Objective:To describe the distribution of lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] levels in non-arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) population in China and explore its influencing factors.Methods:This study was based on a nested case-control study in the CKB study measured plasma biomarkers. Lp(a) levels was measured using a polyclonal antibody-based turbidimetric assay certified by the reference laboratory and ≥75.0 nmol/L defined as high Lp(a). Multiple logistic regression model was used to examine the factors related to Lp(a) levels.Results:Among the 5 870 non-ASCVD population included in the analysis, Lp(a) levels showed a right-skewed distribution, with a M ( Q1, Q3) of 17.5 (8.8, 43.5) nmol/L. The multiple logistic regression analysis found that female was associated with high Lp(a) ( OR=1.23, 95% CI: 1.05-1.43). The risk of increased Lp(a) levels in subjects with abdominal obesity was significantly reduced ( OR=0.68, 95% CI: 0.52-0.89). As TC, LDL-C, apolipoprotein A1(Apo A1), and apolipoprotein B(Apo B) levels increased, the risk of high Lp(a) increased, with OR (95% CI) for each elevated group was 2.40 (1.76-3.24), 2.68 (1.36-4.93), 1.29 (1.03-1.61), and 1.65 (1.27-2.13), respectively. The risk of high Lp(a) was reduced in the HDL-C lowering group with an OR (95% CI) of 0.76 (0.61-0.94). In contrast, an increase in TG levels and the ratio of Apo A1/Apo B(Apo A1/B) was negatively correlated with the risk of high Lp(a), with OR (95% CI) of 0.73 (0.60-0.89) for elevated triglyceride group, and OR (95% CI) of 0.60 (0.50-0.72) for the Apo A1/B ratio increase group (linear trend test P≤0.001 except for Apo A1). However, no correlation was found between Lp(a) levels and lifestyle factors such as diet, smoking, and physical activity. Conclusions:Lp(a) levels were associated with sex and abdominal obesity, but less with lifestyle behaviors.

Objective:To study the clinicopathological features of Sjogren′s syndrome (SS) with liver injury and to improve the understanding of this disease.Methods:Forty-nine patients with SS complicated with liver injury were collected from Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University from October 2008 to January 2022. All patients underwent ultrasound-guided liver biopsy, and all specimens were stained with HE. The histopathologic characteristics were observed and the pathologic indexes were graded. Immunohistochemical stains for CK7, CK19, CD38, MUM1 and CD10 were performed by EnVision method; and special histochemical stains for reticulin, Masson′s trichrome, Rhodanine, Prussian blue, periodic acid Schiff (PAS) and D-PAS stains were conducted .Results:The age of patients ranged from 31 to 66 years, including 3 males and 46 females. SS combined with drug-induced liver injury was the most common (22 cases, 44.9%), followed by autoimmune liver disease (13 cases, 26.5%, including primary biliary cholangitis in eight cases, autoimmune hepatitis in 3 cases, and PBC-AIH overlap syndrome in 2 cases), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD, 9 cases, 18.4%) and other lesions (5 cases, 10.2%; including 3 cases of nonspecific liver inflammation, 1 case of liver amyloidosis, and 1 case of porto-sinusoidal vascular disease). Among them, 28 cases (57.1%) were associated with obvious interlobular bile duct injury, mainly in SS combined with PBC group and drug-induced liver injury group. Twenty-three cases (46.9%) were associated with hepatocyte steatosis of varying degrees. In SS with autoimmune liver disease group, ISHAK score, degree of fibrosis bile duct injury, bile duct remodeling, lymphocyte infiltration of portal area, and plasma cell infiltration, MUM1 and CD38 expression; serum ALP and GGT, IgM; elevated globulin; positive AMA, proportion of AMA-M2 positive and IgM positive were all significantly higher than those in other groups(all P<0.05). Serum ALT, direct bilirubin and SSA positive ratio in SS combined with drug liver group were significantly higher than those in other groups(all P<0.05). The serum total cholesterol level in SS combined with PBC group ( P=0.006) and NALFD group ( P=0.011) were significantly higher than those in other groups ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The pathologic manifestations of SS patients with liver injury are varied. The inflammatory lesions of SS patients with autoimmune liver disease are the most serious, and the inflammatory lesions of SS patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-specific inflammation are mild. Comprehensive analysis of liver histopathologic changes and laboratory findings is helpful for the diagnosis of SS complicated with different types of liver injury.

Background::Homoharringtonine (HHT) is an effective anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-tumor protein synthesis inhibitor that has been applied clinically. Here, we explored the therapeutic effects of HHT in a mouse heart transplant model.Methods::Healthy C57BL/6 mice were used to observe the toxicity of HHT in the liver, kidney, and hematology. A mouse heart transplantation model was constructed, and the potential mechanism of HHT prolonging allograft survival was evaluated using Kaplan–Meier analysis, immunostaining, and bulk RNA sequencing analysis. The HHT-T cell crosstalk was modeled ex vivo to further verify the molecular mechanism of HHT-induced regulatory T cells (Tregs) differentiation. Results::HHT inhibited the activation and proliferation of T cells and promoted their apoptosis ex vivo. Treatment of 0.5 mg/kg HHT for 10 days significantly prolonged the mean graft survival time of the allografts from 7 days to 48 days ( P <0.001) without non-immune toxicity. The allografts had long-term survival after continuous HHT treatment for 28 days. HHT significantly reduced lymphocyte infiltration in the graft, and interferon-γ-secreting CD4 + and CD8 + T cells in the spleen ( P <0.01). HHT significantly increased the number of peripheral Tregs (about 20%, P <0.001) and serum interleukin (IL)-10 levels. HHT downregulated the expression of T cell receptor (TCR) signaling pathway-related genes ( CD4, H2-Eb1, TRAT1, and CD74) and upregulated the expression of IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF) -β pathway-related genes and Treg signature genes ( CTLA4, Foxp3, CD74, and ICOS). HHT increased CD4 + Foxp3 + cells and Foxp3 expression ex vivo, and it enhanced the inhibitory function of inducible Tregs. Conclusions::HHT promotes Treg cell differentiation and enhances Treg suppressive function by attenuating the TCR signaling pathway and upregulating the expression of Treg signature genes and IL-10 levels, thereby promoting mouse heart allograft acceptance. These findings may have therapeutic implications for organ transplant recipients, particularly those with viral infections and malignancies, which require a more suitable anti-rejection medication.

Objective:To systematically evaluate the psychological experience of cancer bereaved, so as to provide basis for bereavement care and intervention.Methods:Qualitative studies on the emotional experiences of cancer bereaved were searched in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, VIP, and China Biomedical Database. The search period was from database establishment to July 2023. The quality evaluation was conducted using the 2020 version of the quality evaluation criteria for qualitative research of the Joanna Briggs Institute Evidence-Based Health Care Center, and the results were integrated using the Meta-synthesis.Results:A total of 11 studies were included, 44 research results were extracted, and 8 new categories and 3 integrated results were summarized, namely the differences in grief emotions after bereavement, grief coping, and support needs after bereavement.Conclusions:The psychological experience of bereaved is relatively complex, and their grief emotions vary. Medical and nursing staff should pay attention to the grief response of the bereaved, guide them to self-adjustment, attach importance to the needs of the bereaved, and provide social support to assist them in returning to society as soon as possible.

The correlation between hearing loss (HL) and physical performance in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) remains poorly investigated. This study explored the association between HL and physical performance in patients on MHD. Methods: This multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted between July 2020 and April 2021 in seven hemodialysis centers in Shanghai and Suzhou, China. The hearing assessment was performed using pure-tone average (PTA). Physical performance was assessed using the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), handgrip strength, and gait speed. Results: Finally, 838 adult patients (male, 516 [61.6%]; 61.2 ± 2.6 years) were enrolled. Among them, 423 (50.5%) had mild to profound HL (male, 48.6% and female, 53.4%). Patients with HL had poorer physical performance than patients without HL (p < 0.001). TUGT was positively correlated with PTA (r = 0.265, p < 0.001), while handgrip strength and gait speed were negatively correlated with PTA (r = –0.356, p < 0.001 and r = –0.342, p < 0.001, respectively). Physical performance in patients aged <60 years showed significant dose-response relationships with HL. After adjusting for confounders, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for HL across the TUGT quartiles (lowest to highest) were 1.00 (reference), 1.15 (0.73–1.81), 1.69 (1.07–2.70), and 2.87 (1.69–4.88) (p for trend = 0.005). Conclusion: Lower prevalence of HL was associated with a faster TUGT and a stronger handgrip strength in patients on MHD.

Surgical treatment is the first choice for patients with aortic stenosis(AS)and hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy(HOCM),this article reports a case of a high-risk surgical patient who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement(TAVR)after undergoing percutaneous septal embolization with microspheres(PSEM)to treat left ventricular outflow tract(LVOT)obstruction.A 77-year-old male patient was admitted due to chest tightness and shortness of breath post physical activities.Echocardiography showed signs of severe aortic valve stenosis(mean gradient:53 mmHg)and HOCM(peak LVOT gradient:93 mmHg).The risk of cardiac surgery is extremely high.Multidisciplinary decision was reached in that PSEM strategy should be performed at first to relieve LVOT obstruction,followed by TAVR to treat aortic valve stenosis.After embolization of the first septal branch with microparticles,the peak LVOT gradient decreased to 15 mmHg immediately post PSEM.TAVR was performed at 6 days post PSEM,the postoperative aortic valve pressure gradient decreased to 2 mmHg.The patient was discharged without complications.

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness of transcutaneous lower eyelid blepharoplasty with a skin flap reserving the pretarsal fullness.Methods:From November 2017 to April 2022, a retrospective analysis was performed to assess the reserving of pretarsal fullness after the transcutaneous lower blepharoplasty with a skin flap in the Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, General Hospital of Southern Theater Command, PLA. A subciliary incision was made below the ciliary margin and a skin flap was elevated at the surface of pretarsal orbicularis. The muscle was partially split at the position of pretarsal crease, leaving the pretarsal orbicularis oculi muscle and the pretarsal crease intact. Preseptal dissection was proceeded down to the level of arcus marginalis, exposing the orbital fat pads. For patient with tear trough deformity or volume deficiency in the medial cheek, retaining ligament laxity and fat repositioning were routinely performed. The muscle wound was closed edge to edge and the excess skin was excised conservatively. Postoperative complications were recorded. Face-Q scale was used for surgical decision and postoperative satisfaction evaluation. The scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating less regret the operation or greater satisfaction. The preoperative and postoperative digital photographs were used to evaluate the change of pretarsal fullness.Results:256 patients were included, of whom 233 cases were women and 23 cases were men. The age was (43.0±10.2) years. 24 cases had concomitant lateral canthoplasty due to hypotonia of lower eyelid, 22 had concomitant upper blepharoplasty, and 21 cases had brow lift surgery to correct upper eyelid relaxation. All patients had follow-up for (3.7±4.1) months, most patients were satisfied with the operation results. A total of 211 patients maintained a natural pretarsal fullness postoperatively, with the rate of 82.4%. The Face-Q satisfaction score was (75.8±18.6) and the surgical decision score was (80.3±15.4), indicating that most patients did not regret the operation. Postoperative complications included 8 cases of eyelid bags undercorrection, of whom 4 patients underwent secondary resection. 7 patients experienced infraorbital bulge for the uneven placement of the fat pad, 2 of them required revision surgery. Hematoma occurred in 4 cases and was resolved by hematoma clearance. Other complications included 3 cases of ectropion and 2 cases of minimal tear trough correction. Lower eyelid ectropion was corrected in one case.Conclusion:Reserving the pretarsal fullness in transcutaneous lower eyelid blepharoplasty with a skin flap provides excellent aesthetic results and high patient satisfaction. This technique is simple and effective.

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness of transcutaneous lower eyelid blepharoplasty with a skin flap reserving the pretarsal fullness.Methods:From November 2017 to April 2022, a retrospective analysis was performed to assess the reserving of pretarsal fullness after the transcutaneous lower blepharoplasty with a skin flap in the Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, General Hospital of Southern Theater Command, PLA. A subciliary incision was made below the ciliary margin and a skin flap was elevated at the surface of pretarsal orbicularis. The muscle was partially split at the position of pretarsal crease, leaving the pretarsal orbicularis oculi muscle and the pretarsal crease intact. Preseptal dissection was proceeded down to the level of arcus marginalis, exposing the orbital fat pads. For patient with tear trough deformity or volume deficiency in the medial cheek, retaining ligament laxity and fat repositioning were routinely performed. The muscle wound was closed edge to edge and the excess skin was excised conservatively. Postoperative complications were recorded. Face-Q scale was used for surgical decision and postoperative satisfaction evaluation. The scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating less regret the operation or greater satisfaction. The preoperative and postoperative digital photographs were used to evaluate the change of pretarsal fullness.Results:256 patients were included, of whom 233 cases were women and 23 cases were men. The age was (43.0±10.2) years. 24 cases had concomitant lateral canthoplasty due to hypotonia of lower eyelid, 22 had concomitant upper blepharoplasty, and 21 cases had brow lift surgery to correct upper eyelid relaxation. All patients had follow-up for (3.7±4.1) months, most patients were satisfied with the operation results. A total of 211 patients maintained a natural pretarsal fullness postoperatively, with the rate of 82.4%. The Face-Q satisfaction score was (75.8±18.6) and the surgical decision score was (80.3±15.4), indicating that most patients did not regret the operation. Postoperative complications included 8 cases of eyelid bags undercorrection, of whom 4 patients underwent secondary resection. 7 patients experienced infraorbital bulge for the uneven placement of the fat pad, 2 of them required revision surgery. Hematoma occurred in 4 cases and was resolved by hematoma clearance. Other complications included 3 cases of ectropion and 2 cases of minimal tear trough correction. Lower eyelid ectropion was corrected in one case.Conclusion:Reserving the pretarsal fullness in transcutaneous lower eyelid blepharoplasty with a skin flap provides excellent aesthetic results and high patient satisfaction. This technique is simple and effective.

Objective: To explore the association between self-reported gingival bleeding and prevalent hypertension among adults in Zhejiang with a cross-sectional study. Methods: After excluding participants with self-reported, physician-diagnosed heart diseases, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and those who never or rarely brush their teeth at baseline study, 48 625 participants aged 30-79 in the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) study from Tongxiang, Zhejiang were included for the final analysis. Three multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) for the associations of self-reported gingival bleeding with prevalent hypertension. Results: The mean age of women was (51.2±9.2) years, and 42.9% of participants had prevalent hypertension. The percentage of self-reported frequent gingival bleeding was 6.56% (95%CI: 6.38%-6.75%), significantly higher among women (8.08%, 95%CI: 7.82%-8.35%) than among men (4.36%, 95%CI: 4.12%-4.60%) (P<0.001). After adjusting for socio-demographic factors, behavioral lifestyle, sleep duration, BMI, waist circumference, snoring, in comparison with men whose gingivae never or rarely bleed while brushing teeth, the odds ratio (95%CI) of hypertension for those with occasional, and frequent gingival bleeding were 1.04 (0.96-1.12) and 1.18 (1.02-1.37), respectively (trend P =0.038). The corresponding figures for women were 0.96 (0.91-1.02) and 0.95 (0.86-1.05), respectively (trend P=0.344). Conclusion: Frequent gingival bleeding was positively associated with prevalent hypertension among men.
Adult ; China/epidemiology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Gingival Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension/epidemiology* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Self Report

Chromosome microarray analysis (CMA) has become the first-tier testing for chromosomal abnormalities and copy number variations (CNV). This review described the clinical validation of CMA, the development and updating of technical standards and guidelines and their diagnostic impacts. The main focuses were on the development and updating of expert consensus, practice resources, and a series of technical standards and guidelines through systematic review of case series with CMA application in the literature. Expert consensus and practice resource supported the use of CMA as the first-tier testing for detecting chromosomal abnormalities and CNV in developmental and intellectual disabilities, multiple congenital anomalies and autism. The standards and guidelines have been applied to pre- and postnatal testing for constitutional CNV and tumor testing for acquired CNV. CMA has significantly improved the diagnostic yields but still needs to overcome its technical limitations and face challenges of new technologies. Guiding and governing CMA through expert consensus, practice resource, standards and guidelines in the United States has provided effective and safe diagnostic services to patients and their families, reliable diagnosis on related genetic diseases for clinical database and basic research, and references for clinical translation of new technologies.
Child ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Developmental Disabilities/genetics* ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability/genetics* ; Microarray Analysis ; United States