Diabetic nephropathy(DN)is one of the most common complications of diabetes,and has become the main cause of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease worldwide.At present,the pathogenesis of DN is not completely clear.For a long time,the routine treatment of DN is a combination of life management,hypoglyce-mic,hypotensive with other symptom-based treatment,but its progress cannot be delayed.Therefore,early detec-tion,diagnosis,and treatment of DN are particularly important,but there is currently no single indicator that can be used for early diagnosis of DN.Therefore,the development of simple,sensitive,and efficient biomarkers is be-coming increasingly important.

Objective:The aim of this study was to investigate whether the Model for end-stage liver disease-excluding international normalised ratio ( MELD-XI) score whether it can predict the prognosis of patients on veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support.Methods:This study was a retrospective cohort study, which retrospectively included clinical data data of patients using ECMO from January 2015 to December 2023 in Fuwai Huazhong Cardiovascular Disease Hospital. Inclusion criteria: 1. clinical patients using VA-ECMO, excluding VAV-ECMO and VV-ECMO; 2. available laboratory values of blood creatinine and total bilirubin within the first 24 hours of on-boarding; 3. complete basic information of the patients; and 4. age greater than 18 years. Exclusion criteria: 1. patients whose family members abandoned the treatment due to economic reasons; 2. on-boarding time less than 24 hours; 3. patients with incomplete clinical information or patients who did not have a detailed record of general information on VA-ECMO. Using X-tile software, they were divided into MELD-XI score ≤13.9 and MELD-XI score >13.9 groups, and variables with P < 0.05 were included in the binary logistic regression model after using univariate analysis. Results:: Univariate analysis of 940 patients revealed that the MELD-XI score ≤13.9 group compared with the MELD-XI score >13.9 group had a significant difference in the success of machine withdrawal ( χ2=31.812, P<0.001), death while the machine was in operation ( χ2=52.453, P<0.001), death after machine withdrawal ( χ2=4.210, P=0.040), cerebral thrombotic complications ( χ2=4.319, P=0.038), lower extremity thrombotic complications ( χ2=8.789, P=0.003), and CRRT use ( χ2=15.648, P<0.001), length of boarding (Z=-17.786, P<0.001), length of hospital stay (Z=-17.503, P<0.001), and length of ICU stay ( Z=-18.790, P<0.001) were significantly different. Multifactorial binary logistic regression showed that successful machine withdrawal ( OR=2.078, 95% CI:1.158-3.731, P=0.014), death while the machine was running ( OR=0.271, 95% CI:0.144-0.512, P<0.001), CRRT use ( OR=3.227, 95% CI:1.659-6.474, P=0.001), length of hospital stay ( OR=1.138, 95% CI:1.107-1.171, P<0.001), length of boarding ( OR=1.035, 95% CI:1.027-1.043, P<0.001), ICU stay ( OR=1.365, 95% CI:1.278-1.458, P < 0.001) are independent influencing factor for VA-ECMO support patients. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that both in-hospital mortality ( HR=2.167, 95% CI:1.508-3.114, P<0.001) and withdrawal success ( HR=5.353, 95% CI:4.023-7.121, P<0.001) were significantly lower in the MELD-XI score ≤13.9 group than in the MELD-XI score >13.9 group. Conclusions:The MELD-XI score can predict the prognosis of VA-ECMO-supported patients and help clinician doctors to make complex clinical decisions.

Objective To analyze the development of nuclear medicine services in Hunan Province and to assess internal radiation doses among the nuclear medicine workers (NMWs) involved in iodine-131 radionuclide therapy. Methods Based on a survey of nuclear medicine institutions in Hunan Province, a total of 61 NMWs from seven hospitals providing iodine-131 therapy for thyroid cancer were selected as the study subjects by convenience sampling method. Thyroidal iodine-131 activity was measured using a portable gamma spectrometer to estimate internal dose and total annual effective dose. Results A total of 47 nuclear medicine institutions were reported in Hunan Province by 2023, most of which were public and tertiary hospitals, accounting for 38. Iodine-131 therapy was performed in 30 institutions, including nine for thyroid cancer. A total of nine participants had detectable thyroidal iodine-131 activity among 61 workers involved in iodine-131 thyroid cancer treatment, with the detection rate of 14.8%. Their internal radiation annual committed effective doses ranged from 0.100 to 1.584 mSv, with a mean of 0.499 mSv and median of 0.426 mSv. Except for one cleaner, the remaining eight physicians and nurses had the total annual effective doses ranging from 0.311 to 3.007 mSv, with a mean of 1.305 mSv, all below the annual dose limit of 20.000 mSv among radiation workers specified in national standard. Conclusion Internal exposure to iodine-131 among the NMWs should not be neglected. Standardized procedures and strengthened internal dose monitoring are recommended.

Objective    To predict the probability of lymph node metastasis after thoracoscopic surgery in patients with lung adenocarcinoma based on nomogram. Methods    We analyzed the clinical data of the patients with lung adenocarcinoma treated in the department of thoracic surgery of our hospital from June 2018 to May 2021. The patients were randomly divided into a training group and a validation group. The variables that may affect the lymph node metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma were screened out by univariate logistic regression, and then the clinical prediction model was constructed by multivariate logistic regression. The nomogram was used to show the model visually, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve and clinical decision curve to evaluate the calibration degree and practicability of the model. Results    Finally 249 patients were collected, including 117 males aged 53.15±13.95 years and 132 females aged 47.36±13.10 years. There were 180 patients in the training group, and 69 patients in the validation group. There was a significant correlation between the 6 clinicopathological characteristics and lymph node metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma in the univariate logistic regression. The area under the ROC curve in the training group was 0.863, suggesting the ability to distinguish lymph node metastasis, which was confirmed in the validation group (area under the ROC curve was 0.847). The nomogram and clinical decision curve also performed well in the follow-up analysis, which proved its potential clinical value. Conclusion    This study provides a nomogram combined with clinicopathological characteristics, which can be used to predict the risk of lymph node metastasis in patients with lung adenocarcinoma with a diameter≤3 cm.

Ceramide plays an important role in sphingolipid metabolic processes. It affects cell signaling pathways, regulates cell and body metabolism, and is related to the occurrence and development of a variety of diseases. In recent years, with the application and development of mass spectrometry technology in the detection of ceramides, ceramides or different combinations of ceramides are found to be potential valuable new biomarkers for clinical diagnosis, risk assessment and prognosis of a variety of diseases. This article reviews the biochemical characteristics, detection methods and clinical application of ceramide, and outlines its application value as biomarkers.

[Purpose]To analyze the compliance rates and influencing factors for gastroscopy and colonoscopy in gastrointestinal cancer screening,and to provide evidence and management recom-mendations for gastrointestinal cancer screening programs.[Methods]The study was based on the joint gastrointestinal cancer screening program conducted in Fenghua District of Ningbo City in 2023.The target population underwent risk assessments,following which high-risk individuals were mobilized for gastroscopy and colonoscopy screenings.The x2 test was used to compare the positive rates of gastrointestinal cancer risk assessments and the compliance rates of clinical screenings among populations with different characteristics.Multivariable Logistic regression models were applied to analyze the factors associated with compliance rates of clinical gastroscopy and colonoscopy screenings among high-risk individuals.[Results]A total of 48 587 individuals were included in the analysis,with an average age of(63.95±7.48)years old.Among them,39.45％(19 166 individuals)were male.The positive rates of risk assessment for upper gastrointestinal cancer and colorectal cancer were 39.00％(18 949 individuals)and 16.02％(7 782 individuals),respectively.The compliance rates for gastroscopy and colonoscopy were 59.51％(11 227/18 949)and 50.85％(3 957/7 782),respectively.Multivariable Logistic regression analysis revealed that unmarried in-dividuals and those with an assessment interval of more than 14 d had lower compliance with gas-troscopy(both P＜0.05).High-risk individuals for upper gastrointestinal cancer with BMI≥24 kg/m2,gastrointestinal symptoms,history of upper gastrointestinal diseases,family history of cancers,history of gastroscopy,lower intake of fresh vegetables and fruits,and higher intake of processed meats had higher compliance with gastroscopy(all P＜0.05).High educational levels and an assess-ment interval of more than 14 d were associated with lower compliance with colonoscopy(both P＜0.05).Among individuals at high risk for colorectal cancer,those with gastrointestinal symptoms,history of upper gastrointestinal diseases,higher intake of processed meats and fried or grilled foods,and a positive risk assessment for upper gastrointestinal cancer had higher compliance with colonoscopy(all P＜0.05).[Conclusion]Participants in the joint gastrointestinal cancer screening program exhibit high compliance with both gastroscopy and colonoscopy.Compliance with gas-troscopy and colonoscopy is associated with individual lifestyle,health conditions,disease history,medical history,and family history of cancers.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between ceftazidime-avibactam(CAZ-AVI)blood concentrations and efficacy in critically ill patients and to investigate the factors influencing blood levels.Methods The CAZ-AVI trough concentrations(Cmin)were detected in 29 patients who received CAZ-AVI treatment for at least 48 hours.The clinical materials of the patients were collected together for retrospective analysis.Results The Cmin of ceftazidime(CAZ)and avibactam(AVI)were(50.95±5.17)and(7.52±0.96)mg·L-1 in the effective group and(31.16±7.03)and(5.37±1.32)mg·L-1 in the ineffective group,respectively.The Cmin of CAZ in the effective group was significantly higher than in the ineffective group(P<0.05),and there was no significant difference in AVI Cmin between the two groups(P>0.05).Spearman's correlation analysis showed that CAZ Cmin was positively correlated with clinical efficacy(P<0.05),and no correlation between AVI Cmin and clinical efficacy(P>0.05).The optimal CAZ Cmin threshold was 24.59 mg·L-1.Multiple linear regression analysis showed that age and creatinine clearance was significantly correlated with the Cmin of CAZ,and creatinine clearance was significantly correlated with AVI Cmin(P<0.05).Conclusions The Cmin of CAZ correlates with efficacy,and it may be more beneficial for clinical treatment to keep the concentration of CAZ-AVI always greater than the minimum inhibitory concentration during the dosing interval.The creatinine clearance should be fully considered when optimizing CAZ-AVI dosage in critically ill patients.

Objective:To explore the risk factors of death in patients receiving ECMO treatment and to construct a nomogram prediction model.Methods:The clinical data of 412 consecutive patients with acute heart and (or) pulmonary failure who received ECMO treatment between April 2018 and June 2022 were retrospectively included.According to the patients' in-hospital survival, univariate correlation analysis was used to select risk factor variables, and then Lasso regression was used to screen all variables, combined with common variables, combined with clinical practice, plotted a nomogram to predict the probability of early mortality, using the area under the ROC curve (AUC), Harrell C index and calibration curve were used to evaluate and internally validate the performance of the model.Decision curve analysis was applied to assess its clinical utility.Results:Cerebral infarction, diabetes, history of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, neurological complications, acute kidney injury, lactate, hemoglobin, albumin, and platelet count were risk factors for death in patients receiving ECMO ( P<0.05).At the same time, according to the actual situation and difference variables, we constructed a nomogram with high reliability to predict the probability of death. Conclusions:The study identified the risk factors of death in patients receiving ECMO, successfully constructed and validated a nomogram prediction model, and provided a simple and reliable tool for ECMO death prediction, which is of great significance for individualized treatment of patients.

Objective To address the absence of matrix specified for the determination of intrinsic uniformity in the current standard, and to investigate the effect of source distances on intrinsic spatial linearity, the intrinsic uniformity and intrinsic spatial linearity of 16 probes in eight SPECT devices were measured and analyzed with different matrices and source distances, in order to determine the optimal measurement conditions. Methods According to the standard Specification for Testing of Quality Control in Gamma Cameras and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomograph (SPECT) (WS 523—2019), the intrinsic uniformity was measured using 64 × 64 and 256 × 256 matrices and the intrinsic spatial linearity was measured using of 1.7 and 3 m source distances. Results When intrinsic uniformity was measured with the 64 × 64 matrix, more than 50% of the probes showed lower values. When intrinsic spatial linearity was measured with the 3 m source distance, more probes showed lower values. Conclusion The 64 × 64 matrix is recommended for the determination of intrinsic uniformity and a source distance of ＞5 FOV is recommended for the measurement of intrinsic spatial linearity.

Objective:To establish and validate a reliable and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the detection of 12 ceramides in human plasma.Methods:From October 2021 to October 2022, 438 apparently healthy individuals were enrolled in the Affiliated Hospitals of Zunyi Medical University for reference intervals of 12 ceramides in this population. Plasma samples were collected, and separated using the ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 (2.1×50 mm, 1.7 μm) column, deuterated isotopes were used as internal standards. The mobile phase is water (containing 0.1% formic acid) and isopropanol: acetonitrile (1∶1, v/v, containing 0.1% formic acid) at a flow rate of 0.4 ml/min with gradient elution. The detection method was established using the Qlife Lab 9000 Plus triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The performance of the method was evaluated in terms of linearity, the lower limit of quantification, precision, recovery, and stability.Results:The method passed the performance evaluation in terms of linearity, the lower limit of quantification, recovery, precision, and stability. The intra-and inter-batch precision of the 12 ceramides ranged from 1.3% to 14.3%, the correctness was verified by spiked recovery experiments, and the recoveries ranged from 91.9% to 111.0%. The lower limit of quantification ranged from 0.001 to 0.100 μmol/L. Standard curve showed good linearity (correlation coefficient r>0.990). Stability tests showed that the 12 ceramides were stable in the biological matrix and after processing under different conditions for a specified period of time. The corresponding biological reference intervals were established for each of the 12 ceramides: 0.103-0.326 μmol/L for Cer(d18∶1/16∶0), 0.018-0.098 μmol/L for Cer(d18∶1/18∶0), 0.933-3.919 μmol/L for Cer(d18∶1/24∶0), 0.243-1.072 μmol/L for Cer(d18∶1/24∶1), 0.001-0.007 μmol/L for Cer(d18∶1/14∶0), 0.022-0.095 μmol/L for Cer(d18∶1/20∶0), 0.185-0.835 μmol/L for Cer(d18∶1/22∶0), 0.003-0.022 μmol/L for Cer(d18∶0/16∶0), 0.001-0.016 μmol/L for Cer(d18∶0/18∶0), 0.017-0.156 μmol/L for Cer(d18∶0/24∶0), 0.008-0.074 μmol/L for Cer(d18∶0/24∶1), and 0.106-0.721 μmol/L for LacCer(d18∶1/24∶1). Conclusion:Our study shows that the newly established LC-MS/MS method for the determination of 12 ceramides in human plasma is reliable, and suitable for clinical application.