OBJECTIVES: To develop an early atrial fibrillation (AF) risk prediction model based on large-scale electrocardiogram (ECG) data from the Chinese population. METHODS: The data of multiple ECG records of 30 383 patients admitted in the Chinese PLA General Hospital between 2009 and 2023 were randomly divided into the training set and the internal testing set in a 7:3 ratio. The predictive factors were selected based on the training set using univariate analysis, LASSO regression, and the Boruta algorithm. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to establish the ECG model and the composite model incorporating age, gender, and ECG model score. The discrimination power, calibration, and clinical net benefits of the models were evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), calibration curves, and decision curves. RESULTS: The cohort included 51.1% male patients with a median age of the patients of 51 (36, 62) years and an AF incidence of 4.5% (1370/30 383). In the ECG model, the parameters related to the P wave and QRS complex were identified as significant predictors. In the testing set, the AUROC of the ECG model for predicting 5-year AF risk was 0.77 (95% CI: 0.74-0.80), which was increased to 0.81 (95% CI: 0.78-0.83) after incorporating age and gender, with a net reclassification improvement of 0.123 and an integrated discrimination improvement of 0.04 (P<0.05). The calibration curve of the model was close to the diagonal line. Decision curve analysis showed that the clinical net benefit of the composite model was higher than that of the ECG model across the majority of threshold probability. CONCLUSIONS The composite model incorporating quantitative ECG features during sinus rhythm, along with age and gender, can effectively predict AF risk in the Chinese population, thus providing a low-cost screening tool for early AF risk assessment and management.
Humans ; Atrial Fibrillation/epidemiology* ; Electrocardiography ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Female ; China/epidemiology* ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Adult ; Risk Factors ; Risk Assessment ; East Asian People

Objective To develop an intelligent model for differential diagnosis of atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia(AVNRT)and atrioventricular re-entrant tachycardia(AVRT)using 12-lead wearable electrocardiogram devices.Methods A total of 356 samples of 12-lead supraventricular tachycardia(SVT)electrocardiograms recorded by wearable devices were randomly divided into training and validation sets using 5-fold cross validation to establish the intelligent classification model,and 101 patients with the diagnosis of SVT undergoing electrophysiological studies and radiofrequency ablation from October,2021 to March,2023 were selected as the testing set.The changes in electrocardiogram parameters before and during induced tachycardia were compared.Based on multiscale deep neural network,an intelligent diagnosis model for classifying SVT mechanisms was constructed and validated.The 3-lead electrocardiogram signals from Ⅱ,Ⅲ,and V1 were extracted to build new classification models,whose diagnostic efficacy was compared with that of the 12-lead model.Results Of the 101 patients with SVT in the testing set,68 were diagnosed with AVNRT and 33 were diagnosed with AVRT by electrophysiological study.The pre-trained model achieved a high area under the precision-recall curve(0.9492)and F1 score(0.8195)for identifying AVNRT in the validation set.The total F1 scores of the lead Ⅱ,Ⅲ,V1,3-lead and 12-lead intelligent diagnostic models in the testing set were 0.5597,0.6061,0.3419,0.6003 and 0.6136,respectively.Compared with the 12-lead classification model,the lead-Ⅲ model had a net reclassification index improvement of-0.029(P=0.878)and an integrated discrimination index improvement of-0.005(P=0.965).Conclusion The intelligent diagnostic model based on multiscale deep neural network using wearable electrocardiogram devices has an acceptable accuracy for classifying SVT mechanisms.

Objective To develop an intelligent model for differential diagnosis of atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia(AVNRT)and atrioventricular re-entrant tachycardia(AVRT)using 12-lead wearable electrocardiogram devices.Methods A total of 356 samples of 12-lead supraventricular tachycardia(SVT)electrocardiograms recorded by wearable devices were randomly divided into training and validation sets using 5-fold cross validation to establish the intelligent classification model,and 101 patients with the diagnosis of SVT undergoing electrophysiological studies and radiofrequency ablation from October,2021 to March,2023 were selected as the testing set.The changes in electrocardiogram parameters before and during induced tachycardia were compared.Based on multiscale deep neural network,an intelligent diagnosis model for classifying SVT mechanisms was constructed and validated.The 3-lead electrocardiogram signals from Ⅱ,Ⅲ,and V1 were extracted to build new classification models,whose diagnostic efficacy was compared with that of the 12-lead model.Results Of the 101 patients with SVT in the testing set,68 were diagnosed with AVNRT and 33 were diagnosed with AVRT by electrophysiological study.The pre-trained model achieved a high area under the precision-recall curve(0.9492)and F1 score(0.8195)for identifying AVNRT in the validation set.The total F1 scores of the lead Ⅱ,Ⅲ,V1,3-lead and 12-lead intelligent diagnostic models in the testing set were 0.5597,0.6061,0.3419,0.6003 and 0.6136,respectively.Compared with the 12-lead classification model,the lead-Ⅲ model had a net reclassification index improvement of-0.029(P=0.878)and an integrated discrimination index improvement of-0.005(P=0.965).Conclusion The intelligent diagnostic model based on multiscale deep neural network using wearable electrocardiogram devices has an acceptable accuracy for classifying SVT mechanisms.

Background and aim:A genome-wide association study has indicated the association of numerous genes in the 6p21.3 region with chronic hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection.In this study,we screened 12 representative single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)from the 6p21.3 region and investigated their association with the risk of chronic hepatitis B(CHB)to better understand the molecular etiology un-derlying CHB risk in the Han Chinese population. Methods:Between March 2021 and November 2022,we included 183 patients with CHB(case group)and 196 with natural HBV clearance(control group).Allele typing of the selected SNPs was performed using snapshot technology.The correlation between the 12 chosen SNPs and the risk of chronic HBV infection was examined using binary logistic regression analysis.Interacting genes of the variants were identified,and expression quantitative trait loci(eQTL)were analyzed using the 3DSNP database. Results:We validated 12 previously reported CHB susceptibility sites,including rs1419881 of tran-scription factor 19(TCF19),rs3130542 and rs2853953 of human leukocyte antigen(HLA)-C,rs652888 of euchromatic histone-lysine-methyltransferase 2(EHMT2),rs2856718,rs9276370,rs7756516,and rs7453920 of HLA-DQ,rs378352 of HLA-DOA,and rs3077,rs9277535,and rs9366816 of HLA-DP.Logistic regression analyses revealed that polymorphisms such as rs9276370,rs7756516,rs7453920,rs3077,rs9277535,and rs9366816 were positively correlated with natural HBV clearance in the dominant model.Conversely,rs3130542 and rs378352 were identified as risk factors for CHB.Haplotype analysis revealed that rs9276370,rs7756516,and rs7453920 in HLA-DQ were TTG and GCA haplotypes.Although the TTG haplotype was positively correlated with a higher risk of CHB,the GCA haplotype significantly influenced the natural clearance of HBV.Bioinformatics analysis demonstrated that rs378352,rs3077,and rs9366816 were located within enhancer states;rs3077 and rs9366816 overlapped with nine tran-scription factor-binding sites,whereas rs378352 altered five sequence motifs.Furthermore,eQTL analysis demonstrated the functional tendencies of eight statistically significant SNPs(rs3130542,rs9276370,rs7756516,rs7453920,rs378352,rs3077,rs9277535,and rs9366816). Conclusions:Genetic variations within the 6p21.3 region were associated with chronic HBV infection in the Han Chinese population in southern China.Furthermore,the GCA haplotype including rs9276370,rs7756516,and rs7453920 of HLA-DQ contributed significantly to natural HBV clearance,implying that multiple SNPs exert a cumulative allelic effect on HBV infection.

Objective:To analyze the clinical features and etiological results of neonatal central nervous system(CNS) infection and provide basis for optimization of pathogen detection strategy for CNS infection.Methods:We collected the clinical and laboratory data of hospitalized neonates with clinical diagnosis of CNS infection in the neonatal department at Hebei Provincial Children′s Hospital, from January 1, 2020 to August 31, 2021.The clinical manifestations of the enrolled neonates, as well as the cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)pathogens detected by conventional and molecular biological detection techniques were analyzed.Laboratory characteristics of different kinds of pathogen were compared.Results:A total of 101 eligible neonates were enrolled.The median gestational age was 38.8(36.2, 39.6)weeks, with a prematurity rate 26.7%.There were 68 boys.The median age of onset was 9(2, 14)days.Blood culture was positive in 19(18.8%) cases, including 17 cases of bacteria and two cases of fungus.Positive findings were found in CSF specimens of 33(32.7%)cases by various methods including 13 bacteria, 19 viruses and one fungi.Streptococcus group B and Escherichia coli were the first two bacteria in CSF.Enterovirus was the most common virus in CSF.In terms of detection methods of CSF pathogens, seven cases(7/101, 6.9%) were detected by CSF culture, two cases(2/21, 9.5%)by smear, 22 cases(22/45, 48.9%)by single-virus targeted/multiplex polymerase chain reaction and four cases(4/7, 57.1%)by metagenomic next-generation sequencing.The CSF white blood cell counts, protein levels and blood C-reactive protein levels were higher in the cases with bacteria/fungi detection from CNS infection than in those with virus detection( P<0.05). Almost all neonates(98/101, 97.0%)were clinically cured or significantly improved before discharge.Two neonates were discharged against medical advice and one neonate was transferred to the other hospital after clinical improvement. Conclusion:Combined use of conventional and molecular biological detection techniques can significantly improve the etiological positive rate of neonatal CNS infection.Viral infection is not rare in the neonatal population.Our study demonstrated the spectrum of organism causing neonatal CNS infection, which provided a basis for the optimization of pathogen detection strategy.

Objective:To analyze the temperature difference of benign and malignant parotid gland tumors in preoperative infrared thermography (IRT), and to provide the basis for predicting tumor properties.Methods:The clinical data of 98 patients with parotid gland tumor admitted to the Department of Oral and maxillofacial Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, from May 2021 to April 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 61 males and 37 females, aged (51.1±16.0) years (10-86 years). In addition to routine examination, the temperature difference between the lesion site of parotid gland and the contralateral mirror area was measured by infrared thermal imager in all patients one day before surgery. The maximum diameter (dmax) and location of the tumor (deep or superficial lobe) were recorded according to preoperative clinical examination and imaging examinations such as CT and ultrasound. The patients were divided into three groups by tumor size: dmax≤2 cm, 2 cm4 cm. The patients were also divided into different groups: deep lobe group and superficial lobe group (according to the tumor location), benign group and malignant group (according to postoperative pathological results). The relationship between temperature difference, pathology, size and location was analyzed.Results:There were 79 cases in the benign group and 19 cases in the malignant group. The temperature difference of the healthy and affected side in the malignant group [(1.73±0.21) ℃] was significantly higher than that in the benign group [(0.73±0.32) ℃] ( t=16.70, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in temperature difference between the healthy and affected sides of tumors with different diameters ( P>0.05). The temperature difference of healthy and affected side of tumor in superficial lobe [(0.97±0.50) ℃] was significantly higher than that in deep lobe [(0.67±0.44) ℃] ( t=2.24, P=0.028). Conclusions:The difference of temperature difference between benign and malignant parotid gland tumors detected by IRT is statistically significant, which can be used to predict tumor properties, and has certain clinical application value.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), as the most common type (>90%) of head and neck cancer, includes various epithelial malignancies that arise in the nasal cavity, oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx. In 2020, approximately 878 ‍ 000 new cases and 444 000 deaths linked to HNSCC occurred worldwide (Sung et al., 2021). Due to the associated frequent recurrence and metastasis, HNSCC patients have poor prognosis with a five-year survival rate of 40%-50% (Jou and Hess, 2017). Therefore, novel prognostic biomarkers need to be developed to identify high-risk HNSCC patients and improve their disease outcomes.
Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics* ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/genetics* ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; RNA ; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck ; Survival Analysis ; Survival Rate

Objective:To investigate the differences of umbilical vein diameter(D), time average peak velocity(TAmax) and blood flow between congenital heart disease and normal fetus.Methods:The umbilical vein diameter and time average peak velocity of 69 fetuses with congenital heart disease (disease group) from 22 to 27 weeks were prospectively studied in Maternal-Fetal Medical Center in Fetal Heart Disease of Beijing Anzhen Hospital from May 2021 to September 2021. Q 1 (umbilical venous blood flow) was calculated according to the formular [Q=0.5TAmax·π·(D/2) 2)], and Q 2 (Q 2=Q 1/weight) was calculated according to the fetal weight. At the same time, 111 normal fetuses with matched gestational age were selected as control group. The differences of fetal umbilical vein D, TAmax, Q 1 and Q 2 between the two groups were analyzed. Results:The inner diameter of umbilical vein D, TAmax, Q 1 and Q 2 in the congenital heart disease group were lower than those in the control group(all P<0.05). In the control group, the inner diameter of umbilical vein D, TAmax and Q 1 increased with the increase of gestational age and showed a positive linear correlation( r=0.608, 0.320, 0.626; all P≤0.001), while there was no obvious linear correlation between Q 2 and gestational age( r=0.189, P=0.047). Conclusions:The decrease of umbilical vein D, TAmax, Q 1 and Q 2 in the fetus with congenital heart disease indicates the decrease of effective blood flow in placenta-fetus circulation, which indirectly reflects the decrease of placental function in the fetus with congenital heart disease.

Objective:To investigate surgical methods and clinical effects of tibial pseudarthrosis due to neurofibromatosis type I (NF1) in adult using Ilizarov technique combined with intramedullary nail.Methods:A total of 12 adult with tibial pseudarthrosis due to NF1 treated by Ilizarov technique combined with intramedullary nail from October 2009 to December 2017 were retrospectively included. There were 6 males and 6 females with an average age of 27±8.3 years (range 17-44). All cases presented severe anterior arch in varus or valgus deformity with shortening in an average of 10.8±3.7 cm (range 5.6-16.5 cm). The in-volved levels were at the middle and lower part of tibia. All cases suffered from more than one treatment with failed surgery. One male patient with 5 times of unsuccessful operations. There were 4 cases with severe limping gait and 8 cases with walking with the help of brace (or single crutch) preoperatively. Regarding the family history, seven cases were inherited by father and 5 cases by mother. During surgery, the part of tibial pseudarthrosis and thickened fibrous tissue surroundings like periosteal were removed. The contracture achilles tendon was elongated in open way, and intramedullary nailing cross the ankle joint was applied when the tibial medullary cavity opened. Further, iliac bone grafting and proximal tibial osteotomy were performed with Ilizarov fixator application finally. The tibia was lengthened at a rate of 0.5-1 mm/d at 7 days postoperatively. The healing rate of pseudarthrosis and the length and alignment of limb were evaluated by X-ray routinely. The lower limb function and complications were assessed by self-made table for lower limb deformity correction and functional reconstruction.Results:All patients were followed up for 31-80 months with an average of 47.6±14.7 months. Bone union of pseudarthrosis in all cases was eventually achieved. The tibia was lengthened 5-12 cm with an average of 8.4±2.5 cm. There were 9 cases underwent second surgeries to promote bone healing and to correct residual deformities. The external fixator was used for 25-37 months with an average of 31.5±3.7 months. There was no complication, including neurovascular injury, severe soft tissue or bone infection affecting the clinical effects. All intramedullary nails were not removed finally. The limb function and gait in full weight bearing in 12 patients recovered at the latest follow-up. The evaluation score was 2.4±0.3 (range 2.1-2.8), of which 9 cases were excellent 3 were good. Thus, the excellent and good rate was 100%.Conclusion:The satisfactory clinical effects, including angular deformity correction, pseudarthrosis healing and short limb lengthening, can be achieved in adult with tibial pseudarthrosis due to NF1 by using the combination method of Ilizarov technique and intramedullary nail. However, the treatment duration could be longer.