Objective: To investigate the independent prognostic factors affecting disease-free survival(DFS) after radical surgery in Ⅱ and Ⅲ adenocarcinoma of gastroesophageal junction(AEG) patients, and to construct a nomogram prediction model. Methods : A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort comprising 326 patients who were diagnosed with AEG. Chi-square test was used for categorical variable analysis. The survival analysis was drawn by Kaplan-Meier method and tested by log-rank method. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses identified independent prognostic factors, and based on these factors, a nomogram was constructed to predict 3-year and 5-year DFS in AEG patients. The calibration curves evaluated the performance of nomogram. Results: Among 326 AEG patients, 281 were in the young group(<70 years old) and 45 were in the old group(≥70 years old). Kaplan-Meier curve showed that patients with advanced age, TNM stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ and no history of hepatitis B had longer DFS. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that age, TNM stage and history of hepatitis B were independent prognostic factors for DFS. The 3-year and 5-year correction curves showed that the prediction efficiency of nomogram was good. The decision curve analysis showed that the model had a good clinical net benefit. Conclusion Age, TNM stage and history of hepatitis B are independent prognostic factors for DFS in AEG patients. The nomogram constructed and validated can be used to predict DFS in AEG patients.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the improvement effects of 3，5，6，7，8，3′，4′-heptamethoxyflavone （HMF） of Fructus Aurantii on rats with damp blockage of the middle energizer. METHODS The rats were randomly divided into normal group， model group， positive control group （Raceanisodamine tablet， 1 mg/kg）， HMF low-dose， medium-dose and high-dose groups （0.3， 0.6， 0.9 mg/kg）， with 7 rats in each group. Except for the normal group， the other groups were modeled by internal and external composite factors. After successful modeling， the rats in each group were given the corresponding drug or normal saline， once a day， for 14 days. The general behavioral states such as dietary intake， water intake and mental state of the rats were observed， and the fecal water content rate and saliva flow rate were measured. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe the pathological and morphology in gastric and small intestinal tissues of rats. The plasma content of aldosterone was detected， and the expression of aquaporins （AQP3） in the gastric tissue of rats was determined. RESULTS Compared with the normal group， the dietary intake and water intake of the model group rats were significantly decreased （P＜0.01）， the fecal water content rate， salivary flow rate， plasma content of aldosterone and the expression of AQP3 in gastric tissue were increased significantly （P＜0.01）. Gastric tissue injury invaded the mucosal muscle layer， resulting in mucosal muscle layer rupture； pathological and morphological changes such as small intestinal villous erosion and glandular structure destruction were observed in the small intestine. Compared with the model group， the dietary intake and water intake of rats were increased in HMF groups； fecal water content rate， salivary flow rate， plasma content of aldosterone， the expression of AQP3 in gastric tissue were decreased， most of the above differences were statistically significant （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. The pathological and morphological changes in the gastric and small intestine tissues of rats had been improved to varying degrees. CONCLUSIONS HMF of Fructus Aurantii with dry property HMF could improve the symptoms of rats with damp blockage of middle energizer， the mechanism of which may be associated with reducing the content of plasma aldosterone and down-regulating the expression of gastric AQP3.

Objective:To detect itching,anxiety,depression behaviors in chronic itch models of mice and observe the activation of γ-aminobutiric acid(GABA)neurons in the ventral sector of the zona incerta(ZIv),and provide mor-phological evidence for their involvement in the modulation of itch information.Methods:Diphenylcyclopropenone(DCP)was used in glutamic acid decarboxylase 67-green fluorescent protein(GAD67-GFP)knock-in mice to establish chronic itch model.Itch behaviors were detected by video tracking system to verify whether the models were successfully established.The anxiety,depression behaviors of chronic itch model mice were detected by using elevated plus maze test(EPM)and tail suspention test(TST).By using GAD67-GFP mice,the distribution of GABAergic neurons in va-rious sectors of the zona incerta(ZI)was observed.And combined with immunofluorescence staining method,double labeling of GABAergic neurons with FOS in ZIv were observed respectively in control and DCP group mice.Results:In brain slices of GAD67-GFP mice,GABAergic neurons can be observed within all sectors of ZI and are more concentrat-ed in ZIv.Compared with control group mice,DCP group mice showed a significant increase in the bouts of scratching(P＜0.001).The time of immobility in TST was significantly higher in DCP group mice than in control group mice,which displayed depression-like behavior.The EPM test showed that the numbers of entries and proportion of time in the cross region in DCP group mice were less than in control group mice.EPM test revealed that DCP group mice exhibited anxiety-like behavior.The results of immunofluorescence staining showed that the number of FOS-positive cells in ZIv was significantly higher in DCP group mice than in control group mice,and abundant co-labeled neurons of FOS and GABAergic neurons were observed in ZIv.Conclusion:GABAergic neurons were predominantly distributed in ZI,and were more concentrated in ZIv.The activation of GABAergic neurons in ZIv of DCP group mice provides morphological evidence on the involvement of GABAergic neurons in chronic itch and associated negative emotions.

Liver fibrosis and cirrhosis are the common outcomes of various chronic liver diseases after progression,and studies have shown that liver fibrosis and early liver cirrhosis can be reversed.Compound traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions have a marked therapeutic effect in reversing liver fibrosis and early liver cirrhosis,and their mechanism of action remains unclear.By reviewing related articles in China and globally,this article summarizes the six main phenotypic mechanisms involved in the efficacy of compound traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions,i.e.,inhibiting liver inflammation and regulating liver immune response,regulating hepatic stellate cell activation and extracellular matrix(ECM)generation,promoting ECM degradation,reversing hepatic sinusoidal capillarization,regulating hepatocyte regeneration,and regulating gut microbiota,and in addition,this article also analyzes the advances and shortcomings in current studies on each phenotype.Future studies on compound traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions should focus on experimental exploration and rescue experiments to verify the above phenotypes and further explore the upstream and downstream signaling pathways with a marked effect.This article aims to help clarify the direction and ideas of studies on the therapeutic mechanism of compound traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions,in order to provide a basis for clarifying the scientific essence of compound traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions.

Objective:The purpose of this study is to test and assess the model of modeling data of TaiChi accelerator in the Raystation Treatment Planning System(RayStation system)according to the test method and item of TG119 report of American Association Physicians Medicine(AAPM).Methods:The intensity-modulated radiation therapy(IMRT)and volumetric-modulated arc therapy(VMAT)plans of the test cases of different clinical situations,which included the simulated multi target region,prostate target region,head and neck target region,easy type C-shape target region plan and difficult type C-shape target region plan,were designed according to the AAPM TG119 report in the treatment planning system.The deviations of the doses of point and area of the two kinds of plans were measured,and the measured results were compared and analyzed with the recommended standards of AAPM TG119 report.The IBA CC13 ionization chamber and the ArcCHECK matrix ionization chamber were used respectively to verify the point dose and area dose,and the assessment standard was γ passing rate under 3%3mm.The confidence interval was adopted to judge the consistency between the measured dose and the calculated dose.Results:The accuracies of plan dose target,point dose deviation and area dose distribution of tested cases could meet the requirement of the TGl19 report.The deviations of mean doses for the high-dose points of IMRT plan and VMAT plan of tested cases were respectively(0.39±1.02)%and(1.27±0.64)%,and the confidence intervals of them were respectively 2.39%and 2.52%.The average dose deviations of low doses of organ at risk(OAR)of IMRT plan and VMAT plan were respectively(0.53±1.73)%and(0.88±1.11)%,and the confidence intervals were respectively 3.92%and 3.06%.The average γ passing rate under 3%/3mm of IMRT plan and VMAT plan were respectively(99.52±0.366)%and(99.86±0.136)%,and the confidence intervals of them were respectively 1.196%and 0.406%.Conclusion:The TaiChi accelerator performance and the accuracy of Raystation system 6MV FFF model fitting can meet the standard of TG119 report,and the subsequent standards of the quality control of equipment and patients were established according to these tested results,which would provide reference for the improvement of the performance of subsequent accelerator.

Objective:To explore the feasibility and effect of remote medical education model using online film reading training to improve the ability of ophthalmologists in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (hereinafter referred to as "Xinjiang Region" ) in diagnosing fundus diseases.Methods:The three-level film reading training system of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps system division hospital-Corps Hospital-Peking Union Medical College Hospital was established. From June 2022 to January 2023, 4 159 posterior color fundus images were continuously collected from Department of Ophthalmology of Xinjiang Corps Hospital and 4 divisional hospitals in the Corps medical system. Among them, hypertensive retinopathy, diabetic retinopathy, exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD), atrophic AMD and retinal vein occlusion were 3 073, 651, 43, 186 and 206 cases, respectively. The images were divided into 3 rounds (first, second and last) according to the proportion of diseases. The doctors who participated in the training (hereinafter referred to as the "training") were 15 ophthalmologists from the Corps Hospital of Xinjiang Region and the division hospital of the Corps system. There were 7 male and 8 female. Age was (38.1±4.0) years. The titles of senior, deputy senior, intermediate and junior are 1, 6, 5 and 3 respectively; Bachelor's degree and master's degree are 13 and 2 respectively. The working time of fundus disease specialty was (9.6±3.3) years. The film reading system training was conducted before the first round of labeling, and after each round of film reading, the doctors of Peking Union Medical College Hospital gave feedback and explanation on the film reading results. The diagnostic consistency, sensitivity and specificity were compared by paired sample t test. Spearman or Pearson correlation analysis was conducted between the improvement of diagnostic level and professional title, education, age and working hours of ocular fundus disease. Results:All the participating doctors completed the first, second and last reading. After each round of film reading, the film reading summary was carried out for 2 hours. The average diagnostic agreement rates of participating physicians were 53.0%, 67.0% and 75.0%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity were 0.38, 0.69, 054 and 0.66, 0.85, 0.96, respectively. There was significant difference between the first and last examination ( P<0.001). The sensitivity of the second reading was significantly higher than that of the first reading, and the sensitivity of the last reading was significantly lower than that of the second reading, with statistical significance ( P<0.05). The specificity of the second reading was significantly higher than that of the first reading, and the last reading was significantly higher than that of the second reading, with statistical significance ( P<0.05). There was no significant correlation ( P>0.05) between the improvement of diagnostic level of participating physicians and educational background ( Rho=0.07), professional title ( Rho=0.13), age ( r=0.20), and working time of ophthalmofundus disease specialty ( r=0.26). Conclusions:Relying on the three-level online telemedicine training, it can improve the ability of ophthalmologists in Xinjiang region to diagnose fundus diseases. The preliminary telemedicine education model has demonstrated potential for feasibility and effectiveness in remote areas with inadequate medical resources.

Objective:To explore the feasibility and effect of remote medical education model using online film reading training to improve the ability of ophthalmologists in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (hereinafter referred to as "Xinjiang Region" ) in diagnosing fundus diseases.Methods:The three-level film reading training system of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps system division hospital-Corps Hospital-Peking Union Medical College Hospital was established. From June 2022 to January 2023, 4 159 posterior color fundus images were continuously collected from Department of Ophthalmology of Xinjiang Corps Hospital and 4 divisional hospitals in the Corps medical system. Among them, hypertensive retinopathy, diabetic retinopathy, exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD), atrophic AMD and retinal vein occlusion were 3 073, 651, 43, 186 and 206 cases, respectively. The images were divided into 3 rounds (first, second and last) according to the proportion of diseases. The doctors who participated in the training (hereinafter referred to as the "training") were 15 ophthalmologists from the Corps Hospital of Xinjiang Region and the division hospital of the Corps system. There were 7 male and 8 female. Age was (38.1±4.0) years. The titles of senior, deputy senior, intermediate and junior are 1, 6, 5 and 3 respectively; Bachelor's degree and master's degree are 13 and 2 respectively. The working time of fundus disease specialty was (9.6±3.3) years. The film reading system training was conducted before the first round of labeling, and after each round of film reading, the doctors of Peking Union Medical College Hospital gave feedback and explanation on the film reading results. The diagnostic consistency, sensitivity and specificity were compared by paired sample t test. Spearman or Pearson correlation analysis was conducted between the improvement of diagnostic level and professional title, education, age and working hours of ocular fundus disease. Results:All the participating doctors completed the first, second and last reading. After each round of film reading, the film reading summary was carried out for 2 hours. The average diagnostic agreement rates of participating physicians were 53.0%, 67.0% and 75.0%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity were 0.38, 0.69, 054 and 0.66, 0.85, 0.96, respectively. There was significant difference between the first and last examination ( P<0.001). The sensitivity of the second reading was significantly higher than that of the first reading, and the sensitivity of the last reading was significantly lower than that of the second reading, with statistical significance ( P<0.05). The specificity of the second reading was significantly higher than that of the first reading, and the last reading was significantly higher than that of the second reading, with statistical significance ( P<0.05). There was no significant correlation ( P>0.05) between the improvement of diagnostic level of participating physicians and educational background ( Rho=0.07), professional title ( Rho=0.13), age ( r=0.20), and working time of ophthalmofundus disease specialty ( r=0.26). Conclusions:Relying on the three-level online telemedicine training, it can improve the ability of ophthalmologists in Xinjiang region to diagnose fundus diseases. The preliminary telemedicine education model has demonstrated potential for feasibility and effectiveness in remote areas with inadequate medical resources.

Objective:To analyze the costs and effectiveness of five common screening modes and genetic screening for thalassemia in China in order to find the optimal way and provide evidence for the implementation of thalassemia prevention and control projects in Hunan Province.Methods:From June 2020 to April 2021, 12 971 couples from 14 cities and autonomous prefectures in Hunan Province were selected as the study population. The diagnosis of thalassemia was based on the results of genetic testing. Results of routine blood test and hemoglobin electrophoresis were collected and analyzed. The efficacy of five screening modes, at the cut-off value of <80 fl or 82 fl for the mean corpuscular volume (MCV), was analyzed by positive predictive value, negative predictive value, Jorden index and cost-effectiveness ratio. Sensitivity analysis was used to assess the feasibility of genetic screening at different costs after fixing the costs of routine blood and hemoglobin electrophoresis. The five thalassemia screening models are as follows: Mode 1: The woman had a blood routine test first. If the result was positive, the spouse required a blood routine test. If both results were positive, a thalassemia gene test should be offered to the couple. Mode 2: Both husband and wife were screened by blood routine and hemoglobin electrophoresis. If one or both of them were positive, both would be tested for thalassemia gene. Mode 3: The couple received blood routine tests initially. If either was positive, both should receive hemoglobin electrophoresis testing. If either was positive, both parties will conduct thalassemia gene testing. Mode 4: The woman was screened by blood routine and hemoglobin electrophoresis. If any one of them was positive, the woman would be tested for thalassemia gene. If the gene test result was positive, the spouse should receive thalassemia gene. Mode 5: Both spouses conducted a blood routine test. If either was positive, both would conduct hemoglobin electrophoresis test. If both were positive, both spouses should receive thalassemia gene testing. Gene testing mode: The woman would be tested for thalassemia, and her spouse would have thalassemia test too if her result was positive.Results:When using MCV<80 fl as the cut-off for diagnosing thalassemia, the Youden indices of the five prenatal screening modes in Hunan Province were 0.551, 0.639, 0.898, 0.555 and 0.356, while when using MCV<82 fl as the cut-off, the Youden indices were 0.549, 0.629, 0.851, 0.548 and 0.356. When the MCV cut-off value was <80 fl, the missed diagnosis rates of the five screening modes were 44.44%, 0.00, 0.00, 18.52% and 62.96%, and the cost-effectiveness ratios were 21 709, 250 939, 76 870, 138 463 and 92 860 yuan (RMB)/couple, respectively. When the price of genetic testing was lower than 55 yuan (RMB), the cost-effectiveness ratio of genetic screening was lower than that of Mode 3.Conclusions:MCV<80 fl can be considered as the positive criteria in blood routine screening for thalassemia in Hunan Province, and the cost-effectiveness ratio of Mode 3 (the couple received blood routine tests initially. If either was positive, both should receive hemoglobin electrophoresis testing. If either was positive, both parties will conduct thalassemia gene testing) is the best. Genetic screening has certain advantages with the decreasing price.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the social and economic burden of Downs syndrome for patients and their families residing in Changsha, China. METHODS: An 160-item self-administered questionnaire was designed and distributed to the primary caregivers of the patients in March 2020. A total of 81 eligible participants had completed the questionnaire, among which 20 were excluded for incomplete data. A patient perspective was taken to estimate the economic burden of the disease. The social impact of the disease on the patient's family was evaluated through questions adapted from the Stanford Psychological Wellbeing (PWB) Scale. RESULTS: The estimated life-course cost of a Downs syndrome patient in Changsha is 4 985 659 RMB, with the patient and caregiver's loss of income taking the greater proportion. In addition, as the majority of the patients' primary caregivers, female caregivers experienced not only considerable financial hardship caused by the care provision, but also a significant amount of psychological pressure and social discrimination. CONCLUSION Increased level of social welfare for the patients and social support for their female caregivers are essential for reducing economic burden and improving their quality of life in the area. In addition, prenatal screening and diagnosis for Downs syndrome are important for reducing both the social and economic burden of the disease by preventing its occurrence.
Caregivers ; China ; Down Syndrome ; Female ; Financial Stress ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Social Discrimination ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical application and health economic values of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) and second trimester serum screening (STSS). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out on 54 026 singleton pregnant women undergoing NIPT and STSS from March 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019 in Changsha Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital. For pregnant women with high-risk results of NIPT, prenatal diagnosis and follow-up of pregnancy outcomes were conducted. The data was grouped to 4 screening models, and their cost-benefit was analyzed. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of NIPT were all higher than STSS. Screening models 1 to 4 have prevented the birth of 71, 29, 52 and 54 patients with Down syndrome, respectively. The safety index of screening models 1 to 4 were 0.0036, 0.3944, 02215 and 0.1281, respectively. When the price of NIPT was decreased to 600 RMB, the cost-benefit of the screening models 1 to 4 was 0.46, 0.65, 0.44 and 0.40 million RMB, respectively. CONCLUSION NIPT has a better detection performance than STSS. When the price of NIPT is 600 RMB, screening model 1 has the best screening effect and the highest accuracy, safety index and health economical value.
Child ; China ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Down Syndrome/diagnosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis/methods* ; Retrospective Studies