Objective: To explore the setting of gray zone of Treponema pallidum (TP) testing by retrospective analysis of blood donors with single reagent reactive anti-TP results, so as to improve blood utilization and supply safety. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 112 blood donors previously deferred due to single reagent reactive TP antibody results between January 2020 and December 2023, and subjected to dual ELISA reagents and TPPA test. The gray zone panel analysis was performed on the two ELISA reagents currently used in our department. The detection rate at each concentration of the gray zone panle was counted, and the corresponding concentrations for C , C , and C and gray zone cut-off were calculated. Results: Among the 50 samples deferred by reagent 1, 19 were confirmed reactive and 31 non-reactive in supplementary testing. Among the 62 samples deferred by reagent 2, 12 were confirmed reactive and 50 non-reactive in supplementary testing. For reagent 1, the detection rate of was 56% for S/CO≥1 and 20% for 0.5≤S/CO<1, retrospectively. For reagent 2, the detection rate was 27% for S/CO≥1 and 12.5% for 0.5≤S/CO<1, retrospectively. The detection rate for S/CO≥1 was higher than those for 0.5≤S/CO<1 for both reagents. All the 112 samples were negative in TPPA test. The C concentration of reagent 1 was 1.51 mIU/mL, and the concentration range of C ±20% was 1.21-1.81 mIU/mL. The C concentration of reagent 2 was 1.45 mIU/mL, and the concentration range of C ±20% was 1.16-1.74 mIU/mL. The C and C concentration of both reagents were within the C ±20% range, suggesting that the gray zone cutoff for both Reagent 1 and Reagent 2 should be set at S/CO=0.8 (80% of the CO value). Conclusion: All anti-TP single reagent reactive samples with S/CO value within the gray zone was tested negative by TPPA. It is necessary to consider the rationality and necessity of establishing the gray zone, so as to ensure blood safety and improve the utilization rate of blood resources.

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of shed syndecan-4 (sSDC4) in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) in rats, aiming to provide experimental evidence for its prevention and treatment. Methods: This study was approved by the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee. Twelve 6-week-old female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into two groups. They received a single intra-articular injection into the bilateral superior cavity of temporomandibular joint, which consisted of either 50 μL of 4 mg/mL monosodium iodoacetate (TMJOA model group) or 50 μL of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, control group). After 4 weeks, the mandibular condylar cartilage was harvested for hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) staining, Safranin O-fast green (SO) staining, and type II collagen (Col-Ⅱ) immunohistochemical staining to assess the degree of cartilage degeneration. The synovium of the temporomandibular joint was collected for immunohistochemical staining to detect the expression levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) to evaluate the degree of synovial inflammation. Synovial fluid from the temporomandibular joint cavity was collected to measure sSDC4 levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, 12 6-week-old female SD rats were randomly divided into a His-SDC4 group and a control group, receiving injections into the bilateral superior cavity of temporomandibular joint of either 100 ng/mL (50 μL) of His-SDC4 protein or 50 μL of PBS once every 3 days for a total of 28 days. The same experimental procedures were performed for H&E staining, SO staining, and immunohistochemical staining (Col-Ⅱ IL-6, TNF-α) to observe condylar cartilage degeneration and detect synovial inflammation. Rat synovial fibroblasts and condylar chondrocytes were cultured in vitro and randomly divided into a His-SDC4-stimulated (10 ng/mL) group and control group. Perform CCK-8 cytotoxicity assays and observe cellular morphology under optical microscopy, the mRNA expression levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in cell culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. Results: Compared with the control group, the TMJOA group showed decreased condylar cartilage thickness, percentage of SO-positive area, and percentage of Col-Ⅱ-positive area (all P<0.001); an increased synovitis score (P<0.001) and increased percentages of IL-6- and TNF-α-positive cells in the synovium (all P<0.001); and a significant increase in sSDC4 levels in the synovial fluid (P=0.011). Following intra-articular injection of His-SDC4, condylar cartilage thickness, percentage of SO-positive area, and percentage of Col-Ⅱ-positive area all decreased (all P<0.001); the synovitis score increased (P=0.006), and the percentages of IL-6- and TNF-α-positive cells in the synovium increased (all P<0.001). In vitro experiments showed that His-SDC4 stimulation significantly upregulated the expression levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in both synovial fibroblasts and condylar chondrocytes (all P<0.01), and the levels of these two cytokines in the culture supernatants also significantly increased (all P<0.01). Conclusion During TMJOA progression, the level of sSDC4 in the synovial fluid is significantly elevated, which can directly stimulate synovial fibroblasts and condylar chondrocytes to secrete more pro-inflammatory cytokines, forming a vicious cycle that accelerates TMJOA progression.

Objective: To analyze the status of Treponema pallidum (TP) infection among blood donors in Hefei area by evaluating anti-TP reactive donors, and to provide data support for blood screening strategies, evaluation of reagent application, and public health prevention and control strategies. Methods: TPPA confirmation test were performed on 338 anti-TP positive samples of voluntary blood donors at Anhui Blood Center from February to April 2022, July to October 2022, February to June 2023. RPR tests were conducted on samples positive for TPPA. The test results, co-reactivity of TP with HBV, HCV, and HIV, and demographic characteristics of the donors were statistically analyzed. Results: The unqualified rate of anti-TP among blood donors in Hefei area was 0.30% (405/133 587), and the positive rate for TPPA was 67.46% (228/338). Among the TPPA-positive donors, 31.67% were RPR-positive. The co-positive rates of HBV, HCV and HIV in anti-TP reactive blood donors were 0.74% (3/405), 0.49% (2/405), and 1.73% (7/405), respectively, with HIV copositivity being the most common. Most co-positive donors were males aged 31-50 years with a high school education or lower, and all were first-time whole blood donors. Conclusion: The anti-TP unqualified rate among blood donors in Hefei area is at a low-to-mederate level. HIV is the most common co-infection with TP among anti-TP positive donors. The majority of co-infected donors are middle-aged men donating whole blood for the first time.

Ischemic obstruction is a dangerous condition with a high mortality rate.Professor Jin Shi proposed that vascular intesti-nal obstruction disease is based on the intestinal tract while the structure of mesenteric vascular structure in modern medicine is highly similar to the morphological description of"intestinal collateral"in traditional Chinese medicine.The"hypercoagulable state"of blood is highly consistent with the core of the pathogenesis of"intestinal stasis"in traditional Chinese medicine.Blood stasis is a key patho-logical product and pathogenic factor of vascular intestinal obstruction and it is necessary to pay attention to the combination of disease identification,clarification of urgency,and phased treatment.This study provides a theoretical basis and practical example for the treatment of vascular intestinal obstruction in traditional Chinese medicine.

Objective:To investigate the additional value of 99Tc m-hydrazinonicotinamide (HYNIC)-Tyr3-octreotide (TOC) SPECT/CT imaging in the diagnosis and treatment of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs). Methods:A total of 54 patients (28 males and 26 females, age: (52.6±11.7) years) who underwent enhanced CT (MR) and 99Tc m-HYNIC-TOC SPECT/CT in People′s Hospital of Zhengzhou University between December 2017 and June 2023 were analyzed retrospectively. Surgical pathology or biopsy was the gold standard of patients′ diagnosis (primary tumors), and comprehensive evaluation based on pathology, imaging and follow-up results was used as the diagnostic criteria of lesions. McNemar χ2 test was used to compare the diagnostic efficacy of different imaging methods. Results:Pathological results showed that 43 of the 54 patients were with GEP-NETs and 11 were with non-neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). The sensitivities of enhanced CT and enhanced MR in the diagnosis of patients with GEP-NETs were 65.1%(28/43) and 60.0%(15/25) respectively, which increased to 93.0%(40/43) and 92.0%(23/25) with the addition of 99Tc m-HYNIC-TOC imaging ( χ2 values: 8.64, 4.90, P values: 0.002, 0.021). There were 22 and 15 patients showing atypical enhancement on enhanced CT and enhanced MR respectively. The sensitivities of these two methods for GEP-NETs in patients with atypical enhancement were 54.5%(12/22) and 8/15 respectively, which increased to 95.5%(21/22) and 14/15 with the addition of 99Tc m-HYNIC-TOC imaging ( χ2 values: 5.82, 4.17, P values: 0.012, 0.031). Compared with enhanced CT, the detection rates of liver and bone metastatic lesions were improved significantly from 90.8%(158/174) and 55.2%(32/58) to 96.6%(168/174) and 87.9%(51/58) with the addition of 99Tc m-HYNIC-TOC imaging ( χ2 values: 5.79, 9.82, P values: 0.013, 0.001). Compared with enhanced MR, the detection rate of bone metastases was improved significantly from 56.0%(14/25) to 88.0%(22/25) with the addition of 99Tc m-HYNIC-TOC imaging ( χ2=4.08, P=0.039). After 99Tc m-HYNIC-TOC imaging, stages were changed in 7.0%(3/43) of patients and a greater number or extent of metastases were detected in 11.6%(5/43) of patients. 99Tc m-HYNIC-TOC imaging detected additional recurrent or metastatic lesions in 40.0%(8/20) of patients during follow-up compared to enhanced CT. Conclusion:99Tc m-HYNIC-TOC imaging can provide an added value for diagnosing GEP-NETs with atypically enhanced CT(MR), and in the detection of liver metastasis and early bone metastasis, thus helping the optimization of clinical treatment strategies.

Objective:To analyze the latent profile characteristics of self-management ability in patients with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and explore its influencing factors.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 311 patients with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) were selected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (including those receiving treatment and undergoing physical examinations) between August and October 2024. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, the self-management Scale for Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, and the Social Support Rating Scale. After excluding 51 patients due to incomplete questionnaire responses or logical inconsistencies, 260 patients were finally included in the analysis. Latent profile analysis was used to identify potential categories of patients′ self-management abilities. With the latent categories as the dependent variable and items with P<0.05 in univariate analysis as independent variables, a multivariate logistic regression analysis (with the "poor self-management group" as the reference group) was performed to explore the influencing factors. Results:Among the 260 participants included in the study, three potential categories of self-management behaviors were finally identified, namely the active self-management group with 106 cases (40.8%), the moderate self-management group with 118 cases (45.4%), and the passive self-management group with 36 cases (13.8%).Results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that, compared with the passive self-management group:Patients who resided in rural areas ( OR=0.130, 95% CI: 0.040-0.420), often stayed up late ( OR=0.200, 95% CI: 0.060-0.590), or had an average daily sleep duration of≤5 hours ( OR=0.160, 95% CI: 0.050-0.510) had a significantly lower probability of belonging to the "active self-management group";In contrast, patients with an education level of senior high school or above ( OR=7.530, 95% CI: 1.740-34.160) or a higher total score of social support ( OR=1.120, 95% CI: 1.030-1.210) had a significantly higher probability of being in the "active self-management group" (all P<0.05). Conclusion:There is heterogeneity in self-management ability among patients with metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Residential area, educational level, frequency of staying up late, average daily sleep duration, and social support are influencing factors of patients′ self-management ability.

Objective:To explore the protective effects and mechanisms of an indole-3-acetaldehyde (I3A)-loaded inulin-based hydrogel against radiation-induced intestinal injury.Methods:The gelation properties and injectability of the I3A-loaded inulin-based hydrogel were detected using a rheometer, and its biocompatibility was assessed via a CCK-8 assay. Eighteen C57BL/6 mice (aged: 6-8 weeks) were stratified by body weight and randomly assigned into three groups with 6 mice in each group: blank control, irradiation-only, and irradiation+ hydrogel protection. Abdominal irradiation was administered using 137Cs γ-rays at 17 Gy. The irradiation+ hydrogel protection group received 200 μl/day of I3A-loaded inulin-based hydrogel for two days before and 2-3 days after irradiation. Meanwhile, the irradiation-only group was treated with an equivalent volume of sterile water via gavage. The mice were euthanized four days post-irradiation, and their intestinal tissues were harvested. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, Ki67 immunohistochemistry, and TUNEL immunofluorescence were performed to assess histopathological damage, epithelial cell proliferation, and apoptosis, respectively. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was employed to measure mRNA levels of inflammatory and antioxidant factors. Gut microbiota composition was analyzed via 16S rRNA sequencing. Results:The test results of the rheometer confirmed successful hydrogel formation. CCK-8 assays demonstrated excellent biocompatibility. Compared with the irradiation-only group, the irradiation+ hydrogel protection group exhibited preserved intestinal histoarchitecture, a 1.5-fold increase in intestinal cell proliferation ( t = 8.35, P < 0.05), and a 2-fold reduction in radiation-induced apoptosis ( t = 7.94, P < 0.05). Moreover, the hydrogel group showed significantly elevated expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and antioxidant factors NRF-2 and HO-1 ( t = 3.16, 24.83, 5.92, P < 0.05), alongside reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α ( t = 5.15, 3.82, 3.83, P < 0.05). Gut microbiota analysis revealed significant modulation in microbial composition and abundance in the hydrogel group. Conclusions:The I3A-loaded inulin-based hydrogel can significantly promote intestinal cell proliferation, reduce radiation-induced apoptosis, and enhance both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant responses. In addition, it regulates gut microbiota composition and abundance, protecting against radiation-induced intestinal injury.

In November 23, 2023, a patient with 9 digits traumatic crush injury by machine compression was emergently admitted to the Department of Hand and Microsurgery, Sichuan Modern Hospital. Emergency procedures included amputation the distal stumps and replantation of proximal phalanges of left ring and little fingers. Wounds in both hands were temporarily covered with bone cement. On December 4, 2023, reconstruction of 5 digits were performed. Digital defects were: Type Ⅲ defects of left index and middle fingers and right thumb and index fingers and Type IV defect of right middle finger. All 5 reconstructed digits survived. Subsequent refinements yielded favourable outcomes and all donor toes were preserved completely. At the 14-month follow-up, the reconstructed digits exhibited satisfactory appearance and length without difficulties in daily life and at work.

Objective To study the effect of incorporating comprehensive geriatric assessment(CGA)into the whole-process WeChat-based case health management in elderly population who took annual physical examinations,thereby to improve their ability in health self-management.Methods A randomised controlled trial was conducted to select 100 elderly people who took annual physical examinations in our hospital from July 2022 to June 2023.The elderly were randomly divided into a control group and an trial group,with 50 people per group.CGA was applied to both groups,but the control group was under conventional health management,while the trial group received the incorporation of CGA into a whole-process WeChat-based case health management.The self-rated abilities for health practices scale(SRAHP)was used to compare the scores between the two groups before intervention,at 3,6 and 12 months after intervention.The scores of fatigue,resistance,ambulation,illnesses&loss of weight scale(FRAIL)and the mini nutritional assessment-short form(MNA-SF)were compared between the two groups before intervention and at 12 months after intervention.Incidence of falls was also evaluated after intervention.Results All the participants completed the study.Repeated measures analysis of variance showed that total SRAHP scores had statistical significances in main effect on time,group and interaction(Ftime=193.451,P<0.001;Fgroup=23.661,P<0.001;Finteraction=29.970,P<0.001).Further analysis revealed that the elderly in trial group had higher total scores in SRAHP than those in the control group at 6 and 12 months after intervention(both P<0.001).At 12 months after intervention,the trial group showed better scores in FRAIL and MNA-SF than the control group(both P<0.05)as well as with a lower incidence of falls(P<0.05).Conclusion Incorporation of CGA into a comprehensive WeChat-based case health management,over a long-term,can effectively enhance the ability in health self-management among elderly individuals who take annual health examinations,improve frailty and nutritional status and reduce the incidence of falls.The health self-management discovered from this study provides a valuable reference for health management among the elderly people who take annual physical examinations.

Lumbar disc (LD) herniation and aging are prevalent conditions that can result in substantial morbidity. This study aimed to clarify the mechanisms connecting the LD aging and herniation, particularly focusing on cellular senescence and molecular alterations in the nucleus pulposus (NP). We performed a detailed analysis of NP samples from a diverse cohort, including individuals of varying ages and those with diagnosed LD herniation. Our methodology combined histological assessments with single-nucleus RNA sequencing to identify phenotypic and molecular changes related to NP aging and herniation. We discovered that cellular senescence and a decrease in nucleus pulposus progenitor cells (NPPCs) are central to both processes. Additionally, we found an age-related increase in NFAT1 expression that promotes NPPC senescence and contributes to both aging and herniation of LD. This research offers fresh insights into LD aging and its associated pathologies, potentially guiding the development of new therapeutic strategies to target the root causes of LD herniation and aging.
Intervertebral Disc Displacement/metabolism* ; Humans ; Aging/pathology* ; Nucleus Pulposus/pathology* ; Male ; Female ; Transcriptome ; Middle Aged ; Lumbar Vertebrae/pathology* ; Adult ; Cellular Senescence ; Stem Cells/pathology* ; Aged ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/metabolism*