Background: Twenty-four-hour urinary free cortisol (UFC) measurement is the initial diagnostic test for Cushing’s syndrome (CS). We compared UFC determination by both direct and extraction immunoassays using Abbott Architect, Siemens Atellica Solution, and Beckman DxI800 with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). In addition, we evaluated the value of 24-hr UFC measured by six methods for diagnosing CS. Methods: Residual 24-hr urine samples of 94 CS and 246 non-CS patients were collected.A laboratory-developed LC-MS/MS method was used as reference. UFC was measured by direct assays (D) using Abbott, Siemens, and Beckman platforms and by extraction assays (E) using Siemens and Beckman platforms. Method was compared using Passing–Bablok regression and Bland–Altman plot analyses. Cut-off values for the six assays and corresponding sensitivities and specificities were calculated by ROC analysis. Results: Abbott-D, Beckman-E, Siemens-E, and Siemens-D showed strong correlations with LC-MS/MS (Spearman coefficient r = 0.965, 0.922, 0.922, and 0.897, respectively), while Beckman-D showed weaker correlation (r = 0.755). All immunoassays showed proportionally positive bias. The areas under the curve were 0.975 for Abbott-D, 0.972 for LCMS/MS, 0.966 for Siemens-E, 0.948 for Siemens-D, 0.955 for Beckman-E, and 0.877 for Beckman-D. The cut-off values varied significantly (154.8–1,321.5 nmol/24 hrs). Assay sensitivity and specificity ranged from 76.1% to 93.2% and from 93.0% to 97.1%, respectively. Conclusions Commercially available immunoassays for measuring UFC show different levels of analytical consistency compared to LC-MS/MS. Abbott-D, Siemens-E, and Beckman-E have high diagnostic accuracy for CS.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD） is a multisystem disease associated with obesity， insulin resistance， and dyslipidemia and has a complex pathogenesis. Studies have shown that gut microbiota dysbiosis is closely associated with the onset of NAFLD， and traditional Chinese medicine treatment can improve the laboratory markers and clinical symptoms of NAFLD patients by regulating intestinal microbiota and its metabolites. This article elaborates on the association between NAFLD and gut microbiota， the involvement of gut microbiota dysbiosis in the pathogenesis of NAFLD， and the possible mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine treatment in improving NAFLD from the perspective of gut microbiota， in order to provide new ideas for the treatment of NAFLD.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of leucocyte-reduced pooled platelet concentrates from whole blood stored at 4℃,and provide theoretical basis for the components preparation.Methods The collected 400 mL ACD-B antico-agulant whole blood was randomly divided into two groups,stored at 4℃and room temperature.The buffy coat was prepared within 6 hours and store at 22℃until next day to prepare leucocyte-reduced pooled platelet concentrates.Platelet samples on day 1,3,5 and 7 were taken for the blood cell count and related parameter detection.The pH,glucose and lactic acid con-tent were determined to reflect the metabolic status,and the thromboelastography,platelet aggregation rate and PAC-1 and CD62P expression were determined to reflect the function and activation of platelets.The difference in platelets between two groups were analyzed.Results With the extension of storage time,the count of leucocyte-reduced pooled platelet concen-trates decreased gradually,but the platelets distribution width(PDW),mean platelet volume(MPV)and platelet-larger cell ratio(P-LCR)increased gradually in two groups,with no statistical significance(P＞0.05).The pH and glucose con-tents in two groups gradually decreased,but the lactic acid content gradually increased,with no significant difference(P＞0.05).The thrombelastogram showed MA value that reflecting platelet function has no significant change during the storage,and there was no significant difference between the two groups(P＞0.05).The aggregation rates decreased while the expres-sion of PAC-1 and CD62P increased gradually with the prolongation of preservation time,with no significant difference be-tween the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion There is no significant difference in platelet count,function and activation between whole blood stored at 4℃and at room temperature within 6 hours.Whole blood stored at 4℃within 6 hours can be considered as the raw material for leucocyte-reduced pooled platelet concentrates.

Clinicians need to focus on various points in the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia.This article prescribed the treatment protocol based on the unique features,such as insomnia in the elderly,women experiencing specific physiologi-cal periods,children insomnia,insomnia in sleep-breathing disorder patients,insomnia in patients with chronic liver and kidney dysfunction.It pro-vides some reference for clinicians while they make decision on diagnosis,differentiation and treat-ment methods.

Objective To investigate the knowledge and behavioral status of foot care among patients with type 2 diabetes in Xinjiekou Community in Beijing and analyze its influencing factors. Methods A convenient sampling method was used to select 278 diabetes patients from Xinjiekou Community in Beijing for questionnaire surveys, which included general information, foot care knowledge, and behaviors of the patients. Results The average score of foot care knowledge among the 278 patients was (71.65±14.59), indicating a moderate level overall. The average score of foot care behavior was (48.83±8.83), indicating a poor level overall. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed that gender, duration of diabetes, and whether the patients had received foot care education or not were independent influencing factors for both the foot care knowledge score and the foot care behavior score among community diabetes patients (P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that a positive correlation between foot care knowledge and foot care behavior among community diabetes patients was observed(r=0.593, P < 0.001). Conclusion The level of foocare knowledge among diabetes patients in this community in Beijing is moderate, while the status of foot care behaviors is not optimistic. Community healthcare professionals should strengthen health education on foot care, improve patients' knowledge of foot care and compliance with foot care behaviors, and pay attention to male patients and those with a shorter duration of diabetes to reduce the occurrence of diabetic foot.

A middle-aged man was presented with poor appetite, polyuria, polydrpsia, and headache. A sellar mass was found, along with total pituitary hypofunction and visual field defect. A biopsy of the lesion via the trans-sphenoidal approach showed inflammatory changes and granuloma formation. However, repeated cerebrospinal fluid and pathogenic examination of the pathological tissue showed no positive indications. The initial diagnosis considered autoimmune hypophysitis, and treatment of glucocorticoids combined with immunosuppressants was administered, which led to a temporary shrinkage of the lesion, but it gradually enlarged subsequently. After multidisciplinary discussion, a high possibility of pituitary tuberculosis infection was decided upon. After standardized anti-tuberculosis treatment was initiated, the lesion reduced noticeably and the patient′s condition improved. Pituitary tuberculosis infection is incredibly rare and extremely easy to misdiagnose. This case was diagnosed and treated in a timely and effective manner through a multidisciplinary approach, highlighting the importance of such an approach in dealing with rare diseases.

Severe muscle injury is hard to heal and always results in a poor prognosis. Recent studies found that extracellular vesicle-based therapy has promising prospects for regeneration medicine, however, whether extracellular vesicles have therapeutic effects on severe muscle injury is still unknown. Herein, we extracted apoptotic extracellular vesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs-ApoEVs) to treat cardiotoxin induced tibialis anterior (TA) injury and found that MSCs-ApoEVs promoted muscles regeneration and increased the proportion of multinucleated cells. Besides that, we also found that apoptosis was synchronized during myoblasts fusion and MSCs-ApoEVs promoted the apoptosis ratio as well as the fusion index of myoblasts. Furthermore, we revealed that MSCs-ApoEVs increased the relative level of creatine during myoblasts fusion, which was released via activated Pannexin 1 channel. Moreover, we also found that activated Pannexin 1 channel was highly expressed on the membrane of myoblasts-derived ApoEVs (Myo-ApoEVs) instead of apoptotic myoblasts, and creatine was the pivotal metabolite involved in myoblasts fusion. Collectively, our findings firstly revealed that MSCs-ApoEVs can promote muscle regeneration and elucidated that the new function of ApoEVs as passing inter-cell messages through releasing metabolites from activated Pannexin 1 channel, which will provide new evidence for extracellular vesicles-based therapy as well as improving the understanding of new functions of extracellular vesicles.
Creatine/metabolism* ; Extracellular Vesicles ; Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism* ; Myoblasts/metabolism* ; Regeneration ; Connexins/metabolism*

A case of familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia type 1 (FHH1) was reported detailing the course of diagnosis and treatment. The main clinical manifestations of the patient were recurrent pancreatitis with moderate hypercalcemia and low urinary calcium. The C→T heterozygous missense mutation at nucleotide 2 393 with conversion of codon Pro798 to Leu (p.P155L) in CaSR gene was identified. Serum calcium and parathyroid hormone levels of the patient were decreased significantly after treatment with cinacalcet.

Objective:To compile the post quality standard scale for wound, ostomy and continence nurses in China and to test the reliability and validity of the scale.Methods:The first draft of the scale was formed through literature review, semi-structured interview and Delphi expert letter consultation. Using the purposive sampling method, a total of 796 wound, ostomy and continence nurses from 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions of China were selected from April to May 2019 to test the reliability and validity of the scale. A total of 796 questionnaires were sent out and 693 were effectively received, with effective recovery of 87.1%.Results:The post quality standard scale for wound, ostomy and continence nurses included 3 first-level items and 77 second-level items. Three common factors were extracted from exploratory factor analysis and the cumulative variance contribution rate was 72.466%. The correlation coefficient between the first-level items was 0.709-0.898 and the correlation coefficient between the first-level item and the total scale was 0.859-0.937. The Cronbach's α coefficient of the total amount table was 0.992 and the half-fold reliability coefficient was 0.917 ( P<0.01) . Conclusions:The post quality standard scale for wound, ostomy and continence nurses has good reliability and validity, which can be used to evaluate the post quality of wound, ostomy and continence nurses.

Objective:To analyze the clinical features of tuberculous peritonitis (TBP).Methods:The clinical data of 252 TBP patients admitted to three hospitals in Wuhu area from January 2014 to June 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, and the clinical characteristics of TBP patients of different genders and ages were compared. SPSS 26.0 software was used to analyze the data.Results:Among 252 TBP patients, 130 were males (51.6%) and 122 were females (48.4%). History of abdominal surgery, abdominal masses, reproductive disorders, genital tuberculosis, and delay in diagnosis were more common in female patients (all P<0.01); while fever, cough/sputum expectoration, intestinal tuberculosis and active tuberculosis were more common in male patients (all P<0.01). The proportion of adenosine deaminase in ascites (ADA) ≥35 U/L, strong positive tuberculin test or T-cell spot test in middle-aged and elderly patients was lower than that in young patients ( P<0.01), but there was no significant difference between different genders. Compared with young patients, middle-aged and elderly patients had a low complete response rate, a high proportion of irregular medications, a high incidence of gastrointestinal reactions, liver damage and overall adverse reactions (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Female patients with TBP have fewer symptoms of systemic tuberculosis and high rate of delay in diagnosis, and are prone to complicated with reproductive tuberculosis. In middle-aged and elderly patients with TBP, the sensitivity of ADA and tuberculosis tests is decreased, and the anti-tuberculosis therapy is less effective. The study indicates that the clinical diagnosis and treatment of TBP should be optimized based on the gender and age of patients.