ObjectiveTo investigate the modifiable areal unit problem （MAUP） in the spatial pattern of Pseudostellaria heterophylla production regions and reveal the impact of statistical scales on the spatial distribution characteristics of this medicinal plant species. MethodsUsing multi-source data （literature records， field surveys， and statistical data）， we systematically analyzed the spatial patterns across three administrative levels （provincial， prefectural， and county scales）. Spatial autocorrelation （Moran's I） analysis， high-low clustering （Getis-Ord General G）， and hot/cold spot analysis （Getis-Ord Gi*） were employed. ResultsThe literature-based analysis showed that the production regions of P. heterophylla presented random distribution on the provincial scale and significant aggregation on the prefectural scale. The field survey data showed that the production regions displayed random distribution on the provincial scale but significant aggregation on both prefectural and county scales. The statistical data revealed that the production regions lacked spatial autocorrelation on the provincial scale but demonstrated significant aggregation on prefectural and county scales. ConclusionMAUP effects have substantive implications for understanding and decision-making in the arrangement of medicinal plant production regions. The county scale proves to be the most sensitive and explanatory level for analyzing the spatial pattern of P. heterophylla production regions， providing a critical foundation for habitat modeling， suitability evaluation， and ecological cultivation planning of medicinal plants.

Objective To investigate the association between cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis and im-munonutritional status in the Kangbei Plateau and construct a prediction model.Methods A total of 121 pa-tients with active pulmonary tuberculosis treated at Ganzi County People's Hospital from June 2023 to June 2024 were retrospectively enrolled and divided into cavitary group(n=53)and non-cavitary group(n=68)based on imaging findings.Clinical and laboratory data were collected.Influencing factors for pulmonary cavi-tation in tuberculosis were screened using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis to construct a prediction model.The model's performance was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test.Results The cavitary group had higher proportions of smokers,spu-tum-positive cases,patients with disease duration>6 months,and patients with respiratory symptoms at ini-tial diagnosis,as well as higher neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR),platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio(PLR),neutrophil count,and platelet count than the non-cavitary group(P<0.05).Conversely,the prognostic nutri-tional index(PNI),lymphocyte count,and albumin(ALB)level were lower in the cavitary group(P<0.05).Multivariate analysis identified disease duration,NLR,and ALB as influencing factors for pulmonary cavitation in tuberculosis patients(P<0.05).The prediction model yielded an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.909,and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test indicated good model fit(χ2=10.740,P=0.217).Conclusion Pulmonary cavitation in high-altitude tuberculosis patients is associated with disease duration,ALB,and NLR.The com-bined predictive value of these three indicators is high.

Radiotherapy can cause functional and morphological changes in the brain tissues of patients with primary or metastatic malignant brain tumors, leading to radiation-induced brain injury. However, the pathogenesis of radiation-induced brain injury has not yet been unanimously determined, and its research advances and treatment protocols are yet to be elucidated and improved. In this study, we explore the pathogenesis of radiation-induced brain injury from the perspective of vascular injury, inflammatory reactions, neuronal dysfunction, glial cell injury, and gut microbiota and reviewed the advances in research on its treatment and prevention. The purpose is to provide a reference and theoretical basis for the research and clinical diagnosis and treatment of radiation-induced brain injury.

Objective To monitor the antifungal resistance of clinical isolates of Candida spp.in the East China region.Methods MALDI-TOF MS or molecular methods were used to re-identify the strains collected from January 2018 to December 2022.Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed using the broth microdilution method.The susceptibility test results were interpreted according to the breakpoints of 2022 Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)documents M27 M44s-Ed3 and M57s-Ed4.Results A total of 3 026 strains of Candida were collected,65.33％of which were isolated from sterile body sites,mainly from blood(38.86％)and pleural effusion/ascites(10.21％).The predominant species of Candida were Candida albicans(44.51％),followed by Candida parapsilosis complex(19.46％),Candida tropicalis(13.98％),Candida glabrata(10.34％),and other Candida species(0.79％).Candida albicans showed overall high susceptibility rates to the 10 antifungal drugs tested(the lowest rate being 93.62％).Only 2.97％of the strains showed dose-dependent susceptibility(SDD)to fluconazole.Candida parapsilosis complex had a SDD rate of 2.61％and a resistance rate of 9.42％to fluconazole,and susceptibility rates above 90％to other drugs.Candida glabrata had a SDD rate of 92.01％and a resistance rate of 7.99％to fluconazole,resistance rates of 32.27％and 48.24％to posaconazole and voriconazole non-wild-type strains(NWT),respectively,and susceptibility rates above 90％to other drugs.Candida tropicalis had resistance rates of 29.55％and 26.24％to fluconazole and voriconazole,respectively,resistance rates of 76.60％and 21.99％to posaconazole and echinocandins non-wild-type strains(NWT),and a resistance rate of 2.36％to echinocandins.Conclusions The prevalence and species distribution of Candida spp.in the East China region are consistent with previous domestic and international reports.Candida glabrata exhibits certain degree of resistance to fluconazole,while Candida tropicalis demonstrates higher resistance to triazole drugs.Additionally,echinocandins resistance has emerged in Candida albicans,Candida glabrata,Candida tropicalis,and Candida parapsilosis.

Objective:To study effect of STIL gene on proliferation and apoptosis of cervical cancer cells and its mechanism.Methods:Expressions of STIL mRNA and STIL protein in cervical cancer tissues,adjacent tissues,cervical cancer cell lines HeLa,SiHa,caski and human normal cervical epithelial cells HUCEC were calculated by RT-qPCR and Western blot.HeLa cells were divided into control(NC)group,si-NC group,si-STIL group,si-STIL+IL-6 group.CCK-8 and plate cloning assay were utilized to detect cell proliferation and cloning ability,and flow cytometry was used to analyze cell apoptosis rate.Western blot was used to detect IL-6,IL-6R and p-STAT3 proteins levels.sh-STIL stably transfected HeLa cells were subcutaneously inoculated into back of nude mice to investigate effect of inhibiting STIL expression on tumor formation.Results:STIL mRNA and protein expressions in cervical cancer tissues were significantly higher than adjacent tissues(P<0.05).STIL mRNA and protein expressions in HeLa,SiHa,and caski cells were significantly higher than HUCEC cells(P<0.05).Compared with si-NC group,cell absorbance,number of clones,and protein levels of IL-6,IL-6R and p-STAT3 in si-STIL group were significantly reduced(P<0.05),and apoptosis rate was significantly in-creased(P<0.05).Compared with si-STIL group,cell absorbance,number of clones and protein levels of IL-6,IL-6R and p-STAT3 in si-STIL+IL-6 group were significantly increased(P<0.05),and apoptotic rate was significantly reduced(P<0.05).Inhibiting STIL significantly inhibited tumor growth in vivo(P<0.05).Conclusion:STIL gene expression is up-regulated in cervical cancer,and inhi-biting STIL can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of cervical cancer cells by inhibiting IL-6/STAT3 pathway.

Objective:To investigate impacts of paeoniflorin-6′-O-benzene sulfonate(CP-25)on proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells through Toll-like receptor 4(TLR-4)/nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)signaling pathway.Methods:CCK-8 assay was performed to measure the cell activity of human ovarian cancer cells A2780,SK-OV-3,HO8910 and normal ovarian cells HOSEpiC.A2780 cells were separated into control group(0.01%DMSO),CP-25 low(0.5 mg/ml CP-25),medium(1 mg/ml CP-25)and high(2 mg/ml CP-25)concentration groups and CP-25 high concentration+LPS group(2 mg/ml CP-25 and 0.1 μg/ml TLR-4 activator LPS).Cell proliferation was evaluated by CCK-8 and clone formation assays;cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry and TUNEL staining;proliferating protein Ki67,apoptosis-related proteins(Cleaved caspase-3,Caspase-3,Bax,Bcl-2),TLR-4,p-NF-κB p65,NF-κB p65 protein expression levels were analyzed by Western blot;protein expressions of TLR-4 and NF-κB p65 were observed by immunofluorescence staining.Results:Compared with HOSEpiC cells,viabilities of A2780,SK-OV-3 and HO8910 cells were reduced gradually with the increased of CP-25 concentration(P<0.05),and CP-25 had about 50%inhibitory effect on the growth of A2780 cells at low,medium and high concentrations,so A2780 cells were used for the experiments.Compared with control group,the clone formation rate of A2780 cells in low,medium and high concentration groups of CP-25 reduced obviously,while apoptosis rate and apoptosis index rose obviously,expression levels of Ki67,Bcl-2,TLR-4,p-NF-κB p65 and nuclear NF-κB p65 were reduced obviously,while expression of Cleaved caspase-3/Caspase-3 and Bax were increased obviously in a concentration-dependent manner(P<0.05).Compared with CP-25 high concentration group,cell viability and clone formation rate were significantly increased in CP-25 high concentration+LPS group,while apoptosis rate and apoptosis index were decreased significantly,expression levels of Ki67,Bcl-2,TLR-4,p-NF-κB p65 and nuclear NF-κB p65 were increased significantly,while expressions of Cleaved caspase-3/Cas-pase-3 and Bax were significantly decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion:CP-25 inhibits ovarian cancer cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis by inhibiting TLR-4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) for venous thrombo embolism (VTE) in patients with lung cancer.Methods The patients with lung cancer admitted and treated in Chengdu Municipal Second People's Hospital from March 2022 to October 2023 were selected as the study subjects and divided into the VTE group (n=33) and the non-VTE group (n=37) ac-cording to whether or not complicating VTE.The clinical characteristics and laboratory indexes were collect-ed.The multivariate logistic regress was used to analyze the influencing factors.The receiver operating charac-teristic (ROC) curve was drawn.The difference of the areas under curve (AUC) was compared.The Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to evaluate the risk stratification capability of the related variables for VTE oc-currence in the patients with lung cancer.Results There were statistically significant differences in WBC,neutrophil,lymphocyte,albumin (ALB),D-dimer (D-D),plasma viscosity,neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR),platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and SII between the two groups (P<0.05).The multivariate lo-gistic regression analysis showed that high SII,tumor stage (Ⅲ-Ⅳ stage) and plasma viscosity were inde-pendent risk factors for VTE occurrence in the patients with lung cancer (P<0.05).The ROC curve analysis showed that AUC of the Khorana score,SII,modified Khorana score,NLR and PLR were 0.747,0.776,0.866,0.754 and 0.672,respectively.The predictive efficiency of SII for VTE occurrence in the patients with lung cancer was better than that of Khorana score,NLR and PLR.Conclusion High SII is an independent risk factor for VTE occurrence in the patients with lung cancer,its risk stratification for VTE occurrence in the pa-tients with lung cancer is conducive to early recognize the high risk population.

A corresponding calibration method was proposed for the key performance parameters of the endoscopic liquid expansion pump,such as the pressure indication error,the flow rate indication error and the flow rate repeatability.4 different brands of endoscopic liquid expansion pumps in clinical use in the hospital were selected for calibration,and the feasibility of the calibration method was evaluated.In the pressure and flow range of the endoscope liquid expansion pump,3 calibration points of high,medium and low were selected,and each flow point was calibrated 3 times.The calibration results showed that the maximum error of pressure indication was 4.3%,the maximum error of flow indication was 9.3%,and the maximum repeatability of flow indication value was 0.8%,all of which met the technical requirements for the maximum allowable error of"Medical Endoscopes.Endoscope Functional Supply Units.Irrigation Pump"(YY/T 0864-2011)and"Calibration Specification for Syringe Pumps and Infusion Pumps"(JJF 1259-2018).The calibration method for endoscopic liquid expansion pump can improve the metrological traceability system of this type of equipment,ensure the accuracy and reliability of equipment values,improve product quality,and ensure medical safety.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the safety of epinephrine hydrochloride injection(EHI) given by nebulized inhalation in guinea pigs with the off-label drug use. METHODS The actual dose of inhalation administration was determined by establishing a nebulized administration drug concentration assay. The systemic allergic reactions and respiratory toxicity of EHI after nebulized inhalation were evaluated by guinea pigs using the allergy test protocol with the combination of frequency and dose of epinephrine hydrochloride administration and allergy test. Thirty-two guinea pigs were randomly divided into 4 groups according to body weight: negative control group(equal volume of saline), positive control group(sensitizing dose: 20 mg·kg-1 ovalbumin), low dose group(sensitizing dose: 15.5 μg·kg-1 EHI) and high dose group(sensitizing dose: 31 μg·kg-1 EHI). The excitation dose of each group was two times the sensitization dose, at the time of excitation, the symptoms of allergic reaction were observed. After excitation, blood and alveolar lavage fluid were collected, whole blood was collected for hematological testing and isolated serum and alveolar lavage fluid were used for IgE testing. Bronchial and lung tissues were taken for histological testing and immunohistochemistry after dissection. RESULTS Using a nebulizer device to administer EHI to guinea pigs at a clinically equivalent dose at 3.95 min of administration. The guinea pigs in all groups showed normal weight gain during sensitization administration. At the time of excitation, the guinea pigs in the positive control group showed strong positive allergic reactions, while the guinea pigs in the negative control group, low dose group and high dose group showed no significant allergic reactions. Compared with the negative control group, eosinophils in the blood of the positive control guinea pigs were significantly higher(P<0.05) and the IgE content in the serum and alveolar lavage fluid was significantly increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Histopathological results showed that inflammatory cells infiltrated in the lung tissue of the positive control guinea pigs after excitation, and a large number of erythrocytes and exudate appeared in the alveoli. The immunohistochemical indiacated that the inflammatory symptoms in the lung tissues of the positive guinea pigs were associated with an increase in B lymphocytes. The hematological indexes, serum IgE content, immunohistochemical and histological examination results of guinea pigs in the low and high dose groups were not significantly different from those of the negative control group. CONCLUSION No allergic reaction and no respiratory toxicity occurred in guinea pigs given EHI by nebulization, and the administration of EHI by nebulized inhalation off-label drug use is safe and feasible.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible neurodegenerative disorder that damages patients' memory and cognitive abilities. Therefore, the diagnosis of AD holds significant importance. The interactions between regions of interest (ROIs) in the brain often involve multiple areas collaborating in a nonlinear manner. Leveraging these nonlinear higher-order interaction features to their fullest potential contributes to enhancing the accuracy of AD diagnosis. To address this, a framework combining nonlinear higher-order feature extraction and three-dimensional (3D) hypergraph neural networks is proposed for computer-assisted diagnosis of AD. First, a support vector machine regression model based on the radial basis function kernel was trained on ROI data to obtain a base estimator. Then, a recursive feature elimination algorithm based on the base estimator was applied to extract nonlinear higher-order features from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. These features were subsequently constructed into a hypergraph, leveraging the complex interactions captured in the data. Finally, a four-dimensional (4D) spatiotemporal hypergraph convolutional neural network model was constructed based on the fMRI data for classification. Experimental results on the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database demonstrated that the proposed framework outperformed the Hyper Graph Convolutional Network (HyperGCN) framework by 8% and traditional two-dimensional (2D) linear feature extraction methods by 12% in the AD/normal control (NC) classification task. In conclusion, this framework demonstrates an improvement in AD classification compared to mainstream deep learning methods, providing valuable evidence for computer-assisted diagnosis of AD.
Humans ; Alzheimer Disease/diagnostic imaging* ; Neural Networks, Computer ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods* ; Neuroimaging/methods* ; Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted ; Brain ; Cognitive Dysfunction