Objective:To observe the effect of Xuebijing injection on sepsis combined with acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI), and analyze the risk factors of sepsis combined with AGI.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Patients with non-gastrointestinal origin admitted to the department of intensive care medicine of the First Hospital of Qinhuangdao from May 1, 2021 to October 30, 2023 were enrolled. The baseline data, source of sepsis infection, vital signs, acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ(APACHEⅡ), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), laboratory tests, comorbidities, interventions during treatment, and the 28-day prognosis were collected. The patients were divided into Xuebijing group and non-Xuebijing group according to whether Xuebijing injection was used or not. According to whether AGI was merged or not, patients were divided into merged AGI group and non-merged AGI group. The main observational indexes were the difference in the incidence of AGI between the Xuebijing group and non-Xuebijing group and the difference in the magnitude of the decline in procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cell count (WBC) at 7 days after admission, and the difference in the 28-day morbidity and mortality. Risk factors for AGI in septic patients were explored by univariate analysis, and statistically significant indicators were screened and included in binary Logistic regression analysis to determine independent risk factors.Results:A total of 129 patients with sepsis of non-gastrointestinal origin were enrolled, including 57 patients in the Xuebijing group and 72 patients in the non-Xuebijing group. Among 129 patients, 80 patients in the merged AGI group and 49 patients in the non-merged AGI group. There were no statistically significant differences between Xuebijing group and non-Xuebijing group in gender, age, body mass index (BMI), underlying disease, source of infection, vital sign, APACHEⅡscore, SOFA score, and clinical intervention, and there were no statistically significant differences in laboratory tests except for aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). The incidence of AGI was significantly lower in the Xuebijing group than that in the non-Xuebijing group [50.87% (29/57) vs. 70.83% (51/72), P < 0.05], and the 28-day mortality was slightly lower than that in the non-Xuebijing group [24.56% (14/57) vs. 30.56% (22/72), P > 0.05]. In the Xuebijing group, the decreases in CRP, PCT and WBC at 7 days after admission were greater than those in the non-Xuebijing group, with statistically significant differences in the decreases of CRP and PCT [CRP (mg/L): 47.12±67.34 vs. 7.76±111.03, PCT (μg/L): 14.08 (-1.22, 50.40) vs. 2.94 (-1.27, 14.80), all P < 0.05]. Univariate analysis showed that the use of acid suppressants, the use of analgesic sedation, the non-use of Xuebijing injections, pulmonary infections, and urinary tract infections were the risk factors for the development of AGI in patients with sepsis. Binary Logistic regression analysis further showed that the use of acid suppressants [odds ratio ( OR) = 2.450, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 1.021-5.883, P = 0.045], use of analgesic sedatives ( OR = 2.521, 95% CI was 1.074-5.918, P = 0.034), and urinary tract infection ( OR = 4.011, 95% CI was 1.085-14.831, P = 0.037) were independent risk factors for sepsis combined with AGI, in which the use of Xuebijing injection was a protective factor ( OR = 0.315, 95% CI was 0.137-0.726, P = 0.007). Conclusions:Xuebijing injection reduced the incidence of AGI in patients with non-gastrointestinal sepsis. PCT and CRP decreased more markedly than in patients who did not use Xuebijing injection. The use of acid-suppressing agents, analgesic and sedative agents, and urinary tract infections were independent risk factors for sepsis in combination with AGI, while the use of Xuebijing injection is a protective factor.

Objective To investigate the prognostic value of atherogenic index of plasma(AIP)for the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)in elderly patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI).Methods A total of 355 elderly patients with acute STEMI who received coronary interventional therapy in Department of Cardiology,Affilia-ted Hospital of Hebei University from January to May 2023 were recruited retrospectively,and fi-nally 343 of them with complete telephone follow-up data were included in this study.According to their AIP quartile level,they were divided into A1 group(＜0.212,84 cases),A2 group(0.212-0.339,87 cases),A3 group(0.339-0.434,86 cases)and A4 group(≥0.434,86 cases).The incidences of cardiac death,nonfatal myocardial infarction,ischemia-driven target vessel re-modeling and heart failure re-hospitalization were observed during 1-year follow-up.Kaplan-Meier survival curve was plotted to compare the incidence of MACE in the 4 groups.ROC curve analysis was employed to determine the predictive value of AIP.Results During 1-year follow-up,signifi-cant differences were observed in the proportions of ischemia-driven target vessel revasculariza-tion,heart failure re-hospitalization and non-fatal acute myocardial infarction among the 4 groups(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),and such difference was also seen in the cumulative survival rate among them(log rankx2=8.528,P=0.036).Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that gender,hypertension,atrial fibrillation,multi-vessel disease,left main artery disease,number of stents,SYNTAX score,Killip grade,BNP,HbA1c,TC,LDL-C and HDL-C levels,and AIP were independent predictors of MACE.The AUC value of AIP in predicting MACE in elderly patients with acute STEMI was 0.855(95％CI:0.776-0.933),with a sensitivity of 66.7％and a specificity of 93.0％.When the above indicators combined together,the AUC value was 0.907(95％CI:0.954-0.987),and the sensitivity and specificity was 100.0％and 90.7％,respectively.The AUC value of combined prediction was significantly better than that of single indicator(P＜0.05).Conclusion AIP is a powerful biomarker,and can be used to predict the prognosis of elderly acute STEMI after coronary interventional therapy,and it combined with Killip grade,SYNTAX score,HbA1c,and number of stents shows better predictive efficacy.

Objective To explore the expression of serum growth differentiation factor-8(GDF-8)and silent information regulator 4(Sir4)in elderly patients with chronic heart failure(CHF)and their relationship with left ventricular remodeling and cardiac function.Methods A total of 300 CHF patients admitted in our hospital from Jan 2021 to Dec 2023 were recruited and assigned into an observation group,and 100 healthy individuals who took physical examination during the same period served as control group.Based on New York Heart Association(NYHA)heart function classification,the patients in the observation group were divided into Grade Ⅰ(60 cases),Ⅱ(72 cases),Ⅲ(102 cases),and Ⅳ(66 cases)subgroups.Their clinical data were collected,serum GDF-8 and Sir4 levels were detected,left ventricular remodeling was evaluated with echocardiography,and cardiac dysfunction was assessed with NYHA cardiac function grading.Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses were used to analyze the correlation of GDF-8 and Sir4 levels with left ven-tricular remodeling and myocardial injury.Results The observation group had significantly larger left atrial diameter(LAD)and left ventricular end diastolic diameter(LVEDD),thicker left ven-tricular posterior wall thickness(LVPWT)and interventricular septum thickness(IVST),and higher left ventricular mass index(LVMI)and serum Sir4 and GDF-8 levels(42.46±4.75 mm vs 36.39±5.33 mm,54.63±7.96 mm vs 47.42±8.08 mm,9.44±1.21 mm vs 8.49±0.88 mm,9.27±1.58 mm vs 8.66±1.71 mm,141.49±5.32 g/m2 vs 106.52±7.33 g/m2,3.69±1.06 g/L vs 1.48±0.42 g/L,33.75±10.64 g/L vs 19.08±5.13 g/L,P＜0.01),but lower LVEF[(40.02±10.14)％vs(63.64±6.13)％,P＜0.01]and left ventricular remodeling index(LVRI,1.05±0.24 g/ml vs 1.32±0.33 g/ml,P＜0.01)when compared with the control group.The levels of Sir4 and GDF-8,as well as LVMI,were gradually increased,while the LVRI was decreased in Grades Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ,and Ⅳ subgroups in turn,with statistical differences in the subgroups(P＜0.01).Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses showed that Sir4 and GDF-8 levels were positively correlated with LAD,LVEDD,LVPWT,IVST,LVMI,and NHYA cardiac function grade(P＜0.01),and nega-tively with LVEF and LVRI(P＜0.01).Conclusion Serum Sir4 and GDF-8 levels are abnormally elevated in elderly CHF patients,and their levels are positively correlated with the severity of left ventricular remodeling and the severity of cardiac dysfunction.

Objective:To evaluate the characteristics of vaginal flora between normal and abnormal pregnant women throughout pregnancy.Methods:Vaginal swab specimens were collected from pregnant women in the first (<14 gestation weeks, GW), second (14~28 GW) and third trimester (>28 GW) in Anqing, Anhui Province from February 2018 to February 2020. Pregnant women were divided into normal and abnormal groups according to all clinical diagnosis. The sequences of 16S rRNA gene (V3-V4) from vaginal swabs were analyzed using QIIME2 platform. The differences in the dominance of Lactobacillus, community state type (CST) transition, Alpha diversity and Beta diversity were analyzed. Diversity data after log transition were used in the analysis of linear mixed model. Results:A total of 34 pregnant women (10 normal and 24 abnormal) with 102 samples were included for analysis. The composition of vaginal flora between two groups: the relative abundance of Lactobacillus was the highest at the genus level and Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus iners was the top two species with high relative abundance. The dominance of Lactobacillus, Alpha diversity and transition of CST were also similar. Both groups had a gradually decreased trend of Alpha diversity with GW, and the Chao1, Observed species and Faith′s PD indexes′ were different in different GW ( P<0.05). All Beta diversity metrics in normal group had descending trend, with lower value of the index of first distance which implied a higher microbiota stability, while Bray-Curtis, Weighted UniFrac distance had ascending trend in abnormal group, indicating lower stability. Jaccard distance′s first distance was statistically differed among GW and Unweighted UniFrac distance′s differed between normal and abnormal groups. Conclusions:The first distance of Unweighte UniFrac distance in abnormal pregnant women is higher than that of normal pregnant women and the vaginal flora in abnormal group has lower stability.

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is one of the most common tumor types and remains a major clinical challenge.Increasing evidence has revealed that mitophagy inhibitors can enhance the effect of chemotherapy on HCC.However,few mitophagy inhibitors have been approved for clinical use in humans.Pyrimethamine(Pyr)is used to treat infections caused by protozoan parasites.Recent studies have reported that Pyr may be beneficial in the treatment of various tumors.However,its mechanism of action is still not clearly defined.Here,we found that blocking mitophagy sensitized cells to Pyr-induced apoptosis.Mechanistically,Pyr potently induced the accumulation of autophagosomes by inhibiting autophagosome-lysosome fusion in human HCC cells.In vitro and in vivo studies revealed that Pyr blocked autophagosome-lysosome fusion by upregulating BNIP3 to inhibit synaptosomal-associated protein 29(SNAP29)-vesicle-associated membrane protein 8(VAMP8)interaction.Moreover,Pyr acted synergistically with sorafenib(Sora)to induce apoptosis and inhibit HCC proliferation in vitro and in vivo.Pyr enhances the sensitivity of HCC cells to Sora,a common chemotherapeutic,by inhibiting mitophagy.Thus,these results provide new insights into the mechanism of action of Pyr and imply that Pyr could potentially be further developed as a novel mitophagy inhibitor.Notably,Pyr and Sora combination therapy could be a promising treatment for malignant HCC.

OBJECTIVE To construct a risk prediction model for non-compliance with inhaled medication in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD）. METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on 365 COPD patients admitted to the cough and wheeze pharmaceutical care clinic of the First Hospital of Qinhuangdao from October 2021 to October 2023. The patients admitted from October 2021 to June 2023 were selected as the model group （n＝303）， and the patients admitted from July to October 2023 were selected as the validation group （n＝62）. The model group was divided into compliance subgroup （n＝126） and non-compliance subgroup （n＝177）. Univariate analysis combined with multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the risk factors for non-compliance with inhaled formulations in patients； the risk prediction model was established through regression analysis， and the accuracy of the model prediction was evaluated based on the validation group of patients. RESULTS Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that simultaneous use of 2 inhaled formulations （OR＝3.730， 95%CI 1.996-6.971， P＜0.001）， the number of acute exacerbations within one year ≥2 （OR＝2.509， 95%CI 1.509-4.173， P＜0.001）， smoking （OR＝2.167， 95%CI 1.309-3.588， P＝0.003）， complicated with anxiety/depression （OR＝2.112， 95%CI 1.257-3.499， P＝0.004） and mMRC grading≥2 levels （OR＝1.701， 95%CI 1.014-2.853， P＝0.044） were risk factors for non-compliance with inhaled preparations. Based on this， a risk prediction model was established and the ROC curve was drawn. The areas under the curve of the model group and validation group were 0.836 and 0.928， and the overall accuracy of the model’s prediction was 88.71%. CONCLUSIONS The predictive model based on the simultaneous use of 2 inhaled formulations， the number of acute exacerbations within one year ≥2， smoking， complicated with anxiety/depression， mMRC grading ≥2 levels has certain predictive value for the risk of non-compliance with inhaled formulations for COPD patients.

OBJECTIVE To construct a risk prediction model for non-compliance with inhaled medication in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD）. METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on 365 COPD patients admitted to the cough and wheeze pharmaceutical care clinic of the First Hospital of Qinhuangdao from October 2021 to October 2023. The patients admitted from October 2021 to June 2023 were selected as the model group （n＝303）， and the patients admitted from July to October 2023 were selected as the validation group （n＝62）. The model group was divided into compliance subgroup （n＝126） and non-compliance subgroup （n＝177）. Univariate analysis combined with multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the risk factors for non-compliance with inhaled formulations in patients； the risk prediction model was established through regression analysis， and the accuracy of the model prediction was evaluated based on the validation group of patients. RESULTS Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that simultaneous use of 2 inhaled formulations （OR＝3.730， 95%CI 1.996-6.971， P＜0.001）， the number of acute exacerbations within one year ≥2 （OR＝2.509， 95%CI 1.509-4.173， P＜0.001）， smoking （OR＝2.167， 95%CI 1.309-3.588， P＝0.003）， complicated with anxiety/depression （OR＝2.112， 95%CI 1.257-3.499， P＝0.004） and mMRC grading≥2 levels （OR＝1.701， 95%CI 1.014-2.853， P＝0.044） were risk factors for non-compliance with inhaled preparations. Based on this， a risk prediction model was established and the ROC curve was drawn. The areas under the curve of the model group and validation group were 0.836 and 0.928， and the overall accuracy of the model’s prediction was 88.71%. CONCLUSIONS The predictive model based on the simultaneous use of 2 inhaled formulations， the number of acute exacerbations within one year ≥2， smoking， complicated with anxiety/depression， mMRC grading ≥2 levels has certain predictive value for the risk of non-compliance with inhaled formulations for COPD patients.

ObjectiveTo understand the survival time and possible influencing factors of pneumoconiosis patients in Ninghai County， Zhejiang Province who were followed up from 2019 to 2023， and to provide references for prolonging the survival time of pneumoconiosis patients. MethodsInformation about pneumoconiosis patients was collected from the sub-module Occupational Disease Follow-Up Management and Follow-Up Excel database of the Occupational Disease and Health Hazards Monitoring Information System. Survival analysis was conducted through applying Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression models. ResultsOf the 366 pneumoconiosis patients， 99.73% were male， 71.04% had stage Ⅰ pneumoconiosis， and the disease type was mainly silicosis. The survival rates at 5， 10， and 20 years after diagnosis of pneumoconiosis were 97%， 88%， and 62%， respectively， with a cumulative survival rate of 42%. The median survival time of patients with pneumoconiosis was 32.11 years. Log-rank test found statistically significant differences in the survival curves among pneumoconiosis patients with different pneumoconiosis stages， age at first diagnosis， and pneumoconiosis complications. Cox regression analysis revealed that the risk of reduced survival time in patients with pneumoconiosis stage Ⅲ was 2.184 times higher than that of patients with stage Ⅰ （P=0.007）. In comparison with the age of first diagnosis at <50 years old group， the risk of reduced survival time was 3.457 and 7.097 times higher， respectively， in the groups of patients who received the diagnosis at 50‒ and ≥60 years （both P<0.001）. The risk of reduced survival time in pneumoconiosis patients with complications was 2.030 times higher than that of patients without complications （P=0.003）. ConclusionSurvival time of pneumoconiosis patients in Ninghai County is affected by the age at first diagnosis， pneumoconiosis stage and pneumoconiosis complications. The survival time can be significantly prolonged by timely detection and diagnosis， as well as active prevention and treatment of pneumoconiosis complications.

Animals ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Macaca mulatta ; COVID-19/prevention & control* ; Antibodies, Viral ; Vaccines

Background Pneumoconiosis is one of the most common and widespread prescribed occupational diseases in China, and there is no cure for it at present. The Healthy China 2030 underlines that the prevention and treatment of pneumoconiosis are the critical element of promoting occupational health. Objective To understand the basic characteristics, social security, and death causes of pneumoconiosis cases in Ninghai County, and to provide a basis for scientific prevention and treatment of pneumoconiosis. Methods Information on pneumoconiosis cases in Ninghai County from 1974 to 2019 was obtained by consulting occupational disease and occupational health information monitoring systems, occupational disease diagnosis institutions, and employers, which may retain original data on occupational pneumoconiosis diagnosis, as well as specialized epidemiological survey projects on pneumoconiosis. Telephone or face-to-face follow-up visits were conducted based on relevant information to complete or verify relevant information such as length of service with dust exposure, type, stage, and diagnosis date of pneumoconiosis. ANOVA, chi-square test, and rank-sum test were used to analyze age of diagnosis and age of death, entitlement to social security and mortality rate of cases/length of service. Results As of the end of 2019, a total of 420 cases of pneumoconiosis were diagnosed among workers exposed to dust in Ninghai County, with 409 cases (97.38%) followed up and 11 cases (2.62%) lost to follow-up. Since the first case of pneumoconiosis was reported in 1974, 39 cases, 278 cases, and 101 cases of pneumoconiosis were reported before 2000, from 2000 to 2009, and from 2010 to 2019, respectively. Two other cases of pneumoconiosis were diagnosed with an unknown year, one as a dead case and one as a lost case. There were 294 surviving pneumoconiosis cases, who mainly lived in Sangzhou Town. The mean age of diagnosis was (58.68±15.37) years old, and the median length of service with exposure to dust was 8.0 (4.0, 15.7) years. The age of diagnosing stage III pneumoconiosis was less than that of stage I and stage II, and the difference between the age of diagnosing stage III and stage II pneumoconiosis was significant (P <0.05). There were 231 cases (78.57%) aged ≥ 60 years, while there were 74 cases aged ≥ 80 years (25.17%). There were 160 cases (54.42%) whose length of service was < 10 years. There were 12.59% and 7.82% of the total cases compensated by work injury insurance and civil compensation by employers, respectively. From the perspective of diagnosis period, the proportion of patients who collected work-related injury insurance and civil compensation from employers in the 2010—2019 year group was higher than that in the <2000 year group or the 2000—2009 year group (P<0.01). There were 115 fatal pneumoconiosis cases, and the fatality rates of stage I, II , and III pneumoconiosis were 23.86%, 18.18%, and 50.75%, respectively. The fatality rate of stage III pneumoconiosis was higher than that of stage I or II (P <0.05). The age of diagnosis and age of death of stage III pneumoconiosis cases were lower than those of stage I and II (P <0.05). The cause of death was definite in 65 patients, including 25 cases (38.46%) of respiratory diseases (except lung cancer) and 28 cases (43.07%) of tumors, and lung cancer accounted for 1/2 of the pneumoconiosis cases that died due to tumors. Conclusion The surviving pneumoconiosis cases in Ninghai are mainly older than 60 years old and largely live in Sangzhou Town. Constructing local rehabilitation stations should be taken as an opportunity to actively prevent and treat pneumoconiosis complications, further improving the quality of life of pneumoconiosis patients.