AIM: To investigate the value of maximum standardized uptake value(SUVmax), extraocular muscle(EOM)diameter, and thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibody(TRAb)in evaluating inflammatory activity in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy(TAO).METHODS: TAO patients underwent orbital 99mTc-DTPA SPECT/CT imaging at the Affiliated Hospital of Panzhihua University between January 2023 and December 2024 were retrospectively enrolled. According to the clinical activity score(CAS), patients were classified into an active group and an inactive group. SUVmax and EOM were independently measured by three nuclear medicine physicians, and the mean values were used for analysis. Serum TRAb levels from TAO patients were measured using a fully automated electrochemiluminescence immunoassay analyzer. Nonparametric tests were used to compare differences between the two groups. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to assess the correlations of CAS with SUVmax, EOM, and TRAb. Using CAS as the reference standard, receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were plotted to evaluate the diagnostic performance of SUVmax, EOM, and TRAb, as well as their combination. Intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC)was used for reliability analysis to evaluate the consistency of SUVmax and EOM among the 3 measurers.RESULTS: A total of 99 patients(198 eyes)with TAO were enrolled in this study, including 38 males and 61 females, aged 16-74(46.92±11.84)y. The active group comprised 46 patients(92 eyes), aged 16-71(48.40±12.02)y, with 25 males and 21 females. The inactive group included 53 patients(106 eyes), aged 17-74(45.46±11.59)y, consisting of 13 males and 40 females. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of gender and age(P>0.05). Statistically significant differences were observed in SUVmax, EOM, and TRAb. Compared with the inactive group, the active group showed higher SUVmax, EOM, and TRAb levels(all P<0.01). Correlation analysis showed that CAS was positively correlated with SUVmax, EOM, and TRAb(r=0.734, 0.622, and 0.404, respectively, all P<0.01). ROC curves were plotted using CAS as the reference standard, and the AUCs for SUVmax, EOM, TRAb, and their combined diagnosis were 0.874, 0.797, 0.715, and 0.892, respectively. The ICC of SUVmax and EOM were 0.925(95%CI: 0.901-0.948, P<0.001)and 0.943(95%CI: 0.907-0.964, P<0.001)respectively.CONCLUSION: Beyond CAS, there is a need to identify objective imaging and serological biomarkers. Measurements of SUVmax and EOM provide visualized and quantifiable tools for assessing TAO activity, and their combination with TRAb can further improve the accuracy of activity assessment.

Objective:To analyze the current situation of medical consumables management policy in China,and to provide a reference for the refined management of medical consumables.Methods:Through the policy triangle model and policy tool theory,it comprehensively analyzes the reimbursement medical consumables catalogue and payment management policy of medical insurance in China,covering the policy background,content,process,and participant dimensions.Results:The use frequency of medical consumables policy tools is not balanced,the payment management rules need to be refined,and the participation of multi-stakeholders such as patients is lacking.Conclusion:It is necessary to further strengthen the foundational management of reimbursement medical consumables catalogue,improve the access mechanism of medical consumables for medical insurance,and explore the formulation of categorized payment standards and innovative payment mechanisms.

Objective:To analyze the current situation of medical consumables management policy in China,and to provide a reference for the refined management of medical consumables.Methods:Through the policy triangle model and policy tool theory,it comprehensively analyzes the reimbursement medical consumables catalogue and payment management policy of medical insurance in China,covering the policy background,content,process,and participant dimensions.Results:The use frequency of medical consumables policy tools is not balanced,the payment management rules need to be refined,and the participation of multi-stakeholders such as patients is lacking.Conclusion:It is necessary to further strengthen the foundational management of reimbursement medical consumables catalogue,improve the access mechanism of medical consumables for medical insurance,and explore the formulation of categorized payment standards and innovative payment mechanisms.

Objective:To explore the association of human betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase ( BHMT) and BHMT2 gene polymorphisms with non-syndromic congenital heart disease (CHD). Methods:A hospital-based case-control study was conducted, in which children with CHD who attended Hunan Children′s Hospital from January 2018 to May 2019 were enrolled as the case group, and children without any congenital deformity who attended the hospital during the same period were enrolled as the control group on a 1∶1 basis. A self-administered questionnaire survey was performed to collect information about the study subjects and their mothers, and then venous blood samples were collected from the subjects to detect BHMT and BHMT2 gene polymorphisms. Logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the association of BHMT and BHMT2 gene polymorphisms and their haplotypes with CHD. Crossover analyses and logistic regression were used to explore the gene-gene and gene-environment interactions. Results:The case and control group both enrolled 620 children. The multivariate logistic regression showed that BHMT gene polymorphisms at rs3733890 (AA vs. GG: OR=3.476, Q FDR<0.001; GA vs. GG: OR=1.525, Q FDR=0.036), at rs1915706 (CC vs. TT: OR=3.464, Q FDR<0.001) and at rs1316753 (GG vs. CC: OR=1.875, Q FDR=0.020) increased the risk of CHD. Children with haplotype of A-G-A had an increased risk of CHD ( OR=1.468, 95% CI: 1.222-1.762). Interaction analysis showed that a statistically significant positive interaction between rs3733890 and rs1915706 on both additive ( RERI=0.628, 95% CI: 0.298-0.958) and multiplicative ( OR=3.754, 95% CI: 1.875-7.519) scales. Gene-environment interactions were found between the BHMT gene with secondhand smoke exposure before pregnancy and in early pregnancy, tea consumption before pregnancy and in early pregnancy, alcohol consumption before pregnancy, and folic acid supplementation before or during pregnancy. Conclusion:BHMT gene rs3733890, rs1915706 and rs1316753 polymorphisms may be associated with the risk of CHD. In addition, there is an association of cooperative interaction between rs3733890 and rs1915706 on both additive and multiplicative scales with the risk of CHD, and the BHMT gene interacts with multiple environmental factors.

Objective To examine the effect of ground cage use on Oncomelania hupensis spread, so as to provide insights into precision snail control. Methods Twenty ground cages that were frequently used to capture rice field eels were purchased, including 11 packaging tape-made cages, 7 plastic cages and 2 nylon rope-made cages. The eel-capturing activity was mimicked, and 20 ground cages were assigned in settings with relatively high (1.00 snail/0.1 m² and higher) and low snail densities (< 1.00 snail/0.1 m²) in Xindai Township, Pinghu City, Zhejiang Province during the period from 15 : 00 to 8 : 00 of the following day on April 13, 26 and 28. The numbers of snails carried by different types of ground cages were compared in settings with different types of snail densities using the rank-sum test. Results A total of 11 cage-times were assigned in settings with a high snail density, and a total of 77 snails were captured, with a mean number of 7 snails in each cage-time and 2.15 snails in 0.1 m² ground cage. The mean numbers of snails carried by packaging tape-made and plastic cages were 2.47 snails/0.1 m² cage and 0.37 snails/0.1 m² cage, respectively. A total of 24 cage-times were assigned in settings with a low snail density, and a total of 8 snails were captured, with a mean number of 0.33 snails in each cage-time and 0.09 snails in 0.1 m² ground cage. The mean numbers of snails carried by packaging tape-made cages were 0.12 snails/0.1 m² cage; however, no snails were carried by plastic or nylon rope-made cages. The number of snails carried by ground cages was higher in settings with a high snail density than in settings with a low snail density (Z = −4.019, P < 0.01), and the number of snails carried by packaging tape-made cages was higher in settings with a high snail density than in settings with a low snail density (Z = −4.086, P < 0.01). No significant differences were found in the numbers of snails carried by different types of ground cages. Conclusion The use of ground cage in snail habitats is a contributor to snail spread.

Objective:To explore the association of human betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase ( BHMT) and BHMT2 gene polymorphisms with non-syndromic congenital heart disease (CHD). Methods:A hospital-based case-control study was conducted, in which children with CHD who attended Hunan Children′s Hospital from January 2018 to May 2019 were enrolled as the case group, and children without any congenital deformity who attended the hospital during the same period were enrolled as the control group on a 1∶1 basis. A self-administered questionnaire survey was performed to collect information about the study subjects and their mothers, and then venous blood samples were collected from the subjects to detect BHMT and BHMT2 gene polymorphisms. Logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the association of BHMT and BHMT2 gene polymorphisms and their haplotypes with CHD. Crossover analyses and logistic regression were used to explore the gene-gene and gene-environment interactions. Results:The case and control group both enrolled 620 children. The multivariate logistic regression showed that BHMT gene polymorphisms at rs3733890 (AA vs. GG: OR=3.476, Q FDR<0.001; GA vs. GG: OR=1.525, Q FDR=0.036), at rs1915706 (CC vs. TT: OR=3.464, Q FDR<0.001) and at rs1316753 (GG vs. CC: OR=1.875, Q FDR=0.020) increased the risk of CHD. Children with haplotype of A-G-A had an increased risk of CHD ( OR=1.468, 95% CI: 1.222-1.762). Interaction analysis showed that a statistically significant positive interaction between rs3733890 and rs1915706 on both additive ( RERI=0.628, 95% CI: 0.298-0.958) and multiplicative ( OR=3.754, 95% CI: 1.875-7.519) scales. Gene-environment interactions were found between the BHMT gene with secondhand smoke exposure before pregnancy and in early pregnancy, tea consumption before pregnancy and in early pregnancy, alcohol consumption before pregnancy, and folic acid supplementation before or during pregnancy. Conclusion:BHMT gene rs3733890, rs1915706 and rs1316753 polymorphisms may be associated with the risk of CHD. In addition, there is an association of cooperative interaction between rs3733890 and rs1915706 on both additive and multiplicative scales with the risk of CHD, and the BHMT gene interacts with multiple environmental factors.

Recent studies have highlighted spatially resolved multi-omics technologies,including spatial genomics,transcriptomics,proteomics,and metabolomics,as powerful tools to decipher the spatial heterogeneity of the brain.Here,we focus on two major approaches in spatial transcriptomics(next-generation sequencing-based technologies and image-based technologies),and mass spectrometry imaging tech-nologies used in spatial proteomics and spatial metabolomics.Furthermore,we discuss their applications in neuroscience,including building the brain atlas,uncovering gene expression patterns of neurons for special behaviors,deciphering the molecular basis of neuronal communication,and providing a more comprehensive explanation of the molecular mechanisms underlying central nervous system disorders.However,further efforts are still needed toward the integrative application of multi-omics technologies,including the real-time spatial multi-omics analysis in living cells,the detailed gene profile in a whole-brain view,and the combination of functional verification.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic and early-warning value of laboratory test indicators for sepsis-induced myocardial injury (SIMD).Methods:The clinical data of 183 patients with sepsis admitted to the Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from August 2016 to October 2020 were collected. The patient's age, gender, past medical history, vital signs and pathogen culture results were extracted. Cardiac function, blood routine, liver function, renal function, inflammatory factors, coagulation function, APACHE Ⅱ and SOFA scores were recorded at enrollment and 72 h after admission. SIMD was defined as cTnT ≥300 pg/mL and NT-proBNP ≥1243 pg/mL twice in 72 h intervals between enrolled cases, and the early-warning factors of patients with SIMD were analyzed. The differences in various indicators between the two groups were compared, and Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the diagnostic efficacy of cTnT and NT-proBNP combined for SIMD, and the correlation between PCT/PLT ratio and the occurrence of SIMD.Results:Among 250 patients, 67 patients were excluded for lack of the main indicators, and 183 patients (including 62 patients with history of cardiac disease) were enrolled finally. Among 183 patients with sepsis, 105 patients (57.38%) with cTNT ≥300 pg/mL and NT-proBNP ≥1 243 pg/mL, were diagnosed as myocardial injury; after excluding 62 patients with history of cardiac disease, 59 patients (48.76%) with cTNT ≥300 pg/mL and NT-proBNP ≥1 243 pg/mL were diagnosed as myocardial injury. Logistic regression analysis showed that increased PCT/PLT ratio ( OR=1.585, 95% CI: 1.124-2.237, P=0.009) was an independent risk factor for early-warning of SIMD. The PCT/PLT ratio ( OR= 1.850, 95% CI: 1.103-3.102, P=0.020) could stably predict the occurrence of SIMD in patients without previous history of heart disease. ROC curve analysis showed that PCT/PLT ratio could effectively predict the occurrence of SIMD (AUC=0.693, 95% CI: 0.617-0.769, P<0.001), the optimal cut-off value was 0.177 (sensitivity: 65.7%, specificity: 66.7%). The PCT/PLT ratio was still effective in predicting the occurrence of SIMD after excluding patients with previous history of heart disease (AUC=0.733, 95% CI: 0.643-0.823, P<0.001), and the optimal cut-off value was 0.429 (sensitivity: 55.9%, specificity: 83.9%). Conclusions:The combination of cTnT and NT-proBNP has certain diagnostic value for SIMD, and the PCT/PLT ratio could warn the occurrence of SIMD.

Objective To study the possible molecular mechanism of IL-10 in promoting Chlamydia muridarum infection in mice. Methods C57BL/6 wild-type and IL-10 gene knockout ( IL-10-/-) mice were infected with Chlamydia muridarum. Indirect immunofluorescence assay was used to detect the growth of Chlamydia muridarum in the intestinal and genital tracts. The severity of genital diseases was assessed by hydrosalpinx scoring. Expression of IFN-γand IL-2 in blood was measured by ELISA. Re-sults Compared with the wild-type group, Chlamydia clearance in the intestinal and genital tracts of IL-10-/- mice was significantly faster, and the expression of IFN-γ and IL-2 increased significantly. In addi-tion, wild-type mice showed more serious hydrosalpinx. Conclusions IL-10 delays Chlamydia trachomatis clearance and promotes Chlamydia infection through inhibiting the expression of IFN-γ and IL-2, which ag-gravates hydrosalpinx.