ObjectiveTo analyze the etiological characteristics and risk factors of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease （ADPKD） complicated with urinary tract infection （UTI）. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed on 244 patients with ADPKD admitted to the Department of Nephrology. The patients were stratified into a study group （n=138） and a control group （n=106） according to the presence or absence of concurrent UTI. All patients in the study group underwent etiological testing and drug susceptibility testing. Clinical data of both groups were collected to identify the risk factors for ADPKD complicated with UTI. ResultsA total of 105 pathogens were detected in 138 cases in the study group， including 79 Gram-negative bacteria， 20 Gram-positive bacteria and 6 fungi. Escherichia coli showed a relatively high resistance rate to ampicillin， piperacillin and ciprofloxacin. Enterococcus faecalis had a relatively high resistance rate to tetracycline. There were statistically significant differences between the study group and the control group in terms of gender， history of urinary tract infection， C-reactive protein （CRP）， increased urine red blood cells， increased urine white blood cells， increased percentage of neutrophils， blood sodium， blood calcium， total cholesterol， serum iron and transferrin saturation （P<0.05）. Multivariate binary Logistic regression analysis revealed that female gender （OR=2.236， P=0.004）， history of urinary tract infection （OR=2.383， P=0.002）， increased urine white blood cells （OR=2.726， P=0.001）， increased percentage of neutrophils （OR=1.040， P=0.010）， elevated C-reactive protein （OR=1.011， P=0.007） and elevated blood calcium （OR=4.389， P=0.024） were risk factors of urinary tract infection in ADPKD patients （P<0.05）. ConclusionThe main pathogens of UTI in patients with ADPKD are Gram-negative bacteria. Female， previous history of urinary tract infection， urinary leukocytosis， increased percentage of neutrophils， increased CRP and increased serum calcium are risk factors of UTI.

Objective To investigate the association of Chinese visceral adiposity index(CVAI)and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP)with the risk of digestive malignancies in the Kailuan study population,and to provide a basis for the prevention and control of digestive malignancies in the population.Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted,and a total of 94 377 Kailuan workers who participated in the 2006 health examination,had no history of cancer,and had complete data on CVAI,CRP,and related covariates were selected as the observation cohort.According to the levels of CVAI and CRP,the subjects were divided into low CVAI+CRP≤3 mg/L group[CVAI(-)CRP(-)group],low CVAI+CRP>3 mg/L group[CVAI(-)CRP(+)group],high CVAI+CRP≤3 mg/L group[CVAI(+)CRP(-)group],and high CVAI+CRP>3 mg/L group[CVAI(+)CRP(+)group].An analysis of variance was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups,and the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison of continuous data with skewed distribution between groups;the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups.The Cox proportional-hazards regression model was used to assess the impact of CVAI and CRP alone or in combination on the risk of digestive malignancies.Results There were significant differences between the four groups in age,male/female ratio,total cholesterol,triglycerides,high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure,fasting blood glucose,high-sensitivity C-reactive protein,waist circumference,body mass index,marital status,alcohol consumption,smoking,reported income,and physical exercise(all P<0.05).During a mean follow-up time of 14.08±2.76 years,2 043 new-onset cases of digestive malignancies were identified by the end of follow-up on December 31,2021.The Cox proportional-hazards regression model showed that after adjustment for CRP and other factors,compared with the low CVAI group,the high CVAI group had a hazard ratio(HR)of 1.34(95%confidence interval[CI]:1.23-1.47)for the risk of digestive malignancies.After adjustment for CVAI and other factors,compared with the CRP≤3 mg/L group,the CRP>3 mg/L group had an HR of 1.14(95%CI:1.02-1.28)for the risk of digestive malignancies.Compared with the CVAI(-)CRP(-)group(n=40 978),the CVAI(-)CRP(+)group(n=6 210),the CVAI(+)CRP(-)group(n=36 502),and the CVAI(+)CRP(+)group(n=10 687)had an HR of 1.05(95%CI:1.01-1.09,P<0.05),1.32(95%CI:1.20-1.45,P<0.05),and 1.48(95%CI:1.28-1.70,P<0.05),respectively,for the risk of digestive malignancies.As for digestive malignancies at specific locations,the CVAI(+)CRP(+)group had an increased risk of liver cancer,gastric cancer,pancreatic cancer,colorectal cancer,and small intestinal cancer with an HR of 1.35(95%CI:1.05-1.81,P<0.05),1.48(95%CI:1.09-2.00,P<0.05),1.60(95%CI:1.07-2.41,P<0.05),1.76(1.40-2.21,P<0.05),and 3.85(95%CI:1.43-10.33,P<0.05),respectively.Conclusion A high level of CVAI,a high level of CRP,and high levels of CVAI and CRP in combination can all increase the risk of digestive malignancies,among which the high levels of CVAI and CRP in combination may lead to a higher risk.

Akinetic mutism (AM) is a neurological disorder characterized by a profound lack of motivation, leading to severe motor and speech impairment or complete loss of function. Due to its clinical resemblance to disorders of consciousness and locked-in syndrome, AM is often misdiagnosed or overlooked, necessitating increased awareness among clinicians. This review summarizes the recent advances in neuroanatomical basis of AM, roles of neuroimaging in AM diagnosis and prognosis, and current therapeutic strategies of AM so as to enhance the awareness of clinicians in AM.

Objective:To explore the influence of artificial intelligence(AI)-assisted compressive sensing(ACS)technique with different acceleration factors on the image quality and scan time of three dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography(3D-TOF-MRA)for brain.Methods:Thirty participants who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)at Tongzhou Branch of Beijing Friendship Hospital were recruited.All subjects underwent imaging scans about four different parameters:a non-accelerated technique(control group),ACS technique integrated with acceleration factor of 4.03(ACS4 group),ACS technique integrated with acceleration factor of 5.02(ACS5 group),and ACS technique integrated with acceleration factor of 6.06(ACS6 group).The image clarity,ranking of imaging capabilities of distal branch blood vessels and the ratio of pseudo-stenosis were qualitatively analyzed.The signal-to-noise ratio(SNR),contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR),edge sharpness,and scan time were quantitatively analyzed.Results:There was not difference in vessel clarity among three ACS groups at the proximal and middle intracranial segments.For distal segments of blood vessel,the ACS4 group[3.0(3.0,3.0)]and ACS5 group[3.0(3.0,3.0)]were better than ACS6[2.5(2.0,3.0)](q=29.800,27.500,P<0.05).The imaging capabilities of distal-branch vessel of ACS4 group and ACS5 group were better than ACS6 group.There was no stenosis in the proximal and middle segments of the images of the three ACS group,and there were no stenosis in the images of distal vessels of ACS4 group and ACS5 group.A total of 5 cases were pseudo-stenosis in the distal vessels of ACS6 group.Compared with the control group,the incidence of pseudo-stenosis in the distal vessels of ACS6 group was 16.7%.The SNR and CNR values of quantitative analysis for proximal vessels in ACS6 group were higher than them in ACS4 group(q=27.800,26.200,P<0.05),and there was not significant difference in them among ACS4 group,ACS6 group and ACS5 group(P>0.05).The differences of SNR and CNR values in the middle and distal segments of blood vessels among different groups were not significant(P>0.05).There was not significant difference in the edge sharpness of blood vessels among ACS4 group,ACS5 group,and ACS6 group(P>0.05),while all of them were higher than those of control group,and the differences were significant(q=48.150,53.367,44.883,P<0.001).Compared with control group,the scan-time of ACS4 group was reduced by 55.19%,and that of ACS5 group was reduced by 64.07%,and that of ACS6 group was reduced by 70%.Conclusion:ACS technique can accelerate the imaging speed of brain 3D-TOF-MRA and ensure image quality.It is clinically recommended to set the ACS acceleration factor as 5.02 to undergo brain 3D-TOF-MRA scans.

Objective:To compare the effects of propofol and dexmedetomidine for sedation on the outcome in mechanically ventilated patients with severe pulmonary infection.Methods:Patients with severe pulmonary infection (Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score >7) requiring mechanical ventilation from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care Ⅳ database between 2008 and 2020 were selected and divided into propofol group and dexmedetomidine group based on the sedative agent used. The primary outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality, and secondary outcomes included 90-day all-cause mortality and duration of mechanical ventilation. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to adjust for baseline confounders, and logistic regression and linear regression were applied to analyze the effects of the two sedative drugs on the outcomes of mechanically ventilated patients with pulmonary infection. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to analyze survival outcomes.Results:A total of 6 204 critically ill patients with pulmonary infection requiring mechanical ventilation were included, with 3 439 cases in propofol group and 2 765 cases in dexmedetomidine group. The baseline characteristics between the two groups were well balanced (standardized mean difference < 0.1) after IPTW adjustment. In the IPTW-adjusted cohort, the in-hospital all-cause mortality and 90-day all-cause mortality were significantly lower in dexmedetomidine group than in propofol group (439.2[18.7%] vs 563.6[24.1%], 618.0[26.3%] vs 733.6[31.3%], P<0.001), the results of Further Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the 90-day all-cause mortality was significantly lower in dexmedetomidine group than in propofol group ( P<0.01). Conclusions:Compared with propofol, dexmedetomidine can decrease the mortality rate and improve the prognosis in mechanically ventilated patients with severe pulmonary infection when used for sedation.

Reninoma is a rare renal secretory tumor，prevalent in the young population. This disease is mostly surgically resected，and the use of microwave ablation to treat reninoma in children is scarce. A case of reninoma in a child was reported in this paper. The patient presented with refractory hypertension，hypokalemia，hyperreninemia and hyperaldosteronemia. Enhanced CT and contrast-enhanced ultrasound showed mass in the lower pole of the right kidney，which was considered as reninoma and microwave ablation was performed. The renin concentration decreased to 68.42 pg/ml at 4 hours after surgery. After 1 year of postoperative follow-up，there was no recurrence of hypertension and hypokalemia，and no signs of tumor recurrence were seen on repeated ultrasound examinations.

Objective: To explore the correlation between small intestinal bacterial overgrowth(SIBO) and cognitive impairment in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis(PD). Methods: 60 PD patients and 46 non-dialysis patients with end-stage renal disease(ESRD) were included in this study. SIBO was detected by lactulose hydrogen methane breath test(LHMBT). The cognitive function levels of the subjects were evaluated using the Montreal cognitive assessment(MoCA) and mini-mental state examination(MMSE). The emotional states of the patients were assessed by self-rating anxiety scale(SAS) and self-rating depression scale(SDS). The gastrointestinal symptoms were evaluated using gastrointestinal symptom rating scale(GSRS). According to the results of LHMBT, the PD patients were further divided into two subgroups: SIBO-positive and SIBO-negative. The general conditions, laboratory data, and scores of each scale were compared between the two groups. Furthermore, according to the MoCA scores, the PD patients were divided into two groups: those with normal cognitive function and those with cognitive dysfunction. The positive rates of SIBO between the two groups were compared. Binary Logistic stepwise regression was used to explore whether SIBO was an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment in PD patients. At the same time, other independent influencing factors for cognitive impairment in PD patients were analyzed. Results: The positive rate of SIBO in PD patients was 40.00%. Among them, the positive rate of SIBO in the group with normal cognitive function during peritoneal dialysis was 27.27%, and the positive rate of SIBO in the group with cognitive dysfunction during peritoneal dialysis was 55.56%. There was a statistically significant difference in the positive rate of SIBO between the two groups(P=0.026). Further analysis by multivariate Logistic stepwise regression showed that in addition to age(OR=1.118, 95%CI 1.007-1.242, P=0.037), educational attainment(OR=0.655,95%CI 0.442-0.972,P=0.036), and hemoglobin(OR=0.946,95% CI 0.895-0.998,P=0.044), SIBO(OR=7.613,95% CI 1.160-49.979,P=0.034)was also an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment in PD patients. Conclusion The incidence of SIBO in PD patients is relatively high and is associated with multiple factors, among which SIBO may be closely related to cognitive dysfunction in PD patients.

Professor Lin Chuangjian noticed that middle-aged and elderly individuals,as well as patients with weakened spleen and kidney function,are prone to developing gouty arthritis of phlegm-turbidity and blood stasis obstruction type.The clinical manifestations of gouty arthritis of phlegm-turbidity and blood stasis obstruction type were characterized by recurrent and prolonged episodes,marked joint pain(worse at night),joint deformities,numbness and stiffness of the skin,difficulty in walking,spasm of muscles,and limited joint movement,and were probably accompanied by facial and pedal edema,chest and epigastric fullness,dizziness and tinnitus,flushed cheeks and dry mouth,and soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees.Gouty arthritis of phlegm-turbidity and blood stasis obstruction type is a fundamentally-deficiency and incidentally-excess syndrome,characterized by phlegm-turbidity-stasis as the symptomatic features,and spleen-kidney deficiency as the root cause.During syndrome differentiation,Professor Lin emphasizes the relationship between phlegm-turbidity-stasis and the zang-orga nis of spleen and kidneys,and considers that the dysfunction of spleen and kidneys is the root cause of phlegm-turbidity-stasis formation.During treatment,therapeutic principle of simultaneously treating the symptom and root cause was followed,primary methods of fortifying the spleen and tonifying the kidneys,removing phlegm and resolving turbidity,and activating blood circulation to resolve stasis were adopted,and Bushen Juanbi Yipi Decoction was used as the foundational prescription.Bushen Juanbi Yipi Decoction consists of the herbs of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix,Angelicae Pubescentis Radix,Cinnamomi Cortex,Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix,Angelicae Sinensis Radix,Chuanxiong Rhizoma,Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle,Piperis Kadsurae Caulis,Mori Ramulus,Olibanum,Aucklandiae Radix,salt-processed Morindae Officinalis Radix,Taxilli Herb,Saposhnikoviae Radix,Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma,Microctis Folium,Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma,Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum,Clematidis Radix et Rhizoma,and Eupatorii Herba.In clinical practice,adjunct herbs for fortifying spleen,ventilating lung,soothing liver,or tranquilizing heart may be added based on accompanying symptoms.Professor Lin's diagnostic and therapeutic approach will provide valuable insights for the traditional Chinese medicine management of gouty arthritis.

Objective To explore the mechanism of Pingchuanning Formula(PCN)for inhibiting airway inflammation in rats with asthmatic cold syndrome.Methods A total of 105 SD rats were randomized equally into 7 groups,including a control group,an asthmatic cold syndrome model group,3 PCN treatment groups at high,medium and low doses,a Guilong Kechuanning(GLCKN)treatment group,and a dexamethasone(DEX)treatment group.In all but the control rats,asthma cold syndrome models were established and daily gavage of saline,PCN,GLCKN or DEX was administered 29 days after the start of modeling.The changes in general condition,lung function and lung histopathology of the rats were observed,and inflammatory factors in the alveolar lavage fluid(BALF),oxidative stress,lung tissue ultrastructure,cytokine levels,and expressions of the genes related to the HMGB1/Beclin-1 axis and autophagy were analyzed.Results The rat models had obvious manifestations of asthmatic cold syndrome with significantly decreased body mass,food intake,and water intake,reduced FEV0.3,FVC,and FEV0.3/FVC,obvious inflammatory cell infiltration in the lung tissue,and increased alveolar inflammation score and counts of neutrophils,eosinophils,lymphocytes,macrophages,and leukocytes in the BALF.The rat models also had significantly increased MDA level and decreased SOD level and exhibited obvious ultrastructural changes in the lung tissues,where the expressions of HMGB1,Beclin-1,ATG5,TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β,and IL-13 and the LC3II/I ratio were increased,while the levels of Bcl-2 and IFN-γ were decreased.PCN treatment significantly improved these pathological changes in the rat models,and its therapeutic effect was better than that of GLKCN and similar to that of DEX.Conclusion PCN can effectively alleviate airway inflammation in rat models of asthmatic cold syndrome possibly by modulating the HMGB1/Beclin-1 signaling axis to suppress cell autophagy,thereby attenuating airway inflammatory damages.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the mechanism of Pingchuanning Formula (PCN) for inhibiting airway inflammation in rats with asthmatic cold syndrome. METHODS: A total of 105 SD rats were randomized equally into 7 groups, including a control group, an asthmatic cold syndrome model group, 3 PCN treatment groups at high, medium and low doses, a Guilong Kechuanning (GLCKN) treatment group, and a dexamethasone (DEX) treatment group. In all but the control rats, asthma cold syndrome models were established and daily gavage of saline, PCN, GLCKN or DEX was administered 29 days after the start of modeling. The changes in general condition, lung function and lung histopathology of the rats were observed, and inflammatory factors in the alveolar lavage fluid (BALF), oxidative stress, lung tissue ultrastructure, cytokine levels, and expressions of the genes related to the HMGB1/Beclin-1 axis and autophagy were analyzed. RESULTS: The rat models had obvious manifestations of asthmatic cold syndrome with significantly decreased body mass, food intake, and water intake, reduced FEV_0.3, FVC, and FEV_0.3/FVC, obvious inflammatory cell infiltration in the lung tissue, and increased alveolar inflammation score and counts of neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, macrophages, and leukocytes in the BALF. The rat models also had significantly increased MDA level and decreased SOD level and exhibited obvious ultrastructural changes in the lung tissues, where the expressions of HMGB1, Beclin-1, ATG5, TNF-α, IL-6,IL-1β, and IL-13 and the LC3II/I ratio were increased, while the levels of Bcl-2 and IFN-γ were decreased. PCN treatment significantly improved these pathological changes in the rat models, and its therapeutic effect was better than that of GLKCN and similar to that of DEX. CONCLUSIONS PCN can effectively alleviate airway inflammation in rat models of asthmatic cold syndrome possibly by modulating the HMGB1/Beclin-1 signaling axis to suppress cell autophagy, thereby attenuating airway inflammatory damages.
Animals ; Rats ; Autophagy/drug effects* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Asthma/pathology* ; Beclin-1 ; HMGB1 Protein/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Lung/pathology* ; Inflammation