Background: Adrenocortical hormones, particularly 11-oxygenated androgens, are pivotal in female reproductive health and fertility. Standardized detection kits and population-specific reference intervals are lacking in China, hindering related clinical applications. Methods: A HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) pipeline was developed, rigorously validated, and applied to simultaneously quantify corticosterone, cortisone, cortisol, 18-OH cortisol, androstenedione (A4), 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione (11-OH A4), dehydroepiandrosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in serum samples from 455 reproductive-aged women (18–45 yrs) in Guangxi, China. Age-dependent concentration trends were analyzed, and reference intervals stratified by age (2.5th to 97.5th percentiles) were established. Correlations with body-composition metrics, ethnicity, and the menstrual cycle were investigated. Results: The HPLC-MS/MS method demonstrated high precision (intra- and inter-assay CVs < 15%), accuracy, and sensitivity. All eight hormones exhibited significant age-related declines (P < 0.001 for seven hormones; P = 0.001 for 11-OH A4). Notably, 11-OH A4 levels were significantly lower in the 35–45-yr (3.05 nmol/L) and 25–34-yr (3.09 nmol/L) age groups than in the 18–24-yr (3.57 nmol/L) age group, whereas no significant difference was observed between the 35–45-yr and 25–34-yr age groups. Weak negative correlations were observed between the body mass index and corticosterone and cortisone levels, whereas ethnicity and the menstrual cycle showed no significant associations with hormone levels. Conclusions We developed an HPLC-MS/MS-based method for simultaneously quantifying eight adrenocortical hormones, including 11-OH A4, and defined age-specific reference intervals for reproductive-aged Chinese women. These findings advance the clinical utility of adrenocortical hormones in diagnosing and managing reproductive disorders.

Objective To explore the relationship between serum levels of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1(sTREM-1),procalcitonin(PCT)combined with endotoxin(ET)and prognosis of patients with severe pneumonia.Methods 200 cases of severe pneumonia and 100 cases of common pneumonia admitted to Jinhua People's Hospital from January 2022 to January 2023 were selected as study group and control group respectively.Patients in study group were divided into death group and survival group according to the prognosis of 28 days.Serum sTREM-1,PCT and ET levels were detected in all patients,and the differences among all groups were compared;The relationship between serum indexes and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ(APACHE Ⅱ)on the first day of admission was analyzed;Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of serum sTREM-1,PCT and ET levels on the first day after admission to the hospital.Results Serum sTREM-1,PCT and ET levels in study group were significantly higher than those in control group on the 1st day after admission(P＜0.05).Serum sTREM-1,PCT,ET levels and APACHE Ⅱ score in death group were significantly increased on the 4th and 7th day after admission compared with the 1st day(P＜0.05),while the above indexes in survival group were significantly decreased on the 4th and 7th day after admission compared with the 1st day(P＜0.05).Serum sTREM-1,PCT,ET levels and APACHE Ⅱ scores in severe pneumonia death group were significantly higher than those in survival group on the 1st day,4th day and 7th day after admission(P＜0.05).Serum sTREM-1,PCT,ET levels were positively correlated with APACHE Ⅱ score(P＜0.05),and serum indexes were positively correlated in severe pneumonia patients on the 1st day after admission(P＜0.05).When serum sTREM-1＞56.90ng/L on the 1st day after admission,the sensitivity and specificity of patients with severe pneumonia was 89.13％and 75.32％respectively;When PCT＞12.97μg/L,the sensitivity and specificity was 76.09％and 85.06％;When ET＞13.62pg/ml,the sensitivity was 73.91％and the specificity was 66.88％;The sensitivity and specificity was 89.13％and 96.75％respectively detected by the three indexes combined.Conclusion Serum sTREM-1,PCT,ET levels are highly expressed in severe pneumonia,which is closely related to the prognosis of patients,and the combined detection of the three indexes is of great value in predicting the death of patients with severe pneumonia.

Objective To explore the relationship between serum levels of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1(sTREM-1),procalcitonin(PCT)combined with endotoxin(ET)and prognosis of patients with severe pneumonia.Methods 200 cases of severe pneumonia and 100 cases of common pneumonia admitted to Jinhua People's Hospital from January 2022 to January 2023 were selected as study group and control group respectively.Patients in study group were divided into death group and survival group according to the prognosis of 28 days.Serum sTREM-1,PCT and ET levels were detected in all patients,and the differences among all groups were compared;The relationship between serum indexes and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ(APACHE Ⅱ)on the first day of admission was analyzed;Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of serum sTREM-1,PCT and ET levels on the first day after admission to the hospital.Results Serum sTREM-1,PCT and ET levels in study group were significantly higher than those in control group on the 1st day after admission(P＜0.05).Serum sTREM-1,PCT,ET levels and APACHE Ⅱ score in death group were significantly increased on the 4th and 7th day after admission compared with the 1st day(P＜0.05),while the above indexes in survival group were significantly decreased on the 4th and 7th day after admission compared with the 1st day(P＜0.05).Serum sTREM-1,PCT,ET levels and APACHE Ⅱ scores in severe pneumonia death group were significantly higher than those in survival group on the 1st day,4th day and 7th day after admission(P＜0.05).Serum sTREM-1,PCT,ET levels were positively correlated with APACHE Ⅱ score(P＜0.05),and serum indexes were positively correlated in severe pneumonia patients on the 1st day after admission(P＜0.05).When serum sTREM-1＞56.90ng/L on the 1st day after admission,the sensitivity and specificity of patients with severe pneumonia was 89.13％and 75.32％respectively;When PCT＞12.97μg/L,the sensitivity and specificity was 76.09％and 85.06％;When ET＞13.62pg/ml,the sensitivity was 73.91％and the specificity was 66.88％;The sensitivity and specificity was 89.13％and 96.75％respectively detected by the three indexes combined.Conclusion Serum sTREM-1,PCT,ET levels are highly expressed in severe pneumonia,which is closely related to the prognosis of patients,and the combined detection of the three indexes is of great value in predicting the death of patients with severe pneumonia.

Objective:To analyze the current adoption of palliative care by patients with unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in China.Methods:From 1 March 2023 to 30 June 2023, a questionnaire survey was conducted by random sampling. An exclusive research platform for the Blue Book on Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. An online questionnaire was sent to medical oncologists (including chief physicians, associate chief physicians, attending physicians and residents) in general hospitals and oncology hospitals in four major regions of East, Central, South and Northeast China. The questionnaire contained 28 questions requesting basic information about doctors, the number of patients with mCRC, the status of treatment from first to fourth line and beyond, points concerning treatment of pain in patients with mCRC, and expectations for the future. A medical team was responsible for the quality control of data collected, whereas statisticians performed the data cleaning and sorting and statistical analysis.Results:A total of 300 clinical questionnaires were collected, including 217 (72%) from doctors in general hospitals and 83 (28%) from doctors in oncology hospitals. Senior physicians (including associate chief physicians and chief physicians) accounted for 65% of the respondents, attending physicians 30%, and residents 5%. Within 3 months (average for each month), 46.4±26.6% patients were diagnosed with recurrent or unresectable mCRC by each physician, 51.6±26.8% of the patients being in cancer hospitals and 44.4±26.3% in general hospitals. One hundred percent of patients receiving first-line treatment received palliative care, as did 80.3% of those receiving second-line treatment, 58.2% of those receiving third-line treatment, and 35.1% of those receiving ≥fourth-line treatment. The primary factor governing selection of first-line treatment was guideline recommendations, whereas comorbidities and the patients' physical status dictated second line to fourth line treatment. Standard first-line treatment was administered to 93.8% of eligible patients, standard second-line treatment to 94.3%; and standard third-line treatment to 73.5%. First-line therapy included targeted therapy in 63.6% of patients and immunotherapy in 2.8%; second-line therapy included targeted therapy in 63.0% of patients and immunotherapy in 2.0%; third-line therapy included targeted therapy in 59.2% of patients and immunotherapy in 2.2%; and fourth-line therapy included targeted therapy in 48.7% of patients and immunotherapy in 3.1%. First-line treatment lasted an average of 9.6 months, second-line treatment 6.7 months, third-line treatment 4.9 months, and fourth-line treatment 3.7 months. More than 70% of the patients maintained a good quality of life after receiving first and second-line treatment and more than 60% of them had ECOG performance scores of 0–1. After receiving third- and fourth-line treatment, 50%–60% of patients maintained a good quality of life and 40%–50% of them maintained ECOG performance scores of 0–1. The survey also revealed that the main deficiencies in treatment were limited effectiveness of third-line treatment, insufficient availability and opportunity for clinical research, popularity of new drugs or new drug combination strategies, and limited channels for participation in multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment. Clinicians reported looking forward to participating in more clinical research on new drugs, hearing about the experience of experts in the field, and discovery of new targets and new drugs that increased the options for posterior line treatment of colorectal cancer.Conclusions:This report objectively summarizes the current situation, treatment difficulties, and expectations of frontline physicians concerning management of mCRC, thus providing a basis for decision-making and future direction for the diagnosis and research on treatment of mCRC.

Humans ; Nasal Polyps/epidemiology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Rhinosinusitis ; Asthma/epidemiology* ; Sinusitis/epidemiology* ; Chronic Disease

Objective:To analyze the current adoption of palliative care by patients with unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in China.Methods:From 1 March 2023 to 30 June 2023, a questionnaire survey was conducted by random sampling. An exclusive research platform for the Blue Book on Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. An online questionnaire was sent to medical oncologists (including chief physicians, associate chief physicians, attending physicians and residents) in general hospitals and oncology hospitals in four major regions of East, Central, South and Northeast China. The questionnaire contained 28 questions requesting basic information about doctors, the number of patients with mCRC, the status of treatment from first to fourth line and beyond, points concerning treatment of pain in patients with mCRC, and expectations for the future. A medical team was responsible for the quality control of data collected, whereas statisticians performed the data cleaning and sorting and statistical analysis.Results:A total of 300 clinical questionnaires were collected, including 217 (72%) from doctors in general hospitals and 83 (28%) from doctors in oncology hospitals. Senior physicians (including associate chief physicians and chief physicians) accounted for 65% of the respondents, attending physicians 30%, and residents 5%. Within 3 months (average for each month), 46.4±26.6% patients were diagnosed with recurrent or unresectable mCRC by each physician, 51.6±26.8% of the patients being in cancer hospitals and 44.4±26.3% in general hospitals. One hundred percent of patients receiving first-line treatment received palliative care, as did 80.3% of those receiving second-line treatment, 58.2% of those receiving third-line treatment, and 35.1% of those receiving ≥fourth-line treatment. The primary factor governing selection of first-line treatment was guideline recommendations, whereas comorbidities and the patients' physical status dictated second line to fourth line treatment. Standard first-line treatment was administered to 93.8% of eligible patients, standard second-line treatment to 94.3%; and standard third-line treatment to 73.5%. First-line therapy included targeted therapy in 63.6% of patients and immunotherapy in 2.8%; second-line therapy included targeted therapy in 63.0% of patients and immunotherapy in 2.0%; third-line therapy included targeted therapy in 59.2% of patients and immunotherapy in 2.2%; and fourth-line therapy included targeted therapy in 48.7% of patients and immunotherapy in 3.1%. First-line treatment lasted an average of 9.6 months, second-line treatment 6.7 months, third-line treatment 4.9 months, and fourth-line treatment 3.7 months. More than 70% of the patients maintained a good quality of life after receiving first and second-line treatment and more than 60% of them had ECOG performance scores of 0–1. After receiving third- and fourth-line treatment, 50%–60% of patients maintained a good quality of life and 40%–50% of them maintained ECOG performance scores of 0–1. The survey also revealed that the main deficiencies in treatment were limited effectiveness of third-line treatment, insufficient availability and opportunity for clinical research, popularity of new drugs or new drug combination strategies, and limited channels for participation in multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment. Clinicians reported looking forward to participating in more clinical research on new drugs, hearing about the experience of experts in the field, and discovery of new targets and new drugs that increased the options for posterior line treatment of colorectal cancer.Conclusions:This report objectively summarizes the current situation, treatment difficulties, and expectations of frontline physicians concerning management of mCRC, thus providing a basis for decision-making and future direction for the diagnosis and research on treatment of mCRC.

Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) is one of the most common causes of drug-resistant epilepsy. Dysmorphic neurons are the major histopathological feature of type II FCD, but their role in seizure genesis in FCD is unclear. Here we performed whole-cell patch-clamp recording and morphological reconstruction of cortical principal neurons in postsurgical brain tissue from drug-resistant epilepsy patients. Quantitative analyses revealed distinct morphological and electrophysiological characteristics of the upper layer dysmorphic neurons in type II FCD, including an enlarged soma, aberrant dendritic arbors, increased current injection for rheobase action potential firing, and reduced action potential firing frequency. Intriguingly, the upper layer dysmorphic neurons received decreased glutamatergic and increased GABAergic synaptic inputs that were coupled with upregulation of the Na⁺-K⁺-Cl^- cotransporter. In addition, we found a depolarizing shift of the GABA reversal potential in the CamKII-cre::PTEN^flox/flox mouse model of drug-resistant epilepsy, suggesting that enhanced GABAergic inputs might depolarize dysmorphic neurons. Thus, imbalance of synaptic excitation and inhibition of dysmorphic neurons may contribute to seizure genesis in type II FCD.
Animals ; Drug Resistant Epilepsy/surgery* ; Epilepsy/pathology* ; Malformations of Cortical Development/pathology* ; Malformations of Cortical Development, Group I ; Mice ; Neurons/pathology* ; Seizures/pathology*

Objective:To explore the distribution characteristics of pathogens in adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and to provide basis for the diagnosis, treatment, prevention of CAP.Methods:1 446 inpatients with CAP were prospectively enrolled in a third-class hospital in Beijing in recent 5 years (from January 2015 to December 2019). Respiratory tract samples were collected for smear, culture, nucleic acid, antigen and antibody detection to identify the pathogen of CAP. Mann-Whitney U test was used for continuous variables and χ 2 test or Fisher′s exact test was used for categorical data for statistical analysis. Results:Among the 1 446 patients, 822 (56.85%) patients were infected with a single pathogen, 231 (15.98%) patients were infected with multiple pathogens, and 393 (27.18%) patients were not clear about the pathogen. Influenza virus is the first pathogen of CAP (20.95%, 303/1 446), mainly H1N1 (8.51%, 123/1 446), followed by mycoplasma pneumoniae (7.19%, 104/1 446), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (5.33%, 77/1 446) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (5.05%, 73/1 446). The outbreak of H1N1 occurred from December 2018 to February 2019, and the epidemic of mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia was monitored from August to November 2019. Patients under 65 years old had high detection rates of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (14.41% vs. 2.41%, χ2=74.712, P<0.001), Streptococcus pneumoniae (8.16% vs. 2.99%, χ2=18.156, P<0.001), rhinovirus (6.08% vs. 3.56%, χ2=5.025, P<0.025), Chlamydia pneumoniae (5.90% vs. 1.15%, χ2=26.542, P<0.001) and adenovirus (3.13% vs. 0.92%, χ2=9.547, P=0.002). The severe disease rate of CAP was 14.66% (212/1 446), and the average mortality rate was 3.66% (53/1 446). The severe illness rate and mortality rate of bacterial-viral co-infection were 28.97% (31/107) and 19.63% (21/107), respectively. Conclusions:Influenza virus is the primary pathogen of adult CAP. Outbreaks of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and H1N1 were detected in 2018 and 2019, respectively. The remission rate and mortality rate of virus-bacteria co-infection were significantly higher than those of single pathogen infection. Accurate etiological basis not only plays a role in clinical diagnosis and treatment, but also provides important data support for prevention and early warning.

Objective:To explore the distribution characteristics of pathogens in adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and to provide basis for the diagnosis, treatment, prevention of CAP.Methods:1 446 inpatients with CAP were prospectively enrolled in a third-class hospital in Beijing in recent 5 years (from January 2015 to December 2019). Respiratory tract samples were collected for smear, culture, nucleic acid, antigen and antibody detection to identify the pathogen of CAP. Mann-Whitney U test was used for continuous variables and χ 2 test or Fisher′s exact test was used for categorical data for statistical analysis. Results:Among the 1 446 patients, 822 (56.85%) patients were infected with a single pathogen, 231 (15.98%) patients were infected with multiple pathogens, and 393 (27.18%) patients were not clear about the pathogen. Influenza virus is the first pathogen of CAP (20.95%, 303/1 446), mainly H1N1 (8.51%, 123/1 446), followed by mycoplasma pneumoniae (7.19%, 104/1 446), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (5.33%, 77/1 446) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (5.05%, 73/1 446). The outbreak of H1N1 occurred from December 2018 to February 2019, and the epidemic of mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia was monitored from August to November 2019. Patients under 65 years old had high detection rates of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (14.41% vs. 2.41%, χ2=74.712, P<0.001), Streptococcus pneumoniae (8.16% vs. 2.99%, χ2=18.156, P<0.001), rhinovirus (6.08% vs. 3.56%, χ2=5.025, P<0.025), Chlamydia pneumoniae (5.90% vs. 1.15%, χ2=26.542, P<0.001) and adenovirus (3.13% vs. 0.92%, χ2=9.547, P=0.002). The severe disease rate of CAP was 14.66% (212/1 446), and the average mortality rate was 3.66% (53/1 446). The severe illness rate and mortality rate of bacterial-viral co-infection were 28.97% (31/107) and 19.63% (21/107), respectively. Conclusions:Influenza virus is the primary pathogen of adult CAP. Outbreaks of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and H1N1 were detected in 2018 and 2019, respectively. The remission rate and mortality rate of virus-bacteria co-infection were significantly higher than those of single pathogen infection. Accurate etiological basis not only plays a role in clinical diagnosis and treatment, but also provides important data support for prevention and early warning.

Objective:To analyze the clinical features of severe or critical 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) patients.Methods:Clinical data of 58 patients with severe or critical NCP in Wuhan Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 29 to February 26, 2020 were collected. The general information, clinical symptoms, results of blood test and chest computed tomography (CT) imagings, treatments and outcomes of patients were analyzed retrospectively.Results:Among the 58 patients, 36 patients (62.1%) were severe and 22 (37.9%) were critical, 28 (48.3%) were male and 30 (51.7%) female, with an average age of (62.12±12.95) years. Twenty-eight patients (48.2%) had previous underlying diseases, including 21 patients (36.2%) with hypertension, 11 patients (19.0%) with diabetes mellitus, 6 patietns (10.3%) with coronary heart disease, 2 patients (3.4%) with chronic renal failure, and 1 patient (1.7%) with malignant tumor. The symptoms included fever (54 cases, 93.1%), dyspnea (48 cases, 82.8%), cough (46 cases, 79.3%), muscle soreness (32 cases, 55.2%), sore throat (15 cases, 25.9%), and diarrhea (6 cases, 10.3%). Decreased or increased white blood cell count was found in 7 patients (12.1%) and 6 patietns (10.3%). Decreased percent of lymphocyte, increased percent of neutrophil, and decreased hemoglobin level were found in 35 patients (60.3%), 27 patients (46.6%), and 24 patients (41.4%), respectively. Elevated CRP, PCT and D-dimmer level were demonstrated in 38 patients (65.5%), 36 patients (62.1%), and 45 patients (77.5%). Increased level of ALT, AST, LDH and decreased serum albumin were found in 32 patients (55.2%), 25 patients (43.1%), 39 patietns (67.2%) and 43 patietns (74.1%), respectively. The main features of CT imaging were diffuse lesion in both lungs, which were mainly manifested as multiple patchy shadows and ground-glass shadows, bilateral and peripheral distribution, consolidation and interlobular septal thickening. Twenty-nine patients (50.0%) were treated with antibiotics, and 14 patients (24.1%) with systemic glucocorticoid. In addition to supportive and antivirus treatment, oxygen therapy methods including nasal catheter (9 cases, 15.5%), oxygen mask (33 cases, 56.9%), high-flow nasal catheter (8 cases, 13.3%) and invasive mechanical ventilation were adopted. Twenty-one patients (36.2%) were discharged from the hospital, 27 patients (46.6%) in remission were still in the isolation wards, 3 patients (5.2%) were transferred to the ICU for further treatment, and 7 patients (12.1%) died.Conclusions:Severe and critical NCP are at higher risk in the elderly and those having underlying diseases. Severe/critical NCP patients often show extrapulmonary abnormity as well as lung dysfunction. Comprehensive treatment as early as possible is the key to improve the prognosis and reduce the mortality.