In recent years, with the endless emergence of meibomian gland dysfunction(MGD)diagnostic equipment, rich treatment methods, and in-depth clinical and basic research on MGD at home and abroad, the understanding of MGD has entered a new stage. MGD-related dry eye is considered to be the main cause of lipid abnormal dry eye, and its occurrence and development is a chronic and multi-factorial pathological process. This article reviews the pathogenesis, imaging analysis and clinical treatment progress of MGD-related dry eye, in order to provide scientific evidence and ideas for clinical diagnosis and therapy of MGD-related dry eye.

Objective To investigate the influencing factors for frailty in elderly patients with mild ischemic stroke(MIS),construct a risk prediction model based on random forest algorithm and evaluate its application performance.Methods A total of 322 elderly MIS patients subjected by cluster sampling in the Neurodiagnosis and Treatment Center of our hospital during January and June 2022 were enrolled and divided into non-frailty group(n=261)and frailty group(n=61)according to the results of frailty screening scale.The general clinical data,and the scores of Daily Living Ability Scale,Simplified Geriatric Depression Scale,Social Support Rating Scale,36-Item Concise Health Questionnaire,and Simplified Intelligent State Examination Scale were compared between two groups.Random forest algorithm was used to construct a risk prediction model for frailty in the elderly MIS patients,and ROC curve was plotted to analyze the predictive value of the model.Results The incidence of frailty in elderly MIS patients was 18.94％.There were sta-tistical differences in age,marital status,monthly income,medical expense payment,sleep condi-tion and comorbidities in the frail group(P＜0.01).The frail group had significantly lower scores of support utilization,concise health status,physiological function,body pain,general health,social function,and emotional function,and higher scores of Activities of Daily Living Scale and the Simplified Geriatric Depression Scale than the non-frail group(P＜0.05).The random forest model obtained an accuracy of 88.28％,a sensitivity of 88.24％,a specificity of 88.89％,an F1 score of 0.933,and an AUC value of 0.816.Random forest algorithm ranked the important varia-bles influencing frailty in elderly MIS patients through variable importance scores,and the top five predictors were types of basic diseases(≥2 types),sleep condition,quality of life score,self-care ability score,and personal monthly income(＜2000 Yuan).Conclusion A risk prediction model for frailty in elderly MIS patients is constructed by using random forest algorithm.The model is helpful to identify key factors of frailty as early as possible,provide empirical evidence for clinical medical staff to implement early intervention,improve the health and quality of elderly MIS patients,and prevent or delay the occurrence of frailty.

Age-related macular degeneration(AMD)is a prevalent retinal degenerative disease closely linked to age and stands as a leading cause of central vision loss among the elderly. Under physiological condition, microglia in the retina plays crucial roles in tissue homeostasis, immune surveillance, and tissue repair. However, in pathological state, microglia can be abnormally activated and migrate to AMD lesion sites, which results in exacerbating damage to retinal pigment epithelial cells and photoreceptor cells, thus promoting the progression of AMD. This review focuses on the origins, distribution, and functional changes of microglia under physiological and pathological conditions. Recent advances in microglia-targeted therapies for AMD are also summarized, which provides a theoretical basis for the development of novel treatment strategies.

BACKGROUND: The primary limitation to kidney transplantation is organ shortage. Recent progress in gene editing and immunosuppressive regimens has made xenotransplantation with porcine organs a possibility. However, evidence in pig-to-human xenotransplantation remains scarce, and antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) is a major obstacle to clinical applications of xenotransplantation. METHODS: We conducted a kidney xenotransplantation in a brain-dead human recipient using a porcine kidney with five gene edits (5GE) on March 25, 2024 at Xijing Hospital, China. Clinical-grade immunosuppressive regimens were employed, and the observation period lasted 22 days. We collected and analyzed the xenograft function, ultrasound findings, sequential protocol biopsies, and immune surveillance of the recipient during the observation. RESULTS: The combination of 5GE in the porcine kidney and clinical-grade immunosuppressive regimens prevented hyperacute rejection. The xenograft kidney underwent delayed graft function in the first week, but urine output increased later and the single xenograft kidney maintained electrolyte and pH homeostasis from postoperative day (POD) 12 to 19. We observed AMR at 24 h post-transplantation, due to the presence of pre-existing anti-porcine antibodies and cytotoxicity before transplantation; this AMR persisted throughout the observation period. Plasma exchange and intravenous immunoglobulin treatment mitigated the AMR. We observed activation of latent porcine cytomegalovirus toward the end of the study, which might have contributed to coagulation disorder in the recipient. CONCLUSIONS 5GE and clinical-grade immunosuppressive regimens were sufficient to prevent hyperacute rejection during pig-to-human kidney xenotransplantation. Pre-existing anti-porcine antibodies predisposed the xenograft to AMR. Plasma exchange and intravenous immunoglobulin were safe and effective in the treatment of AMR after kidney xenotransplantation.
Transplantation, Heterologous/methods* ; Kidney Transplantation/methods* ; Heterografts/pathology* ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/administration & dosage* ; Graft Survival/immunology* ; Humans ; Animals ; Sus scrofa ; Graft Rejection/prevention & control* ; Kidney/pathology* ; Gene Editing ; Species Specificity ; Immunosuppression Therapy/methods* ; Plasma Exchange ; Brain Death ; Biopsy ; Male ; Aged

Objective:To learn about the sales situation of edible salt in Gansu Province after the reform of salt industry system, and provide scientific basis for improving the prevention and control measures of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD).Methods:In 2022, a cross-sectional study method was used to divide the counties (districts) under 11 cities (prefectures) in Gansu Province into urban, suburban, and rural areas. A stratified sampling method was used to divide each city (prefecture) into five regions (east, west, south, north, and center), and 1 county (district) was randomly selected from each region. From each county (district), 5 - 10 edible salt sales outlets of varying scales were selected in each of the five directions. A questionnaire survey was used to investigate the quantity, type, price of edible salt sold, and IDD education efforts in each county (district) in the past six months. One bag of different types of edible salt sold at each sales outlet was randomly selected as a sample, and information such as the brand, manufacturer, and iodine level indicated on the outer packaging was recorded.Results:A total of 1 189 edible salt sales outlets were surveyed, including 157 large supermarkets, 197 medium-sized supermarkets, 760 small supermarkets (convenience/retail stores), 74 vegetable markets (farmers' markets), and 1 specialty salt store. The outlets were distributed in urban (438), suburban (99), and rural (652) areas. Among them, 12.11% (144/1 189) of the outlets sold both iodized and non-iodized salt. A total of 2 004 036 bags of edible salt were sold in 1 189 sales outlets, with a median sales quantity of 250 bags. There were statistically significant differences in sales quantity among sales outlets of different sizes and locations ( H = 57.97, 39.59, P < 0.001). The overall sales of iodized salt were higher than those of non-iodized salt ( Z = - 6.45, P < 0.001). Sales varied significantly by price ( H = 80.69, P < 0.001). A total of 1 740 samples of edible salt were surveyed, including 38 brands. Among them, China Salt Industry Group Co., Ltd. and its affiliated local companies had the highest sales quantity at 70.86% (1 233/1 740). The proportion of samples with iodine level < 5, 18 - 33, and 21 - 39 mg/kg indicated on the outer packaging was 4.08% (71/1 740), 7.01% (122/1 740), and 88.91% (1 547/1 740), respectively. Among 1 189 sales outlets, 26.24% (312/1 189) were aware of the iodine standard for edible salt in Gansu Province, 32.46% (386/1 189) had set up propaganda signs (slogans) for prevention and control of IDD, 59.13% (703/1 189) were aware of recommending iodized salt to pregnant women, and 51.39% (611/1 189) actively promoted knowledge of IDD prevention and control. Conclusions:After the reform of salt industry system, the sales network system of edible salt in Gansu Province has been improved, with multiple entities, brands, and varieties coexisting in the edible salt market. However, there is still a need to strengthen sales supervision and scientific iodine supplementation health education.

Objective:To learn about the sales situation of edible salt in Gansu Province after the reform of salt industry system, and provide scientific basis for improving the prevention and control measures of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD).Methods:In 2022, a cross-sectional study method was used to divide the counties (districts) under 11 cities (prefectures) in Gansu Province into urban, suburban, and rural areas. A stratified sampling method was used to divide each city (prefecture) into five regions (east, west, south, north, and center), and 1 county (district) was randomly selected from each region. From each county (district), 5 - 10 edible salt sales outlets of varying scales were selected in each of the five directions. A questionnaire survey was used to investigate the quantity, type, price of edible salt sold, and IDD education efforts in each county (district) in the past six months. One bag of different types of edible salt sold at each sales outlet was randomly selected as a sample, and information such as the brand, manufacturer, and iodine level indicated on the outer packaging was recorded.Results:A total of 1 189 edible salt sales outlets were surveyed, including 157 large supermarkets, 197 medium-sized supermarkets, 760 small supermarkets (convenience/retail stores), 74 vegetable markets (farmers' markets), and 1 specialty salt store. The outlets were distributed in urban (438), suburban (99), and rural (652) areas. Among them, 12.11% (144/1 189) of the outlets sold both iodized and non-iodized salt. A total of 2 004 036 bags of edible salt were sold in 1 189 sales outlets, with a median sales quantity of 250 bags. There were statistically significant differences in sales quantity among sales outlets of different sizes and locations ( H = 57.97, 39.59, P < 0.001). The overall sales of iodized salt were higher than those of non-iodized salt ( Z = - 6.45, P < 0.001). Sales varied significantly by price ( H = 80.69, P < 0.001). A total of 1 740 samples of edible salt were surveyed, including 38 brands. Among them, China Salt Industry Group Co., Ltd. and its affiliated local companies had the highest sales quantity at 70.86% (1 233/1 740). The proportion of samples with iodine level < 5, 18 - 33, and 21 - 39 mg/kg indicated on the outer packaging was 4.08% (71/1 740), 7.01% (122/1 740), and 88.91% (1 547/1 740), respectively. Among 1 189 sales outlets, 26.24% (312/1 189) were aware of the iodine standard for edible salt in Gansu Province, 32.46% (386/1 189) had set up propaganda signs (slogans) for prevention and control of IDD, 59.13% (703/1 189) were aware of recommending iodized salt to pregnant women, and 51.39% (611/1 189) actively promoted knowledge of IDD prevention and control. Conclusions:After the reform of salt industry system, the sales network system of edible salt in Gansu Province has been improved, with multiple entities, brands, and varieties coexisting in the edible salt market. However, there is still a need to strengthen sales supervision and scientific iodine supplementation health education.

Objective To investigate the influencing factors for frailty in elderly patients with mild ischemic stroke(MIS),construct a risk prediction model based on random forest algorithm and evaluate its application performance.Methods A total of 322 elderly MIS patients subjected by cluster sampling in the Neurodiagnosis and Treatment Center of our hospital during January and June 2022 were enrolled and divided into non-frailty group(n=261)and frailty group(n=61)according to the results of frailty screening scale.The general clinical data,and the scores of Daily Living Ability Scale,Simplified Geriatric Depression Scale,Social Support Rating Scale,36-Item Concise Health Questionnaire,and Simplified Intelligent State Examination Scale were compared between two groups.Random forest algorithm was used to construct a risk prediction model for frailty in the elderly MIS patients,and ROC curve was plotted to analyze the predictive value of the model.Results The incidence of frailty in elderly MIS patients was 18.94％.There were sta-tistical differences in age,marital status,monthly income,medical expense payment,sleep condi-tion and comorbidities in the frail group(P＜0.01).The frail group had significantly lower scores of support utilization,concise health status,physiological function,body pain,general health,social function,and emotional function,and higher scores of Activities of Daily Living Scale and the Simplified Geriatric Depression Scale than the non-frail group(P＜0.05).The random forest model obtained an accuracy of 88.28％,a sensitivity of 88.24％,a specificity of 88.89％,an F1 score of 0.933,and an AUC value of 0.816.Random forest algorithm ranked the important varia-bles influencing frailty in elderly MIS patients through variable importance scores,and the top five predictors were types of basic diseases(≥2 types),sleep condition,quality of life score,self-care ability score,and personal monthly income(＜2000 Yuan).Conclusion A risk prediction model for frailty in elderly MIS patients is constructed by using random forest algorithm.The model is helpful to identify key factors of frailty as early as possible,provide empirical evidence for clinical medical staff to implement early intervention,improve the health and quality of elderly MIS patients,and prevent or delay the occurrence of frailty.

Objective To investigate the expression of long non-coding RNA(LncRNA)PICSAR in ovarian canc-er,and explore the effects of LncRNA PICSAR on the proliferation,migration,invasion and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells as well as its possible mechanism of action.Methods The expression levels of LncRNA PICSAR in o-varian cancer tissue and cell line A2780,OVCAR-3,HO-8910 and normal ovarian tissue and cell line IOSE386 were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR.Ovarian cancer cell lines with the highest expression of LncRNA PICSAR were divided into control group and experimental group,and transfected with negative control small inter-fering RNA(siRNA-NC)or PICSAR knockout small interfering RNA(siRNA-PICSAR)by liposome transfection technique,respectively.The effects of LncRNA PICSAR knockdown on the invasion,migration,proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells were analyzed by cell counting assay(CCK-8),clonogenic assay,scratch assay,transwell assay and flow cytometry and so on.The expression levels of autophagy related proteins and apoptosis-re-lated proteins in each group were determined by Western blot.Ovarian cancer cells were treated with rapamycin and hydroxychloroquine as autophagy activator and inhibitor,and Western blot assay was used to detect apoptosis.Results The expression level of LncRNA PICSAR in ovarian cancer tissues was higher than that in normal ovarian tissues.Compared with IOSE386 cell line,LncRNA PICSAR expression levels in ovarian cancer cell lines HO-8910,OVCAR-3 and A2780 increased.Compared with the si-NC group,the proliferation,invasion and migration ability of ovarian cancer cells in si-PICSAR group decreased,and the apoptosis rate increased.The autophagy level of ovarian cancer cells in si-PICSAR group was lower than that in si-NC group.After transfection with siRNA-PIC-SAR,rapamycin activated autophagy to reduce apoptosis,while hydroxychloroquine inhibited autophagy to promote apoptosis.Conclusion LncRNA PICSAR is highly expressed in ovarian cancer tissues and cell lines,and the ma-lignant biological behavior of ovarian cancer cells can be inhibited by knockout of LncRNA PICSAR.The knock-down of LncRNA PICSAR may promote the apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells by regulating autophagy.

Organ shortage has become one of the major challenges hindering the development of organ transplantation. Xenotransplantation is one of the most valuable methods to resolve global organ shortage. In recent years, the development of genetic engineering technique and research and development of new immunosuppressant have provided novel theoretical basis for xenotransplantation. International scholars have successively carried out researches on xenotransplantation in genetically modified pigs to non-human primates or brain death recipients, making certain substantial progresses. However, most of the researches are still in the preclinical stage, far from clinical application. Therefore, according to the latest preclinical experimental research progress at home and abroad, the history of xenotransplantation, the development of gene modification technology, xenotransplantation rejection and immunosuppression regimens were reviewed, aiming to provide reference for subsequent research of xenotransplantation, promote clinical application of xenotransplantation and bring benefits to more patients with end-stage diseases.

Objective To understand the impact of system reform of salt industry on iodine nutrition of people in Gansu Province, and to provide a scientific basis for policy adjustment of relevant departments. Methods The investigation period (2014-2021) was divided into two sub-periods: before system reform of salt industry (2014-2016) and after system reform of salt industry (2017-2021). Thirty counties were selected according to the method of ^“population proportional probability sampling (PPS)^” in 2014. According to the iodine deficiency disease monitoring program of Gansu Province, from 2016 to 2021, children aged 8-10 years and pregnant women were taken as research objects to collect urine samples for urine iodine detection. Children in 2014 and 2018 were selected to measure thyroid volume. Results A total of 90 989 children urine iodine samples were investigated, and the median urinary iodine (MUI) of children was 194.70µg/L; 7 663 and 83,326 children's urinary iodine samples were investigated in the two periods, the MUI was 180.73 µg/L and 196.00 µg/L, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). A total of 44 741 pregnant women's urinary iodine samples were investigated, and the MUI of pregnant women was 176.50 µg/L; 4 480 and 40 261 pregnant women's urinary iodine samples were investigated in the two periods, the MUI was 160.61 µg/L and 178.10 µg/L, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The thyroid volume of 1 555 children and 8 509 children was investigated in the two periods, the median thyroid volume was 2.70 mL and 2.55 mL , respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The rates of goiter in children were 3.15% and 1.26%, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion The iodine nutrition of people in Gansu Province has not fluctuated significantly after the reform of salt industry system and has maintained an appropriate level. It is necessary to pay attention to the potential risk of insufficient iodine nutrition level and thyroid health of key populations such as children and pregnant women and strengthen health education of scientific iodine supplementation.