BACKGROUND:Vitamin C,as an essential nutrient,has a wide range of biological effects and a variety of biological functions related to the pathogenesis of sarcopenia.Vitamin C supplementation is expected to be a novel prevention and treatment measure for sarcopenia. OBJECTIVE:To review recent research advances in the application of vitamin C in the pathogenesis and treatment of sarcopenia,and to discuss the potential role of vitamin C in the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia and possible mechanistic pathways based on published evidence. METHODS:The first author performed a computer search of PubMed,Web of Science,CNKI and other databases for relevant studies involving vitamin C in sarcopenia.The search keywords were"vitamin C,ascorbic acid,L-ascorbic acid,ascorbate,antioxidants,oxidative stress,sarcopenia,muscular atrophy,muscle weakness,muscle development,skeletal muscle regenerate,muscles,skeletal muscle"in English and Chinese,respectively.The search period was from each database inception to July 2023.After screening,85 articles were included for further review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Ensuring adequate dietary vitamin C intake or maintaining normal circulating levels of vitamin C will help to reduce age-related muscle loss and decrease the prevalence of sarcopenia.In addition,vitamin C supplementation is also useful for improving skeletal muscle mass,strength and physical function with potential synergistic effects in exercise strategies for sarcopenia.The effects of vitamin C on sarcopenia may be via the following biological mechanisms:vitamin C limits the activation of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway mainly by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in skeletal muscle,thus positively regulating protein metabolic homeostasis,and may enhance mitochondrial antioxidant defenses through its antioxidant effects to maintain healthy mitochondrial function.In addition,vitamin C affects myoblast proliferation,differentiation and myotube size,mainly by increasing the expression of myogenic regulatory factors and activating protein synthesis signaling pathways,which contribute to the promotion of muscle development as well as the repair and regeneration of damaged muscle tissue.The positive effects of vitamin C in sarcopenia need to be studied in large samples and with optimized designs for important influencing factors,such as the choice of supplementation dose and duration,the design of exercise prescription when vitamin C is combined with an exercise intervention,and the assessment of the redox status of the individual.It is recommended that future studies should be conducted in older patients with sarcopenia(<50 μmol/L)with suboptimal vitamin C status to investigate the efficacy of a combined intervention of long-term supplementation with 1 000 mg/d vitamin C(for 6 months or longer)with at least two or more types of multi-type combined exercise,with supplementation timed to take place at 1 hour after the end of the exercise,and with monitoring of markers of oxidative damage produced during the exercise such as malondialdehyde or protein hydroxyl levels were monitored.In conclusion,the optimal dose and timing of vitamin C supplementation for older adults with sarcopenia needs to be explored more,while the appropriate design of exercise prescriptions(especially the type and intensity of exercise)needs to be further determined.

Objective: To examine the association between leukocyte telomere length and cataract using bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) approach, so as to provide the basis for early diagnosis and prevention of cataracts. Methods: Leukocyte telomere length data were collected through a meta analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS), including 78 952 participants, and the GWAS data of cataract were collected through the UK Biobank, including 8 890 cases and 454 120 controls. A bidirectional MR analysis was performed using the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) which were associated with leukocyte telomere length were selected as instrumental variables. The heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochran's Q test, the horizontal pleiotropy was assessed using the MR-Egger regression and the outlier was verified with the leave-one-out and MR-PRESSO test. Results: Forward MR analysis results showed that shortened leukocyte telomere length had an increased risk of cataract (OR=0.991, 95%CI: 0.990-0.997). Reverse MR analysis results showed no statistically significant association between leukocyte telomere length and cataract (P>0.05). Cochran's Q test detected no heterogeneity, and neither the MR-Egger regression nor the MR-PRESSO test revealed horizontal pleiotropy of instrumental variables (both P>0.05). Leave-one-out analysis showed robustness of the MR analysis results. Conclusion Shorter leukocyte telomere length might be associated with increased risk of cataract.

Objective To explore the application of polysomnography combined with arterial spin labeling(ASL)perfusion magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of insomnia.Methods Forty-two insomnia patients admitted to Department of Neurology were included as insomnia group,while 41 healthy subjects during the same period were included as control group.The two groups were assessed using sleep habits questionnaire,hospital anxiety and depression scale,polysomnography,and ASL perfusion magnetic resonance imaging.Results Compared with control group,insomnia group took significantly more time to fall asleep(P<0.05),and has shorter sleep duration(P<0.05).The differences in the levels of anxiety and depression between two groups were trivial.The total sleep time,rapid eye movement sleep duration,and non-rapid eye movement sleep stage S2-S4were shorter,while the sleep latency and non-rapid eye movement sleep stage S1were longer in insomnia group as compared with control group(all P<0.05).In insomnia group,perfusion was increased in bilateral prefrontal lobes,right temporal lobe,left parietal lobe,right thalamus,and pons(P<0.05),but decreased in bilateral insula and bilateral basal ganglia(P<0.05).Conclusion The combination of polysomnography and ASL perfusion magnetic resonance imaging enables precise quantification of sleep condition.

Patients with severe trauma require an extremely timely treatment and transfusion plays an irreplaceable role in the emergency treatment of such patients. An increasing number of evidence-based medicinal evidences and clinical practices suggest that patients with severe traumatic bleeding benefit from early transfusion of low-titer group O whole blood or hemostatic resuscitation with red blood cells, plasma and platelet of a balanced ratio. However, the current domestic mode of blood supply cannot fully meet the requirements of timely and effective blood transfusion for emergency treatment of patients with severe trauma in clinical practice. In order to solve the key problems in blood supply and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma, Branch of Clinical Transfusion Medicine of Chinese Medical Association, Group for Trauma Emergency Care and Multiple Injuries of Trauma Branch of Chinese Medical Association, Young Scholar Group of Disaster Medicine Branch of Chinese Medical Association organized domestic experts of blood transfusion medicine and trauma treatment to jointly formulate Chinese expert consensus on blood support mode and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma patients ( version 2024). Based on the evidence-based medical evidence and Delphi method of expert consultation and voting, 10 recommendations were put forward from two aspects of blood support mode and transfusion strategies, aiming to provide a reference for transfusion resuscitation in the emergency treatment of severe trauma and further improve the success rate of treatment of patients with severe trauma.

Objective:To explored the correlation between anxiety and depression and cerebral small vessel disease(CSVD)in the elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM), and analyzed the influencing factors of anxiety and depression.Methods:Clinical data of 101 elderly T2DM inpatients admitted to the Department of Endocrinology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University from July 2020 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, and clinical features, laboratory tests and examination data were collected.The Hamilton Depression Scale and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale were used for assessment, with a cut-off value of 14 points for anxiety and 8 points for depression.Brain scans were performed using 3.0T magnetic resonance scanner, including T1WI sequence, T2WI sequence, 3D-FLAIR sequence, SWI sequence.According to the total MRI load scoring standard of CSVD proposed by Staals, MRI imaging changes of CSVD, namely lacunar foci(LIs), cerebral microhemorrhage(CMBs), perivascular space(PVSs), and white matter high signal(WMHs), were analyzed and scored respectively.Load score ≥1 was defined as CSVD group.According to the above criteria, the enrolled patients were divided into depression group and anxiety group, and the clinical characteristics, biochemical test data and MRI imaging characteristics of CSVD between the two groups were analyzed by single factor analysis, and then Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the related factors of the elderly T2DM with anxiety and depression.Binary logistic analysis was used to analyze the risk factors of depression and anxiety in the elderly patients with T2DM.Results:Compared with the non-depressed group, the elderly T2DM patients with depression were older, more female, and the incidence of WMHs and DWMHs was higher( P<0.05).Compared with the non-anxious group, the incidence of WMHs and DWMHs in the elderly T2DM patients with anxiety group was higher( P<0.05).Spearman correlation analysis showed that age( r=0.224, P=0.024), WMHs( r=0.231, P=0.020), PWMHs( r=0.201, P=0.044), DWMHs( r=0.274, P=0.006)was positively correlated with depression in the elderly T2DM, while gender( r=-0.225, P=0.024)、ALT( r=-0.208, P=0.037)、AST( r=-0.204, P=0.041)was negatively correlated with depression in the elderly T2DM.WMHs( r=0.213, P=0.033)and DWMHs( r=0.270, P=0.006)were positively correlated with anxiety in the elderly T2DM.Binary logistic regression analysis showed that gender( OR=0.359, 95% CI: 0.130-0.990, P=0.048), DWMHs(OR=4.373, 95% CI: 1.290-14.828, P=0.018)were the influencing factors for the elderly T2DM patients with depression, and DWMHs( OR=5.000, 95% CI: 1.444-17.317, P=0.011)was the influencing factors for the elderly T2DM patients with anxiety. Conclusions:DWMHs is closely related to the onset of depression and anxiety in the elderly T2DM patients, suggesting that CSVD may be involved in the development of depression and anxiety in the elderly T2DM patients.

A 31-year-old man sought medical evaluation for a 2-year history of edema and proteinuria, with prior pathology suggesting atypical membranous nephropathy (MN). Despite treatment with a combination of steroids, calcineurin inhibitors, and four courses of rituximab (1 g, intravenous injection), the patient′s nephrotic syndrome showed no relief (24 h urine protein peaked at 31.18 g/d), indicating refractory nephrotic syndrome. Later in the disease course, a sudden surge of creatinine level (322.5 μmol/L) prompted a renal biopsy, which revealed concurrent acute interstitial nephritis. Further treatment involving steroids, cyclophosphamide, and a fifth rituximab infusion (1 g, intravenous injection) resulted in improvement in renal function (serum creatinine: 322.5?147 μmol/L), but the MN failed to achieve partial relief. Subsequent treatment with the novel humanized CD20 monoclonal antibody obinutuzumab (1 g, intravenous injection) was initiated. In the latest follow-up, anti-phospholipase-A2-receptor antibody (PLA2R) antibody were negative, B cells were eliminated, serum albumin was 36 g/L, urine protein-to-creatinine ratio was 4 810 mg/g, and serum creatinine was 162 μmol/L. This case underscores the potential efficacy of obinutuzumab in refractory MN. For advanced MN cases, prompt identification of the cause of acute kidney injury is crucial, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to potentially stall renal function decline.

Background Acute exposure to mercury chloride (HgCl₂) can cause liver damage. Whether oleanolic acid (OA) as a hepatoprotective drug can protect against liver injury induced by acute exposure to HgCl₂ and related mechanism of action remain unclear. Objective To investigate the protective effect and possible mechanism of OA on liver injury in mice caused by acute exposure to HgCl₂. Methods Forty SPF C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into four groups with 10 mice in each group according to body weight. The four groups were named control group, OA group (300 mg·kg⁻¹), HgCl₂ group (5 mg·kg⁻¹), and OA + HgCl₂ group (300 mg·kg⁻¹ OA + 5mg·kg⁻¹ Hgcl₂). Soybean oil and OA solution were administered intragastric once a day for two consecutive days. HgCl₂ solution was injected intraperitoneally 2 h after the second intragastric administration. Mice were sacrificed after 48 h, and their serum and liver were collected. Liver coefficient was calculated. The changes of liver structure and iron deposition were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Prussian blue staining. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and tissue iron content were measured with commercial kits. Western blotting was used to detect nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), glutathione peroxidase 4 (Gpx4), transferrin receptor 1 (TFR1,) and solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11). Results The AST and ALT levels of the HgCl₂ group were (76.447±9.695) U·g⁻¹ and (98.563±24.673)U·g⁻¹, respectively, which were higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). After the OA pretreatment, the liver coefficient and the above indexes were decreased to (4.769±0.237)%, (57.086±10.087) U·g⁻¹, and (87.294±27.181)U·g⁻¹, respectively. The liver coefficient and AST level of the OA + HgCl₂ group were significantly different from those of the HgCl₂ group (P<0.05). After acute exposure to HgCl₂, the hepatocytes of mice were disordered, accompanied by inflammatory infiltration, positive blue particles appeared in Prussian blue staining of liver tissue, and the above changes in liver tissue were alleviated after the OA pretreatment. The iron content in the HgCl₂ group was (3.646±0.238) μmol·g⁻¹, which was higher than that in the control group, (2.948±0.308) μmol·g⁻¹. After the OA pretreatment, the iron content decreased to (3.429±0.415) μmol·g⁻¹. Compared with the control group, acute exposure to HgCl₂ resulted in decreased levels of GSH and T-SOD, decreased protein expression levels of Nrf2, HO-1, SLC7A11, and Gpx4, increased level of MDA, and increased protein expression level of TFR1 (P<0.05). After the OA pretreatment, all indicators were improved including increased GSH level, decreased MDA level, increased Nrf2, HO-1, and SLC7A11 protein expression levels, and decreased TFR1 protein expression level; compared with the HgCl₂ group, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Acute HgCl₂ exposure could induce liver injury in mice, and its mechanism may involve iron overload and ferroptosis. OA may alleviate the liver injury caused by acute HgCl₂ exposure by affecting iron overload and the ferroptosis-related protein expression.

BACKGROUND: The fetal growth charts in widest use in China were published by Hadlock >35 years ago and were established on data from several hundred of American pregnant women. After that, >100 fetal growth charts were published around the world. We attempted to assess the impact of applying the long-standing Hadlock charts and other charts in a Chinese population and to compare their ability to predict newborn small for gestational age (SGA). METHODS: For this retrospective observational study, we reviewed all pregnant women ( n  = 106,455) who booked prenatal care with ultrasound measurements for fetal biometry at the Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital between 2012 and 2019. A fractional polynomial regression model was applied to generate Shenzhen fetal growth chart ranges for head circumference (HC), biparietal diameter (BPD), abdominal circumference (AC), and femur length (FL). The differences between Shenzhen charts and published charts were quantified by calculating the Z -score. The impact of applying these published charts was quantified by calculating the proportions of fetuses with biometric measurements below the 3rd centile of these charts. The sensitivity and area under the receiver operating characteristic curves of published charts to predict neonatal SGA (birthweight <10th centile) were assessed. RESULTS: Following selection, 169,980 scans of fetal biometry contributed by 41,032 pregnancies with reliable gestational age were analyzed. When using Hadlock references (<3rd centile), the proportions of small heads and short femurs were as high as 8.9% and 6.6% in late gestation, respectively. The INTERGROWTH-21st standards matched those of our observed curves better than other charts, in particular for fat-free biometry (HC and FL). When using AC<10th centile, all of these references were poor at predicting neonatal SGA. CONCLUSIONS Applying long-standing Hadlock references could misclassify a large proportion of fetuses as SGA. INTERGROWTH-21st standard appears to be a safe option in China. For fat-based biometry, AC, a reference based on the Chinese population is needed. In addition, when applying published charts, particular care should be taken due to the discrepancy of measurement methods.
Infant, Newborn ; Child ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Humans ; Growth Charts ; Prenatal Care ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal/methods* ; Fetal Development ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Gestational Age ; Fetus ; China ; Infant, Newborn, Diseases ; Observational Studies as Topic

In order to solve the problem of poor communication, low efficiency of consultation, and even affecting self-confidence caused by unskilled skills and insufficient cooperation with patients in the real clinic, and to solve the problem during the clinical thinking training that beginners do not know how to organize effective information and complete the process of diagnosis and differential diagnosis more efficiently. By applying the artificial intelligence (AI) virtual patient (VP) system to the process of teaching diagnostic knowledge and clinical thinking training. It provides the students with the experience of simulating the diagnosis and treatment of the clinical real scene. Let the students talk with the VP system for inquiry training and then go to the clinic to give the real patients inquiry and by simulating the process of treating the real patients, let the students take the initiative to complete the collection of medical records and clinical decision-making under the simulated scene to train the clinical thinking. This can not only solve the shortcomings of the previous simulation teaching and clinical teaching, but also stimulate students' interest in learning. According to the results of the questionnaire, students have a high acceptance of VP system simulation teaching. Through the results of homework and assessment and evaluation, the teaching results are better than before, and this teaching method should be further popularized.

BACKGROUND: With the rapid spread of novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) worldwide and the escalation of prevention and control efforts, the routine medical needs of patients have been restricted. The aims were to investigate medical needs of lung cancer patients and their mental health status during the epidemic periods, so as to provide rational recommendations for subsequent diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: The questionnaire was sent in the form of an electronic questionnaire at 7am on 4th, March, 2020, until 7am 6th, March, 2020, 368 questionnaires were recollected from 25 provinces (autonomous regions/municipalities) in 48 h. RESULTS: Of the 368 patients, 18 patients were excluded as they didn't receive anti-tumor treatment, and 350 patients were included in the final analysis. 229 cases were treated with oral targeted drugs, and 121 cases were treated with chemotherapy or immunotherapy. 41.3% of patients treated with intravenous chemotherapy or immunotherapy experienced treatment discontinuation, and the proportion of treatment discontinuation in chemotherapy or immunotherapy was higher than those treated with oral targeted drugs (21.0%). Whether oral targeted drugs or intravenous chemotherapy or immunotherapy, more than 60% of patients experienced delays in imaging examinations. Nearly one third of patients developed new symptoms or exacerbation of existing symptoms. 26.6%-28.9% of patients have changed their treatment plans through online consultation. During novel coronavirus pneumonia, 40%-75% of lung cancer patients have mental health problems, and more than 95% of patients support government's prevention and control measures. CONCLUSIONS During the emergence of NCP, the medical needs of patients with lung cancer have not been enough, especially those who discontinued chemotherapy or immunotherapy. When medical institution resumes work, priority should be given to them. At the same time, mental health problems of patients should be valued and resolved timely.
Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Betacoronavirus ; physiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Coronavirus Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia ; epidemiology ; virology ; Pneumonia, Viral ; epidemiology ; virology ; Retrospective Studies