To explore the predictive value of the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index for diagnosing sarcopenia in elderly patients with prediabetes.

A single-center, cross-sectional study was conducted. General characteristics and laboratory test results were collected from prediabetic patients aged≥65 years attending the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between January 2023 and June 2024. Participants were divided into sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups based on the presence of sarcopenia. Differences between groups were compared to identify potential risk factors for sarcopenia using χ² test and t test. Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between various indicators and appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) and grip strength. Logistic regression analysis was employed to investigate risk factors for sarcopenia in prediabetic patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the predictive value of the TyG index for sarcopenia in elderly prediabetic patients.

A total of 211 elderly prediabetic patients were enrolled, including 102 males (accounting for 48.3%), with a mean age of (78.72±6.68) years. Sarcopenia was diagnosed in 107 patients. The TyG index was significantly higher in the sarcopenia group (8.81±0.54) than in the non-sarcopenia group (8.43±0.40) (t=5.820, P < 0.05). The TyG index showed a negative correlation with ASMI and grip strength (r=-0.224, -0.215; P < 0.01). It was identified as a risk factor for sarcopenia in prediabetic patients (OR=1.646, 95%CI: 0.426-6.358, P < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for the TyG index in predicting sarcopenia in elderly prediabetic patients was 0.706 (95%CI: 0.636-0.775). The optimal cut-off value was 8.631, with a sensitivity of 70.2% and specificity of 62.6%.

The TyG index may be an effective predictor of sarcopenia in elderly patients with prediabetes.

To screen for sarcopenia, assess nutritional status, and evaluate frailty in elderly hospitalized patients with prostate diseases, and to analyze the risk factors affecting the occurrence of prostate cancer among them.

Elderly patients with prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer initially diagnosed and admitted to the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University between January and June 2024 were selected. The patient's height, weight, waist circumference, calf circumference, and grip strength were measured. Sarcopenia was screened using the SARC-CalF scale, malnutrition was diagnosed using the GLIM criteria, and frailty was diagnosed using the Fried phenotype criteria. T test and χ² test were used to compare the clinical data of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia and those with prostate cancer. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors influencing the occurrence of prostate cancer.

A total of 656 patients were enrolled. Among them, 24 cases (3.66%) were at risk for sarcopenia, 80 cases (12.20%) had malnutrition, and 256 cases (39.02%) were frail. There were 424 cases of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (benign prostatic hyperplasia group) and 232 cases of patients with prostate cancer (prostate cancer group). The incidence of low calf circumference and low grip strength in the prostate cancer group was significantly higher than that in the benign prostatic hyperplasia group (14.29% vs 1.92%, χ²=4.747, P < 0.05; 51.72% vs 28.30%, χ²=4.432, P < 0.05). The incidence of sarcopenia and frailty was significantly higher in the prostate cancer group than in the benign prostatic hyperplasia group (10.34% vs 0, χ²=5.691, P < 0.05, 62.07% vs 26.42%, χ²=10.013, P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that frailty was a risk factor for the occurrence of prostate cancer (OR=11.63, 95%CI: 1.05-125.00, P < 0.05).

The incidence of frailty among prostate cancer patients is relatively high, and frailty is one of the risk factors for the occurrence of prostate cancer.

To investigate the impact of different surgical timing and procedures on the prognosis of elderly patients with extrahepatic bile duct stones complicated by moderate acute biliary tract infection.

A total of 133 elderly patients with extrahepatic bile duct stones and acute biliary tract infection admitted to Dongtai People's Hospital from 2023 to 2024 were enrolled. Based on surgical timing, they were divided into an early group (undergoing emergency surgery within 48 hours of admission, n=73) and a late group (undergoing surgery at 72-96 hours post-admission, n=60). Each group was further subdivided according to surgical procedure: laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) stone extraction and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) combined with endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) stone extraction. Surgical success rates and postoperative complications were compared. T test and analysis of variance were used for the comparison between measurement data, and chi-square test was used for the comparison between counting data.

The late group demonstrated a significantly higher surgical success rate (96.67% vs 80.82%, χ²=7.813, P < 0.05). Postoperative complications (pancreatitis, sepsis) were significantly lower in the late group (3.33% vs 16.44%, 3.33% vs 13.70%, χ²=6.005 and 4.310, respectively; P < 0.05). The ERCP+EST subgroup in the late group had a significantly higher success rate than the early ERCP+EST subgroup (96.88% vs 79.17%, χ²=5.077, P < 0.05).

For elderly patients with extrahepatic bile duct stones and moderate biliary infection, delayed surgery at 72~96 hours post-admission reduces complication rates. Surgical approach (LCBDE vs ERCP+EST) does not significantly affect success rates.

To explore the diagnostic value of peripheral artery ultrasound indicators in elderly patients for peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

A total of 60 elderly patients diagnosed with PAD in Shaanxi Provincial Second People's Hospital from December 2020 to December 2023 (PAD group) and 60 healthy elderly individuals who underwent physical examination during the same period (healthy control group) were selected. Baseline data of both groups were collected. High-resolution ultrasound was used to detect carotid intima-media thickness (CIT), radial artery intima-media thickness (RIT), femoral artery intima-media thickness (PIT), plaque characteristics, hemodynamic parameters, and vascular wall elasticity, and their correlations with PAD were analyzed. The diagnostic efficacy of ultrasound indicators for PAD was evaluated using ROC curves. T test was used for the comparison between measurement data, and chi-square test was used for the comparison between counting data.

Univariate analysis showed that CIT [(0.80±0.12) mm vs (0.65±0.11) mm, t=6.522, P < 0.05]、RIT[(0.70±0.11) mm vs (0.55±0.07) mm, t=7.525, P < 0.05]及PIT[(0.69±0.09) mm vs (0.51±0.06) mm, t=8.673, P < 0.001] in the PAD group were significantly higher than those in the healthy control group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that CIT, RIT, and PIT were all risk factors for PAD in the elderly [OR(95%CI)=1.682(1.351-2.103), 1.613(1.292-2.013), 1.512(1.231-1.852); P < 0.001]. ROC curve analysis indicated that CIT, RIT, and PIT had high AUC values for PAD diagnosis, and the combined application of the three indicators yielded the highest AUC (0.898), with a sensitivity of 87.53% and a specificity of 81.64%.

Increased thickness of CIT, RIT, and PIT is significantly associated with the occurrence of PAD in the elderly. The combined application of multiple indicators can effectively improve the diagnostic efficacy of PAD.

Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNA) widely exist in the nucleus of eukaryotes. They are a group of non-coding RNA derived from the introns of the primary transcripts of small nucleolar host genes (SNHG), which are mainly involved in the biosynthesis of ribosomes and the post-transcriptional modification of RNA. In recent years, the role of snoRNA in tumorigenesis and development has gained attention. This article provides a comprehensive review of the biological characteristics of snoRNA and their relationship with cancer, focusing on the role of snoRNA and SNHG in bladder cancer, especially the research progress of their expression, regulation, biological function, and clinical applications in bladder cancer, with the aim of providing references for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the common microvascular complications of diabetes, caused by retinal microvascular damage induced by chronic hyperglycemia. It is a chronic progressive disease characterized by vision loss and can lead to severe consequences such as blindness in severe cases. Currently, intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents have become the first-line treatment for DR and diabetic macular edema (DME). Brolucizumab, a single-chain antibody fragment targeting VEGF-A, offers advantages such as a lower molecular weight, enhanced tissue permeability, and reduced immunogenicity risk. Clinical studies have shown that brolucizumab demonstrates superior or non-inferior efficacy compared to aflibercept, ranibizumab, and panretinal laser photocoagulation (PRP) in improving visual acuity and delaying disease progression, while also exhibiting a favorable safety profile with a lower incidence of severe adverse reactions. This review summarizes the latest advancements in the application of brolucizumab for the treatment of DR.

Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is the adipose tissue located between the myocardium and the visceral layer of the epicardium. There is no muscular fascia between it and the myocardium, allowing for mutual influence through microcirculation. Its pathophysiological function in cardiovascular diseases has attracted widespread clinical attention. EAT can exert protective effects on adjacent myocardium either by uptaking fatty acids and secreting anti-inflammatory factors, or conversely, contribute to cardiovascular diseases by secreting inflammatory factors and through fatty acid infiltration. Detection of EAT can enable early diagnosis and risk assessment of cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, EAT represents a promising therapeutic target; Clinically, improving the quality and function of EAT may offer a strategy for treating cardiovascular diseases. This article reviews current research on the physiological basis of EAT, the mechanisms underlying its transition from physiological to pathological functions, its role in cardiovascular diseases, methods for assessing EAT, and approaches for targeting EAT to treat cardiovascular diseases, with the aim of systematically illustrating the potential role of EAT in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.