OBJECTIVE To establish a nomogram model based on clinical and biochemical parameters in elderly patients with p16-negative nasopharyngeal carcinoma and to identify patients who may benefit from concurrent chemoradiotherapy(CCRT)combined with induction chemotherapy(IC).METHODS A total of 142 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients who received CCRT in Huanggang Central Hospital between June 2021 and May 2024 were retrospectively included for analysis,and the patients were divided into a training set(n=99)and a validation set(n=43)in a ratio of 7:3.Before treatment,all patients underwent a complete physical examination,fiberoptic nasopharyngeal endoscopy,laboratory tests,and plasma Epstein-Barr virus deoxyribonucleic acid(EBV-DNA)level detection.The study endpoint was disease-specific survival(DSS),defined as the time from initial treatment to cancer-related death or the last follow-up date.RESULTS EBV-DNA level,T stage,N stage,albumin(ALB),and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)were screened by COX and LASSO regression analysis to establish a nomogram model for predicting DSS in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.The nomogram model had good discrimination ability[C-index value:0.947(95%CI:0.905-0.990)vs.0.930(95%CI:0.862-0.998)]and accuracy in both the training set and the validation set.The nomogram model was divided into low-risk group,medium-risk group and high-risk group according to risk.There were statistical differences in DSS among the three groups in the training set and validation set(χ2=7.153,9.266,P=0.028,0.010).In the training set and validation set,only the patients in the high-risk group who received IC+CCRT had a longer DSS than those who received CCRT.CONCLUSION The nomogram model of pre-treatment EBV-DNA level,T stage,N stage,ALB,and LDH was used to distinguish high-risk elderly p16-negative nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients,suggesting that this population may be the beneficiary of IC+CCRT in clinical practice.

Objective·To investigate the role and mechanism of sirtuin 5(SIRT5)in pulmonary microvascular endothelial cell injury in sepsis.Methods·Wild-type(WT)and Sirt5 gene knockout C57BL/6 male mice underwent cecal ligation and puncture(CLP)surgery.Following euthanasia,lung tissues were collected.Pulmonary inflammation was assessed using hematoxylin and eosin(H-E)staining;vascular leakage was evaluated by Evans blue(EB)staining;coagulation function in mice was analyzed via immunofluorescence staining of lung tissues.Immunohistochemical staining was employed to detect vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1)protein expression,thereby assessing endothelial inflammation in CLP-treated mice.By using gene editing technology,SIRT5 was knocked down or overexpressed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs),and the cells were subsequently stimulated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS)to induce endothelial inflammation.Protein expression levels of VCAM-1,tissue factor(TF),and other endothelial injury markers were detected by Western blotting,and inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6(IL-6)and IL-1β,were detected by quantitative real-time PCR(qPCR).In addition,transcriptomic sequencing was performed on HUVECs overexpressing SIRT5,and key genes including F2R-like thrombin or trypsin receptor 3(F2RL3),serpin family A member 3(SERPINA3),and transforming growth factor β2/β3(TGF-β2/3)were validated by qPCR.Results·Sirt5 knockout significantly aggravated lung injury in CLP mice,reducing their survival rates(P<0.001).H-E staining showed increased inflammatory infiltration in the lung tissue of the mice,while EB staining indicated increased vascular leakage(P<0.001).Immunofluorescence revealed elevated fibrinogen deposition.In HUVECs with SIRT5 knockdown,the protein levels of VCAM-1 and TF,as well as the mRNA levels of inflammatory factors including IL-6,IL-1β,VCAM-1,and E-selectin,were significantly upregulated(all P<0.001),whereas overexpression of SIRT5 reversed these effects.Transcriptome sequencing analysis indicated that SIRT5 regulated endothelial inflammation and coagulation responses by inhibiting the F2RL3/SERPINA3/TGF-β pathway.Conclusion·SIRT5 negatively regulates the F2RL3/SERPINA3/TGF-β signaling axis,thereby alleviating endothelial inflammation and promoting coagulation responses,suggesting its potential protective role in sepsis-induced lung injury.

BACKGROUND:Patch clamp technique has been developed for more than 40 years as the"gold standard"for the study of ion channels.However,the research content of scientific research institutions is relatively independent,and the existing research results are not systematically summarized,which leads to the phenomenon of high repeatability and weak innovation in the existing research.Therefore,it is urgent to make a comprehensive review of patch clamp technology to clarify the current research status,hot spots,and future development direction.OBJECTIVE:To summarize the research status and development trend of patch clamp technique in recent 10 years.METHODS:Publications on patch clamp technology from 2013 to 2023 were collected using the Web of Science core collection database.CiteSpace and VOSviewer software were used to quantify the number of publications and analyze the network of literature entries,including countries,institutions,journals,authors,keywords,highly cited literature,and co-cited references.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)In recent 10 years,the research in the field of patch clamp technology has gradually entered a stage of stable development.(2)China and the United States are the leading countries in this regard.The Chinese Academy of Sciences is an institution with core influence.Journal of Neuroscience is the main publication.Park,Won Sun team(Jeonbuk National University)and Chu,Li team(Hebei Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Research on Cardio-Cerebrovascular Disease)have made outstanding contributions in this field,but there is less collaboration and communication between the teams and no network cooperation model has been formed.(3)Patch clamp technology is mainly used in the electrophysiological characteristics of the nervous system and the pathological mechanism of the disease,which is the focus of researchers'continuous attention.(4)In the study of electrophysiological characteristics of cardiovascular system and its pathological mechanism,the electrophysiological characteristics of primary cardiomyocytes and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and the pathological mechanism of atrial fibrillation,cardiotoxicity,sudden cardiac death,hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases have been the focus of research in recent years.(5)In the application of patch clamp technology combined with other biotechnology,it will be an important research direction to focus on the cross fusion with optogenetics,two-photon calcium imaging and other technologies.(6)In the research of drug screening and identification of therapeutic targets,especially the research of patch clamp technology and traditional Chinese medicine compound,it will become a great help in the future research of component traditional Chinese medicine.

Objective:To compare the clinical effect of deproteinized calf blood extract (DCBE) eye drops and 0.3% sodium hyaluronate eye drops in the treatment of diabetic cataract patients with dry eye after phacoemulsification.Methods:A randomized controlled study was performed.A total of 112 patients (116 eyes) with type Ⅱ diabetes combined with cataract and dry eye who underwent phacoemulsification in the Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University from January 2022 to September 2022 were selected.Patients were divided into DCBE group (49 cases, 51 eyes) and sodium hyaluronate group (63 cases, 65 eyes) by the random number table method.Patients received DCBE eye drops and 0.3% sodium hyaluronate eye drops after surgery according to grouping.Preoperative and postoperative 1 week, 1 month subjective symptoms of dry eye, corneal edema grade, tear film breakup time (TBUT), corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) and Schirmer Ⅰ test (SⅠt) results were recorded and compared.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University (No.SDSYKYY202112-1).Written informed consent was obtained from each subject.Results:There were significant differences in dry eye symptom score, TBUT and SⅠt at different time points between before and after surgery ( Ftime=323.202, 102.771, 151.876; all P<0.001).Dry eye symptom score decreased and SⅠt increased in the two groups at 1 week and 1 month after surgery compared with before surgery, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.017).TBUT was longer at 1 week and 1 month after surgery compared with before surgery in the DCBE group, and TBUT at 1 month after surgery was longer than that before surgery in the sodium hyaluronate group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.017).There were statistically significant differences in CFS scores between the two groups at different time points before and after surgery ( Fgroup=5.391, P=0.022; Ftime=142.402, P<0.001).The CFS scores of both groups at 1 week and 1 month after surgery were lower than those before surgery, and CFS scores in the DCBE group were lower than those in the sodium hyaluronate group, with statistically significant differences (all P<0.017).One week after surgery, the proportion of patients with corneal edema in the DCBE group was 5.9%(3/51), which was significantly lower than 20.0%(13/65) in the sodium hyaluronate group ( χ2=4.790, P=0.029). Conclusions:DCBE eye drops can promote corneal repair, stabilize tear film and improve dry eye discomfort in early postoperative period in diabetic cataract, and its overall effect is better than 0.3% sodium hyaluronate eye drops.

Objective:To analyze the relationship among thyroid autoimmunity (TAI), thyroid function, and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in early pregnant women in Xi'an.Methods:A prospective study included pregnant women who underwent prenatal check-ups at the Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital from November 2020 to October 2021, with a gestational age of 6 to 14 weeks. Thyroid function, thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb), and urinary iodine levels were measured, and the prevalence of thyroid disease and GDM was monitored. The subjects were divided into four groups: TPOAb positive only, TgAb positive only, both TPOAb and TgAb positive, and both TPOAb and TgAb negative, to compare the differences in the prevalence of thyroid disease and GDM among the groups. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal-Wallis rank-sum test, Bonferroni correction, Chi-square test, and a multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between TAI, thyroid disease, and GDM. Results:A total of 20 243 early pregnant women were included in this study, among which 1 615 (7.98%) were positive for TPOAb only; 865 (4.27%) were positive for TgAb only; 1 672 (8.26%) were positive for both TPOAb and TgAb (both positive group); and 16 091 (79.49%) were negative for both TPOAb and TgAb (both negative group). The thyroid stimulating hormone levels in the TPOAb positive only group, TgAb positive only group, and both positive group were significantly higher than those in the both negative group, respectively (Bonferroni correction, all P<0.05); the free thyroxine level in the TPOAb positive only group was significantly lower than that in the both negative group ( P<0.05). After adjusting for age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, and urinary iodine levels, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared to the both negative group, the risk of developing hypothyroidism during pregnancy was significantly increased in the both positive group ( OR=11.49, 95% CI: 2.84-46.39); the risk of developing subclinical hypothyroidism during pregnancy was significantly increased in the TgAb positive only group ( OR=1.99, 95% CI: 1.05-3.76) and the both positive group ( OR=3.74, 95% CI: 2.49-5.63); the risk of developing GDM was significantly increased in the TgAb positive only group ( OR=1.43, 95% CI: 1.04-1.96) and the both positive group ( OR=1.94, 95% CI: 1.53-2.46). Among early pregnant women with normal thyroid function, after adjusting for age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, and urinary iodine levels, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared to the both negative group, the risk of developing GDM was significantly increased in the TgAb positive only group ( OR=1.46, 95% CI: 1.06-2.02) and the both positive group ( OR=1.80, 95% CI: 1.40-2.32). Conclusion:TgAb positive only is a risk factor for subclinical hypothyroidism and GDM. Screening for thyroid autoantibodies, especially TgAb, during pregnancy helps in the early identification of high-risk pregnant women for thyroid dysfunction and GDM.

Objective:To examine frailty in residents aged over 50 in the Chengdu community, investigate the risk factors linked to frailty, and analyze the impact of exercise habits on frailty.Methods:This retrospective study utilized a stratified whole-sample method to select Chengdu residents aged over 50 from 6 communities.Relevant information was collected through face-to-face interactions using a self-developed frailty questionnaire between May 2022 and May 2023.Exercise habits were defined as engaging in physical activity more than three times a week for at least 30 minutes per session, consistently maintained for a minimum of five years prior to the survey.The frailty index(FI)was established based on the multiple-deficit cumulative model.Respondents were classified into categories of no frailty(FI<0.1), mild frailty(0.1 ≤ FI<0.2), and moderate-severe frailty(FI≥0.2).Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate the factors influencing frailty and to compare the prevalence and progression of frailty among individuals with and without exercise habits across different age groups.Results:A total of 999 participants, comprising 483(48.3%)males and 516(51.7%)females, were enrolled in the study.The average age of the participants was 65.70±9.61 years.Among them, 346(34.6%)were classified as having mild frailty, while 107(10.7%)had moderate-severe frailty.Univariate analysis revealed that age, gender, marital status, education, smoking, alcohol consumption, and exercise habits were potential factors influencing frailty( P<0.05).Multifactorial logistic regression models indicated that individuals aged 70-79 and 80-85 were predictors of mild and moderate-severe frailty, respectively.Being female was identified as an independent risk factor for both mild frailty( OR: 1.196; 95% CI: 1.262-3.073)and moderate-severe frailty( OR: 2.721; 95% CI: 1.282-5.774).Additionally, not engaging in regular exercise was associated with an increased risk of mild frailty( OR: 1.588; 95% CI: 1.149-2.193)and moderate-severe frailty( OR: 3.186; 95% CI: 1.819-5.583).Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in frailty distribution and frailty index changes between individuals with and without exercise habits over the age of 60( P<0.05). Conclusions:Age and gender were found to be closely associated with frailty, with the impact of exercise habits on frailty becoming more pronounced after the age of 60.Encouraging middle-aged and older individuals to adopt regular exercise routines can play a significant role in promoting healthy aging in China.

Objective:To investigate the value of midtreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters for predicting the pathological response in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) after neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy (NICT). Methods:Twenty-five LAGC patients (19 males, 6 females, age: (64.8±8.6) years) who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT after NICT in Henan Cancer Hospital from August 2019 to June 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. The lesion′s ROI was delineated, then the SUV max and metabolic tumor volume (MTV) were measured, and the SUV max was divided by SUV mean of the descending aorta to obtain the tumor-to-background ratio (TBR). Patients underwent surgery after PET/CT imaging. Based on the tumor regression grade (TRG) system by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) criteria on surgical specimen, patients were divided into responders (TRG0+ 1) and non-responders (TRG2+ 3). Independent-sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test, one-way analysis of variance, and Kruskal-Wallis rank-sum test were used to compare the differences of data. The predictive efficacy of PET/CT metabolic parameters was assessed by the ROC curve analysis. Results:Postsurgical pathology showed that 9 patients were responders and 16 were non-responders. The SUV max (3.10±1.95) and TBR (2.44±1.54) of primary lesions in responders were lower than those in non-responders (7.40±4.68, 5.85±3.74; t values: -2.61, -2.59, both P<0.05), while the MTV of primary tumors and short diameter and metabolic parameters of positive lymph nodes were not significantly different between those 2 groups ( t=-1.50, Z values: -1.09 to -0.75, all P>0.05). No significant relation was found between PET/CT parameters and pathological differentiation or Lauren classification, or other pathological features ( t values: -1.55 to 1.38, Z values: -1.84 to 0, F values: 0.12-2.43, H values: 0.13-0.98, all P>0.05). ROC curve showed that the cut-off value of SUV max for predicting postoperative TRG was 5.40, and the AUC reached 0.77 (95% CI: 0.56-0.91), with the sensitivity and specificity of 9/16, 9/9, respectively. With TBR=3.54 as the cut-off value, its AUC reached 0.77 (95% CI: 0.56-0.91), and the sensitivity and specificity were 11/16, 8/9, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of PET/CT for predicting lymph node positivity of patients were 8/12 and 13/13, respectively. Conclusion:Interim 18F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters can accurately predict the pathological response of LAGC patients after NICT.

Objective:To explore the efficacy of the fifth metatarsal perforator flap of the lateral plantar artery in repairing the wounds on the anterolateral side of the foot.Methods:This study was a retrospective observational study. Eight patients with skin and soft tissue defects on the anterolateral side of the foot and conformed to the inclusion criteria were admitted to the Department of Plastic Surgery of Hanzhong Central Hospital from July 2020 to July 2023. There were 6 males and 2 females, aged 22 to 72 years. Among the patients, there were three patients with electrical burns, four patients with trauma, and one patient with plantar wart. Preoperatively, a Doppler blood flow detector was used to clarify the number and location of the fifth metatarsal perforating vessels. The area of the wounds measured during the operation ranged from 4.0 cm×3.0 cm to 7.0 cm×5.0 cm, and the fifth metatarsal perforator flaps of the lateral plantar artery with area of 4.0 cm×4.0 cm to 9.0 cm×6.0 cm were designed and harvested to repair the wounds. The wounds in the flap donor sites were repaired with medium-thickness skin grafts from lower limb on the same side. The duration of surgery and intraoperative blood loss volume were recorded. The survivals of the transplanted flap and skin graft were observed after surgery. At the last follow-up, the appearance of the flap and the occurrence of complication were observed, the two-point discrimination distance of the flap was measured, and the shape of the flap donor site as well as the sensation and other functions of the affected foot were observed.Results:The duration of surgery ranged from 70 to 100 min, with an average of 84.6 min. The intraoperative blood loss volume ranged from 30 to 80 mL, with an average of 53.5 mL. After surgery, all flaps survived completely; only one patient developed partial necrosis of the skin graft in the wound in flap donor site, and the wound healed completely after dressing change and re-grafting medium-thickness skin graft from lower limb on the same side. Postoperative follow-up was conducted for 6 to 24 months, with an average of 13.8 months. At the last follow-up, none of the patients developed bloated and deformed flaps or pressure ulcers, and the two-point discrimination distance of the flap ranged from 5 to 13 mm. No tendon adhesion or scar hyperplasia was observed in the flap donor sites, and the sensation, weight-bearing, and walking functions of the affected feet were normal.Conclusions:The use of the fifth metatarsal perforator flap of the lateral plantar artery for repairing the wounds on the anterolateral side of the foot has the advantages of flexible flap design, minimal damage to the flap donor site, simple and feasible surgical operation, and good postoperative foot appearance and function, which is worthy of clinical application and promotion.

Objectives:To identify the core predictor variables for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis(AIS)pro-gression using machine learning algorithms and develop a risk prediction model.Methods:A cohort of 361 AIS patients initially diagnosed at the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University between January 2018 and June 2023 was enrolled and followed.Demographic data and imaging data of the patients were collected.The patients were stratified into progression(Cobb angle increased ≥6° in the primary curve)and non-pro-gression groups,and were randomly divided into training and test sets at an 8∶2 ratio.Predictor variables were selected using LASSO regression and random survival forest(RSF)algorithms.Three prediction models were developed:a RSF model,a survival support vector machine(SSVM)model,and an extreme gradient boosting(XGBoost)model.An optimal model was selected according to the concordance index(C-index)and integrated Brier score,and the discrimination,accuracy and clinical application value of the optimal model were assessed using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)and area under the curve(AUC),bootstrap-corrected C-index,calibration curves,integrated Brier score,and decision curve analysis(DC A)based on the training set.Results:The scoliosis progression rate of the 361 AIS patients was 41.27％.The predictors consistently identified with LASSO regression and RSF algorithm were initial Cobb angle,Risser sign,apical vertebral ro-tation,spinal growth rate,brace treatment or not,T1 tilt angle,and apical vertebra translation.The RSF model demonstrated superior performance with a C-index of 0.837(vs.0.790 for SSVM and 0.743 for XG-Boost)and the lowest integrated Brier score(0.084 vs.0.161 and 0.133).Time-dependent AUC values for the RSF model were 0.903(95％CI:0.829-0.977)at 6 months,0.870(95％CI:0.756-0.985)at 12 months,0.858(95％CI:0.742-0.973)at 18 months,and 0.862(95％CI:0.728-0.997)at 24 months.Bootstrap-corrected C-in-dex remained robust at 0.842(95％CI:0.749-0.917).Calibration curves showed close alignment between pre-dicted and observed outcomes,with an integrated Brier score of 0.084.DCA revealed clinical utility across threshold probabilities of 5％-20％(6-month),10％-80％(12-month),10％-70％(18-month),and 25％-85％(24-month).Conclusions:The RSF model incorporating initial Cobb angle,Risser sign,apical vertebra rotation,spinal growth rate,brace treatment or not,T1 tilt angle,and apical vertebra translation can effectively predict risk probability of scoliosis progression in future for AIS patients after initial diagnosis.

Objective·To investigate the role and mechanism of sirtuin 5(SIRT5)in pulmonary microvascular endothelial cell injury in sepsis.Methods·Wild-type(WT)and Sirt5 gene knockout C57BL/6 male mice underwent cecal ligation and puncture(CLP)surgery.Following euthanasia,lung tissues were collected.Pulmonary inflammation was assessed using hematoxylin and eosin(H-E)staining;vascular leakage was evaluated by Evans blue(EB)staining;coagulation function in mice was analyzed via immunofluorescence staining of lung tissues.Immunohistochemical staining was employed to detect vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1)protein expression,thereby assessing endothelial inflammation in CLP-treated mice.By using gene editing technology,SIRT5 was knocked down or overexpressed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs),and the cells were subsequently stimulated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS)to induce endothelial inflammation.Protein expression levels of VCAM-1,tissue factor(TF),and other endothelial injury markers were detected by Western blotting,and inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6(IL-6)and IL-1β,were detected by quantitative real-time PCR(qPCR).In addition,transcriptomic sequencing was performed on HUVECs overexpressing SIRT5,and key genes including F2R-like thrombin or trypsin receptor 3(F2RL3),serpin family A member 3(SERPINA3),and transforming growth factor β2/β3(TGF-β2/3)were validated by qPCR.Results·Sirt5 knockout significantly aggravated lung injury in CLP mice,reducing their survival rates(P<0.001).H-E staining showed increased inflammatory infiltration in the lung tissue of the mice,while EB staining indicated increased vascular leakage(P<0.001).Immunofluorescence revealed elevated fibrinogen deposition.In HUVECs with SIRT5 knockdown,the protein levels of VCAM-1 and TF,as well as the mRNA levels of inflammatory factors including IL-6,IL-1β,VCAM-1,and E-selectin,were significantly upregulated(all P<0.001),whereas overexpression of SIRT5 reversed these effects.Transcriptome sequencing analysis indicated that SIRT5 regulated endothelial inflammation and coagulation responses by inhibiting the F2RL3/SERPINA3/TGF-β pathway.Conclusion·SIRT5 negatively regulates the F2RL3/SERPINA3/TGF-β signaling axis,thereby alleviating endothelial inflammation and promoting coagulation responses,suggesting its potential protective role in sepsis-induced lung injury.