Objective:To explore the prognostic impact of different intracranial radiotherapy modalities in patients with a limited number (≤10) of brain metastases from small cell lung cancer (SCLC-BM).Methods:The data of 143 cases with SCLC-BM that received intracranial radiotherapy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University in 2019-2022 were analyzed. The patients were grouped by radiotherapy modalities: whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT, 58 cases), WBRT combined with simultaneous integrated boost (WBRT+ SIB, 53 cases), and WBRT combined with sequential integrated boost (WBRT+ SEB, 32 cases). The overall survival (OS) and intracranial progression-free survival (IPFS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the Cox proportional hazard model was used for prognostic analysis.Results:In the whole group, the median OS and IPFS were 11.9 and 9.9 months, and the 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 49.7%, 15.3%, and 2.9%, respectively. The difference in OS among patients in the WBRT+ SIB, WBRT+ SEB, and WBRT groups was not significant (median OS: 13.0 months vs. 12.5 months vs. 11.2 months, P>0.05). The WBRT+ SIB and WBRT+ SEB groups were preferred over the WBRT group in terms of IPFS (median IPFS: 11.7 months vs. 10.4 months vs. 8.1 months, χ2=21.69, P<0.001). For patients with few brain metastases (≤3) analyzed separately, the WBRT+ SIB and WBRT+ SEB groups were preferred over the WBRT group in terms of OS and IPFS (median OS: 14.4 months vs. 13.7 months vs. 11.5 months, χ2=8.72, P=0.013; median IPFS: 12.6 months vs. 10.4 months vs. 8.9 months, χ2=12.37, P=0.002). Evaluation of the central nervous system as well as hematological acute radiological reactions reaching grade 2 and above showed no significant differences among the three groups ( P>0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that subsequent chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy were common independent influencing factors for patients′ OS and IPFS. Body mass index (BMI) level was an independent influencing factor for patients′ OS, and the number of brain metastases, lymph node metastasis, and radiotherapy modality were independent influencing factors for patients′ IPFS. Conclusions:BMI level and subsequent treatment (chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy) are independent influencing factors for patients' prognosis. WBRT+ SIB and WBRT+ SEB modalities are associated with increased IPFS.

Objective:To explore the causes of the crosstalk in the gross α and gross β measurement using an MPC 9604 low background α/β counter.Methods:With the A4 copy paper (70 g/m 2), polyethylene (PE) films (8.7 g/m 2), and 304 stainless steel seperately as shielding materials, the gross α and gross β experiments, gamma spectrometry experiments and solid state nuclear track detection (SSNTD) experiments were conducted by using 241Am and 40K standard materials. A comprehensive analysis encompassing statistical analysis and nuclear physics analysis was performed to reveal the impact of contributing factors on the crosstalk in the gross α and gross β measurement with an MPC 9604 low background α/β counter. Results:241Am powder source experimental result: when two sheets of copy paper were used in the experiment, α-rays did not generate one count in the β channel of the low background α/β counter. The same test with the shielding material of two layers of PE films showed that the α count rate further decreased by about 36.5%, while the β count rate hardly changed. The gross α and gross β experiments and γ spectrometry with the shielding material of stainless steel demonstrated that the characteristic γ ray peaking at 59.5 keV of the 241Am powder source did not generate one count in the β channel. 40K powder source experimental result: when the source was covered with steel of total thickness of 0.965 mm in the gross α and gross β experiments, the γ rays of 40K did not generate one count in the β channel. Compared with naked 40K powder source, when source was covered with one and two sheets of copy paper, the gross α count rate decreased approximately from 3.30 × 10 -3 to 1.50 × 10 -3 and 1.75 × 10 -3, respectively. The SSNTD indicated the presence of other α nuclides in 40K powder source. Conclusions:The β counting in the β channel with the 241Am powder source using MPC 9604 low background α/β counter was, instead of α-rays, caused by the internal conversion electrons and the characteristic X rays of 11.870-22.402 keV emitted from the 241Am powder source, thus this is not a true α/β crosstalk. The α counting in α channel with the 40K powder source, except the contribution of impurity α nuclides, was mainly attributed to the α signals arising from β particles when the amplitude of the piled-up β pules exceeded the discrimination threshold of the detector, therefore it is a true crosstalk.

Objective:To understand the epidemiological characteristics and changing trends of HIV-infected patients aged ≥60 years reported in recent years in China and provide reference for the development of HIV prevention and control strategies for the elderly.Methods:The data of newly reported HIV-infected patients aged ≥60 years between 2015 and 2022 were obtained from China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. The differences in epidemiological characteristics of HIV infections among groups were compared by using t test and Kruskal-Wallis H nonparametric test in software SPSS 24.0. Software Joinpoint 4.9.0 was used to calculate annual percent change (APC) and trend analysis was conducted by using Joinpoint regression model. Software Excel 2019 was used for graph drawing. Results:The number of reported HIV-infected patients aged ≥60 years in China increased from 17 451 in 2015 to 27 004 in 2022, with newly diagnosed rate rising from 9.0/100 000 to 10.2/100 000. The newly diagnosed rate in men was higher than that in women. Trend analysis demonstrated that the newly diagnosed rate in both elderly men and women peaked in 2019 (APC for men=13.5%, P=0.003; APC for women=15.0%, P=0.002), and showed a downward trend after 2019 (APC for men=-12.4%, P=0.006; APC for women=-13.0%, P=0.007). Among the elderly infected men, those infected by heterosexual and homosexual transmission accounted for 93.5% (160 747/171 924) and 5.1% (8 781/171 924), respectively. Among the elderly infected women, those infected by heterosexual transmission accounted for 98.4% (48 899/49 697). The infected elder people diagnosed by medical institutions accounted for 71.5% (158 394/221 621), whose baseline CD4 +T lymphocytes level was lower than that in those diagnosed by other ways ( H=1 079.82, P<0.001). Conclusions:The poor risk awareness and high-risk sexual behavior made the elderly at higher risk for HIV infection. More efforts should be made to improve active surveillance, timely detection and origin-tracing for infected elderly for the accurate and effective prevention and control of HIV infection.

Objective:To analyze the basic characteristics and change trend of mortality in HIV-infected patients aged ≥60 years in China from 2013 to 2021.Methods:The data of HIV-infected patients aged ≥60 years at diagnosis were collected from China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention to calculate the mortality density. The trajectory model was fitted using the Proc traj process in software SAS 9.4 to explore trajectory of AIDS-related mortality density and non-AIDS-related mortality density under different combinations of region, gender and age.Results:Between 2013 and 2021, a total of 244 770 HIV-infected patients were reported with 40 079 AIDS-related deaths and 50 245 non-AIDS-related deaths. The AIDS-related mortality density was 6.32 per 100 person-years, and the non-AIDS-related mortality density was 7.92 per 100 person-years, both of which showed decreasing trends over the years, and the mortality density in men was higher than that in women. Two developmental trajectories could be categorized for different trends of AIDS-related mortality density: the lower mortality density group accounted for 80.95% and showed a slow decreasing trend; the higher mortality density group accounted for 19.05% and showed a three-curve developmental trend. There were three developmental trajectories of non-AIDS-related mortality density trends: the lower mortality density group accounted for 59.52% and the medium mortality density group accounted for 28.57%, with a flat overall trend in these two groups; the higher mortality density group accounted for 11.91% with a three-curve trend.Conclusions:The mortality in HIV-infected patients aged ≥60 years in China is still high. Further attention should be paid to the early detection, diagnosis and treatment of HIV infection to effectively reduce the density of AIDS-related deaths. At the same time, attention should be paid to non-AIDS-related deaths in the elderly, and comprehensive interventions should be taken. It is necessary to conduct targeted HIV/AIDS prevention and control based on actual situation in different areas and populations

Objective:To understand the epidemiological characteristics of HIV-infected farmers aged ≥60 years in China and provide evidence for the development of AIDS prevention and control policies for elderly farmers.Methods:Data of newly HIV-infected farmers aged ≥60 years reported between 2018 and 2022 were obtained from China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. The differences in epidemiological characteristics of HIV infection between farmers and other populations were compared using χ2 test. Based on 6 representative indicators, 31 provinces were divided into three sub-epidemic areas of A, B, and C by using sample system clustering method in SPSS 24.0 software. Results:From 2018 to 2022, a total of 113 311 HIV infection cases in farmers aged ≥60 years were reported, accounting for 71.8% of the reported cases in this age group nationwide (113 311/157 792). In the 113 311 HIV infection cases, 86 517 (76.4%) were men, 80 176 (70.8%) were diagnosed by medical institutions, 80 667 (71.2%) were distributed in the western region and 92 191 (81.4%) had education level of primary school or below [higher than the proportion in other populations (49.8%, 22 165/44 481)]. In 113 311 HIV infection cases, 96.7%(109 562/113 311) were infected through heterosexual transmission, in whom 50.4% (55 184/109 562) had commercial heterosexual behavior, 9.1%(9 958/109 562) had fixed sexual partners, 40.5%(44 420/109 562) had other heterosexual behaviors. The clustering analysis indicated that in region A (Guangxi, Chongqing, Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan and Xinjiang), the proportions of people living with HIV (30.2/10 000), HIV-infected farmers aged ≥60 years in rural population (22.8/10 000), counties reported HIV-infected elderly farmers (93.4%), the population had HIV test (44.2%), were all higher than those in region B and C. Compared with region B and C, The net income of farmers (10 000 yuan) was lower in region A, and the proportion of commercial heterosexual behavior in male farmers in region A (41.0%) was slightly lower than that in region B (46.1%), but higher than that in region C (15.2%).Conclusions:HIV infections in farmers aged ≥60 years were mainly caused by heterosexual behaviors, such as commercial heterosexual sex, in China from 2018 to 2022. The low awareness of self-protection against AIDS and high-risk sexual behaviors are closely associated with HIV infection in elderly farmers. Attention should be paid to the behavior intervention and health education about AIDS prevention in elderly farmers and the prevention and intervention in rural female sex workers and HIV positive spouses should be strengthened.

Owing to the increasing incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) worldwide, effective and safe treatments for IBD are urgently needed. Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is an endogenous gasotransmitter and plays an important role in inflammation. To date, H₂S-releasing agents are viewed as potential anti-inflammatory drugs. The slow-releasing H₂S donor 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione (ADT-OH), known as a potent therapeutic with chemopreventive and cytoprotective properties, has received attention recently. Here, we reported its anti-inflammatory effects on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced acute (7 days) and chronic (30 days) colitis. We found that ADT-OH effectively reduced the DSS-colitis clinical score and reversed the inflammation-induced shortening of colon length. Moreover, ADT-OH reduced intestinal inflammation by suppressing the nuclear factor kappa-B pathway. In vivo and in vitro results showed that ADT-OH decreased intestinal permeability by increasing the expression of zonula occludens-1 and occludin and blocking increases in myosin II regulatory light chain phosphorylation and epithelial myosin light chain kinase protein expression levels. In addition, ADT-OH restored intestinal microbiota dysbiosis characterized by the significantly increased abundance of Muribaculaceae and Alistipes and markedly decreased abundance of Helicobacter, Mucispirillum, Parasutterella, and Desulfovibrio. Transplanting ADT-OH-modulated microbiota can alleviate DSS-induced colitis and negatively regulate the expression of local and systemic proinflammatory cytokines. Collectively, ADT-OH is safe without any short-term (5 days) or long-term (30 days) toxicological adverse effects and can be used as an alternative therapeutic agent for IBD treatment.
Humans ; Mice ; Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Intestinal Barrier Function ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Colitis/metabolism* ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/drug therapy* ; Inflammation ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology* ; Disease Models, Animal

Objective: To investigate the current situation of obesity and related metabolic abnormalities among preschool children, so as to provide theoretical support for future intervention. Methods: A cohort of 3 952 children, born in Tianjin and enrolled in the kindergarten from September 2017 to October 2018, were selected to conduct a baseline survey and a three-year follow-up (questionnaire survey, physical examination and laboratory testing). At the same time, a two-way cohort study was conducted to retrospectively collect maternal prenatal examination, delivery and regular physical examination information of children from birth to preschool age from Tianjin Maternal and Child Health Information System. Results: A total of 3 935, 3 654 and 2 739 children completed the follow up in the primary, middle and senior classes of kindergarten respectively. The height and weight of pre-school children increased with age, while the percentage of body fat decreased with age ( β-trend =-0.74, P <0.01). During three-year follow up, height, weight and body mass index of boys were higher than girls (P<0.05), while the percentage of body fat was lower than girls (primary class: 17.5%,18.5%; middle class: 16.4%,17.2%; senior class: 16.1%,17.1%, P <0.05). The detection rate of overweight (including obesity) and obesity increased with age( χ 2 trend were 15.51,38.72, P <0.05). The total detection rate of obesity increased from 5.4% at the baseline level to 9.6%. Laboratory test results showed that the detection rates of fasting blood glucose of boys were higher than that of girls in primary class, but blood lipid abnormalities were in the opposite (glucose: 7.7%, 4.8 %; lipid: 23.8% , 27.7%)( χ 2=12.01, 6.63, P <0.05). Conclusion The study has established a large growth cohort starting from the early embryonic stage, which will help to establish the strategies to promote children s health and prevent obesity and chronic diseases from multidimensional perspectives.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and surgical effects of acute calculous cholecystitis (ACC) in high altitude area of Tibet.Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 182 ACC patients who underwent surgery in the 954th Hospital of Army from January 2016 to December 2020 were collected. There were 56 males and 126 females, aged (41±13)years. Of the 182 patients, 61 cases undergoing open cholecystec-tomy were divided into the open group, and 121 cases undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) were divided into the laparoscopic group. Observation indicators: (1) clinical characteristics of ACC in high altitude area; (2) surgical situations; (3) postoperative complications; (4) follow-up. Follow-up was conducted using outpatient examination and telephone interview to detect postopera-tive complications of patients up to October 2021. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the t test. Measure-ment data with skewed distribution were represented as M( Q1, Q3) or M(range), and comparison between groups was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. Count data were expressed as absolute numbers or percentages, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test. Results:(1) Clinical characteristics of ACC in high altitude area. Of the 182 patients, cases with symptom duration as <3 days, 3 days to 1 month, >1 month and ≤12 months, >12 months were 37, 43, 57, 45, respectively. Seventy-seven of the 182 patients were combined with other diseases before surgery. (2) Surgical situations. Two cases in the open group were found common bile duct stones during the operation, and underwent choledochotomy and T-tube drainage. Nine cases in the laparoscopic group were converted to laparotomy, including 3 cases with severe abdominal adhesion and ineffective hemostasis, 6 cases with anatomical variation of Calot triangle. The conversion to laparotomy rate was 7.438%(9/121). The other patients in the open group and the laparoscopic group completed surgery successfully. The operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, time to postoperative first out-of-bed activities, time to postoperative first flatus, cases with indwelling drainage tube, cases with acute simple cholecystitis, acute suppurative cholecystitis, acute gangrene cholecystitis, gallbladder perforation of disease pathological type, postoperative white cell count, postoperative neutrophil percentage, duration of postoperative hospital stay were (109±42)minutes, 50(45,100)mL, (16.1±1.5)hours, (31.4±11.9)hours, 33, 25, 27, 6, 3, (6.8±1.9)×10 9/L, 72.7%±7.4%, (7.3±1.7)days for the open group. The above indicators were (98±43)minutes, 20(20,50)mL, (12.9±1.4)hours, (26.7±12.1)hours, 51, 56, 51, 9, 5, (7.1±2.4)×10 9/L, 70.5%±8.7%, (6.4±1.7)days for the laparoscopic group. There were significant differences in the volume of intraopera-tive blood loss, time to postoperative first out-of-bed activities, time to postoperative first flatus, duration of postoperative hospital stay between the two groups ( Z=?6.75, t=14.41, 2.46, 3.45, P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the operation time, cases with indwelling drainage tube, diseases pathological type, postoperative white cell count, postoperative neutrophil percentage between the two groups ( t=1.66, χ2=2.33, 0.84, t=?0.71, 1.66, P>0.05). (3) Postoperative complica-tions. Postoperative complications occurred in 7 of the 61 patients in the open group and 5 of the 121 patients in the laparoscopic group. There was no significant difference in the postoperative complications between the two groups ( χ2=2.46, P>0.05). (4) Follow-up. Of the 182 patients, 115 cases including 35 cases in the open group and 80 cases in the laparoscopic group were followed up for 12(range, 3?24)months. During the follow-up, 1 case of the 35 patients in the open group had abdominal pain and jaundice, which was diagnosed as choledocholithiasis. The patient was improved after stone removal with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Two cases of the 35 patients in the open group had upper abdominal pain with fever and were improved after anti-infection treatment. Of the 80 patients in the laparoscopic group, 1 case had upper abdominal pain and 1 case had dyspepsia and anorexia, respectively. The two cases were improved after symptomatic treatment. Conclusions:Patients with ACC in the high altitude area of Tibet have high ratio of preoperative complications, long diseases history and high incidence rates of pyogenic perforation of the gallbladder. Patients with ACC in the high altitude area undergoing LC is safe and effective. Compared with open cholecystectomy, LC have less volume of intraoperative blood loss, faster postoperative recovery and shorter duration of postoperative hospital stay.

Objective:To understand death's mortality and risk factors among HIV-positive injecting drug users (IDU) aged 15 or above in China and provide further reference to future prevention and treatment policies.Method:Retrospective cohort study was conducted to calculate the mortality rate of HIV-positive IDU based on HIV/AIDS Comprehensive Response Information Management System. Cox proportion hazards regression model was performed to assess the risk factors for deaths. The Excel 2019 and SPSS 22.0 software was used for data cleaning and statistical analysis.Results:Between 2001 and 2020, 119 209 HIV-positive IDU were reported with 59 094 deaths. The all-cause mortality rate was 6.96 per 100 person-years (py), and the AIDS-related mortality rate was 1.91 per 100 py, with a decreasing trend over the years. Multivariate Cox regression indicated for all-cause death risks of HIV-positive IDU, compared with those baseline T + lymphocyte cells (CD4) counts above 500 cells/μl, the HR (95% CI) of those CD4 counts untested, between 0-199, 200-349, 350-500 cells/μl was 2.85 (2.78-2.93), 2.47 (2.40-2.54), 1.58 (1.53-1.62) and 1.24 (1.21-1.28) respectively. The HR (95% CI) of antiretroviral treatment (ART) na?ve was 7.13 (6.99-7.27) compared with those under ART. The HR (95% CI) of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) na?ve was 1.07 (1.04-1.10) compared to those receiving MMT. As for AIDS-related death risks, compared with baseline T+ lymphocyte cell CD4 counts >500 cells/μl, the HR (95% CI) of those CD4 counts untested, between 0-199, 200-349, 350-500 cells/μl was 3.26 (3.08-3.46), 5.54 (5.24-5.85), 2.35 (2.21-2.50) and 1.41 (1.32-1.50). HR (95% CI) of ART na?ve was 5.96(5.74-6.18) compared to those under ART. Conclusions:Further efforts should be made timely on diagnosis, treatment, and harm reduction programs such as MMT for improvement compliance to reduce mortality risks of HIV-positive IDU.

Objective:To summarize the clinical features and prognosis of acute kidney injury in patients with HBV related acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF).Methods:A total of 150 patients who developed acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with HBV related ACLF from Sep. 2010 to Sep. 2019 were reviewed retrospectively, and the gender, age, laboratory examination, Child-pugh scores, and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) were collected and the survival of the patients were followed up to analyze the prognosis.Results:Ninety-three percent of the patients were complicated with ascites, 81% with spontaneous peritonitis, 65% with hepatic encephalopathy and 58.7% with pulmonary infection; 60 patients (60.0%) were AKI stage 1, 44 patients (29.3%) were AKI stage 2, 16 patients (10.7%) were AKI stage 3. The patients with hyponatremia had lower albumin ( t=2.571, P=0.011), higher blood urea nitrogen, serum potassium and white blood cell levels than those without hyponatremia ( t=3.184, P=0.002; t=2.069, P=0.040; t=2.251, P=0.026); 74.7% of the patients died within 30 days, and the 90 days survival rate was 16.7%. The 30 days and 90 days mortality of patients with hyponatremia was higher than that of patients without hyponatremia ( χ2=4.11, P=0.044; χ2=3.901, P=0.049 7). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the patients who had abnormal uric acid pre-diagnosis of AKI, hyponatremia when diagnosis of AKI, organ damage other than liver and kidney, metabolic acidosis, upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy had a poor survival. Cox regression analysis showed that other organ function damage other than liver and kidney, metabolic acidosis, and the old age, were independent risk factors of death. Conclusions:Most of the AKI patients with HBV related ACLF had ascites and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis when AKI occurred, and AKI stage 1 was common. The mortality of patients with hyponatremia was high, and the risk of death was high in patients with severe organ damage other than liver and kidney, metabolic acidosis and the old age.