[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.03.002.].

BACKGROUND: Changes in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels may not fully translate into patient-reported health status in patients with heart failure (HF). We aimed to evaluate the correlation between NT-proBNP levels and patient-reported health status changes at one month after discharge of patients, and their associations with risk of death and rehospitalization in patients with acute HF. METHODS: We used data from the China Patient-centered Evaluative Assessment of Cardiac Events Prospective Heart Failure Study (PEACE 5p-HF Study). Patient-reported health status was measured by the 12-item Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ-12). Patients who were hospitalized for HF and completed the KCCQ-12 and NT-proBNP tests before and one month after discharge were eligible in our study. We stratified patients into different groups based on NT-proBNP levels (i.e., improved, stable, and deteriorated) and KCCQ-12 scores (i.e., not deteriorated and deteriorated). We also examined the associations of the joint NT-proBNP and KCCQ-12 change with the risk of one-year and four-year clinical outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 2461 patients were included in the analysis. The mean age was 64.06 ± 13.51 years, and 36.37% (895/2461) of the study population were female. Among patients with improved NT-proBNP levels, 115 (10.95%) patients had deteriorated KCCQ-12 scores. The correlation between the change in the KCCQ-12 score and NT-proBNP level was weak ( r2 = 0.002, P = 0.013). Stratification by changes in the KCCQ-12 score revealed subgroups with distinctive risks, such that patients with deteriorated KCCQ-12 scores in any of the NT-proBNP change groups exhibited an increased risk of one-year all-cause death than participants with not deteriorated KCCQ-12 scores in any of the NT-proBNP change groups. Patients with improved NT-proBNP levels and deteriorated KCCQ-12 scores presented greater risks of one-year all-cause death (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.45, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.34-4.48) than patients with stable NT-proBNP levels and not deteriorated KCCQ-12 scores (HR [95% CI], 1.77 [1.25-2.53]). CONCLUSIONS: A discrepancy between changes in NT-proBNP levels and KCCQ-12 scores was common. The change in NT-proBNP levels was not sufficient to characterize critical aspects related to HF during one month after discharge of patients. Changes in the KCCQ-12 score exhibit complementary information to NT-proBNP levels for the prediction of clinical outcomes in patients with acute HF. REGISTRATION www.clinicaltrials.gov (No. NCT02878811).
Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Health Status ; Heart Failure/metabolism* ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain/metabolism* ; Peptide Fragments/metabolism* ; Prospective Studies

Objective: To investigate the distribution of pupil diameter and its association with myopia in school age children, providing ideas into the mechanisms of the role of pupil diameter in the onset and development of myopia. Methods: Adopting a combination of stratified cluster random sampling and convenience sampling method, 3 839 children from six schools in Shandong Province were included in September 2021. Pupil diameters distribution was analyzed by age, sex, and myopic status. Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between pupil diameter and cycloplegic spherical equivalent (SE), as well as axial length (AL) and other variables. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to match myopic and non myopic children at a 1∶1 ratio based on age and sex. A generalized linear model (GLM) was constructed with pupil diameter as the dependent variable to identify independent factors influencing pupil size and its association with myopia. Results: The mean pupil diameter of school age children was (5.77±0.80)mm. Pupil diameter exhibited a significant increasing trend with age ( F =49.34， P trend ＜ 0.01). Myopic children had a significantly larger mean pupil diameter [(6.10±0.73)mm] compared to non myopic children [(5.62±0.79)mm] with a statistically significant difference( t=18.10, P <0.01). Multivariable GLM analysis, adjusted for age, amplitude of accommodation, and uncorrected visual acuity, revealed a negative correlation between pupil diameter and cycloplegic SE (before PSM: β =-0.089, after PSM: β =-0.063, both P ＜0.01). Conclusions Myopic school age children exhibite larger pupil diameters than their non myopic counterparts. Pupil diameter may serve as a potential indicator for monitoring myopia development in school age children.

Objective: To understand the characteristics of injury cases in Longhua District, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province from 2021 to 2024, so as to provide the evidence for the development of injury prevention and control measures. Methods: The data of injury cases in the first visit due to injury in the sentinel hospitals of Longhua District from 2021 to 2024 were collected from the Shenzhen Injury Surveillance System. The time, cause, place, activity, intention, nature, position, severity, and outcome of injury were described. Results: From 2021 to 2024, a total of 167 524 injury cases were reported in Longhua District, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.89∶1. The incidence of injuries was higher in cases aged 30-<45 years (49 957 cases, 29.82%). Injuries mainly occurred from July to August (31 272 cases, 18.67%). The main cause of injury was falls (52 048 cases, 31.07%). Injuries mainly occurred at home (64 110 cases, 38.27%). Leisure activities were the main activities when injuries occurred (79 008 cases, 47.16%). Most of the injuries were unintentional (159 173 cases, 95.02%). The main type of injury was contusion/abrasion (71 900 cases, 42.92%). The main injury site was upper limb (64 247 cases, 38.35%). Most injuries were mild (131 369 cases, 78.42%). The main injury outcome was discharge after treatment, 160 882 cases (96.04%). The second cause of male injury was blunt force injury (30 140 cases, 27.49%), and the second cause of female injury was animal injury (14 648 cases, 25.31%). Fall was the leading cause of injury in people aged 0-<15 years and ≥65 years, and blunt force injury was the leading cause of injury in people aged 15-<65 years. The second place for male injuries was industrial and construction places (23 722 cases, 21.64%), and for female injuries was school/public places (9 644 cases, 16.66%). The first place for injuries in people aged 45-<65 years was in industrial and construction places. The proportions of fractures, moderate injuries, and hospitalizations increased with age (all P<0.05). Conclusions The main injury cases in Longhua District were males and people aged 30-<45 years. July and August were a period of high risk for injuries. People aged 0-<15 years and ≥65 years were the high-risk groups of falls. More attention should be paid to the fracture risk in the elderly.

OBJECTIVE To systematically analyze the functional system and construction requirements for infection prevention and control('infection control system'in short)in medical institutions so as to facilitate the effective,standardized and practical construction of the infection control system.METHODS The questionnaires were de-signed based on the relevant criteria and literatures that were released in China with the combination of expect con-sultant and were distributed to experts or professionals involving multiple fields such as hospital infection manage-ment,clinical medical treatment and information technology.The questionnaires were recycled,summarized and analyzed.RESULTS The list of functions of the infection control system(consultative draft)was formulated after review of literatures and expert consultation,including fundamental functions such as data management,case sur-veillance and intervention feedback as well as the advanced functions like target surveillance,occupational protec-tion and interconnection.The surveyed subjects agreed unanimously after the questionnaire survey that all of the function modules and elements enlisted were important,the average score of importance was more than 4 points,the score of coefficient of variable(CV)for importance of the function modules was less than 0.25,indicating that there was high consistency in the opinions among the surveyed subjects.The element of tracing and epidemiologi-cal survey function was adopted and added according to the feedback suggestions from some of the subjects;two function elements including data query and clinical interaction were revised,and the list of function requirements for the infection control systems was finally defined.CONCLUSION The requirements for functions of the infection control system that are determined in the study can provide important bases and data support for the research and standardized development of future infection control system.

Objective:To analyze the incidence, clinical characteristics, and prognosis of basilar artery occlusion (BAO) patients presenting with paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (PSH) as an initial symptom.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on BAO patients with PSH manifestations who received endovascular treatment at Xingtai Central Hospital between January 2018 and August 2024. Demographic characteristics, clinical data, imaging findings, and follow-up information were collected.Results:A total of 136 BAO patients were included, of whom 22 cases (16.2%) were diagnosed with PSH. The age of the patients was (56.81±9.92) years, with males accounting for 86.4%(19/22). On admission, the Glasgow Coma Scale score was 4(3, 5), and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 30(25, 35). The successful reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction 2b-3) rate was 90.9%(20/22). In-hospital mortality was 50.0%(11/22), symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation occurred in 4.5% (1/22), and any type of intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 9.1%(2/22). Clinical features of PSH included tachycardia, tachypnea, hypertension, fever, diaphoresis, and increased muscle tone. Imaging analysis showed a high proportion of cerebellar (100.0%, 22/22) and midbrain (72.7%, 16/22) involvement. The 90-day follow-up showed that 72.7%(16/22) of the patients had poor functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score of 4-6), and the 90-day mortality rate was 59.1%(13/22).Conclusions:Among patients with BAO undergoing endovascular therapy, the incidence of PSH as the initial manifestation was 16.2%(22/136). These patients were predominantly middle-aged men and commonly presented with tachycardia, tachypnea, hypertension, fever, diaphoresis, and increased muscle tone. Imaging findings mainly involved the cerebellum and midbrain. Despite a relatively high rate of recanalization, patients with PSH exhibited a higher risk of mortality and poor functional outcomes.

Objective:To observe and analyze the correlations between aqueous humor cytokine concentrations and disorganization of retinal inner layers (DRIL), as well as postoperative visual acuity, in patients with idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM).Methods:A prospective clinical study. From November 2022 to October 2024, 40 eyes of 40 patients diagnosed with iERM at Ophthalmology Center of Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital) underwent cataract surgery alone or combined with pars plana vitrectomy (iERM group) were enrolled; 19 eyes of 19 patients undergoing cataract surgery alone during the same period served as the control group. All eyes underwent best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) testing and swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). BCVA was assessed using a logarithmic visual acuity chart and converted to the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) for statistical analysis. Central macular thickness (CMT) was measured using SS-OCT. The iERM group was further subdivided into DRIL-positive and DRIL-negative subgroups (21 eyes and 19 eyes, respectively), based on the presence or absence of DRIL. Aqueous humor samples were collected preoperatively from eyes in both the iERM and control groups. Concentrations of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, TGF-β2, TGF-β3, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-AB, hepatocyte growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), placental growth factor (PLGF), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), angiopoietin (Ang)-1, Ang-2, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured. Follow-up examinations using the same equipment and methods were performed at 1 month postoperatively. Aqueous cytokine levels were compared between the iERM group, control group, DRIL-positive subgroup, and DRIL-negative subgroup. Correlations between aqueous cytokine levels in the iERM group and BCVA or CMT were also analyzed. Intergroup comparisons utilized the Mann-Whitney U test; correlations between variables were assessed using Spearman's rank correlation analysis. Results:Compared to the control group, the iERM group exhibited significantly higher aqueous concentrations of TGF-β1, TGF-β3, PDGF-AB, PLGF, GDNF, ICAM-1, Ang-1, and TNF-α ( P<0.05). Compared to the DRIL-negative subgroup, the DRIL-positive subgroup showed significantly elevated aqueous concentrations of TGF-β3, PDGF-AB, PLGF, GDNF, ICAM-1, Ang-1, Ang-2, TNF-α, and IL-6 ( P<0.05). Significant differences were observed in logMAR BCVA ( P=0.028) and CMT ( P<0.001) within the iERM group between preoperative and 1-month postoperative measurements. LogMAR BCVA differed significantly between the DRIL-positive and DRIL-negative subgroups ( P=0.048). Correlation analysis revealed that baseline aqueous levels of VEGF-A and IL-6 in eyes with DRIL were positively correlated with postoperative BCVA ( r=0.324, 0.452; P=0.042, 0.003). No significant correlation was found between CMT and any cytokine ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Aqueous humor cytokines are closely associated with DRIL in iERM patients. IL-6 and VEGF-A may serve as potential predictive biomarkers for early postoperative visual recovery.

Objective To investigate the changes of diameter of the main trunk of the extracranial segment of the facial nerve,local hemodynamics and facial muscle thickness in patients with peripheral facial palsy(PFP)at acute stage by high frequency ultrasound(HFUS).Methods Sixty patients with acute PFP were enrolled as the PFP group,and 30 healthy people were selected as the control group.The following facial param-eters were scanned and recorded using HFUS:diameter of the main trunk of the extracranial segment of the facial nerve(FN-d),facial artery diameter(FA-d),facial artery systolic velocity(FA-Vs),facial artery diastolic velocity(FA-Vd),facial artery resistance index(FA-RI),frontalis muscle thickness(FM-t),depressor anguli oris muscle thickness(DAO-t),and depressor labii inferioris muscle thickness(DLI-t).The feasibility of facial param-eters in the diagnosis of acute-phase peripheral facial palsy(PFP)was evaluated,with intra-group and inter-group variability comparisons performed.Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to evaluate the relationship between acute-phase facial parameters and House-Brackmann(H-B)scale scores in PFP patients.Results(1)The H-B score of the PFP group was significantly lower than that of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).(2)The reliability of repeated measurements of facial parameters by different testers is good(ICC＞0.75).(3)The FN-d and FA-RI values on the affected side of PFP group were higher than those on the healthy side and control group,and FA-Vs,FA-Vd,DAO-t and DLI-t values were lower than those on the healthy side and control group,with statistical significance(P＜0.05).(4)The FN-d and FA-RI values of the affected side in the PFP group were negatively correlated with the H-S scale score(r=-0.847,P＜0.05;r=-0.863,P＜0.05);FA Vs,FA Vd,DAO-t,DLI-t are positively correlated with H-S scale scores(r=0.808,P＜0.05;r=0.757,P＜0.05;r=0.836,P＜0.05;r=0.694,P＜0.05).Conclusions HFUS can effectively detect the characteristic changes such as the increase in the diameter of the extrcranial facial nerve trunk,local microcircula-tion disturbance and facial muscle atrophy in patients with PFP in the acute stage,and the increase and decrease of FN-d,FA Vs,FA Vd,FA-RI,DAO-t,and DLI-t can accurately reflect the improvement or progress of PFP,which has important guiding significance for clinical disease monitoring and efficacy evaluation.

Lung cancer is one of the most common and deadliest cancers globally, with its incidence and mortality rates rising each year. Therefore, finding new, safe, and effective alternative therapies poses a significant research challenge in this field. Programmed cell death refers to the process by which cells actively self-destruct in response to specific stimuli, regulated by genetic mechanisms. Modern research indicates that dysregulation of programmed cell death is widespread in the occurrence and progression of lung cancer, allowing cancer cells to evade death while continuing to proliferate and metastasize. Thus, inducing the death of lung cancer cells can be considered a novel therapeutic strategy for treating the disease. In recent years, research on traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) in the field of oncology has gained widespread attention, becoming a focal point. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that TCM can inhibit the progression of lung cancer and exert anti-cancer effects by inducing apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, and ferroptosis. This paper provided a comprehensive review of the molecular mechanisms of programmed cell death in lung cancer, along with the potential mechanisms and research advancements related to the regulation of these processes by TCM, so as to establish a theoretical foundation and direction for future basic and clinical research on lung cancer.
Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Animals ; Autophagy/drug effects*

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) capable of clearing heat and removing toxin is most commonly used in clinical practice and has the effect of removing fire-heat and toxin. Studies have shown that most of the Ilex plants have the effect of clearing heat and removing toxin, among which the varieties of I. cornuta, I. pubescens, I. rotunda, I. latifolia, and I. chinensis are most widely used. These plants generally contain triterpenoids and their glycosides, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, and other chemical components, especially pentacyclic triterpenoids. According to their skeletons, pentacyclic triterpenoids can be divided into the oleanane type, the ursane type, the lupinane type, etc. Among them, ursane-type components are the most abundant, and 136 species have been found so far. These components have been proved to have pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, hypolipidemic, anti-thrombosis, cardiomyocyte-protective, antibacterial, and hepatoprotective effects. Therefore, this paper systematically reviews the domestic and foreign literature on Ilex plants with a focus on the research progress on pentacyclic triterpenoids and their pharmacological activities, aiming to provide reference for the development of TCM resources with the effect of clearing heat and removing toxin.
Ilex/chemistry* ; Plants, Medicinal/chemistry* ; Pentacyclic Triterpenes/pharmacology* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Animals