Objective To explore the difference of efficacy and safety between denosumab and zoledronic acid in the treatment of patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP), and to optimize the medication regimen for PMOP patients. Methods A total of 123 PMOP patients with high risk of fracture at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University from September 2021 to March 2024 were selected and randomly divided into two groups: the denosumab group (n=63) and the zoledronic acid group (n=60). Both groups underwent one-year treatment and follow-up, bone metabolism indexes, lumbar vertebrae, femoral neck, and total hip bone mineral density (BMD) were monitored, and any adverse reactions were documented. Results After treatment, the lumbar vertebrae and total hip BMD of patients in the denosumab group and the zoledronic acid group were significantly improved (P＜0.05); the femoral neck BMD of patients in the zoledronic acid group was also significantly improved (P＜0.05). The improvement of lumbar vertebrae BMD in the denosumab group was significantly better than that in the zoledronic acid group, while the improvement of femoral neck and total hip BMD in the zoledronic acid group was significantly better than that in the denosumab group (P＜0.05). Bone metabolism indicators were significantly improved in both groups (P＜0.05), and no significant liver and kidney dysfunction were observed. A total of 7 patients in the zoledronic acid group had mild adverse reactions and 5 patients in the denosumab group had mild adverse reactions. Conclusions Denosumab significantly increased lumbar vertebrae BMD and improved bone metabolism markers in PMOP patients, thus reducing risk of fracture and demonstrating good safety.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of preoperative combined detection of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and prothrombin time-international normalized ratio to albumin ratio (PTAR) for early abdominal infection after liver transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 287 recipients who underwent liver transplantation at the Liver Transplant Center of Beijing Friendship Hospital, Affiliated to Capital Medical University, from January 2020 to April 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into infection group (n=60) and non-infection group (n=227) based on whether abdominal infection occurred within 30 days after surgery. The distribution characteristics of pathogens and infection time in infected patients were analyzed. Spearman correlation analysis was used to assess the correlation between NLR, PTAR, Child-Pugh score and preoperative model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for abdominal infection. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted for NLR, PTAR, and the combined prediction model to evaluate their predictive efficacy for abdominal infection after liver transplantation. Based on the cutoff value of the combined model, recipients were divided into low-risk and high-risk groups, and Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare the cumulative incidence of abdominal infection within 30 days after surgery between the two groups. Results Among the 287 recipients who underwent liver transplantation, 60 developed bacterial or fungal abdominal infections postoperatively. A total of 86 strains were isolated from infected patients, with Gram-negative bacteria accounting for 58%, Gram-positive bacteria for 36%, and fungi for 5%. Preoperative NLR and PTAR were positively correlated with Child-Pugh and MELD scores (all 1 > r > 0, P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative NLR, preoperative PTAR, postoperative ICU stay duration and postoperative biliary leakage were risk factors for abdominal infection within 30 days after surgery. The area under the curve (AUC) for NLR, PTAR, Child-Pugh score and MELD score were 0.771, 0.735, 0.650 and 0.741, respectively. The AUC for the combined NLR and PTAR prediction model was 0.824 (95% confidence interval: 0.763-0.885, P < 0.001), with a cutoff value of 0.168. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the cumulative incidence of abdominal infection within 30 days after surgery was lower in the low-risk group than in the high-risk group, with statistically significant difference (P < 0.001). Conclusions Preoperative NLR and PTAR are independent risk factors for abdominal infection within 30 days after liver transplantation. The combined prediction model of NLR and PTAR may effectively identify high-risk recipients for early abdominal infection after liver transplantation, providing basis for early intervention.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between lifestyle factors and stroke in the elderly.Methods:Data were obtained from a natural cohort of the Multimodal Intervention to Delay Dementia and Disability in Rural China(MIND-China)study.A total of 5 009 participants aged 60 years and above were enrolled, of whom 954(19.05%)had experienced a stroke.Logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the association between five lifestyle factors(smoking, drinking, physical exercise, social activity and sleep quality)and the incidence of stroke.Results:In model 1, after adjusting for age, sex and education, only social activity( OR=0.783, 95% CI: 0.668-0.917)and good sleep quality( OR=0.731, 95% CI: 0.621-0.860)emerged as protective factors against stroke(both P<0.05).No statistically significant associations were found between other lifestyle factors and stroke.Analysis of a variety of healthy lifestyle practice combinations showed that having 3( OR=0.639, 95% CI: 0.433-0.944), 4( OR=0.620, 95% CI: 0.409-0.941)and 5( OR=0.397, 95% CI: 0.197-0.799)healthy lifestyle practices were protective factors against stroke(all P<0.05).In model 2, after adjusting for age, sex, education, body mass index, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and the APOE genotype, the results were consistent with those of Model 1. Conclusions:Lifestyle factors are significantly associated with the risk of stroke in the elderly population.The healthier lifestyle practices are adopted, the lower the risk of stroke will be.

Objective To investigate if Lycium barbarum polysaccharide(LBP)could inhibit the high glucose-in-duced human retinal microvascular endothelial cell(HRMEC)injury by regulating the NOD-like receptor family pyrin do-main containing protein 3(NLRP3)/Caspase-1 pyroptosis pathway.Methods HRMECs cultured in vitro were randomly divided into the control group(5.5 mmol·L-1 glucose),the high glucose group(55.5 mmol·L-1 glucose),the low LBP group(55.5 mmol·L-1 glucose+100 mg·L-1 LBP),the medium LBP group(55.5 mmol·L-1 glucose+500 mg·L-1 LBP),the high LBP group(55.5 mmol·L-1 glucose+1 000 mg·L-1 LBP),the si-NC group(55.5 mmol·L-1glucose after transfection with 20 pmol·L-1 si-NC)and the si-NLRP3 group(55.5 mmol·L-1 glucose after transfection with 20μmol·L-1si-NLRP3).The Cell Counting Kit-8 was used to detect the proliferation of HRMECs in each group and flow cy-tometry was adopted to measure the pyroptosis of HRMECs in each group.The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reac-tion was used to detect the relative messenger ribonucleic acid(mRNA)expression levels of NLRP3,Caspase-1,nuclear factor(NF)-κB,Gasdermin-D(GSDMD)and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in the HRMECs of each group,Western blot was adopted to detect the relative protein expression levels of HRMEC pyroptosis-related NLRP3,Caspase-1,NF-κB,GSDMD and VEGF in each group,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the interleukin(IL)-1β and IL-18 expression levels in downstream pyroptosis in the HRMEC supernatant of each group.Results Com-pared with the control group,the proliferation rate of HRMECs decreased,the pyroptosis rate increased,the relative mR-NA and protein expression levels of NLRP3,Caspase-1,NF-κB,GSDMD and VEGF increased,and the expressions of IL-1βand IL-18 increased in the high glucose group(all P＜0.05).Compared with the high glucose group,the proliferation rate of HRMECs increased,the pyroptosis rate decreased,the relative mRNA and protein expression levels of NLRP3,Caspase-1,NF-κB,GSDMD and VEGF decreased,and the expressions of IL-1β and IL-18 decreased in the si-NLRP3 group(all P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in cell proliferation rate,pyroptosis rate,mRNA and protein expression levels of NLRP3,Caspase-1,NF-κB,GSDMD and VEGF,as well as levels of IL-1β and IL-18,in the si-NC group compared with the high glucose group(all P＞0.05).Compared with the high glucose group,the medium LBP group and high LBP group had increased proliferation rates,lower pyroptosis rates,and declined mRNA and protein expression levels of NLRP3,Caspase-1,NF-κB,GSDMD and VEGF as well as expressions of IL-1β and IL-18(all P＜0.05).Compared with the high glucose group,there was no significant difference in the proliferation rate of HRMECs and various protein expression levels in the low LBP group(all P＞0.05),and other indicators were consistent with those in the medium LBP group and high LBP group.Conclusion LBP has a protective effect on HRMEC injury induced by high glucose,can promote cell prolif-eration and inhibit pyroptosis,and its mechanism is related to inhibiting the activation of NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling path-way and reducing the expression of related inflammatory factors.

Alzheimer disease(AD)is a common neurodegenerative disease characterized by cognitive decline and is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly.At present,the pathogenesis of AD remains unclear,and there is still a lack of effective treatment methods for etiologies.Apolipoprotein E(APOE)is currently the only risk gene recog-nized for AD,and the ApoE protein encoded by ApoE plays an important role in the pathological processes of AD,such as amyloid β-protein deposition,excessive phosphorylation of tau protein,and neuroinflammatory reaction.This article re-views the structure and function of ApoE and its role in the pathological processes of AD,in order to provide ideas and di-rections for finding new intervention targets for AD.

Purpose To construct and validate a machine learning-based diagnostic model for distinguishing between Mycobacterium avium-intracellular complex pulmonary disease(MAC-PD)and pulmonary tuberculosis(PTB)via chest CT images.Materials and Methods Retrospective data from patients diagnosed with MAC-PD and PTB between May 2021 and August 2022 at Beijing Chest Hospital,Capital Medical University,which were collected as the training set.The prospective external validation set was obtained from patients at the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine between September 2022 and May 2023.Clinical and radiological data were analyzed,and multivariable logistic regression,random forest and support vector machine(SVM)models were established and externally validated using the validation set.The diagnostic performance of models were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curve and precision-recall curve,and the differences of the areas under the curve of various models were compared via the Delong test.Results There were significant differences in age and hemoptysis rate between the two groups(t=30.414,P<0.001;χ2=6.186,P=0.013).There were statistically significant differences in cavity types and morphology between the two groups(χ2=6.546,P=0.011;χ2=24.113,P<0.001),but there was no significant difference in the distribution and characteristics of cavitary lesions(P>0.05).There were significant differences in the types and distribution of bronchiectasis between the two groups(χ2=4.634,P=0.031;χ2=23.145,P<0.001).Compared with logistic regression and random forest models,the SVM model had better differential diagnostic performance,and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve,sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 0.960(95%CI 0.935-0.985),85.7%,93.6%,90.5%,93.3%,88.0%and 0.885(95%CI 0.803-0.967),respectively,76.7%,80.0%,78.3%,79.3%,77.4%.The precision-recall curve showed that the SVM model had high precision and low recall,that was,the model performs well.Conclusion The machine learning-based models exhibits excellent diagnostic performance and can assist in differentiating MAC-PD and PTB.

Objective To grasp the main environmental factors affecting the growth of Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge.var.mongholicus(Bge.)Hsiao;To predict the distribution of suitable areas of Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge.var.mongholicus(Bge.)Hsiao in Shanxi Province;To provide references for the rational distribution of the resources in Shanxi Province.Methods This study utilized the sample point longitude and latitude information collected in the"Fourth Survey of Chinese Materia Medica Resources"database in Shanxi Province.The data were supplemented by searching the China Digital Herbarium and retrieving related literature records.347 sample points distribution data and environmental factors were added to the MaxEnt model.The main environmental factors and contribution rates affecting the geographical distribution of Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge.var.mongholicus(Bge.)Hsiao were screened out.The ArcGIS software was used to divide the ecological suitable area of Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge.var.mongholicus(Bge.)Hsiao in Shanxi Province.Results The area under the ROC curve of the established MaxEnt model was 0.909,indicating that the model prediction results were accurate.The model screened 19 environmental factors.Among them,climate factor was the most important environmental factor,followed by biological factor and topographic factor,and soil factor had the least influence.The potential suitable areas of Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge.var.mongholicus(Bge.)Hsiao in Shanxi Province were mainly distributed in the northern mountainous areas,presenting a trend of gradually decreasing suitability levels from north to south.Under the current climate conditions,the most suitable area for Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge.var.mongholicus(Bge.)Hsiao in Shanxi Province was 15 424 km2,the suitable area was 19 856 km2,the sub suitable area was 59 436 km2,and the unsuitable area was 61 894 km2.Conclusion Based on MaxEnt model and ArcGIS software,this study predicts the distribution of suitable areas of Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge.var.mongholicus(Bge.)Hsiao in Shanxi Province,which has certain reference value for the protection and rational distribution of Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge.var.mongholicus(Bge.)Hsiao resources in Shanxi Province.

BACKGROUND:The researchers noted that upon embedding clinical-grade catgut and polyglycolide-co-lactide threads in the normal human"Zusanli"(ST 36)acupoint,the local area displayed temporal and inflammatory stimulatory effects,resulting in thread differentiation.However,the underlying mechanism behind thread involvement remains to be studied. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the expression levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide,5-hydroxytryptamine,leukotriene B4,and bradykinin at point"Zusanli"(ST 36)in rats after embedding catgut and polyglycolide-co-lactide respectively at different time points. METHODS:110 male SD rats were divided into a blank group(10 rats),a catgut embedding group(50 rats),and a polyglycolide-co-lactide embedding group(50 rats)according to the random number table method.In the blank group,no thread was embedded.In catgut embedding group and the polyglycolide-co-lactide embedding group,the thread was embedded in the left side of the ST36 acupoint once.Tissue was collected from the left side of the ST36 acupoint area 8 hours,3,7,14,and 21 days after embedding.The expression levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide and 5-hydroxytryptamine were detected by immunohistochemistry,and the contents of leukotriene B4 and bradykinin were detected by ELISA. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the blank group,the expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide,5-hydroxytryptamine,bradykinin,and leukotriene B4 was significantly increased in the 8 hours,3,7,14,and 21 days of the catgut embedding group(P<0.05);calcitonin gene-related peptide expression was significantly increased in 8 hours,3,7,and 14 days in the polyglycolide-co-lactide embedding group(P<0.05);the expression of bradykinin was significantly increased in 8 hours,3,and 7 days(P<0.05);the expression of leukotriene B4 was significantly increased at 8 hours,3,7,14,and 21 days(P<0.05).(2)Compared with the polyglycolide-co-lactide embedding group,the expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide was increased at 7,14,21 days after thread embedding(P<0.05),and the expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine was increased at 8 hours,3,7,14 and 21 days after thread embedding(P<0.05);contents of leukotriene B4 and bradykinin in tissues were increased at 8 hours,3,14 and 21 days after embedding(P<0.05)in the catgut embedding group.(3)The results show that calcitonin gene-related peptide,5-hydroxytryptamine,leukotriene B4,and bradykinin in the acupoint region alter after catgut embedding in the ST36 of rats,as well as the alteration of calcitonin gene-related peptide,leukotriene B4,and bradykinin is found in the acupoint region after polyglycolide-co-lactide embedding in rats,which may be one of the mechanisms involved in the local time sensitive stimulus effects caused by embedding threads at acupoints.Moreover,there is a discernible difference between the two thread types.

Objective To investigate the effect and safety of common electric knife clamp coagulation technique in rabbit thyroidectomy.Methods According to the random number table method,12 New Zealand rabbits were divided into the clamp coagulation group and the ultrasonic scalpel group,with 6 rabbits in each group.The middle part of the thyroid gland in the clamp coagulation group was severed by common electric knife clamp coagulation,while that in the ultrasonic scalpel group was severed by ultrasonic scalpel electrocoagulation.The postoperative conditions of rabbits in the two groups were observ.The severed thyroid tissue was stained with hematoxylin-eosin(HE),and its histopathology after thermal damage was observed under the light microscope.The scope of thermal damage was determined.On the 1st,3rd and 7th day after operation,the auricular venous blood of all rabbits was collected to assess the serum interleukin-6(IL-6)and C-reactive protein(CRP)levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The rabbits were killed on the 7th day after operation,and the residual thyroid glands were removed and stained by HE.The pathological changes and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed under the light microscope.Results The rabbits in the 2 groups survived well after operation,and the operative area healed well.No obvious effusion,blood clot,bleeding,incision infection or other complications were found in the residual cavity.Under the light microscope,the surface of the incisal margin of the thyroid gland showed obvious lesions.In the injured area,some cell structures were damaged with coagulated necrosis,some follicles were ruptured,and the contents inside were solidly concentrated and deeply stained.The cytoplasmic eosinophils in parafollicular cells increased,and nuclear pyknosis,fragmentation,and even dissolution occurred.The thermal damage ranges of thyroid tissues in the ultrasonic scalpel and clamp coagulation groups were(0.72± 0.10)mm and(0.88±0.11)mm,respectively.The range of thermal damage in the clamp coagulation group was significantly greater than that in the ultrasonic scalpel group(t=-2.740,P＜0.05).On the 1st,3rd and 7th day after surgery,there was no significant difference in the levels of serum CRP and IL-6 between the two groups(P＞0.05).The serum IL-6 levels in both groups on the 3rd and 7th day after surgery were significantly higher than those on the 1st day after surgery(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in serum IL-6 level on the 3rd and 7rd day after surgery in the two groups(P＞0.05).Thyroid follicular atrophy,glia reduction,follicular epithelial hyperplasia,collagenization and hyperplasia of interstitial fibers were observed in the residual thyroid sections of both groups.No obvious inflammatory cell infiltration was observed.Conclusion In rabbit thyroidectomy,it is safe to remove the thyroid gland using the common electric knife clamp coagulation technique.In terms of preventing thermal damage,the ultrasonic scalpel is better than the common electric knife clamp coagulation technique,but the thermal damage to thyroid tissues caused by the common electric knife clamp coagulation technique is within the safe operating range.

Parkinson disease (PD) is a common chronic neurodegenerative disease that seriously affects the quality of life of patients and has become an important population health problem in society.The typical neuropathological feature of PD is the abnormal aggregation of α-synuclein (α-Syn) in the substantia nigra-striatal region, causing dopaminergic degenerative necrosis of neurons. With further research, it was found that cellular autophagy mediated the clearance process of pathological α-Syn involved in the pathogenesis of PD. Autophagy is an important pathway for cells to remove abnormal aggregated proteins and senescence-damaged organelles, and autophagic removal of abnormal α-Syn deposition can maintain cellular homeostasis and protect dopaminergic neurons. In addition, impaired autophagy causes α-Syn aggregation, increases α-Syn propagation in the brain, promotes the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, and is involved in the development of PD.PD-related genes affect autophagy regulation, and mutations in related genes can lead to impaired lysosomal function to block autophagy. At the same time, abnormal aggregation of α-Syn further disrupts the autophagy process, reduces the autophagic clearance capacity, and increases the accumulation of neurotoxicity. Impaired autophagy and abnormal α-Syn aggregation are important mechanisms of degeneration in nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. Therefore, studies targeting autophagy and abnormal α-Syn aggregation may provide new ideas for the pathogenesis of PD, and reducing α-Syn accumulation by increasing autophagic flux may become a key target for the treatment of PD.