Objective To investigate the causal relationship between gut microbiota and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Methods Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data of gut microbiota and IPF were obtained from MiBioGen and IEU OpenGWAS, respectively. Instrumental variables were screened by means of significance, linkage disequilibrium, weak instrumental variable screening, and removal of confounding factors (genetics, smoking, host characteristics). Inverse variance weighted (IVW) was used as the main Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis method, and the weighted median, simple mode, MR-Egger, and weighted mode were used to perform MR to reveal the causal effect of gut microbiota and IPF. The Cochrane's Q, leave-one-out, MR-Egger-intercept, and Mendelian randomization pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) and Steiger tests were used to analyze the heterogeneity, horizontal pleiotropy, outliers, and directionality, respectively. Results IVW analysis results showed that Actinobacteria [OR=1.773, 95%CI (1.323, 2.377), P<0.001], Erysipelatoclostridium [OR=2.077, 95%CI (1.107, 3.896), P=0.023], and Streptococcus [OR=1.35, 95%CI (1.100, 1.657), P=0.004] could increase the risk of IPF. Bifidobacterium [OR=0.668, 95%CI (0.620, 0.720), P<0.001], Ruminococcus [OR=0.434, 95%CI (0.222, 0.848), P=0.015], and Tyzzerella [OR=0.479, 95%CI (0.304, 0.755), P=0.001] could reduce the risk of IPF. No significant heterogeneity, horizontal pleiotropy, outliers, and reverse causality were found. Conclusion Actinobacteria, Erysipelatoclostridium and Streptococcus may increase the risk of IPF, while Bifidobacterium, Ruminococcus and Tyzzerella may reduce the risk of IPF. Regulation of the above gut microbiota may become a new direction in the study of the pathogenesis of IPF.

Objective:To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients in Tibet.Methods:A total of 239 patients with DR who received treatment in Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hospital of Chengdu Office of People's Government of Tibet Autonomous Region from December 2017 to December 2018 were included in this study. They were divided into Han nationality and Zang nationality groups according to ethnicity. The condition of DR was evaluated with nonmydriatic ocular fundus photography according to the staging criteria of the severity of retinopathy.Results:The prevalence of DR in Tibet was 18.0％. The prevalence of DR in Tibetan and Han patients with diabetes was 17.5% and 19.2%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of DR between Tibetan and Han patients with diabetes ( χ2 = 0.10, P = 0.754). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk factors of developing DR in Tibet included diabetes duration ( OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.05-1.24, P < 0.05), insulin therapy ( OR = 2.74, 95% CI: 1.09-6.89, P < 0.05), fasting plasma glucose ( OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.07-1.75, P < 0.05) and hypertension ( OR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.02-3.86, P < 0.05). Diabetes duration and fasting plasma glucose are independent risk factors of DR. However, although elevated glycated hemoglobin levels were high in Tibet, they could not be used to predict the risk for developing DR ( OR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.82-1.25, P > 0.05). Conclusion:Hyperglycemia is an important risk factor of developing DR in Tibet. However, elevated glycated hemoglobin levels cannot be used to predict the risk of developing DR in Tibet. Findings from this study fill the gap in the research on DR prevalence and ethic difference of DR prevalence, providing scientific evidence for prevention and treatment of DR in high-altitude areas.

BACKGROUND:In recent years,artificial cervical disc replacement surgery as a new method for the treatment of cervical disease has gradualy been accepted and understood,but relevant complications have gradualy attracted attention.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the clinical outcomes of artificial cervical disc replacement in the treatment of cervical disease and the range of motion of the replacement segment.METHODS: A total of 25 patients with artificial cervical disc replacement in the treatment of cervical spondylosis,who were treated in the Department of Orthopedics,Air Force General Hospital of Chinese PLA from August 2006 to April 2012,were enroled in this study,including 15 males and 10 females,aged 31-76 years,averagely 51.04 years.There were 6 cases of double segments and 19 cases of single segment.They were folowed up for 24 to 93 months.Clinical results were assessed using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association score,cervical dysfunction index and pain visual analog scale scores.Imaging was used to observe range of motion,cervical curvature,heterotopic ossification,and degeneration of adjacent segments.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Neurological function in al patients was improved to different degrees.One case suffered from mild heterotopic ossification,but no clinical symptoms were found.No significant difference in range of motion of surgical segment,and range of motion of upper and lower adjacent segments was detected between pre-replacement and final folow-up results (P＞0.05).No significant difference in range of motion of C2-C7 was found between pre-replacement and final folow-up results (P＞0.05).Japanese Orthopaedic Association score,cervical dysfunction index and pain visual analog scale scores were significantly improved during final folow-up compared with pre-replacement (P＜0.05).These results indicated that artificial cervical disc replacement in the treatment of cervical disease can achieve better clinical efficacy,can keep the range of motion of replacement segment and avoid the accelerated degeneration of adjacent segments.