OBJECTIVE To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of infections in hemodialysis patients so as to provide bases for prevention and control of the infections in the hemodialysis patients.METHODS The patients who underwent maintenance hemodialysis in blood purification rooms of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in the first two working days each month from 2018 to 2022 were recruited as the research subjects.The incidence of hemodialysis-related events among the hemodialysis patients,including intravenous use of antibiotics,positive blood culture,exacerbation of pus,redness or swellings emerging at vascular access sites,were prospectively investigated.RESULTS A total of 386 case-times of hemodialysis-related events were moni-tored in 2018-2022,including 20 case-times of bloodstream infections,354 case-times of intravenous use of antibi-otics and 12 case-times of exacerbation of pus,redness or swellings emerging at vascular access sites.The inci-dence of hemodialysis-induced events was 4.19 per 100 patients each month,the average incidence rate of blood-stream infections was 0.22 per 100 patients each month.The patients with tunneled central venous catheter were 40.69 times the risk of bloodstream infections as the patients with intestinal fistula(95％CI:9.725～361.703,P＜0.001).The incidence of bloodstream infections was decreased by 53.85％among the hemodialysis patients in 2022 as compared with that in 2018.Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant species of pathogens causing the bloodstream infections.CONCLUSIONS The hemodialysis patients are the population at high risk of infections.The incidence of bloodstream infections and other infections is higher among the patients with tunneled central venous catheters than among the patients with other types of vascular accesses.The monitoring of hemodi-alysis-related infection events may reduce the incidence of bloodstream infections.

Background and purpose:Plasmacytoid dendritic cells are one of the key immune cells in the tumor microenvironment(TME),which can directly or indirectly regulate tumor related immune responses and play multiple roles in the development and metastasis of tumors.This study aimed to investigate the correlation between plasmacytoid dendritic cells in lymph nodes and lymph node metastasis in patients with advanced gastric cancer.Methods:Postoperative lymph node tissue specimens and clinicopathological data from advanced gastric cancer patients who underwent D2 radical surgery in the Department of General Surgery at the First Hospital of Dandong were gathered from January 2019 to December 2023.The lymph nodes were grouped based on pTNM staging and the diameter of metastatic lesions.This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Dandong First Hospital(No.DDSDYYY-LLSC-2025-02-18-019-01),and all patients signed informed consents.Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression levels of CD123-positive plasmacytoid dendritic cells in different lymph node groups,and their correlation with lymph node metastasis in advanced gastric cancer was further analyzed.Results:Of the 116 patients,plasmacytoid dendritic cells infiltrate the lymph node tissues of gastric cancer patients.As tumor differentiation decreased and pT stage,pathological stage,lymphatic/vascular invasion,and perineural invasion increased,the mean number of CD123-positive pDC in metastatic lymph nodes rose significantly(P＜0.05).The number of CD123-positive plasmacytoid dendritic cells was higher in metastatic lymph node-positive tissues than in metastatic lymph node-negative tissues,the number was higher in the macrometastasis group of pN1-3 staging than in the micrometastasis group,and the number was higher in the non-metastatic lymph node group of pN1-3 staging than in the pN0 staging lymph node group(P＜0.05).In lymph node metastasis-positive cases,the number of CD123-positive plasmacytoid dendritic cells was higher in second-station lymph nodes than in first-station lymph nodes(P＜0.05).Conclusion:The infiltration of CD123-positive plasmacytoid dendritic cells in lymph nodes of patients with advanced gastric cancer is closely associated with lymph node metastasis and may serve as a prerequisite for metastatic spread.Understanding the distribution of CD123-positive plasmacytoid dendritic cells in gastric cancer lymph nodes can help further explore their role in the immune microenvironment of gastric cancer.Targeted therapy focusing on CD123-positive plasmacytoid dendritic cells may become a new strategy for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer.

Background and purpose:Plasmacytoid dendritic cells are one of the key immune cells in the tumor microenvironment(TME),which can directly or indirectly regulate tumor related immune responses and play multiple roles in the development and metastasis of tumors.This study aimed to investigate the correlation between plasmacytoid dendritic cells in lymph nodes and lymph node metastasis in patients with advanced gastric cancer.Methods:Postoperative lymph node tissue specimens and clinicopathological data from advanced gastric cancer patients who underwent D2 radical surgery in the Department of General Surgery at the First Hospital of Dandong were gathered from January 2019 to December 2023.The lymph nodes were grouped based on pTNM staging and the diameter of metastatic lesions.This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Dandong First Hospital(No.DDSDYYY-LLSC-2025-02-18-019-01),and all patients signed informed consents.Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression levels of CD123-positive plasmacytoid dendritic cells in different lymph node groups,and their correlation with lymph node metastasis in advanced gastric cancer was further analyzed.Results:Of the 116 patients,plasmacytoid dendritic cells infiltrate the lymph node tissues of gastric cancer patients.As tumor differentiation decreased and pT stage,pathological stage,lymphatic/vascular invasion,and perineural invasion increased,the mean number of CD123-positive pDC in metastatic lymph nodes rose significantly(P＜0.05).The number of CD123-positive plasmacytoid dendritic cells was higher in metastatic lymph node-positive tissues than in metastatic lymph node-negative tissues,the number was higher in the macrometastasis group of pN1-3 staging than in the micrometastasis group,and the number was higher in the non-metastatic lymph node group of pN1-3 staging than in the pN0 staging lymph node group(P＜0.05).In lymph node metastasis-positive cases,the number of CD123-positive plasmacytoid dendritic cells was higher in second-station lymph nodes than in first-station lymph nodes(P＜0.05).Conclusion:The infiltration of CD123-positive plasmacytoid dendritic cells in lymph nodes of patients with advanced gastric cancer is closely associated with lymph node metastasis and may serve as a prerequisite for metastatic spread.Understanding the distribution of CD123-positive plasmacytoid dendritic cells in gastric cancer lymph nodes can help further explore their role in the immune microenvironment of gastric cancer.Targeted therapy focusing on CD123-positive plasmacytoid dendritic cells may become a new strategy for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of infections in hemodialysis patients so as to provide bases for prevention and control of the infections in the hemodialysis patients.METHODS The patients who underwent maintenance hemodialysis in blood purification rooms of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in the first two working days each month from 2018 to 2022 were recruited as the research subjects.The incidence of hemodialysis-related events among the hemodialysis patients,including intravenous use of antibiotics,positive blood culture,exacerbation of pus,redness or swellings emerging at vascular access sites,were prospectively investigated.RESULTS A total of 386 case-times of hemodialysis-related events were moni-tored in 2018-2022,including 20 case-times of bloodstream infections,354 case-times of intravenous use of antibi-otics and 12 case-times of exacerbation of pus,redness or swellings emerging at vascular access sites.The inci-dence of hemodialysis-induced events was 4.19 per 100 patients each month,the average incidence rate of blood-stream infections was 0.22 per 100 patients each month.The patients with tunneled central venous catheter were 40.69 times the risk of bloodstream infections as the patients with intestinal fistula(95％CI:9.725～361.703,P＜0.001).The incidence of bloodstream infections was decreased by 53.85％among the hemodialysis patients in 2022 as compared with that in 2018.Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant species of pathogens causing the bloodstream infections.CONCLUSIONS The hemodialysis patients are the population at high risk of infections.The incidence of bloodstream infections and other infections is higher among the patients with tunneled central venous catheters than among the patients with other types of vascular accesses.The monitoring of hemodi-alysis-related infection events may reduce the incidence of bloodstream infections.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The study examined the association between homocysteine and diabetes mellitus in patients with H-type hypertension and assessed the possible effect modifiers. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1,255 eligible participants in the ‘H-type Hypertension Management and Stroke Prevention Strategic International Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Project’ among rural Chinese people with H-type hypertension. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to evaluate the relationship between homocysteine and diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: The mean level of total homocysteine (tHcy) in the diabetes mellitus population was 19.37 μmol/L, which was significantly higher than the non-diabetic patients (18.18 μmol/L). When tHcy was analyzed as a continuous variable, the odds ratio (OR) of diabetes was 1.17 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–1.35; per interquartile range). When tHcy was stratified according to the quintile, the ORs for diabetes were 2.86 (95% CI, 1.22–6.69) in the highest quintile (tHcy ≥ 20.60 μmol/L) compared to the reference group (tHcy < 12.04 μmol/L). When tHcy was grouped by 15 μmol/L and 20 μmol/L, patients with tHcy ≥ 20 μmol/L had a significantly (P = 0.037) higher risk of diabetes (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.04–3.96) than in those with tHcy < 15 μmol/L. Subgroup analysis showed that the tHcy-diabetes association was unaffected by other variables. CONCLUSION In this study of rural Chinese people with H-type hypertension, the tHcy levels showed a positive association with diabetes mellitus. This independent association is unaffected by other potential risk factors.

Objective To investigate the impact of shikonin(SHI)on the malignant biological activity of liver cancer cells by regulating Notch signaling pathway.Methods Western blot assay was used to detect the expression of Notch,Hairy mitosis-related enhancer-1(Hes1),hairy-related transcription factor-1(HEY1)protein in liver cancer tissue,paracancerous tissue,hepatoma cells(HepG2 cells,Hep3B cells,HCCLM3 cells,Huh-7 cells and SMMC-7721 cells)and normal liver cells(HL-7702 cells).Huh-7 cells were divided into the control group,the L-SHI group(1μmol/L SHI),the M-SHI group(2μmol/L SHI),the H-SHI group(4μmol/L SHI),the DAPT group(50μmol/L Notch signal inhibitor DAPT)and the H-SHI+VPA group[4μmol/L SHI and 8 mmol/L Notch pathway activator Valproic acid(VPA)].The proliferation of Huh-7 cells was detected by CCK-8 method and plate cloning test.The apoptosis and cell cycle of Huh-7 cells were detected by flow cytometry.Cell scratch test and Transwell invasion test were used to detect migration and invasion of Huh-7 cells.Western blot assay was used to detect the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transformation(EMT)and apoptosis related proteins.Results The expression levels of Notch,HES1 and HEY1 were obviously increased in liver cancer tissue and cells,and Huh-7 cells showed the most obvious difference,therefore,Huh-7 cells were taken as the research object.Compared with the control group,the protein levels of Notch,HES1,HEY1 and Bcl-2 decreased,and the proportions of S phase and G2 phase cells,OD450 value,number of clones,migration rate,number of invasive cells and levels of N-cadherin and Vimentin decreased significantly in the L-SHI group,the M-SHI group,the H-SHI group and the DAPT group(P＜0.05).The proportion of G1/G0 phase cells,apoptosis rate and levels of Bax,cleaved Casase-3,and E-cadherin increased obviously(P＜0.05).The effect of SHI was dose-dependent.Compared with the H-SHI group,the above indexes showed the opposite trend in the H-SHI+VPA group.VPA attenuated the effect of SHI on reducing the malignant biological activity of liver cancer cells.Conclusion SHI may inhibit the proliferation,migration and invasion of Huh-7 cells and promote apoptosis of Huh-7 cells by inhibiting Notch signal pathway.

Objective:To explore the effect of job insecurity on work engagement, and examine the mediating role of job satisfaction and the moderating role of occupational proactive behavior.Methods:Using the convenient sampling method, nurses from Southern University of Science and Technology Hospital and Jiangyou Second People's Hospital were selected as the research objects in July 2022. General information questionnaire, Occupational Insecurity Scale, Occupational Satisfaction Scale, Work Engagement Scale and Occupational Proactive Behavior were used for questionnaire investigation. A total of 598 valid questionnaires were collected. Model 4 and Model 7 in the SPSS 22.0 Process were used to test the mediating effect and the moderated mediating effect respectively.Results:Occupational insecurity was negatively correlated with occupational satisfaction and work engagement ( r=-0.202, -0.165, P<0.01) , while occupational satisfaction was positively correlated with work engagement ( r=0.549, P<0.01) . Work satisfaction played a completely mediating role in the effect of job insecurity on work engagement (mediating effect value: -0.090 9, 95% confidence interval: -0.14 - -0.04) , accounting for 65.30% of the total effect. Occupational active behavior positively moderated the relationship between job insecurity and job satisfaction (β=0.07, P<0.01) . Conclusions:Nurses' work engagement is at a high level, but occupational insecurity will reduce nurses' job satisfaction and thus reduce their work engagement. Nurses with high occupational proactive behavior can alleviate the weakening of job insecurity on job satisfaction.

Adipocytokines are polypeptides or proteins that are secreted by fat cells with a wide range of biological activities. Adiponectin is a fatty cytokine with insulin sensitization. It possesses the function of anti- diabetes, atherosclerosis and anti-inflammation. Adiponectin may participate in regulating the development of cognitive impairment, which is considered as a new regulatory factor for cognitive impairment.
Adiponectin ; Cognitive Dysfunction ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical features and mutation of TGFBI gene in a Chinese pedigree affected with lattice corneal dystrophy (LCD).

METHODSGenomic DNA was extracted from 35 members including 11 patients from the pedigree. The 17 exons and splicing region of introns of the TGFBI gene were amplified by PCR. The products were directly sequenced and compared with GenBank database to identify potential mutation. Bioinformatic analysis was carried out to predict the effect of mutation on proteins.

RESULTSA heterozygous mutation (p.R124C) was found in exon 4 of the TGFBI gene in all patients from the pedigree but not among unaffected members. The mode of inheritance of corneal dystrophy in this pedigree was identified as autosomal dominant. Bioinformatics analysis predicted that the p.R124C mutation may be functionally deleterious. The phenotype of corneal dystrophy in the pedigree was determined to be LCD I type.

CONCLUSIONThe p.R124C mutation of the TGFBI gene probably underlies the pathogenesis of LCD in this Chinese pedigree. Genetic testing can facilitate proper diagnosis of this type of corneal dystrophy.

Postpartum depression(PPD)is one of the most common types of postpartum psychiatric syndromes. Because of the complex and changeable characteristics in PPD disease and the special period after childbirth, there are many clinical limitations in the study of this disease. Therefore,the preparation and establishment of a proper animal model closed to clinical and behavioral evaluation method plays an important role in study of its pathogenesis. This review mainly introduces the commonly used postpartum depression animal models and the behavioral evaluation method. It is hoped to provide a reference for further study of PPD pathogenesis and for the drug research and development.