Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics and related socio-demographic factors of schizo-phrenia patients with different ages of onset.Methods:Totally 2 016 patients with schizophrenia aged 15 to 70 were selected according to the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,Fifth Edition.All of the patients were interviewed by psychiatrists using the Mini International Neuropsy-chiatric Interview to diagnose schizophrenia,Clinical-Rated Dimensions of Psychosis Symptom Severity(CRDPSS)and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS)to assess symptoms.The cut-off points were 18 and 25 years old for three age groups,i.e.early onset(EOS),youth onset(YOS)and adult onset(AOS).Statistical analy-ses were performed by analysis of variance Pearson correlation analysis,and multivariate linear regression.Results:The early-onset patients had the highest total PANSS score(73.8±28.0)and CRDPSS score(11.7±5.4).Fe-male gender,high education level,Han ethnicity,early onset age,and slower onset of illness were negatively corre-lated with the total and dimension score of PANSS scale and CRDPSS scale(standardized regression coefficient:0.04-0.47),and income level and smoking were negatively correlated with those score(standardized regression coefficient:-0.04--0.14).Conclusion:Early-onset schizophrenia patients have more severe symptoms,and fe-male,high education level,early-onset disease,and chronic onset are the risk factors of symptom severity in patients with schizophrenia.

Objective To explore the oral mucosal manifestations of Sweet's syndrome and provide a reference for its early detection and correct diagnosis.Methods The oral mucosal manifestations of a 60-year-old female patient with Sweet's syndrome are described in detail,followed by a discussion of the related literature.Results The patient had skin erythema of both lower extremities,which was accompanied by oral mucosal ulceration and pain for 3 days.The patient presented with mild cutaneous lesions and diffuse large-scale erosion in the oral mucosa with obvious pain.During the onset of the disease,the patient was accompanied by fever with a temperature of 38.5℃.After visiting the Department of Stomatology,laboratory tests showed an increase in C-reactive protein(35.2 mg/L)and an accelerated erythrocyte sedimentation rate(77.00 mm/h).Scattered red plaques and mild tenderness were observed in the knees and lower limbs.Histopathological examination of the skin lesions revealed scattered infiltration of immature neutrophils across the entire dermis.The patient responded well to glucocorticoid therapy.According to the clinical signs and labo-ratory examination,combined with the lesion histopathological results,a diagnosis of Sweet's syndrome was given.The patient was administered 1 mL compound Betamethasone injection only once intramuscularly.In the meantime,the pa-tient was asked to gargle with compound chlorhexidine solution and topically apply recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor solution to the damaged mucosa three times a day for 1 week.After 4 days of medication,the patient's body temperature had returned to normal and the oral lesions were significantly reduced.After 2 weeks,the erythema in the leg and knee had almost all subsided,and the oral mucosal lesions had disappeared.The patient was followed up 6 months after treatment,with no recurrence of skin lesions.After 2 years of follow-up,the disease was stable with no re-currence.A review of the relevant literature shows that Sweet's syndrome is a rare inflammatory reactive dermatosis with unknown etiology,which can be divided into three clinical types:specific,tumor-related,and drug-induced.The male/female prevalence ratio is 1:4.The salient clinical manifestations are abrupt onset of painful erythematous plaques or nodules most commonly involving the extremities,often accompanied by pyrexia,elevated neutrophil count,elevation of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate,and positive C-reactive protein.The use of glucocorticoids is the most common treatment for this disease,and most patients see a rapid improvement in skin lesions;however,some may experience infection or recurrence after withdrawal.Some patients with Sweet's syndrome are accompanied by oral lesions,but cases of oral mucosal damage have been rarely reported,and this condition is easily misdiagnosed.Conclusion Oral mucosal lesions may be extraterritorial manifestations of Sweet's syndrome,and the patient's systemic condition should be comprehensively considered.Skin biopsy should be completed as soon as possible to make a clear diagnosis,so as not to delay the disease.J Prev Treat Stomatol Dis,2024,32(8):620-624.

Derived from embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, or adult stem cells, liver organoids not only mimic the tissue structure, gene expression patterns, and genetic characteristics of in vivo liver but also demonstrate significant potential in simulating liver diseases, drug screening, precision medicine, and regenerative medicine. This technology is particularly valuable in modeling various conditions such as malignant liver tumors, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, viral hepatitis, and a range of genetic and metabolic liver diseases. However, challenges remain in enhancing the derivation and proliferation efficiency of organoids, constructing immune microenvironments, developing functional vascular networks, and achieving standardization and automation in the organoid preparation process. Looking forward, with continued technological advancements and innovations, these issues are expected to be resolved, paving the way for liver organoids to play a more substantial role in clinical and research applications, ultimately contributing significantly to public health. This review comprehensively explores the development and extensive applications of liver organoid technology in the field of biomedical science. The aim is to inform subsequent research.

Objective:To explore the flora characteristics and differences of esophageal tissues between elderly esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients and young and middle-aged ESCC patients, so as to assist in studying the potential biomarkers of elderly ESCC patients.Methods:In this study, a retrospective study was adopted. 72 ESCC patients diagnosed in Taihe Hospital, Shiyan City, Hubei Province from July 2018 to July 2019 were selected, including 49 patients in the elderly group (≥ 60 years old, 40 males and 9 females), 23 patients in the young and middle-aged group (<60 years old, 21 males and 2 females). In the same period, 20 healthy persons without abnormal gastroscopy in endoscopy center were selected as the control group (aged 35-78 years old, median age 57 years old, 16 males and 4 females). The genomic DNA was extracted from the affected esophageal tissues of patients with ESCC and the middle esophageal samples of the control group. The V4 hypervariable region of bacterial 16SrRNA gene sequence was amplified. Illumina HiSeq sequencing technology was adopted. The flora characteristics of elderly, young and middle-aged ESCC patients was compared and analyzed. QIIME and Rstudio software were used to analyze the sequence data, and nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test or Wilcoxon rank sum test were used for statistical methods.Results:Shannon index [5.17 (4.53, 5.95) vs. 4.79 (3.74, 5.97)], Simpson index [0.94 (0.91, 0.96) vs. 0.92 (0.83, 0.96)] and Chao1 index [343.55 (259.76, 570.59) vs. 329.16 (268.88, 648.00)] were similar in flora of two groups, and there was no significant difference ( Z=-0.791, -1.057, -0.380, all P>0.05). There was no significant difference in β-diversity between the elderly group and the young and middle-aged group (PC1=19.14%, PC2=6.95%, PPC1=0.67, PPC2=0.42). At the phyla level, the top 5 phyla in abundance were as follows: Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Fusobacteria in the young and middle-aged group, while the top 5 phyla in abundance were as follows: Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Fusobacteria and Actinobacteria in the elderly group; the significant difference between the two groups was Fusobacteria ( Q=0.596, P<0.05). At the genus level, the top 5 genera in the young and middle-aged group in abundance were as follows: Prevotella, Bacteroides, Streptococcus, Selenomonas and Veillonella. In the elderly group, Prevotella, Bacteroides, Streptococcus, Selenomonas and Haemophilus were the top 5 in abundance, and there were significant difference in Fusobacterium between the two groups ( Q=0.938, P<0.05). PICRUSt function prediction showed that the abundance of Aminoacyl.tRNA.biosynthesis, Nucleotide.excision.repair, RNA.polymerase, Ribosome, Clavulanic.acid.biosynthesis, Photosynthesis and Photosynthesis. proteins in the elderly group were lower than those in the young and middle-aged group (all Q=0.734, P<0.05). Conclusion:There is no significant difference in α-diversity and β-diversity between elderly ESCC patients and young and middle-aged patients, but the abundance of Fusobacterium flora increased.

Objective:To explore the flora characteristics and differences of esophageal tissues between elderly esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients and young and middle-aged ESCC patients, so as to assist in studying the potential biomarkers of elderly ESCC patients.Methods:In this study, a retrospective study was adopted. 72 ESCC patients diagnosed in Taihe Hospital, Shiyan City, Hubei Province from July 2018 to July 2019 were selected, including 49 patients in the elderly group (≥ 60 years old, 40 males and 9 females), 23 patients in the young and middle-aged group (<60 years old, 21 males and 2 females). In the same period, 20 healthy persons without abnormal gastroscopy in endoscopy center were selected as the control group (aged 35-78 years old, median age 57 years old, 16 males and 4 females). The genomic DNA was extracted from the affected esophageal tissues of patients with ESCC and the middle esophageal samples of the control group. The V4 hypervariable region of bacterial 16SrRNA gene sequence was amplified. Illumina HiSeq sequencing technology was adopted. The flora characteristics of elderly, young and middle-aged ESCC patients was compared and analyzed. QIIME and Rstudio software were used to analyze the sequence data, and nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test or Wilcoxon rank sum test were used for statistical methods.Results:Shannon index [5.17 (4.53, 5.95) vs. 4.79 (3.74, 5.97)], Simpson index [0.94 (0.91, 0.96) vs. 0.92 (0.83, 0.96)] and Chao1 index [343.55 (259.76, 570.59) vs. 329.16 (268.88, 648.00)] were similar in flora of two groups, and there was no significant difference ( Z=-0.791, -1.057, -0.380, all P>0.05). There was no significant difference in β-diversity between the elderly group and the young and middle-aged group (PC1=19.14%, PC2=6.95%, PPC1=0.67, PPC2=0.42). At the phyla level, the top 5 phyla in abundance were as follows: Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Fusobacteria in the young and middle-aged group, while the top 5 phyla in abundance were as follows: Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Fusobacteria and Actinobacteria in the elderly group; the significant difference between the two groups was Fusobacteria ( Q=0.596, P<0.05). At the genus level, the top 5 genera in the young and middle-aged group in abundance were as follows: Prevotella, Bacteroides, Streptococcus, Selenomonas and Veillonella. In the elderly group, Prevotella, Bacteroides, Streptococcus, Selenomonas and Haemophilus were the top 5 in abundance, and there were significant difference in Fusobacterium between the two groups ( Q=0.938, P<0.05). PICRUSt function prediction showed that the abundance of Aminoacyl.tRNA.biosynthesis, Nucleotide.excision.repair, RNA.polymerase, Ribosome, Clavulanic.acid.biosynthesis, Photosynthesis and Photosynthesis. proteins in the elderly group were lower than those in the young and middle-aged group (all Q=0.734, P<0.05). Conclusion:There is no significant difference in α-diversity and β-diversity between elderly ESCC patients and young and middle-aged patients, but the abundance of Fusobacterium flora increased.

Objective: To examine the correlation between the promoter methylation of Sterol regulatory-element binding protein-2 (SREBP-2) and miR-33a expression as well as serum markers in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: The case-control study. 100 participants who underwent coronary angiography from August 2017 to April 2018 in TaiheHospital, Hubei University of Medicine, were recruited in this study.The methylation level of two fragments, including 12 CpG sites in the promoter region of SREBP-2, have been detected by pyrosequencing in 50 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and 50 non-CAD controls. Serum miR-33a level and a panel of 15 CAD related biomarkers were examined by qPCR and routine biochemistry methods. Results: Methylation level of one CpG site (F1-4 loci) in SREBP-2 promoter region were significant higher in CAD patients than in controls(4.56%±0.70% vs 3.54%±0.72%, t=-3.864, P<0.001); methylation level of F1-4 site was negatively correlates with the serum miR-33a levels and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels(r=-0.318, P=0.001; r=-0.225, P=0.024, respectively). Furthermore, F1-4 hypermethylation was an independent risk factor of CAD, independent of age, gender, histories of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes(OR=2.452, 95%CI=1.398-4.299, P=0.002). Conclusion These results suggest that DNA methylation and miRNA might cooperate to regulate the lipid metabolism in CAD.

Genetics ; Laboratories ; Technology ; standards ; United States

Objective To investigate the clinical values of detection of plasma miRNA-544a (miR-544a) expression level in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.Methods A total of 110 patients diagnosed with lung cancer in Ⅰ-Ⅱ stage from June 2017 to March 2018 in Shiyan Taihe Hospital were collected,and 35 patients with benign pulmonary nodules and 64 healthy people were also collected as the controls.Realtime quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the level of miR-S44a in plasma of 64 healthy people,110 patients with lung cancer (50 newly diagnosed patients without anti-tumor treatment,33 patients one week after radical resection,27 patients after one week chemotherapy with the same dose) and 35 patients with benign pulmonary nodules.Of the 50 newly diagnosed patients,42 cases were non-small cell lung cancer and 8 cases were small cell lung cancer.The plasma expression level of miR-544a in each group was compared by using Mann-Whitney U test,and the efficacy of miR-544a in the diagnosis of lung cancer was evaluated by the receiver operationg characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under the curve (AUC).Results The plasma expression levels of miR-544a in the newly diagnosed untreated lung cancer group,one week after operation group,one week chemotherapy group,healthy control group and benign pulmonary nodule group were 1.40 nmol/L (0.55 nmol/L,8.76 nmol/L),33.52 nmol/L (3.64 nmol/L,250.47 nmo/L),8.87 nmol/L (0.68 nmol/L,125.43 nmol/L),0.31 nmol/L (0.17 nmol/L,1.19 nmol/L),1.04 nmol/L (0.31 nmol/L,4.62 nmol/L),respectively,and the differences between untreated lung cancer group and the other 4 groups were statistically significant (Z =-4.483,P ＜ 0.001;Z =-4.274,P ＜ 0.001;Z =-2.562,P =0.01;Z =-2.152,P =0.031).The expression levels of miR-544a in non-small cell lung cancer group and small cell lung cancer group were 1.40 nmol/L (0.66 nmol/L,8.76 nmol/L) and 1.37 nmol/L (0.26 nmol/L,36.97 nmol/L),respectively.The differences between non-small cell lung cancer group and healthy control group and benign pulmonary nodule group were statistically significant (Z =-4.463,P ＜ 0.001;Z =-2.026,P =0.043).Compared with the healthy people,the AUC of miR-544a for diagnosing the lung cancer was 0.841,the sensitivity was 87.5 ％,and the specificity was 68.0 ％.Compared with the benign pulmonary nodule,the AUC for diagnosing lung cancer was 0.638,the sensitive was 45.7 ％,and the specificity was 80.0 ％.Conclusions The plasma expression level of miR-544a has certain significances in the differential diagnosis of early stage lung cancer and benign pulmonary nodules and healthy people,and it can be used as a potential biomarker for diagnosing early stage lung cancer,especially for the non-small cell lung cancer.The plasma expression of miR-544a is increased after surgery or chemotherapy,suggesting that its expression may be related to the occurrence and development of lung cancer,and miR-544a may become a new target for cancer treatment.

OBJECTIVETo assess the association of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene 677C to T polymorphism with blood homocysteine (Hcy) level among women of childbearing age from Shiyan area.

METHODSPCR-chip hybridization was used to determine the genotype of MTHFR 677C to T, and a biochemical assay was used to determine the total Hcy level among 428 healthy women of childbearing age. Association of MTHFR 677C to T with total Hcy level was assessed.

RESULTSHeterozygous CT mutation was most common form for the MTHFR 677C to T polymorphisms and amounted for 49.77% among the group, while the CC wild type and homozygous TT mutation respectively accounted for 30.61% and 19.63%. These gave a frequency of 44.51% for the 677T allele. The dominant genotype among different age groups were the CT type. Of note, the proportion of MTHFR 677CC is higher in women above 30 years of age. The distribution of MTHFR 677C to T genotypes has differed significantly among different age groups (P<0.05). Compared with those with wild type alleles, carriers of MTHFR mutations had a higher plasma Hcy level. The genotypic frequencies of MTHFR C677T in Shiyan region differed significantly from those of Sichuan, Hebei, Henan and Shandong (P<0.05) but were similar to those of Jiangsu, Guangdong, Ningxia and Xinjiang.

CONCLUSIONThe distribution of MTHFR C677T polymorphism among women of childbearing age in Shiyan area is influenced by age and is geographically specific and associated with plasma Hcy level. Nearly 50% of women have carried the high risk alleles, for whom folic acid supplementation is crucial for the reduction of birth defect rate.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of nosocomial infection of carbapenem resistant En-terobacteriaceae ,then to study the risk factors and prognosis of patients ,as to provide evidence for effective control of CRE hospital infection .Methods A retrospective epidemiology study was conducted of CRE infec-ted patients from January 2016 to June 2017 .This was a 1∶2 matched case-control study of patients with in-fection due to carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae and randomly select 218 patients with non CRE infec-tion in the same hospital as control group ,then the risk factors of CRE infection were investigate .Results A-mong the 109 cases CRE infection patients ,the most common bacteria were Klebsiella pneumoniae ,Enter-obacter cloacae and Escherichia coli .The CRE strains were more sensitive to minocycline than other common antibiotics ,the resistance rate to other antibiotics was more than 40% .Univariate analysis showed that ICU staying time more than 7 d ,using beta lactamase inhibitors and carbapenem antibiotics ,combination therapy and mechanical ventilation were the potential risk factors of CRE nosocomial infection .The non conditional multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that Check in ICU more than 7 d (OR＝ 4 .981 ,95% CI 2 .451-10 .122 ) ,the use of containing beta lactamase inhibitor antibiotics (OR＝ 3 .718 ,95% CI 2 .162-6 .394) ,use of carbapenem antibiotics (OR＝3 .232 ,95% CI 1 .879-5 .561) ,and mechanical ventilation (OR＝5 .26 ,95% CI 2 .576-10 .742) were independent risk factors of CRE nosocomial infection .The nosocomial in- fection CRE strain was with highly antibiotic resistance rate ,and the average hospitalization time and mortality were significantly higher than those of the control group .Conclusion The carbapenem resistant Enterobacte-riaceae infection had multiple independent risk factors ,strengthening of these independent risk factor control can effectively prevent the spread of CRE isolates infection .