ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of Tongnaoyin on the blood-brain barrier status and neurological impairment in acute ischemic stroke （AIS） patients with the syndrome of phlegm-stasis blocking collaterals by dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging （DCE-MRI）. MethodsA total of 63 patients diagnosed with AIS in the Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine from October 2022 to December 2023 were enrolled in this study. According to random number table method，the patients were assigned into a control group （32 cases） and an observation group （31 cases）. The control group received conventional Western medical treatment，and the observation group took 200 mL Tongnaoyin after meals，twice a day from day 2 of admission on the basis of the treatment in the control group. After 7 days of treatment，the patients were examined by DCE-MRI. The baseline data for two groups of patients before treatment were compared. The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale （NIHSS） score and modified Rankin Scale （mRS） score were recorded before treatment and after 90 days of treatment for both groups. The rKtrans，rKep，and rVe values were obtained from the region of interest （ROI） of the infarct zone/mirror area and compared between the two groups. ResultsThere was no significant difference in the NIHSS or mRS score between the two groups before treatment. After 90 days of treatment，the NIHSS and mRS scores declined in both groups，and the observation group had lower scores than the control group （P<0.05）. After treatment，the rKtrans and rVe in the observation group were lower than those in the control group （P<0.01）. ConclusionCompared with conventional Western medical treatment alone，conventional Western medical treatment combined with Tongnaoyin accelerates the repair of the blood-brain barrier in AIS patients，thereby ameliorating neurological impairment after AIS to improve the prognosis.

Aortic dissection is a life-threatening cardiovascular disease with devastating complications and high mortality. It requires rapid and accurate diagnosis and a focus on prognosis. Many laboratory tests are routinely performed in patients with aortic dissection including D-dimer, brain natriuretic peptide, cardiac troponin I, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin. D-dimer shows vital performance in the diagnosis of aortic dissection, and brain natriuretic peptide, cardiac troponin I, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin exhibits important value in risk stratification and prognostic effect in aortic dissection patients. Our review summarized the clinical utility of these laboratory tests in patients with aortic dissection, aiming to provide advanced and comprehensive evidence for clinicians to better understand these laboratory tests and help their clinical practice.

Objective: To analyze the unregistered treatment situation and its influencing factors among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province from 2017 to 2023, so as to provide a basis for promoting the management of tuberculosis patients and optimizing disease prevention and control strategies. Methods: Data of pulmonary tuberculosis patients including demographic information, etiological results, and mortality status were collected through the China Disease Prevention and Control Information System Infectious Disease Reporting and Surveillance System and the Tuberculosis Management Information System. Pulmonary tuberculosis patients not matched in the Tuberculosis Management Information System were defined as unregistered treatment patients, and the unregistered treatment rate was analyzed. Factors affecting unregistered treatment among pulmonary tuberculosis patients were analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: A total of 10 779 pulmonary tuberculosis patients were reported in Quzhou City from 2017 to 2023, including 7 700 males (71.44%) and 3 079 females (28.56%). There were 5 484 cases aged <65 years, accounting for 50.88%. Among them, 630 cases were unregistered treatment, with an unregistered treatment rate of 5.84% (95%CI: 5.42%-6.38%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed pulmonary tuberculosis patients aged ≥65 years (OR=1.829, 95%CI: 1.512-2.212) had a higher risk of being unregistered treatment than those aged <65 years; patients with non-local household registration (OR=5.710, 95%CI: 4.724-6.901) had a higher risk than local patients; and patients engaged in housework/unemployed (OR=2.001, 95%CI: 1.421-2.818) or other occupations (OR=2.396, 95%CI: 1.789-3.137) had a higher risk than farmers. The mortality of unregistered treatment pulmonary tuberculosis patients was higher than the registered treatment patients (26.67% vs. 5.02%),with a significantly elevated mortality risk (OR=7.147, 95%CI: 5.738-8.902). Conclusions The unregistered treatment rate among pulmonary tuberculosis patients was well controlled in Quzhou City from 2017 to 2023, but the elderly, patients with non-local household registration, and those engaged in housework/unemployed had a higher risk of unregistered treatment. It is recommended to improve medical and social security policies, strengthen health education on tuberculosis prevention, enhance treatment adherence, and reduce mortality risk.

BACKGROUND: Fibrosis of the connective tissue in the vaginal wall predominates in pelvic organ prolapse (POP), which is characterized by excessive fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation and abnormal deposition of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Our study aimed to investigate the effect of ECM stiffness on vaginal fibroblasts and to explore the role of methyltransferase 3 (METTL3) in the development of POP. METHODS: Polyacrylamide hydrogels were applied to create an ECM microenvironment with variable stiffness to evaluate the effects of ECM stiffness on the proliferation, differentiation, and expression of ECM components in vaginal fibroblasts. METTL3 small interfering RNA and an overexpression vector were transfected into vaginal fibroblasts to evaluate the effects of METTL3 silencing and overexpression on matrix stiffness-induced vaginal fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation and abnormal modulation of the ECM. Both procedures were detected by 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining, Western blotting (WB), quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and immunofluorescence (IF). RESULTS: Vaginal fibroblasts from POP patients exhibited increased proliferation ability, increased expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), decreased expression of collagen I/III, and significantly decreased expression of tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in the stiff matrix ( P <0.05). Compared with those from non-POP patients, vaginal wall tissues from POP patients demonstrated a significant increase in METTL3 content ( P <0.05). However, silencing METTL3 expression in vaginal fibroblasts with high ECM stiffness resulted in decreased proliferation ability, decreased α-SMA expression, an increased ratio of collagen I/III, and increased TIMP1 and TIMP2 expression. Conversely, METTL3 overexpression significantly promoted the process of increased proliferation ability, increased α-SMA expression, decreased ratio of collagen I/III and decreased TIMP1 and TIMP2 expression in the soft matrix ( P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS Elevated ECM stiffness can promote excessive proliferation, differentiation, and abnormal ECM modulation, and the expression of METTL3 plays an important role in alleviating or aggravating matrix stiffness-induced vaginal fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation and abnormal ECM modulation.
Humans ; Female ; Extracellular Matrix/metabolism* ; Cell Differentiation/genetics* ; Methyltransferases/metabolism* ; Pelvic Organ Prolapse/pathology* ; Fibroblasts/metabolism* ; Myofibroblasts/metabolism* ; Vagina/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation/physiology* ; Cells, Cultured ; Middle Aged

In recent years, hybrid brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have gained significant attention due to their demonstrated advantages in increasing the number of targets and enhancing robustness of the systems. However, Existing studies usually construct BCI systems using intense auditory stimulation and strong central visual stimulation, which lead to poor user experience and indicate a need for improving system comfort. Studies have proved that the use of peripheral visual stimulation and lower intensity of auditory stimulation can effectively boost the user's comfort. Therefore, this study used high-frequency peripheral visual stimulation and 40-dB weak auditory stimulation to elicit steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) and auditory steady-state response (ASSR) signals, building a high-comfort hybrid BCI based on weak audio-visual evoked responses. This system coded 40 targets via 20 high-frequency visual stimulation frequencies and two auditory stimulation frequencies, improving the coding efficiency of BCI systems. Results showed that the hybrid system's averaged classification accuracy was (78.00 ± 12.18) %, and the information transfer rate (ITR) could reached 27.47 bits/min. This study offers new ideas for the design of hybrid BCI paradigm based on imperceptible stimulation.
Brain-Computer Interfaces ; Humans ; Evoked Potentials, Visual/physiology* ; Acoustic Stimulation ; Photic Stimulation ; Electroencephalography ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory/physiology* ; Adult

Objective To examine the quinolone resistance and mechanisms of resistance,including prevalence of transferable mechanisms of quinolone resistance(TMQR)genes in carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP).Methods Antimicrobial susceptibility was tested for CRKP isolated from 7 hospitals in China during 2019 by broth microdilution method.Genome sequencing analysis was performed on Illumina HiseqX sequencing platform.The virulence genes,multilocus sequence typing(MLST),chromosome quinolone resistance-determining region(QRDR)variation,and prevalence of TMQR genes in CRKP were analyzed.Results Overall,98.4％and 99.2％of the 481 CRKP strains were non-susceptible to levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin,respectively.ST11(77.8％)and ST15(15.8％)were the dominant clones.Among the 303 CRKP strains carrying virulence gene(CV-CRKP),ST11 type and ST15 type strains accounted for 92.1％and 5.0％,respectively,while ST11 and ST15 type strains accounted for 53.4％and 34.3％in the 178 CRKP strains without the virulence gene(non-CV-CRKP).All of the ST11 and ST 15 type strains were resistant to quinolones associated with gyrA and parC mutation.All of the quinolone-sensitive strains were not ST11 type or not ST15 type.TMQR analysis showed that qnrS1(61.1％,294 strains),qnrB4(10.0％,48 strains)and aac(6)-Ib-cr(18.7％,90 strains)were most prevalent in CRKPs,while qnrB1(4 strains),qnrB2(2 strains),qnrD1(2 strains)and qnrB6(1 strain)were infrequently identified in CRKPs.Specifically,qnrB4 was mainly identified in high-level levofloxacin-resistant strains(MIC≥8 mg/L),while aac(6)-Ib-cr was found mainly in ciprofloxacin-resistant strains(MIC＞8 mg/L).Conclusions Clinical CRKPs were highly resistant to quinolone.The rate of QRDR variation were high in quinolone resistant CRKP strains,with high TMQR gene carriage.

Patients with severe trauma require an extremely timely treatment and transfusion plays an irreplaceable role in the emergency treatment of such patients. An increasing number of evidence-based medicinal evidences and clinical practices suggest that patients with severe traumatic bleeding benefit from early transfusion of low-titer group O whole blood or hemostatic resuscitation with red blood cells, plasma and platelet of a balanced ratio. However, the current domestic mode of blood supply cannot fully meet the requirements of timely and effective blood transfusion for emergency treatment of patients with severe trauma in clinical practice. In order to solve the key problems in blood supply and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma, Branch of Clinical Transfusion Medicine of Chinese Medical Association, Group for Trauma Emergency Care and Multiple Injuries of Trauma Branch of Chinese Medical Association, Young Scholar Group of Disaster Medicine Branch of Chinese Medical Association organized domestic experts of blood transfusion medicine and trauma treatment to jointly formulate Chinese expert consensus on blood support mode and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma patients ( version 2024). Based on the evidence-based medical evidence and Delphi method of expert consultation and voting, 10 recommendations were put forward from two aspects of blood support mode and transfusion strategies, aiming to provide a reference for transfusion resuscitation in the emergency treatment of severe trauma and further improve the success rate of treatment of patients with severe trauma.

Objective:To study the levels of individual dose of radiation workers in a steel enterprise in Baotou City from 2018 to 2022, and analyze the main factors affecting the annual dose, and provide basic data for revising relevant standards.Methods:According to the requirements of occupational external exposure personal monitoring standards (GBZ 128-2019), the personal dose monitoring of workers working in a steel enterprise in Baotou City from 2018 to 2022 was carried out, three months for a period, continuous monitoring 4 periods, and the results were analyzed.Results:A total of 1 360 workers from 10 employers within the enterprise were surveyed. The annual doses were in the range of 0.500 - 0.844 mSv, with an average annual individual dose of 0.676 mSv. Especially, the average annual individulal effective dose to workers for safety management and inspection was 0.986 mSv, hiher than 0.698 mSv to rolling workers, pump operators, and continuous casters ( Z = 56.89, P < 0.001). Additionally, female worders working with the radiation generators had a higher average annual individual effective dose of 0.821 mSv, than 0.691 mSv to the male workers who were exposed to sealed sources possibly in many cases as needed, with a statistically significant difference ( Z =-5.53, P < 0.001). Conclusions:The average annual individual effective dose to radiation workers in an iron and steel enterprise in Baotou City meets the requirements of the relevent national standard. The annual dose of women and some workers is relatively high, so the management of radiation workers should be strengthened and the radiation protection measures in the workplace should be improved.

Objective:To observe the effect of 3D-printed guide plate-assisted percutaneous bone cement-augmented sacroiliac screw fixation in the treatment of pelvic fragility fractures in the elderly.Methods:A total of 11 elderly patients with pelvic fragility fractures who underwent 3D-printed guide plate-assisted percutaneous cement-enhanced sacroiliac screw fixation (cemented group) in the Department of Traumatic Orthopaedics of the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from December 2022 to April 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 3 males and 8 females, aged 73.18±4.42 years (range, 67-80 years). There were 4 cases of typeⅡand 7 cases of typeⅢ. At the same time, 10 elderly patients with pelvic fragility fractures who underwent percutaneous sacroiliac screw fixation assisted by 3D-printed guide plate (cementless group) were selected as control group, including 5 males and 5 females, aged 73.90±6.51 years (range, 67-85 years). Pelvic fragility fractures were classified as typeⅡin 5 cases and typeⅢin 5 cases. The perioperative indicators, visual analogue scale (VAS), Barthel index and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.Results:All patients successfully completed the operation and were followed up for 17.05±5.48 months (range, 9-27 months). The operation time and fluoroscopy frequency in the bone cement group were 72.09±3.95 min and 12.45±0.93 times, which were significantly higher than those in the non-bone cement group 57.00±4.24 min and 8.50±0.97 times, the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). All patients' fractures healed in one stage, the healing time was 97.09±7.15 d in the cemented group and 103.00±13.14 d in the uncemented group, the difference was not statistically significant ( t=1.297, P=0.210), and there was no case of delayed healing or non-healing. The postoperative weight-bearing time of the bone cement group was 44.73±3.72 d, which was shorter than that of the non-bone cement group 59.10±7.37 d, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). The VAS scores of the bone cement group at 1 day, 1 week and 3 weeks after operation were 5.73±0.65, 4.64±0.51 and 3.27±0.65, respectively, which were lower than those of the non-bone cement group 6.80±0.42, 5.30±0.48 and 4.00±0.67. The difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). The Barthel index of bone cement group was higher than that of non-bone cement group at 1 day, 1 week, 3 weeks, 6 weeks and 2 months after operation, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Bone cement leakage occurred in 2 patients in the bone cement group, and they did not complain of special discomfort and were not treated. In the non-cemented group, two cases showed screw withdrawal and the sacroiliac screws were removed in a second operation; one case showed sacral plexus nerve injury, and the screws were removed and treated with oral methylcobalamin symptomatic therapy one month after the operation, and the symptoms were relieved after three months. Conclusion:3D-printed guide plate-assisted percutaneous cement-augmented sacroiliac screw fixation for the treatment of elderly pelvic fragility fracture can alleviate postoperative pain, shorten the weight-bearing time, and help to promote early recovery and improve postoperative quality of life.

Objective:To investigate whether malignant tumors are an independent risk factor for short-term mortality in elderly patients with sepsis in the intensive care unit(ICU), and to examine the dose-response relationship between the sequential organ failure assessment(SOFA)score and short-term mortality in this patient population.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on elderly sepsis patients aged 80 and above from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care(MIMIC-Ⅳ)database spanning from 2008 to 2019.The patients were categorized into a tumor group and a non-tumor group based on the presence of malignant tumors, and a comparison was made between the baseline data and prognosis of these two groups.Furthermore, patients were classified into survival and mortality groups based on their ICU survival status within 28 days, and a comparison of baseline data was performed.Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the risk factors associated with short-term mortality.Additionally, probability unit regression was utilized to model the dose-response relationship between the SOFA score and short-term mortality.Results:A total of 53 150 medical records were screened, identifying 5 126 elderly sepsis patients aged 80 and above.Among them, 754 had malignant tumors and 264 had metastatic tumors.The 28-day mortality rate in the tumor group was significantly higher than in the non-tumor group[26.79%(202/754) vs.18.85%(824/4 372), χ2=24.85, P<0.001].Logistic regression analysis revealed age( OR=1.073, 95% CI: 1.040-1.108, P<0.001), Charlson comorbidity index(CCI)excluding tumors( OR=1.134, 95% CI: 1.067-1.205, P<0.001), blood lactate concentration at ICU admission( OR=1.111, 95% CI: 1.048-1.179, P<0.001), mechanical ventilation( OR=1.603, 95% CI: 1.176-2.187, P=0.003), and SOFA score( OR=1.227, 95% CI: 1.182-1.273, P<0.001)as risk factors for short-term mortality.Conversely, CCI( OR=0.957, 95% CI: 0.867-1.057, P=0.380), use of vasoactive drugs( OR=1.370, 95% CI: 0.902-2.081, P=0.140), malignant tumors( OR=1.131, 95% CI: 0.449-2.848, P=0.794), and metastasis of malignant tumors( OR=1.799, 95% CI: 0.930-3.477, P=0.081)were not associated with short-term mortality.The dose-response curve illustrated that as the SOFA score increased, patients' 28-day mortality rate also rose, reaching 50% at a SOFA score of 11 and exceeding 80% at a score of 20. Conclusions:Malignant tumors and tumor metastasis do not appear to be independent risk factors for short-term mortality in elderly sepsis patients in the ICU.Instead, the short-term mortality rate of these patients seems to be correlated with the SOFA score in a dose-response manner.