Objective:To compare the differences in clinical characteristics among the patients at clinical high risk for bipolar disorder(CHR-BD),the patients with bipolar disorder(BD),and the healthy controls(HC)at low risk,and to provide the basis for the diognasis and treatment of CHR-BD.Methods:For the first time,the BD risk criteria and prospective structured assessment tools were jointly used in outpatients aged 16-30 years,and 43 CHR-BD patients were included to ensure the accuracy of the assessment.Meanwhile,33 BD patients and 32 HC subjects were also enrolled.The clinical symptoms,neurocognitive function,and global functional levels of the subjects in the three groups were evaluated using observer-rated and self-rated tools.The CHR-BD and BD groups were combined,and Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent influencing factors related to diagnostic status;Pearson or Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlations between the global functional levels and the symptoms or neurocognitive characteristics of the patients in CHR-BD and BD groups.Results:There were statistically significant differences in the scores of symptom and global functional level scales among HC,CHR-BD,and BD groups(P<0.05).Compared with HC group,the scores of mood symptoms(anxiety,depression,and mania/hypomania),psychotic symptoms,total affective temperament questionnaire scores,and some dimensions(cyclothymic,depressive,irritable,and anxious temperaments)in CHR-BD and BD groups were significantly increased(P<0.001),while the global functional levels were significantly decreased(P<0.001).Compared with BD group,the lowest global functional level score in the past year in CHR-BD group was significantly increased(P=0.022),while the current global functional level score was significantly decreased(P=0.005).No significant differences were observed in neurocognitive function scores among the three groups(P>0.05).The lowest global functional level score in the past year was an independent influencing factor for BD diagnosis[odds ratio(OR)=0.952,95%confidence interval(CI):0.917-0.988,P=0.010].In both CHR-BD and BD patients,the current global functional levels were negatively correlated with depressive(r=-0.417,P=0.005;r=-0.617,P<0.001)and anxiety symptoms(r=-0.360,P=0.018;r=-0.506,P=0.003).In BD patients,the current global functional level was negatively correlated with lifetime manic/hypomanic symptoms(r=-0.360,P=0.039),psychotic symptoms(r=-0.502,P=0.003),and affective temperament scores(r=-0.479,P=0.005),while the lowest global functional level in the past year was negatively correlated with lifetime manic/hypomanic symptoms(r=-0.391,P=0.024).Conclusion:CHR-BD patients share similar mood symptom characteristics with BD patients,and their global functional levels are negatively correlated with depressive and anxiety symptoms.BD patients exhibit worse lowest global functional levels in the past year,and their global functional levels are negatively correlated with manic/hypomanic symptoms.

Objective:To investigate the preventive and therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Dachaihu decoction(DCD)on dextran sodium sulfate(DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis(UC)and liver injury in mice,as well as the association between DCD benefits and gut microbiota modulation.Methods:Mice were treated with DCD(20.10 and 10.05 g/kg)for 2 weeks,with free access to drinking water containing 3%DSS in the second week to induce UC.Histopathological examination,RT-qPCR and 16S rRNA sequencing were used to investigate the effect of DCD on UC mice.Results:DCD pretreatment significantly alleviated weight loss,bloody diarrhea with mucus,histopathological abnormalities of the colon,and colon shortening in mice with DSS-induced UC.In addition,DCD pretreat-ment significantly upregulated the levels of Occludin,ZO-1,and MUC-2 in the colon and protected the intestinal barrier of mice.DCD pretreatment also alleviated inflammatory cell infiltration in the colon and the liver and significantly reduced the expression levels of the proinflammatory factors such as IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α,iNOS,COX-2,and NLRP3,thereby exerting a protective effect against UC and liver injury.It should be noted that DCD corrected gut micro-biota imbalance in UC mice by enriching probiotic bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium and reducing harmful bacteria such as Norank_f_Desulfovibrionaceae and Escherichia-Shigella.Conclusion:DCD can alleviate DSS-induced UC and exert a liver-protecting effect by protecting intestinal barrier,inhibiting inflam-mation,and regulating gut microbiota.

Objective:To explore influencing factors of the self-reported brief life quality satisfaction score(Brief-QoL) in patients with acromegaly and understand the persistent low Brief-QoL scores in cases achieving biochemical remission.Methods:This study included 836 acromegaly patients who were hospitalized at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 2012 and December 2020. We retrospectively examined how clinical characteristics, biochemical parameters, comorbidities, and symptoms influenced Brief-QoL. Among patients who achieved biochemical remission, differences in clinical symptoms and comorbidities were analyzed between the high and low quality of life groups.Results:Patients with well-controlled biochemical indicators at the last follow-up had generally high Brief-QoL. However, patients with symptoms such as headaches (47.8% in the low-score group vs 14.9% in the high-score group, P<0.001) and joint pain (69.6% in the low-score group vs 19.0% in the high-score group, P<0.001) had low Brief-QoL despite biochemical remission. Receiving combined treatment(52.4% in the low-score group vs 27.5% in the high-score group, P=0.030) and having comorbid diabetes or hyperlipidemia were significant factors leading to decreased quality of life. Conclusion:Brief-QoL is suitable for follow-up of outpatient patients. Early identification of factors affecting quality of life and timely intervention can facilitate the realization of standardized management.

Objective To assess the value of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in left atrial appendage (LAA) closer with Amplatzer Cardiac Plug (ACP).Methods Consecutive 32 atrial fibrillation patients (CHADS2≥1) with high risk bleeding underwent LAA occlusion with ACP LAA occlusion device under the guidance of TEE.Measurements of LAA anchoring area diameter (AAD) and LAA anatomical orifice diameter (AOD) including maximum,minimum values,and LAA depth on 2 dimentional TEE (2D TEE) were conducted before closer device implantation.The outcomes of LAA occlusion were analyzed.Results Among 32 patients,27 cases achieved successful LAA occlusion,including 2 cases with peripheral leakage ≤5 mm,and 5 cases failed occlusion.Among 5 failed closed patients,3 cases with LAA AAD≥ 30 mm,1 case with LAA of short depth,and 1 case with anatomical variation of LAA of low position that access sheath could not be positioned in the LAA.LAA AAD maximum,minimum and LAA depth were (25.9±4.9)mm,(20.0±3.8)mm,(31.0±5.6)mm,respectively,and LAA AOD maximum,minimum diameters were (26.2±6.2)mm,(19.4±4.3)mm,respectively.Among 10 cases with LAA AAD≥30 mm,7 cases achieved successful LAA occlusion,but 3 cases failed.The implanted device diameter was (26.4±3.8)mm,and device compression rate was (7.6±5.5)%.The coefficient of correlation between device diameter and large LAA AAD and AOD is 0.770 and 0.717,respectively.There was no complication but 1 case with pericardial effusion.Conclusions Two dimentional TEE measurements of LAA have clinical guiding significance in the selection of proper size of ACP LAA occluder.The AAD of 2D TEE has the good correlation with ACP occluder′s size,the AADs are important factors which affect the success of LAA occlusion.

Objective To discuss the feasibility and accuracy of left atrial appendage (LAA)ejection fraction by real-time 3 dimensional imaging (3D-EF),and tissue velocity of the LAA wall by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI)via transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)in assessing LAA functions.Methods A total number of 76 patients with atrial fibrillation (AF)were included in the study consecutively and underwent TEE for LAA investigations.3D-EF,fractional area change by 2 dimensional imaging (2D-FAC),peak emptying velocity (PEV),LAA tissue velocity by TDI at the mid-portion of lateral wall (TDI-L),mid-portion of septal wall (TDI-S)and the apical tip (TDI-A)were calculated.Results Statistic analysis showed the following results:1 )2D-FAC,3D-EF,PEV,TDI-L,TDI-S and TDI-A were all significantly higher in patients with sinus rhythm than those with AF during the TEE examinations (all P <0.05),and significantly higher in patients without spontaneous echo contrast (SEC)than those who had SEC (all P <0.05);2)The results of 3D-EF showed a good correlation with 2D-FAC (r=0.727,P =0.000),and their correlations with PEV were similar (2D-FAC and PEV:r =0.685;3D-EF and PEV:r =0.632,both P =0.000);3)TDI-A [(14.95±4.63)cm/s]were significantly higher than TDI-L [(12.62±3.96)cm/s]and TDI-S [(12.68±3.59)cm/s](both P =0.000).The correlations of TDI-A with PEV,2D-FAC and 3D-EF were all marked higher than those of TDI-L and TDI-S (with PEV:r=0.840 vs r=0.564,r=0.524;with 2D-FAC:r=0.701 vs r=0.486,r=0.504;with 3D-EF:r=0.753 vs r=0.493,r=0.522,all P <0.05). Conclusions 3D TEE is feasible and reliable in assessing LAA emptying function.The best location for LAA tissue velocity evaluation is the apical tip.

Objective To evaluate right ventricular (RV)systolic function in type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)patients.Methods Fifty T2DM patients and fifty normal controls were included in the study and underwent echocardiographic examinations.The following parameters were measured:1 ) Right heart dimensions,pulmonary artery (PA)diameter,pulmonary acceleration time (AT)and PA systolic pressure (PASP);2)RV systolic function:RV fractional area change (RVFAC),tissue Doppler-derived tricuspid lateral annular systolic velocity (S'),tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE),longitudinal strain of six RV segments by 2-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI);3 )RV diastolic function:E,A ratio of the tricuspid inflow spectrum (E/A),E,E'(peak early diastolic velocity of the tricuspid annulus) ratio (E/E');4)RV Tei index.Results Statistic analysis showed that T2DM patients had thicker RV walls,wider PAs and shorter AT than the control group (P =0.000,0.001 and 0.000),while their right heart chamber sizes and PASP remained unchanged.Among systolic parameters,absolute values of RV longitudinal strain at the lateral wall-mid (lat-m),septum-mid (sep-m)and septum-basal (sep-b)segments were significantly lower in the diabetic group than the control group (P =0.001 ,0.000 and 0.005),whereas strain of the other three RV segments and RVFAC,TAPSE.S'were not significantly different.Moreover, E/A,E/E'and Tei index were all significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.000,0.000 and 0.006),indicating declined diastolic and general function of RV in the T2DM group.Conclusions RV myocardial strain by 2D-STI is more sensitive in detecting RV systolic dysfunction than TAPSE,S' and RVFAC.Among the six segments of RV walls,lat-m,sep-m and sep-b are better locations for 2D-STI than the other three.

Objective To evaluate the role of real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography(RT-3D TEE)in left atrial appendage (LAA)occlusion.Methods Consecutive 10 atrial fibrillation (AF)patients (CHADS2 ≥ 2 )with high risk bleeding underwent LAA occlusion under the guidance of TEE.The LAA orifice shape and characteristics of lobes were assessed,the size of LAA with RT-3D TEE wee measured before closer implanation,and the position of the LAA occlusion device were evaluated by RT-3D TEE.The correlational analysis between LAA diameter and occluder size was conducted.Results Among 10 patients,the test results revealed 8 cases with complete LAA occlusion and 1 case with incomplete occlusion,and 1 case with failed occlusion.Five cases showed approximate round LAA ostium,and the other 5 showed approximate oval ostium.The average number of LAA lobes were 2.2±0.7. LAA ostium long diameter were larger by 3D TEE compared with 2D TEE[(21 .8±5.1)mm vs (20.8±4.1) mm],and ostium short diameter were smaller by 3D TEE compared with 2D TEE [(16.1 ± 3.0 )mm vs (1 7.0±2.6)mm],however there were no significant differences between 2D and 3D TEE measurements,and the mean ostium diameter and LAA depth were comparable between two methods.LAA ostium long diameter,short diameter,average diameter and LAA depth assessed by 3D TEE and 2D TEE showed good correlation with occluder diameter (3D TEE:r =0.719,0.690,0.791 ,0.71 1 ,and P =0.029,0.040,0.01 1 , 0.032,respectively;2D TEE:r = 0.887,0.894,0.932,0.896,and P = 0.001 ,0.001 ,0.000,0.000, respectively).LAA occlusion device position assessed by RT-3D:6 cases with appropriate position, acceptable position with 2 cases,and 1 case with malposition.Conclusions RT-3D TEE can play important role in evaluating the morphology of LAA,accurately judging LAA ostium shape and size and position of the occlusion device.

Objective To explore the imaging features of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma(PTMC) with real time contrast-enhanced ultrasound.Methods One hundredand forty-three cases with 149 thyroid nodules(no diffuse lession) were divided into two groups according to the diameter size(group 1,＜0.5 cm;group 2,0.5-1.0 cm) and examined by contrast-enhanced ultrasound during preoperation.Pathology was followed up as golden diagnosis criteria.Results Seventy-five benign tumors and 74 PTMC were confirmed by pathology.There were significant differences in echoes homogeneity between benign and malignant tumors in group 2(W =1 029.5,Z =-5.524,P =0.000) but no in group 1(W =933.0,Z =-1.738,P =0.082).And nonhomogeneous enhancement were showed in most PTMC in group 2.But most PTMC showed homogeneous enhancement in group 1.Conclusions Contrast-enhanced ultrasound is valuable in diagnosis of PTMC with the diameter size of 0.5-1.0 cm.