Objective To evaluate desmopressin stimulated inferior petrosal sinus sampling in diagnosing Cushing′s disease.Methods Sixteen ACTH-dependent Cushing′s disease patients underwent bilateral desmopressin stimulated inferior petrosal sinus ( IPS ) sampling because of negative or equivocal magnetic resonance imaging.Cortisol response to high-dose dexamethasone suppression test was also evaluated.ACTH sampling was taken from a peripheral vein and bilateral IPS before and both 5 and 10 min after injection of desmopressin.Diagnosis was based on the ratio of ACTH level in between IPS to peripheral vein by desmopressin test.Diagnosis was confirmed after surgery.Results High-dose dexamethasone suppression test showed suppressible in 9 of 16 patients with Cushing′s disease.An IPS gradient ＞2 was found in 14 of the 16 cases (87.5％ )with Cushing′s disease after desmopressin injection,while before injection the respective figure was 12 of 16 (75.0％).No severe adverse effects were observed during or after the procedure.Conclusion Desmopressin test during bilateral IPS sampling is a safe and effective diagnostic procedure in Cushing′s disease.

Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) is one of the pathological types of nephrotic syndrome.Besides secondary factors,such as immune system diseases,hepatitis and tumors,the etiology is still unclear.Recent studies have shown that the incidence of IMN is increasing year by year,and the age of onset is gradually younger.Adolescents have become a representative group of new IMN patients.Researches have showed that adolescent idiopathic membrane patients have mild clinical and pathological manifestations,good renal function,and good prognosis.Most patients have fertility requirements,and there are clinical concerns about the application of hormones and immunosuppressive agents.This paper reviews the progress on the clinicopathological manifestation,treatment and prognosis of adolescent IMN patients.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of oral glucocorticoid combined with intravenous cyclophosphamide or oral cyclophosphamide in the treatment of idiopathic membranous nephropathy.Methods:According to the random number table method, 50 patients in our hospital were divided into oral cyclophosphamide group (oral group) and intravenous cyclophosphamide group (intravenous group). The oral group was treated with prednisone and compound cyclophosphamide tablets, while the intravenous group was given prednisone and intravenous injection of cyclophosphamide. The 24-hour urinary protein, serum albumin, liver and kidney function and adverse events were observed before treatment and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment. The remission rate and drug safety of the two groups were compared.Results:After 3 months of treatment, the effective rate of oral group was 40%, which was significantly higher than that of intravenous group (4%). After 6 months of treatment, the effective rate of oral group (52%) was higher than that of intravenous group (44%). After 12 months of treatment, the effective rate of intravenous group (72%) was higher than that of oral group (64%), with no statistically significant difference ( P>0.05). Before treatment, there were no significant differences in albumin, urea nitrogen, creatinine, Cystatin C, glomerular filtration rate and 24-hour urine protein between the oral group and the intravenous group ( P>0.05). After 12 months of treatment, the level of albumin in the oral group and the intravenous group was significantly higher than that before treatment ( P<0.05), and the 24-hour urine protein level was significantly lower than that before treatment ( P<0.05). The total incidence of adverse reactions in the intravenous group was lower than that in the oral group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Hormone combined with intravenous infusion of cyclophosphamide has better long-term efficacy and higher safety in the treatment of idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

Objective To investigate the composition of symptom clusters in early postoperative breast cancer patients and analyze the sentinel symptoms of each cluster of symptoms.Methods A total of 309 patients who underwent mastectomy were conveniently sampled and surveyed using the Chinese version of the Anderson Symptom Inventory.Principal component analysis and varimax or-thogonal rotation were employed to analyze the symptom clusters,and their associations were analyzed using the Apriori algorithm model to identify the sentinel symptoms of each cluster of symptoms.Re-sults Three symptom clusters were identified in early postoperative breast cancer patients:neuro-sleep symptom cluster[fatigue(weakness)-distress-pain-sleepiness-restless sleep],sensory-perception symptom cluster(numbness-forgetfulness-shortness of breath-sadness-dry mouth),and digestive system symptom cluster(nausea-vomiting-loss of appetite).Fatigue was the sentinel symptom of the neuro-sleep symptom cluster,numbness was the sentinel symptom of the sensory-perception symptom cluster,and nausea was the sentinel symptom of the digestive system symptom cluster.Conclusion Early postoperative breast cancer patients experience multiple symptom clusters,with sentinel symptoms ex-isting in each cluster.Healthcare staff should develop intervention measures based on sentinel symp-toms to improve the efficiency of symptom management and reduce the degree of symptom distress for patients.

Objective To investigate the composition of symptom clusters in early postoperative breast cancer patients and analyze the sentinel symptoms of each cluster of symptoms.Methods A total of 309 patients who underwent mastectomy were conveniently sampled and surveyed using the Chinese version of the Anderson Symptom Inventory.Principal component analysis and varimax or-thogonal rotation were employed to analyze the symptom clusters,and their associations were analyzed using the Apriori algorithm model to identify the sentinel symptoms of each cluster of symptoms.Re-sults Three symptom clusters were identified in early postoperative breast cancer patients:neuro-sleep symptom cluster[fatigue(weakness)-distress-pain-sleepiness-restless sleep],sensory-perception symptom cluster(numbness-forgetfulness-shortness of breath-sadness-dry mouth),and digestive system symptom cluster(nausea-vomiting-loss of appetite).Fatigue was the sentinel symptom of the neuro-sleep symptom cluster,numbness was the sentinel symptom of the sensory-perception symptom cluster,and nausea was the sentinel symptom of the digestive system symptom cluster.Conclusion Early postoperative breast cancer patients experience multiple symptom clusters,with sentinel symptoms ex-isting in each cluster.Healthcare staff should develop intervention measures based on sentinel symp-toms to improve the efficiency of symptom management and reduce the degree of symptom distress for patients.

Objective:This study compared the prevalence,awareness,treatment and control of hypertension and associated factors in China and the United States(US).Methods:Adult data from nationally representative samples were derived from the Chronic Disease and Risk Factors Surveillance in 2010 and 2013 in China and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2010 and 2013 in the US.Multivariable logistic and Poisson regression analysis were conducted to assess associations of the four outcomes with body weight status and behavioral factors.Results:Age-standardized prevalence rates of hypertension was 35.7％(95％confidence interval[CI]:35.4％to 36.1％)in 2010 and 29.8％(95％CI:29.4％to 30.2％)in 2013 in China,and 35.3％(95％CI:33.6％to 37.1％)in 2010 and 37.9％(95％CI:36.0％to 39.7％)in 2013 in the US.Among hypertensive participants,the age-standardized rates of treatment were 18.4％(95％CI:17.9％to 18.9％)in 2010 and 23.8％(95％CI:23.1％to 24.6％)in 2013 in China and 54.5％(95％CI:50.3％to 58.7％)in 2010 and 50.9％(95％CI:46.5％to 55.3％)in 2013 in the US;the age-standardized hypertension control rates were 3.2％(95％CI:3.0％to 3.5％)and 5.7％(95％CI:5.3％to 6.0％)in 2010 and 2013 in China and 50.6％(95％CI:46.2％to 55.0％)and 55.3％(95％CI:50.3％to 60.3％)in the US.Obesity was significantly associated with prevalence,awareness and control rates in both countries.Different from the US,obesity was negatively associated with hypertension control in China.Conclusion:Hypertension prevalence in China is similar to that in the US,but the control rate in China was significantly lower.Obesity was a critical risk factor for poor hypertension control in China.

Objective:To examine the burden and trends of acute viral hepatitis in Guangdong Province from 1990 to 2019, and provide reference evidences for hepatitis prevention and control in the province.Methods:Data on acute viral hepatitis (hepatitis A, B, C, and E) in Guangdong from 1990 to 2019 were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 database. The incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) data were analyzed by age and gender, and the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was calculated to describe the changing trends in disease burden.Results:From 1999 to 2019, the standardized incidence, prevalence, mortality, and DALY of acute viral hepatitis in Guangdong were higher than the national averages. In 2019, 51.43% (2 245 087/4 365 221) of acute viral hepatitis cases in Guangdong Province were mainly attributed to hepatitis B, and 77.18% (106/138) of deaths were due to acute hepatitis B. In different age groups, except for acute hepatitis B, which was more common in adults, the incidence rates of other types of viral hepatitis such as hepatitis A, B, and E showed an overall decreasing trend with age. The mortality rates of different types of acute viral hepatitis, except for the <5 age group, increased with age. The overall incidence and mortality rates of acute viral hepatitis were higher in men than in women.Conclusions:The overall burden of acute viral hepatitis in Guangdong declined in 2019, but remained higher than the national level. Further efforts are needed to strengthen hepatitis prevention and screening in different population in Guangdong Province, especially in children and the elderly.

Objective To explore the changes and significane of USP20 and HIF-α expression in breast cancer.Methods Following transfection of shRNA-USP20 lentivirus into breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells,the gene and protein expression levels of USP20 were detected using fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western Blot.Subsequently,the overexpression of USP20 was observed to determine its effect on HIF-α expression.Similarly,siRNA-USP20 was used to knock down USP20 in breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells,followed by detection of gene and protein expression levels using fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western Blot.The subsequent changes in HIF-α expression were then examined.Rusults The positive expression rates of USP20 and HIF-α in breast cancer tissues were 69.6%and 46.83%,respectively,while they were negatively expressed in the adjacent normal tissues,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.01).The positive expressions of USP20 and HIF-α were predomi-nantly observed in the cytoplasm of breast cancer tissue,with a smaller amount present in the nucleus.There was a significant positive correlation between USP20 and HIF-α in breast cancer.Following transfection of shRNA-USP20 lentivirus into MDA-MB-231 cells,both the protein and gene expression levels of USP20 significantly increased(P＜0.01).Over-expression of USP20 did not affect HIF-α mRNA levels but led to a significant increase in HIF-α protein expression(P＜0.01).Conversely,siRNA-USP20 interference resulted in a significant decrease in both the protein and gene expression levels of USP20(P＜0.01),without affecting HIF-α mRNA levels;however,it caused a notable reduction in HIF-α protein expression(P＜0.01).Conclusion The expression of USP20 exhib-ited a significant positive correlation with HIF-α in breast cancer.Overexpression of USP20 led to a substantial increase in HIF-α protein expression,while knock-down of the USP20 gene resulted in a significant decrease in HIF-α protein levels.Therefore,it can be inferred that USP20 may exert its influence on the development of breast cancer through modulation of HIF-α expression,thereby providing crucial experimental evidence for clinical treat-ment,prognosis,and further investigations.