Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), as certain forms of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) or keratinocyte carcinoma, are the most common forms of malignant neoplasms worldwide (Sharp et al., 2024). BCC and cSCC have been identified as two major components of NMSC, comprising one-third of all malignancies (Burton et al., 2016). Generally speaking, patients with NMSC tend to have relatively favorable survival outcomes, while different histopathological subtypes of NMSC exhibit distinct biological behaviors (Stătescu et al., 2023). Keratinocyte carcinoma, although not considered as deadly as melanoma, tends to metastasize if left untreated (Civantos et al., 2023; Nanz et al., 2024). cSCC can evolve locally, then aggressively metastasize, invade, and even lead to fatal consequences in a subset of patients (Winge et al., 2023). A solid, pigmented, smooth plaque or a hyperkeratotic papule with or without central ulceration and hemorrhage appears to be characteristic of cSCC (Thompson et al., 2016; Zhou et al., 2023). Of note, a rare type of intraepidermal cSCC in situ often appears as a velvety, demarcated, slightly raised erythematous plaque on the genitalia of men (Yamaguchi et al., 2016). Accounting for approximately 16.0% of scalp tumors and with a rising incidence, cSCC is now the second most common NMSC in humans (Verdaguer-Faja et al., 2024). According to the latest statistics, up to 2%‒5% of cSCCs in situ may gradually progress into invasive cSCCs in the final step (Rentroia-Pacheco et al., 2023). Several risk factors for the carcinogenesis and development of cSCC have been identified, including age, accumulative exposure to ultraviolet light radiation A and B, human papillomavirus infection, arsenic ingestion, chronic scarring, xeroderma pigmentosa, a relevant history of ionizing radiation, androgenetic alopecia in males, and immunosuppression therapy (Martinez and Otley, 2001; Welsch et al., 2012; Mortaja and Demehri, 2023).
Humans ; Aminolevulinic Acid/therapeutic use* ; Skin Neoplasms/pathology* ; Photochemotherapy/methods* ; Female ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology* ; Middle Aged ; Photosensitizing Agents/therapeutic use* ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell/drug therapy*

Objective To observe value of real-time functional MRI neurofeedback(rtfMRI-NF)for modulating brain activity changes in obese adults.Methods Twenty-two obese adults were prospectively recruited,3-week rtfMRI-NF training intervention was conducted.Barratt impulsivityness scale version 11(BIS-11),three-factor eating questionnaire(TFEQ)and food rating scales were scored before and after intervention,and whole-brain resting state fMRI(rs-fMRI)data were obtained.Clinical scale scores,rs-fMRI regional homogeneity(ReHo)values and amplitude of low frequency fluctuation(ALFF)values were compared before and after intervention.Then brain regions with differences of ReHo and ALFF values before and after intervention were explored,and correlations of values of rs-fMRI data differences and clinical scale score differences were analyzed.Results BIS-11 score,TFEQ emotional eating(TFEQ-EE)score and food rating scales scores decreased,while TFEQ cognitive restraint(TFEQ-CR)scores increased in obese adults after intervention(all P＜0.05).ReHo values in right inferior frontal gyrus,right anterior cingulate and left precuneus increased,while of left middle temporal gyrus decreased(all corrected P＜0.05).ALFF values of left precuneus increased,whereas of left middle occipital gyrus,right superior occipital gyrus,left calcarine fissure and surrounding cortex and left supramarginal and angular gyrus decreased(all corrected P＜0.05).ReHo difference in right anterior cingulate was negatively correlated with BIS-11 scores difference(r=-0.601,P＜0.05),and ALFF difference in left precuneus was negatively correlated with TFEQ-EE difference(r=-0.478,P＜0.05).Conclusion rtfMRI-NF intervention could correct disorder of cerebral functional areas in obese adults and change high-calorie food preference and poor dietary habits.

Objective To explore TCM syndrome distribution law in patients with overlapping non-erosive reflux disease(NERD)and epigastric pain syndrome(EPS)gastrointestinal symptoms.Methods A multi-center,cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the general information of 800 patients with overlapping NERD and EPS gastrointestinal symptoms in four hospitals,such as gender,age,body mass index(BMI)and four diagnostic information of TCM.Descriptive frequency analysis,factor analysis and clustering analysis were used to summarize the TCM syndrome types and distribution characteristics.Results The average age of 800 patients with overlapping NERD and EPS gastrointestinal symptoms was(44.50±14.43)years old,the average BMI was(23.17±4.80)kg/m2,and the male to female ratio was 3:5.Frequency of 95 TCM symptoms/signs≥20%.18 common factor variables were obtained based on factor analysis,and the cumulative contribution rate was 67.11%.The first three syndrome elements of disease location were liver,stomach and spleen,and the disease nature syndrome elements were qi stagnation,qi deficiency and yin deficiency.Based on the clustering analysis of 18 common factor variables,combined with expert discussion,four main TCM syndrome types were obtained,which were liver-stomach stagnation heat syndrome(213 cases,26.63%),spleen-stomach damp heat syndrome(209 cases,26.13%),spleen-stomach deficiency and cold qi stagnation syndrome(190 cases,23.75%)and qi-phlegm stagnation syndrome(188 cases,23.50%).There was no significant difference in the distribution of TCM syndrome types among patients with different genders,ages and BMI values(P>0.05).Patients with a course of disease≥2 years and those residing long-term north of the Qinling-Huaihe Line showed a significantly higher prevalence of spleen-stomach dampness-heat syndrome(P<0.05).Conclusion The syndrome elements of disease location of overlapping NERD and EPS gastrointestinal symptoms are mainly liver,stomach and spleen.The TCM syndrome types are liver-stomach stagnation heat syndrome,spleen-stomach damp heat syndrome,spleen-stomach deficiency cold qi stagnation syndrome and qi-phlegm stagnation syndrome.The course of disease and the regional differences between north and south may be the influencing factors of the distribution of syndrome types.

Image 1.

Objective To evaluate the efficiency of intra-tumor and peri-tumor ultrasound radiomics models based on machine learning algorithms for predicting benign and malignant Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) 4 breast lesions, and provide insights into early diagnosis of breast cancer. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted based on the medical records of 450 female patients who underwent breast ultrasound examination in the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from June 2020 to April 2022. The patients were divided into the benign (n = 199) and malignant (n = 195) groups according to pathological examination, and randomized into the training (n = 275) and validation (n = 119) sets at a ratio of 7∶3. Radiomics features were extracted and screened. Intra-tumor, peri-tumor, and intra-tumor + peri-tumor ultrasound radiomics models were constructed based on three machine learning algorithms, including logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), and multi-layer perceptron (MLP). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision curves were plotted to evaluate the efficacy of the radiomics models for prediction of benign and malignant breast lesions. Results A total of 17 intra-tumor, 16 peri-tumor, and 17 intra-tumor + peri-tumor radiomics features were selected for model construction. Based on LR, MLP, and SVM algorithms, the intra-tumor + peri-tumor radiomics models showed higher predictive efficacy than intra-tumor and peri-tumor radiomics models. The predictive efficacy of intra-tumor, peri-tumor, and intra-tumor + peri-tumor radiomics models were higher based on the SVM algorithm than based on LR and MLP algorithms. For the intra-tumor radiomics model based on the SVM algorithm, the area under the ROC curve (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, and a specificity were 0.909, 0.851, 0.860, and 0.842, respectively, in the training set and 0.866, 0.832, 0.847, and 0.817, respectively, in the validation set. For the peri-tumor radiomics model based on the SVM algorithm, these values were 0.899, 0.855, 0.882, and 0.827, respectively, in the training set and 0.844, 0.815, 0.847, and 0.783, respectively, in the validation set. For the intra-tumor + peri-tumor radiomics model based on the SVM algorithm, these values were 0.943, 0.876, 0.860, and 0.892, respectively, in the training set and 0.881, 0.849, 0.915, and 0.783, respectively, in the validation set. Conclusion The intra-tumor and peri-tumor ultrasound radiomics models based on machine learning algorithms are highly valuable for prediction of benign and malignant BI-RADS 4 breast lesions. The intra-tumor + peri-tumor ultrasound radiomics model based on the SVM algorithm has the optimal efficacy for prediction of benign and malignant BI-RADS 4 breast lesions.

Objective To observe value of real-time functional MRI neurofeedback(rtfMRI-NF)for modulating brain activity changes in obese adults.Methods Twenty-two obese adults were prospectively recruited,3-week rtfMRI-NF training intervention was conducted.Barratt impulsivityness scale version 11(BIS-11),three-factor eating questionnaire(TFEQ)and food rating scales were scored before and after intervention,and whole-brain resting state fMRI(rs-fMRI)data were obtained.Clinical scale scores,rs-fMRI regional homogeneity(ReHo)values and amplitude of low frequency fluctuation(ALFF)values were compared before and after intervention.Then brain regions with differences of ReHo and ALFF values before and after intervention were explored,and correlations of values of rs-fMRI data differences and clinical scale score differences were analyzed.Results BIS-11 score,TFEQ emotional eating(TFEQ-EE)score and food rating scales scores decreased,while TFEQ cognitive restraint(TFEQ-CR)scores increased in obese adults after intervention(all P＜0.05).ReHo values in right inferior frontal gyrus,right anterior cingulate and left precuneus increased,while of left middle temporal gyrus decreased(all corrected P＜0.05).ALFF values of left precuneus increased,whereas of left middle occipital gyrus,right superior occipital gyrus,left calcarine fissure and surrounding cortex and left supramarginal and angular gyrus decreased(all corrected P＜0.05).ReHo difference in right anterior cingulate was negatively correlated with BIS-11 scores difference(r=-0.601,P＜0.05),and ALFF difference in left precuneus was negatively correlated with TFEQ-EE difference(r=-0.478,P＜0.05).Conclusion rtfMRI-NF intervention could correct disorder of cerebral functional areas in obese adults and change high-calorie food preference and poor dietary habits.

Objective To explore TCM syndrome distribution law in patients with overlapping non-erosive reflux disease(NERD)and epigastric pain syndrome(EPS)gastrointestinal symptoms.Methods A multi-center,cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the general information of 800 patients with overlapping NERD and EPS gastrointestinal symptoms in four hospitals,such as gender,age,body mass index(BMI)and four diagnostic information of TCM.Descriptive frequency analysis,factor analysis and clustering analysis were used to summarize the TCM syndrome types and distribution characteristics.Results The average age of 800 patients with overlapping NERD and EPS gastrointestinal symptoms was(44.50±14.43)years old,the average BMI was(23.17±4.80)kg/m2,and the male to female ratio was 3:5.Frequency of 95 TCM symptoms/signs≥20%.18 common factor variables were obtained based on factor analysis,and the cumulative contribution rate was 67.11%.The first three syndrome elements of disease location were liver,stomach and spleen,and the disease nature syndrome elements were qi stagnation,qi deficiency and yin deficiency.Based on the clustering analysis of 18 common factor variables,combined with expert discussion,four main TCM syndrome types were obtained,which were liver-stomach stagnation heat syndrome(213 cases,26.63%),spleen-stomach damp heat syndrome(209 cases,26.13%),spleen-stomach deficiency and cold qi stagnation syndrome(190 cases,23.75%)and qi-phlegm stagnation syndrome(188 cases,23.50%).There was no significant difference in the distribution of TCM syndrome types among patients with different genders,ages and BMI values(P>0.05).Patients with a course of disease≥2 years and those residing long-term north of the Qinling-Huaihe Line showed a significantly higher prevalence of spleen-stomach dampness-heat syndrome(P<0.05).Conclusion The syndrome elements of disease location of overlapping NERD and EPS gastrointestinal symptoms are mainly liver,stomach and spleen.The TCM syndrome types are liver-stomach stagnation heat syndrome,spleen-stomach damp heat syndrome,spleen-stomach deficiency cold qi stagnation syndrome and qi-phlegm stagnation syndrome.The course of disease and the regional differences between north and south may be the influencing factors of the distribution of syndrome types.

Objective To investigate the effects of icariin on high glucose-induced autophagy and apoptosis of podocytes,and the regulating effects on mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)/serine-threonine kinase(Akt)/cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein(CREB)pathway.Methods The mouse podocytes MPC5 were taken and divided into five groups:normal control group(5.5 mmol·L-1 glucose),high glucose group(30 mmol·L-1 glucose),icariin group(30 mmol·L-1glucose+5 μmol·L-1icariin),GDC-0349 group(30 mmol·L-1glucose+50 μmol·L-1 GDC-0349),icariin+GDC-0349 group(30 mmol·L-1 glucose+5 μmol·L-1 icariin+50 μmol·L-1 GDC-0349).Cultured for 48 hours,the tetramethylazozolium salt method was used to detect the viability of MPC5 cells;acridine orange staining was used to observe the autophagy of MPC5 cells;apoptosis of MPC5 cells was detected by flow cytometry;Western blotting was used to detect the expression of autophagy[microtubule associated protein one light chain 3(LC3)II,LC3Ⅰ,autophagy-related protein(Beclin-1)],apoptosis[Bcl-2 related X protein(Bax),B cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2)]and mTOR/Akt/CREB pathway-related proteins of MPC5 cells.Results Compared with the normal control group,the cell viability,expression levels of Bcl-2,phosphorylated mTOR(p-mTOR)/mTOR,phosphorylated Akt(p-Akt)/Akt,phosphorylated CREB(p-CREB)/CREB protein of MPC5 cells in the high glucose group were significantly decreased(P＜0.05),the autophagy ability was enhanced,the autophagosome showed orange fluorescence,and the apoptosis rate,LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ,Beclin-1,Bax protein expression levels were significantly increased(P＜0.05).Compared with the high glucose group,the cell viability,LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ,Beclin-1,Bcl-2,p-mTOR/mTOR,p-Akt/Akt,p-CREB/CREB protein expression levels of MPC5 cells in icariin group were significantly increased,the autophagy ability was further enhanced,the number of autophagosomes was increased,the autophagosomes showed brick red fluorescence(P＜0.05),the apoptosis rate and Bax protein expression level were significantly decreased(P＜0.05),and the cell viability,LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ,Beclin-1,Bcl-2,p-mTOR/mTOR,p-Akt/Akt and p-CREB/CREB proteins expression levels of MPC5 cells in GDC-0349 group were significantly decreased,the autophagy ability was weakened,the number of autophagosomes was reduced,the autophagosomes showed orange fluorescence(P＜0.05),and the apoptosis rate and Bax protein expression level were significantly increased(P＜0.05);icariin+GDC-0349 could reverse the effect of icariin on high glucose induced MPC5 cells(P＜0.05).Conclusion Icariin promotes elevated glucose-induced podocyte autophagy and inhibits apoptosis by activating the mTOR/Akt/CREB pathway.

Objective:To analyze the correlation between body fat distribution measured by quantitative CT (QCT) and body mass index in adults receiving physical examination.Methods:It was a cross-sectional study. From January to December 2021, 3 205 adults undergoing physical examination who met the inclusion criteria and underwent chest CT and QCT examination in the health management discipline of Henan Provincial People′s Hospital were selected as the research objects. The general data were collected; and the subcutaneous fat area, visceral fat area, total abdominal fat area, liver fat content, abdominal obesity and fatty liver detection rate were measured by QCT. According to body mass index, the subjects were divided into normal group (18.5-<24.0 kg/m 2, 1 343 cases), overweight group (24.0-<28.0 kg/m 2, 1 427 cases) and obesity group (≥28.0 kg/m 2, 435 cases). One-way analysis of variance and χ2 test were used to compare the differences of QCT indexes among the three groups. Pearson and Spearman correlation analysis were used to evaluate the correlation between QCT indexes and body mass index. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to analyze the diagnostic effect of QCT on obesity and fatty liver. Results:Subcutaneous fat area, visceral fat area, total abdominal fat area, liver fat content, abdominal obesity and fatty liver detection rate in obese group were all significantly higher than those in overweight group and normal group [males, (147.60±46.44) vs (104.33±27.68), (73.46±22.65) cm 2; (297.46±54.70) vs (229.40±53.12), (159.57±49.68) cm 2; (445.06±70.24) vs (333.73±62.91), (233.02±61.87) cm 2; 11.30% (7.90%, 15.55%) vs 8.75% (6.50%, 11.70%), 6.60% (4.80%, 8.70%); 100.0% vs 96.0%, 64.0%; 92.9% vs 86.7%, 73.3%; females, (213.96±48.61) vs (155.85±35.31), (107.24±31.01) cm 2; (185.41±43.88) vs (142.48±41.75), (96.56±36.50) cm 2; (399.37±68.07) vs (298.33±56.86), (203.80±57.53) cm 2; 9.80% (6.90%, 13.30%) vs 7.30% (5.05%, 9.80%), 5.40%(3.50%, 7.20%); 96.4% vs 74.8%, 28.9%; 87.3% vs 75.6%, 56.5%], and were all positively correlated with body mass index (males, r/ rs=0.709, 0.738, 0.831, 0.402, 0.464, 0.225; females, r/ rs=0.798, 0.695, 0.841, 0.416, 0.605, 0.276) (all P<0.001). In both male and female subjects, the detection rates of obesity based on QCT were significantly higher than those based on body mass index (male, 86.9% vs 16.6%; female, 49.3% vs 8.9%), and the detection rates of fatty liver based on QCT were significantly higher than those based on ultrasound (male, 83.6% vs 57.1%; female, 65.2% vs 27.6%) (all P<0.001). ROC curve showed that when the visceral fat area of 142 cm 2 was used as the cut-off value for the diagnosis of obesity in male subjects, the sensitivity and specificity was 100% and 15.8%, respectively; and when the cut-off value of liver fat content 5.0% was used to diagnose fatty liver, the sensitivity and specificity was 88.9% and 25.1%, respectively. When the visceral fat area of 115 cm 2 was set as the cut-off value for the diagnosis of obesity in female subjects, the sensitivity and specificity was 96.4% and 55.3%, respectively; when the liver fat content of 5.0% was set as the cut-off value for the diagnosis of fatty liver, the sensitivity and specificity was 83.7% and 43.2%, respectively. Conclusions:The indexes of abdominal fat and liver fat measured by QCT in adults receiving physical examination are all positively correlated with body mass index. The effect of QCT in the diagnosis of obesity and fatty liver are both better than body mass index and ultrasound.

Objective:To analyze the distribution of body fat with quantitative computed tomography (QCT) in people with normal body mass index (BMI).Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted in the physical examination population who underwent chest CT and QCT examination in the Department of Health Management, Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from January to December in 2021, and 1 395 physical examination subjects who met the inclusion criteria were selected as the research subjects. The subjects were divided into five groups according to their age. The general data of the subjects were collected. The total abdominal fat area (TFA), visceral fat area (VFA), subcutaneous fat area (SFA), total abdominal muscle area (TMA) and muscle fat content (MFC) in the subjects were measured by QCT. One-way analysis of variance, Welch test and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to compare the above QCT measurement indexes between the two genders among different age groups with normal BMI. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between VFA and sarcopenia indexes. Multivariate linear regression was used to analyze the relationship between VFA and linear correlation variables in the related indicators of sarcopenia.Results:There were significant differences in TFA, VFA, TMA and SMI among different age groups in subjects with normal BMI (all P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that VFA was negatively correlated with TMA in some age groups (male: 18-39 years group: r=-0.351; 40-49 years group: r=-0.278; 60-69 years group: r=-0.245; female:40-49 years group: r=-0.251; 50-59 years group: r=-0.270;≥70 years group: r=-0.391; all P<0.01); it was negatively correlated with SMI (male: 18-39 years group: r=-0.352; 40-49 years group: r=-0.340; 50-59 years group: r=-0.266; 60-69 years group: r=-0.316; female: 40-49 years group: r=-0.240; 50-59 years group: r=-0.284; all P<0.001); it was positively correlated with MFC (male: 18-39 years group: r=0.342; 40-49 years group: r=0.291; female: 50-59 years group: r=0.133; 60-69 years group: r=0.284; all P<0.05). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that VFA was independently and negatively correlated with SMI in both men and women after adjusting for age interference factors (male B=-1.881, t=-6.025, P<0.001; female B=-0.603, t=-2.887, P=0.004), and it was independently positively correlated with MFC (male B=1.230, t=4.271, P<0.001;female B=0.893, t=3.836, P<0.001). There was an independent negative correlation between VFA and TMA in male subjects ( B=0.263, t=2.478, P=0.013). Conclusions:VFA is correlated with TMA, SMI and MFC in people with normal BMI. Regardless of gender, SMI has a negative effect on VFA, and MFC has a positive effect on VFA.