Objective:To investigate the correlation of serum visfatin and resistin levels with cardiometabolic index (CMI) and bone mineral density (BMD) in elderly patients with essential hypertension (EH) complicated with osteoporosis (OP) .Methods:From Feb. 2021 to Feb. 2023, 120 elderly patients with EH complicated with OP in Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were chosen (the EH complicated with OP group), and 50 healthy physical examination subjects (the NC group) and 50 EH complicated with low bone mass (the EH complicated with low bone mass group) were chosen as the control. Venous blood samples were collected from all patients, serum visfatin and resistin levels were measured, and CMI and BMD were tested. Statistical methods were used to analyze the data.Results:In EH patients with decreased bone mass or OP, the level of serum visfatin was often low, but resistin was elevated, which showed significant differences compared with that in the NC group ( F visfatin = 26.02, F resistin = 9.50, P < 0.001). The CMI in NC group was lower than that in the other two groups ( F = 52.54, P < 0.001). In terms of bone mass, BMD in NC group was higher than that in the other two groups, especially in the key parts of lumbar spine ( F=21.44, P < 0.001), femoral neck ( F=10.54, P < 0.001), Chinese triangle ( F=12.30, P < 0.001) and femoral trochanter ( F=4.87, P < 0.001), etc. BMD in EH complicated with low bone mass was also higher than that in EH complicated with OP group, including lumbar spine ( t=4.60, P < 0.001), femoral neck ( t=2.32, P=0.022), Chinese triangle ( t=4.58, P < 0.001) and femoral trochoid ( t=4.33, P < 0.001). In addition, visfatin was positively correlated with bone mass ( P < 0.05), lumbar spine ( r=0.36, P < 0.001), femoral neck ( r=0.38, P < 0.001), Chinese triangle ( r=0.28, P=0.020) and femoral trochoid ( r=0.37, P < 0.001), while resistin was negatively correlated with bone mass, lumbar spine ( r=-0.40, P < 0.001), femoral neck ( r=-0.50, P < 0.001), and femoral trochanter ( r=-0.40, P < 0.001). However, there was no significant correlation between CMI and visfatin ( r=0.06, P > 0.05) and resistin ( r=0.11, P > 0.05). Logistic analysis showed that visfatin level was a risk factor of OP in EH patients ( P < 0.001), and resistin was a protective factor ( P = 0.008) . Conclusion:Serum visfatin and resistin levels in elderly EH patients complicated with OP are correlated with BMD, suggesting that they may play an important role in disease development and treatment.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) can be detected with enlarged lymph nodes on imaging, but their benignity and malignancy are difficult to determine directly, making it difficult to stage the tumor and design radiotherapy target volumes. The clinical diagnosis of malignant lymph nodes is often based on the short diameter of lymph nodes ≥1 cm or the maximum standard uptake value ≥2.5, but the sensitivity and specificity of these criteria are too low to meet the clinical needs. In recent years, many advances have been made in diagnosing benign and malignant lymph nodes using other imaging parameters, and with the development of radiomics, deep learning and other technologies, models of mining the image information of enlarged lymph node regions further improve the diagnostic accuracy. The purpose of this paper is to review recent advances in imaging-based diagnosis of benign and malignant enlarged lymph nodes in NSCLC for more accurate and noninvasive assessment of lymph node status in clinical practice.
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Humans ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology* ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Lymph Nodes/pathology* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of serological indicators and evaluate the diagnostic value of a new established combined serological model on identifying the minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) in patients with compensated cirrhosis.Methods:This prospective multicenter study enrolled 263 compensated cirrhotic patients from 23 hospitals in 15 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of China between October 2021 and August 2022. Clinical data and laboratory test results were collected, and the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score was calculated. Ammonia level was corrected to the upper limit of normal (AMM-ULN) by the baseline blood ammonia measurements/upper limit of the normal reference value. MHE was diagnosed by combined abnormal number connection test-A and abnormal digit symbol test as suggested by Guidelines on the management of hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhosis. The patients were randomly divided (7∶3) into training set ( n=185) and validation set ( n=78) based on caret package of R language. Logistic regression was used to establish a combined model of MHE diagnosis. The diagnostic performance was evaluated by the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic curve, Hosmer-Lemeshow test and calibration curve. The internal verification was carried out by the Bootstrap method ( n=200). AUC comparisons were achieved using the Delong test. Results:In the training set, prevalence of MHE was 37.8% (70/185). There were statistically significant differences in AMM-ULN, albumin, platelet, alkaline phosphatase, international normalized ratio, MELD score and education between non-MHE group and MHE group (all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that AMM-ULN [odds ratio ( OR)=1.78, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.05-3.14, P=0.038] and MELD score ( OR=1.11, 95% CI 1.04-1.20, P=0.002) were independent risk factors for MHE, and the AUC for predicting MHE were 0.663, 0.625, respectively. Compared with the use of blood AMM-ULN and MELD score alone, the AUC of the combined model of AMM-ULN, MELD score and education exhibited better predictive performance in determining the presence of MHE was 0.755, the specificity and sensitivity was 85.2% and 55.7%, respectively. Hosmer-Lemeshow test and calibration curve showed that the model had good calibration ( P=0.733). The AUC for internal validation of the combined model for diagnosing MHE was 0.752. In the validation set, the AUC of the combined model for diagnosing MHE was 0.794, and Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed good calibration ( P=0.841). Conclusion:Use of the combined model including AMM-ULN, MELD score and education could improve the predictive efficiency of MHE among patients with compensated cirrhosis.

Objective:To retrospectively analyze the contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS) features of primary hepatic lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) and investigate the value of CEUS in the diagnosis of hepatic LELC.Methods:The images of CEUS of 12 cases with hepatic LELC were retrospectively analyzed. The perfusion patterns and time of enhancement were observed.Results:During the arterial phase, 11 lesions showed diffuse enhancement, while 1 lesion showed rim-like enhancement. The mean time of begin enhancement, time to peak, time to iso-enhancement and slightly hypo-enhancement were (17.92±5.81)s, (24.50±5.52)s, (29.55±6.25)s, (45.50±25.15)s, respectively. Compared with adjacent liver parenchyma, rapid enhancement was observed in 11 lesions and synchronous enhancement was observed in 1 lesion.As to time of peak enhancement, hyper-enhancement and iso-enhancement were observed in 11 lesions and 1 lesion, respectively. In portal phase, 8 lesions manifested slight hypo-enhancement, 3 lesions with marked hypo-enhancement and 1 lesion with iso-enhancement.And in delayed phase, 10 lesions showed marked hypo-enhancement and 1 lesion with slight hypo-enhancement. Ten lesions showed peripheral hyper-enhancement like a bright ring in the portal and delayed phase.Conclusions:CEUS is valuable for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of hepatic LELC.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of independent and combined subtests of the psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES) in mild hepatic encephalopathy(MHE) of patients with liver cirrhosis, so as to optimize the PHES.Methods:This was a prospective, multicenter and real-world study which was sponsored by the National Clinical Research Center of Infectious Diseases and the Portal Hypertension Consortium. Twenty-six hospitals from 13 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities countrywide participated in this study, induding Tianjin Third Central Hospital, the Fourth People′s Hospital of Qinghai Province, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College, the Third People′s Hospital of Taiyuan, the Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital and so on. From October 2021 to February 2022, outpatients and hospitalized patients with liver cirrhosis and no obvious hepatic encephalopathy were consecutively enrolled. All patients received 5 PHES subjects in the same order: number connection test(NCT)-A, NCT-B, digit symbol test(DST), line tracing test(LTT) and serial dotting test(SDT), and the scores were calculated. The total score of PHES <-4 was taken as the cut-off value for diagnosing MHE. Compare the differences in each subtest between MHE group and non-MHE group. Receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC) and area under the curve(AUC) was performed to assess the diagnostic value of independent and combined subtests in MHE. Mann-Whitney U test and DeLong test were used for statistical analysis. Results:A total of 581 patients with liver cirrhosis were enrolled, 457 were diagnosed as MHE, and the incidence of MHE was 78.7%. The results of NCT-A, NCT-B, SDT, LTT, DST of MHE group were 60.00 s(47.01 s, 88.00 s), 90.45 s(69.32 s, 125.35 s), 74.00 s(57.65 s, 96.60 s), 74.72(60.00, 98.61) and 27.00(20.00, 36.00), respectively. Compared those of non-MHE group(34.00 s(29.15 s, 44.48 s), 50.00 s(40.98 s, 60.77 s), 50.00 s(41.07 s, 63.03 s), 46.23(38.55, 59.42) and 42.00(34.00, 50.75)), the differences were statistically significant( Z=12.37, 12.98, 9.83, 11.56, 10.66; all P<0.001). The AUC(95% confidence interval(95% CI)) of subtests of PHES NCT-B, NCT-A, LTT, DST and SDT alone in MHE diagnosis were 0.880(0.849 to 0.910), 0.862(0.828 to 0.896), 0.838(0.799 to 0.877), 0.812(0.772 to 0.851) and 0.788(0.743 to 0.832), respectively. The combination of 2 PHES subtests significantly increased the diagnostic efficacy. Among them the diagnostic efficacy of the combination of NCT-B and LTT was the best, the AUC(95% CI) was 0.924(0.902 to 0.947), the specificity was 91.9% and the sensitivity was 79.2%, which was better than a single PHES subtest (NCT-A, NCT-B, SDT, LTT and DST) and the combination of NCT-A and DST(AUC was 0.879, 95% CI0.847 to 0.910) which was recommended by guidelines on the management of hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhosis, the differences were statistically significant ( Z=3.78, 3.83, 5.57, 5.51, 5.38, 2.93; all P<0.01). Furthermore, compared between the combination of NCT-B and LTT and the combination of 3 subests of PHES, only the diagnostic efficacy of combination of NCT-B, LTT and SDT (AUC was 0.936, 95% CI 0.916 to 0.956) was better than that of the combination of NCT-B and LTT, the difference was statistically significant( Z=2.32, P=0.020). Conclusion:Based on the diagnostic efficacy and clinical feasibility of PHES subtests and their combinations, the combination of NCT-B and LTT is recommended for the diagnosis of MHE.

AIM: To investigate the distribution characteristics of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphism and its correlation with blood Hcy in hypertensive patients and to provide reference for the prevention and treatment of H-type hypertension in southern Anhui Province. METHODS: A total of 657 hypertensive patients were treated in our hospital from October 2019 to August 2020 were selected as the research objects. The MTHFR C677T and A1298C loci were genotyped by fluorescence staining in situ hybridization, and the blood Hcy concentration was determined by the enzyme cycle method. The distribution characteristics of MTHFR gene in the Han nationality hypertensive population in southern Anhui Province were analyzed, and compared with the reported MTHFR gene distribution data of hypertensive populations in other regions and ethnic groups. RESULTS: Among the 657 patients, the distributions of CC, CT and TT types at the C677T site of MTHFR gene were 212(32.27%), 321 (48.86%), 124(18.87%), and the distribution of AA, AC, and TT types at the A1298C site were 467 (71.08%), 171(26.03%), 19(2.89%). There was no gender difference in the distribution of the two loci of this gene in the hypertensive population in southern Anhui Province (P > 0.05). The distribution frequency of CC genotype at C677T locus is lower than that in Foshan and Guangxi, but higher than that in Henan, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia; the frequency of CT genotype is higher than that in Foshan and Guangxi; the frequency of TT genotype is higher than that in Foshan and Guangxi. Guangxi region was lower than Henan region, Xinjiang region and Inner Mongolia region, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The mean blood Hcy of 657 patients was (15.8 ± 7.80) μmol/L, of which 510(77.62%) were in line with the diagnosis of H-type hypertension. The level of Hcy in males was significantly higher than that in females, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.000 1). Compared with the different genotypes of the C677T locus, the TT type was higher than the CT type and CC type, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in Hcy levels between different genotypes at the A1298C locus (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The distribution of MTHFR gene polymorphism in the Han nationality hypertensive population in southern Anhui is significantly different from other regions, and it is also significantly related to the level of Hcy, which has obvious regional characteristics. The genetic detection technology combined with the determination of Hcy concentration can provide a scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of H-type hypertension in southern Anhui Province.

OBJECTIVE：To conduct the prescri ption comment of Chinese patent medicine based on self-developed rational drug use system and evaluate its effect ，and to promote rational use of Chinese patent medicine. METHODS ：The self-developed rational drug use system was used to evaluate the complete prescriptions and classified special prescriptions of Chinese patent medicines in our hospital from Jan. to Jun. 2019（before implementation ）and from Jan. to Jun. 2020（after implementation ）； combined with pharmacists ’manual comments ，the situation of irrational drug use in the two periods was compared ，and the effect of prescription comment by rational drug use system was evaluated. RESULTS ：Results of full prescription comment of Chinese patent medicine in our hospital showed that the unqualified rate of Chinese patent medicine prescriptions was 1.5％，which was significantly lower than 5.6％ before the implementation （P＜0.05）. Results of special prescription comment of Chinese patent medicine showed that the unqualified rates of TCM injection ，toxic Chinese patent medicines and emergency Chinese patent medicines were 11.8％，10.7％，11.0％ before implementation ；while after implementation ，they were 3.6％，4.2％ and 6.6％， which were significantly lower than before implementation （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS ：Self-developed rational drug use system of Chinese patent medicine shows remarkable effect on full prescription comment and special comment ，which greatly improves the level of rational drug use of Chinese patent medicines in our hospital.

To investigate the clinical features and prognostic significance in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients with DTA (DNMT3A,TET2,ASXL1) mutations. Clinical characteristics of 140 patients diagnosed as de novo MDS at People′s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from September 2015 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Next-generation sequencing was used to detect 34 related genes in MDS patients. DTA mutations and the correlation with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in MDS patients were evaluated. Among 140 MDS patients, DTA mutations was detected in 62 (44.3%) patients. And the positive rate of DTA mutations in IPSS-R lower-risk group was 65.4%, significantly higher than that of higher-risk group (31.8%)( P=0.000). Compared with the non-mutated group, patients with DTA mutations had a lower rate of conversion to leukemia (9.7% vs . 29.5%, P=0.004).Survival analysis showed that PFS in patients with DTA mutations was comparable as that in MDS patients without DTA mutations ( P=0.787), but the median OS was significantly shorter (16 months vs . 20 months, P=0.022).According to IPSS-R classification, the median OS in patients with and without DTA mutation was only statistically significant in the higher-risk group (15 months vs. 18 months, P=0.034).Among 62 patients with DTA mutations, 60 (96.8%) had additional gene mutations. DTA mutations were not independent prognostic factors when mutation frequency is greater than 10% were considered in Cox regression model ( P>0.05). DTA mutations often developed in the early stage of MDS, therefore they were more common in IPSS-R lower-risk subgroup which was correlated to the low rate of conversion to leukemia. In conclusion, DTA mutations are not associated with disease progression, but predict unfavorable survival when other add-on genes are mutated.

Objective:To investigate the risk factors of lymph node metastasis and the clinical significance of deep submucosal invasion in patients with T1 stage colorectal cancer.Methods:From January 30, 2010 to December 31, 2019, at Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, among patients with T1 stage colorectal cancer, 41 patients underwent radical surgery for colorectal cancer (surgery group) and 23 patients received endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) (ESD group) were enrolled. The tumor gross type, maximum diameter, histologically poorly differentiated components, degree of invasion (the type of mucosal muscle destruction, the width and depth of invasion), the budding grade of tumor, and whether with vascular tumor thrombus were recorded. The additional treatment and prognosis of patients were collected by telephone follow-up. The risk factors of lymph node metastasis in stage T1 colorectal cancer, the correlation between the complete muscularis mucosa destruction and the width and depth of invasion in the ESD group, and the effects of additional treatment after operation on the prognosis of patients were analyzed. Independent sample t test and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Results:The rate of lymph node metastasis in patients with poorly differentiated components or vascular tumor thrombus was higher than that in patients without poorly differentiated components or vascular tumor thrombus (3/6 vs. 12.1%, 7/58; 3/4 vs. 11.7%, 7/60), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=5.934 and 11.409, both P<0.05). All patients in the surgery group had complete muscularis mucosa destruction. In ESD group, the width of tumor invasion was ≥ 2 mm in 16 cases, including complete destruction of muscularis mucosa in 15 cases and partial destruction in one case; the width of tumor invasion was <2 mm in seven cases, including complete destruction of muscularis mucoa in two cases and partial destruction in five cases; the depth of infiltration was ≥ 2 000 μm in 14 cases, including complete destruction of muscularis mucosa in 13 cases and partial destruction in one case; the depth of infiltration was <2 000 μm in nine cases, including complete destruction of muscularis mucosa in four cases and partial destruction in five cases. The complete muscularis mucosa destruction was related with tumor of invasion width ≥ 2 mm and invasion depth ≥ 2 000 μm (15/16 vs.2/7, 13/14 vs. 4/7), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=10.729, 6.659, both P<0.05). Among the 64 patients with T1 stage colorectal cancer in this study, six cases (9.4%) had poor prognosis; five cases (7.8%) died, and three of them (4.7%) were tumor-related deaths. Adjuvant therapy was added in 10 cases in surgery group and 10 cases in ESD group, and there were no poor prognosis in those patients. There were no significant difference in the incidences of poor prognosis of patients without additional treatment and patients with additional treatment of the two groups (9.7% (3/31) vs. 0 (0/10) and 23.1% (3/13) vs. 0 (0/10)) (both P>0.05). Conclusion:When T1 stage colorectal cancer with tumor submucosal invasion, clinicians should comprehensively evaluate the prognostic risk based on various pathological characteristics such as the degree of tumor differentiation, vascular tumor thrombus and mucosal muscle destruction.

OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of Alprostadil dried emulsion for injection combined with Butylphthalide soft capsules on nerve function,inflammatory factor and coagulation function of patients with severe ischemic stroke. METHODS:A total of 66 patients with severe ischemic stroke selected from our hospital during Jun. 2015-Oct. 2017 were divided into control group and observation group according to random number table,with 33 cases in each group. On the basis of routine treatment, control group was additionally given Butyphthalide soft capsules 0.2 g/time,orally at fasting state,tid. On the basis of control group,observation group was additionally given Alprostadil dried emulsion for injection 10 μg added into 0.9% Sodium chloride injection 10 mL,via slow infusion or slow dripping with pipkin,qd. Both groups were treated for 14 days. NIHSS and Barthel index scores,the levels of serum inflammatory factors(CRP,PCT)and coagulation function indexes(D-D,TT,PT,APTT, FIB)were observed in 2 groups before and after treatment,and the occurrence of ADR was also recorded. RESULTS:Before treatment,there was no statistical significance in above indexes between 2 groups(P>0.05).After treatment,NIHSS scores,the levels of CRP,PCT,D-D and FIB in 2 groups were deceased significantly,while Barthel index scores were increased significantly,TT,PT,APTT were prolonged significantly;observation group was significantly better than control group,with statistical significance(P<0.05). No obvious ADR was found in 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS:Alprostadil dried emulsion for injection combined with Butylphthalide soft capsules can effectively improve nerve function and coagulation function of patients with severe ischemic stroke,and reduce the levels of inflammatory factor with good safety.