Objective:To investigate the use of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants(NOACs)and their associated comorbidities in patients aged 80 years and older with non-valvular atrial fibrillation(NVAF), as well as to understand the challenges faced by elderly patients receiving NOAC therapy.Methods:We retrospectively enrolled elderly patients(≥80 years old)with NVAF who were treated with NOACs at a hospital in Beijing from January 2018 to August 2023.Patients were categorized into two age groups: 80-89 years and ≥90 years.We collected baseline data, including demographic characteristics, details of atrial fibrillation, comorbidities, laboratory test results, and medication combinations, for descriptive statistical analysis and intergroup comparisons.Results:A total of 695 elderly patients with NVAF receiving NOACs were included in the study, with a median age of 84 years.Among these patients, there were 328 males(47.19%, 328/695)and 422 cases of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation(60.72%, 422/695).The age group of 80-89 years comprised 640 cases(92.09%, 640/695), while the group aged 90 years and above included 55 cases(7.91%, 55/695).The use of NOACs in patients aged 90 and older exhibited an increasing trend over the years.Inter-group comparisons indicated that the ≥90 years group had lower body mass index, longer hospital stays, increased bedridden time, poorer renal function, lower levels of albumin and hemoglobin, and higher D-dimer levels.Inappropriate dosing of DOACs occurred in 49.64%(345/695)of cases, with 90.72%(313/345)receiving doses lower than recommended.Lower-than-recommended doses were more prevalent in the ≥90 years group, while higher-than-recommended doses were more common in the 80-89 years group.Polypharmacy was noted in 61.29%(426/695)of patients.The concurrent use of antiplatelet drugs, rhythm control medications, and ventricular rate control drugs was observed in 12.52%(87/695), 19.57%(136/695), and 54.53%(379/695)of patients, respectively, with no significant differences between groups.Conclusions:Inappropriate dosing and polypharmacy are prevalent issues among elderly NVAF patients.Therefore, it is essential to enhance multidisciplinary collaboration to optimize anticoagulation treatment strategies.

Objective This study aims to achieve high-yield functional expression of the human voltage-gated potassium channel K_V3.1 using an Escherichia coli cell-free protein synthesis system, thereby providing a novel synthetic approach for drug screening, structural analysis and functional characterization of K_V3.1. Methods K_V3.1 was expressed in an Escherichia coli cell-free protein synthesis system for 10 hours in the presence of peptide surfactant A₆K. The secondary structure of K_V3.1 was analyzed by circular dichroism spectroscopy. The potassium channel activity of the recombinant protein liposome K_V3.1-A₆K was investigated using fluorescent dyes Oxonol VI as indicators, which are capable of reflecting alterations in membrane potential. Results Soluble K_V3.1 protein was successfully synthesized, achieving a purified yield of up to 1.2 mg/mL via an Escherichia coli cell-free protein synthesis system. Circular dichroism spectroscopy revealed that K_V3.1 exhibited characteristic α-helical secondary structures. Membrane potential fluorescence assays demonstrated that the K_V3.1-A₆K proteoliposomes, which were reconstructed with surfactant peptide A₆K, exhibited remarkable potassium ion permeability. Conclusion This study successfully achieved high-yield expression of human K_V3.1 with activity using an Escherichia coli-based cell-free protein synthesis system. This innovative method not only significantly enhances the expression yield of K_V3.1, but also maintains its functional activity, thereby establishing a novel and efficient synthetic platform for drug screening and advancing our understanding of structure-function relationships in K_V3.1 research.
Humans ; Escherichia coli/metabolism* ; Shaw Potassium Channels/biosynthesis* ; Cell-Free System ; Circular Dichroism ; Protein Biosynthesis ; Recombinant Proteins/metabolism* ; Membrane Potentials ; Shab Potassium Channels

Objective:This study aims to initially establish a scoring system for comprehensively reflecting the severity of intracranial atherosclerotic lesions and to explore the correlation between this score and atherosclerotic risk factors as well as stroke events.Methods:This study retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent head and neck computer tomography angiography(CTA)examinations and had head MRI examinations within one month before or after the CTA examination from January 2021 to August 2024 in Beijing Hospital.An intracranial atherosclerosis disease score(ICADS)system was constructed based on the degree and number of vascular stenosis.The relationship between ICADS and atherosclerotic risk factors was explored by grouping patients according to the quartile of ICADS.Patients were divided into acute stroke group and non-acute stroke group to compare differences in ICADS and cerebrovascular disease risk factors between the two groups, and to investigate the correlation between stroke events and ICADS.Results:There were statistically significant differences in the proportions of patients with hypertension and diabetes among different ICADS groups.Multiple linear regression analysis showed that hypertension( B=1.17, 95% CI: 0.20-2.14, P<0.05)and diabetes( B=2.75, 95% CI: 1.85-3.64, P<0.001)were risk factors for higher ICADS.The ICADS was higher in the acute stroke group than in the non-acute stroke group(9 vs.6, P<0.001), and a higher ICADS was identified as a risk factor for stroke( OR=1.10, 95% CI: 1.07-1.14, P<0.001). Conclusions:ICADS can comprehensively reflect the severity of intracranial atherosclerotic lesions and is correlated with stroke events, making it useful for clinical screening of high-risk patients for stroke.

Objective:To investigate the demand of rural elderly in Shenyang for integrated medical and elderly care service model,providing references for the improvement and development of rural integrated medical and elderly care services in Shenyang.Methods:Elderly individuals from selected rural areas in Shenyang were randomly sampled as study subjects.A questionnaire survey was conducted to analyze their basic demographics,satisfaction with current elderly care services,and demand levels for integrated medical and elderly care programs.Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify factors influencing the demand for integrated medical and elderly care services among rural elderly.Results:The satisfaction scores of the rural elderly for medical care,cultural and recreational activities,spiritual comfort,and daily living assistance were 3.86±1.37,3.67±1.36,3.49±1.45,and 3.15±1.58,respectively.Multiple linear regression analysis showed that gender,monthly family income,occupation,insurance situation,living situation,and self-care ability were factors influencing the demand for integrated medical and elderly care services(P＜0.05).Conclusion:The demand for integrated medical and elderly care service model among rural elderly is affected by multiple factors.

Objective To evaluate the accuracy of 6 commercial antibiotic susceptibility testing methods in detecting the sensitivity of carbapenems-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP)to tigecycline,and to provide an evidence for clinical laboratory to select the appropriate tigecyline susceptibility tests.Methods Non-duplicate CRKP clinically isolated from Aerospace Center Hospital from June 2023 to February 2024 were collected.60 cases of tigecycline intermediated CRKP[minimal inhibitery concentration(MIC)=4μg/ml]and 60 cases of drug-resistant CRKP(MIC≥8μg/ml)were screened by Vitek-2.The sensitivity of CRKP to tigecycline was detected by different methods.With the MIC test strip(MTS)as the reference method,the methodological evaluation of Vitek-2,commercial broth dilution method,E-test,Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion(KB)and disk combined with resensitization bufferwas carried out under the interpretation standards of the U S Food and Drug Administration(FDA)and the European Commission for Drug Susceptibility Testing(EUCAST),respectively.Results For the intermediate strains,under the FDA criteria,both the commercial broth dilution method and the disk combinedwith resensitization buffer method showed high consistency with the MTS method and were acceptable,whereas under the EUCAST criteria,all five methods were unacceptable.For the resistant strains,no matter what standard was,CA of all five methods were less than 90%,which were unacceptable.For all strains as a whole,the results were consistent with those of the resistant ones.Conclusion Under the current sample size,none of the five methods met the acceptable standards,especially not suitable for the recheck of strains with higher MICs.Commercial broth dilution method have the highest consistency with MTS,and it is worth expanding the sample size for further study.

Objective To evaluate the accuracy of 6 commercial antibiotic susceptibility testing methods in detecting the sensitivity of carbapenems-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP)to tigecycline,and to provide an evidence for clinical laboratory to select the appropriate tigecyline susceptibility tests.Methods Non-duplicate CRKP clinically isolated from Aerospace Center Hospital from June 2023 to February 2024 were collected.60 cases of tigecycline intermediated CRKP[minimal inhibitery concentration(MIC)=4μg/ml]and 60 cases of drug-resistant CRKP(MIC≥8μg/ml)were screened by Vitek-2.The sensitivity of CRKP to tigecycline was detected by different methods.With the MIC test strip(MTS)as the reference method,the methodological evaluation of Vitek-2,commercial broth dilution method,E-test,Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion(KB)and disk combined with resensitization bufferwas carried out under the interpretation standards of the U S Food and Drug Administration(FDA)and the European Commission for Drug Susceptibility Testing(EUCAST),respectively.Results For the intermediate strains,under the FDA criteria,both the commercial broth dilution method and the disk combinedwith resensitization buffer method showed high consistency with the MTS method and were acceptable,whereas under the EUCAST criteria,all five methods were unacceptable.For the resistant strains,no matter what standard was,CA of all five methods were less than 90%,which were unacceptable.For all strains as a whole,the results were consistent with those of the resistant ones.Conclusion Under the current sample size,none of the five methods met the acceptable standards,especially not suitable for the recheck of strains with higher MICs.Commercial broth dilution method have the highest consistency with MTS,and it is worth expanding the sample size for further study.

Objective:To investigate the demand of rural elderly in Shenyang for integrated medical and elderly care service model,providing references for the improvement and development of rural integrated medical and elderly care services in Shenyang.Methods:Elderly individuals from selected rural areas in Shenyang were randomly sampled as study subjects.A questionnaire survey was conducted to analyze their basic demographics,satisfaction with current elderly care services,and demand levels for integrated medical and elderly care programs.Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify factors influencing the demand for integrated medical and elderly care services among rural elderly.Results:The satisfaction scores of the rural elderly for medical care,cultural and recreational activities,spiritual comfort,and daily living assistance were 3.86±1.37,3.67±1.36,3.49±1.45,and 3.15±1.58,respectively.Multiple linear regression analysis showed that gender,monthly family income,occupation,insurance situation,living situation,and self-care ability were factors influencing the demand for integrated medical and elderly care services(P＜0.05).Conclusion:The demand for integrated medical and elderly care service model among rural elderly is affected by multiple factors.

Objective:This study aims to initially establish a scoring system for comprehensively reflecting the severity of intracranial atherosclerotic lesions and to explore the correlation between this score and atherosclerotic risk factors as well as stroke events.Methods:This study retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent head and neck computer tomography angiography(CTA)examinations and had head MRI examinations within one month before or after the CTA examination from January 2021 to August 2024 in Beijing Hospital.An intracranial atherosclerosis disease score(ICADS)system was constructed based on the degree and number of vascular stenosis.The relationship between ICADS and atherosclerotic risk factors was explored by grouping patients according to the quartile of ICADS.Patients were divided into acute stroke group and non-acute stroke group to compare differences in ICADS and cerebrovascular disease risk factors between the two groups, and to investigate the correlation between stroke events and ICADS.Results:There were statistically significant differences in the proportions of patients with hypertension and diabetes among different ICADS groups.Multiple linear regression analysis showed that hypertension( B=1.17, 95% CI: 0.20-2.14, P<0.05)and diabetes( B=2.75, 95% CI: 1.85-3.64, P<0.001)were risk factors for higher ICADS.The ICADS was higher in the acute stroke group than in the non-acute stroke group(9 vs.6, P<0.001), and a higher ICADS was identified as a risk factor for stroke( OR=1.10, 95% CI: 1.07-1.14, P<0.001). Conclusions:ICADS can comprehensively reflect the severity of intracranial atherosclerotic lesions and is correlated with stroke events, making it useful for clinical screening of high-risk patients for stroke.

Objective:To investigate the use of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants(NOACs)and their associated comorbidities in patients aged 80 years and older with non-valvular atrial fibrillation(NVAF), as well as to understand the challenges faced by elderly patients receiving NOAC therapy.Methods:We retrospectively enrolled elderly patients(≥80 years old)with NVAF who were treated with NOACs at a hospital in Beijing from January 2018 to August 2023.Patients were categorized into two age groups: 80-89 years and ≥90 years.We collected baseline data, including demographic characteristics, details of atrial fibrillation, comorbidities, laboratory test results, and medication combinations, for descriptive statistical analysis and intergroup comparisons.Results:A total of 695 elderly patients with NVAF receiving NOACs were included in the study, with a median age of 84 years.Among these patients, there were 328 males(47.19%, 328/695)and 422 cases of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation(60.72%, 422/695).The age group of 80-89 years comprised 640 cases(92.09%, 640/695), while the group aged 90 years and above included 55 cases(7.91%, 55/695).The use of NOACs in patients aged 90 and older exhibited an increasing trend over the years.Inter-group comparisons indicated that the ≥90 years group had lower body mass index, longer hospital stays, increased bedridden time, poorer renal function, lower levels of albumin and hemoglobin, and higher D-dimer levels.Inappropriate dosing of DOACs occurred in 49.64%(345/695)of cases, with 90.72%(313/345)receiving doses lower than recommended.Lower-than-recommended doses were more prevalent in the ≥90 years group, while higher-than-recommended doses were more common in the 80-89 years group.Polypharmacy was noted in 61.29%(426/695)of patients.The concurrent use of antiplatelet drugs, rhythm control medications, and ventricular rate control drugs was observed in 12.52%(87/695), 19.57%(136/695), and 54.53%(379/695)of patients, respectively, with no significant differences between groups.Conclusions:Inappropriate dosing and polypharmacy are prevalent issues among elderly NVAF patients.Therefore, it is essential to enhance multidisciplinary collaboration to optimize anticoagulation treatment strategies.

AIM:To explore the effects of CD38 on lysosome reformation and cholesterol efflux in macro-phages.METHODS:Bone marrow-derived macrophages from low-density lipoprotein(LDL)receptor knockout(LDLr-/-)mice were cultured as cell model.Live cell imaging system was applied to evaluate the effect of nicotinic acid adenine di-nucleotide phosphate(NAADP)on lysosome number.ELISA was conducted to measure NAADP level in macrophages.After the cells were treated with nicotinic acid(NA),RT-qPCR was conducted to detect CD38 mRNA expression,and Western blot was conducted to observe CD38 protein expression and phosphorylated transcription factor EB(TFEB)level.Laser scanning confocal microscopy was applied to evaluate the influence of CD38/NAADP signaling on lysosome number and cholesterol egression.RESULTS:NAADP remarkably increased lysosome number(P<0.05),and this effect was significantly inhibited by NAADP antagonist NED-19,Ca2+ chelator BAPTA,and calcineurin inhibitor CsA(P<0.05).CD38 markedly enhanced NAADP synthesis in macrophages(P<0.05).NAADP synthetic substrate NA prominently ele-vated the expression of CD38 mRNA and protein(P<0.05).NA significantly decreased the phosphorylated TFEB level;this effect was also attenuated by NED-19,BAPTA and CsA(P<0.05).Disrupting CD38/NAADP signaling pathway markedly inhibited NA-induced enhancement of lysosome number,lysosomal free cholesterol and cytosol cholesterol ester efflux in macrophages(P<0.05).NA-induced enhancement of lysosome number,lysosomal free cholesterol and cytosol cholesterol ester efflux abolished in LDLr/CD38 DKO macrophages(P<0.05),whereas these effects induced by NA were recovered after CD38 gene rescue.CONCLUSION:CD38 triggers lysosome reformation via TFEB and consequently pro-motes the efflux of lysosomal free cholesterol and cytosol cholesterol ester.