ObjectiveTo investigate the value of different noninvasive diagnostic models in the diagnosis of esophageal and gastric varices since there is a high risk of esophageal and gastric varices in patients with compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis and significant portal hypertension， and to provide a basis for the early diagnosis of esophageal and gastric varices. MethodsA total of 108 patients with significant portal hypertension due to compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis who attended Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from November 2017 to November 2023 were enrolled， and according to the presence or absence of esophageal and gastric varices under gastroscopy， they were divided into esophageal and gastric varices group （GOV group） and non-esophageal and gastric varices group （NGOV group）. Related data were collected， including age， sex， imaging findings， and laboratory markers. The chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups； the least significant difference t-test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups， and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between groups. The receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve was plotted to evaluate the diagnostic value of five scoring models， i.e.， fibrosis-4 （FIB-4）， LOK index， LPRI， aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index （APRI）， and aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio （AAR）. The binary logistic regression method was used to establish a combined model， and the area under the ROC curve （AUC） was compared between the combined model and each scoring model used alone. The Delong test was used to compare the AUC value between any two noninvasive diagnostic models. ResultsThere were 55 patients in the GOV group and 53 patients in the NGOV group. Compared with the NGOV group， the GOV group had a significantly higher age （52.64±1.44 years vs 47.96±1.68 years， t=0.453， P<0.05） and significantly lower levels of alanine aminotransferase ［42.00 （24.00 — 17.00） U/L vs 82.00 （46.00 — 271.00） U/L， Z=-3.065， P<0.05］， aspartate aminotransferase ［44.00 （32.00 — 96.00） U/L vs 62.00 （42.50 — 154.50） U/L，Z=-2.351， P<0.05］， and platelet count ［100.00 （69.00 — 120.00）×10⁹/L vs 119.00 （108.50 — 140.50）×10⁹/L， Z=-3.667， P<0.05］. The ROC curve analysis showed that FIB-4， LOK index， LPRI， and AAR used alone had an accuracy of 0.667， 0.681， 0.730， and 0.639， respectively， in the diagnosis of esophageal and gastric varices （all P<0.05）， and the positive diagnostic rates of GOV were 69.97%， 65.28%， 67.33%， and 58.86%， respectively， with no significant differences in AUC values （all P>0.05）， while APRI used alone had no diagnostic value （P>0.05）. A combined model （LAF） was established based on the binary logistic regression analysis and had an AUC of 0.805 and a positive diagnostic rate of GOV of 75.80%， with a significantly higher AUC than FIB-4， LOK index， LPRI， and AAR used alone （Z=-2.773，-2.479，-2.206， and-2.672， all P<0.05）. ConclusionFIB-4， LOK index， LPRI， and AAR have a similar diagnostic value for esophageal and gastric varices in patients with compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis and significant portal hypertension， and APRI alone has no diagnostic value. The combined model LAF had the best diagnostic efficacy， which provides a certain reference for clinical promotion and application.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence(NICE)first updated its 2013 Health Technology Evaluations Guidelines in 2022,followed by further minor adjustments in 2023.This round of updates primarily focuses on five key areas:mea-suring the value of health technologies,understanding and improving the evidence base,structured decision-making,addressing challenging diseases and technologies,and ensuring consistency in methods across evaluation and review projects.It outlines the up-date process and major changes,providing an analysis of these key points with the aim of offering valuable insights and methodologi-cal references for health technology assessment in China.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of eculizumab in treating acute attacks of aquaporin-4 antibody(AQP4-IgG)positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder(NMOSD).Methods:Six patients with AQP4-IgG-positive NMOSD treated with eculizumab at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from August 2023 to April 2024 were included.The patients' clinical characteristics, changes in scores of neurological function, pain and spasm before and after eculizumab treatment, and adverse drug reactions during the treatment period were described, and the data were subjected to Friedman test using SPSS 25.0.Results:The median score of expanded disability status scale in the six patients decreased from 3.25 before treatment to 1.25 after treatment, and the difference was statistically significant ( F=44.77, P<0.01).The functional status score showed noticeable improvement as early as week 1, demonstrating greater sensitivity to treatment response.Three patients experienced moderate to severe pain before treatment, with a mean pain score of 6, which reduced to 4.67 and 1.33 at week 2 and 6, respectively( F=29.17, P<0.05).Two patients reported spasms before treatment, with a mean score of 3.00, which decreased to 2.00, 1.50, and 1.00 at week 2, 3, and 6 after treatment, respectively( F=18.00, P>0.05).No serious adverse reactions were reported during the treatment. Conclusion:Eculizumab can effectively improve the neurological function and alleviate pain in patients with AQP4-IgG-positive NMOSD during acute attacks, and demonstrate good safety.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of eculizumab in treating acute attacks of aquaporin-4 antibody(AQP4-IgG)positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder(NMOSD).Methods:Six patients with AQP4-IgG-positive NMOSD treated with eculizumab at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from August 2023 to April 2024 were included.The patients' clinical characteristics, changes in scores of neurological function, pain and spasm before and after eculizumab treatment, and adverse drug reactions during the treatment period were described, and the data were subjected to Friedman test using SPSS 25.0.Results:The median score of expanded disability status scale in the six patients decreased from 3.25 before treatment to 1.25 after treatment, and the difference was statistically significant ( F=44.77, P<0.01).The functional status score showed noticeable improvement as early as week 1, demonstrating greater sensitivity to treatment response.Three patients experienced moderate to severe pain before treatment, with a mean pain score of 6, which reduced to 4.67 and 1.33 at week 2 and 6, respectively( F=29.17, P<0.05).Two patients reported spasms before treatment, with a mean score of 3.00, which decreased to 2.00, 1.50, and 1.00 at week 2, 3, and 6 after treatment, respectively( F=18.00, P>0.05).No serious adverse reactions were reported during the treatment. Conclusion:Eculizumab can effectively improve the neurological function and alleviate pain in patients with AQP4-IgG-positive NMOSD during acute attacks, and demonstrate good safety.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence(NICE)first updated its 2013 Health Technology Evaluations Guidelines in 2022,followed by further minor adjustments in 2023.This round of updates primarily focuses on five key areas:mea-suring the value of health technologies,understanding and improving the evidence base,structured decision-making,addressing challenging diseases and technologies,and ensuring consistency in methods across evaluation and review projects.It outlines the up-date process and major changes,providing an analysis of these key points with the aim of offering valuable insights and methodologi-cal references for health technology assessment in China.

Objective:To summarize and elucidate the impact of ambient air pollution on biological aging among middle-aged and older adults.Methods:"Air pollution""Biological age""Epigenetic age""Biological aging"and"Epigenetic aging", as well as specific names of air pollutants and biological age were used as search keywords. This study searched the databases of PubMed and Web of Science for eligible English articles and CNKI, CQVIP, Wanfang, CBM, CSTP and other Chinese databases for eligible Chinese articles from inception until June 30, 2023. The language was limited to Chinese and English.Results:Among the 14 included articles, five studies investigated the impact of air pollution on DNA methylation age using different algorithms, while six studies explored the relationship between air pollutants and telomere length. Six studies focused on frailty as an outcome, and an additional study revealed the relationship between fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and its components with composite indicator age (KDM age). The results indicated that, although different forms of biological ages were susceptible to different ambient air pollutants at different degrees, previous studies had consistently found that the increased levels of PM 2.5 and one of its major components, black carbon (BC), could significantly accelerate the biological aging of middle-aged and older adults. Similar trends were observed with nitrogen oxides (NO x) and ozone (O 3) but with relatively limited evidence. Conclusion:Major air pollutants could accelerate the biological aging of middle-aged and older adults.

Objective:To summarize and elucidate the impact of ambient air pollution on biological aging among middle-aged and older adults.Methods:"Air pollution""Biological age""Epigenetic age""Biological aging"and"Epigenetic aging", as well as specific names of air pollutants and biological age were used as search keywords. This study searched the databases of PubMed and Web of Science for eligible English articles and CNKI, CQVIP, Wanfang, CBM, CSTP and other Chinese databases for eligible Chinese articles from inception until June 30, 2023. The language was limited to Chinese and English.Results:Among the 14 included articles, five studies investigated the impact of air pollution on DNA methylation age using different algorithms, while six studies explored the relationship between air pollutants and telomere length. Six studies focused on frailty as an outcome, and an additional study revealed the relationship between fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and its components with composite indicator age (KDM age). The results indicated that, although different forms of biological ages were susceptible to different ambient air pollutants at different degrees, previous studies had consistently found that the increased levels of PM 2.5 and one of its major components, black carbon (BC), could significantly accelerate the biological aging of middle-aged and older adults. Similar trends were observed with nitrogen oxides (NO x) and ozone (O 3) but with relatively limited evidence. Conclusion:Major air pollutants could accelerate the biological aging of middle-aged and older adults.

To construct and validate a deep learning-based bone age prediction model for children living in both plain and highland regions.

To construct and validate a deep learning-based bone age prediction model for children living in both plain and highland regions.