Objective:To investigate the value of the ratio of heparin binding protein (HBP) to albumin (ALB) in diagnosis and predict the severity of Kawasaki disease shock syndrome (KDSS).Methods:This study was a retrospective study. Pediatric patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) admitted to the Children's Intensive Care Unit and department of Pediatric Emergency Center of Hunan Children's Hospital from January 2019 to May 2022 were enrolled. The HBP/ALB ratio was calculated according to HBP and serum ALB. The children were divided into three groups (low, medium, and high ratio groups) according to the median and upper and lower quartiles of the HBP/ALB ratio. The differences of each index among the three groups were compared. The receiver operating characteristic curves were drawn to evaluate the clinical value of the HBP/ALB ratio in diagnosis of KDSS and the severity of the disease.Results:A total of 111 cases were included in this study, including 28 cases in the low ratio group, 56 cases in the medium ratio group, and 27 cases in the high ratio group. There were 24 cases with coronary artery damage, 87 cases without coronary artery damage, 27 cases with abnormal ECG findings, and 17 children with KDSS (including 5 cases in the medium ratio group, and 12 cases in the high ratio group). The incidence of KDSS, coronary involvement, and abnormal electrocardiogram proportions in the high ratio group were significantly higher than those in the other two groups. Compared with low and medium ratio groups, the levels of cardiac troponin I, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, lactate, stroke output variation, trends in thoracic fluid content, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and D-dimer levels were higher in the high ratio group, while ALB and blood sodium levels were lower in the high ratio group (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in above indicators between the low and medium ratio groups (all P>0.05). The HBP/ALB ratio had a higher area under the curve, sensitivity, and specificity (0.942, 0.882, and 0.883, respectively) in predicting KDSS compared to HBP alone (0.776, 0.842, and 0.670, respectively). Conclusion:The HBP/ALB ratio could reflect the severity of children with KD and has certain clinical value for prognostic evaluation.

Objective To investigate the need for and utilization of health services among six Zhiguo ethnic minority groups in Yunnan Province,aiming to provide further evidence for the improvement of healthcare.Methods Using stratified random sampling,1921 individuals from six Zhiguo ethnic minority groups,aged 15 and above,were investigated with a structured questionnaire between August and December 2022.A structured questionnaire was used to collect participants'information on health service needs and utilization.Results Am-ong the surveyed participants,the two-week prevalence rate was found to be 22.54%,while the prevalence rate of chronic diseases was 38.52%.Among the residents,the risk of two-week prevalence was higher for females(OR=1.564),individuals aged≥60 years(OR=1.727),and those who reported poorer health utility value(OR=5.277),while it was lower for residents of Keno(OR=0.470)and Lahu(OR=0.659)ethnicity,as well as those who reported higher EQ-VAS scores(OR=0.446/0.174).Meanwhile,residents aged≥45 years(OR=3.392/7.072)were at higher risk for chronic disease prevalence,while it was lower for Keno ethnicity(OR=0.409),unmarried individuals(OR=0.479),and those with higher education levels(OR=0.629/0.603),higher EQ-VAS scores(OR=0.208)P<0.05.Additionally,among the participants,the treat-ment rate for two-week illness was 14.32%,while the non-treatment rate stood at 36.49%.Furthermore,the one-year hospitalization rate was reported as 19.89%,with a corresponding rate of individuals who needed hospitalization but did not receive it being recorded at 15.86%.Among the residents,the likelihood of treatment for two-week illness was higher for females(OR=1.461)and residents aged≥45 years(OR=1.510/1.560),whereas it was lower for individuals with higher EQ-VAS scores(OR=0.445).The likelihood of hospitalization within one year was also higher for residents aged≥60 years(OR=2.029)and individuals of Nu(OR=1.599),Lisu(OR=1.688),and Keno(OR=1.968)ethnicity,whereas those with high EQ-VAS scores(OR=0.325)had a lower risk(P<0.05).Conclusion In Yunnan Province,the need for healthcare services among six Zhiguo ethnic minority groups in this study is relatively low;however,the high prevalence of chronic diseases raises concerns.The utilization of healthcare services appears to be relatively sufficient,but the utilization of outpatient services still needs to be improved.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of hypomethylating agents (HMA) in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) .Methods:A total of 409 MDS patients from 45 hospitals in Zhejiang province who received at least four consecutive cycles of HMA monotherapy as initial therapy were enrolled to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HMA. Mann-Whitney U or Chi-square tests were used to compare the differences in the clinical data. Logistic regression and Cox regression were used to analyze the factors affecting efficacy and survival. Kaplan-Meier was used for survival analysis. Results:Patients received HMA treatment for a median of 6 cycles (range, 4-25 cycles) . The complete remission (CR) rate was 33.98% and the overall response rate (ORR) was 77.02%. Multivariate analysis revealed that complex karyotype ( P=0.02, OR=0.39, 95% CI 0.18-0.84) was an independent favorable factor for CR rate. TP53 mutation ( P=0.02, OR=0.22, 95% CI 0.06-0.77) was a predictive factor for a higher ORR. The median OS for the HMA-treated patients was 25.67 (95% CI 21.14-30.19) months. HMA response ( P=0.036, HR=0.47, 95% CI 0.23-0.95) was an independent favorable prognostic factor, whereas complex karyotype ( P=0.024, HR=2.14, 95% CI 1.10-4.15) , leukemia transformation ( P<0.001, HR=2.839, 95% CI 1.64-4.92) , and TP53 mutation ( P=0.012, HR=2.19, 95% CI 1.19-4.07) were independent adverse prognostic factors. There was no significant difference in efficacy and survival between the reduced and standard doses of HMA. The CR rate and ORR of MDS patients treated with decitabine and azacitidine were not significantly different. The median OS of patients treated with decitabine was longer compared with that of patients treated with azacitidine (29.53 months vs 20.17 months, P=0.007) . The incidence of bone marrow suppression and pneumonia in the decitabine group was higher compared with that in the azacitidine group. Conclusion:Continuous and regular use of appropriate doses of hypomethylating agents may benefit MDS patients to the greatest extent if it is tolerated.

Objective:To analyze the prevalence and related factors of depression symptom among middle-aged and older adults belonging to Zhiguo ethnic minority groups,who experienced relative isolation prior to mod-emization and bypassed the transitional period associated with feudal monarchy in Yunnan Province.Methods:Using stratified cluster sampling,a total of 1 035 individuals from Zhiguo ethnic minority groups were investigated with the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire(PHQ-9)to measure depression symptom scores(a total score≥5 was considered indicative of depression symptom).A self-administered questionnaire was utilized to investigate 24 cova-riates across five dimensions:sociodemographic,social-interpersonal network,mental health status,physical health status,and health behaviors.Results:Among the surveyed participants,231 individuals(22.32％)exhibited depres-sion symptoms.The logistic regression analysis showed that middle-aged and elderly people belonging to Zhiguo ethnic minority groups with occupations as laborers(OR=8.73),farmers(OR=7.34),and other professions(OR=7.13),those who reported feeling stressed or anxious in the last month(OR=5.43),those suffering from one(OR=2.81)or more chronic illnesses(OR=2.14),experiencing sleep problems(OR=3.74)/debilitating(OR=1.69)/mild-moderate pain(OR=2.23,4.37),and engaging in sedentary behavior(OR=2.27)were at higher risk for depressive symptoms.The risk of depressive symptoms was lower among middle-aged and elderly people be-longing to Zhiguo ethnic minority groups with higher social support scores(OR=0.96)and meaning in life scores(OR=0.96).Conclusion:The prevalence of depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly individuals of Zhiguo ethnic minorities is substantial,influenced by multiple factors.

Objective:To explore the clinical value of serum insulin combined with cardiac-related markers in evaluating the severity of sepsis associated encephalopathy (SAE).Methods:The clinical data of 130 children with sepsis who admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Hunan Children's Hospital from January 2018 to December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively, and the differences of serum insulin and cardiac-related markers in children with sepsis and SAE were compared.Results:The levels of serum insulin, creatine kinase isoenzyme, hypersensitive troponin T, and N-terminal cerebral urine peptide in the SAE group were significantly higher than those in the non-SAE group ( P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in heart rate and lactic acid ( P>0.05). The levels of serum insulin, creatine kinase isoenzyme, hypersensitive troponin T, N-terminal cerebral urine peptide and lactic acid in the death group were significantly higher than those in the survival group ( P<0.05), while the heart rate was not significantly different ( P>0.05). The area under ROC curve of serum insulin, creatine kinase isoenzyme, hypersensitive troponin T, and N-terminal cerebral urine peptide in predicting SAE were 0.841, 0.599, 0.700, and 0.667, respectively; in terms of judging the prognosis of sepsis, the area under ROC curve were 0.647, 0.669, 0.645, and 0.683, respectively; and in terms of judging the prognosis of children with SAE, the areas under the ROC curve were 0.509, 0.682, 0.666 and 0.555, respectively. Binary logistic regression equation was established with serum insulin, creatine kinase isoenzyme, hypersensitive troponin T, and N-terminal cerebral urine peptide: Y=8.153×NT-proBNP+1.704×CTnT-hs+27.121×insulin+0.946×CK-MB+1.573. The area under the ROC curve of the new variable Y in predicting sepsis SAE, evaluating the prognosis of sepsis, and predicting the prognosis of children with sepsis and SAE was 0.890, 0.756, and 0.729, respectively. Conclusions:Serum insulin, creatine kinase isoenzyme, hypersensitive troponin T, and N-terminal cerebral urine peptide can be used alone to determine the severity of sepsis and sepsis in children with SAE. The combined value of the four indicators is obviously better than that of the single indicator. The combined application of the four indicators may better evaluate the severity of sepsis and SAE.

Tumor-targeted immunotherapy is a remarkable breakthrough, offering the inimitable advantage of specific tumoricidal effects with reduced immune-associated cytotoxicity. However, existing platforms suffer from low efficacy, inability to induce strong immunogenic cell death (ICD), and restrained capacity of transforming immune-deserted tumors into immune-cultivated ones. Here, an innovative platform, perfluorooctyl bromide (PFOB) nanoemulsions holding MnO₂ nanoparticles (MBP), was developed to orchestrate cancer immunotherapy, serving as a theranostic nanoagent for MRI/CT dual-modality imaging and advanced ICD. By simultaneously depleting the GSH and eliciting the ICD effect via high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy, the MBP nanomedicine can regulate the tumor immune microenvironment by inducing maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) and facilitating the activation of CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T cells. The synergistic GSH depletion and HIFU ablation also amplify the inhibition of tumor growth and lung metastasis. Together, these findings inaugurate a new strategy of tumor-targeted immunotherapy, realizing a novel therapeutics paradigm with great clinical significance.

Objective:To explore the feasibility and effectiveness of four-dimensional analysis of wall thickness for judgment of femoral bone healing.Methods:The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed of the 29 patients who had been diagnosed with femoral bone malunion or bone nonunion at Department of Orthopaedics, Air Force Hospital of Eastern Military Theater of PLA from June 2014 to June 2019. They were 24 males and 5 females with an average age of 41.8 years (from 5 to 54 years). There were 25 cases of delayed union and 4 cases of nonunion (including 2 ones of hypertrophic nonunion and 2 ones of at-rophic nonunion). Mimics software 2.0 and the four-dimensional analysis of wall thickness were used to simulate and analyze the fracture bone healing of the patients at different time points. In comparison with the CT data of the contralateral healthy limb, the fracture bone healing was judged to assist the diagnosis of femoral union, delayed union and nonunion on the basis of the changing trends with time. The original clinical diagnoses were thus revised and the eventual clinical healing outcomes were observed.Results:All the patients were followed up for 1 to 4 years (mean, 14.9 months). Of them, bone union was clinically diagnosed in 13 (44.8%), delayed bone union in 12 (41.4%) and bone nonunion in 4 (13.8%). According to the judgment by four-dimensional analysis of wall thickness, the clinical diagnoses were modified as follows: 9 cases (31.0%) had bone union, 18 cases (62.1%) delayed bone union, and 2 cases (6.9%) bone nonunion. There were statistically significant differences between the 2 methods ( χ2=15.399, P=0.031). Conclusions:The four-dimensional analysis of wall thickness can be used to analyze quantitatively the femoral bone healing, providing a relatively objective basis for clinical diagnosis of bone nonunion and delayed bone union.

BACKGROUND: CT scan and differential modeling are used to analyze the fracture end, which is an effective method to judge the degree of bone healing. To obtain the high precision of differential modeling and simulation, how to select the optimal CT scanning parameters needs further research and analysis. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of different CT scanning parameters on modeling accuracy in personalized differential modeling analysis, to verify the accuracy and effectiveness of personalized differential modeling in the reduction of simulated target bone segments, and to explore the research value of this method in judging the degree of bone healing of long canals of lower extremities. METHODS: The model of internal fixation was established with porcine femur. Four groups of 80 kV-300 mA (group A-low dose), 120 kV-335 mA (group B-automatic tube current control system), 140 kV-300 mA (group C-manual setting comparison) and 140 kV-80 mA (group D-high kV and low mA) were used to scan the same object with the same pitch, slice thickness and environment. The scanning data of each group were selected, the same CT value range was used, and the differential modeling analysis method was used to model the target bone segment. The average area and maximum area of metal artifacts in CT scanning images, the average CT value, volume and maximum wall thickness peak after differential modeling analysis, the radiation amount under four groups of scanning conditions were compared to determine the reduction of metal artifacts, modeling accuracy and radiation, so as to select the optimal CT scanning parameters. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Artifact measurement method results: In group A, there were many metal artifacts, which obviously obstructed bone tissue, and had a possibility of missed diagnosis. In group D, there were minimal metal artifacts, less occlusion around bone tissue, but poor image contrast and high fog. The difference between group B and group C lay in the clarity of images, and the accuracy of diagnosis was basically the same. Therefore, the order of artifact size was as follows: group A > group B > group C > Group D. (2) Differential modeling analysis results: In group B, because of the smaller artifact and less loss of CT value, the simulated model was more close to the reality. Moreover, group B adopted the automatic tube current control system, which could obviously show that the radiation amount was smaller and more protective for patients. (3) It is confirmed that the CT scan under the condition of group B can effectively reduce the interference caused by metal artifacts, better retain the original information of CT gray value, and retain the density information of the target bone segment to the maximum extent. Therefore, when establishing differential modeling, the CT automatic tube current control system is used as the optimal CT scanning parameter, which not only improves the simulation accuracy of personalized differential modeling, but also increases the accuracy of calculation.

Objective: To understand changes and characteristics of bone mineral density(BMD)and early-stage bone turnover biochemical markers in elderly hip fracture patients of different genders. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study.A total of 1 161 elderly patients with hip fractures hospitalized in Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from May 2015 to December 2017 were enrolled.Based on gender, patients were divided into the female group(n=831)and the male group(n=330). Clinical data, BMD, serum type I procollagen amino terminal propeptide(P1NP), and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25-(OH)VD3], type I collagen cross-linked carboxy terminal peptide beta degradation products(β-CTX), osteocalcin(OC)and parathyroid hormone(PTH)were measured and compared between the two groups. Results: Of the 1 161 elderly patients with hip fractures, 831 were female and 330 were male.The BMD of the lumbar vertebrae and the total hip in the female and male groups showed that 30.4%(353/1 161)and 6.8%(79/1 161)had T≥-1.0 SD respectively; 36.6%(425/1 161)and 44.7%(519/1 161)had -2.5 SDP<0.05). Female BMD was significantly lower than that of male BMD(P<0.05). The BMD T values, which were significantly related to age, were recorded at the femoral neck and the total hip(femoral neck was better than total hip)for males and at total hip(the total hip T value is the most strongly related index)for females; (2)In the early stage of elderly hip fractures, 25-(OH)VD₃ was significantly lower than normal, and bone resorption and bone formation indexes were not significantly increased(P>0.05). The levels of tP1NP, β-CTX, OC and PTH in females were higher than those in males, and the level of 25-(OH)VD₃ was lower than that in males(all P<0.05). As the T value decreased, β-CTX and OC increased and 25-(OH)VD₃ decreased accordingly(all P<0.05). Conclusions With the increase of age, the BMD T value in elderly patients with hip fractures shows a downward trend, but its decline in women is faster and earlier.Overall, the BMD T value is not sensitive enough for osteoporosis diagnosis or hip fracture prediction in the elderly, especially in men.In the early stage of fractures, the bone turnover biochemical markers show varying degrees of change, and bone resorption and bone formation are both reduced.The significance of OC, β-CTX and VD levels in early bone metabolic abnormalities requires further study.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and application of bronchoalveolar lavage in chil-dren with severe pneumonia undergoing mechanical ventilation. Methods Using a prospective randomized controlled clinical study, 202 children with severe pneumonia received mechanical ventilation in Hunan Children′s Hospital from January 2016 to January 2018 were selected as the subjects. According to the digital method,all cases were divided into treatment group (101 cases) and control group (101 cases) randomly. The patients in the control group were given conventional treatment ( anti-infection and symptomatic thera-py) . The treatment group was treated with bronchoalveolar lavage on the basis of conventional treatment. The basic situation,the respiratory function before and after the treatment,the inflammation index,the curative effect and the prognosis of two groups were analyzed. Results There were no significant differences between the two groups in gender,age,course pre-admission,pediatric critical illness score,respiratory function and in-flammation index ( P>0. 05 ) . The respiratory function indexes of the treatment group were obviously im-proved 2 hours after the treatment and the PaO2 ,PaO2/FiO2 and SaO2 were significantly higher than those of the control group[PaO2:(82. 4 ± 6. 4) mmHg(1 mmHg=0. 133 kPa) vs. (74. 0 ± 5. 5) mmHg, PaO2/FiO2:(360. 2 ± 21. 3) mmHg vs. (332. 6 ± 23. 5) mmHg,SaO2:(94. 9 ± 8. 2)％ vs. (88. 6 ± 10. 3)％], while the PaCO2 were significantly lower than the control group [ ( 37. 3 ± 10. 3 ) mmHg vs. ( 45. 8 ± 5. 5 ) mmHg],and the differences were statistically significant (P<0. 05). Five days after treatment,the WBC, PCT and CRP of treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group[WBC:(8. 5 ± 2. 4) × 109/L vs. (11. 7 ± 3. 5) × 109/L,PCT:(1. 2 ± 0. 7) μg/L vs. (2. 3 ± 0. 9) μg/L,CRP:(9. 1 ± 3. 2) mg/L vs. (16. 5 ± 4. 7) mg/L,P<0. 05,respectively]. The total effective rate in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group[93. 1％(94/101)vs. 81. 2％(82/101)]. Mechanical venti-lation duration and PICU stay in treatment group were significantly shorter than those in the control group [(148. 5 ±30. 6)h vs. (159. 6 ±47. 3)h,(220. 8 ±49. 7)h vs. (330. 7 ±94. 6)h]. The positive rate of patho-genic bacteria was significantly higher than that in the control group [79. 2％(80/101)vs. 62. 4％(63/101), P<0. 05],but there was no significant difference in the 28 days mortality of the two groups[5. 0％(5/101) vs. 5. 9％(6/101),P>0. 05]. Conclusion The bronchoalveolar lavage can improve the respiratory func-tion,reduce the inflammatory reaction,shorten mechanical ventilation duration and PICU stay in children with severe pneumonia undergoing mechanical ventilation obviously. It is worth popularizing in the PICU because of the improvement of curative effect in these children.