Background Coal workers' pneumoconiosis is a serious occupational disease in China. Exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can serve as the "breath fingerprint" of internal pathological processes, which provides a theoretical basis for exhaled VOCs to be used as potential non-invasive biomarkers for early diagnosis of coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Objective To screen out the characteristic VOCs and important characteristic VOCs of exhaled air in patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis, and to explore the potential of these VOCs as biomarkers for early non-invasive diagnosis of the disease. Methods In this study, 27 VOCs in the exhaled breath of 22 patients with stage I coal workers' pneumoconiosis, 77 workers exposed to dust, and 92 healthy controls were quantitatively detected by thermal desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS). Substances with P<0.05 in univariate analysis and variable importance projection (VIP) >1 in supervised orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) model were selected as the characteristic VOCs for early diagnosis of coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Age was included in the LASSO regression model as a covariate to screen out important characteristic VOCs, and the diagnostic performance was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Spearman correlation was further used to explore the correlation between important characteristic VOCs and clinical lung function indicators. Results Through univariate analysis and OPLS-DA modeling, 8 VOCs were selected, including 2-methylpentane, 3-methylpentane, n-hexane, methylcyclopentane, n-heptane, methylcyclohexane, 4-methyl-2-pentanone, and 2-hexanone, in exhaled breath of patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis. The concentrations of 4 VOCs, including 3-methylpentane, n-hexane, 4-methyl-2-pentanone, and 2-hexanone, showed a decreasing trend with the increase of dust exposure years. By LASSO regression, the important characteristic VOCs of the coal workers' pneumoconiosis group and the dust exposure group were n-hexane, methylcyclohexane and 4-methyl-2-pentanone, and the important characteristic VOCs of the coal workers' pneumoconiosis group and the healthy group were 2-methyl-pentane and 4-methyl-2-pentanone. The ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of n-hexane, methylcyclohexane, and 4-methyl-2-pentanone were 0.969, 0.909, and 0.956, respectively, and the AUC of combined diagnosis was 0.988 and its Youden index was 0.961, suggesting that these results can serve as a valuable reference for further research on early diagnosis. The Correlation analysis found that there was a positive correlation between n-hexane and lung function indicators in the important characteristic VOCs, indicating that it could indirectly reflect the obstruction of lung function ventilation, further proving that important characteristic VOCs have the potential to monitor lung function decline. Conclusion Three important characteristic VOCs selected in this study have the potential to be used as non-invasive biomarkers for early diagnosis and disease monitoring of coal workers' pneumoconiosis, and are worthy of further study and verification.

Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic performance of resting echocardiography in detecting severe coronary artery stenosis.Methods:A total of 136 patients with suspected coronary artery disease（CAD）who presented to Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital between January 2021 and December 2024 were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent both coronary computed tomography angiography（CCTA）and transthoracic echocardiography within one week. Based on CCTA results，the patients were divided into non-severe stenosis group（ n=78）and severe stenosis group（ n=58）. Echocardiographic parameters including left atrial maximum volume（LAVmax），left ventricular global longitudinal strain（GLS），left ventricular longitudinal strain of endo-myocardium，mid-myocardium，epi-myocardium（LSendo，LSmid，LSepi），early diastolic mitral inflow velocity（E），early diastolic mitral annular velocity of the lateral and septal walls（e'），and E/e' were measured. Predictive factors for severe coronary stenosis were identified using LASSO regression，and a nomogram model was developed via multivariate Logistic regression. Model performance was evaluated using ROC curves，calibration curves，and decision curve analysis. Results:Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed LSendo，LAVmax，and E/e' as independent predictors of severe coronary artery stenosis. The nomogram constructed based on these predictors achieved an area under the curve of 0.798（95% CI=0.723-0.873），with sensitivity and specificity of 0.756 and 0.759，respectively. Conclusions:The resting echocardiography-based nomogram model demonstrates good diagnostic efficacy for severe coronary artery stenosis. It may serve as a noninvasive tool to assist in risk stratification and clinical decision-making in patients with suspected CAD.

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy is the primary surgical treatment for lung cancer. A significant factor affecting postoperative recovery is prolonged air leak (PAL). Despite numerous clinical strategies could prevent and manage postoperative PAL, its incidence remains high. Phrenic nerve cryotherapy (PNC) temporarily inhibits phrenic nerve function, causing diaphragm elevation, which reduces thoracic cavity volume, enhances pleural apposition, and mitigates air leakage. This study investigates the efficacy of PNC in preventing postoperative PAL during VATS lobectomy. METHODS: A total of 108 eligible lung cancer patients who underwent surgery at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, from June 2023 to January 2025, were enrolled and randomly assigned to the control group (n=54) and the experimental group (n=54). The patients in both the two groups received VATS lobectomy and systematic lymph node dissection, with the experimental group also undergoing PNC during the operation. The baseline characteristics, intraoperative, postoperative indicators and dynamic changes in air leakage between the two groups were compared. RESULTS: The baseline clinical characteristics were comparable between the two groups (P>0.05). The incidence of pulmonary air leakage at 24 h after surgery (31.5% vs 29.6%) and the incidence of postoperative PAL (20.4% vs 14.8%) showed no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). The intraoperative air leak test to 24 hours after surgery revealed that air leakage ceased in 8 cases (32.0%) in the control group, compared to 14 cases (46.7%) in the experimental group. Moreover, during the progression from air leakage at 24 hours post-surgery to postoperative PAL, air leakage ceased in 6 cases (35.3%) in the control group and 8 cases (50.0%) in the experimental group, with a statistically significant difference (P<0.001). Compared to the control group, the patients in the experimental group exhibited more pronounced postoperative diaphragmatic elevation that recovered to a slightly higher than preoperative level by 3 mon after surgery. CONCLUSIONS The combination of PNC and active lung repair can serve as an important intervention for patients at high risk of intraoperative air leakage, reducing the occurrence of postoperative PAL.
Humans ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Lung Neoplasms/surgery* ; Aged ; Phrenic Nerve/physiopathology* ; Cryotherapy ; Pneumonectomy/adverse effects* ; Postoperative Complications/etiology* ; Adult

Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic performance of resting echocardiography in detecting severe coronary artery stenosis.Methods:A total of 136 patients with suspected coronary artery disease（CAD）who presented to Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital between January 2021 and December 2024 were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent both coronary computed tomography angiography（CCTA）and transthoracic echocardiography within one week. Based on CCTA results，the patients were divided into non-severe stenosis group（ n=78）and severe stenosis group（ n=58）. Echocardiographic parameters including left atrial maximum volume（LAVmax），left ventricular global longitudinal strain（GLS），left ventricular longitudinal strain of endo-myocardium，mid-myocardium，epi-myocardium（LSendo，LSmid，LSepi），early diastolic mitral inflow velocity（E），early diastolic mitral annular velocity of the lateral and septal walls（e'），and E/e' were measured. Predictive factors for severe coronary stenosis were identified using LASSO regression，and a nomogram model was developed via multivariate Logistic regression. Model performance was evaluated using ROC curves，calibration curves，and decision curve analysis. Results:Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed LSendo，LAVmax，and E/e' as independent predictors of severe coronary artery stenosis. The nomogram constructed based on these predictors achieved an area under the curve of 0.798（95% CI=0.723-0.873），with sensitivity and specificity of 0.756 and 0.759，respectively. Conclusions:The resting echocardiography-based nomogram model demonstrates good diagnostic efficacy for severe coronary artery stenosis. It may serve as a noninvasive tool to assist in risk stratification and clinical decision-making in patients with suspected CAD.

AIM: To analyze the clinical characteristics of acute acquired concomitant esotropia(AACE)in patients among different age groups.METHODS: Retrospective analysis of clinical data. A total of 112 non-Swan type AACE patients who underwent surgery at Peking University People's Hospital from January 2015 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical data were collected and the characteristics were compared, including gender, age, diopter, duration of disease, daily time spent on near work, angles of deviation before and after surgery, stereopsis, etc. According to age, patients were divided into three groups: <18 years old group(22 cases), 18-45 years old group(67 cases), and >45 years old group(23 cases). The clinical characteristics of patients were compared in each group.RESULTS: A total of 112 patients were included in the study, comprising 56 males and 56 females, with a median age of 29.50(19.25, 41.75)years old. Among them, 97 patients had myopia(86.6%). There were 93 patients(83.0%)who spent more than 8 h on near work. The age group <18 years old had the shortest duration before surgery, with a median time of 1.00(0.50, 1.00)a, the minimum negative diopter, with a median diopter of -0.75(-3.19, -0.56)D in the right eye and the diopter of -1.25(-2.81, -0.75)D in the left eye, and the maximum preoperative near angle of deviation, with a median angle of 30.00(18.50, 80.00)PD, and the maximum preoperative distant angle of deviation, with a median angle of 35.00(23.75, 80.00)PD. All these differences were statistically significant compared with other two groups(both P<0.05). For the age group from 18 to 45 years old, the median near angle of deviation was 20.00(14.00, 30.00)PD, and the median distant angle of deviation was 25.00(20.00, 35.00)PD, both of which were higher than those in the age group >45 years old(both P<0.05). For the age group >45 years old, the median near angle of deviation after surgery was -4.50(-7.50, 0)PD, and the median distant angle of deviation after surgery was 4.50(0, 9.50)PD, which were smaller than those in other two groups(all P<0.05). The age group >45 years old had the hiughest surgical success rate(100%). The preoperative stereopsis was better in age group >45 years old than the group <18 years old(P<0.05). The postoperative stereopsis of the age group of 18 to 45 years old and the age group >45 years old was better than age group <18 years old(both P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Surgical patients with AACE are mainly in the age group from 18 to 45 years old. The characteristic of angle of deviation is that distant angle of deviation is greater than near angle of deviation. The patients <18 years old have larger preoperative angles of deviation than adults, while their stereoacuity is worse than adults in the early postoperative period. It is recommended that augmented-dose surgery should be performed in AACE patients who are in the age group of 18 to 45 years old(5-10 PD). A conservative surgery should be designed for hyperopia young children without established binocular vision.

Objective:To retrieve evidence on nutritional management in patients with chronic heart failure and summarize the best evidence.Methods:Based on the search terms "heart failure" and "nutrition", the evidence on nutritional management in patients with chronic heart failure including guidelines, evidence summary, expert consensus, recommended practices, systematic reviews, and original studies closely related to the topic were searched through computer on British Medical Journal (BMJ) Best Practice, UpToDate, Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Evidence-Based Health Care Center Database in Australia, Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, Guidelines International Network, Cochrane Library, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and other websites and databases. The search period was from the establishment of the database to February 25, 2022. Two researchers evaluated the quality of the included literature and extracted evidence from the literature that met the quality standards.Results:A total of 15 articles were included, including 5 guidelines, 5 expert consensus, and 5 systematic reviews. Finally, 24 best pieces of evidence were summarized, covering 7 aspects, including multidisciplinary team building, nutritional screening and evaluation, nutritional needs, nutrient recommendation, liquid intake management, weight management, and nutritional intervention.Conclusions:This study summarizes the best evidence for nutritional management in patients with chronic heart failure from 7 aspects. Clinical medical and nursing staff can implement evidence conversion applications based on the patient's wishes and clinical actual situation.

Objective:To identify the proteins differentially expressed in extraocular muscles between restrictive strabismus patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and concomitant esotropia patients by proteomic analysis using tandem mass tag (TMT).Methods:Extraocular muscles samples from 5 restrictive strabismus patients with TAO and 5 concomitant esotropia patients were collected at Peking University People's Hospital from August 2019 to December 2020.All the patients received strabismus surgery.Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in extraocular muscles samples were identified by quantitative proteomic analysis and bioinformatic analysis based on TMT.Fold change≥1.2 or≤0.83 and P value<0.05 was regarded as the threshold to screen DEPs.GO annotation, KEGG pathways enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of DEPs were conducted through UniProtGOA and STRING.This study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Peking University People's Hospital (No.2021PHB058-001). Results:A total of 53 DEPs were identified, 34 of which were up-regulated and 19 were down-regulated.The biological processes DEPs mainly participated included response to stimulation, multicellular organismal process, metabolism, developmental process, intracellular signal transduction, and positive regulation of biological process.DEPs were involved in pathways including focal adhesion, tight junction, regulation of action cytoskeleton, and apoptosis.Six key proteins identified using PPI network were myosin heavy chain 2, myosin heavy chain 7, myosin regulatory light chain, α-actinin-2, fibrinogen alpha chain and fibrinogen beta chain.Conclusions:There are DEPs in extraocular muscles between restrictive strabismus patients with TAO and concomitant esotropia patients.Myosin, actinin and filamin may be involved in the pathogenesis of TAO through regulation of actin cytoskeleton and focal adhesion.

Objective:To investigate the anxiety and depression of cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy during the epidemic of COVID-19.Methods:By using self-rating anxiety scale and self-rating depression scale, a cross-sectional survey was conducted during the COVID-19 epidemic period.Results:During the COVID-19 epidemic period, the incidence of anxiety and depression in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy was 15.8% and 27.7% respectively, of which 12.9% suffered from both anxiety and depression. The average scores of anxiety and depression were 49.4(25/76) and 46.4(25/83), respectively, which were higher than those of the domestic norm. Age is a contributing factor for anxiety, and patients living in urban are more likely to experience depression.Conclusions:The prevalence of anxiety and depression of cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy are higher than healthy people during the COVID-19 outbreak. We should pay more attention to the psychological states of the cancer patients.

Objective To analysis the on-site quality control assessment results of salt iodine content in Zhengzhou City,and to understand and master the actual professional abilities and level of grass-roots laboratory analyzers,and to search the problems and make improvement measures.Methods The total of 22 analyzers from 11 affiliated grass-roots laboratories of Zhengzhou City were gathered to take part in the on-site theoretical examination.The theoretical assessment was divided into five parts:measurement principle,application range,reagent preparation,key steps,and calculation formula of results.Parallel samples of standard materials were determinated in laboratory units,to evaluated operational skills,the problems during the process were recorded simultaneously.The content of the theoretical assessment and the rules for the assessment of on-site skills were based on the "Measurement of Iodine for the General Test Method of the Salt Industry" (GB/T 13025.7-2012).Results In the theoretical assessment,the correct rates of reagent preparation and key steps were 100％,and that of measurement principle,application range,and calculation formula of results were more than 80％.The main problems of operation skills were from liquid loading,sample weighing and titration operation,etc.One laboratory result of quality control sample exceeded the reference range and was judged to be unqualified.Conclusions The theoretical basis of some laboratory analyzers are not solid,the operational skills are lack of standardization.In view of the current situation,as the higher level technical guidance unit,it is necessary and responsible for us to formulate practical measures in training,guidance and assessment to help them improve business level and abilities.

In order to make the national standard method of "General Test Method in Salt Industry-Determination of Iodine" (GB/T 13025.7-2012) more standardized and strict,basing on work experience,literatures and books,the authors listed the details needed to be amended and completed,including method principle,writingof chemical equations,preparation and calibration of standard titration solution,blank tests,sample weighing and result calculation,starch indicator,etc.At the same time,we gave out our opinions and suggestions aiming to provide reference for standard methodologist in revising and updating the standard method.