ABSTRACT:To understand the species distribution of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM ) in Fujian Province of China , we collected clinical Mycobacterium isolates in the Fuzhou Pulmonary Hospital from 2009 to 2012 .A total of 6 362 clinical My‐cobacteria isolates were identified as 5 713 (89 .8% ) M .tuberculosis complex and 649 (10 .2% ) NTM strains by conventional identification method .Then ,by means of hsp65‐and rpoB‐PCR‐RFLP methods ,649 NTM strains were identified as 24 spe‐cies or complex of NTM ,in which the top three species or complex with the highest occurrence frequency were M .intracellular , M .avium and M .abscessus ,accounting for 48 .5% ,21 .3% and 12 .5% respectively .The prevalence rate of NTM was 10 .2%among Mycobacterium culture‐positive patients .There are lots of NTM species infecting human being ,and the most prevalence NTM species was M .avium complex accounting for 67 .8% in Fujian Province .

Objective To discuss the prognostic value of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to neutrophils ratio index (ANRI) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after receiving transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).Methods The clinical data of 107 HCC patients,who were admitted to authors' hospital to receive treatment during the period from January 2008 to June 2011,were retrospectively analyzed.TACE was successfully performed in all patients.Based on the 5-year overall survival rate,ROC curve was drawn and the cutoff value was determined.Preoperative ANRI,AST-lymphocytes ratio index (ALRI),AST-platelet count ratio index (APRI),neutrophil-lymphocytes ratio index (NLR),platelet count-lymphocytes ratio index (PLR) and other clinical pathological parameters were calculated.Univariate analysis,multivariate Logisitc regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were used to assess the value of the above indexes in prejudging the disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).Results ANRI bore a close relationship to the presence of HBsAg,AST,presence of cirrhosis,tumor size,portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) and recurrence of tumor (P＜0.05).Univariate analysis showed that ANRI,ALRI,APRI,NLR and PLR were significantly correlated with DFS and OS in HCC patients after receiving TACE (P＜0.05).Logisitc regression analysis revealed that ANRI was independent factor influencing DFS and OS (P＜0.05).Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that the prognosis after TACE was poor in patients whose preoperative ANRI ＞7.8.Conclusion Preoperative ANRI level is an independent and effective predictor for judging the prognosis of HCC patients.A high preoperative ANRI level usually suggests a poor prognosis after TACE.

Objective Present study aimed to characterize the alteration of cortical thickness in first-episode, never-medicated, adult patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), and explore whether such deficits were related with their disease duration and clinical symptom severity. Methods Thirty-seven adult MDD patients were recruited from March 2013 to August 2015 as patient group, and 41 healthy volunteers were as control group. All the patients underwent three-dimensional spoiled gradient recalled (3D-SPGR) sequences, and the images were acquired. Constructions of the cortical surface were developed from 3D-SPGR images using FreeSurfer software, and the thickness of the entire cortex was measured according to the automated surface reconstruction, transformation, and high-resolution inter-subject alignment procedures. Finally, cortical thickness was compared between the two groups, and the relativity between clinical symptom severity, disease progression and clinical scores were analyzed using the General Linear Model (GLM). Results Our results revealed a significant increase in cortical thickness(P<0.05, false discovery rate corrected) in the left anterior and middle cingulate cortex, bilateral precentral cortex, left paracentral cortex, bilateral superior parietal cortex, left temporal pole, and right lateral occipital cortex (cortical thickness 1.89-2.87 mm, cortical volume 34-384 mm2, P<0.05) in MDD patients compared to healthy controls, while no reversed alternation was found. In addition, clinical symptom severity and disease progression showed no correlation with the cortical thickness abnormalities in MDD group(P>0.05). Conclusion Excluding the impact of treatment, our study showed that the cortical thickness change was mainly located in the prefrontal-limbic system in the in early course of MDD.

Objective To determine the reference intervals for thyroid function tests during the second half of pregnancy (20-40 gestational weeks),and to assess the relationship between thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) levels and the incidence of gestational thyroid diseases.Methods Levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH),free thyroxine (FT4),TPOAb and urinary iodine excretion were determined in 4 729 pregnant women,who received prenatal health care at First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from July 2011 to August 2013.Among these women,2 568 were selected using the recommendations of the American National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry,and were divided into five groups according to their gestational age:≥ 20 to ＜24 weeks (682 cases),≥ 24 to ＜28 weeks (1 322 cases),≥ 28 to ＜32 weeks (178 cases),≥ 32 to ＜36 weeks (185 cases) and ≥ 36 to ≤ 40 weeks (201 cases).Reference intervals of thyroid function tests in the second half of pregnancy were calculated.The reference values of thyroid functions in different gestational weeks were compared,and the reference intervals of thyroid functions in the second half of pregnancy were determined.The effects of maternal age and positive TPOAb on gestational thyroid diseases were analyzed.A non-parametric test,analysis of variance or Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis.Results (1) Reference intervals for maternal thyroid function in the second half of pregnancy in our hospital were established [TSH:0.65-5.27 mU/L and FT4:8.74-14.84 pmol/L].(2) The percentage of thyroid diseases was higher using the non-pregnancy reference intervals (TSH:0.27-4.20 mU/L and FT4:12.00-22.00 pmol/L) than using the pregnancy reference intervals [64.0％ (3 025/4 729) vs 16.1％ (763/4 729),x2=47.465,P ＜ 0.01],which manifested as a higher rate of clinical hypothyroidism and simple hypothyroxinemia [5.4％ (255/4 729) vs 0.4％ (20/4 729),x2=14.321;54.1％ (2 560/4 729) vs 9.1％ (429/4 729),x2=47.108;both P＜0.01] and a lower rate of subclinical and clinical hyperthyroidism [1.2％ (58/4 729) vs 3.3％ (155/4 729),x2=6.650;0.3％ (13/4 729) vs 0.6％ (27/4 729),x2=2.062;both P＜0.05].(3) The incidence of clinical hypothyroidism and simple hypothyroxinemia in pregnant women aged ＞30 years was higher than in those aged ≤ 30 years [0.7％ (10/1 377) vs 0.3％ (10/3 352),x2=4.257;11.7％ (161/1 377) vs 8.0％ (268/3 352),x2=16.102;both P＜0.05].The incidence of clinical hypothyroidism and clinical hyperthyroidism in TPOAb positive women was higher than that in TPOAb negative women [2.7％ (9/335) vs 0.3％ (11/4 394),x2=44.009;3.9％ (13/335) vs 1.2％ (52/4 394),x2=16.784;both P＜0.01].Conclusions The established pregnancy-specific reference ranges of thyroid function tests can reduce the missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis of gestational thyroid diseases.Maternal age ＞30 years and positive TPOAb may increase the risk ofgestational thyroid diseases.

Objective:To explore the value of coronary computed tomography angiography(CCTA)in assessing the relationship between the fat volume around coronary plaque and the abnormal coronary hemodynamics.Methods:A total of 218 hospitalized patients admitted to Cangzhou People's Hospital from June 2022 to September 2023 were selected.In these patients,108 patients without coronary heart disease(CHD)were included in the control group,and 110 CHD patients were included in the observation group.All patients underwent CCTA examination to compare the CT imaging values(FFRCT)of the fat volume around heart and blood flow reserve fraction between the two groups.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was performed to analyze the efficacy of the fat volume around heart and FFRCT values in predicting coronary artery plaques.Additionally,Pearson's method was used to analyze the correlation between fat volume around heart and FFRCT.Results:The fat volume around heart in the observation group was(168.70±38.16)cm3,which was significantly higher than(98.75±21.19)cm3 in the control group,and the FFRCT value(0.78±0.11)of the observation group was lower than(0.89±0.10)in the control group,with statistically significant differences(t=16.688,8.041,P<0.05),respectively.In the observation group,89 patients occurred plaque,and 21 patients did not occur plaque.In the observation group,the fat volume around heart in patients with plaques was(176.63±34.15)cm3,which was significantly higher than(133.52±36.85)cm3 in patients without plaques,and the FFRCT value in patients with plaques was(0.76±0.10),which was significantly lower than(0.85±0.11)in patients without plaques,with statistically significant differences(t=4.945,3.815,P<0.05),respectively.According to Pearson's analysis,there was a negative correlation between the fat volume around heart and FFRCT value.According to Spearman's analysis,with or without plaques appeared positive correlation with the fat volume around heart in CHD patients,and they appeared negative correlation with FFRct value.According to ROC curve analysis,the area under curve(AUC)values of fat volume around heart,FFRCT,and the combination of them were respectively 0.777,0.726 and 0.930 in predicting the plaques of CHD patients.Conclusion:Hemodynamics and fat volume around heart that is measured by CCTA can predict coronary plaque,and there is a certain of relationship between coronary hemodynamics and the fat volume around coronary artery plaques,which appears negative correlation.

Objective To investigate the effect of inhibiting the expression of RNA component of mitochondrial RNA processing endoribonuclease(RMRP)on the proliferation and invasion of human lung cancer cell line A549 in order to provide evidence to support the research on NSCLC mechanism.Methods A total of 122 cases of patients who underwent surgical treatment were selected in Jiaozuo People's Hospital from March 2016 to March 2021.In the same period,50 healthy people from physical examination center were selected as the control group.RT-qPCR was used to detect the expressions of RMRP in blood and tissues.Human lung cancer cell line A549 was cultured and divided into si-RMRP group,siRNA-NC group and blank group.RT-qPCR,CCK-8 and Transwell assays were used to detect the expression of RMRP,proliferation activity and cell counting of invasive cells.Results The rel-ative expression level of RMRP in the blood of NSCLC patients was significantly higher than that of control group(P<0.001).The relative expression level of RMRP in NSCLC tissues was significantly higher than the adjacent tissues(P<0.001).The relative expression level of RMRP in blood and tissues of patients with poorly differenti-ated,lymph node metastasis and TNM stage Ⅲ compared with moderate to highly differentiated,no lymph node metastasis and TNM stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ were significantly increased(P<0.05).The relative expression level of RMRP in the cells of the si-RMRP group was lower than that of blank and the siRNA-NC group(P<0.001).Compared with the blank group and the siRNA-NC group,the absorbance(A)value of cells at 24,48,72 and 96 h in the si-RMRP group was decreased(P<0.05).The number of invasion cells in the si-RMRP group was lower than that in the blank group and the siRNA-NC group(F=27.765,P<0.001).Conclusions The relative expression levels of RMRP in blood and tissues of NSCLC patients are increased.Down-regulation of the expres-sion of RMRP gene in A549 cells can inhibit cell proliferation and reduce cell invasion.

Objective:To explore the value of jellyfish sign, an abnormal ultrasonographic sign, in predicting adverse perinatal outcomes of women with complete placenta previa combined with placenta accreta spectrum disorders (PAS).Methods:This retrospective study analyzed the ultrasound images of 72 singleton gravidas, diagnosed with complete placenta previa combined with PAS, who underwent cesarean section at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between January 2020 and February 2023. Based on the presence and absence of the jellyfish sign in ultrasound images, these gravidas were divided into the jellyfish-sign group (15 cases, 20.8%) and the non-jellyfish-sign group (57 cases, 79.2%). The clinical data and perinatal outcomes of the two groups were analyzed. The adverse perinatal outcomes encompassed conditions such as abdominal aorta balloon block, uterine artery embolism, hysterectomy, postpartum hemorrhage, and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission of their neonates. Statistical analysis was performed using two independent samples t-test, the Mann-Whitney U test and the Chi-square (or Fisher's exact) test. Results:(1) The jellyfish-sign group exhibited a higher parity [(1.6±0.7) times vs (1.2±0.6) times, t=2.01] and higher prenatal scores of placenta accreta [(12.3±1.5) scores vs (8.6±2.9) scores, t=6.59] than those in the non-jellyfish-sign group (both P<0.05). Among the 57 cases in the non-jellyfish-sign group, there were 14 cases of placenta creta (24.6%), 40 cases of placenta increta (70.2%), and three cases of placenta percreta (5.3%). Among the 15 cases in the jellyfish-sign group, nine cases were diagnosed with placenta increta, six with placenta percreta, and none with placenta creta. The difference in distribution between the two groups was statistically significant (Fisher's exact test, P<0.001). (2) Intraoperative blood loss [(for those who accepted abdominal aorta balloon block, 1 973±1 057) ml vs (1 211±576) ml, t=2.55], red blood cells transfused [4.0 U (2.0-23.0 U) vs 2.5 U (0.0-11.0 U), Z=－2.53], postoperative hospitalization time [(9.7±2.4) vs (7.5±2.2) d, t=3.36], the incidence of abdominal aorta balloon block [15/15 vs 38.6% (22/57), χ2=17.92], uterine artery embolism [for those who accepted abdominal aorta balloon block, 3/15 vs 1.8% (1/57), Fisher's exact test], and requiring blood transfusion [15/15 vs 63.2% (36/57), Fisher's exact test] were higher in the jellyfish-sign group than those in the non-jellyfish-sign group. However, the non-jellyfish-sign group had lower gestational age at delivery [(33.6±1.5) weeks vs (35.2±1.8) weeks, t=－3.24], and lower neonatal Apgar score at 1 min and 5 min [1 min: 8 scores (3-10 scores) vs 9 scores (4-10 scores), Z=－2.46; 5 min: 9 scores (7-10 scores) vs 10 scores (6-10 scores), Z=－2.02] (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in emergency surgery rate, 24 h postoperative blood loss, neonatal birth weight, and proportion of NICU admission between the two groups. Additionally, no cases of hysterectomy or death were observed in the two groups. Conclusions:Ultrasound examination revealing jellyfish signs in patients with complete placenta previa and PAS is associated with an increased likelihood of adverse perinatal outcomes. Consequently, the management of these patients should be given greater attention.

Alzheimer's disease （AD） is a deleterious neurodegenerative disorder， which has become a significant public health concern and economic burden. The pathogenesis of AD is complex and involves several hypotheses such as amyloid β-protein （Aβ） deposition， Tau protein hyperphosphorylation， oxidative stress， and inflammation. There is an urgent need for a holism-based comprehensive intervention with multi-pathway， multi-level， and multi-target characteristics， which demonstrates the unique advantage of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. Therefore， it is of great significance to conduct and promote research on TCM treatment of AD. Danggui Shaoyaosan （DSS） from the Synopsis of Golden Chamber （《金匮要略》） by ZHANG Zhongjing （150 AD-219 AD） was originally designed for reliving gynecological ailments. It is a classic TCM formula that modulates liver and spleen and dispels blood stasis and water retention. Since the late 1980s when Japanese researchers reported its therapeutic effect on AD， it has been widely used in the clinic with clear effects. The elucidation of the mechanism of this formula helps exert its effects. Hereby， this paper reviewed relative research progress and made an analysis in terms of attenuating aberrant accumulation of Aβ and hyperphosphorylated Tau protein， anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities， mediating neurotransmitters， ameliorating lipid metabolism， modulating gut microbiota， reduced neuron apoptosis， decreasing intracellular Ca²⁺ overloading， and increasing the expression of estradiol. This paper is expected to provide references for understanding the scientific connotation of DDS in the treatment of AD and lay a solid foundation for further investigation.

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic strategy in patients with early gastric cancer after noncurative endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Methods: A total of 107 cases with early gastric cancer receiving noncurative endoscopic submucosal dissection were collected and the patients were classified into an additional gastrectomy group (n=41) and a simple follow-up group (n=66) according to the therapeutic method used after noncurative ESD. The clinicopathological information, short- and long-term clinical outcomes between the two groups were analyzed and compared. Results: The mean age of the patients in the gastrectomy group and follow-up group was(59.2±8.7)years old and(64.7±8.8)years old, respectively. The depth of submucosal invasion was (1445.83±803.12) and (794.71±815.79) μm, respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P=0.020 for age and P=0.010 for depth of submucosal invasion). Compared with follow-up group, the patients with undifferentiated histologic type, deep invasion of submucosa (SM2), diffuse type, lymphovascular invasion and neural invasion were more common in the gastrectomy group (P<0.05). The R0 resection rate of ESD in the gastrectomy group was significantly lower than the follow-up group(26.8% vs 65.2%, P<0.001). The positive residual tumor rate and LNM rate of additional gastrectomy group were 31.7%(13/41)and 9.76%(4/41)according to the pathological results after gastrectomy. The gastrectomy group had 2 cases of local recurrence (2/41, 4.9%), while 5(5/66, 7.6%)in the follow-up group(4.9% vs 7.6%, P=0.883). There was no significant difference in overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) between the two study groups (P=0.066 and 0.938, respectively). Conclusions Assessment of LNM risk should be performed in patients with noncurative endoscopic resection. For patients with low risk of LNM who are intolerance of additional gastrectomy due to old age and comorbidities, close follow-up with endoscopy can be considered as an alternative.