Objective:Aural fullness（AF） is one of the common symptoms in ENT outpatient department, the incidence is about 1.4%. Some patients have an unknown etiology and are diagnosed as idiopathic ear congestion. In this paper, the therapeutic effect of gabapentin on some patients with idiopathic ear congestion was studied. Methods:Forty-eight cases of patients with ear distress as the main complaint between January 2024 and September 2024 were examined by questionnaire, specialist physical examination, pure tone audiometry and acoustic impedance. Among them, 19 cases were diagnosed with definite etiology, 29 cases were diagnosed with idiopathic ear congestion, and 7 cases were lost to follow-up in the idiopathic ear congestion group. Twenty-two patients were divided into the administration group（12 cases receiving regular gabapentin treatment for 3-6 weeks） and the control group（10 cases receiving no medication） based on whether they received gabapentin to explore the effect of ear congestion and possible related factors. Results:Among the 12 patients in the medication group, 2 cases of aural fullness disappeared completely, 9 cases had different degrees of relief, and 1 case had no relief Among the 10 patients in the control group, 2 patients' aural fullness disappeared, 1 patient consciously relieved, and the remaining 7 patients had no significant change in ear boredom. According to the Wong-baker Facial expression Scale, the score of ear tightness decreased from 2.83 before medication to 1.51 after medication in the medication group. The remission rate of ear congestion in the medication group was significantly higher than that in the control group（P=0.004）. Conclusion:Gabapentin can be used to treat idiopathic aural fullness, which can reduce the symptoms effectively. This suggests that the occurrence of idiopathic aural fullness may be related to neuralgia and central sensitization.
Humans ; Gabapentin/therapeutic use* ; Amines/therapeutic use* ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/therapeutic use* ; Female ; Male ; Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids/therapeutic use* ; Ear Diseases/drug therapy* ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Aged

OBJECTIVE: This study explored the job choice preferences of Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) workers to provide CDC management information and recommendations for optimizing employee retention and motivation policies. METHODS: A discrete choice experiment was conducted in nine provinces across China. Seven key attributes were identified to analyze the job preferences of CDC workers. Mixed logit models, latent class models, and policy simulation tools were used. RESULTS: A valid sample of 5,944 cases was included in the analysis. All seven attributes significantly influenced the job choices of CDC workers. Heterogeneity analyses identified two main groups based on different levels of preference for attribute utility. Income-prioritizers were concerned with income and opportunities for career development, whereas bianzhi-prioritizers were concerned with bianzhi and welfare benefits. The policy simulation analysis revealed that income-prioritizers had a relatively higher sensitivity to multiple job preference incentives. CONCLUSION Income and bianzhi were the two key attributes influencing the job choices and retention preferences of CDC workers. Heterogeneity in job preferences was also identified. Based on the preference characteristics of different subgroups, policy content should be skewed to differentiate the importance of incentives.
China ; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. ; Middle Aged ; Choice Behavior ; Career Choice ; Motivation

OBJECTIVE: To identify the key features of facial and tongue images associated with anemia in female populations, establish anemia risk-screening models, and evaluate their performance. METHODS: A total of 533 female participants (anemic and healthy) were recruited from Shuguang Hospital. Facial and tongue images were collected using the TFDA-1 tongue and face diagnosis instrument. Color and texture features from various parts of facial and tongue images were extracted using Face Diagnosis Analysis System (FDAS) and Tongue Diagnosis Analysis System version 2.0 (TDAS v2.0). Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression was used for feature selection. Ten machine learning models and one deep learning model (ResNet50V2 + Conv1D) were developed and evaluated. RESULTS: Anemic women showed lower a-values, higher L- and b-values across all age groups. Texture features analysis showed that women aged 30-39 with anemia had higher angular second moment (ASM)and lower entropy (ENT) values in facial images, while those aged 40-49 had lower contrast (CON), ENT, and MEAN values in tongue images but higher ASM. Anemic women exhibited age-related trends similar to healthy women, with decreasing L-values and increasing a-, b-, and ASM-values. LASSO identified 19 key features from 62. Among classifiers, the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model achieved the best performance [area under the curve (AUC): 0.849, accuracy: 0.781]. The ResNet50V2 model achieved comparable results [AUC: 0.846, accuracy: 0.818]. CONCLUSION Differences in facial and tongue images suggest that color and texture features can serve as potential TCM phenotype and auxiliary diagnostic indicators for female anemia.
Humans ; Female ; Tongue/diagnostic imaging* ; Adult ; Anemia/diagnosis* ; Middle Aged ; Face/diagnostic imaging* ; Young Adult ; Machine Learning

OBJECTIVE: Recombination events are common and serve as the primary driving force of diverse human adenovirus (HAdV), particularly in children with acute respiratory tract infections (ARIs). Therefore, continual monitoring of these events is essential for effective viral surveillance and control. METHODS: Respiratory specimens were collected from children with ARIs between January 2022 and December 2023. The penton base, hexon, and fiber genes were amplified from HAdV-positive specimens and sequenced to determine the virus type. In cases with inconsistent typing results, genes were cloned into the pGEM-T vector to detect recombination events. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) was performed to characterize the recombinant HAdV genomes. RESULTS: Among 6,771 specimens, 277 (4.09%, 277/6,771) were positvie for HAdV, of which 157 (56.68%, 157/277) were successfully typed, with HAdV-B3 being the dominant type (91.08%, 143/157), and 14 (5.05%, 14/277) exhibited inconsistent typing results, six of which belonged to species B. The penton base genes of these six specimens were classified as HAdV-B7, whereas their hexon and fiber genes were classified as HAdV-B3, resulting in a recombinant genotype designated P7H3F3, which closely resembled HAdV-B114. Additionally, a partial gene encoding L1 52/55 kD was identified, which originated from HAdV-B16. CONCLUSION A novel recombinant, P7H3F3, was identified, containing sequences derived from HAdV-B3 and HAdV-B7, which is similar to HAdV-B114, along with additional sequences from HAdV-B16.
Humans ; Adenoviruses, Human/isolation & purification* ; Respiratory Tract Infections/epidemiology* ; Child, Preschool ; Child ; Recombination, Genetic ; Male ; Beijing/epidemiology* ; Infant ; Female ; Phylogeny ; Adenovirus Infections, Human/epidemiology* ; Acute Disease ; Genome, Viral

OBJECTIVE: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can result in fatigue and post-exertional malaise; however, whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection exacerbates lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) is unclear. This study investigated the association between prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection and postpartum LUTS. METHODS: A multicenter, retrospective cohort study was conducted at two tertiary hospitals in China from November 1, 2022, to November 1, 2023. Participants were classified into infected and uninfected groups based on SARS-CoV-2 antigen results. LUTS prevalence and severity were assessed using self-reported symptoms and the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-Short Form (IIQ-7). Pelvic floor muscle activity was measured using electromyography following the Glazer protocol. Group comparisons were performed to evaluate the association of SARS-CoV-2 infection with LUTS and electromyography parameters, with stratified analyses conducted using SPSS version 26.0. RESULTS: Among 3,652 participants (681 infected, 2,971 uninfected), no significant differences in LUTS prevalence or IIQ-7 scores were observed. However, SARS-CoV-2 infection was an independent factor influencing the electromyographic activity of the pelvic floor muscles (mean tonic contraction amplitudes), regardless of delivery mode ( P = 0.001). CONCLUSION Prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection was not significantly associated with an increased risk of postpartum LUTS but independently altered pelvic floor muscle electromyographic activity, suggesting potential neuromuscular effects.
Humans ; Female ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Adult ; Pregnancy ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms/virology* ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/virology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Electromyography ; SARS-CoV-2/physiology* ; Pelvic Floor/physiopathology* ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) metabolites with diverse subtypes of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. METHODS: A novel predicting risk of cardiovascular disease EVENTs PREVENT equation was used to estimate the 10-year diverse subtypes of CVD risk, and their associations with PAH metabolites were analyzed using multiple logistic regression models, the weighted quantile sum (WQS) model, the quantile g-computation (qgcomp) model, and a stratified analysis of subgroups. RESULTS: For this study, six thousand seven hundred and forty-five participants were selected, and significant positive associations were observed between PAHs, naphthalene (NAP), and fluorene (FLU), and the risks of total CVD, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), and heart failure (HF). NAP and FLU were the primary contributors to the effects of PAH mixtures, and their associations with total CVD, ASCVD, and HF risk were significant in younger participants (30 ≤ age < 50 years); however, the associations of phenanthrene (PHEN) with ASCVD, HF, coronary heart disease (CHD), and stroke were dominant in aging participants (age ≥ 50 years). Notably, pyrene (PYR) was negatively associated with the risk of ASCVD, HF, CHD, and stroke. Similarly, negative associations of PYR with the four CVD subtypes were noticeable in aging participants. CONCLUSION Different PAHs metabolites had different impacts on each CVD subtype among different age groups. Notably, the protective effects of PYR on ASCVD, HF, CHD, and stroke were noticeable in aging individuals.
Humans ; Cardiovascular Diseases/chemically induced* ; Middle Aged ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/metabolism* ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Aged ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology*

Objective: To evaluate the clinical feasibility and potential for malignant transformation prevention of hyperkeratotic oral leukoplakia (OLK) treatment using erbium, chromium:yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet laser (Er,Cr:YSGG) ablation combined with 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT), providing a reference for clinical practice. Methods: Two cases of histopathologically confirmed gingival leukoplakia were treated. Following Er,Cr:YSGG (wavelength: 2,780 nm) ablation of the hyperkeratotic layer, 20% ALA solution was topically applied for 3 hours, followed by irradiation with a 635 nm diode laser (energy density: 100 J/cm²). Follow-up assessments included lesion regression and exfoliative cytology DNA ploidy stability, supplemented by a systematic literature review on OLK treatment advancements. Results: Case 1: at 1-year follow-up, > 90% lesion regression was observed (residual: 2 mm circular white patch) without recurrence, with stable diploid DNA ploidy. Case 2: complete lesion resolution and no recurrence at 1 year, with stable diploid DNA ploidy. Literature review showed that pharmacological therapies ameliorate OLK symptoms but fail to halt malignant progression, while surgical interventions carry recurrence risks. PDT demonstrates unique advantages by selectively targeting dysplastic cells. However, uneven ALA penetration due to the keratin barrier limits efficacy. Compared to needling, diode laser, or CO₂ laser pretreatment, Er,Cr:YSGG leverages water absorption for precise, low-thermal keratin ablation, substantially enhancing tissue permeability and optimizing ALA diffusion, thereby improving PDT outcomes. Conclusion Er,Cr:YSGG ablation combined with PDT serves as an optimized regimen for hyperkeratotic OLK, offering a novel approach to mitigate OLK carcinogenesis.

BackgroundThe functional changes of the default mode network （DMN） are closely related to the onset of major depressive disorders. However， the relationship between the DMN subsystem （core subsystem， dorsomedial prefrontal cortex subsystem， medial temporal lobe subsystem） and symptoms of first-episode major depressive disorder remains unclear. ObjectiveTo investigate abnormal functional connectivity between DMN subsystems and the whole brain in first-episode major depressive disorder patients during the resting-state， and to analyse the correlations between these functional connectivity patterns and clinical symptoms， so as to reveal the potential neural mechanisms from the perspective of DMN subsystem. MethodsFrom September 2020 to September 2023， a total of 64 first-episode outpatients and inpatients meeting the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders， fourth edition （DSM-IV） were enrolled at the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Mental Health Center as the study group. During the same period， 54 healthy volunteers matched for age， gender， and years of education were recruited from the community as the control group. Both groups were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Scale-24 item （HAMD-24）. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance images （rs-fMRI） of the two groups were acquired using a Siemens 3.0 T scanner， and differences in functional connectivity between DMN subsystems （core subsystem， dorsomedial prefrontal cortex subsystem， medial temporal lobe subsystem） and the whole brain were compared. The functional connectivity values of brain regions with statistically significant differences between the two groups were extracted. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient analysis was used to investigate the correlation between these functional connectivity values and HAMD-24 scores of the study group. ResultsUltimately， 46 patients and 43 controls completed the study. Compared with the control group， the study group exhibited significantly stronger functional connectivity in the following pathways： between the right superior parietal lobule （core subsystem） and right cerebellar lobule VIII （t=3.954， P<0.05， GRF-corrected）， between the right lateral temporal cortex （dorsomedial prefrontal cortex subsystem） and right cerebellar lobule VIII， right and left hippocampi， right medial， and paracingulate gyrus （t=4.595， 4.208， 5.200， 4.038， P<0.05， GRF-corrected）， and between the temporoparietal junction （dorsomedial prefrontal cortex subsystem） and left lingual gyrus and right cerebellar lobule VIII （t=3.557， 4.274， P<0.05， GRF-corrected）. Conversely， weaker functional connectivity was observed between the right inferior frontal gyrus and left gyrus rectus （t=-3.824， P<0.05， GRF-corrected）. Furthermore， within the study group， the functional connectivity values between the right lateral temporal cortex and right hippocampus， as well as between the temporoparietal junction and right cerebellar lobule VIII， were both negatively correlated with the HAMD-24 cognitive impairment factor score （r=-0.306， -0.318， P<0.05）. ConclusionIncreased functional connectivity between the DMN （specifically its core and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex subsystems） and cerebellum， partial limbic system， and lingual gyrus may be associated with the neuropathology of first-episode major depressive disorder. Furthermore， alterations in functional connectivity between the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex subsystem and both the cerebellum and hippocampus in these patients may be related to cognitive function. ［Funded by 2019 Annual Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Natural Science Foundation Project （number， 2019MS03038）； 2023 Annual Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Natural Science Foundation Project （number， 2023MS08028）］

Background/Aims: Endoscopic radiofrequency ablation (ERFA) is a treatment option for superficial esophageal squamous cell neoplasia (ESCN), with a relatively low risk of stenosis; however, the long-term outcomes remain unclear. We aimed to compare the long-term outcomes of patients with widespread superficial ESCN who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) or ERFA. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with superficial ESCN who underwent ESD or ERFA between January 2015 and December 2021. The primary outcome measure was recurrence-free survival. Results: Ninety-two and 33 patients with superficial ESCN underwent ESD and ERFA, respectively. The en bloc, R0, and curative resection rates for ESD were 100.0%, 90.2%, and 76.1%, respectively. At 12 months, the complete response rate was comparable between the two groups (94.6% vs 90.9%, p=0.748). During a median follow-up of 66 months, recurrence-free survival was significantly longer in the ESD group than in the ERFA group (p=0.004), while no significant differences in overall survival (p=0.845) and disease-specific survival (p=0.494) were observed.Preoperative diagnosis of intramucosal cancer (adjusted hazard ratio, 5.55; vs high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia) was an independent predictor of recurrence. Significantly fewer patients in the ERFA group experienced stenosis compare to ESD group (15.2% vs 38.0%, p=0.016). Conclusions The risk of recurrence was higher for ERFA than ESD for ESCN but overall survival was not affected. The risk of esophageal stenosis was significantly lower for patients who underwent ERFA.

Background/Aims: Endoscopic radiofrequency ablation (ERFA) is a treatment option for superficial esophageal squamous cell neoplasia (ESCN), with a relatively low risk of stenosis; however, the long-term outcomes remain unclear. We aimed to compare the long-term outcomes of patients with widespread superficial ESCN who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) or ERFA. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with superficial ESCN who underwent ESD or ERFA between January 2015 and December 2021. The primary outcome measure was recurrence-free survival. Results: Ninety-two and 33 patients with superficial ESCN underwent ESD and ERFA, respectively. The en bloc, R0, and curative resection rates for ESD were 100.0%, 90.2%, and 76.1%, respectively. At 12 months, the complete response rate was comparable between the two groups (94.6% vs 90.9%, p=0.748). During a median follow-up of 66 months, recurrence-free survival was significantly longer in the ESD group than in the ERFA group (p=0.004), while no significant differences in overall survival (p=0.845) and disease-specific survival (p=0.494) were observed.Preoperative diagnosis of intramucosal cancer (adjusted hazard ratio, 5.55; vs high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia) was an independent predictor of recurrence. Significantly fewer patients in the ERFA group experienced stenosis compare to ESD group (15.2% vs 38.0%, p=0.016). Conclusions The risk of recurrence was higher for ERFA than ESD for ESCN but overall survival was not affected. The risk of esophageal stenosis was significantly lower for patients who underwent ERFA.