Debates persist regarding the efficacy and safety of azvudine, particularly its real-world outcomes. This study involved patients aged ≥60 years who were admitted to 25 hospitals in mainland China with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between December 1, 2022, and February 28, 2023. Efficacy outcomes were all-cause mortality during hospitalization, the proportion of patients discharged with recovery, time to nucleic acid-negative conversion (T _NANC), time to symptom improvement (T _SI), and time of hospital stay (T _HS). Safety was also assessed. Among the 5884 participants identified, 1999 received azvudine, and 1999 matched controls were included after exclusion and propensity score matching. Azvudine recipients exhibited lower all-cause mortality compared with controls in the overall population (13.3% vs. 17.1%, RR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.67-0.90; P = 0.001) and in the severe subgroup (25.7% vs. 33.7%; RR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.66-0.88; P < 0.001). A higher proportion of patients discharged with recovery, and a shorter T _NANC were associated with azvudine recipients, especially in the severe subgroup. The incidence of adverse events in azvudine recipients was comparable to that in the control group (2.3% vs. 1.7%, P = 0.170). In conclusion, azvudine showed efficacy and safety in older patients hospitalized with COVID-19 during the SARS-CoV-2 omicron wave in China.

Objective:We aimed to develop a novel visualized model based on nomogram to predict postoperative overall survival.Methods:This was a multicenter, retrospective, observational cohort study, including participants with histologically confirmed gastric and colorectal cancer who underwent radical surgery from 11 medical centers in China from August 1, 2015 to June 30, 2018. Baseline characteristics, histopathological data and nutritional status, as assessed using Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002) score and the scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment, were collected. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression and Cox regression were used to identify variables to be included in the predictive model. Internal and external validations were performed.Results:There were 681 and 127 patients in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. A total of 188 deaths were observed over a median follow-up period of 59 (range: 58 to 60) months. Two independent predictors of NRS 2002 and Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM) stage were identified and incorporated into the prediction nomogram model together with the factor of age. The model's concordance index for 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival was 0.696, 0.724, and 0.738 in the training cohort and 0.801, 0.812, and 0.793 in the validation cohort, respectively.Conclusions:In this study, a new nomogram prediction model based on NRS 2002 score was developed and validated for predicting the overall postoperative survival of patients with gastric colorectal cancer. This model has good differentiation, calibration and clinical practicability in predicting the long-term survival rate of patients with gastrointestinal cancer after radical surgery.

The presence of replication-competent HBV DNA in the liver and/or serum of HBsAg-negative individuals is a sufficient and necessary condition for the diagnosis of occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI). In recent years, Chinese scholars have proposed what is considered a more "rigorous" definition, i.e., on this basis, HBV window period (WP) infection is excluded, which corresponds to a serum HBV DNA level of below the lower limit of detection or a low positive value (< 200 IU/mL). As the definition of WP for HBV infection remains unclear and its duration is highly variable, "HBV DNA < 200 IU/mL" is not the only criterion in OBI patients. Therefore, it is believed that there is still a lack of sufficient basis and operability for the definition of OBI based on "the exclusion of HBV WP infection" and "HBV DNA < 200 IU/mL" as "rigorous" conditions for the diagnosis of OBI.

Objective:Plateletcrit (PCT) is considered a new potential index to predict the degree of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). This study aimed to explore the predictive value of PCT for the degree of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) < 2× upper limit of normal (ULN). Measurement data were compared using the t-test, ANOVA, or non-parametric test (Mann-Whitney U test). Categorical variables were compared using χ2 test or Fisher’s exact test. Methods:140 cases with chronic HBV infection who underwent liver biopsy and ALT < 2×ULN were enrolled from January 2016 to March 2021. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were used to determine the predictive value of PCT for the degree of liver fibrosis. The likelihood ratio (LR) was used to optimize the selection of the diagnostic cut-off.Results:(1) Among the 140 cases, there were 34 (24.3%) cases in the S0 stage, 47 (33.6%) cases in the S1 stage, 16 (11.4%) cases in the S2 stage, 19 (13.6%) cases in the S3 stage, and 24 (17.1%) cases in the S4 stage. The overall mean PCT level was 0.19 ± 0.06%. (2) Univariate analysis revealed that PCT between patients with stages of liver fibrosis was S(0-1) and S(2-4) (0.20% ± 0.05% vs. 0.16% ± 0.06%, t = 3.955, P < 0.001), S(0 -2) and S(3-4) (0.20% ± 0.05% vs. 0.15% ± 0.06%, t = 5.631, P < 0.001) and S(0-3) and S4 (0.20% ± 0.05% vs. 0.12% ± 0.05%, t = 7.113, P < 0.001), respectively, and the differences were statistically significant. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that PCT was an independent risk factor for liver fibrosis stages S(2-4), S(3-4), and S4 ( OR = 0.925, 95% CI: 0.859 – 0.997, P = 0.042; OR = 0.867, 95% CI: 0.789 – 0.954, P = 0.003; OR = 0.708, 95% CI: 0.593 – 0.846; P < 0.001). (3) The AUCs of PCT were 0.702, 0.777, and 0.885 for diagnosing liver fibrosis stages S(2-4), S(3-4), and S4 in patients with chronic HBV infection with ALT < 2×ULN. PCT was superior for the cirrhosis (S4) diagnosis. 92 (65.7%) cases were diagnosed as cirrhosis or non-cirrhosis according to the LR optimized diagnostic and exclusion diagnostic cut-offs (≤0.09%, ≤0.17%), with an accuracy of 97.8%. Conclusion:PCT has a high diagnostic and exclusion value for cirrhotic patients with chronic HBV infection with ALT < 2×ULN. Furthermore, it can be used as a non-invasive diagnostic index for determining and assisting the diagnosis of cirrhosis in resource-constrained areas, reducing the need for pathological examination of liver biopsies, and it has the advantage of being simple and intuitive without complex calculations.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate cancer-specific survival (CSS) and associated risk factors in elderly gastric cancer (EGC) patients. SUBJECTS/METHODS: EGC patients (≥ 70 yrs) who underwent curative gastrectomy between January 2013 and December 2017 at our hospital were included. Clinicopathologic characteristics and survival data were collected. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to extract the best cutoff point for body mass index (BMI). A Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the risk factors for CSS. RESULTS: In total, 290 EGC patients were included, with a median age of 74.7 yrs. The median follow-up time was 31 (1–77) mon. The postoperative 1-yr, 3-yr and 5-yr CSS rates were 93.7%, 75.9% and 65.1%, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed risk factors for CSS, including age (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–1.15), intensive care unit (ICU) admission (HR = 1.73; 95% CI, 1.08–2.79), nutritional risk screening (NRS 2002) score ≥ 5 (HR = 2.33; 95% CI, 1.49–3.75), and preoperative prognostic nutrition index score < 45 (HR = 2.06; 95% CI, 1.27–3.33). The ROC curve showed that the best BMI cutoff value was 20.6 kg/m 2 . Multivariate analysis indicated that a BMI ≤ 20.6 kg/m 2 (HR = 2.30; 95% CI, 1.36–3.87), ICU admission (HR = 1.97; 95% CI, 1.17–3.30) and TNM stage (stage II: HR = 5.56; 95% CI, 1.59–19.43; stage III: HR = 16.20; 95% CI, 4.99–52.59) were significantly associated with CSS. CONCLUSIONS Low BMI (≤ 20.6 kg/m2 ), ICU admission and advanced pathological TNM stages (II and III) are independent risk factors for CSS in EGC patients after curative gastrectomy. Nutrition support, better perioperative management and early diagnosis would be helpful for better survival.

Objective:To improve the understanding of chronic lymphoblastic leukemia (CLL) with t(14;18)(q32;q21).Methods:The clinical data of 3 cases diagnosed as CLL with t(14;18)(q32;q21) in the Tianjin KingMed Medical Laboratory from January 2020 to January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The clinicopathological data, morphological examination, immunophenotype, cytogenetics and somatic mutation of immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region genes of patients were comprehensively analyzed, and the literature was reviewed.Results:All the 3 patients showed lymphatic proliferative diseases, and their morphological characteristics and immunophenotype were typical characteristics of CLL.Conclusions:The diagnosis of CLL is mainly based on the typical morphology and immunophenotype of tumor cells. The presence of t(14;18) should not be used to exclude the diagnosis of CLL.

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological features and treatment strategies of intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB).Methods:The retrospective and descriptive study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 40 patients with IPNB who were admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital from August 2000 to April 2020 were collected. There were 19 males and 21 females,aged (60±14) years. Patients underwent preoperative imaging examination and blood test for evaluation of tumor location, range and resectability. The treatment strategies of patients depended on preoperative examination and their own willingness. Observation indicators: (1) preoperative examinations and tests; (2) treatment; (3) pathological examination; (4) follow-up. Follow-up using outpatient examination, telephone interview and online diagnosis was performed to detect tumor recurrence and survival of patients up to April 2021. Count data were represented as absolute numbers and percentages. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(range). The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the cumulative survival rate and draw survivla curve. Results:(1) Preoperative examinations and tests: 40 patients received preoperative imaging examination and blood test. Of 40 patients, 33 cases underwent abdominal ultrasonography, 31 cases underwent abdominal computed tomography (CT) examina-tion, 21 cases underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 15 cases underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), 8 cases underwent position emission tomography CT examination, 6 cases underwent endoscopic ultrasonography; some patients underwent multiple examinations. The main imaging features of IPNB were bile duct dilatation, and intraluminal tumor. Enhanced CT scan showed tumor reinforcement. Preoperative blood tests showed of the 40 patients, 21 cases with abnormal liver function, 17 cases with increased bilirubin, 9 cases with increased carcinoembryonic antigen, and 24 cases with increased CA19-9. (2) Treatment: 35 of 40 patients underwent surgery, 5 patients underwent ERCP and biopsy and didn′t undergo surgery based on their willings. Of 35 patients with surgeries,20 cases underwent hemihepatectomy or lobectomy, 8 cases underwent pancreatico-duodenectomy, 7 cases underwent bile duct tumor resection. The operation time was (262±91)minutes, and volume of intraoperative blood loss was 300 mL(range, 50?2 000 mL). Postopera-tive complications occurred in 6 of 35 patients, including 3 cases with Grade Ⅰ complications and 3 cases with Grade Ⅱ complication according to Clavien-Dindo classi-fication system. (3) Pathological examination: 40 patients were diagnosed as IPNB by pathological examinations. There were 19 and 21 patients with extrahepatic and intrahepatic lesions, respectively. There were 20 benign lesions (15 cases of low or intermediate-grade intraepithelial neoplasia and 5 cases of high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia) and 20 malignant lesions of invasive carcinoma. There were 18 cases with mucus secretion and 22 cases without mucus secretion or information. Five of 35 patients with surgeries had positive margin and the rest of 30 patients had negative margin. A total of 154 lymph nodes were dissected in 21 patients, including 3 positive lymph nodes. (4) Follow-up: 35 of 40 patients were followed up for (53±35)months. Seventeen of 35 patients survived without tumor, and 3 patients survived with tumor of which the time to tumor recurrence were 12, 17, 37 months. Fifteen patients died, with the time interval to death of (30±19)months. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year cumulative survival rates of 35 patients were 88.6%, 73.6%, and 50.7%, respectively.Conclusions:IPNB is rare, with the main imaging features as bile duct dilatation, and intraluminal tumor. The tumor is reinforce-ment after enhanced scan. Surgery is the main treatment for IPNB and lymph node metastasis is rare.

Objective:To explore the necessity of lowering the cut-off value of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in identifying chronic HBV infection patients with significant liver histological changes.Methods:The clinical data of 123 chronic HBV infection patients with normal ALT according to domestic criteria who underwent liver biopsy in the Department of Hepatology of Taizhou People’s Hospital from June 2016 to March 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. According to the cut-off ALT values recommended by 2018 version of AASLD guidelines (male 35 U/L, female 25 U/L), the patients were divided into two groups: high normal value group (HNALT, ALT≥AASLD and