Donation after death is the most important ethical principle to carry out organ donation after citizens’ death. The newly-revised Regulations on Human Organ Donation and Transplantation does not define death, and avoids the key question of “whether to recognize brain death”. Certain legal risks or damages to the rights and interests of donors may exist in organ donation. Death is an inevitable part of human life. It is necessary to establish specific criteria, which is also the only approach, to define death in any era. Death criteria are established based on the view of death, and restricted by the development level of productive forces and other social factors. The determination of death criteria hugely varies between China and the West. To standardize organ donation and transplantation and promote high-quality development of organ donation, medical staff must adhere to the principle of pure motivation, take informed consents as the premise, respect the donors' and their close relatives' rights to choose their own death criteria, strictly follow the death judgment procedures and operating norms, and ensure the scientificity, accuracy and fairness of death determination.

Objective To explore the effects of different types of drinking water on the growth and fecal flora of mice.Methods Specific pathogen-free NIH mice were randomly divided into five groups,32 mice each group,with half males and half females in each group.The group were given either purified water(control group),acidified water,alkalized water,weakly acidic water or solid water.Diet and body weight were monitored continuously for 20 days.After the experiment,animal fecal samples were collected,and the V3-V4 region was amplified with bacterial 16S rDNA universal primers.An Illumina Miseq high-throughput sequencing platform was used for high-throughput sequencing,and microbial community,α diversity and β diversity were analyzed by bioinformatics method.Results The body weight of female mice given different pH values of weakly acidic water was higher,while the weight of the other groups was lower,than that of the control group(P＞0.05).The body weight of male mice in the acidified water group was higher,while that of other groups was lower,than that of control group,but there was no statistical difference between the groups(P＞0.05).The body weights of male and female mice in the solid water group were lower than those in the control group(P＜0.05).The food and water intake of the female animals in the alkaline water group and the water intake of female animals in the solid water group were lower than those of the other groups.OTU clustering analysis showed that the data volume of the sequencing was reasonable,and the fecal flora species of NIH mice were divided into five phyla,among which Bacteroides and Firmicutes were dominant.Unclassified Pseudopurpuromonas,Lactobacillus and Alistipes were the main genera.There were differences in fecal flora abundance and diversity among the mice given the five drinking water types.α analysis showed that the acidified water group had the highest flora abundance and diversity,while the solid water group had the lowest flora diversity.β analysis showed that the fecal flora composition in the solid water group was the closest to that of the control group,followed by the alkalized water group,acidified water group and weakly acidic water group.Conclusions Through an exploration of the effects of consuming different forms of water,this study revealed that solid water consumption had the greatest effects on body weight,feed intake,water consumption,and fecal flora of mice.The abundance and diversity of fecal flora in mice were affected by different pH values of drinking water,especially acidified water.

Objective To investigate the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics and potential influencing factors of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases in Qinghai Province from 2016 to 2022, so as to provide insights into the formulation of the echinococcosis control strategy in Qinghai Province. Methods The number of individuals screened for echinococcosis, number of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases, number of registered dogs and number of stray dogs were captured from the annual reports of echinococcosis control program in Qinghai Province from 2016 to 2022, and the detection of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases was calculated. The number of populations, precipitation, temperature, wind speed, sunshine hours, average altitude, number of year-end cattle stock, number of year-end sheep stock, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, and number of village health centers in each county (district) of Qinghai Province were captured from the Qinghai Provincial Statistical Yearbook, and county-level electronic maps in Qinghai Province were downloaded from the National Platform for Common Geospatial Information Services. The software ArcGIS 10.8 was used to map the distribution of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases in Qinghai Province, and the spatial autocorrelation analysis of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases was performed. In addition, the spacetime scan analyses of number of individuals screened for echinococcosis, number of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases and geographical coordinates in Qinghai Province were performed with the software SaTScan 10.1.2, and the spatial stratified heterogeneity of the detection of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases was investigated with the software GeoDetector. Results A total of 6 569 426 residents were screened for echinococcosis in Qinghai Province from 2016 to 2022, and 5 924 newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases were found. The detection of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases appeared a tendency towards a decline over years from 2016 to 2022 (χ² = 11.107, P < 0.01), with the highest detection in Guoluo Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in 2017 (82.12/10⁵). There were spatial clusters in the detection of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases in Qinghai Province from 2016 to 2018 (Moran’s I = 0.34 to 0.65, all Z values > 1.96, all P values < 0.05), and the distribution of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases appeared random distribution from 2019 to 2022 (Moran’s I = −0.09 to 0.04, all Z values < 1.96, all P values > 0.05). Local spatial autocorrelation analysis showed high-high clusters and low-low clusters in the detection of new diagnosed echinococcosis cases in Qinghai Province from 2016 to 2022, and space-time scan analysis showed that the first most likely cluster areas of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases in Qinghai Province from 2016 to 2022 were mainly distributed in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and Guoluo Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. GeoDetector-based analysis of the driving factors for the spatial stratified heterogeneity of detection of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases in Qinghai Province showed that average altitude, number of village health centers, number of cattle and sheep stock, GDP per capita, annual average sunshine hours, and annual average temperature had a strong explanatory power for the spatial distribution of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases, with q values of 0.630, 0.610, 0.600, 0.590, 0.588, 0.537 and 0.526, respectively. Conclusions The detection of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases appeared a tendency towards a decline in Qinghai Province over years from 2016 to 2022, showing spatial clustering. Targeted control measures are required in cluster areas of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases for further control of the disease.

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound(LIPUS)is a low-cost,non-invasive and safe treatment method mainly used for musculoskeletal diseases,especially for fractures and nonunion.This article reviews the therapeutic effects of LIPUS on various musculoskeletal and nervous system diseases and analyzes its mechanism and potential targets.It is found that besides fracture and nonunion,LIPUS also has clinical application prospect in treating osteoporosis,muscle injury,and motor nervous system diseases.

Objective To study the impact of a Western diet-type feed on biological indicators and histopathology in APOE-/-mice.Methods Forty-eight female and 48 male APOE--mice,and 48 female and 48 male C57BL/6J mice were divided into eight breeding groups:APOE-/-breeding feed group,APOE-/-Western dietary feed group,C57BL/6J breeding feed group,and C57BL/6J Western dietary feed group(24 male and 24 female mice per group).Mice were fed the respective diets from 3 weeks until the end of the experiment at 20 weeks.After the experiment,serum was collected for measurement of biochemical indicators.Aortas were removed for oil red O staining and gross examination and the aorta root was paraffin sectioned and stained with hematoxylin and eosin.Results A Western diet did not significantly increase body weight in APOE-/-mice,but did significantly improve the blood lipid index and total cholesterol,low-density lipoprotein,and high-density lipoprotein levels,and promoted the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.Male mice were suitable for modeling gross aortic plaques while female mice were suitable for modeling aortic arch root plaques.Conclusions A Western diet can promote atherosclerosis in APOE-/-mice,increase the aortic plaque area ratio,shorten modeling time,and improve modeling uniformity.

Objective:To study the prevalence and association factors of depressive and anxiety disorders in the hypertensive population.Methods:Using the database obtained from the 2013 China Chronic Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance and the 2013-2015 China Mental Health Survey,4 861 hypertensive residents were used as study subjects.And using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,Fourth Edition(DSM-Ⅳ)as diagnostic criterion for depressive and anxiety disorders,the 12-month prevalence was calculated.Multifactorial lo-gistic regression models were used to explore the association factors of hypertension comorbid depressive and anxie-ty disorders.Results:The 12-month prevalence rates of depressive disorders and anxiety disorders were 4.1％and 5.0％in 4 861 hypertensive residents.Chinese Han[OR(95％CI):2.00(1.01-3.93)],lack of sleep[OR(95％CI):1.82(1.34-2.48)],having myocardial infarction[OR(95％CI):2.35(1.18～4.67)]and stroke in the past year[OR(95％CI):2.10(1.19-3.72)],and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease[OR(95％CI):2.11(1.11-4.05)]were risk factors of hypertension comorbid depressive disorder.Hypertensive people with controlled blood pressure[OR(95％CI):2.01(1.30-3.13)]had a higher risk of co-morbid depressive disorder than those with blood pressure above the normal range on this measurement.Chinese Han[OR(95％CI):2.51(1.32-4.80)],Southwest China[OR(95％CI):1.64(1.02-2.63)],and lack of sleep[OR(95％CI):1.45(1.09-1.93)]were risk factors of hypertension comorbid anxiety disorder.Former but current non-smoking[OR(95％CI):0.48(0.23-0.99)]was a protective factor of hypertension comorbid anxiety disorder.Conclusion:The 12-month prevalence of anxiety disorder was higher than that of depressive disorder in this hypertensive population.Both Han and sleep deprived hypertensive people had a higher risk of comorbid depressive and anxiety disorders.

Objective To compare the clinical features and auxiliary examination results of sinus-originated intracranial aspergillosis（ICA）and rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis（ROCM）. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of seven patients with sinus-originated ICA and six patients with ROCM who were diagnosed and treated in our hospital from January 2018 to January 2023. Results The pathogenic factor of CNS fungal infection was observed in all patients with ROCM and 57.1% of the patients with sinus-originated ICA. Compared with the patients with sinus-originated ICA，the patients with ROCM were more likely to develop ocular symptoms and signs such as exophthalmos，periorbital swelling，and intraocular inflammation，as well as non-ocular symptoms and signs including fever，facial swelling，and facial nerve palsy. Compared with the patients with sinus-originated ICA，the patients with ROCM had significantly greater increases in blood glucose，erythrocyte sedimentation rate，C-reactive protein，and procalcitonin. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging showed that sinus-originated ICA often affected the paranasal sinuses，orbital apices，retro-orbital regions，and cavernous sinuses，while the patients with ROCM were more likely to have sinusitis，bone destruction，and mucormycosis invading cerebral vessels. As for treatment，50% of the patients with ROCM and 42.9% of the patients with sinus-originated ICA received antifungal therapy alone，while 50% of the patients with ROCM and 57.1% of the patients with sinus-originated ICA received a combination of medication and surgery. By follow-up to September 2023，50% of the patients with ROCM and 28.6% of the patients with sinus-originated ICA had no response to treatment and died. Conclusion Both sinus-originated ICA and ROCM have rapid progression，and ROCM survivors with diabetes are more likely to experience disabilities. Timely diagnosis and initiation of antifungal therapy，correction of underlying predisposing factors，and active surgical debridement are essential for the treatment of CNS fungal infections.
Aspergillus ; Mucormycosis

The plateau environment is characterized by low oxygen, low air pressure, low temperature, and strong ultraviolet rays, etc. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a preventable and treatable chronic lung disease. High altitude environment increases COPD prevalence, clinical manifestation and mortality. The therapeutic window of theophylline drugs for COPD is narrow, and the high altitude environment has an influence on the pharmacokinetics of the drugs. This review summarizes the differences in the prevalence, mortality, clinical manifestation and clinical symptoms of COPD in the plateau and plain, providing a basis for identifying the risk factors of COPD in the plateau areas. The effects of plateau hypoxic environment on the pharmacokinetics of COPD drugs were also discussed. It can provide a rationale for more effective prevention and treatment of COPD at high altitude.
Humans ; Altitude ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/drug therapy* ; Oxygen ; Hypoxia

Objective:To investigate the effects of melatonin(MLT)on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA)axis in posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD)rats induced by foot shocks.Methods:The rat model of PTSD was prepared by plantar electroshock,and MLT was given by intraperitoneal injection.The behavioral changes of rats were detected by rejection reaction test,the mRNA expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH)in hypothalamus was detected by real time RT-PCR,and the contents of adrenocorticotropin hormone(ACTH),epinephrine(EPI)and glucocorticoid(GC)in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results:In the PTSD group,the rejection reaction was obvious,the expression of CRH mRNA in hypothalamus was increased(P＜0.05),the serum ACTH and EPI were increased(P＜0.05),but the GC level was decreased(P＜0.05).After MLT treatment,the rejection reaction of PTSD rats was significantly alleviated,CRH mRNA expression in hypothalamus was decreased(P＜0.05),serum ACTH and EPI levels were decreased(P＜0.05),and GC levels were increased(P＜0.05).Conclusion:MLT treatment can relieve the symptoms of PTSD and restore the neuroendocrine balance of HPA axis in rats.

Léri-Weill dyschondrosteosis (LWD) has typical triad: short middle limbs, short stature, Madelung deformity of wrist, and increased body mass index. Short stature and high body mass index are risk factors for metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and autoimmune thyroid diseases. However, metabolic disorders and thyroid diseases in adult LWD patients have not been elucidated. This paper reports two adult patients with LWD presented to the Department of Endocrinology and metabolism. By introducing clinical characteristics, genetic variations, and diagnostic methods, physicians can deepen their understanding of LWD, improve diagnosis, and be aware of the comorbid metabolic diseases and thyroid disorders with a view of early prevention and treatment.