Objective To investigate the relationship between the expression levels of thyroid transcription factor-1(TTF-1)and Galectin-3 in differentiated thyroid carcinoma(DTC)tissues and clinical manifestations and prognosis of patients.Methods A total of 76 DTC patients admitted to the hospital from January 1,2017 to May 30,2020 were selected as the study objects.Cancer tissue specimens obtained during surgery were in-cluded in the DTC group(n=76),and corresponding paracancer tissue specimens were included in the para-cancer group(n=76).The expressions of TTF-1 and Galectin-3 in DTC group and paracancer group were de-tected by immunohistochemistry,and the relationship between the expression levels of TTF-1 and Galectin-3 and the clinicopathological characteristics of DTC patients was analyzed.Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to investigate the prognostic factors of DTC patients.Results The positive expression rates of TTF-1 and Galectin-3 in DTC group were higher than those in paracancer group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The TTF-1 positive expression rate and Galectin-3 positive expression rate in DTC pa-tients with TNM stage Ⅲ to Ⅳ,low differentiation,tissue type of papillary thyroid carcinoma and lymph node metastasis were higher than those in DTC patients with TNM stage Ⅰ to Ⅱ,medium/high differentiation,tis-sue type of thyroid follicular carcinoma and no lymph node metastasis.The difference was statistically signifi-cant(P＜0.05).The 3-year overall survival rate of TTF-1 negative and Galectin-3 negative DTC patients was higher than that of TTF-1 positive and Galectin-3 positive DTC patients,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that lymph node metastasis,positive TTF-1 and positive Galectin-3 were prognostic factors in DTC patients(P＜0.05).Conclusion TTF-1 and Galectin-3 are related to TNM stage,differentiation degree,tissue type,lymph node metastasis and 3-year sur-vival rate of DTC patients,and have important reference value for the diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of DTC patients.

Objective:To investigate the Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori) infection of Tibetan families and individuals in the Western Sichuan Plateau region and explore the related factors which affected H. pylori infection. Methods:This was a single-center cross-sectional study. Questionnaires were collected from 50 Tibetan families including 155 individuals in Western Sichuan Plateau region during March to May 2023. The 13C-urea breath test was performed to confirm the current infection status of participants. Binary logistic regression were used to analyze the related factors associated with H. pylori infection. Results:Among the 50 Tibetan households, the individual-based H. pylori infection rate was 47.10%(73/155), with two out of nine children and 48.63%(71/146) adults infected. The age group of 18 to 40 years had the highest infection rate (55.00%, 11/20). The prevalence of infection based on family was 80.00%(40/50), of which 16.00%(8/50) had all family members infected. Of the 59 couples surveyed, 23.73%(14/59) were both infected, and 45.76%(27/59) had one person infected. Of the six families which had children and adolescents, two households had their children infected. Logistic regression analysis showed that size of the family was a factor related to H. pylori infection (odds ratio=3.038, 95% confidence interval 1.043 to 10.491, P=0.042). Conclusions:The family-based H. pylori infection rate is relatively high in Tibetan residents in the Western Sichuan Plateau, and larger family size is related with higher risk of H. pylori infection within the family.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of arthroscopic superior capsular reconstruction using composite autologous patch graft combined with tenodesis of the long head of the biceps tendon in the treatment of irreparable massive rotator cuff tears (IMRCT).Methods:A retrospective case series study was performed on 11 IMRCT patients who were admitted to Affiliated Fuyang Hospital of Bengbu Medical University (Fuyang People′s Hospital) from May 2020 to June 2022, including 7 males and 4 females, aged 54-74 years [(62.6±7.3)years]. All the patients were treated with arthroscopic superior capsular reconstruction using composite patch graft combined with tenodesis of the long head of the biceps tendon. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Acromiohumeral Distance (AHD), Constant-Murley score and University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) score and active range of motion of the shoulder joint before, at 6 months after surgery and at the last follow-up were compared. At the last follow-up, the integrity of reconstructed superior capsule and the long head of the biceps tendon was evaluated using MRI of the shoulder joint. Postoperative complications were observed.Results:All the patients were followed up for 13-39 months [16(13, 36)months]. The VAS score, AHD, Constant-Murley score, and UCLA score were 2(2, 3)points, (9.1±1.1)mm, (56.1±5.4)points, and (19.7±2.8)points respectively at 6 months after surgery, which were all significantly improved from those before surgery [6(5, 7)points, (5.1±1.2)mm, (37.9±2.2)points, and (11.8±1.2)points] ( P<0.05). The VAS score, AHD, Constant-Murley score, and UCLA score were 0(0, 1)points, (8.4±0.9)mm, (83.6±3.8)points, and (28.2±2.3)points respectively at the last follow-up, which were all significantly improved from those before surgery ( P<0.05). At the last follow-up, the VAS score or AHD were not significantly improved from those at 6 months after surgery ( P>0.05); Constant-Murley score and UCLA score were both significantly improved from those at 6 months after surgery ( P<0.05). At 6 months after surgery, shoulder active ranges of motion in forward flexion, abduction and external rotation were (134.6±13.5)°, (124.6±18.6)° and 45(40, 50)° respectively, which were all significantly improved compared with those before surgery [(63.2±36.1)°, (65.0±23.1)°, and [30(20, 40)°] ( P<0.05). At the last follow-up, shoulder active ranges of motion in forward flexion, abduction and external rotation were (144.1±12.6)°, (139.6±15.4)° and 60(45, 65)° respectively, which were all significantly improved compared with those before surgery ( P<0.05). There were no significant differences in active range of motion of the shoulder in forward flexion, abduction and external rotation between 6 months after surgery and the last follow-up ( P>0.05). At the last follow-up, MRI revealed integrity of the reconstructed superior joint capsule and the long head of the biceps tendon in 10 patients. One patient developed resorption of the greater tuberosity and 1 showed a partial tear of the supraspinatus tendon at 1 year after surgery. Conclusion:Arthroscopic superior capsular reconstruction using composite autologous patch graft combined with tenodesis of the long head of the biceps tendon can relieve shoulder pain, decrease upward displacement of the humerus head, improve the function and range of motion of the shoulder joint, and reduce complications in the treatment of IMRCT.

With the wide application of phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation, many cataract patients have effectively recovered vision. Postoperative intraocular lens opacification is an important indicator for evaluating biocompatibility, as it affects the visual quality of patients. The manifestation and risk factors of opacification vary among different materials used for intraocular lenses. However, better visual quality after surgery is not determined by a single factor. The material of the intraocular lens and the patient's response to the intraocular lens are all factors that affect the postoperative visual quality. With the continuous advancement of technology, an increasing number of new materials are being applied in the field of intraocular lenses. Fully understanding the characteristics of intraocular lens materials, selecting suitable intraocular lens for patients and reducing complications caused by materials will be beneficial to patients. The characteristics of different intraocular lens materials and the risk factors of opacification after intraocular lens implantation were discussed in this paper.

Objective The leptin receptor,encoded by the LEPR gene,is involved in tumorigenesis.A potential functional variant of LEPR,rs1137101(Gln223Arg),has been extensively investigated for its contribution to the risk of digestive system(DS)cancers,but results remain conflicting rather than conclusive.Here,we performed a case-control study and subsequent meta-analysis to examine the association between rs1137101 and DS cancer risk. Methods A total of 1,727 patients with cancer(gastric/liver/colorectal:460/480/787)and 800 healthy controls were recruited.Genotyping of rs1137101 was conducted using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP)assay and confirmed using Sanger sequencing.Twenty-four eligible studies were included in the meta-analysis. Results After Bonferroni correction,the case-control study revealed that rs1137101 was significantly associated with the risk of liver cancer in the Hubei Chinese population.The meta-analysis suggested that rs1137101 is significantly associated with the risk of overall DS,gastric,and liver cancer in the Chinese population. Conclusion The LEPR rs1137101 variant may be a genetic biomarker for susceptibility to DS cancers(especially liver and gastric cancer)in the Chinese population.

Extremely unbalanced data here refers to datasets where the values of independent or dependent variables exhibit severe unbalance in proportions, such as extremely unbalanced case-control ratio, very low incidence rate of disease, heavily censored time-to-event data, and low-frequency or rare variants. In such scenarios, the statistic derived from hypothesis test using the classical statistical method, e.g., logistic regression model and Cox proportional hazard regression model, might deviate from theoretical asymptotic distribution, resulting in inflation or deflation of type I error. With the increased availability and exploration of resources from large-scale population cohorts in genome-wide association study (GWAS), there is a growing demand for effective and accurate statistical approaches to handle extremely unbalanced data in independent and non-independent samples. Our study introduces classical statistical methods in genetic statistics firstly, then, summarizes the failure of classical statistical methods in dealing with extremely unbalanced data through simulation experiments to draw researchers' attention to the extremely unbalanced data in GWAS.

Objective:To analyze the distribution pattern of TCM syndrome elements in elderly patients with sepsis and septic shock, as well as the relationship between TCM syndrome elements, Sepsis Sequential Organ Failure Score (SOFA), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Score Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ), and short-term mortality prognosis.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 58 patients treated in the Emergency Department and ICU of Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and the Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine from January 1, 2021, to May 1, 2022. The patients were divided into a sepsis group of 38 cases and a septic shock group of 20 cases based on disease type. Basic information, TCM syndromes, SOFA score, and APACHE Ⅱ score of the two groups were collected. The survival and death statuses of the two groups within 28 days of admission were separately analyzed. Association rule analysis was used to investigate the distribution pattern of TCM syndromes in patients, and logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the relationship between TCM syndromes, SOFA score, APACHE Ⅱ score, and death prognosis.Results:In the sepsis group, the main TCM syndromes included yin deficiency, lung, phlegm, qi deficiency, blood stasis, heat, and yang deficiency; while in the septic shock group, the main TCM syndromes were yin deficiency, lung, yang deficiency, and qi deficiency. Multifactor logistic regression analysis showed that in the sepsis group, liver syndromes [ OR (95% CI)=0.080 (0.011, 0.578), P=0.012], meridians and collaterals [ OR (95% CI)=0.088 (0.011, 0.718), P=0.024], SOFA score [ OR (95% CI)=0.524 (0.310, 0.886), P=0.016], and APACHE Ⅱ score [ OR (95% CI)=0.426 (0.186, 0.977), P=0.044] were independent influencing factors for patient mortality prognosis. In the septic shock group, phlegm [ OR (95% CI)=0.014 (0.001, 0.267), P=0.005], meridians and collaterals [ OR (95% CI)=0.041 (0.003, 0.618), P=0.021], yang deficiency [ OR (95% CI)=0.028 (0.002, 0.427), P=0.010], SOFA score [ OR (95% CI)=0.543 (0.310, 0.950), P=0.032], and APACHE Ⅱ score [ OR (95% CI)=0.633 (0.408, 0.985), P=0.042] were independent influencing factors for patient mortality prognosis. Conclusions:The sepsis group mainly exhibits a mixture of deficiency and excess, while the septic shock group predominantly shows deficiency. Qi deficiency and yin deficiency are consistent throughout the disease progression. Meridians and collaterals, high SOFA score, and high APACHE Ⅱ score in elderly patients with sepsis and septic shock may indicate a poorer prognosis.

Background and aims:Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),which is prevalent worldwide and has a high mortality rate,needs to be effectively diagnosed.We aimed to evaluate the significance of plasma microRNA-15a/16-1(miR-15a/16)as a biomarker of hepatitis B virus-related HCC(HBV-HCC)using the machine learning model.This study was the first large-scale investigation of these two miRNAs in HCC plasma samples. Methods:Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction,we measured the plasma miR-15a/16 levels in a total of 766 participants,including 74 healthy controls,335 with chronic hepatitis B(CHB),47 with compensated liver cirrhosis,and 310 with HBV-HCC.The diagnostic performance of miR-15a/16 was examined using a machine learning model and compared with that of alpha-fetoprotein(AFP).Lastly,to validate the diagnostic efficiency of miR-15a/16,we performed pseudotemporal sorting of the samples to simulate progression from CHB to HCC. Results:Plasma miR-15a/16 was significantly decreased in HCC than in all control groups(P＜0.05 for all).In the training cohort,the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC),sensitivity,and average precision(AP)for the detection of HCC were higher for miR-15a(AUC=0.80,67.3％,AP=0.80)and miR-16(AUC=0.83,79.0％,AP=0.83)than for AFP(AUC=0.74,61.7％,AP=0.72).Combining miR-15a/16 with AFP increased the AUC to 0.86(sensitivity 85.9％)and the AP to 0.85 and was significantly superior to the other markers in this study(P＜0.05 for all),as further demonstrated by the detection error tradeoff curves.Moreover,miR-15a/16 impressively showed potent diagnostic power in early-stage,small-tumor,and AFP-negative HCC.A validation cohort confirmed these results.Lastly,the simulated follow-up of patients further validated the diagnostic efficiency of miR-15a/16. Conclusions:We developed and validated a plasma miR-15a/16-based machine learning model,which exhibited better diagnostic performance for the early diagnosis of HCC compared to that of AFP.

With the continuous development of new ultrasound imaging technology and ultrasound contrast agent preparation technology,contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)has gradually attracted the attention of clinicians due to its advantages such as non-invasive,no kidney damage,low cost,and real-time peripheral perfusion imaging,and it has been gradually employed in the diagnosis,treatment and follow-up of diseases,especially in the coronary artery diseases and tumor lesions.In the field of interventional diagnosis and treatment of vascular diseases,its application is still in the exploratory stage,and patients with vascular diseases are often accompanied by cardiac and renal insufficiency and thus are in a critical condition,in this case the patients could not be able to receive contrast-enhanced CT scan.CEUS can partly replace enhanced CT angiography(CTA),therefore,it has great clinical application prospects in the field of interventional diagnosis and treatment of vascular diseases.With the microbubble technology being rapidly applied in the field of cardiovascular medicine,its application in the field of interventional diagnosis and treatment of vascular diseases is also of great clinical significance.In this regard,this review,through searching the research literature,summarizes the current application status of CEUS technology in the field of interventional diagnosis and treatment of vascular diseases,so as to provide a basis for the further application and expansion of this technology in this field.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of endovascular interventional therapy for spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection(SISMAD).Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinical data of 87 patients with SISMAD who were admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University from March 2012 to March 2023 were collected. There were 80 males and 7 femals, aged 54(49,61)years. Of 87 patients, 55 cases undergoing conservative therapy were allocated into conservative therapy group and 32 cases under-going endovascular interventional therapy were allocated into endovascular interventional therapy group. Observation indicators: (1) clinical characteristics; (2) treatment; (3) follow-up. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M( Q1, Q3), and comparison between groups was conducted using the rank sum test. Count data were represented as absolute numbers and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Results:(1) clinical characteristics. There were significant differences in the cases with symptoms, percentage of neutrophils between the conservative therapy group and the endovascular interventional therapy group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the proportion of Yun classification between the two groups ( P>0.05). (2)Treatment. There were significant differences in the complete vascular remodeling, duration of hospital stay, and total expenses between the conservative therapy group and the endovascular interventional therapy group ( χ2=23.752, t=-4.213, -16.421, P<0.05). There were 34 patients in the conservative therapy group and 24 patients in the endovascular interventional therapy group with relieved abdominal pain, respectively, showing no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). For symptomatic patients in the conservative therapy group, symptoms including abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hematochezia were relieved or disappeared, and no intestinal ischemia or rupture occurred. For patients in the endovascular interventional therapy group, 30 cases were implanted stents, the operation time was 115(86,155)minutes, volume of intraoperative blood loss was 5(5,10)mL, dose of contrast media was (200±51)mL. There were 23, 8 and 1 cases with the contrast medium as Iodoxanol, Ioprosamide, Iodohexanol, respectively. About the surgical methods, 14 patients received single bare stent implantation, 3 cases received bare stent-assisted coil embolization, 10 cases received multiple bare stent implantation, 3 cases received covered stent implantation, 2 cases received angiography alone. A total of 39 self-expandable bare metal stents and 3 self-expandable covered stents were implanted. The diameter and length of the stents were (6.5±1.0)mm and (69±23)mm, respectively. Two asymptomatic patients had failure in endovascular interventional therapy and underwent superior mesenteric artery angiography. For the endovascular interventional therapy group, 92.3%(24/26) of patients were relieved abdominal pain and 2 patients with abdominal pain were improved after symptomatic treatment. (3) Follow-up. All the 87 patients were followed up for 12(4,24)months, without recurrent abdominal pain or secondary intervention. During the follow-up, 82 patients underwent computed tomography angiography or ultrasonography, and 5 patients had no available results. There was no SISMAD related death or superior mesenteric artery rupture. Eight patients in the conservative therapy group achieved complete vascular remodeling, versus 21 cases in the endovascular interventional therapy group, showing a significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=23.752, P<0.05). Conclusions:Compared with conservative therapy, patients undergoing endovascular interventional therapy for SISMAD has loner hospital stay, higher total costs, higher complete vascular remodeling rate. There is no recurrent abdominal pain in two methods.