To analyze the disease burden of hypertension in the elderly population from 1990 to 2021 and to predict future trends in China and globally, thereby providing insights for public health decision-making regarding older adults with hypertension in China.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic disorder posing significant risks to maternal and infant health, with a lack of effective early screening markers. Therefore, identifying early screening biomarkers for GDM with higher sensitivity and specificity is urgently needed. Methods: High-throughput sequencing was employed to screen for key circular RNAs (circRNAs), which were then evaluated using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between clinical characteristics, circRNA expression, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The diagnostic accuracy of circRNAs for early and mid-pregnancy GDM was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves. Pearson correlation analysis was utilized to explore the relationship between circRNA levels and oral glucose tolerance test results. A predictive model for early GDM was established using logistic regression. Results: Significant alterations in circRNA expression profiles were detected in GDM patients, with hsa_circ_0031560 and hsa_ circ_0000793 notably upregulated during the first and second trimesters. These circRNAs were associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and effectively differentiated GDM patients, with second trimester cohorts achieving an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.836. In first trimester cohorts, these circRNAs identified potential GDM patients with AUCs of 0.832 and 0.765, respectively. The early GDM prediction model achieved an AUC of 0.904, validated in two independent cohorts. Conclusion Hsa_circ_0031560, hsa_circ_0000793, and the developed model serve as biomarkers for early prediction or midterm diagnosis of GDM, offering clinical tools for early GDM screening.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic disorder posing significant risks to maternal and infant health, with a lack of effective early screening markers. Therefore, identifying early screening biomarkers for GDM with higher sensitivity and specificity is urgently needed. Methods: High-throughput sequencing was employed to screen for key circular RNAs (circRNAs), which were then evaluated using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between clinical characteristics, circRNA expression, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The diagnostic accuracy of circRNAs for early and mid-pregnancy GDM was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves. Pearson correlation analysis was utilized to explore the relationship between circRNA levels and oral glucose tolerance test results. A predictive model for early GDM was established using logistic regression. Results: Significant alterations in circRNA expression profiles were detected in GDM patients, with hsa_circ_0031560 and hsa_ circ_0000793 notably upregulated during the first and second trimesters. These circRNAs were associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and effectively differentiated GDM patients, with second trimester cohorts achieving an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.836. In first trimester cohorts, these circRNAs identified potential GDM patients with AUCs of 0.832 and 0.765, respectively. The early GDM prediction model achieved an AUC of 0.904, validated in two independent cohorts. Conclusion Hsa_circ_0031560, hsa_circ_0000793, and the developed model serve as biomarkers for early prediction or midterm diagnosis of GDM, offering clinical tools for early GDM screening.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic disorder posing significant risks to maternal and infant health, with a lack of effective early screening markers. Therefore, identifying early screening biomarkers for GDM with higher sensitivity and specificity is urgently needed. Methods: High-throughput sequencing was employed to screen for key circular RNAs (circRNAs), which were then evaluated using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between clinical characteristics, circRNA expression, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The diagnostic accuracy of circRNAs for early and mid-pregnancy GDM was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves. Pearson correlation analysis was utilized to explore the relationship between circRNA levels and oral glucose tolerance test results. A predictive model for early GDM was established using logistic regression. Results: Significant alterations in circRNA expression profiles were detected in GDM patients, with hsa_circ_0031560 and hsa_ circ_0000793 notably upregulated during the first and second trimesters. These circRNAs were associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and effectively differentiated GDM patients, with second trimester cohorts achieving an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.836. In first trimester cohorts, these circRNAs identified potential GDM patients with AUCs of 0.832 and 0.765, respectively. The early GDM prediction model achieved an AUC of 0.904, validated in two independent cohorts. Conclusion Hsa_circ_0031560, hsa_circ_0000793, and the developed model serve as biomarkers for early prediction or midterm diagnosis of GDM, offering clinical tools for early GDM screening.

Objective: To establish a method for determining the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of Poly(Lactide-co-Glycolide Acid) (PLGA) using Size Exclusion Chromatography-Refractive Index-Multiangle Laser Light Scattering (SEC-RI-MALLS) and Size Exclusion Chromatography-Refractive Index (SEC-RID), and to compare the results obtained from these two methods.
Methods: For SEC-RI-MALLS, tetrahydrofuran was used as the mobile phase, Shodex GPC KF-803L was employed as the chromatographic column with a flow rate of 1 mL·min^-1, column temperature at 30 ℃, and an injection volume of 100 μL. For SEC-RID, tetrahydrofuran was also used as the mobile phase, Agilent PLgel 5 μm MIXD-D was used as the chromatographic column with a flow rate of 1 mL·min^-1, column temperature at 30 ℃, differential detector temperature at 35 ℃, and an injection volume of 20 μL. The molecular weight and molecular weight distribution were calculated using Agilent’s GPC software. The newly established methods were validated methodologically, and the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of 13 batches of samples were determined.
Results: The precision, accuracy, stability, and repeatability tests for SEC-RI-MALLS showed RSD values of 1.35%, 1.58%, 1.53%, and 1.26%, respectively. The SEC-RID method exhibited good linearity (r=0.999 9), with RSD values for precision, accuracy, stability, and repeatability tests (n=6) of 2.05%, 1.62%, 1.30%, and 2.97%, respectively. The results obtained from SEC-RI-MALLS were lower than those from SEC-RID, and the molecular weight distribution coefficient was smaller, but the results from the paired T-test performed with the value measured by SEC-RID method and the value measured by SEC-RI-MALLS method multiplied a conversion coefficient of 1.5 showed no significant difference between the two methods.
Conclusion: Both methods are stable and reliable, and can be used for the determination of PLGA molecular weight and molecular weight distribution based on the specific situations.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic disorder posing significant risks to maternal and infant health, with a lack of effective early screening markers. Therefore, identifying early screening biomarkers for GDM with higher sensitivity and specificity is urgently needed. Methods: High-throughput sequencing was employed to screen for key circular RNAs (circRNAs), which were then evaluated using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between clinical characteristics, circRNA expression, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The diagnostic accuracy of circRNAs for early and mid-pregnancy GDM was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves. Pearson correlation analysis was utilized to explore the relationship between circRNA levels and oral glucose tolerance test results. A predictive model for early GDM was established using logistic regression. Results: Significant alterations in circRNA expression profiles were detected in GDM patients, with hsa_circ_0031560 and hsa_ circ_0000793 notably upregulated during the first and second trimesters. These circRNAs were associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and effectively differentiated GDM patients, with second trimester cohorts achieving an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.836. In first trimester cohorts, these circRNAs identified potential GDM patients with AUCs of 0.832 and 0.765, respectively. The early GDM prediction model achieved an AUC of 0.904, validated in two independent cohorts. Conclusion Hsa_circ_0031560, hsa_circ_0000793, and the developed model serve as biomarkers for early prediction or midterm diagnosis of GDM, offering clinical tools for early GDM screening.

Background::Early detection of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) can considerably improve the prognosis of patients. Aberrant cell-free DNA (cfDNA) methylation signatures are a promising tool for detecting ESCC. However, available markers based on cell-free DNA methylation are still inadequate. This study aimed to identify ESCC-specific cfDNA methylation markers and evaluate the diagnostic performance in the early detection of ESCC.Methods::We performed whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) for 24 ESCC tissues and their normal adjacent tissues. Based on the WGBS data, we identified 21,469,837 eligible CpG sites (CpGs). By integrating several methylation datasets, we identified several promising ESCC-specific cell-free DNA methylation markers. Finally, we developed a dual-marker panel based on methylated KCNA3 and OTOP2, and then, we evaluated its performance in our training and validation cohorts. Results::The ESCC diagnostic model constructed based on KCNA3 and OTOP2 had an AUC of 0.91 [95% CI: 0.85–0.95], and an optimal sensitivity and specificity of 84.91% and 94.32%, respectively, in the training cohort. In the independent validation cohort, the AUC was 0.88 [95% CI: 0.83–0.92], along with an optimal sensitivity of 81.5% and specificity of 92.9%. The model sensitivity for stage I–II ESCC was 78.4%, which was slightly lower than the sensitivity of the model (85.7%) for stage III–IV ESCC. Conclusion::The dual-target panel based on cfDNA showed excellent performance for detecting ESCC and might be an alternative strategy for screening ESCC.

Objective:To explore the properties of gelatin-polyethylene glycol hydrogel loaded with silver nanoparticle (AgNP) Chlorella (hereinafter referred to as the composite hydrogel) and its effects on healing of infected full-thickness skin defect wounds in mice. Methods:The research was an experimental research. The simple gelatin-polyethylene glycol hydrogel (hereinafter referred to as the simple hydrogel) and the composite hydrogel were prepared, and the appearance and injectability of the two hydrogels were observed at 55 and 37 ℃, and under the irradiation of 808 nm near-infrared light, respectively. An electronic universal testing machine was employed to assess the tensile and compressive stress-strain properties of both types of hydrogels at room temperature. Additionally, the cyclic compressive stress-strain properties of the composite hydrogel were examined at 80% of the maximum compressive stress. Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli solution was added to phosphate buffer solution (PBS), simple hydrogel, and composite hydrogel, respectively. The part of composite hydrogel containing Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli solution was irradiated with near-infrared light for 5 minutes. After each sample was incubated for 6 h, the dilution plating method was used to detect and calculate the mortality rates of the two bacteria at 24 h of culture ( n=5). The discarded foreskin tissue was taken from a 6-year-old healthy boy admitted to the Department of Urology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University for circumcision. Primary human fibroblasts (HFbs) were isolated using the enzyme extraction method, routinely cultured to the 3 rd to 6 th passages for subsequent cellular experiments. Composite hydrogel extracts with final mass concentrations of 100.0, 50.0, 25.0, 12.5, and 0 mg/mL were respectively prepared and used to culture HFbs, and the cell proliferation after 24 h of culture was detected using a cell counting kit 8 ( n=3). A total of twenty 6-8 weeks old C57BL/6J female mice were utilized, and a full-thickness skin defect was surgically created on the back of each mouse. The wounds were infected with Staphylococcus aureus solution. The infected mice were divided into blank control group, simple hydrogel group, composite hydrogel group, and combined treatment group according to the random number table, and the wounds were treated with PBS, simple hydrogel, composite hydrogel, and composite hydrogel+light irradiation (under the irradiation of 808 nm near-infrared light for 5 min), respectively, with 5 mice in each group. On post injury day (PID) 0 (immediately after the first wound treatment), 3, 7, and 14, an overall assessment of wound exudation and healing were conducted, and the wound healing rates on PID 7 and 14 were calculated ( n=5). On PID 14, hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to observe histopathological changes in the mouse wound. Results:Both simple hydrogel and composite hydrogel were in a solution state at 55 ℃ and transition to a gel state when cooling to 37 ℃. After the two hydrogels were irradiated by near-infrared light, only the composite hydrogel reheated up and returned to the solution state again with injectability. The maximum tensile stress of the composite hydrogel was up to 301.42 kPa, with a corresponding strain of 87.19%; the maximum compressive stress was up to 413.79 kPa, with a corresponding strain of 91.67%, which was similar to the tensile and compressive properties of the simple hydrogel. After 10 compression cycles, the maximum compressive stress of the composite hydrogel still reached 84.1% of the first compressive stress. After 24 h of culture, the mortality rate of Staphylococcus aureus treated with simple hydrogel was significantly higher than that treated with PBS ( P<0.05); the mortality rates of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus treated with composite hydrogel alone were significantly higher than those treated with simple hydrogel ( P<0.05); the mortality rates of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus treated with composite hydrogel+light irradiation were significantly higher than those treated with composite hydrogel alone ( P<0.05). After 24 h of culture, compared with that cultured in composite hydrogel immersion solution with final mass concentration of 0 mg/mL, the proliferation activity of HFbs cultured in composite hydrogel immersion solution with final mass concentrations of 25.0 and 50.0 mg/mL was significantly enhanced ( P<0.05), while the proliferation activity of HFbs cultured in composite hydrogel immersion solution with final mass concentration of 100 mg/mL was significantly decreased ( P<0.05). On PID 0 and 3, more purulent secretions were seen in the wounds of mice in blank control group and simple hydrogel group, while only a small amount of exudate was observed in the wounds of mice in composite hydrogel group, and no obvious infection was observed in the wounds of mice in combined treatment group. On PID 7 and 14, the wound healing rates of mice in simple hydrogel group were significantly higher than those in blank control group ( P<0.05); the wound healing rates of mice in composite hydrogel group were significantly higher than those in simple hydrogel group ( P<0.05); the wound healing rates in combined treatment group were significantly higher than those in composite hydrogel group ( P<0.05). On PID 14, the wounds of mice in blank control group exhibited a high infiltration of inflammatory cells with no new epithelial layer observed; the wounds of mice in simple hydrogel group displayed a short length of newly formed epithelium with a small amount of inflammatory cells; the wounds of mice in composite hydrogel group exhibited continuous formation of new epithelium and a large amount of immature granulation tissue; the wounds of mice in combined treatment group showed continuous epithelialization with less immature granulation tissue. Conclusions:The prepared composite hydrogel exhibits excellent thermosensitivity, photothermal properties, and injectability, as well as excellent mechanical properties, antibacterial properties, and biocompatibility, and can promote the healing of infected full-thickness skin defect wounds in mice.

Objective To investigate the incidence and severity of symptoms in patients with gastric cancer who received chemotherapy,we constructed a symptom network to explore core symptoms and bridge symptoms.Furthermore,the study explores the association between core symptoms and Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)constitutions.Methods Patients with gastric cancer who received chemotherapy in the medical oncology and surgical oncology department from March to August 2023 were selected for the study using a convenience sampling method.The MD Anderson Symptom Inventory Gastrointestinal Cancer was used for evaluating gastrointestinal symptoms and their severity among patients receiving chemotherapy for gastric cancer,as well as assessing the classification of TCM constitution among patients.The symptom network model was constructed using the R programming language,and the central index was analyzed to determine the core symptoms and bridge symptoms.Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the association between different physical conditions and the occurrence of core symptoms.Results A total of 346 electronic questionnaires were collected,with 340 valid ones,and the effective recovery rate was 98.3％.The 3 most prevalent and severe symptoms among the 340 patients with gastric cancer were fatigue(85.59％),lack of appetite(82.35％),and taste alteration(81.18％).The centrality index results indicated that grief exhibited the highest intensity,medium,and compactness centrality values(rs=8.23,rb=2.00,rc=0.03),making it the core symptom of this condition.Sleep disorders,lack of appetite,drowsiness,and taste alteration were identified as bridging symptoms with bridge intensities of 0.74,0.76,0.99,and 0.94 respectively.The results of Spearman correlation analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between sadness and qi-deficiency constitution,phlegm-dampness constitution(P＜0.05).The phlegm-dampness constitution was positively correlated with the taste alterations(P＜0.05).Conclusion In patients with gastric cancer,fatigue emerges as the most prominent symptom,while sadness assumes the core symptom.Additionally,sleep disorder,lack of appetite,drowsiness,and taste alteration are bridge symptoms.According to the principles of TCM constitution,qi-deficiency and phlegm-dampness are constitutions associated with a higher risk of experiencing sadness,and phlegm-dampness is a constitution associated with a higher risk of taste changes.Nurses can integrate core symptoms and TCM constitutions characteristics to optimize the strategies for symptom intervention.

Objective:To investigate the psychological status of the outpatients in the andrology clinic and the effect of risk warning combined with multidisciplinary team(MDT)intervention on their satisfaction.Methods:Using convenience sampling,we enrolled 600 outpatients seeking medical attention in the Department of Andrology of our hospital from July to October 2022.We ran-domized the patients into a control(n=300)and an observation group(n=300),obtained their basic information,evaluated their psychological status with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS),and assessed their satisfaction with the Xijing Hospital Outpatients'Satisfaction Questionnaire(HOSQ).The controls followed the routine procedure of treatment,while the patients in the ob-servation group received early warning before intervention based on their HADS scores.We provided normal medical care for those with HADS scores≤7,employed empathetic communication for those with HADS scores of 8-10,and conducted MDT intervention for those with HADS scores≥1l,followed by comparison of the patients'satisfaction with the outpatient service between the two groups.Results:There were no statistically significant differences in general conditions between the groups of patients(P＞0.05).The mean prevalence rate of anxiety and depression was 47.83％among the male subjects,lower in the control than in the observation group(47.00％vs 48.67％,P＞0.05),but higher in the patients with the education of junior high school or below(60.99％)than in those with that of senior high school(22.34％)and university or above(16.67％),and also higher in those aged 18-40 years(67.38％)than in those aged 41-60 years(51.82％)and over 60 years old(38.33％).A significantly higher rate of satisfaction with the outpatient service was found in the observation group than in the controls(97.18％vs 90.39％,P＜0.05).Conclusion:Anxie-ty and depression are prevalent among the outpatients in the andrology clinic,with a higher prevalence rate in those with lower educa-tion and at a younger age.Early risk warning combined with MDT intervention can improve the satisfaction of the patients.