Objective:To investigate the numbers of peripheral blood CD4 +T cell subpopulations in patients with elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis (EORA) and its clinical significance. Methods:A total of 188 patients with newly diagnosed RA in the department of rheumatology and immunology of the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2020 to December 2023 were collected, including 48 cases of EORA (age of onset: ≥60 years old), 140 cases of young-onset rheumatoid arthritis (YORA) (18 years old ≤ age of onset < 60 years old). Meanwhile, 151 healthy controls (HC) were collected, of which 31 persons aged 60-85 years were included as HC group 1 (HC 1) and 120 individuals aged 18-59 years were included as HC group 2 (HC 2). Peripheral blood CD4 +T lymphocyte subsets of these participants were assessed by flow cytometry. Differences between groups were analyzed using independent-samples t test, Mann-Whitney U test or χ2 test. Results:Compared with healthy individuals, the absolute counts and percentages of peripheral blood Treg cells in patients with EORA were significantly decreased [absolute counts: 32.65 (23.04, 47.73) cells/μl vs. 23.03 (15.28, 32.12) cells/μl, Z=-3.35, P=0.001; percentages: 5.12%(4.13%, 6.16%) vs. 3.72% (2.79%, 4.82%), Z=-4.10, P<0.001], while the Th17/Treg cell ratio was increased [0.16 (0.12, 0.29) vs. 0.26 (0.18, 0.46), Z=-2.94, P=0.003], the differences are all significant. There was a tendency with higher absolute counts and percentages of Treg [absolute counts: 23.03 (15.28, 32.12) cells/μl vs. 20.97 (14.01, 30.64) cells/μl, Z=-0.58, P=0.561; percentages: 3.72%(2.79%, 4.82%) vs. 3.38% (2.39%, 4.71%), Z=-1.06, P=0.287] and lower Th17/Treg ratios [0.26 (0.18, 0.46) vs. 0.27 (0.19, 0.46), Z=-0.32, P=0.751] in EORA when compared to patients with YORA, but no significant differences were observed. Conclusion:Patients with EORA also have the reduced numbers of peripheral blood Treg cells and immune imbalance of Th17/Treg, suggesting that immune imbalance or dysfunction caused by defects in Treg cell counts and/or function contributes to the development of EORA, and that targeting Treg cells may be a promising therapeutic strategy for EORA.

Objective:To explore the effect of the interaction between plasma aluminum concentration and schooling year on cognitive function, it provides the basis for early identification of its damaging effect.Methods:From October to December, 2014, 1114 on-the-job aluminum exposed workers in a large aluminum factory in Shanxi Province were investigated. The plasma aluminum concentrations were measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) as an internal exposure indicator. The subjects were divided into low, medium, and high aluminum exposure group based on the blood lead concentration levels. The general information was collected with a self-designed questionnaire, and their cognitive function was evaluated with the mini-mental state examination and the clock drawing test. The interaction between plasma aluminum concentration level and education level was analyzed by using unconditional logistic regression fitting multiplication model and cross analysis fitting addition model.Results:The average level of plasma aluminum of the subjects was 21.68 (10.51, 45.78) μg/L. The detection rate of cognitive impairment was 19.9%. The influencing factors of cognitive function were plasma aluminum concentration, age, education level and marital status, among which high schooling year, and being married were the protective factors (all P<0.05), plasma aluminum concentration, and age were the risk factors (all P<0.05) ; After adjusting the confounding factors, such as age, marital status, schooling year, income level, smoking, and drinking, logistic regression model and the multiple linear regression model showed that there was a dose response relationship between plasma aluminum concentration and cognitive impairment. With the increase of plasma aluminum concentration, the score gradually decreased, and the risk of cognitive impairment increased ( Ptrend<0.05) ; There were multiplicative interaction ( AOR=2.15, 95% CI: 1.10-4.19) and additive interaction ( RERI=5.38, 95% CI: 2.60-8.16; AP=0.65, 95% CI: 0.51-0.80; S=3.88, 95% CI: 2.00-7.56) between plasma aluminum concentration and low schooling year on cognitive function. Conclusion:There was a dose-response relationship between aluminum exposure and cognitive impairment. There was an interaction between aluminum exposure and low schooling year. When both of them worked together, the risk of cognitive impairment increases.

Objective:To explore the characteristics of potential categories of chronic disease co-morbid patients' learned helplessness, and to analyze the differential characteristics of different categories of chronic disease co-morbid patients.Methods:Convenience sampling method was used to select patients with chronic disease co-morbidities who attended The NO.1 People's Hospital of Xiangyang, Hubei University of Medicine, from June to December 2023 as survey respondents. General information questionnaire, Learned Helplessness Scale, Health Questionnaire Somatic Symptom Cluster Scale, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, and Comprehension Social Support Scale were used for the cross-sectional survey. The potential profile of learned helplessness, and the influencing factors of potential categories of learned helplessness was analyzed.Results:A total of 810 patients with chronic co-morbidities were investigated. There were 453 males and 357 females, aged (65.03±10.89) years old. The learned helplessness of these patients was categorized into three different potential categories, which were named as low-level learned helplessness group, medium-level learned helplessness group, high-level learned helplessness, accounting for 17.5% (142/810), 23.5% (190/810), and 59.0% (478/810), respectively. Compared with the low-level learned helplessness group, the probability of belonging to the medium-level learned helplessness group and high-level learned helplessness group was higher for patients with chronic co-morbidities with more severe physical symptoms ( OR=1.456, 1.391, both P<0.01). Compared with the low-level learned helplessness group, the probability of belonging to the medium-level learned helplessness group and high-level learned helplessness group was higher for patients with chronic co-morbidities with more severe the psychological distress ( OR=1.359, 1.917, both P<0.01). Compared with the low-level learned helplessness group, the probability of belonging to the medium-level learned helplessness group and high-level learned helplessness group was higher for patients with chronic co-morbidities with lower levels of social support ( OR=0.928, 0.874, both P<0.01). Compared with the low-level learned helplessness group, patients with a duration of illness >5 years were used as controls, patients with a duration of illness 2-5 years were more likely to belong to the medium-level learned helplessness group and high-level learned helplessness group ( OR=74.586, 62.620, both P<0.01). Compared with the low-level learned helplessness group, patients with neutral personalities were compared, patients with extroverted personalities had a lower probability of belonging to the medium-level learned helplessness group ( OR=0.105, P<0.05), while patients with introverted personalities had a lower probability of belonging to the medium-level learned helplessness group and high-level learned helplessness group ( OR=0.052, 0.046, both P<0.01). Conclusions:Patients with chronic disease co-morbidities have higher levels of learned helplessness during disease treatment and have more distinctive categorical characteristics. Healthcare professionals should adopt targeted nursing interventions according to different categories of chronic disease co-morbid patients to reduce the level of learned helplessness.

Objective:To explore the characteristics of potential categories of chronic disease co-morbid patients' learned helplessness, and to analyze the differential characteristics of different categories of chronic disease co-morbid patients.Methods:Convenience sampling method was used to select patients with chronic disease co-morbidities who attended The NO.1 People's Hospital of Xiangyang, Hubei University of Medicine, from June to December 2023 as survey respondents. General information questionnaire, Learned Helplessness Scale, Health Questionnaire Somatic Symptom Cluster Scale, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, and Comprehension Social Support Scale were used for the cross-sectional survey. The potential profile of learned helplessness, and the influencing factors of potential categories of learned helplessness was analyzed.Results:A total of 810 patients with chronic co-morbidities were investigated. There were 453 males and 357 females, aged (65.03±10.89) years old. The learned helplessness of these patients was categorized into three different potential categories, which were named as low-level learned helplessness group, medium-level learned helplessness group, high-level learned helplessness, accounting for 17.5% (142/810), 23.5% (190/810), and 59.0% (478/810), respectively. Compared with the low-level learned helplessness group, the probability of belonging to the medium-level learned helplessness group and high-level learned helplessness group was higher for patients with chronic co-morbidities with more severe physical symptoms ( OR=1.456, 1.391, both P<0.01). Compared with the low-level learned helplessness group, the probability of belonging to the medium-level learned helplessness group and high-level learned helplessness group was higher for patients with chronic co-morbidities with more severe the psychological distress ( OR=1.359, 1.917, both P<0.01). Compared with the low-level learned helplessness group, the probability of belonging to the medium-level learned helplessness group and high-level learned helplessness group was higher for patients with chronic co-morbidities with lower levels of social support ( OR=0.928, 0.874, both P<0.01). Compared with the low-level learned helplessness group, patients with a duration of illness >5 years were used as controls, patients with a duration of illness 2-5 years were more likely to belong to the medium-level learned helplessness group and high-level learned helplessness group ( OR=74.586, 62.620, both P<0.01). Compared with the low-level learned helplessness group, patients with neutral personalities were compared, patients with extroverted personalities had a lower probability of belonging to the medium-level learned helplessness group ( OR=0.105, P<0.05), while patients with introverted personalities had a lower probability of belonging to the medium-level learned helplessness group and high-level learned helplessness group ( OR=0.052, 0.046, both P<0.01). Conclusions:Patients with chronic disease co-morbidities have higher levels of learned helplessness during disease treatment and have more distinctive categorical characteristics. Healthcare professionals should adopt targeted nursing interventions according to different categories of chronic disease co-morbid patients to reduce the level of learned helplessness.

Objective:To investigate the numbers of peripheral blood CD4 +T cell subpopulations in patients with elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis (EORA) and its clinical significance. Methods:A total of 188 patients with newly diagnosed RA in the department of rheumatology and immunology of the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2020 to December 2023 were collected, including 48 cases of EORA (age of onset: ≥60 years old), 140 cases of young-onset rheumatoid arthritis (YORA) (18 years old ≤ age of onset < 60 years old). Meanwhile, 151 healthy controls (HC) were collected, of which 31 persons aged 60-85 years were included as HC group 1 (HC 1) and 120 individuals aged 18-59 years were included as HC group 2 (HC 2). Peripheral blood CD4 +T lymphocyte subsets of these participants were assessed by flow cytometry. Differences between groups were analyzed using independent-samples t test, Mann-Whitney U test or χ2 test. Results:Compared with healthy individuals, the absolute counts and percentages of peripheral blood Treg cells in patients with EORA were significantly decreased [absolute counts: 32.65 (23.04, 47.73) cells/μl vs. 23.03 (15.28, 32.12) cells/μl, Z=-3.35, P=0.001; percentages: 5.12%(4.13%, 6.16%) vs. 3.72% (2.79%, 4.82%), Z=-4.10, P<0.001], while the Th17/Treg cell ratio was increased [0.16 (0.12, 0.29) vs. 0.26 (0.18, 0.46), Z=-2.94, P=0.003], the differences are all significant. There was a tendency with higher absolute counts and percentages of Treg [absolute counts: 23.03 (15.28, 32.12) cells/μl vs. 20.97 (14.01, 30.64) cells/μl, Z=-0.58, P=0.561; percentages: 3.72%(2.79%, 4.82%) vs. 3.38% (2.39%, 4.71%), Z=-1.06, P=0.287] and lower Th17/Treg ratios [0.26 (0.18, 0.46) vs. 0.27 (0.19, 0.46), Z=-0.32, P=0.751] in EORA when compared to patients with YORA, but no significant differences were observed. Conclusion:Patients with EORA also have the reduced numbers of peripheral blood Treg cells and immune imbalance of Th17/Treg, suggesting that immune imbalance or dysfunction caused by defects in Treg cell counts and/or function contributes to the development of EORA, and that targeting Treg cells may be a promising therapeutic strategy for EORA.

Objective:To explore the effect of the interaction between plasma aluminum concentration and schooling year on cognitive function, it provides the basis for early identification of its damaging effect.Methods:From October to December, 2014, 1114 on-the-job aluminum exposed workers in a large aluminum factory in Shanxi Province were investigated. The plasma aluminum concentrations were measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) as an internal exposure indicator. The subjects were divided into low, medium, and high aluminum exposure group based on the blood lead concentration levels. The general information was collected with a self-designed questionnaire, and their cognitive function was evaluated with the mini-mental state examination and the clock drawing test. The interaction between plasma aluminum concentration level and education level was analyzed by using unconditional logistic regression fitting multiplication model and cross analysis fitting addition model.Results:The average level of plasma aluminum of the subjects was 21.68 (10.51, 45.78) μg/L. The detection rate of cognitive impairment was 19.9%. The influencing factors of cognitive function were plasma aluminum concentration, age, education level and marital status, among which high schooling year, and being married were the protective factors (all P<0.05), plasma aluminum concentration, and age were the risk factors (all P<0.05) ; After adjusting the confounding factors, such as age, marital status, schooling year, income level, smoking, and drinking, logistic regression model and the multiple linear regression model showed that there was a dose response relationship between plasma aluminum concentration and cognitive impairment. With the increase of plasma aluminum concentration, the score gradually decreased, and the risk of cognitive impairment increased ( Ptrend<0.05) ; There were multiplicative interaction ( AOR=2.15, 95% CI: 1.10-4.19) and additive interaction ( RERI=5.38, 95% CI: 2.60-8.16; AP=0.65, 95% CI: 0.51-0.80; S=3.88, 95% CI: 2.00-7.56) between plasma aluminum concentration and low schooling year on cognitive function. Conclusion:There was a dose-response relationship between aluminum exposure and cognitive impairment. There was an interaction between aluminum exposure and low schooling year. When both of them worked together, the risk of cognitive impairment increases.

Background: The incidence density of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and the effect of a healthy lifestyle on the risk of MAFLD remain unknown. We evaluated the prevalence and incidence density of MAFLD and investigated the association between healthy lifestyle and the risk of MAFLD. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 37,422 participants to explore the prevalence of MAFLD. A cohort analysis of 18,964 individuals was conducted to identify the incidence of MAFLD, as well as the association between healthy lifestyle and MAFLD. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) with adjustments for confounding factors. Results: The prevalence of MAFLD, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and their comorbidities were 30.38%, 28.09%, and 26.13%, respectively. After approximately 70 thousand person-years of follow-up, the incidence densities of the three conditions were 61.03, 55.49, and 51.64 per 1,000 person-years, respectively. Adherence to an overall healthy lifestyle was associated with a 19% decreased risk of MAFLD (HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.72 to 0.92), and the effects were modified by baseline age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). Subgroup analyses revealed that younger participants, men, and those with a lower BMI experienced more significant beneficial effects from healthy lifestyle. Conclusion Our results highlight the beneficial effect of adherence to a healthy lifestyle on the prevention of MAFLD. Health management for improving dietary intake, physical activity, and smoking and drinking habits are critical to improving MAFLD.

Objective:To investigate the level and clinical significance of peripheral blood CD4 +T cell subpopulations in late-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Methods:This study included 260 SLE patients hospitalized in the Rheumatology and Immunology Department of the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2016 to December 2021: of whom 58 and 202 were late- (≥50 years) and adult-(18~49 years) onset patients. This study also included 160 subjeces as healthy controls(HCs), of whom 35 and 125 were Control Group 1 (≥50 years) and Control Group 2 (18~49 years). Peripheral blood CD4 +T lymphocyte subsets of these participants were assessed by flow cytometry. The clinical data of all patients and healthy controls (HCs)were recorded. The differences between the groups were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test or χ2 test. Results:(1)The time of diagnosis of late-onset SLE was longer than that of adult-onset SLE [Median time: 5.0 (2.0, 24.0)months vs 3.0 (1.0, 7.3)months, Z=-3.13, P=0.002]. Compared with adult-onset SLE, the SLEDAI score of late-onset SLE was lower [12.0 (8.0, 15.2) vs 14.0 (10.0, 18.0), Z=-2.12, P=0.034]. Some manifestations occurred more frequently in late-onset SLE, such as weight loss, nausea, abdominal pain, cerebral infarction, interstitial pneumonitis, Sj?gren′s syndrome and infection. The manifestations of skin and mucos a occurred less frequently in late-onset SLE. (2)CD4 +T cell subpopulations: ①The absolute counts of Treg, Th17, Th1 and Th2 cells in the peripheral blood of patients with late-onset SLE were significantly lower than those of HCs [Treg: 10.94 (6.14, 19.23) vs 32.65 (28.07, 41.65), Z=-6.79, P<0.001; Th17: 3.43 (0.94, 5.64) vs 6.13 (3.77, 7.82), Z=-3.24, P=0.001; Th1: 36.02 (10.80, 76.38) vs 128.70(89.82, 159.89), Z=-5.29, P<0.001; Th2:3.56 (1.56, 6.06) vs 8.25 (4.69, 12.98), Z=-4.57, P<0.001]. The ratio of Th17/Treg cells was higher than that of HCs[0.28(0.13, 0.59) vs 0.17 (0.12, 0.28), Z=-2.38, P=0.017].②The absolute counts of Treg, Th17, Th1 and Th2 cells in peripheral blood of patients with adult-onset SLE were significantly lower than those of HCs [Treg: 10.28 (5.37, 17.04) vs.30.19 (21.20, 39.75), Z=-11.28, P<0.001; Th17: 3.44 (1.84, 6.14) vs 6.48 (4.23, 10.66), Z=-6.53, P<0.001; Th1: 29.59(15.14, 56.81) vs 90.75(42.67, 162.00), Z=-7.01, P<0.001; Th2: 2.74 (1.62, 4.77) vs 8.25 (4.75, 11.99), Z=-9.91, P<0.001]. The ratio of Th17/Treg was higher than that of HCs[0.35 (0.17, 0.65) vs 0.23(0.14, 0.37), Z=-3.89, P<0.001].③The ratios of Th17/Treg in patients with late-and adult-onset SLE were higher than those of HCs. The ratio of Th17/Treg was the highest in adult-onset SLE patients. Conclusion:Patients with late-onset SLE have reduced numbers of Treg cells and the immune imbalanced of Th17/Treg. However, the immune imbalance of Th17/Treg in late-onset SLE patients is milder than that in adult-onset SLE patients, which may be related to lower disease activity.

BACKGROUND: Re-biopsy of metastasis in advanced breast cancer (ABC) has become an international convention to assist the diagnosis and evaluation of tumor heterogeneity. This study aimed to detect diagnostic diversity and inconsistencies among estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression levels between primary and metastatic lesions. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 1670 cases of ABC patients who had undergone at least one lesion re-biopsy from January 2010 to December 2018. The pathological diagnosis of biopsies, distribution of biopsy sites, and severe puncture complications at each site were collected. In addition, the inconsistency rates and related factors of ER, PR, and HER2 expression between primary and metastatic lesions were analyzed fully considering patients' demographic profiles and disease characteristics. RESULTS: In total, 1670 cases of breast cancer (BC) patients diagnosed by pathology underwent one to four biopsies of recurrences or metastases in different sites or at different stages during the rescue treatment, producing 2019 histopathological specimens which were analyzed in the study. Pathological diagnosis showed that eight patients had benign pathological diagnoses, 11 patients had second primary malignant tumors but without recurrences of breast cancer, and 17 patients had pathologically confirmed breast cancer recurrences combined with second primary cancer. In 1173 patients who presented ER, PR, and HER2 expressions in primary and metastatic lesions, the inconsistency rates of ER, PR, and HER2 were 17.5% (205/1173), 31.3% (367/1173), and 13.9% (163/1173), respectively. The multivariate analysis showed that the age at the onset of breast cancer or adjuvant endocrine therapy was an independent factor affecting changes in PR expression level. Except one liver puncture with local hemorrhage and two lung punctures with hemopneumothorax, no other severe puncture complications occurred in 1950 non-surgical rebiopsies. CONCLUSIONS The pathological diagnosis of metastasis re-biopsy of ABC was diverse, and the ER, PR, and HER2 expression levels were inconsistent between primary and metastatic lesions. Therefore, more attention should be paid to perform biopsies of relapsed and metastatic breast cancers routinely in clinical practice.
Humans ; Female ; Breast Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Retrospective Studies ; Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism* ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology* ; Receptors, Progesterone/metabolism* ; Receptor, ErbB-2/metabolism* ; Receptors, Estrogen/metabolism* ; Biopsy ; Neoplasm Metastasis

Objective:To investigate the level of peripheral blood regulatory T cells in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its clinical significance.Methods:A total of 191 patients with RA in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University and 86 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled from January 2019 to January 2021. All peripheral blood CD4 + T lymphocyte subsets of participants were assessed by flow cytometry. Patients were divided into RA-CVD group ( n=71) and RA only group ( n=120) and their clinical data were recorded. The differences between the groups were analyzed by Independent-Samples t test, Mann-Whitney U test or χ2 test, and risk factors that affected CVD were analyzed using Logistic regression. Results:① The age of patients and the proportion of male patients in the RA-CVD group were significantly higher than those in the RA only group [age: (64±10) years old vs (56±12) years old, t=-4.16, P<0.001; male patients: 35 cases vs 31 cases, χ2=10.86, P=0.001]. ② The level of Treg cells in the peripheral blood of patients with RA only and RA-CVD groups was significantly lower than that of HCs ( Z=-4.14, P<0.001; Z=-6.27, P<0.001), while the numbers of peripheral Th17 cells in the two groups of patients were not significantly different from those of HCs ( P>0.05). The ratios of Th17/Treg cells in the two group patients were higher than those of HCs, but only the difference between RA-CVD patients and HCs was significant ( Z=-5.49, P<0.001). ③ Compared with the RA only group, the absolute number of Treg cells in peripheral blood of RA-CVD group was significantly lower [19.00(13.62, 26.73) vs 24.94 (19.32, 34.12), Z=-3.19, P=0.001], the level of Th17 cells was significantly higher [absolute number: 7.77 (3.86, 13.64) cell/μl vs 5.59 (3.49, 8.91) cells/μl, Z=-2.14, P=0.033; percentage: 1.37%(0.78, 2.00)% vs 0.80%(0.56, 1.24)%, Z=-4.20, P<0.001], and the ratio of Th17/Treg cells was significantly higher [0.40(0.24, 0.62) vs 0.23(0.14, 0.35), Z=-4.46, P<0.001]. ④ Logistic regression analysis showed that Treg cell [ OR(95% CI)=0.934 (0.903, 0.967)] was a protective factor, while elder age [ OR(95% CI)=1.038(1.003, 1.074), male [ OR(95% CI)=2.450(1.005, 5.973)], hypertension [ OR(95% CI)=2.654 (1.219, 5.779)] and Th17 cell [ OR (95% CI)=1.066 (1.019, 1.116)] were risk factors of RA complicated with CVD. Conclusion:The level of Treg cells in peripheral blood of RA patients with CVD decreases significantly, and the immune imbalance of Th17/Treg is more singificant than that of RA patients without CVD. It is suggested that the immune imbalance and dysfunction caused by the number and/or functional deficiency of Treg cells may be involved in the occurrence and development of RA complicated with CVD.