Background::Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and diameter, stiffness, and wave reflections, are independent and important clinical biomarkers and risk predictors for cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of the present study was to establish nationwide reference values of carotid properties for healthy Chinese adults and to explore potential clinical determinants.Methods::A total of 3053 healthy Han Chinese adults (1922 women) aged 18-79 years were enrolled at 28 collaborating tertiary centers throughout China between April 2021 and July 2022. The real-time tracking of common carotid artery walls was achieved by the radio frequency (RF) ultrasound system. The IMT, diameter, compliance coefficient, β stiffness, local pulse wave velocity (PWV), local systolic blood pressure, augmented pressure (AP), and augmentation index (AIx) were then automatically measured and reported. Data were stratified by age groups and sex. The relationships between age and carotid property parameters were analyzed by Jonckheere-Terpstra test and simple linear regressions. The major clinical determinants of carotid properties were identified by Pearson’s correlation, multiple linear regression, and analyses of covariance.Results::All the parameters of carotid properties demonstrated significantly age-related trajectories. Women showed thinner IMT, smaller carotid diameter, larger AP, and AIx than men. The β stiffness and PWV were significantly higher in men than women before forties, but the differences reversed after that. The increase rate of carotid IMT (5.5 μm/year in women and 5.8 μm/year in men) and diameter (0.03 mm/year in both men and women) were similar between men and women. For the stiffness and wave reflections, women showed significantly larger age-related variations than men as demonstrated by steeper regression slopes (all P for age by sex interaction <0.05). The blood pressures, body mass index (BMI), and triglyceride levels were identified as major clinical determinants of carotid properties with adjustment of age and sex. Conclusions::The age- and sex-specific reference values of carotid properties measured by RF ultrasound for healthy Chinese adults were established. The blood pressures, BMI, and triglyceride levels should be considered for clinical application of corresponding reference values.

Respiratory support is one of the key technologies for treating pediatric respiratory diseases. High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) represents a novel method of assisted respiratory support. The commonly used indicator for assessing HFNC efficacy in clinical practice is oxygenation index (PaO 2/FiO 2). However, this parameter has several limitations when evaluating the efficacy of HFNC in pediatrics. The ROX index, introduced in recent years, offers a more sensitive and specific assessment tool. This article reviews the application of the ROX index in assessing the efficacy of HFNC for pediatric respiratory failure, aiming to provide a more accurate assessment method.

"Global cancer statistics 2022" based on the latest GLOBCAN data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) was recently released, providing a systematic analysis of the incidence and mortality of 36 types of cancer across 185 countries worldwide. The international burden of cancer is expected to continue to increase over the next 30 years, posing a severe public health and social challenge for many countries, including China. This article offers a key point interpretation of the "Global cancer statistics 2022", focusing on the evolution of cancer epidemiology and future development trends. The aim is to broaden the international perspective on cancer prevention and treatment, with the hope of providing reference and guidance for cancer prevention and treatment efforts in our country.

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is currently one of the most widely used plasticizers, widely found in all kinds of items, such as children’s toys and food packaging materials, but also added to wallpaper, cable protective agents and other building decoration materials. DEHP is toxic and absorbed by the human body through respiratory tract, digestive tract and skin contact, which can cause damage to multiple systems, especially the male reproductive system, and testis is an important target organ. Oxidative stress injury is the core mechanism of spermatogenesis disorder caused by DEHP. DEHP exposure can cause oxidative stress or reactive oxygen species (ROS) increase in germ cells, and on this basis, promote cell apoptosis or cause excessive autophagy. The toxicity of DEHP to Leydig cells is mainly to interfere with the synthesis of steroid hormones. For Sertoli cells, ferroptosis and destruction of the blood-testis barrier are common injury mechanisms. In addition, gene methylation caused by DEHP not only affects the spermatogenic process, but also has epigenetic effects on offspring. In this paper, we reviewed the pathological damage, germ cell toxicity and epigenetic effects of DEHP on testis, and focused on the damage and molecular mechanism on testicular spermatogenic cells, Leydig cells and Sertoli cells. Future research is required to elucidate the body’s clearance mechanism and treatment plan after exposure to DEHP and whether DEHP will damage the function of myoid cells. It is hoped that this can provide new ideas for prevention and treatment of male reproductive disorders resulting from long-term exposure to plastic products.

Objective:To establish a mortality risk prediction model of severe bacterial infection in children and compare it with the pediatric early warning score (PEWS), pediatric critical illness score (PCIS) and pediatric risk of mortality score Ⅲ (PRISM Ⅲ).Methods:A total of 178 critically ill children were selected from the PICU of the Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from May 2017 to June 2022. After obtaining the informed consent of the parents/guardians, basic information such as sex, age, height and weight, as well as indicators such as heart rate, systolic blood pressure and respiratory rate were collected from all children. A standard questionnaire was used to score the child 24 h after admission to the PICU. The children were divided into the survival and death groups according to their survival status at 28 d after admission. A mortality risk prediction model was constructed and nomogram was drawn. The value of the mortality risk prediction model, PEWS, PCIS and PRISM in predicting the risk of death was assessed and compared using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under the ROC curve (AUC).Results:Among the 178 critically ill children, 11 cases were excluded due to severe data deficiencies and hospitalization not exceeding 24 h. A total of 167 children were included in the analysis, including 134 in the survival group and 33 in the death group. A mortality risk prediction model for children with severe bacterial infection was constructed using pupillary changes, state of consciousness, skin color, mechanical ventilation, total cholesterol and prothrombin time. ROC curve analysis showed that the AUCs of mortality risk prediction model was 0.888 ( P<0.05). The AUCs of PEWS, PCIS and PRISM Ⅲ in predicting death in children with severe bacterial infection were 0.769 ( P< 0.05), 0.575 ( P< 0.05) and 0.759 ( P< 0.05), respectively. Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test showed the best agreement between risk of death and PEWS predicted morbidity and mortality and actual morbidity and mortality (χ 2 = 5.180, P = 0.738; χ 2 = 4.939, P = 0.764), and the PCIS and PRISM Ⅲ predicted mortality rates fitted reasonably well with actual mortality rates (χ 2= 9.110, P= 0333; χ 2 = 8.943, P= 0.347). Conclusions:The mortality risk prediction model for predicting the death risk has better prognostic value than PEWS, PCIS and PRISM Ⅲ for children with severe bacterial infection.

Objective: To investigate the clinical features and prognostic factors of gastric cancer patients under the age of 40. Methods : The clinical data of 126 young gastric cancer patients under the age of 40 were retrospectively analyzed. Log⁃Rank test and Cox regression model were used to analyze prognostic risk factors ,respectively. Results: The average age of gastric cancer patients in our group was 33. 6 years ,and there were more female patients than male patients(female ∶ male = 1. 25 ∶ 1) , Upper abdominal pain and fullness discomfort were the most common clinical manifestations ,and the predominant sites were gastric antrum angle (43. 7% ) and gastric body (42. 9% ) . Lauren type was mainly diffuse type (89. 7% ) , Nakamura type was mainly undifferentiated type (91. 3% ) , and WHO type was the most common type of low⁃adherence carcinoma (46. 8% ) . 71. 4% of patients were diagnosed with advanced 46. 7% , respectively. The results of univariate analysis showed that the levels of serum CA199 ,tumor length ,depth of tumor invasion ,lymphatic metastasis ,vascular invasion ,and surgical approach were risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that the levels of serum CA199 ,the depth of tumor invasion and surgical approach were independent prognostic factors. Conclusion Young gastric cancer has a high degree of malignancy and strong biological invasiveness. Most patients are diagnosed at the advanced stage of the tumor,and the overall prognosis is poor. The levels of serum CA199 ,the depth of tumor invasion and surgical approach were independent prognostic factors.

Objective:To investigate the effects of Resolvin D1 (RvD1) on the inflammatory response and the expression of Nod-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3) inflammasomes in mice with acute lung injury.Methods:The 30 male BALB/c mice weighing 25-30 g were divided into 3 groups(each group with 10 mice). Mice in the normal control group were given normal saline by tail vein injection.Mice in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group were given the same volume of LPS (10 mg/kg) via tail vein injection.Mice in the RvD1 group were injected with RvD1 (5 μg/kg) through the tail vein 30 minutes prior to LPS administration.Mice were humanely sacrificed after 6 hours.Histopatholo-gical changes of lung tissue, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin(IL)-18 and IL-1β, and the expression of NLRP3 inflammasomes in lung tissue were measured.Results:After LPS administration, the lung of mice showed pathological damage.The levels of pro-inflammatory factors IL-18 and IL-1β as well as the expression of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a card(ASC)and Caspase-1 in the LPS group were significantly higher than those in the normal control group (all P<0.05). After pretreatment with RvD1, the pathological damage of lung tissue was alleviated.The levels of pro-inflammatory factors IL-18 and IL-1β as well as the expression of NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1 in the RvD1 group were significantly lower than those in the LPS group (all P<0.05). Conclusions:RvD1 can attenuate the pulmonary inflammation in acute lung injury and inhibit the release of pro-inflammatory factors, which is possibly related to the suppression of NLRP3.

The etiology and pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are different.There are individual differences in the changes of pulmonary mechanics during the progress of the disease.The changes of compliance, pressure and volume are closely related to the etiology, severity and age.Correct use of lung protective ventilation strategy, reasonable adjustment of ventilator parameters and reduction of ventilator-associated lung injury are the key to improve the success rate of ARDS treatment.Therefore, we must pay more attention to the characteristics and changes of pulmonary mechanics in ARDS.

Objective To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety between neoadjuvant therapy followed by radical surgery and definite chemoradiotherapy in the treatment of Ⅰ B2-Ⅱ B cervical cancer.Methods A computerized search was performed in PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Library,Web of Science,CBM,Wanfang Data,CNKI and VIP to collect controlled clinical trials related to neoadjuvant therapy followed by radical surgery versus definite chemoradiotherapy in the treatment of ⅠB2-ⅡB cervical cancer.The meta-analysis of survival data and adverse events was performed by Review Manager 5.3 software.Results Nine controlled clinical trials involving 3 914 patients were included in this meta-analysis.There were no significant differences in overall survival (HR =0.83,P =0.31) and progression-free survival (HR=O.85,P=0.57) between two groups.Compared with patients receiving definite chemoradiotherapy,those in the neoadjuvant therapy group had a significantly lower risk of irradiation enteritis (RR=0.27,P=0.03),whereas no significant difference was observed in the risk of irradiation cystitis (RR=0.30,P=0.34) and grade ≥ 3 neutropenia (RR=0.77,P=0.46) between two groups.Conclusion In the treatment of locally advanced ⅠB2-Ⅱ B cervical cancer,two modalities show similar survival benefits.Although the neoadjuvant therapy group yields a lower incidence of irradiation enteritis,the incidence rates of irradiation cystitis and grade ≥3 neutropenia do not significantly differ between two groups.Neoadjuvant therapy followed by radical surgery is not superior to the standard therapeutic regime.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of Kinesio taping combined with warm needling on knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and its effect on serum levels of immune globulin(Ig)A, IgG, IgM. Methods: Sixty-two KOA patients who met the inclusion criteria were divided into 2 groups by random number table (31 cases in each group). The control group was treated with routine thrapy. Based on the control group, the observation group was treated with Kinesio taping combined with warm needling. After 6 weeks treatment, scores of visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate knee pain, Japanese orthopaedic association (JOA) scale was used to evaluate knee function, and Lequesne index was used to evaluate disease severity. The score of TCM clinical symptoms was conducted according to the KOA symptom grading quantification table, and the quality of life was evaluated according to the Chinese version of the MOS item short from health survey (SF-36). The Immunoglobulin(Ig)A, IgG and IgM levels were detected by ELISA method. Results: The total effective rate in the observation group was 93.5%, and the control group was 71.0% (28/31). The difference was statistically significant between two groups (χ²=5.415, P=0.020).The total effective rate of clinical symptoms in traditional Chinese medicine in the observation groups as 90.3% (28/31) was higher than the control group as 64.5% (20/31), and the difference was statistically significant (χ²=5.905, P=0.015). After treatment, the serum level of IgA (2.91 ± 0.35 ng/ml vs. 4.50 ± 0.50 ng/ml, t=7.621), IgG (11.17 ± 1.31 pmol/L vs. 15.83 ± 1.94 pmol/L, t=13.523), IgM (3.14 ± 0.44 pmol/L vs. 5.44 ± 0.62 pmol/L, t=8.441) were significantly lower than control group (P<0.01). After 6 weeks’ treatment, tthe scores of VAS, Lequesne index, and clinical symptom of traditional Chinese medicin of the observation group were significant lower than those of the control group (t=7.765 and 9.903 respectively, all Ps<0.01), but the scores of JOA and the SF-36 were significantly higher than those of the control group (t=18.441, P<0.01). After 6 weeks’ treatment, the scores of pain in bed at night, morning stiffness, walking pain, pain from sitting up, maximum walking distance, daily activities, walking up stairs, walking down stairs, bending knee joint score in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (t=8.933, 9.112, 9.225, 8.809, 9.240, 8.910, 7.903, 8.033, 7.031, respectively, all Ps<0.01), but the scores of physical pain, physiological function, physiological function, vitality, social function, emotional function, mental health in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (t=12.450, 13.446, 13.779, 9.003, 13.331, 12.440, 15.309, all Ps<0.01). Conclusions The kinesio taping combined with warm needling can improve symptoms of traditional Chinese medicine and reduce pain of KOAand increase quality of life with the regulation of IgA, IgG, IgM.