Background In 2021, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) emerged as the forth leading cause of death in the world. However, the impact of air pollutants on COPD is still inconsistent across current studies. Objective To analyze the relationship between ambient sulfur dioxide (SO₂) exposure and hospital admissions for COPD in Lanzhou, and to examine the modified effects of SO₂ across different genders, age groups, and seasons. Methods A total of 20718 hospital admission records for COPD were collected from Lanzhou between 2016 and 2020, alongside synchronized data on SO₂ concentration and meteorological variables. A generalized additive model integrated with a distributed lag nonlinear model was used to assess the relationship and the lag effects between SO₂ exposure and COPD admissions. Potential confounders, including meteorological factors, day-of-the-week effect, and holidays, were controlled for, with a maximum lag period set at 7 d. Two-pollutant models and sensitivity analyses were conducted to ensure robustness. Results are expressed as relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Results During the study period, the average daily number of COPD admissions was 11.34±7.03. The average mass concentration of SO₂ was (23.72±12.35) μg·m⁻³. SO₂ exposure was positively correlated with COPD admissions; specifically, each 10 μg·m⁻³ increase in SO₂ concentration was associated with an RR of 1.440 (95%CI: 1.317, 1.573). Stratified analyses found that at a cumulative lag of 7 d, the RRs were higher among females, individuals aged ≥65 years, and during the cold season. Conversely, no significant increase in COPD admission risk related to SO₂ was observed during the warm season. For every 10 μg·m⁻³ increase in SO₂ concentration, the RR was 1.483 (95%CI: 1.311, 1.678) for females, 1.441 (95%CI: 1.311, 1.583) for those aged > 65 years， and 1.595 (95%CI: 1.313, 1.937) during the cold season. Conclusion Short-term exposure to ambient SO₂ exposure in Lanzhou is associated with an increased risk of COPD admission. The association is more pronounced among females, the elderly (aged> 65 years) and during the cold season.

Objective To explore the value of a CT radiomics model in differentiating Xpert MTB/RIF-negative pulmonary tuber-culosis(PTB)from non-tuberculous mycobacteria pulmonary disease(NTM-PD).Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 90 patients with Xpert MTB/RIF-negative PTB and 127 patients with NTM-PD.All patients were randomly divided into training set and testing set at the ratio of 7∶3.Radiomics features were extracted from chest CT images.Feature dimensionality reduction and selection were sequentially performed using the maximum relevance and minimum redundancy(mRMR)algorithm and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)algorithm.Clinical,radiomics,and combined models were constructed by multi-variable logistic regression.The area under the curve(AUC)of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was utilized to assess the model diagnostic performance.Calibration curves were used to evaluate model stability,and the decision curve analysis(DCA)was used to evaluate the clinical utility.Results The combined model had the highest diagnostic performance in both training and testing sets,with AUC of 0.90 and 0.86,respectively,which were higher than clinical and radiomics models.The calibration curve showed that the combined model had a good consistency between the predicted and the actual observations,and DCA revealed the highest clinical benefit.Conclusion The clinical-radiomics combined model has excellent predictive ability in differentiating Xpert MTB/RIF-negative PTB from NTM-PD,which can provide robust support for clinical diagnosis.

Objective To explore the value of a CT radiomics model in differentiating Xpert MTB/RIF-negative pulmonary tuber-culosis(PTB)from non-tuberculous mycobacteria pulmonary disease(NTM-PD).Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 90 patients with Xpert MTB/RIF-negative PTB and 127 patients with NTM-PD.All patients were randomly divided into training set and testing set at the ratio of 7∶3.Radiomics features were extracted from chest CT images.Feature dimensionality reduction and selection were sequentially performed using the maximum relevance and minimum redundancy(mRMR)algorithm and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)algorithm.Clinical,radiomics,and combined models were constructed by multi-variable logistic regression.The area under the curve(AUC)of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was utilized to assess the model diagnostic performance.Calibration curves were used to evaluate model stability,and the decision curve analysis(DCA)was used to evaluate the clinical utility.Results The combined model had the highest diagnostic performance in both training and testing sets,with AUC of 0.90 and 0.86,respectively,which were higher than clinical and radiomics models.The calibration curve showed that the combined model had a good consistency between the predicted and the actual observations,and DCA revealed the highest clinical benefit.Conclusion The clinical-radiomics combined model has excellent predictive ability in differentiating Xpert MTB/RIF-negative PTB from NTM-PD,which can provide robust support for clinical diagnosis.

Objective To investigate the effects of cornuside on intestinal injury in rats with septic shock,and clarify its possible mechanism.Methods SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group,model group,low-,medium-,and high-dose comecarpine glycosides groups,and TREM1 inhibitor(LR12)group.HE staining was used to observe the pathological injury of small intestinal mucosa.The levels of D-lactic acid(D-LA)and diamine oxidase(DAO)in serum and secretory immunoglobulin(sIg A)in small intestine were detected by ELISA.Intestinal mucosal permeability was detected by fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran(FITC-D)tracer method.ELISA was used to detect the levels of interferon(IFN)-γ,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α,interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-10 and arginase(Arg)-1 in serum.The polarization of macrophages in small intestinal tissue was detected by flow cytometry.Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1(TREM1),CD86 and CD206 in small intestine.Results Compared with the normal control group,the model group had serious pathological injury of the small intestinal mucosa,and the serum levels of D-LA,DAO,FITC-D,IFN-γ,TNF-α,and IL-1β significantly increased(P<0.05),while the levels of sIg A,IL-10,and Arg-1 significantly decreased(P<0.05).The M1/M2 ratio of macrophages and the expression levels of TREM1 and CD86 proteins in the small intestine tissue significantly increased(P<0.05),while the expression level of CD206 protein significantly decreased(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the small intestinal mucosal injury of the rats in each dose cornuside group and LR12 group significantly improved,and the serum levels of D-LA,DAO,FITC-D,IFN-γ,TNF-α,and IL-1β significantly decreased(P<0.05),while the levels of sIg A,IL-10,and Arg-1 significantly increased(P<0.05).The M1/M2 ratio of macrophages and the expression levels of TREM1 and CD86 proteins in the small intestine tissue significantly decreased(P<0.05),while the expression level of CD206 protein significantly increased(P<0.05).Conclusion Cornuside can reduce intestinal injury in rats with septic shock,and the mechanism may be related to inhibiting TREM1-mediated M1 polarization of macrophages.

Objective:To observe the therapeutic effect of combining low-frequency pulsed electrical stimulation with Beckman oral muscle exercise training in relieving drooling among persons with Parkinson′s disease (PD).Methods:A random number table was used to divide 120 PD patients with drooling into a mouth muscle training group, an electrical stimulation group, and an observation group, with 40 patients in each group. In addition to routine medication, the oral muscle training group was given Beckman oral muscle exercise training, the electrical stimulation group underwent low-frequency pulsed electrical stimulation treatment, while the observation group was provided with both. Before and after 4 weeks of treatment, the severity of salivation, the frequency of repeated empty swallowing, oral motor function, saliva secretion, and life quality of the three groups were evaluated using the Saliva Rating Scale (DRS), the Repeated Saliva Swallowing Test (RSST), oral motor function grading, the Parkinson′s Disease Saliva Clinical Scale (SCS-PD), saliva weighing, and the PD Quality of Life Scale (PDQ-39).Results:After the treatment the average DRS, SCS-PD, saliva weighing and PDQ-39 results of the observation group were significantly better than those before treatment and better than the other 2 groups′ averages. That group′s average RSST and oral motor function scores had increased significantly compared to before treatment, and compared with the other 2 groups′ averages at the same time point.Conclusions:Combining low-frequency pulsed electrical stimulation with Beckman oral muscle exercise can improve oral motor function, swallowing, and the life quality of PD patients who drool. It is more effective than electrical stimulation or oral muscle exercise training alone. Such combination therapy is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Objective:To observe the therapeutic effect of combining low-frequency pulsed electrical stimulation with Beckman oral muscle exercise training in relieving drooling among persons with Parkinson′s disease (PD).Methods:A random number table was used to divide 120 PD patients with drooling into a mouth muscle training group, an electrical stimulation group, and an observation group, with 40 patients in each group. In addition to routine medication, the oral muscle training group was given Beckman oral muscle exercise training, the electrical stimulation group underwent low-frequency pulsed electrical stimulation treatment, while the observation group was provided with both. Before and after 4 weeks of treatment, the severity of salivation, the frequency of repeated empty swallowing, oral motor function, saliva secretion, and life quality of the three groups were evaluated using the Saliva Rating Scale (DRS), the Repeated Saliva Swallowing Test (RSST), oral motor function grading, the Parkinson′s Disease Saliva Clinical Scale (SCS-PD), saliva weighing, and the PD Quality of Life Scale (PDQ-39).Results:After the treatment the average DRS, SCS-PD, saliva weighing and PDQ-39 results of the observation group were significantly better than those before treatment and better than the other 2 groups′ averages. That group′s average RSST and oral motor function scores had increased significantly compared to before treatment, and compared with the other 2 groups′ averages at the same time point.Conclusions:Combining low-frequency pulsed electrical stimulation with Beckman oral muscle exercise can improve oral motor function, swallowing, and the life quality of PD patients who drool. It is more effective than electrical stimulation or oral muscle exercise training alone. Such combination therapy is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Objective To investigate the effects of cornuside on intestinal injury in rats with septic shock,and clarify its possible mechanism.Methods SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group,model group,low-,medium-,and high-dose comecarpine glycosides groups,and TREM1 inhibitor(LR12)group.HE staining was used to observe the pathological injury of small intestinal mucosa.The levels of D-lactic acid(D-LA)and diamine oxidase(DAO)in serum and secretory immunoglobulin(sIg A)in small intestine were detected by ELISA.Intestinal mucosal permeability was detected by fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran(FITC-D)tracer method.ELISA was used to detect the levels of interferon(IFN)-γ,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α,interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-10 and arginase(Arg)-1 in serum.The polarization of macrophages in small intestinal tissue was detected by flow cytometry.Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1(TREM1),CD86 and CD206 in small intestine.Results Compared with the normal control group,the model group had serious pathological injury of the small intestinal mucosa,and the serum levels of D-LA,DAO,FITC-D,IFN-γ,TNF-α,and IL-1β significantly increased(P<0.05),while the levels of sIg A,IL-10,and Arg-1 significantly decreased(P<0.05).The M1/M2 ratio of macrophages and the expression levels of TREM1 and CD86 proteins in the small intestine tissue significantly increased(P<0.05),while the expression level of CD206 protein significantly decreased(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the small intestinal mucosal injury of the rats in each dose cornuside group and LR12 group significantly improved,and the serum levels of D-LA,DAO,FITC-D,IFN-γ,TNF-α,and IL-1β significantly decreased(P<0.05),while the levels of sIg A,IL-10,and Arg-1 significantly increased(P<0.05).The M1/M2 ratio of macrophages and the expression levels of TREM1 and CD86 proteins in the small intestine tissue significantly decreased(P<0.05),while the expression level of CD206 protein significantly increased(P<0.05).Conclusion Cornuside can reduce intestinal injury in rats with septic shock,and the mechanism may be related to inhibiting TREM1-mediated M1 polarization of macrophages.

Allergen-specific immunotherapy（AIT） remains the only therapeutic approach with the potential to modify the natural course of allergic rhinitis（AR）. Nevertheless, considerable inter-individual variability exists in patients'responses to AIT. To facilitate more reliable assessment of treatment efficacy, the China Rhinopathy Research Cooperation Group（CRRCG） convened young and middle-aged nasal experts in China to formulate the present consensus. The recommended subjective outcome measures for AIT comprise symptom scores, medication scores, combined symptom and medication scores, quality-of-life assessments, evaluation of disease control, and assessment of comorbidities. Objective indicators may supplement these measures. Currently available objective approaches include skin prick testing, nasal provocation testing, and allergen exposure chambers. However, these methods remain constrained by practical limitations and are not yet appropriate for routine implementation in clinical efficacy evaluation. In addition, several biomarkers, including sIgE and the sIgE/tIgE ratio, sIgG4, serum IgE-blocking activity, IgA, cytokines and chemokines, as well as immune cell surface molecules and their functional activity, have been shown to have associations with AIT outcomes. While these biomarkers may complement subjective assessments, they are subject to significant limitations. Consequently, large-scale multicenter trials and real-world evidence are required to strengthen the evidence base. The present consensus underscores the necessity of integrating patients'subjective experiences with objective testing throughout the treatment process, thereby providing a more comprehensive and accurate framework for efficacy evaluation. Looking forward, future investigations should prioritize the incorporation of multi-omics data and artificial intelligence methodologies, which hold promise for overcoming current limitations in assessment strategies and for advancing both the standardization and personalization of AIT.
Humans ; Allergens/immunology* ; China ; Consensus ; Desensitization, Immunologic ; Immunoglobulin E ; Quality of Life ; Rhinitis, Allergic/therapy* ; Treatment Outcome ; East Asian People

Objective:To evaluate the utility of ultrasonographic monitoring of the rectus femoris muscle—specifically, the rates of change in thickness and cross-sectional area (CSA)—in assessing nutritional status and long-term functional outcomes in patients with sepsis.Methods:In this prospective observational study, sepsis patients admitted to the ICU of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between October 2023 and October 2024 were classified by nutritional status at discharge using the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria. Differences in serial ultrasound-measured rectus femoris thickness and CSA on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 were compared between malnourished and non-malnourished groups. The predictive value of these ultrasound parameters for malnutrition was analyzed. Functional prognosis was assessed using the Sarcopenia Assessment Scale, Short Physical Performance Battery, and Manual Muscle Testing, with correlations to muscle changes examined.Results:Of the 71 enrolled patients (median age 73.00 [ IQR: 61.00–80.00]; 47.89% female, 52.11% male), those with malnutrition showed significantly greater variation rates in rectus femoris thickness and CSA on days 3, 5, and 7 compared to the non-malnourished group ( P < 0.05). ROC analysis revealed that the day-7 CSA variation rate had the highest predictive value for malnutrition (AUC = 0.817, 95% CI: 0.713-0.930). These muscle variation rates also correlated strongly with conventional nutritional markers such as BMI, albumin, and urea. Similarly, patients with impaired functional outcomes exhibited higher variation rates in muscle parameters on days 3, 5, and 7 ( P < 0.05), with the day-7 CSA variation rate being most predictive of functional prognosis (AUC = 0.749, 95% CI: 0.632-0.867). Conclusions:Ultrasonographic assessment of rectus femoris thickness and CSA variation rates provides a valuable tool for evaluating nutritional status and predicting functional prognosis in sepsis patients, outperforming traditional biomarkers. This method shows promise for guiding individualized nutrition support and rehabilitation strategies to improve long-term outcomes.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of geriatric nutritional risk index(GNRI)combined with CHA2DS2-VASc-60 score for short-term prognosis of elderly multimorbid patients with atrial fibrillation.Methods A total of 220 elderly multimorbid patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation admitted to our hospital from May 2020 to December 2022 were recruited.Clinical data were collected,and GNRI and CHA2DS2-VASc-60 score were calculated.With 98 as a cut-off value of GNRI,the patients were divided into normal nutritional group(109 cases)and nutritional risk group(GNRI ≤ 98,111 cases).Clinical characteristics were compared between the two groups.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the influencing factors for compound events in elderly multimorbid patients with atrial fibrillation.Variance inflation factor was adopted for collinearity diagnosis.ROC curve was plotted to evaluate the prognostic value of GNRI,CHA2DS2-VASc-60 score and their combination.Results Compared with the normal nutritional group,the nutritional risk group had significantly advanced age,higher CHA2DS2-VASc-60 score,and larger proportion of concomitant chronic heart failure(P＜0.05).Age(OR=1.228,95％CI:1.112～1.357),GNRI(OR=0.693,95％CI:0.494～0.997)and CHA2DS2-VASc-60 score(OR=1.488,95％CI:1.008～2.194)were influencing factors for the occurrence of complex events(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).The AUC value of GNRI,CHA2DS2-VASc-60 score,and their combination in predicting complex events at the end of 6 months was 0.665(95％CI:0.539～0.791),0.689(95％CI:0.578～0.801),and 0.749(95％CI:0.653～0.844),respectively(P＜0.05).Conclusion Age,GNRI,and CHA2DS2-VASc-60 score are influencing factors for the occurrence of complex events in elderly multimorbid patients with atrial fibrillation.The combination of GNRI and CHA2DS2-VASc-60 score has predictive value for the short-term prognosis of the patients.