Objective: To develop a RHCE genotyping assay based on kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) and assess its clinical accuracy for RhCE blood group determination. Methods: KASP primers were designed to interrogate three RHCE loci: the 109 bp insertion/deletion in intron 2, c. 307T>C, and c. 676C>G. A total of 1 194 RhD-positive inpatients from Chengdu were typed by both KASP genotyping and manual tube serology. Discordant samples (n=10) were retested by both methods and further resolved by Sanger sequencing. An additional 377 cases were tested for the c. 48C>G locus to evaluate the predictive accuracy of individual loci and combined locus testing for RhC antigen. Results: Genotyping concordance with serology was 100.0% for both the c. 676C>G locus (RhE/Rhe) and the c. 307T>C locus (Rhc). For RhC prediction using the 109 bp insertion, overall accuracy was 99.7% (1 191/1 194); the 3 discordant cases were confirmed by Sanger sequencing to be false negatives attributable to 109 bp deletion in intron 2. Testing the c. 48C>G allele for RhC prediction yielded 7 false positives, with an accuracy of 98.1% (370/377). RhC antigen status was determined by combining the 109 bp insertion and the c. 48C allele. After excluding 10 samples with inconsistent results between the two loci, the accuracy reached 100% in the remaining 367 samples. When both loci were applied in combination, accuracy reached 100% in the 367 cases with concordant results. Among the 1 194 patients, CCee (45.8%) and CcEe (31.7%) were the most common RhCE phenotypes. The e antigen had the highest positivity rate (92.2%), and the Ce haplotype was the most frequent (66.9%). Conclusion: The KASP-based RHCE genotyping method achieves high accuracy for clinical RhCE typing. Combining the 109 bp insertion/deletion with the c. 48C allele significantly improves RhC antigen prediction compared with either locus alone. This method was applied to RhCE genotyping of 1 194 RhD-positive inpatients in Chengdu, providing local RhCE phenotype and haplotype distribution data to support RhCE-matched transfusion practice.

Objective: To evaluate the risk of donation-related adverse reactions, donation behavior, and contributions to the blood supply among donors aged 56-65 years following extension of the upper age limit for voluntary blood donation, and to provide real-world evidence for optimizing blood donation age policies in China. Methods: A multicenter retrospective cohort was established using blood donation databases from Hainan, Shenzhen, and Jiangxi. A total of 1 180 767 donors contributing 2 020 407 whole-blood and apheresis donations were included. Donations were classified by donor age at each donation into the 18-55-year and 56-65-year groups. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were used to compare the risks of overall, local, and systemic donation-related adverse reactions between the two age groups. Restricted cubic spline analysis was used to assess the continuous association between donor age and the risk of overall adverse reactions. Poisson GEE models were used to compare annual donation frequency, and donation participation and contributions to the blood supply among donors aged 56-65 years were evaluated. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (No.2025012) and registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2500114960). Results: A total of 1 960 711 donations were included in the 18-55-year group and 59 696 in the 56-65-year group. The overall donation-related adverse reaction rates were 3.890‰and 0.704‰, respectively. Multivariable GEE analysis showed that, compared with donors aged 18-55 years, those aged 56-65 years had lower risks of overall adverse reactions (adjusted OR=0.294, 95%CI: 0.217-0.398, P<0.001) and systemic adverse reactions (adjusted OR=0.163, 95%CI: 0.101-0.263, P<0.001), whereas no statistically significant difference was observed in the risk of local adverse reactions (adjusted OR=1.337, 95%CI: 0.487-3.670, P=0.573). Donor age was nonlinearly associated with the risk of overall adverse reactions (P overall<0.001, P nonlinear<0.001), with the risk generally decreasing with increasing age between 18 and 65 years. The mean annual donation frequency was higher among donors aged 56-65 years than among those aged 18-55 years (1.63 vs 1.24 donations per year; adjusted IRR=1.34, 95%CI: 1.30-1.39, P<0.001). During the study period, donors aged 56-65 years contributed 2.95% of all donations; their whole-blood donations and whole-blood collection volume accounted for 2.36% and 2.37% of the corresponding totals, respectively. Conclusion: Under current health screening and standardized donor management, donors aged 56-65 years did not show an increased risk of short-term donation-related adverse reactions and demonstrated a higher annual donation frequency, together with a measurable contribution to the blood supply. These findings support appropriately extending the upper age limit for voluntary blood donation under strict health screening to broaden the donor pool and supplement the blood supply.

Objective: Some regions in China have lowered the minimum interval for whole blood donation to 3 months through local regulations: Hainan, effective from March 1, 2012, allows men to donate at intervals of≥3 months and women at intervals of≥4 months; Shenzhen, effective from November 1, 1995, allows whole blood donation at intervals of≥3 months. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of shortening the whole blood donation interval on blood donation adverse reactions and donation behavior, thereby providing scientific evidence for policy evaluation and revision of relevant regulations. Methods: This was a multicenter, retrospective cohort study based on blood donation registry data from Shenzhen and Hainan. Data were obtained from the blood information management systems of Hainan Province (1991-2025) and Shenzhen City (2018-2024). Eligible participants were donors aged 18-65 years who had donated whole blood at least twice and met health eligibility criteria. The exposure was defined as a shorter donation interval (whole-blood interval≥3 months and<6 months) and was treated as a time-varying variable. The primary outcome was blood donation adverse reactions. Negative binomial regression with person-years as an offset was used to estimate incidence rate ratios for adverse reactions. Marginal standardization was used to estimate the adjusted incidence rate difference, and donor-level bootstrap resampling was used to estimate the 95% confidence interval of the adjusted incidence rate difference. Non-inferiority was assessed by comparing the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval with the prespecified non-inferiority margin of Δ=0.00 070 per person-year. In addition, Andersen-Gill models were used to analyze adverse reaction-free probability for recurrent events. Secondary outcomes were donation behavior, including annual repeat donation rate, annual donation frequency, mean donation interval, and annual whole-blood donation volume. These were analyzed using logistic regression, negative binomial regression, and linear regression models, respectively, with adjustment for age, sex, region, and donation site. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (Approval No.2025011) and registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2500114968). Results: A total of 375 075 repeat whole-blood donors were included, contributing 1 292 748 whole-blood donations. Among them, 119 993 had ever donated at a shorter interval and 255 082 had never done so. Over 1 281 842 person-years of follow-up in the dynamic cohort, 2 100 blood donation adverse reactions were recorded. The incidence rates of adverse reactions were 1.76 and 1.58 per 1 000 person-years in the ever-short interval and never-short interval groups, respectively. After adjustment for age, sex, province, and donation site, the ever-short interval group had a slightly higher adverse reaction rate than the never-short interval group (IRR=1.28, 95%CI: 1.15-1.41, P<0.001). Marginal standardization showed that the adjusted incidence rates were 1.73 and 2.21 per 1 000 person-years in the never-short interval and ever-short interval groups, respectively. The adjusted incidence rate difference was 0.000 48 per person-year, with a bootstrap 95%CI of 0.000 26-0.000 69 per person-year; the upper limit of the 95%CI was below the prespecified non-inferiority margin. Andersen-Gill recurrent-event analysis showed that the ever-short interval group had a higher probability of remaining adverse reaction-free. Analysis of donation behavior showed that among donors followed for at least 365 days, the ever-short interval group had a higher annual repeat donation rate than the never-short interval group (74.2% vs 18.3%; adjusted OR=12.5, 95%CI: 12.3-12.7, P<0.001). They also had a higher annual whole-blood donation rate (adjusted RR=1.98, 95%CI: 1.97-1.98, P<0.001), a shorter mean whole-blood donation interval (β=-239 days, 95%CI: -242 to -237 days, P<0.001), and a higher annual whole-blood donation volume (adjusted RR=2.14, 95%CI: 2.13-2.15, P<0.001). Conclusion: Based on real-world data from repeat whole-blood donors in Shenzhen and Hainan, lowering the minimum whole blood donation interval to 3 months did not show an absolute increase in blood donation adverse reactions exceeding the prespecified margin within the scope of this outcome. Shorter whole-blood donation interval behavior was also associated with greater repeat-donation activity, higher annual donation frequency, and higher annual whole-blood donation volume. Given the observational nature of this study and the lack of long-term donor health indicators such as iron status and longitudinal hemoglobin changes, the long-term safety of setting the minimum whole blood donation interval at 3 months requires further evaluation.

BACKGROUND:During the treatment of posterolateral tibial plateau fractures through the fibular head approach,the gap between the fibular head and the lateral plateau cannot accommodate the posterior placement of a plate for all patients.OBJECTIVE:To analyze,via finite element analysis,the differences in fixation strength resulting from varying the angles and quantities of horizontal arm variable angle screws in the plate during the treatment of posterolateral tibial plateau fractures through the fibular head approach.METHODS:A finite element model was established based on CT images of the knee to ankle joints of a 30-year-old healthy adult male volunteer.The models were divided into two categories:posteriorly placed group and non-posteriorly placed group based on whether the lateral locking compression plate was posteriorly placed.The posteriorly placed group was further subdivided into groups A-D based on the offset angle of the two variable angle screws(0°,5°,10°,and 15°).The non-posteriorly placed group was subdivided into groups E and F based on offset angles(0° and 15°).Finite element analysis was used to evaluate the von Mises stress distribution,maximum von Mises stress,and compressive displacement under loads of 250,500,and 750 N,exploring the mechanical differences between the groups.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Finite element analysis results showed that under a 750 N load,the maximum compressive displacement trend of the internal fixation device was D＜B=C=F＜A＜E.The trend for maximum von Mises stress was B＜C＜A＜D＜F＜E.The trend for maximum compressive displacement on the bone was C=D＜B＜A＜F＜E,and for maximum von Mises stress,it was B＜C＜A＜F＜D＜E.The displacement and stress trends for the six models were similar under loads ranging from 250 N to 750 N.(2)These results suggest that for posterolateral tibial plateau fractures fixed through the fibular head approach,posterior placement of the plate should aim to accommodate two screws.If only one screw can be fixed during surgery,variable angle screws should be offset in the range of 0-15° to increase the probability of securing two screws.

BACKGROUND:During the treatment of posterolateral tibial plateau fractures through the fibular head approach,the gap between the fibular head and the lateral plateau cannot accommodate the posterior placement of a plate for all patients.OBJECTIVE:To analyze,via finite element analysis,the differences in fixation strength resulting from varying the angles and quantities of horizontal arm variable angle screws in the plate during the treatment of posterolateral tibial plateau fractures through the fibular head approach.METHODS:A finite element model was established based on CT images of the knee to ankle joints of a 30-year-old healthy adult male volunteer.The models were divided into two categories:posteriorly placed group and non-posteriorly placed group based on whether the lateral locking compression plate was posteriorly placed.The posteriorly placed group was further subdivided into groups A-D based on the offset angle of the two variable angle screws(0°,5°,10°,and 15°).The non-posteriorly placed group was subdivided into groups E and F based on offset angles(0° and 15°).Finite element analysis was used to evaluate the von Mises stress distribution,maximum von Mises stress,and compressive displacement under loads of 250,500,and 750 N,exploring the mechanical differences between the groups.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Finite element analysis results showed that under a 750 N load,the maximum compressive displacement trend of the internal fixation device was D＜B=C=F＜A＜E.The trend for maximum von Mises stress was B＜C＜A＜D＜F＜E.The trend for maximum compressive displacement on the bone was C=D＜B＜A＜F＜E,and for maximum von Mises stress,it was B＜C＜A＜F＜D＜E.The displacement and stress trends for the six models were similar under loads ranging from 250 N to 750 N.(2)These results suggest that for posterolateral tibial plateau fractures fixed through the fibular head approach,posterior placement of the plate should aim to accommodate two screws.If only one screw can be fixed during surgery,variable angle screws should be offset in the range of 0-15° to increase the probability of securing two screws.

Objective:To investigate the association between different types of lung nodules and the risk of lung cancer in a population at high risk of lung cancer and to provide an epidemiologic basis for the comprehensive management of lung nodules.Methods:Using the free lung cancer screening program of low-dose CT (LDCT) in Wenling, Zhejiang Province, we collected baseline and imaging information of high-risk groups for lung cancer who underwent LDCT screening from April 2019 to October 2021 and patients with previous history of lung cancer, tuberculosis, pneumoconiosis, and silicosis were excluded. A total of 28 539 study subjects were included in the analysis, and the follow-up ended on 31 December 2023. Based on the characteristics of the detected pulmonary nodules, the study subjects were classified with no nodules, with solid nodules, with pure ground glass nodules, and with part solid nodules groups. The association between different characteristics of lung nodules and the risk of lung cancer development was analyzed using the Cox proportional hazard regression model with a new diagnosis of lung cancer during the follow-up period as the outcome.Results:The overall detection rate of lung nodules with a mean diameter of ≥3 mm was 76.5%, of which 53.7%, 18.2%, and 4.6% were detected in the solid nodule, pure ground glass nodule, and partially solid nodule groups, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between the different nodule groups in terms of age, gender, BMI, history of toxic exposure education level, smoking status, history of lung disease, and family history of lung cancer (all P<0.05). The median follow-up time of the study population was 3.4 years, and 485 new lung cancer cases were diagnosed during the follow-up period. After adjusting for covariates, the results of multifactorial Cox proportional hazard regression model analysis showed that the risk of lung cancer was higher in pure ground glass nodules and part solid nodules compared with solid nodules, with HR values (95% CI) of 1.89 (1.52-2.35) and 6.49 (5.18-8.14), respectively. The results of subgroup analysis showed that patients in the group of part solid nodules had the highest risk of lung cancer in all strata of the population, followed by patients with pure ground glass nodules. Patients in the solid nodule group who were older or had previous lung disease had a higher risk of lung cancer, and the risk of lung cancer in the part solid nodule group differed between genders. Conclusions:The proportion of lung nodules detected is high in the high-risk group of lung cancer, and among them, patients with pure ground glass and part solid nodules have a higher risk of developing lung cancer. Attention should be paid to the annual follow-up management for patients with solid nodules who are older or who have had lung diseases, as well as for female patients with part solid nodules.

Objective:To investigate the association between different types of lung nodules and the risk of lung cancer in a population at high risk of lung cancer and to provide an epidemiologic basis for the comprehensive management of lung nodules.Methods:Using the free lung cancer screening program of low-dose CT (LDCT) in Wenling, Zhejiang Province, we collected baseline and imaging information of high-risk groups for lung cancer who underwent LDCT screening from April 2019 to October 2021 and patients with previous history of lung cancer, tuberculosis, pneumoconiosis, and silicosis were excluded. A total of 28 539 study subjects were included in the analysis, and the follow-up ended on 31 December 2023. Based on the characteristics of the detected pulmonary nodules, the study subjects were classified with no nodules, with solid nodules, with pure ground glass nodules, and with part solid nodules groups. The association between different characteristics of lung nodules and the risk of lung cancer development was analyzed using the Cox proportional hazard regression model with a new diagnosis of lung cancer during the follow-up period as the outcome.Results:The overall detection rate of lung nodules with a mean diameter of ≥3 mm was 76.5%, of which 53.7%, 18.2%, and 4.6% were detected in the solid nodule, pure ground glass nodule, and partially solid nodule groups, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between the different nodule groups in terms of age, gender, BMI, history of toxic exposure education level, smoking status, history of lung disease, and family history of lung cancer (all P<0.05). The median follow-up time of the study population was 3.4 years, and 485 new lung cancer cases were diagnosed during the follow-up period. After adjusting for covariates, the results of multifactorial Cox proportional hazard regression model analysis showed that the risk of lung cancer was higher in pure ground glass nodules and part solid nodules compared with solid nodules, with HR values (95% CI) of 1.89 (1.52-2.35) and 6.49 (5.18-8.14), respectively. The results of subgroup analysis showed that patients in the group of part solid nodules had the highest risk of lung cancer in all strata of the population, followed by patients with pure ground glass nodules. Patients in the solid nodule group who were older or had previous lung disease had a higher risk of lung cancer, and the risk of lung cancer in the part solid nodule group differed between genders. Conclusions:The proportion of lung nodules detected is high in the high-risk group of lung cancer, and among them, patients with pure ground glass and part solid nodules have a higher risk of developing lung cancer. Attention should be paid to the annual follow-up management for patients with solid nodules who are older or who have had lung diseases, as well as for female patients with part solid nodules.

Objective:To investigate the role and mechanism of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell exosomes (hUCMSC-ex) in wounds with escharectomy and skin grafting in scalded rats.Methods:The study was an experimental study. Twelve male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats aged 6-8 weeks were divided into combined treatment group, fixed+allogeneic skin group, autologous skin+allogeneic skin group, and allogeneic skin group by random number table method (the same grouping method hereinafter), with 3 rats in each group. The four groups of rats were inflicted with scalded wounds on the back and performed with escharectomy, and then the wounds of rats in combined treatment group were fixed with a metal ring (the same fixing method hereinafter) and transplanted with autologous skin grafts and allogeneic skin grafts, and the other three groups of rats were fixed and/or transplanted with skin grafts corresponding to the group name. At 14, 21, and 28 d after surgery, the wound healing area in the four groups of rats was measured. Another 15 male SD rats aged 6-8 weeks were divided into normal group with no treatment, high exosome group, low exosome group, supernatant group, and phosphate buffer solution (PBS) group, with 3 rats in each group. The last 4 groups of rats were treated as that in the above-mentioned combined treatment group, and then were injected around the wounds with 200 μL of PBS containing 100 μg of hUCMSC-ex, 200 μL of PBS containing 50 μg of hUCMSC-ex, 200 μL of supernatant with no hUCMSC-ex, and 200 μL of PBS at 0 (immediately), 7, 14, and 21 d after surgery, respectively. At 14, 21, and 28 d after surgery, the wound healing area in the four groups of rats was measured. The wound neo-epithelial tissue of rats in high exosome group and PBS group at 28 d after surgery and the normal skin tissue of rats in normal group at the same time point were taken, and the differentially expressed proteins were screened by label-free quantitative proteomics method; the two up-regulated and differentially expressed proteins, the immunoglobulin G1 heavy chain constant region (IGHG1) and cystatin A (CSTA) with the largest and second largest fold changes in comparison between high exosome group and PBS group were selected, and their protein expressions were detected by Western blotting. The number of samples in all experiments was 3.Results:At 14, 21, and 28 d after surgery, the wound healing area in combined treatment group, autologous skin+allogeneic skin group, and allogeneic skin group of rats was significantly larger than that in fixed+allogeneic skin group ( P<0.05), the wound healing area in autologous skin+allogeneic skin group of rats at 21 d after surgery and that in allogeneic skin group of rats at 14 and 21 d after surgery was significantly larger than that in combined treatment group ( P<0.05), and the wound healing area in allogeneic skin group of rats at 14 d after surgery was significantly larger than that in autologous skin+allogeneic skin group ( P<0.05). The wound healing area of rats in high exosome group and low exosome group at 14, 21, and 28 d after surgery and in supernatant group at 14 and 28 d after surgery was significantly larger than that in PBS group ( P<0.05); the wound healing area in high exosome group of rats at 14 and 21 d after surgery was significantly larger than that in supernatant group ( P<0.05), and the wound healing area at 14 d after surgery was significantly larger than that in low exosome group ( P<0.05); the wound healing area in low exosome group of rats at 14 d after surgery was significantly larger than that in supernatant group ( P<0.05). Compared with that in PBS group, 332 proteins were differentially expressed in the neo-epithelial tissue of the wounds in high exosome group of rats at 28 d after surgery ( P<0.05), among which the protein expressions of IGHG1 and CSTA were significantly up-regulated (with fold change of 12.60 and 2.27, respectively, P<0.05). Compared with those of normal skin tissue in normal group, 1 400 and 1 057 proteins were differentially expressed in the neo-epithelial tissue of the wounds in high exosome group and PBS group of rats at 28 d after surgery, respectively. The protein expressions of IGHG1 and CSTA in the wound neo-epithelial tissue in high exosome group of rats at 28 d after surgery were significantly larger than those in normal skin tissue of rats in normal group ( P<0.05) and those in PBS group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:hUCMSC-ex may accelerate the repair process of wounds with escharectomy and skin grafting and improve the quality of wound healing in scalded rats by regulating the protein expressions of IGHG1 and CSTA.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between fat-to-muscle mass ration(FMR) and cognitive impairment in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to further explore the gender difference.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted on 768 elderly type 2 diabetes mellitus patients(≥60 years old) who were hospitalized in the Endocrinology Ward of Tianjin Union Medical Center from July 2018 to May 2022. The body composition was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis(BIA), and the cognitive function was assessed using mini mental state examination(MMSE) and Montreal cognitive assessment(MoCA). According to the cognitive scale screening, type 2 diabetes mellitus patients were divided into normal cognitive function group and cognitive impairment group with stratified analysis by gender. New FMR indicators were developed based on BIA measurements, including fat mass(FM)/ appendicular skeletal muscle mass(ASM), FM/ skeletal muscle mass(SMM), and FM/ fat free mass(FFM). Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between FMRs and cognitive impairment risk, stratified by gender.Results:FMR indicators were not associated with cognitive impairment in females. In males, after adjusting for multiple factors, higher FMR values were significantly associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment(FM/FFM: OR=1.722, 95% CI 1.230-2.409, P=0.002; FM/SMM: OR=1.337, 95% CI 1.118-1.599, P=0.001; FM/ASM: OR=1.240, 95% CI 1.077-1.427, P=0.003) and was independent of body mass index. For FM/FFM, every 0.1-unit increase raised the risk of cognitive impairment by 77.2%. FMR had a stronger association with cognitive impairment in the normal-weight group(body mass index<25 kg/m 2) than in the overweight/obese group(body mass index≥25 kg/m 2). The prevalence of cognitive impairment increased progressively with higher FMR . Conclusion:In men over 60 years with type 2 diabetes mellitus, FMR may be an independent risk factor for cognitive function.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between fat-to-muscle mass ration(FMR) and cognitive impairment in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to further explore the gender difference.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted on 768 elderly type 2 diabetes mellitus patients(≥60 years old) who were hospitalized in the Endocrinology Ward of Tianjin Union Medical Center from July 2018 to May 2022. The body composition was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis(BIA), and the cognitive function was assessed using mini mental state examination(MMSE) and Montreal cognitive assessment(MoCA). According to the cognitive scale screening, type 2 diabetes mellitus patients were divided into normal cognitive function group and cognitive impairment group with stratified analysis by gender. New FMR indicators were developed based on BIA measurements, including fat mass(FM)/ appendicular skeletal muscle mass(ASM), FM/ skeletal muscle mass(SMM), and FM/ fat free mass(FFM). Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between FMRs and cognitive impairment risk, stratified by gender.Results:FMR indicators were not associated with cognitive impairment in females. In males, after adjusting for multiple factors, higher FMR values were significantly associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment(FM/FFM: OR=1.722, 95% CI 1.230-2.409, P=0.002; FM/SMM: OR=1.337, 95% CI 1.118-1.599, P=0.001; FM/ASM: OR=1.240, 95% CI 1.077-1.427, P=0.003) and was independent of body mass index. For FM/FFM, every 0.1-unit increase raised the risk of cognitive impairment by 77.2%. FMR had a stronger association with cognitive impairment in the normal-weight group(body mass index<25 kg/m 2) than in the overweight/obese group(body mass index≥25 kg/m 2). The prevalence of cognitive impairment increased progressively with higher FMR . Conclusion:In men over 60 years with type 2 diabetes mellitus, FMR may be an independent risk factor for cognitive function.