Background: This study established sex-specific reference intervals (RIs) for hematological parameters, including the monocyte distribution width (MDW), in Korean adults and assessed the need for separate RIs according to sex in older adults. Methods: Hematological parameters were measured using a DxH 900 hematology analyzer (Beckman Coulter, USA) on 328 peripheral blood samples from 124 men and 204 women aged 19–93 years. Results: The RIs for white blood cells, red blood cells (RBCs), Hb, Hct, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, monocyte percentage, and neutrophil, eosinophil, lympho­cyte, and monocyte counts differed significantly by sex (P<0.05). Mean corpuscular volume was significantly positively associated with age, whereas RBC and platelet counts were significantly negatively correlated with age in both men and women. Age-based analysis revealed significant shifts in the RBC parameters beginning at 60 years of age in men and 70 years of age in women. The MDW did not show significant differences according to sex or age. Conclusions This study supports the use of sex-specific RIs and highlights the importance of considering age when interpreting results regarding hematological parameters in clinical practice.

Objective The isokinetic muscle strength indicators and surface electromyography(sEMG)signals of the healthy lower limb side of patients with non-contact anterior cruciate ligament(ACL)injury in the acute phase were compared with those of healthy individuals,so to provide a theoretical basis for the prevention of secondary ACL rupture in the healthy lower limb side of patients with ACL injury.Methods 21 patients with ACL injury in the acute phase(ACL injury group)and 21 healthy individuals(control group)were subjected to isokinetic muscle strength tests for hip flexion,extension,adduction,abduction,and knee flexion,and sEMG signals of the vastus medialis,vastus lateralis,semitendinosus,biceps femoris,and gluteus maximus were collected during the single-leg jumping movements.The differences between the two groups in relative peak torque,antagonist muscle ratio,root mean square amplitude,and co-contraction index were analyzed by independent sample t-test.Results The extension of the knee(P=0.040)and hip flexion strength(P=0.041)were lower in the healthy lower limb side of patients with ACL injury.In the single-leg landing action,there were lower activation of the vastus medialis muscle in the pre-activation phase(P=0.014),lower activation of the vastus medialis(P=0.030)and gluteus maximus(P=0.002)in the reaction phase,and also lower co-activation levels of the biceps femoris-semitendinosus(P=0.020).Conclusions At the early stage of injury,the function of the healthy lower limb side of patients with ACL injury changes,which may indicate why these patients face a greater risk of contralateral lower limb injury.

Objective The isokinetic muscle strength indicators and surface electromyography(sEMG)signals of the healthy lower limb side of patients with non-contact anterior cruciate ligament(ACL)injury in the acute phase were compared with those of healthy individuals,so to provide a theoretical basis for the prevention of secondary ACL rupture in the healthy lower limb side of patients with ACL injury.Methods 21 patients with ACL injury in the acute phase(ACL injury group)and 21 healthy individuals(control group)were subjected to isokinetic muscle strength tests for hip flexion,extension,adduction,abduction,and knee flexion,and sEMG signals of the vastus medialis,vastus lateralis,semitendinosus,biceps femoris,and gluteus maximus were collected during the single-leg jumping movements.The differences between the two groups in relative peak torque,antagonist muscle ratio,root mean square amplitude,and co-contraction index were analyzed by independent sample t-test.Results The extension of the knee(P=0.040)and hip flexion strength(P=0.041)were lower in the healthy lower limb side of patients with ACL injury.In the single-leg landing action,there were lower activation of the vastus medialis muscle in the pre-activation phase(P=0.014),lower activation of the vastus medialis(P=0.030)and gluteus maximus(P=0.002)in the reaction phase,and also lower co-activation levels of the biceps femoris-semitendinosus(P=0.020).Conclusions At the early stage of injury,the function of the healthy lower limb side of patients with ACL injury changes,which may indicate why these patients face a greater risk of contralateral lower limb injury.

Objective:To analyze the clinical manifestations and fundus multimodal imaging features of patients with acute Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome, and provide a reference for early diagnosis of VKH syndrome.Methods:Retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data and related examinations including spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) of patients diagnosed with acute VKH syndrome in the Ophthalmology Department of the Beijing Friendship Hospital from January 2017 to December 2022.Results:A total of 17 patients (34 eyes) with acute VKH syndrome were included. SD-OCT showed exudative retinal detachment in all 34 eyes with punctate hyperreflective signals; 26 eyes had choroidal folds, and 14 patients (28 eyes) had " septum-like" structures under the neuroepithelium. FFA early images showed late retinal fluorescence pooling in a multi-lake pattern in all 34 eyes. ICGA was performed in 15 patients (30 eyes), with early images showing hyperfluorescence of choroidal vessels in all 30 eyes; 26 eyes had scattered hypofluorescent lesions in the fundus. Mid-to-late images showed blurred boundaries of choroidal vessels in 28 eyes.Conclusions:Patients with acute VKH syndrome have characteristic manifestations in SD-OCT, FFA, and ICGA. Fundus multimodal imaging can provide important references for the diagnosis of VKH syndrome.

Objective:To investigate the awareness of Chinese gastroenterologists regarding the treatment targets of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) as defined by the STRIDE-Ⅱ consensus and to identify challenges encountered in clinical practice.Methods:A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted via an online questionnaire distributed to gastroenterologists between February 16 and March 31, 2024. The survey encompassed demographic data, recognition and adherence to the STRIDE-Ⅱ consensus, perceived importance of IBD treatment targets, and clinical challenges.Results:A total of 203 valid questionnaires were collected from 28 provinces (autonomous regions/municipalities). The majority of participants (177/203, 87.2%) reported routinely referencing the STRIDE-Ⅱ consensus in IBD management. Over 90% of physicians identified endoscopic mucosal healing as the core treatment target. Additionally, approximately 80% emphasized the importance of clinical remission, endoscopic remission, quality-of-life improvement, disability prevention, and normalization of growth in pediatric patients. The challenges reported by more than half of physicians in acheiving the goals of the treatment process included lack of a standardized definition for mucosal healing (69.5%), management of psychological comorbidities (89.2%), drug failure (74.4%), penetrating Crohn's disease (72.4%), perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease (65.0%), and IBD management during pregnancy (61.1%).Conclusions:Chinese gastroenterologists demonstrate high awareness and adherence to the STRIDE-Ⅱ consensus, prioritizing mucosal healing as the cornerstone of IBD management. However, numerous challenges remain in clinical practice, particularly regarding operational definitions of therapeutic endpoints and complex disease phenotypes.

Background: This study established sex-specific reference intervals (RIs) for hematological parameters, including the monocyte distribution width (MDW), in Korean adults and assessed the need for separate RIs according to sex in older adults. Methods: Hematological parameters were measured using a DxH 900 hematology analyzer (Beckman Coulter, USA) on 328 peripheral blood samples from 124 men and 204 women aged 19–93 years. Results: The RIs for white blood cells, red blood cells (RBCs), Hb, Hct, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, monocyte percentage, and neutrophil, eosinophil, lympho­cyte, and monocyte counts differed significantly by sex (P<0.05). Mean corpuscular volume was significantly positively associated with age, whereas RBC and platelet counts were significantly negatively correlated with age in both men and women. Age-based analysis revealed significant shifts in the RBC parameters beginning at 60 years of age in men and 70 years of age in women. The MDW did not show significant differences according to sex or age. Conclusions This study supports the use of sex-specific RIs and highlights the importance of considering age when interpreting results regarding hematological parameters in clinical practice.

Background: This study established sex-specific reference intervals (RIs) for hematological parameters, including the monocyte distribution width (MDW), in Korean adults and assessed the need for separate RIs according to sex in older adults. Methods: Hematological parameters were measured using a DxH 900 hematology analyzer (Beckman Coulter, USA) on 328 peripheral blood samples from 124 men and 204 women aged 19–93 years. Results: The RIs for white blood cells, red blood cells (RBCs), Hb, Hct, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, monocyte percentage, and neutrophil, eosinophil, lympho­cyte, and monocyte counts differed significantly by sex (P<0.05). Mean corpuscular volume was significantly positively associated with age, whereas RBC and platelet counts were significantly negatively correlated with age in both men and women. Age-based analysis revealed significant shifts in the RBC parameters beginning at 60 years of age in men and 70 years of age in women. The MDW did not show significant differences according to sex or age. Conclusions This study supports the use of sex-specific RIs and highlights the importance of considering age when interpreting results regarding hematological parameters in clinical practice.

Linxian County in Henan Province, Northern China is known as the region with the highest incidence and mortality rate of esophageal cancer worldwide. Since 1959, the Henan medical team has conducted field work on esophageal cancer prevention and treatment in Linxian. Through three generations of effort exerted by oncologists over 65 years of research on esophageal cancer prevention and treatment in Linxian, the incidence rate of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in this area has dropped by nearly 50%, and the 5-year survival rate has increased to 40%, reaching the international leading level. This article aims to summarize the history, present opportunities and new challenges, and explore the experience of esophageal cancer prevention and treatment in Linxian (referred to as the “Linxian experience”), providing reference and guidance to cancer prevention and treatment research in China.

Purpose: : This study aimed to explore the essence and meaning of light sedation for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: : Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 patients receiving light sedation therapy in the cardiac ICU of a university hospital in South Korea. The content of the interviews was analyzed using Elo and Kyngäs’s inductive content analysis method. Data collection and analysis were performed iteratively to enable a continuous comparative analysis. Results: : The main category derived from the analysis was the “coexistence of partial consciousness and discomfort.” Three general categories were identified: (1) the state of being neither asleep nor awake, (2) persistent discomfort, and (3) ambivalence toward consciousness. The subcategories included a fragmented memory, disorientation, surreal experiences, brain fog, half-heard noises, physical discomfort, mental distress, preference for sleep, and preference for being awake. Conclusion : Patients in the ICU under light sedation experienced an incomplete state of consciousness while experiencing various types of discomfort. Nurses should understand the patients’ subjective experiences with light sedation to provide patient-centered care. Based on these findings, further research is required to develop and apply nursing interventions for patients under light sedation.

Purpose: : This study aimed to explore the essence and meaning of light sedation for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: : Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 patients receiving light sedation therapy in the cardiac ICU of a university hospital in South Korea. The content of the interviews was analyzed using Elo and Kyngäs’s inductive content analysis method. Data collection and analysis were performed iteratively to enable a continuous comparative analysis. Results: : The main category derived from the analysis was the “coexistence of partial consciousness and discomfort.” Three general categories were identified: (1) the state of being neither asleep nor awake, (2) persistent discomfort, and (3) ambivalence toward consciousness. The subcategories included a fragmented memory, disorientation, surreal experiences, brain fog, half-heard noises, physical discomfort, mental distress, preference for sleep, and preference for being awake. Conclusion : Patients in the ICU under light sedation experienced an incomplete state of consciousness while experiencing various types of discomfort. Nurses should understand the patients’ subjective experiences with light sedation to provide patient-centered care. Based on these findings, further research is required to develop and apply nursing interventions for patients under light sedation.