OBJECTIVES: To investigate the changes in blood levels of calcium and bone metabolism biochemical markers in patients with primary osteoporosis receiving treatment with denosumab. METHODS: Seventy-three patients with primary osteoporosis treated in our Department between December, 2021 and December 2023 were enrolled. All the patients were treated with calcium supplements, vitamin D and calcitriol in addition to regular denosumab treatment every 6 months. Blood calcium, parathyroid hormone (PTH), osteocalcin (OC), type I procollagen amino-terminal propeptide (PINP), and type I collagen carboxy-terminal telopeptide β special sequence (β‑CTX) data before and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the first treatment were collected from each patient. RESULTS: Three months after the first denosumab treatment, the bone turnover markers (BTMs) OC, PINP, and β-CTX were significantly decreased compared to their baseline levels by 39.5% (P<0.001), 56.2% (P<0.001), and 81.8% (P<0.001), respectively. At 6, 9, and 12 months of treatment, OC, PINP, and β-CTX remained significantly lower than their baseline levels (P<0.001). Blood calcium level was decreased (P<0.05) and PTH level increased (P<0.05) significantly in these patients at months of denosumab treatment, but their levels were comparable to the baseline levels at 6, 9, and 12 months of the treatment (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Denosumab can suppress BTMs and has a good therapeutic effect in patients with primary osteoporosis, but reduction of blood calcium and elevation of PTH levels can occur during the first 3 months in spite of calcium supplementation. Blood calcium and PTH levels can recover the baseline levels as the treatment extended, suggesting the importance of monitoring blood calcium and PTH levels during denosumab treatment.
Humans ; Denosumab/therapeutic use* ; Calcium/blood* ; Parathyroid Hormone/blood* ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Osteoporosis/blood* ; Osteocalcin/blood* ; Procollagen/blood* ; Female ; Collagen Type I/blood* ; Peptide Fragments/blood* ; Bone Density Conservation Agents/therapeutic use* ; Bone and Bones/metabolism* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vitamin D ; Peptides/blood* ; Aged

Objective:By combining image memory with educational games, electrocardiogram (ECG) images were integrated with card games to simplify complex ECG knowledge and visualize abstract concepts. This approach stimulated students' motivation to learn within the game, thereby enhancing their cognitive abilities and aiding them in mastering ECG-related knowledge.Methods:Through literature search and brainstorming, ECG learning flash cards and game process were designed. Using the convenience sampling method, 55 medical students from a university were selected to conduct the self-designed questionnaire before and after using ECG flash cards to evaluate the efficacy of flash cards in enhancing ECG learning outcomes. A descriptive qualitative study was conducted on the satisfaction with the flash cards.Results:Before the intervention, there was no significant difference in the score of students from different majors. For students who had studied ECG within 1 month and 6 months, the difference in correct recognition rate between them was relatively small, which were 57.50% and 54.51%, respectively. For students who had not studied ECG, the correct recognition rate after training was only 18.06%. After the intervention, 42 valid questionnaires were collected. The overall correct rate of ECG recognition increased by 17.86%. The correct recognition rate of ventricular fibrillation increased significantly from 30.91% to 64.29%; the correct recognition rate of supraventricular tachycardia was improved only by 5.50%. The correct ECG recognition rate was significantly higher after the intervention than before the intervention ( P<0.01). The results of qualitative interviews indicated that the ECG game cards were interesting, practical, and generalizable. However, there was room for improvement in the distinctiveness of key graphics, the richness of information on cards, and the diversity of rule design. Conclusions:ECG recognition is hard to master for beginners. The use of ECG flash cards simplifies the process of ECG recognition and stimulates students' initiative in learning, thus improving the overall correct ECG recognition rate.

Objective:By combining image memory with educational games, electrocardiogram (ECG) images were integrated with card games to simplify complex ECG knowledge and visualize abstract concepts. This approach stimulated students' motivation to learn within the game, thereby enhancing their cognitive abilities and aiding them in mastering ECG-related knowledge.Methods:Through literature search and brainstorming, ECG learning flash cards and game process were designed. Using the convenience sampling method, 55 medical students from a university were selected to conduct the self-designed questionnaire before and after using ECG flash cards to evaluate the efficacy of flash cards in enhancing ECG learning outcomes. A descriptive qualitative study was conducted on the satisfaction with the flash cards.Results:Before the intervention, there was no significant difference in the score of students from different majors. For students who had studied ECG within 1 month and 6 months, the difference in correct recognition rate between them was relatively small, which were 57.50% and 54.51%, respectively. For students who had not studied ECG, the correct recognition rate after training was only 18.06%. After the intervention, 42 valid questionnaires were collected. The overall correct rate of ECG recognition increased by 17.86%. The correct recognition rate of ventricular fibrillation increased significantly from 30.91% to 64.29%; the correct recognition rate of supraventricular tachycardia was improved only by 5.50%. The correct ECG recognition rate was significantly higher after the intervention than before the intervention ( P<0.01). The results of qualitative interviews indicated that the ECG game cards were interesting, practical, and generalizable. However, there was room for improvement in the distinctiveness of key graphics, the richness of information on cards, and the diversity of rule design. Conclusions:ECG recognition is hard to master for beginners. The use of ECG flash cards simplifies the process of ECG recognition and stimulates students' initiative in learning, thus improving the overall correct ECG recognition rate.

Objective:To analyze the changes of peripheral perfusion index (PPI) with late-onset sepsis (LOS) in very low birth weight infants during hospitalization.Methods:Very low birth weight infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Children′s Hospital of Fudan University from August 1, 2021 to August 31, 2022 were consecutively included.Infants with admission age ≥three days and unstable circulation, or positive blood culture within three days after birth were excluded.From the day of admission, the PPI values of the right hand and either foot of the infants were measured with Masimo SET Radical-7 everyday while whether LOS occurred during hospitalization was observed.The mean PPI curve of very and extremely low birth weight infants without LOS was plotted.For those with LOS confirmed by blood culture, the PPI change trajectory three days before and after the occurrence of LOS was drawn, and the change trend of PPI before the occurrence of LOS was analyzed by trend chi-square test.Non-parametric test was used to analyze the effect of LOS on pre- and post-ductal PPI values.Results:A total of 107 very low birth weight infants were included in the final analysis.Among them, there were 11 infants confirmed as LOS by blood culture, 37 infants diagnosed as clinical LOS, and 59 infants without LOS.Pre-and post-ductal PPI values of very low birth weight infants without LOS were 2.06±1.30 and 1.72±0.92, respectively; those with clinical LOS were 1.90±0.94 and 1.58±0.83, respectively; those with LOS confirmed by blood culture were 1.92±1.11 and 1.62±0.82, respectively.For infants with LOS confirmed by blood culture, the pre-and post-ductal PPI values showed a continuous downward trend during three days before the onset of disease, with the lowest PPI values on the first day before the diagnosis of blood culture.The downtrend of pre-ductal PPI was statistically significant ( χtrend2=5.57, P<0.05). Conclusion:The PPI value of very low birth weight infants show a downward trend when LOS occurs.It should be observed dynamically in clinical practice, which is helpful to suspect or identify LOS as early as possible.

Background: Both type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are associated with an elevated risk of morbidity and mortality yet with increasing heterogeneity. This study primarily aimed to evaluate the prevalence of MetS among adult patients with T1DM in China and investigate its associated risk factors, and relationship with microvascular complications. Methods: We included adult patients who had been enrolled in the Guangdong T1DM Translational Medicine Study conducted from June 2010 to June 2015. MetS was defined according to the updated National Cholesterol Education Program criterion. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) for the association between MetS and the risk of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). Results: Among the 569 eligible patients enrolled, the prevalence of MetS was 15.1%. While female gender, longer diabetes duration, higher body mass index, and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) were risk factors associated with MetS (OR, 2.86, 1.04, 1.14, and 1.23, respectively), received nutrition therapy education was a protective factor (OR, 0.46). After adjustment for gender, age, diabetes duration, HbA1c, socioeconomic and lifestyle variables, MetS status was associated with an increased risk of DKD and DR (OR, 2.14 and 3.72, respectively; both P<0.05). Conclusion Although the prevalence of MetS in adult patients with T1DM in China was relatively low, patients with MetS were more likely to have DKD and DR. A comprehensive management including lifestyle modification might reduce their risk of microvascular complications in adults with T1DM.

Objective To understand the current situation of patients with advanced schistosomiasis in Suzhou, and to provide a basis for scientific management, medical assistance, and improvement of patients' quality of life. Methods Questionnaire survey, physical examination and B-ultrasound examination were performed on the registered patients with advanced schistosomiasis. The diagnosis and classification were carried out according to the “Schistosomiasis Control Manual”. The epidemiological and clinical characteristics, disease classification, and medical and financial assistance of all existing patients were analyzed. Results There were 2 420 cases of advanced schistosomiasis in Suzhou. Their distribution was highly correlated with the cumulative area of oncomelania snails and the cumulative number of schistosomiasis patients in each district (county) (r=0.949, P<0.01; r=0.946, P<0.01). There were 845 males and 1 575 females. The highest proportion of male patients was found in Suzhou Industrial Park and the lowest in Kunshan (χ²=26.591, P<0.001). The average age of patients was (76.80±7.55) years old, and the age of female patients were higher that of male patients (F=72.01, P<0.001). The splenomegaly type was the most common (2 165), ascites type was the second (198), colonic proliferative type was the third (55), and pygmy type was the least (2). A total of 895 patients were cured and 1 337 patients were improved, while 188 patients were not cured. The condition of advanced schistosomiasis patients with different clinical types was different (χ² =226.034, P<0.001), and the condition of patients with ascites was the worst. 1 438 patients' labor level was reduced, and 540 patients lost their labor ability, while only 442 patients were normal. Age increase (β=0.012，P<0.001), clinical classification being ascites type (β=0.346，P<0.001) and need for treatment (β=0.298，P<0.001) were risk factors for the loss of labor ability in patients with late schistosomiasis. The stable condition of the disease (β= -0.089，P=0.001) was a protective factor. Conclusion There are a large number of advanced schistosomiasis cases in Suzhou, and the epidemiological characteristics of advanced schistosomiasis patients in different districts (cities) are different. The relief work of advanced schistosomiasis in Suzhou should focus on the historical heavy epidemic areas, strengthen the nursing care of the elderly patients, and pay attention to the quality of life of patients with ascites. It is also important to strengthen the follow-up nursing of patients with splenomegaly to avoid turning into ascites. All districts and counties should be guided by the characteristics of local patients and formulate targeted scientific management methods and rescue policies to improve the quality of life of patients.

The clinical features and genetic variants of the patient with sitosterolemia who was referred to Shanghai Children′s Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from June 2019 to January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.The patient was treated with Ezetimibe tablets combined with diet control, and the follow-up was performed regularly.Besides, a relevant literature review was conducted.A 7-year and 5-month-old boy was referred to the hospital for " repeated thrombocytopenia for 7 months" with normal serum cholesterol.The whole exome sequencing showed that compound heterozygous mutations (p.Arg446*, p.Gln251*) in ABCG5 gene were inherited from their parents respectively.Hence, he was diagnosed with sitosterolemia.After 29 days of treatment with Ezetimibe tablets combined with diet control, the patient′s platelets returned to normal values without obvious adverse reactions related to drugs.Children with sitosterolemia may present with rare thrombocytopenia, and the therapeutic effects of Ezetimibe tablets combined with diet control are favorable.

Objective:To investigate the effects of ear holographic tongbian scraping on the constitution, related symptoms and immune function of the population with Qi-deficiency.Methods:From April 2020 to June 2020, 80 subjects judged as Qi-deficiency by the "Traditional Chinese Medicine constitution test" in Suzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine were recruited offline and online. They were divided into control group and experimental group by random number table method, with 40 cases in each group. On the basis of online health education, the control group received online health education, while the experimental group was given ear holographic tongbian scraping, once a week, 4 times as a course of treatment, a total of 3 courses. Related symptom scores, Qi-deficiency transformation scores, peripheral blood CD4 + proportion, CD8 + proportion, CD4 +/CD8 + ratio were compared between two groups. Results:Totally 38 cases were included in experimental group and 34 cases in control group. After intervention, symptom scores of fatigue, shortness of breath, easy to catch a cold, laziness to speak, low voice and Qi-deficiency transformation scores were 3.26 ± 0.76, 2.92 ± 0.82, 3.08 ± 0.82, 2.66 ± 0.97, 2.71 ± 0.80, 46.16 ± 17.96 in experimental group and 4.12 ± 0.41, 3.76 ± 0.55, 3.50 ± 0.56, 3.65 ± 0.65, 3.18 ± 0.67, 56.88 ± 10.80 in control group, the differences were statistically significant ( t values were -6.02 - -2.51, all P<0.05). Peripheral blood test results also showed that the proportion of CD8 + was 24.76(19.92, 28.23)% in experimental group and 27.19(24.39, 31.57)% in control group, the difference was statistically significant ( Z=-2.25, P<0.05). Conclusions:Ear holographic tongbian scraping can regulate the Qi-deficiency constitution and improve the immune function of people with Qi-deficiency.

OBJECTIVE：To study the improvement effect of Shenling baizhu p owder on irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea（IBS-D）model mice with anxiety ，and to elucidate its mechanism from the point of view of intestinal microecology. METHODS：C57 BL/6 mice were randomly divided into blank control group ，model group ，Shenling baizhu powder group （3.6 g/kg），with 8 mice in each group. Except for blank control group ，IBS-D model with anxiety was established in model group and Shenling baizhu powder group by giving corticosterone subcutaneously combined with intragastric administration of Folium Sennae decoction and chronic restraint treatment. After modeling ， blank control group and model group were given intragastric administration of normal saline ，and Shenling baizhu powder group was given relevant medicine intragastrically ，for consecutive 4 weeks. After last medication ，loose stools rate ，diarrhea index ，body weight ，sugar water preference percentage ，the times of crosssing open field center area and minimum pain threshold as well as the levels of BDNF in hippocampal tissue and 5-HT in serum were detected in each group. The cecal contents of mice in each group were extracted for microbial DNA extraction and sequencing； the abundance and diversity of intestinal microorganisms were analyzed by Alpha and Beta diversity analysis. RESULTS ： Compared with blank control group ，body weight ，sugar water preference percentage ，the times of crossing open field center area and minimum pain threshold as well as the levels of BDNF in hippocampal tissue ，relative abundance of Firmicutes phylum microorganism in intestine ， relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group genus microorganism were decreased significantly （P＜0.05）；loose stools rate，diarrhea index ，serum level of 5-HT，relative abundance of Verrucomicrobia phylum microorganism and relative abundance of Ackermann phylum microorganism were increased significantly （P＜0.05），and there were great differences in the types of intestinal microorganisms. Compared with model group ，body weight ，sugar water preference percentage ，the times of crossing open field center area ，minimum pain threshold ，BDNF level of hippocampus ，relative abundance of Firmicutes phylum microorganism，relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group genus microorganism were increased significantly （P＜ 0.05 or P＜0.01）；loose stools rate ，diarrhea index ，serum level of 5-HT，relative abundance of Verrucomicrobia phylum microorganism and relative abundance of Ackermann phylum microorganism were decreased significantly （P＜0.05），and and there were great differences in the types of intestinal microorganisms. CONCLUSION ：Shenling baizhu powder can improve the diarrhea and anxiety behavior of IBS-D model mice with anxiety ，increase the level of BDNF in hippocampus and decrease serum level of 5-HT. Its mechanism may be related to decreasing relative abundance of Verrucomicrobia phylum microorganism and Ackermann phylum microorganism ，increasing the relative abundance of Firmicutes phylum and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group genus microorganism.