BACKGROUND:Alzheimer's disease has been associated with sarcopenia,but a causal relationship has not been established.Exploring the causal relationship between the two most common disability-burdening diseases in the aging population-Alzheimer's disease and sarcopenia-and their potential mediating factors holds certain implications for further alleviating the healthcare costs and socioeconomic burden for older adults in China.OBJECTIVE:To explore the potential causal relationship between Alzheimer's disease and sarcopenia in the general population using a Mendelian randomization study and to explore the role of body mass index in this context.METHODS:Two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis based on published genome-wide association studies(GWAS)were used to infer causality,and univariate Mendelian randomization and mediation analyses were used in the study design.Through the Integrative Epidemiology Unit(IEU)database,ieu-b-2 was selected as the Alzheimer's disease dataset(sample size:63 926),ieu-b-4816 as the body mass index dataset(99 998),ebi-a-GCST90000027 as the appendicular lean mass dataset(244 730),ukb-b-7478 as the left hand grip strength dataset(461 026),ukb-b-10215 as the right hand grip strength dataset(461 089)and ukb-b-4711 as the walking pace dataset(459 915).Inverse-variance weighting was used as the primary analysis method,and the results were validated by pleiotropy and heterogeneity analysis.The Steiger Directionality Test was performed to validate the reasonableness of the causal direction.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The Mendelian randomization analyses provided evidence that Alzheimer's disease predicted the risk of appendicular lean mass[odds ratio(OR)=1.009;95％confidence interval(Cl),1.001-1.017;P=0.023),and walking pace(OR=1.010;95％Cl,1.003-1.017;P=0.008).No correlation with hand grip strength was observed.(2)Alzheimer's disease was negatively correlated with body mass index(OR=0.893;95％Cl,0.811-0.984;P=0.022);body mass index was positively correlated with appendicular lean mass(OR=1.084;95％Cl,1.031-1.141;P=0.002)and negatively correlated with walking pace(OR=0.975;95％Cl,0.969-0.980;P＜0.001).(3)Mediation analyses showed that the causal relationship between Alzheimer's disease and appendicular lean mass and walking pace was partially mediated by body mass index,with the proportion of mediations being 50.25％and 32.11％,respectively.(4)The results of this study suggest that based on large-scale population studies,genetic prediction of Alzheimer's disease is a potential risk factor for sarcopenia,in which body mass index plays an important mediating role.This suggests that in clinical practice,attention should be paid to the muscle condition of patients with Alzheimer's disease,and weight management should be implemented,as maintaining a body mass index within the normal high range may have a preventive effect on the occurrence of sarcopenia in patients with Alzheimer's disease.However,further research is needed to verify the applicability of this conclusion to other ethnic groups.This study utilized an international public database for analysis,providing a reference for research on the correlation between Alzheimer's disease and sarcopenia in the Chinese population.It also highlights the significant mediating role of body mass index,offering insights for further prevention and treatment of sarcopenia among Chinese individuals.

The pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease （MASLD） is fundamentally rooted in spleen deficiency and is closely associated with phlegm turbidity， damp-heat and blood stasis. Clinically， liver constraint with spleen deficiency and internal retention of damp turbidity represent the predominant traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome patterns. Researches have indicated intrinsic connections between the syndrome patterns and biological indicators such as gut microbiota and metabolic profiles. Regarding treatment， classical famous formulas， modern empirical formulas， and newly developed TCM drugs show positive effects in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism， improving insulin resistance， and alleviating metabolic inflammation， exhibiting multi-target mechanisms of action； acupuncture and other external therapies also provide adjunctive value. Nevertheless， current researches still have limitations such as the lack of high-quality clinical evidence and insufficient systematic elucidation of the uncerlying mechanisms. Future efforts should focus on conducting high-quality TCM clinical trials with hard endpoint outcomes such as hepatic histology outcomes， and utilizing modern technologies like multi-omics to elucidate TCM's mechanisms of action， thereby advancing the position of TCM as a first-line therapeutic strategy for MASLD.

BACKGROUND:Alzheimer's disease has been associated with sarcopenia,but a causal relationship has not been established.Exploring the causal relationship between the two most common disability-burdening diseases in the aging population-Alzheimer's disease and sarcopenia-and their potential mediating factors holds certain implications for further alleviating the healthcare costs and socioeconomic burden for older adults in China.OBJECTIVE:To explore the potential causal relationship between Alzheimer's disease and sarcopenia in the general population using a Mendelian randomization study and to explore the role of body mass index in this context.METHODS:Two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis based on published genome-wide association studies(GWAS)were used to infer causality,and univariate Mendelian randomization and mediation analyses were used in the study design.Through the Integrative Epidemiology Unit(IEU)database,ieu-b-2 was selected as the Alzheimer's disease dataset(sample size:63 926),ieu-b-4816 as the body mass index dataset(99 998),ebi-a-GCST90000027 as the appendicular lean mass dataset(244 730),ukb-b-7478 as the left hand grip strength dataset(461 026),ukb-b-10215 as the right hand grip strength dataset(461 089)and ukb-b-4711 as the walking pace dataset(459 915).Inverse-variance weighting was used as the primary analysis method,and the results were validated by pleiotropy and heterogeneity analysis.The Steiger Directionality Test was performed to validate the reasonableness of the causal direction.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The Mendelian randomization analyses provided evidence that Alzheimer's disease predicted the risk of appendicular lean mass[odds ratio(OR)=1.009;95％confidence interval(Cl),1.001-1.017;P=0.023),and walking pace(OR=1.010;95％Cl,1.003-1.017;P=0.008).No correlation with hand grip strength was observed.(2)Alzheimer's disease was negatively correlated with body mass index(OR=0.893;95％Cl,0.811-0.984;P=0.022);body mass index was positively correlated with appendicular lean mass(OR=1.084;95％Cl,1.031-1.141;P=0.002)and negatively correlated with walking pace(OR=0.975;95％Cl,0.969-0.980;P＜0.001).(3)Mediation analyses showed that the causal relationship between Alzheimer's disease and appendicular lean mass and walking pace was partially mediated by body mass index,with the proportion of mediations being 50.25％and 32.11％,respectively.(4)The results of this study suggest that based on large-scale population studies,genetic prediction of Alzheimer's disease is a potential risk factor for sarcopenia,in which body mass index plays an important mediating role.This suggests that in clinical practice,attention should be paid to the muscle condition of patients with Alzheimer's disease,and weight management should be implemented,as maintaining a body mass index within the normal high range may have a preventive effect on the occurrence of sarcopenia in patients with Alzheimer's disease.However,further research is needed to verify the applicability of this conclusion to other ethnic groups.This study utilized an international public database for analysis,providing a reference for research on the correlation between Alzheimer's disease and sarcopenia in the Chinese population.It also highlights the significant mediating role of body mass index,offering insights for further prevention and treatment of sarcopenia among Chinese individuals.

OBJECTIVE To carry out regular monitoring of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP)contamination status in the environment of intensive care unit(ICU)and take targeted prevention and control measures so as to reduce the incidence of hospital-associated infections with multidrug-resistant organisms(MDROs).METHODS The surfaces of surroundings of the patients who were colonized and infected with CRKP in the ICU of grade A tertiary hospital of Shanghai and the hands of relevant staff were sampled by stages from Jan 1,2021 to Jun 30,2024.The distribution of the CRKP strains in the surroundings were analyzed according to the locations positive for CRKP,and the disinfection measures were accordingly and continuously modified.The trend of isolation rate of CRKP strains from the ICU patients was analyzed during the time period when the measures were implemented.RESULTS Totally 266 environmental samples were collected during the baseline period(from Jan.1 2021 to Dec.31 2021),265 during intervention period(from Jan.1 2022 to Dec.31 2023),274 during con-solidation period(from Jan.1 to Jun.30 2024);the isolation rates of the CRKP strains were 4.51％,4.91％and 3.65％,respectively.The isolation rate of the strains was highest from the bed unit(10.40％),followed by the article for public use(6.74％),articles used by health care workers(2.98％)and diagnosis and treatment arti-cles(1.91％).The isolation rate of CRKP of the patients was 24.75％during the baseline period,15.48％during the intervention period,5.69％during the consolidation period,showing a continuously downward trend(x2=30.330,P＜0.001).CONCLUSION It is necessary to regularly carry out the environmental monitoring of CRKP strains,seek for the weak links of environmental disinfection and implement the intensified prevention and control measures so as to reduce the incidence of CRKP infection,which may provide theoretical bases for effective control of the CRKP strains.

Objective The biomechanical performance of Ilizarov fixator models with different configurations for humeral shaft defect was compared,so as to provide a biomechanical basis for selecting the appropriate circular external fixation structure for the clinical treatment of humeral shaft defects using Ilizarov technology.Methods Based on CT data of the humerus from a healthy volunteer,the external fixators with three configurations,namely,hybrid frame,semi-ring frame and 90° fan frame were established.The finite element method was used to simulate the displacement and stress distribution under different loading conditions,and the finite element results were validated by biomechanical tests.Results Finite element analysis results:in terms of displacement,under compression,tensile and torque conditions,the displacement of 90° fan model was smaller than that of hybrid and semi-ring models.In terms of stress,the 90° fan model had the smallest displacement under tensile condition.In compression and torque tests,the semi-annular model had the lowest stress.Biomechanical test results:the semi-ring model exhibited the smallest displacement under axial compression,but there was no significant difference between the three models(P＞0.05).Conclusions The semi-ring and 90° fan frames can achieve a similar stability as the traditional hybrid frame through the strategy of'reducing the ring and increasing the stem'.The unilateral structure of the 90° fan frame has the advantages of small size,light weight,and structural stability,as well as a small impact on the shoulder and elbow joints,which makes it more valuable in clinical applications.

Objective:To analyze the clinical efficacy of pasteurization-inactivated tumor bone replantation combined with intramedullary vascularized fibula for reconstructing bone defects after surgery for malignant bone tumors in children and adolescents.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the data of 54 patients who underwent pasteurization-inactivated tumor bone replantation combined with intramedullary vascularized fibula reconstruction for bone defects after surgery for malignant bone tumors at the Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor Treatment Center of Peking University People's Hospital from September 2015 to September 2023. There were 39 males and 15 females, with an age of 12.4±5.6 years (range, 4 to 23 years). The tumor types included 33 cases of osteosarcoma, 19 cases of Ewing sarcoma, and 2 cases of soft tissue sarcoma. All cases were at Enneking stage IIB. The tumor locations were 30 cases in the femur, 19 cases in the tibia, 4 cases in the ilium, and 1 case in the humerus. The survival rate, bone healing time, tumor recurrence, and metastasis were observed. The limb function was evaluated using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS)-93 score.Results:All patients successfully completed the surgery and were followed up, with a follow-up time of 44.6±27.1 months (range, 12 to 96 months). The operation time was 527±132 min (range, 150 to 730 min), and the blood loss was 730±591 ml (range, 300 to 2,800 ml). The length of inactivated tumor bone was 16.5±4.5 cm (range, 9.1 to 24.0 cm), the defect length accounted for 43.4%±12.2% of the total length of the affected bone (range, 23.8% to 75.5%), the proximal osteotomy of the long bones in the extremities was 14.1±8.3 cm from the articular surface (range, 1.9 to 31.1 cm), the distal osteotomy was 9.4±6.2 cm from the articular surface (range, 1.7 to 22.9 cm), and the length of the harvested vascularized fibula was 18.0±4.0 cm (range, 11.0 to 26.4 cm). At the last follow-up, 51 patients were alive, including 47 with no evidence of tumor and 4 with tumor; 3 patients died of tumor progression. Local recurrence occurred in 5 patients, including 4 with soft tissue recurrence in the surgical area (3 underwent surgical resection and 1 received radiotherapy) and 1 with recurrence at the site of inactivated bone. Distant metastasis occurred in 11 patients, including 5 with lung metastasis only, 2 with bone metastasis only, and 4 with combined lung and bone metastasis. Among the 5 patients with lung metastasis only, lung metastases were resected, with 3 surviving with tumor, 2 surviving without tumor; the 2 patients with bone metastasis only underwent surgical resection of bone metastases, both surviving without tumor. Among the 4 patients with combined lung and bone metastasis, 3 died of tumor progression and 1 survived with tumor. The Kaplan-Meier curve showed a 5-year survival rate of 90.8%±6.2% and a 5-year recurrence-free and metastasis-free survival rate of 68.7%±7.9%. The osteotomy healing time at the diaphysis was 8.4±2.3 months (range, 4 to 13 months), the osteotomy healing time at the metaphysis was 5.9±1.7 months (range, 3 to 10 months), and the healing time between inactivated tumor bone and fibula was 6.4±2.0 months (range, 4 to 11 months). No nonunion occurred. The MSTS-93 score at the last follow-up was 94.4%±4.8% (range, 80% to 100%).Conclusion:Pasteurization-inactivated tumor bone replantation combined with intramedullary vascularized fibula reconstruction for bone defects after surgery for malignant bone tumors in children and adolescents has satisfactory clinical efficacy, high bone healing rate, and low rates of local recurrence and distant metastasis.

Objective:To evaluate the preliminary clinical efficacy of minimally invasive extendable prostheses in limb-salvage treatment for distal femoral osteosarcoma in children.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 36 children who underwent reconstruction of bone defects after distal femoral osteosarcoma resection with minimally invasive extendable prostheses at Peking University People's Hospital between December 2021 and December 2023. The cohort included 22 males and 14 females, with a mean age of 10.1±2.7 years (range: 4.3-14.3 years). Among them, 27 cases were primary tumor resections with post-resection bone defects of 17.4±3.2 cm (range: 13.5-25.0 cm), and 9 cases were revision surgeries. Preoperatively, femoral limb length discrepancy (LLD) was 29.6±14.3 mm (range: -1.2-55.0 mm), tibial LLD was 16.0±11.3 mm (range: -4.8-30.0 mm), and total lower limb LLD was 45.1±23.6 mm (range: -5.5-77.0 mm). The prosthesis was modular and compatible with existing tumor prosthesis components via taper connections. Lengthening was achieved by axial screw manual expansion through a 3-4 cm parapatellar arc incision, using a specialized wrench for adjustment. X-rays were performed pre-implantation, before and after each lengthening, and at the last follow-up to assess femoral, tibial, and total lower limb LLD, as well as extension length. At the final follow-up, limb function was assessed using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS)-93 score, and extension-related complications were analyzed.Results:All 36 children successfully underwent implantation and subsequent extension when indicated. The mean follow-up was 14.9±8.1 months (range: 6-31 months). Eleven patients underwent 16 lengthening procedures, with a mean of 1.5±0.8 per case (range: 1-3) and an average extension of 21.1±8.3 mm (range: 9.2-42.8 mm), achieving a total mean recovery of 31.0±16.1 mm (range: 10.4-61.7 mm). Two patients reached the maximum 5 cm extension capacity and underwent minor procedures to retract the extension device and secure the prosthesis. The remaining 25 patients did not require extension as their LLD was <2 cm. At the last follow-up, femoral, tibial, and total lower limb LLDs were 10.6±11.4 mm (range: -8.6-41.4 mm), 9.1±12.7 mm (range: -9.5-39.5 mm), and 20.1±21.0 mm (range: -10.4-72.5 mm), respectively. The mean MSTS-93 score for the 11 extended patients was 90.0%±12.7% (range: 80.0%-96.7%). Complications included two cases of aseptic loosening requiring revision, one transient peroneal nerve palsy after fixed-length filling, and three cases of prosthesis segment retraction due to excessive exercise. Retractions occurred at 9.1±3.3 months (range: 5.3-11.3 months) and were corrected during subsequent extensions without revision.Conclusions:Minimally invasive extendable prostheses allow individualized limb lengthening through small parapatellar incisions based on LLD and soft tissue tension. The extension mechanism is stable, and functional recovery is favorable.

OBJECTIVE To carry out regular monitoring of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP)contamination status in the environment of intensive care unit(ICU)and take targeted prevention and control measures so as to reduce the incidence of hospital-associated infections with multidrug-resistant organisms(MDROs).METHODS The surfaces of surroundings of the patients who were colonized and infected with CRKP in the ICU of grade A tertiary hospital of Shanghai and the hands of relevant staff were sampled by stages from Jan 1,2021 to Jun 30,2024.The distribution of the CRKP strains in the surroundings were analyzed according to the locations positive for CRKP,and the disinfection measures were accordingly and continuously modified.The trend of isolation rate of CRKP strains from the ICU patients was analyzed during the time period when the measures were implemented.RESULTS Totally 266 environmental samples were collected during the baseline period(from Jan.1 2021 to Dec.31 2021),265 during intervention period(from Jan.1 2022 to Dec.31 2023),274 during con-solidation period(from Jan.1 to Jun.30 2024);the isolation rates of the CRKP strains were 4.51％,4.91％and 3.65％,respectively.The isolation rate of the strains was highest from the bed unit(10.40％),followed by the article for public use(6.74％),articles used by health care workers(2.98％)and diagnosis and treatment arti-cles(1.91％).The isolation rate of CRKP of the patients was 24.75％during the baseline period,15.48％during the intervention period,5.69％during the consolidation period,showing a continuously downward trend(x2=30.330,P＜0.001).CONCLUSION It is necessary to regularly carry out the environmental monitoring of CRKP strains,seek for the weak links of environmental disinfection and implement the intensified prevention and control measures so as to reduce the incidence of CRKP infection,which may provide theoretical bases for effective control of the CRKP strains.

Jiuwei Xifeng Granules have become a Chinese patent medicine in the market. Because the formula contains Os Draconis, a top-level protected fossil of ancient organisms, the formula was to be improved by replacing Os Draconis with Ostreae Concha. To evaluate whether the improved formula has the same effectiveness and safety as the original formula, a randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled, equivalence clinical trial was conducted. This study enrolled 288 tic disorder(TD) of children and assigned them into two groups in 1∶1. The treatment group and control group took the modified formula and original formula, respectively. The treatment lasted for 6 weeks, and follow-up visits were conducted at weeks 2, 4, and 6. The primary efficacy endpoint was the difference in Yale global tic severity scale(YGTSS)-total tic severity(TTS) score from baseline after 6 weeks of treatment. The results showed that after 6 weeks of treatment, the declines in YGTSS-TSS score showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. The difference in YGTSS-TSS score(treatment group-control group) and the 95%CI of the full analysis set(FAS) were-0.17[-1.42, 1.08] and those of per-protocol set(PPS) were 0.29[-0.97, 1.56], which were within the equivalence boundary [-3, 3]. The equivalence test was therefore concluded. The two groups showed no significant differences in the secondary efficacy endpoints of effective rate for TD, total score and factor scores of YGTSS, clinical global impressions-severity(CGI-S) score, traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) response rate, or symptom disappearance rate, and thus a complete evidence chain with the primary outcome was formed. A total of 6 adverse reactions were reported, including 4(2.82%) cases in the treatment group and 2(1.41%) cases in the control group, which showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. No serious suspected unexpected adverse reactions were reported, and no laboratory test results indicated serious clinically significant abnormalities. The results support the replacement of Os Draconis by Ostreae Concha in the original formula, and the efficacy and safety of the modified formula are consistent with those of the original formula.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Tic Disorders/drug therapy* ; Treatment Outcome

[Purpose]To analyze the trends of incidence and mortality of thyroid cancer in the cancer registration areas of Nanning City from 2016 to 2020.[Methods]The incidence and mor-tality data of thyroid cancer from 2016 to 2020 were collected from the Nanning cancer registries,and the the quality of data was assessed.The crude incidence/mortality rates,the age-standar-dized incidence/mortality rates by Chinese standard population(ASIRC,ASMRC)and world stan-dard population(ASIRW,ASMRW),the cumulative incidence/mortality rates(0～74 years old),and the age-specific incidence/mortality rates were calculated.The Joinpoint regression model was used to estimate the trends of incidence and mortality,expressed as average annual percentage change(AAPC).[Results]From 2016 to 2020,a total of 2 291 new cases of thyroid cancer were reported in Nanning cancer registries.The crude incidence rate was 7.70/105 with the ASIRC of 7.23/105 and ASIRW of 6.22/105,the cumulative incidence rate was 0.59％.The incidence was higher in female than that in male,and higher in urban areas than that in rural areas.The incidence rate of thyroid cancer began to rise sharply from the 20 years old and reached peak in the age group of 50～54 years old.The incidence rate in female remained at a high level in the age group of 30～59 years old,which was higher than that in male.A total of 121 deaths of thyroid cancer were re-ported with a crude mortality rate of 0.41/105,ASMRC of 0.32/105,ASMRW of 0.31/105 and cu-mulative mortality rate of 0.03％.The mortality rate was higher in female than that in male.The age-specific mortality rate for thyroid cancer showed a fluctuant upward trend after the 40 years old and peaked in the age group of 75～79 years old.The crude incidence rate and ASIRC showed an upward trend in whole population(AAPC=21.11％,t=3.25,P＜0.05;AAPC=22.02％,t=3.39,P＜0.05),in male(AAPC=19.45％,t=4.35,P＜0.05;AAPC=19.81％,t=5.74,P＜0.05)and urban areas(AAPC=30.62％,t=7.13,P＜0.05;AAPC=32.38％,t=7.25,P＜0.05).The crude mortality rate and ASMRC in urban areas(AAPC=43.06％,t=7.73,P＜0.05;AAPC=47.63％,t=8.60,P＜0.05)also showed an increasing trend.[Conclusion]The crude incidence rate and ASIRC of thyroid cancer in cancer registration areas of Nanning City showed an overall upward trend from 2016 to 2020,except in rural areas;while the rising trends of the crude mortality rate and ASMRC were only observed in urban areas.