Objective:To investigate the correlation between vitamin D levels and thyroid hormone sensitivity in euthyroid individuals.Methods:This cross-sectional study included 5 894 euthyroid individuals who underwent health examinations at the Department of Health Management, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, from December 2023 to February 2024. Thyroid feedback quantile-based index (TFQI), TSH index (TSHI), thyrotroph thyroxine resistance index (TT4RI), and the ratio of free triiodothyronine (FT3)/free thyroxine (FT4) were calculated to assess thyroid hormone sensitivity. Participants were categorized into vitamin D deficiency and non-deficiency groups based on serum 25(OH)D levels. The differences in thyroid hormone sensitivity indices and other clinical characteristics between the two groups were compared. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between vitamin D levels and thyroid hormone sensitivity, and stratified analysis was conducted to explore the association in different genders.Results:Among the study participants, 4 731 (80.3%) had vitamin D deficiency. Compared with the non-deficient group, the deficient group had a lower TFQI (-0.03(-0.31, 0.23) and -0.01(-0.28, 0.27)) ( Z=-2.130, P=0.033) and a higher FT3/FT4 ratio ((0.36±0.04) and (0.35±0.04)) ( t=-4.592, P<0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors including gender and age, the risk of impaired central and peripheral thyroid hormone sensitivity significantly increased in the non-deficient group (TFQI ( OR=1.16, 95% CI: 1.01-1.34); FT3/FT4 ( OR=1.23, 95% CI: 1.05-1.45)) (all, P<0.05). Conclusion:In euthyroid individuals, people with higher vitamin D levels have a higher risk of impaired thyroid hormone sensitivity.

The peripheral pulmonary lesions are located far from the central airway and close to the pleura, so it is a challenge for clinical diagnosis of their nature through biopsy. Therefore, the Ion robot-assisted bronchoscopy system which has started its commercialization in China is proposed to diagnose and treat peripheral pulmonary lesions. The Ion system can be used for navigation, registration, biopsy and treatment. In this paper, the structural principle of the Ion system is expounded, and its technical advantages such as shape perception, slender catheter and flexible operation are summarized. It represents the latest development direction of the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral pulmonary lesions. Then, the clinical application and development status of the Ion system are analyzed and discussed in detail. Finally, the development trend of the robot-assisted bronchoscopy system is prospected, which provides new ideas for realizing the "integrated and one-stop" diagnosis and treatment services for peripheral pulmonary lesions based on this system.
Bronchoscopy/instrumentation* ; Humans ; Robotics ; Robotic Surgical Procedures

Objective:To investigate the correlation between vitamin D levels and thyroid hormone sensitivity in euthyroid individuals.Methods:This cross-sectional study included 5 894 euthyroid individuals who underwent health examinations at the Department of Health Management, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, from December 2023 to February 2024. Thyroid feedback quantile-based index (TFQI), TSH index (TSHI), thyrotroph thyroxine resistance index (TT4RI), and the ratio of free triiodothyronine (FT3)/free thyroxine (FT4) were calculated to assess thyroid hormone sensitivity. Participants were categorized into vitamin D deficiency and non-deficiency groups based on serum 25(OH)D levels. The differences in thyroid hormone sensitivity indices and other clinical characteristics between the two groups were compared. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between vitamin D levels and thyroid hormone sensitivity, and stratified analysis was conducted to explore the association in different genders.Results:Among the study participants, 4 731 (80.3%) had vitamin D deficiency. Compared with the non-deficient group, the deficient group had a lower TFQI (-0.03(-0.31, 0.23) and -0.01(-0.28, 0.27)) ( Z=-2.130, P=0.033) and a higher FT3/FT4 ratio ((0.36±0.04) and (0.35±0.04)) ( t=-4.592, P<0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors including gender and age, the risk of impaired central and peripheral thyroid hormone sensitivity significantly increased in the non-deficient group (TFQI ( OR=1.16, 95% CI: 1.01-1.34); FT3/FT4 ( OR=1.23, 95% CI: 1.05-1.45)) (all, P<0.05). Conclusion:In euthyroid individuals, people with higher vitamin D levels have a higher risk of impaired thyroid hormone sensitivity.

Background::Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a recently recognized immune-mediated disorder that can affect almost any organ in the human body. IgG4-RD can be categorized into proliferative and fibrotic subtypes based on patients’ clinicopathological characteristics. This study aimed to compare the clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, and treatment outcomes of IgG4-RD among different subtypes.Methods::We prospectively enrolled 622 patients with newly diagnosed IgG4-RD at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from March 2011 to August 2021. The patients were divided into three groups according to their clinicopathological characteristics: proliferative, fibrotic, and mixed subtypes. We compared demographic features, clinical manifestations, organ involvement, laboratory tests, and treatment agents across three subtypes. We then assessed the differences in treatment outcomes among 448 patients receiving glucocorticoids alone or in combination with immunosuppressants. Moreover, risk factors of relapse were revealed by applying the univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis.Results::We classified the 622 patients into three groups consisting of 470 proliferative patients, 55 fibrotic patients, and 97 mixed patients, respectively. We found that gender distribution, age, disease duration, and frequency of allergy history were significantly different among subgroups. In terms of organ involvement, submandibular and lacrimal glands were frequently involved in the proliferative subtype, while retroperitoneum was the most commonly involved site in both fibrotic subtype and mixed subtype. The comparison of laboratory tests revealed that eosinophils ( P = 0.010), total IgE ( P = 0.006), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ( P <0.001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( P <0.001), complement C4 ( P <0.001), IgG ( P = 0.001), IgG1 (P <0.001), IgG4 (P <0.001), and IgA ( P <0.001), at baseline were significantly different among three subtypes. Compared with proliferative and mixed subtypes, the fibrotic subtype showed the lowest rate of relapse (log-rank P = 0.014). Conclusions::Our study revealed the differences in demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, organ involvement, laboratory tests, treatment agents, and outcomes across proliferative, fibrotic, and mixed subtypes in the retrospective cohort study. Given significant differences in relapse-free survival among the three subtypes, treatment regimens, and follow-up frequency should be considered separately according to different subtypes.Trial Registration::ClinicalTrials. gov, NCT01670695.

OBJECTIVE To establish the fingerprint of total saponins from Mussaenda pubescens， and to study the spectrum- effect relationship of its hepatoprotective activity. METHODS Ten batches of total saponins from M. pubescens from different origins were prepared using 75% ethanol as solvent. High-performance liquid chromatography （HPLC） and the Similarity Evaluation System for Traditional Chinese Medicine Chromatographic Fingerprints （2012 edition） were used to draw the fingerprints of 10 batches of total saponins from M. pubescens. The similarity evaluation and identification of common peaks were conducted. The same HPLC method was adopted to determine the contents of five triterpenoid saponins （mussaendoside H， mussaendoside U， mussaglaoside C， mussaendoside G and mussaendoside O）. The hepatoprotective effect of total saponins from M. pubescens was investigated by establishing carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury model mice， and the spectrum-effect relationship was studied by using grey correlation analysis. RESULTS There were 11 common peaks in 10 batches of total saponins from M. pubescens， 5 of which were identified， i.e. mussaendoside H （peak 3）， mussaendoside U （peak 7）， mussaglaoside C （peak 8）， mussaendoside G （peak 9） and mussaendoside O （peak 11）； the similarities of 10 batches of samples ranged 0.940- 0.991. Average contents of mussaendoside H， mussaendoside U， mussaglaoside C， mussaendoside G， mussaendoside O were 0.01- 0.05， 0.10-0.21， 0.10-0.18， 0.03-0.08， 0.20-0.40 mg/g， respectively. Ten batches of total saponins from M. pubescens could generally reduce the contents of alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST） in serum， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-6 （IL-6） and IL-1β in liver tissue of model mice （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. The E-mail：13878195336@139.com correlation between the common peak areas and the contents of ALT， AST， TNF-α， IL-6 and IL-1β were 0.602-0.757， 0.585-0.833， 0.593-0.795， 0.618-0.820， 0.607-0.804， respectively； the peaks with high correlation were peaks 11， 9 and 8 in order. CONCLUSIONS Ten batches of total saponins from M. pubescens have similar components， and the average contents of mussaendoside H， mussaendoside U， mussaglaoside C， mussaendoside G and mussaendoside O are different. The batches of samples have a certain degree of hepatoprotective effect； mussaendoside O， mussaendoside G and mussaglaoside C may be its main active components.

Objective:To observe the application effect of a self-designed assisted abdominal breathing rehabilitation device in elderly patients undergoing postoperative chemotherapy for lung cancer.Methods:Self-designed an assisted abdominal breathing rehabilitation device. Used the convenience sampling method, 116 elderly patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from April 2021 to April 2022 undergoing postoperative chemotherapy for lung cancer were selected as study subjects, and they were divided into control and observation groups by the random number table method, with 58 cases in each group. The control group received routine abdominal breathing training, and the observation group used auxiliary abdominal breathing rehabilitation device for abdominal breathing training, and compared the training compliance rate, lung function indexes and six minutes-walk test scores of the two groups before and after 2 weeks of training.Results:After 2 weeks of training, the training compliance rate of patients in the observation group was 100.00% (58/58), which was higher than 87.93% (51/58) in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ 2=7.45, P<0.05). After 2 weeks of training, FEV 1, FVC, FEV 1/FVC were (1.81 ± 0.29) L, (1.98 ± 0.32) L, (91.91 ± 5.98) % respectively in the observation group, and (1.49 ± 0.31) L, (1.73 ± 0.41) L, (87.11 ± 9.44) % respectively in the control group, there were statistically significant differences between the two groups ( t=-4.13, -2.60, -2.36, all P<0.05). After 2 weeks of training, the six minutes-walk test score was (0.86 ± 0.71) points in the observation group and (1.02 ± 0.74) points in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=2.05, P<0.05). Conclusions:An assisted abdominal breathing rehabilitation device helps to improve the training compliance rate, enhance lung function recovery and improve exercise endurance in elderly patients undergoing chemotherapy after lung cancer surgery.

IgG 4-related disease (IgG 4-RD) is an immune-mediated fibroinflammatory condition characterized by tumefactive lesions in multi-organs. It is a novel entity presented by variable manifestations. In recent years, there has been progress toward recognizing IgG 4-RD. However, the diagnosis and treatment of IgG 4-RD still present challenges due to insufficient experience. To address this, the Chinese Rheumatology Association has developed standardized guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of IgG 4-RD based on domestic and international experience. These guidelines aim to enhance the understanding and management of IgG 4-RD, ultimately improving the prognosis for patients with IgG 4-RD.

Objective:To investigate the function of gasdermin D (GSDMD) in intestinal damage of mice with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).Methods:The healthy C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups randomly, including normal saline (NS) group, small interfering RNA (siRNA)-NS group, SAP model group and siRNA-SAP group, with 6 mice in each group. The SAP mouse model was reproduced by intraperitoneal injection of caerulein 50 μg/kg combined with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 10 mg/kg; the NS group was given the same amount of NS; in the siRNA-SAP group and siRNA-NS group, siRNA 50 mg/kg was injected through the tail vein three times before modeling or injection of NS. The blood of mice eyeball in each group was taken 12 hours after modeling, and serum interleukins (IL-1β, IL-18) levels were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mice were sacrificed to observe the general changes in abdominal cavity, the pancreas and ileum tissues were taken to observe the pathological changes under a light microscope. The expression of long-chain non-coding RNA uc.173 (lnc uc.173) was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of tight junction proteins zonula occluden-1 (ZO-1) and Occludin in intestinal mucosal epithelial cells. Western blotting was used to detect the GSDMD protein expression level in the intestinal tissue.Results:The serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in the SAP model group were significantly higher than those in the NS group and the siRNA-NS group [IL-1β (ng/L): 146.66±1.40 vs. 44.48±5.76, 81.49±10.75, IL-18 (ng/L): 950.47±177.09 vs. 115.43±16.40, 84.84±21.90, all P < 0.05]; and the levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in the siRNA-SAP group were significantly lower than those in the SAP model group [IL-1β (ng/L): 116.26±15.54 vs. 146.66±1.40, IL-18 (ng/L): 689.96±126.08 vs. 950.47±177.09, both P < 0.05]. General observation showed that there were no obvious abnormalities in the abdominal cavity of the mice in the NS and siRNA-NS groups; the mice in the SAP model group and the siRNA-SAP group had different degrees of edema and congestion in the intestine; compared with the SAP model group, the abnormalities in the siRNA-SAP group was significantly reduced. Under light microscope, there were no obvious changes in the pancreas and intestinal mucosa in the NS group and the siRNA-NS group; the pancreatic tissue of the SAP model group and the siRNA-SAP group had different degrees of edema, inflammatory cell infiltration, and lobular structure damage, and the intestinal mucosa was damaged to a certain degree, and the villi were broken to varying degrees, but the damage in the siRNA-SAP group was lighter. The results of RT-PCR showed that the expression of lnc uc.173 in the intestinal tissues of the model SAP group was significantly lower than that of the NS group and the siRNA-NS group (2 -ΔΔCt: 0.26±0.12 vs. 1.01±0.37, 0.67±0.32, both P < 0.05), while the expression of lnc uc.173 in the siRNA-SAP group was significantly higher than that in the SAP model group (2 -ΔΔCt: 0.60±0.39 vs. 0.26±0.12, P < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry showed that ZO-1 and Occludin proteins in the NS group were distributed along the epithelial cells of the intestinal mucosa, showing a strong expression; ZO-1 and Occludin expressions were significantly reduced in the SAP model group and siRNA-SAP group, but the expressions in the siRNA-SAP group was higher than that in the SAP model group. Western blotting showed that the expression level of GSDMD protein in the intestinal tissues of the SAP model group was significantly higher than that of the NS group and the siRNA-NS group [GSDMD protein (GSDMD-N/β-actin): 1.99±0.46 vs. 1, 1.00±0.78, both P < 0.05]. Compared with the SAP model group, the expression of GSDMD protein in the siRNA-SAP group was significantly decreased [GSDMD protein (GSDMD-N/β-actin): 1.42±0.42 vs. 1.99±0.46, P < 0.05]. Conclusions:The systemic inflammatory response and intestinal mucosal barrier damage of SAP mice may be related to the increase of GSDMD expression in intestinal tissues. GSDMD mediates cell pyrolysis to promote the release of inflammatory factors, cause intestinal injury, and down-regulate the expression of intestinal epithelial cell tight junction proteins such as ZO-1 and Occludin, resulting in intestinal mucosal damage.

Both primary biliary cholangitis and Sjögren's syndrome belong to chronic autoimmune epithelitis, and they often occur at the same time. This article reviews the general features, clinical manifestations, serological features, pathogenesis, treatment regimens, and common features of primary biliary cholangitis and Sjögren's syndrome and explores the common pathogenesis of the two diseases, so as to provide ideas for developing new therapies and management strategies for patients.