Objective: The aging demographic landscape worldwide portends a heightened prevalence of neurodegenerative disorders. Foremost among these is Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the foremost cause of dementia in older adults. The shortage of efficacious therapies and early diagnostic indicators underscores the imperative to identify non-invasive biomarkers for early detection and disease monitoring. Recently, blood metabolites have emerged as promising candidates for AD biomarkers. Methods: Leveraging nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy on plasma specimens, we conducted a cross-sectional study encompassing 35 AD patients and 35 age-matched healthy controls. Cognitive function was evaluated using the mini-mental state examination in all participants, followed by peripheral blood sample collection. We utilized univariate and multivariate analyses to perform targeted lipidomic profiling via NMR spectroscopy. Results: Our study revealed significant differences in the expression profiles of low-density lipoprotein-associated subfractions in females and high-density lipoprotein-associated subfractions in males between AD patients and healthy controls (all p<0.05). However, there was no significant metabolite overlap between males and females. Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that the combination of lipid metabolites had good diagnostic values (all area under the curve>0.70; p<0.05). Conclusion Our findings suggest that the blood plasma samples using NMR hold promise in distinguishing between AD patients and healthy controls, with significant clinical implications for advancing AD diagnostic methodologies.

Objective: The aging demographic landscape worldwide portends a heightened prevalence of neurodegenerative disorders. Foremost among these is Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the foremost cause of dementia in older adults. The shortage of efficacious therapies and early diagnostic indicators underscores the imperative to identify non-invasive biomarkers for early detection and disease monitoring. Recently, blood metabolites have emerged as promising candidates for AD biomarkers. Methods: Leveraging nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy on plasma specimens, we conducted a cross-sectional study encompassing 35 AD patients and 35 age-matched healthy controls. Cognitive function was evaluated using the mini-mental state examination in all participants, followed by peripheral blood sample collection. We utilized univariate and multivariate analyses to perform targeted lipidomic profiling via NMR spectroscopy. Results: Our study revealed significant differences in the expression profiles of low-density lipoprotein-associated subfractions in females and high-density lipoprotein-associated subfractions in males between AD patients and healthy controls (all p<0.05). However, there was no significant metabolite overlap between males and females. Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that the combination of lipid metabolites had good diagnostic values (all area under the curve>0.70; p<0.05). Conclusion Our findings suggest that the blood plasma samples using NMR hold promise in distinguishing between AD patients and healthy controls, with significant clinical implications for advancing AD diagnostic methodologies.

Objective: The aging demographic landscape worldwide portends a heightened prevalence of neurodegenerative disorders. Foremost among these is Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the foremost cause of dementia in older adults. The shortage of efficacious therapies and early diagnostic indicators underscores the imperative to identify non-invasive biomarkers for early detection and disease monitoring. Recently, blood metabolites have emerged as promising candidates for AD biomarkers. Methods: Leveraging nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy on plasma specimens, we conducted a cross-sectional study encompassing 35 AD patients and 35 age-matched healthy controls. Cognitive function was evaluated using the mini-mental state examination in all participants, followed by peripheral blood sample collection. We utilized univariate and multivariate analyses to perform targeted lipidomic profiling via NMR spectroscopy. Results: Our study revealed significant differences in the expression profiles of low-density lipoprotein-associated subfractions in females and high-density lipoprotein-associated subfractions in males between AD patients and healthy controls (all p<0.05). However, there was no significant metabolite overlap between males and females. Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that the combination of lipid metabolites had good diagnostic values (all area under the curve>0.70; p<0.05). Conclusion Our findings suggest that the blood plasma samples using NMR hold promise in distinguishing between AD patients and healthy controls, with significant clinical implications for advancing AD diagnostic methodologies.

Objective: The aging demographic landscape worldwide portends a heightened prevalence of neurodegenerative disorders. Foremost among these is Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the foremost cause of dementia in older adults. The shortage of efficacious therapies and early diagnostic indicators underscores the imperative to identify non-invasive biomarkers for early detection and disease monitoring. Recently, blood metabolites have emerged as promising candidates for AD biomarkers. Methods: Leveraging nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy on plasma specimens, we conducted a cross-sectional study encompassing 35 AD patients and 35 age-matched healthy controls. Cognitive function was evaluated using the mini-mental state examination in all participants, followed by peripheral blood sample collection. We utilized univariate and multivariate analyses to perform targeted lipidomic profiling via NMR spectroscopy. Results: Our study revealed significant differences in the expression profiles of low-density lipoprotein-associated subfractions in females and high-density lipoprotein-associated subfractions in males between AD patients and healthy controls (all p<0.05). However, there was no significant metabolite overlap between males and females. Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that the combination of lipid metabolites had good diagnostic values (all area under the curve>0.70; p<0.05). Conclusion Our findings suggest that the blood plasma samples using NMR hold promise in distinguishing between AD patients and healthy controls, with significant clinical implications for advancing AD diagnostic methodologies.

Objective: The aging demographic landscape worldwide portends a heightened prevalence of neurodegenerative disorders. Foremost among these is Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the foremost cause of dementia in older adults. The shortage of efficacious therapies and early diagnostic indicators underscores the imperative to identify non-invasive biomarkers for early detection and disease monitoring. Recently, blood metabolites have emerged as promising candidates for AD biomarkers. Methods: Leveraging nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy on plasma specimens, we conducted a cross-sectional study encompassing 35 AD patients and 35 age-matched healthy controls. Cognitive function was evaluated using the mini-mental state examination in all participants, followed by peripheral blood sample collection. We utilized univariate and multivariate analyses to perform targeted lipidomic profiling via NMR spectroscopy. Results: Our study revealed significant differences in the expression profiles of low-density lipoprotein-associated subfractions in females and high-density lipoprotein-associated subfractions in males between AD patients and healthy controls (all p<0.05). However, there was no significant metabolite overlap between males and females. Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that the combination of lipid metabolites had good diagnostic values (all area under the curve>0.70; p<0.05). Conclusion Our findings suggest that the blood plasma samples using NMR hold promise in distinguishing between AD patients and healthy controls, with significant clinical implications for advancing AD diagnostic methodologies.

Objective:To analyze and explore the independent risk factors of 28-day mortality in patients with septic myocardial injury.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to collect clinical data of 505 patients diagnosed with sepsis related myocardial injury admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University from January 2015 to December 2020. According to the 28-day survival status of patients, they were divided into survival group and death group. COX multivariate regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors of the 28-day mortality rate of sepsis related myocardial injury patients, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to evaluate the effectiveness of independent risk factors in predicting the 28-day mortality rate of sepsis related myocardial injury patients.Results:A total of 505 patients with sepsis myocardial injury were included, of which 282 survived on 28 days and 223 died, with a mortality rate of 44.16%. COX multivariate regression analysis showed that Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) score, blood lactate (LAC), oxygenation index (PaO 2/FiO 2), admission heart rate, and albumin were independent risk factors for sepsis associated myocardial injury mortality at 28 days (all P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of SOFA score was 0.766 2, and the 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 0.724 5-0.807 9; The predictive value of 28-day mortality in sepsis associated myocardial injury patients was superior to APACHE Ⅱ score, LAC, PaO 2/FiO 2, admission heart rate, and albumin [The AUC values were 0.754 1(0.711 5-0.796 7), 0.752 6(0.710 1-0.795 1), 0.697 0(0.649 7-0.744 2), 0.623 2(0.573 7-0.672 7), and 0.620 3(0.570 8-0.669 7), respectively]. Conclusions:SOFA score, APACHE Ⅱ score, LAC, PaO 2/FiO 2, admission heart rate, and albumin are independent risk factors for the 28-day mortality rate of sepsis related myocardial injury. Clinical practice should identify these factors early, intervene early, and improve patient prognosis.

Objective:To investigate the changes of quadriceps femoris thickness with the length of stay in intensive care unit (ICU) in patients with sepsis, and to evaluate the diagnostic value of muscle changes in mortality.Methods:A prospective study was conducted, and 92 patients with sepsis who were admitted to the ICU of the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College from January 2020 to December 2021 were enrolled. The thickness of quadriceps femoris [including the quadriceps femoris muscle thickness at the midpoint of the anterior superior iliac spine and the upper edge of the patella (M-QMLT), and at the middle and lower 1/3 of the patella (T-QMLT)] measured by ultrasound 1 day (D1), 3 days (D3), and 7 days (D7) after admission to the ICU were collected. The atrophy rate of quadriceps femoris was calculated 3 and 7 days after admission to the ICU compared with 1 day [(D3-D1)/D1 and (D7-D1)/D1, (TD3-TD1)/TD1 and (TD7-TD1)/TD1, respectively]. The demographic information, underlying diseases, vital signs when admission to the ICU and in-hospital mortality of all patients were recorded, and the differences of the above indicators between the two groupswere compared. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the influence of quadriceps femoris muscle thickness and atrophy rate on in-hospital mortality of septic patients. The receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was drawn to analyze the predictive value of quadriceps femoris muscle thickness and atrophy rate on in-hospital mortality of septic patients.Results:A total of 92 patients with severe sepsis were included, of which 41 patients died in hospital, 51 patients discharged. The in-hospital mortality was 44.6%. The muscle thickness of quadriceps femoris in severe septic patients decreased with the prolongation of ICU stay, and there was no significant difference between the two groups at the first and third day of ICU admission. The muscle thickness of quadriceps femoris at different measuring positions in the survival group was significantly greater than those in the death group 7 days after admission to the ICU [M-QMLT D7 (cm): 0.50±0.26 vs. 0.39±0.19, T-QMLT D7 (cm): 0.58±0.29 vs. 0.45±0.21, both P < 0.05]. The atrophy rate of quadriceps femoris muscle thickness at different measuring positions 3 and 7 days after admission to ICU in the survival group was significantly lower than those in the death group [(D3-D1)/D1: (8.33±3.44)% vs. (9.74±3.91)%, (D7-D1)/D1: (12.21±4.76)% vs. (19.80±6.15)%, (TD3-TD1)/TD1: (7.83±4.26)% vs. (10.51±4.75)%, (TD7-TD1)/TD1: (11.10±5.46)% vs. (20.22±6.05)%, all P < 0.05]. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that M-QMLT D7, T-QMLT D7, (D3-D1)/D1, (D7-D1)/D1, (TD3-TD1)/TD1, (TD7-TD1)/TD1 were independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality (all P < 0.05). The results were stable after adjusting for confounding factors. ROC curve analysis showed that (TD7-TD1)/TD1 [area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.853, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 0.773-0.934] was superior to (D7-D1)/D1, T-QMLT D7, M-QMLT D7, (TD3-TD1)/TD1 and (D3-D1)/D1 [AUC was 0.821 (0.725-0.917), 0.692 (0.582-0.802), 0.683 (0.573-0.794), 0.680 (0.569-0.791), 0.622 (0.502-0.742)]. Conclusions:For septic patients in ICU, bedside ultrasound monitoring of quadriceps femoris muscle thickness and atrophy rate has a certain predictive value for in-hospital mortality, and a certain guiding significance in clinical treatment and predicting the prognosis of sepsis.

Objective To explore the therapeutic effect of Gansu tablets combined with entecavir on patients with severe hepatitis B and the effect on patients’ immune function. Methods A total of 108 cases of severe hepatitis B patients who were treated in our hospital from January 2018 to January 2019 were randomly divided into two groups: entecavir group and combination treatment group, 54 cases each. Entecavir group was treated with entecavir, and combination treatment group was treated with Gansu tablets and entecavir. The levels of AST, GGT, alt, FIB, APTT, Pt, GSH Px, LPO and MDA in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. T-lymphocyte subsets were measured by cell analyzer. The therapeutic effect and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. Results The levels of AST, GGT and ALT in the combined treatment group were significantly lower than those in the entecavir group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the FIB level of patients in the combined treatment group was higher than that in the entecavir group, and the APTT and Pt levels were lower than those in the entecavir group (P<0.05). After treatment, the GSH PX level of the combined treatment group was higher than that of entecavir group, and the LPO and MDA levels were lower than that of entecavir group (P<0.05). After treatment, the level of CD8 + was lower than that of entecavir group, and the level of CD4 + and CD3 + was higher than that of entecavir group (P<0.05). The total effective rate of the combined treatment group was higher than that of the entecavir group (P < 0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions in the combined treatment group was slightly higher than that in the entecavir group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusion The use of Gansu tablets combined with entecavir in the treatment of severe hepatitis B patients was able to improve liver function, improve coagulation function, reduce oxidative stress injury, and improve the immune function of patients, demonstrating a potential clinical application value.

Objective To summarize clinicopathologic features of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) coexistent with chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (CLT) and investigate risk factors for lymph node metastasis.Methods The medical records of 4 264 consecutive papillary thyroid carcinoma patients who received surgical treatment from Oct 2013 to Oct 2015 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were reviewed.The diagnoses was confirmed by histopathological tests.Univariate analysis was performed to identify specific clinicopathologic features of PTC with CLT.Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to determine whether each clinicopathologic feature was an independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis.Results In all 4 265 cases,there were 3 059 papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) (71.7％),1 010 PTC patients (23.7％) with CLT.909 female patients (90％),624 cases with multifocal lesions (61.8％),422 cases with extra-thyroid extension (41.8％),429 cases with lymph node metastasis (42.5％),and 133 cases with metastatic lymph nodes(LNs) ≥6 (13.2％).The median age was 43 years old and median tumor size was 0.8 cm.Patients with CLT were more females (90.0％ vs.70.2％;P ＜ 0.001),younger median age (43 vs.44 years;P =0.001),and lower incidence of lymph node metastasis (42.5％ vs.50.9％;P ＜0.001).CLT was not associated with tumor size,multifocal lesions,extra-thyroid extension and metastatic LNs≥6 (0.8 cm vs.0.7 cm,61.8％ vs.62.9％,41.8％ vs.42.1％ and 13.2％ vs.14.8％,respectively,all P ＞ 0.05).In multivariate analysis,CLT was an independent protective factor for lymph node metastasis (OR =0.713,95％ CI 0.609-0.835,P ＜0.001).In PTC patients with lymph node metastasis,CLT was not associated with lymph node metastasis number (3 vs.3,P =0.300).Conclusions Chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis was an independent protective factor for papillary thyroid carcinoma patients with lymph node metastasis.But in patients with lymph node metastasis,the metastatic number didn't decrease.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the accuracy of different methods for image registration in image-guided adaptive brachytherapy (IGABT) for cervical cancer. METHODS: The last treatment planning CT images (CT1) and the first treatment planning CT images (CT2) were acquired from 15 patients with cervical cancer and registered with different match image qualities (retained/removed catheter source in images) and different match regions [target only (S Group)/ interested organ structure (M Group)/body (L Group)] in Velocity3.2 software. The dice similarity coefficient (DSC) between the clinical target volumes (CTV) of the CT1 and CT2 images (CTVCT1 and CTVCT2, respectively) and between the organs-at-risk (OAR) of the two imaging datasets (OARCT1 and OARCT2, respectively) were used to evaluate the image registration accuracy. RESULTS: The auto-segmentation volume of the catheter source using Velocity software based on the CT threshold was the closest to the actual volume within the CT value range of 1700-1800 HU. In the retained group, the DSC for the OARs of was better than or equal to that of the removed group, and the DSC value of the rectum was significantly improved ( < 0.05). For comparison of different match regions, the high-risk target volume (HRCTV) and the low-risk target volume (IRCTV) had the best precision for registration of the target area, which was significantly greater than that of M group and L group ( < 0.05). The M group had better registration accuracy of the target area and the best accuracy for the OARs. The DSC values of the bladder and rectum were significantly better than those of the other two groups ( < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The CT value range of 1700-1800 HU is optimal for automatic image segmentation using Velocity software. Automatic segmentation and shielding the volume of the catheter source can improve the image quality. We recommend the use of interested organ structures regions for image registration in image-guided adaptive brachytherapy for cervical cancer.
Brachytherapy ; methods ; standards ; Female ; Humans ; Organs at Risk ; diagnostic imaging ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; standards ; Radiotherapy, Image-Guided ; methods ; standards ; Software ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; standards ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; radiotherapy