Objective:To compare the distribution differences of serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) among different gender and age individuals, and to explore the clinical application of SPE screening monoclonal gammopathy.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted based on the SPE results obtained from 533 989 cases enrolled from January 2018 to December 2019 at Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University. Among these patients, 435 479 inpatients were from departments of hematology, nephrology, spinal surgery, endocrinology, and rheumatology and immunology; and 98 510 were apparently healthy individuals. The distributions of albumin, α1 globulin, α2 globulin, β1 globulin, β2 globulin and γ globulin in different gender and age groups (≤20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70, 71-80, 81-90, ≥91 years old) were compared. A total of 10 014 cases were selected by immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE). The positive detection rates of different SPE bands and IFE bands were analyzed. The sensitivity and specificity of SPE methods were determined according to IFE results as the gold standard.Results:No significant difference was examined in the proportion of SPE bands between different genders ( P>0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the proportion of albumin bands between apparently healthy individuals and hospitalized patients at different ages (apparently healthy individuals: F=5.12, P<0.05, inpatients: F=4.18, P<0.05), and all of them decreased with the increase of age. The proportion of γ globulin bands increased with age (apparently healthy individuals: F=1.34, P<0.05; inpatients: F=1.24, P<0.05). The sensitivity of SPE was 69% (2 098/3 051), and the specificity was 97% (6 721/6 963). Compared with IFE method, the positive detection rate of monoclonal gammopathy was significantly different (χ2=5 049.94, P<0.05). The positive rate of monoclonal gammopathy in γ globulin region (21.11%, 2 114/10 014) was higher than that in β globulin region (3.28%, 328/10 014) (χ2=90.74, P<0.05) and β-γ globulin region (1.63%, 163/10 014) (χ2=44.34, P<0.05). IgG and IgM bands are common in γ globulin region. Among them, IgG-κ type accounted for 94.1% (995/1 058), IgG-λ type accounted for 94.8% (690/728), IgM-κ type accounted for 89.2% (222/249), IgM-λ accounted for 83.8% (62/74). IgA bands are common in β region, of which IgA-κ accounted for 49.8% (103/207) and IgA-λ accounted for 51.6% (149/289). The positive rate of monoclonal gammopathy of IgG-κ type was the highest (10.57%, 1 058/10 014), and the positive rate of monoclonal gammopathy of IgM-λ type was the lowest (0.74%, 74/10 014). Conclusions:With increasing age, the proportion of albumin band in SPE decreased and the proportion of γ globulin band increased. IgG and IgM type monoclonal gammopathy is mostly found in the gamma region, with a higher detection rate in IgG type. IgA type monoclonal gammopathy is mostly found in the β region, with a lower detection rate.

Objective:To investigate the characteristics and distribution of monoclonal gammopathy in clinical patients.Methods:A total of 936 171 patients (508 449 males and 427 722 females) who received capillary zone electrophoresis in Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University from January 2012 to December 2021 were selected, from which 14 945 patients with abnormal bands were screened as the study subjects, including 10 173 males and 4 772 females and the age 21-102 (65±13) years old. According to the age, patients were divided into 8 groups: 21-30 years old (168 cases), 31-40 years old (405 cases), 41-50 years old (1 326 cases), 51-60 years old (3 068 cases), 61-70 years old (4 985 cases), 71-80 years old (3 288 cases), 81-90 years old (1 519 cases), and≥91 years old (186 cases). The diagnostic results of the 14 945 patients with abnormal bands were collected and were divided into tumor group (5 196 cases) and non-tumor disease group (9 749 cases) according to the presence of tumor. The distribution of abnormal bands in different gender, age, and disease groups were retrospectively analyzed. Among the 14 945 patients, 4 988 cases underwent immunofixation electrophoresis, excluding 336 negative cases and 412 cases of double clonal bands reaction, and 4 240 patients with monoclonal immunoglobulin (M protein) reaction were selected as the study subjects, including 2 794 males and 1 446 females aged 21-102 (67±12) years old. They were divided into 8 groups according to the age: 21-30 years old (18 cases), 31-40 years old (91 cases), 41-50 years old (364 cases), 51-60 years old (862 cases), 61-70 years old (1 455 cases), 71-80 years old (904 cases), 81-90 years old (486 cases), and≥91 years old (60 cases). The diagnostic results and immunoglobin subtypes (IgA-κ, IgA-λ, IgG-κ, IgG-λ, IgM-κ, IgM-λ, κ, λ) of patients were collected, and the distribution of monoclonal gammopathy in different gender, age and disease groups were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Among 936 171 patients, 14 945 cases showed abnormal bands in electropherograms with a detection rate of 1.60%; the detection rates of abnormal bands in males and females were 2.00% (10 173/508 449) and 1.12% (4 772/427 722), respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( P<0.01). There was a significant difference in the detection rate of abnormal bands among different age groups ( P<0.01); among them, the highest detection rate of abnormal band in group of ≥91 years old was 5.98%, and the ratio of male to female was 1.67∶1. Among the 14 945 cases of abnormal bands, patients aged 51-60, 61-70 and 71-80 accounted for 20.53% (3 068 cases), 33.36% (4 985 cases) and 22.00% (3 288 cases), respectively, and the differences among the age groups were statistically significant (χ 2=115.82, P<0.01). In the tumor group, the top 3 tumors with abnormal bands were plasmacytoma with 1 123 cases, lymphoma with 289 cases, and leukemia with 49 cases. The detection rate of abnormal bands in electropherograms of plasmacytoma was 89.92% (1 123/1 249), which was higher than that in lymphoma and leukemia [6.73% (289/4 296) and 6.40% (49/766), respectively, P<0.01]. Among 4 240 patients with positive M protein, the proportion of 51-60, 61-70 and 71-80 years old patients were 20.33% (862/4 240), 34.32% (1 455/4 240) and 21.32% (904/4 240), respectively, and the differences among age groups were statistically significant ( P<0.01). The results of M protein types showed that the proportion of IgG-κ type was the highest in both genders, with 32.28% (902/2 794) in males and 34.30% (496/1 446) in females. In the 21-30, 31-40, and 41-50 age groups, the proportion of IgG-λ was the highest, which were 38.89% (7/18), 36.26% (33/91) and 34.07% (124/364) in these groups respectively. However, the proportions of IgG-κ were the highest in either of the 51-60, 61-70, 71-80, 81-90 and ≥91 years old groups, which were 33.87% (292/862), 34.16% (497/1 455), 31.53% (285/904), 34.57% (168/486), 28.33% (17/60), respectively, and the differences among all age groups and gender groups had statistical significance ( P<0.01). Among patients with positive M protein in the tumor group, plasmacytoma accounted for 14.22% (603/4 240), followed by lymphoma 6.30% (267/4 240); among non-tumor diseases, M proteinemia accounted for the highest proportion (7.24%, 307/4 240), followed by pulmonary infection (5.47%, 232/4 240). Conclusions:The detection rate of abnormal bands in capillary zone electrophoresis may increase with age, and is higher in males than in females in the same age group; different malignant tumor diseases can also show abnormal bands in capillary zone electrophoresis, but they are still mainly hematological tumors. Among the positive results of M protein, 61-70 years old group accounts for the highest proportion; the most common type of monoclonal gammopathy is IgG type; in the age group of 21-50 years, the proportion of IgG-λ type is the highest; in the group of >50 years old, the proportion of IgG-κ type is the highest; in the diagnosis of positive monoclonal gammopathy, the top 3 diseases are all hematological diseases, including plasmacytoma, monoclonal gammopathies and lymphoma.

Objective:To retrospectively compare the clinical effects of the 2021 Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation and the European Kidney Function Consortium (EKFC) equation based on creatinine to estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFRcr) in a Chinese population.Methods:Patients and healthy individuals who visited the Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023, were enrolled. The exclusion criteria were age<18 years, amputees, pregnant women, patients with muscle-related diseases, and patients who had undergone ultrafiltration or dialysis. The final study population included 660 078 individuals with a median age of 58 years (44, 68), 56.51% (372 987/660 078) of them were men. eGFRcr was calculated using the 2021 CKD-EPI, EKFC equations and initial 2009 CKD-EPI equation. Results were compared by differences (P 10), charges in population distribution and impact on staging of chronic kidney disease (CKD) by gender, age and creatinine results. Results:Compared with the results of 2009 and 2021 CKD-EPI eGFRcr, the P 10was 99.99% ( R 2=0.997). When applying the 2021 CKD-EPI eGFRcr equation, there was a slight overestimation of 3.77 (2.92, 4.47) ml/(min×1.73 m 2). 86.42% (570 455/660 078)participants had higher eGFRcr owing to the utilization of the 2021 CKD-EPI equation, which did not cause CKD stage change. A total of 12.35% (81 514/660 078) of subjects had different CKD stage with the higher 2021 CKD-EPI eGFRcr. 1.23% (8 109/660 078) had lower eGFRcr but no change in the CKD stage with the 2021 equation. Compared to the 2009 CKD-EPI eGFRcr results, the EKFC eGFRcr demonstrates P 10 values of 89.79%, with a correlation coefficient of R 2=0.976. The overall eGFRcr values using the EKFC equation were decreased by 4.63(-2.22, -7.04) ml/(min×1.73 m 2). There were 75.14% (495 992/660 078) individuals whose eGFRcr results were lower in EKFC equation, which did not cause CKD stage change. There were 15.63% (103 161/660 078) leading to a different CKD stage. Additionally, 8.80% (58 077/660 078) individuals with a higer eGFRcr result did not change CKD stage, while 0.43% (2 848/660 078) experienced a change in CKD staging due to the overestimation. Conclusions:Compared with the 2009 CKD-EPI eGFRcr results, the 2021 CKD-EPI eGFRcr results were slightly higher and had good consistency in different genders and ages. However, the EKFC eGFRcr was generally lower than 2009 CKD-EPI eGFRcr, showing poor consistency. The differences between eGFR equations should be considered when judging the CKD stage of patients.

The global COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has infected over 109 million people, leading to over 2 million deaths up to date and still lacking of effective drugs for patient treatment. Here, we screened about 1.8 million small molecules against the main protease (M^pro) and papain like protease (PL^pro), two major proteases in severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 genome, and identified 1851M^pro inhibitors and 205 PL^pro inhibitors with low nmol/l activity of the best hits. Among these inhibitors, eight small molecules showed dual inhibition effects on both M^pro and PL^pro, exhibiting potential as better candidates for COVID-19 treatment. The best inhibitors of each protease were tested in antiviral assay, with over 40% of M^pro inhibitors and over 20% of PL^pro inhibitors showing high potency in viral inhibition with low cytotoxicity. The X-ray crystal structure of SARS-CoV-2 M^pro in complex with its potent inhibitor 4a was determined at 1.8 Å resolution. Together with docking assays, our results provide a comprehensive resource for future research on anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug development.
Humans ; Antiviral Agents/chemistry* ; COVID-19 ; COVID-19 Drug Treatment ; High-Throughput Screening Assays ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Protease Inhibitors/chemistry* ; SARS-CoV-2/enzymology* ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins

Objective:To explore the risk stratification and prognostic significance of loss of chromosome Y (LOY) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM).Methods:The clinical data of 193 male patients with newly diagnosed MM admitted to Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University from January 2018 to January 2020 were analyzed retrospectively and divided into a normal karyotype group(178) and a LOY karyotype group (15) according to the results of their primary conventional cytogenetics. Rank sum test, 2×2 chi-square test and independent sample t-test were used to compare laboratory findings, such as liver and kidney function, immunohistochemistry and cytogenetics, treatment efficacy and survival prognosis, between the two groups. The clinical prognostic significance of LOY was summarized through survival analysis and Cox regression. Results:Among the newly diagnosed male MM patients, 8%(15/178) were confirmed with LOY cases. The proportion of patients with Revised International Staging System(R-ISS) stage Ⅲ was significantly higher in the LOY group (8/15) than that in the normal karyotype group (40/178)(χ 2=7.052, P<0.01). A higher proportion of 1q21 amplification also occurred in the LOY group (10/13 vs 77/162)(χ 2=4.159, P<0.05). The proportion of complete response(CR)/stringent complete response(sCR) in the normal karyotype group after the fourth chemotherapy (63/171) was significantly higher than that in the LOY group (1/15)(χ 2=5.564, P<0.05). The proportion of progressive disease (PD) was lower in the normal karyotype group (16/171 vs 4/15) (χ 2=4.306, P<0.05). The 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) of MM patients for the LOY group was significantly shorter compared to that for the normal karyotype group ( Z=?3.201, P<0.01). Univariate survival analysis showed that PFS was significantly shorter in newly diagnosed MM patients with Creatinine(Cr)≥93 μmol/L, β 2-microglobulin (β 2-MG)≥4.0 mg/L, serum free light chain(sFLC)<0.06, bone marrow plasma cells (BMPC)≥30%, R-ISS stage Ⅲ, failure to achieve CR/sCR after the fourth chemotherapy, with LOY, 1q21 amplification, P53 deletion and t(4;14) ( P<0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that Cr≥93 μmol/L( HR=4.460, 95% CI 1.615-12.314, P=0.004), sFLC<0.06( HR=2.873, 95% CI 1.206-6.849, P=0.017), failure to achieve CR/sCR after the fourth chemotherapy( HR=3.522, 95% CI 1.437-8.634, P=0.006)and with LOY( HR=3.485, 95% CI 1.473-8.249, P=0.006)were independent risk factors for PFS in newly diagnosed MM patients. Conclusions:LOY is an independent risk factor for poor prognosis. It is important for the clinical outcome and prognosis of patients with newly diagnosed MM, and may become a novel clinical assessment indicator.

Objective:This work aims to evaluate the clinical values of comprehensive genomic profiling examination based on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in advanced lung cancer patients.Methods:This is a single-center, retrospective study that collected peripheral blood samples from patients with advanced lung cancer and performed gene mutation analysis using the TruSight Oncology 500 ctDNA assay kits. Between February 2022 and March 2023, a total of 82 patients were enrolled in Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, and 76 patients were included in the final analysis.According to the AMP/ASCO/CAP guidelines, mutations of targeted genes were divided into four levels (Tier I-IV), and the effectiveness of targeted therapy guided by ctDNA was evaluated. Descriptive statistics were used for basic characteristics, and the analysis of factors related to tumor mutational burden (TMB) was performed using the rank-sum test.Results:The ctDNA detection success rate was 92.7%(76/82).The median turnaround time for ctDNA testing was 10.5 days (9,13 days). At least one actionable mutation (Tier I or Ⅱ) was detected in 82.9%(63/76) of patients, and 28.6% (18/63) of patients received matched therapy, achieving a disease control rate of 18/18 and an objective response rate of 12/18.Conclusion:Comprehensive genomic profiling based on ctDNA can effectively identify actionable alterations in patients with advanced lung cancer and provide valuable information for matched therapy.

Objective:To monitor nucleic acid contamination and evaluate the biosecurity risk in a temporary 2019-nCoV nucleic acid testing laboratory situated within designated infectious disease care facilities.Methods:Quantitative real-time PCR technology was used to detect nucleic acid contamination in samples collected from high-risk experimental activity areas and the surface of the laboratory staff′s personal protective equipment. Sampling was conducted every Monday from March 14 to May 16, 2022, both during and after disinfection procedures.Results:A total of 760 samples were collected from 40 sampling sites. A total of 27 out of 100 samples (27%) collected from 8 sampling sites in the sample processing area were positive. Among them, the contaminated area of biological safety cabinet, the outer surface of the sample transport box, and the sample rack were found to have the highest positive detection rates, with rates of 5/10, 4/10, and 6/10, respectively. Ten out of 140 samples (7.1%) obtained from 7 sampling sites in the nucleic acid detection area showed positive results. The inner wall of sample transfer window and the door handle of the nucleic acid detection area had the highest positive detection rates, both at 4/20. The Ct values for the target genes from the positive samples in the sample processing area were significantly higher than those from the nucleic acid detection area. The detection rate for nucleic acid contamination on the surface of the personal protective equipment of the laboratory staff was 20% (16/80), and the positive detection rate of the outer gloves from operator during the experiment reached 9/10. After disinfection, the nucleic acid residues on the surfaces of the various areas of the 2019-nCoV nucleic acid laboratory and the surfaces of the personal protective equipment of the laboratory staff were observed to be effectively removed.Conclusions:During experimental operation, the positive detection rate and nucleic acid contamination intensity of 2019-nCoV are higher in the sample processing area compared to those in the nucleic acid detection area. The laboratory staff are exposed to high biosecurity risk during the experiment. Implementing a scientific disinfection process can significantly reduce the risk of 2019-nCoV residues from the laboratory environment and the surface of the personal protective equipment of the laboratory staff, ensuring the accuracy of inspections and the safety of the laboratory staff.

Objective:To verify the performance of the next-generation sequencing (NGS) platform and evaluate the application of NGS, droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) and super amplification refractory mutation system (super-ARMS) in the detection of circulating free DNA (cfDNA) mutations in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods:A total of 75 patients with NSCLC in the respiratory department of Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University were enrolled. The standards, cfDNA from 25 patients with newly diagnosed and untreated NSCLC, and self-made mixed samples mixed with hemoglobin (1 000 mg /dl), bilirubin (500 mg/l), fat emulsion (2%), enterococcus gDNA and Escherichia coli gDNA were used to verify the blank limit, analytical sensitivity, precision, accuracy and specificity of NGS platform. The cfDNA mutations of 75 NSCLC patients were detected by ddPCR and NGS, and the mutation positive rates of the two platforms were compared. The linear relationship between the two platforms was compared by Pearson correlation test. 12 patients were selected by simple random sampling for the detection of plasma super-ARMS platform. The performance of three platforms in the detection of plasma cfDNA mutation in patients with NSCLC was compared.Results:The blank limit of NGS platform was set to 0.00%, the analytical sensitivity was 0.2%, the intra-assay precision and inter-assay precision were 100%. The test results were not affected by endogenous hemoglobin, bilirubin or fat emulsion in plasma or exogenous DNA interference, and the analysis specificity was good. The mutation positive rates of plasma cfDNA in 75 NSCLC patients detected by ddPCR and NGS were 61.33% and 60.00%, respectively. The complete coincidence rate was 89.33%, which suggests there was a positive correlation between the mutation abundance of NGS and ddPCR ( r=0.984, P=0.001). Among the plasma of 12 NSCLC patients, the results of NGS, ddPCR and super-ARMS were completely consistent in 7 cases, including 2 wild-types and 5 mutants. Conclusion:The NGS platform was verified to be useful for cfDNA mutation detection in patients with NSCLC. The ddPCR, NGS and super-ARMS have their own advantages in detecting cfDNA mutations in patients with NSCLC.

Objective:To investigate the expression of four cancer stem cell (CSC) markers (EpCAM, CD133, CD90 and CD24) in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and peripheral blood circulating tumor cells (CTC),their value in the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods:A total of 50 hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and 29 peripheral blood sample from 50 patients with hepatocellular cancer treated in Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University from October 2013 to September 2014 were collected and analyzed by flow cytometry or qRT-PCR to examine the expression of EpCAM, CD133, CD90 and CD24. The clinical data of patients were collected, including tumor size, tumor number, satellite lesions, vascular invasion, Edmondson stage, BCLC stage and liver cirrhosis, etc. The correlation between the expression of four markers in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and CTC with the clinical data and survival time of patients were compared.Results:The positive expression rates of EpCAM, CD133, CD90 and CD24 in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues were 66% (33/50), 18% (9/50), 60% (30/50) and 56% (28/50); the positive expression rates in CTC were 55% (16/29), 38% (11/29), 31% (9/29) and 59% (17/29). CD90 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue was positively correlated with the occurrence HCC liver cirrhosis ( P<0.05), while CD133 expression was negatively correlated with the 5-year survival rate of patients ( P<0.05). The expression of EpCAM and CD24 in peripheral blood CTC were closely related to the patient′s Edmondson stage ( P<0.05). The survival time of patients with CD133 positive expression in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue was lower than those without CD133 expression ( P<0.05); the survival rate of patients with EpCAM expressed in either tissue or peripheral blood CTC was lower than that of patients with EpCAM double negative expression ( P<0.05). The survival rate of patients with CD90 negative in HCC tissue and positive in peripheral blood was lower than that in patients with double negative/double positive in tissue and peripheral blood or patients positive in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue and negative in peripheral blood ( P<0.01). Conclusion:Different expression characteristics of four markers in cancer tissues and peripheral blood CTC might provide useful information about predicting prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. The expression of CD133 in tissues can be used as an important survival predictor of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. The differential expression of cancer markers in tissue samples and blood samples can provide more clinical prognostic information.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of acute myeloid leukemia with BCR-ABL p210 fusion gene-positive.Methods:The clinical characteristics of a patient diagnosed in the Second Hospital of Jiaxing were analyzed and the related literature was reviewed.Results:BCR-ABL p210 fusion gene and Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Imatinib associated with multi-drug intravenous chemotherapy resulted in poor efficacy.Conclusions:Patient with Ph +/BCR-ABL + acute myeloid leukemia is rare with a very poor prognosis. There is no unified standard treatment and the efficacy of tyrosine kinase inhibitors is unclear. Intravenous chemotherapy combined with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is expected to change the prognosis.