Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) among college students in Yangzhou from 2020 to 2024, so as to provide a scientific basis for developing prevention and control strategies. Methods: An epidemiological investigation was conducted among 162 college students with PTB, and 7 134 of their contacts were screened. Data were obtained from the tuberculosis information management system and on campus screening records. Using descriptive epidemiological methods, trends in incidence, seasonal distribution, and bacteriological characteristics were analyzed. Results: From 2020 to 2024, the annual average incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis among college students in Yangzhou was 29.42 per 100 000, showing an overall fluctuating downward trend ( χ 2=12.36, P <0.01). Cases were mainly concentrated in summer and autumn, with the highest proportion in autumn (41.36%, 67/162), followed by summer (23.46%, 38/162). The proportion of etiologically positive cases increased from 37.21% in 2020 to 71.43% in 2024; among positive cases, the proportion of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) decreased from 66.67% (10/15) to 26.67% (4/15). The etiological positive rate was higher in females than in males ( χ 2= 11.76 , P <0.01). Comparison of screening methods showed that among index cases, the LTBI detection rate of the recombinant Mycobacterium tuberculosis fusion protein skin test (C-TST) was higher than that of the tuberculin skin test (TST), but the difference was not statistically significant ( χ 2=0.65, P =0.42); among close contacts, the detection rate of TST was higher than that of C-TST (15.1%,10.1%; χ 2=5.23, P <0.05). Conclusion From 2020 to 2024, the annual average incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis among college students in Yangzhou showed an overall fluctuating downward trend, with differences in TB infection screening methods and gender.

BACKGROUND:Repetitive trans-spinal magnetic stimulation(rTSMS)can inhibit inflammatory responses following spinal cord injury.rTSMS applies magnetic field stimulation to the spinal cord region to modulate neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission,thereby promoting plasticity and repair of the nervous system. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of rTSMS on the Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/nuclear factor(NF)-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway after spinal cord injury and explore its mechanism in promoting motor function recovery. METHODS:Male C57BL/6J mice,SPF grade,were randomly divided into sham surgery group,spinal cord injury group,and rTSMS group.The latter two groups of mice were anesthetized and the T9 vertebral plate was removed using rongeur forceps to expose the spinal cord,and the spinal cord was clamped using a small aneurysm clip for 20 seconds to establish the spinal cord injury model.Mice in the rTSMS group underwent a 21-day rTSMS intervention starting on day 1 after spinal cord injury.The stimulation lasted 10 minutes per day,5 days per week with an interval of 2 days.Basso Mouse Scale scores were used to assess motor function recovery in mice after spinal cord injury at 1,3,7,14,and 21 days after spinal cord injury.Western blot was employed to detect the expression of AQP4,apoptotic factors Bax,Bcl-2,CL-Caspase-3,inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-α,interferon-γ,interleukin-6,interleukin-4,and the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway related proteins in the injured spinal cord.Oxidative stress assay kit was used to measure the activity of superoxide dismutase,glutathione peroxidase,and malondialdehyde content at the site of spinal cord injury.Immunofluorescence staining was performed to detect the expression of neuronal nuclei(NeuN). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The Basso Mouse Scale score in the rTSMS group was significantly higher than that in the spinal cord injury group(P<0.05).Compared with the spinal cord injury group,the rTSMS group showed a reduction in spinal cord water content.The expression of AQP4 protein,malondialdehyde content,and expression of Bax,Bcl-2,CL-Caspase-3,tumor necrosis factor-α,interferon-γ,interleukin-6,and TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway related proteins were all decreased in the rTSMS group,while the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase,as well as the expression of Bcl-2,interleukin-4,and NeuN,were all increased(P<0.05).These results suggest that rTSMS downregulates the expression of proteins related to the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway,alleviating symptoms after spinal cord injury such as spinal cord edema,oxidative stress,apoptosis,and inflammation,exerting neuroprotective effects,and thereby promoting the recovery of hindlimb motor function after spinal cord injury.

Objective To explore the ^“contribution^” of different exposures to cardiovascular diseases at the population level and to construct a risk prediction model for the effective allocation of prevention resources. Methods The CHNS (China Health and Nutrition Survey) database was used. In 2009, 2011 and 2015, 9 899 permanent residents aged 35 to 75 years in 10 provinces and cities in the central and eastern regions (Beijing, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Shanghai, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi and Jiangsu) were selected as the research subjects. A single-factor analysis was conducted to examine the risk factors including sex, age, BMI, marital status, urban/rural area, sleep time, smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, education, and health insurance. The multifactor-adjusted population-attributable risk of certain risk factors was also estimated based on logistic regression analysis. The cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction model was developed using a modeling group of 6 927 randomly selected individuals (70%) and a validation group of 2 974 individuals (30%). The model's differentiation and calibration were assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test. Results The results showed that the adjusted population attributable risk and 95% confidence interval for BMI, sleep time, smoking, drinking and diabetes were 32.20% (27.67%-36.89%), 7.90% (1.68%-16.58%), 18.56% (11.35%-26.24%), 6.47% (0.11%-13.25%) and 5.73% (4.42%-7.03%). The results of multivariate adjusted population attributable risk percentage showed that BMI was the dominant cause of cardiovascular diseases, followed by smoking, sleep time, drinking and diabetes. The low-risk prevalence rate was 18.44%, the higher-risk prevalence rate was 14.19%, and the high-risk prevalence rate was 42.52%. The area under ROC curve AUC was 0.711, P<0.001, and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test showed P=0.257. Conclusion In the future, it is important to focus on high-risk groups , control body mass index to the normal range, and reduce smoking , which is of great significance for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. The risk prediction model has the value of good differentiation and practicability , and can provide certain prediction ability for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Digital technologies have become an integral part of complete denture restoration. With advancement in computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM), tools such as intraoral scanning, facial scanning, 3D printing, and numerical control machining are reshaping the workflow of complete denture restoration. Unlike conventional methods that rely heavily on clinical experience and manual techniques, digital technologies offer greater precision, predictability, and efficacy. They also streamline the process by reducing the number of patient visits and improving overall comfort. Despite these improvements, the clinical application of digital complete denture restoration still faces challenges that require further standardization. The major issues include appropriate case selection, establishing consistent digital workflows, and evaluating long-term outcomes. To address these challenges and provide clinical guidance for practitioners, this expert consensus outlines the principles, advantages, and limitations of digital complete denture technology. The aim of this review was to offer practical recommendations on indications, clinical procedures and precautions, evaluation metrics, and outcome assessment to support digital restoration of complete denture in clinical practice.
Humans ; Denture, Complete ; Computer-Aided Design ; Denture Design/methods* ; Consensus ; Printing, Three-Dimensional

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) inhibitors and programmed death receptor-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors in the treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC).Methods:The databases of CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, China Biology Medicine disc, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Clinical Controlled Trial Center Registry (CENTRAL) were retrieved, and the randomized controlled trial literature on the treatment of ES-SCLC with immune checkpoint inhibitors published from the establishment of the database until October 4, 2023 were reviewed. After screening literature and extracting data according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, the risk of bias in the study was evaluated using Review Manager 5.4 software. The disease remission, prognosis and adverse events (AE) of patients treated with ICI combined with chemotherapy (experimental group) and placebo± chemotherapy (control group) in the whole group and liver metastases and brain metastases subgroups were compared.Results:A total of 11 randomized controlled trials were included, with 2 243 cases in the experimental group and 2 059 cases in the control group. The included research data were complete and showed no selective bias. Compared with the control group, the objective response rate (ORR) of patients in the experimental group was higher [control group vs. experimental group, 64% (864/1 358) vs. 70% (1 088/1 532), RR = 1.08 (95% CI: 1.03-1.14), P = 0.003], and the difference was statistically significant; progression free survival (PFS) [experimental group vs. control group, the median PFS time, 5.14 months (95% CI: 4.88-5.40 months) vs. 4.76 months (95% CI: 4.70-4.82 months), HR = 0.72 (95% CI: 0.67-0.78), P < 0.001] and overall survival (OS) [experimental group vs. control group, the median OS time, 12.89 months (95% CI: 12.18-13.60 months) vs. 10.41 months (95% CI: 10.03-10.79 months), HR = 0.72 (95% CI: 0.67-0.78), P < 0.001] were all improved, and the differences were statistically significant. The OS of patients with baseline liver metastasis in the experimental group was better than that in the control group (experimental group vs. control group, HR = 0.82 (95% CI: 0.71-0.95), P = 0.009], and the difference was statistically significant, while the difference in OS of patients with baseline brain metastases was not statistically significant between the experimental group and the control group [experimental group vs. control group, HR = 0.84 (95% CI: 0.66-1.08), P = 0.170]. The incidence of AE [experimental group vs. control group, 31% (597/1 952) (95% CI: 24%-37%) vs. 14% (255/1 762) (95% CI: 9%-22%), RR = 2.25 (95% CI: 1.67-3.02), P < 0.001] and the incidence of drug discontinuation or dose change caused by AE [experimental group vs. control group, 21% (379/1 774) (95% CI: 12%-41%) vs. 19% (307/1 588) (95% CI: 6%-25%), RR = 1.20 (95% CI: 1.07-1.33), P = 0.001] in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant. However, the incidence of severe (≥grade 3) AE in both the experimental group and the control group was 34% (620/1 814, 557/1 632) (both 95% CI: 32%-36%), and the difference was not statistically significant [experimental group vs. control group, RR = 1.00 (95% CI: 0.91-1.10), P = 0.960]. The incidence of hypothyroidism [experimental group vs. control group, 11% (118/1 083) (95% CI: 9%-13%) vs. 1% (11/886) (95% CI: 0-2%), RR = 8.56 (95% CI: 4.63-15.80), P < 0.001] and the incidence of hyperthyroidism [experimental group vs. control group, 7% (75/1 083) (95% CI: 5%-8%) vs. 2% (17/886) (95% CI: 1%-4%), RR = 3.27 (95% CI: 1.95-5.46), P < 0.001] in the experimental group were both higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant. Conclusions:ICI combined with chemotherapy can effectively improve the OS, PFS and disease remission of patients with ES-SCLC, as well as improve the survival of patients with liver metastases. However, there is no benefit in the survival of patients with brain metastases. The incidence of immune-mediated AE to ICI combined with chemotherapy has increased, but the overall safety is good.

Objective This study aims to explore effective ways to enhance patient experience by analyzing relevant indi-cators before and after the implementation of a new admission model at a large public tertiary hospital.Methods A retrospective analysis and a questionnaire survey were conducted to assess changes in hospital admission convenience,timeliness,and patient satisfaction before and after the implementation of the new admission model.Results After the new admission model was imple-mented,the bed occupancy rate for waiting patients significantly increased,while the waiting time decreased.The time required for completing admission procedures was notably shortened,bed utilization rates improved,and the average pre-operative hospital stay decreased.Additionally,the volume of admitted critically ill patients increased,and indicators such as the proportion of level IV surgeries and inpatient satisfaction improved.Conclusion The implementation of the new admission model has enhanced serv-ice efficiency and quality,improved patient experience,and increased patient satisfaction,making it a model worth promoting.

Aim To explore the correlation between carotid atherosclerosis(CAS)and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio(NLR)in patients with early morning hypertension,and to construct a line chart model to predict the risk of CAS in patients with hypertension in the morning.Methods 255 patients with early morning hypertension hospitalized in the Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical College from October 2019 to November 2022 were collected,and their basic data,blood routine and blood biochemical indexes were collected.All selected patients need to improve 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and carotid artery color ultrasound detection.According to the presence or absence of CAS,all selected patients were divided into morning hypertension with CAS group(n=197)and morning hypertension without CAS group(n=58).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the risk factors of early morning hypertension with CAS,and to construct and verify an individual line chart model to predict the risk of early morning hypertension pa-tients with CAS.Results The age,NLR,neutrophils(NE),monocytes(MO),white blood cell(WBC),total cho-lesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG)and low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDLC)increased in the early morning hyperten-sion with CAS group compared with those in the morning hypertension group without CAS,while the HDLC decreased(P＜0.05).The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the age,NLR and TC were higher in the early morning hypertension with CAS group than those in the early morning hypertension without CAS group,while HDLC was lower;Age,NLR and TC were independent risk factors of early morning hypertension with CAS,while HDLC was inde-pendent protective factors of morning hypertension with CAS.Based on the results of multivariate Logistic regression anal-ysis,an individualized line chart model for predicting early morning hypertension with CAS was constructed.The area un-der the ROC curve of the line chart model was 0.853(95％CI:0.802-0.904,P＜0.01).The result of Hosmer Leme-show fit test was x2=1.665(P＞0.05).Conclusions There was a positive correlation between NLR and morning hy-pertension with CAS,and NLR was an independent risk factor for morning hypertension with CAS.The individualized line chart model based on age,NLR,TC and HDLC can effectively predict the risk of hypertension with CAS in the early morn-ing,which provides a theoretical basis for early detection and prevention of atherosclerosis.

Objective:To explore the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D[25(OH)D]and handgrip strength in middle-aged and elderly people in 5 cities of Western China.Methods:Based on the data of a cross-sectional survey conducted in the 5 cities of Western China from February to July 2023,the relevant demographic characteristics of people were collected by questionnaire,handgrip strength was collected by physical examination,and serum 25(OH)D was detected by HPLC-MS/MS.The association between the serum 25(OH)D and handgrip strength was analyzed using Logistic regres-sion and Chi-square test for between-group comparisons models.Results:The prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency and insufficiency among the middle-aged and elderly people in the 5 cities of Western China was 52.9％and 34.5％,respectively.The people who were older,female,and sampled in winter had lower serum 25(OH)D levels(P＜0.05).The prevalence of loss of handgrip strength among the mid-dle-aged and elderly people was 25.3％.The prevalence of handgrip strength loss was higher in the aged 65-80 participants with 25(OH)D deficiency(45.0％)than in those with 25(OH)D insufficiency(32.6％)and 25(OH)D sufficiency(20.6％).The highest prevalence of loss of handgrip strength was found in the aged 75-80 participants with 25(OH)D deficiency(62.1％),followed by the 25(OH)D insufficient group(11.1％,P＜0.05).The study found that middle-aged and elderly people with 25(OH)D deficiency had a 1.4-fold increased risk of handgrip strength loss compared with those with 25(OH)D sufficiency(OR=2.403,95％CI:1.202-4.804,P=0.013).No significant association was found between 25(OH)D insufficiency and handgrip strength status in the middle-aged and elderly people.For every 5 μg/L increase in total serum 25(OH)D,the risk of handgrip strength loss reduced by 13.1％(OR=0.869,95％CI:0.768-0.982,P=0.025).For every 5 μg/L increase in serum 25(OH)D2,the risk of handgrip strength loss reduced by 24.1％(OR=0.759,95％CI:0.582-0.990,P=0.042).No significant association was found between serum 25(OH)D3 levels and the risk of hand-grip strength loss.The risk of handgrip strength loss in middle-aged and elderly people was reduced by 25.2％for each incremental increase in the total serum 25(OH)D levels(deficient,insufficient and suf-ficient)(OR=0.748,95％CI:0.598-0.936,P=0.011).The risk of handgrip loss was reduced by 40.0％for each incremental increase in serum 25(OH)D levels in the aged 65-80 and aged 65-69 participants,and by 80.0％for each incremental increase in 25(OH)D levels in the aged 75-80 parti-cipants.Conclusion:Serum total 25(OH)D and 25(OH)D2 levels are associated with handgrip strength status in middle-aged and elderly people in the 5 cities of Western China.

BACKGROUND: Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is one of the main activators of heart failure. Currently, no drug can completely reverse or inhibit the development of pathological cardiac hypertrophy. To this end, we proposed a silicate ion therapy based on extract derived from calcium silicate (CS) bioceramics for the treatment of angiotensin II (Ang II) induced cardiac hypertrophy. METHODS: In this study, the Ang II induced cardiac hypertrophy mouse model was established, and the silicate ion extract was injected to mice intravenously. The cardiac function was evaluated by using a high-resolution Vevo 3100 small animal ultrasound imaging system. Wheat germ Agglutinin, Fluo4-AM staining and immunofluorescent staining was conducted to assess the cardiac hypertrophy, intracellular calcium and angiogenesis of heart tissue, respectively. RESULTS: The in vitro results showed that silicate ions could inhibit the cell size of cardiomyocytes, reduce cardiac hypertrophic gene expression, including atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and b-myosin heavy chain (b-MHC), decrease the content of intracellular calcium induced by Ang II. In vivo experiments in mice confirmed that intravenous injection of silicate ions could remarkably inhibit the cardiac hypertrophy and promote the formation of capillaries, further alleviating Ang II-induced cardiac function disorder. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that the released silicate ions from CS possessed potential value as a novel therapeutic strategy of pathological cardiac hypertrophy, which provided a new insight for clinical trials.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection among patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in some regions of China. Methods Serum samples were collected from 3 131 patients with chronic HBV infection in 10 provinces, cities, and autonomous regions of China from March 2021 to June 2022, and anti-HDV IgG ELISA was used for the detection of all serum samples. Nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (nRT-PCR) was used to detect HDV RNA in anti-HDV IgG-positive samples, and the nRT-PCR amplification products of HDV RNA-positive samples were sequenced and analyzed to determine HDV genotype. The clinical features of anti-HDV IgG-positive patients were analyzed. The Mann-Whitney U rank sum test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups, and the chi-square test or the Fisher's exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. Results The positive rate of anti-HDV IgG in the 3 131 patients with chronic HBV infection was 0.70% (22/3 131), and that in the patients with chronic HBV infection in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Beijing, and Hunan Province was 1.81% (16/886), 0.88% (2/226), 0.28% (2/708), and 1.00% (2/200), respectively; the patients with chronic HBV infection in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region had a significantly higher positive rate of anti-HDV IgG than those in Beijing ( P =0.004), and there was no significant difference between the other regions ( P > 0.05). Clinical features of the patients with chronic HBV infection in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region showed that compared with the anti-HDV IgG-negative group, the anti-HDV IgG-positive group had a significantly higher proportion of patients with Mongol nationality ( P =0.001), abnormal alanine aminotransferase ( P =0.007), or antiviral treatment ( P =0.029), as well as a significantly lower median HBV DNA level ( P =0.030). A total of 19 HDV RNA-positive samples were identified, all of which had HDV genotype 1. Conclusion The prevalence rate of HDV varies greatly across different regions of China, with a higher prevalence rate of HDV in patients with chronic HBV infection from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. HDV genotype 1 is the predominant genotype in some provinces and cities of northern China.