Objective: This study aims to explore the association between oral lichen planus (OLP) and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) and its anti-thyroid antibodies to provide clinical evidence for thyroid disease screening in patients with OLP. Methods: This study was approved by the institutional ethics committee. A total of 125 clinically and histopathologically confirmed patients with OLP were enrolled as the case group, and they were matched with 125 non-OLP controls based on sex and age. Demographic data (gender, age, lesion type, and disease duration) were collected from both groups. Serum levels of thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) and thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) were measured to analyze their associations with sex, age, lesion type, and disease duration in patients with OLP. Result: The prevalence of HT in patients with OLP was 31.20%, significantly higher than that in the control group (9.60%) (χ2=18.504, P<0.001). The prevalence of HT in female patients with OLP (39.13%) was significantly higher than that in male patients (9.09%)（χ2=10.93，P<0.001）. The positivity rate of thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) in patients with OLP (17.6%) was significantly higher than in the control group (4.0%) (χ2=10.989, P<0.001). The TPOAb positivity rate was significantly higher in female patients (22.83%) than in male patients (3.03%) (χ2=5.210, P=0.014). There was no statistically significant difference in the positivity rate of TgAb between patients with OLP (7.2%) and the control group (3.2%) (P>0.05). Patients with erosive lesions had a significantly higher TPOAb positivity rate (25.0%, 17/68) compared to those with non-erosive lesions (8.77%, 5/57), and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=4.831, P=0.028). Logistic regression analysis revealed that female patients with OLP had an 8.935-fold higher risk of being TPOAb positive compared to males (OR=8.935, 95%CI: 1.134-70.388, P=0.038). Patients with erosive OLP lesions had a 3.199-fold higher risk of TPOAb positivity compared to those with non-erosive lesions (OR=3.199, 95%CI: 1.064-9.618, P=0.038). Conclusion The prevalence of HT is higher in patients with OLP, with higher positivity rates of anti-thyroid antibodies observed in female patients and those with erosive OLP lesions. This suggests that thyroid disease screening should be incorporated into the clinical management of patients with OLP, especially for women and patients who present with erosive lesions.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy and potential mechanism of Shengmai Jiuxin decoction in the treatment of acute decompensated heart failure （ADHF） with the traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） pattern of Qi and Yin deficiency， Yang deficiency， and blood stasis. MethodsA total of 68 patients diagnosed with ADHF of Qi and Yin deficiency， Yang deficiency， and blood stasis type were randomly assigned to an observation group （34 cases） and a control group （34 cases）. Both groups received conventional Western medical treatment， while the observation group was additionally administered Shengmai Jiuxin decoction. Parameters compared before and after treatment included： TCM syndrome score， TCM syndrome efficacy， New York Heart Association （NYHA） functional classification， left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF）， N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide （NT-proBNP）， six-minute walk distance （6MWD）， hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha （HIF-1α）， vascular endothelial growth factor A （VEGF-A）， Caspase-3， and the number of rehospitalizations for heart failure within one month after discharge. ResultsThere were no significant differences in sex， age， vital signs， or underlying diseases between the two groups. Compared with baseline， both groups exhibited significant reductions in TCM syndrome scores， NT-proBNP， and HIF-1α levels （P<0.01）， as well as significant increases in 6MWD， LVEF， VEGF-A， and Caspase-3 levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）. After treatment， the observation group showed significantly greater reductions in TCM syndrome score， NT-proBNP， HIF-1α， and Caspase-3 levels compared with the control group （P<0.05） and significantly greater increases in 6MWD， TCM syndrome efficacy， and VEGF-A levels （P<0.05）. No significant differences were observed between the groups in NYHA functional classification， LVEF， or the number of rehospitalizations for heart failure within one month after discharge. No drug-related adverse events were reported in either group during the treatment period. ConclusionShengmai Jiuxin decoction can improve cardiac function and clinical symptoms in patients with ADHF of Qi and Yin deficiency， Yang deficiency， and blood stasis type. Its mechanisms may be related to the regulation of the HIF-1 signaling pathway by modulating targets such as HIF-1α， VEGF-A， and Caspase-3.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy and potential mechanism of Shengmai Jiuxin decoction in the treatment of acute decompensated heart failure （ADHF） with the traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） pattern of Qi and Yin deficiency， Yang deficiency， and blood stasis. MethodsA total of 68 patients diagnosed with ADHF of Qi and Yin deficiency， Yang deficiency， and blood stasis type were randomly assigned to an observation group （34 cases） and a control group （34 cases）. Both groups received conventional Western medical treatment， while the observation group was additionally administered Shengmai Jiuxin decoction. Parameters compared before and after treatment included： TCM syndrome score， TCM syndrome efficacy， New York Heart Association （NYHA） functional classification， left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF）， N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide （NT-proBNP）， six-minute walk distance （6MWD）， hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha （HIF-1α）， vascular endothelial growth factor A （VEGF-A）， Caspase-3， and the number of rehospitalizations for heart failure within one month after discharge. ResultsThere were no significant differences in sex， age， vital signs， or underlying diseases between the two groups. Compared with baseline， both groups exhibited significant reductions in TCM syndrome scores， NT-proBNP， and HIF-1α levels （P<0.01）， as well as significant increases in 6MWD， LVEF， VEGF-A， and Caspase-3 levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）. After treatment， the observation group showed significantly greater reductions in TCM syndrome score， NT-proBNP， HIF-1α， and Caspase-3 levels compared with the control group （P<0.05） and significantly greater increases in 6MWD， TCM syndrome efficacy， and VEGF-A levels （P<0.05）. No significant differences were observed between the groups in NYHA functional classification， LVEF， or the number of rehospitalizations for heart failure within one month after discharge. No drug-related adverse events were reported in either group during the treatment period. ConclusionShengmai Jiuxin decoction can improve cardiac function and clinical symptoms in patients with ADHF of Qi and Yin deficiency， Yang deficiency， and blood stasis type. Its mechanisms may be related to the regulation of the HIF-1 signaling pathway by modulating targets such as HIF-1α， VEGF-A， and Caspase-3.

Objective:To analyze the methylation characteristics of the lymphocyte-specific protein-tyrosine kinase (LCK) promoter region in the peripheral blood circulation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and its correlation with clinical indicators.Methods:Targeted methylation sequencing was used to compare the methylation levels of 7 CpG sites in the LCK promoter region in the peripheral blood of RA patients with healthy controls (HC) and osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Correlation analysis and ROC curve construction were performed with clinical information.Results:Non-parametric tests revealed that compared with HC [0.53(0.50, 0.57)] and OA patients [0.59(0.54, 0.62), H=47.17, P<0.001], RA patients [0.63(0.59, 0.68)] exhibited an overall increase in methylation levels. Simultaneously, when compared with the HC group [0.38(0.35, 0.41), 0.59(0.55, 0.63), 0.60(0.55, 0.64), 0.59(0.55, 0.63), 0.58(0.53, 0.62), 0.45(0.43, 0.49), 0.57(0.54, 0.61)], the RA group [0.46(0.42, 0.49), 0.70(0.65, 0.75), 0.70(0.66, 0.76), 0.70(0.65, 0.75), 0.69(0.64, 0.74), 0.55(0.51, 0.59), 0.68(0.63, 0.73)] showed a significant elevation in methylation levels at CpG sites cg05350315_60, cg05350315_80, cg05350315_95, cg05350315_101, cg05350315_104, cg05350315_128, and cg05350315_142, with statistically significant differences ( Z=-5.63, -5.89, -5.91, -5.89, -5.98, -5.95, -5.95, all P<0.001). Compared with the OA group [0.65(0.59, 0.69), 0.65(0.60, 0.69), 0.64(0.58, 0.68), 0.50(0.45, 0.54), 0.63(0.58, 0.67)], the RA group [0.70(0.66, 0.76), 0.70(0.65, 0.75), 0.69(0.64, 0.74), 0.55(0.51, 0.59), 0.68(0.63, 0.73)] exhibited a significant increase in methylation levels at CpG sites cg05350315_95, cg05350315_101, cg05350315_104, cg05350315_128, and cg05350315_142, with statistically significant differences ( Z=-3.56, -3.52, -3.60, -3.67, -3.62; P=0.036, 0.042, 0.031, 0.030, 0.030). Furthermore, Pearson correlation coefficient analysis revealed a positive correlation between the overall methylation level in this region and C-reactive protein (CRP) ( r=0.19, P=0.004) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( r=0.14, P=0.035). The overall methylation level of the LCK promoter region in the CRP (low) group [0.63 (0.58, 0.68)] was higher than that in the CRP (high) group [0.65(0.61, 0.70)], with statistically significant differences ( Z=2.60, P=0.009). Finally, by constru-cting a ROC curve, the discriminatory efficacy of peripheral blood LCK promoter region methylation levels for identifying RA patients, especially seronegative RA patients, from HC and OA groups was validated, with an AUC value of 0.78 (95% CI: 0.63, 0.93). Conclusion:This study provides insights into the methylation status and methylation haplotype patterns of the LCK promoter region in the peripheral blood of RA patients. The overall methylation level in this region is positively correlated with the level of inflammation and can be used to differentiate seronegative RA patients from the HC and OA patients.

The community teaching bases play an important role in training of general practice talents. To raise the training quality, the development of their own capacity is crucial, but community medical institutions also need close cooperation with the departments of general practice in medical schools and the higher-level general hospitals. This article discusses the integration model of management, teaching and research in general practice talent training based on the cooperation of community teaching bases with relevant governmental departments, professional societies/associations, general hospitals and medical schools.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics, imaging, myopathology and outcomes of patients with COVID-19 related autoimmune myopathy.Methods:The clinical features, serum creatine kinase (CK), myositis antibodies, muscle magnetic resonance imaging, myopathology and therapy of 5 patients with COVID-19 related autoimmune myopathy diagnosed in Peking University First Hospital from December 2022 to April 2023 were collected. The effects of the therapy after a short term follow up were analyzed.Results:Among the 5 patients, there were 3 males and 2 females, with onset age of 42-86 years. All patients presented with proximal muscle weakness in the recovery term of COVID-19. Myalgia was noted in 3 cases, dysphagia in 1, skin damage in 2, interstitial lung disease in 1. The serum CK of the 5 patients was 1 663-16 000 IU/L, 1 patient had anti-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase autoantibodies and 1 patient had anti-signal recognition particle autoantibodies. The electromyography showed myogenic lesions in all patients. Muscle magnetic resonance imaging showed diffuse muscle edema in all patients, myofascial edema in 3 and subcutaneous-tissue edema in 3. The muscle biopsies in 4 patients revealed necrotic myopathy,with high P62 expression in muscle fibers. The electromicroscopy of 2 patients revealed vacuolated mitochondria and intranuclear tubulofilamentous inclusions in muscle fibers. Four patients were treated with glucocorticoids, of whom 2 patients combined with intravenous immunoglobulin, tacrolimus or cyclophosphamide. One case had close monitoring without drug therapy. They showed significant improvement, but the CK was still abnormal in 4 patients.Conclusions:COVID-19 leads to immune mediated myopathy. The manifestation of patients is characterized by proximal predominant weakness and high creatine kinase level. Muscle magnetic resonance imaging shows diffuse muscle edema. The muscle biopsies reveal necrotic myopathy. The effectiveness of immunosuppression needs to be further studied.

Objective To investigate the relationship between neutrophil/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio(NHR)and the severity of coronary artery lesions in young adults with acute myocardial infarction.Methods A total of 109 young a-dults(aged 18～45 years)with acute myocardial infarction admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from June 2019 to June 2023 were selected and divided into Syntax low-risk group(n=85)and Syntax medium-high-risk group(n=24)according to Syntax score.Patients with negative coronary angiography during the same period were negative control group(n=52).General clinical data and related serum markers were collected,and NHR value was calculated.Pearson correla-tion analysis and logistics regression analysis were performed to examine the correlation between NHR and the severity of coro-nary artery lesions.Subgroup analysis and interaction testing were further conducted.The receiver operating curve(ROC)was performed to evaluate the value of NHR in predicting the severity of coronary artery lesions in young adults with acute myocar-dial infarction.Results Gender,smoking rate,alcohol consumption rate,diabetes history,absolute number of neutrophils,tri-glyceride,HDL-C,NHR,VLDL-C,apolipoprotein B(APOB),fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin were signifi-cantly different among the three groups(P＜0.05).In pairwise comparison,the absolute number of neutrophil and NHR were significantly different among the three groups.BMI was significant different between non-CHD group and Syntax medium-high-risk group.HDL-C,fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin were significant different between Syntax low-risk group and non-CHD group,as well as between Syntax medium-high-risk group and non-CHD group(P＜0.05).Creatinine and APOB were significant different between Syntax low-risk group and non-CHD group.Triglyceride,VLDL-C and LP(a)were significant different between Syntax low-risk group and Syntax medium-high-risk group(P＜0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed a positively correlation between NHR and Syntax score(r=0.322,P＜0.01).Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regres-sion analysis showed that NHR(OR=1.265,95％CI1.097～1.458,P＜0.05)was an independent risk factor for the severity of coronary artery lesions in young adults with acute myocardial infarction.Subgroup analysis showed that NHR was significantly associated with the severity of coronary artery lesions in patients with BMI≥24 kg/m2,smokers,drinkers and non-drinkers(P＜0.05).No significant difference was observed in interaction analysis.The ROC curve showed that the area under the curve(AUC)predicted by NHR for acute myocardial infarction in young adults was 0.758,with a cut-off value of 7.0319,sensitivity of 83.3％,and specificity of 63.53％.Conclusion NHR has a certain value in predicting the severity of coronary artery lesions in young adults with acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND:The distribution of horizontal pressure in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis can be used to evaluate the coronal imbalance.Currently,there are no reports on the characteristics of coronal pressure distribution and its correlation with coronal imbalance. OBJECTIVE:To explore the correlation between coronal pressure variation and coronal imbalance in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. METHODS:A total of 39 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria in Lianyungang First People's Hospital from March 2021 to June 2022 were selected as the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis group,and 30 matched healthy volunteers were recruited from the outpatient department as the control group.The horizontal position pressure,folding position pressure,coefficient of variation,and global and trunk pressure variation were measured by the TBED Postural Couch evaluation system.In the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis group,full-length spine radiographs were taken to measure Cobb angle,coronal balance,apical vertebral deviation and Nash-Moe rotation.The characteristics of coronal pressure variation and its correlation with coronal imbalance were analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the control group,there was no statistically significant difference in the horizontal position pressure and folding position pressure in the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis group(P>0.05),but the global pressure variation and coefficient of variation were significantly increased(all P<0.05).(2)There were differences in both sides of the trunk of the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis group and the control group(P<0.05),and the convex side pressure variation in the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis group was higher than the concave side pressure variation in the left and right side pressure variation in the control group(all P<0.05).(3)The variation of the convex side pressure of the trunk in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients was positively correlated with coronal balance intensity(r=0.692,P<0.05),moderately positively correlated with Cobb angle and apical vertebral deviation(r=0.499,0.595,all P<0.05),and weakly correlated with Nash-Moe grade(r=0.377,P<0.05).The variation of the concave side pressure of the trunk was moderately positively correlated with coronal balance(r=0.410,P<0.05),and the rest was weakly correlated or not correlated(P>0.05).(4)These findings indicate that pressure variation may be used as an adjoint assessment tool in patients with mild to moderate scoliosis.

BACKGROUND:The threaded conical implant has a good ability to control micro movements and is conducive to immediate loading.However,the effects of double-threaded conical cylindrical implants and conical cylindrical implants on stress distribution and initial stability of implant-bone interface after immediate loading have not been reported. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the impact of double-threaded conical cylindrical implants and conical cylindrical implants on the biological distribution of the implant and the surrounding bone interface during immediate loading in the mandibular molar region. METHODS:(1)Three-dimensional finite element analysis:Conical beam CT scans of the mandible and first molar of a volunteer were used to develop a basal model of the mandible.The double-threaded conical cylindrical implants and conical cylindrical implants were assembled with the mandibular models,and an immediate-load(or delayed implantation)implant model(a total of four models)for the first mandibular molar was established.Loads in four directions(100 N):axial,lingual and buccal 45°,mesial and distal,and buccal and lingual,were applied to the central fossa of each model's crown.Three-dimensional finite element method was used to analyze the implant displacement and the stress distribution at the implant-bone interface.(2)In vitro experiment:With the assistance of the oral implant robot,the double-threaded conical cylindrical implants and conical cylindrical implants were implanted on the same artificial bone pieces,separately,and the immediate load model of immediate implant implantation(or delayed implantation)was established in vitro(a total of four groups of models).Osstell resonance frequency analyzer and SmartPeg sensor were used to measure the implant stability coefficient in four vertical directions:front,rear,left,and right measurements,evaluate the initial stability,and verify the finite element analysis results. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The displacement difference between double-threaded conical cylindrical implants and conical cylindrical implants was small when the immediate loading of delayed implantation was applied,but the maximum stress value of conical cylindrical implant-bone interface was greater than that of double-threaded conical cylindrical implant-bone interface.When the immediate loading of immediate implantation was applied,the maximum stress value and the maximum displacement of bone around the implant appeared when the load was applied in mesiodistal direction.The stress value of the conical cylindrical implant reached 298.84 MPa and the maximum displacement was 0.31 mm,both of which were larger than that of the double-threaded conical cylindrical implant.(2)The results of in vitro experiments showed that the stability coefficient of the double-threaded conical cylindrical implant was greater than that of the conical cylindrical implant.(3)Compared with the conical cylindrical implant,the double-threaded conical cylindrical implant has higher initial stability under immediate loading,suggesting that the use of double-threaded conical cylindrical implant should be given priority in clinical immediate loading.

BACKGROUND:Prevention of fractures after stroke is very important,and there are currently no models to predict the occurrence of hip fractures after stroke. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the risk factors leading to hip fracture in stroke patients and to establish a risk prediction model to visualize this risk. METHODS:A total of 439 stroke patients were selected from the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from June 2014 to June 2017,including 107 males and 332 females,with a mean age of(71.38±9.74)years.They were divided into fracture group(n=35)and non-fracture group(n=404)according to the presence or absence of hip fracture.Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine the risk factors for hip fracture after stroke.The data were randomly divided into training set(70%)and test set(30%).Nomogram predicting the risk of hip fracture occurrence was created based on the results of the multifactor analysis,and performance was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curve,calibration curves,and decision curve analysis.A web calculator was created to facilitate a more convenient interactive experience for clinicians. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Univariate analysis showed significant differences between the two groups in the number of falls,smoking,hypertension,glucocorticoids,number of strokes,Mini-Mental State Examination,visual acuity level,National Institute of Health Stroke Scale,Berg Balance Scale,and Stop Walking When Talking scale scores(P<0.05).(2)Multivariate analysis showed that number of falls[OR=17.104,95%CI(3.727-78.489),P=0.000],National Institute of Health Stroke Scale[OR=1.565,95%CI(1.193-2.052),P=0.001],Stop Walking When Talking[OR=12.080,95%CI(2.398-60.851),P=0.003]were independent risk factors positively associated with new hip fractures.Bone mineral density[OR=0.155,95%CI(0.044-0.546),P=0.012]and Berg Balance Scale[OR=0.840,95%CI(0.739-0.954),P=0.007]were negatively associated with new hip fractures after stroke.(3)The AUC values of nomogram were 0.956 and 0.907 in the training and test sets,respectively,and the calibration curves showed a high agreement between predicted and actual status with an area under the decision curve of 0.038 and 0.030,respectively.(4)These findings conclude that the number of falls,low bone mineral density,low Berg Balance Scale score,high National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score,and positive Stop Walking When Talking are risk factors for hip fracture after stroke.Based on this,a nomogram with high accuracy was developed and a web calculator(https://stroke.shinyapps.io/DynNomapp/)was created.