Objective To systematically evaluate the risk prediction models for anastomotic leakage (AL) in patients with esophageal cancer after surgery. Methods A computer-based search of PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Chinese Medical Journal Full-text Database, VIP, Wanfang, SinoMed and CNKI was conducted to collect studies on postoperative AL risk prediction model for esophageal cancer from their inception to October 1st, 2023. PROBAST tool was employed to evaluate the bias risk and applicability of the model, and Stata 15 software was utilized for meta-analysis. Results A total of 19 literatures were included covering 25 AL risk prediction models and 7373 patients. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.670-0.960. Among them, 23 prediction models had a good prediction performance (AUC>0.7); 13 models were tested for calibration of the model; 1 model was externally validated, and 10 models were internally validated. Meta-analysis showed that hypoproteinemia (OR=9.362), postoperative pulmonary complications (OR=7.427), poor incision healing (OR=5.330), anastomosis type (OR=2.965), preoperative history of thoracoabdominal surgery (OR=3.181), preoperative diabetes mellitus (OR=2.445), preoperative cardiovascular disease (OR=3.260), preoperative neoadjuvant therapy (OR=2.977), preoperative respiratory disease (OR=4.744), surgery method (OR=4.312), American Society of Anesthesiologists score (OR=2.424) were predictors for AL after esophageal cancer surgery. Conclusion At present, the prediction model of AL risk in patients with esophageal cancer after surgery is in the development stage, and the overall research quality needs to be improved.

OBJECTIVES: The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of various types of diabetes. However, the causal relationship between them has yet to be systematically elucidated. This study aims to explore the potential causal associations between gut microbiota and diabetes using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, based on multiple taxonomic levels. METHODS: Eligible instrumental variables were extracted from the selected genome-wide association study (GWAS) data on gut microbiota. These were combined with GWAS datasets on type 1 diabetes (T1D), type 2 diabetes (T2D), and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) to conduct forward MR analysis, sensitivity analysis, reverse MR analysis, and validation of significant estimates. Microbial taxa with causal effects on T1D, T2D, and GDM were identified based on a comprehensive assessment of all analytical stages. RESULTS: A total of 2 179, 2 176, and 2 166 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were included in the MR analyses for gut microbiota with T1D, T2D, and GDM, respectively. MR results indicated causal associations between: Six microbial taxa (Eggerthella, Lachnospira, Bacillales, Desulfovibrionales, Parasutterella, and Turicibacter) and T1D; 9 microbial taxa (Verrucomicrobia, Deltaproteobacteria, Actinomycetales, Desulfovibrionale, Actinomycetaceae, Desulfovibrionaceae, Actinomyces, Alcaligenaceae, and Lachnospiraceae NC2004 group) and T2D; 10 microbial taxa (Betaproteobacteria, Coprobacter, Ruminococcus2, Tenericutes, Clostridia, Methanobacteria, Mollicutes, Methanobacteriales, Methanobacteriaceae, and Methanobrevibacter) and GDM. CONCLUSIONS This study identified specific gut microbial taxa that may significantly increase or decrease the risk of developing diabetes. Some findings were fully replicated in independent validation datasets. However, the underlying biological mechanisms of these causal relationships warrant further investigation through mechanistic studies and population-based research.
Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics* ; Humans ; Mendelian Randomization Analysis ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/genetics* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/genetics* ; Female ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Diabetes, Gestational/genetics* ; Pregnancy

Objective:To explore the association of human betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase ( BHMT) and BHMT2 gene polymorphisms with non-syndromic congenital heart disease (CHD). Methods:A hospital-based case-control study was conducted, in which children with CHD who attended Hunan Children′s Hospital from January 2018 to May 2019 were enrolled as the case group, and children without any congenital deformity who attended the hospital during the same period were enrolled as the control group on a 1∶1 basis. A self-administered questionnaire survey was performed to collect information about the study subjects and their mothers, and then venous blood samples were collected from the subjects to detect BHMT and BHMT2 gene polymorphisms. Logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the association of BHMT and BHMT2 gene polymorphisms and their haplotypes with CHD. Crossover analyses and logistic regression were used to explore the gene-gene and gene-environment interactions. Results:The case and control group both enrolled 620 children. The multivariate logistic regression showed that BHMT gene polymorphisms at rs3733890 (AA vs. GG: OR=3.476, Q FDR<0.001; GA vs. GG: OR=1.525, Q FDR=0.036), at rs1915706 (CC vs. TT: OR=3.464, Q FDR<0.001) and at rs1316753 (GG vs. CC: OR=1.875, Q FDR=0.020) increased the risk of CHD. Children with haplotype of A-G-A had an increased risk of CHD ( OR=1.468, 95% CI: 1.222-1.762). Interaction analysis showed that a statistically significant positive interaction between rs3733890 and rs1915706 on both additive ( RERI=0.628, 95% CI: 0.298-0.958) and multiplicative ( OR=3.754, 95% CI: 1.875-7.519) scales. Gene-environment interactions were found between the BHMT gene with secondhand smoke exposure before pregnancy and in early pregnancy, tea consumption before pregnancy and in early pregnancy, alcohol consumption before pregnancy, and folic acid supplementation before or during pregnancy. Conclusion:BHMT gene rs3733890, rs1915706 and rs1316753 polymorphisms may be associated with the risk of CHD. In addition, there is an association of cooperative interaction between rs3733890 and rs1915706 on both additive and multiplicative scales with the risk of CHD, and the BHMT gene interacts with multiple environmental factors.

Objective:To explore the association of human betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase ( BHMT) and BHMT2 gene polymorphisms with non-syndromic congenital heart disease (CHD). Methods:A hospital-based case-control study was conducted, in which children with CHD who attended Hunan Children′s Hospital from January 2018 to May 2019 were enrolled as the case group, and children without any congenital deformity who attended the hospital during the same period were enrolled as the control group on a 1∶1 basis. A self-administered questionnaire survey was performed to collect information about the study subjects and their mothers, and then venous blood samples were collected from the subjects to detect BHMT and BHMT2 gene polymorphisms. Logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the association of BHMT and BHMT2 gene polymorphisms and their haplotypes with CHD. Crossover analyses and logistic regression were used to explore the gene-gene and gene-environment interactions. Results:The case and control group both enrolled 620 children. The multivariate logistic regression showed that BHMT gene polymorphisms at rs3733890 (AA vs. GG: OR=3.476, Q FDR<0.001; GA vs. GG: OR=1.525, Q FDR=0.036), at rs1915706 (CC vs. TT: OR=3.464, Q FDR<0.001) and at rs1316753 (GG vs. CC: OR=1.875, Q FDR=0.020) increased the risk of CHD. Children with haplotype of A-G-A had an increased risk of CHD ( OR=1.468, 95% CI: 1.222-1.762). Interaction analysis showed that a statistically significant positive interaction between rs3733890 and rs1915706 on both additive ( RERI=0.628, 95% CI: 0.298-0.958) and multiplicative ( OR=3.754, 95% CI: 1.875-7.519) scales. Gene-environment interactions were found between the BHMT gene with secondhand smoke exposure before pregnancy and in early pregnancy, tea consumption before pregnancy and in early pregnancy, alcohol consumption before pregnancy, and folic acid supplementation before or during pregnancy. Conclusion:BHMT gene rs3733890, rs1915706 and rs1316753 polymorphisms may be associated with the risk of CHD. In addition, there is an association of cooperative interaction between rs3733890 and rs1915706 on both additive and multiplicative scales with the risk of CHD, and the BHMT gene interacts with multiple environmental factors.

Objective:To comprehensively understand the basic situation of critical care medicine in Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps in order to promote the standardization, specialization, and systematization of quality control in critical care medicine.Methods:A survey was conducted from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2021, using a questionnaire to investigate the human resources and basic allocation of comprehensive intensive care medicine departments in Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps division level hospitals and surrounding second-class hospitals. The survey content includes: basic situation of medical units, intensive care unit (ICU) basic information, ICU personnel situation, ICU equipment configuration situation, ICU performance situation, etc. The survey questionnaire was distributed in March 2022, with dedicated ICU attending physicians or above designated by each ICU as the contact person for the survey.Results:Sixteen questionnaires were distributed and returned, all of which were included from 16 comprehensive intensive care medicine departments in the Corps and surrounding areas, including 5 second class first class hospitals and 11 third class first class hospitals. There were 196 beds in 16 ICU units, and the ICU bed ratio (1.99% overall, 1.77% in third class first class hospitals) was lower than the 2%-8% stipulated in the Guidelines for the Construction and Management of Critical Care Medicine (Trial) issued by the National Health Commission. Only ICU beds in second class first class hospitals accounted for 2.65%, meeting this standard. The comprehensive ICU doctor-bed ratio in 16 hospitals was 0.55∶1, third class first class hospitals was 0.60∶1, and second class first class hospitals was 0.44∶1, compared with 0.8∶1 stipulated in the ministerial guidelines, there was a certain gap. Among the 108 doctors in 16 ICUs, only four have a master's degree or above. Associate senior and above professional and technical titles accounted for 27.78%, less than one third. Among the 334 nursing staff, there were no personnel with a master's degree or above, and only 10 personnel with associate senior or above professional and technical titles. From 2019 to 2021, there was 1 new master's degree personnel, 2 new senior professional and technical personnel, and 12 deputy senior professional and technical personnel. It indicating that the proportion of highly educated and experienced physicians and nurses were lower, team building lags behind, talent introduction were lower, and highly educated talents were scarce. The statistical analysis results of the absolute growth of core technology showed that the growth of core technology was slow, the progressiveness was insufficient, and the professional technical ability was insufficient. Conclusions:The construction of critical care majors and talent echelons in the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps region is lagging behind, the overall professional level of the discipline is not high, and there is a lack of specialized personnel. Further improvement is needed in talent cultivation, technical development and training, medical quality management, and other aspects to ensure medical quality and safety.

Fibroblast activation protein(FAP)can overexpress in activated fibroblasts.In recent years,radiolabeled FAP inhibitor(FAPI)had become important new positron imaging agents in nuclear medicine following 18F-FDG,and increasingly used for non-malignant diseases.The research progresses of FAPI PET imaging for diagnosis of non-malignant diseases were reviewed in this article.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value of 68Ga-fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) PET for hepatobiliary malignancies. Methods:From July 2020 to February 2023, 33 patients (23 males, 10 females; age (55.4±13.5) years) with suspected or confirmed liver or biliary tract malignancies who underwent 68Ga-FAPI PET in Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology were retrospectively analyzed. PET images were evaluated by 3 experienced nuclear medicine physicians, and the results of biopsy or postoperative pathology, clinical and imaging follow-up were used as the gold standard. One-way analysis of variance and least significant difference t test were used to compare the differences among groups. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier curves and the log-rank test. Results:Of 33 patients, 14 performed PET for initial diagnosis and staging, and 19 for restaging. There were 14 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 13 patients with cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), and 6 patients with gallbladder carcinoma (GBC). The primary tumor of HCC, CCA and GBC all showed significant 68Ga-FAPI uptake, with no statistically significant difference in SUV max among groups ( F=1.58, P=0.250). The sensitivities of 68Ga-FAPI PET for initial diagnosis and restaging of hepatobiliary malignancies were 14/14 and 15/15, respectively. Compared with conventional imaging, 68Ga-FAPI PET changed the diagnosis and staging in 29.2%(7/24) patients. The treatment strategy was changed in 30.3%(10/33) patients with malignant tumors due to 68Ga-FAPI PET findings. Follow-up showed 22 cases survived and 11 cases died, with the overall survival of 355.56(80.00, 516.97) d, and 1- and 2-year survival rates were 68.2% and 57.9%, respectively. Semi-quantitative 68Ga-FAPI PET parameters such as SUV max, target-liver ratio (TLR), and target-blood ratio (TBR) had no significant prognostic value, but the prognosis of the group without distant metastases diagnosed by 68Ga-FAPI PET was significantly better than that of the group with distant metastasis ( P=0.032). Conclusion:68Ga-FAPI PET has high sensitivity for the diagnosis of hepatobiliary malignancies, which can help guide treatment decisions and prognosis evaluation.

Bladder cancer (BC) is the most common malignant tumor of the genitourinary system. The age of individuals diagnosed with BC tends to decrease in recent years. A variety of standard therapeutic options are available for the clinical management of BC, but limitations exist. It is difficult to surgically eliminate small lesions, while radiation and chemotherapy damage normal tissues, leading to severe side effects. Therefore, new approaches are required to improve the efficacy and specificity of BC treatment. Synthetic biology is a field emerging in the last decade that refers to biological elements, devices, and materials that are artificially synthesized according to users' needs. In this review, we discuss how to utilize genetic elements to regulate BC-related gene expression periodically and quantitatively to inhibit the initiation and progression of BC. In addition, the design and construction of gene circuits to distinguish cancer cells from normal cells to kill the former but spare the latter are elaborated. Then, we introduce the development of genetically modified T cells for targeted attacks on BC. Finally, synthetic nanomaterials specializing in detecting and killing BC cells are detailed. This review aims to describe the innovative details of the clinical diagnosis and treatment of BC from the perspective of synthetic biology.
Humans ; Synthetic Biology ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/diagnosis*

Clinical data of 46 patients with trans-sphincter anal fistula treated by fistulectomy with external anal sphincter bareness in Department of Anorectal Surgery, Jiaxing TCM Hospital from July 2018 to July 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. All operations were performed successfully. There were no significant differences in Wexner incontinence scores (2.00±0.68 vs.1.99±0.70, P<0.05), mean anal resting pressure [(75.60±8.60) vs.(73.60±8.20)mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), P<0.05] and maximum systolic pressure [(109.60±7.80) vs.(107.20±8.30)mmHg, P<0.05] before and 6 months after operation. There were 1 case with postoperative incision bleeding and 2 cases with postoperative infection. All patients were followed up for 6 months and there was no recurrence and changes in anal shape during the follow-up. Results indicate that the fistulectomy external anal sphincter bareness is safe, efficient with well preserved sphincter function for patients with trans-sphincter anal fistula.

Objective:To investigate anye effect of magnetic stimulation of the sacral nerve (SMS) on acontractile detrusor disorder.Methods:Thirty spinal cord injury patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction were randomly divided into a stimulation group and a sham group, each of 15. In a first experiment the stimulation group was treated with SMS (over S3) with a bladder volume of 100ml on the 1st day, 200ml on the 2nd day, and 300ml on the 3rd day. Each SMS session involved a total of 1500 pulses at 15Hz in 10-second bursts with 30-second intervals. For the sham group the treatment was ostensibly identical, but the coil was rotated 90 degrees. Maximum detrusor pressure was assessed before and immediately after each SMS session. In a second experiment the bladder volumes were adjusted to 200-300ml ultrasonically before treatment. Both groups were treated twice a day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Maximum detrusor pressures were detected at the bladder volumes of 0ml, 100ml, 200ml and 300ml before and after the 4 weeks of treatment.Results:The stimulation group′s average pressures at 200ml and 300ml had increased significantly immediately after SMS and were then significantly higher than the sham group′s averages. After 4 weeks of treatment the stimulation group′s maximum pressures were significantly higher than before treatment at all of the bladder volumes tested, and were significantly better than those of the sham group.Conclusions:SMS can significantly improve detrusor functioning, but the effect is related to bladder volume.