Objective:To explore the influence of hypercholesterolemia on the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the middle-aged and elderly population and the gender differences.Methods:The data came from the "Epidemiological Survey of Chronic Kidney Disease among Adults in Urban Communities in Henan Province". The subjects came from 20 communities in Henan Province, aged ≥45 years old. Groups were based on the quartile of total blood cholesterol level and gender. Multivariate logistic regression and Cochran-Armitage trend test were used to analyze the effect of hypercholesterolemia on the risk of CKD and its gender differences.Results:A total of 4 779 subjects were enrolled into the study, with 1 934 males (40.5%) and 2 845 females (59.5%). The age was (61.3±7.7) years old and the blood cholesterol was (5.0±1.0) mmol/L. The prevalence rates of hypercholesterolemia, albuminuria, and reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were 10.7%(305/2 845), 6.4%(182/2 845) and 2.8%(79/2 845) in females and 12.7%(245/1 934), 6.9%(133/1 934) and 2.3%(45/1 934) in males respectively. Compared with Q1 group, the prevalence of reduced eGFR in females were higher in Q2 and Q4 groups (both P<0.05). Among males, the prevalence of albuminuria and reduced eGFR increased with increasing blood cholesterol quartile (Cochran-Armitage trend test Z=12.231, 8.862, both P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that hypercholesterolemia was an independent influencing factor for albuminuria and reduced eGFR ( OR=1.49, 95% CI 1.08-2.07, P=0.016 and OR=1.65, 95% CI 1.03-2.65, P=0.037, respectively). In subgroup analysis of different genders, female hypercholesterolemia was an independent influencing factor for albuminuria and reduced eGFR, while male hypercholesterolemia was not an independent influencing factor ( OR=1.54, 95% CI 0.96~2.46, P=0.075; OR=1.89, 95% CI 0.93-3.89, P=0.082, respectively). Further subgroup analysis based on the interquartile range of serum cholesterol levels found that female hypercholesterolemia was an independent influencing factor for reduced eGFR in the Q2 and Q4 groups ( OR=2.35, 95% CI 1.29-7.61, P=0.003; OR=2.51, 95% CI 1.38-8.39, P=0.001). In males, hypercholesterolemia was an independent influencing factor for albuminuria in the Q2, Q3 and Q4 groups ( OR=1.80, 95% CI 1.01-3.41, P=0.047; OR=1.85, 95% CI 1.02-3.35, P=0.044; OR=2.33, 95% CI 1.33-4.33, P=0.002). Conclusions:Hypercholesterolemia is an independent risk factor for CKD in middle-aged and elderly population, and there are gender differences, which provides a new idea for clinical prevention and control of CKD.

OBJECTIVETo detect the CDH1 gene methylation of suspension cells in intraoperative abdominal lavage fluid from colorectal cancer patients, and to examine its association with clinicopathology and prognosis.

METHODSReal-time methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (qMSP) was used to investigate the methylation status of the CDH1 gene promoter 5'-CpG islands from intraoperative abdominal lavage fluid in 102 patients with colorectal cancer. The associations between methylation of CDH1 genes and clinicopathologic features and prognosis were investigated.

RESULTSAmong the 102 colorectal cancer patients, aberrant methylation of CDH1 gene was detected in 47 patients. Significant associations were found between CDH1 methylation status and tumor size, growth pattern, differentiation, distant metastasis, and clinical staging (all P<0.05). The median progression-free survival was 25.98 months for CDH1 methylation group and 41.36 months for non-methylated group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). Cox model analysis revealed that CDH1 methylation status in intraoperative peritoneal lavage fluid was an independent factor associated with postoperative survival in colorectal cancer patients (50.23% vs. 86.51%, P=0.001).

CONCLUSIONSColorectal cancer patients with aberrant methylation of 5'-CpG of CDH1 gene promoter of suspension cells in abdominal lavage have higher malignancy, more metastasis and worse prognosis.

Abdomen ; pathology ; Aged ; Cadherins ; genetics ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; CpG Islands ; DNA Methylation ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Therapeutic Irrigation

Objective: The current study reported a case series to illustrate the early computed tomography (CT) findings of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in pediatric patients. Materials and Methods: All pediatric patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 and who underwent CT scan in Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from January 20, 2020 to February 28, 2020 were included in the current study. Data on clinical and CT features were collected and analyzed. Results: Four children were included in the current study. All of them were asymptomatic throughout the disease course (ranging from 7 days to 15 days), and none of them showed abnormalities in blood cell counts. Familial cluster was the main transmission pattern. Thin-section CT revealed abnormalities in three patients, and one patient did not present with any abnormal CT findings. Unilateral lung involvement was observed in two patients, and one patient showed bilateral lung involvement. In total, five small lesions were identified, including ground-glass opacity (n = 4) and consolidation (n = 1). All lesions had ill-defined margins with peripheral distribution and predilection of lower lobe. Conclusion Small patches of ground-glass opacity with subpleural distribution and unilateral lung involvement were common findings on CT scans of pediatric patients in the early stage of the disease.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of modified Shibaotang on serum sex hormone levels in patients with male late-onset hypogonadism of kidney essence deficiency syndrome complicated with diabetes mellitus. MethodsA total of 60 patients with male late-onset hypogonadism of kidney essence deficiency syndrome complicated with diabetes mellitus，who met the inclusion criteria and were admitted to Yinchuan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from October 2022 to October 2023，were selected and randomly divided into an observation group and a control group，with 30 patients in each group. Both groups continued their original treatments，including blood glucose lowering and blood lipid regulation. The observation group was treated with modified Shibaotang，while the control group was treated with testosterone undecanoate capsules. The treatment lasted for 12 weeks. The changes in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）syndrome scores，partial androgen deficiency in aging males （PADAM）symptom scores，glucose metabolism indexes ［fasting plasma glucose （FPG），2-hour postprandial glucose （2 h PG），glycosylated hemoglobin （HbA1c）］，and serum sex hormone indexes ［sex hormone-binding globulin （SHBG），free testosterone （FT），total testosterone （TT），prolactin （PRL），luteinizing hormone （LH），follicle stimulating hormone （FSH），estrogen （E₂）］ were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. Safety was also evaluated. Results（1）Clinical efficacy comparison：After treatment，the clinical efficacy in both groups was similar，and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. （2）TCM syndrome score and PADAM symptom score comparison：After treatment，both groups showed a significant reduction in TCM syndrome scores and PADAM symptom scores （P<0.01），and the observation group showed a significantly greater reduction compared to the control group （P<0.05）. （3）Glucose metabolism indexes comparison：After treatment，the levels of FPG，2 h PG，and HbA1c were significantly reduced in both groups （P<0.01），and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding FPG，2 h PG，and HbA1c levels after treatment. （4）Serum sex hormone indexes comparison：After treatment，the levels of FT，TT，PRL，LH，and FSH were significantly increased in both groups （P<0.01），while E₂ levels were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the levels of FT，TT，PRL，LH，FSH，and E₂ after treatment. There was also no significant difference in SHBG levels within or between the groups before and after treatment. During the clinical observation，neither group exhibited any obvious adverse reactions. ConclusionModified Shibaotang can significantly improve the clinical symptoms of male late-onset hypogonadism of kidney essence deficiency syndrome complicated with diabetes mellitus，reduce blood glucose，and increase sex hormone levels. The mechanism may involve the inhibition of aromatase transformation in adipocytes，promotion of GnRH production，and regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis function.