ObjectiveThis study explored the risk factors for malignant risks of pulmonary nodules based on clinical data，constructed an integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine model for predicting malignant risks of pulmonary nodules， and visualized the prediction results by using a nomogram. MethodsBased on a cross-sectional survey study design，patients with pulmonary nodules who were hospitalized in the Department of Respiratory and Cardiothoracic Surgery of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from April 2023 to January 2024 were included. The dataset was randomly divided into a training set and a validation set according to 7∶3. In the training set，predictive factors were selected through univariate Logistic regression analysis and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator （LASSO） regression analysis，and Logistic regression models were built. The discriminative ability，calibration，and clinical decision-making curves of the Western medicine model and the integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine prediction model were compared to select the optimal model，which was then visualized in a nomogram. ResultsThis study included a total of 366 patients，and they were divided into a training set （258 cases） and a validation set （108 cases）. Seven predictive factors were considered including age，preference for fatty and greasy foods，history of environmental or occupational exposure，Qi deficiency，Yang deficiency，nodule density，and nodule diameter. A Logistic regression model was constructed. A Western medicine model，defined as model1，was created using only age，history of environmental or occupational exposure，nodule density，and nodule diameter as predictive factors. In addition，an integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine model，defined as model2，was created by adding preference for fatty and greasy foods， Qi deficiency，and Yang deficiency as predictive factors. Model2 demonstrated better predictive performance in both the training and validation sets. Its accuracy in training set was 0.740，with precision of 0.825， recall of 0.829， F1 score of 0.827， the area under the curve （AUC）of 0.865 （95% confidence interval （CI）：0.815-0.915）， and a Brier score of 0.122. The accuracy in validation set was 0.731， with precision of 0.776， recall of 0.831， F1 score of 0.803， AUC of 0.852 （95%CI：0.776-0.927）， and a Brier score of 0.149. The calibration curve and decision-making curve analysis showed that this model exhibited good consistency and clinical utility in prediction. The equation for the malignant probability of pulmonary nodules was defined as p=eY/(1+eY)，where Y=-4.187+0.022×（age）+1.079×（history of environmental or occupational exposure）+0.718×（preference for fatty and greasy foods）+ 1.403×（Qi deficiency）+0.732×（Yang deficiency）+0.349×（pure ground glass density nodules）+1.304×（partially solid density nodules）+0.148×（nodule diameter）. A nomogram was used for intuitive representation. ConclusionThis study develops a comprehensive assessment model for the malignant risk of pulmonary nodules， which integrates factors from traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine. Embedding traditional Chinese medicine elements in the prediction model allows for a multidimensional assessment of relevant risk factors for nodule malignancy. This demonstrates good diagnostic performance and provides a reference for early identification of lung cancer.

AIM: To explore the relationship between hyperopia reserve and ocular biometric parameters in 4-14 year-old Uyghur students from Hotan County, Xinjiang, and to provide scientific evidence for myopia prevention.METHODS: From September 1 to October 31, 2023, a stratified random cluster sampling method was used to select 3 264 students(3 264 eyes)from 6 schools in Hotan County. Participants underwent uncorrected distance visual acuity testing, cycloplegic refraction, and ocular biometric measurements. The correlation between spherical equivalent(SE)and ocular biometric parameters was analyzed by multiple linear regression.RESULTS: A total of 1 998 non-myopic students(1 998 eyes)were included in the study, with 1 354 students(67.77%)showing insufficient hyperopia reserve. The detection rate of insufficient hyperopia reserve decreased with age, from 94.12% at age 4 to 18.13% at age 14(P<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that in the group with sufficient hyperopia reserve, age, gender, uncorrected distance visual acuity, axial length(AL), and keratometry(K)explained 66.5% of the variance in SE; while in the group with insufficient hyperopia reserve, these factors explained only 28.0% of the SE variance.CONCLUSION: In non-myopic Uyghur students aged 4-14 in Hotan County, Xinjiang, the detection rate of insufficient hyperopia reserve was 67.77%. In the group with insufficient hyperopia reserve, age, gender, AL, and K explained only a small portion of the SE variance, suggesting that the refractive status of this population may be influenced by more complex factors.

The level of urinary albumin is a critical indicator for the early diagnosis and management of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, existing methods for detecting albumin are not conducive to point-of-care testing due to the complexity of reagent addition and incubation processes. This study presents a smartphone-integrated handheld automated biochemical analyzer (sHABA) designed for point-of-care testing of urinary albumin. The sHABA features a pre-loaded, disposable reagent cassette with reagents for the albumin assay arranged in the order of their addition within a hose. The smartphone-integrated analyzer can drive the reagents following a preset program, to enable automatic sequential addition. The sHABA has a detection limit for albumin of 5.9 mg/L and a linear detection range from 7 to 450 mg/L. The consistency of albumin level detection in 931 urine samples using sHABA with clinical tests indicates good sensitivity (95.78%) and specificity (90.16%). This research advances the field by providing an automated detection method for albumin in a portable device, allowing even untrained individuals to monitor CKD in real time at the patient's bedside. In the context of promoting tiered diagnosis and treatment, the sHABA has the potential to become an essential tool for the early diagnosis and comprehensive management of CKD and other chronic conditions.

Mesangial cell proliferation is an early pathological indicator of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Growing evidence highlights the pivotal role of paired-related homeobox 1 (Prrx1), a key regulator of cellular proliferation and tissue differentiation, in various disease pathogenesis. Notably, Prrx1 is highly expressed in mesangial cells under DN conditions. Both in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that Prrx1 overexpression promotes mesangial cell proliferation and contributes to renal fibrosis in db/m mice. Conversely, Prrx1 knockdown markedly suppresses hyperglycemia-induced mesangial cell proliferation and mitigates renal fibrosis in db/db mice. Mechanistically, Prrx1 directly interacts with the Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP) promoter, leading to the upregulation of YAP expression. This upregulation promotes mesangial cell proliferation and exacerbates renal fibrosis. These findings emphasize the crucial role of Prrx1 upregulation in high glucose-induced mesangial cell proliferation, ultimately leading to renal fibrosis in DN. Therefore, targeting Prrx1 to downregulate its expression presents a promising therapeutic strategy for treating renal fibrosis associated with DN.

Background/Aims: Endoscopic radiofrequency ablation (ERFA) is a treatment option for superficial esophageal squamous cell neoplasia (ESCN), with a relatively low risk of stenosis; however, the long-term outcomes remain unclear. We aimed to compare the long-term outcomes of patients with widespread superficial ESCN who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) or ERFA. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with superficial ESCN who underwent ESD or ERFA between January 2015 and December 2021. The primary outcome measure was recurrence-free survival. Results: Ninety-two and 33 patients with superficial ESCN underwent ESD and ERFA, respectively. The en bloc, R0, and curative resection rates for ESD were 100.0%, 90.2%, and 76.1%, respectively. At 12 months, the complete response rate was comparable between the two groups (94.6% vs 90.9%, p=0.748). During a median follow-up of 66 months, recurrence-free survival was significantly longer in the ESD group than in the ERFA group (p=0.004), while no significant differences in overall survival (p=0.845) and disease-specific survival (p=0.494) were observed.Preoperative diagnosis of intramucosal cancer (adjusted hazard ratio, 5.55; vs high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia) was an independent predictor of recurrence. Significantly fewer patients in the ERFA group experienced stenosis compare to ESD group (15.2% vs 38.0%, p=0.016). Conclusions The risk of recurrence was higher for ERFA than ESD for ESCN but overall survival was not affected. The risk of esophageal stenosis was significantly lower for patients who underwent ERFA.

Background: s/Aims: Non-invasive models stratifying clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) are limited. Herein, we developed a new non-invasive model for predicting CSPH in patients with compensated cirrhosis and investigated whether carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified using the new model. Methods: Non-invasive risk factors of CSPH were identified via systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). A new non-invasive model was validated for various performance aspects in three cohorts, i.e., a multicenter HVPG cohort, a follow-up cohort, and a carvediloltreating cohort. Results: In the meta-analysis with six studies (n=819), liver stiffness measurement and platelet count were identified as independent risk factors for CSPH and were used to develop the new “CSPH risk” model. In the HVPG cohort (n=151), the new model accurately predicted CSPH with cutoff values of 0 and –0.68 for ruling in and out CSPH, respectively. In the follow-up cohort (n=1,102), the cumulative incidences of decompensation events significantly differed using the cutoff values of <–0.68 (low-risk), –0.68 to 0 (medium-risk), and >0 (high-risk). In the carvediloltreated cohort, patients with high-risk CSPH treated with carvedilol (n=81) had lower rates of decompensation events than non-selective beta-blockers untreated patients with high-risk CSPH (n=613 before propensity score matching [PSM], n=162 after PSM). Conclusions Treatment with carvedilol significantly reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified by the new model.

Background/Aims: Endoscopic radiofrequency ablation (ERFA) is a treatment option for superficial esophageal squamous cell neoplasia (ESCN), with a relatively low risk of stenosis; however, the long-term outcomes remain unclear. We aimed to compare the long-term outcomes of patients with widespread superficial ESCN who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) or ERFA. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with superficial ESCN who underwent ESD or ERFA between January 2015 and December 2021. The primary outcome measure was recurrence-free survival. Results: Ninety-two and 33 patients with superficial ESCN underwent ESD and ERFA, respectively. The en bloc, R0, and curative resection rates for ESD were 100.0%, 90.2%, and 76.1%, respectively. At 12 months, the complete response rate was comparable between the two groups (94.6% vs 90.9%, p=0.748). During a median follow-up of 66 months, recurrence-free survival was significantly longer in the ESD group than in the ERFA group (p=0.004), while no significant differences in overall survival (p=0.845) and disease-specific survival (p=0.494) were observed.Preoperative diagnosis of intramucosal cancer (adjusted hazard ratio, 5.55; vs high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia) was an independent predictor of recurrence. Significantly fewer patients in the ERFA group experienced stenosis compare to ESD group (15.2% vs 38.0%, p=0.016). Conclusions The risk of recurrence was higher for ERFA than ESD for ESCN but overall survival was not affected. The risk of esophageal stenosis was significantly lower for patients who underwent ERFA.

BACKGROUND:Ursolic acid can promote the directed differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts.However,there are few reports on whether ursolic acid has osteogenic effect on human periodontal ligament stem cells. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of ursolic acid on proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells. METHODS:The human periodontal ligament stem cells were isolated and cultured.Passage 3 cells were selected and treated with ordinary medium containing different concentrations(0,1,2,4,6,8 μmol/L)of ursolic acid.After intervention for 1,3,5,7 days,the cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 assay and the appropriate intervention concentration was screened.Passage 3 human periodontal ligament stem cells were treated with osteogenic induction solution containing 0,1,2,4 μmol/L ursolic acid,respectively.After 7 days of intervention,the mRNA expressions of alkaline phosphatase,Runx2,and osteocalcin were detected by qRT-PCR.After 14 days of intervention,the formation of mineralized nodules was observed by alizarin red staining.Passage 3 human periodontal ligament stem cells were taken and the control group was added with osteogenic induction solution;the ursolic acid group and the antagonist group were added with osteogenic induction solution containing ursolic acid(2 μmol/L)and the bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathway antagonist Noggin,respectively.The ursolic acid+antagonist group was added with osteogenic induction solution containing ursolic acid(2 μmol/L)and Noggin,the inhibitor of bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathway,and cultured for 7 days.qRT-PCR and western blot assay were used to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of bone morphogenetic protein 2,Smad1,osteopontin,and Runx2. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)1,2,4 μmol/L ursolic acid could promote the proliferation of human periodontal ligament stem cells.6,8 μmol/L ursolic acid could inhibit the proliferation of human periodontal ligament stem cells,and 1,2,4 μmol/L ursolic acid was selected to intervene in subsequent experiments.(2)Compared with 0 μmol/L,1,2,4 μmol/L ursolic acid could promote the expression of alkaline phosphatase,Runx2,and osteocalcin mRNA and the formation of mineralized nodules(P<0.05),and the effect of 2 μmol/L ursolic acid was the most significant.(3)Compared with the control group,the mRNA and protein expressions of bone morphogenetic protein 2,Smad1,osteopontin,and Runx2 in the ursolic acid group were increased(P<0.05),while mRNA and protein expressions of the above indexes were decreased in the antagonist group(P<0.05).Compared with the ursolic acid group,mRNA and protein expressions of above indexes were decreased in ursolic acid+antagonist group(P<0.05).(4)The results indicate that ursolic acid promotes osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells through bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathway.