[Evaluation of semicircular canal and otolith graviceptive pathway function in patients diagnosed with motion sickness disorder based on the diagnostic criteria of the Bárány society].

Objective: To investigate the altered function of the semicircular canal and otolith graviceptive pathway in patients diagnosed with motion sickness disorder (MSD) based on the diagnostic criteria of the Bárány society, and explore its relevance to the pathogenesis of MSD. Methods: This is a case-control study. Twenty patients with MSD and age-and sex-matched healthy controls without a history of MSD from the Department of Neurology of Aerospace Center Hospital between March and August 2022 were recruited. All subjects completed the motion sickness susceptibility questionnaire-short version (MSSQ-short) and the motion sickness assessment questionnaire (MSAQ). Canal function was evaluated using caloric stimulation test and video head impulse test (vHIT), and subjective visual vertical/horizontal (SVV/SVH) and vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) were employed to assess otolith graviceptive function. Differences in vestibular function and correlations between the two groups were analyzed. Results: Each group consisted of 20 cases (9 males and 11 females). The mean age of the MSD and control groups was (26.9±3.9) years and (27.0±3.4) years, respectively. The scores of MSSQ-short [27.0 (22.5, 38.8) vs 1.2 (0, 3.2), P<0.001] and MSAQ [70.1 (54.5, 78.1) vs 11.8 (11.1, 13.9), P<0.001] were significantly higher in the MSD group compared with those of the control group. Evaluation of canal function revealed a significantly higher incidence of caloric stimulation intolerance in MSD patients (60.0%, 12/20) compared with that of the control group (20.0%, 4/20) (P=0.010). Evaluation of otolith graviceptive pathway indicated no significant difference in SVV, SVH and cervical VEMP (cVEMP) abnormality rates between the two groups (all P>0.05). The ocular VEMP (oVEMP) abnormality rate was significantly higher in the MSD group (55.0%, 11/20) than that of the control group (10.0%, 2/20) (P=0.002), with a delayed P1-wave latency compared with the control group [(18.4±1.2) ms vs (17.6±0.8) ms, P=0.018]. Further correlation analysis revealed that P1-wave latency in oVEMP was positively correlated with MSSQ-short (r=0.486, P=0.002) and MSAQ (r=0.391, P=0.015) scores, and duration of caloric intolerance symptoms (r=0.377, P=0.004). Conclusion: The presence of hypersensitivity to caloric stimulation and delayed latency of otolith function in patients with MSD suggests a "separation" between semicircular canal and otolithic function, which may be related to sensory conflict.

[Risk factors analysis and prediction model establishment of contralateral central lymph node metastasis in intermediate-to-high risk unilateral papillary thyroid carcinoma].

Objective: To explore the risk factors of contralateral central lymph nodes (Cont-CLNs) metastasis in intermediate-to-high risk unilateral papillary thyroid carcinoma and establish a prediction model. Methods: The clinical data of 206 patients receiving thyroid cancer surgery at Nantong University Affiliated Hospital between January 2021 and June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed, including 50 males and 156 females, with an age of [M(Q1, Q3)] 49.0(33.8, 57.0) years old. The risk factors of Cont-CLNs metastasis were screened by univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis. A nomogram was constructed for predicting Cont-CLNs metastasis in intermediate-to-high risk uPTC. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve(AUC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the model's predictive ability, accuracy, and clinical applicability, respectively. R language was used to randomly select 70% of the patients to establish a validation group for internal validation of the model. Results: Patients were divided into a metastasis group (n=56) and a non-metastasis group (n=150) based on the occurrence of Cont-CLNs metastasis. The ages of the two groups were 39.0 (28.0, 56.8) years and 51.0 (38.8, 57.0) years, respectively. There were statistically significant differences in gender, maximum tumor diameter (>1 cm), ipsilateral central lymph nodes (Ipsi-CLNs) metastasis, number of Ipsi-CLNs metastases (≥4), and lateral lymph node metastasis and Cont-CLNs metastasis between the two groups (all P<0.05). The results of multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that males(OR=2.926, 95%CI: 1.063-8.051), maximum tumor diameter>1 cm(OR=4.471, 95%CI: 1.344-14.877), and number of Ipsi-CLNs metastases≥4 (OR=5.011, 95%CI: 1.815-13.834) were risk factors for Cont-CLNs metastasis (all P<0.05). The AUC of the ROC curve, sensitivity, and specificity for predicting Cont-CLNs metastasis in intermediate-to-high risk uPTC by the prediction model in the modeling group were 0.821 (95%CI: 0.744-0.898), 82.5%, and 63.4%, respectively. In the internal validation group, the AUC of the ROC curve, sensitivity, and specificity for predicting Cont-CLNs metastasis in intermediate-to-high risk uPTC by the prediction model were 0.810 (95%CI: 0.717-0.902), 63.3%, and 83.7%, respectively. The calibration curves of the modeling group and the validation group showed that the model had good calibration ability. The DCA curves of the modeling group and the validation group indicated that the prediction model had good clinical adaptability. Conclusions: The prediction model constructed in this study has good predictive performance for Cont-CLNs metastasis in intermediate-to-high uPTC. When patient with intermediate-to-high risk uPTC is male, with maximum tumor diameter>1 cm, and the number of Ipsi-CLNs metastases≥4 should be alert to Cont-CLNs metastasis, and bilateral central lymph node dissection may be considered.

[The clinicopathological features of adult thyroid tumors with DICER1 mutation].

A total of 37 cases of thyroid tumors with pathological features suggestive of DICER1 gene mutation were selected to detect the DICER1 gene and BRAF gene using Sanger sequencing. A total of 10 patients (27.0%) exhibited DICER1 gene mutation all of whom were female with an age of [M(Q1, Q3)] 38.0 (30.5, 47.5) years. All patients had wild-type BRAFV600E gene. The ultrasound examination showed high-low echogenic well-demarcated intra-thyroidal nodules with abundant peripheral and internal blood flow signals in the DICER1 mutated thyroid tumor. The tumor was confined within the thyroid gland, with a diameter of (3.68±1.31) cm. The pathological features are as follows: the majority of tumors are encapsulated, which mainly composed of large follicles rich in colloid and some are small and micro follicles. The nucleus is round and deeply stained or slightly light stained, small to medium-sized, with occasional nuclear grooves and a lack of nuclear pseudoinclusion bodies within the nucleus. Immunohistochemical staining shows that Ki67 proliferation index of approximately 2%-10%. All cases were followed up for 11 to 18 months, and there was no recurrences or distant metastase. This study confirmed that the DICER1 gene mutation is mutually exclusive with the BRAFV600E gene mutation. The thyroid tumor with DICER1 mutation are in big size and are more common in young females with a good prognosis. Cases with the wild-type DICER1 gene may exhibit similar morphological features, and molecular testing is recommended. If somatic DICER1 mutation is confirmed, patients should undergo germline mutation testing to rule out DICER1 syndrome in order to define whether genetic counseling is necessary.

[Short-term outcomes of the TRIANGLE operation after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced pancreatic cancer].

Objective: To investigate the safety and efficacy of the TRIANGLE operation after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced pancreatic cancer(LAPC). Methods: This study is a retrospective case series analysis. Between January 2020 and December 2022, a total of 103 patients were diagnosed as LAPC who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy at the Pancreas Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. Among them, 26 patients (25.2%) underwent the TRIANGLE operation. There were 15 males and 11 females,with a age of (59±7) years (range: 49 to 74 years). The pre-treatment serum CA19-9(M(IQR)) was 248.8(391.6)U/ml (range: 0 to 1 428 U/ml),and the serum carcinoembryonic antigen was 4.1(3.8)µg/L(range: 1.4 to 13.4 µg/L). The neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens included: mFOLFIRINOX regimen in 6 cases(23.1%), GnP regimen in 14 cases(53.8%), and mFOLFIRINOX+GnP regimen in 6 cases(23.1%). The follow-up duration extended until June 2023 or until the occurrence of the patient's death or loss to follow-up. The Kaplan-Meier method was employed to estimate the 1-year and 3-year overall survival rates. Results: After neoadjuvant chemotherapy,CA19-9 levels decreased by 92.3(40.1)%(range:2.1% to 97.7%). Evaluation of the response to treatment revealed 13 cases(50.0%) of stable disease,11 cases(42.3%) of partial response,and 2 cases(7.7%) of complete response. The surgical operation consisted of 12 cases(46.2%) of pancreaticoduodenectomy,12 cases(46.2%) of distal pancreatectomy,and 2 cases(7.7%) of total pancreatectomy. Margin determination was based on the "standardised pathology protocol" and the "1 mm" principle. No R2 and R1(direct) resections were observed,while the R0 resection rate was 61.5%(16/26), and the R1(1 mm) resection rate was 38.5%(10/26).The R1(1 mm) resection rates for the anterior margin,posterior margin,transected margin,portal vein groove margin,and uncinate margin were 23.1%(6/26),19.2%(5/26),12.5%(3/24),2/14, and 1/12, respectively. The overall postoperative complication rate was 57.8%(15/26),with major complications including grade B/C pancreatic fistula 25.0%(6/24,excluding 2 cases of total pancreatectomy),delayed gastric emptying in 23.1%(6/26),wound complications 11.5%(3/26),postoperative hemorrhage 7.7%(2/26), chylous fistula 7.7%(2/26) and bile fistula 3.8%(1/26). No reoperation was performed during the perioperative period(<90 days). One patient died on the 32nd day postoperatively due to a ruptured pseudoaneurysm. A total of 25 patients were followed up,with a follow-up time of 21(24)months(range: 8 to 42 months). During the follow-up period,8 cases(32.0%) died due to tumor recurrence and metastasis,while 17 patients(68.0%) remained alive,including 11 cases of disease-free survival,5 cases of distant metastasis,and 1 case of local recurrence. The overall survival rates at 1- and 3-year after the initiation of neoadjuvant chemotherapy were 95.8% and 58.9%, respectively. The overall survival rates at 1- and 3-year after surgery were 77.7% and 57.8%, respectively. Conclusion: Performing pancreatoduodenectomy according to the Heidelberg triangle protocol in LAPC patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy might increase the R0 resection rate without increasing perioperative mortality or the incidence of major postoperative complications.

[Effects of surgical procedures and general anesthesia exposure within 2 hours in early childhood on neurodevelopmental outcomes in school-age].

Objective: To observe the effect of surgical procedures and general anesthesia exposure (<2 h) in early childhood on neurodevelopmental outcomes in school-age. Methods: A total of 147 children aged 6-12 years old, who received surgery under general anesthesia (<2 h) at the age of 0-2 years in Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical Universityfrom June 2009 to December 2012 were retrospectively enrolled in this study (from June 2018 to December 2021) as exposure group, including 76 males and 71 females, with a mean age of (8.8±1.6) years. All the cases were divided into single-exposure group (n=65) and multiple-exposure group (≥2 times, n=82) according to different times of anesthesia exposure. According to the cohort of exposure group, 160 healthy children of the same age with no history of surgery under general anesthesia were recruited from the community from June 2018 to December 2021 as the control group, including 87 males and 73 females, and aged (8.6±1.9) years. A variety of standardized neurological tests including Wechsler intelligence scale for children fourth edition (WSC-Ⅳ), integrated visual and auditory continuous performance test (IVA-CPT), Swanson Nolan and Pelham, version Ⅳ (SNAP-Ⅳ), children sensory integration capacity development rating scale (CSIC), and social living ability scale were performed in all subjects by a child health specialist who failed to know the details. The primary outcome was the full-scale IQ (FSIQ) in WISC-Ⅳ, and the secondary outcomes were IVA-CPT, SNAP-Ⅳ, CSIC, and social living ability scale. Results: The FSIQ of single-exposure, multiple-exposure and control groups was 105.4±14.1, 100.9±10.2 and 103.6±13.5, respectively, with no statistically significant difference (F=2.37, P=0.095). The FSIQ of different first age exposure groups (aged 0-6 months, 7-12 months and 1-2 years) was 99.8±10.2, 104.5±10.5 and 104.4±14.5, respectively, with no statistically significant difference (F=2.39, P=0.095). The FSIQ of different exposure duration groups (0-59 min, 60-119 min and control group) was 102.8±11.3, 103.0±13.7 and 103.6±13.5, respectively, with no statistically significant difference (F=0.13, P=0.882). As for the secondary outcomes, the scores of visual persistence quotient in single-exposure, multiple-exposure and control groups were 94.8±10.5, 94.0±10.9 and 100.6±17.7, with a statistically significant difference (F=6.96, P=0.001). In terms of locomotion in social living ability scale, the score of the three groups was 10.0±0.2, 10.2±0.6 and 10.4±0.7, respectively, with a statistically significant difference (F=10.61, P<0.001), but all were within the standard range. Conclusions: The surgical procedures and general anesthesia exposure within 2 hours in early childhood has no effect on the overall FSIQ in school age, but has a slight impacts on the visual persistence quotient of IVA-CPT and the locomotion score of social living ability scale.

[Benchmark dose estimation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure base on Bayesian kernel machine regression].

Objective: To explore benchmark dose (BMD) estimations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) based on Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) . Methods: A total of 155 adult residents of a coking plant in Shanxi Province who were surveyed in summer (June to August) from 2014 to 2019 were selected as the research objects. Fasting elbow vein blood of the subjects was collected in the morning for automatic analysis and detection of blood routine. Morning urine samples were collected for automatic analysis and detection of urine routine and urine creatinine detection. BKMR model combined with BMD method was used to calculate the acceptable doses of PAHs exposure on red blood cell damage in non-occupational population. Results: The concentration of hydroxylpolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OH-PAHs) in the red blood cells abnormal group (n=117) was significantly higher than that in the normal group (n=38) (P<0.01). In the combined effect of OH-PAHs, 2-hydrol-naphthalene contributed the most, and the posterior inclusion probability (PIP) value was 0.9354. When OH-PAHs ≥P(55) concentration, the joint effect on the risk of red blood cell abnormalities increased as the concentration of the OH-PAHs mixture increased. When OH-PAHs were at P(65) and P(75) concentrations, respectively, the risk of red blood cell abnormalities in adults were 3.09 and 4.98 times that of OH-PAHs at P(50) concentrations, respectively. Compared with high concentration, low concentration of OH-PAHs exposure was more sensitive to red blood cell darmage. The acceptable doses of 8 kinds of OH-PAHs were 1.010 µmol/mol Cr (2-hydrol-naphthalene), 0.743 µmol/mol Cr (1-hydrol-naphthalene), 0.901 µmol/mol Cr (2-hydroxy-fluorene) and 0.775 µmol/mol Cr (1-hydroxy-phenanthrene), 0.737 µmol/mol Cr (1-hydroxy-pyrene), 0.607 µmol/mol Cr (9-hydroxy-fluorene), 0.713 µmol/mol Cr (2-hydroxy-phenanthrene) and 0.628 µmol/mol Cr (3-hydroxybenzo[a] pyrene), respectively. Conclusion: OH-PAHs mixture has positive combined effect on red blood cell damage in non-occupational population, and low concentration of OH-PAHs exposure is more sensitive to red blood cell damage. It is recommended that the exposure dose of PAHs should be controlled within 1 µmol/mol Cr.

[Comparison of time series and case-crossover analyses in environmental epidemiology].

Time-series and case-crossover are two main study designs in environmental epidemiology. However, due to the differences in design principles and model construction between the two analyses, the results of the two analyses may not be consistent. Herein, we examined the short-term effect of cold spells on cardiovascular mortality in Nanjing using both time series and case-crossover analyses, aiming to provide a basis for the selection of appropriate research design in environmental epidemiology.

Molecular characterization of insulin-like peptides in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae).

Insulin-like peptides (ILPs) including insulin, insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and relaxin are evolutionarily conserved hormones in metazoans, and they are involved in diverse physiological processes. The migratory brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens, encodes four ILP genes (Nlilp1, Nlilp2, Nlilp3 and Nlilp4) but their physiological roles are largely unknown. Sequence analysis showed that NlILP1 contained a relaxin-specific G protein-coupled receptor-binding motif and a variant motif of cysteine residues, and NlILP2 and NlILP4 resembled vertebrate IGFs. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated gene silencing showed that depletion of each of Nlilp1, 2 and 3 significantly delayed the developmental duration of nymphs, and this effect could be exacerbated by double or triple gene depletion. Depletion of Nlilp1, Nlilp2 or Nlilp3 induces the accumulation of glucose, trehalose and glycogen, which is contradictory to depletion of the insulin receptor (NlInR1) in the BPH. Depletion of Nlilp1 significantly enhanced starvation resistance in both females and males although its extent was smaller than NlInR1 depletion. A parental RNAi assay showed that depletion of each of Nlilp1-4 dramatically impaired female fecundity. These findings indicate that NlILP1-4 have redundant and distinct roles in physiological processes in the BPH, thereby enhancing our understanding of the contribution of each NlILP to the ecological success of this species in natural habitats.

[Multiple linear regression models with natural logarithmic transformations of variables].

In general, the application conditions of linear regression models could be met after the natural logarithmic transformation of data. From the practical perspective, this paper introduced the linear regression models with natural logarithmic transformation of independent variable, dependent variable, and both independent and dependent variables in detail. The paper illustrated why the equation and coefficients could not be directly explained after the natural logarithmic transformation of data. The percentage changes of X and/or Y were applied to elaborate the principle and method for the explanation of the equation and coefficients. Three examples were used to fit simple linear models with natural logarithmic transformation of independent, dependent, and both independent and dependent variables and the results of theses models were explained in detail.

Extending the spectral database of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy with generative adversarial nets.

As a famous spectroscopy method for substance detection and classification, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is not a nondestructive detection method. Considering the precious samples and the experimental environment, sometimes it is difficult to get enough spectra to build the classification model, which is important for qualitative analysis. In this paper, a spectral generation method for extending the spectral database of LIBS is proposed based on generative adversarial nets (GAN). After enough interactive training, the generated spectra looked very similar to the experimental spectra. Evaluated with unsupervised clustering methods PCA and K-means, the generated spectra could not be distinguished from the real spectra. For each type of sample, most of the simulated spectra and experimental spectra were clustered into the same class, which meant the proposed method was effective to extend the spectral database. Using the spectral database extended by this method as training set data to build the SVM model, the results showed that when there were only a few experimental spectra, the combination of the generated spectra and the experimental spectra for building the classification model could achieve better identification results.

[Overview of multivariate regression model analysis and application].

Analyses of the multivariate regression model are ued very widely in the medical research. Analytical methods of the mutivariate regression model including multiple linear regression, logistic regression, Poisson regression and Cox proportional hazard model were introduced in this article. The contents of the article covered the application conditions of regression models, analytical procedures, strategies of selecting independent variables, extended discussions of regression models and application notes. It is expected that authors could understand the principle of the mutivariate regression model, accurately use these analytical methods in their research, improve the efficiency of data utilization, and enhance the level of statistical analyses.

[An overview of multiple linear regression model and its application].

Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) is a generalization of simple linear regression and is one of the commonly used models in multivariate statistical analysis. This article introduces the MLR model from the perspective of practical application. Four parts, including basic principle, application examples, the application condition and diagnosis, and the extension of the model, are sequentially illustrated in this article. Particularly, in the last part, alternative methods of the model are introduced when the application condition of the model is not met. We sincerely hope that this article could make our audiences have a better understanding of the MLR model in order to improve the efficiency of data utilization and statistical analysis by correctly performing this model in their research.

[Multi-site analysis of acute effects of air pollutants combination exposure on mortality in Jiangsu Province, China].

Objective: To explore the acute effect of fine particulate matters (PM(2.5)), O(3), NO(2) on daily non-accidental mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality and respiratory mortality data in thirteen cities of Jiangsu province. Methods: Daily average concentrations of non-accidental mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality, respiratory mortality data and environmental data were collected from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2017 in thirteen cities of Jiangsu Province. Daily air quality, mortality and meteorology data were collected from the Information System of Air Pollution and Health Impact Monitoring of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. We used generalized additive model to evaluate the association between daily concentrations of air pollutants and mortality at single-city level and multi-city level, after adjusting the long-term and seasonal trend, as well as meteorological factors and the effect of "days and weeks" . A multivariate Meta-analysis with random effects was applied to estimate dose-response relationship between air pollutants and mortality. Results: At multi-city level, per interquartile range increase of PM(2.5), O(3), NO(2) was associated with an increase of 1.10% (95%CI: 0.66%, 1.54%), 0.59% (95%CI: 0.18%, 1.00%), 2.00% (95%CI: 1.29%, 2.72%) of daily non-accidental mortality respectively; 1.01% (95%CI: 0.63%, 1.38%), 0.66% (95%CI: 0.02%, 1.30%), 1.62% (95%CI: 1.00%, 2.23%) of daily cardiovascular mortality respectively; 1.09% (95%CI: 0.35%, 1.82%), 0.44% (95%CI: -0.29%, 1.16%), 2.75% (95%CI: 1.42%, 4.08%) of daily respiratory mortality respectively. The air pollutants effect varied across different cities. The strongest effect of PM(2.5) was current day (excess risk (ER)=1.10%, 95%CI: 0.66%, 1.54%)), the strongest effect of O(3) was 2-day lag (ER=1.82%, 95%CI: 0.69%, 2.97%) and the strongest effect of NO(2) was 1-day lag (ER=2.09%, 95%CI: 1.34%, 2.83%) of daily non-accidental mortality respectively. Conclusion: The increases of PM(2.5) and NO(2) concentration could result in the increases of daily non-accidental mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality and respiratory mortality. O(3) could result in the increases of daily non-accidental mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality. The acute effects for non-accidental mortality from high to low were NO(2), PM(2.5) and O(3,) and the strongest effect of PM(2.5) was current day. O(3) and NO(2) had lagged effects.

[Overview of logistic regression model analysis and application].

Logistic regression is a kind of multiple regression method to analyze the relationship between a binary outcome or categorical outcome and multiple influencing factors, including multiple logistic regression, conditional logistic regression, polytomous logistic regression, ordinal logistic regression and adjacent categorical logistic regression. This paper illustrates the basic principle, independent variable selection and assignment, applied condition, model evaluation and diagnosis for multiple logistic regression model. Moreover, the principle and application for polytomous logistic regression and ordinal logistic regression models were also introduced. By providing SAS codes and detailed explanations of the result for an example of obesity, readers could be able to better understand logistic regression model, and apply this method correctly to their research and daily work, so as to improve their capacity of the data analysis.

[The design of interrupted time series and its analytic methods].

Interrupted time series (ITS) is a statistical method for the quasi-experimental design specific to the outcome of time series, in which the effectiveness of an intervening measure is evaluated by examining change in slope and immediate change in level. The key feature of ITS is that the secular trend of time series prior to the intervention can be effectively controlled so as to accurately estimate the intervention effect. The design principle and statistical method for ITS were illustrated by an example of evaluating halving policy for the expert registration fee in the general hospital of a city. The segmented linear regression was used to fit the above time series data and the results were explained in detail. Meanwhile, the study design and model fitting along with explanations of the results with respect to the effects of two types of successive interventions and on different time-points of an intervention were illustrated as well in this paper. The existed upward or downward trend should be taken into account in order to accurately estimate the intervention effect as it exists in most of the public health surveillance data. Two parameters, known as change in slope and immediate change in level, were employed to evaluate the effect of the intervention. The ITS analysis can be widely applied to the program evaluation as it could enrich methods of the evaluation compared to the traditional model of the program evaluation.

[The caregiver burden and related factors on quality of life among caregivers for patients with lung cancer].

Objective: To explore the influence of caregiver burden on quality of life among caregivers for patients with lung cancer in Beijing. Methods: From August to October in 2017, 336 caregivers for patients with primary lung cancer from a large tertiary hospital were recruited to this survey by convenient sampling method. The Caregiver Reaction Assessment (CRA) and the WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) Instruments were used to evaluate the caregiver burden and quality of life. The demographic characteristics were evaluated using Pearson chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. In addition, using the 4 dimensions of quality of life scale as the dependent variables while the 5 dimensions of caregiver burden and demographic variables as the explanatory variables, we conducted the multiple linear stepwise regression analysis (the defaults were 0.15 for FORWARD and BACKWARD). Results: The scores of family caregivers' esteem, impact on schedule, impact on finances, impact on health and lack of family support were 4.30±0.47、3.55±0.74、3.10±0.91、2.60±0.78、2.32±0.73, respectively. Regression results showed that demographic factors, including marriage, occupation and relationship with patients and impact on health, caregivers' esteem and impact on finances dimensions of caregiver burden were the factors which influenced the quality of life of caregivers. Conclusions: The caregiver burden in patients with lung cancer is mainly focused on impact on schedule and finances. Impact on health, finances and caregivers' esteem (seven items were reverse-scored) are significantly negatively correlated with quality of life of caregivers.

[The role of aquaporin 4 antibody in the injury of retinal microstructure in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders].

Objective: To evaluate the injury of retinal microstructure using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and investigate the role of aquaporin 4 antibody (AQP4 Ab) in this injury process. Methods: Forty patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) were retrospectively studied, each of whom reported at least one episode of optic neuritis (ON), namely 59 ON eyes involved in all. All patients were divided into two subgroups based on AQP4 Ab tests including 25 patients (37 ON eyes) with AQP4 positive (Ab(+)/NMOSD group) and 15 patients (22 ON eyes) negative (Ab(-)/NMOSD group). In addition, 10 healthy controls (20 eyes) matched for age and sex (HC group) were analyzed. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) was used to quantify peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). Nonparametric test was used to compare differences between groups. Results: Age distribution and gender ratio were comparable in three groups (P>0.05). Visual acuity in ON eyes of Ab(+)/NMOSD group was worse than that of Ab(-)/NMOSD group (P=0.02). There were no significant differences between Ab(+)/NMOSD and Ab(-)/NMOSD in aspects of disease duration (2.6 vs. 1.9 year), ON episodes (2 vs. 1), longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) ratio (48.0% vs. 66.7%), NMOSD specific intracranial lesions ratio (32.0% vs. 53.3%), positive autoimmune antibody ratio (52.0% vs. 20.0%) (P= 0.13, 0.08, 0.25, 0.18, 0.06, respectively). The thickness of temporal, superior, nasal, inferior and average RNFL in ON eyes of both Ab(+)/NMOSD and Ab(-)/NMOSD group were thinner than those in eyes of HC group (all P<0.05). The thickness of superior and inferior RNFL in ON eyes of Ab(+)/NMOSD were 61.0 µm and 62.0 µm, which was thinner than those of Ab(-)/NMOSD 94.5 µm and 97.0 µm (P=0.03 and 0.01, respectively). Conclusions: RNFL reflects the injury of retinal microstructure in NMOSD patients. AQP4 Ab seropositivity is correlated to the severity of RNFL damage, implying the potential role of AQP4 Ab in this pathological process.

[Clinical features of late-onset neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders].

Objective: To study the clinical features of late-onset neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders(LONMOSD). Methods: Twenty-eight patients with LONMOSD and fifty-one patients with early-onset neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders(EONMOSD) hospitalized in Navy General Hospital from January 2014 to May 2017 were enrolled and were followed up by telephone or outpatient visiting. The clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations and imaging features of the two groups were compared. Results: (1)The average age of onset in group LONMOSD was(59±6) years old, and 24 cases were female(85.7%). (2) The history of prodromal infection in LONMOSD patients was less reported than that in group EONMOSD(14.3 vs 37.3%, P<0.05), but concomitant diseases were more common in LONMOSD patients(53.6% vs 3.9%, P<0.05). (3) In group of LONMOSD, the patients with transverse myelitis(TM )as the first symptom were less than that of EONMOSD group (39.3% vs 64.7%, P<0.05). (4) There was no significant difference in EDSS score either in acute or remission stage, laboratory and imaging findings between the two groups. Conclusion: Patients with LONMOSD have less history of prodromal infection, and those with TM as the first symptom are less than EONMOSD patients.

[Dynamic features of tumefactive demyelinating lesions in different clinical stages by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging].

Objective: To explore the dynamic features of tumefactive demyelinating lesions (TDLs) in different clinical stages by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: Thirty-five patients with TDLs proven by pathological studies were prospectively recruited from January 2015 to January 2017.Brain contrast-enhanced MRI of the patients in different clinical stages including acute phase, subacute phase and chronic phase were completed after enrollment.The characteristics of contrast-enhanced MRI in different clinical stages were compared and the evolutional characteristics were summarized. Results: (1) Acute phase (35/35): the patterns of enhancement were patchy (74.3%, n=26), nodule (34.3%, n=12), closed ring (14.3%, n=5) and open ring (11.4%, n=4). (2) Subacute phase (32/35): the patterns of enhancement were open ring (40.6%, n=13), closed ring (31.3%, n=10), patchy (25.0%, n=8) and irregular edge of enhancement (21.9%, n=7). (3) Chronic phase (15/35): the patterns of enhancement were pale patchy (10/15), open ring (5/15) and closed ring (2/15). (4) The proportions of enhancement patterns including patchy, nodule, edge enhancement and pale patchy were significantly different among different clinical stages: ① The patchy and nodule were the more common enhancement patterns in acute phase. ② The edge enhancement was found mostly in subacute phase. ③ The pale patchy was found mostly in chronic phase. Conclusions: The manifestation of the lesions on contrast-enhanced MRI may have some characteristics of dynamic evolution according to different clinical stages.The dynamic observation may be helpful for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of TDLs.