As one of the most common malignant tumors， digestive system tumors exhibit an increase in the incidence and mortality year by year. Its pathogenesis is complex， making it difficult to carry out early prevention. Autophagy is a process in which cells use lysosomes to degrade their organelles and macromolecules to maintain cellular homeostasis under the regulation of autophagy-related genes. Cellular autophagy has a dual regulatory effect on the tumor microenvironment， which always affects the occurrence and development of digestive system tumors. Therefore， the effect and mechanism of action of cellular autophagy on digestive system tumors have become a hot topic in tumor therapy in recent years. Meanwhile， the remarkable research results of targeted autophagy drugs indicate that cellular autophagy may become an important target for anti-digestive system tumors. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has been widely used in the comprehensive treatment of digestive system tumors with good efficacy. A variety of active ingredients in TCM， such as flavonoids， glycosides， terpenoids， quinones， and alkaloids， can increase the expression of autophagy-associated proteins microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 （LC3）Ⅱ/Ⅰ， autophagy-related gene （ATG）5， ATG7， inhibit the expression of autophagy-related protein p62 ， and induce autophagy in digestive system tumor cells， thereby exerting the anti-digestive system tumor effect. By summarizing the research results in recent years on the modulation of cell autophagy by active ingredients in TCM to fight against digestive system tumors， this paper analyzed the relevant signaling pathways， regulatory factors， and functional characteristics of cell autophagy modulation， so as to elucidate the mechanism by which active ingredients of TCM induce autophagy and to provide ideas and references for clinical application.

As one of the most common malignant tumors， digestive system tumors exhibit an increase in the incidence and mortality year by year. Its pathogenesis is complex， making it difficult to carry out early prevention. Autophagy is a process in which cells use lysosomes to degrade their organelles and macromolecules to maintain cellular homeostasis under the regulation of autophagy-related genes. Cellular autophagy has a dual regulatory effect on the tumor microenvironment， which always affects the occurrence and development of digestive system tumors. Therefore， the effect and mechanism of action of cellular autophagy on digestive system tumors have become a hot topic in tumor therapy in recent years. Meanwhile， the remarkable research results of targeted autophagy drugs indicate that cellular autophagy may become an important target for anti-digestive system tumors. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has been widely used in the comprehensive treatment of digestive system tumors with good efficacy. A variety of active ingredients in TCM， such as flavonoids， glycosides， terpenoids， quinones， and alkaloids， can increase the expression of autophagy-associated proteins microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 （LC3）Ⅱ/Ⅰ， autophagy-related gene （ATG）5， ATG7， inhibit the expression of autophagy-related protein p62 ， and induce autophagy in digestive system tumor cells， thereby exerting the anti-digestive system tumor effect. By summarizing the research results in recent years on the modulation of cell autophagy by active ingredients in TCM to fight against digestive system tumors， this paper analyzed the relevant signaling pathways， regulatory factors， and functional characteristics of cell autophagy modulation， so as to elucidate the mechanism by which active ingredients of TCM induce autophagy and to provide ideas and references for clinical application.

Objective To evaluate the value of imaging quantification parameters in artificial intelligence (AI) assisted diagnosis systems in clinical decision-making for lung nodules≤2 cm and the diagnostic efficacy of AI. Methods Lung nodule patients admitted to Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University from 2020 to 2023 were included. Imaging parameters of lung nodules were extracted using AI assisted diagnosis systems. Multifactor analysis was used to screen predictors for distinguishing benign and malignant nodules and high-risk predictors for recurrent invasive adenocarcinoma, and a diagnostic model was established and its performance evaluated. The diagnostic efficacy of the AI system was judged according to pathological results. Results A total of 594 patients with lung nodules were included, including 202 males and 392 females, with an average age of (58.75±11.55) years. Volume, average CT value, and 3D maximum diameter of non-solid nodules were independent predictors of malignant nodules, with thresholds of 287.4 mm3, −491 HU, and 12.0 mm, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) for diagnostic efficacy was ranked from high to low as combined model (0.802), volume (0.783), average CT value (0.749), and 3D maximum diameter (0.714). The average CT value and 3D long diameter of solid nodules were independent predictors of malignant nodules, with thresholds of −81 HU and 17.5 mm, respectively, and AUC values of 0.874 and 0.686, respectively, with the combined prediction AUC of 0.957. The mass of cystic nodules was an independent predictor of malignancy when the mass>180.7 mg. Independent predictors of high recurrence risk of invasive adenocarcinoma in non-solid nodules were consolidation-tumor ratio (CTR), average CT value, 3D long diameter, and volume, with thresholds of 0.14, −386 HU, 15.6 mm, and 1018.9 mm3, respectively, and diagnostic efficacy was ranked from high to low as combined model (0.788), 3D long diameter (0.735), volume (0.725), average CT value (0.720), and CTR (0.697). The accuracy of AI in predicting benign and malignant target nodules was 87.4%, with positive predictive value of 96.6% and negative predictive value of 58.9%. Conclusion In clinical decision-making for lung nodules ≤2 cm, AI assisted diagnosis systems have high application value.

AIM:To investigate alterations in the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines and subsets of CD8+ T cells in the peripheral blood of patients with diabetic retinopathy(DR).METHODS:Retrospective study. A total of 40 patients with type 2 diabetes admitted to Xi'an People's Hospital(Xi'an Fourth Hospital)from April to July 2022 were recruited for this study and categorized into two groups: 20 cases in the simple type 2 diabetes mellitus(DM)group, and 20 cases in the DR group. Additionally, 20 healthy individuals undergoing routine physical examinations served as the control group. The expression levels of cytokines, including interleukin(IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-10 in peripheral blood were quantified using ELISA. Flow cytometry was employed to analyze the expression of programmed cell death-1(PD-1), T cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain protein-3(TIM-3), CD28, and CD57 on CD8+ T cells.RESULTS:The peripheral blood expression of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 inflammatory cytokines were significantly elevated in DR patients as detected by ELISA(all P<0.001); flow cytometry analysis showed that the expression of PD-1, TIM-3, and CD57 were elevated in peripheral blood CD8+ T cells of DR patients(all P<0.001), and the expression of CD28 was decreased(all P<0.001).CONCLUSION:In DR patients, CD8+ T cells may undergo depletion and senescence as a result of elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10.

Stroke is a critical health issue in China, and carotid artery stenosis and plaque play key roles in its prevalence. Despite the acknowledged significance of this condition, detailed information regarding the prevalence of carotid artery stenosis and plaque across the Chinese population has been scarce. This study analyzed data from the China Stroke High-risk Population Screening and Intervention Program for 2020-2021, focusing on 194 878 Chinese adults aged 40 years and above. It assessed the prevalence of carotid artery stenosis and plaque and identified their associated risk factors. Results revealed a standardized prevalence of 0.40% for carotid artery stenosis and 36.27% for carotid plaque. Notably, the highest rates of stenosis were observed in north and south China at 0.61%, while southwestern China exhibited the highest plaque prevalence at 43.17%. Key risk factors included older age, male gender, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, smoking, and atrial fibrillation. This study highlights significant geographical and demographic disparities in the prevalence of these conditions, underlining the urgent need for targeted interventions and policy reforms. These measures are essential for reducing the incidence of stroke and improving patient outcomes, addressing this significant health challenge in China.
Humans ; China/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Prevalence ; Middle Aged ; Carotid Stenosis/epidemiology* ; Risk Factors ; Aged ; Adult ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic/epidemiology* ; Stroke/epidemiology* ; Aged, 80 and over

OBJECTIVE: To explore the early changes in various liver function indicators in critically injured trauma patients assessed by intelligent calculation method, aiming to develop more advantageous diagnostic and treatment strategies for traumatic liver injury. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted. Critically injured trauma patients [injury severity score (ISS) ≥ 16, age > 18 years old] admitted to the Emergency Medical Center of Tianjin Fifth Central Hospital from January 1, 2022, to December 1, 2023 were enrolled. ISS score and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) assessed by intelligent calculation method were collected upon patient admission to the emergency medical center. Trends in liver function indicators in fasting venous serum were analyzed at 6, 24 and 72 hours after admission, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), albumin (ALB), total bilirubin (TBil), prothrombin time (PT). Patients were grouped based on APACHE II scores into those with APACHE II < 15 and APACHE II ≤ 15, and liver function indicators within 6 hours of admission were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 112 critically injured trauma patients were included, with 83 males and 29 females, an average age of (47.78±14.84) years old. The median ISS score was 21.0 (18.0, 26.0). The most common cause of injury for critically injured trauma patients was road traffic accidents (68 cases, accounting for 60.71%), followed by falls from heights, compression injuries, heavy object injuries, knife stabs, and explosion injuries. The most common injured areas was the limbs and pelvis (97 cases, accounting for 86.61%), followed by chest injuries, surface skin and soft tissue injuries, abdominal and pelvic organ injuries, head injuries, and facial injuries. The proportion of elevated LDH, AST, and ALT within 6 hours of admission was 77.68%, 79.46%, and 52.68%, respectively, while the proportion of decreased ALB was 75.89%, the abnormal rates of ALP, GGT, TBil, and PT were all below 50%. The ALT and AST levels of patients at 24 hours and 72 hours after admission were significantly lower than those at 6 hours after admission [ALT (U/L): 37.0 (22.0, 66.0), 31.0 (21.2, 52.0) vs. 41.0 (25.0, 71.0), AST (U/L): 55.5 (30.0, 93.5), 40.0 (27.0, 63.2) vs. 69.5 (39.0, 130.8), all P < 0.05]. There was no statistically significant difference in ISS score between APACHE II > 15 group (45 cases) and APACHE II ≤ 15 group [67 cases; 21.0 (18.5, 26.5) vs. 20.0 (17.0, 22.0), P > 0.05]. Nevertheless, compared with patients with APACHE II ≤ 15, patients with APACHE II > 15 have a higher abnormality rate of ALT and AST within 6 hours of admission [ALT abnormal rate: 66.44% (29/45) vs. 44.78% (30/67), AST abnormal rate: 93.33% (42/45) vs. 70.15% (47/67), both P < 0.05], and the levels of ALT and AST were higher [ALT (U/L): 56.0 (30.0, 121.0) vs. 35.0 (21.0, 69.0), AST (U/L): 87.0 (48.0, 233.0) vs. 52.0 (31.0, 117.0), both P < 0.05]. CONCLUSIONS Severe trauma patients frequently exhibit a high incidence of reversible early liver function impairment. Based on intelligent calculation method, the utilization of both the ISS and APACHE II scores demonstrates a distinct advantage in the assessment of their early liver injury.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Liver/physiopathology* ; Risk Assessment ; APACHE ; Wounds and Injuries ; Adult ; Injury Severity Score ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Liver Function Tests ; Alanine Transaminase/blood* ; Young Adult ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood*

Objective:To prepare novel dental composite resins using zinc(Zn)-and nitrogen(N)-modified titanium dioxide(TiO?)nanoparticles(NPs)and mesoporous alumina(Al?O?,r type,20 mm)NPs as reinforcing fillers,systematically evaluating their antibacterial activity,mechanical strength,basic performance,and biosafety to obtain the dental composite resins with excellent antibacterial activity and mechanical strength.Methods:Zn-N-TiO? NPs and mesoporous Al?O? NPs were added into a resin matrix at varying mass ratios to prepare five composite resins:control group(no filler),group 0(Zn-N-TiO?∶Al?O?=1∶0),group 1(Zn-N-TiO?∶Al?O?=1∶1),group 2(Zn-N-TiO?∶Al?O?=1∶2),and group 3(Zn-N-TiO?∶Al?O?=1∶3).Plate colony counting method was used to detect the number of adhered bacteria on composite resin surfaces in various groups and calculate the antibacterial rate;scanning electron microscope(SEM)was used to observe the morphology of adhered bacteria in various groups;universal testing machine was used to measure flexural strength(FS)and elastic modulus(EM)of composite resins in various groups;SEM was used to observe fracture surface morphology of composite resins in various groups;microhardness tester was used to determine Vickers microhardness of the composite resins in various groups;Fourier transform infrared spectroscope was used to detect double bond conversion rate(DC)after 20 s photocuring and calculate curing depth;water contact angle meter was used to measure water contact angle(WCA),water sorption property(WSP),and water solubility level(WSL)of composite resins in various groups;cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)method was used to evaluate relative growth rate(RGR)of the mouse fibroblast L-929 cells cultured in composite resin extracts on days 1,3,and 5 and determine in vitro cytotoxicity grade.Results:The plate colony counting results showed that compared with control group,the colony counts on agar plates in the other groups were significantly reduced,with group 1 showing the lowest count.The SEM images results showed densely distributed and morphologically intact Streptococcus mutans in control group;small clusters of bacteria with depressed cell membranes in group 0 and group 3;sparsely distributed bacteria with obvious membrane shrinkage and cytoplasmic leakage in group 1 and group 2.No statistically significant difference in colony counts was found between group 1 and group 2(P>0.05),but both were lower than the other groups(P<0.05).All the composite resins in experimental groups exhibited>85%antibacterial rates,with group 1 and group 2 exceeding 99%.The composite resins in group 0 showed the lowest FS.With addition of mesoporous Al?O?,the FS of the composite resin in group 1 and group 2 were significantly increased,with the composite resin in group 2 showing the highest FS among all groups.Although the FS of the composite resin in group 3 was lower than that in group 2,but it remained higher than other groups(P<0.05).The SEM images results showed that in control group,the smooth-surfaced sillicon dioxide(SiO?)particles exhibited clear fracture interfaces with resin matrix,with>50%particle exposure;the composite resin in group 0 showed similar morphology and large Zn-N-TiO? agglomerates with tight filler-matrix bonding;the composite resin in group 1,2,and 3 showed resin adhesion to SiO? surfaces(<50%particle exposure)and uneven fracture surfaces.Fractured SiO? spheres were observed in group 2.Filler distribution was uniform in group 1 and group 2,while the minor NP agglomeration occurred in group 3.The composite resin in control group showed the lowest EM.The EM was significantly improved in experimental groups,with group 3 having the highest value.Group 0 exhibited the lowest Vickers microhardness,showing statistically significant differences among other groups(P<0.05).The Vickers microhardness of the composite resion was gradually increased with the rising of Al?O? content.The resins in group 2 and group 3 achieved>45 HV hardness,representing increases of 29.73%and 33.82%compared with control group,and 51.34%and 56.28%compared with group 0.No significant differences in DC of the composite resin were found among groups(P>0.05).The depth of cure for all composite resin groups exceeded 4 mm,with no significance differences observed between various groups(P>0.05).The composite resin in group 0 showed the smallest WCA.The hydrophobicity of the composite resion was increased with the rising of Al?O? content,but all the WCA values remained<80°.The composite resin in group 3 had the largest WCA without statistical significance compared with group 2(P>0.05).Filler incorporation reduced the water sorption/solubility.The composite resin in the CCK-8 assay results showed the composite resins in all groups had RGR>75%,meeting in vitro safety standards.Conclusion:Reinforcing fillers impart superior antibacterial activity and mechanical properties to composite resins.Under experimental conditions,group 2 composite resin achieves optimal comprehensive performance in antibacterial efficacy and mechanical strength,demonstrating promising clinical application potential.

BACKGROUND:In the preparation of injectable extracellular matrix materials,most of the materials require pepsin digestion followed by combination with other matrix components like hydrogels for pulp tissue regeneration,which also means the destruction of the microenvironment retained by natural extracellular matrix materials.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of injectable dental pulp extracellular matrix prepared by grinding treatment on the regeneration of dental pulp tissue.METHODS:(1)The dental pulp tissue from pig teeth was prepared into acellular dental pulp matrix materials after acellular treatment.After freezing in liquid nitrogen and high-speed grinding,the injectable dental pulp extracellular matrix was prepared.Then,the differences in cell adhesion efficiency and microstructure between the injectable dental pulp extracellular matrix and natural dental pulp extracellular matrix were compared.Immunohistochemical analysis was used to analyze extracellular matrix protein components in injectable dental pulp extracellular matrix.(2)Injectable dental pulp extracellular matrix material inoculated with dental pulp stem cells was injected into the dental pulp cavity constructed from the dentin matrix material.The samples were obtained after 1,3,and 5 weeks of subcutaneous implantation in nude mice to observe the in vivo conversion rate of injectable dental pulp extracellular matrix materials and the regeneration ability of ectopic dental pulp tissue under the skin of nude mice.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the dental pulp extracellular matrix,the injectable dental pulp extracellular matrix significantly improved the cell adhesion rate and retained the porous collagen structure similar to that of natural dental pulp extracellular matrix.(2)Compared with the natural dental pulp extracellular matrix,immunohistochemical staining showed that there was no significant difference in the expression of fibronectin,collagen type Ⅰ,and integrin β1 in the injectable dental pulp extracellular matrix,while the expression of fibronectin was significantly decreased.(3)In vivo experiments show that the injectable dental pulp extracellular matrix has excellent angiogenesis ability and promotes the formation of pulp-like tissues.The results exhibit that the milled injectable dental pulp extracellular matrix can still be used as an effective scaffold for the regeneration of dental pulp.

Objective:To systematically analyze the incidence and influencing factors of frailty in elderly patients with hematologic malignancies.Methods:Research on frailty in elderly patients with hematologic malignancies was retrieved from Chinese and English databases such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, PubMed, and Web of Science. The search period was from database establishment to August 23, 2024. Two researchers screened the included studies, conducted quality assessment, and extracted data. Meta-analysis was conducted using Stata 18 and RevMan 5.4.Results:A total of seven studies were included, encompassing 19 076 elderly hematologic malignancy patients, with a frailty incidence of 59% [95% CI (0.48, 0.69) ]. Meta-analysis revealed that age [ MD=4.31, 95% CI (3.67, 4.96) ], gender [ OR=0.88, 95% CI (0.83, 0.93) ], alcohol consumption [ OR=1.67, 95% CI (1.15, 2.44) ], self-care ability [ MD=-1.79, 95% CI (-3.17, -0.41) ], anemia [ OR=6.67, 95% CI (2.94, 15.14) ], infection [ OR=1.81, 95% CI (1.16, 2.84) ], and neuropathy [ OR=2.52, 95% CI (1.38, 4.61) ] were the influencing factors of frailty in elderly patients with hematologic malignancies. Conclusions:The incidence of frailty is high in elderly patients with hematologic malignancies. Elderly patients with hematologic malignancies who are older, female, consume alcohol, have low self-care ability, anemia, infections, and neuropathy are prone to frailty. Healthcare providers can conduct early screening and intervention for high-risk populations of frailty based on risk factors to improve the quality of life for elderly hematologic malignancy patients.

Objective:To explore latent class of symptoms related to psychological trauma and characteristics in patients with pregnancy loss, and to analyze the related influencing factors.Methods:From July 2022 to June 2024, a convenience sampling method was used to select 709 cases of pregnancy loss patients who visited the Maternity Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University as the survey subjects. The survey was conducted using the general information questionnaire, the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) self-assessment scale, the hospital anxiety and depression scale, and the pittsburgh sleep index scale. Exploratory latent class analysis (LCA) of symptoms related to psychological trauma was performed by Mplus8.3, and then multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the factors influencing the latent classes.Results:A total of 691 patients with pregnancy loss were eventually investigated, with a total PTSD score of 24.00 (19.00, 33.00), a total anxiety score of 6.00 (3.00, 9.00), a total depression score of 6.00 (3.00, 9.00), and a total sleep disorder score of 7.00 (4.00, 9.00). Symptoms related to psychological trauma could be classified into 3 potential categories named high symptom group [20.4% (141/691)], anxiety-depression group [15.3% (106/691)] and low symptom group [64.3% (444/691)]. The result of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that per capita monthly household income >8 000 yuan ( OR=0.477, 95% CI: 0.272-0.835, P=0.010) and having a spouse accompanying the patient at the time of admission ( OR=0.352, 95% CI: 0.234-0.532, P<0.001) were protective factors for the high symptom group, and gestational week≥28 weeks ( OR=3.192, 95% CI: 1.619-6.292, P=0.001) and assisted reproductive pregnancy ( OR=1.877, 95% CI: 1.075-3.277, P=0.027) were risk factors for the high symptom group. Conclusion:Symptoms associated with psychological trauma in patients with pregnancy loss have distinct categorical characteristics, and healthcare professionals should focus on patients with pregnancy loss in the high symptom group during hospitalization, and adopt targeted interventions according to the symptoms related to psychological trauma in different categories of patients with pregnancy loss in order to avoid serious psychological problems.