Azvudine and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) are recommended for COVID-19 treatment in China, but their safety and efficacy in the elderly population are not fully known. In this multicenter, retrospective, cohort study, we identified 5131 elderly hospitalized COVID-19 patients from 32,864 COVID-19 patients admitted to nine hospitals in Henan Province, China, from December 5, 2022, to January 31, 2023. The primary outcome was all-cause death, and the secondary outcome was composite disease progression. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to control for confounding factors, including demographics, vaccination status, comorbidities, and laboratory tests. After 2:1 PSM, 1786 elderly patients receiving azvudine and 893 elderly patients receiving Paxlovid were included. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses revealed that compared with Paxlovid group, azvudine could significantly reduce the risk of all-cause death (log-rank P = 0.002; HR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.573-0.883, P = 0.002), but there was no difference in composite disease progression (log-rank P = 0.52; HR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.877-1.260, P = 0.588). Four sensitivity analyses verified the robustness of above results. Subgroup analysis suggested that a greater benefit of azvudine over Paxlovid was observed in elderly patients with primary malignant tumors (P for interaction = 0.005, HR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.18-0.57) compared to patients without primary malignant tumors. Safety analysis revealed that azvudine treatment had a lower incidence of adverse events and higher lymphocyte levels than Paxlovid treatment. In conclusion, azvudine treatment is not inferior to Paxlovid treatment in terms of all-cause death, composite disease progression and adverse events in elderly hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of soybean isoflavones （SI） on the reproductive development of young mice. METHODS C57BL/6 young mice were randomly divided into control group， SI low-dose and high-dose groups （10， 100 mg/kg）， with 10 mice in each group （half male and half female）. The young mice in each group were given corresponding liquid intragastrically， once a day， for 2 consecutive weeks. After the last administration， the percentage of body weight increase was calculated； serum estradiol and testosterone levels， malondialdehyde （MDA） content， total antioxidant capacity （T-AOC）， superoxide dismutase （SOD） and glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px） activities in the reproductive organs of the young mice were determined. The histopathological changes in the reproductive organs were observed. The cell apoptosis of reproductive organs was detected. RESULTS Compared with the control group， the percentage of body weight increase in female mice was increased significantly in the SI high-dose group， while that of male mice was decreased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Cystic follicles could be seen in the ovarian tissue in SI groups， a loose arrangement of spermatocytes could be seen in the testicular tissue， and partial epithelial cell shedding could be seen in epididymal tissue. The serum level of testosterone in female young mice and the serum levels of testosterone and estradiol in male young mice in SI groups， GSH-Px activity in the ovarian tissue of female young mice in the SI low-dose group， T-AOC activities in the ovarian tissue of female young mice in SI groups as well as the apoptotic rates of cells in testicular and epididymal tissue of male young mice in SI groups were increased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜ 0.01）； the serum level of estradiol in female young mice in SI groups， SOD activity in the ovarian tissue of female young mice in the SI high-dose group， and MDA contents in the ovarian tissue of female young mice in SI groups as well as the apoptotic rates of cells in ovarian tissue of female mice in SI groups were decreased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS SI can enhance the antioxidant stress capacity of ovarian tissue in female young mice and reduce their oxidative stress damage， but it has certain toxicity to reproductive organs in male mice.

Objective:To evaluate the regeneration and biomechanical property recovery of semitendinosus tendon(ST)/gracilis tendon(GT) after anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) reconstruction using shear wave elastorgraphy (SWE) combined with high-frequency ultrasound(HFUS).Methods:Twenty-five patients who underwent ST/GT autograft reconstruction after ACL rupture at the People′s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from January 2020 to June 2022 were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent HFUS, SWE and flexion strength assessment at pre-operation and 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 months postoperatively. The morphology, length, cross-sectional area and SWE of ST/GT and flexion strength of knee were recorded at each time point. Repeated measures analysis of variance was employed to compare the cross-sectional area and elasticity value of regenerated ST/GT at different time points. Spearman correlation analysis was used to investigate the relationship between the elasticity value of regenerated ST/GT and flexion strength.Results:The regeneration rates of ST/GT after being harvested for ACL reconstruction were 88% and 92%. The length of the regenerated ST/GT were shorter than before operation(both P<0.05). Repeated measures analysis of variance revealed significant differences in the cross-sectional area of regenerated ST/GT, both in terms of time effect and inter-group effect ( F=27.264, 28.980; both P<0.001), but no significant difference was observed in the interaction effect ( F=0.670, P=0.652). The cross-sectional area of regenerated ST/GT was the largest at 3 months postoperatively ( P<0.05), and restored to the preoperative level at 12 and 24 months postoperatively (both P>0.05). Repeated measures analysis of variance showed that the elasticity values of the regenerated ST/GT were significantly different in terms of time effect, group effect, and interaction effect ( F=265.402, 33.015, 11.475; all P<0.001). The elasticity of regenerated ST/GT post-operation gradually increased over time. The flexion strength level of knee gradually improved post-operation(χ 2=34.83, P<0.001). The elasticity values of the regenerated ST and GT showed significant positive correlations with the flexion strength ( rs=0.755, 0.761; both P<0.001). Conclusions:HFUS discovers that most of ST/GT can be regenerated after being harvested for ACL reconstruction. The flexion strength and elasticity value of regenerated tendon recover gradually with time. It is suggested that the SWE can predict the recovery of biomechanical property of regenerated ST/GT.

In order to preliminarily evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic intermuscular dissection (EID) for the treatment of rectal neuroendocrine tumors (R-NETs), a retrospective observational study was conducted on 8 consecutive patients with R-NETs confirmed by postoperative pathology at South China Hospital, Medical School, Shenzhen University from January 2022 to October 2023. The therapeutic efficacy, incidence of complications, and follow-up results were mainly analyzed. The results showed that all 8 cases achieved complete resection after EID, with operation times ranging from 40 to 90 minutes. No bleeding, perforation, fever or electrocoagulation syndrome occurred after operation. The hospital stay was 4 to 6 days. During follow-up of 3 to 24 months, there was no local recurrence or metastasis. Therefore, a preliminary conclusion can be drawn that EID is a safe and feasible treatment for R-NETs.

Objective To monitor heart-related parameters of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension(PH)mouse models induced by hypoxia alone and hypoxia combined with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitor SU5416 using echocardiography,and to construct the prediction equation of right ventricular systolic pressure(RVSP).Twenty-four C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into simple hypoxia group(group A),hypoxia combined with SU5416 group(group B),control group(group C),each group 8 mice.Hypoxic PH models were constructed with hypoxia alone and hypoxia combined with SU5416 in group A and group B,respectively.Echocardiography was performed before and during modeling(2,3,4 weeks after interventions),and the relevant parameters were obtained.RVSP was measured using right heart catheterization after the last echocardiography.The changes of ultrasonic parameters were observed,the correlations of ultrasonic parameters 4 weeks after intervention with RVSP were observed,and linear equations for predicting RVSP were established.Results With time going,during modeling,pulmonary artery diameter(PAD),PAD/aorta diameter(AOD)and right ventricle anterior wall thickness(RVAWT)increased,while heart rate,pulmonary artery acceleration time(PAAT),PAAT/pulmonary artery ejection time(PAET)and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion(TAPSE)decreased in group A and B(all P＜0.05).Three and 4 weeks after interventions,PAET,PAAT/PAET and TAPSE in group B decreased compared with those in group A(all P＜0.05).Four weeks after interventions,RVSP in group A and B were highly correlated with PAD/AOD,RVAWT,PAAT,PAAT/PAET and TAPSE(all P＜0.05).The linear regression equations of PAAT/PAET and TAPSE for predicting RVSP in simple hypoxic PH mice models included RVSP=-161.7 ×(PAAT/PAET)+63.85,as well as RVSP=-36.53 ×TAPSE+71.55,while of predicting RVSP in hypoxia combined with VEGFR-2 inhibitor PH mouse models were as follows:RVSP=-266.4 ×(PAAT/PAET)+91.59,RVSP=-69.14 × TAPSE+116.5.Conclusion Four weeks after inerventions,the phenotypes of hypoxic PH mouse models induced by hypoxia alone and hypoxia combined with SU5416 became obvious.Prediction equations of RVSP established based on PAAT/PAET and TAPSE obtained with echocardiography could provide references for relevant research.

Objective:To explore the significance of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-2 (TREM-2) prognostic evaluation so as to provide novel biological markers in clinical practice for patients with hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure ( HBV-ACLF).Methods:The research subjects of this study were divided into an experimental group and a control group. Fifty HBV-ACLF cases admitted to the Department of Infectious Diseases of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019 were selected as the experimental group. Patients were divided into survival and death groups according to the actual prognosis at discharge (self-discharge and dead patients were considered death groups, and all enrolled patients were hospitalized for more than 28 days). Twenty-five healthy subjects were chosen as the control group. Peripheral venous blood was collected from the experimental group and the control group. Plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated. The concentrations of TREM-2, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-8 were detected in the plasma. TREM-2 mRNA expression was detected in PBMC. A single blood sample was collected from the control group, whereas five blood samples were dynamically collected from the experimental group on the day of admittance and at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after treatment commenced. Simultaneously, upon admission, the relevant clinical indicators of HBV-ACLF patients were monitored, including the liver function test: alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, albumin, coagulation function test: international normalized ratio, prothrombin time, and other indicators. Measurement data were expressed as mean±standard deviation (x±s). Count data were compared and analyzed using the χ 2 test. The intra-group factor mean was compared using a repeated measures ANOVA. The means were analyzed by t-tests between the two groups. Bivariate correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the two variables. The value of TREM-2 as a diagnostic marker was analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results:The mRNA expression of TREM-2 in the PBMC of HBV-ACLF patients showed a gradually increasing trend at various time points and was significantly higher in the survival group than that of the control group at 28 days ( P < 0.01), while the death group showed a gradually weakening trend at various time points and was significantly lower than the control group at 28 days ( P < 0.01). (1) The levels of TREM-2 in the plasma of HBV-ACLF patients generally showed a gradually increasing trend at various time points in the survival group. The levels on the day of admission and 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after the initiation of treatment were (1.49±0.85), (1.62±0.58), (1.95±0.69), (2.33±0.71), and (2.00±0.67) ng/ml, respectively. The expression of TREM-2 in the death group showed a gradually weakening trend at various time points. The levels on the day of admission and 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after initiation of treatment were (1.40±0.73), (1.59±0.79), (1.56±0.80), (1.05±0.49), and (0.81±0.21) ng/ml, respectively. The survival group's various detection time points were higher than those of the death group, and the difference was statistically significant. The plasma level of TREM-2 in the healthy control group was (1.25±0.35) ng/ml. (2) The concentrations of IL-6 and IL-8 in the plasma of HBV-ACLF patients showed a gradually decreasing trend at various time points in the survival group. The levels on the day of admission and 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after initiation of treatment were (46.70±26.31), (33.98±20.28), (19.07±10.24), (14.76±7.84), (9.12±7.65) and (108.29±47.07), (93.85±26.53), (79.27±34.63), (56.72 ±18.30), (37.81±13.88) pg/ml, respectively. However, its concentration in the death group fluctuated within a relatively high range. The levels on the day of admission and 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after the initiation of treatment were (41.94±24.19), (36.99±19.78), (34.30±20.62), (34.14±14.52), (36.64±23.61) and (104.65±50.16), (112.98±45.03), (118.43±45.00), (111.67±40.44), (109.55±27.54) pg/ml, respectively. (3) Bivariate correlation analysis results indicated that the plasma TREM-2 content was negatively correlated with the plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 ( r = -0.224, P = 0.025; r = - 0.223, P = 0.026). ROC curve analysis showed that the mRNA levels of TREM-2 in PBMCs at various time points for prognostic evaluation of HBV-ACLF patients were 1d=0.667, 7d=0.757, 14d=0.979, 21d=0.986, and 28d= 0.993. The areas under the ROC curve of the TREM-2 content in the plasma at various time points were 1d=0.522, 7d=0.571, 14d=0.658, 21d=0.927, and 28d=0.994. Conclusion:TREM-2 mRNA expression in PBMC and TREM-2 content in plasma have a significant relationship to the prognosis of HBV-ACLF patients and may inhibit the liver inflammatory response by regulating the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8. Dynamic monitoring of TREM-2 expression in peripheral blood is favorable for evaluating the prognostic condition of HBV-ACLF patients.

Objective:To explore the method of establishing a modified demyelination and myelination regeneration model induced by dicyclohexanone oxalyl dihydrazone (CPZ) in mice with multiple sclerosis (MS), and to analyze the image markers of demyelination and myelination regeneration in mouse MS model.Methods:After the intragastrically administered with sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMCNa) for one week, a total of 30 C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into the control group ( n=10), the demyelination group ( n=10), and the remyelination group ( n=10). The mice of the control group were immediately performed MR scanning and pathological specimen obtaining; the mice in the demyelination group were administered with intragastrical CPZ-CMCNa once a day for 6 weeks for inducing demyelination, then received MR scanning and specimen obtaining with the same protocols used in control group; the mice in the remyelination group were administered with intragastrical CPZ-CMCNa once a day for six weeks for demyelination, then CPZ was withdrawn and normal diet was given for another four weeks. Then MR scanning and specimen obtaining were performed with the same protocols used in the other two groups. Regions of interest (ROIs) were set at the rostrum of corpus callosum (rCC), the bilateral normal appearing white matters (NAWM) of the rostrum of corpus callosum, and the bilateral cerebral cortex (Cx). The normalized T 2WI (T 2-normalized), fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) values were compared among the three groups by one-way ANOVA. Results:The demyelination and remyelination mice model of MS were successfully established. The T 2-normalized values of rCC in control group, demyelination group and remyelination group were 0.47±0.03, 0.72±0.04, 0.54±0.04, respectively, with statistically significant difference found ( F=90.511, P<0.05). Post-hoc multiple comparisons showed significant differences among those groups ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference of T 2-normalized value in NAWM and Cx among the three groups ( P>0.05). Moreover, there were significant differences in the FA values (0.36±0.04, 0.29±0.03, and 0.32±0.05), the MD values [(0.572±0.015), (0.598±0.034), and (0.626±0.043)×10 -3 mm 2/s], the AD values [(0.79±0.04), (0.77±0.06), and (0.83±0.04)×10 -3 mm 2/s], and the RD values [(0.46±0.02), (0.51±0.03), and (0.53±0.05)×10 -3 mm 2/s] of rCC of the control group, the demyelination group, and the remyelination group (all P<0.05). Significant difference was found in FA values between the demyelination group and the control group ( P<0.05), and in MD values between the remyelination group and the control group ( P<0.05), as well as in AD values between the remyelination group and the demyelination group ( P<0.05). There were also significant differences in RD values between the remyelination group and the control group, and the demyelination group and the control group (all P<0.05). However, no significant difference was found in all diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics of NAWM and Cx among the three groups (all P>0.05). The LFB-eosin staining showed that the myelin sheath of rCC was lost in the demyelination group, and the rCC was partially regenerated and repaired in the remyelination group. Conclusion:The modified CPZ-CMCNa model can selectively induce demyelination and remyelination of rCC, and the changes of demyelination and remyelination of rCC in the modified CPZ-CMCNa model can be quantitatively detected by T 2WI combined with DTI, which might provide related theoretical basis for the study on dynamic changes of MS lesions.

Objective: To assess the risk factors associated with nosocomial infection in patients with non-surgical basal ganglia intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in the acute phase to provide evidence for prevention and intervention of nosocomial infections. Methods: Clinical data of 224 patients with non-surgical basal ganglia ICH from January 2014 to December 2018 in the Shenzhen People′s Hospital were analyzed. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the presence or absence of infection. Clinical data between the two groups were compared including gender, age, past medical history, bleeding volume, hematoma growth rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, GCS, NIHSS, WBC, RBC, FBI, PLT, CR, BUN, GLU, CRP, UA, CHOL, TG, LDL, HCY. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis and the area under the ROC curve were performed on meaningful variables (P<0.05) to determine the early independent predictors of risk factors for nosocomial infections. ResuIts: Nosocomial infection occurred in 47 of 224 patients, with an infection rate of 20.98%. Compared with infected group, non-infected group had a higher value of age [(63.91 ± 12.37) years vs. (58.66 ± 12.37) years, P=0.010], bleeding volume [(10.33 ± 7.94) ml vs. (7.61 ± 6.58) ml, P=0.034], hematoma growth rate [(7.34 ± 9.17) ml/h vs. (4.33 ± 6.77) ml/h, P=0.040], systolic blood pressure [(177.94 ± 25.28) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) vs. (164.85 ± 22.34) mmHg, P=0.001], NIHSS score [(7.89 ± 4.92) scores vs. (4.84 ± 4.59) scores, P<0.01], WBC [(9.50 ± 3.23) × 10⁹/L vs. (8.25 ± 2.28) × 10⁹/L, P=0.015], FBI [(3.44 ± 0.95) g/L vs. (3.03 ± 0.63) g/L, P=0.007], BUN [(7.01 ± 5.84) mmol/L vs. (4.95 ± 1.93) mmol/L, P=0.021], GLU [(7.27 ± 2.84) mmol/L vs. (5.96 ± 1.75), P=0.004] and CRP [(11.94 ± 21.4) mg/L vs. (4.39 ± 6.41) mg/L, P=0.021]. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that systolic blood pressure (OR=1.021, 95% CI 1.005 -1.037, P=0.012), NIHSS score (OR=1.143, 95% CI 1.056 - 1.237, P=0.001), BUN (OR=1.174, 95% CI 1.025 - 1.344, P=0.020), CRP (OR=1.063, 95% CI 1.016 - 1.112, P=0.008) and age (OR=1.053, 95%CI 1.019 -1.089, P=0.002) was an independent risk factor for nosocomial infection in non-surgical basal ganglia ICH patients in the acute phase. The Area Under Curve (AUC) of the above independent risk factors was calculated, and the results showed that systolic blood pressure (AUC=0.653, 95% CI 0.564 -0.741, P=0.001), NIHSS score (AUC=0.679, 95% CI 0.592 - 0.767, P=0.000), BUN (AUC=0.617, 95% CI 0.526 - 0.708, P=0.014), CRP (AUC=0.691, 95% CI 0.614 - 0.768, P=0.000) and age (AUC=0.643, 95% CI 0.557 - 0.728, P=0.003) had an early predictive value for the occurrence of nosocomial infection in non-operative basal ganglia ICH patients in the acute stage. Conclusions The occurrence of nosocomial infections has identifiable and early predictive risk factors in patients with non-surgical basal ganglia ICH during acute phase. Therefore, controllable risk factors need to be controlled to reduce the incidence of nosocomial infections.

Objective To investigate the correlation between the mean platelet volume (MPV) ,neutrophil-to -lymphocyte(NLR) and the severity as well as prognosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) patients . Methods A retrospective cohort study involved 172 patients with SSHL from January 2012 to May 2015 .The distri-bution characteristics of routine blood (white blood cells ,neutrophil ,lymphocyte ,MPV ,NLR) in different audio-metric curves (hearing loss at low frequencies ,flat type ,high frequencies ,and total deafness) and prognosis of re-covery (complete ,partial ,slight ,and no recovery )were analyzed by SPSS 19 .0 analysis chi square test ,and the prognosis was estimated by using the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) .Results MPV and NLR levels in the severe and profound hearing loss group were significantly higher than that in different audiometric curves (P<0 .01 and P<0 .01) .MPV and NLR level in the partial recovery group and the no recovery group were signifi-cantly higher than that in the complete recovery group (P<0 .01 and P<0 .01) .The value of the MPV and NLR showed negative correlation with the prognosis (hearing recovery ) ,and the lymphocyte was positive with the prog-nosis .The sensitivity and specificity of MPV and NLR count 24 hours after admission predicting the prognosis of hearing recovery were 66 .2％ and 85 .5％ ,58 .4％ and 86 .7％ ,respectively .Conclusion The changes of MPV and NLR in SSHL patients are related to the severity of hearing loss ,and NLR count at 24 hours after admission may play an important role in prognosis of this disease .

Objective To assess the changes of white matter microstructure in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) with DTI based on tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) method.Methods Conventional MR and DTI were performed in 20 NMOSD patients (NMOSD group) and 20 healthy volunteers (control group).DTI data were analyzed with TBSS procedure,which was a part of FSL software packages,and non-parametric statistical analysis was performed on the whole brain.Correlation between FA value of tracts with significant difference in NMOSD group and expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scores was analyzed.Results TBSS analysis revealed significantly (P＜ 0.05,FWE corrected) extensive decrease of FA value in cerebrum and cerebellum white matter fiber bundles,i.e.corpus callosum,fornix,corticospinal tract,unciform fasciculus,cerebellar peduncles etc.in NMOSD group,and decrease of AD value,increase of RD value in cingulum bundle,corpus callosum and fornix,while MD value only increased in fornix and retrolenticular part of the left internal capsule (P＜0.05,FWE corrected).Negative correlations were found between FA value of left uncinate fasciculus,right external capsule,left inferior cerebellar peduncle,bilateral anterior limb of internal capsule,medial lemniscus and EDSS scores (all P＜0.05).Conclusion Widespread white matter damage is observed in cerebrum and cerebellum in NMOSD patients by using TBSS analysis,which may partly correspond to the disabilities of NMOSD patients.However,the other microstructural changes of white matter tracts may suggest complicated pathological mechanism of NMOSD.