ObjectiveTo explore the value of the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease （MELD） 3.0 in predicting survival outcomes for patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and to establish an effective mortality prediction model. MethodsClinical data of 788 hospitalized patients who were first diagnosed with alcoholic cirrhosis at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between January 1， 2011 and December 31， 2019 were analyzed. Patients were followed up until December 31， 2023 and divided into survival and mortality groups based on the survival outcomes at 30 days， 90 days， 1 year， and 3 years after admission. The prognostic values of the MELD 3.0， MELD， MELD-Sodium （MELD-Na） for survival in alcoholic cirrhosis patients were assessed and compared by using the receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve and the area under the curve （AUC）. Additional risk factors associated with mortality in alcoholic cirrhosis patients were identified， and a novel mortality prediction model based on MELD 3.0 was developed. ResultsThe AUC of the MELD 3.0 score in predicting 30-day， 90-day， 1-year， and 3-year survival was 0.823， 0.730， 0.686， and 0.658， respectively， which were superior to those of the MELD-Na （0.802， 0.708， 0.666， and 0.645， respectively） and MELD scores （0.698， 0.668， 0.654， and 0.633， respectively） （all P < 0.05）. MELD 3.0 demonstrated better performance at 30 and 90 days （AVC=0.823，0.730； both P < 0.05） than at 1 year and 3 years （AVC=0.686，0.658； both P < 0.05）. Binary logistic regression combined with LASSO regression indicated that the independent risk factors associated with the 1-year outcome included MELD 3.0， baseline ascites and hepatocellular carcinoma. A survival prediction model was then established with AUC of 0.748， sensitivity of 0.695， and specificity of 0.775. ConclusionsMELD 3.0 has a superior predictive ability for 30-day， 90-day， 1-year， and 3-year survival in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis than MELD-Na and MELD. The prediction model incorporating MELD 3.0， ascites and hepatocellular carcinoma improves the prediction of 1-year survival outcomes for alcoholic cirrhosis patients.

The transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-B) is activated in hepatocytes in the pathogenesis of hepatic steatosis. However, the action mechanism of NF-B remains to be established in the hepatic steatosis. In this study, the subunit of NF-B was found to promote the hepatic steatosis through regulation of histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) in hepatocytes. The activity was supported by the phenotypes of knockout (-KO) mice and knockout (-KO) mice. Hepatic steatosis was reduced in the -KO mice, but not in the -KO mice. The reduction was a result of inhibition of HDAC1 activity in the -KO cells. Knockdown of gene led to suppression of hepatocyte steatosis in HepG2 cells. A decrease in sterol-regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP1c) protein was observed in the liver of -KO mice and in cell with knockdown. The decrease was associated with an increase in succinylation of SREBP1c protein. The study suggests that stabilizes HDAC1 to support the SREBP1c activity in hepatic steatosis in the pathophysiological condition. Interruption of this novel pathway in the -KO, but not the -KO mice, may account for the difference in hepatic phenotypes in the two lines of transgenic mice.

Objective:To analyze the characteristics of malaria epidemic situation before and after malaria elimination in Qiandongnan Prefecture, and to provide the basis for establishment of effective strategies and measures to consolidate the achievements of malaria prevention and control.Methods:The data of malaria cases in 16 counties (cities) of Qiandongnan Prefecture from 2005 to 2018 were collected, and descriptive epidemiological method was used to analyze the infection rate of Plasmodium among local residents and floating population before (2005-2011) and after (2012-2018) elimination of malaria, and the characteristics of population distribution, seasonal distribution, species of Plasmodium and types of malaria vectors were analyzed. Results:Before elimination of malaria, total of 1 412 cases of malaria were reported, among those cases, 1 361 cases were local cases, accounting for 96.39% of the total cases. After elimination of malaria, total of 17 cases were reported, all of them were imported cases. After comparison of malaria cases before and after the elimination, the proportion of people aged from 18 to 60 was 70.54% (996/1 412) before the elimination, all 17 imported cases were 18-60 years old after the elimination, and the proportion of children/students decreased from 24.65% (348/1 412) before the elimination to 0 after the elimination. The peak incidence of malaria cases before the elimination was from June to October, and cases occurred every month. After the elimination, the imported cases were sporadic. Plasmodium vivax was the main species of Plasmodium before the elimination (98.58%, 1 392/1 412), and Plasmodium falciparum was mainly imported after the elimination (70.59%, 12/17). Before and after the elimination, Anopheles sinensis, the malaria vector, was the dominant population, but no distribution of Anopheles minimus and Anopheles anthropophagus was found after 2015. Conclusions:After the elimination of malaria in Qiandongnan Prefecture, there is a risk of local malaria cases caused by imported cases. It is suggested that local authorities should focus on the treatment of suspected malaria cases and vector surveillance of overseas returnees in the future.

OBJECTIVE： To study the effects of ADRB2 （rs1042713） gene polymorphism on therapeutic efficacy of anticholinergic drug in the treatment for refractory asthma pediatric patients. METHODS： 171 children with refractory asthma were selected from outpatient department of Kunming Children’s Hospital during Nov. 2016 to Jul. 2019. The distribution of ADRB2 （rs1042713） genotype， the clinical efficacy [asthma control test （C-ACT） score， FEV1， FVC， PEF， maximal mid-expiratory flow （MMEF）] of anticholinergic drug were analyzed statistically； the response of different genotypes to the use of anticholinergic drug were also analyzed statistically. RESULTS： 148 of 171 refractory asthmatics pediatric patients were administered anticholinergic drug， among them 50 of the 71 AA genotype and 36 of the 77 GA genotype responded to anticholinergic drug treatment. Statistical analysis showed that 71 children with AA refractory asthma had improved C-ACT score， FEV1， FVC， PEF and MMEF， there was statistical significance， compared with GA genotype （P＜0.05）； the response rate of the AA genotype to anticholinergic drugs was 2.71 times that of the GA genotype [OR＝2.71， 95％CI （1.38， 5.34）， P＝0.005]. CONCLUSIONS： The detection of ADRB2 （rs1042713） gene polymorphism has some guiding significance in the treatment of refractory asthma with anticholinergic drugs， and the response of AA genotype is better.

Objective To explore the preventive effect of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) on aspiration pneumonia in patients with dysphagia.Methods The clinical data of 43 patients undertaking PEG was retrospectively collected and the incidence of aspiration pneumonia,microbiological examination of sputum and antibiotics use before and after PEG in all the patients were compared.Results After PEG,the incidence of aspiration pneumonia decreased significantly from 90.7％ to 53.5％ according to clinical diagnosis,from 70.4％ to 18.5％ according to the chest imaging.The use of β-lactamase inhibitor compound decreased significantly,but the detection rate of pseudomonas aeruginosa increased significantly compared with that before PEG.Conclusion PEG can decrease the incidence of aspiration and antibiotics use,and may increase the chances of pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization in the lower respiratory tract.

Objective To evaluate the accuracy and value of automatically assessing left ventricular systolic function in rats with myocardial infarction ( MI) by myocardial contrast echocardiography ( MCE) based on neutrosophic similarity score( NSS) algorithm. Methods According to different infarction size (IS),SD rats were divided into large MI (MI-L,IS≥15% ) and small MI (MI-S,IS＜15% ) groups. MCE was performed before MI and at 7,28 days after MI. In vitro study:the automatic segmentation of the endocardial contour based on neutrosophic similarity score algorithm was compared with the manual segmentation boundary. In vivo study:the left ventricular ejection fraction( LVEF) were calculated using the NSS system,biplane Simpson and PV-loop,respectively,and then NSS-LVEF,Simpson-LVEF and PV-LVEF were acquired,respectively. The IS was calculated by Masson and HE staining. The consistency between the two LVEFs was evaluated by Bland-Altman. The intraclass correlation coefficient ( ICC) was calculated to evaluate the reproducibility of MCE analysis system. Results ① The endocardial contour obtained by automatic segmentation had good agreement with the boundary of artificial tracing. ② There was no significant difference among the three LVEFs in same group ( F ＝0.028, P ＝ 0.973),but there was significant difference in different group ( F ＝78.61, P ＜0.01). NSS-LVEF was well consistent with both Simpson-LVEF and PV-LVEF. ③ The ICC of NSS algorithm for inter-observer and intra-observer were 0.96 and 0.98,respectively. ④Compared with before MI and at 7 days after MI,the LVEF in MI-L and MI-S groups at 28 days after MI decreased significantly ( P ＜0.05),especially in MI-L group ( P ＜0.01). There was significantly negative correlation between LVEF and IS ( r ＝ －0.917, P ＜ 0.01). Conclusions Left ventricular endocardium can be identificated automatically and LVEF can be calculated rapidly and accurately by MCE based on neutrosophic similarity score algorithm in rats with myocardial infarction.

Objective To analyze the correlation factors that promote or impede the residents to preferentially use essential medicines.Methods Adopting stratified random sampling method,1 700 households selected from 5 cities of Shandong province were investigated with a questionnaire.The framework of Andersen behavior model of health service utilization was used as the framework,with such methods as descriptive analysis and univariate logistic regression models for the analysis and evaluation of relevant information.Results The residents′ tendency factor,ability factor and environmental factor influence their preference to use essential medicines,while the requirement factor plays a minimal role.There was a significant difference for the preference of combined medication,first visit preference and self-medication experience,the efficacy and policy response of essential medicine from logistic regression analysis.Conclusion At present,the government should focus on the construction of the formation mechanism of the residents′drug use behavior and the policy response mechanism of essential medicine system.

ObjectiveTo explore the influence of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) on the clinical efifcacy of endoscopic esophageal variceal ligation (EVL) in cirrhotic patients with esophagogastric variceal hemorrhage (EVH).MethodsClinical data of 314 cirrhotic patients with EVH who underwent endoscopic EVL and were followed up for more than 6 months in the Third Afifliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between January 2005 and December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The informed consents of all patients were obtained and the local ethical committee approval was received. The patients were divided into the PVT group and the control group according to whether they had PVT during treatment. Among the 72 patients in the PVT group, 61 were males and 11 were females with the mean age of (50±11) years old.Among the 242 patients in the control group, 206 were males and 36 were females with the mean age of (47±11) years old. The clinical efifcacy of two groups was compared, and the correlation between PVT and the elimination rate of esophageal varices (EV) as well as the recurrent bleeding rate of EV was analyzed. The number of EVL treatment period in two groups was compared usingt test and the rate was compared using Chi-square test. Univariate logistic regression analysis was conducted for the correlation between PVT and the elimination rate, recurrent bleeding rate of EV.ResultsThirty-six patients in the PVT group and 115 patients in the control group developed acute EVH. After EVL, the emergency hemostatic rate of both groups was 100%. The elimination rate of EV in the PVT group was 76%(55/72), signiifcantly lower than 90%(218/242) in the control group (χ2=9.166,P<0.05). The number of EVL treatment period in the PVT group was 3.4±1.6, significantly more than 2.8±1.1 in the control group (t=3.065,P<0.05). The recurrent bleeding rate of EV in the PVT group was 36%(26/72), signiifcantly higher than 21%(51/242) in the control group (χ2=6.779,P<0.05). PVT was a risk factor for both the elimination rate of EV (OR=0.356, 95%CI: 0.179-0.709,P<0.05) and the recurrent bleeding rate of EV (OR=2.383, 95%CI: 1.354-4.196,P<0.05). ConclusionPVT is a risk factor for both the elimination rate of EV and the recurrent bleeding rate of EV in cirrhotic patients with EVH treated by endoscopic EVL.

ObjectiveTo investigate the application value of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in biliary stricture following liver transplantation (LT).MethodsClinical data of 47 patients with biliary stricture following LT treated with ERCP in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between January 2008 and January 2014 were retrospectively studied. The informed consents of all patients were obtained and the local ethical committee approval had been received. Among the 47 patients, 41 were males and 6 were females with the age ranging from 24 to 62 years old and the median of 51 years old. Anastomotic stricture was observed in 31 cases and non-anastomotic stricture in 16 cases. ERCP was performed on patients to localize biliary stricture and then papillotomy was performed under the support of guide wire. The stricture was dilated progressively by dilating catheter or columnar balloon through the guide wire. Endoscopic nasobiliary drainage or plastic stent placement was chosen according to the ERCP results. The evaluation of curative effect was graded by cure, improvement, inefifcacy and restenosis.ResultsAll the 47 patients underwent ERCP successfully with totally 112 times. Nasobiliary drainage was performed 79 person-times, stent placement 33 person-times. Among the 31 patients with anastomtic stricture, 28 were cured and 3 were improved. Among the 16 patients with non-anastomtic stricture, 5 were cured, 3 were improved, and 8 were ineffective. The total cured rate of all the patients was 70% (33/47) and the effective rate was 83% (39/47). The incidence of complications was 9% (4/47), including 2 cases of mild pancreatitis, 1 case of hyperamylasemia and 1 case of biliary tract infection.ConclusionERCP is safe, effective and integrated in diagnosis and treatment for biliary stricture following LT, which is the ifrst choice for non-surgery treatment.

ObjectiveTo investigate the changes and role of β-arrestin 1 in the course of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) progressing to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MethodsEighty healthy male C57BL/6 mice were randomized into the vegetarian diet group and the high fat diet group according to the random number table with 40 mice in each group. Mice in the vegetarian diet group were fed with vegetarian diet (13% calories in fat) and mice in the high fat diet group were fed with high fat diet (58% calories in fat). Eight mice in each group were decapitated at the end of 9 and 24 weeks. The rest mice in each group were decapitated at the end of 48 weeks. The incidence of HCC of two groups was observed. The expression of proteinβ-arrestin 1 in the liver tissues of mice was detected by Western blot and the mRNA level was examined using TaqMan real time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR. The incidence of HCC in two groups was compared using Fisher's exact test, and the protein β-arrestin 1 expression and mRNA level of two groups were compared usingt test. Spearman correlation analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between protein β-arrestin 1 expression, mRNA level and the feeding duration of high fat diet in high fat diet group.ResultsThe incidence of HCC in the high fat diet group was 18% (4/22), which was significantly higher than 0 (0/23) in the vegetarian diet group (P=0.034). The expression level of protein β-arrestin 1 in liver tissues of mice in the high fat diet group was 2.4±0.5 in the 9th week, which was significantly higher than 1.5±0.4 in the vegetarian diet group (t=2.779,P<0.05). The β-arrestin 1 mRNA level in liver tissues of mice in the high fat diet group in the 9th, 24th and 48th week were 4.1±0.8, 7.8±2.1 and 12.5±1.2 respectively, which were all significantly higher than 2.6±0.7, 3.6±0.6 and 6.9±1.2 in the vegetarian diet group (t=4.029, 5.522, 9.487;P<0.05) . The protein β-arrestin 1 and mRNA level in HCC tissues of mice in the high fat diet group in the 48th week were 4.6±0.5 and 22.0±3.2, which were signiifcantly higher than 1.6±0.4 and 12.5±1.2 in liver tissues at the same period (t=9.600, 7.837;P<0.05). The protein β-arrestin 1 and mRNA level in high fat diet group were positively correlated with the duration of high fat diet (r=0.949, 0.922;P<0.05). Conclusions It is likely to develop NALFD for the mice fed with high fat diet, and the incidence of HCC is signiifcantly increased. β-arrestin 1 may play a role of accelerating the course of NAFLD progressing to HCC.