Objective To discuss the main pathological types and imaging characteristics of pulmonary nodules that are highly suspected to be malignant in clinical practice but are pathologically confirmed to be benign. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of patients with pulmonary nodules who were initially highly suspected of malignancy but were subsequently pathologically confirmed to be benign. These patients were treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University from December 2020 to April 2023. Based on the outcomes of preoperative discussions, the patients were categorized into a benign group and a suspicious malignancy group. The clinical data and imaging characteristics of both groups were compared. Results A total of 232 patients were included in the study, comprising 112 males and 120 females, with a mean age of (50.7±12.0) years. Among these, 127 patients were classified into the benign group, while 105 patients were categorized into the suspicious malignancy group. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding age, gender, symptoms, smoking history, or tumor history (P>0.05). However, significant differences were noted in nodule density, CT values, margins, shapes, and malignant signs (P＜0.05). Further analysis revealed that in the suspicious malignancy group, solid nodules were predominantly characterized by collagen nodules and fibrous tissue hyperplasia (33.3%), followed by tuberculosis (20.4%) and fungal infections (18.5%). In contrast, non-solid nodules were primarily composed of collagen nodules and fibrous tissue hyperplasia (41.2%) and atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (17.7%). Conclusion Benign pulmonary nodules that are suspected to be malignant are pathologically characterized by the presence of collagen nodules, fibrous tissue hyperplasia, tuberculosis, atypical adenomatous hyperplasia, and fungal infections. Radiologically, these nodules typically present as non-solid lesions and may exhibit features suggestive of malignancy, including spiculation, lobulation, cavitation, and pleural retraction.

Objective: To construct a scientific and perfect evaluation index system of infectious disease prevention and control ability in colleges and universities, so as to provide reference tools for colleges and universities to effectively respond to infectious disease. Methods: The initial framework of the evaluation index system of infectious disease prevention and control ability in colleges and universities was constructed by using literature analysis method. Experts familiar with infectious disease prevention and control or school health work were selected to conduct two rounds( n =16，18) of Delphi expert consultation for determining the evaluation index system. Analytical hierarchy process was used to calculate the index weights and combined weights. About 198 prevention and control personnel were conveniently selected from 3 universities in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to comprehensively evaluate the evaluation indicators by using fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method. Results: After two rounds of Delphi consultation questionnaire, the effective recovery rates were 80.0% and 90.0%, the expert authority levels were 0.89 and 0.86, the expert harmony coefficients for Kendall W were 0.166 and 0.310, and the variation coefficient of each index was <0.25. Finally, the evaluation index system of infectious disease prevention and control ability of colleges and universities included 4 first level indicators, 14 second level indicators and 75 third level indicators. The weights of prevention and monitoring and early warning, organizational system guarantee, emergency management, rehabilitation and summary were 0.176, 0.476, 0.268 and 0.080, respectively. The top 3 weights of the secondary indexes were 0.623 for infectious disease surveillance and early warning, 0.595 for loss assessment and 0.370 for emergency response. The score of fuzzy comprehensive evaluation of the index system of infectious disease prevention and control ability in colleges and universities was 79.148, suggesting a high level. Conclusion The established evaluation index system of infectious disease prevention and control ability in colleges and universities is scientific and reasonable, which is conducive to provide tool reference for the evaluation of infectious disease prevention and control ability in colleges and universities.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the effects of cannabidiol on endoplasmic reticulum stress and neuronal apoptosis in rats with multiple concussions (MCC). METHODS: SD rats were randomized into sham group, MCC group, 1% tween20 (TW) treatment group, and low-dose (10 mg/kg) and high-dose (40 mg/kg) cannabidiol treatment groups. In all but the sham group, MCC models were established using a metal pendulum percussion device, after which the rats received daily intraperitoneal injections of the corresponding agents for 2 weeks. The expressions of PERK, eIF2α, ATF4, CHOP, TRIB3, p-Akt and pro-caspase-3 in the brain tissue of the rats were detected with qRT-PCR, Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. The core targets of cannabidiol in treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) were identified by network pharmacology analysis, and molecular docking was carried out to simulate the interaction of cannabidiol with the factors related to endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis. RESULTS: Compared with the sham-operated rats, the rat models of MCC showed significantly increased mRNA expressions of PERK, eIF2α and CHOP and protein expressions of PERK, eIF2α, ATF4, CHOP, TRIB3, p-AKT and pro-caspase-3 in the cerebral cortex. CBD treatment, especially at the high dose, obviously increased the expression of p-Akt and lowered the expression levels of the other factors tested in the rat models. Network pharmacology analysis indicated interactions of the core targets of CBD with the factors related to endoplasmic reticulum stress and TBI, and molecular docking study showed a high binding energy of CBD with multiple factors pertaining to endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS MCC induce endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis in rat brain tissues, for which CBD, especially at a high dose, provides neuroprotective effects by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress and cell apoptosis.
Animals ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress/drug effects* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Activating Transcription Factor 4/metabolism* ; Transcription Factor CHOP/metabolism* ; Rats ; Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; eIF-2 Kinase/metabolism* ; Cannabidiol/pharmacology* ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Brain Concussion/metabolism* ; Male ; Molecular Docking Simulation

Humans and animals have a fundamental ability to use experiences and environmental information to organize behavior. It often happens that humans and animals make decisions and prepare actions under uncertain situations. Uncertainty would significantly affect the state of animals' minds, but may not be reflected in behavior. How to "read animals' mind state" under different situations is a challenge. Here, we report that neuronal activity in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of rats can reflect the environmental uncertainty when the task situation changes from certain to uncertain. Rats were trained to perform behavioral tasks under certain and uncertain situations. Under certain situations, rats were required to simply repeat two nose-poking actions that each triggered short auditory tone feedback (single-task situation). Whereas under the uncertain situation, the feedback could randomly be either the previous tone or a short musical rhythm. No additional action was required upon the music feedback, and the same secondary nose-poking action was required upon the tone feedback (dual-task situation); therefore, the coming task was uncertain before action initiation. We recorded single-unit activity from the mPFC when the rats were performing the tasks. We found that in the dual task, when uncertainty was introduced, many mPFC neurons were actively engaged in dealing with the uncertainty before the task initiation, suggesting that the rats could be aware of the task situation change and encode the information in the mPFC before the action of task initiation.
Animals ; Prefrontal Cortex/cytology* ; Uncertainty ; Neurons/physiology* ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Long-Evans ; Action Potentials/physiology* ; Acoustic Stimulation

As the field of oral pathology has evolved, the nomenclature and classification of oral mucosal diseases with a remarkable risk of malignant transformation have undergone several modifications. In 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced the concept of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) as an alternative to the terms for oral precancerous lesions and precancerous conditions. In the consensus report by the WHO Collaborating Center for Oral Cancer of 2021, OPMD is defined as "any oral mucosal abnormality that is associated with a statistically increased risk of developing oral cancer."This definition encompasses a range of conditions, in-cluding oral leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis, proliferative verrucous leukoplakia, oral lichen planus, and other lesions. In light of the complex etiology, unclear pathogenesis, and carcinogenesis of OPMDs, early and precise diagnosis and treatment can contribute to the secondary prevention of oral cancer. For this reason, this review, which aims to provide a basis for the precise clinical diagnosis of OPMDs, was performed. Its aim was achieved by reviewing the historical evolution and research progress of the nomenclature, classification, and histopathological diagnostic criteria of OPMDs.
Humans ; Mouth Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Precancerous Conditions/diagnosis* ; Leukoplakia, Oral/diagnosis* ; Lichen Planus, Oral/pathology* ; Oral Submucous Fibrosis/pathology* ; Mouth Mucosa/pathology* ; World Health Organization

[Objective]To investigate the effect of salidroside on calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and explore its underlying mechanism.[Methods]VSMCs were cultured in high-phosphate media to induce vascular calcification and treated with different concentrations of salidroside. Cell calcification was tested by alizarin red staining and calcium content assay. qRT-PCR and western blotting were used to determine the expression levels of osteogenic proteins including runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2),toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4),nuclear factor kappa-B p65 (NF-κB p65),phosphorylated nuclear factor kappa-B p65 (p-NF-κB p65),inflammatory factors including Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6). We transfected VSMCs with TLR4 small interfering RNA (si-TLR4) and examined whether TLR4 mediated the inhibitory effect of salidroside on calcification of VSMCs.[Results]Alizarin red staining and calcium content assay revealed that different concentrations of salidroside ameliorated high phosphate-induced calcification of human VSMCs (P<0.05). Salidroside at concentrations of 250 and 500 μmol/L decreased the expression levels of RUNX2,BMP2,TLR4,p-NF-κB p65,IL-1β and IL-6 (all P<0.05),but did not affect NF-κB p65 expression (P>0.05). The examination of VSMCs transfected with si-TLR4 showed that salidroside enhanced the inhibitory effect of TLR4 knockdown on calcification of VSMCs (P<0.05).[Conclusions]Salidroside attenuates high phosphate-induced calcification of VSMCs via inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB pathway.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)is the predominant type of oral cancer,while some patients may develop oral multiple primary cancers(MPCs)with unclear etiology.This study aimed to investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and genomic alterations of oral MPCs.Clinicopathological data from patients with oral single primary carcinoma(SPC,n=202)and oral MPCs(n=34)were collected and compared.Copy number alteration(CNA)analysis was conducted to identify chromosomal-instability differences among oral MPCs,recurrent OSCC cases,and OSCC patients with lymph node metastasis.Whole-exome sequencing was employed to identify potential unique gene mutations in oral MPCs patients.Additionally,CNA and phylogenetic tree analyses were used to gain preliminary insights into the molecular characteristics of different primary tumors within individual patients.Our findings revealed that,in contrast to oral SPC,females predominated the oral MPCs(70.59%),while smoking and alcohol use were not frequent in MPCs.Moreover,long-term survival outcomes were poorer in oral MPCs.From a CNA perspective,no significant differences were observed between oral MPCs patients and those with recurrence and lymph node metastasis.In addition to commonly mutated genes such as CASP8,TP53 and MUC16,in oral MPCs we also detected relatively rare mutations,such as HS3ST6 and RFPL4A.Furthermore,this study also demonstrated that most MPCs patients exhibited similarities in certain genomic regions within individuals,and distinct differences of the similarity degree were observed between synchronous and metachronous oral MPCs.

Odontogenic keratocyst(OKC)is a common jaw cyst with a high recurrence rate.OKC combined with basal cell carcinoma as well as skeletal and other developmental abnormalities is thought to be associated with Gorlin syndrome.Moreover,OKC needs to be differentiated from orthokeratinized odontogenic cyst and other jaw cysts.Because of the different prognosis,differential diagnosis of several cysts can contribute to clinical management.We collected 519 cases,comprising a total of 2157 hematoxylin and eosin-stained images,to develop digital pathology-based artificial intelligence(AI)models for the diagnosis and prognosis of OKC.The Inception_v3 neural network was utilized to train and test models developed from patch-level images.Finally,whole slide image-level AI models were developed by integrating deep learning-generated pathology features with several machine learning algorithms.The AI models showed great performance in the diagnosis(AUC=0.935,95%CI:0.898-0.973)and prognosis(AUC=0.840,95%CI:0.751-0.930)of OKC.The advantages of multiple slides model for integrating of histopathological information are demonstrated through a comparison with the single slide model.Furthermore,the study investigates the correlation between AI features generated by deep learning and pathological findings,highlighting the interpretative potential of AI models in the pathology.Here,we have developed the robust diagnostic and prognostic models for OKC.The AI model that is based on digital pathology shows promise potential for applications in odontogenic diseases of the jaw.

Objective: To understand characteristics of men who have sex with men (MSM) who applied for HIV antibody self-testing reagents through "AIDS self-testing" column of a WeChat official account named "Dark Blue Public Health Center" in Tianjin City, so as to provide insights into exploring online modes of HIV antibody self-testing for MSM. Methods: Data of MSM who were 18 years old or above, currently lived in Tianjin City, had sex with men in the past six months and applied for HIV antibody self-testing reagents through "AIDS self-testing" column from May 2018 to December 2022 were collected. Demographic characteristics, results return and positive findings were descriptively analyzed. Results: Data of 2 064 MSM were collected, including 1 052 MSM aged 20 to 29 years (50.97%), 1 522 unmarried MSM (73.74%), 545 workers (26.41%), 1 385 MSM with college education or above (67.10%), and 315 MSM without testing for HIV antibody in the past (15.26%). A total of 6 470 self-testing reagents were applied, and 5 942 testing results were returned, with a return rate of 91.84%. There were 33.28% (687/2 064) of the applicants applying for 66.32% (4 291/6 470) reagents multiple times. There were 73 MSM with positive results, accounting for 1.23%. Conclusions The MSM applying for HIV antibody self-testing reagents through "AIDS self-testing" are mainly young and highly educated, including some who have never tested for HIV. However, attention should be paid to duplicate applications and the return rate should be increased.

Objective:To investigate the effects of cannabidiol(CBD)on the NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)inflammasome in the brains of rats with multiple cerebral concussions(MCC).Methods:Rats were subjec-ted to the MCC model and divided into Sham,MCC,vehicle(MCC+TW),CBD-L(10 mg/kg),and CBD-H(40 mg/kg)groups.Immunofluorescence double staining was used to observe changes in NLRP3 and microglial cells in the brain,and Western Blot was performed to detect the expression changes of the NLRP3 inflammasome.Results:A sig-nificant increase in lectin-positive microglial cells of the cortex with enlarged cell bodies and elevated immunofluores-cence intensity of NLRP3 in the activated microglial cells was revealed by immunofluorescence double staining following MCC(P＜0.05).The immunofluorescence intensity of NLRP3 in the activated microglial cells was downregulated by the administration of CBD,with a more pronounced effect observed in the CBD-H group compared to the CBD-L group(P＜0.05).The expression of NLRP3,caspase-1,and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein(ASC)in the cortex,hippocampus,and basal ganglia of rats following MCC was significantly increased,as shown by Western Blot analysis(P＜0.05),and cortical areas are more elevated.The expression of these proteins in different brain regions was reduced by CBD-10 and CBD-40 intervention(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Cannabidiol can reduce the inflammatory response of multiple cerebral concussions rats through NLRP3 inflammasome and protect nerve tissue.