Objective To investigate the current distribution of radiotherapy resources in Gansu Province, evaluate the equity of resource allocation, and provide a scientific basis for optimizing regional resource allocation. Methods A questionnaire survey was carried out to assess radiotherapy resources in medical institutions across Gansu Province, China. The equity of radiotherapy resource distribution and associated disparities were assessed using the Gini coefficient, Lorenz curve, and Theil index. Results A total of 23 medical institutions in Gansu Province provided radiotherapy services, comprising 39 radiotherapy devices and 438 professionals, of whom medical physicists accounted for 16.9%. The radiotherapy frequency was 0.47 cases per thousand population. The Gini coefficients for radiotherapy resource distribution ranged from 0.38 to 0.56 by population and from 0.52 to 0.70 by geography. The Theil index for radiotherapy resources ranged from 1.36 to 3.67. Conclusion Radiotherapy resources in Gansu Province were insufficient, and the capacity of radiotherapy service was suboptimal. The equity of radiotherapy resource allocation by geography was worse than that by population. Therefore, it is imperative to address the shortage of radiotherapy resources, strengthen the professional workforce, enhance the capacity radiotherapy service and resource utilization, optimize resource allocation, and promote regional equity in radiotherapy provision in Gansu Province.

BACKGROUND:Anthocyanin is one of the most important active components in Lycium ruthenicum Murr,which has antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects.CD146+human adipose-derived pericytes/perivascular cells(CD146+hAD-PCs)are the progenitors of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells,which can promote the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in vitro.The support effect of anthocyanin in combination with CD146+hAD-PCs on umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells remains to be studied. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the supporting effect of anthocyanins in Lycium ruthenicum Murr(ALRM)combined with CD146+hAD-PCs on umbilical cord blood CD34+hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells(UCB CD34+HSPCs)in vitro. METHODS:The CCK-8 assay was used to detect the effect of different concentrations(0,200,400,600,800,1 000 mg/L)of ALRM on the proliferation of CD146+hAD-PCs.Flow cytometry was used to detect the effect of ALRM on the cell cycle of CD146+hAD-PCs.The co-culture experiments were divided into blank group,ALRM group,CD146+hAD-PCs group,and ALRM+CD146+hAD-PCs group to analyze the in vitro supporting effect of ALRM combined with CD146+hAD-PCs on UCB CD34+HSPCs.The number of expanded cells and the number of colony-forming units were compared at 1,2,and 4 weeks of co-culture.The immunophenotype of cells was detected by flow cytometry.The level of cytokines was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The cell viability of CD146+hAD-PCs was highest at an ALRM concentration of 200 mg/L,the proportion of G0/G1 phase cells decreased and the proportion of S and G2/M phase cells increased in CD146+hAD-PCs(P<0.01).(2)The change in number of UCB CD34+HSPCs cells in the ALRM+CD146+hAD-PCs group was higher than that in the ALRM group at 1,2,and 4 weeks of co-culture(all P<0.05),and higher than that in CD146+hAD-PCs group at 2 and 4 weeks of co-culture(all P<0.05).The number of cells in the ALRM group and blank group decreased gradually with the extension of co-culture time.(3)Colony forming capacity and immunophenotype analysis:The number of colony-forming units in the ALRM+CD146+hAD-PCs group was higher than that in the CD146+hAD-PCs group and ALRM group at 1 and 2 weeks of co-culture(P<0.05).The proportion of CD45+and CD34+CD33-cells in the ALRM+CD146+hAD-PCs group was higher than that in the CD146+hAD-PCs group at 1 and 2 weeks of co-culture(all P<0.01).(4)Changes in cytokines:Interleukin-2 level in the ALRM+CD146+hAD-PCs group was higher than that in the ALRM and CD146+hAD-PCs groups(P<0.05).The interleukin-3 content of the ALRM+CD146+hAD-PCs group was higher than that of the CD146+hAD-PCs group at 2 and 4 weeks(P<0.05).The expression level of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in the ALRM+CD146+hAD-PCs group was higher than that in the CD146+hAD-PCs group at 1 week,and higher than that in the ALRM group and CD146+hAD-PCs group at 2 weeks(P<0.01).Interferon-γ content in the ALRM group and ALRM+CD146+hAD-PCs group was lower than that in the CD146+hAD-PCs group at 1,2,and 4 weeks of co-culture(P<0.01).(5)Due to the absence of stromal cells in the blank group,UCB CD34+HSPCs could not be counted after 1 week of co-culture and were not subjected to immunophenotyping,colony analysis,or cytokine assays.(6)In summary,ALRM can promote the expansion of UCB CD34+HSPCs in vitro by promoting CD146+hAD-PCs proliferation and cell cycle transformation,which is of great value in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Background: Diabetic macrovascular and microvascular complications often coexist and may share similar risk factors and pathological pathways. We aimed to investigate whether 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk, which is commonly assessed in diabetes management, can predict incident diabetic nephropathy (DN) and retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: This prospective cohort study enrolled 2,891 patients with clinically diagnosed T2DM who were free of ASCVD, nephropathy, or retinopathy at baseline in the Guangzhou (2017–2022) and Shaoguan (2019–2021) Diabetic Eye Study in southern China. The 10-year ASCVD risk was calculated by the Prediction for ASCVD Risk in China (China-PAR) equations. Multivariable- adjusted Cox proportional hazard models were developed to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to evaluate predictive capability. Results: During follow-up, a total of 171 cases of DN and 532 cases of DR were documented. Each 1% increment in 10-year ASCVD risk was associated with increased risk of DN (pooled HR, 1.122; 95% CI, 1.094 to 1.150) but not DR (pooled HR, 0.996; 95% CI, 0.979 to 1.013). The model demonstrated acceptable performance in predicting new-onset DN (pooled AUC, 0.670; 95% CI, 0.628 to 0.715). These results were consistent across cohorts and subgroups, with the association appearing to be more pronounced in women. Conclusion Ten-year ASCVD risk predicts incident DN but not DR in our study population with T2DM. Regular monitoring of ASCVD risk in routine diabetes practice may add to the ability to enhance population-based prevention for both macrovascular and microvascular diseases, particularly among women.

To analyze the distribution of serotypes and antimicrobial resistance of clinical Salmonella isolates from multiple centers across China.

Cryoglobulinemia is a group of disorders characterized by the presence of temperature-dependent immunoglobulins in serum, exhibiting high heterogeneity in classification and clinical manifestations. Laboratory diagnosis serves as a crucial diagnostic tool for this condition. In recent years, the application of next-generation flow cytometry, mass spectrometry, and modified capillary immunotyping has significantly improved the sensitivity of cryoglobulin detection and the accuracy of subtyping. Moreover, this disease is frequently associated with infections, autoimmune disorders, and B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders, making dynamic monitoring of laboratory indicators essential for prognostic evaluation. This article systematically elaborates the pathogenesis of cryoglobulinemia and advances in laboratory diagnosis, aiming to enhance clinical and laboratory professionals′ understanding and comprehension of cryoglobulinemia.

Objective:To investigate the causal effects of plasma lipidomics on pancreatitis using Mendelian ran-domization(MR)and evaluate the roles of intra-pancreatic fat deposition(IPFD)and gallstone disease in this relation-ship.Methods:A bidirectional MR analysis was conducted,with 179 plasma lipids as exposures and acute pancreati-tis(AP)and chronic pancreatitis(CP)as outcomes.Data were sourced from genome-wide association studies(GWAS),the UK Biobank,and the FinnGen project.Two-step Mendelian randomization(TSMR)and multivariable Mendelian ran-domization(MVMR)analyses were applied to assess the mediating roles of IPFD and gallstone disease in the associa-tion between plasma lipids and pancreatitis.Results:MR analysis identified two sterols negatively associated with AP(P＜0.05)and seven sterols negatively associated with CP(P＜0.05).One phospholipid showed a positive association with CP(P＜0.05).IPFD was positively associated with both AP and CP.Gallstone disease was confirmed as a risk fac-tor for AP.However,TSMR analysis indicated that neither IPFD nor gallstone disease mediated the relationship be-tween plasma lipids and pancreatitis.Conclusion:The causal relationship exists among plasma lipomics and AP/CP,also between IPFD,cholelithiasis and pancreatitis.These findings highlight novel risk factors and potential biomarkers to support early diagnosis and intervention for pancreatitis.

Objective To describe the clinical features of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis(PSC)in China based on a nationwide multicenter patient cohort,and to investigate the risk factors for prognosis.Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted among the patients with a confirmed diagnosis of PSC based on the electronic medical record system of seven grade A tertiary hospitals across the country,and related data were extracted.The Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous data between groups,and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate liver transplant-free survival,and the log-rank test was used for comparison of survival rate between PSC patients with different features.The Cox regression model was used to identify independent risk factors for the prognosis of PSC patients and the interactions between key factors.Results A total of 107 patients were enrolled,among whom 55.6%(55/99)had large-duct PSC and 29.0%(31/107)had comorbidity with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).The positivity rate of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody(ANCA)was 32.9%(24/73),and 50.0%(40/80)of the patients had an increase in IgG/IgM.The median symptom-to-diagnosis interval was 1 year(<1-4.0),and 38.3%(41/107)of the patients had progressed to decompensated cirrhosis at the time of diagnosis.The median liver transplant-free survival time was 114 months(95%confidence interval[CI]:62-166),with a 5-year survival rate of 65.7%.The multivariate analysis showed that an increase in total bile acid(TBA)(hazard ratio[HR]=1.006,95%CI:1.002-1.010,P=0.001)and a prolonged symptom-to-diagnosis interval(HR=1.252,95%CI:1.059-1.480,P=0.009)were independent risk factors for prognosis.The interaction analysis showed that compared with the female patients with TBA<50 μmol/L,both male and female patients with TBA≥50 μmol/L had a significant increase in the risk of liver transplantation or death(male:HR=16.563,95%CI:2.103-130.449,P<0.001;female:HR=17.009,95%CI:2.113-136.934,P<0.001),and compared with the patients with an age of<45 years and a TBA level of<50 μmol/L,the patients with an age of≥45 years and a TBA level of≥50 μmol/L had a significant increase in the risk of liver transplantation or death(HR=10.729,95%CI:1.325-86.859,P=0.026).Compared with the female patients with an symptom-to-diagnosis interval of≤2 years,the male patients with a symptom-to-diagnosis interval of>2 years had an increased risk of liver transplantation or death(HR=4.825,95%CI:1.725-13.644,P=0.003),and compared with the patients with an age of<45 years and a symptom-to-diagnosis interval of≤2 years,the patients with an age of<45 years and a symptom-to-diagnosis interval of>2 years had an increased risk of liver transplantation or death(HR=4.983,95%CI:1.366-18.173,P=0.015).Conclusion Compared with the reports from Western countries,large-duct PSC is also the main type of PSC in China,but with a relatively low proportion,and there is also a relatively low proportion of patients with IBD or positive ANCA.An increase in TBA and a prolonged symptom-to-diagnosis interval are independent risk factors for prognosis,with significant interactions with age and sex.This suggests that early screening and intervention should be enhanced to improve prognosis.

Background: Diabetic macrovascular and microvascular complications often coexist and may share similar risk factors and pathological pathways. We aimed to investigate whether 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk, which is commonly assessed in diabetes management, can predict incident diabetic nephropathy (DN) and retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: This prospective cohort study enrolled 2,891 patients with clinically diagnosed T2DM who were free of ASCVD, nephropathy, or retinopathy at baseline in the Guangzhou (2017–2022) and Shaoguan (2019–2021) Diabetic Eye Study in southern China. The 10-year ASCVD risk was calculated by the Prediction for ASCVD Risk in China (China-PAR) equations. Multivariable- adjusted Cox proportional hazard models were developed to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to evaluate predictive capability. Results: During follow-up, a total of 171 cases of DN and 532 cases of DR were documented. Each 1% increment in 10-year ASCVD risk was associated with increased risk of DN (pooled HR, 1.122; 95% CI, 1.094 to 1.150) but not DR (pooled HR, 0.996; 95% CI, 0.979 to 1.013). The model demonstrated acceptable performance in predicting new-onset DN (pooled AUC, 0.670; 95% CI, 0.628 to 0.715). These results were consistent across cohorts and subgroups, with the association appearing to be more pronounced in women. Conclusion Ten-year ASCVD risk predicts incident DN but not DR in our study population with T2DM. Regular monitoring of ASCVD risk in routine diabetes practice may add to the ability to enhance population-based prevention for both macrovascular and microvascular diseases, particularly among women.

Background: Diabetic macrovascular and microvascular complications often coexist and may share similar risk factors and pathological pathways. We aimed to investigate whether 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk, which is commonly assessed in diabetes management, can predict incident diabetic nephropathy (DN) and retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: This prospective cohort study enrolled 2,891 patients with clinically diagnosed T2DM who were free of ASCVD, nephropathy, or retinopathy at baseline in the Guangzhou (2017–2022) and Shaoguan (2019–2021) Diabetic Eye Study in southern China. The 10-year ASCVD risk was calculated by the Prediction for ASCVD Risk in China (China-PAR) equations. Multivariable- adjusted Cox proportional hazard models were developed to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to evaluate predictive capability. Results: During follow-up, a total of 171 cases of DN and 532 cases of DR were documented. Each 1% increment in 10-year ASCVD risk was associated with increased risk of DN (pooled HR, 1.122; 95% CI, 1.094 to 1.150) but not DR (pooled HR, 0.996; 95% CI, 0.979 to 1.013). The model demonstrated acceptable performance in predicting new-onset DN (pooled AUC, 0.670; 95% CI, 0.628 to 0.715). These results were consistent across cohorts and subgroups, with the association appearing to be more pronounced in women. Conclusion Ten-year ASCVD risk predicts incident DN but not DR in our study population with T2DM. Regular monitoring of ASCVD risk in routine diabetes practice may add to the ability to enhance population-based prevention for both macrovascular and microvascular diseases, particularly among women.