Objective:To study the correlation between serum N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level and echocardiographic parameters in patients with chronic Keshan disease, providing reference for diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of chronic Keshan disease.Methods:Ninety-nine patients with chronic Keshan disease who received standardized treatment at Jingchuan County People's Hospital in Pingliang City, Gansu Province from January to December 2020 were selected. Among them, 16 patients were classified as cardiac function grade Ⅱ according to New York Heart Association (NYHA), 69 as grade Ⅲ and 14 as grade Ⅳ. The patients underwent echocardiography and their serum NT-proBNP level was measured using fluorescence immunochromatography. The differences in serum NT-proBNP levels among patients with different cardiac function grades were compared, and the correlation between cardiac function grades, serum NT-proBNP level and echocardiographic parameters was analyzed.Results:The serum NT-proBNP levels in patients with cardiac function grades Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ were (1 107.26 ± 268.03), (2 125.98 ± 293.02), and (8 268.59 ± 2 659.50) pg/ml, respectively. The differences among the three groups were statistically significant ( F = 13.94, P < 0.001). The serum NT-proBNP level was positively correlated with cardiac function grades ( r = 0.44, P < 0.001), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular end-systolic diameter, and left atrial diameter ( r = 0.45, 0.52, 0.38, P < 0.001), and negatively correlated with fractional shortening and left ventricular ejection fraction ( r = - 0.39, - 0.46, P < 0.001). Conclusions:The serum NT-proBNP level in patients with chronic Keshan disease with different cardiac function grades is different, and is positively correlated with echocardiographic parameters reflecting the degree of cardiac structural and functional impairment. The NT-proBNP level may become an early diagnostic, grading, and prognostic indicator for chronic Keshan disease.

Objective:To investigate the intelligence status of children aged 10 - 12 in rural areas of Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture (referred to as Linxia) in Gansu Province.Methods:From September to November 2019, a cross-sectional study was carried out to investigate the intelligence status of children aged 10 to 12 in 8 counties (cities) of Linxia. Chinese Raven's Progressive Matrices (rural version) was used for intelligence test and children's intelligence quotient (IQ) was calculated by regular mold to evaluate children's intelligence level.Results:A total of 1 721 children in Linxia were tested for intelligence, with an average IQ of 103.2. Among them, low intelligence (≤69) accounted for 1.0% (18/1 721), borderline (70 - 79) accounted for 3.0% (52/1 721), middle and lower (80 - 89) accounted for 8.4% (144/1 721), moderate (90 - 109) accounted for 56.6% (974/1 721), middle and upper (110 - 119) accounted for 21.9% (377/1 721), excellent (120 - 129) accounted for 7.8% (135/1 721), extremely excellent (≥130) accounted for 1.2% (21/1 721). There were 635, 598 and 488 children aged 10, 11 and 12, respectively, with an average IQ of 106.1, 103.3 and 99.2. There were 919 males and 802 females, with an average IQ of 102.9 and 103.4, respectively.Conclusion:In 2019, the intelligence of children aged 10 to 12 in rural areas of Linxia has reached the moderate level.

Objective:To describe and analyze suicide risk of patients with schizophrenia,major depressive disorder,and bipolar disorder.Methods:A total of 2 016 patients with schizophrenia,903 patients with major de-pressive disorder,and 381 patients with bipolar disorder from inpatients,clinics,or communities who met the diag-nostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,Fifth Edition were recruited.All patients were interviewed by psychiatrists using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview to diagnose mental disor-ders and assess suicide risk,as well as Clinical-Rated Dimensions of Psychosis Symptom Severity(CRDPSS)to as-sess symptoms.Differences and risk factors of suicide risk among three types of mental disorders were explored u-sing multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results:In the past one month,37 patients with schizophrenia(1.8％),516 patients with major depressive disorder(57.1％),and 102 patients with bipolar disorder(26.8％)had suicide risk.Compared with patients with schizophrenia,suicide risk in patients with major depressive disorder(OR=36.50)and bipolar disorder(OR=20.10)increased.Female(OR=1.87),smoking(OR=1.76),family history of suicide(OR=5.09),higher score of CRDPSS hallucination(OR=1.80),and higher score of CRDPSS depression(OR=1.54)were risk factors of suicide risk of patients.Conclusions:Suicide risk of patients with ma-jor depressive disorder and bipolar disorder is higher than that of patients with schizophrenia.In clinical practice,it is important to regularly assess suicide risk of patients.Patients who experience symptoms of hallucination and de-pression should be paid more attention to.

Objective:To evaluate direct and indirect costs for schizophrenia,major depressive disorder(MDD)and bipolar disorder,and to compare their differences of cost composition,and to explore the drivers of the total costs.Methods:A total of 3 175 inpatients with schizophrenia,MDD,and bipolar disorder were recruited.In-patient's self-report total direct of medical costs outpatient and inpatient,out-of-pocket costs,and direct non-medical costs were regarded as direct costs.Productivity loss and other loss caused by damaging properties were defined as indirect costs.The perspectives of this study included individual and societal levels.Multivariate regression analysis was applied for detecting the factors influencing disease costs.Results:The total cost of schizophrenia was higher than those of MDD and bipolar disorder at individual and societal levels.The indirect costs of three mental disorders were higher than the direct costs,and the indirect cost ratio of bipolar disorder was higher than those of schizophre-nia and MDD.Age,gender,working condition and marital status(P＜0.05)were the important drivers of total costs.Conclusion:The economic burden of the three mental disorders is relatively heavy.Schizophrenia has heaviest disease burden,and the productivity loss due to mental disorders is the driving force of the soaring disease cost

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics and related socio-demographic factors of schizo-phrenia patients with different ages of onset.Methods:Totally 2 016 patients with schizophrenia aged 15 to 70 were selected according to the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,Fifth Edition.All of the patients were interviewed by psychiatrists using the Mini International Neuropsy-chiatric Interview to diagnose schizophrenia,Clinical-Rated Dimensions of Psychosis Symptom Severity(CRDPSS)and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS)to assess symptoms.The cut-off points were 18 and 25 years old for three age groups,i.e.early onset(EOS),youth onset(YOS)and adult onset(AOS).Statistical analy-ses were performed by analysis of variance Pearson correlation analysis,and multivariate linear regression.Results:The early-onset patients had the highest total PANSS score(73.8±28.0)and CRDPSS score(11.7±5.4).Fe-male gender,high education level,Han ethnicity,early onset age,and slower onset of illness were negatively corre-lated with the total and dimension score of PANSS scale and CRDPSS scale(standardized regression coefficient:0.04-0.47),and income level and smoking were negatively correlated with those score(standardized regression coefficient:-0.04--0.14).Conclusion:Early-onset schizophrenia patients have more severe symptoms,and fe-male,high education level,early-onset disease,and chronic onset are the risk factors of symptom severity in patients with schizophrenia.

Objective To investigate the clinical diagnostic value of plasma serine protease inhibitor Ka-zal-type 4(SPINK4)expression in colorectal adenocarcinoma(CRC)and progressive adenoma(AA).Methods A total of 62 patients with CRC(CRC group)and 15 patients with AA(AA group)diagnosed by colonoscopy and pathological examination in this hospital from June 2020 to December 2021 were selected,and 22 healthy people undergoing physical examination during the same period were selected as the HC group.The expression of SPINK4 in plasma was detected by ELISA,and the expression of CEA in plasma was detected by electrochemiluminescence,and the correlation was analyzed.The diagnostic efficiency was analyzed by re-ceiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve,and the expression of p53 in CRC tissues was detected by immu-nohistochemistry.Results The expression of plasma SPINK4 in the CRC group and AA group was lower than that in the HC group(Z=3.72,-0.41,P＜0.05),and the expression of CEA in the CRC group was higher than that in the HC group(Z=-3.63,P＜0.05).The area under the curve(AUC),accuracy,sensi-tivity and specificity of SPINK4 combined with CEA in the diagnosis of CRC and AA were higher than those of SPINK4 and CEA alone.The positive rate of mutant type p53 in SPINK4 low expression group and CEA high ex-pression group was significantly increased in CRC patients(72.55％,75.00％,P＜0.05).Conclusion The expression of plasma SPINK4 is decreased in CRC and AA,and the combined detection of SPINK4 and CEA has a good di-agnostic efficiency in CRC and AA.

Objective:To investigate the clinical features and outcomes of adolescence-onset methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) and explore preventive strategies.Methods:This was a retrospective case analysis of the phenotypes, genotypes and prognoses of adolescence-onset MMA patients. There were 55 patients diagnosed in Peking University First Hospital from January 2002 to June 2023, the data of symptoms, signs, laboratory results, gene variations, and outcomes was collected. The follow-ups were done through WeChat, telephone, or clinic visits every 3 to 6 months.Results:Among the 55 patients, 31 were males and 24 were females. The age of onset was 12 years old (range 10-18 years old). They visited clinics at Tanner stages 2 to 5 with typical secondary sexual characteristics. Nine cases (16%) were trigged by infection and 5 cases (9%) were triggered by insidious exercises. The period from onset to diagnosis was between 2 months and 6 years. Forty-five cases (82%) had neuropsychiatric symptoms as the main symptoms, followed by cardiovascular symptoms in 12 cases (22%), kidney damage in 7 cases (13%), and eye disease in 12 cases (22%). Fifty-four cases (98%) had the biochemical characteristics of methylmalonic acidemia combined with homocysteinemia, and 1 case (2%) had the isolated methylmalonic acidemia. Genetic diagnosis was obtained in 54 cases, with 20 variants identified in MMACHC gene and 2 in MMUT gene. In 53 children with MMACHC gene mutation,1 case had dual gene variants of PRDX1 and MMACHC, with 105 alleles. The top 5 frequent variants in MMACHC were c.482G>A in 39 alleles (37%), c.609G>A in 17 alleles (16%), c.658_660delAAG in 11 alleles (10%), c.80A>G in 10 alleles (10%), c.567dupT and c.394C>T both are 4 alleles (4%). All patients recovered using cobalamin, L-carnitine, betaine, and symptomatic therapy, and 54 patients (98%) returned to school or work.Conclusions:Patients with adolescence-onset MMA may triggered by fatigue or infection. The diagnosis is often delayed due to non-specific symptoms. Metabolic and genetic tests are crucial for a definite diagnosis. Treatment with cobalamin, L-carnitine, and betaine can effectively reverse the prognosis of MMA in adolescence-onset patients.

Objective:To understand and compare the clinical characteristics of children and adults infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant BA.5 and BA.2 subtypes in Shanghai City.Methods:The clinical data of 524 children hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) at the Children′s Hospital of Fudan University during the period of BA.5 predominance from December 1, 2022 to January 20, 2023 were collected, which included age, gender, clinical symptoms and laboratory examination results. And the clinical data of household close contacts were also collected. The clinical data of children and their household contacts infected with Omicron BA.2 subtypes during the period of BA.2 predominance from April 4 to April 30, 2022 were collected and compared.The clinical characteristic of critical and non-critical cases, child and adult cases during the period of BA.5 predominance were compared.Statistical analyses were conducted using independent samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test or Fisher′s exact test. Results:The age of 524 hospitalized children was five days to 16 years old. Among them, 301(57.4%) were male and 223(42.6%) were female. Additionally, there were 29 critical cases (5.5%) and 495 non-critical cases (94.5%). Critical cases had significantly higher fever peak, more shortness of breath occurrence, more pneumonia and underlying diseases compared to non-critical cases, with statistically significant differences ( t=12.06, χ2=34.90, 10.04 and 31.10, respectively, all P<0.05). Regarding laboratory examinations, critical cases exhibited significantly higher frequencies of decreased lymphocyte count, elevated levels of C-reactive protein, procalcitonin and interleukin-6, abnormal liver function and kidney function, and abnormal creatine kinase isoenzyme compared to non-critical cases, with statistically significant differences ( χ2=8.18, Z=-4.61, Z=-4.28, Z=-5.13, χ2 =195.90, Fisher′s exact test and χ2=136.13, respectively, all P<0.05). Non-critical children cases infected with Omicron variant BA.5 subtype exhibited a higher proportion of symptomatic infections compared to adults. Among children, the occurrence rates of fever and gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) were higher, whereas among adults, the occurrence rate of cough was higher. The differences were statistically significant ( χ2=11.16, 11.83, 8.50 and 28.14, respectively, all P<0.05).From December 1, 2022 to January 20, 2023, a total of 588 children cases and 791 adult cases were collected, while from April 4 to April 30, 2022, a total of 355 children cases and 755 adult cases were collected.In the children group, the occurrence rates of cough, convulsions and critical cases were higher in BA.5 subtype-infected children compared to those infected with the BA.2 subtype, with statistically significant differences ( χ2=37.95, 40.78 and 15.54, respectively, all P<0.001).In the adult group, BA.5 subtype-infected individuals had higher fever peak, longer duration of fever, and higher occurrence of fever, cough and gastrointestinal symptoms, compared to those infected with the BA.2 subtype.The differences were statistically significant ( t=-4.40, Z=-9.64, χ2=47.29, 124.09 and 29.90, respectively, all P<0.001). Conclusions:During the peak periods of BA.5 subtype of the Omicron variant in Shanghai City, critical cases have severe systemic symptoms and a higher prevalence of underlying diseases compared to non-critical cases. Among non-critical cases infected with BA.5 subtype, the proportion of symptomatic infections in children is higher than adults, with fever and gastrointestinal symptoms more common than adults, while cough symptoms are more common seen in adults.The occurrence rate of convulsions and critical cases is higher in children infected with variant BA.5 subtype compared to those infected with BA.2 subtype.The systemic symptoms are more severe in adults infected with BA.5 subtype compared to those infected with BA.2 subtype.

Objective:To explore the distribution characteristics of common clinical manifestations of elbow joint in patients with endemic fluorosis and their correlation with the influencing factors.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted on all permanent adult residents in 13 endemic fluorosis villages in Gaotai and Gaolan counties of Gansu province. The survey included: ① Demographic information, family history, and current medical history. ② Physical examination specifically focued on the orthopedic clinical presentations. ③Taking DR films of the forearm (including elbow joint) and calf (including knee joint), and classify the elbow joint to grade K-L based on X-ray manifestations. ④ Measuring height and weight, and calculating BMI index. ⑤Applying the Mayo elbow joint rating scale to evaluate elbow joint function. Based on the survey results, the distribution characteristics of clinical symptoms and signs of elbow joint in patients with skeletal fluorosis, as well as the distribution characteristics and correlation of factors affecting elbow joint function such as age, gender, disease course, BMI, K-L grade, etc were described. The comparison of counting data and rates were analyzed with χ2 test or Fisher exact probability test. Pearson′s test was used for correlation analysis of continuous data that conforms to normal distribution, and Spearman test was used for non-normal distribution measurement and counting data. The correlation analysis of ordered hierarchical data was conducted using Kendall′s Tau- b test. Results:①Among 501 patients with skeletal fluorosis, a total of 465 cases (92.8%) were diagnosed with elbow joint pain. A total of 185 cases (36.9%) were with elbow joint tenderness, 300 cases (59.9%) were with elbow joint enlargement, 415 cases (82.8%) were with morning stiffness of the elbow joint, 102 cases (20.4%) were with cubital tunnel syndrome, 153 cases (30.5%) were with positive forearm extensor tendon traction test, and 97 cases (19.4%) were with positive forearm flexor tendon traction test. The detection rate of elbow joint rotation limitation was the highest among those with ROM ranging from 30 ° to 70 ° (261/501, 52.1%), and the detection rate of elbow joint extension and flexion limitation was the highest among those with ROM ranging from 50 ° to 90 °(274/501, 54.7%). ②Among 501 patients with skeletal fluorosis, a total of 465 cases were found to have symptoms and positive signs in the elbow joint, with the detection rate in males being lower than that in females, with a significant difference ( χ2=41.19, P<0.001). The majority of patients were between the ages of 50 and 65 (274/501, 58.9%), with a body mass index of <18 (217, 46.67%), K-L arthritis with a radiologic grade of Ⅲ (256/501, 55.0%), and a disease course of >30 years (217/501, 46.67%). ③The correlation between clinical characteristics, the Mayo score, and various influencing factors of skeletal fluorosis found a high correlation between pain and age ( r=0.79, P<0.001) and pain and disease course ( r=0.71, P<0.001). The ROM of extension and flexion was negatively correlated with age ( r=-0.43, P<0.001), K-L grade ( r=-0.67, P<0.001), and disease course ( r=-0.48, P<0.001); Elbow tunnel syndrome was positively correlated with age ( r=0.72, P<0.001). The Mayo functional score was negatively correlated with age ( r=-0.35, P<0.001). Conclusion:Early morning stiffness of the elbow joint (<30 min), limited rotation of the elbow joint, limited extension and flexion of the elbow joint, and cubital tunnel syndrome (degree Ⅰ) have a high detection rate in the population with skeletal fluorosis. Age, course of disease, and degree of joint degeneration have a significant impact on elbow joint function in patients with fluorosis.

Objective:To investigate the differences in estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and Ki-67 expressions between metastatic sites and primary sites in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients and to analyze their effects on the prognosis of patients.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 108 patients diagnosed with metastatic TNBC in Lianyungang Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University from September 2018 to September 2023 were collected. Local metastatic sites included ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes and chest wall, while distant metastatic sites encompassed contralateral axillary lymph nodes and chest wall, bilateral supraclavicular lymph nodes, cervical lymph nodes, bone and viscera. The metastatic sites were identified as metastatic TNBC by using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization. The heterogeneity in ER, PR, HER2, and Ki-67 expression between primary sites and metastatic sites in all patients and those with local and distant metastases was analyzed, and the heterogeneity was defined as the inconsistency in the expression of markers including loss and gain expressions between primary sites and metastatic sites. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze disease-free survival (DFS), and log-rank test was used for comparison among groups.Results:All patients were female, with an average age of (55±10) years; 51 cases had local metastases, and 57 cases had distant metastases. In metastatic sites, no ER and PR positivity were observed; in primary sites, 28.7% (31/108) of patients were ER positive and 21.3% (23/108) of patients were PR positive, and there were statistically significant differences in the proportion of patients with ER or PR positive between primary sites and metastatic sites (all P < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in the proportions of patients with different expression status including HER2 [positive: 0 (0/108) vs. 4.6%(5/108), low expression: 50.0% (54/108) vs. 45.4% (49/108), negative: 50.0% (54/108) vs. 50.0% (54/108)], Ki-67 [high expression: 86.1% (93/108) vs. 91.7% (99/108)] between metastatic sites and primary sites (all P > 0.05). The proportions of patients with inconsistent ER and PR expression between metastatic sites and primary sites were 28.7% (31/108) and 21.3% (23/108), respectively, all due to the expression loss in metastatic sites; the proportions of patients with inconsistent HER2 and Ki-67 expression between metastatic sites and primary sites were 42.6% (46/108) and 11.1% (12/108), respectively, with HER2 and Ki-67 expression loss of metastatic sites accounting for 22.2% (24/108) and 8.3% (9/108), respectively and expression gain accounting for 20.4% (22/108) and 2.8% (3/108), respectively. The proportions of patients with inconsistent ER [45.6% (26/57) vs. 9.8% (5/51)], PR [36.8% (21/57) vs. 3.9% (2/51)] and Ki-67 [17.5% (10/57) vs. 3.9% (2/51)] expression in distant metastatic sites and primary sites were higher than those with local metastatic sites and primary sites, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The proportions of patients with inconsistent HER2 between distant metastatic sites and primary sites and those with inconsistent HER2 between local metastatic sites and primary sites were 47.4% (27/57), 37.3% (19/51), respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant ( P = 0.300). Patients with inconsistent ER and Ki-67 expressions had better DFS than those with consistent expressions, with median DFS time of 30 months (95% CI: 22-40 months) vs. 22 months (95% CI: 22-24 months) for ER and 28 months (95% CI: 20-61 months) vs. 22 months (95% CI: 22-24 months) for Ki-67, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in DFS between metastatic sites and primary sites with consistent expressions of PR and HER2 or not (all P > 0.05). Conclusions:There are differences in ER and PR expressions between primary sites and metastatic sites of metastatic TNBC patients, while the expressions of HER2 and Ki-67 seem to be no differences. The inconsistency of ER, PR and Ki-67 expressions with primary sites in distant metastatic sites are more common compared with in local metastatic sites. The differences in hormone receptor expression between primary sites and metastatic sites may impact patients' DFS.