Objective:To investigate the correlation between the neoadjuvant rectal (NAR) score and long-term survival in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who have undergone neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.Methods:Clinical and pathological data of 487 patients diagnosed with rectal adenocarcinoma from October 2004 to April 2014 at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center who had received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy were retrospectively analyzed and the impact of NAR score on prognosis studied. Disease-free-survival (DFS) was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and survivals compared using the log-rank test. Cox models were used for univariate and multivariate analyses. Receiver operating characteristic curves were utilized to evaluate the predictive capability of NAR and tumor regression grade scores for the risk of 10-year postoperative recurrence and metastasis. The Delong test was employed to compare the diagnostic performance of the two scores.Results:Of the 487 patients included in the study, 166 were men (34.1%). The median age was 56 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 46–63). All patients completed adequate preoperative chemoradiotherapy and underwent R0 resection.The median interval between the end of chemoradiotherapy and surgery was 51 days (IQR: 44–58). Post-chemoradiotherapy downstaging occurred in 329 patients (67.6%). Tumor regression grades (TRGs) were 1–2 in 246 patients (50.5%) and 3–4 in 241 patients (49.5%). A total of 394 patients (80.9%) received postoperative chemotherapy. NAR scores were <8 in 182 patients (37.4%), 8–16 in 180 (37.0%), and >16 in 125 (25.6%). The median follow-up time was 111.5 months (IQR: 70.7–133.7 months). One hundred and thirteen patients died of rectal cancer, among whom 13 patients developed local recurrence, 88 patients developed distant metastasis, and 12 patients had unknown recurrence patterns. The 10-year DFS and overall survival rate of f the whole group were 68.9% and 71.5% respectively. The 10-year DFS rates for patients with NAR scores <8, 8–16, and >16 were 85.1%, 80.5%, and 66.4%, respectively ( P<0.001). Multivariate analyses revealed that the Dixon operation (HR=0.606, 95%CI: 0.408–0.902, P=0.014), and >16 (HR=2.569, 95%CI: 1.559–4.233, P<0.001) were independent predictors of the 10-year DFS of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer ( P<0.05 for all). In the entire patient cohort, the AUC of the receiver operating characteristic curve for NAR score predicting 10-year recurrence and metastasis was 0.67 (95%CI: 0.62–0.72), whereas the AUC for TRG score was 0.54 (95%CI: 0.49–0.60). The two scores differed significantly in accuracy ( Z=-4.06, P<0.001), the NAR score being a significantly better predictor of risk of 10-year recurrence and metastasis than the TRG score. Conclusion:The NAR score is a reliable predictor of 10-year DFS in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who have undergone neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by curative surgery.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between the neoadjuvant rectal (NAR) score and long-term survival in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who have undergone neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.Methods:Clinical and pathological data of 487 patients diagnosed with rectal adenocarcinoma from October 2004 to April 2014 at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center who had received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy were retrospectively analyzed and the impact of NAR score on prognosis studied. Disease-free-survival (DFS) was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and survivals compared using the log-rank test. Cox models were used for univariate and multivariate analyses. Receiver operating characteristic curves were utilized to evaluate the predictive capability of NAR and tumor regression grade scores for the risk of 10-year postoperative recurrence and metastasis. The Delong test was employed to compare the diagnostic performance of the two scores.Results:Of the 487 patients included in the study, 166 were men (34.1%). The median age was 56 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 46–63). All patients completed adequate preoperative chemoradiotherapy and underwent R0 resection.The median interval between the end of chemoradiotherapy and surgery was 51 days (IQR: 44–58). Post-chemoradiotherapy downstaging occurred in 329 patients (67.6%). Tumor regression grades (TRGs) were 1–2 in 246 patients (50.5%) and 3–4 in 241 patients (49.5%). A total of 394 patients (80.9%) received postoperative chemotherapy. NAR scores were <8 in 182 patients (37.4%), 8–16 in 180 (37.0%), and >16 in 125 (25.6%). The median follow-up time was 111.5 months (IQR: 70.7–133.7 months). One hundred and thirteen patients died of rectal cancer, among whom 13 patients developed local recurrence, 88 patients developed distant metastasis, and 12 patients had unknown recurrence patterns. The 10-year DFS and overall survival rate of f the whole group were 68.9% and 71.5% respectively. The 10-year DFS rates for patients with NAR scores <8, 8–16, and >16 were 85.1%, 80.5%, and 66.4%, respectively ( P<0.001). Multivariate analyses revealed that the Dixon operation (HR=0.606, 95%CI: 0.408–0.902, P=0.014), and >16 (HR=2.569, 95%CI: 1.559–4.233, P<0.001) were independent predictors of the 10-year DFS of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer ( P<0.05 for all). In the entire patient cohort, the AUC of the receiver operating characteristic curve for NAR score predicting 10-year recurrence and metastasis was 0.67 (95%CI: 0.62–0.72), whereas the AUC for TRG score was 0.54 (95%CI: 0.49–0.60). The two scores differed significantly in accuracy ( Z=-4.06, P<0.001), the NAR score being a significantly better predictor of risk of 10-year recurrence and metastasis than the TRG score. Conclusion:The NAR score is a reliable predictor of 10-year DFS in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who have undergone neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by curative surgery.

Objective:To investigate the effects of regular aerobic exercise on brachial ankle pulse wave velocity(baPWV)in middle-aged and elderly people.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study.A total of 7993 subjects receiving health examination at the Taihu Sanatorium of Jiangsu Province were enrolled, including 4 371 males and 3 622 females, with an average age of 55.8 years(±7.9).Information on exercise, alcohol consumption, smoking, body mass index, baPWV, blood pressure, resting heart rate, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol(TC), triglycerides(TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)and uric acid in all subjects were collected and recorded.Based on exercise habits, subjects were divided into the no exercise group(n=489), the occasional exercise group(n=3 222, exercise<3 times or<90 min per week)and regular exercise group(n=4 282, exercise 3-5 times or >90 min per week).Results:For male subjects, differences in baPWV between the no exercise group(1 747.37±346.07 cm/s), the occasional exercise group(1 486.77±195.15 cm/s)and the regular exercise group(1 449.77±219.50 cm/s)were statistically significant( P<0.05).For female subjects, difference in baPWV between the no exercise group(1865.05±120.19)cm/s, the occasional exercise group(1 593.18±332.51)cm/s and the regular exercise group(1 227.81±150.89)cm/s were also statistically significant( P<0.05).With increased time of exercise per week, the levels of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, resting heart rate, fasting blood glucose, TG and uric acid in different exercise groups decreased gradually for both men and women.Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that exercise, alcohol consumption, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and fasting blood glucose were independent risk factors for baPWV in men(all P<0.05)and that exercise, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, resting heart rate and fasting blood glucose were the independent risk factors for baPWV in women(all P<0.05).Trend analysis showed that with increased time of exercise per week, the rate of abnormal baPWV decreased gradually in both men and women( χ2 values were 74.67 and 1545.54, respectively, P<0.01). Conclusions:Regular aerobic exercise can improve baPWV, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, resting heart rate, fasting blood glucose, TG and uric acid in middle-aged and elderly people.Exercise is an independent influencing factor for baPWV in middle-aged and elderly people and exercise 3-5 times or more than 90 min per week is beneficial to cardiovascular health in middle-aged and elderly people.

Objective:To investigate the impact of lifestyle index (LSI) on serum uric acid levels in young and middle-aged men.Methods:This was a cross sectional study. A total of 8 067 subjects underwent check-up in Taihu Sanatorium of Jiangsu Province from March 2020 to June 2021 were enrolled, average age were(46.46±8.81) years. According to age, subjects were divided into young male group (18-44 years old, n=3 269) and middle-aged male group (45-60 years old, n=4 798). Height, weight, body mass index, alcohol drinking, smoking, diet, exercise, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-C), serum uric acid and other data in all cases were measured and recorded. Results:The serum uric acid level in allsubjects was (376.80±74.43)μmol/L and the prevalence of hyperuricemia was 25.7%.The serum uric acid level in the young male group was higher than that in the middle-aged male group [(381.86±74.32)μmol/L vs (373.34±74.32)μmol/L, P<0.001]. The prevalence of hyperuricemia in the young male group was higher than that in the middle-aged male group (27.4% vs 24.5%), and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001). With the improvement of LSI scores, the serum uric acid levels in young and middle-aged men showed a decreasing trend ( P<0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for age, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-C, LDL-C, hypertension, and diabetes, LSI was an independent factor for serum uric acid levels in young and middle-aged men. The risk of hyperuricemia in young and middle-aged male decreased ( OR 0.83 and 0.84, respectively, P<0.01) for every 1-point increase in LSI. Exercise and body mass index were independently associated with hyperuricemia in the young male group ( OR 0.83 and 0.54, respectively, P<0.05). Exercise, body mass index, and alcohol drinking were independently associated with hyperuricemia in the middle-aged male group ( OR 0.85, 0.51 and 0.65, respectively, P<0.05). Conclusion:LSI is an independent factor associated with hyperuricemia in young and middle-aged men and a healthy lifestyle has a protective effect on serum uric acid levels in young and middle-aged men.

Objective:To explore the relationship of cardiovascular health behavior and factors with development of bone mass loss and postmenopausal osteoporosis in Suxichang area of Jiangsu province.Methods:In the across sectional study, a total of 2 423 postmenopausal women receiving health check-up from March 2019 to June 2020 in our hospital were enrolled.The seven variable factors included cardiovascular health behavior(body mass index, exercise, healthy diet and smoking state)and cardiovascular health-influencing factors(blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and total cholesterol). The information of the seven factors and bone mineral density were recorded.The seven factors were classified as ideal, average and poor, according to the level of bone mineral density.All individuals were divided into three groups: normal bone mass(n=1 305), osteopenia(n=290)and osteoporosis(n=828).Results:There were statistically significant differences in age, fasting blood glucose, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and exercise between osteoporosis and normal bone mass group( P<0.05). As the number of ideal cardiovascular health behaviors and factors increased, the proportion of bone mass loss and osteoporosis gradually decreased( P<0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that ageing, increased total cholesterol and fasting blood glucose levels were the independent risk factors of osteoporosis.The exercise and normal body mass index were the protective factors for osteoporosis.For each 1 unit increment in age, total cholesterol, body mass index and fasting blood glucose, the OR values for bone mineral density decrement by 1 grade were 1.17, 1.25, 0.92 and 1.23, respectively(all P<0.05). The OR value for bone mineral density decrement by 1 grade was 0.58( P<0.05)when exercise decreased by 1 grade. Conclusions:Postmenopausal women should positively control the levels of total cholesterol and fasting blood glucose, maintain reasonable body weight and conduct regular exercise, which are conductive to the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Objective: To study the infection rate of secondary close contacts of COVID-19 patients, and assess the infection risk in the contacts. Methods: COVID-19 patients' close contacts (with a clear exposure time to index case) with negative nucleic acid test results and secondary close contacts were surveyed in continuous isolation and medical observation in this prospective study. The dynamic nucleic acid test results of the close contacts and secondary contacts of COVID-19 patients were collected to assess their risk of infection. Results: A total of 4 533 close contacts were surveyed, in whom 14 were confirmed as COVID-19 patients with overall secondary attack rate of 0.31%, and 4 201 secondary contacts were tracked, in whom no subsequent infections occurred. Conclusion: Close contacts of COVID-19 patients entered in centralized isolation for medical observation with negative nucleic acid tese results,the secondary close contacts of COVID-19 patients have no risk of infection.
COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Contact Tracing ; Humans ; Incidence ; Nucleic Acids ; Prospective Studies ; SARS-CoV-2

Metabolic regulation has been proven to play a critical role in T cell antitumor immunity. However, cholesterol metabolism as a key component of this regulation remains largely unexplored. Herein, we found that the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), which has been previously identified as a transporter for cholesterol, plays a pivotal role in regulating CD8

Objective:To investigate the correlation between different serum uric acid (SUA) levels and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) in adults.Methods:From March 2019 to February 2020, 5006 adults in Wuxi area of Taihu Sanatorium in Jiangsu Province were selected as subjects. Quintile method was divided into the following five groups: Q1: SUA<270 μmol/L, Q2: 270 μmol/L SUA 318 μmol/L or less, Q3: 319 μmol/L ≤SUA≤360 μmol/L, Q4: 361 μmol/L SUA 410 μmol/L or less, and Q5: SUA>410 μmol/L. Correlation was analyzed by logistic analysis, with IFG as the outcome index, five SUA groups as the observation index, and gender, age, body mass index (BMI), blood lipid, and blood pressure as confounding factors. Three logistic regression analysis models were constructed to explore the relationship between different SUA level groups and IFG risk, as well as the influence of BMI on the risk correlation between SUA and IFG.Results:The BMI, DBP, FPG, TC, TG, and LDL-C all increased with the increase in SUA level; however, HDL-C gradually decreased with the increase in SUA level (P<0.01). The SUA levels among the five groups were positively correlated with fasting blood glucose level in the IFG group ( r=0.589, P<0.001). After adjusting for age, sex, and BMI, SUA level was strongly associated with fasting glucose in the IFG group ( r=0.534, P<0.001). After further adjustment for blood lipid and blood pressure, the correlation persisted ( r=0.523, P<0.001). With Q1 as the control group, the calculated OR values of IFG risk were 1.199, 2.660, 2.784 and 3.629, respectively. After further adjustment for various confounding factors, the calculated OR values of each group were 1.130, 2.389, 2.350 and 2.895, respectively. The IFG risk in the group with SUA level in the corresponding Q2 and Q5 groups was 1.13 times and 2.90 times higher, respectively, than that in the normal group, indicating that with the increase in SUA level, the IFG risk in the population increased. With the increase in BMI and SUA levels after BMI stratification, the mean fasting glucose level increased ( P<0.001). Conclusion:The SUA level and IFG risk are closely related. Increased SUA level increases IFG risk, and SUA and IFG are associated with weight gain, which should be paid attention to.

Objective:To explore the correlation between different smoking status and serum uric acid(SUA)in a middle-aged male in health check-up population.Methods:In this cross-sectional study, a total of 26701 middle-aged men who underwent health check-up in Taihu Sanatorium of Jiangsu Province from January 2014 to June 2015 were studied.The correlation between smoking status and SUA was analyzed by questionnaires, physical examination and serum biochemical assay.Smoking state was divided into no smoking, a occasional smoking and smoking groups.Results:With the increase of age, there was a downward trend of SUA( F=7.38, P=0.000). Among the three smoking groups, the group with occasional smoking had the highest level of SUA.The smoking group had lower level of SUA than the non-smoking group and occasional smoking group( P=0.000 and 0.005). In the non-smoking group, the fourth quartile of SUA(41.5%)had a higher percentage than that in first quartile of SUA(38.4%)( χ2=12.266, P=0.000). In the smoking group, the fourth quartile of SUA(54.9%)had lower percentage than that in the first quartile of SUA(58.4%)( χ2=7.049, P=0.008). Compared with the non-smoking group, the prevalence of hyperuricemia(HUA)in smoking group was lower( OR=0.872, 95% CI: 0.821~0.927, P=0.000), the prevalence of HUA in occasional smoking group was higher( OR=1.194, 95% CI: 1.013~1.408, P=0.035). Conclusions:As compared with the non-smoking group, the prevalence of HUA is lower in smoking group and is higher in occasional smoking group.