Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airway involving various cellular players. Among the different phenotypes of asthma, neutrophilic asthma is often associated with severe airway inflammation and a notable resistance to corticosteroid treatment. Macrophages, as innate immune cells, play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of neutrophilic asthma. They regulate neutrophil recruitment and activation to promote the progression of airway inflammation. During this process, macrophages also undergo changes in aspects such as efferocytosis. We reviewed the recent research progresses regarding the role of macrophages in the pathogenesis of neutrophilic asthma, aiming to provide valuable insights for future studies in this area.
Humans ; Asthma/pathology* ; Neutrophils/pathology* ; Macrophages/immunology* ; Animals ; Phagocytosis

Medical equipment, as an important indicator of smart hospital evaluation, plays a vital role in hospital operations. To ensure the safe and efficient operation of medical equipment, a reasonable performance evaluation system is indispensable. This study introduces a platform based on Internet of Things (IoT) technology that connects medical devices and collects data, achieving standardized and structured data processing, and supporting online operational supervision. Through the Delphi method, a performance evaluation system for large medical equipment is constructed, including 4 primary indicators and 22 secondary indicators. DICOM data acquisition devices are used to achieve functions such as efficiency analysis, benefit analysis, usage evaluation, and decision-making support for medical equipment. The study is still in its early stages, and in the future, it is expected to integrate more types of equipment, achieve rational resource allocation, and significantly impact decision-making for the development of public hospitals.
Internet of Things ; Delphi Technique

Objective:To analyze the influencing factors for special interests in rheumatology diseases in residents after their completion of standardized residency training.Methods:A questionnaire survey was conducted among general practitioners who participated in residential training in the base from September 1, 2011 to June 30, 2024, and the possible influencing factors were collected and analyzed.Results:Eighty-six cases (63.2%) of general practitioners expressed interest in rheumatology. A higher proportion of physicians showed interest in rheumatology when they engaged in the following activities: taking rheumatology as a subspecialty in practice on rheumtic diseases [16.3% (14/86) vs. 0 (0/50), χ2=15.93, P<0.001], taking night shifts during rheumatology rotation [57.0%(49/86) vs. 20% (10/50), χ2=17.60, P<0.001], studying with mentors of rheumatogy[89.5%(77/86) vs. 54.0%(27/50), χ2=22.19, P<0.001], participating in research on rheamatic diseases[16.3% (14/86) vs. 2.0% (1/50), χ2=6.57, P=0.010], involved in rheumatology outpatient teaching sessions [33.7%(29/86) vs. 8.0% (4/50), χ2=11.38, P<0.001], and receiving career guidance on mentors of rheumatology[39.5%(34/86) vs. 18.0% (9/50), χ2=6.78, P=0.012]. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed that the following were independent promoting factors for developing interest in rheumatology: taking rheumatology as a subspecialty in practice [ OR(95% CI) =3.82 (1.5,9.7), P=0.005], taking night shifts during rheumatology rotation [ OR(95% CI) =3.41 (1.25,9.28), P=0.017], and studying with mentors of rheumatology[ OR(95% CI) =6.44 (2.18,19.08), P<0.001]. Conclusion:Most residents expressed interest in rheumatology. Taking rheumatology as a practice sub-specialty, taking night shifts and during rotation and learning from mentors have a positive impact on residents interest in rheumatology after their completion of residency.

Objective To explore the types of symptom clusters in patients with bladder instillation and identify the core symptoms through symptom network analysis,and to provide evidence for symptom management of the patients.Methods Convenience sampling was used to select 226 patients with bladder instillation for bladder cancer at a Tier-IIIA hospital in Guiyang from March 2023 to July 2024.Data were collected through review of medical record,general information questionnaires and symptom assessment questionnaires specific to the patients with bladder instillation.Exploratory factor analysis was used to extract symptom clusters,and symptom relationships were analysed using R language for network layout and centrality calculations.Results A total of 223 patients with bladder cancer completed the survey.Four symptom clusters were identified,namely the urinary system symptom cluster,digestive system symptom cluster,somatic symptom cluster and psychological symptom cluster,with a cumulative variance contribution rate of 66.038%.The symptom network analysis showed strong associations between dysuria and urethral pain during catheterisation,incomplete emptying and dysuria,as well as distress and poor sleep quality.In terms of centrality indicators,the top three symptoms by strength were dysuria(rS=2.26),incomplete emptying(rS=0.99)and poor sleep quality(rS=0.90).Of the expected impacts,the top three were dysuria(rE=2.09),poor sleep quality(rE=1.34)and frequency of urinary(rE=0.55).Regarding the closeness centrality,the top three were dysuria(rC=2.23),incomplete emptying(rC=0.64)and poor sleep quality(rC=0.54).Dysuria had the highest strength,expected impact and closeness centrality,indicating the dysuria was the core symptom in the patients with bladder cancer.Conclusion For the patients with bladder instillation experience,multiple and interconnected symptoms appear at the same time and together they form a symptom clusters,of which the pain in urination is the core symptom.Medical staff should consider symptom prevalence and core symptoms and to develop the targeted and precise management strategies for targeted nursing.

Objective:To investigate the life expectancy of antiretroviral treatment (ART) HIV-infected patients and its trends in Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province from 2014 to 2023.Methods:The data were obtained from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention , and the study subjects were HIV-infected patients received ART in Taizhou City. An abbreviated life expectancy table was prepared based on Chiang's method to analyze the differences in life expectancy of HIV-infected patients receiving ART in Taizhou City with different characteristics in 2023 and to compare the trends in life expectancy of patients with different CD4 +T lymphocytes (CD4) counts at the time of initiation of ART from 2014 to 2023. Results:A total of 4 825 patients were enrolled in this study, with a cumulative follow-up of 276 648.56 person-years, and a case-fatality rate of 18.07 (95% CI: 16.48-19.65) /1 000 person-years. In 2023, male patients had lower life expectancy than females in all age groups, and those who were married had higher life expectancy than those who were unmarried and those who were divorced or widowed; patients who had been transmitted heterosexually had lower life expectancy than those who had been transmitted through homosexual transmission. Patients with different CD4 counts at the time of initiating ART had different life expectancies in all age groups. The life expectancy of patients with CD4 counts ≥350 cells/μl when initiating the treatment was higher than that of patients with CD4 counts <200 cells/μl in all age groups. The life expectancy of HIV-infected patients on ART at age 20 and 50 increased from 39.0 years and 19.1 years in 2014 to 46.0 years and 24.1 years in 2023, respectively, with an average annual percentage change of 2.43% (95% CI: 0.81%-4.07%) and 3.34% (95% CI: 1.17%-5.56%). The change in life expectancy was similar for patients with CD4 counts ≥350 cells/μl and 200-349 cells/μl at the time of initiating treatment in 2016-2023, and was higher than that for patients with CD4 counts <200 cells/μl. The rate of increase in life expectancy for patients at age 50 was higher than that at age 20 for all CD4 counts. Conclusions:The rising trend of life expectancy among HIV-infected patients on ART in Taizhou City is obvious. But the disparity between patients with different characteristics is obvious, especially among patients with baseline CD4 counts <200 cells/μl, suggesting the importance of expanded testing, early diagnosis and timely initiation of ART to improve the life expectancy of HIV-infected patients.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between the severity of pharyngolaryngeal sensory impairment and swallowing biomechanics as well as the risk of penetration-aspiration in patients with dysphagia following infratentorial stroke.Methods:This retrospective cross-sectional study enrolled 51 patients with dysphagia following infratentorial stroke hospitalized in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between January 2022 and December 2023. Participants were categorized into three groups: normal sensation group [15 males, 2 females; age range 29-76 (56.0±13.3)years], diminished sensation group[16 males, 3 females; age range 38-80(62.0±11.8)years], and absent sensation group [14 males, 1 female; age range 44-75 (60.0±9.7)years]. All patients underwent laryngoscopy and videofluoroscopic swallowing study, which included pharyngolaryngeal sensory testing and Penetration-Aspiration Scale assessment. Swallowing temporal parameters were quantitatively analyzed. Group comparisons for different variable types were conducted using the Chi-square test, one-way ANOVA, and the Kruskal-Wallis test. The correlation between sensory groups and Penetration-Aspiration Scale scores was assessed using Spearman′s correlation analysis. Logistic regression was employed to analyze the impact of pharyngolaryngeal sensory function on penetration-aspiration events.Results:Among the 51 patients, 33.33% (17/51) had normal pharyngolaryngeal sensation, while, 66.67% (34/51) exhibited sensory impairment. The normal sensation group exhibited a significantly longer laryngeal vestibule closure (LVC) time [792 (643, 1 205) ms] compared to the diminished [528 (380, 776) ms] and absent sensation groups [380 (322, 404) ms] ( H=6.502, P=0.039). Additionally, the upper esophageal sphincter opening time was longer in the normal sensation group than in the absent sensation group [528 (371, 710) ms vs 182 (0, 710) ms, H=6.003, P=0.049]. Correlation analysis indicated a significant negative correlation between the severity of sensory impairment and Penetration-Aspiration Scale scores ( r=-0.366, P=0.008). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that greater sensory impairment was an independent risk factor for penetration-aspiration ( OR=9.29, 95%CI=1.57-54.77, P=0.014). Conclusion:Pharyngolaryngeal sensory deficits are common after infratentorial stroke dysphagia and are significantly associated with impaired swallowing biomechanics and increased aspiration risk. The severity of sensory deficit is a key determinant of penetration-aspiration risk, highlighting its value in risk stratification and therapeutic decision-making for dysphagia.

Objective: To explore the mediating effects of activities of daily living (ADL) and social participation on depressive symptoms and cognitive function among the elderly, so as to provide the basis for preventing cognitive decline. Methods: Basic information, depressive symptoms, cognitive function, ADL, and social participation of the elderly aged 60 and above were collected through the 2020 database of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. The Process 4.3 program was used to analyze the mediating effects of ADL and social participation on depressive symptoms and cognitive function among the elderly. Results: A total of 6 722 elderly people were enrolled, including 3 791 males (56.40%) and 2 931 females (43.60%). The mean age was (68.52±6.00) years. The median depressive symptoms score was 7.00 (interquartile range, 9.00) points, with 2 436 individuals (36.24%) having depressive symptoms. The median cognitive function score was 12.50 (interquartile range, 4.50) points. The median ADL score was 0 (interquartile range, 1.00) point, with 2 173 individuals (32.33%) having ADL impairment. The median social participation score was 1.00 (interquartile range, 1.00) point. Mediating effect analysis showed that, after controlling for variables such as age, educational level, and residence, depressive symptoms indirectly negatively affected cognitive function through the independent mediating effects of ADL (β=-0.031, 95%CI: -0.042 to -0.020) and social participation (β=-0.008, 95%CI: -0.011 to -0.004), and negatively affected cognitive function via the chain mediating effects of ADL and social participation (β=-0.002, 95%CI: -0.003 to -0.001). The total mediating effect accounted for 25.79% of the total effect. Conclusion Depressive symptoms may indirectly and negatively affect the cognitive function among the elderly through ADL and social participation.

To summarize the nursing experience of a patient with T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia complicated with excessive dynamic airway collapse.Key nursing points include:efficient treatment of airway collapse to avoid causes of airway hyper responsiveness;avoiding the blockage of phlegm suppository,ensuring a safe and smooth airway;preventing the risks of hemorrhage and thrombosis,and strictly implement hospital infection prevention and control measures.After active rescue and careful nursing care,the patient was transferred back to the general thoracic surgery ward 13 days later,improved 17 days later,and was admitted to the cancer hospital for continued treatment.

Cardiovascular diseases(CVD)are chronic disease with high morbidity and mortality in the world.Pinellia ternatais a traditional Chi-nese medicinal herb and has the effects on drying dampness,resolving phlegm,lowering symptoms,stopping vomiting and relieving swelling.In recent years,researches showed that Pinellia ternataand its active ingredients(β-sitosterol,baicalin,baica-lein,quercetin)had significant effects in the treat-ment of cardiovascular diseases.This review sum-marized and analyzed the role and mechanism of Pinellia ternata and its active ingredients in cardio-vascular diseases,which provided a theoretical ba-sis for its clinical application.

Deflazacort,as a glucocorticoid medication,is conductive to improving motor function and muscle strength,delaying the loss of ambulation,enhancing pulmonary function,reducing the risk of scoliosis,slowing the progression of cardiomyopathy,and increasing survival rates in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy(DMD).In February 2017,the U.S.Food and Drug Administration(FDA)approved deflazacort for the treatment of DMD.In May 2024,deflazacort entered Peking Union Medical College Hospital for desig-nated use through the ＂ temporary import＂ pathway.This article provides an overview of deflazacort from the perspectives of its mechanism of action,pharmacokinetics,clinical efficacy,and adverse effects,aiming to offer a reference for its rational and safe application in clinical practice.