Objective To investigate the relationship between systemic immune-inflammation index(SII),red blood cell distribution width(RDW),albumin(ALB)ratio(RAR)and severity of disease and respiratory failure in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD).Methods A total of 110 patients with AECOPD were divided into the severe group(n=37)and the non-severe group(n=73).They were also divided into the respiratory failure group(n=26)and the non-respiratory failure group(n=84)according to whether they had respiratory failure.Platelet count(PLT),neutrophil count(NEU),lymphocyte count(LYM),RDW,ALB,SII and RAR were compared between different groups.Multiple Logistic regression method was used to analyze influencing factors of severe and concurrent respiratory failure.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were plotted to analyze the predictive value of indicators for severe condition and respiratory failure.Results Compared with the non-severe group,there were increased NEU,SII,RDW and RAR,and decreased PLT and LYM in the severe group(P＜0.05).Compared with the non-respiratory failure group,there were increased NEU,SII,RDW and RAR,and decreased LYM and ALB in the respiratory failure group(P＜0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that increased SII and RAR were independent risk factors for severe condition or respiratory failure in patients with AECOPD.ROC curves indicated that the area under the curve(AUC)of SII combined with RAR for predicting severe condition and respiratory failure in patients with AECOPD were 0.882(0.806-0.935)and 0.908(0.837-0.954),both of which were higher than those of SII or RAR alone(P＜0.05).Conclusion Combination of SII and RAR can effectively help to evaluate the condition and the occurrence of respiratory failure in patients with AECOPD.

Objective:To observe the effects of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor combined with rosuvastatin on lipid levels and short-term prognosis in patients with acute ischemic stroke, and to explore the optimal therapeutic regimen in terms of efficacy and safety, so as to provide a basis for clinical practice.Methods:Consecutive patients with acute cerebral infarction within 72 hours of onset and lipids≥2.6 mmol/L admitted to Xuzhou Central Hospital from April 2022 to March 2023 were included in the study, and the randomized numeric table method was used to divide them into 3 groups of different treatment regimens, group A (rosuvastatin 20 mg, once a day), group B (rosuvastatin 10 mg, once a day+alirocumab 75 mg, once 2 weeks) and group C (rosuvastatin 20 mg, once a day+alirocumab 75 mg, once 2 weeks). General baseline data, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, modified Rankin Scale score on day 90 and the occurrence of adverse events and serious adverse events were collected from the 3 groups. The primary efficacy outcome was the degree of reduction in low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) from baseline on day 90. The secondary efficacy outcomes were recurrence rate and time to recurrence in stroke patients within 90 days,etc. The primary safety outcome was hepatic insufficiency (transaminase elevation≥3 times normal) within 90 days. The secondary safety outcomes were death due to stroke within 90 days and fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction.Results:A total of 501 patients were included, 166 patients in group A, 167 patients in group B, and 168 patients in group C. The differences in the baseline data of the 3 groups were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). LDL-C was reduced from baseline on day 90 in groups A, B, and C, with the differences of -1.5 (-1.7, -1.4) mmol/L, -2.2 (-2.5, -2.1) mmol/L and -2.2 (-2.6, -2.1) mmol/L, respectively, with statistically significant differences among the 3 groups ( H=1.497, P<0.001); the differences between the group A and group B, and between the group A and group C, were statistically significant ( Z=-11.125, P=0.006; Z=-9.475, P=0.012), while the difference between the group B and group C was not statistically significant ( Z=1.650, P=0.946). The numbers of 90-day stroke recurrence cases (recurrence rate) in patients in the groups A, B, and C were 12 (7.2%), 4 (2.4%), and 5 (3.0%), respectively, without statistically significant difference among the 3 groups ( χ 2=5.773, P>0.05); the recurrence time of patients in the groups A, B and C was (43.0±7.4) d, (66.0±8.3) d and (62.2±5.6) d, respectively, and the differences among the 3 groups were statistically significant ( F=14.096, P=0.001). Compared with the group A, patients in the groups B and C had a prolonged time to stroke recurrence within 90 days ( Z=-3.108, P=0.002; Z=-2.871, P=0.004), whereas the difference in the time to stroke recurrence within 90 days between patients in the groups B and C was not statistically significant ( Z=0.397, P=0.692). The time to stroke recurrence within 90 days was positively correlated with the level of LDL-C on day 90 ( β=0.850, P=0.031). Ten patients (6.0%) in the group A developed hepatic insufficiency, 1 patient (0.6%) in the group B, and 9 patients (5.4%) in the group C. The differences among the 3 groups were statistically significant (χ 2=7.622, P=0.022); and the difference between the group B and group C was statistically significant ( P=0.011). The differences of secondary safety endpoints, death due to stroke within 90 days [1 case (0.6%) in the group A, 0 case (0) in the group B, and 1 case (0.6%) in the group C], fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction within 90 days [3 cases (1.8%) in the group A, 1 case (0.6%) in the group B, and 1 case (0.6%) in the group C], were not statistically significant among the 3 groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions:In patients with acute ischemic stroke, PCSK9 inhibitor combined with rosuvastatin (both medium and high doses) significantly reduced LDL-C levels compared with baseline, and at the same time prolonged the time to stroke recurrence, reduced adverse effects such as hepatic insufficiency, and had a high degree of safety. PCSK9 inhibitor combined with medium-dose rosuvastatin had a better effect.

Objective:To test the feasibility, efficacy and safety of percutaneous patent foramen ovale(PFO) closure utilizing the Pansy biodegradable occluder(PBO) at 1-, 3-, 6-, 12-, 24-, and 36-month follow-up.Methods:In this single-center prospective clinical study, we enrolled 15 patients with PFO eligible for closure, all treated with the PBO, with device sizes ranging 24-34 mm. All clinical data were recorded in a 36-month follow-up period. Patients were summoned to the hospital in the 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after closure for transthoracic echocardiography(TTE), or transesophageal echocardiography(TEE), contrast transcranial doppler(cTCD) or contrast transthoracic echocardiography(cTTE), and a routine fasting blood sample.Results:The mean age was 27-68(44.0±16.4) years old. Indications for closure were cryptogenic stroke in 6 patients and migraine in 9 patients. Procedures were technically successful in 100%(15/15), in which course TTE showed that the position and shape of occluders were satisfactory. Small residual shunt was found by TTE in 2 patients with ASA in 1 month and 6 months after closure, respectively. 1 patient with cryptogenic stroke had another recurrent stroke 8 months after closure. At 12-month follow-up, 11 cases were closure. At 36-month follow-up, 13 cases were closure. 12 patients without atrial septal aneurysm(ASA) were closure. 1 patients with ASA was complete closure. No device-related complications occurred during the follow-up.Conclusion:PBO has good biocompatibility and suitable degradation time. A high technical success rate and closure rate can be achieved in those patients without ASA. Percutaneous closure of PFO using PBO is feasible, effective, and safe.

Objective:Tumor-treating fields (TTFields) is a kind of non-invasive anti-mitotic tumor therapy, which has been approved for patients with newly diagnosed and recurrent glioblastoma. This study aims to explore the efficacy and safety of TTFields in high-grade gliomas in clinical practice settings.Methods:The clinical data of 15 patients with recurrent glioma and 9 patients with newly diagnosed high-grade glioma admitted to our center from April 2019 to January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients accepted TTFields≥1 month. Follow-up was performed for 5.3 months (ranged from 2.3 to 10.7 months); Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology Working Group (RANO) criteria was used to evaluate the glioma responses. The progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated according to Kaplan-Meier method. Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v5.0 (CTCAE v5.0) and TTFields related skin adverse reaction (dAE) criteria were used to evaluate the adverse events. Quality of life questionnaire-core 30 (QLQ-C30) and QLQ-brain cancer module (QLQ-BN20) questionnaires were used to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Treatment compliance was evaluated by data on the use of NovoTTF-200A devices, and calculated as a percentage of daily TTFields usage.Results:The median duration of TTFields was 4.2 months (ranged from 1.0 to 10.7 months), with a median compliance rate of 91.5% (67.0%-97.0%). TTFields was used alone in 2 patients and used with combination of chemotherapy in 22 patients. From follow-up to April 2021, 14 patients had stable symptoms and 10 had disease progression (8 died). The median PFS and OS of recurrent patients were 5.9 months ( 95%CI: 3.3-8.6 months) and 8.5 months ( 95%CI: 3.2-13.8 months), respectively; and the median PFS and OS of newly diagnosed patients were both 10.7 months (without 95%CI). The common adverse events included grading 1 dAE (58.3%) and grading 2 dAE (12.5%), without grading 3 or 4 dAE, manifested as contact or allergic dermatitis, erosion, folliculitis and ulcers. And 87.5% patients had stable HRQoL. Conclusions:The preliminary results showed that the survival of recurrent high-grade glioma patients treated by TTFields is similar to that reported in foreign literature; and the newly diagnosed patients need further survival follow-up. The patients' treatment compliance and safety are good. The dAE incidence (grading 1-2) is higher than that reported in the literature, and the toxicity was acceptable.

This study aims to discuss the therapeutic effect of magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate on hepatitis B virus(HBV)transgenic mouse and its effect on cellular immunity and liver inflammation. The changes of serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST)and alanine aminotransferase(ALT)activity, the difference of serum hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg), liver tissue HBsAg mRNA, and the pathological morphological changes of liver tissue were detected to investigate the hepatic inflammatory lesions and the efficacy of magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate in HBV transgenic mouse. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were classified by flow cytometry, and serum cytokines were detected by cytometric bead array(CBA)to explore the mechanism of magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate to reduce hepatic inflammatory lesions in HBV transgenic mouse. After grouping HBV transgenic mouse with serum transaminase activity and 35 days of continuous administration, serum transaminases level in magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate ［15 mg/(kg ·d)］ group was significantly lower than that in control group(P< 0. 05), serum HBsAg protein and liver tissue HBsAg mRNA increased with time, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. The main pathological changes of liver were liver cell swelling, necrosis and focal inflammatory cell infiltration, and the pathological changes of liver in magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate group were lighter than those in control group. The number of CD8+ cells in the blood of magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate group was significantly less than that in the control group(P< 0. 05)and the CD4+/CD8+ cell ratio was significantly higher than that in the control group(P< 0. 05). The content of inflammatory cytokines in serum of magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate group decreased significantly(P< 0. 05). Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate can regulate the immune function of HBV transgenic mouse, decrease the infiltration of inflammatory cells in hepatic tissue and hepatocyte injury, but do not affect the expression of hepatocyte HBsAg.

It is of great clinical significance in the differential diagnosis of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) and glioblastoma (GBM) because there are enormous differences between them in terms of therapeutic regimens. In this paper, we propose a system based on sparse representation for automatic classification of PCNSL and GBM. The proposed system distinguishes the two tumors by using of the different texture detail information of the two tumors on T1 contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images. First, inspired by the process of radiomics, we designed a dictionary learning and sparse representation-based method to extract texture information, and with this approach, the tumors with different volume and shape were transformed into 968 quantitative texture features. Next, aiming at the problem of the redundancy in the extracted features, feature selection based on iterative sparse representation was set up to select some key texture features with high stability and discrimination. Finally, the selected key features are used for differentiation based on sparse representation classification (SRC) method. By using ten-fold cross-validation method, the differentiation based on the proposed approach presents accuracy of 96.36%, sensitivity 96.30%, and specificity 96.43%. Experimental results show that our approach not only effectively distinguish the two tumors but also has strong robustness in practical application since it avoids the process of parameter extraction on advanced MRI images.

The genome, replication mode and nosogenesis of duck hepatitis B virus are similar to those of human hepatitis B virus. In addition, the natural host of duck hepatitis B virus is readily available, cheap and has a high success rate of infection. Therefore, duck hepatitis B virus-infected models have been widely used for drug screening, pharmacological and pathological studies. For drug screening, the model is easy to obtain with high infection success rate and good stability. In the pharmacological research, the model can maintain high levels of viral DNA replication in the hepatocytes and exhibit significant damaged liver phenotypes which can reflect the pharmacological effects of drugs with different mechanisms. Also in the pathologic mechanisms research, the model has entire virus life cycle and maintains a pool of covalent closed-loop DNA in the hepatocytes, which can help scientific researchers better understand human hepatitis B virus. This article reviews the applications of duck hepatitis B animal model in drug screening, pharmacological and pathological studies, also outlooks the application prospect of this model.

Objective To compare the short and long-term effects of different approaches in the treatment of distal tibia post-pilon fractures. Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out in 29 patients with distal tibia post-pilon fractures. They were divided into group A ( postmedial approach, n =16 ) and group B ( anterolateral approach,n=13) according to different operative approaches. The length of stay,healing time,postoperative complica-tions and excellent and good rate of hip functional recovery in the two groups were compared. Results There were no significant differences in length of stay and bone healing time between the two groups(all P>0. 05). There was no significant difference in the incidence rate of postoperative complication between the two groups(6. 3% vs. 23. 1%,χ2 =1. 708,P>0. 05),but the incidence rate of partial necrosis in incision corner of group A was significantly lower than that of group B(0. 0% vs. 23. 1%,χ2 =4. 118,P<0. 05). There was no significant difference in excellent and good rate of hip functional recovery between group A(93. 8%) and group B(76. 9%) (χ2 =1. 708,P >0. 05). Conclusion Posterior approach can fully expose the field of operation with good reduction effect,provide possible for anatomical reduction of ankle mortise,good long-term efficacy can be obtained through stable fixation and postopera-tive early hip functional rehabilitation training,can be used as great reference,but need to grasp the indications.

Objective To explore the association between ACTN3 gene R577X polymorphism and serum lipid levels in an elderly Chinese Han population.Methods This study was based on the ageing arm of The Rugao Longevity and Ageing Study (RtLAS).Genotyping was performed by Taqman MGB method.Lipids includedtotal cholesterol (TC),triglyceride (TG),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).Cut points of dyslipidemia were based on that reported in the NCEP ATPIII.We explored the associations between R577X polymorphism loci and dyslipidemia by using analysis of covariance and logistic regression analysis.Results Overall 1 618 samples was included (741 males and 877 females) in this study.Covariance analysis found that TC level of RR,XX and RX genotype in the general population were 1.34,1.37,1.43 mmol/L with an increasing trend (P =0.024);TC and LDL-C levels of RR,XX and RX genotype (TC:5.13,5.29,5.43 mmol/L,P =0.004;LDL-C:2.76,2.88,3.00 mmol/L,P =0.004) were significantly different in females.Logistic regression analysis showed that the increased copies of X allele were significantly associated with increased TC and LDL-C levels in the general population and females.For the general population,TC:OR=1.184,95％CI:1.030-1.361,P =0.018;LDL-C:OR =1.334,95％CI:1.101-1.588,P=0.003;For females,TC:OR=1.332,95％ CI:1.102-1.616,P =0.003;LDL-C:OR =1.549,95 ％CI:1.208-1.986,P =0.001.After adjusting for other covariates,the above associations remained significant.Conclusions ACTN3 gcnc R577X polymorphism is associated with plasma TC and LDL-C levels in elderly woman of Han populations in Rugao,China.

BACKGROUND:Positioning of the distal locking screws of a tibial intramedulary nail is often chalenging and time consuming. The traditional free-hand technique under fluoroscopic control involves considerable radiation exposure.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of a new electromagnetic navigation system (TRIGEN-SURESHOT navigation system) for distal locking of tibial intramedullary nail in tibial diaphyseal fracture and to compare the effects with the free-hand method.METHODS: Forty-five cases of tibial diaphyseal fracture in the Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University from May 2014 to August 2015 were analyzed retrospectively, and were divided into two groups. Patients in navigation group (n=23) were treated with intramedullary nail using the TRIGEN-SURESHOT navigation system for distal locking, and the remainings in free-hand group (n=22) were given the free-hand method.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: All cases were followed up for 17-32 months. The one-time success rate of distal locking nail operation was 100％ in the navigation group, which was significantly higher than that in the free-hand group (P < 0.05). The locking nail time in the navigation group was significantly less than that in the free-hand group (P < 0.05).No significant differences were found in the incidence of adverse events and fracture healing time between two groups (P > 0.05). To conclude, the effect of the TRIGEN-SURESHOT navigation system for distal locking of tibial intramedullary nail is satisfactory, exhibiting the advantages of short operation time, high success rate, and no radiation.