OBJECTIVE To investigate the apoptosis-inducing effect of esculetin （Esc） on acute myeloid leukemia （AML） HL-60 cells by regulating the protein kinase B （AKT）/S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 （SKP2）/MutT homolog 1 （MTH1） pathway. METHODS AML HL-60 cells were randomly divided into control group （routine culture）， Esc low-concentration group （L-Esc group， 25 μmol/L Esc）， Esc medium-concentration group （M-Esc group， 50 μmol/L Esc）， Esc high-concentration group （H-Esc group， 100 μmol/L Esc）， and high-concentration of Esc+ SC79 （AKT agonist） group （100 μmol/L Esc+5 μmol/L SC79）. Cell proliferation in each group was detected by MTT assay and colony formation assay. The level of reactive oxygen species （ROS） in cells was measured by using the CM-H2DCFDA fluorescent probe. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. Western blot assay was performed to detect the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins [B-cell lymphoma 2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）， cleaved caspase-3]， AKT/SKP2/MTH1 pathway-related proteins （p-AKT， AKT， SKP2， MTH1）， along with the upstream and downstream proteins of AKT phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）， cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1 （P21） and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B （P27）. RESULTS Compared with control group， the cell viability， colony number， and the phosphorylation levels of AKT and PI3K proteins as well as protein expressions of SKP2， MTH1 and Bcl-2 were significantly decreased （P＜0.05）， while ROS level， apoptosis rate， and the expression levels of Bax， cleaved caspase-3， P21 and P27 proteins were significantly increased （P＜0.05）. Moreover， the effects of Esc exhibited concentration-dependence （P＜0.05）. Compared with H-Esc group， above indexes of high-concentration of Esc+ SC79 group were reversed significantly （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Esc may promote massive ROS production and induce activation of apoptosis in HL-60 cells by inhibiting the AKT/SKP2/MTH1 pathway， thus inhibiting the proliferation of HL-60 cells.

ObjectiveTo establish a regional risk assessment system for hospital-acquired infections in neurosurgery department of general hospital, and to evaluate its prevention and control effectiveness. MethodsFailure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) was used to identify the core risk factors for infections in neurosurgery department. The risk priority number (RPN) of each risk factor was calculated to determine the priority intervention targets. Targeted interventions were developed and continuously refined through the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycles. Data from January to June 2023 (control group) and July to December 2023 (intervention group) were collected to compare the differences in environmental hygiene monitoring qualification rate, incidence rate of hospital-acquired infections among inpatients, and detection rate of bacterial antimicrobial resistance. ResultsHigh-risk factors for hospital-acquired infections in neurosurgery department included patient-related risk factors, inadequate implementation of isolation measures for special infections, and poor compliance with surgical site infection (SSI) prevention protocols. After intervention, the environmental hygiene qualification rate significantly increased from 81.55% to 100.00% (χ²=120.49, P<0.001). The overall hospital-acquired infection rate among inpatients decreased from 2.62% to 2.45%, the infection rate of per case declined from 3.12% to 2.84%, and the detection rate of multidrug-resistant organism infections reduced from 43.72% to 36.79%. Additionally, antimicrobial utilization rate decreased from 48.75% to 42.53% (χ²=34.09, P<0.001). ConclusionThe FMEA-based risk assessment system can effectively identify critical infection risks in neurosurgery department, and targeted interventions can significantly improve infection prevention and control performance.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the role of clinical pharmacists in the individualized treatment of a rare case of diffuse pulmonary microabscesses caused by Streptococcus constellatus complicated with organizing pneumonia （OP） in a non-immunocompromised patient. METHODS For a middle-aged， non-immunocompromised patient with a one-year disease course， whose imaging findings showed the coexistence of diffuse microabscesses and OP caused by S. constellatus pulmonary abscess， the clinical pharmacist， based on pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics characteristics， assisted the physician in optimizing the previously ineffective anti-infective regimen to Ceftriaxone sodium for injection combined with Metronidazole and sodium chloride injection， so as to enhance coverage of mixed anaerobes and lesion penetration. After the patient’s hemoptysis ceased， the clinical pharmacist recommended timely initiation of low-dose Methylprednisolone sodium succinate for injection to manage OP. Upon discharge， sequential oral therapy with Linezolid tablets， Metronidazole tablets， Methylprednisolone tablets and Omeprazole enteric-coated tablets was prescribed. RESULTS After implementation of the individualized treatment regimen， the patient’s hemoptysis resolved， pulmonary lesions significantly regressed， and the patient was discharged in a stable condition. At the three-month follow-up， the patient remained stable. CONCLUSIONS For chronic persistent pulmonary infection complicated with OP in a non-immunocompromised host， clinical pharmacists assist clinicians in optimizing anti-infective regimens and recommend the timely initiation of anti-inflammatory therapy after infection control， thereby contributing to favorable clinical outcomes. Individualized treatment of such complex cases requires comprehensive consideration of pathogen coverage， pathological barriers， and the timing of anti-inflammatory intervention.

Objective To analyze the postoperative complications and survival outcomes of elderly patients with renal cell carcinoma undergoing laparoscopic surgery, and to identify the influencing factors, so as to provide reference for improving the safety of laparoscopic surgery in such patients. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical, surgical, and pathological data of 153 patients aged ≥75 years who underwent laparoscopic nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma at our hospital during 2012 and 2025.Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors influencing postoperative complications, and a nomogram was constructed and validated to predict the complications.Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw the survival curve, and the effects of different surgical approaches on the prognosis and the survival difference in the age subgroups (75-＜80 years, ≥80 years) were analyzed.Cox regression analyses were conducted to determine factors affecting survival outcomes. Results Among the 153 patients, 15 developed postoperative complications, including 5 severe cases. Multivariate logistic regression identified Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) ≥3 and prolonged operation time as independent risk factors for postoperative complications (P＜0.05).The C-index of the logistic regression model constructed based on these factors (age, CCI≥3 and operation time) was 0.77 (95%CI:0.64-0.90), with an average absolute error of 1.6%.Subgroup analysis revealed superior overall survival in patients aged 75-＜80 years undergoing partial nephrectomy compared to radical nephrectomy (P=0.005 6).No statistically significant difference in overall survival was observed among patients ≥80 years who received different surgical approaches (P=0.062).Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified preoperative low albumin levels, preoperative renal insufficiency, tumor diameter＞4 cm, and pathological stage as independent risk factors for overall survival (P＜0.05). Conclusion Laparoscopic surgery is safe and effective for elderly patients with renal cell carcinoma, with survival outcomes correlated to nutritional status, renal function, tumor size and pathological staging.Patients aged ≥80 years still derive surgical benefit, and no survival differences exist between different surgical approaches in this age group.

Sweet syndrome (acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis) is a relatively rare inflammatory di-sease, which is characterized by the sudden appearance of tender erythematous skin lesions, often accompanied by pyrexia and elevated neutrophil count. The pathogenesis is not clear yet. Recently, multiple studies have found the association between Sweet syndrome and infections, autoimmune diseases, malignant tumors and the application of multiple drugs. According to different causes, Sweet syndrome can be divided into three types: classical (or idiopathic) Sweet syndrome, malignancy-associated Sweet syndrome and drug-induced Sweet syndrome. Classical Sweet syndrome usually presents in women between the age of 30 to 50 years and may be related to infection, inflammatory bowel disease, or pregnancy. The clinical symptoms typically respond promptly after corticosteroid therapy. The major diagnostic criteria of classical Sweet syndrome include sudden painful erythematous skin lesions, histopathologic evidence of a dense neutrophilic infiltrate without evidence of leukocytoclastic vasculitis; minor criteria include pyrexia over 38 ℃, association with hematologic or visceral malignancies, inflammatory diseases, pregnancy or preceded by infection, prompt response to systemic glucocorticoid or potassium iodide treatment, abnormal laboratory values (three of four: erythrocyte sedimentation rate >20 mm/h, positive C-reactive protein, >8.0×10⁹/L leukocytes, >70% neutrophils). The presence of both major criteria and two of the four minor criteria are required to diagnose classical Sweet syndrome. As for the malignancy-associated Sweet syndrome, skin lesions can be found precede, follow, or at the same time with the diagnosis of hematologic malignancy or a solid tumor. At present, ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) is commonly used as a positron emission tomography computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging agent for diagnosing and screening malignant tumors. Therefore, most of the case reports on the ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT manifestations of Sweet syndrome are malignancy-associated. Even classical Sweet syndrome is often accompanied by inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune diseases, etc. Therefore, for patients with suspected or confirmed Sweet syndrome, it is necessary to take ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT examination to clarify the general condition, whether it is for patients with malignant signs such as elevated tumor markers values and weight loss, or for patients with classical Sweet syndrome to exclude underlying inflammatory diseases. ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT is often able to detect the solid tumor early, and assess the degree of hematologic malignancy and inflammatory disease. This study reported a classical Sweet syndrome case associated with inflammatory bowel disease, which was confirmed with skin and intestinal histological examination. The clinical manifestations, laboratory values, ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT manifestations of the patient related diseases were reported, which was to improve nuclear medicine physicians' understanding of Sweet syndrome. Early diagnosis and treatment can often achieve excellent clinical effect.
Humans ; Sweet Syndrome/diagnostic imaging* ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography ; Female

Computer-assisted methods for pathological image analysis can improve doctor's efficiency of image reading and diagnostic accuracy, effectively addressing the shortage of pathology diagnostic manpower. With the rapid development of artificial intelligence and digital pathology, deep learning technology has spurred a wealth of research in the field of histopathology. This article reviews the various applications of deep learning in digital pathological image analysis, such as pathological image segmentation, cancer auxiliary diagnosis, and cancer prognosis prediction, and discusses the challenges and solutions in its application. Furthermore, it predicts future trends in deep learning for pathological image analysis and proposes potential research directions.
Deep Learning ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods* ; Artificial Intelligence ; Neoplasms

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of Chinese patent medicine Huatuo Zaizao Pill (HTZZ) on neurological function and limb motor in ischemic stroke (IS) patients during convalescence. METHODS: This is a prospective, open-labelled, randomized controlled trial. Patients with IS were recruited from the Neurology Department of Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences from May 2021 to June 2023. Eligible participants were randomly assigned to the HTZZ (40 cases) or control group (40 cases) at a ratio of 1:1. The HTZZ group was treated with oral HTZZ (8 g, thrice daily) combined with conventional treatment, while the control group received only conventional treatment. The treatment duration was 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) score from baseline to week 6 and 12. Secondary outcomes included changes in scores of National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FM), and Barthel Index (BI) from baseline to week 6 and 12, as well as lipid indices after 12 weeks. All adverse events (AEs) were recorded and liver and kidney indices were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 72 patients completed the study (38 in the HTZZ group and 34 in the control group). Compared with the control group, the HTZZ group demonstrated significant improvements in MAS, NIHSS, FM, and BI scores following 6 and 12 weeks of treatment in both intent-to-treat and per-protocol analyses (all P<0.05). No significant differences were noted between groups in lipid indices, AEs, and liver and kidney dysfunction after 12 weeks (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS HTZZ alleviated spasticity and enhanced neurological function and prognosis of IS patients during convalescence. However, further evaluation of HTZZ's effect on IS outcomes is warranted in clinical trials with larger sample sizes and extended observation periods. (Trial registration No. NCT04910256).
Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Male ; Female ; Ischemic Stroke/physiopathology* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Recovery of Function/drug effects* ; Convalescence ; Extremities/physiopathology* ; Treatment Outcome ; Prospective Studies

This consensus will introduce the characteristics of fillers used in the surgical cavities of domestic nasal surgery patients based on relevant literature and expert opinions. It will also provide recommendations for the selection of cavity fillers for different nasal diseases, with chronic sinusitis as a representative example.
Humans ; Nasal Cavity/surgery* ; Nasal Surgical Procedures ; China ; Consensus ; Sinusitis/surgery* ; Dermal Fillers

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.07.004.].