Objective To analyze the trends in the disease burden of pertussis in China from 1990 to 2021, and to provide a basis for the development of effective prevention and control strategies. Methods Using the 2021 Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) database, the incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), as well as the age-standardized rates of pertussis in China from 1990 to 2021 were analyzed. Descriptive statistical methods were employed to analyze the characteristics of the pertussis disease burden, and the Joinpoint regression model was used to analyze the trends in pertussis disease burden. Results From 1990 to 2021, the incidence, mortality, and DALYs of pertussis in China decreased from 1 503 800 cases, 10 951 deaths, and 954 900 person-years to 65 400 cases, 548 deaths, and 46 500 person-years, representing a decrease of 95.65%, 95.00%, and 95.13%, respectively. The corresponding age-standardized rates also decreased by 93.58%, 92.47%, and 92.53%, respectively. The Joinpoint regression model revealed a significant downward trend in the age-standardized incidence, mortality, and DALYs rates for pertussis (AAPCs were -8.32%, -9.65%, and -9.58%, respectively, P<0.001). The disease burden was slightly higher in females than in males, with the majority of cases occurring in children under 10 years old, particularly in infants under 1 year old, where the burden was the heaviest. As age increased, the disease burden decreased. Conclusion Between 1990 and 2021, the overall disease burden of pertussis in China showed a significant downward trend, with gender and age differences. Special attention should be given on the prevention and control of pertussis in children under 10 years old, especially in infants under 1 year old.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy of "Biaoben acupoint compatibility" moxibustion for abdominal obesity and its effect on blood lipid, lipid accumulation product (LAP) and cardiometabolic index (CMI). METHODS: A total of 150 patients with abdominal obesity were randomly divided into an observation group (75 cases, 5 cases dropped out) and a control group (75 cases, 6 cases dropped out). The control group received lifestyle guidance. The observation group received "Biaoben acupoint compatibility" moxibustion at Zhongwan (CV12), Guanyuan (CV4) and bilateral Tianshu (ST25), Zusanli (ST36) on the basis of the control group, 20 min each time, once every other day, 3 times a week for 8 weeks. Before and after treatment, the waist circumference, hip circumference, weight, body mass index (BMI) were observed, the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured, and the LAP and CMI were calculated in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the waist circumference, weight and BMI were decreased compared with those before treatment in both groups (P<0.05), the changes of the above indexes in the observation group were larger than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the hip circumference, TC level, TG level, LAP and CMI in the observation group were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), the HDL-C level was increased compared with that before treatment (P<0.05)；the changes of the TC level, TG level, LAP, CMI and HDL-C level in the observation group were larger than those in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION "Biaoben acupoint compatibility" moxibustion can reduce the degree of obesity in patients with abdominal obesity, and improve blood lipid and reduce lipid accumulation.
Humans ; Acupuncture Points ; Moxibustion ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Obesity, Abdominal/blood* ; Adult ; Lipids/blood* ; Lipid Metabolism ; Triglycerides/blood* ; Young Adult ; Treatment Outcome ; Aged

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy and safety of moxibustion in treating patients with central obesity of phlegm-dampness constitution. METHODS: A total of 66 patients with central obesity of phlegm-dampness constitution were randomly assigned to a moxibustion group (n=33, 3 cases dropped out) and a sham moxibustion group (n=33, 4 cases dropped out). The moxibustion group received mild moxibustion combined with lifestyle intervention; the moxibustion was applied at Shenque (CV8) and bilateral Zusanli (ST36), 30 min per session, maintaining a local skin temperature of (43±1) ℃. The sham moxibustion group received simulated moxibustion combined with lifestyle intervention; the simulated moxibustion was applied at the same acupoints, with the same session length, but with a maintained skin temperature of (37±1) ℃. Both groups were treated once every other day, three times per week for 8 consecutive weeks. Obesity-related physical indicators (waist circumference, hip circumference, body weight, body fat percentage, body mass index [BMI]), constitution evaluation indicators (phlegm-dampness constitution conversion score, symptom score), the impact of weight on quality of life-lite (IWQOL-Lite), the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), and the incidence of adverse events were measured before and after treatment, and after 4 weeks of follow-up. RESULTS: Compared with before treatment, both groups showed significant reductions in waist circumference, hip circumference, body weight, body fat percentage, BMI, phlegm-dampness constitution conversion score and symptom score, IWQOL-Lite, and both anxiety and depression subscale scores of HADS after treatment and at follow-up (P<0.001). These improvements were significantly greater in the moxibustion group than those in the sham moxibustion group (P<0.001, P<0.01, P<0.05). One patient in the moxibustion group experienced a mild burn that resolved with routine care; the incidence of adverse reactions was 3.0% (1/33) in the moxibustion group and 0% (0/33) in the sham moxibustion group, with no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). CONCLUSION On the basis of lifestyle intervention, moxibustion effectively improves obesity-related physical indicators, enhances quality of life, alleviates anxiety and depression, and improves the phlegm-dampness constitution in patients with central obesity. These benefits persist for at least 4 weeks after treatment.
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Obesity, Abdominal/psychology* ; Acupuncture Points ; Treatment Outcome ; Aged ; Quality of Life ; Young Adult ; Body Mass Index

BACKGROUND:Establishing a nomogram prediction model for postoperative pulmonary infection in hip fractures and taking early intervention measures is crucial for improving patients'quality of life and reducing medical costs. OBJECTIVE:To construct a nomogram risk prediction model of postoperative pulmonary infection in elderly patients with hip fracture,and provide theoretical basis for feasible prevention and early intervention. METHODS:Case data of 305 elderly patients with hip fractures who underwent surgical treatment at Wuxi Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine between January and October 2020(training set)were retrospectively analyzed.Using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test,receiver operating characteristic curve was utilized to analyze the diagnostic predictive efficacy of independent risk factors and joint models for postoperative pulmonary infections.Tools glmnet,pROC,and rms in R Studio software were applied to construct a nomogram model for predicting the risk of postoperative pulmonary infection in elderly patients with hip fractures,and calibration curves were further drawn to verify the predictive ability of the nomogram model.Receiver operating characteristic curves,calibration curves,and decision curves were analyzed for 133 elderly patients with hip fractures(validation set)receiving surgery at the same hospital from November 2022 to March 2023 to further predict the predictive ability of the nomogram model. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The postoperative pulmonary infection rate in elderly patients with hip fractures in this group was 9.18%(28/305).(2)Single factor and multivariate analysis,as well as forest plots,showed that preoperative hospitalization days,leukocyte count,hypersensitive C-reactive protein,and serum sodium levels were independent risk factors(P<0.05).The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test showed good fit(χ2=4.57,P=0.803).Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was conducted on the independent risk factors and their joint models mentioned above,and the differentiation of each independent risk factor and joint model was good,with statistical significance(P<0.05).(3)The graphical calibration method,C-index,and decision curve were used to validate the nomogram prediction model.The predicted calibration curve was located between the standard curve and the acceptable line,and the predicted risk of the nomogram model was consistent with the actual risk.(4)The validation set used receiver operating characteristic curve,graphic calibration method,and decision curve to validate the prediction model.The results showed good consistency with clinical practice,indicating that the model had a good fit.The nomogram risk prediction model constructed for postoperative pulmonary infection in elderly patients with hip fractures has good predictive performance.The use of the nomogram risk prediction model can screen high-risk populations and provide a theoretical basis for early intervention.

Objective To explore the role and mechanism of RNA demethylase fat mass and obesity-associated protein(FTO)in the ferroptosis in testicular interstitial cells induced by di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate(DEHP).Methods Forty 3-week-old C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into a control group(corn oil)and 3 dosed DEHP treatment groups(5,250 and 500 mg/kg),and received an intragastric infusion of corresponding agents for 35 d,respectively.After mouse testicular interstitial TM3 cells was treated with 0,100,200 and 400 μmol/L mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate(MEHP)for 24 h,corresponding plasmids were transfected to construct Fto overexpressing TM3 cells.Serum testosterone level was detected by ELISA,expression of testicular proteins was detected with immunohistochemical assay,and contents of Fe2+,malondialdehyde(MDA)and lipid peroxides in the testicle were detected by colorimetry.Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation,RT-PCR,and Western blotting were used to detect the level of N6-methyladenosine(m6A)modification.Results In the mice exposed to 250 and 500 mg/kg DEHP,the serum testosterone level was significantly reduced(P＜0.01),contents of Fe2+,MAD and lipid peroxides in testicular tissue were obviously increased(P＜0.01),and protein levels of RNA demethylase FTO,and ferroptosis related molecules ferritin heavy chain 1(FTH1)and glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4)were significantly down-regulated(P＜0.05),while those of transferrin receptor(TFRC),ferroportin(FPN),cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2),and acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4(ACSL4)were notably up-regulated(P＜0.05).MEHP treatment for 24 h resulted in remarkably decreased cell viability in the TM3 cells,increased production of intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS),reduced mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP)(P＜0.01),down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of Fto(P＜0.01),and the changes in other ferroptosis related proteins were consistent with the trend in testicular tissue,indicating ferroptosis in testicular interstitial cells.Intervention with ferroptosis inhibitor Fer-1 or overexpression of Fto significantly inhibited MEHP-induced toxicity and ferroptosis in TM3 cells(P＜0.05),and overexpression of Fto reduced the m6A modification of Gpx4 and Fth1 mRNA(P＜0.05).Conclusion Abnormal m6A modification of Gpx4 and Fth1 caused by inhibiting FTO expression may be the mechanism of ferroptosis in testicular interstitial cells induced by DEHP.

Objective:To identify the relationship between the CT arterial radiomics score and the treatment response to neoadjuvant therapy for pancreatic cancer.Methods:The clinical data of 243 pancreatic cancer patients who received surgical resection after neo-adjuvant therapy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University from March 2017 to March 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Based on the tumor regression grade (TRG), the patients were divided into good response group (TRG 0-1, n=30) and non-good response group (TRG 2-3, n=213). The clinical, radiological and pathological features were compared between two groups. Fully-automated segmentation tool was used for segmenting the arterial CT scan of pancreatic tumor before and after treatment. Python package was applied to extract the radiomics features of tumors after segmentation and the extracted features were reduced and chosen using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) logistic regression algorithm. Lasso logistic regression formula was applied to calculate the arterial radiomics score. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between arterial radiomics score and treatment response to neoadjucant therapy. Receiver operating-characteristics (ROC) curve was drawn and area under curve (AUC), specificity, sensitivity and accuracy for evaluating the treatment response were calculated. The clinical usefulness of arterial radiomics score for diagnosing the response of neoadjuvant treatment for pancreatic cancer were determined by decision curve analysis (DCA) . Results:A total of 330 arterial radiomics CT features were obtained, and 9-selected arterial phase features associated with treatment response were determined after being reduced by the Lasso logistic regression algorithm. Univariate analysis showed that the arterial radiomics score, three-dimensional diameter after neoadjuvant therapy, pancreatic contour, T stage, N stage, Peri-pancreatic nerve invasion, lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI) and invasion of duodenum were all associated with treatment response (all P value <0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analyses confirmed that arterial radiomics score was obviously associated with the neoadjuvant treatment response ( P<0.001). At the cut-off value of 1.93, AUC of the arterial radiomics score for diagnosing neoadjuvant treatment response was 0.92, and the specificity, sensitivity and accuracy was 86.7%, 84.5% and 84.8%. DCA demonstrated that when the percentage for predicting the treatment response by using the arterial radiomics score was >0.2, the patients could benefit from the application of arterial radiomics score for evaluating neoadjuvant therapy response. Conclusions:The arterial radiomics score was strongly correlated with the neoadjuvant treatment response of pancreatic cancer, and can accurately predict neoadjuant treatment efficacy.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) reportedly function as important modulators of gene regulation and malignant processes in the development of human cancers. The lncRNA JPX is a novel molecular switch for X chromosome inactivation and differentially expressed JPX has exhibited certain clinical correlations in several cancers. Notably, JPX participates in cancer growth, metastasis, and chemoresistance, by acting as a competing endogenous RNA for microRNA, interacting with proteins, and regulating some specific signaling pathways. Moreover, JPX may serve as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of cancer. The present article summarizes our current understanding of the structure, expression, and function of JPX in malignant cancer processes and discusses its molecular mechanisms and potential applications in cancer biology and medicine.
Humans ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics* ; Neoplasms/genetics* ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Gene Expression Regulation ; X Chromosome Inactivation

Objective:To analyze the risk factors of postoperative bleeding after CT-guided percutaneous fly biopsy, and to construct a nomogram model for predicting postoperative bleeding.Methods:A total of 328 patients with CT-guided percutaneous fly biopsy who were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University School of Medicine from June 2019 to March 2021 were selected, and the general clinical data of the patients were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into observation group and control group according to postoperative bleeding. Statistical analysis was performed on clinical data of patients with statistical significance, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis on continuous variables with statistical significance, and Logistic multiple regression analysis on all variables with statistical significance. The risk factors of bleeding complications in CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy were obtained, and a Nomogram model for predicting bleeding after percutaneous lung biopsy was constructed using the R language software 4.0 "rms" package.Results:The results of the study showed that the size of the mass , the depth of the mass, the number of punctures, the number of cases with inflammation around the lesion , and the number of cases with chronic lung lesions in the observation group were greater than those in the control group: (5.20 ± 1.20) cm vs. (4.30 ± 0.90) cm, (4.30 ± 0.60) cm vs. (2.90 ± 0.30) cm, (2.70 ± 0.60) times vs. (2.30 ± 0.50) times, 38(14, 70) cases vs. 17(24, 60) cases, 102(39, 40) cases vs. 41(59, 40) cases; while the number of normal preoperative prothrombin time (PT) in the observation group was less than that in the control group: 4(5, 80) cases vs. 151(58, 30) cases ( P<0.05). ROC curve analysis was performed on the continuous variables with statistical significance in the control table of patients′general clinical data. The results showed that the area under the curve for swelling size, swelling depth, number of punctures, and number of tissue blocks cut were 0.563, 0.714, 0.680, and 0.559, respectively; the optimal cut-off values were 53.00 cm, 5.56 cm, 2.00 times, and 1.00 blocks ( P<0.05). The univariate indicators were included in the Logistic multiple regression model, and the results showed that tumor depth, puncture times, inflammation around the lesion, and abnormal preoperative PT were the risk factors for complications of percutaneous lung biopsy under CT ( P<0.05). The internal validation results showed that the Nomogram model predicted the risk of bleeding complicated by percutaneous lung biopsy under CT, with a C index of 0.687 (95% CI 0.241 - 1.988). The calibration curve showed good agreement between the observed and predicted values. The Nomogram model predicted percutaneous lung biopsy under CT with a bleeding risk threshold of >0.16, and the Nomogram model provided a clinical net benefit; in addition, the Nomogram model had a higher clinical net benefit than independent indicators. Conclusions:In conclusion, patients with poor coagulation function, inflammation around tumor lesions, deeper lesions, and more puncture times are more prone to bleeding. The Nomogram model constructed in this study has a high clinical application value for predicting the bleeding complications of CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy.

Oral bacteria directly affect the disease status of dental caries and periodontal diseases. The dynamic oral microbiota cooperates with the host to reflect the information and status of immunity and metabolism through two-way communication along the oral cavity and the systemic organs. The oral cavity is one of the most important interaction windows between the human body and the environment. The microenvironment at different sites in the oral cavity has different microbial compositions and is regulated by complex signaling, hosts, and external environmental factors. These processes may affect or reflect human health because certain health states seem to be related to the composition of oral bacteria, and the destruction of the microbial community is related to systemic diseases. In this review, we discussed emerging and exciting evidence of complex and important connections between the oral microbes and multiple human systemic diseases, and the possible contribution of the oral microorganisms to systemic diseases. This review aims to enhance the interest to oral microbes on the whole human body, and also improve clinician's understanding of the role of oral microbes in systemic diseases. Microbial research in dentistry potentially enhances our knowledge of the pathogenic mechanisms of oral diseases, and at the same time, continuous advances in this frontier field may lead to a tangible impact on human health.
Bacteria ; Dental Caries/microbiology* ; Humans ; Microbiota ; Mouth/microbiology* ; Mouth Diseases/microbiology* ; Periodontal Diseases/microbiology*

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of advanced practice nurse–guided home-based rehabilitation exercise program (HREPro) among patients with lower limb spasticity post-stroke. Methods: This randomized controlled study recruited 121 patients with lower limb spasticity post-stroke. Intervention (n = 59) and control (n = 62) groups underwent 12-month HREPro and conventional rehabilitation, respectively, after discharge. The Fugl–Meyer assessment of spasticity measurement, modified Ashworth scale of motor function, 10-Meter Walk Test of walking ability, and Barthel index of activities of daily living (ADL) were evaluated at 0, 3, 6, and 12 months after discharge. Results: Significant differences were found in spasticity degree, motor function, walking ability, and ADL at 6 and 12 months after discharge between the control and intervention groups. Lower limb spasticity and ADL in the intervention group were significantly improved. Conclusion HREPro is effective for rehabilitation of patients with lower limb spasticity post-stroke and has favorable home application.