Objective To systematically analyze the characteristics of the disease burden of hypertensive heart disease (HHD) in the elderly (≥60 years) globally and in China from 1990 to 2021, and to predict its future trends from 2022 to 2040, with the aim of providing data support for optimizing comprehensive prevention and control strategies for HHD. Methods Based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database, the number of prevalent cases and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of HHD in the elderly were extracted for the world, China, and five regions categorized by sociodemographic index (SDI). Joinpoint regression was used to analyze the temporal trends of age-standardized prevalence rate and age-standardized DALYs rate of HHD in the elderly. A three-factor decomposition method was applied to evaluate the relative contributions of aging, population growth, and epidemiological changes to the variations in the elderly HHD burden. Additionally, a Bayesian age-period-cohort model was used to predict the elderly HHD burden from 2022 to 2040. Results In 2021, the number of prevalent elderly HHD cases reached 10 283 000 globally and 3 412 400 in China, representing increases of 179.20% and 159.20% respectively, compared with 1990. The DALYs of elderly HHD were 18 812 700 person-years globally and 4 731 400 person-years in China, rising by 76.08% and 29.45% respectively from 1990. Meanwhile, the growth rates of the number of prevalent cases and DALYs of elderly HHD varied across different SDI regions. From 1990 to 2021, the age-standardized prevalence rate of elderly HHD in China, as well as the age-standardized DALYs rate of elderly HHD both globally and in China, showed significant downward trends (all average annual percentage changes<0, all P<0.001). In 2021, the 70-74 years age group accounted for the highest proportion of prevalent cases and DALYs of elderly HHD, both globally and in China. Decomposition analysis revealed that population growth was the dominant factor driving the increase in the elderly HHD burden across all regions. The prediction model results indicated that the number of prevalent cases and DALYs of elderly HHD would continue to rise globally and in China from 2022 to 2040, with the growth rate of the elderly HHD burden in China between 2021 and 2040 expected to exceed the global average. Conclusion Over the past 32 years, although the age-standardized disease rates of elderly HHD have mainly shown a downward trend globally and in China, the absolute number of the disease burden has increased substantially. The projection model indicates a continued upward trajectory, with the growth rate in China higher than the global average. Therefore, there is an urgent need to implement precise prevention and control strategies to effectively mitigate the disease burden of elderly HHD.

Objective To enhance the mechanical properties of trichiral honeycomb sandwich structures and satisfy the design criteria for vertebral implant structures.Methods A chiral-like honeycomb sandwich structure with an auxiliary support structure was constructed for optimal design.The finite element method was used to study the influence of the auxiliary support structure on the chiral-like honeycomb sandwich structure and the relationship between the support position and mechanical property parameters.Furthermore,the influence of the deformation mechanism of different structures on mechanical properties was discussed.Results All chiral-like honeycomb sandwich structures exhibited enhanced mechanical properties in comparison to trichiral honeycomb sandwich structures.The mechanical properties of the chiral-like dCW honeycomb sandwich structure with the auxiliary support structure positioned perpendicular to the ligament were optimal,and this position represented the optimal support position.When the volume was used as a control variable,the compressive stiffness,stiffness-to-mass ratio,and transverse strain of the chiral-like honeycomb sandwich structure in the x1 direction were significantly correlated with the change of the support position,and all of them were positively correlated.Conclusions As a novel chiral-like honeycomb structure,it provides a biomechanical basis for the optimal design and clinical application of honeycomb sandwich structures as vertebral implant structures.

Objective To enhance the mechanical properties of trichiral honeycomb sandwich structures and satisfy the design criteria for vertebral implant structures.Methods A chiral-like honeycomb sandwich structure with an auxiliary support structure was constructed for optimal design.The finite element method was used to study the influence of the auxiliary support structure on the chiral-like honeycomb sandwich structure and the relationship between the support position and mechanical property parameters.Furthermore,the influence of the deformation mechanism of different structures on mechanical properties was discussed.Results All chiral-like honeycomb sandwich structures exhibited enhanced mechanical properties in comparison to trichiral honeycomb sandwich structures.The mechanical properties of the chiral-like dCW honeycomb sandwich structure with the auxiliary support structure positioned perpendicular to the ligament were optimal,and this position represented the optimal support position.When the volume was used as a control variable,the compressive stiffness,stiffness-to-mass ratio,and transverse strain of the chiral-like honeycomb sandwich structure in the x1 direction were significantly correlated with the change of the support position,and all of them were positively correlated.Conclusions As a novel chiral-like honeycomb structure,it provides a biomechanical basis for the optimal design and clinical application of honeycomb sandwich structures as vertebral implant structures.

Objective:To investigate the current situation of the use of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for portal hypertension, which should aid the development of TIPS in China.Methods:The China Portal Hypertension Alliance (CHESS) initiated this study that comprehensively investigated the basic situation of TIPS for portal hypertension in China through network research. The survey included the following: the number of surgical cases, main indications, the development of Early-TIPS, TIPS for portal vein cavernous transformation, collateral circulation embolization, intraoperative portal pressure gradient measurement, commonly used stent types, conventional anticoagulation and time, postoperative follow-up, obstacles, and the application of domestic instruments.Results:According to the survey, a total of 13 527 TIPS operations were carried out in 545 hospitals participating in the survey in 2021, and 94.1% of the hospital had the habit of routine follow-up after TIPS. Most hospitals believed that the main indications of TIPS were the control of acute bleeding (42.6%) and the prevention of rebleeding (40.7%). 48.1% of the teams carried out early or priority TIPS, 53.0% of the teams carried out TIPS for the cavernous transformation of the portal vein, and 81.0% chose routine embolization of collateral circulation during operation. Most of them used coils and biological glue as embolic materials, and 78.5% of the team routinely performed intraoperative portal pressure gradient measurements. In selecting TIPS stents, 57.1% of the hospitals woulel choose Viator-specific stents, 57.2% woulel choose conventional anticoagulation after TIPS, and the duration of anticoagulation was between 3-6 months (55.4%). The limitation of TIPS surgery was mainly due to cost (72.3%) and insufficient understanding of doctors in related departments (77.4%). Most teams accepted the domestic instruments used in TIPS (92.7%).Conclusions:This survey shows that TIPS treatment is an essential part of treating portal hypertension in China. The total number of TIPS cases is far from that of patients with portal hypertension. In the future, it is still necessary to popularize TIPS technology and further standardize surgical indications, routine operations, and instrument application.

Objective To explore the effects of Bushen Jiedu Formula combined with auricular pressure by coxherb seeds on cancer pain and quality of life in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Methods A total of 120 patients with advanced colorectal cancer admitted to our hospital from June 2019 to May 2023 were included in the study, and were randomly divided into two groups. The control group (60 cases) received routine nursing care and the "three-step" analgesic method to intervene pain, while the observation group (60 cases) received treatment with Bushen Jiedu Formula combined with auricular pressure by coxherb seeds on the basis of the control group. Both groups were treated for one month. The Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) score, the therapeutic effect, the quality of life (QOL) score and the occurrence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups before and after treatment, and the levels of substance P (SP), β-endorphin (β-EP) and prostaglandin E₂(PGE₂) of the two groups before and after treatment in serum were detected. Results After treatment, the NRS score and the levels of SP, β-EP and PGE₂ in the observation group were (2.23±0.64), (11.51±2.64) ng/mL, (78.64±9.46) ng/L and (41.90±6.32) ng/L, respectively, which were lower than (2.87±1.25), (15.64±2.42) ng/mL, (101.29±11.26) ng/L and (78.63±10.17) ng/L, respectively of the control group (P < 0.05). The total effective rate and QOL score of the observation group were 90.00% and (51.92±5.66), which were higher than 75.00% and (43.58±5.12), respectively of the control group (P < 0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion The combination of Bushen Jiedu Formula and auricular pressure by coxherb seeds can obviously improve the cancer-induced pain of patients with advanced colorectal cancer, improve their quality of life, and have good safety.

Colorectal tumors often create an immunosuppressive microenvironment that prevents them from responding to immunotherapy.Cannabidiol(CBD)is a non-psychoactive natural active ingredient from the cannabis plant that has various pharmacological effects,including neuroprotective,antiemetic,anti-inflammatory,and antineoplastic activities.This study aimed to elucidate the specific anticancer mechanism of CBD by single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)and single-cell ATAC sequencing(scATAC-seq)technologies.Here,we report that CBD inhibits colorectal cancer progression by modulating the suppressive tumor microenvironment(TME).Our single-cell transcriptome and ATAC sequencing results showed that CBD suppressed M2-like macrophages and promoted M1-like macrophages in tumors both in strength and quantity.Furthermore,CBD significantly enhanced the interaction between M1-like macrophages and tumor cells and restored the intrinsic anti-tumor properties of macrophages,thereby preventing tumor progression.Mechanistically,CBD altered the metabolic pattern of macro-phages and related anti-tumor signaling pathways.We found that CBD inhibited the alternative acti-vation of macrophages and shifted the metabolic process from oxidative phosphorylation and fatty acid oxidation to glycolysis by inhibiting the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B signaling pathway and related downstream target genes.Furthermore,CBD-mediated macrophage plasticity enhanced the response to anti-programmed cell death protein-1(PD-1)immunotherapy in xenografted mice.Taken together,we provide new insights into the anti-tumor effects of CBD.

Consecutively hospitalized patients with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China were retrospectively enrolled from January 2020 to March 2020 to investigate the association between the use of renin-angiotensin system inhibitor (RAS-I) and the outcome of this disease. Associations between the use of RAS-I (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)), ACEI, and ARB and in-hospital mortality were analyzed using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models in overall and subgroup of hypertension status. A total of 2771 patients with COVID-19 were included, with moderate and severe cases accounting for 45.0% and 36.5%, respectively. A total of 195 (7.0%) patients died. RAS-I (hazard ratio (HR)= 0.499, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.325-0.767) and ARB (HR = 0.410, 95% CI 0.240-0.700) use was associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality among patients with COVID-19. For patients with hypertension, RAS-I and ARB applications were also associated with a reduced risk of mortality with HR of 0.352 (95% CI 0.162-0.764) and 0.279 (95% CI 0.115-0.677), respectively. RAS-I exhibited protective effects on the survival outcome of COVID-19. ARB use was associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality among patients with COVID-19.
Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists/therapeutic use* ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; COVID-19 ; Humans ; Hypertension/drug therapy* ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; Retrospective Studies

Objective:To analyze the clinical efficacy of different treatment modalities and prognostic factors of patients with Masaoka-Koga stage Ⅲ thymoma.Methods:Clinical data of patients diagnosed with Masaoka-Koga stage Ⅲ thymoma admitted to Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2000 to December 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. A total of 133 patients had complete treatment and follow-up data. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the cumulative survival rate, log-rank method was used to compare the survival between two groups, and Cox regression model was used for multivariate analysis.Results:The median follow-up time was 50 months (3-221 months). The median overall survival (OS) was 51 (3-221) months, and the median disease-free survival (DFS) was 45 (2-221) months. The survival rate in the radical surgery group was better than that in the palliative surgery group. The 5- and 10-year OS rates in radical surgery group were 88.2% and 74.4% respectively, while in palliative surgery group were 51.8% and 32.4% respectively ( P<0.001). The 5- and 10-year DFS rates in radical surgery group were 72.2% and 45.5%, respectively, while in palliative surgery group were 32.3% and 16.1% respectively ( P=0.001). The OS in the surgery combined with radiotherapy group was better than that in the surgery alone group. The 5- and 10-year OS rates in the radical surgery group were 82.8% and 64.2% respectively, while in the palliative surgery group were 55.8% and 50.2% ( P=0.033). There was no significant difference in DFS between two groups ( P=0.176). Multivariate analysis showed that age < 50 years old ( HR=0.264, P=0.001), radical resection ( HR=0.134, P<0.001), surgery combined with radiotherapy ( HR=2.778, P=0.009) were independently associated with better OS. Age < 50 years old ( HR=0.550, P=0.046), radical resection ( HR=0.555, P=0.042), and invasion of single organ ( HR=0.111, P=0.003) were independently associated with better DFS. Conclusions:OS and DFS in patients undergoing radical surgery are significantly better than those in their counterparts treated with palliative surgery, which is the most important factor affecting prognosis. Surgery combined with radiotherapy yields better OS. It is necessary to design a rigorous and reasonable multicenter prospective study to evaluate the efficacy of various treatment modalities and prognostic factors.

Objective:To observe and summarise the clinical effect of free groin flap in repairing of soft tissue defects in extremities, and to explore the selection of main vessel in a flap.Methods:From January 2018 to January 2021, 146 patients with soft tissue defects in extremities were treated with free groin flaps in the Department of Hand and Microsurgery, Guangxi Guilin Xing'an Jieshou Orthopaedic Hospital. There were 126 patients with traumatic wound and 20 with chronic ulcer. In addition, 86 of the patients with bone fracture and exposure of internal fixator, 18 with tendon, nerve or artery injuries or defects. There were 6 patients with severe infection and other 3 with deep dead space. The sizes of wound ranged from 2.0 cm×3.0 cm to 25.0 cm×6.0 cm. The flap was the same size as the wound and not enlarged. Firstly, the superficial branch of superficial iliac circumflex artery was explored as the axial artery for all the flaps, then the blood supply vessels of the flap were selected according to the availability of the axial artery. The size, course, adjacent and possible length to be freed of the axial artery and the accompanying veins of a flap were recorded. The donor sites were directly sutured and closed. All patients were included in the postoperative follow-up at outpatient clinic.Results:Free groin flap were used to repair the wounds in all patients. However, the main blood supply vessel of the flap was not constant, and it was often required to adjust the way of flap harvesting. Superficial circumflex iliac artery was taken as the axial vessels in 141 patients (96.6%), among them, 133 cases(94.3%) had the superficial branch as the axis and 5 cases (3.6%) had deep branch as the axis. Three patients (2.1%) had the bone and soft tissue defects reconstructed with vascularised iliac mosaic osteocutaneous flap with superficial circumflex iliac artery as axial vessel and 5 cases(3.4%) had the superficial epigastric artery as axial vessel. The axial arteries were measured as follow: the superficial branch of the superficial circumflex iliac artery was 0.5-0.9 mm in diameter and 7.0-9.0 cm in length, the outer diameter of the deep branch was 1.2-1.4 mm and 9.0-11.0 cm in length, and the outer diameter of superficial epigastric artery was 1.0-1.6 mm and 8.0-11.3 cm in length. All the flaps survived smoothly after surgery and the follow-up period ranged 6-40 (mean 26) months. The texture of the flaps was soft with good function.Conclusion:Free groin flap can be used to repair soft tissue defects in extremities. The main axial vessel is the superficial branch of the superficial circumflex iliac artery, followed by the deep branch or the trunk. The superficial abdominal artery can also be used as an axial vessel. Under the circumstances, the flap design needs to be adjusted without changing the supply area

Objective: To conduct an epidemiological investigation on a cluster of overseas imported cases of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)in Qingtian County, Lishui,so as to provide reference for the prevention and control of COVID-19 imported from abroad. Methods: According to the COVID-19 Prevention and Control Program (FiFth Edition) issued by National Health Commission of China,a field investigation was employed and the close contacts of the case were tracked down ;the real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was performed to detect the nucleic acid of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from the sputum specimens or throat swabs of cases;the epidemiological characteristics,source of infection,route of transmission and disposal of the cluster were analyzed. Results: From March 1 to March 6,2020,eight confirmed cases and one asymptomatic case of COVID-19 were reported. Their median age was 33 years old. The nine cases all had no fever,no decrease in leukocyte and lymphocyte levels,and the clinical symptoms of seven cases were not obvious. The asymptomatic case had been tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 for six times,but had been weakly positive for IgM antibody and strongly positive for IgG antibody. Nine cases were all the employees of the same restaurant in Begamo,Italy. They lived in three independent villas and usually had lunch and dinner in the restaurant where they worked. Begamo had COVID-19 epidemic,but the staff of the restaurant did not take any protective measures such as wearing masks and environmental disinfection. Eight cases reported to have cold symptoms in Italy during mid February. Through a closed-loop management of“all people,all sites,all chains ”,such as treatment of current cases,screening and isolation of close contacts and health education,totally 372 close contacts were traced back,yet no fever or respiratory symptoms have been found. Conclusions It was a cluster of COVID-19 cases imported from abroad. The clinical symptoms of the cases were not obvious. Qingtian County adopted the closed-loop management in time,and effectively controlled the spread of the epidemic. No second-generation cases have been found.