The early diagnosis of Alzheimer′s disease (AD) has long been a challenge in the field of medicine. In recent years, research on blood biomarkers of AD has flourished, which holds significant promise for advancing the early diagnosis, monitoring, and early intervention of AD. With the new generation of ultra-sensitive detection techniques, a series of studies have successfully validated core biomarkers, non-specific biomarkers, and other relevant biomarkers of AD in blood. However, the use of blood-based biomarkers for the diagnosis and prediction of AD still faces some challenges related to accuracy and robustness. This article compiles and analyzes the advances, strengths, and limitations of each type of biomarkers, and provides several potential strategies to address these challenges.

Objective To explore the potential categories of fatigue trajectory in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy and analyze the influencing factors.Methods Convenience sampling method was used to select 426 patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy who were hospitalized in a tertiary hospital in Jiangsu Province from April 2022 to April 2023.General information and disease related data of the patients were collected,and the Chinese version of Multi-dimensional Fatigue Scale,Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Scale,Social support Rating Scale,pain number rating scale and Tampa scale of kinetophobia were used to investigate at discharge(T1).The Chinese version of multi-dimensional fatigue scale was used to investigate 3 months after discharge(T2),6 months after discharge(T3),and 12 months after discharge(T4).A mixed growth model was used to identify the potential categories of fatigue trajectory and logistic regression were employed to analyze the influencing factors of fatigue.Results 414 patients finished the study.Three categories of fatigue trajectory in the patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy were identified:significantly increasing group(19.6%),slowly increasing group(47.8%),and decreasing group(32.6%).Logistic regression analysis showed that age,sleep,social support,number of comorbidities,body mass index(BMI),pain and fear of exercise were the factors influencing the potential categories of fatigue trajectory in the DPN patients.Conclusions There are three potential categories of fatigue trajectories in DPN patients.Age,sleep disorders,social support,comorbidities,BMI,pain score,and exercise fear were influencing factors of fatigue in patients with DPN.

Portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) is one of the common complications of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a high mortality rate. Several studies have shown that active implementation of effective treatment can significantly improve the quality of life and prolong survival of HCC patients with PVTT. In recent years, with the continuous development of molecular biology and molecular immunology, the treatment of advanced liver cancer has shifted from single agent to combination therapy, among which, the combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors and other systemic or local therapies has attracted much attention. This treatment strategy has shown good efficacy in some large-scale clinical trials. With the deepening of relevant research, it is believed that this treatment scheme will bring more hope and opportunities to such patients.

Objective To explore the potential categories of self-management behavior in prediabetes patients and analyze the influencing factors of different potential categories.Methods A convenient sampling method was used to select pre-diabetic patients treated in physical examination centers and endocrinology outpatient clinics in 2 tertiary A hospitals in Jiangsu Province from September 2022 to June 2023.General data questionnaire,Prediabetic Disease Knowledge Questionnaire,Prediabetes Self-management Scale,Diabetes Self-efficacy Scale and Social Support Rating Scale were used for investigation.Results A total of 445 subjects were included in this study,with an average age of(44.92±4.98)years.4 potential categories of self-management behavior were identified,namely low self-management(16.4％),static self-management(19.1％),dynamic self-management(25.6％)and high self-management(38.9％).Occupational status,marital status,family per capita monthly income,family history of diabetes,disease knowledge,self-efficacy and social support were the influencing factors of self-management behavior in prediabetes patients(P＜0.05).Conclusion There are significant category characteristics of self-management behavior in patients with prediabetes.Medical staff can identify the category characteristics and influencing factors early,and provide bases for medical staff to formulate targeted clinical intervention measures to help patients improve their self-management level.

Objective To explore the expression levels of serum microRNA-1-3p (miR-1-3p) and activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) in elderly patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and their relationships with cognitive impairment. Methods A total of 150 elderly patients with CHF were selected as the study subjects. Based on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score, the patients were divided into cognitive impairment group (n=75) and normal cognitive function group (n=75). Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the serum miR-1-3p levels in both groups. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to measure the serum ATF4 levels in the two groups. Pearson correlation analysis was applied to analyze the correlation between serum miR-1-3p and ATF4 level in elderly CHF patients with cognitive impairment. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the influencing factors of cognitive impairment in elderly CHF patients. The predictive value of serum miR-1-3p and ATF4 levels for cognitive impairment in CHF patients was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), MoCA score and serum miR-1-3p level were significantly lower in the cognitive impairment group, while the N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level and serum ATF4 level were significantly higher than those in the normal cognitive function group (P < 0.05). There was a negative correlation between serum miR-1-3p level and serum ATF4 level in elderly CHF patients with cognitive impairment (r=-0.523, P < 0.001). Both miR-1-3p and ATF4 were identified as influencing factors for cognitive impairment in elderly CHF patients (P < 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) for predicting cognitive impairment in elderly CHF patients using a combination of serum miR-1-3p and ATF4 was significantly greater than the AUCs for prediction of serum miR-1-3p or ATF4 alone (P < 0.05 or P < 0.001). Conclusion The expression level of serum miR-1-3p is positively correlated while the expression of serum ATF4 is negatively correlated with cognitive function in elderly CHF patients. The serum miR-1-3p and ATF4 may serve as potential markers for evaluating cognitive impairment in elderly CHF patients.

Objective: To investigate the species, concentration and seasonal trends of main airborne allergenic pollen in 4 districts and 5 counties of Hohhot City. Methods: The Department of allergy, Beijing Shijitan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University conducted a cross-sectional study about monitoring the airborne allergenic pollen from August 1, 2021 to July 31, 2022 by the gravitational method in 4 districts and 5 counties of Hohhot City, which include Yuquan District, Xincheng District, Huimin District, Saihan District, Tuoketuo County, Helingeer County, Tumotezuoqi County, Wuchuan County and Qingshuihe County. Daily pollens were counted and identified by optical microscopy, and the data were analyzed. Results: The airborne allergenic pollen was collected every month all year round in 4 districts and 5 counties of Hohhot city. Through the whole year of the total quantity of pollens ranged from 24 850 to 50 154 grains per 1 000 mm² and two peaks of pollen concentration in air were observed,which happened in spring (from March to May) and in summer and autumn (from July to September). In spring, the main pollens were tree pollens, which principally distributed in Populus pollen (18.29%), Ulmus pollen (8.36%), Pinus pollen (6.20%), Cupressaceae pollen (5.23%), Betulaceae pollen (2.73%), Salix pollen (1.80%) and Quercus pollen (1.16%). In summer and autumn, the main pollens were weed pollens, which mainly included Artemisia pollen (42.73%), Chenopodiaceae pollen or Amaranthaceae pollen (7.46%), Poaceae pollen (2.26%), Humulus pollen or Cannabis pollen (0.60%). Conclusion: There were two peaks of main airborne allergenic pollen in 4 districts and 5 counties of Hohhot City. In the spring peak of pollen, the main airborne pollens were tree pollens. In the summer and autumn peak of pollen, the main airborne pollens were weed pollens. The Artemisia pollen was the most major airborne pollen in this area.
Humans ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Pollen ; Hospitals

Objective: To investigate the species, concentration and seasonal trends of main airborne allergenic pollen in 4 districts and 5 counties of Hohhot City. Methods: The Department of allergy, Beijing Shijitan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University conducted a cross-sectional study about monitoring the airborne allergenic pollen from August 1, 2021 to July 31, 2022 by the gravitational method in 4 districts and 5 counties of Hohhot City, which include Yuquan District, Xincheng District, Huimin District, Saihan District, Tuoketuo County, Helingeer County, Tumotezuoqi County, Wuchuan County and Qingshuihe County. Daily pollens were counted and identified by optical microscopy, and the data were analyzed. Results: The airborne allergenic pollen was collected every month all year round in 4 districts and 5 counties of Hohhot city. Through the whole year of the total quantity of pollens ranged from 24 850 to 50 154 grains per 1 000 mm² and two peaks of pollen concentration in air were observed,which happened in spring (from March to May) and in summer and autumn (from July to September). In spring, the main pollens were tree pollens, which principally distributed in Populus pollen (18.29%), Ulmus pollen (8.36%), Pinus pollen (6.20%), Cupressaceae pollen (5.23%), Betulaceae pollen (2.73%), Salix pollen (1.80%) and Quercus pollen (1.16%). In summer and autumn, the main pollens were weed pollens, which mainly included Artemisia pollen (42.73%), Chenopodiaceae pollen or Amaranthaceae pollen (7.46%), Poaceae pollen (2.26%), Humulus pollen or Cannabis pollen (0.60%). Conclusion: There were two peaks of main airborne allergenic pollen in 4 districts and 5 counties of Hohhot City. In the spring peak of pollen, the main airborne pollens were tree pollens. In the summer and autumn peak of pollen, the main airborne pollens were weed pollens. The Artemisia pollen was the most major airborne pollen in this area.
Humans ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Pollen ; Hospitals

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is one of the most lethal malignancies. Although gemcitabine (GEM) is a standard treatment for PAAD, resistance limits its application and therapy. Secoemestrin C (Sec C) is a natural compound from the endophytic fungus Emericella, and its anticancer activity has not been investigated since it was isolated. Our research is the first to indicate that Sec C is a broad-spectrum anticancer agent and could exhibit potently similar anticancer activity both in GEM-resistant and GEM-sensitive PAAD cells. Interestingly, Sec C exerted a rapid growth-inhibiting effect (80% death at 6 h), which might be beneficial for patients who need rapid tumor shrinkage before surgery. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) reverse assays show that Sec C sulfates cysteines to disrupt disulfide-bonds formation in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) proteins to cause protein misfolding, leading to ER stress and disorder of lipid biosynthesis. Microarray data and subsequent assays show that ER stress-mediated ER-associated degradation (ERAD) ubiquitinates and downregulates YAP to enhance ER stress via destruction complex (YAP-Axin-GSK-βTrCP), which also elucidates a unique degrading style for YAP. Potent anticancer activity in GEM-resistant cells and low toxicity make Sec C a promising anti-PAAD candidate.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of de novo malignancies (DNMs) after liver transplantation (LT) and to study the clinical management strategies.Methods:Adult LT recipients who were regularly followed-up in the Organ Transplantation Center, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from January 2005 to April 2021 were enrolled in this study. The clinical characteristics of DNMs were retrospectively analyzed. Of 601 LT recipients, there were 105 females and 496 males, aged (51.4±9.6) years old. They were divided into the DNMs group ( n=26) and the non-DNMs group ( n=575) according to whether there were DNMs on followed-up. Clinical data including age, sex, basic diseases before LT and operation time were collected. These patients were follow-up in outpatient clinics. Results:Twenty-six patients were diagnosed to develop DNMs after LT, but there were 28 DNMs (of which 2 patients were diagnosed to have DNMs twice). The incidence of DNMs after LT was 4.3% (26/601), the median time from LT to DNMs was 42 (20, 70) months, and the cumulative incidence rates of DNMs were 0.5%, 2.0%, 6.3%, 21.0% and 34.5% at 1, 3, 5, 10 and 15 years after LT, respectively. Among the 28 DNMs, digestive system tumors were most common, with 17 lesions (60.7%), followed by 3 lesions (11.1%) of lung cancer, 2 lesions (7.4%) of lymphoproliferative diseases, and 1 lesion (3.7%) of cervical cancer, thyroid cancer, soft palate cancer, eyelid cancer, laryngeal cancer, and prostate cancer. The follow-up time of 55.9 (36.6, 102.5) months in the DNMs group after LT was longer than the 33.4 (18.5, 58.9) months in the non-DNMs group ( P<0.001). The 1, 5, and 10 year survival rates of patients with DNMs after LT were 96.3%, 83.5%, and 49.8%, respectively. The 1, 5, and 10 year survival rates of patients with non-DNMs after LT were 94.5%, 77.7%, and 75.4%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the cumulative survival rates between the two groups (log rank=0.402, P=0.526). Conclusion:The incidence of DNMs in LT recipients was 4.3%. The majority of them were digestive system tumors. Early diagnosis and treatment of DNMs significantly improved the prognosis and quality of life of these patients.

Undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) has clinical and laboratory characteristics of connective tissue disorders, but it can not meet the diagnostic criteria of any specific disease. Pregnancy complicated with UCTD is one of the most common rheumatic diseases in women of childbearing age. UCTD will increase the risk of adverse events of pregnancy, such as spontaneous abortion, preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, small for gestational age,recurrent implantation failure and so on. Pregnancy may lead to recurrence, aggravation and even serious complications of UCTD; multidisciplinary monitoring and appropriate treatment can improve the pregnancy outcome.