Objective To compare the clinical characteristics of pneumococcal meningitis in different age groups, and to provide a basis for early diagnosis of pneumococcal meningitis. Methods Cerebrospinal fluid and/or serum samples were collected from 1742 suspected cases of meningitis in Baoji, Shaanxi Province from August 2013 to July 2019. Streptococcus pneumoniae was detected by isolation culture and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Retrospective analysis of clinical manifestations, biochemical indicators and other information of laboratory confirmed cases was conducted by χ² test or Fisher's exact test. Results A total of 1742 samples of encephalitis or meningitis cases were detected, and 41 cases were confirmed as laboratory-confirmed Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. Among them, there were 12 cases (29.27%) in the infant group, 14 cases (34.15%) in the child group, and 15 cases (36.59%) in the adult group. The proportion of the adults with headache was significantly higher than that of the infants (χ²=11.408，P＜0.017). The proportion of the adults with consciousness disorder, elevated white blood cells and elevated neutrophils were significantly higher than those in the infant and the child groups（Fisher's exact test, P＜0.017；χ² =6.428，P＜0.017；χ² =10.898，P＜0.017；χ² =6.421，P＜0.017；χ² =9.758，P＜0.017；χ² =7.744，P＜0.017). The proportion of the infants with cerebrospinal fluid turbidity was significantly higher than that of the children (Fisher's exact test，P＜0.017). The proportion of the infants with decreased white blood cells and reduced glucose in cerebrospinal fluid was significantly higher than that of the children group and the adult group（Fisher's exact test, P＜0.001；Fisher's exact test, P＜0.001；Fisher's exact test, P＜0.017; Fisher's exact test, P＜0.017). Conclusion Most adult patients with pneumococcal meningitis have headache and consciousness disorders, with significantly increased proportion of white blood cells and neutrophils. Infant patients tend to have cloudy appearance of cerebrospinal fluid, leukopenia in blood, and decreased glucose in cerebrospinal fluid.

This paper reviewed the development history of doctor-patient shared decision-making （SDM） at home and abroad， emphasizing the importance of cross-cultural analysis in constructing a Chinese doctor-patient SDM model. It also delved into the relationship between Western “individualistic” sociocultural values and doctor-patient SDM， as well as the influence of China’s “collectivist” sociocultural values on doctor-patient SDM， revealing significant disparities in doctor-patient SDM models under distinct sociocultural contexts. Although the doctor-patient SDM theory in China originated from the West， this theory requires profound “collision” and adaptation with local Chinese culture to form a localized theory suited to China’s national conditions. Through cross-cultural adaptation and integrating China’s familism tradition and medical ethics concepts， the future construction of the doctor-patient SDM model in China should emphasize family members’ involvement and seek cultural balance to facilitate its widespread application in clinical practice.

Autophagy is a fundamental biological metabolic process involved in immune defense, material metabolism, and homeostasis and closely linked to immune regulation. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a widespread connective tissue disorder primarily resulting from immune system imbalance. Due to the immune system's failure to recognize its own substances, it generates autoantibodies that can affect various tissues and organs, leading to diverse clinical manifestations. The pathogenesis and treatment of SLE are currently under extensive investigation. In normal metabolic processes, autophagy engages in both innate and adaptive immunity, regulates the immune response, and is crucial for maintaining normal immune function and the body's internal homeostasis. Research has indicated that SLE patients exhibit immune dysfunction and altered autophagy levels. Modulating autophagy expression can influence immune system functionality and alleviate SLE symptoms. Additionally, autophagy aids in the innate immune response and adaptive immunity by clearing metabolites and regulating the life cycle of immune cells. Studies suggest that drugs targeting autophagy can positively influence the progression of SLE. This article reviews advancements in research regarding the impact of autophagy on the pathogenesis of SLE through the regulation of immune system functions.
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/pathology* ; Autophagy/immunology* ; Humans ; Animals ; Immunity, Innate ; Adaptive Immunity ; Disease Progression ; Immune System/immunology*

Objective To investigate the risk factors associated with onset of vertebrobasilar doli-choectasia(VBD)symptoms in elderly patients.Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 206 elderly VBD patients admitted in Chinese PLA General Hospital between July 2014 and July 2024.Based on the presence of VBD-related symptoms or not,they were divided into a symptom-atic group(112 cases)and an asymptomatic group(94 cases).All patients underwent cranial mag-netic resonance angiography(MRA)and MRI.And routine blood tests were performed and related indicators were detected,including following parameters:neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR),systemic immune-inflammation(SII)index,total cholesterol(TC),low-density lipoprotein choles-terol(LDL-C),and C-reactive protein(CRP).Multivariate logistic regression analysis was per-formed to identify risk factors associated with symptomatic progression in elderly VBD patients.Results The symptomatic group showed significantly higher SII index and NLR,longer bilateral vertebral artery length,and larger proportion of elevated vertebral artery confluence when compared with the asymptomatic group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Significant differences were also observed be-tween the two groups in basilar artery height grade and proportion of basilar artery hyperintensity of vessel wall signal(BA-HVS,P＜0.01).Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that elevated vertebral artery confluence and high-grade basilar artery hyperintensity of vessel wall signal were risk factors for symptomatic onset in elderly VBD patients.The risk of symptomatic onset in elderly VBD patients with elevated confluence of the vertebral artery was 2.143 times higher than in those without elevation(95％CI:1.144-4.013,P=0.017).Similarly,the risk in elderly VBD patients with high-grade basilar artery hyperintensity of vessel wall signal was 4.113 times higher than in those without such signal(95％CI:2.213-7.646,P=0.000).Conclusion Elevated vertebral artery confluence and high-grade basilar artery hyperintensity of vessel wall signal may serve as clinical indicators for monitoring disease progression in elderly patients with VBD,thereby facilitating the optimization of clinical management strategies in the patients.

With the improvement of diagnosis and treatment level, most breast cancer patients survive in a chronic state for a long time, and the issue of concomitant diseases of breast cancer (CDBC) has become increasingly prominent. All-round and full-cycle management of these comorbidities can help improve patients’ quality of life and prognosis. General practice, with its long-term, comprehensive and responsible health care that is person-centered, family-based, community-wide and oriented to the maintenance and promotion of overall health, presents new opportunities for the health management of CDBC. This article will explore the application of consultation-liaison general practice through the integrated general and specialist care in the comprehensive management of CDBC, aiming to raise people’s awareness of it and promote the development of consultation-liaison general practice and the management model of the "Internet plus general practitioner team" , which will surely contribute to the all-round management of concomitant diseases in breast cancer patients.

Parathyromegaly refers to chronic enlargement of the parathyroid glands caused by multiple etiological factors. Pathological conditions, such as hyperparathyroidism, parathyroid hyperfunction, parathyroid adenoma, parathyroid cysts, and parathyroid carcinoma may all lead to parathyromegaly. Notably, calcium intake insufficiency and/or vitamin D insufficiency (CVI), which is the predominant etiology of parathyromegaly, now has been recognized as a global public health challenge. Chronic CVI induces negative calcium balance and relative low serum calcium level, stimulating compensatory parathyroid hyperplasia and enlargement. This progression triggers parathyroid hyperfunction and secondary hyperparathyroidism, resulting in bone mass loss, height reduction, kyphosis, osteoporosis, pathological fractures, metastatic vascular calcification and systemic abnormal calcium migration and calcinosis (such as urolithiasis). During the early stages of parathyromegaly, the condition remains preventable and treatable; However, delayed intervention may lead to irreversible tertiary hyperparathyroidism. CVI-associated parathyromegaly exhibits high prevalence and heterogeneous clinical manifestations, representing a critically underrecognized clinical entity. This article will systematically discuss the etiology, pathological characteristics, clinical consequences, and prevention and control strategies for CVI-related parathyromegaly.

Patients with initially diagnosed breast cancer and uncontrolled hyperthyroidism are at high risk of perioperative thyroid crisis. This article reports two cases of early-stage breast cancer initially diagnosed concurrently with uncontrolled primary hyperthyroidism. In Case 1, the patient received neoadjuvant chemotherapy to control breast cancer progression while concurrently taking antithyroid drugs to manage hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism was controlled during chemotherapy, and the patient successfully underwent surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Case 2 involved recurrent primary hyperthyroidism with leukopenia after antithyroid drug therapy. Since leukopenia is a relative contraindication for antithyroid drugs, the patient underwent radioactive iodine therapy (iodine-131) and endocrine therapy for one month before proceeding with breast cancer surgery. Through a literature review, this article analyzes preoperative management strategies for uncontrolled hyperthyroidism in initially diagnosed breast cancer patients, emphasizing the importance of normalizing thyroid function to prevent thyroid crisis and reduce perioperative risks.

Objective To analyze the changes in serum immunoglobulin E(IgE),interleukin-6(IL-6),high-mobility group protein B1(HMGB1),β2-microglobulin(β2-M),and T lymphocyte subsets in patients with secretory otitis media(SOM)and to evaluate their clinical significance.Methods A total of 185 patients with SOM admitted to Wuhan First Hospital between March 2023 and March 2025 were enrolled as the patient group,and 185 healthy individuals who underwent routine physical examinations at our hospital during the same period served as the control group.Serum levels of IgE,IL-6,HMGB1,and β2-microglobulin(β2-M),as well as peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets,were compared between the two groups.Based on disease duration,the patients were further classified into acute(n=43),subacute(n=61),and chronic(n=81)subgroups.Levels of the serum markers and T lymphocyte subsets were compared across these three subgroups.The diagnostic value of the serum markers for SOM was evaluated,and their correlations with peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets were analyzed.Results he levels of serum IgE,IL-6,HMGB1,β2-M,and peripheral blood CD8+were significantly higher in the disease group than in the control group,whereas the levels of peripheral blood CD4+and CD4+/CD8+were significantly lower(P<0.05).Across the acute,subacute,and chronic subgroups,the levels of serum IgE,IL-6,HMGB1,β2-M,and CD8+exhibited a progressive increasing trend,while CD4+and CD4+/CD8+levels showed a corresponding decreasing trend(P<0.05).The combined measurement of serum IgE,IL-6,HMGB1,and β2-M yielded a higher area under the curve(AUC)for diagnosing SOM compared to each marker alone(P<0.05),with a sensitivity of 88.65%and specificity of 76.76%.Furthermore,serum levels of IgE,IL-6,HMGB1,and β2-M were positively correlated with peripheral blood CD8+levels(r=0.618,0.578,0.622,0.549;P<0.05),and negatively correlated with CD4+and CD4+/CD8+ratios(r=-0.539,-0.573,-0.519,-0.559 for CD4+;r=-0.604,-0.618,-0.559,-0.649 for CD4+/CD8+;P<0.05).Conclusion The progression of SOM is associated with alterations in serum markers and peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets.Furthermore,the combination of serum IgE,IL-6,HMGB1,and β2-MG demonstrates enhanced diagnostic value in patients with SOM,and a significant correlation exists between these four markers and the levels of peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets.

Iodine is an indispensable trace element in the human body and its intake level is closely related to thyroid function. Iodine deficiency or iodine excess will lead to iodine-related diseases. The implementation of the universal salt iodization policy of China has achieved remarkable results, yet it is still facing the problems of iodine deficiency and iodine excess at present. Since iodine in the human body is mainly metabolized by the kidneys and excreted in urine, urinary iodine test has become an effective way to reflect the recent iodine nutrition status of the body. This article will discuss the current iodine nutrition status of the population in China, the hazards of iodine deficiency and iodine excess, as well as the clinical application of urinary iodine test.

With the improvement of diagnosis and treatment level, most breast cancer patients survive in a chronic state for a long time, and the issue of concomitant diseases of breast cancer (CDBC) has become increasingly prominent. All-round and full-cycle management of these comorbidities can help improve patients’ quality of life and prognosis. General practice, with its long-term, comprehensive and responsible health care that is person-centered, family-based, community-wide and oriented to the maintenance and promotion of overall health, presents new opportunities for the health management of CDBC. This article will explore the application of consultation-liaison general practice through the integrated general and specialist care in the comprehensive management of CDBC, aiming to raise people’s awareness of it and promote the development of consultation-liaison general practice and the management model of the "Internet plus general practitioner team" , which will surely contribute to the all-round management of concomitant diseases in breast cancer patients.