Objective: To explore the setting of gray zone of Treponema pallidum (TP) testing by retrospective analysis of blood donors with single reagent reactive anti-TP results, so as to improve blood utilization and supply safety. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 112 blood donors previously deferred due to single reagent reactive TP antibody results between January 2020 and December 2023, and subjected to dual ELISA reagents and TPPA test. The gray zone panel analysis was performed on the two ELISA reagents currently used in our department. The detection rate at each concentration of the gray zone panle was counted, and the corresponding concentrations for C , C , and C and gray zone cut-off were calculated. Results: Among the 50 samples deferred by reagent 1, 19 were confirmed reactive and 31 non-reactive in supplementary testing. Among the 62 samples deferred by reagent 2, 12 were confirmed reactive and 50 non-reactive in supplementary testing. For reagent 1, the detection rate of was 56% for S/CO≥1 and 20% for 0.5≤S/CO<1, retrospectively. For reagent 2, the detection rate was 27% for S/CO≥1 and 12.5% for 0.5≤S/CO<1, retrospectively. The detection rate for S/CO≥1 was higher than those for 0.5≤S/CO<1 for both reagents. All the 112 samples were negative in TPPA test. The C concentration of reagent 1 was 1.51 mIU/mL, and the concentration range of C ±20% was 1.21-1.81 mIU/mL. The C concentration of reagent 2 was 1.45 mIU/mL, and the concentration range of C ±20% was 1.16-1.74 mIU/mL. The C and C concentration of both reagents were within the C ±20% range, suggesting that the gray zone cutoff for both Reagent 1 and Reagent 2 should be set at S/CO=0.8 (80% of the CO value). Conclusion: All anti-TP single reagent reactive samples with S/CO value within the gray zone was tested negative by TPPA. It is necessary to consider the rationality and necessity of establishing the gray zone, so as to ensure blood safety and improve the utilization rate of blood resources.

Objective: To analyze the status of Treponema pallidum (TP) infection among blood donors in Hefei area by evaluating anti-TP reactive donors, and to provide data support for blood screening strategies, evaluation of reagent application, and public health prevention and control strategies. Methods: TPPA confirmation test were performed on 338 anti-TP positive samples of voluntary blood donors at Anhui Blood Center from February to April 2022, July to October 2022, February to June 2023. RPR tests were conducted on samples positive for TPPA. The test results, co-reactivity of TP with HBV, HCV, and HIV, and demographic characteristics of the donors were statistically analyzed. Results: The unqualified rate of anti-TP among blood donors in Hefei area was 0.30% (405/133 587), and the positive rate for TPPA was 67.46% (228/338). Among the TPPA-positive donors, 31.67% were RPR-positive. The co-positive rates of HBV, HCV and HIV in anti-TP reactive blood donors were 0.74% (3/405), 0.49% (2/405), and 1.73% (7/405), respectively, with HIV copositivity being the most common. Most co-positive donors were males aged 31-50 years with a high school education or lower, and all were first-time whole blood donors. Conclusion: The anti-TP unqualified rate among blood donors in Hefei area is at a low-to-mederate level. HIV is the most common co-infection with TP among anti-TP positive donors. The majority of co-infected donors are middle-aged men donating whole blood for the first time.

Objective: To explore the related factors of college students social network addiction based on problem behavior theory, so as to provide a basis for improving social networking addiction in this population. Methods: From May to June 2023, a method combining convenient sampling and cluster random sampling was used to select 1 768 college students from five universities in Shanghai for a questionnaire survey on social networking addiction, self esteem, loneliness, depressive symptoms, social support, interpersonal needs, sense of distress and frustration; at the same time, the physical exercise, smoking and drinking of college students were investigated. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was applied to explore the association between the three systems of the problem behavior theory (personality, behavior, and social environment) and social networking addiction among college students. Results: The score on the Social Network Addiction Tendency Scale was (21.08±6.29) among college students, and the detection rate of social networking addiction was 66.29%. After adjusting for gender, family economic status, parental divorce status, and whether being an only child, multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that in the personality system, higher loneliness ( OR =1.66) and higher depressive symptoms ( OR =2.18) were associated with increased risk of social networking addiction among college students; in the behavior system, alcohol consumption ( OR =1.42) was associated with higher risk of soical networking addiction compared to non drinkers; and in the social environment system, low social support ( OR =1.43) was associated with increased risk of social networking addiction (all P <0.05). Conclusions The rate of social networking addiction among college students is relatively high, and the systems of personality, behavior, and social environment are all related to social network addiction. Providing social support, cultivating healthy lifestyle habits, and increasing interpersonal interactions may help reduce excessive dependence on social networking among college students.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of intravenous colistin sulfate combined with nebulized inhalation versus intravenous monotherapy for pulmonary infections caused by carbapenem-resistant organism (CRO). METHODS: A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted. Clinical data were collected from patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of 10 tertiary class-A hospitals in Henan Province between July 2021 and May 2023, who received colistin sulfate for CRO pulmonary infections. Data included baseline characteristics, inflammatory markers [white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil count (NEU), procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP)], renal function indicators [serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN)], life support measures, anti-infection regimens, clinical efficacy, microbiological clearance rate, and prognostic outcomes. Patients were divided into two groups: intravenous group (colistin sulfate monotherapy via intravenous infusion) and combination group ((intravenous infusion combined with nebulized inhalation of colistin sulfate). Changes in parameters before and after treatment were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 137 patients with CRO pulmonary infections were enrolled, including 89 in the intravenous group and 48 in the combination group. Baseline characteristics, life support measures, daily colistin dose, and combination regimens (most commonly colistin sulfate plus carbapenems in both groups) showed no significant differences between two groups. The combination group exhibited higher clinical efficacy [77.1% (37/48) vs. 59.6% (52/89)] and microbiological clearance rate [60.4% (29/48) vs. 39.3% (35/89)], both P < 0.05. Pre-treatment inflammatory and renal parameters showed no significant differences between two groups. Post-treatment, the combination group showed significantly lower WBC and CRP [WBC (×10⁹/L): 8.2±0.5 vs. 10.9±0.6, CRP (mg/L): 14.0 (5.7, 26.6) vs. 52.1 (24.4, 109.6), both P < 0.05], whereas NEU, PCT, SCr, and BUN levels showed no significant between two groups. ICU length of stay was shorter in the combination group [days: 16 (10, 25) vs. 21 (14, 29), P < 0.05], although mechanical ventilation duration and total hospitalization showed no significant differences between two groups. CONCLUSIONS Intravenous colistin sulfate combined with nebulized inhalation improved clinical efficacy and microbiological clearance in CRO pulmonary infections with an acceptable safety profile.
Humans ; Colistin/therapeutic use* ; Retrospective Studies ; Administration, Inhalation ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use* ; Carbapenems/pharmacology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/drug effects* ; Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Respiratory Tract Infections/drug therapy*

The efficacy of root canal therapy, as a core intervention for endodontic and periapical diseases, is highly dependent on the effectiveness of antimicrobial drugs. Although traditional drugs such as calcium hydroxide, chlorhexidine, and antibiotic pastes commonly used in the clinic play a role in preventing and controlling infections, they have obvious limitations. These drugs influence the mechanical properties of dentin, insufficiently solubilize necrotic tissues, and are susceptible to bacterial resistance, which makes achieving the desired effectiveness and safety difficult. Traditional macromolecular root canal drugs also face the challenge of the complexity of the root canal system. With the rapid development of material science in recent years, new antimicrobial agents have emerged. Metallic nanomaterials such as silver nanoparticles and zinc oxide nanoparticles are widely used in the medical field due to their unique physicochemical properties and superior antimicrobial properties. Chitosan nanoparticles have superior biosafety, calcium hydroxide nanoparticles compensate for the limitations of traditional calcium hydroxide formulations, and quaternary ammonium polyethyleneimine nanoparticles can confer antimicrobial properties to existing oral materials. Novel antimicrobial nanoparticles using nano-delivery systems, such as mesoporous calcium silicate and mesoporous silica, carry antimicrobial molecules with significant advantages in terms of anti-biofilm, biosafety, and promotion of tissue repair. Further, these agents reduce drug resistance, which improves prospects for application compared to traditional root canal disinfection drugs. The breakthrough of nanotechnology provides a novel direction for the innovation of root canal treatment drugs. Therefore, this paper reviews the research progress of nano-antimicrobial materials in root canal therapy.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 1 (PTPN1) gene polymorphism and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Methods:In this case-control study, 4 835 pregnant women who delivered from March, 2012 to July, 2014 in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University were consecutively enrolled. Among them, 789 cases were diagnosed with GDM. A simple random sampling method was used to select 334 pregnant women with GDM as the case group, and 334 healthy pregnant women matched by maternal age, gestation time and residence were set as control. The DNA genotyping was performed in the subjects, and those with genotyping deletions10% were excluded; and finally, 322 and 317 subjects were included in case and control group, respectively. Under the codominant, dominant, recessive, and allelic genetic models, the unconditional logistic regression model was used to check the relationship between 13 candidate single nucleotide polymorphism (snp) loci in PTPN1 gene and the risk of GDM. The Haploview was used to analyze the relationship between haplotypes and risk of GDM, and multiple comparisons were adjusted with the false discovery rate (FDR) method.Results:The age of the 639 pregnant women analyzed in this study was (30.28±4.32) years. The proportions of pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI)≥24.0 kg/m 2 and having a family history of diabetes were significantly higher in the GDM group compared to those in the control group (29.19% vs 16.72% and 13.04% vs 6.31%, respectively, both P0.05). The rs6096644 locus was positively associated with increased risk of GDM in co-dominant (GG vs AA, OR=2.76, 95% CI: 1.18-6.44) and recessive (GG vs AA+AG, OR=2.78, 95% CI: 1.20-6.46) genetic models (all q0.2). The rs6096655 locus was positively associated with increased risk of GDM in codominant (AA vs GG, OR=5.90, 95% CI: 1.27-27.36) and recessive (AA vs GG+GA, OR=5.50, 95% CI: 1.19-25.38) and alleles (A vs G, OR=1.51, 95% CI: 1.09-2.08) genetic models (all q0.2). The rs6013317 locus was associated with an increased risk of GDM in the allele (A vs G, OR=1.74, 95% CI: 1.15-2.63) genetic model (all q0.2). The GAGG haplotype and GGAG haplotype in haplotype block 1 (rs4811262, rs6096646, rs6096655, rs6013317), and the GGGA haplotype in haplotype block 2 (rs6068018, rs6123105, rs6013324, rs2869621) of the PTPN1 gene were all positively associated with an increased risk of GDM (all P0.05). Conclusion:PTPN1 gene polymorphisms may associated with risk of GDM, moreover, complex haplotype structures within the gene influence the risk of GDM.

Objective:To establish reference values for clot waveform analysis (CWA) and analyze their diagnostic efficacy in distinguishing acquired hemophilia A (AHA) and lupus anticoagulant (LA)-positive patients.Methods:Case-Control Study. A total of 391 healthy individuals(260 males and 131 females) with a mean age of 45.53±14.85 years were enrolled at Nanyang central Hospital between January 6, 2023 and October 10, 2024. Prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and thrombin time (TT) were measured to establish reference ranges for the CWA parameters, including maximal reaction velocity (Min1), maximal reaction acceleration (Min2), and maximal reaction deceleration (Max2). A total of 158 definitively diagnosed AHA and LA-positive patients (mean age:42.46±14.83 years), including 34 AHA patients and 124 LA-positive patients, were recruited. The Mann Whitney U test was used to analyze the differences in the CWA parameters between the two groups. The diagnostic efficacy of CWA parameters in distinguishing AHA and LA-positive patients was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve AUC and the cut-off values were calculated. Results:The reference values for PT-Min1, APTT-Min1, APTT-Min2, APTT-Max2, TT-Min1, TT-Min2, TT-Max2 were 203.41-516.89, 144.63-324.03, 526.46-1 190.03, -404.96±157.22, 159.17±60.34, 272.29-686.99, and -289.47--113.76, respectively. Compared with the CWA parameters in AHA patients, APTT-Max2 was significantly lower in LA-positive patients [-422.74(-577.50, -239.22) vs. -68.87(-92.85,30.28), Z=-7.43, P<0.01], while PT-Min1, APTT-Min1, APTT-Min2, TT-Min1, TT-Min2 were significantly elevated [287.01(188.03, 382.50) vs. 107.45(90.20, 151.39), 972.88(601.20, 1 351.19) vs. 229.10(118.38, 371.67), Z=6.68, 6.69, all P<0.01]. ROC analysis demonstrated the APTT-CWA parameter exhibited high diagnostic efficacy in patients with AHA (AUC>0.900 for both).Additionally, APTT-Min1 and APTT-Max2 were found to be useful in distinguishing between AHA patients and those with LA-positive status accompanied by APTT prolongation (AUC=0.660, 0.700, respectively). Conclusions:Reference values for CWA parameters were successfully established. The APTT-CWA is useful for differentiating between AHA and LA-positive patients and APTT-Max2 demonstrated a good diagnostic value in differentiating AHA patients from those with LA-positive status accompanied by APTT prolongation.

Objective:To investigate the clinical subtypes of acute aortic dissection (AAD) through latent class analysis.Methods:This study was a multicenter retrospective cohort study. Patients with AAD admitted to five hospitals, including Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Henan Provincial People′s Hospital, Central China Fuwai Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital), the Third Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, between August 2010 and December 2021 were enrolled. Based on clinical and biological characteristics, latent class analysis (models with 2 to 5 latent classes) was conducted to classify the enrolled patients. The optimal classification scheme was determined using model fitting evaluations, including log-likelihood (LL), entropy, Lo-Mendell-Rubin adjusted likelihood ratio test and so on. Clinical data of different subtypes were compared, and in-hospital mortality was analyzed across the entire population and among subgroups receiving different treatments.Results:A total of 2 689 AAD patients, aged 54 (46, 63) years were included, with 1 305 (48.5%) having DeBakey type Ⅰ, 156 (5.8%) type Ⅱ, and 1 228 (45. 7%) type Ⅲ dissections. The cohort comprised 2 134 (79.4%) males. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 22.8% (613/2 689). Latent class analysis indicated that a two-class model was optimal (LL=147 413.242, entropy=0.812, and PLMRT<0.001). Patients were classified into two subtypes, named clinical subtype 1 and clinical subtype 2. Compared to clinical subtype 1, clinical subtype 2 had a higher proportion of females, was older, had more dissections involving the ascending aorta, and exhibited higher rates of organ dysfunction (elevated alanine aminotransferase and creatinine levels) and inflammatory response (neutrophilia) (all P<0.05). Clinical subtype 2 also showed higher in-hospital mortality compared to subtype 1 (26.3% (238/905) vs. 21.0% (375/1 784), P=0.002). Among patients undergoing surgical treatment, clinical subtype 2 had higher mortality than subtype 1 (40.1% (67/167) vs. 30.0% (101/337), P=0.027). However, no significant differences in mortality were observed between the two subtypes among patients receiving medical therapy or endovascular and hybrid procedures (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Comprehensive latent class analysis identifies two subtypes of AAD with distinct clinical characteristics and treatment responses. These findings provide new insights into individualized clinical decision-making and prognostic evaluation for AAD patients.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 1 (PTPN1) gene polymorphism and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Methods:In this case-control study, 4 835 pregnant women who delivered from March, 2012 to July, 2014 in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University were consecutively enrolled. Among them, 789 cases were diagnosed with GDM. A simple random sampling method was used to select 334 pregnant women with GDM as the case group, and 334 healthy pregnant women matched by maternal age, gestation time and residence were set as control. The DNA genotyping was performed in the subjects, and those with genotyping deletions10% were excluded; and finally, 322 and 317 subjects were included in case and control group, respectively. Under the codominant, dominant, recessive, and allelic genetic models, the unconditional logistic regression model was used to check the relationship between 13 candidate single nucleotide polymorphism (snp) loci in PTPN1 gene and the risk of GDM. The Haploview was used to analyze the relationship between haplotypes and risk of GDM, and multiple comparisons were adjusted with the false discovery rate (FDR) method.Results:The age of the 639 pregnant women analyzed in this study was (30.28±4.32) years. The proportions of pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI)≥24.0 kg/m 2 and having a family history of diabetes were significantly higher in the GDM group compared to those in the control group (29.19% vs 16.72% and 13.04% vs 6.31%, respectively, both P0.05). The rs6096644 locus was positively associated with increased risk of GDM in co-dominant (GG vs AA, OR=2.76, 95% CI: 1.18-6.44) and recessive (GG vs AA+AG, OR=2.78, 95% CI: 1.20-6.46) genetic models (all q0.2). The rs6096655 locus was positively associated with increased risk of GDM in codominant (AA vs GG, OR=5.90, 95% CI: 1.27-27.36) and recessive (AA vs GG+GA, OR=5.50, 95% CI: 1.19-25.38) and alleles (A vs G, OR=1.51, 95% CI: 1.09-2.08) genetic models (all q0.2). The rs6013317 locus was associated with an increased risk of GDM in the allele (A vs G, OR=1.74, 95% CI: 1.15-2.63) genetic model (all q0.2). The GAGG haplotype and GGAG haplotype in haplotype block 1 (rs4811262, rs6096646, rs6096655, rs6013317), and the GGGA haplotype in haplotype block 2 (rs6068018, rs6123105, rs6013324, rs2869621) of the PTPN1 gene were all positively associated with an increased risk of GDM (all P0.05). Conclusion:PTPN1 gene polymorphisms may associated with risk of GDM, moreover, complex haplotype structures within the gene influence the risk of GDM.

Objective:To establish reference values for clot waveform analysis (CWA) and analyze their diagnostic efficacy in distinguishing acquired hemophilia A (AHA) and lupus anticoagulant (LA)-positive patients.Methods:Case-Control Study. A total of 391 healthy individuals(260 males and 131 females) with a mean age of 45.53±14.85 years were enrolled at Nanyang central Hospital between January 6, 2023 and October 10, 2024. Prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and thrombin time (TT) were measured to establish reference ranges for the CWA parameters, including maximal reaction velocity (Min1), maximal reaction acceleration (Min2), and maximal reaction deceleration (Max2). A total of 158 definitively diagnosed AHA and LA-positive patients (mean age:42.46±14.83 years), including 34 AHA patients and 124 LA-positive patients, were recruited. The Mann Whitney U test was used to analyze the differences in the CWA parameters between the two groups. The diagnostic efficacy of CWA parameters in distinguishing AHA and LA-positive patients was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve AUC and the cut-off values were calculated. Results:The reference values for PT-Min1, APTT-Min1, APTT-Min2, APTT-Max2, TT-Min1, TT-Min2, TT-Max2 were 203.41-516.89, 144.63-324.03, 526.46-1 190.03, -404.96±157.22, 159.17±60.34, 272.29-686.99, and -289.47--113.76, respectively. Compared with the CWA parameters in AHA patients, APTT-Max2 was significantly lower in LA-positive patients [-422.74(-577.50, -239.22) vs. -68.87(-92.85,30.28), Z=-7.43, P<0.01], while PT-Min1, APTT-Min1, APTT-Min2, TT-Min1, TT-Min2 were significantly elevated [287.01(188.03, 382.50) vs. 107.45(90.20, 151.39), 972.88(601.20, 1 351.19) vs. 229.10(118.38, 371.67), Z=6.68, 6.69, all P<0.01]. ROC analysis demonstrated the APTT-CWA parameter exhibited high diagnostic efficacy in patients with AHA (AUC>0.900 for both).Additionally, APTT-Min1 and APTT-Max2 were found to be useful in distinguishing between AHA patients and those with LA-positive status accompanied by APTT prolongation (AUC=0.660, 0.700, respectively). Conclusions:Reference values for CWA parameters were successfully established. The APTT-CWA is useful for differentiating between AHA and LA-positive patients and APTT-Max2 demonstrated a good diagnostic value in differentiating AHA patients from those with LA-positive status accompanied by APTT prolongation.