Objective:To analyze the efficacy of phantom-less quantitative computer tomography (PL-QCT) for the diagnosis of osteoporosis in patients with lumbar degenerative diseases.Methods:From October 2021 to October 2023, a total of 1 248 patients with lumbar degenerative disease who did not receive anti-osteoporosis treatment in the Department of Spine Surgery, Tianjin Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. There were 520 males and 728 females, aged 62.31±9.37 years (range, 40-87 years), height 1.66±0.08 m (range, 1.43-1.89 m), weight 69.04±8.27 kg (range, 49-93 kg). The mean body mass index was 26.11±3.67 kg/m 2 (range, 14.40-37.11 kg/m 2). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and PL-QCT were used to diagnose osteoporosis, and the detection rates of the two diagnostic methods were compared. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of PL-QCT for the diagnosis of osteoporosis was drawn, the area under the curve (AUC) and 95% confidence interval (CI), sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Results:Among 1 248 patients with lumbar degenerative diseases, 626 (50.2%) were diagnosed as osteoporosis by PL-QCT, 423(33.9%) were diagnosed by spine DXA, 488(39.1%) were diagnosed by hip DXA and 539 patients(43.2%) were diagnosed by dual-site DXA. The detection rate of osteoporosis of PL-QCT was higher than that of spine DXA (χ 2=193.557, P<0.001), hip DXA (χ 2=322.201, P<0.001) and dual-site DXA (χ 2=94.683, P<0.001), and the difference was statistically significant. Taking the diagnostic results of spinal DXA for osteoporosis as a reference, the ROC curve of PL-QCT for the diagnosis of osteoporosis showed a sensitivity of 79%, a specificity of 81%, and an AUC and 95% CI of 0.82(0.79, 0.85). Taking the diagnostic results of hip DXA for osteoporosis as a reference, the ROC curve of PL-QCT for the diagnosis of osteoporosis showed a sensitivity of 85%, a specificity of 55%, and an AUC and 95% CI of 0.75(0.71, 0.78). Taking the diagnostic results of two-site DXA for osteoporosis as a reference, the ROC curve of PL-QCT for the diagnosis of osteoporosis showed a sensitivity of 72%, a specificity of 75%, and an AUC and 95% CI of 0.81(0.78, 0.83). Conclusion:Compared with DXA, PL-QCT has a higher detection rate of osteoporosis in patients with degenerative lumbar spine disease and good diagnostic efficacy.

Objective:Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a rare autoimmune disease. This study aims to describe the baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes of Chinese PSC patients and explore risk factors associated with prognosis, addressing the lack of long-term prognostic analysis in China.Methods:Clinical data of PSC patients were retrospectively collected from May 2009 to June 2023 in Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, and patient follow-up was conducted through outpatient visits, telephone calls, and medical record reviews. The Cox proportional hazards model and the Kaplan-Meier method were employed to identify risk factors and estimate transplant-free survival.Results:A total of 65 PSC patients were enrolled, with male patients accounting for 50.8% and an average age of onset of 44 years. The disease types primarily included large duct PSC (57.9%) and whole duct PSC (22.8%). Most patients (78.5%) sought medical attention due to symptoms, with common clinical manifestations including jaundice (32.3%), fatigue (23.1%), abdominal discomfort (21.5%), pruritus (16.9%), and fever (10.8%). A total of 19 patients (29.2%) had concomitant ulcerative colitis. Compared to large duct PSC or whole duct PSC, small duct PSC showed a lower proportion of concomitant ulcerative colitis ( P<0.001) and milder baseline disease severity. After a median follow-up of 29 months (interquartile range: 11,53), 19 patients experienced liver transplantations and/or liver disease-related deaths. The overall 2-year and 5-year transplant-free survival rates for PSC patients were 76.0% and 59.5%, respectively. Elevated bile acid levels were identified as an independent risk factor for poor outcomes in PSC patients. Conclusion:The study population of Chinese PSC patients predominantly consisted of middle-aged males, characterized by a low ratio of asymptomatic cases, a low incidence of associated inflammatory bowel disease, and a low rate of transplant-free survival. Elevated bile acid level was identified as an independent risk factor for poor outcomes in PSC patients.

Rheumatic diseases are a group of chronic disorders characterized by abnormalities in the immune system,while portal hypertension occurs due to increased blood flow or heightened resistance in the portal venous system or obstruction of hepatic venous outflow.Both rheumatic diseases and their medications can lead to noncirrhotic portal hypertension.The hypercoagulable state associated with rheumatic diseases can result in thrombosis within the portal and hepatic venous systems,and damage to the intrahepatic portal system and hepatic sinusoidal endothelial system can lead to porto-sinusoidal vascular disease and hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome.Moreover,drugs used for the treatment of rheumatic diseases may cause liver parenchymal injury,which further leads to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis,or they may damage the hepatic vascular endothelium and thus cause noncirrhotic portal hypertension.This article elaborates on the mechanisms and characteristics by which common rheumatic diseases and their therapeutic agents lead to portal hypertension,in order to provide insights and assistance for clinical diagnosis,treatment,and follow-up monitoring.

Rheumatic diseases are a group of chronic disorders characterized by abnormalities in the immune system， while portal hypertension occurs due to increased blood flow or heightened resistance in the portal venous system or obstruction of hepatic venous outflow. Both rheumatic diseases and their medications can lead to noncirrhotic portal hypertension. The hypercoagulable state associated with rheumatic diseases can result in thrombosis within the portal and hepatic venous systems， and damage to the intrahepatic portal system and hepatic sinusoidal endothelial system can lead to porto-sinusoidal vascular disease and hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome. Moreover， drugs used for the treatment of rheumatic diseases may cause liver parenchymal injury， which further leads to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis， or they may damage the hepatic vascular endothelium and thus cause noncirrhotic portal hypertension. This article elaborates on the mechanisms and characteristics by which common rheumatic diseases and their therapeutic agents lead to portal hypertension， in order to provide insights and assistance for clinical diagnosis， treatment， and follow-up monitoring.

Objective:To analyze the efficacy of phantom-less quantitative computer tomography (PL-QCT) for the diagnosis of osteoporosis in patients with lumbar degenerative diseases.Methods:From October 2021 to October 2023, a total of 1 248 patients with lumbar degenerative disease who did not receive anti-osteoporosis treatment in the Department of Spine Surgery, Tianjin Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. There were 520 males and 728 females, aged 62.31±9.37 years (range, 40-87 years), height 1.66±0.08 m (range, 1.43-1.89 m), weight 69.04±8.27 kg (range, 49-93 kg). The mean body mass index was 26.11±3.67 kg/m 2 (range, 14.40-37.11 kg/m 2). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and PL-QCT were used to diagnose osteoporosis, and the detection rates of the two diagnostic methods were compared. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of PL-QCT for the diagnosis of osteoporosis was drawn, the area under the curve (AUC) and 95% confidence interval (CI), sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Results:Among 1 248 patients with lumbar degenerative diseases, 626 (50.2%) were diagnosed as osteoporosis by PL-QCT, 423(33.9%) were diagnosed by spine DXA, 488(39.1%) were diagnosed by hip DXA and 539 patients(43.2%) were diagnosed by dual-site DXA. The detection rate of osteoporosis of PL-QCT was higher than that of spine DXA (χ 2=193.557, P<0.001), hip DXA (χ 2=322.201, P<0.001) and dual-site DXA (χ 2=94.683, P<0.001), and the difference was statistically significant. Taking the diagnostic results of spinal DXA for osteoporosis as a reference, the ROC curve of PL-QCT for the diagnosis of osteoporosis showed a sensitivity of 79%, a specificity of 81%, and an AUC and 95% CI of 0.82(0.79, 0.85). Taking the diagnostic results of hip DXA for osteoporosis as a reference, the ROC curve of PL-QCT for the diagnosis of osteoporosis showed a sensitivity of 85%, a specificity of 55%, and an AUC and 95% CI of 0.75(0.71, 0.78). Taking the diagnostic results of two-site DXA for osteoporosis as a reference, the ROC curve of PL-QCT for the diagnosis of osteoporosis showed a sensitivity of 72%, a specificity of 75%, and an AUC and 95% CI of 0.81(0.78, 0.83). Conclusion:Compared with DXA, PL-QCT has a higher detection rate of osteoporosis in patients with degenerative lumbar spine disease and good diagnostic efficacy.

Objective:Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a rare autoimmune disease. This study aims to describe the baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes of Chinese PSC patients and explore risk factors associated with prognosis, addressing the lack of long-term prognostic analysis in China.Methods:Clinical data of PSC patients were retrospectively collected from May 2009 to June 2023 in Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, and patient follow-up was conducted through outpatient visits, telephone calls, and medical record reviews. The Cox proportional hazards model and the Kaplan-Meier method were employed to identify risk factors and estimate transplant-free survival.Results:A total of 65 PSC patients were enrolled, with male patients accounting for 50.8% and an average age of onset of 44 years. The disease types primarily included large duct PSC (57.9%) and whole duct PSC (22.8%). Most patients (78.5%) sought medical attention due to symptoms, with common clinical manifestations including jaundice (32.3%), fatigue (23.1%), abdominal discomfort (21.5%), pruritus (16.9%), and fever (10.8%). A total of 19 patients (29.2%) had concomitant ulcerative colitis. Compared to large duct PSC or whole duct PSC, small duct PSC showed a lower proportion of concomitant ulcerative colitis ( P<0.001) and milder baseline disease severity. After a median follow-up of 29 months (interquartile range: 11,53), 19 patients experienced liver transplantations and/or liver disease-related deaths. The overall 2-year and 5-year transplant-free survival rates for PSC patients were 76.0% and 59.5%, respectively. Elevated bile acid levels were identified as an independent risk factor for poor outcomes in PSC patients. Conclusion:The study population of Chinese PSC patients predominantly consisted of middle-aged males, characterized by a low ratio of asymptomatic cases, a low incidence of associated inflammatory bowel disease, and a low rate of transplant-free survival. Elevated bile acid level was identified as an independent risk factor for poor outcomes in PSC patients.

Objective:The triply periodic minimal surface(TPMS)Gyroid porous scaffolds were built with identical porosity while varying pore sizes were used by fluid mechanics finite element analysis(FEA)to simulate the in vivo microenvironment.The effects of scaffolds with different pore sizes on cell adhesion,proliferation,and osteogenic differentiation were evaluated through calculating fluid velocity,wall shear stress,and permeability in the scaffolds.Methods:Three types of gyroid porous scaffolds,with pore sizes of 400,600 and 800 μm,were established by nTopology software.Each scaffold had di-mensions of 10 mm × 10 mm × 10 mm and isotropic internal structures.The models were imported to the ANSYS 2022R1 software,and meshed into over 3 million unstructured tetrahedral elements.Boun-dary conditions were set with inlet flow velocities of 0.01,0.1,and 1 mm/s,and outlet pressure of 0 Pa.Pressure,velocity,and wall shear stress were calculated as fluid flowed through the scaffolds using the Navier-Stokes equations.At the same time,permeability was determined based on Darcy's law.The compressive strength of scaffolds with different pore sizes was evaluated by ANSYS 2022R1 Static struc-tural analysis.Results:A linear relationship was observed between the wall shear stress and fluid veloci-ty at inlet flow rates of 0.01,0.1 and 1 mm/s,with increasing velocity leading to higher wall shear stress.At the flow velocity of 0.1 mm/s,the initial pressures of scaffolds with pore sizes of 400,600 and 800 μm were 0.272,0.083 and 0.079 Pa,respectively.The fluid pressures were gradually decreased across the scaffolds.The average flow velocities were 0.093,0.078 and 0.070 mm/s,the average wall shear stresses 2.955,1.343 and 1.706 mPa,permeabilities values 0.54 × 10-8 1.80 × 10-8 and 1.89 × 10-8 m2 in the scaffolds with pore sizes of 400,600 and 800 μm.The scaffold surface area proportions according with optimal wall shear stress range for cell growth and osteogenic differentiation were calcula-ted,which was highest in the 600 μm scaffold(27.65％),followed by the 800 μm scaffold(17.30％)and the 400 μm scaffold(1.95％).The compressive strengths of the scaffolds were 23,26 and 34 MPa for the 400,600 and 800 μm pore sizes.Conclusion:The uniform stress distributions appeared in all gyroid scaffold types under compressive stress.The permeabilities of scaffolds with pore sizes of 600 and 800 μm were significantly higher than the 400 μm.The average wall shear stress in the scaffold of 600μm was the lowest,and the scaffold surface area proportion for cell growth and osteogenic differentiation the largest,indicating that it might be the most favorable design for supporting these cellular activities.

Objective:To explore the efficacy and safety of fenofibrate combined with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) with poor biochemical response.Methods:The medical records of early PBC patients who were diagnosed with poor biochemical response to UDCA and treated with fenofibrate in Outpatient Department of the Liver Research Center of Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2010 to January 2018 were collected and analyzed retrospectively, so as to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination treatment. The combination treatment regimen consisted of fenofibrate and UDCA. The efficacy indicators were the efficacy rate and biochemical response rate. When the serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) decreased to below the baseline value before treatment after 12 months of combination therapy, it was defined as effectiveness, and when it decreased to <1.5 times of upper limit of normal (ULN), the biochemical response was achieved. The safety indicator was the incidence of adverse reactions (liver injury, kidney injury, etc.) related to fenofibrate.Results:A total of 42 patients were enrolled in the analysis, including 12 males and 30 females. The age was (53±10) years when fenofibrate was added and the duration of combination therapy was from 5 days to 34 months. The efficacy analysis of 34 patients with combined treatment showed that the average level of ALP decreased from the baseline value after 12 months of treatment, of which 10 patients (29.4%) fell to the reference value range, and the effective rate was 100%. The ALP was 235 (210, 326) U/L before treatment and decreased to 134 (104, 190) U/L after 12 months of treatment, with a statistically significant difference ( P=0.001). Of the 34 patients, 25 (73.5%) achieved biochemical response. The ALP before treatment was 221 (198, 256) U/L and decreased to 125 (99, 143) U/L after 12 months of treatment, with a statistically significant difference ( P=0.010). Of the 42 patients, 16 (38.1%) developed adverse reactions related to fenofibrate, including liver injury in 8 patients (19.0%, one case was complicated with hearthurn), kidney injury in 4 patients (9.5%), myalgia, facial edema, heartburn, headache, and skin itch with rash in 1 patient each (each 2.3%). Of the 8 patients with liver injury, 4 were mild, 1 was moderate, and 3 were severe; the mild cases were not intervened, and the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) returned to the baseline level after 2 months; in moderate and severe cases, ALT and total bilirubin returned to the baseline level after stopping fenofibrate and receiving liver protection treatment. Of the 4 patients with renal injury, the serum creatinine (Scr) in 2 patients returned to the baseline level after withdrawal of fenofibrate, in the other 2 patients it recovered to the reference value range spontaneously without drug withdrawal. Conclusions:Fenofibrate combination with UDCA is effective in the treatment of early PBC patients with poor biochemical response, the rate of biochemical response is 73.5%. The common adverse reactions of fenofibrate are liver injury and kidney injury. During the medication, the patients′ liver and kidney function should be closely monitored.

Objective:To explore the efficacy and safety of fenofibrate combined with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) with poor biochemical response.Methods:The medical records of early PBC patients who were diagnosed with poor biochemical response to UDCA and treated with fenofibrate in Outpatient Department of the Liver Research Center of Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2010 to January 2018 were collected and analyzed retrospectively, so as to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination treatment. The combination treatment regimen consisted of fenofibrate and UDCA. The efficacy indicators were the efficacy rate and biochemical response rate. When the serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) decreased to below the baseline value before treatment after 12 months of combination therapy, it was defined as effectiveness, and when it decreased to <1.5 times of upper limit of normal (ULN), the biochemical response was achieved. The safety indicator was the incidence of adverse reactions (liver injury, kidney injury, etc.) related to fenofibrate.Results:A total of 42 patients were enrolled in the analysis, including 12 males and 30 females. The age was (53±10) years when fenofibrate was added and the duration of combination therapy was from 5 days to 34 months. The efficacy analysis of 34 patients with combined treatment showed that the average level of ALP decreased from the baseline value after 12 months of treatment, of which 10 patients (29.4%) fell to the reference value range, and the effective rate was 100%. The ALP was 235 (210, 326) U/L before treatment and decreased to 134 (104, 190) U/L after 12 months of treatment, with a statistically significant difference ( P=0.001). Of the 34 patients, 25 (73.5%) achieved biochemical response. The ALP before treatment was 221 (198, 256) U/L and decreased to 125 (99, 143) U/L after 12 months of treatment, with a statistically significant difference ( P=0.010). Of the 42 patients, 16 (38.1%) developed adverse reactions related to fenofibrate, including liver injury in 8 patients (19.0%, one case was complicated with hearthurn), kidney injury in 4 patients (9.5%), myalgia, facial edema, heartburn, headache, and skin itch with rash in 1 patient each (each 2.3%). Of the 8 patients with liver injury, 4 were mild, 1 was moderate, and 3 were severe; the mild cases were not intervened, and the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) returned to the baseline level after 2 months; in moderate and severe cases, ALT and total bilirubin returned to the baseline level after stopping fenofibrate and receiving liver protection treatment. Of the 4 patients with renal injury, the serum creatinine (Scr) in 2 patients returned to the baseline level after withdrawal of fenofibrate, in the other 2 patients it recovered to the reference value range spontaneously without drug withdrawal. Conclusions:Fenofibrate combination with UDCA is effective in the treatment of early PBC patients with poor biochemical response, the rate of biochemical response is 73.5%. The common adverse reactions of fenofibrate are liver injury and kidney injury. During the medication, the patients′ liver and kidney function should be closely monitored.

Objective To improve the method of bedside blind placement of bengmark nasointestinal tube, and evaluate its application effect in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) patients. Methods Combined with clinical practice experience, the "four-point testing method" "four-point auscultation method" and "gently shaking method" were applied to the traditional blind placement, so as to form a standard, operative and highly-qualified blind placement method of the blind placement of the bengmark nasointestinal tube. A total of 50 SAP patients hospitalized in the Gastroenterology Department of Xinqiao Hospital Affiliated to Army Medical University from November 1st, 2016 to March 31st, 2018 were recruited to evaluate the catheterization success rate of the new catheterization method, time-consuming of catheterization, vital signs, catheter-related complications, patient satisfaction, and other indicators. Results The success rate of bedside blind placement of bengmark nasointestinal tube in 50 patients with SAP was 96% (48/50). The median catheterization time was 22.8 (minimum 10 to longest 60) min. There was no statistical significance in the differences of blood pressure, heart rate, respiration, and oxyhemoglobin saturation before and after catheterization (P＞ 0.05). No arrhythmia, bleeding, perforation, misplaced airways, and other related complications occurred. The satisfaction degree of catheterization was 100% (50/50). Conclusions The improved bedside blind placement of bengmark nasointestinal tube has the advantages of strong operability, easy to learn and use, and at the same time has good results in the preliminary application of SAP patients. It can be used in further randomized controlled trials with higher intensity of demonstration and can be used in severe patients.