Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-associated death globally. Liver transplantation (LT) has emerged as a key treatment for patients with HCC, and the Milan criteria have been adopted as the cornerstone of the selection policy. To allow more patients to benefit from LT, a number of expanded criteria have been proposed, many of which use radiologic morphological characteristics with larger and more tumors as surrogates to predict outcomes. Other groups developed indices incorporating biological variables and dynamic markers of response to locoregional treatment. These expanded selection criteria achieved satisfactory results with limited liver supplies. In addition, a number of prognostic models have been developed using clinicopathological characteristics, imaging radiomics features, genetic data, and advanced techniques such as artificial intelligence. These models could improve prognostic estimation, establish surveillance strategies, and bolster long-term outcomes in patients with HCC. In this study, we reviewed the latest findings and achievements regarding the selection criteria and post-transplant prognostic models for LT in patients with HCC.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To explore the surgical method and clinical efficacy of hip arthroplasty in the treatment of old non-union femoral intertrochanteric fractures. METHODS: Fifteen unoperated patients suffering from old non-union femoral intertrochanteric fractures from Feburary 2013 to Feburary 2023 were treated with hip arthroplasty including 9 males and 6 females, aged 71 to 82 years old. Eleven cases detected deep venous thrombosis(DVT), 9 cases received lower vena cava filter implantation. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative and postoperative blood transfusion, postoperative hemoglobin content, procedure-related complications, and the range of motion of hip flexion, abduction motion were recorded. The degree of hip pain was evaluated using a visual analogue scale(VAS). The hip Harris scores were used to evaluated the clinical efficacy. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 3 to 12 months. The intraoperative blood loss was 200 to 400 ml, intraoperative blood transfusion was 0 to 400 ml, and the operation time was 40 to 90 min. All 15 patients had different degrees of anemia after surgery, the 3 days postoperative hemoglobin was 72 to 97 g·L^-1, and the postoperative transfusion volume was 0 to 400 ml. All patients had no periprosthetic infection, poor incision healing, lower limb deep vein thrombosis, and cerebral infarction. One case occurred in the early postoperative period, which disappeared from 4 to 5 days after operation, and there was no further revision at the last follow-up. The VAS was 6 to 7 points before operation and 2 to 4 points at latest follow-up;the hip Harris score was 2 to 13 points before operation and 73 to 84 points at latest follow-up. CONCLUSION The unoperated patients of old non-union femoral intertrochanteric fractures had significant clinical and imaging characteristics. Hip arthroplasty combined with or without femoral calcar reconstruction in the treatment of old non-union femoral intertrochanteric fractures had the advantages of relatively simple manipulation, rigid fixation, relatively safe operation, and relatively exact efficacy.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Hip Fractures/physiopathology* ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip/methods*

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-associated death globally. Liver transplantation (LT) has emerged as a key treatment for patients with HCC, and the Milan criteria have been adopted as the cornerstone of the selection policy. To allow more patients to benefit from LT, a number of expanded criteria have been proposed, many of which use radiologic morphological characteristics with larger and more tumors as surrogates to predict outcomes. Other groups developed indices incorporating biological variables and dynamic markers of response to locoregional treatment. These expanded selection criteria achieved satisfactory results with limited liver supplies. In addition, a number of prognostic models have been developed using clinicopathological characteristics, imaging radiomics features, genetic data, and advanced techniques such as artificial intelligence. These models could improve prognostic estimation, establish surveillance strategies, and bolster long-term outcomes in patients with HCC. In this study, we reviewed the latest findings and achievements regarding the selection criteria and post-transplant prognostic models for LT in patients with HCC.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-associated death globally. Liver transplantation (LT) has emerged as a key treatment for patients with HCC, and the Milan criteria have been adopted as the cornerstone of the selection policy. To allow more patients to benefit from LT, a number of expanded criteria have been proposed, many of which use radiologic morphological characteristics with larger and more tumors as surrogates to predict outcomes. Other groups developed indices incorporating biological variables and dynamic markers of response to locoregional treatment. These expanded selection criteria achieved satisfactory results with limited liver supplies. In addition, a number of prognostic models have been developed using clinicopathological characteristics, imaging radiomics features, genetic data, and advanced techniques such as artificial intelligence. These models could improve prognostic estimation, establish surveillance strategies, and bolster long-term outcomes in patients with HCC. In this study, we reviewed the latest findings and achievements regarding the selection criteria and post-transplant prognostic models for LT in patients with HCC.

Objective:To explore the differential diagnostic value of abdominal diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) combined with serum alpha fetoprotein (AFP), des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin (DCP), and the ratio of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase to alanine transaminase (GTP/ALT) in the diagnosis of benign and malignant liver tumors.Methods:Ninety liver tumor patients admitted to the Chenzhou First People′s Hospital from February 2020 to May 2022 were selected, including 48 malignant tumors and 42 benign tumors, and were divided into malignant group and benign group. The imaging findings of routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and DWI examination were analyzed for two groups of patients. We compared the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values, serum AFP, DCP levels, and GTP/ALT between two groups of patients. The diagnostic value of DWI, individual and combined detection of various serological indicators for malignant tumors was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.Results:There were significant differences in MRI and DWI imaging manifestations between the malignant and benign groups of patients. The ADC values and ADC index of patients in the malignant group at different b values of 50, 400, and 800 s/mm 2 were lower than those in the benign group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The serum AFP, DCP, and GTP/ALT of patients in the malignant group were higher than those in the benign group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The ROC curve analysis results showed that the sensitivity and specificity of DWI combined with serum AFP, DCP, and GTP/ALT in diagnosing liver malignant tumors were higher than those of DWI alone and each serological indicator alone. Conclusions:The combination of DWI, serum AFP, DCP, and GTP/ALT has high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing liver malignant tumors, and has certain clinical value in distinguishing between benign and malignant liver tumors.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of histopathological examination of ultrasound-guided puncture biopsy samples in extrapulmonary tuberculosis(EPTB). Methods This study was conducted at the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center.A total of 115 patients underwent ultrasound-guided puncture biopsy,followed by MGIT 960 culture(culture),smear,GeneXpert MTB/RIF(Xpert),and histopathological examination.These assays were performed to evaluate their effectiveness in diagnosing EPTB in comparison to two different diagnostic criteria:liquid culture and composite reference standard(CRS). Results When CRS was used as the reference standard,the sensitivity and specificity of culture,smear,Xpert,and histopathological examination were(44.83%,89.29%),(51.72%,89.29%),(70.11%,96.43%),and(85.06%,82.14%),respectively.Based on liquid culture tests,the sensitivity and specificity of smear,Xpert,and pathological examination were(66.67%,72.60%),(83.33%,63.01%),and(92.86%,45.21%),respectively.Histopathological examination showed the highest sensitivity but lowest specificity.Further,we found that the combination of Xpert and histopathological examination showed a sensitivity of 90.80%and a specificity of 89.29%. Conclusion Ultrasound-guided puncture sampling is safe and effective for the diagnosis of EPTB.Compared with culture,smear,and Xpert,histopathological examination showed higher sensitivity but lower specificity.The combination of histopathology with Xpert showed the best performance characteristics.

Objective To investigate the independent risk factors of comprehensive complication index(CCI)≥26.2 after radical resection of colon cancer,and use these factors to establish and verify a dynamic web-based nomogram model.Methods The clinical data of colon cancer patients who underwent radical resection in the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University from November 2020 to April 2022 were retrospectively collected,and divided into main cohort(November 2020 to October 2021,n=438)and validation cohort(November 2021 to April 2022,n=196).CCI scores of all patients were obtained based on CCI calculator(http://www.assessurgery.com).Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to identify the risk factors for CCI≥26.2,and a nomogram model was constructed.Receiver operator characteristic curve(ROC),C index and calibration curve were used to evaluate the differentiation and consistency of predictive nomogram model,and the decision curve analysis was conducted to assess the clinical benefits of the model.Internal validation of the model is performed in the validation cohort.Results A total of 438 patients were identified in present study,of which 63 cases(14.4%)had CCI≥26.2.Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age≥60 years(OR=2.662,95%CI 1.341-5.285,P=0.005),low third lumbar spine skeletal muscle mass index(L3MI;OR=4.572,95%CI 2.435-8.583,P<0.001),NRS2002≥3(OR=4.281,95%CI 2.304-7.952,P<0.001),and preoperative bowel obstruction(OR=3.785,95%CI 1.971-7.268,P<0.001)were significant independent risk factors for postoperative CCI≥26.2.Based on these results,a static and web-based dynamic nomogram was established(https://jndxfsyywcwksyf.shinyapps.io/DynNomCCI/).The C-index and area under the curve(AUC)of the nomogram were 0.742 and 0.787,respectively.The calibration curve indicated a good consistency between the predicted probability and the actual probability.In the validation cohort,the nomogram also presented good discrimination(C-index=0.722,AUC=0.795)and predictive consistency.The decision curve analysis indicated the clinical benefit and application value of the nomogram prediction model.Conclusion This easy-to-use dynamic nomogram based on 4 independent risk factors can conveniently and reliably predict the probability of CCI≥26.2 after radical resection of colon cancer,which helps optimize the preoperative evaluation system,formulate precise individualized treatment strategies,and enhance recovery after surgery.

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of children with IgE-mediated cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) and provide a basis for disease management and prevention. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze 142 children aged 0-12 years who were diagnosed with IgE-mediated CMPA in Capital Institute of Pediatrics Affiliated Children's Hospital from 2020 to 2022. There were 79 males (55.6%) and 63 females (44.4%), with an average age of 14 (8, 27) months. 61 cases (43.0%) were in the <1-year-old group, 54 cases (38.0%) in the 1-3-year-old group, and 27 cases (19.0%) in the >3-year-old group. Data on demographic data, clinical manifestations, mean wheel diameter of skin prick test and serum specific IgE level were collected. The serum cow's milk protein sIgE and component sIgE were measured by ImmunoCAP fully automated system of fluorescence enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and statistically analyzed using chi-square test, nonparametric tests, correlation. Results: Cutaneous symptoms were the first and most frequent in 142 children (97.9%, 139/142 cases), followed by digestive (29.6%, 42/142 cases) and respiratory symptoms (27.5%, 39/142 cases).The proportion of children with respiratory symptoms after consuming cow's milk was significantly higher in the>3 years age group than those in the infant and toddler groups(66.7% vs 19.7%,χ²=18.396,P<0.01;66.7% vs 16.7%,χ²=20.250,P<0.01), and the symptoms involving ≥3 systems were also significantly higher than those in the other two groups(37.0% vs 13.1%,χ²=6.597,P<0.05;37.0% vs 7.4%,χ²=12.120,P<0.01). The average cow's milk SPT diameter and serum sIgE levels in the>3 years age group were significantly higher than those in the infant and toddler groups (Z=-4.682, P<0.01; Z=-3.498, P<0.01); (Z=-4.463, P<0.01; Z=-6.463, P<0.01). The most common cow's milk component protein were β-lactoglobulin(65.1%,56/86 cases) and casein (57.0%, 49/86 cases). Multiple-sensitization rate of the patients were 54.9%. Egg white (43.7%, 62/142 cases) was the most common co-sensitization food allergen while mold (12.7%, 18/142 cases) and weed pollen (12.7%, 18/142 cases) were the main co-sensitization aeroallergens. The proportion of multiple-sensitization to aeroallergens in the children group was the highest (51.9%, 14/27 cases), followed by the toddler group (29.6%, 16/54 cases), and the infant group was the least (3.3%, 2/61 cases). There was a significant difference among these three groups (χ²=7.476, P<0.05). Conclusion: Skin and mucosal symptoms are the most common in CMPA patients. The proportion of respiratory symptoms and multisystem involvement increased with age as well as the wheal diameter in skin test and serum sIgE level elevated. CMPA patients older than 3 years had the highest proportion of aeroallergen sensitization and airway allergic diseases.
Male ; Animals ; Cattle ; Female ; Child ; Humans ; Milk Hypersensitivity/diagnosis* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Allergens ; Immunoglobulin E

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of children with IgE-mediated cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) and provide a basis for disease management and prevention. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze 142 children aged 0-12 years who were diagnosed with IgE-mediated CMPA in Capital Institute of Pediatrics Affiliated Children's Hospital from 2020 to 2022. There were 79 males (55.6%) and 63 females (44.4%), with an average age of 14 (8, 27) months. 61 cases (43.0%) were in the <1-year-old group, 54 cases (38.0%) in the 1-3-year-old group, and 27 cases (19.0%) in the >3-year-old group. Data on demographic data, clinical manifestations, mean wheel diameter of skin prick test and serum specific IgE level were collected. The serum cow's milk protein sIgE and component sIgE were measured by ImmunoCAP fully automated system of fluorescence enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and statistically analyzed using chi-square test, nonparametric tests, correlation. Results: Cutaneous symptoms were the first and most frequent in 142 children (97.9%, 139/142 cases), followed by digestive (29.6%, 42/142 cases) and respiratory symptoms (27.5%, 39/142 cases).The proportion of children with respiratory symptoms after consuming cow's milk was significantly higher in the>3 years age group than those in the infant and toddler groups(66.7% vs 19.7%,χ²=18.396,P<0.01;66.7% vs 16.7%,χ²=20.250,P<0.01), and the symptoms involving ≥3 systems were also significantly higher than those in the other two groups(37.0% vs 13.1%,χ²=6.597,P<0.05;37.0% vs 7.4%,χ²=12.120,P<0.01). The average cow's milk SPT diameter and serum sIgE levels in the>3 years age group were significantly higher than those in the infant and toddler groups (Z=-4.682, P<0.01; Z=-3.498, P<0.01); (Z=-4.463, P<0.01; Z=-6.463, P<0.01). The most common cow's milk component protein were β-lactoglobulin(65.1%,56/86 cases) and casein (57.0%, 49/86 cases). Multiple-sensitization rate of the patients were 54.9%. Egg white (43.7%, 62/142 cases) was the most common co-sensitization food allergen while mold (12.7%, 18/142 cases) and weed pollen (12.7%, 18/142 cases) were the main co-sensitization aeroallergens. The proportion of multiple-sensitization to aeroallergens in the children group was the highest (51.9%, 14/27 cases), followed by the toddler group (29.6%, 16/54 cases), and the infant group was the least (3.3%, 2/61 cases). There was a significant difference among these three groups (χ²=7.476, P<0.05). Conclusion: Skin and mucosal symptoms are the most common in CMPA patients. The proportion of respiratory symptoms and multisystem involvement increased with age as well as the wheal diameter in skin test and serum sIgE level elevated. CMPA patients older than 3 years had the highest proportion of aeroallergen sensitization and airway allergic diseases.
Male ; Animals ; Cattle ; Female ; Child ; Humans ; Milk Hypersensitivity/diagnosis* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Allergens ; Immunoglobulin E