AIM: To investigate the relationship between the levels of serum dehydroepiandrosterone(DHEA), erythropoietin(Epo), vasohibin-1(VASH-1)and diabetic retinopathy(DR)in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM). METHODS: Totally 185 T2DM patients(185 eyes)treated in our hospital from April 2021 to March 2024 were selected and divided into T2DM group(102 eyes)and DR group(83 eyes)based on whether retinal lesions occurred. DR patients were divided into nonproliferative DR group(NPDR, 47 cases, 47 eyes)and proliferative DR group(PDR, 36 cases, 36 eyes)based on the severity of their lesions. Fully automatic biochemical analyzer was used to detect serum biochemical indicators. ELISA was applied to detect serum levels of DHEA, Epo, and VASH-1. Pearson correlation was applied to analyze the correlation between serum DHEA, Epo, and VASH-1 levels and the severity of diabetic retinopathy. Logistic regression was applied to analyze the factors affecting the occurrence of DR. ROC curve was applied to analyze the diagnostic value of serum DHEA, Epo, and VASH-1 levels for T2DM combined with DR or PDR.RESULTS: Compared with the T2DM group, the DR group showed significantly increased DM duration, fasting blood glucose, uric acid, creatinine, and Epo, while DHEA and VASH-1 levels were significantly reduced(all P<0.05); Compared with the NPDR group, the PDR group showed a significant decrease in serum DHEA and VASH-1 levels, and a significant increase in Epo levels(all P<0.05); the levels of serum DHEA and VASH-1 were negatively correlated with the severity of DR, while the level of Epo was positively correlated with the severity of DR(all P<0.05); DHEA and VASH-1 were protective factors against DR, while Epo was a risk factor for DR(all P<0.05); the AUC of serum DHEA, Epo, and VASH-1 levels alone and in combination for the diagnosis of T2DM with DR were 0.804, 0.797, 0.805, and 0.903, respectively. The combined diagnostic value was higher than that of single diagnosis(all P<0.05); the AUC of serum DHEA, Epo, and VASH-1 levels alone and in combination for diagnosing PDR were 0.852, 0.850, 0.841, and 0.946, respectively. The value of combined diagnosis was significantly higher than that of individual diagnosis(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION:The levels of serum DHEA and VASH-1 in DR patients are clearly reduced, the level of Epo is clearly increased, and their levels are closely related to the severity of DR patients; therefore, combined detection has higher value for T2DM complicated with DR or PDR.

Objective:To observe the in vivo microscopic histological changes during the treatment of melasma using reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) combined with optical coherence tomography (OCT), and to explore its application value in evaluating therapeutic efficacy. Methods:Clinical data were collected from 30 melasma patients treated at the Department of Dermatology, Wuhan Hospital of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, from January to October 2023. Retrospective analyses were performed on clinical photographs taken before treatment and at weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16 after the start of treatment, and the efficacy was evaluated by using the melasma area and severity index (MASI) scores. Meanwhile, changes in RCM imaging indicators, such as pigment distribution patterns, melanocyte morphology and spatial distribution patterns, and inflammatory infiltration in the superficial dermis in melasma lesions, were retrospectively analyzed. For clear elucidation of concepts and subsequent quantitative analysis, characteristic microscopic histological changes in melasma lesions before treatment were classified into several patterns based on RCM findings and previous literature reports. Additionally, optical coherence signals collected by OCT were used to asses characteristic vessel parameters in the lesions before and after treatment. Finally, correlations between various microscopic histological changes and clinical efficacy were analyzed using Spearman's correlation analysis.Results:With the increase in treatment duration, the proportions of pigment distribution patterns Ⅱ and Ⅲ observed by RCM gradually decreased, while the proportion of the nearly normal pattern Ⅰ markedly increased; the proportions of the 4 heterogeneous morphological patterns of melanocytes all decreased, while the pattern Ⅱ melanocytes were still focally distributed in the lesions at the last time of observation; meanwhile, the proportions of melanocyte spatial distribution patterns Ⅱ and Ⅲ decreased, which gradually restored to the normal pattern Ⅰ; the infiltration of melanophages and inflammatory cells in the superficial dermis diminished, and the proportion of the pattern Ⅲ inflammatory infiltration markedly decreased at week 4, but it lasted for a long time. The decrease rate of MASI scores was significantly correlated with the decrease rate of the proportions of pigment distribution patterns Ⅱ and Ⅲ ( r = 0.82, 0.97, respectively, both P < 0.05), melanocyte morphological patterns Ⅰ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ ( r = 0.84, 0.83, 0.83, respectively, all P < 0.05), and inflammatory infiltration patterns Ⅰ and Ⅲ ( r = 0.85, 0.81, respectively, both P < 0.05), as well as the increase rate of the proportion of melanocyte spatial distribution pattern Ⅰ ( r = 0.89, P < 0.05), indicating that these indicators can be sensitive evaluation indicators for clinical efficacy. Moreover, OCT revealed a decrease in the average diameter and density of vessels in the lesions after treatment, and the decrease rates were correlated with the decrease rate of MASI scores ( r = 0.76, 0.78, respectively, both P < 0.05) ; there was no significant difference between the pre- and post-treatment average depth of vascular plexuses. Conclusion:During the treatment of melasma, RCM combined with OCT could serve as a non-invasive approach with objective and robust evidence for evaluating the therapeutic efficacy.

Objective:To analyze the dermoscopic and reflectance confocal microscopic (RCM) features of extragenital lichen sclerosus, and to identify their associations with histopathological manifestations.Methods:A total of 57 patients with histopathologically confirmed lichen sclerosus were retrospectively collected from the Department of Dermatology, Wuhan No.1 Hospital from October 2010 to April 2024. Dermoscopic and RCM images were collected from typical skin lesions in extragenital areas, and the consistency between dermoscopic or RCM characteristics and histopathological features was analyzed.Results:Among the 57 patients with extragenital lichen sclerosus, there were 15 males and 42 females, with ages ranging from 5 to 60 years and disease duration from 5 to 28 months. The skin lesions were mainly located on the face and neck (23 cases, 40.4%) and back (11 cases, 19.3%). Histopathological features included hyperkeratosis with follicular plugging, vacuolar degeneration of basal cells, edematous papillary and superficial dermis, collagen homogenization, and predominant infiltration of variable amounts of melanophages and lymphocytes in the superficial dermis. Dermoscopy showed yellowish-white structureless areas in 57 cases (100%), yellowish-white circular structures in 55 (corresponding to follicular keratotic plugs, 96.5%), characteristic vascular structures in 54 (94.7%), gray-brown punctate pigmentation in 56 (98.3%), xanthochromic patchy pigmentation in 20 (35.1%), white scales in 54 (94.7%), white scar-like hypopigmentation in 43 (75.4%), and hemorrhagic spots in 2 (3.5%). RCM images showed follicular plugging in 44 cases (77.19%), manifesting as dilated follicular infundibula containing highly refractive keratotic materials; liquefaction degeneration of the basal cell ring was observed in 57 cases (100%), manifesting as loss of the basal cell ring, blurred epidermal-dermal junction, and infiltration of variable amounts of melanophages and inflammatory cells in the superficial dermis; dilatation of superficial dermal blood vessels was seen in 46 (80.7%) ; all 57 cases (100%) showed reduced epidermal thickness compared to surrounding normal skin, epidermal atrophy and thinning, and rete ridge flattening; hyperkeratosis was observed in 57 cases (100%) ; 39 cases (68.42%) showed thickened fibers with increased refractivity in the superficial dermis. The detection rates of follicular keratotic plugs, patchy pigmentation, and white scar-like hypopigmentation by dermoscopy significantly differed from those by histopathological examinations (all P < 0.05), so did the detection rates of superficial dermal collagen thickening and vascular dilatation by RCM (both P < 0.05) . Conclusions:Extragenital lichen sclerosus has characteristic dermoscopic and RCM manifestations, which were highly consistent with its histopathological findings. Dermoscopy combined with RCM technology can provide effective support for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of extragenital lichen sclerosus.

Objective:To improve the quality assurance (QA) skills of radiotherapy personnel and medical students and reduce the radiation risk of training by developing a remote training system for QA of medical electronic linear accelerators.Methods:This training system was built based on radiotherapy technology and quality control contents of medical electronic linear accelerators, and a virtual reality interactive software was developed using extended reality (XR) technology Unity 3D. A remote control module of multi-terminal platform was also developed. A multi-perspective evaluation system was adopted and a questionnaire was designed to analyze the application value of this system.Results:The training system reproduced the live environment and physical objects of medical electronic linear accelerator treatment room. It built a multi-terminal virtual simulation training system with radiotherapy technology as well as QA knowledge system. This system could provide 5G remote control of medical electronic linear accelerator for off-site quality control demonstration and guidance. By March 1, 2022, a total number of 133 people had been trained using this system, 76 valid questionnaires had been taken, of which 90.79% (69/76) of the respondents trusted the experimental results shown by the system and 88.16% (67/76) of the respondents considered the training system necessary.Conclusions:The training effect of this system is widely recognized. It fundamentally reduces the training radiation hazard and provides reference for the reform and progress of QA training mode of medical electronic linear accelerators.

Interface dermatitis refers to a group of skin diseases in which inflammation mainly involves the dermo-epidermal junction, including lichen planus, lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, lichen sclerosus, lichen nitidus, lichen striatus, erythema multiforme, bullous pemphigoid, Riehl melanosis, poikiloderma, large-plaque parapsoriasis/mycosis fungoides, etc. Interface dermatitis shows characteristic reflectance confocal microscopic features. This review summarizes reflectance confocal microscopic characteristics of interface dermatitis and recent progress in the application of reflectance confocal microscopy in auxiliary diagnosis of interface dermatitis.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of clinical pathway implementation on medical efficiency and medical expenses of patients with two common rheumatic immune diseases " rheumatoid arthritis" and " ankylosing spondylitis" diseases by using diagnosis related group (DRG) related indicators.Methods:The data of patients with two common rheumatic immune diseases " rheumatoid arthritis" and " ankylosing spondylitis" included in the clinical pathway management from January 2017 to December 2019 in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology of Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine were carried out. The impact of clinical pathway implementation on the average hospital stay, average cost and average drug cost of patients with the two diseases were analyzed and compared , so as to evaluate the effect of the implementation of the clinical pathway.Results:From the implementation of clinical pathway in 2017 to 2019, the number of patients admitted and total medical specialty services in the two groups of " rheumatoid arthritis" and " ankylosing spondylitis" increased year by year ( P<0.01). The average length of stay, average cost and average drug cost of patients in the " rheumatoid arthritis" disease group decreased year by year, with statistically significant differences between groups (all P<0.01). The average length of stay in the ankylosing spondylitis group was shortened year by year, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.01). Compared with 2017, the average cost in 2018 decreased significantly, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.01). There was no significant difference in average cost between 2018 and 2019 ( P>0.05). The average cost in 2018 was significantly higher than that in 2017 ( P<0.05). After analyzing the causes and optimizing the clinical pathway, the average cost in 2019 was significantly lower than that in 2018 ( P<0.01). Conclusions:Through the implementation of clinical pathways and continuous optimization of pathway connotation during use, the diagnosis and treatment efficiency of patients with " rheumatoid arthritis" and " ankylosing spondylitis" can be significantly improved, and medical costs can be reduced, which is in line with the current medical reform needs.

Objective:To preliminarily investigate dermoscopic characteristics of trichoblastoma, and to provide ideas for clinical diagnosis of trichoblastoma.Methods:Clinical data were collected from 5 patients with trichoblastoma who underwent both dermoscopic and histopathological examinations in Wuhan No.1 Hospital from November 2018 to July 2021, and dermoscopic features were analyzed retrospectively.Results:According to the presence or absence of pigments, trichoblastoma was divided into 2 subtypes: pigmented trichoblastoma (3 cases) and non-pigmented trichoblastoma (2 cases) . Dermoscopic examination of the 3 cases of pigmented trichoblastoma showed blue-gray ovoid nests (3 cases) , arborizing vessels (2 cases) , blue-gray globules (2 cases) , bright white structureless areas (2 cases) , concentric structures (1 case) and ulcers (1 case) ; no yellow-whitish homogenous structure was found. As for non-pigmented trichoblastoma, dermoscopic features included arborizing vessels (2 cases) , yellow-whitish homogenous structures (2 cases) , bright white structureless areas (2 cases) and blue-gray globules (1 case) ; no ulcers or blue-gray ovoid nests were observed in either case.Conclusion:Dermoscopic patterns differ between pigmented and non-pigmented trichoblastoma, so dermoscopy can provide preliminary diagnostic clues for trichoblastoma.

Objective:To assess the application value of reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) in evaluating clinical efficacy of hemoporfin-mediated photodynamic therapy for purple-type port-wine stain.Methods:From April 2018 to January 2020, a total of 39 patients with centrofacial purple-type port-wine stains were enrolled from Department of Dermatology, Wuhan No.1 Hospital, and received 3 sessions of hemoporfin-mediated photodynamic therapy. Before the first treatment, and 3- 6 months after 3 sessions of hemoporfin-mediated photodynamic therapy, skin lesions were photographed, and RCM was conducted to measure the diameter and density of blood vessels at a depth of 100 μm in the lesions. Clinical efficacy was evaluated based on the clinical photos, and the average diameter of blood vessels and density of blood vessels per square millimeter of lesion area were calculated. Measurement data were compared among different groups by using one-way analysis of variance, multiple comparisons were performed using least significant difference test, and comparisons of parameters before and after treatment were conducted by using paired t test. Results:After 3 sessions of hemoporfin-mediated photodynamic therapy, 1 (2.56%) patient was nearly completely cured, 16 (41.03%) received marked improvement, 20 (51.28%) received improvement, and 2 (5.13%) showed no response to the treatment. In the patients receiving marked improvement or improvement, the average diameter and density of blood vessels significantly decreased after treatment compared with those before treatment (all P < 0.05) , while no significant difference was observed before and after treatment in the patients with no response (both P > 0.05) . The average difference in the blood vessel diameter before and after treatment was significantly higher in the patients receiving marked improvement (48.56 ± 17.87 μm) than in those receiving improvement (31.15 ± 21.09 μm, P < 0.05) and those with no response (12.00 ± 2.83 μm, P < 0.05) . The average difference in the blood vessel density before and after treatment was 7.13 ± 3.44, 5.00 ± 2.22 and -0.50 ± 3.54 vessels/mm 2, respectively, in the patients receiving marked improvement, improvement and those with no response, and pairwise comparisons between the 3 groups all showed significant differences (all P < 0.05) . Conclusion:RCM can be used to assess the average diameter and density of blood vessels in the port-wine stain lesions before and after hemoporfin-mediated photodynamic therapy, and is helpful in quantitatively evaluating the therapeutic effect of hemoporfin-mediated photodynamic therapy.

Objective:To investigate the nutritional risk and prevalence of malnutrition in patients with terminal stage gastrointestinal malignant tumors in a tertiary hospital in Changsha.Methods:Cluster sampling was used to conduct a cross-sectional survey of inpatients from Departments of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Surgery, Hepatobiliary Surgery and Oncology in Hunan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2019 to July 2020. Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002) was used to assess the prevalence of nutritional risk with malnutrition defined as concurrent presence of BMI < 18.5 kg/m 2, poor general condition and NRS 2002 nutritional impairment score of 3. Step 2 of Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) diagnostic criteria (without whole body muscle mass) was adopted to diagnose malnutrition. Step 3 of GLIM criteria was used to evaluate the prevalence of severe malnutrition. Results:A total of 802 patients registered in the 4 departments were selected for screening via cluster sampling and 514 were enrolled according to the inclusion/exclusion criteria. The prevalence of nutritional risk in patients with terminal stage gastrointestinal cancer was 49.8% (256/514). The prevalence of malnutrition and severe malnutrition per GLIM criteria were 41.6% (214/514) and 18.3% (94/514), respectively.Conclusions:Although nutritional support therapy is not recommended for patients with end-stage cancer. This paper suggests that the prevalence of nutritional risk and malnutrition in patients with end-stage gastrointestinal cancer is not as high as described in some articles.

Objective:To explore the application value of skin lead marker combined with iSCOUT image-guided positioning system in monitoring and correcting the setup error of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for breast cancer and calculate the PTV margin, aiming to provide reference for clinical practice.Methods:25 breast cancer patients treated with IMRT after modified radical mastectomy in Fujian Medical University Union Hospital from April to August 2019 were enrolled in this study. The skin lead marker combined with iSCOUT image-guided positioning system was employed for image-guided positioning based on the gold standard registration algorithm. Initial setup errors on the x (lateral), y (craniocaudal) and z (anteroposterior) axis and residual errors after the position correction were recorded and analyzed. The effect of the errors before and after image-guided correction upon the plan dose was compared and the reasonable PTV margin was calculated.Results:25 patients received 150 times of positioning verification using skin lead marker combined with iSCOUT image-guided positioning system. The absolute residual errors on the x-, y-and z-axis were (1.53±0.96), (1.30±0.99) and (1.34±0.92) mm, significantly smaller than the initial setup errors of (2.63±2.12), (2.41±2.45) and (3.07±2.77) mm (all P<0.001). The percentage of dose deviation due to residual errors was also smaller than that of the initial errors. Significant differences were observed in D 98%, D 2%, D max of PTV, D max of the heart, D max of the healthy breast, and D mean of the affected lung and both lungs. The percentage deviation from the original plan was decreased from 2.18%, 3.19%, 10.66%, 8.75%, 48.21%, 10.50%, and 3.66% to 0.38%, 0.23%, 2.31%, 0.04%, 13.78%, 6.35% and 0.41%, respectively (all P<0.05). PTV margins on the x-, y-and z-axis after correction were calculated as 1.87, 1.75 and 1.69 mm, respectively. Conclusion:It is feasible and valuable to apply the skin lead marker combined with iSCOUT image-guided positioning system in the positioning verification and correction of breast cancer radiotherapy position, providing novel reference for clinical PTV margin.