ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of Tongnaoyin on the blood-brain barrier status and neurological impairment in acute ischemic stroke （AIS） patients with the syndrome of phlegm-stasis blocking collaterals by dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging （DCE-MRI）. MethodsA total of 63 patients diagnosed with AIS in the Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine from October 2022 to December 2023 were enrolled in this study. According to random number table method，the patients were assigned into a control group （32 cases） and an observation group （31 cases）. The control group received conventional Western medical treatment，and the observation group took 200 mL Tongnaoyin after meals，twice a day from day 2 of admission on the basis of the treatment in the control group. After 7 days of treatment，the patients were examined by DCE-MRI. The baseline data for two groups of patients before treatment were compared. The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale （NIHSS） score and modified Rankin Scale （mRS） score were recorded before treatment and after 90 days of treatment for both groups. The rKtrans，rKep，and rVe values were obtained from the region of interest （ROI） of the infarct zone/mirror area and compared between the two groups. ResultsThere was no significant difference in the NIHSS or mRS score between the two groups before treatment. After 90 days of treatment，the NIHSS and mRS scores declined in both groups，and the observation group had lower scores than the control group （P<0.05）. After treatment，the rKtrans and rVe in the observation group were lower than those in the control group （P<0.01）. ConclusionCompared with conventional Western medical treatment alone，conventional Western medical treatment combined with Tongnaoyin accelerates the repair of the blood-brain barrier in AIS patients，thereby ameliorating neurological impairment after AIS to improve the prognosis.

Objective: To understand the unhealthy listening habits and related factors hearing on impairment among primary and middle school students in Jilin Province, so as to provide a scientific basis for the prevention of hearing impairment in children and adolescents. Methods: From September to November 2021, a stratified cluster random sampling method was employed to select 12 847 primary and middle school students in nine cities of Jilin Province who use headphones for more than 0.5 hours daily for a questionnaire survey. Data on unhealthy listening habits, lifestyle habits and hearing impairment were collected. The data were analyzed using the χ 2 test and Logistic regression. Results: Totally 1 702 students(13.25%) experienced hearing impairment within the last month. There were statistical differences between the sexes with the average daily headphone use, the times of using headphones ≥1 h every day for one week use in all environment or noisy environment ( χ 2=47.86, 57.60, 66.31, P <0.01). Logistic regression analysis results showed that factors related to the occurrence of hearing impairment among primary and secondary school students included:average daily headphone use of 1-2 h and more than 2 h ( OR=1.74, 95%CI =1.60-1.90; OR=1.73, 95%CI =1.59-1.90), times of using headphones ≥1 h every day for one week were 1-2 times and >2 times ( OR=1.71, 95%CI =1.59- 1.84 ; OR=1.83, 95%CI =1.71-1.97), the times of using headphones≥1 h every day for one week being 1-2 times and >2 times in noisy environment per week ( OR=1.48, 95%CI =1.40-1.56; OR=1.72, 95%CI =1.61-1.86), economic underdevelopment ( OR=1.85, 95%CI =1.76-1.96), boarding （OR=1.78, 95%CI =1.69-1.89), single parent family ( OR=1.72, 95%CI =1.60- 1.87 ), daily activity duration less than 1 h ( OR=1.71, 95%CI =1.63-1.81), sedentary behavior duration more than 6 h per day ( OR=1.88, 95%CI =1.79-1.98) ( P <0.05). Conclusions The behavior of ear protection among primary and middle school students in Jilin Province needs to be enhanced, focusing on students in economically underdeveloped areas, boarding schools and single parent families. It is necessary to guide primary and middle school students to improve their bad ear habits, increase outdoor activities and reduce the time of sitting.

Aortic dissection is a life-threatening cardiovascular disease with devastating complications and high mortality. It requires rapid and accurate diagnosis and a focus on prognosis. Many laboratory tests are routinely performed in patients with aortic dissection including D-dimer, brain natriuretic peptide, cardiac troponin I, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin. D-dimer shows vital performance in the diagnosis of aortic dissection, and brain natriuretic peptide, cardiac troponin I, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin exhibits important value in risk stratification and prognostic effect in aortic dissection patients. Our review summarized the clinical utility of these laboratory tests in patients with aortic dissection, aiming to provide advanced and comprehensive evidence for clinicians to better understand these laboratory tests and help their clinical practice.

Objective: To analyze the unregistered treatment situation and its influencing factors among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province from 2017 to 2023, so as to provide a basis for promoting the management of tuberculosis patients and optimizing disease prevention and control strategies. Methods: Data of pulmonary tuberculosis patients including demographic information, etiological results, and mortality status were collected through the China Disease Prevention and Control Information System Infectious Disease Reporting and Surveillance System and the Tuberculosis Management Information System. Pulmonary tuberculosis patients not matched in the Tuberculosis Management Information System were defined as unregistered treatment patients, and the unregistered treatment rate was analyzed. Factors affecting unregistered treatment among pulmonary tuberculosis patients were analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: A total of 10 779 pulmonary tuberculosis patients were reported in Quzhou City from 2017 to 2023, including 7 700 males (71.44%) and 3 079 females (28.56%). There were 5 484 cases aged <65 years, accounting for 50.88%. Among them, 630 cases were unregistered treatment, with an unregistered treatment rate of 5.84% (95%CI: 5.42%-6.38%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed pulmonary tuberculosis patients aged ≥65 years (OR=1.829, 95%CI: 1.512-2.212) had a higher risk of being unregistered treatment than those aged <65 years; patients with non-local household registration (OR=5.710, 95%CI: 4.724-6.901) had a higher risk than local patients; and patients engaged in housework/unemployed (OR=2.001, 95%CI: 1.421-2.818) or other occupations (OR=2.396, 95%CI: 1.789-3.137) had a higher risk than farmers. The mortality of unregistered treatment pulmonary tuberculosis patients was higher than the registered treatment patients (26.67% vs. 5.02%),with a significantly elevated mortality risk (OR=7.147, 95%CI: 5.738-8.902). Conclusions The unregistered treatment rate among pulmonary tuberculosis patients was well controlled in Quzhou City from 2017 to 2023, but the elderly, patients with non-local household registration, and those engaged in housework/unemployed had a higher risk of unregistered treatment. It is recommended to improve medical and social security policies, strengthen health education on tuberculosis prevention, enhance treatment adherence, and reduce mortality risk.

Objective:To explore the role and relationship between oxidative stress and immune infiltration in idiopathic pul-monary fibrosis(IPF),and to predict the relevant therapeutic herbal medicines and active ingredients.Methods:GSE10667 gene expression profiles were downloaded from GEO database to obtain differential expression genes,differential expression of oxidative stress genes(DEOSGs)were identified in combination with oxidative stress genes.GSEA was used to evaluate the pathways and biologi-cal processes in IPF,and GO,KEGG and PPI network analysis were performed on DEOSGs.Candidate central genes were derived from PPI results and CytoHubba,and GSE110147 was validated as an independent group to identify central genes;in addition,the immune microenvironment of samples was evaluated using CIBERSORTF,and correlation between central gene levels and relative proportion of immune cells was explored;finally,therapeutic herbal medicines and components were predicted by central genes,and mole-cular docking verification was carried out.Results:A total of 51 DEOSGs,four central genes(ICAM-1,APOE,MMP-1,TGF-β2)were obtained;DEOSGs were mainly related to oxidative stress,immune response,etc;four central gene levels were closely correlated with 8 relative proportions of immune cells;therapeutic herbal medicines included 4 flavors such as Huangqi and Chuanxiong,and the active ingredients included 8 kinds of β-carotene,etc,the molecular docking results were stable.Conclusion:Oxidative stress and immune firing are exist in IPF,and oxidative stress may be recognized by immune cells or directly activate immune cells.

Objective To investigate the impact of liraglutide on contrast-induced nephropathy(CIN)and prognosis in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes(T2DM)after PCI.Methods A ret-rospective trial was conducted on 364 elderly T2DM patients undergoing PCI in Department of Cardiology of Tianjin Chest Hospital from January 2021 to June 2022.According to whether lira-glutide was used in the past,they were divided into liraglutide group(n=145)and control group(n=219).Their general clinical data were collected in the two groups.Propensity score matching was used to adjust confounding factors and to assign the patients.After propensity score matc-hing,there were 220 patients finally included,with 110 in each group.The levels of serum creati-nine(Scr),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin(NGAL),hyper-sensitive C-reactive protein(hs-CRP),malondialdehyde(MDA),superoxide dismutase(SOD),Bax/BCL-2 and Caspase 9,and incidence of CIN were compared before and in 48 h after PCI be-tween the matched patients from the two groups.These patients were followed up for 18 months after discharge.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to determine the effect of liraglutide on the occurrence of CIN.Kaplan-Meier curve analysis and Log rank test were applied to compare the differences in the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)be-tween 2 groups.Results The levels of Scr,BUN,NGAL,hs-CRP,and MDA were significantly lower,and SOD level was obviously higher in the liraglutide group than the control group in 48 h after PCI(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).The liraglutide group had notably lower incidence of CIN than the control group within 48 h after PCI(7.27％vs 16.36％,P＜0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated liraglutide as an independent protective factor against CIN(OR=0.341,95％CI:0.128-0.906,P=0.031).During the median follow-up period of 14.75(12.60,16.33)months,a lower MACE occurrence rate was seen in the liraglutide group than the control group(log rank x2=5.656,P=0.017).Conclusion Liraglutide can reduce the incidences of CIN and MACE in elderly T2DM patients after PCI,which may be associated with its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Objective To investigate the influences of Qishen Yiqi dropping pills on serum IL-18 level and prognosis in elderly hypertension patients complicated with acute coronary syndrome(ACS).Methods A prospective study was performed on 330 patients with hypertension compli-cated by ACS treated in our hospital from January 2020 to January 2022.They were randomly di-vided into dropping pills treatment group(n=164)and control group(n=166).The control group received standard Western medicine treatment,and on the basis of the treatment,the treat-ment group were given Qishen Yiqi dropping pills.The baseline clinical data,serum IL-18 level,blood pressure,and blood lipid and glucose levels in 1 year after treatment and the incidence rate of MACE within 1 year of follow-up were compared between the two groups.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to identify influencing factors for reoccurrence of MACE in elderly patients with hypertension complicated by ACS.ROC curve was plotted to study the value of IL-18 in predicting MACE in the patients.Results In 1 year after treatment,SBP and DBP levels,serum levels of IL-18,LDL-C and TC,and the incidence of MACE were significantly lower in the treatment group than the control group(P＜0.05).Multivarate logistic regression analysis re-vealed that Qishen Yiqi dropping pill was an independent protective factor for MACE(OR=0.259,95％CI:0.087-0.772,P=0.010),while higher serum IL-18 level was a risk factor for MACE(OR=1.075,95％CI:1.046-1.106,P=0.000)in the elderly hypertension patients com-plicated by ACS.The AUC value of serum IL-18 level in predicting MACE in the patients with hypertension complicated by ACS was 0.786(95％CI:0.696-0.877,P＜0.01),with a sensitivity and a specificity of 65.00％and 90.00％respectively.Conclusion Serum IL-18 level has a predic-tive value for prognosis in elderly hypertension patients complicated with ACS.Qishen Yiqi drop-ping pills can reduce serum IL-18 level,blood pressure and lipids,attenuate inflammatory re-sponse,and consequently decrease the risk of MACE and improve prognosis in the patients.

Objective:To investigate whether malignant tumors are an independent risk factor for short-term mortality in elderly patients with sepsis in the intensive care unit(ICU), and to examine the dose-response relationship between the sequential organ failure assessment(SOFA)score and short-term mortality in this patient population.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on elderly sepsis patients aged 80 and above from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care(MIMIC-Ⅳ)database spanning from 2008 to 2019.The patients were categorized into a tumor group and a non-tumor group based on the presence of malignant tumors, and a comparison was made between the baseline data and prognosis of these two groups.Furthermore, patients were classified into survival and mortality groups based on their ICU survival status within 28 days, and a comparison of baseline data was performed.Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the risk factors associated with short-term mortality.Additionally, probability unit regression was utilized to model the dose-response relationship between the SOFA score and short-term mortality.Results:A total of 53 150 medical records were screened, identifying 5 126 elderly sepsis patients aged 80 and above.Among them, 754 had malignant tumors and 264 had metastatic tumors.The 28-day mortality rate in the tumor group was significantly higher than in the non-tumor group[26.79%(202/754) vs.18.85%(824/4 372), χ2=24.85, P<0.001].Logistic regression analysis revealed age( OR=1.073, 95% CI: 1.040-1.108, P<0.001), Charlson comorbidity index(CCI)excluding tumors( OR=1.134, 95% CI: 1.067-1.205, P<0.001), blood lactate concentration at ICU admission( OR=1.111, 95% CI: 1.048-1.179, P<0.001), mechanical ventilation( OR=1.603, 95% CI: 1.176-2.187, P=0.003), and SOFA score( OR=1.227, 95% CI: 1.182-1.273, P<0.001)as risk factors for short-term mortality.Conversely, CCI( OR=0.957, 95% CI: 0.867-1.057, P=0.380), use of vasoactive drugs( OR=1.370, 95% CI: 0.902-2.081, P=0.140), malignant tumors( OR=1.131, 95% CI: 0.449-2.848, P=0.794), and metastasis of malignant tumors( OR=1.799, 95% CI: 0.930-3.477, P=0.081)were not associated with short-term mortality.The dose-response curve illustrated that as the SOFA score increased, patients' 28-day mortality rate also rose, reaching 50% at a SOFA score of 11 and exceeding 80% at a score of 20. Conclusions:Malignant tumors and tumor metastasis do not appear to be independent risk factors for short-term mortality in elderly sepsis patients in the ICU.Instead, the short-term mortality rate of these patients seems to be correlated with the SOFA score in a dose-response manner.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided semispinalis capitis plane (SCP) block for treatment of occipital neuralgia (ON).Methods:This was a prospective study. Ninety patients of both sexes, aged 29-66 yr, suffering ON for 3 months-6 yr in Zibo Municipal Hospital from January 2022 to December 2023, were divided into 3 groups ( n=30 each) using a random number table method: combination of greater occipital nerve (GON) block and the third occipital nerve (TON) block group (group GT), SCP block via the medial head of semispinalis capitis muscle (SCM) group (group Sm), and SCP block via the space between obliquus capitis inferior and C 2, 3 facet joint (OCI-C 2, 3) group (group OC). In GT group, the analgesic and anti-inflammatory compound solution 2.5 ml was injected around GON in the SCM-OCI space at the C 2 level of the cervical vertebra and at the lateral surface of C 2, 3 facet joint. In Sm group, the analgesic and anti-inflammatory compound solution 5 ml was injected into the medial head of SCM at the level of C 1. In OC group, the analgesic and anti-inflammatory compound solution 5 ml was injected into the OCI-C 2, 3 space in the deep part of SCM. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score were recorded before treatment (T 1) and at 1, 3, 7, 10 and 14 days after treatment (T 2-6), and then the rates of pain relief and improvement in sleep quality were calculated. The time spent in blocking, onset time of blocking, completion time of blocking, duration of block, and occurrence of adverse reactions within 24 h after block were recorded. Results:There were no significant differences in VAS scores and PSQI scores at T 1-3 and T 5-6 among the three groups ( P>0.05), and VAS and PSQI scores were significantly higher at T 4 in Sm group than in OC and GT groups ( P<0.05). Compared with GT group, the time spent in blocking was significantly shortened, the onset time and completion time of block was prolonged, and the duration of block was shortened in Sm group, and the time spent in blocking was significantly shortened, the onset time and completion time of block was shortened ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the duration of block in OC group ( P>0.05). No severe complications were observed in the three groups. Conclusions:Compared with the combination of GON and TON blocks, ultrasound-guided SCP block for treating ON is simple and highly safe, SCP block via the OCI-C 2, 3 space has rapid onset and long duration, leading to significant improvements in pain and sleep quality, and it can be used as the first-choice block method for treating ON.

Objective To explore basement membrane markers and potential drugs for treatment in idiopathic pulmona-ry fibrosis(IPF).Methods IPF-related datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database,processed to construct basement membrane gene expression matrices associated with IPF,and screened for differential basement membrane genes(DEBMs);DEBMs were enriched for function and pathways,and machine learning algorithms were used to ob-tain candidate signature genes,receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were used to identify signature genes and con-struct a nomogram.We performed ssGSEA analysis to explore the correlation between signature genes and immune cells and their functions and predicted the corresponding miRNAs and therapeutic drugs by signature genes.Results A total of 56 DEBMs were extracted;enrichment analysis showed that DEBMs were mainly enriched in"extracellular matrix tissue","extracellular structural tissue",etc.,and were closely related to"ECM-receptor interaction"and"local adhesion spot"pathways.The ma-chine learning has identified six candidate signature genes(TIMP3,P3H2,ITGA7,ITGA4,ADAMTS2,COL8A2),all of which meet the requirements of the signature genes by the ROC curve test,and the nomogram diagnostic value was outstanding(AUC=0.991 523);B cells and Macrophages in IPF were significantly different from the normal group.Finally,miRNAs were predicted to be dominated by miR-4305,miR-3684,progesterone,and tert-butyl hydroperoxide as therapeutic agents with strong relevance to IPF.Conclusion Signature genes and predictive miRNAs may serve as novel markers for IPF diagnosis,and pre-dictive drugs may be a potential source of drugs for treating IPF.