BACKGROUND:Multiple observational studies have suggested a potential association between telomere length and musculoskeletal diseases.However,the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the genetic causal relationship between telomere length and musculoskeletal diseases using two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis. METHODS:Genome-wide association study summary data of telomere length were obtained from the UK Biobank.Genome-wide association study summary data of 10 common musculoskeletal diseases(osteonecrosis,osteomyelitis,osteoporosis,rheumatoid arthritis,low back pain,spinal stenosis,gout,scapulohumeral periarthritis,ankylosing spondylitis and deep venous thrombosis of lower limbs)were obtained from the FinnGen consortium.Inverse variance weighting,Mendelian randomization-Egger and weighted median methods were used to evaluate the causal relationship between telomere length and 10 musculoskeletal diseases.Inverse variance weighting was the primary Mendelian randomization analysis method,and sensitivity analysis was performed to explore the robustness of the results. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Inverse variance-weighted results indicated a negative causal relationship between genetically predicted telomere length and rheumatoid arthritis(odds ratio=0.78,95%confidence interval:0.64-0.95,P=0.015)and osteonecrosis(odds ratio=0.56,95%confidence interval:0.36-0.90,P=0.016).No causal relationship was found between telomere length and the other eight musculoskeletal diseases(all P>0.05).(2)Sensitivity analysis affirmed the robustness of these causal relationships,and Mendelian randomization-Egger intercept analysis found no evidence of potential horizontal pleiotropy(all P>0.05).(3)This Mendelian randomized study supports that telomere length has protective effects against rheumatoid arthritis and osteonecrosis.However,more basic and clinical research will be needed to support our findings in the future.

ObjectiveTo assess the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of the traditional Chinese medicine compound Shenlong decoction in addressing the symptoms of pulmonary deficiency and stasis in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis （IPF）. MethodsSixty eligible patients with lung deficiency and collateral stasis syndrome of IPF were randomly assigned to the observation （30 patients） and control groups （30 patients）. All patients underwent standard Western medical therapy. Additionally，the observation group received Shenlong decoction granules，while the control group received a placebo. Both treatments were packaged in four doses of 10.5 g each，taken twice daily for three months. The indexes of the patients during the treatment cycle were observed，and the main indexes include traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores and 6 min walk test （6MWT）. The secondary indexes include pulmonary function test ［actual value/expected value of total lung volume （TLC%），actual value/expected value of vital capacity（FVC%），actual/predicted diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide（DLCO%），actual/predicted forced expiratory volume in one second （FEV₁%），and FEV₁/ forced vital capacity （FVC）］，blood gas analysis ［arterial blood diathesis partial pressure of oxygen （PaO₂），partial pressure of carbon dioxide （PaCO₂），and arterial oxygen saturation （SaO₂）］，serum inflammatory factors ［transforming growth factor-β₁ （TGF-β₁），interleukin-4 （IL-4），interleukin-13 （IL-13），interleukin-12 （IL-12），and gamma-interferon （IFN-γ）］，and quality of survival evaluation ［St George's Respiratory Questionnaire （SGRQ） score］. The patients' clinical manifestations were determined at the end of the treatment， and the occurrence of adverse events was recorded. ResultsA total of 53 patients completed the study，comprising 27 in the control group and 26 in the observation group. Upon completion of the treatment period，the control group achieved a total effective rate of 33.33% （9/27），whereas the observation group demonstrated a total effective rate of 53.85% （14/26），which was statistically superior to the control group （χ²=4.034，P<0.05）. After the treatment，the TCM syndrome scores，6MWT，DLCO%，FEV₁%，PaO₂，PaCO₂，TGF-β₁，IL-4，IL-13，IL-12，and IFN-γ in the two groups were all significantly improved （P<0.01）. Compared with those in the control group after treatment at the same period，the TCM syndrome scores，6MWT，PaO₂，and PaCO₂ were significantly improved in the observation group after 60 days and 90 days of medication （P<0.01）. Three months after the end of medication，the SGRQ score in the observation group showed significant improvement when compared to that in the control group （P<0.05），and no severe adverse events were reported during the follow-up period. ConclusionCompound Shenlong decoction can alleviate clinical symptoms such as shortness of breath and wheezing in patients with lung deficiency and collateral stasis syndrome of IPF，enhance exercise tolerance，improve the quality of life，and have certain potential advantages in improving pulmonary function.

ObjectiveTo assess the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of the traditional Chinese medicine compound Shenlong decoction in addressing the symptoms of pulmonary deficiency and stasis in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis （IPF）. MethodsSixty eligible patients with lung deficiency and collateral stasis syndrome of IPF were randomly assigned to the observation （30 patients） and control groups （30 patients）. All patients underwent standard Western medical therapy. Additionally，the observation group received Shenlong decoction granules，while the control group received a placebo. Both treatments were packaged in four doses of 10.5 g each，taken twice daily for three months. The indexes of the patients during the treatment cycle were observed，and the main indexes include traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores and 6 min walk test （6MWT）. The secondary indexes include pulmonary function test ［actual value/expected value of total lung volume （TLC%），actual value/expected value of vital capacity（FVC%），actual/predicted diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide（DLCO%），actual/predicted forced expiratory volume in one second （FEV₁%），and FEV₁/ forced vital capacity （FVC）］，blood gas analysis ［arterial blood diathesis partial pressure of oxygen （PaO₂），partial pressure of carbon dioxide （PaCO₂），and arterial oxygen saturation （SaO₂）］，serum inflammatory factors ［transforming growth factor-β₁ （TGF-β₁），interleukin-4 （IL-4），interleukin-13 （IL-13），interleukin-12 （IL-12），and gamma-interferon （IFN-γ）］，and quality of survival evaluation ［St George's Respiratory Questionnaire （SGRQ） score］. The patients' clinical manifestations were determined at the end of the treatment， and the occurrence of adverse events was recorded. ResultsA total of 53 patients completed the study，comprising 27 in the control group and 26 in the observation group. Upon completion of the treatment period，the control group achieved a total effective rate of 33.33% （9/27），whereas the observation group demonstrated a total effective rate of 53.85% （14/26），which was statistically superior to the control group （χ²=4.034，P<0.05）. After the treatment，the TCM syndrome scores，6MWT，DLCO%，FEV₁%，PaO₂，PaCO₂，TGF-β₁，IL-4，IL-13，IL-12，and IFN-γ in the two groups were all significantly improved （P<0.01）. Compared with those in the control group after treatment at the same period，the TCM syndrome scores，6MWT，PaO₂，and PaCO₂ were significantly improved in the observation group after 60 days and 90 days of medication （P<0.01）. Three months after the end of medication，the SGRQ score in the observation group showed significant improvement when compared to that in the control group （P<0.05），and no severe adverse events were reported during the follow-up period. ConclusionCompound Shenlong decoction can alleviate clinical symptoms such as shortness of breath and wheezing in patients with lung deficiency and collateral stasis syndrome of IPF，enhance exercise tolerance，improve the quality of life，and have certain potential advantages in improving pulmonary function.

Objective To understand the characteristics and epidemic trend of syphilis in Wuhan from 2010 to 2021, and to provide a reference for the formulation of further prevention and control measures. Methods Data on Wuhan syphilis epidemics from 2010 to 2021 was collected from the China Disease Prevention and Control Information System. The epidemic characteristics and trends of syphilis were analyzed. Results From 2010 to 2021, a total of 36 628 confirmed cases of syphilis were reported in Wuhan, and the reported incidence rate decreased from 29.70/100 000 to 29.62/100 000, with an average annual decrease of 0.33% (P=0.843). Among them, the reported incidence of stage 1 syphilis decreased by 14.37% annually (P<0.001), stage 2 syphilis decreased by 18.59% annually (P<0.001), stage 3 syphilis decreased by 2.02% annually (P=0.523), and fetal syphilis decreased by 22.90% annually (P<0.001), while recessive syphilis increased by 9.19% annually (P<0.001). The ratio of male to female increased from 1.04:1 to 1.36:1 (P<0.001). The proportion of people aged 60 and above increased from 18.44% to 31.17% (P<0.001), and the 35-59 age group had the highest number of reported cases of syphilis in both men and women. Recessive syphilis was most common in men and women aged over 18 years old, and the proportion of recessive syphilis increased with age. Conclusion The prevention and control of syphilis has achieved phased results, especially in mother-to-child interruption and non-recessive syphilis control. On the basis of continuing to consolidate and strengthen the achievements of the current stage, the future syphilis prevention and control work should focus on and respond to the increasing trend of recessive syphilis cases, and take more targeted interventions for people over 60 years old, so as to further curb the spread of syphilis.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the changes in high performance liquid chromatography （HPLC） fingerprint spectra and nucleoside components between Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum cum Zingibere et Alumine and its processed product Succus bambusae pinella preparata， providing a reference for the quality evaluation of the latter. METHODS HPLC fingerprint was established for 10 batches of Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum cum Zingibere et Alumine and its processed product Succus bambusae pinella preparata following the Similarity Evaluation System of TCM Chromatographic Fingerprints （2012 Edition）. Hierarchical cluster analysis （HCA）， principal component analysis （PCA）， and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis （OPLS- DA） were conducted on their common peaks. The contents of four nucleoside components， hypoxanthine， uridine， adenine， and guanosine， in both Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum cum Zingibere et Alumine and Succus bambusae pinella preparata were determined. RESULTS The similarity between the fingerprints of the 10 batches of Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum cum Zingibere et Alumine， Succus bambusae pinella preparata， and their corresponding reference fingerprints ranged from 0.851 to 0.990. A total of 10 common peaks were obtained for both samples， and 4 components were identified as hypoxanthine， uridine， adenine， and guanosine. The results of HCA， PCA and OPLS-DA showed that the samples of Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum cum Zingibere et Alumine and Succus bambusae pinella preparata were clustered into separate categories， with OPLS-DA selecting 4 differential components between them， ranked by variable importance projection values as peak 8， peak 1， peak 6 （adenine） and peak 10. The content determination results showed that the average contents of hypoxanthine， uridine， adenine and guanosine in Succus bambusae pinella preparata declined by 15.90%， 12.00%， 26.04% and 22.18% compared to Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum cum Zingibere et Alumine， respectively， with statistically significant differences in the contents of hypoxanthine， adenine and guanosine （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS The established fingerprint and content determination methods are simple to operate and have good repeatability， which are suitable for qualitative and quantitative analysis of Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum cum Zingibere et Alumine and Succus bambusae pinella preparata. The average contents of the four nucleoside components decreased after the processing of Succus bambusae pinella preparata.

OBJECTIVE To study the ameliorative effect and potential mechanism of curcumin on diabetes model rats with depression based on cAMP response element binding protein （CREB）/brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） signaling pathway. METHODS The diabetes model rat with depression was established by high fat and high sugar diet+intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin+chronic unpredictable stress-induced depression. The successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into model group， positive control group （0.18 g/kg metformin and 1.8 mg/kg fluoxetine， gavage）， curcumin low-dose and high-dose groups （30， 60 mg/kg， gavage） and curcumin high-dose+CREB inhibitor group [60 mg/kg curcumin （gavage）+5 mg/kg CREB inhibitor 666-15 （intraperitoneal injection）]， with 12 rats in each group. Another 12 healthy rats were selected as the normal group. Each group was given a corresponding intervention for 4 weeks， the fasting blood glucose level of rats was detected， and the depression of rats was assessed. The levels of corticosterone （CORT） and inflammatory factors [tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin- 1β （IL-1β）， IL-6] in serum， and the levels of norepinephrine （NE） and 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT） in hippocampal tissue were determined. The pathological changes and neuronal apoptosis were observed in the hippocampal tissue of rats in each group； the expression levels of CREB， BDNF mRNA and protein in hippocampal tissue were detected. RESULTS Compared with the normal group， the hippocampal tissue of rats in the model group was severely damaged， and neurons were scattered， while the fasting blood glucose， the forced swimming immobility time， the tail suspension immobility time， serum levels of CORT， TNF-α， IL-1β and IL-6， and neuron apoptosis indexes were all increased or prolonged significantly （P＜0.05）. The levels of NE and 5-HT， the number of surviving neurons， and the expression levels of CREB and BDNF mRNA and protein in hippocampal tissue were decreased significantly （P＜0.05）. Compared with the 的model group， the damage to hippocampal tissue was relieved in the positive control group and curcumin groups， while the above indexes were improved significantly （P＜0.05）. The improvement effect of curcumin high-dose group was better than that of curcumin low-dose group （P＜0.05）. CREB inhibitor could significantly reverse the ameliorative effect of high-dose curcumin on the model rats （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Curcumin can improve the depression of diabetes model rats with depression， and relieve neuronal damage and inflammatory response， the mechanism of which may be associated with activating CREB/BDNF signaling pathway.

Objective To experimentally verify the precision and accuracy of determining tritiated water in ambient air using the desiccant adsorption sampling–high temperature negative pressure desorption of liquid water (containing HTO)–liquid Scintillation counter method, and to provide technical support for developing standard methods for monitoring tritiated water in ambient air. Methods The relative standard deviation and recovery of multi-group samples were verified by collecting, testing, and analyzing environmental samples with different activity concentrations. The uncertainty of the method was evaluated, the main uncertainty components were identified, and the reliability of measurement results was analyzed. Through experimental comparison of different methods, the differences in the test results of different methods were examined. Results The relative standard deviation of multiple samples ranged from 6.7% to 7.9%, the recovery ranged from 95.7% to 97.3%, and the uncertainty was greatly affected by the sample counting rate, with no significant difference as compared to condensation sampling method. Conclusion The precision and accuracy of this method meet the requirements of environmental authorities for monitoring tritiated water in ambient air, and it can be widely used in the monitoring of tritiated water in ambient air.

Objective To explore the method for measurement of tritium in nuclear power plant liquid effluent purified by a mixed ion-exchange resin, to verify the feasibility of the method by experiments, and to provide technical support for the development of standard methods for the measurement of tritium in liquid effluent of nuclear power plants. Methods The purification effect of the mixed ion-exchange resin was determined by measuring the quenching factor, conductivity, and β-nuclide adsorption efficiency of the samples purified using the resin. A comparison was made between the ion-exchange resin method and the atmospheric distillation method for tritium determination. The precision and accuracy of the method were verified by calculating the relative standard deviation and the recovery in repeated measurement of samples with different activity concentrations and spiked samples. Results There were no significant differences in quenching factor, conductivity, and tritium activity concentration between the two methods. The adsorption efficiencies of EC20MB resin for common β-nuclides such as carbon, iron, nickel, strontium, yttrium, and cesium ranged from 99.28% to 99.88%. Repeated measurement of the same sample showed relative standard deviations of 5.2%-9.4% and recoveries of 86.8%-107%. Conclusion There were no significant differences between the results of the ion-exchange resin purification method and the atmospheric distillation method. The precision and accuracy of the method met the requirements of the ecological and environmental management authorities for monitoring tritium in liquid effluent from nuclear power plants. This method can be widely used in daily monitoring work.

Objective:To compare the short- and mid-term clinical outcomes of robotic versus laparoscopic radical resection of right- and left-sided colon cancer.Methods:In this retrospective cohort study, clinical data on patients who had undergone robotic or laparoscopic radical resection of right and left sided-colon cancer performed by two senior physicians in the Department of Gastro-Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University between January 2015 and December 2023 were collected. The patients were allocated to robotic ( n=117) or laparoscopic groups ( n=267). Propensity score matching in a ratio of 1∶1 was implemented to minimize the impact of imbalances in baseline information between the two groups. Propensity score matching left 228 patients in the study cohort, with 114 in each group. The participants were aged (60.8±12.1) and (60.3±13.1) years and the body mass indices were (23.1±3.0) kg/m 2 and (23.1±2.8) kg/m 2 in the robotic and laparoscopic groups respectively. After matching, relevant perioperative indicators, postoperative complications, and 3-year survival outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results:After propensity score matching, the differences in baseline information between the two groups were not statistically significant ( P>0.05). After matching, in the robotic surgery group, radical resection of right- versus left-sided colon cancer had been performed on 80 and 34 patients, respectively; compared with 78 and 36, respectively, in the laparoscopic surgery group. Compared with the laparoscopic group, the robotic group had a longer operative time ( [209.8±48.4] minutes vs. [186.7±46.9] minutes, t=3.665, P<0.001), higher hospitalization cost ( [88657.8±18548.1] yuan vs. [61179.5±13822.7] yuan, t=12.683, P<0.001), and lower rate of postoperative complications (7.9% [9/114] vs. 17.5% [20/114], χ 2=4.780, P=0.029); these differences are statistically significant. The robotic group tended to have a lower conversion rate than the laparoscopic group (0 vs. 4.4% [5/114]); however, this difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (χ 2=3.272, P=0.070). The amount of intraoperative bleeding, time to first passage of flatus, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade), number of resected lymph nodes, and number of positive lymph nodes did not differ significantly between the two groups (all P>0.05). Furthermore, the differences between the robotic and laparoscopic groups in 3-year disease-free survival (81.4% vs. 82.8%, P=0.863) and overall survival (83.1% vs. 86.5%, P=0.921) were not statistically significant ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Robotic radical resection of right and left-sided colon cancer is safe and feasible and an effective alternative to laparoscopic surgery. Although robotic surgery has a longer operative time and higher hospitalization costs than laparoscopic surgery, it has a lower rate of postoperative complications, and a 3-year survival outcome comparable to that of laparoscopic surgery.

Objective:To compare the short- and mid-term clinical outcomes of robotic versus laparoscopic radical resection of right- and left-sided colon cancer.Methods:In this retrospective cohort study, clinical data on patients who had undergone robotic or laparoscopic radical resection of right and left sided-colon cancer performed by two senior physicians in the Department of Gastro-Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University between January 2015 and December 2023 were collected. The patients were allocated to robotic ( n=117) or laparoscopic groups ( n=267). Propensity score matching in a ratio of 1∶1 was implemented to minimize the impact of imbalances in baseline information between the two groups. Propensity score matching left 228 patients in the study cohort, with 114 in each group. The participants were aged (60.8±12.1) and (60.3±13.1) years and the body mass indices were (23.1±3.0) kg/m 2 and (23.1±2.8) kg/m 2 in the robotic and laparoscopic groups respectively. After matching, relevant perioperative indicators, postoperative complications, and 3-year survival outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results:After propensity score matching, the differences in baseline information between the two groups were not statistically significant ( P>0.05). After matching, in the robotic surgery group, radical resection of right- versus left-sided colon cancer had been performed on 80 and 34 patients, respectively; compared with 78 and 36, respectively, in the laparoscopic surgery group. Compared with the laparoscopic group, the robotic group had a longer operative time ( [209.8±48.4] minutes vs. [186.7±46.9] minutes, t=3.665, P<0.001), higher hospitalization cost ( [88657.8±18548.1] yuan vs. [61179.5±13822.7] yuan, t=12.683, P<0.001), and lower rate of postoperative complications (7.9% [9/114] vs. 17.5% [20/114], χ 2=4.780, P=0.029); these differences are statistically significant. The robotic group tended to have a lower conversion rate than the laparoscopic group (0 vs. 4.4% [5/114]); however, this difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (χ 2=3.272, P=0.070). The amount of intraoperative bleeding, time to first passage of flatus, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade), number of resected lymph nodes, and number of positive lymph nodes did not differ significantly between the two groups (all P>0.05). Furthermore, the differences between the robotic and laparoscopic groups in 3-year disease-free survival (81.4% vs. 82.8%, P=0.863) and overall survival (83.1% vs. 86.5%, P=0.921) were not statistically significant ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Robotic radical resection of right and left-sided colon cancer is safe and feasible and an effective alternative to laparoscopic surgery. Although robotic surgery has a longer operative time and higher hospitalization costs than laparoscopic surgery, it has a lower rate of postoperative complications, and a 3-year survival outcome comparable to that of laparoscopic surgery.