Background::Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and diameter, stiffness, and wave reflections, are independent and important clinical biomarkers and risk predictors for cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of the present study was to establish nationwide reference values of carotid properties for healthy Chinese adults and to explore potential clinical determinants.Methods::A total of 3053 healthy Han Chinese adults (1922 women) aged 18-79 years were enrolled at 28 collaborating tertiary centers throughout China between April 2021 and July 2022. The real-time tracking of common carotid artery walls was achieved by the radio frequency (RF) ultrasound system. The IMT, diameter, compliance coefficient, β stiffness, local pulse wave velocity (PWV), local systolic blood pressure, augmented pressure (AP), and augmentation index (AIx) were then automatically measured and reported. Data were stratified by age groups and sex. The relationships between age and carotid property parameters were analyzed by Jonckheere-Terpstra test and simple linear regressions. The major clinical determinants of carotid properties were identified by Pearson’s correlation, multiple linear regression, and analyses of covariance.Results::All the parameters of carotid properties demonstrated significantly age-related trajectories. Women showed thinner IMT, smaller carotid diameter, larger AP, and AIx than men. The β stiffness and PWV were significantly higher in men than women before forties, but the differences reversed after that. The increase rate of carotid IMT (5.5 μm/year in women and 5.8 μm/year in men) and diameter (0.03 mm/year in both men and women) were similar between men and women. For the stiffness and wave reflections, women showed significantly larger age-related variations than men as demonstrated by steeper regression slopes (all P for age by sex interaction <0.05). The blood pressures, body mass index (BMI), and triglyceride levels were identified as major clinical determinants of carotid properties with adjustment of age and sex. Conclusions::The age- and sex-specific reference values of carotid properties measured by RF ultrasound for healthy Chinese adults were established. The blood pressures, BMI, and triglyceride levels should be considered for clinical application of corresponding reference values.

Objective:To systematically retrieve, evaluate, and summarize evidence on insomnia screening and assessment in adult malignant tumor patients.Methods:The clinical decisions, guidelines, and expert consensus on screening and assessing insomnia in malignant tumor patients were systematically searched in clinical decision support systems, guideline websites, literature databases, and professional association websites. This study conducted methodological quality evaluation and evidence extraction, translation, and integration.Results:A total of 8 articles were included, including three clinical decisions, two evidence-based guidelines, and three expert consensuses. After extracting and summarizing evidence, 38 pieces of evidence were obtained from three aspects of general management principles, insomnia screening, and insomnia assessment.Conclusions:The insomnia screening and assessment in adult malignant tumor patients should be standardized according to evidence-based standards and combined with specific clinical situations in China.

Patients with Alzheimer′s disease (AD) often exhibit both cognitive and depressive symptoms, suggesting a strong connection between the two, potentially indicating shared pathological factors. This article reviews the common pathological factors underlying cognitive and depressive symptoms in AD, focusing on aspects such as genetic factors, neurodegeneration, hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis (HPA) dysfunction, neurotrophic factor deficiency, enhanced neuroinflammation, gut microbiota imbalance, and neurotransmitter systems imbalance. Further research on these common pathological factors is of great significance for future AD treatment.

Objective To establish ecological suitability zone of Forsythia suspensa(Thunb.)Vahl in Shanxi Province;To study the quality regionalization of Forsythia suspensa(Thunb.)Vahl from different producing areas in Shanxi Province;To provide reference for reasonable planting and wild tending of Forsythia suspensa(Thunb.)Vahl.Methods Maximum entropy(MaxEnt)model and ArcGIS software were used to study the ecological suitability of Forsythia suspensa(Thunb.)Vahl in Shanxi Province;By screening the main environmental factors and combining them with the content of forsythoside and forsythoside A in Forsythia suspensa(Thunb.)Vahl of different regions,a quality zoning of Forsythia suspensa Thunb.Vahl medicinal materials in Shanxi Province based on forsythoside,forsythoside A and environmental factors was constructed.Results The ecological suitable areas of Forsythia suspensa Thunb.Vahl in Shanxi Province were mainly distributed in the southern part of Shanxi Province,mainly in Linfen,Yuncheng,Changzhi,and Jincheng.The general contents of forsythoside and forsythoside A in the Forsythia suspensa(Thunb.)Vahl medicinal material were gradually reduced from southern part to northern part of Shanxi Province.The comprehensive quality was high in southern part of Shanxi Province,mainly in Linfen,Changzhi,Yuncheng and Jincheng.Conclusion The results of this study are consistent with the actual survey.The southern part of Shanxi province is a suitable planting area for high quality Forsythia suspensa(Thunb.)Vahl,which provides a reference for the standardized planting and wild tending of Forsythia suspensa(Thunb.)Vahl.

Patients with Alzheimer′s disease (AD) often exhibit both cognitive and depressive symptoms, suggesting a strong connection between the two, potentially indicating shared pathological factors. This article reviews the common pathological factors underlying cognitive and depressive symptoms in AD, focusing on aspects such as genetic factors, neurodegeneration, hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis (HPA) dysfunction, neurotrophic factor deficiency, enhanced neuroinflammation, gut microbiota imbalance, and neurotransmitter systems imbalance. Further research on these common pathological factors is of great significance for future AD treatment.

Objective:Intensive physicians have relatively insufficient knowledge and experience in treating patients with decompensated schistosomiasis cirrhosis (DSC) admitted in intensive care unit (ICU), but are relatively familiar with patients with decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis (DAC). For this purpose, the clinical characteristics and prognosis of these patients were compared and analyzed.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed from January 2013 to May 2019 in our hospital and Quzhou People’s hospital. The demographic data, laboratory examination, liver function, Child-Pugh classification, complications of cirrhosis, ultrasonic imaging gastroscopy manifestations were recorded and analyzed. In addition, the treatments and prognosis were also compared.Results:A total of 30 patients (12 males and 18 females) with DSC (aged 57-88) and 31 patients with DAC (aged 41-75) were collected. Compared with patients with DAC, DSC patients were more likely to have coronary heart disease, lower proportion of hyponatremia and lower need of ventilator support. Although the incidences of jaundice and hepatic encephalopathy were significantly reduced ( P<0.05), but parameters of liver function and coagulation were no significant differences in both groups ( P>0.05). B-mode ultrasound of liver in patients with DSC displayed more proportion of patchy and diffuse echo changes and liver volume reduction ( P<0.05), whereas the manifestations of gastroscope in both groups were similar. No significant difference in main treatment measures like uses of somatostatin and three-chamber and two-capsule tube was observed. After treatment, the stop time of gastrointestinal bleeding was similar between groups of DAC and DSC [1.25 (0.5-4.125) days vs. 1.75 (1-2.375) days] ( P>0.05). In addition, the length of ICU stay in DAC group was similar to DSC group [(4.96±3.58) days vs. (3.82±1.99) days], so did the 28-day mortality [14.29% (2/14) vs. 18.18% (2/11)] (both P>0.05). Conclusions:In genenal, patients with decompensated schistosomiasis cirrhosis have the similar clinical characteristics, major biochemical indicators and accessory examination results like ultrasound and gastroscopic examinations to patients with decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis. After timely treatments, both of these patients could achieve a good prognosis.

Objective: To assess the current evidence regarding the efficacy, safety, and potential advantages of endoscopic compared with open salvage surgery for patients with local recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods: A systematic search of Pubmed/Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases ranged between 2000 and 2017 was conducted. Included studies reported specific residual or local recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer survival data. Proportional Meta-analysis was performed on both outcomes with a random-effects model and the 95% confidential intervals were calculated by Stata 12.0 software. Results: A total of 24 case series studies were included in the Meta-analysis.The pooled 2-year overall survival rates of endoscopic and open group were 84% (95%CI:72%-93%), 68%(95%CI:59%-77%),respectively.The pooled 2-year disease-free survival rates of endoscopic and open group were 68%(95%CI:53%-81%), 65%(95%CI:54%-75%),respectively. The pooled 5-year overall survival rates of endoscopic and open group were 72%(95%CI:37%-97%), 48% (95%CI:40%-56%),respectively.The pooled 5-year disease-free survival rates of endoscopic and open group were 65%(95%CI:29%-93%), 50%(95%CI:43%-57%),respectively.The combined outcome of endoscopic was higher than open procedure. In addition, less severe complications, lower local recurrence rates(27%vs32%).The 2-year overall survival rates of endoscopic was higher than open procedure in the staging of rT1, rT2, and rT3 (93%vs87%; 77%vs63%; 67%vs53%) , but was equal to open in the staging for rT4 (35%vs35%) .Meta-regression showed that the heterogeneity was correlated with advanced tumor ratio. Conclusions The present Meta-analysis reveals that endoscopic approach offers a safe and efficient alternative to open approach with better short-term outcome and fewer postoperative complications in selecting patients strictly.

Objective To investigate the effect of early continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) on intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) patients with abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS).Methods 41 SAP patients with ACS were selected as treatment group and treated with CVVH as well as conventional methods in ICU.The other 12 patients with the same disease were selected as the control group and were only treated with conventional methods because of economic reasons.IAP and blood level of IL-6 in the two groups were measured daily in order to investigate their changes and the correlation between the two parameters.Results The serum IL-6 level and IAP in the two groups were higher on admission day.IAP and serum IL-6 level in the treatment group were significantly decreased on the first day after treatment,and thereafter decreased rapidly.In the control group,IAP and serum IL-6 level were significantly decreased on the 3rd day after treatment.IAP and serum IL-6 level from the 1st day to the 6th day after treatment in the treatment group were significantly lower than those of the control group at the same time point (P＜0.05).There was a significant positive correlation between blood IL-6 level and IAP in SAP patients with ACS(r=0.48,P＜0.01).IL-6 difference before and after treatment was also positively correlated with the difference of IAP(R=0.39,P＜0.05).Conclusions VVH significantly decreased the IAP and the blood level of IL-6 in ACS patients of SAP.The blood level of IL-6 is significantly correlated with IAP,suggesting that IL-6 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of ACS.Therefore early CVVH may clear the cytokines such as IL-6 and lower IAP,thus to prevent multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS),which should be applied in the early stage of ACS.

Objective To investigate the infiltration and prognostic significance of tumor-infiltrating mast cells (TIMs) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).Methods Immunohistochemistry for tryptase was performed on 154 NPC specimens.The median value of TIM density was used as a cutoff point to separate the patient cohort into two groups with either low or high TIM infiltration.The associations between TIM and clinicopathological factors were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U text.Survival curves were plotted according to the Kaplan-Meier method.Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using the Log-rank test and the Cox proportional hazard models,respectively.P ＜ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.All statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 13.0.Results TIM was mainly in the stroma of NPC and detected in all specimens.The median value of TIM density (25.60/high power field) was used as a cutoff point to separate the patient cohort into two groups with either low or high TIM infiltration.The density of TIM was positively correlated with N stage (Z =-2.193,P ＜ 0.05) and clinical stage (Z =-2.551,P ＜ 0.05).The 3-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients were 64.4％ and 55.7％ in the high TIM density group;78.3％ and 77.0％ in the low TIM density group.For survival evaluation,high density of TIM was associated with worse OS and PFS (P ＜ 0.05).Multivariate Cox regression model analysis showed TIM infiltration was an independent risk factor for both OS and PFS.Conclusions The density of TIM in NPC increased with tumor stage.High TIM infiltration was associated with poor overall survival and progression-free survival.

Objective:To construct recombinant lentiviral vectors harboring interference RNA ( RNAi ) targetting murine TNF-αgene,so as to lay the foundation on the RNAi gene therapy.Methods: Three small interfering RNA ( siRNA) sequences targeting murine TNF-αgene ( siRNA1,siRNA2,siRNA3) and negative-control siRNA were designed and synthesized.The inhibition effects of siRNAs on TNF-α,IL-1βand IL-6 secretion of LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages were observed using real-time PCR and ELISA methods.DNA oligo was designed and synthesized according to the most effective siRNA 2 sequence.The recombinant lentiviral shuttle plasmid expressing short hairpin RNA ( shRNA) was constructed and sequenced.The lentiviral shuttle plasmids with packaging plasmids were transfected into 293T cells to produce lentiviral particles.Results: ①The TNF-αmRNA relative expression levels of siRNA1, siRNA2 and siRNA3 were 0.24±0.01,0.16±0.02,0.19±0.01 respectively,significantly lower than that of negative control (0.95± 0.02) (F=531.3,P<0.001).The inhibition rates at mRNA level were 74.26%,83.09%,79.93%,respectively comparing with negative control.No significance was observed in IL-1βor IL-6 mRNA relative expression change after TNF-αsiRNA transfection ( P>0.05).②The TNF-αprotein expression levels of siRNA1,siRNA2 and siRNA3 were (23.95±1.21),(17.27±1.46),(19.07± 1.57)ng/ml respectively,significantly lower than that of negative control (35.37±2.93)ng/ml (F=18.1,P=0.000 6<0.001).The inhibition rates of protein expression were 32.29%, 51.16%, 46.08%, respectively comparing with negative control.③The PCR product electrophoresis showed that recombinant vectors yielded 343 bp fragments,non-constructed vectors yielded 306 bp fragments.DNA sequencing partially showed insertion sequence.④Lentiviral particles were obtained by transfecting 293T cells with recombinant lentiviral shuttle plasmids and lentiviral packaging plasmids.Cells grew well during virus production with strong fluorescence expression.The titer of concentrated virus was 2×106 TU/μl.Conclusion:The lentiviral vector harboring RNAi targeting murine TNF-αgene has been successfully constructed.