Objective To determine the impact of uric acid changes on kidney function in middle-aged and elderly women with normal renal function.Methods Serum uric acid and estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR) were studied by prospective cohort analysis in 1152 middle-aged and elderly Dalian women with serum uric acid<7 mg/dl, estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR)≥90 ml·min-1·(1.73 m2)-1, and age>45 years old.Results The analysis of variance (ANOVA) of clinical indices between baseline and follow-up data showed that an eGFR was decreased after three years in both middle-aged and elderly women even with normal serum uric acid.Compared with those in the lowest guartile subgroup, a significant drop of eGFR to less than 90 ml·min-1·(1.73 m2)-1 was seen in those with the highest guartile of baseline serum uric acid group (OR=1.707, 95%CI 1.192-2.443, P=0.003).Furthermore, there were positive correlations between changes in the levels of serum uric acid and eGFR, and linear regression analysis showed that, as the change level of serum uric acid increased, the change level of eGFR declined(β=1.562, 95%CI 1.050-2.075, P<0.01], and the changing degree of uric acid increase is independent risk factors refor eGFR reductions.Conclusion Reduction in eGFR level is inversely related to serum uric acid in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.However, our study showed that, women with serum uric acid level ranging from normal, slight increase, and relatively high levels, the increasing degrees of uric acid are independent risk factors responsible for the changing degree of eGFR reduction.

Objective:To observe the changes of skeletal muscle indexes in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes complicated with sarcopenia treated with sitagliptin and acarbose.Methods:A total of 60 patients over 60 years old with type 2 diabetes complicated with sarcopenia in Dalian Municipal Central Hospital from January 2019 to January 2020 were selected and divided into two groups by random number table method.One group received sitagliptin and metformin,and the other group received acarbose and metformin. The changes of skeletal muscle indexes, glucagon-like peptides-1 (GLP-1), insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) and inflammatory indexes were compared between the two groups at baseline and 36 weeks after treatment.Results:After treatment, the skeletal muscle index (SMI) of sitagliptin group was increased (5.94 ± 1.52 vs. 5.99 ± 1.52), and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Muscle strength and SMI decreased in acarbosse group (18.75 ± 4.64 vs. 17.72 ± 4.44, 6.09 ± 1.74 vs. 6.00 ± 1.71), with statistical significance ( P<0.05). GLP-1 increased in sitagliptin group, 0 min: (10.65 ± 1.68) pmol/L vs. (12.41 ± 1.88) pmol/L; 60 min: (22.79 ± 2.85) pmol/L vs. (25.51 ± 2.79) pmol/L; 120 min: (24.26 ± 2.94) pmol/L vs. (29.49 ± 2.91) pmol/L; 180 min: (11.68 ± 1.84) pmol/L vs. (12.88 ± 1.83) pmol/L. There were significant differences ( P<0.05). HOMA-IR and CRP decreased: 4.73 ± 3.04 vs. 3.16 ± 2.41, (2.39 ± 0.50) mg/L vs. (2.33 ± 0.43) mg/L, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). HOMA-IR in acarbose group decreased after treatment (5.80 ± 3.94 vs. 4.00 ± 1.63), and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Comparison between the two groups after treatment, the decreased value of muscle strength in sitagliptin group was less than that in acarbose group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). GLP-1 and overall GLP-1 area under the curve in sitagliptin group were higher than those in acarbose group (67.64 ± 6.81 vs. 58.98 ± 6.72), with statistical significance ( P<0.05). HOMA-IR and CRP in sitagliptin group were lower than those in acarborose group: 3.16 ± 2.42 vs. 4.00 ± 1.63, (2.33 ± 0.43) mg/L vs. (2.41 ± 0.70) mg/L, with statistical significances ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Sitagliptin therapy improves muscle mass and protects muscle strength in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and sarcopenia.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between neck circumference and metabolic syndrome (MS) in ≥ 40 years old community residents. Methods: A total of 5 017 Dalian community residents who participated in "the risk evaluation of cancers in Chinese diabetic individuals: a longitudinal study" from July to December 2014 were selected, with 1 256 male cases and 3 761 female cases, aged ≥ 40 years old. The basic information was selected by questionnaire. The neck circumference, waist circumference (WC), body height, weight, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2 h-postprandial plasma glucose (2 h PG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA₁c) and blood fat were measured; the body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Results: The age, neck circumference, WC, FPG, 2 h PG, SBP, DBP, incidence of obesity, incidence of hypertension and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in male were significantly higher than those in female: (63.5 ± 8.4) years vs. (60.8 ± 8.0) years, (38.6 ± 3.0) cm vs. (34.4 ± 2.6) cm, (92.3 ± 9.1) cm vs. (87.3 ± 9.6) cm, 5.59 (5.20, 6.42) mmol/L vs. 5.43 (5.09, 5.99) mmol/L, 7.67 (6.06, 11.08) mmol/L vs. 7.20 (5.97, 9.64) mmol/L, (135.3 ± 18.8) mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) vs. (129.8 ± 19.5) mmHg, (79.8 ± 10.7) mmHg vs. (74.8 ± 10.0) mmHg, 53.0% (666/1 256) vs. 48.9% (1 841/3 761), 49.9% (627/1 256) vs. 40.6% (1 528/3 761) and 29.8% (374/1 256) vs. 22.5% (846/3 761); the total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and incidence of central obesity in male were significantly lower than those in female: (5.04 ± 0.94) mmol/L vs. (5.58 ± 1.03) mmol/L, 1.35 (0.97, 1.95) mmol/L vs. 1.45 (1.06, 2.04) mmol/L, (1.18 ± 0.27) mmol/L vs. (1.32 ± 0.29) mmol/L, (2.99 ± 0.78) mmol/L vs. (3.27 ± 0.85) mmol/L and 63.7% (800/1 256) vs. 79.7% (2 998/3 761), and there were statistical differences (P<0.01 or <0.05). There were no statistical differences in BMI, HbA₁c and incidence of MS between male and female (P>0.05). After adjustment for age, smoking, drinking, menopausal status (female), BMI and WC, Logistic regression analysis result showed that increased neck circumference in male increased the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.075, 95% CI 1.012 to 1.142, P = 0.019); increased neck circumference in female increased the risks of type 2 diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.143, 95% CI 1.096 to 1.192, P = 0.000), hypertension (OR = 1.112, 95% CI 1.071 to 1.156, P = 0.000), hypertriacylglyceremia (OR = 1.099, 95% CI 1.060 to 1.139, P = 0.000), low HDL-C (OR = 1.104, 95% CI 1.064 to 1.144, P = 0.000) and MS (OR = 1.167, 95% CI 1.120 to 1.217, P = 0.000). Taking neck circumference as detection variable and MS as outcome variable, the receiver operating characteristic curve was analyzed. In male, the area under curve was 0.733, the optimal cut-off value of neck circumference was 37.9 cm, with a sensitivity of 77.9%, and a specificity of 55.9%. In female, the area under curve was 0.720, the optimal cut-off value of neck circumference 33.3 cm, with a sensitivity of 76.7%, and a specificity of 56.0%. Conclusions Neck circumference is associated with MS in ≥ 40 years old community residents. Male neck circumference >37.9 cm and female neck circumference>33.3 cm are the optimal cut-off value for forecasting MS.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the first-line treatment using the combination therapy of sugemalimab and chemotherapy （hereinafter referred to as the “combination therapy”） for advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma （ESCC） with high programmed death-ligand 1 （PD-L1） expression from the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system. METHODS A partitioned survival model was constructed based on data from the GEMSTONE-304 study. The model cycle was set at 3 weeks， with a study duration of 10 years and a discount rate of 5%. The primary output parameters of the model included total costs， quality-adjusted life year （QALY）， incremental costs， and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio （ICER）. Cost- utility analysis was employed to assess the economic feasibility of the combination therapy compared to chemotherapy alone. The robustness of the base case analysis results was evaluated through univariate sensitivity analysis， probabilistic sensitivity analysis， and scenario analysis. RESULTS The ICER of the combination therapy compared to chemotherapy alone was 288 430.35 yuan/QALY， significantly exceeding the willingness-to-pay （WTP） threshold of 173 354.52 yuan/QALY which was set at 1.94 times the per capita gross domestic product （GDP） in 2023. The price of sugemalimab was the primary factor influencing the ICER. When the WTP threshold was set at 1.94 times the per capita GDP （173 354.52 yuan/QALY）， the probability of the combination therapy being cost-effective compared to chemotherapy alone was 0. The combination therapy only became cost-effective compared to chemotherapy alone when the price of the drug dropped to 6 107.41 yuan per box （600 mg）. CONCLUSIONS From the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system， the combination therapy for first-line treatment of advanced ESCC with high PD-L1 expression is not cost-effective； the combination therapy is cost-effective when the price of sugemalimab decreas by 50.65%.

Background/Aims: Low educational attainment is a well-established risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in developed areas. However, the association between educational attainment and the risk of NAFLD is less clear in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study including over 200,000 Chinese adults across mainland China was conducted. Information on education level and lifestyle factors were obtained through standard questionnaires, while NAFLD and advanced fibrosis were diagnosed using validated formulas. Outcomes included the risk of NAFLD in the general population and high probability of fibrosis among patients with NAFLD. Logistic regression analysis was employed to estimate the risk of NAFLD and fibrosis across education levels. A causal mediation model was used to explore the potential mediators. Results: Comparing with those receiving primary school education, the multi-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for NAFLD were 1.28 (1.16 to 1.41) for men and 0.94 (0.89 to 0.99) for women with college education after accounting for body mass index. When considering waist circumference, the odds ratios (95% CIs) were 0.94 (0.86 to 1.04) for men and 0.88 (0.80 to 0.97) for women, respectively. The proportions mediated by general and central obesity were 51.00% and 68.04% for men, while for women the proportions were 48.58% and 32.58%, respectively. Furthermore, NAFLD patients with lower educational attainment showed an incremental increased risk of advanced fibrosis in both genders. Conclusions In China, a low education level was associated with a higher risk of prevalent NAFLD in women, as well as high probability of fibrosis in both genders.

Objective: To investigate the distribution of fimA and kgp genotypes as well as the common genotype combination of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) in infected root canals of primary apical periodontitis for virulent isolates screening in future. Methods: Thirty-four samples harboring Pg were selected from infected root canals of primary apical periodontitis from patients of the Department of Endodontics, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from June 2013 to September 2015. FimA type-specific primers were used to amplify the samples, revealing the distribution of various fimA genotypes. The genotypes of kgp were obtained by using Mse Ⅰ restriction endonuclease. The prevalence of each genotype and common genotype combinations were then calculated. Pearson's chi-squared test was performed to analyze the correlation between genotype combinations and clinical symptoms and major signs of apical periodontitis. In addition, the bioflim architectures between Pg isolates with different fimA and kgp genotype combinations were observed compared using confocal laser scanning microscope. Results: Among the 34 Pg-positive samples, fimA Ⅱ was the most prevalent genotype [47% (16/34)] followed by fimA Ⅰ [26% (9/34)], while fimA Ⅴ was detected in only one sample. The prevalence of kgp Ⅰ [56% (19/34)] was slightly higher than that of kgp Ⅱ [44% (15/34)]. Both fimA Ⅱ+kgp Ⅰ and fimAⅡ+kgp Ⅱ were the most prevalent genotype combinations [24% (8/34) each]. No significant correlation was found between specific genotype combination and such major clinical manifestations as gingival swelling and sinus tract of dental origin (P>0.05). Three Pg isolates with different genotype combinations were acquired. Isolate A (fimAⅠ+kgpⅠ) formed densest biofilm, while the biofilm of isolate C (fimAⅤ+kgp Ⅰ) was much looser. The biofilm feature of isolate B (fimAⅢ+kgp Ⅱ) fell in between A and C. Conclusions Pg with fimA Ⅱ was most frequently detected in infected root canals of primary apical periodontitis. The prevalence of Pg with kgp Ⅰ was slightly higher than that with kgp Ⅱ, and fimAⅡ+kgp Ⅰ as well as fimA Ⅱ+kgp Ⅱ were the commonest genotype combinations. According to the comparison of Pg biofilms formed by clinical isolates, it might be possible that different genotype combinations may lead to distinct biofilm architectures.