Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intraoperative pleural irrigation with Nocardia rubra cell-wall skeleton (N-CWS) for reducing pleural effusion drainage after radical surgery for lung cancer. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of lung cancer patients who underwent lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University between December 2024 and May 2025. Patients were divided into a control group and an irrigation group based on the intraoperative use of N-CWS. Patients in the irrigation group received pleural irrigation with 800 μg of N-CWS diluted in 10 mL of normal saline. The following outcomes were compared between the two groups: pleural effusion drainage volume at 0-24 h, 24-48 h, and 48-72 h postoperatively, degree of air leak, chest tube duration, postoperative length of stay, and the incidence of adverse events (fever, chest pain, and nausea and vomiting). Results A total of 245 patients were included (97 males, 148 females) with a mean age of (61.28±6.26) years, with 205 in the control group and 40 in the irrigation group. Compared to the control group, the irrigation group showed significantly lower pleural effusion drainage volumes at 0-24 h, 24-48 h, and 48-72 h, as well as shorter chest tube duration and postoperative length of stay (all P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the degree of postoperative air leak (P=0.661). No significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding the highest body temperature within 72 h post-surgery (P=0.130), fever grade (P=0.196), severity of chest pain (P=0.105), or the incidence of nausea and vomiting (P=0.376). Conclusion Intraoperative pleural irrigation with N-CWS in patients undergoing lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection for lung cancer can significantly reduce postoperative pleural effusion drainage volume, shorten chest tube duration and length of hospital stay. The procedure is safe and feasible.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the antitumor activity of Periplaneta americana extract（PAE） against human-derived lung adenocarcinoma organoids（LUAD-PDOs） and to elucidate its potential mechanism based on transcriptomics. MethodsFresh tumor and adjacent normal tissues from patients with LUAD were collected to construct LUAD-PDOs and normal lung organoid（Nor-PDOs） models using 3D organoid culture technology. The effective intervention concentration of PAE was determined using the cell counting kit-8（CCK-8） assay. Experimental groups included the model group（LUAD-PDOs）， normal group， model administration group（LUAD-PDOs+PAE）， and normal administration group（Nor-PDOs+PAE）. Hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining was used to observe the pathological structures of PDOs， immunohistochemistry（IHC） was performed to detect the expressions of the proliferation marker Ki-67 and lung adenocarcinoma differentiation markers cytokeratin-7（CK-7） and Napsin A， TUNEL staining was applied to detect cell apoptosis. RNA sequencing（RNA-Seq） was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes（DEGs）， followed by Gene Ontology（GO）， Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes（KEGG）， and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis（GSEA）， alongside protein-protein interaction（PPI） network analysis to screen core mechanisms. Finally， key targets were validated by integrating external database analysis with immunofluorescence（IF）. ResultsNor-PDOs and LUAD-PDOs that highly recapitulated the pathological characteristics of the primary tissues were successfully established. The CCK-8 assay determined that the effective intervention concentration of PAE was 16 g·L^-1. Morphological observation showed that Nor-PDOs exhibited lumen-forming structures， whereas LUAD-PDOs displayed dense， solid structures. CCK-8 and TUNEL assays revealed that， compared with the model group， PAE intervention inhibited the proliferation of LUAD-PDOs and promoted apoptosis in LUAD cells， while showing no significant effect on the viability of Nor-PDOs. Transcriptomic analysis identified 719 DEGs that were significantly reversed after PAE intervention（347 up-regulated and 372 down-regulated）（P<0.05）. GO enrichment analysis indicated that DEGs in the model administration group were significantly enriched in biological processes related to cell cycle regulation compared to the model group. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that PAE affected pathways related to proliferation and metabolism， including pathways in cancer and the p53 signaling pathway. GSEA further confirmed that PAE significantly enhanced the activity of the p53 signaling pathway（P<0.05）. PPI network analysis indicated that breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein（BRCA1） and checkpoint kinase 1（CHEK1） were the core down-regulated targets in the p53 pathway. IF verified the high expression of BRCA1 and CHEK1 in LUAD-PDOs and their significant downregulation after PAE intervention（P<0.05）. Furthermore， survival analysis based on The Cancer Genome Atlas（TCGA） database indicated that low expression of BRCA1 and CHEK1 was significantly associated with prolonged overall survival in patients with LUAD（P<0.05）. ConclusionPAE effectively inhibits proliferation of LUAD-PDOs and promotes their apoptosis， its anti-tumor mechanism is potentially associated with the activation of the p53 signaling pathway， with BRCA1 and CHEK1 genes likely serving as key downstream targets for the effects of PAE.

Objective To discuss the main pathological types and imaging characteristics of pulmonary nodules that are highly suspected to be malignant in clinical practice but are pathologically confirmed to be benign. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of patients with pulmonary nodules who were initially highly suspected of malignancy but were subsequently pathologically confirmed to be benign. These patients were treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University from December 2020 to April 2023. Based on the outcomes of preoperative discussions, the patients were categorized into a benign group and a suspicious malignancy group. The clinical data and imaging characteristics of both groups were compared. Results A total of 232 patients were included in the study, comprising 112 males and 120 females, with a mean age of (50.7±12.0) years. Among these, 127 patients were classified into the benign group, while 105 patients were categorized into the suspicious malignancy group. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding age, gender, symptoms, smoking history, or tumor history (P>0.05). However, significant differences were noted in nodule density, CT values, margins, shapes, and malignant signs (P＜0.05). Further analysis revealed that in the suspicious malignancy group, solid nodules were predominantly characterized by collagen nodules and fibrous tissue hyperplasia (33.3%), followed by tuberculosis (20.4%) and fungal infections (18.5%). In contrast, non-solid nodules were primarily composed of collagen nodules and fibrous tissue hyperplasia (41.2%) and atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (17.7%). Conclusion Benign pulmonary nodules that are suspected to be malignant are pathologically characterized by the presence of collagen nodules, fibrous tissue hyperplasia, tuberculosis, atypical adenomatous hyperplasia, and fungal infections. Radiologically, these nodules typically present as non-solid lesions and may exhibit features suggestive of malignancy, including spiculation, lobulation, cavitation, and pleural retraction.

BACKGROUND:Dexamethasone and hindlimb suspension are commonly used methods for modeling sarcopenia in animal experiments due to their short modeling time,ease of operation,and low cost.OBJECTIVE:To compare the differences in muscle mass,strength and functional phenotypes and molecular mechanisms between two mouse sarcopenia models induced by dexamethasone and hindlimb suspension.METHODS:Thirty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups(n=10 per group).The normal control group received no intervention.The dexamethasone group received daily intraperitoneal injections of 1 mg/kg/d dexamethasone sodium phosphate solution for 6 continuous days to establish sarcopenia models in mice,while mice in the hindlimb suspension group were suspended by tail harness for 16 hours,once per day,to establish sarcopenia models.Within 6 weeks after modeling,changes in body mass were monitored.After 6 weeks of modeling,mice were tested for limb grip strength,mobility(swimming test),skeletal muscle wet mass,and skeletal muscle pathological morphology.Expressions of skeletal muscle protein synthesis and catabolism indexes as well as the AMPK/FoXO3α signaling pathway were detected by RT-PCR and western blot.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Two weeks after modeling,both dexamethasone and hindlimb suspension groups showed a significant decrease in body mass compared with the normal control group(P<0.001).After 6 weeks of modeling,grip strength of mice in both dexamethasone and hindlimb suspension groups was lower than that in the normal control group(P<0.001).The wet mass of gastrocnemius and extensor digitorum longus muscles and the cross-sectional area of gastrocnemius and soleus muscles in the dexamethasone group were lower than those in the normal control group(P<0.05).Compared with the hindlimb suspension group,the cross-sectional area of gastrocnemius muscle was significantly smaller in the dexamethasone group(P<0.05),while the cross-sectional area of soleus muscle was larger in the dexamethasone group(P<0.05).Mice in the dexamethasone group had reduced mobility when compared with those in the normal control group and the hindlimb suspension group(P<0.05).(3)Compared with the normal control group,PI3K,mTOR,AMPK,and PGC-1α mRNA expression and P-AMPK/AMPK protein were decreased in the two modeling groups(P<0.05),and FoXO3α mRNA expression and PGC-1α and FoXO3 protein expression were elevated(P<0.05);in the dexamethasone group,Akt1 mRNA expression was decreased(P<0.05),while Atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 mRNA expression was elevated(P<0.05);in the hindlimb suspension group,Akt1 mRNA expression was elevated(P<0.05).(4)Compared with the dexamethasone group,mTOR,Akt1,and FoXO3α mRNA expression was elevated in the hindlimb suspension group(P<0.05),while Atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 mRNA expression was decreased(P<0.05).To conclude,both modeling methods could decrease the levels of mitochondrial energy metabolism in skeletal muscle,with the dexamethasone group mediating atrophy of skeletal muscle through the dual action of ubiquitin proteasome and energy metabolism pathways,and the hindlimb suspension group inducing atrophy of skeletal muscle by mediating the energy metabolism pathway through the AMPK/FoXO3α signaling pathway,subsequently causing a reduction in mass,strength,and function of skeletal muscle.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of serum albumin(ALB),C-reactive protein(CRP)and globulin(GLB)in recurrent diabetic foot ulcers(DFU).Methods A total of 101 DFU patients admitted to Wuhan Third Hospital from January 2020 to November 2023 were selected as study objects.According to whether the patients had recurrent DFU,they were divided into recurrent group(59 cases)and control group(42 cases).The clinical data of two groups were compared,and the influencing factors of recurrent DFU were analyzed by Logistic regression.Receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn to analyze the predictive value of serum ALB,CRP and GLB for recurrent DFU.Results The body mass index,hemoglobin and ALB in recurrent group were significantly lower than those in control group,while the levels of CRP,GLB,prealbumin and creatinine were significantly higher than those in control group(P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that ALB was an independent protective factor for DFU recurrence(P<0.05),CRP and GLB were independent risk factors for DFU recurrence(P<0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)of ALB,CRP and GLB for predicting recurrent DFU were 0.782(95%CI:0.691-0.874),0.824(95%CI:0.742-0.906)and 0.686(95%CI:0.582-0.790),respectively.The AUC for the combined prediction of recurrent DFU was 0.849(95%CI:0.775-0.922).Conclusion Serum ALB levels were decreased in patients with recurrent DFU,while CRP and GLB levels were increased.ALB,CRP and GLB have a certain predictive value for recurrent DFU,and the combined predictive value is higher.

Background and purpose:Accurately locating pulmonary nodules is the key to the success of thoracoscopic surgery.This study aimed to investigate the strategy and evaluate the feasibility,safety,and clinical value of thoracoscopic surgical treatment for pulmonary nodules located beneath the interlobar pleura and close to the pulmonary hilum.Methods:The patients who underwent pulmonary nodule surgery at Liaocheng Tumor Hospital from May 2023 to November 2024 were enrolled,and the patients who did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded.This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Liaocheng Tumor Hospital(EC-20240112-1020)and informed consent was obtained from the patients.The research was designed as a prospective single-arm study.The patients were treated with wedge resection,which was performed following CT-guided localization,where the location needle was inserted through the interlobar pleura.The feasibility of the procedure was evaluated by analyzing the success rate of preoperative localization and perioperative complications.Results:A total of 28 patients who met the inclusion criteria were included in this study.There were 5 male and 23 female patients with an average age of(56.0±8.5)years(range 38-69 years).In all,28 patients with 28 nodules underwent thoracoscopic wedge resection,and the preoperative CT-guided localization was successfully performed in all patients,without urgent complications.The mean operation time of thoracoscopic surgery was(15.6±4.0)min,intraoperative bleeding was(20.9±14.3)mL,and postoperative drainage was(214.3±62.2)mL.No cases of postoperative air leaks or conversion to thoracotomy were observed.The average length of hospital stay was(5.4±0.9)days.The postoperative histological diagnosis revealed 3 benign lesions(pulmonary fibrosis in 2 cases,atypical adenomatous hyperplasia in 1 case)and 25 malignant lesions(adenocarcinoma in situ in 5 cases,minimally invasive adenocarcinoma in 16 cases,and invasive adenocarcinoma in 4 cases).Conclusion:Thoracoscopic wedge resection following CT-guided nodule localization through the interlobar pleura is a feasible approach for nodules located beneath the interlobar pleura and close to the pulmonary hilum.The method ensures precise tumor localization,adequate margin,and minimal loss of normal lung tissue,with a low incidence of postoperative complication,which has important guiding significance for the surgical treatment of pulmonary nodules in such special locations.

Objective To explore the clinical application value of simple artery occlusion (SAO) in revealing intersegmental planes during thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients who underwent thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University from February 2022 to December 2023. Patients were divided into a conventional group and a SAO group based on the method used to reveal the intersegmental plane during surgery. The two groups were compared in terms of intraoperative blood loss, operation time, postoperative drainage volume, time to intubation, postoperative pulmonary air leakage, and conversion to open thoracotomy rate. Results A total of 318 patients were included. There were 181 patients in the conventional group, including 86 males and 95 females, with an average age (53.35±9.20) years, and there were 137 patients in the SAO group, including 58 males and 79 females, with an average age (55.26±11.46) years. There were no statistical differences in general patient information between the two groups (P>0.05). The SAO group had less intraoperative blood loss [MD=17.568, 95%CI (9.968, 25.168), P<0.001] and postoperative drainage volume [MD=275.587, 95%CI (188.999, 362.175), P<0.001], shorter drainage tube duration [MD=1.000, 95%CI (1.000, 2.000), P<0.001] and operation time [MD=20.709, 95%CI (16.258, 25.159), P<0.001]. The incidence of postoperative pulmonary air leakage complications in the SAO group was lower than that in the conventional group [RR=0.361, 95%CI (0.181, 0.722), P=0.003]. Conclusion SAO can reduce surgical difficulty, shorten operation time, decrease the incidence of postoperative pulmonary air leakage, and enhance the safety of anatomical pulmonary segmentectomy, making it worthy of clinical promotion and application.

BACKGROUND: Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP), a rare and recurrent autoinflammatory disease, imposes a substantial burden on patients and society. Awareness of GPP in China remains limited. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey, conducted between September 2021 and May 2023 across 14 hospitals in China, included GPP patients of all ages and disease phases. Data collected encompassed demographics, clinical characteristics, economic impact, disease severity, quality of life, and treatment-related complications. Risk factors for GPP recurrence were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 127 patients (female/male ratio = 1.35:1), the mean age of disease onset was 25 years (1st quartile [Q1]-3rd quartile [Q3]: 11-44 years); 29.2% had experienced GPP for more than 10 years. Recurrence occurred in 75.6% of patients, and nearly half reported no identifiable triggers. Younger age at disease onset ( P  = 0.021) and transitioning to plaque psoriasis ( P  = 0.022) were associated with higher recurrence rates. The median diagnostic delay was 8 months (Q1-Q3: 2-41 months), and 32.3% of patients reported misdiagnoses. Comorbidities were present in 53.5% of patients, whereas 51.1% experienced systemic complications during treatment. Depression and anxiety affected 84.5% and 95.6% of patients, respectively. During GPP flares, the median Dermatology Life Quality Index score was 19.0 (Q1-Q3: 13.0-23.5). This score showed significant differences between patients with and without systemic symptoms; it demonstrated correlations with both depression and anxiety scores. Treatment costs caused financial hardship in 55.9% of patients, underscoring the burden associated with GPP. CONCLUSIONS The substantial disease and economic burdens among Chinese GPP patients warrant increased attention. Patients with early onset disease and those transitioning to plaque psoriasis require targeted interventions to mitigate the high recurrence risk.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Psoriasis/pathology* ; Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Adolescent ; Child ; Young Adult ; Quality of Life ; Middle Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; East Asian People

This study developed a core outcome set(COS) for traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) interventions in diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN), standardizing evaluation metrics for TCM efficacy and providing a new framework for DPN treatment and management. A systematic search was conducted across databases, including CNKI, Wanfang, and PubMed, targeting clinical trial literature published between January 1, 2013, and January 1, 2023. The search focused on extracting outcome indicators and measurement tools used in TCM treatments for DPN. Retrospective data collection was performed from January 2018 to June 2023, involving 200 DPN patients hospitalized at the Department of Endocrinology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted with inpatients, outpatients, their families, and nursing staff to further refine and enhance the list of outcome indicators. After two rounds of Delphi questionnaire survey and consensus meeting, a consensus was reached. The study initially retrieved 3 421 publications, of which 170 met the inclusion criteria after review. These publications, combined with retrospective analysis and semi-structured interviews, supplemented the list of indicators. After two rounds of Delphi surveys, experts agreed on 24 indicators and 6 measurement tools. The final COS determined by expert consensus meeting included 5 domains and 13 outcome indicators: neurological function signs, quality of life, TCM syndrome score, nerve conduction velocity, current perception threshold test, fasting blood glucose, 2 h postprandial blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, complete blood count, urinalysis, liver function test, kidney function test, and electrocardiogram.
Humans ; Diabetic Neuropathies/drug therapy* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Male ; Female