Objective To analyze the trends in the disease burden of tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer (TBL) in China and in low-, middle-, and high-socio-demographic index (SDI) countries and regions from 1990 to 2021, with the aim of providing evidence for the formulation of targeted prevention and control strategies. Methods Utilizing data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2021, we extracted TBL-related data from 1990 to 2021, stratified by sex, age group, and year. We assessed the disease burden and trends of TBL across different groups, conducted a decomposition analysis to identify the leading contributors to the change in disease burden, and examined the relationship between disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and SDI. Results In 2021, the overall burden of TBL in China was substantially higher than that in other groups. The fold-increase in the number of prevalent cases, deaths, and DALYs was significantly greater in China. Moreover, the growth rates of the age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR), age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), and age-standardized DALYs rate (ASDR) in China were higher than the overall levels in other SDI countries. In all groups, the ASPR of TBL generally followed a pattern of increasing and then decreasing with age; however, for males in China and middle-SDI countries, the ASPR exhibited a decline in the 80-84 age group. Decomposition analysis revealed that the primary drivers of the increasing TBL burden varied among groups: the rise in DALYs in China and middle-SDI countries was mainly driven by population aging, in low-SDI countries by population growth, and in high-SDI countries by epidemiological transition. While global health inequality in TBL showed some improvement, low-SDI countries continued to bear a disproportionately heavy health burden. Conclusion The disease burden of TBL in China has progressively increased from 1990 to 2021, now ranking among the highest globally. Multiple factors, predominantly driven by population aging, are exacerbating this burden. The burden of TBL is influenced by advancing age, sex differences, and SDI levels. China, along with low- and middle-SDI countries, should implement targeted intervention strategies based on epidemiological findings, including expanding investment in public health services and strengthening healthcare systems, to mitigate the growing burden of TBL.

BACKGROUND:At present,research has only shown that the cervical lordosis ratio can be an important factor in predicting the loss of lordosis curvature after laminoplasty,and no one has studied whether the cervical lordosis ratio,a dynamic level indicator,can be one of the decision-making factors for the selection of posterior cervical surgical procedures. OBJECTIVE:To investigate whether the cervical lordosis ratio,an index of cervical hyperextension and hyperflexion,can be used as a selective index for laminoplasty and laminectomy fusion. METHODS:A retrospective review of 141 patients who had undergone posterior cervical surgery more than one year of follow-up due to multi-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy from December 2015 to March 2020 was performed.Among them,63 patients received laminectomy and fusion(laminectomy and fusion group)and 78 patients received laminoplasty(laminoplasty group).The demographic statistics(gender,age,body mass index,follow-up time),imaging indexes such as C2-7 Cobb angle,C2-7 range of motion,flexion Cobb angle,extension Cobb angle,flexion range of motion and extension range of motion,clinical effect indexes such as Japanese Orthopaedic Association score and visual analog scale score were compared between the two groups.The evaluation index of cervical lordosis alignment change was C2-7 Cobb angle difference before and after operation(ΔCL).Cervical lordosis ratio was equal to 100%×flexion range of motion/C2-7 range of motion.Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine the role of cervical lordosis ratio in predicting postoperative severe cervical lordosis loss(ΔCL≤-10°).According to the critical value of cervical lordosis ratio(68.5%),all patients were divided into low cervical lordosis ratio group and high cervical lordosis ratio group.In these two ratio groups,the cervical lordosis alignment index and clinical effect index between the two operation groups were discussed again. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Cervical lordosis alignment decreased after laminectomy and fusion and laminoplasty(P=0.039,P=0.002),and cervical lordosis alignment change in laminoplasty group(ΔCL)was greater than that of laminectomy and fusion group,and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant.(2)Based on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis,cervical lordosis ratio in predicting severe cervical lordosis alignment change(ΔCL≤-10°)had good identification ability(area under the curve=0.792).(3)In low cervical lordosis ratio group,there was no significant difference in cervical lordosis alignment change(ΔCL)between laminectomy and fusion group and laminoplasty group(P=0.141).(4)In high cervical lordosis ratio group,the ΔCL of laminoplasty group was greater than that in laminectomy and fusion group(P=0.001),which had a higher probability of postoperative severe cervical lordosis alignment change(ΔCL≤-10°)(43%,29%).(5)It is indicated that cervical lordosis ratio can be used as a decision-making index for the choice of posterior surgery for multi-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy.Laminoplasty can be considered in the low cervical lordosis ratio group,while laminectomy and fusion can be considered in the high cervical lordosis ratio group.

Objective To compare the benefits and drawbacks of primary patch expansion versus pericardial tube right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection in patients diagnosed with pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PA/VSD). Methods A retrospective study was conducted on patients diagnosed with PA/VSD who underwent primary right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection surgery at our center between 2010 and 2020. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the type of right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection: a pericardial tube group and a patch expansion group. Clinical data and imaging findings were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 51 patients were included in the study, comprising 31 males and 20 females, with a median age of 12.57 (4.57, 49.67) months. The pericardial tube group included 19 patients with a median age of 17.17 (7.33, 49.67) months, while the patch expansion group consisted of 32 patients with a median age of 8.58 (3.57, 52.72) months. In both groups, the diameter of pulmonary artery, McGoon index, and Nakata index significantly increased after treatment (P<0.001). However, the pericardial tube group exhibited a longer extracorporeal circulation time (P<0.001). The reoperation rate was notably high, with 74.51% of patients requiring further surgical intervention, including 26 (81.25%) patients in the patch expansion group and 12 (63.16%) patients in the pericardial tube group. No statistical differences were observed in long-term cure rates or mortality between the two groups (P＞0.005). Conclusion In patients with PA/VSD, both patch expansion and pericardial tube right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection serve as effective initial palliative treatment strategies that promote pulmonary vessel development and provide a favorable foundation for subsequent radical operations. However, compared to the pericardial tube approach, the patch expansion technique is simpler to perform and preserves some intrinsic potential for pulmonary artery development, making it the preferred procedure.

Objective To investigate the expression patterns of Gli1,Gli2 and Gli3 genes and proteins in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)tissue and their correlation with prognosis.Methods Gli gene expression in 315 HCC samples were analyzed using the cBioportal database,and Gli protein expression was examined in 40 HCC and other liver tissue samples through immunohistochemistry.Results Gli gene alterations were found in 57 cases(18.1%)of HCC samples,with alteration frequencies of 19 cases(6.0%),13 cases(4.1%)and 25 cases(7.9%)for Gli1,Gli2 and Gli3,respectively.Gli1 showed significant co-occurrence with both Gli2 and Gli3(P＜0.05),while Gli2 and Gli3 exhibited a tendency toward mutual exclusivity.Increased Gli1 gene expression significantly correlated with decreased disease-free survival(P＜0.01).Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that Gli1 protein expression was significantly higher in HCC tissue than that in normal liver tissue,adjacent tissue,hepatitis and cirrhotic tissue(P＜0.05).In HCC tissue,strong positive correlation was observed between the three Gli proteins(Gli1 vs.Gli2:rs=0.796;Gli1 vs.Gli3:rs=0.759;Gli2 vs.Gli3:rs=0.891,all P＜0.01).High expression levels of all three Gli proteins were detected in 53.3%(8/15)of HCC samples,compared to only 11.8%(2/17)in non-cancerous liver tissue.Conclusion Gli1,Gli2 and Gli3 proteins commonly exhibit synergistic high expression and significant positive correlation in HCC tissue,with Gli1 showing a special expression pattern of independent high expression.

The esophagogastric junction serves as a natural anti-reflux barrier and possesses a complex anatomical configuration composed of several key components, including the lower esophageal sphincter, diaphragmatic crura, His angle, and phrenoesophageal ligament. Alterations in these anatomical structures or dysfunction thereof may predispose individuals to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In response to such structural and functional impairments, various therapeutic strategies have been developed. Surgical intervention is currently regarded as an effective approach for fundamentally addressing GERD, with commonly employed techniques including laparoscopic fundoplication, magnetic sphincter augmentation, and endoscopic radiofrequency ablation. The author classifies the anti-reflux mechanisms at the esophagogastric junction into intramural and extramural components, and based on this classification, systematically reviews and evaluates the indications and clinical applications of major surgical interventions for GERD, aiming to provide clinicians with evidence-based guidance for selecting appropriate therapeutic modalities.

Objective:To investigate the characteristics of the endometrial microbiota in patients with varying degrees of intrauterine adhesion (IUA).Methods:This single-center cross-sectional observational study enrolled 115 patients with IUA who were treated at the Hysteroscopic Center of Fuxing Hospital, Capital Medical University, from May 2022 to October 2023. After quality control and data preprocessing, 81 samples met the inclusion criteria for analysis. Patients were grouped according to an established IUA scoring and grading system into mild IUA ( n=38) and moderate-to-severe IUA ( n=43). Endometrial tissue was collected under sterile conditions. Bacterial genomic DNA was extracted, the 16S rRNA V3-V4 region was amplified, and sequencing was performed on an Illumina platform. Differences in endometrial microbiota diversity and composition were compared between the two groups. Results:Patients with varying degrees of IUA exhibited comparable species richness, evenness and diversity of endometrial microbiota. At the phylum level, the endometrial microbiota across all subjects was predominantly composed of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Cyanobacteriota, Bacteroidota, and Actinobacteriota, with Proteobacteria (32.29%) and Firmicutes (23.82%) showing the highest mean relative abundances. At the genus level, Ralstonia (16.67%), Lactobacillus (13.45%), and Streptococcus (7.07%) were the most abundant genera. Group comparisons showed that the abundance of Ralstonia was higher in the mild IUA group, whereas Lactobacillus, Vibrio and Pseudoalteromonas were more abundant in the moderate-to-severe IUA group; however, these differences did not reach statistical significance (all P>0.05). LEfSe analysis further indicated that Lactobacillus, Vibrio, Pseudoalteromonas, Aeromonas, Ureaplasma and Acetobacterium were relatively enriched in the moderate-to-severe IUA group, while Geobacillus, Stomatobaculum and Fusicatenibacter were more abundant in the mild IUA group. Conclusion:The composition of the endometrial microbiota differs among patients with varying IUA severity. IUA progression may be associated with alterations in the endometrial microbiota; however, causal relationships and underlying mechanisms require further investigation.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the age-group differences and seasonal distribution patterns of epidemiologi-cal characteristics of hospital-associated infection in elderly inpatients in a three-A hospital.METHODS Based on the Xinglin Real-time Monitoring System,a retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of 67 157 patients hospitalized in the Air Force Hospital of Eastern Theater Command from Jan.2020 to Dec.2024.Elderly patients were divided into three age groups:young-age group(60-69 years),middle-age group(70-79 years)and ol-dest-age(≥80 years).The epidemiological characteristics and seasonal distribution patterns of the three groups were analyzed.RESULTS From 2020 to 2024,there were 1 524 cases of hospital-associated infection,with an inci-dence rate of 2.27％.The infection rate was higher in the oldest-age group(6.08％)than those in the young-age group(1.77％)and the middle-age group(2.52％)(P＜0.001).The top three departments with the highest in-cidence rates of hospital-associated infection were the geriatric department(10.97％),intensive care unit(9.65％)and respiratory department(4.96％).The lower respiratory tract was the main site of infection,and the infection rate was higher in winter than in other seasons.The pathogens were predominantly gram-negative bacteria(60.35％),with Pseudomonas aeruginosa being the most frequently detected.CONCLUSIONS Advanced age,male gender and hospitalization in winter are key risk factors for hospital-associated infection.Seasonal pre-vention and control strategies should be implemented in departments with high incidence of respiratory infections,and monitoring of multidrug-resistant bacteria should be enhanced.

Objective:To observe the high-frequency ultrasound characteristics of the median nerve（MN）in patients with acromegaly，and to investigate the clinical value of multiparameter quantitative ultrasound for noninvasive assessment of carpal tunnel syndrome（CTS）in acromegalic patients.Methods:A total of 132 acromegalic patients due to pituitary growth hormone tumors in Huashan Hospital during July 2023 to September 2024 including initial patients and postoperative revisions were prospectivly collected. The patients were divided into no neurological symptoms group（ n=51）and clinical CTS group（ n=81）based on the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire. All patients underwent bilateral MN ultrasonography，the ultrasound parameters included the cross-sectional area（CSA）of MN at the entrance of carpal tunnel，the maximum CSA of MN in carpal tunnel，the maximum and minimum thickness of MN in carpal tunnel，CSA of MN at forearm 1/3，soft tissue thickness at the wrist，CSA of MN at elbow transverse stripe，blood flow signals within the MN at the carpal tunnel，ratio of the CSA（CSA of MN at the entrance of carpal tunnel/ CSA of MN at forearm 1/3），ratio of thickness（maximum / minimum thickness of MN in carpal tunnel）. Differences in general information，clinical indicators and ultrasound parameters were analyzed between the two groups. The diagnostic model was established with ultrasound parameters and clinical indicators using univariate and multivariate logistic analyses in a training cohort of 106 patients，to predict CTS within acromegaly. And ROC curve was used to evaluate the efficacy of the model in a test cohort of 26 patients with neurophysiological examination data. Results:Patients in clinical CTS group were older，with longer disease duration，higher levels of growth hormone 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 and insulin-like growth factor-1 and were more likely to have impaired glucose tolerance relative to the no neurologic symptoms group（all P < 0.05）. Comparison between the two groups revealed significant differences in all ultrasound parameters：the CSA at the entrance of the MN carpal tunnel，the 1/3 of the forearm and the elbow were larger than the no neurological symptoms group（all P < 0.001），and the MN thickness ratio was greater observably in the clinical CTS group（ P < 0.001）. Greater thickness of the soft tissue at wrist and more blood flow signals in MN in carpal tunnel were revealed in clinical CTS group patients（ P < 0.001）.Combining the results of multifactorial logistic analysis，the multiparametric ultrasound combined with clinical index diagnosing model based on the predicted disease duration，CSA of MN at the entrance of carpal tunnel，MN thickness ratio and soft tissue thickness at the carpal tunnel was established to diagnose CTS combined with acromegaly. The ROC curve was plotted in the test cohort and the area under the curve for this model was 0.894. Conclusions:High-frequency ultrasound is sensitive to observe MN changes in acromegalic patients and the combination of multiparametric ultrasound and clinical index is useful for the non-invasive diagnosis of acromegalic patients with CTS.

Objective:To explore the effects of childhood trauma on resting blood pressure, heart rate, and heart rate variability in patients with depression.Methods:A cross-sectional study was designed to prospectively collect clinical data on a total of 163 patients with depression, including 47 males and 116 females, aged 18-50 years,with mean[ M( Q1, Q3)] [29.0, (21.0, 37.0)]years, who were either the outpatients or the inpatients in the Mental Health Center of the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University from September 2022 to June 2024. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short form (CTQ-SF) was used to assess the experience of abuse and neglect during childhood. According to the CTQ-SF score, the subjects were divided into a trauma group ( n=80) and a non-trauma group ( n=83). The 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD 17) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) were used to assess depressive and anxiety symptoms in the participants, respectively. A digital blood pressure monitor and an autonomic nervous system response detector were employed to measure resting blood pressure, heart rate, and heart rate variability (HRV). Spearman correlation analysis was used to examine the relationships between childhood trauma and resting blood pressure, heart rate, and HRV. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to analyze factors influencing these parameters. The Bootstrap method was employed to test the potential mediating role of parasympathetic nervous system activity in the relationships between childhood trauma and resting blood pressure, and heart rate. Results:No significant difference was observed in resting heart rate between the trauma and non-trauma groups ( P>0.05). However, the trauma group exhibited higher resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure [(123.3±9.1) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) vs(116.9±10.8) mmHg, (80.0±8.6) mmHg vs (77.0±8.0) mmHg; Z=4.08, 2.24, all P<0.05]. HRV indices, including the standard deviation of normal to normal interval (SDNN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), total power (TP), low frequency (LF), and high frequency (HF), were significantly lower in the trauma group [25.3 (19.4, 30.4) me vs 36.3 (27.4, 49.0) ms, 18.3 (12.9, 27.2) me vs 26.2 (19.0, 38.5) ms, 6.0(5.4, 6.5)ms 2vs 7.0(6.3, 7.4)ms 2,4.4(3.7,5.3)ms 2vs 5.8(4.9,6.3)ms 2, 4.2(3.4, 5.2)ms 2vs 5.2(4.6, 6.1)ms 2, respectively; all P<0.001]. Spearman correlation analysis showed that childhood trauma experiences in patients with depression were positively correlated with resting systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure ( r=0.309, 0.236; P<0.01), childhood trauma was negatively correlated with HRV (SDNN, RMSSD, TP, LF, HF) ( r=-0.264, -0.274, -0.271, -0.235, -0.279; all P<0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that childhood trauma was positively correlated with resting-state systolic blood pressure and resting-state diastolic blood pressure ( β=0.305, 0.291; all P<0.001). Childhood trauma was negatively correlated with RMSSD, TP, LF, and HF( β=-0.244, -0.249, -0.233, -0.263; all P<0.01). Mediation effect analysis showed that parasympathetic activity partially mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and resting systolic blood pressure (effect size 0.04, standard error 0.02, 95% CI=0.01-0.09), accounting for 14.29% (0.04/0.28) of the total effect. Conclusion:Childhood trauma experiences are associated with elevated resting blood pressure and reduced HRV in patients with depression. Decreased parasympathetic activity partially mediates the relationship between childhood trauma and elevated resting systolic blood pressure in these patients.

Objective:To determine the diagnosis of microtia-associated syndrome through genetic testing.Methods:Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from members of a two-generation family with a syndrome associated with ear malformations (3 patients and 1 normal control). Pathogenic mutations were identified using whole exome sequencing analysis, Sanger sequencing validation, and bioinformatics analysis. Based on the genetic diagnosis and a review of the literatures, the patients′ clinical phenotypes were thoroughly evaluated to confirm the clinical diagnosis.Results:All three patients carried a novel heterozygous insertion mutation (c.1171_1172insGGCC: p.Pro391fs) in the paired box 1 ( PAX1) gene. This mutation showed genotype-phenotype co-segregation within the family and was predicted to be pathogenic. Consequently, the family was diagnosed with autosomal dominant otofaciocervical syndrome 2. The clinical phenotypes of the patients included not only ear malformations and conductive hearing loss but also branchial cleft fistula, preauricular fistula, bilateral facial asymmetry, spinal deformities, and short stature, which were major symptoms of otofaciocervical syndrome 2. Imaging also revealed previously unreported phenotypes, including parotid gland malformation and facial nerve dysplasia. Conclusion:The heterozygous insertion in PAX1 (c.1171_1172insGGCC: p.Pro391fs) found in this family causes otomandibular-cervical syndrome type 2 in an autosomal dominant manner, leading to congenital anomalies affecting external and middle ear, craniofacial region, and spine.