Objective To comparatively analyze the clinical characteristics of primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia(PBMAH)and adrenal cortisol-producing Adenoma(CPA),and enhance the understanding of two diseases.Methods The clinical data of 85 PBMAH patients(PBMAH group)and 195 CPA patients(CPA group)diagnosed at Department of Endocrinology,the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital,from September 2014 to August 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.The demographic characteristics,comorbidities,biochemical indicators,adrenocorticotropic hormone-cortisol(ACTH-F)levels,and adrenal imaging features and treatment conditions were compared between the two groups.Results(1)General characteristics:Compared with CPA group,PBMAH group had older age at diagnosis and a higher proportion of male patients.(2)Clinical characteristics:Compared with CPA group,PBMAH group had a longer disease duration,a higher proportion of subclinical Cushing's syndrome(CS),and a higher proportion of hypertension,impaired glucose tolerance/diabetes,bone mass reduction or osteoporosis,with higher serum potassium levels,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.01).(3)Hormone levels:Both PBMAH and CPA groups showed ACTH-F rhythm disorder,significantly increased cortisol levels and suppressed ACTH.Compared with PBMAH group,CPA group had stronger autonomous cortisol secretion ability,manifested by increased midnight serum cortisol(F0:00),16:00 serum cortisol(F16:00),24-hour urinary free cortisol(24 h UFC)levels and lower 8:00 serum ACTH(ACTH8:00)and 16:00 serum ACTH(ACTH16:00)(P<0.01).After low-dose dexamethasone suppression test(LDDST),CPA group showed lower suppression rates of ACTH and cortisol,and higher proportions of paradoxical elevation in serum cortisol and 24 h UFC compared with PBMAH(P<0.01).Conclusions PBMAH has a longer disease course and higher proportions of comorbid metabolic disorders than CPA,mostly manifested as subclinical Cushing's syndrome.CPA has stronger autonomous cortisol secretion ability,with cortisol less likely to be suppressed after LDDST and more obvious paradoxical elevation of cortisol and 24 h UFC.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to understand the awareness and attitudes of elderly Southeast Asians towards telehealth services during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in this study. METHODS: In this qualitative study, 78 individuals from Singapore (51.3% female, mean age 73.0 ± 7.6 years) were interviewed via telephone between 13 May 2020 and 9 June 2020 during Singapore's first COVID-19 'circuit breaker'. Participants were asked to describe their understanding of telehealth, their experience of and willingness to utilise these services, and the barriers and facilitators underlying their decision. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis, guided by the United Theory of Acceptance Use of Technology framework. RESULTS: Of the 78 participants, 24 (30.8%) were able to describe the range of telehealth services available and 15 (19.2%) had previously utilised these services. Conversely, 14 (17.9%) participants thought that telehealth comprised solely home medication delivery and 50 (51.3%) participants did not know about telehealth. Despite the advantages offered by telehealth services, participants preferred in-person consultations due to a perceived lack of human interaction and accuracy of diagnoses, poor digital literacy and a lack of access to telehealth-capable devices. CONCLUSION Our results showed poor overall awareness of the range of telehealth services available among elderly Asian individuals, with many harbouring erroneous views regarding their use. These data suggest that public health education campaigns are needed to improve awareness of and correct negative perceptions towards telehealth services in elderly Asians.
Humans ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Female ; Telemedicine ; Aged ; Male ; Singapore/epidemiology* ; Qualitative Research ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Aged, 80 and over ; Middle Aged ; Pandemics ; Awareness ; Asian People ; Southeast Asian People

Objective:Based on the background of high-quality development,we analyze the operational efficiency of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)hospitals in China's Yangtze River Economic Belt in 2021 and explore the impact of external environmental factors on operational efficiency,so as to provide a reference for promoting the high-quality development of TCM hospitals in the Yangtze River Economic Belt.Methods:The three-stage DEA model was used to analyze the operational efficiency of TCM hospitals in 11 provinces and cities in the Yangtze River Economic Zone in China in 2021.Results:After three-stage DEA analysis,the values of comprehensive efficiency,pure technical efficiency and scale efficiency of TCM hospitals in China's Yangtze River Economic Belt are 0.976,0.986 and 0.990,respectively.5 provinces and cities,Shanghai,Jiangsu,Hunan,Chongqing and Guizhou,are efficient before and after the adjustment,and the comprehensive efficiency of Zhejiang,Anhui,Hubei,Jiangxi,Sichuan and Yunnan have increased compared with that before the adjustment.Ranking of the average value of the comprehensive efficiency of TCM hospitals operation in the three major city clusters of the Yangtze River Economic Belt after adjustment:Chengdu-Chongqing city cluster(0.998)>city cluster in the Yangtze River Delta(0.964)>city cluster in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River(0.962).Conclusion:The operational efficiency of TCM hospitals in the Yangtze River Economic Zone has been underestimated,and the comprehensive efficiency is mainly affected by scale efficiency;there are differences in the operational efficiency of TCM hospitals in the three major urban agglomerations,and balanced development is needed between regions;the operational efficiency of TCM hospitals is affected by the external environment,and it is necessary to improve the external environment;it is necessary to strengthen the construction of digital and informatization of TCM,and to pay attention to the role of talents in TCM,so as to promote the high-quality development of TCM hospitals.

This paper aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of action of the Yiqi Fumai Formula(YQFM), a kind of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), on mice with experimental heart failure based on the "heart-gut axis" theory. Based on the network pharmacology integrated with the group collaboration algorithm, the active ingredients were screened, a "component-target-disease" network was constructed, and the potential pathways regulated by the formula were predicted and analyzed. Next, the model of experimental heart failure was established by intraperitoneal injection of adriamycin at a single high dose(15 mg·kg~(-1)) in BALB/c mice. After intraperitoneal injection of YQFM(lyophilized) at 7.90, 15.80, and 31.55 mg·d~(-1) for 7 d, the protective effects of the formula on cardiac function were evaluated using indicators such as ultrasonic electrocardiography and myocardial injury markers. Combined with inflammatory factors in the cardiac and colorectal tissue, as well as targeted assays, the relevant indicators of potential pathways were verified. Meanwhile, 16S rDNA sequencing was performed on mouse fecal samples using the Illumina platform to detect changes in gut flora and analyze differential metabolic pathways. The results show that the administration of injectable YQFM(lyophilized) for 7 d significantly increased the left ventricular end-systolic internal diameter, fractional shortening, and ejection fraction of cardiac tissue of mice with experimental heart failure(P<0.05). Moreover, markers of myocardial injury were significantly decreased(P<0.05), indicating improved cardiac function, along with significantly suppressed inflammatory responses in cardiac and intestinal tissue(P<0.05). Additionally, the species of causative organisms was decreased, and the homeostasis of gut flora was improved, involving a modulatory effect on PI3K-Akt signaling pathway-related inflammation in cardiac and colorectal tissue. In conclusion, YQFM can affect the "heart-gut axis" immunity through the homeostasis of the gut flora, thereby exerting a therapeutic effect on heart failure. This finding provides a reference for the combination of TCM and western medicine to prevent and treat heart failure based on the "heart-gut axis" theory.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Heart Failure/microbiology* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Male ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Heart/physiopathology* ; Humans ; Signal Transduction/drug effects*

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with high-myopia macular hole retinal detachment (MHRD) combined with choroidal detachment and to preliminarily analyze factors associated with postoperative hole closure.Methods:A retrospective clinical case series study. A total of 68 patients with high myopia (68 eyes) with MHRD diagnosed by Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University People’s Hospital from January 2019 to April 2024 were included in this study. Among them, there were 14 males (14 eyes) and 54 females (54 eyes). The mean age was (61.10±9.66) years. All eyes were treated with pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with silicone oil or gas filling. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure, and B-mode ultrasonography were performed. The BCVA test was performed using the Snellen visual acuity chart, which was statistically converted to logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity. The range of choroidal detachment was defined according to the number of involved quadrants observed in B-mode ultrasound or surgery, which was divided into 1 to 4 quadrants. Axial length (AL) was measured under retinal reattachment. In 68 eyes, there were 17 eyes with choroidal detachment and 51 eyes without choroidal detachment, respectively. There were 17 eyes with choroidal detachment, and the detachment range involved 1, 2, 2 and 12 eyes in 1, 2, 3 and 4 quadrants, respectively. During operation, 13% C 3F 8 was filled in 2 eyes, all of which were not complicated with choroidal detachment. 66 eyes were filled with silicone oil. According to whether the patients were complicated with choroidal detachment, the patients were divided into the group without choroidal detachment and the group with choroidal detachment. Independent sample t test, Welch two-sample t test or Mann-Whitney U test were used for comparison between groups. Generalized linear regression and logistic regression were used to analyze the relationship between the aperture size of postoperative unclosed holes and the closed hole after surgery and clinical factors. Results:At 3 months after surgery, the logMAR BCVA of the affected eye was 1.29±0.43, with a preoperative to postoperative difference ranging from -1.60 to 0.70 (-0.51±0.51) logMAR units. The AL ranged from 26.6 to 34.3 (29.60±2.12) mm. Among 68 eyes, macular hole of 37 (54.4%, 37/68) eyes were open and 31 (45.6%, 31/68) eyes were closed, respectively. The hole diameter of the open eye was (753±424) μm. There was no significant difference in age, course of disease and AL between the two groups ( W=412.0, 477.5, 427.0; P>0.05). Before operation, BCVA in patients with choroidal detachment was worse ( W=257.5) and intraocular pressure was lower ( t=4.051) in patients with choroidal detachment compared with those without choroidal detachment, with statistical significance ( P<0.05). At 3 months after surgery, BCVA in patients with choroidal detachment was significantly worse than that in patients without choroidal detachment, with statistical significance ( W=284.0, P<0.05). There were no significant differences in logMAR BCVA difference ( t=0.616) and macular hole closure rate ( χ 2=0.000) before and after surgery ( P>0.05). The reoperation rate of retinal detachment due to persistent or recurrent retinal detachment was significantly higher in the group with choroid detachment than in the group without choroid detachment, and the difference was statistically significant (odds ratio=6.424, P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that young age was significantly correlated with macular hole closure failure after surgery ( β=0.077, P=0.015). There was no correlation between AL, duration of disease, BCVA before surgery, intraocular pressure, wether combined with choroid detachment range and postoperative hole closure ( β=-0.072, 0.000, 0.672, -0.085, -0.391; P>0.05). Conclusions:Concomitant choroidal detachment adversely affected on both pre-operative and post-operative visual acuity in high myopia MHRD. It is closely associated with the risk of recurrent retinal detachment and the needs of multiple operations, but has no significant effect on hole closure rate. Lower age of onset may be a risk factor for macular hole closure.

Objective:Based on the background of high-quality development,we analyze the operational efficiency of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)hospitals in China's Yangtze River Economic Belt in 2021 and explore the impact of external environmental factors on operational efficiency,so as to provide a reference for promoting the high-quality development of TCM hospitals in the Yangtze River Economic Belt.Methods:The three-stage DEA model was used to analyze the operational efficiency of TCM hospitals in 11 provinces and cities in the Yangtze River Economic Zone in China in 2021.Results:After three-stage DEA analysis,the values of comprehensive efficiency,pure technical efficiency and scale efficiency of TCM hospitals in China's Yangtze River Economic Belt are 0.976,0.986 and 0.990,respectively.5 provinces and cities,Shanghai,Jiangsu,Hunan,Chongqing and Guizhou,are efficient before and after the adjustment,and the comprehensive efficiency of Zhejiang,Anhui,Hubei,Jiangxi,Sichuan and Yunnan have increased compared with that before the adjustment.Ranking of the average value of the comprehensive efficiency of TCM hospitals operation in the three major city clusters of the Yangtze River Economic Belt after adjustment:Chengdu-Chongqing city cluster(0.998)>city cluster in the Yangtze River Delta(0.964)>city cluster in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River(0.962).Conclusion:The operational efficiency of TCM hospitals in the Yangtze River Economic Zone has been underestimated,and the comprehensive efficiency is mainly affected by scale efficiency;there are differences in the operational efficiency of TCM hospitals in the three major urban agglomerations,and balanced development is needed between regions;the operational efficiency of TCM hospitals is affected by the external environment,and it is necessary to improve the external environment;it is necessary to strengthen the construction of digital and informatization of TCM,and to pay attention to the role of talents in TCM,so as to promote the high-quality development of TCM hospitals.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with high-myopia macular hole retinal detachment (MHRD) combined with choroidal detachment and to preliminarily analyze factors associated with postoperative hole closure.Methods:A retrospective clinical case series study. A total of 68 patients with high myopia (68 eyes) with MHRD diagnosed by Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University People’s Hospital from January 2019 to April 2024 were included in this study. Among them, there were 14 males (14 eyes) and 54 females (54 eyes). The mean age was (61.10±9.66) years. All eyes were treated with pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with silicone oil or gas filling. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure, and B-mode ultrasonography were performed. The BCVA test was performed using the Snellen visual acuity chart, which was statistically converted to logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity. The range of choroidal detachment was defined according to the number of involved quadrants observed in B-mode ultrasound or surgery, which was divided into 1 to 4 quadrants. Axial length (AL) was measured under retinal reattachment. In 68 eyes, there were 17 eyes with choroidal detachment and 51 eyes without choroidal detachment, respectively. There were 17 eyes with choroidal detachment, and the detachment range involved 1, 2, 2 and 12 eyes in 1, 2, 3 and 4 quadrants, respectively. During operation, 13% C 3F 8 was filled in 2 eyes, all of which were not complicated with choroidal detachment. 66 eyes were filled with silicone oil. According to whether the patients were complicated with choroidal detachment, the patients were divided into the group without choroidal detachment and the group with choroidal detachment. Independent sample t test, Welch two-sample t test or Mann-Whitney U test were used for comparison between groups. Generalized linear regression and logistic regression were used to analyze the relationship between the aperture size of postoperative unclosed holes and the closed hole after surgery and clinical factors. Results:At 3 months after surgery, the logMAR BCVA of the affected eye was 1.29±0.43, with a preoperative to postoperative difference ranging from -1.60 to 0.70 (-0.51±0.51) logMAR units. The AL ranged from 26.6 to 34.3 (29.60±2.12) mm. Among 68 eyes, macular hole of 37 (54.4%, 37/68) eyes were open and 31 (45.6%, 31/68) eyes were closed, respectively. The hole diameter of the open eye was (753±424) μm. There was no significant difference in age, course of disease and AL between the two groups ( W=412.0, 477.5, 427.0; P>0.05). Before operation, BCVA in patients with choroidal detachment was worse ( W=257.5) and intraocular pressure was lower ( t=4.051) in patients with choroidal detachment compared with those without choroidal detachment, with statistical significance ( P<0.05). At 3 months after surgery, BCVA in patients with choroidal detachment was significantly worse than that in patients without choroidal detachment, with statistical significance ( W=284.0, P<0.05). There were no significant differences in logMAR BCVA difference ( t=0.616) and macular hole closure rate ( χ 2=0.000) before and after surgery ( P>0.05). The reoperation rate of retinal detachment due to persistent or recurrent retinal detachment was significantly higher in the group with choroid detachment than in the group without choroid detachment, and the difference was statistically significant (odds ratio=6.424, P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that young age was significantly correlated with macular hole closure failure after surgery ( β=0.077, P=0.015). There was no correlation between AL, duration of disease, BCVA before surgery, intraocular pressure, wether combined with choroid detachment range and postoperative hole closure ( β=-0.072, 0.000, 0.672, -0.085, -0.391; P>0.05). Conclusions:Concomitant choroidal detachment adversely affected on both pre-operative and post-operative visual acuity in high myopia MHRD. It is closely associated with the risk of recurrent retinal detachment and the needs of multiple operations, but has no significant effect on hole closure rate. Lower age of onset may be a risk factor for macular hole closure.

Objective To investigate the morphological typing and clinical significance of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis fibular notch based on CT images. Methods According to the inclusion and exclusion ceiteria‚ the imaging data of patients undergoing ankle joint CT examination were analyzed‚ and the inferior tibiofibular joint fibula notch was classified according to the morphological characteristics. The measurements included 8 distances. There were 123 males and 102 females‚ all of whom were Han nationality‚ aged 18-60 years old. Results Retrospectively analyzed the result of 225 patients from December 2013 to December 2022. The distal tibiofibular syndesmosis fibular notch was divided into four types according to morphological characteristics‚ C-shaped (50. 67%)‚ V-shaped (26. 67%)‚ flat-shaped (15. 11%) and L-shaped (7. 56%). The angle between the anterior and posterior facets of the flat shape (145. 56 ± 9. 25)° was the largest and the angle between the anterior and posterior facets of the L shape (125. 07 ± 13. 54)° was the smallest(P< 0. 05); the depth of the notch in the flat shape (3. 11 ± 0. 83) mm was the smallest and in the L shape (4. 47±1. 11) mm was the largest(P<0. 05);The posterior facet length (13. 06 ± 3. 56) mm and anterior tibiofibular gap (3. 83±1. 49) mm on left were larger than on the right side (P<0. 05); The posterior facet length (13. 36 ± 3. 46) mm‚ fibular notch depth (3. 93 ± 1. 10) mm and vertical distance of tibiofibular overlap (9. 10 ± 2. 55) mm larger in men than in women (P<0. 05). Conclusion In this study‚ the data related to the inferior tibiofibular syndesmosis notch were measured and divided into four types according to the shape. The flat inferior tibiofibular syndesmosis notch is more likely to have chronic ankle instability‚ and the fibula is more likely to move forward during anatomical reduction. The inferior tibiofibular syndesmosis of L-shaped and C-shaped notches is more prone to posterior displacement of fibula or poor rotation reduction during anatomical reduction.

Objective To study the changes of volume and cognitive function in hypothalamic subregions based on automated MRI segmentation at various stages of adult life and the correlation between them.Methods Totally 314 healthy subjects aged 20-89 years old were selected from the public database of Dallas Lifespan Brain Study(DLBS),and then divided into a youth group(20-35 years old),an early-middle age group(36-50 years old),a late-middle age group(51-65 years old)and an elderly age group(66-89 years old).The structural magnetic resonance imaging(sMRI)images of the 314 subjects were treated with Freesurfer software to determine the volumes of the anterosuperior,anterior-inferior,middle-superior,middle-inferior and posterior subregions of the right and left sides of the hypothalamus.Differences in hypothalamic subregion volumes between the 4 groups were compared using analysis of covariance,and multiple comparisons between the 4 groups were performed using Bonferroni correction.Pearson's correlation coefficients were used to analyze the correlations of the hypothalamic subregion volumes with the scores of mini mental state examination(MMSE),digit comparison(DC)test,digit symbol(DS)test,and Hopkins verbal learning test(HVLT).Results The volumes of all the hypothalamic subregions except the right anterior inferior part decreased significantly with age(P＜0.05).All the hypothalamic subregions except the right anterior inferior part had the volumes correlated with MMSE scores positively(P＜0.05);the DC test scores were correlated positively with all the hypothalamic subregion volumes(P＜0.05);the DS test scores were correlated positively with the volumes of the hypothalamic subregions except the bilateral anterior-inferior part(P＜0.05);the scores of HVLT immediate memory test were positively correlated with the anterior-superior,middle-superior and posterior subregion volumes of the right and left sides of the hypothalamus(P＜0.05);the scores of HVLT delayed memory test were correlated positively with the volumes of the bilat-eral anterior-superior and left-middle-superior subregions(P＜0.05);the scores of HVLT delayed recognition test did not cor-relate with all the hypothalamic subregions(P＞0.05);the volumes of the bilateral hypothalamus were positively correlated with the scores of MMSE,DC test,DS test and HVLT immediate memory test(P＜0.05).Conclusion Volume changes in some hy-pothalamic subregions are associated with age-related memory decline during adult aging,which can be used to assess the risk of memory loss throughout adulthood.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(5):8-15]

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Bushen Huoxue enema in treating the rat model of kidney deficiency and blood stasis-thin endometrium （KDBS-TE） by transcriptome sequencing. MethodThe rat model of KDBS-TE was established by administration of tripterygium polyglycosides tablets combined with subcutaneous injection of adrenaline. The pathological changes of rat endometrium in each group were then observed. Three uterine tissue specimens from each of the blank group， model group， and Bushen Huoxue enema group were randomly selected for transcriptome sequencing. The differentially expressed circRNAs， lncRNAs， and miRNAs were screened， and the disease-related specific competitive endogenous RNA （ceRNA） regulatory network was constructed. Furthermore， the gene ontology （GO） functional annotation and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway enrichment were performed for the mRNAs in the network. ResultCompared with the blank group， the model group showed endometrial dysplasia， decreased endometrial thickness and endometrial/total uterine wall thickness ratio （P<0.01）， and differential expression of 18 circRNAs， 410 lncRNAs， and 7 miRNAs. Compared with the model group， the enema and estradiol valerate groups showed improved endometrial morphology and increased endometrial thickness and ratio of endometrial to total uterine wall thickness （P<0.05）. In addition， 21 circRNAs， 518 lncRNAs， and 17 miRNAs were differentially expressed in the enema group. The disease-related specific circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network composed of 629 nodes and 664 edges contained 2 circRNAs， 34 miRNAs， and 593 mRNAs. The lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network composed of 180 nodes and 212 edges contained 5 lncRNAs， 10 miRNAs， and 164 mRNAs. The mNRAs were mainly enriched in Hippo signaling pathway， autophagy-animal， axon guidance， etc. ConclusionBushen Huoxue enema can treat KDBS-TE in rats by regulating specific circRNAs， lncRNAs， and miRNAs in the uterus and the ceRNA network.