OBJECTIVES: To analyze bone mass distribution and the factors affecting bone mass in a general Chinese Han cohort undergoing physical examinations at our center. METHODS: We retrospectively collected the data of bone mineral density (BMD) measurements from 30 599 healthy Han Chinese adults (age≥20 years) who underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans at our hospital from July, 2013 to July, 2023. Basic parameters including height, body weight, and gender were recorded, and descriptive statistics and correlation analyses were performed using R software. RESULTS: In this cohort, the male individuals had a mean peak BMD of 1.00±0.12 g/cm² in the lumbar vertebrae, 0.94±0.14 g/cm² in the femoral neck, and 0.99±0.13 g/cm² in the total hip, significantly higher than the values in the female individuals [0.99±0.12 g/cm² in the lumbar vertebrae (P=0.022), 0.79±0.11 g/cm² in the femoral neck (P<0.001), and 0.88±0.11 g/cm² in the total hip (P<0.001)]. In the overall cohort, the BMD values of the lumbar spine and femur decreased with age after reaching their peak levels. There was a positive correlation between BMD value and body mass index (BMI) in both male and female individuals. The 2013-2014 period recorded the lowest BMD values in the lumbar, hip, and femoral neck, which tended to increase steadily in the following years (2015-2023). CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that the BMD values vary among different populations, and future multi-center studies using more accurate BMD detection technology are warranted to capture the variation patterns of BMD with demographic characteristics of specific populations.
Humans ; Bone Density ; Absorptiometry, Photon ; Male ; Female ; Retrospective Studies ; Osteoporosis/diagnostic imaging* ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Lumbar Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging* ; China/epidemiology* ; Femur Neck/diagnostic imaging* ; Aged ; Beijing/epidemiology* ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of intravenous colistin sulfate combined with nebulized inhalation versus intravenous monotherapy for pulmonary infections caused by carbapenem-resistant organism (CRO). METHODS: A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted. Clinical data were collected from patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of 10 tertiary class-A hospitals in Henan Province between July 2021 and May 2023, who received colistin sulfate for CRO pulmonary infections. Data included baseline characteristics, inflammatory markers [white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil count (NEU), procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP)], renal function indicators [serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN)], life support measures, anti-infection regimens, clinical efficacy, microbiological clearance rate, and prognostic outcomes. Patients were divided into two groups: intravenous group (colistin sulfate monotherapy via intravenous infusion) and combination group ((intravenous infusion combined with nebulized inhalation of colistin sulfate). Changes in parameters before and after treatment were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 137 patients with CRO pulmonary infections were enrolled, including 89 in the intravenous group and 48 in the combination group. Baseline characteristics, life support measures, daily colistin dose, and combination regimens (most commonly colistin sulfate plus carbapenems in both groups) showed no significant differences between two groups. The combination group exhibited higher clinical efficacy [77.1% (37/48) vs. 59.6% (52/89)] and microbiological clearance rate [60.4% (29/48) vs. 39.3% (35/89)], both P < 0.05. Pre-treatment inflammatory and renal parameters showed no significant differences between two groups. Post-treatment, the combination group showed significantly lower WBC and CRP [WBC (×10⁹/L): 8.2±0.5 vs. 10.9±0.6, CRP (mg/L): 14.0 (5.7, 26.6) vs. 52.1 (24.4, 109.6), both P < 0.05], whereas NEU, PCT, SCr, and BUN levels showed no significant between two groups. ICU length of stay was shorter in the combination group [days: 16 (10, 25) vs. 21 (14, 29), P < 0.05], although mechanical ventilation duration and total hospitalization showed no significant differences between two groups. CONCLUSIONS Intravenous colistin sulfate combined with nebulized inhalation improved clinical efficacy and microbiological clearance in CRO pulmonary infections with an acceptable safety profile.
Humans ; Colistin/therapeutic use* ; Retrospective Studies ; Administration, Inhalation ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use* ; Carbapenems/pharmacology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/drug effects* ; Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Respiratory Tract Infections/drug therapy*

AIM: To examine the effects of three commonly used general anesthetics on the proliferation and activation of glial cells in neonatal rats. METHODS: Neonatal rats were exposed to either isoflurane, sevoflurane or desflurane for 2 h on postnatal day 2 (P2). The animals were euthanatihed and the brain were harvested on P7 and P14, respectively. The immunohistochemical localihation of glial markers (vimentin, GFAP, Iba1) were examined. RESULTS: Activation of astrocyte in granular layer and molecular layer of dentate gyrus of hippocampus was significantly enhanced on P7 and P14 after desflurane exposure, while that in isoflurane group the change was only significantly different on P14. The activation of microglia in the granular layer of dentate gyrus but not in the pyramidal cell layer of CA1 region was significantly enhanced in the desflurane group on P7 and P14, while the isoflurane group only showed significant difference on P14. CONCLUSION: Short time exposure of different inhalation anesthetics has different effects on the activation of glial cells in different subregions of hippocampus in neonatal rats on postnatal day 2, and sevoflurane may have the least effect on it.

Objective:To investigate the method and effect of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) allograft combined with fat grafting for penile augmentation.Methods:The first phase of enhancing the penile augmentation was using the dual plane approach with acellular dermal matrix, and the second phase was injecting autologous fat into the layer between dartos fascia and buck fascia.Results:23 patients were followed up for 6 months after operation, their penile circumference at flaccid after the operations (11.08±1.67) cm was increased significantly compared to that before the operations (7.87±1.08) cm. All patients were satisfactory with the cosmetic and functional results, and no fat liquefaction, necrosis and other complications happened.Conclusions:Acellular dermal matrix allograft combined with fat injection is an effective and safe way for penile augmentation, which has the characteristics of good shape and few complications.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and prognostic factors of palliative radiotherapy for advanced gastric cancer.Methods:From January 2013 to December 2018, the clinical data of 390 patients with advanced gastric cancer in the Cancer Center of Wuhan Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology were collected. Patients were divided into two groups—combined chemoradiotherapy group ( n=95) and chemotherapy alone group ( n=295) according to the treatment method. Patients were followed up by outpatient reviews, phone calls or text messages at regular intervals. The clinical efficacy and prognostic factors of palliative radiotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer were retrospectively analyzed. Results:The median survival time and the 6-month, 1-year, 2-year survival rates of combined chemoradiotherapy group and chemotherapy alone group were respectively 28.07 months versus 11.27 months, 89.0% versus 69.0%, 68.0% versus 40.0%, 51.0% versus 15.0%. The survival rate of the combined chemoradiotherapy group was significantly higher than that of the chemotherapy alone group ( χ2=27.400, P<0.001). The median survival time of the combined chemoradiotherapy group was significantly longer than that of chemotherapy alone group in both 289 first-time diagnosed patients ( χ2=23.681, P<0.001) and 101 recurrent gastric cancer patients ( χ2=5.164, P=0.023), with median survival time being 28.07 months versus 11.47 months and 16.37 months versus 10.53 months respectively. Chemotherapy regimen before radiotherapy ( χ2=7.019, P=0.030), disease control before radiotherapy ( χ2=4.689, P=0.030), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score before radiotherapy ( χ2=8.529, P=0.014) and radiotherapy area ( χ2=4.763, P=0.029) were factors influencing the prognosis of patients with advanced gastric cancer undergoing palliative radiotherapy. Multivariate analysis showed that ECOG score ( HR=2.252, 95% CI: 1.288-3.935, P=0.004) and disease control before radiotherapy ( HR=2.604, 95% CI: 1.183-5.730, P=0.017) were independent prognostic factors. Conclusion:The efficacy of combined chemoradio-therapy is significantly better than chemotherapy alone in both first-time diagnosed and recurrent advanced gastric cancer. Chemotherapy regimen before radiotherapy, disease control before radiotherapy, ECOG score before radiotherapy and radiotherapy area are factors influencing the prognosis of patients with advanced gastric cancer undergoing palliative radiotherapy. ECOG score and disease control before radiotherapy are independent prognostic factors.

Objective To study the dynamic changes of blood carnitine and acylcarnitine levels in preterm infants during parenteral and enteral nutritional support,and the relationship between carnitine status and nutritional patterns,gestational age (GA) and weight gain.Method From January 2017 to December 2017,preterm infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) within 24 hours after birth and received parenteral nutrition support were enrolled.They were assigned into 4 groups according to their GA:ultra-premature infants (＜ 28 weeks),very premature infants (28 ～ 31 weeks),mid premature infants (32 ～ 33 weeks) and late premature infants (34 ～ 36 weeks).They were assigned into 2 groups according to their average daily weight gain:＜ 15 g/(kg · d) group and ≥15 g/(kg · d) group.Blood samples were collected and examined as dried-blood spot specimens on filter paper for four times:after born,given total parenteral nutrition,given enteral combined parenteral nutrition,and given total parenteral nutrition.The concentrations of free carnitine and acylcarnitine were detected using liquid chromatographytandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).SPSS 21.0 statistical software was used for statistical analysis.Result A total of 124 preterm infants and 410 samples were collected.As the infants experienced gradual transition from parenteral nutrition to enteral nutrition,the free carnitine and most acylcarnitines levels were decreasing (C3,C4,C10DC,C12,C12∶1,C12DC,C14,C16,C16∶ 1,C16-OH and C18,P＜0.05).Preterm infants with small GA showed higher levels of C4-OH (P =0.001) and C5 (P =0.001).Preterm infants with lower velocity of weight gain showed lower concentration of C5-OH (P =0.006) in the early postnatal period.Conclusion Free carnitine and acylcarnitine in preterm infants during the early postnatal period are decreasing with the transition from parenteral nutrition to enteral nutrition,indicating that the exogenous nutrition is relatively insufficient.C4-OH and C5 levels are negatively correlated with GA.In addition,lower level of C5-OH may indicate slow weight gain during the early postnatal period.

Objective To investigate the association between clinicopathological characteristics and familial history of malignant neoplasms (MN-FH) in patients with colorectal cancer. Methods The clinical data of 652 cancer patients in Zhengzhou University Affiliated Cancer Hospital from December 2014 to December 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were grouped based on with or without MN-FH. The clinical and pathological features of the patients were analyzed by χ 2test. Results One hundred and thirty cases (19.9 %) of colorectal cancer had MN-FH. Compared with NO MN-FH group, MN-FH group had the features of low differentiation degree, late clinical stage, deep infiltration, and also prone to lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis, associated with cancer nodules, vascular thrombosis, nerve invasion, multiple primary tumor, MSI-H (χ 2values were 30.825, 12.270, 12.122, 8.502, 53.969, 4.502, 12.861, 11.680, 6.272, 17.460, all P < 0.05). Conclusions Colorectal cancer patients with MN-FH has high malignant degree,the early diagnosis and treatment are the key to survival of patients with MN-FH.

Objective To investigate the correlation of serum cystatin C(CysC) and N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels with severity of coronary heart disease.Methods 240 patients with coronary artery disease were selected.According to coronary angiography,they were divided into four groups:52 cases of non-CAD group,coronary single vessel disease group (73 cases),62 cases of double vessel disease,53 cases of triple vessel disease group.The serum CysC,NT-proBNP levels were determined and compared among the four groups.The relationship between CysC,NT-proBNP levels and severity of coronary artery disease was analyzed.Results The CysC,NT-proBNP levels in the single coronary vessel disease group,double vessel disease group and multivessel disease group were higher than non-CHD group,the differences were statistically significant(t=2.019,3.870,7.449,P=0.046,0.000,0.000;t=6.068,15.365,24.851,P=0.000,0.000,0.000);and with the crown pulse lesion count increased,the serum CysC,NT-proBNP levels increased gradually,the differences were statistically significant(t=2.080,3.070,P=0.039,0.000;t=10.953,12.078,P=0.000,0.000).Coronary artery disease severity was positively correlated with CysC,NT-proBNP levels (r1=0.562,r2=0.503).Conclusion The severity of coronary artery disease is closely related to the levels of CysC,NT-proBNP,which has some predictive value for coronary artery disease,patients with high CysC,NT-proBNP levels should be given high priority.

Objective To investigate the changes of protein and energy intakes and the z-score of weight for age in appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and small for gestational age (SGA) preterm infants with gestational age less than 34 weeks. Methods The data from 314 hospitalized premature infants ( 268 cases of AGA and 46 cases of SGA) during January 2012 to December 2014 were retrospectively collected. The intakes of protein and energy and the changes of weight within 2 weeks after birth were compared. Results Compared with AGA group, the hospital stays, durations of parenteral and enteral nutrition and total enteral nutrition, and time to achieve full dose feeding were signiifcantly longer in SGA group (P?

Objective To detect the expression of BRAF V600E mutant protein in cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM),and to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of immunohistochemistry (IHC) in detecting BRAF V600E mutation.Methods IHC with an anti-BRAF V600E monoclonal antibody was performed to detect the expression of BRAF V600E mutant protein in paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 103 patients with CMM and 40 patients with nevus.Statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS software version 17.0,and the expression rate of BRAF V600E mutant protein was compared by chi-square test.Results The expression rate of BRAF V600E mutant protein in the CMM patients was 20.4％ (21/103),significantly higher than that in the nevus patients (5.0％ (2/40),x2 =5.06,P ＜ 0.05).Significant differences were observed in the expression rate of BRAF V600E mutant protein between CMM patients of different age groups (29.8％ (14/47) in patients aged ＜ 60 years vs.12.5％ (7/56) in those aged ≥ 60 years,P ＜ 0.05) and nationality (30.2％ (13/43) for Uygur nationality vs.13.3％ (8/60) for Han nationality,P ＜ 0.05),as well as among CMM lesions from different anatomical sites (13.6％ (6/42) in acral sites vs.11.8％ (4/29) in mucous membrane vs.45.8％ (11/32) in non-acral sites,P ＜ 0.05) and of different Clark levels (8.6％ (4/42) for grade Ⅰ-Ⅲ vs.12.4％ (17/61) for grade Ⅳ-Ⅴ,P＜ 0.05),but not between male and female CMM patients or between CMM patients with lymph node metastasis and those without (both P ＞ 0.05).IHC with the anti-BRAF V600E antibody showed a sensitivity of 100％ (15/15) and a specificity of 98.5％ (65/66) in detecting BRAF V600E mutation.Conclusions The expression of BRAF V600E mutant protein is up-regulated in CMM lesions,and CMM patients of Uygur nationality seems to have a higher expression rate than those of Han nationality.IHC appears to be an accurate and rapid method to detect V600E BRAF mutation.