BACKGROUND: The effect of the interval between previous Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication and rescue treatment on therapeutic outcomes remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between eradication rates and treatment interval durations in H. pylori infections. METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted from December 2021 to February 2023 at six tertiary hospitals in Shandong, China. We recruited patients who were positive for H. pylori infection and required rescue treatment. Demographic information, previous times of eradication therapy, last eradication therapy date, and history of antibiotic use data were collected. The patients were divided into four groups based on the rescue treatment interval length: Group A, ≥4 weeks and ≤3 months; Group B, >3 and ≤6 months; Group C, >6 and ≤12 months; and Group D, >12 months. The primary outcome was the eradication rate of H. pylori . Drug compliance and adverse events (AEs) were also assessed. Pearson's χ2 test or Fisher's exact test was used to compare eradication rates between groups. RESULTS: A total of 670 patients were enrolled in this study. The intention-to-treat (ITT) eradication rates were 88.3% (158/179) in Group A, 89.6% (120/134) in Group B, 89.1% (123/138) in Group C, and 87.7% (192/219) in Group D. The per-protocol (PP) eradication rates were 92.9% (156/168) in Group A, 94.5% (120/127) in Group B, 94.5% (121/128) in Group C, and 93.6% (190/203) in Group D. There was no statistically significant difference in the eradication rates between groups in either the ITT ( P = 0.949) or PP analysis ( P = 0.921). No significant differences were observed in the incidence of AEs ( P = 0.934) or drug compliance ( P = 0.849) between groups. CONCLUSION: The interval duration of rescue treatment had no significant effect on H. pylori eradication rates or the incidence of AEs. REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT05173493.
Humans ; Helicobacter Infections/drug therapy* ; Helicobacter pylori/pathogenicity* ; Male ; Female ; Prospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/adverse effects* ; Adult ; Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Proton Pump Inhibitors/therapeutic use*

OBJECTIVE Aimed at investigating whether reflux pharyngitis is an independent risk factor for the failure of type Ⅰ tympanoplasty for chronic otitis media.This is achieved by analyzing the relationship between the postoperative tympanic membrane healing in patients who underwent type Ⅰ tympanoplasty and pharyngolaryngeal reflux finding score(RFS).METHODS Patients who underwent type Ⅰ tympanoplasty in the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery,Nanshan People's Hospital,Shenzhen,China,from January 2023 to July 2024 were retrospectively included.All the patients received preoperative perfect nasal endoscopy,laryngoscopy,evaluation by the RFS questionnaire,preoperative otoscopy for tympanoplasty,pure tone hearing threshold,and temporal bone thin-layer CT examination.Postoperative otoscopic examination was performed to observe tympanic membrane healing and followed up for 3 months.The patients were divided into surgery success group and failure group based on the criterion of whether a complete tympanic membrane was formed by endoscopic examination within 3 months.The RFS scores of the two groups were statistically analyzed.RESULTS A total of 135 patients with an average age of 44.78 years(±12.22 years)took part in this study,with 60 males and 75 females included,and 68 left ears and 67 right ears involved.There were 120 patients in the surgery success group,and 15 patients in the failure group.Statistical analysis revealed that the RFS score of the patients in the tympanoplasty failure group was remarkably higher than that of the patients in the tympanoplasty success group.Moreover,there were significantly more cases with suspected reflux pharyngitis in the surgery failure group(P=0.007).Reflux-induced tympanic membrane lesion and reperforation mostly occurred in the central part of the tympanic membrane graft.CONCLUSION Reflux pharyngitis has been implicated with tympanoplasty failure,and thus may be a causative factor.Additionally,the RFS can be used to screen patients with chronic suppurative otitis media for suspected reflux pharyngitis.Findings from this work indicate that perioperative anti-reflux therapy,combined with dietary and lifestyle counselling for the patients who suffer from reflux pharyngitis and are about to undergo the tympanoplasty surgery may improve surgical success rate.

Objective:To explore the efficacy and safety profile of tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) in the treatment of patients with decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis.Methods:A two-way cohort study method was used to enroll patients with decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis who visited four medical centers, including Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, from April 2021 to April 2024 and were treated with TAF and followed up for 48 weeks. The primary efficacy indicator was hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA seronegative conversion rate at 48-weeks, and the secondary efficacy indicator was alanine aminotransferase (ALT) return to normal rate at 48-weeks. Relevant safety indicators, adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and clinical adverse outcomes were collected.Results:A total of 74 cases were included. Of these, 52 were males with an average age of (53.14 ± 9.15) years. Twenty-five and thirty-three cases completed 24 and 48 weeks of follow-up, respectively. The HBV DNA negative conversion rate was 96.97% (32/33), which was higher than the baseline of 58.1% (43/74) following 48 weeks of TAF treatment. The ALT return to normal rate was 72.73% (24/33), which was higher than the baseline of 47.30% (35/74); however, the renal function and blood lipid levels did not change significantly compared with the baseline level after completing 48 weeks of treatment (P>0.05). During the follow-up period, one case developed hepatocellular carcinoma, and no other adverse clinical outcomes, such as liver transplantation or death, were reported.Conclusion:TAF has a good efficacy and safety profile in the treatment of patients with decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis.

Objective:To explore the efficacy and safety profile of tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) in the treatment of patients with decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis.Methods:A two-way cohort study method was used to enroll patients with decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis who visited four medical centers, including Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, from April 2021 to April 2024 and were treated with TAF and followed up for 48 weeks. The primary efficacy indicator was hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA seronegative conversion rate at 48-weeks, and the secondary efficacy indicator was alanine aminotransferase (ALT) return to normal rate at 48-weeks. Relevant safety indicators, adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and clinical adverse outcomes were collected.Results:A total of 74 cases were included. Of these, 52 were males with an average age of (53.14 ± 9.15) years. Twenty-five and thirty-three cases completed 24 and 48 weeks of follow-up, respectively. The HBV DNA negative conversion rate was 96.97% (32/33), which was higher than the baseline of 58.1% (43/74) following 48 weeks of TAF treatment. The ALT return to normal rate was 72.73% (24/33), which was higher than the baseline of 47.30% (35/74); however, the renal function and blood lipid levels did not change significantly compared with the baseline level after completing 48 weeks of treatment (P>0.05). During the follow-up period, one case developed hepatocellular carcinoma, and no other adverse clinical outcomes, such as liver transplantation or death, were reported.Conclusion:TAF has a good efficacy and safety profile in the treatment of patients with decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis.

{L-End}Objective To analyze the current status of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among firefighters in Chongqing City and explore its influencing factors. {L-End}Methods A total of 1 021 firefighters in Chongqing City were selected as the study subjects using the convenient sampling method. The PTSD Checklist Civilian Version was used to assess their PTSD symptom and characteristics. The Trait Coping Style Questionnaire and the Social Support Rating Scale were used to investigate coping styles and the level of social support. {L-End}Results The positive detection rate of PTSD among the study subjects was 4.6%(47/1 021), with positive detection rates of re-experiencing, avoidance/numbing, and hyperarousal symptoms of 7.0%, 9.2%, and 16.5%, respectively. The positive detection rates of re-experiencing, avoidance/numbing, and hyperarousal symptoms in the PTSD firefighters were higher than those in non-PTSD firefighters (83.0% vs 3.3%, 93.6% vs 5.1%, 100.0% vs 12.1%, respectively; all P<0.01). The results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that being injured in the past six months and adopting a negative coping style were risk factors for PTSD ［odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were 2.65 (1.07-6.56) and 1.26 (1.19-1.33), respectively; both P<0.05］, while adopting a positive coping style and having a higher level of social support were protective factors for PTSD ［OR and 95%CI were 0.90 (0.85-0.95) and 0.95 (0.91-0.99), respectively; both P<0.05］. {L-End}Conclusion The incidence of PTSD among the firefighters in Chongqing City is relatively high, with symptoms mainly characterized by hyperarousal. Being injured in the past six months, coping styles, and the level of social support are influencing factors for PTSD.

BACKGROUND: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and prior stroke history have a high risk of cardiovascular events despite anticoagulation therapy. It is unclear whether catheter ablation (CA) has further benefits in these patients. METHODS: AF patients with a previous history of stroke or systemic embolism (SE) from the prospective Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Registry study between August 2011 and December 2020 were included in the analysis. Patients were matched in a 1:1 ratio to CA or medical treatment (MT) based on propensity score. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause death or ischemic stroke (IS)/SE. RESULTS: During a total of 4.1 ± 2.3 years of follow-up, the primary outcome occurred in 111 patients in the CA group (3.3 per 100 person-years) and in 229 patients in the MT group (5.7 per 100 person-years). The CA group had a lower risk of the primary outcome compared to the MT group [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.47-0.74, P < 0.001]. There was a significant decreasing risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.31-0.61, P < 0.001), IS/SE (HR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.54-0.97, P = 0.033), cardiovascular mortality (HR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.19-0.54, P < 0.001) and AF recurrence (HR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.30-0.37, P < 0.001) in the CA group compared to that in the MT group. Sensitivity analysis generated consistent results when adjusting for time-dependent usage of anticoagulants. CONCLUSIONS In AF patients with a prior stroke history, CA was associated with a lower combined risk of all-cause death or IS/SE. Further clinical trials are warranted to confirm the benefits of CA in these patients.

Objective:To explore the clinical features of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor-related anemia in advanced and relapsed epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).Methods:Patients diagnosed with advanced or relapsed EOC and treated with PARP inhibitor at National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College between January 2015 to October 2020 were accrued. The data included PARP inhibitors, treatment details, and lab tests before treatment and during treatment were collected and the clinical characteristics of PARP inhibitor-related anemia were analyzed.Results:(1) A total of 98 patients with a median age of 56.5 years old (30-82 years old) were enrolled in this study. All patients were treated with PARP inhibitor (65 cases of olaparib, 17 cases of niraparib, and 16 cases of fluzoparib). The median treatment duration was 37.5 weeks (4-119 weeks). (2) The anemia rate was 40% (39/98), including 5% (5/98) of grade Ⅰ, 14% (14/98) of grade Ⅱ, 11% (11/98) of grade Ⅲ, and 9% (9/98) of grade Ⅳ. Fourteen patients with pre-treatment grade Ⅰ anemia had a higher rate of anemia events than the 80 patients without pre-treatment anemia, 7/14 vs 35% (28/80; χ2=4.281, P=0.039). (3) The median anemia occurrence time was 7.0 weeks (1-52 weeks), including 41% (16/39) of anemia cases occurred in 1-4 weeks, 26% (10/39) occurred in 5-8 weeks, 13% (5/39) occurred in 9-12 weeks, 3% (1/39) occurred in 13-16 weeks, 10% (4/39) occurred in 17-20 weeks, 8% (3/39) occurred ≥21 weeks. At the time of the lowest hemoglobulin tested, the median value of mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was 106 fl,which was higher than the up limit of normal range (100 fl), 74% (29/39) of anemia patients had an elevated MCV level; the median value of mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) was 36 pg, 54% (21/39) of anemia patients had an elevated MCH level; the median value of mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) was 320 g/L, 69% (27/39) of anemia patients had a higher MCHC level; 92% (36/39) of anemia patients had a normal level of serum iron; 79% (31/39) of anemia patients had a normal level of transferrin. 74% (29/39) of the anemia patients were macrocytic orthochromatic anemia. (4) Among the 39 patients with anemia, 20 patients (51%, 20/39) withhold the treatment of PARP inhibitor due to grade Ⅲ or Ⅳ anemia, including 10 patients (50%, 10/20) who resumed the PARP inhibitor treatment by suppling iron, folate, and vitamin B 12. The median stopping time of PARP inhibitor was 5.5 weeks (2-10 weeks), while the other 10 patients terminated the PARP inhibitor treatment for not recovering from severe anemia. Conclusions:One of the common adverse effects of PARP inhibitors is anemia, which mostly happened in the first 3 months of treatment. In the treatment of EOC, PARP inhibitor-related anemia mainly manifest as macrocytic orthochromatic anemia, and most patients with normal serum iron and transferrin.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of Sheti Zhiqiu decoction combined with intradermal needling in treatment of allergic rhinitis （AR） of deficient cold of lung Qi syndrome and its effect on cytokines of helper T cell 17 （Th17） and regulatory T cells （Treg）. Method:A total of 105 patients with AR of deficient cold of lung Qi syndrome were randomly divided into traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） group， combination group and western medicine group， with 35 cases in each group. The TCM group was treated with Sheti Zhiqiu decoction， 1 dose a day. The combination group was treated with intradermal needling in addition to the therapy of the TCM group. The selected acupoints were Yintang， bilateral Yingxiang， Fengchi， Feishu and Zusanli. The needles were retained for 3 days before being replaced. The western medicine group was treated with mometasone furoate nasal spray， 100 μg/time at each side of the nasal cavity， qd， and desloratadine citrate tablet， 8.8 mg/time， qd. Three groups were treated for 4 weeks and followed up for 3 months. Nasal and ocular symptom scores and rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire （RQLQ） scores of patients in three groups were observed before and after treatment. Levels of serum interleukin-17 （IL-17）， interleukin-10 （IL-10） and transforming growth factor-β₁ （TGF-β₁） were measured before and after treatment. The clinical efficacy and safety were evaluated， and the disease recurrence rate was observed during the follow-up period. Result:Compared with before treatment， nasal and ocular symptom scores and total score， and RQLQ scores and total score of patients in three groups were significantly decreased after treatment （P<0.01）. Compared with the TCM group and the western medicine group after treatment， except for eyes itching/foreign body sensation/red eyes score， nasal and ocular symptom scores and total score， and RQLQ scores and total score of the combination group were lower（P<0.05，P<0.01）. Compared with before treatment， level of serum IL-17 of patients in three groups was significantly decreased （P<0.01）， while levels of IL-10 and TGF-β₁ were significantly increased after treatment （P<0.01）. Compared with the TCM group and the western medicine group after treatment， level of serum IL-17 was lower， whereas levels of IL-10 and TGF-β₁ were higher in the combination group （P<0.05，P<0.01）. The clinical efficacy of the combination group was better than that of the TCM medicine group and the western medicine group （Z=-2.207，Z=-2.185，P<0.05）. There was no significant difference in recurrence rate between combination group and the TCM group， and the recurrence rate of both groups was lower than that of the western medicine group（χ²=5.020，χ²=4.835，P<0.05）. There was no significant adverse reaction during the treatment period in three groups. Conclusion:Sheti Zhiqiu decoction combined with intradermal needling is effective in treatment of patients with AR of deficient cold of lung Qi syndrome. It can significantly relieve patients' symptoms， improve patients' quality of life and reduce disease recurrence. It may play a role by regulating immune balance of Th17/Treg of patients and improving their immune function.

Objective:To explore the method of building the formative assessment (FA) system in diagnostics teaching and investigate its implementation effect.Methods:We planned and formulated the formative assessment system in diagnostics teaching of undergraduate curriculum. The correlation between the scores of the formative assessment and final exam were analyzed. A questionnaire survey on students' attitudes towards FA and an interview on teachers' perspectives were conducted. SPSS 17.0 was used for statistical analysis. Linear correlation analysis was used to compare the final exam scores with formative assessment scores, and Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare the scores of questionnaire items.Results:The scores of FA were significantly positive related to the scores of final exam ( r = 0.559, P < 0.001). The questionnaire analysis showed that students significantly valued the formative assessment superior to the summative assessment ( Z = -8.632, P<0.001). It was generally approved of the promotion of FA in students' self-direct learning and self-supervision and the advances in acquirement of knowledge and skills. Conclusion:It is feasible of carrying FA in diagnostics teaching which could provide better learning outcome and might have an extensive prospect of application.