Objective To investigate the relationship between brain white matter lesions (WML) and triglyceride glucose (TyG) index in non-diabetic elderly individuals based on magnetic resonance imaging. Methods A total of 523 non-diabetic elderly individuals aged ≥ 60 years were selected from Jinan, Shandong Province, China from June 2018 to December 2019. According to the quartiles of TyG index, there were 133 participants in the first quartile (Q1) group, 127 in the second quartile (Q2) group, 132 in the third quartile (Q3) group, and 131 in the fourth quartile (Q4) group. All participants underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate paraventricular, deep, and total WML volumes, as well as Fazekas scores. Results Compared with Q1, Q2, and Q3 groups, Q4 group showed significant increase in periventricular, deep, and total WML volumes (P < 0.05). The proportion of participants with a Fazekas score ≥ 2 in the periventricular, deep, and total WML was higher in the Q4 group compared with the Q1 and Q2 groups (P < 0.05). The proportion of participants with a Fazekas score ≥ 2 in deep WML was higher in Q4 group than in Q3 group (P < 0.05). TyG index was significantly positively correlated with periventricular, deep, and total WML volumes (r = 0.401, 0.405, and 0.445, P < 0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, TyG index was still significantly positively correlated with periventricular, deep, and total WML volumes (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that compared with Q1 group, the risk of Fazekas score ≥ 2 in periventricular WML was 1.950-fold (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.154-3.294, P = 0.013) in Q3 group and 3.411-fold (95% CI: 1.984-5.863, P < 0.001) in Q4 group, the risk of Fazekas score ≥ 2 in total WML was 2.529-fold (95%CI: 1.444-4.430, P = 0.001) in Q3 group and 4.486-fold (95%CI: 2.314-8.696, P < 0.001) in Q4 group. The risk of Fazekas score ≥ 2 in deep WML was 2.953-fold (95%CI: 1.708-5.106, P < 0.001) in Q4 group compared with Q1 group. Conclusion Increased TyG index is an independent risk factor for WML in non-diabetic elderly individuals.

Objective:To translate the Illness Identity Questionnaire (IIQ) into Chinese and test its reliability and validity.Methods:The English version of IIQ was translated into Chinese and back-translated according to the Brislin model. The item of the Chinese version was determined after cross-cultural adaptation and pre-experiment. A total of 368 patients with IBD treated in the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University from September 2022 to March 2023 were selected for a questionnaire survey to evaluate the reliability and validity of the questionnaire.Results:The Chinese version of IIQ contained 24 items in four dimensions. Four common factors were extracted by exploratory factor analysis, and the cumulative variance contribution rate was 64.025%. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that each fitting index of the modified model was within the acceptable range. The Cronbach's α coefficients of rejection, acceptance, engulfing, and enrichment in Chinese IIQ were respectively 0.780, 0.800, 0.921, and 0.917. The split-half reliability coefficients were 0.824, 0.818, 0.943, and 0.929; the retest reliability coefficients were 0.695, 0.667, 0.725, and 0.572, respectively.Conclusions:The Chinese version of IIQ is reliable and valid and can be used to assess illness identity in patients with chronic diseases.

Objective To explore the predictive value of systemic immune inflammatory index(SII),systemic inflammatory response index(SIRI),neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio(NLR),lymphocyte to monocyte ratio(LMR),platelet to lymphocyte radio(PLR),albumin to globulin(AGR)and heat shock protein 90α(HSP90α)in Fuhrman grade of clear cell renal cell carcinoma(ccRCC).Methods From October 2019 to August 2022,212 patients who underwent surgical treatment for ccRCC were divided into low-grade tumor group and high-grade tumor group according to Fuhrman grade.The independent influencing factors of Fuhrman grading were determined by univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis,and the predictive value of each inflammatory index to Fuhrman grading was evaluated by drawing Receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC).We constructed the line chart prediction model and evaluated the effectiveness of the model.Results The preoperative levels of SII,PLR,AGR,HSP90α and the maximum diameter of tumor were significantly different between high-grade group and low-grade group(P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that the maximum diameter of tumor,PLR,AGR and HSP90α were independent influencing factors of Furhman grade.By drawing the ROC curve,it was found that the area under the curve(AUC)of PLR,AGR and HSP90α to predict Furhman grade were 0.641,0.675 and 0.696.In addition,the Furhman grade line chart prediction model had good prediction ability,the AUC was 0.789(95％CI:0.717～0.862),the sensitivity was 61.80％,and the specificity was 85.40％.Conclusions There was a significant correlation between inflammation-related indexes in peripheral blood and Furhman grade of clear cell renal cell carcinoma.The Furhman grade line chart prediction model based on the maximum diameter of tumor and peripheral blood inflammation index has good predictive ability.

After undergoing the long-term lived experience of symptoms and suffering, chronic patients change the understanding of self and try to create or regain a coherent sense of self, resulting in different degrees of illness identity. This research reviewed the origin, connotation, assessment tools, and summarized the performance level, influencing factors and intervention studies of illness identity in patients with chronic disease. It would provide references for research of illness identity, and to provide new ideas for promoting patients with chronic diseases to cope with and manage diseases.

Most of lichens are formed by Ascomycota, less than 1% are lichenized Basidiomycota. The flora investigation of lichenized Ascomycota of South Korea has been well studied in the past three decades; however, prior to this study, none of basidiolichens was discovered. During the recent excursion, an unexpected clavarioid basidiolichen, Sulzbacheromyces sinensis was collected. Morphology and ecology has been recorded in detail. DNA was extracted, and ITS, 18S, 28S nuclear rDNA were generated. In order to further confirm the systematic position of the Korean specimens, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analysis including all the species of the order Lepidostromatales were conducted based on the ITS. As a result, the phylogenetic tree of the order Lepidostromatales was reconstructed, which differed from the previous studies. The inferred phylogenetic tree showed that species of Sulzbacheromyces in three different continents (Asia, South Africa and South America) were separated into three clades with support. In this study, the species worldwide distribution map of Lepidostromatales was illustrated, and S. sinensis had a widest distribution range (paleotropical extend to the Sino-Japanese) than other species (paleotropical or neotropical). Prior to this study, the range of distribution, southernmost and northernmost points and the fruiting time of S. sinensis were recorded, and the genus Sulzbacheromyces was firstly reported from Korean peninsula and Philippines.
Ascomycota ; Asia ; Basidiomycota ; DNA ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Ecology ; Fruit ; Geography ; Korea ; Lichens ; Philippines ; Phylogeny ; South Africa ; Trees

Objective To identify the pathogenesis gene mutation of a pedigree with Cockayne syndrome.Methods The peripheral blood samples of the patient and his family members were collected and the genomic DNA was then extracted.Whole exome sequencing(WES)was performed for proband′s DNA.The disease-causing mutations were identified by bioinformatics analysis and pedigree analysis. Meanwhile,the mutations were confirmed by Sanger sequencing.Results Two novel mutations in ERCC8 gene,including c.400-2A >G and c.394_398delATGTA(p.L132fs)were identified in proband.The splicing mutation originated from his father and changed the splice acceptor site AG to GG, thus possibly caused alternative splicing.The c.394_398delATGTA(p.L132fs)frameshifting mutation was inherited from his mother.The proband′s sister also carried the same compound heterozygous mutation and had the same phenotype as proband.Conclusion The pathogenesis ERCC8 gene mutation of this pedigree with Cockayne syndrome was identified by using whole exome sequencing.

Objective:To explore the early diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin(PCT),C-reactive protein (CRP) and endotoxin in patients with sepsis caused by bacterial bloodstream infection.Methods:Retrospectively analyzed 123 cases of patients diagnosed with sepsis induced by bacterial bloodstream infection in our hospital from May 2010 to May 2015,detected their serum PCT,CRP and endotoxin levels,and analyzed the evaluation value of these three indexes for sepsis induced by bacterial bloodstream infection by receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC).Results:Blood sample culture results showed that 123 cases of bacterial bloodstream infections caused by sepsis patients in the presence of infection of G+bacteria were 35 cases,G-bacteria infection of 88 cases;The levels of three index in the G+bacteria group were significantly lower than that in the G-bacteria group (P＜0.05);The serum PCT,CRP and endotoxin levels was positive correlated with each other among G+bacteria group,G-bacteria group and all bacteria group;ROC curves showed that the cutoff value of serum PCT,CRP and endotoxin for diagnosis of patients with sepsis induced by G+bacteria bloodstream infection were 1.58 μg/L,95.25 mg/L and 16.71ng/L,and their sensitivity and specificity were (65.92％,88.37％),(67.39％,84.38％) and (56.34％,78.93％) respectively;and the cutoff value for diagnosis of patients with sepsis induced by G-bacteria bloodstream infection were 2.45 μg/L,79.45 mg/L and 15.54 ng/L,their sensitivity and specificity were (78.73％,97.13％),(68.89％,92.38％) and (65.39％,95.33％)respectively.Conclusion:Detecting the serum PCT,CRP and endotoxin levels is helpful to identify patients with sepsis induced by G+ or G-bacteria bloodstream infection,with high sensitivity and specificity,which can be used in the early diagnosis of sepsis induced by bacterial bloodstream infection.

Objective: To evaluate the vitamin D nutritional status in Chinese women of child-bearing age by analyzing serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level in 2010-2012. Methods: Data were obtained from the China Nutrition and Health Survey in 2010-2012. Using cluster sampling and proportional stratified random sampling, 1 514 women of child-bearing age (18-44 years old) from 34 metropolis and 41 small and medium-sized cities were included in this study. Demographic information was collected by questionnaire and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay, in accordance with the 2010 Institute of Medicine of the National Academies standards. We compared differences in vitamin D levels, specifically serious deficiency, lack of deficiency, insufficiency, and excess. Results: The overall serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of Chinese urban women of child-bearing age (P₅₀ (P₂₅-P₇₅)) was 20.1 (15.1-26.3) ng/ml; minorities had a significantly higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of 22.0 (15.9-27.5) ng/ml compared with women of Han nationality (19.8 (14.9-26.2) ng/ml) (χ²=7.02, P=0.008). The proportions of women with serious deficiency, lack of deficiency, insufficiency, and excess vitamin D were 11.6% (n=175), 37.9% (n=574), 35.1% (n=531), and 0.3% (n=5), respectively. Only 15.1% (n=229) of women of child-bearing age had normal vitamin D nutritional status. No significant differences in vitamin D nutritional status were observed according to age, body mass index, city, nationality, educational level, marital status, or household income per capita (P>0.05). Conclusion Most Chinese urban women of child-bearing age have poor vitamin D levels and require vitamin D supplementation.

Objective: To assess the vitamin A nutritional status of the Chinese urban elderly population by analyzing serum retinol level in 2010-2012. Methods: Data were collected from the Chinese National Nutrition and Health Survey in 2010-2012. Using the multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method, serum samples from elderly residents aged ≥60 years old were obtained from 34 metropolis and 41 middle-sized and small cities. Demographic data were collected using a questionnaire survey. The serum retinol concentration was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) was determined using the World Health Organization guidelines. A total of 3 200 elderly residents were included in the study. The serum retinol levels and prevalence of VAD and marginal VAD were also compared. Results: The serum retinol concentration (P₅₀(P₂₅-P₇₅)) of Chinese urban elderly residents was 1.83 (1.37-2.39) μmoL/L. Compared with middle-sized and small cities (1.91 (1.47-2.48) μmol/L), the retinol level of senior citizens in metropolis (1.70 (1.25-2.25) μmol/L) was significantly lower (P<0.001). The serum retinol levels of elderly male (1.89 (1.37-2.47) μmoL/L) was significantly higher than that of female (1.80 (1.36-2.28) μmoL/L) (P=0.001). The serum retinol concentration was 1.87 (1.42-2.43), 1.78 (1.32-2.33), and 1.71 (1.24-2.24) μmol/L for 60-69, 70-79, and ≥80 years olds, respectively. The retinol level in elderly people ≥70 years olds was significantly lower than that of 60-69 years olds (P<0.001). The overall prevalence of VAD among Chinese urban elderly residents was 4.22% (135/3 200); 6.00% (81/1 350) for metropolis residents and 2.92% (54/1 850) for middle-sized and small city residents. The overall marginal VAD rate of Chinese urban elderly residents was 8.19% (262/3 200); 10.51% (142/1 350) for metropolis residents and 6.49% (120/1 850) for medium-sized and small city residents. The prevalence of VAD and marginal VAD for males was 3.87% (61/1 577) and 8.24% (130/1 577), respectively (P<0.05). The prevalence of VAD according to age group was 3.65% (72/1 975), 4.96% (50/1 008), and 5.99% (13/217), respectively(P=0.097). The prevalence of marginal VAD according to age group was 6.99% (138/1 975), 9.82% (99/1 008), and 11.52% (25/217), respectively(P=0.05). Conclusion Chinese urban elderly residents showed various levels of VAD, although marginal VAD was quite common. As VAD was more common in metropolis residents and older residents, specific strategies should target these populations.