Colonoscopy and tissue sampling are the gold standard for the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis (UC). However, in recent years, intestinal ultrasound has been assuming an increasingly crucial role not only in the diagnosis but also in the disease assessment of UC. Specifically, ultrasound has the potential to exert a more significant influence in evaluating disease activity, monitoring early - stage treatment, and managing acute severe cases. This article aims to expound on the application value and the latest advancements of intestinal ultrasound in the diagnosis and treatment of UC.

Objective:To develop a scale on hospice care perception and attitude in family members of critically ill patients, so as to provide a valid tool for measuring the cognition and attitude level of hospice care among family members of critically ill patients.Methods:During May 2022 to 2023, an initial pool of scale entries was formed through the literature analysis method and group discussion. The scale′s first draft was formed by applying the Delphi correspondence method and a small sample pre-survey. The developed scale was administered to 98 family members of critically ill patients in Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University to test the reliability and validity of scale.Results:The results of exploratory factor analysis extracted 5 explanatory factors with a cumulative contribution rate of 77.65%. The developed Hospice Care Perceptions and Attitudes of Families of Critically Ill Patients Scale had 19 items. The content validity of 0.922 and a Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0.816 showed good validity and reliability.Conclusions:The scale has sufficient reliability and can be used to assess cognitive and attitudinal levels of hospice care in family members of critically ill patients.

Colonoscopy and tissue sampling are the gold standard for the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis (UC). However, in recent years, intestinal ultrasound has been assuming an increasingly crucial role not only in the diagnosis but also in the disease assessment of UC. Specifically, ultrasound has the potential to exert a more significant influence in evaluating disease activity, monitoring early - stage treatment, and managing acute severe cases. This article aims to expound on the application value and the latest advancements of intestinal ultrasound in the diagnosis and treatment of UC.

Objective:To develop a scale on hospice care perception and attitude in family members of critically ill patients, so as to provide a valid tool for measuring the cognition and attitude level of hospice care among family members of critically ill patients.Methods:During May 2022 to 2023, an initial pool of scale entries was formed through the literature analysis method and group discussion. The scale′s first draft was formed by applying the Delphi correspondence method and a small sample pre-survey. The developed scale was administered to 98 family members of critically ill patients in Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University to test the reliability and validity of scale.Results:The results of exploratory factor analysis extracted 5 explanatory factors with a cumulative contribution rate of 77.65%. The developed Hospice Care Perceptions and Attitudes of Families of Critically Ill Patients Scale had 19 items. The content validity of 0.922 and a Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0.816 showed good validity and reliability.Conclusions:The scale has sufficient reliability and can be used to assess cognitive and attitudinal levels of hospice care in family members of critically ill patients.

Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Live Birth ; Calcium ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Pregnancy Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Oocyte Retrieval

Objective:To investigate the status of caregivers' benefit finding of senile dementia patients in Shiyan city, Hubei Province, and to analyze its influencing factors, so as to provide basis for carrying out targeted intervention measures.Methods:Totally 252 caregivers of senile dementia patients who visited Taihe Hospital, Shiyan People′s Hospital and Sinopharm Dongfeng General Hospital in Shiyan City, Hubei Province from July 2019 to July 2021 were selected as the research objects by convenience sampling method. The general Information Questionnaire, the Caregiver benefit finding questionnaire, the General self-efficacy Scale (GSES) and the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS) were used. The Pearson correlation analysis method was used for the correlation between caregivers' self-efficacy, social support and perceived benefit. Catreg was used to analyze the influencing factors of caregivers' benefit finding in senile dementia patients.Results:The total score of caregiver benefit questionnaire for 252 caregivers of senile dementia patients was (104.74 ± 14.82), the item "made me realize the significance of my health to my family and society" received the highest score (4.70 ± 0.55), while the item "made me quit bad habits" received the lowest score (3.22 ± 1.17). The GSES and PSSS scores of 252 caregivers of senile dementia patients were (24.74 ± 7.02) and (54.21 ± 13.32), which were positively correlated with the benefit finding ( r=0.565, 0.459, both P<0.01). The catreg analysis showed that the age of the caregiver, the average monthly income of the family, self-efficacy and social support were the influential factors of the perceived benefit level of the caregiver of senile dementia patients ( F values were 3.30-104.92, all P<0.05), which could explain 42.4% of the variance. Conclusions:The benefit finding of caregivers of senile dementia patients still needs to be improved. Medical staff should pay attention to the evaluation of benefit finding of caregivers of senile dementia patients, and provide personalized intervention measures to relieve caregivers' care pressure, maintain their physical and mental health, and improve the care quality of caregivers of senile dementia patients.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of ulinastatin on hyperoxia-induced acute lung injury (ALI) and its relationship with Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in infantile rats.Methods:A total of 36 clean-grade Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 14 days, weighing 40-50 g, were divided into 3 groups ( n=12 each): control group (C group), hyperoxia-induced ALI group (ALI group) and ulinastatin group (UTI group). Hyperoxia-induced ALI was induced by inhaling oxygen at concentration greater than 90% for 72 h. At 1 day after the model was established successfully, ulinastatin 50 000 U/kg was injected intraperitoneally daily at the same time for 3 consecutive days in group UTI, while the equal volume of normal saline was injected intraperitoneally at the same time point in C and ALI groups.The animals were sacrificed at 4 days after the model was established successfully, the lung tissues were taken for determination of the wet/dry weight ratio (W/D ratio), for microscopic examination of the pathological changes which were scored, for measurement of interleukin-6 (IL-6) IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and for detection of the expression of phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase (p-GSK-3β), Wnt3a and β-catenin by Western blot, and ultrastructure was examined with with an electron microscope. Results:Compared with C group, W/D ratio and lung injury score were significantly increased, the contents of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α were increased, and the expression of p-GSK-3β, Wnt3a and β-catenin were up-regulated in lung tissues in group ALI ( P<0.05). Compared with group ALI, W/D ratio and lung injury score were significantly decreased, the contents of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α were decreased, and the expression of p-GSK-3β, Wnt3a and β-catenin were down-regulated in lung tissues in group UTI ( P<0.05). The ultrastructure injury in group UTI was reduced as compared with group ALI. Conclusion:The mechanism by which ulinastatin can alleviate hyperoxia-induced ALI is related to inhibiting the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and decreasing inflammatory response in infantile rats.

Objective:To evaluate the role of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) in spinal dorsal horn in dexmedetomidine-induced reduction of neuropathic pain (NP) in rats.Methods:Forty clean-grade healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 7-9 weeks, weighing 190-240 g, were divided into 5 groups ( n=8 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), sham operation group (group SH), group NP, dexmedetomidine group (group D), and specific HDAC6 inhibitor ACY-1215 plus dexmedetomidine group (group AD). The animals were commonly fed without any treatment in group C. The sciatic nerve was only isolated but not ligated in group SH.The animals were anesthetized with intraperitoneal 10% chloral hydrate 350 mg/kg.NP was induced by chronic constrictive injury (CCI). The right sciatic nerve was exposed, and 4 loose ligatures were placed on the sciatic nerve at 1-mm intervals with 4-0 silk thread in NP and D groups.In group D, dexmedetomidine 40 μg/kg was intraperitoneally injected once a day starting from the end of operation until the animals were sacrificed.In group AD, ACY-1215 25 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected every day immediately before CCI, and dexmedetomidine 40 μg/kg was intraperitoneally injected daily after CCI until 15 days after CCI.The equal volume of solvent was given instead of dexmedetomidine in S and NP groups.The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold to von Frey filament stimulation (MWT) and thermal paw withdrawal latency (TWL) were measured at 1 day before CCI (baseline, T 0) and 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 days after CCI (T 1-5). The rats were then sacrificed, and the dorsal horn tissues of L 4-6 spinal cord were obtained for determination of the expression of myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 by Western blot. Results:Compared with group C and group SH, the MWT was significantly decreased, and the TWL was shortened at T 1-5, and the expression of MyD88 and NF-κB p65 in the spinal dorsal horn was up-regulated in NP, D and AD groups ( P<0.05). Compared with group NP, the MWT was significantly increased, and the TWL was prolonged at T 1-5, the expression of MyD88 and NF-κB p65 in the spinal dorsal horn was down-regulated in group D ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in group AD ( P>0.05). Compared with group D, MWT was significantly decreased, and TWL was shortened at T 1-5, and the expression of MyD88 and NF-κB p65 was up-regulated in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in group AD ( P<0.05). Conclusion:HDAC6 in spinal dorsal horn is involved in dexmedetomidine-induced reduction of NP in rats, which is related to inhibiting MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective:To investigate the current situation of economic income and quality of life of patients with Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) , and to analyze the impact of different economic levels on quality of life of patients with KBD, and to provide evidence for selection of target and key populations setting of poverty alleviation in KBD area.Methods:The anrual family income and quality of life of adults with KBD in Yongshou County and Linyou County, Shaanxi Province were investigated from May 2017 to May 2019. Patient's quality of life were evaluated using Chinese version of European five-dimensional five-level health scale (EQ-5D-5L) and its utility value conversion system was used to calculate the EQ-index. The ratio of income difference to quality of life difference in different income KBD patients was calculated.Results:A total of 290 patients with KBD participated in the survey. The average annual income of families with KBD was 11 462.41 Yuan of which the average annual income of low (< 5 000 Yuan), medium (5 000 ~ 10 000 Yuan) and high-income (> 10 000 Yuan) groups was 2 663.48, 9 262.75 and 28 397.26 Yuan, respectively. The ratios of income difference to quality of life difference between low-income and medium-income groups (109.99 × 10 4, 94.28 × 10 4, 94.28 × 10 4) were bigger than the ratios of income difference to quality of life difference (55.94 × 10 4, 91.91 × 10 4,-3.20 × 10 3) between low-income and high-income groups in terms of mobility, usual activity, and EQ-index. The ratios of income difference to quality of life difference were negative in terms of self care, anxiety/depression and VAS score (- 131.99 × 10 4,-65.99 × 10 4,-65.99 × 10 3). Conclusions:Patients with KBD have low income level and large income gap. The KBD patients whose annual income less than 10 000 Yuan could be the key population of poverty alleviation, and family income level of more than 10 000 Yuan could be the target of poverty alleviation.

Objective:To evaluate the life quality of patients with Kashin-Beck disease (KBD), and to analyze its influencing factors.Methods:From September 2017 to May 2019, adult KBD patients aged 18 years old and over were selected as the study subjects in the historical serious disease areas (Yongshou County and Linyou County) of KBD in Shaanxi Province. KBD patients were investigated by using the basic information questionnaire and the Chinese version of the European Five-dimensional Five-level Health Scale (EQ-5D-5L), the distribution of health status in the five dimensions of mobility, self-care ability, daily activity, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression were described, and each dimension included five levels of no problem, mild problem, moderate problem, severe problem, and extreme problem. EQ index (- 0.391 - 1.000) was used to evaluate the quality of life of patients based on group perspective, the higher EQ index was, the better life quality of the group would be; visual analogue system (VAS) score (0 - 100 points) was used to evaluate the life quality of patients based on individual perspective, the higher VAS score was, the better life quality of the individual would be. At the same time, multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyze the life quality of KBD patients.Results:A total of 245 KBD patients were included, aged (60.37 ± 7.10) years old. The mild problems of self-care ability and anxiety/depression of KBD patients, accounted for the largest proportion, which were 31.8% (78/245) and 27.3% (67/245), respectively; in terms of daily activity, the moderate problem accounted for the largest proportion, which was 32.7% (80/245); in terms of mobility and pain/discomfort, the severe problem accounted for the largest proportion, which were 46.9% (115/245) and 45.7% (112/245), respectively. EQ index [median (quartile range)] was 0.311 (0.059, 0.563), and VAS score was 42.5 (30.0, 60.0) points. After multiple linear regression analysis, the effects of education level, pain level, body deformity inferiority complex, and social participation barrier on EQ index were statistically significant ( P < 0.01); the effects of economic level, pain level, body deformity inferiority complex, and social participation barrier on VAS score were statistically significant ( P < 0.05). Conclusion:The life quality of KBD patients is poor, it is affected by physical, psychological and social aspects, so relevant medical workers should pay attention to the overall health of KBD patients.