Objective To explore the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection and its association with dietary and lifestyle habits among the adult physical examination population in Xuzhou area. Methods Retrospectively selected the physical examination population who underwent HP testing at our hospital's physical examination center from May 2021 to December 2023 as the research object. The prevalence of Hp infection in the population was analyzed based on the physical examination results. A questionnaire survey was used to collect information on the eating and living habits of all study subjects. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between eating and living habits and Hp infection. Results A total of 1 354 physical examination people were included in the study, and the Hp infection rate was 37.30% (505/1354). The difference in Hp infection rates among people of different age groups is statistically significant (P<0.05), with the middle-aged population (41-59 years old) having the highest Hp positive infection rate (45.38%).High salt (41.11%), hot diet (40.56%), history of smoking (45.23%) and drinking (43.80%), less consumption of fruits and vegetables (43.73%), irregular exercise (41.29%), irregular diet People who frequently eat out (43.56%) and eat out frequently (42.57%) have a higher Hp infection rate (P<0.05).After adjusting for demographic factors such as gender, age, place of residence and education level, multivariate Logistic regression results showed that high-salt diet (OR=3.975, 95%CI: 2.670-5.917) and hot diet (OR=3.357, 95%CI: 2.291-4.919), smoking (OR=1.458, 95%CI: 1.082-1.964), drinking alcohol (OR=1.654, 95%CI: 1.279-2.138), eating fruits and vegetables (OR=1.759, 95%CI: 1.345-2.301), regular exercise (OR=1.822, 95%CI: 1.371-2.421), regular diet (OR=1.893, 95%CI: 1.391-2.575), eating out (OR=1.690, 95%CI: 1.277-2.237) were associated with the risk of Hp infection (P<0.05). Conclusion The positive infection rate of Hp among the physical examination population in Xuzhou is slightly lower than the average epidemic level in China. Cultivating healthy eating and living habits can effectively reduce the risk of Hp infection.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) activity of total alkaloids from Gelsemium elegans Benth. (TAG) in vivo and in vitro and to elucidate their potential mechanisms of action through transcriptomic analysis. METHODS: TAG extraction was conducted, and the primary components were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The effects of TAG (100, 150, and 200 µg/mL) on various tumor cells, including SMMC-7721, HepG2, H22, CAL27, MCF7, HT29, and HCT116, were assessed. Effects of TAG on HCC proliferation and apoptosis were detected by colony formation assays and cell stainings. Caspase-3, Bcl-2, and Bax protein levels were detected by Western blotting. In vivo, a tumor xenograft model was developed using H22 cells. Totally 40 Kunming mice were randomly assigned to model, cyclophosphamide (20 mg/kg), TAG low-dose (TAG-L, 0.5 mg/kg), and TAG high-dose (TAG-H, 1 mg/kg) groups, with 10 mice in each group. Tumor volume, body weight, and tumor weight were recorded and compared during 14-day treatment. Immune organ index were calculated. Tissue changes were oberseved by hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry. Additionally, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, as well as quatitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), were performed to detect mRNA and metabolite expressions. RESULTS: HPLC successfully identified the components of TAG extraction. Live cell imaging and analysis, along with cell viability assays, demonstrated that TAG inhibited the proliferation of SMMC-7721, HepG2, H22, CAL27, MCF7, HT29, and HCT116 cells. Colony formation assays, Hoechst 33258 staining, Rhodamine 123 staining, and Western blotting revealed that TAG not only inhibited HCC proliferation but also promoted apoptosis (P<0.05). In vivo experiments showed that TAG inhibited the growth of solid tumors in HCC in mice (P<0.05). Transcriptomic analysis and RT-qPCR indicated that the inhibition of HCC by TAG was associated with the regulation of the key gene CXCL13. CONCLUSION TAG inhibits HCC both in vivo and in vitro, with its inhibitory effect linked to the regulation of the key gene CXCL13.
Animals ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Liver Neoplasms/genetics* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics* ; Humans ; Alkaloids/therapeutic use* ; Gelsemium/chemistry* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Mice ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Objective:The 5th edition of the WHO classification of central nervous system (CNS) tumors in 2021 made significant revisions to the nomenclature and grading system of solitary fibrous tumors (SFT). This study aimed to explore the changes in the grading of CNS SFT and its relationship with clinical pathological features and prognosis.Methods:This study retrospectively reviewed the clinical and pathological data of 82 patients with CNS SFT diagnosed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University from March 2006 to June 2021, reassessed their grading according to the WHO 5th edition CNS tumor classification, and conducted a comprehensive analysis of their histological morphology, immunohistochemical characteristics, and clinical imaging data.Results:The age of the patients ranged from 21 to 83 years, with a median age of 48 years. Follow-up was completed for 82 patients, during which 10 patients died, 24 recurred, and 5 metastasized. MRI imaging showed that SFT exhibited isointense signals on T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) and complex signals on T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), with signal intensity decreasing as the content of collagen fibers increased. According to the 2021 grading criteria, there was a significant change in the grading of SFT, with the number of grade 1 SFT increasing from 10 cases under the 2016 standard to 39 cases, while the number of grade 2 and 3 SFT decreased accordingly. The 2016 grading system was significantly correlated with the overall survival (OS) of patients ( P=0.009), while the 2021 grading system did not reach statistical significance. Both grading systems were correlated with histological phenotype, Ki-67 index, mitotic figures, and necrosis ( P＜0.05). All cases expressed STAT6, and showed varying degrees of expression of vimentin, CD99, BCL-2, and CD34. The staining intensity of type Ⅳ collagen fibers, as analyzed semi-quantitatively, was correlated with the OS of the patients ( P=0.017). Conclusions:The new grading system for CNS SFT has undergone significant changes, and its association with OS requires further validation. In-depth study of the content and fine structure of collagen fibers in SFT may have important clinical significance for the prognosis assessment and the formulation of treatment plans for patients. Moreover, quantitative analysis of T2WI signal intensity may provide a new method for preoperative preliminary assessment of the collagen fiber content in SFT.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between nurse-to-patient ratios and hospital-acquired infec-tions(HAIs)in the intensive care units,and to assess the impact of both average and maximum nurse-to-patient ratios on the risk of HAIs.METHODS Data were obtained from the hospital information system(including Hospi-tal Information System,nursing sensitive quality indicator monitoring system and hospital infection management system).Inpatients aged 18 years and older in ten intensive care units from 1 Jan.2022 to 31 Dec.2023 were in-cluded;data on the nurse-to-patient ratios during day shifts,night shifts and the overall period and HAIs cases were collected.Univariate test was conducted to compare differences between the infection group and the non-infection group.Logistic regression models were utilized to evaluate the association between various nurse-to-patient ratio indicators and the risk of HAIs while controlling the covariates.RESULTS A total of 2 742 patients were included,with an HAIs incidence rate of 18.23％.The average patient-to-nurse ratio was significantly low-er in the infection group than in the non-infection group(2.76±0.82 vs.3.27±1.16,P＜0.001),whereas the maximum nurse-to-patient ratios for the overall period,day and night shifts were 3.57±1.09(infected)vs.3.91±1.31(uninfected),3.30±1.12 vs.3.48±1.16,and 4.62±1.85 vs.5.10±2.08,respectively(all P＜0.001).Regression analysis showed that no significant association between the average nurse-to-patient ratios for the overall period,day and night shifts and the risk of HAIs;whereas the odds ratios(ORs)for the maximum patient-to-nurse ratio greater than 4 were 2.122(1.355-3.324)for the overall period,2.061(1.333-3.186)for the day shift and 1.495(1.055-2.118)for the night shifts(all nurse-to-patient ratios≤3 in the reference group).CONCLUSIONS The maximum nurse-to-patient ratios are important risk factors for HAIs in the intensive care u-nits,whereas the average nurse-to-patient ratios are not significantly associated with HAIs.It is suggested that in-sufficient nursing resources during peak hours may increase the risk of infection,and optimizing the allocation of nursing care during peak hours will help to reduce the incidence of HAIs.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and feasibility of radical hepatectomy after conversion therapy in patients with initially unresectable advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:Clinical data of 72 patients with initially unresectable advanced HCC admitted to the Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and the Department of Hepatobi-liary and Pancreatic Surgery, Henan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2020 to July 2024 were retrospectively collected, including 61 males and 11 females, aged (58.4±9.1) years. The clinicopathological data of the patients, such as tumor characteristics, conversion treatment regimens, perioperative data, and follow-up situations were analyzed to evaluate the therapeutic effect and safety.Results:Among the patients, there were five cases of China liver cancer staging Ⅰb, six cases of Ⅱa, 22 cases of Ⅱb, 32 cases of Ⅲa and sevene cases of Ⅲb. There were 53 patients scored as Child-Pugh A and 19 as Child-Pugh B. Conversion treatment fashion included immunotherapy combined with targeted therapy and immunotherapy plus targeted therapy combined with hepatic arterial chemoembolization or hepatic arteryinfusion chemotherapy. Liver resection after conversion therapy was as follows: 16 cases of right hemihepatectomy, 20 cases of left hemihepatectomy, 11 cases of mesohepatectomy, seven cases of right posterior hepatectomy, 1 case of caudate lobectomy, 17 cases of local resection. Postoperative pathology showed that there were 17 cases of pathologic complete response and 55 cases of pathologic partial response. One patient died of liver failure after surgery, while the rest had no major complications. The postoperative hospital stay was (13.1±5.1) d. The follow-up time was 21.5(10.2, 32.1) months. The multivariate Cox analysis demonstrated that pathologic partial response and adjuvant therapy duration shorter than 5 cycles were identified as independent risk factors-affecting both recurrence-free survival and overall survival in patients with HCC undergoing sequential surgery after conversion therapy (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Sequential surgical resection provides survival benefits for patients with initially unresectable and advanced HCC after conversion therapy, which is a safe and effective therapeutic strategy.

Objective: To explore the relationship between visual acuity and physical fitness of university freshmen, so as to provide reference for myopia prevention and control for freshmen. Methods: From October to November 2022, 2 160 college freshman without majoring in public safety administration, selected from Guangxi Police College in 2022 by using the stratified cluster random sampling method, were reviewed for the results of visual acuity test and physical fitness scores. The physical fitness indices were evaluated by using the Z scores of physical fitness test scores, and the strength of association between the level of physical fitness index and myopia was analyzed by using Logistic regression model. Results: Among 2 160 college freshman without majoring in public safety administration, 917 (42.5%) students were diagnosed screening myopia, including 66 (3.1%) cases of high myopia, 383 (17.7%) cases of moderate myopia and 468 (21.7%) cases of mild myopia. The differences in the distribution of visual acuity tests among students with different physical fitness indices, body mass index, and gender were statistically significant ( Z/H=54.50, 49.53, 15.51, P <0.01). Low level and low middle level physical fitness indices were associated with screening myopia among freshmen[ OR (95% CI )=2.81(1.93-4.08),1.87(1.38-2.54)], and low level physical fitness indexes were associated with high myopia [ OR (95% CI )=7.22(2.33-22.32)] ( P <0.01). Conclusions Screening myopia among college freshman without majoring in public safety administration is related to physical fitness, and low level and low middle level physical fitness index are risk factors for myopia. Improving the level of physical fitness might be effective in preventing myopia.

Ferric oxide/nitrogen-doped carbon nanomaterials(Fe2O3/N-C)with high oxidase-like activity were successfully synthesized via the wet chemistry and pyrolysis method using pyrrole and 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid as raw materials and ferric chloride as the oxidant.The structure and morphology of Fe2O3/N-C were characterized by the techniques including scanning electron microscopy,surface scanning elemental analysis,X-ray diffraction,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.It was revealed that Fe2O3/N-C could efficiently catalyze the conversion of colorless 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine(TMB)into blue-colored oxidized TMB(oxTMB).Based on the principle that ascorbic acid(AA)could inhibit the catalytic color-development reaction of Fe2O3/N-C on TMB,resulting in a paler color and a reduction in the absorbance of the system,a colorimetric sensor for sensitive and accurate detection of AA was constructed.The linear range of the sensor for AA detection was 0.25-30.0 μmol/L,and the detection limit was 0.1 μmol/L.Moreover,it was successfully applied to determination of AA in beverage and tablet samples with satisfactory results.

Objective To study the protective effects and mechanism of sacubitril(Sac)/valsartan(Val)on cardiomyocytes of rabbits with heart failure induced by doxorubicin(DOX).Methods Thirty New Zealand rabbits were selected to establish DOX-induced heart failure rabbit model.Twenty-five rabbits with successful modeling were randomly assigned to model group(DOX group,n=9),DOX+Val group(n=8),and DOX+Sac/Val group(n=8);and another 8 New Zealand rabbits were selected as blank group.The DOX+Val group was gavaged with 4.65 mg/kg Val suspension each time,the DOX+Sac/Val group was gavaged with 9.3 mg/kg Sac/Val suspension each time,and the blank group and DOX group were gavaged with equal volume of distilled water each time.Each group was gavaged twice a day for 8 weeks.After 8 weeks of administration,echocardiography was used to measure left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVDD),left ventricular end-systolic diameter(LVSD),left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),and left ventricular fractional shortening(LVFS).The heart mass index(HMI)and left ventricular mass index(LVMI)were calculated.The pathological morphology and myocardial fibrosis of myocardial tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(H-E)and Masson staining.The ultrastructure of cardiomyocytes was observed by transmission electron microscope.Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL)staining was used to observe cardiomyocytes apoptosis and apoptosis rate was calculated.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect the levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP),high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I(Hs-cTNI),angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ),aldosterone(ALD),atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP),brain natriuretic peptide(BNP),cyclic guanosine monophosphate(cGMP),and protein kinase G(PKG)in serum.Quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR)was used to detect the expression of natriuretic peptide receptor A(NPR-A),cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase 5A(PDE5A[cGMP]),PKG,B-cell lymphoma 2(Bcl-2),Bcl-2 associated X protein(Bax),and cysteine aspartate protease 3(caspase 3)mRNA in myocardial tissue.Western blotting was used to detect the expression of phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein(p-CREB),phosphorylated Bcl-2 related death promoting factor(p-Bad),Bcl-2,Bax,and caspase 3 proteins in myocardial tissue.Results Compared with the blank group,the LVDD and LVSD in the DOX group were increased(both P<0.01),the LVEF and LVFS were decreased(both P<0.01)and the HMI and LVMI were increased(both P<0.01);the apoptosis and apoptosis rate of cardiomyocytes were increased(P<0.01);the levels of NT-proBNP,Hs-cTNI,Ang Ⅱ,ALD,ANP,BNP,cGMP and PKG and the expression of NPR-A,PDE5A(cGMP),PKG,p-CREB,Bax and caspase 3 were all increased(all P<0.01),while the expression of Bcl-2 was decreased(P<0.01),and the expression of p-Bad had no significant difference(P>0.05).Compared with the DOX group,the LVDD and LVSD of the DOX+Sac/Val group and DOX+Val group were decreased(all P<0.01),the LVEF and LVFS were increased(all P<0.01)and the HMI and the LVMI were decreased(all P<0.01);the apoptosis and apoptosis rate of cardiomyocytes were decreased(all P<0.01);the levels of NT-proBNP,Hs-cTNI,Ang Ⅱ,ALD,ANP,BNP,cGMP and PKG and the expression of NPR-A,PDE5A(cGMP),PKG,Bax and caspase 3 were all decreased(all P<0.01),while the expression of Bcl-2 was increased(P<0.01);and the expression of p-CREB and p-Bad was increased in the DOX+Sac/Val group(both P<0.01),but there was no significant difference in the DOX+Val group(both P>0.05).Compared with the DOX+Val group,the DOX+Sac/Val group showed a decrease in all indicators except for LVEF,LVFS,NPR-A,ANP,BNP,cGMP,PDE5A(cGMP),PKG,p-CREB,p-Bad,and Bcl-2,which were all elevated(all P<0.05).Myocardial pathology and transmission electron microscopy showed that Sac/Val effectively protected cardiomyocytes,reduced cardiomyocytes apoptosis and myocardial fibrosis,and these effects were significantly better than those of Val.Conclusion Sac/Val can effectively reduce cardiomyocytes apoptosis,improve cardiac function and reduce myocardial fibrosis in rabbits with heart failure,and these effects are superior to Val.Its mechanism may be related to activating the NPR-A/cGMP/PKG signaling pathway and inhibiting renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

Objective:To summarize the clinical characteristics of elderly patients with stage Ⅰ diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and analyze the factors associated with prognosis.Methods:A case series study was conducted by retrospectively collecting clinical data from patients aged over 60 years with newly diagnosed stage Ⅰ DLBCL across 20 medical centers in Jiangsu Province, China, between June 2010 and April 2023. The involved site, classification and treatment plan were summarized. The primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Statistical analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox regression model.Results:The study included 255 patients with a median age of 69 years, of whom 130 (51.0%) were male, 66 (25.9%) were aged ≥75 years and 26 (10.1%) had a high Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score of ≥2. Extranodal involvement was observed in 163 (63.9%) patients, with the stomach (37.4%, 61/163), intestine (19.0%, 31/163), testes (11.0%, 18/163), and breast (7.4%, 12/163) being the most frequently affected sites. The non-germinal center B-cell (non-GCB) subtype was prevalent in 63.7% of patients (142/223), with no significant difference between the nodal and extranodal groups ( P=0.681). Furthermore, 73.9% (184/249) and 11.7% (29/249) of patients received the R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) and R-miniCHOP regimen, respectively. The overall 3-year PFS rate was 81.5%, and the 3-year OS rate was 85.6%. Patients aged ≥75 years ( HR=2.910, 95% CI 1.565-5.408, P=0.001) and/or with a CCI score ≥2 ( HR=2.324, 95% CI 1.141-4.732, P=0.020) had a significantly poorer PFS. Incorporating age ≥75 years and CCI score ≥2 into the stage-modified international prognostic index (sm-IPI) can better stratify the prognosis of elderly patients with stage Ⅰ DLBCL. The 3-year PFS rate was 48.7% in the high-risk group versus 85.7% in the low-risk group ( P<0.001). Conclusions:Our findings show that the elderly patients with stage Ⅰ DLBCL were predominantly characterized by extranodal involvement (particularly in the stomach and intestinal tract) and non-GCB subtype. Age ≥75 years and CCI ≥2 were identified as independent prognostic factors. The newly established sm-IPI-75-CCI incorporating these factors demonstrated superior prognostic discrimination compared to conventional risk assessment systems.

Totally 45 in vitro diagnostic(IVD)reagent manufacturing enterprises were investigated in terms of the use and quality control of nitrocellulose(NC)membranes.The influences of the NC membrane performance indexes on IVD reagent quality were analyzed,including the within-run stability,crawling speed,protein absorption and pore size.The defficiencies of the enterprises were pointed out in the acceptance standard of NC membrane,and some suggestions were put forward including enhancing the performance of domestic NC membrane,improving the acceptance standard,optimizing NC membrane supply chain management by the enterprises and strengthening the internal management of the enterprises.References were provided for the development of IVD industries.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(7):75-80]