OBJECTIVE: To explore the pain-location interaction between pressure-sensitive points on the body surface and traditional acupoints in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP) under different disease courses, using Euclidean distance and multivariate statistical analysis. METHODS: A pressure-sensitive point detection was performed on 30 CNLBP patients with varying disease courses. A constant pressure was applied using an FDK20 algometer within a designated lumbar area, a total of 50 points were tested, and the tested points were numbered; the visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score was recorded simultaneously. MatlabR2022a9.12. software was used to extract the positions of pressure-sensitive points, and preprocessing and normalization of point location and VAS scores data were conducted. Under constraint conditions (VAS≥8.0 ∩ Euclidean distance to acupoint≤0.5), the proportion of pressure-sensitive points within the Euclidean distance threshold to each acupoint (PVD_acupoint) was calculated, followed by multivariate statistical analysis. RESULTS: ①Constrained analysis of PVD_acupoint showed that PVD_{Qihaishu (BL24)} and PVD_{Dachangshu (BL25)} were positively correlated with disease course (r=0.55, P<0.01). ②Factor analysis and silhouette analysis revealed that PVD_{Shenshu (BL23)} and PVD_{Dachangshu (BL25)} exhibited trends consistent with disease course progression (P>0.05), with different degree (P<0.01). CONCLUSION The PVD_acupoint value based on Euclidean distance can characterize the pressure sensitivity features of traditional acupoints associated with disease. Multivariate statistical analysis of PVD_acupoint confirms that selecting the acupoint combination of Shenshu (BL23) and Dachangshu (BL25) for CNLBP is associated with the distribution of surrounding pressure-sensitive points and the pathological characteristics of the condition.
Humans ; Acupuncture Points ; Low Back Pain/physiopathology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Aged ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Young Adult ; Pressure

Occult breast cancer (OBC) refers to a type of breast cancer where no primary lesion is detected through physical examination, imaging, and pathology. This report presents a clinical case of OBC with intestinal obstruction as the initial symptom. A 67-year-old female with no underlying conditions presented to Zhuzhou Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University with intestinal obstruction. Contrast-enhanced CT of the abdomen showed thickening of the lower rectum and ascending colon, suggestive of a neoplastic lesion. Chest CT showed multiple enlarged lymph nodes in the left axilla. Colonoscopy revealed only mucosal congestion, roughness, and thickening. Suspecting an intestinal tumor, laparoscopic radical resection of the rectal stenosis was performed. Postoperative pathology indicated poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the rectum. Immunohistochemistry showed positive expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA3), and cytokeratin 7 (CK7), suggesting breast cancer metastasis. Breast MRI revealed multiple proliferative nodules in both breasts (breast imaging reporting and data system, BI-RADS 2). Biopsies of the right lower-inner breast, bilateral axillary, and supraclavicular lymph nodes were performed. No carcinoma was found in the right breast tissues; however, small foci of carcinoma was detected in the right axillary lymph nodes, and poorly differentiated carcinoma of suspected breast origin was found in the bilateral supraclavicular and left axillary lymph nodes. The final diagnosis was OBC with lymph node and rectal metastasis. The patient died 16 months postoperatively. OBC often lacks identifiable primary breast lesions, and gastrointestinal metastases are particularly rare. Clinical manifestations are frequently masked by symptoms of metastatic lesions, making diagnosis challenging. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion. Due to rapid disease progression and multiorgan involvement, prognosis is extremely poor. Early identification of the primary lesion in OBC is crucial for improving outcomes.
Humans ; Female ; Aged ; Intestinal Obstruction/etiology* ; Breast Neoplasms/pathology* ; Adenocarcinoma/diagnosis* ; Neoplasms, Unknown Primary/complications* ; Rectal Neoplasms/complications*

Objective:To investigate the status of iodine deficiency disorders in children and pregnant women in Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province, and to provide a basis for scientific iodine supplementation and adjustment of prevention and control strategies.Methods:According to the requirements of the National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Surveillance Program (2016 Edition), iodine deficiency disorders surveillance was carried out in 18 counties (cities, districts) under the jurisdiction of Ganzhou City from 2018 to 2022. Edible salt and urine samples taken from children aged 8 to 10 and pregnant women were collected to detect salt and urine iodine levels. At the same time, B-ultrasound method was adopted to measure children's thyroid volume, and the goiter rate was calculated.Results:From 2018 to 2022, a total of 27 075 edible salt samples were collected from key populations (children aged 8 - 10 and pregnant women), with a median salt iodine of 25.00 mg/kg and a qualified iodized salt consumption rate of 96.24% (26 057/27 075). The difference in the qualified iodized salt consumption rate among key populations in different years was statistically significant (χ 2 = 29.09, P < 0.001). A total of 18 061 urine samples were collected from children, with a median urine iodine of 192.10 μg/L, there was a statistically significant difference in the urine iodine level of children between different years ( H = 82.59, P < 0.001). A total of 9 014 urine samples were collected from pregnant women, with a median urine iodine of 177.20 μg/L, there was a statistically significant difference in urine iodine level of pregnant women between different years ( H = 78.78, P < 0.001). A total of 8 621 children's thyroid glands were examined, including 34 cases of goiter, with a goiter rate of 0.39%, and the goiter rate showed a decreasing trend year by year (χ 2trend = 11.09, P < 0.001). Conclusions:From 2018 to 2022, the iodine nutrition of children and pregnant women in Ganzhou City is at an appropriate level, the consumption rate of qualified iodized salt (> 90%) and the children's goiter rate (< 5%) met the national iodine deficiency disorders elimination standards. Ganzhou City continues to maintain the status of eliminating iodine deficiency disorders.

Objective:To analyze the distribution of different SF3B1 genotypes in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and its prognostic value.Methods:Totally, 377MDS patients who were initially diagnosed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2014 to January 2022 were included in the retrospective analysis.The patients were divided into three different groups according to mutation stcote of SF3B1, including 317 patients with SF3B1 wild type (SF3B1 WT) (214 males and 103 females, 63(49, 71) years old),39 patients with SF3B1 K700E mutation(SF3B1 K700E(17 males and 22 females, 65(52, 73)years old)) and 21 patients with SF3B1 non-K700E mutation(SF3B1 non-K700E)(13 males and 8 females, 67(63, 73) years old). MDS-related 20 gene mutations were detected using targeted sequencing technology; Survival curves were constructed by the Kaplan-Meier method; Cox proportional hazards model was established to evaluate different factors at diagnosis on survival by univariate and multivariate analyses.. Results:Compared with SF3B1 non-K700E patients, SF3B1 K700E patients had a higher median absolute neutrophil count ( P=0.002) and were likely to be in the low/int-1 International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) categories ( P=0.023). A 20-gene targeted sequencing analysis showed that, compared with SF3B1 WT patients, SF3B1 K700E patients were associated with lower frequency of ASXL1 and U2AF1 mutations ( P=0.018 and P=0.003); while compared with SF3B1 non-K700E patients, the frequency of ASXL1 mutation was significantly lower in SF3B1 K700E cases ( P=0.029). Patients with SF3B1 K700E had better overall survival (OS) in comparison with SF3B1 WT and SF3B1 non-K700E in MDS patients ( P<0.001 and P=0.045, respectively). In comparison with SF3B1 WT patients, SF3B1 MUT patients had more favorable OS and progression-free survival (PFS) in MDS without excess blasts ( P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively), but no significant difference was found in MDS with excess blasts ( P>0.05). Compared with SF3B1 WT patients, SF3B1 K700E patients had superior OS and PFS in the int-1 IPSS category ( P=0.010 and P=0.013, respectively). By multivariable analysis, the presence of SF3B1 K700Ewas an independent predictor of superior OS ( HR=0.461,95% CI 0.262-0.811, P=0.007). Conclusion:SF3B1 K700E and SF3B1 non-K700E patients had significantly improved OS in comparison with SF3B1 WT MDS patients. Furthermore, SF3B1 K700E patients were associated with a better OS compared with SF3B1 non-K700E MDS patients. SF3B1 mutation could not overcome the poor prognostic effect of excess blasts, which highlights the importance of the SF3B1 mutation subtype in risk assessment of MDS without excess blasts.

Age-dependent loss of skeletal muscle mass and function is a feature of sarcopenia, and increases the risk of many aging-related metabolic diseases. Here, we report phenotypic and single-nucleus transcriptomic analyses of non-human primate skeletal muscle aging. A higher transcriptional fluctuation was observed in myonuclei relative to other interstitial cell types, indicating a higher susceptibility of skeletal muscle fiber to aging. We found a downregulation of FOXO3 in aged primate skeletal muscle, and identified FOXO3 as a hub transcription factor maintaining skeletal muscle homeostasis. Through the establishment of a complementary experimental pipeline based on a human pluripotent stem cell-derived myotube model, we revealed that silence of FOXO3 accelerates human myotube senescence, whereas genetic activation of endogenous FOXO3 alleviates human myotube aging. Altogether, based on a combination of monkey skeletal muscle and human myotube aging research models, we unraveled the pivotal role of the FOXO3 in safeguarding primate skeletal muscle from aging, providing a comprehensive resource for the development of clinical diagnosis and targeted therapeutic interventions against human skeletal muscle aging and the onset of sarcopenia along with aging-related disorders.
Animals ; Humans ; Sarcopenia/metabolism* ; Forkhead Box Protein O3/metabolism* ; Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism* ; Aging/metabolism* ; Primates/metabolism*

Objective To study the trends of lung cancer mortality among adult residents in Macheng City, Hubei Province from 1984 to 2018． Methods Mortality data was extracted from Macheng City disease surveillance points (DSPs) system and China Demographic Yearbook. The age-period-cohort (APC) model and Intrinsic Estimator algorithm were used to estimate the age effect, period effect and cohort effect of lung cancer mortality. Results The age effect coefficient of lung cancer mortality increased with age from 20 to 74 years old. The mortality risk of the 70-74 group was 42.62 times that of the 20-24 group. The period effect coefficient of lung cancer mortality also continued to rise with time. The cohort effect coefficient was parabolic, and residents born in 1939-1943 had the highest coefficient (1.298 4). Conclusion The risk of lung cancer death of adult residents in Macheng City significantly increased with the year and the rapid development of socio-economics.

The 2nd round of the third-party evaluation of the National Healthcare Improvement Initiative was made during Dec 2016 and Jan 2017.The methods, organization and implementation of the survey and the technical roadmap were the same as those of the 1st round of evaluation.The total number of respondents was 94 218,including 19 773 doctors,24 315 nurses,29 105 outpatients and 21 025 inpatients. 142 typical cases were collected from sample hospitals.The key findings showed that, the National Healthcare Improvement Initiative has been implemented quite well in the 2nd year, achievements and challenges exist side by side.The overall satisfaction rate of both outpatients and inpatients was good, both were about 90%.Further improvement is expected.Hospital staff have been actively involved in this Initiative,but they are not satisfied with their working environments and compensations.

Objective To explore the influencing factors of outpatients′satisfaction in different types of hospitals,and to generate evidence for further healthcare improvement in different types of hospitals. Methods Based on the inpatient satisfaction survey results of the third party evaluation of the National Healthcare Improvement Initiative in 136 public tertiary hospitals,we divided the outpatients in four groups according to the hospital types as general, traditional Chinese medicine, maternal and child and specialty hospitals.SPSS 22.0 and SAS 9.4 were used to conduct the Pearson Chi-square test, variance analysis, Bonferroni test for univariate analysis, and multiple stepwise logistic regression analysis of the influencing factors of outpatients′satisfaction in different types of hospitals.Results A total of 29 105 complete questionnaires were collected from the outpatients.There were statistically significant differences between the overall outpatient satisfactions of different types of hospitals(P <0.01).Hospital experience was the common most significant positive factors affecting the overall satisfaction of outpatients in all types of hospitals(P<0.01,OR=4.10,4.39,3.83,4.36).Waiting time for consultation was the common most significant negative influencing factor of the overall outpatient satisfaction of all types of hospitals(P<0.01, OR=0.99).Conclusions In the next round of healthcare improvements, all types of hospitals should focus on shortening outpatient waiting time.In a short run, hospitals can address this issue through more appropriate allocation of resources within hospitals.In a longer run, there is a need to rationalize the allocation of multiple resources within the overall health service delivery system.It is necessary to strengthen patient centered humane care,and to meet diverse healthcare needs.Western areas are called for enhanced investment and strengthened healthcare improvements.

Objective To analyze impacts of the referral system on outpatient satisfaction with the background of developing a hierarchical medical system, and to provide recommendations for further improvements of the referral system.Methods Based on the outpatient satisfaction survey results of the National Healthcare Improvement Initiative Third Party Assessment(2016-2017),the propensity matching method was used to analyze the satisfaction of outpatients who were referred and not referred.Results Compared with the overall satisfaction score of the non-referred outpatients, that of the referred outpatients was 0.11 points lower(P<0.01,95%CI=-0.17, -0.06).The patient experience satisfaction score of the referred outpatients was 0.06 points lower than that of the non-referred(P=0.03,95%CI=-0.11,-0.01).Conclusions Under the policy background of the hierarchical medical system in China, the current referral system has failed to positively improve patient satisfaction.To further improve the referral system and to raise patient satisfaction,there is a need to take following actions,to link the referral system construction with the public hospital reforms, in order to motivate the tertiary hospitals to be more actively involved in the strengthening of the referral system,to strengthen the medical capacity of the primary health care institutions, to standardize the referral criteria and procedure, and to formulate a more rational and effective health insurance payment method and reimbursement system.In addition, it is critical to further regulate and optimize the referral procedures,so as to set up reasonable and effective insurance payment and reimbursement for the referred patients, to promote the dissemination and to raise public awareness of the referral policy.Finally,it is necessary to enhance the diagnostic and treatment skills of the primary level of the health care delivery system.

Objective To learn the satisfaction influencing factors of outpatients with different registration approaches, in order to improve outpatient registration and appointment services at hospitals. Methods The composition of outpatients with different registration approaches was analyzed based on the outpatient survey results of the third party evaluation of the National Healthcare Improvement Initiative(2016-2017).Binary multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted for outpatients with appointment and service counter registration approaches respectively, to analyze the influencing factors of outpatient satisfaction.Results Among the validated respondents, 16 588 cases(56.99%)were registered at the service counter, only 12 517 cases(43.01%)had prior appointment.Outpatients in eastern region hospitals had a higher rate of appointment registration than in western regions.Except in maternal and child hospitals,the outpatients in general hospitals,traditional Chinese medicine hospitals and specialty hospitals still tend to register at the service counter.The satisfaction of outpatients registered at service counters was significantly lower than those with appointment(P<0.05).With control of the social and demographic characteristics of outpatients, medical experiences were the common statistically significant positive influencing factor of the overall satisfaction for outpatients registered via both service counters and appointment(P <0.001), while waiting time ranked their common statistically significant negative satisfaction influencing factor(P<0.001).Conclusions The overall satisfaction of the outpatients with appointment was higher than that of the outpatients registered at service counters.Appointment registration is to be further promoted at large tertiary hospitals in China.