Objective To investigate the current symptom status of maintenance hemodialysis(MHD)patients,analyze the influencing factors from the perspective of multidimensional symptom burden,extract symptom groups,and construct a symptom network.Methods A total of 490 patients who received MHD at the blood purification center of a tertiary hospital in Shanghai from March to April 2025 were selected using a convenience sampling method.30 symptoms of MHD patients were investigated using a modified dialysis symptom index table.SPSS and R software were utilized to analyze the influencing factors,extract symptom groups,and construct a multidimensional symptom network.Results A total of 488 valid questionnaires were collected,with a valid questionnaire recovery rate of 99.59％.The median number of symptoms experienced by patients was 6(interquartile range:4,8),with the top 5 symptoms being dry skin(69.88％),fatigue or tiredness(56.97％),itching(56.97％),worry(50.20％),and dry mouth(46.31％).Multidimensional analysis indicated that age,duration of dialysis,education level,and complications were influencing factors of symptom burden scores across different dimensions.6 stable symptom groups were extracted,namely skin discomfort,fatigue and pain,gastrointestinal tract,sleep disorders,water-electrolyte imbalance,and uremia.The results of the symptom network analysis revealed that difficulty of falling asleep had the highest intensity centrality(rs=2.18,2.25,2.12).Conclusion The symptom association is relatively stable,and difficulty of falling asleep is the core symptom.This finding can assist clinical medical staff in achieving efficiency and precision in symptom group management.

Objective To explore the diagnostic and prognostic values of procalcitonin(PCT),interleukin 6(IL-6)and cystatin C(CysC)combined detection in sepsis acute kidney injury(AKI).Methods A total of 100 patients with sepsis were divided into the AKI group(n=56)and the non AKI group(n=44)according to the occurrence of AKI.The prognosis of AKI patients was followed up,and patients were divided into the survival group(n=32)and the death group(n=24)according to the presence or absence of death.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect PCT,IL-6 and CysC in different groups of patients.The Acute Physiological Function and Chronic Health Status Score(APACHEⅡ)was used to assess the condition of illness.ROC curve was used to analyze the predictive values of PCT,IL-6 and CysC in the diagnosis and death of sepsis combined with AKI.Results The male ratio,age,hypertension with diabetes ratio,APACHE Ⅱ score,serum creatinine(Scr),PCT,IL-6 and CysC levels were higher in the AKI group than those in the non AKI group,and the ratio of complications and onset time were lower in the AKI group than those in the non AKI group(P＜0.05).The ROC curve results showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of PCT,IL-6,and CysC combined for the diagnosis of sepsis complicated with AKI was 0.859,with a sensitivity of 91.07%and a specificity of 90.91%.The combined diagnostic efficacy was better than that of a single indicator.The APACHE Ⅱ score,PCT,IL-6 and CysC levels were higher in the death group than those in the survival group(P＜0.05).The ROC curve results showed that the AUC,sensitivity and specificity of PCT,IL-6 and CysC combined in predicting mortality in sepsis patients with AKI were 0.847,91.67%and 87.50%,respectively.The combined predictive efficacy was better than that of single indicator.Conclusion The combination of PCT,CysC and IL-6 indicators is more valuable in diagnosing and predicting prognosis of sepsis with AKI.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of Chinese medicine sequential therapy combined with Clomiphene in the treatment of ovulatory disorder infertility(ODI),and to observe the effects of the combined therapy on the endometrial thickness,ovarian diameter,ovulation rate and pregnancy rate of the patients.Methods A total of 120 patients with ODI admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the 7th People's Hospital of Zhengzhou from July 2021 to August 2023 were randomly divided into the control group and the observation group,with 60 patients in each group.The two groups were treated with Clomiphene,and additionally the observation group was treated with Chinese medicine sequential therapy of"nourishing yin and enriching blood,warming kidney to resolve phlegm and unblock collaterals,and tonifying kidney and strengthening spleen"in accordance with the menstrual cycle.Three menstrual cycles constituted a course of treatment.Before and after treatment,the changes in the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome scores of the two groups were observed.After treatment for three menstrual cycles,the clinical efficacy,endometrial thickness,follicle diameter,ovulation rate,pregnancy rate,incidence of biphasic basal body temperature(BBT),and the incidence of adverse reactions after in the two groups were compared.Results(1)After three menstrual cycles of treatment,the total effective rate of the observation group was 96.67％(58/60)and that of the control group was 83.33％(50/60),and the comparison between the two groups showed that the efficacy of the observation group was significantly superior to that of the control group,the difference being statistically significant(x2=5.926,P＜0.05).(2)After three menstrual cycles of treatment,the TCM scores of patients in both groups were decreased significantly compared with those before treatment(P＜0.01),and the decrease of the scores in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.01).(3)After three menstrual cycles of treatment,the follicle diameter of the observation group was longer than that of the control group,and the incidence of biphasic BBT[60.00％(36/60)],ovulation rate[63.33％(38/60)],and pregnancy rate[25.00％(15/60)]were higher than those of the control group,which were 31.67％(19/60),41.67％(25/60),and 10.00％(6/60),respectively.The differences of the above four indicators between the two groups were statistically significant(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).However,the differences of endometrial thickness and the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups were not statistically significant(P＞0.05).Conclusion Chinese medicine sequential therapy combined with Clomiphene exerts certain efficacy in treating patients with ODI,which can effectively relieve clinical symptoms,improve the BBT conditions,enhance the ovulation rate and pregnancy rate,with high safety.

Objective To investigate the current symptom status of maintenance hemodialysis(MHD)patients,analyze the influencing factors from the perspective of multidimensional symptom burden,extract symptom groups,and construct a symptom network.Methods A total of 490 patients who received MHD at the blood purification center of a tertiary hospital in Shanghai from March to April 2025 were selected using a convenience sampling method.30 symptoms of MHD patients were investigated using a modified dialysis symptom index table.SPSS and R software were utilized to analyze the influencing factors,extract symptom groups,and construct a multidimensional symptom network.Results A total of 488 valid questionnaires were collected,with a valid questionnaire recovery rate of 99.59％.The median number of symptoms experienced by patients was 6(interquartile range:4,8),with the top 5 symptoms being dry skin(69.88％),fatigue or tiredness(56.97％),itching(56.97％),worry(50.20％),and dry mouth(46.31％).Multidimensional analysis indicated that age,duration of dialysis,education level,and complications were influencing factors of symptom burden scores across different dimensions.6 stable symptom groups were extracted,namely skin discomfort,fatigue and pain,gastrointestinal tract,sleep disorders,water-electrolyte imbalance,and uremia.The results of the symptom network analysis revealed that difficulty of falling asleep had the highest intensity centrality(rs=2.18,2.25,2.12).Conclusion The symptom association is relatively stable,and difficulty of falling asleep is the core symptom.This finding can assist clinical medical staff in achieving efficiency and precision in symptom group management.

Objective To explore the diagnostic and prognostic values of procalcitonin(PCT),interleukin 6(IL-6)and cystatin C(CysC)combined detection in sepsis acute kidney injury(AKI).Methods A total of 100 patients with sepsis were divided into the AKI group(n=56)and the non AKI group(n=44)according to the occurrence of AKI.The prognosis of AKI patients was followed up,and patients were divided into the survival group(n=32)and the death group(n=24)according to the presence or absence of death.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect PCT,IL-6 and CysC in different groups of patients.The Acute Physiological Function and Chronic Health Status Score(APACHEⅡ)was used to assess the condition of illness.ROC curve was used to analyze the predictive values of PCT,IL-6 and CysC in the diagnosis and death of sepsis combined with AKI.Results The male ratio,age,hypertension with diabetes ratio,APACHE Ⅱ score,serum creatinine(Scr),PCT,IL-6 and CysC levels were higher in the AKI group than those in the non AKI group,and the ratio of complications and onset time were lower in the AKI group than those in the non AKI group(P＜0.05).The ROC curve results showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of PCT,IL-6,and CysC combined for the diagnosis of sepsis complicated with AKI was 0.859,with a sensitivity of 91.07%and a specificity of 90.91%.The combined diagnostic efficacy was better than that of a single indicator.The APACHE Ⅱ score,PCT,IL-6 and CysC levels were higher in the death group than those in the survival group(P＜0.05).The ROC curve results showed that the AUC,sensitivity and specificity of PCT,IL-6 and CysC combined in predicting mortality in sepsis patients with AKI were 0.847,91.67%and 87.50%,respectively.The combined predictive efficacy was better than that of single indicator.Conclusion The combination of PCT,CysC and IL-6 indicators is more valuable in diagnosing and predicting prognosis of sepsis with AKI.

Objective To develop a self-assessment scale for medication literacy in patients with coronary heart disease comorbidity diabetes and to test its reliability and validity.Methods According to medication literacy theory model,the initial scale was formed through literature review,the qualitative interview and expert inquiry.Cognitive interview was used to optimize the expression of item text.421 patients with coronary heart disease comorbidity diabetes in a tertiary hospital in Zhejiang province from November 2022 to April 2023 were selected to investigate the reliability and validity of the scale by convenience sampling.Results The self-assessment scale of drug literacy for coronary heart disease comorbidity diabetes mellitus included 23 items in 5 dimensions including acquisition,understanding,communication,evaluation and calculation.The total Cronbach's α coefficient of the scale was 0.911;the retest reliability was 0.948;the average content validity index was 0.997;the correlation coefficients between each dimension and total score of the scale and the calibration scale ranged from 0.485 to 0.926.The exploratory factor analysis was employed to extract 5 common factors,and the cumulative variance contribution rate was 73.753％.Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the scale factor structure was stable.Conclusion The scale has good reliability and validity,and it can be used as an effective tool to evaluate the self-rated medication literacy level of patients with coronary heart disease comorbidity diabetes.

Objective:To explore the alteration of structural network, cognitive scores in patients with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis, as well as the relationship between cognitive impairment and changes of structural networks in patients with NMDAR encephalitis.Methods:This study was a retrospective study. A total of 39 patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis were recruited as the autoimmune encephalitis group (AE group) from the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between September 2012 to December 2019, and 32 healthy volunteers with normal results of routine head MR examinations and no history of central nervous system diseases were recruited as the health control group (HC group). There were 16 males and 23 females, aged from 13 to 66 (34±15) years, with duration of disease from 11 to 110 (31±20) days in AE group, and there were 16 males and 23 females, aged from 13 to 66 (34±15) years in HC group. All subjects underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scan and cognitive function evaluation. The brain structural networks of two groups were constructed by deterministic fiber tracking techniques, and the differences of global topological properties [clustering coefficient (C p), shortest path length (L p), local efficiency (E loc), global efficiency (E glob), normalized C p (γ), normalized L p (λ), small-worldness (σ)] and local topological properties between two groups were analyzed by the graph theory approch. The correlations between characteristics of brain structural networks and cognitive function scores were further analyzed. Results:There was no significant difference in age and gender distribution between the AE group and HC group ( P>0.05). The C p [0.005(0.004, 0.007)], γ (1.76±0.13), λ (0.51±0.03) and σ value (1.57±0.13) of AE group were decreased when compared with HC group [the values were 0.007(0.004,0.017), 2.13±0.63, 0.55±0.06 and 1.73±0.36 each] ( Z=-939.00, t=-3.58, t=-4.16, t=-2.58, P<0.05). Compared with HC group, nodal efficiencies in the left middle frontal gyrus (orbital part), left and right supplementary motor areas, left olfactory cortex, left gyrus rectus, bilateral insula, left postcentral gyrus, left paracentral lobule and right heschl gyrus were changed ( P<0.05). There were five identical hub regions which contains the left middle occipital gyrus, bilateral supplementary motor areas and precuneus in both groups. However, in the AE group, three hub regions of the left middle occipital gyrus and bilateral middle temporal gyrus were reduced, and the left precentral gyrus was increased as hub region. The nodal efficiencies of the left supplementary motor areas ( r=0.393, P=0.013), right supplementary motor areas ( r=0.384, P=0.016) and left paracentral lobule ( r=0.356, P=0.026) were positively correlated with the montreal cognitive assessment scores. Conclusion:The white matter is extensively impaired in anti-NMDAR encephalitis patients and the changes of topological properties in several brain regions are correlated with cognitive decline.

Objective:To investigate the value of central vein sign (CVS) and iron deposition on quantitative susceptibility imaging (QSM) of 3.0 T MRI in differentiating multiple sclerosis (MS) from neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease (NMOSD).Methods:This study was a retrospective study. A total of 54 MS patients and 49 NMOSD patients were enrolled from July 2018 to December 2020 in People′s Hospital of Leshan and the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. All patients underwent conventional MRI and three-dimensional enhanced T 2*-weighted angiography (3D-ESWAN), and ESWAN-filtered phase and QSM were reconstructed from 3D-ESWAN data. First, brain lesions of MS and NMOSD were screened on proton density (PD)-T 2WI, and then the location of lesions, CVS and nodular/annular iron deposition were observed on phase and QSM images. The χ 2 test was used to compare the differences in intracranial lesion location, CVS and iron deposition between MS and NMOSD patients. Receiver operating characteristic curve and area under the curve (AUC) were used to assess the efficiency of CVS and QSM iron deposition to differentiate MS from NMOSD. Results:A total of 968 MS lesions were observed in 54 MS patients, of which CVSs were found in 354 lesions and 227 CVSs were located around the lateral ventricles, 117 in deep white matter (DWM) and 10 in the cortex/subcortex; 372 lesions showed nodular iron deposition, and 193 lesions ring iron deposition on QSM. Totally 247 brain lesions were observed in 41 of 48 patients with NMOSD, of which CVSs were found in 4 lesions and 1 located around the lateral ventricle, 3 located in the DWM; 3 lesions showed nodular iron deposition on QSM. There were significant differences in cortex/subcortex lesions, CVS and iron deposition between MS and NMOSD patients (χ 2 were 29.33, 115.66 and 258.21, respectively, all P<0.001). The AUC of CVS for differentiating MS from NMOSD was 0.941 (95%CI 0.887-0.994), with a sensitivity of 96.3% and a specificity of 91.8%; the AUC of iron deposition for differentiating MS from NMOSD was 0.969 (95%CI 0.930-1.000), with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 93.9%. Conclusion:CVS and iron deposition on 3.0 T MRI are distinct radiologic features of MS lesions from those of NMOSD lesions, and have certain value in the differential diagnosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system whose clinical manifestations and diagnostic criteria are non-specific and absence of golden criteria when diagnosing. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can not only observe the focal lesions of demyelination, but also evaluate microstructural damages and iron deposition in the white/gray matter in MS patients by applying various developing sequences. MRIs play an irreplaceable role in revealing pathological evolution, prognosis and monitoring after treatment of MS patients. This paper reviewed the clinical value and application of MRIs for the MS patients in recent years.

Objective:To explore the consistency of peripheral whole blood and venous serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels, and the value of peripheral whole blood PCT in evaluating pediatric bacterial infection.Methods:This multicenter cross-sectional parallel control study was conducted in 11 children′s hospital. All the 1 898 patients older than 28 days admitted to these hospitals from March 2018 to February 2019 had their peripheral whole blood and venous serum PCT detected simultaneously with unified equipment, reagent and method. According to the venous serum PCT level, the patients were stratified to subgroups. Analysis of variance and chi-square test were used to compare the demographic characteristics among groups. And the correlation between the peripheral blood and venous serum PCT level was investigated by quantitative Pearson correlation analysis.The PCT resultes were also converted into ranked data to further test the consistency between the two sampling methods by Spearman′s rank correlation test. Furthermore, the ranked data were converted into binary data to evaluate the consistency and investigate the best cut-off of peripheral blood PCT level in predicting bacterial infection.Results:A total of 1 898 valid samples were included (1 098 males, 800 females),age 27.4(12.2,56.7) months. There was a good correlation between PCT values of peripheral whole blood and venous serum ( r=0.97 , P<0.01). The linear regression equation was PCT?venous serum=0.135+0.929×PCT peripheral whole blood. However, when stratified to 5 levels, PCT results showed diverse and unsatisfied consistency between the two sampling methods ( r=0.51-0.92, all P<0.01). But after PCT was converted to ordinal categorical variables, the stratified analysis showed that the coincidence rate of the measured values by the two sampling methods in each boundary area was 84.9%-97.1%. The dichotomous variables also showed a good consistency (coincidence rate 96.8%-99.3%, Youden index 0.82-0.89). According to the severity of disease, the serum PCT value was classified into 4 intervals（<0.5、0.5-<2.0、2.0-<10.0、≥10.0 μg/L）, and the peripheral blood PCT value also showed a good predictive value (AUC value was 0.991 2-0.997 9). The optimal cut points of peripheral whole blood PCT value 0.5、1.0、2.0、10.0 μg/L corresponding to venous serum PCT values were 0.395, 0.595, 1.175 and 3.545 μg/L, respectively. Conclusions:There is a good correlation between peripheral whole blood PCT value and the venous serum PCT value, which means that the peripheral whole blood PCT could facilitate the identification of infection and clinical severity. Besides, the sampling of peripheral whole blood is simple and easy to repeat.