 349 in 2021. Premature infants at the gestational age of 30 to 33 weeks were mainly affected, and the majority were male [64.3% (207/322) and 57.3% (200/349)]. The average maternal age in 2021 was older than that in 2016 [(30.6±4.8) years vs (28.6±5.4) years, t=24.02, P<0.001], and the proportion of women at advanced maternal age was also higher in 2021 [19.2% (67/349) vs 12.4% (40/322), χ2=4.18, P<0.05]. (2) The proportions of pregnancies conceived with assisted reproductive technologies [11.7% (41/349) vs 1.9% (6/322), χ2=25.12], underwent routine prenatal examinations [58.5% (204/349) vs 30.4% (98/322), χ2=53.33], exposed to steroids [62.2% (217/349) vs 28.6% (92/322), χ2=82.58] and delivered by cesarean section or elective cesarean section [73.6% (257/349) vs 51.6% (166/322), χ2=35.06; 24.1% (84/349) vs 6.5% (21/322), χ2=39.07], as well as the ratio of cesarean scar pregnancy [7.4% (26/349) vs 3.4% (11/322), χ2=5.23] were all higher in 2021 than those in 2016 (all P<0.05). Moreover, the incidence of fetal distress [30.1% (105/349) vs 20.2% (65/322), χ2=8.68], gestational hypertension [24.6% (86/349) vs 13.0% (42/322), χ2=14.59], premature rupture of membranes [16.0% (56/349) vs 10.2% (33/322), χ2=4.89], meconium-stained amniotic fluid [12.6% (44/349) vs 5.6% (18/322), χ2=9.83], placental abruption [10.3% (36/349) vs 5.3% (17/322), χ2=5.84], gestational diabetes mellitus [10.3% (36/349) vs 1.6%(5/322), χ2=22.41], chorioamnionitis [4.6%(16/349) vs 0.9% (3/322), χ2=8.12], thyroid dysfunction [4.3% (15/349) vs 0.6% (2/322), χ2=7.88] and heart disease [4.3% (15/349) vs 0.3% (1/322), χ2=9.17] were higher in 2021 than in 2016 (all P<0.05). (3) In 2021, the rate of pulmonary surfactant (PS) usage, the dosage of porcine PS, and the proportion of bovine PS usage were all significantly higher than those in 2016 [73.6% (257/349) vs 67.1% (216/322), χ2=11.62; (178.5±38.0) mg/kg vs (165.2±42.8) mg/kg, t=7.85; 47.9% (123/257) vs 19.4% (42/216), χ2=41.72; all P<0.01]. No significant difference in the incidence of intubation-surfactant-extubation (INSURE), early PS administration (≤2 h after birth), or the arterial blood gas values before and after PS treatment was found between the cases enrolled in 2021 and 2016. The duration of antibiotic treatment [7.0 d (5.0-14.0 d) vs 5.0 d (1.0-8.0 d), Z=7.55] and assisted ventilation [144 h (81-264 h) vs 73 h (47-134 h), Z=8.20] and the median hospital stay [24 d(14-42 d) vs 16 d (10-25 d), Z=6.74] were significantly longer in 2021 than in 2016 (all P<0.01). More patients required nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation [29.6% (100/338) vs 1.0% (3/306), χ2=97.81] and conventional ventilation [42.6% (144/338) vs 30.1% (92/306), χ2=10.87] in 2021 as compared with those five years ago (both P<0.01). (4) In 2021, the incidence of patent ductus arteriosus [15.5% (54/349) vs 6.2% (20/322), χ2=63.40], bronchopulmonary dysplasia [9.2% (32/349) vs 2.8% (9/322), χ2=12.88], persistent pulmonary hypertension [5.4% (19/349) vs 0.6% (2/322), χ2=12.85], periventricular leukomalacia [4.3% (15/349) vs 1.2% (4/322), χ2=7.52] and pneumothorax [3.4% (12/349) vs 0.3% (1/322), χ2=9.68] increased as compared with those in 2016 (all P<0.05), while the incidence of nosocomial infection decreased significantly [7.4% (26/349) vs 19.6% (63/322), χ2=21.37, P<0.001]. (5) The cure rate of premature infants with RDS was 70.8% (247/349) in 2021, which was significantly higher than that in 2016 [56.2% (181/322), χ2=15.37, P<0.001]. Moreover, the rate of withdrawing treatment and the total mortality rate was lower in 2021 than in 2016 [7.7% (27/349) vs 14.3% (46/322), χ2=7.41; in-hospital: 1.4% (5/349) vs 5.6% (18/322), χ2=8.74; out of hospital: 8.3% (29/349) vs 13.7% (44/322), χ2=4.96; all P<0.05]. Conclusions:The clinical management of RDS in premature infants in the involved hospitals has been improved. However, there is room for improvement in prenatal examinations.

Distribution characteristics of body mass index among Chinese oldest-old aged 80 years and above / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To investigate body mass index (BMI) level, identify the main type of nutritional problem, and describe the population distribution characteristics of BMI among Chinese people aged 80 years or above. Methods: The data of 9 481 oldest-old individuals were obtained from the 2017-2018 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. The Lambda-Mu-Sigma method, weighted estimates of BMI, and comparisons by BMI quintiles were used to describe the BMI level and distribution characteristics among the oldest-old. Results: The average age of the participants was (91.9±7.7) years, with P50 of the weighted BMI at 21.9 (95%CI: 21.8-22.0) kg/m2. The result of BMI level showed a decreasing trend with age, with a rapid decline before age 100, and then the trend became slower. There are about 30% of the oldest-old classified as undernutrition, but the prevalence of overnutrition is only about 10%. The population distribution characteristics by BMI quintiles showed the oldest-old with lower BMI levels were likely to have the following characteristics: sociodemographically, to be older, female, ethnic minority, unmarried/divorced/widowed, rural residents, illiterate, with inadequate living expenses, located in Central, South, or Southwest China; regarding lifestyles, lower BMI levels were observed for participants who were smoking, not exercising, lack of leisure activities, or with poor dietary diversity; considering functional status, participants with lower BMI levels were those who have poor chewing ability, disability in activities of daily living, cognitive impairment, hearing loss, visual impairment, or poor self-rated health status. The oldest-old with higher BMI levels were likely to have heart disease, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, and diabetes. Conclusions: The overall BMI level was low among the Chinese oldest-old and it showed a downward trend with age. Currently, the main nutritional problem among the Chinese oldest-old was undernutrition rather than overweight or obesity. Management of healthy lifestyles, functional status, and diseases would be helpful to reduce the risk of undernutrition among the oldest-old.

Association between cognitive impairment and main metals among oldest old aged 80 years and over in China / 中华预防医学杂志

Objective: To identify the main metals involved in cognitive impairment in the Chinese oldest old, and explore the association between these metal exposures and cognitive impairment. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1 568 participants aged 80 years and older from Healthy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study (2017 to 2018). Fasting venous blood was collected to measure the levels of nine metals (selenium, lead, cadmium, arsenic, antimony, chromium, manganese, mercury, and nickel). The cognitive function of these participants was evaluated by using the Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (CMMSE). The random forest (RF) was applied to independently identify the main metals that affected cognitive impairment. The multivariate logistic regression model and restricted cubic splines (RCS) model were used to further verify the association of the main metals with cognitive impairment. Results: The age of 1 568 study subjects was (91.8±7.6) years old, including 912 females (58.2%) and 465 individuals (29.7%) with cognitive function impairment. Based on the RF model (the out-of-bag error rate was 22.9%), the importance ranking of variables was conducted and the feature screening of five times ten-fold cross-validation was carried out. It was found that selenium was the metal that affected cognitive function impairment, and the other eight metals were not included in the model. After adjusting for covariates, the multivariate logistic regression model showed that with every increase of 10 μg/L of blood selenium levels, the risk of cognitive impairment decreased (OR=0.921, 95%CI: 0.889-0.954). Compared with the lowest quartile(Q1) of blood selenium, the ORs (95%CI) of Q3 and Q4 blood selenium were 0.452 (0.304-0.669) and 0.419 (0.281-0.622) respectively. The RCS showed a linear dose-response relationship between blood selenium and cognitive impairment (Pnonlinear>0.05). Conclusion: Blood selenium is negatively associated with cognitive impairment in the Chinese oldest old.

Association of greenness, nitrogen dioxide with the prevalence of hypertension among the elderly over 65 years old in China / 中华预防医学杂志

Objective: To investigate the association of mixed exposure to greenness and nitrogen dioxide(NO2) and hypertension among the older adults aged 65 years and over in China. Methods: The study subjects were from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey from 2017 to 2018. A total of 15 423 older adults aged 65 years and over meeting the criteria were finally included in the study. A questionnaire survey was used to collect information on demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits and self-reported prevalence of hypertension. Blood pressure values were obtained through physical examination. The level of normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI) was measured by the Medium-resolution Imaging Spectral Radiator(MODIS) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA). The concentration of NO2 was from China's surface air pollutant data set. Meteorological data was from NASA MERRA-2. The exposure to NDVI and NO2 for each study subject was calculated based on the area within a 1 km radius around their residence. The association between mixed exposure of NDVI and NO2 as well as their interaction and hypertension in older adults was analyzed by using the multivariate logistic regression model. The restrictive cubic spline(RCS) function was used to explore the exposure-response relationship between greenness and NO2 and the risk of hypertension in study subjects. Results: The mean age of 15 423 older adults were (85.6±11.6). Women accounted for 56.3%(8 685/15 423) and 55.6%(8 578/15 423) lived in urban areas. The mean time of residence was (60.9±28.5) years. 59.8% of participants were with hypertension. The mean NDVI level was 0.41±0.13, and the mean NO2 concentration was (32.18±10.36) μg/cm3. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that NDVI was inversely and linearly associated with the hypertension in older adults, with the OR(95%CI) value of 0.959(0.928-0.992). Compared with the T1 group of NDVI, the risk of hypertension was lower in the T3 group, with the OR(95%CI) value of 0.852(0.769-0.944), and the trend test was statistically significant(P<0.05). Compared with the T1 group of NO2, the risk of hypertension was higher in the T2 and T3 groups, with OR(95%CI) values of 1.160(1.055-1.275) and 1.244(1.111-1.393), and the trend test was statistically significant (P<0.05). The result of the RCS showed that NDVI was inversely and linearly associated with hypertension in older adults. NO2 was nonlinearly associated with hypertension in older adults. The interaction analysis showed that NDVI and NO2 had a negative multiplicative interaction on the risk of hypertension, with OR(95%CI) value of 0.995(0.992-0.997). Conclusion: Exposure to greenness and NO2 are associated with hypertension in older adults.

Association of plasma vitamin B12 level with plasma uric acid level among the elderly over 65 years old in 9 longevity areas of China / 中华预防医学杂志

Objective: To investigate the association of plasma vitamin B12 level with plasma uric acid level among the elderly over 65 in 9 longevity areas of China. Methods: The elderly over 65 years old with complete information on plasma vitamin B12 and plasma uric acid from Healthy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study (2017 to 2018) were recruited in this study. Information on socio-demographic characteristics, life styles, diet intake, and health status were collected by questionnaire and physical examination; and fasting venous blood was collected to detect the levels of plasma vitamin B12, uric acid and other indicators. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the association of plasma vitamin B12 level per interquartile range increase with plasma uric acid level. The association trend of plasma vitamin B12 level with plasma uric acid level was described by restrictive cubic splines fitting multiple linear regression model. Multiple logistic regression models were used to analyze the association of plasma vitamin B12 level stratified by quartiles with hyperuricemia. Results: A total of 2 471 participants were finally included in the study, the age was (84.88±19.76) years old, of which 1 291 (52.25%) were female. The M (Q1, Q3) level of plasma vitamin B12 was 294 (203, 440) pg/ml and the plasma uric acid level was (341.01±90.46) μmol/L. A total of 422 participants (17.08%) were defined with hyperuricemia. The results of multiple linear regression model showed that there was a positive association of plasma vitamin B12 level with plasma uric acid level after adjustment for covariates (P<0.05). An IQR increase in plasma vitamin B12 (237 pg/ml) was associated with a 6.36 (95%CI: 2.00-10.72) μmol/L increase in the plasma uric acid level. The restrictive cubic splines curve showed a positive linear association of log-transformed plasma vitamin B12 with uric acid level (P<0.001). Conclusion: There is a positive association of plasma vitamin B12 level with plasma uric acid level among the elderly over 65 years old in 9 longevity areas of China.

Association of hs-CRP with frailty and its components among the elderly over 65 years old in 9 longevity areas of China / 中华预防医学杂志

Objective: To investigate the association of the levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) with frailty and its components among the elderly over 65 years old in 9 longevity areas of China. Methods: Cross-sectional data from the Health Ageing and Biomarkers Cohort Study (HABCS, 2017-2018) were used and the elderly over 65 years old were included in this study. Through questionnaire interview and physical examination, the information including demographic characteristics, behavior, diet, daily activity, cognitive function, and health status was collected. The association between hs-CRP and frailty and its components in the participants was analyzed by multivariate logistic regression model and restrictive cubic spline. Results: A total of 2 453 participants were finally included, the age was (84.8±19.8) years old. The median hs-CRP level was 1.13 mg/L and the prevalence of frailty was 24.4%. Compared with the low-level group (hs-CRP<1.0 mg/L), the OR (95%CI) value of the high-level group (hs-CRP>3.0 mg/L) was 1.79 (1.35-2.36) mg/L. As for the components, the hs-CRP level was also positively associated with ADL disability, IADL disability, functional limitation and multimorbidity. After adjusting for confounding factors, compared with the low-level group, the OR (95%CI) values of the high-level group for the four components were 1.68 (1.25-2.27), 1.88 (1.42-2.50), 1.68 (1.31-2.14) and 1.39 (1.12-1.72), respectively. Conclusion: There is a positive association between the levels of hs-CRP and the risk of frailty among the elderly over 65 years old in 9 longevity areas of China. The higher hs-CRP level may increase the risk of frailty by elevating the risk of four physical functional disabilities, namely ADL disability, IADL disability, functional limitation and multimorbidity.

Textbook outcome in gallbladder carcinoma after curative-intent resection: a 10-year retrospective single-center study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Textbook outcome (TO) can guide decision-making among patients and clinicians during preoperative patient selection and postoperative quality improvement. We explored the factors associated with achieving a TO for gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) after curative-intent resection and analyzed the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) on TO and non-TO patients.@*METHODS@#A total of 540 patients who underwent curative-intent resection for GBC at the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from January 2011 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate the factors associated with TO.@*RESULTS@#Among 540 patients with GBC who underwent curative-intent resection, 223 patients (41.3%) achieved a TO. The incidence of TO ranged from 19.0% to 51.0% across the study period, with a slightly increasing trend over the study period. The multivariate analysis showed that non-TO was an independent risk factor for prognosis among GBC patients after resection ( P = 0.003). Age ≤60 years ( P = 0.016), total bilirubin (TBIL) level ≤34.1 μmol/L ( P <0.001), well-differentiated tumor ( P = 0.008), no liver involvement ( P <0.001), and T1-2 stage disease ( P = 0.006) were independently associated with achieving a TO for GBC after resection. Before and after propensity score matching (PSM), the overall survival outcomes of non-TO GBC patients who received ACT and those who did not were statistically significant; ACT improved the prognosis of patients in the non-TO group ( P <0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Achieving a TO is associated with a better long-term prognosis among GBC patients after curative-intent resection, and ACT can improve the prognosis of those with non-TO.

Analysis of microbial diversity in the midgut of Haemaphysalis longicornis infected with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus / 中国热带医学

@#Abstract: Objective　To investigate the composition and diversity of midgut microbial community of Haemaphysalis longicornis infected with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV)． Methods　The midgut DNA of three group Haemaphysalis longicornis infected with SFTSV was extracted, and the 16S rDNA gene of the sample was sequenced by HiSeq platform. The composition and diversity of endosymbiotic microbial community were clarified by OTU cluster analysis and alpha diversity analysis. Results　The midgut microbial clusters of the three groups infected with SFTSV were 143, 113, 163 OTUs respectively; the sparsity curve and abundance grade curve showed that the data had sufficient sequencing depth, and the midgut of Haemaphysalis longicornis infected with SFTSV was rich in microbial composition, but the species distribution was uneven. The analysis of microbial community composition showed that Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria were the main dominant bacteria at the phyla level. At the class level, Gammaproteobacteria, Bacilli, Betaproteobacteria and Actinomycetia were the main dominant bacteria. At the order level, Legionellales, Bacillales, Burkholderiales and Actinomycetales were the main dominant orders. At the family level, Coxiellaceae, Bacillaceae, Moraxellaceae and Rhodococcaceae were the main dominant families. At the genus level, the relative abundance of Coxiella was the highest, followed by Aeribaillus and Azonexus. Alpha diversity analysis showed that the average Shannon index was 139.67, the average Simpson index was 0.48, the average Chao index was 145.06, and the average ACE index was 147.11. Conclusions　The species diversity of intestinal microorganisms in Haemaphysalis longicornis infected with SFTSV is rich. The results provide a basis for further exploring the interaction between intestinal microbes of Haemaphysalis longicornis and SFTSV and developing new ideas for the prevention and control of ticks and tick-borne diseases.

Influencing factors for acute necrotizing pancreatitis in Eastern and Western countries: A meta-analysis / 临床肝胆病杂志

Objective To investigate the differences in the influencing factors for acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) and infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) between Eastern and Western countries, and to provide a theoretical basis for the prediction and prevention of ANP. Methods Databases including PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched for articles on the influencing factors for ANP and IPN published up to January 21, 2021, and a Meta-analysis was performed. Results A total of 59 studies were included, with 22 studies from Eastern countries and 37 studies from Western countries.The Meta-analysis showed that in Eastern countries, male sex (odds ratio[ OR ]=1.51, 95% confidence interval[ CI ]: 1.18-1.91, P < 0.01), C-reactive protein (CRP)(standardized mean difference[ SMD ]=1.39, 95% CI : 1.06-1.71, P < 0.01), D-dimer ( SMD =0.44, 95% CI : 0.07-0.81, P =0.02), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE-Ⅱ) score (mean difference[ MD ]=3.51, 95% CI : 1.38-5.64, P < 0.01), alcoholic etiology ( OR =3.57, 95% CI : 2.68-4.75, P < 0.01), and biliary etiology ( OR =0.60, 95% CI : 0.46-0.77, P < 0.01) were the influencing factors for ANP, and in Western countries, male sex ( OR =1.63, 95% CI : 1.30-2.05, P < 0.01), CRP ( SMD =2.09, 95% CI : 1.12-3.05, P < 0.01), APACHE-Ⅱ score ( MD =4.28, 95% CI : 2.73-5.83, P < 0.01), Ranson score ( MD =2.99, 95% CI : 2.50-3.47, P < 0.01), and organ failure ( OR =10.87, 95% CI : 2.62-45.04, P < 0.01) were the influencing factors for ANP.In Eastern countries, age ( MD =2.16, 95% CI : 0.43-3.89, P =0.01), body mass index (BMI)( MD =1.74, 95% CI : 1.23-2.25, P < 0.01), albumin level ( SMD =-0.43, 95% CI : -0.75 to-0.12, P < 0.01), CRP ( SMD =0.58, 95% CI : 0.04-1.11, P =0.03), procalcitonin ( SMD =0.80, 95% CI : 0.56-1.04, P < 0.01), D-dimer ( MD =0.23, 95% CI : 0.15-0.31, P < 0.01), APACHE-Ⅱ score ( MD =2.47, 95% CI : 0.73-4.22, P < 0.01), Ranson score ( MD =1.60, 95% CI : 1.46-1.73, P < 0.01), and extent of necrosis ≥30%( OR =2.52, 95% CI : 1.26-5.06, P < 0.01) were the influencing factors for IPN, while in Western countries, age ( MD =4.07, 95% CI : 1.82-6.31, P < 0.01), APACHE-Ⅱ score ( MD =3.28, 95% CI : 1.39-5.17, P < 0.01), Ranson score ( MD =2.18, 95% CI : 1.75-2.62, P < 0.01), SIRS score ( OR =3.88, 95% CI : 1.58-9.51, P < 0.01), alcoholic etiology ( OR =0.61, 95% CI : 0.42-0.87, P < 0.01), and organ failure ( OR =3.63, 95% CI : 1.11-11.92, P =0.03) were the influencing factors for IPN. Conclusion Current evidence shows that biliary etiology and alcoholic etiology are unique influencing factors for ANP in the Eastern population, while Ranson score is a unique influencing factor in the Western population.BMI and extent of necrosis ≥30% are unique influencing factors for IPN in the Eastern population, while alcoholic etiology is a unique influencing factor in the Western population.

Comparative and phylogeny analysis of Asarum caudigerum and A. cardiophyllum complete chloroplast genomes / 药学学报

The complete chloroplast genome of medicinal plant Asarum caudigerum Hance and its close relative A. cardiophyllum Franchet were sequenced using Illumina Hiseq technology, and assembled, annotated, and characterized by bioinformatic methods in this study. Then phylogenetic analysis of the complete chloroplast genomes of A. caudigerum, A. cardiophyllum, and twelve published species was conducted. The results indicated that the chloroplast genomes ranged from 186 215-186 985 bp in length, with a large single copy (LSC, 89 445-90 169 bp) and two inverted repeats (IRa/IRb, 48 387-48 408 bp). The overall GC content was 37.4%-37.5%. A total of 144 chloroplast genes were annotated, including 98 protein coding genes, 38 tRNA genes and 8 rRNA genes. In addition, complex genomic rearrangements were detected in the chloroplast genome of Asarum. Meanwhile, visual evaluation of the discrete type of the sequence indicated that the variation level of non-coding region was higher than that of coding region. Phylogenetic analyses suggested that A. caudigerum and A. cardiophyllum were clustered into a single clade and A. cardiophyllum, A. sieboldii var. seoulense, A. misandrum and A. maculatum were clustered into another single branch. These two clade were sister species. This study provides a scientific basis for the identification, phylogenetic relationship, molecular breeding of Asarum species.