Background: The incidence density of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and the effect of a healthy lifestyle on the risk of MAFLD remain unknown. We evaluated the prevalence and incidence density of MAFLD and investigated the association between healthy lifestyle and the risk of MAFLD. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 37,422 participants to explore the prevalence of MAFLD. A cohort analysis of 18,964 individuals was conducted to identify the incidence of MAFLD, as well as the association between healthy lifestyle and MAFLD. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) with adjustments for confounding factors. Results: The prevalence of MAFLD, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and their comorbidities were 30.38%, 28.09%, and 26.13%, respectively. After approximately 70 thousand person-years of follow-up, the incidence densities of the three conditions were 61.03, 55.49, and 51.64 per 1,000 person-years, respectively. Adherence to an overall healthy lifestyle was associated with a 19% decreased risk of MAFLD (HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.72 to 0.92), and the effects were modified by baseline age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). Subgroup analyses revealed that younger participants, men, and those with a lower BMI experienced more significant beneficial effects from healthy lifestyle. Conclusion Our results highlight the beneficial effect of adherence to a healthy lifestyle on the prevention of MAFLD. Health management for improving dietary intake, physical activity, and smoking and drinking habits are critical to improving MAFLD.

Objective:To investigate the level and clinical significance of peripheral blood CD4 +T cell subpopulations in late-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Methods:This study included 260 SLE patients hospitalized in the Rheumatology and Immunology Department of the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2016 to December 2021: of whom 58 and 202 were late- (≥50 years) and adult-(18~49 years) onset patients. This study also included 160 subjeces as healthy controls(HCs), of whom 35 and 125 were Control Group 1 (≥50 years) and Control Group 2 (18~49 years). Peripheral blood CD4 +T lymphocyte subsets of these participants were assessed by flow cytometry. The clinical data of all patients and healthy controls (HCs)were recorded. The differences between the groups were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test or χ2 test. Results:(1)The time of diagnosis of late-onset SLE was longer than that of adult-onset SLE [Median time: 5.0 (2.0, 24.0)months vs 3.0 (1.0, 7.3)months, Z=-3.13, P=0.002]. Compared with adult-onset SLE, the SLEDAI score of late-onset SLE was lower [12.0 (8.0, 15.2) vs 14.0 (10.0, 18.0), Z=-2.12, P=0.034]. Some manifestations occurred more frequently in late-onset SLE, such as weight loss, nausea, abdominal pain, cerebral infarction, interstitial pneumonitis, Sj?gren′s syndrome and infection. The manifestations of skin and mucos a occurred less frequently in late-onset SLE. (2)CD4 +T cell subpopulations: ①The absolute counts of Treg, Th17, Th1 and Th2 cells in the peripheral blood of patients with late-onset SLE were significantly lower than those of HCs [Treg: 10.94 (6.14, 19.23) vs 32.65 (28.07, 41.65), Z=-6.79, P<0.001; Th17: 3.43 (0.94, 5.64) vs 6.13 (3.77, 7.82), Z=-3.24, P=0.001; Th1: 36.02 (10.80, 76.38) vs 128.70(89.82, 159.89), Z=-5.29, P<0.001; Th2:3.56 (1.56, 6.06) vs 8.25 (4.69, 12.98), Z=-4.57, P<0.001]. The ratio of Th17/Treg cells was higher than that of HCs[0.28(0.13, 0.59) vs 0.17 (0.12, 0.28), Z=-2.38, P=0.017].②The absolute counts of Treg, Th17, Th1 and Th2 cells in peripheral blood of patients with adult-onset SLE were significantly lower than those of HCs [Treg: 10.28 (5.37, 17.04) vs.30.19 (21.20, 39.75), Z=-11.28, P<0.001; Th17: 3.44 (1.84, 6.14) vs 6.48 (4.23, 10.66), Z=-6.53, P<0.001; Th1: 29.59(15.14, 56.81) vs 90.75(42.67, 162.00), Z=-7.01, P<0.001; Th2: 2.74 (1.62, 4.77) vs 8.25 (4.75, 11.99), Z=-9.91, P<0.001]. The ratio of Th17/Treg was higher than that of HCs[0.35 (0.17, 0.65) vs 0.23(0.14, 0.37), Z=-3.89, P<0.001].③The ratios of Th17/Treg in patients with late-and adult-onset SLE were higher than those of HCs. The ratio of Th17/Treg was the highest in adult-onset SLE patients. Conclusion:Patients with late-onset SLE have reduced numbers of Treg cells and the immune imbalanced of Th17/Treg. However, the immune imbalance of Th17/Treg in late-onset SLE patients is milder than that in adult-onset SLE patients, which may be related to lower disease activity.

Objective:To investigate the level of peripheral blood regulatory T cells in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its clinical significance.Methods:A total of 191 patients with RA in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University and 86 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled from January 2019 to January 2021. All peripheral blood CD4 + T lymphocyte subsets of participants were assessed by flow cytometry. Patients were divided into RA-CVD group ( n=71) and RA only group ( n=120) and their clinical data were recorded. The differences between the groups were analyzed by Independent-Samples t test, Mann-Whitney U test or χ2 test, and risk factors that affected CVD were analyzed using Logistic regression. Results:① The age of patients and the proportion of male patients in the RA-CVD group were significantly higher than those in the RA only group [age: (64±10) years old vs (56±12) years old, t=-4.16, P<0.001; male patients: 35 cases vs 31 cases, χ2=10.86, P=0.001]. ② The level of Treg cells in the peripheral blood of patients with RA only and RA-CVD groups was significantly lower than that of HCs ( Z=-4.14, P<0.001; Z=-6.27, P<0.001), while the numbers of peripheral Th17 cells in the two groups of patients were not significantly different from those of HCs ( P>0.05). The ratios of Th17/Treg cells in the two group patients were higher than those of HCs, but only the difference between RA-CVD patients and HCs was significant ( Z=-5.49, P<0.001). ③ Compared with the RA only group, the absolute number of Treg cells in peripheral blood of RA-CVD group was significantly lower [19.00(13.62, 26.73) vs 24.94 (19.32, 34.12), Z=-3.19, P=0.001], the level of Th17 cells was significantly higher [absolute number: 7.77 (3.86, 13.64) cell/μl vs 5.59 (3.49, 8.91) cells/μl, Z=-2.14, P=0.033; percentage: 1.37%(0.78, 2.00)% vs 0.80%(0.56, 1.24)%, Z=-4.20, P<0.001], and the ratio of Th17/Treg cells was significantly higher [0.40(0.24, 0.62) vs 0.23(0.14, 0.35), Z=-4.46, P<0.001]. ④ Logistic regression analysis showed that Treg cell [ OR(95% CI)=0.934 (0.903, 0.967)] was a protective factor, while elder age [ OR(95% CI)=1.038(1.003, 1.074), male [ OR(95% CI)=2.450(1.005, 5.973)], hypertension [ OR(95% CI)=2.654 (1.219, 5.779)] and Th17 cell [ OR (95% CI)=1.066 (1.019, 1.116)] were risk factors of RA complicated with CVD. Conclusion:The level of Treg cells in peripheral blood of RA patients with CVD decreases significantly, and the immune imbalance of Th17/Treg is more singificant than that of RA patients without CVD. It is suggested that the immune imbalance and dysfunction caused by the number and/or functional deficiency of Treg cells may be involved in the occurrence and development of RA complicated with CVD.

BACKGROUND: Re-biopsy of metastasis in advanced breast cancer (ABC) has become an international convention to assist the diagnosis and evaluation of tumor heterogeneity. This study aimed to detect diagnostic diversity and inconsistencies among estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression levels between primary and metastatic lesions. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 1670 cases of ABC patients who had undergone at least one lesion re-biopsy from January 2010 to December 2018. The pathological diagnosis of biopsies, distribution of biopsy sites, and severe puncture complications at each site were collected. In addition, the inconsistency rates and related factors of ER, PR, and HER2 expression between primary and metastatic lesions were analyzed fully considering patients' demographic profiles and disease characteristics. RESULTS: In total, 1670 cases of breast cancer (BC) patients diagnosed by pathology underwent one to four biopsies of recurrences or metastases in different sites or at different stages during the rescue treatment, producing 2019 histopathological specimens which were analyzed in the study. Pathological diagnosis showed that eight patients had benign pathological diagnoses, 11 patients had second primary malignant tumors but without recurrences of breast cancer, and 17 patients had pathologically confirmed breast cancer recurrences combined with second primary cancer. In 1173 patients who presented ER, PR, and HER2 expressions in primary and metastatic lesions, the inconsistency rates of ER, PR, and HER2 were 17.5% (205/1173), 31.3% (367/1173), and 13.9% (163/1173), respectively. The multivariate analysis showed that the age at the onset of breast cancer or adjuvant endocrine therapy was an independent factor affecting changes in PR expression level. Except one liver puncture with local hemorrhage and two lung punctures with hemopneumothorax, no other severe puncture complications occurred in 1950 non-surgical rebiopsies. CONCLUSIONS The pathological diagnosis of metastasis re-biopsy of ABC was diverse, and the ER, PR, and HER2 expression levels were inconsistent between primary and metastatic lesions. Therefore, more attention should be paid to perform biopsies of relapsed and metastatic breast cancers routinely in clinical practice.
Humans ; Female ; Breast Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Retrospective Studies ; Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism* ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology* ; Receptors, Progesterone/metabolism* ; Receptor, ErbB-2/metabolism* ; Receptors, Estrogen/metabolism* ; Biopsy ; Neoplasm Metastasis

Objective:To explore the application value of real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE) in evaluating the characteristics and regularities of left atrial volume and function changes in patients with hyperthyroidism and hyperthyroid heart disease.Methods:Fifty-six patients who were diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and hyperthyroid heart disease without treatments in Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from March 2020 to September 2020 were selected. They were divided into hyperthyroidism group(30 patients) and hyperthyroid heart disease group (26 patients). Another 30 healthy volunteers were selected as the control group. The following parameters were obtained by RT-3DE left atrial automatic quantification technology, left atrial minimum, maximum, presystolic volume index(LAVImin, LAVImax, LAVIpreA), left atrial passive, active emptying volume index and stroke volume index (LAVIp, LAVIa, LAVIEV), left atrial passive, active, total ejection fraction(LApEF, LAaEF, LAEF), during left ventricular systole, early diastole, late diastole left atrial longitudinal strain (LASr, LAScd, LASct) and circumferential strain (LASr-c, LAScd-c, LASct-c). The differences of the above parameters between the two groups were compared.Results:Compared with the control group, LAVImax, LAVIpreA, LAaEF, LAVIEV, LAVIa, LASr, LASct-c increased and LApEF decreased in the hyperthyroidism group (all P<0.05). While, LAVImin, LAVImax, LAVIpreA and LAVIEV increased, and LAaEF, LApEF, LAEF, LASct, LAScd-c and LASr-c decreased in hyperthyroid heart disease group(all P<0.05). Compared with the hyperthyroidism group, LAVImin, LAVImax and LAVIpreA in hyperthyroid heart disease group were further increased, while LAEF, LAaEF, LASr, LASr-c, LASct, LASct-c and LAScd-c were decreased (all P<0.05). LAEF were positively correlated with LASr and LASr-c ( r=0.617, 0.837; all P<0.01), LApEF were positively correlated with LAScd and LAScd-c ( r=0.620, 0.800, all P<0.01), LAaEF were positively correlated with LASct and LASct-c ( r=0.680, 0.727; all P<0.01). Conclusions:In the patients with hyperthyroidism, the left atrial reserve and systolic function are increased, which are still in the compensation stage, and the pipeline function is decreased. The left atrial reserve, pipeline and systolic function in the hyperthyroid heart disease patients are all decreased, and the pipeline function may be impaired earlier than the systolic and reserve function.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma is one of the most common thyroid cancer subtypes. Although papillary thyroid carcinoma can be treated effectively with excision, microwave ablation, radioactive iodine and hormone replacement therapy, these ways are inefficient in reducing its morbidity, mortality and recurrence rates. Therefore, it is very important to seek the molecular mechanism of the occurrence and development of papillary thyroid carcinoma, to provide effectively early diagnosis, accurate treatment and better long-term prognosis for papillary thyroid carcinoma patients. This paper summarizes the molecular regulatory mechanisms of non-coding RNAs and their related signaling pathways in the occurrence and development of papillary thyroid carcinoma, in order to provide evidence for continued research of biomarkers for papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Objective:To establish a set of comprehensive appraisal indicator system for the full-time scientific research personnel in Level-three general hospitals, improve the management of full-time scientific research personnel at hospital.Methods:Firstly, an initial indicator system was established by literature review and in-depth interviews with experts. Secondly, Delphi method was used to screen the indicators to confirm the indicator system. Finally, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to determine the weights of indicators at all levels, consistency tests were also conducted.Results:A set of comprehensive appraisal index system for full-time scientific research personnel in Level-three general hospitals was established, including four first-level indicators, which covered the comprehensive quality, scientific research capacity, scientific research performance and academic impact, as well as other 17 secondary indicators and 53 third-level indicators. Among these indicators, the scientific research performance has the largest weight value (0.5224), and according to the consistency test results, CR was less than 0.1. Besides, through the consistency test, the weight assignment is reasonable.Conclusions:The appraisal index system of full-time scientific research personnel in Level-three general hospitals is reliable. It can be used as a tool for evaluation of full-time scientific research personnel, which also provide reference for other hospitals to improve the management of full-time scientific research personnel.

Objective : To explore the clinical effect of composite resin inlays in repairing large areas of primary molar defects after root canal treatment to provide a reference for the restoration of carious primary molars. Methods: Thirty-eight primary molars of 32 children were selected as the research objects. Indirect restoration with composite resin inlays was performed after root canal therapy. The clinical efficacy was evaluated in terms of five indices, including restoration retention, marginal integrity, gingival status, anatomical morphology and secondary caries, according to the modified USHPS evaluation criteria, at 6, 12 and 18 months after restoration. Results : During the 18-month follow-up period, 36 of the 38 teeth were successfully restored, and all the evaluated items reached grade A or B. Six months after the repair, one prosthesis had fallen off, resulting in a success rate of 97.37% (37/38). The success rate remained 97.37% (37/38) 12 months after the repair; 18 months after the repair, another prosthesis had failed(Marginal integrity and anatomical morphology were grade C), reducing the success rate to 94.74% (36/38). There was no significant difference in the success rate of resin inlay repair at 6, 12 or 18 months (χ2=0.518, p=0.772). Conclusion Composite resin inlay restoration is an alternative method for repairing primary molars with large defects after root canal treatment.

Objective: To investigate the clinical outcome of expanded frontotemporal flap pedicled with bilateral superficial temporal vessels, in repairing facial and cervical scar contracture deformity. Methods: From January 2012 to December 2017, 12 male patients with severe facial and cervical scar hyperplasia and contracture deformity, ranging from preauricular region, cheek, chin to neck, were treated in the Burn Department of the First People′s Hospital in Zhengzhou. The patients were aged at 15-58 years, with the mean age of 29.3 years. The frontotemporal scalp flaps were simultaneously expanded to prefabricate a flap pedicled with bilateral superficial temporal arteries and veins. The operations were carried out in 3 stages. Stage Ⅰ: A 400-600 ml cylindrical expander was placed in the frontal region, underneath of galea aponeurosis and frontal muscle, meanwhile, a 50-100 ml cylindrical expander was placed in the temporal region on each side, between the deep temporal fascia and temporal muscle. Stage Ⅱ: The expanded flap pedicled with bilateral superficial temporal vessels were received, to repair the secondary wound after scar resection and contracture release. The neck curve was reshaped. The donor area was directly sutured. Stage Ⅲ: The flap pedicle was repaired, and residual scar was removed. Laser hair removal was performed on the skin flaps about 3 weeks after operation. Results: Seven patients underwent simultaneously cervical and thoracic tissue expansion. The expansion time was 5-6 months (average 5.2 months). The expanded flap was 40 cm×9 cm to 45 cm×15 cm in size. All flaps survived. The venous reflux disorder after the second stage operation occurred in 1 patient. The affected area was purple and swollen. It was recovered after acupuncture and compression bandage for 1 week. Laser hair removal was performed in 8 flaps. Flap thinning was performed in 5 flaps. All 12 patients were followed up for 4 to 24 months. The flaps have good appearance, without bloating. The transferred flaps have similar color and texture with adjacent the facial skin. The cervical mobility was significantly improved. The hairline of the head was normal, and the suture scar was slight and concealed. Conclusions The expanded frontal and temporal flaps provide considerable amount of tissue with thin skin and reliable blood supply. It is an alternative method to repair facial and cervical scar contracture.

Objective To investigate the level of vitamin D in patients with membranous nephropathy and its correlation with proteinuria. Methods Eighty patients with membranous nephropathy were selected from May 2012 to May 2017 in the Department of Nephrology,Shijiazhuang First Hospital. They were divided into two groups with 40 cases in each group. The control group was given prednisolone acetate orally,while the study group was given prednisolone acetate and active vitamin D orally. All patients were followed up for 1 year. Blood urea nitrogen ( BUN), serum creatinine ( Scr), C-reactive protein ( CRP ), cholesterol (TC),triglyceride (TG),calcium (Ca),phosphorus (P),parathyroid hormone (PTH),urinary protein,1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 ( 1, 25 ( OH) 2D3) and transforming growth factor-beta ( TG) were measured monthly. F-beta 1 ) and other related biochemical indicators were recorded. Results Before treatment,the level of 1,25(OH) 2D3 in the control group was (3. 67+3. 67) μg／L,while that in the study group was (3. 69+3. 70) μg／L. There was no significant difference ( t＝1. 259,P＞0. 05) . One year after treatment,the level of 1,25(OH) 2D3 in the control group was (4. 87+2. 92) μg／L,while that in the study group was (19. 58+12. 12) μg／L,which was significantly higher in the study group than in the control group (t＝12. 384,P＜0. 05). Serum 1,25 (OH) 2D3 levels were positively correlated with blood calcium,plasma albumin,podocyte and TGF-β1 (r＝0. 301,0. 387,0. 342 and 0. 181,respectively,P＜0. 05); serum 1,25 ( OH) 2D3 levels were negatively correlated with blood phosphorus content,total cholesterol and 24 h urinary protein quantity (r value was －0. 265,－0. 033 and －0. 265,respectively,P＜0. 05) . Serum albumin was an independent factor of serum 1, 25 ( OH ) 2D3 ( P＜0. 05 ) . Conclusion The serum albumin is an independent risk factor for 1, 25 ( OH ) 2D3 in patients with membranous nephropathy. Vitamin D is negatively correlated with proteinuria. Active vitamin D has a better effect on proteinuria in patients with membranous nephropathy.