Objective To investigate the changes of serum vitamin E in pregnant women with autoimmune thyroid diseases and provide evidence for clinical prevention of adverse pregnancy caused by oxidative stress. Methods Randomly selecting 221 cases of obstetrics and gynecology pregnant women in outpatient clinics in Chancheng District Central Hospital. A double antibody one-step sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect vitamin E concentration. Results The results of 221 subjects were normally distributed. The vitamin E concentration in the disease group was (353. 93 ± 141. 28) mmol/L, and the control group was (310. 49 ± 105. 49) mmol/L. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P＜0. 05). The concentration of vitamin E in different gestational weeks gradually decreased with the increase of pregnancy, and the difference between them was statistically significant (F = 8. 417, P＜0. 05). Conclusion The presence of oxidative stress during pregnancy in women with autoimmune thyroid diseases should be valued by clinicians.

Objective:To investigate the effects of body mass index (BMI) on lung function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods:A total of 3 312 patients with COPD were selected from outpatients and inpatients in Department of Gerontal Respiratory Medicine of the First Hospital of Lanzhou University from August 2016 to August 2020, including 1 103 patients in stable period and 2 209 patients in acute exacerbation period. According to body mass index (BMI), these COPD patients were divided into four groups: low weight (56 cases, 131 cases), normal weight (448 cases, 945 cases), overweight (424 cases, 773 cases) and obesity groups (175 cases, 360 cases) respectively in stable stage and in acute exacerbation stage. The lung function of inspiratory capacity (IC), vital capacity (VC), residual volume (RV)/total lung capacity (TLC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV 1/FVC, maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF), diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO), DLCO normalized per liter alveolar volume (DLCO/VA), respiratory impedance (Zrs), respiratory resistance at 5 Hz (R5), respiratory resistance at 20 Hz (R20) and respiratory reactance at 5 Hz (X5) were measured using MasterScreen PFT in all patients, and the influence of BMI on lung function was analyzed respectively. The risk factors of impaired lung function were analyzed by ordered logistic regression with lung function grade as dependent variable and age, gender, smoking history, smoking index and BMI as independent variables (“%pred”represents the percentage of predicted value). Results:The proportion of patients with lung function grade Ⅲ/Ⅳ in acute exacerbation period (64.9%, 37%, 27.4%, 24.4%) was higher than that in stable stage (42.9%, 25.9%, 13.7%, 9.1%), while the proportion of patients with lung function grade Ⅰ in stable stage (21.4%, 34.2%, 38.2%, 40.0%) was higher than that in acute exacerbation period (7.6%, 20.0%, 25.4%, 22.8%) (all P<0.05). The IC%pred, VC%pred, FEV 1%pred, FVC%pred, FEV 1/FVC, MMEF%pred, DLCO%pred, DLCO/VA%pred and R20 in low weight group were significantly lower than other groups both in stable period and acute exacerbation period (all P<0.05). The RV/TLC was higher in low weight group than that of normal weight and overweight groups in both periods (all P<0.05). The IC%pred, FEV 1%pred, FEV 1/FVC, DLCO%pred, DLCO/VA%pred, R5 and R20 in overweight and obesity groups were higher than those of normal weight group (all P<0.05). The RV/TLC, FEV 1/FVC, DLCO%pred, DLCO/VA%pred, Zrs, R5 and R20 in obesity group were higher than those of overweight group (all P<0.05). The ordered logistic regression analysis showed that low weight was independent risk factor for impaired lung function of COPD both in stable period [ OR (95% CI) 2.316 (1.206-3.554)] and acute exacerbation period [ OR (95% CI): 2.457 (1.647-3.669)]. Conclusion:Lower BMI has an adverse effect on lung function, and it is an independent risk factor for impaired lung function in COPD patients.

Objective:To observe the effect of intermittent oro-esophageal tube feeding (IOE) on dysphagia patients with cerebral small vessel disease.Methods:Sixty such patients were randomly divided into an experimental group ( n=30) and a control group ( n=30). In addition to the routine basic treatment and swallowing function training, the control group was given nasogastric tube feeding, while the experimental group was provided with IOE. Before and after two weeks of the treatment the swallowing function and nutritional status of both groups were evaluated along with the incidence of pneumonia, ability in the activities of daily living and general quality of life. Results:Before the intervention, there were no significant differences between the two groups in any of the measurements. Afterward significant improvements were observed in all of the measurements in both groups, but the experimental group had improved significantly more than the control group in terms of each measure.Conclusions:IOE is superior to NG in improving the nutrition and swallowing function of patients with dysphagia and cerebral small vessel disease. It betters their ability in daily life activities and their quality of life.

Objective:To explore the pathogenesis of flunarizine-induced parkinsonism from gut-brain axis perspective.Methods:Thirty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group and flunarizine group ( n=15). Mice in the control group were given 0.1 mL 50% polyethylene glycol 400+50% saline by gavage once/d for 2 weeks, while mice in the flunarizine group were given 6 mg/mL flunarizine+50% polyethylene glycol 400+50% saline by gavage at a daily dose of 30 mg/kg for 2 weeks. Body mass was recorded 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 d after drug administration, and motor function was assessed by rotarod test 14 d after drug administration; 16s RNA sequencing was performed in the feces to observe the intestinal flora; intestinal transit function was detected by Evans blue by gavage; and then, the mice were sacrificed and homogenate or frozen sections (brain and intestinal tissues) were prepared; dopamine-ergic neuron expression was detected by Western blotting; RT-qPCR was applied to detect the expressions of inflammatory factors in the substantia nigra, and immunofluorescent staining was used to detect the expressions of ZO-1 and Claudin-5 in the intestinal epithelial tissues. Results:Compared with the control group, the flunarizine group had lower body mass ratio 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 d after drug administration (ratio to body mass before drug administration). Compared with the control group, the flunarizine group had significantly shortened residence time in rod rotating and lower rotational speed when falling ( P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the flunarizine group had decreased tyrosine hydroxylase protein in the substantia nigra without significant difference ( P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the flunarizine group had significantly increased interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in the substantia nigra (1.00±0.00 vs. 2.79±0.83; 1.00±0.00 vs. 3.39±1.37), significantly lower intestinal Evans blue propulsion rate (80.67%±4.51% vs. 50.67%±6.03%), and statistically decreased ZO-1 and Claudin-5 expressions in the colonic epithelial tissues (27.01±1.41 vs. 16.32±2.83; 37.00±2.80 vs. 24.52±2.12, P<0.05). Totally, 576 microorganisms were noted in both control group and flunarizine group, 744 in the control group alone, and 634 in the flunarizine group alone. The intestinal flora β diversity indices in the 2 groups were significantly different based on weighted Unifrac-principle coordinates analysis (PCoA, PCoA1: 39.88%; PCoA2: 30.69%). Compared with the control group, the microbial colony structure of mice in flunarizine group was dominated by phylum thick-walled bacteria and phylum warty microbacteria, and by families Muribaculaceae, Lachnospiraceae and Akkermansiaceae. Compared with the control group, the flunarizine group had significantly decreased relative abundance of Ackermannia spp. and Lactobacillus spp. in the intestinal flora ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Flunarizine may contribute to the pathogenesis of DIP by causing structural disturbances in the intestinal flora and inducing neuroinflammation based on the gut-brain axis.

Objective:To compare the therapeutic effects of modified plantar skin grafting and thigh skin grafting on the deep burn wounds of the back and buttocks.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 30 patients with deep burn wounds on their back and buttocks who were admitted to the 910th Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force of PLA from January 2021 to April 2023, including 26 males and 4 females, aged 21-72 years [(49.9±14.0)years]. The total burn size was 50%-97% of the total body surface area (TBSA), with the third-degree burn on the back and buttocks 6%-16% TBSA. The burn wounds on the back and buttocks were repaired using plantar skin grafts alone, thigh skin grafts alone or plantar skin grafts combined with the grafts from other body parts. The patients were grouped according to the skin graft donor sites and the times of harvesting skin grafts: there were 20 patients undergone plantar skin grafting including 10 patient with plantar skin graft harvested once (group of plantar skin graft harvested once) and 10 patients with plantar skin graft harvested twice or three times (group of plantar skin graft harvested more than once), and 10 patients undergone thigh skin grafting harvested once (group of thigh skin graft harvested once). The areas of plantar skin grafts harvested at the last time and the wound areas on the back and butts that could be repaired each time were calculated. After the last harvest, the thickness of the stratum corneum, 7-day survival rate of the skin grafts, proportion of 3-month residual wound area in the skin graft area, healing time of the donor sites, and 6-month Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) scores of the donor sites in the group of plantar skin graft harvested once were compared with those in the group of thigh skin graft harvested once and the group of plantar skin graft harvested more than once. The appearance and texture of the skin graft, patients′ walking patterns and complications were observed at 6 months after the last skin harvest.Results:All the patients were followed up for 6-18 months [(7.8±1.6)months]. In the 20 patients with plantar skin grafts harvested, the areas of skin grafts harvested at the last time were 2.5%-4.5% TBSA [(3.4±0.6)% TBSA] and the wound areas that could be repaired each time were 3%-8% TBSA [(5.5±1.5)% TBSA]. After the last harvest, the thickness of the stratum corneum in the group of plantar skin graft harvested once was (190.4±8.9)μm, which was significantly thicker than that in the group of thigh skin graft harvested once [(50.0±6.6)μm] and that in the group of plantar skin graft harvested more than once [(166.8±21.9)μm] ( P<0.01); the 7-day survival rate of the skin grafts, proportion of 3-month residual wound area in the skin graft area, healing time of the donor sites, and 6-month VSS scores of the donor sites were (93.6±2.3)%, 2.0 (0.1, 3.5)%, (9.9±1.8)days and (1.7±0.7)points in the group of plantar skin graft harvested once, (78.0±6.6)%, 5.3 (4.0, 5.8)%, (14.0±1.4)days and (4.9±2.3)points in the group of thigh skin graft harvested once, and (93.4±2.6) %, 2.0 (0.1, 3.8)%, (10.0±1.2)days and (1.8±0.8)points in the group of plantar skin graft harvested more than once. The group of plantar skin graft harvested once showed a significant increase in the 7-day survival rate and a significant decrease in the proportion of 3-month residual wound area in the skin graft area, healing time of the donor sites, and 6-month VSS scores of the donor sites in comparison with the group of thigh skin graft harvested once ( P<0.05 or 0.01), while there were no significant differences in above mentioned indices between the group of plantar skin graft harvested once and the group of plantar skin graft harvested more than once ( P>0.05). At 6 months after the last skin harvest, the skin graft areas on the back and buttocks were flat, hard and firm and all the patients in the three groups could walk normally, with no complications such as severe itching, pain or folliculitis in the skin graft area. Conclusions:In the treatment of burn wounds on the back and buttocks, compared with thigh skin grafting, modified plantar skin grafting has advantages of thicker stratum corneum, better wear resistance and pressure resistance in the skin graft areas, a higher survival rate of skin grafts, rapid healing, mild scar, and undisturbed walking pattern after surgery and no common complications. Moreover, skin grafts can be harvested repeatedly from the donor sites, with no impact on the therapeutic effects.

Objective To investigate the application of pulmonary ultrasound in the diagnosis of neonatal novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19). Methods In this retrospective study, the clinical data of 5 infants, who were admitted to the Department of Neonatology in Wuhan Children's hospital from 31 th January to 25 th February 2020, were collected. Bedside pulmondary ultrasound was conducted on admission, during the hospitalization, and before discharge, and the result were compared with the chest X-ray or CT done at the same time. Results Among the 5 cases who aged 1-18 days, 3 were male. The main clinical manifestations were respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms. The pulmonary ultrasonography on admission showed abnormal pleural line and pulmonary edema of different severity in all 5 cases, presented as increase and fusion of B-line, and pulmonary interstitial syndrome; among them, one case also had a small-range consolidation. The chest CT on admission showed no obvious parenchymal infiltration in 2 cases, small strip or patchy high-density shadow in 2 cases, and ground glass change in one case. The re-examination of ultrosound during the hospitalization and at discharge showed improvement in all cases and were consistent with the chest X-ray taken at the sametime. Conclusions The main changes on the pulmonary ultrasonography in neonates with COVID-19 pneumonia are increase and fusion of B-line, abnormal pleural line, and nalveolar interstitial syndrome, and may combined with small range of pulmonary consolidation. The sensitivity of pulmonary ultrasound is higher than chest X-ray and CT in the diagnosis of pulmonary edema, and could be used in monitoring and evaluation of the disease.

From December 2019, the new coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) broke out in Wuhan, Hubei, and spread rapidly to the nationwide. On January 20, 2020, the National Health Committee classified COVID-19 pneumonia as one of B class infectious diseases and treated it as class A infectious disease. During the epidemic period, the routine diagnosis and treatment of tumor patients was affected with varying degrees. In this special period, we performed the superiority of the multi-disciplinary team of diagnosis and treatment, achieved accurate diagnosis and treatment of patients with hepatobiliary malignant tumors, provided support for these patients with limited medical resources, and helped them to survive during the epidemic period.On the basis of fully understanding the new coronavirus pneumonia, the treatment strategy should be changed timely during the epidemic, and more appropriate treatment methods should be adopted to minimize the adverse effect of the epidemic on tumor treatment.