ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Yiqi Yangyin Jiedu Huayu prescription on minimal hepatic encephalopathy in liver cirrhosis based on intestinal metabolomics. MethodsA total of 11 patients with liver cirrhosis who were hospitalized in Beijing Ditan Hospital， Capital Medical University， from March to May 2024， and were diagnosed with MHE based on psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score were enrolled as subjects， and 11 healthy family members of the patients were enrolled as control group. Fecal samples were collected for metabolomics analysis from the control group and the patients with MHE before and after treatment with Yiqi Yangyin Jiedu Huayu prescription， and a population cohort study was conducted to investigate the effect of Yiqi Yangyin Jiedu Huayu prescription on intestinal metabolism of patients with MHE. The Fisher’s exact test was used for categorical data between two groups； the independent samples t-test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups， the paired t-test was used for comparision before and after treatment within the same group， and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups. ResultsA total of 29 differentially expressed metabolites were detected between the MHE group and the control group， mainly amino acids， organic acids， organic amines， carbohydrates， fatty acids， and vitamins， and there were 12 upregulated metabolites and 17 downregulated metabolites in the MHE group， which were mainly enriched in the metabolic pathways of ornithine， branched-chain amino acid， and aromatic amino acid. After the treatment with Yiqi Yangyin Jiedu Huayu prescription， 80 differentially expressed metabolites were detected in the patients with MHE， mainly carbohydrates， organic acids， and amino acids， and there were 56 upregulated metabolites and 24 downregulated metabolites， which were mainly enriched in the metabolic pathways of ornithine， branched-chain amino acid， and aromatic amino acid. ConclusionYiqi Yangyin Jiedu Huayu prescription can exert a therapeutic effect on patients with MHE by regulating intestinal metabolism.

Objective To analyze the economic cost of self-monitoring of gestational diabetes mellitus, and provide a basis for measuring the economic burden of gestational diabetes mellitus, and to provide a reference for the formulation of intervention development and the adjustment of resource allocation. Methods The individual economic cost of self-monitoring for gestational diabetes mellitus was measured based on a decision tree model, and the total economic cost of self-monitoring for gestational diabetes mellitus in Beijing was estimated. The uncertainty of the model parameters was analyzed using one-way sensitivity analysis. Results The average individual economic cost of gestational diabetes self-monitoring was 1184 RMB, and the individual cost incurred by choosing different types of blood glucose meters ranged from 403 to 18 000 RMB. The average individual economic cost of finger-stick blood glucose monitoring was 606 RMB and the average individual economic cost of continuous glucose monitoring was 2 374 RMB. The total economic cost of gestational diabetes self-monitoring in Beijing was 23.818 0 million RMB, and the total economic cost incurred by choosing different types of blood glucose meters ranged from 0.292 5 to 9.027 9 million RMB. The proportion of the finger-stick blood glucose monitoring had the greatest impact on the robustness of the results. Conclusion Finger-stick blood glucose monitoring is still the dominant self-monitoring method and is less costly than continuous glucose monitoring. Self-monitoring of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus incurs certain economic cost and causes an economic burden on society.

Objective: To learn the levels of thyroid hormone indicators among interventional and diagnostic radiologists, so as to provide insights into occupational health monitoring of radiologists. Methods: Demographic information, body mass index (BMI), thyroid hormone indicators and cumulative individual doses over 5 years among interventional and diagnostic radiologists were collected through the personal dosimetry monitoring database of Ningbo Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Occupational Health Examination Center of a tertiary hospital in Ningbo City. The thyroid hormone indicators of different job types and cumulative individual doses over 5 years were analyzed, and factors affecting the thyroid hormone indicators were identified using a multivariable ordinal logistic regression model. Results: There were 159 interventional and 159 diagnostic radiologists included, and the proportions of abnormal thyroid hormone indicators were 9.43% and 12.26%, respectively, with no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). The levels of triiodothyronine and free triiodothyronine in interventional radiologists were lower than those in diagnostic radiologists [(1.54±0.41) vs. (1.68±0.34) nmol/L, (5.13±1.07) vs. (5.55±0.87) pmol/L; both P<0.05]. The levels of triiodothyronine and free triiodothyronine were significantly different among radiologists with cumulative individual doses over 5 years of <1.5 mSv, 1.5-<3.0 mSv and ≥3.0 mSv [(1.69±0.31), (1.69±0.40) vs. (1.52±0.41) nmol/L, (5.60±0.83), (5.32±0.94) vs. (5.14±1.09) pmol/L; both P<0.05]. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression analysis identified BMI (<18.5 kg/m2, OR=0.111, 95%CI: 0.028-0.436) and cumulative individual doses over 5 years (<1.5 mSv, OR=6.259, 95%CI: 2.368-16.547) as the factors affecting triiodothyronine, and job types (diagnostic radiologists, OR=3.171, 95%CI: 1.529-6.574), BMI (18.5-<24.0 kg/m2, OR=0.393, 95%CI: 0.184-0.842), and gender (men, OR=3.449, 95%CI: 1.294-9.190) as the factors affecting free triiodothyronine. Conclusion Occupational exposure has a certain impact on the thyroid hormone indicators among interventional and diagnostic radiologists, and the main influencing factors include BMI, radiation dose, job type and gender.

Objective This study aimed to comprehensively analyze and compare the clinicopathological features and prognosis of Chinese patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2)-low early breast cancer(BC)and HER2-IHC0 BC. Methods Patients diagnosed with HER2-negative BC(N=999)at our institution between January 2011 and December 2015 formed our study population.Clinicopathological characteristics,association between estrogen receptor(ER)expression and HER2-low,and evolution of HER2 immunohistochemical(IHC)score were assessed.Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to compare the long-term survival outcomes(5-year follow-up)between the HER2-IHC0 and HER2-low groups. Results HER2-low BC group tended to demonstrate high expression of ER and more progesterone receptor(PgR)positivity than HER2-IHC0 BC group(P<0.001).The rate of HER2-low status increased with increasing ER expression levels(Mantel-Haenszel χ2 test,P<0.001,Pearson's R=0.159,P<0.001).Survival analysis revealed a significantly longer overall survival(OS)in HER2-low BC group than in HER2-IHC0 group(P=0.007)in the whole cohort and the hormone receptor(HR)-negative group.There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of disease-free survival(DFS).The discordance rate of HER2 IHC scores between primary and metastatic sites was 36.84%. Conclusion HER2-low BC may not be regarded as a unique BC group in this population-based study due to similar clinicopathological features and prognostic roles.

Objective:To understand the loss to follow-up of children born to pregnant women with HIV infection (HIV-exposed children) and analyze its influencing factors in China in 2019.Methods:The data were collected from the follow-up records of pregnant women with HIV infection and their children reported by the national "Management Information System for the Prevention of HIV, syphilis and Hepatitis B Mother-to-Child Transmission" in 2019. HIV-exposed children were defined as those who were not followed up after birth or who were not followed up at 18 months of age and who were not followed up at 21 months of age. The univariate and multivariate influencing factors of loss to follow-up of children born to HIV-infected pregnant women were analyzed by χ2 test and logistic regression model. SPSS 25.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results:The number of HIV-infected pregnant women was 5 039, the number of live-born children was 5 035, the number of loss to follow-up children within 18 months of age was 283, and the loss to follow-up rate children was 5.62%(283/5 035). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the rate of loss to follow-up of exposed children born to pregnant women who worked as farmers (animal husbandry and fishery) (a OR=0.34, 95% CI: 0.22-0.53), unmarried (a OR=0.47, 95% CI: 0.24-0.93), first marriage (a OR=0.38, 95% CI: 0.22-0.67), remarriage (a OR=0.36, 95% CI: 0.20-0.67) and cohabiting (a OR=0.47, 95% CI: 0.23-0.97), and knew they had HIV infection before this pregnancy (a OR=0.53, 95% CI: 0.40-0.70) was lower. Han nationality (a OR=1.52, 95% CI: 1.09-2.13), primary school (a OR=2.06, 95% CI: 1.10-3.89) and junior middle school (a OR=1.81, 95% CI: 1.03-3.17) educational level, non-use of antiviral drugs (a OR=6.21, 95% CI: 4.32-8.93) and delivery in township (street) level midwifery institutions (a OR=5.72, 95% CI: 1.61-20.27) had higher rates of loss to follow-up among infants born to HIV-infected pregnant women. Conclusions:HIV-exposed children still have a specific rate of loss to follow-up in China in 2019. In order to further reduce the rate of loss to follow-up, it is of great significance to improve the detection rate of HIV before pregnancy and the rate of antiviral drugs used in pregnant women with HIV infection, which is of great significance for the effective implementation of comprehensive intervention measures of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Objective:To summarize the best evidence for the management of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in patients undergoing assisted reproductive therapy.Methods:Evidence related to the management of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in patients undergoing assisted reproductive therapy,including guidelines,clinical decision,best clinical practice,systematic evaluation,expert consensus and evidence summary and related original research were systematically searched in UpToDate,BMJ Best Practice,World Health Organization(WHO)website,Guidelines International Network(GIN),National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence(NICE)website,National Guidelines website,American Society for Reproductive Medicine(ASRM)website,New York Academy of Sciences(NYAS)website,Joanna Briggs Institute(JBI)database,Cochrane Library,CINAHL,PubMed,Wanfang database,CNKI,and China Biomedical Literature Database from inception to May 31,2024.Two researchers independently evaluated the quality of the literature,and a senior researcher made the final decision for literature inclusion.Results:A total of 15 articles were included in the study.Following quality assessment,one article was excluded.The remaining 14 articles included 5 practice guidelines,3 systematic reviews,2 expert consensuses,1 evidence summary,and 3 from UpToDate.Ultimately,27 pieces of evidence were identified across five key aspects:risk assessment,disease monitoring,early prevention,institutional management and health education.Conclusion:The updated evidence indicates that the monitoring and prevention of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome should start early,personalized treatment plans should be provided for patients,and the rational allocation of treatment resources needs to be promoted to enhance effective management of ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome.

Objective To investigate the release kinetics of Zn2+ from nZCP-loaded polylactic acid/hydroxyapatite(PLA/HA)composite scaffold(PHZ)and determine the optimal nZCP content in the scaffold.Methods The particle size of nZCP was measured by DLS measurement,and PXRD,FTIR,and SEM were used to characterize the scaffolds and nZCP distribution;EDS was used to analyze element composition of the scaffold.Compression strength of the scaffold was determined,and ion release profile was investigated using ICP-MS.The biocompatibility of the materials was evaluated by CCK-8 assay and dead/alive staining of rat bone marrow stem cells(BMSCs)incubated with their aqueous extracts.ALP staining,alizarin red staining,RT-qPCR,and Western blotting were used to assess the osteogenic potential of the treated cells.In a rat model of bilateral ovariectomy(OVX)with femoral condylar bone defect,PHZ-1,PHZ-2,PHZ-3 or PLA/HA scaffold was implanted into the bone defect,and bone repair was observed using a microCT scanner and histological staining at 6 and 12 weeks.Results DLS,PXRD,SEM,FTIR,and EDS confirmed successful synthesis of 10-nm ZCP and efficient nZCP loading in the scaffold.PHZ-2 and PHZ-3 had significantly greater compression strength than PLA/HA.ICP-MS showed that Zn2+ release from PHZ-1,PHZ-2 and PHZ-3 were all optimal for promoting osteogenesis.In rat BMSCs,all the 4 scaffolds showed good biocompatibility,and their extracts enhanced ALP activity and extracellular matrix mineralization and promoted expressions of ALP,RUNX2,and OCN in the cells.In the rat models,nZCP in the implants improved bone graft integration at 6 weeks,and PHZ-2 and PHZ-3 more effectively induced new bone formation at 12 weeks(P<0.05).Conclusion PHZ scaffold is capable of stable Zn2+ release to promote osteoporotic bone defect healing,and PHZ-2 and PHZ-3 scaffolds with nZCP mass fraction of 4.5%-7.5%have better osteogenic activity.

ObjectiveThe detection of RNA single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is of great importance due to their association with protein expression related to various diseases and drug responses. At present, splintR ligase-assisted methods are important approaches for RNA direct detection, but its specificity will be limited when the fidelity of ligases is not ideal. The aim of this study was to create a method to improve the specificity of splintR ligase for RNA detection. MethodsIn this study, a dual-competitive-padlock-probe (DCPLP) assay without the need for additional enzymes or reactions is proposed to improve specificity of splintR ligase ligation. To verify the method, we employed dual competitive padlock probe-mediated rolling circle amplification (DCPLP-RCA) to genotype the CYP2C9 gene. ResultsThe specificity was well improved through the competition and strand displacement of dual padlock probe, with an 83.26% reduction in nonspecific signal. By detecting synthetic RNA samples, the method demonstrated a dynamic detection range of 10 pmol/L-1 nmol/L. Furthermore, clinical samples were applied to the method to evaluate its performance, and the genotyping results were consistent with those obtained using the qPCR method. ConclusionThis study has successfully established a highly specific direct RNA SNP detection method, and provided a novel avenue for accurate identification of various types of RNAs.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the therapeutic effect of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and cytokines in aqueous humor in patients with diabetic retinopathy(DR).Methods From July 2023 to December 2023,50 DR patients(56 eyes)who were treated with anti-VEGF drugs in the Department of Ophthal-mology,the Third Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University were included in this study.The patients were divided into the diabetic macular edema(DME)group(30 patients,36 eyes)and the proliferative DR(PDR)group(20 patients,20 eyes).Patients in the DME group received an intravitreal injection of aflibercept once a month for three consecutive times,with aqueous humor extracted before each injection.Patients in the PDR group received an intravitreal injection of aflibercept one week before vitrectomy,with aqueous humor extracted before injection and during vitrectomy,respective-ly.The concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGF-A),placental growth factor(PLGF),interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-23,IL-17A,and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in the aqueous humor were detected using the Luminex as-say.Before injection therapy,all patients underwent best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)and central macular thickness(CMT)examinations,and their correlations with cytokine concentrations in DR patients before injection therapy were ana-lyzed.Results Compared to before injection therapy,the concentrations of VEGF-A,PLGF,and IL-23 in the aqueous humor of patients in the DME group decreased significantly after treatment(all P＜0.05);additionally,the CMT de-creased,and the BCVA increased(both P＜0.05).After injection therapy,the concentrations of VEGF,PLGF,IL-1β,IL-23,IL-17A,and TNF-α in the aqueous humor of patients in the PDR group significantly decreased compared to before injec-tion therapy(all P＜0.05).Before injection therapy,the levels of VEGF-A,PLGF,and IL-23 in the aqueous humor of pa-tients in the DME group were higher than those in the PDR group,and the differences were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).The correlation analysis results showed that before injection therapy,VEGF was negatively correlated with BCVA(r=-0.767,P=0.004)and was positively correlated with CMT(r=0.662,P=0.019)and IL-23(r=0.765,P=0.004)in the DME group.There was no correlation between the cytokines in the aqueous humor of patients in the PDR group be-fore injection therapy(all P＞0.05).Conclusion Changes in the concentration of VEGF-A,PLGF,and IL-23 are closely related to the occurrence and development of DR.Anti-VEGF treatment can improve BCVA and decrease CMT in DME pa-tients.The expression level of IL-23 in aqueous humor can serve as a predictive factor for the anti-VEGF efficacy in DR pa-tients,providing new targets for early diagnosis and treatment of DR.

Objective To develop a medical positive pressure protective suit for long-voyage aeromedical evacuation to realize protective isolation and drinking water and energy supply for medical personnel during long-voyage aeromedical evacuation of respiratory infectious disease patients.Methods The medical positive pressure protective suit had a one-piece structure,with its main part made of hydroentangled non-woven fabric,head and forebreast parts made of amorphous polyethylene terephthalate anti-fog material and wearing-and taking-off parts sealed with zipper and autohesion,which was equipped with a portable positive pressure air supply device,an airborne centralized positive pressure air supply device and a monitoring and warning device.The portable positive pressure air supply device was fixed in the back of the suit at the waist,the airborne device was made by modifying the commercially available positive pressure air supply fan,and the monitoring and warning device monitored the air supply volume of the fan,the battery power and the pressure inside the suit.Results The suit behaved well in protection,clean fresh air supply without time limitation and facilitating hydration and energy replenishment of medical personnel by forming three activity spaces.Conclusion The suit developed can continuously provide a clean and comfortable microenvironment,meeting the requirements of medical personnel for protection and hydration and energy replenishment during long-voyage aeromedical evacuation.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(11):113-116]