Objective:To investigate the impacts of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 (VD) and Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) on intestinal flora in animals with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and their possible mechanisms. Methods:A methionine- choline-deficient (MCD) diet-induced rat model of MAFLD was created. Forty 10-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into methionine-choline-sufficient (MCS) group, MCD group, VD group, LP group, and VD-LP group, with 8 rats in each group. The intervention groups (VD group, LP group, and VD-LP group) were gastrically fed with VD peanut oil solution (6 ng/100 g daily), Lactobacillus plantarum solution (2×10 9CFU/100 g daily), and a combination of these two solutions, respectively. MCS group, MCD group, and LP group were given the same volume of peanut oil on a daily basis. Fecal samples from rats were collected at week 4 and analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing for fecal flora structure. Portal vein blood samples were collected to detect liver biochemistry and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels. Pathological changes in liver and terminal ileum tissues were observed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Results:Compared with the MCS group, the MCD group exhibited massive steatosis and lipid infiltration in liver tissues, markedly thinned ileum mucosa, severely damaged villi structure, excessive necrotic and shedding of epithelial cells, and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Compared with the histopathological changes in the MCD group, the steatosis and lipid infiltration of liver tissue, the damage to the ileal mucosa structure and epithelial cells, and the infiltration of inflammatory cells were alleviated in the VD group, LP group, and VD-LP group. Compared with MCS group, the MCD group had significantly higher serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (158.50±14.03 U/L vs. 20.38±7.39 U/L), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (43.88±11.36 U/L vs. 25.75±5.90 U/L), total bile acid (TBA) (140.60±11.77 μmol/L vs. 19.96±4.31 μmol/L), and LPS (16.57±1.19 pg/ml vs. 7.43±0.95 pg/ml) (All P<0.001),which confirmed the successful establishment of rat models of MAFLD. Serum ALT, AST, TBA, and LPS levels in all the three intervention groups were significantly lower than those in MCD group, and the most significant reductions in ALT (51.38±9.05 U/L vs. 158.50±14.03 U/L), AST (55.88±12.19 U/L vs. 143.88±11.36 U/L), TBA (21.00±8.17 μmol/L vs. 140.60±11.77 μmol/L), and LPS (9.72±0.71 pg/ml vs. 16.57±1.19 pg/ml) were seen in the VD-LP group. The microbiota in the MCD group predominantly featured Muribaculaceae, while the MCS group and other intervention groups primarily harbored Lactobacillus. Firmicutes and Lactobacillus were significantly decreased in the MCD group ,while Bacteroidete, Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobiota, Prevotellaceae UCG-003, Escherichia coli, Bacteroides, and Enterococcus increased significantly. The opposite was true for each intervention group. There were significant differences in Lactobacillus between MCD group and the other four groups. Conclusion:VD and LP can remarkably improve lipid deposition in MAFLD by regulating intestinal flora.

This article mainly introduces Professor Xu Zhenye's experience in treating advanced colorectal cancer.According to Professor Xu,the pathogenesis of advanced colorectal cancer is mainly based on deficiency,supplemented by evils and realities,and most of the patients are suffering from deficiency of essence and Qi.The treatment should focus on replenishing the deficiency,followed by removing the evils and poisons.Professor Xu innovatively put forward the theory of"spleen deficiency and essence deficiency,supporting the positive to fight against cancer",treating intestinal cancer by strengthening the spleen,tonifying the kidney and nourishing the essence,supplemented by clearing heat and removing toxins to fight against tumour.

Objectives:To explore the relationship between epicardial adipose tissue(EAT),left atrium and left atrial appendage(LAA)structures and LAA thrombosis in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.Methods:Clinical data from non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients who underwent cardiac computed tomography angiography(CTA)and transesophageal echocardiography(TEE)at the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University between November 2019 and October 2024,were retrospectively collected.Twenty-eight patients diagnosed with LAA thrombus by both CTA and TEE were enrolled as the LAA thrombus group(20 males,8 females,average age[65±9]years).Using an individual matching method,56 non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients without LAA thrombus,matched for gender and age(±3 years),were sequentially enrolled at a ratio of 1:2 as the no-thrombus group(40 males,16 females,average age[65±8]years).CTA was used to measure the epicardial adipose tissue volume(EATV),left atrial epicardial adipose tissue volume(LA-EATV),and structural parameters of the left atrium and LAA in both groups.The correlation between EAT,structural parameters of the left atrium/LAA and LAA thrombosis was evaluated.Results:In the LAA thrombus group,the proportions of patients with persistent atrial fibrillation and atrial fibrillation rhythm were significantly higher than in the no-thrombus group(both P<0.001).There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of age,gender composition,body mass index,duration of atrial fibrillation,and the proportions of patients with hypertension,diabetes,dyslipidemia,coronary heart disease,ischemic stroke,heart failure,vascular disease,and CHA2DS2-VASc scores(all P>0.05).Compared to the no-thrombus group,the EATV,LA-EATV,left atrial volume(LAV),LAA volume(LAAV),and LAA orifice area were significantly higher in the LAA thrombus group(all P<0.05).There was no significant difference between the two groups in the LAA depth(P=0.076).Conditional logistic regression analysis showed that LA-EATV(OR=1.092,95%CI:1.004-1.187,P=0.040)and LAV(OR=1.022,95%CI:1.003-1.041,P=0.025)were independent predictors of LAA thrombosis in non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients.The LA-EATV threshold for predicting LAA thrombosis was 27.16 cm3,with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)of 0.843(sensitivity 85.7%,specificity 76.8%);the LAV predictive threshold was 118.45 ml(AUC=0.853,sensitivity 82.1%,specificity 80.4%).Conclusions:LA-EATV and LAV measured by cardiac CTA are independent predictors of LAA thrombosis in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Objective:To evaluate the risk of developing pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) among individuals with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in schools and the protective effect of tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT).Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to collect data on 15 school outbreaks that occurred in Guangdong Province from 2017 to 2021. Baseline information on tuberculin skin test (TST) or interferon-gamma release test (IGRA) was obtained during contact surveys, as well as baseline information such as TPT. The incidence of PTB between 2017 and 2022 was queried using the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention Information System. Poisson regression analysis was used to compare the incidence risk of PTB in the LTBI population under different TST states at baseline. Current cases, new cases and all cases (the sum of the two) were used as dependent variables. Cox regression models were used to analyze various risk factors affecting the risk of PTB in the LTBI population and evaluate the protective effect of TPT.Results:A total of 6 550 contacts were included in this study, of which 409 received TPT. Within 0-3 months after baseline survey, 119 cases were diagnosed as current cases [19.4‰, 119/(6 550-409)]. A total of 17 221.65 person-years of follow-up were conducted, during which 71 new cases were diagnosed (4.1/1 000 person-years, 71/17 221.65). The incidence density of PTB was 47.7/1 000 person-years, 6.6/1 000 person-years, 1.4/1 000 person-years, and 0.9/1 000 person-years, respectively, in TST strong/IGRA positive, TST moderate positive, TST generally positive, and TST and IGRA negative populations. The difference in PTB incidence density was statistically significant [likelihood ratio test LRT=153.16, P<0.001]. TPT was performed for individuals with strong TST or IGRA positivity, and the protection rate could reach 93% ( HR=0.07, 95% CI: 0.02-0.23). Conclusion:After the outbreak of the school epidemic, individuals with strong TST/IGRA positivity have a higher risk of developing PTB in the future. Targeted implementation of TPT can achieve better protection effects. In addition, the risk of developing PTB in individuals with moderate TST positivity is also worth noting.

Objective:To investigate the impacts of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 (VD) and Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) on intestinal flora in animals with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and their possible mechanisms. Methods:A methionine- choline-deficient (MCD) diet-induced rat model of MAFLD was created. Forty 10-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into methionine-choline-sufficient (MCS) group, MCD group, VD group, LP group, and VD-LP group, with 8 rats in each group. The intervention groups (VD group, LP group, and VD-LP group) were gastrically fed with VD peanut oil solution (6 ng/100 g daily), Lactobacillus plantarum solution (2×10 9CFU/100 g daily), and a combination of these two solutions, respectively. MCS group, MCD group, and LP group were given the same volume of peanut oil on a daily basis. Fecal samples from rats were collected at week 4 and analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing for fecal flora structure. Portal vein blood samples were collected to detect liver biochemistry and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels. Pathological changes in liver and terminal ileum tissues were observed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Results:Compared with the MCS group, the MCD group exhibited massive steatosis and lipid infiltration in liver tissues, markedly thinned ileum mucosa, severely damaged villi structure, excessive necrotic and shedding of epithelial cells, and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Compared with the histopathological changes in the MCD group, the steatosis and lipid infiltration of liver tissue, the damage to the ileal mucosa structure and epithelial cells, and the infiltration of inflammatory cells were alleviated in the VD group, LP group, and VD-LP group. Compared with MCS group, the MCD group had significantly higher serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (158.50±14.03 U/L vs. 20.38±7.39 U/L), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (43.88±11.36 U/L vs. 25.75±5.90 U/L), total bile acid (TBA) (140.60±11.77 μmol/L vs. 19.96±4.31 μmol/L), and LPS (16.57±1.19 pg/ml vs. 7.43±0.95 pg/ml) (All P<0.001),which confirmed the successful establishment of rat models of MAFLD. Serum ALT, AST, TBA, and LPS levels in all the three intervention groups were significantly lower than those in MCD group, and the most significant reductions in ALT (51.38±9.05 U/L vs. 158.50±14.03 U/L), AST (55.88±12.19 U/L vs. 143.88±11.36 U/L), TBA (21.00±8.17 μmol/L vs. 140.60±11.77 μmol/L), and LPS (9.72±0.71 pg/ml vs. 16.57±1.19 pg/ml) were seen in the VD-LP group. The microbiota in the MCD group predominantly featured Muribaculaceae, while the MCS group and other intervention groups primarily harbored Lactobacillus. Firmicutes and Lactobacillus were significantly decreased in the MCD group ,while Bacteroidete, Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobiota, Prevotellaceae UCG-003, Escherichia coli, Bacteroides, and Enterococcus increased significantly. The opposite was true for each intervention group. There were significant differences in Lactobacillus between MCD group and the other four groups. Conclusion:VD and LP can remarkably improve lipid deposition in MAFLD by regulating intestinal flora.

Objective:To explore the spatial correlation between gray matter volume (GMV) changes and neurotransmitter receptors/transporters in patients with first-episode schizophrenia (FES) .Methods:Fifty-four FES patients(FES group) and fifty-nine healthy controls (HC group) were selected from June 2014 to May 2020 in the Psychiatry Department of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) was conducted on all subjects. Differences of GMV were compared across 400 cortical regions and 32 subcortical regions. Based on the positron emission tomography(PET) data from Neuromaps, which provides the density of 19 different neurotransmitter receptors and transporters, Spearman correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the spatial correlation between GMV changes and neurotransmitter systems.Results:Compared to the HC group, FES group exhibited significant GMV reductions in widespread cortical (90/400) and subcortical (6/32) regions (all FDR-corrected P<0.05). The effect size of GMV reduction (Cohen’s d) showed significant positive correlations with the density of 5-hydroxytryptamine 1a(5HT1a) ( r=0.400, Pspin=0.002), γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor(GABA A)( r=0.307, Pspin=0.002), and metabotropic glutamate receptor 5(mGluR5) ( r=0.275, Pspin=0.020) receptors (all FDR-corrected P<0.05). Conclusion:GMV reductions in a wide range of brain regions existed in patients with FES. There are significant correlations between 5HT1a, GABA A and mGluR5 receptors and gray matter reduction in patients with FES. The disorder of these neurotransmitter receptors may be the potential neurobiological mechanism of gray matter structural abnormalities in the early stage of schizophrenia.

Objective To explore the work experiences and needs of nutrition specialist nurses,so as to provide a basis in career development and management practices among the nutrition specialist nurses.Methods A method of descriptive phenomenological research was adopted in this study.Purposive sampling was used to select 12 nutrition specialist nurses who came from different regions across the country with over one year of clinical working experiences as well as had completed the specialist training and been qualified by the Nutrition Committee of Guangdong Nursing Association between January and February 2024.Semi-structured on-line interviews were conducted among the participants and the data acquired from the interviews were analysed and summarised.Themes were extracted using NVivo12 and Colaizzi's seven-step analysis from the data from interview.Results Three main themes and eight sub-themes were identified regarding the work experience of nutrition specialist nurses:growth and gains(continuously learning in nutrition therapy-related knowledge to enhance professional skills;actively practice in nutrition therapy to achieve the self-worth);sense of responsibility and mission(increased awareness of responsibility and proactive services;sense of mission to cultivate talents and promotion of the development of nutrition nursing discipline);challenges(lack of an established role in nutrition nursing,conflict in responsibilities;insufficient communication in a medical team regarding nutrition therapy;limited resource to support the development of nutrition nursing;and the professional knowledge and skills unable to fully meet the job demands).Conclusion Hospitals managers should strengthen the support and training for nutrition specialist nurses,clarify their roles,leverage their professional value and promote the career development.

Objectives:This study aims to investigate the expression changes of transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) channel and inflammatory factors in the peripheral blood of patients with schizophrenia, and to evaluate their potential value for diagnostic prediction.Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted at Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from September 2023 to June 2024. A total of 35 patients with schizophrenia (patient group) from the outpatient/inpatient departments and 35 age-and sex-matched healthy individuals (control group) were recruited. Psychiatric symptoms and cognitive function were evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS), respectively. The between-group comparisons of the total scores of these two instruments were calculated using independent samples t-tests. Fasting peripheral blood samples were collected from all participants. Plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated for subsequent analysis. TRPV1 protein expression was quantified by Western blotting, while inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-10 (IL-10), were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The between-group differences in TRPV1 and inflammatory cytokines were analyzed using the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), controlling for age and sex. Pearson correlation analysis was employed to examine relationships between continuous variables, controlling for years of education, age, and sex. The diagnostic performance of TRPV1 and inflammatory cytokines for schizophrenia was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results:Significant between-group differences were observed in BACS total and subscale scores ( t=2.57-9.72, all P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the patient group exhibits significantly decreased expression of TRPV1, IL-4, and IL-10 ( t=6.78, 2.75, 2.53, all P<0.01), increased expression of TNF-α, IL-2, and IL-6 ( t=4.08, 2.64, 2.63, all P<0.01), and an increased IL-6/IL-10 ratio ( t=3.18, P<0.01). Correlation analyses revealed that in the patient group, the TRPV1 expression level was negatively correlated with levels of TNF-α and IL-6, and positively correlated with levels of IL-4 and IL-10 ( r=-0.589, -0.234, 0.341, 0.293, all P<0.05). In the patient group, the TRPV1 expression level was negatively correlated with the negative symptom score of PANSS ( r=-0.299, P<0.05), and the IL-6 level was positively correlated with the negative symptom score, the general pathology score, and the total score of PANSS ( r=0.387, 0.356, 0.321, all P<0.05). The TRPV1 level was positively correlated with the total score of BACS in both the control group and the patient group ( r=0.144, 0.828, all P<0.01). The IL-6/IL-10 ratio was positively correlated with the total score of PANSS and negatively correlated with the total score of BACS in the patient group ( r=0.623, -0.333, all P<0.05). The area under the ROC curve for the combination of TRPV1 level and IL-6/IL-10 ratio was 0.98 (95% confidence interval=0.96 to 1.00). Conclusions:Patients with schizophrenia exhibit reduced expression levels of TRPV1 along with an imbalanced inflammatory response. The combined assessment of TRPV1 level and IL-6/IL-10 ratio has demonstrated a high predictive and diagnostic value for schizophrenia.

Objectives:To explore the relationship between epicardial adipose tissue(EAT),left atrium and left atrial appendage(LAA)structures and LAA thrombosis in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.Methods:Clinical data from non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients who underwent cardiac computed tomography angiography(CTA)and transesophageal echocardiography(TEE)at the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University between November 2019 and October 2024,were retrospectively collected.Twenty-eight patients diagnosed with LAA thrombus by both CTA and TEE were enrolled as the LAA thrombus group(20 males,8 females,average age[65±9]years).Using an individual matching method,56 non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients without LAA thrombus,matched for gender and age(±3 years),were sequentially enrolled at a ratio of 1:2 as the no-thrombus group(40 males,16 females,average age[65±8]years).CTA was used to measure the epicardial adipose tissue volume(EATV),left atrial epicardial adipose tissue volume(LA-EATV),and structural parameters of the left atrium and LAA in both groups.The correlation between EAT,structural parameters of the left atrium/LAA and LAA thrombosis was evaluated.Results:In the LAA thrombus group,the proportions of patients with persistent atrial fibrillation and atrial fibrillation rhythm were significantly higher than in the no-thrombus group(both P<0.001).There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of age,gender composition,body mass index,duration of atrial fibrillation,and the proportions of patients with hypertension,diabetes,dyslipidemia,coronary heart disease,ischemic stroke,heart failure,vascular disease,and CHA2DS2-VASc scores(all P>0.05).Compared to the no-thrombus group,the EATV,LA-EATV,left atrial volume(LAV),LAA volume(LAAV),and LAA orifice area were significantly higher in the LAA thrombus group(all P<0.05).There was no significant difference between the two groups in the LAA depth(P=0.076).Conditional logistic regression analysis showed that LA-EATV(OR=1.092,95%CI:1.004-1.187,P=0.040)and LAV(OR=1.022,95%CI:1.003-1.041,P=0.025)were independent predictors of LAA thrombosis in non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients.The LA-EATV threshold for predicting LAA thrombosis was 27.16 cm3,with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)of 0.843(sensitivity 85.7%,specificity 76.8%);the LAV predictive threshold was 118.45 ml(AUC=0.853,sensitivity 82.1%,specificity 80.4%).Conclusions:LA-EATV and LAV measured by cardiac CTA are independent predictors of LAA thrombosis in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Objective:To analyze the clinical significance of molecular classification and hereditary phenotype in endometrial carcinoma (EC) based on high throughput sequencing (NGS).Methods:97 EC samples were collected retrospectively from December 2019 to October 2022 in China-Japan Friendship Hospital. NGS technique was used to analyze the molecular classification, POLE hypermutation, microsatellite high Instability/mismatch repair dysfunction (MSI-H/MMRd), P53 protein abnormality (P53 abn), and non-specific molecular profile (NSMP). Lynch syndrome related genes and BRCA1/2 genes were detected by NGS and their genetic characteristics were analyzed. Results:Of the 97 EC cases, 77 were endometrial adenocarcinoma and 20 were other pathological subtypes. The proportions of the four molecular subtypes were 9.3% (9/97) POLE hypermutation, 16.5% (16/97) MSI-H, 17.5% (17/97) P53 abn and 56.7% (55/97) NSMP, respectively. There were significant differences in age, histological type, lymph node metastasis, pathological stage and other parameters among the four molecular types ( P＜0.05). 8.2% (8/97) were multiple molecular typing and four multiple molecular typings detected, including POLEmut-MSI-H, POLEmut-P53abn, MSI-H-P53abn, P53abn-P53abn, which accounted for 1.0% (1/97), 3.1% (3/97), 1.0% (1/97) and 3.1% (3/97), respectively. The consistent rate of MSI-H and MMR protein expression was 92.9% ( Kappa=0.818, P＜0.001). The coincidence rate between TP53 gene sequencing and P53 protein expression was 88.9% ( Kappa=0.661, P＜0.001). In MSI-H type, 25.0% (4/16) were diagnosed as Lynch syndrome, and 75.0% (12/16) were diagnosed as Lynch like syndrome. 7.2% (7/97) BRCA2 somatic variation was detected, while BRCA1/2 germline variation was not detected in 97 cases. Conclusions:EC molecular classification has feasibility and clinical value. High throughput sequencing can detect low frequency mutations of TP53 gene, suggesting that it can provide more accurate molecular information and more accurate molecular typing effect. It is suggested to further detect Lynch syndrome related genes in patients with MSI-H, so as to carry out genetic management for patients and their families and achieve better therapeutic effect.