1.Combination of CT/MRI LI-RADS With Second-Line Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Using Sulfur Hexafluoride or Perfluorobutane for Diagnosing Hepatocellular Carcinoma in High-Risk Patients
Yu LI ; Sheng LI ; Qing LI ; Kai LI ; Jing HAN ; Siyue MAO ; Xiaohong XU ; Zhongzhen SU ; Yanling ZUO ; Shousong XIE ; Hong WEN ; Xuebin ZOU ; Jingxian SHEN ; Lingling LI ; Jianhua ZHOU
Korean Journal of Radiology 2025;26(4):346-359
Objective:
The CT/MRI Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) demonstrates high specificity with relatively limited sensitivity for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk patients. This study aimed to explore the possibility of improving sensitivity by combining CT/MRI LI-RADS v2018 with second-line contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) LI-RADS v2017 using sulfur hexafluoride (SHF) or perfluorobutane (PFB).
Materials and Methods:
This retrospective analysis of prospectively collected multicenter data included high-risk patients with treatment-naive hepatic observations. The reference standard was pathological confirmation or a composite reference standard (only for benign lesions). Each participant underwent concurrent CT/MRI, SHF-enhanced US, and PFB-enhanced US examinations. The diagnostic performances for HCC of CT/MRI LI-RADS alone and three combination strategies (combining CT/ MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or a modified algorithm incorporating the Kupffer-phase findings for PFB [modified PFB]) were evaluated. For the three combination strategies, apart from the CT/MRI LR-5 criteria, HCC was diagnosed if CT/MRI LR-3 or LR-4 observations met the LR-5 criteria using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB.
Results:
In total, 281 participants (237 males; mean age, 55 ± 11 years) with 306 observations (227 HCCs, 40 non-HCC malignancies, and 39 benign lesions) were included. Using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, and modified PFB, 20, 23, and 31 CT/MRI LR-3/4 observations, respectively, were reclassified as LR-5, and all were pathologically confirmed as HCCs. Compared to CT/MRI LI-RADS alone (74%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 68%–79%), the three combination strategies combining CT/MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB increased sensitivity (83% [95% CI: 77%–87%], 84% [95% CI: 79%–89%], 88% [95% CI: 83%–92%], respectively; all P < 0.001), while maintaining the specificity at 92% (95% CI: 84%–97%).
Conclusion
The combination of CT/MRI LI-RADS with second-line CEUS using SHF or PFB improved the sensitivity of HCC diagnosis without compromising specificity.
2.Building an artificial intelligence and digital ecosystem: a smart hospital's data-driven path to healthcare excellence.
Weien CHOW ; Narayan VENKATARAMAN ; Hong Choon OH ; Sandhiya RAMANATHAN ; Srinath SRIDHARAN ; Sulaiman Mohamed ARISH ; Kok Cheong WONG ; Karen Kai Xin HAY ; Jong Fong HOO ; Wan Har Lydia TAN ; Charlene Jin Yee LIEW
Singapore medical journal 2025;66(Suppl 1):S75-S83
Hospitals worldwide recognise the importance of data and digital transformation in healthcare. We traced a smart hospital's data-driven journey to build an artificial intelligence and digital ecosystem (AIDE) to achieve healthcare excellence. We measured the impact of data and digital transformation on patient care and hospital operations, identifying key success factors, challenges, and opportunities. The use of data analytics and data science, robotic process automation, AI, cloud computing, Medical Internet of Things and robotics were stand-out areas for a hospital's data-driven journey. In the future, the adoption of a robust AI governance framework, enterprise risk management system, AI assurance and AI literacy are critical for success. Hospitals must adopt a digital-ready, digital-first strategy to build a thriving healthcare system and innovate care for tomorrow.
Artificial Intelligence
;
Humans
;
Delivery of Health Care
;
Hospitals
;
Cloud Computing
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Robotics
;
Internet of Things
;
Data Science
3.Prognostic factors and outcomes of extremity necrotising fasciitis in Singapore.
Shaun Kai Kiat CHUA ; Noah Tian Run LIM ; Anna Hien Anh TRAN ; Liang SHEN ; Choon Chiet HONG ; Joel Yong Hao TAN ; Mark Edward PUHAINDRAN ; Jonathan Jiong Hao TAN
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore 2025;54(10):679-681
4.Clinical characteristics and survival analysis of pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma: a multicenter study.
Ying LIN ; Li-Li PAN ; Shao-Hua LE ; Jian LI ; Bi-Yun GUO ; Yu ZHU ; Kai-Zhi WENG ; Jin-Hong LUO ; Gao-Yuan SUN ; Yong-Zhi ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(6):668-674
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic factors of pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma (HL).
METHODS:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of children with newly diagnosed HL from January 2011 to December 2023 at four hospitals: Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University Zhangzhou Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, and Fujian Children's Hospital. Patients were categorized into low-risk (R1), intermediate-risk (R2), and high-risk (R3) groups based on HL staging and pre-treatment risk factors. The patients received ABVD regimen or Chinese Pediatric HL-2013 regimen chemotherapy. Early treatment response and long-term efficacy were assessed, and prognostic factors were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model.
RESULTS:
The overall complete response (CR) rates after 2 and 4 cycles of chemotherapy were 42% and 68%, respectively. Compared with the ABVD regimen group, patients treated with the HL-2013 regimen in the R1 group showed significantly higher CR rates after both 2 and 4 cycles (P<0.05). However, no statistically significant differences in CR rates were observed between the two regimens in the R2 and R3 groups (P>0.05). The 5-year event-free survival (EFS) rate, overall survival rate, and freedom from treatment failure rate were 83%±4%, 97%±2%, and 88%±4%, respectively. Cox analysis indicated that the presence of a large tumor mass at diagnosis and failure to achieve CR after 4 cycles of chemotherapy were independent risk factors for lower EFS rates (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Pediatric HL generally has a favorable prognosis. The presence of a large tumor mass at diagnosis and failure to achieve CR after 4 cycles of chemotherapy indicate poor prognosis.
Humans
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Hodgkin Disease/pathology*
;
Male
;
Child
;
Female
;
Adolescent
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Child, Preschool
;
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use*
;
Prognosis
;
Proportional Hazards Models
;
Survival Analysis
;
Infant
5.Potential impact of adjusting immunization procedure for diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine on pertussis in clinical practice.
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(7):786-791
In recent years, the incidence rate of pertussis in China has been steadily increasing, presenting an increasingly severe challenge for disease prevention and control. To strengthen the immune barrier in the population and effectively curb the spread of pertussis, National Disease Control and Prevention Administration of China and other relevant authorities optimized the immunization procedure for diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, with the new procedure implemented in 2025. This adjustment includes three key measures: advancing the initial dose of the vaccine from 3 months to 2 months of age, extending the interval between primary immunization doses from 1 month to 2 months, and adding an extra dose of acellular diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine at 6 years of age. This article discusses potential changes in the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of pertussis following such adjustments for immunization procedure, and awareness of these changes will facilitate the accurate identification of pertussis cases, which is crucial for evaluating the impact of these adjustments and further optimizing immunization strategies.
Humans
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Whooping Cough/epidemiology*
;
Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine/immunology*
;
Infant
;
Immunization Schedule
;
Child
6.Thiotepa-containing conditioning for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children with inborn errors of immunity: a retrospective clinical analysis.
Xiao-Jun WU ; Xia-Wei HAN ; Kai-Mei WANG ; Shao-Fen LIN ; Li-Ping QUE ; Xin-Yu LI ; Dian-Dian LIU ; Jian-Pei FANG ; Ke HUANG ; Hong-Gui XU
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(10):1240-1246
OBJECTIVES:
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of thiotepa (TT)-containing conditioning regimens for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in children with inborn errors of immunity (IEI).
METHODS:
Clinical data of 22 children with IEI who underwent HSCT were retrospectively reviewed. Survival after HSCT was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.
RESULTS:
Nine patients received a traditional conditioning regimen (fludarabine + busulfan + cyclophosphamide/etoposide) and underwent peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). Thirteen patients received a TT-containing modified conditioning regimen (TT + fludarabine + busulfan + cyclophosphamide), including seven PBSCT and six umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) cases. Successful engraftment with complete donor chimerism was achieved in all patients. Acute graft-versus-host disease occurred in 12 patients (one with grade III and the remaining with grade I-II). Chronic graft-versus-host disease occurred in one patient. The incidence of EB viremia in UCBT patients was lower than that in PBSCT patients (P<0.05). Over a median follow-up of 36.0 months, one death occurred. The 3-year overall survival (OS) rate was 100% for the modified regimen and 88.9% ± 10.5% for the traditional regimen (P=0.229). When comparing transplantation types, the 3-year OS rates were 100% for UCBT and 93.8% ± 6.1% for PBSCT (P>0.05), and the 3-year event-free survival rates were 100% and 87.1% ± 8.6%, respectively (P>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
TT-containing conditioning for allogeneic HSCT in children with IEI is safe and effective. Both UCBT and PBSCT may achieve high success rates.
Humans
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Retrospective Studies
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Transplantation Conditioning/methods*
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Thiotepa/therapeutic use*
;
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Child, Preschool
;
Infant
;
Child
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Transplantation, Homologous
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Graft vs Host Disease
;
Adolescent
7.Efficacy and Safety of DCAG Regimen in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Hui-Sheng ZHOU ; Yu-Qing LI ; Yu-Xin WANG ; Ya-Lei HU ; Kai-Li MIN ; Chun-Ji GAO ; Dai-Hong LIU ; Xiao-Ning GAO
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(1):9-19
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of DCAG (decitabine, cytarabine, anthracyclines, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor) regimen in the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
METHODS:
The clinical data of 64 R/R AML patients received treatment at Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 1st, 2012 to December 31st, 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Primary endpoints included efficacy measured by overall response rate (ORR) and safety. Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), event-free survival (EFS) and duration of response (DOR). The patients were followed from enrollment until death, or the end of last follow-up (June 1st, 2023), whichever occurred first.
RESULTS:
Sixty-four patients who failed prior therapy were enrolled and completed 1 cycle, and 26 and 5 patients completed 2 and 3 cycles, respectively. Objective response rate was 67.2% [39: complete remission (CR)/CR with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi), 4: partial remission (PR)]. With a median follow-up of 62.0 months (1.0-120.9), the median overall survival (OS) was 23.3 and event-free survival was 10.6 months. The median OS was 51.7 months (3.4-100.0) in responders (CR/CRi/PR) while it was 8.4 months (6.1-10.7) in nonresponders ( P <0.001). Grade 3-4 hematologic toxicities were observed in all patients. Four patients died from rapid disease progression within 8 weeks after chemotherapy.
CONCLUSION
The DCAG regimen represents a feasible and effective treatment for R/R AML.
Humans
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Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy*
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Cytarabine/administration & dosage*
;
Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor/administration & dosage*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Male
;
Female
;
Decitabine
;
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use*
;
Anthracyclines/administration & dosage*
;
Middle Aged
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Adult
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Treatment Outcome
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Aged
;
Recurrence
8.Cytotoxicity Studies of Light-oxygen-voltage (LOV) Domain Photosensitizers
Shuang XU ; Ben WAN ; Na SHA ; Kai-Hong ZHAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):487-500
ObjectiveAt present, the most commonly used photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy are still chemical photosensitizers, such as porphyrin and methylene blue, in order to specifically target cellular tissues, and thus poison cells, chemical photosensitizers need to use antibody conjugation or a transgenically encoded tag with affinity for the modified photosensitizing ligand, e.g. FlAsH, ReAsh or Halo Tag. Gene-encoded photosensitizers can directly poison cells by targeting specific cell compartments or organelles. However, currently developed gene-encoded photosensitizers have low reactive oxygen species production and low cytotoxicity, so it is necessary to continue to develop and obtain photosensitizers with higher reactive oxygen species production for the treatment of microbial infections and tumors. MethodsIn this study, we developed a photosensitizer LovPSO2 based on the light-oxygen-voltage (LOV) structural domain of phototropin-1B-like from Oryza sativa japonica. LovPSO2 was expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) and purified to obtain protein samples, the purified protein samples were added 3 µmol/L singlet oxygen probe of SOSG and 5 µmol/L superoxide anion probe of DHE after fixed to A445=0.063±0.003, respectively, then measured every 2 min of singlet oxygen production for 10 min and every 1 min of superoxide anion production for 5 min under blue light irradiation at 445 nm, 70 µmol·m-2·s-1. ResultsThe results showed that LovPSO2 could produce a large amount of singlet oxygen under blue light irradiation at 445 nm, 70 µmol·m-2·s-1, and its singlet oxygen quantum yield was 0.61, but its superoxide anion yield was low, so in order to improve the superoxide anion yield of LovPSO2, a mutant with a relatively high superoxide anion yield was obtained by further development and design on its basis LovPRO2. The stability of proteins is crucial for research in drug development and drug delivery, among others. Temperature and light are the key factors affecting the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by photosensitive proteins and their stability, while the temperature in cell culture and mammals in vivo is about 37°C, and the temperature inside tumor cells is about 42-45°C. Therefore, we further analyzed the photostability of miniSOG, SOPP3, LovPSO2, and LovPRO2 and their thermostability at 37℃ and 45℃. The analysis of proteins thermostability showed that LovPSO2 and LovPRO2 had better thermostability at 37℃ and 45℃, respectively. Analysis of the photostability of the proteins showed that LovPRO2 had better photostability. In addition, to further determine the phototoxic effects of photosensitizers, LovPSO2 and LovPRO2 were expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) and HeLa cells, respectively. The results showed that LovPSO2 and LovPRO2 had better phototoxicity to E. coli BL21(DE3) under blue light irradiation, and the cellular phototoxicity lethality was as high as 90% after 30 min of continuous light irradiation, but the phototoxicity was weaker in HeLa cells. The reason for this result may be that the intracellular environment exacerbated the photobleaching of FMN encapsulated by LovPSO2 and LovPRO2, respectively, which attenuated the damage of reactive oxygen species to animal cellular tissues, limiting its use as a mechanistic tool to study oxidative stress. ConclusionLovPSO2 and LovPRO2 can be used as antibacterial photosensitizers, which have broader application prospects in the food and medical fields.
9.Analysis of Nitrofuran Metabolites in Meat by Solid-Phase Extraction of Porous Organic Polymer Combined with Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Yao CHEN ; Ying-Jiao DONG ; Jia-Yi LI ; Rui-Jie WANG ; Zhi-Kai HONG ; Guan-Hua WANG
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(5):804-813
In this work,with tris(4-aminophenyl)amine(TAPA)and 1,3,5-tris(4-formylphenyl)benzene(TFPB)as monomers,an imine-type porous organic polymer,TAPA-TFPB,was synthesized using a simple method under the catalysis of acetic acid.The material TAPA-TFPB was used as solid-phase extraction adsorbent and combined with ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight-tandem mass spectrometry(UHPLC-QTOF-MS)to establish a detection method for four kinds of nitrofuran metabolites(NFMs)residues in meat samples.The parameters of the adsorbent dosage,the pH value and volume of sample,and the type and volume of washing and eluent solvents were optimized,respectively.Under the optimal extraction conditions,low detection limits(0.11-1.60 μg/kg)were achieved for four kinds of NFMs.At three different spiked levels,the intra-day and inter-day precisions(Relative standard deviations)were 2.8% -10.9% and 4.3% -16.2%,respectively,and the spiked recoveries were 72.0% -107.2%.The results showed that the method chould be used for efficient extraction and analysis of trace NFMs residues in meat samples,indicating that TAPA-TFPB was a kind of promising SPE adsorbent.
10.Controllability Analysis of Structural Brain Networks in Young Smokers
Jing-Jing DING ; Fang DONG ; Hong-De WANG ; Kai YUAN ; Yong-Xin CHENG ; Juan WANG ; Yu-Xin MA ; Ting XUE ; Da-Hua YU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):182-193
ObjectiveThe controllability changes of structural brain network were explored based on the control and brain network theory in young smokers, this may reveal that the controllability indicators can serve as a powerful factor to predict the sleep status in young smokers. MethodsFifty young smokers and 51 healthy controls from Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology were enrolled. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to construct structural brain network based on fractional anisotropy (FA) weight matrix. According to the control and brain network theory, the average controllability and the modal controllability were calculated. Two-sample t-test was used to compare the differences between the groups and Pearson correlation analysis to examine the correlation between significant average controllability and modal controllability with Fagerström Test of Nicotine Dependence (FTND) in young smokers. The nodes with the controllability score in the top 10% were selected as the super-controllers. Finally, we used BP neural network to predict the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) in young smokers. ResultsThe average controllability of dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus, supplementary motor area, lenticular nucleus putamen, and lenticular nucleus pallidum, and the modal controllability of orbital inferior frontal gyrus, supplementary motor area, gyrus rectus, and posterior cingulate gyrus in the young smokers’ group, were all significantly different from those of the healthy controls group (P<0.05). The average controllability of the right supplementary motor area (SMA.R) in the young smokers group was positively correlated with FTND (r=0.393 0, P=0.004 8), while modal controllability was negatively correlated with FTND (r=-0.330 1, P=0.019 2). ConclusionThe controllability of structural brain network in young smokers is abnormal. which may serve as an indicator to predict sleep condition. It may provide the imaging evidence for evaluating the cognitive function impairment in young smokers.

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