Objective:To explore the prognosis of patients with acute aortic syndrome (AAS) in the real world and to examine the risk factors associated with poor outcomes in AAS.Methods:This is a single-center retrospective study. Patients diagnosed with AAS at Xinqiao Hospital from January 2021 to July 2023 were included. The primary endpoints were all-cause mortality and aorta-related mortality, while the secondary endpoints included stroke, myocardial infarction, secondary interventions, and readmission for any cause. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier curves, and risk factors for primary endpoint events were analyzed using multivariate Cox regression.Results:A total of 254 AAS patients, aged (58.9±13.2) years were included in this study. There were 178 cases of aortic dissection, 69 cases of aortic intramural hematoma, and 7 cases of aortic penetrating ulcer. The median follow-up time was 545 days. Seventy-three all-cause deaths occurred among patients with AAS, including 61 aorta-related deaths; 3 strokes, 1 myocardial infarction, 9 secondary surgeries, and 35 readmissions for any cause were observed. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis demonstrated significant differences in all-cause mortality rates based on the Stanford classification, AAS disease classification, eGFR, and albumin levels (all P<0.05), and similar results were also observed in aorta-related death (all P<0.05). Multivariate Cox regression suggested that albumin<35 g/L ( HR=2.372, 95% CI 1.337-4.210, P=0.003), eGFR<90 ml·min -1·1.73 m -2 ( HR=2.457, 95% CI 1.261-4.786, P=0.008), and Stanford type A AAS ( HR=3.420, 95% CI 1.998-5.856, P<0.001) were independent risk factors for all-cause mortality in AAS patients; albumin<35 g/L( HR=2.432, 95% CI 1.295-4.570, P=0.006), eGFR<90 ml·min -1·1.73 m -2( HR=2.523,95% CI 1.243-5.122, P=0.010), and Stanford type A AAS ( HR=3.455,95% CI 1.819-6.564, P<0.001) were independent risk factors for aorta-related mortality in AAS patients. Conclusions:In the real world, the prognosis of patients with AAS remains pessimistic. Patients with type A AAS, renal dysfunction, hypoproteinemia may have a higher risk of poor prognosis.

Objective To investigate the association between plasma atherogenic index of plasma(AIP)and metabolism-associated steatotic liver disease(MASLD),and to evaluate the potential value of AIP as a predictive marker for MASLD risk.Methods We enrolled a total of 4 850 health check-up participants from The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University between June 2021 and May 2023.The participants were divided into quartiles(Q1-Q4)according to their AIP level.Biochemical indicators and MASLD prevalence were compared across groups.Logistic regression,subgroup analysis,and restricted cubic splines(RCS)were used to explore the relationship between AIP and MASLD.Results Among the 4 850 participants,the prevalence of MASLD was 26.08％(1 265/4 850).MASLD prevalence increased across AIP quartiles:4.0％,13.8％,30.8％,and 55.6％in Q1-Q4,respectively(P＜0.001).Compared with Q1,Q2-Q4 groups showed higher proportions of males,BMI,smokers,overweight/obesity,central obesity,prediabetes,hypertension,serum uric acid,and fatty liver index(FLI)(all P＜0.001).Lipid profiles worsened with increased AIP:total cholesterol,triglycerides,and LDL-C increased,while HDL-C decreased(P＜0.001).RCS analysis demonstrated a significant linear relationship between AIP and MASLD risk.After adjusting for confounders,the participants in Q4 had an 8.71-fold higher risk of MASLD than those in Q1(OR:8.71,95％CI:6.20-12.23,P＜0.001).A composite model incorporating AIP,BMI,and FLI showed superior discriminative performance(AUC:0.883,95％CI:0.873-0.892).Interaction analysis suggested that AIP had significant interactions with BMI,hypertension,and prediabetes(P＜0.05).In individuals without these metabolic abnormalities,the association between AIP and MASLD was more pronounced.Conclusion Elevated AIP was significantly associated with an increased risk of MASLD,with a stronger association observed in individuals with normal BMI,blood pressure,and blood glucose levels,suggesting that AIP may serve as a potential indicator for early screening of MASLD.

Objective:To investigate factors influencing frequent episodes (≥ 4 episodes within 1 year) in children with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) in China.Methods:A national multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted. Patients under the age of 18 years diagnosed with moderate-to-severe AD were enrolled at dermatology clinics in 18 medical institutions across 12 provinces and municipalities in China between June 12 and August 8, 2023. At the time of the visit, their guardians completed a structured questionnaire covering demographic characteristics, clinical features of AD, personal and family history, factors associated with frequent episodes of moderate-to-severe AD, compliance with treatment, and disease awareness. Statistical analyses included t tests, one-way analysis of variance, rank-sum tests, and chi-square tests, with multiple-response analysis applied for multiple-choice questions. Results:A total of 965 valid questionnaires were collected, and 965 children with moderate-to-severe AD were included. Among them, there were 531 males and 434 females, 678 (70.3%) were aged 2 - < 12 years, 837 (86.7%) were from urban areas, the age at onset was 2.47 ± 3.03 years, and the median frequency of AD episodes in the past year was 4 times. These children were divided into 2 groups based on the median episode frequency: < 4-episode group (439 cases, 45.5%) and ≥ 4-episode group (526 cases, 54.5%). Compared with the < 4-episode group, children in the ≥ 4-episode group showed younger ages at onset (2.22 ± 2.98 years vs. 2.76 ± 3.06 years, P = 0.006) and higher proportions of patients with comorbid allergic diseases in both the children themselves (82.9% [436/526] vs. 69.7% [306/439], χ2 = 23.42, P < 0.001) and their relatives (66.0% [347/526] vs. 57.4% [252/439], χ2 = 7.46, P = 0.006). Children in the ≥ 4- episode group also had higher monthly usage of moisturizers (150 [30, 300] g vs. 60 [6, 200] g) and daily frequency of moisturizer use, greater disease awareness, but more severe fear of medication use (all P < 0.05). The region and the human development index level were both significantly associated with the episode frequency (both P < 0.001), with the highest proportion of children from South China in the ≥ 4- episode group (36.3%, 191/526). Children in the ≥ 4-episode group also had a longer duration of topical glucocorticoid use than those in the < 4-episode group ( Z = -2.21, P = 0.027). External triggers associated with AD episodes mainly included heat exposure (50.36%, 486/965), hot water bathing (40.73%, 393/965), seafood (23.52%, 227/965), and dust mites (33.37%, 322/965) . Conclusion:In children with moderate-to-severe AD in China, factors influencing frequent episodes may include residence in southern or economically developed regions, earlier age at onset, having a personal or family history of allergic diseases, and fear of medication use.

OBJECTIVE To estimate the cost-effectiveness of penpulimab combined with chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone in first-line treatment of advanced squamous non-small-cell lung cancer （sq-NSCLC）. METHODS From the perspective of Chinese health system， cost-utility analysis was used to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of penpulimab combined with chemotherapy （paclitaxel + carboplatin） versus chemotherapy （paclitaxel + carboplatin） in first-line treatment of sq-NSCLC. A three-health states Markov model was constructed with R packages， and clinical data used in the model were derived from the AK105-302 clinical trial. Costs and utilities were collected from the open-access database and published literature. The quality-adjusted life-years （QALY） was used as the utility index， and the willingness-to-pay （WTP） threshold was set at three times China’s per capita GDP in 2024， equivalent to 287 247 yuan/QALY. The cost-effectiveness of the schemes was evaluated by comparing the incremental cost- utility ratios （ICER） of the two schemes with the WTP threshold. One-way sensitivity analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analysis （PSA） were used to verify the stability of the basic analysis results. RESULTS Compared with chemotherapy， penpulimab combined with chemotherapy increased 0.73 QALY with an incremental cost of 150 681.93 yuan， and the ICER was 206 413.60 yuan/QALY. One-way sensitivity analysis showed that the utility of progression-free survival was the most sensitive factor on ICERs. At the WTP threshold of 3 times China’s per capita GDP， the economic probability of this scheme was 98.80%. At the WTP threshold of 1 times China’s per capita GDP， the probability of ICER being cost-effective was less than 0.01%. CONCLUSIONS For patients with advanced sq-NSCLC， penpulimab combined with chemotherapy is a cost-effective first-line treatment option when WTP threshold is 3 times China’s per capita GDP.

Background: s/Aims: Non-invasive models stratifying clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) are limited. Herein, we developed a new non-invasive model for predicting CSPH in patients with compensated cirrhosis and investigated whether carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified using the new model. Methods: Non-invasive risk factors of CSPH were identified via systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). A new non-invasive model was validated for various performance aspects in three cohorts, i.e., a multicenter HVPG cohort, a follow-up cohort, and a carvediloltreating cohort. Results: In the meta-analysis with six studies (n=819), liver stiffness measurement and platelet count were identified as independent risk factors for CSPH and were used to develop the new “CSPH risk” model. In the HVPG cohort (n=151), the new model accurately predicted CSPH with cutoff values of 0 and –0.68 for ruling in and out CSPH, respectively. In the follow-up cohort (n=1,102), the cumulative incidences of decompensation events significantly differed using the cutoff values of <–0.68 (low-risk), –0.68 to 0 (medium-risk), and >0 (high-risk). In the carvediloltreated cohort, patients with high-risk CSPH treated with carvedilol (n=81) had lower rates of decompensation events than non-selective beta-blockers untreated patients with high-risk CSPH (n=613 before propensity score matching [PSM], n=162 after PSM). Conclusions Treatment with carvedilol significantly reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified by the new model.

Background: s/Aims: Non-invasive models stratifying clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) are limited. Herein, we developed a new non-invasive model for predicting CSPH in patients with compensated cirrhosis and investigated whether carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified using the new model. Methods: Non-invasive risk factors of CSPH were identified via systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). A new non-invasive model was validated for various performance aspects in three cohorts, i.e., a multicenter HVPG cohort, a follow-up cohort, and a carvediloltreating cohort. Results: In the meta-analysis with six studies (n=819), liver stiffness measurement and platelet count were identified as independent risk factors for CSPH and were used to develop the new “CSPH risk” model. In the HVPG cohort (n=151), the new model accurately predicted CSPH with cutoff values of 0 and –0.68 for ruling in and out CSPH, respectively. In the follow-up cohort (n=1,102), the cumulative incidences of decompensation events significantly differed using the cutoff values of <–0.68 (low-risk), –0.68 to 0 (medium-risk), and >0 (high-risk). In the carvediloltreated cohort, patients with high-risk CSPH treated with carvedilol (n=81) had lower rates of decompensation events than non-selective beta-blockers untreated patients with high-risk CSPH (n=613 before propensity score matching [PSM], n=162 after PSM). Conclusions Treatment with carvedilol significantly reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified by the new model.

Background: s/Aims: Non-invasive models stratifying clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) are limited. Herein, we developed a new non-invasive model for predicting CSPH in patients with compensated cirrhosis and investigated whether carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified using the new model. Methods: Non-invasive risk factors of CSPH were identified via systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). A new non-invasive model was validated for various performance aspects in three cohorts, i.e., a multicenter HVPG cohort, a follow-up cohort, and a carvediloltreating cohort. Results: In the meta-analysis with six studies (n=819), liver stiffness measurement and platelet count were identified as independent risk factors for CSPH and were used to develop the new “CSPH risk” model. In the HVPG cohort (n=151), the new model accurately predicted CSPH with cutoff values of 0 and –0.68 for ruling in and out CSPH, respectively. In the follow-up cohort (n=1,102), the cumulative incidences of decompensation events significantly differed using the cutoff values of <–0.68 (low-risk), –0.68 to 0 (medium-risk), and >0 (high-risk). In the carvediloltreated cohort, patients with high-risk CSPH treated with carvedilol (n=81) had lower rates of decompensation events than non-selective beta-blockers untreated patients with high-risk CSPH (n=613 before propensity score matching [PSM], n=162 after PSM). Conclusions Treatment with carvedilol significantly reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified by the new model.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection frequently develop central nervous system damage, yet the mechanisms driving this pathology remain unclear. This study investigated the primary pathways and key factors underlying brain tissue damage induced by the SARS-CoV-2 beta variant (lineage B.1.351). METHODS: K18-hACE2 and C57BL/6 mice were intranasally infected with the SARS-CoV-2 beta variant. Viral replication, pathological phenotypes, and brain transcriptomes were analyzed. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis was performed to identify altered pathways. Expression changes of host genes were verified using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. RESULTS: Pathological alterations were observed in the lungs of both mouse strains. However, only K18-hACE2 mice exhibited elevated viral RNA loads and infectious titers in the brain at 3 days post-infection, accompanied by neuropathological injury and weight loss. GO analysis of infected K18-hACE2 brain tissue revealed significant dysregulation of genes associated with innate immunity and antiviral defense responses, including type I interferons, pro-inflammatory cytokines, Toll-like receptor signaling components, and interferon-stimulated genes. Neuroinflammation was evident, alongside activation of apoptotic and pyroptotic pathways. Furthermore, altered neural cell marker expression suggested viral-induced neuroglial activation, resulting in caspase 4 and lipocalin 2 release and disruption of neuronal molecular networks. CONCLUSION These findings elucidate mechanisms of neuropathogenicity associated with the SARS-CoV-2 beta variant and highlight therapeutic targets to mitigate COVID-19-related neurological dysfunction.
Animals ; COVID-19/genetics* ; Mice ; Brain/metabolism* ; Apoptosis ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; SARS-CoV-2/physiology* ; Pyroptosis ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Transcriptome ; Male ; Female

Forensic medicine has been designated as a first-level discipline,presenting new opportunities and challenges for the development of forensic medicine.Since the 1980s,the establishment of foren-sic medicine discipline and the cultivation of high-level forensic talents have become hot topics in the development of forensic medicine in China.Since the 13th Five-Year Plan,the forensic team of Shanxi Medical University has been aiming at the forefront,proposing the development goals of"Five First-class"and the discipline development path"Six Major Achievements".It has selected benchmark disci-plines,identified gaps in disciplinary development,unified thoughts,formulated completion timelines,concentrated superior resources,assigned tasks to individuals,and created an"Organized Fill-in-the-Blank Format"forensic medicine discipline construction model with the characteristics of the new era.The construction model of forensic medicine has achieved good results in the goals,discipline frame-work,scientific research,talent cultivation,discipline team and platform construction,forming a rela-tively complete discipline construction and management system,and accumulating valuable experience for the construction of first-level discipline and high-level talent cultivation of forensic medicine.

Objective:To investigate factors influencing frequent episodes (≥ 4 episodes within 1 year) in children with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) in China.Methods:A national multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted. Patients under the age of 18 years diagnosed with moderate-to-severe AD were enrolled at dermatology clinics in 18 medical institutions across 12 provinces and municipalities in China between June 12 and August 8, 2023. At the time of the visit, their guardians completed a structured questionnaire covering demographic characteristics, clinical features of AD, personal and family history, factors associated with frequent episodes of moderate-to-severe AD, compliance with treatment, and disease awareness. Statistical analyses included t tests, one-way analysis of variance, rank-sum tests, and chi-square tests, with multiple-response analysis applied for multiple-choice questions. Results:A total of 965 valid questionnaires were collected, and 965 children with moderate-to-severe AD were included. Among them, there were 531 males and 434 females, 678 (70.3%) were aged 2 - < 12 years, 837 (86.7%) were from urban areas, the age at onset was 2.47 ± 3.03 years, and the median frequency of AD episodes in the past year was 4 times. These children were divided into 2 groups based on the median episode frequency: < 4-episode group (439 cases, 45.5%) and ≥ 4-episode group (526 cases, 54.5%). Compared with the < 4-episode group, children in the ≥ 4-episode group showed younger ages at onset (2.22 ± 2.98 years vs. 2.76 ± 3.06 years, P = 0.006) and higher proportions of patients with comorbid allergic diseases in both the children themselves (82.9% [436/526] vs. 69.7% [306/439], χ2 = 23.42, P < 0.001) and their relatives (66.0% [347/526] vs. 57.4% [252/439], χ2 = 7.46, P = 0.006). Children in the ≥ 4- episode group also had higher monthly usage of moisturizers (150 [30, 300] g vs. 60 [6, 200] g) and daily frequency of moisturizer use, greater disease awareness, but more severe fear of medication use (all P < 0.05). The region and the human development index level were both significantly associated with the episode frequency (both P < 0.001), with the highest proportion of children from South China in the ≥ 4- episode group (36.3%, 191/526). Children in the ≥ 4-episode group also had a longer duration of topical glucocorticoid use than those in the < 4-episode group ( Z = -2.21, P = 0.027). External triggers associated with AD episodes mainly included heat exposure (50.36%, 486/965), hot water bathing (40.73%, 393/965), seafood (23.52%, 227/965), and dust mites (33.37%, 322/965) . Conclusion:In children with moderate-to-severe AD in China, factors influencing frequent episodes may include residence in southern or economically developed regions, earlier age at onset, having a personal or family history of allergic diseases, and fear of medication use.