Objective To investigate the current status,evolving hotspots,and emerging trends in the field of human re-source allocation research in public hospitals,both domestically and internationally,to provide a reference for future research di-rections in China.Methods CiteSpace was used to conduct a visual analysis of the research literature on human resource alloca-tion in public hospitals based on China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI)and the Web of Science(WOS).The analysis encompassed co-authorship,institutional collaboration,keyword co-occurrence and clustering,and burst detection.Results A total of 1 417 Chinese articles and 981 international articles were included.Domestic research in this field focused more on healthcare reform and management,resource allocation,hierarchical diagnosis,and treatment,and informatization and efficiency improvement.On the contrary,international research primarily centered on the employee satisfaction,healthcare system quality,work environment and medical staff.Future trends in domestic research included cost reduction,efficiency enhancement,and a greater emphasis on public welfare in public hospitals,while international research was beginning to explore the influence of polit-ical concepts in this field.Conclusion Compared to international research,domestic research needs to further improve its theo-retical and localized understanding,broaden its research scope,explore the interdisciplinary collaboration opportunities,and delve into research directions such as the application of artificial intelligence and automation technology in healthcare services,management of a diverse workforce,and innovative management techniques and applications.

Adipose progenitor cells(APCs) represent a prominent stromal cellular component of adipose tissue and are now identified as highly heterogenous populations. However, the role of APCs in regulating systemic metabolism remains unknown. Using single cell RNA-sequencing, we investigated the role of the APC subpopulations in regulating development of type 2 diabetes. CD9 + CD55 low APCs are the novel subset identified in this study, which is significantly increased in type 2 diabetic patients. Transplantation of these cells from type 2 diabetic patients into adipose tissue caused glycemic disturbance in mice. Depletion of pathogenic APCs improved obesity-related glycemic disturbance. Collectively, our data provide deeper insights into human APC functionality and highlights APCs as a potential therapeutic target to combat type 2 diabetes. This study has been published in Nature Communications, 2024, 15(1): 4827.

Objective:To investigate the association between serum sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).Methods:In this cross-sectional study, a total of 371 middle-aged and young obese patients who were hospitalized and underwent liver puncture in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from January 2016 to April 2021 were included. The population was divided into control group ( n=43) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) group ( n=328) based on the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease activity score. Subjects in NAFLD group were further divided into non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) ( n=60), uncertain-NASH ( n=172), and NASH ( n=96). Serum SHBG was tested in patients with NAFLD who were divided into three subgroups according to tertiles. The liver pathological characteristics in different SHBG level subgroups were compared. The risk factors of NASH were analyzed by logistic regression. The prediction model of NASH noninvasive diagnosis was established by forward stepwise regression, and the diagnostic value of non-invasive model for NASH was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results:The median age in patients were (32±10) years old with a body mass index of (39.16±6.58) kg/m2, including 236 females (63.6%). Serum SHBG level [ M ( Q1, Q3)] in NAFLD group was significantly lower than that in control group [16.90 (11.43, 23.00) vs. (23.45 (15.40, 31.22) mmol/L, P<0.05], and progressively diminished in NAFL, uncertain-NASH and NASH subgroups [(22.24±10.47), (20.57±19.58), (15.80±8.74) mmol; P for trend<0.05]. Compared with the high-leveled SHBG subgroup, the steatosis score (2.09±0.80 vs. 1.51±0.72, P<0.01) and lobular inflammation score (1.10±0.68 vs. 0.85±0.68, P<0.05) were significantly higher in the low-leveled SHBG group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that lower serum SHBG level was an independent risk factor for NASH ( OR=2.527, 95% CI: 1.296 to 4.928, P<0.05). The area under ROC curve of SHBG combined with aspartate aminotransferase in predicting NASH in NAFLD patients was 0.752 (95% CI: 0.696 to 0.809). Conclusion:Low serum SHBG level is associated with NASH.

The aim of this study was to identify novel prognostic mRNA and microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using methods in systems biology. Differentially expressed mRNAs, miRNAs, and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were compared between HCC tumor tissues and normal liver tissues in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Subsequently, a prognosis-associated mRNA co-expression network, an mRNA–miRNA reg-ulatory network, and an mRNA–miRNA–lncRNA regulatory network were constructed to identify prognostic biomarkers for HCC through Cox survival analysis. Seven prognosis-associated mRNA co-expression modules were obtained by analyzing these differentially expressed mRNAs. An expression module including 120 mRNAs was significantly corre-lated with HCC patient survival. Combined with patient survival data, several mRNAs and miRNAs, including CHST4, SLC22A8, STC2, hsa-miR-326, and hsa-miR-21 were identified from the network to predict HCC patient prognosis. Clinical significance was investigated using tissue microarray analysis of samples from 258 patients with HCC. Functional annotation of hsa-miR-326 and hsa-miR-21-5p indicated specific associations with several cancer-related pathways. The present study provides a bioinformatics method for biomarker screening, leading to the identification of an integrated mRNA–miRNA–lncRNA regulatory network and their co-expression patterns in relation to predicting HCC patient survival.

Objective To study the diversities of imaging, symptoms, electrophysiology and clinical value of the stereoelectroencephalography(SEEG) in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.Methods Eight patients with intractable epilepsy in Epilepsy Center of Yuquan Hospital of Tsinghua University who underwent mesial temporal lobectomy were recruited in this study, and their epileptic foci could not be accurately positioned.Therefore stereotactic brain electrodes were implanted, and their usual attack originated from mesial temporal lobe structure were confirmed.There was no seizure in the one year follow-up.Results Symptoms of the eight patients behaved differently, and the onset of the seizures in scalp electroencephalograph or SEEG showed diversities.Epileptic discharges were found originated from the mesial temporal lobe after implanting electrodes: in the early stage of discharges, four cases had the conduction to insular lobe structure;two cases had the conduction to contralateral mesial temporal lobe;one case had the conduction to retrosplenial cortex;one case had the conduction to parietal lobe;one case had the conduction to frontal lobe and rapid generalization (one case had the conduction to insular lobe and contralateral mesial temporal lobe meanwhile).Conclusions There is difference in clinic, imaging and electrophysiology of the patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy The non-specificity can be explained by the evolution of the intracranial electroencephalography, which can help us know its network conduction pattern Insular lobe is the most common conduction approach of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy in early stage SEEG can be used as a microinvasive, accurate preoperative localization method, which can help us to locate accurately and understand the discharges and conduction mode.

Objective To establish and validate the ascites volume forecast model of ascites puncture drainage operation with ultrasound measuring for 6 positions in patients with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS),including front of the uterus,Douglas pouch,right iliac fossa,left iliac fossa,hepatorenal recess and spleen kidney fossa.Methods Fifty patients received ultrasonographic measurement (measurement group) and then underwent ascites puncture drainage operation within 6 h.Three scatter diagrams of actual ascites volume (Y;ml) and key position ascites depth summation (X;mm),height correlation coefficient and surface area correlation coefficient were drawn.The simple and practical regression equation with better correlation was used to be the one verified.Then 100 subsequently HSS patients were enrolled in verrification group.Forecast ascites volume calculated with above-mentioned regression equation and actual ascites volume was analyzed with Bland-Altm an method and paired t test.Results Regression equation obtained with the scatter diagram was Y=-256.554 + 10.452X (R2 =0.577),which could be simplified as Y=10.5X-250.0.The limit of consistency between forecast ascites volume and actual ascites volume was (-1 314.02,1 560.48) ml,and the bias was 123.23 ml.The difference between forecast ascites volume and actual ascites volume was not statistically significant (t=-1.684,P=0.096).Conclusion The simplified equation is Y=10.5X-250.0 to forecast ascites volume caused by OHSS,therefore guiding clinical work.

Objective To determine the association of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) with body composition (measured by body impedance analysis) and insulin resistance (IR) in overweight/obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted of the clinical records of 109 overweight or obese [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 24 kg/m2] PCOS patients who visited the Department of Endocrinology and Fertility Center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between April 2013 and April 2016 for menstrual disorder or infertility and were referred to receive weight management.24 of the patients had SCH,and 85 had euthyroid (EU).We determined the body composition of the patients with Biospace Inbody 720 body composition analyzer,measured the patients' serum lipid profiles,conducted in each patient the 75 g oral glucose tolerance test and the insulin release test,and calculated the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HO-MA-IR) indices.Results Patients with SCH and autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) accounted for 22.02％ and 24.36％ of the total.The obesity level [(145.19±13.75)％ vs.(153.31±18.15)％,t=-2.032,P=0.045],VFA [(132.48±20.85) cm2vs.(147.35±24.26) cm2,t=-2.730,P=0.007],body fat (BF) [(31.91±5.88) kgvs.(35.43±6.89) kg,t=-2.274,P=0.025],body fat percentage (BFP) [(40.92±3.701)％ vs.(43.07±4.26)％,t=-2.241,P=0.027],body mass index (BMI) [(30.49±2.88) kg/m2 vs.(32.19±3.81) kg/m2,t=-2.026,P=0.045] and waist circumference (WC) [(98.34±7.13) cm vs.(102.86±8.74) cm,t=-2.324,P=0.022] of SCH group were significantly lower than those of euthyroid,with significant statistical difference.The levels of serum thyroid hormone (TSH) in patients with EU were positively correlated with the degree of obesity,the BF,the BFP,the BMI and the hip circumference (P=0.019,0.042,0.005,0.019,0.039),but not with the VFA (t=1.797,P=0.076).There were no statistically significant differences (P＞ 0.05) between patients with SCH and those with EU in their HOMA-IR indices,insulin levels,blood glucose,blood lipid,and ratio of IR (defined as HOMA-IR ≥2.69).Conclusions Obesity related body composition parameters were lower in PCOS patients with SCH than in those with EU.However,there was no significant difference between the two groups in blood lipid level and the ratio of IR.TSH levels in the EU group were correlated with the BMI and the BFP,but not with the VFA.A larger sample is needed to identify how and why thyroid hormones may affect the body composition and glycolipid metabolism of females with PCOS.

Objective Three-dimensional(3D) automated ultrasonic volume measurement is becoming favorable in clinical application and turns to be an important direction .The article was to evaluate the consistency of two-dimensional (2D) and three-di-mensional ultrasonography in the diameter measurement of single follicle . Methods 438 single folliculars were respectively meas-ured by the same sonographer in 2D and 3D ultrasonic measurement.2D diameter, 3D mean diameter and 3D virtual ball diameter of every single follicle were recorded , and Bland-Altman method were used to evaluate the consistency of the results by these two meth-ods. Results In the consistency analysis on the diameter measurement of single follicle by 2D and 3D mean diameter measurment methods, d equaled -1.06 mm, and 95% LoA range covered the range of -4.82 mm to 2.70 mm.95% CI of 95% LoA range,-5.21 mm to 3.08 mm, was beyond the settings of clinical acceptable error limit range , -3.56 mm to 1.44 mm, showing poor consis-tency.Likewise, in the research of the consistency in the measurement of 2D diameter and 3D virtual ball diameter in the diameter measurement of single follicle , d equaled -0.07 mm , and 95%LoA range covered the range of -3.11 mm to 2.98 mm.95%CI of 95%LoA range, -3.43 mm to 3.29 mm, was beyond the settings of clinical acceptable error limit range , -2.57 mm to 2.43 mm, showing poor consistency . Conclusion 2D and 3D ultrasound measurements in the diameter measurement of single follicle are not consistent.However, considering the objectivity and accuracy of the results , 3D ultrasonography still has an advantage over 2D ultra-sonography , which can provide more acurate aid for assisted reproductive technology .

Objective The CYP19 gene product enzyme aromatase mediates the conversion of the androgen testosterone to es -tradiol.The aim of this study is to investigate whether the CYP19A1 gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is associated with the susceptibility to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and serum hormone levels. Methods We conducted a case-controlled study, which included 373 PCOS patients and 313 healthy controls.We genotyped SNP rs2899470 in the subjects using the polymerase chain re-action-restriction fragment length polymorphism ( PCR-RFLP) method and analyzed the frequencies of genotypes and alleles as well as the association of different genotypes with age , menarchal age, body mass index (BMI), and serum levels of hormones. Results The gen-otypic distributions of rs2899470 GG, TG, and TT in the PCOS women were 44.5%, 49.6%, and 5.9%, respectively, significantly dif-ferent from 39.3%, 48.6%, and 12.1%in the healthy controls (P=0.013).The frequency of the G allele was 69.3%in the former, remarkably higher than 63.6%in the latter (P=0.025).The rs2899470 genotypic frequencies were associated with the serum E 2/T lev-els in the PCOS patients. Conclusion SNP rs2899470 in the CYP19A1 gene is associated with the susceptibility to PCOS , and so is the genotype of rs2899470 with serum E2/T levels, which may be attributed mainly to the reduced activity of aromatase .

BACKGROUND:In recent years, chitosan-based thermosensitive hydrogel, as scaffold materials, have received more and more attentions in the field of tissue repair because of good biocompatibility, biodegradability and drug-sustained release.
OBJECTIVE:To explore the directed differentiation and growth of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on the quaternary chitosan thermosensitive hydrogel scaffold and to look for more ideal tissue engineering materials for the treatment of nervous system damage.
METHODS:The thermosensitive hygrogel scaffold was prepared using hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan (HACC) andβ-glycerophosphate (β-GP). The spatial structure of scaffold was observed by scanning electronic microscope. Effect of leaching liquor from the HACC/β-GP scaffold on the viability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells was detected by (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The albumin from bovine serum was combined with the scaffold, and the slow-release effect of the scaffold was detected by ultraviolet absorption spectrometry. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were incubated onto the compound scaffold at 3 passages. The adhesion, growth and differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on the compound scaffold were observed by the scanning electron microscope. Neuron-specific enolase was detected by immunofluorescence.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The porosity and thermal sensitivity of HACC/β-GP scaffold and slow-release effect of glial cellline-derived neurotrophic factor were apparent. The results of MTT showed that the compound scaffold cannot take apparent negative effects to the proliferation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. After inoculation, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells permeated the porous structure of the scaffold and adhered to the scaffold. Under the role of glial cellline-derived neurotrophic factor, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells showed neuron-like cellmorphology and cells co-cultured with the compound scaffold expressed the marker of neurons, neuron-specific enolase. Under the role of slow-release glial cellline-derived neurotrophic factor, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can grow wel in vitro and differentiate into neuron-like cells on the HACC/β-GP scaffold.