1.Clinical Characteristics, Risk Factors, Diagnostic Methods and Therapeutic Response of Cutaneous Sporotrichosis Infection In An Endemic Region
Shen Wei Lee ; Dy-win Low ; Ken Chen Loh ; Adawiyah Jamil
Malaysian Journal of Health Sciences 2026;24(No. 1):44-51
Cutaneous sporotrichosis is a fungal infection caused by traumatic inoculation of Sporothrix. We aimed to study
the clinical characteristics of human sporotrichosis, risk factors for infection, the yield of diagnostic methods and
therapeutic response to standard clinical therapy. A cohort study of was performed. A total of 29 patients with
clinical features suggestive of sporotrichosis were recruited within a one-year period from all public hospitals in
Kedah, Malaysia. Majority were females (86%) who were housewives (69%). The most common comorbidities
were diabetes mellitus (38%), hypertension (31%) and dyslipidaemia (21%), none was a significant risk factor for
severity of infection. Mean duration of disease was 2±2 months. More than 2/3 of the patients (79%) had pet cats,
14(48%) recalled minor cat-inflicted trauma. Lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis (62%) was more common than
fixed cutaneous type, affecting the upper limbs in 94%. Ulcerations and nodules were the main lesion morphology.
Histopathology showed granulomatous inflammation in 72%, culture grew Sprorothrix in 55% and polymerase
chain reaction (PCR) detected Sporothrix schenkii sensu stricto in 65%. Itraconazole was effective with 93% of
patients achieving complete resolution with 4 months of therapy. Sporotrichosis in Malaysia remains endemic.
Feline contact is the most important risk factor for infection. Diagnosis is best confirmed with tissue PCR while
culture and histopathology are also useful. Sporothrix schenkii sensu stricto was the only species identified and
itraconazole is an effective first line therapeutic agent.
2.Evaluation of public health governance capacity in Zhejiang Province
Haiyan LI ; Ting CHEN ; Chengyue LI ; Huihui HUANGFU ; Wei WANG ; Qunhong SHEN ; Chaoyang ZHANG ; Zheng CHEN ; Chuan PU ; Lingzhong XU ; Anning MA ; Zhaohui GONG ; Tianqiang XU ; Panshi WANG ; Hua WANG ; Chao HAO ; Zhi HU ; Peiwu SHI ; Mo HAO
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2026;38(2):153-158
ObjectiveTo systematically assess the public health governance capacity in Zhejiang Province, to conduct an in-depth analysis of its strengths and weaknesses, so as to provide scientific basis and strategic recommendations for further enhancement. MethodsA systematic collection of policy documents, public information reports, and research literature related to public health governance capacity in Zhejiang Province from 2002 to 2023 was conducted (encompassing a total of 1 263 policy documents, 138 pieces of information reports and 631 research articles). Based on the evaluation criteria suitable for public health systems previously developed by the research team, the basic status and magnitude of change in public health governance capacity in Zhejiang Province was evaluated. Additionally, normative gap analyses were employed to identify the strengths and weaknesses. ResultsZhejiang Province ranked 4th nationwide in terms of public health governance capacity with a score of 733.4 points (1 000.0-point maximum). The province has effectively implemented the principle of health first (scoring 698.5 points in the assessment of health-first strategy implementation) and attached sufficient importance to health-related goals (scoring 658.2 points in the scientific rationality of goal setting). However, the implementation of inter-departmental coordination and incentive mechanisms only scored 178.7 points, the feasibility of management and monitoring mechanisms scored even lower at only 144.0 points, and the coverage of incentive mechanisms scored 286.0 points. ConclusionZhejiang Province has effectively implemented its health first strategy and attached great importance to health targets, but still needs to strengthen cross-departmental coordination mechanisms and health-oriented incentives.
3.Effect of early administration of total enteral feeding with different regimens of nutritional preparations on the growth status of very low birth weight preterm infants
Wei LIU ; Wei SHEN ; Mingwu CHEN
Nutrition Research and Practice 2026;20(2):239-252
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES:
Very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants face significant nutritional challenges, and the selection of an appropriate enteral nutrition protocol is critical for promoting growth and development while minimizing the risk of complications.This study aimed to analyze the impact of early administration of total enteral feeding with various nutritional preparations on the growth status of VLBW preterm infants.
SUBJECTS/METHODS:
A retrospective study was conducted on 79 cases of VLBW preterm infants. The subjects were categorized into 3 groups based on the differences in nutritional intervention: the breastfeeding group (BF group, n = 28), the standard preterm formula group (SPF group, n = 25), and the extensively hydrolyzed protein formula group (EHF group, n = 26).
RESULTS:
The discharge weight, weight gain, and growth rate of infants in the EHF group were significantly higher than those in the SPF and BF groups, and the growth rate in the SPF group was higher than that in the BF group. Upon discharge, the SPF group exhibited greater length and head circumference compared to the BF and EHF groups. The incidence of diarrhea in the SPF group was higher than that in the BF and EHF groups. Upon discharge, the uric acid level in the EHF group was higher than that in the SPF group. The hospital stay for infants in the SPF and EHF groups was shorter than that in the BF group. The EHF group had a significantly higher mean daily protein intake compared to the SPF and BF groups, while the SPF group exhibited a higher carbohydrate intake than the other 2 groups.
CONCLUSION
While SPF feeding is effective in improving the head circumference and body length of VLBW preterm infants, it is associated with a higher incidence of diarrhea.In contrast, EHF feeding yields better weight gain outcomes and demonstrates superior safety.
4.Effect of anterior seat inclination on sit-to-stand ability in patients with stroke and related brain network
Xiaohua SHEN ; Fangyuan CHEN ; Jifeng RONG ; Biaoqin RAO ; Lingxuan KONG ; Wei TIAN ; Zhiqun CHEN ; Li LI
Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice 2026;32(9):1061-1067
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical effect of anterior seat inclination on sit-to-stand (STS) ability and balance function in patients with stroke, as well as brain functional connectivity based on functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). MethodsFrom January, 2024 to December, 2025, 43 patients with stroke were randomly divided into control group (n = 21) and experimental group (n = 22). The control group received conventional rehabilitation combined with STS training on a flat seat, while the experimental group received conventional rehabilitation plus STS training with a 20° anterior seat inclination, for two weeks. Five-times sit-to-stand test (FTSST) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were assessed before and after training. fNIRS was used to detect changes in cerebral blood oxygenation in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), primary motor cortex (M1), primary somatosensory cortex (S1) and premotor cortex (PMC), and to analyze functional connectivity strength. ResultsAfter training, FTSST time shortened in both groups (t > 3.469, P < 0.01), and was shorter in the experimental group than in the control group (t = -2.065, P < 0.05); BBS scores increased in both groups (|Z| > 4.019, P < 0.01), and was higher in the experimental group than in the control group (Z = -2.250, P < 0.05). fNIRS showed that after training, the functional connectivity strength between the left M1 and the right PFC increased, as well as between the left M1 and the right S1 in the experimental group (t > 3.311, P < 0.05). ConclusionSTS training with anterior seat inclination can enhance functional connectivity in relevant brain regions, which may contribute to improvements of STS ability and balance function in patients with stroke.
5.The prediction model of incident dental caries in 5-year-old children in Beijing
REN Wen ; ZHAO Mei ; ZHANG Hui ; CHEN Wei ; SHEN Anqi ; LIU Min
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2026;34(10):982-992
Objective:
To explore the influencing factors of incident caries at age 5 among caries-free 3-year-old children in Beijing, construct a machine learning prediction model based on oral health behavioral data, and provide a scientific basis and practical tool for early risk identification, stratified prevention and control, and home-kindergarten-medical collaborative intervention of incident dental caries in preschool children.
Methods:
This study has been reviewed and approved by the Medical Ethics Committee, and written informed consent was obtained from the guardians of the study participants and their guardians. Children with complete baseline data at age 3 and follow-up data at age 5 from Beijing public oral health programs were included. Oral examinations were conducted according to World Health Organization diagnostic criteria, and questionnaires were completed by guardians. Risk factors were screened by Logistic regression. The total sample was randomly divided into a test set (20%) and a validation set (80%). Five-fold cross-validation was performed on the validation set for model training and tuning, and the final model performance was evaluated on the test set. Four machine learning models—decision tree, random forest, Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM)—were constructed. Model performance was evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC), accuracy, and specificity. Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) was used for model interpretation.
Results:
The incidence of incident caries for 3 372 5-year-old children in Beijing was 50.96%. Multivariate logistic regression showed that parental caries, sleeping with milk, frequent feeding at night, no postprandial cleaning, high sugar intake, insufficient bedtime tooth brushing, and non-fluoride toothpaste use were significant risk factors (P < 0.05). Although all four machine learning models performed well, the XGBoost model performed the best (AUC = 0.806). Feature importance and SHAP analysis indicated that the frequency of bedtime tooth brushing, the frequency of candy consumption, and parental caries status were the top three predictors.
Conclusion
The XGBoost model based on oral health behaviors at age 3 can accurately predict the risk of incident caries in 5-year-old children in Beijing. Bedtime tooth brushing, sugar control, and parental oral health management are key points for caries prevention in preschool children.
6.Chinese expert consensus on the clinical application of recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone (2025 edition)
Chentian SHEN ; Yushen GU ; Hui TAN ; Anren KUANG ; Sijin LI ; Yaming LI ; Jing WANG ; Ningyi JIANG ; Jian TAN ; Zhuoying WANG ; Shaoyan LIU ; Xiaoyi LI ; Jugao FANG ; Dingcun LUO ; Youben FAN ; Hui WANG ; Yuetao WANG ; Xuemei WANG ; Feng WANG ; Wei FU ; Feng SHI ; Xuegong LIU ; Zhongwei LÜ ; Yan XING ; Lin LI ; Hui YANG ; Jun XIN ; Yifan ZHANG ; Yue CHEN ; Yansong LIN ; Wei OUYANG ; Shuzhan YAO ; Changjiu ZHAO ; Xinming ZHAO ; Zairong GAO ; Dingde HUANG ; Qiang WEN ; Xingmin HAN ; Cen LOU ; Weibing MIAO ; Wei FAN ; Quanyong LUO ; Hongcheng SHI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2026;33(5):932-944
The recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone (rhTSH) can be used for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) preparation before 131I therapy, and follow-up. Since its approval by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998, rhTSH has been clinically used in European countries, the United States, and other countries for nearly 30 years. In April 2024, China’s first independently developed rhTSH agent was approved. Based on clinical experience and evidence from domestic and international studies, an expert consensus on the application of rhTSH has been developed following thorough consultations among experts. The consensus offers evidence-based recommendations to guide the appropriate use of rhTSH in clinical practice.
7.Study on the Mechanism of Jiawei Dihuang Decoction in Treating Vascular Dementia and the Exploration on Susceptibility Genes Based on Whole Exome Sequencing Technology
Huiwen YANG ; Juanjuan YANG ; Zhiqiang HAO ; Liangliang CHEN ; Yanfang SHEN ; Peifeng WEI ; Feng MIAO
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(10):134-141
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Jiawei Dihuang Decoction in the treatment of vascular dementia(VD);To explore its mechanism and the VD susceptibility genesby using whole exome sequencing.Methods A total of 75 patients with VD who were hospitalized or received outpatient treatment at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine were included.They were divided into the control group(37 cases,treated with conventional Western medicine)and the experimental group(38 cases,treated with conventional Western medicine+Jiawei Dihuang Decoction)using random number table method.The treatment course was 3 months.The general data,TCM syndrome scores,MMSE scores,ADL scores,Blessed scores and adverse reactions of the two groups were compared.Peripheral blood samples from 36 patients with kidney-yin deficiency type VD were selected for whole exome sequencing.Susceptible genes were screened,and the targets of Jiawei Dihuang Decoction were analyzed by network pharmacology.A"drug-gene"network was constructed,and key pathways were enriched.Results There was no statistical significance in the baseline data between the two groups(P>0.05),and they were comparable.Compared with before treatment,the MMSE scores of patients in both groups significantly increased after treatment,while TCM syndrome scores and ADL scores significantly decreased(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the TCM syndrome scores,MMSE scores,ADL scores and clinical efficacy of the experimental group were significantly better than those of the control group(P<0.05).Moreover,the Blessed score showed that the experimental group had more advantages in improving the patients'living ability and daily habits(P<0.05).No adverse reactions were observed in both groups during the treatment period.A total of 1 250 744 single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)loci and 37 314 insertion and deletion(InDel)loci were detected by whole exome sequencing.After screening,3 041 VD susceptibility genes were obtained.It was found that they were involved in biological processes such as the response to nutrient levels,positive regulation of the MAPK cascade,vascular processes in the circulatory system,the response to nutrients,etc.And enriched in PI3K-Akt,cholinergic/glutamatergic synapses,lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis pathways.The potential targets of 854 of Jiawei Dihuang Decoction were intersected with the susceptibility genes to obtain 353 common targets.The top 10 key genes were analyzed and found to be involved in positive regulation of cytosine-serine phosphorylation,miRNA-mediated gene silencing regulation,and the response of cells to decreased oxygen levels,etc.They were enriched in PI3K-Akt,lipid and atherosclerosis signaling pathways.Conclusion Jiawei Dihuang Decoction can alleviate the symptoms of patients with VD,protect cognitive function,enhance their ability of daily living,and has good safety profile.Its mechanism may involve regulating susceptibility genes through PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and lipid atherosclerosis signaling pathway,and improving lipid metabolism,inflammatory response and oxidative stress.
8.The value of five scoring systems in evaluating the prognosis of perioperative aortic dissection
Chen LI ; Xingping LYU ; Yezhou SHEN ; Xiaobin LIU ; Wei ZHOU ; Guoliang FAN ; Feng ZHU
Chinese Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;41(2):91-97
Objective:To determine the best scoring system for assessing the severity of perioperative aortic dissection.Methods:All data were obtained from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-Ⅳ(MIMIC-Ⅳ) database in the United States. The predictive value of the Acute Physiology Score Ⅲ(APS Ⅲ), Oxford Acute Severity of Illness Score (OASIS), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), Simplified Acute Physiology Score Ⅱ(SAPS Ⅱ), and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) scoring systems were evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic ( ROC) curve. The area under the curve ( AUC) was used to determine the best predictive score, and the ideal cutoff value of the score was calculated based on the Youden index. Patients were divided into high and low groups according to the cutoff value. The Kaplan- Meier curve was used to show the impact on the survival rate of patients with aortic dissection. Results:ROC curve analysis showed that APS Ⅲ( AUC: 0.803, 95% CI: 0.721-0.885) was superior to SAPS Ⅱ( AUC: 0.767, 95% CI: 0.654-0.880), OASIS( AUC: 0.760, 95% CI: 0.635-0.885), SOFA( AUC: 0.753, 95% CI: 0.649-0.857), and CCI( AUC: 0.670, 95% CI: 0.524-0.817) in assessing in-hospital mortality. Based on the ROC curve and the Youden index calculation, the ideal cutoff value of the APS Ⅲ score was 57.5. Kaplan- Meier survival analysis showed that patients in the high group of APS Ⅲ had a shorter 28-day survival time. Patients in the high group of APS Ⅲ had a higher incidence of postoperative complications, and correlation analysis showed that patients in the high group of APS Ⅲ had a longer hospital stay. Conclusion:The APS Ⅲ scoring system is more valuable in predicting the 28-day mortality and prognosis of patients with aortic dissection.
9.Analysis of laboratory outcomes in assisted reproductive technology for malignant tumor patients
Ran SHEN ; Wei ZHENG ; Ruowen ZU ; Chen YANG ; Bingnan REN ; Jiaheng LI ; Yanli LIU ; Jing LI ; Peixin LI ; Jingyi HAN ; Yichun GUAN
Chinese Journal of Reproduction and Contraception 2025;45(4):365-371
Objective:To investigate whether malignant tumors affect the laboratory outcomes of patients in their first controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) cycle.Methods:This study was a retrospective case-control study that analyzed the clinical and laboratory data of patients who underwent fertility preservation before chemotherapy and radiotherapy due to malignant tumors, as well as patients with infertility caused by tubal factors who first underwent in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) at the Reproductive Health Hospital of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2020 to May 2024. Patients who underwent fertility preservation were designated as the research group, while patients who underwent assisted reproduction due to tubal factors during the same period were designated as control group. After 1∶3 propensity score matching (PSM), 40 patients were included in the research group and 118 patients were included in control group. The ovarian response, oocyte retrieval outcomes, and embryonic development after fertilization in the first COH cycle were compared between the two groups. Results:After PSM, the research group and control group showed statistically significant differences in the gonadotropin (Gn) starting dosage [225.00 (162.50, 300.00) U vs. 193.75 (150.00, 225.00) U, P=0.002], duration of Gn used [10.00 (8.00, 11.00) d vs. 12.00 (10.00, 13.00) d, P<0.001], and average estradiol levels on human chorionic gonadotropin trigger day [2 487.00 (1 461.25, 4 090.25) pmol/L vs. 10 738.50 (8 400.00, 16 507.25) pmol/L, P<0.001]. However, no statistically significant difference was found in the total dosages of Gn used between the two groups ( P>0.05). There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of the number of oocytes retrieved, the number of metaphase Ⅱ oocytes, two pronuclei (2PN) rate, 2PN cleavage rate, available embryo rate, high-quality embryo rate, blastocyst formation rate, and available blastocyst formation rate (all P>0.05). Conclusion:Compared with infertility patients with tubal factors, there is no significant difference in the laboratory outcomes of malignant tumor patients undergoing COH for fertility preservation prior to chemotherapy and radiation.
10.Exploring the psychological vulnerability of patients after percutaneous coronary intervention based on symptom network analysis
Wei SHEN ; Jing WANG ; Zhiqian CHEN ; Yannan ZHU ; Congying LIU ; Sumei TONG
Chinese Journal of Practical Nursing 2025;41(14):1092-1101
Objective:To explore the psychological vulnerability characteristics of patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) based on symptom network analysis, and to provide evidence for maintining their psychological health.Methods:Using a cross-sectional survey method, from October 2023 to March 2024, a convenience sampling approach was employed to conduct a questionnaire survey among patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the general ward of the Cardiology Department at Peking University Third Hospital. The survey involved a general information questionnaire and Mental Vulnerability Questionnaire. The R language was used to construct a symptom network to describe the relationship between each symptom of patients′psychological vulnerability, and its centrality index was calculated.Results:A total of 260 post-PCI patients were enrolled, including191 males and 69 females, with a mean age of (62.38 ± 12.91) years and a total psychological vulnerability score of (47.25 ± 13.18). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the level of mental vulnerability was higher in patients with female gender ( β = 0.207, P = 0.001) and higher number of comorbidities/past history ( β = 0.126, P = 0.039). In the symptom network analysis, the symptoms with the highest node strength, tight centrality, and mediator centrality were "You often feeling unwell" ( rs = 1.25, rc = 0.003 45, rb = 2.61), "You always in a bad mood" ( rs = 1.15) and "You often have anxiety attacks" ( rs = 1.13) were second only to "You often feeling unwell" in the center of intensity. Conclusions:The core symptom of psychological vulnerability in post-PCI patients is "You often feeling unwell", and mental symptoms are in a more central position. Nursing staff should take mental symptoms as the target of intervention, and strengthen the holistic care for patients′physical-psychological-mental symptoms, so as to effectively reduce the level of psychological vulnerability of the patients, and to maintain their psychological health.


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