Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics and risk factors of hospital-acquired pneumonia in elderly diabetic patients. Methods Elderly patients with diabetes mellitus who were hospitalized in the hospital were selected from October 2020 to October 2023 as the research subjects. The epidemiological characteristics of hospital-acquired pneumonia were analyzed, and the risk factors affecting hospital-acquired pneumonia in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus were analyzed . Results There were 65 cases of hospital-acquired pneumonia in 388 elderly patients with diabetes mellitus, with an incidence of 16.75%, of which 56.92% were males and 43.08% were females. The proportion of patients aged≥80 years was higher than that of patients aged<80 years. There were no significant differences in gender, body mass index, education level, course of diabetes mellitus, smoking history, drinking history, hypertension, coronary heart disease and anemia between groups (P>0.05), but significant differences were shown in age, hospitalization time, tracheal invasive operation, types of antibacterial drug use and dysphagia between both groups (P<0.05). Logistic multivariate analysis showed that age≥80 years old, hospitalization time≥30 d, tracheal invasive operation, use of antibacterial drugs≥ 2 types, and dysphagia were independent risk factors for hospital-acquired pneumonia in elderly diabetic patients (P<0.05). Conclusion The risk of hospital-acquired pneumonia is high in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus. Patients with age≥80 years old, hospitalization time≥30 days, tracheal invasive operation, abuse of antibacterial drugs and dysphagia are high-risk population. It is necessary to take active intervention measures for such patients.

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and spatiotemporal clustering of varicella in Lu'an City from 2005 to 2023, and to provide a scientific basis for optimizing varicella prevention and control strategies. Methods Data on varicella cases were collected through the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention Information System. Descriptive epidemiology, temporal trend analysis, seasonal analysis, spatiotemporal clustering analysis, and spatial autocorrelation analysis were conducted using QGIS, JoinPoint, SaTScan and GeoDa software. Results The average annual reported incidence rate of varicella in Lu'an City from 2005 to 2023 was 34.55/100,000, showing a trend of initial increase followed by a decrease. The peak incidence occurred from October to January of the following year (RR=1.97, LLR=1743.95, P=0.001). Students aged 0 to 19 was the primary affected group. Spatiotemporal scan analysis revealed four types of spatiotemporal clusters, with the cluster in Jin'an District from October 2017 to December 2023 being particularly prominent (RR=2.87，LLR=1734.15，P<0.001). Spatial autocorrelation analysis indicated significant clustering of varicella cases in the main urban area (Moran's I=0.216，Z=4.786，P=0.003). Conclusion The incidence of varicella in Lu'an City exhibits distinct seasonal and spatial clustering, and schools and kindergartens in the main urban area are the key to varicella prevention and control. It is necessary to enhance the monitoring of disease outbreaks during peak periods and in key areas, and to increase the two-dose vaccination rate for varicella in areas with case aggregation and among key populations.

This study investigates the effect and underlying mechanism of Guizhi Tongluo Tablets(GZTL) in treating atherosclerosis(AS) in a mouse model. Apolipoprotein E-knockout(ApoE~(-/-)) mice were randomly assigned to the following groups: model, high-, medium-, and low-dose GZTL, and atorvastatin(ATV), and age-matched C57BL/6J mice were selected as the control group. ApoE~(-/-) mice in other groups except the control group were fed with a high-fat diet for the modeling of AS and administrated with corresponding drugs via gavage for 8 weeks. General conditions, signs of blood stasis, and body mass of mice were monitored. Aortic plaques and their stability were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin, Masson, and oil red O staining. Serum levels of total cholesterol(TC), triglycerides(TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) were measured by biochemical assays, and those of interleukin-1β(IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), and interleukin-6(IL-6) were determined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Apoptosis was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL). Single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq) was employed to analyze the differential expression of CD72hi macrophages(CD72hi-Mφ) in the aortas of AS patients and mice. The immunofluorescence assay was employed to visualize CD72hi-Mφ expression in mouse aortic plaques, and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was utilized to determine the mRNA levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 in the aorta. The results demonstrated that compared with the control group, the model group exhibited significant increases in body mass, aortic plaque area proportion, necrotic core area proportion, and lipid deposition, a notable decrease in collagen fiber content, and an increase in apoptosis. Additionally, the model group showcased elevated serum levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6, alongside marked upregulations in the mRNA levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 in the aorta. In comparison with the model group, the GZTL groups and the ATV group showed a reduction in body mass, and the medium-and high-dose GZTL groups and the ATV group demonstrated reductions in aortic plaque area proportion, necrotic core area proportion, and lipid deposition, an increase in collagen fiber content, and a decrease in apoptosis. Furthermore, the treatment goups showcased lowered serum levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6. The data of scRNA-seq revealed significantly elevated CD72hi-Mφ signaling in carotid plaques of AS patients compared with that in the normal arterial tissue. Animal experiments confirmed that CD72hi-Mφ expression, along with several pro-inflammatory cytokines, was significantly upregulated in the aortas of AS mice, which were downregulated by GZTL treatment. In conclusion, GZTL may alleviate AS by inhibiting CD72hi-Mφ activity.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Atherosclerosis/immunology* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Macrophages/immunology* ; Male ; Humans ; Apolipoproteins E/genetics* ; Tablets ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Interleukin-1beta/genetics* ; Interleukin-6/genetics* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice, Knockout

This study was conducted retrospectively on a cohort of 68 patients with steroid 5 α-reductase 2 (SRD5A2) deficiency and 46,XY disorders of sex development (DSD). Whole-exon sequencing revealed 28 variants of SRD5A2 , and further analysis identified seven novel mutants. The preponderance of variants was observed in exon 1 and exon 4, specifically within the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-binding region. Among the entire cohort, 53 patients underwent initial surgery at Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital (Chengdu, China). The external genitalia scores (EGS) of these participants varied from 2.0 to 11.0, with a mean of 6.8 (standard deviation [s.d.]: 2.5). Thirty patients consented to hormone testing. Their average testosterone-to-dihydrotestosterone (T/DHT) ratio was 49.3 (s.d.: 23.4). Genetic testing identified four patients with EGS scores between 6 and 9 as having this syndrome; and their T/DHT ratios were below the diagnostic threshold. Furthermore, assessments conducted using the crystal structure of human SRD5A2 have provided insights into the potential pathogenic mechanisms of these novel variants. These mechanisms include interference with NADPH binding (c.356G>C, c.365A>G, c.492C>G, and c.662T>G) and destabilization of the protein structure (c.727C>T). The c.446-1G>T and c.380delG variants were verified to result in large alterations in the transcripts. Seven novel variations were identified, and the variant database for the SRD5A2 gene was expanded. These findings contribute to the progress of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for individuals with SRD5A2 deficiency.
Humans ; 3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase/genetics* ; Disorder of Sex Development, 46,XY/blood* ; Male ; Membrane Proteins/genetics* ; Child, Preschool ; Child ; Retrospective Studies ; Adolescent ; Female ; Mutation ; Testosterone/blood* ; Infant ; Dihydrotestosterone/blood*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role and mechanism of Brahma-related gene 1 (Brg1) in regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in a bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) model. METHODS: Wild-type C57BL/6 and Brg1^f1/f1 mice were randomly divided into four groups: wild-type control, wild-type BPD, Brg1^f1/f1 control, and Brg1^f1/f1 BPD (n=5 each). Immortalized mouse pulmonary alveolar type 2 cells (imPAC2) were cultured, and Brg1 gene was knocked down using lentivirus transfection technology. Cells were divided into three groups: control, empty vector, and Brg1 knockdown. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunofluorescence were used to detect pathological changes in mouse lung tissue. Western blot and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR were used to measure Brg1 protein and mRNA expression levels in mouse lung tissue. Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression of homeodomain-containing protein homeobox (HOPX), surfactant protein C (SPC), and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway proteins in mouse lung tissue and imPAC2 cells. The CCK8 assay was used to assess the proliferation of imPAC2 cells, and co-immunoprecipitation was performed to verify the interaction between Brg1 and β-catenin proteins in imPAC2 cells. RESULTS: Compared to the Brg1^f1/f1 control group and wild-type BPD group, the Brg1^f1/f1 BPD group showed increased alveolar diameter and SPC protein expression, and decreased relative density of pulmonary vasculature and HOPX protein expression (P<0.05). Compared to the control group, the Brg1 knockdown group showed increased cell proliferation ability, protein expression levels of SPC, Wnt5a and β-catenin, and β-catenin protein fluorescence intensity, along with decreased HOPX protein expression (P<0.05). An interaction between Brg1 and β-catenin proteins was confirmed. CONCLUSIONS The Brg1 gene may promote the proliferation of alveolar type 2 epithelial cells by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, thus influencing the occurrence and development of BPD.
Animals ; DNA Helicases/genetics* ; Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Wnt Signaling Pathway/physiology* ; Nuclear Proteins/genetics* ; Mice ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/etiology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; beta Catenin/physiology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Cell Proliferation ; Lung/pathology* ; Male

BACKGROUND: Children's respiratory health demonstrates particular sensitivity to air pollution. Existing evidence investigating the association between short-term ozone (O₃) exposure and childhood pneumonia remains insufficient and inconsistent, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). METHOD: To provide more reliable and persuasive evidence, we implemented a multi-city, time-stratified case-crossover design with a large sample size, using data from seven representative children's hospitals across major geographical regions in China. To avoid the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, individual-level medical records of inpatient children under 6 years of age diagnosed with pneumonia during 2016-2019 were collected. Conditional logistic regression models were fitted for each city, and city-specific estimates were pooled through a meta-analysis using a random-effects model. RESULTS: In total, the study included 137,470 pediatric pneumonia hospital admissions. The highest pooled estimate for O₃ occurred at lag0-1, with a 10 µg/m³ increase in O₃ associated with a 1.57% (95% CI: 0.67%-2.48%) higher risk of pediatric pneumonia hospital admissions. Stratified analyses indicated that the effects of O₃ were robust across different sexes, age groups, and admission seasons. We also observed a statistically significant increase in risk associated with O₃ concentrations exceeding the World Health Organization Air Quality Guidelines (WHO-AQGs). CONCLUSIONS This study revealed a significant positive association between O₃ and pediatric pneumonia hospital admissions. Our findings substantially strengthen the evidence base for the adverse health impacts of O₃, underscoring the importance of O₃ pollution control and management in reducing the public health burden of pediatric pneumonia.
Humans ; Ozone/analysis* ; China/epidemiology* ; Pneumonia/chemically induced* ; Child, Preschool ; Male ; Female ; Infant ; Cross-Over Studies ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data* ; Child ; Cities/epidemiology* ; Air Pollution/adverse effects* ; Infant, Newborn ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of different scanning conditions on the image quality of medical electron accelerator cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and provide a reference for the selection of scanning conditions for different body parts. Methods Set different scanning conditions, the Catphan 503 phantom was scanned using CBCT parameters to analyze the influence of spatial resolution, noise, uniformity, spatial geometric accuracy, and low-contrast resolution on the image quality of CBCT. RESULTS: For the head, chest, and abdomen, with the increase in scanning parameter values, the noise value decreased by 47.4%, 26.1%, and 51.3% respectively, and the uniformity values decreased by 30.2%, 26.6%, and 47.9% respectively. The low-contrast resolution values decreased by 50.6%, 34.2%, and 12.0%. The influence of different scanning conditions on spatial geometric accuracy and spatial resolution is not significant. CONCLUSION Different scanning parameters have a certain influence on the image quality of medical electron accelerator CBCT. Lower scanning parameters can be selected based on individual patients to reduce the additional radiation dose, providing a reference for the safe application of CBCT image guidance in radiotherapy.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography/instrumentation* ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Particle Accelerators

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of Xuanshen Yishen Decoction (XYD) in the treatment of hypertension. METHODS: Hospital electronic medical records from 2019-2023 were utilized to emulate a randomized pragmatic clinical trial. Hypertensive participants were eligible if they were aged ⩾40 years with baseline systolic blood pressure (BP) ⩾140 mm Hg. Patients treated with XYD plus antihypertensive regimen were assigned to the treatment group, whereas those who followed only antihypertensive regimen were assigned to the control group. The primary outcome assessed was the attainment rate of intensive BP control at discharge, with the secondary outcome focusing on the 6-month all-cause readmission rate. RESULTS: The study included 3,302 patients, comprising 2,943 individuals in the control group and 359 in the treatment group. Compared with the control group, a higher proportion in the treatment group achieved the target BP for intensive BP control [8.09% vs. 17.5%; odds ratio (OR)=2.29, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.68 to 3.13; P<0.001], particularly in individuals with high homocysteine levels (OR=3.13; 95% CI=1.72 to 5.71; P<0.001; P for interaction=0.041). Furthermore, the 6-month all-cause readmission rate in the treatment group was lower than in the control group (hazard ratio=0.58; 95% CI=0.36 to 0.91; P=0.019), and the robustness of the results was confirmed by sensitivity analyse. CONCLUSIONS XYD could be a complementary therapy for intensive BP control. Our study offers real-world evidence and guides the choice of complementary and alternative therapies. (Registration No. ChiCTR2400086589).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Antihypertensive Agents/pharmacology* ; Blood Pressure/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Hypertension/physiopathology* ; Patient Readmission ; Treatment Outcome

Infectious keratitis (IK) is a leading cause of blindness worldwide, primarily resulting from improper contact lens use, trauma, and a compromised immune response. The pathogenic microorganisms responsible for IK include bacteria, fungi, viruses, and Acanthamoeba. This review examines standard therapeutic agents for treating IK, including broad-spectrum empiric antibiotics for bacterial keratitis (BK), antifungals such as voriconazole and natamycin for fungal infections, and antiviral nucleoside analogues for viral keratitis (VK). Additionally, this review discusses therapeutic agents, such as polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB), for the treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK). The review also addresses emerging drugs and the challenges associated with their clinical application, including anti-biofilm agents that combat drug resistance and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) pathway-targeted therapies to mitigate inflammation. Furthermore, methods of Photodynamic Antimicrobial Therapy (PDAT) are explored. This review underscores the importance of integrating novel and traditional therapies to tackle drug resistance and enhance drug delivery, with the goal of advancing treatment strategies for IK.

The statement of"qi transformation leading to the removal of pathogenic dampness"was recorded in Wen Bing Tiao Bian(Analysis on Epidemic Febrile Diseases)written by the Qing Dynasty physician WU Ju-Tong.Dampness in the triple energizer is caused by the dysfunction of qi transformation,and the treatment of dampness must be based on the activation of qi movement and focused on the promotion of qi movement and the restoration of the qi transformation in the triple energizer.For the treatment of dampness attack in the upper energizer,therapies of dispersing lung to smooth qi and resolving dampness to relieve the obstruction are recommended.For the treatment of dampness obstruction in the middle energizer,therapy of activating spleen qi by strengthening spleen and moving qi is stressed for helping the removal of dampness and for the eradication of the source of dampness.For the treatment of dampness stagnation in the lower energizer,therapy of draining dampness with sweet-light medicines and activating yang can be used according to the illness status.The three methods of treating dampness,namely dispersing the upper energizer,activating the middle energizer and draining the lower energizer,all embody the mechanism of"qi transformation leading to the removal of pathogenic dampness",and the therapies of dispersing lung with light medicines,inducing perspiration by opening striated layer,eliminating dampness with aromatics and draining dampness with sweet-light medicines should be used in accordance with the syndromes.The elucidation of the academic thoughts of"qi transformation leading to the removal of pathogenic dampness"can provide theoretical reference for the fundamental research of dampness syndrome and clinical application of therapies for resolving dampness in Chinese medicine.