Objective:To analyze the results of lymphocyte subsets and 12 plasma cytokines in patients with tuberculosis by flow cytometry and to evaluate their diagnostic efficacy in these patients.Methods:This is a retrospective case-control study. A total of 128 patients with evidence of tuberculosis disease or clinically confirmed tuberculosis who were admitted to the 8th Medical Center of PLA General Hospital from January 2022 to December 2023 were included. According to the location of mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, the patients were divided into the pulmonary tuberculosis group (83 cases) and the extrapulmonary tuberculosis group (45 cases), and 100 healthy age-and sex matched people who underwent health check up during the study period were selected as the control group. Flow cytometry was used to detect peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and 12 plasma cytokines [including 10 pro-inflammatory factors: interleukin (IL)-5, interferon (IFN)-α, IL-2, IL-6, IL-1β, IFN-γ, IL-8, IL-17, IL-12P70, Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and two anti-inflammatory factors: IL-4, IL-10] in participants of all groups. Spearman correlation method was used to analyze the correlation between lymphocyte subsets and cytokines, binary Logistic regression was used to screen the TB related factors, and receiver operating curve (ROC) was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of TB related factors.Results:Compared with the control group, the absolute number of CD3 +T lymphocytes, CD3 +CD8 +T lymphocytes, CD3 +CD4 +T lymphocytes, NK cells and B cells were lower in pulmonary tuberculosis group and extrapulmonary tuberculosis group (all P<0.05). Except for IL-1β, the levels of other 11 cytokines are all significantly higher in the pulmonary tuberculosis group (all P<0.01), and the levels of IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-17, TNF-α, IL-4 and IL-10 were significantly higher in extrapulmonary tuberculosis group (all P<0.05). Compared with extrapulmonary tuberculosis group, the level of IL-8 was higher in pulmonary tuberculosis group ( P=0.026). Spearman correlation analysis showed that IL-6, IFN-γ and IL-8 were negatively correlated with the absolute numbers of CD3 +T lymphocytes, CD3 +CD8 +T lymphocytes, CD3 +CD4 +T lymphocytes, NK cells and B cells (IL-6: R2=-0.30, -0.28, -0.32, -0.26, -0.28; IFN-γ: R2=-0.36, -0.31, -0.37, -0.25, -0.36; IL-8: R2=-0.14, -0.13, -0.16, -0.14, -0.22; all P<0.05), IL-10 was negatively correlated with the absolute number of CD3 +CD4 +T lymphocytes, NK cells and B cells ( R 2=-0.14, -0.19, -0.21, all P<0.05); Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-8 and IL-10 were the related factors of tuberculosis ( OR=1.809, 1.136, 0.910, 2.218, all P<0.05), ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC of IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-8 and IL-10 in the joint diagnosis of tuberculosis was 0.845, the sensitivity was 0.766, and the specificity was 0.820. Conclusion:The lower absolute number of lymphocyte subsets and cytokine levels in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and extrapulmonary tuberculosis indicate that their immune function is in a low state, and the higher levels of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-8) and anti-inflammatory factor (IL-10) indicates the higher inflammatory status, and evaluation of these 4 cytokines has satisfactory diagnostic efficacy for tuberculosis.

Objective:To construct an evaluation index system for the perioperative medical service efficiency.Methods:From September to November 2023, this study conducted literature search and research group discussions to select initial indicators for evaluating the efficiency of perioperative medical services guided by value-based healthcare; 2-round Delphi methods were used to construct an evaluation index system for perioperative medical service efficiency, and the weights of the indicators were determined using the analytic hierarchy process.Results:The expert motivation for both rounds of Delphi method was 100.00%, the expert authority coefficient was 0.94, and the Kendall coordination scores were 0.56 and 0.75, respectively. The final established evaluation index system for perioperative medical service efficiency included 2 primary indexes, 9 secondary indexes, and 41 tertiary indexes. The first level indexes included medical quality and medical cost, with relative weights of 66.67% and 33.33%, respectively. Among them, medical quality included 7 secondary indexes: medical management, medical safety, service mode, information construction, patient outcomes, service efficiency, and satisfaction; Medical costs include 2 secondary indiexes: patient costs and medical institution costs.Conclusions:The evaluation index system for the efficiency of perioperative medical services reflected the connotation of value-based healthcare and could comprehensively and objectively evaluate the efficiency of perioperative medical services.

Objective:To observe the efficacy of different needling depths for knee osteoarthritis(KOA)and the effects on effusion,cartilage thickness,and synovium under ultrasound imaging. Methods:A total of 90 patients with KOA were randomly divided into a conventional acupuncture group,a Western medication group,and a shallow acupuncture group,with 30 cases in each group.In the conventional acupuncture group,the needling depth was 15-30 mm,and the needle was twisted for a few moments after insertion so that a sore,numb,distending,and electrified sensation was obtained;in the shallow acupuncture group,the points were punctured perpendicularly by 2 mm,and no manipulation was performed after insertion.The same points were used in the two acupuncture groups,and the needles were retained for 20 min.The treatment was performed 3 times a week.The Western medication group was given glucosamine sulfate capsules for oral administration,2 capsules once,3 times a day.All three groups were treated for 8 weeks.The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index(WOMAC)and the visual analog scale(VAS)were scored before treatment,after 4 weeks and 8-week treatment,respectively;while the changes in knee cartilage,synovial membrane,and joint fluid were observed by knee ultrasound before and after 8-week treatment.The clinical efficacy was evaluated after 8-week treatment. Results:After 8-week treatment,the effusion and the synovial thickness improved significantly in both the conventional and shallow acupuncture groups compared with that before treatment(P<0.01);the effusion improved in the Western medication group compared with that before treatment(P<0.05);the synovial thickness improved better in the conventional acupuncture group than in the Western medication group(P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the cartilage thickness among the three groups compared with that before treatment(P>0.05).The WOMAC(pain,stiffness,and function)and VAS scores decreased in all three groups after 4-and 8-week treatment compared with those before treatment(P<0.05).After 4-and 8-week treatment,the pain scores in WOMAC of the conventional acupuncture group were lower than those of the Western medication group and the shallow acupuncture group(P<0.05),and the VAS scores of the conventional acupuncture group were lower than those of the shallow acupuncture group(P<0.05).After 8-week treatment,the stiffness and functional scores in WOMAC of the conventional acupuncture group were lower than those of the Western medication group(P<0.05). Conclusion:Conventional acupuncture,oral Western medication,and shallow acupuncture all relieved knee pain and improved knee stiffness and functional movement.Among them,conventional acupuncture had the best efficacy in relieving knee pain and the best efficacy in improving joint function after 8-week treatment.Both conventional acupuncture and shallow acupuncture significantly reduced synovial thickness lesions in the knee;all three groups improved joint effusion and were more effective with conventional and shallow acupuncture.

Objective:To discuss the differential effects of apolipoprotein E(APOE)gene polymorphism in the neurotoxicity-reactive astrocytes,and to provide the theoretical basis for the study of the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease(AD).Methods:The primary cortical astrocytes from the APOE-knockout mice(APOE-/-)were isolated and cultured in vitro,and the purity of the cells was identified by immunofluorescence staining.The human APOE3 and APOE4 recombinant over-expression plasmids were constructed and separately transfected into the primary APOE-/-astrocytes,and the APOE-/-primary cells were regarded as control.Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of APOE and glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP)proteins in the cells;enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)method was used to detect the APOE level in the cellular culture supernatant.The inflammatory models were prepared with the primary astrocytes transfected with APOE3 and APOE4 and co-stimulated with interleukin-1α(IL-1α),tumor necrosis factor(TNF),and complement C1q.The cells were divided into APOE3+PBS group,APOE4+PBS group,APOE3+IL-1α+TNF+ C1q group,and APOE4+IL-1α+TNF+C1q group.Cell immunofluorescence staining method was used to observe the morphology of the cells in various groups;real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)method was used to detect the expression levels of glypican 4(Gpc4),glypican 6(Gpc6),thrombospondin 1(Thbs1),thrombospondin 2(Thbs2),SPARC-like protein 1(Sparcl1)and glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF),C3,and S100 calcium binding protein B(S100B)mRNA in the cells in various groups;microsphere phagocytosis assay was used to detect the phagocytic capacities of the cells in various groups;Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression levels of B-cell lymphoma 2(Bcl-2),and cysteinyl aspartate specific protease-3(Caspase-3)proteins in the cells in various groups.Results:Compared with APOE-/-group,the expression levels of APOE and GFAP proteins in the cells and the APOE level in the cellular culture supernatant in transfected APOE3 and transfected APOE4 groups were increased(P<0.01).The fluorescence microscope observation results showed that compared with APOE3+PBS and APOE4+PBS groups,the astrocytic processes in APOE3+IL-1α +TNF+Cq1 group and APOE4+IL-1α+TNF+Cq1 group became shorter and the cell bodies became larger;compared with APOE3+IL-1α +TNF+Cq1 group,the astrocytic processes in APOE4+IL-1α +TNF+Cq1 group were even shorter.Compared with APOE3+PBS and APOE4+PBS groups,the expression levels of Gpc4,Gpc6,Thbs1,Thbs2,and Sparcl1 mRNA in the cells in APOE3+IL-1α +TNF+Cq1 group and APOE4+IL-1α +TNF+Cq1 group were significantly decreased(P<0.01);compared with APOE3+IL-1α +TNF+Cq1 group,the expression levels of Gpc4,Gpc6,Thbs1,Thbs2,and Sparcl1 mRNA in the cells in APOE4+IL-1α +TNF+Cq1 group were significantly decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Compared with APOE3+PBS and APOE4+PBS groups,the expression levels of GDNF mRNA in the cells in APOE3+IL-1α+TNF+Cq1 group and APOE4+ IL-1α +TNF+Cq1 group were decreased(P<0.01),and the expression levels of C3 and S100B mRNA were increased(P<0.01);compared with APOE3+IL-1α +TNF+Cq1 group,the expression level of GDNF mRNA in the cells in APOE4+IL-1α+TNF+Cq1 group was decreased(P<0.05),and the expression levels of C3 and S100B mRNA were increased(P<0.05).Compared with APOE3+ PBS group and APOE4+PBS group,the numbers of hagocytosis of microspheres in the cells in APOE3+ IL-1α +TNF+Cq1 group and APOE4+IL-1α +TNF+Cq1 group were significantly decreased;compared with APOE3+IL-1α+TNF+Cq1 group,the number of hagocytosis of microspheres in the cells in APOE4+IL-1α+TNF+Cq1 group was significantly decreased.Compared with APOE3+PBS group and APOE4+PBS group,the expression levels of Bcl-2 protein in the cells in APOE3+IL-1α+TNF+ Cq1 group and APOE4+IL-1α +TNF+Cq1 group were decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01)and the expression levels of Caspase-3 protein were significantly increased(P<0.01);compared with APOE3+ IL-1α+TNF+Cq1 group,the expression level of Bcl-2 protein in the cells in APOE4+IL-1α+TNF+ Cq1 group was decreased(P<0.01),and the expression level of Caspase-3 protein was increased(P<0.05).Conclusion:The APOE4 genotype has a stronger ability to induce the inflammatory factors compared with APOE3;it can lead to a neurotoxicity-reactive astrocyte phenotype,increase the neurotoxicity,affect the astrocyte apoptosis,and aggravate the neuron damage.

[Objective]To summarize the experience of modern doctors in treating ulcerative colitis(UC)with"carbuncle",in order to provide more thinking for the treatment of UC by traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).[Methods]From the perspective of treating UC with"carbuncle",the etiology,pathogenesis,syndrome differentiation and treatment strategy of modern doctors treating UC with"carbuncle"were summarized by collating relevant experience articles of modern doctors.[Results]Modern doctors treat UC as"carbuncle",and believe that the cause of UC is related to exogenous evil,improper diet,mood failure,body deficiency and fatigue,the pathogenesis of which is the deficiency in origin and excess in superficiality,deficiency and excess are mixed with spleen deficiency,dampness,heat,blood stasis and poison.In the active stage of the disease,the main cause is evil and excess;in the remission stage,the main cause is spleen and kidney deficiency.Local syndrome differentiation and Yin-Yang syndrome differentiation are emphasized.In the treatment,the three methods of dispersing,promoting and tonifying are applied flexibly,dysentery and carbuncle are treated together,both inside and outside should be treated.[Conclusion]Treating UC as"carbuncle"is an effective TCM diagnosis and treatment idea,and provides a reference for exploring TCM treatment strategies.

Objective To investigate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of sodium butyrate on rats exposed to hypoxia and cold conditions.Methods Fifty-eight male SD rats (aged 7～8 weeks,weighing 240～260 g ) were randomly divided into normoxia normothermia saline control (NNC ) group (n=10),normoxia normothermia sodium butyrate(NNB)group(n=10),hypoxia cold saline control (HCC) group (n=19),and hypoxia cold sodium butyrate (HCB)group (n=19).The intragastric dose of sodium butyrate was 200 mg/kg for the NNB and HCB groups,while the NNC and HCC groups were given normal saline of 5 mL/kg.①After continuous intragastric administration for 7 d,the rats in the HCC and HCB groups were placed in a low-pressure hypoxic chamber to simulate an altitude of 5000 m and exposed to a temperature of 8 ℃ for 7 d.Subsequently,blood samples were collected from the abdominal aorta for blood gas analysis,blood routine test,and detection for serum biochemical indicators.ELISA was used to determine serum inflammatory cytokines and endocrine hormones.The rats in the NNC and NNB groups(n=10)were fed outside the chamber and underwent the same tests in 7 d later to evaluate the protective effects of sodium butyrate on the body.②Core body temperature monitoring was conducted to assess the impact of sodium butyrate on the rmoregulation in rats exposed to hypoxia and cold(n=3).③Hypoxia exercise tolerance of the HCC group and HCB group in a hypoxic chamber (11％O2 )was evaluated for their hypoxia resistance (n=6).Results Compared to the NNC group,the rats in the HCC group exhibited significant decreases in arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2 )and arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2 ),serum levels of IL-4,estradiol (E2)and cortisol (F),core temperature,and exercise duration (P<0.05),and had notably increased levels of red blood cell (RBC)count,hemoglobin (HGB),hematocrit (HCT),cardiac troponin (CRDAC-T),uric acid (UA),alanine aminotransferase (ALT),total cholesterol (TC),low-density lipoprotein (LDL),IL-6 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)(P<0.05).Compared to the HCC group,the rats in the HCB group exhibited significant increases in SaO2,PaO2,IL-4,E2,F,corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH)and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)(P<0.05),remarkably longer exercise duration under hypoxic exposure (P<0.05 ),but decreases in RBC count,serum levels of HGB,HCT,CRDAC-T,UA,ALT,TC,LDL,IL-6,GM-CSF and free thyroxine (FT4 ),and core temperature (P<0.05).Conclusion Sodium butyrate exhibits protective effects on rats exposed to hypoxia and cold conditions,and it is helpful in their adaptation to these hypoxia and cold environments.

Objective:To learn about the changes of the condition of coal-burning-borne endemic arsenism, the use of improved stoves and the formation of health-related behaviors in Shaanxi Province, and evaluate the effect of prevention and control measures.Methods:From 2015 to 2020, according to the "Implementation Plan for Monitoring Coal-burning-borne Endemic Arsenism in Shaanxi Province", regular field surveys were carried out in 4 natural villages, 2 counties in Ankang City and Hanzhong City, Shaanxi Province, to learn about the basic prevention and control situation in the monitoring village. Using the simple random sampling method, 10 families in each village were selected to investigate the use of stoves and the formation of health-related behaviors, and 5 of these families were selected to collect coal samples for arsenic content determination in accordance with the "Determination of Arsenic in Coal" (GB/T 3058-2008). According to the "Diagnosis of Endemic Arsenicosis" (WS/T 211-2015), the condition of the people exposed to high arsenic coal in the monitoring village was investigated. Urine samples of 30 adult patients (half males and half females) with arsenic poisoning were collected, the content of arsenic in urine was determined by the "Urine-Determination of Arsenic-Silver Diethyldithiocarbamate-Triethanolamine-Spectrophotometric Method" (WS/T 28-1996).Results:A total of 240 households were monitored in the past 6 years, and the quality conformance and correct utilization rates of improved stoves in the households monitored in the disease areas remained at 100.00% in 2018 - 2020. The utilization rate of clean energy increased from 75.00% (30/40) in 2015 to 100.00% (40/40) in 2018 - 2020 (χ 2trend = 25.5, P < 0.001). The 73.75% (177/240) of households using a variety of clean energy. From 2018 to 2020, the correct drying, storage and pre-processing washing rates of corn and pepper continued to reach 100.00% (40/40). The arsenic content of coal ( n = 120) in the disease areas was (118.09 ± 57.91) mg/kg, ranging from 16.70 to 280.94 mg/kg. The detection rate of arsenic poisoning decreased from 6.34% (231/3 646) in 2015 to 2.90% (109/3 754) in 2020 (χ 2trend = 121.8, P < 0.001), and no skin cancer or Bowen's disease was detected. The geometric mean of arsenic content in urine ( n = 720) was 0.038 1 mg/L, ranging from 0.000 5 to 0.312 9 mg/L. Conclusions:The condition of coal-burning-borne endemic arsenism areas in Shaanxi Province has reached the national elimination standard. The quality and correct utilization rate of improved stoves and the rate of using clean energy have increased. The healthy-related behaviors the people in the endemic areas have been basically formed. The prevention and control work has achieved good results.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To identify modifiable risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus and explore the relationship between diet sodium intake and blood glucose levels.MATERIALS/METHODS: Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, we extracted, analyzed, and assessed the available crossover studies of dietary salt intake restriction and insulin resistance in PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Embase, Wanfang, and CNKI databases. RESULTS: We included 6 studies with 8 sets of data, covering 485 subjects. I2 statistics results showed insignificant heterogeneity among all data (I 2 = 39.2% < 50%). Thus, a fixed-effect model was adopted for the final pooled effect size. Weighted mean difference and its 95% confidence interval (CI) value was 0.193 (95% CI, 0.129–0.257), and the test of the overall effect showed P < 0.001. The results revealed that the blood glucose levels in the subjects in the low-salt intake group were significantly higher than those in the normal or high-salt intake groups. We also found no significant change occurred after the removal of any study through sensitivity analysis, which confirmed that the outcome we calculated was prudent and credible. The quantitative Egger’s test (P = 0.109 > 0.05) indicated that insignificant publication bias existed. CONCLUSION This meta-analysis highlights the relationship between dietary sodium intake and blood glucose levels. Our findings show that higher blood glucose levels might be expected in hypertensive or normal people with low-salt consumption compared to those with normal or high-salt consumption, although these differences were not clinically significant.Trial Registration: PROSPERO Identifier: CRD42021256998

Objective To investigate the predictive value of preoperative bi-parametric MRI radiomics for the International Society of Urological Pathology(ISUP)grading of prostate cancer(PCa).Methods One hundred and sixty-five patients with PCa confirmed by pathology were analyzed retrospectively.According to the ISUP grading system,PCa patients were divided into five subgroups:G1 group(Gleason score=6),G2 group(Gleason score=3+4),G3 group(Gleason score=4+3),G4 group(Gleason score=8)and G5 group(Gleason score=9 or 10).A total of 3 948 radiomics features were extracted from T2WI,diffusion weighted imaging(DWI),and apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)images of each patient.Patients were classified into two categories based on Gleason score≥4+3 or ≤3+4.A radiomics signature(Rad-score)was constructed after reduction of dimension by the minimum redundancy maximum relevance(mRMR)and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO).The Spearman rank correlation test was used to evaluate the correlation between Rad-score and ISUP grading groups.The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the difference of Rad-score among the five groups.Results Eleven most valuable features were selected as the Rad-score after reducing the dimension by mRMR and LASSO algorithm.Moderate correlation existed between Rad-score and ISUP grading(r=0.53,P＜0.05).There were significant differences in Rad-score between G1 and G2 groups and G3,G4 and G5 groups(P＜0.05),no significant difference existed between the remained two groups(P＞0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve for Rad-score were 0.827,0.762,0.563,0.657,0.698 for G1,G2,G3,G4 and G5 groups,respectively.Conclusion The radiomics based on bi-parametric MRI can be used to predict grade 1,2 PCa patients in the ISUP grading system.

Background:At present,the detection rate of esophageal leiomyoma is increasing year by year,among which giant esophageal leiomyoma(GEL)can be caused by secondary compression,malignant and even death.The safety and effectiveness of submucosal tunnel endoscopic resection(STER)in the treatment of GEL need to be further verified.Aims:To assess the safety and efficacy of STER in the treatment of GEL.Methods:Fifteen patients who underwent endoscopic ultrasound and STER surgery from June 2020 to June 2023 at General Hospital of Xinjiang Military Region,and postoperative pathological biopsy confirmed GEL to assess the efficacy,complications,tumor recurrence and follow-up.Results:In 15 patients with GEL,8 were male and 7 female;GEL was completely resected and the margin was clean;the maximum tumor diameter was 8.5 cm;mean operation time of 52 minutes;fewer adverse events and no delayed bleeding;all underwent conservative treatment;mean hospital stay of 6 days;and no discomfort and recurrence in the postoperative follow-up.Conclusions:STER is safe and effective in the treatment of GEL.