Background The widespread use of herbicides has led to environmental contamination and has implications for human health. The liver is an important organ for the detoxification of environmental pollutants; however, studies on the association between herbicide exposure and liver function are limited. Objectives To investigate the association between baseline serum herbicide levels and changes in liver enzyme levels and liver enzyme abnormalities over a 5-year period in middle-aged and older adults. Methods This study was based on a nested case-control population of type 2 diabetes established in the Dongfeng-Tongji cohort, with a total of 1388 subjects included in this study and followed up for 5 years. Epidemiological data were collected through questionnaires, and baseline serum concentrations of three herbicides (metolachlor, propham, and acetochlor) were measured by gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were detected at baseline and follow-up visits. The associations between baseline serum herbicide levels and changes in AST and ALT over 5 years were assessed using linear regression models with herbicide levels categorized into quartiles, adjusting for age, sex, education level, smoking status, drinking status, physical activity, body mass index, and new-onset type 2 diabetes occurred during follow-up. The relationship between baseline serum herbicide levels and the risk of liver enzyme abnormalities during follow-up was further analyzed using logistic regression models. Results The positive rates of metolachlor, propham, and acetochlor were all higher than 80%, and their spiked rates of recovery ranged from 73.46% to 106.77%. The mean ± standard deviation of the age of subjects at baseline was (62.7±7.6) years, with 34.1% being male. The median serum levels of metolachlor, propham, and acetochlor at baseline were 0.05, 0.16, and 0.03 ng·mL⁻¹, respectively. There was no significant difference in baseline serum herbicide levels between the normal and abnormal liver enzyme groups at follow-up (P >0.05). The baseline liver enzyme levels and the changes in AST and ALT over 5 years in those who developed abnormal liver enzymes were significantly higher than those in the normal liver enzyme group (P <0.05). The linear regression analysis showed that the changes in AST increased progressively over 5 years in the second, third, and fourth quartiles of propham compared to the lowest quartile group (the second quartile: b=1.49, 95%CI: 0.10, 2.87; the third quartile: b=1.52, 95%CI: 0.14, 2.90; the fourth quartile: b=1.69, 95%CI: 0.31, 3.08; P <0.05). The associations of serum metolachlor and acetochlor with changes in AST were not significant. Additionally, no significant relationships were found between the three serum herbicides and the changes in ALT over 5 years or the risk of liver enzyme abnormalities. Conclusion Serum propham levels in middle-aged and older adults are positively associated with changes in liver enzyme AST, which may have an effect on liver function. More studies are needed to provide scientific evidence for the association between herbicide exposure and liver function.

Children with autism spectrum disorder usually response abnormally to auditory stimuli.Previous studies of their auditory functions mostly adapted objective electrophysiology tests,including auditory brainstem re-sponse and a series of cortical auditory evoked potentials.Combining the test results of these studies suggests that children with autism spectrum disorder have varying degree of central auditory processing impairment compared to typically developmental children.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the short-term efficacy of single-session microwave ablation for benign thyroid nodule.METHODS Patients with benign thyroid nodules treated by microwave ablation between June 2019 and December 2022 at the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery,the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University,were included for analysis.Thyroid function was tested 1 month after treatment,and ultrasound and thyroid function were performed 3 months,6 months and 1 year after treatment.Volume reduction rates(VRR)of nodules were calculated.Data of the last follow-up within 1 year were included for analysis.Variables including gender,age,whether Hashimoto's thyroiditis was present,longitudinal diameter of nodules,solid volume of nodules were included for univariate and multivariate analysis.RESULTS A total of 151 patients with 163 nodules were included.The perioperative complication rate was 1.99%(3/151).The VRR at half year after treatment was(79.58±17.70)%,and the success rate at half year after treatment was 93.43%(128/137).The VRR of at 1year after treatment was(81.24±24.29)%.The 1-year treatment success rate was 92.77%(77/83).Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that nodular solid volume and age were independent factors affecting VRR after ablation.Regression coefficient of age and solid volume was 0.34(P<0.05)and-0.47(P<0.05),respectively.For every 1 cm3 increase in solid volume,1-year VRR(%)decreased by 0.47.Regression equation:1-year VRR=68.92+0.34×age-0.47×solid volume.Serum FT4 gradually decreased and the thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH)gradually increased within 6 months after ablation,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).After 6 months,serum FT4 gradually recovered to the normal level and TSH gradually recovered.However,TSH still did not reach the preoperative level one year after ablation.FT3 decreased gradually after treatment,but there was no significant difference between the values at each time point(P=0.40).After the ablation of thyroid nodule,the mean value of thyroid function index fluctuated,but all of them were within the normal reference range.CONCLUSION Microwave ablation is a safe and effective treatment method for benign thyroid nodules,with an overall success rate of over 90%.Solid nodule volume and age are independent factors affecting the microwave ablation effect of benign thyroid nodules.

Objective To discover 5-HT2A receptor antagonist molecules with novel structures and explore their structure-activity relationship through structure-and mechanism-based drug design,synthesis and activity evaluation.Methods The way in which pimovanserin interacted with 5-HT2A receptor was analyzed via molecular docking,molecular dynamics simulation and binding free energy calculations.Based on the results of this study,the 5-HT2A receptor antagonist target compounds with novel structures were designed using pimovanserin as the lead molecule.According to the structures of target compounds,corresponding synthetic routes were designed.The heterocyclic methylamine intermediates were obtained by reductive amination or reduction reaction from heterocyclic formaldehyde or heterocyclic methanonitrile before being reacted with 4-(4-fluorobenzylamino)-1-methylpiperidine to obtain the target compounds using CDI urea synthesis method.The inhibitory activity of the target compounds against 5-HT2A receptor was tested at the cellular level,and the anti-hallucinogenic effects of the target compounds were tested in the mouse head twitch response model.Results Twelvenovel compounds were synthesized and their structures were confirmed by HR-MS,1H-NMR and 13C-NMR.The results of the activity assay showed that compounds 6a,6c and 6d exhibited better 5-HT2Areceptor inhibitoryactivity with IC50 values of 120,152 and 285 nmol/L,respectively while compounds 6c and 6d exhibited better anti-hallucinogenic activity in mice with inhibition rates of 97.0％and 82.9％(10 mg/kg),respectively.Conclusion The novel compound 6c and 6d have shown strong 5-HT2A receptor inhibitoryactivity and anti-hallucinogenic activity and deserve more research.Structure-activity relationship analyses of target compounds indicate that the repulsion of the heterocyclic ring with basic N atoms and the accommodation of the heterocyclic ring without basic N atoms by the side extended pocket of the 5-HT2A receptor could significantly affect the ex vivo and in vivo effects of antagonists.

Objective:To investigate the clinical value of spherical lens with 0.05 D intervals in optometry for small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) in myopic eyes.Methods:A randomized controlled clinical study was conducted.Sixty patients (120 eyes) with low to moderate myopia and myopic astigmatism who underwent SMILE in the 989th Hospital of the PLA from June 2021 to February 2022 were enrolled.The patients were randomly divided into 0.05 D interval group (optometry with spherical lens at 0.05 D interval) and 0.25 D interval group (optometry with spherical lens at 0.25 D interval), with 30 cases (60 eyes) in each group.There was no significant difference in matched age, sphericity, cylindricity, and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (all at P>0.05). The preoperative monocular red-green balance, 1- and 3-month postoperative monocular red-green balance, uncorrected visual acuity and spherical equivalent of both groups were compared.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the 989th Hospital of the PLA (No.WZLL-2021-034). Written informed consent was obtained from each subject before any medical examination. Results:The preoperative red-green balance rate in 0.05 D interval group was 95.00%(57/60), which was higher than 35.00%(21/60) in 0.25 D interval group, showing a statistically significant difference ( Wald χ2=17.642, P<0.001). The 1- and 3-month postoperative red-green balance rates in 0.05 D interval group were 63.33%(38/60) and 56.67%(34/60), which were higher than 23.33%(14/60) and 21.67%(13/60) in 0.25 D interval group respectively, showing statistically significant differences ( Wald χ2=9.137, P=0.003; Wald χ2=7.483, P=0.006). The 1- and 3-month postoperative visual acuity in 0.05 D interval group were -0.1(-0.1, -0.1) and -0.1(-0.1, -0.1), which were higher than 0.0(-0.1, 0.0) and -0.1(-0.1, 0.0) in 0.25 D interval group respectively, showing statistically significant differences ( Wald χ2=11.624, P=0.001; Wald χ2=12.841, P<0.001). The 1- and 3-month postoperative spherical equivalent were -0.07(-0.25, 0.13)D and -0.13(-0.25, 0.13)D in 0.05 D interval group, which were higher than -0.13(-0.38, 0.25)D and -0.13(-0.38, 0.25)D in 0.25 D interval group respectively, showing no statistically significant difference between the two groups ( Wald χ2=0.029, P=0.866; Wald χ2=0.189, P=0.664). Conclusions:Compared with spherical lens at 0.25 D interval, 0.05 D interval can improve the accuracy of preoperative and postoperative red-green balance rate and postoperative visual acuity in patients with low to moderate myopia who undergo SMILE.

Objective:To explore the feasibility and clinical efficacy of oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) in the treatment of adjacent segment disease (ASDis).Methods:Retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 31 patients with ASDis treated by OLIF in four medical centers from June 2015 to December 2018. There were 17 males and 14 females. The average age was (65.7±3.4) years (range, 59 to 75 years). 19 cases received single-segment fixed fusion, 11 cases received double-segment fixed fusion and 1 case received three-segment fixed fusion. Original fixed fusion site: 1 case of L 1, 2, 3 cases of L 3, 4, 11 cases of L 4, 5, 4 cases of L 5S 1, 6 cases of L 3-L 5, 5 cases of L 4-S 1, and 1 case of L 3-S 1. The time from the initial fixation and fusion to this admission was 82.5±45.5 months (rang, 24 to 180 months). ASDis occurred at the proximal end of the fixed fusion segment in 28 cases and at the distal end in 3 cases. The types of ASDis: degenerative disc disease in 11 cases, lumbar spinal stenosis in 15 cases, degenerative spondylolisthesis in 2 cases, and degenerative scoliosis in 3 cases. The location of ASDis: 6 cases of L 2, 3, 12 cases of L 3, 4, 6 cases of L 4, 5, 3 cases of L 1-L 3, 1 case of L 2-L 4, and 3 cases of L 1-L 4. At admission, 3 cases of lumbar internal fixation had been removed and 28 cases of internal fixation remained. Stand-alone OLIF was performed in 19 cases, OLIF combined with pedicle screw fixation in 8 cases, and OLIF combined with cortical screw fixation in 4 cases. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were used to evaluate the low back pain and lumbar function before operation and at the last follow-up, and the imaging results and complications were observed. Results:All patients were followed up. The follow-up time was 23.6±9.6 months (range, 12 to 60 months). The operation time was 73.8±25.3 mins (range, 40 to 180 min), and the intraoperative blood loss was 86.2±67.4 ml (range, 20 to 310 ml). The average blood loss in each segment was 24.8 ml. During the operation, there were 1 case of segmental vein injury, 7 cases of endplate injury, 2 cases of transient iliopsoas muscle weakness, 1 case of thigh pain and numbness, and 1 case of incomplete intestinal obstruction. There was no incision necrosis and infection. The VAS score of low back pain decreased from 5.9±1.9 before operation to 1.4±0.6 at the last follow-up, with a statistically significant difference ( t=8.47, P<0.001). The ODI index recovered from 45.2%±5.7% before operation to 13.8%±4.7% at the last follow-up, with a statistically significant difference ( t=7.92, P<0.001). The height of intervertebral space increased from 8.7±1.6 mm before operation to 11.4±1.9 mm after operation and 9.9±1.8 mm at the last follow-up. There was a statistically significant difference between postoperative and preoperative height of intervertebral space ( F=4.15, P=0.007). There was a statistically significant difference between the last follow-up and postoperative height of intervertebral space ( P=0.011). During the follow-up, there were 13 cases of fusion cage subsidence, 1 case of fusion cage displacement, and no case of internal fixation loosening or fracture. The intervertebral fusion rate was 94%(29/31) and the complication rate was 42%(13/31). Conclusion:ASDis is a common complication after lumbar fixation and fusion, and requires surgical treatment. OLIF is a reliable method to treat ASDis as it has advantages of small trauma, high fusion rate and low complication rate.

Objective:To investigate the expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) protein and BRAF V600E protein in thyroid papillary carcinoma (PTC) and their relationship with clinical factors of PTC. Methods:The expression of ERα and BRAF V600E protein in 1 105 PTC patients was detected by immunohistochemistry. The relationship among ERα, BRAF V600E protein and clinical factors were analyzed. Results:Positive ERα protein was correlated with maleness (χ 2= 6.087, P=0.001), age< 45 years old (χ 2=5.197, P=0.023) and multifocal tumors (χ 2=4.446, P=0.035). Positive BRAF V600E protein was correlated with positive ERα protein (χ 2=6.209, P=0.013), Hashimoto thyroiditis (χ 2=29.388, P<0.001), no lateral lymph node metastasis (χ 2=6.849, P=0.009) and multifocal tumors (χ 2=9.596, P=0.035). Conclusions:ERα expression is more common in male patients, patients younger than 45 years of age, those with multifocal tumors and positive BRAF V600E protein. BRAF V600E protein may inhibit Hashimoto's thyroiditis, tumor growth and the occurrence of lateral lymph node metastasis, and promote the occurrence of multiple focal tumors.

Objective:To investigate the characteristics and causes of endplate injury in the oblique lateral interbody fusion for the treatment of lumbar diseases, and summarize the precaution of endplate injury.Methods:Thirty-five cases of endplate injury were observed, which were originally treated with oblique lateral interbody fusion with or without pedicle screw fixation from October 2014 to December 2017. There were 7 males and 28 females, and the age ranged from 51 to 78 years old (averagely 62.8±8.13 years). There were 2 cases of lumbar disc degeneration, 10 cases of lumbar canal stenosis, 17 cases of lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis, 2 cases of lumbar spondylolysis with or without spondylolisthesis, and 4 cases of lumbar degenerative scoliosis. Lesion sites contained L 3,4 in 2 cases, L 4,5 in 21 cases, L 2-4 in 3 cases, L 3-5 in 4 cases, L 2-5 in 3 cases and L 1-5 in 2 cases. Preoperative bone mineral density examination revealed there were 7 cases of T>-1 SD, 24 cases of -2.5 SD

Objective? To explore the effects of WeChat combined with motivational interviewing in transitional care among young and middle-aged hypertension patients. Methods? By convenient sampling, we selected 129 young and middle-aged hypertension inpatients who were hospitalized in a classⅢ grade A hospital from June 2017 to March 2018 as subjects. All of the patients were randomly divided into observation group (n=66) and control group (n=63). In the control group we adopted routine health education and routine telephone follow-up after discharge. Apart from that, for the observation group we carried out transitional care by WeChat combined with motivational interviewing. The medication adherence was compared with the Morisky medication adherence scale, and the blood pressure control rate was observed and compared between the two groups. Results? Three months after intervention, the medication adherence of two groups all improved compared with that before intervention;the score of medication adherence of observation group and control group was (4.7±1.7) and (3.8±1.5) respectively with a statistical difference (t=3.192, P＜ 0.05). After intervention, the blood pressure control rate of observation group and control group was 60.3% and 51.5% respectively with a statistical difference (χ2=5.645, P＜ 0.05). Conclusions? Transitional care by WeChat combined with motivational interviewing can improve medication adherence and blood pressure control of young and middle-aged hypertension patients which is worthy of clinical application.

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.