Objective: To investigate the efficacy and incidence of adverse reactions of therapeutic erythrocytapheresis in high altitude polycythemia (HAPC) population. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 243 HAPC patients who were either native residents or long-term workers in Xizang and underwent therapeutic erythrocytapheresis in the Chengdu Office Hospital of the People's Government of Xizang Autonomous Region from 2021 to 2023. A comparative study was carried out on the changes in blood routine, vital signs, skin color, serum iron metabolism data, and the incidence of adverse reactions before and after the procedure. Results: After erythrocytapheresis, significant decreases were observed in red blood cell (RBC) count (7.06±0.89×10 vs 6.08±0.93×10 /L, P<0.001], hemoglobin (HGB, 211.59±17.99 vs 182.76±19.83 g/L, P<0.001), hematocrit (Hct) [(65.30±6.45)% vs (55.56±8.12)%, P<0.001], serum iron (14.46±4.38 vs 11.77±3.78 μmol/L, P=0.003), total iron-binding capacity (126.62±4.47 vs 123.73±3.77 μmol/L, P=0.002), transferrin (1.88±0.41 vs 1.77±0.12 g/L, P=0.023), transferrin saturation [(11.32±3.11)% vs (9.43±2.78)%, P=0.004], serum ferritin (832.4±295.6 vs 665.3±249.2 ng/mL, P<0.001), systolic blood pressure (123.86±14.43 vs 118.51±13.68 mmHg, P<0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (81.68±9.54 vs 74.28±7.61 mmHg, P<0.001). In contrast, platelet count (Plt, 137.21±46.21 ×10 vs 147.94±50.66 ×10 /L, P<0.001) and oxygen saturation [(93.97±3.29)% vs (95.84±2.27)%, P<0.001] increased. No significant differences were found in white blood cell (WBC) count [5.35 (4.59, 6.44)×10 /L vs 5.43 (4.54, 6.53) ×10 /L, P=0.690], unsaturated iron-binding capacity (112.15±0.50 vs 111.96±0.25 μmol/L, P=0.074) and pulse rate (73.42±11.28 vs 73.19±7.18 beats/min, P=0.750). Furthermore, skin color of the face (conjunctiva, lips) and palms mitigated after therapeutic erythrocytapheresis, changing from purplish-red to red. The total incidence of adverse reactions during erythrocytapheresis was 13.98% (34/243), including citrate toxicity 12.75% (31/243), puncture site hematoma 0.82% (2/243) and blood volume imbalance 0.41% (1/243). Conclusion: Therapeutic erythrocytapheresis could rapidly decrease HCT, Hb, serum iron, transferrin and transferrin saturation levels in HAPC patients, with a low incidence of adverse reactions. Therefore, therapeutic erythrocytapheresis has broad clinical application prospects in Xizang Autonomous Region.

Addressing the enduring challenge of evaluating traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), the integrated evidence chain-based effectiveness evaluation of TCMs (Eff-iEC) has emerged. This paper explored its capacity through a demonstration study that evaluated the effectiveness evidence of six commonly used anti-hepatic fibrosis Chinese patent medicines (CPMs), including Biejiajian Pill (BP), Dahuang Zhechong Pill (DZP), Biejia Ruangan Compound (BRC), Fuzheng Huayu Capsule (FHC), Anluo Huaxian Pill (AHP), and Heluo Shugan Capsule (HSC), using both Eff-iEC and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. The recognition of these CPMs within the TCM academic community was also assessed through their inclusion in relevant medical documents. Results showed that the evidence of BRC and FHC received higher assessments in both Eff-iEC and GRADE system, while the assessments for others varied. Analysis of community recognition revealed that Eff-iEC more accurately reflects the clinical value of these CPMs, exhibiting superior evaluative capabilities. By breaking through the conventional pattern of TCMs effectiveness evaluation, Eff-iEC offers a novel epistemology that better aligns with the clinical realities and reasoning of TCMs, providing a coherent methodology for clinical decision-making, new drug evaluations, and health policy formulation.

ObjectiveThis study explores the methods of lung tissue extraction and fixation required for pathological studies of fetal rats, based on the unique physiological structure of fetal rat lung tissue and existing lung tissue fixation techniques for adult rats. MethodsSix pregnant adult SD rats at 20.5 days of gestation were subjected to cesarean section to obtain fetal rats. Four healthy fetal rats with similar body weight, vital signs, and respiratory status were selected from each pregnant rat, and they were randomly divided into the following groups using a random number table: direct lung infiltration group, lung infiltration group after intratracheal infusion, whole-body infiltration group of fetal rats, and whole-body infiltration group after intratracheal infusion of fetal rats. To systematically compare and analyze the anatomical morphology under different fixation methods, lung tissues from four groups of fetal rats were harvested, perfused, and fixed, and the gross morphology of lung tissues in each group was observed. Paraffin sections were prepared and stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin (H&E). The histological morphology of the whole lung, alveoli, and bronchi was further examined under optical microscopy. ResultsIn the direct lung infiltration group, the hilar structures were unclear, lung lobation was indistinct, the shape was irregular, lung cavities were small, and alveoli and bronchi were shrunken. In the lung infiltration group after intratracheal infusion, the hilar structures were clear, lobation was pronounced, the shape was regular, lung cavities were large, and alveoli and bronchi were full. Both the whole-body infiltration group and whole-body infiltration group after intratracheal infusion of fetal rats exhibited visible lungs, hearts, skins, and other organs. The lung tissues of both groups showed obvious lobulation, irregular shape, and damage at the margins of lung lobes. In the whole-body infiltration group, the thoracic cavities of the fetus were flattened, lung cavities were small, and alveoli and bronchi were shrunken. In the whole-body infiltration group after intratracheal infusion of fetal rats, the fetal thoracic cavities were full, lung cavities were large, and alveoli and bronchi were relatively full. ConclusionThe lung infiltration after intratracheal infusion method for fetal rat lung tissue fixation outperforms direct lung infiltration, whole-body infiltration of fetal rats, and whole-body infiltration after intratracheal infusion of fetal rats in terms of preservation of the lung tissue's original morphology, paraffin sectioning, staining, and pathological observation and analysis. The embedding, sectioning, and staining processes are also simple and save consumables. Therefore, intratracheal infusion followed by lung infiltration method is recommended for fixation in histopathological observation of fetal rat lung tissue.

Objective To evaluate the overall implementation of the WS 76-2020 standard in Anhui Province, China and identify and analyze the factors affecting the implementation of the standard, and to provide a basis for the effective implementation and revision of WS 76-2020. Methods According to the requirements of the Notice of the Department of Regulations in National Health Commission on the 2024 assessment of implementation of mandatory standards, an evaluation of radiological health standards was organized and conducted in Anhui Province. The evaluation involved the three dimensions of standard implementation status, technical content of the standards, and effectiveness of standard implementation, with subsequent data analysis. Results The total evaluation score for WS 76-2020 was 87.83 points, indicating that the standard effectively guided the quality control testing of medical X-ray diagnostic equipment. However, stability testing was either underutilized or not performed in practice. The qualified rate of X-ray diagnostic equipment in the province was 94.26%, with equipment performance issues identified as the leading contributor to non-qualified instances. Expert discussions highlighted recommendations particularly concerning the operability, applicability, and scientific rigor of the standard. Conclusion It is recommended to strengthen the dissemination and training for the standard, promote medical institutions to voluntarily conduct stability testing, provide supplementary clarifications or revisions for problematic clauses, and standardize quality control testing techniques for radiological diagnostic equipment.

Objective: To determine the clinical efficacy and mechanism of Piwei Peiyuan Pill (PPP) combined with moxibustion for treating patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) with spleen and stomach weakness syndrome. Methods: Ninety-six CAG patients with spleen and stomach weakness syndrome who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled at the Department of Spleen and Stomach Diseases of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from June 2022 to December 2023. The patients were randomly divided into a control, a Chinese medicine, and a combined group using a random number table method, with 32 cases in each group (two cases per group were excluded). The control group was treated with rabeprazole combined with folic acid tablets (both thrice daily), the Chinese medicine group was treated with PPP (8 g, thrice daily), and the combined group was treated with moxa stick moxibustion (once daily) on the basis of the Chinese medicine group for 12 consecutive weeks. Gastric mucosa atrophy in the three groups was observed before and after treatment. The gastric mucosal pathological score was evaluated. The Patient Reported Outcome (PRO) scale was used to evaluate the patients′ physical and mental health status and quality of life.An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-10, IL-37, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β levels in each group. Real-time fluorescence PCR was used to detect the relative expression levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) mRNA in each group. Western blotting was used to detect the relative expression levels of proteins related to the STAT3/mTOR signaling pathway, and the adverse drug reactions and events were recorded and compared. Results: There was no statistical difference in age, gender, disease duration, family history of gastrointestinal tumors, alcohol consumption history, and body mass index among the three groups of patients.The total therapeutic efficacy rates of the control, Chinese medicine, and combined groups in treating gastric mucosal atrophy were 66.67% (20/30), 86.67% (26/30), and 90.00% (27/30), respectively (P<0.05). Compared to before treatment, the pathological and PRO scale scores of gastric mucosa in each group decreased after treatment, and TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-37, and TGF-β levels decreased. The relative STAT3 and mTOR mRNA expression levels, as well as the relative STAT3, p-STAT3, mTOR, and p-mTOR protein expression levels decreased (P<0.05), whereas the IL-4 and IL-10 levels increased (P<0.05). After treatment, compared to the control group, the pathological score of gastric mucosa, PRO scale score, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-37, TGF-β content, relative STAT3 and mTOR mRNA expression levels, and relative STAT3, p-STAT3, mTOR, and p-mTOR protein expression levels in the Chinese medicine and combined groups after treatment were reduced (P<0.05), whereas the IL-4 and IL-10 levels increased (P<0.05). After treatment, compared to the Chinese medicine group, the combined group showed a decrease in relative STAT3, mTOR mRNA expression levels, and STAT3, p-STAT3, mTOR, and p-mTOR protein expression levels (P<0.05). Conclusion The combination of PPP and moxibustion may regulate the inflammatory mechanism of the body by inhibiting the abnormal activation of the STAT3/mTOR signaling pathway, upregulating related anti-inflammatory factor levels, downregulating pro-inflammatory factor expression, and increasing related repair factor expression, thereby promoting the recovery of atrophic gastric mucosa, reducing discomfort symptoms, and improving the physical and mental state of CAG patients with spleen and stomach weakness syndrome.

[Objective] To investigate the factors associated with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) abnormalities in multi-ethnic blood donors across five Zang autonomous prefectures in the plateau regions of Qinghai Province, and to provide evidence for ensuring blood safety and formulating screening strategies. [Methods] A retrospective analysis was performed on the ALT abnormal test results of blood donors in the Zang autonomous prefectures of Qinghai from 2022 to 2024. The correlations between ALT levels and factors including gender, age, altitude, and infectious markers were investigated. [Results] The overall ALT unqualified rate among blood donors in this region was 9.01%. Significant differences in ALT levels were observed across genders and age groups (P<0.05). Variations in ALT abnormality rates were also noted among different plateau regions (P<0.05). Overall, ALT values exhibited an increasing trend with rising altitude. The average ALT unqualified rates were 11.19% in Zang donors, 7.96% in Han donors, and 4.79% in donors from other ethnic groups (P<0.05). No statistically significant association was observed between ALT abnormality and the presence of HBV/HCV infectious markers (P>0.05). [Conclusion] In the plateau areas of Qinghai, multi-ethnic blood donors have a relatively high ALT levels and ALT unqualified rates, showing distinct regional characteristics. ALT elevation in voluntary blood donors is related to non-pathological factors such as gender, age, and dietary habits, but not to infectious indicators.

Objective To investigate the factors that influence ocular surface biology and visual acuity in individuals with diabetic dry eye(DDE)and analyze how these factors contribute to changes in visual quality.Methods Based on the disease duration,fasting blood glucose(FBG),and glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c)levels of patients with type 2 diabe-tes mellitus(T2DM),the DDE patients were divided into different groups.Logistic regression analysis was used to identify influencing factors related to ocular surface biology and visual quality in each group of DDE patients.Tear film stability was evaluated based on the tear film rupture time(BUT),Schirmer I test(SIt),and ocular surface disease index(OSDI).Lip-iview? Surface interferometers were used to measure tear film lipid layer thickness(LLT),meibomian gland loss rate(MGP),meibomian gland opening number(MGYLS),and meibomian gland secretion score(MGYSS).Wavefront aber-rometry was used to measure corneal wavefront aberration values at 4 mm and 6 mm pupil diameters.Ocular response ana-lyzer(ORA)was adopted to analyze corneal hysteresis(CH)and corneal resistance factor(CRF).Moreover,ELISA ex-periment to evaluate the trend of changes in inflammatory factors in tears.Results Logistic regression analysis revealed that T2DM duration,smoking history,FBG,HbA1c,total cholesterol(TC),triglycerides(TG),OSDI score,LLT,BUT,SIt,MGP,MGYLS,MGYSS,total higher-order aberrations,spherical aberration,coma aberration,trefoil aberration,tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-6,matrix metalloproteinase-9,receptor for advanced glycation end products,and insu-lin were all influencing factors for the risk of DDE(all P＜0.05).As the T2DM course prolonged and FBG or HbA1 c levels rose,tear film-related indicators(LLT,BUT,and SIt)and meibomian gland-related indicators(MGYLS and MGYSS)inpa-tients gradually decreased,while OSDI scores and MGP gradually increased(all P＜0.05).As the T2DM course prolonged and FBG or HbA1c levels rose,the total higher-order aberrations,spherical aberration,coma aberration,and trefoil aber-ration in DDE patients under 4 mm and 6 mm pupil diameters gradually increased;Meanwhile,best corrected visual acuity,corneal hysteresis,and corneal resistance factor gradually decreased;The contents of tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-6,matrix metalloproteinase-9,receptor for advanced glycation end products,and insulin in tears all gradually increased,while mucin-5AC gradually decreased(all P＜0.05).Conclusion With the prolongation of T2DM duration and the in-crease of FBG or HbA1c,the ocular surface inflammatory response in DDE patients gradually worsens,corneal biological function decreases,and visual quality deteriorates.Timely systemic and local interventions are of great significance for im-proving dry eye symptoms and visual quality in DDE patients.

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological and molecular genetic characteristics of pan cytokeratin (CKpan)-positive EWSR1/FUS::CREB fusion malignant tumors in abdominopelvic cavity.Methods:Four cases of malignant tumor with CKpan-positive EWSR1/FUS::CREB fusion were selected from January 2019 to July 2024 in the Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Tianjin, China. Their clinical, pathological, and immunohistochemical characteristics were examined. Their molecular genetic characteristics were analyzed using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and next-generation sequencing (NGS).Results:Among the 4 patients, there were 2 males and 2 females, aged 44, 44, 48 and 66 years, respectively. The tumor sites included 1 case located between the stomach and transverse colon, 1 case on the serous surface of the gastric wall, 1 case in the transverse mesocolon, and 1 case in transverse mesocolon and small mesentery. The clinical manifestations were mostly abdominal distension and abdominal pain. The maximum diameter of the tumor in the surgical resection specimen was 3.5-8.5 cm. The tumor′s cut surface was grayish-white and gray-yellow in color, with medium consistency. Microscopically, the tumor cells were mainly composed of epithelioid tumor cells, and 2 of the tumors showed that tumor cells arranged in a solid sheet or multinodular pattern, and the cytoplasm of the tumor cells was abundant, lightly stained, and the boundaries were unclear, accompanied by the formation of capsules or microcapsules, and lymphocyte and plasma cell sleeves were seen. In one case, the pseudopapillary arrangement was present, and the tumor cells were radially distributed around the fibrovascular axis. In another case, it was arranged in a pseudoacinar pattern, and the nest was surrounded by slender reticular fibers. Immunohistochemistry showed that tumor cells expressed CKpan (4/4) and WT1 (4/4, including 1 focal positive). Vimentin, CK8/18, D2-40 and S-100 were expressed in various intensities, while Calretinin was locally positive or negative. FISH showed that 2 cases had EWSR1 break-apart and 2 cases had FUS break-apart. NGS confirmed the presence of EWSR1::CREM fusion (1 case) and FUS::CREM fusion (2 cases), respectively. Except for 1 recently diagnosed case, 3 cases were followed up: 1 patient died due to tumor recurrence and metastasis (overall survival was 33 months), and 2 patients survived (1 case had recurrence 58 months after surgery, and 1 case had no recurrence or metastasis after surgery).Conclusions:CKpan-positive EWSR1/FUS::CREB fusion malignant tumor is a rare malignancy tumor with undetermined classification that tends to occur in the abdominopelvic cavity and often involves the gastrointestinal tract. Molecular testing such as FISH and NGS is helpful for a definitive diagnosis.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic potential of serum Dickkopf-related protein 3(Dkk3)as a novel biomarker for sarcopenia in an elderly Chinese population by examining its correlation with muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical function.Methods:The study included elderly individuals aged ≥60 years from the Health Examination Center of Jiangsu Provincial Hospital between 2021 and 2022, who had independent mobility and were free from acute diseases.Fat and muscle mass were measured using Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry(DXA). Grip strength and chair stand test times were employed to assess upper and lower limb muscle strength, respectively.Physical function was evaluated using the Short Physical Performance Battery(SPPB). Serum Dkk3 concentration was measured using a human Dkk3 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)kit.Results:A total of 108 elderly participants(83 males)were included in the study, with an age range of 60 to 97 years(mean age: 70.6±10.8). Serum Dkk3 concentration was found to be negatively correlated with the skeletal muscle mass index(SMI)( R=-0.292, P=0.002), lower limb muscle mass( R=-0.320, P<0.001), upper limb muscle mass( R=-0.222, P=0.020), and hip muscle mass( R=-0.261, P=0.006). Functional assessments revealed negative correlations with grip strength( R=-0.204, P=0.035), 4-meter walking speed( R=-0.195, P=0.043), the three-position balance test( R=-0.245, P=0.011), and the SPPB score( R=-0.196, P=0.043). Regression analysis indicated that, after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index(BMI), and comorbidities, Dkk3 remained negatively associated with lower limb muscle mass( β=-0.197, P=0.012), hip muscle mass( β=-0.156, P=0.029), and the SPPB score( β=-0.001, P=0.013). The sarcopenia group exhibited a 55.6% higher serum Dkk3 level compared to the control group(76.68±37.62 ng/ml vs.49.27±25.88 ng/ml, P<0.001). Receiver Operating Characteristic(ROC)curve analysis determined the optimal diagnostic threshold to be 80.08 ng/ml, with an area under the curve of 0.726, a sensitivity of 41.98%, and a specificity of 96.30% for detecting sarcopenia. Conclusions:Serum Dkk3 is closely associated with reduced muscle mass in the lower limbs and hips, as well as a decline in physical function, in elderly individuals with sarcopenia.Given its cost-effectiveness and clinical utility, serum Dkk3 shows potential as a meaningful biomarker for diagnosing sarcopenia in the elderly.

Objective:To explore and compare the clinical application value of 8-channel head phased-array coil, an 8-channel temporomandibular joint (TMJ)-specific surface coil, and a single-channel surface coil in TMJ MRI examinations.Methods:A total of 600 temporomandibular disorders (TMD) patients (1 200 joints) who underwent TMJ MRI examination in the First People′s Hospital of Jinzhong from June 2020 to January 2025 were retrospectively screened. Based on inclusion/exclusion criteria, 120 TMD patients (240 joints) with closed-mouth oblique sagittal proton density weighted imaging (OSag PDWI), coronal T2 fat-suppression weighted imaging (OCor fs T2WI) and open-mouth oblique sagittal proton density weighted imaging (OSag PDWI) were included. Patients were divided into groups A, B, and C, with 40 cases in each group. Group A (31female, 9male, median age 24 years old), underwent 8-channel head phased-array coil imaging. Group B (29 female, 11male, median age 23.5 years old) underwent TMJ imaging with an 8-channel surface coil. Group C (29 female, 11male, median age 22.5 years old) underwent single-channel surface coil imaging. There were no significant differences in age, gender, type or disease types among groups ( P>0.05). Six healthy volunteers without TMD (4 female, 2 male, range 19 to 45 years old) underwent imaging with all three coils as self-control. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and image quality were compared for five regions of interest (ROI) in both patients and volunteers. Results:Under the same sequence and the same parameters, SNR and CNR in group B were higher than those in group A, and SNR and CNR in group C were also higher than those in group A, the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). However, there were significant differences in SNR and CNR between group B and group C in the closed and open positions of ROI1, the open positions of ROI3 and the open positions of ROI5 ( P<0.05), and there were no significant differences in other positions ( P>0.05). Group B had the best image quality, followed by group C and group A had the worst image quality. There were significant differences in the visualization of OSag PDWI in the closed mouth position, OCor T2WI in the coronal position, and OSag PDWI in the open mouth position, such as condyle, anterior attachment, joint disc, double lamina area, joint cavity and lateral pterygoid muscle ( P<0.05). There were significant differences between group B and group C in showing the joint cavity in the closed mouth position and showing the structure of the bilaminar area in the open mouth position ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in other regions of interest ( P>0.05). The subjective scores of condyle, anterior attachment, articular disc, bilaminar area, articular cavity, lateral pterygos muscle and other structures were medium to high in group A, high in group B, and high or high in group C by two radiologists independently. In the five rois, the 8-channel TMJ surface coil showed more details, especially in the articular disc, condyle and lateral pterygoid muscle regions, and had more advantages in both volunteers and patients. Conclusions:The 8-channel TMJ-specific surface coil provides significantly clearer visualization of critical anatomical details within the ROIs, demonstrating the highest clinical application value and is recommended as the preferred choice.