To identify the clinical risk factors and investigate the efficacy of a classification model based on the identified factors for predicting 2-year recurrence after ischemic stroke. From June 2017 to January 2019, 358 patients with first-ever ischemic stroke were enrolled and followed up in Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. Demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded by trained medical staff. The outcome was defined as recurrence within 2 years. A multivariate logistic regression model with risk factors and their interaction effects was established and evaluated. The mean (standard deviation) age of the participants was 61.6 (12.1) years, and 101 (28.2%) of the 358 patients were female. The common comorbidities included hypertension (286 patients, 79.9%), diabetes (148 patients, 41.3%), and hyperlipidemia (149 patients, 41.6%). The 2-year recurrence rate was 30.7%. Of the 23 potential risk factors, 10 were significantly different between recurrent and non-recurrent subjects in the univariate analysis. A multivariate logistic regression model was developed based on 10 risk factors. The significant variables include diabetes mellitus, smoking status, peripheral artery disease, hypercoagulable state, depression, 24 h minimum systolic blood pressure, 24 h maximum diastolic blood pressure, age, family history of stroke, NIHSS score status. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was 0.78 (95% confidence interval: 0.726–0.829) with a sensitivity of 0.61 and a specificity of 0.81, indicating a potential predictive ability. Ten risk factors were identified, and an effective classification model was built. This may aid clinicians in identifying high-risk patients who would benefit most from intensive follow-up and aggressive risk factor reduction. The clinical trial registration number: ChiCTR1800019647

Background Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is characterized by impairment of ovarian function on a continuum before the age of 40 years. POI is affected by multiple factors. Considering new insights from recent gut microbiome studies, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between gut microbial community structure and POI. Methods Subjects were recruited at the Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital. Fecal microbial community profiles of healthy women (n = 18), women with POI (n = 35) were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing based on Illumina NovaSeq platform. Results Compared to the controls, the serum levels of FSH, LH, T and FSH/LH ratio significantly increased in women with POI, whereas E2 and AMH decreased significantly. Higher weighted UniFrac value was observed in POI women compared with healthy women. Phylum Firmicutes, genera Bulleidia and Faecalibacterium were more abundant in healthy women, while phylum Bacteroidetes, genera Butyricimonas, Dorea, Lachnobacterium and Sutterella enriched significantly in women with POI. Moreover, these alterations of the gut microbiome in women with POI were closely related to FSH, LH, E2, AMH level and FSH/LH ratio. Conclusions Women with POI had altered microbial profiles in their gut microbiome, which were associated with serum hormones levels. These results will shed a new light on the pathogenesis and treatment for POI.

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To estimate National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) grading of stroke patients with retinal characteristics.A cross-sectional study was conducted in Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. Baseline information and retinal photos were collected within 2 weeks of admission. An NIHSS score was measured for each patient by trained doctors. Patients were classified into 0 to 4 score group and 5 to 42 score group for analysis. Three multivariate logistic models, with traditional clinical characteristics alone, with retinal characteristics alone, and with both, were built.For clinical characteristics, hypertension duration is statistically significantly associated with higher NIHSS score (P = .014). Elevated total homocysteine levels had an OR of 0.456 (P = .029). For retinal characteristics, the fractal dimension of the arteriolar network had an OR of 0.245 (P < .001) for the left eyes, and an OR of 0.417 (P = .009) for right eyes. The bifurcation coefficient of the arteriole of the left eyes had an OR of 2.931 (95% CI 1.573–5.46, P = .001), the nipping of the right eyes had an OR of 0.092 (P = .003) showed statistical significance in the model.The area under receiver-operating characteristic curve increased from 0.673, based on the model with clinical characteristics alone, to 0.896 for the model with retinal characteristics alone and increased to 0.931 for the model with both clinical and retinal characteristics combined.Retinal characteristics provided more information than clinical characteristics in estimating NIHSS grading and can provide us with an objective method for stroke severity estimation.

Purpose To investigate the relationship between vaginal microbial community structure and premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Methods Twenty-eight women with POI and 12 healthy women were recruited at Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital between August and September 2020. Blood samples were collected for glucose tests and detection of sex hormone levels and vaginal secretions were collected for microbial group determination. Vaginal microbial community profiles were analysed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing using the Illumina MiSeq system (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA, USA). Results Compared to the controls, the serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, testosterone, and the follicle-stimulating hormone/luteinizing hormone ratio, significantly increased, and oestradiol and anti-Müllerian hormone levels significantly decreased in women with POI. Higher weighted UniFrac values were observed in women with POI than in healthy women. Bacteria in the genera Lactobacillus, Brevundimonas, and Odoribacter were more abundant in the microbiomes of healthy women, while the quantity of bacteria in the genus Streptococcus was significantly increased in the microbiomes of women with POI. Moreover, these differences in microbes in women with POI were closely related to follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, oestradiol, and anti-Müllerian hormone levels and to the follicle-stimulating hormone/luteinizing hormone ratio. Conclusions Women with POI had altered vaginal microbial profiles compared to healthy controls. The alterations in their microbiomes were associated with serum hormone levels. These results will improve our understanding of the vaginal microbial community structure in women with POI. Trial registration CHICTR, ChiCTR2000029576. Registered 3 August 2020 - Retrospectively registered, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=48844.

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