Background: Adrenocortical hormones, particularly 11-oxygenated androgens, are pivotal in female reproductive health and fertility. Standardized detection kits and population-specific reference intervals are lacking in China, hindering related clinical applications. Methods: A HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) pipeline was developed, rigorously validated, and applied to simultaneously quantify corticosterone, cortisone, cortisol, 18-OH cortisol, androstenedione (A4), 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione (11-OH A4), dehydroepiandrosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in serum samples from 455 reproductive-aged women (18–45 yrs) in Guangxi, China. Age-dependent concentration trends were analyzed, and reference intervals stratified by age (2.5th to 97.5th percentiles) were established. Correlations with body-composition metrics, ethnicity, and the menstrual cycle were investigated. Results: The HPLC-MS/MS method demonstrated high precision (intra- and inter-assay CVs < 15%), accuracy, and sensitivity. All eight hormones exhibited significant age-related declines (P < 0.001 for seven hormones; P = 0.001 for 11-OH A4). Notably, 11-OH A4 levels were significantly lower in the 35–45-yr (3.05 nmol/L) and 25–34-yr (3.09 nmol/L) age groups than in the 18–24-yr (3.57 nmol/L) age group, whereas no significant difference was observed between the 35–45-yr and 25–34-yr age groups. Weak negative correlations were observed between the body mass index and corticosterone and cortisone levels, whereas ethnicity and the menstrual cycle showed no significant associations with hormone levels. Conclusions We developed an HPLC-MS/MS-based method for simultaneously quantifying eight adrenocortical hormones, including 11-OH A4, and defined age-specific reference intervals for reproductive-aged Chinese women. These findings advance the clinical utility of adrenocortical hormones in diagnosing and managing reproductive disorders.

Objective To identify the factors influencing hospitalization expenses among deceased patients.Methods We extracted medical record data of patients who died during hospitalization between 2020 and 2023.Descriptive statistics and quantile regression models were employed to analyze hospitalization costs.Results Younger age,longer hospital stays,and a greater number of diagnosed diseases were generally associated with higher hospitalization expenses.However,at the 90th percen-tile,a higher disease burden was correlated with reduced financial burden.Compared to emergency admissions,outpatient admis-sions demonstrated a negative association with costs below the 50th percentile.Medical insurance coverage showed a shifting im-pact:its effect on total hospitalization expenses transitioned from positive to negative as costs increased,while its influence on out-of-pocket expenses remained positive and strengthened progressively.Conclusion Our findings indicate that:①Older age is significantly associated with lower end-of-life medical expenses;②Longer hospitalization and greater disease complexity contribute to increased medical costs;③Admission route and disease severity are fundamental determinants of expenses,with planned out-patient admissions showing cost containment advantages,while clinical complexity remains the primary driver of high costs;④The protective function of medical insurance payment mechanisms may involve elements of supplier-induced demand and potential overutilization of medical services.

Objective To identify the factors influencing hospitalization expenses among deceased patients.Methods We extracted medical record data of patients who died during hospitalization between 2020 and 2023.Descriptive statistics and quantile regression models were employed to analyze hospitalization costs.Results Younger age,longer hospital stays,and a greater number of diagnosed diseases were generally associated with higher hospitalization expenses.However,at the 90th percen-tile,a higher disease burden was correlated with reduced financial burden.Compared to emergency admissions,outpatient admis-sions demonstrated a negative association with costs below the 50th percentile.Medical insurance coverage showed a shifting im-pact:its effect on total hospitalization expenses transitioned from positive to negative as costs increased,while its influence on out-of-pocket expenses remained positive and strengthened progressively.Conclusion Our findings indicate that:①Older age is significantly associated with lower end-of-life medical expenses;②Longer hospitalization and greater disease complexity contribute to increased medical costs;③Admission route and disease severity are fundamental determinants of expenses,with planned out-patient admissions showing cost containment advantages,while clinical complexity remains the primary driver of high costs;④The protective function of medical insurance payment mechanisms may involve elements of supplier-induced demand and potential overutilization of medical services.