Objective:To study the incidence and epidemiological characteristics of tsutsugamushi disease in Ankang City, Shaanxi Province.Methods:From 2018 to 2023, data on tsutsugamushi disease cases reported by various medical institutions at all levels in Ankang City were collected through the China Disease Prevention and Control Information System. At the same time, individual epidemiological investigation of reported cases was carried out, and electronic medical records of patients were retrieved to verify their diagnosis. In 2023, the rodents and chigger mites were monitored in 3 townships with high incidence of tsutsugamushi disease in Ankang City by night clamping method, and the chigger mites rate and chigger mites index were calculated. Blood, liver, spleen and kidney samples of rodents were collected, DNA of blood and organ mixture was extracted, and quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect Orientia tsutsugamushi. Results:A total of 330 cases of tsutsugamushi disease were reported in Ankang City from 2018 to 2023, and the reported incidence rate increased from 0.56/100 000 in 2018 to 5.02/100 000 in 2023. Among them, 139 were males and 191 were females, with a sex ratio of 0.73∶1.00. The age was mainly 45 - 70 years old, accounting for 81.52% (269/330). The occupation was mainly farmers, accounting for 86.97% (287/330). The onset time was mainly concentrated from April to October, with a total of 317 cases, accounting for 96.06% (317/330). The main clinical manifestations were fever (93.20%, 274/294), ulcer or eschar (75.85%, 223/294), headache (44.56%, 131/294), and lymph node enlargement (44.22%, 130/294). The misdiagnosis rate at the first diagnosis was 73.81% (217/294). A total of 452 rodents were captured, of which 91 rodents carried chigger mites, and chigger mites rate was 20.13% (91/452). A total of 1 463 chigger mites were captured, and the chigger mites index was 3.24 (1 463/452). Quantitative real-time PCR was performed on blood and organ mixture samples collected from 452 rodents, and one of the organ mixture samples tested positive for Orientia tsutsugamushi. Conclusions:The incidence of tsutsugamushi disease in Ankang City is relatively high, and the overall incidence is on the rise. The cases are mainly female, middle-aged and elderly, and farmers, with a high misdiagnosis rate at the first diagnosis. There are chigger mites in rodents in townships with high incidence of tsutsugamushi disease.

Objective:To study the incidence and epidemiological characteristics of tsutsugamushi disease in Ankang City, Shaanxi Province.Methods:From 2018 to 2023, data on tsutsugamushi disease cases reported by various medical institutions at all levels in Ankang City were collected through the China Disease Prevention and Control Information System. At the same time, individual epidemiological investigation of reported cases was carried out, and electronic medical records of patients were retrieved to verify their diagnosis. In 2023, the rodents and chigger mites were monitored in 3 townships with high incidence of tsutsugamushi disease in Ankang City by night clamping method, and the chigger mites rate and chigger mites index were calculated. Blood, liver, spleen and kidney samples of rodents were collected, DNA of blood and organ mixture was extracted, and quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect Orientia tsutsugamushi. Results:A total of 330 cases of tsutsugamushi disease were reported in Ankang City from 2018 to 2023, and the reported incidence rate increased from 0.56/100 000 in 2018 to 5.02/100 000 in 2023. Among them, 139 were males and 191 were females, with a sex ratio of 0.73∶1.00. The age was mainly 45 - 70 years old, accounting for 81.52% (269/330). The occupation was mainly farmers, accounting for 86.97% (287/330). The onset time was mainly concentrated from April to October, with a total of 317 cases, accounting for 96.06% (317/330). The main clinical manifestations were fever (93.20%, 274/294), ulcer or eschar (75.85%, 223/294), headache (44.56%, 131/294), and lymph node enlargement (44.22%, 130/294). The misdiagnosis rate at the first diagnosis was 73.81% (217/294). A total of 452 rodents were captured, of which 91 rodents carried chigger mites, and chigger mites rate was 20.13% (91/452). A total of 1 463 chigger mites were captured, and the chigger mites index was 3.24 (1 463/452). Quantitative real-time PCR was performed on blood and organ mixture samples collected from 452 rodents, and one of the organ mixture samples tested positive for Orientia tsutsugamushi. Conclusions:The incidence of tsutsugamushi disease in Ankang City is relatively high, and the overall incidence is on the rise. The cases are mainly female, middle-aged and elderly, and farmers, with a high misdiagnosis rate at the first diagnosis. There are chigger mites in rodents in townships with high incidence of tsutsugamushi disease.

Objective:To observe the effects of moxibustion on the levels of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase(G6PD)and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate(NADPH)in the plasma and spleen and the CD4+T-cell number in the spleen of rats with adjuvant arthritis,thus to explore the mechanism in rheumatoid arthritis(RA)treatment with moxibustion by regulating the CD4+T-cell proliferation through G6PD-mediated pentose phosphate pathway. Methods:Twenty-seven male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a blank group,a model group,and a moxibustion group,with 9 rats in each group.Incomplete Freund's adjuvant was used to induce inflammation in the model group and the moxibustion group.The blank group and the model group were not intervened.In the moxibustion group,suspended moxibustion was performed at bilateral Zusanli(ST36),Guanyuan(CV4),and Ashi points for 30 min,once a day for 24 times in total.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to evaluate the histopathological changes of rat synovial tissue;the swelling degree of the rat toes was observed by measuring the toe volume;G6PD and NADPH in the spleen and plasma were detected by Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Flow cytometry was used to detect the CD4+T-cell number in the spleen. Results:Compared with the blank group,the levels of G6PD and NADPH in the plasma and spleen and the CD4+T-cell number in the spleen were significantly increased in the model group(P<0.01 or P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the NADPH level in the spleen and plasma and the CD4+T-cell number in the spleen in the moxibustion group decreased significantly(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the G6PD level in the plasma decreased significantly(P<0.05),but there was no significant difference in the G6PD level in the spleen(P>0.05). Conclusion:Moxibustion can regulate immunity and improve joint synovial inflammation in RA.The mechanism may be that the G6PD-mediated pentose phosphate pathway reduces the production of metabolite NAPDH in CD4+T cells,thereby inhibiting the proliferation of naive CD4+T cells.

OBJECTIVE To explore the color and odor changes of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.slices from different origins,and com-bine modern machine learning technology to achieve rapid differentiation of origins.METHODS Intelligent sensory technology was used to quantify the color and represent the odor of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.slices from different geographical origins.Various data a-nalysis methods including principal component analysis(PCA),discriminant analysis,discriminant factor analysis(DFA),component heat maps,correlation analysis,machine learning and so on,were employed to establish a discrimination function for distinguishing the origin of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.slices based on color data.RESULTS Classification and screening of odor information led to the i-dentification of 10 differential markers:ethanol,carbon disulfide,cyclopentane,3-methylfuran,propylene glycol,nonane,phenol,1,5-octadienone,1,8-cineole,and sotolon.It was also found that there was a significant correlation between the color and odor of the slices.Furthermore,based on the concept of data fusion,the study established classification models such as subspace clustering,and compared to single-color discriminant analysis,the classification accuracy was improved to 94.4%.CONCLUSION The feasibility and superiority of intelligent sensory technology in classifying the geographical origin of TCM is confirmed,providing new methods and insights for quality control of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.slices.

OBJECTIVE To explore the color and odor changes of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.slices from different origins,and com-bine modern machine learning technology to achieve rapid differentiation of origins.METHODS Intelligent sensory technology was used to quantify the color and represent the odor of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.slices from different geographical origins.Various data a-nalysis methods including principal component analysis(PCA),discriminant analysis,discriminant factor analysis(DFA),component heat maps,correlation analysis,machine learning and so on,were employed to establish a discrimination function for distinguishing the origin of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.slices based on color data.RESULTS Classification and screening of odor information led to the i-dentification of 10 differential markers:ethanol,carbon disulfide,cyclopentane,3-methylfuran,propylene glycol,nonane,phenol,1,5-octadienone,1,8-cineole,and sotolon.It was also found that there was a significant correlation between the color and odor of the slices.Furthermore,based on the concept of data fusion,the study established classification models such as subspace clustering,and compared to single-color discriminant analysis,the classification accuracy was improved to 94.4%.CONCLUSION The feasibility and superiority of intelligent sensory technology in classifying the geographical origin of TCM is confirmed,providing new methods and insights for quality control of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.slices.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) has a wide range of symptoms, and it is difficult for clinicians to make a quick and correct diagnosis. On November 11, 2021, a 36-year-old male patient with AAV was admitted to the emergency and critical care department of Yichang Central People's Hospital. He was admitted to the emergency intensive care unit (EICU) with gastrointestinal symptoms (abdominal pain, black stool) as the main physical signs, and was initially diagnosed as AAV with gastrointestinal hemorrhage (GIH). No bleeding point was found after repeated gastroscopy and colonoscopy. Abdominal emission CT (ECT) showed diffuse hemorrhage in the ileum, ascending colon and transverse colon. Multi-disciplinary consultation in the whole hospital considered the diffuse hemorrhage caused by small vascular lesions in the digestive tract caused by AAV. Pulse therapy with methylprednisolone 1 000 mg/d and immunosuppressive therapy with cyclophosphamide (CTX) 0.2 g/d were administered. The patient's symptoms quickly relieved and transferred out of the EICU. After 17 days of treatment, the patient finally died of massive gastrointestinal bleeding. A systematic review of relevant literatures combined with the case diagnosis and treatment process found that only a minority of AAV patients present with gastrointestinal symptoms as their first symptoms, and patients with GIH were very rare. Such patients had a poor prognosis. This patient delayed the use of induced remission and immunosuppressive agents due to the treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding, which may be the main cause of life-threatening GIH secondary to AAV. Gastrointestinal bleeding is a rare and fatal complication of vasculitis. Timely and effective induction and remission treatment is the key to survival. Whether patients should receive maintenance therapy, the duration of maintenance therapy, and the search for markers of disease diagnosis and treatment response are directions and challenges for further research.
Male ; Humans ; Adult ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis ; Critical Care ; Cyclophosphamide ; Death

Objective:To investigate the prognostic factors associated with unresectable (stage Ⅲa-Ⅳ, according to the 7th edition of the AJCC cancer staging manual) lung squamous cell carcinoma.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed 350 patients with inoperable locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic lung squamous cell carcinoma who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Chinese Medical University from January 2005 to June 2018. The clinical pathological data, treatment and survival follow-up information of the patients were collected. Kaplan-Meier survival was used to compare the overall survival rate of different risk groups. Univariate analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to determine the independent prognostic factors.Results:A total of 350 patients were enrolled. The median overall survival (OS) of these patients was 16.7 months. Univariate analysis showed the stage, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group(ECOG), first-line chemotherapy evaluation (RECIST version 1.1), radiation therapy, number of systemic chemotherapy lines, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cancer antigen 125 (CA125), C reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), whether liver, brain, boneor metastasis were associated with the OS of patients with advanced lung squamous cell carcinoma (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that ECOG score ( HR=1.855, 95% CI: 1.063-3.239, P=0.030), whether underwent lung resection ( HR=0.476, 95% CI: 0.302-0.751, P=0.001), first-line chemotherapy evaluation [stable disease (SD): HR=0.293, 95% CI: 0.159-0.540, P<0.001; complete response (CR)+ partial response (PR): HR=0.223, 95% CI: 0.120-0.413, P<0.001], CRP ( HR=1.715, 95% CI: 1.080-2.723, P=0.042), LDH ( HR=1.116, 95% CI: 0.780-1.596, P=0.002) and CEA ( HR=1.855, 95% CI: 1.361-2.528, P<0.001) before chemotherapy, liver metastasis ( HR=2.453, 95% CI: 1.461-4.120, P=0.001) are independent prognostic factors for patients with unresectable lung squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusion:The ECOG score, surgical treatment history, first-line chemotherapy, LDH, CEA and CRP before chemotherapy, liver metastasis are independent prognostic factors for patients with advanced lung squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective:To investigate the prognostic factors associated with unresectable (stage Ⅲa-Ⅳ, according to the 7th edition of the AJCC cancer staging manual) lung squamous cell carcinoma.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed 350 patients with inoperable locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic lung squamous cell carcinoma who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Chinese Medical University from January 2005 to June 2018. The clinical pathological data, treatment and survival follow-up information of the patients were collected. Kaplan-Meier survival was used to compare the overall survival rate of different risk groups. Univariate analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to determine the independent prognostic factors.Results:A total of 350 patients were enrolled. The median overall survival (OS) of these patients was 16.7 months. Univariate analysis showed the stage, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group(ECOG), first-line chemotherapy evaluation (RECIST version 1.1), radiation therapy, number of systemic chemotherapy lines, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cancer antigen 125 (CA125), C reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), whether liver, brain, boneor metastasis were associated with the OS of patients with advanced lung squamous cell carcinoma (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that ECOG score ( HR=1.855, 95% CI: 1.063-3.239, P=0.030), whether underwent lung resection ( HR=0.476, 95% CI: 0.302-0.751, P=0.001), first-line chemotherapy evaluation [stable disease (SD): HR=0.293, 95% CI: 0.159-0.540, P<0.001; complete response (CR)+ partial response (PR): HR=0.223, 95% CI: 0.120-0.413, P<0.001], CRP ( HR=1.715, 95% CI: 1.080-2.723, P=0.042), LDH ( HR=1.116, 95% CI: 0.780-1.596, P=0.002) and CEA ( HR=1.855, 95% CI: 1.361-2.528, P<0.001) before chemotherapy, liver metastasis ( HR=2.453, 95% CI: 1.461-4.120, P=0.001) are independent prognostic factors for patients with unresectable lung squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusion:The ECOG score, surgical treatment history, first-line chemotherapy, LDH, CEA and CRP before chemotherapy, liver metastasis are independent prognostic factors for patients with advanced lung squamous cell carcinoma.

Studies have found that thalidomide has anti-tumor activity due to its inhibitory effect on angiogenesis and immunomodulation,which has been effectively used in targeted therapy resistant non-small cell lung cancer,castration-resistant prostate cancer,colorectal cancer,advanced hepatocarcinoma and advanced gastric cancer.Many clinical studies have also found that it has certain practical value in the aspects of improvement of cancer cachexia and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

Objective To investigate the relationship between lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2 (Lp－PLA2)and atherosclerotic plaque instability in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS),and to provide theoretical basis for diagnosis and treatment of ACS.Methods From September 2015 to February 2016,80 patients with ACS in Shidao People's Hospital of Rongcheng were selected as the study group,including 38 cases in unstable angina group(UAP group),24 cases in non ST segment elevation myocardial infarction group (NSTEMI group), 18 cases in ST segment elevation myocardial infarction group(STEMI group).Forty patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP group)and 40 healthy subjects(healthy group)were selected as control group.Each group was collected 8 hours fasting morning blood sample,the levels of Lp－PLA2,C reactive protein(CRP),troponin Ⅰ,and low density lipoprotein were detected,in order to compare the differences among the groups and the correlation between Lp－PLA2 and ACS plaque instability was analyzed.Results The levels of Lp－PLA2,CRP,troponin Ⅰ and low density lipopro-tein in the ACS group were (312.63 ±11.14)ng/mL,(21.98 ±7.83)mg/L,(0.720 ±0.490)μg/L,(174.76 ± 30.82)mg/dL,respectively,which were significantly higher than those of the healthy group [(141.14 ±12.30)ng/mL, (2.38 ±1.68 )mg/L,(0.010 ±0.003 )μg/L,(79.24 ±17.80 )mg/Ml],and stable angina pectoris group [(176.42 ±12.44)ng/mL,(4.22 ±3.68)mg/L,(0.010 ±0.004)μg/L,(96.54 ±19.41)mg/mL].There were statistically significant differences among all groups(F＝3.07,1.99,2.43,3.25,all P＜0.01).The levels of CRP, Lp－PLA2 and cTnI in ACS patients with different types of the STEMI group,NSTEMI group,UAP group had statisti-cally significant differences,which of the STEMI group were higher than those of the NSTEMI group,which of the NSTEMI group were higher than those of the UAP group(F＝5.15,3.47,2.43,all P＜0.05).Correlation analysis showed that the level of Lp－PLA2 was positively correlated with low density lipoprotein(r＝0.625,P＜0.01)and lipoprotein a(r＝0.532,P＜0.01).logistic regression analysis showed that Lp －PLA2 and CRP were significant independent risk factors of ACS,Lp－PLA2(OR＝1.613,95%CI:1.292 －1.992,P＜0.01),CRP(OR＝1.452, 95%CI:1.210-1.782,P＜0.01).Conclusion Lp－PLA2 is independent risk factor of ACS.Lp－PLA2 is involved in the inflammatory reaction of ACS,and is strongly associated with the stability of atherosclerotic plaque.