Both morbidity and mortality of gastric cancer are in the front rank among malignant tumors.At present,enhanced CT is served as an important imaging method for preoperative diagnosis and assessment of gastric cancer,but it is mostly based on morphological evaluation and unable to perform quantitative analysis.The functional imaging technology represented by energy spectral CT and CT perfusion imaging has a variety of quantitative parameters,which is expected to make up for the shortcomings of conventional CT.The review introduces the basic principles of energy spectral CT and CT perfusion imaging,and summarizes their applications in the diagnosis,pathological classification,grading,staging and efficacy prediction of gastric cancer,aiming to improve the understanding of functional CT imaging for the pretreatment assessment in gastric cancer.

Objective To explore the etiology,types,treatment,and prognosis of new-onset epilep-sy in elderly dementia.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 45 new-onset epilepsy in elderly dementia admitted to our department from January 2017 to December 2023.According to their etiology,they were divided into a degenerative dementia group(with AD as the main cause,AD dementia group,24 cases,)and a non-degenerative dementia group(non-AD dementia group,21 cases).Seizure types and and electroencephalogram(EEG)findings were compared be-tween the two groups.The medication and efficacy were also compared between the two groups in 3 months after treatment with antiepileptic drugs.Results Each patient had at least one type of seizure.The AD dementia group had a lower incidence of generalized seizure,but higher incidences of focal seizure and non-convulsive seizure(NCS)when compared with the non-AD dementia group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).At least one type of abnormal EEG findings was observed in each pa-tient,but there was no statistical difference in the occurrence of EEG abnormalities between the two groups(P＞0.05).Among the 45 patients,42(93.3％)received antiepileptic drugs,and 38(90.5％)patients were well controlled,with the AD dementia group having a higher effective rate of single antiepileptic drug than the non-AD dementia group(95.5％vs 85.7％,P＜0.05).Conclu-sion Dementia combined with epilepsy(especially NCS)is often hard to detect,and continuous EEG monitoring is essential for elderly dementia patients.Most new-onset epilepsy in elderly de-mentia can be effectively controlled through antiepileptic drug therapy.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of chidamide combined with curcumin in the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) .Methods:Human CTCL cell lines HH and HuT-78 were cultured in vitro and treated with gradient concentrations of chidamide (0.4, 0.8, 1.6, 3.2, and 6.4 μmol/L) and curcumin (1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 μmol/L) alone or in combination, and the combination index (CI) of chidamide and curcumin for HH and HuT-78 cells was evaluated. Cultured HH/HuT-78 cells were divided into chidamide group (treated with 0.4 μmol/L chidamide), curcumin group (treated with 10 μmol/L curcumin), combination group (treated with 0.4 μmol/L chidamide + 10 μmol/L curcumin), and solvent control group (treated with dimethyl sulfoxide) ; after 48-hour treatment, the MTS assay was performed to evaluate the cell viability, flow cytometry to detect cell apoptosis and analyze cell cycle, and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis were conducted to determine the mRNA and protein expression of apoptosis-related genes nuclear factor (NF) -κB p65, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), and caspase-3, respectively. A tumor-bearing mouse model was established with HH cells in immunodeficient mice. These tumor-bearing mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: chidamide group (gavaged with 10 mg/kg chidamide), curcumin group (gavaged with 100 mg/kg curcumin), combination group, and solvent control group. The treatment was administered daily for 12 days, and body weight and tumor size were measured. On day 13, these mice were sacrificed, and tumor tissues were collected. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining was performed to detect apoptosis of tumor cells, and RT-PCR and Western blot analysis were conducted to determine the expression of apoptosis-related genes and proteins. Differences among multiple groups were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, and multiple comparisons were performed using least significant difference- t test. Results:The CI values of chidamide (0.4 - 6.4 μmol/L) combined with curcumin (1.25 - 20 μmol/L) were all < 1, indicating a synergistic effect. After 48-hour treatment, the proliferation rates of HH and HuT-78 cells were significantly lower in the combination groups than in the chidamide groups and curcumin groups (all P < 0.05) ; HH and HuT-78 cells both showed significantly increased apoptosis rates in the combination groups compared with the chidamide groups, curcumin groups and control groups (HH cells: 70.47% ± 7.87% vs. 31.95% ± 9.43%, 37.23% ± 10.74%, 11.76% ± 5.65%, all P < 0.001; HuT-78 cells: 28.31% ± 1.70% vs. 21.29% ± 3.61%, 18.74% ± 1.82%, 3.18% ± 1.00%, all P < 0.001) ; in both HH and HuT-78 cells, the combination groups exhibited significantly increased caspase-3 mRNA expression and cleaved protein levels (all P < 0.05), but significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression of NF-κB p65 and Bcl-2 compared with the control groups, chidamide groups, and curcumin groups (all P < 0.05). On day 13 in the in vivo experiment, the tumor volume was significantly lower in the combination group (107.00 ± 43.10 mm 3) than in the control group (1 833.00 ± 281.20 mm 3), chidamide group (453.30 ± 91.71 mm 3), and curcumin group (548.50 ± 90.72 mm 3, all P < 0.05) ; the apoptosis level of tumor cells detected by TUNEL staining was significantly higher in the combination group than in the chidamide group, curcumin group, and control group (all P < 0.05) ; compared with the chidamide group, curcumin group, and control group, the combination group showed significantly increased expression of caspase-3 mRNA and cleaved caspase-3 protein (all P < 0.05), but significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression of NF-κB p65 and Bcl-2 (all P < 0.05). During the treatment period, there was no significant difference in the body weight of mice among the 4 groups ( P < 0.05) ; after sacrifice of the mice, no abnormalities were found in histopathological manifestations of their resected visceral tissues, blood routine test results, or liver and kidney function indicators. Conclusion:The combination of chidamide and curcumin had a synergistic antitumor effect on CTCL, which may be related to the inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of tumor cell apoptosis.

Objective:To analyze the drug resistance characteristics of Klebsiella pneumoniae in the nasopharynx of hospitalized patients in North China from 2022 to 2023. Methods:From November 2022 to July 2023, nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 100 inpatients in Affiliated Hospital of North China University of Science and Technology, and Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated and cultured. At the same time, the clinical data of the patients were collected, including gender, age, department, clinical diagnosis of disease type, etc. The minimum inhibitory concentration of strains was detected by an automatic bacterial drug sensitivity system. The drug resistance genes, ST types, capsule serotypes and population structure of the strains were analyzed by whole genome sequencing and data analysis. Results:Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated from 55 nasopharyngeal swabs of 100 inpatients(55.00%). Among the 55 inpatients with Klebsiella pneumoniae in the nasopharynx, 70.91% (39/55) were male, with an age distribution concentrated between 61 and 80 years old (58.18%, 32/55), and 50.91% (28/55) were in intensive care units (ICU). The main underlying disease type was nervous system disease (49.09%, 27/55). The results of drug sensitivity showed that the non-susceptibility rates of 55 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae to cephalosporins, quinolones, aztreonam and nitrofurantoin were all more than 80.00%. Twenty-eight carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains (50.91%), 47 extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing strains (85.45%), and 48 multi-drug-resistant strains (87.27%) were detected. A total of 11 antibiotic resistance genes were detected, including carbapenems (carrying rate 76.36%) and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (carrying rate 96.36%). The 55 strains could be divided into 17 ST types, and the most common type was ST11 (25.45%). The 55 strains were divided into 18 capsular serotypes, among which K102 was the most prevalent (23.64%). OXA-1_ST307_K102 (21.82%) and KPC-2_ST5492_K125 (18.18%) were the dominant clones, distributed in the Department of Neurosurgery and ICU. The result of whole genome sequence analysis showed that there were four clusters with high homology among the 55 strains. The strains from the ICU formed two independent clusters, and strains from the Neurology ICU and Neurosurgery department formed one cluster respectively. Conclusion:The carrying rate of Klebsiella pneumoniae in the nasopharynx of inpatients is high, and the drug resistance of the strains is serious. There are many types of drug-resistant genes.

To study the carriage status of drug susceptibility, clonal complex groups, serotypes, surface proteins and virulence genes of Streptococcus agalactiae from respiratory specimen sources. A total of 35 strains of S.agalactiae meeting the criteria were collected from 3 hospitals in 2 locations, Tangshan and Jinan. The age span of the patients was 3 days-92 years, and the percentage of elderly patients≥60 years was 71.5%.The susceptibility to 9 antimicrobial drugs was measured and analyzed using the micro broth dilution method. The strains were 100.0% sensitive to penicillin, linezolid, vancomycin, and ceftriaxone; However, it exhibits high resistance rates to erythromycin, clindamycin and levofloxacin, at 97.1%, 85.7% and 82.9% respectively; and the resistance rates to tetracycline and chloramphenicol were 34.3% and 14.2%, respectively. Genome sequence determination and analysis showed that 16 resistance genes were detected in 35 strains, among which: macrolide and lincosamide resistance genes were mainly ermB, with a carrying rate of 74.2%; tetracycline resistance genes were mainly tetM, with a carrying rate of 25.7%; in addition, the mutation rates of the quinolone resistance determinants gyrA and parC were 88.5% and 85.7%, respectively. 35 strains belonged to 6 ST types and 4 clonal groups, with CC10/ST10 as the main one, accounting for 62.8%; they contained 4 serotypes of Ⅰb, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅴ, as well as 1 untyped strain, with serotype Ⅰb as the main one, accounting for 65.7%. The strains carried three pilus types, PI1+PI2a, PI2a and PI2b types, respectively, and detected five surface proteins, alpha, alp1, rib, srr, and r df_0594, and seven virulence factors, cba, cfb, cylE, fbsA, hylB, l mb, and pavA. Overall, S.agalactiae isolated from respiratory tract specimens is predominantly sourced from elderly patients, with CC10 strains being most prevalent. These strains harbor multiple drug-resistant and virulence genes, demonstrating elevated resistance rates to macrolides, lincosamides, and quinolones. This emphasizes the necessity for vigilant attention to the health threat posed by S. agalactiae from respiratory tract speciments of elderly patients.

Objective:To explore the distribution of different biomarkers for Behcet′s syndrome (BS) and their correlation with distinct clinical phenotypes of BS patients in real-world studies.Methods:This study was a retrospective cross-sectional study. A total of 483 patients diagnosed with BS in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People′s Hospital from 2019 to 2022 were enrolled. The baseline information and clinical features of the patients were recorded at their first diagnosis and tested the level of HLA-B51, several auto-antibodies, antistreptolysin-O(ASO), immune globulin, complement in blood serum and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation of biomarkers and phenotypes.Results:Among BS patients, the number of positive cases for HLA-B51, anti-endothelial cell antibody (AECA), antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and ASO was 129, 115, 79 and 54, respectively. The positive rate of other biomarkers was less than 5.0%. About 12.6% of patients with BS had an increased level of IgA ( n=61), and 10.8% of patients had an increased level of IgG ( n=52). About 41.0% of patients had increased levels of IL-6 ( n=198), and 6.4% of patients had decreased levels of IgM ( n=31). About 11.2% of patients had decreased levels of C3 ( n=54), and 6.0% of patients had decreased levels of C4 ( n=29). Elevated IgA was a risk factor for the articular phenotype of BS ( OR=2.652, P=0.011). Decreased complement C4 was a risk factor for the neurological phenotype of BS ( OR=3.594, P=0.039). Positive ASO was a risk factor for the gastrointestinal phenotype of BS ( OR=2.578, P=0.041). Elevated IL-6 was a risk factor for the ocular phenotype of BS ( OR=7.560, P=0.016). Conclusion:HLA-B51 and AECA are common biomarkers in BS. Elevated IgA, decreased complement C4, positive ASO, and elevated IL-6 are risk factors for different phenotypes of BS.

Objective:To disclose phylogenetic and antigenic characteristics of hemagglutinin (HA) gene of influenza B virus (Victoria) (BV) in the 2023-2024 influenza surveillance season in Beijing, and understand the matching with influenza vaccine component strain.Methods:Pharyngeal swab specimens from influenza like-illness (ILI) in the 2023-2024 influenza surveillance season were collected from surveillance network labs in Beijing and BV strains were isolated through MDCK or chicken embryo culture. After extracting nucleic acid, HA gene was amplified and sequenced. The nucleotide and amino acid sequence identity were conducted and the maximum likelihood method in Mega 5.0 software was used to construct the phylogenetic tree of HA gene. N-glycosylation sites of HA were performed online. Furthermore, three-dimensional structure of HA was available from SWISS-MODEL homologous modeling. Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests were performed to analyze antigenic characteristics of HA of BV strains.Results:Fifty-four BV strains were randomly selected to be analyzed further. Compared with the HA gene of this influenza season vaccine strain (B/Austria/1359417/2021), there are three amino acid mutations among all BV strains, two of which are located in two different antigenic determinants. Furthermore, the phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that only one subgroup of 1A.3a.2 was circulating simultaneously. All BV strains are located in Clade 1A.3a.2 subgroup, and in the same subgroup with that of the vaccine component BV strain in 2023-2024. All BV strains have the same glycosylation sites as that of the vaccine component BV strain in 2023-2024. Antigenic analysis showed that all BV strains were antigenically similar with its vaccine strain.Conclusions:In the 2023-2024 influenza surveillance season, the prevalent BV strains in the population in Beijing city are located in Clade 1A. 3a. 2 subgroup. The antigen matching between BV epidemic strains and vaccine BV components is relatively high during this surveillance season.

Background::Liver cancer remains the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, causing a heavy burden globally. An updated assessment of the global epidemiology of the liver cancer burden that addresses geographical disparities is necessary to better understand and promote healthcare delivery.Methods::Data were extracted from the GLOBOCAN 2022 database, including the number, crude, and age-standardized rates of incidence and mortality at the global, country, continent, and human development index (HDI) regional levels. Age-standardized rates (incidence and mortality) per 100,000 person-years were adjusted based on the Segi-Doll World standard population. The mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIR) for each region and country were calculated. The HDI and gross national income (GNI) for 2022 were obtained, and a Pearson correlation analysis was conducted with the incidence, mortality, and MIR.Results::In 2022, approximately 866,136 new liver cancer cases and 758,725 related deaths were recorded worldwide, with a global MIR of 0.86. Males had a disproportionately higher burden than females across all levels, and the highest burden was observed in the elderly population. Geographically, the regions with the highest incidence rates included Micronesia, Eastern Asia, and Northern Africa, and the regions with the highest mortality rates included Northern Africa, Southeastern Asia, Eastern Asia, and Micronesia. Notably, Mongolia had a strikingly high burden compared to other countries. The highest MIR was observed in North America and the lowest in Africa. Negative associations of HDI and GNI with liver cancer mortality and MIR were identified, irrespective of sex.Conclusions::The current liver cancer burden underscores the presence of remarkable geographic heterogeneity, which is particularly evident across countries with varying HDI levels, highlighting the urgent need to prioritize health accessibility and availability to achieve health inequities.

Objective:To analyze the drug resistance characteristics of Klebsiella pneumoniae in the nasopharynx of hospitalized patients in North China from 2022 to 2023. Methods:From November 2022 to July 2023, nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 100 inpatients in Affiliated Hospital of North China University of Science and Technology, and Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated and cultured. At the same time, the clinical data of the patients were collected, including gender, age, department, clinical diagnosis of disease type, etc. The minimum inhibitory concentration of strains was detected by an automatic bacterial drug sensitivity system. The drug resistance genes, ST types, capsule serotypes and population structure of the strains were analyzed by whole genome sequencing and data analysis. Results:Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated from 55 nasopharyngeal swabs of 100 inpatients(55.00%). Among the 55 inpatients with Klebsiella pneumoniae in the nasopharynx, 70.91% (39/55) were male, with an age distribution concentrated between 61 and 80 years old (58.18%, 32/55), and 50.91% (28/55) were in intensive care units (ICU). The main underlying disease type was nervous system disease (49.09%, 27/55). The results of drug sensitivity showed that the non-susceptibility rates of 55 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae to cephalosporins, quinolones, aztreonam and nitrofurantoin were all more than 80.00%. Twenty-eight carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains (50.91%), 47 extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing strains (85.45%), and 48 multi-drug-resistant strains (87.27%) were detected. A total of 11 antibiotic resistance genes were detected, including carbapenems (carrying rate 76.36%) and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (carrying rate 96.36%). The 55 strains could be divided into 17 ST types, and the most common type was ST11 (25.45%). The 55 strains were divided into 18 capsular serotypes, among which K102 was the most prevalent (23.64%). OXA-1_ST307_K102 (21.82%) and KPC-2_ST5492_K125 (18.18%) were the dominant clones, distributed in the Department of Neurosurgery and ICU. The result of whole genome sequence analysis showed that there were four clusters with high homology among the 55 strains. The strains from the ICU formed two independent clusters, and strains from the Neurology ICU and Neurosurgery department formed one cluster respectively. Conclusion:The carrying rate of Klebsiella pneumoniae in the nasopharynx of inpatients is high, and the drug resistance of the strains is serious. There are many types of drug-resistant genes.