ObjectiveTo compare colonoscopy compliance rates under different screening strategies, to explore ways to enhance colonoscopy compliance among residents with colorectal carcinoma. MethodsResidents aged between 50‒80 years were recruited through extensive community outreach and voluntary participation. A total of 210 630 residents who participated in the colorectal carcinoma screening program in Jiading District, Shanghai, between 2013 and 2019 were selected as the research subjects. All subjects underwent a colorectal carcinoma risk assessment questionnaire survey and two fecal occult blood tests (FOBT). Positive results in the initial screening were defined as a positive questionnaire survey or a positive result in at least one FOBT. Participants with positive initial screening results were advised to undergo colonoscopy screening in a hospital. Colonoscopy results were collected from hospital reports and physician follow-ups. Compliance with colonoscopy was analyzed under different screening strategies to identify possible factors influencing residents’ willingness to undergo the procedure. ResultsA total of 21 403 individuals (10.16%) were identified as positive with the questionnaire survey, 31 595 individuals (15.00%) tested positive with at least one FOBT. Combined questionnaire and FOBT positivity was observed in 3 501 individuals (1.66%). Among the 48 453 individuals with positive initial screening results, 17 230 (35.56%) underwent colonoscopy, and a total of 315 cases of colorectal cancer were detected. The sensitivity, specificity value of FOBT initial screening were 83.81% and 84.66%, respectively. According to the combined risk assessment and FOBT initial screening preliminary screening, the lowest colonoscopy compliance rate (25.63%) was observed among individuals with only a positive questionnaire, and the highest compliance rate (52.55%) was among those with both positive questionnaire survey and two positive FOBT results. Multivariate analysis revealed that FOBT positivity had the greatest impact on colonoscopy compliance. Those with one positive FOBT test result were 2.64 times more likely to undergo colonoscopy screening than those with negative FOBT results, while individuals with two positive FOBT results were 3.18 times more likely to do so. After adjusting for FOBT results, individuals with positive questionnaire survey results were 1.43 times more likely to undergo colonoscopy screening than those with negative results (95%CI: 1.34‒1.52). Compared to questionnaire-based risk assessment, FOBT results were more influential in determining compliance with colonoscopy. ConclusionThe choice of initial screening method significantly impacts residents’ compliance with colonoscopy. While implementing colorectal carcinoma screening programs, it is necessary to strictly adhere to screening protocols, including risk assessment and FOBT. Additionally, efforts should be made to raise public awareness, encouraging residents to actively participate in risk assessments and FOBT, thereby improving their compliance with colonoscopy.

Nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA), one of the most severe types of male infertility, etiology often remains unclear in most cases. Therefore, this study aimed to detect four biallelic detrimental variants (0.5%) in the minichromosome maintenance domain containing 2 ( MCMDC2 ) genes in 768 NOA patients by whole-exome sequencing (WES). Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) demonstrated that MCMDC2 deleterious variants caused meiotic arrest in three patients (c.1360G>T, c.1956G>T, and c.685C>T) and hypospermatogenesis in one patient (c.94G>T), as further confirmed through immunofluorescence (IF) staining. The single-cell RNA sequencing data indicated that MCMDC2 was substantially expressed during spermatogenesis. The variants were confirmed as deleterious and responsible for patient infertility through bioinformatics and in vitro experimental analyses. The results revealed four MCMDC2 variants related to NOA, which contributes to the current perception of the function of MCMDC2 in male fertility and presents new perspectives on the genetic etiology of NOA.
Humans ; Male ; Azoospermia/genetics* ; Meiosis/genetics* ; Spermatogenesis/genetics* ; Adult ; Exome Sequencing ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins/genetics* ; Alleles ; Infertility, Male/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of Gandouling decoction combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation （NMES） in the treatment of dysphagia in Wilson disease （WD） with combined phlegm and stasis. MethodsA total of 80 WD patients with dysphagia due to combined phlegm and stasis treated in the Department of Encephalopathy， the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine were randomized into a control group and an observation group， with 40 patients in each group. In addition， 40 healthy volunteers were recruited as the normal group. The control group was treated with basic copper drainage combined with NMES. The observation group was treated with Gandouling Decoction on the basis of the therapy in the control group. Each course of treatment lasted for 8 days， and the patients were treated for a total of 4 courses. All subjects underwent video fluoroscopic swallowing study （VFSS） before and after treatment. During the examination， contrast agents with 4 different characters were used for the swallowing action， and the passing time was recorded. The TCM syndrome score， water swallow test score， standard swallowing assessment （SSA） score， and 24-h urinary copper level before and after treatment were analyzed. ResultsWhen performing VFSS， the passing time of contrast agents of different characters in the oral stage was longer in the WD group than in the normal group （P<0.01）， while it had no significant difference in the pharyngeal stage. After treatment， the passing time in the oral stage shortened in the control and observation groups （P<0.01）， and the observation group outperformed the control group （P<0.01）. After treatment， both the control and observation groups showed declines in TCM syndrome score and SSA score （P<0.01） and an increase in water swallow test score （P<0.01）， and the changes were more obvious in the observation group than in the control group （P<0.01）. In addition， the treatment in the control and observation groups elevated the 24-h urinary copper level （P<0.01）， and the elevation in the observation group was more obvious than that in the control group （P<0.01）. Neither group showed obvious adverse reaction. ConclusionGandouling decoction combined with NMES can significantly ameliorate dysphagia in WD patients with the syndrome of combined phlegm and stasis regarding the TCM syndrome score， water swallow test score， and SSA score， demonstrating definite clinical efficacy and high safety.

BACKGROUND: There are few multi-city studies on the association between temperature and mortality in basin climates. This study was based on the Sichuan Basin in southwest China to assess the association of basin temperature with non-accidental mortality in the population and with the temperature-related mortality burden. METHODS: Daily mortality data, meteorological and air pollution data were collected for four cities in the Sichuan Basin of southwest China. We used a two-stage time-series analysis to quantify the association between temperature and non-accidental mortality in each city, and a multivariate meta-analysis was performed to obtain the overall cumulative risk. The attributable fractions (AFs) were calculated to access the mortality burden attributable to non-optimal temperature. Additionally, we performed a stratified analyses by gender, age group, education level, and marital status. RESULTS: A total of 751,930 non-accidental deaths were collected in our study. Overall, 10.16% of non-accidental deaths could be attributed to non-optimal temperatures. A majority of temperature-related non-accidental deaths were caused by low temperature, accounting for 9.10% (95% eCI: 5.50%, 12.19%), and heat effects accounted for only 1.06% (95% eCI: 0.76%, 1.33%). The mortality burden attributable to non-optimal temperatures was higher among those under 65 years old, females, those with a low education level, and those with an alternative marriage status. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggested that a significant association between non-optimal temperature and non-accidental mortality. Those under 65 years old, females, and those with a low educational level or alternative marriage status had the highest attributable burden.
Female ; Humans ; China/epidemiology* ; Cities ; Cold Temperature ; Hot Temperature ; Mortality ; Temperature ; Time Factors ; Middle Aged ; Male

Wilson's disease （WD） is a copper metabolism disorder caused by mutations in the ATP7B gene， with diverse phenotypes and complex pathogenesis. It is one of the few rare diseases that can achieve good clinical efficacy through standardized treatment. Since there are few systematic reviews of this disease， we summarize the pathogenesis and treatment methods of WD from traditional Chinese and western medicine by reviewing the literature related to WD. In western medicine， ATP7B gene mutation is considered as the root cause of WD， which affects copper transport and causes copper metabolism disorders. The excessive copper deposited in the body will result in oxidative stress， defects in mitochondrial function， and cell death. Western medicine treatment of WD relies mainly on drugs， and copper antagonists are the first choice in clinical practice， which are often combined with hepatoprotective and antioxidant therapy. Surgery is a common therapy for the patients with end-stage WD， and gene therapy provides an option for WD patients. According to the traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） theory， WD is rooted in constitutional deficiency and copper accumulation and triggered by dampness-heat accumulation or phlegm combined with stasis. The patient syndrome varies in different stages of the disease， and thus the treatment should be based on syndrome differentiation. The TCM treatment method of nourishing the liver and kidneys and warming the spleen and kidneys can address the root cause. The methods of clearing heat and drying dampness， resolving phlegm and dispelling stasis， and soothing liver and regulating qi movement can be adopted to treat symptoms. On the basis of syndrome differentiation， special prescriptions for the treatment of WD have been formulated， such as Gandou decoction， Gandouling， and Gandou Fumu decoction， which have been widely used in clinical practice. TCM and western medicine have their own advantages and shortcomings. The integrated Chinese and western medicine complementing with each other demonstrates great therapeutic potential. This paper summarizes the pathogenesis and treatment of WD with integrated Chinese and western medicine， aiming to provide a reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Licorice-gypsum (gancao-shigao, GC-SG) drug pair was used as the research object, using supramolecular chemistry to explore the scientific connotation of combining herbal medicine GC with insoluble mineral medicine SG in clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine. ① The Tyndall effect, microscopic morphology and particle size of the single and co-decocted of GC and SG were observed, the paste content and conductivity were determined, and the interaction between GC and SG was detected by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and infrared absorption spectroscopy (IR). ② Calcium chloride (CaCl₂), a soluble calcium salt of equal gypsum quality, was used instead of SG with GC for co-decocting to explore the effect of calcium salt content on the water decocting, and the characteristics were combined with the Tyndall effect, microscopic morphology, paste content and conductivity. ITC and IR techniques were used to detect the interaction between the two, and the interaction between them was detected by ITC and IR. The zeta potential and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-vis) of GC-SG and GC-CaCl₂ co-decoction were compared, and the inorganic and organic components in the co-decoction were detected by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed: ① Compared with the liquid phase of single decoction, GC-SG co-decoction had more obvious Tyndall effect, and showed uniform spherical nanoparticles under electron microscope. Physical characterization results such as paste content and conductivity showed that co-decoction promoted the dissolution of each other's components; ITC and IR results showed that there was strong interaction between GC and SG, which preliminatively indicated that GC and SG co-decoction promoted the formation of uniform and stable supramolecular system of traditional Chinese medicine. ② When soluble calcium salt was used to substitute insoluble SG with GC for co-decocting, a stronger but astigmatic light path appeared than single decocting solution, the zeta potential was reduced, and a large number of accumulated polymers were formed. The results of paste content and conductivity showed that the dissolution of the co-decocting component was reduced than the single decocting component. ITC, UV-vis and IR results showed that there was interaction between GC with Ca²⁺ and SG. The formation of polysink indicated that a large amount of soluble calcium salt would destroy the stability of supramolecular Chinese medicine. The results of ICP-OES and HPLC showed that the glycyrrhizic acid (GA) content of the former lower than the latter, which was related to the formation of a large number of polycondensates with the increase of Ca²⁺ concentration and the decrease of the dissolution of GA and other active ingredients. This study indicates that the compatibility of GC and SG can form a uniform and stable supramolecular system of traditional Chinese medicine. Calcium salt, the main component of SG, is taken as the starting point. Excessive soluble Ca²⁺ can promote the aggregation of active ingredients such as GA, so as to reveal the scientific connotation of the compatibility of GC and SG, an insoluble mineral medicine.

Objective To evaluate the value of high-throughput sequencing(HTS)data reanalysis that does not include ERBB2 copy number variation(CNV)analysis,in identifying ERBB2 amplification in patients with colorectal cancer.Methods The HTS data of 252 cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed by pathological biopsy who received peripheral blood cfDNA HTS detection samples were retrospectively analyzed.According to the HTS data of ERBB2 non-amplified samples judged by immunohistochemistry(IHC)and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH),the number of chromosome 17(Chr17)reads in the total number of reads was calculated the range of the ratio was initially determined as the threshold for prompting ERBB2 amplification.Suspected positive samples were screened according to thresholds and verified by digital PCR,IHC and FISH.Results The proportion of the number of Chr17 reads accounts for the number of total reads in the 89 cases of ERBB2 non-amplified samples determined by IHC and/or FISH ranged from 0.188 to 0.299(0.239±0.192).Using 0.298(1.25 times the mean)as the threshold indicating ERBB2 amplification,the data of 163 samples were analyzed,of which 7 cases were suspected to be positive,and the ratio ranged from 0.302 to 0.853.Among them,5 cases were determined to be positive by IHC and/or FISH,and 6 cases were confirmed to be positive by digital PCR.The ratio of the number of Chr17 reads to the number of total reads was positively correlated with the ratio of ERBB2/EIF2C1,and the correlation was good(r2=0.909).Conclusion The high-throughput sequencing data that does not cover the ERBB2 CNV analysis has a certain hint value for ERBB2 amplification in patients with colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND:Digital three-dimensional reconstruction technology is gradually applied to orthopedic diseases with the advantages of visualization,accuracy and non-invasiveness,but there is less evidence-based support for its use in artificial hip hemiarthroplasty for intertrochanteric fractures of the femur in the elderly. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the application value and economic effects of digital three-dimensional reconstruction techniques in artificial hip hemiarthroplasty of intertrochanteric fractures of the femur in the elderly. METHODS:One hundred and thirty elderly patients with intertrochanteric femur fractures admitted to Zunyi First People's Hospital from January 2019 to December 2022 were selected and randomly divided into a control group(n=65)and an observation group(n=65).Artificial hip hemiarthroplasty was performed in both groups.The control group adopted the film template measurement method for manual preoperative planning while the observation group adopted a digital three-dimensional reconstruction technique.Preoperative planning and intraoperative actual application of prosthesis compliance rate,fibrinogen,D-dimer,bilateral femoral eccentric distance difference,bilateral lower limb length difference,Harris hip function score,visual analog scale score,excellent and good rate of hip function,complications,and hospitalization cost were observed in both groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The proportion of acetabular side and femoral side prosthesis in grade 0(fully compliant)was higher in the observation group than that in the control group(P<0.05).(2)Fibrinogen and D-dimer levels in the observation group were lower than those in the control group 3 days after surgery(P<0.05).(3)The difference in bilateral femoral eccentric distance and the difference in bilateral lower limb length in the observation group were smaller than those in the control group immediately after surgery(P<0.05).The differences in Harris and visual analog scale scores were not significantly different between the two groups preoperatively,6 and 12 months postoperatively(P>0.05).There was no significant difference in excellent and good rate of hip function between the two groups 12 months postoperatively(P>0.05).(4)There was no significant difference in the complication rate between the two groups(P>0.05).The hospitalization cost of the observation group was higher than that of the control group(P<0.05).(5)It is indicated that digital three-dimensional reconstruction technology applied in artificial hip hemiarthroplasty of intertrochanteric femoral fracture in the elderly can not only accurately determine the prosthesis type before surgery,but also accurately reconstruct the bilateral lower limbs offline,but its hospitalization cost is high.