Objective: Patients with late life depression sometimes refuse to receive electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) owing to its adverse reactions. To alleviate patient’s resistance, a novel ECT stimulation strategy named mixed-strategy ECT (msECT) was designed in which patients are administered conventional ECT during the first three sessions, followed by low energy stimulation during the subsequent sessions. However, whether low energy electrical stimulation in the subsequent stage of therapy affect its efficacy and reduce adverse reactions in patients with late life depression remains unknown. To explore differences between msECT and regular ECT(RECT) with respect to clinical efficacy and side effects Methods: This randomized, controlled trial was conducted from 2019 to 2021 on 60 patients with late life depression who were randomly assigned to two groups: RECT or msECT. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to compare the two stimulation strategies regarding their efficacy and side effects on cognition. Chi-squared test was used to compare side effects in the two strategies. Results: In the intent-to-treat group, the GEE model suggested no differences between-group difference in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 score over time (Wald χ2=7.275, p=0.064), whereas the comparison of side effects in the two strategies favored msECT (Wald χ2=8.463, p=0.015) as fewer patients had adverse events during the second phase of treatment with msECT (χ2 =13.467, p=0.004). Conclusion msECT presents its similar efficacy to RECT. msECT may have milder side effects on cognition.

Variations in the dynein axonemal heavy chain gene, dynein axonemal heavy chain 6 (DNAH6), lead to multiple morphological abnormalities of the flagella. Recent studies have reported that these deficiencies may result in sperm head deformation. However, whether DNAH6 is also involved in human acrosome biogenesis remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate DNAH6 gene variants and their potential functions in the formation of defective sperm heads and flagella. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on a cohort of 375 patients with asthenoteratozoospermia from the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University (Hefei, China). Hematoxylin and eosin staining, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were performed to analyze the sperm morphology and ultrastructure. Immunofluorescence staining and Western blot analysis were conducted to examine the effects of genetic variants. We identified three novel deleterious variants in DNAH6 among three unrelated families. The absence of inner dynein arms and radial spokes was observed in the sperm of patients with DNAH6 variants. Additionally, deficiencies in the acrosome, abnormal chromatin compaction, and vacuole-containing sperm heads were observed in these patients with DNAH6 variants. The decreased levels of the component proteins in these defective structures were further confirmed in sperm from patients with DNAH6 variants using Western blot. After intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment, the partner of one patient with a DNAH6 variant achieved successful pregnancy. Overall, novel variants in DNAH6 genes that contribute to defects in the sperm head and flagella were identified, and the findings indicated ICSI as an effective clinical treatment for such patients.

Objective:To investigate the practicality and safety of performing a radical prostatectomy(RP)shortly after the diagnosis of prostate cancer using a combination of prostate targeted biopsy and intraoperative frozen section.Methods:Prospective enrollment was conducted for patients suspected of having prostate cancer based on abnormal prostate specific antigen(PSA)levels.The inclusion criteria for the study were as follows: patients aged 80 years or younger with an ECOG score of 1 or lower.Prior to biopsy, patients underwent both prostate magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)and prostate specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography(PSMA PET/CT)to determine the likelihood of prostate cancer with clinical stages within T 2-3aN 0M 0.In order to be included in the study, patients must agree to receive RP after their prostate cancer diagnosis has been confirmed by biopsy.All enrolled patients underwent a targeted prostate biopsy, consisting of 1-2 cores.These specimens were then examined through frozen section analysis.For patients diagnosed with prostate cancer through intraoperative frozen section pathology, RP was immediately performed.In this study, transperineal prostate targeted+ systematic biopsy was utilized for patients with undiagnosed prostate cancer.Additionally, routine pathological examination of specimens was conducted.The study analyzed the baseline data, surgical conditions, pathological results, and follow-up information of patients in a descriptive manner. Results:Seven patients, ranging in age from 54 to 77 years with a mean age of 66.7 years, were enrolled in the study.Their mean PSA level was 12.668 μg/L, ranging from 4.359 to 22.195 μg/L.Of these patients, 4 had a PI-RADS score of 4 and 3 had a score of 5.The maximum diameter of the index lesion was 1.3 cm, ranging from 0.5 to 2.2 cm.PSMA PET/CT scores were 4 in 1 case and 5 in 6 cases.The index lesions detected by PSMA PET/CT were consistent with those detected by MRI, and the maximum standardized uptake value(SUVmax)was 15.7, ranging from 5.3 to 39.4.Prostate cancer was diagnosed through targeted biopsy and intraoperative frozen section pathology.Four cases had a Gleason score of 3+ 3=6, while one case had a Gleason score of 3+ 4=7, another had a score of 4+ 3=7, and the last had a score of 4+ 4=8.All patients underwent RP treatment immediately after the prostate cancer diagnosis.Only one patient had slight adhesion at the apex of the prostate, while the other six patients were evaluated by surgeons as having no obvious adhesion at the apex.All surgeries were completed successfully, with a mean operation time of 149.7(ranging from 108 to 255)minutes.After RP, whole mount pathology results indicated that all cases were prostate adenocarcinoma, with a Gleason score of 3+ 4=7 in four cases and 4+ 3=7 in three cases.The pathological stages were pT2 in three cases and pT3a in four cases, with five cases having negative surgical margins and two cases with positive surgical margins.During the study, all patients were monitored for a period of 5.4 months(ranging from 3 to 7 months)and no complications of Clavien Dino≥Ⅰ were observed.PSA levels were measured at 6 weeks and 3 months after surgery, with readings of 0.020 μg/L(ranging from 0 to 0.079 μg/L)and 0.016 μg/L(ranging from 0 to 0.087 μg/L), respectively.No hormonal therapy or radiotherapy was administered during this time.Four patients were able to recover from urinary continence.Conclusions:Based on a combination of MRI and PSMA PET/CT, it is both safe and feasible to promptly perform RP following the diagnosis of prostate cancer through targeted biopsy for index lesions, along with intraoperative frozen section.

Objective: To examine the association of greenness exposure with waist circumference (WC) and central obesity in older adults in China. Methods: Based on the cross-sectional data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey in 2017-2018, 14 056 participants aged 65 years and over were included. Demographic characteristics, lifestyle, WC, and other information were collected through a questionnaire and physical examination. Based on the satellite monitoring data of moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) provided by NASA, the annual mean of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) within a radius of 1 000 meters was obtained as the measurement value of greenness exposure. Multivariate linear regression model, multivariate logistic regression model, and restricted cubic splines (RCS) model were used to analyze the association and dose-response relationship between greenness exposure and WC and central obesity in older adults in China. Results: A total of 14 056 participants were enrolled with a median age of 84.0 years [IQR: 75.0-94.0 years]. About 45.0% (6 330) of them were male and 48.6% (5 853) were illiterate. There were 10 964 (78.0%) participants from rural. The mean of WC was (84.4±10.8) cm. Central obesity accounted for 60.2% (8 465), and the NDVI range was (-0.06, 0.78). After adjusting for confounding factors, the multivariate linear regression model showed that the change value of WC in the urban group [β (95%CI):-0.49 (-0.93, -0.06)] was smaller than that in the rural [-0.78 (-0.98, -0.58)] for every 0.1 unit increase in NDVI (P_interaction=0.022). Compared with the Q₁ group in NDVI, WC of Q₂ and Q₃ groups in rural decreased, and the β (95%CI) values were-1.74 (-2.5, -0.98) and-2.78 (-3.55, -2.00), respectively. The multivariate logistic regression model showed that after adjusting for confounding factors, the risk of central obesity decreased for urban and rural older adults with an increase of 0.1 unit in NDVI, and the OR (95%CI) values were 0.87 (0.80, 0.95) and 0.86 (0.82, 0.89), respectively (P_interaction=0.284). Compared with the Q₁ group in NDVI, the risk of central obesity in the Q₂ and Q₃ groups in rural was lower, and the OR (95%CI) values were 0.68 (0.58, 0.80) and 0.57 (0.49, 0.68), respectively. The results of the multivariate regression model with RCS showed that there was a non-linear association of NDVI with WC (P_nonlinear=0.006) and central obesity (P_nonlinear=0.025). Conclusion: Greenness exposure is negatively associated with WC and central obesity in older adults in China.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy of the combined treatment with acupuncture and governor vessel moxibustion on ankylosing spondylitis (AS) at early-middle stage and investigate the effect on bone marrow edema of sacroiliac joint. METHODS: Seventy patients of AS at early-middle stage were randomized into an observation group (35 cases) and a control group (35 cases, 1 case dropped off ). In the control group, the recombinant human tumor necrosis factor receptor-antibody of type Ⅱ fusion protein for injection was injected subcutaneously, 25 mg each time, once on every Monday and Friday, consecutively for 3 weeks. In the observation group, on the base of the intervention as the control group, acupuncture combined with governor vessel moxibustion were provided. Acupuncture was applied to Dazhui (GV 14), Changqiang (GV 1), Zhibian (BL 54), Baihui (GV 20), etc.; the thermal needling technique was adopted at Dazhui (GV 4) and Changqiang (GV 1) for promoting the circulation of the governor vessel, and the ginger-isolated moxibustion on the governor vessel was combined. Such intervention measure was provided once daily. One treatment session contained 7 treatments and 3 sessions were required. Before and after treatment, the scores of Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC), Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI) and Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI) and Bath ankylosing spondylitis patient global score (BAS-G) were observed in the two groups separately. The efficacy and adverse effects were assessed in the two groups after treatment. RESULTS: The scores of SPARCC, BASDAI, BASFI and BAS-G were all reduced after treatment compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 97.1% (34/35) in the observation group, higher than 82.4% (28/34) in the control group (P<0.05). There were 4 cases of gastrointestinal reactions and 1 case of skin rashes in the control group; and 3 cases of local skin redness and pruritus after governor vessel moxibustion, no any drug adverse effect was found in the observation group. CONCLUSION Based on the western medicine treatment, the combined therapy of acupuncture and governor vessel moxibustion may relieve bone marrow edema of sacroiliac joint in patients with AS at early-middle stage, control the progression of disease and improve the daily life activity. This therapy is relatively safe and effective.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Bone Marrow ; Edema/therapy* ; Humans ; Moxibustion/methods* ; Sacroiliac Joint ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing/therapy*

The relationship between androgen and prostate cancer treatment has plagued the field of urologic oncology. To investigate the efficacy and safety of bipolar androgen therapy (BAT) followed by immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). In August 2020, Beijing Hospital conducted an investigator-initiated study: Bipolar androgen therapy followed by immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer. Up to now, the study has included 4 patients who completed the entire cycle of treatment. The mean age of the patients was 74.5 (68 to 82) years old, the mean prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was 20.8 (9.9 to 8.36) μg/L, the mean testosterone was 0.50 (0.00 to 1.81) μg/L, and the Gleason score were 10 and 9, 7, 7 respectively. The pain scale score before treatment was 1.5 (1 to 2). In this study, 4 patients completed the entire cycle of treatment, and the treatment effect of the patients showed great heterogeneity. PSA in case 1 decreased from 24.0 μg/L to 0.47 μg/L, testosterone increased from 0.175 6 μg/L to 2.62 μg/L. PSA in case 2 increased from 9.939 μg/L to 168.536 μg/L, and testosterone increased from 0.0 μg/L increased to 2.85 μg/L. PSA increased from 13.31 μg/L to 39.278 μg/L in case 3, testosterone increased from 0.0 μg/L to 2.54 μg/L. and PSA increased from 36.0 μg/L to 350.2 μg/L in the case 4, testosterone increased from 1.81 μg/L to 3.85 μg/L. Except for one patient who showed significant PSA remission, the PSA levels of the remaining three patients remained high overall. There were no adverse reactions reported in 4 patients. In the follow-up, case 1 continued to use PD-1 monoclonal antibody (median progression free survival time was 10 months). Two patients who had previously been resistant to enzalutamide received enzalutamide again after the whole cycle of treatment, and their PSA decreased again, which indicated that the patient was sensitive to enzalutamide again. BAT had a certain therapeutic effect on mCRPC patients, and the safety was controllable. Its tumor control effect still needed long-term follow-up verification in large-sample clinical trials. BAT has a certain therapeutic effect on mCRPC patient, especially the resensitivity of tumors to enzalutamide can be restored. Immune checkpoint inhibitors may have therapeutic potential in patients with prostate cancer treated with BAT and enzalutamide.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Androgens/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors ; Male ; Nitriles/therapeutic use* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/drug therapy* ; Testosterone/therapeutic use* ; Treatment Outcome

In the past 37 years, human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) has undergone various major transmission routes in China, with the world most complex co-circulating HIV-1 subtypes, even the prevalence is still low. In response to the first epidemic outbreak of HIV in injecting drug users and the second one by illegal commercial blood collection, China issued the Anti-Drug Law and launched the Blood Donation Act and nationwide nucleic acid testing, which has avoided 98,232 to 211,200 estimated infections and almost ended the blood product-related infection. China has been providing free antiretroviral therapy (ART) since 2003, which covered >80% of the identified patients and achieved a viral suppression rate of 91%. To bend the curve of increasing the disease burden of HIV and finally end the epidemic, China should consider constraining HIV spread through sexual transmission, narrowing the gaps in identifying HIV cases, and the long-term effectiveness and safety of ART in the future.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/prevention & control* ; China/epidemiology* ; Disease Outbreaks ; HIV Infections/prevention & control* ; Humans ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the univariate heritability of resting heart rate and common chronic disease such as hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia based on extended pedigrees in Fujian Tulou area and to explore bivariate heritability to test for the genetic correlation between resting heart rate and other relative phenotypes. METHODS: The study was conducted in Tulou area of Nanjing County, Fujian Province from August 2015 to December 2017. The participants were residents with Zhang surname and their relatives from Taxia Village, Qujiang Village, and Nanou Village or residents with Chen surname and their relatives from Caoban Village, Tumei Village, and Beiling Village. The baseline survey recruited 1 563 family members from 452 extended pedigrees. The pedigree reconstruction was based on the family information registration and the genealogy booklet. Univariate and bivariate heritability was estimated using variance component models for continuous variables, and susceptibility-threshold model for binary variables. RESULTS: The pedigree reconstruction identified 1 seven-generation pedigree, 2 five-generation pedigrees, 23 four-generation pedigrees, 186 three-generation pedigrees, and 240 two-generation pedigrees. The mean age of the participants was 57.2 years and the males accounted for 39.4%. The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia in this population was 49.2%, 10.0%, and 45.2%, respectively. The univariate heritability estimation of resting heart rate, hypertension, and dyslipidemia was 0.263 (95%CI: 0.120－0.407), 0.404 (95%CI: 0.135－0.673), and 0.799 (95%CI: 0.590－1), respectively. The heritability of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was 0.379, 0.306, 0.393, 0.452, 0.568, 0.852, and 0.387, respectively. In bivariate analysis, there were phenotypic correlations between resting heart rate with hypertension, diabetes, diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, and triglyceride. After taking resting heart rate into account, there were strong genetic correlations between resting heart rate with fasting glucose (genetic correlation 0.485, 95%CI: 0.120－1, P<0.05) and diabetes (genetic correlation 0.795, 95%CI: 0.181－0.788, P<0.05). CONCLUSION Resting heart rate was a heritable trait and correlated with several common chronic diseases and related traits. There was strong genetic correlation between resting heart rate with fasting glucose and diabetes, suggesting that they may share common genetic risk factors.
Blood Pressure ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedigree

Objective To analyze the resistance of influenza virus to neuraminidase inhibitors (NAI) in Henan province during 2017-2018. Methods Virus were collected from the Henan Influenza Surveillance Network during 2017-2018. 36 confirmed influenza virus(with 15 H1pdm09，6 H3N2 and 15 B) were selected to test resistance to oseltamivir and zanamivi with fluorescence(FL). The NAI sensitive reference viruses were A/California/12/2012(H1pdm09)-275H,A/Beijing Haidian/1942/2014(H3N2)-119E and B/Rochester/02/2001-198D. The NAI resistant reference viruses were A/ Texas/23/2012(H1pdm9)-H275Y, A/Texas/12/2007(H3N2)-E119V and B/Rochester/02/2001-D198N. Results The half maximal inhibitory concentration(IC50) of A/California/12/2012(H1pdm09)-275H, A/Beijing-Haidian/1942/2014(H3N2)-119E and B/Rochester/02/2001-198D for oseltamivir were 0.29 nmol/L (nM),0.10 nM and 12.71 nM, and for zanamivir were 0.2 nM, 0.49 nM and 0.33 nM respectively. The IC50 for oxastatin of H1pdm09 and H3N2 ranged from (0.28-1.37 nM) and (0.08-0.17 nM) respectively, the IC50 for zanamivir ranged from (0.15-0.49 nM) and (0.12-0.22 nM), all was within 10 fold IC50 of the reference virus(corresponding type); the IC50 value of type B for oseltamivir and zanamivir ranged from (11.83-24.59 nM) and (0.48-1.25 nM), all was within 5 fold IC50 of the reference virus. Conclusion All the tested influenza strains isolated in Henan province during 2017-2018 were sensitive to NAI.

Objective To analyze the relationship between socioeconomic position and prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and multi-morbidity among older adults in rural Yunnan Province. Methods A total of 4 833 older adults aged 60 years and over were selected by multi-stage stratified random sampling method in rural Yunnan Province. Information was acquired from questionnaire and health examination. Principal component analysis was used to construct the socioeconomic comprehensive score. Results The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, stroke, coronary heart disease, COPD and multi-morbidity in target persons was 50.6%, 10.2%, 6.4%, 5.5%, 5.4% and 16.1% respectively. The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes was much higher in female compared with male (both P<0.05), in contrast the prevalence of COPD was much higher in male than female( 2=5.499, P=0.019)The prevalence of hypertension, stroke, coronary heart disease, COPD and multi-morbidity was increased with age(all P<0.05);Minority ethnic were more likely to develop hypertension, coronary heart disease, COPD and multi-morbidity than Han ethnic(all P<0.05). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that older adults with lower socioeconomic position had higher probability of suffering from hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, COPD and multi-morbidity (all P<0.05). Conclusions There are significant socioeconomic differences between socioeconomic position and prevalence of five major chronic diseases and multi-morbidity among older adults in rural Yunnan province. Older adults with low socioeconomic position should be key population for future prevention and control of chronic diseases.