Objective: To investigate the role of des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) in assessment of liver function and prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods: From January 2013 to August 2016, a total of 137 patients with liver cirrhosis in Shanghai Changzheng Hospital were enrolled. The serum DCP level was measured, the clinical data was collected and the complication and survival situation was followed up. The 137 patients were divided into DCP negative group (DCP≤40 mAU/mL, 118 cases) and DCP positive group (DCP>40 mAU/mL, 19 cases). Forty-five patients with compensated liver cirrhosis were divided into high-level DCP group (DCP>16.5 mAU/mL, 32 cases) and low-level DCP group (DCP≤16.5 mAU/mL, 13 cases). Chi square test was used to analyze the difference in the positive rate of DCP in patients with different Child-Pugh classification. Spearman correlation test was performed to analyze the correlation between DCP and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to analyze the correlation between DCP and liver disease related mortality. Results: Compared to that of DCP negative group, albumin level of patients in DCP positive group decreased (35 g/L, 20 to 57 g/L vs. 29 g/L, 17 to 42 g/L), however, total bilirubin (TBil), prothrombin time (PT), and international normalized ratio all increased (12.9 mg/L, 1.80 to 83.0 mg/L vs.22.2 mg/L, 6.4 to 169.0 mg/L; 15.5 s, 11.7 to 35.7 s vs.17.5 s, 13.9 to 33.4 s; 1.24, 0.96 to 3.72 vs.1.44, 1.09 to 3.22), and the differences were statistically significant (Z=-2.785, -2.891, -2.945 and -2.879, all P<0.01). The DCP positive (DCP>40 mAU/mL) rates of Child-Pugh A, B and C patients were 1.8% (1/55), 21.2% (11/52) and 23.3% (7/30), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (χ²=11.246, P=0.003). The DCP levels of patients with Child-Pugh class B and C cirrhosis were significantly correlated with MELD scores (r=0.259, P=0.021). There were 16 and three patients with ascites and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) of DCP positive group, and the incidence was higher than that of DCP negative group (55.1%, 65/118 and 1.7%, 2/118), and the differences were statistically significant (χ²=5.744 and 97.636, both P<0.05). Patients in high-level DCP group had a higher proportion of clinical decompensation than low-level DCP group (53.1% (17/32) and two cases), the difference was statistically significant (χ²=5.397, P=0.024). The overall survival rate of DCP positive group (nine survival cases) were lower than that of DCP negative group (87.9%, 87/99), and the difference was statistically significant (χ²=5.442, P=0.020). Conclusions Serum DCP level is closely related to liver function, ascites and SBP in patients with liver cirrhosis. Furthermore, it is associated with occurrence of decompensation in compensated patients and liver-related mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis. DCP may be a useful serum marker for evaluation of disease severity and prognosis in patients with liver cirrhosis in clinical practice.

The combination of Artificial Intelligence(AI)and medical applications has derived a large number of uses and scenarios,which has engaged and changed the healthcare industry from multiple dimensions,such as diagnosis and treatment processes,data fusion,and empowered medical devices,etc.AI large model is a machine learning model based on huge parameter scales and complexity,with a high degree of accuracy and extensive generalization capabilities.In facing the problems such as rapid growth of the data in medical scenarios,data multimodality,large and complex knowledge graphs,AI large model connects the medical processes such as diagnosis,decision-making,treatment and management by series connection,which further broadens and extends the space of AI's medical applications,which will highly utilizes medical data.In view that,we summarized the typical application scenarios of conventional AI and large models in the application of medical field,and discussed the problems of large models in data governance,modal fusion and credibility,so as to promote the landing and application of the combination of large models and medical treatment.

Objective:To document any impact of the timing of rehabilitation interventions on the recovery of motor function among children after a traumatic brain injury (TBI).Methods:Seventy-one children with a TBI were randomly divided into a control group ( n=36) and an observation group ( n=35). All received comprehensive rehabilitation-15 to 30 days after admission for those in the control group and 2 to 14 days after admission for the observation group. It included joint range-of-motion training, multi-sensory stimulation training, low-frequency electrical stimulation, and acupuncture. Before the experiment and 4, 12 and 24 weeks afterward, everyone′s motor functioning, muscle tone, and functional independence were quantified using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), and the WeeFIM pediatric functional independence measure. Results:Four weeks after the intervention the average FMA and WeeFIM scores of both groups had already increased significantly. At 12 and 24 weeks the average FMA and WeeFIM scores of the observation group were significantly higher than the control group′s averages. Muscle tone was then also significantly better on average. There was no significant difference in the incidence of rehabilitation interruptions between the two groups.Conclusion:Early comprehensive rehabilitation intervention within 2 to 14 days of admission can effectively better the motor functioning and functional independence of pediatric TBI patients.

Objective To study the efficacy and safety of ibutilide for AF and atrial flutter.Methods Thirty-two AF and atrial flutter patients with arrhythmia ≤3 months were randomly divided into ibutilide treatment group (n=17) and amiodarone treatment group (n=15).The patients in ibutilide treatment group were treated with 10 ml 5％ glucose injection containing 1 mg ibutilide,which was repeated after 10 min if it was ineffective and those in amiodarone treatment group were treated with 10 ml 5％ glucose injection containing 150 mg amiodarone,which was repeated after 10 min if it was ineffective.Results The total recovery rate of AF and atrial flutter was significantly higher in ibutilide treatment group than in amiodarone treatment group (64.7％ vs 40.0％,P＜0.05).The mean recovery time of AF and atrial flutter was significantly shorter in ibutilide treatment group than in amiodarone treatment group (29.28±12.57 min vs 70.59±16.83 min,P＜0.01).Conclusion Ibutilide can rapidly recover AF and atrial flutter with a high success rate and a reliable safety.The therapeutic effect of ibutilide is better than that of amiodarone for AF and atrial flutter.

Objective: To investigate the effect of nicorandil on ventricular arrhythmia in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with emergent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: A total of 120 acute STEMI patients treated with emergent PCI in our hospital from January 2015 to June 2016 were randomly divided into control group and experiment group (n=60 each). Patients in both groups received conventional therapy.Patients in experiment group took 10 mg nicorandil orally before PCI and received oral nicorandil treatment (15 mg/d, three times daily) for 3 days.QT disperse(QTd), correct QTd(QTcd) and the occurrence rate of ventricular arrhythmia were compared between two groups. Results: QTd at 6, 24, 48 and 72 hours((70.6±4.4), (67.2±5.3), (55.7±8.5), (48.2±8.2) ms, respectively) after PCI was significantly lower in the experiment group than those of control group ((77.1±7.1), (71.3±6.5), (65.1±8.1), (57.2±5.4) ms, all P<0.05). The level of QTd was also significantly lower in the experiment group at 6, 24, 48 and 72 hours((77.5±7.7), (67.7±8.6), (61.2±7.5), (52.9±8.4) ms, respectively) after PCI comared to those of control group ((88.6±8.1), (79.2±7.8), (74.4±7.4), (69.6±8.6) ms, all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of reperfusion arrhythmia during PCI procedure between the two groups.The prevalence of the ventricular premature beat in the experiment group (25/60, 41.7%) was significantly lower than in the control group(45/60, 75.0%) within 3 days after PCI(P<0.01), the prevalence of the no sustained ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation in the experiment group(6/60, 10.0%) was also significantly lower than in the control group (18/60, 30.0%, P<0.01) within 3 days after PCI. Conclusions Nicorandil use prior and post PCI could decrease the occurrence rate of ventricular arrhythmia in STEMI patients undergoing emergent PCI, and this effect might be related with reduced QTd and QTcd post medication.

In humans, the liver is a central metabolic organ with a complex and unique histological microenvironment. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is a highly aggressive disease with a poor prognosis, accounts for most cases of primary liver cancer. As an emerging hallmark of cancers, metabolic reprogramming acts as a runaway mechanism that disrupts homeostasis of the affected organs, including the liver. Specifically, rewiring of the liver metabolic microenvironment, including lipid metabolism, is driven by HCC cells, propelling the phenotypes of HCC cells, including dissemination, invasion, and even metastasis in return. The resulting formation of this vicious loop facilitates various malignant behaviors of HCC further. However, few articles have comprehensively summarized lipid reprogramming in HCC metastasis. Here, we have reviewed the general situation of the liver microenvironment and the physiological lipid metabolism in the liver, and highlighted the effects of different aspects of lipid metabolism on HCC metastasis to explore the underlying mechanisms. In addition, we have recapitulated promising therapeutic strategies targeting lipid metabolism and the effects of lipid metabolic reprogramming on the efficacy of HCC systematical therapy, aiming to offer new perspectives for targeted therapy.

Objective To retrieve,evaluate and summarize the best pertinent evidence on the placement and management of peripheral arterial catheters in critically ill children at home and abroad for clinical references.Methods A systematic search was conducted in related databases on the evidence of the placement and management of peripheral arterial catheters in critically ill children.The spectrum of eligible documents included clinical decisions,guidelines,evidence summaries,systematic reviews,expert consensuses,and norms.The search period was from the establishment of the databases to April 30,2023.The included literature was limited to English and Chinese languages.The quality of the literature was independently evaluated by evidence-based trained investigators and combined with professional judgment to extract information from the literature that met the quality standards.Results A total of 18 articles were included,including 3 guidelines,3 clinical decisions,8 evidence summaries,3 systematic reviews and 1 expert consensus.The best evidence included a total of 27 pieces of evidence in 4 areas,namely the assessment of indwelling peripheral arterial catheters,placement of peripheral arterial catheters,maintenance during the duration of indwelling peripheral arterial catheters,and removal.Conclusion This study summarized the most robust evidence pertaining to the management of peripheral arterial catheters in critically ill children,and provided an evidence-based basis for the standardized placement and management of peripheral arterial catheters in critically ill children.Nursing staff should carefully select and apply evidence according to the actual clinical situation,the wishes of children and parents.

BACKGROUND:With the aging of the global population,the incidence rate of osteoporosis is also increasing.It is very important to further understand its pathogenesis and propose new therapeutic targets.Recent studies have shown that ferroptosis is closely related to the pathogenesis of some bone diseases,such as inflammatory arthritis,osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. OBJECTIVE:To summarize the previous studies on the mechanism of ferroptosis in osteoporosis,so as to provide new therapeutic ideas and potential therapeutic targets for osteoporosis. METHODS:The first author used the computer to search the documents published from 2000 to 2022 in CNKI,WanFang,VIP,PubMed and Web of Science with the key words of"ferroptosis,osteoporosis,osteoblasts,osteoclasts,iron chelators,reactive oxygen species,nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2,heme oxygenase-1,glutathione peroxidase 4,review"in Chinese and English.A total of 70 articles were finally included according to the inclusion criteria. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Ferroptosis is significantly different from necrosis,apoptosis and autophagy.In terms of cell morphology and function,it does not have the morphological characteristics of typical necrosis,nor does it have the characteristics of traditional apoptosis,such as cell contraction,chromatin condensation,the formation of apoptotic bodies and the disintegration of cytoskeleton.Contrary to autophagy,ferroptosis does not form a classical closed bilayer membrane structure(autophagic vacuole).Morphologically,ferroptosis is mainly manifested by obvious contraction of mitochondria,increased membrane density,and reduction or disappearance of mitochondrial cristae,which are different from other cell death modes.Iron overload can destroy bone homeostasis by significantly inhibiting osteogenic differentiation and stimulating osteoclast formation,leading to osteoporosis.Iron overload interferes with the differentiation of stem cells to osteoblasts,leading to a weakened osteoblast function and further imbalance of bone metabolism in the body,which eventually leads to osteoporosis.Stimulated by iron overload,osteoclast bone resorption is enhanced and bone loss exceeds new bone formation.Iron chelators have been proved to have osteoprotective effects by inhibiting osteoclast activity and stimulating osteogenic differentiation of osteoblasts.Its potential mechanism is related to inhibiting osteoclast differentiation and promoting osteoblast differentiation.Antioxidants can prevent reactive oxygen species production and inhibit bone absorption,thus improving bone metabolism and effectively preventing osteoporosis.

As a complex system, the topology of human's brain network has an important effect on further study of brain's structural and functional mechanism. Graph theory, a kind of sophisticated analytic strategies, is widely used for analyzing complex brain networks effectively and comparing difference of topological structure alteration in normal development and pathological condition. For the purpose of using this analysis methodology efficiently, it is necessary to develop graph-based visualization software. Thus, we developed VisConnectome, which displays analysis results of the brain network friendly and intuitively. It provides an original graphical user interface (GUI) including the tool window, tool bar and innovative double slider filter, brain region bar, runs in any Windows operating system and doesn't rely on any platform such as Matlab. When importing the user-defined script file that initializes the brain network, VisConnectome abstracts the brain network to the ball-and-stick model and render it. VisConnectome allows a series of visual operations, such as identifying nodes and connection, modifying properties of nodes and connection such as color and size with the color palette and size double slider, imaging the brain regions, filtering the brain network according to its size property in a specific domain as simplification and blending with the brain surface as a context of the brain network. Through experiment and analysis, we conclude that VisConnectome is an effective visualization software with high speed and quality, which helps researchers to visualize and compare the structural and functional brain networks flexibly.
Brain ; physiology ; Connectome ; Humans ; Software

Immunological evasion is one of the defining characteristics of cancers, as the immune modification of an immune checkpoint (IC) confers immune evasion capabilities to tumor cells. Multiple ICs, such as programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4), can bind to their respective receptors and reduce tumor immunity in a variety of ways, including blocking immune cell activation signals. IC blockade (ICB) therapies targeting these checkpoint molecules have demonstrated significant clinical benefits. This is because antibody-based IC inhibitors and a variety of specific small molecule inhibitors can inhibit key oncogenic signaling pathways and induce durable tumor remission in patients with a variety of cancers. Deciphering the roles and regulatory mechanisms of these IC molecules will provide crucial theoretical guidance for clinical treatment. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the functional and regulatory mechanisms of these IC molecules at multiple levels, including epigenetic regulation, transcriptional regulation, and post-translational modifications. In addition, we provide a summary of the medications targeting various nodes in the regulatory pathway, and highlight the potential of newly identified IC molecules, focusing on their potential implications for cancer diagnostics and immunotherapy.
Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; CTLA-4 Antigen/therapeutic use* ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Neoplasms/therapy* ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/therapeutic use*