ObjectiveTo develop and validate a diagnostic prediction model for differentiating pulmonary tuberculosis from community-acquired pneumonia based on routine blood parameters. MethodsA total of 642 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 503 patients with community-acquired pneumonia were retrospectively enrolled from the Seventh Hospital of Tangshan. They were randomly divided into a training set and an internal validation set at a 7∶3 ratio. Additionally， 218 patients from the 981st Hospital were independently included as an external validation set. The Boruta algorithm and recursive feature elimination were employed to select predictors from 82 blood parameters， sex， and age. A multivariate Logistic regression model was established and evaluated using receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curves， calibration curves， and decision curve analysis. ResultsThe final model incorporated eight predictors， namely uric acid， urea nitrogen， alkaline phosphatase， monoamine oxidase， alanine aminotransferase， glutathione， neutrophil percentage， and age. The model achieved areas under the curve （AUCs） of 0.800 （95%CI： 0.769-0.830）， 0.787 （95%CI： 0.738-0.836）， and 0.736 （95%CI： 0.667-0.835） in the training， internal validation， and external validation sets， respectively. The model demonstrated good calibration， and decision curve analysis showed clinical net benefit within the threshold probability range of 10%-80%. ConclusionThe developed model exhibits good discriminative ability and clinical utility， serving as an effective early screening tool for primary healthcare institutions.

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) has recently been proposed as a key player in the representation of itch stimuli. However, to date, little is known about the contribution of specific ACC interneuron populations to itch processing. Using c-Fos immunolabeling and in vivo Ca²⁺ imaging, we reported that both histamine and chloroquine stimuli-induced acute itch caused a marked enhancement of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-expressing interneuron activity in the ACC. Behavioral data indicated that optogenetic and chemogenetic activation of these neurons reduced scratching responses related to histaminergic and non-histaminergic acute itch. Similar neural activity and modulatory role of these neurons were seen in mice with chronic itch induced by contact dermatitis. Together, this study highlights the importance of ACC VIP⁺ neurons in modulating itch-related affect and behavior, which may help us to develop novel mechanism-based strategies to treat refractory chronic itch in the clinic.
Animals ; Pruritus/physiopathology* ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide/metabolism* ; Interneurons/metabolism* ; Gyrus Cinguli/metabolism* ; Mice ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Histamine ; Chloroquine ; Optogenetics ; Mice, Transgenic

A previous study showed that the length of the foreskin plays a role in the risk of sexually transmitted infections and chronic prostatitis, which can lead to poor quality of sexual life. Here, the association between foreskin length and sexual dysfunction was evaluated. A total of 5700 participants were recruited from the andrology clinic at The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (Hefei, China). Clinical characteristics, including foreskin length, were collected, and sexual function was assessed by the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) and Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT) questionnaires. Men with sexual dysfunction were more likely to have redundant foreskin than men without sexual dysfunction. Among the 2721 erectile dysfunction (ED) patients and 1064 premature ejaculation (PE) patients, 301 (11.1%) ED patients and 135 (12.7%) PE patients had redundant foreskin, respectively. Men in the PE group were more likely to have redundant foreskin than men in the non-PE group ( P = 0.004). Logistic regression analyses revealed that the presence of redundant foreskin was associated with increased odds of moderate/severe ED (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.31, adjusted P = 0.04), moderate PE (aOR = 1.38, adjusted P = 0.02), and probable PE (aOR = 1.37, adjusted P = 0.03) after adjusting for confounding variables. Our study revealed a positive correlation between the presence of redundant foreskin and the risk of sexual dysfunction, especially in PE patients. Assessment of the length of the foreskin during routine clinical diagnosis may provide information for patients with sexual dysfunction.
Humans ; Male ; Foreskin ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Adult ; Erectile Dysfunction/epidemiology* ; Premature Ejaculation/epidemiology* ; Middle Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological/epidemiology* ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of autologous osteochondral tissue and periosteum transplantation on tendon-bone healing of rotator cuff in rabbits. METHODS: Twenty-four male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into autologous osteochondral tissue and periosteum transplantation group (experimental group, n=12) and simple suture group (control group, n=12). Both groups were subjected to acute supraspinatus tendon injury and repaired with corresponding techniques. At 4, 8, and 12 weeks after operation, 4 specimens from each group were taken from the right shoulder joint for histological examination (HE staining, Masson staining, and Safranin O-fast green staining), and the left shoulder was subjected to biomechanical tests (maximum tensile load and stiffness). RESULTS: Both groups of animals survived until the completion of the experiment after operation. At 4 weeks after operation, both groups showed less collagen fibers and disorder at the tendon-bone junction. At 8 weeks, both groups showed reduced inflammation at the tendon-bone junction, with more organized and denser collagen fibers and chondrocytes. The experimental group showed better results than the control group. At 12 weeks, the experimental group showed typical tendon-bone transition structure, with increased generation of collagen fibers and chondrocytes, and the larger cartilage staining area. Both groups showed an increase in maximum tensile load and stiffness over time ( P<0.05). The stiffness at 4 weeks and the maximum tensile load at 4, 8, and 12 weeks in the experimental group were superior to control group, and the differences were significant ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in stiffness at 8, 12 weeks between the two groups ( P>0.05). CONCLUSION Autologous osteochondral tissue and periosteum transplantation can effectively promote the fiber and cartilage regeneration at the tendon-bone junction of rotator cuff and improve the biomechanical effect of shoulder joint in rabbits.
Animals ; Rabbits ; Male ; Wound Healing ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Periosteum/transplantation* ; Rotator Cuff Injuries ; Rotator Cuff/surgery* ; Tendons/surgery* ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Chondrocytes/transplantation* ; Tendon Injuries/surgery* ; Tensile Strength

Objective:To review the literature on improving patients′medical experience, analyze the current research status in this field, and provide references for enhancing patients′medical experience.Methods:A search was conducted for studies related to improving patients′medical experience published from January 2015 to November 2024 in eight databases, including CNKI and Web of Science. Using software CiteSpace 6.4.R1 and VOSviewer 1.6.19 to analyze publication trends, keyword clustering, existing problems in the process of improving patients′medical experience, and the measures taken.Results:6 507 articles were included, of which 4 452 were in English (68.4%) and 2 055 were in Chinese (31.6%). The annual number of publications showed a nearly linear growth trend ( R2 = 0.983 9). The clustering analysis results indicated that domestic and international research mainly focused on patient-centered diagnostic and treatment systems, behaviors, services, and environments. Existing studies revealed that there were still problems such as long waiting times for appointments and consultations (292 articles), uneven distribution of medical resources (198 articles), and poor doctor-patient communication (155 articles). To improve patients′medical experience, the following intervention measures were proposed: accelerating the medical reform process and strengthening government responsibilities (169 articles); enhancing service concepts and innovating service models (363 articles); optimizing the consultation process and simplifying medical procedures (221 articles); improving the consultation environment and optimizing the facilities in the consultation area (181 articles); and integrating technological advantages to cover the entire medical process (346 articles). Conclusions:Research on improving patients' medical experience was increasingly attracting the attention of more and more scholars. Issues such as low service efficiency, unbalanced resource allocation, and poor doctor-patient communication need to be given special attention. In the future, it is recommended to enhance the experience of patients′ medical experience by strengthening policy and institutional guarantees, accelerating the construction of information technology, improving doctor-patient communication skills and humanistic care, and enhancing the capacity of primary medical services.

Objective:To compare the arthroscopic autologous osteochondral transfer (AOT) and arthroscopic subscapularis augmentation (ASA) in the treatment of recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation complicated with scapular glenoid bone injury less than 20%.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted of the clinical data of 42 patients who had been treated at Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University for recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation complicated with scapular glenoid bone injury less than 20% from January 2022 to January 2023. There were 30 males and 12 females, with an age of (32.2±15.2) years. Altogether 12 left shoulders and 30 right shoulders were affected. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to their surgical methods: an AOT group in which 15 cases were treated with AOT and an ASA group in which 27 cases treated with ASA. The Rowe score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, visual analogue scale (VAS), and shoulder range of motion were compared between groups at the last follow-up. All the above indexes were compared between pre-surgery and post-surgery in each group. The incidence of complications in the 2 groups was recorded.Results:There were no statistically significant differences in the preoperative general data between the 2 groups, indicating comparability ( P > 0.05). A total of 42 patients were followed up for (17.2±5.9) months after surgery. At the last follow-up, in the ASA group and the AOT group respectively, the Rowe score was (97.0±4.4) points and (98.3±2.4) points, the ASES score (97.9±5.2) points and (99.1±3.7) points, and the VAS score 0 (0, 0) point and 0 (0, 1) point, showing no significant difference between the 2 groups ( P > 0.05). The above items in the 2 groups were significantly improved compared with those before surgery ( P < 0.05). At the last follow-up, in ASA group and AOT group respectively, shoulder abduction was 169.2°±3.0° and 168.3°±3.1°, and flexion 171.9°±4.0° and 173.3°±4.1°, showing no significant difference between the 2 groups ( P > 0.05); the abduction 90° external rotation was 67.3°±3.2° in the AOT group, significantly better than that in the ASA group (64.4°±3.5°) ( P < 0.05). The above items in the 2 groups were significantly improved compared with those before operation ( P < 0.05). Follow-ups revealed no infection or osteoarthritis. After surgery, 1 case of shoulder re-dislocation and 6 cases of shoulder pain occurred in the ASA group, while no cases of shoulder re-dislocation or shoulder pain occurred in the AOT group. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in the incidence of complications ( P > 0.05). Conclusions:In the treatment of patients with recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation complicated with scapular glenoid bone injury less than 20%, both AOT and ASA can improve shoulder function, but AOT is superior to ASA in 90° external rotation.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of modified Huanglian Wendan Decoction in improving insulin resistance(IR)HepG2 cells by regulating JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.Methods HepG2 cells were incubated with 0.25 mmol/L palmitic acid for 24 h to induce IR model.The cells were divided into model group,drug containing serum group and metformin hydrochloride group.Blank serum,modified Huanglian Wendan Decoction drug containing serum and 2 mmol/L metformin hydrochloride intervention were administered,respectively.Normal cultured HepG2 cells were used as control group.The glucose assay kit was used to detect the glucose content in the cell supernatant,the liver glycogen assay kit was used to detect the glycogen content in the cells,the triglycerides(TG)assay kit was used to detect the TG content in the cells,PAS staining was used to observe the glycogen status of the cells,oil red O staining was used to observe the lipid droplet status of the cells,ELISA assay kit was used to detect the contents of interleukin-6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α in cell supernatant,Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of Janus kinase 2(JAK2),signal transduction and transcription activator 3(STAT3),LC3 and Beclin-1 in the cells.Results Compared with the control group,the glucose content in the supernatant of HepG2 cells in the model group increased(P<0.01),the intracellular glycogen content decreased(P<0.01),the TG content increased(P<0.01),the glycogen staining area decreased(P<0.01),the lipid droplet staining area increased(P<0.01),the contents of IL-6 and TNF-α in the supernatant increased(P<0.01),the expressions of JAK2 and STAT3 proteins increased(P<0.01),and the protein expression of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ and Beclin-1 decreased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the glucose content decreased in the drug containing serum group and metformin hydrochloride group(P<0.01),the intracellular glycogen content increased(P<0.01),the TG content decreased(P<0.01),the glycogen staining area increased(P<0.01),the lipid droplet staining area decreased(P<0.01),the contents of IL-6 and TNF-α in cell supernatant decreased(P<0.01),the expressions of JAK2 and STAT3 proteins decreased(P<0.01),and the expressions of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ and Beclin-1 proteins increased(P<0.05,P<0.01).The effect of modified Huanglian Wendan Decoction was better than that of metformin hydrochloride(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Modified Huanglian Wendan Decoction can possibly improve glucose and lipid metabolism and reduce inflammation in IR-HepG2 cells through intervening JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and mediating autophagy.

AIM: To compare the control effect of spherical and toric orthokeratology on low-to-moderate myopia with astigmatism(-1.00--1.50 DC)in adolescents.METHODS: The clinical data of 119 cases(119 eyes)of low-to-moderate myopia with astigmatism(-1.00--1.50 DC)adolescents who were treated and fitted with orthokeratology in the ophthalmology department of Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital from June 2021 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into spherical group, with 65 cases(65 eyes), and toric group, with 54 cases(54 eyes)according to the type of orthokeratology. The changes of uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA), axial length and corneal astigmatism before and after wearing lenses were recorded to evaluate the therapeutic effect.RESULTS: The UCVA of both the groups significantly improved at 1 and 2 a after wearing lenses(all P<0.01); corneal astigmatism decreased, but there was no significant difference(all P>0.05); the axial length was longer than that before wearing lenses(P<0.01). There were no statistical significant differences in the UCVA and corneal astigmatism between the spherical group and the toric group(Fintergroup=0.829,Pintergroup=0.364; Fintergroup=0.997,Pintergroup=0.320); and there were no statistical significant differences in the axial length growth between the spherical group and the toric group after wearing lenses for 1 a(0.18±0.11 mm vs 0.17±0.14 mm), and 2 a(0.17±0.10 mm vs 0.16±0.10 mm; all P>0.05).CONCLUSION: Both orthokeratology lenses can improve the UCVA, reduce corneal astigmatism, and delay axial length growth of adolescents with low-to-moderate myopia with astigmatism(-1.00--1.50 DC), and there are no significant differences in the control effect of spherical design orthokeratology and the toric design orthokeratology on myopia.

With the advancement in big data and artificial intelligence technologies, the extensive application of omics technologies in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) research has generated large experimental datasets, enabling the exploration of cross-scale correlations among massive data and thereby resulting in the shift toward a data-intensive research paradigm. The emerging approach of multi-omics data fusion analysis, emphasizing technical and computational tools, presents a potential breakthrough in this field. The holistic perspective of TCM aligns with the concept of multi-omics data fusion, yet the data types encountered exhibit high dimensionality with small sample sizes, necessitating data processing techniques such as dimensionality reduction. The current challenge lies in selecting suitable analytical methods for these data to enhance the systematic understanding of physiological functions and disease diagnosis/treatment processes. This paper explores the theories and frameworks of multi-omics data fusion, analyzes methods for fusing high-dimensional, small-sample multi-omics data in TCM, and aims to provide insights for advancing TCM research.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Humans ; Computational Biology/methods* ; Genomics/methods* ; Sample Size ; Artificial Intelligence ; Multiomics