ObjectiveTo investigate the association of hepatic steatosis with the level of viral replication and the progression of hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B （CHB） through a real-world study， and to determine the independent influencing factors for hepatic fibrosis. MethodsA total of 887 CHB patients who attended the outpatient service and inpatient ward of Hepatology in The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from July 2021 to March 2025 were enrolled as subjects， and according to the presence or absence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease （MASLD）， they were divided into CHB group with 560 patients and CHB+MASLD group with 327 patients. The association between hepatic steatosis and HBV load in CHB patients was analyzed， as well as the impact of varying degrees of hepatic steatosis on hepatic fibrosis. The t-test or the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous data between groups； the chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups； a Spearman correlation analysis was performed； a Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate influencing factors. ResultsThe patients enrolled received antiviral therapy according to viral load； of all patients， 275 （31%） received nucleos（t）ide analogue combined with pegylated interferon-α， 532 （60%） received nucleos（t）ide analogue monotherapy， and 80 （9%） did not receive antiviral therapy. A total of 44 patients （5.0%） who were receiving PEG-IFN-α therapy and had marked thrombocytopenia were excluded， and finally 843 patients were included for comparison of aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index （APRI） and fibrosis-4 index （FIB-4）. Compared with the CHB group， the CHB+MASLD group had a significantly higher proportion of male patients （χ²=5.917， P<0.05） and a significant increase in CAP value （t=21.646， P<0.05）. The median values of liver function parameters for the population enrolled were within the normal range， and no significant inflammatory activity was observed. The virological analysis showed that compared with the CHB group， the CHB+MASLD group had significantly lower serum level of pregenomic RNA （Z=-2.894， P<0.05） and HBeAg positivity rate （χ²=8.725， P<0.05）， and CAP was significantly negatively correlated with pgRNA （r=-0.117， P<0.05）. In the HBeAg-negative subgroup， compared with the CHB group， the CHB+MASLD group had a significantly lower level of hepatitis B surface antigen （Z=-0.765， P<0.05）； in the HBeAg-positive subgroup， the CHB+MASLD group had a significantly higher level of HBV DNA than the CHB group （Z=-2.509， P<0.05）. The analysis of hepatic fibrosis showed that the CHB+MASLD group had significantly lower values of APRI （Z=-3.418， P<0.05） and FIB-4 （Z=-6.237， P<0.05）. Compared with the CHB group， the CHB+MASLD S1 group had a significantly higher proportion of patients without fibrosis and a significantly lower proportion patients with liver cirrhosis （χ²=7.935， P<0.05）； in the CHB+MASLD S2 group， there was no significant difference in the proportion of patients with different fibrosis stages； the CHB+MASLD S3 group had a significantly lower proportion of patients without fibrosis and a significantly higher proportion of patients with early-stage fibrosis （χ²=9.101， P<0.05）. The Logistic regression analysis showed that an increase in CAP （odds ratio ［OR］=1.08， 95% confidence interval ［CI］： 1.03 — 1.13， P<0.05）， an increase in age （OR=1.02， 95%CI： 1.01 — 1.04， P<0.05）， male sex （OR=1.77， 95%CI： 1.19 — 2.64， P<0.05）， an increase in HBV DNA （OR=1.35， 95%CI： 1.15 — 1.57， P<0.001）， an increase in aspartate aminotransferase （OR=1.02， 95%CI： 1.01 — 1.03， P<0.001）， and an increase in gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase （OR=1.00， 95%CI： 1.00 — 1.01， P=0.028） were independent influencing factors for hepatic fibrosis. The risk of hepatic fibrosis in S3 patients was higher than that in patients without steatosis （OR=5.05， 95%CI： 2.48 — 10.29， P<0.001）. ConclusionThere is a lower level of HBV replication in CHB patients comorbid with MASLD. Hepatic steatosis is associated with HBV-related virological markers and the progression of hepatic fibrosis， and severe fatty liver disease may promote the progression of hepatic fibrosis in CHB patients.

Objectives:This study aimed to explore the association between perceived mental stress (MS), lymphocyte subset variations, and coronary lesion severity in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).Methods:Patients with CAD were enrolled in this study from September 2023 to May 2024. Perceived Stress Scale-14 (PSS-14) was used to evaluate MS during the last 1 month. Lymphocyte subsets were analyzed, including the percentage and absolute counts of CD3 +, CD3 +CD4 +, CD3 +CD8 +, CD3 -CD19 +, CD3 -CD56 +16 +, and the Th/Ts ratio. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 24.0. Results:This study recruited patients with 323 CAD, with an average age of 61 (56, 68) years, including 203 males and 120 females. According to the PSS-14, a score of 14-42 and 43-70 were categorized as normal and increased MS, respectively. Patients with CAD with increased MS had significantly higher Gensini scores than those with normal MS [37(19,64) vs. 28(12,50), Z=-2.19, P=0.029]. Male CAD patients with increased MS exhibited significantly higher Gensini scores [39(20, 58) vs. 26(12, 45), Z=-2.37, P=0.018], levels of CD3 +CD8 +%[28.3%(23.6%,36.6%) vs. 25.9%(21.0%,32.4%), Z=-2.05, P=0.041], and CD3 +CD8 +absolute value [485 (346, 675) vs. 396 (309, 510) cells/μl, Z=-2.55, P=0.011] than those with normal MS. In male patients with CAD, a positive correlation was observed between Gensini scores (correlation coefficient: 0.181, P=0.011), PSS-14 scores, and CD3 +CD8 +absolute value (correlation coefficient: 0.162, P=0.038). Conclusion:This study reveals a positive correlation between MS and coronary stenosis severity, with notable sex differences. In male patients with CAD, higher levels of MS are associated with more severe coronary stenosis. The potential underlying mechanism may involve the regulation of lymphocyte subsets .

Objective:To study the spatial distribution and characteristics of iodine content in residential drinking water in Shaanxi Province, and provide a basis for scientific prevention and control of iodine deficiency disorders.Methods:From March to October 2022, an investigation was conducted in all counties (districts, referred to as counties) of Shaanxi Province, with administrative villages as survey units. For centralized water supply systems, two terminal water samples were collected, and iodine content was measured separately, with the average value representing the drinking water iodine content at that location. For decentralized water supply systems, a 10% sampling method was used to divide each administrative village into five areas (east, south, west, north, and center), with 10% of water wells sampled from each area (if fewer than 10 water wells, the well with the largest drinking population was selected; if fewer than 5 wells, all wells were sampled). One water sample was collected from each water well, and iodine content was determined using the arsenic-cerium catalytic spectrophotometry method. Spatial autocorrelation and spatial scan analysis were used to analyze the spatial distribution and characteristics of drinking water iodine content.Results:A total of 53 990 drinking water samples were collected, with a median water iodine content of 6.66 μg/L, ranging from 0.10 to 779.40 μg/L. Drinking water iodine content was detected in 112 counties, showing a significant spatial positive correlation (global autocorrelation, Moran's I = 0.74, Z = 43.83, P < 0.001). Local autocorrelation analysis showed that the difference in the distribution of iodine content in drinking water among 36 counties was statistically significant ( P < 0.05), with 22 counties showing low-low clustering and 12 counties showing high-high clustering. Spatial scanning identified three water iodine clustering areas, including two high-water iodine cluster areas and one low-water iodine cluster area. Conclusions:The distribution of iodine content in residential drinking water in Shaanxi Province shows significant spatial clustering and heterogeneity, requiring targeted interventions to achieve precise prevention and control of iodine deficiency disorders.

Objective To investigate the association between remnant cholesterol(RC)and clinicopatho-logical parameters in patients with IgA nephropathy(IgAN),and to assess the clinical significance of RC in the progression and management of IgAN.Methods A total of 366 patients with a biopsy-proven diagnosis of IgAN were consecutively enrolled in this retrospective study.Clinical and pathological data were systematically collected,and RC was calculated.Participants were stratified into two groups according to the median RC value.Baseline characteristics were compared between these groups.The association between RC and the presence of tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis(T1/2 lesions)in IgAN patients was evaluated using binary logistic regression,restricted cubic spline(RCS)analysis,receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis,and subgroup analyses.Results In this study,the high-RC group exhibited significantly higher levels of body weight,body mass index(BMI),systolic blood pressure(SBP),diastolic blood pressure(DBP),triglycerides(TG),total cholesterol(TC),non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(non-HDL-C),uric acid(UA),complement 3(C3),and 24-hour urinary protein,as well as lower levels of albumin(ALB),estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR),and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),compared to the low-RC group.Patients with T1/2 lesions showed elevated levels of SBP,DBP,TC,non-HDL-C,UA,24-hour urinary protein,and RC,along with reduced levels of hemoglobin(Hb),ALB,and eGFR,relative to those with T0 lesions.Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that increased RC and decreased eGFR were independent risk factors for the presence of T1/2 lesions in patients with IgAN(P<0.05).RCS analysis revealed a linear association between RC and the likelihood of T1/2 lesions(non-linearity P=0.343).The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)for a predictive model incorporating RC,Hb,UA,and eGFR was 0.833,indicating good discriminative ability.Subgroup analyses consistently demonstrated a significant associa-tion between RC and the risk of T1/2 lesions,with no statistically significant interactions observed across subgroups(all P>0.05).Conclusion RC can reflect the severity of both clinical and pathological manifestations in patients with IgAN,making RC monitoring a potentially valuable tool for assessing disease progression in clinical practice.

Objective To investigate iodine content in drinking water and clarify the distribution characteristics of iodine in water in Shaanxi Province.Methods A cross-sectional survey method was used to collect water samples from administrative villages in the province.Two tap water samples were taken from the centralized water supply villages,and 10％samples were taken from the decentralized water supply villages.Water iodine was detected by arsenic cerium catalytic spectrophotometry.Water iodine areas were divided according to national standards:＜40 μg/L was iodine deficiency area,40-100 μg/L was iodine adequate area,＞100 μg/L was high iodine area.According to the ecological regionification scheme of the Chinese Academy of Sciences,Shaanxi Province was divided into three types:the central and eastern Inner Mongolia Platea-Loess Plateau ecological region,the Fenwei Basin ecological region,and the Qinba Mountains ecological region.SPSS 25.0 was used for statistical analysis.Results The median of water iodine in Shaanxi Province was 6.66 μg/L.The survey of water iodine content was conducted in 22 848 administrative villages,1 309 townships,112 counties and 14 municipalities in the whole province.The median water iodine was less than 40 μg/L in 91.75％(20 963/22 848)of the administrative villages,between 40 and 100 μg/L in 7.40％(1 691/22 848)of the administrative villages,and more than 100 μg/L in 0.85％(194/22 848)of the administrative villages.The median of water iodine in the central and eastern Inner Mongolia Platea-Lose Plateau ecological zone,the Fenwei Basin ecological zone,and Qinba Mountains ecological zone was 12.35,8.88,and 2.00 μg/L,respectively,and the differences among different ecological zones were statistically significant(H=6 616.23,P＜0.001).The median of water iodine of centralized and decentralized water supply was 6.72 and 6.21 μg/L,respectively,and differences between different water supply methods were statistically significant(Z=5.638,P＜0.01).Conclusion The overall external environment of Shaanxi Province is iodine deficient,and most of the administrative villages are iodine deficient areas.There are a certain proportion of high iodine water source areas and suitable iodine areas.

Objective To investigate the association between remnant cholesterol(RC)and clinicopatho-logical parameters in patients with IgA nephropathy(IgAN),and to assess the clinical significance of RC in the progression and management of IgAN.Methods A total of 366 patients with a biopsy-proven diagnosis of IgAN were consecutively enrolled in this retrospective study.Clinical and pathological data were systematically collected,and RC was calculated.Participants were stratified into two groups according to the median RC value.Baseline characteristics were compared between these groups.The association between RC and the presence of tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis(T1/2 lesions)in IgAN patients was evaluated using binary logistic regression,restricted cubic spline(RCS)analysis,receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis,and subgroup analyses.Results In this study,the high-RC group exhibited significantly higher levels of body weight,body mass index(BMI),systolic blood pressure(SBP),diastolic blood pressure(DBP),triglycerides(TG),total cholesterol(TC),non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(non-HDL-C),uric acid(UA),complement 3(C3),and 24-hour urinary protein,as well as lower levels of albumin(ALB),estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR),and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),compared to the low-RC group.Patients with T1/2 lesions showed elevated levels of SBP,DBP,TC,non-HDL-C,UA,24-hour urinary protein,and RC,along with reduced levels of hemoglobin(Hb),ALB,and eGFR,relative to those with T0 lesions.Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that increased RC and decreased eGFR were independent risk factors for the presence of T1/2 lesions in patients with IgAN(P<0.05).RCS analysis revealed a linear association between RC and the likelihood of T1/2 lesions(non-linearity P=0.343).The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)for a predictive model incorporating RC,Hb,UA,and eGFR was 0.833,indicating good discriminative ability.Subgroup analyses consistently demonstrated a significant associa-tion between RC and the risk of T1/2 lesions,with no statistically significant interactions observed across subgroups(all P>0.05).Conclusion RC can reflect the severity of both clinical and pathological manifestations in patients with IgAN,making RC monitoring a potentially valuable tool for assessing disease progression in clinical practice.

Objective:To summarized the clinical characteristics and surgical management of anterior cervical enterogenic in pediatric patients. Methods:Clinical data were retrospectively analyzed for 9 children with pathologically confirmed anterior cervical enterogenic cysts（including bronchogenic and esophagogenic subtypes） treated at the Children's Hospital of Shandong University（Jinan Children's Hospital） between January 1, 2020, and November 30, 2023. Results:Nine patients（6 males and 3 females） were involved in this study, aged 14 days to 10 years old. There were 4 cases on the left side, 4 on the right side, and 1 in the middle of the neck. All patients presented with neck masses. The patients were followed up from 3 months to 35 months after surgery and recovered well, with no recurrence or complications observed. Conclusion:①Anterior intestinal cysts in children are rare and easy to be misdiagnosed. ②Concurrent branchial cleft fistulas or associated anomalies may coexist, necessitating comprehensive evaluation. ③Preoperative diagnosis is not easy and mainly depends on pathological diagnosis. ④The treatment of anterior cervical enterogenic cysts in children is surgical resection of the lesion.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Child ; Retrospective Studies ; Child, Preschool ; Infant ; Neck ; Cysts/surgery*

Laboratory animals serve as the cornerstone in life science research, acting as surrogate models for human physiology, pathology, and disease treatment. They play an irreplaceable role in basic research, drug development, and translational medicine. Gut microbiota, a complex microbial community comprising bacteria, fungi, viruses, and unicellular organisms, colonizes the host's intestinal tract and is closely associated with the maintenance of normal physiological metabolism and overall health. Studies have shown that dysbiosis of the gut microbiota can lead to various diseases, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, inflammatory bowel disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, conducting characteristic analyses of the gut microbial composition of laboratory animals can not only enhance the reliability of experimental outcomes but also facilitate their translational application. Sex differences represent a critical variable in biological research, significantly influencing the physiological functions, metabolic traits, and gut microbial composition of laboratory animals. However, a pronounced sex bias has been widely observed in many biological studies, thereby limiting the generalizability of results. This study focused on ten commonly used laboratory animals in life sciences, including mice, rats, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, dogs, cats, non-human primates, miniature pigs, and chickens. Their gut microbial composition was summarized and related sex-specific differences of certain species were analyzed. Furthermore, by comparing the gut microbiota of laboratory animals with that of humans, this study offers novel perspectives for comparative medical research. In summary, this study not only deepens researchers' understanding of gut microbiota characteristics and sex-dependent variations across laboratory animal species but also provides practical guidance for selecting appropriate laboratory animals, constructing sex-specific disease models, and interpreting experimental results in scientific studies.

Laboratory animals serve as the cornerstone in life science research, acting as surrogate models for human physiology, pathology, and disease treatment. They play an irreplaceable role in basic research, drug development, and translational medicine. Gut microbiota, a complex microbial community comprising bacteria, fungi, viruses, and unicellular organisms, colonizes the host's intestinal tract and is closely associated with the maintenance of normal physiological metabolism and overall health. Studies have shown that dysbiosis of the gut microbiota can lead to various diseases, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, inflammatory bowel disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, conducting characteristic analyses of the gut microbial composition of laboratory animals can not only enhance the reliability of experimental outcomes but also facilitate their translational application. Sex differences represent a critical variable in biological research, significantly influencing the physiological functions, metabolic traits, and gut microbial composition of laboratory animals. However, a pronounced sex bias has been widely observed in many biological studies, thereby limiting the generalizability of results. This study focused on ten commonly used laboratory animals in life sciences, including mice, rats, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, dogs, cats, non-human primates, miniature pigs, and chickens. Their gut microbial composition was summarized and related sex-specific differences of certain species were analyzed. Furthermore, by comparing the gut microbiota of laboratory animals with that of humans, this study offers novel perspectives for comparative medical research. In summary, this study not only deepens researchers' understanding of gut microbiota characteristics and sex-dependent variations across laboratory animal species but also provides practical guidance for selecting appropriate laboratory animals, constructing sex-specific disease models, and interpreting experimental results in scientific studies.

Objective:To examine the funding landscape of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)concerning research focused on the elderly as a specific demographic group.It seeks to analyze prevailing research hotspots and to offer insightful research ideas for scholars in this field.Methods:The study employed a retrospective research design.It involved retrieving data on approved projects related to the elderly from the NSFC's official database, covering the period from 2000 to 2020.The data set included variables such as funding year, project title, project category, supporting institution, and funding amount(application codes: H1901, H1902, H1903).Statistical analysis was conducted using Excel software, while visual analysis was performed using CiteSpace software.Results:Between 2000 and 2020, a total of 710 projects focused on geriatrics received funding, amounting to RMB 361, 032, 300, 000.This period exhibited a fluctuating upward trend in both the number of projects and the total funding amount.The primary funding categories were face-to-face projects and youth science fund projects, which together accounted for 44.4%(315/710), 34.4%(244/710)respectively.The distribution of project-relying units demonstrated significant regional imbalance, with Beijing, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Shanghai being the predominant areas.Notably, Nanjing Medical University, Peking University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University ranked as the top three institutions, with funding percentages of 5.9%(42/710), 5.4%(38/710), and 4.5%(32/710), respectively.The research themes encompassed nucleoplasmic interactions, brain networks, and bioinformatics, among others.Conclusions:The NSFC has consistently provided funding for in-depth research in the critical field of geriatrics.The primary research directions focus on aspects such as the mechanisms of aging and the pathogenesis of neurological diseases associated with aging.With the application of innovative technologies and methodologies, significant breakthroughs and achievements are anticipated in geriatrics, contributing to the improvement of health outcomes and the enhancement of the quality of life for the elderly.