A 56-year old male patient was admitted to the hospital due to “fatigue accompanied by yellow staining of the skin and sclera” for one week. The patient had a history of heavy alcohol consumption for over 30 years, consuming an average of approximately 150 mL of 40%vol alcohol daily. Upon admission, liver function tests revealed a total bilirubin level of 292.6 μmol/L, alanine aminotransferase of 716.0 U/L, and a prothrombin time of 14.6 s. Imaging examinations indicated liver cirrhosis, splenomegaly, and ascites. After admission, the patient received comprehensive treatment including hepatoprotective and cholagogic therapy for over one week. However, bilirubin levels continued to rise progressively. After excluding causes such as viral hepatitis and autoimmune liver disease, the patient was diagnosed with subacute alcoholic liver failure. Gastroscopy revealed multiple gastric ulcers, posing a risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. Under close monitoring, a short course of low-dose methylprednisolone therapy (starting at 40 mg/d) was initiated for a total of 12 d. On day 7 of corticosteroid therapy, the Lille score was 0.142, indicating a complete response (effective corticosteroid therapy), and the liver function gradually improved. During the treatment, the patient developed progressive thrombocytopenia (reaching a nadir of 35.0×10⁹/L), which was resolved after treatment with Leucogen and recombinant human thrombopoietin. Follow-up after discharge showed normal liver function and blood routine tests. This case suggests that a short course of low-dose glucocorticoid therapy is a safe and feasible option for patients with alcoholic liver failure complicated by a risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, under the premise of fully assessing the risks and benefits and closely monitoring clinical indicators.

Objective:To investigate the inflammatory indicator levels and influencing factors on middle-aged and elderly male residents at different residential distances from a uranium mine in Guangdong, so as to provide scientific data for the health risk assessment of the residents therein.Methods:With stratified sampling method, two groups of the permanent middle-aged and elderly male residents were randomly sampled within < 10 km and 10-20 km of the uranium mine, along with the basic demographic characteristics and lifestyle information collected through face-to-face questionnaire survey. Both height and weight of the respondents were measured using standard method and their body mass indexes (BMI) were calculated. Through collection of the venous blood, the levels of a wide range of inflammatory indicators were measured, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), complement C3, complement C4, leukocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and others. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the influencing factors on the levels of inflammation indicators.Results:A total of 867 middle-aged and elderly male residents were included in this study, including one group of 431 residents within the 10-20 km at an average age of 51.54±5.37, and a second group of 436 residents within <10 km at an average age of 52.05±5.24. The result of multiple linear regression showed a positive correlation of the distance groups with complement C4 level ( β=0.014, 95% CI: 0.001-0.027) and lymphocyte number ( β=0.086, 95% CI: 0.003-0.168) ( t=2.07, 2.04, P<0.05). The ages of middle-aged and elderly male residents around the uranium mine was positively correlated ( t=2.50, P<0.05) with the levels of complement C4 ( β=0.018, 95% CI: 0.004-0.031), and negatively correlated ( t=-3.25, -2.97, P<0.05) with the levels of TNF-α ( β=-63.022, 95% CI: -101.114 to -24.929) and IL-6 ( β=-14.694, 95% CI: -24.396 to -4.992). Smoking was positively correlated ( t=4.29, 4.81, 3.19, P<0.05) with leukocytes number ( β=0.630, 95% CI: 0.341-0.918), lymphocytes number ( β=0.226, 95% CI: 0.134-0.319) and neutrophils number ( β=0.372, 95% CI: 0.143-0.601), and negatively correlated ( t=-2.07, -1.98, P<0.05) with the levels of TNF-α ( β=-43.551, 95% CI: -84.778 to -2.324) and IL-6 ( β=-10.603, 95% CI: -21.103 to -0.102). BMI was positively correlated ( t=8.60, 3.62, 3.18, 4.01, 2.10, P<0.05) with complement C3 level ( β=0.108, 95% CI: 0.084-0.133), complement C4 level ( β=0.026, 95% CI: 0.012-0.039), leukocytes number ( β=0.433, 95% CI: 0.166-0.699), lymphocyte number ( β=0.175, 95% CI: 0.089-0.261), and neutrophil number ( β=0.226, 95% CI: 0.014-0.438). Fruit consumption ( β=0.017, 95% CI: 0.001-0.034) was positively correlated with complement C4 levels ( t=2.10, P<0.05). Conclusions:This study showed no significant correlation between the inflammatory index levels of middle-aged and elderly male residents around the uranium mine and uranium mining. Age, smoking, BMI and fruit consumption were the influencing factors on the levels of inflammatory indicators of middle-aged and elderly male residents.

Objective:To investigate differential gene expression, enriched biological processes, and pathway differences between residents of a high-background radiation area (HBRA), Yangjiang, and a control area—Enping.Methods:Seven residents were selected from the HBRA (the HBRA group) and seven from the control area (the control group) using the two-stage random sampling method. The cumulative radiation dose for each individual was calculated based on the ambient gamma exposure levels. Peripheral blood samples were collected and analyzed via high-throughput sequencing to identify differentially expressed genes. Subsequent analyses included gene ontology (GO) for biological process (BP), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA).Results:The median ages of the HBRA and control groups had no statistically significant difference ( P = 0.370). The cumulative external doses for the HBRA and control groups were (99.59±20.07) and (33.82±10.61) mSv, respectively. This difference was statistically significant ( t = -5.88, P = 0.001). High-throughput sequencing identified 1 224 differentially expressed genes in the HBRA group, including 32 senescence-related genes, compared to the control group. The result of GO-BP analysis showed that these genes were predominantly enriched in cell signaling, biosynthesis, localization, cell cycle regulation, and cellular stress responses. KEGG analysis revealed significant enrichment in the chemokine and MAPK signaling pathways, as well as in pathways related to the cell cycle, autophagy, and mitophagy. Furthermore, GSEA analysis confirmed that the differentially expressed genes were mainly related to cell cycle regulation and mitochondrial functions. Conclusions:Differentially expressed mRNAs are found in the peripheral blood of residents in the HBRA. These mRNAs are predominantly associated with key biological processes and pathways, including cell cycle regulation, chemokine and MAPK signaling pathways, and mitophagy.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of case-based learning(CBL)-problem-based learning(PBL)-evidence-based medicine(EBM)integrated teaching method in the standardized training of nephrology resident physicians.Methods Sixty internal medicine trainees who were on a 2-month rotation in the Department of Nephrology between February 1st,2023 and August 31st,2023,were recruited and randomized 1∶1 into the CBL-PBL-EBM group and the CBL group.The scores of the two groups in the theoretical assessment,case analysis,and general skills were compared at the end of the rotation.Results There was no significant difference between experimental group and control group(45.21±3.67 vs 44.02±4.90,P＞0.05).The test scores of test groups were higher than those of control group(42.48±2.35 vs 38.45±3.24,P＜0.05),and the comprehensive scores were higher than those of control group(92.24±1.69 vs 89.21±1.56,P＜0.05).At the same time,the scores of the experimental group in independent learning,literature query ability,critical thinking,and induction and summary ability were al-so significantly better than those of the control group,with statistical significance(P＜0.05).Conclusion The CBL-PBL-EBM teaching method is better than the CBL teaching method,which can effectively achieve the training goals and enhance the overall competence of nephrology trainees.

Objective:To investigate the adjunctive diagnostic value of retinal imaging structural parameters combined with apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene polymorphisms for Alzheimer′s disease (AD).Methods:It was a case-control study, 71 confirmed AD patients who attended the Department of Neurology in Sichuan Provincial People′s Hospital from May 2023 to June 2024 and 156 healthy medical checkups who participated in medical checkups in the Health Management Center were continuously with convenience sampling method; the subjects were included as the AD case group and healthy control group, respectively. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to measure the structural parameters of retinal imaging such as the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and the retinal nerve fiber layer-inner plexiform layer (RNFL-IPL) in the study subjects. Information on demographic characteristics and disease history of the study participants were collected through a questionnaire, and venous blood was collected to test for ApoE gene polymorphisms. The retinal imaging structural parameters, ApoE gene polymorphisms and other related indicators were included in a multifactorial logistic regression model to analyze the main factors affecting the risk of AD. Based on the results of the multifactorial analysis, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted and the areas under the curve (AUC) were calculated to evaluate the efficacy of different models in the adjunctive diagnosis of AD.Results:Of the 227 study subjects included in the analysis, 153 were females and 74 were males; there were 71 cases in the AD case group with a mean age of (66.73±8.83) years, and there were 156 subjects in the healthy control group with an average age of (61.95±8.21) years. Educational attainment of elementary school and below ( OR=4.683, 95% CI: 2.133-10.282), living visual acuity<0.5 ( OR=2.716, 95% CI: 1.12-6.583), and carrying ≥1 ApoE ε4 genes ( OR=5.331, 95% CI: 2.309-11.891) were positively correlated with the risk of AD. RNFL thickening ( OR=0.923, 95% CI: 0.854-0.998) was negatively associated with the risk of AD (all P<0.05). The AD risk assessment model (Model 4), which included fundus imaging features and ApoE gene polymorphisms, had the highest predictive efficacy (AUC=0.857, P<0.001). Conclusion:Retinal imaging structural parameters differ significantly between AD patients and healthy examinees, and a risk assessment model combining retinal imaging structural parameters and ApoE gene polymorphisms has high predictive value and is expected to serve as an auxiliary diagnostic tool for AD.

Objective:To investigate the application effect of web-based problem-based learning (WPBL) versus traditional teaching in the teaching of geriatric medicine courses.Methods:PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, CBMdisc, and Wanfang Data were searched for clinical studies on the application of WPBL in the teaching of geriatric medicine courses in China and globally published up to October 1, 2023. After literature screening, data extraction, and quality assessment, RevMan5.4.1 was used to perform a systematic review.Results:A total of 14 eligible articles were included in this study, with 1 436 medical students as the subjects and geriatric medicine as the content of teaching. The Meta-analysis showed that WPBL teaching had a better effect than traditional problem-based learning or lecture-based learning in the teaching of geriatric medicine courses and could improve the theoretical examination score [mean difference (MD)=3.53, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.77-5.29, P<0.001], operational skills (MD=5.92, 95%CI=2.67-9.18, P<0.001), critical thinking ability (MD=9.30, 95%CI=5.43-13.18, P<0.001), and teaching satisfaction (MD=1.75, 95%CI=1.49-2.01, P<0.001) among medical students. Conclusions:WPBL in the teaching of geriatric medicine courses can improve the theoretical examination score, operational skills, critical thinking skills, and teaching satisfaction among medical students.

AIM:To investigate the protective ef-fect of plumbagin(PL)against pulmonary fibrosis(PF)and its possible mechanisms.METHODS:Sixty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control,bleomycin group(BLM),low dose PL group(1 mg/kg)and high dose PL group(2 mg/kg).The mice PF model was replicated using intratracheal injection of BLM(3 mg/kg),and then PL(1 or 2 mg/kg)was injected intraperitoneally for 3 weeks and the animals were executed.HE and Masson staining were used to observe morphological changes in lung tissue and collagen deposition.The activities or levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD),glutathione(GSH),malondialdehyde(MDA)and hy-droxyproline(HYP)were measured in mouse lung tissue;ELISA for interleukin-6(IL-6)in mouse lung tissue.Immunohistochemical detection of nuclear factor-related factor 2(Nrf2)and reduced nicotin-amide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4(NOX4)positive cell expression in mouse lung tis-sue.The expression levels of α-smooth muscle ac-tin(α-SMA),collagen Ⅰ(Col Ⅰ),collagen Ⅲ(Col Ⅲ),IL-6,transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1),p-Smad2,Nrf2 and NOX4 were detected by Western blotting.RESULTS:Compared with the BLM group,PL treatment attenuated lung parenchymal and in-terstitial injury and extracellular matrix deposition in mice,reduced HYP content(P＜0.01,P＜0.05),de-creased protein expression of α-SMA,collagen Ⅰand Ⅲ(P＜0.01,P＜0.05),diminished IL-6 secretion(P＜0.01);improved the body's antioxidant capacity(increased SOD and GSH activity and decreased MDA content,P＜0.01,P＜0.05),significantly down-regulated TGF-β1,p-Smad2 and NOX4-positive cells and protein expression(P＜0.01,P＜0.05)and up-regulated Nrf2-positive cells and protein expression(P＜0.01,P＜0.05).CONCLUSION:PL may slow down the PF process by modulating the TGF-β1/Smad2 and Nrf2/NOX4 pathways to attenuate inflammato-ry responses and collagen deposition and improve the body's antioxidant capacity.

Objective To observe the effects of remimazolam combined with alfentanil in elderly obese patients undergoing painless gastrointestinal endoscopy.Methods A total of 110 elderly obese patients who underwent painless gastrointestinal endoscopy in the hospital from January 2021 to December 2023 were divided into group A and group B according to the random number table method,with 55 cases in each group.Group A and group B were anesthetized with propofol combined with alfentanil and remifentanil combined with alfentanil,respectively.The sedation effect,gastrointestinal motility(serum gastrin and motilin concentrations),postoperative fatigue syndrome(POFS),induction time,examination time,recovery time,room exit time,and intraoperative adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.Results The excellent and good sedation rate in group B was 94.55％,higher than 81.82％in group A(P＜0.05).Group B had shorter recovery time and room exit time[(8.26±1.73)min,(28.51±4.26)min]compared to group A[(12.49±1.27)min,(37.63±5.45)min](P＜0.05).At the time of leaving the post-anesthesia care unit(T2),serum gastrin and motilin levels in group B[(97.53±18.81)pg/ml,(535.43±82.61)pg/ml]were higher than those in group A[(88.59±17.54)pg/ml,(504.62±83.19)pg/ml](P＜0.05).The duration of POFS in group B[(4.36±1.18)h]was longer than that in group A[(3.49±1.37)h](P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of intraoperative adverse reactions between group B(7.27％)and group A(18.18％)(P＞0.05).Conclusion The use of remimazolam combined with alfentanil in elderly obese patients undergoing painless gastrointestinal endoscopy provides better sedation,shorter recovery and room exit times,and less inhibition of excitatory gastrointestinal hormone secretion,which is beneficial for the recovery of gastrointestinal motility.However,the duration of POFS is longer.

OBJECTIVE To observe the etiological characteristics,serum C-reactive protein(CRP),interleukin-10(IL-10),procalcitonin(PCT)and treatment outcomes of the children with pneumonia.METHODS A total of 350 children with pneumonia who were treated in Jinhua People's Hospital from Sep.2021 to Sep.2023 and 30 healthy children matched with age and gender who received physical examination were recruited as the research subjects.The etiological characteristics,serum CRP,IL-6,PCT and treatment outcomes of the children with pneumonia were observed.RESULTS The etiological isolation rate was 74.00％(259/350)among the 350 children,the chil-dren who had viral infection accounted for 39.38％,the children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae(MP)infection 32.82％,the children with bacterial infection 20.08％,the children with mixed infections 7.72％.The viral infec-tion was prevalent in winter and was more common among the children aged between 1 and 3 years old;Myco-plasma pneumoniae infection was more common among the children aged between 3 and 6 years old.The CRP levels of the viral infection group,the bacterial infection group,the M.pneumoniae infcection group and the mixed infection group were(10.53±1.54),(38.11±9.32),(21.07±6.55)and(33.33±8.11)mg/L,respectively,higher than those of the healthy children and the children negative for etiological test.The PCT levels of the viral infection group,the bacterial infection group,the M.pneumoniae infcection group and the mixed infection group were(0.61±0.17),(2.84±0.51),(1.35±0.31)and(2.41±0.46)ng/ml,respectively,higher than those of the healthy children and the children negative for etiological test.The IL-10 levels of the viral infection group,the bacterial infection group,the M.pneumoniae infcection group and the mixed infection group were(23.47±5.12),(26.45±7.15),(25.45±5.03)and(25.29±6.05)pg/ml,respectively,higher than those of the healthy children and the children negative for etiological test(P＜0.05).The levels of CRP and PCT of the bacterial infection group and the mixed infection group were higher than those of the M.pneumoniae infcection group,and the level of above indexes of the M.pneumoniae infcection group were higher than those of the viral infection group(P＜0.05).Among 259 children who were confirmed positive for etiological test,237 had favorable treatment out-comes,and 22 had poor treatment outcomes.The rate of poor treatment outcomes of the children with viral infec-tion was higher than that of the children with M.pneumoniae infcection(x2=5.930,P=0.015);the rate of poor treatment outcomes of the children with mixed infection was higher than that of the children with M.pneumoniae infcection(x2=9.954,P＜0.001).CONCLUSIONS The children with viral infection are dominant among the children with pneumonia,followed by the children with M.pneumoniae infcection.The rate of poor treatment outcomes of the children with viral infection or mixed infection is relatively high,the children with M.pneumoniae infcection generally have favorable treatment outcomes.The children with viral infection have slight increases of peripheral blood CRP and PCT,while the children with bacterial infection and mixed infection have a remarkable rise.

Obesity is a risk factor and pathological basis for various chronic non-communicable diseases and is an important risk factor leading to human mortality and disability. The harm of obesity to the body includes not only various systemic diseases but also some ocular diseases. Currently, the higher pursuit of life and visual quality has led to increased attention to the etiology and prevention of ocular diseases, and the impact of obesity on ocular diseases has been gradually discovered. This article reviews the impact of obesity on certain ocular diseases to deepen the understanding of obesity's impact on ocular diseases and provide a reference for the prevention and treatment of ocular diseases.