Objective:To evaluate the impact of roxadustat on thyroid function and to identify the associated factors in patients undergoing maintenance peritoneal dialysis (PD).Methods:This study was a single-center retrospective study. PD patients who received roxadustat or recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) treatment at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between January 2020 and June 2024 were included. The general and clinical information as well as laboratory indexes were collected. Serum free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were compared before and after treatment initiation. Hemoglobin (Hb) responses were also observed between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the factors associated with thyroid function changes.Results:A total of 120 patients were enrolled, with an age of (55.17±16.42) years, including 66 males (55.0%). There were 81 patients received roxadustat (roxadustat group) and 39 patiens received rHuEPO (rHuEPO group). Compared to the rHuEPO group, the roxadustat group had a higher proportion of patients with diabetes ( χ 2= 4.172, P=0.041), a shorter PD vintage ( Z=-3.406, P=0.002), a lower serum level of total cholesterol ( Z=-2.082, P=0.037) and a lower level of fasting blood glucose ( Z=-2.589, P=0.010). Following treatment with roxadustat, the levels of FT4 ( Z=-5.349, P<0.01) and TSH ( Z=-3.720, P<0.01) decreased significantly. In contrast, no significant changes in FT4 or TSH levels were observed in the rHuEPO group (both P>0.05). For both roxadustat and rHuEPO groups, there were no significant changes in FT3 levels after treatment (both P>0.05). Multivariate analysis identified that higher baseline TSH (TSH≥2.27 μIU/ml, OR=1.581, 95% CI 1.196-2.089, P=0.001) and roxadustat exposure ( OR=3.432, 95% CI 1.410-8.355, P=0.007) as independent associated factors of subsequent TSH decline, and identified that higher baseline FT4 (FT4≥14.9 pmol/L, OR=1.390, 95% CI 1.162-1.662, P=0.001) and roxadustat exposure ( OR=5.798, 95% CI 2.225-15.113, P=0.001) as independent associated factors of subsequent FT4 decline. The degrees of hemoglobin changes after roxadustat or rHuEPO treatment did not differ significantly between roxadustat group and rHuEPO group ( t=-1.062, P=0.290). Of the 31 patients who underwent a second thyroid function test during roxadustat treatment, 24 continued with the original regimen, while 7 discontinued roxadustat. Among 24 patients who maintained roxadustat treatment, TSH ( Z=-0.400, P=0.689) and FT4 ( t=0.143, P=0.888) remained stable between the second and third tests. All 7 patients who discontinued roxadustat treatment showed TSH rebound and the changes of TSH levels were more significant than that in continuers ( Z=-2.505, P=0.012). FT4 recovery occurred in only 3 of them, with no significant difference in FT4 change between discontinuers and continuers ( Z=-0.685, P=0.493). Conclusions:Roxadustat commonly suppresses TSH and FT4, but not FT3, in PD patients. Baseline levels of TSH and FT4 are key associated factors of the inhibitory effect of roxadustat on thyroid function. This suppression does not intensify with prolonged exposure and is reversible after discontinuation, with TSH levels normalizing more quickly than FT4. Roxadustat-induced thyroid suppression does not compromise its efficacy in treating renal anemia.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between leucine-rich α2 glycoprotein (LRG) and endoscopic activity in patients with Crohn′s disease (CD), based on the assessment of inflammation in small intestinal lesion by double-balloon enteroscope (DBE).Methods:From 15 August 2022 to 22 August 2023, the clinical data of 139 patients with small bowel CD diagnosed by DBE at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University were prospectively collected, which included fecal calprotectin (FC), C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count, hemoglobin, albumin, Crohn′s disease activity index (CDAI), and simple endoscopic score for Crohn′s disease (SES-CD). According to the SES-CD, endoscopic activity was classified as mucosal healing (0), endoscopic remission (0 to 2), mild activity (3 to 6), moderate activity (7 to 15), and severe activity (≥16). LRG levels were detected in all patients. Spearman rank correlation was used to analyze the correlation between LRG, clinical biochemical parameters and endoscopic scores. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was performed to determine the optimal cut-off value of LRG for evaluating endoscopic mucosal healing. Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, and Bonferroni corrected test were used for statistical analysis. Results:Among 139 patients with small bowel CD, the LRG level was 17.3 (13.0, 25.2) mg/L, and SES-CD was 5 (1, 9); 32 patients achieved mucosal healing, 50 patients achieved endoscopic remission; 39 patients had mild activity, 40 patients had moderate activity, and 10 patients had severe activity. The SES-CD was negatively correlated with both hemoglobin and albumin ( r=-0.177 (95% confidence interval, 95% CI: -0.334 to -0.011), -0.293 (95% CI: -0.438 to -0.133)), with statistical significance ( P=0.037, <0.001). The SES-CD was positively correlated with CRP, CDAI, LRG and FC ( r=0.344 (95% CI: 0.188 to 0.482), 0.429 (95% CI: 0.282 to 0.556), 0.525 (95% CI: 0.393 to 0.636), 0.661 (95% CI: 0.556 to 0.745)), with statistical significant (all P<0.001). For the 64 small bowel CD patients with CRP in the normal reference value, SES-CD was positively correlated with CDAI, LRG and FC ( r=0.296 (95% CI: 0.054 to 0.505), 0.364 (95% CI: 0.129 to 0.559), 0.547 (95% CI: 0.348 to 0.699)), with statistical significance ( P=0.017, =0.003, <0.001). The LRG level of patients with endoscopic mucosal healing was significantly lower than that of patients with endoscopic remission (11.5 (10.1, 17.2) mg/L vs. 17.3 (13.4, 23.5) mg/L), with statistical significance ( Z=-3.25, P<0.001). ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of LRG in predicting endoscopic mucosal healing was 0.81 (95% CI: 0.73 to 0.89), with an optimal cut-off value of 15.27 mg/L. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 0.757, 0.718, 0.900 and 0.469, respectively. The accuracy of the combination of LRG and FC (AUC was 0.88, 95% CI: 0.82 to 0.94) in predicting endoscopic mucosal healing was higher than that of LRG alone (AUC was 0.81, 95% CI: 0.73 to 0.89), and the difference was statistically significant ( P=0.011). Conclusion:Based on the results of DBE, LRG may be a reliable biomarker for predicting endoscopic remission and mucosal healing in patients with small bowel CD.

Objective:To evaluate the impact of roxadustat on thyroid function and to identify the associated factors in patients undergoing maintenance peritoneal dialysis (PD).Methods:This study was a single-center retrospective study. PD patients who received roxadustat or recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) treatment at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between January 2020 and June 2024 were included. The general and clinical information as well as laboratory indexes were collected. Serum free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were compared before and after treatment initiation. Hemoglobin (Hb) responses were also observed between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the factors associated with thyroid function changes.Results:A total of 120 patients were enrolled, with an age of (55.17±16.42) years, including 66 males (55.0%). There were 81 patients received roxadustat (roxadustat group) and 39 patiens received rHuEPO (rHuEPO group). Compared to the rHuEPO group, the roxadustat group had a higher proportion of patients with diabetes ( χ 2= 4.172, P=0.041), a shorter PD vintage ( Z=-3.406, P=0.002), a lower serum level of total cholesterol ( Z=-2.082, P=0.037) and a lower level of fasting blood glucose ( Z=-2.589, P=0.010). Following treatment with roxadustat, the levels of FT4 ( Z=-5.349, P<0.01) and TSH ( Z=-3.720, P<0.01) decreased significantly. In contrast, no significant changes in FT4 or TSH levels were observed in the rHuEPO group (both P>0.05). For both roxadustat and rHuEPO groups, there were no significant changes in FT3 levels after treatment (both P>0.05). Multivariate analysis identified that higher baseline TSH (TSH≥2.27 μIU/ml, OR=1.581, 95% CI 1.196-2.089, P=0.001) and roxadustat exposure ( OR=3.432, 95% CI 1.410-8.355, P=0.007) as independent associated factors of subsequent TSH decline, and identified that higher baseline FT4 (FT4≥14.9 pmol/L, OR=1.390, 95% CI 1.162-1.662, P=0.001) and roxadustat exposure ( OR=5.798, 95% CI 2.225-15.113, P=0.001) as independent associated factors of subsequent FT4 decline. The degrees of hemoglobin changes after roxadustat or rHuEPO treatment did not differ significantly between roxadustat group and rHuEPO group ( t=-1.062, P=0.290). Of the 31 patients who underwent a second thyroid function test during roxadustat treatment, 24 continued with the original regimen, while 7 discontinued roxadustat. Among 24 patients who maintained roxadustat treatment, TSH ( Z=-0.400, P=0.689) and FT4 ( t=0.143, P=0.888) remained stable between the second and third tests. All 7 patients who discontinued roxadustat treatment showed TSH rebound and the changes of TSH levels were more significant than that in continuers ( Z=-2.505, P=0.012). FT4 recovery occurred in only 3 of them, with no significant difference in FT4 change between discontinuers and continuers ( Z=-0.685, P=0.493). Conclusions:Roxadustat commonly suppresses TSH and FT4, but not FT3, in PD patients. Baseline levels of TSH and FT4 are key associated factors of the inhibitory effect of roxadustat on thyroid function. This suppression does not intensify with prolonged exposure and is reversible after discontinuation, with TSH levels normalizing more quickly than FT4. Roxadustat-induced thyroid suppression does not compromise its efficacy in treating renal anemia.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between leucine-rich α2 glycoprotein (LRG) and endoscopic activity in patients with Crohn′s disease (CD), based on the assessment of inflammation in small intestinal lesion by double-balloon enteroscope (DBE).Methods:From 15 August 2022 to 22 August 2023, the clinical data of 139 patients with small bowel CD diagnosed by DBE at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University were prospectively collected, which included fecal calprotectin (FC), C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count, hemoglobin, albumin, Crohn′s disease activity index (CDAI), and simple endoscopic score for Crohn′s disease (SES-CD). According to the SES-CD, endoscopic activity was classified as mucosal healing (0), endoscopic remission (0 to 2), mild activity (3 to 6), moderate activity (7 to 15), and severe activity (≥16). LRG levels were detected in all patients. Spearman rank correlation was used to analyze the correlation between LRG, clinical biochemical parameters and endoscopic scores. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was performed to determine the optimal cut-off value of LRG for evaluating endoscopic mucosal healing. Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, and Bonferroni corrected test were used for statistical analysis. Results:Among 139 patients with small bowel CD, the LRG level was 17.3 (13.0, 25.2) mg/L, and SES-CD was 5 (1, 9); 32 patients achieved mucosal healing, 50 patients achieved endoscopic remission; 39 patients had mild activity, 40 patients had moderate activity, and 10 patients had severe activity. The SES-CD was negatively correlated with both hemoglobin and albumin ( r=-0.177 (95% confidence interval, 95% CI: -0.334 to -0.011), -0.293 (95% CI: -0.438 to -0.133)), with statistical significance ( P=0.037, <0.001). The SES-CD was positively correlated with CRP, CDAI, LRG and FC ( r=0.344 (95% CI: 0.188 to 0.482), 0.429 (95% CI: 0.282 to 0.556), 0.525 (95% CI: 0.393 to 0.636), 0.661 (95% CI: 0.556 to 0.745)), with statistical significant (all P<0.001). For the 64 small bowel CD patients with CRP in the normal reference value, SES-CD was positively correlated with CDAI, LRG and FC ( r=0.296 (95% CI: 0.054 to 0.505), 0.364 (95% CI: 0.129 to 0.559), 0.547 (95% CI: 0.348 to 0.699)), with statistical significance ( P=0.017, =0.003, <0.001). The LRG level of patients with endoscopic mucosal healing was significantly lower than that of patients with endoscopic remission (11.5 (10.1, 17.2) mg/L vs. 17.3 (13.4, 23.5) mg/L), with statistical significance ( Z=-3.25, P<0.001). ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of LRG in predicting endoscopic mucosal healing was 0.81 (95% CI: 0.73 to 0.89), with an optimal cut-off value of 15.27 mg/L. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 0.757, 0.718, 0.900 and 0.469, respectively. The accuracy of the combination of LRG and FC (AUC was 0.88, 95% CI: 0.82 to 0.94) in predicting endoscopic mucosal healing was higher than that of LRG alone (AUC was 0.81, 95% CI: 0.73 to 0.89), and the difference was statistically significant ( P=0.011). Conclusion:Based on the results of DBE, LRG may be a reliable biomarker for predicting endoscopic remission and mucosal healing in patients with small bowel CD.

Sepsis is an organ dysfunction syndrome secondary to a host's dysfunctional response to infection.Its pathogenesis is complex,and inflammatory factors play an important role in its course.Sepsis has a high mortality and is difficult to treat.Clinicians are constantly exploring new treatment methods to reduce the fatality rate.Blood purification therapy is a developing auxiliary treatment method for sepsis.Blood purification therapies for sepsis include plasma exchange,continuous renal replacement therapy,and hemoperfusion.Though operating through different mechanisms-removing cytokines,endotoxins,or pathogens-these therapies share the goal of improving patient outcomes.This article aims to summarize the application progress of various blood purification methods in the treatment of sepsis,in order to clarify the effectiveness of blood purification therapy in infectious diseases.However,the specific implementation timing and frequency still need further exploration,laying a foundation for subsequent research.

Objective:To explore the expression level and clinical significance of low-density granulocytes (LDGs) in peripheral blood of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) .Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Clinical data of IBD patients admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from August 2022 to January 2023 were collected. A total of 45 healthy people were enrolled as the normal control group. Simple endoscopic score for Crohn′s disease (SES-CD) was used to evaluate the activity of Crohn′s disease (CD) and Mayo endoscopic score (MES) was used to evaluate the activity of ulcerative colitis (UC). Laboratory indicators included LDGs, white blood cell count (WBC), hemoglobin (HB), platelet count (PLT), C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and fecal calprotectin (FC). The difference in LDGs level between IBD patients and the normal control group was statistically analyzed and the relationship between LDGs level and clinical characteristics of IBD patients was analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to calculate the predictive value of LDGs for the disease activity of IBD.Results:A total of 130 IBD patients were included, including 83 CD patients and 47 UC. Compared with the normal control group, the LDGs levels of patients in the CD group and UC group were respectively higher[CD: 0.53% (0.32%, 1.41%) vs. 0.19% (0.12%, 0.29%), H= 57.71, P<0.001; UC: 0.87% (0.43%, 1.90%) vs. 0.19% (0.12%, 0.29%), H= 73.23, P<0.001]. Compared with the CD patients in remission phase, the level of LDGs in active CD patients was higher ( P<0.001). Compared with the CD patients in mild activity phase, the LDGs levels of CD patients in moderate and severe activity phases were higher (all P<0.05). In terms of different disease behaviours, the level of LDGs in stricturing CD patients was the highest [1.37% (0.91%, 3.06%), all P<0.05]. Compared with the UC patients in remission phase, the level of LDGs in active UC patients was higher ( P<0.001). Compared with the UC patients in mild activity phase, the LDGs levels of UC patients in moderate and severe activity phases were higher (all P<0.05). In the CD group, LDGs level was positively correlated with CRP, FC, NLR, PLT, simple Crohn′s disease activity index (CDAI), and SES-CD ( r= 0.374, 0.548, 0.345, 0.284, 0.764, 0.721, all P<0.05). In the UC group, LDG levels was positively correlated with CRP, FC, NLR, Sutherland disease activity index (DAI), and MES ( r= 0.325, 0.666, 0.474, 0.638, 0.740, all P<0.05). In CD patients, the cut-off value of LDGs was 0.565%, with the area under curve (AUC) of 0.873, sensitivity of 73.50%, and specificity of 99.30%. In UC patients, the cut-off value of LDGs was 0.545%, with the AUC of 0.877, sensitivity of 76.90%, and specificity of 100.00%. Conclusion:The expression of LDGs in IBD patients is significantly high, which correlates with the disease activity and may be used as a biological marker for the clinical evaluation of IBD patients.

Objective To investigate the risk factors associated with the presence of multiple Lugol-voiding lesions(LVLs)in patients with early esophageal cancer and the correlation with alcohol dehy-drogenase 1B(ADH1B)and aldehyde dehydrogenase 2(ALDH2)polymorphisms.Methods Patients who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection due to early esophageal cancer were divided into group with multiple LVLs and group without multiple LVLs based on their endoscopic features.Their clinical data and the genotype of ADH1B and ALDH2 were collect-ed and SPSS 27.0 was used to statistically analyze the above data.Results A total of 83 subjects were included in the study,23 had multiple LVLs,most of them were seen in males,alcohol drinkers,and smokers with smoking index≥1 000,and multivariate analysis showed that alcohol consumption was an independent risk factor for it(OR=6.215,P=0.008).The gene polymorphism of ADH1B and ALDH2 and their interactions did not have any sig-nificant correlation with multiple LVLs.However,among alcohol drinkers,there was a 12-fold increased risk of multiple LVLs in patients carrying the ALDH2 A allele and drinking≥50 g per day compared to those carrying the ALDH2 GG genotype and drinking<50 g per day(P=0.045).Conclusion Alcohol consumption is an inde-pendent risk factor of multiple LVLs of the esophageal mucosa in patients with early esophageal cancer,and heavy alcohol consumption in carriers of the ALDH2 A allele will significantly increase the risk of multiple LVLs,and such patients should be closely followed up with endoscopy.

OBJECTIVE To observe the short-term efficacy and safety of venetoclax combined with homoharringtonine and cytarabine in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia （AML）. METHODS The data of 40 newly diagnosed AML patients admitted to our hospital from October 2022 to November 2023 were retrospectively collected and divided into observation group and control group according to treatment plan， with 20 cases in each group. The patients in the control group were given Daunorubicin hydrochloride for injection+Cytarabine for injection， and the patients in the observation group were given Venetoclax tablets+ Homoharringtonine injection+Cytarabine for injection. The patients in both groups were given relevant medicine， with 28 days as one cycle. The short-term efficacy， negative rate of minimal residual disease （MRD）， duration of granulocyte deficiency， duration of platelet （PLT） ＜20×109 L－1， transfusion volume of suspended red blood cells and platelet， and the occurrence of adverse drug reactions were evaluated in both groups after 1 cycle of induction chemotherapy. RESULTS The complete remission or complete remission with incomplete hematologic recovery （CR/CRi） rate in the observation group was significantly higher than control group （P＜0.05）， and the negative rate of MRD in the observation group was also significantly higher than control group （P＜0.05）. However， in low-， medium- and high-risk patients， there was no statistical significance in CR/CRi rates between the two groups （P＞0.05）. There were no significant differences in the duration of agranulocytosis， the duration of PLT ＜20×109 L－1， the amount of suspended red blood cell transfusion， the amount of platelet transfusion， the incidence of hematologic toxicity and the incidence of non-hematologic toxicity between 2 groups （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Venetoclax combined with homoharringtonine and cytarabine show good short-term efficacy and safety in the treatment of AML.

Objective:To explore the expression level and clinical significance of low-density granulocytes (LDGs) in peripheral blood of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) .Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Clinical data of IBD patients admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from August 2022 to January 2023 were collected. A total of 45 healthy people were enrolled as the normal control group. Simple endoscopic score for Crohn′s disease (SES-CD) was used to evaluate the activity of Crohn′s disease (CD) and Mayo endoscopic score (MES) was used to evaluate the activity of ulcerative colitis (UC). Laboratory indicators included LDGs, white blood cell count (WBC), hemoglobin (HB), platelet count (PLT), C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and fecal calprotectin (FC). The difference in LDGs level between IBD patients and the normal control group was statistically analyzed and the relationship between LDGs level and clinical characteristics of IBD patients was analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to calculate the predictive value of LDGs for the disease activity of IBD.Results:A total of 130 IBD patients were included, including 83 CD patients and 47 UC. Compared with the normal control group, the LDGs levels of patients in the CD group and UC group were respectively higher[CD: 0.53% (0.32%, 1.41%) vs. 0.19% (0.12%, 0.29%), H= 57.71, P<0.001; UC: 0.87% (0.43%, 1.90%) vs. 0.19% (0.12%, 0.29%), H= 73.23, P<0.001]. Compared with the CD patients in remission phase, the level of LDGs in active CD patients was higher ( P<0.001). Compared with the CD patients in mild activity phase, the LDGs levels of CD patients in moderate and severe activity phases were higher (all P<0.05). In terms of different disease behaviours, the level of LDGs in stricturing CD patients was the highest [1.37% (0.91%, 3.06%), all P<0.05]. Compared with the UC patients in remission phase, the level of LDGs in active UC patients was higher ( P<0.001). Compared with the UC patients in mild activity phase, the LDGs levels of UC patients in moderate and severe activity phases were higher (all P<0.05). In the CD group, LDGs level was positively correlated with CRP, FC, NLR, PLT, simple Crohn′s disease activity index (CDAI), and SES-CD ( r= 0.374, 0.548, 0.345, 0.284, 0.764, 0.721, all P<0.05). In the UC group, LDG levels was positively correlated with CRP, FC, NLR, Sutherland disease activity index (DAI), and MES ( r= 0.325, 0.666, 0.474, 0.638, 0.740, all P<0.05). In CD patients, the cut-off value of LDGs was 0.565%, with the area under curve (AUC) of 0.873, sensitivity of 73.50%, and specificity of 99.30%. In UC patients, the cut-off value of LDGs was 0.545%, with the AUC of 0.877, sensitivity of 76.90%, and specificity of 100.00%. Conclusion:The expression of LDGs in IBD patients is significantly high, which correlates with the disease activity and may be used as a biological marker for the clinical evaluation of IBD patients.

Sepsis is an organ dysfunction syndrome secondary to a host's dysfunctional response to infection.Its pathogenesis is complex,and inflammatory factors play an important role in its course.Sepsis has a high mortality and is difficult to treat.Clinicians are constantly exploring new treatment methods to reduce the fatality rate.Blood purification therapy is a developing auxiliary treatment method for sepsis.Blood purification therapies for sepsis include plasma exchange,continuous renal replacement therapy,and hemoperfusion.Though operating through different mechanisms-removing cytokines,endotoxins,or pathogens-these therapies share the goal of improving patient outcomes.This article aims to summarize the application progress of various blood purification methods in the treatment of sepsis,in order to clarify the effectiveness of blood purification therapy in infectious diseases.However,the specific implementation timing and frequency still need further exploration,laying a foundation for subsequent research.