ObjectiveTo investigate whether visceral fat area （VFA） is an independent risk factor for significant liver fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD） based on clinical data， and to establish an effective diagnostic model. MethodsA total of 222 NAFLD patients who attended Department of Hepatology， Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine， from January 2021 to April 2025 were enrolled， and according to liver stiffness measurement （≥8 kPa or not）， they were divided into significant fibrosis group and non-significant fibrosis group. Propensity score matching （PSM） was performed at a ratio of 1∶1 to balance the baseline data between the two groups. The independent-samples t test or the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups； the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. A Spearman correlation analysis was used to determine the correlation of VFA and other indicators with significant liver fibrosis； univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify whether VFA was an independent risk factor for significant liver fibrosis in NAFLD patients， and the receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve was plotted to assess the predictive performance of related indicators. ResultsA total of 45 patients with significant liver fibrosis and 177 patients without significant liver fibrosis were enrolled， and after PSM， 90 patients （45 pairs） were finally included in analysis. Compared with the non-significant fibrosis group， the significant fibrosis group had significantly higher levels of body mass index （BMI）， fasting blood glucose （FBG）， glycated hemoglobin （HbA1c）， uric acid （UA）， alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase （GGT）， controlled attenuation parameter （CAP）， and VFA， as well as a significantly higher proportion of patients with visceral fat obesity or three or more metabolic risk factors （all P<0.05）. VFA， BMI， AST， and HbA1c were strongly correlated with significant liver fibrosis （all r>0.5， all P <0.05）， and ALT， GGT， UA， FBG， and CAP were significantly positively correlated with significant liver fibrosis （r=0.3　—　0.5， all P<0.05）. VFA （odds ratio ［OR］=1.040， 95% confidence interval ［CI］： 1.018　—　1.062， P<0.05）， FBG （OR=2.372， 95%CI： 1.199　—　4.691， P<0.05）， and AST （OR=1.032， 95%CI： 1.003　—　1.058， P<0.05） were independent risk factors for significant liver fibrosis in NAFLD patients. The new diagnostic model based on VFA， FBG， and AST （with an area under the ROC curve ［AUC］ of 0.907） had a significantly better performance than aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index （AUC=0.834）， fibrosis-4 （AUC=0.660）， triglyceride-glucose index （AUC=0.656）， and NAFLD fibrosis score （AUC=0.768） in predicting significant liver fibrosis in NAFLD patients （all P<0.05）. ConclusionVFA is an independent risk factor for significant liver fibrosis in NAFLD patients， and the noninvasive diagnostic model based on VFA， FBG， and AST can effectively predict the onset of significant liver fibrosis in NAFLD patients.

BACKGROUND: Preclinical studies have indicated that Angong Niuhuang Pills (ANP) reduce cerebral infarct and edema volumes. This study aimed to investigate whether ANP safely reduces cerebral infarct and edema volumes in patients with moderate to severe acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial included patients with acute ischemic stroke with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores ranging from 10 to 20 in 17 centers in China between April 2021 and July 2022. Patients were allocated within 36 h after onset via block randomization to receive ANP or placebo (3 g/day for 5 days). The primary outcomes were changes in cerebral infarct and edema volumes after 14 days of treatment. The primary safety outcome was severe adverse events (SAEs) for 90 days. RESULTS: There were 57 and 60 patients finally included in the ANP and placebo groups, respectively for modified intention-to-treat analysis. The median age was 66.0 years, and the median NIHSS score at baseline was 12.0. The changes in cerebral infarct volume at day 14 were 0.3 mL and 0.4 mL in the ANP and placebo groups, respectively (median difference: -7.1 mL; interquartile range [IQR]: -18.3 to 2.3 mL, P = 0.30). The changes in cerebral edema volume of the ANP and placebo groups on day 14 were 11.4 mL and 4.0 mL, respectively ( median difference: 3.0 mL, IQR: -1.3 to 9.9 mL, P = 0.15). The rates of SAE within 90 days were similar in the ANP (3/57, 5%) and placebo (7/60, 12%) groups ( P = 0.36). Changes in serum mercury and arsenic concentrations were comparable. In patients with large artery atherosclerosis, ANP reduced the cerebral infarct volume at 14 days (median difference: -12.3 mL; IQR: -27.7 to -0.3 mL, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: ANP showed a similar safety profile to placebo and non-significant tendency to reduce cerebral infarct volume in patients with moderate-to-severe stroke. Further studies are warranted to assess the efficacy of ANP in reducing cerebral infarcts and improving clinical prognosis. TRAIL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov , No. NCT04475328.
Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Ischemic Stroke/drug therapy* ; Pilot Projects ; Stroke/drug therapy* ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors or dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors are both hypoglycemia agents that specifically impact on postprandial hyperglycemia. We compared the effects of acarbose and sitagliptin add on to metformin on time in range (TIR) and glycemic variability (GV) in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus through continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). METHODS: This study was a randomized, open-label, active-con-trolled, parallel-group trial conducted at 15 centers in China from January 2020 to August 2022. We recruited patients with type 2 diabetes aged 18-65 years with body mass index (BMI) within 19-40 kg/m 2 and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) between 6.5% and 9.0%. Eligible patients were randomized to receive either metformin combined with acarbose 100 mg three times daily or metformin combined with sitagliptin 100 mg once daily for 28 days. After the first 14-day treatment period, patients wore CGM and entered another 14-day treatment period. The primary outcome was the level of TIR after treatment between groups. We also performed time series decomposition, dimensionality reduction, and clustering using the CGM data. RESULTS: A total of 701 participants received either acarbose or sitagliptin treatment in combination with metformin. There was no statistically significant difference in TIR between the two groups. Time below range (TBR) and coefficient of variation (CV) levels in acarbose users were significantly lower than those in sitagliptin users. Median (25th percentile, 75th percentile) of TBR below target level <3.9 mmol/L (TBR 3.9 ): Acarbose: 0.45% (0, 2.13%) vs . Sitagliptin: 0.78% (0, 3.12%), P = 0.042; Median (25th percentile, 75th percentile) of TBR below target level <3.0 mmol/L (TBR 3.0 ): Acarbose: 0 (0, 0.22%) vs . Sitagliptin: 0 (0, 0.63%), P = 0.033; CV: Acarbose: 22.44 ± 5.08% vs . Sitagliptin: 23.96 ± 5.19%, P <0.001. By using time series analysis and clustering, we distinguished three groups of patients with representative metabolism characteristics, especially in GV (group with small wave, moderate wave and big wave). No significant difference was found in the complexity of glucose time series index (CGI) between acarbose users and sitagliptin users. By using time series analysis and clustering, we distinguished three groups of patients with representative metabolism characteristics, especially in GV. CONCLUSIONS: Acarbose had slight advantages over sitagliptin in improving GV and reducing the risk of hypoglycemia. Time series analysis of CGM data may predict GV and the risk of hypoglycemia. TRIAL REGISTRATION Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2000039424.
Humans ; Metformin/therapeutic use* ; Sitagliptin Phosphate/therapeutic use* ; Acarbose/therapeutic use* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood* ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Blood Glucose/drug effects* ; Hypoglycemic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Aged ; Glycated Hemoglobin/metabolism* ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; China ; East Asian People

OBJECTIVE: To observe the characteristics of changes in non-invasive hemodynamic parameters in neonates with septic shock so as to provide clinical reference for diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: A observational study was conducted. The neonates with sepsis complicated with septic shock or not admitted to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College were enrolled as the study subjects, who were divided into preterm infant (< 37 weeks) and full-term infant (≥ 37 weeks) according to the gestational age. Healthy full-term infants and hemodynamically stable preterm infants transferring to NICU after birth were enrolled as controls. Electronic cardiometry (EC) was used to measure hemodynamic parameters, including heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), stroke volume (SV), stroke volume index (SVI), cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), before treatment in the septic shock group, at the time of diagnosis of sepsis in the sepsis without shock group, and before the discharge from the obstetric department or on the day of transferring to NICU in the control group. RESULTS: Finally, 113 neonates with complete data and parental consent for non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring were enrolled, including 32 cases in the septic shock group, 25 cases in the sepsis without shock group and 56 cases in the control group. In the septic shock group, there were 17 cases at the compensated stage and 15 cases at the decompensated stage. There were 21 full-term infants (20 cured or improved and 1 died) and 11 premature infants (7 cured or improved and 4 died), with the mortality of 15.62% (5/32). There were 18 full-term infants and 7 premature infants in the sepsis without shock group and all cured or improved without death. The control group included 28 full-term infants and 28 premature infants transferring to NICU after birth. Non-invasive hemodynamic parameter analysis showed that SV, SVI, CO and CI of full-term infants in the septic shock group were significantly lower than those in the sepsis without shock group and control group [SV (mL): 3.52±0.99 vs. 5.79±1.32, 5.22±1.02, SVI (mL/m²): 16.80 (15.05, 19.65) vs. 27.00 (22.00, 32.00), 27.00 (23.00, 29.75), CO (L/min): 0.52±0.17 vs. 0.80±0.14, 0.72±0.12, CI (mL×s^-1×m^-2): 40.00 (36.67, 49.18) vs. 62.51 (56.34, 70.85), 60.01 (53.34, 69.68), all P < 0.05], while SVR and SVRI were significantly higher than those in the sepsis without shock group and control group [SVR (kPa×s×L^-1): 773.46±291.96 vs. 524.17±84.76, 549.38±72.36, SVRI (kPa×s×L^-1×m^-2): 149.27±51.76 vs. 108.12±12.66, 107.81±11.87, all P < 0.05]. MAP, SV, SVI, CO and CI of preterm infants in the septic shock group were significantly lower than those in the control group [MAP (mmHg, 1 mmHg ≈ 0.133 kPa): 38.55±10.48 vs. 47.46±2.85, SV (mL): 2.45 (1.36, 3.58) vs. 3.96 (3.56, 4.49), SVI (mL/m²): 17.60 (14.20, 25.00) vs. 25.50 (24.00, 29.00), CO (L/min): 0.32 (0.24, 0.63) vs. 0.56 (0.49, 0.63), CI (mL×s^-1×m^-2): 40.01 (33.34, 53.34) vs. 61.68 (56.68, 63.35), all P < 0.05], while SVR and SVRI were similar to the control group [SVR (kPa×s×L^-1): 1 082.88±689.39 vs. 656.63±118.83, SVRI (kPa×s×L^-1×m^-2): 126.00±61.50 vs. 102.37±11.68, both P > 0.05]. Further analysis showed that SV, SVI and CI of neonates at the compensation stage in the septic shock group were significantly lower than those in the control group [SV (mL): 3.60±1.29 vs. 4.73±1.15, SVI (mL/m²): 19.20±8.33 vs. 26.34±3.91, CI (mL×s^-1×m^-2): 46.51±20.34 vs. 61.01±7.67, all P < 0.05], while MAP, SVR and SVRI were significantly higher than those in the control group [MAP (mmHg): 52.06±8.61 vs. 48.54±3.21, SVR (kPa×s×L^-1): 874.95±318.70 vs. 603.01±111.49, SVRI (kPa×s×L^-1×m^-2): 165.07±54.90 vs. 105.09±11.99, all P < 0.05]; MAP, SV, SVI, CO and CI of neonates at the decompensated stage in the septic shock group were significantly lower than those in the control group [MAP (mmHg): 35.13±6.08 vs. 48.54±3.21, SV (mL): 2.89±1.17 vs. 4.73±1.15, SVI (mL/m²): 18.50±4.99 vs. 26.34±3.91, CO (L/min): 0.41±0.19 vs. 0.65±0.15, CI (mL×s^-1×m^-2): 43.34±14.17 vs. 61.01±7.67, all P < 0.05], while SVR and SVRI were similar to the control group [SVR (kPa×s×L^-1): 885.49±628.04 vs. 603.01±111.49, SVRI (kPa×s×L^-1×m^-2): 114.29±43.54 vs. 105.09±11.99, both P > 0.05]. CONCLUSIONS Full-term infant with septic shock exhibit a low cardiac output, high vascular resistance hemodynamic pattern, while preterm infant with septic shock show low cardiac output and normal vascular resistance. At the compensated stage the hemodynamic change is low output and high resistance type, while at the decompensated stage it is low output and normal resistance type. Non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring can assist in the identification of neonatal septic shock and provide basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Humans ; Shock, Septic/physiopathology* ; Infant, Newborn ; Hemodynamics ; Female ; Male ; Case-Control Studies ; Infant, Premature

Background Air pollution exposure has a significant impact on maternal and child health. However, the research on the association between ambient ozone (O₃) exposure during pregnancy and the risk of premature birth in newborns is limited, and the conclusions are inconsistent. Objective To investigate the association of ambient O₃ exposure during pregnancy with the risk of preterm birth in Guangdong Province. Methods Data of pregnant women in Guangzhou from 2013 to 2019 and Foshan from 2018 to 2023 were collected, and O₃ concentrations during different trimesters were assessed according to maternal residential addresses. Bilinear interpolation was used to evaluate the concentrations of air pollution. A cohort study design was adopted in our study. Restricted cubic spline curves were used to evaluate the exposure-response relationship between O₃ exposure and preterm birth risk and explore potential exposure threshold of O₃. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association of O₃ exposure with preterm birth. Results A total of 702 924 pregnant women were included in this study, of whom 43 051 (6.12%) were preterm. The average O₃ exposure concentrations of pregnant women during the first, second, third, and whole trimesters were 95.51, 97.51, 100.60, and 97.87 μg·m⁻³, respectively. We observed J-shaped associations between O₃ exposure and preterm birth risk during the second, third, and whole trimesters of pregnancy using restricted cubic spline curves. This study found that there were threshold concentrations between O₃ exposure and preterm birth risk during different gestational periods, and the threshold concentrations in the first, second, third, and whole trimesters were 112.32, 99.83, 111.74, and 112.46 μg·m⁻³, respectively. During the second, third, and whole trimesters of pregnancy, after adjusting for maternal age, baby sex, pre-pregnancy body mass index, mode of delivery, baby birth weight, gestational diabetes, and gestational hypertension, the odds ratios (OR) of preterm birth were 1.02 (95%CI: 1.01, 1.04), 1.02 (95%CI: 1.00, 1.03), and 1.17 (95%CI: 1.13, 1.21) for each 10 μg·m⁻³ increase in O₃ concentration above the O₃ threshold. No significant association was found between O₃ exposure and the risk of preterm birth during the first trimester. Conclusion There is a nonlinear association between the risk of preterm birth and O₃ exposure during pregnancy, and higher concentrations of O₃ exposure during pregnancy are associated with the risk of preterm birth. Above the O₃ threshold concentration during pregnancy, especially during the second, third, and whole trimesters, the risk of preterm birth elevates with the increase of O₃ exposure concentrations.

Objective To explore the value of multimodal ultrasound combined with sex hormone detection in evaluating endometrial receptivity in infertile patients.Methods Ninety-five infertile patients who received in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer treatment in Hangzhou Women's Hospital from January 2020 to February 2023 were selected as study objects,and they were divided into pregnant group(55 cases)and non-pregnant group(40 cases)according to the pregnancy status of the first embryo transfer.Sex hormone levels and multimodal ultrasound scores were compared between two groups,and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn to evaluate the value of each indicator in predicting pregnancy of infertile patients individually and in combination.Results The endometrial thickness score,endometrial volume score,vascular blood flow score and multimodal ultrasound score of pregnant group were significantly higher than those of non-pregnant group(P＜0.05).The levels of luteinizing hormone(LH),estradiol(E2)and progesterone(P)in pregnant group were significantly higher than those in non-pregnant group(P＜0.05).ROC curve results showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of LH,E2 and multimodal ultrasound scores in predicting pregnancy in infertile patients were all＞0.7,which had certain predictive value,and the three indicators combined with P had the highest predictive value,with an AUC of 0.889.Conclusion The combination of multimodal ultrasound and sex hormone detection can effectively evaluate the endometrial receptivity of infertile patients,and has certain reference value for predicting the pregnancy status of infertile patients.

Objective:To analyze the assessment value of the quantitative parameters of coronary computed tomography angiography(CCTA)combined with QRS wave complex of electrocardiogram(ECG)for grading of cardiac function in patients with coronary heart disease(CHD).Methods:Eighty CHD patients admitted to Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital,Capital Medical University between January 2023 and December 2024 were selected.The grading of cardiac function of CHD patients were assessed according to the standard of New York Heart Association(NYHA).All patients underwent CCTA and ECG upon admission.CCTA quantitative parameters and QRS wave complex duration were recorded and compared among patients with different grades of cardiac function.The correlation between CCTA quantitative parameters[non-calcified plaque volume(NCPV),calcified plaque volume(CPV),total plaque volume(TPV),vessel volume,reconstruction index],QRS wave complex duration,and grading of cardiac function of CHD patient was analyzed.The area under curve(AUC)of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the value of each parameter and QRS wave complex duration in assessing CHD patients whose cardiac function grade was≥III grade.Results:In the 80 CHD patients,NYHA grades were distributed as follows:11 cases were grade I,and 23 cases were grade II,and 27 cases were grade III,and 19 cases were grade IV.The NCPV,CPV,TPV,reconstruction index,and QRS wave complex duration of patients at grade III and grade IV were higher than those of patients at grade I-grade II,and the differences were significant(F=17.401,37.077,12.297,7.087,11.148,P<0.05).Furthermore,patients at grade IV showed higher values in all parameters than those of patients at grade III.The NCPV,CPV,TPV,reconstruction index(t=3.486,4.315,3.444,2.068,2.600,P<0.05),and QRS wave complex duration of CCTA parameters showed positive correlations with cardiac function grading in CHD patient(r=0.464,0.548,0.346,0.287,0.373,P<0.05).ROC curve analysis revealed that the AUC values of alone NCPV,CPV,TPV,reconstruction index,QRS wave complex duration of CCTA parameters,and the combination of these indicators were respectively 0.793,0.843,0.723,0.748,and 0.737 in assessing CHD patients whose cardiac function grade was≥III,which indicated that these indicators had a certain assessment value,and the combined detection can improve the AUC value and sensitivity.Conclusion:The combination of CCTA parameters(NCPV,CPV,TPV,reconstruction index)and QRS wave complex duration can improve the assessment value for CHD patients whose grade of cardiac function is≥grade III.

Objective To construct an evaluation index system of organizational resilience of county medical alliance,and to propose countermeasures and suggestions for the enhancement of organizational resilience and operational effectiveness of county medical alliance.Methods The initial evaluation index system was constructed based on literature research and semi-structured interviews.Two rounds of Delphi expert consultation combined with critical value method refined the evaluation indexs.Evaluation index weights were determined via analytic hierarchy process and multiplicative weighting.The system was empirically tested using Zhejiang Province data.Results 21 experts completed consultations.Then the evaluation index system of county medical alliance organizational resilience was formed,which contains 5 first-level indexes,15 second-level indexes and 43 third-level indexes,containing 19 subjective and 24 objective evaluation indexs.The overall evaluation score of the organizational resilience of county medical alliance in Zhejiang Province was 73.97,which was at the average level of resilience.Conclusion The evaluation index system of organizational resilience of county medical alliance fits in with the national development plan to promote the construction of county high-quality,efficient and integrated medical and healthcare service system,and can provide effective measurement tools and theoretical references for the organizational capacity of county medical alliance and their maturity evaluation.

Objective:To explore the predictive value of procalcitonin-to-albumin ratio (PAR) in the short-term prognosis of sequential treatment with butylphthalide for acute cerebral infarction (ACI) after interventional surgery.Methods:The clinical data of ACI patients admitted to 970th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of the People′s Liberation Army of China from January 2020 to June 2022 were retrospectively included. According to the prognosis of sequential treatment of butylphthalide after interventional therapy, 80 patients with poor prognosis were included in the poor group, and 80 patients with good prognosis were included in the good group. The detection data of procalcitonin, albumin and other laboratory indexes of the two groups of patients on admission were collected, the PAR value was calculated, and the predictive value of PAR on the short-term prognosis of butylphthalide sequential therapy after ACI intervention was analyzed.Results:The levels of procalcitonin (PCT), PAR, D-dimer (D-D), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the poor group were higher than those in the good group: (24.74 ± 5.37) ng/L vs. (20.96 ± 4.11) ng/L, 0.91 ± 0.35 vs. 0.62 ± 0.19, (0.75 ± 0.22) mg/L vs. (0.56 ± 0.17) mg/L, (3.28 ± 0.43) mmol/L vs. (3.03 ± 0.45) mmol/L, while the levels of albumin (ALB) were lower than those in the good group: (29.43 ± 4.25) g/L vs. (33.71 ± 4.53) g/L, with a statistical significant difference ( P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that PCT, ALB, PAR, D-D, and LDL-C were all factors influencing the short-term prognosis of sequential treatment with butylphthalide after ACI intervention ( P<0.05). The results of receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) showed that PCT, ALB, PAR, D-D and LDL-C had certain predictive value for the short-term prognosis of butylphthalide sequential therapy after ACI intervention, and PAR had the best predictive value. Conclusions:PAR is an influential factor for the sequential short-term prognosis of butylphthalide after ACI intervention, and it has certain predictive value for the short-term prognosis of patients.

The goal of the research was to evaluate the application of self-developed virtual simulation software of fiber post all-ce-ramic crown restoration in the teaching of dental undergraduates.Fifty-five undergraduates majoring in stomatology were enrolled,including 26 sophomores and 29 senior students.Theoretical lecture and virtual simulation software of fiber post all-ceramic crown restoration were used for teaching.After class,questionnaires were completed by the students.The results of the questionnaire showed that more than half of the students were very interested in the virtual simulation software of this course(56.36％),and try-ing other forms of virtual simulation courses(52.73％).The simulation stimulated their interest in in-depth learning of prosthodon-tics(52.73％)and their expectation for the future working environment(54.55％).They were very satisfied with the virtual simula-tion effect(52.73％).Compared with two different grades,there are significant differences in the statistical data of three survey questions,including whether they are interested in in-depth study of prosthodontics,whether they have expectations for the future working environment,and whether they can clearly understand basic anatomical structure of teeth and basic concepts such as post,core and root canal.There was no significant difference in other questionnaire between grades.The virtual simulation software of fi-ber post all-ceramic crown restoration has a good effect on the teaching of dental undergraduates,which worth carrying out and pro-moting in the future teaching work.