Objective To understand the driver gene mutation status in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Xi'an City, and to analyze the association with environmental exposure factors. Methods A total of 305 NSCLC patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of the Air Force Medical University from January 2019 to December 2023 were included. The driver gene mutation status was observed, and the relationship with environmental exposure factors was analyzed. Results The driver gene mutation rate of 305 patients was 46.89%, with EGFR gene mutation accounting for the highest proportion, and 4 cases of gene co-mutations were detected. There was a difference in gender among patients with different single drive gene mutations (P<0.05), and the proportion of EGFR in women was significantly higher (P<0.05). Univariate analysis showed that there were statistical differences in family history, smoking history, long-term cooking history, and fried smoked food intake between patients with driver gene mutation and patients without driver gene mutation (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis suggested that long-term cooking history (OR=2.392), and fried smoked food intake (OR=2.849) were the environmental exposure factors affecting EGFR gene mutation (P<0.05), and smoking history (OR=1.377) was an environmental exposure factor of KRAS gene mutation (P<0.05). Conclusion EGFR gene mutation accounts for the highest proportion of NSCLC patients in Xi'an City, and is mainly female. Long-term cooking history, and fried smoked food intake are related to EGFR gene mutation. There is a certain association between smoking history and KRAS gene mutation.

BACKGROUND: Delayed platelet engraftment is a common complication after umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT), and there is no standard therapy. Avatrombopag (AVA) is a second-generation thrombopoietin (TPO) receptor agonist (TPO-RA) that has shown efficacy in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). However, few reports have focused on its efficacy in patients diagnosed with thrombocytopenia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study at the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China to evaluate the efficacy of AVA as a first-line TPO-RA in 65 patients after UCBT; these patients were compared with 118 historical controls. Response rates, platelet counts, megakaryocyte counts in bone marrow, bleeding events, adverse events and survival rates were evaluated in this study. Platelet reconstitution differences were compared between different medication groups. Multivariable analysis was used to explore the independent beneficial factors for platelet implantation. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients were given AVA within 30 days post-UCBT, and the treatment was continued for more than 7 days to promote platelet engraftment (AVA group); the other 13 patients were given AVA for secondary failure of platelet recovery (SFPR group). The median time to platelet engraftment was shorter in the AVA group than in the historical control group (32.5 days vs . 38.0 days, Z  = 2.095, P  = 0.036). Among the 52 patients in the AVA group, 46 achieved an overall response (OR) (88.5%), and the cumulative incidence of OR was 91.9%. Patients treated with AVA only had a greater 60-day cumulative incidence of platelet engraftment than patients treated with recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) only or rhTPO combined with AVA (95.2% vs . 84.5% vs . 80.6%, P  <0.001). Patients suffering from SFPR had a slightly better cumulative incidence of OR (100%, P  = 0.104). Patients who initiated AVA treatment within 14 days post-UCBT had a better 60-day cumulative incidence of platelet engraftment than did those who received AVA after 14 days post-UCBT (96.6% vs . 73.9%, P  = 0.003). CONCLUSION Compared with those in the historical control group, our results indicate that AVA could effectively promote platelet engraftment and recovery after UCBT, especially when used in the early period (≤14 days post-UCBT).
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Thrombocytopenia/etiology* ; Adult ; Retrospective Studies ; Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects* ; Middle Aged ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Thiazoles/adverse effects* ; Platelet Count ; Receptors, Thrombopoietin/agonists* ; Child ; Thiophenes

Objective To provide a theoretical basis for radiation health supervision through an analysis of the situation of computed tomography (CT) equipment quality control and CT room radiological protection in Guangdong Province, China in recent years. Methods We collected the data of 392 times of CT quality control and radiological protection testing by a third-party radiological health technical service institution in Guangdong Province from 2019 to 2021. We analyzed the levels of CT-owning hospitals, CT manufacturers, CT quality control test results, and the pass rate of radiation protection tests. Results The examined CT scanners were from different levels of hospitals in Guangdong Province, and were manufactured by nine major CT equipment manufacturers at home and abroad. The pass rate of CT room radiological protection was 99.88%, and the ambient dose equivalent rates of five monitoring points exceeded the limit, with four at the control room door and one at the shield wall of the room. The overall pass rate of CT equipment quality control was 99.49%, and the non-conforming parameters were the accuracy of positioning light and the deviation of reconstructed slice thickness. Conclusion In recent years, CT equipment quality control and room radiation protection in Guangdong Province have been at a high level.

Objective:To quantitatively analyze the primary research characteristics and keywords of international and domestic papers in the field of capsule endoscopy with bibliometric methods, and to illustrate the progression of capsule endoscopy research and offer insights for researchers in this domain.Methods:The Stork and visualized software CiteSpace were used to search and analyze the literature on "capsule endoscopy" in the English database of PubMed and the Chinese database of CNKI from 2002 to 2022.Results:A total of 6 011 English articles were identified in the PubMed database during the specified period. Both the number of publications and their citation frequencies displayed an upward trend on a global and domestic scale. The growth rates of global and domestic English publications were 5% and 15%, respectively, with major contributions coming from the United States, Japan, China, Italy and Germany. Key areas of global research interest included magnetic capsule endoscopy, colon capsule endoscopy, inflammatory bowel disease, small bowel capsule endoscopy, capsule endoscopy images, and obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, etc. A total of 2 027 articles were retrieved in the CNKI database, with top three research institutions including Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University; Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University; School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Emerging research keywords encompassed artificial intelligence, deep learning, and guidelines.Conclusion:The study reveals a gradual increase in global research activities related to capsule endoscopy, with China demonstrating significant international academic influence in this field.

Objective:To investigate the role and diagnostic value of miRNA-205 in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with vascular calcification.Methods:It was divided into in vitro cell experiment and retrospective cohort study. In vitro experiments were conducted by using rat thoracic aortic smooth muscle cells. Alizarin red staining and calcium content detection were used to detect the calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) test kit was used to measure ALP activity. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression levels of osteogenic transcription factors runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), α smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and smooth muscle-22α (SM-22α) in VSMCs. qRT-PCR was used to detect miRNA-205 and Runx2 expression levels. The double luciferase reporter gene assay was used to verify the targeted relationship between miRNA-205 and Runx2. The non-dialysis patients with CKD 3-5 stage from June 2020 to January 2021 in the Department of Nephrology of Fourth Hospital, Hebei Medical University were selected. According to coronary artery calcium score (CACs), the patients were divided into non-calcification group (CACs=0), mild-moderate calcification group (0 400). Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between miRNA-205 and Runx2 and vascular calcification. Logistic regression model and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were used to analyze the ability of miRNA-205 to predict the vascular calcification in patients with CKD. Results:(1)Compared with the control group, calcium nodules were more, and the calcium content, ALP activity and Runx2 protein level were higher, and the expression levels of miRNA-205, α-SMA and SM-22α were significantly lower in high phosphorus group (all P<0.05). Overexpression of miRNA-205 significantly reduced the calcification of VSMCs and Runx2 protein level, and increased the protein levels of α-SMA and SM-22α (all P<0.05). miRNA-205-5p reduced the activity of luciferase in the wild-type Runx2-3'-end non-coding region plasmid. (2) Eighty CKD patients were enrolled, with age of (57.50±14.93) years old and 49 males (61.3%). The results of comparison of miRNA-205 and Runx2 expression levels in non-calcification group ( n=26), mild- moderate calcification group ( n=30) and severe calcification group ( n=24) showed that, the higher degree of calcification, the lower miRNA-205 expression level and the higher Runx2 mRNA expression level (all P<0.05). miRNA-205 was negatively correlated with CACs ( r=-0.50, P<0.01) and Runx2 was positively correlated with CACs ( r=0.55, P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis results suggested that miRNA-205 ( OR=0.451, 95% CI 0.122-0.873) was an independent influencing factor of vascular calcification in CKD patients. The area under the ROC curve of miRNA-205 and miRNA-205 combined with Runx2 for predicting vascular calcification were 0.796 (95% CI 0.697-0.859) and 0.924 (95% CI 0.866-0.982), respectively. Conclusions:miRNA-205 inhibits vascular calcification by targeting Runx2 to negatively regulate osteogenetic phenotype transformation of VSMCs and is expected to be an early diagnostic marker of vascular calcification in CKD patients.

Objective:To investigate the role and mechanism of N 6-methyladenosine (m 6A) methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) in vascular calcification (VC) of chronic kidney disease (CKD) through apoptosis-associated protein. Methods:(1) Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to test METTL3 mRNA in serum of maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. (2) Western blotting was used to detect the expression of METTL3 protein in high-phosphorus stimulated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), and immunofluorescence double lable was used to observe the distribution of METTL3 and Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2). The METTL3 overexpressed and knockdown plasmids were constructed and transfected into VSMCs. Alizarin red staining was used to detect calcification degree. Western blotting was used to detect the expressions of osteogenic markers [Runx2, bone morphogenetic protein-2(BMP-2), collagen Ⅰ] and apoptosis- related proteins Bax and Bcl-2. (3) SD rats were randomly divided into control group, CKD-VC group and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) intervention group. The calcification of thoracic aorta was evaluated by von Kossa staining, and the protein expressions of Runx2, Bax and Bcl-2 were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.Results:(1) METTL3 mRNA expression in MHD patients with VC was significantly lower than that in non-VC patients ( P<0.05), and was negatively correlated with coronary artery calcium score ( r=-0.65, P<0.001). (2) The expression of METTL3 in VSMCs stimulated by high phosphorus was decreased and showed a time dependence. Immunofluorescence double label showed that METTL3 and Runx2 were co-expressed in the nucleus. METTL3 was overexpressed in high-phosphorus induced VSMCs, and the expressions of Runx2, collagen I and BMP-2 were significantly decreased, accompanied by the decrease of calcified nodules and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio (all P<0.05). Conversely, METTL3 knockdown aggravated VSMCs calcification by inducing apoptosis. (3) Furthermore, METTL3 inhibitor SAH was administered in vivo, and it was found that inhibition of METTL3 expression significantly increased the calcification of rat thoracic aorta, and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and Runx2 expression were up-regulated. Conclusions:Serum METTL3 level is reduced in MHD patients with VC. In vivo and in vitro studies demonstrate that METTL3 inhibits VC in CKD by mediating the apoptosis-related protein Bax/Bcl-2.

Background: and Purpose Collateral circulation is considered an important factor affecting the risk of stroke, but the factors that affect collateral circulation remain unclear. This study was performed to identify the factors associated with collateral circulation, especially blood lipids. Methods: The study involved patients who had undergone digital subtraction angiography and were confirmed as having severe unilateral stenosis or occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA). We classified the collateral circulation status of each patient as good (Grade 3 or 4) or poor (Grade 0, 1, or 2) according to the grading system of the American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology/American Society of Interventional Radiology. We collected data on patients’ characteristics and identified the factors that affect collateral circulation. Results: This study included 212 patients. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration and a complete anterior half of the circle of Willis were independent protective factors for good collateral circulation, whereas elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and serum creatinine concentrations were independent risk factors for good collateral circulation. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) was 0.68 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61–0.76) for HDL-C and 0.69 (95% CI, 0.62–0.76) for Lp(a). A binary logistic regression model analysis of the joint factor of HDL-C and Lp(a) yielded an AUC of 0.77 (95% CI, 0.71–0.84). Conclusions In patients with severe unilateral ICA stenosis or occlusion, the combination of HDL-C and Lp(a) is a useful predictor of collateral circulation.

Objective To explore the prevalence and reference value of disease features of patients with spondyloarthritis. Methods Spondyioarthritis features and laboratory indexes and radiographic indexes of 505 patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) including 353 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), 62 patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) and 90 patients with peripheral spondyloarthritis (pSpA) were recorded. One-way analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis test, x2-test, Logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. Results Sex ratio ( x2=20.673, P<0.01), age ( x2=22.258, P<0.01), disease duration ( x2=76.052, P<0.01) were different among AS, nr-axSpA and pSpA. Besides, Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI), ankylosing spondylitis disease activity score (ASDAScrp), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactionprotein (CRP) and Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI)were different among SpA subgroups ( x2/F=13.196-40.028, P<0.01). Prevalence of inflammatory back pain, peripheral arthritis, preceding infection, positive human lymphocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 and elevated CRP were different among SpA subgroups ( x2=11.416, 32.657, P<0.01). Prevalence of dactylitis in SpA with positive HLA-B27 was lower than that in SpA with negative HLA-B27 ( x2=5.414, P=0.02). Prevalence of enthesitis and dactylitis in SpA patients with peripheral arthritis was higher than that in SpA without peripheral arthritis involvement ( x2=7.177, 14.428, P<0.01). Prevalence of good response to Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs. (NSAIDs) in patients with anterior uveitis involvement was higher than SpA without anterior uveitis involvement ( x2=4.578, P=0.032). SpA patients were stratified by total number of SpA features into 4 subgroups (n≤1, n=2, n=3, n≥4). Prevalence of inflammatory back pain, positive HLA-B27, good response to NSAIDs were the top three in all subgroups. Inflammatory back pain and HLA-B27 (+) were risk factors for axSpA (OR=3.254, 3.323, P<0.01). Peripheral arthritis, dactylitis, and preceding infection were risk factors for pSpA (OR=3.759, 4.134, 17.044, P<0.01). Conclusion Inflammatory back pain, HLA-B27 (+) and good response to NSAIDs should be emphasized for the diagnosis of SpA. Inflammatory back pain and HLA-B27(+) always means axSpA. Peripheral arthritis, dactylitis and preceding infection always indicates pSpA.

Objective To investigate the radiation induced pulmonary fibrosis with a dose-response mouse model, based on the CT image changes of pulmonary fibrosis.Methods Female C57BL6 mice aged 8-10 weeks were randomly divided into 20 Gy or escalated doses of X-ray whole thoracic irradiation ( WTI) groups. CT scan was performed at different time points before and after radiation. The average lung density and lung volume changes were obtained by three-dimensional segmentation algorithm. After gene chip and pathological validation, the parameters of CT scan were subject to the establishment of logistic regression model. Results At the endpoint of 24 weeks post-irradiation, the lung density in the 20 Gy irradiation group was (-289.81± 12.06) HU, significantly increased compared with (-377.97± 6.24) HU in the control group ( P<0.001) . The lung volume was ( 0.66±0.01) cm3 in the control group, significantly larger than ( 0.44±0.03) cm3 in the irradiated mice ( P<0.001) . The results of quantitative imaging analysis were in accordance with the findings of HE and Mason staining, which were positively correlated with the fibrosis-related biomarkers at the transcriptional level ( all R2=0.75, all P<0.001) . The ED50 for increased lung density was found to be ( 13.64± 0.14) Gy ( R2=0.99, P<0.001) and ( 16.17± 4.36) Gy ( R2=0.89, P<0.001) for decreased lung volume according to the logistic regression model. Conclusions Quantitative CT measurement of lung density and volume are reliable imaging parameters to evaluate the degree of radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mouse models. The dose-response mouse models with pulmonary fibrosis changes can provide experimental basis for comparative analysis of high-dose hypofractioned irradiation-and half-lung irradiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Objective: To investigate factors affecting X-ray structure of the spine in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods: A total of 206 AS patients were recruited. Clinical and laboratory parameters in AS patients were recorded in detail. Disease activity index [Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI), ankylosing spondylitis disease activity score (ASDAScrp)], X-ray structural damage index-modified stoke ankylosing spondylitis spine score (mSASSS) and grading results of radiographic examination of sacroiliac joint were calculated. Statistical analysis using Statistical Package form Soci-science(SPSS) 17.0 Chi-square test, rank test, Logistics regression analysis and other statistical methods were used. Differences of mSASSS levels, spine involvement (mSASSS>0) and rates of bone bridge formation were compared between different groups. Results: Incidences of spine involvement (100%) and bone bridge formation(65.2%) in AS patients ≥40 years old were significantly higher than those in AS patients <40 years old (90.6%、31.9%)(χ²=4.651, P=0.031; χ²=16.647, P<0.01), and the level of mSASSS was also higher (Z=5.575, P<0.01). In AS patients with BMI ≥24 kg/m², disease duration ≥5 years (49.2%, 50.4%), rates of bone bridge formation was significantly higher than those in AS with BMI <24 kg/m², but the disease duration (34.5%, 19.7%)(χ²=4.014, P=0.045; χ²=18.173, P=0.03), and mSASSS values were significantly higher (Z=2.281, P=0.023, Z=4.828, P<0.01). Bone bridge formation rate in smoking patients (50.6%) was significantly higher than that in non-smoking patients (31.0%) (χ²=7.346, P=0.007) and mSASSS value was significantly higher (Z=2.045, P=0.041). Bone bridge formation rates in AS with high-ESR and high-CRP(48.6%, 49.0%) were significantly higher than those in patients with normal-ESR and normal-CRP(25.6%, 28.9%)(χ²=10.784, P=0.001; χ²=8.102, P=0.004) and mSASSS value was clearly higher(Z=2.379, P<0.01; Z=3.112, P<0.01). Bone bridge formation rate in AS with BASDAI≥4 or ASDAScrp≥2.1 groups (52.8%, 46.4%) were significantly higher than that in AS with BASDAI<4 or ASDAScrp<2.1 groups (34.2%, 30.7%) (χ²=5.681, P=0.017; χ²=4.646, P=0.031) and mSASSS values were significantly higher (Z=3.887, P<0.01; Z=3.895, P=0.004). Rates of bone bridge formation among different X-ray grading of sacroiliac joint (10.8%, 35.6%, 60.3%) and MRI findings (33.3%, 50.0%, 15.4%) differed with each other (χ²=25.714, P<0.01; χ²=6.855, P=0.032). Logistics regression analysis showed that BMI [OR(95%CI)=1.145(1.037, 1.265), P<0.01], disease duration [OR(95%CI)=1.144(1.055, 1.239), P<0.01], smoking [OR(95%CI)=2.832(1.343, 5.969), P<0.01] and sacroiliac joint X-ray staging [OR(95%CI)=2.584(1.337, 4.997), P<0.01] were risk factors for the bone bridge formation in spine of AS. Conclusion Spinal involvement in AS is related to disease activity. Bone bridge formation correlateswith disease duration, BMI and disease-status, especially with smoking.